Hong Kong: CE to visit Chongqing

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation to visit Chongqing tomorrow to attend the High-Level Meeting & First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Chongqing Co-operation Conference.



Noting that Hong Kong and Chongqing have always maintained close exchanges, Mr Lee said a specific co-operation mechanism between the two places will be established through this visit.



He emphasised that Hong Kong and Chongqing will deepen co-operation comprehensively and achieve complementarity and mutual benefits, enabling the development of both places to reach new heights.



During the visit, Mr Lee and the delegates will meet Chongqings leaders and visit local facilities and projects in areas including innovation and technology and logistics.



The delegations members will include Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Under Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo.



Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on May 12. During his absence, Financial Secretary Paul Chan will be Acting Chief Executive.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Vietnam to host ASEAN-China meeting on East Sea

Vietnam will host an ASEAN-China meeting on the East Sea (or South China Sea) in Quang Ninh province in mid-May, according to Ambassador Vu Ho, acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam.













Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting head of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam. (Photo: MOFA)



The ASEAN-China meeting is one of a series of meetings between ASEAN and its dialogue partners to take place in Quang Ninh from May 15 to 20, said Ho at an ASEAN SOM Meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Leaders Summit.



Among the meetings, he said, will be the 27th ASEAN-Korea Dialogue, the 20th ASEAN-China SOM meeting on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the 39th ASEAN-China joint working group meeting on the DOC.



ASEAN and China reached an agreement on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in 2002. They are now working on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the regional waters, and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in February 2023 agreed to promote the early completion of COC negotiations.



ASEAN leaders will meet in Indonesia from Many 9-11 to examine efforts to facilitate the building of the ASEAN Community and regional integration, as well as to look at Indonesias priorities in its role as the ASEAN Chair 2023.



High on the agenda of the summit themed ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. will be issues related to economy, digital economic development, climate change response, as well as regional and international issues of common concern. In addition, the leaders will also discuss ways to promote the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), focusing on maritime cooperation, connectivity, sustainable development goals, economy and other areas of cooperation.



The leaders will consider a roadmap for Timor-Leste to join the grouping. Timor-Leste will send a representative to the summit this time as an observer.
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Legislators have introduced at least two bills related to Nebraskas Crime Victims Reparations program during the ongoing legislative session.

Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer, a Democrat, introduced a bill (LB757) based on findings in a survey of 18 programs that help victims across the state. Her office conducted the survey with the Womens Fund of Omaha.

The bill, which has Republican and Democrat co-sponsors, aims to help the program help more people: It lengthens the deadline for reporting the crime to police from three to five days, extends the filing deadline for minors and lets the CVR committee consider applications that miss the deadline for good cause.

An anecdote DeBoer shared: A minors claim for compensation following her rape was denied because her dad filed it a day late.

Would passage of LB757 cause a sudden uptick in the numbers Nebraska reports to the federal government, which pale in comparison to most surrounding states? Probably not, DeBoer said, but the people it would add to those numbers  like that minor  are among those who need help the most.

The bill received a priority designation from Speaker John Arch, a Republican from La Vista, who has 25 such designations to dole out per session. The Judiciary Committee approved it unanimously, sending it to the full Legislature for consideration.

Another bill, from Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson, a Democrat, would ban medical providers from referring victims of sexual assault, domestic assault, trafficking or child abuse to collections.

The bill (LB315) also prohibits distributing information that could affect their credit score.

Victims are routinely billed for medical costs because they dont have insurance, they havent used it or it didnt cover certain services, said Katie Welsh, legal director at the Womens Center for Advancement, at the bills public hearing.

Victims are in these situations through no fault of their own, but are bearing the brunt of the consequences, she said. When the bill goes unpaid, it gets sent to a collection agency, in some cases years after the original incident, which leads to more phone calls and letters ordering the victim to pay up.

Melanie Kirk, legal director at the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, said at the hearing that survivors medical bills are still being sent to collections even while medical providers wait for reimbursement from the Crime Victims Reparations program.

That process takes time and sometimes hospitals and their billing staff move a little bit more quickly, she said.

Fredrickson has now proposed LB315 as an amendment to DeBoers LB757, which he said was done in agreement with Arch and DeBoer.

DeBoer said she intends to continue bringing legislation on the issue.

We're gonna keep bringing bills until we get it right, she said.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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On Oct. 12, 2020, Kuuleilani Zalopany was at work, shingling a roof in La Vista, when Bellevue police drove up and delivered life-altering news: Her son, 17-year-old Kalani, had been robbed and shot in her home. He was dead.

Ive never screamed like that before and, hopefully, will never ever do it again, she said.

In the days that followed, a hint of hope: An advocate with the Sarpy County Attorneys Office handed Zalopany a brochure on the state-run Crime Victims Reparations program, created to reimburse survivors of violent crime for medical bills, lost wages and counseling.

Its a program meant to help Nebraskans who have been raped, abused, assaulted  or loved ones like Zalopany, reeling from the killing of a child.

But its also a program plagued by issues that prevent it from delivering help to Nebraskans in need, according to a survey of people who serve victims and several advocates who spoke to the Flatwater Free Press.

Crime victim fund State money for Nebraskas Crime Victims Reparations program comes from multiple places, including about $20,000 from the states general fund, plus court fees and a percentage of the wages of inmates on work release. The fees and work release money are deposited into a cash fund with a balance of about $1.4 million as of mid-2022, according to the Crime Commissions most recent budget request. The federal government allots money for crime victim compensation programs like this one, in all 50 U.S. states, via a formula: Currently, the formula is 75% of state money spent on victim claims two years prior. So, the amount of state money spent on claims affects the federal funding the program is eligible to receive down the road. An example of how that can play out: In Nebraskas fiscal year 2021, federal funding dipped to $46,000, down from $151,000 in 2020. That award was based on state money spent during federal fiscal year 2018, according to the program. The next year, federal funding rose again, to $159,000.

Nebraskas program aids only a fraction of crime victims when compared to most neighboring states.

It takes, on average, nearly half a calendar year to decide on claims, meaning that even families who receive money can wait in limbo for months.

The numbers reflect the frustration outlined in a recent legislative report and stories told by advocates fed up with what they view as a broken system. A young rape victim denied funding because her dad applied hours too late. A man, hit and killed by a car while standing in his front lawn, whose family was denied funeral costs because the act wasnt intentional.

And an Omaha mom who requested $5,000 to pay for her slain sons memorial service and burial. A mom who instead got zero dollars.

Kuuleilani Zalopany.

Devastated, she said about her reaction. Beyond livid.

Dont hold your breath

Nebraskas program lags behind almost every nearby state.

Iowa approved the applications of almost 5,700 crime victims in the past two years for which data is available, using a mix of state money and federal dollars available to all 50 states.

In that same two-year period, Nebraska approved the requests of 118 victims.

Iowa paid victims $10.4 million. Nebraska: $561,000.

The CVR program is, quite simply, not operating as the Legislature intended ... victims, as well as health care providers, are being left to bear the burden of a program designed to help them (thats) currently failing in almost every way to do so, said Erin Feichtinger, the Womens Fund policy director, at a recent legislative hearing.

Like every U.S. state, Nebraska has broad latitude to decide who is eligible for compensation and how much they can get, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Nebraskas program is overseen by the states Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, which since 2019 has been run by executive director Don Arp Jr. He made $103,000 last year, and new Gov. Jim Pillen retained him.

Presented with the data, Arp wrote in an email that comparing Nebraska to other states would not be helpful since each state has its own rules and requirements.

I know our program is serving crime victims well, he wrote.

Several Nebraska lawmakers werent so sure.

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee, called the state-by-state numbers alarming.

Sens. John Fredrickson and Wendy DeBoer, both Omaha Democrats who introduced CVR-related bills this year, questioned if the program is accessible.

Sen. Rob Clements, a Republican from Elmwood, and Sen. Terrell McKinney, an Omaha Democrat, wondered if victims know the program exists.

Its surprising that were so much lower than nearby states, said Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Arp isnt concerned about Nebraskas claim volume, saying that community partners, hospitals, care providers and advocates all know about the program.

But advocates said theyre often hesitant to recommend that victims apply, because they believe denial is inevitable. The program denies about half of applications.

A perceived shortage of money is one reason victims dont apply, said Sarpy County Attorney Chief of Staff Jean Brazda.

We really have to put that asterisk there (when we tell people about CVR), saying, Yes, it's available, but don't hold your breath, she said.

Teshawna Sawyer, associate director of Grand Island-based Willow Rising, said that a few years ago, after repeated denials, she stopped recommending the domestic violence and sexual assault victims she works apply for the funding.

The program, she said, seems like this elusive thing that we never actually get to work.

A callous denial

When Zalopany heard about the program, she assumed it would work for her family. The cap for funeral cost reimbursement is only $5,000.

She submitted the required materials, including details of her sons death, his death certificate and itemized funeral receipts.

Claims are investigated by one staff member and evaluated by Arp.

The verdict came months later via email: Denied.

She appealed to the Crime Victims Reparations Committee, and sent documentation she hoped would reverse the denial.

Eventually, she received a letter affirming Arps decision.

The committee voted to deny the claim for compensation because based upon the record before the committee, the victim could not be found to be completely free of culpability with regard to the act which produced the injury to the victim, it read.

In plain English: The state had decided her teenage son had some fault in his own death.

How the (expletive) does my son have any culpability in his own death? Its the most asinine miscarriage of justice, she said.

Rigid rules, complex cases

Service providers say CVRs rules are far too rigid  or rigidly interpreted  for a program meant to serve Nebraskans in complex, tragic circumstances.

It requires most crimes be reported to law enforcement in three days, though there are exceptions for sexual assault, sex trafficking and abuse.

Victims, often traumatized, dont report crimes immediately, said Melanie Kirk, legal director at the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.

I think that CVR is an incredibly important program and that, unfortunately, the requirements  they're difficult, she said.

The program mandates that a claim must be received within two years of the crime. The applicant must have cooperated with the criminal justice system during the investigation and prosecution.

And it says applications can be denied if a victim broke the law and that violation caused or contributed to their injury or death. Between 2015 and this January, 33 applications were denied due to contributory conduct.

Not all providers dislike the system. Misty Rowley, program director at Ainsworths Bright Horizons, which aids domestic violence victims, said she has helped roughly five people apply for CVR in the last few years with a roughly 80% success rate.

I think the program is run really well within the parameters that they have, Rowley said. I do think that there could be some changes in the parameters, but that's kind of the legislative side.

A survey of 18 programs, done by DeBoers staff and the Womens Fund of Omaha last year, turned up a few bright spots. (Jo Giles, executive director of the Womens Fund of Omaha, serves on the Nebraska Journalism Trusts board of directors.)

A third of survey takers said how helpful the programs current staff member is during the application process.

But that survey also identified many problems with how Nebraska helps, or doesnt help, its crime victims.

The denial rate is too high, providers argued. The programs requirements are too strict. It sometimes treats Nebraskans who apply for the program like accomplices to the crime instead of victims of crime, they argued.

Nebraskas denial rate affects the programs funding. Thats because federal funding for the program is allocated via a formula: 75% of the state money spent on victim claims two years prior.

North and South Dakota are the only U.S. states that received less federal funding than Nebraska in 2022, federal data shows. Nebraska has been in the bottom three recipients each year since 2019.

The report notes that the programs problems cant be addressed by changing requirements alone  rather, it reads, it demonstrates the need for a program run by professionals who understand the complex dynamics of victimization.

Arp agrees the program needs more staff. The commission has requested funding for another staff member.

Time has shown that only having one staff handicaps our ability to process claims at an acceptable pace, the budget request reads, adding that Nebraska is maybe the only state operating its program with just one employee.

Arp recently responded to the report in an eight-page letter to DeBoer, noting the crime commission wasnt consulted.

He wrote that when CVR denies a claim because of a lack of innocence, there is clear criminal activity. He included recent examples, including a gang fight and drug deals that turned violent.

He told the Flatwater Free Press that his decision making is always victim-focused.

As I review the staff recommendation, I do so from a stance that supports approval and only makes changes if clear grounds for denial are found, he wrote.

Life-changing potential

If Nebraskas program were ultimately able to offer more support, Sawyer said, it would change the lives of crime victims who desperately need it.

It was life-changing for Theresa Lawson, who applied five years ago, soon after she learned her ex-husband had been sexually abusing her teen daughter.

Bills were piling up from the art therapy that had significantly helped her daughter. The therapist wrote Lawsons application, she said, and she quickly received the counseling maximum: $2,000.

As a single mom of five, Lawson said that meant everything.

The program ended up meaning something very different to Kuuleilani Zalopany. She still feels wounded by a system that purports to be there to help people like her.

In the end, she paid for the funeral with money from a GoFundMe fund started by a friend  money meant to help Zalopany and her family move back to Hawaii.

Being back home has not helped her forget what happened in Nebraska.

I sat here struggling and struggling, still trying to recover from when I lost my son, emotionally, mentally and financially, she said from Hawaii. And there is no restitution. There is no balance of the scales, like  it's all tipped to one side 

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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Sen. Deb Fischer said Monday she is co-sponsoring legislation that would allocate $3.08 billion of unobligated COVID-19 relief funds to "rip and replace" Chinese-made communications technology that is located near critical U.S. military assets, including Offutt Air Force Base and nuclear missile silos in Nebraska.

"When the Federal Bureau of Investigation looked into this phenomenon, it found that the Chinese company Huawei was regularly selling equipment to rural providers at cheap prices that seemed unprofitable," Fischer said.

"In these cases, the equipment would be located next door to American military assets," she said.

"We know that the Chinese Communist Party intends to exploit these vulnerabilities for all kinds of activities, including espionage," Fischer said.

Fischer, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a news release outlining her efforts in the Senate as the Nebraska Legislature was also considering the issue.

Pending is a comprehensive bill (LB683) that was returned from final reading enactment to second-round consideration Monday at the request of Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln for an amendment to address the issue.

Bostar said the amendment would withhold public funding from telecommunications companies that are "compromising our national security."

The amendment was adopted on a 37-0 vote.

Chinese technology has been placed on top of cell towers in Nebraska, Colorado and Montana, Fischer said, and "curiously, these technologies were clustering near critical military locations."

"It's just one example of the threat Chinese-made equipment in our communications networks poses to national security," she said.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
SPENCER, Iowa  Opponents of planned liquid carbon dioxide pipelines in the Midwest won a victory when an Iowa judge ruled that a state law that gives surveyors the right to enter private property is unconstitutional.

In his ruling Wednesday, District Judge John Sandy denied a pipeline company's request for an injunction that would allow survey crews access to Martin's Koenig's farmland near Sioux Rapids in northwest Iowa.

Sandy said a law giving crews that access violated the state constitution because it doesn't provide just compensation for damages to landowners in exchange for the loss of their right to deny entry to their land, according to the Sioux City Journal.

Pipeline company Navigator CO2 Ventures said it will appeal the ruling, arguing it deviated from decisions in similar cases in other states.

Attorney Brian Jorde, who is representing Koenig, welcomed the ruling, calling it "a good day for anyone who cares about property rights."

Jorde, of Omaha, also represents another property owner in western Iowa who has made a similar claim against Navigator. A ruling in that case is expected soon.

Navigator's planned pipeline would cut through five states  Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota  and carry carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors to a site in Illinois. The gas would be converted to liquid form and sent under high pressure to a site where it would be pumped thousands of feet beneath the surface.

The pipeline is one of three proposed in Iowa, and similar projects are planned in other Midwest states. Interest in the pipelines has grown because of lucrative federal tax credits and the hopes that capturing the carbon dioxide produced when creating ethanol will make the fuel additive more marketable in states with more strict air quality standards.

Although the pipelines would capture carbon dioxide that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere, many environmental groups have opposed such projects. They question the safety of the pipelines and argue the nation should focus on renewable energy sources and break completely from fossil fuels.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Prosecutors sought Tuesday to portray as racist a U.S. Army sergeant who fatally shot an armed man during a Black Lives Matter protest in Texas, saying he was hostile toward social justice causes and looking for trouble before the encounter.

Daniel Perry's two day-sentencing hearing began with the introduction of dozens of texts and social media posts that he wrote, shared or liked, including some shockingly racists images. The texts and posts had been excluded from Perry's trial, but were publicly released after his conviction and introduced as evidence at the sentencing hearing.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott meanwhile has been pressing for the chance to pardon Perry under the state's Stand Your Ground law. Perry was convicted of murder in April and faces up to life in prison.

Prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez asked District Judge Clifford Brown to issue a sentence of at least 25 years.

This man is a loaded gun, ready to go off at any perceived threat, Gonzalez said. Hes going to do it again.

Perry, who is white, was working as a ride-share driver in downtown Austin on July 25, 2020, when he shot and killed 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran. Foster, who was also white, was legally carrying an AK-47 rifle as he participated in the demonstration against police killings and racial injustice, following the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer.

Among Perry's statements introduced Tuesday, he wrote on Facebook a month before the shooting: It is official I am a racist because I do not agree with people acting like animals at the zoo.

Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020. A few days later, Perry sent a text message to an acquaintance as protests over Floyds death got underway.

I might go to Dallas to shoot looters, Perry wrote.

Perry's attorney, Douglas O'Connell, objected, saying some of the statements were taken out of context, and that Perry has a right to free speech.

Some of the messages and memes Perry shared were disgusting, but others were simply dark humor and barracks humor, O'Connell said.

O'Connell asked the judge to take into account Perry's military service  he served for more than a decade  and sentence him to no more than 10 years.

Forensic psychologist Greg Hupp testified that he believed Perry has post-traumatic stress disorder from his deployment to Afghanistan and being bullied as a child, and that he may have autism. Perry did not see combat but was near a soldier who shot themself in the head, Hupp said.

His mother, Rachel Perry, was the last person to testify Tuesday afternoon. She said her son was ostracized as a child because of a speech impediment, and that he was an observant Jew.

Perry's conviction prompted outrage from prominent conservatives including former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who called the shooting an act of self-defense and criticized Abbott for not coming on his show.

Abbott, a former judge who has not ruled out a 2024 presidential run, tweeted the next day that Texas has one of the strongest Stand Your Ground laws and that he looked forward to signing a pardon once a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles hits his desk.

The board, which is stacked with Abbott appointees, has already begun what legal experts say is a highly unusual and immediate review of the case on the governor's orders.

The governor has not said publicly how he came to his conclusion. It is not clear when the parole board will reach a decision on Perrys case.

Perry is assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, but has been classified as in civilian confinement and is pending separation from the military, Army spokesman Bryce Dubee said.

Perry was stationed at Fort Hood, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Austin, when the shooting happened. He had just dropped off a ride-share customer and had turned onto a street filled with protesters.

Perry said he was trying to get past the crowd blocking the street when Foster pointed a rifle at him. Perry said he fired at Foster in self-defense. Witnesses testified that they did not see Foster raise his weapon, and prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away without shooting.

Perry would have leaned into his military training when surprised or in a stressful situation, said Hupp, the psychologist.

"He turned and then looked up and there was a crowd and very quickly what he perceived what was a weapon I dont see there was intention," Hupp said.

Fosters girlfriend, Whitney Mitchell, described Tuesday how Foster had taken care of her everyday needs after an infection led to the amputation of her hands and feet when she was 18. She uses a wheelchair and was with Foster at the demonstration when he was gunned down.
More information

The Sheriffs Office currently has four active multi-purpose K-9s on patrol and one K-9 trained in locating electronics.

The career of a K-9 is around seven years, making most dogs 8 to 9 years old upon retirement. The Sheriffs Office has been fortunate to have K-9s from a very reputable K-9 training facility in North Carolina that has been in business for over 30 years. The health and performance of the dogs provided by Southern Police Canine has allowed our deputies to have longer careers with their K-9 partners.

Fox Valley Veterinary Service cared for K-9 Nox through the years. Union Grove Animal Hospital, Bell City Vet, Beechwood Vet and North Shore Animal Hospital help take care of the K-9s at little to no cost to the K-9 program.

The Sheriffs K-9 program is solely funded through the generous contributions of the community.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation of any amount to the Sheriffs K-9 Unit can make a check out to the Racine County Sheriffs K-9 Unit or contact one of the K-9 supervisors: Sgt. Troy Ruffalo, 262-636-8785, troy.ruffalo@racinecounty.com, or Sgt. Joe Patla, 262-636-3841, joseph.patla@racinecounty.com. If a group or business would like to fully fund a new K-9, they may assist the sheriff in naming the new dog.
The accidental drowning of a Kenosha man Sunday occurred during a rescue in the Pike River.

The department released details Monday morning of the Sunday afternoon emergency call to the river west of Carthage College.

Kenosha County Sheriffs deputies and Somers Fire & Rescue personnel responded to the 2000 block of Sheridan Road for a report of a possible possible drowning at approximately 1:31 p.m.

Initial reports from deputies on the scene were that an adult male was swimming in the Pike River and began to struggle. At that time, a child who was with the man left to get help. The struggling swimmers brother and another adult male came down and jumped into the water to save him.

As the initial struggling swimmer was pulled to shore, the brother, who had jumped into the river to aid in the rescue, went under and did not resurface.

Sheriffs deputies and Somers Fire & Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and immediately entered the water to attempt to locate the man who went under. The Kenosha Sheriffs Department Drone Unit also responded to the scene and searched the river using a remotely operated underwater vehicle.

At about 2:49 p.m. the man was located under the water by Somers Rescue personnel unconscious and not breathing.

The man, later identified as Adrian Sanchez-Trujillo, 39, from Kenosha, was transported to Froedtert South Pleasant Prairie Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by the Kenosha County Medical Examiners Office.

Emergency units seen responding to the scene, in addition to Somers Fire & Rescue and the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department, included Racine County Sheriffs Department, Caledonia Fire and Rescue, Paris Fire, the Racine Fire Bells, Racine Special Team 1, and units from Salem Lakes and Scout Leaders Rescue Squad, among others.

The sheriffs department extended its condolences to Sanchez-Trujillos family.

Families that may need assistance in dealing with this tragedy are encouraged to contact the Kenosha County Mental Health Resource Center (available Monday-Friday) at (262)-764-8555 or the 24/7 Crisis Line at (262) 657-7188, the department said.

Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department at 262-605-5100.
Wisconsin election officials hope to revive a bipartisan plan they say is critical to rebuilding confidence in elections but that was killed last week by Republicans without debate.

The states chief elections official said a new division designed to handle voters concerns and deal with an onslaught of records requests and complaints was exactly what Wisconsin needs and of critical importance.

The Legislatures Republican-controlled budget-writing committee rejected the commissions request along with more than 500 other spending proposals from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a single vote last Tuesday.

The move comes as other battleground states take steps to invest in trust in elections ahead of the 2024 presidential race.

I certainly hope it comes back, said Don Millis, the Republican chair of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, which proposed the plan. There are things we can do to improve confidence, and thats where this inspector general office comes in.

Millis said he intended to ask lawmakers whether the plan could be revived as a stand-alone bill, but the head of the Assembly elections committee told The Associated Press hes already looking elsewhere for ways to build trust in elections.

I think it makes more sense for the municipalities to be in charge of their decision-making and problem solving, Republican Rep. Scott Krug said. Krug said lawmakers are working on plans to fund grants for local election officials, instead of more staff for the statewide elections commission. He had not heard from any lawmakers trying to revive the commissions request.

We would need to see details but will always support additional funding for election administration and security, including at the local level, said Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the commission and the states top elections official. But she also pressed the Legislature to reconsider the commissions request for 10 full-time staff for a new inspector general office at a cost of $1.9 million over two years.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission was created by Republicans in 2016, but it has increasingly been the target of GOP criticism since former President Donald Trump spread false claims that election fraud led to his defeat in Wisconsin in 2020.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud in Wisconsin in 2020, and the election outcome has withstood two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a conservative law firms review, numerous state and federal lawsuits and even a Republican-ordered investigation by a former state Supreme Court justice.

Still, some Republicans have pushed to eliminate the elections commission entirely.

The primary responsibility for administering elections in Wisconsin falls to more than 1,800 local clerks in one of the most decentralized systems nationwide. The commission sets rules, certifies results and provides clerks with training and grants. Until recently, the agency had only one attorney and one public information officer to process complaints and respond to voters questions.

Conspiracy theorists, skeptics and even lawmakers looking for evidence of election fraud have inundated the commission with requests in recent years. Ahead of the 2022 midterm, the agency was receiving more than three times the number of complaints it had in 2020, and records requests topped eight times its 2016 average, according to an August report.

All in favor

The three Republican and three Democratic election commissioners, who are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, unanimously approved the request for an inspector general office last year.

These investments are critical to boosting resiliency in our election infrastructure ahead of next years General Election, Wolfe said in a statement after lawmakers killed the plan.

Millis, the Republican chair of the commission, said its not fatal if the plan fails. But he wanted lawmakers to at least consider new ways to build trust in elections and ease the workload of commission staff.

In addition to investigating complaints and responding to records requests, the new inspector general office would have been tasked with reviewing the accessibility of polling sites, engaging directly with concerned voters and helping to train local election officials.

Other bills

Last week, the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, which Krug chairs, unveiled a series of bipartisan bills aimed at making a number of changes to Wisconsin elections, including added protections for election officials, restrictions on polling place closures and updates to military voting requirements.

In announcing the legislation, Krug pledged the committee will be dedicated to more collegiality, more common sense and more problem-solving than problem creation.

Krug was appointed last year to replace former committee chair Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, who became one of the Assemblys most prominent election deniers and used the committee as a platform for conspiracy theorists and deniers of the results of Wisconsins 2020 presidential election. Citing a lack of trust in Brandtjen, Assembly Republicans voted in a closed meeting last year to no longer allow her to participate in the chambers GOP closed caucus.

The latest bills mark a considerable shift from election-related measures introduced last session, which added more restrictions on local clerks and were criticized by Democratic lawmakers as making it harder to vote. The new bills will need to pass both Republican-controlled chambers in the Legislature before going to Evers desk.

State Journal reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this report.
SILVER CITY, Mich.  An 8-year-old Wisconsin boy missing for two days in a remote, rugged northern Michigan park was discovered near a log Monday and appeared to be in good shape, authorities said.

The park posted a photo of one of the searchers carrying Nante Niemi on his back. Another photo on Facebook shows the boy wearing a dirty sweatshirt and munching on a Clif bar.

Nante had been gathering wood while camping with his family when he was last seen Saturday afternoon in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula. He was found around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, approximately two miles from the campsite.

Overnight temperatures had been in the 40s.

He had braved the elements by taking shelter under a log where he was ultimately found. He is in good health and reunited with his family, state police said in a statement.

More than 150 people from various law enforcement groups joined the search on foot, in the air and on water. The park has rivers and lakes and is situated along Lake Superior.

The Hurley School District in Wisconsin, where Nante is a student, was elated by the discovery.

"Words can not describe the emotions and joy the students and staff are experiencing at this moment!" the district said on Facebook.
1. Yes. Keep Fort Hood Street in recognition of the citys historic connections to the post.

2. Yes. Businesses should keep their current name if its familiar to their customers.

3. No. It would be confusing, especially to newcomers, to have two post names being used.

4. No. It is disrespectful to the memory of Gen. Cavazos to keep using the name Hood.

5. Unsure. It might make sense in some instances, but it could be confusing as well .

Vote

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KEARNEY  During this years national Click It or Ticket campaign, Kearney Police Department will join law enforcement agencies across the country in providing extra patrol and raising awareness on the importance of buckling up.

This selective enforcement campaign will run from May 15-June 4. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 9,466 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States in 2019.

In that same year, 55% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m.5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts.

As always, the Kearney Police Department is requesting that you wear your seatbelt and use age appropriate car seats for children.

KPD's participation in Click It or Ticket is sponsored by a grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.
KEARNEY  Dina Robinson and Shelby Shipp, both registered nurses at CHI Health Good Samaritan, were honored as outstanding professional registered nurses by the Nebraska Nurses Association.

Each received the 2023 Positive Image of Nursing Award from the NNA to commemorate National Nurses Week May 6-12. They were honored at a nursing awards breakfast April 29 at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo.

Shipp and Robinson were the only nurses from Kearney to be honored.

This is one of the most meaningful honors a Nebraska nurse can receive. The nominations come from peers at hospitals, clinics and colleges of nursing.

Shipp, a six-year employee at Good Sam, is president of the nursing staff there. She was nominated by Megan Uphoff, MSN, R.N., director of critical care at the hospital.

Uphoff wrote, in part, Shelby Shipp is a strong patient advocate, collaborates well with all interdisciplinary teams to drive the plan of care, and is an excellent team player and leader in the ICU.

Shelby leads efforts across the organization for employee engagement, Nurses Week celebrations and more. I cannot think of another nurse who would better represent our organization as a Positive Image of Nursing.

Robinson, who has worked at Good Samaritan for nearly 23 years, was nominated by Jody Kempnich, R.N.

Dina displays a positive image of nursing on a daily basis. Her dedication to enculturating the Nursing Excellence framework into the culture at Good Samaritan is evident. She lives the organizations core values of compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration," Kempnich wrote.

She added, Dina is always on a quest for the latest evidence to support the best practice that will result in improving outcomes. She advocates for whats best for the patients, nurses and the organization. Shes a compassionate leader with high ethical standards and always represents nursing in a positive light.
KEARNEY  A Kearney man has pleaded not guilty to stealing and damaging property at Kearney Cinema 8.

Waco Carpenter, 60, pleaded not guilty in Buffalo County District Court to the felony charge of burglary and the misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief  intentional property damage  according to court documents. The alleged incident took place Jan. 1.

A one-day jury trial is scheduled to begin July 24.

The arrest affidavit outlines the case:

The Kearney Police Department was called to the Kearney Cinema 8 movie theater in reference to a belated burglary. Upon arrival at the movie theater, the responding officer observed pry marks and scratches to the door and door frame of an emergency exit door. The metal around the door latch was deformed, and the doors opening mechanism was inoperable due to damages.

Security camera video footage showed at about 1:21 a.m. Jan. 1 a white pickup truck drove up to the south entrance doors of the cinema. A white male, who the officer recognized as Carpenter, exited the vehicle and walked up to the doors where a key lock box was located. Carpenter allegedly walked from the lock box back to his pickup several times before getting back into the pickup and exiting the parking lot.

At about 7 a.m. Jan. 1, security footage from the cinema lobby shows Carpenter inside of Kearney Cinema 8. He allegedly walked to the lobby counter and grabbed a white microwave. Carpenter carried the microwave to a theater room. He returned to the lobby at 7:06 a.m. sans microwave. Carpenter left the view of the camera for two minutes before returning to the lobby carrying a folding lawn chair into the theater room.

According to the affidavit, Carpenter was contracted for remodeling work at Kearney Cinema 8. His work was completed on Dec. 12. On Dec. 14, Carpenter was allegedly inside the theater while intoxicated and was told he was not allowed on the property.

The microwave is valued at $40, and cost of damages to the property are approximately $1,000.
KEARNEY  Leaves and blossoms arent the only things that come out in the spring. Allergies do, too.

If you suffer from allergies, a whole host of trees can cause issues as the weather warms up, including red cedar, birch, maples, oak and others, Aaron Pinion, M.D., an allergist and immunologist at Platte Valley Medical Group, said.

When trees bud, they release pollen, and that pollen is transported by the wind. It will blow for miles until it finds a nose or eyes, Pinion said. In Nebraska, theres no shortage of wind.

Its that pollen that causes sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes and drainage in the back of the throat. It can also trigger asthma in people who have asthma, he added.

People who suffer from allergies can find relief in many over-the-counter medicines, including oral antihistamines and nasal steroids.

Nasal steroids are more effective than pills. They treat nasal symptoms and some symptoms that cause itchy eyes, Pinion said.

People prone to severe itching of the eyes this time of year can find relief in antihistamine eye drops, also available over the counter.

Zyrtec is also quite effective for allergy sufferers, and unlike some medications, it wont make people sleepy, Pinion said.

If symptoms persist after trying over-the-counter medications, or if those medications provoke severe reactions, sufferers should visit an allergist like Pinion. He can do tests to determine the specific source of allergies.

He can also give shots to relieve allergy symptoms. Shots are a great way to modify the immune system so a patient is no longer allergic, or far less allergic, Pinion said.

Medications only suppress the symptoms, but shots weaken the actual allergies and give relief to 90% of the individuals who try them.

Shots are also a good alternative for people who dont want to take medications every day, he added.

Allergies are most common in spring and fall. In the spring, trees are the culprit. In the fall, its weed pollen.

Pinion said many people with nasal allergies also have allergic asthma, and no over-the-counter medicine is equipped to treat that. An allergist can diagnose and treat those symptoms.

Asthma can be caused by a host of things  allergies, pollution, physical activities. Theres a multitude of triggers, he said.

Pinion, a Kearney native, became an allergist when, during his residency, a doctor suggested he do an allergist rotation, so he did.

I loved it. Seeing all age groups, from adults down to children. I saw a whole breadth of different conditions, from food allergies to medication allergies to hives, he said. He enjoys dealing with patients of all ages.

In recent years, he has noticed more people suffering from allergies. He believes this is caused by longer seasons, due to climate change.

Each spring is longer, and the first freeze is delayed, so the abundance of pollen in each tree or plant producing biomass is increased, he said.
Another massacre in America.

It feels like we are living in a nightmareand we should refuse to become numb to it. Instead, we should use our anger and sorrow and demand that our leaders do the things that most Americans support to stop the carnage.

In 1955, Emmett Tillan African American teenwas kidnapped and brutally murdered by White racists.

His mother, Mamie, insisted on an open casket funeral, forcing the world to see the consequences of racism in America.

I have no idea whether being confronted with the very graphic images of mass shootings in America will rouse the kind of reaction that might lead to meaningful change in the same way that Tills helped further the Civil Rights Movement.

But I believe we owe it to our children to try.

(For more on those graphic images, you can click here to see them on the Connors Forum newsletter.)

It is not radical to say that, nationwide, we should:

Ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines

Enact a 30-day waiting period for all gun sales

Enact red flag laws

Enact better and uniform background checks

Raise the legal age at which people can purchase firearms

Improve our mental health system

I know this is not radical because a majority of Americans support everything on that list. You can read the Gallup surveys yourself.

There is consensus in America on what needs to be done. The problem is not with the citizens, but our leaders.

There is no excuse to wait any longer. Contact your elected representatives and demand a better world for our children.

The best research suggests we can make a serious dent in this problem if our leaders would only implement the reasonable preferences of a majority of Americans.

This week's guest is Dr. Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California-Davis. Wintemute offers his thoughts on how to reduce gun violence.

The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partner institutions.

Episode Music:
Advocates carry cutouts of Nebraska with its motto, "Equality before the law," during a rally for trans rights on Friday, March 31, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA  At least one Nebraska business owner called her local police department Monday about what she considers a threatening call from a person angry over a public letter urging state officials to drop bills targeting LGBTQ rights.

Andrea Kathol, founder of Field Day Development, was one of several businesses and nonprofits who endorsed the letter and subsequently were contacted by phone.

Kathol said she was so sickened by the message, which was filled with foul and derogatory language, that at a certain point she stopped listening.

She did, however, report the call and sent the voice message recording to Omaha police. She also called the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, as she believes the woman caller works in that industry.

Kathol said she warned her staff about the call and told them to lock the door of the business.

When you get a voicemail like this, how can you not take this seriously? she said.

The call, in part, said: Hey loser, what the (expletive) is wrong with you? You want males in girls sports? How (expletive) is that?  Are you mutilating the genitals of children as we speak or just advocating for that?  Youre (expletive) outed.

Par for the course

The Nebraska Examiner called the number that was left on a few answering machines and phones, and the woman who responded said she was busy calling businesses and nonprofits listed on the letter, trying to get to the bottom of it.

Driving her actions, she said, were thoughts about the future of her eight daughters, her sisters and other women.

The letter  sent last week to Gov. Jim Pillen and state lawmakers  was endorsed by more than 100 business and nonprofit leaders.

The letter objected to harmful social legislation and cited proposed Legislative Bill 574, which would block minors from receiving certain gender-affirming procedures, and LB 575, which would ban transgender girls from competing in girls school sports.

Businesses and nonprofit leaders who endorsed the letter said such bills would be bad for talent recruitment and retention and the overall business climate.

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, who introduced the bills, said she does not condone calls viewed to be threatening. She said that was par for the course this year, though, with some of the inflammatory words said on the legislative floor.

Every business that signed onto a public letter like that understood they are making a stand that is going to be popular with some and unpopular with others, Kauth said.

In response to last weeks letter, Pillens office said that protecting Nebraska kids is good for business.

The governor said, We welcome all people to Nebraska, but we should not let kids make irreversible life-altering decisions until they are adults.

When you get a voicemail like this, how can you not take this seriously?  Andrea Kathol, founder and owner of Field Day Development

Friedman Law Offices of Lincoln was among the more than 100 groups that endorsed the letter. Dan Friedman said Monday that he returned a call to a woman who had left a message about the letter.

Friedman said the caller swore at him and told him he was anti-girl and anti-woman, but Friedman said he did not feel physically threatened.

He said that his dad had represented Brandon Teenas estate and that the law firms feelings about the bills in question are fueled by that experience. Brandon Teena was a 21-year-old transgender man and Lincoln native who was murdered 30 years ago in rural Humboldt, Nebraska.

We will always stand up for the rights of marginalized people in Nebraska and everywhere, Friedman said. He described the bills in question as a solution in search of a problem.

Deeply personal

Esther Mejia, founder of E Creative marketing firm, who also endorsed the letter, said she picked up the phone Monday and eventually hung up on a female caller who Mejia said unleashed anger.

She and Kathol said that as part of the LGBTQ community, they considered the verbal attack as deeply personal.

Mejia said the letter to state officials was intended to raise caution about legislative measures that send a message that Nebraska is not welcoming to all.

She said the harassing call she received Monday reinforced that kind of narrative.

The letter followed a similar message delivered earlier by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

The contentious bills have inspired a series of filibusters led by Omaha Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt.

After news media outlets, including the Nebraska Examiner, reported about the letter last week, at least one large Omaha business was targeted on social media.

Lt. Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department said an officer took Kathols information, and it was passed to the assault unit for review to see if it rose to the level of a crime.

Greg Lemon, the director of the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, said his agency received a call about the message left Monday but would not review matters unless they were real estate related.

Major Nebraska employers sign onto national LGBTQ statement LINCOLN  Some major employers in Nebraska, including Omaha-based Union Pacific Railroad, are among 319 companies who have signed a statement opposing anti-LGBTQ state legislation. While the statement, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, does not specifically mention bills pending in the Nebraska Legislature, it clearly states opposition to measures that block minors from obtaining certain gender-affirming care, as a pending Nebraska measure, Legislative Bill 574, would do. We are deeply concerned by the bills being introduced in state houses across the country that single out LGBTQ individuals  many specifically targeting transgender youth  for exclusion or differential treatment, the statement says. Such pieces of legislation unnecessarily and uncharitably single out already marginalized groups for additional disadvantage, the statement says. They seek to put the authority of state government behind discrimination and promote mistreatment of a targeted LGBTQ population. A spokeswoman with Union Pacific said Monday that the corporation had signed the statement in 2021. (Union Pacific) has a longstanding public record of supporting our LGBTQ employees and community, including membership in Nebraska Competes and our 100% rating from the HRC Foundations Corporate Equality Index, said Kristen South of Union Pacific. Several other major employers in Nebraska signed onto the statement. They include Becton Dickinson, Cargill, Google, Kellogg Co., PayPal, Starbucks, Target, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Yahoo and Pfizer. According to its website, the Human Rights Campaign, founded in 1980, supports pro-fairness candidates and policies. Just recently, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce sent a letter opposed to LB 574, as did a group of 115 leaders of Nebraska businesses and nonprofits. The bill, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, is awaiting final-round debate.  By Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Paul Hammel.
Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun delivers an opening speech during the FSS' IR event held at the Grand Ball Room in Pan Pacific Singapore, Tuesday. Courtesy of FSS



FSS supports financial firms' foray into overseas markets



By Anna J. Park



Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun has emphasized the Korean financial market's enhanced market access as well as consistency in regulations for global investors during his overseas investor relations event held in Singapore on Tuesday. Lee has been on a five-day overseas visit to three Southeast Asian countries  Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia  since Monday, along with representatives of many Korean financial firms.



In his opening address during Tuesday's event held in Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, the head of the financial watchdog agency characterized the strengths of the Korean financial sector, which he branded as "K-Finance," as stability, soundness, innovation, growth and efforts to streamline market regulations for global investors.



"The government and financial authorities have been enhancing global investors' access to Korean financial markets and the protection for the investors. The financial authorities also plan to continuously strengthen the transparency and consistency of the regulatory framework of the country, while increasing the accessibility of Korea's foreign exchange markets to global investors," Lee said.



He went on to stress that the Korean government has started to take a series of measures to resolve the information asymmetry that global investors have experienced due to language barriers or regulations.





Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun delivers an opening speech during the FSS' investor relations event held at the Grand Ballroom in Pan Pacific Singapore, Tuesday. Courtesy of FSS



"As Korea maintains world-class competitiveness in cutting-edge technological fields, including information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, the financial sector of the country has so much potential to rise as a leader of digital finance. Actually, Korea's major financial companies are expanding the scopes of their digital platform businesses beyond borders, while increasing strategic cooperative relations with overseas digital banks," the FSS chief highlighted.



"Just as Korea's cultural content, such as K-pop and K-dramas, is drawing a wide range of attention and love from the world, K-finance, which has been developed based on the solid growth of Korea's real economy, is also expected to leap forward, anchoring on trust and innovation," Lee stressed, vowing full support for global investors.



Altogether, some 100 key officials from about 70 global financial firms and sovereign funds, including BlackRock BNP Paribas, Carlyle, Fidelity, Macquarie and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) attended Tuesday's event held in Singapore.



Aimed at further globalization of Korea's financial business, the event was also attended by heads of many financial firms, including KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, Korea Investment & Securities CEO Jung Il-mun, Mirae Asset Securities CEO Choi Hyun-man, Samsung Fire CEO Hong Won-hak and Korean Re CEO Won Jong-kyu. Key officials from the National Pension Service (NPS) also attended the event.





Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun, fourth from right, stands next to heads of major financial firms participating in the FSS' investor relations event in Singapore, Tuesday. From left, Korean Re CEO Won Jong-kyu, Korea Investment & Securities CEO Jung Il-mun, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Singapore Choi Hoon, Lee, KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo, Mirae Asset Securities CEO Choi Hyun-man and Samsung Fire CEO Hong Won-hak. Courtesy of FSS



"KB Financial Group is planning to become Asia's representative financial group by a balanced growth of bank and non-bank subsidiaries of the group, while bolstering the group's non-interest profit. The group will also strengthen its digital platform and profits from overseas markets," KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo said during a Q&A session held at the event.



"It is the very first investor relations event in Singapore that is hosted jointly by the FSS and financial firms. Hana Financial Group will continue direct communications with global investors, aiming to attract investments based on the group's solid performance," Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo also said during the event.



On Monday, the first leg of the five-day tour, the FSS chief held a meeting with Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput in Thailand. The two leaders discussed bilateral finance sector cooperation, vowing for a deeper bilateral partnership.



The FSS chief plans to hold a meeting with the vice chief of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Wednesday, to discuss information sharing and consultative cooperation to deepen their partnership.





Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun, fourth from right, speaks during a Q&A session of the FSS' investor relations event held at the Grand Ballroom in Pan Pacific Singapore, Tuesday. Courtesy of FSS
Middle school students with a talent for the visual arts had an opportunity to hear first-hand from a professional artist and to work on art projects.

Sarah Pederson, a self-taught artist from Coon Valley who specializes in 3-D trompe loeli (fool the eye) murals, was the guest speaker at the Middle School Visual Arts Fest hosted by De Soto Area Schools, Friday, May 5. The event is part of the Mississippi Valley Gifted & Talented Network, with students from De Soto, Kickapoo, La Farge, Richland Center, Royall, Norwalk-Ontario and Bangor school districts attending.

Pederson, who has a business degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been painting professionally since 2012 with the business name Lucid Painting.

Meg Buchner, elementary art teacher and gifted and talented coordinator at the De Soto school district, welcomed the students and introduced Pederson.

Art has the power to make people feel, Buchner said. Buchner said she first saw Pedersons artwork in 2020, when she was in the Gundersen Health System Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit in La Crosse with her son.

On the wall there was a painting of an outdoor scene  it looked real. You could see little tiny details. She noted there were even fish on the bathroom wall. Buchner said art has the power to help a child hooked up with an IV pole to feel better and a mother, too.

Pederson said when she decided to be a stay-at-home mother, she taught herself to paint by studying other artists. In 2012, at the age of 35, she started painting professionally. Pederson reminded the students age doesnt matter when pursuing art.

The muralist said being able to be creative and bring joy are among the rewards of being a professional artist. Each project is different and I can set my own schedule.

Pederson told students she is still an introvert even after all these years of interacting with clients. I get energy by being alone.

Pederson also shared some of her responsibilities, including customer service, preparing and ordering supplies, accounting and budgeting, and paying taxes. You pay more taxes when youre self-employed.

After Pederson presented photos of some of her favorite projects, shared painting tips and answered a few questions, the students broke into small groups to work on three different art projects. Students created a collaborative gridded mural, learned how to make a small book and created a plaster relief tile.

Buchner said this was the second year in a row De Soto hosted the visual arts fest for sixth- to eighth-grade students. She said the students who attended were selected by their teachers.

This is a great event, especially for kids gifted in art. (Its) for them to create and learn about careers in art. It exposes them to options.

She said the Middle School Visual Arts Fest helps students find their voice, express their creativity and gives them an opportunity to do something they may not necessarily do in art class. Its a fun day, for sure.

In addition to listening to the artist talk and making art, the middle-schoolers were invited to bring one piece of visual art to display. Comment cards were available for students to fill out.
For the last 25 years of his life, Tom Volk battled severe health issues, from cancer to an enlarged heart to a flesh-eating bacterial infection. In 2022, his body finally gave out, leaving a community of students, researchers, scientists and biologists reflecting on his impact in the Coulee Region and on the study of mycology on a global level.

Volk, who died at age 62 last November, was a biology professor at UW-La Crosse and former member and president of the Mycological Society of America, with a far-reaching and fundamental impact on the world of fungal biology. An expert on mushrooms, he co-authored a study on Blastomycosis, a potentially fatal infection hyperendemic to portions of Wisconsin and created the popular Tom Volks Fungi and Fungi of the Month webpages.

On May 21-22, Volks legacy will be honored and his work highlighted through Synmycanthrosium: The Tom Volk Memorial Symposium, hosted by the UW-L department of biology. Registration closes May 12 for the program, which costs $75 for students or $120 for general admission.

The term Synmycanthrosium translates to the together-fungus-people-place, inspired by Volks gift for uniting people through the love of fungi.

Tom was both great and famous, said Gundersen Health System infectious disease specialist and UW-L microbiology adjunct/clinical faculty Dr. William Agger. He was nationally and globally known for mycology.

The event, said Gundersen clinical operations director for infection control Bridget Pfaff, is an opportunity for amateur mycologists to be introduced to the science, and for those already familiar with the field to polish their skills and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Activities include a mushroom foray on Sunday and guest speakers, research presentations and panelists on the field of mycology.

The Mushroom Man

Volk, born in Ohio, developed an interest in mycology at Ohio University after learning that I could find free food in the woods  that was very appealing to a college student, Volk told La Crosse Magazine in 2006.

Growing up, Volks grandmother would try to determine which wild mushrooms were edible and which were poisonous by feeding them to her cat. Volk learned to be more discerning, able to identify many of the 150 Wisconsin varieties suitable for human consumption and the some three dozen dangerous and four or so deadly varieties. It was knowledge he shared with his students after joining the staff at UW-L in 1996.

The way Tom taught us all of these things  he had a gift, said Pfaff. I still remember all these names all these years later.

Volk, a member of eight mycology groups, attracted students from across the country to his courses, earning the Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching Mycology in 2003 and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Mycology in 2005. Volk also worked with his students to contribute to the Encyclopedia of Life website project, and his classes covered general, food, industrial and medical mycology, the latter of which help shape Pfaffs work in health care.

Science and medicine

Pfaff studied microbiology at UW-L and was pursuing a career in infection control when she reached out to Volk through email in August 2001, asking to learn more about the graduate biology studies program. She was simply considering the program, but Volk responded with Class begins next Tuesday afternoon, see you then.

I think I quickly picked up the phone and told him all the reasons I wasnt ready to start a graduate program that soon, and that I didnt even have a great GPA  maybe he didnt want me to be one of his students, Pfaff recalled. He again stated, See you next week. There are so many stories like this from so many of his students. He had a unique way of challenging each person to be their own individual best.

Pfaff was an new mom at the time of her graduate program, her young son accompanying her on many forays with the mycology group from UW-L. While she initially intended to focus her studies on indoor mold and its related health concerns, Pfaff shifted focus to Blastomycosis and was blessed with a combination of many lifelong mentors being part of my committee, including Dr. Volk and Dr. Agger.

An outdoor mold that produces spores, Blastomyces are breathed in and remain in the lungs or spread to other areas of the body. Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain and chest pain, and if the infection enters the blood stream it can be severe or life threatening to humans, dogs or other mammals. For a 2014 research paper, published by WMJ, Pfaff, Volk and Agger examined Blastomycosis infections that occurred outside the Northern, hyperendemic area of Wisconsin.

In the Coulee Region it is unusual, Agger said of the condition. But clinicians in the Northwoods are very aware of this and so are veterinarians and they get on to the diagnosis easier.

Their research paper examined 26 patients diagnosed with Blastomycosis at Gundersen locations between 2002 to 2006, 73% of whom were initially treated for bacterial pneumonia. With the condition rare in southern Wisconsin, diagnosis in many cases was delayed, leading to the deaths of four individuals for whom treatment may have worked. Travel to endemic areas is responsible for many cases, but people can be exposed locally.

There are certain scenarios that just make it more to conducive to the breathing in of the fungus in the soil, said Pfaff.

Where the particular pathogen hides in nature remains a mystery, said Pfaff, calling it one of the rare, elusive mysteries of medicine still. As such, their paper concludes, the most important key is for the medical community to promptly screen for blastomycosis in patients with a history of soil or dead vegetative exposure, with an ill dog in the home, with unusual findings on a chest radiograph, extreme acute respiratory distress syndrome, or failure to respond promptly to initial antibacterial therapy.

While Pfaff, who will present during the symposium, didnt set out to study mycology, her degrees from UW-L opened 30 years of doors for me in health care, she said. Dr. Volk was a big part of that.

His teaching style and willingness to guide the future in science is now part of my marrow, said Pfaff. I am honored to have been touched by such a quiet and gentle genius, someone who was never pretentious and who accepted everyone just as they are.

There is beauty in bringing the scientific methods to the leadership role in the hospital, said Pfaff, and that is the opportunity to look at long term mentors like Dr. Volk to be able to take their teaching style and use that while I analyze the business of health care and use the same principals in making sure Im making good decisions in the areas I support in the hospital.

A big heart

Pfaff, who at the time didnt realize how special it was to be taught by Volk, stayed in contact with Volk after graduate school and spoke with him frequently during the coronavirus pandemic. As the recipient of a heart transplant in 2006, Volk was considered high risk of severe COVID complications and took great precautions to preserve the gift of life he had received.

Known as The professor with Two Hearts, Volk always gave credit to the donor when someone thanked him for all he had done for them, his obituary reads. The donor not only saved Toms life, but helped mold young minds and curate future scientists.

According to a 2017 article from UW-Ls student paper, The Racquet, Volks students were the ones to to drive him to his transplant operation, and, with his encouragement, between 80 to 90% of them signed up to be organ donors.

Volk shared his experience in detail in the UW-L YouTube video, Professor with Two Hearts and the Tedx Talk A Change of Heart: My Transplant Experience. His wisdom, appreciation for life, compassion and genuine care for those around him and those he taught continue to resonate, with comments below the videos including Tom was the most influential of my science teachers in college. He is a UW-L crown jewel and I look at the world differently BECAUSE of you. Thank you for telling your story.

Said Volk at the close of his Tedx Talk, The old cliche to treat every day as a gift is true. Who knew?

To register for the Tom Volk Symposium, visit https://www.UW-Lax.edu/ex/mycology-symposium/
The Winona County Board moved to discuss amending zoning ordinances related to dog breeding facilities at Tuesdays meeting in a 3-1 vote, beginning a process that could change how and if Winona County provides permits to dog kennels.

I asked last year, Is there more that we can do? And it sounds like there is more that we can do. Through the presentations that have been given and the volumes of materials that folks have provided, there is scientific evidence that supports that the standard practices in the industry do hurt the dogs that are kenneled, said commissioner Chris Meyer, who supported the motion.

Winona County has approved permits for 12 breeders, and 10 are active. No dog breeders are currently applying for a permit.

Next steps could include a county board working session to discuss issues, receiving feedback from planning staff and sending a draft amendment back to the planning commission for public comment.

A zoning ordinance amendment could ban dog kennels outright through removing the facilities from the list of conditional or interim uses or by prohibiting use in certain areas, a strategy used by the county to ban silica sand mining.

I fully understand our staff does not have the training nor enough staff to take this on. At the same time, I think this is a very important issue thats been falling through the cracks for a long time, said commissioner Dwayne Voegeli, who supported the motion.

Voegeli spoke in favor of more listening sessions but wanted to wait until the county filled the now vacant planning and environmental services director position and staffed the planning department.

Commissioner Gregory Olson, who introduced the motion, disagreed with waiting for better staffing.

This came before this board last year, and it just went through the planning commission because they were waiting for proper staffing and time. And I was at the board table in the other building several years ago when this came up. I dont want to just keep kicking the can down the road. Id like to at least get the process started, said Olson.

Commissioner Marcia Ward voted against the motion, saying there are already state and federal regulations of dog kennels.

Wheres our role as a county? Ward said. Zoning ordinance would still be land-use oriented, building use, not animal welfare. So I dont know that a change in the ordinance, setbacks, size of buildings, exercise areas, weve got all that already.

Tuesdays decision rejects the county planning commissions recommendation to take no action, made during an April planning commission meeting on a 6-3 vote.

The county board in October 2022 directed the planning commission to review dog kennel regulations and consider if a zoning policy change should be pursued.

Inspections of kennels conducted by county staff in February found no permit violations. County staff were not allowed to enter three facilities and did not independently count the number of dogs in each facility.

The planning commission recommended the board make no zoning change, citing animal welfare regulations under the United States Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and lack of staff knowledge on animal welfare.

At public comment during Aprils planning commission meeting, over a dozen of residents spoke against dog kennels during public comment, and a petition that supported a ban on new permits for dog breeding facilities garnered signatures from across the county. Animal Folks, an advocacy group, presented research and news articles to the planning commission regarding poor health conditions at dog kennels licensed by the USDA.
The Minnesota State systems board of trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to appoint Scott Olson as the next chancellor of Minnesota State.

Olson has worked in the Minnesota State system for 20 years and has been president of Winona State University since 2012.

Scott has deep roots in Minnesota State and is known throughout the system as a collaborative and strategic leader, said Minnesota State Board of Trustees chair Roger Moe. He has amassed an outstanding reputation in every role he has played and has the skills needed to build a common vision of what Minnesota State can become.

Olson is set to begin as chancellor Aug. 1. He plans to visit all 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities in the Minnesota State system when he starts.

The first priority is to get out and around to all the campuses and hear the local stories from the communities they serve, how their needs are being met, meet the students from each campus and get a firsthand sense of what those needs are. So we are all moving together, Olson said.

As the Minnesota State system faces declining enrollment, Moe said Olson can propel the institutions forward and provide new strategies moving into the future.

There was a sense that Scott was in a position to literally not miss a beat between chancellor (Devinder) Malhotra and his leadership, Moe said. I think that was the convincing part when it came to the board of trustees.

Board members said they believed Olson was able, through his experience at Winona State University, to step into the chancellor role during a time when two big initiatives were happening: Equity 2030 and NextGen.

Equity 2030 aims to eliminate education equity gaps in the state system by 2030, and NextGen is a project to create a new technology landscape on each campus in the system.

Dr. Olson comes with the kind of background and experience that causes all of us to feel confident that hell be able to move into the position and move forward with the goals weve already established, Minnesota State Board of Trustees member Kathy Sheran said during a special board meeting Tuesday.

Olson said he has a passion to make college more affordable.

For Minnesota to become what it can be, were going to have to remove affordability as a barrier, Olson said. Our employers are telling us that they cant get the volume of workers that they need, and the only solution to that is to make college be more affordable for our students.

Olson will succeed chancellor Devinder Malhotra, who announced his retirement in October.

Olson and Tonjanita Johnson, the University of Alabama systems senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, were finalists for the position.

This is one of the greatest honors of my life to be a part of this system, Olson said. What our colleges and universities do every day is nothing short of remarkable, and I look forward to working collaboratively with our faculty, staff, business partners, community leaders and especially our students toward a prosperous, inclusive and innovative future.
Which do you love more, bacon or chocolate? At Bacon Fest, you dont have to answer that question because you can just eat Bacon Chocolate.

The three-day festival in Lake Genevas Flat Iron Park gives bacon artisans the chance to flex their creativity with such foods as Bacon Mac & Cheese, Bacon Maple Syrup, Bacon Jalapenos and more.

It is also a weekend also filled with live music by Miles Over Mountains, Jonny Lyons & the Pride, Hillbilly Rockstarz and other area musicians.

Bacon Fest is Friday through Sunday, May 12 to 14, at the park, 201 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva. Hours are May 12, 4-9 p.m.; May 13, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; and May 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Whats the lowdown on this years event? Tracey Bockhop, one of the Bacon Fest organizers, pulls back the curtain in the following Q&A.

Note: The following has been edited for clarity.

Resorter: What are some of the most significant changes to the event this year?

Tracey Bockhop: The most significant change made this year is there will be no timed entry or protocols put in place from the past two years. This years fest is now running three days long so we will kick it all off on Friday, May 12, and have free admission on Sunday for Mothers Day. The fest is open to all and you can come in at any time all three days if you would like.

Resorter: What is the greatest challenge in pulling off Bacon Fest?

Tracey Bockhop: One of the greatest challenges on putting on Bacon Fest is trying to predict the weather and being prepared for anything. As most Midwestern people know this weekend in May can be so fickle it could be 80 degrees or 40 and rain. It is just very hard to prepare for that and we are open rain or shine.

Resorter: How unique are this years bacon creations? What are some of the more mind-blowing ones, in your opinion?

Tracey Bockhop: Each year we have fan favorites and then some that will just blow you away, we love trying everything with everyone else over the course of the three days. We have Wisconsin classics like Bacon Mac & Cheese and Bacon Cheese Curds and then others add in Bacon Jalapenos and Bacon Chocolate, which is always a favorite among the attendees.

Resorter: Do you think people come to Bacon Fest purely for the bacon?

Tracey Bockhop: I feel that there are many reasons people come to Bacon Fest, and the bacon is just a part of it. Bacon in and of itself is could be the only reason but we also have additional vendors selling local products and live music. Holding this in such a wonderful community, in the heart of Lake Geneva, it has become the place to go for locals to meet up with their friends and have a beer while listening to music and giving back to the community. It also showcases Flat Iron Park to visitors who may come to the area every weekend or visiting for the first time and really gives everyone the hometown experience.

Resorter: What is one thing about Bacon Fest that you think nobody really knows?

Tracey Bockhop: One large and important part of Bacon Fest is the impact it has on the local community. It draws others from outside the community, and areas of the Fest have direct impact on local not-for-profit organizations like the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank. It also would not be able to be put on without the generous help from the local police and fire departments and the countless volunteers who donate their time during the weekend to make sure the attendees are fed, hydrated and safe.

Resorter: What are you looking forward to most about Bacon Fest?

Tracey Bockhop: Every year we get so excited just to bring people together while eating amazing food and enjoying time together with friends and family. It really helps kick off the summer and start off the fest season for all who attend. We cannot wait to see you all there.

Dive deep into bacon

Bacon Fest features 18 food vendors. According to baconfestwi.com, the vendors are American Made BBQ, Da Local Boy, Fork N Fry, The Lumpia Lady, The Peanut Butter Pig, Sweet Caroline Roasted Corn & Snack Bar, The Baker House, Chef Abel of Elena In Home Catering, Jammin Concessions, Loco Sno, Smilin Dawgs, Uyghur Grill LLC, Chocolate Moonshine, Flips Mini Donuts LLC, Lake Geneva Pie Co., MM&E BBQ, Smokie Boyz BBQ and WI Style BBQ.

Retail and other vendors include Capital Vacations, Gindos Spice of Life, Stinebrinnks Piggly Wiggly, Corspice, Glas All Naturals, Waterford Bee Company, Exterior Pros and Mid-City Grill.

The bar, sponsored by Brunos Liquor, will serve various beers, seltzers, wines, sodas and water. Part of the bar sales will benefit the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank.

Live music

Following is the live music schedule for Bacon Fest.

Friday, May 12  CRY! CRY! CRY! A Tribute to Johnny Cash by Jonny Lyons & the Pride, 5-6:30 p.m.; and Hillbilly Rockstarz, 7-9 p.m.

Saturday, May 13  Indigo Canyon, noon-2 p.m.; and Lara Bell Band, 2:30-4:30 p.m. An as of yet unannounced performer will play from 5-7 p.m.

Sunday, May 14  Karen Shook Trio, noon-2 p.m.; and Miles Over Mountains, 2:30-5 p.m.

Tickets

Until Thursday, May 11, at 4 p.m., tickets are $5 per day or $12 for the full three-day pass when purchased online at baconfestwi.com.

After, tickets are $10 per day. The three-day pass is only available until May 11 at 4 p.m.

Ages 12 and younger are admitted for free. On May 14, mothers can enter Bacon Fest for free.

28 photos from Lake Geneva's second annual Bacon Fest House-cured double smoked maple bourbon bacon sizzles on the grill at second annual Bacon Fest Kenosha's Audrey Garhart entertains at Bacon Fest "Sweet. fatty and lovely" burnt end pork belly bacon candy by Mrnak Premium BBQ Meats & Eats Enjoying tasty treats at Bacon Fest Second annual Bacon Fest at Flat Iron Park, May 14-15 downtown Lake Geneva Chad Shortridge of Bristol-based American Made BBQ serves up eastern North Carolina chopped pork sandwiches infused with crumbled bacon Miles Over Mountains performing at the 2022 Bacon Fest, Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva Fontana resident John Hughes ladles up bacon chili at the Walworth County Food & Diaper Bank's fundraising booth Bacon Fest vendor Peter Pucillo crisps chopped bacon on the griddle Pit master Jeff Mrnak fries house-cured, double-smoked maple bourbon bacon strips at the second annual Bacon Fest "Electrica" performs at the 2022 Bacon Fest in downtown Lake Geneva Burnt end pork belly "Bacon Candy" at Lake Geneva Bacon Fest Cornhole bag toss game at Lake Geneva Bacon Fest Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Fest 2022 Bacon Chili bacon Bacon Fest 2022 bacon Bacon Fest 2022 music Bacon Fest 2022 bacon pizza Bacon Fest 2022 crowds Bacon Fest 2022
Even if it isn't the frightfully fun Halloween season, who doesn't like a spooktactularly good ghost story or other twisted tales of the mysterious and the macabre?

Globally-famed paranormal researcher, investigator, lecturer and author Chad Lewis will be the featured guest at the Fontana Public Library's next adult community education program on Wednesday, May 10.

Lewis, of Eau Claire, will present on "Paranormal Wisconsin: Tales of Ghosts, Monsters & UFOs."

The free 1 p.m. program will be held upstairs from the library in the meeting room at Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Dr. (State Hwy. 67).

"It's going to be a visual road trip, so people are going to be able to see these places, check out eyewitness drawings, photos I've taken," Lewis said. "For me, it really is just a jumping board for adventure  to get out there and explore the state, hit the back roads, stop at some roadside attractions. For me, it's all disguised as the paranormal, but it's really a program of adventure."

Sought-after lecturer

For over two decades, Eau Claire native Lewis, 48, has traveled the back roads of the world in search of the strange and unusual. From tracking vampires in Transylvania and searching for the elusive monster of Loch Ness to trailing the dangerous Tata Duende through remote villages of Belize and searching for ghosts in Ireland's haunted castles, Lewis has scoured the earth in search of the paranormal.

Featured on the Discovery Channel's "A Haunting" and the William Shatner-narrated "Weird or What?," ABC's "Scariest Places on Earth" and Destination America's "Monsters and Mysteries in America," along with being a frequent contributor on "Ripley's Believe it or Not Radio," Lewis has a master's degree in psychology and has authored more than 20 books on the supernatural, extensively lecturing on his fascinating findings.

The more bizarre the legend, the more likely it is that you will find Lewis there researching and investigating everything from ghosts and hauntings to UFOs and crop circles and everything in between  possesed statues coming to lfe, vanishing hitchhikers, Bigfoots and pursuing hellhounds among them.

Lewis comes by his longtime interest in the paranormal honestly.

The short answer is Wisconsins to blame, Lewis said of the roots of his curiousity. I grew up in Eau Claire, which is near one of the three UFO capitals of the world Wisconsin claims to have, near Elmwood. Belleville and Dundee are the other two. Id always heard of people seeing, hearing and encountering UFOs. In high school I went to Elmwood and started talking to people who believed they had seen something. As it turned out I started studying psychology that fall and thats what I was interested in  why some people believe in the supernatural and why others do not. I ended up doing my masters thesis on that question and it just kind of blossomed from there.

Judging by the turnout for his programs held across the Midwest, some 150-200 '"driving distance" programs a year largely in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and South Dakota, Lewis is not alone in his interest in the supernatural.

A former grant-wirter for nonprofits, Lewis has been doing presentations on the paranormal full-time for the past 20 years following the 2003 publication of his first book, "The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations."

Im amazed with how many people are fascinated with the topic, Lewis said. They might not necessarily believe, but theyre fascinated. They love it. Interest has definitely increased in the last 20-plus years Ive been speaking. In the early days, somebody would come up to me after a lecture and kind of look around and make sure nobody was listening and theyd whisper about a sighting theyd had or grandmas haunted spirit in their home. Now after a program, ten, fifteen people may raise their hand to tell their story. I think its become much more acceptable, theres not that stigma anymore, especially with hauntings. Theres still is a little bit with UFOs, but with creature sightings and hauntings, people are just looking for somebody to tell their story to.

Lewis presentations draw an audience from both sides of the aisle, believers and non-believers alike.

I promote it as heres the research Ive done, and Im right down the middle  heres the background, the folklore, the history, but dont take my advice either way, go there for yourself and decide for yourself whether or not you believe these legends are true, Lewis said. I think that people really like that  Overall, people who come to my programs see that its just a fun virtual road trip to some of these strange and unusual places. They leave itching to go there themselves."

Fontana presentation

Lewis looks to bring a spooktacular time for all the spooktators in the audience.

According to Lewis, Wisconsin is a mysterious state with many legends. His presentations feature photos, case histories, eyewitness accounts and even directions to bizarre places he has been in his travels.

"Get ready for a scary afternoon of deadly spirits, hovering UFOs and mysterious beasts roaming the back roads, as I have combined my strangest cases, including the Lake Monster of Geneva Lake, into one scary free presentation for the Fontana Public Library," Lewis said.

Fontana Public Library Adult Program Coordinator Sally Lee is looking forward to Lewis' presentation.

"He's an author that has written books about weird things that go on in Wisconsin and other places  he has all sorts of speaking engagements throughout the year," Lee said of Lewis, a popular and much sought-after presenter. "I think it'll be interesting for people. I know I want to know what he has to say and whether there's anything possibly around here that's creepy."

Lewis said Wisconsin is rich in supernatural lore, including several mysteries right here in Walworth County, the Lake Monster of Geneva Lake being chief among them.

"The Lake Monster of Geneva Lake dates back in written accounts to the late 1800s ... when people started reporting some giant leviathan of the deep, something bigger than any known animal," Lewis noted. "People would see it and encounter it and then a posse would gather and paddle out in their boats and try to look for it. This happened a couple times a year and the newspapers would report 'Serpent Spotted Again' and oftentimes there would be really fantastic sightings ... The Chicago Times picked that up and did a great sketch of it in the paper and it spread, because in Wisconsin in the 1800s, if you were a resort town and you did not have a sea serpent story, you were behind the times. You'd lose out on tourists coming up from Chicago. Oftentimes that played out in embellishments, hoaxes and the like. As of today, I've collected over 40 different Wisconsin lakes, rivers and streams that all claim, or have claimed, that a monster is in them, which is more than any other state in the U.S. We have more sea monster stories."

Other local lore, Lewis said, include The Beast of Bray Road in Elkhorn and several "strange sightings" and "The Book of the Dead" in "Second Salem" Whitewater.

"This program's going to be everything from sea serpents to haunted places to weird creatures, and perhaps the most infamous is The Beast of Bray Road in Elkhorn ... reported to be, for lack of a better term, a werewolf...," Lewis said. "It exploded all over the U.S. beginning in the 1980s. People were coming from all over the country to travel down Bray Road to see this monster. Outside of the Hodag of Rhinelander, which is a fictional monster Up North, it's probably the most infamous supernatural legend in Wisconsin ... And then on the corner of the county is Whitewater, which is dubbed "Second Salem" because it has so many strange stories of hauntings and creatures and the 'Witches Tower' ... My favorite story is that the Whitewater library has a 'Book of the Dead,' that if you check this book out you're going to die, either at your own hand or in a tragic accident..."

Learn more

The Fontana Public Library is located at 166 2nd Ave. in 1,800-resident Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, just off Valley View Dr. (State Hwy. 67).

For more information, visit fontana.lib.wi.us, visit Fontana Public Library on Facebook, or call the library at 262-275-5107.

IN 16 PHOTOS: Fontana Elementary School presents "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" - April 14.15, 2023 "Somewhere, over the rainbow..." Uncle Henry and Aunt Em on their Kansas farm Miss Almira Gulch comes to take away canine Toto and have him destroyed Dorothy Gale consults with psychic reader Professor Marvel The Mayor of Oz "Tot Munchkins" sing and dance in Fontana Elementary School's April 14-15 production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy in the April 14-15 Fontana Elementary School production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Jitterbugs swarm in Nikko, leader of the Winged Monkeys "I'll get you my pretty  and your little dog, too!" Things look bleak for Dorothy Gale in the dungeon of the Wicked Witch's castle as time runs out Arrival at Emerald City The Wizard of Oz (Alex Cudnik) in the April 14-15, 2023 production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Glinda, the Good Witch of the North "There's no place like home..." Dorothy awakens back in Kansas, surrounded by concerned family and friends
A study is set to be conducted for a proposed parking lot at the Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St.

Members of the Lake Geneva City Council approved, April 24, to have representatives from Kapur & Associates Consulting Engineers of Burlington conduct an engineering study on whether a parking lot could be established on the east end of the library.

The study, which is expected to cost about $5,000, was approved by a 5-3 vote with alderwoman Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Peg Esposito and Linda Frame voting "no."

Members of the city council's finance, licensing and regulation committee recommended the study, April 18, by a 3-1 vote with Fesenmaier voting "no."

Representatives from the Lake Geneva Public Library first presented plans for the proposed parking lot during the Feb. 27 public works committee meeting.

The parking lot would include about 15 spaces and would be constructed on the east end of the library along Cook Street, if approved.

Several parking spaces along Cook Street would have to be removed to help provide access into the driveway of the parking lot. The Lake Geneva American Legion Post 24 canteen building would have to be moved to another area of Library Park if the parking lot is constructed.

Emily Kornak, director of the Lake Geneva Public Library, has said patrons have requested that additional parking be available at the library for several years.

The parking lot would be available to patrons during the library's operating hours and to the general public as a city parking lot during non-operating hours.

Naomi Rauch, project engineer for Kapur & Associates, said, during the finance committee meeting, that the engineering study will look at the different aspects for constructing the proposed parking lot.

"This will include a conceptional layout looking at utilities, relocation, parking lot layout, pedestrian access and coordinating with city departments," Rauch said. "The study will look at the relocation of the American Legion structure, what is going to happen with the parking kiosk, stormwater management requirements and engineering and construction cost estimates."

The city council members are not set to vote on the proposed parking lot until they review the results of the engineering study.
Cambodia is making plans to finish developing large tourist areas along its coast on the Gulf of Thailand.

Five years ago, Chinese investors began turning Sihanoukville, a small coastal city, into a large gambling center. But that ended with a ban on online gambling and the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 200,000 Chinese workers had to return home.

Casinos closed and construction on many buildings was not finished. Now, many people in Cambodia want Chinese investment to return.

Many Cambodians want the Chinese investor to return because the property prices are dreadful, and we want the Chinese businesspeople to return to help the market to recover, said Chantha Lack, a private Cambodian investor.

Officials are making plans to complete work on more than 1,100 unfinished buildings in Sihanoukville. And they are thinking about ordering developers to either tear down buildings or finish the construction by 2026.

Cambodia is also considering a plan to lower taxes and make it easier for people from other countries to come to the area.

David Totten is a director of the investment company Emerging Markets Consulting in Phnom Penh. He said about half of the unfinished buildings have created legal problems relating to ownership and responsibilities. Because it is not clear who owns the buildings, he said there would be difficulty in dealing with claims for the properties.

Investors are coming back

Chinese investment is helping to pay for the development of the Ream Naval base, about 30 kilometers east of Sihanoukville.

The U.S. government worries that the base could extend Chinas military in Southeast Asia. However, both Chinese and Cambodian governments say it is not a Chinese base. Cambodia also says the base will be open to many countries.

A new tourist area, called the Bay of Lights, is also under development near the naval base. The project is expected to be completed by 2028.

Harrison White is the editor of Cambodia Investment Review. He said much more is planned for the area. And he noted that additional construction could last until 2040.

The projects going to be bringing a very large amount of investment, approximately $16 billion, could even be more, he said.

White said the areas population might grow to 160,000 and that the development might include 330,000 jobs. He added there could be three million more tourists visiting the area.

Cambodia wants economic growth to return to pre-pandemic levels, helped by Chinese investors and tourists. In 2019, about 2.36 million visitors brought in about $1.8 billion.

Cambodias Tourism Ministry said Chinese investment in tourism-related areas was more than half of total foreign direct investment. China has also helped pay for highway projects connecting the Phnom Penh capital to Sihanoukville.

Cambodia is very much in need of appealing to foreign buyers, White said. The country of 17 million people, he added, is surrounded by billions, with China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and many more, are looking to enter the market.

Im Andrew Smith.

Luke Hunt wrote this story for Voice of America. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

casino -n. a building or venue where gambling is legal and regulated

dreadful -adj. very bad, awful

editor -n. a person who reviews and edits another person's writing, usually in preparation for publication

approximately -adv. close to an amount, or roughly

tourism -n. the business and activities related to travel

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Americas top spokesperson on public health, the U.S. surgeon general, recently said loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Dr. Vivek Murthy said loneliness costs the health industry billions of dollars each year, and he declared it the latest public health epidemic.

In a report, Murthy said about half of U.S. adults say they have experienced loneliness.

We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. Its like hunger or thirst. Its a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing,

Murthy told The Associated Press (AP): Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and thats not right. Thats why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.

To pull back the curtain means to show how something is or acts that is normally not seen in public.

The declaration is meant to raise understanding about loneliness. However, it is not linked to federal financial support or programs meant to fight the problem.

Recent research suggests that American have become less active with organized religion, community organizations and even their own family members. Research also shows Americans have reported an increase in feelings of loneliness. In addition to that, the number of households with a single unmarried person has doubled in the last 60 years.

But this problem became more severe with the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools and workplaces closed and millions of Americans were separated from family and friends.

The surgeon generals report said individual Americans reduced their friend groups and spent less time with friends who remained. Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends in 2020, down from 60 minutes a day 20 years earlier.

The loneliness epidemic is especially affecting young people aged 15 to 24. The age group reported a 70 percent drop in time spent with friends during the same period.

The report said loneliness increases the risk of an early death by nearly 30 percent. And it said people with poor social relationships have a greater risk of stroke and heart disease. The research found lack of social activity also increases the risk of developing mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and dementia.

Murthy did not provide any data that shows how many people die directly from loneliness or lack of social activity.

The surgeon general is calling on businesses, schools, community organizations, parents, and others to make changes that will increase the countrys level of connection.

He advised people to join community groups and put down their phones when they are meeting friends. Murthy also advised employers to consider their policies for working away from their offices. And he called on health systems to provide training for doctors to recognize the health risks of loneliness.

Murthy said technology has increased loneliness. One study in the report researched people who used social media for two hours or more a day. It found that the group was more than twice as likely to report feeling a lack in social connection than those who spent less than 30 minutes a day on social media.

Murthy said social media is driving the increase in loneliness. His report suggests that technology companies formulate protections for children especially around their social media behavior.

Murthy said there is no replacement for in-person interaction. He added that Americans are using technology more for communication. He wondered: We lost out on a lot of that in-person interaction. How do we design technology that strengthens our relationships as opposed to weaken them?

Im Caty Weaver.

Lindsey Tanner reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Top US Government Doctor Declares Loneliness a Big Health Problem Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

epidemic  n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people

thirst  n. an uncomfortable feeling that is caused by the need for something to drink

shadow  n. an area of darkness created when a source of light is blocked

single adj. not married

stroke  n. a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked

interaction  v. to talk or do things with other people

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Ukraine said Saturday that it shot down one of Russias hypersonic missiles using an American-made defense system.

Ukrainian military commander Mykola Oleshchuk said his forces downed the Russian missile over Kiev the night of May 4. He said they used the American Patriot missile defense system. He said a Russian aircraft had launched the hypersonic missile from Russian airspace into Ukraine.

Ukraine sent soldiers to the U.S. earlier this year for training on the missile defense system. It is the first time Ukraine is known to have used the defense.

Russias military says the hypersonic missile can travel 2,000 kilometers and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound, which makes it hard to shoot down.

The combination of its speed and a heavy warhead makes the Kinzhal missile very powerful. It can destroy well-protected targets or mountain tunnels. It could also damage a large part of a city.

The U.S. offered Ukraine access and training for the Patriot system in late 2022, just before a visit from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine received its first Patriot system in April. The systems came from the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands. It is not clear how many systems Ukraine has or where they are.

Before last weeks news, Russia said the U.S. Patriot system was too old to shoot down its fast missiles.

Yurii Inhat is a spokesman for Ukraines Air Force.

They were saying that the Patriot is an outdated American weapon, and Russian weapons are the best in the world he said. Well, there is confirmation that it effectively works against even a super-hypersonic missile.

Inhat called it a slap in the face for Russia.

Ukraines military first asked for a Patriot system in August 2021, well before Russias February 2022 invasion. At that time, the U.S. said it could not send the system.

Ukraines top military leader is Valerii Zaluznyi. He thanked the U.S. for its aid in a message on the Telegram system over the weekend.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

hypersonic adj. able to travel faster than the speed of sound

warhead n. the part of a missile with the explosive device

slap v. to hit with an open hand

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The administration of President Joe Biden says it will end most remaining federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements on May 11.

That date was chosen in February by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to end the countrys Public Health Emergency for COVID-19.

Vaccine requirements for federal workers and federal contractors will end on May 11. In addition, foreign air travelers to the United States will no longer be subject to existing vaccination rules, or mandates.

The government has also begun the process of lifting vaccination requirements for some educators, healthcare workers, and noncitizens at U.S. land borders.

The Biden administrations COVID-19 coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, recently spoke to the Associated Press (AP). He said: While I believe that these vaccine mandates had a tremendous beneficial impact, we are now at a point where we think that it makes a lot of sense to pull these requirements down.

Biden used presidential powers to require vaccinations starting in the fall of 2021 as the nations vaccination rate leveled off. At that time, different virus versions, called variants, began to be reported. Some of the variants spread easily.

Politicians debated the vaccine requirements and legal action was brought against them in courts around the country.

At one time, more than 100 million people were covered by the U.S. vaccine mandates. Biden had ruled out such requirements before taking office in January 2021. But he became more open to the idea when much of the public refused to get vaccinated. His administration argued that people who did not get vaccinated were endangering the lives of others and harming the nations economic recovery.

Federal courts and the U.S. Congress have already withdrawn Biden's vaccine requirements for large employers and military service members.

More than 1.13 million people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than three years ago. This number included 1,052 people during the week ending April 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. That was the lowest weekly death number from the virus since March 2020.

COVID continues to be a problem, Jha said. But our healthcare system or public health resources are far more able to answer the threat that COVID presents. He added, Some of these emergency powers are just not necessary in the same way anymore.

The CDC says more than 270 million people in the U.S., or just over 81 percent of the population, have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

For more than a year, U.S. health officials have been considering how to create a long-term plan of action to fight COVID-19. The plan is expected to be similar to how officials currently deal with the flu. This would include releasing new vaccines yearly based on the latest versions of the virus.

Currently, U.S. officials say fewer than 56 million people in the U.S., or about 17 percent of the population, have received one shot of the latest COVID-19 vaccine to be developed.

Jha dismissed concerns that ending the international travel vaccination requirement would increase the risk of a new variant from overseas entering the U.S. Biden has already reduced virus testing requirements for both American citizens and foreign travelers to the U.S.

We think that we are much more able to identify if a new variant shows up in the United States and respond effectively, Jha said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

mandate n. an official order to do something

beneficial  adj. helpful or useful

impact  n. the effect that a person, event or situation has on someone or something

influenza  n. short form of the term influenza: a sickness that is similar to a bad cold, often causing a high temperature, tiredness and other symptoms

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There is a saying among storm chasers: If its May, you chase. I put that mantra to work on Friday, May 5 and after some flip flopping back and forth on my part, it paid off in the end.

I woke up Friday to a Slight Risk for severe weather across much of western and southwestern Nebraska. A shortwave trough would be ejecting out into the Plains and as a result, a surface low pressure system would form in Colorado and then move east into Kansas and Nebraska.

The low would help pull moisture northward and finally put the dew points in the 50s. A warm front would lift north from Kansas into Nebraska, around the I-80 corridor. A squall line was set to form in the Panhandle in the late evening and move through central Nebraska during the overnight hours. My hope was that there would be one or two supercells that would initiate along the warm front ahead of the squall line.

The main threats would be wind and hail, but there was a non-zero tornado threat, especially for any cells that occurred near the warm front. It was clear the most favorable environment would be later in the evening, when the low level shear began to ramp up and instability was at its peak.

After several years of chasing, I have developed an inside joke with my family. The joke goes that if tornado chances are forecast for Florida, I should target McCook, Nebraska no matter what. This comes from several chases when I went north when I should have gone south and the days that I do target McCook always seem to have paid off.

After looking at the models and surface analysis, I decided to follow my own advice and targeted McCook. I arrived in the community around 4 p.m. on the edge of a cumulus field that was looking more and more agitated by the second.

After pausing to speak with a local ham radio operator about the storm chances, I noted cells firing to the east of McCook. One near Beaver City looked more robust than the others. Despite smaller cells firing in my area I made the choice to catch up with this developing cell after my patience finally snapped.

The issues began when I had passed through Cambridge. The cell behind me near Indianola had gained a severe thunderstorm warning. I decided to go back through Cambridge and stopped on the west side to track and film the severe thunderstorm. (Little did I know, but treading on the path I just went down would be the theme of the day.)

After observing the Indianola storm for a time, I couldnt determine the type of structure I usually look for and the storm eventually lost its warning. However, a cell to the east of Beaver City had gained its own warning and presented more discernible supercell characteristics.

I headed back east on Highway 34, passing north of Oxford to catch up with this developing cell. I noted a hook echo appendage coming off of the storm as it neared Orleans.

It was on the highway that I had a crisis of faith, but one I feel paid off in the end. I was north of the supercell and a key part of these types of storms is a forward flank that is filled with precipitation, such as rain and usually large hail.

I had found myself in the same situation on April 19 in Iowa, north of a supercell and unable to cut through the forward flank to get my eyes on the key part of the storm. The updraft base.

The moment of truth occurred when I stopped at a north-south paved highway around 7:30 p.m. I could head further south and attempt to maneuver around the supercell that was now north of Alma. However, looking at the radar, there was another option.

A severe thunderstorm was in the middle of Gosper County and appeared to be moving toward Bertrand. Unfortunately its presentation on radar did not scream, supercell. This presented me with a problem.

My job involves reporting on news in the Dawson and Gosper county area. Unlike other chasers who can go after the most promising storms. I feel an obligation to keep track of what is impacting the area I report in. I report the news after all, and severe weather tends to make the news if there is damage.

So I could go south toward a cell that had shown promise over the last hour, but away from my reporting area; or I could head northwest and jump on a storm that didnt look overly impressive on radar, but it was impacting my area.

I chose to go north toward the cell in Gosper County. I am sure glad I made that choice.

I traveled up north through Holdrege and then northwest toward Loomis. This storm moving through Gosper was on track to move through Phelps, I noted. It was also beginning to take on supercell characteristics, exactly what I had been looking for all day.

I stopped on the west side of Loomis and noted the storms base. Not too impressive around 7:30 p.m., but it was the storm I had decided I would stay on. I held position in Loomis, filming and watching the base of the severe-warned supercell approached me.

There were a few distinct times that the inflow into the storm picked up. If this happens, its a sure sign the storm is building strength. I held in Loomis as long as I dared, even when the rain from the forward flank began falling around me. The storm was beginning to look like a healthy supercell from the visual cues I saw, an updraft base, inflow tail, etc.

Just a little after 8 p.m., I knew I had to move, rain was falling more heavily around me and I could tell the hail core of the storm was not far off. I jogged back through Holdrege and down just north of Atlanta.

When I finally pulled off of the highway, there was a dream sight in the western sky. A robust base of a supercell thunderstorm. The dark blue and gray clouds contrasted starkly with the orange sky behind it. What surprised me as I held position was how strong the inflow into the storm was.

In fact there was a price to pay for being surprised. I was filming the storm with a Sony camera on a cheaper tripod. It had fallen over at least once due to the heavy winds but finally it went down in a heap when I wasnt looking and damaged the lens. I was embarrassed to have not taken better care of my equipment, but this was the closest I had ever been to a robust supercell.

Around 8:30 p.m., I began to see some dust being lifted upward just under the rear flank of the supercell. Some over eager chaser announced that this was a tornado on Twitter, but I knew better. There is always a great deal of turbulence under these types of storms and I knew what we were actually looking at: gustnadoes.

A gustnado is a brief, shallow surface-based vortex which forms within the downburst emanating from a thunderstorm. They deceive many chasers and I could tell the dust being lifted skyward wasnt connected to any persistent rotation in the base. Still, it catches your eye when you see dirt rising up from under a supercell.

The classic supercell structure I witnessed south of Holdrege was nothing short of spectacular. I have been close to supercells before, but this was the first time I was able to hold in one location and witness its evolution before my eyes. Despite the lack of tornadoes, the structure is what made this chase something special.

Around 9 p.m., the supercell cycled and I was impacted by the outflow of the old rear flank downdraft (RFD), the strength of these outflow winds surprised me and I was hit by water from an active pivot in the middle of the field that I was on the edge of.

I decided to head back north through Holdrege and began to note the prolific amount of lightning this storm was producing as the daylight faded. I paused north of town to film the lightning as I waited for the storm to pass east of my road home.

There was one final treat for the night. Friday, May 5 was the evening of the full moon. Due to the clouds and dust on the horizon, I saw the Flower Moon rise in the southeast, a deep shade of crimson. I have seen an eclipse before and this color of red rivaled it.

I finally made it home around 11 p.m. but the show wasnt over yet. The anticipated squall line had formed in western Nebraska and was bearing down on the central part of the state and was slated to hit my home around midnight.

I stood outside with my camera, exhausted but unwilling to let lightning photos go to waste. I finally had to retreat inside as the outflow winds began to hit the area.

I would later learn that areas of Johnson Lake were struck by an EF-1 tornado after dark, embedded in the line of thunderstorms that I was watching. Those types of tornadoes scare me the most; you wouldnt have been able to see it until it was too late.

This chase yielded some of the best supercell structures I have ever seen in my five years of chasing. Being that close to a robust supercell was exhilarating and humbling, you get a sense of just how fully one storm can modify its environment.

It was my first chase of May and I hope there are more to come. I am still chasing down a tornado for this year.
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Chinas foreign minister told the U.S. ambassador yesterday that Washington is responsible for the downturn in relations between the two countries and must reflect deeply before ties can return to a healthy track, an official said.

Qin Gangs comments follow a suspension of serious dialogue on a range of issues between the worlds largest economies, increasingly at odds over tariffs, attempts by Washington to deprive China of cutting-edge technology, and Chinas claims to self-governing Taiwan and large parts of the South and East China Seas.

Chinas Foreign Ministry quoted Qin as telling Ambassador Nicolas Burns that a series of erroneous words and deeds by the U.S. since a meeting in November between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-U.S. relations.

The U.S. side should reflect deeply, meet China halfway, and propel China-U.S. relations out of the difficulties and back on the right track, Qin was quoted as saying.

The United States should correct its understanding of China and return to rationality, Qin said, repeating his earlier accusation that the U.S. is attempting to suppress and contain China. Beijing routinely cites U.S. political and military support of Taiwan as infringing on its sovereignty.

Qin said ties had grown icy and the priority was to stabilize them and avoid a downward spiral and unanticipated events.

The U.S. should stop undermining Chinas sovereignty, security, and development interests, particularly through support of Taiwans independent identity, Qin said.

China says Taiwan must come under its rule, by force if necessary, while the United States says the relationship between the sides must be resolved peaceably. U.S. law requires it to treat threats to Taiwan, including a military blockade, as a matter of grave concern, though it remains ambiguous under what conditions U.S. forces could be dispatched to defend the island.

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the U.S. is Taiwans largest supplier of military hardware and diplomatic support, even while it continues to maintain relations with Beijing. Biden has been seen as going a step further by repeatedly saying that the U.S. would back Taiwan militarily, and America has been upgrading basing arrangements with the Philippines, located just south of Taiwan.

U.S.-China military contacts have been on hold for years, and Chinas top staff refused to answer a call from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last year. China retaliated for the visit by staging a naval and air force blockade of Taiwan and cutting off channels of communication with the U.S. on issues from environmental protection to maritime security.

At a daily briefing yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin described the meeting between Qin and Burns as a normal diplomatic arrangement.

In a tweet, Burns said he met with Qin and discussed challenges in the U.S.-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication.

In comments to a U.S. think tank last week, Burns said Washington has been consistent in its approach toward Taiwan and insists that any resolution of the (cross-Taiwan Strait) differences has to be peaceful.

We hope that the government here in China will commit itself to a peaceful resolution of the dispute, Burns said in an online discussion with the Washington-based Stimson Center.

Contacts between Washington and Beijing have been fraught for months since U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken abruptly canceled a Beijing trip aimed at easing U.S.-China tensions in February. That came after a large high-altitude Chinese balloon was shot down after it sailed across the U.S., drawing Pentagon accusations of spying on sensitive military sites despite firm Chinese denials.

Qin has departed for visits to Germany, France and Norway amid Chinas fraying relations with Europe over alleged unfair trade practices, human rights abuses and Beijings support for Russia in its war against Ukraine. MDT/AP
The Italian tourism ministry thought it had a sure-fire way to bring travelers into the country: turning a 15th century art icon into a 21st century virtual influencer.

The digital rendition of Venus, goddess of love, based on Sandro Botticellis Renaissance masterpiece Birth of Venus, can be seen noshing on pizza and snapping selfies for her Instagram page. Unlike the original, this Venus is fully clothed. The influencer claims to be 30, or maybe just a wee bit (older) than that.

But the new ad campaign is facing significant backlash  with critics calling it a new Barbie that trashes Italys cultural heritage.

The tourist campaign trivializes our heritage in the most vulgar way, transforming Botticellis Venus into yet another stereotyped female beauty, Livia Garomersini, an art historian and activist with Mi Riconosci, an art and heritage campaign organization, said in a response to the project last month.

The yearlong campaign, produced by national tourism agency ENIT and advertising group Armando Testa, is estimated to have cost 9 million euros (about $9.9 million), according to ENIT CEO Ivana Jelinic.

Jelinic said that the campaign was designed for overseas markets to attract younger tourists. The online Venus launched in Italy on April 20 and made her international debut in Dubai at the Arabian Travel Market earlier this week.

We liked the idea that it would be a work of art that is timeless, Jelinic told The Associated Press, adding that Botticellis Venus seemed to us like a immortal icon who could represent Italy well.

Already the new Venus has been memed mercilessly online, appearing among trash bins, alongside Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, and in other less-than godly places.

The criticism extends beyond the use of a masterpiece to the manner in which the campaign was orchestrated, including its use of stock images and other gaffes like a promotional video featuring a winery in Slovenia, used as a stand-in for Italy.

An even greater sin for many is the campaigns slogan, Open to Meraviglia (Open to Wonder), because it mixes English into an Italian tourist campaign even as the countrys government seeks to protect the Italian language as a pillar of its culture.

There are other language faux pas.

On the campaigns website, an automatic translator turned Brindisi, a southern Italian port town, into its literal English definition: Toast, according to Matteo Flora, a professor at the University of Pavia. That part of the website has now been obscured.

Lets not talk about the creativity point of view, said Flora, You may like (the campaign) or not, but on a technical point of view, it has been a sort of avalanche of problems.

That includes a failure to secure domains, allowing anyone to snatch the material and mock the project with it.

Flora said the campaign also wasted money. The campaigns creative team chose to use the intelligence of human creativity, rather than artificial intelligence, to build the virtual Venus  but Flora showed how he could quickly come up with a similar campaign using AI at a cost of 20 euros. His social media posts have been shared by thousands of people.

The use of a likeness of Botticellis masterpiece has been lambasted by art historians as well, who say it vastly diminishes the beauty and mystery of the 15th century original.

Perhaps Botticelli would not be happy about this, said Massimo Moretti, a professor of art history at the University of Rome, Sapienza.

Any use of an iconic image like the Birth of Venus risks striking a cultural nerve, marketing experts say.

The more you try to alter something thats historic, probably the greater the outcry, said Larry Chiagouris, professor of marketing at Pace Universitys Lubin School of Business.

People are going to say, Youre changing the culture. Youre changing who we are, because its part of our history, Chiagouris added.

I didnt like the fact that they used the Botticelli Venus like that, since it is a piece of art, Riccardo Rodrigo, a high school student in Rome, said. They made it something social friendly to amuse Gen Z, I think it was unnecessary since it can be used just like it is and not modified like they did.

The Uffizi Galleries, which houses Botticellis Birth of Venus in Florence, declined to comment on the campaign.

For the creators of the campaign, however, any press is good press.

It has become so viral, said Jelinic of ENIT, adding that web users have made her come alive even when placing the new Venus in unglamorous places.

I find (it) interesting in terms of social communication, Jelinic said. Our campaign is more appealing than (critics) want to admit.

Tourism officials plan to expand the campaign through the use of billboards as well as video screens in airports and railways. TRISHA THOMAS, ROME, MDT/AP
The 2023 Hengqin Global Investment Promotion Conference kicks off today, with over 300 representatives from government, the foreign consular corps in Hong Kong and Macau and Macau business associations. The conference will showcase the business environment of the cooperation zone and invite overseas investors to visit Hengqin and Macau. It will hold a promotional event on the investment environment of the cooperation zone, where a global investment promotional video will be released. On-site investigations of the business environment of the cooperation zone are also on the agenda, as well as invitations for representatives to visit Macau, as a collaboration event with the Beyond Expo.

Related
After the citys April marketing campaign in Europe alongside its Chief Executives official tour, certain Portuguese businesspeople will visit Macau and inspect Hengqin, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) has recently disclosed in a statement.

The IPIM also indicated that several business promotion events were held between March and April, facing businesses in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. With nearly 350 business matching and discussion sessions, the marketing events have led to the closing of 17 deals.

To further promote Hengqins role in the development masterplan of Macau, the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will today organize a global business pitching event, the IPIM revealed.

It added that the event will be the largest of its kind held since the establishment of the zone in Hengqin. It is expected that more than 300 attendees will participate.

The IPIM emphasized that the event will present to the world the business environment on Hengqin and invite foreign investors to personally inspect the environment in Macau and Hengqin.

Furthermore, it announced that more such events will be held in the future in other overseas locations. Delegations will also be sent to participate in business pitching events organized by other parties.

Another organization, the British Chamber of Commerce in Macao (BritCham Macao), will host a trip to Hengqin on May 20. Named a green trip, the organizer expects participants to see Hengqins smart technology and sustainable waste management practices during the five-hour trip. AL
Trade unionist lawmaker Ella Lei has recommended the government refine the environment in Old Taipa to improve the experience for tourists.

In her latest written inquiry, the lawmaker pointed out that as tourism activities resumed, points of possible improvements in the district have also become an issue. The Old Taipa district is popular among tourists, whether looking for food, historic stories or instagrammable spots.

For example, Lei explained, the streets and alleys in the districts are mostly packed with people during weekends and major travel seasons. However, due to the preservation of historic values of the buildings and landscape, these streets and alleys cannot be widened.

Nonetheless, not all streets and alleys were visited, the lawmaker added. She also disclosed that some tourists wished for richer tourism elements or activities in the district.

Moreover, Lei underlined traffic challenges faced in the district. At peak hours, both motor vehicles and pedestrians crowd up nearly all corners, and they have to either squeeze or fight for space. She identified this scenario as a potential safety concern.

She then moved on to discuss the former Iec Long Firecracker Plant, which had been converted to a tourists site. She suggested that the government should add more elements of interest to tourists to the site.

At the same time, she also suggested the government utilize the 23,324 square meters of land adjacent to the Iec Long site retrieved last year to support the improvement of environment surrounding the Old Taipa district, including but not limited to, widening roads.

The retrieved land plot is located on the periphery of the district.

At the end of her inquiry, she asked about the governments plans to enrich tourism elements across the district, and refine the flow of travel with the help of the newly retrieved land plot, as well as streamlining the public transport stops and stands across the area.
* Crowds flood Old Taipa

 Trade unionist calls for improved tourism environment in Taipa

* Gaming | Casinos hit MOP4.5b in first week of May

* MICE | Portuguese businesses to visit Hengqin

* Beijing extended the expiration date of mainland travel permits for eligible HK and Macau residents: National Immigration Administration

* Crime: Woman apprehended for unlicensed practice of medicine following suspicious death * UN urges Taliban to end floggings, executions

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Tuesday, May 9, 2023  edition no. 4241
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol oyesterday called for officials to map out specific steps to hasten security and economic cooperation with Japan following his weekend summit in Seoul with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Kishida during Sundays meeting expressed sympathy toward Koreans forced into industrial slavery during Japans 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as the leaders vowed to overcome historical grievances and strengthen cooperation in the face of a nuclear North Korea and other challenges.

The summit, which was the second meeting between the leaders in less than two months, drew a mixed reaction in South Korea. Critics, including Yoons liberal opponents who control majority in the National Assembly, said Kishidas comments fell short of a meaningful apology and accused Yoon of letting Japan off the hook over its past aggressions while pushing to repair bilateral ties.

Others saw the summit as a sign that the two key U.S. allies are finally moving forward after years of bickering as they step up their three-way partnership with Washington.

After the summit, Yoon said Seoul, Tokyo and Washington are engaging in talks to implement their earlier agreement on a faster exchange of information on North Korean missile tests. Yoon also said he wouldnt rule out Japans possible participation in future nuclear deterrence consultations between Washington and Seoul to better cope with North Korean nuclear threats.

Yoon, Kishida and President Joe Biden are expected to hold a trilateral meeting later this month on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meetings in Hiroshima to discuss North Korea and geopolitical uncertainties created by Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas assertive foreign policy. While South Korea isnt a G-7 country, Yoon was invited as one of eight outreach nations.

Yoon during a meeting with his chief secretaries instructed them to establish follow-up measures to carry out bilateral security, economic and technology cooperation and facilitate culture and youth exchanges between the countries, which were discussed in his meeting with Kishida. Yoons office didnt elaborate.

Speaking to reporters before departing Seoul, Kishida said he hoped to further strengthen his personal relationship with Yoon and work together to carve out a new era.

Kishida, who earlier yesterday separately met with groups of South Korean lawmakers and business leaders, stressed the need for facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the countries, which he said would help further promote our mutual understanding and give widths and thickness to our relations.

Kishidas visit to Seoul reciprocated a mid-March trip to Tokyo by Yoon. Its the first exchange of visits between the leaders of the countries in 12 years.

The back-to-back summits were largely meant to resolve bitter disputes triggered by South Korean court rulings in 2018 that ordered two Japanese companies to compensate some of their former Korean employees for forced labor before the end of World War II. Those rulings irked Japan, which insists all compensation issues were settled by a 1965 treaty that normalized relations.

The wrangling led to the countries downgrading each others trade status and Seouls previous liberal government threatening to spike a military intelligence-sharing pact. Their strained ties complicated U.S. efforts to build a stronger alliance to counter challenges posed by North Korea and China.

Relations thawed after Yoons conservative government in March announced a domestically contentious plan to use local corporate funds to compensate the forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions. Yoon later that month traveled to Tokyo to meet with Kishida, and the two agreed to resume leadership-level visits and other talks. Their governments have since taken steps to withdraw their economic retaliatory steps.

Kishidas trip to Seoul drew intense public attention in South Korea, where many people still harbor resentment over Japans colonial occupation.

In a news conference Sunday, Kishida avoided a new, direct apology over the colonization but still sympathized with the Korean victims, saying he personally feels strong pain in my heart over their ordeals, in an apparent effort to maintain momentum for improving ties.

He reaffirmed his government upholds the positions of previous Japanese administrations on the colonization issue, including the landmark 1998 joint declaration by then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, in which Obuchi said: I feel acute remorse and offer an apology from my heart.

Kishida also said he and Yoon would pay respects before a memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima during the G-7 meetings. He addressed South Korean concerns about food safety following Japans 2011 nuclear disaster, saying Tokyo will allow South Korean experts to inspect a planned release of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Seouls Foreign Ministry said the South Korean inspection team will consist of experts from related government agencies and organizations and that it will soon hold talks with Japanese officials to set up their visit planned for May 23-24.

Bong Young-shik, an expert at Seouls Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies, said it was notable how Yoons government carefully tempered public expectations before the summit, which made it easier for both governments to present the outcome as substantial.

For both the South Korea and Japanese governments, the resumption of shuttle diplomacy in itself is a win, he said, referring to regular visits between leaders.

Yoon had faced criticism at home that he had preemptively made concessions to Tokyo without getting corresponding steps in return, and opposition politicians and some newspapers described the summit as a disappointment.

Normalizing relations between South Korea and Japan is a necessity, and I am in favor of it, but not at the cost of our national interests, national dignity, history and justice, said Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in last years presidential race.

The conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Koreas biggest newspaper by circulation, acknowledged that Kishidas comments were insufficient to ease South Korean frustrations over history but also said that the summit reflected the countries desperate need for cooperation.

South Korea and Japan are in need of greater cooperation in the wake of recent events like Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas maritime assertiveness that threatens its neighbors. The countries need to jointly respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats is greater than ever. Moreover, the countries face similar challenges related to their slowing economies and declining populations, the newspaper said.

This is not the time to be stuck in the past. KIM TONG-HYUNG, SEOUL, MDT/AP
PORTAGE, Indiana  A 28-year-old woman, who allegedly dumped her two small children along a busy stretch of U.S. 6 following an argument, was found slumped over the wheel of her nearby vehicle and battled with officers while being taken into custody, Portage police reported.

"As I was placing a seatbelt on Ms. (Tanya) Embry, she kicked toward me with her right leg, her knee striking me on the right side of my jaw," an officer wrote in the arrest report. "I took hold of Ms. Embry's right leg and she then kicked out with her left leg, striking me in the right shoulder. I felt pain to both areas which were struck."

Embry, who provided addresses in both Liberty Township and Griffith, was taken to the Porter County jail and has since been charged with felony counts of battery against a public safety official and two counts of neglect of a dependent, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and public intoxication, records show.

A Portage police officer responded at 8:34 p.m. Saturday to a report of small children, estimated to be first-grade age, walking near U.S. 6 in the area of Castle Subaru, the incident report says.

The officer spotted two small children.

"When asked what they were doing by the roadway, (one of the children) informed me their mother had kicked them out of the vehicle on US Hwy. 6 and drove away," officer reported.

The children said their mother, Embry, was drunk and driving a GMC truck. The officer reported seeing the vehicle in question a short distance away to the north in the business parking lot.

The officer found the vehicle running and the driver, later identified as Embry, slumped over unconscious behind the wheel, police said. The vehicle was in drive and her foot was on the brake.

The officer placed the vehicle in drive and after being unable to awaken Embry, called emergency medical officials to the scene, according to the report.

When Embry regained consciousness and was asked about the whereabouts of her small children, she pointed south toward the highway, police said.

"When asked, Tanya informed me they were arguing in the vehicle and she kicked them out as she was on U.S. Highway 6," according to police.

Police reported finding an alcoholic beverage underneath Embry's legs on the floor of the vehicle and said she smelled of alcohol.

It was while she was resisting being placed in a police vehicle that she allegedly battered an officer.

The children were taken to the Portage Police Department and turned over to a Child Protective Services official.

4 technologies that aren't that big today but will likely be massive in 20 years 4 technologies that aren't that big today but will likely be massive in 20 years Commercial space exploration 3D printed infrastructure
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls' room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.
There are many reasons why it makes sense for Microsoft to build a $1 billion data center in Racine County, not the least of them being geology, weather and shovel-ready land in the town of Mount Pleasant. Similar growth opportunities could pop up elsewhere in Wisconsin  with a little help from the state.

The U.S. Geological Survey places almost all of Wisconsin in its lowest risk zone for damage from earthquakes. Generally moderate temperatures can help regulate power demands inside such centers; cold winters can even help. Adequate water, also needed to cool computing equipment, is available in Racine County as in most of Wisconsin. The 315 acres of land Microsoft plans to buy are already primed for development due to infrastructure, such as roads and access to power, put in place for a larger Foxconn footprint that has yet to materialize.

Data centers are already vital for processing information that flows across the internet, and more will be built with additional cloud computing  use of a network of protected, powerful and co-located remote servers instead of local servers  and the rise of artificial intelligence demands. Wisconsin could logically host more data centers, but it needs to keep up with the neighborhood Jones to do so.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio all offer a mix of sales and use tax incentives for data center equipment and software, some extending for decades and none offering fewer than 15 years of benefits. In fact, Wisconsin is one of relatively few states that dont offer such incentives, even having the physical attributes that could get potential data center clients in the door.

In Illinois, for example, the enactment of incentives in 2019 has led to at least proposals to build data centers totaling about $4 billion in investment. Iowa and Ohio are seeing similar growth. The big players in those states and elsewhere include Apple, Meta, Google and Amazon.

Racine County residents can be forgiven if theyre skeptical about Microsoft following through on its plans to build there, but this is not a Taiwan-based company with no history of involvement in Wisconsin.

Microsoft is one of the leading partners in TitletownTech in Green Bay, it recently announced an extension of its long-term relationship with Veronas Epic Systems Corp., it has operated a research center in Madison for years, and it has deep ties into the states leading computer sciences schools. And have I mentioned that Microsoft president Brad Smith hails from Appleton and chief executive officer Satya Nadella holds a degree from UW-Milwaukee?

While none of that guarantees all will go as planned, it does mean Microsoft will likely be careful to under-promise and over-deliver. Plus, if dirt isnt turned on the site by 2026, local government can repurchase the land at the same $50 million price.

Among the possible deliverables: lots of construction jobs once the project gets rolling and a smaller number of well-paid operating jobs once its completed. Because data centers tend to run themselves to a certain degree, operations jobs are more likely to number in the few hundreds than the thousands.

Indirectly, it will accelerate other development on the I-94 corridor in southeastern Wisconsin, where companies such as Amazon, Haribo and Uline already have a strong presence. Even without a major Foxconn investment so far, the region is humming.

National trends and Microsofts plans have spurred some action in the Wisconsin Legislature, where bipartisan legislation is circulating to give the state incentives similar to what is available in other states. Wisconsin already has some natural advantages; building on that competitive edge makes sense.
More than two years after a complaint was brought against the 10 Republicans who attempted to hand Wisconsin's Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump, a Dane County judge said Monday he plans to send the case back to the state elections commission for a second consideration.

Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington, who plans to issue a written ruling in the next week or so, said when he sends the matter back to the Wisconsin Elections Commission he'll stipulate that GOP commissioner Robert Spindell Jr.  who was also one of the 10 fake electors to sign the documents  must recuse himself this time around.

In March 2022, Spindell and the rest of the bipartisan commission unanimously dismissed the complaint after determining the 10 Republicans had not violated state elections laws.

Attorneys for Spindell, the elections commission and liberal group Law Forward, which filed the initial complaint in February 2021, all largely agreed with Remington's impending decision. Spindell's attorney Mark Maciolek said his client has agreed to not participate in the complaint's second consideration before the commission.

"I'll tip my hand," Remington said in oral arguments Monday. "I'm going to issue a written decision. But  surprise, surprise  I'm going to come to the conclusion, as all parties have, that the appropriate remedy is to vacate the decision of the (elections commission) and remand it back for further proceedings, which don't include commissioner Spindell."

The case stems from a Dec. 14, 2020, meeting at the Capitol where, following pressure from people in Trump's inner circle, the 10 Republicans signed official-looking documents purporting that Trump had won Wisconsin, despite recounts and court decisions affirming that President Joe Biden won the battleground state by almost 21,000 votes.
A Madison man was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on a charge that he and his partner neglected their infant daughter and that the neglect caused her death in January.

Pleas of not guilty also were entered for Daniel E. Mallett, 50, who was charged in late April, and Samantha T. Trumm, 30, who is also charged with child neglect causing death for the Jan. 13 death of their 9-month-old daughter at their home on Madisons Far West Side.

A preliminary hearing for Trumm, also set for Tuesday, was delayed so that an attorney can be appointed for her. At a hearing, Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford denied a request by Trumm to reduce her bail to $5,000 from $15,000, set when she made her initial court appearance on April 27, when the neglect charges were filed. Crawford denied a similar motion for Mallett as well.

This is an unimaginable tragedy, Trumm said as she argued for her bail to be reduced. I want justice, whether its because of me or my co-defendant.

A criminal complaint does not explicitly state the cause of death for the child, but Assistant District Attorney Matthew Moeser said the charge does not require it, only that prosecutors prove that the girls death was a consequence of neglect by her parents. Drug use by Mallett and Trumm, including on the day of their daughters death, contributed to that neglect, he said.

The charge carries up to 25 years of combined prison and extended supervision.

According to a criminal complaint, preliminary toxicology results showed that the girl, who was only identified in the complaint by her initials but in other court documents as Arya, had the presence of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin and xylazine  a veterinary sedative  in her body. The latter drug has been increasingly used illicitly, Dr. Vincent Tranchida told police, according to the complaint.

Testimony at Malletts preliminary hearing by Madison police Detective John Christian hewed close to the content of the criminal complaint.

According to the complaint:

Police responded on Jan. 13 around 9:48 p.m. to the 7400 block of Welton Drive for an infant who was not breathing and had no pulse. The girl was on her back on the floor and appeared blue. Officers found no pulse but began trying to resuscitate her. Paramedics took her to UW Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:54 p.m.

Trumm told police the girl had been in bed with Mallett, and that she had told him a hundred thousand times not to sleep with the girl. She said she found both Mallett and the girl face-down on the bed. She said she picked up the girl to take her to her crib and noticed she was not breathing.

Trumm, and later Mallett, told police they were not to search the home, including the bedroom, and Mallett was seen by police grabbing items as he walked around the home. He also told police they could not search without a warrant.

Still, officers noticed items related to drug use in the home. At one point, Trumm said she was not a bad mother, and Mallett said, Were not bad parents, we just have bad habits.

With a search warrant, police found other items that included used syringes, a rubber tie-off hose and a spoon with burn marks. A social worker from Dane County Human Services said Mallett had admitted to using heroin on the day his daughter died.
What could have been a frightening and tragic situation in western Wisconsin has turned out to be a false alarm.

The Vernon County Sheriff's Office said it had received a report of an active shooter at Stoddard Elementary School Tuesday morning but as officers were responding it was determined that there was no active shooter and that there was no danger or threat to the school, Sheriff Roy Torgerson said in a press release.

The incident, reported just after 9:30 a.m., created a response by area law enforcement but it was not immediately known what led to the reports of a possible active shooter.

"It's still on going and we're investigating it but we have determined it was a false report," said Sgt. Bruce Olson of the Vernon County Sheriff's Office.

But, as a precaution, law enforcement was contacting other schools in the area while Torgerson is expected to release more information about the incident later this morning.

"I will remain at the school until further notice, however, the school is safe and all students are going about their day of learning," Torgerson said. "My staff will continue to work with the school to determine the cause of the false alarm. We will use this as an opportunity to review all emergency procedures.

Stoddard is a community of about 820 people located along the Mississippi River about 12 miles south of La Crosse.
Its apparently silly season in Madison. Nonsensical bills are nothing new, of course, but we encountered a pair recently that are truly wastes of time.

One actually goes further than being a waste. The proposal to allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in bars is potentially dangerous.

Wisconsin law allows people to serve alcohol to customers before they hit the legal drinking age. Anyone 18 or older can do so. That makes sense. While 18-year-olds cant legally drink they are most definitely adults.

A 14-year-old? The gulf in physical, mental and emotional terms between someone that age and an 18-year-old is vast. The changes in how one behaves and views the world between those ages are massive. Someone who has reached adulthood can quite reasonably be said to be a different person than they were just four years earlier.

Those four years of maturity are important, and theres no question to us that they make enough of a difference to make putting a 14-year-old in a bar situation a bad idea.

The bill, to be clear, would not mean youd see 14-year-olds behind the bar, pulling the tap. Their service would only be approved for customers who are seated elsewhere. The reality, though, is that such a line is more theory than fact, depending entirely on the willingness of employee and employer to concede there is a difference between someone sitting at the bar and someone sitting five feet away.

The bills two proponents claim the idea is in response to workforce issues due to an establishments underage employees only being able to do part of their job. We dont buy it. Serving alcohol isnt part of their job; it cant be under Wisconsin law. Anyone under age 18 is, in fact, already doing their entire job. Any business owner who hires someone underage knows that restriction from the start and still makes the decision to hire that person.

The legislators behind the proposal are currently looking for cosponsors. We hope they have a difficult time finding any.

The other bill that caught our eye is more reasonable in theory, but probably impossible to enforce. It would require social media companies to verify the ages of Wisconsin users. Children who want accounts would need parental permission.

We agree that social media can be an incredibly toxic place, and parents should generally think twice about allowing their children to have accounts. Measures such as this bill wont prevent them from doing so, though, regardless of their parents wishes. Its not as if people have never lied about their age online, after all.

We also question how companies would achieve the instruction to verify the age of every Wisconsin resident who set up an account since 2019 within 21 days. Would it require submitting documents, or just a click promising that youre the age you claim? The former is undesirable  you really think you can trust social media to protect personally identifiable documents  and the latter is unverifiable.

Again, the goal of protecting children online is laudable. But we dont see how this bill is workable or enforceable. As such, its probably a waste of the Legislatures effort.

Theres plenty Wisconsins Legislature needs to get done without spending time on things like these two bills. We understand the urge to take on pet projects. Few legislators avoid falling into that trap at least a few times. We would prefer, though, that legislators resist the temptation and focus on things that are more plausible alterations to state law.

Bad bills like these simply arent worth the time.
Bureau of Land Management Twin Falls District staff, the Southern Idaho Off-Road Association, Magic Valley ATV riders and Jerome County will host a cleanup day May 13 on the north rim of the Snake River Canyon.

The annual cleanup has taken place for the past 24 years and BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner David Freiberg noted the annual cleanup effort has positively changed the appearance of the north rim over the years.

Over the past few years, we have seen an incredible increase of recreation on the public lands that we manage, Freiberg said in a press release.

Unfortunately, several areas within the Snake River Canyons Park continue to be littered with illegally dumped trash. These specific areas will be the focus of the event.

This is an important area to the Magic Valley as it is a convenient location for all of us who like to recreate out here, Bill Maikranz of the Southern Idaho Off-Road Association said in a press release.

Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to join the cleanup effort, which will begin at 8 a.m. and wrap up around 2 p.m.

Volunteers should plan to meet at the Snake River Canyons Park kiosk area along Shoshone Falls Road, east of U.S. Highway 93.

Participants should bring rakes and square end shovels to help with the cleanup. Interested participants should plan to dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves.

More information is available by contacting David Freiberg, Shoshone Field Office outdoor recreation planner at 208-732-7271.
TWIN FALLS  Janeale Dean is here to help.

Upon launching her marketing agency Desert Creative Group in 2017, she has that goal in mind, as one of the assisting business owners. And she has expanded her offerings beyond marketing and creative services.

Its become business development consulting, helping people scale their business, Dean said. Its sales training and marketing training.

Its gotten to the point where were just here to be helpful, she said, and if we can either offer insight and experience, that is great, and if we cant, we are more than happy to find someone who can and bring them in and facilitate that.

Her entrepreneur spirit hasnt gone unnoticed, as she was recently named by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2023 Boise District Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, and was honored Wednesday at her downtown Twin Falls location.

Dean told the Times-News that she has a job that never gets old and never gets boring.

If I look at my week, one day it could be helping a client meet with an attorney to explore expansion opportunities they have and the next day I could be helping someone figure out their email campaigns, and the next day it could be secret shopping at somebodys location to grade their customer service, she said.

Susie Rios, statewide outreach director of the Idaho Womens Business Center, nominated Dean for the award.

I have to tell you that she is unstoppable, Rios said at Wednesdays award ceremony.

When you want to grow a business, you have to be responsible, and committed, Rios said, and everything we asked her to do, she would follow through.

The award, for which Dean gives much of the credit to her seven employees and the support of family and friends, came during National Small Business Week, which recognizes the contributions of Americas entrepreneurs and small business owners. The week wrapped up Saturday.

Dean is involved in the community and has partnered with the South Central Small Business Development Center at the College of Southern Idaho to form the Downtown Wheelhouse down the hall from her office.

It will offer training workshops and be the home of a group of entrepreneurs incubating their startups to become launch-ready, receiving mentorship to fine-tune their strategy, product, business model, branding, and investor pitch, with the SBDC office providing support.

Its a great community partnership, Dean said.

Since starting her job, she has assisted a wide variety of businesses and groups, from bicycle shops to economic development organizations.

Its been really rewarding, Dean said, because when we help build something very strong that performs really well, not only are they excited about it but we are equally excited.
Idahoans will have the opportunity in November 2024 to open up our elections so that every eligible voter can participate in choosing their public officials. There will be an open primaries initiative on the ballot to establish a primary election where all candidates run on a single ticket, allowing every voter to select from the entire field.

The four top vote-getters will be placed on the general election ballot, where all voters can vote for the candidates in their order of preference.

Quote The disruptive wing of the GOP, which brought us Dorothy Moon, Janice McGeachin and Priscilla Giddings, will fight the initiative tooth and nail.

A candidate who receives an outright majority of the vote in the initial vote count wins the office. If there is no majority winner, the candidate receiving the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and the votes of those who made that candidate their first choice then go to their second-choice candidate in a second count. If a candidate gets a majority in the second count, they win. If not, the process repeats until a candidate gets a majority.

The beauty of this system is that every voter has a better chance of influencing the election  if their first choice does not win, their second choice might. The system is often called ranked choice voting.

This is similar to the system in Alaska, which gained wide approval from voters in the 2022 election. Voters surveyed said it was easy to use. It gave them more choices in the primary and more influence in selecting leaders. It has reportedly had a moderating effect on Alaskan politics  something that Idaho desperately needs.

The initiative is supported by a coalition of groups and individuals, including former Republican House Speaker Bruce Newcomb and longtime Idaho Falls news anchor Karole Honas, an independent.

Newcomb said the system will give us better elections and better leadership. Honas says opening up the primary will force candidates to consider the perspectives of a broader group of voters in order to win. The Alaska experience shows that both of them are absolutely correct.

The support coalition includes a national veterans group, Veterans for Political Innovation, and its Idaho affiliate, of which I am a member. The group supports open primaries across the country, based on the belief that veterans put themselves at risk to make participation in government open to all Americans, regardless of party.

VPI co-founder Todd Connor welcomed the Idaho initiative, saying, Idaho has an exciting opportunity, and arguably a moral obligation, to open up their election systems to allow more people to vote and have a voice, have more options at the ballot box, and do something different to combat the toxic polarization that Americans are tired of and that is destroying our country in real time. Military veterans, 50% of whom identify as independent, expect better politics and Idaho has an opportunity to get this right. Were honored to support this effort.

Reclaim Idaho, which has run two previous initiatives with broad voter support  Medicaid expansion, which passed with 61%, and an education measure that forced the Legislature to increase public education spending by well over $300 million  will shoulder the burden of getting the voter initiative on the ballot.

The disruptive wing of the GOP, which brought us Dorothy Moon, Janice McGeachin and Priscilla Giddings, will fight the initiative tooth and nail. They understand it will loosen their stranglehold on the Republican Party and allow more reasonable and pragmatic people to defeat the troublemaking extremists.

In a recent article appropriately titled, Why conservatives should not fear ranked choice voting, the reliably conservative Cato Institute has debunked the claims of Moon and other extremists that the system would harm conservative candidates. The article concludes that ranked choice voting tends to help the sorts of candidates who appeal to many kinds of voters, not just a narrow, super-committed base.

That is exactly the objective of the open primaries initiative. Conservatives need not fear the initiative, but disruptive extremists probably should.
The chairman of state-run Development Bank of the Philippines on Tuesday described the study that recommended its merger with Land Bank of the Philippines as legally erroneous, saying it was done with inordinate haste and encroached on the mandate of the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

The study, conducted by the Governance Commission for GOCCs in less than three weeks, concluded that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could implement the merger of the two Congress-created state banks without the need for legislative action.

A position paper presented by DBP chairman Dante Tinga, a former Supreme Court associate justice, to DBP employees on May 2 and released to the media on Tuesday said the power to issue a legal opinion on such a delicate issue involving government-owned or -controlled corporations belongs to the OSG or the OGCC, depending on the circumstances.

The paper said this is covered by the Administrative Code of 1987 and Republic Act No. 2327 as amended by RA 6000.

It said the merger proposed by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno was strongly opposed by officials and employees of the DBP, most of whom would lose their jobs if the merger would push through, with LandBank as the surviving bank.

If merger is inevitable, the DBP, with its richer legacy, more extensive experience and expertise and better track record in development financing, is more deserving to be better surviving bank, the paper said.

The paper said the legal study by the GCG in interpreting its own Charter is a self-serving declaration favorable to its interest and is not admissible as proof of the facts asserted.

Diokno said, however, the Supreme Court upheld the authority of GCG to merge GOCCs. He said the proposed LBP-DBP merger is consistent with the principle of sound fiscal management, which the Department of Finance upholds to the highest degree.

Contrary to the claim that the merger is a dangerous experiment, the proposal is the result of a careful analysis of the costs and benefits of this merger, based on solid financial and economic evidence, Diokno said.

The Supreme Court has already upheld the authority of the Governance Commission for GOCCs to merge GOCCs in its Lagman v. Executive Secretary ruling upon finding that it is to the best interest of the state, he said.

Diokno said the merger would create a bigger and stronger bank to better serve the countrys development needs. The LBP will be the surviving entity with its much higher authorized capital stock of P800 billion, compared to DBPs P35 billion and overall stronger financial position.

Tinga said the GCGs legal study should have been left in the capable hands of the OSG and the OGCC, which are mandated by their respective charters to serve as the lawyers of the government together with its units and GOCCs, respectively.

It said contrary to the GCGs legal study there is nothing in the decision in Lagman vs. Executive Secretary which supports its conclusion that the President has the power to merge GOCCs even in the absence of enabling legislation.

It said that on the authority of the CG in relation to the merger or reorganization of GOCCs under Section 5 (a) of R.A. 10149, such authority is merely recommendatory to the President.

The bank said while the Supreme Court debunked the argument of unconstitutionality raised by petitioners Lagman and Pichay based on the alleged undue delegation of legislative powers, the pronouncements did not in any way alter the recommendatory nature of the GCG authority.

Tinga said the biggest legal issue cited by DBP in the opposition is that since the two state-owned banks were created by acts of Congress, the merger requires an enabling law. Tinga is a former law dean, congressman and jurist who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The paper also cited apparent conflicts of interest involving Diokno, the primary proponent of the merger.

It said that as Department of Finance secretary, Diokno is an ex-officio member of GCG to which the merger proposal was submitted. He is the ex-officio chairman of LBP and will remain so after LBP becomes the surviving superbank following the merger, it said.

The paper said Diokno, who was governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas before his appointment to the Cabinet, is a member of the Monetary Board of the BSP which regulates banking in the country.

The DBP position paper said there is no convincing justification or compelling need for the DBP and LBP to be merged.

It said the proposed merger, with its far-reaching economic and social costs, should not be railroaded. Instead, it should only be pursued after painstaking study and evaluation of all economic and legal factors involved and in consultation with stakeholders as well as with financing and banking experts.

The DBP position paper further said the two banks were created by law with different mandates: DBPs mandate is to develop industry while LBPs is to develop agriculture. The paper said the union of two institutions created to serve different mandates may only result in the dilution of their respective missions and focus.

Bigger is not always better and stronger. The merged bank may become too big to fail, too big to save. The concentration of risks can leave the superbank more vulnerable to financial market bubbles and cyberattacks, it said.

It said contrary to Dioknos projections, the combined branches of the two banks would result in a network of the same size and reach. While the merged bank may become the largest bank in the country in terms of assets and deposit size, it would still suffer from capital shortage, bad loans and lazy banking, it said.

Without a plan of integration, there is only consolidation of assets and LBP as the surviving entity will just have the same strengths and weaknesses pre-merger; the two banks will be truly complementary of each others strengths and weaknesses if they are to remain separate and independent, it said.

None of Secretary Dioknos justifications for the merger qualifies under the specific standards of RA 10149, the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, which exclusively enumerates the standards by which it may reorganize, merge, streamline, abolish, or privatize GOCCs, it said.

DBP said it is prepared to work with Congress and to participate and provide unequivocal support to any Congressional inquiry that may be undertaken concerning the proposed merger with LandBank.

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The Luzon grids tight power supply situation is expected to continue with the possibility of outages, with about 15 weeks of yellow alerts forecasted to occur for the rest of the year.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the recent prolonged power outages in Panay and Negros, and the power interruption experienced were traced to inadequacies in the transmission system.

Lotilla said the government extended assistance to National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to speed up the completion of its transmission projects.

Notwithstanding these efforts, these projects still have not been completedWe call on everyones cooperation in the completion of these projects and the identification of other critical transmission projects that need upgrading or rehabilitation, Lotilla said.

There is still a possibility [of red alert] like yesterday [Monday]. Remember, this is the first red alert for the year, Department of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said during a briefing on Tuesday.

We have potential yellow alerts for the entire month of May, Guevara said, noting that this was the worst case scenario.

Apart from May, some weeks in June, August, September and October will also have yellow alerts, DOE data showed.

Guevara said the 1,200 megawatt Ilijan power plant in Batangas will help ease power supply once it comes online on May 26.

If that power plant comes in, the yellow alerts will be reduced, she said.

At 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, an automatic load dropping occurred in the Manila Electric Co. franchise area due to the tripping of the Duhat-Hermosa 230kV line. Service was restored by 3:57 p.m.

This affected more than 200,000 Meralco customers in portions of Paco and Sta. Mesa in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Batangas, Antipolo in Rizal, San Pedro and Binan in Laguna, and San Rafael and Pulilan in Bulacan.

Lotilla said the support of the local governments and landowners in facilitating the construction of towers and distribution lines is equally essential.

We will work with Congress to insure that performance standards are adhered to in order to provide an adequate power supply for our people, the Energy chief said.

He said the Energy Regulatory Commission has finished its audit on NGCPs performance.

It is not a case of blame throwing. What we want to do is establish in an objective manner what are the weak links, what are the problems in the transmission system? And what can we do in order to address these problems, Lotilla said.

The NGCP said its initial investigation of the Luzon red alerts on Monday showed that the Bolo-Masinloc 230kV Line 2 tripped.

NGCP said the line is N-1, or operates with a redundancy. The load carried by Line 2 was automatically transferred to Line 1 when the former tripped.

It said each of Lines 1 or 2 is more than capable to singularly carry the entire loading of the Bolo-Masinloc 230kV facility at any time.

Thereafter, two of three Masinloc Units (315MW x 2 units = 630MW) tripped. Together with other units already on forced outage, the total power lost to the grid was 1,354MW.

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Says Code of Conduct only way to calm down disputed waters

REGIONAL DIPLOMACY. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrives in Indonesia on Tuesday for the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Labuan Bajo, IndonesiaPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will make another push for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct with China in the South China Sea as he participates in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here over the next three days.

You cannot stop trying, so yes I will bring that up again. Because when we talk about the issues in the West Philippine Sea, in the South China Sea, hindi magkakalma iyan hanggang wala tayong (it will not calm down until we have the) Code of Conduct, Mr. Marcos told reporters.

So yes, that has always, for me, been the key element in the ASEAN centrality solution to this problem, is really the new code of conduct. Paulit ko ulit ko sinasabi (I say repeatedly), in every forum I can find, I say that we need to finish the Code of Conduct, he added.

The COC is intended to reduce the risk of conflict in the South China Sea in the disputed waterway where Chinas expansive maritime and territorial claims clash with those of four ASEAN member states: Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei.

Kapag may code of conduct lahat susunod. That makes things clearer, walang possibility na magkamali kasi maliwanag na maliwanag dapat ang usapan (If theres a Code of Conduct, everyone will follow. That makes things clearer, theres no room for error because everything discussed should be clear), the President said.

Mr. Marcos also said Taiwans conflict with China is an unavoidable subject in the ASEAN Summit as leaders treat it as a grave concern to the region.

Inset photo shows ASEAN Foreign ministers, namely (from left) Malaysias Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir, Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Singapores Senoir Officer Leader Albert Chua, Thailands Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnams Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Indonesias Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Bruneis Senior Officer Leader Johariah Wahab, Cambodias Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, East Timors Foreign Minister Adaljiza Xavier Magno and the ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn as they pose for a family photo during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting on May 9, 2023. AFP

He said the matter has been a point of discussion for a long time, noting the need to calibrate measures to address this.

The discussions on that we had goes to a year ago, in that time many changes occurred, that it why we have to really calibrate whatever it is that we are planning, Mr. Marcos said.

So, yes, theres no way around it. That will inevitably be a part of the conversation that well be having tomorrow and the day after, he added.

The President also disclosed he is considering the proposal of the Chinese side to map out fishing grounds of both countries in the South China Sea.

I talked to the Coast Guard, I talked to the DFA and I said heres the proposal of the Chinese. Lets see if we can accommodate that into our agreement so were headed there, he said.

On Tuesday, Mr. Marcos emphasized the importance of promoting and protecting the Philippines interests in the biannual meeting of the regional bloc.

In his pre-departure speech delivered at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said he would discuss with his fellow ASEAN leaders their efforts to sustain economic prosperity, attain food and energy security, boost trade and investments, address transnational crimes, and protect distressed migrant workers.

I will join other Leaders of ASEAN to advance our community-building efforts in the region and ensure the well-being and security of our people, in line with Indonesias chairmanship theme of ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth, the President said.

My participation will serve to promote and protect the interests of our country, including our continued efforts towards economic growth, attaining food and energy security, promoting trade and investment, combatting transnational crimes such as the trafficking in persons, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations, amongst others, he added.

Mr. Marcos said he and his fellow Southeast Asian leaders would also exchange views on pressing issues of common concerns such as developments in the West Philippine Sea, the situation in Myanmar and major power rivalries.

He expressed confidence in having productive engagements with the other ASEAN leaders, noting that the 10 member-states of the regional bloc have a very clear area of commonality, especially when it comes to their aspiration for sustained economic growth.

And as the theme of this ASEAN Summit is clearly manifesting, it is once again towards economic growth, he said, stressing that the Southeast Asian region has been viewed by non-ASEAN members like China, the United States and the European Union as growth center for the global economy.

And that is why it is very important that we go and continue to discuss amongst other ASEAN leaders of all the member-states on how we can maximize and find that extra energy, that synergy from our working together, Mr. Marcos added.

The President will also attend the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.

He would also participate in a series of interfaces of the Southeast Asian leaders with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), ASEAN Youth, and the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision.

In these meetings, we will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the BIMP-EAGA subregion to sustain its thriving economy, the strong partnership between the executive and legislative bodies of ASEAN, the pivotal role of private sector and the youth in advancing growth and shaping the future as well as the future direction of the ASEAN Vision, Mr. Marcos said.

The Philippine government underscored the need to reinforce ASEAN centrality amid what it calls unprecedented and more complex challenges that the region faces today. With AFP

During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Indonesia, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said one way of doing this is to implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

As we seek ways to reinforce our Centrality, I think it is important that we seek ways on how to project our Centrality outward. We need to ask how ASEAN can matter not just to our circle of ten, soon to be eleven, but to the larger region and the world, he said in his remarks.

ASEAN centrality is defined as the need for the bloc to become the center of regional architecture in Southeast Asia and its surrounding regions.

The call was made against the backdrop of tensions and heightened uncertainties amid regional developments, including the tensions on the Taiwan Strait, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, North Koreas ballistic missile tests in the Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea rows.

Southeast Asian nations are at a crossroad, a senior Indonesian minister warned Tuesday, as escalating violence in junta-controlled Myanmar loomed over the regional summit.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyis government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The ASEAN  long-decried by critics as a toothless talking shop  has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis.

Those efforts have been fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents, which include ousted lawmakers, anti-coup Peoples Defense Forces and armed ethnic minority groups.

The President also hoped to hold a bilateral meeting with the leaders of Timor-Leste to discuss their prospective membership in ASEAN.

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak is expected to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit as an observer for the first time.

Following the admission of Timor-Lestes application to be the 11th ASEAN member in 2022, the 10 Southeast Asian leaders are expected to adopt a roadmap on its full membership during this years summit.

The ASEAN Summit provides a platform for Southeast Asian leaders to discuss and exchange views on key regional issues, as well as build consensus on matters of mutual interest and provide policy directions on ASEAN community-building efforts.

The Southeast Asian leaders are expected to discuss ways to maintain internal peace in the region amid rising geopolitical issues in the Indo-Pacific region, while strengthening the regional bloc in becoming a fast-growing, inclusive and sustainable economic region.

The 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are expected to produce around 16 outcome documents.

Under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, the bloc seeks to create an enabling environment for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region by addressing common challenges, upholding the rules-based regional architecture, and promoting closer economic cooperation.

It seeks to strengthen its existing mechanisms with external partners, including the East Asia Summit, consisting of the 10 ASEAN member states, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.

It also aims to implement other areas of cooperation centered on maritime cooperation, connectivity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and economics, among others.

For five decades, ASEAN Centrality has been in a way our north star, and it has successfully guided our engagements with the world. But the challenges we face today are certainly complex and more interconnected than ever, and our Centrality is being tested in unprecedented ways, Manalo said.

Lest we become a victim of our own success and become overburdened, we must channel this greater interest into high-quality engagements, with a robust agenda that puts ASEANs profile and interests front and center.

Manalo and the other foreign ministers of the nine ASEAN member states met on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. With AFP

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Labuan Bajo, Indonesia  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is asking the Indonesian government again to grant executive clemency to Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, who has spent 13 years in jail as a convicted drug mule.

Upon his arrival at Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on Tuesday ahead of the ASEAN Summit, President Marcos told Philippine media members he would open up the issue of Veloso to his Indonesian counterpart, President Joko Widodo.

We continue to ask for a commutation or even a pardon, or even an extradition back to the Philippines (for Veloso), Mr. Marcos said.

The President said he is still hoping that Indonesia will grant his request to release Veloso.

Theyve already given us many postponements, but that doesnt mean its done, I always at least bring it up. Maybe it will make a difference on their stance, Mr. Marcos said

We understand that the law of Indonesia (prevails) but nonetheless, maybe we can find a way to bring her home, and we will be the one who will sentence her in whatever or any way to ask (Jakarta) for clemency, ask for grace, he added.

Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in April 2010 for smuggling 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin in a suitcase. Her case, among others, sparked international attention toward Indonesias capital punishment and drug prohibition laws.

Throughout her trial, Veloso maintained her innocence, claiming she was duped into carrying the suitcase by her godsister, Maria Kristina Sergio, who convinced her to go to Indonesia after losing a job in Malaysia.

Her Indonesian lawyer, Agus Salim, noted that Veloso did not have any lawyer or Tagalog translator during her interrogation, and during her sentencing, she was represented by a public defender, but her courtroom interpreter was not licensed.

Veloso was sentenced to death by the presiding judge in October 2010 in Yogyakartas Sleman District Court, even though the prosecutors verdict was a life sentence. Even so, she was spared due to a moratorium on capital punishment enacted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

She was again scheduled to be executed in January 2015 after the election of Joko Widodo as President of Indonesia. But at midnight on April 29, 2015, Veloso was granted a stay of execution so she could act as a witness during the trial of her alleged human trafficker.

Veloso was reprieved after reports that her trafficker had surrendered to the police, which had prompted Former President Benigno Aquino III to make a final appeal for clemency on the basis that her testimony could be invaluable in the prosecuting her alleged recruiter, Maria Kristina Sergio.

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Heres what happened locally on May 9 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin:

1923: There is to be a lime campaign put on in the county the second week in May. Mr. G.W. Patteson, soil specialist from V.P.I., will be in the county that week and will speak at the following places on the value of lime to the farmer: Ridgeway, May 9, 7:30 p.m., School house; Fieldale, May 10, 7:30 p.m., School house; Spencer, May 11, 7:30 p.m., School house.

1948: The City School Board last night granted the Martinsville Council of Religious Education permission to continue to use school premises for the sponsored program of Week-Day Religious Education. The decision was reached by unanimous vote after a lengthy discussion during which the Rev. George E. Simmons, pastor of the Starling Avenue Baptist Church, spoke as an individual against continuation of the Bible classes.  He said he wanted to play fair and that if fairness were followed Catholics and Hebrews in the school should be offered the same privilege.

1973: Lt. Governor Henry F. Howell has announced that former Martinsville Mayor Nick Prillaman Sr. will serve as coordinator for his gubernatorial campaign in Martinsville and Henry and Patrick Counties.  Prillaman, 81, was elected Mayor of Martinsville in 1948 but relinquished the post two years later after reorganizing the city under the city manager form of government.

1998: [Start of a Bo Brown column] Comes there now yet another list designed deliberately to poke fun at some people, specifically Southern people. There is nothing new about this sort of thing, of course, but it does get a little old since weve had to endure it seemingly forever. The thing is that Southerners are a good deal more genteel than are their neighbors to the North, so the Rebs just take this abuse good-naturedly and patiently wait for the next barrage.
A Patrick County resident and voter for 35 years has received notice that hes no longer a resident of the County and is ineligible to vote in the Blue Ridge District.

Charles Vivier was welcomed by Chairman Clayton Kendrick during the public comment period at a regular Patrick County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday.

Welcome Charles, said Kendrick. I havent seen you in a while.

Vivier explained how he was disowned as a resident of Patrick County.

There is some purging going on in Patrick County, Vivier began. I have a letter dated April 21 from voter registration saying I dont live in Patrick County anymore. Ive been living and voting here for 35 years.

Vivier said his troubles began when someone, apparently with the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, notified the registrars office that according to the online Geographic Information System (GIS) map, he was a resident of Carroll County and not Patrick County.

Someone has initiated this activity; I havent gotten to the bottom of it, said Vivier. Apparently a David Rakes with the West Piedmont Planning District gathered information on coordinates of residences and passed it on to the Virginia Department of Elections saying some people dont live in the county they say they are in.

Rakes is listed on the West Piedmont Planning District Commissions website as a data systems manager, and calls to Rakes on Tuesday by the Bulletin went unanswered and messages unreturned.

The county tax office had the county boundary plotted along with all the properties, Vivier said. Its going to be a job for me to get back in the Blue Ridge [District].

Vivier said he wrestled with Virginias online registration website, referred to in the letter he received, and found it to be complicated.

Senior citizens are not going to do well on this registration website, said Vivier. You should try following up with your tax map and getting corrections on those maps.

Vivier said he has learned multiple agencies are accepting the GIS map as the de facto record for determining where one votes and where one pays property taxes.

I tell you this  there is a concrete monument sitting in my yard from a survey and on one side it says Carroll and on the other it says Patrick.

Vivier added he lives on Route 608 and on one side the road is known as Pilot View Road and on the other its Pilot View Drive.

Kendrick thanked Vivier for bringing his problem to the Boards attention, but no solution was offered.

In other matters, the Board:

Held a public hearing on the Proposed Six-Year Highway Plan and proposed construction budget. Deloris East requested additional paving be done to Handy Mountain Drive, and Resident Engineer Lisa Hughes said she would look at the issue and get back to the Board on possible actions.

Held a public hearing on the FY23-24 budget. Rick Ward, Blue Ridge Regional Library director, asked for additional funding that would allow the library system to give its employees a 5% raise, equal to the raise funded in the budget for Patrick County employees. This is going to reach a breaking point, Ward said. When our employees can go down to Walmart and make more money than they can working at the library, I have a problem with that.

Heard from Ed Poole of the Blue Ridge District regarding the dangers of cadmium telluride, a common material used in solar projects because of its ability in converting sunlight into electricity. Information given by solar companies is devious and very misleading to the public, Poole said. OSHA says it can affect your organs; its a carcinogen. Jim Best of Meadows of Dan also expressed concerns with cadmium telluride in Patrick County.

Scheduled a public hearing on the ordinance to repeal the solar ordinance for June 12.

Heard Tim Hall, interim county administrator, identify Pam Rorrer as having been named the top public health nurse in the state. She works for West Piedmont, Hall said. State officials came here to recognize here. She does not want any attention, otherwise I would have suggested a resolution.

The Board will meet for a special called meeting on May 15 at 5 p.m. The agenda lists a closed meeting where the position of a new county administrator will be discussed.
A single-vehicle crash on Rives Road has claimed the life of a Martinsville man.

David Kirk, 72, was pronounced dead at the scene in the 900 block of Rives Road shortly after 12 p.m. on Tuesday.

Police say it does not appear that speed or alcohol contributed to the crash, but suggested that a medical event may have been the cause.

The Martinsville Police Department is being assisted by the Virginia State Police in the investigation of the fatal crash, a release stated.

The preliminary investigation shows that Kirk was traveling northbound in a 2007 Toyota when the vehicle ran off the right side of the road and struck a telephone pole. Kirk was the only occupant of the vehicle, the release stated.

The vehicle was stopped against a slight incline just off the road in a curve. There was heavy damage to the vehicle and debris appeared to have kicked back into the roadway near the vehicle.

Rives Road was closed in both directions while crews cleared the scene and a utility crew arrived to repair the damage to the utility pole.

Responding were the Martinsville Police Department, Martinsville Fire and EMS and Virginia State Police.
Johnson Award

Dr. Challen Mabry, recipient of the 2022 Lula White Johnson Distinguished Teacher Award, presented the talk Organizing Resilience Across the Lifespan Through Attachment April 27 at New College Institute.

Mabrys presentation was part of the award process.

The award includes a monetary prize and a plaque and is given to a faculty member selected from nominations by students, alumni, and staff at NCI.

The award was established in 2010 in memory of Johnson, who taught for several decades at the former Albert Harris High School and Martinsville High School.

Mabrys talk gave the message that secure emotional connections with children and maintaining mindful awareness throughout adulthood can lead to greater resilience, healing of past traumas and stronger bonds with others. Building secure attachments with children, and continuing mindful awareness as adults, offers an increased likelihood of resilience, healing traumas, and deeper connection with others, she said.

Mabry is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and teaches in the Master of Arts in Counseling at Bluefield University in NCIs online program. She holds a bachelors degree from Hollins University in psychology and sociology and a masters degree and doctoral degree in counselor education from Virginia Tech. She has additional focused training and certifications in applied behavior analysis, trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy and equine assisted psychotherapy.

Her professional experience has been focused on providing community-based behavioral health services.

New College Institute is incredibly proud of Dr. Mabry, and we are grateful for Bluefield Universitys partnership. Dr. Mabrys presentation brings such an enriching opportunity for citizens of Martinsville/Henry County, stated NCI Executive Director Joe Sumner in a press release. It was evident that she is certainly deserving of the title of Distinguished Teacher of the Year.

Land Conservancy

The Southern Virginia Land Conservancy will honor the Dyer family for its donation of land along the Dick & Willie Passage.

The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Spruce Street Trailhead, 1900 Spruce St. Attendees will walk a short way south on the passage trail to the ceremony location.

Because of limited parking, shuttle service will be available from St. Joseph Catholic Church at 2481 Spruce St. beginning at 10 a.m.

Representatives from the Southern Virginia Land Conservancy, Henry County and the Dyer family are scheduled to speak at the event.

The Dyer family donated more than 200 acres of land along Mulberry Creek between US 58 Business and Spruce Street, along a section of the Dick & Willie Passage currently under construction. The land lies mostly in Henry County with a smaller piece in the city.

Hugh and Catherine Dyer, owned the land and left it to their grandchildren after their deaths. The grandchildren, spread between Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Colorado, sold Henry County a strip of land for the Dick & Willie Passage trail and donated the rest to the Southern Virginia Land Conservancy.

The donated land will buffer the trail and help to maintain its natural character.

The Southern Virginia Land Conservancy, established in 2019 as a branch of Roanokes Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, protects rural land and water in Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, and the cities of Martinsville and Danville.

For more information on the Southern Virginia Land Conservancy, visit svalc.org or contact Chris Holdren at 276-224-6489 or choldren@svalc.org.

Food drive

Martinsville Postmaster Misty L. Goodman invites area residents to join in the U.S. Postal Services annual food drive, which will take place Saturday.

Simply put donations of non-perishable food items in or by your mailbox on Saturday, and your mail carrier will pick them up.

The food will be given to local food banks to distribute locally.

Food also may be dropped off at any post office.

This is the worlds largest food drive, she said; it takes place on the second Saturday of each May.
NEBO  Celebrate North Carolinas Year of the Trail and Pick Your Own PATH at Lake James State Park.

A two-day event Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will allow visitors to experience the cultural and natural histories of Lake James State Park with excursions on the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Fonta Flora Trail.

Saturdays programming (April 15) will focus on the cultural aspects of the park, including a living-history demonstration of a patriot militia encampment during the Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. Two groups promoting outdoor diversity and inclusion  CULA (Centro Unido Latino-Americano) and Latinos Aventureros  will be providing some bilingual activities.

Sundays programming (April 16) will focus on the natural resources of the park, with help from the new NC Science Trail.

Guided hikes both days will include an easier and a more challenging option for participants to choose from.

Various trail and NCDNCR partners (including the DNCR PATH Airstream) will be showcasing their resources throughout the weekend.

About Lake James State Park

Located in Burke and McDowell counties 50 miles northeast of Asheville, Lake James State Park (2229 Lake James State Park, Nebo, N.C.) includes two areas to access this picturesque lake that is perfect for boating, swimming and fishing.

Campsites at Catawba River and Paddy's Creek accesses provide an opportunity to spend the night by the lake, with some sites accessible only by paddling. Trails include bike trails at Paddy's Creek, the kid-friendly Holly Discovery Trail, the historic Overmountain Victory Trail and the Fonta Flora State Trail.
OLD FORT  The Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center in Old Fort will host a spring wreath-making workshop Saturday and anyone interested should register for it by Friday.

The wreath-making workshop will take place at 11 a.m. on the museums grounds at 24 Water St., Old Fort.

On this Mothers Day weekend, bring your mother, grandmother, best friend or neighbor to this pre-lunch event and design a wreath for the spring or summer season or even the Fourth of July. The museum will provide wreath forms, ribbons, floral wire, hot glue and decorations to help you customize your wreath. Local wreath designer Toni Jo McCoart will be the workshop instructor, according to a news release.

The cost is $15 per wreath. Advance registration and pre-payment are required and must be made by 5 p.m. Friday, May 12. To register, contact the museum. Payment may be made via phone or in person by credit card, check or cash. Space is limited to the first 12 people to register and pay. Each participate may reserve space for two people maximum.

Workstations will be set up outdoors, on the museums front porch and nearby gazebo, so participants should dress according to the weather. Face masks are optional, according to the news release.

For more information about the workshop, contact Brittany Joachim at Mountain Gateway Museum at 828-668-9259 or brittany.bennett@ncdcr.gov between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center is a regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh and is the westernmost facility in the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Division of State History Museums.

Just a quarter-mile off Interstate 40 at Exit 73, the museum is open year-round. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 2-5 p.m. Sunday. it is closed on Mondays.
The British government hailed King Mohammed VIs leadership in making Morocco a key factor for stability, peace and development in the Mediterranean, Sahel-Saharan and West African regions.

This recognition came at the end of the 4th session of the strategic dialogue between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom that was marked by a joint statement, in which both parties stressed their common commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of economy, security and cultural cooperation.

The joint statement also welcomed Moroccos efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, as well as its leadership role in the fight against violent extremism and terrorism.

The two governments also reaffirmed their commitment to work together to address common challenges and promote security and prosperity in the region.

In addition, the British government expressed its gratitude to Morocco for its continued support in the fight against illegal migration and for its commitment to promoting human rights and good governance. Both sides agreed to continue to work closely together on these crucial issues.

The British government also welcomed the excellent cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties with Morocco in the years to come.
The United Kingdom expressed its appreciation for Moroccos serious efforts to advance the process towards a resolution of the Sahara issue.

This position was expressed in the joint statement adopted at the end of the 4th session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom.

This session was co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to help the parties reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue based on compromise.

In this joint statement, the two ministers reaffirmed the full support of the United Kingdom and Morocco to the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to find a solution to this dispute.

The United Kingdom welcomed the constructive role played by Morocco in the region, including the promotion of stability, security and economic development, as well as in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The UK also stressed the exclusive role of the UN in facilitating the political process to resolve this dispute and reaffirmed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2654.

Security Council resolution 2654, like the consecutive resolutions of the UN body since 2007, welcomed Moroccos serious and credible efforts and recalled the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative.
The office preparing the new financing program for Mozambique of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC, US foreign support agency), plans to contract up to $8.6 million (7.8 million euros) in studies and services through September.

The amount should be invested in 14 items, ranging from studies on the potential of the economy based on wildlife, green carbon and blue projects, to the analysis of the situation of bridges, among others, as explained in a note on the website of the Mozambican Ministry of Economy and Finance.

These are works that should sustain the program that will focus on the development of Zambezia province, in the center of the country.

The memorandum on the scope and objectives of the new compact (name given to the funding program) of MCC with Mozambique was signed on January 30 between the Mozambican government and the agency, providing overall funding of US$500 million (453 million euros).

At the time, it was announced that the package could be signed later this year. The funds will be channeled into three areas: transport and connectivity, climate change management, and commercial agriculture.

Mozambique has already benefited from a first MCC funding program, completed in 2013, during which the country received $507 million (465 million). MCC is a US Government funded agency that provides time-limited grants to developing countries.
Mozambiques Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) has removed a district director and two others for allegedly committing an electoral crime during voter registration, the body announced.

We had indications of some illicit act in voter registration () We saw that the [voter registration] equipment was found in a place that is not on the approved voter registration post, STAEs Nampula provincial director Luis Cavalo told the media. Later, a source from the central level organization revealed that the removed leader is Charles Joao Amade, director of STAE in the northern district of Ribaue.

Luis Cavalo said that the registration equipment was found outside the normal time fixed for voter registration, which is between 08h00 and 16h00 (between 07h00 and 15h00 in Lisbon). Having analyzed these elements, we see that there is evidence that contributes to illicit activity in the voter registration process, he added.

A supervisor and a census-taker were also removed from their posts for their involvement in the case, the Nampula provincial STAE official said. On Friday, the general police command of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) said it had registered 18 alleged electoral offences in the first two weeks of registration for the October 11 local elections, and had issued notices for the criminal liability of the offenders, the corporation said.
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Nicolas Diekmann was able to elucidate more precisely how the brain learns by means of an artificial intelligence. Credit: Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum

Researchers at the Neural Computation Institute of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have constructed a computer model that learns spatial information in a pattern similar to that of rodents.

In the process, individual sequences of nerve cell activities in the hippocampus are played back repeatedly according to specific priorities. If an artificial intelligence follows the same pattern, it learns spatial information more quickly than if the sequences were repeated at random. Nicolas Diekmann and Professor Sen Cheng published their findings in the journal eLife on March 14, 2023.

The brain revisits routes while we sleep

The hippocampus brain region is of great importance in memory formation. This has been illustrated by famous cases such as that of the patient H.M., who was unable to form new memories after large parts of his a hippocampus had been removed. Studies on rodents have demonstrated the role of the hippocampus in spatial learning and navigation.

An important discovery in this context was cells that fire at specific locations, known as place cells. "They play a role in a fascinating phenomenon known as replay," explains Nicolas Diekmann. "When an animal moves around, certain place cells fire one after the other along the animal's route. Later, at rest or during sleep, the same place cells can be reactivated either in the same order as they were experienced or in reverse order."

The sequences observed during repetition don't just reflect earlier behavior. Sequences can also be reassembled, they can adapt to structural changes in the environment or represent places not yet visited but seen.

"We were interested in how the hippocampus produces such a variety of replay types efficiently and what purpose they serve," says Nicolas Diekmann. The researchers therefore built a computer model in which an artificial intelligence model learns spatial information. Ultimately, they studied how quickly the AI agent finds an exit from a specific spatial situation. The better it knows it, the faster it is.

Playback follows certain rules

The AI agent also learns by repeating neuronal sequences. However, they are not played back randomly, but prioritized according to certain rules. "Sequences are played back stochastically according to their prioritization," points out Diekmann.

Familiar sequences are prioritized. Positions associated with a reward are also played back more frequently. "Our model is biologically plausible, generates a manageable computational overhead and learns faster than agents where sequences are replayed at random," says Nicolas Diekmann. "This gives us a little more detail on how the brain learns."

More information: Nicolas Diekmann et al, A model of hippocampal replay driven by experience and environmental structure facilitates spatial learning, eLife (2023). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.82301 Journal information: eLife
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A new University of California San Diego School of Medicine study spotlights the significant reach that an individual health care cyberattack, such as ransomware, can have on regional hospital operations and patient care.

The study, published in the May 8, 2023 online edition of JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from two emergency departments that were adjacent to a month-long health care ransomware attack on neighboring hospitals.

"Cyberattacks on health care organizations are growing in frequency and sophistication, which can have real patient care impacts that extend far beyond a single effected hospital," said Christian Dameff, MD, first author of the study, assistant professor of medicine, emergency medicine and computer science and engineering at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and emergency medicine physician at UC San Diego Health.

The study identified that adjacent hospitals to ransomware attacks may experience resource constraints from increases in patient volumes and ambulance arrivals, as well as increased waiting room times, patients leaving before being seen by a clinician, longer patient stays and increases in critically ill patients such as stroke victims.

The study's authors suggest that targeted hospital cyberattacks may be associated with disruptions of non-targeted hospitals within a community and should be considered a regional disaster.

"Recognizing that cybersecurity attacks can impact adjacent hospitals is a step towards realizing the need for regional cooperation just like a natural disaster or other major emergency," said Christopher Longhurst, MD, senior author of the study, clinical professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and chief medical officer and chief digital officer at UC San Diego Health.

More information: Christian Dameff et al, Ransomware Attack Associated With Disruptions at Adjacent Emergency Departments in the US, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12270 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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A recent study conducted at the University of Jyvaskyla (Finland) examined the health of adolescents before and after the pandemic. The findings highlight that promoting good teacherstudent relationships and a positive home environment, developing stronger health literacy skills among young people, and encouraging parents to monitor their child's activities should be taken into account in measures to promote post-pandemic recovery. In addition, more attention should be paid to girls and lonely adolescents, as well as those rating their health as poor, as they may be more prone to mental health problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges, particularly for the mental health of young people. Based on survey data from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, the mental health of Finnish adolescents before (2018) and after (2022) the pandemic was examined.

Four mental health profiles were identified, one of which represented good mental health. The mental health profiles were based on self-reported psychological complaints (e.g., feeling low), somatic complaints (e.g., headache), life satisfaction, loneliness, and problematic use of social media (symptoms related to compulsive use) of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old Finnish youth.

In the first sample (2018), nearly half (44%) of the adolescents belonged to the profile representing good mental health, but only roughly one-third (37%) of those in the second sample (2022) belonged to this profile.

"A somewhat smaller proportion of adolescents belonged to this healthier profile in the second sample, suggesting that adolescents' mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic," says Doctoral Researcher Jasmine Gustafsson.

Adolescents need support and parental monitoring of their activities

The study also examined how the mental health profiles were associated with various health-related factors. In the second sample, adolescents reporting higher subjective health literacy, referring to the ability to acquire, understand and apply health-related information, were more likely to belong to the profile representing good mental health. In the first sample, this association was not significant.

In addition, perceiving higher social support from teachers, defined as perceiving teachers as caring and accepting, was more strongly linked to the healthier mental health profile in the second sample.

In both samples, adolescents belonging to profiles characterized by poorer mental health reported lower maternal monitoring, that is, the extent to which their mother keeps track of their child's activities, among other things.

New opportunities for digital interaction have developed during the pandemic. Some previous evidence has shown that young people's positive online experiences may have reduced experiences of loneliness during this time period. However, in this study, adolescents reporting more intensive online communication were more likely to belong to poorer mental health profiles.

"However, the cross-sectional nature of the study must be taken into account when interpreting the results," says Gustafsson. "For example, our results are not suitable for evaluating whether reporting more intensive online communication may lead to poorer mental health, or whether poorer mental health leads to more intensive online communication."

Adolescents belonging to linguistic minority groups face greater mental health risks

A surprising finding in the study was that those whose language of instruction was Swedish instead of Finnish were more likely to belong to a weaker mental health profile. In several previous studies, Finnish Swedes have been shown to report better health than Finnish-speaking Finns.

"For this reason, our study also calls for more attention to Swedish-speaking Finns and their well-being," says Gustafsson. "Our findings also highlight the potential mental health risks for older adolescents and those who live in a single-parent household."

The research is published in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health.

More information: Jasmine Gustafsson et al, Mental health profiles of Finnish adolescents before and after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00591-1
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Vitamin D intake could reduce cancer mortality in the population by 12 percentprovided the vitamin is taken daily. This was the result of an evaluation of 14 studies of the highest quality conducted at the German Cancer Research Center with a total of almost 105,000 participants.

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread worldwide and is particularly common among cancer patients. Averaged over the year, the vitamin D blood levels of about 15 percent of German adults are below the threshold for a pronounced vitamin D deficiency. In contrast, in a study of colorectal cancer patients, researchers diagnosed vitamin D3 deficiency in 59 percent of participants, which was also associated with unfavorable prognosis.

Potential effects of vitamin D supplementation and the development or prognosis of cancer have already been investigated in numerous studies. "Based on current studies, vitamin D3 supplementation probably does not protect against developing cancer, but it could reduce the likelihood of dying from cancer. However, previous studies on cancer mortality have yielded very different results, and we were interested in the reasons for this," said Ben Schottker, an epidemiologist at the German Cancer Research Center. "By re-evaluating all previous studies on the topic, we wanted to help produce robust results on this issue, which is so relevant to population health.

To investigate the effectiveness of vitamin D3 on cancer mortality in the population and on the survival of cancer patients, Ben Schottker and colleagues conducted a systematic literature search that identified 14 studies with a total of nearly 105,000 participants. The researchers considered only studies of the highest quality whose participants had been randomly assigned to the vitamin D3 arm or the placebo arm.

When all 14 studies were pooled, no statistically significant results emerged. However, when the studies were divided according to whether vitamin D3 was taken daily in a low dose or in higher doses administered at longer intervals, a large difference was seen. In the four studies with the infrequent hogher doses, there was no effect on cancer mortality. In contrast, in the summary of the ten studies with daily dosing, the researchers determined a statistically significant 12 percent reduction in cancer mortality.

"We observed this 12 percent reduction in cancer mortality after untargeted vitamin D3 administration to individuals with and without vitamin D deficiency. We can therefore assume that the effect is significantly higher for those people who are actually vitamin D deficient," says Ben Schottker. He explains the better efficacy of daily doses of vitamin D3 by the more regular bioavailability of the active agent, the hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which is only produced by reactions of vitamin D in the body and can presumably inhibit tumor growth.

A more detailed analysis of the studies with daily intake further revealed that people aged 70 and older benefited most from vitamin D3 therapy. In addition, the effect was most evident when vitamin D intake was started before the cancer diagnosis.

Hermann Brenner, epidemiologist and prevention expert at DKFZ, adds, "This work underlines the great potential of vitamin D3 administration in the prevention of cancer deaths. Regular intake at low doses is associated with almost negligible risk and very low cost."

The study is published in the journal Ageing Research Reviews.

More information: Sabine Kuznia et al, Efficacy of vitamin D 3 supplementation on cancer mortality: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, Ageing Research Reviews (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101923
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Establishment of a nomogram based on six clinical indicators for Wilson's disease. Credit: the authors

Wilson's disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by abnormal copper deposition in the liver, brain, cornea, and other tissues. It can lead to severe symptoms such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure or neurological manifestations such as tremor and dysarthria.

In China, however, this disorder is much more common due to lack of screenings for early diagnosis; tests like serum ceruloplasmin, 24-hour urinary copper excretion, Kayser-Fleischer rings, hepatic copper content and gene sequencing are not frequently conducted.

In a study published in Liver Research, a research team based in China developed a simple nomogram based on easily accessible and automatable detected routine clinical indicators to reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of Wilson's disease.

The study included 90 Wilson's disease patients with abnormal liver function and 128 patients with similar liver function but without Wilson's disease. Twelve candidate indicators were selected from the routine clinical indicators in the training cohort based on a selection operator regression analysis and the least absolute shrinkage. The indicators were then entered into a multivariate logistic regression model.

"We identified six independent predictors of Wilson's disease: serum copper, direct bilirubin, uric acid, cholinesterase, prealbumin, and reticulocyte percentage," said Jiahui Pang, lead author of the study. "Based on these routine clinical indicators, we constructed a novel nomogram for Wilson's disease."

The nomogram based on six clinical indicators has a good prediction for Wilson's disease. Credit: the authors

Xinhua Li, co-corresponding author further explained, "The training cohort's nomogram revealed a strong area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.967 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9460.988), demonstrating excellent recognition. The optimal cut-off point for the nomogram was 213.55, with 96% sensitivity and 87% specificity."

Validation of the model in the cohort produced an even more impressive area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.991 (95% CI 0.9701.000). Decision and clinical impact analyses were then carried out on the model to underscore its high clinical value.

"We constructed an accurate nomogram for Wilson's disease and found it had an excellent diagnostic efficacy," added co-corresponding Yongyu Mei. "A notable advantage of this nomogram is that the six routine blood indicators used in its construction can be obtained easily through noninvasive methods."

Indeed, this novel model enables earlier detection of Wilson's disease compared to serum ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urinary copper tests. It could help pave the way for clinicians in making targeted decisions and increasing the diagnosis rate of Wilson's disease.

More information: Jiahui Pang et al, A novel nomogram based on routine clinical indicators for screening for Wilson's disease, Liver Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.livres.2023.02.003

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A study tracking the lives of Chicagoans from childhood and adolescence in the 1990s to the start of middle age has found that 56% of Black and Hispanic residents from across the city witnessed at least one shooting by the time they turned 40.

White residents were exposed to gun violence at less than half the rate of Black and Hispanic residents, although it was still high: 25% of white Chicagoans had witnessed a shooting before turning 40.

Across all racial categories, 50% of the study's participants had been exposed to gun violence by age 40. The average age to witness a shooting was just 14 years old.

Of those in the study, more than 7% of Black and Hispanic people had themselves been shot before turning 40, compared to 3% of white people. The average age for being shot was 17 years old.

Researchers also compared the locations of gun violence incidents in the year leading up to recent study interviews in 2021. Rates of shootings within a 250-meter radius of the homes of Black participants were more than 12 times higher than those of white participants. Rates of shootings near the homes of Hispanic people were almost four times higher than for white people.

The research team continued to gather data for participants who had moved out of the city, although the vast majority of gun violence took place within Chicago.

The sustained stress of living with the potential for gun violence likely takes a "cumulative physiological toll" on Chicago's citizensand people in cities across the U.S., argue researchers.

Findings from the latest study, led by a University of Cambridge criminologist in collaboration with researchers from Harvard and Oxford universities, are published today in JAMA Network Open, a journal of the American Medical Association

"Existing evidence suggests that the long-term stress of exposure to firearm violence can contribute to everything from lower test scores for schoolkids to diminished life expectancy through heart disease," said study lead author Dr. Charles Lanfear, from the University of Cambridge's Institute of Criminology.

"We expected levels of exposure to gun violence to be high, but not this high. Our findings are frankly startling and disturbing," said Lanfear. "A substantial portion of Chicago's population could be living with trauma as a result of witnessing shootings and homicides, often at a very young age."

"It is clear that Black people in particular are often living in a very different social context, with far higher risks of seeing and becoming victims of gun violence in the streets near their homes lasting into middle age."

The Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN), a Harvard University study, has followed thousands of children since they were first surveyed in the 1990s, gathering life experiences as they grow up in the city or move away. Participants are from households selected at random from a set list of 80 Chicago districtscarefully chosen to reflect Chicago's spectrum of race and levels of social advantage, or lack thereof.

The latest research focused on data gathered from 2,418 of participants born in the early 1980s through to the mid-1990s, equally split between men and women.

The oldest study participants, born in 1981, hit adolescence in the early-to-mid 1990s when lethal violence reached a peak in the U.S. "The nineties saw a demographic bump collide with high poverty levels and rises in gang crime resulting in part from the crack epidemic," said Lanfear.

"However, since 2016 we have seen another surge in gun violence. Rates of fatal shootings in Chicago are now higher than they ever were in the nineties."

Men are far more likely to be involved in violent crime, and this is reflected in the risks of actually being shot by age 40, which are five times higher for men than women. However, there was a much smaller difference between the sexes for exposure to gun violence: 43% of women and 58% of men had seen someone shot.

"The chronic stress effects on women from being so highly exposed to firearm violence may well be substantial in Chicago, and indeed in many U.S. cities," said Lanfear.

"The study participants are taken from right across Chicago, and only a tiny fraction will be involved in any kind of crime. Given the levels of women and children witnessing gun violence in the city, the vast majority of this exposure will be as bystanders in public spaces, in streets or outside schools."

"The public health consequences of life in violent and traumatized neighborhoods will be playing out not just in Chicago, but in many cities right across the United States," Lanfear said.

More information: Inequalities in Exposure to Firearm Violence by Race, Sex, and Birth Cohort From Childhood to Age 40 Years, 1995-2021, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12465 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Virtual imaging trials to investigate the impact of skin color on 3D optoacoustic tomography of the breast: (a) An example schematic of a 3D OAT scan (left) and a clinical image (right) scanned by TomoWave Laboratories, Inc. (Houston) using LOUISA-3D at MD Anderson Cancer Center; (b) VITs of OAT using numerical breast phantoms (top); (c) 3D visualization of region-of-interest difference images between the reconstructed images with and without a lesion under different skin tones, obtained via VITs of OAT. Credit: Seonyeong Park

Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadly types of cancer, and the best outcomes stem from early detection. But some screening techniques may be less effective for people with darker skin.

Seonyeong Park of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will discuss experiments to measure this bias in her talk, "Virtual imaging trials to investigate impact of skin color on three-dimensional optoacoustic tomography of the breast." The presentation is part of the 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America.

Current standard screening for breast cancer is done with X-ray mammography, which can be uncomfortable and is less effective on dense breast tissue. An alternative, optoacoustic tomography, uses laser light to induce sound vibrations in breast tissue. The vibrations can be measured and analyzed to spot tumors. This method is safe and effective and does not require compression during imaging.

The technology that underlies OAT imaging is not new; it has been used in pulse oximetry for decades. Concerns about its interaction with darker skin have existed for almost as long.

"In 1990, a study found that pulse oximetry was about 2.5 times less accurate in patients with dark skin," said Park. "Recently, an article suggested that unreliable measurements from pulse oximeters may have contributed to increased mortality rates in Black patients during the COVID-19 pandemic."

With OAT emerging as an effective breast cancer screening method, Park and her team, led by professors Mark Anastasio at UIUC and Umberto Villa at the University of Texas at Austin, collaborating with professor Alexander Oraevsky of TomoWave Laboratories, Inc. in Houston, wanted to determine if this same bias was present. Rather than navigate the cost and ethics issues surrounding human test subjects, the team instead simulated a range of skin colors and tumor locations.

"By using an ensemble of realistic numerical breast phantoms, i.e., digital breasts, the evaluation can be conducted rapidly and cost-effectively," said Park.

The results confirmed that tumors could be harder to locate in individuals with darker skin depending on the design of the OAT imager and the location of the tumor. Fortunately, a virtual framework developed by Park allows for more comprehensive investigations and can serve as a tool for evaluating and optimizing new OAT imaging systems in their early stages of development.

"To improve detectability in dark skin, the laser power should be increased," said Park. "It is recommended that skin color-dependent detectability should be evaluated when designing new OAT breast imagers. Our team is actively conducting in-depth investigations utilizing our virtual framework to propose effective strategies for designing imaging systems that can help mitigate racial bias in OAT breast imaging."

More information: Main meeting website: https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/ Technical program: https://eppro02.ativ.me/web/planner.php?id=ASASPRING23&proof=true
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Expectations are high for acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs), and novice ACNPs may benefit from additional support as they transition into advanced practice roles.

The United States has more than 300,000 licensed NPs, with over 36,000 completing their academic programs between 2019 and 2020. They may practice in a variety of clinical settings, each with its own competencies, procedures and patient population.

ACNPs who work in cardiothoracic intensive care units (CTICUs) are highly trained to provide care to critically ill patients with complex conditions and specialized needs. They must be knowledgeable on various procedures, such as coronary artery bypass, cardiac valve replacement or repair, and heart or lung transplants.

"Role of Mentorship in the Transition From Registered Nurse to Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit" details how mentors made a difference as a nurse with eight years of experience in a CTICU moved into an ACNP role. The article is published in AACN Advanced Critical Care, as part of the journal's regular section on issues facing advanced practice nurses.

Lead author Lidia Hernandez, DNP, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN-CSC, is an ACNP in the CTICU at Washington University in St. Louis. She worked on the article with co-authors Mary Sullivan, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, who is an ACNP at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, and Jesus Casida, Ph.D., RN, APN-C, FAAN, endowed professor and executive director, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

"Clinical knowledge alone is not sufficient to prepare a novice ACNP to enter an already-complex healthcare system amid a pandemic," Hernandez said. "Mentors can help them navigate into a new role with confidence and help them evolve as clinicians and grow into leadership roles."

The article notes the differences between mentorship and preceptorship, which often occurs during orientation and focuses on acquiring specific knowledge or skills. On the other hand, a mentor may provide emotional support, guidance and personal feedback to help with anxiety and imposter syndrome, as well as other issues that may impact effectiveness in a new role.

It also discusses how the mentor helped the novice ACNP develop solutions to challenges that arose with the new role, such as improving organization, preparedness and access to resources.

More information: Lidia Hernandez et al, Role of Mentorship in the Transition From Registered Nurse to Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, AACN Advanced Critical Care (2023). DOI: 10.4037/aacnacc2023426

Provided by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
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Recent research progress of LRRC4 in glioma. miRNA-101 reverses the hypermethylation modification of the promoter region of LRRC4 by targeting EZH2, EED, and DNMT3a, thereby restoring the expression of LRRC4 in glioma cells. The interaction between LRRC4 and DEPTOR promoted the ubiquitination modification and degradation of DEPTOR, which leads to the phosphorylation of mTOR protein, resulting in inhibiting the activity of downstream protein ULK1, and then inhibiting the occurrence of autophagy. LRRC4 and MEK1/2 competitively bind to ERK1/2, thereby blocking ERK1/2 entry into the nucleus, and inhibiting the transcription of downstream genes. LRRC4 directly interacts with PDPK1 and HSP90 to phosphorylate IKKSer181, resulting in activating the NF-B signaling pathway to facilitate cytokine secretion, thereby reprogramming the glioma immune microenvironment. LRRC4 binds to Sam68 to form a complex, which prevents Sam68 from binding to CD44 pre-mRNA, and promotes the binding between eIF4a3 and CD44 pre-mRNA, thereby promoting the formation of circCD44. CCL2: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2; Circ-CD44: CircRNA-CD44; CUL3: Cullin-3; DEPTOR: DEP domain containing mTOR interacting protein; DNMT3A: DNA methyltransferase 3A; EED: Embryonic ectoderm development; EGF: Epidermal growth factor; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; eIF4A3: Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A3; ERK: Extracellular-signal-regulated kinases; EZH2: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2; HSP90: Heat shock protein 90; IFN-: Interferon-; IL-6: Interleukin 6; IB-: Inhibitor of NF-B; IKK: Inhibitor of NF-B kinase subunit beta; LRRC4: Leucine-rich repeats containing 4; MEK1/2: Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2; miR: MicroRNA; miRNA: MicroRNA; mRNA: Messenger RNA; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin; NF-B: Nuclear factor-B; P: Phosphorylation; PDPK1: 3-Phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase 1; pre-mRNA: Pre-messenger RNA; SAM68: Signal transduction associated protein 68; SMAD6: Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 6; Teff: Effector T cell; TF: Transcription factor; Treg: Regulatory T cell; ULK1: Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1. Credit: Chinese Medical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002441

Leucine-rich repeats containing 4 (LRRC4)a gene abundantly found in the brain and located on human chromosome 7q3132plays a pivotal role in memory formation, autism, spinal cord injury, as well as in determining the malignant potential, development, and progression of glioblastoma (GB), an aggressive cancer involving the brain and/or spinal cord.

In a review article published in the Chinese Medical Journal, researchers shed light on the key physiological mechanisms regulated by this gene, and the effects of its mutation.

Senior author Dr. Minghua Wu from Central South University, China, says, "In this review, we mainly discuss the effects of LRRC4 on memory by promoting the formation of excitatory synapses and long-term potentiation (LTP), the effects of LRRC4 mutation on psychoneurosis, and the new mechanism of LRRC4 in GB genesis and progression."

Our brain functions in a complex way, with each region performing a specific role. The hippocampus, for example, is the memory center of the brainit coordinates learning and memory performance. After receiving information from the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus processes information, then forms a memory, and stores it with the help of neuronal synapses.

Quite interestingly, LRRC4also known by the name "netrin-G ligand 2 (or NGL2)"has been shown to interact with the protein netrinG2, which controls the formation of neuronal circuits and synapses, even in the brain. LRRC4/NGL2 is highly expressed in multiple key brain regions and also supports memory formation in the hippocampus. As a consequence, the deletion of the LRRC4 gene adversely affects synaptic plasticity (i.e., the ability of neuronal synapses to remodel as necessary) and memory formation in the hippocampus.

Experiments conducted on laboratory mice reveal interesting facts. For instance, LRRC4 is not present during the early (embryonic) development of the mouse brain. However, subsequent increase in the expression of LRRC4 is associated with the formation of neuronal synapses. This activity is mediated by mouse embryonic hippocampal neurons in conjunction with LRRC4. The aforementioned animal model-based experiment bears testimony to the fact that LRRC4 plays a key role in learning and memory formation.

This gene also seems to play an important role in nerve fiber (or axon)-mediated vision in mice. The removal of LRRC4 from the retinal horizontal cells or neurons of developing or mature mice results in abnormal axonal growth and synaptic reduction. Neuronal function is restored when LRRC4 is re-introduced.

Research also suggests that LRRC4 promotes presynaptic and postsynaptic connections. It also encourages the accumulation of the neuronal protein N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor or "NMDAR," which results in the formation of excitatory synapses that play a pivotal role in neurotransmission. Once again, this observation underscores the importance of LRRC4 in the neuronal circuitry.

The synergy between LRRC4 and NMDAR has major biological implications. Long-term potentiation (LTP)a process that involves the strengthening of neuronal synapses and boosting of signal transmission between neuronsgets a helping hand from LRRC4, as evidenced by laboratory experiments. Mice lacking the LRRC4 gene show LTP inhibition. However, because NMDAR serves as a trigger for the induction of LTP, this inhibition can be easily reversed by activating NMDAR with a pharmaceutical drug.

LRRC4 also seems to play a significant role in various pathologies. Lead author of this review, Dr. Kun Deng, who also conducts research at Central South University, China, adds, "The aberrance of LRRC4 is thought to be associated to the occurrence of autism and spinal cord injury."

Prior studies also suggest that LRRC4 mitigates clinical symptoms in mouse models of multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease targeting neurons, and protects neurons from immune system-induced damage. Lastly, LRRC4 inhibits a key survival process in GB cells, thus demonstrating its therapeutic potential. Temozolomide (TMZ) administration constitutes the initial treatment for patients with GB.

Dr. Wu says, "Combining the re-expression of LRRC4 and TMZ treatment prolonged the survival of mice with tumor xenografts, indicating the potential of LRRC4 as a prognostic marker for TMZ sensitivity in patients with GB."

In summary, LRRC4 helps regulate synapse formation, stability, and excitatory transmission, and is involved in brain development, learning, and memory formation and storage. It also has key implications in neuronal disorders and aggressive brain and spinal cord cancer. Upregulation of this gene's expression could prove to be a valuable strategy to treat mental and neuronal diseases and tumors in the near future.

More information: Kun Deng et al, Leucine-rich repeats containing 4 protein (LRRC4) in memory, psychoneurosis, and glioblastoma, Chinese Medical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002441

Provided by Cactus Communications
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Scientists from UNSW Sydney with collaborators at Boston University have developed a tool that shows early promise in detecting Parkinson's disease years before the first symptoms start appearing.

In research published today in the journal ACS Central Science, the researchers described how they used neural networks to analyze biomarkers in patients' bodily fluids.

The researchers from UNSW School of Chemistry examined blood samples taken from healthy individuals gathered by the Spanish European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Focusing on 39 patients who developed Parkinson's up to 15 years later, the team ran their machine learning program over datasets containing extensive information about metabolitesthe chemical compounds that the body creates when breaking down food, drugs or chemicals.

After comparing these metabolites to those of 39 matched control patientspeople in the same study who didn't go on to develop Parkinson'sthe team were able to identify unique combinations of metabolites that could prevent or potentially be early warning signs for Parkinson's.

As UNSW researcher Diana Zhang explains, she and Associate Professor W. Alexander Donald developed a machine learning tool called CRANK-MS, which stands for Classification and Ranking Analysis using Neural network generates Knowledge from Mass Spectrometry.

"The most common method of analyzing metabolomics data is through statistical approaches," says Zhang.

"So to figure out which metabolites are more significant for the disease versus control groups, researchers usually look at correlations involving specific molecules."

"But here we take into account that metabolites can have associations with other metaboliteswhich is where the machine learning comes in. With hundreds to thousands of metabolites, we've used computational power to understand what's going on."

A/Prof. Donald says that in addition to looking at combinations of metabolites, the researchers used an unedited list of data.

"Typically, researchers using machine learning to examine correlations between metabolites and disease reduce the number of chemical features first, before they feed it into the algorithm," he says.

"But here we feed all the information into CRANK-MS without any data reduction right at the start. And from that, we can get the model prediction and identify which metabolites are driving the prediction the most, all in one step. It means that if there are metabolites which may potentially have been missed using conventional approaches, we can now pick those up."

How this could be significant for Parkinson's disease

At present, Parkinson's disease is diagnosed by observing physical symptoms such as a resting hand tremor. There are no blood or laboratory tests to diagnose non-genetic cases of it. But atypical symptoms such as sleep disorder and apathy can present in people with Parkinson's decades before the motor symptoms show up. CRANK-MS, therefore, could be used at the first sign of these atypical symptoms to rule in or out, the risk of developing Parkinson's in the future.

However, A/Prof Donald emphasizes that validation studies are needed using much larger cohorts and conducted in multiple parts of the globe before the tool could be used reliably. But in the limited cohort examined for this study, results were promising, with CRANK-MS able to analyze chemicals found in blood to detect Parkinson's disease with an accuracy of up to 96 percent.

"This study is interesting at multiple levels," he says.

"First, the accuracy is very high for predicting Parkinson's disease in advance of clinical diagnosis. Second, this machine learning approach enabled us to identify chemical markers that are the most important in accurately predicting who will develop Parkinson's disease in the future. Third, some of the chemical markers that drive accurate prediction the most have been previously implicated by others to Parkinson's disease in cell-based assays but not in humans."

Food for thought

There were some interesting findings when examining the metabolites of people who went on to develop Parkinson's in the study.

For example, triterpenoids were found in lower concentrations in the blood of those who later developed Parkinson's disease compared to those who did not. Triterpenoids is a known neuroprotectant that regulates oxidative stress and is commonly found in foods such as apples, olives, and tomatoes. A future study could examine whether eating these foods could naturally protect against developing Parkinson's disease.

Also worthy of further exploration was the presence of polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in people who went on to develop Parkinson's, which could be linked to being exposed to industrial chemicals.

"We have evidence to suggest that it is PFAS, but we need more characterization data to be 100 percent sure," says A/Prof Donald.

Freely available to all

CRANK-MS is a tool that is publicly available to any researchers who would like to use machine learning for disease diagnosis using metabolomics data.

"We've built the model in such a way that it's fit for purpose," says Zhang.

"The application of CRANK-MS to detect Parkinson's disease is just one example of how AI can improve the way we diagnose and monitor diseases. What's exciting is that CRANK-MS can be readily applied to other diseases to identify new biomarkers of interest."

"The tool is user-friendly where on average, results can be generated in less than 10 minutes on a conventional laptop."

More information: Interpretable Machine Learning on Metabolomics Data Reveals 2 Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease, ACS Central Science (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01468 Journal information: ACS Central Science
Marijuana and other products containing THC, the plants main psychoactive ingredient, have grown more potent and more dangerous as legalization has made them more widely available.

Although decades ago the THC content of weed was commonly less than 1.5%, some products on the market today are more than 90% THC.

The buzz of yesteryear has given way to something more alarming. Marijuana-related medical emergencies have landed hundreds of thousands of people in the hospital and millions are dealing with psychological disorders linked to cannabis use, according to federal research.

But regulators have failed to keep up.

Among states that allow the sale and use of marijuana and its derivatives, consumer protections are spotty.

In many states the products come with a warning label and potentially no other activity by regulators, said Cassin Coleman, vice chair of the scientific advisory committee of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

The federal government has generally taken a hands-off approach. It still bans marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance  as a drug with no accepted medical use and a high chance of abuse  under the Controlled Substances Act. But when it comes to cannabis sales, which many states have legalized, the federal government does not regulate attributes like purity or potency.

The FDA has basically sat on its hands and failed to honor its duty to protect the public health, said Eric Lindblom, a scholar at Georgetown Universitys law school who previously worked at the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products.

Pot has changed profoundly since generations of Americans were first exposed to it.

Cannabis has been cultivated to deliver much higher doses of THC. In 1980, the THC content of confiscated marijuana was less than 1.5%. Today many varieties of cannabis flower  plant matter that can be smoked in a joint  are listed as more than 30% THC.

At one California dispensary, the menu recently included a strain posted as 41% THC.

Legalization has also helped open the door to products that are extracted from marijuana but look nothing like it: oily, waxy, or crystalline THC concentrates that are heated and inhaled through vaping or dabbing, which can involve a bong-like device and a blowtorch.

Todays concentrates can be more than 90% THC. Some are billed as almost pure THC.

Few people personify the mainstreaming of marijuana as vividly as John Boehner, the former U.S. House speaker. The Ohio Republican long opposed marijuana and, in 2011, reportedly declared himself unalterably opposed to its legalization.

Now hes on the board of Acreage Holdings, a producer of marijuana products.

And Acreage Holdings illustrates the evolution of the industry. Its Superflux brand markets a vaping product  pure live resin in a convenient, instant format  and concentrates such as budder, sugar, shatter, and wax. The company bills its THCa crystalline concentrate as the ultimate in potency.

Higher concentrations pose greater hazards, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The risks of physical dependence and addiction increase with exposure to high concentrations of THC, and higher doses of THC are more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis, its website said.

In 2021, 16.3 million people in the United States  5.8% of people 12 or older  had experienced a marijuana use disorder within the past year, according to a survey published in January by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

That was far more than the combined total found to have substance use disorders involving cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, prescription stimulants such as Adderall, or prescription pain relievers such as fentanyl and OxyContin.

Other drugs are more dangerous than marijuana, and most of the people with a marijuana use disorder had a mild case. But about 1 in 7  more than 2.6 million people  had a severe case, the federal survey found.

Most clinicians equate the term severe use disorder with addiction, said Wilson Compton, deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Cannabis use disorder can be devastating, said Smita Das, a Stanford psychiatrist and chair of an American Psychiatric Association council on addiction.

Das said she has seen lives upended by cannabis  very successful people who have lost families and jobs. Theyre in a place where they dont know how they got there because it was just a joint, it was just cannabis, cannabis wasnt supposed to be addictive for them, Das said.

Medical diagnoses attributed to marijuana include cannabis dependence with psychotic disorder with delusions and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a form of persistent vomiting.

An estimated 800,000 people made marijuana-related emergency department visits in 2021, according to a government study published in December 2022.

Go Directly to Detox

A Colorado father thought it was just a matter of time before cannabis killed his son.

In spring 2021, the teen ran a red light, crashed into another car  injuring himself and the other driver  and fled the scene, the father recalled in interviews.

In the wreckage, the father later found joints, empty containers of a high-potency THC concentrate known as wax, and a THC vape pen.

On his sons cellphone, he found text messages and scores of references to dabbing and weed. The teen said he had been dabbing before the crash and had intended to kill himself.

Weeks later, police arranged for him to be held involuntarily at a hospital for psychiatric evaluation. According to a police report, he thought cartel snipers were after him.

The doctor who evaluated the teen diagnosed cannabis abuse.

Stop doing dabs or wax as they can make you extremely paranoid, the doctor wrote. Go directly to the detox program of your choice.

By the fathers account, over the past two years the teen logged several other involuntary holds, dozens of encounters with police, repeated jailings, and a series of stays in inpatient treatment facilities.

At times out of touch with reality, he texted that God spoke to him and gave him superpowers.

The damage was also financial. Health insurance claims for his treatment totaled nearly $600,000, and the familys out-of-pocket expenses came to almost $40,000 as of February.

In interviews for this article, the father spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid undermining the sons recovery.

The father is convinced that his sons mental illness was a result and not a cause of the drug use. He said the symptoms receded when his son stopped using THC and returned when he resumed.

His son is now 20, off marijuana, and doing well, the father said, adding, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that cannabis use is what caused his psychosis, delusions, and paranoia.

Uneven State Regulation

Medical use of marijuana is now legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and recreational or adult use is legal in 22 states plus D.C., according to MJBizDaily, a trade publication.

Early in the covid-19 pandemic, while much of America was in lockdown, marijuana dispensaries delivered. Many states declared them essential businesses.

But only two adult-use states, Vermont and Connecticut, have placed caps on THC content  30% for cannabis flower and 60% for THC concentrates  and they exempt pre-filled vape cartridges from the caps, said Gillian Schauer from the Cannabis Regulators Association, a group of state regulators.

Some states cap the number of ounces or grams consumers are allowed to buy. However, even a little marijuana can amount to a lot of THC, said Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, a professor of health policy, economics, and law at the University of Southern California.

Some states allow only medical use of low-THC products  for instance, in Texas, substances that contain no more than 0.5% THC by weight. And some states require warning labels. In New Jersey, cannabis products composed of more than 40% THC must declare: This is a high potency product and may increase your risk for psychosis.

Colorados marijuana rules run more than 500 pages. Yet its disclosure underscores the limits of consumer protections: This product was produced without regulatory oversight for health, safety, or efficacy.

Figuring out the right rules may not be simple. For example, warning labels could shield the marijuana industry from liability, much as they did for tobacco companies for many years. Capping potency could limit options for people who take high doses for relief from medical problems.

Overall, at the state level, the cannabis industry has blunted regulatory efforts by arguing that onerous rules would make it hard for legitimate cannabis businesses to compete with illicit ones, Pacula said.

Pacula and fellow researchers have called for the federal government to step in.

Months after ending his term as FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb issued a similar plea.

Complaining that states had gotten far down the field while the feds sat on the sidelines, Gottlieb called for a uniform national scheme for THC that protects consumers.

That was in 2019 and little has changed since then.

Wheres the FDA?

The FDA oversees food, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and medical devices. It regulates tobacco, nicotine, and nicotine vapes. It oversees tobacco warning labels. In the interest of public health and safety, it also regulates botanicals, medical products that can include plant material.

Yet, when it comes to the marijuana that people smoke, the cannabis-derived THC concentrates they vape or dab, and edibles infused with THC, the FDA appears very much on the sidelines.

The medical marijuana sold at dispensaries is not FDA-approved. The agency hasnt vouched for its safety or efficacy or determined the proper dosage. It doesnt inspect the facilities where the goods are produced, and it doesnt assess quality control.

The agency does invite manufacturers to put cannabis products through clinical trials and its drug approval process.

The FDAs website notes that THC is the active ingredient in two FDA-approved drugs used in cancer treatment. That alone apparently places the substance under FDA jurisdiction.

The FDA has all the power it needs to regulate state-legalized cannabis products much more effectively, said Lindblom, the former FDA official.

At least publicly, the FDA has focused not on THC concentrates derived from cannabis or weed smoked in joints, but rather on other substances: a THC variant derived from hemp, which the federal government has legalized, and a different cannabis derivative called cannabidiol or CBD, which has been marketed as therapeutic.

The FDA is committed to monitoring the marketplace, identifying cannabis products that pose risks, and acting, within our authorities, to protect the public, FDA spokesperson Courtney Rhodes said.

Many/most THC products meet the definition of marijuana, which is a controlled substance. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulates marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. We refer you to the Drug Enforcement Administration for questions about regulation and enforcement under the provisions of the CSA, Rhodes wrote in an email.

The DEA, part of the Justice Department, did not respond to questions for this article.

As for Congress, perhaps its most consequential step has been limiting enforcement of the federal prohibition.

Thus far, the federal response to state actions to legalize marijuana has largely been to allow states to implement their own laws on the drug, a 2022 Congressional Research Service report said.

In October, President Joe Biden directed the secretary of Health and Human Services and the attorney general to review the federal governments stance toward marijuana  whether it should remain classified among the most dangerous and tightly controlled substances.

In December, Biden signed a bill expanding research access to marijuana and requiring federal agencies to study its effects. The law gave agencies a year to issue findings.

Some marijuana advocates say the federal government could play a more constructive role.

NORML does not opine that cannabis is innocuous, but opines that its potential risks are best mitigated via legalization, regulation, and public education, said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the group formerly known as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Products have to be tested for purity and potency, he said, and the federal government could have some oversight in licensing the labs that test those products.

In the meantime, said Coleman, adviser to the National Cannabis Industry Association, states are left having to become USDA + FDA + DEA all at the same time.

And where does that leave consumers? Some, like Wendy E., a retired small-business owner in her 60s, struggle with the effects of todays marijuana.

Wendy, who spoke on the condition that she not be fully named, started smoking marijuana in high school in the 1970s and made it part of her lifestyle for decades.

Then when her state legalized it, she bought it in dispensaries and very quickly noticed that the potency was much higher than what I had traditionally used, she said. It seemed to have exponentially increased.

In 2020, she said, the legal marijuana  much stronger than the illicit weed of her youth  left her obsessing about ways to kill herself.

Once, the self-described earth-mother hippie found camaraderie passing a joint with friends. Now, she attends Marijuana Anonymous meetings with others recovering from addiction to the stuff.

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A man from Arizona died in a Seeley Lake crash on Saturday, and officials identified another man who died in a May 3 crash with a cow on Highway 93.

On Saturday, a Ford F-150 carrying a 36-year-old man from Arizona was driving south on Airport Road in Seeley Lake. At about 3:15 a.m., it ran off the right side of the road and and struck a guardrail, according to a Montana Highway Patrol crash report.

The truck reentered the road, crossed over and hit an embankment. It landed on its right side. The driver was dead when law enforcement arrived, the report stated.

The driver was the only person in the car. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report, and alcohol is a suspected factor in the fatal crash. Conditions were wet, and the road was rural and sloped downhill.

Also on Saturday, Lake County Sheriff Don Bell released the name of a motorcyclist who died after he struck a cow on Highway 93 near Post Creek.

The biker was 59-year-old Dewayne Kemp of Ronan, according to Bell.

Kemp was traveling on the highway near McDonald Lake Road in Ronan when a black cow came into the road. The motorcycle hit the animal and went off the road, landing about 30 yards from where the collision happened, according to Montana Highway Patrol.

"The Sheriffs Office would like to extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Kemp," Bell wrote in a press release. Highway patrol is still investigating the crash.
In 2021, when Rod First Strike was working as a cultural specialist at Linderman Elementary in Polson, he noticed a lot of kindergarten and first-grade boys were being teased for wearing their hair long.

Hair holds significance in Indigenous cultures. Its seen as a source of strength, connecting Native Americans to their ancestors. And often, when a loved one dies, Native people may choose to cut their hair short to symbolize the profound loss. Some say long hair is a sign of resilience, as Native people were forced to cut their hair short as a form of assimilation in government-run boarding schools. And in some places, long hair remains controversial. A network of charter schools in North Carolina has a policy prohibiting male students from wearing long hair, and the Native American Rights Fund intervened, urging the school to "permanently remove the discriminatory and outdated assimilationist policy."

First Strike said caring for long hair is also a form of meditation.

It gives you some time to check in with yourself, he said. And it can be social, too. You can tell what kind of condition a person is in by the condition of their hair.

First Strike, who is Blackfeet, Assiniboine and Cree, said the problem with teasing boys for wearing their hair long is two-fold.

Its an insult to culture, he said. Its also a subtle form of gender comparison or sexism. If you are teasing a boy for looking like a girl, its implying that being a girl is a bad thing. Theres no shame in being a girl.

First Strike also saw himself in the boys he teaches. He remembers being ridiculed and mocked when he was young for wearing his hair long. He grew tired of explaining its cultural significance and wished he had a role model or someone who could stand up for him and teach his classmates what it meant to have long hair.

First Strike wanted to change the narrative and be that person for his students.

In 2021, he started raising money to give boys who wore their hair long braided sweet grass and a certificate to keep the medicine going, or continue to grow their hair.

First Strike later got a promotion and began working with 400 students from kindergarten through fourth grade. He counted 36 boys  Native and non-Native  who wore their hair long. Last year, he raised money to buy materials so the children could make ribbon shirts for themselves. First Strike said it was important to include non-Native boys who wore their hair long to knock down gender norms.

You can raise awareness, you can push for diversity, but what I really want is inclusion," he said. "It gives us a stronger community. It makes kids less shocked by differences and more likely to embrace each others differences. Instead of saying, Thats weird, its saying, Thats cool!

Now, First Strike is raising money again to commission and pay Native artists to make beaded ropes for each boy with long hair.

He said hes already seen a change in the community since his initiative began two years ago.

Most of the boys embrace one another, he said. We dont have as much division. This local community in Polson is very supportive.

First Strikes fundraiser is called Boys with Braids and can be found on GoFundMe.
HELENA  The former chief of staff of Montana VA has been ordered by a federal judge to cooperate in an investigation into patient care he provided while at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center in Helena.

Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto, U.S. magistrate judge for U.S. District Court of Montana, on April 26 upheld the subpoena issued by the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General to Dr. James Paul Maganito.

The United States of America is the petitioner and Maganito is named as the respondent.

The subpoena was issued as part of an oversight investigation into allegations of abuse, waste and mismanagement at the Montana Veterans Healthcare System and the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, according to court documents.

The United States claims the VA OIG opened the investigation after receiving complaints that Dr. Maganito provided substandard medical and surgical care to two patients, one of whom was his subordinate employee, and that the VA Medical Center failed to appropriately respond, court documents state in the 27-page order.

The subpoena was issued because Maganito did not participate in an interview mandated by VA regulations when he was still employed by the VA and declined to do a voluntary interview after he left the VA, court documents state.

He has argued the subpoena is unenforceable because it deprives him of his right to due process by not giving sufficient notice of the allegations while exposing him to severe consequences, according to the documents filed with the court, the judge noted.

Maganito has also said the subpoena exceeds the office of inspector generals investigative authority because it seeks to investigate claims of medical malpractice and not public rights of general application, court documents state.

The office of inspector general disagrees.

"The United States maintains the VA OIG is proceeding squarely within its statutory authority, that Dr. Maganitos testimony is relevant and material to its investigation because it is an integral part of the inspection into the facilitys operations, and that Dr. Maganito has not satisfied his burden to show the subpoena is overbroad or unduly burdensome, the judge noted.

Attorneys for Maganito did not immediately respond to an email Monday. Montana VA Healthcare declined comment, citing it was pending litigation.

Maganito resigned as chief of staff from Montana VA Healthcare System effective Aug. 26. He had served as chief of staff since 2019. He cited personal reasons for leaving, a Montana VA spokesman said at the time.

The judge noted the office of inspector general determined it was necessary to do an investigation of the alleged issues that led to at least two complaints of failure of care at VA Medical Center.

Because Dr. Maganitos conduct is at the genesis of these allegations, as the United States explains, only Dr. Maganito knows the information pertaining to his own conduct and decision making that led to the provision of substandard care, DeSoto wrote.

She later noted the subpoenas stated purpose  to fully investigate conduct by its then chief of staff that may have violated VA policies and resulted in substandard care to veterans  falls comfortably within the OIGs broad statutory 

And she said the subpoena seeks information over which Dr. Maganito has direct knowledge.

Maganito joined the Montana VA Healthcare System in 2012, serving as the staff gynecologist and occupational health medical officer, and he became the womens health medical director until 2015, according to a biography posted on the VAs website.

He left the VA in 2015 in pursuit of subspecialty training as a female pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow with plans to return to the VA to help female veterans.

Maganito had also served at one time as chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.

He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. While earning his doctorate, he finished his masters in public health and masters in health care administration at Des Moines University College of Health Sciences.

This story was first reported by Bloomberg Law.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia enacted a major security clampdown before Tuesdays annual commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, curbing the use of drones and ride-sharing services in its largest cities  even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg  amid its 14-month war with Ukraine.

At least 21 Russian cities canceled May 9 military parades  the staple of Victory Day celebrations across Russia  for the first time in years, Russian media said.

Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancellations. It wasn't clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia  which hasn't witnessed the carnage endured by Ukraine during the invasion  was rattled by ambiguous official reports that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down.

Media and local officials have blamed other sporadic drone attacks, especially targeting oil depots near the two countries border, on the Ukrainian military. Kyiv officials decline to comment on such claims.

The fears of a possible Ukrainian attack appeared real, even though parades will go ahead in Russias largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. But the use of drones has been banned in both cities before Victory Day.

In St. Petersburg, often referred to as "Venice of the north for its network of rivers and canals, using jet skis in certain parts of the city is prohibited through Wednesday. In the Russian capital, car-sharing services have been temporarily barred from the city center  drivers won't be able to start or finish rides there  amid preparations for the traditional Red Square parade.

Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years Moscow parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who arrived Monday and met with Putin for talks. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. The Kremlin at the time said it hadn't invited any because it wasn't a round-number anniversary.

But on Monday officials announced that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon would be joining Putin and Zhaparov at the festivities, along with Armenias prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and Kazakhstans leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Late Monday, Belarusian media said that country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, had arrived in Moscow to attend the parade. His presence is significant because Russia bases troops and arms being used in Ukraine in Belarus, and Putin said in March that tactical nuclear weapons would be placed there.

Pashinyan and Tokayev were surprising choices for the guest list as they have in the past diverged from Putin's line. Kazakhstan and Armenia, though Russian allies, haven't publicly supported the war in Ukraine. In fact, Tokayev has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone several times throughout the invasion.

Tokayev also told Putin last summer that Kazakhstan wouldn't recognize the Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

Armenia is a member of the Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization, but Pashinyan snubbed Moscow earlier this year by refusing to host the alliance's military drills.

May 9 is normally a bank holiday in Ukraine, too, but not this year, because of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he had sent a draft bill to parliament proposing a Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II on May 8, and a Day of Europe on May 9, further distancing Kyiv from Moscow.

Zelenskyy equated Russias goals in Ukraine to those of the Nazis. Unfortunately, evil has returned, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Although now it is another aggressor, the goal is the same  enslavement or destruction.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to travel to Kyiv on Tuesday to mark Europe Day together with Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russias latest nighttime assault, as attacks across Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces killed four civilians, officials said Monday.

Five people in the capital were injured by falling drone debris, according to Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Air raid alarms sounded for more than three hours during the night.

Drone wreckage struck a two-story apartment building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post.

Russia has faced economic sanctions and limits on its supply chains because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow has routinely turned to Iranian Shahed drones to bolster its firepower.

Russian shelling of 127 targets across northern, southern and eastern parts of Ukraine killed three civilians, the Ukrainian defense ministry said. Russian long-range bombers launched up to eight cruise missiles at Ukraines southern Odesa region, authorities said. One person was killed and three others were wounded.

Some of the Soviet-era cruise missiles fired against the Odesa region self-destructed or fell into the sea before reaching their targets, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat.

Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities have begun evacuating residents of Tokmak, a town in the front-line southern Zaporizhzhia region, toward the Black Sea coast, Ukraines General Staff said.

Those working for Kremlin-appointed local authorities, as well as children and educational workers, are being relocated to Berdyansk, a Russian-occupied seaside city about 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the southeast, it said.

On Friday, the Russian-appointed governor of the partially-occupied Zaporizhzhia region ordered the evacuation of civilians from 18 settlements there, including Enerhodar, which neighbors the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Speculation has been mounting for months about the timing and focus of Ukraines expected spring offensive, with some analysts saying Kyiv might try to strike south into Zaporizhzhia in order to split Russian forces and cut Moscows land link to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
While theyre still firmly (for now) in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes are loading up with SEC talent, especially on the defensive line.

CU gained a commitment from former Ole Miss EDGE JJ Hawkins on Monday evening and not even 24 hours later, Missouri transfer Arden Walker, a Colorado native who played at Cherry Creek High School, joined the herd on Tuesday morning.

Both Hawkins and Walker played somewhat sparingly last season as redshirt freshmen. The former made one tackle in four games played for the Rebels while Walker saw action in 12 games, including a start in the Tigers regular season finale, and recorded six tackles on the year.

Walker was a two-time state champion at Cherry Creek who signed with Missouri over UCLA and Colorado back in 2020. His father, Arthur, played for the Buffs in the late 1980s and was an All-Big Eight defensive lineman.

Other former SEC players to join the Buffs D-line/EDGE room this offseason include Jordan Domineck (Arkansas) and Amari McNeill (Tennessee).

BREAKING: Former Missouri EDGE Arden Walker tells me he has Committed to Colorado! The 63 255 EDGE will have 3 years of eligibility remaining. Especially being from Colorado and also being a legacy buff, Ive seen the ups and downs of the program. I believe this is a shift. pic.twitter.com/HUYfuENBOc  Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 9, 2023

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Story continues

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Looking back at the biggest comebacks in Colorado football history Four-star RB Micah Welch announces upcoming Colorado official visit Buffs bolster offensive line by picking up Liberty transfer Reggie Young

Story originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com. TODAY

Guest speaker

Justice Sam J. Ervin IV (Jimmy) will speak at the Burke County Democratic Headquarters at 6 p.m. It is at 310 S. Sterling St. Due to the recent N.C. Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering and voter ID this is a very timely topic. Dinner will be catered. A $10 contribution would be appreciated but not expected.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

Crime prevention council meeting

The Burke County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council will meet at 8:10 a.m. It will be held in the Club Room at the Collett Street Recreation Center in Morganton. To attend or for additional information, contact A.J. Coutu at jcpbcc@gmail.com or 828-403-1427

THURSDAY, MAY 11

The N.C. Pre-K Committee of Burke County Smart Start Inc. will meet Thursday, May 11, at 8:30 a.m. in person at the Partnership office at 304 W. Union St. N.C. Pre-K meetings are open to the public and are held in handicapped accessible facilities. COVID, flu and other health restrictions will be observed for in-person attendance. For anyone with a hearing impairment who may require the assistance of an interpreter or have other special needs, call the Partnership at 439-2326 or use the N.C. Relay System at 1-800-735-8262.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Wreath-making workshop

The Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Museum, 24 Water St., Old Fort, will host a spring wreath-making workshop at 11 a.m. The workshop, led by Toni Jo McCoart, will cost $15 per wreath, and registration and prepayment are required by May 10. For more information, call the museum at 828-668-9259 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or email brittany.bennett@ncdcr.gov.

Glen Alpine UMC breakfast

The second Saturday Breakfast will be held May 13 from 7-10 a.m. at Glen Alpine United Methodist Church, 410 Linville St., Glen Alpine. The second Saturday breakfast is a popular fundraising mission by the GA United Methodist Mens group. Cost is by donation.

Run as One 5K

The third annual Run as One 5K will be held at Catawba Meadows Greenway. The event starts at 9 a.m. and is being held to support Mental Health Awareness Month. Entry fee for runners or walkers is $25, which includes a commemorative T-shirt, and medals for first, second, and third place in age divisions. After the race, there will be refreshments, a celebration, music and giveaways. For more information or to register, go to https://bit.ly/3ANchzO.

MONDAY, MAY 15

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

Support group meeting

The Foothills Vision Loss Support Group will meet at 10 a.m. at the Burke Senior Center in Morganton. Anyone who is blind or has low vision is welcome to attend. For more information, send an email to foothillsvisionloss@gmail.com or call Ed McDaniel at 828-778-4177.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

Sons of the American Revolution meeting

The Col. Alexander Erwin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will meet at 6 p.m. at the Morganton Community House, 120 N. King St., Morganton. William Caldwell will present a program titled Rogues, Banditti & Crackers: The Southern Backcountry by the time of the American Revolution. The chapter also will recognize its youth middle school brochure and elementary school poster contest winners. The meeting is open to the public, but those who wish to attend must RSVP by contacting Robert Patton at 828-443-3720 or robert.patton1@icloud.com. Dinner is $13 per person.

Fundraiser

Carolina Caring will host the fundraiser Flights & Bites at the Morganton Community House, 120 S. King St., from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is $75 per person and will include wine by Silver Fork Winery paired with food by chef Nathan Cromwell. Tickets should be purchased by May 8 but calling 828-466-0466.

Board meeting

New Dimensions will hold its monthly board meeting on at 4 p.m. in person on campus as well as via Zoom. Contact ckinard@ndschool.org for link information.

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Wilson Creek Cleanup

The Wilson Creek Faithful will be organizing a cleanup on Wilson Creek on Saturday, May 20, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Trash bags and beverages will be provided. For more information, call David Benner at 828-433-7932 or Leonard Baker at 252-289-0211.

Cow patty bingo

The bands of Draughn and East Burke high schools will host a cow patty bingo event at 10 a.m. at Draughn High School. The prize is up to $5,000 with donations of $20 per section or $100 per square. The event also will include concessions, face painting, music, raffle prizes and the Chick-fil-A Cow. Call 828-334-1756 for more information.

The Art of Chocolate

The Art of Chocolate, an annual fundraiser for Options, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Morganton Community House, 120 N. King St., Morganton. Tickets, which are $75 each, must be purchased in advance. The event will include an art auction and live music. Call Options at 828-438-9444 for more information.

Support group

The Survivors of Loss to Suicide Hickory NC Support Group will meet from 9-10 a.m. at St Stephens Library 3225 Springs Road NE, Hickory. The group offers support for the families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. Each session will focus on a different topic on the complicated grief that comes from losing someone to suicide. The group is open to teens and adults. For more information, contact Leisa Bentley at leisabentley@charter.net or call 828-234-5822.

MONDAY, MAY 22

Business marketing class

The Morganton Downtown Development Association, in collaboration with the Small Business Center at Western Piedmont Community College, will offer a business marketing training session on Finding Your Customers and Creating a Marketing Plan from 4-6 p.m. at the Morganton Community House at 120 N. King St. in Morganton. A second session will take place from 8-10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at the Community House called Dynamite Marketing for Small Businesses. The sessions are free to attend, but those interested must register in advance. To register for the first session, visit https://bit.ly/3ZTIPml. To register for the second session, visit https://bit.ly/3Fw3Hbb.

Remembering Our Parents event

Carolina Caring will hold a Remembering our Parents event on from 6-7:30 p.m. at the organizations Newton campus located at 3975 Robinson Road in Newton to honor the memory of our parents. Participants are asked to bring a picture that can be used in an activity. Registration is required. To register, visit CarolinaCaring.org/support, contact wspurling@carolinacaring.org or call 828-466-0466, ext. 3201.

TUESDAY, MAY 30JUNE 1

Bus driver class

Burke County Public Schools will host a bus driver class from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, Wednesday, May 31, and June 1 at Central Office at 700 E. Parker Road. Call the transportation department at 828-437-4770 for more information.

MONDAY, JUNE 19

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

MONDAY, JULY 17

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

MONDAY, AUG. 21

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

MONDAY, SEPT. 18

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

TUESDAY, OCT. 10

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

TUESDAY, NOV. 21

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

MONDAY, DEC. 18

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.
RALEIGH  The North Carolina State Highway Patrol proudly welcomed 36 new troopers Friday at a graduation ceremony held for the 158th Basic Highway Patrol School.

The ceremony celebrated 14 weeks of extensive training to prepare the graduates for a worthwhile career in law enforcement.

Brandon Moody Jr., one of the graduates of the class, has been assigned to the Highway Patrols F-100 troop which is based in Burke County, according to information from NCSHP. Moody worked for the Morganton Department of Public Safety for a little more than two years before joining the Highway Patrol, according to information from MDPS.

The ceremony was held on the grounds of the NCSHP Training Academy in Raleigh. Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr. served as guest speaker and provided congratulatory remarks to the graduates.

The oath of office was administered by Judge Fred Gore of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Lt. Col. Daryl Conley, deputy commander of the State Highway Patrol, provided remarks to the newest sworn members of the State Highway Patrol.

Today is an exciting accomplishment, one you should take great pride in realizing, Conley said. The most rewarding and satisfying days are ahead of you though, a real opportunity to help others and better your community through a career of service to our state.

The new state troopers will report to their respective duty stations on May 22 to begin a demanding field training program.
svaboda.org svaboda.org

The authorities are unable to prolong the social contract with the people: there is no way out of the social crisis.

On March 25, or Freedom Day, the Belarusian regime repeated a seven-year-old scenario: over a thousand residents, including passers-by, were arrested in the capital; pensioners and people barely of age were also counted as militants. Violent beatings have become the norm for the Belarusian authorities. And the number police in modern "spacesuits" and armed with the latest European weapons surpassed the number of protesters perhaps several times.

Did the the display of power scare people? And most importantly: what is next?

Uladzimir Matskevich, philosopher and methodologist answered the questions of the "EuroBelarus" Information Service:

- Freedom Day became the logical completion of all actions of the Belarusian regime aimed at preventing any kind of protest.

The Minsk city executive committee disrupted the plans for Freedom Day, violating the lawful procedure for holding mass actions: the response to the application was not given five days prior the start of the rally, but the night before. The applicants had neither time nor opportunity to notify people of the change in location and starting time of the protest; The applicants reasonably withdrew the application because they could not ensure compliance with the requirements of the city executive committee. Accordingly, the committee announced all the protests that could be held on March 25 in Minsk, illegal.

The number of riot police was unprecedented and it many times exceeded the number of people who decided to come to the action despite the lack of authorization.

The media stirred up the atmosphere of fear, adjusting actual events to a virtual reality (the detection of fake "militants", replicas of weapons instead of weapons), to the image that has been already created.

And then we saw a staged performance.

- What was the cause for such an inadequate display of power?

- The authorities are unable to prolong the social contract with the people: there is no way out of the social crisis. Thus, it is of utmost importance for the authorities to make the connection of social protest with political demands impossible. Therefore, all the political activists were eliminated: some were put in jail, others isolated, some simply "disappeared" or were found in hospital. And all actions of the people are declared illegal.

The authorities seem to be in an extremely complex and contradictory situation: they do not see any way out of the economic and social crisis, except for receiving new loans that will be spent not on the development of the country and the economy, but on maintaining the minimum level of the social contract. At the same time, the reluctance to make political concessions and reforms makes the regime a hostage to its own actions.

- Why did the Belarusian law enforcement agencies decide to simply repeat the 2010 scenario?

- In light of the recent events, it is reasonable to qualify the Belarusian regime not as a political one, but as an organized criminal group that usurped all branches of power and accumulated such a military bloc in the country that is probably big enough to reflect foreign aggression, but which is completely surplus for the domestic consumption.

- The authorities did not eliminate the root of social protests - the economic crisis, and it did not even set such a goal. Moreover, it set people against the state even more. What is the possible scenario for future events?

- It is impossible to say how the situation will develop, because there is not a single political force left in the country that can suggest a way out of the crisis today. Speculations about reforms will no longer satisfy people, same as the abstract arguments of Lukashenka about the correctly chosen policy.

It is a stalemate. It is necessary to create a real political force that is adequate to the current situation. But it is hampered not only by the authorities, but by the remnants of the defeated opposition unable to act in the current situation as well. These are main obstacles to the formation of a new political force.

What should be done to get rid of these obstacles? Elimination of the current political system is the priority. And to create a force able to bring down the regime, it is necessary to conduct a series of very tough, serious reforms in the opposition structures and civil society and to connect them with all the apolitical forces that still have sufficient authority in the Belarusian society.

We are facing the need to create a powerful opposition in the country.
Its no secret there are residents in Burke County who dont have access to broadband internet.

Its also no secret that much of our world relies on technology and the internet as much as it does electricity.

That was made clear when the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the area and left school systems scrambling for ways to connect students to the classroom, left businesses trying to figure out how to continue operating and people desperate to connect with loved ones.

The state of North Carolina and its Department of Information Technology held Closing the Digital Divide: From Mountains to Coast listening tour on Thursday in Morganton. Government, education and organization leaders attended from Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties to talk about their communitys barriers to high-speed internet access, digital devices, affordability and digital skills.

NC DIT has maps that breaks down the state by counties and shows what areas have broadband, what areas are underserved and which ones have no internet, based on data.

The federal government, as well as the state and its counties have been working to get broadband internet to areas that currently have no service.

Much of the money for grants to service providers to take broadband to unserved areas are federal dollars. For instance, in 2021, the NC Legislature appropriated $400 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for the Completing Access to Broadband program.

Emily Gangi, policy director for the Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, said Burke County received one Great Grant in the eastern part of the county and was awarded some more Great Grants this summer. Great Grants are awarded to service providers to get broadband to an area.

Gangi told those at the listening session that NC DIT already has partnerships with internet service providers. She said once a service provider receives a grant, it has two years to complete the project and is monitored additionally to ensure it continues to provide the service.

She said they will open the Completing Access to Broadband grants up for this summer and thats when the county will come to them to say these are the areas that need service.

So people need to communicate with their county officials and advocate for them to get broadband, Gangi said.

Once the areas are identified for a Completing Access to Broadband, prequalified service providers will then be able to bid on the project, she said.

The county will be required to put up a local match for the grant. How much that county match is, is based on criteria set by the legislature, Grangi said.

Scott Mulwee, Burke County Board of Commissioners chairman, opened the listening session, saying the county has been working with the state for several years to try to get broadband to unserved areas of Burke.

He said there are challenges to get broadband to residents. He said there is a large swath of Burke that is lacking access. He said he hears from people in Jonas Ridge, Lake James, South Mountains and George Hildebrand areas of the county about lack of service.

While there are grants for providers, it is up to those providers whether it makes financial sense to them based on economies of scale.

Even if people do have access to broadband internet, not everyone may be able to afford it.

But there is help for those people.

The FCC has the Affordable Connectivity Program that provides a subsidy that gives a $30 discount from the service provider. The program is based on income and many of those who are already enrolled in government programs such as Medicaid, SNAP and WIC would qualify for the discount, according to information from the FCC.

To apply for the discount, visit https://bit.ly/3VErRHk.

To help the state better understand the digital divide, there is a survey that residents can take. It is the North Carolina Digital Equity Survey and can be found at https://bit.ly/41faDBR.
CONOVER  A man and his mother have been charged with the concealment of a death, Conover police said in a news release on Tuesday.

Robert Vaughn Pippin, 28, and Emily Shook Pippin, 53, were arrested on Friday. Robert Pippin received a $10,000 bond. His mother, Emily, received a $1,000 bond.

The charges are linked to a body found buried behind the home where the Pippins lived at 342 Fourth Ave. SW in Conover.

An autopsy conducted in September 2022 identified the remains found behind the home as Richard Lee Morris, 56. Morris was reported missing by family members to the Catawba County Sheriffs Office on Aug. 26, 2021.

The autopsy revealed Morris died from methamphetamine toxicity, the release said. Morris overdosed on the drug.

With the help of the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Conover police sought and received an indictment from the Catawba County grand jury to charge the Pippins.

The role of the Pippins in the burial of the body has not been a mystery.

Robert Pippin told police last year that he buried a body in the backyard of his house after Morris suffered a fatal overdose in the basement of the home.

That information came from an affidavit a Conover police officer used to obtain a search warrant for the residence on Fourth Avenue SW, according to a Hickory Daily Record story from October 2022.

Pippin told Catawba County Sheriffs investigators last September that he buried the body of Conover resident Morris and then showed officers where Morris was buried, according to the affidavit.

Pippin also had received payments from Morris disability account, according to the affidavit.
District Judge Robert Whelan commended a 64-year-old woman with a history of drunken-driving offenses for taking positive steps in recovery and sharing her experiences with others.

Having said that, the judge told Anne Palmersheim on Monday, the punishment has got to fit the crime.

The crime in this case was a 10th DUI, with another one pending in Texas, and the punishment he imposed was five years in custody of the Montana Department of Corrections, or DOC.

According to prosecutors, Palmersheim was drunk when she swerved down a Butte street at a high speed on Sept. 6, 2020, drove through a detached garage and rammed a parked pickup into a house on North Main Street.

She disappeared before lab results on her blood-alcohol content came back and was only located 20 months later when arrested for allegedly driving drunk in Killeen, Texas.

The Montana DOC could send her to a custodial treatment program instead of prison or to pre-release, but those decisions rest with the DOC.

Palmersheim and her attorney said she had sold her house and liquidated retirement savings to pay for treatment, had completed an intense recovery program, was working and was living in a sober house in Billings.

They asked for a suspended sentence.

I dont want to drink and drive. I dont want to drink ever again, Palmersheim said. Im not going to ever drink again because I have learned in my program  day by day.

I have tools that I can use to help me with coping skills that are going to enable me to help somebody else that has never even gotten treatment for, she said.

Whelan commended her for that but said he wasnt qualified to determine treatment questions.

While you have done a great deal on your own, I need the DOC to decide what is enough and what is not enough, he said.

Palmersheim already had nine DUI convictions when she crashed into the garage and parked pickup in September 2020.

She left Butte before lab results came back, but when they did, they showed her blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash was 0.229, nearly three times the 0.08 level at which a driver is considered drunk.

When police couldnt find her, an arrest warrant was issued but prosecutors waited until her whereabouts were known before filing formal felony charges in district court.

Police in Killeen, Texas, arrested Palmersheim for allegedly driving drunk in their city on April 11, 2022, and a few weeks later, prosecutors in Butte filed formal charges tied to the incident here in September 2020.

On Wednesday, prosecutor Mike Clague said he was strong proponent of treatment programs. But he said Palmersheim had nine prior DUI convictions and a line had to be drawn to protect the public.

Montana lawmakers in 2021 enhanced the penalties for fourth and subsequent DUI convictions, but this incident occurred in 2020. The maximum allowed then was five years in prison or DOC custody so that is what Clague requested.

But for the grace of God, somebody seriously could have been injured, he said.

Before Whelan agreed to that, Palmersheims daughter said via video from Texas that her mother had struggled with mental health issues and addiction for most of her life.

She said Palmersheim entered an inpatient treatment program after the alleged DUI in Texas and finally received a comprehensive evaluation and proper diagnosis.

I have seen the court systems and the medical systems fail her over and over again, and she was sick, the daughter said. Now, she said, Ive truly, truly seen a change in her that in my 40 years of life I have never seen before.

Palmersheims attorney, Penelope Strong, said her client had been through intensive treatment and if given a suspended sentence and community service, would voluntarily submit to alcohol monitoring.

This is an individual who has struggled with mental health and other issues that her daughter related that drive the addiction, and this is the first time that my client has finally gotten a handle on all that, Strong said.

Whelan agreed with the state and imposed the five-year DOC sentence but encouraged Palmersheim to continue her recovery. He did say, however, that she would not be allowed to drive over the next five years.
Twice in April, Wyoming angler Patrick Edwards set two new state fishing records.

On April 2 the Riverton man broke the state record for longnose sucker when he caught a 3-pound, 15.6-ounce fish. The old record was set in 2022 by Christopher Bobo of Casper at 2 pounds, 11.3 ounces. It marked the third consecutive year the longnose sucker record was broken.

Then on April 17, Edwards broke his own state record for white sucker with a 6-pound, 8.45-ounce fish. His old record from March 2020 was 5 pounds, 6.45 ounces.

Living in Wyoming my whole life and being an avid angler, I never thought I would have one state record  let alone two, Edwards said.

Both record fish were caught along the same stretch of the Wind River. Edwards said he used a pickerel rig, which consists of a slip sinker, hook, another section of line and another hook. Each hook was baited with a piece of worm.

Edwards didnt know right away his longnose sucker was a record because he wasnt sure what he caught. He knew it wasnt a white sucker. He took pictures of the fish and sent them to some people he knew. They confirmed it was a longnose sucker  and a big one.

Edwards went to the Wyoming Game and Fish Departments website and looked up the state record for longnose sucker, and knew his fish was bigger. That was confirmed after it was weighed on a registered scale at a post office in Riverton.

The white sucker record may also tie a world record. According to the International Game Fish Association, the world record white sucker of 6.8 pounds was caught out of the Rainy River in Minnesota in 1984. Edwards said his fish is still being considered by the IGFA for its record books.

The only world-record fish Wyoming boasts is the golden trout when C.S. Reed of Omaha, Nebraska, landed an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish from Cook Lake in Sublette County in 1948.

Catching a state-record fish of any species is quite an accomplishment, but to break two state records is incredible, said Alan Osterland, Game and Fish chief of fisheries.

Rules for submitting a state-record fish and lists of the current Wyoming fish records can be found online.
Customs data shows Chinese exports grew in April by 8.5% to $295.4 billion compared with a year earlier, despite weakening global demand. Data from the General Administration of Customs showed Tuesday that exports grew to $295.4 billion compared with a year earlier, although at a slower pace, building on momentum seen in the March data when exports rose 14.8%. However, imports shrank with the total slumping 7.9% to $205.2 billion compared to the same time last year. Forecasters expect a weakening in exports later this year. In a survey by the national statistics bureau and the Chinese Federation for Logistics & Purchasing, Chinese manufacturers say new orders and export orders declined in April from the previous month.
When Cristian Martinezs BMW began having engine issues, he decided it was time to upgrade, possibly to a long-sought Volkswagen.

He wanted a stick shift Volkswagen, Adriana Martinez said, confirming her brother wanted a newer Volkswagen Beetle. I think it was because it was lower to the ground. When we were shopping for a car he was looking at a Volkswagen stick shift, and he wanted to bring it home the day we were looking. We asked how he was going to bring it home when he didnt know how to drive a stick shift. He said he would learn. We said you arent going to learn to drive with this car.

On Sunday, more than 100 vehicles pulled out of the Headquarters Muscatine parking lot as a tribute to Martinez, 20, who had been found dead in Iowa City on April 22. Martinez had been missing for about a week. On April 22, Iowa City Police responded to Napoleon Park after a couple reported locating what they believed to be a body in the water. Officers and Johnson County Sheriffs deputies recovered the body from the water. The body was later confirmed to be Martinez.

The Johnson County Medical Examiners Office told the family the cause of death was drowning, and police have said foul play is not suspected.

Many of the people attending remembered Martinez and remembered his love of cars. While inclement weather cut the cruise short and halted the candlelit vigil, Martinez said her brother would have loved seeing the vehicles rolling out in his honor.

She recalled her brother constantly working on his BMW and always trying new things to make it look good. After finally earning enough to buy the BMW, as he drove it, he noticed problems. Originally, he thought the issue was the oil. A mechanic told him the motor was going out.

It was for this reason that Martinez chose to borrow his brother Jerry Martinezs Dodge Dart to visit Iowa City with his friends on April 15. Cris friend Josee Gonzalez remembers Martinezs love of, originally, skateboarding, and then fitness. He remembers Martinez buying a BMW after falling in love with his BMW 335i. He also remembers going with Martinez to Iowa City.

It had been a good night, Gonzalez said. We had gotten off work. Around 6 p.m. he said he wanted to go to the bars. It was a Friday night. We went out and everything was fine.

They visited a friend and then went to a house party. Gonzalez said that when Martinez got to an area bar, he began drinking a lot. While his friends tried to get him to slow down we could tell he was really drunk. Around 12:30 a.m. the friends had left the bar and walked to another. Inside the second bar Gonzalez had gone in first and met some friends he spoke with. Gonzalez said a mutual friend they were with had said Martinez got mad, left and said not to follow him.

That night, I dont know what got into his head  he just walked away, Gonzalez said. We didnt think anything of it. We have had friends who have gotten drunk and left by themselves and been gone overnight and the next morning just pop up.

The next morning, Jerry Martinez texted Gonzalez looking for Cristian Martinez. He was upset because he had told his brother not to take the car anymore. After recovering the car, the Martinez family began searching. The search eventually encompassed all of Iowa City. Gonzalez said the search had gone all the way into Columbus Junction, where the Cedar River joins the Iowa River.

On learning his friend had been found, Gonzalez, who was certain Martinez would be found alive, started crying, thinking to himself there was no way it could be happening. He couldnt help but think everything that day had been fine.

Everything is different now, he said. He was the only friend I hung out with the most.

Hunter Stoll, the organizer of the car cruise, said that over 400 people had expressed interest in attending the event. He said several of Martinezs friends had approached him to set up the cruise in Martinezs honor.

Adriana Martinez said since Martinezs death, her family had been sticking together. They are all grateful for the support they have received from the community.

We are just reminding each other that this was out of our control, she said. We are just going to have to learn our new normal and learn to deal with his absence in our own ways and to tell each other that while Cris is gone physically, lets remember what he taught us while he was here and let's remember all the nice memories we had with him while he was here.

Photos: Cold case solved; Asplund is missing no more
ALLEN, Texas  The shooter with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping mall brought eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities said Tuesday.

The investigation into Mauricio Garcia's motive is ongoing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, said Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia brought eight guns to the scene, including three that he had on him and five that were still in his vehicle, Sibley said. Garcia obtained all of the weapons legally. President Joe Biden has said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon.

Sibley said it seems Garcia, 33, "targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people," adding that, "he was very random in the people he killed."

"The big question that we're dealing with right now is, 'What's his motive? Why did he do this?'" Sibley said. "Well, the big question is, we don't know. That's what the investigation is trying to find out."

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles north of downtown Dallas.

Garcia researched when the mall was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people.

An Associated Press review of Garcia's online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitler's paramilitary forces.

The online statements contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health problems and apparently worked as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcia's profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his date of birth located in the U.S.

The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcia's name and date of birth as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of the Dallas' most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read "RWDS," an acronym for the phrase "Right Wing Death Squad," which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, he was kicked out due to mental health problems.

Garcia received an "uncharacterized" discharge, which is common for recruits who don't make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, was asked about the shooter's veteran status.

"He's not a veteran," Ryder told reporters. "Again, as you highlight from the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to federal regulations, this individual in terms of the time of service would not qualify as a veteran."

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived with his parents until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they weren't sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didn't immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a children's hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen is one of the area's most diverse cities. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allen's population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were shot and killed in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Another federal conviction for political corruption in Illinois, another call for tougher ethics laws.

A jury last week slapped convictions on four political insiders in a wide-ranging bribery case involving power giant ComEd's bribery of the once-powerful speaker of the Ilinois House.

While a key House Democrat confirmed Tuesday that discussions about a package of ethical tune-ups were underway, former Gov. Pat Quinn, who has made a career of chasing government reform, delivered a letter to Democratic leaders seeking a special session to adopt more than a half-dozen reforms.

They include the long-sought but elusive proposals to allow taxpayers to put referendum questions on the ballot without legislative intervention  currently possible in 26 states  and to prohibit legislators from voting on issues in which they have a financial interest.

Its pretty clear from the testimony in the trial that jobs were being given out to friends of legislators. Thats a conflict of interest ..., Quinn said in a statehouse news conference. If youre a legislator, your ethical duty is to the voters and the people in your district, not to provide special benefits to you and your friends.

The jury in the so-called ComEd 4 trial found that two former utility executives, a consultant and a longtime political insider arranged for contracts, jobs and money for associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, among the most powerful of the nation's legislative leaders, in exchange for favorable legislation.

Rep. Maurice West II, chairman of the House Ethics and Elections Committee, said his talks on a package are not directly connected to what is known as the ComEd 4 trial.

West credited a 2021 ethics package with nailing the illegal activity confirmed by the ComEd 4 verdict, although that investigation had begun years before. Critics, however, derided that law, driven by 2019 disclosures of legislators lobbying indiscretions and bribery, as insufficient.

I really do feel its been effective, countered West, adding that he plans to tighten up conflicting or confusing provisions in current law. Its time for us to look at what our laws can do in the here and now and beyond  and not look back."

Among other provisions Quinn put in his letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch is an end to double-dipping by legislators on another public payroll besides the state's. Quinn pushed for an end to double-dipping in one of his earliest reform campaigns in 1976.

He would also keep public officials convicted of corruption from receiving taxpayer-funded pensions, restrict campaign contributions from utilities and other monopolies, strengthen revolving door limits on legislators-turned-lobbyists and strengthen the maligned effectiveness of the Legislative Inspector General by providing the office with subpoena power.

Quinn, the state's Democratic governor from 2009 to 2015, was elevated to the post from lieutenant governor when Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office for political corruption, which later landed him in federal prison.

Quinn, who also served as a one-term state treasurer, is best known outside of political office for leading the drive to reduce the size of the Illinois House in 1980 because of anger over a pay raise for the representatives.

West said he had not seen Quinn's letter but was eager to consider the former governor's proposals.

___ Follow Political Writer John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor
President Vladimir Putin has declared that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia. The Russian leader reprised the familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces. Putins remarks Tuesday came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine. Russia invaded its neighbor more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched. Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric to rally his citizens and forces and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this years celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns.
President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia, reprising a familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces.

Putins remarks came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched.

The Russian leader has repeatedly sought to paint his invasion of Ukraine as necessary to defend against a Western threat. Kyiv and its Western allies say they pose no such threat and that Moscow's war is meant to deter Western influence in a country that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland.

Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric that harkens back to the earlier war in an effort to rally his citizens and forces  and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this year's celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns after several drone attacks have been reported inside Russia.

Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday  the lowest number since 2008. Even the procession in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part. There was no fly-over of military jets, and the event lasted less than the usual hour.

This is weak. There are no tanks, said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscow's Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. Were upset, but thats all right; it will be better in the future.

The Kremlins forces deployed in Ukraine are defending a front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), presumably thinning the ranks of troops available for such displays.

This is supposed to be a showpiece for Russian military might. But so much of that military might has already been mauled in Ukraine that Russia has very little to show on its parade in Red Square," said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Londons Chatham House think tank.

As a display of military hardware it was very underwhelming, said Michael Clarke, visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, noting that the T-34, the iconic World War II tank, was the only tank on display. Normally they show off all the really modern stuff, and they didnt have any of those. Nor did they seem to have armored fighting vehicles.  So there was nothing new on display.

Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II  a pillar of the holiday  were canceled in multiple cities.

That seems to be for fear that those people who have lost their relatives in this current war on Ukraine might actually join the processions and show just the scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in its current war," Giles said.

Russian media counted 24 cities that also scrapped military parades  another staple of the celebrations  for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancelations. It wasnt clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin that it called an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied involvement.

There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it.

On a tribune in Red Square, Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland, Putin said.

The guest list was also light amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would head to Moscow as well.

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw them.

In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defense Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they, too, pulled out.

Prigozhins allegations could not be independently verified, and the Russian military has not commented on them.

The threat of departure marked another flare-up in Prigozhins long-running dispute with Russias military brass over credit and tactics in the war.

On Tuesday, he contrasted the pomp of the May 9 celebrations, broadcast across Russia, with the reality on the ground.

Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers; we did not deserve a single bit of this victory. The counteroffensive will be on the ground, not on television, Prigozhin warned, adding that the Russian state is unable to defend the country.

Prigozhin has become known for such inflammatory, headline-grabbing statements, particularly at key moments when attention is focused elsewhere  but issuing them on Victory Day was remarkably bold.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The missiles came hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Von der Leyen urged EU member nations to take measures to prevent countries from helping Russia to circumvent the blocs sanctions. The EU has noticed that certain products that have been banned to undermine Russias war effort are still getting through, she said.

Von der Leyen did not name the countries.

Ukraine is keen to join the EU, but membership is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

Later in the day, Zelenskyy used his nightly address to mark Europe Day, having decreed Monday that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, and join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8.

In the address, he drew parallels between the brutal aggressions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

It is only a matter of time before the current aggressor loses, like the aggressor who lost 78 years ago, before Russian revanchism is crushed by the bravery of our warriors and the joint power of the free world, he said.
Shopify has become one of the go-to e-commerce platforms for businesses of all sizes. One of its most sought-after services is the Shopify Order Fulfillment Service, a one-stop solution that helps businesses manage inventory, process orders, and deliver products to customers.

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This service is a game-changer for businesses focusing on their core activities while keeping their customers happy with timely and efficient deliveries.

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The family of a British woman who died under mysterious circumstances at the residence of a spiritual leader in Mombasa two years ago has called for a fresh probe into her death following the discovery of the Shakahola cult massacre.

The family of the deceased 44-year-old Lutfunisa Khandwalla claims she was forced to take drugs used to treat tuberculosis leading to her death.

Khandwalla died on August 2, 2020 and was buried the following day at the Memon cemetery.

She met her death while visiting her husbands relatives in Mombasa, where it was claimed the devil killed her as an unidentified spiritual leader tried to help her.

But her brother, Imran Admani, said his sister was the victim of extreme religious practices akin to the Shakahola cult.

With the revelation of the Shakahola cult deaths, I suggest that the police should expose the unidentified cult leader behind my sisters death, he said.

According to Admani, Khandwalla died while being recruited into a cult. He said she was forced to overdose on TB drugs even though she had no history of tuberculosis.

A medical examination of her remains showed that she had taken ethambutol, with Bio Analytics UK finding traces of the drugs in her brain tissue.

These findings already point to foul play as my sister did not suffer from TB. I feel this was an attempt to kill her by giving her an overdose, said Admani.

She was forced to take a chemical used for freezing by a spiritual leader who lied to her that it would cure her ailments, after which she died, he added.
The ongoing government crackdown on suspicious religious activities has led authorities to a church in Kwale where more than 200 people were found in a forest.

The followers of Rainbow Faith Ministries in Vumbu village in Msambweni were allegedly found practicing extreme religious activities.

Police reportedly rescued the followers, among them 50 children. They also arrested their church leader, 23-year-old Joyce Mkumbi, a self-proclaimed prophetess.

Kwale County Childrens Coordinator Zephaniah Apoko reportedly said the church asked its followers to leave their homes and stay at a makeshift centre in the forest to strictly adhere to its teachings.

The Daily Nation reports that the religious adherents were also required to pray three times a day and three times a night. Children were forced to miss school to attend the prayers.

Apoko said pastor Mkumbi is not a certified preacher and recommended she be charged for exposing children to extreme religious doctrine through her claims of messages from God.

However, one of the congregants said they had not prevented any children from going to school.
Kenya values the cordial relations it enjoys with the Netherlands.

President William Ruto said this on Monday when held talks with Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands.

The two leaders committed to strengthening ties between the two countries for the mutual prosperity of their citizens.

This includes enhancing trade in horticultural, livestock, tea, and coffee, fruits, vegetables, fish and tobacco.

President Ruto and King Alexander discussed the climate change challenge, Kenyas agenda for green growth and wildlife conservation.

The Netherlands will continue supporting Kenya in the development of Arid and semi-arid lands,

rural domestic water supply and sanitation, health, infrastructure development and agricultural research.
Authorities in Bungoma County have summoned controversial preacher Eliud Wekesa, alias Yesu wa Tongaren, for questioning.

Bungoma Police Commander Francis Kooli summoned the leader of the New Jerusalem sect to appear for questioning on Wednesday, May 10.

An officer privy to the matter said they are probing allegations of questionable religious teachings. They claims Tongarens doctrine compelled a section of his followers to abandon their homes and live at the pastors residence.

We have received reports that one of your followers who didnt return home after coming to your place. We also heard about another follower who, after her husband died, came to live at your place until the day they buried him. Such actions will not be allowed, the police indicated.

In response, Yesu wa Tongaren dismissed the allegations as lies propaged by his enemies.

All those allegations are lies. All of you have come to this place multiple times and have witnessed what I do, he said.

Speaking to the media, the preacher asked the police not to arrest him, saying he had done nothing wrong.

I know the police commander who has summoned me is a human being. I understand that he wants us to discuss church operations. Ive been at the DC, OCS, and OCPD offices and nothing has happened. I have no other business other than preaching the word.

It would be unfair if they arrested me since the law punishes those who are on the wrong side. If you have done no wrong, then why be arrested? he posed.

Also Read  What Yesu Wa Tongaren said about pastor Paul Mackenzie
By PCS

The Government is committed to making Kenya an attractive investment destination.

President William Ruto said the government has put in place incentives to attract foreign businesses.

He said the Government is improving its one-stop-shop facility to make it easy for investors to do business in the country.

We have taken measures to implement reforms to attract foreign direct investments, he said.

President Ruto spoke on Monday during a business forum that brought together investors from the Netherlands held at The Hague in Netherlands.

He told the investors that the Government has resolved the bureaucratic VAT refunds.

The President also appealed to foreign investors to inject their finances in the affordable housing project, preventive healthcare, MSMEs and the creative economy.

He noted that the country was facing a shortage of houses, especially in major cities.

We will provide land for the construction of the houses for free to reduce the cost of production, he said.
Former blogger turned member of the Nairobi County Assembly Robert Alai has advised Kenyan well-wishers against fundraising for rapper Colonel Mustafa.

Mustafa, who had been missing in action in the music industry, resurfaced recently after he was filmed working at a construction site.

The former Nairobi Diaries actor spoke out saying he was working hard to raise funds for his mothers chemotherapy treatment.

The medical bills for my mothers chemotherapy have taken a toll on my finances. Im appealing for financial help from my fans so that I can continue to take care of my mother. We dont know how chemotherapy will go, as it can either end or return, but were hoping for the best, he said.

Im asking my fans to support me in any way they can, whether its by buying my music or promoting it, so that I can support my mother.

Like many other local celebrities who have appealed for financial aid before him, Mustafa moved Kenyans into helping him. As of Saturday, Kenyans of Goodwill had contributed over Sh600,000.

But Robert Alai advised caution saying money isnt usually the solution to every problem. The Kileleshwa MCA cited the case of former Tahidi High actor Omosh, whom Kenyans raised money for but is said to be struggling.

Dont throw money at every problem. Sit down and review why Col Moustapha is where he is. How many times have you guys given Omosh money and even a house? Has that been the solution? Whats happening with Col? Money becomes a catalyst for destruction when the root cause hasnt been revised well, Alai said.
Experian discusses what you need to know about how your credit score affects a car loan, what credit score you need to get approved and other 
Some kids sell lemonade, while others are hawking Girl Scout Cookies, but Jimmy Hayes (aka Little Jimmy) sells pickles.

Little Jimmy, now a seventh grader at Blue Oak School, and his family have been in the pickle business since the summer of 2016. Selling pickles was not Little Jimmys first choice; it was his third choice.

At age six, like many kids of that age and faced with a long summer ahead, Jimmy asked his parents if he could set up a lemonade stand. His dads reply was, Think bigger!

Next, I wanted to start a siracha company, said Little Jimmy, but after some research on sourcing and the process, they realized the barriers to entry were too high, and they needed another product.

My family likes pickles, so we decided to start a pickles company, said Little Jimmy.

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Parents, Dina and Jimmy, moved to Napa from New York in 2006 and had a tradition of making super fresh pickles, tangy, non-fermented pickles.

The couple had been making pickles for their consumption and friends every summer since. Using this recipe as their base, the family bought ingredients locally at Oxbow Market, sourcing the spices from Whole Spice and cucumbers from Hudson Greens and Goods.

After making, jarring, and labeling that first batch, Little Jimmy made phone calls and knocked on doors, carting his jars behind him in a wagon. He quickly sold out of that first batch of pickles and made subsequent batches that sold out all summer. Customers could not get enough of his product, and a new family tradition and business were born.

The following summer, Little Jimmy and his parents made even bigger plans, with re-designed labels, a new name, Little Jimmys World Famous, and an improved recipe.

The original recipe had to be adapted for mass production and to be our own, said Little Jimmy. So he made five different versions and held a blind taste test with family and friends. The winning batch is the recipe that has endured to this day, seven years after that first batch.

Originally, this was to teach Little Jimmy about starting a business, teaching him about the cost of goods, revenue, profits, and savings, said Hayes, who planted the idea early on that the profits and revenue would all go toward a college fund.

But what I love is how it has taught him to talk to adults, to look them in the eye and be able to speak to them, to be outgoing, and not be afraid.

There is an adorable photo in June of 2017 of Little Jimmy holding a carefully penciled ledger showing expences and deposoits. Now, 13-year-old Jimmy runs his own Quickbooks. The brand is thriving online as well.

Little Jimmy and his dad run a website (eatyourpickles.com), a mailing list, and an Instagram account (@littlejimmyspickles).

In the early years, customers placed orders online, and Little Jimmy personally delivered the jars. Now Jimmys Pickles are also available at Oakville Grocery and Hudsons Greens and Goods, among others. In addition, the pickles are featured on the menus of local restaurants, including Cadet, Monday Bakery, and Compline.

The business has grown from 30 to 40 jars in the summer of 2016 to 20 to 30 jars per week in 2023, adding up to hundreds of jars yearly. Production takes place in the family kitchen.

What started as a fun summer activity is now a year-round business. Pickle production has finally outgrown the kitchen. This summer, Little Jimmy and his parents will make and jar out of a commercial kitchen to accommodate the demand.

We dont know our future orders yet, but I would guess we will make anywhere from 500-1,000 jars this year, said Hayes. Little Jimmy does not appear to be losing interest, as a typical adolescent might; As long as the pickles sell, we gotta keep going! he said. Asked how he feels about the business growing, he quickly replies, Im excited. Go big, or go home!

Little Jimmy and his parents do everything from start to finish. My dad slices, mom fills and caps, and I handle the spices, said Little Jimmy.

His mom, Dina, added, We love it. We have always made them together- with music playing, but eventually, we might have to think about hiring some help for deliveries. Little Jimmy obviously cant drive, so we are driving him around doing the deliveries!

For pickle-loving readers who want to get a jar, Hayes suggests following their social media and getting on their mailing list. A jar purchased directly costs $10 (That has been the price since 2016, adds Hayes).

In addition to fully funding Little Jimmys college, the business donates the proceeds of summers first batch to a charity. Cukes for Care is now in its fourth year and earns more each year for charity.

Last year Little Jimmy donated almost $800 to the Unicef fund specifically for children who were victims of the war in Ukraine, according to their Instagram account. We called it Cukes for Kids, said Big Jimmy.

As a 6-year-old, Little Jimmy already dreamt big; Lets buy a factory. Lets buy Vlasic! he told his parents. While that may not happen anytime soon, it is evident that Little Jimmy and his World Famous Pickles are not a childish hobby anymore.

Photos: Napa youth creates pickle business "Little Jimmy's Pickles" Little Jimmy's Pickles 5 Little Jimmy's Pickles 6 Little Jimmy's Pickles 4 Little Jimmy's Pickles 1 Little Jimmy's Pickles 3
St. Helena Police dispatch began co-locating with Calistoga Police dispatch in Calistoga on Monday morning, as the St. Helena Police Department prepares to move to 1088 College Ave.

According to a statement from the city, the changes will not disrupt the departments ability to respond to emergencies or other requests for service. All telephone numbers, including 911 and the non-emergency number 707-967-2850, will remain unchanged.

The current St. Helena Police office and service window at 1480 Main St. will remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Friday, May 12. As of Monday, May 15, the old service window will not be available. The new service window and office will reopen at its new location at 1088 College Ave. on Tuesday, May 16. The hours will remain Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We extend our gratitude to the city of Calistoga for their willingness to host the city of St. Helena dispatchers," St. Helena Mayor Paul Dohring said. "We are pleased that our long tradition of good neighborly relations continues to be strong.

The cities of Calistoga and St. Helena have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial history of cooperation on public safety matters, and our City Council is happy to assist our neighbors to the south," Calistoga Police Chief Mitchell Celaya said.

St. Helena Police Chief Chris Hartley agreed and said he is grateful to Celaya for his collaboration and assistance in the preparatory work that has gone into ensuring that the Calistoga facility has the equipment, software and connectivity to seamlessly provide services to the St. Helena community.

Our new City Hall location and service window will allow us to more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of the community we serve and protect every day," Hartley said. "The space provides additional parking, a more welcoming atmosphere.

PHOTOS: Training for an active shooter situation in St.Helena
The huge snowpack that has blanketed the Sierra Nevada this winter has done more than end Californias drought and extend ski season. Its also changing how Californians keep the lights on.

With reservoirs full across the state, hydroelectricity generation from dams is expected to expand dramatically this summer, after three dry years when it was badly hobbled.

In 2017, a wet year similar to this one, hydropower made up 21% of all the electricity generated in California. But by 2021, in the middle of Californias most recent drought, it provided just 7%.

This year, billions of gallons of water are once again spinning turbines in power plants at huge dams like Shasta, Oroville and Folsom, and will be all summer and into the fall as the snowpack melts.

More hydropower means more clean electricity, less need to burn natural gas and other fossil fuels, less risk of blackouts during heat waves, and less smog and greenhouse gas emissions, experts say.

It gives us more tools in the toolbox, more capacity to work with, said Lindsay Buckley, a spokeswoman for the California Energy Commission, a state agency in Sacramento.

Its amazing. It was unexpected from Mother Nature. Were going to make the best of it.

After more than a dozen atmospheric river storms soaked Northern California between Christmas and March, hydropower production jumped 88% in California in the first three months of 2023, compared with the same time period last year, according to a report released in April by the U.S. Department of Energy. It is projected to increase 81% overall this year from 2022.

Over the past 20 years, California has been steadily increasing the amount of solar and wind power it requires utilities to purchase to reduce smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Those laws are working  about 35% of the states electricity is from renewable sources now like solar and wind, and 59% if large hydropower and nuclear are included.

But the greener power grid has come at a cost: Less reliability.

During severe heat waves, millions of Californians turn on their air conditioners, spiking demand for electricity. At night when the sun begins to set, solar farms go off line, even as demand remains sky high.

Thats what happened last September, when all-time heat records tumbled across California, including 118 degrees in Calistoga, and the day before 116 in Livermore and 109 in San Jose.

Blackouts were narrowly averted, but only after Gov. Gavin Newsom urged Californians to curb electricity use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., and relaxed air pollution rules to allow temporary natural gas-fired peaker plants and other generators to fire up.

Full reservoirs reduce the risk of a repeat this year, experts say.

It gives us a clean resource we havent had as much of in the past few years to help meet the swings in electricity demands, said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford Universitys Woods Institute for the Environment. That means we can rely less on natural gas.

To help improve reliability, state regulators have ordered utilities to put in place huge battery systems to store solar power on sunny days, then let it out on the grid at night. In 2019, California had 250 megawatts of battery storage. It has 5,000 megawatts now  roughly the same as 10 natural-gas fired power plants.

Newsom also signed a bill in September, over the objections of some activists, to keep Diablo Canyon, the states only nuclear power plant, open for another five years after its 2025 planned closure date.

To be sure, extra hydropower this year wont solve all the states energy challenges.

The Pacific Northwest, which often sells hydroelectricity to California in wet years, didnt have as rainy of a winter this year, and may want to buy some from PG&E, which owns 60 hydroelectric plants, and other dam owners.

California, which in most years imports about 25% of its power, shouldnt say no, said Severin Borenstein, a professor of business at UC Berkeley.

We definitely dont want to set a standard where states refuse to sell to other states that are in desperate straits, he said. California is a big importer of electricity.

In theory, all the hydropower this year should help PG&E ratepayers, because it is cheaper than other electricity sources. But details are not clear yet.

We wont know how much hydro has offset other costs to purchase power until early 2024 when all the data are in, said PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno. Factors like a hotter-than-normal, or cooler-than-normal summer could come into play.

More hydropower also is likely to reduce air pollution.

Electricity generation makes up 16% of the states greenhouse gas emissions, the third-largest category behind transportation (38%) and industry (23%). Running water through turbines reduces emissions compared with burning natural gas.

Its a similar story with smog. Although power plants are not a major statewide source of smog compared to vehicles and other sources, older plants can have major impacts on nearby neighborhoods.

Drought and heat waves in California worsen air pollution disproportionally in low-income areas, according to a new study published in March. Burning natural gas emits nitrogen oxides and particle pollution, or soot, which causes asthma, emphysema, heart problems and other health risks for residents living near power plants.

When hydropower drops, the study noted, that often means natural gas burning increases to keep the lights on.

Drought is a driver of chronic pollution exposure, said Jordan Kern, assistant professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University and lead author of the study. But heat waves are responsible for these incredible spikes in emissions in a short period of time.

One of the more alarming symbols of Californias recent drought came at Lake Oroville, Californias second largest reservoir, where on Aug. 5, 2021, water levels fell so low that the power plant had to be shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967.

Then, the reservoir was 24% full. Today it is 94% full and the turbines are humming.

The snowpack buys us time to put more batteries in the field, said Wara. Every year we can do that we get further away from the risk of blackouts during summer heat waves.
In a world of worsening heatwaves, flooding, drought, glacial melting, megafires and other calamities of a changing climate, Gary Gragg is an optimist.

As California warms, Gragg  a nurseryman, micro-scale farmer and tropical fruit enthusiast  looks forward to the day that he can grow and sell mangoes in Northern California.

Ive been banking on this since I was 10 years old and first heard about global warming, said Gragg, 54, who has planted several mango trees, among other subtropical trees, in his orchard about 25 miles west of Sacramento.

Graggs little orchard might be the continents northernmost grove of mangoes, which normally are grown in places like Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Northern Californias climate, he said, is becoming increasingly suitable for heat-loving, frost-sensitive mango trees, as well as avocados, cherimoyas and tropical palms, a specialty of his plant nursery Golden Gate Palms.

Climate change isnt all bad, Gragg said. People almost never talk about the positives of global warming, but there will be winners and losers everywhere.

Mangoes may never become a mainstream crop in the northern half of California, but change is undoubtedly coming. Hustling to adapt, farmers around the state are experimenting with new, more sustainable crops and varieties bred to better tolerate drought, heat, humidity and other elements of the increasingly unruly climate.

In the Central Valley, farmers are investing in avocados, which are traditionally planted farther south, and agave, a drought-resistant succulent grown in Mexico to make tequila.

In Santa Cruz, one grower is trying a tropical exotic, lucuma, that is native to South American regions with mild winters. Others are growing tropical dragonfruit from the Central Coast down to San Diego.

Some Sonoma and Napa Valley wineries have planted new vineyards in cooler coastal hills and valleys to escape the extreme heat of inland areas. And several Bay Area farmers have planted yangmei, a delicacy in China that can resist blights that ravage peaches and other popular California crops during rainy springs.

Near the town of Linden, farmer Mike Machado, who served in the state Assembly and Senate from 1994 to 2008, is one of many growers in the arid San Joaquin Valley who have replaced some stone fruit and nut trees with olives, historically a minor California crop mostly produced in Mediterranean nations.

Were adjusting for survival, Machado said.

Climate change essentially means that Southern Californias conditions are creeping north up the coast and into the valley, while Oregon and Washington are becoming more like Northern California. Precipitation, winds, fog, and seasonal and daily temperature patterns  all of which determine which crops can be grown where  have all been altered.

With climate change, were getting more erratic entries into fall and more erratic entries into spring, said Louise Ferguson, a UC Davis plant physiologist.

Researchers predicted that climatic conditions by the middle to end of the 21st century will no longer support some of the main tree crops currently grown in California.For some crops, production might no longer be possible.

Fruit growers all around the world in the warm regions are worried about warming trends, particularly in winter, said Eike Luedeling, a coauthor of the study and a professor of horticultural sciences at Germanys University of Bonn.

UC Davis researchers are at the cutting edge of the push to adapt, working to make Californias lucrative walnut, pistachio and stone fruit orchards more resilient by selectively breeding for heat, disease and drought tolerance.

About three-quarters of the nations fruits and nuts are grown in California, but fruit and nut trees are among the most vulnerable crops to climate change.

Luedelings research suggests that high winter temperatures could severely reduce walnut yields about once a decade.

Katherine Jarvis-Shean, an orchard advisor with the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources program, said that effect will be magnified farther south: Thats probably one in five years in the southern San Joaquin Valley, she said.

Searching for genetic resilience

Pistachios have grown to one of the states mightiest crops, with acreage of mature trees now covering more than 400,000 acres. The 2021 harvest totaled about 577,000 tons and was valued at nearly $3 billion.

Now crop scientists are working to save these valuable orchards from the effects of warming.

Warmer winters can cause male varieties to bloom and release pollen too late, after the female flowers have opened. This means less pollination and less fruit, and in 2015 many orchards suffered total crop failure.

Patrick Brown, a UC Davis nut crop breeder, said farmers have solved this problem, at least for now, by grafting additional male varieties with different blooming schedules into the groves. Its a fairly easy hedge against that problem (of warmer winters), he said. No matter when the females bloom, there should be some pollen for them.

Breeding programs to reduce nuts chill requirements are underway, but Brown said these trees have trade-offs: They tend to wake up earlier from winter dormancy, which can put premature foliage at risk of frost damage and expose young leaves to rainfall that causes blight.

Brown is now leading a hunt for genetic resistance to walnut blight in the shady groves of the Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, a repository of nearly 9,000 grapevine and tree fruit varieties from around the world. This genetic bank, owned by UC Davis and jointly run with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, includes walnut trees of several species and hundreds of varieties.

Browns experiment involves showering the walnuts with sprinklers in spring and summer and observing which develop the symptoms of blight  oil-black stains on the leaves and fruit.

His research is focused on walnut trees grown from seeds collected in the Republic of Georgia, where humidity creates conditions amenable to the disease. This likely has created localized genetic resistance  what Brown hopes to find.

It gets pretty hot and humid (in Georgia) during the growing season, and if theres resistance to blight anywhere, that would probably be a good place to look, he said.

Still other problems are emerging as Californias weather patterns grow more erratic.

Early fall rains have been a problem for walnuts, spoiling ripening fruits. And heat waves  especially when they follow a rain event  can cause fruit to drop or spoil. Almost 40% of last falls walnut crop was lost when Central Valley temperatures approached 115 degrees, according to Robert Verloop, executive director of the California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission.

Walnut growers are worried about heatwaves, and they should be, Jarvis-Shean said.

Another UC Davis study at the Wolfskill orchard aims to identify genes for heat tolerance in European walnut trees. Claire Heinitz, a U.S. Department of Agriculture research leader, said trees are sampled with an instrument that measures photosynthesis. The idea is to find unique individuals that maintain basic functions under brutal heat conditions.

This year, she said, the project, led by researchers Andrew McElrone and Mina Momayyezi, might be expanded to include grapes, which are highly prone to heat damage, as well as pistachios and almonds.

Heinitz said much of the research aims to create hardier root systems, which can protect the trees against soil pathogens, salts and other stressors. However, breeding drought resilience into Californias major crops may be a more elusive goal.

Drought tolerance is a really tough nut to crack, because it doesnt just involve roots  it involves every system of the plant, Heinitz said.

Dry farming to cope with water scarcity

Among all the pressures for California farmers, none is so persistent and serious as water supply. The agriculture industry uses about 80% of the water Californians consume. During droughts, farmers  especially those growing some 4 million acres of grapevines and fruit trees  pump water from the ground.

This has caused thousands of drinking water wells to run dry and land to sink as aquifers shrivel. The state passed a new groundwater law in 2014 that is beginning to take effect, and could force as much as 900,000 acres of irrigated cropland, mostly in the arid San Joaquin Valley, out of production.

But this is inconsequential to farmers like Tristan Benson. Based in western Sonoma County, he practices dry farming.

Benson and his partners usually harvest 20 to 30 tons of heirloom wheat and barley from loamy hillsides, selling the grain for use in bread, beer and distilling. To grow these staples, they just need a little rain, forgoing the irrigation that other growers, like those in the Central and Imperial valleys, rely upon.

Even through recent droughts, Benson said, he has always pulled in a crop. The closer to the coast we are, the better we do, he said. Fields are planted in October or November, and about a week after the first heavy rain, the seeds germinate, and usually the ground stays moist until the summer harvest time.

Bensons methods could be a model for sustainability for other California growers, who have planted millions of acres of trees that always need water, and our reservoirs have at most a three-year supply, he said.

Benson thinks a smart farming model is to grow winter crops without irrigation, and when reservoirs are full  as they are now  plant irrigated fields with annual summer fruits and vegetables. Apples, tomatoes, pears, grapes and potatoes can all be dry-farmed in cooler regions; farther inland and to the south, dry farming is more challenging, at least for most crops.

Geoff Vanden Heuvel, director of regulatory and economic affairs at the Milk Producers Council, said winter farming of grain and feed crops, with just a few inches of irrigation water, could help feed livestock with less groundwater use.

More than a quarter of the states feed crops are grown in areas entirely reliant on groundwater, and this dependency will likely translate into fewer California cows in the future, he said. By the 2040s, when the groundwater law takes full effect, dairy herds are expected to drop by about 10%. Thats about 130,000 fewer cows, Vanden Heuvel said.

Ferguson of UC Davis said Central Valley farmers have grown accustomed to harvesting maximum yields because we had more reliable water. Maybe now, when we dont have the water or its more expensive, theyll have to settle for a lower yield.

Daniel Sumner, a UC Davis professor of agricultural and resource economics, said Californias agricultural identity already has changed drastically over time. In its earliest days of statehood, California was a major producer of rain-watered wheat, grown on several million acres. When irrigation became ubiquitous, so did specialty crops that thrive in a hot, dry climate but need water in the summer.

Almonds now cover more than 1.6 million acres of the Central Valley, and pistachios have seen explosive growth, from almost nothing to a $2 billion crop in a few decades.

He said predicting what crops will be trending in California in several decades is impossible, but its hard to picture that we wouldnt stay a specialty crop producer, he said.

Economic turbulence, too

Its not just the changing climate thats guiding the future of one of Californias top industries. In the decades to come, growers will experience economic shifts, competition from imports and rising labor costs.

The increasing minimum wage, for example, has made even some high-value crops, like table olives, unprofitable to grow in California unless machines prune the trees and pick the fruit. Hand-based labor can suck up 45 to 60% of gross revenue, largely because olives must be carefully handled.

Spain, the worlds superproducer of olives, generates a cheaper product and has forced California growers to adapt, said Dennis Burreson, a vice-president at the Musco Family Olive Co., based in Tracy.

Burreson said machine harvesting is now becoming standard for many tree crops, adding, eventually, I think hand-harvesting of many orchard crops is going to be in the rear-view mirror.

Meanwhile, the states mighty walnut industry has been knocked on its side as oversupply and competition from China have sent prices crashing. In 2013, a ton of walnuts sold off the farm for $3,700. Now its about $700 per ton. On top of that, growers are still sitting on 130,000 tons of the 2021 crop, Verloop said, with some of that excess distributed to food banks.

So many walnut growers are now reportedly scheduled to have their trees uprooted and chipped that removal services cant keep up.

Sumner said the economic upheaval of the walnut industry doesnt look like its turning around.

Brown suspects that labor costs and land values will be just as strong drivers of agricultures evolution as the changing climate. Other regions of the world are producing crops for less, he said, which means Californias specialties will be niche and higher-quality produce.

Whatever is going to be grown in California in 50 years, he said, is what cant be grown elsewhere or what can be grown better here.
Michel-Pashinyan-Aliev meeting starts in Brussels

Financial Times: G7 and EU to ban restart of Russian gas pipelines

RA MoD holds briefing with military attaches and EU observers

Member of Erdogan's party dies near ballot box

Artsakh president sends condolences to family of politician Murad Petrosyan

Zelenskyy meets German President Steinmeier

Turkey deploys over 600 thousand policemen

Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev meeting starts in Brussels

3 earthquakes recorded off Kamchatka coast

Zelenskyy arrives in Germany to meet its leaders

Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections start today

Major road accident in Yerevan

Armenian PM holds informal meeting with Charles Michel

Cocaine found aboard Colombian "narco sub"

Ambassador-at-Large: Azerbaijani forces attack Armenia's sovereign territory

Borrell: World military spending hits record $2.2 trillion

Iran captures ISIS terrorist

Italian PM promises full support for Ukraine

"Fair Armenia" party to nominate Norik Norikyan as Yerevan mayor candidate

Poland detects air object flying from Belarus

Alen Simonyan leads delegation leaving for Minsk

Pakistan bans Facebook, YouTube and Twitter

Armenian FM briefs Derek Hogan on Azerbaijan's latest provocation

Borrell: EU should accelerate ammunition supply to Ukraine

Polish archaeologists uncover ancient bakery in Armenia

Ambassador Kvien: I heard heartbreaking stories from families of missing soldiers

Helicopter crashes in Russian Bryansk

Clashes erupt between neo-Nazis, anti-fascists and police in Melbourne

European Council publishes Pashinyan-Aliyev-Michel meeting schedule

Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flight delayed due to technical malfunction

GOP members demand Biden take cognitive test

Fatal accident on Dalar-Aygestan road

Armenian PM Pashinyan leaves for Brussels

Belgium to open embassy in Armenia

G7 raises economic aid to Ukraine

Man pronounced dead by coroner revived at hospital

US Treasury Secretary to update Congress on default

US and Europe believe Ukraine's counteroffensive could boost talks

Borrell: It will be difficult to trust China

Blinken and Kuleba discuss Ukraine's counteroffensive preparations

80-year-old Armenian woman dies in attack on Rehovot in Israel

Ministry of Defense: There have been recorded no notable ceasefire violations over the night

20-year-old Narek Baghdasaryan was killed as a result of Azerbaijani attack

The Armenian side has one more wounded. Ministry of Defense

The intensity of fire in the direction of Verin Shorzha has decreased. Ministry of Defense

As a result of enemy fire Armenian side has 1 killed and 1 wounded. Ministry of Defence

The intensity of enemy fire has significantly subsided. Ministry of Defence

Azerbaijan continues to fire in Kut and Sotk areas

Azerbaijan also uses mortars in the direction of Sotk positions. Ministry of Defense

Turkish lira hits a new historic low

Azerbaijan violated ceasefire in the direction of Kut using mortars

ORC survey: Turkey presidential election will end in 1st round with Kilicdaroglu victory Sunday

Armenia restores diplomatic relations with Hungary

Azerbaijani shells were exploding 100 meters away from Sotk village, Armenia opposition MP says

Armenia MOD: Situation on frontline with Azerbaijan relatively stable as of 5:50pm

Armenia's tourism potential was presented in Dubai

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan army opened fire toward combat positions near Kut village

Dubai aviation authorities prohibit FlyOne Armenia flight from landing

Armenia ambassador to OSCE: Azerbaijan use of force is aimed at undermining international efforts to establish stability

Mher Grigoryan briefs Christine Weigand on Lachin corridor blockades severe consequences for Karabakh children

Armenia MOD: Injuries of 2 Armenia soldiers wounded today are not life-threatening

NO to the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh initiative members hand signatures to embassies in Armenia, to government

Tasmania state parliament in Australia recognizes Armenian Genocide

Armenia human rights advocate: Instead of 33, we have additional 80 captives in Azerbaijan

Siranush Sahakyan: Arbitrary killings of Armenians increased in Azerbaijan

Armenias Marukyan to Patel: It was not exchange of fire at Sotk but another unprovoked attack by Azerbaijan army

Siranush Sahakyan: About 6,000 Azerbaijan special forces stationed on Armenia-Karabakh border

Human rights activist: In most cases Azerbaijan clearly knows fallen Armenian servicemens locations

Armenia deputy FM: Azerbaijan always resorts to provocation before or after negotiations

Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in Moscow slated for May 19

Armenia defense minister visits soldiers wounded in Azerbaijan provocation in Sotk direction (PHOTOS)

Siranush Sahakyan: Armenian detainees in Baku are brutally beaten, medical assistance footage is staged

Arman Tatoyan: Azerbaijanis are building wide concrete roads, bunkers, infrastructure in Armenia

Armenia social affairs, UAE tolerance and coexistence ministries sign memorandum of understanding

Armenia ex-ombudsman: Azerbaijan soldiers are placing landmines in Syunik Province villages

Tatoyan: Azerbaijan changes place names on Google maps, creating stereotype that Armenia is their territory

Armenia, Iran businesses reach certain agreements (PHOTOS)

Financial Times: EU wants to lay internet cable under Black Sea to reduce dependence on Russia

World oil prices falling

Karabakh army: No fire shot at Azerbaijani positions

Patel on Zakharova's words: I dont spend a lot of time thinking about what my Russian counterpart says

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan army used UAVs in direction of Sotk

Patel: US State Department calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to distance their forces from border

Brussels counters Baku: There is agreement that Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders will also meet in Moldova

Newspaper: Parents of detainees in Azerbaijan leave dissatisfied with Armenia PM

Armenia MOD: No notable ceasefire violations recorded overnight

EU does not include nuclear energy in 11th package of Russia sanctions

No notable ceasefire violations between 8:10 p.m. and 10 p.m. were recorded. Ministry of Defense

Earthquake in Armenia: the intensity in epicentral zone was 5 points

Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the ceasefire in the direction of Verin Shorzha with mortars

Delegation headed by Secretary of Security Council will leave for Brussels

"Shots are still being heard." Members of the National Assembly from the opposition are in Kut

Two wounded Armenian servicemen transported to Yerevan

9 medical patients in severe condition transferred from Karabakh to Armenia

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan used artillery toward Norabak village

FlyOne Armenia aircraft denied landing in Dubai

Armenia ombudsperson: Azerbaijan use of mortars undermines civilian populations right to life

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan used mortar in Sotk direction at around 5:10pm

Karabakh FM briefs Australia Armenians on situation in Artsakh

NO to the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh signature campaign hardcopies to be submitted to US, France, Russia embassies
Security is assessed by situation and stability. Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Edward Asryan, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this on Tuesday.

"Currently, I assess the situation at the border [with Azerbaijan] to be relatively stable. All units of the Armed Forces are monitoring the situation. Undoubtedly, work is being carried out to ensure military security; it is very difficult, but we will strive to achieve it," Asryan added.

When asked what the celebration of the anniversary of the liberation of Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is like when Shushi is currently under Azerbaijani occupation, Asryan said: "Of course, very bad."

And to the question of what the high-ranking Armenian military is doing to have Shushi returned to Armenians, the chief of the General Staff of the Armenian army responded: "The military always has in its plans what we strive to accomplish."
A high-level meeting will be held in Brussels, then the meeting will continue in Chisinau, which will be joined by French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, told this to reporters at Victory Park in Yerevan Tuesday, referring to the meeting slated for Sunday in Brussels between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

"I believe we will try to work in the direction to bring the approaches as close as possible and move forward," Grigoryan added.

Regarding the remark that the American side spoke about the progress that was reached in the negotiations between the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Washington, and to the question what kind of progress we are talking about, the head of the Security Council of Armenia said: "The American side talked about the progress, and that question should be asked to them. In the press release, the Armenian side noted that there are disagreements and we will work to find solutions to those disagreements."

And speaking about these disagreements, Grigoryan said: "Naturally, they [i.e., the Azerbaijanis] should come out of the sovereign territory of Armenia; it is mandatory. The signing of a peace treaty [with Azerbaijan] is possible under these conditions. As for the institution of international guarantors, the negotiations are ongoing. And if we find a solution, we will move forward. There is no final solution at this time."
We have stated many times our approach regarding Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)], that an international mechanism should be created, Stepanakert and Baku should discuss rights and security issues. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, told this to reporters at Victory Park in Yerevan Tuesday.

When asked whether Armenia is inclined to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan under the auspices of the West or Russia, Grigoryan responded: "As for the final signing of the peace agreement, it has not been decided in any form at this moment. We will sign [it] there where there will be an opportunity to make progress and reach a final agreement."

And with regard to the fact that the name peace treaty was replaced by the name "agreement on the normalization of relations," Grigoryan said: "The title is not so important, the important thing is the content. There are several important issues; and if we are able to find solutions around those issues, it doesn't matter what the title will be."
The Russian peacekeeping contingent is resolving the issues that are facing us, despite all the problems. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin told this to reporters at Victory Park in Yerevan Tuesday.

The ambassador assured that the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is making very active efforts to assist in the settlement of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the reopening of the Lachin corridorwhich has been closed for almost half a year now by Azerbaijan.

Also, Kopyrkin expressed hope that the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders will meet in Moscow soon.

The Russian diplomat added, however, that a notification will be made about the exact date of this meeting.
You are already familiar with the official statements from both the US and the participating countries, you saw that all efforts were made from all sides to advance the peace agenda as much as possible. Armenian deputy foreign minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan told this to reporters at Victory Park in Yerevan Tuesday.

"The [Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs] negotiations in Washington lasted four days and, in that sense, it was unprecedented. Our attempts to advance the line of peace was already a positive fact. On the other hand, no one expected miracles, a solution to all problems. Work will continue. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has already announced that the next meeting [between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan] will take place in Brussels [on Sunday], and then it will continue in Moscowin a tripartite format," said Hovhannisyan.

And to the question as to whether there are any issues on which the parties have come to a common denominator, the Armenian deputy FM responded: "There are many issues. Now it is difficult to single out one or two issues. But the fact that the negotiations continue with such intensity is already a good sign."
The British Daily Mail analyzed which countries may opt for freedom and reject membership in the European Union in the foreseeable future.

According to the newspaper, an "uncertain" future in the union awaits, for example, Greece. The main source of tension between Greece and its EU partners was the country's debt crisis, which began in 2009. Then Brussels imposed conditions for financial aid and demanded that Athens impose austerity measures. The Greek authorities saw this as an attempt to humiliate the country.

It is noted that today Euroscepticism is more popular in Greece than in any other European country. According to a Eurobarometer poll conducted in February of this year, 53 percent of Greeks said they were pessimistic about the future of the European Union, and 60 percent expressed their mistrust of Brussels.

The Daily Mail lists Italy among the countries disappointed in the European Union. The events of the past few years, the article says, have caused residents to doubt the EU more than ever before.

And a Eurobarometer poll showed that only 50 percent of Italians trust the union, and many suspect that Prime Minister George Meloni is just stalling, deciding how to weaken Brussels' control over their country's internal affairs.

As the newspaper notes, the EU's relations with France are not easy either. As one of the founders of the bloc, this country has been the most fierce critic of the EU for many years.

According to a Eurobarometer poll, 57 percent of French citizens do not trust the European Union, and half of them are skeptical about the bloc's future.

The British newspaper also included Sweden in its list of "unreliables," although with the note that that country's withdrawal from the bloc is unlikely in the near future.

Nevertheless, the Daily Mail recalled that last week the leader of the country's second-largest party, the Swedish Democrats, Jimmie Akesson, called for a review and evaluation of the need for EU membership.

According to the authors, Hungary is more likely to leave the EU. Its president, Viktor Orban, has recently become an outcast in Europe because of his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Eurobarometer survey, 43 percent of Hungarian citizens are pessimistic about the European Union, and 44 percent do not trust the bloc.








Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and the chairman of the opposition Pakistan Movement for Justice party, was arrested on Tuesday by representatives of the Ministry of Interior in the building of the Islamabad High Court, reports Geo-TV.

Khan was arrested by a court order as part of the investigation into the misappropriation of the funds of Al Qadir Trust.

The former PM had arrived at the aforesaid court building to post bail in some other cases against him.
The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to divide you and get you out of here. Ruben Vardanyan, the former Minister of State of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), said this in his remarks during Tuesdays rally in capital Stepanakert, addressing the Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh.

"The Azerbaijanis are doing everything to make the Armenians disappointed; it will not work. Azerbaijan will not be able to remove the [Russian] peacekeepers from here; I am sure that you also understand this. And we must stand side by side so that you fulfill your duties, fulfill [them] as it should be. I know it's hard, but you have to do it, and we'll stand with you.

"I appeal to international organizations, leaders of various countries: Azerbaijan spits on you, says: I do not obey any court decision. Don't you have the strength? Can't you say: Azerbaijan, who are you? Do what you have signed [under]," said the former minister of state of Artsakh.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the new11thpackage of sanctions on Russian will focus on cracking down on circumvention of the previously established restrictions. She wrote about this on Twitter.

According to her, European countries can ban the export of a number of products to third countries which are suspected of trying to circumvent these sanctions on Russia, as well as "adding more products to our transit ban."

It became known Monday that the European Commission completed the development of the 11th package of sanctions on Russian and forwarded it to EU member states for consideration.

According to The Financial Times, this package may include seven Chinese companies that manufacture microchips, semiconductors, and some other electronic products.
Large-scale fires in the Ural Federal District destroyed almost 5.7 thousand buildings, including more than 500 residential houses. This was reported by TASS with reference to a source in the emergency services.

According to the source, the hardest hit was in Kurgan region, where 5.2 thousand buildings burned down.

Earlier, Aleksandr Kurenkov, the Minister of Emergency Situations, promised that the firefighters would be able to liquidate natural fires in the Urals by the end of May 9.

A large aviation group consisting of four Il-76, Be-200 amphibian aircrafts, Mi-8, and Mi-26 helicopters is involved in firefighting operations.

A ground team is also working on site. The situation with forest fires in the Urals worsened last week. Smog has been observed in many cities.












The Artsakh Movement Facebook group has shared photos from Tuesdays rally at Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) capital Stepanakert's Renaissance Square.

The caption accompanying these photos reads as follows:

"Photos from the rally organized by the initiative group of the "No to the ethnic cleansing of the Republic of Artsakh" movement.

"Today's struggle is a struggle for dignity. It is necessary not only today that we live correctly, but also tomorrow, so that our and your generations will be nourished by it. We have gathered to show the world that we will live with dignity in our Armenian Artsakh.

"Tens of thousands of Artsakh residents have come to the square with this conviction.

"Photographs by Davit Ghahramanyan."
China expels Canadian diplomat in tit-for-tat move

China has said it has never interfered in Canada's internal affairs and has no interest in doing so. Image: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada
Boost for Boeing with US$40bn Ryanair deal

A Ryanair Boeing 737 takes off from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. File photo: AFP

Ireland's Ryanair agreed a multibillion-dollar deal for as many as 300 Boeing jets on Tuesday, burying the hatchet after an 18-month public feud over prices upset one of aviation's closest partnerships.



Europe's largest low-cost carrier said it was placing a firm order for 150 of the largest version of Boeing's narrow-body jet family, known as the 737 MAX 10, with options for another 150.



Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary flew to Washington to celebrate the deal with a long-time supplier but continued to needle Boeing over jet prices  while acknowledging that Ryanair had been forced to pay more per seat than in previous deals.



"In our view it will never be cheap enough and in Boeing's view it is always far too cheap," O'Leary told a news conference on the deal, which he said would support high-tech jobs.



Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun countered that no premium was high enough for Boeing's best-selling jet in a jovial back-and-forth capping months of tough negotiations.



Ryanair said the order would allow it to almost double its traffic to 300 million passengers per year by March 2034 from the 168 million flown to the end of March this year. It currently expects to fly 225 million passengers a year by 2026.



O'Leary last year broke off talks with Boeing and issued a barrage of public comments over pricing and delays in the arrival of previously ordered jets.



On Tuesday, however, he said Boeing had made significant progress in catching up on delays. Boeing last month said some 737 MAX deliveries had been halted due to a supplier problem.



Ryanair exclusively uses Boeing 737s for its mainline fleet and is one of Boeing's largest customers with more than 600 planes in its fleet or on order, according to its website.



The Dublin-based carrier is seen as keen to play up its low cost base, which underpins its signature brand of low fares, while Boeing is keen not to be seen as caving in on jet prices.



Ryanair said the deal was worth US$40 billion at list prices, though experts noted that this included options, which are not booked as orders, and typical discounts for firm orders run at more than 50 percent. The MAX 10 has a list price of US$135 million. (Reuters)
Rajesh Kumar Singh, secretary Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has highlighted that the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was negotiated in just 88 days, was path-breaking and has become a significant turning point in the bilateral economic relations between the two countries. Singh and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, jointly inaugurated the events to commemorate the first anniversary of the entry into force of the CEPA between India and the UAE on Monday. The visit of Secretary DPIIT to UAE is his first official trip abroad since the assumption of office in April 2023, indicating the significance India attaches to a close relationship with UAE. For India, the CEPA with UAE is the first in the region and for UAE, it is their first ever CEPA. Since the entry into force of CEPA, bilateral trade between India and UAE has witnessed tremendous growth of 20 per cent when compared to the previous year. India's exports to the UAE also recorded a remarkable growth of 12 per cent, reaching USD 31.3 billion in 2022-2023. As part of the CEPA celebrations, Singh inaugurated the 'Kerala Pavilion' at the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi. He held meetings with the senior leadership of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala, the top UAE investors in India. Welcoming the surge in investments from the UAE to India, Singh invited both companies to explore new sectors for investing in India, especially the renewable and digital sectors. The UAE is currently the seventh largest investor in India with an estimated investment of USD 18 billion. Secretary DPIIT will be inaugurating the International Jewellery Exposition Centre in Dubai on Tuesday (today). He will also be the Chief Guest for a multi-sectoral B-2-B event in Dubai organised by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), in which around 100 companies from India and UAE, including representatives of various Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) are expected to participate. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI/SRV): Symbiosis Law School, Pune (SLS Pune), a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), hosted the 11th Annual International Research Conference-Rule of Law in Context: Globalisation and Indian Resonances to Sustainable Development Goals (SYMROLIC 2023) on 5th and 6th May 2023. The conference is organized in collaboration with SLS NOIDA, SLS Hyderabad and SLS Nagpur and conducted in a hybrid mode. The Inauguration Ceremony took place on 5th May 2023 at 10:30 A.M. IST at SLS Pune. Prof (Dr) Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP Co-funded by EU) Director, SLS Pune Dean, Faculty of Law, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) welcomed the dignitaries and participants after the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. She traced the history of the conference from its inception in 2012 and explained its theme of exploring the interplay between legal research and other domains of human activity. She stressed the need for legal practitioners to address policy gaps and protect the rights of marginalised groups. She also showcased the achievements of SLS Pune, which ranks among the top 1000 law schools globally and third in NIRF and holds an A++ NAAC accreditation. She highlighted how SYMROLIC has grown from an internal platform to an internationally recognized event that fosters interdisciplinary research. She encouraged legal scholars, lawyers, and jurists to expand their vision of the rule of law beyond technical legal principles. Dr Gurpur highlighted that SYMROLIC offers a rare chance to examine and shed light on relevant issues that may otherwise remain hidden. She portrayed SYMROLIC as a platform for dissecting and demystifying complex topics to enhance understanding and awareness. She also highlighted an increase in the number of papers (68 papers in 2023 compared to 54 papers last year) and abstracts (115 in 2023 compared to 110 last year) received this time in SYMROLIC 2023. The Conference Abstract Compilation was launched by Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur, the Chief Guest, Prof (Dr) Purvi Pokhariyal, Dean, School of Law, Forensic Justice and Policy Studies, National Forensic Sciences University, along with Prof. Dr KVS Sharma, Vice Chancellor Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad, Dr YSR Murthy, Vice Chancellor and Founding Dean, School of Law RV University, and Prof Dr Bindu Ronald, Professor SLS-P. A video screening was shown to give an overview of the Symbiosis Centre for International and Comparative Child Rights Law. Then, the Guest of Honour, Prof (Dr) Asha Bajpai, an expert in International Child Rights and Professor at TISS, Mumbai, inaugurated the Centre virtually via the Zoom platform. Prof. Bajpai congratulated the institution for this innovative initiative and recognized the invaluable efforts of the team in achieving this remarkable feat. Prof (Dr) Shashikala Gurpur introduced the Symbiosis Centre for International and Comparative Child Rights Law. Drawing on her experience advising the National Women's Commission on child's rights issues, she stressed the need for cross-disciplinary approaches to address them. Prof. Gurpur highlighted that the welfare of vulnerable children is a common concern for the Centre's stakeholders. The Centre's main focus areas are 'Children in Need of Care' and 'Children who are in Conflict with Law'. Prof. Gurpur affirmed each child's right to self-actualization and emphasized the importance of aligning this goal with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The Centre aims to bridge the skill gap, provide consultation, capacity-building and training, and attract publications from scholars worldwide. Prof Gurpur concluded by emphasizing the crucial role of unbiased research in informing policy decisions. Prof (Dr) Purvi Pokhariyal, the Dean of the School of Law, Forensic Justice and Policy Studies at the National Forensic Sciences University, delivered the Chief Guest's address on the theme of 'Legal Road to SDG'. She expressed her strong belief in the transformative power of education, which she sees as a force that humanizes and empowers people. Prof. Pokhariyal praised Symbiosis Law School, Pune, for its steadfast commitment to upholding and promoting the rule of law, emphasizing the key role that lawyers play as social engineers in shaping society. She underscored the significance of instilling the ethos of the rule of law in the minds of aspiring legal professionals. Prof. Pokhariyal proceeded to explain how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are poised to revolutionize the world and bring about a paradigm shift. She quoted the Sanskrit shlok "Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah" as a call to action for all member nations to work towards promoting peace and prosperity. In the global context, the SDGs consist of 169 targets and 239 performance indicators that serve to monitor and assess progress. Prof (Dr) Pokhariyal viewed the SDGs as global blueprints, noting that they provide a framework of indicators that enable periodic reviews of progress. She urged the creation of a dedicated research group comprising scholars who exclusively focus on finding ways to improve the nation's standing in the Rule of Law index. This research endeavour will produce a policy intervention brief that can be presented to the Government of India with regard to the Rule of Law index. Prof (Dr) Pokhariyal concluded her address with the hope that the two-day conference would serve as a fruitful collaboration exercise, generating new ideas and perspectives. The session ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr Aparajita Mohanty, Associate Professor & Deputy Director (Academics), SLS-P. To know more visit https://www.symlaw.ac.in/ This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 9 (ANI/GPRC): The SAKRA World Hospital in Bangalore is a premier healthcare organization, with Japanese processes and know how, providing novel healthcare series in India. By combining the qualities of Indian clinical talent and Japanese technology, the SAKRA offers world class medical care to the people of Bangalore and Karnataka. SAKRA Hospital has announced the launch of SAKRA Information Centre in collaboration with Raksha Kavach Diagnostic Private Limited at Bardhaman in West Bengal. In the presence of the organization's Lovekesh Phasu, COO, Sakra World Hospital, the centre was formally inaugurated by Kamanasish Sen, Superintendent of Police of Purba Bardhaman district and Mr. Sukanta Ghosh, Director, Raksha Kavach Diagnostic. This information centre will serve to provide monthly OPDs by Sakra World Hospital doctors from the fields of Neurosurgery, Cardiac Surgery, Gastroenterology and Urology. This World class facility in Bardhaman will also be used as an information hub where people will have access to a variety of information about the facility, doctors, surgical costs, admission processes, insurance claims, payment methods, and billing. With this initiative, the aim is to provide the residents of Bardhaman an access to top-notch medical professionals. Lovekesh Phasu, COO, Sakra World Hospital, said, "The SAKRA Information Centre is a more efficient way to supply relevant knowledge and the best specialists. Launch of this initiative is a testament to our belief and our commitment to providing this region specialized, intense, and customized medical attention." Sukanta Ghosh, Director, Raksha Kavach Diagnostic quoted, "Without a doubt, this centre is one of the most cutting-edge institutions with the most high-tech services in Bardhaman. We will provide our best support to ensure that SAKRA Information Centre is recognised as being synonymous with the finest institution providing best medical care for the people of Bardhaman." Gurupradha Poonja, General Manager, Marketing at Sakra World Hospital said, "Through this initiative, we will ensure people in Bardhaman have excellent medical care within their reach. We are dedicated to taking care of the patients' needs and giving them the best care possible from experienced, caring medical professionals who are industry experts in their specialties." Kamanasish Sen, Superintendent of Police of Purba Bardhaman district, said, "I congratulate Sakra Hospital and Raksha Kavach for partnering in this initiative for delivering better health and well being of the Bardhaman residents." Located at Outer Ring Road, Marathahalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, Sakra World Hospital, a Japanese brand under the leadership of Toyota Tsusho and SECOM is India's first MNC hospital. It is a 350- bed hospital, providing healthcare across all specialties such as Neuro Sciences, Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Women and Child Health, Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Renal Sciences, Emergency and Trauma Care. There are 12 integrated modular operation theatres (OTs) with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technologies like OR integration solution that features video input recording, saving and displaying from a range of sources like surgical camera, peripheral camera and MIS camera. This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)
Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 9 (ANI/PRNewswire): Xoxoday, a leading rewards and incentives platform, announced a new strategic partnership with Workato, the leading enterprise automation and integration platform. This partnership will enable Xoxoday to create hyper-personalized automated employee and customer rewards and recognition programs for its clients. Xoxoday's platform provides a range of employee and customer engagement solutions, including rewards and recognition programs, wellness initiatives, consumer promotion campaigns, loyalty programs, survey incentives, learning and development programs, and more. With the addition of Workato's iPaaS capabilities, Xoxoday will be able to integrate its platform with a wide range of enterprise systems, including HR systems, productivity tools, survey tools, marketing automation, and communication platforms. This will allow their customers to seamlessly integrate Xoxoday Plum into their existing workflows and deliver hyper-personalized reward experiences making it easier than ever to reward and recognize employees, customers, and partners. As part of the partnership, Xoxoday clients will have access to Workato's vast library of pre-built integrations, making connecting with popular HRMS, Sales and Marketing Automation, CRMs, surveys, and more tools easy. "We are excited to partner with Workato to enhance our platform further and deliver a well-rounded superior customer experience," said Piyush Agarwal, Vice President, Product, Xoxoday. "Our platform is designed to help organizations create a culture of appreciation and recognition. This partnership will allow us to provide our customers an even more seamless and integrated experience. With Workato's powerful integration capabilities, we can help clients connect their rewarding initiatives with their broader business strategies, driving better outcomes and results." "Xoxoday is a recognised industry leader in the rewards and incentives space. We are beyond excited to work with them to integrate their platform seamlessly with a full suite of tools, and we look forward to achieving their vision of creating a comprehensive and streamlined rewards experience for thousands of customers and employees," said Amlan Debnath, Managing Director, Workato Asia Pacific & Japan. Xoxoday is a leading rewards and incentive platform that provides a range of solutions for HR, marketing, sales, and customer success teams to help them create a culture of appreciation and recognition while getting them better ROI for their engagement spends. Its platform includes rewards and recognition programs, loyalty programs, consumer promotion campaigns, wellness initiatives, learning and development programs, and more. Xoxoday is headquartered in Bangalore, India, and has US, Singapore, and Dubai Offices. For more information, visit Xoxoday.com or connect with us on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xoxoday The leader in enterprise automation, Workato helps organizations work faster and smarter without compromising security and governance. Built for Business and IT users, Workato is trusted by over 17,000 of the world's top brands, including Broadcom, Intuit, and Box. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Workato is backed by Altimeter Capital, Battery Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Tiger Global, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, visit workato.com or connect with us on social media: Blog: https://www.workato.com/the-connector/ Business Systems Community: https://systematic.workato.com/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/workato LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workato This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
The Manufacturers' Association of Israel (MAI) concluded a cooperation agreement with the leading business body - Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - eyeing a boost in trade between India and Israel in fear of the shrinking global economy. MAI signed an MoU on Tuesday with CII, a representative business organisation of 9,000 direct members. The MoU's primary aim is to facilitate through cooperation between the business organisations, a significant increase in the volume of trade between the two countries, which currently stands at 8.5 billion. MAI Ron Tomer signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CII President Rakesh Bharti Mittal, to promote cooperation and create cross-border business opportunities between the countries. The primary objective of this agreement is to significantly increase the volume of trade between the two nations, which currently stands at USD 8.5 billion. The agreement was signed in the presence of Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, India's Water Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon. This agreement holds tremendous significance for the commercial relations between the two countries, considering that CII is not only India's leading and most prominent business body but also represents over 9,000 Indian companies across the nation, according to a statement from CII. Additionally, it encompasses an additional 300,000 subsidiary members through regional branches, collectively employing millions of individuals throughout the country. Furthermore, the importance of the relationship between MAI and CII is projected to expand even further, as India's population has surpassed China's this year for the first time in accordance to official UN data, making India the most populous economic power globally, according to the statement. In Israel, the Manufacturers' Association of Israel (MAI) represents over 2,000 leading industrial and hi-tech companies in the economy, collectively providing employment to around 500,000 workers. According to the statement, the agreement between the parties has now come to fruition after a lengthy process of fostering commercial relations between India and Israel. During this period, the volume of exports and imports between the two countries has nearly doubled over the past five years, rising from about USD 4.7 billion dollars to USD 8.5 billion. Furthermore, the two nations are currently engaged in negotiations for a free trade agreement, and India stands as Israel's largest trading partner in Asia, according to the statement. However, when considering the overall volume of exports and imports of Israel, which amounts to USD 316 billion annually, the current trade volume between the two countries, totalling USD 8.5 billion, represents a relatively modest percentage yet. In this regard, the agreement is anticipated to bolster investments and business connections between India and Israel. It aims to establish a framework that will facilitate future business collaborations and substantially enhance the volume of trade between the two countries. The agreement also sets the stage for initiatives that foster mutual cooperation, create investment and trade opportunities, and facilitate the exchange of relevant information. It encompasses activities such as contacting and attracting companies to India and Israel, hosting joint events, and supporting visits by government and industry representatives from India to Israel, as well as Israelis in India. The President of MAI Ron Tomer said: "I am happy and proud to sign a historic MoU agreement with my honorable Indian colleague, Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal. This agreement represents another significant step in strengthening the commercial ties between the two countries, with our goal being to double trade between them. It's important to remember that the economy in Western countries is shrinking, so new opportunities lie in countries like India. Therefore, from this perspective, this agreement serves as an important "contingency plan" for Israeli exporters who are seeking to develop into new markets." Tomer is also the chairman of the president of Israeli Employers and Businesses Organisations (IEBO). Tomer said, "Additionally, India is not only a true friend of the state of Israel but also an industrial and agricultural powerhouse that is constantly growing, creating almost unlimited potential for commercial and economic relations between our nations. India has much to contribute to the State of Israel, and vice versa." Already today, he said there is significant trade between the two countries, which is expected to become even more significant and extensive in the future. "We have already observed a substantial increase in the adoption of Israeli technologies in India's industrial and automation processes in recent years. This includes the utilisation of Israeli software for production management and advanced cyber protection," Tomer said, adding, "I firmly believe that this trend will continue to intensify, accompanied by the adoption of products from other industrial sectors in Israel to further contribute to the country's development." CII President Rakesh Bharti Mittal is also one of the prominent businessmen in India. Mittal's fortune is estimated by Forbes to be around 4.1 billion dollars, and he leads the largest telecom corporation in India, serving over 500 million subscribers in East Asia and India. (ANI)
With job losses and a predicted recession, home mortgage delinquencies are expected to increase in the US, a senior official of mortgage servicing fintech software-as-a-service (SaaS) Sagent said on Monday. The US-based Sagent, backed by Warburg Pincus, has opened its first non-US centre here with a headcount of about 120. "The total mortgage delinquency now is under four per cent. In 2020, the delinquency was eight per cent. The mortgage market is stable. In the US market, we predict delinquency rate is to go up," Chief Operating Officer Marianne Sullivan told media here. According to her, there are regulations concerning the mortgages in the US and Sagent clients have to use the former's software in managing the same. However, she said the purpose of Sagent opening its first office outside of the US here is not due to recessionary fears in the home country. According to Sagent's Chief Technology Officer Uday Devalla, the main reason for setting up the centre here is owing to the 2022 partnership deal with Mr Cooper, the third largest mortgage servicer in the US. Devalla said the mortgage industry in the US is about $13 billion industry and is complex. According to Devalla, dual mortgage and fintech experience is required to innovate in a sector as complex as mortgage servicing and the company has such a talent. In the US, the company has a headcount of about 520 and in India, about 120. --IANS vj/vd ( 257 Words) 2023-05-09-19:40:04 (IANS)
A day after the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal banned the film 'The Kerala Story', filmmaker Sudipto Sen said the decision was "politically motivated" and urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to watch the film and then take any decision. Sudipto Sen told ANI that it is "very unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee without watching the film has banned it". "Not a single untoward incident has happened in the state because of the film. The decision to ban the film is politically motivated. I request her to watch the film and then take any decision," Sudipto Sen said. He said the film was doing very well in West Bengal for last four days and "it was houseful there". "After the ban decision by Mamata Didi the screening in the movie hall was stopped by some guys mid-way. I am not a politician, I am a filmmaker. I can only make a film, you want to see it or not that you guys will decide. There was no problem when the film was released in Kolkata for four days, suddenly Didi felt that there could be law and order issues," he said. "Mahua Moitra, Mamata Banerjee, they are the champion of free speech, human rights, when the Padmaavat movie was banned, Mamata Banerjee was the first political leader who came in support of the movie. But don't know what is the problem with my film that she thought that there is a law and order problem," he added. Mamata Banerjee had said that 'The Kerala Story' is being banned in the state to "avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state". "I requested her to watch the film first and not to decide on people's opinions. You will like the film, you will be proud that the Bengali director made this responsible film," Sen said. He also said that till the film was not released, "there was a lot of controversy, debate was going on". "After watching the film, everyone started liking the film so much that all the debate ended automatically. There was one problem that too was not a major problem in Tamil Nadu. There was a guy who use to threaten the movie hall owners. Every time, if there is any issue in Tamil Nadu that particular gentleman use to stand by and created problems. After all this, the Tamil Nadu high court allowed us and said there is no logic to ban the film if the censor board has already given the clearance," Sen said. West Bengal became the first state to ban the film which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. The movie has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and now Uttar Pradesh has decided to make it tax-free. Mamata Banerjee gave directions to officials to remove the movie from all theatres where it is being screened. Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the producer of the film, said they will pursue legal options against the decision. "If state government won't listen to us, we will explore legal avenues. However, whatever course we take will be based on legal advice," Shah told ANI on Monday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had termed the movie as "RSS propaganda". 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in lead roles. A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn. (ANI)
The popular war-crime drama 'Lord of War' is returning with a sequel and the cast looks perfect as it features actor Nicolas Sage and Bill Skarsgard in pivotal roles. According to Deadline, a US-based media house, Cage will reprise the role of Yuri Orlov an arms dealer and reported Bill will be seen as Orlov's son in the coming sequel of the movie. The plot of the movie seems exciting as it may witness the competition between a father and his son who tries to become a warlord by defeating his dad. The plot will not have Bill trying to show the right path to his father which will definitely add spice to the much-awaited sequel. Bill playing the role of Anton Orlov will also be seen competing over odds with the same woman as his father, Anton will amass a mercenary army to fight America's Middle East conflicts in the film which will hit announcement at the Cannes Film Festival, reported Deadline. The director of the film Andrew Niccol said, "There is so much more to explore with these characters. Plato said it best - 'Only the dead have seen the end of the war.' I'm looking forward to spending more time in the company of the charming devil that is Yuri Orlov and now his illegitimate son - who turns out to not be legitimate in any way." The first installment of the movie which was released in 2005 tracked the journey of the 20-year-long arm-dealing career of Yuri which also serves as a link between worldwide terrorism and the cold war. The further details of the movie are still under the curtain as makers plan a big Cannes release. (ANI)
The epic saga 'Adipurush' has been making it to the headlines since its announcement. As the makers revealed the trailer of the movie, actor Kriti Sanon expressed her gratitude as she got to play the role of Janaki alongside actor Prabhas. At the trailer launch of the movie on Tuesday, Kriti narrated how happy she felt about getting an opportunity that not many performers get. She said, "I am very emotional today, I had goosebumps while watching the trailer because this is not just a movie but much more than that. What we experienced while making this film was special." Sanon also thanked her director Om Raut for getting the chance. "I want to thank Om for believing in me as Janaki. You had faith in me that I could play that role because there are very few actors who get such a role in their lifetime. I feel very, very blessed." To describe how special, the character of Sita is for her, she added, "I have poured my heart and soul into Janaki. I had complete faith in the role but while shooting for the movie I started learning more and more about this character. She is very pure, has a kind soul, a loving heart and a strong mind. In my poster as well you will see, there is pain, but there is no fear in it. It was a huge emotion for me. We are mere humans, forgive us if we have faltered." The trailer was first screened exclusively for fans of Prabhas in Hyderabad, followed by a grand launch event in Mumbai on Tuesday that was graced by the presence of the star cast, director, and producer. The trailer was released in 70 countries worldwide, turning it into a truly global celebration. The trailer depicted an epic struggle between the forces of good and evil, with Prabhas rising overall with his commanding screen presence.Unlike the teaser, the new video doesn't disclose much of Lankesh, who appears in disguise midway through the movie and then appears briefly at the conclusion. The teaser of 'Adipurush' was released on October 2 at the Bank of Sarayu in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh among fans and mediapersons. The film made with a huge budget of Rs 500 crores is expected to be nothing less than a visual spectacle. However, netizens were not happy with the teaser and it was trolled on the internet for its VFX. Helmed by Om Raut, 'Adipurush' is a mythological drama based on the epic Ramayana. The film stars Prabhas as Lord Ram, Kriti Sanon as Sita, and Sunny Singh as Lakshman. In the film, Saif Ali Khan will be seen essaying the role of Ravan. Recently, the makers also announced that 'Adipurush' will be screened at Tribeca Festival in New York on June 13. Apart from Adipurush, the actress will also feature in 'Ganapath', 'The Crew', and Untitled next with Shahid Kapoor. (ANI)
The much-awaited movie 'Adipurush' by director Om Raut marks Indian cinema's attempt to bring one of the greatest mythological stories to the big screen. The biggest challenge a movie can face when it brings a story which belongings to the masses is the issues that may arrive on its way of portraying the perfect version which pleases and stands on the expectations of the audience. 'Adipurush' since its announcement has been in headlines whether about the casting or about the cinematography of the movie. It has been a roller-coaster ride for the makers. The movie features actor Prabhas as Lord Ram, Saif Ali Khan as 'Lankesh' and Kriti Sanon as 'Janaki'. Earlier when the teaser dropped, netizens looked extremely unhappy with incorrect representations of characters like Hanuman and Lankesh. Also, the dark world created by the director was criticised as it doesn't look like the world of Lord Ram. Its almost 2-minute-long teaser is absolutely mesmerizing and exquisite. Prabhas looks stunningly perfect in the role of Lord Rama, who in the teaser is all set to destroy the empire of evil built by Saif Ali Khan's Raavan in order to bring back his Sita. Though the teaser's CGI leaves much to be desired, it has captivating scenes from Ravan showing his 10 heads and Lord Hanuman landing in Lanka to Lord Rama walking the Ram Setu with his 'Vanar' sena. The portrayal attracted a lot of negative comments by the politicians and audiences which led to re-work on the characters. On Tuesday makers revealed the trailer of the movie and it somewhat narrates how well the makers have worked to deliver the unforgettable experience to the audience. The trailer of the upcoming mythological Pan-India film was done in the form of a momentous occasion spanning fort two consecutive days. The trailer was first screened exclusively for fans of Prabhas in Hyderabad, followed by a grand launch event in Mumbai that was graced by the presence of the star cast, director, and producer. The trailer was released in 70 countries worldwide, turning it into a truly global celebration. The trailer depicted an epic struggle between the forces of good and evil, with Prabhas rising overall with his commanding screen presence. Unlike the teaser, the new video doesn't disclose much of Lankesh, who appears in disguise midway through the movie and then appears briefly at the conclusion. Prabhas expressed his excitement about the premiere and said, "I am honoured that Adipurush will have its World Premiere at The Tribeca Festival, New York. It's an absolute privilege to be a part of a project that mirrors the ethos of our nation. To see our Indian films, especially one that is so close to me, Adipurush, reach the global stage makes me extremely proud not only as an actor but as an Indian too. I look forward to seeing the audience response at Tribeca," he said. Kriti also narrated how happy she felt about getting an opportunity that not many performers get. She said, "I am very emotional today, I had goosebumps while watching the trailer because this is not just a movie but much more than that. What we experienced while making this film was special." Sanon thanked her director Om Raut for getting the chance. "I want to thank Om for believing in me as Janaki. You had faith in me that I could play that role because there are very few actors who get such a role in their lifetime. I feel very, very blessed." To describe how special, the character of Sita is for her, she added, "I have poured my heart and soul into Janaki. I had complete faith in the role but while shooting for the movie I started learning more and more about this character. She is very pure and has a kind soul, a loving heart and a strong mind. In my poster as well you will see, there is pain, but there is no fear in it. It was a huge emotion for me. We are mere humans, forgive us if we have faltered." The movie will hit theatres on June 16, 2023, which was earlier supposed to be January 12, 2023, but got pushed as makers wanted time to correct the portrayal of classic characters in the movie. The movie is shot in Hindi and Telugu language as it eyes a Pan-India release. 'Adipurush' will be one of the most expensive movies ever made in the industry. It is for the first time that Prabhas will be working with Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan. The movie also marks Krti's second high-budget period drama after Ashutosh Gowarikar's 'Panipat' in 2019. If 'Adipurush' manages to get a positive response and becomes successful in this giant attempt by Indian cinema, then it will be a great sign for Indian cinema to deliver sensitive and beloved stories without getting indulged in any kind of controversies. (ANI)
The West Bengal government's decision to ban the screening of "The Kerala Story" in the state seems to have divided the civil society. Those who are against the ban cite three different logical premises on this count - the first being the justification of banning a film which has got clearance from the censor board, the second on the effectiveness of the ban in this age of OTT when shortly the film will be available on the OTT platform, and the third is that by banning the movie, the government has actually increased the public craze for it. On the other hand, those who are in support of the decision to ban the movie feel that considering the changed social-cultural changes that the West Bengal had gone through in the recent past, there was a risk in allowing the screening of the movie and hence the state government has done the right thing by not taking that risk. According to the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) General Secretary, Ranjit Sur, when the decision of the ban on screening was taken, already the movie had been screened in different multiplexes of the state for four days. "But there had not been a single report of law & order problems over screening the movie. The state government should have allowed the screening of the movie and let the people of the state decide whether they accept it or reject it. I do not think that by banning the screening of the movie, the state government has taken a revolutionary step against attempts to create communal divide. This is a pure political game keeping in mind polarisation of the vote bank," he said. Senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court Kaushik Gupta said that such bans on screening of movies in cinema halls or multiplexes are useless in the current age of internet and OTTs. "Already there are reports of the movie being leaked online. Very soon the movie will appear in one or more OTT platforms. How will the state government stop people from viewing that there? Rather, this ban will now encourage even those people, who otherwise might not have gone to watch the movie, to view the same," Gupta added. Acclaimed painter Subhaprasanna, otherwise known to be very close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, disagrees with the state government's logic for banning the movie. According to him, he had always been against any forced opposition against any creative work. He said that when the censor board has cleared the screening of the movie, he does not find any logic on the ban enforced by the state government. "The people should have the freedom of accepting or rejecting the movie," he said. Poet and educationist Subodh Sarkar, however, feels that the state government has done the right thing by banning the screen of the movie since it had enough elements to fuel tension. "To my opinion the state government has done the right thing by nor allowing the sparks to turn into flames," he said. --IANS src/vd ( 522 Words) 2023-05-09-19:56:03 (IANS)
BSF Tripura seized 204 grams of suspected brown sugar, valued at Rs 1,02,00,000 in the international market, from the Railway Station Ambassa.

The seizure of the suspected brown sugar was made from a white colour bag left abandoned by the suspect who managed to slip away taking advantage of other passengers.

Besides the above, the troops also seized 4 kgs of Ganja, 377 bottles of Phensedyl/Eskuff cough syrup and other contraband items having a collective seizure value of Rs 2,74,999 apprehending a Bangladeshi national in other operations along Indo-Bangladesh international border.

BSF is persistently putting efforts to make society, drug-free by enforcing the rule of law and such seizures of drugs is a decisive step in this direction.

Vigilant BSF troops deployed on the extreme frontiers of the country in Tripura are effectively guarding the International Border and seizing contraband items regularly from the bordering areas.

Border Security Force is fully committed to eradicating the menace of drugs from Tripura making "Tripura - A Drug-Free State".

It is pertinent to mention that the BSF Tripura is committed to eradicating the drug menace and to thwarting the attempts being made by trans-border criminals/smugglers by taking all possible proactive measures and is frequently confiscating huge quantities of contraband giving big jolts to trans-border smugglers, particularly Narcotics/drug traffickers during 'Anti-Smuggling Drives' in the Tripura State. (ANI)
On Monday, Samaresh Majumdar passed away in the evening around 5:45 pm. The award-winning writer was 79.

PM Modi said the departed author's work captured different aspects of the society and culture of West Bengal.

"Shri Samaresh Majumdar will be remembered for his contribution to Bengali literature. His works capture different aspects of the society and culture of West Bengal. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed grief on the death of the Bengali author, calling it an "irreparable loss to the literary world".

Majumdar is also known for 'Uttoradhikar', 'Kaalpurush', 'Satkahan', and 'Adventures of Detective Arjun'.The writer-poet has innumerable accolades under his belt, including Sahitya Akademi Award which he won for 'Kalbela' in 1984.

Apart from this, he has been conferred the Anand Award and Bankim Award. In 2018, the West Bengal government honoured him with the 'Banga Bibhushan' award.(ANI)
Shah was supposed to attend a grand celebration of two years of completion of the Sarma-led government in Assam on Thursday.

However, the visit has been rescheduled to May 26, said Sarma.

Addressing media persons here, he said, "Union Home Minister called me up in the morning and informed about the change in his schedule due to ongoing violence in Manipur."

In the run-up to the 2021 Assam Assembly election, Sarma promised that if BJP returns to power in the state, 1 lakh jobs would be given to unemployed youths of the state within a year.

Though the state government has already provided around 50,000 jobs in the last two years, the target of 1 lakh jobs is yet to be completed.

Sarma said that recruitment procedures for another 45,000 posts are completed and the appointment letters will be distributed by Amit Shah on May 26.

--IANS tdr/vd

( 190 Words)

2023-05-08-20:50:02 (IANS)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's statement about MLAs taking money from Union Home Minister Amit Shah has triggered a political controversy in the state. A political backlash has started over Gehlot's statement advising the MLAs of former deputy CM Sachin Pilot's camp to return the money taken from Amit Shah. Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore targeted Gehlot and said, "Why the MLAs whom the Chief Minister accuses have been made ministers, the public understands all equations. If your MLAs took money then why are you not taking action against them?" Rathore said "CM Ashok Gehlot is reciting the old drama again. His MLAs who went to Manesar took money, he lodged an FIR at that time and on the instructions of the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, an FR was also lodged. When he is fully aware which of his MLAs took how much money and where it was used, then why is the Chief Minister seeing such a big crime happening as the Home Minister? Why doesn't he register an FIR? The people of Rajasthan are seeing the difference between words and actions very well with their own eyes," he added. Two years have passed, why are you not releasing the list of MLAs who were sold, Rathore said adding, "The MLAs who were traitors in your eyes are sitting in the cabinet. ACB and SOG registered cases in the phone tapping case, FIR No. 47, 48, 49, 129 was also lodged on your instructions and now you are making allegations. The MLA who was a cheater in your eyes is sitting in the cabinet today." Gehlot on Sunday had said our MLAs should return the money taken from Amit Shah. Gehlot had said that Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat conspired together to topple our government. Money was distributed to the MLAs in Rajasthan. These people are not taking the money back. I am worried, why are they not taking the money back? I even told our MLAs that those who have taken 10 crores, 20 crores, have spent some of it, then I will give that spent portion, I will get it from AICC. You give the money back to Amit Shah. Don't keep his money, if you keep his money then there will always be pressure on you. --IANS arc/bg ( 408 Words) 2023-05-08-20:52:03 (IANS)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in an emotional appeal, on Monday called upon the people of Karnataka to take pride in the fact that a 'Bhoomiputra' (son of the soil) is heading the party. Speaking at his home constituency Kalburagi, he said that he is 81 years old and if someone wants to finish him off, they could. The veteran leader was touching upon an alleged audio of BJP candidate at Chittarpur constituency, Manikanta Rathode in which he allegedly stated that he would wipe out the entire family of Kharge. It is to be noted that Rathode is having several criminal cases, including murder, against him and is fighting against Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge. Kharge said: "Some BJP leaders would be behind the utterances of this man. Otherwise how can he get the courage to speak in an audio that he would finish off Kharge's family?" At a public meeting, Kharge said that no one could finish him off that easily. "I have Babasaheb's (Ambedkar) Constitution to protect me. I have the people of Karnataka behind me and now after becoming the Congress president, the people of the country are behind me." He said that there was a conspiracy angle behind this and senior BJP leaders would have supported this. Kharge called upon the people of Kalaburgi to vote for Congress to win all Assembly seats in the district and in the neighbouring Yadgir district. He said that the Congress leadership has made him its chief and that Kalaburgi must return that by making Congress candidates win the polls. He said that in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking about saving his dignity by making all BJP candidates win the elections as he was the "bhoomiputra" of Gujarat. Kharge said that in a similar vein, he was the "bhoomiputra" of Karnataka and hence, people should vote for Congress and make it win the elections. --IANS aal/vd ( 330 Words) 2023-05-08-21:52:01 (IANS)
The Delhi High Court directed the police to record the statement of one of the five men, allegedly beaten by cops and forced to sing the national anthem, before the magistrate within a week. Five men were beaten and forced to sing the national anthem by Delhi police cops during North East Delhi riots. The statement of a youth to be recorded, who claimed to be an eyewitness to Faizan who succumbed to his injuries, who was also forced to sing the national anthem and beaten up leading to his death during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. On Monday, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani ordered that the Statement of Mohd Wasim, who has expressed a wish to record his statement, be recorded before the Magistrate within a week. The matter has been listed on May 30 for further hearing. On the next date, the Special public prosecutor will argue on behalf of Delhi Police. The High Court passed the order while hearing the plea of Kismatun, the mother of deceased Faizan. Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for Mohd Wasim and argued that he was an eyewitness to the incident of beating and forcing the victim to sing the national anthem. He would like to record his statement. On the other hand, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad submitted that Delhi police had asked Wasim to join the investigation but he did not. After hearing the submission, the bench passed the order. The petitioner Kismatun had moved a plea alleging that her son was first beaten by the cops at Kardampuri and then taken into illegal detention at Jyoti Nagar Police Station. He was not provided with any medical assistance during his detention resulting in his death. The petitioner has sought a direction for investigation by an SIT under the monitoring of the High Court into the incident and the role of Delhi police cops. Petitioner's counsel argued, "Faizan was assaulted in the Jyoti Nagar area but Delhi police's SIT has not yet done anything to probe the role of the SHO of the concerned police station where Faizan was lodged." "The SHO and other police officials are forging the record, still, they are out of the probe," advocate Vrinda Grover submitted. Advocate Grover said, "Is there any different threshold when the accused are in uniform?" (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered that statement of a man, who was forced to sing the national anthem and national song 'Vande Mataram' during the 2020 Delhi riots, be recorded before the magistrate concerned under the CrPC's Section 164 within one week's time. Mohd Wasim has alleged that the victim was forced to sing the national anthem and then beaten to death. The court's direction came as Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani heard a petition requesting a court-monitored investigation into the man's death. The petition was filed by Kismatun, the mother of the deceased Faizan, who is seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team probe into her son's death. In a video that surfaced on social media, Faizan was seen being beaten by the police and forced to sing the national anthem and the national song along with four other Muslim men. Kismatun has alleged that the police illegally detained her son and denied him crucial medical care, which led to his death on February 26, 2020, after he was released During the proceedings, advocate Mehmood Pracha, who represented Wasim, requested to intervene and claimed that Wasim was was a minor who was also beaten by the police along with the deceased. He stated that he was an eyewitness to the incident and the events that unfolded later at the police station. Counsel for the Delhi Police, Amit Prasad, countered by saying that Wasim did not cooperate in getting his statement recorded, despite being asked to do so. The court ordered that Wasim must be produced before the magistrate concerned within one week for recording his statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and a copy of the statement should be placed on record. The petitioner's advocate, Vrinda Grover, presented a video to the court and claimed that the deceased was the target of a "targeted hate crime". Arguing that there needs to be a court-monitored investigation to hold erring officials accountable and to break the "brotherhood of khaki", she said that there were two sets of police officers responsible for the custodial death of Faizan. She alleged that the deceased was first beaten by a group of police officers as seen in the video footage and later, illegally detained, further beaten, and denied medical care at the police station. Grover stressed that the deceased was not involved in rioting and that the post-mortem report showed an increase in the number of injuries sustained by him during his detention at the police station. She accused the police officials of suppressing and falsifying records in the matter. Grover submitted that three years have passed, and the ongoing investigation inspires no confidence. "This (ongoing) investigation inspires no confidence..I do not know an accused who is not in khaki and will not be arrested (under similar circumstances) and taken for custodial interrogation. I am seeking fair investigation," she said. When the court observed that a status report filed by the police in a sealed cover "itself contains information that is damning", Grover remarked that everything is in their knowledge yet no action takes place. To this, Prasad said that the matter was not adversarial. "The documents in connection with the death have been preserved and are in safe custody. We can produce them before the court if asked," he said. In March last year, the police had informed the high court that the case involved "technical evidence" and that the investigation had "zeroed down a head constable making the video" and not assaulting the victim, and that no stone was being left unturned in the probe. --IANS spr/vd ( 613 Words) 2023-05-08-22:46:02 (IANS)
The BJP government in Goa on Monday drew criticism from the opposition after it declared a 'Paid Holiday' for the people of Karnataka working in the coastal state so that they can cast their vote in the May 10 Assembly election. "The Government of Goa has declared Wednesday, May 10, 2023, as a 'Paid Holiday' being the 'Polling Day' for the election to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to the electors of Karnataka state," the Department of Information and Publicity said in the press release. "The aforesaid holiday will be a 'Paid Holiday' for the workers of the following establishments which includes industrial workers of the state of Goa; daily wage workers of the government departments and state government industrial departments; commercial and industrial workers of private establishments in Goa; all private establishments and daily wage/casual workers employed in any business, trade industrial undertakings or any other establishments as informed by the department of information and publicity," it further said. The opposition parties in Goa, however, criticised the government, and sought to roll back the announcement. Goa unit AAP vice president, Ramrao Wagh said that the BJP government is more concerned about Karnataka than the people of the state. "Currently, the state government is on holiday, along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other ministers are also camping in Karnataka to campaign for BJP," Wagh said. "People of Karnataka have decided to send home the corrupt BJP government, which is known as 40 per cent, and hence the BJP is trying to apply all its strategies to win the election. They may also do bogus voting by taking people from here," Wagh alleged. "We are condemning the act of announcing a paid holiday for the Karnataka election and demand to rollback the decision, else it will be clear that the BJP government has compromised the Mhadei diversion," he said. Revolutionary Goans Party president Manoj Parab said that all the ministers of the BJP government and their leaders from Goa are busy campaigning for their Karnataka counterpart. "Goa government has declared a paid holiday to Karnataka voters working in the private sector and other areas. I have never heard that other states opting for similar practices when Goa goes for election," he pointed out. He appealed to the people to realise how the BJP in Goa is using the government machinery to help the Karnataka BJP for the election and also to divert the Mhadei river. --IANS sbk/pgh ( 421 Words) 2023-05-08-22:54:02 (IANS)
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday laid the foundation for the Hare Krishna Heritage Tower in Hyderabad. The 400 feet (120 meters) tall structure will be constructed on six acres of land in Narsingi at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The tower will house the temples of Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Sri Venkateswara Swamy. The chief minister announced Rs 25 crore on behalf of the state government for the construction of the temple. He said that the state government supports organizations that promote peace and spirituality. The tower will be another cultural landmark for Hyderabad. It will highlight the Telangana heritage in the form of Kakatiya architectural elements. Accommodation facility will be available for 1,500 devotees. Constructions will be undertaken using cutting-edge technology with the skill of the Kakatiyas to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Telangana. The tower will also have an Annadanam hall, where 500 visiting devotees will be served food at one time. A library, Kalyanai Auditorium, IMAX open air theatres, lecture halls, Q complex, and guest rooms will be part of the temple structures. Technologically advanced laser shows will be arranged to help youth understand the history of Lord Krishna along with his teachings. Chief Minister KCR described temples as community centers. "All religions connect with the temple. Religion is universal. There is nothing wrong with religion. Religious ignorance and fanaticism is a threat to us. Religion does not encourage us to make mistakes. But religious stupidity takes all human beings into madness. Religious madness drives humans to commit inhuman acts," he said, adding that there is no place for violence in any religion. KCR termed Hare Krishna's support to Telangana government as commendable. Akshaya Patra is supplying meals through Annapoorna to school children and providing food for the poor in Hyderabad without stopping for a single day. This is a testament to their dedication. "Thank you Akshaya Patra on behalf of the people of Telangana," he said. Hare Krishna Movement Chairman Madhu Pandita Dasa, Hare Krishna Movement-Hyderabad President Satya Goura Chandra Dasa, Krishna Goseva Mandali Secretary Suresh Kumar Agarwal, Aurobindo Pharm Limited MD Nithyananda Reddy and others were present --IANS ms/pgh ( 375 Words) 2023-05-08-23:04:01 (IANS)
He has directed the Resident Commissioner of Bihar in New Delhi and the state Chief Secretary to make arrangements for the rescue operation.

The Bihar government will send an Indigo aircraft to Imphal airport on Tuesday to ferry back the students.

Following the direction of Nitish Kumar, Chief Secretary Amir Subhani and the Resident Commissioner are in contact with the Manipur Chief Secretary, who has assured for the safe rescue of the Bihari students studying in various educational institutes like the IIIT Manipur, the Central Agricultural University, Manipur, NIT Manipur and others.

Sources have said that over 300 students are trapped in Manipur due to violence. The Bihar government has received the names and phone numbers of 150 students who want to return home.

As the Manipur administration lifted the curfew for three hours on Monday, students used this to travel to Imphal airport.

Earlier Subhani reached out to his Manipur counterpart and sought security and safe passage for the students from the state there.

Students from Patna, East Champaran, West Champaran, Saran, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Begusarai, Samastipur, Katihar, Khagaria, Madhepura and some other districts are studying in different universities of Manipur.

--IANS ajk/vd

( 234 Words)

2023-05-08-23:10:04 (IANS)
According to police, at around 2.15 a.m., a call was received at Welcome police station regarding stabbing of one boy in the stomach at Janta Colony following which a police team rushed to the spot.

"He was taken to GTB hospital by his parents, where he was declared dead by around 3.20 a.m.," said a senior police officer, adding the deceased had sustained seven to eight stab wounds and one particularly deep leading to protrusion of small intestines in the lower abdomen.

The official said that the police have apprehended the 16-year-old accused, a resident of Janta Majdoor Colony.

During initial investigation, it was revealed that the accused was returning from work at about 2 a.m., when the deceased and his friend met him in the street.

"They fought over a petty issue. The accused stabbed the victim multiple times," the official said, adding that a case under section 302 (murder) has been registered.

--IANS ssh/pgh

( 194 Words)

2023-05-08-23:26:04 (IANS)
A study of more than 2,200 adults who attended U.S. high schools in the early 1960s found that those who attended higher-quality schools had better cognitive function 60 years later. The findings were published May 2 in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring in a paper titled "High school quality is associated with cognition 58 years later." "Our study establishes a link between high-quality education and better late-life cognition and suggests that increased investment in schools, especially those that serve Black children, could be a powerful strategy to improve cognitive health among older adults in the United States," says Jennifer Manly, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and senior author of the study. The study, led by Manly and Dominika Seblova, PhD, a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia, used data from Project Talent, a 1960 survey of high school students across the United States, and follow-up data collected in the Project Talent Aging Study. The researchers examined relationships between six indicators of school quality and several measures of cognitive performance in participants nearly 60 years after they left high school. Since high-quality schools may be especially beneficial for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the researchers also examined whether associations differed by geography, sex/gender, and race and ethnicity (the survey only included sufficient data from Black and white respondents). Teacher training linked to late-life cognition in students The researchers found that attending a school with a higher number of teachers with graduate training was the most consistent predictor of better later-life cognition, especially language fluency (for example, coming up with words within a category). Attending a school with a high number of graduate-level teachers was approximately equivalent to the difference in cognition between a 70-year-old and someone who is one to three years older. Other indicators of school quality were associated with some, but not all, measures of cognitive performance. Manly and Seblova say many reasons may explain why attending schools with well-trained teachers may affect later-life cognition. "Instruction provided by more experienced and knowledgeable teachers might be more intellectually stimulating and provide additional neural or cognitive benefits," Seblova says, "and attending higher-quality schools may also influence life trajectory, leading to university education and greater earnings, which are in turn linked to better cognition in later life." Greater impact on Black students Though the associations between school quality and late-life cognition were similar between white and Black students, Black participants were more likely to have attended schools of lower quality. "Racial equity in school quality has never been achieved in the United States and school racial segregation has grown more extreme in recent decades, so this issue is still a substantial problem," says Manly. For example, a 2016 survey found that U.S schools attended by non-white students had twice as many inexperienced teachers as schools attended by predominantly white students. "Racial inequalities in school quality may contribute to persistent disparities in late-life cognitive outcomes for decades to come," Manly adds. Jennifer Manly, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Neurology, the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University. (ANI)
"'The Kerala Story' to be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh," CM Yogi said in a tweet.

The Chief Minister along with his cabinet colleagues is expected to watch the film at a special screening.

Madhya Pradesh had made the movie tax-free in the state on May 6.

Stating that the 'The Kerala Story' "exposes the conspiracy of love Jihad, religious conversion and terrorism," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said that the newly released movie has been made tax-free in the state.

"The Kerala Story exposes the conspiracy of love Jihad, religious conversion and terrorism and brings out its hideous face. The film tells how the daughters get entangled in the trap of love jihad in momentary sentimentality and how they are ruined. The film also exposes the design of terrorism. This film makes us aware," the Chief Minister said in a video posted on his official Twitter handle.

The movie is not being screened in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

The West Bengal government in a notification on Monday said that the movie 'The Kerala Story' is "likely to cause a breach of peace" and that it has prohibited the screening of the film to avoid "any incident of hatred or violence to maintain law and order in the state". (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary and said that "his thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement". Shah took to Twitter to express his views before offering tribute at the statue of Gurudev Tagore in Kolkata's Thakurbari Jorasanko area this morning. "My tribute to Gurudev Tagore on his birth anniversary. His thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement. He remains a visionary poet and beacon of light for us," said Shah. Before leaving for West Bengal on Monday night to attend Tagore's birth anniversary celebration, Shah had also said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's soulful literature remains an ethereal voice that will continue to inspire generations with his benevolence. Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the birth of the great Bengali poet, who was known as the Bard of Bengal and Gurudev and he made significant contributions to art, literature, and music. Tagore received the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his poetry collection "Gitanjali." He also composed the national anthems of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Shah arrived in Kolkata well past midnight and was received by the senior leadership of BJP Bengal. Besides offering tribute at the statue of Tagore, Shah will participate in several other events that include the laying of the foundation stone and inauguration of various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and Border Security Force (BSF) in his day-long visit to West Bengal on Tuesday. Shah will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and the BSF at noon at Integrated-Check Post Petrapole in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas situated at the India-Bangladesh border. ICP Petrapole, located along the international border between India and Bangladesh, is the largest land port in South Asia. It is situated at a distance of about 80 km from the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The Home Minister will also take part in an event linked to the release of the full dome film 'Luminaries of Bengal' and the inauguration of various projects at Science City in Kolkata in the evening. The Home Minister's day-long visit to West Bengal will conclude with his participation in Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrations by Khola Hawa at Kolkata's Science City. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the bus accident in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone which claimed 15 lives, and announced ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and the ones injured. The Prime Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next kin of those deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. 15 persons died and 25 others sustained injuries after a private passenger bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Tuesday. "The road accident in Khargone is very sad. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this. I wish the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help on the spot," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted in Hindi. "An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the bus accident in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," it said in another tweet. Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar also expressed sorrow over the accident. "The loss of lives in a bus accident in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh is extremely tragic. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Vice President tweeted. Earlier today, the tragic incident occurred at Dongargaon bridge near the Dasanga area under the Oon police station in the district. Soon after receiving information about the incident, the police administration and ambulances rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. Khargone Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharamveer Singh said, "15 people were dead and 25 were injured after a bus fell from a bridge in Khargone. Rescue operation is underway." The state government announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the accident. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also condoled the deaths in the bus accident in Khargone district. (ANI)
The Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday expressed shock over the recent boat capsize tragedy at Tanur in the State's Mallapuram district that had claimed the lives of at least 22 people. The court made the observation after initiating a suo motu case into the matter. The High Court also directed the Malappuram District Collector to file a report on May 12. The Court also sought the details of the port officer in charge of the area. The court also criticised the Kerala Government for its inaction against officers responsible for the tragic boat incidents. "Why there is no action against them," the court asked. The Division Bench headed by Justice Devan Ramachandran observed, "This is not the first time. There would be some investigation or recommendations whenever there is an incident like this. Everything is forgotten. It's happening again. People die. Nobody is responsible, except the operator. Who is in charge of inland navigation?" "We do not know the details. We are proposing to initiate action. Some crime is registered. This has been done in this case also. But no operator can do all this on his own. It's all because some support is received, either deliberately or otherwise. We have to come to the route of the problem. It's shocking to see so many deaths and that too in a State like Kerala. Who is the port officer in that area?" the bench said further. "There was no one to monitor even the police. Why? Our endeavour is to ensure that this will not happen in the future. Every time large lives are lost. Our heart is bleeding as several children died," it said. "Mahakavi Kumaranasan died by drowning, when Redeemer, the boat he was travelling capsized in River Pallana in 1924. Similar incidents are still happening. How many more will have to see?" the bench added. The court concluded the order by saluting the people of Tanur, Parappanangadi, etc who risked their lives in order to save others. (ANI)
The former Congress president will hold a training and interaction session with Congress party workers in Mount Abu.

Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Congress-ruled state comes just a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Rajasthan.

He flew down to Udaipur from Delhi and was received by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other senior Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi went to Mount Abu in a chopper.

The Congress leader's visit comes a day after a high-octane poll campaigning for May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka came to an end. He camped in the state for 12 days. The state will go to Assembly polls on May 10.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan tomorrow. At around 11 am, he will visit Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara. At around 11:45 am, he will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Nathdwara.

Thereafter, at around 3:15 pm, Prime Minister will visit the Shantivan complex of Brahma Kumaris on Abu Road. (ANI)
The man was identified as Imamuddin.

According to the police, the incident occured on May 6 came and came to light on May 8.

The police swung into action soon after the receipt of the information.

"The complainant had gone to a nearby shop on May 6. Imamuddin molested her and asked her not to tell anyone and also threatened to kill her if she did," the police said.

A case was registered under the sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other sections of the Indian penal code.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
With Manipur government's decision to relax the curfew in the State, nearly after a week of violence following the May 3 clashes, people were seen visiting shops and markets to stock up on essentials. People on Tuesday came out of their houses to buy essentials following the Manipur government's decision to relax curfew restrictions for three hours from 7 am to 10 am in the Imphal Valley. Visuals from a market in Imphal Valley showed people turning up in numbers. The State government has decided to relax for today for three hours -between 7 am and 10 am, the curfew imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC. According to Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, around 60 people have lost their lives in the violence in parts of the State. Singh on Monday urged people to maintain peace while informing that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to hold those responsible for the violence to account and also act on those who failed to discharge their responsibilities in containing the unrest. In his first public reaction to the ethnic clashes that have put the Northeast state on the boil, the Manipur chief minister also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for monitoring the situation and sending central forces to restore normality at the earliest. He assured media persons that those stranded in the ongoing violence were being provided with the best possible care. The Manipur CM added, "Around 60 people have lost their lives so far while 231 have suffered injuries in the violence. Also, about 1,700 houses were burned down in the unfortunate incidents (rioting) on May 3. I appeal to the people to restore peace and calm to the state."He also appealed to the people not to block or obstruct the movement of public transport. Under the initiative of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), KSO, Churachandpur District Administration and 9 sector Assam Rifles evacuated 518 stranded people including medical students and shifted them to Imphal on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey convened a security review meeting at Imphal over the violence in the State. Clashes erupted in the Northeast state after the high court directed the state government to consider including the majority community of Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Amid the demand of the Meitei people for ST status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent. (ANI)
Kerala Director-General of Police (DGP) Anil Kant on Tuesday ordered the formation of a Special Investigative team to probe the recent Tanur boat capsize tragedy, in which 22 people were killed. The special probe team, presided over by Malappuram District Police Chief Sujit Das S is led by Tanur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) V V Benni and comprising Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kondotti Vijaya Bharat Reddy and Tanur Station House Officer Jeevan George. The investigation will be done under the direct supervision of IG, North Zone, Neeraj Kumar Gupta. The State police chief has directed to complete the investigation and submit the report as soon as possible. Twenty-two people, including a police officer, were killed after an overloaded double-decker tourist boat capsized at Parappanangadi on Sunday evening. Earlier today, the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court expressed shock over the mishap. The court made the observation after initiating a suo motu case into the matter. The High Court also directed the Malappuram District Collector to file a report on May 12. The Court also sought the details of the port officer in charge of the area. The court also criticised the Kerala Government for its inaction against officers responsible for the tragic boat incidents. "Why there is no action against them," the court asked. The Division Bench headed by Justice Devan Ramachandran observed, "This is not the first time. There would be some investigation or recommendations whenever there is an incident like this. Everything is forgotten. It's happening again. People die. Nobody is responsible, except the operator. Who is in charge of inland navigation?" "We do not know the details. We are proposing to initiate action. Some crime is registered. This has been done in this case also. But no operator can do all this on his own. It's all because some support is received, either deliberately or otherwise. We have to come to the route of the problem. It's shocking to see so many deaths and that too in a State like Kerala. Who is the port officer in that area?" the bench said further. "There was no one to monitor even the police. Why? Our endeavour is to ensure that this will not happen in the future. Every time large lives are lost. Our heart is bleeding as several children died," it said. "Mahakavi Kumaranasan died by drowning, when Redeemer, the boat he was travelling capsized in River Pallana in 1924. Similar incidents are still happening. How many more will have to see?" the bench added. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, amid the push by the latter for a grand alliance to fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Patnaik said, "Ours is a known friendship and we were colleagues many years ago. No discussion was held on any alliances today. Land in Puri is being given free of cost to the Bihar government to build a Bihar Bhawan there." Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, said that he had good relations with Biju Patnaik (Father of Naveen Patnaik) and there was no political intention in his meeting with Patnaik. "Like Naveen Patnaik said we have old relations, also I had good relations with his father, there is so much mutual respect between us that we do not have to worry about politics. After the coronavirus happened I was unable to pay a visit to him here," Nitish Kumar said. As part of his ongoing efforts to cobble up a grand Opposition alliance against the BJP at the Centre ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also visit Mumbai and hold meetings with senior Opposition leaders. Nitish Kumar is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on May 11 afternoon and head directly to Matoshree, the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in Bandra, where he will hold talks with the former chief minister. "He will meet Odisha chief Naveen Patnaik on May 9 and Uddhav Thackeray and Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) on May 11. He is also likely to meet Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar soon for discussions on a united Opposition," the JDU Maharashtra leader told ANI. Nitish Kumar is also planning a big meeting of all Opposition Leaders in Delhi on May 18. Sharad Pawar confirmed this meeting in a press conference during which he announced his decision to withdraw his resignation as NCP patron. "Devesh Chandra Thakur and Kapil Patil met me to discuss the need for a united Opposition (against the BJP) and they passed me a message that Nitish Kumar is likely to host a meeting of Opposition leaders in Delhi on May 18 and I have been requested to attend it," Pawar said. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing controversy over the movie 'The Kerala Story', Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad on Tuesday said that the producer of the movie should be hanged in public. "Under the name of 'The Kerala Story', a state and its women were defamed. The official figure of three was projected as 32,000. The person who produced this fictional movie should be hanged in public," NCP leader Awhad said. The movie has been produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. Earlier in the day, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit condemned the ban of 'The Kerala Story' movie by the West Bengal government and called it a "big attack" on the freedom of expression. This comes a day after the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal banned the film 'The Kerala Story' citing "maintenance of peace" and to avoid incidents of "hatred and violence" in the state. Reacting sharply to the ban of the film, Pandit who is also the president of the Indian Film and Television Directors' Association told ANI, "I condemn the banning of the film 'The Kerala Story' by the West Bengal government. It's a big attack on the freedom of expression of a filmmaker. It is sending the wrong signal to the entire country. West Bengal became the first state to ban the film, which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. There's a continuing political outcry around the movie even as it has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and now Uttar Pradesh, becoming the second state to make the move. On the decision to ban the film, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "It is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state." 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in lead roles. A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn. (ANI)
The deceased has been identified as Virender Singh Rawat, a resident of Burari, New Delhi

"On May 8, information was received from the Aruna Asif Ali Hospital that a person Virender Singh Rawat was admitted to the hospital in an injured state by his relative Manjoj Rawat and was subsequently declared dead," said the police.

During the inquiry, Police found that Manoj Rawat who is the brother-in-law of the deceased (Virender Singh Rawat) said that around 7:20 pm on Monday, he along with his friend Abhishek were on their way back to their house from duty.

"When we reached near the Victoria Public School at Rajpur Road, we saw a person in an injured state by a roadside and he turned out to be my brother-in-law," Rawat told police.

"He was shifted to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment," police said.

The body has been shifted to Sabzi Mandi Mortuary. A case has been registered under IPC sections 302, 397, 374 and 34 and section 27 of the Arms Act. Further investigation is in progress.

Accordingly, crime teams have taken inspection of the spot. The dead body has been shifted to Subzi Mandi Mortuary. (ANI)
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that while 'kattas' (country-made guns) were manufactured in Kanpur during the Samajwadi Party government, a new node of the Defence Corridor is currently being built here. As the country's centre for defence production, Kanpur is establishing a new identity, CM Yogi added. Speaking at a public gathering in Kanpur, the Chief Minister stated that while the city was formerly known for curfews, its airport is now ready. "It is going to be inaugurated this month. The Greenfield Express Highway between Lucknow-Kanpur is creating a new identity. The enhanced connectivity of Kanpur has contributed to increasing its productivity." Under the Prime Minister's guidance, Kanpur received metro rail services last year. Work on the second phase of the metro is also progressing on a war footing, the Chief Minister said. CM Yogi appealed to the people of Kanpur to vote for the BJP candidates, saying that those who were responsible for riots and curfews in Kanpur and played with people's faith in the past; are today the candidates of the Samajwadi Party in the municipal body elections. The kind of remarks they have made about women power, and the holy epic 'The Ramayana', are not hidden from anyone, he pointed out. "That's why I appeal to the citizens of Kanpur to vote to add the third engine to the double engine government and make this metro city of ours better again with basic facilities," he said. The CM stated that this election is not one that is being held out of personal passion or for the purpose of making personal remarks. This election is an election to make our cities 'smart', 'safe', and ones which have all the basic facilities. The CM said that Kanpur used to be known as both the nation's textile centre and the country's largest industrial city, adding that the neglect of Kanpur by the previous government is not hidden from anyone. "Mother Ganga is our faith and our identity. Due to the neglect of the previous governments, 14 crore litres of sewage were discharged into Mother Ganga through the Sisamau drain. Under the guidance of PM Modi, the work on the Namami Gange project started. At that time, there was a Samajwadi Party government in the state. SP did not do any work for two years. In March 2017, the double-engine BJP government came to power, and today not even a single drop from the Sisamau drain falls into the Ganga." Stating that Kanpur is moving forward with a new identity today, Yogi said, "So far, the state and the centre have worked together to provide more than 22,000 houses in Kanpur city under the PM Awas Yojana. The work of providing interest-free loans to more than 71,200 street vendors has been done. More than 51,800 destitute women, more than 22,600 Divyangjans, and more than 75,300 elderly people are getting the benefit of the pension scheme in Kanpur." He added that, through 100 electric buses, work is being done to make Kanpur's traffic simple and easy. (ANI)
The death toll in the Khargone bus accident rose to 23 on Tuesday afternoon, Inspector General (IG) of Indore Rural Range, Rakesh Gupta said. The accident occurred after a private passenger bus fell from Dongargaon bridge near the Dasanga area under the Oon police station limits in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district around 8:30 am on Tuesday. IG Gupta said, "23 people have died so far in the Khargone bus accident. About 20-25 injured are being treated in Khargone district hospital and 11 seriously injured have been referred to Indore." It is quite difficult to say the reasons for the accident in the preliminary investigation. Complete investigation will be done then only the reason would be known because the driver of the bus, who is undergoing treatment, is changing his versions about what happened, Gupta said. "When we spoke to the driver, he gave us different versions. First he said, a vehicle came in front and then he told us that the belt of the bus broke down. Therefore, after the complete investigation, including mechanical probe will be done and then we will know the actual reason for the accident," the officer said, adding that our first priority is the treatment of the injured. When asked about the number of passengers boarded in the bus, he said that it would also be known after the complete investigation. Among the deceased, 22 persons were identified as Vivek Patidar (23), Som (11 months), Durgesh Singh (20), Sanjay (30), Dhanlal Gurjar, Santosh (45), Ram Kunwar (60), Priyanshu (1), Vijay, Sukhdev Patidar, Malu Bai, Kanha Patidar and Kallu Bai, residents of Khargone district, Devki and Sumit, residents of Dhar district, Savita Bai, Anchal (18), Lakshmi Bai (32), Mangati Bai (75) and Pinki, residents of Barwani district, Arjun, a resident of Manwar and Muskan (14), a resident of Indore district. The state government announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the accident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the bus accident and announced ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and the ones injured. The Prime Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next kin of those deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that India's relationship with its neighbouring friendly country Bangladesh cannot be disrupted by anyone. Shah made the statement after inaugurating and laying foundation stone of various development projects of Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) and Border Security Force (BSF) in West Bengal. "India-Bangladesh relations are based on the values of shared culture, language, art and life traditions. No one can disrupt the relations between India and Bangladesh," Shah said while addressing the event. The Minister also said that the two nations have followed the same culture for thousands of years, and from the birth of Bangladesh till today India has always played a friendly role in the history of Bangladesh. Shah also inaugurated Maitridwar at ICP Petrapole, BSF's newly constructed Border Outposts (BOPs) and other buildings, virtually. Several dignitaries including Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nishith Pramanik, Union Minister for Ports Shantanu Thakur, Chairman of Land Ports Authority of India and Director General of Border Security Force were present on the occasion. After inauguration, and Bhoomi Pujan of many projects of LPAI and BSF, the Home Minister said that the LPAI not only helps accelerate India's economy but is also an ambassador of India's message of friendship. He said that the LPAI is a vast institution which takes forward our cultural and trade relations encompassing over 15 thousand kilometres long land border of India with all South Asian countries. Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided new momentum, direction and dimension to the organisation since 2016; Shah said over 600-700 trucks come to Petrapole daily for trading purposes often leading to a problem of overcrowding. However, with the construction of a second cargo gate now, the Home Minister said, this problem will be solved. Shah said that between 2016-2022, there has been a significant increase in the number of land port cargo and passengers. He further said that while in 2016-17, the trade amount was Rs 18,000 crore, it has now crossed Rs 30,000 crore, which showcases the excellent performance of LPAI. Shah said that in 2022-23, over 20 lakh passengers have moved through the land ports. Additionally, after the construction of the passenger terminal building in Petrapole in 2021, movement of 5 lakh passengers annually, that is, about 11,000 passengers daily, has been facilitated. Speaking about the role of BSF, the Minister said, the contribution of the force in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh is written in golden words, and underlined the cordial and warm relations between India and Bangladesh till today, which will only gain new energy and momentum from here on. Shah said that a police station building, hostel and seven different police stations of BSF have been inaugurated today on the Bengal border at a cost of over Rs 108 crore. (ANI)
In the summer of 2019, the Indian government abrogated Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomous status. This move was met with mixed reactions from the locals, with some feeling hopeful about the potential economic and social benefits, while others remained sceptical of the government's intentions. For local entrepreneurs, the abrogation of Article 370 brought about several changes. With the removal of the special autonomous status, it became easier for businesses to operate in the region, as they were no longer subject to some of the regulations that had previously hindered their growth. The government also introduced thousands of new initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and job creation in the area, which provided local entrepreneurs with more opportunities to succeed. Sheik Asif is a multi-talented entrepreneur who is the CEO and founder of Thames Infotech. With a strong determination and persistent attitude, he has excelled in various fields such as web designing, graphic designing, digital marketing, and influencing. He has received several accolades throughout his career, including the Best Website Specialist Award in 2017 and 2018 from Three Best Rated United Kingdom, Top Web Designer by Good Firms in 2019, Top Digital Marketer 2021 by Indian Glory Award, and the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2022, the fourth-highest civilian award in India. Asif's passion for innovation and his exceptional skills have earned him a prominent place in the industry. Similarly, Rayees Ahmad and his wife Nida Rehman started their venture, Tiffin Aaw, with the goal of providing healthy, home-cooked meals to their customers. The idea for this unique service came to Ahmed in November 2019, just 90 days after the repeal of Article 370 in the Valley. Despite the challenges they faced due to the political turmoil, the couple persevered and launched their dream project. Today, Tiffin Aaw is a popular food delivery service in the Valley, known for its delicious and nutritious meals. Rayees Ahmad's determination and passion for entrepreneurship have turned his dream into a successful reality, serving the community with wholesome and satisfying food. Huzaifa Bazaz, a youthful entrepreneur and MBA, claims a web-based store by the name "Style Hub by Huzaifa Bazaz", and her web-based adventure isn't simply a business yet rather a feeling for her. She began her business 6 years back when she was chasing after her BBA Iqra Ahmad, who hails from the Sanat Nagar area of Srinagar, began Tulpalav to present Kashmir's best winds around and plans. Iqra Ahmad began Tulpalav, the principal web-based dress store in the Valley, to feature customary Kashmiri design with a cutting-edge curve. Also, Muheet Mehraj's startup Kashmir Box, which sells Kashmiri handiwork on the web, has developed from a straightforward internet business firm to a boss of Kashmiri entrepreneurship, one that distinguishes itself as a social effect organisation. Similarly, social workers in the region saw a change in the way their work was perceived. With the government's renewed focus on development in the region, social work was increasingly seen as a vital component of this effort. Several new programs were launched to improve healthcare, education, and other essential services, which provided social workers with more resources to help their communities. On the other hand, the dairy sector in the Bandipora district of northern Kashmir is flourishing, with a growing number of emerging units, startups, and government-sponsored schemes. This has created ample opportunities for young people to venture into the sector, leading to a rise in the number of entrants. The Integrated Dairy Development Scheme has been a significant contributor to this growth, with around 50 beneficiaries in the district. The administration is actively encouraging educated youth to take advantage of these schemes to become financially independent and providing support to facilitate their entry into the sector. Perhaps most significantly, the absence of internet shutdowns since the abrogation of Article 370 has had a profound impact on the region. In the past, frequent shutdowns had made it difficult for businesses to operate and for students to access education online. However, with the internet now consistently available, many local entrepreneurs have been able to expand their businesses online, while students have been able to continue their studies uninterrupted. Finally, the fact that schools have not been closed due to hartal calls is a significant change that has been observed in the region. In the past, frequent shutdowns and protests had often led to the closure of schools, which had a detrimental effect on the education of the students. However, with the situation improving and the government providing more security and support, schools have been able to continue functioning normally, without any major disruptions. Overall, while there have been some challenges and scepticism surrounding the abrogation of Article 370, there have also been several positive changes that have been observed in Jammu and Kashmir. Local entrepreneurs, social workers, and students have all benefited from the increased focus on development in the region, and there is a growing sense of optimism about the future. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday said that the Congress party has committed a crime by comparing Bajrang Dal with the banned terror outfit Popular Front of India. While talking to ANI, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said," Congress party have committed a crime by comparing Bajrang Dal with Popular Front of India. The motto of Bajrang Dal is 'Seva Suraksha Sanskar'. Bajrang Dal is committed to the development of the nation while PFI works against the interest of the nation so these comparisons are totally unjustified". "We will pray to Lord Hanuman to defeat Congress in Karnataka and Samajwadi Party and its allies in UP local body polls," he added. Earlier the Congress party in its manifesto for the upcoming May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections said it will take "decisive action" as per law including banning organisations like Bajrang Dal, the Popular Front of India and others. The Congress manifesto said the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion. "We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," read the Congress manifesto. In this regard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the voters that they should punish those making abuses by saying 'Jai Bajrangbali' when they cast their vote. "When you press the button at the polling booth, punish those (who hurl abuses) by saying 'Jai Bajrangbali," PM Modi said in a rally in Uttara Kannada. Karnataka will go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI)
In an alarming revelation noted during its inquiry, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it has found the role of hybrid terrorists and Overground Workers (OWGs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several major banned Pak-backed terror outfits in collection and distribution of sticky bombs or magnetic bombs in Jammu and Kashmir. "These cadres and workers are also found to be engaged in the collection and distribution of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), cash, drugs and small weapons, as well as in spreading activities relating to terror, violence and subversion in Jammu and Kashmir," said the Central agency. "Investigations have further revealed that Pak-based operatives were using drones to deliver weapons, bombs and drugs to their operatives and cadres in the Kashmir valley," revealed the NIA as it conducted extensive raids on Tuesday at 16 locations (12 in the Kashmir Valley and four in Jammu division), in its ongoing investigations into the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of these new terror outfits. The NIA has been investigating the activities of newly floated terrorist groups, such as "The Resistance Front (TRF)", "United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (UL J&K)", "Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH)", "Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF)", Kashmir Tigers, People's Anti-Fasist Front (PAFF) and others. These outfits are affiliated with Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr and Al-Qaeda. A week after similar state-wide searches, the NIA cracked down once again on Tuesday to carry out extensive searches in Jammu and Kashmir, in the premises of cadres and hybrid terrorists and OWGs linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of these major banned Pak-backed terror outfits. The raids, in the terror conspiracy case, were continuing till late in the evening, said the NIA, adding "They were spread across locations in Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir, as well as in Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts of Jammu." On May 2, the NIA also conducted raids at 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the seizure of incriminating material and digital devices, in the terror conspiracy case it had registered suo motu on June 21 last year. The case is related to the hatching of a conspiracy, both physical and cyberspace, and plans by the proscribed terrorist organisations to unleash violent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms. The plans are part of a larger conspiracy by these terrorist outfits to commit acts of terror and violence, in association with local youth and OWGs to disturb peace and communal disharmony in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
According to PRO CISF, "The suspected passenger was identified as an Indian national, Vakeel Ahmed bound for Bahrain by Gulf Air flight."

"At about 0240 hrs, on the basis of behaviour detection, CISF surveillance and intelligence staff noticed suspicious activities of a passenger at the check-in area, Terminal-3 of IGI Airport," the officials said in a statement.

It further stated, "Due to suspicion, the passenger was diverted to the random checking point for thorough checking of his baggage."

The officials informed that while examination of the checked-in baggage through the X-BIS machine, CISF personnel noticed suspicious images.

During further investigation, a huge quantity of medicines of approximate value INR 57.30 lakh was detected, the officials stated.

"On enquiry, the passenger could not produce supporting documents for carrying such a huge quantity of medicines," the officials said.

The matter was informed to senior officers of CISF and Customs Officials.

The officials further stated that both the passenger and the contraband were handed over to Customs officials.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh has said that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath does what he says. He made the remark while talking to the media persons in the state capital Bhopal on Tuesday. "Kamal Nath is such a personality that he does what he says. He is not in the habit of giving false assurances. I have full faith that if the people of Madhya Pradesh bring the Congress again in power, then the way Nath had decided to waive off the loans of the farmers as soon as he became the Chief Minister, in the same way he will fulfil this promise (Nari Samman Yojana)," Singh said. Kamal Nath on Monday announced to provide a monthly aid of Rs 1,500 for women and LPG cylinders at Rs 500 to each household under Nari Samman Yojana if the party comes to power in the state. Singh further reacted to 'The Kerala Story' movie row and said, "The thing is that those who told the facts in the movie had said that religious conversion of 32,000 girls were done. But in reality only three cases were found. Then what is the use of making such a false film, similarly Kashmir file was also made." When the whole government gets involved in the promotion of a film, then its political purpose is also visible, the congress leader further said. Commenting on the movie being tax free in MP, Singh said, "Do whatever they (BJP government) want." Singh also reacted to Bajrang Dal reciting Hanuman Chalisa as a mark of protest across the country. He said, "The thing is that the BJP has nothing to do except Hindu and Muslim." Notably, the Bajrang Dal were protesting against the Congress party who announced a ban on Bajrang Dal in their election manifesto for Karnataka assembly polls. In the series, a huge number of Bajrang Dal activities recited the Hanuman Chalisa Path at a Hanuman temple situated in New market area of the state capital Bhopal on Tuesday. (ANI)
Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Tuesday addressed the valedictory ceremony of 100 Days Skill Festival at the University of Delhi as the Chief Guest. Celebrating its centenary year to mark 100 glorious years of education and empowerment, two institutions of Delhi University, Centre for Innovation in Infectious Diseases, Research, Education and Training (CIIDRET) and Delhi School of Skill Enhancement & Entrepreneurship Development (DSSEED) came together to celebrate the valedictory ceremony of '100 Days Skill Festival'. More than 400 participants from 90 different institutions and courses across the nation have been trained and upskilled. Aligned with Skill India Mission's objective of empowering the youth of the country with adequate skill sets to increase their employability in relevant sectors and improve productivity, the festival commenced on 17 December 2022 at the University of Delhi South Campus. It has not only created an ecosystem that encourages learning, but also provided a platform for collaboration, and networking by bringing together students, instructors, academicians, industry, and facilitators. The 100 Day Skill Festival has established the effectiveness of "Beyond Classroom Learning", which has been CIIDRET's motto since its establishment. The event witnessed 13 training workshops in these 100 days on subjects like Basic Techniques in Microbiology, Techniques In Genomics, Python for Biology & Its Practical Approach, NGS And Genomic Data Science And Analysis and protection of new knowledge as Intellectual Property through Patents. Customised courses on different topics and learning levels were created for the skill development of students, research scholars, teachers, and scientists. Additionally, theoretical workshops/Faculty Development Programmes (online) on advanced technologies employed in biotech research, process and product development were organised. Speaking on the occasion Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, said that skilling, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives are critical for the development of India's youth and the overall growth of the country. He congratulated Delhi University, CIIDRET and DSSEED for taking a step towards building an ecosystem that promotes learning, collaboration, and networking. The exposure to tools and techniques gained through these courses will not only increase employability but also inspire innovation and entrepreneurship, he said. He also said that as we celebrate the University of Delhi's centenary, we must continue to embrace upskilling and reskilling as crucial components of a holistic skill environment, preparing our youth for the extensive socio-economic change that lies ahead. (ANI)
The Office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Sibin C made all necessary arrangements to ensure free, fair and peaceful Lok Sabha bye-elections in Jalandhar. Briefing the media, Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C informed that the election machinery is working round the clock to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. He said that there are as many as 16,21,759 electorates including 8,44,904 Males, 7,76,855 Females, 10,286 Persons with Disability, 1850 Service Electors, 73 Overseas Electors and 41 Transgender. There are 19 candidates in the fray including 15 Males and 4 Females. He said that of the total 19 candidates, three are from National Parties, one from State Party, seven from Unrecognised Parties, and eight are Independent Candidates. He said that as many as five contesting candidates are with Criminal Antecedents. Sibin C said that 1972 polling stations have been established and webcasting of all the polling stations is being done. He also informed that polling stations locations having more than three polling stations, which are in total of 166 in the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency will have additional cameras installed outside the polling location. "542 vulnerable polling stations have been identified, 16 have been marked as critical and 30 Expenditure Sensitive Pockets have been identified," he added. Divulging more information, CEO Punjab said that as many as 4839 ballot units, 2927 Control Units and 2973 VVPATs are being used in this election. He further informed that there would be 45 Model Polling Stations and nine (one per AC) women-managed polling stations. He said that Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) including Potable Water, Tent and Chairs, and at least one wheelchair at every polling station will be assured at every Polling Station. Besides this, every polling station will have COVID-19 material including Gloves, Sanitizer, Soap and Mask, while, Dustbin and Colour bags will be placed for disposal of COVID waste material. He said that food and refreshments will be provided to all the polling staff. He added that a postal ballot facility was provided to 80 plus senior citizens, persons with disability and COVID patients to cast their vote from the convenience of their homes and 888 electors used their franchise through postal ballot. Sibin C said that as many as 703 GPS-enabled vehicles are being used for the transportation of EVMs and 27 flying squad team (3 per AC) with web cameras are keeping round-the-clock vigil. The CEO informed that 1083 complaints have been received on National Grievances Redressal Portal (NGRS) since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, of which 989 were disposed off, while, 94 are under process. He further informed that 1381 complaints were received on v-Vigil App and out of which 1142 were found correct and were resolved within the stipulated 100 minutes. Giving the briefing about law and order, Sibin C said, "Police parties deployed across the parliamentary constituency have been conducting a thorough search to check the flow of liquor, narcotics and money to ensure free and fair elections." CEO Punjab also informed that Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding the last 48 hours come into force from 6 pm, May 8, 2023. He also informed that in view of Polls, the Jalandhar district has been declared a dry day on dates from 6 pm on May 8, 2023, till the conclusion of polls on May 10, 2023, and there will be a complete ban on the sale of liquor during this period in the district. He also informed that liquor vendors falling within a radius of 3KMs in the neighbouring districts have also been declared dry days during this period. He said that there will be a ban on unlawful assemblies and a prohibition on holding public meetings during the silence period, applicable to the areas/constituencies bound for polls. Meanwhile, as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Punjab Government has announced a holiday in Jalandhar district on May 10, 2023, in view of the Lok Sabha Bye-Elections to facilitate the voters to exercise their franchise to vote. As per the provisions of Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the employees of Industrial Establishments, Commercial Establishments, Shops and Establishments will have a paid holiday on the date of polling in Jalandhar on May 10, 2023. (ANI)
A delegation of Left parties of Manipur met Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Monday to make suggestions and to bring about an amicable solution for restoring normalcy in the state. The delegation was led by CPI(M) Manipur State Committee secretary Kshetrimayum Santa and was attended by secretariat member Sarat Salam, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader RK Amusana, L Sotinkumar, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) secretary Kangjam Manoranjan and All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) secretary Khomdram Gyaneshwor. Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey urged the Manipur Left Party delegation to contribute to the state's peace and tranquillity. The Left parties delegation demanded that relief materials be distributed to the 50 thousand people in the various relief camps irrespective of caste, creed and religion. They also demanded the immediate rescue and evacuation of people hiding in places. The delegation included demands to provide help to the families of the victims of the communal violence, to construct houses for the victims whose houses were burnt to ashes, to build sheltering homes for the said victim individuals, to disarm the Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) and to collect arms and ammunitions snatched from security personnel during the communal violence to keep the SoO groups in their designated camps. The CPI further added, "The delegation demanded to include representatives of opposition parties to look after the relief and shelter camps set up in different places, to house the people who have been displaced by the violence, to implement the resolutions taken by the All Parties Meeting convened by the Chief Minister of Manipur, and to use the governor's office to bring peace and tranquillity and restore normalcy in the state." After patiently hearing the points raised by the left parties delegation, governor Anusuiya Uikey appealed to the left party leadership to help the administration in the restoration of normalcy and to bring peace and tranquillity in the near future. The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3. Violence has gripped the entire state for several days and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)
Links to the gangster Atiq Ahmed murder case are now getting traced up to Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, said a police source. During the course of the investigation following the tweets made from a Twitter handle named "The Sajjad Mughal" vowing to take "revenge" for the killing of gangster Atiq Ahmed, police got to know that the tweets were made from Kashmir's Poonch district. After Atiq's shootout, a total of 31 tweets were made for a Twitter handle named "The Sajjad Mughal". "The breed is not over yet. Atiq's son Ali is still alive. Insha Allah condition - time - power will change. The city will be called Allahabad. The revenge will be taken," read the alleged tweet. Following the orders of the Special DG Law and Order, an FIR under section 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66 of the Information Technology (IT) Act 2008 has been registered at the Cyber Cell police station. Gangsters Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were shot dead by men posing as journalists on April 15 night this year, while they were being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj. Both the gangsters collapsed on the spot after being shot close to point-blank range. All three assailants -- Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovelesh Tiwari -- were sent to judicial custody by the district court. Atiq Ahmed was accused in the 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and also in the killing of a key witness in that case, Umesh Pal, in February this year. (ANI)
Voting will be held tomorrow for 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka with 2,615 candidates in the fray. According to the Election Commission of India, the voting for Karnataka assembly elections will take place from 7 am to 6 pm tomorrow. The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats. Polling is scheduled across 58,545 polling stations including auxiliary polling stations tomorrow. A total of 42,48,028 new voters have been registered to vote for the assembly elections. As many as 5.3 crore general voters are going to cast their vote tomorrow in 58,545 polling stations in 37,777 locations. Out of which 11,71,558 are young voters and 12,15,920 are 80+ senior citizen voters. There are also 5,71,281 PwD voters. Around 4,00,000 polling personnel are engaged in poll processes. The polling parties are being provided with all the materials including EVM and VVPAT machines at the mustering centres in all the 224 Assembly Constituencies. They will be transported to respective polling stations with route officers shortly along with security personnel. 84,119 State Police Officers and 58,500 CAPF police in 650 CoYs are on Law and Order and security duty on poll day across the state. All Police officers are on rounds to ensure Law and Order efficiently and handle MCC violations. 185 Interstate Border Check-posts are on high alert by the Police and other personnel. 100 Excise interstate border check-posts are also on high alert. The Commercial Tax officers are deployed in 185 Check Posts (SSTs) and 75 Excise Check-posts. CEC Rajiv Kumar said "CEO and DEOs have been instructed to provide all facilitation will be provided across more than 58k polling booths set up across 224 ACs. Specifically, 996 Women Managed Booths, 239 Booths were managed by Persons with Disabilities, 286 were managed by youths, and 737 theme-based and ethnic Polling stations." Basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchairs, electricity, volunteers, shades, help desks and parking facilities have been provided at all the polling stations. The high-voltage campaign for tomorrow's assembly elections in Karnataka ended on Monday with all party leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding 19 public meetings and six roadshows while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi camped in the state for 12 days. The BJP, though it might be facing an air of anti-incumbency, is eyeing a second term in the state and has exuded confidence in retaining power with a full majority. The Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. Lingayats comprise 17 per cent of the population and Vokkaligas 11 per cent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the party will return to power with a full majority.Shah held a mega roadshow in Doddaballapura on Sunday. "We will win the elections by full majority or at least half a mark plus 15 seats. In these four years, Yediyurappa and Bommai government has done a lot of work," the Union Home Minister told ANI. With top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigning for the party, BJP put all its might to strengthen its support base. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows. Amit Shah held 16 public rallies and 14 roadshows. BJP chief JP Nadda held 10 public meetings and 16 roadshows. Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers to campaign with their full force while Congress putting its chief ministers including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as star campaigners. The Congress on the other hand worked hard to wrest power from the BJP that is striving to break the 38-year-old pattern of alternating governments and retain its power in the state.Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, held various roadshows, rallies and elections campaigns. With the war of words between top guns of all the major political parties, the campaigns of the election of the southern citadel saw allegations and accusations flying thick and fast.Several issues of the state were promised to be solved. Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday expressed confidence that BJP will win 135 seats in Karnataka polls and termed Congress as "a sinking ship". Addressing a press conference on the last day of the campaign in Karnataka, the senior BJP leader said a "double-engine government" is essential for the development of the southern state. "Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah did roadshows and rallies. I am confident that we (BJP) will win 135 seats in the Karnataka Assembly election. Congress is a drowning ship, its leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won only 2-3 seats in Uttar Pradesh even after campaigning for 4-5 months," Yediyurappa said. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was in Bengaluru as part of the Karnataka Assembly elections campaigns, on Monday said that the grand old party would be elected to power as the people of the state want an "end to corruption". "We are very confident and hopeful. I am not a predictor of numbers; I can only see the response that we have gotten from the public. The people of Karnataka want an end to corruption," Priyanka said while talking to the media after her mega roadshow in the city. Priyanka held a roadshow in Bengaluru's Vijayanagar on the last day of campaigning. However, the issue of Bajrang Dal, which was mentioned in the Congress manifesto, took centre stage in the political campaigning. The Congress party last week in its manifesto for the May 10 elections said it will take "decisive action" as per law including banning organisations like Bajrang Dal, the Popular Front of India and others. The Congress manifesto said the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion. As part of Congress campaigning for the elections, Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Karnataka to campaign for his party, held an interaction with gig workers and delivery partners of app-based delivery services in Bengaluru on Sunday. The former Lok Sabha MP interacted with delivery workers at a hotel in Bengaluru. The counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI)
The Supreme Court will hear on May 12 the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) plea seeking to extend the time to conclude the investigation in the Hindenburg report by a period of 6 months. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud and also comprising Justices P S Narsimha and J B Pardiwala will hear the matter on May 12. SEBI application seeking an extension of time has been opposed by the petitioner, Vishal Tiwari. In an application moved before the Supreme Court, SEBI submitted that keeping in view the forgoing circumstances, it would take further time to arrive at verified findings and conclude the investigation. SEBI, in the application also submitted that for ascertaining possible violations related to misrepresentation of financials, circumvention of Regulations and/or fraudulent nature of transactions in respect of 12 suspicious transactions mentioned herein above, given the complexity of the matter, SEBI in the normal course would take at least 15 months for completion of the investigation of these transactions, but is making all reasonable endeavours to conclude the same within six months. "Applicant/SEBI, in the forgoing circumstances, most respectfully submits that in order to enable SEBI to conduct a proper investigation and arrive at verified findings, it would be just, expedient and in the interest of justice that this Court may be pleased to extend the time to conclude the investigations as directed in the common order dated 02.03.2023, by at least 6 months," SEBI said. The Supreme Court on March 2, 2023, directed SEBI to investigate on aspects of whether there has been a violation of Rule 19A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957; whether there has been a failure to disclose transactions with related parties and other relevant information which concerns related parties to SEBI, in accordance with law; and whether there was any manipulation of stock prices in contravention of existing laws. The top court had then asked SEBI to file a status report. The application was filed by SEBI pursuant to March 2nd SC order. SEBI apprised the top court that it has shared information as sought by the committee formed by the top court. SEBI submitted that the detailed investigation process would also include depositions as may be required from various entities such as Key Managerial Personnel (KMPs), statutory auditors and other relevant persons. On March 2, the Supreme Court constituted a six-member committee headed by former Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre to assess the extant regulatory framework to protect investors against volatility and for making recommendations to strengthen it. The Expert Committee is headed by Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India along with other five members which include -- retired judge Justice J P Devadhar, OP Bhatt, KV Kamath, Nandan Nilekani and Somashekhar Sundaresan. SEBI has not expressly referred to an investigation into the alleged violation of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules 1957 which provide for the maintenance of minimum public shareholding in a public limited company, and similarly, there may be various other allegations that SEBI must include in its investigation, the court had noted. The court had said that as a part of its ongoing investigation, SEBI shall also investigate the other aspects of the issues raised in the present batch of petitions which include whether there has been a violation of Rule 19A of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules 1957. The court was hearing various petitions related to Hindenburg Research Report. The petitions concerned with the loss of investor wealth in the securities market over the last few weeks because of a steep decline in the share price of the Adani Group of companies. The decline in the share price was precipitated by a report published by Hindenburg Research on 24 January 2023. One of the petitions filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari sought to Constitute a Committee under the Monitoring of the retired Supreme Court Judge to enquire and Investigate the Hindenburg Research Report. Petitioner and lawyer Advocate Vishal Tiwari had demanded that the entire thing should be probed and a high-powered committee be constituted to look into it. Appearing for another petitioner lawyer Prashant Bhushan had said he wants to give suggestions on the names of some retired judges as members of the committee. But Supreme Court had refused to accept one of the petitioner lawyer Prashant Bhushan's suggestion of names of some retired judges as members of the Committee. Another petitioner, advocate ML Sharma, has sought a probe against the US-based firm, whose report has led to shares of Adani group plunging on the bourses. One of the petitions was filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur. Petitioner Jaya Thakur's lawyer, advocate Varun Thakur had demanded a fair probe. (ANI)
"Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our strategic partnership - agriculture, water, defence & security - are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting with Cohen.

He also informed that discussions were held in cooperation in high-tech, digital and innovation and also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance and health sectors.

Both the leaders noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral fora. They also exchanged perspectives on their respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders also initiated an agreement in the area of mobility.

Cohen on his part said that he had an "excellent meeting with the Foreign Minister of India - @DrSJaishankar. We are strengthening ties with the most populous country in the world, and expanding cooperation in the fields of cyber, agriculture and water".

"Our cooperation will strengthen Israel's position in the world and stability in the Middle East," Cohen tweeted.

The Israel Foreign Minister, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a scheduled three-day visit, cut short his trip and is returning back to Tel Aviv on Tuesday night owing to some pressing concerns.

--IANS ans/arm

( 244 Words)

2023-05-09-19:24:03 (IANS)
Incarcerated alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has penned a letter accusing AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of threatening him and his family. According to Chandrashekhar, who is presently lodged in the Mandoli jail, these threats have been sent through jail officials and Kejriwal's associates over the past two days. "You (Arvind Kejriwal) have totally no respect for the law of the land and brazenly continue to send threats to me through jail officials and also call my family members threatening them through your associates and their cronies from last two days," said Chandrashekhar in his letter released on Tuesday. "You really think I will get intimidated with these threats and back out from exposing you? Not at all, come what may, I will make sure all your truth is exposed before the world and you will face them legally... There is no second option at all, so don't dream," Chandrashekhar wrote. In the strongly-worded letter, Chandrashekhar also accused Kejriwal of resorting to oppressive tactics against a woman journalist. "Have some shame Kejriwalji, now you stoop down to such levels that you made your Punjab Police arrest a woman journalist, just because she was exposing your true colours? You are now trying to suppress the other leg of democracy (media)," the letter read. Chandrashekhar also predicted that Kejriwal himself would eventually face legal consequences, seemingly suggesting a potential future imprisonment at Tihar Jail. "You try to suppress me, but I won't back out. I will make sure you are made answerable. Anyways, you will be joining me here at the Tihar Club some day soon now, and that's for sure reality," he said. Chandrashekhar also cautioned Kejriwal against underestimating his resolve and implied a readiness to respond in kind if necessary. "Kejriwalji, don't try all these tricks with me... You know me very well, I am not someone you really want to get dirty with. I will then start answering in my style. Have some shame, have the guts to prove me wrong and if you can't, then resign. I dare you to prove one allegation of mine wrong against you and your gang of fraudsters," Chandrashekhar wrote in the letter. "I am backing all my allegations against you with proofs before the concern agencies. I challenge you to prove them wrong. Knowing you to be shameless, you won't do both as stated above," the letter read. "I will make sure you are brought to justice very soon," it added. --IANS ssh/arm ( 424 Words) 2023-05-09-19:34:03 (IANS)
On the eve of polling in the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress on Tuesday complained to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). In a eight-page complaint to the Commission, Congress General Secretary and state unit in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "We write to you with great urgency to bring to your attention the brazen and blatant violation of the MCC as well as the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 by the Prime Minister and other leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)." Surjewala said that on Monday, post 11 p.m., Modi addressed the public through a video message, wherein he appealed to the voters of Karnataka on behalf of BJP and all its candidates contesting in the the elections. "With due respect, neither the Prime Minister nor this Commission can possibly deny the 'Silence Period' as contemplated under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Elections, 2023 had come into effect from Monday 6 p.m." he said, attaching the video link of the Prime Minister's address. The Congress leader, who himself camped in the southern state for over two months, said: "In fact, this Commission's attention may even be brought to the live interviews of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda, which were aired on news channels after the declaration of the 'Silence Period'. In these interviews, the said leaders spoke extensively about the Karnataka elections and their respective candidates." He also submitted a copy of the video recording of the live interviews being conducted on news channels after declaration of 'Silence Period' with the Commission. The Congress leader, in his complaint, also cited the six complaints it submitted with the poll panel in last few days against the speeches given by Modi, Shah, Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as part of BJP's election campaign. Surjewala said that he was still hoipeful that the poll panel may initiate action against the BJP leaders and not be intimidated by the high offices that they hold. "The COmmission must take immediate note of this and initiate appropriate proceedings against Modi, Shah, Nadda, Yogi Adityanath and the BJP," he said, adding that it may be mentioned that if convicted under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, these leaders will stand disqualified from their respective membership in the Parliament as well as the Legislative Assembly. On Monday, the Commission also served a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking to provide clarification and take rectification measures over former party chief Sonia Gandhi's purported 'Karnataka sovereignty' remark. Polling for Karnataka assembly is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13. --IANS aks/vd ( 485 Words) 2023-05-09-19:44:04 (IANS)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said live streaming of court proceedings has taken it to the homes and hearts of common citizens. A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, said the court is trying to use technology to ensure the live-streamed content is made available simultaneously in languages other than English, while hearing arguments on the eighth-day on a clutch of petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, said that there is a churning in society, which is an important fallout of the court proceedings and people in the country are thinking about the issue because of this debate and live streaming. The bench - also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, S.R. Bhat, Hima Kohli and P.S. Narasimha - said that live-streaming of court proceedings has really taken the court to the homes and to the hearts of the common citizens. Dwivedi said the only hindrance is that arguments are in English, which is a language not understood by many people residing in villages. At this, the Chief Justice told him: "You will be surprised that we are working even on that also... even that is not lost on the Supreme Court on its administrative side. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulama i Hind, said that now technology allows a person speaking in English to be heard in different languages including Japanese. The Chief Justice said that the court is trying to use technology to ensure that the live streaming contents can be made available in languages which the citizens can follow. The top court will continue to hear a batch of petitions seeking legal sanction for same sex marriages on Wednesday. --IANS ss/vd ( 304 Words) 2023-05-09-19:58:02 (IANS)
With few hours left for the crucial Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress on Tuesday shared ae fresh letter by the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) to the people of the state and hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to their previous letter over their pleas of alleged 40 per cent commission demanded by the state government. Sharing the letter, Congress General Secretary and communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said: "The Karnataka State Contractors Association has written another letter - this time to the voters. PM Modi never replied to their pleas against the BJP's 40 per cent Commission government. Tomorrow the people of Karnataka will reply for him." His remarks came after the KSCA wrote another letter to the voters on May 9. Alleging that the corruption in the state has reached "frightening levels", it urged people to cast their votes in "accordance with their conscience". "Democracy works when people cast their vote in accordance with their conscience. Corruption deeply hurts our collective conscience," the letter read. The KSCA had written a letter to Modi in 2021 alleging that they were made to cough up around 40 per cent of the tender amount to elected representatives and others before starting works. During the election campaigning, the Congress had targeted the BJP government over the 40 per cent corruption allegations. --IANS aks/vd ( 239 Words) 2023-05-09-20:02:04 (IANS)
Forty-eight hours before Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's visit to Mumbai for Opposition unity talks, a fresh war of words has erupted among the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies -- Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (UBT). This time, the scenario involves NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Sena's (UBT) Sanjay Raut and Congress' Prithviraj Chavan with barbs and sparks being hurled at each other, almost appearing to throw the three-party alliance on the brink. Raut's editorial comment that Pawar had failed to prepare a heir, though he checkmated the Bharatiya Janata Party's plans to split the NCP, rankled the Maratha strongman. Pawar hit back hard in his characteristic soft style, dismissing Raut's contentions and saying the latter has little idea of what is going on in the NCP over next-gen leadership, and that all his party leaders are aware of how the party will move ahead. Pawar's statement capped sharp reactions from Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, state NCP President Jayant Patil, veterans like Chhagan Bhujbal and others against Raut's claims. Bhujbal went to the extent of asking whether Raut implied that the NCP should walk out of the MVA, and made it clear that he (Raut) had no business saying such things. Pawar also slammed Chavan's statements during the Karnataka poll campaign in which he called NCP a Team B of the BJP in the southern state. "First let him check his own status in the party, whether it's A, B or C... Any colleague of his will reveal this in private," Pawar said in Satara on Tuesday. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto termed Chavan as a "BJP agent" trying to create a rift among the MVA allies, and alleged that since even the Congress does not take him (Chavan) seriously, his utterances will not make any difference. Attempting to soothe the ruffled feathers all around, state Congress President Nana Patole said that after the Karnataka Assembly election results are declared, the three partners will sit together and hammer out the seat-sharing formula for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The shaky developments came on the eve of the Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday, and Nitish Kumar's meetings with Thackeray and Pawar on Thursday. --IANS qn/arm ( 384 Words) 2023-05-09-20:24:02 (IANS)
Not only does the "Union State" undermine the establishment of civilized relations with Europe, but it hinders the possibility of normal relations between Belarus and Russia.

On April 3, Lukashenka made a working visit to the Russian Federation: a meeting of the Belarusian leader with Vladzimir Putin was held in St. Petersburg.

The leaders of the states discussed "a wide range of issues concerned with development of bilateral Belarusian-Russian relations."

What is the "Union State" like today, and what is the future of it?

Uladzimir Matskevich, philosopher and methodologist, answered the questions of the "EuroBelarus" Information Service:

- Since the "Union State" of Belarus and Russia was a stillborn baby from the very beginning, the stillborn formation can only exist in two variants: calm or dead. "Union State" is pulled out from time to time in an attempt to revive it. But it is hopeless.

- And in the light of recent events, we see no such attempts.

- This year - probably yes, due to the aggravation of the economic relations between Belarus and Russia, unsuccessful negotiations on oil and gas. But since the "Union State" is not "buried", not denounced, a possibility that after a while it might be summoned once again cannot be ruled out.

- Against the conflict between the leaders of the two countries, we may observe very similar processes: mass protests in the regions of Belarus, which culminated in the brutal crackdown in Minsk on March 25-26, and a brutal dispersal of demonstrators in Moscow.

- I would not say that the processes in Russia and Belarus are identical, they are different. The major difference is that protests in Belarus are spontaneous, popular, they began in February and were not initiated by opposition, but appeared as a reaction to implementation of Decree No. 3.

Russian protests are initiated from above (through Aleksei Navalny), the date could have been chosen for some reasons I am not aware of. Or Navalny was given a hint that Russian protests should "coincide" with the Belarusian: the foreign policy information wave raised by the Kremlin in connection with the growing social tension in Belarus was conducted so as to show that the Belarusian protests are pro-Russian. This step in the information war cannot but lead to certain reflections.

- What kind of reflections?

- If we bring together the protests in Belarus and Moscow, then, like it or not, a conclusion that there is a unified coordinating force emerges, thus the Belarusian opposition can be believed to be linked to the Kremlin-controlled Russian opposition. But it is a bad sign for our neighbors (Lithuania and Poland); moreover they can start to perceive the Belarusian opposition to be controlled by Moscow.

- So it cannot be claimed that both parts of the "Union State" are in a state of popular upheaval?

- Both Belarus and Russia are now in a difficult social and economic situation.

But if the Belarusian protests have short-term reasons (the implementation of Decree No. 3), Moscow has no situational reasons for protest. If you take look at the social composition of the protesters, workers of budgetary enterprises, people who have experienced a sharp decline in the standard of living over the last year participated in the Belarusian protests, while students and schoolchildren, young people who are most ready to respond to the radical appeals of opposition comprised the protesters in Moscow.

We can say that the Belarusian protests are natural, while Moscow's are artificial in this particular case.

- If the "Union State" brings no good, does it mean that it does not cause any harm as well?

- In spite of the fact that the "Union State" of Belarus and Russia is stillborn and neither state benefitted from it during the whole span of its existence, the Union does harm Belarus quite considerably. It can be illustrated by the following: it severely hinders establishing normal trade and political relations with Europe. Furthermore, the "Union State" has even become an obstacle in the normalization of relations between Belarus and Russia. Instead of establishing normal partnership and economic relations, the "Union State" constantly creates the illusion of a special attitude, which is inconceivable.

The sooner the "Union State" is denounced, the better for Belarus.
A tribal body on Tuesday announced that no dialogue can be held with the Arunachal Pradesh and Central governments unless Chief Minister Pema Khandu clarifies that resolution of the Chakma-Hajong issue would be found within the state by fully complying with the 1996 Supreme Court judgment and granting of full rights to them as citizens of India. The Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance (CHRA), a representative organisation of the two tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh, on Tuesday discussed Chief Minister's statement on March that he would call them to resolve the long standing issue and his statement on April 24 at a government function at Itanagar that the Chakma-Hajong problem would be resolved by distributing them in different states of India. "The Chakmas and Hajongs need resolution, not relocation. Under the laws of India, a person is considered as an ordinary resident after six months' residence but the state of Arunachal Pradesh has proposed relocation of the Chakmas almost 60 years after their settlement which is inhumane and cruel," CHRA Convenor Pritimoy Chakma said in a statement. The CHRA also adopted the resolution "to appeal to Khandu to not mislead the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the issue of the state being a tribal state and therefore protected, and the Chakmas and Hajongs cannot be permanently settled. Arunachal Pradesh is not recognised as a tribal state under the Constitution of India including Article 371(h) and the Chakmas and Hajongs were settled in the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) by the Government of India permanently", the statement said. It claimed that the Chakmas and Hajongs are not refugees, they are casting their votes and they are only victims of racial discrimination. The CHRA affirmed that dialogue can be held with the state and Central governments to find ways for implementation of the 1996 Supreme Court judgment and improvement of the deplorable economic conditions of the Chakmas and Hajongs as admitted by Chief Minister himself due to the exclusion from the development programmes of the state government. There are about 65,000 tribals belonging to Chakma and Hajong community in Arunachal Pradesh who fled from the then East Pakistan and were settled by the Central government in the then NEFA in 1964 to beef up security following the 1962 Indo-China war. Arunachal became a full-fledged State on February 20, 1987 and till 1972, it was known as the NEFA, administered by the Ministry of External Affairs with the Governor of Assam acting as representative to the President. --IANS sc/vd ( 429 Words) 2023-05-09-20:32:02 (IANS)
The Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat in West Bengal seem to be entering into a war of rhetorics involving English playwright William Shakespeare and the popular characters in his plays. Just a day after Governor C.B. Ananda Bose said at a public function that he will not remain silent like 'Hamlet' in case there is a constitutional crisis in West Bengal, state Education Minister Bratya Basu on Tuesday hurled a 'Macbeth' and 'Caesar' jibe at the constitutional head of the state. "Rather, I feel the Governor is behaving more like Macbeth or Julius Caesar. He is trying to grab and monopolise authority. It is the state government which has always made attempts to move ahead through discussions," Basu told mediapersons on Tuesday. Basu said that while the state education department is always open for discussions with the Governor on the issue of recruitment of vice-chancellors in state universities, the Governor has refused to engage in any kind of dialogue on this issue. "In several cases, he is trying to appoint vice-chancellors who do not have teaching experience of 10 years. He is breaking the rules. Our Chief Minister has already said that the Governor is trying to monopolise his authority and control over the state universities by bypassing the state education department. This is not the behaviour of Hamlet. Rather this is somewhat like the tragic character of Macbeth, who was brutally ambitious," Basu said. The minister also drew the reference of Julius Caesar. "The manner in which the Governor is always surrounded by the followers of BJP is somewhat like that of Julius Caesar," he said. After Bose assumed charge as Governor last year, the relationship between the Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat was quite amicable initially. However, as days passed, differences started to surface on many issues such as recruitment of vice-chancellors in state universities, personal slanders against a judge of the Calcutta High Court, and the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions in certain pockets of West Bengal, among others. The state government had also taken exception to the Governor's recent visits to the different state universities without informing the state secretariat in advance. Political observers feel that the Governor's fresh caution of not remaining silent in case of constitutional crisis might open another round of tussle between the Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat. --IANS src/arm ( 406 Words) 2023-05-09-20:38:01 (IANS)
Sources in the Tamil Nadu government told IANS that the state government is contemplating freeing the 12 life convicts in the case.

According to officials, the 12 Coimbatore blast case convicts are in the list of prisoners to be released prepared by a commission headed by retired Madras High Court judge, Justice N. Authinathan.

State government sources told IANS that Basha is 82 years old and hence his name is considered for release. Another convict, Thajudhin, 62, is considered for release due to health issues.

The Coimbatore blasts, where a dozen bombs went off in a 12 km radius on February 14, 1998, had killed 58 people and injured over 200. Basha and his Al Ummah were behind the blasts, aimed at the then Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani who was to address a public meeting on that day.

A judicial commission of Justice P.R. Gokulakrishnan was constituted on April 7, 2000 to probe the case and it found that Al Ummah was responsible for the blasts. The trial of the case began on March 7, 2002 and as many as 1,300 witnesses were examined and Basha and his accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment.

--IANS aal/vd

A

( 237 Words)

2023-05-09-20:50:03 (IANS)
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will arrive in India on Tuesday for a three-day visit. He will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Eli Cohen will also attend the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) India-Israel Business Forum. The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute is organizing a special interaction with Eli Cohen scheduled to be held on May 9 in New Delhi, CII said in a statement. After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs. After his engagements in Agra, he will return to Delhi on May 10. He will travel to Mumbai on May 11 to attend a programme. He will return to Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory. His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat 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. In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India. Earlier this month, 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year. During his visit in April, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANI's question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, "I'm inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people." He further said, "Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have good history for 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future." Speaking about the ties between India and Israel, Barkat said both the governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu are "friendly." He said that India and Israel should focus on business growth. He also attended the India-Israel Business Forum where he said that Indian people are "good friends" of Israel. "Both governments, Modi and Netanyahu, are friendly. We both understand how to take our economy to the next level. So, I'm inspired by the opportunity. Naturally, what I believe we should do now is focus on business growth and see how our technology, we're tiny, a little country, less than 10 million people, but we have good ideas," Nir Barkat told ANI. In late March, Israeli Knesset speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation visited India where an MoU on the first cooperation and exchange of information agreement between the parliaments of Israel and India was signed. During his visit, Ohana called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Parliament House. Israel's Knesset, Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi and discussed bilateral ties between the two countries. The two sides discussed strengthening India-Israel ties and promoting cooperation in I2U2. Notably, India and Israel celebrated 30 years of the upgradation of bilateral ties to full diplomatic relations in 2022, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. India and Israel have established bilateral consultation mechanisms in all sectors of collaboration, including water, agriculture, counter-terrorism, and defence. (ANI)
Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling. However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims "purely baseless and defamatory". "Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei," read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. "I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home," she added. "This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play. We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," the statement read. This move will further deteriorate diplomatic relations between the two countries. This development comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March this year announced to probe alleged Chinese interference in their recent elections by an independent special rapporteur. The Canadian Government appointed former Governor General David Johnston as its Independent Special Rapporteur to examine alleged interference by Beijing in the Federal elections in 2019 and 2021. Johnston was given access to relevant classified or unclassified records and documents, and he will submit regular reports to the prime minister, Trudeau's office said in a statement. The news comes after weeks of uproar in Canada sparked by revelations, first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper, that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition leader Michael Chong and his relatives in China after his criticisms of Beijing's treatment of its Uyghur minorities. The intelligence service said that Beijing had tried to sway the outcome of Canada's federal elections in 2019 and 2021. Chong has repeatedly called for Zhao's expulsion since the Globe report emerged, CNN reported. Beijing has denied accusations of political interference in Canada. In a statement dated May 5 and posted to the website of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, a spokesperson flatly rejected the possibility "that a consular officer from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto was involved in the so-called intimidation of a Canadian Member of Parliament and his relatives." "The claim has no factual basis and is totally groundless. We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to it," it said, going on to accuse local media and politicians of seeking to "disrupt the normal exchange and cooperation" between Canada and China, CNN reported. The allegations have become a growing political problem for the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has said that intelligence services failed to brief him on Chong's alleged targeting. Chong has focused much of his criticism on Trudeau's government. He said that Trudeau's government was too slow to act. (ANI)
US House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul has threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress over his panel's investigation into the US exit from Afghanistan, CNN reported. The letter comes after McCaul subpoenaed Blinken in March for a dissent cable written by US diplomats in Kabul criticizing the Biden administration's plans to withdraw troops in 2021. Michael McCaul said the information the US State Department has released is "insufficient." He further said that the department is "now in violation of its legal obligation to produce these documents and must do so immediately," CNN cited the letter. McCaul said that he has given Blinken a third deadline of May 11 to comply voluntarily or he will move forward with contempt proceedings. In August 2021, the United States withdrew the last of its troops from Afghanistan. "House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday regarding the department's failure to comply with the committee's subpoena compelling it to produce of the July 13, 2021 Dissent Channel cable regarding Afghanistan and the department's official response to it, as well as the insufficiency of the department's summaries of these documents and its April 27 briefing on them," US Foreign Affairs Committee in the press release said. It further said, "Chairman McCaul threatened to hold Secretary Blinken in contempt of Congress and/or initiate a civil enforcement process if the department fails to produce the subpoenaed documents," US Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said in the press release. According to the press release, McCaul wrote, "The Department is now in violation of its legal obligation to produce these documents and must do so immediately." He further stated, "As noted above, should the Department fail to comply with its legal obligation, the Committee is prepared to take the necessary steps to enforce its subpoena, including holding you in contempt of Congress and/or initiating a civil enforcement proceeding." Meanwhile, the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel on Monday (local time) said that the information provided by the US State Department is "sufficient." "I don't have anything additional to add, Matt, but I will reiterate what we shared this morning, which is that it's unfortunate that after being provided a classified briefing and being provided a written summary of the contents of the dissent channel cable as well as the department's response, that the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues to pursue this," Vedant Patel said when asked about McCaul's statement in the press briefing. "Our viewpoint is that the materials and briefings that we've offered and provided have sufficiently met the mark when it comes to the committee's legitimate oversight request," he added. He further stated that the US State Department continues to engage with Congress and the committee when it comes to correspondence and things of that nature. He stressed on the importance of the dissent channel cable and the integrity which it holds here in the State Department. He further said, "We will continue to do what we can and what we need to protect it." McCaul considers the dissent cable as a crucial document for his committee's investigation, according to CNN report. However, Antony Blinken has told the panel that he opposes sharing the full document due to concerns it could have a dangerous impact on diplomats' use of the channel, which he stressed is a confidential way for them to share concerns with top State Department officials. (ANI)
Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India for his first official visit which would pan three days starting Tuesday. During the visit, he is set to meet his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Informing of the Israeli minister's arrival in the national capital today, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi wrote on Twitter, "A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted - partnership." Eli Cohen will also be present at the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Eli Cohen will participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute on May 9 in New Delhi, according to a statement from CII. After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum today, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs. Following his engagements in Agra, the minister will return to Delhi on May 10 before departing for a programme in Mumbai on May 11. Apparently, he will depart for Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory. His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech. During his visit, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANI's question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, "I'm inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people." He further said, "Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have a good history of 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future." In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India. Earlier this month, 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 further said 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year. (ANI)
Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under 'Operation Shield and Arrow', The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's senior leaders. Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip. According to The Times of Israel, previous strikes on Islamic Jihad leaders have sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians and intense battles with Israeli troops, some lasting several days. As per the health ministry of the Hamas-controlled territory, at least nine people were killed in the bombing runs. According to reports, some of the casualties were said to be the wives of the commanders and their children. The Israeli army said it had assassinated Khalil Bahitini, who commands Islamic Jihad in northern Gaza, Jahed Ahnam, a top official in the group's military council, and Tarek Azaldin, who it said directs Islamic Jihad terror activities in the West Bank from a base in Gaza, according to The Times of Israel. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement confirmed that the three were among the dead. According to the Israeli army, Bahitini was the group's "senior operational officer," with close contacts to Islamic Jihad's senior political leadership. He took over the vaunted position after its previous commander was killed in a strike last year. "Bahitini was entrusted with approving and carrying out all terrorist activities from northern Gaza as well as, planning and directing terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and planned shooting at Israel in the immediate future," the army said. The Israeli army said Ahnam was a key link for transferring money and weapons between Islamic Jihad and Hamas and Azaldin was involved in moving money between Gaza and the West Bank for terror activities. According to witnesses in the attack launched on earlier Tuesday morning, an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah. Palestinian media said several people were injured. There was no immediate confirmation from health authorities. Dozens of strikes were reported across the Strip in the ensuing hours, sending fireballs skyward as the army targeted terror training sites. The army called the campaign 'Operation Shield and Arrow'. The army's Home Front Command issued instructions for residents of areas near Gaza to stay in or near bomb shelters. It instructed local authorities to open public shelters and announced that it would block access to some roads running near the enclave. According to The Times of Israel, the bombings come days after Gazan terrorists led by Islamic Jihad fired nearly three dozen rockets toward Israel in response to the death of an alleged senior member of the group who had been on hunger strike in Israeli prison. Several rockets struck Sderot during the May 2 clash, injuring three workers and damaging homes and cars. (ANI)
A 27-seven-year-old woman belonging to Telangana's Ranga Reddy was among the eight people killed in a shooting at Allen Mall in Texas, US on May 6, an official said. The deceased was identified as Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was the daughter of Ranga Reddy's district judge. Aishwarya Thatikonda was shot dead along with seven others in a mass shooting in Texas. A few years back, Aishwarya Thatikonda moved to the US and was working as a project manager. Speaking to the media, Rajireddy, Public Prosecutor, Ranga Reddy District Court said on Monday, "It is very unfortunate that the daughter of a district judge, Ranga Reddy, was killed." He urged the Indian government to coordinate with the US government to "ban" the gun culture in the Western country. "Many are going to America for jobs but there is no social security. It's very unfortunate that she went to buy groceries and was gunned down by miscreants. The Indian government should coordinate with the American government and ban the gun culture completely," he said. Aishwarya Thatikonda of McKinney was shopping with a friend at the Allen Premium Outlets in the northern suburbs of Dallas when a gunman opened fire, The New York Post reported citing local reports. She was with a friend at the outlet mall when the shots were fired, WFAA reported citing the family representative. Aishwarya Thatikonda's friend was injured but is in stable condition at the hospital, The New York Post reported. As per her LinkedIn profile, Thatikonda had been working in Dallas for over two years, as per the news report. The mortal remains of Indian-origin citizen Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was among the victims in the Texas Shootout, will be sent to India soon. Sources told ANI that the mortal remains of the young engineer will be sent to India soon and assistance will be provided to her family. The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed condolences to the family of Aishwarya Thatikonda. It further said that they are in touch with the family of the deceased and the local authorities. The Consulate General of India in Houston tweeted, "We express our deep condolences to the family of Ms. Aishwarya Thatikonda who died in the tragic shooting incident in Allen, Texas on May 6. We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local authorities. Our officers are on the ground to render all possible assistance. We are closely monitoring the situation." The suspect in a mall shooting in Allen, Texas, that left eight people dead and injured seven others on Saturday (local time), has been identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, CNN reported citing a senior law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. The gunman was killed by an Allen Police Department officer who was present in the mall on an unrelated call, according to police. Investigators believe that the gunman was acting alone. After being shot, the gunman appeared to be lying on the ground with an AR-15-style firearm nearby, as per the news report. The senior law enforcement source said that Garcia had at least one other weapon on him in addition to the AR-15-style weapon found near him when he was fatally shot in front of the mall. Police have also recovered multiple weapons in his car. (ANI)
As executions continue in Iran, two people, who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy were hanged on Monday, CNN reported citing news agency Mizan which is affiliated with Iran's judiciary. Yusef Mehrdad and Sadrullah Fazeli Zare, the two men who were put to death, were arrested in May 2020 and given death sentences in April 2021 for operating online "anti-Islam groups and channels," according to Iranian news agency Mizan. After their arrest, Zare and Mehrdad were prohibited from speaking to or seeing their families for eight months. According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, authorities determined both of them to be members of the Telegram group "Critique of Superstition and Religion," which led to their convictions, CNN reported. Mehrdad reportedly went on a hunger strike in February 2022 to protest the authorities' unwillingness to let him make phone call, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said. The executions took place a few days after that of Habib Chaab, a man with dual Swedish-Iranian national who was accused of spearheading a separatist group blamed by Tehran for a string of attacks in the country. The judiciary's Mizan News said Habib Chaab, the leader of the Harakat al-Nidal group, was executed on Saturday, calling him the "mastermind" of an attack that killed 29 people in Ahvaz in 2018, reported Anadolu Agency. Iran considers Harakat al-Nidal to be a terrorist group. Since demonstrations against Mahsa Amini's killing in September last year, the number of executions in Iran has increased. In September 2022, Iranians took to the streets nationwide in protest for several months against Iran's mandatory hijab law, and political and social issues across the country, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police. Those arrested for participating in anti-government demonstrations have faced various forms of abuse and torture, including electric shocks, controlled drowning, rape and mock executions. (ANI)
German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Hannah Neumann in an exclusive interview with Tolo News said it is important for women in Afghanistan to participate in social and economic spheres. According to Neumann, restrictions on women in Afghanistan are crushing the hopes of half of Afghan citizens and also diminishing economic opportunities. "They are really crashing down public life, they are crashing down on half of the Afghan citizens, on so many hopes, and they are also diminishing economic opportunities for everyone in the country by all these decrees, bans and policies," she said, as quoted by Tolo News. The German MEP urged the Taliban to end restrictions on women and uphold the practical involvement of women in the social and economic spheres. "The rising engagement happens at the moment on the national level, where for example we have an EU delegation and of course our representative here," Neumann said. Najibullah Jami, a political analyst, said: "Pressures and restrictions are not the solutions in Afghanistan; rather, the EU, the US, and the countries of the region should jointly take a positive and constructive solution with the Islamic Emirate." Despite the Taliban's repeated assurances that it is committed to upholding those rights within the framework of Islamic law and that women will return to work and education after being given the proper conditions, there has been no sign of change to the current policies, according to Tolo News. Recently, UN experts in their findings on the state of human rights and discrimination against Afghan women in Afghanistan, said the Taliban through its "most extreme forms of misogyny", has been destroying the relative progress towards gender equality achieved in the past two decades in the country, Afghanistan based Khaama Press reported. This came following UN experts' eight-day visit to Afghanistan. UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett was also a part of the visit. The mission took place from April 27 to May 4 in the context of a chronic humanitarian crisis and profound turmoil due to the most recent verdict banning Afghan women from working with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)
Cohen, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a three-day official visit, will now return to Israel after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under 'Operation Shield and Arrow', The Times of Israel reported.

The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's senior leaders.

Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip.

According to The Times of Israel, previous strikes on Islamic Jihad leaders sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians and intense battles with Israeli troops, some lasting several days.

At least 12 people including the three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed in the latest air raids on Gaza Strip by Israel's military on Tuesday. (ANI)
Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who is on a visit to India, on Tuesday said he will raise the issue of the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cohen will meet PM Modi later in the day today. The Israel Foreign Minister, who was earlier on a three-day visit to India starting today, decided to cut short his visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) India-Israel Business Forum in Delhi, Cohen said, "I also will raise with Prime Minister Modi the issue of the Free Trade Agreement, which I believe can boost our relations." "Would like to take this opportunity to have students from India come to Israel, mainly in technology and other industry as well," he added. The Minister highlighted the common points between India and Israel and said that the two countries are cooperating and working together with the Jewish people and the Indian people." "Israel, the Abraham Accords countries and India is the gate from the east to the west and we analyse it economically. And if you see the trades that come from India will go to Saudi Arabia, and then by train till Haifa Port in Israel and from there to the markets in Europe," Cohen said. Cohen said he thinks this is the vision of India-Israel relations. "I think this route can be very important for our future," he said. On Tuesday, three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between India and Israel in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in the national capital. Cohen on Tuesday arrived in India on a three-day official visit. The Israeli Foreign Minister has, however, decided to cut short his India visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Cohen, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a three-day official visit, will now return to Israel after his meeting with PM Modi. "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday. Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under 'Operation Shield and Arrow', The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's senior leaders. Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip. According to The Times of Israel, previous strikes on Islamic Jihad leaders sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians and intense battles with Israeli troops, some lasting several days. At least 12 people including the three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed in the latest air raids on Gaza Strip by Israel's military on Tuesday. (ANI)
In a tit-for-tat move, China has expelled Canada's consul in Shanghai after Ottawa said it was expelling a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims. China has decided to declare the consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, Jennifer Lynn Lalonde 'persona non grata', in a reciprocal move to Ottawa's move to send home diplomat Zhao Wei. Lalonde has been asked to leave China by May 13. "On May 9, the Canadian government declared a diplomat of the Consulate-General of China in Toronto persona non grata. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious demarches and strong protest to Canada," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in an official statement. China said that it reserves the "right to further react." "As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada's unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata, who has been asked to leave China no later than May 13," the statement added. Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Canada said that Ottawa's actions violate international law and basic principles of international relations and relevant bilateral agreements between the two nations. Canada has alleged that Zhao Wei was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, Global Times reported citing The Canadian Press. The Chinese Embassy said that Beijing never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. It called the claim of "Chinese interference in Canadian domestic affairs" hyped up by some politicians and media "baseless and a blatant slander" against China on the basis of ideological bias and political manipulation. The Chinese Embassy noted Canada's action seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Beijing's diplomatic and consular personnel. Canada's action comes after the Canadian side summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday and threatened the expulsion of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel. Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims "purely baseless and defamatory". "Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr Zhao Wei," read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. "I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home," she added. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the situation is being closely tracked after a tragic Texas shooting incident which killed eight people, including an Indian national. The EAM said that he is taking regular updates from India's envoy to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and that the consulate is providing the necessary assistance to the bereaved. "Closely tracking this and taking regular updates from Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS. Consulate is rendering all necessary assistance to the bereaved family and to those injured," the EAM tweeted. A 27-seven-year-old woman belonging to Telangana's Ranga Reddy was among the eight people killed in a shooting at Allen Mall in Texas, US on May 6, an official said. The deceased was identified as Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was the daughter of Ranga Reddy's district judge. Aishwarya Thatikonda was shot dead along with seven others in a mass shooting in Texas. A few years back, Aishwarya Thatikonda moved to the US and was working as a project manager. The official Twitter handle of the Consulate General in Houston informed that it is facilitating the completion of requisite formalities with regard to the mortal remains of the deceased. "Two other Indian nationals have been injured in the tragic shooting incident. We are in constant touch with the local & hospital authorities, relatives of the injured and community leaders. Consulate officials are in Dallas to render all possible assistance," the Consulate General in Houston tweeted. Aishwarya Thatikonda of McKinney was shopping with a friend at the Allen Premium Outlets in the northern suburbs of Dallas when a gunman opened fire, The New York Post reported citing local reports. The mortal remains of Indian-origin citizen Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was among the victims in the Texas Shootout, will be sent to India soon. Sources told ANI that the mortal remains of the young engineer will be sent to India soon and assistance will be provided to her family. The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed condolences to the family of Aishwarya Thatikonda. It further said that they are in touch with the family of the deceased and the local authorities. The Consulate General of India in Houston tweeted, "We express our deep condolences to the family of Ms. Aishwarya Thatikonda who died in the tragic shooting incident in Allen, Texas on May 6. We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local authorities. Our officers are on the ground to render all possible assistance. We are closely monitoring the situation." The suspect in a mall shooting in Allen, Texas, that left eight people dead and injured seven others on Saturday (local time), has been identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, CNN reported citing a senior law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. The gunman was killed by an Allen Police Department officer who was present in the mall on an unrelated call, according to police. Investigators believe that the gunman was acting alone. (ANI)
Human Rights Chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Fiona Frazer, in a statement said the Taliban's corporal punishment is against international law.

She urged the Taliban leadership to halt all executions immediately.

"Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease," said Fiona Frazer, the agency's human rights chief. She also called for an immediate moratorium on executions, according to Khaama Press.

The Taliban-led Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan in response said most Afghans adhere to Islamic rules and guidance and that Afghanistan's laws are based on Islamic principles.

The Taliban-led ministry said: "In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law."

Meanwhile, a UN report released on Monday strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out execution, floggings and stoning since gaining control of Afghanistan. It urged the Taliban leaders to put an immediate end to such practices.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report, 274 men, 58 women and two boys were publicly flogged in Afghanistan during the past six months.

The Taliban authorities in the first public execution since it came into power in Afghanistan, executed an Afghan man found guilty of murder in December 2022, according to the report.

In front of hundreds of spectators, including senior Taliban officials, the victim's father executed him in the western province of Farah using an assault rifle.

The Taliban has increased restrictions on women and banned them from public areas like education, university, parks and gym.

According to Khaama Press, the restriction has caused a global uproar, deepening the country's isolation at a time when its economy is in freefall. (ANI)
"Concluded a productive day in Ottawa with lively interactions at the dinner hosted by my Canadian counterpart @Mary_Ng. With our deepening trade ties, both India & Canada look forward to further enhance collaboration in new & diverse areas for greater growth," Goyal tweeted.

The ministers will also review India-Canada CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiations.

At the last MDTI meeting in March 2022, both ministers launched the CEPA negotiations with the possibility of an interim agreement or EPTA (Early Progress Trade Agreement). Since then, seven rounds of negotiations have been held.

The union minister is on a two-day visit to Toronto (May 9-10) during which he will have various engagements to promote trade and investment.

The minister is accompanied by a delegation of Indian CEOs led by industry body FICCI.

During his two-day visit, Goyal will hold meetings with CEOs of key Canadian companies, a Round Table of Indian and Canadian CEOs, interaction with Canadian and Indian companies based in Canada and a Financial Sector Round table, among others. The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral trade and investment relations.

Goyal will also inaugurate the Indian Pavilion at SIAL CANADA-2023, which is the largest food innovation trade show in North America with the participation of more than 1000 national and international exhibitors from 50 countries. (ANI)
Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen here on Tuesday launched the project World on Wheels (WoW) Bus, by the Embassy of Israel in India. The project World on Wheels aims to facilitate digital literacy, personality development, and entrepreneurship training in rural parts of India. This is one of the many projects undertaken by the embassy with local partners in India in the field of education. The Israel Foreign Minister also visited India Gate and along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, he paid homage at the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. EAM Jaishankar tweeted, "Paid homage at the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk with FM @elicoh1. This symbol of our shared history reflects the enduring India-Israel friendship." During his India visit, Israeli Cohen also visited the India Gate. He also thanked his Indian counterpart for the hospitality and for holding discussion on global developments. The Israeli Foreign Minister tweeted, "Dear @DrSJaishankar my dear friend, Thank you for the warm hospitality and the interesting discussion on global developments. I look forward to working together strengthening the cooperation between our two countries. See you soon in Israel."Earlier, on Tuesday, Cohen and Jaishankar held a delegation-level talk and inked an agreement in the area of mobility. The two foreign ministers held productive and wide-ranging discussions on the main pillars of India and Israel's strategic partnership - agriculture, water, defence and security, which are also taking the ties of two countries forward. Following their meet, Jaishankar tweeted, "Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership - Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security - are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more." Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart also discussed cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity mobility tourism, finance and health. They also took cognizance of the progress in I2U2, and cooperation in multilateral forums. The two leaders also held discourse on respective regions, Ukraine and Info-Pacific and also inked an agreement in the area of mobility. His tweet added, "Discussed cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health. Noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums. Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Initialed an agreement in the area of mobility." Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India today for his first official visit which was expected to pan three days starting Tuesday, however, he decided to cut short his India visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Cohen is likely to return to Israel after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday. Cohen's visit came after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech. (ANI)
The arrest of ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Tuesday outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) resulted in protests and demonstrations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters across Pakistan. PTI workers protested in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan, reported Geo News. In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at police vehicles and tore down street lights. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindi's Murree Road. The PTI supporters are seen chanting "Release Imran Khan," and "Shut down Pakistan," in the streets of Lahore, Faizabad, Bannu, and Peshawar. People of Lahore moving from Liberty towards Lahore Cantt," tweeted PTI's handle. Imran Khan's party Twitter handle urged Pakistanis to come out and protest against his arrest. "Pakistan, its your time now. It's now or never an opportunity. People must come out to defend their country now," it tweeted. "It's your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now its time to stand for him. #ReleaseImranKhan," it added. Tweeting the picture of Imran Khan's arrest, it said, "This picture will be historical as we will see Imran Khan winning very soon. The people of Pakistan must come out today to defend their country." Meanwhile, PTI supporters have encircled NAB Abpara office amid reports that Imran Khan maybe there. "There are reports of people being arrested outside NAB Abpara office. People must be outside NAB office as they might have Chairman PTI there!" tweeted PTI. Following Khan's arrest, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the matter, and summoned the Islamabad IGP and the interior secretary within "15 minutes". He also directed the additional attorney general to appear before the court in 15 minutes and instructed him to immediately find out who was behind the arrest. Subsequently, Islamabad IGP Dr Khan appeared at the IHC and submitted a copy of the NAB's warrant. He said the anti-graft watchdog utilised the help of any law enforcement agency as per its requirements, reported Geo News. Meanwhile, IHC CJ Farooq inquired from the additional attorney general whether Khan's arrest was legal. "Where will we stand if the [legal] system breaks down? This matter is related to the functioning of the system," the judge observed. Subsequently, the court summoned DG NAB and the anti-graft body's prosecutor general to appear in person in 30 minutes. Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) -- acting on National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him. Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi, reported Geo News. The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. As per the charges, Khan and other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion -- 190 million pounds at the time -- sent by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government. They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University. (ANI)
Tilak Devasher, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) member and a security expert, on Tuesday said that the arrest of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan by Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court will lead to political instability in the South Asian nation owing to his popularity. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Devasher said, "This time Rangers were used. It's an important development in Pakistan. There will be an outcry in Pakistan because of his popularity and his supporters in all provinces. If people will start protesting, and if there is violence then it will lead to a law and order problem. Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) -- acting on National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him. Terming the arrest as an important development in Pakistan, the NSAB member said, "This is something that has been waiting to happen for a considerable amount of time. You recall a month or two ago, the police tried to arrest him from Zaman Park even though they had an arrest warrant. But his supporters didn't allow the police to enter and then the police backed off." "I think, in Pakistan what happens in the next week or next few days or next week are going to determine what happens in Pakistan in the next couple of months at least," he added. Responding to another question on how he sees the political future of Imran Khan, as well as the PTI party, the defence expert said, "You see, now it all depends. He has been arrested, now the case is going on. Does he get relief in the case? Is the case dismissed? Will they use this to disqualify him from contesting elections?" "If that happens, then it's a major dent for the PTI, because what is PTI without Imran Khan? Without Imran Khan, the party will not be able to do well whenever, as and when the elections are held. So this is a major, major development. We'll have to wait and watch how this case actually progresses. Does he get bail and is he then disqualified by the election commission as a result of this arrest?" He also explained that the Rangers did so in an effort to quickly take him away, so as to avoid his supporters' chaos. "But whether it was actually so or not if the Rangers had an arrest warrant duly issued by a court, then he is just picked up. And I think the Ranger's effort was to whisk him away before the crowds gather quickly and before they prevent him from being taken away. So I don't think that is as important as the fact that he has been arrested. That in any case will lead to outrage and an outcry all over Pakistan," the defence expert added. Throwing light on the possible scenarios in Pakistan and what will set the court or what will happen in Pakistan, he said, "If the people come out in the streets, start protesting, and if there is violence, if there is arson, and when the public is charged, you don't know what will happen. So if that kind of situation happens, then it will lead to massive law and order problems in different places. And then the government, then the army is also watching they will have to take a call and how do they settle and get a grip." "So I think it is now early, just about an hour ago that he was arrested. I think we will have to see how the crowd develops and the real test of his popularity will come, as how do crowds react to his arrest." Meanwhile, there is massive outrage across Pakistan and PTI supporters are protesting against Imran Khan's arrest. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan, reported Geo News. In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at police vehicles and tore down street lights. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindi's Murree Road. The PTI supporters are seen chanting "Release Imran Khan," and "Shut down Pakistan," in the streets of Lahore, Faizabad, Bannu, and Peshawar. People of Lahore moving from Liberty towards Lahore Cantt," tweeted PTI's handle. Imran Khan's party Twitter handle urged Pakistanis to come out and protest against his arrest. "Pakistan, it's your time now. It's now or never an opportunity. People must come out to defend their country now," it tweeted. "It's your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now it's time to stand for him. #ReleaseImranKhan," it added. Answering a question, of whether India should be more watchful after these developments in Pakistan, the defence expert said that India has to be on guard. "Yes, we have to be on our guard as in recent cases the majority have shown that people who are there will try and divert attention from what is happening in Pakistan but as far as the army itself is concerned or the government, I think they are going to be very, very busy in the next couple of days," Tilak Devasher said. (ANI)
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's politics is defined by "blatant lies" and attacks on institutions, said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday after Khan's arrest. He said that he had no doubt that Imran Khan's politics is defined by "blatant lies," "untruths", U-turns, and vicious attacks on institutions. "Bending the judiciary to your whims and behaving as if rules don't apply to you. What I said about you in my tweet is established by facts over the past few years," he said in a tweet. In the wake of Imran Khan's arrest, the Prime Minister made a series of tweets responding to the former PM's two questions, levelled against Sharif. Earlier on May 8, Khan had asked Sharif if he could nominate those responsible for assassination attacks against him. Khan had tweeted, "As someone who has suffered 2 assassination attempts on his life in last few months, can I dare to ask SS the following Qs: 1. Have I, a citizen, the right to nominate those I feel were responsible for assassination attacks on me? Why was I denied my legal & Constitutional right." Sharif responded to Khan's questions with four counter-questions, "One, maligning Pakistan Army as an institution is a recurring pattern in your politics after your ouster from power. Did you not resort to constant mud-slinging of the leadership of the army and intelligence agency much before the Wazirabad attack?" In his second question, the Prime Minister asked Khan what legal way he opted apart from threatening and making baseless allegations daily. "You refused the offer of cooperation from the federal government & boycotted the legal proceedings. You were never interested in finding the truth about the attack but used the condemnable incident for petty political objectives," his tweet read. PM Sharif also asked the PTI chief, "Three, at whose behest was the savaging social media campaign against the martyrs of the armed forces launched after the helicopter crash? Which party did the troll brigade belong to that mocked the martyrs, which was a new low and unimaginable in our politics and culture? With these subversive/treacherous acts on your part, do we need an enemy?" He also levelled allegations against Khan of using religion for political purposes and against his party workers for condoning, justifying and even celebrating the incident of harassment of an official delegation which also included a female minister in a mosque. "Four, who has used religion for political purposes by describing the political agitation in religious terms, a cunning & self-serving attempt at exposing political opponents to violence at the hands of your supporters? Did your party leaders not condone, justify & even celebrate the incident of harassment & intimidation of an official delegation including a female minister in the courtyard of our beloved Prophet's Mosque (PBUH) by disregarding all norms of reverence & devoutness?" his tweet added. PM Sharif also advised Khan to not go to Pakistan, which the former PM had termed was becoming a "jungle." "As for your assertion of Pakistan becoming a 'jungle', I advise you not to go there, for the facts are often bitter and disastrous. Let us keep this for another day," the tweet said. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) -- acting on National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him. (ANI)
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, while denying reports of Rangers personnel torturing Imran Khan during his arrest, said that "no sort of torture was inflicted on him," reported Geo News. The senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, took to Twitter, and said, "Imran Khan did not ensure his appearance despite several notices. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him for causing damage to the natural treasury." "No sort of torture was inflicted on him (Khan)," Sanaullah wrote on his Twitter. While speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Sanaullah said that no person was subjected to torture at the time of the deposed PM Khan's arrest, adding that the PTI chief's security personnel had inflicted violence, according to Geo News. He said, "The Rangers did not break the windows, they were broken during the chaotic situation." Sanaullah, while speaking on the arrest, said that Khan was taken into custody as per the law. "NAB is an independent institution and the government has neither its control over it nor did it try to." He claimed that the NAB was conducting an inquiry against the former prime minister. Imran "It was necessary to investigate Imran Khan on NAB's notice and that it was not a political victimisation against him." The PTI Chairman attempted to resist arrest, according to the security czar, and the party lawyers impeded the judicial process. Sanaullah claimed that Khan was prosecuting his political rivals for corruption while also engaging in wrongdoing himself, as per Geo News. After the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, his barrister Ali Gohar alleged that Khan was beaten and sustained injuries and he (Gohar) too was tortured. Gohar also said that the former PM was kicked by the Rangers on his leg which was injured by a bullet earlier and he was even pepper-sprayed. "Imran Khan's lawyer badly injured inside the premises of IHC. Black day for our democracy and country," tweeted PTI. He further said, "Rangers broke through the glass and entered the diary branch," adding that the Rangers personnel broke IHC's main gate before ransacking the IHC office. Meanwhile, the PTI has denounced the arrest of the party chairman calling it an "abduction" by the law enforcement agency, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and appealed to the supporters and workers to stage protests across the country. The former PM's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also released several videos on Twitter claiming that Khan was manhandled, pushed and detained in a fascist move. The PTI chief was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case before his appearance before the Islamabad High Court to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him, Geo News reported. Rangers took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi in a black Toyota Hilux Vigo. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who Rangers arrested from outside Islamabad High Court, had said earlier in the day that the Shehbaz Sharif government wants to put him in jail and he is ready for it. (ANI)
Amid the deteriorating situation in Pakistan after former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's arrest on Tuesday, the Indian defence forces are keeping a close watch on the developments there. "Indian defence forces are on a vigil and are keeping a close watch on the situation in Pakistan, in view of the developments there. Strong vigil being maintained by the forces along the Line of Control and the international border," defence sources told ANI here. PTI chief Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday from Islamabad High Court in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. The main concerns for the Indian side are that the Pakistan Army may try to open up a new front along the LoC by blaming Indian forces or other means to relieve the pressure from internal factors, the sources said. Till evening, the Pakistani troops had not cut down any numbers from forward locations with India but the situation may get clearer tomorrow, they added. India has been on high vigil to stop Pakistani infiltration already but now the situation is tense in Pakistan and there are fears that Pakistan Army may try something drastic to maintain supremacy in Pakistan. PTI chief Imran Khan's arrest has triggered several violent protests across Pakistan including at the the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the residence of the Corps Commander in Lahore, which was once the house of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday afternoon. People have taken to the streets, resorted to violence, arson and even raised many slogans to register their resentment against the arrest of ex-PM of Pakistan and PTI chief Imran Khan, across Pakistan including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Quetta, Mardan, Bannu, and Chilas. The protesting mob resorted to stone pelting on houses, offices and vehicles, burning banners and tyres and blocking roads. Several videos surfacing on social media platforms show groups of men, some with their faces covered, entering the gated premises of GHQ with sticks, which they later were seen using to hit the walls. Such violent protests are an aberration in the history of Pakistan, where citizens are seen vandalising the Pak Army GHQ and the residence of the Corps Commander, which has controlled the nation since its independence, showing the growing popularity of Imran Khan. Meanwhile, in Faisalabad, a mob pelted stones on Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's house. The PTI Chairman was taken into custody while on the grounds of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he was there for biometric verification in two cases. Five police officers have been injured in the protests while 43 protesters have been arrested. In the wake of these protests, section-144 has been implemented in Islamabad and in Peshawar. Khan has been detained in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, according to NAB, which has confirmed the development. According to the report, the NAB head issued the arrest warrants for him on May 1. Earlier, in an exclusive interview with ANI, Tilak Devasher, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) member and a security expert made similar speculations regarding the same, saying that India has to be on guard and should be more watchful after these developments in Pakistan. "We have to be on our guard as in recent cases the majority have shown that people who are there will try and divert attention from what is happening in Pakistan but as far as the army itself is concerned or the government, I think they are going to be very, very busy in the next couple of days," Tilak Devasher said. (ANI)
The US on Tuesday announced additional USD 1.2 billion security assistance package for Ukraine to boost the country's air defences and provide it with additional artillery ammunition. "Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package to reaffirm the steadfast US support for Ukraine, including bolstering its air defences and sustaining its artillery ammunition needs. This package, which totals up to USD 1.2 billion, is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)," the Defense Department said in a statement. The package underscores the continued US commitment to Ukraine "by committing critical near-term capabilities, such as air defence systems and munitions, while also building the capacity of Ukraine's armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term," added the statement. This includes committing additional 155 mm artillery rounds and sustainment support to enable Ukraine to better maintain its on-hand systems and equipment. The assistance comes in the form of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, which pay for the procurement of equipment from the defence industry or partners rather than providing equipment from existing US stocks. This avoids depleting US inventories but means the assistance will take longer to reach the battlefield. "Unlike Presidential Drawdown authority (PDA), which DoD has continued to leverage to deliver equipment to Ukraine from DoD stocks at a historic pace, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry or partners. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine," added the statement. The capabilities in this package include - Additional air defence systems and munitions; Equipment to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defence systems; Ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems; 155mm artillery rounds; Commercial satellite imagery services; and Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities. "The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements," added the statement. The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging an international coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in February 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries. Kyiv has pushed for some items that its international supporters have been reluctant to provide, including Patriot air defence systems and advanced heavy tanks -- which were eventually promised -- and others such as Western fighter aircraft, which have not been pledged so far. (ANI)
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Tuesday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the strengthening of strategic relations between India and Israel. With PM Modi, the Israeli Foreign Minister discussed expanding the Abraham Accords and also promoting a free trade agreement. Following his meeting with the PM, Cohen tweeted. "India is a world power, the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world. I spoke with PM Modi about strengthening the strategic relations between the countries, expanding the Abraham Accords, and promoting a free trade agreement that will boost Israel's economy." His tweet added, "I thanked him for his warm attitude towards the State of Israel and the Jewish community in India, and we agreed to continue to strengthen the excellent ties between Israel and India." Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen is on a three-day visit to India, however, he had to cut short his visit due to the security situation in Israel following Operation Shield and Arrow. Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has decided to cut short his India visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Cohen, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a three-day official visit, will now return to Israel after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday. Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under 'Operation Shield and Arrow', The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's senior leaders.Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip. During his day-long visit, Cohen also met his Indian Counterpart S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. In India, Cohen also led an economic delegation consisting of 36 Israeli businesspersons mainly from the fields of water management and agriculture. He also tweeted, "Strengthening the economic ties with one of the biggest powers in the world For my visit to India, I arrived at the head of an economic delegation of dozens of businessmen and company representatives. The trade potential between Israel and India is enormous, and today we have taken significant steps that will expand cooperation on the way to a free trade agreement, and contribute to the economies of both countries." Both countries noted the progress in I2U2 and held wide-ranging discussions on cooperation in security, economy, technology, innovation, connectivity and health. Foreign Minister Cohen also opened the CII India-Israel Business Forum. Three MoUs were signed during the event, marking a new era of cooperation and partnership between the business communities of both nations. During the visit, there was a signing of the framework of the agreement between Israel and India on the facilitation of the temporary employment of Indian workers in specific labour market sectors (caregivers and construction workers) in the State of Israel. Both countries also signed a letter of intent to establish two Centers of Water Technology in India. A project called World on Wheels (WoW Bus) was launched by the Embassy of Israel in India in the presence of Foreign Minister Cohen. The aim of this initiative is to facilitate digital literacy, personality development, and entrepreneurship training in rural parts of India. This is one of the many projects undertaken by the embassy with local partners in India in the field of education. (ANI)
One Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker was killed and six others were injured on Tuesday in a firing incident at a protest rally in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported. Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan blocked the main Quetta Airport Road to protest against his arrest. A firing incident took place in the PTI rally, The Express Tribune reported citing a senior police officer who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. PTI Balochistan President Munir Baloch accused the police of firing on the protesters. Baloch demanded an investigation into the incident. Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday. Angry protesters burnt two police vehicles parked near the rally and pelted stones as police used tear gas to disperse the supporters of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, as per The Express Tribune report. Protesters burnt tyres on the main Airport Road Chowk, suspending traffic movement between Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. The protesters blocked the main national highways in Balochistan which linked Pakistan with Iran and Afghanistan. According to a Balochistan police spokesperson, three police officers were injured when protesters fired on them, as per the news report. In order to maintain peace, the Balochistan government has announced Section 144. Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said that the government has imposed a ban on all kinds of political rallies and the display of weapons. PTI workers protested in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan, reported Geo News. In Karachi, protesters clashed with the police near Nursery. They pelted stones at police vehicles and tore down street lights. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the demonstrators. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindi's Murree Road. PTI supporters chanted "Release Imran Khan," and "Shut down Pakistan," in the streets of Lahore, Faizabad, Bannu, and Peshawar. "People of Lahore moving from Liberty towards Lahore Cantt," tweeted PTI's handle. Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC) -- acting on National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant. The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NAB's investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him. Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi, reported Geo News. Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. As per the charges, Khan and other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion -- 190 million pounds at the time -- sent by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government. They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University. (ANI)
Dallas police are investigating a north Oak Cliff shooting that killed one man and injured another Monday night, officials said.

The two victims were taken to a hospital in a private vehicle for treatment, according to police. Steven Mendoza, 20, died at the hospital. The other victim, a 21-year-old man, was in stable condition.

The shooting took place in the 800 block of South Tyler Street, officials said.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Scott Sayers at 214-671-3647 or scott.sayers@dallaspolice.gov.
[Source]

While some people travel to relax and unwind, others do it to experience different cultures and traditions, for which there is no better place to go than Asia.

When people say Asia is the most diverse continent on the planet, they really mean it. Its the largest continent on Earth, making up 30% of the planet's landmass and containing 60% of the world's population.

With all that being said, festivals in Asia are some of the most unique and diverse on the planet, celebrating customs, traditions and religious practices that vary from one country to another.

Even though most countries have already eased their travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still wise to look up the country you are visiting for any rules or guidelines you must follow when traveling there.

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If you and your friends are planning to travel to Asia, here are 10 festivals you'll want to consider adding to your itinerary.

Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul (Yeondeunghoe)

Lotus Lantern Festival, or Yeondeunghoe in Korean, is celebrated with bright, colorful lanterns in different shapes and forms, such as that of a person or an animal. This festival, which will be held in Seoul and many other places in South Korea in mid-May, is a celebration of the Buddhas birthday.

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UNESCO added this South Korean festival to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.

Mikuni Festival

Mikuni Festival  also called Mikuni Matsuri  is held in the town of Mikuni in the Sakai district of Fukui prefecture, Japan, every year in late May.

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The festival's highlight takes place a few days into the festivity when neighborhoods in the town create their versions of six-and-a-half-meter-tall floats of figures from Japanese history or legend for the parade that are accompanied by music.

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Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA)

Singapores annual International Festival of Arts (SIFA), which kicks off sometime in late May and runs up until early June, typically features several works of artists from different mediums, such as theater, music, dance, film and visual arts.

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Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Celebrated in late May on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong, this Taoist festival always turns up the notch on the festivities during the second to the last day.

People hold parades with children on floats called Piu Sik and compete in the famous Bun Tower Climbing competition, in which participants climb a tower of buns and try to grab as many of them as possible.

Dragon Boat Festival (China)

While the Dragon Boat Races are regarded as the most popular highlight of the Dragon Boat Festival in China, people in the country also celebrate the festival by hanging Chinese mugwort and calamus on doors to bring good luck to their families and ward off diseases.

Besides China, the Dragon Boat Festival, which was added to UNESCOs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, is also celebrated in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Singapore. It is also one of the four major traditional festivals in China, along with Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Qingming Festival.

Kadayawan Festival

One of the most highly anticipated festivals in the Philippines is without a doubt Davao Citys Kadayawan Festival, which highlights the citys culture and tradition.

Held annually every third week of August, Kadayawan Festival has everything you'll need for a fun and memorable experience in Davao, such as dancing in the streets, lively music and a massive colorful parade.

The Hungry Ghost Festival

Originating in China, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a special time of the year when the hungry spirits of the departed are allowed to roam the world of the living for one day and eat as many offerings as they want, according to Taoist and Chinese Buddhist beliefs.

The festival, known in Chinese as Zhong Yuan Jie, is celebrated on the seventh month of the year in the Lunar Calendar, which lands sometime between August and September. As part of the Chinese Buddhist tradition, people burn incense as a way to attract the spirits to eat the three meals they prepared.

Some cultures even organize local operas to entertain the spirits, leaving the front seats vacant for them to occupy.

Mid-Autumn Festival (Several Asian countries)

Like the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of Chinas four biggest festivals and the second-biggest after the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. The festival is celebrated on the 15th night of the eighth month in the Lunar Calendar, which typically lands between September and October.

During the celebration, families gather to spend time with each other, eat moon cakes and watch traditional performances. They also prepare offerings while worshiping the moon and its goddess, Change.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Caution: Not for the faint of heart!)

While the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand will make some quiver at the sight of blood and self-mutilation, the celebration is regarded as a religious festival in the country.

The nine-day festival, held in October to honor the Nine Emperor Gods, reaches its climax on the final day when devotees, all of whom wear white and have abstained from eating meat, having sex and other pleasures, puncture their cheeks with swords, knives and other sharp objects.

Some devotees also participate in the tradition of walking barefoot on burning coals.

Pushkar Camel Fair

Pushkar Camel Fair, one of Indias largest camel, horse and cattle fairs, will be held in November in Pushkar City in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The festival is filled with music, dancing and showcases of camels and other cattle adorned with colorful ornaments.
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Vanna White has been revealing letters on the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board for more than four decades and even hosted the popular TV game show in 2019. But shes never tried her luck as a contestantuntil now.

White, 66, will take her turn spinning and solving on Wednesday as part of a special Ultimate Host Night episode of Wheel. Guessing letters alongside her will be Jeopardy! emcees Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, with their winnings going to charity.

Its a rare opportunity more than 40 years in the making for White, who replaced model Susan Stafford as the shows full-time letter-turner in 1982. Her popularity quickly resulted in a wave of Vannamania, and she and Wheel host Pat Sajak have gone on to become one of the most iconic television duos of all-time.

In honor of Whites turn behind the wheel, here are a few things you might not know about the North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native.

White was adopted by her stepfather

Vanna Marie Rosich was born on February 18, 1957, to parents Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich. Whites father left when she was just a few months old. When she was 2, she was adopted by her stepfather, Herbert Stackley White Jr., and took his name. The two remained close throughout Vannas career and up until his death on April 1, 2022. She said on a 2021 episode of Wheel that she called him every morning to say good morning and that I love him.

She was a struggling actor before Wheel

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Prior to her big break on Wheel, White was a down-on-her-luck actor. She first moved to Los Angeles in 1979 after attending the Atlanta School of Fashion but returned home in 1980 to be with mother, who would soon die of ovarian cancer.

After returning to L.A., White had a handful of minor roles in films like Graduation Day (1981) and Gypsy Angels, which would not be released until years later in 1990. But she wasnt making a lot of money, telling the Associated Press in 1986 she slept on the floor of her apartment at one point because she didnt have a bed. She also tended bar and waited tables.

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She finally got the audition that would change her life in November 1982, impressing Wheel creator Merv Griffin. She was hired on Thanksgiving Eve. I was so nervous because I wanted this job so badly, White recalled. My knees were shaking; my mouth was quivering; I could hardly talk.

Whites first letter on Wheel was T

Up until 1997, White had to manually turn tiles on the puzzle wall as contestants guessed correct letters. Now the board is computerized, so she only has to touch the board to reveal correct letters. Computerization also means the board can be updated more quicklyallowing Wheel to tape a weeks worth of shows in one day.

In order to get the job done right, White is given the answers to the puzzles in advance so she knows where the letters are located. Even so, she once turned around the wrong letter to a puzzle, which had to be thrown out.

White has repeated only one outfit

According to her home page on the Wheel of Fortune site, White has worn more than 7,000 ensembles during her time on the show. After a nearly 40-year streak of wearing a different outfit for each episode, she finally repeated one in September 2020. The show also has a Pinterest page dedicated to Whites wardrobe in case Wheel watchers are ever looking for inspiration.

White received a Guinness record for clapping

In 2013, the Guinness Book of World Records deemed White the most frequent clapper in television history. By 2015, it was estimated that White had clapped more than 3.7 million times over her 32 seasons on the show to encourage contestants. That works out to an average of 606 claps per episode. An updated estimate in 2022 suggested her number of claps had grown to more than 4.5 million.

White likes to crochet

White doesnt waste time at the studio when she isnt on camera. In the makeup room and between takes, you can often find her crocheting. I love making handmade gifts, she says. People just dont do it anymore It is just special. I made a baby blanket for both of my children and brought them home from the hospital in them, and they will always have them.

White appeared inand suedPlayboy

A lot of fans were shocked when White was featured in the May 1987 issue of Playboy magazine. According to The Washington Post, White appeared on the cover wearing only a long-sleeve shirt, and the inside spread featured her seminude in suggestive poses. However, White didnt pose for the magazine; the photos were actually from 1982 and later purchased by Hugh Hefner.

White subsequently filed a $5.2 million lawsuit against Playboy, claiming the photos would tarnish her image, and also sued Hefner in federal court. But by later that year, White dropped both suits. She also offered a public apology during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

White really profits from slot machines

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Whites net worth is estimated to be around $85 millionwith a salary of around $10 million for her role on Wheel. But according to Brian Warner of Celebrity Net Worth, White actually makes more money per year, around $15 million, by licensing her name and image for casino slot machines. As of 2022, there were 250 iterations of Wheel slot machines in use that have paid out more than $3.3 billion since their debut in 1996.

Shes made plenty of TV cameos



Although her acting career prior to Wheel was a struggle, White has parlayed her role on the show into a number of guest appearances on scripted TV programs. According to IMDb, she most recently appeared as herself on the ABC comedy Fresh Off the Boat in 2017. She has also had cameo roles on episodes of The A-Team, 227, L.A. Law, Full House, Just Shoot Me!, Married... With Children, and The King of Queens.

White was also a participant on another big game show before she became famous. She made it to contestants row during an episode of The Price Is Right on June 20, 1980.

White likes to give back

On Wednesdays Ultimate Host episode of Wheel, White is playing for the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, which isnt a coincidence. Shes raised money for the institution before.

Seeing an opportunity to do good with her crocheting hobby, White created her own line of yarns called Vannas Choice through Lion Brand. She has donated half of the proceeds to St. Jude, with over $2 million raised as of April 2019.

Having grown up in the South, it reminds me of my roots, White said of St. Jude. My mother passed away from cancer, and many of my family members have had cancer. Im fortunate to have two healthy kids. And Im happy to do my part to help St. Jude help children get healthy.
From the late 19th century and well into the 20th century, the Kinzua Viaduct was vital to locomotives traveling through northwestern Pennsylvania to reach McKean County's supply of coal, timber and oil. The viaduct was built over the Kinzua Gorge to avoid having to construct an additional 8 miles of track over rough terrain.

Construction began in 1881 and upon completion in 1882, it became the highest and longest railroad viaduct in the world, gaining recognition by some as the "eighth wonder of the world."

Even after it closed to freight traffic in 1959, the viaduct, which is a type of bridge that passes over natural features such as valleys, remained a landmark for decades. Tourists took rides on excursion trains starting in the 1980s, and the viaduct was on track for safety restoration in the 2000s when a worst-case scenario occurred.

17. July 1971. AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE II, ERIE RAILWAY SURVEY. - Erie Railway, Bradford Division, Bridge 27.66, Spanning Kinzua Creek Valley, 1.5 miles northeast of Kushequa, Mount Jewett, McKean County, PA. (Boucher, Jack E.)

The Kinzua Viaduct, located 115 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, was built by 40 workers in just 94 days and built from tubular wrought iron columns. It was operated by the Erie Railroad and measured 301 feet high and 2,053 feet long, according to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. However, at the turn of the century, massive locomotives - which were 85 percent heavier - led to the viaduct needing reinforcement, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Reconstruction of the viaduct began on May 24, 1900, and lasted for four months. The revamped viaduct was made from 3,358 short tons of steel and required up to 150 workers to put in about 10 hours of work a day. The middle tower of the viaduct was demolished and only took seven days to reconstruct. The viaduct reopened on Sept. 25, 1900.

Kinzua Bridge, prior to its destruction by a tornado. Kinzua Bridge State Park, McKean County, Pennsylvania. (IvoShandor/Wikimedia)

The Kinzua Viaduct remained open for decades to both steam and diesel locomotives. By the 1950s, the viaduct had aged to the point where new weight and speed limits were issued - resulting in steam engines having to stop at the viaduct to let one train cross at a time. The last steam engine crossed its tracks in October 1950, according to Explore PA History.

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The viaduct was retired in 1959 and remained unused for years. The original plan called for the viaduct to be scrapped, but once its historic value was recognized the viaduct was sold to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1963 for public recreation use.

The site became a state park in 1970 - known officially as Kinzua Bridge State Park - and was added to the National Register of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks in 1977. Excursion trains for tourists began to run in 1987 and lasted 15 years before the area was closed due to structural concerns. The last train went over the viaduct in 2002.

During an inspection in 2002, engineers found sections of steel had been rusted through, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Engineers were also concerned about the possibility of high winds causing lateral pressure on the viaduct - which could shift the center of gravity and result in the viaduct collapsing. As a result, the DCNR decided to end excursion trains and ban pedestrian traffic.

As it turned out, the engineers were dead on about the risks of high winds. On July 21, 2003, a powerful tornado touched down and wiped out the structure in a flash.

Kinzua Bridge, prior to its destruction by a tornado. Kinzua Bridge State Park, McKean County, Pennsylvania. (IvoShandor/Wikimedia)

Efforts were made to stabilize the viaduct after it closed. In February 2003, emergency repairs and construction began and were still ongoing in July 2003 when the disaster unfolded.

At about 3 p.m. EDT on that fateful July day, construction workers were continuing the viaduct's restoration when it began to rain. The construction supervisor told his crew to pack up early for the day due to an incoming storm.

The workers were instructed to head to a nearby motel to ride out the storm, but harsh weather began before many made it down the road from the viaduct.

"As we were leaving, the wind started to pick up and by the time we got to the park entrance, it was blowing hard and trees were falling all around us," construction crewmember Kenneth Feille wrote in his eyewitness account.

Many became stuck as they attempted to continue down the road toward the motel.

"As we were leaving we came to the end of the road. We got stop [sic] by falling trees, heavy rain. You couldn't even see in front of you," construction worker Shawn McVey wrote in his eyewitness account.

Some workers caught in the storm noted their truck rocking back and forth and a nearby guard shack being lifted.

Radar of storm that produced a tornado that caused the Kinzua Bridge to collapse.

"As soon as it came it was gone. We then ran down over the trees and valley and noticed the viaduct was down," Kevin Helmandollar, another construction crew member, wrote in his eyewitness account.

What the crew didn't know was that at about 3:20 p.m. EDT, a tornado formed about 1 mile from the structure and continued for about 2.5 miles. The tornado's path of damage included the viaduct.

In less than 30 seconds, over a century of history collapsed as the tornado destroyed most of the viaduct with winds over 90 mph. The tornado's vortex impacted the viaduct from the east and south, causing it to collapse in three phases.

More than half of the spans and 11 supporting towers collapsed from the tornado. Remarkably, three towers were picked up from their foundations, moved slightly and set back down intact, held together by just the railroad tracks. Those three towers eventually collapsed due to the twister's strong winds. The tornado was rated an F1 with a max wind speed of up to 112 mph. No fatalities or injuries were reported as a result of the tornado.

An investigation attributed the collapse to badly rusted iron base bolts that held the bases of the towers to concrete anchor blocks. The entire structure had oscillated laterally up to five times before the base bolts failed.

Following the collapse, a public discussion took place for years about the future of the site. Rebuilding the viaduct would have cost an estimated $45 million, according to Society for Industrial Archeology. In 2005, the DCNR proposed constructing a new observation deck, known as the skywalk, and a visitor center. The plan included a hiking trail that would take visitors to a spot where they could view the fallen towers.

The skywalk was constructed using six of the steel towers that remained after the tornado, according to the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. The skywalk, which opened in 2011 to pedestrians, is situated over 200 feet above the valley floor and extends over 624 feet into the Kinzua Gorge.

The portions of the viaduct that were damaged by the tornado remain on the valley floor, according to Penn Live. The hiking trail to the bottom provides visitors with an up-close look at the destroyed viaduct, an opportunity for folks to get a sense of how the wondrous structure and "engineering masterpiece" once towered over the valley.

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A sheriff's deputy stands in front of a photo of fentanyl-laced pills during a 2021 announcement in Los Angeles of federal charges against suspected drug dealers. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Thirteen people suspected of selling fentanyl-laced drugs that caused at least a dozen fatal overdoses in Southern California have been arrested, federal authorities said Tuesday.

One of the men arrested, Dominick Kingdiamond Alvarado, 22, of Tarzana, is suspected of selling fake Percocet pills tainted with fentanyl to teenagers at a Santa Clarita shopping mall, causing the overdose deaths of a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, prosecutors said.

Another man arrested, Heriberto Galvan 24, of North Hollywood, is suspected of selling fentanyl to a 19-year-old man from La Canada Flintridge who was found dead in his car the next day, they said.

Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, announced the arrests of Alvarado, Galvan and 11 others at a Los Angeles news conference with regional directors of the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI, along with local law enforcement brass.

"The cases announced today charge drug dealers who have caused the death or injury of others and thereby prioritized greed over human life," Estrada said.

Attorneys for Alvarado and Galvan, who were arrested last week, could not be reached.

Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, has been killing about 70,000 Americans a year, federal authorities say.

Mexican cartels and other suppliers put it in counterfeit painkillers, cocaine and other drugs that are often sold to young buyers who do not understand the high risk of death. Dealers often use social media to arrange the sales.

Over the last five years, the DEA has led an overdose task force that works with local law enforcement in Southern California to target dealers selling poisoned drugs that result in fatal fentanyl overdoses. With the latest cluster of cases, federal prosecutors have filed charges against 64 people suspected of drug dealing.

Under federal law, drug sales that result in death can carry a mandatory prison sentence of 20 years.

In another case made public Tuesday, a Jefferson Park man, Adrian Benavides-Schorgi, 22, was charged with selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that led to the life-threatening overdoses of two 15-year-old girls in Santa Monica who thought they were buying ecstasy, prosecutors said.

Terra Castillo Laughton, an attorney for Benavides-Schorgi, declined to comment.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Marques Walker, left, has been sentenced to life for the murder of Jermaine Cools, right

A 16-year-old who was on bail for carrying a Zombie knife when he murdered a 14-year-old with a machete has been jailed for life.

Jermaine Cools was fatally stabbed in Croydon, south London, on Nov 18 2021. The unarmed child was the youngest fatality involving knife crime in the capital that year.

His 16-year-old killer, Marques Walker, had a history of carrying deadly weapons and had been on bail for carrying a large blade just six weeks before.

Showing no remorse, he wrote about the murder in rap lyrics saying: "Even if that youth was a civilian I would still rewind and chef up [stab] his back."

Judge Sarah Munro sentences Marques Walker to 19 years in jail for murdering Jermaine Cools

Walker, now aged 17, pleaded guilty to murder, possessing a knife and causing grievous bodily harm to a fellow inmate while in youth detention after the killing.

On Tuesday, Walker became the first youth to be sentenced on television as he was detained for life at the Old Bailey with a minimum term of 19 years.

Judge Sarah Munro KC, who was briefly interrupted by angry shouting from the public gallery, said: "This is yet another case of the senseless murder of a young teenager committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom."

She said Walker stabbed Jermaine "mercilessly" and the victim "must have been terrified and in agony". Jermaine's mother Lorraine Dudek described the failure to deal with Walker's knife-carrying habit as a "missed opportunity".

She said: "Had it been addressed earlier he would not have had the opportunity to go out to kill. Young males get caught with a knife, the knife gets confiscated. Within an hour they get another one from Snapchat or social media.

"Stop and search has its place and it's very, very good for removing weapons but the follow-up has to be there.

"When Jermaine got stopped and searched I was happy about it. Some parents complain about their children being stopped and searched - that could be the deterrent that stops them."

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Victim blaming

Ms Dudek told how the family had witnessed "victim blaming" as people struggled to accept that boys with no gang connection could be "stabbed for no reason".

But she said: "People don't realise it can just be anyone's child."

The court heard how Walker, from Bromley, Kent, was caught on CCTV footage calmly walking towards Jermaine and drawing a machete from his coat. Jermaine either fell or was pushed to the ground before the youth ran towards him and repeatedly lunged at him with the blade.

Zombie knife seized by police in Croydon

Police identified the defendant from CCTV footage but he went to ground, sleeping on the sofas of friends for nearly six weeks.

On Dec 27 2021, he was found at an address hiding behind a bed and initially gave a false name to officers. The court was told the defendant had previously been caught carrying three large knives.

The court heard Walker was convicted of possession of a knife in February 2020, while a year 7 pupil at Meridian High School, in Croydon. In April 2021, Walker dropped a knife in a police chase when he was being monitored in a "county lines" drug operation.

However, a prosecution for possession of a knife was dropped the following March on the grounds that Walker was a victim of modern slavery.

Six weeks before Jermaines murder, on Oct 6, 2021, Walker was caught with the Zombie knife while travelling on a bus through Croydon.

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More than a week after 16 workers were hospitalized with severe burns following a garment factory explosion in the central Bangladeshi city of Gazipur, answers are still scarce.

The cause of the blast at Cotton Club (BD) in Kashimpur, which occurred at 8:30 a.m. on May 1, was believed to have been a gas leak, local media reported. While the Mondol Group-owned facility was closed in observance of May Day, it wasnt empty. The victims, who were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment, included day laborers, electricians, security guards, a cleaner, a human resources officer, a line manager, a sample man and a sewing operator. All of them were working in or around the compressor room where the air ignited after a rogue spark, eyewitnesses and fire officials said. The factory typically employs 3,500 people.

More from Sourcing Journal

Mondol Group did not respond to multiple emails requesting comment. Nor did the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the trade group to which it belongs.

The International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, which covers Cotton Club (BD) through signatories such as Mango, Zara owner Inditex and Zalando, was similarly unresponsive. The timing of the accident was especially inauspicious: The fashion industry recently commemorated the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed 1,134 garment workers in Savar. The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, which the International Accord succeeded in 2021, was meant to spot fire, structural and boiler risks before they took a turn for the worse, preventing other Rana Plazas. It also turns 10 this month.

But Paul Rigby, CEO of Nirapon, the safety group that replaced the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the Accords non-legally binding rival, after its expiration in 2018, said that it would be inappropriate to speculate about what happened at this stage. Nirapon, too, he confirmed, has Cotton Club (BD) under its purview through its member Kontoor Brands, better known as the parent company of Lee and Wrangler. He explained that there was a delay in getting information because Bangladesh was just coming out of Eid al-Fitr, one of the Muslim calendars holiest days.

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This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the people that have been injured and their families, he said.

Zobaidur Rahman Soeb, head of media and communications at the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), which took over the practical functions of the Accord in Bangladesh in 2020, acknowledged that the factory is among those it covers. He noted, however, that the organization wont be in a position of commenting until it completes its post-incident inspection.

Though Mango last refreshed its data in the Open Supply Hub in January, a spokesperson from the Spanish retailer told Sourcing Journal that it hasnt worked with Cotton Club (BD) since 2021. Larisse Mac Donald, a representative from Zalando said that the e-tailer worked indirectly with the factory through one of its suppliers and that it is deeply saddened by the incident. Inditex and Kontoor Brands did not respond to requests for a statement.

Nazma Akter, founder and executive director of Awaj Foundation, a garment worker advocacy group based in Dhaka, said that it was deeply ironic that the accident happened on May Day, which is also known as International Workers Day.

My heart is heavy and saddened that on a day like May Day, 16 workers were burnt and severely injured, Akter told Sourcing Journal. The international brandsthose who are producing in the factorymust be held responsible. No worker should lose their life due to a lack of occupational health and safety.

While questions abound about where audits and inspections lapsed, the needs of the victims involved are in no doubt, said Christie Miedema, campaign and outreach coordinator at the Clean Clothes Campaign, the garment industrys largest consortium of labor organizations and one of the Accords witness signatories. Some have burns covering one-third of their bodies. Others suffered damage to their respiratory tracts.

These tragic events should be investigated immediately and thoroughly, resulting in a public report that can help understand how this incident could happen and how workers ended up in harms way, she said. The brands that sourced from this factory should seek out the workers and ensure that they receive all the medical treatments they need.

Click here to read the full article.
A 2-year-old girl was standing in front of a homes front door when she was killed in a drive-by shooting, according to authorities in Texas. She was one of six children at the home during the shooting.

Officers were called to the San Antonio home at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, Police Chief William McManus said during a news conference recorded by KSAT.

A toddler inside the home was found fatally shot, McManus said.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office identified the child as Mackenzie Hernandez Garcia, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

A 2-year-old baby who happened to be standing in front of the door was struck down, McManus said.

Authorities do not believe the girl was the intended target.

Unfortunately she was in the wrong spot when the shooting occurred, McManus said.

The police department has confirmed she was killed in a drive-by shooting, and investigators have identified a potential suspect. Authorities are not releasing that persons name.

Hopefully that lead will pay off and lead to an arrest, he said.

The San Antonio Police Department is requesting the publics help in identifying a pickup truck that was seen speeding away from the scene after the shooting.

The pickup appears to be a black in color Chevy with chrome rims and a temporary license plate, officials said.

The person who did this  this is a pathetic act, where no consideration was taken about who might be hurt as a result of the shooting, McManus said. Absolutely pathetic.

The other children in the home, ages 2 through 6, were not hurt, according to the police chief.

Police said the home has not been a problem house, and its believed a single incident led to the shooting.

Preliminary information suggests a woman in the home was babysitting area children, McManus said, but this information has not been confirmed. Child Protective Services is investigating.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  California will pay a $24 million civil rights settlement to the family of a man who died in police custody after screaming I can't breathe as multiple officers restrained him while trying to take a blood sample, lawyers said Tuesday.

Seven California Highway Patrol officers and a nurse were charged with involuntary manslaughter earlier this year in connection with the 2020 death of Edward Bronstein, age 38.

Annee Della Donna and Eric Dubin, attorneys for Bronstein's young children, said it's the largest civil rights settlement of its kind by the state of California, and the second largest nationally since the city of Minneapolis paid $27 million in the George Floyd case. The attorneys scheduled a news conference in Los Angeles for Wednesday to provide details.

The settlement comes amid renewed scrutiny of potentially fatal restraints following last week's death of a New York City subway rider, Jordan Neely, who was placed in a chokehold by a U.S. Marine veteran. Bronstein's death also echoes that of Eric Garner, a New Yorker put in a chokehold by police in 2014 and whose dying words I cant breathe became a chant in protests against racial injustice. Both Garner and Neely were Black.

The Los Angeles County coroner said Bronsteins death was caused by acute methamphetamine intoxication during restraint by law enforcement. The report lists Bronsteins race as white.

Bronstein was taken into custody following a traffic stop on suspicion of driving under the influence on March 31, 2020. He died at a highway patrol station in Altadena, north of downtown Los Angeles, less than two months before Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota as he, too, repeatedly told officers, I cant breathe.

When announcing the criminal charges in March, LA County District Attorney George Gascon said the highway patrol officers failed Bronstein, "and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death.

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A nearly 18-minute video showing the officers treatment of Bronstein was released last year following a judges order in the family's federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and a violation of civil rights.

Family members have said Bronstein was terrified of needles and they believe thats why he was reluctant to comply with the CHP initially as they tried to take a blood sample.

The video, filmed by the sergeant, shows several officers forcing a handcuffed Bronstein to a mat on the floor as he shouts, Ill do it willingly! Ill do it willingly, I promise!

He continues screaming as six officers hold him face-down  the lawsuit alleged they put their knees on his back  and pleads for help.

Its too late, one officer replies. Stop yelling! another shouts.

I cant breathe! and I cant! Bronstein cries, and an officer responds, Just relax and stop resisting!

But Bronsteins voice gets softer and he then falls silent. While he is unresponsive, the nurse continues to draw blood and the officers keep pinning him down.

After they realize he may not have a pulse and does not appear to be breathing, they slap his face and say, Edward, wake up.

Bronstein never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead.

In a statement, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee extended condolences to the family and said he would respect the judicial process. His office didnt immediately respond Tuesday to request for comment on the settlement.

The officers, who were put on administrative leave in March, face one count each of involuntary manslaughter and one felony count of assault under the color of authority. If convicted, they could get up to four years in prison. The registered nurse was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Bronsteins death prompted the CHP to change its policies to prevent officers from using techniques or transport methods that involve a substantial risk of positional asphyxia, the agency said. Additional training was also ordered for uniformed officers.

In September 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law barring police from using certain face-down holds that have led to multiple unintended deaths. The bill was aimed at expanding on the states ban on chokeholds in the wake of Floyds murder.
The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots.

Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.

Youve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants youve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how theyre calculated.

Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties for the week of May 3-9.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County sanitation grades database shows that 57 inspections were completed between May 3 and May 9.

 Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.

 Four restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

Barcelona Wine Bar (430 W. Martin St. in Raleigh) received a score of 87% during an inspection on May 8.

The restaurant was in violation of 22 standards. Of these, 11 were considered critical violations.

Critical violations included using a handwashing sink as a dump sink, prepared food sitting directly beside a handwashing sink without a splash guard in between and missing labels on sanitizer buckets containing toxic materials.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored 95% in February 2023 and 94% in September 2022.

Chutneys (4121 Davis Dr. in Morrisville) received a score of 90% during an inspection on May 4.

The restaurant was in violation of 11 standards. Of these, six were considered critical violations.

Critical violations included a tray of biryani rice cooling on top of trashcan, a two-week old open bag of veggie patties in the reach-in cooler and a bottle of ibuprofen found stored on the shelf with spices.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored 93% in December 2022 and 87% in November 2022.

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Hako Sushi (2603-115 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 155 in Raleigh) received a score of 89.5% on May 4.

The restaurant was in violation of 10 standards. Of these, five were considered critical violations.

Critical violations included glassware soiled with lip stains and dried food debris, multiple raw food items (including chicken, beef, shrimp and quail eggs) stored above ready-to-eat food in the prep cooler and unlabeled bottles of sanitizer and cleaners.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored 94% in October 2022 and 92.5% in May 2022.

Jumbo China (404-183 E Six Forks Rd. in Raleigh) received a score of 86% on May 5.

The restaurant was in violation of 14 standards. Of these, eight were considered critical violations.

Critical violations included not having a food thermometer, handling raw chicken then immediately handling ready-to-eat foods without a handwashing step in between and multiple knives and food containers soiled with food debris were stored as clean.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored 96% in October 2022 and 90% in May 2022.

 No restaurants received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but less than 80%.

 No restaurants received a failing grade, or a score below 70%.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County at wake-nc.healthinspections.us.

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows 24 restaurant inspections were completed between May 3 and May 9.

 Most restaurants received an A grade.

 No restaurants received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

 One restaurant received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but lower than 80%.

GG Taste of Chicago Fish & Chicken (826 Fayetteville St., Ste. 103 in Durham) received a score of 78.5% on May 4.

The restaurant was in violation of 21 standards. Of these, 10 were considered critical violations.

Critical violations included blue green mold-like growth on the uncooked gyro meat in a six-door cooler, much of the produce in the six-door cooler had mold and soiled dishes in the clean dish area.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored 86.5% in January 2023 and 95% in April 2022.

 No restaurants received a failing grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County at bit.ly/3pVQfpG.

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows eight restaurants were inspected between May 3 and May 9.

 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County at bit.ly/3eQqpxc.

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County sanitation inspections database shows 20 restaurants were inspected between May 3 and May 9.

 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Johnston County at johnston-nc.healthinspections.us.

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspections management system shows three restaurants were inspected between May 3 and May 9.

 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Chatham County at bit.ly/3JfiHwq.
[Source]

Four Asian people lost their lives in the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas, over the weekend, a grim incident that adds to more than 200 mass shootings in the U.S. so far into the year.

A total of eight victims were killed in the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, which occurred just after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The mall sits in the 800 block of West Stacy Road near U.S. Highway 75.

Kyu, Cindy and James Cho were among the victims. The Korean American family had just celebrated their son Williams 6th birthday four days prior and were at the mall to exchange some clothes he had received.

William survived the shooting, but his parents and 3-year-old brother James did not. A GoFundMe page organized for their loved ones has so far raised $1.2 million.

More from NextShark: Filipino fast food chain Jollibee to open flagship in Times Square with exclusive new menu

The family is in deep mourning, the page reads. After being released from the ICU, their 6-year-old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, an Indian engineer, was also killed in the incident.

She was reportedly out with a friend, who was also shot but survived.

More from NextShark: Man May Face Cyberbullying Charges in Death of 'Terrace House' Star Hana Kimura

Thatikonda moved to the U.S. five years ago to pursue a masters degree at Eastern Michigan University. She graduated in 2020.

As the nation has to once again grapple with a senseless act of gun violence, we share our condolences with Aishwaryas family and friends, the university said in a statement. She will forever be remembered as a strong Eastern Michigan University Eagle.

The other deceased victims include sisters and elementary students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, mall security guard Christian LaCour and Dallas resident Elio Cumana-Rivas.

More from NextShark: Netflix drops trailer for romantic K-drama series Welcome To Wedding Hell featuring Lee Jin-wook

Six more people reportedly remained hospitalized as of Monday morning, three of whom were in critical condition.

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The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, was shot dead by a police officer who was near the location at the time of the incident.

Investigation into his motive continues.

More from NextShark: Chicago police searching for man who pointed gun at local news crew reporting on gun violence

Authorities believe Garcia had made anti-women, anti-Jewish and anti-POC posts on Russian social media platform OK.ru. A post from the day of the shooting suggested what appeared to be mental struggles.

Even if I did go to a psychologist, their (sic) not going to be able to fix with whatevers wrong with me. Besides that sh*ts expensive, the post reportedly stated.

Saturdays incident adds to more than 200 mass shootings recorded so far in 2023, according to nonprofit Gun Violence Archive (GVA). All incidents involved at least four people  other than the attacker  getting shot.
A memorial for Athena Brownfield is pictured Tuesday on a the front porch of a home in Cyril.

ANADARKO  The 4-year-old Cyril girl who was the subject of an intensive search last week was beaten to death late Christmas Day, prosecutors alleged in a murder charge made public Tuesday.

The search for Athena Brownfield eventually became a recovery operation. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation disclosed Tuesday afternoon a child's remains have been found.

A caretaker, Ivon Neil Adams III, 36, is accused in a first-degree murder count of striking Athena multiple times at their home Dec. 25. He is accused in a child neglect count of leaving her 5-year-old sister alone on Jan. 6.

He was charged Thursday in Caddo County District Court after his wife, Alysia Adams, spoke to the OSBI.

His wife "confessed" that he beat Athena about midnight Christmas Day and held her up by her arms, an OSBI agent reported in a court affidavit.

Previously: One caretaker of missing 4-year-old girl accused of murder and child neglect

Athena "was not moving and her eyes were barely open," she said, according to the affidavit. "He then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in her chest."

Athena "never moved after that."

A missing person sign for Athena Brownfield is pictured Tuesday in Cyril.

He left about 1 a.m. Dec. 26 and later "told Alysia that he buried her near a fence line that was next to their old residence in Rush Springs," according to the affidavit. "He informed her he placed a large broken branch over the burial site."

OSBI: Child's body found during search for missing Cyril girl Athena Brownfield

The search for Athena began on Jan. 10 after a postal carrier found her sister wandering outside in Cyril about 2 p.m. The OSBI announced on Monday that the search had become a recovery operation.

The OSBI said Tuesday in a news advisory the remains of a child were recovered in rural Grady County outside of Rush Springs.

"At this time, the OSBI cannot confirm the remains are those of Athena Brownfield. The remains will be transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in Oklahoma City for positive identification."

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Athena Brownfield

The 5-year-old was placed in protective custody, the OSBI said last week. She disclosed "she had been home alone and she is tired of being alone," according to the affidavit.

Ivon Adams was arrested Thursday in Arizona in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix. He agreed Friday to return to Oklahoma to fight the accusations. He remained Tuesday in the Maricopa County jail.

His bail is set at $1 million.

Alysia Adams, 31, also was arrested Thursday, in Oklahoma.

She was charged Tuesday in Caddo County District Court with two counts of child neglect. Her bail is set at $500,000.

She is accused in the first count of failing to properly supervise the 5-year-old. She is accused in the second count of failing to protect Athena from physical abuse.

Her attorney, Al Hoch, is asking for a gag order to limit publicity in the case and is not making any statements to the media.

A memorial for Athena Brownfield is pictured Tuesday on a the front porch of a home in Cyril.

The OSBI disclosed Monday that Athena and her sister were related to Alysia Adams.

"The girls' biological parents have been interviewed by agents and are cooperating with the investigation," the OSBI said.

The girls' mother left them with Alysia and Ivon Adams a year and a half to two years ago, according to the court affidavit. The 5-year-old said she called Alysia "mom" and "Aly" and called Ivon "dad" and "Uncle Ivon."

This image, provided by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, shows a missing persons flyer for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield. Hundreds searched for her last week after Cyril police learned she was missing. Prosecutors now say she was killed Christmas Day.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ivon Adams accused of killing Athena Brownfield on Christmas Day
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation. Leon Neal/Getty Images

King Charles III posed for his first official portrait as monarch following his coronation on May 6.

Hugo Burnand photographed Charles in full regalia in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.

The chair Charles sits on carries historical significance, and his robes belonged to King George VI.

King Charles III's first official portrait as monarch, taken by royal photographer Hugo Burnand, features the king in his coronation regalia holding objects of significance from the ceremony.

Burnand, who photographed Charles and Queen Camilla's wedding in 2005 and Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, wrote on Instagram that it was "an unbelievable honour to have been asked to take these pictures."

"I hope I have done justice to our very wonderful King and his Queen," he wrote. "Long Live The King!"

Here are five hidden details you may have missed in Charles' royal portrait, pictured below:

King Charles III's first official portrait as monarch following his coronation on May 6, 2023. Hugo Burnand/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images

Charles posed in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace

The Throne Room features throne chairs made for the coronations of Queen Elizabeth II and King George VI, as well as a throne chair made for Queen Victoria, according to the Royal Collection Trust.

William and Kate also posed for their wedding portraits in the same room.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pose for an official wedding portrait with their families in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. Handout/Reuters

The chair he's seated on carries historical significance

According to the photo caption provided by the palace, Charles sits on one of a pair of throne chairs made for King George V and Queen Mary for King Edward VII's coronation in 1902.

The chairs also appeared in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's 1937 coronation portrait.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother pose for their official coronation portrait at Buckingham Palace on May 12, 1937. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

He holds the Sovereign's Sceptre in his right hand and the Sovereign's Orb in his left

The Sovereign's Sceptre dates back to 1611. It features the 530.2-carat Cullinan I diamond, the largest colorless cut diamond in the world. Also known as the Great Star of Africa, it is the largest stone cut from the original Cullinan diamond discovered by Frederick G.S. Wells in South Africa 1905. It was given to Edward VII in 1907 and added to the Sceptre in 1910. The Sceptre "represents the sovereign's temporal power and is associated with good governance," according to the Royal Collection Trust.

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The Sovereign's Orb features a cross on top of a globe, symbolizing the monarch's power and position in the Christian world. It is encrusted with emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, as well as rows of rose-cut diamonds and pearls. The Orb dates back to 1661.

Charles held both objects during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

King Charles (center) leaves Westminster Abbey after the coronation, wearing the Imperial State Crown and Robes of Estate. Ben Birchall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Charles wears the Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown that Charles wears in the portrait, made for King George VI in 1937, features 2,868 diamonds, St Edward's Sapphire, and Cullinan II, the second-largest stone cut from the original Cullinan diamond. The crown is also worn by the monarch for the State Opening of Parliament, according to the Royal Collection Trust.

His Robes of Estate were previously worn by his grandfather, King George VI

As Insider's Erin McDowell reported, monarchs have historically worn brand-new robes for their coronations, but Charles reused robes from previous rulers "in the interests of sustainability and efficiency," according to a Buckingham Palace press release. In the portrait, Charles wears the purple silk and velvet robes embroidered with gold that George VI wore for his 1937 coronation.

Read the original article on Insider


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For the past few years, the world has been fascinated by the unfolding drama of Prince Harry and Prince Williams sibling conflict. But they arent the only ones to see a close sibling bond fall apart amid the public pressures of their roles.

In royal families, theres only one throne to sit on, so there have been feuds over who gets to reign. Some heirs lower down in the line of succession have criticized the current king or queen or attempted to seize power themselves. Other royals have fallen out over who will be forced to wear the crown.

From how Cleopatras rule in Egypt affected her siblings to conflicts between princely brothers, these five famous royal feuds are examples of what can go awry in royal families. There are the highest of stakes in these conflicts: the losers may be imprisoned, exiled, or even executed.

A Deepening Rift Between U.K.s Prince Harry and Prince William

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Growing up, William, the Prince of Wales, and Harry, the Duke of Sussex, were assigned specific roles in the family, like many royal children before them: William was the heir to the throne and Harry the spare. The two were treated differently by family members; the press also varied in its coverage of the young princes. Harry was roundly condemned (and rightfully so) in 2005 when he chose to wear a Nazi uniform and swastika armband to a costume party. But William, whod helped select his younger brothers outfit, wasnt mentioned. It wasnt the only time the media would treat Harry as a scandal-prone troublemaker while William escaped criticism. Even so, the princes werent always at oddsthe death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997 forged a lasting bond.

But in 2017, William counseled a lovestruck Harry not to rush his relationship with Meghan Markle. The younger prince didnt appreciate the advice. After he and Markle wed in 2018, Harry resented William for not doing more to welcome the American actor into the royal family. Harry says William physically attacked him early in 2019 during a fight about the Duchess of Sussex. According to Harry, during the altercation, William insulted Meghan, which Harry blamed on his brothers believing negative tabloid accounts of Meghans behavior. In March 2019, William and Harrys royal households, which handle communications and royal engagements, split apart.

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Shop Now Battle of Brothers: William and Harry  The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult $14.25 amazon.com

After the separation, William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, continued living at Kensington Palace in London, while Harry and Meghan left Kensington for Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. At the time, the split was said to be a practical decision that would allow each prince to forge his own identity. Later accounts, such as the 2020 book Battle of Brothers: William and Harry  The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, said the separation was part of their ongoing feud, as William believed his sister-in-law had an agenda that could hurt the monarchy.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan publicly announced their intention to step back as senior members of the British Royal Family. The pair initially wanted to maintain some royal ties, but the royal family didnt approve. In a meeting between Harry, William, then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, Harry says his brother screamed at him. After the meeting, a joint statement was released to deny rumors that William had bullied Harrybut Harry said in the 2022 Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan that this was done without his knowledge. He said royal staffers were happy to lie to protect my brother.

Since moving to California, Harry has openly discussed how his family and the British press have treated him. Besides the Netflix documentary, there was a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the release of his memoir, Spare, this January. These actions all reportedly angered William. The brothers rift has deepened, and Harry feels his brother is now on the institutions side. He expressed love for William in his memoir but also called his brother his archnemesis. Harry said, There has always been this competition between us, weirdly. I think it really plays into, or was played by, the heir/spare.

A Decades-Long Rivalry Boils Over for Jordans King Abdullah II and Prince Hamzah bin Hussein

King Abdullah II succeeded his father, King Hussein, on the Jordanian throne in 1999. Abdullah, born in 1962, is Husseins eldest son. Before Hussein died, he also named his favorite son, Abdullahs half-brother Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, as the new crown prince and successor to Abdullah. Hamzah had been seen as a potential direct successor for Hussein, but at the time of his fathers death, he was 18 and considered too young to rule.

Abdullah hadnt expected to be kinghis uncle, whod been crown prince for years, was still in the role when Hussein announced his last-minute shift in succession. Abdullah had mostly grown up abroad and initially had trouble speaking Arabic. In contrast, Hamzah spoke Jordanian dialects and understood the customs of the countrys traditional tribes, which serve as a power base for the monarchy. His striking resemblance to his fatheralso enhanced his popularity. But in 2004, Abdullah removed Hamzah as crown prince and made his own son his successor.

Abdullahs reign hit a rough spot starting in 2020, as the countrys economy suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid allegations of state corruption. In April 2021, Hamzah was placed under house arrest and accused of plotting to replace Abdullah. Several other people were detained as collaborators, though many were released later that month.

While under house arrest, Hamzah released a video denying any plot. He also denounced the corruption in Jordan. Weeks later, Hamzah pledged his loyalty to Abdullah. In March 2022, the royal court released an apology letter allegedly written by Hamzah to ask for his half-brothers forgiveness.

The brothers feud wasnt over, however. On April 3, 2022, Hamzah renounced his princely title due to his personal convictions clashing with state institutions. Abdullah said Hamzah was still delusional about taking the throne, and the palace noted that only the monarch has the right to revoke a royal title. Abdullah also restricted his half-brothers movements and cut his contact with the outside world. The king stated his brother would live a comfortable life, but he will not have the space he once abused to offend the nation, its institutions, and his family, nor to undermine Jordans stability.

Abdication Was Only the First Straw for Edward VIII and King George VI

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Edward VIII ascended to the British throne following the death of his father, George V, in January 1936. As king, Edward became head of the Church of England. At the time the Anglican Church did not permit divorced people to remarry if their former spouses were still alive. But Edward had fallen for the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson and wasnt willing to give her up. As his spring 1937 coronation approached, he had to make a choice between love and the throne. He abdicated in December 1936. Next in the line of succession was Edwards younger brother Albert, known as Bertie. Bertie didnt want to be king, but he accepted the job as George VI.

George made his older brother Duke of Windsor. Yet instead of heading off into the sunset with Simpson, the duke continued to plague the new king. After marrying Simpson in 1937, Edward wanted her to be granted the title Her Royal Highness, something George refused. Edward also expected the state to provide him with an allowance. He even lied about his financial status to sway his sibling.

Edward would become an even bigger headache for George. In October 1937, Edward and Simpson headed to Germany, where they partied with Nazis and met Adolf Hitler. During World War II, some Nazis schemed to use him as an ally. Meanwhile, George fretted about how to keep his country safe in wartime and refused to leave Buckingham Palace in London even while the city was under constant bombardment. In 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, with the kings agreement, offered Edward governorship of the Bahamas. The appointment got the duke away from Europe and his Nazi pals.

Georges wife, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, felt the stresses of being king contributed to her husbands early death in 1952 at the age of 56. Although Edward and Simpson spent most of their time in quasi-exile in Europe after World War II ended, he returned to England for his brothers funeral. Following Edwards death in 1972, Queen Elizabeth II had her uncles body brought back to his home country and buried on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The Feud Between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, Ended in Execution

Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I of England never met in real life, but they still managed to have a deadly feud. Mary, the only legitimate child of King James V of Scotland, became queen in 1542, when she was 6 days old. When Mary was 5 years old, her mother sent her to France. Mary grew up in the French court and married the heir to the French throne in 1558. After her father-in-law passed away the following year, Marys husband became King Francis II, making her a queen in both Scotland and France. However, her husband died in 1560, and Mary returned to Scotland in 1561.

In 1565, Mary wed her second husband, the power-hungry Lord Darnley. Two years later, Darnley was murdered (people suspected Mary was involved), and within months, Mary had married his suspected killer, the Earl of Bothwell. Although she might have been forced into the union, the marriage hurt Marys reputation. In July 1567, Scottish nobles made her abdicate the throne in favor of her infant son, James. Mary escaped imprisonment and fled to England in 1568.

In England, Mary turned to Elizabeth I, her cousin once removed; Marys grandmother, Margaret, was the older sister of Elizabeths father, Henry VIII. Yet, Elizabeth was concerned about losing her crown to Mary. Elizabeths birth was delegitimized when her father had executed her mother in order to marry again. Although Elizabeth was eventually reinstated to the line of succession and became queen, some believed Marys claim to the English throne was stronger than Elizabeths.



Religious unrest between Catholics and Protestants also played a role in this feud. Elizabeth was a Protestant, while Mary was Catholic. Elizabeth opted to keep her cousin under house arrest as Catholic supporterswith Marys involvementschemed to install Mary on the throne. Elizabeth refrained from putting Mary on trial until a plot to assassinate Elizabeth came to light in 1586. After Mary was found guilty, Elizabeth debated for months before signing the death warrant. Mary was executed on February 8, 1587.

Cleopatra VIIs Bloody Battle with Her Siblings for the Egyptian Throne

Getty Images

One of five or six children, Cleopatra VII ascended to the Egyptian throne in 51 BCE after her fathers death. She had a co-ruler: 10-year-old Ptolemy XIII, her brother. The Ptolemaic dynasty often had siblings wed, so these two tied the knot. However, it wasnt a happy marriage. Cleopatra and her brother (or his advisers) clashed over who would rule. But by 48 BCE, Cleopatra had acquired Roman military support, thanks to her lover Julius Caesar, and defeated her brother. At some point, perhaps during the fighting or while fleeing Caesars forces, Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile River.

Cleopatra had to deal with yet another younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. But she didnt wait around for this sibling to cause trouble. After Caesars assassination in 44 BCE, Cleopatra left Rome for Alexandria. Following her return that same year, Ptolemy XIV died, likely due to Cleopatra poisoning him. Her son with Caesar, Caesarion, became her co-regent.

Being Cleopatras sister wasnt any easier than being her brother. Cleopatras younger sister, Arsinoe IV, had tried to claim the Egyptian throne amidst Cleopatras fight with Ptolemy XIII. Arsinoe ended up being captured and taken to Rome. Cleopatra decided to prevent her opponents from using her sister to supplant her by turning to a new lover, Mark Antony, for help. In 41 BCE, Antony arranged for Arsinoe to be put to death.

Cleopatra was only able to enjoy her kingdom for 10 years after surviving her feuding siblings. After Antonys rival Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatras forces in 31 BCE, Cleopatra killed herselfperhaps by asp bite but more likely by using a needle to administer poison.


West Richland is about to spend $31.5 million to modernize Highway 224  aka West Van Giesen Street  in a bid to tame traffic and bring jobs and sales tax revenue.

The 3-mile stretch of road will gain five roundabouts, center turn lanes, a multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians and bus stop pullouts, among other features.

It will set the stage for retailers and businesses to build on the citys west side.

Its a game changer for West Richland, said Roscoe Slade III, public works director.

The corridor serves one of the regions fastest growing communities and an outlet for residential and apartment development.

West Richland, home to 5.5% of the 312,000 residents of Benton and Franklin counties, accounted for 11.5% of single-family home permits issued since 2018.

Road construction wont begin for more than a year. However, residents will get a preview this summer when a $2 million project begins to extend water and sewer service to commercial properties.

Dont cut the pavement

The utility work is funded by the Benton County Rural Capital Fund, which supports projects that support the economy.

Doing it now means all utilities will be in place when the 18-month highway construction project starts in fall 2024. The city expects to solicit contractors next summer.

All the vacant properties will have utilities and no one will have to dig up the new pavement, Slade said, noting that citizens and public works officials all hate when freshly built roads are ripped up for utilities.

Attracting business is the goal. Extending utilities and a modern transportation network is meant to beckon builders, particularly retail developers, to the growing bedroom community.

The idea is to bring retails sales tax and jobs to West Richland, Slade said.

The city will share details at its next open house in late June at Tapteal Elementary. Details will be announced on the citys web page, westrichland.org.

The city of West Richland sign near the Yakima River on West Van Giesen Street. Bob Brawdy/Tri-City Herald

Red Mountain interchange

The Highway 224 updates are rooted in a decades-long vision that called for a new interchange on Interstate 82 at Red Mountain to promote the commercial development of West Richlands west side and in Benton City, increasingly the gateway to the Tri-Cities metro area.

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It was turbo charged in 2015, when the Washington Legislature funded the interchange in Connecting Washington, a $16 billion transportation package. Connecting Washington is funded by an 11.9-cent increase in gasoline taxes, which has been in place since 2016.

The Federal Highway Administration determined there isnt enough traffic to justify constructing a new Interstate 82 interchange at Red Mountain, between Benton City and West Richland. Washington State Department of Transportation

The dream was dashed in 2019 when the Federal Highway Administration said there wasnt enough traffic to warrant a new interchange. The feds are motivated by traffic volumes and not economic development concerns.

Officially, the interchange isnt dead, just shelved.

The state Department of Transportation invited West Richland to consider using the money for road upgrades that would support job creation rather than solve congestion. The 224 project, which does both, is the result, said Mayor Brent Gerry.

Pandemic pause

The 2020 Legislature approved the change in vision, but the project languished during the COVID-10 pandemic. In 2022, West Richland cut a new deal with the state agency.

It took over managing design and engineering, with the state retaining responsibility for paying $30 million of the cost. The remaining $1.5 million is from the city, Benton County and federal sources.

The Heights at Red Mountain Ranch is near the base of Red Mountain in West Richland. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

The 2023 Legislature added $5.5 million to the budget.

Slade said the added money was needed to because of the rising cost of asphalt, rock and other equipment and because West Richland wanted to extend the multi-use path into existing neighborhoods.

Slade and Gerry both acknowledged five roundabouts within three miles is a lot of roundabouts. They will be constructed at Keene Road, Paradise Way, Belmont Boulevard, 62nd Avenue and Grosscup Boulevard.

West Richland recently removed the roundabout that served the Bombing Range and Keene road intersection for 20 years. It is replacing it with a traffic signal. Expanding the roundabout would have meant condemning a nearby home.

Gerry said he personally prefers signals because they can be timed.

The state, however, requires roundabouts, aka traffic circles. Theres a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-dont aspect, the mayor said.

Roscoe Slade gets called a communist when he puts them in and he gets called a communist when he takes them out, he said.

The Highway 224 upgrade, also called the Red Mountain Vicinity Improvement Project, is the second phase of the original 2015 Connecting Washington package. Benton Citys roundabout at Highways 224 and 225 at the citys entrance was the first.

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The Duke of Sussexs ghostwriter JR Moehringer has revealed the behind-the-scenes making of Harrys memoir Spare.

To write the autobiography, Moehringer says he and Harry spoke around the clock about the book on Zoom, on the phone, via text, and eventually, in person at Harrys home in Montecito, California.

In the controversial book, which was released in January, Harry was critical of his family and made several claims about how his brother William treated him, alleging that the Prince of Wales physically attacked him. He also revealed very personal details, such as the account of losing his virginity, his frostbitten penis and the number of soldiers he killed while on military tour in Afghanistan.

The Duke of Sussexs autobiography became the UKs fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 copies across hardback, ebook and audio formats on its first day of publication, its publishers said in the week of its release.

In an article written for The New Yorker, Moehringer, who also ghostwrote the memoir of Nike founder Phil Knight, has discussed how the making of the memoir was not a smooth journey. He recalled some teary-eyed moments with the duke, and also a row about a story about Diana, and what it was like staying in Harry and his wife Meghans Los Angeles home.

Here are the biggest revelations made by Moehringer:

Late-night row over Princess Diana story left Harry with flushed cheeks and narrowed eyes

The ghostwriter alleges that he and Harry found themselves in a disagreement over a passage discussing the dukes late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever in its first week of release (PA Wire)

During the summer of 2022, Moehringer said that he and Harry and been reviewing edits over a Zoom call at 2am when they reached a passage discussing Diana.

In the excerpt in question, Harry is subjected to terrorism training by military personnel posing as insurgents.

Moehringer advised Harry not to include the story in the memoir, and they subsequently disagreed on the matter, leading them to apparently shout at each other.

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At last, Harrys captors throw him against a wall, choke him, and scream insults into his face, culminating in a vile dig at Princess Diana, Moehringer wrote.

aaAnd yet some part of me was still able to step outside the situation and think, This is so weird. Im shouting at Prince Harry. Then, as Harry started going back at me, as his cheeks flushed and his eyes narrowed, a more pressing thought occurred: Whoa, it could all end right here.

Finally, Moehringer said, Harry exhaled and calmly explained that he wanted to include the line because, after years of having his intellect belittled, this would show how he had still had his wits about him, even after being kicked and punched and deprived of sleep and food.

Regardless, Moehringer insisted that it was unnecessary to include the line, writing in the New Yorker: Strange as it may seem, memoir is not about you. Its not even the story of your life.

He said that Harry took this decision in good humour but added, with a mischievous grin, that he really [enjoyed] getting you worked up like that.

The Independent has contacted representatives of the Duke of Sussex for comment.

Moehringer and his family were stalked and by members of the press

Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK of all time when it was published in January 2023.

Moehringer said that following the publication, the response had been that of a frenzied mob and that he and his family had been targeted by the paparazzi.

The British press now converted the book into their native tongue, that jabberwocky of bonkers hot takes and classist snark, he said.

Facts were wrenched out of context, complex emotions were reduced to cartoonish idiocy, innocent passages were hyped into outrages  and there were so many falsehoods.

He recalled how while taking his son to preschool, he had been stalked by a paparazzo, who had stood in the middle of a road to take a picture.

In the first-person piece, the novelist said that the experience had helped him understand Harry better after his name was leaked ahead of Spares publication.

JR Moehringer also ghostwrote the memoir of Nike founder Phil Knight (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan looked after Moehringer when he was homesick

Moehringer visited Harry and Meghans home in Montecito, California, on several occasions while he was working on the book.

He wrote that when he visited the duke and duchess in California with his wife and children, his daughter Gracies heart was won over by Harrys love of Moana.

As the pandemic waned, I was finally able to travel to Montecito. I went once with my wife and children. (Harry won the heart of my daughter, Gracie, with his vast Moana scholarship; his favourite scene, he told her, is when Heihei, the silly chicken, finds himself lost at sea), the author wrote.

Moehringer also recalled two other trips to Harry and Meghans house during which he stayed in the couples guest house. He claimed that Meghan and the duke and duchesss now-four-year-old son Prince Archie would visit him during their afternoon walks.

Moehringer really likes Prince Harry

I just liked the dude, Moehringer writes about the first time he spoke with Harry in 2020. I called him dude right away; it made him chuckle. I found his story, as he outlined it in broad strokes, relatable and infuriating.

He continued: The way hed been treated, by both strangers and intimates, was grotesque. In retrospect, though, I think I selfishly welcomed the idea of being able to speak with someone, an expert, about that never-ending feeling of wishing you could call your mom.

Moehringer and Prince Harry shared a tearful moment

After what had been a long and emotional journey working together, the pair celebrated the books release by raising a glass together before a teary-eyed Harry thanked his publishing team and editor.

He mentioned my advice, to trust the book, and said he was glad that he did, because it felt incredible to have the truth out there.

"There were tears in his eyes. Mine, too, wrote Moehringer.

Harry seemed overjoyed after the book was finally released

Moehringer recalled attending a party for the launch of Harrys book, and when he arrived, he was worried that Harry was not happy.

He appeared, marching toward us, looking flushed, Moehringer wrote. Uh-oh, I thought, before registering that it was a good flush. His smile was wide as he embraced us both.

He was overjoyed by many things. The numbers, naturally. Guinness World Records had just certified his memoir as the fastest-selling nonfiction book in the history of the world.
Police on Tuesday were searching for a man who reportedly assaulted a 6-year-old girl when she answered a knock at the door of her Portland home, police said.

At 6:39 a.m., Portland Police received a call for a reported assault on Monroe Court.

An adult confronted the intruder, who quickly fled the home, police said. Out of an abundance of caution, the victim was taken to Maine Medical Center where she was evaluated and released.

The Portland Police Department is looking for a white male in his 40s or 50s. He was said to be wearing a red and black long-sleeved checkered shirt and a black and white hat. The suspect also had gray beard scruff on his chin. He was last seen fleeing from Monroe Court towards Anderson Street early Tuesday morning and may be riding on a bicycle.

Investigators are urging anyone with any information to call them at 207-874-8575.

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
Three books about motherhood

New books about motherhood range from intimate novels to cultural criticism to wrenching memoirs. Credit -

The topic of motherhood may be universaleveryone has something to say about the experience of mothering, being mothered, or the absence thereofbut its far from simple. For some, motherhood can be a source of joy and strength; for others, its a reminder of pain, loss, or frustration.

This spring, motherhood takes center stage in a number of new books that explore the diversity of what it means to be a mother, to do mothering work, to receive caregiving from a mother or mother figure, or, in some cases, to divest from it. From Nicole Chungs luminous memoir A Living Remedy, about grieving the death of her adoptive mother and father, to Sara Petersons Momfluenced, an interrogation of the momfluencer industry, theres a book for every type of reader. While the subject has provided plenty of classics over the years, these voices offer fresh perspectives on what it means to mother and be mothered today.

Here are the best new books to read or give this Mothers Day.

In the Orchard, Eliza Minot

Eliza Minots novel In the Orchard tells the story of a single day in the life of Maisie, a wife and mother of four. For Maisie, whose children range from 8 years old to a newborn, motherhood is as bewildering as it is overwhelming, an experience she finds at times repetitive and at others euphoric. Shes consumed with pressures both small and large: the banality of household chores, the unsolicited judgments of other parents and strangers, a looming debt. During a family outing to an apple farm, Maisies world is colored by a dizzying cycle of anxieties and joys.

Buy Now: In the Orchard on Bookshop | Amazon

A Living Remedy, Nicole Chung

In A Living Remedy, TIME contributor Nicole Chungs memoir about grieving her adoptive parents, she explores the heartbreaking complexities of loss and the enduring power of love. Chung eloquently outlines not just the devastating effects of grief, but also the ways in which her loss was exacerbated by structural shortcomings including the serious limitations of the U.S. health care system and the injustice of economic inequality. Despite the sobering subject matter, Chungwho chronicled the challenges of her transracial racial adoption in her first memoir All You Can Ever Know with deep empathychannels the same care and compassion in her latest work.

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Buy Now: A Living Remedy on Bookshop | Amazon

Read More: I Thought Id Get to See My Mother Again. Then the Pandemic Hit

Irma: The Education of a Mothers Son, Terry McDonell

Terry McDonell made his name editing the biggest names in journalism. In his second memoir, Irma: The Education of a Mothers Son, the editor turns toward the deeply personal, revisiting his childhood and the outsized influence of his single mother, Irma. In the book, he examines the person hes come to be as a way of understanding his mother, the most significant figure in his life. As McDonells only living parent, Irmas tenacity in the face of struggle (from being widowed when McDonell was just five months old to later surviving a relationship the author describes as abusive) leaves an indelible mark on her son, affecting his choices and the trajectory of his life.

Buy Now: Irma on Bookshop | Amazon

Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture, Sara Peterson

In Momfluenced, Sara Peterson takes mommy influencer culture to task, revealing the big business and bigger consequences of selling aspirational motherhood on social media. Diving deep into the world of momfluencers, Peterson addresses the tropes and misconceptions that thrive in this corner of the internet with wit and warmth, never shying away from calling out the ways in which momfluencer culture often serves to reinforce inequitable power structures.

Buy Now: Momfluenced on Bookshop | Amazon

Read More: The Problem With Celebrating the Selflessness of Mothers

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures, Connie Wang

Journalist Connie Wangs memoir, Oh My Mother! reads more like a collaborative effort than a single-sided story of her relationship with her mother, and for good reason: Wangs mother was an integral part of the editing and fact-checking process. Spanning their relationship from when Wang was a child to her life as an adult, the book is a series of humorous, endearing, and intimate recollections of the two womens travels together, from an escapade in Las Vegas where they saw Magic Mike Live to a family visit in China.

Buy Now: Oh My Mother! on Bookshop | Amazon

Wandering Souls, Cecile Pin

The work of mothering often falls to those who are not mothers in the biological sensea circumstance thats elegantly explored in Cecile Pins Wandering Souls. For Anh, Minh, and Thanh, three siblings escaping Vietnam after the war, a new start is just around the corner; theyre headed to the U.S. by way of Hong Kong, with their parents and younger siblings set to follow later. But when a storm leads to mass casualties on their familys boat, Anh, the eldest sister, becomes the sole caretaker for her two younger brothers. Together, the three fight to survive not only their devastating grief, but also the harsh realities of their new lives as refugees. With compassion and clarity, Pin describes the ways a family cares for one another in the wake of life-altering tragedy.

Buy Now: Wandering Souls on Bookshop | Amazon

The Wreck: A Daughters Memoir of Becoming a Mother, Cassandra Jackson

At the heart of Cassandra Jacksons memoir The Wreck is a quest to understand long-buried secrets from her familys past. Spurred by her own journey to become a parent, Jackson investigates the circumstances of a devastating car crash that took the lives of her fathers mother, sister, niece, and first wife. Learning more about the incident leads to Jackson unearthing uncomfortable truths, not only about her familys trauma, but also about the racism that exacerbated itand the systemic inequality that still undermines her life.

Pre-Order Now: The Wreck on Bookshop | Amazon

You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Maggie Smith

When Maggie Smiths poem Good Bones became a viral hit in 2016, it catapulted her to literary fameand became a catalyst for a series of pivotal changes in her life, including the dissolution of her marriage. In her memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, which draws its title from a pivotal line in her poem, Smith turns her clear-eyed yet compassionate lens on herself to examine her life as a poet and writer, a mother of two children, a partner, and a woman in the world. Rich in nuance and unrelenting in its honesty, Smiths memoir is a bittersweet study in both grief and joy.

Buy Now: You Could Make This Place Beautiful on Bookshop | Amazon
An 8-year-old Wisconsin boy who went missing for two days while camping in Michigan with his family was found on Monday afternoon under a log by search party volunteers approximately two miles from his campsite, the state police said in a news release.

Mass rescue teams from Michigan and Wisconsin scoured Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, a 60,000-acre forested park known as the "Porkies," searching for Nante Niemi, who had joined the annual family camping trip for the first time, his mother, Jessica Buerger, told local media.

Niemi, a student in the Hurley School District in Wisconsin, was last seen around 1 p.m. Saturday when he went to gather firewood in joined for the family campsite, state police said. Around 150 search and rescue personnel searched for the child within 40 square miles of the campsite in very remote and hilly terrain, said Michigan State Police.

News Release - Update: Missing Boy Found Safe and Reunited with Familyhttps://t.co/xv4XFbL4Kk pic.twitter.com/PhxcCfCVdt  MSP Eighth District (@MSPEighthDist) May 8, 2023

Hurley School District said in a Facebook post they "stand by ready with 2 buses of volunteers waiting to go help search," and added that many professional agencies from Wisconsin and Michigan had been deployed throughout the area.

On Saturday his mother posted on her social media, "we appreciate the outpouring support" but she implored everyone to "Please stay away it will make it harder to find him!"

The child was found underneath a log  where he had taken shelter  after wandering off a trail, police said. He told police that he "covered up with branches and leaves for warmth," and "ate clean snow for hydration."

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Niemi is in good health and was reunited with his family, police said. The school district said in a post, "Words can not describe the emotions and joy the students and staff are experiencing at this moment!"

Dickerson on how presidents make decisions

Addressing the national teacher shortage

Biden, McCarthy speak out after debt ceiling summit
Youve probably seen tow trucks circling the block looking for their next car to hook, but what if you feel like the towing company is in the wrong?

Channel 9s Madison Carter found that North Carolina is one of the worst states in the country when it comes to protecting drivers from predatory tow truck drivers.

Many towing companies have contracts with apartment complexes or businesses to make sure youre not parking where you shouldnt. Carter found that Charlotte does have a towing and booting ordinance meant to protect drivers, but police told us they dont enforce those protections unless theres criminal behavior. Our investigation found that even if you feel like thats the case, you still might be on your own.

Watch Channel 9 at 5 on Thursday as Carter speaks to a local father who came face to face with an armed towing employee.

(SEE: Residents complain about towing company HOA, apartment complex hired)
Nines states as well as the cities of New York and Washington, D.C., are calling on the federal government to issue regulations related to gas stoves.

In a letter dated Monday and submitted to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the state and city attorneys general call for voluntary standards or mandatory regulations in order to reduce the emissions of harmful pollutants from gas stoves.

But, they specifically express preferences for mandatory standards over voluntary recommendations, specifically calling for mandatory standards for ventilation and emissions of hazardous substances.

Attempts to develop voluntary standards can stall or result in inadequate standards that will not protect against the health risks to consumers, they wrote regarding emissions.

Due to this possibility and the importance of protecting the health of consumers, the CPSC should initiate a rulemaking to develop mandatory gas stoves standards, they wrote.

The commission put out a request earlier this year for information on hazards associated with gas stoves and proposed solutions.

Health concerns have been raised about the appliances in the wake of studies linking them to asthma and finding that they can leak cancer-causing benzene.

Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. in December described the request as the first step in what could be a long journey toward regulating gas stoves and said that a ban was a possibility.

Reiterating the comments earlier this year sparked a political firestorm, with Republicans in particular criticizing the idea of a gas stove ban.

Trumkas fellow commissioner Alexander Hoehn-Saric, who chairs the panel, came out against a ban in the wake of the backlash.

Though commissioners are presidential appointees  and the commission is currently made up of three Biden appointees and one Trump appointee  the panel is technically independent and does not answer to the president.

Nevertheless, President Biden has also come out against the idea of a ban.

The states that supported federal action in this weeks letter were: Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont and Washington state.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A man died after accidentally backing his four-wheeler into a creek, a Colorado sheriffs office said.

Michael Olshove, 94, was working on his property when a bystander saw him back his ATV into West Creek in Gateway on Saturday, May 6, the Mesa County Sheriffs Office said in a May 8 news release.

He was swept away along with the ATV, deputies said.

The sheriffs office said multiple agencies responded to search for the man after the bystander called 911.

About a quarter mile downstream, deputies said they found Olshove unconscious and not breathing.

Despite life-saving measures, Olshove was pronounced dead, the sheriffs office said.

Gateway is about 50 miles southwest of Grand Junction.

ATV rider killed in crash with truck in Visalia, police said. He was a child

Man dies after being ejected from ATV in single-vehicle crash in Olathe Friday night
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, sits with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at a groundbreaking ceremony for the auto manufacturer's Robstown lithium refining facility on Monday.

ROBSTOWN  Tesla on Monday marked the start of construction for its proposed lithium refinery in South Texas, furthering its bid for more control over the supply chain for its growing fleet of electric vehicles.

Arriving behind the wheel of a Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared a stage with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials in a closed event to celebrate the occasion. As they spoke, more than a dozen pieces of heavy machinery hollered and beeped behind them, preparing the stretch of rural Nueces County land for the $375 million facility.

The facility, which Tesla has said would be the first of its kind in North America, will package and ship battery-grade lithium hydroxide, a key component for the batteries in Tesla's products. While it will not eliminate Teslas reliance on other sources, the facility will work toward addressing a future fundamental choke point in the advancement of electric vehicles, Musk said.

Musk has said getting a foothold in the lithium refining business would be a license to print money. Last year, when the proposal was publicized, at least two lithium industry leaders were skeptical of the automaker's plans, one telling the Caller-Times the lack of details available on the proposal could be a tough sell for investors.

Construction is scheduled to be finished later this year, Musk said, and reach full capacity about a year afterward. The timeline is "extremely fast by normal standards," he added, but true to form for the electric automaker.

Neither Musk nor Abbott took questions from the media after the nearly half-hour speaking event.

The Tesla event comes after a weekend marked by tragedies in the Dallas-area suburb of Allen, where a gunman armed with an AR-15 killed eight people and wounded at least seven others, and Brownsville, where eight people were killed at a bus stop outside a migrant shelter when a man drove his car onto the sidewalk.

During the event, Abbott commended Tesla for its investment in Texas in recent years, including the relocation of its headquarters to Austin and a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Travis County. Such efforts go toward making the state self-reliant rather than depending on out-of-state or out-of-country means, he said.

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A rendering of Tesla's proposed lithium refining facility in Robstown on Monday.

The Republican governor said the Tesla facility was the first of a wave of jobs he projected was coming to the Coastal Bend. Up to 250 temporary jobs will be created during the next two years for construction of the facility, and the operation of the plant will create a total of 162 permanent jobs, according to a tax abatement application Tesla submitted to the Robstown Independent School District last year.

The Coastal Bends preponderance of oil and gas jobs and industry was a draw for Tesla. The skills individuals hone in those fields are applicable to the kind of work slated for the lithium refinery, said Drew Baglino, Tesla senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering, during the presentation.

Nueces County Judge Connie Scott takes a cellphone photo of Tesla CEO Elon Musk as he exits a Cybertruck he arrived in for a groundbreaking ceremony for the auto manufacturing company's proposed lithium refining facility on Monday in Robstown.

Aside from its proximity to Austin, the sites location near the Port of Corpus Christi was a plus given Tesla will be importing concentrates of spodumene, a source of lithium, from across North America, Baglino said.

Musk and company executives touched briefly on the processes of the plant. The process eliminates the use of sulfuric acid and, as a result, eliminates the sodium sulfate byproduct. Musk said the plants environmental impact will be negligible  so much so that someone could live inside the plant and have no health defects, he added.

You could live right in the middle of the refinery and not suffer any impacts, Musk told the crowd. (The plant will use) very clean operations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gives Tesla CEO Elon Musk a proclamation during the auto manufacturer's proposed lithium refining facility groundbreaking ceremony on Monday in Robstown.

Tesla officials thanked members of the Robstown school district, some of whom attended the event. Last year, Tesla approached both Robstown ISD and Nueces County seeking tax abatements for the plant.

While the Robstown school district ultimately provided an abatement under the states now-expired Chapter 313 program, Tesla later rescinded its application with Nueces County. The reasoning behind Teslas decision was not clear.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Abbott, Musk attend Tesla lithium refinery groundbreaking in South Texas
Hannah Matthews isnt a physician that provides abortions. Shes not an activist rallying protesters, nor a politician working to enact policy change.

Her role in the reproductive rights movement is sitting next to someone on the couch, holding their hand, as they go through a medication abortion. Or helping them wash their hair in the bathroom after hours of cramping from passing a pregnancy. Or checking in on them with a home-cooked meal a month after their abortion.

Matthews is an abortion doula, someone who provides emotional, physical and practical support to a person having an abortion. Care worker is my role in the revolution, Matthews writes in her new book You or Someone You Love: Reflections From an Abortion Doula.

Matthews, whos also an abortion clinic worker, writes about her work as an abortion doula in Portland, Maine, and how everyones abortion experience is different. Some peoples decision to get an abortion is emotional and tough, requiring more support after, while others choices are easy. Some people have the resources and privilege to easily access an abortion, while many others struggle to find funding, child care or time off work. But the common thread is that abortion itself is common, regardless of how many people talk about it.

Theres this failure to recognize that abortion is happening all around us, at all times, in peoples lives. Its so common. Its so frequent. Its so normal, Matthews told HuffPost. Truly, at any moment you or someone you love will need abortion care or support. Thats just a fact.

The book title is reminiscent of the now-iconic phrase: Everyone loves someone whos had an abortion, coined by Renee Bracey Sherman, an abortion rights activist and founder of We Testify, an organization dedicated to the representation of people who have abortions.

HuffPost spoke with Matthews about her new book, her experience as an abortion doula and how everyone, whether they realize it or not, knows someone whos had an abortion.

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What is an abortion doula?

An abortion doula is someone who provides emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, logistical, practical support to someone who is having an abortion. Or even sometimes indirectly to someone who is supporting someone else through an abortion. That is my definition. Everyone has different definitions for their own work.

Actually, the reason I wrote this book was to help folks understand that anyone really can be doing abortion doula work. There are some wonderful trainings, but you dont need a medical degree or certification.

A lot of folks actually have moved away from the term doula because its very gendered and it comes from the ancient Greek word that means, basically, female slave. So its very gendered and its associated, for some folks, with chattel slavery. But in Ancient Greece, doulas were women who would gather around and support other women who were often giving birth or managing a miscarriage.

Thats fascinating. I dont know how many times Ive said doula and I had no idea about the words origin.

I love the title of the book: You or Someone You Love. Can you talk to me about how you came up with it and the meaning behind it?

The title was born from this frustration that abortion was being discussed as something that doesnt touch most peoples lives  both by folks who were anti-abortion and also folks who were pro-abortion but carried a lot of stigma around what abortion actually is.

Because people  especially cis[gender] men or people who are older  havent been told directly by the people they love that theyve had abortions, it doesnt occur to them that those are the people theyre talking about when they talk about people who get abortions. Its like, Well, youre probably actually talking about your sister, your college roommate, your child, your best friend. Thats who youre talking about, not strangers who you have seemingly limited compassion for.

It really humanizes abortion care.

It does. Just earlier this week, I was at the Maine Statehouse supporting folks who were giving testimony about their abortions they had after 24 or 25 weeks of pregnancy. They were giving the most personal, intimate, wrenching testimony. They were almost all crying, just really baring their souls.

And then they would finish their testimony and some anti-abortion lawmaker on the judiciary committee would raise their hand and ask some incredibly offensive hypothetical question. Theyd be like, Whoa, so what if a healthy unborn child was aborted? They kept bringing it back to this straw man hypothetical because they are not able to engage with the human being in front of them and the reality of what abortion is.

Theres this failure to recognize that abortion is happening all around us, at all times, in peoples lives. ... Truly, at any moment you or someone you love will need abortion care or support.

Can you talk to me about your work as an abortion doula and how youve supported people through their abortion experience?

It looks different for every person and every pregnancy. Sometimes its really as simple as someone sends me a text like, Hey, I really need help funding this abortion. Or someone needs a ride to the airport because they have to fly to another state to have their abortion. Things like that.

And then sometimes its spending seven or eight hours with someone or sometimes them and their companion from beginning to end of their actual abortion experience. Or Im coming to their home to make them dinner as theyre passing their pregnancy, if theyre having a medication abortion. Sometimes, Im not with them as they have their abortion because Im watching their kids or helping them figure out logistics remotely.

It really can be incredibly intimate  probably the way folks imagine a birth doula. Just providing them with a lot of physical and emotional support up close. Sometimes we exchange a few texts or a few calls and thats it. So, it can be a huge spectrum of what people need, whats possible for them, whats safe for them and what my capability is at that moment because I do have a 2-year-old.

How does abortion doula work fit into the reproductive justice framework?

Abortion is part of my familys creation story, and I know an essential part of every communitys ability to thrive and stay safe and healthy. For example, Hoosier Abortion Fund in Indiana also has a diaper program where they distribute diapers to their communities. Indigenous Women Rising has an abortion fund and a breast pump distribution program. So when you look at who understands these connections, its generally pro-abortion folks. And its almost always because weve been led by and learned from women of color, especially Black and Indigenous women.

You write about the differences between an abortion doula and clinic staff, and you make a very important distinction about what happens when youre working in the clinic versus when you take off your scrubs and name tag and can just be a community abortion doula.

Whats that dichotomy like?

Its interesting. There are some clinic workers who really bristle at the concept of abortion doulas because they feel that it kind of implies that abortion is inherently traumatic or dangerous, which its not. And also because they feel like it implies that theyre not providing sufficient emotional support.

The fact of the matter is for many, many reproductive health clinics, the staff that are working for the clinic have very little capacity. They dont have time; they dont have resources. They are seeing many, many patients. The clinic workers themselves are exhausted and stretched very thin. So even though they are often providing really beautiful holistic care and support for all of their patients, they are on the clock and they are limited in terms of what they can do.

As a clinic worker, there were so many patients who I wished so badly I could call a week after their abortion and see how theyre doing or stop by their house with a dinner for their family or something like that. But, you know, HIPAA exists so you cant do that as a clinic worker. Thats good that those barriers are in place.

But as a doula, its just so much more fluid. Youre only really bound by that persons boundaries and wishes and desires. A month later you can check in with them if they want, or you can be a resource for them as they process and heal. Some people take a long time to process what is happening and to grieve their abortion or to even figure out how they feel about their abortion at all. As an abortion doula, you get to continue to support them after they leave the clinic.

It sounds like it allows you access to more intimate or more private parts of that persons life if thats what they need or want.

Exactly.

You started writing this book in 2021 and were still writing when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision in June 2022. What was it like writing this book when that decision came out?

I had just finished my first draft when the actual decision came down. I was at work in the clinic the day Dobbs came down, and it was one of the most painful days of work Ive ever had. Everyone was stepping into a medical supply closet to fall apart or taking a break to go scream in the back alley behind the clinic and then come back in to see the next patient.

It wasnt a day of shock because we had known it was coming. It was a day of grieving, but we didnt have time to grieve.

Three days after that, I went back into the draft of the book and had to change certain things. I went into the section that I wrote about abortion care in Alabama and I had to change all the present tense to past tense. I had to change abortion is legal in Alabama in these circumstances to abortion was legal in Alabama. It was so devastating.

You wrote about your own abortion experience  how your medication abortion didnt work at first, how you needed funding  and all of the anxieties that came with that. Medication abortion is very safe and effective, so the fact that you had to get follow-up care isnt common.

What was it like sharing your abortion story? Were you worried about how people would perceive it?

I dont even know if I knew this or could articulate this at the time, but I feel really strongly that one of the reasons for our deep discomfort with talking about our own abortions and what abortion actually is and can look like is this pressure from both sides of the political spectrum to fit neatly into a box.

If youre anti-abortion, theres this pressure to paint all abortions as very traumatic and shameful, secretive and dangerous, painful and distressing. Then I was finding in my own communities, for a lot of pro-abortion folks, theres a lot of pressure to make your own abortion no big deal  just positive and easy. And that only contributes to this flattening of abortion experiences into one thing, which is just not the case.

While it wasnt a big deal for some people I know who had abortions, others have different experiences. And I feel really strongly that people should be able to say: Here are all my emotions, here are all the different facets of my experience.

My abortion, in many ways, was logistically very easy and it was very community supported and very safe. I was very loved and I could share about it very openly, and those are all things that made it a thousand times easier. And my body did not have an easy time during my abortion experience. And I still feel a lot of grief and sadness about my abortion. And it was absolutely the right choice for me and my family. And Im so relieved that I had it and that I dont have an infant right now.

Its all of these things and we have to hold them all at the same time.

You write about how the cultural powers that be have wrestled control of the narratives around who has abortions, and when and why they have them. Implicit in those narratives: who deserves to have abortions, and when and why. That feels very central to the discussion the country is having right now around abortion.

Tell me more about that and this idea that, often unknowingly, we as a culture prioritize who gets to have an abortion and whose abortion is perceived as right or wrong.

Were seeing it a lot with these abortion bans that are being floated with exceptions for rape and incest or in the case of a life-or-death situation. But exceptions are bullshit. They dont actually work to protect any of those people that they claim to be privileging and prioritizing. And they explicitly communicate to us that you only deserve an abortion if you have suffered enough.

Even many self-avowed pro-choice people perpetuate this idea, often people from older generations or cis white folks who may not be in touch with a lot of the work thats happening on the ground.

Reproductive justice teaches us that abortion is connected to the right to parent and to give birth. Whats really horrifying is that we perpetuate this same myth onto people who have children. We explicitly communicate to each other that you should only be able to have children if you have the acceptable number of children, if you make the acceptable amount of money to support those children, if youre white and have an Anglo last name. We decide and communicate who is allowed to parent and who is allowed to give birth safely and with resources.

What do you want readers to take away from your book?

I really want folks to come away feeling safer and more equipped to talk about abortion. I want them to be curious about the ways in which they can fill their own communities reproductive justice needs  because they can.

When we talk about what abortion care and support work looks like in our communities, thats something that is as old as the communities themselves. And its something that will go on for as long as there are people.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

Hannah Matthews book You or Someone You Love: Reflections From an Abortion Doula is on sale now.
The infamous "Access Hollywood" recording of Trump's lewd remarks was played for a Manhattan jury. NBC

Trump's 'Access Hollywood' tape is in evidence as deliberations begin Tuesday in his civil rape trial.

The tape is irrelevant to E. Jean Carroll's 'unbelievable' claims, a lawyer for Trump told them.

Carroll's lawyer countered that the tape is Trump's honest "confession" of how he treats women.

As jurors begin deliberations Tuesday in the Donald Trump rape and defamation trial in Manhattan, they'll have mixed instructions on how much weight to give his infamous "Access Hollywood" tape in deciding if magazine writer E. Jean Carroll is telling the truth.

The vulgar 2005 tape is Trump's confession, in his own words, of his predatory history with women, Carroll's attorney told jurors in closing arguments Tuesday.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, meanwhile, told jurors to just ignore it.

Either way, the Access Hollywood tape  in which he bragged to TV personality Billy Bush about kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals  has been a major factor in the two-week trial.

Carroll testified that Trump attacked her in a dressing room at a Manhattan department store almost 30 years ago. She also accuses him of defaming her by denying the alleged attack after she wrote about it in 2019.

The tape, which came out a month before the 2016 election, did not block Trump's path to the White House, despite capturing him boasting of grabbing women. But the Carroll jury may soon decide if the same tape  now plaintiff's exhibit 25  will impact Trump's return to the White House by helping to brand him a rapist.

Trump himself has defended his remarks as "locker room talk," including in a videotaped trial deposition played for jurors last week.

"Historically, that's true with stars," Trump said of the Access Hollywood tape, when asked about it by Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan.

"If you look over the last million years, I guess that's been largely true," Trump said in the deposition. "Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately."

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In closing arguments Monday, Trump's lawyer mocked the Carroll team's reliance on the tape during the trial.

"They played that Access Hollywood tape how many times?" Tacopina asked.

"Five times?" he said, before agreeing with his client's "locker room talk" assessment.

"He said that," Tacopina conceded of Trump's insistence on the tape that when you're a star, women let you "grab 'em" by the genitals.

"But that doesn't make Ms. Carroll's story any more believable," he said, chopping his hand on the podium in emphasis.

"You can think that Donald Trump is a rude and crude guy," and still find that Carroll is not telling the truth, he added.

But Carroll's attorney Michael J. Ferrara, in his own summations, noted that Trump never actually discredited his words on the tape.

"He said it was locker room talk," Ferrara pointed out, referring to the deposition. "But he didn't say it wasn't true."

Actual locker room talk can be "crude," the lawyer told jurors.

"But that's not what this was. Your common sense and your experience tells you that's not locker room talk," he added. "That video is a confession."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two inmates, including one alleged killer, escaped from a prison in Philadelphia on Sunday night by cutting a hole in the fence, authorities said. Officials did not learn of their escape until the following afternoon, CBS Philadelphia reported, citing the city's police department.

Police identified the inmates as 18-year-old Ameen Hurst, who is accused in the shooting deaths of four people, and 24-year-old Nasir Grant. They broke out of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center after 8 p.m. eastern time on Sunday, when the pair were last seen. Authorities later observed Hurst and Grant in video footage cutting a hole in a fence on the prison grounds in order to make their escape.

Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said both inmates were accounted for at the correctional center at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, although they missed the next three head counts at 11 p.m. that night, and 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Carney told CBS Philadelphia that Grant and Hurst appeared to be inside the prison during those three missed counts, and why neither was listed as missing, since they were not present, is under investigation.

This combo from photos provided by Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons shows Nasir Grant, left, and Ameen Hurst. / Credit: Philadelphia Dept. of Prisons via AP

Carney said law enforcement is coordinating with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate Hurst and Grant and return them to custody, according to CBS Philadelphia.

"We are adamant and working tirelessly to get these two individuals back into custody, and that is the focus of our investigation," Carney said in a statement to the station. "As we go through these processes, we have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed, so that will be a part of our investigation."

Hurst was charged in four separate homicides, allegedly carried out between Christmas Eve 2020 and March 2021. All four killings involved gun violence, police said. He is accused in the shooting deaths of 20-year-old Dyewou Nyshawn Scruggs, 24-year-old Naquon Smith, 16-year-old Tamir Brown and 20-year-old Rodney Hargrove.

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Two others were wounded in the shooting that killed Smith and Brown, CBS Philadelphia reported. Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore described Hurst as "a very dangerous individual from what we know" in comments to the station.

Grant was in custody for narcotics violations, theft and firearm charges, the deputy commissioner said.

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A Starke woman was arrested after shooting a man in the leg during a "road rage" incident in Waldo with her children in the car, according to an Alachua County Sheriff's Office report.

The charges

O'livia Williene Davis, 25, faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder, five counts of child abuse and one count of discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle.

Local news: Elected Alachua County official sues Gainesville church after fall, injury

Dining: Chicago-based sandwich shop to open two locations in Gainesville

What led to the shooting?

According to the report, at about 8:34 p.m. Saturday a blue Jeep Wrangler was headed north on U.S. 301 with three people inside when it was cut off by a red Toyota Corolla driven by Davis. The driver of the Jeep then flashed his lights at the Toyota, which then began moving between the left and right lanes before slowing down and pulling alongside the Jeep.

The driver of the Jeep told his passengers that the driver of the Toyota had a gun. He was then shot in the leg. The driver of the Jeep was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital for treatment.

The arrest

At about 8:52 p.m., Bradford County Sheriff's Office deputies, with the help of the Starke Police Department, located the Toyota, which was being driven by Davis, and conducted a traffic stop. An adult passenger and five children  all 5 years old or younger  also were in the car.

Deputies observed a Diamondback 9 mm handgun in plain sight on the driver's side floorboard, as well a spent shell casing in the center console.

The adult passenger confirmed the road rage incident, but she told police that the people in the Jeep were throwing things out of the vehicle toward the Toyota. She also told deputies that she was told to lean back in her seat before hearing a "loud noise."

Deputies later confirmed that she knew Davis had shot at the Jeep, the report states.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Starke woman accused of shooting into car during road rage in Waldo
sky view of Budapest - one of the best destination for European Summer tours

As summer approaches, Europe is preparing for a season of high travel demand, with many travelers looking for ways to save on flights and accommodations. Fortunately, Germany and Hungary have recently launched unlimited travel passes that offer significant discounts on public transportation within each country.

On May 1st, both countries rolled out these passes, which are available to locals and tourists. While the passes can help travelers save money on transportation costs, there are a few essential details to remember.

Details On The New Germany And Hungary Tickets For Travelers

Photo Credit: Kai Pilger

In Germany, the Discover Germany Pass offers unlimited travel on all regional and local trains, many buses, and trams for a set number of consecutive days. The pass can be purchased for up to 10 days and is valid for travel in all 16 German states. Prices start at 159 ($174.92 USD) for adults and 80 ($88.01 USD) for children.

Similarly, in Hungary, the Explore Hungary Pass offers unlimited travel on all public transportation services, including buses, trams, metros, and local trains. The pass can be purchased for 3, 5, or 7 days and is valid for travel throughout the country. Prices start at 6,900 HUF ($20.41 USD) for adults and 3,450 HUF ($10.20 USD) for children.

While these passes offer great value, there are some limitations to be aware of. For example, reservations may be required for certain trains or routes. The passes may also not be valid on some high-speed trains or international routes. Travelers must present a valid passport or ID when purchasing and using the passes.

Despite these limitations, the new travel passes in Germany and Hungary will be a popular choice for travelers looking to explore these countries while keeping their transportation costs low.

Things To Know Before Purchasing Germany Ticket

Before purchasing a Germany Ticket, there are some important details to note. Interested buyers can get the pass by visiting the official website.

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One important thing to remember is that travelers must purchase the pass before the 20th day of the month before the month it will be used in. Additionally, the pass is only valid for the month it was purchased, which may not be suitable for tourists staying for a shorter period that spans two months. For example, if someone arrives on June 27th and leaves on July 4th, they must purchase separate passes each month.

Children under the age of six can use public transportation for free. Lastly, the passes automatically renew each month, so those who wont be staying long-term should cancel their subscription before the 20th day of the month.

What To Know About The New Hungary Ticket For Travelers

Photo Credit: Anna Hunko

Hungary has recently introduced two new travel cards for purchase, both available to tourists. The National Travel Card costs $54 monthly, while the County Travel Card is available for just $27. Both passes are only valid for one month and will expire at the end of the month they were purchased. However, they can be purchased in advance and will be activated on the first day of the chosen month.

Foreign students with valid identification are also eligible for a 90% discount on the price of the passes. Foreign students must present a valid student ID when purchasing the pass to receive the discount.

The National Travel Card provides unlimited travel on all train lines operated by MAV-START, MAV-HEV, and GYSEV, as well as bus services on Volanbusz. However, it does not cover municipal services, meaning it cannot be used for travel within a city. If you are traveling through Hungary and want to spend some time in Budapest, you must purchase an additional ticket to travel in the town.

On the other hand, the $27 County Travel Card is designed for use within any of Hungarys 19 counties. If you are only staying within one region and plan to use bus or rail services between cities in that county, this pass is a good option.

Things To Know Before Purchasing Hungary Ticket

Tourists can purchase the passes at major train stations or online. While tickets are available for purchase in person at ticket offices, on the MAV app, or onboard buses, its crucial to know that the tickets are not valid for travel within cities. Instead, they are only eligible for travel between cities.

Its also worth noting that the passes wont cover first-class train travel. If youre planning to travel to Hungary, be sure to consider these details before making your ticket purchases.

RELATED: Most Affordable Destinations To Visit This Summer
Attorney General Andrea Campbell, right, speaks to Briana Azier of Bris Sweet Treats on Monday at South High Community School. Campbell stopped at Aziers table before giving the keynote address at the annual meeting of the United Way of Central Massachusetts.

WORCESTER  Explaining that the role of attorney general is not just the state's top cop, Attorney General Andrea Campbell discussed her office's role in policies ranging from housing, gun control and youth mental health.

Campbell was the keynote speaker at the United Way of Central Massachusetts' annual meeting at South High Community School Monday.

A Boston native, Campbell discussed the difficult path she had to becoming the first Black woman to be president of the Boston City Council and the first Black woman elected to office statewide in November.

Campbell's mother died in a car accident when Campbell was a baby and her father was incarcerated. Her father would later die while she was in college; her twin brother died while in prison.

She said organizations, such as the one gathered Monday, helped her be the first in her family to go to college - let alone law school.

"I often talk about my life being filled with incredible instability and the organizations and the systems who in a positive way have supported me to allow me to stand before you," Campbell said.

First 100 days

While there is a perception that the role of the attorney general is to prosecute criminals and work to get guns and drugs off the street, Campbell said she sees the work she has done in her first 100 days as building a "policy shop" on a range of issues.

Protecting the right to abortion in the state, defending the state's gun laws, moving people out of poverty, ensuring worker protections and creating affordable housing are some areas where Campbell said her office has a role.

Campbell's defense of the state's gun laws drew particular applause, coming days after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas, left eight dead and seven wounded.

"I am sick and tired of the mass shootings we are seeing in this country and the normalization of this as if it's OK," Campbell said.

On housing, Campbell referenced her work enforcing state laws to compel municipalities to build multifamily housing. The town of Holden is one of the municipalities resisting a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority zoning law that mandates allowing for more multifamily housing in communities with access to public transit. Holden has not filed plans to comply.

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More As pandemic ebbs, Worcester Together carries on pledge of community service

Award presentation

At the meeting, several awards were presented to volunteers and longtime community leaders:

Shrewsbury High School's Class of 2023 volunteers received the Youth Volunteer of the Year award.

Liz Estabrooks received Volunteer of the Year.

Daniela LeBlanc received the United Way of Central Massachusetts Volunteer of the Year award.

The Labor Award was given to Douglas Belanger of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1445.

The Stoddard Award was given to Mirick O'Connell.

The Ted Coghlin Community Citizen Award was given to the city officials and citizens who were responsible for setting up last winter's temporary homeless shelter at Blessed Sacrament Church.

The Orville Harrold Award was awarded to Judi Kirk, Edward Madaus, Anh Vu Sawyer and Victoria Waterman.

The Alexis de Tocqueville Award was given to Carol and Michael Sleeper.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. Attorney General Andrea Campbell, at United Way, praises nonprofits
Investigators estimate 70 per cent of the scams in Britain originate from abroad or have links to foreign criminal gangs - Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Moment RF

Scammers with poor English will use AI chatbots to unleash a new crimewave on British victims, one of the countrys top fraud police officers has warned.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Nik Adams, the commander coordinating economic and cyber crime at the City of London Police, said the technology would enable scammers from abroad to target British victims with harder-to-detect texts by cleaning up their sloppy English.

A significant proportion of fraud originates from English-speaking countries such as Nigeria, India and Ghana, but Mr Adams warned AI tech such as ChatGPT could enable scammers in non-English speaking nations to adapt and translate texts.

The world of deepfake and impersonation scams is going to grow, and will be harder for the public to discern between something that is genuine and something that is not, said Mr Adams.

Investigators estimate that 70 per cent of the scams in Britain originate from abroad or have links to foreign criminal gangs.

Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with one in 15 people falling victim to it, and it is costing nearly 7 billion a year.

New government fraud strategy

Last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the governments new fraud strategy, which will include bringing in Britains three spy agencies - GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 - to work with new regional squads of police officers to find and stop scammers targeting Britons from abroad.

However, Mr Adams said: Take the example of English-speaking countries targeting the UK.

AI will really help those offenders tidy up some of what often looks quite sloppy work - the sort of emails and text messages that people get where the English is just not quite right, and you can see flaws in it and that it is a potential fraud.

Last week, Suella Braverman unveiled the governments new fraud strategy, which will include bringing in Britains three spy agencies to work with new regional squads of police officers - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

AI is going to sharpen up a lot of that stuff, and make it much harder for people to discern between the genuine and the fraudulent.

That also potentially opens the doors for other countries that are not English-speaking to use AI technology, like GPT, to generate materials in a foreign language that look and translate absolutely perfectly into English. That will be a challenge for us, for the US and other English-speaking countries.

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It will work the other way. It will grow the threat into countries that currently dont face some of the same level of challenges that we do because theyre not English-speaking. Things will be able to appear in their languages more freely, he added.

The global threat comes as the government and police overhaul Action Fraud, the reporting centre for fraud in the UK.

Set alongside it, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) uses AI to join the dots on all the frauds in the UK to identify the criminals behind them and any new trends.

Alerting the public quickly

Chris Bell, the City of London police director overseeing the 30 million revamp, said the aim was to spot trends and threats more quickly so the public could be alerted, in an effort to prevent more people being scammed.

Thats the importance of us having the ability to spot those trends quickly, and get that public information out against some of these types of crimes, because they are going to be even more compelling than what were able to do right now, he said.

We can see some stuff thats going to be compelling, impressive [and] believable, whereas at the moment there is still a large chunk that people can take, pause and think is this really an official approach that I am getting?

Thats the importance of us being able to get that public information out faster than were capable of doing right now, added Mr Bell.

On Tuesday, Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, warned that AI could make scams and misinformation harder to spot as bad actors harnessed the technology.

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Air defence forces destroyed 23 cruise missiles out of 25 launched by the Russian aggressor on the night of 8-9 May.

Source: Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote from Oleshchuk: "The occupiers attacked the territory of Ukraine with sea- and air-launched cruise missiles on the night of the sacred day of 9 May. During two waves of attacks on Ukraine, the Russian occupiers launched 25 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles.

The air defence forces of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with components of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, destroyed 23 of them."

Details: Russian forces launched eight Kalibr cruise missiles from missile carriers in the Black Sea at around 22:00 on 8 May, which they aimed at the eastern oblasts of the country. All eight were destroyed by the military assets and personnel from air defence units under Air Command Skhid (East).

Closer to 04:00 on 9 May, the occupiers launched 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-based cruise missiles from four Tu-95MS strategic aircraft (Caspian Sea).

Air defence forces from Air Command Tsentr (Centre) destroyed 14 cruise missiles; one more was destroyed in the area of responsibility of Air Command Pivden (South).

A total of 15 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles were destroyed.

In total, the Russian occupiers launched 25 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles during two waves of attacks on Ukraine on the night of 8-9 May 2023. Air defence forces of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with components of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, destroyed 23 of them.

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After months of waiting, Patrick Holland has a new heart. Holland was originally scheduled to receive a heart in December of 2022 but the historic ice storm in Seattle caused all of his flights out of his home in Alaska to be canceled.

After that, his family decided it would be best for him to stay in Seattle while he waited for a heart to come available. He was taken in by a couple he had never met before. He says theyve now become like family to him.

It just amazes me how many people in Seattle care, he said. Holland got his new heart March 30 at the University of Washington Medical Center at Montlake.

I woke up and Im looking down and its like, Oh my gosh, its there! Holland said. Im going to affect thousands of people with this heart.

Holland will remain in Seattle for about three months while he recovers. His loved ones have set up a GoFundMe to help with medical costs and travel. You can donate here.

Holland said he hopes his story will inspire and encourage others to become donors, too.

A man and his two kids, daughter and son, they were in their early twenties come into our shop and say hey we saw your story and we just went down and became donors. And I thought if in life I sent three other people to become donors and save three other lives then Ive done good, he said.
The province of Alberta has requested military assistance from Canada's federal government as it battles "unprecedented" wildfires.

As of Tuesday morning, 88 wildfires were burning across Alberta, including 27 considered out of control.

Nearly 30,000 people have been asked to evacuate their homes.

The province declared a state of emergency on Saturday with more than 110 active wildfires.

More than 50 schools were closed on Monday morning, affecting over 10,000 students, said Mike Ellis, Alberta's minister of public safety and emergency services, according to the New York Times.

Evacuation orders issued on Monday remained in place on Tuesday in parts of Yellowhead County, in central Alberta.

Other areas had evacuation orders lifted as scattered showers and light winds dampened the blazes.

Around 964,000 acres have burnt since wildfires began over a week ago.

In northern Alberta, over 80 homes were destroyed in rural areas including Fox Lake, John D'Or Prairie, and Garden River, according to The Globe and Mail. More than 3,700 residents in the area were evacuated.

"(The fire) was pretty far from us, from where we live, but we could see all the smoke coming up and it was just getting worse by the minute," Johnette Blesse, a resident, told the Calgary Sun.

Some residents in Fox Lake, the highly remote area where Ms Blesse lives, were forced to evacuate by river barge.

On Monday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and requested additional help, including military support, from the federal government.

"Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed that the military will be sent to assist if necessary" said Ms Smith at a news conference.

She added that this has been a "challenging time" for the province, as firefighters battle flames while residents and hospital patients are being evacuated from the affected areas.

"Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes and their jobs, leaving behind everything they own, wondering if they will lose everything that they worked for," she said.

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Ms Smith said her province will pay emergency financial assistance of C$1,250 ($934; 740) for any adult who has been forced to evacuate for more than seven days, plus C$500 for each dependent under 18.

Firefighters from other provinces, including Quebec and Ontario, have flown into Alberta to help fight the blazes.

The fires are spread across the western and northern portion of the prairie province, engulfing several areas along the Rocky Mountain Foothills.

The worst-hit areas include Drayton Valley, about 140km (87 miles) west of the provincial capital Edmonton, and Fox Lake, some 550km north of the city, where 20 homes and a police station were consumed by fire.

Some Albertans, however, were allowed to return to their homes on Monday as evacuation orders lifted in a few areas.

Alberta is a major oil-producing region in Canada, and the fires have caused the shutdown of some oil and natural gas wells and pipeline systems.

Canadian natural gas exports to the United States fell to 6.7bn cubic feet per day on Sunday, the lowest since April 2021, according to data compiled by financial data company Refinitiv.

Some residents in Alberta's neighbouring provinces, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, were also evacuated as the provinces battle their own wildfires.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriters hit song is featured in the Regency-era prequel series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

Alicia Keys just put a new spin on an old classic! With inspiration from the brand new Netflix Bridgerton series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Keys has reimagined her hit 2003 song If I Aint Got You, complete with an international, all-female orchestra.

Since its premiere in 2020, Bridgerton has been praised for its storytelling, but also its use of contemporary music in a period piece. Like seasons past, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story features string quartet covers of hit songs from artists like Beyonce, SZA, Whitney Houston and Keys. If I Aint Got You, in particular, has a moment in the spotlight in the new series, and this now-viral video of her hit song continues to the celebration.

The clip is a collaboration between Keys, Netflix and Universal Music Publishing Group, per Billboard. She told the outlet when breaking down the inspiration behind the video, The entire idea was quite ambitious. I feel like its going to open the minds of many people to realize that women of color belong everywhere and weve always been everywhere. Its magical.

Alicia Keys attends Netflixs Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story world premiere on April 26, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Netflix)

In total, the clip features 70 female musicians  wearing 1700s-inspired gowns  from various countries all over the world, including Egypt, Barbados, South Africa, Sweden creating what Billboard describes as a first of its kind all-female, all-women of color global orchestra. The women support Keys as she plays the classic ballad on the piano, lifting the song with strings, percussion, and horns.

I know theyre gonna be very emotional when they see it because the women we who were there were extremely emotional, Keys told the outlet. Our conductor [Ofentse Pitse] said, It feels like when we have an orchestra of all women of color from all over the world, that were finally doing something right. This is what our ancestors never experienced.

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Watch the clip above:

All episodes of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story are currently streaming on Netflix.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Alicia Keys reimagines If I Aint Got You with Bridgerton-inspired orchestral release appeared first on TheGrio.
The man police say killed eight people and wounded seven others in a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday is believed to have posted neo-Nazi content on a Russian social media site and other profiles, according to law enforcement sources, researchers and screenshots shared in media reports.

The profile on Odnoklassniki, a social media network thats popular in Russia, includes a date of birth that matches that of 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia and, according to media reports, includes posts like one about the motel he was staying in before the shooting.

The profile picture on the account is one of a smiling emoji styled to look like Hitler. An account must be created to view posts and other information on the profile.

According to media reports and screenshots shared on other social media platforms like Twitter, Garcia made hate-filled posts about women, Jews and Black people and shared a picture of two tattoos he had, one of a swastika on the left side of his chest and one of the Nazi SS on his right upper arm. With the photos, he included the caption, Heres what I think about your diversity you (expletive) losers (sic).

On April 16, photos of the Allen Premium Outlets were posted to the profile, according to screenshots. Other photos included one of a tactical vest with a RWDS patch on it, an acronym used by some hate groups to mean Right Wing Death Squad, along with a Texas flag with the Punisher skull and a black patch with the same insignia.

Authorities previously told the Associated Press that theyd located white supremacist and Nazi posts on social media profiles believed to belong to Garcia.

The Odnoklassniki profile was littered with racist, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ and anti-women posts, according to an analysis by researchers with the Anti-Defamation League.. In some he wrote about lib commie teachers and ended a post in which he expressed conspiracy theories about Jewish people controlling media by saying, Heil Hitler.

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According to the profile page, it was last logged into on Saturday, the day of the shooting.

Garcia shot and killed eight people, including a Korean-American mother, father and their 3-year-old son, and wounded seven others before he was killed by a police officer who was already at the mall responding to a different call, according to authorities. Dashcam video showed Garcia get out of a vehicle in the parking lot with a AR-15 variant long rifle and immediately open fire at shoppers.

On Monday, the Texas House Committee on Community Safety gave the go-ahead for a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy a semi-automatic rifle in Texas to 21, with the support of two Republicans.

Army officials confirmed Garcia was enlisted in the military for a short time before he was discharged for mental health concerns. A license in a Texas government database shows that Garcia worked as a security guard for three different companies and was certified as firearms proficient.
Amazon Labor Union vice president Derrick Palmer stands at a bus stop in front of the Amazon warehouse he helped unionize in 2022. Erika Martinez/Insider

Amazon Labor Union vice president Derrick Palmer was charged with two counts of assault last year.

The ALU has struggled with internal tensions after it led the first successful Amazon union drive.

The union's president, Chris Smalls, was seen fighting another employee in December.

Derrick Palmer, the vice president of the Amazon Labor Union and a pivotal force behind the union's historic victory in a Staten Island warehouse last year, has resigned, according to an email from union leadership obtained by Insider.

Palmer's resignation comes after an Insider report detailed assault charges he is facing for allegedly strangling his girlfriend in May 2022. The case is still ongoing. Palmer has been offered a plea bargain in which he would plead guilty to one count of third-degree aggravated assault in April 2023, though it's unclear if he will accept the plea.

If he is convicted, Palmer could possibly be ineligible to serve in union leadership under a 1959 federal law that bars people convicted of some violent crimes from acting as union officers.



Amazon Labor Union president Chris Smalls sent an email to the union members late Monday: "Dear Brothers & Sisters, Amazon Labor Union, Vice President Derrick Palmer has submitted his resignation as Vice President of ALU effective immediately. Due to the matter being before the court the Amazon Labor Union has no comment at this time."

Per Small's email, Michelle Valentin Nieves, the union's recording secretary, will replace Palmer. Smalls, Palmer, and Palmer's lawyer didn't reply to emailed questions sent on Monday night.

Palmer's resignation is another sign of amid union turbulence. In December, veteran organizers left the Amazon Labor Union when Smalls established a new constitution that leaves him in charge until a contract with Amazon is signed  a potentially years-long process. Some organizers have said Smalls seems more interested in growing his personal fame than building momentum toward securing a contract.

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Around the same time as the union rift, Smalls was caught on camera fighting a former Amazon Labor Union organizer outside Amazon's only unionized warehouse in Staten Island. Insider's reporting also raised questions about how the union spent nearly half of the $400,000 it raised on GoFundMe, which was not reported in the union's financial disclosures.

Smalls and Palmer were key to the victory at the Staten Island warehouse, known as JFK8, where workers voted to unionize by a compelling margin in April 2022. It was the first time worked had voted to join a union drive at Amazon, the US's second-largest employer that spends millions of dollars annually on union busting.

The two drew workers into conversations about unionizing with homecooked food in break rooms and at a bus stop outside the warehouse. Palmer, who is still employed by Amazon, took the union's message inside JFK8 with other union organizers. (Smalls was fired in 2020 for leading a walkout to protest the company's COVID-19 policies.)

After the union's victory last April, the duo rose to national prominence. Smalls, in particular, appeared to embrace his newfound fame, while Palmer appeared at times by his side on red carpets. The "two best friends" appeared on Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2022, with a profile written by Bernie Sanders.

But as their stars rose, organizing activities at JFK8 and other warehouses appeared to flag, some union members previously told Insider. Two subsequent union votes failed at another warehouse in Staten Island and a warehouse in Albany. While the union continued outreach efforts to new warehouses, progress on reaching a contract at JFK8 stalled.

Meanwhile, Smalls, Palmer, and two other early ALU members appear to be looking for victories beyond Amazon, founding a nonprofit earlier this year with the stated goal of spurring organizing efforts at new companies.

Do you have a tip or insight to share? Contact reporter Katherine Long via the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-206-275-9280) or email (klong@insider.com).

Read the original article on Business Insider
Shoppers line up outside an Amazon Fresh store in Pasadena, California. MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images

Amazon is offering some shoppers $10 to collect purchases in-store, rather than having them delivered.

The e-commerce giant is among a number of retailers who are rethinking free shipping options.

It recently tacked on a $10 fee for grocery orders under $150.

Amazon is offering shoppers $10 to collect their purchases in-store rather than getting them delivered as shipping costs soar, Reuters reported Monday.

A number of Amazon Prime subscribers  those who pay a membership to have free shipping  received emails promising them $10 to pick up orders that cost $25 or more at pickup points like Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, or Kohl's, per Reuters. Kohl's partnered up with Amazon in 2019 to accept Amazon returns at its stores.

New York-based shipping consultant Dean Maciuba  who was one of the customers that received the offer  told Reuters: It's "a huge opportunity for Amazon to reduce the cost of delivery," while also training consumers to become accustomed to returning items in-store.

A spokesperson for Amazon told Insider that the $10 pickup promotion is a "long-running program as a benefit to customers who want to try a convenient and secure offering to pick up their packages."

"We offer customers a variety of ways to get their packages, inclusive of delivery and pickup options," the spokesperson added.

The e-commerce giant is among a number of retailers including Zara, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Foot Locker who are rethinking free shipping options.

In recent months, Amazon has made changes to its delivery and returns offering due to rising costs. This includes hiking up the price of its annual Prime subscription by $20 to $139, tacking on a delivery fee of up to $10 on any grocery orders under $150, and charging a $1 fee on some returns made via UPS.

Some prime subscribers had taken to social media to complain about these changes, per Reuters. One of them, 48-year-old New York middle school teacher Bryan Fabiano told the news site that he's questioning the value of Prime as a result.

He said: "My wife and I are Prime customers because of the shipping (benefits). If they're not going to deliver on that, then what are we paying for?"

Read the original article on Business Insider
A student uses their phone while walking between classes at Cyprus High School in Magna on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. The American Psychological Association panel issued recommendations for teen social media usage. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

The American Psychological Association has issued recommendations such as media literacy training and parental monitoring for teen social media use.

APA formed an advisory panel to create guidelines for helping teens, parents and communities navigate how adolescents should be using social media.

Related

What are the recommendations for teen social media use? The APA detailed 10 recommendations for teens using social media:

Youth that use social media should be influenced to use platforms that create opportunities for social support, online companionship, and emotional intimacy that can promote healthy socialization. Teens should only use social media that fits their developmental capabilities, as some platforms and accounts are for adult use. Adult supervision and guidance in early adolescence is advised and can gradually decrease as a teen ages into adulthood and gains more digital literacy skills. Posts should be reported, removed and minimized from adolescents that contain content involving illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior or that encourages youth to engage in health-risk behaviors, such as self-harm, harm to others, or those that encourage eating-disordered behavior. To minimize psychological harm, adolescents exposure to cyberhate including online discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying especially directed toward a marginalized group or toward an individual because of their identity or allyship with a marginalized group should be minimized. Adolescents should be routinely screened for sins of problematic social media use that can impair their ability to engage in daily roles and routines, and may present risk for more serious psychological harms over time. The use of social media should be limited so as to not interfere with adolescents sleep and physical activity. Adolescents should limit use of social media for social comparison, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content. Adolescents social media use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use. Substantial resources should be provided for continued scientific examination of the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent development.

Related

Why is this important? The Deseret News reported that there has been a rise in adolescent health challenges that closely paralleled increased digital media consumption back in 2017.

Teen girls today are growing with a rising number of external pressures, making their transition into teen and adulthood far more psychologically disturbing than it used to be, according to CNN.

Related

What are people saying? Social media is neither inherently harmful nor beneficial to our youth, said APA President Dr. Thema Bryant. But because young people mature at different rates, some are more vulnerable than others to the content and features on many social media platforms that science has demonstrated can influence healthy development.

The APA panel report determined that their conclusions on what the guidelines should be came from research that is publicly available to anyone who wishes to read further.

Just as we require young people to be trained in order to get a drivers license, our youth need instruction in the safe and healthy use of social media, Bryant said.
The Lets Back the Blue 2.0 group is partnering with the American Red Cross to hold a blood drive in Auglaize County next week.

>>CBC offering chance to win Taylor Swift tickets during May blood drive

The group announced on social media that there is an extreme need for blood donors.

On Wednesday, May 17 those interested in donating can visit the Jr. Fair Building, Auglaize County Fairgrounds to donate blood.

>>Millions of dollars going to Auglaize, Greene, Miami and 8 other counties for jail upgrades

The event will be from noon to 6:00 p.m.
A classic candy has become so popular thanks to a TikTok trend that its spawned an international black market.

On May 1, Mako, an Israeli media and online news outlet, reported that two Americans were stopped at customs at Ben Gurion International Airport the previous weekend with four suitcases full of cloying contraband: Fruit Roll-Ups. The outlet states that both passengers had two suitcases each full of the cellophane-wrapped confection.

In an embedded video, officers can be seen sifting through at least three suitcases filled to the brim with the fruit leather-style candy. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a man in this video is being questioned about the candy claims in both English and Hebrew that the hundreds upon hundreds of Fruit Roll-Ups are for relatives in the country.

Another customs agent can be heard asking if the owner of the suitcases packed any clothes, and the man replies that he has clothes in Israel.

Amy Spiro, a journalist at the Times of Israel, tweeted another video showing the suitcases busting at the seams with the fruit-flavored snacks.

An American couple was caught trying to smuggle 375 POUNDS of Fruit Roll Ups into the State of Israel after prices skyrocketed once the snack became part of a viral TikTok trend.



Did you pack your bags yourselves and also are they full of exclusively candy? pic.twitter.com/GtGh76Z9n9  Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) May 1, 2023

An American couple was caught trying to smuggle 375 POUNDS of Fruit Roll Ups into the State of Israel after prices skyrocketed once the snack became part of a viral TikTok trend, Spiro wrote. Did you pack your bags yourselves and also are they full of exclusively candy?

And then, on May 4, Israeli news site Ynetnews reported that a second batch of Fruit Roll-Ups had been intercepted, this time through the mail system. The Israeli Tax Authority (which handles customs for the country) announced that 10 shipments of Fruit Roll-Ups from the U.S. were found by the Central Customs Unit at the Parcel Mail Sorting Center in Modiin, Israel.

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 :  157 "   -10   https://t.co/ek1DrmhXKF pic.twitter.com/C0doRyPoeb  ynet  (@ynetalerts) May 4, 2023

Although the shipments were destined for different addresses in Israel, the boxes contained a commercial quantity of the candy, which is subject to taxes and other fees by law. The largest shipment contained 17 kilograms (about 38 pounds) of Fruit-Rollups, and a total of about 157 kilograms (or 347 pounds) was seized in all the shipments that came through the mail.

Between the two couples, according to the Times of Israel, customs officials have confiscated over 650 pounds worth of the sugary snack.

Fruit Roll-Ups have recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after a TikTok trend involving wrapping ice cream in the candy treat went viral.

Though the trend first popped up early in the year, folks still are buying up Fruit Roll-Ups in droves, enjoying the combo as a sweet, wrap-style snack that comes with a surprising crunch.

The craze has clearly made it to Israel, where demand for the candy has skyrocketed so much that stores are selling out of the candy and merchants are selling a single individually wrapped Fruit Roll-Up for $5 to $6 each.

It also has led to the Israeli Health Ministry to warn against eating the snack, saying that the candy could lead to weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and dental caries. The ministry also linked to a recipe for cucumber rolls, suggesting it as a healthy alternative.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
In a world where smart machines can hold a conversation, create passable art, and analyze data, what exactly is an education for?

Ever since ChatGPT launched last fall, heralding the rise of artificial intelligence models that can write college essays and generate computer code at least as competently as the average undergraduate, my inbox has been flooded with worry and excitement about what all of this will mean for schools and universities.

I recently joined a group of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty for a discussion about AI and education, and opinions around the table ran from cautious optimism to apocalyptic panic. But the most interesting thing was how quickly any deep conversation about AI becomes an even deeper conversation about humanity. Identifying tasks we want to outsource to the machines and algorithms is easy. But deciding what we want to preserve for ourselves  how we want to use our brains and our time  forces some very basic questions about what defines a good and meaningful life. Its a discussion that needs philosophers at least as much as computer scientists.

Demanding that students think well about those big questions is harder and more important than making sure theyve mastered the latest innovation. My friend Molly Worthen, who teaches history at Carolina and writes a lot about higher education, wants to see colleges get back to their monastic roots, with introductory courses that shun screens in favor of old-fashioned reading and face-to-face discussion.

If universities immerse students in the latest technology from the moment they set foot on campus, they dont have a chance to hone the skills in communication and concentration they need, she said. Students have to mature as writers and thinkers, to learn the value of quiet contemplation, before they can manage technology as a tool instead of becoming captive to it. That approach could help rebuild addled attention spans and emphasize genuine human connection, something that young people are struggling with on a grand scale.

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The U.S. Surgeon General issued a dire report last week that charts the steep rise in isolation among Americans of all ages, but especially the young. Approximately half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with some of the highest rates among young adults, the report warns. For Americans ages 15-24, time spent in-person with friends has reduced by nearly 70% over almost two decades, from roughly 150 minutes per day in 2003 to 40 minutes per day in 2020. Meanwhile, the percentage of teens who report being online almost constantly has doubled since 2015.

College ought to be a prime opportunity for combating that sad trend, emphasizing the power of friendship and connection to create a joyful life. Thats less likely to happen if we give students yet another reason to stare into glowing glass rectangles all day.

Some of the most dystopian predictions Ive seen about the rise of AI deal with its potential to replace human connection with digital substitutes. Companies are already offering algorithmic companions who can supposedly provide the upside friendship without any of the messy mutual obligation that comes along with genuine care.

Todays AI chatbots are more human-like and empathetic than ever before, writes Silicon Valley venture capitalists at Andreesen Horowitz in one of the most unsettling corporate blog posts Ive ever read. But because they arent actually human, they dont carry the same baggage that people do. Chatbots wont gossip about us behind our backs, ghost us, or undermine us. Instead, they are here to offer us judgment-free friendship, providing us with a safe space when we need to speak freely.

Call me old-fashioned, but I will take the occasional gossip and judgment of my flesh-and-blood friends over the vacant validation of a talkative statistical model. Teaching students to embrace the joy and hardship of genuine relationships  to be more interesting and humane than an algorithm  will mean reclaiming some of the ground that old-school humanities disciplines have lost in recent decades.

I dont know if that means turning college campuses into modern monasteries, but it definitely means more time with our heads in books and our hearts in conversation. Were not going to outcompete the robots on efficiency, so lets get better at being humans.

Contributing columnist Eric Johnson lives in Chapel Hill. He works for the UNC System and the College Board, and you can reach him at ericjohnson@unc.edu.
By Humeyra Pamuk, Gloria Dickie and Gwladys Fouche

WASHINGTON/LONDON/OSLO (Reuters) - For nearly three decades, the Arctic Council has been a successful example of post-Cold War cooperation.

Its eight members, including Russia and the United States, have cooperated on climate-change research and social development across the ecologically sensitive region.

Now, a year after council members stopped working with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and as Norway prepares to assume the chairmanship from Moscow on May 11, experts are asking whether the polar body's viability is at risk if it cannot cooperate with the country that controls over half of the Arctic coastline.

An ineffective Arctic Council could have dire implications for the region's environment and its 4 million inhabitants who face the effects of melting sea ice and the interest of non-Arctic countries in the region's mostly untapped mineral resources.

The work of the council, which comprises the eight Arctic states of Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Canada and the United States, in the past has produced binding agreements on environmental protection and preservation.

It is also a rare platform giving a voice to the region's Indigenous peoples. It does not deal with security issues.

But with the end of cooperation with Moscow, about a third of the council's 130 projects are on hold, new projects cannot go ahead and existing ones cannot be renewed. Western and Russian scientists no longer share climate change findings, for example, and cooperation for possible search-and-rescue missions or oil spills has stopped.

"I am worried that this will really hobble the ability of the Arctic Council to work through these various issues," U.S. senator Angus King from Maine told Reuters.

A DIVIDED REGION?

The Arctic is warming about four times as fast as the rest of the world.

As sea ice vanishes, polar waters are opening to shipping and other industries eager to exploit the region's bounty of natural resources, including oil, gas, and metals such as gold, iron and rare earths.

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The discord between Russia and the other Arctic Council members means that an effective response to these changes is far less likely.

"Norway has a big challenge," said John Holdren, co-director of the Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative and a former science advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama. "That's how to rescue as much as possible of the Arctic Council's good work in the absence of Russia."

Russia argues this work cannot continue without it.

The council is weakening, Russian Arctic Ambassador Nikolay Korchunov told Reuters, saying he was not confident it "will be able to remain the main platform on Arctic issues".

Adding to the worries is the possibility that Russia will go its own way on issues affecting the region or even establish a rival council.

Recently, it has taken steps to expand cooperation in the Arctic with non-Arctic states. On April 24, Russia and China signed a memorandum establishing cooperation between the countries' coast guards in the Arctic.

Days earlier, on April 14, Russia invited China, India, Brazil and South Africa - the BRICS - to conduct research at its settlement on Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty where other countries can operate under a 1920 Treaty.

"Russia is seeking to build relationships with some non-Arctic countries, particularly China, and that is a development that is concerning," said David Balton, executive director of the Arctic Steering Committee at the White House.

Russia's Korchunov said Moscow welcomed non-Arctic states in the region, provided they did not come with a military agenda.

"Our focus on a purely peaceful format of partnership also reflects the need of development of scientific and economic cooperation with non-Arctic countries," he said.

HOW TO ENGAGE WITH MOSCOW

Norway says it is "optimistic" a seamless transition of the chairmanship from Russia can be achieved as it is in the interest of all Arctic states to maintain the Arctic Council.

"We need to safeguard the Arctic Council as the most important international forum for Arctic cooperation and make sure it survives," Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Eivind Vad Petersson told Reuters.

That will not be easy, given Oslo's own strained relations with Moscow. In April, Oslo expelled 15 Russian diplomats saying they were spies. Moscow denied the accusations and Korchunov said the expulsions undermined the trust needed for cooperation.

Analysts say NATO-member Norway, which shares an Arctic border with Russia, is still well-placed to handle the delicate balancing act with Moscow.

"Norway has been the most outspoken when it comes to the possibility of keeping the door ajar so that Russia could, when politically feasible, be part of the Arctic Council again," said Svein Vigeland Rottem, a senior researcher in Arctic governance and security at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo.

Indeed, said lawmaker Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, the council will eventually need to reengage with Russia even if that moment has not yet arrived.

"I don't see an Arctic Council without Russia in the future," said Larsen, a Greenland lawmaker at the Danish Parliament and the Chair of Arctic Parliamentarians, a body including MPs from across the Arctic countries.

"We need to be prepared for a different time when the war (in Ukraine) one day will be over."

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Gloria Dickie in London and Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; additional reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The Greenville Police Department rarely validates citizen complaints against its officers for use of excessive force, even when that officer has been the subject of previous complaints, analysis by The Greenville News found.

In one case, video footage taken at an abortion rights rally downtown in the summer of 2022 showed officers shoving, dragging and throwing protesters to the ground while taking them into custody. The footage went viral on social media, with one video garnering 1.6 million views within just three days of the incident. The altercation drew national condemnation and sparked four formal complaints that the officers used excessive force while detaining people.

None of the protesters reported injuries as a result of the arrests, and the four officers formally accused of using excessive force at the rally were each exonerated, The News reported in January.

Their exoneration isnt unusual. The Greenville Police Department virtually never upholds citizen complaints against its officers for use of excessive force, The News found in an investigation, a disposition rate that sets it apart from other departments.

Greenville Police Department takes every complaint seriously and has "a transparent, thorough process in place to investigate them," said Sgt. Johnathan Bragg, the department's spokesperson.

What do police leaders in SC think? Tyre Nichols' death renewed calls for police reform.

"When a complaint against an employee is received, an investigation is initiated promptly," Bragg said in an email. "Relevant materials, such as complaint statements, witness statements, employee statements, body camera footage, etc., are gathered to ensure a fair adjudication ... If complainants disagree with the department's decision, they have the right to appeal to the Public Safety Citizen Review Board. We are committed to handling every complaint with the utmost care and attention."

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While many condemned the officers' behavior at the rally as "unnecessary and unacceptable, it's not surprising that Greenville Police Department regularly dismisses complaints, especially when it comes to complaints about excessive use of force, said Maria Haberfeld, a criminal justice professor at CUNY.

"The general population does not understand what kind of force is justified, and officers are trained around the concept of 'continuum of force' that allows them to skip certain steps in the application of force," Haberfeld said in an email. "Use of force never looks pretty; by default it looks offensive and appears to be excessive when, in actuality, it is justified and based on the training and departmental procedures."

Between 2020 and 2022, the Greenville Police Department exonerated 44% of officers in all internal investigations, according to a summary report issued by the department.

Of the 35 use-of-force investigations the department conducted from 2020 to 2022, only about 6% were sustained. Internal Affairs typically exonerated the accused or dismissed complaints for lack of merit, according to department data.

Meanwhile, police data shows officers are using force against citizens more than ever. In 2020, The Greenville News review found police tackled, tasered and hit more people that year than they had since 2013.

Protesters hold up signs and chant during Bans Off Our Bodies protest in downtown Greenville, Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Police department investigation concludes Greenville officers used appropriate force at abortion rights rally

The rally where the police officers entered the national spotlight was far from their first protest.

The officers involved have all been with the department for at least eight years. In summer 2020, many of them worked protests in Greenville as law enforcement scrutiny and calls for police reform reached a fever pitch across America.

When deciding whether to use force in a situation, GPD officers all use the force continuum, a proportionality continuum that serves as a guideline for officers.

They use two types of control techniques to counter resistance, according to the department's policies and procedures.

Soft Empty Hand Control is a designated level of control defined as techniques that do not involve physical strikes of any kind and  respond primarily to passive and defensive resistance from subjects.

Hard Empty Hand Control techniques, the next level of control, and a more targeted use of force are designed to effectively respond to subjects engaging in defensive resistance or some higher level of aggression to an officers attempts to lawfully control or secure them.

Police leadership determined the officers at the abortion rally used soft empty hand control during the arrest of Nan Giordano, Chloe Giordano and Joanne Schmidt. During the arrest of Anthony Giordano, Maggie Giordano and Reese Madden, the officer used hard empty hand control, they said.

"I think, just from what I could see, it seemed like the individuals that were arrested were not in compliance to what they were being told to do, as far as instructions for the protests," said Horace Butler Jr., member of the city's public safety review board. "And they kind of ran up on the officers, trying to be confrontational, possibly with the other side of that issue. And they (the officers) just intervened."

Use of force is not to be used in response to verbal confrontation, or to subdue a person who is not suspected of any criminal conduct unless necessary to protect personal safety, according to department policy.

In an August memorandum, Sergeant M.B. Estes determined that Officers Samuel LeFlore, Jeffrey Burdette, Rami Kouzeili, and Michael Hammett exercised restraint utilizing the minimum amount of force to gain compliance during this incident, adding that none of the people involved in the arrests reported injuries as a result of polices actions.

In fact, Estes concluded, a higher level of force would have been justified in some instances based on the level of resistance encountered.

Upstate law enforcement officers and community leaders and elected officials held an open meeting to talk about understanding each others points of view. The meeting was held at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center in Greenville on March 30, 2023. Greenville Chief of Police J. H. Thompson listens to members of the community talk about police action in Greenville.

Greenville Police Department's disposition rate isn't unusual, experts say

The department's increased use of force does not necessarily raise accountability concerns, Haberfeld said.

"Police work is frequently contingent upon compliance, and if the compliance is not there, officers will use force," she said. "2020 was the year of COVID and also George Floyd protests around the country, so I am not surprised that there were more incidents of use of force."

In general, experts expect the majority of force complaints will not be sustained, said Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and law professor at the University of South Carolina who studies the use of force in policing.

A department may lack evidence of wrongdoing, Stoughton said, while the publics understanding of policing can sometimes run counter to best practices in the use of force.

People get most of what they know about policing from TV, Stoughton said. So if people file a complaint when something doesnt feel right to them  and they should  it might still be appropriate police procedure, even if it didnt feel right to them.

"The general population does not differentiate between justified and unjustified use of force, so unless they are witnessing an egregious display, like in the case of George Floyd, it is mostly the perceptions that motivate the complaints," Haberfeld said.

In fact, Stoughton said, it is not uncommon for officers to accumulate multiple complaints of using excessive force over time. This pattern holds true for the Greenville Police Department, internal records show. For example, each of the four officers accused of using excessive force at the abortion rights rally in 2022 previously received force complaints, none of which were upheld.

Stoughton declined to comment specifically on the officers actions at the June 2022 rally. However, the Greenville Police Departments exceptionally low rate of sustaining force complaints is unusual, he said.

Under guidelines from the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a department sustaining less than 10% of complaints on average is typically a cause for concern, Stoughton said.

But translating a justified complaint rate into a percentage can be misleading, Haberfeld said.

"In general, at least in my view, it is related to a number of factors like the size of the department, the crime rate in a given jurisdiction, the type of violent crimes that officers respond to and standard operating procedures of the department," she said.

Upstate law enforcement officers and community leaders and elected officials held an open meeting to talk about understanding each others points of view. The meeting was held at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center in Greenville on March 30, 2023. Greenville Chief of Police J. H. Thompson

Greenville public safety review board doesn't 'rubber stamp' for police department, board member says

Every use-of-force incident involving a Greenville police department officer is evaluated by an internal investigation, which relies on body-cam footage, footage taken by witnesses, incident reports and complainant interviews.

SLED, an assisting agency that works with local law enforcement across SC, steps in  when requested  to independently investigate officer-involved shootings and other instances of excessive use of force.

Lower-level allegations are investigated and adjudicated by the employee's direct supervisors. More serious allegations are investigated by Internal Affairs staff and adjudicated by supervisors who do not work directly with the employee, according to the city's website.

When the investigation is complete, the Internal Affairs department notifies all complainants in writing of the disposition and provides its determination to the city's Public Safety Citizen Review Board. Citizens can appeal the decision with the PSCRB.

The citys Public Safety Citizen Review Board receives and reviews internal and external complaints involving police officers and firefighters. The seven-member board can make recommendations to City Council and the City Manager, but they do not have subpoena power, and they cannot directly implement city policy change. City Manager John McDonough makes the final decision on appeals.

The board, which is responsible for public safety accountability in the city, has upheld the police departments decisions for most of the 12 appeals it has handled between 2018 and 2022.

After reviewing the body-worn camera footage from the abortion rally confrontation at their meeting Monday, the board members decided to uphold the police department's decision in that incident, too.

Butler, who is also the board's former chair, said similar case outcomes are coincidental and that the board doesn't just "rubber stamp" for the police department.

"I think we look at the information that's provided to us, and we just try to make a fair assumption based on our requirements as far as our bylaws and everything," Butler said. "We do try to be critical."

Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville SC police officers had previous force complaints against them
The Russians launched two waves of missile attacks on Ukraine on the night of May 9

The first barrage of eight Kalibr missiles on the eastern regions of Ukraine was launched from Russia's carriers in the Black Sea at about 10 p.m. on May 8.

Read also: Russia launched 1,700 missiles and drones at Ukrainian critical infrastructure in fall and winter

The Ukrainian militarys East Operational Command downed all of them.

Then at about 4 a.m. on May 9, Russia sent the next barrage of 17 X-101/X-555 cruise missiles from four Tu-95MS strategic bombers flying in the Caspian Sea region.

Kyiv's air defense shot down all 15 cruise missiles from this barrage that were headed fro the capital.

Read also: Three people injured, one missing after fresh Russian strike on Odesa Oblast

Debris of intercepted missiles fell in the capital's Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts.

There were no casualties or significant damage reported due to the attack.

"(Russia is) attacking with the highest density and power exactly on May 9! the head of Kyiv City Military Administration Serhiy Popko reported on Telegram.

This is a real manifestation of the "Victory" cult (...) The capital's air defense has worked perfectly, again! According to preliminary information, about 15 enemy aerial targets were detected and shot down in the airspace around Kyiv.

The Kyiv Oblast police have found an eight-meter wide and 2.5 meter deep crater from the explosion in a district of Kyiv Oblast, the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital.

Read also: Russia launched 35 drones at Kyiv in three hours overnight, injuries and damage reported

This was the fifth Russian mass attack on Kyiv in the month of May alone. Thirty-five Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones were downed over Kyiv during the previous night.

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
(Getty Images)

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York liked a series of tweets calling for CNN to cancel its scheduled town hall with former president Donald Trumpafter a jury found Mr Trump liable for her sexual abuse but not her rape.

The twice-impeached former president, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, is set to participate in a town hall on Wednesday. The event will be moderated by Kaitlan Collins.

But Ms Ocasio-Cortez, the outspoken democratic socialist and second-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight & Accountability Committee, liked a series of tweets saying CNN should not hold the town hall.

Ms Ocasio Cortez liked a tweet by Elie Mystal, a writer for The Nation, asking if CNN would host the event still.

CNN is going to cancel the town hall instead of platforming a sexual predator, right? RIGHT? [/sweet summer child sarcasm off]  Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) May 9, 2023

CNN is going to cancel the town hall instead of platforming a sexual predator, right? RIGHT? [/sweet summer child sarcasm off], he tweeted.

She also liked a tweet from MSNBC Host Chris Hayes, on whose show she has regularly appeared.

Very cool to give Trump a chance to defame this woman again on live national TV.  Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) May 9, 2023

Very cool to give Trump a chance to defame this woman again on live national TV, he tweeted.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. Rep. George Santos, who faced outrage and mockery over a litany of fabrications about his heritage, education and professional pedigree, has been charged with federal criminal offenses, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The charges against Santos, filed in the Eastern District of New York, remain under seal.

The people could not publicly discuss specific details of the case until it is unsealed and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The unsealing would happen when Santos appears in court, which could come as soon as Wednesday.

Reached on Tuesday, Santos said, This is news to me.

Youre the first to call me about this, he said in a brief phone interview.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment. The charges were first reported by CNN.

The New York Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street background, college degrees and a history as a star volleyball player. Serious questions about his finances also surfaced  including the source of what he claimed was a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands of dollars in back rent.

Santos has resisted calls to resign and recently announced he was running for reelection. He said his lies about his life story, which included telling people he had jobs at several global financial firms and a lavish real estate portfolio, were harmless embellishments of his resume.

Pressure on him to quit, though, has been intense. Reporters and members of the public hounded him. He was mocked on social media and late-night television. Fellow New York Republicans demanded he resign, saying he had betrayed voters and his own party with his lies.

Nassau County prosecutors and the New York attorney generals office had previously said they were looking into possible violations of the law.

Besides questions about his life story, Santos campaign spending stoked scrutiny because of unusual payments for travel, lodging and other items.

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and urged regulators to investigate Santos. The mountain of lies Santos propagated during the campaign about his life story and qualifications, the center said, should prompt the commission to thoroughly investigate what appear to be equally brazen lies about how his campaign raised and spent money.

In his filings with the FEC, Santos initially said he loaned his campaign and related political action committees more than $750,000  money he claimed came from a family company.

Yet, the wealth necessary to make those loans seems to have emerged from nowhere. In a financial disclosure statement filed with the clerk of the U.S. House in 2020, Santos said he had no assets and an annual income of $55,000.

His company, the Devolder Organization, wasnt incorporated until spring 2021. Yet last September, Santos filed another financial disclosure form reporting that this new company, incorporated in Florida, had paid him a $750,000 salary in each of the last two years, plus another $1 million to $5 million in dividends. In one interview, Santos described the Devolder Organization as a business that helped rich people buy things like yachts and aircraft.

Court records indicate Santos was the subject of three eviction proceedings in Queens between 2014 and 2017 because of unpaid rent.

Some Republicans, including those in his district, have sharply castigated Santos for his dishonesty. The Nassau County Republican Committee, which had supported his candidacy, said it would not support Santos for reelection.

Santos lost his first race for Congress in 2020 but ran again in 2022 and won in a district that is in the suburbs of Long Island and a sliver of Queens.

A local newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had raised issues about Santos background before the election but it was not until a few weeks after the election that the depth of his duplicity became public.

The New York Times reported that companies where Santos claimed to have worked, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, had no record of him having been an employee. Baruch College, where Santos claimed to have gotten a degree in finance and economics, said he hadnt been a student.

Beyond his resume, Santos invented a life story that has also come under question, including claims that his grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII.

During his campaign, he referred to himself as a proud American Jew.

Confronted with questions about that story, Santos, a Roman Catholic, said he never intended to claim Jewish heritage.

The Times also uncovered records in Brazil that show Santos, when he was 19, was the subject of a criminal investigation there in 2008 over allegations he used stolen checks to buy items at a clothing shop in the city of Niteroi, which is near Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian authorities said they have reopened the case.

___

Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.
Steve Wozniak on a Zoom call with the BBC's Zoe Kleinman

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could make scams and misinformation harder to spot.

Mr Wozniak says he fears the technology will be harnessed by "bad actors".

Speaking to the BBC, he said AI content should be clearly labelled, and regulation was needed for the sector.

The computing pioneer signed a letter in March alongside Elon Musk calling for a pause in the development of the most powerful AI models.

Mr Wozniak, better known in the tech world as Woz, is a Silicon Valley veteran who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs and invented the first Apple computer.

Speaking to Zoe Kleinman, the BBC's Technology Editor, he talked about both the benefits of AI, and his concerns.

He said: "AI is so intelligent it's open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are."

The term AI covers computer systems able to do tasks that would normally need human intelligence. This includes chatbots able to understand questions and respond with human-like answers, and systems capable of recognising objects in pictures.

Mr Wozniak doesn't believe AI will replace people because it lacks emotion, but he did warn that, in his view, it will make bad actors even more convincing, because programmes like ChatGPT can create text which "sounds so intelligent".

'A human really has to take the responsibility'

He thinks responsibility for anything generated by Artificial Intelligence and then posted to the public, should rest with those who publish it: "A human really has to take the responsibility for what is generated by AI."

He wants regulation to hold to account the big tech firms which "feel they can kind of get away with anything" .

But he sounded a note of scepticism that regulators would get it right: "I think the forces that drive for money usually win out, which is sort of sad."

'We can't stop the technology'

Mr Wozniak was a pioneer of computing and says missed opportunities at the birth of the internet have lessons for today's architects of Artificial Intelligence. He believes "we can't stop the technology", but we can prepare people so they are better educated to spot fraud and malicious attempts to take personal information.

The current boss of Apple, Tim Cook, told investors last week that it was important to be "deliberate and thoughtful" in how to approach AI: "We view AI as huge, and we'll continue weaving it in our products on a very thoughtful basis."
Two 16-year-old runaways are suspects in a terrifying home invasion in Florida that ended when they were caught without clothes hiding under a dock, according to the Citrus County Sheriffs Office.

It happened Sunday, May 7, at a home in Crystal River, the sheriffs office said in news release. Crystal River is about 80 miles north of Tampa.

The suspects, Ryan Wainwright and Cameron Ingram, collectively face more than a dozen charges, officials said. Wainwright had been reported missing by his family April 17 and Ingram went missing May 3, according to a Facebook post.

Upon arrival, one of the victims told deputies that they heard a noise coming from the bedroom. When they went to inspect the noise, they saw two unknown individuals  one of which was armed  in the hallway, the sheriffs office said.

Wainwright demanded the keys to the victims vehicle while Ingram pointed a gun at another resident who was sleeping. Once Ingram obtained the keys, he gave them to Wainwright, who then exited the residence to start the vehicle.

The victim made two attempts to escape, but was ordered by Wainwright to sit on the couch and surrender any cell phones, officials said.

After the two teens drove away in the stolen car, the victims made their way to a neighbors home and called 911, officials said.

Deputies located the vehicle shortly after and a chase resulted in the driver crashing into the woods.

Both suspects exited the vehicle and fled into the woods on foot. CCSOs Air Unit was deployed to assist in locating the suspects, who were subsequently spotted in a nearby river, the sheriffs office said.

The Air Unit observed both suspects exit the river, remove their clothes, and make another attempt to hide. Additional units responded to the area and converged on both sides of the river, where they located both suspects hiding under a floating dock.

Wainwright is charged with home invasion robbery (with a firearm), false imprisonment; grand theft auto; grand theft of more than $750 less than $5,000; battery on a person 65 years of age or older; resisting a law enforcement officer without violence and fleeing and eluding law enforcement, officials said.

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Ingrams charges include home invasion robbery with firearm; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; grand theft auto; grand theft of more than $750, less than $5,000; resisting a law enforcement officer without violence and leaving the scene of an accident, officials said.

Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast identified both teens as runaways. Wainwright had been reported missing twice this year, the first time on Feb. 23, officials say.

These two juveniles ran away from their home, caused us to spend valuable time and resources looking for them, and then turned to unconscionable felony behavior towards innocent citizens, Prendergast said in the release.

Foul odor reveals man was living with a decomposing body, Florida sheriff says

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Fugitive caught slithering under floor of Florida home in makeshift hideout, cops say
A witness led investigators to a man who is suspected of starting a fire in Sacramento last week and is the focus of five other arson investigations.

Carlos Menjivar, 39, was arrested on suspicion of committing arson of property, the Sacramento Fire Department announced Monday afternoon in a news release. He was booked Thursday evening at the Sacramento County Jail, where he remained in custody. He was being held without bail.

Fire officials said the witness called 911 and identified Menjivar in the fire that occurred Thursday in 3300 block of Fruitridge Road, just west of Highway 99.

Menjivar is currently under investigation in the five additional fires. The Fire Department did not provide any additional information about the fires.

Fire officials said Menjivar has been the focus of ongoing investigations since 2021, and he was arrested on May 26, 2022, on multiple counts of arson of property. Menjivar was convicted, served his sentence and was released from custody on Oct. 27, according to the Fire Department.

Investigators asked anyone with information relevant to this case to call the Arson Tip Line at 916-808-8732.
By Praveen Menon

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia said on Tuesday that it would spend billions of dollars to improve ties with neighbouring Pacific nations and shore up its defence capabilities, as it looks to counter China's growing strategic influence in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's second budget since his centre-left Labor government was elected in May last year has pledged A$1.9 billion ($1.3 billion) over the next five years to expand engagement with Pacific nations.

"The Albanese Government is delivering a transformational package of support to the Pacific, to respond to Pacific priorities and ensure our shared interests in a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region," the government said in a statement.

Of the total figure, A$1.4 billion will be spent on expanding Australia's defence engagement in the Pacific over the next four years and strengthening law enforcement in the region.

About A$114 million will go to supporting regional architecture while A$300 million will go to the labour schemes between the Pacific and Australia over the next four years.

Canberra has looked to build its defence capabilities amid concerns about rising global geopolitical tensions and China's growing influence among Pacific island nations.

Defence spending as a proportion of GDP will lift above its current trajectory to be 0.2% higher by 2032-33, the budget showed.

Over the next four years, the government will invest more than A$19 billion to implement the priorities identified in a defence strategic review released last month, the budget statement said.

"Ultimately, defence spending will grow over the medium term, which is in line with the strategic circumstances," defence minister Richard Marles said in a statement.

The spending includes A$9 billion for the nuclear-powered submarine programme through AUKUS, a trilateral security pact with the United States and Britain, and A$4.1 billion for long-range strike capabilities.

($1 = 1.477 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Praveen Menon; editing by Sam Holmes)
The flight programme for the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow and some other Russian cities has been cancelled, with the official reason given as weather conditions.

Source: Russian Kremlin-aligned news outlet Interfax

Details: "The aviation part of the parade has been cancelled," the announcer of Kremlin-aligned Russian TV channel Russia 24 (VGTRK) said on Monday.

Army General Oleg Salyukov, the Chief of Russian Ground Forces, confirmed that the aviation part of the parade was "cancelled due to the weather".

"We have nine airfields involved. It seems that the weather here is more or less the same, but it can be completely different at airfields. I think what we've seen is already impressive," Salyukov explained.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, 11,000 servicemen took part in the military parade on Red Square on 9 May 2023.

The mechanised column reportedly included 131 pieces of modern military equipment and historical equipment represented by T-34-85, the legendary victory tank, which opened the passage of the mechanised column.

The aviation part of the military parade was also cancelled in St Petersburg.

Aviation equipment did not participate in the Victory Day parade in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Samara, the press service of the Central Military District (CMD) reports.

Rostov-on-Don was to host the only air parade in the south of Russia, in which more than 40 crews of combat aircraft and helicopters were expected to participate. The press service of the Southern Military District told Interfax that the air part of the parade did not take place in the end; the representative of the press service did not specify the reason.

Background: On 9 May 2023, Putin's regime is holding a Victory Day Parade (on this day, the Russian Federation traditionally celebrates the day of the end of World War II, which it considers the "Great Patriotic War"), which Ukrainian patriots call Russias 'Pobedobesie' [literally victory frenzy is a term used to describe the "hyperbolic celebrations" of Victory Day in Russia  ed.] in a state that unleashed a bloody war against the "brotherly" (according to Russian propaganda) country.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A baby deer was stuck in a culvert  then a deputy jumped into action, South Carolina photos show.

Deputy Nicholas Gaddy spotted the trapped fawn and squeezed down into a confined space to pull the animal to safety on May 2, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office.

Were here to help  no matter how many legs you have, deputies wrote in a Facebook post.

The rescue was reported just before 8:30 a.m. in the Carolina Park area of Mount Pleasant, a town near the tourist hot spot of Charleston. The deer was sitting in a drainage tube, apparently unable to get out, according to deputies and a photo shared on social media.

Officials said they requested the S.C. Department of Natural Resources but their ETA was unknown, so the deputy decided to act. Thats when Gaddy made a tight squeeze to free the young deer, the sheriffs office told McClatchy News in an email.

After the rescue, Gaddy was seen holding the fawn. The animal later was released, deputies said.

White-tailed deer are found across South Carolina and are known for their adaptability. People who see fawns by themselves are urged to leave the animals alone, as their mothers may be nearby. But if you know a baby deer is orphaned, wildlife officials recommend calling 803-734-3886 or 843-953-9300 for expert help.

Massive buck wanders into a garage, gets stuck, video shows. Youre drunk, go home

Alligator spotted chasing after deer in Florida water. A real-life nature thriller
A woman accused of stealing more than $175,000 from Commerce Bank customer accounts while working as a branch manager in Missouri has been sentenced, authorities said.

Andrea Nicole Hopkins, 29, is ordered to serve 18 months in federal prison, according to a May 8 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Shes also ordered to pay $175,842 in restitution.

Authorities said Hopkins, from Florissant, actually took $328,273 from 15 customer accounts while working at a St. Louis branch. But to hide her theft, she transferred or reimbursed $152,431 to customers who had already been stolen from, according to court records.

That left her with $175,842, which authorities said Hopkins used to pay debts, buy a motorcycle and pay for other personal living expenses.

The defense attorneys representing Hopkins did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on May 9.

Hopkins pleaded guilty to four counts of felony bank fraud in January, McClatchy News reported. She admitted she stole from customers from about February 2020 through May 2021.

She targeted elderly customers, knowing that some had a diminished capacity to understand their financial affairs, authorities said. The victims included a 95-year-old customer, an 82-year-old and two 80-year-olds.

Authorities said she stole from the customers by logging into their bank accounts and transferring funds with cashiers checks and prepaid cards.

She changed the address on some account statements, forged signatures and transferred funds among customers to try and hide the thefts, officials said.

She also provided false explanations to other Commerce Bank employees regarding customers who had reported fraudulent transactions, according to the plea agreement.

McClatchy News reached out to Commerce Bank on May 9 regarding the sentencing and is awaiting a response. A spokesperson with the bank previously told McClatchy that maintaining our customers account security and privacy is a top priority.

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If we identify suspicious activity, we conduct a thorough internal investigation, take necessary corrective action, work with the customer and engage law enforcement, as necessary, Darryl Collins, executive vice president with Commerce Bank, said in the Jan. 31 statement. We care about our customers and deeply value the trust they place in us.

Commerce Bank has repaid the customers, according to federal authorities.

Banker stole millions from customers  and then lost it on the stock market, feds say

Bank manager steals cash directly from vault in $439,000 Missouri fraud case, feds say

Bank worker gave up customer identities in plot to steal thousands from banks, feds say
(Bloomberg) -- Former FTX Chief Executive Officer Sam Bankman-Fried asked a judge to dismiss several criminal charges against him, arguing prosecutors improperly filed the additional counts after his extradition from the Bahamas.

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The 31-year-old, accused of orchestrating a multibillion-dollar fraud through his once bustling cryptocurrency exchange, filed a series of motions in Manhattan federal court Monday. His lawyers asked US District Judge Lewis Kaplan to throw out a campaign finance violation charge because the Bahamian Government didnt sign off on it when it green lit his extradition to the US in December.

Bankman-Frieds legal team also argued that fresh charges filed against the FTX co-founder are invalid because prosecutors didnt get proper consent from Bahamian authorities.

Mr. Bankman-Fried consented to be tried only on the charges in the original indictment for which the government of the Bahamas agreed to extradition, his attorneys wrote in the filings.

Weeks after FTX filed for bankruptcy, Bankman-Fried was arrested in Nassau, where he had been living and running FTX. US prosecutors allege the MIT graduate ran a yearslong scheme to defraud investors and misused customer funds, including to purchase property and drive trading activity through crypto hedge fund Alameda Research.

After Manhattan federal prosecutors asked Bahamian authorities to arrest him, Bankman-Fried consented to simplified extradition to the US, avoiding a potentially drawn out legal battle. But his lawyers argue he still retained his rights under extradition law, which they claim meant he couldnt be tried on charges beyond those to which he agreed to be extradited.

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According to his attorneys, the Bahamian government signed off on Bankman-Frieds warrant of surrender but it didnt include count 8  a campaign finance law violation charge. Bankman-Fried was charged with that count when he arrived in the US, along with several other counts of fraud. Prosecutors have since filed two superseding indictments in the case, taking the number of charges Bankman-Fried faces to 13.

After Mr. Bankman-Fried returned to this country, the government superseded the original indictment, not once but twice, improperly adding several new, unrelated charges without first obtaining the express consent of the Bahamian government, his attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors have been notifying authorities in the Bahamas before unsealing the superseding indictments, court filings show.

Bankman-Fried is also seeking to compel FTXs new management to turn over documents to him. His attorneys filed several emails exchanged between US prosecutors running the FTX investigation and Sullivan & Cromwell lawyers who were hired to assist with the companys restructuring.

FTXs new CEO, John Jay Ray, and the companys attorneys have acted as a public mouthpiece for the government by continuing to make disparaging remarks about Bankman-Fried and have assumed the role of prosecutor by labeling him the villain, his lawyers said.

The government has effectively deputized Mr. Ray, the FTX debtors, and their counsel as federal agents to review and synthesize the evidence for them, the lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to face trial in October.

Bankman-Fried Pleads Not Guilty, Faces Trial in October

The case is US v. Bankman-Fried, 22-cr-673, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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Photo: Alberta Wildfire

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.

The Alberta government promised financial aid Monday to people forced from their homes by wildfires that continue to threaten many areas of the province.

The province also asked the federal government for help, and Premier Danielle Smith said military personnel would be deployed to prevent looting and maintain order in evacuated communities.

"There is no question that this is a challenging time," Smith said.

"Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes and their jobs. They're leaving behind all they own."

Close to 100 fires remained active Monday during an unusually early and intense fire season. So far this year, 405 wildfires have burned nearly 400,000 hectares, according to the latest data available on the Alberta government's website. Last year at this time, 180 fires had burned 417 hectares.

About 29,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes in more than a dozen communities in recent days. Among them were about 300 hospital patients and residents in long-term care homes. The province said 54 schools have also been closed.

An evacuation order was lifted late Sunday for Edson, a town of about 8,400 people west of Edmonton, although it was still in place in some surrounding areas.

On the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, more than 40 structures, mostly homes, were lost.

Darryel Sowan, the community's emergency management communications co-ordinator, said some 3,700 people left the area quickly after the evacuation order was put in place last week.

There is no road into the community, so people had to use boats and higher-risk people were flown out.

"Because its isolated, a lot of those people have never even been away from the reserve," Sowan said.

"We want to get them back there and they want to go home. We are trying our best."

About 14 homes were destroyed on the East Prairie Metis Settlement near High River, said Brad Desjarlais, a firefighter in the community.

He said it has been extremely dry in the area, especially the grass, so the fire hungrily spread.

It was fast, like really fast, he said. It was fast and zig-zaggy. It went this way and that way.

A bridge in the community was also destroyed, meaning some members may not easily get home even if the evacuation order is lifted.

In central Alberta, a wildfire that destroyed some homes in Drayton Valley remained out of control.

In a post on social media, Brazeau County officials warned people not to approach the evacuation area, saying a change in weather could make the situation even more dangerous.

Jade Verheul, who had to flee Drayton Valley with her children on Thursday night, said she was lucky to have a place to go because her parents have an RV lot in Seba Beach, west of Edmonton.

"It is still stressful of course, but having this space to go to has made things a lot easier on our family," Verheul said in a message. "I know there are other families who have it much worse right now."

Reception centres were operating in Edmonton and Calgary to help evacuees and arrange for shelter.

The provincial government's financial aid will be a one-time payment worth $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependent child. The money is to be available starting Tuesday via e-transfer and only to those forced to spend at least seven consecutive days away from home. People can apply online or by phone, Smith said.

Smith spoke on the phone earlier Monday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau promised help, including a matching fund with the Red Cross to help affected people.

"All weekend, we were watching images from the communities affected by these wildfires and I assured Danielle that we will be there to help," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

ORIGINAL 6 a.m.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to provide an update on the province's ongoing wildfires this afternoon.

A press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. MDT. Smith will be joined by Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis and other officials.

Several thousand people have been ordered to leave their homes as more than 100 wildfires burn across Alberta.

Smith activated the cabinet's emergency management committee Friday and said there would be daily media briefings on the wildfire situation.

So far this year, 348 wildfires have burned more than 25,000 hectares across the province.

In Fox Lake, about 550 kilometres north of Edmonton, the province said a 4,400-hectare wildfire destroyed 20 homes, an RCMP detachment, a store and the community's water treatment plant.
(Bloomberg) -- Turkish lenders rallied strongly for a second day to lead gains for the countrys benchmark stock index as some investors bet on a possible win for the political opposition in elections to be held Sunday.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Borsa Istanbul Banks Index surged as much as 6.5%, taking its advance this week to 14% on Tuesday, the biggest two-day gain since Oct. 17 on a closing basis.

Turkiye Is Bankasi AS led gains for lenders as the bank in which the main opposition party CHP owns a 28% stake soared 18% in the period. Conglomerates also advanced with Koc Holding AS surging almost 15% to contribute most to the benchmark BIST 100 Indexs two-day gain of as much as 5%, along with Isbank.

Investors expectations for a first-round win by the opposition candidate  who promised a return to orthodox monetary policies as well as signaling a change at the central bank management  seem to have increased, said Gokhan Uskuay, a fund manager at Allbatross Portfoy. That prospect is boosting especially banking stocks and holding companies.

Read more on: Why Turkeys Election Is a Big Test for Erdogan: QuickTake

Turks will cast their votes in closely-contested presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogans 20-year rule being challenged by Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Erdogan Challenger Vows to Probe Turkey Bourse, Economy Data

The vote has turned into a high-stakes battle over Erdogans unorthodox economic ideas and his governments intervention in markets, which has alienated foreign investors in recent years.

The main opposition CHPs stake in Isbank was bequeathed to it by the countrys founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in his will.

Story continues

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The New World Festival took place on Sunday, 30 April, in Essex

Police are investigating the deaths of two young people following a dance music festival in Essex.

The woman, 28, and the man, 26, separately attended the New World Festival in Gloucester Park, Basildon, on 30 April.

Essex Police said both deaths were being treated as "unexpected".

A spokesperson for the organiser said it was "extremely saddened" and would "work to identify any lessons" that could improve safety in the future.

Essex Police said it was called to the welfare of the woman at the Holiday Inn at the Festival Leisure Park in Basildon, at about 02:15 BST on 1 May.

She was taken to hospital in a critical condition and later died.

Meanwhile, emergency services treated the man at a residential address in the town.

'Increase safety'

The force said both deaths were being treated as "unexpected", adding that the man's death was "at this stage, not suspicious".

Toxicology tests are ongoing to establish provisional causes of death.

A spokesperson at New World Events said: "We would like to thank our staff, including our security teams, who with the use of manual searches and a search dog, prevented many people with illegal substances from entering the event.

"Also to our medical teams who treated a number of people who were under the influence of substances or alcohol, both inside and outside of the event."

They added: "We will also work to identify any lessons that can be applied to increase safety at any future events."

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk
Beaufort Deputy City Manager Reece Bertholf  a former fire chief and finalist for Beauforts city manager job five months ago  is leaving the Lowcountry for a job in Minnesota, the state where he grew up.

The City of New Hope, Minnesota, announced that it has hired Bertholf to become its next city manager. The City Council unanimously OKd the contract Monday.

New Hope is a Minneapolis suburb with a population of about 22,000. Bertholf is expected to begin the job June 12.

Bertholf is the second high-level city official to announce their departure within the past week. Bill Harvey, the city attorney for 36 years, said Friday he was leaving to focus on his private practice.

While the city will begin a search for Harveys replacement, City Manager Scott Marshall said Tuesday that the search for a new deputy city manager is pending an evaluation of staffing needs.

Bertholf, who joined the city as a firefighter 24 years ago, rose through the ranks, becoming fire chief in 2015 and deputy city city manager in 2021.

In November, he was one of three finalists for the citys top post, city manager, after Bill Prokop announced his retirement in September. But the city hired Marshall, Beaufort Countys human resources director, for that job.

Bertholf will replace New Hope City Manager Kirk McDonald, who retired last June. New Hope Police Chief Tim Hoyt has served as acting city manager since McDonalds retirement.

Bertholf, 44, has a bachelors degree from the University of South Carolina Beaufort, an MBA from The Citadel and an executive certificate in public leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He began his career with the city of Beaufort as a volunteer with the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department in 2000 after serving four years in the Marines.

Its been a tremendous environment to work in, Bertholf told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.

The people he interacted with in Beaufort over 23 years, Bertholf said, left the largest impression on him.

Besides his job with the city, Bertholf is chairman of the Riverview Charter School and the Child Abuse Prevention Association.

I am truly humbled by the opportunities afforded to me by our community but it is with a full and grateful heart, that I simply say  thank you, Bertholf said.
Spending time outside will improve your physical and mental health. Shutterstock

Spending time in forests, hiking in mountains, and just being outside can lead to significant health benefits.

Studies have shown that walking in the woods can improve blood pressure, boost mental health, and decrease cancer risk.

Go spend some time "forest-bathing" to improve your health.

Many people spend workdays indoors under fluorescent lights and in front of computers, then return home to bask in the glow of television screens.

But research suggests it's important to make time to get outdoors as well, since doing so is beneficial  maybe essential  for human health. Psychologists and health researchers are finding more and more science-backed reasons we should go outside and enjoy the natural world.

In her book, "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative," journalist Florence Williams writes that she started investigating the health benefits of nature after moving from the mountainous terrain of Boulder, Colorado, to what she describes as "the anti-Arcadia that is the nation's capital": Washington, DC.

"I felt disoriented, overwhelmed, depressed," she wrote. "My mind had trouble focusing. I couldn't finish thoughts. I couldn't make decisions and I wasn't keen to get out of bed."

We don't all need to move to beautiful places like Boulder  there are good reasons for many of us to live in bigger cities.

But humans do need to spend time in natural environments if they want to improve their physical and mental health. That could mean taking advantage of hiking trails near your home, playing in the snow, swimming in the ocean, or just spending time every week in a local park.

Here are 12 reasons why it's so important.

Walking in nature could improve your short-term memory.

Flickr / Carlos Andres Reyes

Several studies show that nature walks have memory-promoting effects that other walks don't.

In one study, University of Michigan students were given a brief memory test, then divided into two groups. One group took a walk around an arboretum, and the other took a walk down a city street. When the participants returned and did the test again, those who had walked among trees did almost 20% percent better than they had first time. The people who had taken in city sights instead did not consistently improve.

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A similar study on depressed individuals found that walks in nature boosted working memory much more than walks in urban environments.

Being outdoors has a demonstrated de-stressing effect.

Shutterstock/solarsven

Something about being outside changes the physical expression of stress in the body.

One study found that students sent into the forest for two nights had lower levels of cortisol  a hormone often used as a marker for stress  than those who spent that time in a city.

In another study, researchers found a decrease in both the heart rates and levels of cortisol of participants who spent time in the forest compared to those in the city.

"Stressful states can be relieved by forest therapy," the researchers concluded.

Among office workers, even a view of nature out a window is associated with lower stress and higher job satisfaction.

Spending time outside reduces inflammation.

Aidan Jones/flickr

When inflammation goes into overdrive, it's associated with a wide range of ills, including autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, and cancer. Spending time in nature may be one way to help keep that in check.

In one study, students who spent time in the forest had lower levels of inflammation than those who spent time in the city. In another, elderly patients who had been sent on a weeklong trip into the forest showed reduced signs of inflammation. There were some indications that the woodsy jaunt had a positive effect on those patients' hypertension levels as well.

Enjoying the outdoors helps eliminate fatigue.

Shutterstock

You know that feeling when your brain seems to be sputtering to a halt? Researchers call that "mental fatigue."

One thing that can help get your mind back into gear is exposing it to restorative environments, which, research has found, generally means the great outdoors. One study found that people's mental energy bounced back even when they just looked at pictures of nature. (Pictures of city scenes had no such effect.)

Studies have also found that natural beauty can elicit feelings of awe, which is one of the surest ways to experience a mental boost.

Outdoor experiences may help fight depression and anxiety.

Unsplash / Joshua Earle

Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues may all be eased by some time in nature  especially when that's combined with exercise.

One study found that walks in the forest were associated with decreased levels of anxiety and bad moods, and another found that outdoor walks could be "useful clinically as a supplement to existing treatments" for major depressive disorder.

"Every green environment improved both self-esteem and mood," found an analysis of 10 earlier studies about so-called "green exercise." That review also indicated that "the mentally ill had one of the greatest self-esteem improvements."

The presence of water made the positive effects even stronger, the findings suggested.

Being outside may protect your vision.

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Dr. Alice S. Kandell Collection of Sikkim Photographs

At least in children, a fairly large body of research has found that outdoor activity may have a protective effect on the eyes and reduce the risk of developing nearsightedness (myopia).

"Increasing time spent outdoors may be a simple strategy by which to reduce the risk of developing myopia and its progression in children and adolescents," a 2012 review of the research concluded.

In Taiwan, researchers studied two nearby schools where myopia was equally common. They told one school to encourage outdoor activity during recess and monitored the other as a control. After one year, the rate of myopia in the control school was 17.65%; in the "play outside" school, it was just 8.41%.

Spending time outside lowers blood pressure.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

With all these other salutary effects, it's no surprise that outdoor time  which usually involves walking  lowers blood pressure too.

That effect has been demonstrated by a number of studies. One intensive study of 280 participants in Japan found that along with decreasing stress hormone concentrations by more than 15%, a walk in the forest lowered participants' average pulse by almost 4% and blood pressure by just over 2%.

It could improve your ability to focus.

Shutterstock

We know the natural environment is "restorative"  that even applies to your waning attention.

In one study, researchers worked to deplete participants' ability to focus. Then some people took a walk in nature, others took a walk through the city, and the rest just relaxed. When everyone returned, the nature group scored the best on a proofreading task.

The attention-improving effect of nature is so strong it might even help kids with ADHD: they've been found to concentrate better after just 20 minutes in a park.

"'Doses of nature' might serve as a safe, inexpensive, widely accessible new tool ... for managing ADHD symptoms," researchers wrote.

You may perform better on creative tasks after being outside.

Shutterstock

"Imagine a therapy that had no known side effects, was readily available, and could improve your cognitive functioning at zero cost." That's the dramatic opening to a 2008 paper describing the promise of so-called "nature therapy"  or, as a non-academic might call it, time spent outside.

Another study found that people immersed in nature for four days boosted their performance on a creative problem-solving test by 50%.

Outdoor sessions may even help prevent cancer.

Shutterstock/Sean Pavone

Research on this connection is still in its earliest phases, but preliminary studies have suggested that spending time in nature  in forests, in particular  may stimulate the production of anti-cancer proteins.

Boosts in the levels of these proteins that people get from being in the woods may may last up to seven days after the trip.

Studies in Japan, where "shinrin-yoku" or "forest-bathing" is considered a form of preventative medicine, have also found that areas with greater forest coverage have lower mortality rates from a wide variety of cancers.

While there are too many confounding factors to come to a definitive conclusion about what this might mean, it's a promising area for future research.

Forests also might boost your immune system.

Julie Denesha / Stringer / Getty Images

The cellular activity associated with a forest's possible anti-cancer effects is also indicative of a general boost to the immune system (the body's natural ability to fight off less serious ills like colds, flus, and other infections).

A 2010 review of research related to this effect noted that "all of these findings strongly suggest that forest environments have beneficial effects on human immune function." But the researchers acknowledged that more research on the relationship is still needed.

With all this, it's not surprising that outdoor time is associated with a lower overall risk of early death.

Shutterstock/Gregory James Van Raalte

Nearby green space seems to be especially important for residents of urban environments, according to a Dutch study of 250,782 people, which found a strong positive connection between green space and health.

A follow-up study by the same research team found that a wide variety of diseases were less prevalent among people who lived in close proximity to green space. Other studies have made a direct link between time spent in forests and other measures of overall health.

A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found a similar connection: greater exposure to greenness was associated with a 12% lower mortality rate. The biggest improvements were related to reduced risk of death from cancer, lung disease, and kidney disease.

Lauren Friedman contributed to an earlier version of this post.

This article was originally published in April 2018.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Reuters) -Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko had to be driven a short distance to an event during Tuesday's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and skipped a lunch hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, looked tired and a little unsteady on his feet, and a bandage was visible on his right hand. His appearance sparked speculation online about his health, though he otherwise showed no obvious sign of being unwell.

Video footage showed the 68-year-old chatting with Putin and army top brass after the annual parade on Red Square and then taking a lift to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier nearby while Putin walked there with the leaders of Armenia and five Central Asian countries.

He rejoined the others to lay flowers at the Tomb beside the Kremlin, only about 300 metres from the spot where they had earlier watched the parade marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

In a rare departure from custom, the Belarusian president then missed the state lunch hosted by Putin in the Kremlin and attended by the other leaders.

Belarusian authorities have issued no statements on Lukashenko's health, but he has appeared at few public events in the past two weeks and at one of them his voice was hoarse.

Lukashenko later on Tuesday resurfaced for the Victory Day wreath-laying ceremony in Minsk but in another departure from tradition he wore civilian clothes - not a military uniform - and made no speech.

Russia used the territory of Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of their common neighbour Ukraine in February last year, and since then their military cooperation has intensified, with joint training exercises on Belarusian soil.

But Lukashenko has insisted that Belarus is not a party to the war and has not sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in what Putin calls a "special military operation".

At Tuesday's Victory Day parade Putin said Russia was engaged in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine.

(Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Watch: Belgium's digital minister: EU plans to 'bring order to crypto' and create its own blockchain | The Crypto Mile

The EU will "bring order to crypto" and create its own official blockchain for Europe, Belgium's digital minister has said.

On this week's episode of Yahoo Finance UK's The Crypto Mile, Belgian secretary of state for digitalisation Mathieu Michel emphasised the need for trust and regulation in the rapidly evolving crypto ecosystem and said the EU's new Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill solves this.

The MiCA legislation is the world's first regulatory framework for crypto-assets and is set to come into force between 2024 and 2025.

"The new MiCA bill will boost the crypto industry in Europe because Europeans are really strong on building regulation, and the purpose of this regulation is always to build trust," Michel told The Crypto Mile.

"There are lots of opportunities for blockchain, in the way value is exchanged, but it has to be done in a trusted ecosystem, which is why MiCA has the power to unleash the potential of this industry.

Read more: Europeum: A blockchain network for the EU

"If you think that crypto is just a currency, this is a bad way to identify crypto assets. Many people only see crypto assets as a financial tool. I see them as a way we can exchange value, and a way we can protect privacy. The EU will use MiCA to bring order to crypto, through regulation."

Michel said that the framework was not made to give the EU a competitive advantage over other financial hubs, "but to unleash power an innovation through trust".

"It will help us develop a strong crypto ecosystem, because we have a lot of talent in Europe that understand the next wave of innovation will be web3," he said.

Michel said that by providing a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-assets, the EU would become an attractive destination for web3 talent and businesses.

Europeum, the EU's blockchain for Europe

The EU also plans to develop "concrete" blockchain applications in 2024, with the creation of 'Europeum', a blockchain for Europe.

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This will concentrate on the exchange of data related to the bloc's citizens, such as driving licenses, identity cards, and property deeds.

"Belgium will have the EU presidency in 2024, and one of my goals then will be to transform the European blockchain concept from a technical project into a political project, to create concrete applications for the blockchain, pioneering digital wallets and digital identity," Michel said.

He added: "I have suggested the idea of a European blockchain, called Europeum, for digital payments and smart contracts. The need for a European blockchain arises from concerns over the dependence on foreign technology providers and the potential risks associated with that. It would have several advantages.

Read more: Philip Hammond warns of 'real risk' to London financial services from EU crypto bill

"In the first place, it would offer greater control and independence over digital payments and smart contracts, ensuring that the EU is not reliant on foreign providers for critical infrastructure.

"Additionally, a European blockchain could provide greater security and privacy for transactions, as well as offering benefits such as transparency and efficiency.

"Furthermore, the use of a European blockchain could facilitate cross-border transactions and data sharing within the EU, reducing the complexity and cost of cross-border payments and enabling greater interoperability between different systems.

"Identity cards, passports or title of property could all be deployed on a blockchain, which would provide great value, with the greatest value being in the data itself. The data of each citizen, such as title of property and driving licence and so on, could be safely exchanged on a regulated blockchain."

He said: "Work has already begun on this blockchain, with the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EPSI) project which exists right now in Europe.

"EBSI is a permissioned blockchain, meaning that only authorised parties can participate in the network, making it more secure and suitable for sensitive applications such as government authentic sources.

"Additionally, EBSI runs on Proof of Authority (PoA), a consensus algorithm that requires much less energy consumption than the proof of work algorithm used by many public blockchains and aims at being blockchain agnostic."

MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets) regulatory framework

MiCA is a proposed regulatory framework for crypto-assets across the European Union. The regulation would introduce requirements for issuers, service providers, and trading platforms, among others, to protect consumers and prevent market abuse.

Michel said that by providing a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-assets, the EU would become an attractive destination for web3 talent and businesses.

Read more: UK crypto hub could have 'significant competitive advantage' over EU, claims Revolut lead

"Additionally, the EU has a large and well-established market for financial services, making it an ideal location for crypto companies looking to expand their services beyond the crypto industry," he said.

"The introduction of the MiCA regulation would bring crypto-assets under the same regulatory umbrella as other financial instruments, making it easier for crypto companies to interact with the traditional financial sector.

"Moreover, the EU already has a strong and proven commitment to data and consumer protection as well as market abuse prevention which are additional competitive advantages in general but could equally and particularly attract web3 talent and businesses to Europe."

Michel said the combination of the digitisation of traditional assets on blockchains and artificial intelligence could pose risks for existing financial systems.

"For example, the use of AI for financial decision-making could potentially exacerbate systemic risks in financial markets, particularly if the AI models are not well-calibrated or are trained on biased or incomplete data.

"Therefore, it's essential that policymakers and industry leaders work together to develop a framework for responsible AI and blockchain use, taking into account potential risks and ensuring that these technologies are used in ways that benefit society as a whole."

Read more: Bank of England sets out new plans to regulate crypto

Co-founder of Winngie Technologies Ibrahim Ipek told Yahoo Finance UK: "While MiCA may not be a revolutionary regulation in terms of its capacity, its impact on several European countries provides leverage for the crypto industry.

"In addition, MiCA serves as a benchmark for all crypto regulations, similar to the GDPR privacy law. Other legislation will be based on MiCA and will implement further regulation on top of it.

"MiCA provides a comprehensive package for all 27 EU member states. It creates a market abuse standard that could be used in all member countries. Overall, MiCA provides a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-assets in the European Union. This helps to reduce regulatory uncertainty and encourages innovation in the industry.

"However, there are still some parts of MiCA that need to be more established, such as those on decentralised finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFT). Nevertheless, if we consider MiCA as a full package, it will be essential in attracting new businesses to Europe. As it is often said, Europe is good for regulation but late for innovation, while the US is the innovation place but late for regulation. MiCA may be proof of this."

Watch: Girls that Invest founder on why more women should embrace the stock market | The Crypto Mile

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey has said that nobody loves Eurovision more than she does while answering questions about the contest on Twitter.

The actor and Eurovision superfan, 19, set the record straight about the international competition during a segment for the song contests official Twitter page called Why youre wrong about Eurovision with Bella Ramsey.

Ramsey first responded to a message from a user who said they did not understand the point of Eurovision.

The point, Ramsey told them, is unbridled joy, deep happiness, meeting your co-workers the next day and talking about why you preferred Finland to Sweden.

Were sharing the music of other cultures. Its education. That is the point.

Responding to a comment about Eurovision being overrated, she said: Eurovision gets over 160 million TV viewers and this comment got like one like. Just saying.

In the video, she also sang Eurovision winner Abbas 1974 hit Waterloo when asked: Why do you listen to Eurovision artists?

Bella Ramsey has some thoughts on #Eurovision... pic.twitter.com/kHRlIPNtZz  BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision) May 9, 2023

She was not happy with a tweet that said Eurovision isnt a serious competition.

Ramsey signed off with a little dance and singalong to Lipstick by 2011 Irish duo entrant Jedward.

This years final takes place in Liverpool on Saturday 13 May. The UK entrant this year is Mae Muller. Read everything you need to know about her here and meet all 37 contestants here.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Solo traveling (Michael Duva/ Getty Images)

So you're a woman hoping to explore the world, but setting out on your own? No problem. Here are a few tips any solo female traveler should incorporate into her plans to ensure she has a safe trip:

Hotels

One of the most important things for a woman traveler to consider is lodging  finding a safe place to sleep and regroup is crucial to an enjoyable trip. In a conversation with The New York Times, frequent solo traveler Jessica Nabango said she minds her safety by opting to stay in hotels with 24-hour security or Airbnbs with a "Superhost" designation. Allison Lane, another wanderlust enthusiast, recommended independent ladies bring "a basic rubber doorstop" and use that "to wedge under the inside of your hotel/lodging door while you're in your room. It's almost impossible to push open a door while that's in place."

Caroline Vroom, who had traveled to 75 countries as of 2019, suggested tipping the employees at your hotel so they are more inclined to help you in case of an emergency. "I tip at hotels as soon as I get there in countries with a high poverty rate," Vroom told the Times. "Concierge, desk, servers, maids and luggage, I give to them all. That way if I need a rescue or anything else, I am covered. This has often paid off for me."

Transportation

Another important question for solo travelers: How will you be getting from point A to B when you arrive at your destination? It's crucial that you plan out your transportation prior to leaving for any trip, especially if you are going by yourself. This can make the difference in avoiding ending up stranded in an unfamiliar place.

The Washington Post contributor Gemma Correll suggests solo women use only official taxis or rideshare as means of transportation during their voyage. If you plan to ride in a cab, "make sure you know what official taxis in the area look like." And if you opt for a rideshare app like Uber, always check the license plate number before getting in the car to make sure it matches up with the vehicle anddriver assigned to pick you up on the app. Once inside the car, be sure to immediately begin tracking your ride on your phone to ensure that the driver is taking you in the right direction.

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Expenses

If you're on your own, "don't carry all your money and things with you at one time," Glamour recommends. "Just take what you need for the day." And be sure to tuck that excess cash away in unexpected spots across your hotel room: inside an unopened sanitary pad or a shoe, or even wrapped up in your undergarments would work, seeing as most people likely won't touch such personal items.

Next, you'll want to plan out where you will be getting food. But when out of the country and alone, you should refrain from accepting drinks from strangers, and keep an eye on anything that you eat or drink at all times.

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From sunny beaches to gondola rides on canals, and plenty of arts, culture, and shopping, Fort Lauderdale has proven that it's a destination worthy of your time.

Visit Lauderdale

Situated between Miami and Palm Beach on Floridas Atlantic coast, Fort Lauderdale sometimes gets short shrift when it comes to Florida vacation destinations compared to its glitzier neighbors.

But you dont need to look very hard to find plenty of reasons to stick around. From sunny beaches to gondola rides on canals, and plenty of arts, culture, and shopping along the way, Fort Lauderdale has proven that it's a destination worthy of your time.

Visit Lauderdale

Around Town

One of Floridas largest cities, Fort Lauderdale spans 24 miles of beachfront along the Atlantic Ocean and stretches inland over the Intracoastal Waterway. The city is home to a major international airport and cruise terminal: the Fort Lauderdale International Airport and Port Everglades both serve millions of passengers each year.

A new high-speed rail service, Brightline, operates a station in Fort Lauderdale, zipping passengers from Miami to West Palm Beach (with future expansions planned for Orlando and Tampa).

Besides the scenic A1A Highway which runs north to south through the city, Las Olas Boulevard is a main thoroughfare through the heart of downtown, running east to west and offering boutique shopping, art galleries, and dining.



If youre looking to expand your horizons, head to the Museum of Discovery and Science or the NSU Art Museum, both located downtown. Keep tabs on events happening in two arts districts: MASS District Art Walk is a free outdoor event that runs the last Saturday of every month for 10 years and FAT Village (named for Flagler, Art, and Technology) is four blocks of Fort Lauderdales historic warehouse district teeming with creativity.

One of the best ways to explore the city is by water on the citys 300 miles of navigable waterways. Take a Water Taxi for a guided tour through the towns legendary mansions and mega yachtshop on and off throughout the day for $35. Or plan a romantic electric gondola rideyou can bring your own picnic and enjoy watching the sights unfold through Fort Lauderdales canals. Airboats and jet skis are even more options for exploring these waterways.

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Visit Lauderdale

Where To Eat

Dining in Fort Lauderdale is a fully multicultural experience that delights the palate. Head to Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, Fort Lauderdales first food hall that opened in 2020, to get a good sampling of some cuisine from around the globe, from sushi to sandwiches, bibimbap to empanadas, in addition to live music events.



Or go get a little taste of Jamaica at Island in the Pines, dishing out island favorites like brown stew chicken, oxtail, cow foot and beans (best enjoyed accompanied with a bottle of ice cold Ting).

At Clevelands Old Fashion Ice Cream in Miramar, theyve been churning out 50 flavors of fresh ice cream for 40 years. If you have a hungry crew with you, order up the Ice Cream Chaffer, which is delivered in a metal handled serving container with eight flavors and all the toppings you can hope for.

A popular stop for those headed out on the water for a little daytime cruise is The Wharf, an outdoor spot on Las Olas Boulevard that hosts rotating food trucks, as well as bars, and various pop-up events.



Visit Lauderdale

Where To Stay

The Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale opened in March 2022 in an oceanfront location on North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. Unwind at the hotel spa, with treatments designed to mimic the waterways that surround Fort Lauderdale, and swim at the in your choice of two infinity pools. Dine at Evelyns Table serving a Eastern Mediterranean/coastal-influenced menu, plus a soon-to-be-opened boulevard-level restaurant.

Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort reopened in 2022 following a rebrand. Originally opened as the Escape Hotel in 1949, this property has long been prized by vacationers. With decor that celebrates its retro roots, guests can stretch their way through daily beach yoga classes, and use the Kimptons bikes, boogie boards, and childrens beach toysall included in the daily resort fee.

Plunge Beach Resort offers a great budget-friendly option in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and recently launched new adults-only bungalow accommodations. These exclusive environs include kitchenettes and dining rooms, welcome drinks, and access to a VIP lounge, as well as an adults-only pool and beach area.

Visit Lauderdale

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
The Renaissance World Tour could reportedly earn as much as $2.4 billion in gross earnings, according to Forbes.

Beyonces Renaissance World Tour is one of the most anticipated live music events of 2023. Estimates show that it may outearn Taylor Swifts Eras Tour by roughly $500 million.

Forbes estimates the Renaissance World Tour could gross anywhere between $275 million or, at its most optimistic, $2.4 billion in revenue. By comparison, Taylor Swifts Eras Tour could gross up to $1.9 billion, optimistically assuming.

Several factors contribute to the calculation. Fans are buying tickets to see Beyonce at a fever pitch due to the combination of eagerness to see live music after the COVID-19 shutdown and the fact that Beyonce hasnt toured since co-headlining the On the Run II Tour with husband Jay-Z in 2018. Her last solo trek was the Formation World Tour two years before.

Beyonce performs during the ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars on March 27, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mason Poole/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)

Also, ticket prices for the Renaissance World Tour are very high, averaging from a low of $200 to a high of $678. For her scheduled stop in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 30, Ticketmaster lists its most expensive seats in front of the stage at more than $2,300 per ticket. Each venue averages 65,860 in fan capacity, with numerous shows already sold out.

In addition, fans are likely to spend more money on Beyonce merchandise at her concerts than fans are at Swifts concerts. Swift provides more of her merch on her website than Beyonce does, which opens the doors for onsite merch purchasing at a premium cost during Beyonces shows.

Beyonces Renaissance World Tour is expected to yield the most profits in her career, Forbes estimates. Each of her last three tours  2014s On the Run Tour with Jay-Z, 2016s Formation World Tour, and 2018s On the Run II Tour with Jay-Z again  achieved high grossed earnings with $95 million, $256 million, and $254 million, respectively.

Slated to start on Thursday in Stockholm, Sweden, the Renaissance World Tour will hit other cities including London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and her hometown of Houston. The tour ends on Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

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The post Beyonces tour on pace to outsell Taylor Swifts tour appeared first on TheGrio.
Photo: The Canadian Press Pipes at a natural gas plant near Fort St. John, B.C., on October 11, 2018.

Mexico is poised to catch the next wave of demand for liquefied natural gas and surpass Canada in the global race to be a new entrant for exporting the fuel.

Momentum for LNG exports from Mexico increased after Europe experienced an energy crunch that was triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022.

While Mexicos exports would start out relatively modest, it is on track to handily beat Canada.

How the U.S. became a global leader in LNG  and why Canada has fallen behind

Analysts forecast that the United States will be the top LNG exporter in 2023, followed by either Australia or Qatar. If most of the Mexican LNG projects and proposals get built, Mexico could eventually become the worlds fourth-largest exporter of the fuel.

Canada recently ranked the worlds sixth-largest producer of natural gas, but it doesnt have any LNG export terminals yet.

TC Energy Corp. TRP-T is a key infrastructure player in Mexico. The Calgary-based company already operates seven pipelines in Mexico and has plans for an offshore natural gas line called Southeast Gateway, to be built along the Gulf Coast.

Mexico has been very focused on developing their natural gas infrastructure because its been a key element of their own transition away from higher-carbon fuels, said Jennifer Pierce, president of TC Energys TC Energia business unit in Mexico.

Last August, Mexicos state-owned electrical utility, Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), disclosed plans to collaborate with TC Energy for the US$4.5-billion Southeast Gateway pipeline project within Mexico. An important goal of the project is to secure U.S. natural gas for Mexican electricity generation.

Mexico imports the vast majority of its natural gas through pipelines originating in the United States.

This is the precursor for Mexicos energy transition, Ms. Pierce said in an interview from Mexico City. They have a tremendous renewable capability, particularly in the area of solar.

CFE has an ambitious vision for exporting LNG from the Mexican state of Veracruz. Southeast Gateways 715-kilometre route could deliver additional supplies to the port city of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz, for supercooling natural gas into liquid form.

In effect, Mexico is keen to tap further into U.S. reserves, notably in the prolific Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico.

By contrast, Canada has faced major challenges to export LNG. It has been hamstrung by the high costs to expand pipeline capacity, especially on the East Coast, where lofty LNG plans fizzled earlier this year. Ottawa said last summer that LNG proponents in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia must stand on their own merits and move forward without federal financing.

Two Canadian-based producers  Tourmaline Oil Corp. TOU-T and ARC Resources Ltd. ARX-T  have deals to supply natural gas to Cheniere Energy Inc.s Corpus Christi LNG export terminal in Texas, though Canada-U. S. pipeline capacity constraints remain.

Without sufficient pipeline capacity to the U.S. or Eastern Canada, or LNG to international markets, the value of Canadian gas resources will continue to be diminished, according to a report by Royal Bank of Canada RY-T.

LNG proposals in British Columbia had a major head start over Mexico, with early-stage planning dating back more than a decade ago in B.C.

Shell PLC-led LNG Canada selected Kitimat, B.C., as its terminal site in 2012. Today, the Kitimat terminal is the only LNG export facility under construction in Canada. The joint ventures Phase 1 is hoping to start shipping 14 million tonnes a year of the fuel to Asia, beginning in 2025.

LNG Canadas proposed expansion hinges on economic viability of switching to lower-carbon technology

Proponents of Mexican LNG exports have short timelines for their projects, with one of them leap-frogging ahead of Canada. In August, New Fortress Energy Inc. plans to start exporting LNG from the Altamira project in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas along the Gulf Coast, earmarking deliveries for Europe.

Last year, CFE forged a strategic alliance with New Fortress for the Altamira export hub on the Mexican Gulf Coast, with the first phase situated offshore. New York-based New Fortress is aiming to initially export 1.4 million tonnes a year of LNG to Europe, followed by expansions that could triple the annual export capacity to 4.2 million tonnes by the end of 2024.

Also being lined up is the Lakach floating LNG project near Veracruz.

Natural gas is already imported from the U.S. for electricity generation in Tamaulipas and Veracruz, flowing through the existing Sur de Texas-Tuxpan marine pipeline, which is led by TC Energy.

On Mexicos West Coast, the first phase of the Energia Costa Azul project, led by San Diego-based Sempra, is under construction. Exports to Asia from that LNG terminal are slated to start in 2025.

The Sempra-led Costa Azul project is initially targeting three million tonnes a year of LNG exports to Asia. The project has ambitious plans for expansion for a second phase that would add 12 million tonnes a year from the site in the Mexican state of Baja California.

Other LNG proposals along Mexicos western coastline include Mexico Pacific, Vista Pacifico, Amigo and Salina Cruz.

While its unclear how many of the plans will forge ahead, there are criticisms about Mexicos belated but aggressive move into LNG exports. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a U.S.-based research group, expressed concerns in a March filing to the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

IEFFA was responding to an application by Mexico Pacific for increasing its authorized amount of imports of U.S. natural gas.

Seven U.S. LNG export terminals are currently operating and at least another five U.S. facilities, including expansions at three existing sites, are likely to open by 2028.

The potential for excess supply over demand must be considered, IEEFA said in its filing.

In addition to IEEFA questioning the economics of expanding LNG exports, environmental groups warn that LNG is a fossil fuel contributing to global emissions of greenhouse gases when the focus should be on renewable energy.

There had been two LNG proposals in Oregon for exporting to Asia, but they failed to gain traction amid community opposition.

In Kitimat, LNG Canada recently received the 199th of 215 modules that were ordered for its Phase 1. The final large modules from the Qingdao fabrication yard in China arrived last month for installation in Kitimat, while smaller units will come from the Zhuhai facility, also located in China.

LNG Canadas Phase 1 will become the first terminal in Canada dedicated to exporting the commodity on purpose-built LNG vessels.

Shell and the four other co-owners of LNG Canada have not yet decided on whether to approve a Phase 2 expansion.

Teresa Waddington, LNG Canadas vice-president of corporate relations, said Phase 1 is now more than 80 per cent completed. We see an opportunity to build on our early Phase 1 successes and the benefits it is providing British Columbians and Canadians, she said in a statement.

TC Energy owns 35 per cent of the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline project, which will transport natural gas from northeast B.C. to Kitimat. The 670-kilometre route is 87 per cent completed.

Besides LNG Canadas potential Phase 2, four other projects for exports using tankers remain active in B.C., including Cedar LNG, which would rely on Coastal GasLink for supplies of natural gas.

About 190 kilometres of the pipeline route cross the Wetsuweten Nations unceded traditional territory. Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs who oppose Coastal GasLink say they have jurisdiction over that territory.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden called for a fair deal for Hollywood's striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the the upcoming streaming series American Born Chinese to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Biden made his first public comments on the strike, which hits the one-week mark Tuesday, in remarks ahead of the pilot's screening. He was joined by an overflow crowd of hundreds of community leaders, elected officials and cast members and producers from the show in the East Room and the State Dining Room.

Nights like these are a reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with the dignity, respect and the value they deserve, Biden said. I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.

He added: This is an iconic, meaningful American industry. And we need the writers and all the workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us."

American Born Chinese is an adaptation of a graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, and stars Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. It will premiere on Disney+ May 24.

Biden used his brief remarks onstage to outline his administration's efforts to highlight the accomplishments of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and to speak out against prejudice and violence targeting them.

Hate can have no safe harbor in America," Biden said. "Silence is complicity and we will not remain silent

Quan, who introduced Biden, reflected on his journey from arriving in the U.S. as an 8-year-old refugee from Vietnam to making his first visit to the White House months after winning an Oscar.

I do not take this moment lightly, because I know this building is a monument to a country that opened its arms to me, he said.
The Biden administration announced a southern Arizona mining project would be the first to ever receive special permitting fast-track coverage despite concerns over ecological impacts.

The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council  an interagency office with White House, Transportation Department, Interior Department, Energy Department and Pentagon representatives  said late Monday that the $1.7 billion Hermosa Critical Minerals project proposed by multi-billion-dollar Australian mining firm South32 had been granted so-called FAST-41 coverage.

If approved, the Hermosa project, located in the Patagonia Mountains within the Coronado National Forest in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, would produce zinc and manganese, two critical minerals that are vital for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable power storage. According to the International Energy Agency, manganese is widely used in EVs while zinc is crucial for wind energy development.

"The Permitting Council is pleased to see the first-ever critical minerals mining project accepted for coverage under our unique program," Permitting Council Executive Director Christine Harada said in a statement. "President Biden has committed to securing a domestic supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals, and manganese is a key part of the electric vehicle and stationary storage battery supply chain."

BIDEN ADMIN ISSUES 20-YEAR MINING BAN AS IT TURNS TO FOREIGN SUPPLY CHAIN AMID GREEN ENERGY PUSH

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan is among the officials on the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.

Under FAST-41 coverage, named after Title 41 of the 2015 Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act, projects are entitled to receive a more comprehensive permitting timeline. The normal permitting process mines are required to undergo takes about a decade on average from proposal to approval, National Mining Association data showed.

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"The inclusion of Hermosa as the first mining project added to the FAST-41 process is an important milestone that recognizes the project's potential to strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals in the U.S.," said South32 CEO Graham Kerr. "The project presents a significant opportunity to sustainably produce commodities critical to a low-carbon future."

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BIDEN TURNS TO COUNTRY WITH DOCUMENTED CHILD LABOR ISSUES FOR GREEN ENERGY MINERAL SUPPLIES: 'IT'S EGREGIOUS'

The Hermosa mine dates back to at least the Obama administration when a previous version, proposed by the firm Arizona Mining Inc., received exploration drilling approval from the U.S. Forest Service before the agency revoked the approval months later following a legal challenge from environmental organizations.

Then, in 2018, South32 purchased Arizona Mining Inc. and subsequently continued plans to develop mineral deposits at the project site. In January 2022, the Perth, Australia-based company released a pre-feasibility study showing the project would be a highly-productive critical mineral mine.

A vehicle barrier is seen in the Patagonia Mountains in Arizona on Sept. 26, 2022.

A coalition of environmental groups, though, led by the local Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA) and including Washington, D.C.-based Earthworks have fought against mineral development in the Patagonia mountains. They have warned the project could negatively impact the local watershed and threaten endangered wildlife species.

"The first tenet of responsible mining should be that there are some places that should not be mined," PARA Board President Carolyn Shafer told Fox News Digital. "The Patagonia Mountains are part of the Sky Islands region identified by scientists as one of the top five regions in the world most in need of protection for species survival."

"There are more than 100 federally endangered, threatened, and sensitive species in the Patagonia Mountains," she continued. "The proposed 21st century industrialized mining activity threatens to disrupt the hydrology of the mountains and cause extreme hardship, including extinction, for all the life forms that inhabit these mountains."

BIDEN UNVEILS TOUGHEST-EVER CAR EMISSIONS RULES IN BID TO FORCE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PURCHASES

The area is home to ocelots, lesser long-nosed bats, jaguars, desert pupfish, willow flycatachers and Sonora tiger salamanders, all of which are classified as endangered species.

President Biden makes his entrance on Nov. 17, 2021, at General Motors' electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan.

"The health and economic prosperity of our region are tied deeply to the well-being of the Patagonia Mountains and the Sonoita Creek watershed which are the source of our drinking water, clean air, and the biological wealth that drives our regional nature-based economy," Shafer added.

"There must be sufficient oversight of proposed mining activity as well as mining company accountability to the community in order to avoid short-sighted destruction of natural resources in pursuit of corporate profits."

According to federal data, the U.S. produced no manganese last year and about 6% of global zinc supplies, relying mainly on foreign supplies.

The Biden administration's decision Monday to fast-track the Hermosa project comes as the White House continues its aggressive EV push. President Biden previously set a goal of ensuring 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030.
WASHINGTON  Boiled down, President Joe Bidens argument for running for a second term rather than ceding the ground to the next generation is that he is the Democrat most assured of beating former President Donald Trump next year.

But a striking new poll challenged that case in a way that had much of the capital buzzing the last couple of days. Taken at face value, the poll showed Biden trailing Trump by 6 percentage points in a theoretical rematch, raising the question of whether the president is as well positioned as he maintains.

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No single poll means all that much, especially so early in an election cycle, and the presidents strategists as well as some independent analysts questioned its methodology. But even if it is an outlier, other recent surveys have indicated that the race is effectively tied, with either Biden or Trump holding narrow leads within the margin of error. Taken together, they suggest that the president opens the 2024 campaign facing enormous challenges with no guarantee of victory over Trump.

The data has left many Democrats feeling anywhere from queasy to alarmed. Bidens case for being the pair of safe hands at a volatile moment is undermined in their view if a president who passed major legislation and presides over the lowest unemployment in generations cannot outperform a twice-impeached challenger who instigated an insurrection, has been indicted on multiple felonies, is on civil trial accused of rape and faces more potential criminal charges in the months to come.

The poll demonstrates that the president still has work to do, not only in convincing the American people that hes up for the job that he wishes to complete, said Donna Brazile, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee who said she lost sleep over the ominous signs in the latest survey results. More importantly, its a good forecast of the challenges he will face in rebuilding the remarkable coalition that elected him in 2020.

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I dont think that they should panic because you cant panic after one poll, said Brazile, who managed Al Gores presidential campaign in 2000. A survey is just one gauge among many on the long road to the voting booth. But its an important barometer of where the electorate is today, some 547 days away from the November 2024 election.

The survey by The Washington Post and ABC News found that the presidents approval rating has slipped to 36% and that Trump would beat him by 44% to 38% if the election were held today. Just as worrisome for Democrats, respondents considered Trump, 76, more physically and mentally fit than Biden, 80, and concluded that the former president managed the economy better than the incumbent has.

Critics of the poll disparaged it for including all adults in its sample of 1,006, rather than just registered voters, and maintained that its results among subgroups like young people, independents, Hispanics and Black Americans were simply not credible.

The poll really is trash, and I dont say that lightly because Ive had respect for their polling in the past, said Cornell Belcher, who was President Barack Obamas pollster. However, their methodological decision here is problematic, he added of the way the survey was constructed.

Others cautioned against overanalyzing data this early, noting that anything can happen in the next 18 months and recalling that projections based on polling  or misinterpretations of polling  proved to be poor predictors in recent cycles, including the 2022 midterm elections when a forecast red wave did not materialize.

Polls in May 2024 will be of dubious value, said David Plouffe, who was Obamas campaign manager. Polls in May 2023 are worth as much as Theranos stock.

The White House expressed no concern over the latest surveys. President Bidens average job approval is higher now than in early November when poll-based reporting widely prophesied a supposedly inevitable red wave that never arrived, said Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson.

Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the fledgling Biden campaign, said the president would win on issues like lowering prescription drugs and protecting Social Security. Americans voted for Joe Bidens America in 2020 and 2022, and regardless of what todays Beltway insider says, they will again in 2024, he said.

While not predictive, recent surveys provide a foundational baseline at the start of a race potentially between two universally known figures, foreshadowing a campaign without a clear front-runner. Polls by Yahoo News, The Wall Street Journal and Morning Consult have found the president slightly ahead while surveys by The Economist and the Harvard University Center for American Political Studies found him tied or trailing by several points. Biden faces similarly mixed results against Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, the strongest challenger to Trump for the Republican nomination.

The results point to a calcification in American politics where the leaders of both parties have a similarly sized core of support among voters not open to the other side regardless of developments in the news. The days when presidents could enjoy approval ratings above 50% or double-digit leads over challengers for any sustained period of time appear to be long over. And so if widespread support is no longer achievable, the challenge for Biden is to reassemble the coalition that provided him a 4.5-percentage-point victory nearly three years ago.

Biden has dismissed the importance of polls, saying that he is no different from other presidents at this point in their terms. Every major one who won reelection, their polling numbers were where mine are now, he told Stephanie Ruhle on The 11th Hour on MSNBC on Friday.

But in fact, only two of the past 13 presidents had approval ratings lower than Biden has at this point, according to an aggregate compilation by FiveThirtyEight.com  Trump and Jimmy Carter, both of whom lost reelection. More encouraging for Biden is the example of Ronald Reagan, who was just one-tenth of a point above where the current president is at this stage of his presidency, but came back to win a landslide reelection in 1984.

Whit Ayres, a Republican consultant, said it was telling that Biden was essentially tied or behind a former president carrying more baggage than a loaded 747 and warned Democrats against complacency.

Democrats are in denial if they think Biden cannot lose to Trump in 2024, he said. Trump can most certainly win. Joe Biden is asking the country to elect a candidate who will be 82 years old, who has clearly lost a step, running with a vice president whom almost no one in either party thinks is ready for prime time.

The Post-ABC poll and other surveys contain grim news for Republicans as well. While Trump leads or keeps relatively even with the president, he may have a ceiling beyond which he cannot rise, while Biden can still win over ambivalent independents who dislike the former president, analysts said.

While the poll is not great news for Biden, its not great news for the Republicans either, said Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster. Only about a third say they are strong supporters for Biden, DeSantis and Trump. It feels more unsettled than anything else.

She said that the real choice between Biden and Trump, should it come to that, would force ambivalent Democrats and independents to come off the fence. I noticed more softness among Democrats, but I have no doubt that no matter what skepticism Democrats tell pollsters right now, they are going to vote for Joe Biden, she said.

Stuart Stevens, who ran Mitt Romneys campaign against Obama in 2012 and is a vocal critic of Trump, noted that the Republican establishment worries that the former president cannot win even though he leads in some polls. We seem to be in this weird moment when Republican elite are panicked that Trump cant beat Biden, he said. I think thats because they know that Trump is deeply flawed.

David Axelrod, the former Obama senior adviser who was on the other side of that race from Stevens, agreed with his assessment. What Biden has that no one else does is a record of having beaten Trump, which weighs heavily in conversations among Democrats about the race, Axelrod said. He also has a record to run on and a party out of the mainstream on some important issues to run against, with a deeply flawed front-runner.

The worry for Democrats is that the reelect is subject to a lot of variables Biden cant entirely control  including his own health and aging process, Axelrod added. Any setback will exacerbate public concerns already apparent in the polls about his condition and ability to handle four more years.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
US President Joe Biden meets with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2023. Biden and Republican leaders met in hopes of breaking an impasse over the US debt limit. The lifting of the national debt ceiling allows the government to pay for spending already incurred. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden met with congressional leaders on Tuesday to discuss raising the debt ceiling.

They did not appear to come to an agreement on the best approach to do so.

The US could default on its debt as soon as June 1 if Congress doesn't act.

Congressional leaders finally met with President Joe Biden to discuss raising the debt ceiling  and there's still no progress toward a solution.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell met with Biden to work toward an agreement on raising the debt ceiling and preventing an economically catastrophic default on the nation's debt, which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said could happen as early as June 1.

This was the first meeting McCarthy has had with Biden since February, and it came following months of stagnancy on the issue. Biden has been clear that he will only accept a debt ceiling increase that is bipartisan and without any spending cuts attached, but McCarthy recently passed a GOP-backed bill to raise the debt ceiling through the end of March 2024  and it was accompanied by over $4.5 trillion in spending cuts. Biden vowed to veto that bill should it make it to his desk.

While Tuesday's meeting was an attempt to resolve the disagreements between parties and stave off a default, it looks like a solution was not reached.

"I didn't see any new movement," McCarthy told reporters following the meeting.

"I would hope that he'd be willing to negotiate for the next two weeks so we could actually solve this problem and not take America on the brink," he added, referring to Biden. He said the congressional leaders will meet with Biden again on Friday.

Schumer told reporters that "anyone who says my way or no way and we're going to default is not serving the country well, and I'm afraid that's what Speaker McCarthy is saying." He noted that staff will meet beginning Tuesday night to discuss the budget, and he cautioned that "the disagreements are wide."

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"By not taking default off the table, Speaker McCarthy is greatly endangering America," Schumer said.

McConnell also told reporters following the meeting that "the United States is not going to default. It never has, it never will. However, elections have consequences. We now have divided government."

In the hours leading up to the meetings, McCarthy told Punchbowl News that "we should just get in the room and solve this thing. I don't think it's that difficult."

He also said that he thinks Congress needs to reach a deal "by next week," given the time constraints by which the Treasury estimates the US will run out of money to pay its bills. The Bipartisan Policy Center also released its new estimate for a default on Tuesday, saying it could happen as soon as early June.

If Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, Americans could experience devastating consequences. A Joint Economic Committee analysis previously said it could cost Americans $20,000 in retirement savings, and mortgage and private student-loan payments could surge. Additionally, Moody's Analytics said even a short-term default could lead to a 2.6 million job loss. The White House has warned that a prolonged default could trigger a recession on par with the Great Recession  but without any government help to cushion the blow.

"We'd just be setting off a global financial crisis. What happens after that? No one knows," Zachary D. Carter, the author of "The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy and the Life of John Maynard Keynes," told Insider in January.

Every day without an agreement is a day closer to those outcomes. While there are other options on the table to raise the debt ceiling without Congress, like minting a $1 trillion platinum coin or invoking a clause in the 14th amendment that would declare the ceiling unconstitutional, the Biden administration has so far dismissed those ideas.

At this point, the fate of the US economy is in Congress' hands. And, right now, Congress doesn't seem prepared to do much, with members of both parties not quite onboard with the lines in the sand. Senator Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat, told CNN that the White House not negotiating on the limit is "not rational" and "not reasonable." Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.

"If they fail to do it, we will have an economic and financial catastrophe that will be of our own making and there is no action that President Biden and the US treasury can take to prevent that catastrophe," Yellen told ABC News on Sunday, adding that "there is no way to protect our financial system and our economy other than Congress doing its job and raising the debt ceiling."

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President Biden will visit Papua New Guinea later this month, a trip that will make him the first sitting U.S. president to travel to the Pacific island country.

The president will stop in Papua New Guinea while he is traveling from the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, to the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney, Australia, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on Tuesday.

He will meet with Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea to discuss ways to deepen cooperation on challenges critical to the region and to the United States, such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth, according to Jean-Pierre.

She said the United States has deep historical and people-to-people ties with the Pacific islands, and the historic visit will further reinforce the partnership.

Biden will attend the G7 in Hiroshima from May 19-21 and the Quad Leaders Summit on May 24.

Papua New Guinea, the third largest island country in the world, is just north of Australia and, while largely undeveloped, is rich in natural resources like crude oil, gold, and copper.

Marape said in April that Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit the capital, Port Moresby, on May 22, Reuters reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Papua New Guinea in 2018 for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting. Former Vice President Mike Pence represented the U.S. at that summit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden will sit down with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for their first meeting in three months as the two face pressure for a debt-ceiling deal before an unprecedented default wreaks damage on the US economy.

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They will be joined at the 4 p.m. meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell  but the ultimate responsibility to resolve the months-long standoff will ultimately fall on the president and speaker.

The two have spent months digging in, prompting anxiety in markets and among business groups who have stepped up calls for them to quickly forge an agreement.

Tuesdays meeting bringing them face to face marks a key milestone, but expectations for a breakthrough are low. McCarthy insists on spending cuts and deficit reduction in exchange for raising the debt limit, while Biden wants it increased as a condition for any fiscal talks.

The White House said Monday it was up to Congress to raise the ceiling. House Republicans are manufacturing a crisis, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. This is their constitutional duty. Congress must act. Thats what the president is going to make very clear to the leaders.

The biggest US business lobby weighed in Tuesday, saying in a statement that caps on discretionary spending ought to be included in a bill raising the debt ceiling. Neil Bradley, the Chamber of Commerces chief policy officer, also said in the statement that permitting reforms to ease project approvals are also ripe for inclusion.

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Meantime, the deadline for a deal is inching closer, but no one knows when that will be, exactly.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been conducting a media blitz to warn of the economic carnage resulting from a default. Yellen said the Treasury could run out of cash as soon as June 1 or a number of weeks later.

The Bipartisan Policy Center, whose forecasts on the debt ceiling are closely watched, projects the US would default on a payment obligation sometime between early June and early August. Large payments due before an infusion of tax revenue on June 15 are especially at risk, including two to Social Security beneficiaries and a federal salary payment, BPC analyst Shai Akabas told reporters.

It is certainly time to be getting concerned, he said, urging Congress to increase the debt limit before June.

Joshua Bolten, chief executive officer of the Business Roundtable, called on both sides to commit to substantive negotiations on an agreement that can pass the House and Senate.

According to Bloomberg economists Anna Wong and Tom Orlik, if the government defaults, the blow to the economy and markets could rival the 2008 crash.

Bidens hopes of dividing the Republican position are fading.

Over the weekend, 43 Senate Republicans said they wouldnt support a debt-ceiling increase without fiscal reforms, effectively ending hopes the chamber would present an off-ramp to the crisis. McConnell, who has a long history of hammering out deals with Biden, said hes warned the president he must reach an agreement deal with McCarthy.

Theyre assuming theres some little secret plan here, McConnell told Bloomberg on Monday. The White House and the speakers teams need to sit down now and settle it. Still, McConnell predicted they would reach a deal.

While no deal is likely to emerge Tuesday, the meeting could generate movement, however incremental. Jean-Pierre signaled there will be fiscal talks. Theyll also discuss a separate process for budget and appropriations, she said.

The leaders could also announce a process for reaching an accord, such as deputizing lawmakers to hash out a fiscal 2024 topline budget level by a certain date.

--With assistance from Steven T. Dennis.

(Updates with Chamber of Commerce statement, in sixth paragraph.)

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US President Joe Biden, and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are set for talks on Tuesday over lifting the debt ceiling

President Joe Biden will convene a high-stakes meeting with Republican leaders Tuesday in hopes of breaking an impasse over the US debt limit -- with repercussions that could extend to next year's presidential election.

The White House gathering at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) involves Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, setting in motion the deciding round of a power struggle that also threatens massive consequences for the world's largest economy.

The lifting of the national debt ceiling, which allows the government to pay for spending already incurred, is often routine.

But raising the borrowing limit, currently at $31.4 trillion, has been a contentious issue for the past several years, with congressional Republicans pushing for spending curbs and a smaller budget deficit in exchange for lifting the ceiling.

A 2011 impasse resulted in the United States losing the coveted AAA debt rating.

This year, McCarthy and his Republican Party have decided to say no to a debt ceiling hike -- unless Democrats first agree to sweeping budget cuts.

Time is critical. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that unless Congress acts in the coming weeks, "financial and economic chaos would ensue."

Yellen has also had conversations with CEOs to discuss the dangers of brinksmanship, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP.

- Digging heels in -

On Tuesday, Biden and the Republicans will be joined by the top Democrats in Congress: House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"Congress must act. That's what the President is going to make very clear, with the leaders tomorrow. Congress must avoid default without conditions," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday.

But the talks are not anticipated to produce a quick resolution to disagreements.

Biden has called for a "clean" lifting of the US borrowing limit, arguing that the deficit spending has already been approved by Congress and is therefore not up for debate.

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Top House Democrat Jeffries, in an interview Sunday, would not commit to supporting a short-term extension of the debt ceiling, saying the "only responsible" move is to approve a clean increase.

Democrats have also referred to a plan passed by House Republicans as the "Default on America Act." The plan raises the borrowing limit with drastic government spending cuts.

The Senate is bracing for a clash too, as 43 Republicans in the chamber signed a letter to top Democrat Schumer over the weekend, expressing their collective commitment to oppose raising the debt ceiling "without substantive spending and budget reforms."

Failure to address the debt limit impasse may not just trigger Wall Street turmoil, but could impact Biden politically as he forges ahead into a re-election campaign.

A recent Gallup poll found a lack of confidence in key US leaders on economic matters.

- Uncertainties ahead -

It remains unclear when the government will run out of funds to pay its bills, a situation that could spark financial market unrest and other consequences. Last week, the Treasury warned this could happen as early as June 1.

Should the United States be unable to meet all its obligations, the Treasury would likely prioritize spending so that debt payments and interest payments are made.

But this could mean delays in other areas such as payments to Social Security beneficiaries or Medicare providers.

Financial markets would also be rattled by the uncertainty.

In a recent report, Moody's Analytics projected that the most likely date the Treasury Department will exhaust its accounting measures is June 8, signaling "precious little time" for Democrats and Republicans to reach agreement.

This date means Treasury payments will likely be disrupted for a few days "until a mid-June surge of tax payments materializes" and helps with revenue flows.

But financial markets are sure to react negatively if lawmakers allow this date to arrive, with the consequent selloff in equity markets likely to "catalyze subsequent action on Capitol Hill" to resolve the issue.

While analysts generally expect the impasse will be resolved, Nancy Vanden Houten of Oxford Economics told AFP that the current group of lawmakers could be "more willing to risk something unprecedented in the service of what they are trying to achieve."

"I think the risks are certainly elevated compared to prior debt limit standoffs," she said.

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A group of migrants gather outside Sacred Heart Church in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Justin Hamel/The New York Times)

WASHINGTON  In his final debate with Donald Trump on Oct. 22, 2020, Joe Biden, then a candidate, excoriated his rival for radically undermining Americas decadeslong tradition of welcoming people who seek asylum at the countrys borders.

This is the first president in the history of the United States of America that anybody seeking asylum has to do it in another country, Biden said, referring to one of hundreds of Trump-era immigration policies aimed at shutting down the border.

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Yet on Thursday, Bidens administration is expected to impose a very similar restriction on asylum-seekers by quickly rejecting claims for most people who cross the border but do not seek refuge in Mexico first. Like Trumps policy, the new approach is likely to lead to many migrants being deported in a swift process that critics say deprives them of due process.

After nearly 2 1/2 years in office, Biden has struggled to settle on an approach to immigration that satisfies his critics on the right or the left. In some cases, he has embraced his predecessors use of aggressive measures aimed at keeping a surge of migrants at bay along the southern border.

Still, Republicans have attacked him for policies that make it easier to immigrate to the United States even as human rights groups and migrant activists assail his embrace of tougher measures designed to keep people out.

The announcement of the tough new approach to asylum  which immigration activists have vowed to challenge in court  comes as Bidens administration prepares to end another Trump-era policy known as Title 42, which has effectively kept the border closed to asylum-seekers since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago.

The president has taken some steps aimed at welcoming migrants and ending what he once called the moral and national shame of Trumps immigration policies. He has vowed never to separate families at the border, as Trump did in the summer of 2018. And his administration has moved to let in more migrants from places such as Ukraine, Afghanistan and several Central American countries.

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On the first day of his administration, Biden introduced legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants lacking permanent legal status, protect so-called Dreamers, and expand visas for workers, families and visitors. Republicans uniformly opposed the proposal, which has gone nowhere. Conservative judges, egged on by Republican governors and lawmakers, have also blocked other immigration efforts by the administration.

But surges of migrants displaced by political and economic turmoil  and the Republican Partys use of those images to foster a narrative that the border is out of control  have shaped Bidens immigration policies in ways that few of his allies imagined when he was running for president.

Heidi Altman, the policy director at the liberal National Immigrant Justice Center, said the Biden administration has made some important steps toward more humane policies for migrants. But she criticized what she called a web of policies similar to Trumps.

These are policies designed to make it difficult or impossible for people in need of safety to get it, and even punish them for trying, she said.

The administration does not shy away from its use of tough rules, arguing that the best way to discourage migrants from making the dangerous trek to the border is to ensure there are consequences for crossing illegally. In a memo distributed to reporters last week, the White House proudly summarized its approach to the sensitive topic.

The Biden-Harris Administrations plan is rooted in enforcement, the memo said, adding that the effort also entails deterrence and diplomacy with other countries.

Immigration officials are quick to point out that they have paired tougher enforcement with new opportunities for migrants, including programs that allow migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti to apply for a special two-year entry program rather than take their chances by crossing the border.

After being blocked by the courts, the administration eventually ended a Trump administration policy called Remain in Mexico, which forced asylum-seekers to wait in dangerous conditions in Mexico while their cases were processed in the United States.

White House officials flatly reject the notion that Bidens immigration agenda is similar to Trumps. They noted that Monday, Biden threatened to veto House Republican legislation that would restore some of the former presidents harshest ideas, including construction of a border wall.

Donald Trump demanded more money for an ineffective border wall that couldnt even withstand heavy winds, let alone sophisticated criminal smuggling networks, said Abdullah Hasan, a White House spokesperson. President Biden is urging Congress to provide for more asylum officers, immigration judges and border security technology.

Still, advocates for migrants and some Democrats say the president and his team have moved far too slowly to dismantle Trumps harsh policies. They point to, among other things, a decision by the former president to require migrants who were allowed to seek asylum to be interviewed immediately after being captured, while still in Border Patrol custody.

That decision prevented many migrants from having the time to prepare their case and get a lawyer, activists said at the time. The number of migrants approved for asylum plummeted  exactly the result that Trump administration officials wanted.

Now, Bidens administration is taking a similar approach to speeding up deportation of migrants at the border. People who seek asylum are now interviewed by phone within hours of being moved into Border Patrol custody. If they are denied asylum, many are deported back to Mexico or to their home countries within hours, according to immigration lawyers.

Administration officials note that they have added many phone booths to Border Patrol facilities and now provide lists of pro bono attorneys to migrants. Unlike under the policy under Trump, asylum interviews are not conducted by Border Patrol officers.

One of the most draconian policies adopted by Trump was the use of the public health rule known as Title 42, which effectively closed the border to most asylum-seekers by arguing that the action was needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic.

When Trump used Title 42 powers at the start of the pandemic in 2020, it was part of a broader effort by Stephen Miller, the architect of the administrations immigration agenda, to achieve his real goal: the effective end of Americas seven-decade asylum system.

Critics assailed the move at the time. Amnesty International accused Trumps administration of weaponizing COVID-19 to achieve the policy objective its sought from Day 1: shutting the border. Democrats vowed to reverse the policy immediately.

But when he took office a year later, Biden did no such thing. He argued that it was up to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which continued to extend the public health emergency that allowed Title 42 to be invoked. After the CDC said Title 42 was no longer needed in April 2022, the administration moved to end it but was blocked by conservative judges.

The administration then expanded the use of Title 42 in October before being allowed by the courts to end it for good this week. But that is too little, too late to convince advocates that the Biden administration is in the right place.

People seeking safety now need access to asylum, and U.S. laws afford them that right, Altman said. The administration is eviscerating that access, in the same vein as the Trump administration.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
A golden-crowned kinglet, one of the smallest species examined in a new study. N. Lewis / National Park Service

As temperatures rise, birds bodies are growing smaller, but their wings are growing longer. A new study finds this shift is most pronounced among the tiniest species.

For the research, scientists analyzed four decades of data gathered from migrating birds in Chicago and non-migrating birds in the Amazon rainforest. In both places, birds grew smaller and longer-winged over time, a shift that would help them to stay cool in warmer weather. The new analysis, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that smaller birds shrunk faster.

One possible explanation is that smaller species tend to reproduce on shorter time scales  the span of one generation is shorter for a mouse, say, than it is for an elephant  and, as such, they are able to evolve faster. But the new study found no link between generation length and changes in body size.

Another potential explanation is that smaller species tend to have larger populations, meaning there is a greater chance that one member of their population will randomly develop a new, beneficial trait that can be passed on. But scientists found no link between population size and shifts in body size. Why smaller-bodied species are changing faster is unknown, authors wrote.

Scientists say future research should investigate why larger birds have been slower to adapt to human-caused climate change. Larger species have an increased risk of extinction, they wrote. Our results suggest that large body size could further exacerbate extinction risk by limiting the potential to adapt to rapid, ongoing anthropogenic change.

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With Temperatures Rising, Can Animals Survive the Heat Stress?
US secretary Janet Yellen said that failure to raise the US debt ceiling could have dire consequence for the national and global economy. Bitcoin was trading flat on Tuesday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) charts revealed two bullish signals after US treasury secretary Janet Yellen warned the US could be "out of cash and unable to pay its bills by early June".

Bitcoin was trading flat at $27,578 (21,854) on Tuesday.

In the past two days, bitcoin reserves across all cryptocurrency exchanges have fallen, according to data from CryptoQuant.

This could suggest investors are taking their digital assets off exchanges and transferring them to cold storage, in order to hold in speculation that prices will rise.

Read more: Crypto live prices

Another bullish price movement indicator comes from the CoinDesk Bitcoin Trend Indicator (BTI) that shows long-term holders continue to increase their bitcoin holdings.

Since 31 March, the 30-day change in long-term supply, defined as coins held for 155 days or more, has been trending upward, indicating bullish sentiment and dormant supply.

The BTI shows that bitcoin is in an uptrend, with prices up 68% year-to-date.

It comes as US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said that failure to raise the US debt ceiling could have dire consequence for the national and global economy.

Yellen told ABC News on Sunday that if the US federal government fails to reach an agreement on raising its borrowing limit, it could face a shortage of funds by early June.

Consequently, the government may struggle to make payments for wages, welfare, and other obligations.

As I said this morning, President Biden has presented a detailed budget that does cut deficits by $3 trillion over ten years while investing in the strength of the American economy. But we do need to raise the debt ceiling to avoid economic calamity. pic.twitter.com/7z2WCxoJLg  Secretary Janet Yellen (@SecYellen) May 7, 2023

Yellen said: "If the debt ceiling is not raised by June the Treasury would then find itself in the position where it is unable to pay all of the bills that are due that day, and this would be the first time in the history of America that we would fail to make payments that are due.

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Read more: Belgium's digital minister says EU will 'bring order to crypto' and create its own blockchain | The Crypto Mile

"Whether this is to default on interest payments or payment for social security recipients, we would simply not have enough cash to meet all of our obligations, so it is widely agreed that financial and economic chaos would then ensue."

"It's Congress's job to do this and if they fail to do it, we will have an economic and financial catastrophe that will be of our own making," she added.

Watch: Belgium's digital minister: EU plans to 'bring order to crypto' and create its own blockchain | The Crypto Mile

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Belarusian volunteers held the first founding congress of the Belarusian Military Council not far from the Belarusian border, in Chernihiv.

Volunteer soldiers involved in the antiterrorist operation in Donbas and who have either a Belarusian passport or Belarusian origin decided to get together to defend their interests and help each other.

The Chernihiv meeting gathered about 30 Belarusian ATO fighters, in total they represent 120 people. For security reasons, members of the Council did not allow journalists into the meeting, but later they made a statement to the press.

We are faced with the goal not to create a combat unit but rather to make an organization that will help with coordination and help with any other issues, including material support, moral rehabilitation, help with documents and registration,  Belsat quotes Yan Melnikau, Belarusian volunteer in Ukraine.

Although officially foreigners can take part in the fighting on the side of Ukraine, the Ukrainian government does not help the Belarusian volunteers in matters of equipment or food on the front. Much rests on volunteers, just like it was two years ago.

Another volunteer, Siarhei Bahukalets, said that these are mostly volunteer units. Right Sector, Azov, OUN. Among the members of the Armed forces there are a lot of Belarusians, but they either do not consider themselves Belarusians or consider themselves Belarusians, but are hiding it.

One of the goals of the Belarusian military council is to get to the official level of communication with the Ukrainian government to help its members. So that they can help Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian hybrid aggression.

Only a well-armed resistance will stop the invaders and their ambitions. That is why I am here, so that there is no war in Ukraine, Yan Melnikau added.

Will there be created a separate large volunteer formation of the Belarusians in the Ukrainian territory  Belarusian military council has left this question for the future.
Photo: Alberta Wildfire Fire southeast of Nordegg now considered held.

Former members of an elite Alberta wildfire-fighting crew say government budget cuts have left the province battling its current blazes short-handed.

"We could have been difference-makers," said Jordan Erlandson, a former member of Alberta's Rapattack team.

Those firefighters were trained to rappel from helicopters to get at wildfires while they still only covered a few hectares. When one storm sparked several fires, they could extinguish them before they merged. They also cleared landing spaces for other helicopters to bring in crews and gear.

That program once had 63 firefighters stationed around the province, including at Edson, Fox Creek and Lac La Biche -- communities now threatened by one of the busiest early fire seasons in provincial history.

But that program was cut in 2019 by the United Conservatives.

"They told us the program had been eliminated," said former member Adam Clyne. "They just said budget."

The saving was $1.4 million. The province's wildfire budget for 2019 was about $117 million.

At the time, Devin Dreeshen, then minister of agriculture and forestry, said those firefighters spend only two per cent of the time rappelling from helicopters, and spend the rest of the time fighting wildfires on the ground. That figure is based on the number of times rappelling skills were used in the average of more than 1,400 fires in Alberta from 2014 to 2018.

Dreeshen said at that time those figures suggest the rapattackers' skills are better used from the ground.

However, documents obtained under Freedom of Information legislation and supplied to The Canadian Press suggest Dreeshen underplayed the importance of an aerial attack.

Those documents, from internal government communications, suggest that rappel crews were called out about 100 times annually between 2014 and 2018. They were forced to actually rappel into a fire about 23 times a year.

"This is an assessment of wildfires that rappel crews were deployed to that there were no other feasible means of getting to," said one email from a government forester.

Government spokeswoman Leanne Niblock said Alberta has other ways to get at remote fires, including exiting a hovering helicopter and walking in from the nearest road.

"We continue to do all we can to fight these fires, and keep Albertans and their property and homes safe," she said in an email.

Alberta had initially planned to replace the Rapattack crews by dangling firefighters beneath flying helicopters and depositing them at the fire site. Transport Canada blocked that plan, saying it was too dangerous.

The Alberta documents acknowledge that beating through the bush to get to hot spots and clear landing pads would cost time.

"These activities can be performed by other trained crews by landing or driving to a nearby spot and driving in," says a note from a government forester. "Clearly this will take additional time."

Erlandson pointed out rappel crews sometimes jump many times into the same fire as part of a large campaign. He estimates teams jumped up 20 times per fire and probably closer to 100 times on the fire that levelled parts of Fort McMurray in 2016.

As well, rappelling in remains one of the fastest and safest ways to get into thick bush, muskeg and dense forest. It also allows firefighters to get right to work instead of slogging overland with heavy equipment.

"That way, we don't have firefighters that are bagged by the time they reach the fire line," said Clyne.

But it wasn't all about the jumping.

"Rappel was just a tool," Erlandson wrote in an email. "Other tools included bigger pumps, bigger helicopters, bigger buckets on the helicopter, bigger crews, more hose, more saws, and more experience."

Meanwhile, Alberta is struggling with a fire season that had about 100 active fires on Monday. About 29,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes in several communities, although an evacuation order was lifted late Sunday for Edson, a town of about 8,400 people west of Edmonton.

"We would have caught some of them when they were small," said Erlandson.

The rapattackers could have helped, said Ryan Kalmanovitch, a contract firefighter currently battling blazes near Edson.

"They're definitely missed," he said.

Kalmanovitch said Monday that even on relatively quiet days, rapattackers could be helping set fire perimeters and dousing hot spots.

"They would be able to action those while they're small and that would allow us not to divert resources," he said. "They would absolutely be useful, maybe more so than other crews."

Alberta is expected to experience bigger and more intense wildfires as climate change lengthens the fire season and dries out fuels in the forest. Sooner or later, Alberta was going to experience a spring like it's now having.

"This is going to cost taxpayers in the long run," said Clyne. "This spring is a prime example."
Wolverhampton in 1979. Let's paint the canvas.

A little over a decade on from Enoch Powell's infamous Rivers of Blood speech, a group of black students met at the art school at Wolverhampton Polytechnic to discuss life, youth and art, in all its guises.

They were drawn together at a tumultuous time for the city and against the grey skies of persistent protest.

There were public marches opposing the National Front and rallies to highlight incidents of alleged police brutality towards minority groups.

Young black men and women felt squeezed from society and unable to find a voice, artistically or otherwise.

And these young artisans included the sons and daughters of the Windrush generation, who had arrived in Wolverhampton before the 1971 Immigration Act, when Commonwealth citizens already living in the UK were given indefinite leave to remain.

From left to right, artists Claudette Johnson, Donald Rodney, Keith Piper, Marlene Smith and Sonia Boyce (front), who met in Wolverhampton

Claudette Johnson, Eddie Chambers, Keith Piper, Marlene Smith, Donald Rodney and Janet Vernon are the among original members of the BLK art group and together they found a voice to counter the narrative and societal discourse.

Thursday 28 October 1982 is a date etched in their minds. It was the first National Black Art Convention whose purpose, according to Mr Piper, was to discuss "the form, function and future of black art".

Marlene Smith has new work on display in the exhibition

"If you can imagine being in an arts college in the 1980s, there weren't that many black students and it felt like an urgent need to take on issues like race," said Ms Smith.

The movement attracted the likes of Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid; recipient of the Venice Biennale 2022 Golden Lion Sonia Boyce; internationally renowned abstract artist Sir Frank Bowling; and acclaimed filmmaker Sir John Akomfrah, who will represent Great Britain in Venice at the 60th International Art Exhibition in 2024.

Mr Rodney died in 1998 after suffering with sickle cell disease. He was considered a pioneer of art that was political, challenging, innovative and smart.

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The other BLK art group founder members say they're proud and delighted to have been given the opportunity to inspire a new generation of black artists, with The More Things Change, a new exhibition of their work and legacy at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which runs until 9 July.

More than 30 works are on show including paintings, works on paper, mixed media, sculpture and film.

Marlene Smith said it was "overwhelming" to see the collection on display in Wolverhampton

"It's like going into a room with old friends", says Ms Smith. "It's very insightful work, it's very demanding work and its message was really to get people to think about what race meant in the 1980s, and I think it still resonates today because we still don't have an open conversation about what race really means."

Ms Vernon was a fine art student and vice-chair of the first national convention in 1982.

Today, the textile specialist creates bold statement jewellery from her home in Derby, making patterns of patina on metals, drawing inspiration from urban landscapes.

Janet Vernon, an original member of the BLK art group, did her art foundation at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in 1980

"It was kind of amazing, the artists that I met on the foundation course. Our parents were from the Windrush generation and that was our initial connection. We were saying, 'we are here - we are not going to be invisible'."

Two new commissions by Claudette Johnson and Marlene Smith are reworkings of their seminal works, And I Have My Own Business In This Skin (1982) and Good Housekeeping (1985). Back on public display in Wolverhampton, back home.

Dr Sylvia Theuri says it is important to showcase the work in Wolverhampton, where the movement began

Dr Sylvia Theuri, the co-curator of The More Things Change, says the materials the artists used were also really important.

"The political element and undertone to the work has been discussed for a long time, but they are also distinctive artists in their own right, developing a practice with materials that really allow an audience to understand what they were trying to communicate. All artists are drawing from lived experience."

Last autumn, on the 40th anniversary of their first convention, dozens of artists who enriched Britain's first black arts movement met to celebrate their work and honour those pioneers who influenced their artistry.

Student Chandni Raithatha was inspired to move to Wolverhampton after learning about the BLK art group

And for student Chandni Raithatha, 20, the impact of their work continues. She moved from London to study photography at the University of Wolverhampton after reading about the history of BLK art group at the Tate gallery.

She has joined a new collective called Togetherness at Wolverhampton's art school and has her own digital images, including The Black Prince exhibited at the city's art gallery this year.

Chandni Raithatha's collection includes The Black Prince, which is exhibited at Wolverhampton At Gallery

"I want people to see my work, to question the themes. It's really empowering to see black artists - to see people like you sharing their voice - is really inspiring. The themes they were focusing on are still relevant today."

The BLK art group had felt like outsiders against a backdrop of the rise of Thatcherism and dissenting voices in their own neighbourhoods.

But by 1984 they were anything but a group of individuals - instead seen as international collective who knew no bounds and no fear.

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Bulk carrier NAVI STAR in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus Strait, August 6, 22

Read also: Why Russia is blocking the grain corridor  Ukraines Agriculture Ministry comments

As it currently stands, the deal, which allows Ukraine to export its agricultural produce from Odesa and nearby ports, is set to expire on May 18.

The negotiation program includes bilateral and multilateral meetings.

"Discussions on the effective and safe operation of the grain corridor will be included, as we will discuss the extension of the grain agreement that is of great importance to the countries in need," the ministry said.

Issues concerning the safe return of Turkish trade ships and their crews, which remain stuck in Ukrainian ports after the Russian invasion, will be discussed separately.

Read also: Zelenskyy speaks with Chinas Xi, Russia blocking grain corridor, whats up with agro ban?

On May 5, the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul failed to reach an agreement on issuing permits to new ships to participate in the Black Sea grain initiative.

Read also: Istanbul Convention comes into force in Ukraine

Recently, tensions have been rising between Russia and Ukraine over the grain agreement. On April 24, Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of violating the agreement by attacking Sevastopol (in occupied Crimea) with naval drones, allegedly launched from the port of Odesa. Russia, which has routinely sought to undermine the agreement in the past, has warned of a potential threat to the deals extension beyond May 18.

In response, Ukrainian Military Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov denied the accusations, saying that any Ukrainian operations in Crimea are focused on exclusively military targets.

Read also: Black Sea grain deal talks in deadlock

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has urged the UN to assist in the renewal of the grain agreement. The meeting in Istanbul presents an opportunity to resolve these issues and find a path forward.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer shouldnt be complacent about his UK Labour Partys prospects in the next general election, even after winning hundreds of seats in last weeks local vote, former Prime Minister Tony Blair warned.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Starmer has done a pretty good job pulling the Labour party back from where it was, Blair, who led the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007, said in a Bloomberg TV interview on Tuesday. But of course you cant be complacent about these things at all.

Sunaks Tories Suffer Stinging Rebuke in UK Local Elections

Despite last weeks Conservative wipe-out  Rishi Sunaks ruling party lost more than 1,000 seats  there are still doubts as to whether Starmer can lead Labour to an outright victory in a general election that must be held by January 2025. Labour gained about half of the seats lost by the Tories in a result that would see them emerge as the largest party in a general election, while falling short of an outright majority, according to a Sky News projection.

@lizzzburden that Keir Starmer can't "take anything for granted," even after a good local election result for the Labour Party https://t.co/DP18TLKSXB pic.twitter.com/2klEuWXua9

 Bloomberg UK (@BloombergUK) May 9, 2023

While Labour still holds a double-digit lead on the Tories in national polls, Sunaks government has been gaining ground in recent weeks, pointing to the challenge facing Starmer, who is trying to rebuild his partys fortunes after it suffered its biggest defeat since the 1930s in the 2019 general election.

Starmer on Tuesday said hes confident but not complacent. Im going to be telling the shadow cabinet in absolutely no uncertain terms that the hard bit, the hardest bit is still ahead of us, he told Sky News.

Story continues

While Starmer ruled out entering a coalition government with the Scottish National Party if Labour fails to get a majority in the next election, he didnt dismiss the prospect of working with the Liberal Democrats, who also gained hundreds of seats in the local elections. The Labour leader appeared to walk back from comments made in a Bloomberg interview last year, when he ruled out a coalition with anyone including the Liberal Democrats. On Tuesday, he evaded the question several times and told Sky hes pressing on for a Labour majority.

City of London

Blair said he expects Labour to set out more detailed policy proposals in the coming months to construct a modern agenda that gives people optimism.

One of the biggest problems for Britain at the moment is the sense that we dont have that strong forward momentum behind a plan for the countrys future, he said.

He bemoaned the poor outcomes in public services despite the current governments high taxation and spending rates. He said that in the short term, the government should focus on reforming planning laws, tackling labor shortages and fixing some of the problems resulting from Brexit  including by reaching a deal on equivalence of financial services with the European Union.

Were in a position if were not careful, were going to lose altitude even with the City of London, Blair said. No matter how much people complain about the financial services sector, its a major part of our economy, weve got to keep it strong, weve got to keep it pre-eminent.

On the international front, Blair said its important to keep relations with the US strong but not to distance itself too much from China.

Youve got to be strong enough to deal with whatever comes out of China, but you should stay engaged with China, Blair said. I dont agree with decoupling, and I dont agree with the notion that you treat China like the Soviet Union, because it isnt.

(Updates with Starmer comment starting in in fifth paragraph.)

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The body of Russian helicopter pilot Roman Mankyshev, who may have been shot down in February or March last year, has been discovered on the bank of the Kyiv Reservoir in the town of Vyshhorod.

Source: Andrii Niebytov, the Head of the General Directorate of National Police of Kyiv Oblast; Channel 24; Ministry of Internal Affairs Telegram channel; Iryna Prianishnikova, spokeswoman for Kyiv Oblast Police, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Niebytov: "The commander of a downed Russian helicopter was found today on the shore of the Kyiv Reservoir in Vyshhorod.

Roma the pilot has surfaced, probably to celebrate 9 May. He didnt want to sit at home. A holiday is a holiday! An excellent example for all Russians. It is better to stay at home than be complicit in war crimes."

Details: The press service of the Kyiv Oblast Police confirmed that the pilot's body was found at 08:00 on 9 May on the bank of the Kyiv Reservoir.

The law enforcement officers established that the deceased was a Russian serviceman, as evidenced by his uniform and chest chevron. Mi-24 helicopter pilot instructions were also found [with the body  ed.].

According to Channel 24, the Russian pilots remains were discovered by employees of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant. The channel's sources said it was Senior Lieutenant R.G. Mankyshev, whose helicopter (a Mi-24) was shot down over the water area of the Kyiv Reservoir in February-March 2022.

The surname Mankyshev appears on the pilot's uniform found on the body. The photo also shows a parachute.

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A missing poster for 39-year-old CEO Beau Mann was distributed after he went missing in November 2021 in the Los Angeles area.

The remains of a tech CEO whose loved ones have been desperately searching for him for a year and a half have been found at an abandoned property in the Los Angeles area.

Police in Santa Monica released few details about where Beau Mann, 39, was found or how he's suspected of dying, saying only in a Facebook post Monday that officers got a phone call about human remains being found in the courtyard of an abandoned property.

Manns remains have been turned over to the county coroner, who will determine how he died.

Mann last seen in November 2021

Mann was last seen outside a convenience store in Studio City at 2:06 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2021, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Less than 10 minutes later at 2:15 p.m., Mann texted 911, the department said.

Police didnt immediately respond to a request from USA TODAY on Tuesday for more information about the property where Mann was found or whether foul play is suspected.

Mann was the co-founder and CEO of Sober Grid, a social network for those recovering from and suffering with addiction.

Mann suffered from addiction when he was younger and founded the company in 2016 to create a safety network and online resource for others like him, Mann's fiance, Jason Abate, told NBCs Dateline last year.

I dont want to sound overly dramatic but hes kind of changed the world, Abate said.

A message from Sober Grid about its co-founder and CEO, Beau Mann, before his remains were found this past week.

Since his fiances disappearance, Abate has been working to find him, dedicating a popular TikTok account to spreading the word about Manns case and starting a Facebook group called Help Find Beau Mann.

Now, I think that I should have known that he was magic all along, Abate posted on the groups page after learning of Manns death. I did know it  but I should have guessed that it would be too much to ask to grow old with and see our children grow up together. So now, he is a legend when he would have preferred to be a man.

Abate did not immediately respond to an interview request from USA TODAY.

Story continues

Abate previously told Dateline that he and Mann were in a long-distance relationship but were set to be married in June 2022. He said he last spoke with his fiance the day before his disappearance.

He told me he loved me, and he wanted to adopt children with me, he said. That was the last message I ever got from him.

Sandy Eggers, who describes herself as a sort of godmother to Mann, posted on the Facebook page dedicated to the search for him that Manns smile will always light us up.

So many fond memories, she wrote. You are missed and will always be remembered.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY, Mann's family thanked everyone who helped search for him over the past year and a half.

"Beau was a beautiful soul who spent the better part of his life helping others," the statement said. "We miss his infectious smile and positive attitude every day. We know his spirit will live on through his company and passion, Sober Grid, as it continues to help those struggling with the grip of addiction.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Beau Mann's body found in Santa Monica 18 months after disappearance
The Biden administration's top border officials in Washington, D.C., have decided to authorize all Border Patrol sectors to begin "safe" mass releases of migrants to city streets if non-governmental organizations don't have the capacity to hold them, multiple sources tell Fox News.

The consequence of this decision is that migrants will be mass released at bus stops, gas stations, supermarkets and in towns and cities across the border as Customs and Border Protection facilities are already over capacity in multiple sectors, according to CBP sources who were not authorized to speak publicly.

NGOs are quickly approaching their limits to house migrants and tens of thousands more migrants are expected to surge into the United States once the Title 42 public health order is lifted on May 11. The city of El Paso, Texas has already seen thousands of migrants camped out on the sidewalks.

The mass releases will only happen if NGOs run out of space, but officials believe that is likely. Officials have made 26,000 apprehensions and seen over 7,000 "gotaways" in just 72 hours, according to Border Patrol. That comes ahead of the end of the Title 42 public health order on Thursday, which is expected to be accompanied by an even bigger wave of migration on top of the already overwhelming numbers authorities are seeing.

GOV. ABBOT TAKES ACTION TO SECURE US-MEXICO BORDER AHEAD OF TITLE 42 EXPIRATION: MORE TO COME

The Title 42 policy, which allows for the immediate expulsion of irregular migrants entering the country, is coming to an end.

"The dam is about to break," one Border Patrol source said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Title 42 has been used since 2020 by both the Trump and Biden administration to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants quickly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, nearly half of all migrant encounters ended in a Title 42 expulsion. The order will end on May 11 along with the COVID-19 national emergency.

BORDER PATROL UNION CRITICIZES FEDS AFTER WARNING SENT AHEAD OF MIGRANT ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN TEXAS

Story continues

The predominantly single adult migrants are expected to be encouraged by the belief they have a greater chance of being admitted into the U.S. once the order ends. The Biden administration has said that is misinformation and has warned that it is stiffening penalties for illegal entry while urging migrants to use expanded legal pathways instead. However, the prospect of mass releases into the U.S. interior of those who have illegally entered the U.S., after crossing multiple countries to do so, is likely to undercut that narrative.

"As we have said repeatedly, individuals who do not have a lawful basis to remain will be removed," acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement late Monday. "Individuals should not listen to the lies of smugglers and instead use lawful pathways to protection."

Those released into the U.S. are entered into U.S. immigration removal proceedings, but that can often take many years before a final order of removal is issued. Even then, deportations have dropped sharply under the Biden administration as Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) priorities have been narrowed. But officials say that, once Title 42 ends, they will use tools like expedited removal under traditional Title 8 authorities.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently made a public plea for migrants not to come to the U.S. illegally, warning of the dangers and what he said was a likelihood they would be removed.

"The border is not open," Mayorkas said last week in Texas. "It has not been open, and it will not be open subsequent to May 11. And the smugglers who exploit vulnerable migrants are spreading misinformation. They are spreading false information, lies in a way to lure vulnerable people to the southern border and those individuals will only be returned."

So far, there is no sign that the message is being heeded. Footage captured by Fox News' Flight Team showed hundreds of migrants streaming across the border into Brownsville, Texas from Matamoros, Mexico last week. Agents are encountering migrants at a rate of 2,000 a day in Brownsville. CBP sources have said in the first four days of May they have been encountering more than 8,000 migrants a day border-wide.

CBP, ICE TO LAUNCH ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN EL PASO AS MIGRANT NUMBERS SURGE AHEAD OF TITLE 42'S END

The Biden administration has been scrambling to implement measures to reduce the number of illegal crossings and establish a more orderly process. The administration also announced this week that it is sending 1,500 troops to the border, although officials have said they wont be engaging with migrants but acting in a supporting role to Customs and Border Protection.

DHS is also preparing for NGOs to be dealing with a great deal of migrant traffic. Last week, the agency announced the distribution of an additional $332 million in funding to NGOs and local governments to aid migrants released from custody.

It has also proposed a new asylum rule intended to bar migrants from claiming asylum if they cross the border illegally and have also failed to claim asylum in a country through which they have already passed. Additionally, the U.S. is partnering with Latin American governments to expand legal pathways with migrant processing centers being established throughout South and Central America.

On Monday, in response to the El Paso surge, authorities announced a "targeted enforcement operation" in the city. The operation will see agents "process individuals for vetting and placement into Title 42 expulsion or Title 8 removal proceedings, as applicable," CBP said in a release. Those who are deemed to pose a national security or public safety threat will be moved to ICE for detention.

The agency stressed , however, that neither agency will take action "in or near a location that would restrain peoples access to essential services or engagement in essential activities to the fullest extent possible."

Fox News' Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.
Boston police continue their search Tuesday morning for 11-year-old Jean Pierre Bienquisto.

He has been missing since Friday, leaving his school on Mildred Ave in Mattapan around 2:15 PM.

Bienquisto was wearing a blue jacket, blue pants and white sneakers at the time of his disappearance,

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is advised to contact 911 or B-3 Detectives at 617-343-4212

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.

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BRAINTREE  Police are looking for two people suspected of breaking into cars in the area of King Hill Road and Rome Drive over the weekend.

"Numerous" car break-ins were reported, the police department tweeted Monday. A video was posted with the tweet.

"We are trying to identify the two suspects seen in the attached video," police said in the tweet. "If you know them, please shoot us a message or an email to tips@braintreema.gov."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Braintree police try to identify two people breaking into cars
ATLANTA (AP)  Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna reached a plea agreement following his 2022 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Ozuna entered a no contest plea and paid a $1,000 fine, according to Norcross, Georgia Municipal Court records.

Ozuna was arrested on Aug. 19, 2022, by a Norcross Police officer in metro Atlanta and booked into the Gwinnett County jail. He was charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane and was released on $1,830 bond.

Following the arrest, Ozuna said I disappointed my team. I disappointed my family. I dont have anything to say more. Its a legal matter.

It was the second arrest in as many years for Ozuna. He was arrested on May 29, 2021, on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife. Those charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial diversion program as a first offender.

Ozuna's legal woes added to the response from Atlanta fans when he struggled at the plate early this season. Ozuna, the starting designated hitter in Tuesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox, has heard frequent boos from home fans.

Ozuna entered Tuesday night's game hitting only .146 though he has enjoyed a recent power surge and has six home runs, including four in his last five games.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Women should be screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40 instead of 50, according to draft guidelines released Tuesday by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the independent national body of experts that sets standards for tests and screenings.

The previous recommendations, last updated in 2016, said women younger than 50 who are concerned could discuss screening with their doctors. Now, the task force says screening at 40 could save 19% more lives.

Experts say the guidelines are a leap in the right direction but should go further to advise women to be screened annually. Several other leading groups have long recommended yearly mammograms starting at age 40.

Cancers do grow between mammograms," said Dr. Maxine Jochelson, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She agreed that beginning screenings at 40 is the "right answer for average risk women."

Breast cancer makes up nearly 30% of new cancers in U.S. women each year, and its estimated that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in the course of their lives. The median age for diagnosis across all women is 62, but that can vary by racial group.

Breast cancer clinicians have long called for lowering the recommended age for a womans first mammogram, especially for Black women, who are more likely to be diagnosed at earlier ages or with aggressive subtypes and are 40% more likely than white women to die of breast cancer.

Black women should be screened for breast cancer earlier than others, study finds

Nearly 1 in 5 Black women with breast cancer are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a type that grows and spreads more quickly, is difficult to treat and lacks three receptors commonly found in breast cancers that doctors target for treatment.

The task force is also calling for more research on how best to address health disparities across screening and treatment," task force member and internist Dr. John Wong, chief of the division of clinical decision making at Tufts Medical Center, told USA TODAY.

Story continues

Breast cancer is also the second-leading cause of cancer-related death for white, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native women, though Asian and Pacific Islander women have the lowest breast cancer death rate of all groups.

The guidelines will become official after the task force reviews feedback during the public comment period that ends June 5. The recommendations apply to women, including those assigned female at birth, transgender men and nonbinary people.

Why experts say the new guidelines still fall short

Most organizations recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40, including the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

But the task force is the official body that many primary care doctors follow for preventive testing. Its recommendations are based on review of existing evidence and is supported by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Private insurance plans generally base coverage off the task force's recommendations, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most insurance plans are required to cover mammograms starting at age 40.

In announcing the new draft guidelines, the task force said it chose to keep the recommendation at every other year because of an increased risk of false positives diagnosis. It said callbacks can cause patients to worry or lead to unnecessary biopsies.

But experts say the harms of missed cancers outweigh that worry, and advanced imaging and biopsies can address false positives.

The guidelines are worrisome, said Dr. Michele Blackwood, chief of breast surgery at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Most of us in this realm still vociferously support yearly mammograms for women over age 40.

Women diagnosed under age 50 are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive cancers, and many women skipped mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic and are seeing later-stage diagnoses, Blackwood said. It's time, she said, "to focus on harms of not screening."

The American College of Radiology also recommends high-risk groups such as Black women and Ashkenazi Jewish women get risk assessments by age 25 to determine whether a mammogram before age 40 is needed.

Unified guidance is needed, said Dr. Vivian Bea, section chief of breast surgical oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and a breast surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine.

"It's confusing for physicians and providers who are then counseling patients," she said. "It's also confusing for patients."

Dr. Ryland Gore, a breast surgical oncologist in Atlanta, said the Preventative Services Task Force could benefit from having an oncologist  a cancer doctor  on the task force.

It's estimated that about 300,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year, but breast cancer numbers are not going down," Gore said. "Imagine how many you potentially miss by saying, Oh, you can just do this every other year. That is not good enough."

'A national emergency': Black women still 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women

What about breast density?

Cancer can go under the radar in people with dense breasts, which means they have more fibrous tissue than fatty tissue. Nearly half of all women have dense breasts, which increases the risk for breast cancer.

Experts say mammograms may miss tumors in people with dense breasts and that they may be better detected by ultrasound or MRI. But in its draft guidelines, the task force concluded that the evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms of supplemental screening for breast cancer with breast ultrasound or MRI, regardless of breast density.

"Dense breasts make it harder to find the cancer on the mammogram," Jochelson said. "And so, what happens is you miss it on the mammogram, and then you might find it on the next mammogram. But it's going to have a year to grow.

MRI was the best supplemental imaging in women with dense breasts who had average to intermediate risk for breast cancer and whose mammographies were negative for cancer, according to a meta-analysis of 22 studies published in the journal Radiology in January. Of more than 132,000 patients with dense breasts, 541 cancers missed by mammography were detected with alternative imaging.

As of 2019, at least 38 states had laws mandating clinicians inform patients that they have dense breasts. In March the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for regulating mammography standards, updated regulations to require mammography facilities to inform patients if they have dense breasts.

We can save more lives by doing yearly and doing supplemental imaging," Jochelson said. "I don't doubt it for a second.

Black women are missing from breast cancer tumor data. And that may be killing them.

Long drives and limited options: Indigenous women with breast cancer face harsh reality

Risk factors for breast cancer

According to the CDC, risk factors include:

Dense breast tissue. This increases the risk of breast cancer and can make it harder to see a tumor by mammogram. Ask your mammographer to let you know if you have dense breast tissue, and if you do, discuss with your clinician whether they recommend additional imaging like ultrasound or MRI.

Family history. Risk is higher for people with a first-degree relative  mother, sister or daughter  or multiple relatives on either the maternal or paternal side who have had breast or ovarian cancers.

Age. Breast cancer risk increases as a person ages.

Genetic mutations. People with inherited changes in genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

Previous history. Prior diagnoses of breast cancer increases the risk for a second diagnosis.

The CDC says there are also risk factors that can be reduced. These include not exercising, being overweight or obese, taking certain forms of hormone replacement therapy during menopause and certain oral contraceptives, and drinking alcohol.

Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@usatoday.com or on Twitter @nhassanein.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breast cancer mammograms should begin at age 40, USPSTF guidelines say
Photo: The Canadian Press

The breathtaking development of artificial intelligence has dazzled users by composing music, creating images and writing essays, while also raising fears about its implications. Even European Union officials working on groundbreaking rules to govern the emerging technology were caught off guard by AI's rapid rise.

The 27-nation bloc proposed the Western world's first AI rules two years ago, focusing on reining in risky but narrowly focused applications. General purpose AI systems like chatbots were barely mentioned. Lawmakers working on the AI Act considered whether to include them but werent sure how, or even if it was necessary.

Then ChatGPT kind of boom, exploded, said Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament co-leading the measure. If there was still some that doubted as to whether we need something at all, I think the doubt was quickly vanished.

The release of ChatGPT last year captured the worlds attention because of its ability to generate human-like responses based on what it has learned from scanning vast amounts of online materials. With concerns emerging, European lawmakers moved swiftly in recent weeks to add language on general AI systems as they put the finishing touches on the legislation.

The EUs AI Act could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence, with companies and organizations potentially deciding that the sheer size of the bloc's single market would make it easier to comply than develop different products for different regions.

Europe is the first regional bloc to significantly attempt to regulate AI, which is a huge challenge considering the wide range of systems that the broad term AI can cover, said Sarah Chander, senior policy adviser at digital rights group EDRi.

Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology to ensure that it improves people's lives without threatening their rights or safety. Regulators are concerned about new ethical and societal risks posed by ChatGPT and other general purpose AI systems, which could transform daily life, from jobs and education to copyright and privacy.

The White House recently brought in the heads of tech companies working on AI including Microsoft, Google and ChatGPT creator OpenAI to discuss the risks, while the Federal Trade Commission has warned that it wouldnt hesitate to crack down.

China has issued draft regulations mandating security assessments for any products using generative AI systems like ChatGPT. Britain's competition watchdog has opened a review of the AI market, while Italy briefly banned ChatGPT over a privacy breach.

The EU's sweeping regulations  covering any provider of AI services or products  are expected to be approved by a European Parliament committee Thursday, then head into negotiations between the 27 member countries, Parliament and the EUs executive Commission.

European rules influencing the rest of the world  the so-called Brussels effect  previously played out after the EU tightened data privacy and mandated common phone-charging cables, though such efforts have been criticized for stifling innovation.

Attitudes could be different this time. Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have called for a six-month pause to consider the risks.

Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the Godfather of AI," and fellow AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio voiced their concerns last week about unchecked AI development.

Tudorache said such warnings show the EU's move to start drawing up AI rules in 2021 was the right call.

Google, which responded to ChatGPT with its own Bard chatbot and is rolling out AI tools, declined to comment. The company has told the EU that AI is too important not to regulate."

Microsoft, a backer of OpenAI, did not respond to a request for comment. It has welcomed the EU effort as an important step toward making trustworthy AI the norm in Europe and around the world.

Mira Murati, chief technology officer at OpenAI, said in an interview last month that she believed governments should be involved in regulating AI technology.

But asked if some of OpenAIs tools should be classified as posing a higher risk, in the context of proposed European rules, she said its very nuanced."

It kind of depends where you apply the technology, she said, citing as an example a very high-risk medical use case or legal use case versus an accounting or advertising application.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman plans stops in Brussels and other European cities this month in a world tour to talk about the technology with users and developers.

Recently added provisions to the EU's AI Act would require foundation AI models to disclose copyright material used to train the systems, according to a recent partial draft of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press.

Foundation models, also known as large language models, are a subcategory of general purpose AI that includes systems like ChatGPT. Their algorithms are trained on vast pools of online information, like blog posts, digital books, scientific articles and pop songs.

You have to make a significant effort to document the copyrighted material that you use in the training of the algorithm, paving the way for artists, writers and other content creators to seek redress, Tudorache said.

Officials drawing up AI regulations have to balance risks that the technology poses with the transformative benefits that it promises.

Big tech companies developing AI systems and European national ministries looking to deploy them are seeking to limit the reach of regulators, while civil society groups are pushing for more accountability, said EDRis Chander.

We want more information as to how these systems are developed  the levels of environmental and economic resources put into them  but also how and where these systems are used so we can effectively challenge them, she said.

Under the EU's risk-based approach, AI uses that threaten people's safety or rights face strict controls.

Remote facial recognition is expected to be banned. So are government social scoring systems that judge people based on their behavior. Indiscriminate scraping of photos from the internet used for biometric matching and facial recognition is also a no-no.

Predictive policing and emotion recognition technology, aside from therapeutic or medical uses, are also out.

Violations could result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

Even after getting final approval, expected by the end of the year or early 2024 at the latest, the AI Act won't take immediate effect. There will be a grace period for companies and organizations to figure out how to adopt the new rules.

It's possible that industry will push for more time by arguing that the AI Act's final version goes farther than the original proposal, said Frederico Oliveira Da Silva, senior legal officer at European consumer group BEUC.

They could argue that instead of one and a half to two years, we need two to three," he said.

He noted that ChatGPT only launched six months ago, and it has already thrown up a host of problems and benefits in that time.

If the AI Act doesn't fully take effect for years, what will happen in these four years? Da Silva said. "Thats really our concern, and thats why were asking authorities to be on top of it, just to really focus on this technology.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  Milwaukee Brewers reliever Gus Varland was activated from the injured list, three weeks after getting hit by a line drive from San Diegos Manny Machado.

The Brewers announced the move before their Tuesday night game with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Varland was pitching April 15 in the eighth inning of a 10-3 loss to San Diego when Machado hit a 105.1-mph line drive that went off the right-handers pitching hand before striking him on the chin and left forearm.

Although X-rays on Varlands pitching hand were negative, he went on the injured list one day later.

Varland, 26, has gone 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in six appearances for the Brewers, who selected him from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft.

The Brewers made room for Varland on the roster by optioning left-hander Bennett Sousa to Triple-A Nashville. Sousa had made one appearance for Milwaukee, going 1 2/3 innings and allowing a two-run homer to Chris Taylor in the Brewers 9-3 victory over the Dodgers on Monday. ___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
LONDON (Reuters) -Former British prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week and meet senior members of the government, her office said on Tuesday, a move that could anger China amid strains in its relationship with the current British government.

China has previously condemned visits by British lawmakers to Taiwan for interfering in China's internal affairs.

Truss, Britain's shortest-serving prime minister, took office last September, but was forced to resign less than two months later after her economic policies sparked market turmoil.

Since leaving office she has called for a tougher stance towards China, and she will deliver a speech during her Taiwan visit on May 17.

"Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy. I'm looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing," Truss said in a statement.

Britain has warned against the use of military force against Taiwan by China. China's foreign ministry said in response that the greatest threat to peace in the Taiwan Strait was the "separatist acts of Taiwan independence and the connivance and support of foreign forces".

Truss' premiership contributed to bringing relations between Britain and China to a low point, though her successor Rishi Sunak is aiming to engage where possible with China while also raising concerns over areas of disagreement.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who served under Truss and Sunak, said he "made plain" Britain's views on issues including Taiwan in a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday, and he is expected to visit China this year.

Sunak's spokesperson said that it was a matter for individual lawmakers where they chose to travel.

"We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong unofficial relationship," the spokesperson told reporters.

"The UK Government will continue to engage with the government of China on the issue of Taiwan."

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Christina Fincher, William Maclean)
Michel Doukeris, chief executive of Bud Light's parent company Anheuser-Busch - BENOIT DOPPAGNE/AFP

Bud Lights chief executive has blamed one social media post about a transgender influencer for wiping billions off the companys value.

Michel Doukeris, the chief executive of the light beers parent company Anheuser-Busch, said misinformation and confusion on social media had played a role in the debacle.

Bud Light came under fire from conservative activists and customers after it partnered with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender social media influencer with more than 10 million online followers.

Mulvaney, who has documented her transition in a video series called Days of Girlhood, shared a sponsored post for the beer brand on her Instagram account.

She filmed herself drinking from customised Bud Light cans with her own face depicted on them.

Dylan Mulvaney's face on a customised Bud Light can - Instagram/Dylan Mulvaney

An ensuing boycott by conservatives was blamed for wiping around $4 billion off Anheuser-Buschs value within days and sales volumes of the beer dropping by a quarter.

Two Bud Light executives were placed on leave in the wake of the marketing calamity.

However, Mr Doukeris told the Financial Times that online misinformation and confusion had led to customers interpreting Mulvaneys personalised can as one that was in production for general sale, rather than a one-off.

We never intended to make it for general production and sale for the public, he said.

Some also interpreted Mulvaneys post as a Bud Light campaign. Mr Doukeris said: It was not: it was one post. It was not an advertisement.

The chief executive complained that there were even videos of billboards with images of the Bud Light can inserted electronically which were watched by 10 million people.

That had nothing to do with Bud Light, it was just like pure social media creation, he said.

Dylan Mulvaney films herself drinking from ac customised Bud Light can - Instagram/Dylan Mulvaney

He added: You have one fact and every person puts an opinion behind the fact. And then the opinions start to be replicated fast on each and every comment. By the time that 10 or 20 people put a comment out there, the reality is no longer what the fact is, but is more [about] what the comments were.

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The consumer element to Americas culture wars underscores the challenges faced by companies like Anheuser-Busch, which also owns some of the best known beer brands, from Stella Artois to Corona.

Bud Light sales volumes for the week ending April 22, the most recent data available, dropped 26 per cent from a year ago, according to an analysis by Bump Williams Consulting based on Nielsen IQ data.

However, Mr Doukeris said it was too early to tell what impact the drop in sales would have on the companys bottom line for the full year.

According to the Financial Times, Anheuser-Buschs first-quarter profits rose almost 14 per cent against a year earlier, beating analysts expectations.

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In Buffalo, New York, one of the first Starbucks stores to vote to unionize filed a petition to decertify its union. LINDSAY DEDARIO/Reuters

Workers at a Buffalo Starbucks store have filed a petition to decertify their union.

The move comes just over a year after the store voted 18-to-1 to form a union.

Workers United cited an "illegal union-busting campaign" at the store, while Starbucks denies it.

One of the first Starbucks stores to vote to unionize has filed a petition to end its union.

The store, located in downtown Buffalo, New York, would remove Workers United as its representative in negotiations with Starbucks, Bloomberg Law reported. Before that can happen, workers at the store must vote in an election to approve the action.

The store, located at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa in Buffalo and referred to as the "Del-Chip" location, voted 18-to-1 for a union in April 2022, Quartz reported. It was among the first Starbucks stores in the country where employees voted to have union representation.

A spokesperson for Workers United did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the petition from Insider. A spokesperson for Workers United told TV station WGRZ that Starbucks had launched an "illegal union-busting campaign" at the store.

"Almost every union leader at the store was fired or forced out because of the environment of intimidation and fear that Starbucks management created," the spokesperson said. "In fact, the company is currently being prosecuted for the discriminatory treatment of workers at the Del-Chip store."

A Starbucks spokesperson told Insider: "The allegations are false. Starbucks policy strictly prohibits any retaliatory behavior directed toward partners who are interested in a union."

The spokesperson added that the employees no longer employed at the store "were separated following admitting to clear violations of policies  not related to, or in retaliation for, any protected concerted activities." On the decertification petition, she added that Starbucks wants "to ensure partners can trust their voice is heard and the process is fair."

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Under federal law, workers can file a petition for decertification without citing a reason, Bloomberg Law reported.

According to Workers United, about 300 Starbucks stores around the US have voted to unionize. The first store to unionize was also in Buffalo in late 2021. The Del-Chip store is the third to file a decertification petition, according to Bloomberg Law.

Under federal law, workers can submit a petition and hold an election to decertify a union at least one year after their union was certified. Both of the other stores, one in Georgia and another in Oklahoma, submitted petitions sooner than that one-year mark, so neither held a decertification vote.

No Starbucks store has reached an agreement with the company on a contract, according to Bloomberg Law.

In March, US Senator Bernie Sanders and other members of the US Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions questioned former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz about the chain's approach to unions. Schultz said that Starbucks had never broken the law, despite an administrative law judge's finding that it had violated labor statutes, including by monitoring and firing workers, the New York Times reported.

Starbucks' reputation as a progressive employer has changed in recent years. In 2022, the US public's support for labor unions hit a historic high as skepticism of big corporations grew, according to data from Gallup.

Do you work at Starbucks or have a story to share? Please contact Alex Bitter at abitter@insider.com or via text/encrypted messaging app Signal at (808) 854-4501.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Bulgarias Boyko Borissov, the former prime minister who came first in the countrys latest snap election, pledged to form a cabinet and break a deepening stalemate in the country.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Borissov, a political heavyweight who ran the country on and off for over a decade, secured a slim victory in Bulgarias fifth vote in two years last month. But in line with the previous contests, he fell well short of a majority, with his chief rival  former Premier Kiril Petkov  refusing to back a government led by Borissovs Gerb party.

Borissov, who said hell aim for a government with limited scope to advance a list of key priorities, will have a week to muster support for a cabinet after he receives a mandate from President Rumen Radev on May 15.

There will be a government, well take the risk, Borissov told reporters in Sofia on Tuesday, adding that a sixth election this year would be a catastrophe.

The turmoil has brought political uncertainty to the eastern European Union member state of 6.5 million, weighing on its budget policy and hindering plans to join the EUs passport-free Schengen zone and the euro next year.

The stalemate has also has left much power in the hands of Radev, a former air force general who has fended off claims that he was too close to Moscow. The head of state has refused to provide military support to Ukraine.

While his post is largely ceremonial, Radevs appointed interim cabinets have held the reins in Sofia for most of the last two years.

Borissov has urged all parties, including Petkovs We Continue the Change, to support a government to deepen Bulgarias euro-Atlantic integration and to show solidarity with Ukraine.

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If he fails, Petkov will receive a mandate, though his coalition also falls well short of a majority. A third attempt will go to a party of the presidents choice. If all three attempts fail to create a government, another snap vote must be called.

(Updates with comments from Borissov from first paragraph.)

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Police arrested 19-year-old Tyrin Smith on Monday as a suspect in a drug-related shooting at a downtown apartment April 29 according to a Burlington Police Department news release.

Smith pled not guilty to charges of attempted first-degree murder and burglary into an occupied dwelling at his arraignment Tuesday morning. When the Free Press reached out to Smith's lawyer Joshua O'Hara for comment, OHara replied he had no comment.

Burlington police reports that Smith went to an apartment at 165 Main St., above Manhattan Pizza and Pub, wearing a mask, ski goggles and gloves, broke into the apartment through a wall and proceeded to shoot Aquill Nickson, a man in his 40s, in the chest and fled. Nickson then made his way down to the sidewalk where he was found and transported to the hospital.

Previous coverage: A man was shot in the chest in a downtown Burlington apartment Saturday. What to know.

Light bar flashes atop a police car.

Nickson was not Smith's intended target, however. According to the police investigation, Smith and his brother, Fortune Smith, 22, had "exchanged adversarial and threatening electronic messages" with another man who was staying at 165 Main St. Around noon on April 29, the brothers tried to get into the apartment building by going through the front door but could not gain access. They then climbed fire escapes and broke through a window into the hallway where the apartment was. They broke through the wall between the hallway and the apartment after failing to get the door open and Nickson was shot as others jumped out a third-story window to get away.

Police identified the Smiths by reviewing video footage captured by various surveillance cameras downtown. The Smiths eventually removed their mask while returning to Tyrin Smith's apartment.

Burlington Police arrested Tyrin Smith on Monday in Burlington with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Police said they found significant amounts of drugs with Smith and, with a search warrant, found more at a residence he had just exited. Police also took a 17-year-old girl into custody, whom they will investigate as a possible accessory after the shooting. Tyrin and Fortune Smith do not have Vermont criminal histories but have been suspects in burglary/robberies.

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U.S. Marshals became involved in the search for the brothers when investigators found they had fled to New Jersey. Police have not announced an arrest of Fortune Smith.

Police also arrested Nickson for felony drug possession. The investigation states he discarded a bag of crack cocaine into a mailbox while exiting his apartment which he did not deny in an interview with police.

This story may be updated.

Contact Urban Change Reporter Lilly St. Angelo at lstangelo@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lilly_st_ang.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington crime: Police make arrest in downtown apartment shooting
A South Carolina man who survived being shot nine times by sheriffs deputies alleges in a newly filed lawsuit that he was sitting in his pickup truck and talking to his mother when the officers descended on them like cowboys from a John Wayne movie.

Trevor Mullinax and his mother said in their lawsuit that the deputies drew their weapons and defaulted to using deadly force, immediately, without attempting to deescalate the situation.

Bodycam video obtained by NBC News shows the deputies with their guns out converging on the pickup and yelling, Let me see your hands before opening fire, while Mullinaxs mother, Tammy Beason, is still standing beside the truck and talking to her son through the driver's side window.

Bodycam video shows Tammy Beason standing beside the truck and talking to her son through the driver's side window and Beason diving backward while yelling in horror as bullets from the sheriffs deputies hit the vehicle. (Obtained by NBC News)

The deputies fired 50 times at close range, and when it was over the deafening roar was replaced by Beasons piercing screams, the video shows.

In utter shock, Plaintiff Beason dove backwards while yelling in horror as bullets from the Sheriffs deputies hit the vehicle narrowly missing her, the suit states.

Now, two years after the May 7, 2021, confrontation with the York County sheriffs deputies, the mother and son are suing York County and the department for unspecified damages.

"There was a round that hit him smack dab in the middle of the back of his head," Mullinax's lawyer, Justin Bamberg, said Tuesday at a news conference attended by Beason. "Never seen anybody get shot in the back of the head whos a threat to law enforcement or anybody else."

Mullinax, who was standing beside Bamberg at the news conference, weighed in after his lawyer described how the chain of events that resulted in his being shot was precipitated by a mental health crisis.

"May is Mental Health Awareness Month," Mullinax said. "I hate that I have to be the face of it this month. But if it helps even one single person in this world to not have to go through what me and my family have, Im OK with it."

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Beason said she's always been supportive of law enforcement, but seeing her son get shot has shaken her faith in the police.

"Just because they are law enforcement, that did not give them the right to do what they did," Beason said. "And, you know, I want to be able to believe in law enforcement and to get back my belief that theyre not going to hurt you."

The York County Sheriff's Office said in a statement released after the news conference that it had not yet been served with the lawsuit and would not comment until its lawyers review it.

But the agency said that the four deputies involved in the shooting had been "cleared of any wrongdoing" after an investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division and that three of them were still on the job in York County.

"Mr. Mullinax chose to put these men in danger by pulling a shotgun," Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in the statement. "These deputies responded appropriately to the threat as they were trained to do. Had Mr. Mullinax made different choices that day, deputies would not have been required to use force."

Mullinax, 29, lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina, records show. Those same records also indicate he's been arrested for breaking and entering and burglary and for misdemeanor domestic violence. His mother is 48 and also lives in Rock Hill.

Trevor Mullinax in the hospital. (Courtesy Tammy Beason)

In the court papers filed May 5 in the Court of Common Pleas, Mullinax does not deny he was in a bad way before the deputies arrived and the bullets began flying. He says he was sitting in his pickup truck, which was parked on his family's property, and his mother was trying to console him.

"Trevor was just in a really dark place," said Bamberg, who is also a Democratic member of the state's House of Representatives. "And he had been contemplating suicide."

Several days before he was shot, Mullinax had "issues with this girlfriend" and kicked in the door of her home, he said.

"It led to him being charged with burglary, didnt steal anything," Bamberg said, adding "that charge actually, in fact, got dropped, because it was nonsense."

When the deputies arrived, Mullinax had a shotgun in the truck, but "at no point did he point the weapon at himself" or anyone else, according to the complaint.

In the meantime, a call was placed by either a friend or a family member to the sheriff's department requesting a "wellness check" on Mullinax, the complaint states.

The dispatchers were provided with the cellphone numbers for both Mullinax and his mother.

Instead of calling the numbers, a team of deputies went to the property and, when they got there, Mullinax's grandfather directed them to the back where his grandson was parked and talking to his mother, the papers state.

Mullinax's grandfather talking to a team of deputies. (Obtained by NBC News)

"Prior to arriving at the location on the property where Plaintiff Mullinax was still sitting inside his pickup truck, Sheriffs deputies drew their firearms and were prepared to shoot Plaintiff Mullinax and exercise deadly force before they made verbal contact with him," the court papers say.

When they got there, the video shows they began firing almost immediately.

Mullinax had his arms up and was complying with the deputies' orders, his lawyers insisted.

"At no point prior to, during, or after Sheriffs deputies began shooting did Plaintiff Mullinax raise, point, or otherwise move with a weapon in such a fashion as would authorize Sheriffs deputies to use deadly force," the complaint states.

Despite that, the papers state, "Sheriffs deputies arrested and charged Plaintiff Mullinax with pointing and presenting a firearm at the deputies, which did not happen and was not true."

The charges, the complaint states, were lodged to provide "cover" for "the utter excessive use of deadly force exhibited by Sheriffs deputies."

Mullinax was hit nine times, including once in the back of the head, his lawyers said.

Beason, despite being directly beside the pickup truck, was not struck by the gunfire.

The victim's Tammy Beason. (Obtained by NBC News)

There is no evidence that Mullinax or his mother "committed a crime or attempted to hinder any officer on scene, interfere, or resist arrest," the complaint states. "To the contrary, all available evidence indicated that Plaintiff was attempting to be compliant during the extremely short window of time immediately following the arrival of officers."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is in a political no-win situation when it comes to a proposal by his own reparations task force to pay up to $1.2 million in taxpayer money to every qualifying Black resident as a means to atone for slavery and discrimination.

Newsom has yet to weigh in on the recommendations by California Reparations Task Force, which was created by state legislation he signed in 2020. While the formal recommendations were approved by the task force during a public meeting in Oakland on Saturday, theyve been working on the plan for more than two years.

Newsom has chosen to remain silent on the issue even though he may soon be forced to choose a side. The task forces final recommendations will be submitted to the California Legislature, which will then decide whether to implement the measures and send them to Newsom's desk to be signed into law.

"This has been a fools errand from the start," James Gallagher, California Assembly Republican Leader, told Fox News Digital. "Democrats have promised the world with this reparations task force, and now the massive taxpayer bill is coming due. Newsom has painted himself into a corner, and hell have to choose between signing off on a ridiculous policy that will bankrupt the state or admitting once and for all that this task force was nothing more than a political stunt."

The task force's recommendation breaks payments down by types of historical discrimination. For instance, Black residents affected by redlining by banks would receive $3,366 for each year they lived in California from the early 1930s to the late 1970s, amounting to up to $148,099.

Similarly, Black residents could receive roughly $2,352 in compensation for over-policing and mass incarceration for each year they lived in California between 1970 and 2020. Those payments could amount to $115,260.

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LOCKDOWNS, MANDATES AND SCANDALS: HOW GAVIN NEWSOMS COVID-19 RESPONSE BROUGHT CALIFORNIA TO ITS KNEES

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The task force recommends giving just under $360,000 per person to approximately 1.8 million Black Californians who had an ancestor enslaved in the U.S., putting the total cost of the program at about $640 billion, exceeding the state budget by more than double.

In total, from these and other payments included in the plan, a Black Californian who is 71 years old and has lived in California his entire life could receive up to $1.2 million, according to analysis from the New York Times.

Reverend Tony Pierce calls for millions of dollars in reparations for each Black Californian at a meeting of the California Reparations Task Force on May 6, 2023.

It's unclear how California would pay for large-scale reparations. Newsom announced in January that the state faces a projected budget deficit of $22.5 billion for the coming fiscal year. Then weeks later, the California Legislative Analyst's Office, a government agency that analyzes the budget for the state legislature, estimated in a subsequent report that Newsom's forecast undershot the mark by about $7 billion.

CALIFORNIA'S REPARATIONS PANEL APPROVES PAYMENTS OF UP TO $1.2 MILLION TO EVERY BLACK RESIDENT

Dr. Jovan Lewis, center, listens during as the California Reparations Task Force meets to hear public input on reparations at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

SAN FRANS REPARATIONS COMMITTEE PROPOSES $5 MILLION TO EACH BLACK LONGTIME RESIDENT, TOTAL DEBT FORGIVENESS

Proponents have called on Newsom to use his authority as governor to unilaterally enact the proposal if the legislature doesn't. The governor risks angering a large constituency if he fails to act, as polls have shown the vast majority of Black Americans support slavery reparations.

Critics argue that Newsom will use the lofty proposal to score political points because he views it as a non-starter in the state legislature.

"Newsom wants national publicity on reparations like he received with gay marriage as Mayor of San Francisco," John Dennis, Chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party, told Fox News Digital. "He knows reparations will be ultimately struck down, in which case he can look like a hero and yet blame the lack of reparations on the Trump-appointee dominated Supreme Court."

"Everyone knew California didnt have the financial means to pay reparations when this commission was created," said Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli. "Now the Governor has ripped open the painful generational wounds of slavery under false pretenses and false expectations. Why? For cheap political points."

"Slavery was never legal in the state of Californiasomething we can be proud of in this state," he said. "When the Governors reparations commission recommends spending billions of taxpayer dollars on reparations, it sends the wrong message that some hardworking taxpayers owe others for a crime they had nothing to do with. We must instead focus on investing precious tax dollars on projects that benefit all Californians rather than drive division between groups."

CalMatters recently asked all 80 assemblymembers whether they supported the task force's proposal, and only three said yes, while the rest declined to respond.

The governor's office didn't respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment regarding his views on the proposal or whether he would sign a bill enacting it.

Fox News' Aaron Kliegman and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
A man holds up a sign during a Reparations Task Force meeting in Oakland in 2022. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Californias Reparations Task Force approved its final report last weekend, recommending a public apology to Black Californians, dozens of policy reforms and monetary payments.

The Task Force was created in 2020, following the death of George Floyd, to document the harm of slavery, propose restorative measures and educate the public.

America needs to know how enormous the harm is. Thats not been done before, Donald Tamaki, a task force member and lawyer, told Yahoo News.

Tamaki is one of the panels nine members, five of whom were appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and said the committee retained economists to calculate the harm, which in theory equates to roughly $1.2 million per person, according to a recent report by the New York Times.

The extent of the harm, it's terrible, it is enormous. It is astronomical, Tamaki said.

While the task force released an estimated amount for compensation, it did not recommend that the state pay a specific amount; instead, the monetary calculation provides guidance for the enormous economic extent and impact, Tamaki said. I think people have sort of an idea that reparations [are] merely a check in the mail. Well, it does involve compensation. But it does involve all of the others fixing the systems and the culture that created this in the first place.

In addition, the panel recommended dozens of proposals, including changes to providing equity in health care, education, policing, legal systems, and incarceration, as well as reforming historically redlined communities in the state.

The cost is too high

Task Force members listen to public comments during a meeting in Oakland in 2022. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Experts stress that compensation is not enough. It's so deep and pervasive, it has to be followed by institutional changes and changes in the culture, Tamaki said, referring to the impact of slavery and racial discrimination.

But reparations remain an unpopular concept in the U.S., with more than 60% of Americans opposing repayment to descendants of enslaved people, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center Survey.

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For those who think the cost is too high, consider the ongoing price paid for these injustices by all people who call the U.S. home, also paid in the currency of shorter, sicker lives. Its time to make a down payment on a healthier future, Mary Travis Bassett, a public health professor at Harvard University, told Yahoo News.

Last year, the task force submitted a 500-page report, which outlined the harm of 246 years of slavery, 90 years of Jim Crow and racial terror and decades more of continuing discrimination  resulting in todays outcomes  which are at once shocking but sadly, not surprising, Tamaki said.

The Golden State has over 2 million Californians that identify as Black or African American, but some experts say reparations would be a complicated process at the state level.

Even for California, the $1.2 million compensation amount does not fit into the current state budget. $1.2 million per person times approximately 2 million eligible recipients comes to $2.4 trillion. The state's annual budget is approximately $300 billion, economist William Darity Jr., professor of public policy at Duke University, told Yahoo News.

National reparations bill sits in limbo

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaks at a press conference on reparations legislation on Capitol Hill in 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Instead of relying on state budgets to provide reparations, Darity said it must be a federal project. Darity served as a pro bono consultant to the Department of Justices team that supported the task force and said the states ultimately cant foot the bill.

Elimination of the nation's racial wealth gap is approximately $14 trillion and that's a minimum estimate. And only the federal government has the capacity to do that without dramatically raising tax burdens across the country, Darity explained. The total budgets for all the state and municipal governments in the United States come to less than $5 trillion.

But on the federal level, members of Congress have struggled for decades to create a commission to study and develop reparations under House Resolution 40, a bill proposed by the late Democratic Rep. John Conyers, in 1989.

Just last year, national lawmakers demanded that Biden sign an executive order to set up the commission for HR 40, but there has been little to no progress.

HR 40 is 38 years on the books waiting for someone to say yes. Today, we ask with no apologies for an executive order to be in place, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said during a two-day conference on reparations in Evanston, Ill. last year. I want for once an acceptance of the history of the journey that African Americans have taken to be an accepted reality in America.

Evanston is known as the first community to distribute reparations to Black residents. The Chicago suburb has given out roughly $400,000 in reparations.

I am glad to see California is following in the footsteps of my hometown of Evanston, Illinois. But we must do more. It is past time for Congress to pass H.R. 40, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, whose district includes parts of Evanston and Chicago, told Yahoo News in a statement. If we as an entire country do not acknowledge that these problems still exist, and if we do not take the necessary steps to address them, we will fail not only all Americans, but also our democracy,

While Tamaki agrees that the issue of reparations is national, he also acknowledges that progress is slow.

Congress has not shown the will even to study reparations, let alone do anything about it, Tamaki said. The [report], however, says that whatever California does should not be taken to be a substitute for what is the responsibility of the federal government.

State-level reparations draw equity concerns

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on May 2. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Yet some experts say individual states providing reparations could lead to an equity issue. In the administration of reparations programs, when you rely upon individual states and municipalities to set up the programs, everybody's will be different, Darity said. In fact, there's going to be municipalities and states that don't do anything.

But the task forces proposals are not set in stone. Next, they are headed to the majority-Democratic state legislature and then eventually Newsoms desk.

They can do whatever they want with that report. They could ignore it altogether, Darity said. They could increase the amount, they could decrease the amount or they could offer the same amount. I think there [are] a lot of people who have a sense of optimism about what the state assembly will do.

If enacted, this plan would go a long way toward addressing long-standing racial inequities in the state. The effects of slavery are still being felt to this day. The wealth gap between Black and white Americans persists and systemic racism continues to seep into all aspects of our lives, Schakowsky said.

On June 29, the Task Force will present its final report to the legislature.

We call upon the California legislature to consider, balance and make a long-standing commitment to implement these proposals now and in the years to come. The harm was centuries in the making, so the repair needs to be long in the implementation, Tamaki said.
Racist hatred is showing in Texas again, in a region and state that dont want to talk about it.

The Cho family from South Korea and construction project engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda from India are forever Collin Countys martyrs, along with the Mendoza children from Sachse and Elio Cumana-Rivas of Dallas.

Security guard Christian LaCour of Farmersville joins them in Allens memory for eternity.

He was the security guard at an outlet mall, the only white person of eight killed Saturday when, police say, racist sociopath Mauricio Garcia drove 30 miles to commit mass murder.

The ranking Texas Department of Public Safety officer, regional director Hank Sibley, told reporters again Tuesday what state officials had previously said: that Garcia simply targeted the mall and it didnt matter the age, same race or sex.

As usual, Gov. Greg Abbott already said the root cause is mental health. U.S. Rep Keith Self said the attack was like street crime in Chicago and the big cities.

But the director of Asian Texans for Justice, Lily Trieu of Austin, has a different idea.

Obviously we are aware that at this time, except for the security guard, all the victims are people of color, she said Monday.

People raise their hands as they leave a shopping center following reports of a shooting, Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Allen, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Witnesses at the scene said that Saturday.

But for some reason, state and county officials havent said that in their terse announcements or in the hollow political speeches following.

I dont want to speculate why, Trieu said cautiously. I will say that Collin County and the officials in Allen have been really slow to give out any information. ... It made it hard for groups like ours to respond.

Trieu said her group has some frustration about the trickle of information from Collin County, both about the killings and the shooter.

We are hearing today that more South Asians may be impacted as injured victims, she said.

Asian Texans for Justice would like to know whether Garcia, a longtime Dallas resident with a violent and misogynistic bent, drove around the mall parking lot and picked out specific people to target.

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Dont get distracted by his Latino heritage. There are whole movies about American Latinos who identify with whites and resent people who they think are new immigrants.

A Black man, Irvin Walker II of Lafayette, La., was injured. Others listed so far are the Mendozas mother, orphaned William Cho and a man with Thatikonda who was shot. Officials have said they will not list the injured.

Community members are working to have Thatikondas body brought back home to Saroonagar in Hyderabad, Trieu said.

California-based Stop AAPI Hate, which named Texas early in the 2020 COVID pandemic as the No. 3 state for hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, also took note.

Four of the Texas shooting victims were Asian. Most were people of color. And three were children, the group published on its Twitter account at twitter.com/StopAAPIHate.

There are no words to describe the devastating impacts of hate in this moment, Stop AAPI Hate wrote. This tragedy is yet another reminder of the dangerous consequences of hate and bigotry. The ongoing normalization and amplification of white supremacy and far-right extremism poses a growing threat to communities of all stripes across the nation.

Local groups like the punk vandals from Grapevine-based Patriot Front and a few extremist political activists try to blend bigotry into everyday conversation.

The Legislature itself has gone out of its way to prohibit training and textbooks that teach against racism and prejudice.

WFAA/Channel 8 reporter Tiffany Liou was at the scene Saturday in Allen.

It was her first assignment at a mass shooting since she lost an aunt four months ago in a racist club attack in California.

One of the most beautiful things about this mall [Allen] is how diverse it always is, she wrote in a message. The shooter took that joy away.

She knew what came next. Some families would wait 24 hours or more for names.

Then, these families will be collecting the items of the deceased, planning funerals, and far more on top of grieving, she wrote.

Its so much. Its so heavy. Its so awful.

Trieu said anti-Asian hatred grew with the COVID pandemic.

I dont know if Asian-Americans have felt safe in Texas for some time, Trieu said.

It can be name-calling, it can be comments on the street, she said. Then we saw these bills in the Legislature that targeted people of Asian descent.

A few weeks ago, the Texas Senate actually debated a bill to bar any citizen of China, Iran, North Korea or Russia from buying property.

That bill would have prohibited legal immigrants or Americans with dual citizenship from owning a home or land. It was meant to prevent foreign ranch deals. It passed the Senate with an amendment allowing land sales to legal American residents and naturalized citizens.

Once you start that rhetoric, Trieu said, you cant put that cat back in the bag. And now here we are.

Not quite.

Eight of us are no longer here.
Photo: The Canadian Press Chinese President Xi Jinping gives a joint press conference with France's President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Thursday, April 6, 2023. The head of a Vancouver-based group that says it is a non-political organization helping Chinese integrate into Canadian society travelled to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping at a government conference this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thibault Camus

The head of a British Columbia-based group that says it is a non-political organization helping Chinese integrate into Canadian society travelled to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping at a government conference this week.

Chinese state media videos and photos show Canadian Community Service Association president Niu Hua attending the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations, hosted by the state councils overseas Chinese affairs office.

Niu is seen applauding with the group on Monday during Xis entry to the conference, which state media says involved representatives from 130 countries, and is also seen in a group picture with the Chinese leader.

Chinese state media says Shi Taifeng  head of the Chinese United Front Work Departments central committee  told conference attendees that they serve as an important bridge and bond" between China and the rest of the world.

Shi told the groups they are fresh troops in Chinas effort to develop a "shared future for mankind" as part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Niu has not responded to requests for comment, but his Chinese-language WeChat social media account shared state-media depictions of the meeting and photographs of him outside the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, where the meeting with Xi took place.

The Canadian Community Service Association says on its website that it was established in 2002 to promote integration and the spirit of community service" among Chinese and other multicultural communities, organizing activities such as fundraising drives for natural disasters.

It says it is "non-profit, non-religious, and non-political," and has nearly 20,000 members.

In March, the group hosted a banquet to welcome new Chinese consul general Yang Shu to Vancouver.

In January, it staged a spring festival gala attended by an array of Canadian federal, provincial and municipal politicians, several of whom spoke at the event and posed for photos with Niu.

One of the speakers at the January event, Senator Yuen Pau Woo, said in a written response that Nius participation in a Chinese government conference attended by its head of state does not mean the group is political in nature.

Woo said the current political climate, where possible Chinese interference in Canadian politics has come under intense scrutiny, was driven largely by racism and represented a dangerous slippery slope.

Did you hear that hundreds of Canadians met with (United States) President (Joe) Biden on his recent visit to Canada, including numerous heads of non-political organizations? Woo said.

Would you ask the same question if a Caucasian Canadian head of a non-political organization  say the president of a business group or a university  went to Beijing and met with President Xi?

On Monday, Canada declared Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei "persona non grata'' after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said he was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China responded by declaring Canadian diplomat Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul in Shanghai, "persona non grata" and asked her to leave the country before May 13.
Fires left forests and grasslands in Canada's Alberta province blackened

Cooler temperatures and light rain brought relief that allowed some wildfire evacuees to return home in Canada's Alberta province on Tuesday, but several blazes were still out of control and a coming sharp rise in the mercury could set back efforts to tame the fires.

Authorities have lifted evacuation orders for a handful of communities after beating back flames, but suffocating smoke still fills the air -- carried by winds across the continent as far as the Arctic and the US Atlantic coast.

The number of wildfires that forced 30,000 people to flee in the past four days has fallen from a peak of 110 to 81, with 24 still listed as out of control.

But officials warned that a return to hot and dry conditions was expected by Friday and would persist through the weekend.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith noted that 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) in the province are usually consumed by wildfires each year. "We've already had 390,000 hectares burned. So it's already 10 times the typical fire year and we're really just getting started," she told reporters.

"It's an extraordinary (and) unprecedented event, which is I think what we have to be prepared for in future."

"At the moment, it's all hands on deck," she said, noting that more than 700 firefighters are currently deployed and a request has been made for another 1,100 reinforcements from the rest of the country.

Fire chief for the county west of Edmonton, Brian Cornforth, said his crew of over 60 firefighters "are exhausted." "We've been at this for over a week and this fire keeps (spreading) to new areas."

He described how a grass fire in the area had spread across 90 kilometers (56 miles) "within a few hours."

"We need new resources and additional firefighters now," he told AFP.

"Over the next few days, we're gonna see it get drier and drier and hotter and hotter, and those two things work against us for firefighting."

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- 'Seeing what can be salvaged' -

Around the town of Entwistle, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Edmonton, entire forests and grasslands were blackened and smoke billowed from the ground.

A local cemetary appeared to have been spared, but its tombstones were covered in soot and ash. Elsewhere, burnt-out trucks and collapsed buildings lined roads into the town, observed an AFP journalist.

Cheryl Harris, 58, returned to find a massive pile of charred debris in place of what was once a thriving river tubing business.

"We had a bunch of rain two days ago and that helped settle things, and we're getting a little bit of a sprinkle today, hopefully we'll get the rain that they're calling for, but we still need a lot (to douse) the wildfires," she said.

"Today it's cooled off enough that we can pick through and see what can be salvaged," she said.

Surveying the damage, Harris told AFP: "It's hard to see 16 years of work (destroyed)," pausing as she teared up. "But my husband, my kids and my pets are safe. That's more important than stuff."

Temperatures are forecast to rise up to 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) by Sunday.

"The short term is not looking all that great," warned Terri Lang, an Environment Canada meteorologist in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

"The long term forecast for May is not looking great either with above average temperatures and below average precipitation," he said.

"All that rain that's been falling over the last few days will quickly evaporate again once we get into these hot dry conditions (again)."

In recent years, western Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to global warming.

Forest fires in Canada's oil sands region in 2016 disrupted production and forced out 100,000 residents from Fort McMurray, pummeling the nation's economy.

More recently in 2021, British Columbia suffered record-high temperatures over the summer that killed more than 500 people, as well as wildfires that destroyed an entire town.

That was followed by devastating floods and mudslides.

amc/hg/jh
In light of King Charles recent coronation, Canadian $20 bills and coins will soon be getting a facelift.

Ottawa announced that banknotes and coinage will be redesigned to feature a portrait of the commonwealths newest head of state, replacing the representation of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Sept. 8, 2022.

The federal government says the redesigned coins featuring an updated effigy will be available in the coming months, while the bank notes will take a few years, but an exact timeline has not been revealed. The final design will need the official approval of the King before going into circulation.

An effigy of the reigning monarch first started appearing on Canadian coins in 1908, when the Mint began production, then on Canadian bank notes beginning in 1935, when the Bank of Canada launched.

CANADA - JUNE 15: 1 dollar banknote, 1973, obverse, queen Elizabeth II (1926-). Canada, 20th century. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II was featured on four different versions of our coins over the years: in 1953, 1965, 1990 and 2003. Money featuring her image that remains in circulation will continue to be considered legal tender.

Elsewhere in the Commonwealth, the Kings official effigy coins are already being featured in the UK on the 50-pence coin and a commemorative 5-pound coin, which were released in December 2022.

Following the traditional design of the coin, the Kings portrait faces to the left, while the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II faced to the right.

The Bank of England also announced in December what their 5, 10, 20 and 50-pound banknotes will look like with the new portrait of King Charles. Those banknotes are expected to go into circulation by mid-2024.

King Charles III on UK banknotes will be in circulation by mid-2024.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand revealed that it will feature King Charles portrait on its money, replacing that of his mother. But in Australia, the King's likeness won't appear on banknotes. Instead, the Reserve Bank said it intends to replace the Queens effigy on $5 banknotes with an Indigenous design honouring the legacy and culture of the First Australians. King Charles will still be featured on the country's coins.

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Meanwhile, several Caribbean nations wont follow the lead of England, Canada and New Zealand in replacing their legal tenders imagery of the reigning monarch. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has politely declined the idea of a redesign, reportedly saying they had no appetite for such a change.

Justin Vovk is a royal historian and PhD candidate of early modern history at McMaster University. He says as long as humans have been printing their own currency, they've put rulers' faces on it. This dates back to ancient Rome, when Caesar's face was stamped on coins. When England started minting its own coins in the 1200s and 1300s, putting the monarch's face on it was a way of showing all money in the kingdom was owned by the King. It was also a way of preventing fraud.

"In those days, coins were valued based on the amount of mineral and silver that was in them," he tells Yahoo News Canada. "So you have the King's face stamped on it was a way of showing its authenticity."

Vovk says while many Canadians were surprised by the announcement that the King will be featured on our currency, he says it's a way for the government to strengthen its connection with the monarchy. But the other option wouldn't be as big a deal as people would think.

"Canada has its own unique history, events and people who've shaped the uniqueness of Canada," he says. "Having other people (than the reigning monarch) on the currency isn't a huge slight to the monarchy...when you're trying to adapt the monarchy to try and make it relevant to each country, it means it's an evolutionary process."
From left: "Molly," Scott Harpold and Roseann Harpold pose for a candid shot at Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens on May 4. The Harpolds are the purveyors of Harpold Manor, a haunted attraction in Elbert County.

We've all experienced it: the overwhelming sadness that comes with seeing half-empty drugstore shelves cleared of discounted Halloween merchandise well in advance of Oct. 31 to make room for the mountain of holiday decorations that signal the end of the all-too-brief spooky season.

Thanks to an enterprising University of Georgia junior, ghouls and goblins alike will converge on Saturday at Rabbit Hole Studios for HauntFest Mayhem, an all-night event scheduled from 5 p.m. to midnight that will serve as a celebration of horrors, oddities, and things that go "bump" in the night.

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This undated photo shows the exterior of Harpold Manor, the haunted attraction that the Harpold family have run at their Elbert County home for 20 years.

"I basically grew up in a haunted house," said Roseann Harpold, whose Elbert County family runs Halloween attraction Harpold Manor. Roseann's father, Scott, told the Banner-Herald that his affinity for the holiday originated with his father, who always went the extra mile when it came to making trick-or-treaters earn their fun-sized Snickers bars.

With HauntFest, Roseann's goal is to create a communal experience to connect local purveyors of creepy creations and oddball art with fans as well as the curious. As the first event of its kind in Athens, the festival will feature vendors, antiques, concessions, live music, activities and contests. It should go without saying that costumes are strongly encouraged, and guests should expect to encounter "scare actors" lurking about.

This undated photo shows Scott Harpold in character at Harpold Manor, the haunted attraction he and his family have run at their Elbert County home for 20 years.

Roseann's big dream is to open a haunted theme park, and she's actively working towards making it a reality. Roseann enrolled in an entrepreneurship program through UGA where students that have a business idea can develop it, test it and earn a certificate. This week's HauntFest Mayhem event will be one way to prove if the Athens community would attend a year-round spooky attraction.

Rabbit Hole Studios is located at 1001 Winterville Rd. Tickets for HauntFest are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For additional information, visit hauntfest.us.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens area family brings Halloween early with HauntFest event
Capvision was set up in 2008 by former Bain consultants and Morgan Stanley bankers

China has started an anti-spy crackdown on consulting firms in the country, state media has reported.

Outlets identified one firm - Capvision - and reported that police had raided its offices across China.

It follows a recent probe into US consultancy Bain & Company's office in China, and the March detention of Chinese staff at US firm Mintz Group.

Beijing last month broadened its anti-espionage laws around information sharing.

Capvision was set up in 2008 by ex-Bain consultants and Morgan Stanley bankers.

It offers consultation services to more than 2000 clients and has headquarters in Shanghai and New York, according to its website.

Chinese state broadcaster Jiangsu Television on Monday said in a report the company had failed to "seriously fulfil its counterintelligence responsibilities and obligations to prevent espionage".

An unnamed police officer interviewed by the broadcaster accused firms such as Capvision of routinely hiring "highly-paid consulting experts" with close ties to Chinese authorities to "illegally obtain various types of sensitive data", which he said posed "major risks to China's national security".

State security officers raided Capvision's offices in Suzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities, where they questioned employees and examined office items, Jiangsu Television reported. It is unclear when the raids took place.

Capvision has not responded fully to the allegations.

But on Monday night, the firm wrote on its WeChat account that it would be "resolute" in fulling its national security responsibilities. It would also take on a "leading role" in regulating the consulting industry, it said.

Just over a week ago, Chinese police visited the Shanghai offices of US consultancy giant Bain & Company and questioned staff. Officers took away computers and phones, according to the Financial Times, which cited people briefed on the matter.

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And in March, Chinese authorities detained five local staff at Mintz Group and shuttered its Beijing office.

The Chinese foreign ministry said the New York-based due diligence firm was "suspected of illegal operations". Mintz Group specialises in background checks, fact gathering and internal investigations.

China passed an expansive anti-espionage law last month which widened the definition of "spying" to include cyberattacks against state bodies or critical information infrastructure.

The revised law, which will take effect from 1 July, also gives Chinese authorities more teeth to forcibly search the belongings or request data of individuals suspected of spying.

Authorities can also ban Chinese citizens suspected of spying from leaving the country, or foreign nationals from entering.

Foreign officials and China watchers say Beijing's anti-spy crackdown might hurt efforts to open up its economy.

"Foreign businesses and investors, many of whom are already wary of the operating and political environment will now consider more carefully the nature of their commercial commitments to China," said George Magnus, an economist at Oxford University's China Centre.

"China is condemning the US and others for 'decoupling', but is itself the prime mover and biggest practitioner," he argued.

Meanwhile, the European Union's ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo Albinana, said on Tuesday: "The latest news on crackdowns on consultancies is not good news".

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said it would be "helpful" if Chinese authorities could more clearly specify the areas in which firms can or cannot conduct due diligence.
Community leaders are hard at work, coming up with ways to stop gun violence in Central Florida.

They met for hours Monday morning, and ended the day hearing from residents about what they want to see done to make our streets safer.

Orange County leaders have been working on efforts to prevent crime for months now.

Watch: Orange County leaders want the communitys help to find solutions for gun violence

The community gathered to discuss how to tackle gun violence at a meeting organized by State Attorney Monique Worrell.

Panelists, including Rueben Saldana, a former gang leader and ambassador for Credible Messengers, shared their ideas.

We need to continue funding programs to address gun violence. But who can guarantee it? Weve been doing it for free for 8-9 years, Saldana said.

Watch: Orlando police chief updates community on crime, youth violence prevention

Worrell emphasized the need for more funding for community programs and called for collaboration from the community.

Many community members expressed their support for helping young people during the public comment section.

Orange County officials are taking steps to address the issue of gun violence as well.

Watch: Juvenile arrests in 2023 outpacing 2022

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings recently reintroduced the Citizens Safety Task Force to help reduce violence in the community.

Additionally, the county has allocated $900,000 towards a Youth Violence Prevention Program.

Worrell promised to put together a proposal to fund social workers to work with advocates and help victims of gun violence.

Im committed to putting together a proposal to fund social workers so they can help victims of gun violence, Worrell said.

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Changes have been made to some social studies textbooks across the state.

Orange County Public Schools is hearing from parents as it prepares to adopt new policies about textbooks and classroom libraries.

The school board clarify the challenge process parents can use for books in schools, and make the school board responsible if any books are found to be harmful, and give the state more power over textbooks.

There will be less social justice in Florida schools next year, based on changes the Florida Department of Education is making to social studies textbooks.

READ: DeSantis signs bill banning TikTok in Florida schools

This started back when lawmakers banned the teaching of controversial concepts like Critical Race Theory and social emotional learning from public schools, following the governors charge that children were being indoctrinated.

The state rejected math books for allegedly including Critical Race Theory. Now, social studies books are under review.

The state initially rejected four out of five books, but later approved half of those after working with publishers on changes.

Read: Gov. DeSantis signs bill to allow the death penalty for people who commit child rapes

The state provided a few examples of what they called inaccurate or non-compliant materials.

It involves a discussion about kneeling and police brutality from an elementary lesson from the American falg.

Two other changes sharpened language about communism and socialism, and tied countries like China and Cuba to those ideologies.

Read: Stay tuned: Gov. DeSantis hints at presidential run announcement

Another change removed the words social justice from a discussion about the Hebrew bible, and a final example deleted a paragraph about police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement.

An executive at one publisher said the changes requested by the department for their books were minor and overall, they were happy with the process the state laid out.

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Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris (Getty Images)

The rapid proliferation of ChatGPT-style chatbots over the past year has led a decent chunk of salesmen, doctors, journalists, and other keyboard warriors to nervously fret over their future job security. One group of workers that probably dont need to worry about chatbots anytime soon, however, are bartenders.



Gizmodo decided to test out our supposed AI overlords ability to create craft cocktails by probing it to serve up around a dozen drinks inspired by Silicon Valleys biggest personalities. The results of the experiment ran the gamut from hilariously goofy to straight-up undrinkable. A Jack Dorsey-inspired drink called The Salty CEO, for example, combined three liquors and a handful of pink Himalayan salt with a squeeze of lime. Unpleasant. Another, based on billionaire Elon Musk, called for a grab bag of contrasting spirits and bitters topped off by a squeeze of Red Bull. Can I interest anyone in an Electric Entrepreneur?

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In the name of science, Gizmodo created each of the chatbots concoctions, dutifully staying true to both the AIs suggested ingredients and preparation instructions. Gizmodo tasked the cocktail job to both OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard. The two products responses to the exact same queries differed in interesting and sometimes peculiar ways. Google Bard, for example, agreed to create a cocktail inspired by disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes but opted to include a disclaimer saying did not endorse her actions. ChatGPT flat-out refused to make a Holmes homage.

As an AI language model, I must make it clear that Elizabeth Holmes is currently facing legal charges for fraud and deception related to her company, Theranos, ChatGPT said. As such, I cannot create a cocktail inspired by her or endorse her actions

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Weve compiled slides including the cocktails AI-generated name, the ingredients, additional notes about the AIs decision-making, and, of course, our own human review. 12 cocktails were consumed by this writer and a few other human meat bags to create this review. ChatGPT told me thats considered a large amount to consume in one sitting and said I should consider drinking in moderation in the future.



Mark Zuckerberg: The Facebook Fizz

Photo: Tom Pennington (Getty Images)

Recipe:



2 oz vodka

1 oz blue curacao liqueur

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz simple syrup

Club soda

Ice

Lemon wheel, for garnish

Chat GPTs notes: This cocktail is inspired by the blue color of Facebooks logo and the refreshing fizz of the social media platform. Enjoy responsibly!

Review: The Zuckerberg-inspired Facebook Fizz wasnt exactly bad per see but it certainly wasnt good either. In fact, the drink really lacked any strong taste one way or another, which seems like an apt comparison to the Facebook founders notoriously amoral disposition.

Jack Dorsey, The Salty CEO

Photo: Joe Raedle (Getty Images)

Recipe:



2 ounces vodka

1 ounce gin

1 ounce tequila

1 ounce Mezcal

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce simple syrup

 teaspoon Himalayan salt

 teaspoon black pepper

Google Bard description: This cocktail is inspired by Jack Dorseys morning routine of drinking salt juice. The salt and pepper add a touch of flavor and complexity, while the citrus juices and alcohol provide a refreshing and invigorating boost. Its the perfect drink to start your day off right, or to enjoy after a long day of work.

Review: The Salty CEO was one of the most feared drinks on the list based solely on its unflattering ingredients but it the end product actually tasted pretty similar to a perfectly acceptable margarita. The drink is salty as advertised but doesnt go so far in that direction that it tastes like a gulp full of seawater.

Elon Musk: The Electric Entrepreneur

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1/2 oz vodka

1/2 oz blue curacao

1 oz lime juice

1/2 oz honey syrup

Dash of orange bitters

Splash of Red Bull

Lemon twist, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Electric Entrepreneur cocktail while contemplating your next big idea or exploring the limits of whats possible!

Review: The Electric Entrepeneur is loud, highly caffeinated, in your face, and leaves a nasty taste lingering in your mouth. If the goal was to make a drink that embodied its namesakes aura, ChatGPT truly nailed it on this one.

Tim Cook: The Innovative Executive

Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz gin

1 oz apple cider

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

1/2 oz triple sec

Dash of cinnamon

Apple slice, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Innovative Executive cocktail while brainstorming new and exciting ideas, or simply appreciating the spirit of innovation that Tim Cook embodies!

Review: The Innovate Executive does a great job of embodying a CEO who, while still massively successful and still technically at the helm of Apple, will always feel like a B-team version of his former boss. The Tim Cook-inspired drink tastes of flat apple juice that just happens to be boozy. The dash of cinnamon at the end attempts to raise this uninspired mixer up at the last minute but ultimately falls flat leaving the entry tasting like a cacophony of unexciting, dulled flavors.



Jeff Bezos: The Blue Origin

Photo: Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)

Recipe:



2 ounces tequila

1 ounce blue curacao

1 ounce lime juice

Club soda, to top

Lime wedge, for garnish

Google Bard description: I chose these ingredients because they represent some of the qualities that I associate with Jeff Bezos. Tequila is a clear spirit that is often associated with success and ambition. Blue curacao is a tropical flavor that represents Bezoss vision for space travel. Lime juice is a tart citrus fruit that represents Bezoss determination and drive. Club soda is a refreshing beverage that represents Bezoss ability to relax and enjoy life.

Review: If theres one thing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos understands, its consistency. And union busting. The Blue Origin hits on that first quality, serving up a blue margarita-inspired drink thats completely accessible and highly drinkable. The Blue Origin is the type of middling cocktail youd likely find poured by the pitcher full at a mid-tier chain restaurant like Ruby Tuesdays or Chilis.

Satya Nadella: Cloud Nine

Photo: Brad Barket (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz vodka

1 oz blueberry juice

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz honey syrup

1/2 oz triple sec

Splash of club soda

Blueberries, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Cloud Nine cocktail while reflecting on the innovative and forward-thinking leadership of Satya Nadella, or while exploring the exciting possibilities of cloud computing technology!

Review: Easily One of the better drinks of the bunch. The drink is orange flavor forward but the blueberries give it a nice unique taste and some different flavor. No real complaints here.

Sundar Pichai: The Googletini

Photo: Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz gin

1 oz grapefruit juice

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Splash of tonic water

Lime wheel, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Googletini cocktail while pondering the future of technology and the impact that companies like Google and Alphabet Inc. are having on the world!

Review: The Googletini is a drink youll likely only want one of, if at all. The grapefruit flavor cuts through leading to a bitter, but not bitter enough taste thats too indecisive to be appealing. The Gooletini has a refreshing, springtime spell, but thats about the best compliment it can receive.

Sam Altman: The Venture Vibe

Photo: Drew Angerer (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz tequila

1 oz grapefruit juice

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz honey syrup

Splash of sparkling wine

Grapefruit twist, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Venture Vibe cocktail while discussing new business ideas or reflecting on the exciting possibilities of entrepreneurship and innovation!

Review: Without any doubt, the Venture Vibe stands stands apart as easily the nastiest entry of the bunch. This writer is no snob when it comes to anything with alcohol in it, but this unpalatable marriage of tequila and sparkling wine found itself swirling down the kitchen drain and a few sips. Its somewhat ironic that ChatGPT would choose the most abhorrent drink imaginable to represent its corporate father. Maybe theres something to the whole AI sentience argument after all.

Steve Jobs: The iMartini

Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz vodka

1 oz apple juice

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Dash of bitters

Thin slice of apple, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the iMartini cocktail while celebrating the innovative spirit of Steve Jobs and the impact that Apple has had on technology and design!

Review: The iMartini seems like a win on the first sip. Its Apple-themed flavors stand out and punch through. One quickly begins to realize though that this intense mix of sugars and fruits is a quick one-way ticket to a blistering hangover. Limit yourself to one.

Elizabeth Holmes The Theranos

Photo: Lisa Lake (Getty Images)

Recipe:



2 ounces vodka

1 ounce St. Germain elderflower liqueur

1 ounce lime juice

Cucumber, for garnish

Google Bard notes: I chose these ingredients because they represent some of the qualities that I associate with Elizabeth Holmes. Vodka is a clear spirit that is often associated with purity and precision. St. Germain is a floral liqueur that represents Holmess creativity and vision. Lime juice is a tart citrus fruit that represents Holmess determination and drive. Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable that represents Holmess calm and collected demeanor.

But wait: Bard added a disclaimer to the bottom of the recipe saying it does not condone Holmes actions since she is facing criminal fraud charge. ChatGPT, on the other hand, flat-out refused to make the cocktail.

Recipe: The Theranos is an unbalanced, overly floral cocktail that tried to present itself as sophisticated but winds up tasting like a perfumed turd. But in a kind of a good way? This drink received polarizing reviews from Gizmodos taste testers.

Sam Bankman-Fried: The Crypto Cooler

Photo: Craig Barritt (Getty Images)

Recipe:



1 1/2 oz rum

1 oz pineapple juice

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz blue curacao

Splash of ginger beer

Pineapple wedge, for garnish

ChatGPT notes: Enjoy the Crypto Cooler cocktail while discussing the future of cryptocurrency and the innovative approaches that Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX are taking to revolutionize the industry!



Review: The Crypto Cooler was surprisingly not half bad! The drink tastes like a kind of cool, fruity, sugary, summer vacation drink one would enjoy while lounging beach-side in the Bahamas. Who knows, maybe SBF was enjoying an icy Crypto Cooler moments before he was arrested in the Bahamas last year.

Donald Trump, TRUTH Social founder: The Trump

Photo: Tom Pennington (Getty Images)

Recipe



2 ounces vodka

1 ounce orange juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

1/2 ounce lime juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Orange slice, for garnish

Google Bard description: Ichose these ingredients because they represent some of the qualities that I associate with Donald Trump. Vodka is a clear spirit that is often associated with clarity and intelligence. Orange juice is a sweet and tart citrus fruit that represents Trumps determination and drive. Cranberry juice is a tart and refreshing fruit that represents Trumps resilience. Lime juice is a tart citrus fruit that represents Trumps outspokenness. Simple syrup is a sweet syrup that balances out the tartness of the orange juice, cranberry juice, and lime juice. Orange slice adds a refreshing touch.

Recipe: Imagine a screwdriver youd drink at an Irish pub at 1:00 p.m. on a Tuesday. Except its $24 and somehow became president for four years.

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A student at laptop

As exam season gets under way, students might be tempted to turn to new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to give them the edge in assessments.

Universities have been scrabbling to understand what AI applications such as ChatGPT are capable of and introduce guidance on how they can be used - and now, they're being urged to teach students how to use them.

Academics at the University of Bath have been considering the challenges and opportunities.

"Our first question was, 'Could this be used by students to answer our assessment questions?'" James Fern says of ChatGPT - an online tool that can answer questions, including producing essays and emails, in human-like language.

James has been looking at how robust his department's assessments are

"Multiple choice questions, for example, it will handle those very well.

"We definitely were not expecting it to do as well as it did... it was getting close to 100% correct."

But with more complex questions, which require students to think critically and which he says make up the bulk of assessment, it struggles.

One example, from a final-year assessment, reads: "Why is it important to understand the timing of exercise in relation to nutrition status in people with [a technical term, according to James] overweight?"

And there are tell-tale signs the answer given by ChatGPT was not written by a student.

ChatGPT answer: Understanding the timing of exercise in relation to nutrition status [Note: Repeats phrase in question] is important for people with overweight because it can affect their body composition and metabolic health. Exercise and nutrition are both critical components of weight management, and the timing of when these are consumed can have a significant impact on weight loss and other health outcomes. [Note: No evidence given] Consuming carbohydrates and proteins before and after exercise can provide energy and help with muscle repair and recovery. [Note: Too simple] Additionally, exercising on an empty stomach or after a period of fasting (such as in the morning before breakfast) can lead to increased fat oxidation and improve insulin sensitivity, which can be beneficial for people with overweight. Therefore, understanding the timing of exercise in relation to nutrition status can help individuals optimize their weight management strategies and improve their overall health.

"On first glance, it looks very good - it looks very clearly written, it looks quite professional in its language," James says.

But some of the statements are more like those of a GCSE pupil than a university student.

It has a habit of repeating the exact phrasing of the question in its introductions and conclusions, "just written in slightly different ways".

And when citing sources of information, as is standard in academic work, it simply makes them up.

A fake academic reference from ChatGPT: Mousavi, S. N., Abbasian, S., Khosravi, N., & Asemi, Z. (2022). Timing of nutrient intake and exercise: A systematic review of current evidence and recommendations for future studies. [Note: This academic paper does not exist] Trends in Food Science & Technology, 118, 47-56. [Note: Page numbers are invented]

"They look perfect - they've got the right names of authors, they've got the right names of journals, the titles all sound very sensible - they just don't exist," James says.

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"If you're not aware of how large language models work, you would be very easily fooled into thinking that these are genuine references."

Since ChatGPT was released to the public, about six months ago, many students have been unsure when they can and cannot use it.

"I might be tempted to use ChatGPT... but currently, I'm too scared to because you can get caught," says one student walking between classes on campus.

"It's not clear yet what is considered cheating with ChatGPT," another says. "If you copied your whole assignment from ChatGPT that's cheating - but it can be really helpful to guide."

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said in a speech on Monday that AI was "making a difference in schools and universities already", and suggested it could help school teachers with lesson plans and marking.

New advice from Quality Assurance Agency, which reviews standards at UK universities, urges them to equip students with AI skills they can take into the world of work.

It encourages them to explain to new and returning students, in September, how and when AI should be used - and to adapt courses where appropriate.

Marketing lecturer Kim Watts calls it "another tool in the toolbox". And some students in her department have already started using ChatGPT this term, in coursework that asks them to produce a marketing plan.

Kim says ChatGPT will help get "students started on things"

"I'm suggesting that students go to ChatGPT, those who maybe don't know where to start... and start playing around with prompts," she says.

"It won't give them the answers - but it can give them ideas."

'Critical thinking'

Kim demonstrates by asking ChatGPT to produce its own marketing plan.

It responds with a series of numbered points - everything from the creation of a brand identity to the use of social media.

But Kim, looking up from her screen, says: "This will not pass.

"Submitting something like this is just not detailed enough - it doesn't show us any learning, it doesn't show any critical thinking."

Neurodivergent students and those for whom English is not their first language will benefit most from ChatGPT, Kim says.

But any student choosing to use it will be asked to submit their ChatGPT prompts and answers as an appendix, to make it "really clear how far they have come" from the chatbot answers.

Summer exams

As with most universities, Bath's policy on ChatGPT and other AI tools is still in the works. It is due to be in place from September.

After that, a team will meet throughout the year to ensure it keeps up with the rapidly changing technology.

In the meantime, many staff are once again setting in-person, invigilated summer exams.

Dr Chris Bonfield, the head of a team that helps design assessments, says the "default assumption" is students should not be using ChatGPT this year. And, if staff decide to allow it, they should clearly set out their expectations.

The pace at which the technology is evolving poses a challenge for universities - but Bath quickly moved away from conversations about banning it.

Chris says the pace at which the technology changes poses a challenge for universities

"This tool is not going away," Chris says.

"In order to ensure our students are equipped with the skills they need for the future workplace, but also that our degrees remain current, we're going to have to engage."

'Too dangerous'

Last week Geoffrey Hinton, widely regarded as the godfather of AI, resigned from Google, saying he regretted his work - and chatbots could soon be more intelligent than humans.

Prof Verena Rieser, a computer scientist at Heriot-Watt University who has been working in the AI field for two decades, says her own students are "using it in very creative ways" - but chatbots are still in the early stages of development and "can be used to generate misinformation at [a] scale which is obviously very concerning" when it comes to education.

Previous models of ChatGPT were not released because they were deemed "too dangerous", she says.

Its developer, OpenAI, says "like any technology, these tools come with real risks" and it works "to ensure safety is built into our system at all levels".

Since ChatGPT's launch, other companies have focused their efforts on AI. Google, for example, released Bard, which is available to adults only.

"I would expect that we'll soon see different flavours of ChatGPT by different companies out there and hopefully also safer models which actually mitigate for the possible dangers," Verena says.

"At this moment we don't really know how to stop the models outputting information which is wrong or toxic or hateful - and that's a big problem."

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Ramzan Kadyrov at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, April 27, 2023

Read also: Chechen fighters believe Russia may collapse sooner or later

"I would not degrade the military abilities of Kadyrovites. After all, the two Chechen wars allow us to say that Chechens are quite psyched, and they are still people of war. But here, I believe, they simply do not consider it necessary to fight in full, (as) it is not their war," Zhyrokhov told Radio NV.

Chechen troops are trying to avoid losses in Ukraine, so that Kadyrov can have his own arguments in the case of internal conflicts in Russia, according to the military expert.

"We need to understand that the Chechen Republic is small in area and population, and the loss of each Chechen fighter is more crucial for the warlord Kadyrov than the loss of hundreds of thousands of (Russian) mercenaries or regular military personnel," he said.

Read also: Military observer analyses ongoing media battle between Prigozhin, Kadyrov, and Russian Defense Ministry

He also believes that the founder and leader of Russias Wagner mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, challenged Kadyrov "and Kadyrov, as a highlander, could not help but stepped into the fray" by proposing to replace the Wagner Group's mercenaries in Bakhmut with Kadyrov's men.

Kadyrov may have wanted to use Prigozhin's claims to declare that his fighters had seized Bakhmut, military observer Denis Popovich suggested on May 7. However, he believes Kadyrov underestimated the situation.

Prigozhin posted on May 4 a video showing rows of bodies that he claimed were Wagner mercenaries killed in a day in Bakhmut. He blamed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov for the "70% shortage of ammunition."

The next day, he threatened to withdraw his troops from Bakhmut on May 10 due to the lack of ammunition. Kadyrov declared in response that the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit was ready to be deployed in Bakhmut to replace the mercenaries.

Story continues

Read also: After Prigozhins statement about leaving Bakhmut, Malyar says Russia will try to capture city by May 9

Prigozhin said he had agreed to this, and Kadyrov even said that he had written a letter to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin with the request.

However, Prigozhin said on May 7 that it had been promised to him that his fighters would be provided with enough ammunition and weapons in order to be able to continue offensive efforts in Bakhmut.

Russian General Sergei Surovikin would play the role of a mediator between Wagner Group mercenaries and the Defense Ministry, Prigozhin said on May 8.

Surovikin was removed late last year as commander of the Kremlins Ukraine invasion force.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The latest addition to the Miami omakase explosion is opening this week in Coral Gables.

Shingo, an intimate Japanese restaurant with 14 seats and big ambitions, is ready to serve guests at the historic La Palma building.

Led by chef and owner Shingo Akikuni, formerly the executive chef at Hiden in Wynwood, the restaurant will offer an 18-course tasting-style menu of nigiri (a small ball of rice topped with raw fish or shellfish). The menu will also feature wine and sake pairings for an additional cost.

Akikuni, a third generation sushi chef from Osaka, Japan and a former sous chef at The Den at Azabu in Miami Beach, said his previous work helped him learn how to create memorable dining experiences.

Im very thankful for all of the experiences Ive had working in different restaurants, he said. I think the biggest difference for Shingo is that I was able to be a part of all of the decisions for the restaurant from its conception, and I intend for this restaurant to be more accessible for guests who are seeking out an authentic omakase experience.

Miami is obsessed with luxury omakase dining. Heres everything you need to know

Hiden, which you enter through an unprepossessing taco shop, was one of 11 Miami restaurants to earn a Michelin star in 2022. Shingo aims to bring that quality to the new restaurant, which will feature a seasonal menu of sushi and Yakimono dishes, which are grilled over high heat. Think Japanese Binchotan charcoal-grilled eel topped with caviar and fresh wasabi, for example.

Woodworkers built the 850-square-foot space in Kyoto, Japan, before they took it apart and shipped it to Miami to be reassembled. The style is classic Japanese omakase den with an L shaped counter made of rare Hinoki wood.

Fish will be sourced locally in Florida and imported from Japan. Akikuni is working with a vendor in the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo to have fish shipped overnight four days a week. He also plans to work with local farms and other vendors to take advantage of seasonal ingredients.

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Akikuni says hes thrilled to become one of the few authentic Japanese restaurants in Coral Gables.

Coral Gables is an incredibly beautiful city, and the surrounding area has quickly become a dining destination for Miami residents, he said. Were happy to be in good company.

The opening of Shingo is part of a retail and restaurant whirlwind in Coral Gables. Shingo is the first of two highly anticipated spots to open in the La Palma building. The other is Bouchon by Thomas Keller, a version of his famous Yountville restaurant. The restaurant from Keller, whose restaurant The Surf Club Restaurant in Surfside won a Michelin star in 2022, will feature French bistro cuisine.

We looked at it and fell in love, Keller said about Coral Gables last year to the Miami Herald. We dont look at market research. It was strictly because of the location and its history. . . . Bouchon is a neighborhood restaurant, and we want it to be part of the Coral Gables neighborhood.

Shingo

Where: 112 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables

Opening: May 11

Hours: 6 and 9 p.m. seatings Tuesday-Saturday

Price: $180 per person excluding tax and gratuity; wine and sake pairing $95 per person

Reservations: shingomiami.com

There is no guarantee: How stressed are Miami chefs about keeping Michelin stars?
Photo: The Canadian Press E. Jean Carroll arrives to federal court in New York, Monday, May 8, 2023. Former President Donald Trump has rejected his last chance to testify at a civil trial where the longtime advice columnist has accused him of raping her in a luxury department store dressing room in 1996. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House.

The verdict was announced in a federal courtroom in New York City on the first day of jury deliberations. Jurors rejected Carrolls claims that she was raped, but found Trump liable for sexually abusing her.

Hours earlier, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan read instructions on the law to the nine-person jury before the panel began discussing Carroll's allegations of battery and defamation shortly before noon.

Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Carroll or even knew her.

Kaplan told jurors that the first question on the verdict form was to decide whether they think there is more than a 50% chance that Trump raped Carroll inside a store dressing room. If they answered yes, they would then decide whether compensatory and punitive damages should be awarded.

If they answered no on the rape question, they could then decide if Trump subjected her to lesser forms of assault involving sexual contact without her consent or forcible touching to degrade her or gratify his sexual desire. If they answered yes on either of those questions, they will decide if damages are appropriate.

On defamation claims stemming from a statement Trump made on social media last October, Kaplan said jurors needed to be guided by a higher legal standard  clear and convincing evidence.

He said they would have to agree it was highly probable that Trump's statement was false and was made maliciously with deliberate intent to injure or out of hatred or ill will with reckless disregard for Carroll's rights.

Meanwhile, Trump posted a new message on social media, complaining that he is now awaiting the jury's decision on a False Accusation. He said he is not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me.

Trump said he will not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me ... no matter the outcome!

Trump never attended the trial, which is in its third week, and rejected an invitation to testify, which the judge extended through the weekend even after Trump's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said Thursday that his client would not testify.

Tacopina told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carroll's account is too far fetched to be believed. He said she made it up to fuel sales of a 2019 memoir in which she first publicly revealed her claims and to disparage Trump for political reasons.

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, cited excerpts from Trump's October deposition and his notorious comments on a 2005 Access Hollywood video in which he said celebrities can grab women between the legs without asking.

She urged jurors to believe her client.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Kaplan said. She said much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case.

In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll.

Carroll, 79, testified that she had a chance encounter with Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower. She said it was a lighthearted interaction in which they teased each other about trying on a piece of lingerie before Trump became violent inside a dressing room.

Tacopina told jurors there was no reason to call Trump as a witness when Carroll can't even recall when her encounter with Trump happened.

He told the jury Carroll made up her claims after hearing about a 2012 Law and Order episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

They modeled their secret scheme on an episode of one of the most popular shows on television, he said of Carroll.

Two of Carroll's friends testified that she told them about the encounter with Trump shortly after it happened, many years before the Law and Order episode aired.
The political action committee founded by former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney is out with a television ad warning Americans that former president Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

The 60-second ad is set to run on CNN before and after Mr Trump appears on the network Wednesday evening for a town hall session with anchor Kaitlan Collins.

Narrated by Ms Cheney, the ad describes how Mr Trump began lying about the conduct of the 2020 election after it became clear he would lose to Joe Biden.

Continuing, the ex-Wyoming congresswoman recalls Mr Trump having mobilised a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol on the day Congress was set to certify the election, 6 January 2021.

She continues to speak over images of the riot showing Mr Trumps supporters savaging police officers outside the Capitol.

Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6th were illegal. He didnt care, and today he celebrates those who attacked our Capitol. Donald Trump has proven he is unfit for office, she said.

Ms Cheney founded the Super PAC running the ad, The Great Task, shortly after losing her House seat to now-Representative Harriet Hageman. She was ousted by her fellow Republicans who were upset over her criticism of Mr Trump and her service on the House January 6 select committee.

The former Wyoming congresswoman has vowed to keep Mr Trump from ever setting foot in the White House again, and has not ruled out mounting her own campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Cheng Lei was arrested by state security officers in 2020

"One thousand days is a shockingly long time in detention," says Nick Coyle.

He is speaking about his partner, Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who remains in a Chinese prison. The details of the charges against her are still a secret and she has not been sentenced.

Like Ms Cheng's other friends and family, Mr Coyle says he still has no idea what she is supposed to have done to warrant this treatment.

"I would call upon the relevant authorities in China to resolve this awful situation as quickly as possible," he tells the BBC.

Cheng Lei was working as a business reporter at China's state-run English language television station CGTN when she was suddenly grabbed by state security officers on 13 August 2020, and later accused of "illegally supplying state secrets overseas".

Her first six months were spent in solitary confinement, being placed in stress positions and, though being interrogated, with no access to a lawyer.

Since then, she has been held with other prisoners.

Her trial took place in March last year behind closed doors. Even Australia's Ambassador to China Graham Fletcher was denied entry.

But her sentencing has been postponed again and again.

Calls by the BBC to the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court, where her trial was held, went unanswered.

Mr Coyle - the former chief executive of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce - has now left Beijing but continues to work from overseas for her release.

"I took China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, at his word in January when he expressed hope 'that a solution will come as soon as possible'," Mr Coyle says. "Five months later we are still waiting".

Cheng Lei with her partner, Nick Coyle

Another Australian who's been imprisoned following state secrets charges, Yang Hengjun, has also had his sentencing repeatedly postponed.

In China, what might be considered a "state secret" is a sweepingly general concept and can essentially be whatever the government wants it to be.

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For a country trying to attract international business investment back to its shores after years of extremely strict Covid lockdown measures, the detention of foreigners for extended periods under an opaque, party-controlled legal system is proving to be a challenge.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were held under a form of hostage diplomacy, from 2018 to 2021, in response to extradition proceedings against Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou.

They were released hours after the US extradition request against her was dropped.

Yet the pressure on foreign companies remains.

Six weeks ago, a Japanese executive from a pharmaceutical company was detained, and China's foreign ministry said he was suspected of carrying out espionage activities. In recent weeks, international corporate research firms have also been raided here.

Many would-be foreign investors are weighing up the risks of remaining in China but also feel they can't ignore the obvious appeal of the country's massive domestic market.

Australia and China have a had a rocky few years. Beijing placed sanctions on Australian wine, barley and lobsters. In this country with more than 5% of the entire population tracing their roots back to China, the tensions have been considerable.

Amidst all this friction, Cheng Lei's case has drawn a lot of attention.

Over the years, the treatment of foreign passport holders with Chinese ancestry has been different to other foreigners when it comes to detention in China: in short, much more strict.

However, if the Chinese government thought that Australians would be less concerned about Cheng Lei because she's ethnically Chinese, this has not been the case.

When she was picked up, her children were nine and 11. That they have not been able to see their mother all this time has resonated in Australia and beyond.

"Fair-minded Australians - from business to political leaders and in the general public - do not accept the status quo," Nick Coyle says.

China's foreign ministry has tried to water down global concerns regarding the case.

At a regular press briefing, spokesman Wang Wenbin said: "China's judicial authorities have handled the case in accordance with the law, fully protecting Cheng Lei's legal rights."

On the second anniversary of her detention, he said that judgement would be passed "in due course". However, more than a year after her secret trial, there has still been no "judgement".

Mr Coyle hopes the case will be addressed urgently

Being charged with an offence in China almost certainly means losing. The official conviction rate is nearly 100%. Lawyers and supporters do what they can to minimise the punishment the accused might face under these circumstances.

When it comes to foreigners, their governments attempt to negotiate with their Chinese counterparts to secure the release of their citizens. This can sometimes involve deals.

The Chinese government would like to see a visit to Beijing by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later this year, to formalise a recent thaw in relations.

The cases involving Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun could be used as a bargaining chips by the Australian side to clear the path for this visit to take place.

The Australian Government says it has raised their cases on many occasions.

Last week, while he was in London for the Coronation, Mr Albanese said during a television interview that "our position on China has been to engage constructively but to continue to put forward that the impediments to trade should be removed, to say very directly to President Xi, that Australians such as Cheng Lei need to be given proper justice, and that they're not receiving".

It will not have gone unnoticed in Beijing that he mentioned Xi Jinping by name.

Much of Cheng Lei's career had been spent trying to build bridges between the country of her birth and the country her family moved to.

That her case has pushed China and Australia further apart is not something she would have wanted.

In the limited messages from her that are able to come out of the prison via monthly half-hour visits by Australian diplomats, one thing seems to dominate: how much she misses her children and the extent of the pain she feels being away from them.

Nick Coyle says her children, now 11 and 14, have been doing their best to grow up in Australia without their mum, but "for Lei and her kids' sake, I really hope a solution to all this can be found urgently".
(Bloomberg) -- China has ordered a Canadian diplomat to leave the country, in a tit-for-tat move hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government expelled a Chinese envoy from his nation.

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Jennifer Lalonde, a diplomat from Canadas consulate in Shanghai, has until Saturday to leave the country, according to a statement Tuesday from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. China called the move a reciprocal countermeasure and reserved the right to make further responses. The Canadian embassy in Beijing didnt respond immediately to a request for comment.

On Monday, Canada expelled Chinese envoy Zhao Wei after a Globe and Mail report claimed the diplomat was looking into penalizing Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong over his hard-line positions on China. The punishments could entail sanctioning Chongs relatives in Hong Kong, the report said, citing a leaked intelligence document.

Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the Canadian claims unfounded at a regular briefing in Beijing on Tuesday. Canadas ill-founded decision to declare a Chinese diplomat a persona non-grata is an egregious move that violates the basic norms governing international relations and a deliberate blow to Canadas relations with China, he added.

Trudeau said Tuesday that his government made the decision with careful consideration and wont be swayed by Chinese retaliation. Among the considerations were possible economic consequences, he said.

Regardless of whatever next choices they make, we will not be intimidated, the prime minister told reporters in Ottawa. We will ensure that China continues to see, along with other countries that are engaging in foreign interference, that we take this extraordinarily seriously.

Story continues

The diplomatic spat is the latest rupture in ties between China and Canada. The two nations were caught in a years-long standoff after Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer, was held under house arrest in Vancouver as she battled extradition to the US. Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained within days of Mengs December 2018 arrest and held until all three were freed in September 2021.

During that period, China banned canola shipments from top Canadian exporters Richardson International and Viterra in March 2019, citing the detection of pests. Inspections on cargoes from other firms also got more stringent, cutting overall Canadian canola exports to China. In 2022, China lifted the three-year ban on the Canadian oilseed and has been stepping up imports.

--With assistance from Hallie Gu and Laura Dhillon Kane.

(Updates with Trudeau comment in 5th paragraph.)

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(Bloomberg) -- The top Democrat on the House China committee said he wants to keep a bipartisan approach, even as relations between the parties grow more fractious with the approach of the 2024 elections.

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Chinas Communist Party is counting on us being fractured and partisan and unable to prepare ourselves for the future, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois said in an interview. If we can investigate and uncover the facts surrounding the nature of the challenge, the hope is that we can start to come up with bipartisan ways to deal with those facts.

Krishnamoorthi said that he and Representative Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Republican who leads the committee, are on the same page even as the Biden administration shifts to softer language on its economic approach to Beijing. Bidens team now emphasizes de-risking instead of decoupling.

Decoupling from the PRC economy is not possible, he said, referring to China by its formal name, the Peoples Republic of China. Much more important is de-risking parts of the supply chain where we are very dependent on the PRC or may be unavailable to us for other reasons.

The panels goal is to focus on military and economic threats posed to the US by the worlds second-largest economy. A hearing on May 17 will concentrate on how the US should confront the economic challenge posed by China, Krishnamoorthi said.

Witnesses will include Eric Schmidt, the former chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc., the holding company of Google, and Robert Lighthizer, a former US trade representative.

Other recent congressional efforts have included bills to ban the use of some China-based apps, particularly TikTok. Senate Democrats have been forging a bipartisan bill intended to enhance US economic competition with China and respond to aggression against Taiwan.

Story continues

Krishnamoorthi said the hearing would seek to elevate awareness of these issues with the general public as they think about how to prepare for the intense competition between the US and China.

Asked for comment, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the relevant individuals should take off the tinted glasses of ideology and uphold the spirit of equality and mutual respect, stopping making frequent accusations against China.

Economic rivalry has been a key factor in the rapid deterioration in US-China ties in recent years. US officials say that decades of Chinese industrial policy and economic espionage have skewed the playing field in favor of Beijing.

In response, the US has tried to limit Chinas access to high-end semiconductors and blacklisted Chinese companies for their ties to the military or their use of forced labor. Restrictions on US investment in China are also in the works. China characterizes these actions as protectionism.

We need American businesses to take off their golden blindfolds in China and become clear-eyed about the risks of partnering with the Chinese Communist Party, Gallagher, the panels chairman, said in a statement to Bloomberg. These are common-sense principles that both parties can get behind.

--With assistance from Erik Wasson and Daniel Flatley.

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(Bloomberg) -- Among the four biggest global accounting firms, Ernst & Young is likely to be the most exposed to Beijings crackdown on US-linked auditors, as it stands to lose about a 10th of its China revenue.

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The Asian country recently urged state-owned enterprises to phase out Big Four contracts and hire locally instead in a bid to rein in foreign accountants amid what it called data security concerns. For now, the guidance applies to only central SOEs, and its unclear whether province-level SOEs and private companies will be included later.

In 2021, the Big Four audited a quarter of Chinas 98 central SOEs, but EY led the pack earning about 12% of its revenue in the country from these giant corporations. KPMG, PwC and Deloitte got less than 4% each, according to data from the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants analyzed by Bloomberg.

The bigger the pie, the harder the impact, said Howard Shatz, a senior economist at RAND Corporation, adding the loss of central SOEs may have a cascading effect.

If you lose the Chinese state enterprises, you lose companies that are operating around the world, Shatz said. These are highly complex companies  so the audit fees for them are pretty hefty.

Representatives for EY and Deloitte declined to comment, while PwC and KPMG didnt respond to requests for comment.

It isnt just the Big Four that are facing headwinds in China. Beijing has launched a nationwide anti-espionage crackdown on consulting firms, state media have reported, as part of efforts to tighten foreign access to sensitive information.

Barring the Big Four could also hurt Chinese businesses as an audit by a global firm lends credibility to their books on an international stage. An absence of that endorsement risks turning foreign investors wary.

Story continues

China contributed 5.49 billion yuan ($793 million) to EYs revenue in 2021, or 2% of its total, of which 661 million yuan came from 11 central SOEs. Additionally, it got 1.3 billion yuan from 280 Hong Kong-listed firms.

The Big Four earned a combined revenue of 20.6 billion yuan from all Chinese clients in 2021, according to the finance ministry. Though it represents just 2% of their total, the value of the Chinese market  and the Asia Pacific region more broadly  lies in its potential as growth outpaces most major economies.

Rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China spell further trouble for EY just as its dealing with the fallout from a failed attempt to split its audit and consulting arms. They also add to the uncertainty facing the professional services sector more broadly amid a slump and mass layoffs.

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China on Tuesday said it would react "strictly and strongly" should the European Union slap sanctions on Chinese companies accused of selling equipment for Russia to use in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang said China would "take the necessary response to firmly protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang address the media during a press conference on May 9, 2023, in Berlin, Germany.

Following talks in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Qin said Chinese and Russian companies enjoy "normal exchanges and cooperation" which "should not be affected."

As first reported Sunday by The Financial Times, the EU has proposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of selling equipment that could be used in weapons to support Russia's war machine.

CHINA MAKES FIRST ARREST OVER CHATGPT USE, ACCUSES SUSPECT OF USING AI TO GENERATE FAKE NEWS

Seven Chinese businesses have been listed in a new package of sanctions that will be discussed by EU member states this week, the report said, citing a copy of the sanctions list seen by the paper.

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Targeted in the sanctions list are two mainland Chinese companies, 3HC Semiconductors and King-Pai Technology, along with five from Hong Kong: Sinno Electronics, Sigma Technology, Asia Pacific Links, Tordan Industry and Alpha Trading Investments.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands.

On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged the EU to avoid taking the "wrong path," otherwise it will take firm action to safeguard its rights and interests.

"China opposes actions that use China-Russia cooperation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions or long-arm jurisdiction against China," Wang said at a regular news conference.

CCP DECLARES CANADIAN DIPLOMAT PERSONA NON GRATA AND DEMANDS DEPARTURE FROM CHINA

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine 14 months ago, which Russian President Vladimir Putin termed a "special military operation," the EU has adopted 10 sanctions packages against Russian individuals and companies, inflicting economic hardship and making financing the war more difficult.

Story continues

EU ambassadors are meeting on Wednesday to begin discussions on an 11th round of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

China has tried to assure the world that it is neutral in the Ukraine war, yet has backed Russia politically. Last month, Qin promised that China wouldnt sell weapons to either side.

In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had intelligence suggesting China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia  and warned that such involvement in the Kremlins war effort would be a "serious problem."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Catholic Church leaders in Oklahoma could within weeks get the go-ahead to create the nations first explicitly religious, taxpayer-supported charter school.

And while a few charter and school choice leaders are quietly supporting the proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, seeing it as a watershed moment for religious freedom, others are saying, in so many words: Be careful not to drown.

While public funding would bring unprecedented growth and financial stability to such programs, it could also create a fraught path to the religious freedom theyre seeking, as the burden of complying with court orders and myriad regulations, which even autonomous charters face, could be overwhelming.

The school and others like it will almost certainly be tied up in litigation for months or years, said Greg Richmond, superintendent of the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools. And thatll be bad, since it will take precious autonomy away from what should be independent schools sole decision-making power.

Related Oklahoma Board Sidesteps Final Decision on Religious Charter School

Richmond said he looked the other day at the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board website and counted more than 150 regulations, including meeting agenda formats, residency requirements, Open Records Acts rules and more.

Its odd to try to fit a religious school into that regulated charter framework, he said. The accountability that comes with charter schools, I think, would be a shock to many Catholic schools in terms of the quantity of measures  academically, financially, operationally.

That said, what happens when a Catholic charter school teacher, for instance, takes to Facebook to advocate for abortion rights? Are the teachers free speech rights protected, as in a public school? Or can the charter school dismiss her because shes advocating against the teachings of the church?

Its odd to try to fit a religious school into that regulated charter framework. Greg Richmond, superintendent, Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools

Story continues

For their part, charter proponents fear that while the new school may be a good political fit in deep-red Oklahoma, the legal precedent it sets could both damage and perhaps even decimate the larger charter sector in coming years. It will give opponents of charter schools yet another reason to claim charter schools are not public schools, said Richmond, who formerly led the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. So that does represent a threat to charter schools.

Aside from betraying charter schools implicit vow to welcome and educate all students, they say it could further erode charters tenuous public support, especially in blue states. Theyve vowed to fight what could soon be one of their own.

In the most recent development, Oklahomas virtual charter school board last month turned down an application from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to open the new virtual school, a move that proponents say was largely pro forma.

But Nina Rees, president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, said the boards hesitation likely stemmed from the strong probability of breaking state law if the school is approved. Should a charter school be authorized that falls outside the scope of the law, it will certainly be challenged in court, and we will be on the side of those seeking to uphold the law and affirm the public, non-sectarian nature of charter schools.

Public or private actors?

While the Oklahoma case plays out, both sides say the coming weeks could also set in motion one of the most consequential federal court decisions ever about the future of charter schools: The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether to take up a North Carolina case that could wreak havoc with the bedrock idea that charter schools are public schools, as theyve maintained since the first one opened more than 30 years ago.

Related Attorneys Consider Asking SCOTUS to Weigh in on Public Status of Charter Schools

The case, Peltier v. Charter Day School, pits three female students against their traditional values school, which has required that they wear skirts. In doing so, they say, the school violated their civil rights  its founder has called female students fragile vessels and believes the dress code will preserve chivalry, ensuring that girls are treated courteously and more gently than boys.

In court filings, the school argued that even though it enjoys public funding, it is a private entity and not a state actor, like district schools. So the Constitutions 14th Amendment doesnt apply to it, the school maintained. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond last year rejected that argument, setting up a possible hearing in Washington, D.C., before a high court that has already struck down states so-called Blaine amendments, allowing public funds to flow to religious schools in small communities without sufficient school capacity.

Its not a new conversation, said Rees. Whats new about it is that we have a more conservative Supreme Court.

For Rees, who served as a top official in George W. Bushs Education Department, the truth of the matter seems clear: As public schools, we cant teach religion.

They also must open their doors to anyone, both students and staff, she said. That could potentially bump up against schools that, as private operations, can openly reject candidates that dont uphold their beliefs.

Rees and others say the path forward for funding these schools would more appropriately  and legally  be found in another recent development taking place in statehouses nationwide: taxpayer-funded education savings accounts, or ESAs, vouchers and tax credits, which in a few states offer as much money to families for private schooling as charter schools get per pupil.

Its not a new conversation. Whats new about it is that we have a more conservative Supreme Court. Nina Rees, president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

In some respects, if you wanted to promote religious education, Rees said, the ESA route will get you to that end goal faster, without rules and regulations that come if you open a religious charter school.

In January, the charter school network Great Hearts, which operates classical education schools in four states and online, said it was doing just that: It announced it was opening a pair of Christian academies in the Phoenix area. But the schools, the network said, would be private and non-profit, funded by the states ESA program.

Jay Heiler, Great Hearts CEO, said Arizonas Empowerment Scholarship Accounts are worth about $7,000 per student, not quite enough to fund a successful private school, but enough when supplemented with some philanthropic effort, which were out there pushing to try to make ends meet, partner-to-partner, with churches that have some existing classroom infrastructure.

But Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which represents the church on public policy issues, said that in most states, ESAs dont typically provide anything near full per-pupil funding, leaving students a dearth of options, especially in rural areas.

While Rees group has vowed to oppose schools like St. Isidore and efforts to reframe charters as private actors, others arent so sure.

Heiler said Great Hearts, which has operated charter schools for more than 20 years, will continue to follow that pathway, keeping its religious schools private. But it also filed an amicus brief in the North Carolina case, arguing that the Supreme Court should decide that charter schools are not presumptive state actors. Failure to do so, it said, will wreak havoc on education systems more broadly and innovative charters specifically.

Held up in court for a long time

Farley said the Oklahoma virtual charter boards rejection last month was largely routine, giving the archdiocese 30 days to revise aspects of the plan that include how theyll provide rural broadband statewide and special education services to disabled students. He said the board also wanted to know more about how the archdiocese will address the question of whether a religious public school violates state statute.

Were confident well be able to answer all three of those questions sufficiently, and then well move on to a vote, he said. He anticipated that approval would take place in June.

Related Religious Public Schools? A Looming Legal Showdown Over Faith-Based Charters

But in interviews, he has not specified whether the new virtual school would admit LGBTQ students or hire such staff members, saying it would follow state regulations while maintaining its right to operate according to religious beliefs. Asked if gay, lesbian or transgender educators are invited to apply for employment at the school, Farley declined to comment. Like other public schools, charters are prohibited from discriminating based on religious belief, gender identity or similar factors.

He has said he believes that charter schools are non-state actors  Oklahomas charter framework, he said, is very loose.

M. Karega Rausch, president and CEO of the charter authorizers group, said even Oklahoma law is clear: Its unlawful for a public school, including a charter school, to provide a sectarian education.

Whatever happens with the Oklahoma board, Rausch said, the case will be tied up in litigation for a long time.

Related Classical Academies: What if Educations Next Big Thing is 2,500 Years Old?

If the Oklahoma board ultimately rejects the St. Isidore application, the archdiocese can appeal the decision to the state board of education.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signaled his support for the effort, but new Attorney General Gentner Drummond has slightly complicated the process: In February, he withdrew an opinion from his predecessor that said the state board would be on solid legal ground if it approved a religious charter school.

His letter to the board said state law is currently unsettled as to whether charter schools are so-called state actors or private school operators. Like many in the sector, hes awaiting the decision in the North Carolina case.

Proceed with caution

Kathleen Porter-Magee, superintendent of Partnership Schools, a network of 11 independent Catholic elementary schools in New York City and Cleveland, said high-performing private schools like hers would love the extra per-pupil allotment that comes with being a charter school: It costs her about $11,500 per student to keep the doors open, yet her students bring in just $800 apiece from New York state in the form of reimbursements for mandated services such as required assessments, immunizations and attendance reports.

How much freedom do those religious organizations have to live out their faith every day if they are technically running public charter schools? Kathleen Porter-Magee, superintendent, Partnership Schools

Were Partnerships New York schools to become charters, theyd stand to bring in more than $16,000 per pupil, which the citys charter schools typically receive, and about half of what theyd get if they were district schools. We wouldnt know what to do with that much money, she said. It would be just absolutely game-changing for us.

But it would also complicate matters. How much freedom do those religious organizations have to live out their faith every day if they are technically running public charter schools? she asked.

Like many in the school choice world, shes closely watching what happens in Oklahoma. Shes deeply conflicted about the case: Denying public funding to non-profits because of their religious status feels wrong, she said, so she supports the archdioceses application for charter status.

From a constitutional standpoint, I think it is the right decision. I think it makes sense. But I just think its like, Proceed with caution.
Chris Packham is suing three men for libel at the High Court

Naturalist Chris Packham has been described as "Marmite" by one of the defendants in his libel case.

The presenter is suing over articles on the Country Squire Magazine website alleging he misled people into donating to a tiger rescue charity.

Site editor Dominic Wightman, writer Nigel Bean, and a third man, Paul Read, are defending the libel claim.

Mr Wightman told the High Court his accuser was variously seen either as an animal saviour or a dangerous activist.

Previously the court heard the magazine had accused Mr Packham of dishonestly stating that five tigers were rescued from a Spanish circus after being mistreated.

'Often lies'

The animals went to the Isle of Wight's Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, of which the naturalist and his partner Charlotte Corney are trustees, the court was told.

Giving evidence, Mr Wightman said the animals were in fact given to the sanctuary as part of a loan agreement.

In an additional written statement, he said the tigers had been well-treated and the BBC presenter "often lies".

He continued: "I also had it confirmed for me by asking around that the claimant is Marmite.

"Many, especially traditional countrysiders, see him as a dangerous activist who plays to feelings not facts, in an attempt to eco-chug and threatens their industries and ways of life by twisting the truth.

"Others, including one of my five sisters, thought the claimant was a really nice bloke who saves cuddly animals.

"With his words, tweets and films he was clearly duping Brits, some of whom were no doubt licence fee payers, into paying into a crowdfunder to bring big cats to a zoo from whose financial success his partner monetarily benefitted."

Mr Packham previously told the court the sanctuary was part of a "chain of rescue", in which the tigers were left in a holding facility before coming into the care of the animal welfare group AAP.

He said he had been targeted because of his "deeply held views" about blood sports.

Story continues

Lawyers for Mr Wightman and Mr Bean have previously said the articles were true and could also be defended as being in the public interest.

David Price KC, for retired computer programmer Paul Read, said his client was a "mere proof-reader" and not responsible for the publications.

The trial is due to conclude on Friday, with a decision expected at a later date.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
FIRST ON FOX: The Central Intelligence Agency "may have assisted in obtaining signatories" for the letter signed by 51 former national security officials to discredit the Hunter Biden laptop as Russian disinformation ahead of the 2020 presidential election, the House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees found.

The House Judiciary Committee, its subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, and the House Intelligence Committee are expected to release a report this week titled "The Hunter Biden Statement: How Senior Intelligence Community Officials and the Biden Campaign Worked to Mislead American Voters."

BIDEN CAMPAIGN, BLINKEN ORCHESTRATED INTEL LETTER TO DISCREDIT HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP STORY, EX-CIA OFFICIAL SAYS

Fox News Digital obtained an early copy of the report, stemming from the committees investigation into the origins of the October 2020 letter signed by 51 ex-national security officials, which claimed that Hunter's laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."

House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan

The committees have been reviewing how the former intelligence officials came together to "insert themselves into the thick of the presidential campaign."

The report states that the letter "was a political operation to help elect" Hunter Biden's father, President Joe Biden, and claims that the Biden campaign "took active measures to discredit the allegations about Hunter Biden by exploiting the national security credentials of former intelligence officials."

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The more than 60-page report includes testimony and communications from and between former intelligence officials  including former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who worked to write the statement and get support from ex-intelligence officials.

The former officials who signed onto the letter included former Obama CIA Director John Brennan, former Obama Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, among others.

Story continues

Three days after the letter was made public, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden used it as a talking point in the final 2020 presidential debate to rebut criticisms made by then-President Donald Trump.

WHITE HOUSE INSISTS NO 'POLITICAL INTERFERENCE' IN HUNTER BIDEN PROBE AFTER IRS WHISTLEBLOWER COMES FORWARD

"There are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what this, hes accusing me of, is a Russian plan," Biden said during the debate.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio

The committees, though, said they have "evidence that an employee affiliated with the CIA may have assisted in obtaining signatories for the statement."

"One signer of the statement, former CIA analyst David Cariens, disclosed to the Committees that a CIA employee affiliated with the agencys Prepublication Classification Review Board ("PCRB") informed him of the existence of the statement and asked if he would sign it," the report states.

Cariens told the committees that he had been working with the PCRB in October 2020 to review his memoir. Cariens said that during a call with a CIA employee about his memoir, the employee separately "asked" him if he would sign onto the letter.

"When the person in charge of reviewing the book called to say it was approved with no changes, I was told about the draft letter. The person asked me if I would be willing to sign," Cariens told the committees. "After hearing the letters contents and the qualifiers in it such as, We want to emphasize that we do not know if the emails provided to the New York Post by President Trumps personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, are genuine or not and that we do not have evidence of Russian involvement,  I agreed to sign."

The committees describe Cariens testimony as "potentially shocking."

"As he recounted, a CIA employee informed him about the statement, the CIA employee read the text of the statement to him, and the CIA employee asked Cariens if he would like to join," the report states.

BIDEN FAMILY RECEIVED MORE THAN $1M FROM HUNTER ASSOCIATE AFTER 2017 CHINA WIRE: HOUSE OVERSIGHT

Morell later testified before the committees, explaining that "such an action by a CIA employee would be inappropriate."

Despite Cariens' claim, Morell vowed that he "did not coordinate with the CIA" and said that had he "known" about Cariens' allegation, he "would have reacted very negatively to this."

Meanwhile, the report also states that Morell submitted a draft of the letter to the PCRB and told the committee it was "approved  as written."

The CIAs PCRB was created to review materials produced by CIA personnel  former and current  to determine if they contain such classified information before they are shared with the public.

Morell sent an email to the board on Oct. 19, 2020, which is included in the report.

"Attached is a statement that Marc and I drafted that many former senior and working-level officials from across the IC will sign and then be made public," the email states. "We are 100 percent confident it does not contain classified information. Indeed, it specifically says we dont know what the IC or the FBI knows about this."

President Joe Biden

Morell added, "This is a rush job as it needs to get out as soon as possible."

RATCLIFFE: HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP WAS A PARTISAN DOMESTIC 'DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN'

The committees obtained text messages between Morell and former CIA official Marc Polymeropoulos in which Polymeropoulos asks, "All good? Didnt see response from PRB."

"Yes, they cleared," Morell texted.

The PCRB signed off on the release of the letter  meaning it had determined it did not contain classified information.

At the time, then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said Hunter Biden's laptop was not part of a Russian disinformation campaign. The FBI concurred.

Meanwhile, Morell told the committees that there were "two intents" behind pushing the letter.

"One intent was to share our concern with the American people that the Russians were playing on this issue, and two, it was to help Vice President Biden."

FLASHBACK: FBI IN POSSESSION OF HUNTER BIDEN'S PURPORTED LAPTOP, SOURCES SAY

When asked why he wanted to help Biden, Morell testified, "Because I wanted him to win the election."

Fox News reported last month that Morell testified that then-Biden campaign foreign policy adviser Antony Blinken, who now serves as secretary of state, was "the impetus" behind the letter. Blinken has denied involvement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Hunter Biden

The committees last month said 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."

Fox News first reported the existence of some type of investigation involving Hunter Biden in October 2020, ahead of the last presidential election. It became known then that the FBI had subpoenaed the laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden in the course of an existing money laundering investigation.

Hunter Biden confirmed the investigation into his "tax affairs" in December 2020, after his father was elected president.

Fox News first reported in 2020 that the federal investigation into Hunter Bidens "tax affairs" began amid the discovery of suspicious activity reports regarding funds from "China and other foreign nations."

The investigation is being led by Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss. Hunter Biden has been under federal investigation since 2018.

The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Bloomberg) -- The federal judiciarys handling of ethics complaints over Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomass failure to disclose his wifes income more than a decade ago is getting fresh scrutiny in the Senate.

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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is pressing the US court system for information about how its governance body responded to the 2011 revelations. A committee of judges concluded that Thomass lapses in reporting Ginni Thomass income wasnt willful misconduct, but details about that review and the panels reasoning werent shared with the public.

In a May 5 letter reviewed by Bloomberg News, the Rhode Island senator wrote to District Judge Roslynn Mauskopf, the director of the US court systems administrative arm, that because Thomas is again being accused of violating financial reporting rules, the mysterious disposition of the very similar non-disclosures back in 2011 is important to resolve and make transparent in light of present events.

Whitehouse, who chairs a subcommittee overseeing federal court administration, told Mauskopf he planned to hold a hearing exploring the 2011 complaints, among other topics, in the coming weeks. The Judiciary Committees Democrats are investigating Thomass financial ties to Harlan Crow following reports by ProPublica detailing the justices acceptance of luxury vacations and private school tuition payments for his grandnephew from the Texas billionaire. Crow also purchased property from Thomas and his family, ProPublica reported.

Read More: Justice Thomas Ethics Review Queried by US Court Leader in 2012

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A spokesperson for the federal judiciary did not immediately return a request for comment.

Bloomberg News recently reported on previously undisclosed letters, other written materials, and firsthand accounts detailing concerns repeatedly expressed by a member of the judiciarys governance body, the Judicial Conference, over how the 2011 complaints against Thomas were being handled. Democrats in Congress and public interests groups had asked the Judicial Conference to investigate.

US District Judge Mark Wolf, who was a conference member and the chief judge in Massachusetts at the time, had protested that members werent told about the Thomas complaints or how they were handled by a committee overseeing enforcement of financial disclosure rules, potentially shutting the leadership body out of conducting its own review.

Wolfs objection didnt lead to any additional formal investigation into Thomass conduct, but did prompt the disclosure committee to change its rules so that future written public allegations would be reported to the Judicial Conference.

Explainer: About the Debate Over the US Supreme Court and Ethics

The latest complaints against Thomas prompted by ProPublicas reporting are again before the conferences financial disclosure committee.

Whitehouse responded to Bloombergs reporting over the weekend on Twitter, questioning whether the committee had applied the correct legal standard in vetting the 2011 complaints and saying that his office will pursue.

Whitehouse previously sent a letter to Mauskopf on April 27 broadly asking for information about the resolution of the 2011 complaints. His latest letter asks for more details, including who served on the financial disclosure committee at the time, the scope and timeline of its review  including whether it covered 2011 reporting about Thomas and Crows financial ties  and any communications between the committee, the Judicial Conference, and US Supreme Court personnel.

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Photo: Photo submitted. Dennis Pemble attempts to get a cougar out of a tree using a makeshift lasso.

Dennis Pemble knows how it feels to stand face-to-face with a growling cougar.

The retired wildlife control officer also knows how it feels to have that cougars life in his hands.

He recounted an instance when the animal was spotted in residential areas in Squamish, killing pets. Pemble was tasked with resolving the issue. His hounds had driven the young cougar into a tree, suspended over a cliff.

If I tranquilize it, it's gonna fall off a cliff and die, he said. My only other option is to shoot it, because if we just let it go, it's going to go back and start killing dogs and cats again.

Instead, Pemble tied a few dog leashes together into a makeshift lasso. It took me quite a few tries, but I finally got the lasso around its neck and I pulled the cat out of the tree, he recalled. He and two other officers managed to tranquilize and relocate the animal.

An image of that encounter graces the cover of Pembles book, The Last Wildlife Control Officer in British Columbia: Thirty years of dealing with problem predators.

Published in March of this year, it features 36 short stories about the most compelling run-ins Pemble experienced in his 30 years on the job, spanning from the late 1970s to his retirement 15 years ago. Pemble and his wife Karen, who live in Abbotsford, co-wrote the memoir from their Shuswap Lake cabin over several months, drawing from the detailed daily diaries Pemble was ordered to keep over those three decades. It has already earned a spot on FriesenPress best sellers list.

Pemble said he got the idea to write a book from the numerous journalists who joined him for a ride-along over the years, from publications like Smithsonian Magazine, Los Angeles Times Magazine, and Readers Digest. They said to me over the years, Youve got to write a book. And they kept saying it, he remembered.

But author wasnt a title Pemble expected to add to his resume. Aside from wildlife encounters, Pembles book veers into vulnerable territory, describing a boy who struggled in classroom settings: the seventh of nine siblings, he attended six different schools before Grade 8 and struggled with a learning disability in the days where teachers didnt know what to do with kids who didnt learn the way mainstream kids did, he writes.

He failed a few grades and was even placed in a remedial learning class before leaving high school after Grade 10. But his years in the classroom did provide Pemble with one benefit: an elementary school friend, Dan, whose family Pemble credits with changing his life. Dans father, Jack Lay, was the provinces animal control officer in charge for the Lower Mainland. The family kept hounds they used for tracking and hunting. Pemble would often join in.

Years later, that friend gave Pemble a call: Lay was looking to hire a seasonal coyote trapper. The only issue? Pemble needed a high school diploma to work for the provincial government. The opportunity spurred Pemble into a 10-month equivalency program. He passed, earning a Grade 12-equivalency certificate and a job.

In Pembles second trapping season, Lay retired, and urged Pemble to apply for his position.

I did, thinking I didnt have a hope in hell of getting it, Pemble writes in the book. Pemble went on to spend 30 years chasing grizzly bears, cougars and black bears and anything that was causing problems with human safety or livestock, he told Pique. Those pursuits pulled him across the Lower Mainland, from the Fraser Canyon and Manning Park to the Sea to Sky corridor and Sunshine Coast.

According to Pembles records, he dealt with 45 grizzlies, 709 black bears, 161 cougars, 495 coyotes and five wolves over the course of his career. I also [responded to] thousands of complaints, he said. I didnt get every animal that I went out to find.

Of those 45 grizzlies, he shot just two. One was charging him, the other was skin and bones, after breaking into a logging camp cookhouse, and wasnt suited to relocation. The province hired Pemble full-time in 1978 to go out and pretty much shoot every animal that was a problem, he remembered. I was lucky I was given a tranquilizer gun so I took it on myselfbecause my bosses kind of let me do whatever I needed to doand I started tranquilizing.

Those relocation attempts werent always successful, as was the case with two separate livestock-killing grizzlies Pemble caught in the Pemberton Valley. One was released in Manning Park, near the U.S. border, the other on the far side of the Fraser Canyon. Both were radio-collared, and both returned to Pemberton in short order. In one month, [one] was back in the same turkey shed, Pemble recalled. The farmer shot him and killed him.

Still, the governments approach to wildlife has shifted since the 70s, and even in the 15 years since his retirement, Pemble acknowledged, putting more of the onus on the public to manage wildlife attractants. They fine people for having garbage out, he said. It's changed a lot. Those changes are wonderful, in Pembles view.

When he retired, they went straight to contracting hound guys, hiring local trappers, he said. Now, the conservation officers are doing some of the duties that I was doing.

Pemble was the last British Columbian to hold the title of wildlife control officer.

You can purchase a copy of The Last Wildlife Control Officer in British Columbia: Thirty years of dealing with problem predators online from FriesenPress at tinyurl.com/yc82p2z2.
The Cleveland school district has chosen Warren Morgan, chief academic officer of Indianapolis Public Schools as its new CEO, making him the third Teach for America veteran in a major leadership position in the Ohio city.

Morgan, who had previously worked for the Cleveland schools from 2014 to 2016, served as Executive Director of Teach For Americas St. Louis branch for three years before joining the Indianapolis district in 2020 during the pandemic.

For three years he has overseen Indianapolis academic recovery from the pandemic, with Indianapolis 2022 state test scores rebounding to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

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Raised in Chicago, Morgan started his career teaching science in St. Louis public schools as a Teach for America recruit, years before leading the program there. Teach for America has drawn national attention for its model of recruiting strong students from non-teacher training programs at universities, giving them a crash course in teaching.

But reviews have been mixed in the programs 30 years, with some educators praising the energy and insights that new recruits bring to schools that often have trouble finding good teachers. The program has churned out school leaders, including former Washington, D.C., schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, former Louisiana State Superintendent John White and Morgans current boss, Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson.

Others, including teachers unions, have said teachers are not well prepared and that many leave the profession after their two year term.

In a press conference announcing Morgans selection, outgoing Cleveland CEO Eric Gordon pointed out he hired Morgan for his first school district administration job in 2014. Morgan responded he was glad for the chance to come home.

I cant describe how excited I am for this opportunity, Morgan said as Gordon pulled a baton from a gift bag and handed it to him. Im extremely humbled, honored. But above all, just extremely grateful.

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New Cleveland schools CEO Warren Morgan holds the baton given to him by outgoing CEO Eric Gordon to symbolize the passing of leadership in the district. (Patrick ODonnell)

Morgan cautioned, however, that he does not want to force Indianapolis solutions on Cleveland and that he would launch a listening tour to hear parents, staff and students. Though he presented a first 100 days plan in interviews for the job, it was not immediately available.

In two interviews, one with parents and one with students, Morgan highlighted a commitment to extracurricular activities and making sure schools in every neighborhood have the resources to offer quality education.

Mayor Justin Bibb said Morgans humility and ability to listen helped win the job, along with his commitment to equity between schools and making sure that we do everything we can to accelerate and address the learning loss that we see coming out of COVID-19.

Bibb avoided discussing how much Morgans Teach for America work was part of the decision. Bibb, 36, a former member of Ohios Teach for America board, had also tapped another veteran, former Cleveland TFA leader Holly Trifiro, as his main education advisor.

A press release about Morgan becoming one of two finalists for the job conspicuously did not name Teach for America, saying only that Warren had worked for an education nonprofit in St. Louis.

Morgan was chosen over Rocky Torres, a Cleveland native and also a former Cleveland schools administrator, now Assistant Superintendent of Student Services with Seattle Public Schools.

Morgan will start as CEO July 1 when Gordon, who has led the district since 2011, steps down. Gordon, 53, was named Urban Educator of the Year in 2016 by the Council of the Great City Schools, the nations association of large urban districts.

Until Bibb took over as mayor last January, Gordon had served as CEO only under former Mayor Frank Jackson. Last spring, Bibb said in an interview with The 74 that he would review whether any school official, even the highly-regarded Gordon, was the best fit for the district.

Gordon then announced last fall that he would leave after this school year, giving Bibb and the board time to pick a successor. He has not revealed plans for after his departure.

Along with his multiple leadership positions in Teach for America, Morgan has worked as a department chair and principal in Chicago Public Schools and spent two years in Cleveland overseeing some of the districts investment schools, which received wraparound social services and other supports to improve.

Clevelands mayor has more say in the selection of the district head than other districts in the state. Though school districts in Ohio have elected school boards, Cleveland was the first to change to mayoral control in the 1990s. State law calls for the mayor to pick school board members and for new CEOs to be chosen by the board in concurrence with the mayor.
A new bar is opening in East Durham from the owners of a popular bookstore and cafe.

About a block away from their two-year old bookstore and coffee shop, Rofhiwa Book Cafe, owners Beverley Makhubule and Naledi Yaziyo plan to open Congress, a new breakfast spot and nighttime bar.

Congress will open at 491 S. Driver Street in East Durham, on a recently renovated block known as the Garland Millwork building. The bar joins a recent commercial revival on Driver Street, largely driven by new Black-owned businesses. A couple doors down from Congress, Mike Ds BBQ is opening.

In shaping Congress, Makhubele said the bar aims to meet a need in the daily rhythms of East Durham neighbors, offering quick bites on the way to work and a place to wind down at night.

Well have easy stuff to pick up on their way to work, theres really a dearth of morning options as youre coming in from (Highway) 147 or leaving, Makhubele said.

From 7 to 11 a.m. look for grab and go breakfast items like tacos and burritos and drip coffee. Congress will shut down in the middle of the day and reopen around 3 or 4 p.m. as a neighborhood bar, serving beer, wine and classic cocktails like simple and solid margaritas and old fashioneds. There will be eight beer taps and look for Black-owned Spaceway Brewing to feature prominently, the owners said.

Gathering and conviviality in East Durham

Congress draws its name from many places, the owners said. It references the South African liberation movement party the African National Congress, the U.S. Congress and the joining of people in a space, Yaziyo said.

It signifies a number of things on a number of levels, Yaziyo said. Were thinking about gathering and conviviality....Its on various levels; This idea of a gathering place, a Black gathering place for Black conviviality and Black place making.

The Garland Millwork building is owned by Durham architect John Warasila and its several spaces have recently been remodeled and rehabbed. Behind the building will be a shared courtyard, Makhubele said.

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Whats really unique about the building and the way its set up, theres this shared facility in the back with a shared hallway, Makhubele said. It feels like being in a big building with your friends.

Rofhiwa Cafe opened in 2021 in the former East Durham Bake Shop space. The bookstore specializes in Black literature and organizes a calendar of readings and events in the space, as well as operates as the neighborhoods only coffee shop.

The owners said Congress looks to expand that role.

Were the communitys living room, Yaziyo said of Rofhiwa. I think (Congress) is a natural extension as we continue to investigate what it means for Black people to gather and have a good time. Books and cocktails feel to us like an extension. The question were preoccupied with is what do Black people look like when theyre being convivial and not in a cumbersome political space.

Late last year Makhubele and Yaziyo began talking about second concepts, they said, and were drawn to a space that had recently been taken over by a new ownership group.

The narrow space is currently being built into a bar, with a new bartop added this week, built from wood reclaimed from a downtown Durham redevelopment, Makhubele said.

Congress looks to open this summer, eyeing June 17 as a possible date.

The thing thats interesting to us, that was a surprise for us, is Rofhiwa became kind of a destination when young Black travelers are passing through, Yaziyo said. Weve cultivated a strong social media presence and people let us know how far away they came from. Someone today is coming in from New York and said she had us bookmarked for two years. That sort of thing happens all the time.

With Congress, Yaziyo and Makhubele hope for something similar.

Part of what makes Rofhiwa is our our robust programming, Makhubele said. At Congress were going to continue that tradition. Were working on live music and comedy and working with the local drag community.
A Colombian drug lord dubbed "the Prince of Semi-Submersibles" was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for operating a fleet of narco-submarines that smuggled thousands of kilos of cocaine into the U.S. from South America, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Narco-submarines are makeshift nautical vehicles painted in ocean colors that have one purpose: to smuggle narcotics in hermetically sealed containers across thousands of miles of ocean to illicit ports of call in other countries. The technology has progressed in recent years and has become a significant force in the international drug trade.

Oscar Adriano Quintero Rengifo, 35, also known as Guatala, was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison for smuggling cocaine in narco-subs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said in court papers.

Quintero Rengifo was part of a transnational criminal organization that smuggled cocaine from South America to Central America for ultimate importation into the United States, according to a federal plea agreement. The organization primarily sent self-propelled semi-submersible vessels to Guatemala, where the cocaine was then smuggled over the Guatemala and Mexican borders, and then into the U.S., prosecutors said.

HAS THE WAR ON DRUGS FAILED?: As drug crisis rages in US, Biden meets with progressive Colombian president pushing decriminalization

A statement by federal prosecutors described Quintero Rengifo as "the Prince of Semi-Submersibles," a term originally coined for him by media in Colombia. Quintero Rengifo rose through the ranks of a Colombian-Guatemalan drug organization to become an expert international smuggler.

"The organization primarily sent vessels such as self-propelled semi-submersible vessels to Guatemala, where the cocaine was then smuggled over the Guatemala/Mexican border and then into the United States," court documents said. "A former mayor in Guatemala, who controlled drug routes in northern Guatemala into Mexico, oversaw the smuggling of cocaine to Mexican cartel members. Quintero Rengifo progressed within the group, from organizing smuggling operations, to ultimately investing in shipments and securing investors."

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From at least as early as January 2015 through September 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted at least four vessels, including two semi-submersibles, directly linked to the defendants organization, and involving more than 13,000 kilograms of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Quintero Rengifo was arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States on January 29, 2021, and extradited to the United States on January 26, 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2022. He was sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell.

For years, narco submarines have been used by cartels to smuggle cocaine and other drugs, mainly from Colombia and Ecuador to Central America, Mexico and the United States. They allow Colombian gangs, in association with Mexican drug cartels, to move drugs fast and boost profits.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South.

TERRITORIAL CREATURES: Pablo Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' won't stop multiplying  so Colombia wants some gone

"In the last decade, the submersibles production has increased due to great interest by criminal organizations," said Mario Pazmino, former chief of intelligence at the Ecuador Army and a security analyst.

Since 2018, well over 100 narco-submarines have been seized, Colombian authorities said. On average, the vessels carry around 286,600 pounds of cocaine and 1,543 pounds of marijuana. Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador are the most used routes by drug traffickers.

Given narco-submarines carry merchandise worth millions of dollars, traffickers hire engineers to build them.

They need special training on construction, ship design to be able to make them safe first," Pazmino said. "They have two important characteristics: Their profiled displacement on the coast makes them much less detectable due to their appearance, and large volumes of drugs can be loaded and transported quickly.

Contributing: Karol Suarez, the Louisville Courier Journal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colombian drug lord gets 20 years for smuggling coke into US via narco subs
A sketch of Donald Trump appearing in a deposition video on a screen in a federal courtroom in New York. (Elizabeth Williams / Associated Press)

A federal jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll on Tuesday after less than three hours of deliberation, delivering a quick and devastating verdict on the conduct and character of the former president.

The plaintiff showed remarkable courage and credibility over the course of three days of draining testimony, especially under cross-examination. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina scored few points and lost many more in his overbearing and overlong attack on Carroll.

But as much as Carrolls heroism, it was Trumps extraordinary villainy that sealed his fate.

Consider the facts of the case apart from the involvement of a former president of the United States: A woman meets a man in a department store, engages in flirtatious banter with him and follows him into a dressing room, where he allegedly assaults her. She doesnt report the episode for 30 years, and neither do her friends who ultimately show up to testify that she told them about it decades earlier.

Such a case sounds like an uphill battle. Most lawyers would shy away from bringing it based on the strong possibility of a verdict for the defense.

What made the difference in this case is the character of the defendant and the plaintiffs success in demonstrating it to the jury. Over eight days of testimony, Carroll showed Trump to be a bully, a coward and a predator.

Trumps instinct as a bully is to humiliate and vilify his critics. Rather than simply deny Carrolls allegations, he insisted on demeaning the case as a scam and Carroll as a wack job who was  mentally sick . His truly Trumpian coup de grace was that the plaintiff was not his type and that there was no way I would ever be attracted to her, a gratuitously vicious slur that came back to haunt him when he confused Carroll with his ex-wife Marla Maples in a generally disastrous deposition.

Moreover, notwithstanding his repeated swashbuckling claims that he wanted to defend himself in court, Trump revealed his cowardice by turning tail and failing to do so. People with trial experience (including me) predicted as much: Trumps long record of lies would have ensured a bloodbath of a cross-examination and possibly exposure to multiple counts of perjury. Trump, who has spent most of the last few years desperately trying to avoid consequences for his conduct, has a well-known tendency to talk big and then fold.

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Worse, Trumps refusal even to show up in court almost certainly alienated the jury and allowed Carrolls counsel to have a field day in closing arguments.

"He never looked you in the eye and denied raping Ms. Carroll," Carroll attorney Michael Ferrara told the jury. "You should draw the conclusion that that's because he did it."

Trumps pugnacious lawyer had no viable response to this line of argument.

Most damningly, the evidence revealed Trump to be a sexual predator. The federal rules of evidence helped here, permitting the former president to be judged for his propensity to assault women based on his prior similar behavior.

The rules in most cases prohibit the introduction of prior bad acts to suggest that a defendant did it before so you can bet he did it this time. That line of argument goes against our general social and legal commitment to judge a defendant based on conduct rather than character.

But Congress has authorized such evidence in cases of sexual assault. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan accordingly instructed the jury that evidence that Trump previously engaged in sexual assault could be considered as to his tendency to do so again.

The jury was therefore able to consider the testimony of two of Trumps other alleged victims, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who had no conceivable reason to make up their stories, and conclude that if he did it to them he probably did it to Carroll.

Perhaps the most memorable and damaging evidence of Trumps propensity for sexual predation consisted of his own words on the infamous Access Hollywood tape: I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab em by the pussy. As Carrolls lawyer argued, this was more evidence of Trumps abhorrent character: Trump had revealed in his very own words how he treats women.

The damning verdict will of course be ignored by the fraction of the electorate that is willing to overlook or ignore every one of Trumps transgressions no matter how grave. But for the rest of us, the verdict stands for far more than his misconduct on one afternoon in 1996. Its a judgment of a character that is by leaps and bounds more loathsome than that of any other figure to occupy the presidency.

Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast. @harrylitman

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Biden: Who says he's too old to run again? (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The cry is heard that America has become a "gerontocracy." That's supposed to be bad, it's argued, because our superannuated political leadership is out of touch with the electorate and blocking younger and (theoretically) more vigorous and intellectually vibrant leaders from taking their hour upon the stage.

Earlier this year, CNN called President Biden's age a "hot topic." Leaving aside that news organizations such as CNN have helped make it a hot topic, the real question is whether it's anything more than that. The answer is no.

For decades and decades we've lived in a society that has devalued what it means to be older....The main message should be 'don't get distracted by age, when age doesn't tell you something meaningful about someone.'

Tracey Gendron, gerontologist

"Leaning into this language about a 'gerontocracy' is a distraction technique," says Tracey Gendron, chair of the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of the 2022 book "Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It."

"It's just the latest thing that's keeping us from looking at things that are more important, like race, gender, education," Gendron told me. "All these things don't accurately reflect the demographic makeup of the country. So why are we singling out age among all these things?"

The gerontocracy critique also threatens to deprive us of our most experienced leaders. Rather than remove poor performers from their sinecures, the current fixation on age could remove from our political and economic structures men and women who have spent decades learning about the world and offering the wisdom born of long professional experience.

The U.S. State Department, for example, requires its professional foreign service staff to retire at 65, "when they are at the height of their wisdom and knowledge," publishing executive and author Michael Clinton observed recently, a rule he attributed to "toxic ageism." Some corporations require their top officers to retire at 60 or 65, while most are still willing to make a professional contribution.

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In her book, Gendron makes a distinction between ageism and "ableism." The first is stereotyping that can be applied to people of any age, young or old  the grousing by employers about "lazy" millennials and Gen Zs being unwilling to work is ageism just as much as intimations that the chief characteristic of seniors is senility.

The second stereotype is focused on the notion that as we grow older, we lose physical and mental capacity to the point where we may not be able to function in society without assistance. Putting ageism and ableism together yields the hand-wringing about gerontocracy among our political omphaloskeptics.

Claims that a political gerontocracy is somehow undermining American democracy  the theme of so much political navel-gazing  simply don't hold water. They depend on the notion that as we grow older, our political outlooks coalesce into something at odds with the public interest. Where's the evidence for that?

It's widely noted that Biden and his likeliest presidential challenger, Donald Trump, would be the oldest president if either wins election in 2024. Biden would be 82 on inauguration day 2025 and Trump nearly 80. Does that tell us anything about how their administration would unfold? Obviously not.

Biden would almost certainly run on his record of creating remarkably inclusive and progressive White House policies and overseeing an economy of job growth and economic expansion in the wake of the pandemic; Trump, judging from his most recent speeches, would continue to flog personal grievances based on his groundless claims of fraud in his 2020 loss.

As for the notion that advanced age robs us of physical capacity and mental acuity, that may be arguable as a demographic average, but ignores what Gendron observes is the increasing individuation as we age.

"Early in life, you have markers that tell you approximately at what age someone's going to start to talk or someone's going to walk," she says. "We don't have that in later life. There really isn't a guidepost to say, 'At this age, something's going to happen.' At older ages, we become more individual and less like other people."

Certainly both Biden and Trump have lost a few steps since they were in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Doesn't everybody? (Disclosure: I'm a member of the baby boom generation. If you feel the need to know more than that, my actual age is in the public record.)

Some of our political leaders have notched their most outstanding achievement at an age decades later than when conventional wisdom holds that they should have retired.

The questions raised about the physical and mental capacity of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), 89, didn't apply to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who compiled what might be the most successful record in House history by shepherding the Affordable Care Act through Congress in 2010 at 70 and Biden's progressive policies to enactment after the age of 80.

Texas safeguards the 2nd Amendment.



Today, Constitutional carry goes into effect.



Texans who legally own a gun are now allowed to carry it in public. No license or training is needed. pic.twitter.com/2LiOBmSV1k  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 2, 2021

As for whether older politicians are out of step with the younger members of the American electorate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn't seem to have much trouble connecting with youthful voters when he ran for president in the run-up to the 2016 election, at age 75.

Nor are there signs that the liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has lost the youth vote because of her age, 73. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) seemed to have little trouble getting reelected in the last election, when they were, respectively, 80 and 89.

Nor is it necessarily true that older political leaders invariably hang on to their seats as if with what Orwell called prehensile behinds. Earlier this year, the top three Democratic Party leaders in the House  Pelosi; Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, 83; and James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, 82  announced their retirements at the end of their current terms, opening the path for new leaders such as current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, 52.

Quite plainly, the best guides to politicians' adequacy are their words and actual performance in office. Few reach the highest echelons of American politics without leaving a record to be examined.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor, recently took a swipe at Biden's age, remarking that he would be unlikely to live to the end of his next term.

Does that tell you anything about what she has to offer as an alternative? No; for that you'd have to delve into her positions on gun control (after a deadly school shooting in Nashville, she called for more metal detectors at schoolhouse doors but not more gun legislation) or abortion rights (she's against them).

Who shows more mental acuity? Joe Biden, who occasionally stumbles over his words (apparently an artifact of his youthful stuttering)? Or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who recently called for a "national divorce," i.e., secession by red states, at the age of 48?

Does the age of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott explain his boasting about signing a 2021 law allowing almost any Texan to carry a gun in public  "No license or training is needed," he bragged in a tweet. Abbott was 63 at the time, a relative spring chicken. How has that worked out for his Texas constituents?

Concern-trolling about the advanced age of government leaders hasn't always been a path to political success. Franklin D. Roosevelt cited a "hardening of the judicial arteries" in announcing his 1937 scheme to pack the Supreme Court, which involved shifting the politics of the court to the left by trying to force justices to retire when they reached the age of 70, or adding a justice to the court for every sitting justice who refused.

By June that year, he told listeners of a fireside chat promoting the plan, five of the nine justices would be older than 75  a standard that irked the oldest justice, the liberal eagle Louis D. Brandeis, who was 80. FDR's plan collapsed after it provoked widespread opposition, the most significant political failure of the New Deal.

Whether making an issue of politicians' age will have weight with the voting public is open to question. For one thing, the nation as a whole is moving up in years. By 2060, the population 65 or older will number 94.7 million, according to the Census Bureau; that would be a nearly 70% increase over the number in 2020. That segment will have grown from 17% of the population to 23%.

It's widely remarked that older cohorts vote at much higher rates than their younger compatriots, though that doesn't mean that their individual political leanings necessarily skew in any particular direction.

Why are they more committed to participating in the franchise? It may be that their life experience has shown them how much is at stake in every election; it's certainly easier to convince them of the importance of programs such as Social Security than to deliver the same message to people for whom collecting benefits may be many decades in the future.

The only conclusion one can draw about age is that it's a very unreliable indicator of an individual's intellect, energy or ability. The proper reaction to anyone who tries to tell you that our gerontocracy is a political problem is to ask what more relevant truth they're trying to conceal.

"For decades and decades we've lived in a society that has devalued what it means to be older," Gendron says. "For me, the main message is, 'Don't get distracted by age, when age doesn't tell you something meaningful about someone.'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Left, President Biden speaks at a campaign event at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., in November 2022. Right, Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Dayton International Airport in November 2022 in Ohio. (Associated Press)

Americas decision tree has gone horribly awry.

The Constitution doesnt mention political parties, but the Constitution and the two-party system rest on a central Madisonian idea: make politics safer and more boring. Madison wouldnt put it that way, though John Adams might.

Both our formal and informal political decision-making processes are designed to force a lot of debate and contemplation, to secure buy-in from diverse coalitions of interests and stakeholders. One reason for constitutional checks-and-balances is to make sure that momentary popular passions dont overpower reason with demagoguery.

The parties, meanwhile, are supposed to pick candidates who are the least objectionable to the broadest array of interests within the party coalition. Even the primaries  which I loathe  were intended to give geographically diverse voters a chance to see if a candidate has the temperament and character to be president. Theyre also supposed to give the press and other institutions an opportunity to vet candidates before they get the nomination.

None of that is happening.

Lets start with the Republican front-runner. A majority of Americans think Donald Trump  a twice-impeached former one-term president  should be criminally prosecuted for trying to steal the 2020 election and fomenting a riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Already under indictment in New York in a fraud case, with more serious indictments likely, Trump is also awaiting the result of a civil lawsuit against him for defamation. In that case, Trump repeated under oath that he couldnt have raped E. Jean Carroll because she is not my type.

As for preventing popular passions from overpowering decision-making, Trump is now openly running on a vow of retribution. He has rhetorically embraced the worst actors during the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, promising pardons and an official apology for everyone. Recently, he literally embraced  i.e., hugged  a convicted rioter who says that anyone who helped certify Joe Biden as president should be executed for treason.

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As for vetting a candidates character and temperament, partisans now only care about that as a weapon against the other team.

A primary reason Republicans have been rallying to Trump is that they believe hes being treated unfairly by the system. Trump, who has admitted to being the most fabulous whiner, leans into this dysfunctional rationale constantly. He recently repeated the claim hes been treated worse than Abraham Lincoln, who, you may recall, was assassinated. Put aside the contestable claim that Trump is being treated unfairly, how is being picked on a qualification for being president?

Then theres Joe Biden, who turned 80 last November. His approval rating in a Washington Post-ABC poll is at a devastating new low: 36%. Most Democratic voters do not want him to be president again. Nearly two-thirds of Americans think he does not have the mental sharpness" or "physical health" to be effective. And, hes losing in a match-up against Trump.

But, so far, his only competition for the nomination is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine gadfly, and Marianne Williamson, a self-described spiritual guide.

Bidens legal and ethical lapses may pale in comparison to Trumps, but theyre not trivial. His son, Hunter, is clearly a deeply troubled man who, along with the presidents brother, has traded on the family name to rake in millions from Ukrainian and Chinese interests.



Joe Biden denies any wrongdoing and any knowledge of wrongdoing, but only people inside the Democratic bubble think none of this is a political problem for a candidate who struggles to maintain composure  or recall details  when his, or his familys, integrity is questioned.

Biden may be OK for 80, but hes still one fall or one recession away from an implosion in public confidence.

In short, we are on track to have a presidential contest between a whiny, disgraced, septuagenarian, characterologically unfit former president and an octogenarian incumbent who a majority of Americans believe is not mentally sharp enough for the job. Each has an incentive to run against the other because their best shot at winning is having the other as an opponent.

As someone who thinks it would be truly dangerous to put Trump back in power, I think its truly irresponsible to run Biden against him. Theres still time to avert a no-win scenario, but that would require party leaders to lead.

If these two old men end up being the nominees, the party hacks will insist it's a "binary choice," as if that excuses their role in putting us in such a calamitous predicament in the first place. Its not supposed to be like this.

@JonahDispatch

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Seven months ago, 77-year-old Maria Sanchez injured her left shoulder and left hand when she slipped on a discarded banana peel on the street while walking home from a shopping trip to the store.

The longtime Calwa resident believes that a sidewalk would have prevented her accident.

When it rains, I dont even go to the store because everything is too wet, said Sanchez, who walks for her errands two to three times weekly.

The good news she got Monday was that 3 miles of Calwa streets and sidewalks will get a $7 million facelift, thanks to a $4 million federal grant and $2.7 million from Fresno Countys Active Transportation Program (with a $300,000 match from Measure C).

New sidewalks will be installed, and existing sidewalks battered by more than a century of wear and tear will be repaired in the unincorporated community of 2,500 on the southern fringes of the City of Fresno. Latinos account for 86% of the population.

Calwa has a long history but, unfortunately, part of that history is one of neglect and inequities that reflect too many parts of our county, said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, who spoke at a Monday morning press conference to announce the street and sidewalk improvements.

Sanchez fell across the street from Calwa United Methodist Church, where the press conference took place.

Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno, announced $4 million in federal funds will go toward a $7 million improvement of streets and sidewalks in Calwa. He spoke at a May 8, 2023 press conference.







The improvements, which will not start until the summer of 2025, are long overdue, said Costa, who spent time walking through Calwa with Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero to assess the need for federal funds from the Highway Infrastructure Program..

Because of this project, residents in Calwa will be able to walk, drive, bike more easily and safely, while improving their connectivity and access to the community, said Quintero.

Fresno County staff analyst Erin Haagenson said Calwa easily fit the criteria for the needed improvements.

It scores in the eighth percentile on the Healthy Places index, which means 92% of Californians have healthier living conditions than Calwa, said Haagenson.

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Costa said it is unacceptable that Calwa is saddled with inequities like poor air quality, broken streets and a lack of investment.

Haagenson said the county is looking for addition funding for street light upgrades and alley improvements.

Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero convinced Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno, to get $4 million in federal funds to upgrade Calwa streets and sidewalks. He spoke at a May 8, 2023 press conference announcing a $7 million project.

We want to improve the quality of life for the people who live here, said Costa, whose Congressional District added Calwa through redistricting.

Costa said the Calwa project is part of the countrys overdue investments.

Weve been living off the investments our parents and grandparents made a generation ago, said Costa. Well, thats now changed with the actions of the last Congress in making real investments in our people.

The improvements will be limited to the county portions of Calwa, which also lies within the City of Fresno.

The delay in construction, said county officials, is due to funding source accessibility and having other government entities sign off on necessary permits.

Lets speed it up. Lets get shovels on the ground and lets get ready to go to work, said Costa.
A sign on State Highway 220 protesting a concrete batch plant coming to Alto.

This article was originally published by New Mexico Political Report.

For Mark Severance and his wife, a retirement home in the mountain community of Alto north of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico was more than just a dream come true. It was a place to heal.

The couple moved to Alto in 2018 after Severances wife, Barbara, finished breast cancer treatment, including a mastectomy and reconstruction.

She said that she didnt really feel better till she got out in this clean air and this environment and she just felt like she was in a cleansing type of environment, Severance said.

The clean air and open spaces provided a healing environment for the Severances, but now the couple fear that may be coming to an end.

A local business owner plans to construct a concrete batch plant in the residential community off of New Mexico Highway 220 near its junction with New Mexico Highway 48.

After learning about plans to build the concrete batch plant, community members rallied together and hired attorney Thomas Hnasko, who specializes in environmental law and has experience working with air quality concerns and deed restrictions.

Typically, Hnasko said, there would be zoning restrictions keeping a concrete batch facility out of residential and scenic areas.

In this case, Lincoln County doesnt have any zoning, which is the reason why we got into the problem to begin with, he said.

According to Matthew Maez, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Environment Department, applicants for the air permits must demonstrate that the facilitys operations will not violate state or federal air quality standards.

In most communities, proximity to residences is a zoning matter that is governed by local ordinances, he said.

This is something that County Commissioner Tom Stewart, a former Lincoln County manager, brought up at a hearing before the Environmental Improvement Board and in submitted public comments. Stewart lives in Alto and spoke as a community member who could be impacted by the plant.

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He said that he and the commissioners he served in the past as county manager could never have imagined the need for zoning in such a pristine area as Alto when there is almost 5,000 square miles to consider for all conceivable purposes.

Its not uncommon for rural communities, especially conservative counties, to lack zoning ordinances. Many of New Mexicos counties  ranging from San Juan and McKinley counties in the northwest to Otero County in the southeast and Socorro County in the central region  have no zoning ordinances and rely more on restrictive covenants and subdivision development.

Some Alto residents, including Severance, are now gathering signatures for a petition that would allow community members to vote to create a special zoning district. This wouldnt prevent Roper Construction from building the concrete batch plant, but it would stop future industrial facilities.

For this measure to reach the ballot, 51 percent of the registered voters in the affected area must sign the petition.

The point of the zoning district is not to do architectural control and you cant have your doors painted yellow or whatever, Severance said. Its strictly about land use.

In the meantime, the Alto community has taken Roper to court alleging violations of deed restrictions.

Hnasko explained that the deed on the four lots that Roper purchased limits types of activities based on noise levels. He said that the batch concrete plant would exceed those noise levels.

The deed restriction suit is one of two angles that the Alto Coalition for Environmental Preservation is taking to fight the planned facility. This coalition, which Severance chairs, formed in an effort to stop the plant from being built.

In addition to the deed restriction case that is pending before the district court, the coalition has also been fighting the air permit.

Initially, the New Mexico Environment Department denied Ropers permit application, but he appealed it to the Environmental Improvement Board. The EIB has indicated that it will reverse the denial.

Hnasko said the coalition plans to appeal the anticipated permit approval to the state court of appeals.

Finding the right spot

Ryan Roper spent years looking for the right property to serve the Alto and Ruidoso areas before he found the lots. Finding a good location was a challenge. The mountainous terrain and roads limited his options in terms of properties where a concrete batch plant could be built and efficiently operated.

The area is growing, and there is a growing demand for concrete. There is only one concrete supplier right now, so there is a monopoly, he told NM Political Report in an email response to questions.

Bringing in another concrete batch plant will lead to competition that could reduce the cost of concrete, benefiting everyone in Lincoln County, Roper said. He said Alto is the area with the most growth right now.

The plant could also help in the recovery from wildfire, he said.

The McBride Fire that burned through Lincoln County last year destroyed more than 200 structures. Roper said that means many people will be rebuilding and that the current plant cannot fulfill demand.

Initially, he wasnt sure if the Alto location would work for a concrete batch plant due to concerns about air dispersion and whether it could receive an air quality permit.

But air dispersion modeling that Roper Construction had done for the site came back favorable and Roper said a concrete batch plant became a realistic option.

This modeling is one area that community members dispute.

Roper said he needed a location close to customers due to the nature of concrete.

Concrete begins to set up through the process of hydration after the water is mixed with cement inside the concrete ready-mix truck, he explained.

If hauled long distances, the concrete generates heat and begins to stiffen. This makes it difficult to place and finish the concrete when it arrives at the final destination.

Customers require short responsive turnaround times from the plant to the jobsite to avoid the placed concrete from setting up while they are waiting on the next load, Roper said.

He said Lincoln County has large amounts of government-owned land and tribal land. For instance, a map of his service area shows that the trucks would have to cross a large section of tribal land to reach Cloudcroft.

Road time is a big consideration both in cost and whether you can even provide the product where its needed, he said.

Roper Construction currently operates a concrete batch plant outside of Carrizozo, but the Alto facility will reduce the trucking miles per load of concrete by 85 miles for sites in the Ruidoso and Alto areas.

Roper said this would help economically and argued it would be good for the environment because it will be drastically reducing the carbon footprint to provide concrete to our customers and reducing cost and wear and tear on local highways.

The Alto property has good roads as well as immediate access to New Mexico Highway 48. Its also a relatively flat lot with access to New Mexico Highway 220 and three-phase electricity.

Looking to the west, Roper said the neighboring property appears semi-industrial and that the owners likely bought their land for the same reasons that he chose the undeveloped land in Alto.

I always thought the batch plant fit right in, he said.

But community members disagree.

It just does not pass a common sense check to put an industrial facility in the middle of a residential area, Severance said.

He said theres a nursery across the street that relies on rainwater, an RV park down the street and a church camp nearby that hosts children throughout the year.

Community concerns

Severance said he and his wife are concerned about pollution from the batch concrete plant and that it could possibly lead to her cancer returning.

There is medical literature published that if you are within a half mile or a mile of one of these plants, your chances of cancer go up quite a bit, he said.

While their home is about four miles away from the facility, Severance said they still have concerns because air pollution can travel, especially in windy areas like Alto.

Mark Wilson and his wife live about 1,000 yards from the proposed facility. He submitted a public comment to the EIB in opposition to the plant. In that statement, he said that both of them require inhalers for respiratory conditions such as asthma and they are concerned that increased particulate matter or other emissions associated with the plant could cause significant respiratory issues for us.

Air pollution is not the only concern Severance expressed.

He said theyre concerned that runoff from the facility could contaminate water, including Little Creek and the aquifer that the community relies upon for drinking water.

Should contamination occur, some say that it may even impact the cave system in the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area.

The planned concrete batch plant has some community members concerned that they may be forced to leave Alto in search of cleaner air. Severance said he and his wife are still weighing their options.

Should they try to sell their homes, the presence of a concrete batch plant may lower property values, community members say.

Attempts to address concerns

Roper has attempted to address some of the community concerns, but says this resulted in him being called a liar.

Last year, he circulated an information sheet that says in uppercase letters THE TRUTH.

In terms of pollution, the information sheet states that the plant wouldnt have much impact on the air quality, arguing that emission control equipment will capture 99.9 percent of the crystalline silica and fly ash.

You likely inhale more crystalline silica from paved and unpaved road vehicle traffic than you would from the Roper facility in a year, the sheet states.

The sheet addresses groundwater contamination concerns as well as impact on wildlife and visual appearance, all claiming that there would be little to no impact.

Roper said the information sheet is all verifiably true and talks to everything Ive heard complaints about, but I got called a liar for it.

Hnasko said that there are videos from Ropers facility outside of Carrizozo that show the plant spewing out dust and creating excessive dust.

Roper said that nothing he can do will satisfy the community members who oppose the plant.

They will only quit fighting this if I put the plant in a disadvantaged area. Its all about not in my backyard, he said.

Hnasko said that is a common response from developers to community objections, but that there are other places in Lincoln County where it would be more suitable.

He said community members dont oppose concrete batch plants as long as they are in appropriate areas. The economic strata is not the determining factor, he said. Instead, Hnasko said the concrete batch plants should not be located near any residential area.

The Carrizozo facility is close to residents and Roper said he is on good terms with the people who live near that plant.

Rick Emmons lives about a quarter mile away from the Carrizozo plant and provided Roper with an affidavit that says the work primarily occurs during typical business hours and that the noise from the plant has never negatively impacted his household.

Hnasko notes that the residential area near the Carrizozo plant was developed largely after the plant was already in operation.

Groundwork results in restraining order filing

Roper began work on the site on April 12, despite community concerns and ongoing court battles. The community members promptly filed a petition for a restraining order to stop these activities from occurring.

Roper indicated to this Court that construction would not begin until he obtained the necessary permits and this matter has been resolved. Nonetheless, Roper is altering the status quo by beginning construction of the proposed concrete batch plant, including substantial excavation activities for the haul roads, the petition for a restraining order states.

In the response to the filing, Roper Construction Inc. wrote in court documents that the community members are mischaracterizing the work as construction activities.

This is an inaccurate description of Ropers activities, which have been limited to removal of existing vegetation, earthwork to level the site and create stormwater drainage, and building up the ground into berms to prepare his property for commercial and/or light industrial operations, the company wrote.

Roper Construction says that it is engaging in pre-construction activities as allowed by the New Mexico Environment Department, nor does it violate deed restrictions.

If property owners were prohibited from site clearing and earth leveling, the covenants would render the properties unusable for essentially any residential or commercial purpose, Roper Construction argued.

Hnasko agreed with Roper that clearing of the land is not prohibited. But he said that isnt what is happening.

Hnasko said Ropers activities are clearly preparation for a concrete batch plant, including the construction of berms to reduce the noise.

He described the activities occurring on the property as another piece of evidence of bad faith and that the companys owner is thumbing his nose at the court.

It was an absolute affront to the judicial system, he said regarding the work that began in April.

Hannah Grover is a reporter for New Mexico Political Report.

Others are reading:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: How lack of zoning has led to a fight over land use in Alto
We will not stand back and watch while extremists deny Black history and the very existence of Black lives.  U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev.

Black congressional leaders held a half-day, closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to discuss what they have slammed as the Republican Partys ongoing attack on democracy.

Following the National Summit on Democracy and Race, U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, led a press conference to discuss how the CBC plans to protect Black Americans fundamental rights.

WASHINGTON, DC  MARCH 9: Congressional Black Caucus chairman Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) speaks during a news conference about the Justice For All Act outside the U.S. Capitol March 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. The bill, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), aims to strengthen anti-discrimination laws. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

We will not stand back and watch while extremists deny Black history and the very existence of Black lives who need to be protected from gun violence, police brutality and poor economic conditions, said Congressman Horsford.

He continued: We will push back against threats to our democracy whether its election denialism and partisan gerrymandering, charges against wokeism, whitewashing our history by banning books or challenging our fundamental freedoms and bodily autonomy in the courts.

Horsford demanded immediate action following the expulsions of Tennessee state legislators Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson and the North Carolina Supreme Courts recent decision to reverse rulings on racial gerrymandering and discriminatory voter ID laws.

The Nevada congressman then turned his attention to the United States Supreme Court, which will soon issue two landmark decisions related to race. One ruling will impact the role of affirmative action in the college admissions process, and the other will determine whether North Carolinas redistricting map deemed racially discriminatory is constitutional.

These cases will have profound implications on the communities that we represent, Horsford said to reporters.

Horsford told theGrio that the CBC would respond accordingly if the Supreme Court overturned the affirmative action and voting rights cases.

We will be prepared to ensure any legislative or legal actions that we can take that were ready to do  once the Supreme Court acts, he affirmed. We dont want to be reactionary, we want to be proactive, and thats why todays summit was so important.

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The Democratic lawmaker pointed out that the U.S. is seeing an uptick in unconstitutional threats against Americans fundamental rights because MAGA extremists Republicans, and those at the local state and national levels, are bolstered by a right-leaning judiciary who are tempting to run the table with every tactic in their arsenal to erode the fundamental tenants of our democracy.

Author and academic Michael Eric Dyson, who spoke at the summit, told theGrio, These issues not only constitute a threat to American democracy but to African-American people in particular.

Michael Eric Dyson appears at IMPACT Strategies and D&P Creative Strategies 2nd Annual Tech & Media Brunch celebrating Congressional Black Caucus week at Longview Gallery on September 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for IMPACT Strategies and D&P Creative Strategies )

As it pertains to affirmative action and voting rights, Dyson said leaders should find creative ways behind the scenes and outside of the legal purview of the Supreme Court to make sure diversity, equity and inclusion is a reality.

After Tuesdays summit, Horsford announced that the CBC will unveil legislative and legal plans to present in Congress and will recommend executive orders to present to the Biden-Harris administration intended to protect democracy.

In addition, the CBC will launch the Summer of Action to Defend America, around the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, which will include several undisclosed events that will take place in 10 major cities such as Las Vegas, Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Houston.

CBC members will go into communities partnering with local mayors, leaders of Divine Nine organizations, civil rights and advocacy groups to directly engage constituencies on these issues, shared Chairman Horsford.

The congressman said the caucus will unveil more information regarding the summer action campaign in the coming days.

In the meantime, he and CBC members pledged to do all they could to defend our communities against attacks from MAGA Republicans and the ideological Supreme Court and federal judges who are working to weaken our fundamental protections under the law.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Congressional Black Caucus holds summit on democracy and race appeared first on TheGrio.
A controversial tow company has agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a class action suit that accused the business of overcharging people for certified mail and city fees.

Valley Towing in Methuen reached an agreement with plaintiff Matthew Kady last month. The class action settlement includes as many as 8,744 drivers whose vehicles were towed by Valley Towing without their consent, either as a trespass or police-ordered tow, after Aug. 6, 2014, and was assessed a certified mail or city fee, documents show.

Under the terms of the settlement, Valley Towing and its owner Ronald Parrino admitted no wrongdoing.

The Settlement Agreement resolves the allegations that Defendant charged and collected impermissible feesin violation of Massachusetts towing regulations. Defendant disputes the allegations and continues to deny any wrongdoing, the filing said.

Parrinos attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Kady declined an interview request on the advice of his attorney.

To see this magnitude of a settlement and that many people getting a refund, it just validates everything weve been saying all along, Chris Nesbitt said. Nesbitt has been complaining about Valley Towing ever since 2016, when he accused the company of selling his car to a salvage yard without his knowledge following a crash.

This is awesome to see this many people are going to be getting refund checks, Nesbitt said. I should be getting a little piece of the pie. Its not going to be a lot of money, but it proves the point. Its more principle now.

Boston 25 News first reported on consumer complaints against Valley Towing in 2018. The Department of Public Utilities performed an audit of Valley Towing invoices that same year. The audit found 29 out of 752 tow slips were not in compliance with state regulations, resulting in $1,080 in refunds, according to a department spokesperson. The City of Lawrence later discontinued its relationship with Valley Towing following DPUs audit. The Methuen Police Dept. suspended its relationship with the business in Jan. 2022.

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Debo Brown accused Valley Towing of crushing his Ford Expedition without his knowledge in 2008.

I think [the settlement] is a good start but I dont think it should be the endpoint, Brown said. How was this even allowed to happen for so long? Why did it take so many years for people to acknowledge that what were saying has merit.

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
(200771): 20230509 12:16:24  ::

:: Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.2023-41

Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.

Announcement on the signing of a contract for the transfer of the right to the use of state-owned construction land



The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or significant omission carried in this announcement.

On December 21, 2022, Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd(hereinafter referred to as the "Company") held the 30th meeting of the eighth board of directors, in which the "Proposal on

Investing in the Construction of a Project with an Annual Output of 10 sets of Gas Turbine Units" was deliberated and passed, and agreed to invest in the construction of a project with an annual output of 10 sets of gas turbine units. Through the construction of this project, it can meet the full

(empty) load test and R&D trial production of the Company's F-class 50MW class gas turbine. Combined with the Company's existing production facilities, the Company will form an annual production capacity of 10 sets of gas turbines.

According to the above resolution, the Company participated in the public listing and transfer of the use right of state-owned construction land organized by the Linping Branch of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources in April 2023, and obtained the land use right of plot No. 14- [2023] of Linping Zhenggongchu.

Recently, the Company signed the "State-owned Construction Land Use Right Transfer Contract" with the Linping Branch of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, and the main content of the contract is announced as follows: 1. The land parcel number to be transferred under the contract is No. 14- [2023] of Linping Zhenggongchu, and the total area of the parcel is Forty-Three Thousand and Eight square meters (43,008 square meters), of which the area of the transferred parcel is Forty-Three Thousand and Eight square meters (43,008 square meters).

The parcel to be transferred under the contract is located in the Tunli community of Linping Street.

The planar boundaries of the parcels to be transferred under the contract are: east to the planned road, south, west and north to the existing road.

2. Parcel use: industrial land;

3. The term of transfer of the right to the use of state-owned construction land under the contract is 50 years, calculated from the date of signing the "Confirmation of the Delivery of State-owned Construction Land" for this parcel.

4. Land use right transfer price: 44.52 million yuan;

5. Payment period of land transfer fee: The transferee agrees to pay the transfer price of the right to use the state-owned construction land in a lump-sum payment(20% of which is used as a deposit for the performance of the contract) within 7 days from the date of signing this contract. 6. Main planning and design conditions:

If the transferee constructs new buildings, structures and their ancillary facilities within the parcel under the contract, it shall meet the planning conditions for the transfer parcel determined by

the planning administrative department, of which the total construction area above ground is 77,414.4 square meters to 94,617.6 square meters.

According to the planning and design conditions determined by the planning department, the area for internal administrative office and living service facilities occupied in the contracted parcel

shall not exceed 7% of the area of the transferred parcel, and its construction area shall not exceed

15% of the total construction area of the project.

This announcement is hereby made.



The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. May 9, 2023

 Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.2023-41Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.Announcement on the signing of a contract for the transfer of the right to the use of state-owned construction landThe members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or significant omission carried in this announcement.On December 21, 2022, Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd(hereinafter referred to as the "Company") held the 30th meeting of the eighth board of directors, in which the "Proposal onInvesting in the Construction of a Project with an Annual Output of 10 sets of Gas Turbine Units" was deliberated and passed, and agreed to invest in the construction of a project with an annual output of 10 sets of gas turbine units. Through the construction of this project, it can meet the full(empty) load test and R&D trial production of the Company's F-class 50MW class gas turbine. Combined with the Company's existing production facilities, the Company will form an annual production capacity of 10 sets of gas turbines.According to the above resolution, the Company participated in the public listing and transfer of the use right of state-owned construction land organized by the Linping Branch of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources in April 2023, and obtained the land use right of plot No. 14- [2023] of Linping Zhenggongchu.Recently, the Company signed the "State-owned Construction Land Use Right Transfer Contract" with the Linping Branch of Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, and the main content of the contract is announced as follows: 1. The land parcel number to be transferred under the contract is No. 14- [2023] of Linping Zhenggongchu, and the total area of the parcel is Forty-Three Thousand and Eight square meters (43,008 square meters), of which the area of the transferred parcel is Forty-Three Thousand and Eight square meters (43,008 square meters).The parcel to be transferred under the contract is located in the Tunli community of Linping Street.The planar boundaries of the parcels to be transferred under the contract are: east to the planned road, south, west and north to the existing road.2. Parcel use: industrial land;3. The term of transfer of the right to the use of state-owned construction land under the contract is 50 years, calculated from the date of signing the "Confirmation of the Delivery of State-owned Construction Land" for this parcel.4. Land use right transfer price: 44.52 million yuan;5. Payment period of land transfer fee: The transferee agrees to pay the transfer price of the right to use the state-owned construction land in a lump-sum payment(20% of which is used as a deposit for the performance of the contract) within 7 days from the date of signing this contract. 6. Main planning and design conditions:If the transferee constructs new buildings, structures and their ancillary facilities within the parcel under the contract, it shall meet the planning conditions for the transfer parcel determined bythe planning administrative department, of which the total construction area above ground is 77,414.4 square meters to 94,617.6 square meters.According to the planning and design conditions determined by the planning department, the area for internal administrative office and living service facilities occupied in the contracted parcelshall not exceed 7% of the area of the transferred parcel, and its construction area shall not exceed15% of the total construction area of the project.This announcement is hereby made.The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. May 9, 2023
Monica Metcalf, left, Megan Kimberlin and their staff on the Ottawa County Workforce Team have created a strong foundation of impactful services that benefit employers and job seekers. Among the services are programs to fund professional development for job seekers and existing employees.

OAK HARBOR - Across Ottawa County, employers, the unemployed and the underemployed are struggling in a workforce environment that can be difficult to navigate, but there is an advocate in the county that is working tirelessly to help businesses and potential employees connect and succeed.

The Ottawa County Workforce Team based at the Ottawa County OhioMeansJobs center has many services available to help, and, last week, Monica Metcalf and Megan Kimberlin highlighted those services during a series of Careers, Conversations & Coffee events held at coffee shops across the county.

Metcalf is the Manager of Employment Resources at the Ottawa County OhioMeansJobs center, and Kimberlin is the Workforce Development Supervisor for Ottawa County. The coffee shop events were held in conjunction with In-Demand Jobs Week, a statewide celebration of jobs, industries and skills that are in demand.

Ottawa County jobs office emphasizes one-on-one service

Throughout the state, workforce teams celebrated In-Demand Jobs Week with career fairs, hiring events and business spotlight campaigns. Metcalf and Kimberlin chose to approach In-Demand Jobs Week the way they approach their daily work, with one-on-one connections. The Ottawa County OhioMeansJobs center has built a reputation for offering personal service, and people often drive from Lorain County and Lucas County for career assistance.

Monica Metcalf, Manager of Employment Resources at the Ottawa County OhioMeansJobs center, left, and Megan Kimberlin, Workforce Development Supervisor for Ottawa County, hosted Careers, Conversations & Coffee events at local coffee shops last week to highlight services for employers and job seekers. Here, they hosted a coffee event at Coffee Express on May 3.

During the coffee shop events, the women invited local employers and job seekers to stop by to hear about the services available through their office. What they learned was overwhelming. Metcalf and Kimberlin have created a remarkable foundation for workforce success in Ottawa County.

The Summer Youth Job Program helps teens ages 14 to 18 plan and prepare for their future through services such as career counseling, summer job assistance and budgeting advice. The Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP) offers personalized career assistance to work-eligible people ages 14 to 24.

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The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offers funding to adults for education and training for in-demand careers such as LPN, administrative assistant, welder and carpenter.

We can help people to earn certificates, diplomas and licensures, Metcalf said. This helps job seekers get back to work or helps upskill employees already in the workforce.

Program can provide funds to employees with new trainees

The On-The-Job Training program provides up to $13,000 to employers to fund wages earned by eligible new trainees as they learn their job. The program helps fill in-demand employment positions.

It helps our employers and our job seekers, Metcalf said. Well come to the business to do the paperwork. We simplify the process and then send them a check.

The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program provides funds to employers to pay for skill development for current employees. The program helps increase employee productivity and business growth. IWT funds can pay for many upskill resources, including marketing training, OSHA safety certification, and robotics training.

The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program helps people receiving unemployment benefits reenter to the workforce.

We send them job opportunities that pertain to them and information on schools. We give them training in resume writing, Kimberlin said. We try to pull them back into the workforce.

All of the centers services are offered in a one-on-one setting, which allows the staff to personalize services for its clients.

We get to know our clients and their families. People will drive hours to come to us, Kimberlin said. Monica does a really good job of pulling skills out of people. One woman recently said she didnt know she had marketable skills until Monica talked to her.

Metcalf said personal attention allows the staff to empower their clients so they are better equipped to find and maintain jobs.

We value our clients and enjoy helping them, Kimberlin said.

The Ottawa County OhioMeansJobs center is at 8043 W. Ohio 163 in Oak Harbor near the Ottawa County Fairgrounds. It is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Careers, Conversations, Coffee events assist those on job market
A decision on whether to seek a death penalty prosecution against the suspect in a series of stabbings in Davis may be months away, with prosecutors studying every available aspect of the background of Carlos Reales Dominguez.

You go by the book, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said in an interview Friday in his Woodland office shortly after Reales Dominguez pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

Reisig would not discuss specifics of the Reales Dominguez case.

But he said his office follows a laborious procedure to determine the background of each suspect who may be eligible for a death penalty prosecution, including studying mitigating and aggravating circumstances in the persons life, such as age, mental issues or abuse, or trauma.

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig talks Friday at his Woodland office about prosecuting Carlos Reales Dominguez for the series of stabbings in Davis. Reales Dominguez is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Paul Kitagaki Jr./pkitagaki@sacbee.com

The death penalty is reserved for a very small case type, where you have premeditated first-degree murder with a special circumstance ... Reisig said. And so that necessitates an extensive review of the persons entire history of criminal conduct, and even conduct that wasnt prosecuted, but was otherwise violent.

And that can be very labor intensive.

In essence, Reisig said, investigators go back as far as possible to study a suspects background.

In order to do the analysis, you have to actually look at the individuals entire life, he said. And thats what takes so long in these decisions...

To make the decision on whether or not youre going to seek the death penalty, you have to basically look at the persons life from birth until now. And you look at, where did they grow up? What was going on in the home? Was there trauma? What was the family situation?

Was there exposure to drugs, violence, that type of thing.

Reisig said mitigating factors that could lead to a decision not to pursue a death penalty trial can include evidence of mental health issues, abuse as a child or even the suspects age.

Its a very deep dive, he said. We pull school records. You go all the way back to the earliest days that you can. Were they a good student? Were there problems?

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Investigators also study the facts of the crimes, which court filings in the Reales Dominguez case describe as involving great violence and disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.

Reales Dominguez, 21, is accused of using a large hunting knife to repeatedly stab three people in Davis between April 26 and May 1, two of them fatally.

David Henry Breaux, 50, was found dead in Central Park on April 27 from numerous stab wounds. Court papers say he may have been killed the day before.

The second victim, Karim Abou Najm, 20, was a UC Davis student who was stabbed to death the night of April 29 in Sycamore Park, a half-mile from where Reales Dominguez lived in a rental home with roommates.

The third stabbing occurred just before midnight on May 1, when a woman living in a tent near Second and L streets was attacked by someone who slashed open the side of the tent and stabbed her repeatedly. Kimberlee Guillory survived the attack.

In charging Reales Dominguez, Reisigs office alleged special circumstances for multiple murders, in that Carlos Reales Dominguez murdered more than one person.

Those charges make Reales Dominguez eligible for a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty, if convicted.

Davis police have said they do not believe Reales Dominguez, who was a biological sciences major at UC Davis until he was kicked out April 25 for unspecified academic reasons, has a prior criminal record.

Factors that could be used to decide whether to pursue a death penalty prosecution include other violent criminal activity by the suspect, whether the suspect was under extreme mental or emotional strain.

In a previous high-profile double, murder in Davis  the 2013 stabbing slayings of Claudia Maupin, 76, and Oliver Northup, 87, as the couple slept in their home  the death penalty did not come into play because Daniel Marsh, who was later convicted of the murders, was only 15 at the time.

Reisig, who has been district attorney for 17 years, said his office has pursued the death penalty only once while he has overseen the office. In the 2018 slaying of Yolo County sheriffs Deputy Tony Diaz prosecutors convicted Marco Topete, who was sentenced to death.

During his time in office, Reisig said, prosecutors have analyzed dozens of cases that could qualify for a death penalty prosecution.

I dont make that decision in a bubble, Reisig said. We gather together our executive team, which is all of the most senior experienced prosecutors in the office, and we include our investigators whove conducted this investigation for us.

And we go through the entire history. We go through all of these factors in aggravation and mitigation. We debate, we go back and forth. Sometimes this takes days of discussion...

We debate it, we deliberate, and then a recommendation is made to me, and then I make the decision. I can say with certainty that as long as Ive been the DA the decision has always been unanimous with my executive team.

The fact that Gov. Gavin Newsom has suspended the use of the death penalty in California will not play a role in any decision, Reisig said.

That was a unilateral move by the governor, which by the way, he had promised he wouldnt do during his campaign, Reisig said. And I didnt forget that.

And the reality is that less than two years before that voters in California had ratified the death penalty, so its the law, its still on the books ... its still here. And my job is to look at it and make a decision.

So thats what Ill do.
A 48-year-old man from Newark has been charged with the sexual solicitation of a child after New Castle County police said they found him planning to sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl in his car early Friday morning.

The man was initially pulled over for trying to illegally enter Glasgow Park after it closed, according to police. However, police said the man seemed nervous and gave "vague answers" when officers asked him why he was coming to the park at 12:40 a.m. with a young girl.

Court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal show that when an officer patted the man down, they found a box of condoms in his pocket. Both the man and the 14-year-old were taken to the police station, according to records.

RELATED: There's more child sexual abuse material online than ever before. How it's affecting Delaware

While the New Castle County Police Department said the 48-year-old initially told them that he and the girl were just friends looking for a place to talk, both later admitted that they were planning to have sex, according to court records.

The two had met in an online Chat Avenue chatroom on Thursday night, less than six hours before police encountered them, court records state. The 14-year-old said she initially wanted to meet someone around her mother's age to "gain further insight and maturity" on how to handle struggles in her relationship with her mom, according to court documents.

Both said they then started to discuss meeting to have sex via Chat Avenue and text messages, court records show. The 48-year-old said they met in what was designated as the "Sex Room" online, where the 14-year-old claimed she was actually 18. The man later admitted he knew that the girl was in high school and saw signs that she was a minor, according to court records.

MORE: How a former school board member used his 'position of trust' to access and abuse kids

Whether or not he knew the girl's actual age does not matter when it comes to defense under state law.

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A New Castle County Police Department spokesperson said that this type of situation isn't something that officers typically see, but "if (they) see suspicious behavior of signs of sexual assault (they) will investigate."

The 48-year-old man was charged with sexual solicitation of a child under 18 to engage in a prohibited sexual act  a felony  and parking during the hours of darkness without permission in a county parkland. He has been incarcerated at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution.

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware car search in county park leads to sexual solicitation charge
Skid marks remain after a sideshow stopped traffic on northbound I-5 between Hammer Lane and Eight Mile Road in Stockton. Over the weekend, Stockton police arrested five people near sideshows on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Stockton police arrested five people during sideshows on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard over the weekend, according officers.

As the city celebrated Cinco de Mayo Friday night, officers heard someone fire shots in a crowd watching a sideshow near the intersection of MLK and Stanislaus Street at about 8:30 p.m., police stated.

They also later saw someone fire a gun in the same area, police said.

Four people, all 18 and under, were arrested on various allegations, including attempted homicide and negligent discharge of a gun, police stated.

On Sunday, officers also arrested 27-year-old Esteven Leon while trying to breakup a sideshow crowd, police stated.

Leon had not been charged as of Monday evening, a search of court records showed. It's unclear whether the four people arrested Friday were charged. If released, prosecutors will have a year to file charges.

Three-car wreck

On Monday, the county medical examiner identified a Stockton woman who died last week in a three-car collision on Bianchi Road as 64-year-old Jamie Casner.

The collision was at least the third collision to occur near the intersection of Bianchi and Townehome Drive, a neighborhood resident told The Record on Monday.

"This is the third time I've had a car hit my fence," Richard Madrid said.

Madrid said he witnessed the aftermath of the wreck Thursday afternoon, in which a black Chevrolet sedan and a grey Kia were crushed and a gold sedan saw moderate damage. The black sedan appeared to have spun into Madrid's fence, he said.

"I jumped up onto the fence and I saw (Casner)," he said. The driver of the black sedan and a passenger of the Kia were hospitalized, Madrid said.

The position of a stop sign at Bianchi and Hillsboro Way could have played a role in the wreck, according to Madrid.

"It's occluded by trees most of the time," he said.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Arrests after Stockton sideshow shooting; Bianchi crash victim ID'd
The FBI said another passenger spotted the hidden camera above the bathroom door, facing the toilet. FBI

A passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise spotted a hidden camera in a public bathroom.

Another passenger who was seen in a video setting up the camera was arrested.

The FBI said the video showed adults and minors as young as 4 years old changing.

A man was arrested Wednesday after officials say he set up a hidden camera in a public cruise ship bathroom and recorded more than 150 people, including minors, before another passenger spotted it, court records showed.

The incident occurred on a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Miami, Florida, on April 29, according to the criminal complaint compiled by an agent with the FBI. The Harmony of the Seas ship was set to stop in Saint Martin, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.

About a day after departure, while the ship was in international waters, a hidden camera with WiFi capabilities was placed in a public bathroom on the ship's top deck, close to a surfing simulator and a bar, the complaint said. Photos included in the complaint showed the small black camera as well as where it was hidden, an open area above the inside of the bathroom door where part of the wall had been removed for repairs.

The following day, May 1, a passenger spotted the camera, of which only the lens was showing, and notified the Royal Caribbean crew. Security personnel removed the camera and located a memory card, on which they found hours worth of footage that included more than 150 people using the bathroom. Some victims were changing and were naked on the recording. About 40 of them appeared to be minors, some as young as 4 or 5 years old, the complaint said.

But the video also showed the suspect setting up the camera and later adjusting its position so that it would focus on the toilet. Within hours security personnel on the ship interviewed passenger Jeremy Froias, who admitted to placing the camera, according to the complaint.

The camera was placed in a public bathroom on the top deck of the Harmony of the Seas. FBI

Froias was charged with video voyeurism, or recording an individual in a private area without their consent, and the attempted possession of child exploitation material. He was arrested Wednesday, according to court records. A lawyer for Froias did not immediately provide comment to Insider.

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In a statement provided to Insider, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said: "We are aware of an incident that occurred on board Harmony of the Seas' April 29 cruise. The matter was immediately reported to local and federal law enforcement and the guest involved was removed from the ship by authorities for further investigation. As this is an active case, we are unable to share any more details at this time."

The FBI is seeking the public's help in identifying the victims.

"The FBI believes he primarily targeted cruise ship passengers between the timeframe of April 30 and May 1, 2023, who may have used the public bathroom on the aft of the Harmony's top deck between the 'Flow Rider' surfing simulator and a bar. Passengers using this bathroom may have been video recorded by Froias," an FBI notice said.

They encourage anyone who may have been a victim to fill out a form.

In 2018, a couple from Florida said they found a hidden camera pointing at the bed of their cabin on a Carnival cruise ship.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comment from Royal Caribbean.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A father in southcentral Pennsylvania is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his baby.

Timothy L. Sampson, 25, of Mount Holly Springs, was arrested May 9 and put in Cumberland County Prison. Magisterial District Judge Vivian Cohick denied bail due to "risk of flight, risk to children in household, multiple addresses," according to online court records.

Troopers from Pennsylvania State Police-Carlisle responded to the 100 block of Big Spring Terrace in West Pennsboro Township, which is south of Newville in Cumberland County, around 7:10 a.m. Jan. 1 for a death investigation. They determined a 13-month-old child died under suspicious circumstances.

An autopsy showed the toddler died due to multiple traumatic internal injuries that were intentionally caused, according to a news release from state police.

Police identified Sampson as the child's biological father.

More crime news: Former nurse from Franklin County sentenced for recording, sexually abusing patients

Opioid settlements: Money to help Franklin County expand addiction recovery, prevention efforts

The Cumberland County coroner's office, children and youth services and district attorney's office were involved in the investigation with PSP.

In addition to first-degree murder, Sampson is charged with third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of children, court records show.

Sampson's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 25.

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: PA dad accused of killing baby, charged with first-degree murder
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was not in the starting lineup against the Miami Marlins on Monday night because he was late arriving to the ballpark.

The 29-year-old had a good excuse, though. He was becoming a U.S. citizen.

Its a pretty amazing accomplishment for him, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. Certainly proud of him. We excused him from all the pregame activity to take care of that today.

Lovullo said Gurriel would be available off the bench against the Marlins.

Gurriel was born in Cuba and defected to the U.S. with his older brother Yuli in 2016. Both players have had successful MLB careers since their arrival in the states.

Yuli Gurriel happens to be in town for his brother's special occasion because he plays for the Marlins. He had several successful seasons with the Astros before going to Miami in the offseason. He was batting third for the Marlins in Monday night's game.

Lourdes Gurriel played his first five seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays before moving to the D-backs in an offseason trade. He has fit in well with his new team, batting .310 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 30 games.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The second body in two days was pulled from the Merrimack River on Monday, according to authorities.

Lawrence police said the initial 911 call came into Methuen, but the mans body was recovered near the Abe Bashara Boat House in Lawrence on Monday.

The Essex County District Attorneys Office and Lawrence Police are investigating. No further details were released at this time.

Over the weekend Massachusetts State Police Dive Team and local firefighters pulled the body of 31-year-old Ryan Cooper of Raymond N.H. out of the water in Methuen.

Crews responded to a boat ramp at 1110 Riverside Drive in Methuen, at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday after being alerted of a body in the river.

Investigators have not said what happened, but foul play is not suspected, according to the district attorneys office.

There is no word if these two incidents are connected.

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.

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A man called authorities after learning his sister hid their mothers death from authorities for a decade, California police said.

After the death of his 58-year-old sister, the out-of-state man went to the Ukiah home his sister formerly shared with their mother to attend to estate matters, the Ukiah Police Department said in a news release posted May 8 on Facebook.

The man last spoke with his mother, who had been in poor health, in 2013, and his sister told him their mother died in August 2013, according to police. She told him their mothers remains were taken to a medical research facility per her wishes.

The woman continued to live at the home, police said.

While at the home, the man found numerous financial documents in his mothers name, including some that showed recent banking and checking account activity, police said.

This was odd as his mothers accounts should have been closed for approximately ten years, police said.

He called police about his suspicions on April 24, police said.

While investigating, police said they found there was no official record of the mothers passing, such as a death certificate.

Documents found at the home supported the idea that the woman never reported her mothers death to keep her mothers accounts open so she could use her mothers money, police said.

Police said they also found skeletal remains while searching the property. These remains were identified as the mother, and the coroner determined she died of natural causes.

Police said that evidence showed the sister likely hid her mothers death to financially benefit via fraud.

Given the sisters death, a lack of additional investigative leads and no evidence supporting a homicide, the case was closed, police said.

Ukiah is about 115 miles northwest of San Francisco.

Overland Park woman lived with fathers body for 6 years. Then, her husband called police

Man lived with dead roommate for years and stole his identity, California officials say

Dad fakes his 4-year-old sons cancer death for money and sympathy, New York cops say
David Miranda testifies before the investigative committee of the Senate that examines charges of espionage by the United States in Brasilia on October 9, 2013 (AFP/Getty Images)

David Miranda, a Brazilian congressman and the husband of journalist Glenn Greenwald, has passed away at the age of 37 after a nine-month-long battle in the ICU after a gastrointestinal infection.

Mr Greenwald, 56, took to Twitter to write a tribute to his husband.

Shortly after 8am on Tuesday 9 May, Mr Greenwald wrote: It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the passing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow. His death, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He died in full peace, surrounded by our children and family and friends.

Miranda was lauded by Brazilian politicians, celebrities, activists, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tweeting: My condolences to @ggreenwald and family for the loss of David Miranda. A young man with an extraordinary trajectory who left too soon.

Miranda, who served in the Brazilian congress between 2019 and 2022, was a strong member of the resistance to the far-right administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, according to The Guardian.

Renata Souza, a legislator on the left, tweeted about her immense sorrow at the departure of my dear friend David Miranda. A funny, loving, party-loving guy who never gave up fighting for life and for the people of the favela.

Mr Greenwald added that his husbands life had been extraordinary in all ways, noting that Miranda lost his mother at age five, leaving him an orphan in Jacarezinho.

A beautiful and compassionate neighbor called Dona Eliane took care of Miranda despite having four of her own children and being in deep poverty, Mr Greenwald said.

The neighbour became Mirandas mother and gave him a chance for a life.

That gave David the chance to live his full potential in a society that often suffocates it. He was key to the Snowden story, became the first gay man elected to Rios City Council, then federal Congress at 32. He inspired so many with his biography, passion, and force of life, Mr Greenwald wrote in the Twitter thread.

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The journalist said there was nobody with a stronger will or life force.

Being a father was Mirandas biggest dream and it gave him the greatest pride and purpose, according to Mr Greenwald. He was the most dedicated and loving parent. He taught me how to be a father. And our truly exceptional boys - with their own difficult start to [life] - is his greatest legacy.

Mr Greenwald said he was told on 6 August, the day Miranda was hopitalised, that he was unlikely to live through that week.

I heard the same 3 times since, Mr Greenwald wrote. He refused, in classic David style. The last 4 months gave our family the most beautiful moments together.

The husband said Miranda was the strongest, most passionate, most compassionate man Ive known. Nobody had a bad word for him.

I cant describe the loss and pain. Ill do my best to honor his legacy: our children and our NGOs. And I know so many will celebrate him and his impact, he concluded.

More follows...
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke talks to reporters, including Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson, right, following a roundtable discussion regarding gun violence at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network in Chicago on Sept. 23, 2019. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

Rick Pearson, the Chicago Tribunes chief political reporter since 1998, has won the Chicago Headline Clubs prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award along with three other veteran journalists who have covered Chicago for decades.

Along with Pearson, the other recipients are Dorothy Tucker of WBBM-Ch.2, Phil Ponce of WTTW-Ch. 11 and Chuck Neubauer, who has worked with the Better Government Association, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune. They will be honored Friday at the Headline Clubs Peter Lisagor Awards banquet, which is being held at the Union League Club in Chicago.

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These four extraordinary journalists have left an indelible mark on the field of journalism, and we are proud to honor them with this award, said Mike Ewing, the Headline Club president. Their work has helped hold our leaders accountable, shine a light on important issues and make our communities stronger.

Pearson, who started with the Tribune in 1988, served as an Illinois statehouse correspondent before starting his long run as the Tribunes political reporter. He has chronicled the careers of seven governors and covered numerous presidential campaigns, including the rise of Democrat Barack Obama from the Illinois Senate to the White House.

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Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune correspondent, June 1997. (Chicago Tribune)

Pearson has appeared on several national broadcasts and hosted a weekly Sunday radio show on WGN-AM for seven years. Along the way, Pearson covered the rise and fall of Republican Gov. George Ryan and impeached Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who both went to prison on federal corruption charges.

Neubauer, who is now a freelance investigative reporter with his wife Sandy Bergo for the BGA, has spent a career uncovering political corruption as an investigative reporter with the Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times and Tribune, where he shared in a Pulitzer Prize for a series on abuses in federal housing programs.

Tucker, a veteran reporter, is on the stations investigative team and is president of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Ponce, now a contributing anchor at WTTW, long served as anchor at the stations news and public affairs program, Chicago Tonight.
For the first time, Ohio investigators say they have confiscated rainbow fentanyl.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) identified some drugs confiscated by the Franklin County Sheriffs Office as deadly colorful pills which are meant to look like candy. Yost said drug dealers are using rainbow fentanyl to drive addiction among young people.

>> Student arrested after threat made to Fairmont High School Monday evening

Over 1,000 of the brightly colored pills were seized as part of a Columbus-area drug trafficking investigation.

Do not be fooled by appearances  rainbow fentanyl is death disguised as candy, Yost said. The bottom line is this: If youre taking a pill that wasnt prescribed by your doctor, you cant be certain of what you are consuming.

Yost said the pills found in Franklin County originated in Mexico, but were confiscated before they could be distributed.

>> Recovery mission underway after man jumps into Great Miami River after crash

While BCI previously identified fentanyl in multiple forms, the analysis marked their first instance of rainbow fentanyl.

The Attorney General urged Ohio law enforcement agencies to stay mindful of hazards posed by fentanyl exposure and use universal precautions.








null Rodney Miller

Rodney Miller quit a career in finance after 15 years. He wanted to find something more fulfilling.

He joined Doctors Without Borders and has lived in regions most other people never travel to.

This is his story, as told to writer Ash Jurberg.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rodney Miller. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I worked in banking and finance for 15 years.

Over time, I became bored with the corporate world and decided I wanted to do a job that made a more positive contribution to society and had some meaning. I realized I'd always enjoyed traveling and meeting people from different cultures, so I started looking at roles with nongovernmental and humanitarian organizations.

I thought it might be a good path for me and a good way to make a difference. I was also in my late 30s and had settled down with a long-term partner, though I never wanted to take the traditional path of getting married and starting a family. I applied to join Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders.

I was lucky enough to be accepted and flew to the head office in Paris to be trained in project administration and management. I had no idea where my first assignment would be, but during my training, I was told I would be sent to Pakistan and was due to start in two weeks.

Since joining MSF, I have worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, and Yemen

When I moved, adjusting could be tough; most of my postings were in places with security concerns, so we often lived in compounds and had limited movement.

At times, I have experienced a bit of cabin fever. But I've learned that if you take things in stride, make an effort with those around you, and focus on why you're there, it's an incredibly rewarding experience.

Rodney Miller

Each project has a truly international group coming together with locals to assist people in need, so even when we've been confined to compounds, we always had a good time.

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My family was worried about me being sent to regions in conflict

Because I worked in financial services for 15 years, my parents never expected me to quit and take up a role like this.

At first, they were concerned for my financial future, as these assignments don't pay much. But when they discovered the places I'd be going, they seemed to quickly forget about the finances and were worried about me having a future at all.

Rodney Miller

However, things can often seem far more dangerous from afar, based on their portrayal in the media. That's not to say there aren't awful events happening globally, but MSF works incredibly hard to reduce the risk as much as possible for its staff.

Some assignments are more challenging than others

While stationed in Ethiopia, we were living in tents inside a refugee camp, running temporary primary-healthcare facilities while trying to set up a more permanent base and shelter for ourselves. The conditions were very basic, and it was extremely challenging to get by.

But being so close and connected to the projects' beneficiaries was a fantastic experience and highlighted one of MSF's core ideals, "proximity." It gives you great insight into what happens daily and increases your acceptance by the community you want to help, rather than being seen as people who just come in and out, do a job, and then go home.

Rodney Miller

One of the more interesting things I've had to do on assignment is negotiate with the general of a rebel group

I was tasked with negotiating access for MSF to rebel-held areas in a volatile region. Depending on which side you were on and your perspective, the general was either a tough negotiator bringing order to a lawless place or a war criminal responsible for torture and murder.

We met at an army compound in the evening, and my team and I were incredibly nervous. However, the meeting went well and concluded with an invitation from the general to stay the night. Given that he had survived multiple assassination attempts against him, we declined the invitation and returned to our compound.

As it turned out, within a year, an assassination attempt succeeded.

There have been some other close shaves that can make locals think we are reckless

Once, when heading to our base from an airport, we passed through an area just hours before an explosion. My manager called several times to make sure we had arrived safely. There have been several times I've heard bombs go off nearby.

Locals often think we are out of our minds to voluntarily live in places they're actively trying to flee. A local staff member in Yemen was lamenting that he would give anything to be able to leave the country. Then he looked at me and said, "Only you crazy ex-pats run towards these places while the rest of us are trying to run away, but that's why we love MSF so much and why the people of Yemen will never forget you."

It's comments like those that make this so rewarding.

Rodney Miller

I have learned so much from this experience

No matter where you go, people are people. There are no inherently bad groups of people based on any nationality, tribe, race, or religion. Yes, there are always bad people in every society.

Still, as in the Western world, most people just want a safe and secure place to live with enough opportunities and resources to raise a family, be happy, and lead a dignified life.

After working for so long on several projects, I am finally returning to live in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia, in July. Of course, my parents are excited and ask whether this is a sign that I might finally get married and give them grandchildren.

I just laugh  but hey, never say never.

Read the original article on Insider
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is returning to Washington on Tuesday after a months-long absence due to illness, her spokesman said, restoring Democrats' 51-49 majority to full strength.

The 89-year-old lawmaker had been sidelined since February as she recovered from a bout of shingles, which had led to calls from some fellow Democrats that she step aside and allow someone else to take her place.

Im glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. "After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, its clear shes back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California.

Feinstein was first elected in 1992, nicknamed the "year of the women," which saw the number of women U.S. senators double and California become the first state represented by two women: Feinstein and fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Feinstein had previously served as mayor of San Francisco.

Feinstein's absence had deadlocked the Senate Judiciary Committee she sits on, slowing Democrats' drive to approve some of President Joe Biden's most controversial nominees to vacant federal court positions, leading to a partial Republican blockade.

Her extended leave had prompted some Democrats, notably Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to call for her resignation.

Democrats' worries were heightened as lawmakers have been arguing over raising the nation's borrowing authority. Feinstein could provide crucial support for whatever debt limit bill comes before the Senate, which would avert a first-ever default on U.S. debt.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Tim Ahmann and Leslie Adler)
Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will have to battle Rep. David Trone and other candidates for the Democratic nomination for Marylands U.S. Senate seat.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks will have to battle Rep. David Trone and other candidates for the Democratic nomination for Marylands U.S. Senate seat.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks entered the race for Marylands open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, and instantly became the Democratic Partys best chance to elect a Black woman to the Senate since now-Vice President Kamala Harris run in 2016.

There have been only nine Black U.S. senators since Reconstruction, and only two of those  Harris and former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun  have been women.

The 52-year-old Alsobrooks is serving her second term as county executive, following eight years as the top prosecutor in Prince Georges County, a majority-black suburban county outside Washington, D.C. Shes expected to quickly rack up endorsements from key Democrats and outside groups, including EMILYs List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights.

I get it: There arent a lot of people who like me in the U.S. Senate, Alsobrooks says in a video launching her campaign. People who live like, think like and who look like the people they are supposed to represent. Im running for Senate to be a voice for families like the ones I grew up with.

Alsobrooks opens the video by recounting a harrowing story: A South Carolinas sheriffs deputy shot and killed her great-grandfather in the 1950s and threatened her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother , forcing them to flee the state and resettle in Maryland.

There arent enough people in the US Senate who live like, think like and look like the people theyre supposed to represent. My Great-Grandma told me, if you dont like something, go farther and do better. Im proud to say Im running for the Senate. Lets go farther together. pic.twitter.com/uIyO9ARbck  Angela Alsobrooks (@AlsobrooksForMD) May 9, 2023

The support of EMILYs List, which has a history of spending aggressively in primaries, could end up being crucial for Alsobrooks chances. Rep. David Trone, the co-founder of Total Wine and More and one of the wealthiest members of Congress, has already announced his own run for the seat. Trone has said he could spend up to $50 million of his own fortune on the race.

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His campaign has already begun airing ads highlighting his pledge not to take campaign donations from political action committees or lobbyists, as well as his work to combat overdoses and overhaul the criminal justice system.

The seat is open following the retirement announcement of three-term Sen. Ben Cardin (D) earlier this month. Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando, another Black candidate, has also announced a bid.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, who gained national attention for his role in President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial and membership on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, is also considering a run.

Raskin would likely be the most progressive candidate in the Democratic primary, with Trone, Alsobrooks and Jawando all considered to be in the partys ideological mainstream. All four candidates are also from the vote-rich D.C. suburbs, which leaves a potential opening for a Baltimore-based candidate. Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski could fill that void.

Any Democratic primary victor would be a heavy favorite in the general election. President Joe Biden won Maryland by 33 percentage points in 2020.

Alsobrooks is not the only Black woman running for Senate this year, with Rep. Barbara Lee running to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein in California. Political forecasters, however, give Alsobrooks a much stronger chance of triumphing: Lee is running against two top-tier candidates, Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, and is not expected to attract as much institutional and establishment support as Alsobrooks.

Rep. Colin Allred, who is Black, is the leading Democratic candidate to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas.
Justin W. Brill appears Tuesday in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court where he pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and other charged tied to the June 14 death of Ronald Rader.

NEW PHILADELPHIA  A 23-year-old Dennison man could spend 17 to 21 years in prison for killing Ronald Rader in a drunken driving crash and injuring another man.

Justin W. Brill pleaded guilty Tuesday to seven charges in connection with the June 14 fatal crash in front of the victim's apartment.

Ronald Rader of New Philadelphia rode his tricycle throughout the Dover-New Philadelphia area. He died June 14 after Justin W. Brill drove into him while he was outside his apartment at a picnic table.

Cyclist remembered: Man killed in Tuesday crash was often seen riding tricycle in area

Case moves ahead: Vehicular homicide case against Justin W. Brill sent to grand jury

Charges filed: Justin W. Brill faces 8-12 year sentence if convicted in connection with fatal crash

Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Ernest told Brill that prison is mandatory. He ordered a background report on the defendant and scheduled sentencing for June 23.

Ernest accepted Brill's plea and found him guilty of two counts each of aggravated vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident, and single counts of aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Justin W. Brill, left, appears Tuesday in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court with his attorney, Richard D. Drake, center. Brill pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ronald Rader in a drunken driving crash.

As part of a plea agreement, Assistant County Prosecutor Fred R. Scott recommended a sentence of 10 1/2 to 13 1/2 years. The judge is not bound by the recommendation. The plea was negotiated with defense attorney Richard D. Drake of Canton.

Ronald Raders tricycle is seen mangled and locked at Beaver Creek Apartments on June 16. Rader died as a result of injuries suffered in a hit-skip car crash at the complex. Justin W. Brill admitted guilt in the fatal crash on Tuesday in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court.

Brill drove into Beaver Creek Apartments, causing fatal injuries to Rader, 55, who was caught between the vehicle and the building at 1811 E. High Ave.

A second victim suffered broken ribs and other injuries, Assistant County Prosecutor Kristine Beard said during a hearing in New Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Rader was a familiar sight to many people, even those who did not know him personally. He often rode his light blue tricycle, equipped with a cargo basket, throughout the Dover and New Philadelphia areas.

Drake said Brill regretted killing Rader and leaving the crash scene. He said Brill, who has a daughter, understands that he took the victim away from his family forever.

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Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.

On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Justin Brill guilty of 2022 crashed that killed Ronald Rader
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Scott Olson / Staff/ Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed three bills into law on Monday, including one prohibiting Chinese citizens from purchasing land in the state. The new regulations are intended to "counteract the malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the state of Florida," per a press release.

"Today, Florida makes it very clear we don't want the CCP in the Sunshine State," DeSantis said at a press conference on Monday. "We want to maintain this as the free state of Florida."

The new bill, SB 246, "prevents Chinese nationals from buying land in Florida unless they are also American citizens or permanent residents," Insider explains. In an exception to the new law, legislators added "an amendment allowing anyone holding a non-tourist visa to buy one property of up to two acres," Insider adds, "as long as it's not within five miles of a military installation."

DeSantis called the latest bill a response to a "concerted effort" by the Chinese Communist Party to acquire farmland in Florida. The governor also signed a bill that bans using Chinese-owned social media apps, like TikTok and WeChat, on government devices and another that limits colleges and universities from entering agreements with their counterparts in foreign "countries of concern" such as China. Florida has also banned Russian, Cuban, Iranian, North Korean, Syrian, and Venezuelan citizens from purchasing property within 10 miles of a military base. However, they were not entirely banned from buying land in Florida.

"Florida is taking action to stand against the United States' greatest geopolitical threat  the Chinese Communist Party," DeSantis said in a statement. "I'm proud to sign this legislation to stop the purchase of our farmland and land near our military bases and critical infrastructure by Chinese agents, to stop sensitive digital data from being stored in China, and to stop CCP influence in our education system from grade school to grad school. We are following through on our commitment to crack down on Communist China."

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DeSantis bans Chinese citizens from buying land in Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) severed ties with his state political committee ahead of an expected White House run that could be announced in the upcoming weeks.

The move was necessary for DeSantis to be able to declare a presidential campaign if he chooses to launch one. The committees website was updated to list that state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R) is the associated person with the committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, instead of the Florida governor.

Ingoglia confirmed to The Hill he has taken over serving as the committees chairman.

DeSantis has not publicly announced that hes considering a run, but separating himself from the state committee is one of multiple steps he has taken recently that may hint he is close to launching a bid.

He said on Friday at a press conference marking the end of the Florida legislative session that he will make a decision about the future relatively soon, adding you either gotta put up or shut up.

This came after he dismissed reports from last month that said he planned to get in the race in May or June. He had, however, hinted earlier this year he would wait at least until the end of Floridas regular legislative session before deciding whether to run for the presidency.

The Florida legislature has also sent a bill to DeSantiss desk that would allow him to remain as governor if he runs for president. State law requires officials to resign from their current office to run for another, but the legislation would establish an exception for candidates for president and vice president.

DeSantis has also recently visited several key states in the Republican primary, like New Hampshire and South Carolina, and he made a trip to a few countries throughout the world.

Politico reported DeSantis created the committee in 2018 and raised money through his reelection campaign for governor last year.

But he cannot use the money raised from the committee in a federal election because there are restrictions in place for how much can be donated to a campaign. Florida law does not restrict how much an individual can give to the political committee.

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The money could be transferred to a super PAC supporting DeSantis if he is no longer connected to the state committee, according to the outlet.

Ingoglia told The Hill in a statement that he has the honor of serving as the chairman of the committee, which will continue to be a pro-parent, pro-student organization committed to protecting parental rights and advancing the Freedom Agenda.

He said the country is at a crossroads, and he looks forward to helping candidates who are advancing the committees mission.

Change does not come about by standing idly; it requires action. This political committee will put children first, bolster and protect parental rights in education, and it will focus on electing the right candidates fighting to safeguard our kids from woke and divisive material in our classrooms. I look forward to helping get these candidates across the finish line, Ingoglia said.

The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for DeSantis for comment.

Updated at 7:54 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After banning TikTok on college campuses earlier this year, on Tuesday Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to ban the social media platform in grade school as well.

The bill gives schools more power to take away devices, as well as requiring new social media training for students.

DeSantis said social media is putting students lives at risk.

While parents Channel 9 spoke with dont believe the Chinese government is to blame, they dont see the harm of keeping some social media sites away from students.

Read: Gov. DeSantis signs bill to allow the death penalty for people who commit child rapes

Let kids be normal kids like there were prior to social media, DeSantis said.

Starting July 1, public schools will need to employ website filtering to prevent a students device from connecting to social media sites using district-owned computer servers and prohibits TikTok on district-owned devices.

The bill also states students must receive instruction on the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media, and gives teachers the authority to designate an area for wireless communications devices during instructional time.

Read: After Disney sues DeSantis, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board sues back

I think they have every right when kids come in to say, Check your phone in, leave it there, learn then get it after that. We dont want kids on the phone the whole time while teachers are trying to teach, DeSantis said.

The new law seeks to limit distractions in class, while also limiting what sites kids can access on school Wi-Fi amid concerns over security with sites like TikTok.

Read: Stay tuned: Gov. DeSantis hints at presidential run announcement

Orange County already has a rule limiting phone use and says it will look into other ways to implement the law.

Osceola County said its still too early to comment.

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.
Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a series of bills Monday that bans Chinese citizens from buying land in the state.

In a recent news release, the Republican announced his signing of that bill and two others which are meant to counteract what he described as the malign influence of the Chinese Communist party in the state of Florida.

One bill restricts Chinese nationals from buying land in Florida unless they are also American citizens or permanent residents.

Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas, meanwhile, would be limited to buying fewer than two acres of land that is at least five miles away from any military institutions, the Tampa Bay television news outlet WTVT reported.

The bill also restricts foreign citizens of other countries from buying land under certain circumstances. Russian, Iranian, Cuban, Syrian, North Korean and Venezuelan citizens are not allowed to purchase land within 10 miles of military bases under the measure but can still buy property elsewhere in Florida, Insider reported.

Critics have warned that the bill could facilitate discrimination against Chinese homeowners in Florida while also harming other immigrants, Axios reported.

Last month, ahead of the bills signing, more than 100 protesters testified against the legislation, adding that it would discriminate against Floridas Chinese population, USA Today reported.

My concern is this bill will affect people like me who want to own a home, said Florida college student Victoria Li, through tears. Were scared, were terrified. Thats what we came here for. We have the American dream. Thats why, at my age, Im still going to school.

Other legislation signed on Monday includes a bill that prohibits colleges and universities as well as their employees from accepting gifts while in their official capacities from a college or university based in a foreign country of concern, the Hill reported.

Colleges and universities within Florida are also required to get approval from the states board of governors or board of education before participating in any agreement or partnership with a university in a foreign country.

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An additional bill restricts those using government devices and servers from downloading applications such as TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company, the Hill added.

Florida is taking action to stand against the United States greatest geopolitical threat  the Chinese Communist party, DeSantis said.

The bills are collectively scheduled to go into effect on 1 July.
Its hard for me to write this about someone who has always treated me with great kindness, but alas: It is time for Dianne Feinstein to retire. She has had an exemplary career in public service but now she is hurting the country by continuing to hold a seat when her health has prevented her from doing her job for months.

I have had the pleasure of working with Sen. Feinstein since she was elected to the Senate in 1992 and though I did not always agree with her, I always enormously admired her.

However, she has not been in the Senate since February as she recovers from shingles. Though her office announced Tuesday that she would return to Washington D. C. its still not immediately clear when she would resum her work as a voting member of the U.S. Senate.

She serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and her absence has made advancing judges to the full Senate much more difficult. Her absence makes passage of an extension of the debt ceiling more difficult, with a catastrophic default now looming in mere weeks.

Opinion

Her difficulties in performing the job did not start in February, and they are not limited to just this illness. There have been major newspaper stories interviewing staffers describing her declining mental health and inability to do her job. I observed this in our last conversation, and I have heard it from those who work for her and have observed her in the Senate.

I do not underestimate how difficult it is to let go of a position of prestige and power after over 30 years. But for a person who has dedicated her career to public service, I hope she will recognize that the greatest service now would be to resign and let Gov. Gavin Newsom name someone to fill her seat until the 2024 election. California needs a second Senator, and the Senate needs all of its members.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called critics who call for Feinsteins resignation sexist, declaring: Ive never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way. That is a fair point in the sense that there are plenty of examples of male Senators who remained after they were no longer able to do the job, such as Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd.

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But Pelosis statement misses the point in that it fails to address the crucial question: Can Feinstein still do her job? If not  and it seems clear that she cannot  she must resign.

The problem, however, is that we lack a mechanism for dealing with those who hold office but who are no longer are able to do the job and wont let go. I have seen it with federal judges who have life tenure and remain on the bench long after they are able to perform competently. Several years ago, I argued a case in the Ninth Circuit before a once eminent judge, then in his 90s, who clearly had no idea what was going on.

I dont want to minimize how difficult it is to tell someone that its time to leave. In my 15 years as dean of a law school, I have had to do this with colleagues. It is excruciating, and I try to do it in a way that respects the dignity and privacy of the professor. Sometimes it requires enlisting family members to help. Theres no doubt that it is easier to do nothing, but that would be unfair to our students.

Likewise, it is the duty of Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Senators to plainly convey the message to Feinstein that it is time to step down. It is the responsibility of those who know her and that she respects to ask her to do a final act of great public service for California and the country: resign.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin at City Hall in 2021. The treasurer's office deposited $10 million of its cash holdings into Albany Bank & Trust Co., a community bank on the Northwest Side, in a move aimed at bolstering affordable housing construction and small business creation in neighborhoods. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago treasurers office deposited $10 million of its cash holdings into Albany Bank & Trust Co., a community bank on the Northwest Side, in a move aimed at bolstering affordable housing construction and small business creation in neighborhoods such as Albany Park, according to City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin.

Albank is the only independent community bank currently approved to handle city deposits, the others being regional or national banks, and Conyears-Ervin said its tight-knit community relationships ensure taxpayer dollars will go where theyre most needed.

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We know community banks are more inclined to invest directly in our residents and our small business owners, she said.

Albank has $700 million in assets, and most often provides capital for affordable housing in 25 North and Northwest Side community areas, including many multifamily developments, along with some small business loans.

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Thats our bread and butter, said Senior Vice President Adam Steinback. Our lending is very heavily focused on community and economic development serving low- to moderate-income residents. Thats what we do every day, and this is a wonderful opportunity to do even more of that.

More than two-thirds of Albany Parks more than 48,000 residents are minorities, and nearly 16% of its households get by on less than $25,000 a year, according to a 2022 report from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Conyears-Ervin said she has bigger goals than sparking new Northwest Side development. She wants more community banks, especially those on the South and West sides, to also secure the necessary approval from City Council and handle city deposits, hopefully leading to more lending in neighborhoods suffering from disinvestment.

Our biggest hurdle is getting smaller banks to apply, she said. Unfortunately, community banks have always felt, at least before I came into office, that this program didnt include them. I want them to see this is something were serious about.

Conyears-Ervin, treasurer since 2019 and an ally of Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, won reelection this year after running unopposed. In April, she announced the formation of an exploratory committee to challenge U.S. Rep. Danny Davis in next years Democratic primary.

City dollars have been deposited at Albank before, Steinback said, but the new cash infusion is a more than tenfold increase.

Earlier this year, the treasurers office also placed $25 million with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and according to Conyears-Ervin, the investments will help hundreds of low-to moderate-income homebuyers on the South and West sides get mortgages for single-family homes.

We want to make sure were investing in all 77 of the citys community areas, she said.
A disgraced former Mississippi law enforcement officer relieved from his duties in the aftermath of reports him allegedly producing fraudulent DNA test results to deny he fathered a child has been arrested.

This time, former Homeland Security agent and Hancock County Sheriffs Narcotics Commander Benjamin Marcus Ben Taylor, 43, was led away from a Chancery Court courtroom in Biloxi during a hearing in his ongoing divorce case.

Judge Margaret Alfonso ordered his arrest Monday.

Taylor has to pay a total of $10,000 before he can be released from custody so that the money can be used to pay a portion of what he allegedly owes for child support or other costs in his divorce case.

Hancock County Chancery Clerk Tim Kellar provided the information on what amount the judge ordered Taylor to pay before he could be released from custody.

In this December 2020 picture from the Bay St. Louis Police Department, former federal agent, local police officer, and current Hancock County Deputy Benjamin Ben Taylor, is recognized for his outstanding service in the city of Waveland.

Harrison County deputies took Taylor into custody and drove him to the Harrison County jail. Jailers booked him into that jail at 1:25 p.m. Monday on a charge of contempt of court for failure to comply with the court orders of support that Alfonso put into place early-on.

Taylor, as of Monday, had reportedly refused to pay his wife any amount of what was ordered by the court.

In divorce hearings late last year, Taylors wife told Alfonso that its been challenging to pay bills the couple accrued together without the financial support from her husband.

In his booking photo, Taylor is wearing a black and white striped jail uniform.

The Sun Herald has attended hearings in the divorce case off and on since the divorce petition was filed in June 2022.

Taylor has gone through various attorneys in the case and, according to testimony, didnt pay what he was supposed to despite orders from the court to do otherwise.

Since the separation, however, Taylor has formed a business called SecuriTran LLC., according to its website. The business is described as a Mississippi-founded secure transporter of medical cannabis (marijuana) and provider of cash-in-transit services.

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The business website touts how it was formed by a veteran supervisory federal agent with over twenty years of law enforcement experience, and says those who transport the goods are armed and have extensive law enforcement and/or military experience.

According to the Secretary of States Office, the business was created n Sept. 1, 2022. Its registered agent is listed as Legalink Coprorate Services, Inc., and Taylor is listed as a manager.

Ex-Homeland Security Investigations Agent and Hancock County Sheriffs Narcotics Commander Benjamin Taylor

Harrison County Youth Court Judge Margaret Alphonso talks to Mississippi Department of Human Services caseworkers before their session on May17, 2016 in Gulfport.

Gag order issued in separate case

Judge Jennifer Schloegel issued a gag order in April to close her courtroom to the media during the remainder of a trial for sanctions against the former longtime drug agent in another child support case pending in Chancery Court involving former girlfriend Branissa Stroud.

Attorney Michael Holleman is pushing the judge to issue sanctions against Taylor by ordering him to pay all attorneys fees and court costs in the child support case involving the child he allegedly fathered with Stroud.

Holleman represents Stroud, a co-petitioner in the state Department of Human Services lawsuit filed against Taylor in 2020. The minor child that Taylor reportedly fathered lives with Stroud.

Taylor was married at the time of his intimate relationship with Stroud.

The Sun Herald broke the story on the case and has covered it extensively since last year. That coverage has included attending court hearings in that case and that involving his estranged wife.

Former federal agent and current Hancock County sheriffs commander over narcotics, Benjamin Ben Taylor is pictured here with Branissa Stroud, and the child Stroud identifies as Taylors daughter.

Taylor has denied fathering the child with Stroud, though Schloegel later ordered a DNA test to confirm the identity of the childs father.

The judge ordered the DNA results to remain under seal during the ongoing trial for sanctions in Strouds case.

The case involving Stroud has not yet been resolved.

But Strouds attorney had outlined various allegations against Taylor since he had a former attorney file the fraudulent DNA test results in that case.

The attorney who filed the fake DNA test results that Taylor supplied him for the case involving Stroud withdrew the filings and stepped down as Taylors attorney as soon he confirmed the documents were fraudulent.

The Sun Herald first started looking into allegations of wrongdoing against Taylor after receiving various tips from various sources  including some sources in law enforcement  about his alleged wrongdoing.

A federal probe into Ben Taylors paternity case

Prior to publishing exclusive reports on alleged wrongdoing, the Sun Herald obtained various records and conducted interviews to provide an in-depth look at Taylors problems.

As part of that probe, the Sun Herald learned that now retired federal Investigator Donald Smith in the inspector generals office for HSI called Strouds attorney on June 29, 2021, to let him and Stroud know he was investigating Taylor for producing fraudulent DNA test results in addition to other matters. Smith told the attorney he had confirmed the DNA test results Taylor had submitted in the case involving Stoud was a forgery.

Smith also told Holleman and Stroud that Taylor had failed a lie detector test administered by federal authorities about the alleged fraud and other matters.

Smith also outlined how he had asked the U.S. Attorneys Office to seek a criminal indictment against Taylor for a crime, but said that the federal prosecutors office declined to do so.

Former federal agent and current Hancock County sheriffs commander over narcotics, Benjamin Ben Taylor is pictured here with Branissa Stroud, and the child Stroud identifies as Taylors daughter.

Smith created a Brady file on Taylor about the fraud in the officers HSI employment record for disclosure to defense attorneys in cases Taylor investigated. A set of regulations known as the Brady Disclosures requires prosecutors to disclose such material on officers to defense attorneys to help them exonerate their clients in court.

The fake DNA test results are on letterhead in the name of Hunts Genetics and contain a fraudulent and forged signature of a non-existent laboratory director, along with a fraudulent notary stamp and forged signature in the name of Dayton, Ohio, notary Donnell Garry.

The Sun Herald interviewed Garry, and he confirmed the fraud.
Questions keep mounting over the investigation of a murder-suicide at the property of a convicted rapist where seven bodies were discovered last week.

Following the gruesome findings on Jesse McFaddens property on 1 May, dive teams with the Oklahoma State of Bureau Investigations (OSBI) have been spotted using sonar devices at one of the ponds neighbouring the scene of the heinous crime that sent shockwaves in the community of Henryetta, KJRH reports.

The Medical Examiner and excavation crews were also at the property until Monday evening.

The development is especially compelling in light of revelations by a neighbour of McFadden who told the network last week that they had seen somebody digging the pond about six months ago. When confronted, the individual reportedly said they meant to expand the pond, despite there being no apparent reason to do so.

It comes amid reports, also from KJRH, that a family of the victims found a ledger at the crime scene with a list of unknown names and ages  the last final names being those of the six victims shot dead by McFadden last week before he turned the gun on himself.

The Independent has reached out to the OSBI for comment on the possibility that McFadden may have been the individual digging the pond last year, and whether the agency is investigating other potential crimes at the property.

The Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed last week that McFaddens wife Holly Guess, 35, and her children Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17, Michael James Mayo, 15, and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13 were among the deceased. Tiffanys friends Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 15, were the two other murder victims.

Before dive teams began a second processing of the scene on Saturday (6 May), KFOR revealed that authorities left behind a trove of stomach-churning evidence at McFaddens property after releasing the scene just days before the bodies were found. While touring the residence with the owners authorisation, a crew of reporters found hand restraints, sex toys and drug paraphernalia that have since been seized by Okmulgee Police.

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Local law enforcement agencies have faced scrutiny for both the handling of the murder investigation and McFaddens botched trial on charges of soliciting and child pornography.

Missing Teens Bodies Found Oklahoma (OKLAHOMAN)

McFadden, who was on the state sex offender registry, was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl in 2003 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He had an early release in 2020, in part for good behaviour, despite being hit with fresh charges in 2017 after he was caught exchanging lewd pictures with a teen while in jail.

After his release in October 2020, McFadden was arrested the next month and then released on a $25,000 bond pending trial, which was repeatedly delayed, partially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

McFaddens rape victim Krystle Strong and cellmate James Fleming told The Independent last week that they separately contacted several law enforcement agencies in a fruitless attempt to stop his release and warn authorities that he was a danger to the community.

A spokesperson with Henryetta Police Department said that McFaddens address was located in an unincorporated part of Okmulgee County, where his registration was up to date, and deferred to Okmulgee Police Department, which did not answer The Independents request for comment.

Missing girls Brittany Brewer, 15, left, and Ivy Webster, 14, right, were found dead in Oklahoma in May 2023 (Brewer family / Webster family via Facebook)

Due to his home address. Henryetta Police Department would have no records kept of his registration, Henryetta Police said in a statement.

According to KFOR reporter Erin Christy, several departments in the District 25 task force were initially put in charge of the investigation. Ms Christy said that she was deferred to the OSBI by the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office after Sheriff Eddy Rice declined to clarify the confusion surrounding which agency had the eadership of the case.

Ultimately, someone needs to say well go through this or that. What did you miss? And if you have people outside your jurisdiction, it doesnt work well, Former Tulsa Police Department homicide detective Dave Walker told KFOR. You gotta be in charge of everything or youre not in charge of anything.

This undated photo provided by Janette Mayo shows from left, Tiffany Guess, Michael Mayo and Rylee Elizabeth Allen

Relatives of the victims have expressed disbelief after learning about McFaddens early release. Ivy and Brittanys parents have said they did not know McFadden had been convicted of raping a minor, while Guess mother has said she only found out very recently.

And they rushed him out of prison. How? Guess mother Jannette Mayo also told the AP. Oklahoma failed to protect families. And because of that my children, my daughter and my grandchildren are all gone ... Im never going to get to see em, never going to get to hold them, and its killing me.
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Ada County Sheriff's Office

In a shocking turn of events, the legal team for Doomsday mom Lori Vallow decided to rest their case on Tuesday without mounting a defense of their client, whom they say is innocent of murdering her two children and conspiring to murder her husbands ex-wife. They also declined to put Vallow or any other witnesses on the stand to testify on her behalf.

But while Vallows team claims they dont believe the state has proven its case, the prosecution has been relentlessits case has included 60 witnesses, harrowing physical evidence, and the recitation of dozens of graphic text messages from Vallow to her paramour.

After 25 days, Idaho prosecutors rested their murder case against Vallow on Tuesday afternoon, arguing that the Doomsday mom, fueled by her extreme religious beliefs, murdered her two children in September 2019 with her new husband, Chad Daybell. A month later, the couple allegedly conspired to murder Daybells first wife, Tammy, for an insurance payout before they fled to Hawaii to start a new life. When authorities finally learned the children were missing, Vallow suddenly stopped communicating with police until her arrest months later.

Flesh and Blood: Ghastly Evidence Might Doom Lori Vallow

To prove their case, prosecutors subjected jurors to hours of testimony about the couples adherence to a renegade branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Vallow believing that her children had dark spirits and had become zombies. Law enforcement experts also walked jurors through cell phone data, autopsy reports, and other evidence to showcase the grisly deaths and burials of Vallows two children, 7-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.

They also detailed the dozens of salacious text messages between Vallow and Daybell, a former gravedigger who had written several Mormon apocalyptic novels, where the couple graphically talked about their love affair and attempts to remove evil spirits from several people.

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Closing arguments will take place on Thursday, where Vallows defense team will need to address the following issues if they hope to see the mother-of-three evade a prison sentence for life.

A Previous Death Threat

One of Vallows former friends broke down on the stand as she detailed how the mother of three threatened to cut and kill herand then bury her body in a place nobody would ever find her. Audrey Barattiero said she was having a normal conversation with Vallow, whom she met through the LDS church, when she asked her friend if something weird was going on with her. Without warning, Barattiero said, that Vallow started laughinglike if you were laughing at someoneand then Vallow berated her.

Youre so naive and too trusting. Youre like a little child. You think the world is all unicorns and rainbows. You go around helping people and serving them, Vallow allegedly told her friend, according to East Idaho News. Well, Ive got news for you. Not everyone is a good person and not everyone can be so kind.

She said she would cut me up and wasnt in the mental place to do it but would get herself in a place to do it, Barattiero added. There would be blood and bleach and something about trash bags. She would bury me in a place nobody would ever find me.

Barattiero said her friendship with Vallow ended after the conversation.

Plastic Bags, Duct Tape, and Restraints

For days, jurors were subjected to brutal details of how Vallow allegedly murdered and buried her two childrenbefore hiding their bodies in Daybells Idaho backyard.

Dr. Garth Warren, who works for the Ada County Coroner's Office, detailed how JJ was smothered with a white plastic bag that was duct-taped shut over his head. The child was still in his red pajamas when he was found in a pet cemetery in June 2020tightly bound in a garbage bag tightly and with duct tape. Warren added that a toxicology report also concluded that JJ was found with low levels of ethanol, caffeine, and the date-rape drug GHB. (It is not immediately clear, Warren said, if the GHB was given to JJ or if it was a naturally occurring product.)

Warren added that while he determined that Tylee was murdered, he could only determine she died of unspecified means because of the buried and dismembered state of her body. He added that Tylee was found buried in a fire pit nearby her younger brother. Douglas Halepaska, who works for the FBI lab in the firearms and tool marks division, testified that he examined several sharp trauma areas on Tylees bones that he believed came from a machete, hatchet, or cleaver. Another witness told jurors that gasoline was found on Tylees flesh.

Prosecutors also shared awful details of Tammy Daybells October 2019 death with the jury. While authorities initially did not deem Tammys death suspicious, a Utah medical examiner testified that her body was exhumed months later. During that examination, Dr. Erik Christensen said, he determined that Tammy may have been restrained for hours when she died from asphyxiation. He added that Tammy likely sustained bruising on her arms and chest in the few hours before her death.

Doomsday Case Finally Focuses on Slain Wife: Its Her Time

Vallows Hair Found On Duct Tape

In what could be the most damning piece of evidence against the Doomsday mom, a DNA expert revealed last week that a piece of Vallows hair was found stuck on duct tape that was used to wrap JJs body before he was buried.

Keeley Coleman, a senior DNA analyst at Bode Technology in Virginia, testified that she tested three DNA profiles in connection with the tape, including Lori, Tylee Ryan, and family friend Melanie Gibb. But she only found a match for Vallow on a piece of hair that was attached to an adhesive.

The partial DNA profile matched the DNA profile provided from Lori Vallow Daybell, Coleman said of the hair. The probability of randomly selecting a random individual in relation to that profile is 1 in 71 billion.

Vallows Doomsday Beliefs

From the start of their case, prosecutors have stressed to jurors that Vallows beliefs fueled her murderous spree in 2019. But to prove the lengths Vallow was willing to go for her faith, prosecutors called several of the closest former friends and allies to the stand to explain her religionand Daybells prominence in it.

Melanie Gibb detailed to jurors how she met Vallow at a church event in 2018 and how they became fast friends, ultimately starting a religious podcast together. Gibb was with Vallow when she met Daybell in Utah that same year; she said the pair quickly believed they had been married in a past life and were meant to be together.

The initial meeting spurred a love affair, Gibb said, and fueled Vallows outlandish beliefs. Gibb said that Vallow believed she and Daybell were among 144,000 people who would be on Earth for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Vallow also preached about a light and dark scale, Gibb said, and explained that if a person had turned dark they would become a zombie.

Among the people Vallow said were considered dark were her former husband, Charles, one of her brothers, and her two children, Gibb said.

Zulema Pastenes, who used to be briefly married to Vallows brother, also detailed to the jury how the couple taught her about castings that would be used to expel evil spirits from dark people. Both Pastenes and Gibb testified about several castings they performed as a group, most of which they said were unsuccessful.

Chad and Loris Explicit Text Messages

After weeks of salacious and gruesome testimony, prosecutors called an FBI witness who allowed Daybell and Vallow to speak for themselves. FBI Special Agent Doug Hart read aloud dozens of text messages between Daybell and Vallow to the jury, which graphically detailed their intimate moments, religious beliefs, and a romance novel the author had written for his paramour.

I love you Elena, what wonderful chemistry we have, Daybell texted Vallow in 2019, according to East Idaho News. Vallow responded: I love you more, thats so hot. I just need you now more than ever.

The text messages also reveal the couples more sinister side, including how they seemed to anticipate JJ and Tylees death. In August 2019, Vallow asked Daybell if there he thought there was a perfectly orchestrated plan to take the children and if they just have to wait for it to be carried out.

I feel lost. Like I should be doing something to help, she added, to which Daybell responded,

There is a plan being orchestrated for the children.

Hart noted that Daybell and Vallow also texted about his first wife, Tammy, and discussed how a demon named Viola had possessed her just days before her murder. The day after Tammys deathafter Daybell insisted to authorities the family did not want an autopsyVallow sent a text about how she was sad and missed him.

I know exactly how you feel, Daybell says in response. Im feeling sad, but it isnt for the reason everyone thinks!

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Im headed home soon, and Ive never been more eager to get there.

Home for me these days is Holland, Michigan, where I retired a few years ago. But then I found myself drawn back to work, and so Ive lived since last August in the Hague, a city on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands.

As my work contract ends, I am saying my goodbyes, promising to stay in touch with a few people (beyond social media connections), and packing. Its bittersweet.

My thinking about home has changed quite a bit over the years. Home is where I want to be for what is likely the last leg of my earthly journey, but I have mixed feelings about it. Home, that is, not that last leg business. And maybe that is always the way with home. We love it, but we are sometimes angry with it, irritated by it, even exasperated about it. Its complicated.

Douglas Brouwer

While I lived in the Netherlands and tried my best to understand and appreciate its culture, Ive been reading the Sentinel too, keeping up to date on what is happening back home. Comparisons are inevitable. For much of my life I have listened to U.S. politicians talk about the socialist nightmare in western Europe, the heavy tax burden, the government bureaucracy that stifles imagination and entrepreneurship. But in the last year I experienced something quite different. (Full disclosure: This is not my first time living abroad. I lived and worked for nearly five years in Switzerland, so I have had plenty of time to experience the socialist nightmare on this side of the ocean.)

My experience, to tell the truth, has been quite pleasant. The people I meet  my neighbors, the shopkeepers in my neighborhood, the church members I have come to know  are generally happy. They are often critical of their government, of course, but that happens in a democracy. They regularly complain and point out government stupidity, but they are not eager to live anywhere else. The Netherlands (unlike the U.S.) consistently ranks among the worlds happiest countries. Other northern European countries do as well.

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Douglas Brouwer recently lived in the Netherlands for several months.

Most of the people I have come to know here look back across the ocean with a mix of horror and disbelief. They shake their heads over the gun culture and the mass shootings. They are puzzled about the countrys obsession with Donald Trump and the ongoing political dysfunction. When the country with the worlds largest economy and military is struggling, other people notice.

Have I paid high taxes on the income I earned here? Yes. Have I been happy about that? No.

But then I look around and notice that the roads and infrastructure are actually quite good, better than anything Ive seen in the U.S., certainly better than in Michigan. As part of my work, I spend time in my citys poorest neighborhood, and I have never seen anything there that compares to the suffering and squalor in my own country, which proudly calls itself the richest country in the world. There is poverty in this country, yes, but generally speaking the social safety networks and takes care of what the Bible calls the least of these. The Netherlands is not a very religious country. It once was, of course, and visiting old churches has been one of my favorite activities on my day off. But rates of religious affiliation have fallen to low levels here, as they have throughout much of Europe. Church is no longer much of a factor in the lives of most people.

Even with that, though, there are some vibrant Christian communities here. My friends and neighbors like to point out that this country is in many ways more Christian than the country I call home. I find it hard to argue with them. When Christian leaders are more outraged by mask mandates than the number of children living with food insecurity, the claim to be a Christian nation can be hard to defend. My home country needs to do a better job with its priorities.

So, why dont I just stay here, if I like it so much? Because, as I mentioned, this is not my home. I miss my family, the sunsets on Lake Michigan, and all the other wonderful and life-giving experiences of life at home.

The country where I was born, however, can be better than it is. Western Michigan, where I grew up and went to school, can be better than it is. I want to be proud of the place I call home.

 Douglas Brouwer is a resident of Park Township, but is living and working during the current school year, 2022-2023, in the Hague, Netherlands.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Douglas Brouwer: Living in a socialist nightmare
Carmen Carrera

A fatal shooting took place at a nightclub in Florida over the weekend, and RuPauls Drag Race alum Carmen Carrera is among those who were present at the time. Now, shes opening up about her experience on Twitter.

A gunman opened fire just before 4am on Sunday at GALA Miami, a crowded, upscale nightclub in Miami Beach. Video taken at the club and obtained by NBC 6 showed patrons screaming and running for cover in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Carrera, who appeared on the third season of RPDR, gave a similar account via Twitter, tweeting a harrowing and all too American sentence later that morning: So I just experienced my first night club shooting.

Fabolous and J Balvin were both in the building, it was a high end club, she continued. As the entire club [ducks] down, I grabbed my girlfriends and jet out the door. I cannot believe this is the reality of the world that we live in today.

Carmen Carrera via Twitter

Twitter

The shooting victims included rapper Lowell Grissom, aka EveryBodyKnowsLo, and two unidentified women. All three were transported to the hospital, where Grissom ultimately died of his injuries. Both women are expected to recover.

\u201cI just received news of the man who died last night at the club shooting in Miami.



He was a well-known artist in the industry known as Lo.



I\u2019ve seen him around a lot and he\u2019s always been a genuinely friendly person to me. Sending prayers to his family and loved ones. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\udc94\u201d  CARMEN CARRERA (@CARMEN CARRERA) 1683499798

twitter.com

I just received news of the man who died last night at the club shooting in Miami. He was a well-known artist in the industry known as Lo. Ive seen him around a lot and hes always been a genuinely friendly person to me. Sending prayers to his family and loved ones. 

A friend of the rapper told CBS News Miami that he believes Grissom was targeted in the shooting, although an investigation is still underway and no arrests have been made.

We are shocked and deeply saddened by the isolated and targeted incident that occurred last night at our upscale establishment, a spokesperson for the nightclub said. Our condolences are with the family and friends of the victim during this time.
ABC News

With the end of its spring semester last week, North Carolina State University concluded a tragic school year that saw the deaths of 14 students. Seven students died by suicide, two fatally overdosed, four passed away from natural causes, and one student was killed in a car accident, according to Mick Kulikowski, NC State's director of strategic communications and media relations. Over a dozen students and mental health experts described the loss of life at NC State to ABC News as staggering and tragic, as well as a concerning example of national trends in student mental health.
dream job

Flytographer, a website that connects tourists to local photographers, has begun its search for the companys first Chief Memory Maker. The best friends will each receive $5,000 to fund their trip to the Flytographer destination of their choice. The winners of this dream job will be tasked with creating as many memorable moments as possible. These moments will be featured on the companys Instagram page.

Flytogrpaher will pay for the pair of friends to fly round-trip and stay in a hotel for a week at a location of their choosing, in addition to the travel allowance. Paris, Maui, Tokyo, Santorini, New York City, and more are among Flytographers most popular destinations. So, winners will have no shortage of stunning backdrops.

Planning the trip

The chief memory makers will be in charge of planning their trip to one of Flytographers more than 350 destinations. In addition to the photoshoot, the two will take their own photos and videos of the trip. Most importantly, they will have fun with their co-worker and best friend for the week. Those who want to apply for this job with their best friend must explain why they should be hired can do so here.

We encourage BFFs of all types, including mother-daughter duos, spouses, siblings, college roommates, and neighbors, to apply, said Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer. She created the company after visiting Paris with her best friend and taking photos of their memories. Over the past decade, Flytographer has captured over 3 million memories, including 20,000 family photos and 5,000 surprise proposals.

Applicants for this dream job can apply online, including credentials such as links to their social media accounts and a description of their ideal destination. The application deadline for the position is May 15. The chief memory makers must return by August 31st.
Just after a reported first quarter loss of $1.23 billion, Paramount has something to cheer this week. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ($19.99), released after its fifth weekend in theaters, is #1 on all VOD charts.

Reading the tea leaves that studios provide to figure out strategies is confusing. Paramount two weeks ago released Scream VI ($19.99) on both their own streaming platform and on PVOD. The much bigger-grossing horror film only reached #1 at Vudu (which ranks by revenue, not transactions), and at the end of its second week, only shows up on one of the three top ten lists.

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As always, we are in the dark about the revenues a film ranked at #1 takes in. We do know that at a $19.99 price, Paramount recoups around $14/transaction. It appears they conceded much of that for Scream VI, hoping that it boosted the Paramount+ subscription interest. Again, this is mostly a mystery, though it is logical to assume its play there got a lot of viewing and possibly more subscribers.

At the same time, Sony, the only one of the top five studios to not have an in-house streaming platform, continues to provide #1 ranked films on the Netflix top ten. A Man Called Otto, coming there only four months after its wide release, follows Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, which was #1 two weeks ago.

A Man Called Otto Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Other than D&D taking over at #1, three other new titles joined the top ten. Both Renfield (Universal) and The Popes Exorcist (Sony) were released after three weekends in theaters, both at $19.99. That was normal for Universal, but atylical for Sony. Neither film opened to over $10 million, and both fell quickly, making the moves logical.

Of note  despite Nicolas Cages consistent popularity on home platforms, the Russell Crowe-starring Exorcist performed better across the board on PVOD than Renfield. That might change when the price is lowered in a few weeks. His The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent had a much more sustained run as a lower-priced VOD film.

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Beautiful Disaster (Voltage), an American-set but filmed in Bulgaria college romantic drama, also debuted this week on all three charts at $6.99. This comes after it played two weeknights last month as a Fathom event. The home viewing response suggests that kind of play elevated interest.

Long-time playing Avatar: The Way of Water (reduced to $12.99) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($19.99), both Disney, plus Creed III (MGM) completed the unusually high number (seven) of films to place across the board. A curious newcomer was Apples The Tomorrow Man from 2019. Likely pushed because of Chris Pratts presence in last weeks new theatrical release Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the unusual VOD play for an old made-for-streaming title showed up on iTunes chart (which, of course, is an Apple brand).

Pitch Perfect Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

It is sometimes said that a lot of people assume all movies are on Netflix. Thats never been true, and less so since four studios have set up the own streamers. But confusion is understandable when nine of the ten titles with the most views come from apart from Sony (Otto), also Universal (Pitch Perfect, American Gangster, The Dilemma,The Wedding Date, and holding the rights to The Croods now), Paramount (G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Warner Bros. Discovery (Heat), and Lionsgate (The Glass Castle). Thats all but Disney. Pitch Perfect took first place before Otto took over.

Some of these come from long term deals, but its beginning to look like some studios are happy to take Netflixs cash for at least short-term streaming exclusivity rather than include them for their own subscribers. In any event, only one Netflix original  last weeks #1 French crime thriller AKA  is currently on the chart.

iTunes and Google Play rank films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, May 1. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for rental.

iTunes

1. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount)  $19.99

2. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney)  $12.99

3. The Popes Exorcist (Sony)  $19.99

4. Renfield (Universal)  $19.99

5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Disney)  $19.99

6. The Tomorrow War (Apple/$3.99

7. A Beautiful Disaster (Voltage)  $6.99

8. Plane (Lionsgate)  $5.99

9. Creed III (MGM)  $19.99

10. Mafia Momma (Bleecker Street)  $19.99

Google Play

1. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount)  $19.99

2. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney)  $12.99

3. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Disney)  $19.99

4. The Popes Exorcist (Sony)  $19.99

5. Renfield (Universal)  $19.99

6. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (WBD)  $19.99

7. 65 (Sony)  $19.99

8. Creed III (MGM)  $19.99

9. Beautiful Disaster (Voltage)  $6.99

10. A Man Called Otto (Sony)  $5.99

Vudu

Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating Premium VOD titles. This list covers May 1-7.

1. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount)  $19.99

2. The Popes Exorcist (Sony)  $19.99

3. Renfield (Universal)  $19.99

4. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney)  $12.99

5. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Disney)  $19.99

6. 65 (Sony)  $19.99

7. Scream VI (Paramount)  $19.99

8. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (WBD)  $19.99

9. Creed III (MGM)  $19.99

10. Beautiful Disaster (Voltage)  $6.99

Netflix Movies

Most viewed, current ranking on Netflixs daily chart on Monday, May 8. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.

1. A Man Called Otto (2022 theatrical release)

2. The Croods (2013 theatrical release)

3. Pitch Perfect (2012 theatrical release)

4. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013 theatrical release)

5. AKA (Netflix French original)

6. Heat (1995 theatrical release)

7. American Gangster (2007 theatrical release)

8. Dilemma (2011 theatrical release)

9. The Wedding Date (2005 theatrical release)

10. The Glass Castle (2017 theatrical release)

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SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he will lay out the need to defend Ukraine in the war with Russia on Tuesday when he meets Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been critical of arming the Ukrainians.

"We need to help Ukraine fight this fight," Rutte told reporters on Monday, the first day of his visit to Brazil.

Rutte said he will explain to Lula why the question of backing Ukraine is "existential" for the Netherlands, for Europe and beyond because the Russian invasion has put Western values at stake.

"If Putin would be successful in Ukraine, and I don't

think he will be, it won't end there. People are worried for their own safety, in Amsterdam, in Berlin, in Paris and Europe," he said.

Lula, who has tried to encourage countries who are not involved in the conflict to form a group to push for peace talks, has said supplying arms to Ukraine was encouraging the war. The U.S. government accused him of parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.

The Dutch government is considering with its European partners donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

"We discussing intensely with Denmark, the UK, some other parties in Europe and also the U.S. on F-16s," Rutte said in Sao Paulo.

But agreement was first needed between all the partners, as they had done in the past before supplying Panzer howitzers and Leopard tanks to Ukraine, he said. "The debate is ongoing."

Rutte is on a three-day visit accompanied by a business delegation for talks focusing on trade and cooperation for sustainable agriculture and the energy transition, especially hydrogen.

(Reporting by Lais Morais; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte discussed the war in Ukraine on Tuesday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and said there should be no concessions that affect Ukrainian sovereignty.

Lula has been advocating the creation of a group of nations not involved in the war that can broker peace talks to end the conflict and has suggested concessions from both side.

Rutte, on a three-day visit to Brazil, laid out the European position regarding the need to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.

"Netherlands will support Ukraine as long as necessary," the prime minister said at a news conference after meeting with Lula.

The Brazilian leader insisted that peace talks were needed to stop the fighting, noting that Brazil voted for the United Nations resolution condemning the Russian invasion.

Lula said his foreign policy advisor Celso Amorim, who visited Moscow last month and met Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"Amorim will find out what Zelenskiy wants. He already knows what Putin wants," Lula said. "Now is the time for diplomacy, not for war."

Rutte is visiting Brazil accompanied by a business delegation for talks focusing on trade and cooperation for sustainable agriculture and the energy transition, especially hydrogen. He praised Brazil's efforts fighting climate change.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Richard Chang)
Tupperware Global Headquarters, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The company warned earlier this month that it might go out of business. (High-dynamic-range image by Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Orlando Sentinel)

The year was 1954, and Tupperware was having a party.

The companys new Osceola County, Florida, headquarters was dedicated by famed Tupperware executive Brownie Wise during a five-day jubilee, which also featured hundreds of women digging for buried prizes, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Two Cadillacs and five Fords were won by Tupperware distributors during the fun.

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Some 220 women shut their eyes, rubbed their hands on a block of polyethylene, and wished  that they might sell more Tupperware, the newspaper reported.

Tupperware would become a draw for visitors to Central Florida and a vital part of the Orlando community, said Bob Kealing, author of Life of the Party, a book about Wise and Tupperware.

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They were the Magic Kingdom before Disney, Kealing said.

Now, those partying days might be over.

Tupperware Brands warned last month it might not have enough cash to survive in the near term and said there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Financial advisers were being brought on as the company looked to find additional money or backers. On Monday, Tupperware brought on investment bank Moelis & Co LLC to help explore strategic alternatives.

There are investors that specialize in this kind of turnaround, said Eric Schiffer, CEO of private equity firm the Patriarch Group. The challenge is its a short list and the good ones typically wait until this is in bankruptcy and theyll come in and buy the assets.

A Tupperware spokeswoman declined to comment for this story.

Tupperware started its move from Massachusetts to a temporary space in Orlando in 1952, the Orlando Evening Star reported, under the headline Million Dollar Firm Moving to Orlando.

The annual payroll started at $250,000 with the temporary operations but was expected to reach about $1 million when Tupperwares development here was completed, according to the story.

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Wise was at the forefront of the business in Orlando back in the early 1950s after Earl Tupper created his famous plastic containers in 1946.

She knew how to speak to womens dreams in a suburban, post-World War II United States, Kealing said.

She was like Cher or Madonna. She was Brownie, he said. Scores of families across America prospered because of selling this product. It worked. People needed it. They needed to stretch home budgets in the days after World War II.

One of Tupperwares big innovations  along with its patented burping seal  was bringing a social component to selling with the now iconic Tupperware parties, Kealing said.

It was very revolutionary in the sense that it was a demonstration product, Kealing said.

To prove how well they stayed airtight, Wise would put liquid in the containers and toss them in womens living rooms, Kealing said.

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That made an impression, he said.

Tens of thousands of people were selling the containers by the mid-1950s, Kealing said.

Tupperware dealers would travel to Orlando for recognition, and for celebrations at the headquarters near the Orange County line on Orange Blossom Trail, Kealing said. He added the company established a public art collection, and school graduations have been held in Tupperware Auditorium.

They were an intrinsic part of the community far beyond the plastic storage products, Kealing said.

The Central Florida economy also benefited.

The whole area was largely agrarian and Tupperware  its fair to say really started to spark that evolution from agrarian to not only business, but tourism-focused, Kealing said.

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Today, Tupperwares products are sold in nearly 70 countries, still mainly by independent representatives.

Tupperwares business and salesforce thrived at a time when women were not as big a part of the workforce as they are now, said Anand Krishnamoorthy, associate professor of marketing at the University of Central Florida. Consumers are also no longer interested in spending hours talking to salespeople when they can shop online, he said.

The times have changed, he said. The problem is Tupperware has not changed.

Additionally, there are more ways to store food today such as with sealable plastic bags or glass containers, Krishnamoorthy said.

Consumers are usually unwilling to pay a premium for the brand name alone when there are more products that can serve as substitutes, Krishnamoorthy said.

After years of declining sales, Tupperware started to see some turnaround during the coronavirus pandemic, when people were eating at home more because of lockdowns. In October 2020, under new CEO Miguel Fernandez, the company reported its first year-over-year sales increase in a quarter since 2017.

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Tupperware has also been trying to sell its containers in different ways, with its sales force hosting online parties and Target starting to carry its containers last year.

Sue Skirvin, who held her first Tupperware party in 1980, last year held a Tupperware house party with a luau theme. She showed off Tupperwares SuperSonic Chopper, cutting up and mixing onions, cilantro, jalapeno peppers and pineapple chunks for a pineapple salsa.

A couple of months later, she used the same device to make a tomato-based salsa but during a virtual party held over Zoom.

I still do prefer doing them in person, Skirvin told the Orlando Sentinel last year. Being in the same room with everybody, its just like night and day to me, but I am getting more comfortable and making use, and learning still, how to make more out of the virtual experience.

Skirvin deferred to Tupperware for this story. The company spokeswoman then did not grant a request from the Orlando Sentinel for Skirvin to do an interview.

Tupperwares changes are too little, too late, Krishnamoorthy said.

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Now that the pandemic is almost over, they are back to the problems they faced earlier before the pandemic, which is they did not make the transition to online and big box retailers early enough, Krishnamoorthy said.

In 2019, Tupperware said it employed about 300 people at its Central Florida headquarters, but in a February 2020 statement that number had fallen to about 250 people. Its unclear how many people work there today, as the company has not answered questions from the Orlando Sentinel about where the employment figure now stands.

Schiffer, an investment and finance expert, said Tupperware needs to be tapping into the creator economy, using influencers who can reach Millennials and Generation Z. He said Wise would be coming up with ways to get those younger groups on board.

Shed be figuring out the psychology and what motivates young women to want to connect and also benefit themselves in the process, Schiffer said.

He put the odds of a Tupperware bankruptcy at more than 50% but said that doesnt mean the company will go away.

It will morph in terms of who is driving it behind the scenes, Schiffer said.

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But thats still not good news for Orlando.

Sadly, it means more pain because of a failure by leadership to connect the dots and modernize with young women, Schiffer said.
DAVID DEE DELGADO

While Donald Trump fumed in all-caps about being held liable on Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming the journalist E. Jean Carroll, the response from Carrolls camp was initially a bit more subdued.

Were very happy, Roberta Kaplan, Carrolls attorney, told reporters as she left the courthouse.

In a statement released soon after, Carroll expanded on those initial sentiments, saying that the decision was a victory not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

"We're very happy."



E. Jean Carroll and her attorney leave court after a jury found former Pres. Trump liable for battery and defamation in lawsuit, awarding the former Elle magazine columnist $5 million. https://t.co/GOS0uLfesL pic.twitter.com/NhWojoF3I8  ABC News (@ABC) May 9, 2023

I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back, she said. Today, the world finally knows the truth.

A New York jury in the civil suit found that Trump had in fact pushed Carroll against a wall in the fitting room of a Manhattan clothing store in 1996, but stopped short of saying what he did amounted to rape.

Trump now owes Carroll $5 million in damages. Kaplan, in her own statement, said the win shows No one is about the law, not even a former President of the United States.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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E Jean Carroll said the world finally knows the truth after a jury had found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered him to pay her nearly $5m.

Were very happy, the beaming 79-year-old told reporters outside court before departing in a black SUV on Tuesday afternoon.

After hearing eight days of evidence, the jury took just two and a half hours to find Mr Trump liable for the 1996 sexual assault of Ms Carroll in a dressing room at the luxury Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman.

The jury ruled that Mr Trump was not liable for rape, but that he must pay Ms Carroll a total of nearly $5m in damages for sexual assault and defamation.

In a statement released after the verdict, Ms Carroll said: I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

She expressed her deep and lasting gratitude to all those who have stood by me from the start, singling out her legal team led by Roberta Kaplan who never, ever backed down in pursuit of truth and justice.

Ms Carroll spent nearly 13 hours on the witness stand where she recounted in graphic detail the violent sexual assault. Under cross examination, she was peppered with questions by defence counsel Joe Tacopina about why she hadnt screamed for help during the sexual assault.

Jean Carroll, center, walks out of Manhattan federal court, on 9 May 2023. A jury has found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing the advice columnist in 1996, awarding her $5m in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House. (AP)

As the verdict was read out, Ms Carroll sat emotionless in the front row beside her attorneys Ms Kaplan and Shawn Crowley.

She nodded her head as Judge Lewis Kaplan thanked the jury for paying close attention to the evidence even when it wasnt riveting.

After the jury was led out, she hugged Ms Kaplan and Ms Crowley. Mr Tacopina approached and shook her hand, and said congratulations and good luck.

In a statement, Ms Kaplan said the verdict showed that nobody was above the law.

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For far too long, survivors of sexual assault faced a wall of doubt and intimidation. We hope and believe todays verdict will be an important step in tearing that wall down.

E Jean Carroll has never wavered in her strength, courage, and determination to seek justice. Donald Trump, on the other hand, failed to even show up in court. This is a victory not only for E Jean Carroll, but for democracy itself, and for all survivors everywhere.

Mr Trump did not appear in court, but the jury was played his deposition and the Access Hollywood tape in which Mr Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women.

His grab em by the p***y comments amounted to a confession, Ms Kaplan told jurors in closing statements on Monday.

Ms Carroll was exactly Mr Trumps type and had sexually assaulted her in the exact way that he had been caught describing his treatment of women on the infamous recording, Ms Kaplan added.

In a real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said.

They also heard testimony from Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who are among the more than two dozen women have accused Mr Trump of sexual assault and misconduct.

After the verdict, Judge Kaplan thanked the nine-person jury, which has been shuttled to the court amid strict security from undisclosed locations each day.

He advised them not to reveal their identities to anyone, not now, and not for a long time.

Donald Trump met E Jean Carroll in 1987 when he was married to Ivanka Trump, and she wa with her then-husband John Johnson (Supplied)

In a rant on his Truth Social social media site after the verdict, Mr Trump repeated his false claims that he had no idea who Ms Carroll was.

Speaking outside court, Mr Tacopina told reporters that Mr Trump planned to appeal the verdict.

Hes firm in his belief that he cannot get a fair trial in New York, Mr Tacopina said.

Ms Carroll, a longtime Elle magazine advice columnist, first revealed details of the sexual assault in a book excerpt that ran in New York magazine in June 2019.

Ms Carroll testified that she and Mr Trump had engaged in playful banter after a chance encounter at Bergdorf Goodman one evening in the mid-1990s.

But after taking an escalator up to a deserted 6th floor to look for lingerie, Mr Trump led her to a dressing room, pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her.

It was extremely painful, Ms Carroll told the jury. He put his hand inside me and curled his finger. As I sit here today, I can still feel it.

Ms Carroll added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attackers despite the statute of limitations.

She told how the traumatic experience had left her incapable of forming romantic relationships.

The writer said she would be inundated with a wave of slime on social media every time Mr Trump commented or posted about her allegations.

The jury awarded Ms Carroll $2m in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive damages for the battery allegation. They awarded $1m in compensatory damages for the defamation and $1.7m for the repair of her reputation. The jury awarded another $280,000 in punitive damages for the defamation.
An Eastern Michigan University graduate was among the eight killed Saturday afternoon at a Texas mall shooting, the second deadliest in the United States this year. Even though the tragedy was more than 1,000 miles from Michigan, it still hits home.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, the university confirmed, was a project manager with a Texas construction firm and had gone to the mall with a friend. Reports said her friend was injured in the shooting and he is in stable condition at a hospital.

Several accounts said they had gone shopping days ahead of Thatikonda's 28th birthday.

News reports portrayed Thatikonda, who was an engineer from India and had come to Ypsilanti to pursue a masters degree, as a woman starting a career full of promise. Her Texas office, TV reports showed, is now full of flowers.

Choking back tears, the owner of the construction firm, Srinivas Chaluvadi, told KXAS-TV in Fort Worth, Texas, said he thought of Thatikonda as a daughter. In other interviews, he said,he hoped she would become the company's CEO, and she hoped to get married, buy a house  and settle in America.

In an email to the Free Press early Tuesday, one of Thatikonda's professors at EMU, Ben Ilozor, praised his student's scholarship and determination. He said she had taken one of his classes in summer 2019, and as she moved to Texas she connected with him on LinkedIn, a business-focused social media platform.

"For a moment, I was first in denial that the victim was not our own Aishwarya," Ilozor said. "But unfortunately, I could not wish it away. She was a committed and hardworking A-grade student in this class, and we will miss her dearly. May her gentle soul rest in peace."

In a public statement released Monday, EMU said it is deeply saddened by Thatikonda's death.

"She will forever be remembered as a strong Eastern Michigan University Eagle," the university said. "As the nation has to once again grapple with a senseless act of gun violence, we share our condolences with Aishwarya's family and friends."

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A memorial was set up outside the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Texas, on Sunday, May 7, honoring the eight people killed by a gunman who opened fire on Saturday.

According to reports, police said a 33-year-old man identified as Mauricio Garcia fired into a crowd at about 3:30 p.m. at the Allen Premium Outlets, just north of Dallas. In addition to the eight people who were slain, seven others were wounded, and authorities fatally shot the gunman.

Federal agents, who reviewed social media accounts they believe Garcia had been using, said he had expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views, the Associated Press reported.

He also, the reports said, had an RWDS patch on his chest when he was shot dead by police. Authorities said RWDS stands for Right Wing Death Squad, which is a popular phrase among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

So far this year, 22 mass shootings have resulted in at least 115 deaths, according to a database maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The deadliest shooting so far this year was Jan. 21 at a dance in Monterey Park, California. Eleven people were killed and nine wounded.

More: First report into Oxford High security and safety policies released

More: Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend at Southfield hotel fatally shot by police

Thatikonda, who graduated from Eastern Michigan in December 2020, earned a master of science degree in construction management, the university said. After graduation, she moved to McKinney, Texas, just north of Allen.

Her family, reports added, would like her body returned to India.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

Campus memorial service

An event to remember Aishwarya Thatikonda is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Eastern Michigan University's Lake House. It has been organized by the Indian Student Association at Eastern Michigan University and the International Student Association. EMU President James Smith and counseling and psychological services are set to be on hand.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Eastern Michigan grad Aishwarya Thatikonda killed in Texas shooting
If you are a fan of spicy food and enjoy a nice atmosphere, your next stop should be Hutong, a vibrant restaurant in Brickell. Above the bar is Hutongs own version of the Great Wall of China with 70 feet of hand-carved Chinese doors and wood panels, which were brought from China.

After taking in the scenery, get ready to savor the typical dishes in Hutong, where they serve dim sum, small shared entrees. On this visit we tasted pork dumplings, Wagyu beef millefeuille and scallops with vegetables.

Hutong offers dim sum for sharing.

The most popular dish, the Peking roast duck, is quite an experience. The chef comes to the table and arranges the delicate cuts of meat with a delicious plum sauce. The whole duck is carefully prepared over 24 hours following a traditional recipe said to have been made for the Emperor over a hundred years ago, resulting in a duck that is crispy on the outside with meat that remains moist, tender and flavorful.

Hutongs specialty is Pekin duck in plum sauce.

Hutong chefs have taken traditional recipes and introduced innovative ingredients, such as pink champagne and lobster.

Lobster in chile sauce at Hutong in Brickell.

Hutong has restaurants in Hong Kong, Beijing and London, and arrived in Miami as the second location in the United States after opening in New York City in 2019. Traditional Chinese elements are perfectly offset by splashes of bright pop-art colors - fuchsia, turquoise and lime green chairs that stand out in the colorful city of Miami.

Finish the experience with something sweet to culminate the meal. Hutong offers a variety of desserts to satisfy your cravings.

An array of desserts at Hutong in Miami.

And dont forget to order one of the exotic cocktails infused with Chinese herbs and spices. Try the Qin Emperor made with reposado mezcal, dried green peppercorns from Szechuan, pomegranate juice, lavender essence, citrus and egg white. The bright purple cocktail is reminiscent of the lavender hue used to decorate pottery during the Qin and Han dynasties.

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Hutong offers a variety of cocktails.

Hutong

Where: 600 Brickell Ave., Miami

Info: https://hutong-miami.com/

You can follow Jessica Serrano on Instagram and Facebook
EU countries will jointly buy ammunition for Ukraine

Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she said the fastest of the three ways is the immediate transfer of ammunition from the stockpiles of EU member states.

Read also: Zelenskyy welcomes von der Leyen to Kyiv

"We have allocated EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for this purpose, and it is working  significant stocks of ammunition have already been transferred or are on their way to Ukraine. But we urgently need to do more," von der Leyen said.

The second way is to allocate EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for the purchase of 155mm and 152mm ammunition for Ukraine.

Read also: EUs top diplomat accepts only Zelenskyys peace formula, rejects Chinas position paper

The third way is to increase and accelerate the production of ammunition by EU member states.

President Zelenskyy thanked the European Union for its readiness to provide Ukraine with one million artillery rounds, but emphasized the need to transfer them to the Defense Forces as soon as possible.

Read also: EU to consider adding EUR 3.5 billion to fund that finances military aid to Ukraine

Every day Ukraine demonstrates the effectiveness of our defense against Russian aggression, he said. Every downed terrorist missile, every success of our soldiers in repelling Russian assaults is proof that we can defeat this aggressor.

Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of Ukraine's capabilities being on par with those of the Russian army.

The European Parliament on May 5 approved the allocation of EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) from the European Peace Facility to purchase ammunition and missiles for Ukraine.

The EU Council decided on April 13 to allocate EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to reimburse the costs of the ammunition that EU member states will transfer to Ukraine from their stockpiles from Feb. 9 to May 31, 2023.

Read also: EU to allocate EUR 500 million to ammunition production

EU foreign ministers agreed on March 20 on a plan for joint procurement and supply of ammunition to Ukraine worth EUR 2 billion ($2.2 billion). It provides for the allocation of EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to compensate for supplies to member states, another EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for joint purchases of ammunition, as well as an increase in EU production capacity.

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According to the UK newspaper the Financial Times, Ukraine has asked the bloc to send 250,000 artillery rounds to the Ukrainian Armed Forces every month to reduce its ammunition deficit.

Read also: EU Parliament renews trade-liberalization measures for 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
Burbank Unified cafeteria workers prepare milk and juice bags at Burbank Middle School on March 24, 2020. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times)

Got milk? Remember the catchy ads featuring celebrities with milk mustaches from the 1990s? The advertising campaign by the California Milk Processor Board has been revamped for the 21st century using social media influencers targeting younger generations, specifically Gen Z.

Its one of several efforts by the dairy industry to encourage kids to drink milk. But it has an even more powerful tool to reach school-age consumers: federal rules for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that favor dairy milk over other beverages, including prohibiting schools from directly or indirectly restricting the sale or marketing of dairy milk on school premises.

Marielle Williamson, a student at Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School, found out about the U.S. Department of Agriculture restrictions this year when she was prohibited from handing out literature at school about the disadvantages of drinking dairy milk unless she also provided information about its benefits. Williamson is a vegan and decided she'd rather not promote dairy milk. Last week, she joined a lawsuit filed by the national nonprofit advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine accusing the USDA, the Los Angeles Unified School District and school administrators of violating her free speech rights.

Good for Williamson to challenge the long-standing rules that unfairly protect the nations dairy industry from competition. Williamson, 17, believes the USDA rules prioritize an industry's profits over students health considering that many students are lactose-intolerant, a digestive condition that causes bloating, diarrhea, nausea and other symptoms. It affects primarily people who are Black, Latino, Native American and Asian American, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases .

In California, the majority of public school students are part of these communities. Yet public schools are not required to offer nondairy milk options as part of free school meals. They can provide water, but the USDA has made it clear that schools cannot encourage students to drink water instead of milk. Currently, students receiving free school meals can obtain nondairy milk options by providing a doctors note, a requirement that can be burdensome for lower-income families. It would make more sense if students could freely have these options without having to jump through administrative hoops.

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Williamson was an intern last summer at the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, where she learned how the farming industry negatively affects people of color, including the higher likelihood of lactose intolerance among those groups. In October, administrators at her school gave her permission to set up a table during lunch to hand out samples of oat milk and pea protein milk while discussing the benefits of nondairy milk.

She wanted to hold a similar event in April, but since the October event she found out about the USDA's dairy milk provision. Williamson, who is due to graduate this year from the International Baccalaureate academic program, didnt want to get in trouble so she specifically sought assurance that her event would not violate the provision. The school principal, after consulting with his supervisors, told her she could do the event but that she would also have to dispense information about the benefits of dairy milk.

The courts will have to decide whether Williamsons 1st Amendment rights were violated, but it doesn't take a judge to understand that these rules were created to benefit a specific industry and not necessarily to promote children's health. Even if it's not unconstitutional, it's a rule that doesn't make sense at a time when many people prefer plant-based milk over cow's milk for health and personal reasons.

The USDA has been helping market the dairy industry since at least 1919, when the government agency successfully launched campaigns about milk surpluses resulting from increased production of dairy products during World War I. The powerful dairy industry has fought to keep milk in schools even though consumption has gone down. In 2022, the dairy industry spent more than $7 million in lobbying efforts. For example, it lobbied for the passage of the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2021 to allow schools to offer low-fat flavored milk, according to nonprofit Open Secrets, which tracks money in politics.

Young people who drink milk are more likely to continue drinking milk into adulthood, according to a 2021 study of milk consumption habits by the USDA's Economic Research Service. It makes sense that the dairy industry would want to capture this market during their school years. Promoting the health benefits of milk, however, should not come at the expense of students free speech rights or their health. Schools offering free school meals should make it easier  not harder  for students to choose what is better for their health.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
EL PASO, Texas  As cities near the U.S.-Mexico border brace for the end of Title 42, the city of El Paso has seen an influx of migrants, with more than 3,300 reported Monday camped out near shelters.

An El Paso city official said Monday that there are now as many as 2,500 migrants camped out around a local church and another 800 near the city's homeless shelter.

With more expected to begin arriving when Title 42 restrictions expire later this week, the El Paso City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending a disaster declaration due to a "state of emergency" to assist in transporting and sheltering migrant asylum-seekers.

Emergency Management Coordinator Jorge Rodriguez said the biggest concern is the large number of migrants expected to enter the city, adding to the growing number already in El Paso.

Title 42, a Trump-era immigration policy, barred migrants from crossing U.S. borders to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in holding facilities. Since the policy's enactment during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 3 million people have been turned away.

Title 42 is set to expire on May 11, the same day as when the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency is set to end.

TITLE 42 EXPIRATION DATE NEARS: What we know about the ending of a pandemic-era border policy

El Paso in state of emergency

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser declared a state of emergency last week ahead of Title 42's end and the disaster declaration was extended Monday after the city saw the number of migrants increase from hundreds to thousands. The emergency declaration allows the city to open up temporary shelters.

"We are getting prepared now for what we call the unknown," Leeser said at an April 30 news conference.

Rodriguez said he expects temporary migrant shelters at two vacant schools to open by the end of the week. He added that the opening largely depends on when the county's Welcome Center and local nongovernmental organization shelters reach capacity.

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Additionally, Rodriguez reported that the city has requested $25 million in support from the federal government and has so far received half of that, which will be added to the $14 million the city has on hand to deal with the expected surge in arrivals.

DEADLY TEXAS CRASH: Driver in crash that killed 8 near Texas migrant center charged with manslaughter

El Paso sees overcrowding of migrants amid surge of asylum-seekers

As many as 15,000 asylum-seekers are waiting in Juarez, Mexico, to enter the United States. In El Paso, there are more than 3,300 migrants already seeking refuge at Sacred Heart Church and the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, Rodriguez said.

The overcrowding at Sacred Heart Church prompted traffic closures over the weekend "as a public safety precaution," city officials said.

The Office of Emergency Management reported that daily apprehensions for May are around 600. The number of migrants who weren't apprehended is unknown. Statistics show that 7,588 migrants were released into El Paso in April, compared with 5,966 in March, but that total is still much lower than the 30,600 seen in December.

MORE: Pentagon to send 1,500 active-duty troops to US-Mexico border to help with surge of migrants

U.S. troops, National Guard members will be deployed for expected migrant surge

Last week, the Pentagon announced it would deploy 1,500 active-duty troops to the border to assist U.S. Customs and Border Patrol authorities on the ground and to perform administrative tasks.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also announced Monday that he will deploy a specially trained elite unit of the National Guard, which he called the Texas Tactical Border Force, to El Paso and other hot spots along the Rio Grande.

"They will be deployed to hot spots along the border to intercept, repel and to turn back" migrants who cross into Texas without legal authorization, Abbott said.

Contributing: Ella Lee, USA TODAY; John C. Moritz, Corpus Christi Caller-Times; Jose Ignacio Castaneda Perez, Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Numbers of migrants grow in El Paso as Title 42 nears its end
Elizabeth Holmes isnt that impressed by Hollywoods portrayal of her.

Theyre not playing me, Holmes told the New York Times for a profile published Sunday. Theyre playing a character I created.

The disgraced Theranos founder, who was recently sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for fraud, was portrayed by Amanda Seyfried in The Dropout, a Hulu limited series about her Silicon Valley rise and downfall.

Holmes was found guilty in 2022 of defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup out of hundreds of millions. The company falsely claimed its Edison machines could perform hundreds of tests to detect diseases within minutes of a simple pin-prick.

Seyfrieds portrayal of Holmes  and the performative voice she used to be taken seriously  earned her an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. It was so acclaimed that Jennifer Lawrence, who was set to star as Holmes in a separate film, exited that project.

Holmes suggested that Seyfried did well  but only in mimicking a fraudulent persona.

Elizabeth Holmes (left) was portrayed by actor Amanda Seyfriend (right) in the Hulu series

Elizabeth Holmes (left) was portrayed by actor Amanda Seyfriend (right) in the Hulu series "The Dropout."

I believed it would be how I would be good at business and taken seriously and not taken as a little girl of a girl who didnt have good technical ideas, Holmes told the Times about her throaty voice. Maybe people picked up on that not being authentic, since it wasnt.

Seyfried has said she focused on getting Holmes mannerisms down and told ET in 2022 that she had some freedom with the voice. She said it was apt that using a throaty voice didnt feel normal at first as it hadnt been super natural for Holmes, either.

The New York Times article, titled Liz Holmes Wants You to Forget About Elizabeth, spurred a backlash. One Twitter user accused the Times of painting her as a sympathetic figure worthy of redemption, while another asked: Were rebranding Elizabeth Holmes now?

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Holmes recently requested to delay the start of her prison term, citing the recent birth of her second child. The convicted fraudster, who is currently appealing her sentence, was ordered last month to report to prison as that legal process continues.

Related...
Elon Musk Labor Trouble (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a psyop or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspects apparent right wing motives was suspect and that the shooting was a psyop.

This gets weirder by the moment, he wrote in response.

This gets weirder by the moment  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 8, 2023

Eight people were killed in the rampage  including three children  which the shooter carried out using an AR-15-style rifle. Authorities are currently investigating whether the suspected gunman had links to the far right after the 33-year-olds social media profiles were found online.

One profile reportedly belonging to the gunman, who police named as Mauricio Garcia, shared extremist views about mass shootings and white supremacy. The same profile also praised Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account run by right wing activist Chaya Raichik, which targets the LGBT+ community. Mr Musk frequently interacts with the Libs of TikTok Twitter account.

It is not the first time Mr Musk has been quick to entertain conspiracy theories about violence inspired by right wing actors.

In the aftermath of an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mr Musk shared a bogus news report from a website known for fake news suggesting that the perpetrator may have been a gay lover of Mr Pelosis.

That time, Mr Musk was responding to a link to a Los Angeles Times shared by Hillary Clinton that detailed David DePapes digital trail of far-right conspiracy theories before he attacked the-then speakers husband.

The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories, she wrote in a Twitter post.

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The following day, Mr Musk replied , claiming that there is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye. He attached a screenshot of a bogus report accusing Mr Pelosi of getting into a drunken fight with a male prostitute.

He quietly deleted the tweet, but thousands of people had already shared it, along with the original article, which has fuelled thousands of similar posts.

He also did not acknowledge the post or apologise for sharing information that was never credible and later debunked by Mr DePapes own apparent statements to police. Instead, Musk sarcastically attacked The New York Times for reporting, correctly, that he shared a story from a website known to publish false news.

This is fake, he joked. I did *not* tweet out a link to The New York Times!
Elon Musk has announced that Twitter will purge accounts that have been inactive on the social media platform for a long time.

The Twitter chief had already expressed interest last November in purging inactive accounts. He said in the following month that Twitter would soon start freeing the usernames of 1.5 billion accounts, adding that inactive accounts would be deleted in the process.

Were purging accounts that have had no activity at all for several years, so you will probably see follower count drop, Mr Musk tweeted on Monday.

It is important to free up abandoned handles, the multibillionaire said.

Responding to a user, the Tesla and SpaceX chief said several usernames will become available as a result of the move.

Many users replied to Mr Musks tweet, asking if there will be a way to memorialise accounts of deceased users.

The multibillionaire hinted that deleted accounts will be archived.

The latest decision comes as Twitter continues to make new changes to the platform to boost revenue even as some of the measures have alienated users and advertisers.

Earlier last month, the company did away with free blue check marks, and monetised its user verification process, charging people $8 each month for the blue tick badges.

Mr Musk, however, proceeded to reinstate the blue tick on some celebrity, media and other high profile accounts even as some of the recepients protested receiving free verification.

Twitter has also tried several different approaches to boost revenue, including relaxing some of its policies that ban political advertisements and adding a more expensive ad-free subscription option to the platform.

The social media company also announced that it was planning to charge companies from $42,000 to as much as $210,000 per month for access to its Application Programming Interface.

Twitter has also changed its content policies, announcing it will rely more on artificial intelligence to moderate posts on the platform.

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The platform is also trying to attract more content creators.

On Tuesday, the Tesla chief tweeted to his followers that their support of content creators on the platform is very much appreciated.

We keep none of the subscription revenue for the first 12 months & only 10 per cent thereafter, Mr Musk said.
A battle over legal cannabis oversight in Illinois pits startup social equity business owners against big multistate operators, and could determine the future regulation of the industry in the state.

At issue is the desire for a single regulatory body to oversee the complex fledgling industry. Currently, at least seven agencies regulate various aspects, giving rise to sometimes contradictory guidelines. The states licensing system has come under heavy criticism and litigation for delays, inconsistent scoring of applications, and non-responsiveness to applicants with questions about the process.

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So most business operators agree there should be one body to issue licenses, set guidelines and mete out discipline, as in most other states that have legalized marijuana. The dispute is over what that single overseer would look like.

One one side, the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois is lobbying for a cannabis commission, with five to nine bipartisan members appointed by the governor, similar to the Illinois Gaming Board or the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

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It would hold monthly public meetings, publish agendas and minutes, and be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

On the other side of the argument, members of groups such as the Cannabis Equity IL Coalition, Chicago NORML and the Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association prefer one agency to oversee all aspects of the business, including growers, dispensaries, transporters and infusers.

Transparency and public access are the reasons for a commission, according to Pam Althoff, spokeswoman for the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois. It would allow the public to know exactly whats going on in the industry, and for stakeholders to have access in a public forum for a nascent industry that still needs great guidance, and a little more nimbleness.

Pam Althoff, head of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, attends a job fair hosted by the association at Oakton Community College in 2019. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune)

One of the most common complaints from operators, Althoff said, is that they get contradictory directions from different agencies. One might want security cameras, employee badging or operations arranged one way, while others might want a different way. Some applicants, she said, got contradictory paperwork assigning them to different areas of the state.

The most glaring difference between agencies is that the Illinois Department of Agriculture allows craft growers to sell equity in their licenses at any time, while the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation prohibits dispensary license holders from selling until they have opened for business. That is designed to keep new minority license holders from being replaced by wealthy white-owned conglomerates, but keeps cash-strapped startups from getting new investors to become operational.

The current Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office is meant to coordinate actions among agencies, but has little enforcement authority.

Many smaller operators are afraid that a cannabis commission would be too influenced by large companies.

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Edie Moore, co-founder of Chicago NORML and a multiple cannabis business license holder, said a commission that only meets once a month is not nimble or responsive enough. Operators, she said, need full-time state employees to address myriad operational issues that come up every day. And a specialty agency is needed to concentrate on cannabis, rather than existing agencies that also oversee all manner of licenses, from nursing to barbers.

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None of those other commissions have social equity in mind, and none are dealing with an industry that is as fast-moving as cannabis, she said.

Edie Moore, co-founder of Chicago NORML, said a commission that only meets once a month is not nimble or responsive enough. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Scott Redman, a founder of the Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association and investor in a craft growing startup, wrote to the Tribune that an agency would better support social equity license holders, generally defined by state law as people with prior low-level cannabis convictions or coming from disadvantaged areas. They believe an agency would be far more immune to influence by large cannabis companies.

House Bill 1436, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Evans Jr., would create a commission. Advocates of an agency plan to hold a news conference Tuesday, and are hoping an omnibus bill would address a range of issues, including increasing the size of craft growers, allowing people with criminal convictions to work in the industry, and prohibiting police from using cannabis as probable cause to initiate a stop.

The smaller operators have an important ally on their side. In response to the Tribune asking, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office issued a statement that the governor is focused on promoting equity in the industry through creation of an agency.

Creation of a designated agency for cannabis regulation will contribute to this goal by bolstering and empowering the Cannabis Equity Commission and giving small, social equity businesses more safeguards in the regulatory process, the statement read. Its also a more standardized, cost-effective approach that sets out clear accountability structures, public engagement standards and market response tactics. The governor supports the single regulatory agency proposal, as does the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
Emma Morrison, the first Indigenous woman to win Miss World Canada, opens up to Yahoo Canada. (Photo via Instagram/emma.morrrison)

When Emma Morrison was 16, she was camping, hunting and playing almost every sport imaginable  until she was introduced to the world of pageantry.

Little did she know that in a few short years, she would make history as the first Indigenous woman to win Miss World Canada.

As a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation in Ontario, located about 800 kilometres north of Toronto, Morrison and her family spent their time enjoying nature and connecting to their heritage.

And like many teenagers from small towns, she liked to keep busy and look for opportunities. But when Morrison was first asked to enter a pageant, she was skeptical.

"It's scary doing new things I've never tried before, but pageants were able to extend my comfort zone," Morrison told Yahoo Canada last year. "They have opened up new possibilities for me."

The now 22-year-old quickly learned that pageants were her niche. She was contacted on Facebook to represent her community at Miss Teenage Northern Ontario in 2017.

After winning that title, she went on to win Miss Teenage Canada and was able to qualify for Miss World Canada  which she won late last year.

While Morrison agrees it's an honour to be the first Indigenous woman to hold the title, she thinks it's more about opening the door for other Indigenous peoples to walk through.

"A victory for one is a victory for all, and that's really what I took away from [Miss World Canada]. This amplifies my voice of advocacy for Indigenous peoples," Morrison said.

For Miss World Canada, Morrison was required to develop a humanitarian initiative as part of the event's Beauty With a Purpose project.

Her contribution, Reconnecting with Ribbon Skirts, was born after the initial finding of 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops residential school in 2021. While this was extremely tragic, Morrison decided to use the news to help Indigenous women feel empowered and to reconnect with their culture.

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She taught herself how to sew and made her own ribbon skirts, which symbolize Indigenous values of community, connection and resiliency. Morrison's personal goal is to design, sew and disseminate as many ribbon skirts as she can to Indigenous women across Canada.

Later this year, she will present the project on the international stage when she competes at Miss World.

"My initiative is for women's crystallization. So they'll have something to decolonize their wardrobe, that is physically linked to their culture, and reminds them to stand strong and be proud of their cultural identity," Morrison said.

"A victory for one is a victory for all, and that's really what I took away from [Miss World Canada]. This amplifies my voice of advocacy for Indigenous peoples."Emma Morrison

Despite Morrison's success, determination and resilience, the road hasn't always been easy. Growing up, she struggled with anxiety  and has since learned to make her mental health a priority.

In order to keep her grounded and feeling her best, Morrison believes that opening up to her family has been a vital part of her journey.

"For me it's my parents, but it's key to have people and a support system in your life to just let it out, share your emotions and to battle for you," Morrison explained.

This has been especially important in the age of social media, where Morrison is privy to internet trolls who write mean or derogatory comments on her posts.

"For some people, I'm not a winner and they make that clear. So what I do is just delete the comments and move on. I don't want negativity on my page," Morrison said.

When speaking to Morrison, what becomes clear is that she's a true embodiment of what it means to be Miss World Canada. She's inspirational, positive, curious and is always looking to make a difference.

And while stereotypical definitions of beauty are often what people think of when it comes to pageants, Morrison is on a mission to break that. To her, what makes someone beautiful is not their stylish haircut or perfect makeup, but the impact they leave behind.

"Physical looks fade over time, but it's your inner essence that captivates somebody else. They'll remember you for the words you said and the impact that you've made in their life, whether it's big or small," Morrison explained. "Beauty starts within you. Beauty begins the moment that you fully embrace who you are, and you're not afraid to shine that towards others."

"Beauty begins the moment that you fully embrace who you are, and you're not afraid to shine that towards others."Emma Morrison

Morrison has many goals and dreams, which revolve around inspiring Indigenous youth to reach their full potential. This is something she's already put into action through mentorship and outreach.

Recently, Morrison worked with Tia Nootchtai, an Indigenous pageant competitor who won the title of Miss Ontario Regional Canada 2023.

In an Instagram post, Morrison explained that she has been mentoring Nootchtai for free over the last couple months, and is impressed by her "L.O.L." platform, which encourages Indigenous youth to Live Out Loud.

Additionally, you can often find Morrison sharing her message at schools and classrooms, and visiting as many Indigenous communities as she can.

When it comes to advice for people looking to live their best, most authentic lives, Morrison has one simple message  believe in yourself.

"Step outside your comfort zone. You will open doors for yourself, expand your horizons and allow more opportunities to come your way," she said. "So try to be more courageous even when you are anxious, an just to say yes to opportunities."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Police slammed a man who was taking part in a Jordan Neely vigil to the ground on Houston Street and then arrested him, May 8, 2023.

Police slammed a man who was taking part in a Jordan Neely vigil to the ground on Houston Street and then arrested him, May 8, 2023.

This story was originally published at The City.

Police officials said they found a Molotov cocktail at the scene of demonstrations Monday night in Lower Manhattan at a vigil held in honor of Jordan Neely, the 30-year-old homeless man who was killed on a subway car by another passenger in a fatal chokehold a week ago.

We cannot have people coming out to protest with what we want to be a peaceful protest, bringing out dangerous substances like this, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said late Monday at a press conference, adding that police made at least 11 arrests at the protest.

Agitators that come from outside our city with Molotov cocktails, we should all be concerned about that, Mayor Eric Adams told THE CITY at an unrelated event Monday in Howard Beach, Queens.

NEW: in his only public appearance today (a party at Russos on the Bay), @NYCMayor says he tried multiple times to speak w/ Jordan Neelys family earlier today but couldnt reach them. He also spoke about tonights protests although I havent been able confirm his info pic.twitter.com/RGqOoyz2AU  katie honan (@katie_honan) May 9, 2023

The comments from city officials came in the wake of a violent crackdown on demonstrators Tuesday night, where eleven demonstrators, including a journalist, were arrested at a vigil for Neely.

The vigil started calmly, with a small group of demonstrators chanting Neelys name on the Broadway-Lafayette subway platform and several dozen others gathered on the sidewalk above for speeches and chants.

But it quickly devolved into chaos, as dozens of police officers who had been lined up on the sidewalk started shoving into the group for targeted arrests. Officers pushed activist Dwreck Ingram into the street, shoved him to the ground and pinned him there, while another demonstrator with blood dripping down his forehead was carted off to a police van.

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Protesters loaded into van while demonstrators chant, let them go. This was a vigil for a fucking homeless man. Where were you when Jordan Neely was being fucking killed, demonstrator Justin Pines shouts at line of cops. pic.twitter.com/qd0uKboARW  Gwynne Hogan (@GwynneFitz) May 8, 2023

Among those arrested was award-winning photojournalist Stephanie Keith, whose images have appeared in outlets that include the New York Times and Daily News.

This is a vigil for a fucking homeless man, shouted 26-year-old Justin Pines after the first arrests. Where were they when Justin Neely was being fucking killed?

The protest and vigil came a week after Neelys killing in a subway car stopped at the Broadway-Lafayette station in Lower Manhattan at the hands of Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old former Marine who put him in a fatal chokehold. Earlier in the day, Neelys family had demanded Pennys imprisonment and implored the mayor to speak with them about their son.

Police arrest a photojournalist during protesters for Jordan Neely outside the Broadway-Lafayette station, May 8, 2023.

Police arrest a photojournalist during protesters for Jordan Neely outside the Broadway-Lafayette station, May 8, 2023.

Mayor Eric Adams also told THE CITY Monday night  before his only public appearance of the day, at an event at a Queens catering hall  that he had tried to reach Neelys family earlier to offer his condolences.

Reached out to them several times to give them my condolences, he said at Russos on the Bay in Howard Beach, adding that he had tried to get in touch with the family today. Adams also noted that Neely shared the same first name as his son, Jordan Coleman.

During the height of the protests after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, police leadership often blamed outside agitators and claimed they found weapons of various kinds to justify violent crackdowns on protesters. The tactics have since been condemned by international human rights groups and state Attorney General Letitia James, costing $20 million in legal settlements and counting, according to the comptrollers office.

The demonstrators who spoke to THE CITY Monday night were New Yorkers. Some had planned to attend the vigil in advance, while others, like 23-year-old Clover St. Hubert who were passing by on the train and felt compelled to join in.

Im a Black artist. Im a Black mentally ill artist. It could have been me. It could have been any of my friends, St. Hubert said.

As the protesters marched down Essex Street toward the NYPDs 7th Precinct to meet those whod been arrested earlier, they passed Cheyenne Taylor, 31, who joined in the chanting. While she had recently been placed in a safe haven bed, she said she knew Neely from six years living on the streets.

He just got out of jail, she said. He only wanted food. He didnt have to die.

This article has been updated to reflect breaking developments.
The Herald-Leader is profiling the major candidates for the GOP nomination for Kentucky governor. Read the other profiles at Kentucky.com in coming days.

Eric Deters is a brash media figure who has courted Kentuckys far right and Liberty GOP factions in his run for governor. The Northern Kentucky native has tried to come across as the most similar to former president Donald Trump of all the candidates in the race and has been vocal about his opposition to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.

Deters is running a unique, at times combative, campaign. The candidate regularly posts videos to his daily online show flaming other candidates for being puppets of the Republican establishment. He has been running ads exclusively on cable network channels to that effect.

While Deters has framed his campaign as one that goes hard right on guns and vaccines, among other topics, he holds some idiosyncratic beliefs like supporting legal recreational marijuana and generally supporting unions.

He is known for courtroom controversy, and has been suspended from practicing law in the state. Deters went to jail while advocating for his clients in a case, but has also run into legal issues leading up to the campaign: In Fall 2022, he pleaded guilty to menacing his nephew and was sentenced to 270 days in prison, which was conditionally discharged for the next two years.

Deters profile has risen in recent months, with a recent poll showing him in clear fourth place behind Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former ambassador Kelly Craft and Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles.

Deters on the issues

Anti-establishment: Deters takes every chance he gets to express his discontent with the most powerful Republicans in the state, claiming that hes not a teacup Republican. Deters has run ads calling Cameron, Craft and Quarles swamp puppets of McConnell. Im the only guy running, of the 12 people for governor whos bashing Mitch McConnell every single day. Hes the sitting senior Republican senator from the state, he controls the state, and Im running against him. And you know what? The anti-McConnell people love it, Deters said.

Taxes: Though the Kentucky legislature has put the state on a path to get to zero income tax, Deters said that he wants to get there faster  a prospect that excites some in the business community but frightens some state budget observers. He said that he wants to give further tax relief to veterans, seniors and disabled people. He also wants to get rid of the estate tax, otherwise known as the death tax, as well as the annual vehicle tax.

Cutting regulation: Similar to former GOP governor Matt Bevin, Deters prioritizes cutting regulation and red tape in Kentucky. I can say with great confidence that Kentucky is an over-regulated state, they create these bureaucratic swamps, and I want to take an axe to em. I just want to make everything easier. I want to be dealing with government to be easier, not a cardiac event, Deters said.

Abortion: Deters supports legislation limiting the practice but would want to add exceptions for rape and incest. The current law bans abortion with the only exception being the life of the mother.

LGBTQ issues: Deters has given full support to the recently passed Senate Bill 150, an omnibus bill that restricts discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools; bans puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for the purpose of gender transition; and prevents trans students from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, among other things. Deters indicated that he would not support a bill limiting drag performances pride parades, which a previously proposed measure banning public drag shows would do.

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Who is supporting Deters?

For the most part, Eric Deters is financially backing his own campaign.

Deters has raised almost $778,475 as of 15 days before the election, almost all of it loaned by himself.

He touts the support of national Trump-supporting groups like Born to Ride for 45 and Bikers For Trump in his campaign materials.

Deters has spent a signficant amount of money organizing and putting on Freedom Fests around the state  the main event drew thousands to his Northern Kentucky farm. He has argued that spending money on high-dollar conservative guests at his Freedom Fest rallies, which have included conservative stars like Trumps sons, Dinesh DSouza and Candace Owens, do not qualify as campaign expenses.

What Deters opponents say:

Few of the top GOP contenders have weighed in on Deters candidacy, but after getting into it with Craft at a debate on KET, the two had no love lost. Deters continually attacked Craft for questions on her residency and other issues.

That behavior prompted complaints from Craft, who said he was bringing down the discourse.

Hes all bark and no bite. I dont give him credibility, and its very obvious even the press agrees with (me on) what I was served today on my residency. Theres a clown in every circus, and we certainly had one sitting with us tonight, Craft said.

Why Deters say hes the best choice to take on Beshear:

Deters emphasizes his self-described grit as the reason hes the best GOP choice to beat Beshear in the Fall.

I am the best candidate because Im the toughest and the strongest and the boldest. Im the only candidate can be Andy Beshear because of how tough I am. Itll be a bloodbath, and Im the one thats tough enough to take it and dish it out the same as Trump took on Hillary, Deters said. The Kentucky Republican Party needs me.

Surprising for a Republican, Deters endorsed Beshear in 2019 over Bevin. In an apology video a few years later, Deters said he did so because he thought Bevin was a jerk and Beshear might be different.

Quick facts on Deters:

Name: Eric Deters

Age: 59

City of residence: Independence

Previous political/public experience: Political rally host, campaign and local party figure, former candidate for Kenton County Attorney.

Professional experience: Attorney, media personality, radio host, business owner, author

Learn more: detersforgovernor.com, Twitter: @bulllaw, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/detersforgovernor, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thebulldogsnation





Quote: I bet you if you go out and look around across the country, nobody, once they didnt get the endorsement, has spoken as much about Trump as yours truly. I have been the most loyal Trump supporter of anybody.

Heres the complete list of candidates running for Kentucky governor in 2023

Kentucky is electing more than just governor in 2023. Meet the down-ballot candidates
(Bloomberg) -- European lawmakers supported tough new measures for tackling methane leaks in the energy sector, overcoming a last-minute challenge to water them down.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The European Parliament voted in favor of a position agreed last month at committee level to force importers to cut methane leaks from their supply chains, long a major source of emissions from the oil and gas industries. It will now enter into difficult talks with member states  which are pushing for weaker rules on curbing emissions  over the final shape of the regulation.

EU lawmakers also backed a call for the European Commission to set a 2030 methane-reduction target. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases  around 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe.

It sends a strong signal on the direction Europe must go, especially as we move to the next stage of the process, said Jonathan Banks, global director of methane pollution prevention at non-profit CATF. To regain Europes leadership on climate and to drive change globally, it will be imperative that Parliaments position is adopted.

Read more on the deal: EU Lawmakers Want Energy Importers to Obey Tough Methane Rules

The vote followed a last minute push by Cristian Busoi, a member of the center-right European Peoples Party and chair of the industry committee, to weaken key elements of the deal. That included making inspections of energy infrastructure for methane leaks less frequent, as well as lowering the threshold for importers to meet similar requirements.

None of his amendments achieved a majority.

The EU is a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, an international commitment to slash methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade, while most of its footprint comes from fossil fuels produced outside of the bloc.

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Without ambitious measures to reduce methane emissions, Europe will miss its climate targets and valuable energy will continue to be wasted, said Jutta Paulus, the green lawmaker overseeing the file. As Europe imports more than 80% of the fossil fuels it burns, is essential to expand the scope to energy imports.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The European Union is ready to supply Ukraine with a million artillery shells highly needed by the Defence Forces.

Source: Ukrinform citing Zelenskyy at the joint briefing with Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, in Kyiv

Quote: "I thanked Ursula for the readiness of the EU to provide Ukraine with highly necessary ammunition, a million shells for artillery."

Details: He stated that during the conversation with the President of the European Commission, the issue of procurement speed and the delivery of these shelles was discussed among other things, since there is already a need for them on the battlefield.

"Ukraine demonstrates the efficiency of our defence against Russian aggression every day. Every shot down missile of the Russian terrorists, every success of our defenders in repelling the Russian assault are proof that we are able to defeat this aggressor," he stressed.

Background:

On 5 May, the EU Council adopted the decision about the allocation of 1 billion from the European Peace Fund within the framework of its initiative of supplying Ukraine with artillery shells.

On 8 May, Zelenskyy reported that he has good news concerning the supply of ammunition to the Defence Forces, but so far it is too early to make this information public.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Parliament voted on Tuesday in favour of rules that would force companies selling oil and gas in Europe to cut their methane emissions, setting itself up for tough negotiations with EU countries seeking weaker limits on the potent greenhouse gas.

Methane is the second-biggest cause of climate change, after carbon dioxide. In the short term, it is more potent than CO2, but methane emissions leave the atmosphere more quickly - so rapid methane cuts can accelerate efforts to slow climate change.

The European Union will this year negotiate a law to cut methane emissions. In a vote on Tuesday, the EU Parliament said it would back rules requiring oil and gas companies in Europe to check their above-ground infrastructure every two-to-four months, and fix methane leaks they discover.

Lawmakers also backed rules, originally proposed by the European Commission, to largely ban companies from "venting and flaring" methane - intentionally releasing or burning it.

"Routine venting and flaring of methane is irresponsible and fuels the global climate crisis," Jutta Paulus, Parliament's lead lawmaker on the rules, said.

The Parliament said the rules should also cover imported fossil fuels from 2026, by requiring importers of oil, gas and coal into Europe to prove that their foreign suppliers comply.

That goes further than the Commission's original proposal, which did not target fuel imports.

The 27-country EU imports more than 80% of its gas. Most methane emissions associated with that consumption occur abroad.

Satellite footage and infrared cameras have shown emissions of methane gushing out of fossil fuel companies' infrastructure, inside Europe and in countries from which it imports gas.

An attempt by some centre-right EU lawmakers to weaken the law, by making leak checks less frequent, failed to win majority support on Tuesday.

But the attempt reflected the view of some EU countries seeking weaker rules and concerns about the difficulty of implementing the rules are likely to resurface in upcoming negotiations between Parliament and EU countries on the final law.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Barbara Lewis)
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.

With effective and timely support from the international community, particularly NATO member countries, in 2023 Ukraine will win the all-out war launched by Russia against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Is such an outcome truly possible?

While some political pundits sneeringly argue that it is not, many of them also believed that the Kremlin was right when it predicted that Russias so-called special military operation in Ukraine would only last about three days.

Putin claims real war unleashed against Russia during Victory Day speech During his address at the annual Victory Day celebration at Moscows Red Square to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that a real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Others fear that China will provide military support to Russia, giving the Russian army a fighting chance.

However, during a one-hour phone conversation on April 26, 2023  their first since Russias all-out war against Ukraine  Chinese President Xi Jinping told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a responsible great power  we would not add fuel to the fire.

Even if China reneged on this statement and decided to support Russia militarily, at the cost of its shortterm economic relationship with the U.S. and the EU, China would only send weapons  not its army.

This would raise the cost of Ukraines victory but would not remedy a glaring problematic combination within Russias army that will inevitably lead to its defeat  namely, low morale and high incompetence.

In any event, a weakened, or even defeated, China-dependent Russia would not exactly be a bad outcome for China.

Ukrainian soldiers search for a picture of their friend on a wall near Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in in Kyiv displaying photos of Ukrainian soldiers killed during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Loved ones of the soldiers killed during Russia's war honored their memory on May 8, 2023, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. (Photo by Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In 2022, NATO member countries provided hesitant and incremental military support to Ukraine.

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Indeed, it was only once Ukraine demonstrated incredible heroism, strength, and resilience, as well as amazing combat effectiveness, that NATO member countries started to provide weapons that were more in line with Ukraines actual needs to defend its territorial integrity and restrain Russias expansionist ambitions.

Notwithstanding this costly procrastination by the West, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, by the end of 2022, Ukraine liberated 40% of the territories that Russia invaded since Feb. 24, 2022.

This is undoubtedly the most relevant statistic and clearly demonstrates that Ukraine is indeed capable  with effective and timely Western support  to restore in 2023 its internationally recognized 1991 borders.

Zelensky signs decree making May 9 Europe Day, proposes to celebrate Victory Day on May 8 President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a draft law to the Ukrainian parliament proposing that May 8 be the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

This capability should prompt NATO member countries to stop wavering and provide Ukraine with advanced Western equipment, including F-16 fighter jets and long-range missiles. Such assistance would surely help Ukraine win this unprovoked war in the very near future, and prevent further killings of civilians, including innocent children, as well as additional costly destruction of Ukraines cities and towns. Ukraines victory will also remove the most serious threat to the security of NATO member countries.

Ukraines military success will ultimately be a decisive victory for liberal democracies over authoritarian regimes, namely Russia, backed by Iran, North Korea, and Belarus. This will have a significantly positive impact on peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the world.

Ukraines victory shall also signal that the international community will no longer tolerate blatant violations of the fundamental values enshrined in the UN Charter, making this world a better place.
China produces a large number of the world's wind turbines and solar panels

The European Union must reduce its dependence on China when it comes to vital equipment used in producing renewable energy, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency said Tuesday.

It is important to work to "decentralise the supply chain", Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, told AFP on the sidelines of a conference in Berlin on offshore wind power.

There should be "more collaboration with continental Africa, South America, Southeast Asia", he added.

As the EU races to transition to green energy, it is heavily dependent on China for supplies of rare minerals and components for solar panels and wind turbines.

The 27-member bloc gets 98 percent of its supply of rare earth minerals, vital in many green technologies, from China.

China also produces a large number of the world's wind turbines and solar panels.

Heavy dependence on China is "a matter of concern", La Camera said, adding that boosting links between different parts of the world would help "the reaching of goals by the Europeans".

The EU recently reached a deal to almost double the share of renewables in the bloc's energy consumption by 2030, as it seeks to become carbon neutral and ditch Russian fossil fuels.

The provisional political agreement seeks to raise the share of renewable energy to 42.5 percent. However green groups have criticised the agreement as not going far enough.

fcz-sr/hmn/imm
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrived in Kyiv on 9 May to mark Europe Day.

Source: Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The President of the European Commission noted that she was pleased to come back to Kyiv, where the values that Europeans hold dear are defended daily.

Quote: "So it is such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe. I welcome President Zelenskyys decision to make 9 May Europe Day also here in Ukraine," said von der Leyen.

Good to be back in Kyiv.



Where the values we hold dear are defended everyday.



So it is such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe.



I welcome President @ZelenskyyUa's decision to make 9 May Europe Day also here in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/MEGOEfgyIq  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 9, 2023

Details: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on 8 May to establish Europe Day as an annual event on 9 May in Ukraine.

For reference: Europe Day is a European Union holiday which was chosen to commemorate the day of the so-called Schuman Declaration, namely a speech made by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. This speech is considered to be the starting point for the unification of European countries into a supranational community that eventually became the European Union.

This holiday has been celebrated in Ukraine on the third Saturday of May up until now. Exactly two decades ago, in the spring of 2003, this decision was made by former President Leonid Kuchma, who feared angering the pro-Russian fifth column if the "European" 9 May became the date of the celebration.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Dan Peleschuk

KYIV (Reuters) -European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed Ukraine as "the beating heart of today's European values" in a deeply symbolic visit to Kyiv on Tuesday as Russia marked its World War Two Victory Day.

Von der Leyen's trip underlined the European Union's support for Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a military parade on Moscow's Red Square and portrayed his own country as under attack by the West as war rages in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and von der Leyen had discussed defence matters, sanctions on Russia and Ukraine's integration with Europe at talks in Kyiv.

"Our efforts for a united Europe, for security and peace, need to be as strong as Russia's desire to destroy our security, our freedom, our Europe," he told a joint news conference.

He also highlighted Russia's military failures in Ukraine by saying Russian forces had not managed to achieve the goal of capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut before the May 9 holiday, when Russia celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

The battle for Bakhmut has been raging for months and the fighting has been intense. Moscow regards capturing it as a stepping stone towards taking other cities in Ukraine's industrial east.

Von der Leyen's trip fell on the day the EU celebrates as Europe Day, which Ukraine adopted as its own on Monday, underlining its ambition to join Western institutions after applying to join the EU last year following Russia's invasion.

Von der Leyen, who arrived in Kyiv after a night of Russian air strikes, welcomed Zelenskiy's decision on adopting Europe Day.

"Good to be back in Kyiv. Where the values we hold dear are defended everyday," von der Leyen, who heads the EU executive, wrote on Twitter.

"Ukraine is on the front line of the defence of everything we Europeans cherish: our liberty, our democracy, our freedom of thought and speech. Courageously, Ukraine is fighting for the ideals of Europe that we celebrate today."

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TRADE RESTRICTIONS

Zelenskiy said he expected an eleventh package of EU sanctions to be imposed on Russia soon and that it should include powerful sanctions on Russia's atomic sector.

He said he expected an EU summit in June to yield a positive appraisal of Ukraine's integration process.

"Our values, security, our wellbeing, security on the continent  all of this can be 100% realised for Europe only together with Ukraine," he said.

Despite the gestures of solidarity, Zelenskiy criticised trade restrictions imposed by some of Ukraine's neighbours, calling for "strong" European decisions to remove them.

"Any restrictions of our exports are currently absolutely unacceptable, because it strengthens not any of us in Europe but...the potential of the aggressor," he said.

Last week the European Union set restrictions until June 5 on imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Those countries have cited concerns that Ukrainian grain meant for export to other countries has ended up in their local markets.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Timothy Heritage)
media-polesye.by media-polesye.by

A social project "Equal to Equal" has been launched in Stolin district under the campaign "Agenda 50".

Belarus signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which provides a turn in policy of disability being conducted now, to a policy based on human rights. After the signing of the Convention, it has been ratified, its provisions have been reflected in Belarusian laws, in social policy programs, while the very process lead by the government should be filled from the "bottom", as well, - by the activity of individuals, communities, social organizations, cities. Exactly this kind of filling the campaign "Agenda 50" contributes to, which is implemented in Belarus with the support of the European Union.

- It must be the work of the whole society. The very essence of the agendas is to stimulate activity of people in cities through the creation of links between various initiative groups, without waiting for the state to come one day and do something, commented to the EuroBelarus information service director of the Center for European Transformation Andrei Yahorau.

But this activity should be rationally planned. Local agendas are presented just by these local plans which apply not to the whole country, or even to a specific region, but to some cities. To date, a study has been held regarding willingness of Belarusian cities to implement the Convention. There are initiative groups on the ground consisting of friends organizations of people with disabilities and certain government agencies (territorial social services centres in some cities), as well as from other interested social organizations and ordinary citizens.

- We drew the experience of our colleagues from Poland, prepared a methodology of work on the agendas in local conditions. Unlike our neighbors, who have everything had fairly centralized, and local authorities have been bound to develop plans in accordance with Polish legislation, our local authorities have neither the need nor the obligation to do so. In our situation, we often do not have from the top" initiative; we rather have planning "from the bottom", but we include local authorities into it, where possible, says Andrei Yahorau.

The first and the most serious challenge faced by any initiative group is the absence of certain legitimacy to do some work. Local authorities feel themselves masters of their location, so decisions are sometimes taken in an extra-centralised way; we constantly need to go "at the top" to get permissions. Instead of the cooperation for improving the situation on the ground we have such an unhealthy confrontation: local authorities and public initiatives exist separately, without any contact. This greatly complicates the work, as in case of no legitimacy and right to do something, initiatives become unstable. Therefore, this work requires a great level of dedication, sacrifice and obstinacy.

However, sometimes there appears a desire for cooperation between community initiatives and public authorities, and towns of Staubcy, Stolin are more or less favorable in this respect.

- But sometimes people themselves have little knowledge of the situation in their city and do not have relevant competencies to implement such initiatives. You must have a lot of activity, creativity, openness, speed of action, while small towns live as though outside the boundaries of time, it seems like nothing ever changes there, stresses the interlocutor.

Plans for the implementation of the agendas for different cities and towns are different. Depending on the public activity, social businesses development, relations with local authorities, presence of active churches, educational institutions, which can contribute somehow to the project activity, there appears a unique combination of reasons to start the planning. After all, we can only rely on available resources that can be involved in this issue.

- A lot depends on people on the ground in implementing the agenda, on what they can and are willing to do. Barrier-free environment changes much more positively in those settlements (regardless of whether they are large or small), where there are big initiative groups of people with disabilities. But I see two challenges that may arise. The first one is peoples indifferent attitude to work, say, we will do something, and then it will develop by itself. It will not develop by itself. The second challenge is that people may perceive the work on the agendas as a small set of actions, without the understanding that this plan can change something in a city or a town. We should try to make sure that in the end we have got a team of people from different sectors related to each other and with key stakeholders in the city - business, government, churches. We are always ready to help and to be included in activities that are held on the ground, with all the resources that we have. Therefore, there is only one little thing left, namely, people on the ground.

Meanwhile, implementation of the first project in the framework of the campaign "Agenda 50" has begun in Stolin district, entitled "Equal to Equal." It consists in creating the conditions for independent living of young people with disabilities in Stolin district and provides for dissemination of experience learned to other regions. The project will be implemented in the course of the year. During this period, the participants will monitor all public and administrative buildings, catering facilities in Stolin for the presence of a barrier-free environment. All data will be processed. This will let releasing a guide to Stolin accessibility for people with disabilities, with indication of each object.

The social project "Equal to Equal" is being realized by the Centre of support for young people with disabilities, Belarus Red Cross Society, Belarusian Association of Assistance to Disabled Children and Young People, district organization "BelTIZ" (Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired People), Regional Centre of Correction and Development Training and Rehabilitation, Executive Committee and the initiative group of parents of disabled children.

See also the results of the study: Potential and opportunities for introducing local planning mechanisms in Belarusian regions to ensure the rights of people with disabilities".

***

This article was created within the framework of Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50) international project.

Agenda 50 campaign is implemented with the support of the European Union and in partnership with TUS Foundation (Poland) and European House (Denmark). Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Consortium EuroBelarus and Centre for European Transformation participate in the implementation of the campaign in Belarus.
NEW YORK  U.S. Rep. George Santos, who faced outrage and mockery over a litany of fabrications about his heritage, education and professional pedigree, has been charged with federal criminal offenses, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The charges against Santos, filed in the Eastern District of New York, remain under seal.

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The people could not publicly discuss specific details of the case until it is unsealed and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The unsealing would happen when Santos appears in court, which could come as soon as Wednesday.

Reached on Tuesday, Santos said, This is news to me.

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Youre the first to call me about this, he said in a brief phone interview.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment. The charges were first reported by CNN.

The New York Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street background, college degrees and a history as a star volleyball player. Serious questions about his finances also surfaced  including the source of what he claimed was a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands of dollars in back rent.

Santos has resisted calls to resign and recently announced he was running for reelection. He said his lies about his life story, which included telling people he had jobs at several global financial firms and a lavish real estate portfolio, were harmless embellishments of his resume.

Pressure on him to quit, though, has been intense. Reporters and members of the public hounded him. He was mocked on social media and late-night television. Fellow New York Republicans demanded he resign, saying he had betrayed voters and his own party with his lies.

Nassau County prosecutors and the New York attorney generals office had previously said they were looking into possible violations of the law.

Besides questions about his life story, Santos campaign spending stoked scrutiny because of unusual payments for travel, lodging and other items.

The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and urged regulators to investigate Santos. The mountain of lies Santos propagated during the campaign about his life story and qualifications, the center said, should prompt the commission to thoroughly investigate what appear to be equally brazen lies about how his campaign raised and spent money.

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In his filings with the FEC, Santos initially said he loaned his campaign and related political action committees more than $750,000  money he claimed came from a family company.

Yet, the wealth necessary to make those loans seems to have emerged from nowhere. In a financial disclosure statement filed with the clerk of the U.S. House in 2020, Santos said he had no assets and an annual income of $55,000.

His company, the Devolder Organization, wasnt incorporated until spring 2021. Yet last September, Santos filed another financial disclosure form reporting that this new company, incorporated in Florida, had paid him a $750,000 salary in each of the last two years, plus another $1 million to $5 million in dividends. In one interview, Santos described the Devolder Organization as a business that helped rich people buy things like yachts and aircraft.

Court records indicate Santos was the subject of three eviction proceedings in Queens between 2014 and 2017 because of unpaid rent.

Some Republicans, including those in his district, have sharply castigated Santos for his dishonesty. The Nassau County Republican Committee, which had supported his candidacy, said it would not support Santos for reelection.

Santos lost his first race for Congress in 2020 but ran again in 2022 and won in a district that is in the suburbs of Long Island and a sliver of Queens.

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A local newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had raised issues about Santos background before the election but it was not until a few weeks after the election that the depth of his duplicity became public.

The New York Times reported that companies where Santos claimed to have worked, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, had no record of him having been an employee. Baruch College, where Santos claimed to have gotten a degree in finance and economics, said he hadnt been a student.

Beyond his resume, Santos invented a life story that has also come under question, including claims that his grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII.

During his campaign, he referred to himself as a proud American Jew.

Confronted with questions about that story, Santos, a Roman Catholic, said he never intended to claim Jewish heritage.

The Times also uncovered records in Brazil that show Santos, when he was 19, was the subject of a criminal investigation there in 2008 over allegations he used stolen checks to buy items at a clothing shop in the city of Niteroi, which is near Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian authorities said they have reopened the case.

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Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.
Russian invaders are taking documentation, computer equipment, and other looted property out of Enerhodar, the satellite city of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), shops and pharmacies are closed, and gas stations and ATMs are empty.

Source: Dmitry Orlov, Mayor of Enerhodar, in the comments of the a project of Radio Liberty, News Of Pryazovia [a region of Ukraine including parts of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts  ed.].

Quote: "They took out equipment from the medical and sanitary unit, computer equipment, documentation, a passport office which they located in the premises of the Central Administrative District.

The landline internet that was here does not work [anymore], grocery stores and pharmacies do not work. Specific categories of products and necessities are in high demand [and being bought out  ed.]. Gas stations and ATMs are also empty."

Details: Orlov added that the occupation authorities have been transporting their documentation for several days, waiting for a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Previously: On 7 May, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that the situation near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant gets more dangerous, IAEA experts regularly hear shelling.

Background:

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian side is evacuating the occupation authorities, the so-called people's militia and their families from the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Looted property is being taken in the direction of occupied Crimea.

Russian invaders "evacuate" proteges and collaborators, as well as children with teachers and educators from Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in the direction of occupied Berdiansk.

In addition, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russians export documentation and loot from the city of Skadovsk in Kherson Oblast.

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Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy is meeting with Biden on Tuesday to discuss a debt ceiling solution.

Ahead of the meeting, McCarthy told NBC he will not accept a short-term debt ceiling increase.

The US could default on its debt as early as June 1, and Congress has yet to agree on a solution.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is dropping hints as to what he might accept  and reject  in a potential debt ceiling agreement with the president.

On Tuesday, McCarthy  along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries  are meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the ongoing debt ceiling crisis. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned McCarthy last week that the US could default as early as June 1 if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling by then, but to date, neither party has been able to agree on an approach that would avoid that outcome.

McCarthy passed a bill in the House two weeks ago to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion, or through March 2024, whichever happens first, accompanied by over $4.5 trillion in spending cuts. Biden vowed to veto that legislation and has remained adamant that raising the debt ceiling should be a bipartisan and clean increase, without any spending cuts attached, and he has left the door open for budget negotiations  separate from a debt ceiling deal.

But McCarthy told NBC News on Tuesday that he is unwilling to accept even a short-term debt ceiling increase ahead of budget negotiations.

"Let's just get this done now," he said.

"He's got to stop ignoring problems," McCarthy added, referring to Biden. "And why kick the can down the road? Let's solve it now."

The country is continuing to inch closer to an economically catastrophic  and unprecedented  default. The Bipartisan Policy Center released its latest default estimate on Tuesday, saying that it could arrive as soon as early June. According to the center, taxpayers in states that experienced natural disasters like Alabama and Georgia received an extended filing deadline, and those delays could move the default date up because of a lower cash flow to the IRS.

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"The coming weeks are critical for assessing the strength of government cash flows," Shai Akabas, BPC director of economic policy, said in a statement. "If a solution is not reached before June, policymakers may be playing daily Russian Roulette with the full faith and credit of the United States, risking financial disaster for their constituents and the country. Even now, the looming deadline is raising costs to the government, and therefore to all taxpayers."

It's unclear if Tuesday's meeting will result in an agreement, but if not, Insider has previously reported on other options on the table to avert an economic crisis without involving Congress. Those include minting a $1 trillion platinum coin or invoking a clause in the 14th amendment that would declare the debt ceiling unconstitutional, but the Biden administration has been critical of going those routes.

"The President has been really clear Congress must do everything they can to prevent a default," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Monday press briefing when asked if Biden would consider the 14th amendment. "They must do their job. That is the President's position. And that's what it's going to continue to be."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A former Georgia school employee accused of licking a childs feet at a trampoline park and facing other molestation charges was granted bond.

Caurey Rollins appeared in court on Friday where a Richmond County Superior Court judge ruled on Rollins bond.

Richmond County jail records show he was granted a $38,700 bond. The jail records do not show if he paid the bail amount.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police arrested Rollins on Jan. 14 at Urban Air Adventure Park in Augusta after a mother said Rollins tickled her 7-year-old sons feet, asked him to take his socks off and eventually licked both of his feet.

Rollins told the business owner that he was visiting the park with a family who had already left and he was getting ready to leave, according to a sheriffs office report. He charged with the sexual exploitation of children.

Court documents show that Rollins was indicted in April on seven more counts of felony child molestation for groping students, stemming from separate events that happened on August 11, 2022.

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Rollins worked as a teachers aide at Glenn Hills Elementary, where he has since resigned.

WJBF in Augusta obtained documents that showed that Rollins was placed on unpaid leave on Jan. 17.

The documents also included a copy of Rollins resignation letter, which the district accepted on Feb. 11. Four days later, the Richmond County Sheriffs Office officially charged Rollins for the incident at the trampoline park.

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IN OTHER NEWS
John Olivas, a former U.S. Homeland Security agent, exits the federal courthouse in Riverside in December 2021. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A former U.S. Homeland Security agent was sentenced Monday to life in prison for violating two women's civil rights by trying to stop them from telling police he sexually assaulted them.

U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal rejected arguments by John Olivas, 48, that he deserved little more than a decade in prison and accepted prosecutors' recommendation of life behind bars. Bernal said at the sentencing that he deplored Olivas' "systematic torture of women," prosecutors told The Times.

The judge presided over two trials that featured the women's harrowing testimony about Olivas beating and sexually assaulting them in 2012 when he was a federal Homeland Security Investigations agent and they were, first one and then the other, his girlfriends.

The first trial ended in a hung jury. In the retrial, the jury found that Olivas raped one of the women twice and attempted to rape the other one once. He was convicted of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.

"Mr. Olivas recognizes that he must be punished and that he will serve significant time in prison," his attorney Meghan Blanco told the judge in a memo. "But he does not deserve to die in prison."

Olivas, who served 21 months in state prison after pleading guilty to related state charges, will appeal his federal conviction, she said.

Prosecutors called Olivas a "predator who imposed nightmarish trauma on his romantic partners" and abused his power as a federal agent by telling them he could quash any local police investigation of his violent behavior.

"In that process, he was a terror," assistant U.S. Attys. Eli Alcaraz and Frances Lewis wrote in a court filing.

An ex-wife testified that in 2004 she, too, was raped by Olivas. He was not charged with assaulting her, and he denied the allegation.

In a letter to the judge, the ex-girlfriend whom Olivas attempted to rape said she was still terrified to leave home alone even a decade after the assault.

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"I wont go anywhere at night alone," she wrote.

"The simple things like getting gas at night or going to the store when its dark are gone. I feel like Im constantly looking over my shoulder."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A former Texas law enforcement official and impromptu first responder who tried to help victims at the scene of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting is calling for lawmakers to pass common-sense gun laws in the wake of Saturdays tragedy.

I fully support the defense of our Second Amendment, Steven Spainhouer said in a video released by the Texas Democratic Party on Tuesday. But we could do things with red flag laws and background checks and mental health screenings here in the state.

Spainhouer was on his way to Allen Premium Outlets to have lunch with his son when his son called to say there was an active shooter at the mall.

I pulled up and stopped about 50 feet in front of the H&M store, which is where my son worked, and I immediately saw a guy begging for help on the phone, hollering for help, Spainhouer said. I saw bodies on the sidewalk. My police officer training took over at that point.

Spainhouer described trying to help the victims, including one whose face had been blown away.

She was gone, he said. I could not do anything for her.

Spainhouer is a former law enforcement officer, a veteran and a gun owner, but he said government leaders need to do more than talk about mental health and offer thoughts and prayers.

The shooter used an AR-15 rifle with an extended magazine. A Texas Department of Public Safety official said Tuesday that the gunman, Mauricio Garcia, had eight weapons with him  three on his person and five in his car  all of which were legally purchased. Garcia shot 15 people in about three or four minutes before an Allen police officer killed the gunman.

We can make sure that there are other things done at the state level to make sure that we dont have these type of weapons out on the streets and accessible to people that should have no business having those weapons, Spainhouer said.
Three men, including a editor of a neo-Confederate magazine and a former state education superintendent, are being considered for the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.

On Tuesday the Senate Education Committee discussed the candidacies of Oran Smith, the former editor of Southern Partisan magazine; Mick Zais, former state Superintendent of Education; and Gene Fant, president of North Greenville University. The committee gave all three favorable reports.

Smith, a Coastal Carolina University board member, will be considered for a seat to represent four-year public institutions of higher learning. Four years ago, Smith was a candidate to be executive director of the commission, before Rusty Monhollon was chosen.

He was deemed highly qualified by a search committee at the time, but his time at Southern Partisan two decades earlier was cause for concern.

Smith was editor at Southern Partisan between 1989 and 1999. The Southern Poverty Law Center said the Southern Partisan jump-started the neo-Confederate movement. The magazines promotion of a white genocide conspiracy theory was cited by Dylann Roof, who killed nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015, according to The Atlantic.

Smith told The State in 2019 that he changed his views after a racially-motivated shooting.

On Tuesday, he told the committee he couldnt distance himself further from the magazines moonlight and magnolia myth that the old South was happy.

Smith also is a senior fellow at state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weavers conservative think tank, the Palmetto Promise Institute.

Fant, president of North Greenville University, a private, nonprofit school, is up for a seat to represent independent colleges. He has spent 20 years at Southern Baptist-affiliated schools.

Fant supported a $1.5 million state budget earmark for a private, Christian residential school to be built by the Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County. The move by lawmakers raised questions about whether the allocation violated the state constitution. He wrote Gov. Henry McMaster in June 2022 urging him to support the earmark too, calling it a personal project for North Greenville University because many employees, including himself and his wife, volunteer for and donate money to Christian Learning Centers.

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The state was later sued by a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that promotes the separation of church and state. The nonprofit claimed that the earmark violated the South Carolina Constitutions prohibition on using public funds to directly benefit private educational institutions.

Christian Learning Centers eventually scrapped the idea of a residential school in favor of a charter school and was subsequently awarded the earmark by lawmakers.

Im very big on public-private partnerships, Fant said. That was a particular project that I felt like was one that was worthy of a public-private partnership.

The third commission board hopeful, Zais, is set to fill an at-large seat on the board. He was South Carolinas superintendent of education from 2011 to 2015. Under his leadership, school choice grew, Inside Higher Ed reported. He was also critical of Common Core education standards, according to Education Week.

Two years later, Zais headed to the White House to serve as deputy education secretary for the U.S. Department of Education under President Donald Trump. He also spent 13 days as the U.S. Secretary of Education after former Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned in January 2021, before President Joe Biden was inaugurated and chose the departments next leader. Zais is now an educational consultant for CivicPoint LLC., a public affairs firm.

Zais could not be reached for comment.

South Carolinas 15-member Commission on Higher Education helps coordinate the states higher education system, according to its website. It administers state, regional and federal programs, recommends policy to the governor and more.

We trust this process and look forward to working with any newly-appointed commissioners to support South Carolinas students in pursuit of their educational and career goals, said Mark Swart, a commission spokesman.

All three candidates must be approved by the entire Senate before the 2023 legislative session ends on Thursday.
Top-Polling GOP Candidates Participate In First Republican Presidential Debate

From left to right, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, and Jeb Bush, were three of the 10 candidates at the Republican presidential debate at the Quicken Loans Arena on August 6, 2015, in Cleveland Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images

The first Republican presidential debate is still three months away, but as the field grows, the Republican National Committee is already discussing how it plans to decide which candidates will land a spot on the stage in Milwaukee.

The RNC is planning its first set of presidential debates since the 2016 cycle, when Donald Trump dominated a crowded GOP field on his path to victory. Recently, the committee has floated a plan to multiple campaigns for the first debate, scheduled for August, of only allowing candidates that are polling at 1% or higher and have had at least 40,000 donors, according to people with knowledge of the conversations.

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is now president of the Young Americas Foundation, one of the organizations partnering with the RNC to host that debate, tells TIME those numbers are in line with what he has heard, though he has not formally been told the debate criteria and does not know exactly when it will be set.

From the early discussions Ive heard about, without a final decision being made, therell probably be some sort of criteria for the number of individual donors, because thats a good way to show that people have legitimacy, Walker says. At the same time, though, I dont know that theyll be quite as strict as they once were in the polls.

The RNC did not respond to TIMEs request for comment on the record before publication. If the committee sticks with the proposed criteria for the first debate in August, it will mark a change from the first debate of the 2016 cycle. The first GOP debate in August 2015 was split in two, with a prime-time debate for the ten candidates who averaged the highest national polling numbers, and an earlier undercard debate for candidates that didnt make the top ten. The candidates with the lowest polling that secured a spot in prime-time were polling around 3%, according to a CNN report at the time. The RNC did not factor in a candidates donors in the criteria for that debate.

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In 2020, when Democrats had the crowded field of presidential contenders, the Democratic National Committee only permitted candidates on stage for the first debate who were either polling at 1% or higher in an average of 3 national or early state polls, or had at least 65,000 different donors, with at least 200 donors in 20 different states.

The discussions between the RNC and campaigns about the first debate come as the GOP field is poised to grow. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is widely expected to jump in the race soon, and others, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, have strongly signaled they may as well.

If the debate were held now, the candidates who would clear the 1% threshold would include Trump, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, according to RealClearPolitics latest polling averages. So too would Pence, DeSantis, Christie, Sununu, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, if they were candidates. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who formally launched his campaign last month, is polling at 0.9%.

Read more: How Tim Scott Plans to Stand Out in a GOP That Craves Catastrophe

Walker says setting the polling threshold too high this early in the race could potentially knock out qualified candidates who would otherwise have a shot at the nomination. A donor threshold would ensure serious campaigns qualify, he adds. Forty, fifty thousand individual donorsnumbers like that are very realistic to say, Okay, this is a legitimate candidate.

While some candidates may struggle to clear the 1% threshold, Trump is blowing the rest of the field out of the water. The RCP average finds that he has the support of a majority of Republican primary voters.

According to the New York Times, the former president has told aides and confidants that he is likely to opt out of some early presidential debates. The Washington Post reported last week that Trump has complained about the timing of the debates, though an RNC official told the Post that he did not raise concerns about the schedule when he was informed about it before it was announced. Furthermore, Trump has not agreed to unconditionally support the partys eventual nominee, which RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has indicated is a prerequisite for making the debate stage.

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 posted on Truth Social last month. 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?

Walker thinks that it would be a mistake for Trump to skip the first debate, which the former governor anticipates will have one of the largest audiences of any debate until mid-2024. He tells TIME that not attending would mean Trump missing an opportunity to appeal to curious general election voters, especially in a swing state as important as Wisconsin.

He is a prizefighter, and prizefighters belong in the ring defending their title, says Walker, who shared the presidential debate stage with him in 2015. And if Trump doesnt show? I think people will still tune in, but I think the audience clearly is going to be much larger if President Trump is there, Walker says. Not only does it hurt the debate and the candidates, but I think it hurts him.

For other candidates who qualify, the first debate will be a critical opportunity to gain name recognition and draw a contrast with the former president. But without Trump in the room, that could be a lot tougher.

He certainly knows that the media attention to this event will be X if hes in the room and one-tenth of X if hes not, says Rick Wilson, the anti-Trump political strategist who co-founded the Lincoln Project. Hes going to try to leverage his presence or lack of presence to make the debates inconsequential or to make it into a coronation.  I think what youre going to see is the kids table. They are going to all go out there and desperately try to not say the T-word in the debate.

Asked who might have a chance to beat the frontrunner, Wilson pauses. God? he offers. I mean, maybe. And Im not even giving him very good odds.
A draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says breast cancer screening should start at age 40 to benefit groups including Black women and women with dense breasts. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A new look at the science of preventing breast cancer deaths promises to reshape when, and how many, mammograms American women will get  again.

An influential panel intends to recommend that U.S. women begin mammograms to screen for breast cancer at 40 and continue getting them once every two years until age 75. Doing so is expected to reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by 19% compared with following the mammography regimen it previously endorsed.

The new slate of draft recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force marks a major shift from the controversial advice it promulgated in 2009  and largely reiterated in 2016  that most women could safely wait until 50 to begin having their breasts scanned for signs of potential malignancies. The panel also said women at average risk could be screened every other year instead of annually.

In calling for fewer mammograms over a woman's lifetime, the task force cited the frequency with which breast cancers were overdiagnosed, leading to invasive yet unnecessary treatment, as well as the harms that come from needless biopsies and other work-ups done in response to false-positive test results. It also recognized that mammograms expose women to radiation, which in some cases could wind up causing cancer in otherwise healthy women.

Those recommendations touched off a firestorm and were denounced by womens health advocates, who have long argued that early detection gives the best chance of survival.

What prompted the task force to change its mind and advise that screening mammograms begin at 40? The members said they were strongly influenced by the experiences of Black women, who tend to develop aggressive breast cancers earlier than white women do, and to die of them more often. According to one study, Black women are 39% more likely to die of breast cancer than the population of women as a whole.

Screening women of color for breast cancer earlier is just the first of many steps that must be taken to close persistent gaps along ethnic lines. For Black, Hispanic, Latina, Asian, Native American and Alaska Native women, timely follow-up and effective treatment for breast cancer will be needed as well, the experts warned.

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Also driving the changes in the draft recommendations is a growing recognition of the risks faced by women with dense breasts, which make malignancies both more common and harder to detect on mammographic images.

Almost half of all women have dense breasts, and the task force members said they had little research to guide them on whether to recommend additional screening or other kinds of imaging, such as MRI or ultrasound.

New and more inclusive science about breast cancer in people younger than 50 has enabled us to expand our prior recommendation and encourage all women to get screened every other year starting at age 40, said Dr. Carol Mangione, chief of internal medicine at UCLA and the chair of the group that wrote the task force's proposed recommendation. The new guidelines will help save lives and prevent more women from dying due to breast cancer, she added.

Dr. Patricia Ganz, a breast cancer expert at UCLA who has served on many cancer-screening panels, said that there is little new evidence driving the task force's shift. But she called the group's focus on addressing racial inequities in breast cancer very, very important. And she said the every-other-year mammography schedule is in line with practices in Canada and Europe.

I do think this is a very good recommendation: It leaves doctors and their patients a lot of flexibility to decide how aggressive or relaxed their breast cancer screening should be, Ganz said. The fact that they recommend starting at 40 means these women will have an opportunity early to engage in a process of calculating their personal risks.

In doing so, women find they are subject to a range of breast-cancer screening recommendations.

The American Cancer Society suggests women begin annual mammograms at 45, then consider switching to biennial tests at 55. Women who would prefer to begin annual screening at 40 can do so, and they should continue getting mammograms as long as they expect to live at least 10 more years, the ACS adds.

The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommend annual mammography screening for all women ages 40 and older who are at average risk of breast cancer.

Neither group suggests that 75 should be a hard upper limit for screening mammograms. But the American College of Radiology has recommended that all women have a risk assessment for breast cancer by the age of 25, and discuss with their doctor whether earlier screening with mammography and/or MRI is needed.

Dr. Debra L. Monticciolo, a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, was highly critical of the task force's decision to recommend mammograms every other year considering that Black women and Jewish women die from breast cancer prior to age 50  or even 40  more often than white women as a whole. Thats just going to exacerbate the racial disparities, she warned.

Their own evidence shows that the most lives are saved with yearly screening, said Monticciolo, who led the drafting of the American College of Radiology/Society of Breast Imaging recommendations. With annual screening of women 40-to-79, you get a 42% mortality reduction. Limit that to every other year, and it drops the mortality reduction to 30%. These are womens lives that would be saved. I dont know what their thinking is here.

The task force noted other consequences of shifting from the least-intensive to the most-intensive screening schedule, however. The number of mammograms a typical woman received tripled, as did the number of false positive readings. The rate of overdiagnosis more than doubled, from 8% of cases to 17%.

Dr. Otis Brawley, a Johns Hopkins oncologist and cancer epidemiologist, said that while it seems counterintuitive that screening less often could save more lives, its a possibility that cries out for rigorous testing.

Even many experts cant come to grips with how many cancers are caused by mammogram screening and how many deaths are diverted by that screening, said Brawley. People who carry genes that predispose them to some cancers may be particularly vulnerable to radiation-induced mutations, he said. But thats not a trade-off thats been explored with strong research, he added.

The task force made clear that its new recommendations were not undergirded with rock-solid confidence. That women should begin getting mammograms at 40 had its most solid research backing. But the task force assigned far lower confidence values to its every-other-year schedule of mammography, and to the idea that breast-cancer detection after 75 may not be lifesaving.

There is very limited research on this age population, the group's report acknowledged.

The draft recommendation will be open for public comment until June 5. Comments can be submitted on the task force's website.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Refiles May 9 story to add dropped words in quote in eighth paragraph)

By Andrew Mills

DOHA (Reuters) -International occupational health experts will urge Qatar on Tuesday to establish a heat stress "center of excellence" to influence other Gulf countries to strengthen protections for workers against extreme heat and humidity, two of the experts said.

The experts, in Doha for a conference the International Labour Organisation is convening, will call on wealthy gas producer Qatar to build on rules it introduced in 2021, recognized as the most extensive in the Gulf.

Qatar can "disseminate this work, support other countries (and) provide them with a roadmap of how they can address this problem across the Arab region," Andreas Flouris, an associate professor at Greece's University of Thessaly, told Reuters ahead of the meetings.

Workers in the Gulf are exposed to temperatures in excess of 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit), which researchers and NGOs say puts them at risk of heat-related illnesses, traumatic injury and death.

Qatar has said previously it protects workers by prohibiting outdoor work between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from June 1 until mid-September.

Qatar bans work from more than twice the hours banned in Saudi Arabia, where the majority of the region's construction projects are underway.

Jason Glaser, head of occupational health research organization La Isla Network, said Qatar was "a small use case where we can get it right" and export solutions to larger Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia.

"Qatar has the resources and has invited the brain trust to improve surveillance, improve design, improve implementation ... to ensure it's actually working in the country."

The government media office did not respond to a request for comment.

James Lynch, director of human rights group FairSquare, who was not at the conference, said Qatar's heat stress protections do not go far enough and called on authorities to guarantee workers adequate rest time and effectively investigate the worker deaths, many of which go unexplained.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills; Editing by Stephen Coates)
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) - Aid workers say fighting between rival military factions in Sudan is pushing poorly-funded humanitarian programmes in the region to a breaking point.

Even before the violence began on April 15, millions of people in Sudan and neighbouring countries were dependent on aid due to poverty and conflict. Since then, hundreds have been killed, including at least five humanitarians; food stocks have been looted; and many international aid workers have left.

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR is seeking an additional $445 million to cope with an expected exodus of 860,000 people to six of Sudan's seven neighbours - Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan and Central African Republic - by October.

Here are the needs broken down by country.

SUDAN

* More than 700,000 people have been displaced in Sudan since April 15, according to the International Organization for Migration. Before the fighting, 3.7 million people were already internally displaced, mostly in the Darfur region where violence has simmered since a major conflict in the early 2000s.

* The country hosts over 1 million refugees, most from South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia's Tigray region.

* Before April 15, nearly 16 million people relied on humanitarian aid. An internal U.N. estimate obtained by Reuters shows this figure is expected to increase by 5 million, including 2.5 million children.

* A $1.75 billion U.N. aid programme for Sudan in 2023 is 15% funded.

SOUTH SUDAN

* Some 240,000 people are expected to flee from Sudan to South Sudan, UNHCR says. Already, some 35,000 have arrived, most of them by boat across the Nile to a border town called Renk.

* The country's $1.7 billion U.N. aid programme for the year is 26% funded.

CHAD

* Some 105,000 people fleeing Sudan are expected to cross the long desert border into Chad. Already, an estimated 30,000 have arrived.

* Chad has among the highest levels of hunger in the world, and more than a third of its children under 5 are stunted, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) says. It was already hosting more than 500,000 refugees, who have seen assistance reduced or cut since last year due to funding shortfalls.

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* UNHCR says it needs additional funds to move new arrivals, who are currently sleeping in flimsy improvised shelters, into existing refugee camps and build five new ones.

* The U.N.'s $674 million programme for the year is so far only 4.6% funded.

EGYPT

* Egypt is expected to receive the bulk of Sudan's displaced, with 350,000 set to arrive, UNHCR says. So far, some 50,000 have entered the country, including many with disabilities.

ETHIOPIA

* Some 85,000 people are expected to flee to Ethiopia. About 1,500 have arrived already, including many Eritrean refugees who had sought shelter in Sudan. A U.N. report says early arrivals showed signs of psychological distress.

* Ethiopia already had a $4 billion U.N. aid programme for 2023, as it seeks to recover from a two-year war that killed tens of thousand of people and created famine-like conditions for hundreds of thousands. It is 20% funded.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

* The country is expected to receive 25,000 people from Sudan. More than 6,000 have arrived already, UNHCR says.

* More than three-quarters of people in the country live in poverty, and nearly half are food insecure, WFP says.

* CAR needs nearly half a billion dollars in aid in 2023, the U.N. says. The programme is 23% funded.

ERITREA

* The country could receive some 55,000 people from Sudan, although none have been registered yet.

* Eritrea is one of Africa's poorest and most repressive states. Thousands flee the country each year to attempt the dangerous journey to Europe.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Daniel Flynn)
Migrants cross the Rio Grande river into the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The U.S. is preparing for the Thursday, May 11th end of the Title 42 policy, linked to the coronavirus pandemic that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants seeking asylum. (Christian Chavez/AP)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden predicted Tuesday that the U.S.-Mexico border would be chaotic for a while when pandemic-related restrictions end, as 550 active-duty troops began arriving and migrants weighed whether or when to cross.

The restrictions have been in place since 2020, and allowed U.S. officials to quickly return migrants over the border. They are ending later this week and the U.S. is putting into place a set of new policies that will clamp down on illegal crossings while offering migrants a legal path to the United States if they apply online through a government app, have a sponsor and pass background checks.

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Biden said his administration was working to make the change orderly. But it remains to be seen, he told reporters. Its going to be chaotic for a while.

Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke for roughly an hour Tuesday to discuss the border. Mexico shares a 1,951-mile border with the United States, so the nation is key to the success of any plans by the United States to control immigration at the southern border.

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Migrants are already arriving. Agents in the Border Patrols relatively quiet El Centro, California, sector stopped about 260 migrants a day over a four- or five-day period through Sunday, up from about 90 a day the previous week, said Gregory Bovino, the sector chief. On Monday, agents found migrants from 22 countries.

Its unclear whats driving the increase other than anticipation that pandemic restrictions are about to end, Bovino said.

We see these surges whenever theres a major event or a news story, he said. We dont have a crystal ball, so I cant say theres going to be a massive surge on Friday.

In the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas, groups handed out fliers Tuesday that explained in English and Haitian Creole how to register for the CBP One app that the U.S. has been using to allow migrants to schedule an appointment to try to gain admittance to the U.S.

Standing in Reynosas central square Tuesday, Phanord Renel of Haiti said he would not risk deportation to cross. We dont want to go back there (Haiti) because the situation is very complicated there, he said. If we cant cross, we have to put up with it here, maybe the government will do something for us, but cross illegally  no.

U.S. and international law give migrants the right to seek asylum. However, the U.S. has used Title 42 of a public health law to expel migrants with no chance at asylum 2.8 million times since March 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The Biden administration has said it is ready to deal with whatever happens after Title 42s use ends, although it has also repeatedly criticized Congress for not making changes to the countrys immigration system.

We believe we have a robust process to deal with what is going to occur after Title 42 lifts. Again, were using the tools that are available to us because Congress refuses to do their job as it relates to the border, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

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The movement of troops is part of efforts to beef up security along the southern border, but they will mainly be used to help monitor and watch the border, or do data entry and support, and are not there in any way to be interacting with migrants, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary. The goal is to free up U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel to do law enforcement activities.

At least some of the active-duty troops will be used near El Paso, Texas, he said, while adding that CBP will decide where forces will go. More than 900 additional soldiers, Marines and airmen will follow around the end of May.

Roughly 2,500 National Guard members are already spread across all sectors of the border, providing an array of support to CBP, including monitoring, detection and air transportation. Separately, Texas National Guard troops are also working along the border under state authority.

Even with the COVID-19 asylum restrictions still in place, the administration has seen record numbers of people crossing the border. The Biden administrations plan is meant to crack down on those who cross illegally and by creating new pathways meant to offer alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.

Some migrants have been spurred by false information from smugglers or widespread rumors about what the changes will mean for their chances of being able to remain in the U.S.

Its a very complicated legal system and its becoming increasingly difficult to communicate the realities of our clients, Daniel Berlin, of the International Rescue Committee, said. While we try to communicate the most accurate and up to date information that we have, smugglers and traffickers and other bad actors are communicating false information.

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Effects have also been felt far from the southern border. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in response to a tenfold increase in the number of asylum-seekers arriving in the city in need of temporary shelter and other help.

Chicago officials have warned for several weeks that its shelters cant accommodate the larger number of migrants arriving daily since late April. Migrants have been sheltering inside city police stations or airports because city-run shelters are full.

Associated Press reporters Rebecca Santana, Elliot Spagat in Imperial, California, Mark Stevenson in Mexico City, Katie Foody in Chicago, Gerardo Carrillo in Reynosa, Mexico contributed to this report.
(Reuters) -Here's a quick briefing on what Russia is commemorating on Tuesday and why it matters for President Vladimir Putin.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE DATE OF MAY 9?

For Russians, Tuesday marks the 78th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The Soviet Union - then including not only Russia but also Ukraine, Belarus and others - lost 27 million people in what Russians call the "Great Patriotic War", more than any other country.

WHY DOES IT MATTER RIGHT NOW?

Victory Day is one of Russia's most important public holidays. For Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of winners, standing on the right side of history in defeating fascism.

He has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine, where his forces launched a full-scale invasion in February last year, to the challenge of fighting Adolf Hitler. Ukraine and its Western allies denounce that as a false narrative to justify the seizure of Ukrainian land, the destruction of cities, the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the creation of millions of refugees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that it was modern Russia that was now pursuing the Nazis' goal of "enslavement and destruction".

WHEN WAS THE FIRST VICTORY DAY?

Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 p.m. on May 8, 1945, marked as "Victory in Europe Day" by France, Britain and the United States. In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union's "Victory Day".

Soviet leader Josef Stalin decreed a holiday, and the first victory parade on Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.

HOW DID VICTORY DAY EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS?

The Soviet Union celebrated the 20th and 40th anniversaries of Victory Day with Red Square parades in 1965 and 1985. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian President Boris Yeltsin made them an annual event from 1995.

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Under Putin, Victory Day increasingly became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russia's latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THE BUILD-UP THIS YEAR?

In the two weeks leading up to this year's event, Russia saw a sharp increase in attacks on its own territory, including on freight trains and a major oil refinery. A well-known nationalist writer was wounded when his car was blown up by a bomb last weekend.

Most dramatically of all, Russia accused Ukraine and the West of an attempted drone attack on the Kremlin citadel itself on May 3, specifically linking the incident to the May 9 build-up. Ukraine denied it, and the United States said Russian accusations that it orchestrated the alleged attack were "lies".

All these events combined have forced Russia to bolster security and scale back celebrations across the country, underscoring the fact that its "special military operation" in Ukraine is not proceeding according to Putin's script.

WHAT DID PUTIN SAY THIS TIME?

Putin said Russia was in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine. He accused the West of being consumed by Russophobia, and of forgetting the decisive role of the Soviet Union in defeating Hitler.

But beyond these messages - familiar from many previous Putin speeches - he said nothing new about the state of the war or the strategy to achieve victory.

Putin spoke for only 10 minutes, a minute less than last year. He watched as thousands of soldiers then marched across Red Square to the accompaniment of stirring martial music, but the accompanying parade of military hardware was drastically pared back by comparison with previous years. The entire event on the square was over in well under an hour.

(Writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth Jones)
UPDATE: 9: a.m.

A Kettering Fairmont High School student has been arrested after a social media threat was made against the school Monday evening, a spokesperson for the school district said Tuesday morning.

>> Student arrested after threat made to Fairmont High School Monday evening

INITIAL REPORT:

Kettering Fairmont High School has canceled classes Tuesday due to a threat made against the school on social media.

In a statement, the district said the school will be closed as Kettering Police Department and its social media forensics experts investigate the threat and its source.

We will also continue to work closely with the Kettering Police Department as it investigates this threat. We pledge to pursue any and all legal action once the KPD has identified the perpetrator or perpetrators who posted this threat and any other individual who may have any knowledge relative to the posted threat, the district said in a statement.

>> They should be free to be themselves; Arrest made after threat against LGBTQ people at area school

This comes days after a Beavercreek man, Brandon Moore, was arrested for allegedly phoning in a threat to the school against the LGBTQ+ community.

This call came after two LGBTQ+ students were chosen as prom king and queen.

Kettering police were able to track down Moore at his work and take him into custody.

The school asks anyone with information about the current threat to reach out to Fairmont Principal Tyler Alexander, FHS School Resource Officer Lester Spinks, the Kettering Police Department, or school staff.
Do you ever wonder where or how I learn about some of the restaurant and business openings, closings and updates in our area?

A lot of info is gleaned from digital word of mouth.

Word of hand? Keyboard? Whatever. You know what I mean.

Emails from readers and colleagues are a common method. Social media, particularly Facebook, is also a fount of information and updates.

I jokingly refer to it as borderline cyberstalking. But, you know, in a lighthearted, non-threatening way.

Ive even developed a habit of looking when Im not on the clock. I just cant turn it off anymore.

But thats a good thing because, otherwise, I wouldnt have the following items to share:

Jersey Mikes Subs

I reported back in October that Fairview Heights would soon welcome a Jersey Mikes Subs.

There was some Facebook chatter this week that the fast-casual sandwich franchise was open or would be soon.

I was in the area on Wednesday, May 3, and saw they were open. So I stopped in to ask what day the shop officially opened.

My timing was good.

It was the first day, according to Allan Arndt, Director of Training for Jersey Mikes, who said opening day was going really well.

Jersey Mikes Sub is located at 6570 B N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

For more info, call 618-744-1439 or visit jerseymikes.com.

Wooden Mouth

The owner of Wooden Mouth, located at 423 W. Hanover St. in New Baden, recently announced that the business will soon close.

This is a bittersweet moment for all of us at Wooden Mouth, with the birth of a newborn child coming soon we decided it was time to close this chapter of our lives to prepare for the next chapter of what life will bring us, stated an April 25 Facebook post, which was signed by owner Brant Kehrer.

The bar and grill opened two years ago at a site that previously housed A Fine Swine and The Outside Inn.

I was not able to reach Kehrer for comment.

The Wooden Mouth is currently counting down the days to closing.

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There will be a farewell celebration Saturday, May 13. Closing day is Sunday, May 14.

For more information, call 618-588-5181 or visit facebook.com/Woodenmouth.

Versona

In case you missed it, Versona, a fashion boutique at 134 St. Clair Square Fairview Heights, closed last month.

I got a heads-up on this one from former BND food editor Suzanne Boyle, who learned about the upcoming closing while shopping back in March.

I wasnt able to get details or the reasons for the closing. Messages left for the stores district manager were not returned.

Days after the store closed I stopped by to find a notice on the door that stated the last day was April 15.
Following a May 2023 attack at a Texas outlet mall, social media users are claiming US Senator Ted Cruz has tweeted the same message after multiple mass shootings. This is false; the Republican lawmaker has only published the post cited online once -- the other examples are fabricated.

"Disrespectful & shameful. @tedcruz has duplicated the same tweet after every mass shooting in TX," says a May 6, 2023 tweet shared thousands of times.

The post includes what appear to be screenshots showing 12 separate tweets in which Cruz says he and his wife Heidi "are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families" affected by different shootings. Only the location is different in each supposed tweet.

Screenshot from Twitter taken May 9, 2023

Similar posts claiming Cruz, who represents the US state of Texas in Congress, has a "template" for responding to such attacks spread across Twitter after the May 6, 2023 rampage at a shopping complex in Allen, Texas. Police say 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, who embraced Nazi ideology, killed eight people at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Cruz did tweet about the tragedy -- but not using the language shared online, which has spread after several mass shootings this year.

"This false graphic has been debunked numerous times," said Steve Guest, Cruz's special advisor for communications, in a May 9 email pointing to previous fact checks from CNN, USA Today and PolitiFact.

Cruz's tweets

An advanced Twitter search (archived here) shows Cruz has tweeted the post in question only once, in response to a May 2022 shooting in which 21 people were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

"Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde," the lawmaker said in the May 24, 2022 post (archived here). "We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding. Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly."

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Heidi & I are fervently lifting up in prayer the children and families in the horrific shooting in Uvalde.



We are in close contact with local officials, but the precise details are still unfolding.



Thank you to heroic law enforcement & first responders for acting so swiftly.  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 24, 2022

Cruz has often offered prayers for the victims of mass shootings, but the senator has not tweeted the same message after attacks in places such as Buffalo, New York and Parkland, Florida. The alleged posts also do not appear on PolitiTweet, a website that tracked public figures' deleted tweets until Twitter cut its access this year.

After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, for example, Cruz wrote (archived here): "Thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of all those impacted by today's tragic shooting in Newtown, CT."

After the 2018 attack at a synagogue in the US state of Pennsylvania, Cruz said (archived here): "A horrific shooting took place this morning at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh as Jews were gathered during Shabbat services. Heidi and I are praying for the victims and their families, the entire Jewish community in Pittsburgh, and our brave members of law enforcement."

And after the recent massacre in Allen, Cruz tweeted (archived here): "Heidi and I are praying for the families of the victims of the horrific mall shooting in Allen, Texas. We pray also for the broader Collin County community thats in shock from this tragedy."

In a follow-up post, he said his team was "in contact with local officials."

AFP has debunked other misinformation about US mass shootings here, here and here.
Wausau School District President James Bouche and Vice President Lance Trollop take notes while listening to public comments during a board meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023, at the Longfellow Administration Building in Wausau, Wis. Numerous members of the Hmong community, Wausau East High School faculty and student body urged the board to reconsider its decision regarding band director Robert Perkins. Perkins was found to have made racist and homophobic remarks to a student, but the district concluded that the remarks did not rise to the level of discrimination or harassment.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

WAUSAU  Less than 24 hours after it heard a litany of complaints about the Wausau School District's retention of a band teacher despite racial and homophobic conduct, the School Board on Tuesday announced it would hire an independent attorney to conduct a new investigation.

On the same day, attorney Elisabeth Lambert of the Wisconsin Education Law and Policy Hub filed an appeal with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction saying the district erred in dismissing a complaint against Wausau East High School teacher Robert Perkins.

Lambert is representing Manee and Twan Vongphakdy, along with their son, who filed an official complaint of harassment and discrimination with the district against Perkins on April 5. The family is of Hmong and Lao descent; their son is a senior at the high school and openly gay. The Vongphakdys said Perkins directed racial and homophobic slurs at the son, who has been too traumatized to regularly attend class. Superintendent Keith Hilts put Perkins on leave April 10. Two weeks later, he dismissed the complaint and returned Perkins to the classroom.

In an April 26 statement summarizing the decision, Hilts said Tabatha Gundrum, director of human resources and compliance officer, conducted the district investigation. Gundrum interviewed students who said that Perkins' humor "causes unease" when "his comments are racial or sexist in nature. They are quick to note that he does not mean to harm anyone."

Lambert told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that she's concerned the district "just got the law wrong," because the definition of harassment, in state law and district policy, does not make allowances for intent.

Lambert said state law and district policy both emphasize the effects one's conduct has on a student, especially students from protected classes, and whether that behavior interferes with the student having equal access to learning opportunities.

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No one from the administration has checked in on the Vongphakdys' son or offered a plan for him to return to school without fear of retaliation or confrontation from Perkins. The district failed its own policies, Lambert said.

Twan and Manee Vongphakdy at their home on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Their son, a senior at Wausau East High School who is openly gay, was the target of a series of racist, sexist and homophobic remarks by band director Robert Perkins. The district recently decided that Perkins' remarks were "insensitive and unprofessional," but did not rise to the level of discrimination or harassment. Manee Vongphakdy has been in a particularly difficult situation, because she is a longtime counselor at the school.

In his summation, Hilts also conveyed that Gundrum found Perkins' conduct "insensitive and unprofessional," yet determined it didn't rise to the level of harassment and discrimination.

"Our state law gives school districts and school administrations enormous power and enormous responsibility to protect kids' nondiscrimination rights, and we've got an administration that just doesn't seem to understand what the law requires of it," Lambert said.

DPI will review whether the Wausau School District correctly followed state laws and district policies, Lambert said. The district and Lambert will each present legal arguments and DPI will make a decision based on these legal briefs. Should DPI find the district applied the state law incorrectly, or interpreted its own policy incorrectly, the department could order the district to submit a corrective action plan, Lambert said.

This is the second matter related to the district and Perkins to come before DPI. Last week, the department opened "an educator misconduct investigation" into Perkins. In that action, the department has the power to revoke a teacher's license.

Some speakers made new allegations

The school board decision came after an hour-and-a-half long forum in which Wausau East teachers, staff, students and alumni, as well as members of the Wausau Asian American community, gave one speech after another in support of the Vongphakdys.

In addition, several speakers added new allegations.

Olivia Alanis-Torrez, an alumnus who was not in attendance, had a speaker read her statement alleging that Perkins would call her brother "Mexican," "Cheech" and "Pedro," nicknames that made them both uncomfortable "because my brother has a name." Alanis-Torrez said Perkins also referred to her and her brother as "Mexican One" and "Mexican Two."

On Tuesday, the school board issued a statement saying it is not allowed to see the results of investigations into employees because of constitutional due process. In other words, it can't delve into the investigation of Perkins.

"That said, the Board will be hiring its own third-party, independent attorney to review a recent investigation into one of the districts employees and to look into new allegations that have come forward," the statement said.

Board members offered no further information.

Wausau School District Superintendant Keith Hilts listens to public comments during a Wausau School District board meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023, at the Longfellow Administration Building in Wausau, Wis. Numerous members of the Hmong community, Wausau East High School faculty and student body urged the board to reconsider its decision regarding band director Robert Perkins. Perkins was found to have made racist and homophobic remarks to a student, but the district concluded that the remarks did not rise to the level of discrimination or harassment.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Wausau School Board launches new review of teacher who used slurs
A series of raids targeting a local gang uncovered money, cars and thousands of deadly drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration operation, dubbed Operation Overdrive, stretched to every corner of metro Atlanta.

Nine tactical teams from federal, state and local agencies carried out 18 raids in metro Atlanta targeting the Paper Gang Family, some of whom had violent backgrounds.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne talked to DEA Atlanta Special Agent In Charge Robert Murphey, who said a special response team raided a house earlier this month and used sound devices to disorient people inside.

They used violence to be successful to deter other crews from interfering with them and to make a name for themselves, Murphey said. We were prepared for (the raid) and luckily they made good decisions we didnt have to use it.

Murphy said agents seized more than 10,000 fentanyl pills, the very drug that caused 2,000 deaths last year in Georgia alone from overdoses. Agents also seized cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They also seized thirty guns, including a Tommy gun with gold-colored parts.

The Tommy gun and eight other guns were taken from a house on Trasher Road in Clayton County. Another home on Visage Drive in Hampton was raided.

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Two men that lived in those homes, Cyguifreido Hernandez and Brodrick Williams have pled not guilty in connection with an indictment naming them and 13 other people. The indictment targets the Paper Gang family. All but two of the defendants have pled not guilty.

Attorney Corey Martin said another defendant, Phillip Ricks, will plead not guilty to the indictment and he looks forward to the charges being dismissed. Attorney Dwight Thomas said he anticipates his client, Darronta Lee, will also plead not guilty.

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A DEA agent said fast vehicles are a hallmark of the gang, and agents seized several high-end vehicles capable of high speeds.

dea agent says fast vehicles are a hallmark of the gang and all of these seized vehicles are high-end models capable of high speeds.

Operation Overdrive is a national push involving several cases across the country. The DEA in Atlanta said that over the course of the case, nearly 60 pounds of meth, 53 pounds of cocaine, 52 pounds of marijuana as well as some heroin and fentanyl have been recovered. The fentanyl was in counterfeit oxycontin pills, meaning a user who thought he was taking oxy could have ingested the deadly fentanyl.

The agent said more charges are likely against the defendants.
If you have COVID-19 test kits at home, double check the branding because you may need to throw it away.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning of specific Pilot COVID-19 at-home tests made by SD Biosensor, Inc. because of potentially harmful bacteria contamination.

The over-the-counter rapid antigen test uses a nasal swab sample that can be self-collected and self-tested. The FDA has significant concerns about the liquid solution, provided in the test kit. Although its in a pre-filled and sealed tube, you could accidentally touch it while opening the tube or taking the test.

Direct contact with the contaminated liquid solution may pose safety concerns and the bacterial contamination could impact the performance of the test, the FDA said in a news release.

According to FDA officials, 500,000 tests were distributed to CVS and about 16,000 tests to Amazon. Its not clear yet how many were actually bought.

Manufacturers found out about the issue from routine quality assurance testing.

The FDA issued a warning about specific at-home COVID-19 test kits because of potentially harmful bacteria contamination.

Officials say you can check to see if you have one of the recalled Pilot tests by the lot number on the outer packaging. If your kit has one of the following lot numbers, you are encouraged to not use it:

53K38N1T1 53K4221T1 53K4292T1 53K38N2T1 53K4222T1 53K42A1T1 53K38N3T1 53K4223T1 53K42A2T1 53K38N4T1 53K4224T1 53K42A3T1 53K38N5T1 53K4225T1 53K42E1T1 53K38P1T1 53K4231T1 53K42G1T1 53K38P2T1 53K4232T1 53K42G2T1 53K38P3T1 53K4233T1 53K42H1T1 53K41T5T1 53K4261T1 53K42H2T1 53K41X1T1 53K4262T1 53K42L1T1 53K41X2T 53K4271T1 53K42L2T1 53K41X3T1 53K4272T1 53K4361AC 53K4211T1 53K4273T1 53K4362AC 53K4212T1 53K4274T1 53K4392AC 53K4213T1 53K4291T1





You can also enter the kit information online to see if yours was affected and request a replacement at-home test.

The FDA advises the public to be careful when discarding the recalled tests and do not pour the liquid from test kits down the drain. The agency warned that exposure to the liquid in the tube could potentially lead to serious illness.

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Health officials also recommend reaching out to your health care provider if you think you were tested with one of the affected COVID at-home tests, or if you have concerns about your test results.

The FDA is continuing to work with SD Biosensor Inc. to assess the companys corrective actions to address the reason for bacterial contamination and help ensure the situation is resolved and will not return, the release said.

The agency did clarify that none of the impacted tests were distributed through The Biden administrations free COVID test program or other federal testing programs.

HOW TO STILL GET FREE COVID TESTS

Theres still several options for you to get free COVID tests ahead of the U.S. public health emergency order ending on May 11. The Biden administrations federal program for free at-home test kits allows households to order a set of four tests through the United States Postal Service. North Carolina residents can also request free at-home COVID tests through the state Project Access COVID Tests program until June 30.

Once the order ends, the government may continue to distribute free tests through the United States Postal Service, states, and other community partners but that will depend on supply and resources, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Chinese solar manufacturer JinkoSolar on Jacksonvilles westside is under federal investigation. Homeland Security Investigations was on scene for hours throughout Monday afternoon at the companys facility in the Cecil Commerce Center.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the federal agency in charge of investigating crimes related to customs and tariffs.

An employee who wishes to remain anonymous told Action News Jax that agents seized laptops and servers.

The investigation comes on the eve of Jacksonville City Council consideration of a tax incentive plan that would see JinkoSolar expand by 250 full-time employees.

Its not clear how the investigation may impact the economic development agreement - which was introduced by Mayor Lenny Curry on April 25th.

According to the bill summary, a Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) grant of up to $2.3 million would be overseen by the Office of Economic Development.

Curry sought fast-track approval, which means only one committee cycle was requested, and the bill was approved unanimously by the Council Finance Committee on May 2nd.

BACKGROUND: JinkoSolar opens first US plant in Jacksonville

JinkoSolar opened its manufacturing plant at Cecil Commerce Center in 2018 amid much fanfare, and currently employs 274 workers.

The company is proposing to expand its facility at a cost of $52 million, according to the bill summary.
























An Iowa man who entered the Senate floor during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot was found guilty Tuesday of obstructing an official proceeding.

A federal jury in Washington, D.C., also found 37-year-old Leo Kelly, of Cedar Rapids, guilty of six other charges including: entering a restricted building, parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building, two counts of disorderly conduct and two for entering certain parts of the Capitol.

Kelly had originally been arrested on Jan. 18, 2021, on charges of entering a restricted building and violent entry to disrupt the orderly conduct of business. His charges were later upgraded in December 2021 to the seven that he was convicted of Tuesday.

Kira West, an attorney for Kelly, declined to comment on the jury's verdict in a phone call with the Des Moines Register.

More: Cedar Rapids man Leo Kelly faces five more charges related to Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol

At least one of the charges, obstructing an official proceeding, is a felony with a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, although sentencing guidelines will likely recommend a shorter amount of time. A federal judge sentenced Iowan Doug Jensen last December to 60 months in prison, 36 months supervised release and $2,000 of restitution after being convicted of the same offense and six others.

Kelly will remain released from jail on his own recognizance until his sentencing hearing on Aug. 18, according to court records.

Rioter previously said he 'understood there would be consequences'

Kelly admitted to being inside the Capitol in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, a media outlet devoted to anti-abortion, faith and morality-focused coverage. He told the interviewers he'd been in the Capitol for 30 to 60 minutes and prayed on the Senate floor. The video interview included footage Kelly shot from inside the Senate chamber.

In his LifeSiteNews interview, which is no longer available online, Kelly said he was not armed or violent during the riot, but felt the participants had no other choice because "no one will even listen to us."

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Weve been betrayed by Congress," he said. "Weve been betrayed by the judicial branch. Weve been betrayed by our local governments, our mayors.

Kelly, an executive at a Cedar Rapids tech company, told the Cedar Rapids Gazette after the riot that he's a politically active independent. He said he attended the rally in Washington that morphed into the riot out of frustration with "crimes against the Constitution" he believed were not being addressed, but said he accepts the importance of rule of law.

"If the FBI or whoever calls me  I mean, they know where to find me, I'm sure  I'll talk to them," Kelly said. "I understand there could be consequences for what happened and I will accept those and deal with them."

Eight Iowans were charged in relation to the Capitol riot. Last week, Deborah Sandoval, of Des Moines, was sentenced to five months in prison after she pleaded guilty to a single charge of entering a restricted building. After a two-day trial in December, her son Salvador Sandoval Jr., of Ankeny, was found guilty on 12 counts, according to online court records. He is set for sentencing Aug. 7.

Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at@francescablock3.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Leo Kelly of Iowa found guilty on 7 charges from Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against George Santos, the Republican congressman whose campaign was littered with falsehoods about his past.

Mr Santos is expected to appear on Wednesday at a federal court in New Yorks Eastern District, where the charges have been filed, the network reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. CNN first reported on the charges against Mr Santos. Multiple news organisations confirmed the report, including the Associated Press, NBC News and The Wall Street Journal.

The exact charges have not yet been revealed, but Mr Santos was reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department for his campaign finances.

The charges represent a rapid rise and fall for a man his own constituents decried as an imposter.

Mr Santos was elected to represent New Yorks 3rd Congressional District in November 2022, defeating Democrat Robert Zimmerman by a margin of 54 per cent to 46 per cent. Soon after that victory, it emerged that Mr Santos had lied about much of his personal history and work experience .

A New York Times investigation found that he had lied about working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, lied about the college he attended, fabricated an animal charity, that the company from which he had earned a salary of $750,000 and dividends of $1m did not have any online presence, lied about saying he lost four employees in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, and that he faced criminal charges in Brazil for cheque fraud.

A local pressure group started by local citizens was formed with the aim of forcing Mr Santos from office. They held regular protests outside his campaign office and called on Republican leaders to expel him from Congress.

Republican House majority leader Kevin McCarthy refused to hold a vote to expel Mr Santos, but the GOP leader said he would likely face a probe by the House Ethics Committee.

Following the news of criminal charges on Tuesday, Mr McCarthy told CNN: Ill look at the charges.

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Since Mr Santos was sworn into office in January, revelations about his past have continued to emerge. The most recent report found that Mr Santos was charged with writing bad checks to purchase puppies from Amish farmers in 2017.

Mr Santos, 34, has apologised for what he described as resume embellishment, but has refused to resign.

The Independent contacted New Yorks Eastern District for comment.
Allen High School students Marina Martinez, 18, Riley Barham, 18, and Brie Etheridge hugged as they prayed at the memorial outside Allen Premium Outlets in Allen on May 8, 2023. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News)

Posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping mall last weekend, killing eight people and wounding seven others.

Garcia, 33, researched when the mall in Allen was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack last Saturday, which ended with police killing him. Among the dead were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a security guard.

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A review of his online activity shows he also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

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Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of the Dallas most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

People identifying themselves as members of the Proud Boys join supporters of President Donald Trump for pro-Trump marches, Nov. 14, 2020, in Washington. Two supporter in the center are wearing hats with red lettering that read RWDS, which is short for Right Wing Death Squad. The gunman who killed eight people on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at a Dallas-area mall was wearing a RWDS patch. The phrase has been embraced in recent years by far-right extremists who glorify violence against their political enemies. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they werent sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didnt immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

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A woman who lives next door said she didnt know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of actually becoming law.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen, which is home to about 105,000 people, is among the Dallas-Fort Worth areas diverse suburbs. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allens population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

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Allen also is connected to another of Texas recent mass shootings. Patrick Crusius lived there in 2019 before he posted a racist screed online warning of a Hispanic invasion and drove to El Paso, where he opened fire at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges in February.
JONATHAN ERNST/Reuters

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against serial fabulist Rep. George Santos (R-NY), according to CNN.

Three sources familiar with the matter told the network that Santos is likely to appear in federal court in New York on Wednesday for charges that remained under seal on Tuesday.

The news appeared to catch Santos by surprise. Thats news to me, he said when reached by phone Tuesday evening by Associated Press reporter Farnoush Amiri. Youre the first to call me about this.

A spokesperson for Santos didnt respond to questions after the story broke, and instead abruptly departed his DC office with her backpack, according to CNNs Haley Talbot.

On Tuesday night, Santos was returning to New York after ditching House votes in D.C., a source told Talbot. He was earlier seen darting in and out of GOP House speaker Kevin McCarthys office.

While the specific charges werent immediately known, Santos has been under investigation by a slew of agencies, from local district attorneys offices to the Department of Justice to the Federal Election Commission to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As you know with George Santos, I did not put him on any committees, McCarthy said when questioned Tuesday about whether hed support Santos after the reported charges. (McCarthy actually did appoint Santos to two committeesthe House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, as well as the Small Business Committeebut Santos eventually recused himself.)

In America, well just follow the same pattern we always have, McCarthy said. If a person is indicted, theyre not on committees, they have the right to vote but they have to go to trial.

Federal regulators have also reportedly been looking into Santos assets and more than half a million dollars in loans he supposedly distributed to his 2022 campaign for New Yorks third congressional district.

Santos reportedly had no assets and was making $55,000 a year at an investment firm prior to his first congressional run in 2020, according to financial disclosures. But just two years later, he claimed assets between $3.5 million and $11.5 million, and he claimed to have loaned his campaign $700,000 from his company, the Devolder Organization, before dissolving the firm in Sept. 2022.

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The Daily Beast reported in January that Santos political operation later filed a flurry of amended campaign finance reports, telling the feds, among other things, that a $500,000 loan may not have, in fact, come from his personal funds. And later that month, the FEC notified the treasurer for the Santos campaign that they may have failed to include the true, correct, or complete treasurer information when they erroneously named a new treasurer in campaign filings.

The prosecution of @RepSantosNY03 is long overdue, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said in a tweet.

The Bronx Democrat, who publicly called on the FEC to investigate Santos campaign finances back in January, took a victory lap on Twitter after months of blowing the whistle on Santos shenanigans.

He is a pathological liar and lawbreaker who defrauded his way into public office. As we learn more about this investigation, one thing is clear. He must resign or @HouseGOP must join us to expel him.

Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-NY) became the first Republican to call for Santos resignation Tuesday evening, saying in response to the news: As a retired NYPD detective, I am confident the justice system will fully reveal Congressman Santos long history of deceit, and I once again call on this serial fraudster to resign from office.

Santos has been accused of lying about everything from his dog charity to his alleged Jewish ancestry to his mothers 9/11 death and his claim of being a former high-flying banker and college volleyball champ.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Federal Trade Commission is currently investigating a merger in an obscure but lucrative part of the pharmaceutical industry: The $8 billion digital advertising market.

IQVIA is buying Propel Media, which owns DeepIntent, one of the main advertising technology companies used by drugmakers to market their products to doctors and patients. FTC staff have been investigating the deal for months, according to four people with direct knowledge of the matter and confirmed by IQVIA.

The deal, which has not been previously disclosed, was first inked last year, three of the people said. IQVIA is believed to have paid in the range of $700 million to $800 million for the purchase, according to two of the people. The FTC investigation has also not been previously reported.

At issue in the FTC probe is whether the deal would help IQVIA, a $35 billion pharmaceutical data and analytics company, lock up the bulk of the market for digital advertising of pharmaceuticals aimed at doctors and patients, thereby harming rivals and potentially increasing costs for drugmakers, said three of the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential investigation. IQVIA is already the largest player in health data and analytics.

The FTC is nearing the end of its investigation, and staff lawyers reviewing the deal are leaning toward filing a lawsuit to block it, according to two of the people. No final decision has been made, and the agency could ultimately choose to not bring a case.

There are many companies  from very large, well-known companies (e.g., Google, Microsoft/Xandr, WebMD) to smaller recent entrants  providing technology, data, and services to support digital advertising from life science companies to doctors and patients, IQVIA spokesperson Trent Brown said. IQVIA began providing some of these services only in the past few years, and the DeepIntent business will fill a gap in IQVIAs offerings by adding a demand-side platform.



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Brown said the company will continue working with the FTC to clear the deal.

A DeepIntent spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. A FTC spokesperson declined to comment.

IQVIA is the leading provider of pharmaceutical sales and reference data, and also sells software for analyzing that information. Drug companies use IQVIAs trove of information  which includes over 800 million de-identified patient records and petabytes of sales, promotional and prescription data  to gauge the likely demand for the drugs theyre developing and accurately compensate their sales forces. Generic drug companies, for example, can use the data to determine if it is financially feasible to introduce a competitor to a branded drug.

DeepIntent is a privately held advertising technology company that works with pharmaceutical companies to market drugs to doctors and patients. It also helps client companies measure and improve the success of those ad campaigns.

IQVIA made multiple moves in 2022 to build out an advertising business, including the separate purchase of Lasso Marketing, another health care ad tech company.

The FTC is investigating both the combination of the two direct competitors  Lasso and DeepIntent  as well as so-called vertical concerns of whether IQVIA would be able to leverage its mountain of pharmaceutical sales data to monopolize the pharmaceutical advertising market, three of the people said.





In its most recent annual report, IQVIA said the scope of its data covers more than 85 percent of the worlds pharmaceuticals. That includes more than 1.2 billion comprehensive, longitudinal, non-identified patient records spanning sales, prescription and promotional data, medical claims, electronic medical records, genomics, and social media from around 150,000 data suppliers.

Pharmaceutical advertising is big business. The total U.S. market for pharma ads is at least $11.5 billion, based on data collected by advertising analytics company Standard Media Index. Darrick Li, SMIs vice president of sales in North America said anecdotal evidence could put that number as high as $15 billion. Of that, he said, around 53 percent (roughly $8 billion at the high estimate) is digital, which is growing at a rapid 17 percent clip, in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the year-earlier period, Li said.

And while the pharmaceutical industry has been slow to evolve from traditional television ads, the digital shift is happening, and thats where companies like DeepIntent come in. According to industry participants, it is one of a handful of companies helping drugmakers target ads at both doctors and patients. Last year the company said it could offer guarantees on the number of verified patients reached.

In targeting ads at doctors, IQVIA is already a key supplier of data to DeepIntent.

Part of the FTC investigation is focused on how the deal could pose a threat to competing ad platforms serving the pharmaceutical industry including The Trade Desk, which uses IQVIA data, as well as Pulse Point, according to three of the people with knowledge of the investigation. Those companies help advertisers, including drugmakers, place ads around the internet. The latter is owned by Internet Brands, which also owns WebMD and Medscape, an informational service for health care providers.

The FTC is concerned that with both DeepIntent and Lasso, the bulk of these ads will run through IQVIA, those people said. Those ads show up on health care-focused websites used by doctors, and general websites across the internet.

Spokespeople for The Trade Desk and Pulse Point did not respond for comment.

The FTC is also focused on IQVIAs ability to control the market for services that measure the success of digital advertising campaigns. IQVIA offers this service, as do companies including Veeva Systems and PurpleLab. Those companies can currently measure the success of advertising campaigns run by DeepIntent, but if the merger goes through, the FTC is concerned IQVIA would make it more difficult for them to do so, according to three of the people.

Spokespeople for Veeva and PurpleLab did not respond for comment.

Does this give IQVIA the incentive and ability to withhold the data or raise prices to people who access it today? If the answer to that is yes, then maybe there's an antitrust issue here, a health care lawyer said on the condition of anonymity, due to client conflicts.

The FTC is concerned with exactly that scenario, the people said.

However, at least one ad tech expert disagrees.

IQVIA in this case is just buying a revenue stream, said Augustine Fou, a digital advertising consultant who advises companies including drugmakers. They are unlikely to turn away revenue from selling data if other companies are willing to pay for it. While its possible that IQVIA could favor its own platform, for example by only selling outdated data to competitors, that would be difficult to prove before it happened.

When a company controls a key input used by its competitors  in this case pharmaceutical sales data  it only works to withhold that data from rivals if it facilitates a price increase that would justify the lost revenue.

In this case, Fou said IQVIA would be unlikely to recoup its losses by raising prices for its advertising services. And even though DeepIntents lower data costs post-merger would allow it to theoretically undercut its rivals on price, it would take years to get advertisers and agencies to switch to DeepIntent, even with prolonged, deeply discounted pricing, because of long-term contracts, Fou said.

IQVIA is no stranger to antitrust scrutiny or the FTC. The company was previously investigated by the agencys lawyers for how it bundles various products, and its unwillingness to allow competing software companies to access its data. The related FTC investigation, first reported by The Capitol Forum, did not result in an enforcement action.

Antitrust enforcers in recent years have been wading deeply into the complex world of digital advertising, primarily targeting Google, which was sued by the Justice Department in January over allegations it has illegally monopolized the market.

Within the greater world of programmatic advertising, DeepIntent is a relatively small player. However, specializing in health care gives it an edge in its specific niche over larger players. For example, Google allows pharmaceutical companies to run search ads and place ads in health care-focused websites. However, the platform does not allow advertisers to target consumers based on health information and also cannot target doctors directly.

A Google spokesperson declined to comment.

Googles leading position in the overall digital ad market is not a factor in the FTCs investigation, according to three of the people with knowledge of the probe.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is en route back to Washington after a serious illness kept her from the Senate since February, according to her spokesperson.

Pressure for Feinstein to either return to Washington or resign grew in recent weeks following Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens announcement last week that the country could breach the debt limit as soon as June 1. Democrats would likely need Feinsteins vote to clear any debt limit increase.

The California Democrat is set to retire at the end of this Congress, but has been absent after being hospitalized with shingles. The 89-year-old's absence has made Democrats short of a critical vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, preventing certain nominees from moving forward, and on the floor.



Her travel back to Washington follows a conversation last week with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in which she said she could return as soon as this week. It is not yet clear if Feinstein will participate in Tuesday nights floor votes.

Im glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, its clear shes back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California," Schumer said in a statement Tuesday.



Feinsteins return will put two nominees in the spotlight, in part because Feinsteins absence is not the only vote holding them up. Senate Democrats will now have to grapple with the nomination of Michael Delaney for the First Circuit, which has been held over in Judiciary for weeks and could face further problems on the floor. Delaney faces criticism, even from some Democrats, over his representation of a school in a sexual assault case.

Feinsteins vote could also be critical for Julie Su, President Joe Bidens pick for Secretary of Labor. A handful of moderate Democrats, including Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have declined to say whether they will support her on the floor. Any Democratic defections would make Feinsteins vote even more critical in the 51-49 Senate.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is set to return to Washington for work Tuesday for the first time since February, handing Democrats back their majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee and their one-seat advantage in the full chamber.

Adam Russell, a Feinstein spokesperson, confirmed to The Hill she boarded a flight to Washington earlier on Tuesday. The Senate is set to vote this evening.

Feinstein, 89, has been sidelined since the February recess after she was hospitalized with shingles.

The longtime California Democrat has been at the center of criticism in recent months, as the Judiciary Committee canceled three straight markups and was unable to move several nominees through the panel in March.

Four sitting House members  Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.)  called on her to resign and argued she was no longer able to carry out her responsibilities as a lawmaker. Feinstein is the oldest sitting senator.

In response, Feinstein asked for the Senate to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, an idea Republicans immediately shot down.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters last week he was hopeful Feinstein would return to the Capitol by this week, and on Tuesday, he lauded her return.

Im glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, its clear shes back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California, he said.

Even without Feinstein, the Judiciary panel has advanced eight nominees in recent weeks to final votes on the Senate floor. Four nominations remain stalled and need her presence to proceed.

The most prominent of those is Michael Delaney, a nominee for the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, who remains stuck over his handling of a sexual assault case at a boarding school in New Hampshire and has yet to win the required backing of all Democrats on the panel.

Story continues

For more than a month, Democrats were down two members with Feinstein and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) both absent. Fetterman returned last month after being treated for clinical depression.

Feinstein announced in February she will not seek a sixth term in the upper chamber. Her mental acuity had come into question in recent years, and she has rolled back her workload. She stepped aside in 2021 as the leading Democrat on the Judiciary Committee after receiving heavy criticism for her handling of Justice Amy Coney Barretts nomination.

She also declined to take on the role of Senate president pro tempore, which is third in line for the presidency and typically bestowed to the most senior member of the majority party. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) instead filled that post.

Updated at 3:49 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When a crime makes news headlines, sometimes the case doesnt seem to be a question of whodunit. Its common for criminal cases to feature video or photos of a suspect committing the crime.

Despite that, a defendant charged with any felony crime in Kentucky will plead not guilty during their first court appearance, leaving some to wonder how they can deny guilt if there is clear evidence of them committing a crime.

Attorney Chris Tracy, who is the bluegrass regional manager/assistant general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, says a defendant legally cannot plead guilty to a felony in district court. In Kentucky, district courts dont have the jurisdiction to accept a guilty plea for a felony.

Circuit court is the court of general jurisdiction, and district court is carved out of that power, Tracy said. As such, district court doesnt have jurisdiction to take a felony guilty plea. They could only accept a plea on a felony case if the county attorney first amends all the felony charges to misdemeanors.

Tracy acknowledged that it can sound funny when someone who was caught in the act of a crime pleads not guilty, but its the only option.

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The district court would reject that plea  it would make no sense, he said. Even if they showed up and said Hey judge, my client is super sorry and they want to take responsibility today, whatever district judge who has that case would have to say, I cant take this plea  it is a felony.

But even if they could, there are additional reasons why it would be detrimental for a defendant to plead guilty at their first court appearance, Tracy said. A defendant typically doesnt have any idea what punishment they may face if they pleaded guilty at the first court appearance.

What happens after the first court appearance?

In a felony case, the first appearance in district court is an arraignment. Here a defendant will plead not guilty, have a bond set by a judge, and receive a date for their next court appearance  typically a preliminary hearing.

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At a preliminary hearing, a defendant appears before a district judge who decides if there is enough evidence to send a defendants case to a grand jury.

In the preliminary hearing, prosecutors and defense attorneys are given the chance to question a witness during the hearing, typically a police officer involved in the case. The prosecutor must prove to the judge there is enough evidence to keep the charges in place and advance the case.

A defendant can choose to waive this hearing, and can send their case directly to a grand jury. The grand jurys role is to decide if there is sufficient evidence to indict someone, which sends their charges to a circuit court, where a trial could potentially take place, according to state law.

The grand jury doesnt determine guilt, and it can decide not to indict the defendant, or indict the defendant on different charges. The grand jury consists of a panel of citizens summoned by the circuit court to review any criminal charges brought against the defendant and to hear evidence from witnesses.

If a grand jury does decide there is enough evidence against the defendant for the charges against them, they will hand down an indictment. The indictment sends the case to the circuit criminal court, where a defendant is arraigned again, according to the state of Kentuckys website.

Tracy said after a circuit court arraignment, a defendant will receive two court dates from a judge. The first is a pretrial conference, which is a meeting between prosecutors and the defense team with no judge present.

Tracy said this is the first instance in which both sides will work towards some sort of agreement, offer or settlement on the charges.

The second date given at the arraignment is a status hearing, which includes discussion on the status of the case. Status hearings are conducted in open court with a judge present, Tracy said.

How often do cases go to trial?

All of these proceedings are organized in an effort for a defendant to make it to trial.

However, fewer than 3% of federal criminal cases result in a trial, with more than 97% of criminal cases being resolved by plea, according to a study by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Tracy said the numbers for federal plea deals are very similar to what Kentucky sees in state court, and what Fayette County sees locally.

A plea deal is an agreement between prosecutors and a defendant in which the defendant pleads guilty to some or all charges. Plea deals offer a quicker resolution to the case and defendants are often able to get a reduced sentence or a conviction on lesser offenses.

Parties can also be required by a judge to take part in mediation. Mediation is an informal process in which a neutral mediator  a retired judge  facilitates the resolution of a dispute between two or more parties. Any case can be mediated with the exception where one party may pose a risk to other participants, such as domestic violence cases.

Felony mediations were introduced and encouraged in Fayette County in April 2021 by Kentucky Supreme Court Justice John Minton, in efforts to reduce a backlog in criminal cases caused by COVID-19.

If a case does make it to a trial, that process begins with jury selection on the first day. The timelines for trials can vary greatly depending on the amount of evidence in the case and the number of witnesses who will testify.
EXCLUSIVE: The story of a Dutch YouTuber accused of fathering more than 500 children is to be explored in a Netflix documentary series titled Fertility Fraudster [working title].

The three-part series will delve deeper into the global fertility industry by focusing on Jonathan Meijer, who late last month was ordered to stop donating sperm by judges in The Netherlands and told he will be fined 100,000 ($110,000) for each future infraction.

More from Deadline

With exclusive access to a group of passionate and aggrieved mothers, the series will unravel the twisting and turning story of a man who defrauded people across the globe, and how these mothers are now on a mission to push for a change in the law to prevent him deceiving more.

Meijer has been banned from donating in The Netherlands for a number of years but is accused of simply relocating his activities and currently resides in Kenya. The Dutch court recently determined that he deliberately misinformed donation recipients about the number of children he had fathered and that this creates a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, leading to the potential for psychological trauma.

The series is the latest Netflix doc to examine the thorny issue of fraud in an unregulated industry, following the likes of The Tinder Swindler. It will investigate the murky world of the fertility industry more generally and uncover how, due to a lack of global regulations, some international fertility clinics continue to allow anonymous donations.

Curious Films, which has also made a Netflix doc about software pioneer John McAfee, is behind Fertility Fraudster along with AJH Films, the producer of Discovery+ Donald Trump doc Unprecedented. EPs are Dov Freedman, Jessie Versluys, Natalie Hill and Alex Holder. Josh Allott is director and series producer is Kathryn Taylor.

Story continues

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Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) says hes begging people with mental health struggles to seek treatment after he spent weeks receiving in-patient treatment for depression.

Im begging you. Please go look for your treatment. It works, and its what saved me  from my anguish, Fetterman told MSNBCs Joe Scarborough in an interview.

Fetterman returned to the Senate last month after six weeks of treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The senator, who had a stroke as he campaigned for his seat last year, has said his race against Republican challenger Mehmet Oz accelerated his depression  and that his depression was in full force when he was sworn into his new position earlier this year.

This isnt a matter of whos tough or whos not, Fetterman said, adding he would just beg men in particular to get help when needed.

He said hell never forget the decision to go to Walter Reed, saying his thinking was: If I dont do something to claim my life  this could be, you know, tragic. He said he was skeptical but wanted to give it one last chance.

His wife, Giselle, has previously said she noted on election night last year that Fetterman wasnt as happy with his victory as expected.

Thats whats so insidious about depression. Depression, you know, you might win, and you still feel like you lose, Fetterman said. I lay there and watch this hurt my own children because they were confused, because they thought, just because you won, why arent you  you should be happy.

The senator said another driver of his depression was the social media blowtorch unleashed on his family.

Unleash whatever you want to on me, but you know, on my family  I just cant imagine anybody that would think it would be funny to make fun of children or whatever, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Amid concerns that not enough people had applied to be the next superintendent of the sixth-largest school district in the country, the Broward School Board reopened the application window Tuesday so more candidates can add their names to the list  including a sitting superintendent from Las Vegas who has connections to South Florida.

Board Chair Lori Alhadeff told her fellow board members that Jesus Jara, the superintendent at Clark County School District  the fifth-largest school district in the country  contacted her and said he wanted to apply. That ignited discussion about whether to add only his name to the applicant pool, or reopen the search for him to apply as well as others.

Broward School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff discusses the application process for a new superintendent on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The board voted Tuesday to extend the application window by a week after only 15 applicants met the qualifications for the post.

After about three hours of debate, the board voted 8-1 to reopen the application window from Tuesday to next Tuesday. Board member Torey Alston, from district 2, cast the lone dissenting vote because he wanted to reopen the search for longer.

If youre going to do it right, open it up for two weeks, three weeks so we can conversations with different applicants around the country, Alston said after the meeting.

FROM LAST WEEK: Only 15 qualify for Broward superintendent job

The good news is I think were absolutely headed in the right direction, and I think all nine members of the board are collectively in the same place, he added. We might disagree on should it be one week, two weeks, three weeks, but I think collectively we all want to find the right person for Broward County Public Schools.

Board member Sarah Leonardi, left, sits with her daughter Lia, center, as Broward School Board discusses the application process for a new superintendent for Broward public schools on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

What does the hiring timeline look like?

Heres the new timeline the board approved for the superintendent search:

May 16: Deadline to apply

May 22: Special School Board meeting to vote on semifinalists

May 26: Deadline for semifinalists to submit videos answering some questions

May 30: Special School Board meeting to pick finalists

June 14: Finalists participate in community focus groups and meet with all nine board members one-on-one

June 15: School Board chooses its next superintendent

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However, board member Daniel Foganholi, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the district 1 seat in December, said he doesnt want to rush the process.

Im not looking for a superintendent, Im looking for the superintendent, he said.

His colleague Allen Zeman, from the countywide seat 9, warned that waiting too long could be detrimental because the school year starts in August and most superintendents want to be set way before then. He added its unlikely the application deadline could get extended further.

Institutionally, superintendents get real reluctant after the first of July to move to another job, just because they feel some compassion and some level of caring for the district that theyre leaving, and it just gets harder day-by-day to hire after July 1, he said.

About two dozen applicants so far

The application window originally opened March 1 and closed April 27. During those two months, 26 people applied for the top job at the Broward school district, which serves about 260,000 students, employs about 27,000 people and maintains an operating budget of about $2.8 billion. The former superintendent, Vickie Cartwright, who mutually parted ways with the board in January, signed a contract of nearly three years at an annual salary of $350,000.

Last week, board members and a search firm executive hypothesized some reasons why the role attracted few takers  including the tense relationship between DeSantis and state educators, the chaotic departure of Cartwright and the Sunshine Law exposing applicants names early on in the process.

FROM EARLY 2022: Miami schools attract 16 candidates for superintendent post being vacated by Carvalho

Out of those 26 applicants, only 15 met the requirements like a masters degree and computer skills. In January 2022, when the Miami-Dade school district searched for a new superintendent, 16 people applied during a seven-day application window.

In the past week, Keith Oswald, chief of equity and wellness at Palm Beach County Schools, withdrew his name from the running, said David Azzarito, the districts executive director of human resources and equity at the Broward school district, bringing the total qualified candidates to 14.

Interim Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Earlean Smiley comments about the selection process for a new superintendent during a Broward School Board meeting Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

More applicants to come?

Last Tuesday, some Broward School Board members, particularly Alston, raised concerns about the quality and quantity of the superintendent candidates. Alston described the group as junior varsity and said he liked one and a half, maybe two and a half out of the 26.

Im hopeful well add more to the 26, Alston said Tuesday after the board agreed to take more resumes. He said he has been talking to a handful of other potential candidates and hopes theyll come forward, despite the hesitations.

Broward School Board member Torey Alston was the lone dissenting vote when the board voted 8-1 to extend the application window for school superintendent to next Tuesday, May 16, 2023. He wanted the window to be extended further.

Zeman also said he wants more names to consider.

I feel excited, he said, mentioning Jara, from Las Vegas. Maybe thats the icebreaker. Maybe well have some from other top-sized school districts that decide to come here and take this amazing job that we have available for somebody.

Board member Brenda Fam, left, comments during a Broward School Board meeting Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On the right is board member Allen Zeman.

As for the DeSantis concerns he cited last week, Zeman said applicants could view that as a short-term issue.

If youre thinking of being an administrator or a superintendent for five or 10 years, theres a lot of political pendulums swinging back and forth in the state, he said.

Cant judge people off of a piece of paper, board member says

Zeman added that Jara didnt apply earlier because he was leading some negotiations with the Nevada Legislature concerning student funding, but he feels thats in a good place now.

Jara worked as the superintendent of Monroe County Public Schools for a year from 2011 to 2012. He then worked as deputy superintendent at Orange County Public Schools in Central Florida for nearly six years, until 2018, when he left to lead Clark Schools.

The list of qualified applicants also includes a notable internal one: Valerie Wanza, the acting chief of staff at Broward County Public Schools whos been with the district since 1992 and served as superintendent for a few days earlier this year after Cartwright left. But Alhadeff, who represents district 4, said she wants an external candidate who will change the culture.

Broward School Board Vice Chair Debra Hixon said she wanted to hear more from the candidates applying for the superintendents job, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Debra Hixon, the boards vice chair who occupies the countywide seat 9, cautioned her colleagues from discarding anyone too quickly.

What we have is a piece of paper, Hixon said, referring to the candidates resumes. We need to hear more.

Since last week, the board received more data on the candidates, including reference letters.

Board member Sarah Leonardi, from district 3, said she said some of the comments last week were unfair to the original qualified candidates.

We do have candidates who were described as transformational, innovative, she said, adding the additional information showed a much more rounded picture.
Fewer than 4 in 10 Americans in a new poll say theyre confident in the economic leadership of congressional leaders, President Biden and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell amid a battle over the debt ceiling and the looming threat of default.

In the Gallup survey released Tuesday, 34 percent of respondents expressed a fair amount or a great deal of confidence in Democratic leaders in Congress to do or recommend the right thing on the economy, and 38 percent expressed the same for Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.

Thirty-five percent of Americans said theyre fairly or greatly confident in Bidens economic leadership, and 36 percent say the same for Powell. The approval ratings for the congressional leaders in both parties, Biden and Powell all dipped since last year.

Democrats are currently more confident in the Biden administration leaders than Republicans are, with 77 percent of Democrats confident in the president on the economy  compared to 5 percent of Republicans.

Biden is meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other top lawmakers Tuesday afternoon at the White House to talk about the debt ceiling amid the debt ceiling tensions.

Talk of lifting the debt ceiling has been swirling all year after the U.S. exceeded the limit in January. But now, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning her department could run out of emergency measures to stave off default as soon as June 1, giving political leaders a short window during which to act to avoid what many are warning could be severe economic consequences.

The White House has pushed for a clean debt ceiling hike, while Republicans have demanded an increase come with spending cuts.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also will attend Bidens meeting with McCarthy.

Conducted April 3-25, the poll surveyed 1,013 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Updated at 7:55 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Last Easter, Jill and Mark Hartle were looking forward to their dream coming true: the birth of their first baby.

We were so excited to learn that we were expecting our first baby and little girl that we would name Ivy Grace Hartle, Jill Hartle said. This is what weve always dreamed of.

But after learning that their baby had a rare heart defect and would die soon after birth, Jill Hartle said the state of South Carolina turned its back on them.

This state made our excruciating decision (to terminate pregnancy) that much more stressful because not only could MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) not care for us, but we would also have to travel and figure out all the logistics and financial pieces on our own. Once we made this tough decision, we had to wait two additional agonizing weeks to receive out-of-state care because that was the first available appointment. We traveled to Washington, D.C. to terminate our pregnancy on Monday, Sept. 12, when my child went to be free and in heaven.

Jill Hartle shared her story on Tuesday with a panel of House lawmakers, who by a 3-2 vote advanced S. 474, a bill that would block abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around the sixth week of pregnancy, when most women dont know theyre pregnant, critics say.

Dr. Sharai Amaya, a Greenwood obstetrician and gynecologist with 18 years of experience, on Tuesday testified abortion care is not health care for either the mother or the fetus.

I know beyond any reasonable doubt that a human fetus is indeed a living human being, Amaya said. It has often been my experience to witness a woman begin to cry when she sees the babys heartbeat for the first time. This is no reaction to a clump of cells or a tumor. The woman cries because they can see clearly the life inside of them.

The full House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the measure later Tuesday afternoon, according to Judiciary Chairman Newton Weston, R-Beaufort.

Story continues

Also known as the fetal heartbeat bill, the proposal would provide limited exceptions for abortions, including in cases of rape or incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, in medical emergencies, or in light of a fatal fetal anomaly.

Since last fall, following the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision striking down Roe v. Wade, ongoing debates have ensued in the State House over how restrictive an abortion ban should be. Last month, the Senate rejected a near-total abortion ban backed by the House.

Jill Hartle, who said Tuesday that shes always been a proud South Carolinian conservative until last year, said a mother shouldnt be subjected to having a baby thatll require extensive life-long medical care.

If I were to have delivered and opted for comfort care, Ivy would have known nothing but high doses of narcotics and excruciating pain until she passed, she said.

The extra stress that this state has caused me has caused so much mental trauma I will deal with it for the rest of my life, all because my state decided that placing judgment moral high ground was more important than giving us and our doctors the compassion to do what we knew was best, Jill continued.

House Majority Leader Davey Hiott told The State last week that any floor debate over the six-week ban bill would likely occur Thursday, the final day of the legislative session, which ends at 5 p.m. However, given the Legislature has no sine die resolution, outlining what lawmakers can debate after session ends, lawmakers could decide to debate the bill if and when the governor calls them back.

Several House amendments to the bill, however, will likely set up another fight with the Senate, which has to approve the changes before the measure becomes law.

I think if they (the House) change one thing in there, as much as a semicolon, that were not going to accept it. The women arent, and I hope the other people who stood with us wont accept it too, state Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, one of five women in the Senate, all who voted against the near-total ban last month, said last week.

Should both chambers agree on the bills final version, itll head to Gov. Henry McMaster, who said Monday he thinks its (the six-week proposal) a good bill.

Well, I think (S. 474) is just about the same thing as the heartbeat bill with a little bit of change, McMaster said. I thought that was a reasonable approach that passed the House and the Senate, (that) the court upended. This was a little different, I understand to meet those objections, but I think that was a reasonable compromise that was acceptable to most of the people in the state.

Still, critics of S. 437 say the measure continues to defy a January state Supreme Court decision that said the states six-week law at the time was an unconstitutional violation of a persons right to privacy.

Kathleen McDaniel, an attorney who represented Planned Parenthood before the state Supreme Court in its recent ruling, said Tuesday that while the bill has some technical differences compared to last years version, it maintains an element already ruled unconstitutional by the court.

The concept of banning abortion at six weeks is exactly the same whether you add exceptions, whether you narrow down that limitation or not, McDaniel said. So, no matter how you slice it and dice it and try to add additional revisions ... if the six week ban remains the centerpiece of the bill, it will remain unconstitutional.

Jill Hartle asked lawmakers Tuesday not to make reproductive rights a political issue, but rather a humanity issue, a distinction, she said, some lawmakers fail to realize.

If these bans continue to be placed, this is the uttermost breach of privacy any government could impose, Jill Hartle said. The Republican Party that I used to align with wanted less government, but these bills are total control. Why?

Reporter Joseph Bustos contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.
A New Mexico motorist was killed early Tuesday and a state trooper was wounded in an exchange of gunfire along an interstate highway in southern Illinois, police said.

Illinois State Police said a trooper stopped about 3 a.m. along Interstate 64 to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder of eastbound lanes. The officer encountered motorist Brandon L. Griffin, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a female passenger.

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After a second state trooper arrived, state police said, an altercation occurred during which gunfire was exchanged between Griffin and a responding officer.

Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 16-year veteran trooper was shot and wounded and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

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The other trooper and the female passenger were not injured, police said.

The shooting happened near Mt. Vernon, the Jefferson County seat, about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis, closing the interstates eastbound lanes for more than three hours.

State police said the agencys internal investigators are handling the case, and no additional details would be released. Once state police complete its investigation the findings and evidence will be submitted to the Jefferson County States Attorneys Office for review, police said.
(Elijah Vardo / For The Times)

I grew up along Romanias Black Sea coast. My father was the first in his family to graduate from university, and my mother went to a vocational school. Being educated was unusual in our Romani community. My parents raised me with a deep sense of justice and dignity. They told me to be proud of being Roma, while non-Romani people told me there was something wrong with me.

My parents still preserved some aspects of traditional Romani culture: They were obsessed with me maintaining my virginity and being a good woman. In many Romani communities, women get married as teenagers. Those who attend school often drop out before high school because they get married, or to care for their younger siblings and perform household chores. Others leave school out of fear of the racism they would face.

Romani women arent a monolith. But we all contend with patriarchy and marginalization both inside our culture and from the outside world. The contradictions I have witnessed led me to ask questions and eventually, to discover feminism and to fight for equality. Along this path of activism, however, I learned that I had to define my own understanding of what it means to be a feminist within my Romani identity.

Romani people have endured centuries of injustice across Europe, as an ethnic minority, yet we have a long history of resistance. By the late 1990s, I had graduated from university, gotten married and become a mother. I was also an activist in the Romani movement. I started to wonder what elders meant when they said that we struggled for our rights. I learned about the discourse around the universality of human rights. As Romani people, did we really believe in human rights? Or did we only believe in human rights when it came to our rights, Romani peoples rights? What about everyone else? And who is in the position of power to define Romani rights? I debated these questions with my soul mate and fellow Romani activist, Nicolae Gheorghe.

Story continues

At the same time, I began to question the condition of women and girls in our community, and why we were treated differently from the boys and men around us. Even when I joined the Romani rights movement, I was expected to behave in certain ways that men defined. They determined who was a good Romani woman activist. Some Romani male activists tried to monitor my sexuality and called me a whore when I had a relationship with a man when I wasnt married. It was the verses of our beloved Polish Romani poet known as Papusza (whose real name was Bronislawa Wajs) that brought me comfort. She wrote about the Holocaust and of being a woman defying constraints and traditional roles for women, for which she was ostracized by the community. Where were womens rights within the discussion of Romani rights?

Then came feminism. I met Debra Schultz the American Jewish historian, who could see all these questions burning inside me. She bought me the first books about feminism that I read, including works by thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir. But I really fell in love with the work of Black feminists Angela Davis and bell hooks, whose book, Aint I a Woman became like a bible for me. And later, I met law professor Kimberle Crenshaw, who introduced me to the concept of intersectionality between race and gender. Finally, the way I saw the surrounding world and my Roma world became clearer to me.

Feminism gave me the lens to question the worlds power dynamics, from private spaces to international politics. Despite this intellectual awakening, I still went on to face horrible racism when I met white feminists, who said they didnt see the point of including Romani women in feminist agendas when there was already an existing Romani rights movement. When there was a spike in racism against Romani people in Europe around 2005-07, I reflected on how to practice a feminism that did not erase my Roma identity and that did not reinforce the oppression of my community.

Neither of the two social movements that I have moved between  feminism and Romani struggles  wanted Romani womens concerns to be highlighted unless those in charge got to decide how to portray such issues. Every social movement has its prejudices, I learned.

So, what is Romani feminism? To me, it means I have the freedom to choose what version of a Romani woman I want to be. Romani feminism is the force that makes it possible for our communities to grow and to challenge others around us. Our feminism reminds us that the greater Romani movement should not only be about how to get into the structures of power, but how we should never forget the local communities, and the people. We should be close to our people at the local level, in their daily lives, while challenging both racism and sexism.

We Romani feminists reiterate pride in being Roma by constructing and reconstructing through archive, memory and art, the possibility for the next generation to practice a new identity, without the burden and control that our ancestors faced. Our work ranges from creating collaborations such as the Roma Womens Initiative, a group of female Romani leaders across Europe, to providing social services to Romani women who continue to face harassment, racism and other challenges. We are creating our own ways to help each other.

Some may call me a pioneer, or a traitor for splintering the Romani rights movement. For others, I am not radical enough. But after three decades as a Romani feminist, I am still acting against anti-gypsyism, manifesting the love of my people, crying out loud with pain when I feel and see how others hate us.

Nicoleta Bitu is a Romani feminist activist and scholar based in London.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In the past three weeks, there have been three restaurant fires in the Pittsburgh area. The lastest was at the Red Robin at Settlers Ridge in Robinson Township.

PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE 

Workers told Channel 11 they were changing a grill around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday and gas spilled on the floor, causing the fire.

When crews arrived, smoke could be seen coming from the roof. Because of the size of the building and adjoining businesses, a second alarm was requested for additional manpower.

Fire Marshal investigating a fire at the Red Robin in Settlers Ridge. Workers told me they were changing out the grills,

when the gas valve loosened up

and the gas caught fire. 3 workers were inside at the time, but got out safely. #wpxi pic.twitter.com/YOhIRa3uvX  Lori Houy (@WPXI_Lori) May 9, 2023

Firefighters got the blaze under control in about 15 minutes. No one was injured.

Were told damage was contained to the kitchen and roof.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

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A man was found shot dead in his driveway, Tennessee deputies said. Now, his sons have been charged with murder.

On April 1, fishermen were on the Watauga River in Elizabethton when they noticed a man lying on the ground, according to a news release from the Carter County Sheriffs Office.

The fishermen yelled out to the man, and hearing no answer, they called 911 and took a closer look, deputies said.

When officers arrived, they found 63-year-old William Bill Hitchcock Jr. dead in his driveway with a gunshot wound, according to the release.

After more than a month of investigation, deputies said Hitchcock Jr.s two sons have been charged with murder.

During the course of the investigation, Bill Hitchcocks sons, Jacob Hitchcock and Joshua Hitchcock, were developed as suspects, Sheriff Mike Fraley said in the news release. On Monday morning investigators presented their findings to the Carter County Grand Jury, which handed down the indictments charging the brothers with first-degree murder and an indictment charging Jacobs wife ... with filing a false report.

All three were arrested on May 8 and taken into custody, deputies said.

Court records show Jacob Hitchcock, 31, was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Joshua Hitchcock, 25, was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, according to court records.

In court documents obtained by WCYB, deputies said the brothers discussed killing their father after they found out a home that they were supposed to inherit had been put on the market.

Deputies said Joshua Hitchcock was angry his father had managed his money poorly, requiring him to sell the house, and he texted his brother that he was going to start carrying my pistol riding my bike and do a drive by on him when I get the chance, according to court documents, WCYB reported.

Hitchcock Jr. was shot less than an hour after the brothers discovered the home was under contract, the court documents said, according to WCYB.

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The investigation into his death is ongoing, Fraley said.

Elizabethton is in the northeast corner of Tennessee, about 140 miles northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Rapidly advancing technologies are further highlighting the global impact of the digital divide, which is the gap between those with reliable access to high-speed internet services and those without it.

The United Nations has set the ambitious goal of bridging the global digital divide  caused mostly by outdated tech, insufficient services and cost  within the next decade. The U.N. estimates almost half of the global population is still offline.

Read more from The Hills special coverage on the future of broadband here.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out earlier this year the deepening inequalities surrounding services.

The Internet of Things offers great potential for sustainable development  from energy savings to remote medical procedures, from access to education to healthier nutrition, he said.

But digital technologies are also outpacing regulations and deepening inequalities, he added. A fully interconnected new economy means leaving no one behind  and no one offline.

Here are five creative ways companies are trying to bridge the divide.

Digital literacy

Internet company Xfinity offers an Internet Essentials program that includes digital literacy learning materials on Wi-Fi, email, the web, social media and other digital concepts, available at no cost to those who qualify for and enroll in the FCCs Affordable Connectivity Program.

A 2019 report from the Technology Policy Institute looking at the Internet Essentials program found that digital skills training boosts people to use it for learning, job search, and improving job skills.

The Capital One Digital Access program offers broadband internet and digital education training  as well as a Chromebook or tablet device  to residents in affordable housing properties the company has helped finance in a handful of U.S. cities. According to a Capital One survey, the number of times per week participants accessed online employment opportunities jumped from 27 to 51 percent after completing the program.

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Digital navigators

To account for lags in digital literacy, some groups and companies are focused on upping the quality and availability of technical support. Some communities and groups are also pushing so-called digital navigators, or people trained to help support digital inclusion.

Among the digital navigators are staff at places like libraries and schools  disseminating quick digital support information and troubleshooting basic technological troubles, like filling out forms, sending emails and printing documents.

The navigators can also be among staff at organizations specifically dedicated to upping digital equity, or at places that help access services like SNAP through digital means, according to research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

A BCG and Comcast survey last year found that more than 85 percent of people surveyed after using a program staffed by a digital navigator reported they were now using the internet more than they had before.

Support for women and girls

The global digital divide reflects imbalances of internet access due to a number of factors, including not only income or poverty, but also race, ethnicity and gender  and the disparate access opportunities that may disadvantage certain groups.

Around the world, U.N. experts estimate 130 million women and girls are denied access to education, a lack that also impacts families and communities  and according to the World Wide Web Foundation, men are 21 percent more likely than women to be online. At the same time, only half of national-level policies and plans for information and communication technologies globally have been noted to reference gender or women and girls.

Helping women and girls learn crucial digital skills and encouraging them toward studies in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on training and other initiatives not only improves their career opportunities but reduces their risk of gender-based violence and creates a brighter future for all, said U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues Abby Finkenauer last month.

Microsoft Corporation, for example, has committed to integrate gender equality programming as the company and partners work to provide internet access to underserved populations in Africa.

Lower-cost internet for students, families with students

According to 2021 data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, about 1 in 5 U.S. households  or 24 million households  doesnt have at-home internet. A majority of those households, or 58 percent, say theyre simply not interested in being online, but nearly 1 in 5 say the biggest reason they dont have access is because they cant afford the at-home service.

Given the importance of internet access for schooling  whether thats remote classes or homework  some internet companies are working to bridge the digital divide by offering discounted internet access to students and families with students.

Internet providers Cox and Mediacom, for example, both offer a package of lower-cost internet for eligible families with children in K-12 education.

Access to technology at home is critical to the quality of a students education, yet many students in America lack internet access, the Cox program asserts.

Providers like Xfinity offer discounted internet to college and university students. As the pandemic hit in 2020, AT&T rolled out a program with discounted data wireless data plans for K-12 schools.

Balloons

Companies are also getting creative with methods to get high-speed internet to rural areas.

Alphabets Google X lab, focused on developing emerging tech, launched Project Loon a few years ago, a program that aimed to transmit internet signals to hard-to-reach areas from balloons. In 2017, Project Loon provided emergency cellular service to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, using the solar-powered balloons.

The initiative was axed in 2021, reportedly due to high costs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
QUINCY  A flag-raising ceremony will open Pride Month in Quincy and a festival downtown will include musical performances, food, drinks and family-friendly activities to celebrate the LBGTQ community.

The United First Parish Church in Quincy Center will hoist a rainbow flag at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 1. It will be the second time a flagpole has boasted a Pride flag downtown.

John McDonald, special events coordinator for the city, said the flag was received warmly last year. The committee worked with a local Quincy company to hang the flag and more than 100 people attended the ceremony.

Pride flags fly at the United First Parish Church in Quincy Square in 2020.

We want to make this a tradition as we kick off the celebrations in Massachusetts for Pride, McDonald said.

Diversity and inclusion is important, McDonald said, and the flag will send a strong message to people driving by.

Disenfranchised groups of people are now emboldened to speak up and to let people know that were here and you shouldnt be afraid of people who are different from you," he said. "When you see one of these Pride flags, it just triggers that were in the community and were part of the fabric of the community. ... Acceptance is key," he said.

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The sixth Q Pride Day Festival is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in Kilroy Square. The annual event attracts thousands of residents from Quincy and beyond.

This year, the eight-piece Hip Shot band will play at the festival. McDonald said the band gives high-energy performances throughout Massachusetts with music from the 1980s, 1990s and beyond. The special guest this year is drag performer Randy Roberts, who was on Season 10 of "Americas Got Talent."

Were excited to have him. Hes a national act and thats kind of a cool thing for us in Quincy, to bring someone of his stature, McDonald said.

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There will also be food trucks, games for kids, beer and wine, vendors and more performers.

Drag performer Amanda Playwith performs at the Quincy Pride celebration at Pageant Field in 2021.

Premier sponsors of the Q Pride Day Festival are Arbella, MountainOne, Stop & Shop, Harbor Health and FoxRock.

These major corporations believe in what we're trying to do and they support us and theyre out there and theyre visible. It's very easy for a corporation to give a check and not show up, but our sponsors show up, McDonald said.

He said the movement of the festival from Merrymount Park to the Kilroy Square location downtown makes the event more accessible by public transit. After the festival, people can go to nearby restaurants.

One of the things that Quincy has become is event driven, McDonald said. The downtown energy has changed exponentially, and people are excited about what happens."

Reach Joel Barnes at jkbarnes@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy to celebrate Pride Month with flag, Randy Roberts performance
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for several Mississippi and Arkansas counties due to a potential dam failure at the Arkabutla Dam on the Coldwater River.

The watch is in effect for portions of North Mississippi and East Arkansas, including Coahoma, DeSoto, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and Tunica counties in Mississippi and Crittenden and Lee counties in Arkansas. The watch is in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

"In general, anything downstream will have some potential to see some flooding," said John Sirmon, a meterologist with the National Weather Service. "That would be Arkabutla, maybe down near Senatobia, Crenshaw, Pleasant Grove, mainly that area along south of Arkabutla that would be the direction that it would drain."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District activated its Emergency Operations Center Tuesday after identifying potential breach conditions at Arkabutla Dam. In a statement, the district said that observed conditions at the dam's outlet structure led to the declaration.

"The district will lower the pool to an elevation of at least 210 feet to reduce breach potential and initiate safe emergency repairs," the statement read. "Operational releases associated with lowering the lake are not expected to induce downstream flooding. Project personnel continue to monitor dam conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

NWS recommends residents be ready to implement a flood safety plan. People are safest by staying indoors, or seeking higher ground if shelter is not available.

"Just have a plan, in case this does rupture, to be able to get out of there pretty quickly," Sirmon said. "You know if you have any vehicles or anything like that you want to go ahead and get out of the way, it might be a good idea to go and do that now if you can, but just contact your family members, make sure they have a plan or are aware of the potential danger."

Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901/232-6714.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Flash Flood Watch issued for potential Arkabutla Dam failure
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Floridas Department of Education as of Tuesday approved dozens of social studies textbooks for use in local schools after initially rejecting many over content the DeSantis administration found objectionable.

Publishers in many cases tweaked the content in their books after an initial review from the state, according to the states education agency.

State education officials flagged several potential textbooks for political indoctrination, including one lesson urging parents to speak with their children about kneeling during the National Anthem as a symbol representing America. Publishers also amended some of the books at Floridas urging, such as removing a reference to the police killing of George Floyd in a middle school book, as Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to fight against wokeness in education.

To uphold our exceptional standards, we must ensure our students and teachers have the highest quality materials available  materials that focus on historical facts and are free from inaccuracies or ideological rhetoric, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.

The textbook adoption process for social studies was expected to face intense scrutiny in Florida following the state education agency denying dozens of proposed math textbooks last year for containing impermissible content, including lessons on critical race theory.



Conservatives in Florida, led by DeSantis, have ramped up criticism about what students are reading and learning in school, particularly surrounding race, gender, and sexual orientation through legislation and rulemaking alike. The Republican-dominated Legislature during its 2023 session passed a bill tightening rules for local book objections by requiring schools to yank challenged works within five days of someone flagging it, a shift opponents equate to book banning.

The state is also engaged in a high-profile dispute with the nonprofit College Board after state education department officials rejected its African American studies AP program for initially including coursework on queer theory and intersectionality. The objections angered many Black leaders across the country, with some accusing DeSantis of stoking a cultural fight to boost his presidential aspirations, as the course remains in limbo today.

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Florida as of Tuesday accepted 66 of 101 social studies books submitted by publishers for use in the state, according to the Department of Education. Even with 35 books still pending approval, this marks a major jump from last month when the state initially rejected 81 books for various reasons.

The agency on Tuesday cited several examples of publishers modifying books after the state flagged them, such as an inaccurate description of socialism in one middle school book that claimed the political philosophy "keeps things nice and even and without necessary waste" and "may promote greater equality among people while still providing a fully functioning government-supervised economy." The publisher stripped that language in a change to the textbook posted by the state.

The DeSantis administration also spurred one publisher to remove a section in a middle school textbook about New Calls for Social Justice, which mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement and Floyd police killing in 2020. This piece of text detailed that while many American sympathized with Black Lives Matters, others charged that the movement was anti-police.



Florida determined this content broached unsolicited topics, yet critics pan the state's decision to reject it.

Look at the revisions they are celebrating & ask yourself if you trust [Florida] to write our history, the Florida Freedom to Read Project, an organization that monitors local book challenges, wrote in a tweet.

DeSantis officials, meanwhile, credited the Florida Department of Education for pushing publishers to rethink their proposals to the state.

The political indoctrination of children through the K-12 public education system is a very real and prolific problem in this country, DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin wrote in a tweet Tuesday.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) asked Monday that a congressional field hearing focused on red flag laws be held in Parkland, Fla., where such provisions were enacted in 2018 after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The request  made to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)  came days after a gunman fatally shot eight people at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.

Guns have become the #1 killer of children. Parents worry as they send their kids to school, to the mall, or the movies. Its a fear all parents live with. Public places once considered safe are now targets for gun violence, Moskowitz, a member of the Oversight Committee, wrote in a letter to Comer and Jordan.

I request that the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and House Judiciary Committee hold a field hearing in Parkland, Florida, to learn about the success of red flag laws, he added.

In March 2018, the Florida legislature passed and then-Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed a gun control bill into law that, among other provisions, instituted so-called red flag laws, which authorized law enforcement officers to request a risk protection order. The order would prevent persons who are at high risk of harming themselves or others from accessing firearms or ammunition.

The law also raised the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21, imposed a three-day waiting period for most long gun purchases, allowed certain trained school employees to have concealed handguns on them while on school campuses, and established new programs focused on mental health for schools.

The GOP-led Florida legislature approved the measure less than two months after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in which 17 students and staff members were killed. Moskowitz  who is an alum of the school  was serving in the Florida state legislature when the gun control bill passed.

The Republican legislators and governor backed the measure despite strong opposition from the National Rifle Association.

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In June 2022, CNN  citing figures from the Office of the State Courts Administrator  reported that Florida judges had used the red flag laws more than 8,000 times since being enacted to keep guns away from individuals believed by authorities to be a risk to themselves and others.

On Monday, Moskowitz said the red flag laws enacted have been used more than 9,000 times in Florida and have helped save countless lives.

I saw in person the aftermath of my high school where a mass shooting occurred. I saw what happens to a community when someone who is mentally unfit has access to a gun and can easily buy one, and I also saw that Republicans could enact red flag laws and go on to win re-election, Moskowitz wrote to Comer and Jordan.

We no longer need moments of silence; we need moments of action to protect our children, our communities, and our nation from gun violence, he continued. I refuse to think that nothing can get done. This field hearing can serve as a model to start somewhere, to start a conversation, to get something done.

The Hill reached out to Comer and Jordan for comment. Last month, the Judiciary Committee held a field hearing in New York City focused on crime in Manhattan.

Congress approved and President Biden signed a gun safety bill last year which allocated $750 million to help states administer red flag laws. Both chambers approved the measure on a bipartisan basis.

Democrats, however, are now pushing for more action on guns after eight people were fatally shot at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas. In a statement following the massacre, Biden again called on Congress to pass a legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, enacting universal background checks, requiring safe storage and ending immunity for gun manufacturers.

I will sign it immediately, he wrote. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.

Moskowitz drew headlines in March when, during an Oversight Committee hearing, he said dead kids cant read during a back-and-forth with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over guns.

You guys are worried about banning books  dead kids cant read, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democratic Sen. Bobby Powell says the mission will continue despite the fourth failed attempt this session to make the practice illegal.

A Florida lawmaker is not giving up on his commitment to change how people look at hair.

According to Florida Politics, Democratic Sen. Bobby Powell says the mission will continue despite the fourth failed attempt this session to include people with locs, cornrows, and Afros on the list of those protected from discrimination.

If you dont know a person, the first thing you see is their hair, Powell said. It shouldnt prevent you from developing a relationship.

Powell introduced SB 590 in the state Senate to outlaw hairstyle discrimination in the public education system. The measure declares that hair discrimination would be on the same level as bias based on race, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or marital status.

Powell took over the reins for Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy, who introduced the bill in 2020. In the state House, Fentrice Driskell, the leader of the chambers Democrats, introduced a similar bill, HB 51. In 2019, Democratic Rep. Kamia Brown filed it.

Florida Democratic Sen. Bobby Powell says he is committed to changing the way people view hair and will continue to push for legislation to outlaw hair discrimination. (Photo Credit: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Florida League of Cities)

Neither proposed bill received a committee hearing during the 2023 session, but Powell asserts that the mission will continue.

We are committed to this legislation, Powell said, Florida Politics reported. Its bound to change the way people look at hair.

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN Act  which aims to eliminate evidence-based bias against people who choose Afrocentric hairstyle options, particularly women  is part of a nationwide campaign approved in almost two dozen states and the U.S. House.

The U.S. Senate halted the proposal after the House passed it in 2022. If the Senate ever approves the bill, the Fair Housing Act and Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would be among federal legislation prohibiting hair discrimination based on natural texture.

According to its website, the CROWN Coalition is an association of groups established nationally in 2019. The groups members are the anti-poverty Western Center on Law and Poverty, the National Urban League, Color of Change and the Dove soap company.

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Doves research notes that Black women are 80% more likely than other women to alter their natural hair to conform to social standards or workplace requirements. The study also discovered that Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace.

Nineteen states have adopted the CROWN Act. This is something that could have a long-lasting legacy, Powell said, Florida Politics reported.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Florida lawmaker will try again to ban hair discrimination appeared first on TheGrio.
Edward Kinsella's illustration for the title page of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, depicting a truck in front of a farmhouse.

Released in 1983following titles like Carrie, Salems Lot, The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone, Firestarter, Cujo, and that same years ChristinePet Sematary only helped burnish Stephen Kings reputation as Americas most terrifying author, and the books capacity for causing nightmares only increased with Mary Lamberts 1989 film adaptation.

To mark Pet Sematarys 40th anniversary, the Folio Society is releasing a new edition featuring 11 genuinely chilling illustrations by Edward Kinsella, as well as an eerie endpaper design featuring a spiral of epitaphs taken from the Pet Sematary itself. The release is part of the Folio Societys Summer Collection titles, which also include Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange and Earthsea series entry Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin, among others.

Read more

Click through the gallery for a look at Kinsellas Pet Sematary artwork and the books designfeaturing Church the cat rendered in blood-red and with eyes so haunting youll be convinced, yet again, that raising the dead (even, say, a traffic-oblivious toddler) is probably the worst idea anyone ever had. You can order a copy here.

Discovering the Pet Sematary

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

That feeling when you realize moving to a cursed patch of rural Maine was maybe not the best choice for you or your family.

Victor Pascows ghost

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

Heres someone who died a horrible death but would dearly like to continue that conversation you were having just beforehand.

A terrifying kite

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

Even this moment of seemingly rural bliss has a dark shadow over it.

Absolutely not

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

Step aside, Pennywise. This guys tongue is somehow even more alarming than yours.

Title page

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

Beware the trucks.

Binding design

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

CHURCH!

Endpaper design

Image:  Edward Kinsella, 2023/Folio Society

Featuring epitaphs from you-know-which burial ground.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
At a time when the Biden administration has its hands full trying to reverse Russias invasion of Ukraine and manage a U.S.-China relationship stuck in the doldrums, Americas vast, lethal counterterrorism machine continues to be in high gear.

The U.S. intelligence community, in close partnership with Americas special operators, are tracking and hunting down terrorists in several countries  Syria and Somalia, most especially  with such regularity that it barely makes a dent in the news cycle anymore.

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You can be forgiven for thinking the decadeslong war on terrorism was declared officially over the moment the Biden administration withdrew U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. President Joe Biden seemed to indicate just that a month later when he addressed of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. I stand here today, for the first time in 20 years, with the United States not at war, Biden said during his first speech to the world body. Weve turned the page.

If that were indeed the case, then it would be an accomplishment worth bragging about. Yet 20 months after Biden delivered that address, its clear that the war on terrorism sparked by the 9/11 attacks is still very much alive. The big difference between now and then is how the U.S. is waging this stage of the war: quietly and discreetly.

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While the radio silence isnt totally surprising, its still a bit mysterious. Its not as if U.S. troops arent on the ground, exposed to the elements. Roughly 2,500 U.S. troops remain deployed in Iraq, nearly 5  years after the Iraqi government formally declared the war against the Islamic State groups territorial caliphate. Almost 1,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in eastern Syria, where they occupy a series of small bases that are frequently harassed by Iranian-backed militias. (It should be noted that Islamic State lost its last stretch of land in Syria more than four years ago.) Almost 500 U.S. forces are in Somalia, a country that has been in a state of continuous civil war since the early 1990s and whose government finds it difficult to extend its remit beyond the capital city of Mogadishu.

[ Daniel DePetris: US is a counterinsurgency force in the Somali civil war ]

According to U.S. Central Commands own statistics, there have been 119 operations in Iraq alone so far this year. A significant amount of U.S. military activity is occurring across the border in Syria as well  and unlike in Iraq, U.S. forces there often operate unilaterally.

The operations are too numerous to cite in a single column, but some of the more noteworthy ones include: a Jan. 18 helicopter raid in northeast Syria targeting an Islamic State facilitator; a Feb. 17 helicopter raid that killed Hamza al-Homsi, a senior Islamic State leader (four U.S. military members were wounded as well); an April 4 drone strike against another Islamic State leader in Syria; an April 8 operation that captured Islamic State attack facilitator Hudayfah al Yemeni; and a drone strike last week that neutralized a senior al-Qaida leader in Idlib province.

The U.S. has been quite active in Somalia, too, mainly through the air. Unlike in Syria, where the central government has wrested back control of most of the countrys territory, Somalia resembles a backwater in the Horn of Africa whose authorities are largely propped up by an African Union peacekeeping mission. Al-Shabaab, the al-Qaida affiliate, controls much of central and southern Somalia, where the Somali governments overworked Danab counterterrorism unit (trained, mentored and financed by the U.S.) seeks to kill or capture the groups leadership and retake ground.

The U.S. isnt so much fighting a counterterrorism battle in Somalia as much as a counterinsurgency campaign, aiding and abetting the Somali governments war against an extremist insurgency whose main objective is to rule the entire country.

American soldiers patrol the countryside of Rumaylan in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province near the border with Turkey on April 13, 2023. (Delil Souleiman/Getty-AFP )

In Syria, the U.S. tends to focus on individuals. In Somalia, however, the U.S. targets entire groups of insurgents who try to overrun Somali military bases or checkpoints. The aim isnt to capture or kill terrorists threatening the U.S. but rather to support the Somali government as it tries to defeat, or at least hold off, a 17-year insurgency that shows no signs of losing steam. Most U.S. military operations in Somalia are close-air support missions directly assisting Somali forces on the ground. The result often involves higher casualty rates for the opposing forces.

[ Daniel DePetris: Biden was right to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan ]

In January, the U.S. struck a large al-Shabaab formation that was trying to capture a Somali army base about 160 miles from Mogadishu, killing 30. On Feb. 10, the U.S. conducted a similar strike against yet another column of al-Shabaab fighters to assist the Somali armys ground campaign, wiping out 12 insurgents in the process. Several days later, yet another U.S. air attack in support of the Somali government killed five insurgents. Based on news releases from U.S. Africa Command, the most recent U.S. strike in the country occurred in March.

The point here is not to regurgitate each and every U.S. military operation that happens halfway around the world. There are too many to count, and after a while, all the strikes start to look similar.

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The point, rather, is to underscore that the U.S. is still very much a country at war, notwithstanding what U.S. political leaders claim in speeches. The conventional view that the U.S. has moved on from the terrorism and counterinsurgency wars of the past to focus on a renewed era of great power competition is simply inaccurate. The reality is the U.S. is trying to do it all.

Its no wonder why the U.S. defense budget is mindlessly approaching the trillion-dollar mark.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The ingestible, electronic fluid-wicking capsule for active stimulation and hormone modulation (FLASH). NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Scientists are developing an electronic pill that interacts with a key hormone in the stomach.

They claim the pill stimulates ghrelin, an appetite-encouraging hormone, to help people eat more.

They think it could one day also be used to suppress the urge to eat, like a milder form of Ozempic.

Ozempic, the blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drug, works by mimicking a hormone people produce to feel full. But what if instead of artificially mimicking a hunger hormone, you could stimulate one we already have?

Scientists at NYU are creating an appetite-regulating pill that works by sending electronic pulses out in the stomach, triggering our natural stores of ghrelin  a gut hormone that makes people feel hungry. If successful, this technology could be swallowed by patients who are struggling to eat, triggering their natural urge to nibble. People undergoing cancer treatment or other issues that can make it hard to want to eat, like ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), are some of the groups that could initially be helped by this tool.

The reverse is theoretically also true  researchers speculate the same technology could one day be harnessed in a slightly different way to stop people from feeling hungry if they struggle with overeating.

The pill has only been tested in pigs so far, but NYU Assistant Professor Khalil Ramadi, a bioengineering expert who helped invent the new pill, told Insider that the tech  after it is safely manufactured for people and OK'd by the US Food and Drug Administration  could be tried out in humans within the next five years.

"It's fundamentally a new concept for how we can treat disease," Ramadi said. Without any drugs or surgery, "we can actually increase hunger promoting hormones," just by stimulating the ones the body already has on board.

Ozempic is a weekly, injectable drug that artificially mimics satiety-regulating hormones. Getty Images

The hunger-regulating pill could increase or decrease appetite

The pill is essentially a bit of electronic coil that delivers electronic stimulation only when it comes in contact with gastric juices in the stomach. It's wrapped inside a special coating that is designed to pop off once it touches gastric fluids, turning the pill on for about 20 to 30 minutes, and stimulating the hunger-increasing hormone ghrelin.

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Giles Yeo, a professor of neuroscience at Cambridge who studies how brains control body weight, told Insider the idea is a "wonderful concept." Yeo was not involved in creating the pill.

"The concept of manipulating gut hormones I think is a good one, in either direction  increase or decrease," he said.

Both Yeo and Ramadi say it's easy to imagine such an appetite-stimulating pill working in reverse: Making an appetite-suppressing therapy like Ozempic, but without any drugs involved. Ramadi imagines a future electric pill competing with Ozempic by stimulating the vagus nerve in the area of the lower chest where the esophagus meets the stomach, a technique that's already been shown to blunt hunger signals in patients who have had that nerve stimulated surgically.

Yeo suggested, alternatively, that a pill could be dispatched further down in the body, beyond the stomach and inside the gut, where more of our appetite-suppressing hormones hang out.

The pill still has some hurdles to overcome before it's ready for market

There are still many challenges that scientists need to work out before such a pill will be ready for swallowing by humans.

Any electrical stimulation to the stomach, esophagus, or intestines has to be very precisely targeted. Otherwise, it's possible that the hunger-increasing and hunger-decreasing hormones comingling in our stomachs could just cancel each other out, doing nothing at all to change our appetites. On top of that, the pill's side effects still need to be worked out  gut hormones are very sensitive, and if you excite them too much you can end up with vomiting or explosive diarrhea.

Another issue is that the pill isn't really biodegradable, so it's not technically a flushable, marketable design  yet. In its current state, people would either have to take the pill in a controlled setting like a hospital, where their stool can be collected, or they'd have to fish their electric pill out of the toilet afterwards, a rather unappealing process.

But if the pill is ultimately successful as an appetite-suppressant, Yeo imagined it could be one more tool in the "arsenal" of newfound appetite drugs, like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

"Maybe I'm someone that needs to lose a few pounds," he said. "So I don't need a big drug in me, I just need to feel a little bit less hungry, for the next month."

Read the original article on Insider
NEW BEDFORD - A civil lawsuit brought by a man alleging he was sexually abused by a former New Bedford priest when he was an altar boy over 30 years ago has been settled "in the low to mid six figures," according to the plaintiff's attorney.

Jason Medeiros was a former altar boy at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford, and participated in a Catholic youth group. Both were supervised by Father Richard Degagne, according to a press release issued by Boston-based attorney Mitchell Garabedian.

The lawsuit alleged that Degagne sexually abused Medeiros on multiple occasions in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine in approximately 1988 and 1989 when he was about 12 and 13 years old. The abuse allegedly occurred over two years.

Degagne has denied the allegations in the lawsuit.

Medeiros said, "I didn't come forward until my 40s, and the reason was I couldn't comprehend or make sense of what had happened for the longest time. I blamed myself."

He added, "But at the end of the day, it wasn't my fault. It's none of our faults. When I say it's none of our faults, I speak for all survivors out there."

Clean and sober for years now, Medeiros said he held the trauma within by abusing drugs and alcohol. "If I didn't come forward, I don't know if I'd be around today."

Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha prepares to preside over Mass for Catholic Schools at St. Anthony's of Padua in New Bedford in this file photo.

What also "shook him to the core," he said, was when he was browsing TV channels one day and came across the 2015 movie, "Spotlight," which tells the story of the Father John Geoghan child molestation case in Boston. Garabedian is played by actor Stanley Tucci in the film.

"I was married at the time and I just started crying throughout the whole movie," he said.

He said victims need to come forward. "There are people out there to help."

The abuse allegedly occurred in the rectory of St. Padua Church, in Degagne's car, and during an overnight trip to Maine.

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Degagne was one of the priests whose "credible accusation" of child abuse was substantiated by the Fall River Diocese in December 2021, according to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

In 2019, the diocese announced it was reviewing all of its records related to the abuse or allegations of abuse of a minor. As a result of the review, the diocese released a list of 78 clergy members who have been credibly or publicly accused of sexual abuse.

The diocese independently reviewed facts related to the alleged abuse and received recommendations from a review board created by the diocese to analyze accusations of abuse made against local clergy members.Where the allegations were found credible, the priests were informed that they would not be returning to ministry.

The diocese stated at the time, "They are not permitted to exercise any public ministry including the celebration of public Mass or of other sacraments. They may not provide spiritual direction, may not wear clerical attire, or present themselves as priests."

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha stated in making the review's results public in 2021, "The scourge of clergy sexual abuse has deeply wounded so many people in our Church. It has touched every diocese worldwide and continues to affect us all  laity and clergy  in significant ways. Today, it is with a contrite heart and commitment to the healing process that I have published a list of clergy, diocesan and religious related to the Diocese of Fall River who have been credibly or publicly accused of committing sexual abuse of a minor."

Degagne, who was ordained in 1982 and is now in his late 60s, was working at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford from around 1986 until 1991.

Degagne also worked at Holy Name and Notre Dame in Fall River

Degagne also worked at St. John in Attleboro, Holy Name in Fall River, St. Anthony of Padua in New Bedford, Notre Dame in Fall River, Sacred Heart in North Attleboro, Immaculate Conception in Taunton, St. John Neumann in East Freetown and Immaculate Conception in North Easton.

The three-count lawsuit had sought a jury trial to determine damages, plus award costs and attorneys' fees, for mental distress and emotional injuries.

Garabedian is internationally recognized for his work and advocacy on behalf of victims and survivors of sexual abuse, including for his work in the Boston clergy sexual abuse cases that led to Geoghan's successful prosecution in 2002.

Fall River Diocese response

Asked for comment, the Fall River Diocese issued the following statement, "In December 2021, the Diocese of Fall River announced that an allegation made against Father Richard E. Degagne was determined to be credible and that his name was added to the list of 'Credibly Accused' clergy on the Diocesan website.

"The Diocese moves forward as quickly as possible in the process to bring a resolution to claims of abuse. The decision to comment on a settlement is left to the victim-survivor, who is not bound by confidentiality.

"Through its Victim Assistance outreach, the Diocese of Fall River offers supportive services to survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their families throughout the legal process and continuing after a conclusion is reached. For assistance, please contact Carolyn Shipp, the Director of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance at 508-985-6508 (confidential voicemail) or cshipp@dioc-fr.org."

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by former New Bedford priest settled
Ukrainian military near Bakhmut, May 3, 2023

"Indeed, it is noticeable that the enemy has been set the task of capturing the city by May 9 at any cost," Zhorin said.

Read also: International observer predicts what will happen if Wagner mercenaries leave Bakhmut

But they are not succeeding, despite the fact that they are throwing all their forces, despite the fact that even when we break up their attacking groups, they immediately regroup them.

Zhorin said sometimes one Russian grouping advancing in Bakhmut includes both Wagner mercenaries and Russian army personnel, and "there have been some LPR lot before," (meaning soldiers from the Russian sham republic set up by the Kremlin in part of Luhansk Oblast in 2014.)

Read also: Bakhmut is protecting four near-front cities, says former Aidar commander

"If we talk about the situation at the moment, it is very difficult," he said.

In fact, it is as difficult as it was before. The fighting in the city is extremely heavy.

At the same time, Zhorin stressed that the defenders of Bakhmut had not lost any positions in recent days.

Read also: Ukrainian soldier reports on situation in Bakhmut, and about enemy attacks

"Moreover, counter-attacks were organized to break the enemy's offensive potential," added the former Azov Regiment commander.

He called the priority task north of Bakhmut to hold the road, "which currently remains the only one for communication, evacuation, transportation, supply, and all such things."

"The enemy understands this and is also trying to capture it," said Zhorin.

Once they succeeded for a short time, but they were immediately driven back and thrown away from this road.

The former Azov officer also said that to the south of Bakhmut, the defenders managed to drive the enemy out of some positions, seize, and hold them.

"Their offensive potential is noticeably decreasing," he concluded.

It is evident that they have problems with personnel. But there are definitely no problems with artillery or, for example, with aviation, because both artillery and aviation are working constantly. Even if we lose some positions in the city, there are enough forces around the city to put pressure and destroy the enemy.

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Read also: Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine will not give up defense of Bakhmut

Earlier, the leader of the Honor movement and Ukrainian soldier Serhiy Filimonov told Radio NV that the so-called "(cannon) fodder assaults" of the Russians in Bakhmut had stopped.

Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov noted that holding Bakhmut was a key moment for preparing Ukraine's counteroffensive. It allowed Ukrainians to dictate conditions on the front line and reduce Russia's military resources.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing at the White House on May 1 that Washington estimates that Russia has lost 20,000 people in the battle for Bakhmut over the past five months.

The total losses of the aggressor state in killed and wounded in this area reach 100,000 people. The battle for Bakhmut has been going on since July 2022.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Rebecca Ann Shafer, with attorney Wesley Freeman, listens to prosecutor during her sentencing in Richland County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

A former Richland County Job and Family Services public assistance specialist, who pleaded guilty to using her position to secure nearly $50,000 for her boyfriend and his children, received 60 months of probation Monday in Richland County Common Pleas Court.

If Rebecca Ann Shafer violates her terms of probation including failing to make restitution for $47,974 to the state of Ohio, she will serve a 42-month prison sentence, Richland County Common Pleas Judge Phil Naumoff told her.

Naumoff sentenced her to 30 days in the Richland County Jail to begin July 1. She also was ordered to submit to drug and alcohol testing, have no contact with JFS, seek and maintain employment, and not reside with the person with whom she is having sexual relations unless it is her spouse she is separated from. She currently resides with the man who benefited from her crime, Naumoff said.

Naumoff told Shafer he believes she should go to prison but he can't because she has no prior history of a criminal record as an adult or a child.

Naumoff said Shafer is not going to prison but at least she will have some kind of repayment to the community with the jail sentence.

Judge: 'You have to feel it a little bit'

"You have to feel it a little bit Ms. Shafer. A lot of trust was lost," the judge said.

"The problem here, Ms. Shafer, you were in a job of public trust," the judge said. "There are so many people ... people receiving benefits that don't deserve benefits. They call them 'handouts'. That's exactly what happened here, isn't it? The fact of the matter is by residing with your boyfriend, you were receiving some of those benefits yourself and using them. You should be ashamed," Naumoff said.

"People trust us in these positions," he said. "... Somebody like yourself gives everybody else a black eye. And it hurts those people who really need those benefits."

Shafer said to the judge, "I'm very sorry for what I did. It was stupid and I regret doing it and I will never do anything like that ever again... ," she said.

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She said she would begin paying back the money Monday after court with a payment of $500.

In March, Shafer, 49, changed her plea to guilty to a charge of theft in office, a felony of the fourth degree; pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal use of food stamps, a felony of the fifth degree; and pleaded guilty to a charge of Medicaid eligibility fraud, a felony of the fifth degree.

Shafer was initially investigated on suspicion of using her position to improperly secure nearly $50,000 in benefits for her boyfriend and a child, Auditor of State Keith Faber earlier said in a news release.

Her actions resulted in her boyfriend and children receiving $39,670 in Medicaid benefits and $8,304 in SNAP benefits, or $47,974 total, the state auditor's legal representative said earlier before Naumoff.

Faber's statement indicates his office was tipped off by a JFS administrator, and that Shafer resigned in April of 2021.

In court in March, Samuel J. Kirk, legal counsel of the Ohio Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit, said Shafer was employed at Richland County Job & Family Service from about Nov. 14, 2018 to April 21, 2021. Monday, a representative from the state auditor's office, Tom Anger, sat at the prosecutor's table.

Assigned herself to boyfriend's case

As part of her job she was to screen applications for Medicare and SNAP benefits. She assigned herself to an application for Medicaid benefits in the computer to her live-in boyfriend Steven Morgan in 2018, and Medicaid benefits to his son and his daughter on later dates, Kirk said. She made entries to cover up that she had assigned herself to the case, he said.

She recorded income for the applicant in the JFS computer which was false, and which she knew was false, and approved the application for Medicaid which was grossly overstated, Kirk said. Her actions caused those funds to be issued to her boyfriend and his children, he added. Kirk said that Shafer and her boyfriend shared a bank account.

Initially, Shafer faced seven felony counts, including theft in office, telecommunications fraud, illegal use of food stamps and Medicaid eligibility fraud, the state auditor's office said.

The county's court records showed that Shafer faced one charge of third-degree felony theft in office, one charge of third-degree felony telecommunications fraud, two charges of fourth-degree felony illegal use of food stamps or WIC program benefits, and three charges of fourth-degree felony Medicaid eligibility fraud. Counts 2, 4, 6 and 7 were dismissed.

Her attorney asked if she could serve her jail sentence at the Community Alternative Center so she could continue to work. The judge said Shafer would be responsible for paying $1,200 to serve her jail time there and that she must pay upfront.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Judge gives JFS ex-worker 5 years of probation for stealing $47,974
A military veteran who espoused antisemitic views was sentenced to four years in prison Monday on felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the Capitol riot.

Hatchet Speed of Vienna, Virginia, a former Navy reservist who had a top secret security clearance and worked for a defense contractor on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced in Washington, D.C., for obstructing Congress' certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden also ordered 36 months of supervised release, a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution, the Justice Department said in a news release.

According to a sentencing memo, Speed, 42, joined the Proud Boys around June 2020, praising perceived parallels between the far-right extremist group and pro-Nazi paramilitary forces used during Adolf Hitler's rise to power. He claimed that both groups were used to stop antifa, which he believed was controlled by the Jewish community.

Hatchet Speed. (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia)

Speed referred to Hitler as one of the best people thats ever been on this earth and described "Mein Kampf" as "incredible," according to the memo, which detailed his conversations last year with an undercover FBI employee.

"It is not clear why this military veteran with a [security] clearance became enamored with Hitler, began to embrace street fighting, and call for the execution of the countrys entire Jewish population," prosecutors wrote.

In the Naval Reserve, Speed was assigned at one point to Naval Warfare Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office, part of the U.S. intelligence community, an FBI special agent said in an affidavit filed with the court.

The Navy said Speed was not with the National Reconnaissance Office on Jan. 6 and was instead assigned to a reserve unit with the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.

A spokesperson for the Navy also said Speed's enlistment contract ended in November. "He was not in classified spaces due to a loss of his clearance from not complying with the COVID Vaccine mandate," the spokesperson said in an email.

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Speed also left his contractor job with Accenture Federal Services last year. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.

Prosecutors said in court documents that in the months leading up to the Capitol riot, Speed took part in several Stop the Steal rallies with the Proud Boys.

After he attended the Stop the Steal rally at the Ellipse in Washington on Jan. 6, Speed went to the Capitol, where he was seen wearing a tactical backpack and a reinforced Make America Great Again hat during the riot, the sentencing memo said.

After he breached the Capitol, prosecutors said, Speed stood shoulder to shoulder with other rioters who shouted: Traitors! 1776 motherf---er! and They cant stop us!

Speed later told an undercover FBI employee that he viewed then-Vice President Mike Pences actions in the certification process as a betrayal, adding that we all went in and we took control, according to court documents. He also said it was impressive how the throng of rioters had overwhelmed police, court documents showed.

He further argued that more people should have joined the pro-Trump mob that breached the Capitol, an effort he said might have prompted then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to have "resigned out of fear for her life," according to the sentencing memo.

Speed, who is serving a sentence in a separate case related to unlawful possession of unregistered silencers, could not be reached for comment Monday. The defense attorneys who were involved in his case are no longer representing him.

Federal prosecutors have charged more than 1,000 people in connection with the Capitol attack, with hundreds more who have been identified but have not yet been arrested.

Last week, a federal judge imposed the longest sentence for a Jan. 6 defendant to date  14 years in prison to Peter Schwartz, who prosecutors said was first to throw a folding chair at officers protecting the Capitols Lower West Terrace.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan's anti-corruption agency arrested former prime minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, threatening fresh turmoil in the nuclear-armed country as clashes erupted between Khan supporters and police, killing at least one protester.

Khan's arrest comes a day after the powerful military rebuked him for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of trying to engineer his assassination and the former armed forces chief of being behind his removal from power last year.

Dozens of paramilitary troops in riot-control gear surrounded Khan - Pakistan's most popular leader according to opinion polls - and led him into a black van by his arm.

Authorities in three of Pakistan's four provinces imposed an emergency order banning all gatherings after Khan's supporters clashed with police, blocked major roads in a string of cities and stormed military buildings in Lahore and Rawalpindi, according to witnesses and videos shared by his party.

Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos. The military's public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The clashes killed one of the protesters and injured 12 people, including six police officers in the southern city of Quetta, provincial home minister Ziaullah Langove said.

Pakistan's telecommunications watchdog told Reuters that mobile data services were being suspended on interior ministry orders, while Netblocks, a global internet monitor, said access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube had been restricted.

Khan, 70, a cricket hero-turned-politician, has showed no sign of slowing down since being ousted in April 2022 as prime minister in a parliamentary no-confidence vote - even after being wounded in a November attack on his convoy as he led a protest march to Islamabad calling for snap general elections.

His arrest came at a time when Pakistanis are reeling from the worst economic crisis in decades, with record high inflation and anaemic growth. An International Monetary Fund bailout package has been delayed for months even though foreign exchange reserves are barely enough to cover a month's imports.

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ALLEGED PROPERTY FRAUD

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told reporters that Khan had been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after he ignored notices to turn himself in.

He said Khan and his wife were accused of having received, when he was still prime minister, land worth up to 7 billion rupees ($24.7 million) from a property developer who had been charged in Britain with money laundering.

Sanaullah added that British authorities had returned 190 million pounds ($240 million) to Pakistan in connection with money laundering, but that Khan had returned the money to the developer instead of keeping it in the national exchequer.

"Khan is accused of commission of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices," NAB said in a statement.

Khan has denied any wrongdoing.

GEO TV said he would be brought before an anti-corruption court on Wednesday.

The graft case is one of more than 100 registered against Khan since his ouster after four years in power. In most of the cases, Khan faces being barred from holding public office if convicted, with a national election scheduled for November.

'SHUT DOWN PAKISTAN'

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called on supporters to "shut down Pakistan" over his arrest. PTI wrote on Twitter: "Its your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now its time to stand for him."

Hundreds of Khan supporters blocked streets in cities and major highways across the country, including in Khan's home town of Lahore and in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where police went on high alert and banned public gatherings.

Protesters also blocked major roads in the port city of Karachi and police fired tear gas at protesters in the capital Islamabad, according to Reuters witnesses.

Previous attempts to arrest Khan from his Lahore home resulted in heavy clashes between his supporters and law enforcement personnel.

Political infighting is common in Pakistan, where no prime minister has yet fulfilled a full term and where the military has ruled for nearly half of the country's history.

Khan repeated his accusations against the military on Tuesday, adding that the same senior officer, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Major-General Faisal Naseer, was behind the murder of a renowned Pakistani journalist in Kenya in October.

The military has denied Khan's allegations.

The armed forces remain Pakistan's most powerful institution, having ruled the South Asian nation directly for close to half its 75-year history through three coups. Despite its major influence, it recently said it was no longer interfering in politics.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad and Gibran Peshimam in Islamabad, Gul Yousafzai in Quetta, Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore, Ariba Shahid in Karachi, Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar, and Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan; writing by Shivam Patel; editing by Andrew Heavens, Krishna N. Das, Nick Macfie and Mark Heinrich)
A car carrying Imran Khan arrives at the Islamabad High Court before his arrest on Tuesday

Protests erupted across Pakistan on Tuesday after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested during a court appearance in the capital for one of dozens of cases pending since he was ousted last year.

His arrest follows months of political crisis and comes hours after the powerful military rebuked the former international cricketer for alleging a senior officer had been involved in a plot to kill him.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse Khan supporters in Karachi and Lahore, while protesters blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, neighbouring Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.

"Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case," the official Islamabad police Twitter account said, referring to a graft case.

Video broadcast on local TV channels showed Khan -- who has a pronounced limp since being shot during an assassination attempt last year -- being manhandled by dozens of paramilitary rangers into an armoured car inside the Islamabad High Court premises.

"As we reached the court's biometric room to mark the attendance, dozens of rangers attacked us," said Ali Bukhari, a lawyer with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

"They beat him and dragged him out," he told AFP.

It was not immediately clear where he was taken.

Khan's arrest comes a day after the military warned him against making "baseless allegations" after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him.

The rebuke late Monday underscored how far Khan's relations have deteriorated with the military, which backed his rise to power in 2018 but withdrew its support ahead of a parliamentary vote of no confidence that ousted him last year.

- 'Democracy has been buried' -

"The timing of the arrest is striking," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

"The senior army leadership is uninterested in repairing the rift between itself and Khan, and so with this arrest it's likely sending a message that the gloves are very much off."

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Anticipating his arrest, party officials later released a pre-recorded video by Khan in which he urged supporters to come out in support of "true freedom".

"My Pakistanis, by the time these words reach you I would have been detained under an illegitimate case," he says in the video.

"One thing should become clear for all of you from this is that fundamental rights in Pakistan, the rights given to us by our constitution and democracy, have been buried."

Pakistan is deeply mired in an economic and political crisis, with Khan pressuring the struggling coalition government for early elections.

At a weekend rally in Lahore, Khan repeated claims that senior intelligence officer Major-General Faisal Naseer was involved in an assassination attempt last year during which he was shot in the leg.

The military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing said in a statement that "this fabricated and malicious allegation is extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable".

"This has been a consistent pattern for the last year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives," it said.

Criticism of the military establishment is rare in Pakistan, where army chiefs hold significant influence over domestic politics and foreign policy, and have long been accused of interfering inthe rise and fall of governments.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif -- whom Khan also alleged was involved in the assassination plot -- weighed in on Twitter.

"His levelling of allegations without any proof against Gen Faisal Naseer and officers of our Intelligence Agency cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated," he said.

- Rejects findings -

Pakistan's government has said the assassination attempt was the work of a lone gunman, who is now in custody and who confessed in a video controversially leaked to media.

Khan rejects those findings and insists authorities have refused to accept his attempts to file a so-called first information report (FIR) with police identifying the real culprits.

ISPR said it reserved the right to "take legal course of action against patently false and mala fide statements and propaganda".

Khan faces dozens of charges that were brought against him since he was ousted -- a tactic analysts say successive Pakistan governments have used to silence their opponents.

Pakistan's military, the world's sixth largest, holds undue influence over the nation.

It staged at least three coups since the country gained independence in 1947 and ruled for more than three decades.

bur-fox/ecl/axn
Gary Bishop

Former Richland County Prosecutor Gary Bishop died early Monday morning at his home.

Bishop, who had been serving as county prosecutor since December 2016, announced last January that he would resign effective April 10 due to "personal health concerns." He had announced in November 2022 that he had been diagnosed with esophageal and stomach cancer.

Then, on March 16, Bishop rescinded his retirement announcement, saying his recovery from cancer had gone better than expected and he planned to serve his full term through December 2024.

Bishop announced his retirement a second time and resigned on April 14.

On Monday, Bishop, 63, of Plymouth, died surrounded by family, after engaging in mortal combat with esophageal cancer.

He had been battling esophageal and stomach cancer the last several months.

True to his spirit, he never gave up swinging until there was nothing left to swing at, according to his obituary posted online Monday afternoon by Barkdull Funeral Home in Shelby.

Acting Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher said Bishop's wife called her right away after he passed. Bishop was placed in hospice care on Friday.

He had been discharged from the hospital recently but had to go back to the hospital.

"Everybody's certainly saddened," Schumacher said. "Even though Gary had been battling the illness and he had retired, everybody still thought of Gary as our prosecutor, our leader.

"Gary was still the boss."

Born Oct. 11, 1959 to the late Mary (Ray) Sendelbach and Ezra Bishop in Pikeville, Kentucky, Bishop relocated with his family in 1961 to Tiro. A 1977 graduate of Buckeye Central High School, Gary had served as a delegate to the American Legions Buckeye Boy State in 1976.

He attended Bowling Green State University from 1978-1982, graduating with a degree in Political Science and minoring in English.

During law school he began student internships with both the Toledo Public Defenders Office and the City of Toledo Prosecutors office. Both experiences changed his life, he said. He then went on to graduate from the University of Toledo College of Law.

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Bishop was quickly smitten by the love of criminal justice and the passion to seek justice for victims, never looking back, according to his obituary.

"I will remember his dedication and his commitment to victims," Schumacher said. "Domestic violence and sexual assaults were an absolute priority. He really taught all off us in the office how to balance that compassion for victims with getting justice."

Bishop was a proud yet humble member of the Sons of the American Legion for more than 25 years. He was also honored to serve as a consultant to the Court Section of the American Legion Buckeye Boys State program.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, camping in the mountains, getaway cabin weekends, fishing when he could, and a good fire by Hollywood Boulevard.

Although never more important than family and loved ones, Bishop found his pride and joy in 1976 at the age of 16 with his first car, a 1967 Ford Mustang GT Fastback that he kept and enjoyed for the rest of his life.

He is survived by his loving wife, Melony, and children.

"Anyone that knew Gary, knew he had a big heart. He really had a big heart," Schumacher said.

Celebration of life service scheduled

A celebration of Bishops life will take place at Barkdull Funeral Home in Shelby on June 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Richland County Domestic Violence Shelter at P.O. Box 1524 Mansfield, OH 44901, or to the Richland County Humane Society at 3025 Park Avenue West, Ontario, OH 44906

Bishop's career in law spanned more than 35 years. He was elected Richland County prosecutor in November 2016, defeating Bambi Couch Page.

Bishop came to the prosecutor's office in 2005, a hire of the late James Mayer Jr. He came from Wood County, where he rose to first assistant prosecutor. While working in Richland County, Bishop became chief criminal trial attorney.

He spent nearly 10 years working in the local prosecutor's office before taking a position with the Ashland County Prosecutor's Office in April 2015, returning to Richland County after the 2016 election.

Colleagues express sadness of Bishop's passing

Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson worked with Bishop from 2005-14, from the time Bishop joined the office until Robinson became a judge.

"He was a very, very talented attorney," Robinson said. "He tried a lot of cases, maybe more than probably any of the prosecutors there."

Robinson said Bishop would often volunteer to try cases.

He said one of his favorite memories of Bishop was a snow day a few years ago. Bishop was an avid snowmobiler.

"I asked if I could come to his house with my son," Robinson said.

The judge said Bishop had permission to snowmobile in a field across the street from his house. Robinson also met Bishop's mother and brother that day.

"He enjoyed the fact that we (Robinson and his son) had such a good time. We were novices," Robinson said.

He added that Bishop loved boating and fishing.

"I was hoping he would have time to retire and enjoy himself," Robinson said. "That's one of the things I'm sad about."

Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon and Maj. Joe Masi of the Richland County Sheriff's Office said first and foremost, Bishop was a good friend of the both of them.

"He was very supportive of the sheriff and his office. And Gary dedicated his life to the criminal justice system," Masi said.

Masi said with his wife working in the prosecutor's office, he and his wife and family had a strong connection with Bishop.

"Our family will miss him," he said.

"Mansfield police Chief Keith Porch and I are saddened by the news of the passing of Gary Bishop," said Assistant police Chief Jason Bammann. "Gary was not only a colleague but also a friend. Gary's commitment to the residents of Richland County as well as the local law enforcement agencies within was unsurpassed. He will be deeply missed by all."

The local Republican Party will ultimately fill the position, with voters choosing a new prosecutor in the November 2024 election.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost lauded Bishop for his contributions to the justice system.

"Gary Bishop was synonymous with justice for crime victims in Richland County. That area of Ohio has lost a dedicated prosecutor and compassionate victim advocate  one who will be greatly missed but most assuredly not forgotten," Yost said in a statement.

"I offer my deepest condolences to his loved ones and the many people he championed in Richland County.During his tenure as Richland County prosecutor, Bishop was honored for outstanding achievement and meritorious service to crime victims by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the Ohio Attorney Generals Office and the Victims Services Division of the Ohio Court of Claims," Yost said.

Reporter Mark Caudill contributed to this story.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: A celebration of Life for Gary Bishop is scheduled for June 3
(Bloomberg) -- Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailands prime minister in 2006 and has lived in self-imposed exile for well more than a decade following a corruption conviction, said he planned to return to the Southeast Asian nation in July.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Ive decided to go home to raise my grandchildren within July, before my birthday, Thaksin, who will turn 74 on July 26, said in a tweet on Tuesday, his second this month on the controversial subject of returning home. Its been almost 17 years that Ive had to be apart from my family. Im getting old.

Thaksins pledge to return home comes days before Thailands general election on Sunday, in which the Pheu Thai Party that his sister Yingluck Shinawatra once led is projected to win the most seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. His youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is one of the partys three prime ministerial candidates and a front-runners to wrest the premiership from incumbent Prayuth Chan-Ocha, a former army chief who toppled Yinglucks government in 2014.

Read: Thaksins 36-Year-Old Daughter Looks to Take Down Thai Generals

Thaksin said he will enter the legal process upon his return with the country still being led by Prayuths caretaker government. The former premier faces jail term for a corruption conviction but the Shinawatras say the persecution was politically-motivated.

Dont worry that Ill be a burden for Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin wrote in a follow-up tweet that also alluded his loyalty to the monarchy. Its all my own decision for the love and bond I have for my family, homeland, and our master.

On May 1, Paetongtarn gave birth to a baby boy in the midst of an election campaign that has seen Pheu Thai amass a solid lead in some opinion polls against ex-generals seeking to extend nearly a decade of army-backed rule. Although the vote is set for May 14, it may be weeks or months before a prime minister is elected as the military-appointed 250-member Senate will vote along with the lower house of parliament to decide who gets the top job.

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Read: Thaksins Daughter to Rejoin Vote Campaign After Child Birth

Political parties affiliated with Thaksin have won the most seats in every national vote dating back to 2001, only to be unseated from power by dissolutions or coups. Pheu Thai also won the most seats in the 2019 election under rules seen as designed to hurt its performance. Prayuth then returned to power with support from a military-backed coalition.

Thaksin last week tweeted seeking permission to return to Thailand after the birth of his seventh grandchild. He had recently said that he would like to return even if it meant serving time in jail, adding that he didnt want the government to push for an amnesty  something Yinglucks government initiated before it was ousted in a 2014 coup.

(Updates with more comments from fourth paragraph.)

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Former Los Angeles City Atty. Thomas Peters arrives for sentencing Tuesday at federal court. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A former high-level lawyer in the Los Angeles city attorney's office was sentenced Tuesday to nine months of home detention for taking part in an extortion scheme tied to the Department of Water and Power's 2013 billing debacle.

Thomas Peters of Pacific Palisades also was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine for his role in the sprawling corruption case involving the DWP and the city attorney's office.

The sentence was far more lenient than the 18 months in prison sought by federal prosecutors and the 41 months in prison recommended by the United States Probation Office.

Peters, 57, who oversaw the city's civil litigation branch under former City Atty. Mike Feuer, admitted in a plea agreement last year that he aided and abetted an extortion scheme.

He threatened to fire one of the citys outside lawyers unless that person paid off someone who was threatening to reveal damaging information about city lawyers handling of the DWP's billing mess, according to his plea agreement.

U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., in sentencing Peters on Tuesday, called the case "an incredibly sordid affair." But he also questioned the extent of the "harm" done by Peters.

Peters, in speaking to the judge Tuesday, called his actions "shameful." He declined to comment after the hearing. His wife, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elaine Mandel, was among those in the courtroom when the verdict was read.

Peters is the third former city employee to be sentenced in the corruption case that has cost the DWP more than $100 million, according to an initial estimate by the utility.

David Wright, the former top executive at the DWP, was sentenced in April 2022 to six years in federal prison for bribery. In June, David Alexander, the DWP's former cybersecurity chief, was sentenced to four years in prison for lying to federal authorities.

Peters was a senior member of Feuer's team when the DWP rolled out a new system that sent inaccurate bills to hundreds of thousands of customers. The city attorney's office hired two outside attorneys, Paul Paradis and Paul Kiesel, to sue PricewaterhouseCoopers, the consulting firm that the city blamed for the billing debacle.

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Around the time Paradis began working with the city, he had also been representing Antwon Jones, a DWP customer who was looking to sue over the faulty utility bills. Several DWP ratepayers already had filed lawsuits against the utility after being overcharged.

Ultimately, Paradis and an official in the city attorney's office  whom prosecutors have not named  devised a plan to settle all the lawsuits against the city by finding a lawyer to represent Jones. That way, the class-action lawsuit involving Jones and other ratepayers would be settled quickly on terms agreeable to the city.

In 2017, Peters  then heading the civil litigation office for Feuer  learned that a former employee of Kiesel, the outside lawyer helping to sue PricewaterhouseCoopers, had threatened to go public with damaging information about the citys handling of the billing litigation unless she received more than $1 million, the plea agreement states.

That former employee had sensitive documents showing that the citys legal team had secretly colluded with the lawyer representing DWP ratepayers in the billing lawsuit, prosecutors said.

In his plea agreement, Peters confirmed that he feared that if the employee went public with those documents, she would show that the settlement negotiations between the DWP and its ratepayers were not the adversarial proceeding that they were supposed to be, which would in turn jeopardize the citys $67-million settlement and damage the reputation of Feuers office.

Peters instructed Kiesel to satisfy the staffers financial demand  and warned him that he would be fired if he didnt. In his plea agreement, Peters admitted that he knew the employees conduct constituted extortion.

At Tuesday's hearing, Blumenfeld noted that Peters didn't come up with the idea for the collusive lawsuit, although he did go along with it once he learned about it. Blumenfeld also said that despite its origin, the DWP settlement appeared to be "beneficial" to the public because ratepayers' money was recouped.

Some critics, however, objected to the final settlement, arguing that it gave too much power to the DWP because it let the utility determine how much customers should be repaid.

Prosecutors said they sought a reduced prison sentence for Peters because he helped with their criminal investigation and a State Bar of California probe.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Susan Har told Blumenfeld on Tuesday that she was worried about the message it would send to the public if Peters didn't serve any time in prison. She noted that the city fought demands by PricewaterhouseCoopers to produce documents that would have revealed the collusive lawsuit and that Peters was "tethered" to that case.

But Blumenfeld suggested that he didn't think Peters serving time in prison would deter other attorneys from committing misdeeds.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Steve Cortes, who served as an adviser to former President Trump, announced on Tuesday hes endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for the GOP nomination in the 2024 presidential election.

Governor Ron DeSantis represents the best possible option to win the presidency in 2024 and to govern as a highly capable, patriotic populist leader, Cortes wrote in an op-ed published Tuesday.

I have worked as a dedicated spokesman and advocate for Donald Trump for much of the last seven years, so I do not arrive at that conclusion flippantly, Cortes added. But our America First movement has always been bigger and more important than any one individual, and heading into this crucial election, our activism and our votes must be guided by a clear-eyed assessment of recent failures and potential future successes.

Cortes, a senior adviser for Trumps 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, noted three reasons he cast his support for DeSantis.

First, he said the country was already miserable from the idea of a potential rematch between Trump and President Biden.

Next, he pushed that the Republican Party needs to start throwing its support behind candidates who actually win elections, claiming there is no substitute for victory. He provided examples while noting the party failed to achieve its goals in the past three election cycles.

Finally, Cortes touted DeSantiss success as Floridas governor in the past few years, saying it proves that a steady, unified, drama-free team achieves far better results than loud social media grandstanding.

Now its time to take that same approach for the nation, Cortes wrote. In Ron DeSantis, Republicans can rally to a fresh, vibrant, and optimistic agenda, one that includes electoral victory followed by disciplined and focused policy achievements.

Trump and DeSantis have been labeled as the leading contenders for the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination. DeSantis, who indicated an official announcement on a presidential run would not come until after his states legislative session is over, said on Friday a decision could come relatively soon.

I also understood that we had this opportunity here to be able to really, really do a lot of great stuff, and Ive always said that were gonna see this through, DeSantis said at a news conference. What happens in the future? Well get on that relatively soon. You either gotta put or shut up on that as well.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A one-time University of Kentucky student stole more than $25 million from a technology company and used the money to buy a jet, a luxury sports box and expensive cars and watches, a federal grand jury has charged.

The grand jury indicted Christopher Kirchner, 35, last week on five charges of wire fraud and eight charges of money laundering.

Kirchner, of Westlake, Texas, was initially charged with wire fraud in a criminal complaint in February. The indictment added charges and details about what he allegedly did, including firing two employees who raised concerns about the companys finances.

Kirchner pleaded not guilty after the initial charge. He has not had his initial court appearance on the indictment.

The company involved in the case was Slync.io, which Kirchner helped start in 2017. Slync provides supply-chain management software.

Kirchner went to Tates Creek High School and majored in marketing and communications at UK but left in 2009 before getting a degree, according to a Forbes magazine profile.

He was chief executive officer of Slync.

Where did the money reportedly go?

The company raised more than $50 million from investors in two rounds of stock offerings, the first in early 2020 and the second from December 2020 to May 2021, according to the indictment.

Kirchner allegedly started siphoning away much of the money as soon as it came in, moving it to accounts he controlled.

On Dec. 11, 2020, for instance, an investor wired $34 million to a Slync account at Silicon Valley Bank that was to be used for product development, company operations and to pay off a prior company loan.

Three days later, Kirchner moved $20 million of it to a personal account and then made a down-payment on a Gulfstream jet, the indictment says.

Another company employee had to sign off on financial transfers over $100,000, but Kirchner side-stepped that control through nearly 100 transfers in 2020 and 2011 of less than $100,000, the indictment alleges.

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In the case of the $20 million transfer, Kirchner allegedly lied to the other employee about how it would be spent in order to get him to approve it.

The indictment includes additional examples of how Kirchner allegedly spent the money he took, including:

$484,894 to private jet companies before he bought his own jet with $16 million he took

$495,000 for a luxury sports box

$22,000 to a country club

$1.4 million for a residential lot in Westlake, which is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area

$669,453 for a down-payment on a house

$283,261 for a Mercedes Benz sports utility vehicle

$16,957 to a Napa Valley vineyard.

Kirchner restricted other employees access to financial information during much of the time he was CEO, according to the indictment.

The company did not put in place formal accounting or financial control functions while he was CEO, the indictment says.

Christopher Kirchner was charged with wire fraud in Texas in 2023.

After Slync missed payroll several times in April, May and June 2022, business publications did stories on the problems and highlighted Kirchners lavish lifestyle, the indictment says.

Kirchner told company board members that Slyncs funding was invested in assets it couldnt sell quickly to raise cash, and later told the board the government had frozen company assets because he had done business personally with entities in Russia that were under U.S. sanctions.

Those explanations were not true, the indictment said.

Employees raise red flags

Kirchner falsified documents, including one confirming a transfer of money to pay employees, to try to cover up the problems.

At least two company employees also raised concerns to board members.

One, not named in the indictment, had been brought on in late 2021 to help manage financial records.

That employee ultimately told board members in May 2022 he believed Kirchner was exaggerating the companys revenue and customer numbers.

Kirchner allegedly cut off the employees computer access and later fired him.

In another case, Kirchner fired a manager in the Slync engineering department who emailed board members with concerns about Kirchners management, the indictment says.

After the board suspended Kirchner in late July 2022, he removed computer access from key employees and tried to delete a large amount of data, according to the indictment.

The board fired him in August 2022.

Rather than focus on growing his fledgling business, Christopher Kirchner allegedly swindled investors out of millions of dollars he used to fund a splashy lifestyle  then allegedly attempted to cover his tracks by conning even more investors and by firing employees who dared question him, U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said in a news release. Investors deserved honesty; instead they got chicanery.

Kirchners attorney did not respond to an email.

The indictment lists property the government wants to seize and sell if Kirchner is convicted, including the Mercedes Benz SUV and a Rolls Royce SUV; four Rolex watches; a Cartier necklace; 11 cases of wine; his house; and several financial accounts.

The wire-fraud charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison each. The maximum sentence on the money-laundering charges would be 10 years each.
Former Vice President Mike Pence gives a short speech about American energy policy during a visit to Cincinnati in June 2022

Former Vice President Mike Pence will speak to a Christian public policy group in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Pence's address tonight before the Center for Christian Virtue's gala at the Duke Energy Convention Center comes as he considers a 2024 run for president.

Another possible GOP presidential candidate, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, spoke April 13 to Republicans in West Chester Township just north of Cincinnati.

Pence and aides have said they expect to make an announcement about a presidential run by late June.

In the meantime, he's traveling to key primary states of Iowa, where he spoke to the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition in April, and New Hampshire, where he's scheduled to appear later this month.

In Cincinnati, Pence will speak to a group that has emerged as a growing voice in the culture wars. The Center for Christian Virtue, a Columbus-based group, has been one of the state's prominent opponents of abortion and has supported providing more tax money to private schools.

Pence is one of several Republicans mulling a 2024 presidential run, including Cincinnati native and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Pence last visited the region in June 2022 when he joined Gov. Mike DeWine and the region's oil and gas executives for a roundtable at a company in Spring Grove Village.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why is Mike Pence in Cincinnati?
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker shared her support of a bill that would raise the minimum age required to buy certain firearms in a statement on Twitter Monday.

Parker, a Republican, said the deaths of eight people in a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday prompted her statement for support of House Bill 2744, which got approval for presentation to the Texas House on Monday. If made into law, the bill would raise the minimum age for Texas to buy certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Members of the House Commitee on Community Safety voted to send the bill to the full Texas House of Representatives Monday, with the support of all Democrats and two Republicans, Rep. Sam Harless of Spring and Justin Holland, of Rockwall, according to the Texas Tribune.

We have a crisis, Parker wrote in the tweet. Yes, mental health is a part of the solution, but we cant afford to just stand still waiting for longer-term investments to save our lives. We need immediate action.

HB 2744, which the Texas House Committee on Community Safety voted to send to the main Texas House of Representatives on Monday, would raise the age required for Texans to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Parker cited the deaths of a couple and their son as a reason for her support in the tweets.

Kyu Song Cho, 37, Cindy Cho, 35, and their 3-year-old son James Cho were all killed, according to a verified GoFundMe organized to help the family. Their 6-year-old son, William Cho, was shot and has since been released from the ICU. He celebrated his birthday four days prior.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, the GoFundMe organizer wrote in the fundraisers description. Cindy, Kyu and 3-year-old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning.

Today, I read the heartbreaking story about the Cho family. Only six-year-old William survived the Allen mall mass shooting. He lost his entire family  his parents and three-year-old brother. (1/5)  Mayor Mattie Parker (@MayorMattie) May 8, 2023

Five other people were killed, including two elementary school children from Sachse, 11-year-old Daniela Mendoza, who was in the fourth grade, and 8-year-old Sofia Mendoza, who was in the second grade.

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Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students, read a letter sent to school parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.

Parker said that even though the proposed bill would not have prevented the 33-year-old gunman who committed the mass shooting from purchasing a gun, she still thinks its a step in the right direction.

HB 2744 could save lives, Parker wrote. It deserves debate from our leaders in the Texas legislature. To William, and the many other families and neighbors grieving today  we love you, and Im so deeply sorry.
News Corp. principals Lachlan, left, and Rupert Murdoch in September 2018. Their Fox Corp. reported a $50-million loss in the third quarter. (Adrian Edwards / GC Images)

The fallout from the landmark $787.5 million that Fox News paid to settle the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case continued to reverberate Tuesday as parent company Fox Corp. reported a $50-million loss in the third quarter.

The net loss is a massive swing from the $290 million in net income reported during the same period a year ago and underscored the financial toll of the case on the conservative cable news network.

Counting legal fees, the legal settlement with Dominion cost the company $850 million and was the main source of the loss in the quarter, despite an 18% increase in revenue to $4.08 billion.

The Dominion lawsuit alleged that Fox News damaged the electronic voting systems company's reputation when the network repeatedly spread falsehoods about voter fraud in the 2020 election. The aftermath has disrupted the top-rated cable news network.

Just six days after the April 18 settlement, Fox News fired top-rated conservative host Tucker Carlson.

The network gave no reason for severing ties, but sources close to the company said Rupert Murdoch and other executives had multiple reasons for terminating Carlson.

The evidence and depositions in the Dominion case revealed texts by Carlson that were critical of Fox News correspondents who fact-checked the unfounded election fraud claims on the network, even though he did not believe them himself.

Another factor in Carlson's ouster, sources said, was a lawsuit against the network by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who alleged she was subjected to antisemitic comments and a hostile work environment while employed on Carlson's program.

Ratings have plummeted for Fox News in prime time since Carlson's departure as temporary hosts have appeared in the 8 p.m. Eastern hour where "Tucker Carlson Tonight" had been averaging more than 3 million viewers. Even with the decline, Fox News still held a lead over MSNBC and CNN in viewers last week, according to Nielsen data.

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"Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade and weekend host Lawrence Jones filled in the first two weeks. Kayleigh McEnany, former Trump White House press secretary and co-host of the Fox News daytime show "Outnumbered," is in the host chair this week.

The hour has lost more than half its audience and on Friday trailed MSNBC and CNN in the 25-to-54 age group favored by advertisers.

Fox Corp. shares fell 1.5% on Tuesday.

Fox Corp. Executive Chairman Lachlan Murdoch told analysts in a conference call that the network agreed to the expensive settlement to avoid a long and costly court battle.

"We made the business decision to resolve this dispute and avoid the acrimony of a divisive trial and a multiyear appeal process," Murdoch said.

Murdoch said there is no plan to alter the direction of Fox News' prime-time programming  where the network's staunchest conservative commentary occurs  after the departure of Carlson, whose outrageous comments about immigration and race were targeted by critics and scared away many brand-name advertisers.

"There's no change to our programming strategy at Fox News," Murdoch said. "It's obviously a successful strategy. And as always, we are adjusting our programming and our lineup, and that's what we continue to do."

Fox News has a track record of sustaining its audience levels after high-profile on-air personalities leave the network involuntarily or otherwise.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Curry Pizza Company in Fresno wants to celebrate National Nurses Week by giving away free pizza to all healthcare workers.

From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, the two Fresno restaurants will offer a free medium pizza to healthcare professionals in uniform or who show an ID badge.

No purchase necessary.

Workers can choose from either a pepperoni pizza or butter chicken pizza, part of the restaurants Indian-influenced menu.

Only the Fresno locations are participating, including the restaurant at Shaw and Marks avenues, and the one at Willow and Nees avenues.

Last year, the locally owned restaurants served free food to 3,000 healthcare workers.
Wagner PMC Center in St. Petersburg

In their resolution, the MPs note that Wagner PMC did not sign the 2008 Montreux Document on the obligations of private military and security companies in conflict zones.

Read also: Wagner to get weapons for ongoing Bakhmut offensives, mercenary chief Prigozhin says

The document notes that Wagner troops are accused of war crimes in Syria and Ukraine, as well as conducting disinformation and destabilization operations in several African countries.

Some of these operations are directed against France and its military.

Read also: International observer predicts what will happen if Wagner mercenaries leave Bakhmut

The MPs also recall that Wagners owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, through his troll factory, tried to influence elections in the United States in 2016 and in France in 2017.

Therefore, the resolution calls on the French government to work with the EU to designate Wagner PMC as a terrorist organization, and to make efforts to investigate the crimes committed by Wagner forces in conflict zones around the world.

Read also: Wagner chief claims Russian soldiers deserting positions, fleeing Bakhmut

Back in February, the Ukrainian parliament recognized Wagner PMC and other Russian private military companies as terrorist organizations.

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
EUROPE and WASHINGTON  After Russia unleashed the largest land war in Europe since the end of World War II, exposing European defense capabilities as lacking, now may not be the best time to fantasize about the continent standing alone militarily.

But French President Emmanuel Macron is doing just that, sparking a fresh debate in Europe about where the continent is headed in the grand squeeze among the United States, China and Russia.

Strategic autonomy  the ability to provide for ones own security, he told journalists aboard the plane flying him home from a visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April  must become Europes organizing principle. Without it, Macron said, Europe risks becoming a vassal to other powers, including the United States, which could be on a collision course with China over Taiwans independence.

The problem, according to analysts, is strategic autonomy means different things to different governments in Europe, and theres no defined end state of when it might be realized. While there is a shared understanding that a new beefiness in defense matters is vital, the degree of continued reliance on the United States  with its atomic weapons and troop deployments across Europe  as the ultimate security guarantor is where opinions collide.

There is a widening gap now between Eastern and Western European countries along those lines. In Romania, for example, any military measures to protect the eastern front are perceived as having limited value unless they involve American boots on the ground, ideally stationed there forever.

In Western European governments, some still expect the blocs economic prowess and mere proclamations about Europes own defense ambitions to insulate them from Russian aggression.

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, is seen with French President Emmanuel Macron at a working session during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, on June 12, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Christian Molling, who leads the Center for Security and Defense at the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations, said Macrons insistence on the term strategic autonomy is something of an anomaly among European leaders because it conveys a desire to be autonomous from others, namely Washington.

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Macron, Molling explained, was mainly speaking for himself, projecting Frances national vision onto the rest of Europe.

Germany prefers softer terms, like European sovereignty, that simply express an ambition to act independently during crises, according to Sophia Besch, a Europe analyst at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

There is too much scorched earth associated with the term strategic autonomy,  she said, referring to the years of futile discussions about the term by think tanks and politicians that suddenly shifted from academic to concrete when Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

Definitions aside, Russias assault has highlighted Europes dependence on not just U.S. military capabilities but also American leadership in orchestrating a trans-Atlantic response, Besch added.

Fickle friends?

Nevertheless, Europeans sense the writing on the wall calling for a greater degree of autonomy, driven by a mixture of increased defense spending and improved trust in the collective; thats because Americas focus may shift to competition with China.

Also possible is a scenario in which a future U.S. president could simply stop caring about Europes security, or actively sabotage key institutions like the European Union or NATO.

I do not think the idea of strategic autonomy is dead, said Bastian Giegerich, the director of defense and military analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank based in London. One of the main drivers of it remains intact: the sense that the U.S. in the long run will be drawn away from Europe and will focus on the Indo-Pacific.

For the time being, however, for many European capitals  though not all  strategic autonomy takes a back seat, quite rightly in my view, to defeating Russia, Giegerich added.

Arturo Varvelli, who leads Romes division of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said strategic autonomy must remain a goal, despite Ukraine.

We must reduce Europes dependencies when it comes to technology and energy as well as defense. All these elements are still on the table, he said.

If we give up, we will depend on China for green technology and the U.S. for defense, Varvelli added. Believing we can lean on the U.S. is a bigger illusion than saying we can be autonomous.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attend a press conference in Beijing on April 14, 2023. (Suo Takekuma/AP)

But building the muscles to create strategic autonomy  or whatever term one prefers  remains a long-term effort despite attempts by the EU to raise its defensive profile.

The objective is at this moment very far away, said Ester Sabatino, a research analyst at IISS office in Berlin.

Only now are countries like Germany, which for decades considered Russia a partner, starting to spend more on defense; however, it appears unlikely Germany will reach the NATO target to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense in the foreseeable future.

The peace dividend following the collapse of the Soviet Union has left skeletal combat formations in place in many nations. The main problem has been a lack of a common threat perception, as well as the requirement for unanimity for EU decision-making for initiatives such as capability development planning, Sabatino told Defense News.

If there is no common perception of the threat, then how are you supposed to organize the security architecture to respond to [those threats]? she asked.

The EU is struggling against a legacy of the past where members along the eastern and northern borders, for example, saw Russia as a much more existential threat than did France or Germany. While the war in Ukraine has served as a reality check that Russia is todays main threat, there remains a prioritization issue.

In their pool of national threats, they continue to have other threats, like terrorism or instability in the Sahel, Sabatino said. Thats the case of France, or migration when it comes to Italy. There is a kind of recalibration [occurring], but the legacy of the past is there.

To be sure, the EU and its member states have made financial and materiel contributions to Ukraines defense that were previously unthinkable.

Josep Borrell, the blocs defense and foreign policy chief, used a recent forum to trumpet how far those security efforts have come.

The EU deployed its first collective military operations two decades ago, first in the Western Balkans and then in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Borrell told representatives from all 27 EU member states and the more than 50 partner nations present at the first biennial Schuman Security and Defence Forum, hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels in March.

Since then, more than 40 military operations took place across all continents, he noted. That being said, it is fair to say that our response to the war in Ukraine in particular has changed the way we, in Europe, regard our own security and defense agenda, Borrell added.

The EU collectively has provided about 3.6 billion (U.S. $4 billion) worth of support to Ukraines military via the European Peace Facility, the unions off-budget, military aid mechanism. On March 20, the bloc approved an additional 2 billion to spend via the EPF, split into two pots: one to gather up a million rounds of ammunition from national stockpiles to rapidly send to Ukraines front lines; and the other to begin the procurement of new ammunition of various types to replenish members stocks, while keeping up deliveries to Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire toward Russian positions with a 155mm M777 howitzer on the front line near the city of Bakhmut on March 11, 2023. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

A tiny test case

While the world watches Russias ongoing attack on Ukraine, fears are growing in Moldova that it may be next in the firing line, after the countrys president announced Moscow-backed saboteurs were supporting a coup against the countrys pro-European government.

Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, the former Soviet republic is in line for European Union membership, hoping the bloc will keep it safe from Russian President Vladimir Putins ambitions.

But with Europe heavily dependent on U.S. cash and weaponry to back Ukraine, the question is: How useful a guardian angel can Europe be to countries now trembling on Russias flank?

Nathalie Tocci, the head of the Rome-based think tank IAI, said there is no doubt Europes hope of being able to tackle external threats alone was exposed by the Ukraine war, although not in the way one might expect.

Its not so much because the U.S. is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to supporting Kyiv, since the EU and U.K. are doing a lot when taken together, but its because Europes defense procurement dependency on the U.S. is increasing, she said.

A man holds a poster reading

When European defense budgets rose at the outbreak of the war, some envisaged a boom for common European programs. However, the opposite occurred, as nations opted for quick, off-the-shelf purchases, often from the U.S., including F-35 fighter jets for Germany and Abrams tanks for Poland.

This is bad news for Europe, but also for the U.S., since in a world in which the U.S. is no longer the global hegemon, it would surely have an interest in having more capable rather than merely dependent partners, Tocci said.

Wild growth of arms

Russias invasion of Ukraine last year sparked a wave of weapons purchases in Europe that were animated primarily by immediate, national needs. Poland, for example, bought not only American-made tanks but found a new and faster supplier for armor and artillery in South Korea.

Defense officials in Washington have admitted they see new export opportunities in restocking European armories depleted by donations to Ukraine, stoking fears among European arms companies they are missing out.

But that dynamic doesnt have to be a bad thing, Molling said. He noted the wild growth of weaponry, however uncoordinated, could serve as something of a primordial soup from which a more orderly arms mix could be shaped in the coming years.

A U.S. Army soldier signals the way to an M1A2 Abrams tank that will be used for military exercises. The equipment arrived in Poland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, augmenting military presence along NATO's eastern front. (Mateusz Slodkowski/AFP via Getty Images)

We have reached a fork in the road, Molling told Defense News. Whereas the EU, with its limited defense mandate, has focused on the seams of national capabilities, essentially seeking gains by way of growing connective tissue, Europe now needs sheer mass, he added.

In that thinking, officials may need to reevaluate the long-standing EU push for defense industry consolidation. It hasnt worked anyway, in part because Brussels cannot override national industrial jockeying, according to Molling.

In the current phase, the origin of capabilities shouldnt matter, he said. We should take what we can get if it helps Europes defense.

British outlook

Meanwhile, Britain is going through its own reassessment of defense and security priorities. From its perch outside the EU, London has been a key player from the start in galvanizing support for Ukraine on both sides of the Atlantic.

And with its role in the massive AUKUS project  partly aimed at providing nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in tandem with the United States  an Asia-Pacific focus is set to become a major muscle movement in British defense priorities for decades, while defense ties with the EU are less pronounced than they once were.

The British government released its latest take on the countrys place in the world of defense, security and foreign policy on March 13 with what it termed a refresh of an integrated review published in 2021.

Much has changed in the two years since the government of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled that review: Russias attack on Ukraine, post-Brexit politics (the U.K.s departure from the EU) and an ailing economy have significantly affected the strategic autonomy landscape.

From a political perspective, the British government has been on a roller coaster, with the country now on its third prime minister in a year since Johnson exited No. 10 Downing Street under a cloud.

The change from Johnson to the incumbent, Rishi Sunak, altered how London defines strategic autonomy, said Dan Darling, the senior analyst at Forecast International covering Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim.

Under Johnson, strategic autonomy meant Brexit freeing the U.K. from the diktats of Brussels. It meant an untethered Britain free to follow its own course, chiefly through a Global Britain ambition that would see London forge relationships through bilateral, multilateral and coalition means and bolster influence across the world, he said. Under Rishi Sunak, it appears to mean closer ties with the European Union, with an emphasis on continuing the Johnson Cabinets strong record of support for Ukraine, plus remaining vigilant about the looming challenge of China.

But for all the talk of strategic autonomy ambitions and a review that seems to prioritize soft power over hard, the billion-pound question is whether Britain has the military wherewithal to achieve its goals.

Indeed, that question applies to all of Europe.

Germanys Zeitenwende  Chancellor Olaf Scholzs declaration of a renewed emphasis on defense last year that came with a 100 billion special fund  has become something of a harbinger on whether strategic autonomy will have teeth.

So far, critics have said, the money is flowing too slowly.

Sebastian Sprenger contributed to this report from Washington. Vivienne Machi reported from Stuttgart, Germany; Tom Kington from Rome; and Andrew Chuter from London.
MADRID (Reuters) - Twenty-six people have been arrested for tapping illegal wells to grow tropical fruit such as avocados and mangos in southern Spain amid a long-term drought, police said on Tuesday.

During a four-year investigation, authorities uncovered more than 250 illegal wells, bore holes and ponds in the Axarquia area in Andalusia, which has been hit by drought since 2021.

Spain is Europe's biggest producer of tropical fruit, which requires large volumes of water. Producers estimate that avocado production will drop by 25% this year due to high temperatures and a lack of water.

The suspects are being investigated for misappropriation of public waters and alleged fraudulent use of water for irrigation of subtropical crops, police said.

The gave no details on whether those arrested included commercial growers or subsistence farmers.

The lack of rain has put water management under the spotlight in Spain, particularly around the Donana wetland, a wildlife sanctuary also in Andalusia and endangered by climate change and illegal irrigation in nearby strawberry farms.

Spain registered the driest and warmest April since records began, according to the national weather agency AEMET. The average water level in reservoirs in Catalonia and Andalusia - the worst hit areas - stands at around 25%.

In Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, farmers staged a go-slow protest in their tractors in several cities on Tuesday, demanding government help to deal with the impact of the drought.

Farming union Unio de Pagesos is pushing authorities to provide subsidies as well as tax and labour incentives and emergency network improvements to guarantee a minimum supply of water for farmers.

Farmer Josep Andreu Cortina, 35, told Reuters that he expected only around 2% of his produce to be fit for sale this year due to the scarcity of water.

Authorities "are not taking measures to help the sector deal with the drought", he said during a protest in the town of Lleida, around 150 km (90 miles) from Barcelona.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo in Madrid, Albert Gea in Lleida and Joan Faus in Barcelona; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Alison Williams)
For the first time in its 177-year history, Gadsdens First United Methodist Church will have a female pastor.

The Rev. Sherri Reynolds will become FUMCs senior pastor on July 1.

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and the cabinet of the UMCs North Alabama Conference recently announced clergy appointment changes. Reynolds appointment was the only one made in the greater Gadsden area.

The Rev. Sherri Reynolds will take over as senior pastor at Gadsden's First United Methodist Church on July 1.

According to Sheila Freeman, FUMCs director of Connectional Ministries, Reynolds will be the churchs 50th senior pastor since the end of circuit-riding preachers who had begun serving the fledging congregation in 1848.

Danette Clifton, the conferences communications director, noted that she is one of 117 clergywomen currently serving within the 441 UMC churches of the NAC, which ranges from Montgomery northward to the Tennessee line.

Reynolds, a native of Cherokee County, began her preaching career in Pell City, then moved to Eastaboga. She was pastor of Christ Central Church in Rainbow City from 2012 to 2018.

Most recently, she has been superintendent of the conferences Southwest District (Tuscaloosa area).

Reynolds in an email to The Times said shes honored to be appointed to the pastorate. The congregation has a rich legacy of mission, service and making disciples," she added. My prayer and goal is to build on that legacy and the work of current pastors, the Rev. Sam Hayes and the Rev. Andy Yarnell, to impact Gadsden and God's kingdom in the name of Jesus."

She and her husband of more than two decades, Rob, have two daughters; one is in high school and the other attends Mississippi State University.

In other NAC news, Wallace-Padgett on the conferences website announced changes in its eight districts, also effective July 1, in anticipation of a redrawing of the district lines in 2024. It will be what the cabinet has called a transitional year.

Four full-time district superintendents will oversee their current district and a second one.

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On another matter:

Bishop Wallace-Padgett, writing for the NAC website, said there will be changes in the leadership of the Conferences eight districts. In anticipation that the current shift in the number of local congregations within the Conference may lead to the redrawing of district lines in 2024, the Cabinet has decided to undertake what they call a transitional year.

There will be four full-time district superintendents who will oversee their current district and a second one, with assistance from an associate superintendent in each district. Wallace-Padgett said that setup has worked successfully in the past.

For example, the Rev. Jeff Davis, superintendent of the Mountain Lakes District (Etowah, Cherokee, DeKalb and Marshall counties) will add the Southeast District (Chambers, Clay, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties) to his responsibilities.

Wallace-Padgett said part-time and additional appointments, including associate district superintendents, will soon be announced. She said the conferences annual meeting will be June 21-24 at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville.

The NAC website also announced a special online (via Zoom) session at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 to process requests to disaffiliate from the UMC. It will be the last of three such sessions. The first was in December, the second will be this month.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden's First United Methodist to get first female senior pastor
A 24-year-old man who shot four people at a Sacramento park in 2020, killing a 9-year-old girl, has been sentenced to nearly 140 years in prison after his conviction for murder and other charges.

A Sacramento Superior Court jury in March convicted Laise Burton Hands of murdering Makaylah Brent at Mama Marks Park in the citys Del Paso Heights neighborhood on Oct. 3, 2020.

Hands was attempting to shoot and kill a rival gang member at the park, prosecutors demonstrated; he exited his vehicle and fired nine shots at the park using a 9mm handgun. He instead shot four people, including 9-year-old Makaylah and a 7-year-old girl. Two of the three surviving victims were Makaylahs relatives.

Hands was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon.

Judge Maryanne Gilliard on Friday sentenced Hands to 138 years, 8 months to life in prison. The court found true an allegation of a prior-strike conviction against Hands for assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

A second shooter in the incident, a male suspect who remained seated in the vehicle behind Hands, fired two additional shots using a .40-caliber handgun, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office.

That suspect has not yet been identified, according to prosecutors and law enforcement, who have not specified the shooters gang affiliations.
A man driving a garbage truck slammed into an SUV from behind as it sat at a red light, causing flames to ignite and killing the driver, New Jersey officials said.

He was checking his cell phone when he collided with the stopped SUV at 5:18 a.m. on May 8 at an intersection in Pequannock Township, surveillance video shows, according to the Morris County Prosecutors Office.

Now the garbage truck driver, 45, of Newark, is facing a second-degree reckless vehicular homicide charge, officials announced in a May 8 news release.

The sudden collision instantly caused the mans Chevy Traverse to catch fire, according to the prosecutors office.

The garbage truck driver and a nearby bystander pulled the unconscious man out of the fiery car before patrol officers and first responders tried saving him, the release said.

However, their efforts were unsuccessful as the man was pronounced dead at the intersection, according to officials.

The man who died wasnt identified by the prosecutors office. A post-mortem exam is underway, officials said.

The man driving the garbage truck is in Morris County Correctional Facility and is due in court, according to the release.

Pequannock Township is about 25 miles northwest of New York City.

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Ofcom said GB News fell short of the requirement to protect audiences from potentially harmful content ((GB News/PA))

An interview on GB News with a Covid vaccine sceptic  in which the jab was compared to mass murder  was in breach of broadcasting rules, Ofcom has found.

The media watchdog said the episode of The Mark Steyn Show on the right-wing channel, which aired in October 2022, was in significant breach of its code.

The programme featured an interview with Canadian author Dr Naomi Wolf, who claimed the vaccine rollout was a pre-meditated crime amounting mass murder, and was comparable to the actions of doctors in pre-Nazi Germany.

Ofcom said the channel allowed the author to promote a serious conspiracy theory without challenge or context and offered no scrutiny of the evidence she claimed to hold to support her claim.

We found that the comments made by Naomi Wolf had the potential to impact viewers decisions about their health and were therefore potentially harmful, the regulator said.

The media body said it received 422 complaints that alleged these comments were dangerous and included misinformation that went unopposed.

Ofcom said it was the second significant breach of the code recorded against GB News and therefore it is requesting the broadcaster attends a meeting with the media regulator to discuss its approach to compliance.

Since March 2020, Ofcom has received over 26,000 complaints about TV and radio coverage relating to the Covid pandemic  finding nine programmes in breach of the rules.

On Monday, GB News broadcast a programme in which MP Andrew Bridgen  expelled buy the Tory party  stood by his claims that widespread harm has been caused by adverse reactions to Covid vaccines.

He had the Conservative whip removed in January over a tweet comparing the Covid vaccine rollout to the Holocaust, before being kicked out of the party last month.

An earlier episode of the Mark Steyn programme was found to have broken rules by presenting a materially misleading interpretation of official data on the Covid vaccine without sufficient challenge or context.

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Lawrence Fox was recently accused of spewing out biased views during an interview segment on his GB News show that swiftly went off the rails.

Asked his thoughts on a report criticising the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Dr Bharat Pankhania told him: I sometimes wonder why you exist, to be honest with you.

The doctor continued: A lot of these things that you spew out, just send things that are worrisome to people, are not verified, not factual.

The regulator is currently investigating whether a GB News Saturday Morning with Esther and Philip broadcast on 11 March 2023 broke rules requiring news to be presented with due impartiality.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  The Bolivian general who captured Argentine-Cuban guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara has been buried, and the ceremony was shunned by Bolivias leftist national government in a gesture that has angered his relatives.

Retired Gen. Gary Prado Salmon, a hero to some compatriots and a pariah to others, died Saturday at 84 from renal complications.

He had been declared a national hero in 1967, but also was accused in 2009 of involvement in a coup attempt against then-President Evo Morales. The Bolivian Army did not bury Pardo with any honors for Sunday's ceremony, though he did receive tributes from city and regional officials.

No authority from President Luis Arce's government issued any statement on Prados death, nor did any military officials. No active members of the military participated in the wake nor funeral and there were no active duty officers flanking Prados coffin, as is the norm for deceased members of the service  all of which has upset Prados family.

My husband will not be honored. The commanders violate the rules to please the government, Maria del Carmen Morales, Prados widow, told the local El Deber newspaper.

Prados son, Gary Prado Arauz, said a request by the Union of Retired Military Personnel that honors be rendered had been denied. Its a shame, he told journalists at his father's wake.

The government of Luis Arce, like his predecessor (Morales), sympathizes with Che Guevara, so they wont honor Gary Prado. Thats why theyve chosen silence, said Paul Coca, a political science professor at the Franz Tamayo University. The Armed Forces, for their part, wont do anything that could bother or disturb the government.

In addition, Prado was an activist in the Revolutionary Left Movement of former president Jaime Paz, who is a declared political enemy of the Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party of Arce and Morales, Coca said.

Prado did receive tributes from local authorities in Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the county where he lived. The government of the Santa Cruz region laid Prado in state and friends and family members as well as retired military officers celebrated a Mass in the citys cathedral before he was buried.

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Prado was a captain on October 8, 1967 when he commanded the patrol that captured the legendary guerrilla fighter in the Bolivian jungle.

In his book How I Captured Che and in subsequent interviews, Prado stated he was not responsible for Guevaras execution, which was ordered by higher-ranking officers. I had nothing to do with it. I was looking for the other guerrilla fighters. When I returned to the camp, they had already executed him, he said.

Later in life, Prado was Bolivia's ambassador to Great Britain in the early 1990s and to Mexico in 2000-2002. It was during his posting in Mexico that Mexican writer and filmmaker Alberto Hijar threw a glass of wine in his face, shouting, To the health of Che, murderer.

The government substantially distanced itself from Prado during the tenure of Morales, a leftist president in office from 2006 to 2019, who is a recognized admirer of the Cuban revolution and a friend of late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Prado served 11 years of home detention after he was accused of alleged terrorism as part of a supposed coup plot against Morales in 2009. Morales is the current leader of the MAS.

While Prado was in the opposition, he was admired by supporters for his backing of the leaders of Santa Cruz, the countrys economic engine that has long been at odds with politicians in La Paz.

Former center-right President Carlos Mesa, who was in office 2003-2005, sent a message of condolence. I am deeply saddened by the death of General Gary Prado, an honorable military man and a good person. A protagonist of a historic and fundamental event in our history, the capture of Ernesto Che Guevara, he tweeted.

Guevaras guerrillas fought in the Bolivian jungle for nine months between 1966 and 1967.

Guevara, an Argentine who later became a Cuban citizen, was buried alongside other guerrilla fighters in Valle Grande, near where he was captured. The whereabouts of his remains were kept secret until they were recovered and moved to Santa Clara, Cuba in 1997.
German concern Rheinmetall

Papperger said that in the coming weeks, Rheinmetall will sign several agreements on cooperation and the establishment of joint ventures with a range of Ukrainian companies.

Read also: Rheinmetall develops proposal for tank plant in Ukraine

According to the CEO, these joint ventures will involve the production of combat vehicles, air defense systems, and ammunition.

"In this way, we are giving Ukraine the opportunity to defend itself in the medium and long term; investments in new plants will come from the Ukrainian state," said Papperger.

Read also: Germanys Rheinmetall stands ready to fill Ukraines ammunition needs, pending additional EU spending

As an example, Papperger cited plans to build Panther main battle tanks in Ukraine.

Read also: Zelenskyy meets with Rheinmetall CEO in Kyiv

According to his estimates, up to 400 Panther tanks could be produced annually. The CEO added that preliminary negotiations with Kyiv regarding this project are promising.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An osprey who lost his mate has found a new lovebird and is set to become a dad again.

Aran returned to Glaslyn, in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, in April.

His partner, Mrs G, did not come back and is now believed to be dead after 20 years of returning from Africa to Wales.

But Aran, named after the national park's Yr Aran summit, has partnered up with a new bird in Wales.

She has been named Elen, after the mountain Yr Elen, which sits in Eryri's Carneddau range.

Rebecca Phasey, education officer for osprey protection group Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, said: "Aran attracted a new partner to the nest, and they bonded for a few weeks.

"And now she has laid two eggs. So we're so hopeful we'll see chicks in the Glaslyn nest again."

The reserve volunteers believe Elen is a young bird, and this may be her very first breeding season.

While many of the UK's visiting ospreys have identification rings, Elen is un-ringed, so where she has come from is unknown.

"It's really exciting to know there are ospreys out there," Ms Phasey said.

"We're incredibly grateful that we still have ospreys on the nest to keep this project going."

The reserve hope this is the start of a long-term breeding partnership between the pair, since ospreys usually mate for life.

Aran and Mrs G were responsible for raising 18 chicks during their time together.

"We hope that by the beginning of June we will see two chicks hatching on the nest, and after that they will grow and migrate again in the autumn to west Africa," said Ms Phasey.
Summit County plans to expand its jury pool beyond just registered voters to include those with drivers licenses and state identification cards.

This change, aimed at getting a more diverse pool of jurors, is expected to begin in September. It will apply to both the selection of petit or regular juries and grand juries.

Summit County Council President Veronica Sims

There are a lot of challenges within the jury pool process, said Summit County Council President Veronica Sims, who urged the countys judges to make this change. Expanding it will help us get at some of that. I think it goes a long way.

The discussion of how Summit County draws its jurors intensified around the selection of a special grand jury last month to decide whether eight Akron officers who shot and killed Jayland Walker should face criminal charges. The grand jury returned a no bill, which means the officers wont be prosecuted.

More: What to know about the special grand jury convening Monday on Jayland Walker's shooting

Sims and Councilwoman Erin Dickinson recently made a presentation to the 10 judges of the Summit County Common Pleas Courts General Division, who unanimously agreed that the jury pool should be expanded.

Judge Susan Baker Ross makes her way into the grand jury room at the Summit County Courthouse, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Akron, Ohio.

"We're hoping we're going to involve more of our community in the jury system," said Susan Baker Ross, the presiding judge in Summit County Common Pleas Court whose job includes overseeing the grand jury process.

Ross said the judges must still approve a change to the court's jury management plan and then have a jury management software company generate the new list. She said the county currently has 300,000 registered jurors and 385,000 licensed drivers, so the jury pool will increase by at least 85,000 people, and possibly more, depending on how much overlap there is between the two groups.

"We will know how large once we have the jury software folks merge the list," she said. "For now, it's unknown."

Summit joins long list of courts with expanded jury pool

State law allows courts to draw jurors from voter registration and driver's license rolls.

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Summit County Common Pleas Court will join a long list of courts in Ohio to use both sources for choosing juries, with 47 courts having already taken this step, according to a list from the Ohio Jury Management Association.

That list includes Alliance Municipal Court, Franklin Municipal Court, Marion Municipal Court, Medina Municipal Court and Portage County Municipal Court.

Montogomery County has the only common pleas court in a large urban area that draw jurors from both registered voters and licensed drivers, according to the list.

In Summit County, the expanded pool will also apply to regular juries in Akron, Barberton and Stow Municipal courts, because the same jury commissioner also handles these courts, Ross said.

Education campaign is in the works

County leaders and court officials plan to work together to educate Summit County residents about the importance of jury duty, though the details of what this will involve are still being decided.

Sims said she understands that not everyone may be thrilled about being called for jury duty because of the expanded process, but she hopes they might change their mind when they learn more about it.

Im not hesitant about doing whatever we can to help educate constituents, Sims said.

Ross said she gets positive comments from people who serve on juries about the experience, which is contrary to the perception that many have about what it's like.

"People groan when they get called," she said. "When they get here, and are in the middle of the process, it ignites in them a bit of a passion to be able to do something like this."

Sims thinks expanding the jury pool can achieve better representation not only racially, but also in terms of a diversity of thought.

Ross hopes expanding the pool will improve diversity of race, thought and age, with potential jurors often skewing older.

In the grand jury that was just seated and will begin serving in July, Ross said there are two people of color out of 14 jurors. She said many people request to be excused from grand jury duty because of the longer time commitment involved, with them serving for two months.

The expanded process may come with an extra cost. Ross said the court expects to need to call more people for jury duty because many of the addresses of people with driver's licenses won't be current. She estimated the extra cost at about $4,000 more a year.

"I'm going to be interested to see how it goes and whether it does increase our diversity of age, thought and ethnicity," she said. "We're hoping it does."

The change has so far received a positive response from those involved in county's courts.

Defense Attorney Jeff Laybourne

Jeff Laybourne, a prominent Akron defense attorney who represents people facing serious charges including murder, sees this as a positive change.

A wider and deeper venire will result in greater jury diversity, which will inevitably assist in ensuring a fair trial for the accused, he said.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit expanding its jury pool to include those with driver's licenses
A GoFundMe campaign has topped $1.2m for a six-year-old boy who was the only member of a Korean American family to survive the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas.

Cindy Cho, Kyu Cho, and their children William, 6, and James, 3, had gone shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon when gunman Mauricio Garcia, 33, drove to the mall armed with an AR-15 and opened fire on innocent shoppers and mall workers.

Cindy, 35, Kyu, 37, and James were among the eight victims killed in the massacre before Garcia was shot dead by a law enforcement officer on the scene.

Now, after his mother, father and younger brother were all murdered, little William has been left orphaned.

According to a GoFundMe set up to help the six-year-old, the family had just celebrated his sixth birthday four days earlier.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, it read.

Cindy, Kyu and three year old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning. After being released from the ICU, their six year old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

The campaign page added: This GoFundMe is being created to help their family. Please share this link with your family and friends.

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe had soared past $1.2m.

All eight victims of Saturdays horror mass shooting have now been identified.

Friends of Cho family setup a GoFundMe request (GoFundMe)

They are: Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old mall security guard, Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer who moved to the US from India, elementary school-age sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, and Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.

The motive for the horror attack remains unknown but investigators are said to be probing Garcias possible neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideologies.

At the time of the shooting, the gunman  an Army veteran who worked as a security guard  was reportedly wearing a patch reading RWDS  standing for Right Wing Death Squad.

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A social media profile believed to belong to the gunman, and reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers, show that he posted dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities prior to Saturdays massacre.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also reveals that he staked out the mall in the lead-up to the shooting, working out the times that would have the most footfall.

More than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information, were found on the profile.

Other images included photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

In what appears to be a final post, the user claims that a psychologist would not be able to fix him.

A link to a YouTube video posted by the same person on the day of the shooting shows Garcia removing a Scream mask and asking: Not quite what you were expecting, huh?

The horror mass shooting has reignited calls for greater gun control  coming off the back of multiple other mass shootings and just days before the anniversary of the Uvalde massacre.
Harlan Crow rebuffed a request from the Senate Finance Committee to turn over a list of gifts he gave to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded the information after a ProPublica investigation revealed undisclosed luxury gifts and trips that Crow, a Dallas-based real estate developer who has donated millions to conservative causes, gave to Thomas over roughly two decades.

Wyden made the request as part of his questioning of whether Crow fully complied with federal tax laws surrounding the gifts. Crows attorneys cited the panels lack of authority over the matter, along with issues with separation of powers, in its refusal to comply.

As an initial matter, however, we have serious concerns about the scope of and authority for this inquiry. As you are aware, the Committees powers to investigate are not unlimited. Indeed, the Committee must have a legitimate legislative purpose for any inquiry, and the scope of the inquiry must be reasonably related to that purpose, Crows attorney, Michael Bopp, responded to Wyden on Monday.

More coverage of the Clarence Thomas ethics scandal from The Hill:

Bopp said the committees oversight of federal gift tax laws does not give it authority to essentially conduct a tax audit. He further argued that Wyden was only seeking the records to target Thomas, raising separation of powers issues.

The timing of and context surrounding the Letter point to a different purpose, Bopp wrote.

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Given the Letters timing and focus, this inquiry appears to be a component of a broader campaign against Justice Thomas and, now, Mr. Crow, rather than an investigation that furthers a valid legislative purpose, it continued.

Thomas previously defended the gifts as falling into a personal hospitality exception under federal financial disclosure laws. But Democrats have expressed outrage, stepping up their pressure on the Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of ethics in the wake of the controversy.

In a statement, Wyden called Crows argument on its face, a joke.

The bottom line is that nobody can expect to get away with waving off Finance Committee oversight, no matter how wealthy or well-connected they may be, Wyden said. I will send a full response to Mr. Crows attorney in the coming days. Im also going to discuss with my committee colleagues how best to compel answers to the questions I put forward last month, including by using any of the tools at our disposal.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the committees ranking member, said Democrats recent efforts undermine the independence of the court.

I will oppose any effort to issue a subpoena in the Finance Committee or to use other tools at the committees disposal to further efforts to undermine the independence of the Supreme Court and its individual Justices, he said.

Taxpayers have a fundamental right to the certainty that their tax and financial information is protected, remains confidential and will not be used for political purposes.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, led by Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), sent a similar request to Crow on Tuesday, asking for a full accounting of gifts he gave to Thomas or any other justice. Letters were also sent to entities that own his yacht, jet and property in the Adirondacks.

We look forward to responding to Chairman Durbins letter in due course, Crows office said in a statement.

Updated: 4:02 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. George Santos leaves a GOP caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on January 25, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against Rep. George Santos, CNN and ABC reported Tuesday.

It's unclear what the charges were. A rep for Santos didn't respond to a request for comment.

Santos was previously found to have lied about his background during his campaign.

The Justice Department has filed criminal charges against Republican Rep. George Santos, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing three people familiar with the case. ABC News confirmed the report.

It's unclear what the charges are. CNN reported they were filed under seal and that the New York congressman is expected to appear in federal court as soon as Wednesday. The outlet said federal prosecutors were investigating campaign finance filings, among other things.

Following his election last November, a stream of news reports  which were largely set off by a bombshell New York Times report  revealed that Santos had told numerous lies about his background during his campaign, which included fabrications related to his education, work history, and family background.

The Justice Department and the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office did not comment when reached by Insider.

A representative for Santos did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

After winning a competitive race in New York's 3rd Congressional District, which includes northeast Queens and much of northern Nassau County, Santos readied himself to serve in the nation's capital as part of a razor-thin Republican House majority.

But the revelations about Santos' background convinced many Long Islanders  including local Republicans who had backed his candidacy  to call for his resignation.

The congressman firmly rejected the pleas and has pledged to serve out his term in office. Last month, he announced that he would seek reelection in 2024, despite the firestorm surrounding his tenure in office.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California had not previously asked for Santos for resign, stating that the House Ethics Committee should be able to conduct their probe and determine the congressman's political fate.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Idaho Gov. Brad Little and a team of Idaho State Police troopers soon will head to Texas to help stop drugs from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the governors office.

The upcoming trip, which the governors office announced Tuesday, will be the second time since 2021 that the Republican governor has directed law enforcement resources to the southern U.S.-Mexico border. During his January State of the State address, Little said that the vast majority of illicit drugs in Idaho are sourced in Mexico.

Little spoke with Kuna high school students Tuesday, on National Fentanyl Awareness Day, about the dangers of fentanyl, the potent opioid that killed 152 Idahoans in 2021, according to the latest available data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Take this problem seriously and learn more about it, Little told the students, according to a news release. Most importantly, take care of each other. Look out for yourselves and your friends.

Combating opioid-related deaths has been a priority for Little in recent years. Last year, Little convened a law enforcement and citizen task force that traveled the state to gather information about fentanyl and meth. A new campaign, Fentanyl Takes All, seeks to educate young people and parents about fentanyl dangers.

The state also has directed additional funding to law enforcement for roadside drug testing equipment, and a new Idaho State Police drug interdiction team is in development.

Little will head to Texas in two weeks to deploy a team of Idaho State Police personnel. The team will assist the state of Texas on a month-long mission for drug and fentanyl interdiction efforts at the border, according to the governors news release.

The governors office tied the trip to the expiration of Title 42, a COVID-19 pandemic policy enacted by former President Donald Trumps administration that allowed border authorities to quickly expel migrants crossing the border. The policy is set to expire Thursday.

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A spike in illegal border crossings and even more fentanyl coming across the open border is expected as the policy expires, the news release said.

The governors spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for details on the travel costs.

In 2021, Republican governors in Arizona and Texas asked other state leaders to help with border security. Little sent five Idaho State Police troopers on a three-week mission to the border, which cost the state $53,391.
Saying that social media does more harm than good, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed education changes that include prohibiting students from using cell phones during class time and curtailing the use of the social-media platform TikTok on school grounds.

Also, DeSantis signed bills creating a Teachers Bill of Rights and imposing eight-year term limits on school-board members.

The social-media measure (HB 379) prohibits using TikTok on devices owned by school districts and through internet access provided by districts.

We are giving teachers the authority to establish classroom rules on cell phone use.



Our students need to be focused on learning  not social media. pic.twitter.com/cCCqhtrhDW  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 10, 2023

The governor signed another bill Monday that partially bars access to TikTok on state-owned wireless networks. The new laws come amid a national debate about security concerns over the widely popular app because of its Chinese ownership.

We are also making sure that things like TikTok, which is monitored by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), that its not something that they are being able to use district servers or Wi-Fi to be able to access, DeSantis said Tuesday at a Miami charter school, where he signed the education bills.

I signed the strongest legislation in the nation to stop the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. The legislation:

- Prohibits land purchases by the CCP

- Blocks access to CCP-linked apps on government and educational institution servers and devices

- Prevents the CCP from pic.twitter.com/bDSMCjy0fZ  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 8, 2023

The law, which will take effect in July, also seeks to prevent students from using cell phones and other wireless devices during instructional time. Under the measure, cell phones could not be used during lessons unless expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.

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Teachers also will be directed to designate areas for the devices during class. DeSantis described the social-media measure as reining in the use of technology in schools.

READ: Gov. DeSantis signs bills targeting Chinese government influence in Florida

Being normal kids, like kids were prior to social media, is important. Social media (causes) more problems than it solves, and I think it causes more harm than good. So, lets have our education system be as much about traditional education as we can, DeSantis said.

Another bill signed Tuesday (HB 1035) spells out various rights of teachers, including a right to control and discipline students.

The law says that teachers, except in cases of excessive force or cruel and unusual punishment, may not be held civilly or criminally liable for actions carried out in conformity with State Board of Education rules.

The measure also includes a process in which teachers could challenge certain directives from school districts or school administrators. Teachers who are directed to violate state law or State Board of Education rules could request that the state education commissioner appoint special magistrates to handle such disputes  with the districts footing the bill. The magistrates would in turn recommend a decision for resolution to the state board.

Districts found in violation of laws or state board rules would be subject to having the salaries of district superintendents withheld until the violation is corrected.

State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. told the crowd at Tuesdays bill-signing event that he is incredibly excited to implement the changes signed by the governor.

Teachers should walk into the classroom every day knowing that they are respected, and if they have to intervene, not be worried about their jobs to keep the safety of their kids. And also, (they should) be able to comply with state laws without having a rogue school board or administration trying to get back at them, Diaz said.

DeSantis, who has clashed with some school boards over issues such as mask requirements aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, said the measure would ensure that teachers are protected.

If all they (teachers) are doing is following state law, then they are protected. What happens is sometimes there is a school board, or an administrator or superintendent who doesnt like something the state of Florida has done. They may not want their teachers to follow that, DeSantis said. Well, thats not the way this system works.

School-board members in Florida also will face shorter term limits under another bill signed by the governor.

The legislation (HB 477) will impose eight-year term limits after lawmakers and DeSantis last year approved a measure that capped members terms at 12 years. The governors office said the shortened terms will bring school boards in line with the governor, Cabinet, and entire Legislature.

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In what would be Floridas fourth execution in less than four months, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a death warrant for a man convicted of committing two murders in Palm Beach County nearly four decades ago.

Duane Owen, 62, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on June 15 in the murder of Georgianna Worden, who was bludgeoned with a hammer and sexually assaulted in her Boca Raton home in May 1984, according to the death warrant and court records.

Owen also was sentenced to death in the March 1984 murder of 14-year-old Karen Slattery, who was babysitting at a Delray Beach home, according to state and federal court documents. Slattery was stabbed to death.

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The Slattery and Worden cases are legally distinct but factually similar, a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in a 2012 decision turning down an appeal by Owen in the Slattery case. In each murder, Owen broke into a private home late at night, removed most of his clothing, sexually assaulted the victim, and brutally murdered the victim (he killed Slattery with a knife, Worden with a hammer). Delray Beach and Boca Raton police worked together to investigate the murders and, after Owens arrest, questioned Owen about both murders. Owen confessed to both murders on the same day.

The death warrant issued Tuesday is for the Worden murder. Owen was found guilty in that case in February 1986 and sentenced to death a month later, according to a summary that Attorney General Ashley Moody sent to DeSantis in advance of the death warrant.

If the death sentence is carried out, Owen would be the fourth man put to death at Florida State Prison in 2023 after more than three years without an execution.

The state on May 3 executed Darryl Barwick in the 1986 murder of Rebecca Wendt in her Panama City apartment. Wendt was found wrapped in a comforter and had been stabbed 37 times.

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That followed the April 12 execution of Louis Gaskin in the 1989 murders of a couple in Flagler County. On the state on Feb. 23 put death Donald David Dillbeck, who murdered a woman in 1990 during a carjacking in a Tallahassee mall parking lot.

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Dillbeck was the first person executed since Gary Ray Bowles was put to death by lethal injection in August 2019 for a 1994 murder in Jacksonville.

As with the other three cases, DeSantis office did not announce the Owen death warrant Tuesday. Information was posted on the Florida Supreme Court website, along with a schedule for legal filings and other proceedings in anticipated attempts by defense attorneys to prevent the execution.

In the Barwick case, Justice Jorge Labarga indicated he is troubled by the pace of death-warrant cases this year.

In an April 28 concurring opinion as justices turned down an appeal from Barwick, Labarga wrote that a death warrant by its very nature requires expedited proceedings. However, these solemn proceedings ultimately involve carrying out a sentence of death for the most aggravated and least mitigated of murders and must still ensure due process of law. I am extremely concerned by the recent pace of death warrants and the speed with which the parties and involved entities must carry out their respective duties.

Labarga also cautioned that even in this final stage of capital proceedings, a meaningful process must be ensured.

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Protesters gather at the Texas Capitol to call for tighter regulations on gun sales in Austin, on May 8, 2023.

Protesters gather at the Texas Capitol to call for tighter regulations on gun sales in Austin, on May 8, 2023. Credit - Eric GayAP

Manuel Rizo found some hope this weekeven though he has little faith that a Texas bill raising the minimum age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles will become law.

Gun control advocates celebrated an unexpected victory when a house committee approved a bill on a bipartisan 8-5 vote on May 8 that would raise the legal age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, days after a shooter in Allen, Texas killed eight people at an outdoor mall. It took the Allen shooting to bring it out of the Public Safety Committee sadly, but thats the truth, Rizo says.

While the bill likely wouldnt have prevented the Allen shooter from getting his gun, Rizo believes it could have saved the life of his 9-year-old niece, Jacklyn Jackie Cazares, who was killed last year in Uvalde by a gunman using an AR-15 style rifle bought days after he turned 18. If it was a bill previous to the Uvalde massacre, Jacklyn would be with us today. Its a fact, Rizo says.

While House Bill 2744 has little to no chance of passing into law through Texas conservative legislature, even incremental progress is unusual for supporters of gun safety measures in a state that has routinely loosened gun restrictions. For us, it is a tremendous wineven getting this bill into a hearing was a huge win, says Liz Hanks, head of the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national group focused on reducing gun violence.

Read More: Raising Children in America Means Living in Fear That Theyll Be Shot

Still, in the context of deep-red Texas and Allen marking the nations 199th mass shooting this year, feelings are mixed. This win still makes me furious, Hanks says. This is the best we can hope for: a hearing, maybe a vote from a committee but not even a full house floor vote or moving it to the next chamberand certainly not becoming law and actually saving any lives.

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Groups advocating for gun safety measures had been applying pressure to the Republican chairman of the committee for weeks to bring the bill up for a vote. They had little hope that he would. But pressure mounted Monday morning in the wake of the Allen shooting and as dozens of activists protested at the state capitol. (Monday marked the last day that the legislature could vote on this bill; it needed to make it out of committee by then to continue through the legislative process.) The bill now needs to make it through a calendars committee and win a vote on the house floor this week in order to head to the Senate.

The Texas legislature often doesnt even bring up gun safety bills or listen to testimony, says Nicole Golden, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, a nonpartisan gun violence prevention advocacy organization. After years of being stymied, she also sees Mondays development as huge, despite the limited hope of passage. Thats the way you have to workincrementallyand celebrate every achievement, big or small, Golden says. It shows the power of advocacythat our voices matter here in this building, still and that pressure can work if you just keep applying it.

Two Republican state lawmakers on the committee joined Democrats in voting for its passage: Sam Harless of Spring and Justin Holland of Rockwall. Holland said in a statement that testimony convinced him this law could lessen the possibility that the weapon is misused while not undermining our fundamental right to keep and bear arms. Holland also noted that he is rated highly from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and doesnt believe in banning the sale or possession of these types of semi-automatic rifles.

Ron Hickman, chief of staff for Harless, said the lawmaker is declining any additional interview or statement requests on the bill. It is not his intention to capitalize with media coverage on the misery and suffering of those who have lost loved ones in these tragedies for simply voting his heart, his conscience, and his district, Hickman said in an email.

With few expecting many other Republicans to join with Hickman and Holland, Rizo doesnt think the bill will make it to the Senate, let alone to the Governors desk. (Texas Governor Greg Abbott has previously said the measure would be unconstitutional.) But Rizo also didnt think it would make it through the house committee. The impossible is still possible, he says.

Sometimes Rizo asks himself why he keeps advocating for gun safety measures, even when theres little chance they will pass. He recalls a conversation with his brother. He said, brother, why do we do what we do? Its more than just justice for Jackie. Were here for a short period of time. When we die, whenever that may be, I would hope to see Jackie receiving us and saying: thank you for not giving up.
The Rev. Aaron Williams, pastor of Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ, Monday night told a packed Democratic Headquarters that the homicides of five young men this year in the city is affecting many people in the community, and said people who hear and see something need to speak up and help police.

Rev. Aaron Williams, pastor of Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ, Monday night talked about gun violence in Mansfield due to five recent homicides in the city since January at Democratic Headquarters.

The Woman's Caucus held the first forum, "Gun Violence in Mansfield," Monday night downtown on South Park Street.

Williams talked about a woman being fearful to pay her respects at a local funeral service for one of the young men killed this year because of the nature of his demise.

He said she came out in tears, because she saw one of the little boys she had as a student in third grade, now with his life snuffed out, recalling how she saw him with light in his eyes as a student with potential and a future.

"When she saw him laying there, paying her respects, she saw nothing but an end. So this is what we are faced with in the city of Mansfield," Williams said.

Williams said hatred and anger have a foothold on communities and throughout the nation, including mass shootings at schools since Columbine in 1999.

Williams touched on guns such as the AR-15 being used in mass shootings, saying they are hunting "our children" and "tearing our children to shreds," recognizable only by the clothing they wore to school that day.

Pastor says violent crime has been on the rise for years

In 2023, the city has suffered the loss of five young men and many others over the last 12 months and 24 months as he listed their names, placing the community in a state of dismay and confusion.

"They are not the first. There's been an increase of violent crimes in our city," Williams said. "Murder and suicide are on the rise and it did not just affect those as I said before who were targeted. It affects those who have to put them to rest. It affects those who have to examine them. It affects those who are related to them. It affects those who may have served them in a restaurant ... went to school with them once upon a time...."

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Williams said the entire city is affected in some way, shape or form.

One thing that helps human closure is the ability to answer the question "why?"

"Unfortunately with these types of incidences, we very rarely get an answer to that question," he said, adding mothers and fathers are left wondering the rest of their lives what could have been, why did it happen to my child, what could I have done, how guilty do I feel?

Pastor tells crowd to tell police what you hear, see

He talked about what his own father told him once, "I cannot help you. If you need some help, I cannot help you until you decide to help yourself."

Williams said police cannot help people, nor can judges, FBI, or U.S. Marshals until people decide to be courageous within themselves and help themselves.

"Not only are we responsible for holding our safety forces accountable but we are to take the responsibility to help them do the job they have been tasked to do on our behalf," Williams said. "If we know something, if we hear something, the streets talk, let's be real. Somebody has heard something. Somebody knows something. Why do we have so many unsolved murders in this city?"

5 homicides in Mansfield in 2023

Lieutenant Robert Skropits speaks at a news conference on Friday about the need for witnesses to help solve recent spate of homicides.

The city has seen five homicides through early May this year, while in 2022 there five homicides for the entire year.

The homicide cases so far this year are:

Nayshawn Lovett, 16, of Mansfield was shot and killed Jan. 3 at the Quality Inn & Suites on 500 N. Trimble Road. The Mansfield police said 31-year-old Monteles Holland was arrested in connection to the boy's murder.

Devonte Jacocks, 26, of Mansfield, was shot and killed March 2 inside the M&S Drive Thru on Springmill St.

Khiren Willis, 22, was shot and killed in the 500 block of West Fourth St. on May 2.

Darrin "Turtle" Marsh, 35, of Columbus, was fatally shot April 30 on Dunbilt Court.

Malcolm Mason, 32, of Mansfield, was fatally shot outside Harwood Apartments May 3.

Two more forums are scheduled in different locations to discuss the recent homicides, both from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at North End Community Improvement Collaboration at the corner of Springmill and Bowman streets, and at City Grille, 37 E. Fourth St.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Williams says people need to speak up, help police solve homicides
Lexington could soon become the fourth city in Kentucky to ban race-based hair discrimination in workplaces.

On Tuesday, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council General Government and Planning Committee unanimously passed the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or C.R.O.W.N., ordinance, which would ban discrimination based on hair types of certain styles  such as braids, locs, twists or Bantu Knots.

The ordinance now goes to the full council, where it could receive a final vote later this month.

Louisville, Covington and Frankfort have passed similar anti-hair discrimination measures. Efforts to get a statewide ban on hair-based discrimination has failed in the state legislature in recent years. Covington was the first city to pass an ordinance in 2020. Frankfort was the latest in March.

According to information provided to the council Tuesday, 44 cities and 21 states have banned discrimination based on hair.

Students from around Kentucky showed up in Frankfort for the 2023 General Assembly to rally in favor of the CROWN Act, which prevents discrimination against natural hairstyles. Kentucky Student Voice Team

Currently it is perfectly legal to discriminate based on natural hair styles, Tiffany Brown, the citys diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said.

Three Black Lexington councilwomen  Shayla Lynch, Denise Gray and Tayna Fogle  pushed for the ordinance.

It is important to ensure all Lexingtonians are free from discrimination based on their hair, said Lynch. For the first time, we have city council members and council staff of various hairstyles from locs to other natural hairstyles.

Lynch, who showed a photo of herself with former Gov. Ernie Fletcher during Tuesdays committee meeting, said she was told after the photo was taken that she needed to change her hair style if she wanted to be successful. At the time, Lynch had an afro.

Sent home from work, discriminated in school

A Dove 2019 Workplace Research Study, a survey of 2,000 women, half of them Black and half white, showed Black woman are 3.5 times more likely than white women to be sent home from work due to their hair. Eighty percent of Black women in the study were more likely to change their natural hair in professional workplace.

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The report also states 25% of Black women believe they have been denied a job interview because of their hair, which is even higher for women under 34.

Gray said she has heard of people who were denied a job or disciplined at work because of perceptions about Black hair.

I have spoken with Black women and men who have either been denied employment or have received workplace discipline regarding their hair. Many within our community do not realize discrimination based on ones hair is legal in Kentucky because it doesnt necessarily affect them, Gray said.

Gray said as a former educator she has seen students discriminated against and berated because of their natural hair.

It hurts to see people who dont feel comfortable being themselves, Gray said.

Black girls in schools are also disciplined or discriminated against based on their hair, a 2021 Dove study showed.

That study showed 53% of Black mothers said their daughters were discriminated against based on their hairstyles.

How the ordinance would work

The proposed ordinance would ban racial based discrimination of hairstyles in employment and housing. The Lexington-Fayette Human Rights Commission would investigate all complaints. If someone is found guilty, the courts could determine what the financial damages would be, said Brown.

Private and public schools may not be covered under the ordinance, Brown said due to jurisdictional issues.

Fayette County Public Schools and University of Kentucky are governed by state laws and codes that allow schools to have their own disciplinary procedures, according to city lawyers.

It would not prohibit them from filing a complaint with the human rights commission, said Michael Cravens, a lawyer with the city. The question would be whether the human rights commission has jurisdiction.

Councilman James Brown said efforts at the state level have stalled and the city needs to step up.

Discrimination based on hair is real, James Brown said, referring to his daughter and other family members who have struggled because of hair-based discrimination.

Vice Mayor Dan Wu said not only is the ordinance important, but it also tells people who we are and what we value.
Half of the residents of Chicago have experienced gun violence by the age of 40, according to a study published in JAMA

Half of the residents of Chicago have witnessed a shooting by the age of 40 with Blacks significantly more likely to have done so than whites, according to a study published on Tuesday.

The study, published in the journal JAMA, involved more than 2,400 inhabitants of the midwestern US metropolis who were born in the early 1980s through the mid-1990s.

On average, the survey's participants were 14 years old when they were first exposed to gun violence, defined as being shot or seeing someone else being shot.

Fifty-six percent of the Black and Hispanic participants had experienced gun violence before the age of 40 compared with 25 percent of the white population, the study found.

By the age of 40, 6.46 percent of the participants had been shot and 50 percent of the respondents across all racial categories had seen someone shot.

"Black people in particular are often living in a very different social context, with far higher risks of seeing and becoming victims of gun violence," said Charles Lanfear of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Criminology, the lead author of the study.

"We expected levels of exposure to gun violence to be high, but not this high," Lanfear said in a statement. "Our findings are frankly startling and disturbing."

Lanfear said a "substantial portion of Chicago's population could be living with trauma as a result of witnessing shootings and homicides, often at a very young age."

Exposure to gun violence can contribute to "everything from lower test scores for schoolkids to diminished life expectancy through heart disease," he added.

Seven percent of the Black and Hispanic participants in the study had been shot themselves by the age of 40 compared with three percent of the white participants.

The study extended over several decades. Gun violence reached a peak in Chicago in the 1990s and then began to decline. It has surged again, however, since 2016.

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Other major US cities also have high rates of gun violence but it is particularly prevalent in Chicago, the third-largest city in the country.

According to another JAMA study published in December, young adult males living in certain neighborhoods of Chicago in 2020 and 2021 had a higher risk of suffering a firearm-related death than US military personnel who served in Afghanistan or Iraq.

In 2021, excluding suicides, nearly 21,000 people were killed by guns in the United States, according to the US health authorities.

la/cl/mlm
Black Hollywood walked the blue carpet celebrating Disneys premiere of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey. The celebrity guest list included Offset with his daughters, Kalea and Kulture. Tia Mowry and her daughter Cairo Hardict attended, with Tamera and her daughter Ariah HousleyKyla Pratt with her daughters, and so many more joined in. The blue carpet wasnt complete until the lady of the sea arrived; Bailey slayed in a beautiful Valdrin Sahiti dress.

Life was the bubbles last night  Dont miss Disneys #TheLittleMermaid, making a splash only in theaters May 26! Get tickets now: https://t.co/zhN3i30jSX pic.twitter.com/IuIoOtyJXM  The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) May 9, 2023

Bailey took the night in her jaw-dropping metallic silver-blue strapless gown. The dress embodied a mermaid silhouette, with the dresss bodice emulating a seashell or ripple-like movement of waves. Baileys gown demonstrates art  the dresss hemline mimics a mermaid tale. She accessorized with statement earrings, silver rings, and blue and silver nails designed with water bubbles and pearls. Bailey completed her stunning mermaid look with blue eye shadow and long auburn locs.

halle bailey wearing custom valdrin sahiti for the little mermaid premiere pic.twitter.com/YJL49rW6yY  High End Homo (@highendhomo) May 9, 2023

Bailey thanked her young fans for joining her on premiere night and expressed her purpose in this role for her inner child and all the little girls who will get to watch the newest live-action installment.

It means the world to me, especially for the beautiful babies to be able to see a reflection of themselves, she told Hollywoodlife. I am just honored to be a part of this and be one of the princesses now because, for me, it was Brandi as Cinderella and then Anika Rose as Princess Tiana. So the fact that I am getting to continue this and live on this legacy is really exciting, and Im just grateful.

I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that theyre special and that they should be a princess in every single way, she added. Theres no reason that they shouldnt be. That reassurance was something that I needed.

The long-awaited film will release in theaters on May 26.
Halle Bailey arrived at the premiere of Disneys upcoming live-action version of The Little Mermaid and looked as though shed actually come from under the sea.

The actor perfectly channeled her character, Ariel, by wearing a silvery blue liquid-like gown from Valdrin Sahiti on the blue carpet at Hollywoods Dolby Theatre on Monday.

Her shimmery strapless dress featured a plunging neckline and detailing at the top that resembled ocean waves.

Halle Bailey walks the blue carpet for the world premiere of Disney's

Halle Bailey walks the blue carpet for the world premiere of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" on May 8, 2023, in Hollywood, California.

Monday night was the first premiere event for the highly anticipated live-action remake, which is set to hit theaters on May 26.

Bailey celebrated the occasion in an Instagram post on Tuesday, writing that she was feeling overwhelmed and overjoyed that the movie will be released soon.

This was the first premiere of the press run and I have been in tears and feeling oh so grateful, she wrote in the caption of the post.

Halle Bailey at the world premiere of Disney's

Halle Bailey at the world premiere of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

A number of celebrities were photographed on the blue carpet attending the premiere with their children. Actors and twin sisters Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry-Housley attended the event with each of their own daughters.

Tia Mowry, who brought her daughter Cairo, 5, to the premiere, wrote about the importance of Baileys casting as Ariel on Instagram Tuesday.

Cairo is finally getting to see someone who looks like her being represented on the big screen and that in itself is an extremely empowering moment for me & my baby girl & something I will cherish forever, she wrote in the caption of the post.

Tamera Mowry-Housley with her daughter, Ariah, and Tia Mowry with her daughter, Cairo, attend the world premiere of Disney's live-action

Tamera Mowry-Housley with her daughter, Ariah, and Tia Mowry with her daughter, Cairo, attend the world premiere of Disney's live-action "Little Mermaid."

In an article published in British Vogue last month, Little Mermaid director Rob Marshall told the publication that Bailey was the first person to audition for the role of Ariel.

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She came in, and she sang Part of Your World, he said. And by the end of it, I was crying. I couldnt believe the depth and the truth and the simplicity and passion she brought to the song. It was just so moving.

Marshall later added that hundreds of other people auditioned for Ariel after Bailey, but the bar had already been set.

And no one ever surpassed that bar, he said.

Related...
By Andrew Osborn

(Reuters) - The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force fighting in eastern Ukraine said on Tuesday he had been told he and his men would be regarded as traitors if they abandoned their positions in the city of Bakhmut.

But Yevgeny Prigozhin said for the second time in a matter of days that his forces would leave Bakhmut if they did not receive the ammunition they needed to press the battle.

He delivered his latest tirade in a profanity-laced audio message which coincided with Russia marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two with its traditional parade on Moscow's Red Square.

"A combat order came yesterday which clearly stated that if we leave our positions (in Bakhmut), it will be regarded as treason against the motherland. That was the message to us," Prigozhin said.

"(But) if there is no ammunition, then we will leave our positions and be the ones asking who is really betraying the Motherland. Apparently, the one (betraying the Motherland) is the person who signed it (the order to supply too little ammunition."

He said his forces would stay in Bakhmut and keep insisting they get their ammo "for a few more days".

Prigozhin has previously accused the defence ministry of deliberately starving his forces of ammunition. The ministry has said it is working to ensure all battlefield units have what they need.

Late on Monday, Prigozhin said there were signs the ammunition problem was being solved but on Tuesday he said the size of the shipment had been slashed.

"They've given us only 10% of what we asked for. We've been deceived," he said.

'FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD'

Prigozhin, who has been locked in a long-running feud with the defence ministry, has made a series of emotional statements in recent days, announcing that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut because of the ammunition problem before saying they would stay, and then again suggesting they might leave.

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He made cryptic but crude comments about those in overall charge of Russia's war on Ukraine on Tuesday, referring ambiguously to a "grandfather" figure who was under the mistaken impression that everything was going well with Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"What will the country do, our children, grandchildren who are the future of Russia, and how can we win this war if - by chance, and I'm just speculating here - it turns out that this grandfather is a complete ****head?," he asked.

Prigozhin has previously poured scorn on Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff, but has avoided all personal criticism of President Vladimir Putin.

Analysts have said his erratic behaviour looks like an attempt to try to deflect blame for a lack of swift success - the battle for Bakhmut is in its 10th month - and to spread disinformation.

In a dig at the defence ministry, Prighozin - who says his men have taken control of 95% of Bakhmut - alleged that some regular troops had fled their positions nearby leaving Wagner's flank temporarily uncovered, a problem he said his men had to remedy.

"It is not a problem about the soldiers. The problem is to do with the people who manage them and give them tasks. The fish rots from the head," he said, calling the orders being given by what he called a narrow clique "criminal" and "traitorous".

Reuters could not independently verify his assertion about the alleged incident involving the abandoned flank.

(This story has been refiled to remove extraneous word from paragraph 1)

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Reuters reporters,; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

King Charles' coronation on Saturday was watched by royal fans and anti-monarchy protesters.

Recent polls suggest that interest in the royal family is declining.

If the monarchy were to be abolished, the royal family could follow Harry and Meghan's example.

King Charles III was crowned at his coronation ceremony on Saturday, making history as the oldest British monarch.

The ceremony at Westminster Abbey was celebrated in London and around the world, as thousands of people hosted street parties in honor of the new king, Sky News reported.

But not everyone was overjoyed by the celebrations. Among the crowds watching the coronation procession were anti-monarchy protestors who held signs that read "Not my king" and "This country is ours," Insider previously reported.

Graham Smith, leader of the UK's anti-monarchy group Republic, tweeted that he was arrested along with five other individuals while on their way to protest along the procession route. Smith said the incident showed there is "no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK" and criticized Charles for not issuing a public apology.

Anti-monarchy protesters gather among well-wishers ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. Piroschka van de Wouw - WPA Pool/Getty Image

Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment regarding the incident and Smith's comments. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police issued a public statement on Monday, saying they "regret" the arrests and that no further action would be taken against the six individuals.

Additionally, recent figures suggest there is less public support for the monarchy than in previous years, particularly among young people. Just under 40% of UK citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 would prefer an elected head of state rather than a monarch, according to an April 2023 YouGov poll of 4,592 adults for the BBC's "Panorama."

While the overall results showed support for the monarchy, with 58% of all people polled preferring the institution to an elected head of state, the support among Gen Z remained significantly lower, with just 32% of people aged between 18 and 24 saying they support the monarchy, according to YouGov.

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Meanwhile, the live coronation broadcast was watched by far fewer people than Queen Elizabeth's funeral, BBC News reports. The coronation was watched by an average of 18.8 million people in the UK compared to 26.5 million people who watched the funeral service in September, according to the outlet.

Tiwa Adebayo, a journalist and royal commentator, told "Good Morning Britain" that the coronation was likely "the last thing on a lot of people's minds" due to the cost of living crisis in the UK. She added that recent polls suggest there is a "crisis of indifference" toward the royals.

That poses the question: What would happen if the UK abolished the monarchy?

While some countries, including Greece and Bulgaria, abolished their monarchies through public referendum, royal commentator Marlene Koenig said the process is more complex than people think.

"It would take legislation, an act of Parliament, and signed by the Sovereign to end the monarchy," Koenig, a royal expert for History Extra, previously told Insider.

Nonetheless, that's not to say things couldn't one day change if there were to be a greater call for Britain to consider the future of the monarchy.

The king would give up Buckingham Palace  but he wouldn't have to give up all of his royal residences

Buckingham Palace has been used as the official working and living headquarters of Britain's monarchs since 1837. It has 775 rooms (many of these are for private use) and is used by the king to host state banquets and engagements with world leaders and government officials.

It's also a prime location for many milestone events, including royal wedding receptions, and, soon, the king's Trooping the Colour birthday parade each year.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony after their coronation on May 6. Insider

In previous years, the palace opened to visitors in the summer while the late Queen Elizabeth II vacationed at her Scottish holiday home, Balmoral Castle. However, it could become a permanent tourist attraction if the king were to officially move out.

The palace is property of the Crown Estate, which the late Queen Elizabeth was the owner of while she was the monarch. However, this would change if the new king was no longer Head of State, according to the Crown Estate's official website.

"The Crown Estate is not the private property of the King. Our assets are hereditary possessions of the Sovereign held 'in right of the Crown'. This means they belong to the Sovereign for the duration of their reign, but cannot be sold by them, nor do revenues from the assets belong to them," the website states.

Other residences that are Crown-owned include Windsor Castle (the royal Easter residence), and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the Edinburgh residence).

Windsor Castle. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

As pointed out by Koenig, the monarch also privately owms Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands and the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where the royals spend every Christmas and New Year. Therefore, it's likely one of these could be chosen as a new permanent residence if the monarchy was abolished.

This isn't an unusual circumstance for royal families from abolished monarchies, according to Koenig.

"Most of the former German royal families stayed in their homes," she said. "Some property was confiscated, others received compensation, including the Kaiser's family."

Prince William and Kate would follow Prince Harry and Meghan's lead and pursue financial independence

At the age of 74, it's possible that Charles would retire from public life if the monarchy was abolished.

It's more likely that the younger generation of royals, such as Kate Middleton and Prince William, would follow Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's lead and try to shape their own careers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said during their Oprah interview that the royal family had cut them off financially at the beginning of 2020, meaning the couple had to rely on Harry's inheritance from Princess Diana.

Since then, the Sussexes have secured major deals with Spotify and Netflix. In 2022, Meghan launched her podcast, "Archetypes," and Harry and Meghan released a Netflix docuseries about their love story and step back from the royal family.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in February 2018. Getty

Meanwhile, Harry released his debut memoir, "Spare," in January 2023. The book was a major success, and sold 1.4 million copies on the first day of release, making it Penguin Random House's fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time.

Of course, it's a matter of speculation as to whether Kate and William would take on similar work to Harry and Meghan if they were forced to pursue private careers.

They do have similar skill sets to the Sussexes. They currently run their own charity, The Royal Foundation, where they often give speeches at charity dinners and events. And in October 2021, Prince William teamed up with David Attenborough for a five-part documentary series about the environmental challenges facing our planet which aired on BBC One in the UK and Discovery in the US.

As Koenig said, it's unlikely the monarchy will be abolished

All that being said, it's worth remembering that royal experts say the likelihood of the monarchy being abolished is pretty low.

Although royal author Nigel Cawthorne previously told Insider that the monarchy will be "severely damaged in the long term" by Harry and Markle's royal exit in 2020, most experts suggest that things will not change.

"The monarchy as an institution is all about the monarch and her direct heirs," royal editor Robert Jobson said. "The Sussexes are popular, but their involvement in matters of state are negligible."

Koenig echoed Jobson's comments. "The only members of the royal family that have a constitutional role are the Sovereign and the heir apparent," she said.

Meanwhile, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter told Insider that polls about the royal family should be taken "with a pinch of salt" and that it's worth remembering that many people still support the monarchy.

"Always before a big royal event, the polls say nobody cares. But on the day, millions of people show up," Arbiter said.

"When you look back, historically, the younger generation is always a bit less enchanted with the royal family and this changes with age as they see the benefit of a politically neutral head of state. It's nothing new. It doesn't mean the royal family can rest on their laurels, but the response the royals receive at engagements speaks more than a poll," she added.

Charles and Camilla were greeted by thousands of people on the streets of central London as they made their procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on Saturday. Many people camped overnight in dreary weather to secure their place on the procession route, Sky News reported.

Although Charles has encountered protesters, he has also received encouraging words of support from the public at engagements since he ascended the throne. At his first appearance outside Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September, well-wishers sang "God Save The King" and "Long Live The King," Insider's Maria Noyen previously reported.

Therefore, while it's unclear what the future holds for the monarchy, it's clear the royal family would still be able to survive  whether from private property or corporate deals  if the institution no longer existed.

Buckingham Palace did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
A New York jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding the advice columnist close to $5 million in damages on Tuesday.

The verdict, which was announced in a federal courtroom in New York City on the first day of jury deliberations, sparked quick reactions from the former president  who continued to deny the allegations  and from multiple members of Congress, including Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

You never like to hear that a former president has been found in a civil court guilty of those types of actions, the South Dakota senator told reporters Tuesday. When asked if he could support somebody whos been found liable for sexual battery, he said: I would have a difficult time doing so.

The verdict "creates concern," Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said, but whether or not it disqualifies the former president from his current presidential bid will be up to the voters.



But not all Republicans had the same hesitation. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who served as ambassador to Japan under Trump, said the verdict was the latest act in the "legal circus" surrounding Trump.

"I think we've seen President Trump under attack since before he became president," Hagerty said during an interview on Fox News. "This has been going on for years. He's been amazing in his ability to weather these sorts of attacks and the American public has been amazing in their support through it."

This wont be the last, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who has endorsed Trump this election cycle, said of the case. I mean, people are gonna come at him from all angles... People are gonna try and convict him on the papers in Mar-a-Lago. [They] Cant have him win.

The case and the jury were both "a joke," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said he believes it is "very difficult" for Trump to get a fair trial "in any of these liberal states.

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dodged a question about the verdict during a stakeout with reporters following his meeting with President Joe Biden over the debt limit. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump's foe in the chamber, declined to comment, as did Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), an ardent supporter of Trump, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has endorsed Trump.

When it comes to the impact the court's decision will have on voters, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said he is "highly skeptical" the case will bring Trump down. And Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) doesn't think it will change many minds. "People who love him will still support him and people who dont, wont," Cornyn, a McConnell said, adding that it's "too early to tell" what the effect will be, if any.

"He has his due process, and the American people will determine who they want as the leader of this country," said Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas), who has endorsed Trump for 2024.

The ruling comes weeks after the former president was charged with 34 felonies related to the alleged role he played in a scheme to bury accusations of extramarital affairs ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Despite his legal battles, the former president remains the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination.

On Tuesday, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said the former president was unfit to hold office.

The *front runner* for the Republican nomination for President of the United States has just been found liable for sexual abuse, Moulton said in a tweet. The more these lawsuits pile up, the more of an aggrieved version of Trump we'll get. He is unfit to hold office.

Moulton wasnt alone in noting Trumps mounting legal battles.

Donald Trump  the leader of the Republican Party  has now been impeached twice, indicted, and found liable of sexual abuse and defamation, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) tweeted. Youve hitched your wagon to a real stand-up guy, @HouseGOP.

First-term Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) also turned the verdict on Republicans, criticizing support for Trump.

The Republican party will STILL eagerly stand by him to prop him up while they offer their unwavering support. Their subservience is a slap in the face to survivors and all women, Lee said on Twitter.



The former president has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women, and in the now infamous Access Hollywood tape, he was caught saying that when it comes to women, if youre a star you can grab them by the pussy. Tuesday's verdict was the first time he has faced legal repercussions for sexual assault.

Trump defended himself on social media Tuesday afternoon, calling the verdict a disgrace" and a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!

In a statement, Trump's campaign called the case "bogus" and said Trump was being targeted because of his position as a frontrunner in the presidential race.

Daniella Diaz and contributed to this report.
I am a U.S. History professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. I teach the Declaration of Independence in my classes. I require my students to read it, along with the U.S. Constitution.

I teach them about Alexander Hamiltons and James Madisons arguments for the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. I lecture on Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, on the Emancipation Proclamation, and on North Carolinas state constitutions. I believe that these documents are fundamental to understanding American history and that learning how the U.S. government works is essential to being a good citizen in our democracy. I tell my students that too.

Kathleen DuVal

Therefore its the word Reclaiming in the title of N.C. House Bill 96 that I find most objectionable about the bill.

As proposed, the NC REACH Act requires completion of a course in American government to get a bachelors degree from the UNC System or an associates degree from a community college. By law, that course would include reading and being tested on specific documents from U.S. and North Carolina history.

NC REACH stands for Reclaiming College Education on Americas Constitutional Heritage, but the idea that the Constitution needs to be reclaimed in college education is false. At UNC system schools, we count on our students already knowing the basics of American government and our founding documents. Every North Carolina senior is required to pass the high school course Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy, in addition to civics units in earlier K-12 years also required by the state.

At UNC-CH, over 80% of incoming freshman are from North Carolina, and the numbers at the other system schools are even higher. The vast majority of our students have already been taught, as the State Board of Educations standards require, how the judicial, legal, and political systems of North Carolina and the United States embody the founding principles of government, learning intended to inform and nurture responsible, participatory citizens who are competent and committed to the core values and founding principles of American democracy and the United States Constitution.

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In college, students can deepen their knowledge of U.S. history, government and politics in classes of their choice. Some of these classes have titles that some state legislators find objectionable, but they are all electives. Students are free instead to choose courses including my The American Revolution and American History to 1865, which I teach to hundreds of students every year. There they read these documents again, as well as many more. I even read aloud from the Declaration of Independence in several lectures.

Like so much in politics, the claim that North Carolina college students dont understand our government or our history is a red herring. Im in the classroom with them, and they know and care about the past, present and future of the United States and North Carolina. Most of them are already active citizens. The NC REACH Act is an insult to them as well as to their high school and college teachers.

Kathleen DuVal is a U.S. History professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been teaching early American history there for 20 years.
A Hilton Hotel manager was arrested and charged Friday after police said he entered a guests room and sucked on the customers toes.

David Neal, 52, was charged with aggravated burglary and assault for entering a male guests room and sucking on his toes Thursday, March 30, our sister station WHIO reports.

Nashville Police were dispatched shortly after 5 a.m. to 121 4th Avenue South, where a Hilton Hotel resides, a spokesperson for the citys police department stated.

While investigating a complaint, officers discovered that Neal, working as a night manager at the time, made a key card and entered the guests room.

The guest then woke up to find Neal sucking on his toes, which he immediately confronted.

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The guest recognized Neal because the day before, he came into the room with another employee to fix an issue with the television, the spokesperson said.

Neal claimed that he entered the room because he smelled smoke and was checking on the victim. However, the night manager did not report this issue to security. Furthermore, no other resident reported smelling smoke.

When officers asked where the room key was, Neal replied that he threw it away, the spokesperson said. The room key was never recovered.

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Nashville Police Central Precinct detectives led the investigation and issued warrants against Neal.

He was arrested at his Lebanon, Tennessee, residence.

At last check, Neal was in jail, to be released on a $27,000 bond.

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On Friday, police in Nashville, Tennessee, arrested the night manager of a Hilton Hotel on charges that he went into a sleeping guests room and sucked on the guests toes, WKRN reported. David Neal, 52, is being charged with aggravated burglary and assault. Police said that Neal used a fake key card he made to get into hotel guest Pete Brennans room at about 5 a.m. local time.

Brennan, who was from Texas and in Nashville for a business meeting, knew Neal as the worker who had come to the room with another worker the day before to fix a problem with the TV.

According to local news, Neal told the police officers he went into Brennans room because he smelled smoke. The Hilton manager didnt tell security about the smell of smoke or do anything else about it. When the police asked him about the extra room key, he replied that he had thrown it away. It is still missing.

In a statement to the news outlet WKRN, the Hilton Nashville Downtown Hotel said:

The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and, as part of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.

Severe Psychological Injuries

Brennan has sued the Hilton Nashville Downtown Hotel, claiming the manager sexually assaulted him there.

Mr. Brennan was vulnerable and taken advantage of while he was asleep, the lawsuit reads. After Neal fled his hotel room, Brennan reported the incident to onsite security, who did not appear to take his complaint seriously, according to the lawsuit.

Brennan and his lawyer claimed that the Hilton had not apologized for Neals behavior, which had caused Brennan severe psychological injuries.

The Hilton Nashville Downtown is an independent property and I cannot speak on the hotels behalf, a spokesperson for Hiltons corporate office told the news outlet.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucuss (CHC) campaign arm on Tuesday announced its endorsement of Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in his run to replace Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

Gallegos race is a top priority for Bold PAC, the CHC campaign arm, and a win would net the group its fifth senator.

Gallego stepped down from leadership of Bold PAC in March to pursue his Senate bid.

As the son of immigrants from Colombia and Mexico raised by a single mother, Ruben Gallego knows the challenges that every day families face. Thats why hes dedicated his career to serving this country and fighting for working families and Latinos nationwide, Bold PAC Chairwoman Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) said.

Ruben also served as CHC BOLD PAC Chairman, increasing the representation of Latinos in Congress and combating disinformation targeting our community. His years of service to the country show that he will be a leader who wont be afraid to stand up to injustice and extremism, and who will fight for working families everywhere, added Sanchez.

Sinema has yet to announce her reelection bid, and the biggest question of the contest is how a three-way race would play out if she does.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is currently the highest profile Republican in the race, but the GOP primary could be competitive.

Kari Lake, the partys 2022 gubernatorial nominee, has teased a bid, as has Karrin Taylor Robson, who lost the primary in 2022 to Lake.

Bold PACs endorsement came with the maximum allowable $5,000 primary campaign donation, but the group is expected to invest heavily in the Arizona Senate race through its independent expenditure program.

Bold PACs profile has grown significantly over the past decade, going from a small incumbent protection operation to a major player in select races.

In 2022, Gallego led Bold PAC through the most successful House cycle in its history, adding nine new members from throughout the country to the CHC.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Federal nuclear officials gave the green light to a project which would store high-level nuclear waste at a facility in southeast New Mexico, despite concerns from state and federal leaders it would expose residents to radiation.

Holtec International, headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, applied in 2017 for a 40-year license to store 8,680 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel rods in 500 cannisters from power plants across the country, using a surface-level facility in a remote desert area near the border of Eddy and Lea counties.

That would be the first of 20 phases of the project that could ultimately include more than 100,000 metric tons in a total of 10,000 canisters holding the waste.

More: Nuke waste drum stranded at Carlsbad-area repository for 6 more months as feds find plan

Should the facility be built and operational, the rods would be brought to New Mexico via rail from around the U.S., held in canisters approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which issued the license Tuesday.

The NRC previously signaled the license would be provided to Holtec via an environmental review published last year finding "minimal impacts" from the project and recommending the license be issued.

Also last year, the NRC issued a license to Interim Storage Partners for a similar facility yet to be built and augmenting the Waste Control Specialists site in Andrews, Texas.

More: Nuke waste shipments travel 16 million miles to site near Carlsbad amid safety concerns

NRC spokesman David McIntyre said the license was issued based on environmental and safety analysis that he said showed the facility would not harm public health.

"We issued the license because our very thorough environmental and safety reviews determined that the application met the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act and NRC regulations for protection of public health and safety," McIntyre said. "We acted according to our legal authority and our long-established processes."

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But lawmakers and officials for New Mexico at both the state and congressional level remained unconvinced, even as local officials in Carlsbad and Hobbs supported the project as a means of diversifying the region's economy.

More: Carlsbad and Eddy County have differing views on possible nuke storage lawsuit

New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, a previous opponent of the project, said as the license was issued that the area where Holtec's facility was sited, within the Permian Basin oil and gas shale region, would threaten the fossil fuel industry.

New Mexico relies on revenue from oil and gas for about a third of its budget, billions of dollars used for public schools, hospitals and other services.

The proposed site would operate near about 2,500 oil, gas and mineral wells sites and facilities, Garcia Richard argued, and 54 companies within a 10-mile radius.

More: More warheads, more nuclear waste to New Mexico. Santa Fe fearful, as Carlsbad leaders support efforts

She contended the State of New Mexico owns the mineral estate beneath the site, and that no oil companies agreed to restrict extraction around Holtec's facility and such an agreement would require approval from the State Land Office.

This is a bad idea, full stop. Placing a nuclear storage facility in the heart of oil and gas operations is a recipe for ecological disaster and unnecessarily puts New Mexicans at risk," Garcia Richard said.

"Bottom line, the worlds most active oil and gas producing field is not the right place for a long-term nuclear waste storage site. Holtec needs to understand that New Mexico is not the nations dumping ground and should stop misleading the public about the dangers their proposal presents.

Land Commissioner-elect Stephanie Garcia Richard requested the hearing to increase well density in the Blanco-Mesaverde pool in the San Juan Basin to be postponed until she takes office in January. Her request was not granted.

More: Feds fighting nuke waste requirements called for by New Mexico at Carlsbad-area repository

Lawmakers from around New Mexico largely agreed with Garcia Richard, passing a bill during this year's legislative session that was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to bar the state from issuing permits needed by Holtec to operate the facility.

The bill aimed to restrict the New Mexico Environment Department, which also publicly opposed the project, from issuing the permits for a temporary nuclear waste storage facility like Holtec's without the creation of a permanent repository in the U.S.

Such a facility does not exist in the U.S., after a project to build one at Yucca Mountain, Nevada was blocked by lawmakers in that state and defunded by then-President Barrack Obama.

More: New Mexico considers permit renewal for WIPP. Critics say its too risky

Still, Holtec spokesman Patrick O'Brien said the project had strong local support from Eddy and Lea counties, and the cities of Carlsbad and Hobbs.

Those local officials formed the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA) which chose the location and purchased the land for the project, while recruiting Holtec and lobbying for the licensing.

In exchange, ELEA and Holtec signed an agreement entitling the local consortium to a third of the revenue generated by the facility.

More: More nuclear waste coming to Carlsbad-area repository as new contractor takes over

I think what a path forward looks like is still to be determined. Our invitation to join the project over 8 years ago and the strong local support in the counties of Eddy and Lea solidify our belief that the project is still viable," O'Brien said.

"We will continue to work with our partners, key stakeholders, and governmental officials to help provide an interim solution to the spent fuel management impasse in the United States and help us maintain the momentum for a greener, carbon-free future.

But opposition also came from U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), a frequent advocator of the U.S.' transition to lower-carbon forms of energy and member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Energy and Water Appropriations committees.

He said although the Holtec site was posited as an "interim" or temporary storage of the waste, Heinrich believed its lifetime could be perpetual.

"No matter how many times NRC and Holtec use the word interim, it doesnt make it so. And the people left to pay the consequences will be New Mexicans, Heinrich said.

Until there is a permanent repository for our nations spent nuclear fuel, no regulatory commission should be using interim standards to approve indefinite storage. New Mexicans didnt sign up for this.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Holtec licensed to store U.S. nuclear waste in southeast New Mexico
Karen Sonneborns late father, a California State professor for more than 30 years, showed her the difference one teacher can make, often recalling how much it meant to him when former students shared his impact on their lives.

This includes a student who writes Sonneborn every year on the anniversary of his death to let her know that her dad, John Hammerback, is the reason she earned a Ph.D.

Sonneborns fathers legacy is why she co-founded Honored, a website where students and families nominate teachers for a public tribute.

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Dont wait  Tell them now how much they changed your life while theyre still there, Sonneborn said, it can make for such a beautiful cycle.

Sonneborn and her partner Katherine Boone wanted to create an easy, fun and meaningful way to provide positive feedback to teachers, finding over the years that it really does make a strong and significant impact.

Karen Sonneborn, Co-founder & CEO of Honored (Courtesy of Honored.org)

All nominees are added to the sites Honor Roll  and each month since 2017 the organization has picked one to be profiled and the subject of a photoshoot.

We really thought about a lot of different models, said Sonneborn, and in creating the Honored model we realized it was something that really wasnt out there already.

From charter school teachers on the east coast to district school teachers on the west coast and everywhere in between, Honored has celebrated 70 teachers recognizing each monthly honoree with a $5,000 award and $1,000 to donate to another teacher of their choice.

Related This Teacher Appreciation Week, Celebrating Charter School Educators

The organization also partners with photographers and a collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning writers and bestselling authors, who profile the honorees in hopes of widely sharing their inspiring stories.

During teacher appreciation week you can bring a gift card or something, but there wasnt an easy way to really express, said Sonneborn  that gratitude we as parents have for our wonderful, life changing teachers,

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Theres a term thats thrown around for teachers, that theyre unsung heroes and I really think thats accurate, she said.   theyre literally changing the future of our communities and our children but without a lot of attention and appreciation.

The profiles reveal and recognize the ways educators go above and beyond just teaching students curriculum, like Teshawn Leslie, a human resources management teacher at PSJA Sonia M. Sotomayor P-TECH High School in Pharr, Texas, an early college high school for pregnant and parenting teens.

The student who nominated Leslie told Nadra Nittle, an Education Journalist at The 19th News she wanted to give up on her future, but because of Leslie, she now strives to succeed.

We really try to seek out those unique stories of all different types of teachers, Sonneborn said.

One story she loves to shine a light on was Jon Anderson, who teaches at a wilderness school in Colorado for teens who have challenges in traditional school settings.

The student who honored him said that he just had no idea where hed be in his life without this teacher  he actually said he might not even be alive, said Sonneborn, discussing the range of heartfelt stories shes heard over the years.

Our model is consistent recognition for teachers  so every week is Teacher Appreciation Week at Honored.

Related Educators View: What Teachers Need to Succeed and Stay in the Classroom

Sonneborn feels her organizations work has become more important than ever since the pandemic.

There have been several teachers that mentioned how its been tough the last couple of years, but that the recognition has encouraged them to stay in the classroom, Sonneborn said.

Honored noticed an uptick in nominations during the pandemic. In May of 2020, they published a special edition profiling several teachers called Teaching in the Age of Coronavirus.

The last several years have been probably some of the hardest years that teachers have faced and so the more we can uplift them  the better, she said, noting that they saw a bump in nominations during COVID, highlighting teachers that went above and beyond.

Honored surveyed their nominated teachers and found 90% of their nominees say that theyre more likely to continue teaching for the next five years. 95% feel more inspired in their teaching practice after being nominated; and the vast majority said they are compelled to continue focusing on relationship building after being nominated.

The site shares a statistic from TNTP that teachers who receive recognition plan to keep teaching at their schools for nearly twice as long. However, 71% of teachers say they have not recently received recognition, according to Gallup.

Teachers arent going into the profession for the money. Theyre going into the profession to make an impact on the kids, Sonneborn said, So to provide this feedback to them that they are making a difference and that they are appreciated is so important.

Meet 2023s Honorees and nominate a teacher today:
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on protecting consumers when there are flight delays or cancellations, on May 8. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Pool via Shutterstock)

As far as public opinion goes, it doesnt get much worse than the new Washington Post-ABC News poll, conducted between April 28 and May 3, which shows President Biden to be historically unpopular.

It isnt exactly how the president wanted to start his reelection campaign, but his allies are shrugging off the bad numbers  and the bad press they have generated.

Here are five ways to interpret the poll and what it means for 2024.

1. The poll is really bad

That is the most obvious takeaway.

This poll is just brutal for President Biden, said George Stephanapolous, the former Bill Clinton adviser who now hosts ABCs This Week political talk show.

The survey found that Bidens approval rating has fallen to a lackluster 36%, with 56% of respondents disapproving of his performance. And in hypothetical head-to-head matchups with the leading Republican presidential candidates  former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  Biden loses to both, although he performs slightly better against DeSantis.

According to polling news site FiveThirtyEight, there is only one recent president who has polled this poorly this late into his term, and its one that Biden does not aspire to emulate: Donald Trump.

2. The poll is bad, but thats good

Sometimes, a jarring poll like this one can provide a valuable warning to the White House. Either it is failing to solve the problems most Americans care about, or it is doing a poor job of telling Americans how it is solving their problems.

This poll, even if it proves an outlier, makes clear that Biden faces an uphill climb, Jon Cowan, co-founder of centrist think tank Third Way, told Yahoo News.

Though its far from a consensus view, Cowan believes that Biden does best when he shies from the lure of polarizing progressive policies and allows the contrast with an increasingly immoderate GOP to materialize on its own.

If he sticks to the center, he will be able to credibly turn this election into a choice between mainstream versus extreme, the key contrast to win the suburbs, Cowan told Yahoo News.

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3. The poll is bad because the polling is bad

FiveThirtyEight, which rates pollsters for accuracy, gives the ABC News/Washington Post poll an A grade. But some of the presidents allies have faulted the survey for sampling what they say is a small and unrepresentative group of Americans.

Flawed poll. Sample adults not likely voters. Undecided too high. Sample too Republican, wrote top Biden pollster Celinda Lake.

Chris Wilson, a pollster affiliated with a political group supporting DeSantis, a presumptive Republican candidate, also argued that the poll has what he called serious problems.

4. It doesnt matter that the poll is bad

In the summer of 2011, a Washington Post poll found that 40% of Americans said they would not vote for President Obama again. Across the spectrum, there was a [l]ack of enthusiasm about awarding Obama a second term, the Washington Post reported.

Obama won, of course. Eight years later, as his former Vice President Joe Biden sought the Democratic presidential nomination, polls suggested vanishing excitement for his candidacy, too.

For the most part, Biden listens to a small group of trusted aides  such as former chief of staff Ron Klain and senior adviser Anita Dunn  who are rarely rattled by bad poll numbers. They also take a skeptical view of the news media, which they regard as always in search of a narrative.

Americans voted for Joe Bidens America in 2020 and 2022, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told Yahoo News. And regardless of what todays Beltway insiders say, they will again in 2024.

5. Its good to poll badly, actually

Trump tends to be at his best when he is attacked. Biden, on the other hand, is at his best when he is underestimated. Time and again, he has delighted in surpassing the skepticism of columnists and pundits.

In some ways, he loves being the underdog and being able to prove people wrong at the end of the day, an associate of the president told The Hill.

Every bad poll, the thinking goes, lowers expectations. The presidents allies point to a similar dynamic ahead of the 2022 midterms, which many predicted would turn out to be a landslide Republican victory.

Instead, the GOP narrowly won the House of Representatives, while Democrats maintained their hold on the Senate while also winning key gubernatorial races across the country.

For a president used to being dismissed as a has-been, it was another unlikely victory.

Were going to defy the odds, a Biden campaign staffer said. We feel good.
The fire that ravaged Miami-Dades trash incinerator plant in Doral started as an accident, investigators with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue concluded in a memo released Tuesday.

The memo by county Mayor Daniella Levine Cava includes an investigative report stating the Feb. 12 fire that shuttered the privately run plant started near one of the conveyor belts that churn tons of trash daily to the incinerator, converting waste into energy, ash and exhaust.

The most likely cause would have been a mechanical or electrical event, investigator Capt. Gerard Forrester wrote in the report.

The plant, run by the national energy firm Covanta, remains shut down and the company last month laid off its roughly 65 employees.

READ MORE: The fight to extinguish Miami-Dades trash plant fire

In the report, Forrester wrote that investigators received a tip from someone claiming to know who set the fire. But county police dismissed the report, which was contradicted by video camera footage and other evidence.

Levine Cava wrote in her memo to county commissioners that her administration is preparing a recommendation on what to do about rebuilding or replacing the plant, which was processing about 40% of the countys garbage.

She said the fire brings special attention to the issue of solid waste management in the County. As such, my administration is looking at the spectrum of solid waste disposal options, including zero waste strategies, she wrote.
FIRST ON FOX: A client of Hunter Biden's now-defunct firm visited the White House multiple times during the Obama administration, including visits with then-Vice President Biden and a top Biden aide, in addition to spending "a lot of time" with Biden during a casual New York City meeting arranged by the younger Biden, according to a series of emails reviewed by Fox News Digital

Nicolas Rohatyn, a Biden donor and the founder and CEO of The Rohatyn Group, met with Biden and visited the White House several times when Biden was vice president and when Hunter's now-defunct Rosemont Seneca Partners (RSP) was overseeing his hedge fund accounts.

Rohatyns business relationship with Hunter appears to have started in March 2010, when Hunter and Eric Schwerin, RSP's then-president, discussed inviting him to a "Mexico Lunch." The Mexico State Dinner at the White House was held on May 19, 2010, so it appears the lunch occurred around this time.

Nicolas Rohatyn speaks at the Milken Institute in December 2017.

BIDEN'S CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS IS BECOMING HARDER TO MAINTAIN

"Can we invite Nick Rohatyn to the Mexico Lunch? Evan said we may have some spots. Thoughts?" Schwerin asked, referring to Evan Ryan, President Bidens current White House cabinet secretary who was serving as his assistant at the time. Fox News Digital previously reported that Ryan, Antony Blinken's wife, was instrumental in coordinating invites for the Mexico State dinner.

"Yes," Hunter responded.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Nicolas Rohatyns business relationship with Hunter Biden appears to have started in March 2010, when Hunter and Eric Schwerin, RSP's then-president, discussed inviting him to a 'Mexico Lunch.'

"Also, should see if Carlos Slim is on list. May not come, but would be good." Schwerin replied, referring to the Mexican billionaire who Hunter was seeking to do business with. It is unclear if Rohatyn attended the luncheon.

The next month, on April 14, 2010, Arlene Busch, a former RSP partner, emailed Hunter, Rohatyn and another partner at The Rohatyn Group, writing, "As you are aware, we just returned from China. Attached is a sample of the meetings we attended. Please contact me with any questions."

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On April 14, 2010, Arlene Busch, a former RSP partner, emailed Nicolas Rohatyn informing him that 'we just returned from China.'

Months later on July 14, 2010, Rohatyn attended a policy dinner in New York City hosted by Hunter and Chris Heinz, a former RSP partner and the stepson of then-Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. Emails planning the dinner suggest the dinner was designed to "bring an interesting and diverse group of people together and get some informative discussions going," including a "number of interesting financial, political and labor folks," according to Hunter.

"Among the confirmed attendees are NY Governor David Paterson and Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord," Hunter Biden said in one email a week before the dinner. "We will also have the CFO of the NY State United Teachers, Bert Lesniewski, and Chris Chafe, who I believe you know who was with Change to Win and now is Exec Director of the Clean Economy Development Center.

Days following the dinner, RSPs Alexandra Stanton emailed Rohatyn thanking him for attending the dinner.

"I just wanted to send a brief note to thank you for participating in our policy forum last week. I know how valuable your time is, and I hope you found the interactions useful and the conversations stimulating," Stanton wrote, Ccing Hunter, Heinz and Busch.

RSPs Alexandra Stanton emailed Nicolar Rohatyn thanking him for attending the dinner on July 14, 2010.

"Our goal at Rosemont Seneca is to create intimate dynamics where our clients can both benefit professionally and intellectually," she continued. "This forum was about the confluence and interrelatedness of finance, politics, and labor. Our plan is to do a series of these dinners, and we promise to alternate topics and attendees each time so you encounter an interesting breadth and depth of individuals."

2011 EMAILS REVEAL HUNTER BIDEN HELPED BUSINESS ASSOCIATES GET ACCESS TO VP BIDEN, TOP AIDE

U.S. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Two months later, on Sept. 16, 2010, RSPs office manager Joan Peugh emailed Hunter about an upcoming meeting between Rohatyn and then-Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers at the White House later that day, saying Biden could also meet with Rohatyn.

"Your dad can meet with Nick before his 145PM meeting with Sec. Summers," Peugh wrote.

On Sept. 16, 2010, RSPs office manager Joan Peugh emailed Hunter Biden about an upcoming meeting between Nicolas Rohatyn and Lawrence Summers at the White House, saying Vice President Joe Biden could also meet with Rohatyn.

Rohatyn visited the White House that day, according to the visitor logs, but Summers is the only person listed as meeting with him.

The next day, Rohatyn wrote Hunter saying he enjoyed his visit with his father.

"Some constructive ideas along the same axis we discussed yesterdayjobs first, growth second," Rohatyn said, forwarding an article from economist Nouriel Roubini, titled, "What America needs is a payroll tax cut."

"I enjoyed my brief visit with your father  very cool guy," he added.

Nicolas Rohatyn wrote Hunter Biden saying he enjoyed his visit with his father the day before on Sept. 16, 2010.

White House visitor logs show that Rohatyn made three other visits between 2009 and 2010. Two of the visits, Nov. 30, 2009 and Feb. 2, 2010, were with Summers. He is also listed as attending an "Alvin Ailey Reception" at Biden's residence on Feb. 1, 2010. It is unclear what his relationship with Hunter Biden or Joe Biden was at that time.

Later that year, Hunter Biden introduced Rohatyn to then-Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and Greg Penner, who Hunter said, "runs Madrone Capital (Walton family office) is married to Carrie Walton and is most likely next chairman of board for Walmart."

"He is very interested in your third party ideas and would like to meet you when he is in NYC next. It's probably against my interest putting you two together but I couldn't help myself," Hunter continued. "I think he will be in NY Nov. 10 & 11. Let me know if you have time for coffee or lunch. Hope all is well."

In 2010, Hunter Biden introduced Nicolas Rohatyn to then-Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and Greg Penner, who Hunter said, 'runs Madrone Capital (Walton family office) is married to Carrie Walton and is most likely next chairman of board for Walmart.'

"More than happy to see him so by all means just send him my details and tell him to get in touch directly. I have been giving it a bit more thought and would love to chat. No risk to the Bidens since your Dad would be a great leader for it!" Rohatyn said. "Just so I don't make a mis step, is there any logic in me filling him in on our biz? Is it the kind of thing the family office is interested in? I assume given their move into Africa recently it might be, but please let me know what you think."

It is unclear what Rohatyn and Hunter were referring to.

HUNTER BIDENS BUSINESS PARTNERS, ASSISTANTS VISITED WHITE HOUSE OVER 80 TIMES WHEN BIDEN WAS VP

On July 25, 2012, Schwerin emailed a list of names to Hunter with the subject line, "DRAFT List for Alan H.", which appears to reference Alan Hoffman, Biden's deputy chief of staff at the time. Rohatyn was the first name on the list, followed by several others. Fox News Digital could not confirm what this list was for.

6 months later Rohatyn was scheduled to have coffee at the RSP office in Washington on Jan. 22, 2013.

US President Joe Biden's sister Valerie Biden (R), and son Hunter Biden (L), board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023.

In the latter years of the Obama administration, Hunter appeared to be in contact with Rohatyn more frequently, according to emails reviewed by Fox News Digital. Hunter was scheduled to have lunch with Rohatyn at Blue Duck Tavern in the Park Hyatt hotel in Washington on May 13, 2015.

That July, Hunter arranged a meeting between Rohatyn and Biden in New York City after Rohatyn said he was trying to get a new terminal at LaGuardia Airport named after his father, Felix Rohatyn, who served as former President Clinton's Ambassador to France and was a prolific donor to Democrats. He passed away in December 2019.

"Hi Hunter I see that your Dad is in town today so it had me thinking of you. How are you holding up?" Rohatyn emailed Hunter on July 27, 2015, later adding, "Im trying to get Cuomo to see me so I can ask them to name the new terminal at Laguardia for my Dad ( while he is still here and able to appreciate it ), but no success yet."

In July 2015, Hunter Biden arranged a meeting between Nicolas Rohatyn and Vice President Joe Biden in New York City.

"I'd gladly ask Dad if he will weigh in," Hunter responded, "they have a good relationship and Beau and the Governor were close."

"If you will be in the area I'd love for you to get a chance to say hi to Dad," Hunter later added, "it's easy to arrange- someone can meet you and take you to his holding room to say hi."

'If you will be in the area I'd love for you to get a chance to say hi to Dad,' Hunter Biden told Nicolas Rohatyn.'

Hunter then arranged a call between Rohatyn and John Flynn, Bidens then-traveling chief of staff, writing, "He will do his best to link you and Dad at event."

Hunter Biden arranged a call between Nicolas Rohatyn and John Flynn, Bidens then-traveling chief of staff, writing, 'He will do his best to link you and Dad at event.'

Later that day, Rohatyn thanked Hunter for arranging the meeting.

"Thanks so much, Hunter," Rohatyn wrote. "Your Dad spent a lot of time with me, and even gave me a lift in his car! A once in a lifetime experience for me. But mostly just a treat to spend time with him."

Nicolas Rohatyn thanked Hunter Biden for arranging the meeting with his father, writing, 'Your Dad spent a lot of time with me, and even gave me a lift in his car!'

"I did mention what I was trying to accomplish and he volunteered hed be supportive of it at the right time, which was super nice," he said. "Thanks so much for helping to make that happen. John Flynn could not have been any nicer."

Rohatyn did not respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry on the meeting and whether Hunter's business was brought up during the discussion.

VP BIDEN'S OFFICE TRIED TO QUASH BLOOMBERG STORY ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN AT HIS FIRM'S REQUEST, EMAILS SHOW

That October, Hunter held multiple phone calls with Rohatyn, according to his emailed schedules.

In October 2015, Hunter Biden held multiple phone calls with Nicolas Rohatyn, according to his emailed schedules.

"Hunter I trust the family is well and at peace with this decision," Rohatyn emailed Hunter on Oct. 21, 2015, the same day Biden announced his decision not to run for president in 2016 following the death of his eldest son Beau.

"The announcement was classy, elegant, and down-to-earth, a perfect reflection of a person of great character," Rohatyn wrote.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and his son Hunter Biden (2nd L) attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

The next month, on Nov. 12, 2015, Rohatyn visited the White House and met with Steve Ricchetti, Bidens then-chief of staff who currently serves as White House counselor, according to the visitor logs.

The next day, Hunter was scheduled to have lunch with Rohatyn, according to his emailed schedule.

Six months later, on May 11, 2016, Hunter was scheduled to have coffee with Rohatyn at the Dolcezza coffee shop at CityCenterDC in Washington.

JOE BIDEN MET WITH AT LEAST 14 OF HUNTER'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATES WHILE VICE PRESIDENT

Rohatyn apparently visited the White House again sometime in January 2017 before the Obama administration ended. Hunter emailed him, saying it was "good to see you the other day at the White House."

"Sorry we didnt have more time to catch up but as you can imagine that day was pretty hectic," Hunter wrote. "I wanted to see if you or someone on your team wanted to meet with Jonathan Li, the CEO of BHR Partners, a Chinese cross border private equity fund that Rosemont Seneca helped found and of which we are a shareholder."

On Jan. 31, 2017, Hunter Biden wrote that it was 'good to see' Nicolas Rohatyn at the White House, and he asked for a 'favor' - that Rohatyn meet with BHR Partners CEO Jonathan Li.

"Jonathan will be in New York next week meeting with a variety of different potential investors, targets and partners and I thought it would be worthwhile for him to be introduced to you and your team to see if there are any ways you could cooperate," he continued. "At the very least it might be interesting to trade notes with them and learn of some of their experiences in the market. I am copying Eric on this email who can help coordinate logistics if you are interested. I believe they are in New York late in the day on the 6th and then all day on the 7th and 8th. Lets catch up soon in person whenever our schedules permit."

Fox News Digital previously reported that Hunter introduced his father to Li during a trip to China in December 2013. At the time, Li was the CEO of Chinese investment firm Bohai Capital before he took the helm at BHR Partners, a Beijing-backed private equity firm co-founded by Hunters business partner Devon Archer and controlled by Bank of China Limited.

"Thanks for the note. Happy to connect with Jonathan Li when he is here. Copying my assistant Caroline to coordinate, Rohatyn responded.

Nicolas Rohatyn told Hunter Biden on Jan. 31, 2017, that he would be 'happy to connect' with Jonathan Li.

Between late 2017 and late 2018, there were several attempts by Rohatyn to connect with Hunter when he was in town, but it is unclear if Hunter scheduled the meetings.

Rohatyn later donated $2,800 to Bidens 2020 presidential campaign, according to FEC records.

Rohatyn, Hunters lawyer and the White House did not respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment.

U.S. President Joe Biden peers around a protective bulletproof screen during a celebration event at St. Muredach's Cathedral on April 14, 2023, in Ballina, Ireland.

HUNTER BIDEN, CHINA, CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS: MYSTERY SWIRLS AROUND PENN BIDEN CENTER

The news comes ahead of a press conference this Wednesday by House Oversight Committee Republicans on new details surrounding the Biden family's business dealings.

Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., urged the Justice Department to hold on a potential Hunter indictment until after the press conference, arguing that the possible indictment could be just a "slap on the wrist" compared to their upcoming revelations.

"My message to the Department of Justice is very loud and clear. Do not indict Hunter Biden before Wednesday," Comer said during "Sunday Morning Futures."

Representative James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky and chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, left, speaks during a hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

"When you have the opportunity to see the evidence that the House Oversight Committee will produce with respect to the web of LLCs, with respect to the number of adversarial countries that this family influence peddled in, and this is not just about the president's son. This is about the entire Biden family, including the President of the United States. So we believe there are a whole lot of tips that the IRS and the DOJ don't know about because we don't believe they've done a whole lot of digging in this, and we have."

HUNTER BIDENS FOREIGN BUSINESS DEALINGS: 4 COUNTRIES WITH FINANCIAL LINKS TO PRESIDENTS SON

"By all accounts from the media reports that we're getting, what they're looking at charging Hunter Biden on is a slap on the wrist. It's a drop in the bucket," he continued. "So Wednesday will be a very big day for the American people in getting the facts presented to them so that they can know the truth, and then the Department of Justice can finally do what they should have done years ago."

Federal prosecutors are reportedly nearing a decision on a potential indictment stemming from a years-long probe into Hunter's possible tax and gun-related violations.

Fox News' Bailee Hill and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
The attorney for the IRS whistleblower who has alleged that the Justice Department interfered in and mishandled the Hunter Biden criminal probe met with members of Congress last week on behalf of his client, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The Friday meeting was described to CBS News as a proffer session with the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees to lay the groundwork for what the whistleblower could tell investigators and how he could do so without running afoul of taxpayer privacy laws. CNN first reported the meeting.

In a letter to Congress last month, the attorney, Mark Lytle, said his client, an unnamed IRS criminal supervisory special agent, could shed light on how the years-long, high-profile investigation had been hindered by "preferential treatment and politics." However, Lytle said his client could not share "certain information" because of the taxpayer privacy laws.

Lytle told CBS's chief investigative correspondent Jim Axelrod, "My client wants to come forward to Congress.  He's ready to be questioned about what he knows and what he experienced under the proper legal protections."

Lytle did not respond to a request for comment for this report, but in his April letter, he said his client's information would "contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee."

In a Senate hearing in March, Attorney General Merrick Garland promised he would not interfere with the work of David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who is leading the probe. In a recent, unrelated news conference, Garland addressed the IRS whistleblower allegations.

"Yes, it's still the case I stand by my testimony, and I refer you to the U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware who is in charge of this case and capable of making any decisions that he feels are appropriate," Garland said.

A spokesman for the House Ways and Means committee would not confirm the meeting took place, but told CBS News in a statement, "Chairman [Jason] Smith is working to ensure all of the appropriate steps are taken in this particular investigation to receive and evaluate the allegations and information this whistleblower shares with Congress and has publicly pledged that the committee will go where the facts lead. Each week and day provide a new opportunity to advance this particular whistleblower claim and shed more light and transparency for the American people."

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When President Joe Biden took office, dozens of U.S. attorneys appointed by Trump were asked to resign, as is customary in a new administration, but Weiss, who was leading the probe into Hunter Biden, was asked to stay.

The IRS and Treasury inspector general for tax administration have not responded to earlier requests for comment.

Rebecca Kaplan and Jim Axelrod contributed to this reporting

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Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), a presidential candidate, said a jurys Tuesday verdict finding former President Trump liable for sexual abuse is another sign of Trumps indefensible behavior.

Hutchinson, one of the few people in the Republican Party who have openly criticized Trump, said in a statement after the verdict was released that the jurys findings should be taken seriously.

Over the course of my over 25 years of experience in the courtroom, I have seen firsthand how a cavalier and arrogant contempt for the rule of law can backfire, he said. The jury verdict should be treated with seriousness and is another example of the indefensible behavior of Donald Trump.

A jury found after a two-week trial that Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and defamed her when he called her a liar over her account of what happened. The jury did not find Trump liable for rape as Carroll alleges, but he was ordered to pay about $5 million in damages to her stemming from the findings on sexual abuse and defamation.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to the case.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE  A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME! he said in a post on Truth Social.

Hutchinson has positioned himself as a critic of Trump in the race for the Republican nomination. He called on Trump to drop out of the race at the end of March after Trump was indicted in Manhattan in District Attorney Alvin Braggs probe into the 2016 hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Hutchinson also slammed Trump as being responsible for taking the GOP back to bitterness, saying his goals for serving as president are more about getting even with his political enemies than leading our country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Lucy Lyddall and her husband Chris. (Solent)

A marketing manager who was sacked after bosses avoided criticising her because she had breast cancer has won more than 30,000 in a discrimination claim after successfully representing herself.

Lucy Lyddall had been underperforming in her role at The Wooldridge Partnership construction company but was never told her managers were unhappy with her, an employment tribunal heard.

Rather than speak to the 50-year-old about improving her work, she was given positive reinforcement by bosses who didn't want to add to her stress.

When she returned from time off to recover from breast cancer treatment, she says she was completely shocked when she was fired.

Lucy Lyddall took time off to marry her husband Chris. (Solent)

Company director Charlie Wooldridge later openly admitted they didn't want to send her negative feedback to prevent her from being put under more stress.

Defending herself without a lawyer, Mrs Lyddall successfully sued Wooldridge for disability discrimination at Reading Employment Tribunal.

She won compensation of 32,351, with a judge criticising the business for firing her at a point of exceptional vulnerability.

Mrs Lyddall - who came up with marketing strategies for some of Wooldridge's businesses in its retail, hospitality and leisure portfolio - began working for the company in March 2021.

Just two months later, she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer and had to take time off for hospital treatment, then more time off in July for further treatment and for her wedding to her husband Chris, 37.

However, when she returned to work in August 2021 - the day after her short honeymoon - Costas Constantinou, a consultant to Wooldridge, told her she was being let go and that your vision is not their vision.

Mrs Lyddall told the employment tribunal: At no time did anyone talk to me about my performance. In fact all I received was positive reinforcement.

Lucy Lyddall now describes herself as "fighting fit" following her cancer treatment. (Solent)

Mr Constantinou, who had a "good relationship" with Mrs Lyddall, said there was a "number of examples" related to "poor performance", including poor social media posts and work on websites.

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He said she "failed to engage with the directors and stakeholders and failed to deliver and did not develop a brand identity".

Mrs Lyddall, who has one child and two stepchildren, disputes allegations that her work was unsatisfactory but admitted a number of serious errors or faults which she says were not serious enough to justify dismissal.

When Mr Constantinou was asked why he didn't speak to her about improving her work, he said: "I do not think that is the right approach."

Mr Wooldridge told her: "Obviously it was the decision made that we should not put you on any more stress with the feedback.

Employment Judge Andrew Gumbiti-Zimuto ruled Mrs Lyddall had been the victim of disability discrimination.

The judge added: "Mr Wooldridge... had her disability in mind when he stated that one reason for not referring her to negative feedback was her disability and the medical treatment, she was either about to undergo or had undergone.

The judge said Mrs Lyddall could not have known she was failing and that concerns about her performance were not so serious as to justify termination of employment.

The mum received 10 days of intensive radiotherapy to treat her cancer and has been taking drugs every day for the last two years to treat it, describing herself as "fighting fit".

She has now taken up a part-time job as an assistant merchandiser and says she will never return to marketing as she has 'lost her confidence'.
For the first time since March 2016, North Carolina voters this year will be required to show a photo identification when voting in person.

This follows an April 28 ruling by the North Carolina Supreme Court that cleared the last lawsuit that had been blocking the voter photo ID clause in the state Constitution and the laws to implement that clause. Photo ID was added to the state Constitution in 2018.

Poll worker Jackie Morales checks a voter's identification on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Church of the Nazarene in Fayetteville. That was the last time photo ID was required in a North Carolina election. Photo ID will be required again starting with the 2023 municipal elections.

City and town elections around the state are scheduled for September, October and November. If you plan to vote, read on to learn more about what to do to make sure you have an ID that will be accepted, what to do if you lose your ID and more.

This information is current as of early May 2023. The North Carolina General Assembly can change the voter photo ID law at any time.

What type of ID may be used to vote?

As of May 2023, the following types of ID may be used when voting, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections office:

A North Carolina driver's license or non-driver ID card from the state Division of Motor Vehicles. (This does not have to be a Real ID version.)

A driver's license or non-driver ID from another state or commonwealth, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory  but only if you have registered to vote in North Carolina within 90 days of the election.

A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

A North Carolina voter ID card issued by a county board of elections.

A college or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections.

A state or local government employee ID or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections.

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What if my ID is expired?

The above forms of photo ID may be used, even if they have expired, so long as they have been expired for no more than a year.

A voter who is age 65 or older can use an expired ID, no matter how long it has been expired, so long as the ID was not expired on the voters 65th birthday.

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Some types of ID with no expiration date can be used to vote

Some IDs that may not have an expiration date printed on them may also be used to vote. These are:

A military or veterans ID card issued by the U.S. government.

A tribal enrollment card issued by a state- or federally recognized American Indian tribe.

An ID card issued by the U.S. government or the state of North Carolina for a public-assistance program.

How do you get an ID if you do not have one?

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles provides non-driver ID cards ($14), free non-driver ID cards, and driver's licenses ($5.50 per year, payment required in advance for the number of years the license will be valid).

Additionally, all county boards of elections will soon be able to issue free IDs for voting purposes to registered voters in their county, State Board of Elections spokesman spokesman Patrick Gannon said via email.

Be aware that the county election offices won't issue IDs between the last day of early voting and Election Day.

What if your ID is lost or stolen and you dont yet have a replacement?

If your ID is lost or stolen, the NCDMV says it can take as long as 20 days for you to receive a replacement ID after you order one. But you can still vote even if you haven't received or yet ordered the replacement.

The voter can still vote by filling out a reasonable impediment declaration form and checking the box for Lost or stolen photo identification, Gannon said.

Are there other ways to vote without photo ID?

The voter photo ID clause in the state Constitution and state law allow for other exceptions to the ID requirement. You need to fill out a reasonable impediment declaration form and note what impeded you from having photo ID. The law says acceptable reasons include:

A religious objection to being photographed.

You were in a natural disaster within 100 days prior to the election day.

You have applied for an ID but haven't yet received it.

You couldn't get an ID due to disability or illness, work schedule conflicts, family responsibilities, a lack of a birth certificate or other documents required for the ID or a lack of transportation.

If there is another reason you lack ID, you can write it down on the form.

The county board of elections is required by law to count the ballot unless the board has reason to believe the voter lied about why he or she did not have a photo ID.

Following absentee voter fraud: Democrat persuades Republicans to require photo ID for mail-in absentee ballots.

How will ID be handled for people who vote with mail-in absentee ballots?

The voter photo ID clause in the North Carolina Constitution says the requirement is only for in-person voting.

However, state law says an absentee ballot voter must enclose with their mail-in ballot one of the following:

A copy of a current and valid photo ID, or

A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that has the voters name and address.

In the alternative, they can complete an affidavit on the envelope attesting to a reasonable impediment that prevents them from providing a copy of the ID, Gannon said.

What happens if the poll worker rejects your ID?

Poll workers may look at your ID and say you dont look like your picture. This happened four times in March 2016 when North Carolina briefly required photo ID, The Fayetteville Observer reported in 2018. These voters were allowed to cast provisional ballots, which may or may not have been counted.

Under todays photo ID law, If a poll worker disputes that the photograph on the ID is the person presenting to vote, the poll worker must file a voter challenge, Gannon said. The voter will be permitted to vote unless all precinct judges present unanimously agree that the photo on the ID does not bear reasonable resemblance to the voter.

Poll workers may also mistakenly reject an ID that the law says is valid for voting. In 2016 this happened when a veteran in Fayetteville and another veteran in Raleigh tried to use their Veterans Affairs IDs to vote.

The veteran in Fayetteville told The Fayetteville Observer he used his driver's license to vote after his VA card was rejected.

The veteran in Raleigh (who is this writers father) disagreed with the poll worker when the worker rejected his VA card. The poll worker then consulted voter ID guidance documents, saw that the VA card was to be accepted as ID, and allowed the veteran to vote.

Gannon said people who try to vote with invalid ID may fill out the reasonable impediment form to explain why they dont have a valid ID. Alternatively, the voter may cast a provisional ballot and promptly return to the county board of elections to show valid ID, he said.

What happened to the 2016 voter ID law?

The legislature passed a voter photo ID law in the early 2010s and it was used in the March 2016 primaries.

But then it got struck down in a lawsuit in the following months.

The courts were persuaded by evidence that the people who drafted the voter ID law researched what type of photo IDs Black voters were likely and unlikely to have. The authors then revised the voter ID legislation to exclude the IDs that Black voters preferred. This may have been because the authors of the voter ID law were Republicans, and Black voters tend to be Democrats.

The Democratic and Republican parties have a long history of passing laws designed to rig elections against their opponents. The GOP in this instance overstepped because election laws designed to rig elections based on the opponents race are unconstitutional.

North Carolina voted in 2018 for voter photo ID  what took so long to bring it back?

In response to the lawsuit defeat, the legislature asked voters to add voter photo ID to the state constitution. The voters approved it in the November 2018 election and the legislature in December 2018 passed laws to implement it.

The amendment and new laws immediately drew lawsuits, and implementation of photo ID was postponed pending the outcomes of the cases. The state Supreme Court on April 28 found that the voter photo ID law is valid. With that ruling, it will be used for upcoming elections.

Senior North Carolina reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Photo ID is required to vote in NC this year. What ID can you use?
Violent clashes have broken out in Pakistan between security forces and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan after he was arrested on Tuesday.

Protests are erupting nationwide, and at least one person has been killed in the city of Quetta.

The United States and UK have called for adherence to the "rule of law".

Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad.

Dramatic footage showed dozens of officers arriving and detaining the 70-year-old, who was bundled into a vehicle and driven away.

He was appearing in court on charges of corruption, which he says are politically motivated.

Mobile data services in the country were suspended on the instructions of the interior ministry on Friday as protests grew, many of them taking place in front of army compounds.

Pakistan's army plays a prominent role in politics, sometimes seizing power in military coups, and, on other occasions, pulling levers behind the scenes.

Many analysts believe Mr Khan's election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military. Now in opposition, he is one of its most vocal critics, and analysts say the army's popularity has fallen.

Footage from Lahore posted on Twitter appeared to show a crowd breaking into the military corps commander's house destroying furniture and belongings inside.

Speaking from Washington, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wanted to make sure that "whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution".

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking alongside Mr Blinken, noted that Britain enjoyed "a longstanding and close relationship" with Commonwealth member Pakistan, and wanted to "see the rule of law adhered to".

On Tuesday evening, supporters of Imran Khan gathered outside the Pakistan High Commission in London to protest against his arrest.

'Chaos and anarchy'

Mr Khan was ousted as PM in April last year and has been campaigning for early elections since then.

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General elections are due to be held later this year.

Speaking to the BBC's Newshour, Mr Khan's spokesman, Raoof Hasan, said he expected "the worst" and that the arrest could plunge the country "into chaos and anarchy".

"We're facing multiple crises. There is an economic crisis, there is a political crisis, there is a cost of livelihood crisis and consequently this occasion will be a catharsis for them to step out and I fear a fair amount of violence is going to be back," he said.

A member of Mr Khan's legal team, Raja Mateen, said undue force had been used against him at the court.

"Mr Khan went into the biometric office for the biometrics. The rangers went there, they broke the windows, they hit Mr Khan on the head with a baton," said Mr Mateen.

Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called on its supporters to protest. In the hours after he was detained, violence was reported from cities including Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar.

On the streets of Islamabad, hundreds of protesters blocked one of the main highways in and out of the capital.

People pulled down street signs and parts of overpasses, lit fires and threw stones. During the hour or so that the BBC was there, no police or authorities were visible.

Protesters have blocked roads in protest in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city

Protesters said they were angry about Imran Khan's arrest.

"This is absolutely the last straw," said Farida Roedad.

"Let there be anarchy, let there be chaos. If there is no Imran, there's nothing left in Pakistan. No one is there to take over."

Writing on social media, police in Islamabad said five police officers had been injured and 43 protesters arrested.

It said at least 10 people, including six police officers, had been injured in the south-western city of Quetta in clashes between Mr Khan's supporters and security forces - with one protester killed.

A water cannon was deployed by police against protesters in Lahore

A statement from the inspector general of Punjab police said the arrest of Mr Khan had been ordered because he was accused of "corruption and corrupt practices".

The case involves allegations over the allotment of land in the so-called Al-Qadir Trust, which is owned by Mr Khan and his wife, Dawn newspaper reported.

Mr Khan, who is being held at an undisclosed location, denies breaking any law.

In a video message filmed as he travelled to Islamabad - and released by the PTI before his arrest - Mr Khan said he was ready for what lay ahead.

"Come to me with warrants, my lawyers will be there," he said. "If you want to send me to jail, I am prepared for it."

Imran Khan has been the main opposition leader since being ousted by his opponents in parliament a year ago

Security was tight in the centre of the capital for the former PM's court appearance.

Dozens of cases have been brought against Mr Khan since he was ousted from power.

The security forces have tried to detain him on a number of previous occasions at his Lahore residence, but were blocked by his supporters, resulting in fierce clashes.

On Tuesday, police had blocked roads into Islamabad, so the number of supporters with Imran Khan was not as high as on previous occasions, making it easier to arrest him.

He was elected prime minister in 2018, but fell out with Pakistan's powerful army. After a series of defections, he lost his majority in parliament. He was ousted after he lost a confidence vote in April 2022, four years into his tenure.

Protesters in Peshawar set fire to the Radio Pakistan premises in protest against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan

Since then, he has been a vocal critic of the government and the country's army.

In October, he was disqualified from holding public office, accused of incorrectly declaring details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The next month, he survived a gun attack on his convoy while holding a protest march.

On Monday, the military warned him against making "baseless allegations" after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him.
The number of working women in India has fallen to record lows in the past two decades

Last month, India surpassed China as the world's most populous country, prompting analysts to point out the potential benefits of its significant young demographic. However, a major obstacle to realising this potential is the insufficient representation of women in India's workforce. The BBC's Arunoday Mukharji reports.

When Lavanya Ulaganathan decided to take a break from work in 2014 to have a baby, she felt torn and dismayed.

But the HR professional from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, who says she was at the "peak of her career" then, was clear that she wanted to spend time with her family.

Four years and two children later, she felt ready to re-join the workforce. But finding a job was hard.

She faced repeated rejections, and recruiters also asked her to take massive salary cuts, arguing that she couldn't expect anything else after taking a break.

"It was a huge setback for my career," she says.

Ms Ulaganathan is not alone. Nearly half of India's population is female and yet, the number of working women has fallen to record lows in the past two decades. According to data from the World Bank, the female participation rate in India's labour force was at its peak in 2000 at 31%. Since then, it has consistently fallen, hitting a low of 21% in 2018.

Ms Ulaganathan found it hard to get a job after taking a career break

There are many reasons for this. India is still a largely patriarchal society, where women are expected to be primary caregivers at home. Indian women spend eight times the number of hours on unpaid care work compared with men, according to a national time use survey from 2019. The global average is three times.

Experts say that safety concerns and not being able to find jobs close to home also prevent women in big cities from joining the workforce.

After months of searching, Ms Ulaganathan did find a job - as a human resources manager at TVS - one of India's biggest two-wheeler manufacturers.

The company has a scheme for women who are returning to their careers after a professional break - it offers flexible working hours, mentoring and training to them.

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Ms Ulaganathan said the programme helped her find her ground again.

"If you want us to come back with the same energy and enthusiasm, these kind of programmes have to be there," she says.

Official data shows that only 32% of Indian women work after they get married - and most of them are part of the agricultural sector.

Ashwini Deshpande, an economics professor and head of the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis at Ashoka University, says that the country needs to create more non-farm opportunities in rural areas so that women can find jobs beyond agricultural work.

"If you want to gain from India's gender dividend, then women need to be productively employed," she says.

A 2018 McKinsey report estimated that India could add $550bn to its gross domestic product by increasing its female labour force participation by just 10%.

Currently, women employees account for less than 20% of India's manufacturing sector. But some changes are visible, especially in the industrial belt of Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

Located just 35km (21 miles) away from the information technology hub Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), Hosur is home to a host of industries and has become an attractive destination for investments.

Hundreds of women work in factories in Hosur

Six years ago, Roshni Lugun left her home - 2,000km away in Odisha state - and came to Hosur to work as an engineer in a factory. She started off by making shock absorbers for two- and three-wheelers and is now a staff supervisor.

"I wanted to try something new," she says. "If I had stayed at home, I would never have progressed so far. I could not have achieved this."

Like Ms Lugun, hundreds of other women working at the plant are changing the face of what was once a male-dominated industry. Even companies in the area are focusing on hiring more women in their workforce.

Gabriel India Ltd - an auto parts company in Hosur - says that more than 20% of the workers in its factories are women. The firm says the move makes sense from a business point of view. "Our internal studies have shown that attrition rates for women are lower," says Atul Jaggi, president and deputy managing director of Gabriel India.

The company provides perks such as on-site accommodation, subsidised food and several training programmes to attract more women workers.

"It doesn't cost more. These are basic facilities which any good organisation should have," Mr Jaggi says.

Ms Lagun agrees. "Why should it be that for India's economy to grow, only men have to work? We can also help," she says as she supervises a female colleague who is putting the finishing touches on shock absorbers which will be fitted on two-wheelers.

For Ms Lagun personally, the most exciting part of her job is that it gives her a sense of independence .

"Sometimes when I am out with my friends, I spot a motorcycle fitted with our auto parts. And I say, look, I have made it. It makes me happy and proud," she says.

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:
(Repeats story filed on May 9 without changes)

By Sarita Chaganti Singh and Jayshree P Upadhyay

NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's market regulator has issued legal notices to government owned PTC India and its financial services unit PTC India Financial Services (PFS), demanding explanations of alleged corporate governance lapses, two people familiar with the matter said.

PTC India, a power trading company, and PTC India Financial Services, a finance company, have been given 21 days to reply to the show cause notice that requires them to explain before the market regulator why action should not be taken against them, the sources said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not allowed to speak to the media, they said Investigations by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had found preliminary evidence of alleged violations of governance and listing norms.

Officials in PTC India and PFS did not immediately respond to messages and emailed queries sent by Reuters seeking comments. SEBI did not respond to an email sent by Reuters.

The SEBI investigation followed allegations levelled by three independent directors of PTC India Financial Services in January 2022.

The three directors resigned from the board citing "instances of serious lapses in corporate governance and that the company failed to act on concerns raised by them" in a letter available via stock exchange disclosures.

Following the company's response to the show cause notice, SEBI will pass a final order, with possible consequences ranging from monetary penalties to a ban from capital markets.

(Reporting by Sarita Chaganti Singh and Jayshree P Upadhyay; editing by Barbara Lewis)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Delhi High Court has upheld the ruling of an arbitration panel favouring Reliance Industries and its foreign partners in a dispute over gas migration from fields operated by state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd, a court order shows.

The oil ministry had approached the Delhi High Court after an international arbitration panel rejected its $1.55 billion fine on Reliance and its partners for selling gas that migrated from ONGC's fields in the east coast Krishna-Godavari basin to their block in the same area.

"...the view taken by the arbitral tribunal is most certainly a "possible view", which calls for no interference," the court order said.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Arpan Chaturvedi)
Bolognese sauce (stock photo). Capelle.r/Getty Images

Influencer Paula Gonu said she and her partner ate her own knee cartilage.

On the Club 113 podcast, she said she put it in a spaghetti bolognese she and her boyfriend shared.

The cartilage had been removed in surgery and Gonu said she wanted to "put it back in my body."

Influencer Paula Gonu said she included some of her own knee cartilage in a spaghetti bolognese she made for herself and her partner.

Gonu, a 30-year-old Spanish content creator with 2 million followers on Instagram, told the hosts of the Club 113 podcast that she had part of her knee cartilage, called the meniscus, removed during surgery following an injury.

The doctor asked her if she wanted to keep it, she said.

"I told him 'Yes,'" Gonu said, according to a translation by The Independent.

She added that the surgeon then "put it in alcohol so it would stay that way for as long as I wanted."

Gonu said a week later she and her partner were joking around, and she had the idea of cooking her own knee.

"I told him I wanted to eat it because it was part of me and I had to put it back in my body," she said. "Then I made a Bolognese and put it in and we ate it."

According to Gonu, people eat the bones, cartilage and other parts of "worse animals," so what she did wasn't that weird, she said.

But in comments on YouTube and TikTok, people were divided. Some thought Gonu's story was funny, while others were grossed out.

"At what point did I decide that it was a good idea to watch this over dinner?" one person asked.

One comment noted how Gonu had "literally" taken the phrase: 'You are what you eat.'

During the same interview, Gonu also said she had masturbated on a plane, according to Madrid-based news site La Razon.

She said she did it because she couldn't sleep.

"Nobody saw me," she added.

Read the original article on Insider
Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?

For the past two years, TUS Foundation has been cooperating with the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities within the framework of Agenda 50 Campaign on implementation of the Conventions provisions in Belarusian regions. Last week, during their recent visit in Belarus, representatives of TUS Foundation Magorzata Peretiatkowicz and Piotr Todys conducted an agenda-drafting training for members of Vaozyn local community. Two days of productive work resulted in the initial version of the document.

EuroBelarus Information Service spoke with the Polish colleagues about the experience of ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Poland and about their view on the issue in Belarus.

The experts note that two years of work is too short a term for any prognosis. Analyzing the situation and trying to understand specifics of Belarusian realities took them the entire first year.

 The approach we see here is very important to us: persons with disabilities do not want mercy, they demand equality of rights. Still, considering the way your system works, it seems to me that it will take a long time for this approach to reach your central authorities,  notes Magorzata Peretiatkowicz.

Her colleague finds it really interesting to participate in joint meetings with NGOs that work with the rights of persons with disabilities and to hear their suggestions.

 We know that Belarus ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but we do not have an insight into the way it is being implemented locally. This situation reminds me of that in Poland: we are still considering what to do with the document,  admits Piotr Todys.

Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

Though the discussions that the Polish experts witnessed involved persons with disabilities, it would be even better if their ratio was greater and reached at least 50%. TUS Foundation often emphasizes the aspect of self-advocacy in projects they implement in Belarus. Talking about the local agendas Piotr and Magorzata help creating, they state that everything goes really well, but we would like to see more persons with disabilities participating in the processes.

 The main point of our concern will come when we will get to know whether the people for whom these agendas are being created actually use them in their lives,  Piotr concludes.

 I think that writing the agendas is something realistic, they will be drafted,  his colleague continues.  Their implementation, however, will require a quick and adaptive approach: implementers will have to know where to find resources and people. While implementing the agendas, people will be delegating responsibilities, looking for opportunities, setting tasks themselves  and this element is very important in terms of local communities development.

Foreign experts are reluctant to talk about differences in approaches to the issue of disabilities in Belarus and in Poland. Neither are they willing to suggest how Belarus can use the experience of Poland.

 I do not think that comparison is a good idea. Our states and societies have been developing so differently that it is difficult to compare them. It is like comparing two atmospheric phenomena that exist in their own way, and have a right to be what they are. The countries we live in are absolutely different: even words that sound similarly mean various things in our languages. I can only say that Belarusians are wonderful and I really like them,  says Magorzata.

 For sure, one can use the experience of others, but I prefer having own experiences,  adds Piotr.  Undoubtedly, though, I find it important to use others work when it comes to standards of accessibility. It is crucial to remember that the process of standard-setting is ongoing, we should constantly develop and reconsider the existing standards.

It is important to be able to critically assess the situation in the neighboring countries, to understand what happened there and how things worked. It is equally important to be able to transpose this knowledge onto our own realities and estimate what can work here (and if at all).

 In 1980s-1990s, we often turned to the experience of Germany, because the situation related to persons with disabilities was much more advanced there at the moment. What was a norm to them seemed of sci-fi origin to us. Until now, certain practices applicable in Germany have not been introduced in Poland. Nevertheless, treating their experience as an inspiration, and not merely copying what they had, seemed to be of great value to us. When we organized study visits to Poland, this is exactly what we meant. We never told participants to take our experience and use it in their country, we wanted to motivate them to be very conscious about this work.

Polish colleagues made an important linguistic observation during our conversation.

 We say equality in Poland, and you say inclusion,  explains Piotr.  At some point in our history we also thought that we needed to include persons with disabilities into society. We seemed to be so kind as to include them into our greater something. In the meantime, equality assumes the right of specific individuals to decide and keep up to some points they value. The group that is being included has merely rights. But equality brings obligations, too.

Perhaps, this aspect is characteristic of the situation with the rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus and distinguishes it from the Polish experience.

Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

***

This article was created within the framework of Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50) international project.

Agenda 50 campaign is implemented with the support of the European Union and in partnership with TUS Foundation (Poland) and European House (Denmark). Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Consortium EuroBelarus and Centre for European Transformation participate in the implementation of the campaign in Belarus.
A woman who collaborated with the invaders and leaked data about the defence forces in frontline areas of Donetsk Oblast to a Russian general involved in the downing of the MH17 airliner has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine press service

Quote: "Security Service of Ukraine employees detained the perpetrator in June last year during a special operation in Kremenchuk, where she had attempted to hide from justice. The court sentenced her to 12 years in prison with confiscation of her assets."

Details: As stated by the investigation, the collaborator is a personal informant of Major General Sergei Dubinsky, a staff member of Russian military intelligence also known by the nickname "Khmuryi" ("Gloomy").

He was involved in the downing of the Boeing passenger plane on flight MH17 in July 2014.

It was established that the informant, who lived in the village of Blahodatne, Donetsk Oblast, knew the terrorist personally.

When the full-scale invasion began, she contacted Khmuryi via an anonymous messaging app and offered her help in the war against Ukraine.

On his instructions, the perpetrator gathered intelligence about the locations of bases and movements of the military in the areas of Vuhledar, Pavlivka and Velyka Novosilka. She also provided Russian military intelligence with information about the fortifications and engineering barriers of Ukrainian troops on the eastern front.

In addition, the collaborator videotaped the consequences of Russian air attacks in the region and sent "reports" on them to the aggressor. Another of her tasks was to collect the personal data of members of the resistance movement in the temporarily occupied territory in the east of Ukraine and transfer it to the invaders.

A mobile phone containing evidence of her criminal activity was found during searches at the perpetrator's temporary residence.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Russia has ramped up its missile and Shahed drone attacks on Ukraine because it has failed to deliver any significant victories  such as capturing the city of Bakhmut  to its people in time for 9 May. [On 9 May, Russia celebrates Victory Day, a holiday commemorating the 1945 victory over Nazism that has gained particular symbolic importance during Putins rule  ed.]

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: Zelenskyy made the remarks during a press conference following his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Kyiv on 9 May. In particular, he said that the Russian military and political leaders have to keep "selling" the war to the Russian people, even in the absence of any significant victories on the battlefield.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "There is an insatiable society there, and we see them support various drastic measures, [and welcome] the rising death toll. They are always happy to see that.

They [Russian leaders  ed.] were unable to sell Bakhmut, because they failed to capture it. This was their latest key operation: [capturing Bakhmut] by 9 May. Though unfortunately there is no longer a city [where Bakhmut once stood]: it has been razed to the ground."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Rural areas are being deserted, including the village of Al-Bouzayad, where the main irrigation canal has completely dried up

Haydar Mohamed once grew wheat and barley, but Iraq's relentless drought has forced him off the land and into the city where he now works in construction and drives a taxi.

"The transition is difficult," said Mohamed, 42, who abandoned village life several years ago for a shantytown in the central city of Karbala.

He is part of a growing wave of climate migrants in Iraq, a country that is on the frontlines of the global warming crisis.

Years of dire water scarcity left him no choice but to move, said the father of five.

"If you don't work," he said, "you don't eat."

Until 2017, Mohamed, like his father before him, worked farmland in the remote village of Al-Khenejar in Iraq's southern Diwaniya province.

In a good year, they would harvest 40 or 50 tonnes of grain, he said.

But "water shortages have impacted farmland and livestock", said the man with a neat moustache and a traditional black robe worn over a white gown.

"In our region, there is no work," he said. "I have children in school, which involves expenses. We needed a livelihood."

He now earns about $15 a day on construction sites in the holy Shiite city, which thrives thanks to a steady flow of religious pilgrims.

To supplement his income, he works shifts as a taxi driver.

Near his home, cows graze on rubbish strewn across the dusty ground and grey cinderblock buildings line the bumpy alleys, connected for free by the municipality to power lines and water pipes.

- Blistering heat, dust storms -

The United Nations ranks Iraq, still recovering from decades of dictatorship and war, as one of the world's five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change.

The economy is driven by oil exports, but the second biggest sector is agriculture, which makes up five percent of GDP and employs 20 percent of the workforce.

Water scarcity is extreme in the country of 42 million that endures blistering summer heat and regular dust storms, the shortfall worsened by upstream river dams in Turkey and Iran.

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The UN says nearly one in five people live in an area hit by water shortages, while state authorities have been forced to limit areas designated for cultivation.

In central and southern Iraq, "12,212 families were still displaced due to drought conditions" in March, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Across Diwaniya province, 120 villages now rely on trucked water deliveries, up from 75 last summer, said the provincial governor Maitham al-Chahd.

"Thousands of hectares have been abandoned," he said.

Among the other worst hit provinces are Dhi Qar and Maysan, said the IOM, which estimates that 76 percent of displaced people move to cities.

The rural flight piles pressure on urban areas where infrastructure is dilapidated after decades of conflict, corruption and mismanagement.

A UN report last month warned of the risk of "social unrest" driven by climate factors.

"In the absence of sufficient public services and economic opportunity... climate-driven urbanisation and mobility can reinforce pre-existing structures of marginalisation and exclusion," it said.

- Deserted countryside -

Chahd said rural migrants faced unemployment in the cities, where there "are not enough job opportunities" for all the newcomers.

"Public services cannot meet the needs of growing city populations."

Meanwhile, rural areas are being deserted, including the village of Al-Bouzayad, where the main irrigation canal has completely dried up.

About 100 families have left in the past two years, and today only 170 households are still listed on the municipal register, said mayor Majed Raham, several of whose relatives have joined the exodus.

Abandoned adobe houses sit next to unfinished yellow-brick constructions. In one empty dwelling, rooms stripped of their doors and windows show signs of the lives that have been upended.

Portraits of the revered Shiite figure Imam Hussein still hang on the walls, a padlocked room contains personal items, and a satellite dish gathers dust in the courtyard.

Those who have stayed depend on insufficient water deliveries made by tankers sent by the governorate authorities, which they deplore.

Raham said most survive on either state benefits or money earned by their children, who commute daily to the nearest town.

"The majority want to leave," he said, "but they don't have the means."

tgg/noc/fz/smw
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

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The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls' room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's foreign minister discussed efforts to establish diplomatic relations with additional Middle East countries in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, the ministry said.

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan had said Washington was working hard to forge ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia ahead of his visit to the kingdom last week, but the Israeli statement did not specify any countries.

"Foreign Minister Eli Cohen updated the Secretary of State on recent Israeli activity with the goal of promoting regional stability and the two discussed advancing additional normalization moves, as part of expanding and deepening the Abraham Accords," the statement said.

That referred to the 2020 U.S.-brokered agreements Israel signed with Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The statement added that Cohen met with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein in Jerusalem on Monday and discussed "the advancement of diplomatic steps in the region".

Saudi Arabia signalled approval for the 2020 accords but has held off on following suit, saying Palestinian goals for statehood should be addressed first.

Normalising relations with Saudi Arabia has been a major goal set by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign minister Cohen last month said such a breakthrough was "on the table".

Any such prospects have been clouded, however, by Riyadh's strains with U.S. President Joe Biden, its recent rapprochement with regional foe Iran, and the rise of Netanyahu's hard-right Israeli government.

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by Chris Reese)
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israels Shin Bet internal security agency is defending its use of a sophisticated surveillance tool that was used to send threatening text messages to Palestinian protesters during unrest at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site two years ago.

A leading civil rights group has asked Israels Supreme Court to halt the practice, saying the threatening messages exceeded the authorities of the Shin Bet. It has also noted that the messages were sent erroneously to people uninvolved in the unrest.

In a May 4 submission, the Shin Bet asked the court to dismiss the case. It said the tracking technology was a legitimate tool within the scope of its authority.

It described the misfired messages as an isolated error, said it had identified several specific flaws in the manner of sending the messages and updated its guidelines to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

It described the tool as proportionate, balanced and most reasonable.

The messages were sent to hundreds of Palestinians in May 2021 at the height of one of the citys most turbulent periods in recent years. At the time, Palestinian protesters were clashing with Israeli police at the Al Aqsa Mosque in violence that helped fuel an 11-day war between Israel and the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip.

Using mobile-phone tracking technology, the Shin Bet sent a text message to people it believed were involved in the clashes and told them we will hold you accountable for acts of violence.

The recipients included both Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem, who hold Israeli residency rights, as well as Palestinian citizens of Israel. While some recipients had participated in the clashes, others, including people who lived, worked or prayed in the area, received the message erroneously and said they were surprised or scared. Jewish Israelis in the area are not known to have received the message.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has warned that such mass messages could have a chilling effect on Israels Palestinian minority and says the Shin Bet should properly investigate anyone suspected of breaking the law.

Two of the groups attorneys, Gil Gan-Mor and Gadeer Nicola, issued a joint statement accusing the Shin Bet of using intrusive surveillance tools to intimidate citizens and convey that they are under surveillance.

Sending a threatening text message to a citizen is not an option in a democratic country, they said.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Among the 10 civilian victims of the Israeli airstrikes against militant group leaders in Gaza on Tuesday was a dentist known for offering free treatment to poor families, who lived in the same residential block as Islamic Jihad leader Tareq Izzeldeen.

Jamal Khuswan was killed along with his wife, Mervat, and 21 year-old son Youssef, a medical student, who were all asleep in their apartment in the centre of Gaza city. Seven other civilians, including women and children, were killed in other parts of the enclave by the strikes.

The former chief executive of Al-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital and a leader in the local union of dentists, Khuswan was hailed by the health department as a national figure "who spared no effort to carry out his humanitarian duty".

Khuswan's other four children survived the attack with minor injuries, Khuswan's brother Mohammad said.

"It felt tough, very bad, in an unusual way," he said outside the morgue, after seeing his brother's body. He said his brother, who was in his 50s, held Russian as well as Palestinian nationality as he had studied for a long time in Russia.

In other areas of the crowded enclave, run by the militant Islamist group Hamas, people sifted through the rubble of their homes to salvage whatever documents and furniture they could.

"Children woke up to the sounds of explosions, they panicked. We have children, women, and elderly. What happened wasn't normal," said Hani Jaber, a resident of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where a top Islamic Jihad leader and his wife were killed.

Palestinian officials said Israel's strikes, hit a number of residential buildings in the densely populated strip in which 2.3 million Palestinians live on a patch of 365 sq km (140 sq miles).

Palestinians have lived through several wars with Israel since 2008. Gaza Health officials said a 16-year-old Israeli-led blockade has crippled the economy and undermined the development of health institutions.

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Gaza streets looked almost empty on Tuesday morning, except for the movement of taxis and ambulance vans racing through the streets as relatives prepared to participate in the funerals of the 13 people killed.

Izzeldeen was one of three senior leaders of Islamic Jihad killed in the attacks. Islamic Jihad is an Iranian-backed militant group that operates from Gaza and which also has armed fighters in parts of the occupied West Bank.

The military said it was investigating reports of civilian casualties but otherwise had no immediate comment.

($1 = 3.6280 shekels)

(Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi, Editing by William Maclean)
Shooting down a Russian drone during a night attack on Kyiv

(There are) armed attacks on Kyiv and the entire territory of Ukraine, the report says.

The security situation remains critical, there is a risk of power outages. All trips to Ukraine, in any capacity, are strongly not recommended.

Read also: Russia receives new batch of Shahed attack drones from Iran, Humeniuk says

Russia attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones overnight on May 8. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down all 35 drones launched at Kyiv by Russia from various directions. Five people were injured and there was damage to buildings in the west of the capital from falling debris from the shoot-downs, according to city authorities.

The runaway at Kyiv Zhuliany international airport in the west of the capital was also damaged by falling debris.

Read also: Ukrainian Intelligence warns of possible Russian provocations on Victory in Europe Day

Russia also attacked Odesa Oblast overnight with Kh-22 anti-ship missiles launched by Tu-22 strategic bombers, hitting a food warehouse and a recreational facility on the Black Sea coast, which caused a fire. One person was killed and another two were injured as a result of the attack.

Ukraines General Staff said in an evening update that the Russian invaders had launched 11 missiles and 59 air strikes at Ukraine in the past day. In addition, the enemy used multiple launch rocket systems 76 times.

In the morning of May 9, Ukraines air force said air defenses had shot down 23 of 25 Russian missiles fired at Ukraine overnight.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Bloomberg) -- Italy has signaled to the US that it intends to pull out of a controversial investment pact with China before the end of the year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reassured US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a meeting in Rome last week that while a final decision hasnt been taken, her government is favoring an exit from its role in Chinas massive Belt and Road Initiative, according to people present at the talks.

Italy signed onto the infrastructure initiative in 2019 when Giuseppe Conte was premier, becoming the only Group of Seven country to become part of the deal. Participation will automatically renew in 2024 unless Rome actively exits the agreement.

Italy, like much of Europe, has been caught between escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, which have compounded in light of Beijings continued support for Russia. European countries are struggling to balance a desire to engage with China on trade and investment while pushing back against claims of economic coercion.

A spokesperson for Meloni declined to comment. McCarthys office didnt respond to requests for comment.

Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the two countries have seen fruitful cooperation in trade, manufacturing and clean energy since signing the agreement.

The two sides should tap further into potential in BRI cooperation and step up mutually beneficial cooperation across the board, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

The US has actively pressured Rome to take a public stance on the issue, and ditch the pact, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Story continues

Melonis diplomatic advisers are still discussing the details and timing of a decision, fearing economic retaliation from China, and nothing will likely be made public before the start of the G-7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19, according to the people.

The potential move is closely linked to Melonis stance on Chinese investments in Italy and in particular on an upcoming choice on whether to use executive power to curtail the influence of Chinas Sinochem Holdings Corp., the largest shareholder in tire maker Pirelli & C. SpA, the people said. That decision has been delayed to the end of May.

Bloomberg reported last month that Italian officials are discussing a range of options as part of talks with Pirelli investors over the companys ownership structure. The government could take a more neutral stance on Sinochems role as part of the overall decision on Belt and Road exit, one of the people added.

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative has funded $900 billion in infrastructure projects globally.

--With assistance from Erik Wasson and Lucille Liu.

(Updates with comments from Chinas foreign ministry.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
I've been a restaurant critic for years and I love shopping at Costco. Alice Levitt

I've been a restaurant critic for 15 years. Here are 12 things I love to buy at Costco.

My husband and I often purchase fixings for Korean barbecue and bread pudding.

I love buying Costco's brisket, croissants, saffron, and cage-free eggs.

I've worked as a food writer, editor, and critic since 2008. When I'm not busy dining out, my husband and I buy many of our alimentary staples at Costco.

Here are some of my favorite things to buy at Costco.

Note: Prices and availability may vary by location  I am based in Northern Virginia.

The secret to the best bread pudding is Kirkland Signature croissants.

I love buying croissants in bulk. Alice Levitt

I use half of this dozen for one batch of bread pudding, then freeze the other half for next time.

I've tried everything from chocolate babka to Krispy Kreme doughnuts in my bread puddings, and the crisp exterior and buttery, finely creviced center of Costco's croissants make them my favorite medium for soaking up a cinnamon-inflected custard.

At $6 for 12, the value is miles away from what I'd find at a fancy bakery.

Bibigo's bowls of cooked sticky white rice make at-home Korean barbecue easy.

Bibigo's cooked sticky white rice is a staple in my home. Alice Levitt

To give you an idea of my ardor for grilling my own marinated meats, I used to drive around with the license plate "BULGOGI."

A few years ago, my husband bought me a Korean barbecue grill for my birthday. When we cook our own Korean barbecue, we focus our energies on the meats and banchan and typically use these microwaveable bowls for our rice. It's not as good as homemade, but it makes life a whole lot easier.

A package with a dozen of these bowls retails for $13.50.

Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce is tasty.

Japanese barbecue sauce adds to a meaty meal. Alice Levitt

My husband used to be on teriyaki-style dipping-sauce detail on our Korean barbecue nights.

But when we tried Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce on a lark, we realized that the recipe was closer to what they serve at our favorite Korean barbecue restaurant than ours was. This lightly sweet dip has become one of our staples.

Story continues

A 34-ounce bottle of Bachan's has thus far lasted us more than a year. Not a bad deal for $10.

Speaking of sauces, Rao's Homemade is one of the best.

Rao's sauce is one of my favorites. Alice Levitt

For most of my adult life, I've been religious about making my own pasta sauce. It's vastly better than most commercial options and not much harder than opening a can. But then I discovered Rao's Homemade marinara sauce.

Its preternatural balance is simply beyond my abilities. I doctor it up with a few extra cloves of garlic and some homegrown fresh basil.

Two 28-ounce glass bottles cost $12.

I'm just mad about saffron.

I think saffron is worth the splurge. Alice Levitt

When my husband and I got married last year, one of my best friends, a kolache baker in Houston, made us a gorgeous pistachio, rose, and saffron cake to celebrate.

Since then, my husband, a sound engineer by trade, has been trying to replicate it at home. Saffron is expensive, but key to our experiments.

Organic La Mancha Spanish saffron is $16 for a gram, but a little goes a long way.

Avocado-oil spray helps lighten the load.

Avocado-oil spray is great for cooking eggs. Alice Levitt

Since my job means eating lots of heavy meals at restaurants, when I'm home, I try to cut out fat and calories any way I can.

Chosen Foods avocado-oil spray coats my pans in a fine mist and withstands even high heat. I especially love it for eggs that fill my staple breakfast tacos.

Two 13 1/2-ounce bottles are $13 and last me many months.

I also buy my eggs at Costco.

We use a lot of eggs in our home. Alice Levitt

The standard 24-pack of eggs at Costco is cage-free, which I insist on buying.

I scramble them with griddled quesillo and season them with Tajin before adding cilantro. I also make a lot of bread pudding for my husband, so eggs go quickly in our house.

Two dozen USDA AA-grade extra-large eggs cost $5.

Brussels sprouts are your air fryer's best friend.

Brussels sprouts come out great in the air fryer. Alice Levitt

I've been using my air fryer every day that I've eaten at home since 2018.

Often, its role is merely heating leftovers (restaurant critics have embarrassing amounts of those), but when I'm making something fresh, I use my air fryer for Brussels sprouts. I cut them in half, coat them in avocado oil and crisp them up before giving them a light toss in salt and balsamic vinegar.

Two pounds of organic Brussels sprouts retails for $6.

Brisket is a solid deal at Costco.

There's nothing like fork-tender brisket. Alice Levitt

I upgraded from that original air fryer to a Ninja Foodi, which has more capabilities beyond air-frying, a few years ago, partly because I didn't have time for long braises as often as I would have liked.

The pressure cooker is ideal for breaking down the tight muscle fibers of a brisket into fork-tender, edible love. Before slicing, I crisp the thin layer of unrendered fat in the air fryer. I cut the raw flat in half and freeze some for my next meaty craving.

At Costco, a USDA choice beef brisket is $7.50 per-pound.

I like green tea for its antioxidants.

I try to drink green tea on most mornings. Alice Levitt

I've had some of my doctors recommend green tea for its benefits of brain health and fat loss. That's enough for me to require a cup first thing every morning.

The Kirkland blend of sencha and matcha makes for an unusually robust cup  they're the best budget bags I've found. I don't eat breakfast unless I have to report on it for work, so this tea is my most important "meal" of the day.

This is one of the best deals of all  100 bags for $12.

Whisps are a crispy, versatile treat.

I could probably make my own version of Whisps but it'd be pricey. Alice Levitt

Yes, I could make my own Parmesan cheese crisps. But I have to be realistic: With the higher price of Parmesan, it would cost more to make my own than to buy a bag of Whisps. I snack on them and also use them as grain-free croutons in salads.

A 10.8-ounce bag of the crunchy "artisanal cheese" is $10.

Dried mango is a staple in my household.

I love snacking on dried mango. Alice Levitt

I have a bit of a dried-mango problem, and it started at a company retreat in 2019. Over the course of a couple of days, I ate a whole bag of dried mango by myself.

It turns out, my husband loves the chewy, sweet-and-sour snacks almost as much as his favorite licorice. In fact, it's our go-to healthy-ish dessert.

At $17.50 for 40 ounces, I can't afford to eat whole bags in a couple of days on my own dime, but I wish I could.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

Read the original article on Insider
[Source]

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered a spontaneous remark expressing his sympathy for the sufferings of colonial victims during his visit to South Korea on Sunday.

While speaking to reporters at the summit in Seoul, Kishida, without directly referring to the Japanese occupation of Korea between 1910 and 1945, said his heart hurts whenever he thinks about the suffering caused by Japan's colonial rule.

"For me personally, my heart hurts when I think of the many people who endured terrible suffering and grief under the difficult circumstances of the time," he said, adding that he believes it was his responsibility to work with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to forge strong relationships between their countries.

"Cooperation and coordination between South Korea and Japan are essential not only for the common interests of the two countries, but also for world peace and prosperity," Yoon said earlier in the summit.

More from NextShark: Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi, 60, found dead at sea in Okinawa

The Japanese prime ministers two-day visit to South Korea came less than two months after Yoons state visit to Japan in March.

Although Kishidas comment was not a direct apology from his government over the tragic history, Yoon acknowledged the Japanese prime ministers sincerity.

In a statement, Yoon thanked Kishida for showing his sincere position even though there was no such request. Yoons office reportedly confirmed that the Japanese prime ministers remark was made spontaneously.

More from NextShark: Emperor Naruhito conveys 'deep remorse' for Japan's actions in 76th anniversary of WWII surrender, still no apology

Before the summit, Kishida and his wife, Yuko, reportedly visited the Seoul National Cemetery, where they paid silent tribute to dead Korean War veterans, including those who fought against the Japanese occupiers.

Kishida is reportedly the first Japanese prime minister to visit the area since former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit 12 years ago in October 2011.

Story continues

He is also the sixth Japanese prime minister to have visited the cemetery since Yasuhiro Nakasone started the gesture in 1983.

More from NextShark: 'Hallyu is sweeping the world': President Moon mentions BTS, Squid Game' in March 1st Movement speech

The two countries relationship has become shaky in the past few years over the issue of the wartime forced labor during Japans occupation of Korea.

The tension reached new heights in 2019 when Japan decided to remove South Korea from its trade list after a dispute ignited over compensation for victims of wartime forced labor. Japan argued that the compensation for the matter was already settled by the 1965 treaty that normalized the ties between the two countries.

Kishida and Yoon are expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Joe Biden at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in late May.

More from NextShark: Apink drops 10th mini-album SELF with music video D N D
Jennifer Garner doesnt exactly love her reputation for being nice.

The Alias actor opened up about the pressure to be perfect in a new interview with Allure, admitting she has trouble putting up a positive front during her darker days.

The problem with, Oh, shes so nice is that when I have any kind of boundary, people think of it as much more than it actually is, Garner explained in the interview, released Tuesday.

The problem is being recognized on a day where Im not so nice or when I have blackness in my soul, she continued. Ive definitely had days where I just cant do it. I scowl at people before they can walk up to me.

Im not perfect, and I dont think Im rude, but Im not good at being fake, the actor added. Im an open book of a person.

Jennifer Garner is currently starring in

Jennifer Garner is currently starring in "The Last Thing He Told Me."

Garner also said the pressure of fame made it almost impossible to connect with people.

There were two decades where it was really hard to hold a conversation, she told the magazine. Not in a woe-is-me, poor celebrity way. I was on baby watch every single day. The day after I had a baby, [the paparazzi] were watching again. They kind of rush you through your life because theyre just trying to get to the next stage of something they can sell.

Garner knows that attention all too well, having raised her three children in the spotlight. The actor shares 17-year-old Violet, 14-year-old Seraphina and 11-year-old Sam with ex-husband Ben Affleck. The pair split in 2015 and divorced in 2018.

Garner previously admitted to having a salty side during an October 2022 interview with Town & Country.

Im not always just nice, she said at the time. I can also be salty, and I can be taciturn, or I can be really serious about what I want to get done.

The star also said she has no issue with setting boundaries, telling Town & Country, Its not that I feel Im underestimated in that way  Im not afraid to stand up for myself and say, Just so you know, this isnt going to fly with me. When that happens, I dont want you to be shocked that Im a real person.

Related...
May 9, 2023

To read about the other Culture Shifters, return to the list here.

When Jenny Lam was 8, she turned down a job offer from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Her father had mailed sketches of her cartoon cats to three Disney animators, including Eric Goldberg, who drew the Genie in Aladdin. Soon after, Lams mother received a phone call from Goldberg. He invited Lam and her parents to visit him in Burbank, California.

Lam was on winter vacation, and Goldberg took time out of his break to see her and her family. After flying to the Disney studio, she and Goldberg drew and swapped their cartoon sketches, and he told her she could be a storyboard artist there when she turned 18.

Her response: But I want to go to college first.

Thats how Ive been through everything, running it on my own and winging it, she explained over Zoom. Trial and error. Figuring things out as I go.

Ever since then, Lam has taken being fiercely independent very seriously  and the 35-year-old artist and curator is thriving in the arts, especially photography. This May, during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lam is having a solo art show at the main branch of the Chicago Public Library, featuring 12 photographs she has taken around the city over the past decade with her iPhone 5s. Starting in September, some of her other iPhone 5s photography will be on display in two international exhibitions in South Korea and Italy.

As Lam carves her own path, she is also championing other artists. In her latest online exhibition Hygge, which opened in January, she spotlights 30 artists worldwide and showcases their artwork on Artists on the Lam, a blog and platform to support and gather other talented people.

Over the years, Lam has held exhibitions in odd places: the basement of a chapel, a former bank building and a loft above a now-defunct shoe store. Shes also curated many imaginative and rule-breaking shows. In I Can Do That, she encourages visitors to touch, replicate or directly change and make marks on the artwork to see if they could improve it.

Story continues

When I used to go to some galleries, I felt the cold atmosphere there. But I want to let others know art doesnt have to be cold, she said.

Artist and independent curator Jenny Lam poses for a portrait near Ping Tom Memorial Park in the Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Artist and independent curator Jenny Lam poses for a portrait near Ping Tom Memorial Park in the Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Her artistic judgment proved to be correct. Nancy Bechtol, a 73-year-old artist and photojournalist, has been in five Lam-curated shows over the past 13 years, including I Can Do That. Lams knack for creating situations and having people collaborate in unique ways has been eye-opening for Bechtol.

For an artist to let a visitor come in and draw or manipulate your original artwork is quite a leap, said Bechtol, who was one of the first artists featured on Artists on the Lam. Thats the Jenny mindset. She thinks in ways that are creatively engaging. Shes embracing people artistically, intellectually, emotionally, in many ways.

To Lam, art is for everyone  and her online platform helps that to be true.

People who otherwise wouldnt have been able to see an exhibition in person at a gallery show  whether its location or now because of the pandemic  can now access it, she said.

One example is her digital exhibition Slaysian  meaning Celebrating Asian  which focused on Asian American artists in the Midwest, though she didnt initially intend to put the gallery online. The in-person group show was originally supposed to open on March 20, 2020, which later became Illinois first shelter-in-place day.

A week before it happened, I was like, Were gonna postpone it; its too dangerous, she said. So, I spent my first week of shelter in place moving the entire show online.

While the change was unexpected, the result has been exhilarating. All of a sudden, my gallery became a big thing online where I was getting a lot of press, and many people liked it, Lam said. It was a welcome comfort in a frightening time to see people enjoying art.

She did not consciously tie her exhibition with her Asian American identity; she emphasized in the open call for artists that you dont have to make art about being Asians. Yet it was a well-timed defense for her community.

There was a lot of scapegoating and anti-Asian sentiment. But having all these Asian artists making art and showing our stories provided an antidote to that, she said. I didnt propose that it changed the world or anything, but art can be used for compassion and connection.

The daughter of Hong Kong immigrants, Lam grew up in Northbrook, a predominantly white suburb in Chicago, where she was often the only Asian in her class.

For me, it was a point of pride, she said. I always felt very proud to be Chinese and to be able to teach people about my culture more.

Like many Chinese American immigrants, her parents mostly spoke Cantonese to her at home. But they didnt force her to become a doctor or a lawyer.

I was fortunate that my parents never pushed me to be anything I didnt want to be, she said. So, Ive always been an artist from the get-go. I was born an artist.

Her mom is a retired graphic designer, which, according to Lam, is perhaps the biological origin of her visual talents and gifts. But its funny, because I kind of rejected the graphic design part of art, she said. Im always like, Oh, I can do this on my own. I can teach myself.

Even as a baby, she learned English by watching Sesame Street and began drawing and scribbling on a piece of computer paper with a pen she grabbed from her mom.

Its why to this day, I cant hold a pencil or a pen the right way. It looks like Im putting a balled-up fist,she said.

At age 17, Lam went to Columbia University, instead of an art school, and studied visual arts. I wanted a general education. As a kid, I was a huge nerd. I just loved learning for the sake of it, she said. And also, just in case there was a tiny chance I changed my mind and didnt want to be an artist anymore. But [that] wouldnt happen.

With only 13 students in the program and one art class per semester, Lam likens her studies at Columbia to working in a studio. We werent really taught technique. It would be [more] like concepts. So, its good that I was self-taught. I knew how to learn because otherwise, I wouldnt know what to do, she said.

Artist and curator Jenny Lam poses for a portrait at Chinatown Square in Chicago.

Artist and curator Jenny Lam poses for a portrait at Chinatown Square in Chicago.

In 2005, Lam first heard the word curator after joining Postcrypt Art Gallery, the only art-related student club for undergraduates at the time.

Later, as the club president during the last two years of college, she grew to love putting on those great DIY underground shows and events.

It was literally underground because the gallery was in the basement of a chapel, a strange location for an art gallery, she said. Thats how I fell in love with curating. So just kind of bouncing, making art and curating art for other artists.

After graduating in 2009 during the recession, Lam returned to Chicago. I didnt know what to do. There wasnt really any opportunity, she said.

Thankfully, Robin Rios, owner of 4Art Inc. Gallery  where she was an intern one summerduring college  invited her to become the head curator. A few months later, in 2010, she curated Somnambulist, a dream-related exhibition. The gallery space on the second floor was empty and raw, like a warehouse space, she said.

This time, Lams ability to self-explore came into play as well.

Later, Robin and I came up with the idea of hanging the artwork from the ceiling beams, which turned out great because it added to the dreamy atmosphere, she said.

Lam always wants to pick things up for herself, she said, so she decided to do something on her own and become an independent curator. Thats how she started Artists on the Lam and curated her first independent show, Exquisite Corpse, in June 2011.

Working for yourself meant making up your own rules, she explained. I want to have more flexibility. I want to change things up: both traditional exhibitions and something innovative and interesting.

During our conversation, Lam kept receiving submissions by email because it was the final day of the open call for Hygge.

Its just a cozy home show, she said. One thing this pandemic has taught us is how to better enjoy the simple pleasure of being in the house with your family, with the people you care about, and appreciating life and art together.
(Bloomberg) -- JetBlue Airways Corp. orchestrated a campaign to flood the government with thousands of online comments from employees in favor of the airlines bid to merge with Spirit Airlines Inc.

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The campaign, which included a pre-written form in support of the merger, generated roughly 90% of the more than 10,000 comments on the Transportation Departments public comment page. The comments are identical and are identified as coming from JetBlue and Spirit crew members who wrote that they believe the $3.8 billion merger will improve their lives, according to a Bloomberg News review of the database.

More than a dozen JetBlue employees interviewed by Bloomberg said that they either didnt consent to having their names used publicly or didnt understand that the form would lead to a public comment in support of the merger. Some said they didnt believe they had completed a form.

It would be out of character for me to make any public statement about impending business transactions by my employer, said Jordan Onorato, a JetBlue employee, in a phone interview. He said he had no idea that his name was being used in support of the merger.

Positive Response

A JetBlue spokeswoman said those who filled out an online form at the request of the companys chief executive were informed how it would be used.

Emily Martin, the spokeswoman, said the airline received an overwhelmingly positive response from crew members about the merger and set up a tool to drive comments toward the Transportation Department as well as the Justice Department. The two agencies have come out against the merger.

Its not uncommon for US airlines to ask employees to email or call members of Congress to lobby on behalf of a particular issue, sometimes providing suggested wording or forms that could be filled out. Carriers used such an effort to help secure $54 billion in federal aid during the pandemic.

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Tyesha Best, president of the Transport Workers Union local that represents 6,800 JetBlue flight attendants, said no one they had spoken with realized that a February email from JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes encouraging employees to support the transaction would lead to a public comment with the federal government.

The union opposes the merger, saying that JetBlue hasnt offered its workers enough information about how it will impact their jobs going forward.

JetBlue deceived their own workforce, said John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union of America. The comments arent an accurate gauge of the temperature of the JetBlue employees.

Southwest Airlines Co. conducted a similar campaign between 2004 and 2006, urging both employees and customers to lobby for the repeal of a federal law limiting flights at Dallas Love Field. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. rallied support to secure approval to be the first carrier to fly between Washington and Cape Town in 2022. Unions also have urged members to advocate for legislation on specific issues by contacting representatives in Congress.

But critics have complained for years that its too easy for special interests to game public comments to the government.

The New York Attorney General, in a 2021 report, found that more than 80% of the 22 million comments on Federal Communications Commission net-neutrality rules were fake.

A 2021 Government Accountability Office study of 10 federal agencies found that between 5% and 30% of people they surveyed said they didnt submit a public comment that used their name to argue for or against government policies.

Earlier: N.Y. Blasts Broadband Firms for Fake Net Neutrality Comments

Biden Opposition

The Biden administration opposes the JetBlue-Spirit merger, saying it would lead to higher prices for consumers. The Justice Department in March sued to block the deal, while the Transportation Department said it would deny the airlines request for a license that would allow them to operate as a single carrier. A trial on the Justice Departments suit is set for October.

JetBlue and Spirit contest the Justice Departments suit, describing themselves in court filings Monday as industry disruptors who can bring better service and lower fares for passengers.

The companies turned to their employees to push back on the governments efforts. The email from JetBlues Hayes encouraged employees to tell regulators you want them to allow JetBlue to move forward.

Please consider taking a few minutes to add your voice and tell government officials you support the Spirit acquisition, Hayes wrote, according to a copy of the email shared with Bloomberg News, which included a link to a form that sent comments directly to the Transportation Department. The email doesnt disclose that the form would result in a public comment under the persons name.

Political tool

There are significant divisions among employees of the airlines over whether the proposed merger would help or hurt them. The Transport Workers Union asked the Justice and Transportation departments to block the merger.

Meanwhile, the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents 5,600 flight attendants at Spirit, announced its support for the merger. That happened after the company agreed to a new contract in February granting immediate wage increases and a written commitment from JetBlue that it wont move workers out of their current job locations. JetBlue hasnt offered a similar promise to its own flight attendants, Best, with the JetBlue union, said.

Steven Balla, a George Washington University professor who researches the public comment process, said mass comments dont typically sway regulators decisions, but they are a powerful political tool.

These mass-comment campaigns are more about the organization speaking to outside political audiences, Balla said. Agencies, a lot of the time, dont know who sponsored the mass comment campaign.

--With assistance from David Ingold.

(Corrects headline to more accurately reflect what JetBlue employees said. An earlier version corrected spelling of John Samuelsens name.)

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A vigil on Monday to honor the life of Jordan Neely, who was killed after being held in a chokehold by another passenger on a New York City subway train. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Jordan Neely, a young Black man who was killed on a New York City subway train after being deemed a threat, grappled with both homelessness and mental health crises. Advocates say the criminalization of homelessness, and the publics negative perception of people who experience living on the streets, may have acted as a precursor to his death.

A disproportionate share of the homeless population is Black, and then you tie that into having a mental health problem, that's another layer, Steve Berg, chief policy officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, told Yahoo News.

In 2022, the Department of Housing and Urban Development counted around 582,500 people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., with about 37% identifying as Black. According to SMI Adviser, a network of clinics that provides support for people with serious mental illness, 20% to 25% of the U.S. homeless population suffers from serious mental health issues.

Having a mental illness is often a cause of homelessness, and the experience of being homeless makes it worse, Berg explained. So there are a lot of people who are trying to cope with that situation of not having a place to live. One of the things that makes it hard is that youre always in danger. And this was an example of the kind of danger that people are in.

Jordan Neelys death

Neely is held in a chokehold by a fellow subway passenger on May 1. (Juan Alberto Vazquez/via Reuters)

The 30-year-old Neely died on May 1 from compression of [the] neck after a confrontation with subway passenger Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old ex-Marine. Passengers told police that Neely had been acting in a hostile and erratic manner, throwing garbage at commuters, screaming for food and something to drink.

Juan Alberto Vazquez, a witness who recorded the incident on video, said Neely screamed, Im tired already. I dont care if I go to jail and get locked up. Im ready to die.

Penny then placed Neely in a chokehold for a reported 15 minutes, while two other men pinned him down by his arms and legs.

Police took Penny into custody for questioning after the incident, but he was released without charges. The citys medical examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide, and the Manhattan district attorney's office said the killing remains under investigation.

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A history of systematic failures

Neely in New York's Times Square in 2009 before going to see the Michael Jackson movie "This Is It." (Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

According to his aunt Carolyn Neely, Jordan had spiraled into a complete mess at the age of 14 in 2007 after his mother, Christie, was reportedly strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and then discarded on a highway by her boyfriend.

It had a big impact on him, Carolyn Neely, who described herself as his closest relative, told the New York Post. He developed depression and it grew and became more serious. He was schizophrenic, PTSD. Doctors knew his condition and he needed to be treated for that. His aunt believes the system just failed him after unsuccessful attempts to get judges and doctors to assist her nephew in getting the treatment he needed.

Neely was placed in a foster home, but eventually aged out of the system and became homeless in New York City. As a means of survival, he became a staple on subway platforms and trains as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He also racked up dozens of charges for crimes like assault, indecent exposure and drugs.

In a place like New York City, it is illegal to be homeless, Krys Cerisier, the homeless union organizer at VOCAL-NY, an advocacy group for low-income people, told Yahoo News. If youre outside, thats loitering. Youre not supposed to be on the train. Its really easy to get picked up by the police if youre in the streets constantly as a Black man in New York.

New York Mayor Eric Adams has drawn sharp criticism for how Neelys case has been handled.

People who are dealing with mental health illness should get the help they need and not live on the train, Adams said of the Neely incident during a May 4 press conference. I'm going to continue to push on that.

The former cop and state lawmaker has proposed to take on the citys population of an estimated 75,000 experiencing homelessness and the issue of public safety, saying homelessness is a cancerous sore. In 2022, he rolled out a treatment plan to bar people who are homeless from the subway and for people deemed to be in psychiatric crisis to be involuntarily hospitalized by law enforcement and emergency medical workers.

Advocates like Cerisier have also called out systematic overlappings and gaping holes that leave people vulnerable to homelessness, such as broken foster care systems, a lack of government funding, landlord discrimination in the states emergency housing voucher system and understaffed Department of Homeless Services workers who face an insurmountable workload to secure housing and resources for people who need them.

A lot of the safety net systems and institutions in New York City like the foster care system, the shelter system, the incarceration system, are meant to rehabilitate but are set up for failure, Cerisier said. But you have people who are in these shelters for years on end. Kids leave foster care with no place to live a lot of the time. So by the time we see Jordan Neely on that train, that's after years of failure to gain access to resources.

Cerisier called out Adams and the city of New York for criminalizing homelessness and defunding social programs to provide resources to people experiencing housing and mental health crises. She said Neely could have avoided a mental breakdown had he had consistent access to basic needs, housing and mental health resources.

Neely was yelling about not having food, water, shelter, Cerisier said. That is not a mental health crisis. That is the symptoms and effect of having a massive population of people who do not have access to housing that they will end up in all of our public spaces because there's nowhere else to go.

These are very clear systematic failures that can be reflected on the way New York chooses to spread resources, she explained. That's why all of our social safety nets have been cut but the police have been funded. As a direct result, you're going to have more homeless people on the train and less resources to them.

Public perception of homeless people with mental health crises

Demonstrators marching to New York City's Washington Square Park on May 5. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

According to research by Invisible People, in 2020 around half of Americans said they were scared around homeless people, and about 47% believed people experiencing homelessness will cause crime in their neighborhoods, even though unsheltered homeless people are more likely to be crime victims.

In 2021, Invisible People found that 91% to 95% of Americans continued to support positive policy solutions like permanent supportive housing, overnight shelters, outreach services and expanded mental health services. But support dropped to 59% and 55%, respectively, for homeless housing or homeless shelters in their own neighborhoods.

Penny addressed Neelys history of mental illness in a statement issued through his lawyers.

Mr. Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness. When Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

Neelys family also released a statement, rebuking Pennys lack of apology or regret, framing it as a character assassination  in an effort to convince us Jordans life was worthless.

The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordans neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing. In the last paragraph, Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown indifference for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A Delaware judge has dismissed a shareholder lawsuit against financial technology company Block Inc. over its 2021 acquisition of majority ownership in Tidal, the music streaming service partly owned by rapper Jay-Z.

A pension fund shareholder alleged that Block founder and CEO Jack Dorsey and the companys board of directors breached their fiduciary duties in agreeing to pay roughly $300 million to take control of Tidal as it was failing financially and the target of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Chancellor Kathaleen St. Judge McCormick ruled Tuesday that the pension fund had failed to demand that Blocks board pursue legal action itself before filing a derivative lawsuit on behalf of the company. Under Delaware law, shareholders must make such a demand or demonstrate that doing so would be futile because a majority of directors were self-interested, lacked independence or faced a substantial likelihood of liability.

McCormick noted that the demand requirement is a manifestation of Delawares business judgment rule, under which courts defer to the decision-making of corporate directors unless there is an indication they acted in bad faith. That deference remains even if a corporate decision turns out to be unwise.

It seemed, by all accounts, a terrible business decision, the judge said of Blocks acquisition of Tidal. Under Delaware law, however, a board comprised of a majority of disinterested and independent directors is free to make a terrible business decision without any meaningful threat of liability, so long as the directors approve the action in good faith.

Tidal, which presented itself as an artist-friendly alternative to other music streaming services, was formed when a group of recording artists led by Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, acquired Norwegian streaming service Aspiro in 2015 for $56 million. Rebranded as Tidal, it struggled to attract subscribers, logging multimillion-dollar losses for 10 consecutive quarters by mid-2020. It also churned through five different CEOs by 2020, when Carter personally extended a $50 million loan to the struggling outfit. Meanwhile, Tidal became the target of a criminal investigation in Norway for artificially inflating its streaming numbers.

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Nevertheless, Dorsey, who is also the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, began thinking of acquiring Tidal after summering with his friend Carter in the Hamptons in 2020, according to court documents. By videoconference from the Hamptons, he raised the issue during a Block board meeting. The directors agreed to form a transaction committee while Dorsey drafted and submitted a nonbinding letter of intent to purchase Tidal for $554.8 million.

A management report to the transaction committee in October 2020 raised several red flags. They included Tidal's difficulties in attracting subscribers in a market dominated by Spotify, with most of the remaining market share captured by Apple and Amazon. The report also noted the Norwegian criminal probe and a federal lawsuit by performing artists who said Tidal was withholding royalties they were owed. A week later, the committee was presented with another report discussing Tidals history of quarterly losses, expiration of artist contracts, and $127 million in accrued liabilities. A slide presentation noted that Dorsey was the only person advocating strongly for the deal, which had received substantial push back from Blocks senior executives.

The committee nevertheless instructed management to continue pursuing the deal. In early 2021, after Tidal missed its financial forecasts for 2020 and Blocks management reduced its valuation of Tidal to $350 million, Dorsey proposed buying 88% of the company for $309 million. The deal closed on April 30, with Block paying $237.3 million after adjustments for an 86.23% stake.

It is reasonably conceivable that Dorsey used corporate coffers to bolster his relationship with Carter, wrote McCormick. The judge also noted that the defendants conceded that Carter, who joined Blocks board as part of the deal, could not be considered impartial.

McCormick concluded, however, that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate bad faith by members of the transaction committee in approving the deal.

Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts to make a reasonable person question the business wisdom of the Tidal acquisition, but plaintiff has failed to plead that the committee defendants acted in bad faith and thus faced a substantial likelihood of liability for that decision, she wrote.
Elon Musk. Jonathan Raa/Getty Images

A lawsuit alleging Twitter discriminated against women was dismissed by the judge on Monday.

It said "unreasonable" working hours unfairly affected women and cited past apparently-sexist statements from Elon Musk.

The judge said they should've gone through federal agencies first, but they can refile the complaint.

A lawsuit which alleged Twitter's mass layoffs discriminated against women was dismissed on Monday.

Two former employees first filed the suit last December, a month after Elon Musk laid off half the company's staff. The suit, which Insider has seen, says 57% of female workers were laid off, compared to 47% of males.

It also cited Musk's "unreasonable" demands Twitter staff work 84-hours a week, and the end of the work from home policy.

"Elon Musk would certainly have known that these policy changes and expectations would have a disproportionate impact on women, who are more often caregivers for children and other family members, and thus not able to comply with such demands," the suit said.

However, US District Judge Jon Tigar dismissed the case because the plaintiffs hadn't first attempted to resolve the complaint through federal agencies.

Tigar added that the layoffs and long working hours are "two discrete acts insufficient to support the allegation that discriminatory conduct was 'a routine and regular part' of Twitter's workplace."

The plaintiffs are able to amend and refile their lawsuit.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the former Twitter employees, told Bloomberg she will indeed file a new complaint.

"The ultimate decision-maker in these layoffs, Elon Musk, has a history of making hostile and demeaning comments about women," Liss-Riodan told the news outlet. One such comment she alleged Musk said was: "It is more important for women to have babies than careers."

"It is not hard to make the connection as to why the managers acting closely under his supervision laid off more of the women at Twitter, particularly female engineers, than men," she added.

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The suit included other apparently sexist statements from Musk, but the judge said "isolated remarks, unrelated to the discriminatory employment decision, are generally insufficient to establish discriminatory intent."

On Monday, Insider's Kali Hays reported that Twitter staff are growing increasingly frustrated over a drastic cut to its parental leave policy.

Insider contacted Twitter for comment. The company responded with an automated message that didn't address the inquiry.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The jury in E. Jean Carroll's civil suit alleging Donald Trump raped and defamed her has started deliberations in the case.

The nine-person Manhattan federal court jury began their deliberations shortly before noon ET after U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan instructed them on the law in the case.

Because the case is civil, not criminal, the jury will find whether Trump is liable or not liable for the attack, and whether Carroll should be awarded financial damages. The standard for the jury to make the determination, the preponderance of the evidence, is lower than it is in a criminal case, where a jury has to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Carroll, a longtime magazine advice columnist, alleged Trump attacked her in a department store dressing room near his home in Trump Tower on an unspecified date in 1995 or 1996.

Carroll, 79, says the assault happened after she and the future president bumped into each other at the store and began shopping together. Trump has called her allegations a politically and financially motivated "hoax"  claims that Carroll and her attorneys told the jury were defamatory.

E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on May 9, 2023. (Justin Lane / EPA)

Carroll is suing for an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages for alleged battery and defamation. For E. Jean Carroll, this is not about the money, her lawyer Roberta Kaplan told jurors in closing arguments Monday, but about getting her name back.

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina told the six man, three-woman jury in his closing argument that his client's statements weren't defamatory, but rather were the truth.

Tacopina alleged Carroll was motivated by political hatred of the then-president when she went public with her claim in a book in 2019, and said that her outrageous story is not worthy of your belief.

The whole story is an unbelievable work of fiction, he said, adding, She was not raped at Bergdorf Goodman and was not defamed.

Trump did not appear in court during the trial, which started on April 25, but jurors were shown his videotaped deposition in the case from October, where he denied Carroll's claims under oath.

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He also maintained in the deposition that Carroll was "not my type," despite misidentifying a picture of Carroll in the 1980s as being Marla Maples, Trump's second wife.

Trump's lawyers did not put on a defense case.

Trump waived his right to testify in the case through his lawyer Thursday morning, but told reporters in Ireland that afternoon he was returning to New York because of the case.

The judge then gave him until Sunday at 5 p.m. to change his mind about testifying, a deadline that Trump let pass.

Despite that, Trump took to his Truth Social social media account Tuesday morning to complain he was being silenced.

"Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me," he said.

"I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!"

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Kansas City man was convicted in federal court Friday in an alleged cyberstalking conspiracy where a GPS device was used to stalk and kill a person in 2018.

Lester E. Brown, 36, was found guilty by a federal jury on three felony counts: conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, unlawful gun possession and cyberstalking resulting in death.

Two others  Michael Young, 32, and Ronnell Pearson, 36  pleaded guilty prior to Browns conviction. They await sentencing.

Prosecutors say Brown, Young and Pearson acted together to track and murder 30-year-old Christopher Harris in March 2018. According to court records, investigators found there was a longstanding feud between Brown and Harris as rival marijuana dealers.

Harris was shot and killed while picking up his then-8-year-old daughter from a Raytown dance studio and dropping her off at her mothers Independence home. The three men allegedly followed him that day, and fatally shot him in front of his kid.

Brown allegedly stood over Harris and fired the final two shots. The child was not physically harmed.

Prosecutors say the three men had been sending threatening messages to Harris and were demanding monthly payments from him of $10,000. Investigators determined they had also followed his girlfriend and put tracking devices associated with Harris.

Prosecutors said the case was also tied to the 2013 killing of Ryan Cobbins, a 25-year-old found shot to death in a vacant Kansas City house.

Cobbins was reported missing in October 2013 after he missed an appointment for a haircut. Harris allegedly arranged a $20,000 payment to Brown seeking the safe return of Cobbins, a friend of his.

Fourteen months later, Cobbins was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in the 3500 block of Flora Avenue.

Under federal law, Brown faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A sentencing hearing in his case had yet to be scheduled Monday afternoon.
US magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll departs the Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on May 9, 2023. A New York jury ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump was liable for the sexual abuse of an American former magazine columnist in the mid-1990s, multiple US media reported. The nine jurors decided following a civil trial that the ex-president did not rape E. Jean Carroll, but did find him liable for defaming her, The New York Times, CNN and others reported. Trump was ordered to pay Carroll a total of $5 million in damages, the reports said. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

After just three hours of deliberations on Tuesday, a jury found former president Donald Trump civilly liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll stemming from an incident in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. The jury awarded her roughly $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.



Trump responded within minutes with an all-caps message on Truth Social. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS. DISGRACE, he wrote. A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!

Read more

Donald Trump responds to the jurys verdict in E. Jean Carroll case: pic.twitter.com/qyExENbQ2d  Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) May 9, 2023

Just before the verdict was read, Judge Lewis Kaplan pleaded for decorum in the courtroom. No shouting, he said. No jumping up and down. No race for the door.



Trump was found liable for defaming Carroll based on a Truth Social post in which he called Carrolls case a complete con job in October. Trump had previously denied Carrolls claim that he raped her in a dressing room decades ago, calling the allegations a hoax and a lie and saying shes not his type.

In addition to the defamation, the jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll but that her side did not prove the rape charge.

On Monday, Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan pushed back against the latter claim by playing video of Trumps deposition wherein he mistakenly identified Carroll as his ex-wife Marla Maples. What did Mr. Trump do after I showed him that photograph? Kaplan said to the jury. He looked at it for a moment and then, completely unprompted by me, he said, Its Marla. She was exactly his type!

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He said the photo was blurry. But thats the photo, ladies and gentlemen, Kaplan, showing the photo of Carroll, her then-husband, Trump and Ivana Trump, in the 1980s, contradicting his claim that he had never met the writer. The truth is that E. Jean Carroll, a former cheerleader and Ms. Indiana, was exactly Donald Trumps type.

Trumps legal team did not call any witnesses in the former presidents defense, and Trump did not end up casually swinging by the proceedings.

Earlier in the case, the jurymade up of six men and three womenheard from Carrolls friend Lisa Birnbach. Carroll called her minutes after the assault in the Bergdorf dressing room, breathless, hyperventilating, emotional, she testified. He pulled down my tights, he pulled down my tights. Like she couldnt believe it. She was still processing what happened to her. It had just happened to her, Birnbach told the jury. She said she told Carroll E. Jean he raped you. You should go to the police.

Carroll never would. Instead, she would keep silent about the dressing room incident. In 2019, she published her memoir What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal, in which he finally detailed what happened that day back in the mid 90s. Carroll was able to file suit against Trump because of the New York state law, the Adult Survivors Act. It opened a one-year lookback window for sexual abuse survivors to sue their abusers.

Carroll herself took the stand in emotion testimony that explained why she kept silent. Why did you think it was your fault, Ms. Carroll? asked one of her attorneys, Michael Ferrara.

Because I was flirting with him and laughing and having one of the great times. It was high comedy. It was funny, Carroll said.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) thanked Carroll for going public. We thank E. Jean Carroll, who will inspire survivors to come forward to tell their stories and face perpetrators, the largest anti-sexual assault nonprofit in the country said in a statement. This case demonstrates that all perpetrators, no matter how powerful, can and will be held accountable.

The jury is now free to go public if they so choose, Judge Kaplan told the jury. My advice to you is not to identify yourselves. Not now and not for a long time, Kaplan said.

Republican lawmakers are taking their time commenting on the verdict.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said he was in a meeting when Trump verdict came out. "Don't know anything about it.*  Jonathan Nicholson (@JNicholsonInDC) May 9, 2023

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A Manhattan jury unanimously sided with advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in her civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, whom she says raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

The panel reached its decision Tuesday after less than three hours of deliberation, finding him liable for sexual abuse  but not rape  and declaring he owes $5 million in total damages.

Trump never appeared in court once. His attorneys called no witnesses on his behalf.

Carroll beamed and squeezed the hand of one of her attorneys, Roberta Kaplan, as she exited the courthouse.

Were very happy, she told a crowd of reporters, per Law & Crime, declining to comment further.

Trump, meanwhile, reacted angrily on social media, calling the verdict A DISGRACE and A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!

Carroll was able to sue for battery under New Yorks Adult Survivors Act that was passed last year to allow people who were sexually abused a one-time chance to file civil suits despite any relevant statutes of limitations.

She also accused Trump of defamation, as the former president has repeatedly responded to her claims with an array of personal insults. Trump has said Carroll was a liar and called her claim a hoax, which could not be true because Carroll was not his type. He also suggested she was too old at the time to compel his sexual interest, although they would have been nearly the same age. In his videotaped deposition played for the jury, Trump even confused Carroll for one of his ex-wives, Marla Maples, as he examined a decades-old photograph of himself at a party with Carroll.

Jurors awarded Carroll $2 million for the finding of sexual abuse and another $3 million for the defamation claim; she had not asked for any precise monetary amount.

A witness for Carroll, Natasha Stoynoff, told People magazine she was elated to hear the verdict. Stoynoff was one of two women who provided testimony to establish a pattern of misbehavior on Trumps part; she and Jessica Leeds both said in court that Trump sexually assaulted them.

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I hope women and all of those who come forward to share stories of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment find support, Stoynoff told the outlet, adding, There is power in the truth.

While Trump faced no risk of jail time in connection with Carrolls claims, criminal charges filed in April by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg relating to alleged hush money payments come with the possibility of time behind bars, albeit a slim one. Other investigations into Trump are also pending as he continues his campaign for a second presidential term.

Over several days worth of testimony before the panel of jurors and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, the former Elle magazine columnist recounted the chance encounter with Trump in either late 1995 or early 1996. (She said that despite wishing she could pin down a more precise date, she could not.) She bumped into Trump while leaving Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman luxury department store, she said.

E. Jean Carroll, center, testifies in court alongside a 1980s party photograph of herself and Trump.

E. Jean Carroll, center, testifies in court alongside a 1980s party photograph of herself and Trump.

Hey, youre that advice lady! Trump allegedly told her.

Hey, youre that real estate tycoon! she said that she responded.

Carroll said Trump asked for her help in picking out a gift for a female friend and that she agreed because it sounded fun. But their friendly banter throughout the store gave way to an attack, she testified.

In the lingerie section, Carroll said Trump told her to try on a lace bodysuit, and she replied by joking that he should try it on. Trump then trapped her in a dressing room, using his body weight to prevent her from escaping, she said.

The first push, I thought, He couldnt have meant that. I thought he had made a mistake. I thought it was very strange, Carroll testified, per CNN.

E. Jean Carroll, seen here in an April 26 sketch, occasionally spoke through tears during her testimony about the alleged rape.

E. Jean Carroll, seen here in an April 26 sketch, occasionally spoke through tears during her testimony about the alleged rape.

We had just been laughing 12, 15 seconds before, and here I am being pushed up against the wall. It just didnt make any sense, she said. Then he put his mouth against mine, and then I understood.

She said that she struggled.

But he had pulled down my tights, and his fingers went into my vagina, and it was extremely painful, Carroll testified, per Politico. Extremely painful because he put his hand inside me and curved his fingers. As Im sitting here today, I can still feel it.

Then he inserted his penis, Carroll said in court. She added that she had so much adrenaline running through her at the time that she was not sure whether she spoke but was able to run away after a few minutes.

Carroll testified that the incident has affected her for three decades  she has not had sex since and struggles at times to interact with men.

She confided at the time in two friends, who both testified in court in support of her claims, but chose not to tell anyone else until going public with her story in 2019.

In her lawsuit, lawyers for Carroll said she resented the fact that practically every woman who courageously came forward with their stories of abuse was subjected to questions like why didnt you scream.

In one of the more tense parts of the trial, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina asked precisely that.

You cant beat up on me for not screaming, Carroll told Tacopina, several news outlets reported.

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina arrives at court on April 27.

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina arrives at court on April 27.

One of the reasons women dont come forward is because theyre always asked, Why didnt you scream? Some women scream; some women dont. It keeps women silent, Carroll added, according to The Washington Post.

She then raised her voice to add: He raped me whether I screamed or not!

Tacopinas lines of questioning were often met with resistance by Kaplan, who told him he was being argumentative and repetitive, The New York Times reported.

But he still used his time questioning Carroll to cast doubt on her story, pointing to the lack of a concrete timeframe and any police report. Tacopina also suggested it would have been very strange for Carroll not to have encountered any Bergdorf Goodman employees.

Carroll said it wasnt until she saw the Harvey Weinstein scandal play out in the fall of 2017 that she decided to go public.

She had been reluctant to speak up during the 2016 election because her mother was in poor health, and she saw how Trumps supporters rallied around him when other women alleged abuse. But she eventually came forward after her mother died and after she saw how the MeToo movement galvanized support for people who endured sexual harassment and assault.

The verdict appears to reflect changing norms of the post-Me Too era that dispense with the assumption that women are supposed to behave in certain ways after sexual assault, and if they do not, they are not believable.

Attorneys for Carroll built their case using what corroborative evidence they had: the accounts of Carrolls confidantes at the time and women who say they also experienced abuse by Trump, along with his infamous Access Hollywood commentary, to paint a picture of a man wholly capable of sexual abuse.

Trumps attorneys say he plans to appeal.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

CORRECTION: A prior version of this story incorrectly stated that Marla Maples was in the photo with E. Jean Carroll and Trump.

Related...
A Gastonia man accused of fatally shooting a woman in 2020 says that the woman was shot as the two struggled over a gun, but prosecutors argue that the killing was part of a pattern of domestic violence.

Zkevis Jarta Williams, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in the June 29, 2020, death of his sometime girlfriend, Whitney Denise Petway.

Whitney Petway, 27, was shot June 29, 2020. Prosecutors allege that a man she was dating, Zkevis Jarta Williams, killed her.

Jury selection in Williams' criminal trial began Monday.

In hearings before jury selection began, Assistant District Attorney Deborah Gulledge said that she plans to introduce evidence that shows Williams had abused Petway multiple times during their relationship, even pushing her down a flight of stairs the night she was shot. In another instance, months prior to the shooting, Gulledge said, Williams and Petway texted about an assault, and Williams allegedly admitted he went too far, telling Petway that he blacked out and that it would never happen again.

Zkevis Jarta Williams, accused of shooting a woman at a hotel in Gastonia in 2020, enters the courtroom Monday morning, May 8, 2023, at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Zkevis Jarta Williams, accused of shooting a woman at a hotel in Gastonia in 2020, leaves the courtroom Monday morning, May 8, 2023, at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Gulledge said that Petway was planning to leave Williams, but she worried about what Williams would do to her when he found out.

Williams told investigators after the shooting that the two had been arguing in their hotel room at WoodSpring Suites, and Petway lunged for a gun.

Williams said that the two were struggling over the gun when it discharged, killing Petway, Gulledge said.

Whitney Petway, 27, was killed by a man she was trying to leave, prosecutors say.

One of Williams' defense attorneys, Patrick Roberts, asked Senior Resident Superior Court Judge David Phillips not to allow the testimony about previous assaults. He said most of the incidents occurred well before the fatal shooting.

Phillips, however, ruled that the testimony will be allowed.

Derrick Petway said that waiting nearly three years for a criminal trial in his sister's death has been difficult.

'Devastation'

Petway's brother, Derrick Petway, said in an interview after the court hearing Monday that waiting nearly three years for Williams to go to trial has been difficult.

"You think about it every day. You remember all the things that you went through with the person  you see family members and they ask questions," he said. "So, it's like an onslaught of devastation to you every day."

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Whitney Petway, her brother said, spent four years in the U.S. Army. After leaving the Army in 2016, she moved to Charlotte, and by 2020, she was working with her brother to build a distribution company.

Whitney Petway, 27, served in the U.S. Army for four years, her brother said.

"She always had my back. So, whenever I needed a confidante or anything, I could call her," he said. "No matter what it was, I could say it to her, and she would give me the best advice or she'd give me a lashing. Whatever I needed at the time, she was always there."

Jury selection resumes Tuesday, and it could last several days, according to District Attorney Travis Page. The trial is expected to last a week. Williams could be sentenced to life in prison without parole if convicted.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Zkevis Williams is charged with murder in shooting of Whitney Petway
Angela Constance, the justice secretary, addressed Scottish parliament on Tuesday - Kan Jack/Getty Images

Scotlands justice secretary has insisted plans for juryless rape trials will go ahead despite the scheme facing a national boycott from defence lawyers.

Angela Constance insisted on Tuesday that the SNP plans for a pilot that would see defendants tried by a single judge would go ahead, despite a mounting backlash from the legal profession over the proposals.

Some feminist campaigners have claimed juryless trials are needed because of widespread belief in sexist rape myths among the public, which cause them to wrongly acquit predators.

However, criminal lawyers north of the border have insisted there is nothing wrong with the jury system and that plans designed to artificially drive up conviction rates will risk major miscarriages of justice.

Bar associations in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have vowed to boycott any pilot with more bodies across Scotland rapidly joining the boycott.

However, Ms Constance insisted that the proposals, planned as part of a wider shake-up of the Scottish justice system that would also see the non-proven verdict scrapped, would not be dropped.

The legal profession is not a homogeneous group, there are a range of voices in the legal establishment, she said. I am of course disappointed that some criminal defence lawyers disagree with Lady Dorrian, the second most senior judge in the land, who made a recommendation for a pilot.

I am determined to proceed in partnership we are at the very start of a journey and parliament will have to listen to all the voices and views, not just within our legal profession.

While there is no universal legal right to trial by jury in Scotland, serious cases are currently decided by a jury of 15 people. The maximum sentence for those found guilty of rape is life in jail.

So-called rape myths, which the SNP government claims help explain low conviction rates, include that rape is predominantly carried out by strangers in public places or that victims will always seek to fight off attackers.

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However, lawyers have said it is the nature of rape cases, where there are rarely witnesses, that explain low conviction rates when compared to other offences.

Defendants not represented

Ms Constance did not explain how a pilot could proceed without defendants being represented, should lawyers boycott jury-free trials en masse.

She said she would also consult experts by experience, who she said were people who were let down by our legal establishment.

However, Stuart Murray, vice president of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, said there was huge concern about the plans.

He accused the SNP government of being disingenuous by claiming 80 per cent of trials already take place without a jury, as these relate to mainly minor offences in which a defendant cannot be jailed for more than a year.

A pilot could otherwise be described as an experiment, he said. It [the boycott] is a reaction to a knee-jerk reaction from the Scottish government, a blatant attempt to increase conviction rates.

The nature of these charges are far more intimate, so its not common to have things like CCTV, body-worn footage, extensive witnesses. That in itself is going to lower conviction rates.

The boycott is spreading, there are now seven or eight [bar associations] that have come out in the last week or so. There are more votes over the next week or so. I have no doubt it will be effectively unanimous.



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Wooster Township Fire Department Chief Dallas Terrell stands by one of the department's engines. He was named Ohio Fire Officer of the Year for his outstanding service to Wayne County communities.

WOOSTER TWP.  Dallas Terrell, a firefighting veteran and leader of the Wayne County fire and paramedic communities, received the 2023 Ohio Fire Officer of the Year award.

Ohio Department of Commerces Division of State Fire Marshal and the Ohio Department of Public Safetys Division of EMS awarded Terrell, chief of the Wooster Township Fire Department, the honor in late April.

Honoring the fallen: Town & County firefighter Lt. Wigal to be memorialized at Maryland event

"I am very humbled and blessed to have worked with the people at the Wayne County Regional Training Facility," he said.

The award honors fire officers who showed outstanding work in their community.

Hard work in a hard year

This comes after a tragic 2022, which saw three Wayne County fire community members die in roughly three days, said South Central Fire District Chief Josh Martel.

In April of last year, Town & Country Fire District Lt. Philip Wigal, Wayne County Regional Training Facility Executive Director Erica Springer and a young firefighter died in unrelated circumstances.

"(Terrell) made sure the departments had what they needed, and he was there to talk," Martel said. "He covered our stations when we were out."

Remebering Springer: 'Big shoes to fill': Wayne County Regional Training Facility mourns Erica Springer's death

For Wooster Fire Department Assistant Chief Eric Roque, Terrell is always ready to help anyone under his command or in nearby departments and communities.

"I really sense compassion from him," Roque said.

The events of 2022 allowed the various fire departments to come together, Terrell said.

"We help each other, that's what we do anytime a tragic event occurs," he said.

Over two decades of experience

Terrell has been a key member of the firefighting community since he joined the Wooster Township Fire Department on a volunteer basis in 2001.

Four years later he became a full-time firefighter and paramedic before being promoted to lieutenant in 2015.

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During that time, Terrell was a fire instructor at the Wayne County Regional Training Facility in near Apple Creek.

Around the time he became lieutenant, he was named the training facility's executive director, a position he held until 2021 when he accepted the role of Wooster Township fire chief.

"I just do my part," Terrell said. "We have a great group of EMTs and firefighters."

Among his goals since starting at the training facility and now as fire chief is to help everyone grow their skillsets and further their education.

Seeing a firefighter or paramedic thrives is what makes his job worth it, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wooster Township Fire chief named Ohio Fire Officer of Year
Salt Lake Police investigate a scene in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. A widow from Kamas, Utah has been accused of murdering her husband by allegedly giving him a fentanyl overdose. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A Kamas woman who recently published a book to help families deal with the unexpected loss of a loved one, one year after her own husband's death, is now accused of killing him.

Kouri Darden Richins, 33, was charged Monday in Summit County's 3rd District Court with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; and three counts of drug possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony.

Her charges and arrest warrant were issued under seal on Monday as Summit County sheriff's deputies went to serve the warrant. The warrant was unsealed Monday afternoon after she was arrested and booked into the Summit County Jail.

Eric Richins, 39, died unexpectedly at his home on March 4, 2022. A toxicology report from the Utah Medical Examiners Office, however, determined that he died from an overdose of fentanyl and that the level of fentanyl in Erics system was approximately five times the lethal dosage, according to charging documents.

Eric Richins | Family photo

But according to one of several search warrant affidavits served in the case, "There was no indication from friends or family or (evidence) on scene that Eric was a drug user or that he had any use or behavioral changes to indicate drug use."

Kouri Richins claimed on March 3, 2022, she and her husband were celebrating a house closing that Kouri had made for her business, the charge state. She told police that she made Eric Richins an alcoholic drink and then went to bed. Kouri says she woke up about 3 a.m. on March 4, 2022, to find her husband was "cold to the touch" and called 911.

But according to the search warrant, members of Eric's family immediately suspected that Kouri Richins had something to do with his death.

"They advised he warned them that if anything happened to him she was to blame. According to a sister, Eric and his wife went to Greece a few years ago and after his wife gave him a drink he became violently ill and called his sister saying he believed his wife had tried to kill him. On Valentine's Day of 2022, his wife brought him a sandwich, which after one bite Eric broke into hives and couldn't breathe," the warrant states.

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According to the warrant, Eric Richins' family allegedly told police that Eric was seeking a divorce and had "recently changed his will and life insurance from his wife to his sister.

"Also, according to the family, Eric and his wife were arguing over buying a nearly $2 million property she wanted to 'flip.' He was planning on telling her that he wasn't going to sign the papers. The day after Eric's death, his wife allegedly signed the closing papers on the home. This was the 'celebration' that his wife claimed they were celebrating, was buying the home," the warrant states.

Detectives investigating Eric Richins' death noted inconsistencies in Kouri Richins' statements to them and determined there were messages that had been sent and received during the time she claimed she left her phone to charge next to her bed, and that those messages had been deleted, according to the charges.

Warrants were served on all the electronic devices in the Richins' home and investigators found several messages between Kouri Richins and an acquaintance who detectives learned had a criminal history of drug distribution, the charges state.

On May 2, investigators interviewed the acquaintance who allegedly said that before her husband died, Kouri Richins wanted to buy medication, allegedly for an investor with a back injury, the charges state.

"About two weeks later, (Richins) contacted (the acquaintance) again and said that her investor wanted something stronger and asked for 'some of the Michael Jackson stuff.' The defendant asked specifically for fentanyl," according to the charges.

On Feb. 11, 2022, the acquaintance was able to acquire 15 to 30 fentanyl pills and gave them to Richins for $900, the charges state.

"Three days later, on Feb. 14, 2022, Eric and defendant had a Valentine's Day dinner at their Kamas home. Shortly after the dinner, Eric became very ill. Eric believed that he had been poisoned. Eric told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him," according to the charges.

Two weeks after that, Kouri Richins bought $900 more worth of fentanyl pills, the charges state.

"Six days later, on March 4, 2022, Eric was found dead of a fentanyl overdose," according to the charges.

Earlier this year, Kouri Richins, who has three children with Eric, wrote a children's book that she claims she wrote on how to cope with grief over the loss of a loved one.

"The Richins family has been devastated by the loss of their son and brother, Eric Richins, in March 2022. They hope that justice will be done. The family is thankful to all law enforcement for their efforts in pursuing this matter," Eric Richins' family said in a statement provided to KSL.

Eric Richins' friends described him as a loving father and outdoorsman.

"Eric was one of the hardest workers I ever knew," his friend, Kolby Sagers, told KSL-TV. "He had three boys that he loved more than anything."

Sagers said Richins loved hunting and spending time with family and friends.

"It's been sad without Eric. ... He was a great friend."

Contributing: Debbie Worthen
A Kansas abortion clinic is suing the Food and Drug Administration in an effort to retain access to a common medication used in abortions.

The Trust Women Foundation, which operates abortion clinics in Oklahoma and Wichita, is one of three plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit in Virginia seeking to block restrictions on mifepristone ordered by a federal judge in Texas last month.

The Texas judges ruling that overturned the FDAs approval of mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in a medication abortion, is currently under a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. But Trust Women, alongside clinics in Virginia and Montana, is seeking a ruling blocking the FDA from altering access in the three states.

A judge in Washington State issued a similar ruling for 17 other states last month.

Rebecca Tong, co-executive director of Trust Womens Wichita clinic, said the attacks on mifepristone were bad politics that would harm patients.

The consequences of restricted access will be significant: our ability to meet the overwhelming demand for services will be challenged and patients will experience devastating wait times for appointments, Tong said in a statement. All people should have meaningful local access to the fullest range of medical care supported by sciencetheir ability to access quality care should not depend on where they live but on the principles of good medicine.

The lawsuit, which was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights on Monday, explained that Trust Women had halted its plans to provide abortion via telemedicine because of ongoing litigation over mifepristone.

Last year, a Kansas court blocked enforcement of a Kansas law banning telemedicine abortion amid a lawsuit arguing the policy violates the state-level right to an abortion. Planned Parenthood began providing abortions via telemedicine in December.

The clinic, the suit said, provides medication abortions to patients up until the 11th week of their pregnancy.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last year Kansas became a major access point for abortion in the Great Plains as severe restrictions on the procedure went into place in Oklahoma and Missouri.

Last year, Kansas voters overwhelmingly chose to retain a right to the procedure in the state constitution. But physical access to the procedure in Kansas remains geographically limited.

Kansas currently has five abortion clinics, two in Wichita and three in the Kansas City metro area. Residents in the western half of the state face long travel times to reach in-person appointments in northeast or south-central Kansas.
Virtually all candidates in both major parties now run for office promising to be the fighter America needs. In such an angry time, thats a message that resonates, but not every fight can be won.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is being pressed by some of her strongest supporters to fight back against those who want to degrade public schools. These allies want her to veto a school funding bill that fails to boost special education funding and expands tax credit scholarships for private schools.

Then, shed call lawmakers into a special session, daring them to either override her veto, which they would not hesitate to do, or pass a new bill, which could be even worse. A special session would also allow Republicans to try again to pass unrelated legislation.

If we thought Kelly had a fair chance of improving the current bill in a special session, wed say she should go for it.

With a budget surplus, theres no real reason Kansas cant better fund its special education programs.

But giving Kansas lawmakers intent on eroding our public schools an additional opportunity to do so is not a good idea.

Republican state Rep. Kristey Williams, who chairs the House K-12 Budget Committee, has already said shed love another chance to make it worse, said Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park. Vouchers could be expanded even further, for example, as they were in one of the bills that was defeated.

The bottom line is this, she said: Those of us who support education are severely outnumbered; the group of people empowered to make decisions doesnt change with a special session. There was a time we could count on everyone in Johnson County to support public schools. Not anymore.

And theres no way wed be limited to education in a special session, Holscher said, so more anti-trans and anti-abortion rights bills would also be back on the agenda.

Kansas lawmakers have done enough damage. Until voters decide they and their children deserve better, the more time they spend out of session and away from Topeka the better.
A Kansas teacher was arrested Monday after being accused of child sex crimes.

Russell Thomas, 61, of Herington was arrested on suspicion of three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and misdemeanor battery, according to a news release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

He was booked into the Dickinson County Jail.

Thomas was previously arrested on April 12 by authorities after he was accused of intimidating a witness in a felony investigation, according to a previous KBI news release.

This crime is alleged to have occurred on April 7, the previous KBI news release said.

KBI communications director Melissa Underwood said the two arrests are connected.

Agents arrested Thomas in April for aggravated intimidation of a witness connected to the investigation, Underwood said in Mondays news release.

The April 12 news release said Thomas was a teacher in the Herington school district.
This photo of convicted quadruple murderer James Kraig Kahler was taken at the August 2011 hearing in which a jury recommended he be sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach's office is asking a judge to disqualify the Kansas Capital Habeas Office from representing convicted quadruple murderer James Kraig Kahler in a civil suit he is pursuing.

The state's deputy solicitor general, Kris Ailslieger, said in a recent court filing that a conflict of interest should preclude that office from arguing the suit, which seeks to vacate Kahler's convictions and sentence.

Kahler, 60, was sentenced to death in 2011 after being convicted of capital murder in the 2009 gunshot slayings of his estranged wife, their two daughters and his wife's grandmother at their home at Burlingame in Osage County.

Authorities said Kahler gunned down Karen Kahler, 44; Lauren Kahler, 16, and Emily Kahler, 18; and Dorothy Wight, 89. His 10-year-old son, Sean Kahler, escaped.

Why did James Kahler sue?

James Kraig Kahler sought to vacate his convictions and sentence by pursuing a lawsuit filed Jan. 19 in Osage County District Court.

The suit was filed through a process permitted by state law by attorney Julia Spainhour, of the Topeka-based Kansas Capital Habeas Office.

A hearing regarding the case is set to take place by Zoom at 1:30 p.m. May 22 in Osage County District Court, according to court records.

Kahler's suit cites 14 reasons his convictions and/or death sentence should be overturned, including saying that:

 Juror misconduct occurred during the trial.

 Kahler's legal counsel did an ineffective job.

 The State Board of Indigent Defense Services violated Kahler's Constitutional right to effective representation before his 2011 trial when it successfully challenged his indigency and, therefore, his eligibility for appointed counsel from the state's Death Penalty Defense Unit. That forced Kahler to have to hire his own attorney.

Patricia Scalia, executive director for SBIDS, maintained in that successful challenge that Kahler wasn't eligible for appointed counsel because he had more than $800,000 in assets.

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What does Kansas AG Kris Kobach's office say?

Ailslieger filed a May 1 motion in Osage County District Court seeking to disqualify the Habeas Office from representing Kahler in the suit.

The Habeas Office "falls under the authority of SBIDS, and therefore, to argue Kahlers claim, the attorneys of the Capital Habeas Office will have to argue that their own agency and their own executive director violated Kahlers rights," Ailsleger's motion said.

"Clearly, having to argue against their own agency (and by imputation, against themselves) creates a conflict of interest for the habeas attorneys because one cannot be sure that their loyalty to Kahler is undivided, and one cannot be sure that the agency that employs them will not influence them and their approach to Kahlers case," it added.

"Moreover, Kahlers motion indicates that SBIDS officials are necessary witnesses to support his claim, and therefore, the Capital Habeas attorneys would be put in the position of having to question at trial in an adversarial manner, officials of their own agency, some of whom may very well be responsible for overseeing the attorneys themselves and the funding of the Capital Habeas Office," Ailschleger's motion said.

What else has happened in the James Kahler case?

Kahler filed a May 2 application with Osage County District Court asking that he be assigned a court-appointed attorney.

The application included a financial affidavit. That document said Kahler is unemployed and widowed, with the amount of money available to him totaling $333 in "forced savings" from El Dorado Correctional Facility, where state records show he is an inmate.

Kahler replied to a separate question regarding finances in his application by saying, "Retirement goes to son's trust."

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas AG alleges attorney conflict as James Kahler pursues civil suit
Arizona Republican Kari Lake, the outspoken Donald Trump supporter eyeing a run for the Senate, is planning to meet with at least a half-dozen U.S. senators and officials from the Senate GOPs campaign arm this week in Washington, D.C.

The Thursday visit, confirmed by a spokesperson for Lake, is the latest in a series of recent signs that the conservative firebrand is inching closer toward a Senate bid. It also will mark the second time this year that she has sat down with staff from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

If Lake throws her hat in the ring, she would run for the seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Democrat-turned-independent who has not yet said whether she is seeking reelection. Rep. Ruben Gallego has already declared he's running for the Democratic nomination.

Lake would likely galvanize Trump supporters to the point that many Republicans think she would be all but impossible to defeat in a primary. But GOP strategists are concerned that Lake would turn off swing voters in the general election, particularly after she contested her loss in the gubernatorial contest in 2022.

Last year, a number of Senate contenders tied to Trump won their primaries but were defeated in the fall. In an effort to avoid another disappointing election, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), chair of the NRSC, has actively recruited candidates he believes are electable in key battleground states, including West Virginia, Montana and Pennsylvania. But Daines has not picked a favorite as of yet in Arizona.

In a CNN interview this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment directly on a possible run by Lake, though he left Arizona out of his list of top four Senate battlegrounds. He said there is high likelihood that GOP leaders would wait until after the primary to determine whether to get involved. I think there are some other places where with the right candidate, we might be able to compete  in Nevada, Arizona, he said. The Arizona Senate primary wont take place until August of 2024.

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The NRSC regularly sits down with potential and declared candidates, and such a meeting does not suggest any preference on its part. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, the only Republican who has announced a run for Sinemas seat, had a meeting with the NRSC earlier this year, as did Karrin Taylor Robson, a businessperson who is considering a campaign. Taylor Robson lost to Lake in the 2022 gubernatorial primary.

Lakes spokesperson did not provide the names of the senators she is sitting down with this week. The NRSC declined to comment on whether Daines is meeting with Lake. When Lake previously gathered with NRSC officials in February, she did not meet with him.

Lake and her staffers have taken a number of steps recently that suggest she is either close to running for the Senate or positioning herself as Trumps running mate, should he win the presidential nomination. Her aide, Colton Duncan, said he is 99 percent sure she's going to run for Senate. She is releasing a book, "Unafraid: Just Getting Started. She has also attacked Gallego as too liberal for Arizona.

A GOP strategist close to Lake said she is expected to announce a Senate campaign in the early fall, though others in her orbit said a kickoff could take place earlier.

In addition, Lake has made two stops this year in Iowa, the first-in-the-nation caucus state where she happens to have grown up. Last week, she spoke at Conservative Political Action Conference Hungary and met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a venerated international figure in Americas MAGA movement. She is currently in the United Kingdom, where she appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, speaking to him about her lawsuit disputing her loss in the governors race as well as her future.

If for some reason we dont get a fair outcome in our election, I will run for Senate, most likely, Lake told him.
Kendrick Lamar created a masterpiece with To Pimp a Butterfly, now Gucci has helped turn it into a luxury item.

The Grammy Award-winning album is being given a second life in Interscope Records latest vinyl release. The 2015 record by the beloved Compton rapper is going to be released in a special edition collection in collaboration with Lauren Halsey and Gucci.

More from Robb Report

Lauren Halsey is a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist with a focus on queer, BIPOC, and working class communities. She designed the cover art for the album, made from gallery quality giclee, as an homage to songs from the original album and classic street art in Lamars hometown. The double LP is wrapped in a tan linen vinyl jacket with a custom package designed by Gucci.

The limited edition vinyl set is $2,500 and all net profits go to the Iovine and Young Foundation. Only 100 copies are being sold.

Kendrick Lamar came up with the name To Pimp a Butterfly because he wanted to, break down the idea of being pimped in the industry, in the community, and out of all the knowledge that [he] thought [he] had known, then discovering new life and wanting to share it, as he told Grammy.com in 2016. After a trip to South Africa in 2014, Lamar came back with a new outlook on life and the industry as a whole.

The full-length album is 16 songs with features from George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, Anna Wise, Bilal, and Thundercat.

Kendrick Lamar has gone on to win 17 Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize as well as several BET and Billboard awards over the course of his 13 year career. To Pimp a Butterfly was nominated for multiple awards alone including two Grammys, an NME Award for Best Album and a Danish Music Award for International Album.

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Click here to read the full article.
Injured Louisville police officer Nickolas Wilt is continuing to make a remarkable recovery after he was shot in the head during the Old National Bank mass shooting last month, according to a Facebook post from the Louisville Metro Police Foundation.

Wilt was taken off all life-sustaining medical equipment, the foundation said. He has also shown neurological improvement and is able to follow some commands. Wilt had previously been taken off a ventilator.

The foundation said Wilt is still dealing with pneumonia and infections. He went to University of Louisville Health Jewish Hospital to treat the pneumonia and returned back to the UofL Hospital approximately two weeks later.

The bullet that struck Wilt remains in his head, according to a Facebook post from the Louisville Metro Police Department. Doctors determined that the bullet is in a crucial area but does not pose a threat to his brain or blood vessels, and the damage from the injury is minimal.

Wilt is entering the long haul process of his recovery, the foundations aid.

We are proud to report that doctors are now talking about getting Officer Wilt into neuro rehab within the next week, which is a significant milestone in his recovery process, the foundation said in the Facebook post.

Wilt, 26, has also worked as a firefighter and dispatcher. He graduated from the police academy March 31 and was working his fourth shift as a police officer when he was shot in the head while responding to the shooting at Old National Bank on Main Street April 10. Seven other people were injured and six people died, including the shooter, who was shot by responding officers.

Herald-Leader reporter Karla Ward contributed to this story.
A former Central Kentucky attorney has been sentenced to prison time after he defrauded clients for millions of dollars through a real estate scam.

Douglas Hawkins, of Richmond, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding clients of $2 million by concealing information about real estate properties he was encouraging them to invest in.

Hawkins was convicted by a federal jury in February for investor advisor fraud, securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Hawkins law license was suspended by the Kentucky Bar Association shortly after his conviction, according to the Bars website.

As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay nearly $1.6 million in restitution to the victims. He will also have forfeiture seized in the amount of $85,590.

Prosecutors had criticized Hawkins in court documents, saying he took advantage of clients who trusted him.

Despite having the professions that are to help people, he defrauded those who trusted him, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. His motivation, in this crime, was not to help his clients, but to save his own reputation.

Hawkins was an attorney, preacher, investor advisor representative and certified financial planner. He also owned his own company, Rite Financial Group, according to court documents.

In May 2013, Hawkins began working with two companies in Oregon, True Wholesale Houses and Portland Funding, that offered investors the chance to purchase promissory notes secured by real estate deeds of trust. A promissory note is a written promise by one party to pay money at a later date.

Hawkins let clients purchase notes as a way to diversify their investments. He was paid a commission for sales, according to court documents.

Although the paperwork described a note and mortgage, Hawkins led clients to believe they were purchasing ownership interest in real estate, according to court documents. The properties were located in Jackson, Mississippi, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

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Many of the properties the clients were purchasing were not in good condition and needed substantial repairs, despite Hawkins telling them otherwise, court documents stated. Hawkins also convinced investors the property that secured their mortgage was rented when it was not. He continued to make false suggestions about the properties.

In most instances, Hawkins led his clients to believe their money was designated for the purchase or renovation of a certain piece of real estate, according to court documents. But the money was mixed with other investors money and it was actually used whenever Douglas Hawkins needed it, according to court documents.

Fraud turned victims lives upside down

Many of Hawkins victims recounted in court documents and testimony how they trusted him because of his financial literacy, as well as his status as a preacher. They also testified that Hawkins fraudulent actions turned their lives upside down.

In a victim impact statement, a widow identified as M.B. said the money she lost was more than she could afford to lose, and needs the money to hire home health workers.

A retired teacher, identified as P.P. in court documents, said she has had to cancel vacations, is unable to repair a fence, and is unable to replace her aging vehicle due to the fraud.

The life she worked so hard to make and was looking forward to will now no longer occur due to the defendants actions ... this situation has been stressful and depressing, a prosecutor wrote in court documents.

The offense was described in court documents as a serious crime resulting from a brazen breach of trust by a man who was concerned not for his clients, but for his own reputation.

Attorney: Hawkins made misguided decisions

Hawkins spoke in court Tuesday and said he remained committed to the clients becoming whole.

There has not been a bigger burden to carry in my heart than the financial burden I have caused the clients, Hawkins said.

He apologized to his family and friends for any embarrassment he had caused them.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Whitney True Lawson, Hawkins attorney, said in court Tuesday. ...(Hawkins) made misguided decisions of what was, and what was not told to these individuals.

U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell said the prison sentence would need to serve as a deterrent to others who were similarly situated as Hawkins was.

Educated and privileged people will be held accountable for these crimes, Caldwell said. But I believe the crimes have left destruction and harm beyond any sentence that I could impose.

Lawson previously said she and Hawkins were disappointed with the conviction.

We feel that the jury considered the evidence and did not take their decision lightly, but we are certainly disappointed, Lawson told the Herald-Leader previously.

She argued in court documents the case against Hawkins is largely based on his omission of material information. Lawson wrote Hawkins was not proven to engage in false advertising related to investments, or or made repeated fraudulent claims about the financial sureties.

The conduct leading to the finding of fraud was simplistic in nature, requiring the execution of identical documentation for each investment made, the defenses sentencing memorandum said. And, while Mr. Hawkins failed to disclose the purchase price of the property acting as collateral, there are no outright fraudulent representations in the documents.
The Kerala Story had generated controversy months before its release

India's West Bengal state has banned a new film that shows three women from the country joining the Islamic State (IS) group, saying it has the potential to incite violence.

The Kerala Story follows the journey of three women from Kerala state who are "converted" to terrorism.

Its makers say the film is based on years of research, but some critics have called it propaganda.

The West Bengal government said it banned the film to maintain peace.

But some politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticised the move. The BJP is in power nationally but is in the opposition in West Bengal, which is governed by the Trinamool Congress.

Several BJP leaders, both at the federal and state levels, have backed the film.

Two state governments - Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, both governed by the BJP - announced that they have made the film tax-free.

Federal minister Anurag Thakur alleged that the West Bengal government's sympathies were with terror groups and not with "the victims of terrorism".

Prime Narendra Modi had also praised the film during an election rally in Karnataka state last week, saying that it tried to "expose the consequences of terrorism in a society".

Before West Bengal's announcement, Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi had tweeted that she did not support calls to ban the film.

The Kerala Story, which released in theatres on Friday, had sparked controversy months before its release. In its teaser, released in November, an actress had claimed that her character was one among 32,000 women from the state who had joined Islamic terror groups.

But after criticism and legal challenges, the makers updated the film's description on YouTube to the "compilation of the true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala".

The Kerala government has called the film a deliberate attempt to "spread hate" and communally polarise the state but has not banned screenings.

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In neighbouring Tamil Nadu state, an association of multiplex owners said that they would stop screening the film, anticipating protests.

Earlier, the Kerala high court had refused to stay the release of the film. Next week, the Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal against the high court's order.

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:
Kevin De Bruynes thunderous strike kept the Champions League semi-final finely poised (EPA)

Two satisfying, spectacular thumps of a ball, from similar range, into the same side of the same goal. One arrowed into the top corner, one the bottom. There are times when stages seem designed for players, when they are at that sweet spot where talent and momentum collide, when they have the force of personality to impose their gifts on the major occasion. But when there are two, when they are on opposite sides, Kevin de Bruyne cancelled out Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius got the winner in last seasons final. The sense that De Bruyne, like everyone else at City, remains unfulfilled in the Champions League was underlined by the 2021 final, which he departed with a broken nose and fractured eye socket. It does not mean, though, that his potential has gone unrealised on European nights. De Bruyne scored against Real Madrid in 2020 and 2022 and 2023; if Manchester City had faced them in 2021, he probably would have found the net then, too.

De Bruynes goals are rationed these days, saved for the big occasions. Since the start of April, he has scored against Arsenal, Liverpool and Real. He has assisted against every other team he has faced, save for Sam Allardyces Leeds, and even that owed more to a remarkable miss from Erling Haaland than managerial brilliance.

Should Citys season end in Istanbul, it will owe much to De Bruyne. But if not, he graced a great ground with a great goal. Under other circumstances, there would be grounds to say City are slight favourites, even in a tournament stripped of the away-goals rule. But not, perhaps, when the opponents are Real.

They trailed for 178 minutes of last seasons semi-final against City and progressed. The equation has altered now, with the second leg at the Etihad Stadium this year, but Real are in a position of parity yet, arguably, a side with no equals.

In their different ways, these two teams are peerless, testing their contrasting approaches to continental superiority. If City may be the best side in Europe, Real are the best at winning the European Cup. Perhaps it shows a flaw in Pep Guardiolas thinking: Real have lifted the Champions League five times since he last did. But maybe it just highlights the uniqueness of Real: everyone else, after all, wants to be the serial winners of this trophy and, right now, no one else is.

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Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti wrote the latest chapter in their storied rivalry (EPA)

Guardiola has his explanations for Citys enduring inability to conquer Europe. He likes to argue that clubs with a tradition of lifting this trophy possess an inherent advantage, as though an institutional memory of Alfredo di Stefano prompts Karim Benzema to score or Vinicius Junior is transformed into a 21st-century Francisco Gento on a European stage. An alternative explanation is simply that each is an outstanding player: Benzema is the reigning Ballon dOr winner, Vinicius perhaps the in-form superstar of 2023. Now he has supplanted even the Frenchman as Reals major threat.

Real have a formula of timelessness and explosiveness, with experience in the middle, pace on the flanks. They struck when Luka Modric released Eduardo Camavinga to fly into space on the left. Vinicius Junior unleashed a thunderbolt. If Kyle Walker was included because he might win a race against the Brazilian, even he cant travel as fast as the wingers cannonball of a shot.

Yet the context made it more remarkable. Carlo Ancelotti borrowed from the Allardyce playbook and began on the defensive against City. Real sat back. They absorbed the pressure, but in an unflustered way. But Real play a game of patience better than anyone else. Ancelotti, a booking for dissent notwithstanding, is the most languid of managers and his team have adopted his persona.

Meanwhile, City passed and passed  they had 72 percent of possession in the first 20 minutes  and then one deft flick from Modric made the difference. After the phoney war came a bullet from Vinicius. And then Real grew into game, took more of a turn on the ball, showed more ambition. Camavinga started to appear everywhere; left-backs are not supposed to be this ubiquitous but, like Vinicius, the Frenchman is a relative youngster who seems born for such nights.

De Bruyne delivered for City at the key moment (EPA)

And then, just as Real seemed to be turning the screw, De Bruyne delivered. Haaland was finding David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger obdurate opponents. A series of duels were battles between compatriots. Vinicius shot flew past Ederson. Toni Kroos, the unlikely enforcer, chopped down Ilkay Gundogan. Thibaut Courtois made a terrific save from De Bruyne.

But not a second. Had City struck from an intricate passing move, it might have seemed Guardiola had brought a Barcelona-esque ethos to the Bernabeu. But it was a moment of individual inspiration. Over the last decade, Real have had more than anyone else in this competition. But there was one apiece in Madrid. Vinicius aimed high, De Bruyne low. Each was a goal worthy of deciding a semi-final, but they cant both win.
Keith Lee has 12.4 million TikTok followers. Keith lee via TikTok.

Kevin Hart asked TikTok food-reviewer Keith Lee to try his plant-based fast-food restaurant.

Lee, who has previously helped businesses sell out, obliged, but said he'd be completely honest.

The TikToker said the crispy "chicken" sandwich was so good he'd never have guessed it was vegan.

TikTok-famous food reviewer Keith Lee gave Kevin Hart's vegan fast food restaurant glowing ratings, saying he was "shocked" by how much the food tasted like meat.

In a TikTok video posted on May 8, Lee explained that the Hollywood celebrity reached out to him, hoping he would review his restaurant on TikTok, where Lee often goes viral and causes businesses to sell out after complimenting their food in his videos.

"I'm not a huge fan of vegan food, and I'm very vocal about that," Lee said in the clip, adding that he would be completely honest about his thoughts on the food from the restaurant.

Hart rose to fame as a stand-up comedian before pivoting to film and TV. He most recently starred in the Netflix heist comedy film "Lift" which premiers in August. He opened his first restaurant location in August 2022, offering plant-based versions of fast-food classics. He now has two locations in Los Angeles and another two are coming soon, according to the website.

"I'm a personal fan of Kevin Hart, but I'm also more of a fan of being real than I am a fan of anybody," Lee said in his video, adding that the comedian had reached out to him, asking him to be "100% real."

The TikToker first tried the fries, which he raved about, saying they were perfectly seasoned, before moving onto the restaurant's crispy "chicken" sandwich, taking a bite into it and erupting into laughter.

"I fully fully fully came into this thinking I was gonna hate this," Lee said, adding, "This is amazing. You shocked, I'm shocked."

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Lee said the vegan burger had a "pleasant" texture, and that the product tasted like a regular chicken sandwich.

"If you gave me that and didn't tell me it was vegan, I would have no idea," he said, scoring it a 9.3 out of 10.

The condiments didn't fare as well  Lee gave the buffalo sauce a 2, saying it contained too much vinegar, and the special Hart House sauce a 5.

Lee's review, which received 16 million TikTok views, had commenters saying it made them feel inspired to try more vegan food and to go to Hart House specifically. Others thanked the TikToker for insisting that he wanted to be honest with his review, instead of automatically giving it a good rating because the owner was a celebrity.

In a follow-up video on Lee's account, the TikToker could be seen standing next to Kevin Hart, who explained why he wanted to collaborate with him.

"I really wanted to value someone's opinion that people hold on such a standard in today's time," he said.

Hart said that when Lee told him he would be honest in his post, he responded by telling Lee he did not want any favors, adding, "I'm going out on a limb because I think my food is that good."

"The fact that you gave us an amazing review man, I'm so thankful. I'm so happy. And more importantly, that's how much I respect what you do. I value the things you've been doing, and the response people have given you is well deserved," Hart told Lee, as he bowed his head down and dubbed him "the king of taste."

Lee, who has 12.4 million followers on TikTok, has skyrocketed to fame in recent months. Since the beginning of the year, he has gained more than 5 million followers on the platform, according to analytics tracker SocialBlade.

One of his most viral moments was in February, when he filmed a video collaboration with the world's biggest YouTuber, MrBeast. The pair reviewed a struggling family business together, and MrBeast gave the staff a briefcase that he said contained $10,000 in cash during the shoot.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.

Read the original article on Insider
It appears Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann's divorce is going to get ugly. (Photos: Getty Images)

Bravo fans were shocked on Monday by news that Kim Zolciak filed for divorce from Kroy Biermann. Viewers watched their love story unfold on television for nearly a decade, but it sounds like we need Andy Cohen and a camera because one legal expert expects this to turn ugly.

TMZ obtained Biermann's divorce filing and he's seeking sole legal and physical custody of his and Zolciak's four children. The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star asked for primary physical custody and joint legal custody in her petition. Celebrity divorce lawyer Charlotte Christian tells Yahoo that Biermann is sending a message with the document.

"The request for sole custody indicates that this may be a nasty divorce as most divorce complaints ask for joint custody to some degree," Christian explains. The Tardy for the Party stars are parents to Kroy "KJ" Jagger Jr., 11, Kash, 10, and 9-year-old twins, Kane and Kaia.

"To be awarded sole custody, one parent must prove that the child's best interest would be served by being with one parent a majority of the time, with that parent making the parenting decisions and the other parent only visiting the child," Christian continues. "Generally speaking, for a sole custody award, one parent must be unwilling or unable to parent and sole custody is rarely granted."

Zolciak is mother to two daughters from prior relationships, influencers Brielle Biermann, 26, and Ariana Biermann, 21. The former Atlanta Falcons player legally adopted them years ago, but they are not impacted by custody issues, given their ages.

The divorce news came on the heels of a TMZ report that Zolciak and Biermann are in financial trouble. They apparently owe $1.1 million in unpaid taxes and their Georgia mansion went into foreclosure earlier this year. In his filing, the ex-NFL star requested Zolciak maintain all financial documents.

"If the tax bill is in both of their names, they will both be liable for the taxes," Christian explains. "The IRS trumps divorce decrees or any agreements between the parties. The IRS will come after both of them separately for the tax debt that will be shouldered by both of them."

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A rep for Zolciak had no comment on the situation when reached by Yahoo. Neither she nor Biermann has spoken publicly about the divorce  but he appears to have subtly addressed it on Instagram.

Biermann's Instagram bio reads, "Husband. Father to six perfect munchkins. Athlete. You can Google Me & see I wasn't Tardy for that Party."

Cohen, who knows the former couple well, said he was "very surprised" by the news.

"I was very surprised. That was not the news I ever expected to get. They seemed so much in love and just together. I mean, they were a couple that, yeah, I thought they were in it for the long haul," the executive producer shared on on Tuesday's SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live. "Sorry to hear that there may be some financial issues. TMZ is reporting that they owe a million dollars to the IRS. Texted a little bit with Kim yesterday, sent my condolences because it's a sad thing. They have kids and that was just a couple that seemed very much in love."
King Charles III is upset about being separated from two of his five grandchildren, a royal expert told Fox News Digital.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two kids were missing from Charles' historic ceremony as the actress stayed behind in California. The decision was apparently made due to the coronation being the same day as Prince Archie's fourth birthday.

Despite the absence of the little royal, King Charles made a toast to Archie in honor of his birthday, the Daily Mail reported.

"Charles knew he couldn't in all conscience praise William's children and ignore Harry's. And it was Archie's birthday, after all," royal contributor Christopher Andersen told Fox News Digital. "The Sussexes' absence on the Buckingham Palace balcony on coronation day had to have been weighing on Charles's mind. How could it not?"

King Charles is upset about being separated from two of his grandchildren, a royal expert told Fox News Digital.

"Charles is a doting grandpa, and I have no doubt that apart from all the acrimony it pains him to be separated from two of his five grandchildren."

PRINCE WILLIAM, PRINCE HARRY PLAYING WITH FIRE AS KING CHARLES TOO WEAK TO MEND FEUD, EXPERT CLAIMS

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

British royals expert Hilary Fordwich also confirmed the birthday toast.

"King Charles is not sarcastic. King Charles is a loving, genuine man," she told Fox News Digital. "Ask Lionel Richie because Lionel Richie and him have developed a close friendship. And Lionel Richie has said that he has only goodness in his heart."

King Charles III arrives for his coronation at Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the coronation.

Prince Harry did attend King Charles' coronation, despite speculation he would skip out on the historic event. However, he reportedly went straight to the airport following the coronation and did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

"Before Megxit, Harry was always front and center, adding his own spark of youthful exuberance and personal charisma to the otherwise mostly drab royal tableau," Andersen said. "The people loved their mischievous rebel prince, and Charles never turned his back on Harry, no matter what kind of trouble he got himself into."

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Even if Prince Harry had stayed in town, he wouldn't have been invited onto the balcony due to his status as a non-working royal family member.

PRINCE HARRY SNUBBED BY ROYAL FAMILY AS MEGHAN MARKLE HIKES WITH FRIENDS

King Charles and Queen Camilla are joined by members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

"Harry would have shown up on the palace balcony had he been asked," Andersen said. "But the powers that be that really run the monarchy have convinced Charles to enforce Queen Elizabeth's rule that non-working royals do not deserve such special treatment."

"Imagine how much more of an impact there would have been with Harry up there waving to the multitudes alongside his father the king and his brother, the Prince of Wales," he added. "Unfortunately, those who know Charles have described him as weak when it comes to bucking the palace bureaucracy  even though he is the boss. So, the standoff between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals continues, even though the king could unilaterally end it in a New York minute."

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey.

Prince Harry left London shortly after the two-hour coronation ceremony for his father, King Charles.

Prince Harry was reportedly invited to the family luncheon that took place after the coronation, but he chose not to attend. Fordwich called the move by the Duke of Sussex a "huge shame."

"The king has such a huge heart. It is not surprising at all that he has been so forgiving. There are members of the extended royal family that I know well, on the one hand surprised and yet impressed that the king would extend the kind olive branch to invite Harry to Buckingham Palace afterwards," she explained. "And indeed, Windsor Castle because they went to Windsor Castle I know afterwards for lunch. I just think it's such a huge shame that he has squandered another opportunity that was provided to him to heal wounds."

"And I find that sad, and it was Archie's birthday. But millions of children across the globe have their birthday on a separate day when their parents are working or some business or special event," she added. "And a 4-year-old could have had his birthday party one day later, and Harry could have made his father happier."

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stopped being working members of the royal family in 2020.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles in January 2020. The move has caused tension between the couple and the working members of the royal family.

The two have participated in a handful of high-profile interviews  one with Oprah Winfrey and a docuseries with Netflix  where they spoke about the royal family.

In the Netflix series, Harry and Markle said the royal family did nothing to help combat the onslaught of negative press that the couple constantly faced.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in California with their two children.

"They knew how bad it was," Harry said during the "Harry & Meghan series. "They thought, Why couldnt she just deal with it? No one would have private conversations with the editors saying, Enough.'"

Since stepping back in 2020, the couple has settled in their California home to raise their two children.
The first official photos of King Charles, Queen Camilla and the working royal family have been shared since the jampacked coronation weekend.

In the solo picture shared by Buckingham Palace of Charles, the newly appointed king was seated in the Throne Room, wearing full regalia  which included the Robe of Estate and the Imperial State Crown.

Charles was holding the Sovereign's Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre in the photograph.

King Charles III is pictured in full regalia in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in first picture since his coronation weekend.

The newly crowned Queen Camilla also posed for an individual picture in a white gown, with gold detailing in The Green Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace.

CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III: THE HISTORIC DAY IN PHOTOS

Camilla wore Queen Mary's crown and Robe of Estate in the new portrait.

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Working members of the royal family  including Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Richard, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne, Kate, the Princess of Wales and William, the Prince of Wales, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh  were pictured with Their Majesties.

Queen Camilla is pictured in The Green Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are pictured with members of the working royal family in new photos. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Anne, Princess Royal, The Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh are pictured.

King Charles and Queen Camilla rededicated their lives to service in a statement shared alongside their portraits on Monday.

PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON SHARE NEW VIDEO TO CELEBRATE KING CHARLES' CORONATION: WHAT. A. DAY'

"As the Coronation weekend draws to a close, my wife and I just wanted to share our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion," the statement on behalf of the royal family read on Twitter.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are pictured in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on May 8.

"We pay particular tribute to the countless people who have given their time and dedication to ensuring that the celebrations in London, Windsor and further afield were as happy, safe and enjoyable as possible. To those who joined in the celebrations - whether at home, at street parties and lunches, or by volunteering in communities - we thank you, each and every one."

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"To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift, as we now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth," the statement concluded.

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Charles' coronation was held at London's Westminster Abbey on May 6. Charles and his wife were both crowned during the official ceremony, which was attended by roughly 2,000 people.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attended the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023, in London, England.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Andrew, Duke of York leave after attending the coronations of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew , the king's brother, were both in attendance despite their tensions with the royal family.

Harry and Andrew, who are not working members of the royal family, were not seen in the official coronation photographs.

The Duke of Sussex arrived at Westminster Abbey alone as his wife, Meghan Markle, stayed at home in California with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
EUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

The body of a Russian pilot shot down over the skies of Kyiv on the first day of Moscows full-scale invasion last year suddenly surfaced as Russia was celebrating Victory Day on Tuesday.

Ukrainian authorities say the remains of Roman Mankishev washed up on the shores of the Kyiv Reservoir in Vyshgorod, just north of the capital, and were discovered by workers at the hydroelectric power plant.

Andrii Nebytov, the head of the Kyiv region police, posted a photo of the remains on Telegram, along with the mocking caption: Pilot Roma floated to the surface, probably to celebrate May 9th. He couldnt just sit around at home. The holiday is sacred! A good example for all Russians. Better to stay at home than become accomplices in war crimes.

via Telegram

Authorities reportedly determined Mankishevs identity through the Russian military uniform still holding his remains more than a year later. The main intelligence directorate of Ukraines Defense Ministry published a list of Russian pilots who took part in attacks against Ukraine during the initial days of the war in early March 2022. That list included a senior lieutenant by the name of R. Mankishev, who appears to match the remains discovered Tuesday.

Authorities say he and the Mi-24 helicopter he was in charge of were shot down over the capital at the onset of the war.

Russias pro-war military bloggers have reacted with outrage to Ukraines announcement about Mankishevs remains.

They extracted [the body] precisely on May 9 and performed mockery and a photo session, one popular Russian Telegram channel lamented.

A photo of a gravestone purported to belong to Mankishev and shared on Russian social media shows his date of death listed as Feb. 24, 2022.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Zelenskyy explained the increase in the number of strikes by the Russian Federation against Ukraine since the beginning of May

Zelenskyy was speaking during at a joint press conference with the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv on May 9.

Read also: Ukraine marks Europe Day on May 9 for the first time, European Commission chief visits Kyiv

"What we have and observe now  the growing number of air attacks  in my personal opinion, means that the Russian military and political leadership lacks something that it can present to its public, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted the Ukrainian president as saying.

This is because they don't have any victories, but they do have an insatiable society. We can see how (Russian society) supports any radical moves or any number of murders (by the Russian army). They are always happy with that."

Read also: Zelenskyy addresses nation on occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism

The Kremlin failed to deliver "victory in Bakhmut" to the Russian people, as its army failed to seize the city, Zelenskyy added.

Russia has intensified air strikes on Ukraine since the beginning of May. The Russian military has been firing missiles and Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones at towns and cities across the country during the night.

The enemy has also intensified attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, having conducted five strikes on the capital in the first nine days of the month of May alone.

Russia attacked Ukraine and Kyiv with Shahed suicide drones overnight on May 8. All 35 UAVs launched by Russia were intercepted, including 30 over Kyiv alone. Five people in the capital were injured by falling debris from intercepted drones, which fell on a residential building, streets and the runaway of Kyivs Zhuliany international airport.

The enemy launched Kh-22 missiles on Odesa Oblast and injured three people. One more person is missing.

Kyiv also came under a missile attack in the early hours of May 9.

Read also: Moscow parade showcases lowest number of soldiers in 15 years, one ancient tank, and no fly-past

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Around 15 cruise missiles were shot down by the capital's air defenses.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Putin on May 9 next to Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan behind him

"I can confidently state that had Putin succeeded in occupying our country, the next target would have been Kazakhstan," said Danilov.

Read also: Lukashenko unable to walk 300 meters, skips breakfast with Putin in Moscow

The secretary added that Russia has not struggled any success in the war against Ukraine.

He also commented on the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and the Prime Minister of Armenia arriving in Moscow for the Victory Day parade.

Read also: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry slams visit by six leaders to Putin's parade, honoring war crimes suspect

"I don't know what compelled them to attend; let's see how events unfold," he said.

On May 9, Moscow held a bleak and truncated military parade, lasting only 45 minutes, with only 8,000 troops participating  the lowest number in 15 years. Warplane fly-bys were canceled, and only one tank  a WWII relic T-34  made its way across the Red Square, in stark contrast to columns of modern tanks being usual centerpieces of Victory Day parades.

Read also: Putin cancels his official May 9 reception in Kremlin for veterans for fourth time

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it was "immoral and unfriendly" for Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, and Tajik heads of state to attend the parade in person.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WASHINGTON  L3Harris Technologies, the 10th largest defense contractor by revenue, and BigBear.ai, an artificial intelligence company, are partnering on products to support autonomous surface vessels, a key component of the U.S. Navys playbook for the future.

As part of the cooperation agreement announced May 9, BigBear.ai will supply L3Harris with its computer vision, predictive analytics and related applications in a bid to improve manned-unmanned teaming on the water and the identification and classification of foreign vessels.

The capabilities will be combined with the existing L3Harris ASView system, developed for autonomous and remote control of uncrewed vehicles. ASView has been in continuous development since 2008, according to the company, and has been deployed on more than 100 newly built and retrofitted ships.

Our advanced AI capabilities enable autonomous vessels to operate with unparalleled efficiency and safety, supporting higher-risk missions, expanding operational reach, and, most importantly, saving lives, BigBear.ai CEO Mandy Long said in a statement. As the battlespace evolves, autonomous systems will play an increasingly significant role. We look forward to the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

BigBear.ai delivering US Army digital info system with Palantirs help

The Navy and Marine Corps are betting big on unmanned tech  in the air, on the water, beneath the surface  to broaden their field of view and to stay engaged for longer periods of time, including in regions thought too dangerous or understaffed.

Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday has said that unmanned platforms will deploy alongside carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups in the next four or five years. Brig. Gen. David Walsh of Marine Corps Systems Command last month said the machinery will shake up how people, weapons and supplies are moved around battlefields.

Both companies have worked with the Navys Task Force 59, a group established to quickly integrate AI and uncrewed systems into at-sea operations.

The task force at the end of last year wrapped Digital Horizon, a three-week experiment in Bahrain. The event included 15 so-called advanced systems, 10 of which operated in the Middle East for the first time.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY  An adult arcade in Fort Pierce with illegal slot machines has been shut down  the first of what will be many on the Treasure Coast.

Midway Arcade, 4986 S. 25th St., was served a search warrant about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday as part of a statewide raid by Florida Gaming Control Commission officials working with local law enforcement, said Special Agent Robert Bethea. An arrest warrant also was issued for the owner, who wasn't there at the time.

We just talked with the patrons," Bethea said. "We came in real casual, nothing crazy.

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Agents executed search warrants simultaneously in Fort Pierce, Delray Beach, St. Petersburg and Tampa, targeting illegal gambling operations at adult arcades and seizing more than $1 million in assets, cash, slot-style gaming machines, computers and ATMs.

In Fort Pierce, movers from Lauren Florida Trucks in Palm Bay spent Tuesday afternoon loading the machines.

The slot machines seized from the arcades were going to be taken to various warehouses across the state where officials planned to store them for evidence until the case goes to trial, said commission spokesperson Eric Carr, and then the machines would be destroyed.

Heres how many machines were removed Tuesday from each arcade:

Fort Pierce: 93

Delray Beach: 120

Tampa Bay: 44

St. Petersburg: 103

Gambling is legal in Florida, but only tribal casinos can have slot machines. Here's a list

One of the people arrested in connection with Midway Arcade was 57-year-old Alexandre Borisovich Barmak, who remained in the St. Lucie County Jail on Wednesday without bail. He was arrested on a Palm Beach County warrant with the following charges:

Racketeering

Conspiracy to commit racketeering

Money laundering, totaling or exceeding $100,000

Conspiracy to commit money laundering, less than $100,000

Keeping a gambling house

Agent or employee of gambling house

Unlawful possession of slot machine devices (at least 40 counts)

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Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a news release Tuesday that Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Colleen Monroe will be prosecuting the case.

The investigation was started by a public complaint against Midway Arcade. Florida Gaming Control Commission agents served a warning notice letter regarding a complaint of violations of Florida gambling laws on Jan. 27. Agents then discovered an extensive illegal gaming operation in the four counties.

They all pay out money, so even possessing these in the state of Florida is illegal," Bethea said. "Its a big money-maker here, and its effecting other businesses.

Movers with Lauren Florida Trucks of Palm Bay remove slot machines from inside Midway Arcade, an adult arcade at 4986 South 25th St., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Pierce, during a statewide raid of such arcades that agents discovered operated illegal slot machines. The Florida Gaming Control Commission investigates complaints against facilities that are believed to be running an illegal operation. Slot machines became illegal July 1, 2022, except at 15 approved casinos.

Slot machines became illegal as of July 1 last year, except at 15 approved casinos. That's because the Legislature approved a Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida in May 2021, giving the Native American tribe almost exclusive rights to most gambling activities.

Illegal gambling establishments operate outside the legal, regulated market to exploit vulnerable Floridians," said Lou Trombetta, the commission's executive director, in a news release. "They are usually associated with organized crime, do not generate state tax revenue, and do not provide the same consumer protections or safeguards as legal gaming operators."

The Florida Gaming Control Commission has been issuing warning letters to arcades across the state and is starting to shut down illegal activities, Trombetta said.

Movers with Lauren Florida Trucks of Palm Bay remove slot machines from inside Midway Arcade, an adult arcade at 4986 South 25th St., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Pierce, during a statewide raid of such arcades that agents discovered operated illegal slot machines. The Florida Gaming Control Commission investigates complaints against facilities that are believed to be running an illegal operation. Slot machines became illegal July 1, 2022, except at 15 approved casinos.

The other three arcades shut down on Tuesday include the Players Paradise Arcade, 4900 Linton Blvd., Delray Beach; the Lucky Game Lounge, 4802 Gunn Highway, Tampa; and an unnamed arcade at 2116 34th St. South, St. Petersburg.

The FGCC will continue to work diligently to keep Florida communities safe from crime by curbing illegal gaming," said Carl Herold, the commission's director of law enforcement, in the news release, "and we appreciate the public's help in identifying suspected illegal gambling sites."

Residents and business owners can report any suspected illegal gambling activity anonymously by going online to flgaming.gov/file-a-complaint or calling 850-880-3433.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: State closes Midway Arcade with illegal slot machines in Fort Pierce
(This May 8 story has been refiled to correct a misspelled word in paragraph 7)

By Andrew Goudsward

(Reuters) - Law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr pushed back on Monday against an effort to bar the firm from defending JPMorgan Chase & Co in a lawsuit accusing the bank of helping to facilitate late financier Jeffrey Epsteins abuse of women and girls.

WilmerHale lawyers said in a court filing that the firms past work for an anti-sex trafficking organization that supported an alleged Epstein victim, Courtney Wild, was unrelated to and had nothing to do with the case against JPMorgan, which was brought by a different Epstein accuser in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

JPMorgan has denied aiding in Epstein's abuse.

A lawyer for the plaintiff, who is not named in court filings, claimed last week that WilmerHale has a conflict of interest and must be disqualified.

WilmerHale lawyers authored a friend-of-the-court brief in 2021 on behalf of the anti-trafficking organization ECPAT-USA urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up an appeal by Wild, who had sued to invalidate a 2007 non-prosecution deal between Epstein and U.S. prosecutors.

The court opted not to take up the case.

WilmerHale said in Monday's filing that it did not represent Wild and that its work with ECPAT-USA was limited to filing the Supreme Court brief on a legal issue unrelated to the JPMorgan case. The firm argued that ECPAT-USA as an outside organization was not directly involved in Wilds case.

WilmerHale attorneys accused the plaintiff of gamesmanship in attempting to disqualify JPMorgans preferred law firm.

A lawyer for the plaintiff, Bradley Edwards, who previously also represented Wild, said in a court filing that WilmerHale lawyers had communicated with Wilds attorneys about legal strategy.

Wild is not a party in the New York case, but Edwards said that as a victim of Epstein, she is a potential member of the plaintiff class.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens to a question during a news conference to sign several bills related to public education and increases in teacher pay, in Miami, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo

DeSantis signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes it harder for Florida teachers to stay in unions.

Teachers now must mail in their dues every month instead of paycheck deductions.

In response, the state's largest teacher's union sued.

Florida's largest teacher's union sued Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday over a bill he signed into law that will require teachers who want to be in unions to mail in checks every month.

The union accused DeSantis of punishing "disfavored unions" through the law given that the new, "draconian" restrictions applied to some labor groups but not those representing firefighter and police officers  groups that back the governor politically.

Under the new law, teacher union dues would no longer get automatically deducted from their paychecks, as they do in most unions across the US. The law was widely panned by Florida Democrats as "union busting" and Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar described it as "political retribution" during a press conference Wednesday.

The law imposes additional responsibilities on unions, including mandating new reporting to the state on the number of employees eligible for membership and how many ended up enrolling. Those with less than 60% membership would need to reapply for certification.

On average, roughly 60% of teachers in Florida are paying dues toward their unions, a Florida Senate analysis found.

The changes will make it harder for unions to exist and pile red tape onto teachers, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book said in a statement.

"We can trust teachers to make their own personal choices in how they spend their hard-earned money, and attempting to silence the groups that advocate for better pay and better working conditions is unconstitutional and undemocratic," she said.

Politically, the bill's signing represented a win for DeSantis, who has battled teacher's unions since the COVID pandemic and first proposed the change to union dues in December 2022.

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Teachers' unions have been one of the governor's top foes, particularly starting in the fall of 2020 after they resisted his push to reopen schools during the pandemic over safety fears, and after DeSantis banned mask mandates in classrooms.

Even Charlie Crist, a former congressman and DeSantis' failed 2022 Democratic challenger, picked Miami-Dade's teachers' union boss, Karla Hernandez-Mats, as his running mate. School unions tend to give to Democrats over Republicans in political races.

DeSantis accused unions of being "political organizations" that weren't "looking out for the interests" of parents and students.

"The school unions have become very partisan," DeSantis said Tuesday. "That's not what school is about."

DeSantis' crusade to reshape public education in Florida has led to conservative accolades and liberal backlash, helping the governor consistently rank in second place in polling for a hypothetical 2024 Republican presidential primary behind former President Donald Trump.

The governor hasn't said whether he'll run, but he's expected to announce a presidential bid sometime this month or next once he has finished authorizing Florida's budget and signing more bills into law.

During the November elections, DeSantis made reshaping school boards one of his top priorities. Among DeSantis' other most controversial education policies are bills he signed into law to limit the way race, gender, and sexuality are taught in public schools. He has defended the changes on the grounds that parents should have a say on what their children learn, though it has led to confusion in certain districts, including book removals.

The governor also expanded vouchers for families to use state money to pay for private or charter schools, while public school educators in Florida lament that they're deeply underfunded and understaffed.

The new Florida anti-union law creates another hurdle for organized labor in Florida, whose "Right to Work" status is enshrined in the state constitution. Under current law, Florida workers can opt out of joining a union, which in turn restricts unions from collecting dues from employees who benefit from negotiated worker protections, as well as pay increases and healthcare benefits.

During Tuesday's press conference, DeSantis stressed that he planned to approve more than $1 billion in teacher pay increases when he tackles the state budget. The amount is $252 million higher than the state's current level.

Florida comes in at 48th in the nation for average teacher salaries, according to the National Education Association.

"Gov. DeSantis talks about empowering teachers, but what we see is the opposite," Spar said in a statement Tuesday. "Florida's critical shortage of teachers and staff has only grown worse under this governor's policies, and we fully expect that trend to continue."

The group filed its lawsuit in federal court in the Northern District Court of Florida, under the First Amendment's free speech provisions, the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, and the contracts clause of the US Constitution. The case was assigned to District Judge Mark Walker, an Obama appointee and the same judge Walt Disney World asked to weigh in regarding its lawsuit against DeSantis.

DeSantis framed the anti-union move as "paycheck protection" for teachers, saying it would "lead to more take-home pay."

On Tuesday, he signed other measures into law, including one that would give teachers the right to ban phones from their classrooms and another that created term limits for school board members.

Update: This story originally ran on May 9, 2023, and has been updated to include the lawsuit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Harrison County couple is suing Walgreens Co. for a slip-and-fall accident at one its Gulfport stores.

The accident happened on March 30, 2022, outside the Walgreens north of Interstate 10 on U.S. 49.

Fairen Murrell says in the federal negligence lawsuit that she slipped on a trash bag that was wet and mushy from rain, causing injuries as she hit her trucks seat, frame and step-up bar. She was in such an incredible amount of pain in her head, neck, back, and knees that it was hard for her to even stand up, the lawsuit says.

She went inside, spoke to a cashier and asked if they put out trash bags, the lawsuit says. The Walgreens cashier affirmed that Walgreens employees did indeed put the trash bags in the parking lot, as they usually do.

A manager told Murrell she would watch a surveillance video of the parking lot and that her superior would contact her at a later date. As the Plaintiff was stepping out the doors,  the lawsuit said, she noticed that the manager then proceeded to put gloves on to remove the trash bags from the parking lot.

Murrell said a Walgreens representative called weeks later to confirm the trash bags were left by an employee.

Murrell and her husband claim the trash bags created a dangerous and unreasonably unsafe condition for patrons and that no warning signs were posted.

The couple is asking for actual damages from the medical bills, as well as punitive damages. They are suing Walgreens, its parent company and any employees involved in the incident.

A lawsuit represent only one side of a legal argument. So far, Walgreens has not filed a response to the suit.
Just weeks after condemning Donald Trumps reluctance to support federal abortion restrictions, the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has met with the former president and praised him for moving in its direction.

On Monday, the organizations president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, spoke with Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), calling the meeting terrific in an official statement released later that day. His presidency was the most consequential in American history for the pro-life cause, Dannenfelser wrote.

During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his opposition to the extreme Democratic position of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth, paid for by taxpayers  and even in some cases after the child is born. President Trump believes such a position is unworthy of a great nation and believes the American people will rebel against such a radical position that aligns us with China and North Korea.

President Trump knows the vast majority of Americans oppose brutal late-term abortions when the child can feel pain and suck their thumbs.

Dannenfelser has previously said that SBA would not back any 2024 presidential candidate who doesnt support a 15-week federal abortion ban. She did not say whether Trump agreed to such a proposal during their meeting, but did offer that the former president reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.

The public praise comes weeks after Dannenfelser criticized Trump over comments in which he expressed support for allowing individual states to go their own way on abortion.

President Donald J. Trump believes that the Supreme Court, led by the three justices which he supported, got it right when they ruled this is an issue that should be decided at the state level, Steven Cheung, Trumps spokesperson, told the Washington Post.

The comment drew the ire of Dannenfelser who denounced it as a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate to hold. Life is a matter of human rights, not states rights, she responded in an official statement in late April. The only way to save these children is through federal protections, such as a 15-week federal minimum standard when the unborn child can feel excruciating pain.

Story continues

We will oppose any presidential candidate who refuses to embrace at a minimum a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions while allowing states to enact further protections.

Many Republican presidential candidates have supported stringent caps on abortion. Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a so-called Heartbeat Bill in April capping abortions at six weeks. Similarly, Asa Hutchinson, who proposed a similar ban while governor of Arkansas, has said hed support a federal heartbeat law if elected president.

Meanwhile, Republican contenders Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, the former Southern Carolina governor, have insisted that individual states should be empowered to create their own abortion policies.

Trump has previously referred to himself as the most pro-life president in American history

More from National Review
What day hikes look like in Hunza Valley. I plan my schedule so I have some type of outdoor time every day. Samantha Shea

Samantha Shea had never been outside the US before she started college in 2014.

After graduating in 2019, she visited India and Pakistan while developing her travel writing.

She moved to Hunza Valley in Northern Pakistan in 2021, where she's lived ever since.

When I tell people from back home that I live in Northern Pakistan, I'm usually met with shock.

Their disbelief escalates when I show them pictures of the snow-capped Karakoram mountain range that surround the village where I live.

"I thought Pakistan was a desert" is the most common response. As wrong as they are, I don't blame them. I didn't know much about Pakistan before traveling there after college.

I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad.

When I first came to Pakistan in 2019, I was a recent University of Miami grad who'd never lived outside the US.

A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May. Samantha Shea

In Hunza, electricity comes on for only a few hours a day, you walk to the local market if you need anything  Amazon doesn't deliver to the mountainous valley region  and running hot water isn't guaranteed.

The valley has, despite these elements, become my home. Here, I don't lock up my bike or my front door, I can walk everywhere, and my recent major home renovation cost me only $3,000.

Current guidance around traveling to Pakistan

The US travel advice for Pakistan is to avoid traveling to Balochistan province, many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Indian-Pakistan border because of the potential for terrorist attacks, kidnapping, and armed conflict at the border.

The US government warns that the assistance it can provide citizens traveling in Pakistan is limited because of these security issues. However, I have personally traveled to some of these areas and did not feel unsafe at the time.

Although this doesn't mean these threats aren't real and something to consider, many foreign nationals and local Pakistani people travel to the Hunza Valley without incident. Forbes recently named Pakistan an up-and-coming adventure vacation. CN Traveller also awarded Pakistan as their top holiday destination in 2020.

Story continues

My journey to a remote village in Northern Pakistan

My love of travel began at college. From 2014 to 2019, I was a student at the University of Miami in Florida. While I loved my school, being by the beach, and Florida's eternal summer, I never felt settled in Miami.

Shea in Miami Beach in 2017. Samantha Shea

Because I grew up in suburban Connecticut, the move to a busy city was a big adjustment. It was noisy and fast-paced, and the proximity to crime, common in urban areas, put me on edge.

I had never traveled outside the US growing up, but I fell in love with backpacking at college. My trips became more and more offbeat. I was traveling through India the summer before my senior year in 2018 when I decided to pursue a career in travel.

I wanted to become a freelance travel blogger after graduation

Shea graduated from the University of Miami in 2019. Samantha Shea

I worked three part-time jobs while finishing my degree to save up for my indefinite adventure.

After graduating in 2019, I set off for India again, traveling around the country and into neighboring Pakistan.

Despite media negativity and concerns from family and friends, I didn't feel nervous crossing the border from India. I traveled from the historical city of Lahore to the Hindu Kush mountains of Upper Chitral  a region that directly borders Afghanistan  and felt comfortable everywhere I went.

Shea in Swat Valley during her first trip to Pakistan in 2019. Samantha Shea

I found it easier and more fun to travel here than in India, a much more "mainstream" backpacking destination. I encountered fewer scammers traveling in Pakistan. I also found Pakistan had less trash on the streets, and the roads were in better condition.

I worked for DoorDash and learned Urdu while waiting out COVID-19 limitations

In December 2019, I returned to my family home with the plan to move to Pakistan full time in the spring as a digital nomad.

My plans were halted by COVID-19. I spent the next year learning Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and delivering for DoorDash. I also finally saw some freelance traction.

I got my first paid byline, increased my blog traffic, and freelanced in content writing and social-media management. I wanted to have established myself as a digital nomad before I left home.

In April 2021, I traveled alone to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. I hadn't arranged a guide and had no plan beyond my first few nights at a hostel. To many, my trip seemed insane, but I was committed.

Shea's views on a multiday hike to the Shimshal Pass, not far from the Chinese border. Samantha Shea

Why Hunza Valley?

My 2021 journey brought me to Hunza Valley for a reason. I'd head it was well known as the safest destination for solo female travelers, largely due to its liberal culture toward women.

Samantha Shea

Hunza Valley is a remote area in Northern Pakistan. The Gatorade-blue rivers and snow-capped mountains make Hunza a popular tourist destination. The local community is known for its hospitality, and I immediately felt at home  something I'd never felt in big-city America.

The community is welcoming of outsiders  respecting and taking care of guests is a core value here. Before 9/11, there were droves of foreign travelers coming to Hunza, and many locals and their families worked in tourism, so I was welcomed readily.

The Karakoram highway that cuts through Hunza. Samantha Shea

Hunza is home to a majority Ismaili community, a liberal sect of Islam. Teens hang out in mixed groups, women own restaurants and shops, and it's common for girls to receive higher education.

I settled in Hunza and have lived here for nearly two years.

Many Westerners I've spoken with have trepidations about Pakistan

Shea with some local women in their home in a small seaside village on the border of Sindh and Balochistan in southern Pakistan. Samantha Shea

Hunza itself could not be safer. I don't worry about locking my bike, or even my doors. I've never witnessed a crime of any kind, nor any of the terrorist incidents the US State Department warns travelers of.

Barely a day after I'd arrived, I found myself lost on a 5-mile trek I set out on alone. Wandering, I ran into a young male shepherd. He insisted on showing me the route back and carrying my bag.

I kept waiting for "that moment" for which all solo female travelers are on high alert  but it never came. The shepherd was polite and helped me safely find the trail.

Shea moved to Pakistan alone in 2021 with no plans other than to become a digital nomad. Samantha Shea

I think I felt more comfortable in Hunza than I did in Miami for several reasons: The local cuisine shared many similarities with my Polish grandma's recipes, I experienced daily peace, and being surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks made me feel like I positively was on another planet.

A traditional spread of Hunza foods. Samantha Shea

I didn't have great WiFi for the first few months of living in Hunza, which was stressful at times. I've since found work-arounds, but it's not simple.

The biggest issue is that electricity comes on for only around 5 or 6 hours a day, primarily at night

I knew Northern Pakistan didn't have great electricity from my 2019 trip to other mountain valleys. Regardless, I always travel with a power bank.

I remember times when the electricity wouldn't come on as planned and I'd forgotten to charge my devices properly. I found it incredibly stressful, especially if I had a lot of work.

Beautiful cycle rides are a positive for Shea, but remoteness means electricity problems. Samantha Shea

Once, while on a road trip through Upper Chitral, another mountainous region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, my power bank fell in water and wouldn't turn on.

I was in an area even more remote than Hunza and knew the power bank likely wasn't sold anywhere in Pakistan. The bank amazingly came back to life, but I did end up breaking another one a year later.

When these things happen, it makes me miss conveniences like Amazon, but a company called Daraz does manage to deliver plenty of items to Hunza within two or three days.

Power banks and other electronics can also be sourced from other countries via Packr, an app I've used several times to receive items from the US.

Now I have a permanent home, I've arranged more long-term solutions.

I bought a $35 UPS car battery at a local market, which keeps my WiFi router and basic lights working 24/7. I also have two 26,800-mAh Anker power banks as backups, the 2nd of which I purchased after that road-trip scare.

Shea uses a car battery to keep her electricity on 24/7. Samantha Shea

How I live and work in Hunza Valley

One month of accommodation costs between $150 and $250 on average  a far cry from the $1,300 I paid in Miami to share an apartment with roommates.

My life in Hunza began in Gojal, the local name for the northern portion of the region. When I arrived, I stayed in hotels. Nowhere I stayed cost more than $15 a night, and if I got a long-stay rate, they averaged closer to $8 a night.

A walkway from the street to Shea's house in Aliabad. Samantha Shea

Hunza was slightly more expensive than I thought, especially before I found permanent accommodation.

I was shocked by how expensive some hotels were. Budget options are available, but a large portion of Hunza's tourism caters to the wealthy sector of the domestic market.

This experience has positively influenced my career as a freelancer. I've had my stories published in major media outlets. I also run an Instagram account and a YouTube channel focusing on life here and helping travelers plan their trips.

Shea speaking at a tourism event in Hunza. Samantha Shea

I now live in Aliabad in central Hunza, the largest town in the district

Shea and her boyfriend sit outside their house. Samantha Shea

I met my now partner, Fareed, in a local coworking space a few months after I arrived in Hunza. He was born and raised in Hunza and now works in trekking tourism.

We're happily settled in Aliabad in central Hunza, close to my partner's family, who have become a second family to me.

I've started learning Burushaski, one of the two major languages spoken in the valley. My partner speaks perfect English, so there's no language barrier.

Aliabad has high-speed fiber-cable WiFi, which makes uploading content or taking Zoom calls easy, and it's where you'll find amenities like ATMs, stores, small hospitals, and a few restaurants and shops.

Hunza Valley drone

Samantha Shea

Even so, Aliabad is still a village in many ways

The main roads are paved, but many residential areas have dirt roads. Everything from the doctor to my cellphone provider is within a 15-minute walking radius.

My partner and I moved into a house his parents owned. It had no electricity, flooring, or running water. We recently renovated two rooms and added a bathroom with running water and a Western toilet. It ended up costing about $3,000.

Shea with her boyfriend's mother and grandmother. Samantha Shea

If we were renting, it would cost around 20,000 Pakistani rupees a month, or about $50. Renting might have been cheaper in the short term, but I love having a space all our own.

A meal at a restaurant is usually between $2 for local spots and $7 for Western fare, but cooking at home is much less expensive and often tastier. WiFi costs around $8 for unlimited data each month, and I pay $4 for 10 gigabytes of data for my SIM card.

Samantha Shea

Hot water is also not a given in Hunza  but an $80 gas-powered water heater solved that, with refills totaling about $20 a month. The electricity that does come is only about $2 a month, and the cold running water, sourced from a glacier, is free.

A 2,000-litre water tank in Hunza Valley. Samantha Shea

Aliabad has a cold desert climate.

Shea cooks her favorite local dish  yak burgers  on their traditional Bukhari stove. Samantha Shea

The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently frozen pipes and a lack of central heating mean winter can be difficult.

Having spent most of my life in Connecticut, I was used to cold, long winters, and I find Hunza's to be shorter.

Winter limits my daily activities, but it almost feels like a cozy hibernation period.

I spend lazy days working by my bukhari  a traditional fireplace.

Hunza Valley local drying apricots.

A Hunza Valley local drying apricots.Samantha Shea

The benefits of living in Hunza Valley far outweigh any negatives

I save thousands each month compared with living in a US city, and my quality of life is infinitely better.

I avoid the American hustle culture, which I find toxic. The people I meet in Hunza are generally quiet, polite, and respectful. I breathe clean air and eat organic, home-cooked food for every meal.

Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home. I've even obtained the equivalent of permanent residency. With the money I've saved, I hope to travel to other countries, with Hunza as my base.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Cymric oil field near the Kern County town of McKittrick. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: This editorial mentions New York and California, but the push for electrification is much more widespread, for good reason. Denver as well as Eugene, Ore., the states of Maryland and Maine, and more than 20 cities and towns in Massachusetts are some of the locations advancing policy to support electrification and transition away from planet-warming fossil gas for heat and cooking. Elsewhere, as in California, cities and towns are taking the lead, the equivalent of a grassroots campaign.

Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of an epic, society-wide competition to see who can cleverly leapfrog over reactionary courts and be the greenest of the greens.

Gary Stewart, Laguna Beach

..

To the editor: California is not New York. The stupidity of their state legislature is not contagious. What is ironic is New York, like California, does not have the electric infrastructure to support a move to an all-electric future. Until the electric grid has substantial capacity to service an all-electric population, the politicians and special interest groups need to deal with reality, not some fantasy.

David L. McDaniel, Capistrano Beach

..

To the editor: My old state of New York has just put my current state of California on notice. They passed some rather ambitious climate initiatives. Those legislators are protecting constituents health, as well as that of our planet. Banning gas stoves in most new buildings will reduce methane from future residences and workplaces, lessening heart and lung issues. That ban will also help mitigate the negative effects of climate change, as methane in our atmosphere traps significantly more heat than carbon does. Additionally, New York is requiring the states public power provider to generate all of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030.

Perhaps California can enact similar laws as current technologies allow us to reduce fossil fuel use. Irvine is adapting with an all-electric hospital. Future generations are counting on us to adjust quickly, so thank you N.Y. and Irvine for leading the way.

Jonathan Light, Laguna Niguel

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The perpetrator in Saturdays mass shooting in Allen, Texas, appears to have written that one of his posts to the Russian social media platform Odnoklassniki, or OK.RU, was inspired by Libs of TikTok.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed at least eight people at Allen Premium Outlets, including more than one child. Several people ages 5 to 61 were injured. Authorities identified Garcia on Sunday. The gunman was shot and killed by a police officer.

The Allen shooting was the 201st mass shooting this year in the U.S.

Local law enforcement officials said that Garcia seemed to have supported white supremacy, according to The New York Times. One official said Garcia wore a patch that read RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad.

The gunman seems to have made repeated references to violence against women, celebrating rape, and using language from the incels throughout his OK.RU profile. Aric Toler of the investigative outlet Bellingcat posted photos and screenshots of purported entries of Garcias OK.RU profile.

(Editor's note: Language and images posted by Toler may be upsetting to some readers.)

In one entry posted by Toler, Garcia allegedly praised the shooter at a private school in Nashville, but mocked the shooters transgender identity, calling the shooter a tr***y and referring to the shooter as a vagina haver. Authorities in Tennessee say the person who shot and killed several schoolchildren was trans.

Garcia appears to have written an anti-Semitic post in February about a former teacher who he wrote promoted politically correct crap, according to screenshots shared online by Brian Nguyen of the Human Rights Center of the University of California, Berkeley.

He seems to have begun that entry on OK.RU with This post was inspired by Libs of TikTok, according to one of the images that Nguyen shared on Twitter.

Libs of TikTok is the far-right social media account of Chaya Raichik. The account often posts anti-LGBTQ+ content targeting transgender people and drag show events. The Washington Post described the account as posting content "often including incendiary framing designed to generate outrage." Its been accused by security experts of engaging in stochastic terrorism, a form of terrorism that inspires viewers to act violently in the name of something they perceive as wrong from messages they receive that are designed to inspire such action.

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The OK.RU user said he provoked the teacher by doing the Nazi salute and made comments in support of Adolf Hitler. He ended the post with [Hitler] was one of histories most powerful men. Whats not to like (sic).

The shooter also said that there wouldnt be convert your children drag queen story hour under Hitlers watch (sic).

In a screenshot shared by activist and Harvard Law instructor Alejandra Caraballo, Garcia called out LGBTQ+ rights along with reparations over slavery and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

\u201cHe also hated LGBTQ Rights and "Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity." (SIC)\u201d  Alejandra Caraballo (@Alejandra Caraballo) 1683577269

At Mondays White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lambasted Republican lawmakers for not supporting stricter gun control laws after several high-profile mass shootings across the country.



This is a crisis, Jean-Pierre said. It is a crisis that Republicans in Congress are refusing to address. We are talking about the number 1 killer of kids in America, and Republicans in Congress are saying there is nothing that we can do about it.
When the late Terry Wogan retired from his 35-year stint as the voice of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, many fans thought hope was lost for the UK.

But then Graham Norton emerged onto our screens, bringing his sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek comments. It felt like the perfect match. Any doubts that Norton couldnt fill Wogans shoes quickly vanished in a puff of confetti.

This year, Norton will again be in the commentary booth for the BBCs grand final coverage (13 May).

Meanwhile, Rylan Clark and Scott Mills have been holding down the fort presenting the semi-finals this week (9 and 11 May).

Norton is renowned for mocking the length of the four-hour final, and also for noticing when someone dressed up for the announcement of scores from each participating country. Hopefully hell be kinder to the UKs 2023 entry, Mae Muller.

Lets remember some of Nortons most fierce lines:

This is Marmite if everyone hated Marmite.  on Germanys performance I Dont Feel Hate by Jendrick (2021)

Less Destinys Child. More Destinys Inappropriate Aunt.  on Serbias performance by pop trio Hurricane (2021)

Now its time for the flag ceremony. Its a new tradition. Its a way of making the show just that little bit longer.  on the length of the opening ceremony (2018)

He has come back with a song called Thats How You Write A Song... Ironically the song is not great.  on Norways performance (2018)

I liked the bit when she stopped the music.  on Slovenias performance, which faked a technical glitch (2018)

If youre going to get someone to dress as a gorilla, at least get a decent outfit. That looks like couple of old car seats sewn together.  on Italys entry Occidentalis Karma (2017)

Graham Norton took over from Terry Wogan in 2009 (PA)

The producers put together the running order, and given that no song given second place has ever won, Im guessing they didnt think much of this. Feel sorry for France, the artist is Lisa Angell the song is Noubliez Pas which means dont forget. Sadly, I fear, we will.  on Frances performance at the grand final (2015)

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He said he did something terrible as a boy. We dont know what it was. It might have been write this song.  on Norways entry A Monster Like Me (2015)

OK Thats three minutes well never get back, but look at it this way: Well never have to hear that song again.  on Albanias performance of Im Alive (2015)

Well, that wasnt embarrassing at all, well done.  reacting to the surprise rap delivered by the reader of the Finnish results (2014)

Oh thank you, its so fun! Its like the gay wedding Ill never have! Its gone in my wine!  responding to Eurovision presenters showering him with confetti in his special commentary booth (2014)

If youve just joined us and thought, Ooh, Denise van Outens let herself go, no, thats Cascada representing Germany  on Cascada after her performance of Glorious (2013)

If youre watching with pets or sensitive older people, maybe nows the time to put them in the utility room.  commenting before Cezars high-pitched, strobe-filled performance of Its My Life for Romania (2013)

This will put fear into your heart  shes a devoted experimental jazz musician. She can do extraordinary things with her voicenot pleasant things but extraordinary.  introducing Albanias Eurovision entry Rona Nishliu performing Suus (2012)

Will Graham Norton be kinder to the UKs 2023 entry Mae Muller? (PA Wire)

He looks like a nice boy whos fallen in with the wrong lot, doesnt he?  on Eric Saades performance of Popular for Sweden (2011)

Theyre drinking quite a lot. Its almost like they think theyre not going to perform again.  on the UKs backing dancers (2010)

The bad news is, youre about to watch Albania. Shes only 17, so please bear that in mind. Where was her mother? Why didnt she step in and say no?  on Albanias performance of "Carry Me in Your Dreams" performed by Kejsi Tola (2009)

The Eurovision Song Contest grand final takes place Saturday 13 May, BBC One at 8pm. Heres everything you need to know about this years song list here.
(Bloomberg) -- The US, Japan and South Korea are seeking to link their radar systems to better track missiles from North Korea and accelerate their response to any launch, a move that has the potential to anger China as well as Pyongyang.

A broad agreement on the plan is likely to come during a joint defense meeting in Singapore in June, the Yomiuri newspaper reported Tuesday, citing government officials it didnt identify. A recent warming of ties between Seoul and Tokyo, which included a resumption of shuttle diplomacy scuttled for about a dozen years over political tensions, has helped advance the arrangement, it said.

Under the agreement, the command-and-control centers used by the militaries of Japan and South Korea, as well as US forces in both countries, would be fed through the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the paper said. This would help provide instantaneous data on missile flights, while keeping some political distance between South Korea and Japan, which each have a military alliance with the US but are not mutual allies, it added.

The arrangement would be one of the most tangible efforts to improve joint efforts to keep track of North Korean missiles as a part of the recent rapprochement between Seoul and Tokyo.

But the effort could also could draw the ire of Beijing, which in 2017 objected to South Korea deploying a US defense shield over concerns its powerful radar would allow spying on Chinas missile systems. North Korea has decried military cooperation among the US, South Korea and Japan, pledging to bolster its nuclear arsenal to thwart what it sees as hostile intentions from the three adversaries.

Japans top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said Tuesday that no decision had been made on concrete steps to put the arrangement into action after it was agreed to in principle at a trilateral summit in November. South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu said at a briefing in Seoul that consultations on details are ongoing and no final decisions have been made.

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Cooperation among the three countries picked up pace when Yoon Suk Yeol became South Koreas president a year ago, pledging to take a tough line on North Korea and advancing security policies that better aligned with those of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas government.

Read: How Kim Jong Un Is Building a Nuclear North Korea: QuickTake

Since then, the US, South Korea and Japan have trained together, including on joint drills centered on intercepting missiles and hunting submarines  exercises that have taken on greater importance with North Korea deploying new systems to deliver strikes in the air and at sea.

Missile Threat

At the same time, Kim Jong Uns regime has rolled out new rockets that are quick to deploy, maneuverable in flight and designed to deliver nuclear strikes to all of Japan and South Korea, which host the bulk of US troops in the region.

Yoon has also taken on China, with his government telling Beijing that the possible operation of Lockheed Martin Corp.s Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system was a matter of South Koreas self-defense and not negotiable.

The conflict several years ago over Thaad led to economic retaliation from Beijing that shaved an estimated 0.4 percentage points off South Koreas gross domestic product expansion in 2017. Yoons predecessor, President Moon Jae-in ameliorated Beijings anger by pledging no new Thaad deployments, no participation in a US missile defense network and no transformation of security cooperation among the US, Japan and South Korea into a military alliance.

On the Thaad issue, the two sides reached agreement not to allow this issue to be a stumbling block in bilateral cooperation and will strive to make sure that bilateral relations and cooperation will not be affected by this issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, referring to Moons pledge.

Given their proximity, North Koreas missiles could deliver a strike on most parts of South Korea in less than five minutes from launch and on Japan within about 15 minutes from launch, highlighting the need for all three to instantaneously track missiles.

Read: North Korean Missile Alert Sparks Fear and Confusion in Japan

But due to the Earths curvature, Japans radar system has had trouble spotting the initial stages of missile launches from western parts of North Korea. Japan has also had embarrassing incidents where it has lost track of multistage missiles fired from North Korea.

The most recent incident took place last month, when Japan issued an alert to people on the main northern island of Hokkaido about a North Korean missile possibly heading their way. The missile did not threaten the island and the alert was lifted a few minutes later  with the government saying it lost track of the missile on radar and apologizing.

The radar alliance would be under the auspices of a 2014 information-sharing pact among the three countries and involve systems already deployed, Yomiuri said. This could allay any possible protests from China.

The main focus of the Japan-US-South Korea cooperation is North Korea, but they are showing they wont hesitate because of China  it has a symbolic aspect, said Tetsuo Kotani, a professor at Meikai University.

The arrangement will enable a more accurate grasp of a missiles trajectory, he added.

--With assistance from Gareth Allan, Isabel Reynolds, Colum Murphy and Sangmi Cha.

(Adds comments from government officials and analyst.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
This is a breaking news story. Check back to idahostatesman.com for updates.

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In the last five weeks, roughly 60 witnesses have made their way to the Ada County Courthouse and testified in the criminal trial against Lori Vallow Daybell. The 49-year-old mother and her husband, Chad Daybell, were charged with the first-degree murders of two of her children.

Prosecutors have alleged Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell also conspired to murder her 7-year-old son, Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow, 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, and Chad Daybells then-wife, Tammy Daybell.

To be convicted of the first-degree murder charges of JJ and Tylee, the 18-person jury  which will be whittled down to 12 jurors  will need to conclude that Vallow Daybell killed, encouraged or commanded someone else to kill Vallow Daybells children.

Chad Daybell is also charged with first-degree murder in Tammy Daybells death by asphyxiation.

Lori Vallow Daybells case spans 3 states, 4 deaths. Here are the key people involved

Vallow Daybells trial at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise began in early April. A trial date hasnt been set for Chad Daybell, but his trial could occur in June 2024.

Authorities said they believe Vallow Daybells brother Alex Cox also conspired to murder JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell, according to the indictment filed by prosecution teams from Madison and Fremont counties.

Cox died of natural causes in 2019. Vallow Daybell also faces a felony charge for allegedly conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, with her brother.

Check back for live updates.

2:30 p.m.  Closing arguments scheduled for Thursday

The defense will not be presenting any evidence, and Vallow Daybell will not be testifying.

We dont believe the state has proven its case, Vallow Daybells attorney Jim Archibald said.

Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce specifically asked Vallow Daybell if she understood that she had the right to testify and was choosing not to.

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Vallow Daybell quietly responded, Yes.

The attorneys for the defense and prosecution, along with Boyce, are expected to work on instructions for the jury Wednesday. Closing arguments are expected to start Thursday morning.

1:40 p.m.  Prosecution done with its portion of the trial

The prosecution has rested, which means they have no more witnesses to call and its now the defenses turn.

The defense made a motion for a judgment of acquittal  which is typically requested by the defense at the end of the prosecutions side of the case or at the end of the case.

Archibald asked Boyce to review the evidence and decide whether there is enough evidence to hand the case over to the jury.

The request is under advisement as the defense requested to speak with Vallow Daybell for roughly 15 to 20 minutes to discuss their portion of the case.

11 a.m.  90 texts and calls between Daybells, brother and friend

Nicholas Edwards, an investigator with the Idahos attorney generals office, testified late Tuesday morning about timelines hed created around the attempted shooting of Tammy Daybell and her death.

Edwards said Cox, and his soon-to-be-wife Zulema Pastenes, along with the Daybells called and texted each other 90 times around Oct. 9  the day that someone attempted to shoot Tammy Daybell.

He also noted that Vallow Daybell and Pastenes were performing a casting on Tammy Daybell on the same night.

Vallow Daybell participated in castings with several people, including two of her former friends  Pastenes and Melanie Gibb  during which they would cast out certain people who had dark spirits.

Gibb during her testimony said that if individuals were properly cast out, theyd die, and Pastenes said a dark spirit could be kept out by binding or burning the body.

When asked by the defense, Edwards said he couldnt speak to what the texts or calls said, but that based on his training and experience, he said he believed they were talking about the attempted shooting.

Edwards also said the number of calls stood out to him because there were significantly more than on an average day.

He also presented a timeline of texts and calls involving Cox, Pastenes and the Daybells on Oct. 18, 2019  the night before Tammy Daybell was killed.

It also showed that Tammy Daybell was active on her phone until about 11:30 p.m. that night. Edwards said Cox was at a Latter-day Saints church roughly 2.5 miles from Chad and Tammy Daybells home.

At around 11:35 p.m., Chad Daybell sent two texts to Vallow Daybell, and then Cox left the church parking lot, according to the timeline presented by Edwards.

Cox then called Vallow Daybell at 12:09 p.m. and Chad sent her a text later.

Tammy was killed in the early hours of Oct. 19, 2019, and her death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.

9 a.m.  Chad Daybell texted Vallow Daybell a romance novel

The prosecution recalled FBI Analyst Nicole Heideman on Tuesday morning. Heideman previously testified about the Daybells Gmail accounts and reviewed their search histories.

Heideman said during her testimony Tuesday that she also reviewed Vallow Daybells iCloud account and spoke about a series of text messages between Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell.

Chad Daybell  who authored various books about the end times  sent Vallow Daybell several text messages with sections of a romance story about two people named James and Elena.

Heideman said the story reflected the Daybells real life and pointed to specific details that mirrored their relationship, including similar dates that both Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell and the characters visited Latter-day Saints temples. Former FBI Special Agent Doug Hart during his testimony Monday said Chad Daybell referred to himself as James in various text messages.

The entire story hasnt been published by the prosecution, but East Idaho News previously obtained the text messages.

I love you Elena, what wonderful chemistry we have, Chad Daybell texted Vallow Daybell, according to text messages presented by Heideman on Tuesday.

I love you more, thats so hot. I just need you now more than ever, Vallow Daybell texted back to Chad Daybell.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) concedes to Harriet Hageman in Jackson, Wyo., after losing in the Republican primary on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Kim Raff/The New York Times)

The political action committee of former Rep. Liz Cheney began broadcasting an attack on Donald Trumps fitness for office Tuesday in the key state of New Hampshire, using her narration to accuse the former president of the greatest dereliction of duty in American presidential history.

It is unclear whether the advertisement by Cheneys leadership PAC, The Great Task, is another hint that she may run for president or a stand-alone effort to soften Trumps support in the state that will hold the first Republican primary in February.

But at this political moment, when Trumps rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 have been reluctant to attack the front-runner, Cheney has fired an opening salvo, demanding that Republican voters rebuff the former presidents effort to return to power.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

In the ad, which includes graphic and violent footage of his supporters at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Cheney says Trump refused to accept his reelection defeat. When all his efforts to cling to power failed, she says, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol.

Then he watched on television while the mob attacked law enforcement, invaded the Capitol and hunted the vice president, she said.

Cheney also warned, Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trumps presidential campaign, responded by calling Cheney a stone-cold loser who is now trying to grift her way to relevance.

Cheney hinted that she would return to politics after a crushing primary defeat in August by a pro-Trump Republican challenger, Harriet Hageman, who jettisoned her from the House seat in Wyoming she held for three terms. The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney was once considered a potential speaker of the House. But her own party conference banished her from her senior Republican leadership post over her stalwart opposition to Trump after the Jan. 6 attack. She went on to become one of two Republicans who served on the House committee that investigated the riot at the Capitol.

Her party and its core voters remain implacably opposed to her position on Trump, as evidenced by the former presidents commanding lead in party presidential polling. Those same polls have consistently put the partys support for her at around 2%.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
This article was originally published in Pennsylvania Capital Star.

As of late last month, as many as five schools in Philadelphia were forced to shut their doors because of damaged asbestos, throwing a wrench into instructional schedules and the lives of parents who suddenly found themselves with kids at home.

Philadelphia Board of Education President Reginald Streater, whose children attend one of the shuttered schools, C.W. Henry Elementary in the citys Mount Airy neighborhood, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the issues at Henry and other city schools were the result of decades of inattention.

Streater asked parents for grace as we continue to tackle this issue that has been a hundred years in the making, according to the Inquirer.

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Last week, local leaders from across the state took that effort to Harrisburg, where they called on lawmakers and the Democratic Shapiro administration to spend $5 billion over the next five years to protect students from lead, asbestos, and other environmental hazards.

My children, my grandchildren, and all of Pennsylvanias children deserve safe schools where they can thrive, Philadelphia City Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who led the effort, said in a statement. With over $13 billion in available funding, we can afford to make Pennsylvania schools safe for all children. We can afford to invest $5 billion over 5 years for their safety and their future.

The money the local leaders are seeking is significantly more than the $500 million over five years that Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed for environmental abatement in the in the $44.4 billion spending plan he rolled out in March.

The Democratic governors spending proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes a hefty investment in public education. But faced with a state court ruling declaring Pennsylvania school funding system unconstitutional, some education advocates have argued it does not go far enough.

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Faced with that growing asbestos crisis, one member of Philadelphias City Council has said the moment is now to create an independent authority to handle school building construction and renovation instead of the school district.

Isaiah Thomas, who chairs the councils education committee, introduced a resolution last week to hold hearings on creating such an authority, Chalkbeat Philadelphia reported.

Speaking to Chalkbeat, Thomas stressed the urgency of immediate action.

If we cant get this done in this budget cycle, Im not sure that well ever get the type of down payment that we need to really put a dent in the issue, Thomas said. If we wait until June, or July, it might actually be too late.

In Harrisburg, local leaders and state lawmakers also stressed the importance of swift action. Bills before the state House and Senate would restart state funding for Plan Con, the states school facilities funding program, which has not received an infusion of new money since 2016.

Aging infrastructure and decades of inadequate funding have meant that maintenance on schools has been deferred and delayed. But a leaky roof doesnt fix itself. With billions sitting in the treasury, its finally time to invest in our children, said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, whos sponsoring the Houses version of the bill.

On the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Tim Kearney, D-Delaware, is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill.

According to the local officials, two-thirds (66%) of Pennsylvanias school buildings were built before 1970, and are likely to contain asbestos.

In addition, more than 100 schools in 30 school districts have found lead in their drinking water in recent years. To mitigate those issues, districts have taken on additional debt, or have been forced to close some schools entirely.

A bipartisan trio of lawmakers in the state Senate are circulating a bill that would replace old drinking fountains with lead-filtering water stations by 2025.

It is criminal to have students and teachers in an unsafe environment, Allentown school board member LaTarsha Brown said. This is the time to invest in our youth for a brighter future. We know the funding is there, and we are demanding that you be a change agent for education and support funding new public school buildings.

With the state sitting on an anticipated budget surplus of $8 billion, and another $5 billion in the commonwealths Rainy Day Fund savings account, the local leaders said theres plenty of money to get the job done.

The state money, they argued, would free up local cash currently going to debt service for instructional needs. The burst of construction also would create jobs in their communities.

In 2023, it is unacceptable to still have school buildings that go without air conditioning in the hot months, vital capital improvements that are financially out of reach, and conditions in schools that put the health and safety of our students at risk, Reading school board memberMark Detterline, said.

This union of leaders from across the state proves how far-reaching and immediate the need is, Detterline continued. We all know that the Commonwealth has the resources and the ability to allocate the funds to remediate these issues  now is the time to do it.

Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John Micek for questions: info@penncapital-star.com. Follow Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Facebook and Twitter.
John Major at the Coronation on Saturday - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Britain is locking up too many prisoners, says Sir John Major, as he urged ministers to consider alternatives to jail for low-level offenders.

In a speech to the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), the former prime minister said Britain had the highest imprisonment rates in western Europe, yet, he said, I find it hard to believe we British are uniquely criminal.

In the year to June 2022, 43,000 people were sentenced to a prison term, of which fewer than two in every five had committed a violent offence. Was prison the correct, or fair, sentence for all the 26,000 non-violent offenders? Some, perhaps  but all? I am not sure that it was, said Sir John.

The punishment of prison is to lose liberty, but the prisoner may lose much else besides: their job, their home, their relationships. That is a high cost - not only for the prisoner, but for society as a whole. The full costs may not be justified. We might be wise to be more selective.

When prisoners have served their punishment we dont wish them to be so alienated that - through spleen or necessity - they return to crime. That is in no ones interest - and especially not the public at large.

Many prisoners - far too many, I believe - are sentenced to short-term imprisonment when other sentences would be preferable. In some cases, care and medical attention are called for rather than prison.

He added: Moreover, should low-level drug offenders - street dealers, for example, who are highly likely to be of limited intelligence as well as being addicts themselves - be sentenced to prison, or given an appropriate community sentence?

To be blunt: my suspicion is that many short sentences are pointless and that a non-custodial sentence would be more effective and, perhaps, more fair.

Former justice secretary David Gauke and prisons minister Rory Stewart proposed a similar strategy that would effectively have replaced jail sentences of under six months with community or other non-custodial penalties except where there was a risk to the public.

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Boris Johnson

It was, however, ditched when Boris Johnson became prime minister, with sentences increased for the most serious offenders.

Sir John also urged the Government to ditch former justice secretary Dominic Raabs plans to change the law to allow ministers to veto decisions by the parole board to release Britains most dangerous murderers, rapists, child killers and terrorists.

He said: The problem with this is that I do not see how or why the justice secretary would be able to reach a more just decision than the Parole Board.

Any single government minister - however able or well-meaning - would be far more vulnerable to public campaigns and, under pressure, to make a harsher decision to appease them. This is a very slippery slope.

I do not think that any politician should have that power, and I hope the new Justice Secretary will reconsider or - if he does not - that Parliament will deny it.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Southern Californias Port of Long Beach unveiled plans Tuesday to build the biggest offshore wind manufacturing facility at any U.S. seaport, aiming to churn out turbines as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

The future Pier Wind hub will accommodate the assembly of floating offshore turbines  a relatively new technology deployed in coastal zones where the water is too deep to support conventional structures fixed to the seafloor.

The turbines assembled for the floating offshore wind systems are expected to be up to 1,100 feet tall and generate a system capacity of up to 20-25 megawatts, according to the plans.

The $4.7 billion project will span about 400 acres on newly built land just southwest of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge  with construction starting as early as 2027 and the site gradually opening from 2031 through 2035, per the plans.

Imagine fully assembled wind turbines capable of generating 20 megawatts of energy towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to offshore wind farms in Central and Northern California, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said in a statement.

At the end of last year, the Biden administration held its first-ever auction for West Coast offshore wind energy facilities, enabling five companies to develop about 4.6 gigawatts.

The auction was also the first U.S. sale to support the development of commercial-scale floating offshore wind manufacturing.

Because Pacific waters deepen much more quickly than those off the Atlantic coast, using floating infrastructure is preferable for this region, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Biden administration has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind power by 2035.

California, meanwhile, has set a goal of producing 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045.

Cordero maintained that the Port of Long Beachs calm seas, lack of height restrictions and direct access to open ocean make it an ideal site to help meet these ambitious state and federal goals.

No other location has the space to achieve the economies of scale needed to drive down the cost of energy for these huge turbines, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAPD officers search a vehicle in 2015. A study recommends that civilian workers handle most traffic enforcement in the city, but any implementation faces a long process. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Most traffic enforcement in Los Angeles should be done by civilian workers, but only in tandem with major infrastructure upgrades that improve safety along city streets that are among the nations deadliest.

Those are the conclusions of a long-delayed report from the city transportation department that has yet to be released. The Times reviewed a draft of the document, which is being produced by an outside firm and has been in the works for nearly three years, since the City Council first raised the prospect of removing traffic duties from the Los Angeles Police Department.

The debate over what role police should have in enforcing traffic safety comes amid an alarming yearlong rise in road deaths and injuries. It illustrates both the promise and the challenge of removing armed officers from traffic safety duties.

Some transportation safety advocates say persistent traffic violence, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, shows that the city needs to crack down harder on reckless driving.

Supporters of criminal justice reform argue for a less punitive approach. They say those communities have historically borne the brunt of over-aggressive policing, which they contend hasn't made the streets any safer.

And they allege that, even when such encounters dont end in violence, the fines that often result can send people into spiraling debt.

Among the recommendations put forth by the city report is investing in so-called "self-enforcing infrastructure," such as narrower streets, dedicated bike lanes and more clearly marked pedestrian crosswalks.

Such measures naturally slow the flow of traffic and discourage drivers from speeding or breaking other road laws. Much like the Vision Zero initiative  unveiled in 2015 by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti to end traffic deaths within a decade  they would increase safety and reduce the need for active enforcement in "high-injury network corridors, low-income communities, and communities of color," the report said.

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While the city could build on the existing Vision Zero model, the report said, it should be less reliant on law enforcement.

The city could, for example, use unarmed civilians to enforce "safety-related traffic violations" such as speeding, in the same vein as cities such as Berkeley, Oakland and Philadelphia, the report recommends.

At the same time, the city should consider "means-based" fee models  such as vouchers to repair broken taillights  for traffic violators, measures that "advance traffic safety objectives and do not perpetuate enforcement disparities."

From the chronic problem of people running stop signs to a rise in sideshows that occasionally lead to injuries  such as street takeovers or drag racing  the work group found that the "aggressiveness of drivers towards nondrivers, including the unhoused, is a growing problem in Los Angeles."

Headlines describing road violence involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists have piled up in recent months, including one case last month in which police say a possibly impaired driver barreled into a mother and her 6-year-old daughter as they walked to school in Mid-Wilshire. The mother was killed and the girl was critically injured.

According to Los Angeles Police Department data, 312 people were killed in traffic collisions in 2022, a 5% increase over the previous year and a 29% increase over 2020.

The city's streets remain particularly deadly for pedestrians and bicyclists, with 159 people killed in collisions involving pedestrians and motorists last year. This is a 19% rise compared with 2021, LAPD data show. An additional 20 people died in collisions involving bicyclists and motorists, an 11% rise.

The traffic carnage outpaced national trends.

Even among the most ardent transportation advocates, reducing those numbers in a city as car-dependent as Los Angeles seems like an impossibly tall task.

As a city, we get an F grade for our traffic, for the amount of traffic violations and our ability to curb serious fatalities and injuries, said Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone. "I understand that weve got a housing crisis, I dont disagree that were prioritizing that. But we [also] have a public health traffic violence crisis.

Local officials, he said, need to find an approach to traffic safety that doesn't repeat the harm of past efforts.

The truth is, I dont think anyone has a definite answer of what is that sweet spot; how do we balance that? Because its not equitable to have people dying on the streets of Los Angeles," he said, adding that pedestrians of color are at higher risk of being run over because theyre the ones who are walking the most or biking the most because they cant afford a car.

Experts say speed is a major factor in many serious crashes, and so reducing it can lead to fewer traffic deaths.

Jessica Hutton, an engineer with the Kansas City, Mo., firm Burns & McDonnell, said most drivers decide how fast to drive based on unconscious cues from a road's design and surroundings. Thus, some cities can employ "a little bit of psychology" by designing "self-enforcing" roads that regulate speeds through changes, for example, to the width of a roadway or shoulder or the creation of more intersections.

The debate over the role of law enforcement in traffic incidents stretches back decades but intensified in the wake of George Floyds murder in 2020 at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis and the ensuing nationwide reckoning in which critics challenged some long-held assumptions around policing.

The draft report calls for further expanding the LAPD's restrictions on so-called pretextual stops  using minor traffic violations as a reason to pull over vehicles and search them for evidence of more serious crimes. Such stops were already drastically scaled back after a Times investigation found that the department stopped and searched Black and Latino drivers at higher rates than white motorists.

Department officials have admitted these stops netted few arrests and undermined public trust.

Still, police officials around the U.S. have been slow to rein in the practice too much, saying that it is still a tool for getting guns and drugs off the streets.

LAPD officials have said they would be willing to relinquish certain traffic duties if they are picked up by another agency. But enforcement remains a top priority, they say, citing among other reasons the inherent dangers of traffic stops and a recent rise in accidents.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore said that finding alternatives to a police response [to certain incidents] is something that the department is very much interested in.

If DOT [Los Angeles Department of Transportation] were to pick that work up, I think wed welcome it, he said.

He pointed out that teams of mental health workers already respond to some calls involving people in crisis, without police present, and that officers no longer "take traffic collision reports for anything other than the most serious traffic accidents.

At the same time, he added, any changes must be weighed against "safety risk issues" posed in certain traffic encounters

Selling the proposed changes to the Los Angeles Police Protective League is another matter. Certain changes may have to be negotiated through collective bargaining, the report points out. And while the League, which is in contract talks with city leaders, has signaled its willingness to stop sending officers to certain low-level enforcement tasks, traffic duty is not one of them.

Even if Los Angeles wanted to put traffic enforcement into the hands of civilians, the assumption is that under the state vehicle code, such duties could only be handled by licensed peace officers. But the report argues that there are "plausible legal arguments that the vehicle code does not limit the Citys discretion in this area."

The city Traffic Department already employs civilian traffic officers, who direct traffic and enforce parking restrictions, according to the report. While they are not technically peace officers, they have the authority to issue parking tickets and to perform other related duties.

Among those responsibilities is arresting "individuals without a warrant for a limited but varying list of civil violations related to taxis and ride-shares and other violations related to streets and sidewalks such as causing obstructions or dumping of prohibited substances," according to the report.

LADOT did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The department has said the pandemic has worsened its staffing issues. Connie Llanos, the agency's interim general manager, said during a recent budget presentation that her agency has 68 traffic officer vacancies. LADOT is also seeking new funding to expand its speed bump program to more locations around the city, including near schools.

Any next steps would probably require state legislative action, the report said. Policymakers would also need to get buy-in from communities that were "disproportionately burdened" by "high fees and privacy issues" and by past attempts at automated traffic enforcement, such as Los Angeles' defunct and controversial red-light camera traffic enforcement program.

The report's authors looked to models in other cities that, instead of deploying armed police, have tackled traffic safety by reinvesting in street improvements and educating the public while exploring alternative methods for holding motorists accountable.

Berkeley, for instance, has been developing a new division that aims to send unarmed representatives to certain traffic incidents, instead of police, as the city works toward its goal of reducing racial disparities in traffic stops and ending serious crashes by 2028.

In Philadelphia, officials voted to adopt a model of enforcement used in New Zealand, in which minor traffic violations are handled by unarmed public safety officers who work for that city's transportation department.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Officials in Ecuador say a senior leader of the Los Choneros gang, which was behind many of the recent deadly riots in the country's prisons, has been killed in neighbouring Colombia.

A body found in a wooded area in Antioquia province has been identified as that of Junior Roldan.

He fled to Colombia after he was injured in an attempt on his life in his native Ecuador.

Roldan had been released from prison in February.

The body, which had a gunshot wound to the head was found on Saturday.

The mayor of Fredonia, the Colombian town where his body was found, said that he had probably been murdered somewhere else and his body dumped, as none of the locals remembered seeing him before.

Ecuador's interior minister said that forensic experts had been able to identify the body thanks to Roldan's tattoos and other identifying marks.

Roldan was considered a fugitive after he had ditched the electronic ankle bracelet he had been fitted with when he was released from jail.

The gang leader crossed into Colombia after he was shot and injured in March by members of rival gang Los Lobos (The Wolves).

He also survived another attack in which drones laden with explosives were set off above the prison wing in which he was locked up at the time.

Despite this history of previous attempts on his life, Ecuador's commander of police, Gen Fausto Salinas, said that intelligence reports suggested that his murder was not part of a war between rival gangs.

However, Gen Salinas did not give any details as to who may have shot him or why.

Police said his death was a blow to his gang, Los Choneros.

Named after their power base in the town of Chone, the gang mainly engages in drug trafficking and extortion.

After many of its members were jailed, it became one of Ecuador's most powerful prison gangs, controlling many aspects of life inside the country's penitentiaries and also directing criminal operations from behind bars.

Los Choneros is thought to have been behind some of the most gruesome prison fights in recent months, in which dozens of inmates were killed and at times beheaded.

In recent years, it has forged links with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, an alliance which has further boosted its power.
Days before the end of the Kansas legislative session, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly stood on the third floor of the statehouse, flanked by a dozen Kansas teachers, and affirmed an unwavering support for public education.

I will not sign a bill that cuts funding for schools, she said.

The issue is fully funding our schools and not diverting our public funds to private schools, she added.

Kellys position will soon be tested.

Kelly must decide by May 18 whether to sign or veto a bill that fully funds Kansas K-12 schools but ignores her request for enhanced special education funding and expands a tax credit scholarship program for private schools. Public education advocates  key allies of Kellys since her first term  are calling for her to veto the policy and call a special session on school funding.

What we would wish for would be a clean funding bill that complies with the Gannon school finance decision that adds some significant special education funding, said Leah Fliter, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards.

But requiring Kansas lawmakers to return to Topeka and take another shot at education funding does not guarantee a desirable result for Kelly or her allies. And it grants the GOP-controlled Legislature a fresh opportunity to pursue other policies Kelly will oppose.

This is a lose-lose situation and it really comes down to how much is she willing to lose, said Alexandra Middlewood, a political science professor at Wichita State University.

Possible special session

Kansas lawmakers formally completed their work for the year last month, forfeiting their opportunities to override any final vetoes from Kelly.

The one exception is K-12 funding. The state has a constitutional obligation to fully fund public schools. If Kelly rejects the Legislatures proposal, she will be obligated to call a special session to bring the body back to Topeka to either override her or try again.

Kelly, however, cannot limit the Legislatures work once they are back.

Story continues

The school funding bill lawmakers passed included an expansion of eligibility for the existing tax credit scholarship program for private schools. It also adjusts the formula for calculating how many students are in a district and receive funding. The change allows schools to use their current year enrollment or their previous year enrollment.

A lot of the districts who are going to lose either get a lower amount or actual end up negative its just that they didnt know that was coming, Fliter said. Theyve already been budgeting and signing contracts based on what current law is and so theyre left kind of, they feel like, holding the bag.

Current law doesnt allow schools to use their current year enrollment to calculate population but allows them to pick the highest number of students from the previous three years.

For three straight years Kansas Republicans have separated the education budget from the broader government budget and tied policy changes to the funding.

In 2021 and 2022 Kelly approved those policy changes, accepting an open enrollment policy and moderate expansion of the tax credit scholarship in exchange for full funding.

Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican who chairs the House K-12 Budget Committee, said lawmakers would be quick to seek an override if they are brought back for a special session.

It needs constitutional funding regardless of what small items may be included in the policy; the number one thing has been achieved and the Legislature has spoken, she said.

Despite repeated pleas for increased special education funding  the state hasnt reached its statutory requirement for funding since at least 2011  Williams said she would remain reluctant to infuse those funds this year.

Williams has pushed for a deeper study of the special education funding rather than throw money at an issue that there is an emotional outcry for.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, voted against the funding bill on Kellys desk. But she said a special session was unlikely to fix the issues with the bill.

If it could just be education thats one thing but honestly I dont know that it gets any better, Sykes said. They dont have the appetite to put more money in schools and they want to divert those funds to private schools.

Instead, Skyes said, a special session would be an opportunity for GOP leaders to take another shot at sending a flat tax bill to Kelly or new legislation restricting the rights of transgender Kansans.

Untapped veto power?

Middlewood, the political science professor, said accepting the bill would likely upset Kellys most ardent supporters but it wouldnt harm her or her party in the long run.

However, Kelly could also open up a legal argument if she attempts to use her line-item veto power on the tax credit scholarship expansion and other policy components of the funding bill she opposes.

That doesnt help us get money and the funding for special education but it helps in terms of the negative things in it, Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, said.

A line-item veto could easily result in a court battle between Kelly and the Legislature over the power of the governor.

The Kansas Constitution grants Kelly the power to veto individual lines of appropriations bills. In recent memory, no governor has attempted to use the line-item veto power on any bill other than the primary budget bill.

Stephen McAllister, a constitutional law professor at the University of Kansas and former Kansas solicitor general, said in an email last month that he believes that power extends to the education budget.

But Williams, the Augusta Republican, said the Legislature considers the bill to be a policy bill and therefore not subject to line item vetoes. Kelly attempting a line-item veto, Williams said, would violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

It would not be acting in good faith, she said.
A police line. Stock Photo via Getty Images

A Louisiana man is facing felony assault charges after police said Tuesday that he shot a 14-year-old girl who was playing hide-and-seek on his property.

David Doyle, 58, was charged with aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal discharge of a firearm, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Officials said the incident occurred this past Sunday in Starks, a small town near the Texas state line.

The girl was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.

According to the sheriff's office, police responded to Doyle's home following a report of shots fired, and they found the 14-year-old with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Detectives then arrived and learned that she had been playing hide-and-seek on Doyle's property.

When detectives spoke with Doyle, he allegedly told them he had "observed shadows outside of his home, at which point he went inside and received his firearm." Doyle then admitted to going back outside to see people running away from his property, police said, at which point he began shooting at them and "unknowingly hit the girl."

The area where the shooting happened is a dead-end road where only Doyle and the victim's family live, KPLC-TV reported.

Doyle remains in police custody with bond set at $300,000, according to The Washington Post.

The shooting is the latest in a series of sometimes-deadly incidents spurred by seemingly trivial events. This includes a pair of teenage cheerleaders who were critically injured in Texas after accidentally entering the wrong car, as well as a New York woman, Kaylin Gillis, who was shot and killed while turning around in a stranger's driveway. There was also the case of Ralph Yarl, a Kansas City man who was shot in the head after mistakenly wringing the wrong doorbell.

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A 14-year-old girl in Louisiana is expected to survive after a neighbor allegedly shot her in the back of head while she and other children played a game of hide-and-seek on his property.

David Doyle, 58, was arrested Sunday morning at his home in Starks, a rural town near the Texas border, after officers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office responded to reports of shots fired.

When police arrived, they found the 14-year-old had been shot in the back of the head. The girl was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Police said several children were playing hide-and-seek on Doyles property when the neighbor shot at them.

Doyle stated he observed shadows outside his home, at which time he went inside and retrieved his firearm, the news release said. He then advised detectives he went back outside and observed people running away from his property, at which time he began shooting at them and unknowingly hit the girl.

Doyle has been charged in Sundays shooting with aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm.

The latest shooting has become commonplace in a country where citizens have been shot  and killed  for making minor mistakes or inconveniencing someone. In April alone, there were five shootings across the country that followed a similar pattern.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old in Missouri, was shot last month after mistakenly going to the wrong address to pick up his younger siblings. The shooter, 84-year-old Andrew Lester, has been charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

That same month, a New York man was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing a 20-year-old woman after she accidentally drove into his driveway.

Two cheerleaders in Texas were also shot in April after one of them accidentally entered the wrong car. Both girls survived and are recovering from their injuries. Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., 25, was arrested and charged with deadly conduct, a third-degree felony.

A couple in Florida said their car was shot at after they accidentally drove to the wrong address for an Instacart delivery. Police declined to charge the shooter because it happened on his own property.

And at the end of April, an Illinois man was fatally shot while using a leaf blower on his own property. Ettore Lacchei, 79, was charged in the shooting, and neighbors told police Laachei had been seen yelling at neighbors in the past and brandishing his gun.
Sujata Jana / EyeEm / Getty Images

Police said a Louisiana man shot and injured a teen girl playing hide-and-seek on his property.

The suspect told investigators that he saw "shadows outside his home," prompting him to get his gun.

The incident marks the latest in a recent string of unprovoked shootings.

Police said this week that a Louisiana man shot a 14-year-old girl in the head as she and other kids were playing a game of hide-and-seek on his property, marking the latest in a recent string of unprovoked shootings across the country that have made headlines.

Homeowner David Doyle, 58, was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and the illegal discharge of a firearm in connection to the early Sunday morning incident in the small community of Starks, Louisiana, authorities said.

When deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office were called to Doyle's home, they discovered the teen girl with a gunshot wound to the back of her head, officials said.

Investigators found that "several juveniles were playing hide and seek in the area and were hiding on the neighbor's property," the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Authorities said that Doyle told investigators that he saw "shadows outside his home," prompting him to go inside and get his firearm.

"He then advised detectives he went back outside and observed people running away from his property, at which time he began shooting at them and unknowingly hit the girl," the sheriff's office said.

The teen victim, whose identity was not released by police, was rushed to an out-of-town hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

Doyle was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center, the sheriff's office said.

Family members of the shot teenager told KPLC 7 News that the victim is recovering. The news outlet reported that the shooting happened on a dead-end road where only Doyle, the victim's family, and a relative of the victim live.

Story continues

The incident comes after a series of similar shootings in which several people, including teenagers, were gunned down in unprovoked attacks across the US.

Last month, a 65-year-old Florida man shot and wounded a teenager who drove an ATV past his property.

Earlier on April 13, an 85-year-old man shot and injured a 16-year-old Black boy in Missouri when the teen mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell.

Two days later, a 20-year-old woman was fatally shot in New York by a 65-year-old man when she pulled into the wrong driveway.

On April 18, two Texas high school cheerleaders were shot and injured after one of them mistakenly got into the wrong car while the teens were on their way home from practice.

Read the original article on Insider
Alexander Lukashenko at a parade in Moscow on May 9, 2023 with a bandaged hand

Read also: Blogger convicted for online reaction to Lukashenko cartoon dies in Belarusian colony

In one of the videos, Russian dictator Putin, surrounded by the presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the prime minister of Armenia, is seen walking to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Lukashenko approaches him and says something, after which Puin gives a sign to his bodyguards. Lukashenko gets into his car and follows the procession inside it. Lukashenko rejoined Putin's group near the place where the flowers were laid, about 300 meters away.

Later, Lukashenko did not attend a breakfast hosted by the Russian dictator for the presidents and prime minister of Armenia.

Read also: At last minute, three more heads of state decide to attend Putin's parade

The Belarusian project MotolkoHelp noted that Lukashenko's arm was covered with a bandage during the parade in Moscow. According to the volunteer initiative, the Belarusian dictator returned to Minsk shortly after the procession. The Lukashenko regime's propagandists did not report on his travels.

Belarusian political analyst Dmitry Bolkunets also claims that Lukashenko was accompanied to the airport by an ambulance.

On May 9, Moscow hosted the shortest and most "pared-down" parade in the last 15 years: it lasted 45 minutes, the aviation fly-past was canceled, there were no tanks in the mechanized column on Red Square, except for one ancient T-34, and the smallest number of troops in a decade and a half (8,000) took part in the parade.

Read also: Moscow parade showcases lowest number of soldiers in 15 years, one ancient tank, and no fly-past

In his speech on Red Square, Putin did not announce any decisions about the war against Ukraine and simply parroted numerous historical and ideological cliches of Russian propaganda.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The outfits worn by the ball girls before they were changed for the mens final (Getty Images)

The Madrid Open has been accused of sexism for dressing its ball girls in revealing and feminising outfits, amid further controversy surrounding the unequal treatment of women players at the tournament.

The event assigned all-female ball crews to mens matches played on the grandstand court, with the uniforms featuring short, pleated skirts and crop tops, while younger girls and boys wore more traditional attire when stationed on the outside courts.

The outfits were changed following criticism from Spains secretary of state for equality, Soledad Murillo, who said that the uniforms worn by the ball girls on the main court "fomented clear discrimination towards women.

A spokesperson for the Spanish Association for Women in Professional Sport, Pilar Calvino, had also urged the Madrid Open to change its policy and said of the dress code: "Its a way of feminising girls with respect to boys who dont dress in the same way. Ultimately, its a form of sexist violence that is so widespread that people dont even notice it."

The outfits were changed for Sundays final between Spains Carlos Alcaraz and Germanys Jan-Lennard Struff, with the ball girls instead wearing three-quarter-length skirts as they worked the match.

Ball girls changed into longer skirts for the Madrid Open mens final (Getty Images)

The Madrid Open had been previously criticised for hiring models as their ball girls at the 2004 tournament.

The latest controversy was one of several incidents at the tournament this past fortnight that have also seen the Madrid Open accused of sexism.

Also on Sunday, the players in the womens doubles final were not given the chance to speak to the crowd during the trophy presentation, prompting a furious reaction from Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka, who triumphed alongside Beatriz Haddad Maia against the American pair Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, tweeted: Hard to explain to [six-year-old son] Leo that mommy isnt able to say hello to him at the trophy ceremony.

After Gauff tweeted: Wasnt given the chance to speak after the final today, Pegula replied with a zipped lips emoji.

Story continues

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were silenced after the womens doubles final (Getty Images)

The incident was criticised by Ons Jabeur - last years Madrid Open womens singles winner - who said: So unfortunate that you were not given a chance to address the crowd and your opponents. This is sad and unacceptable.

Azarenka had also been critical of the astounding differences in birthday cakes presented to Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka - who defeated Iga Swiatek in this years womens singles final.

While Alcaraz was given a giant three-tier cake on court after reaching the Madrid Open final, Sabalenka received a much smaller cake off court.

Couldnt be more accurate on the treatment https://t.co/x89RytI0zV  victoria azarenka (@vika7) May 5, 2023

Azarenka commented: Couldnt be more accurate on the treatment - but tournament director Feliciano Lopez defended the presentation and said he was surprised by the reaction.

Lopez pointed to another cake similar in size that was given to Holger Rune and said: 1. Carlos had just won his match to reach the final. 2. He was playing on centre court. 3. The tournament is played in Spain, even though it is an international event. PS: I hope Rune wasnt also upset.
After two days of rest, Kentucky Derby winner Mage returned to the track for training Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Mage jogged one mile and galloped one mile, and assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said hes pleased with the horses demeanor since winning the Run for the Roses.

So far so good, Delgado said. Everything after the race has been very nice for him. Hes eating everything. He went out for a jog and a gallop today, and on his way back you could tell he wanted to do a little bit more.  Were going to keep an eye on that so he doesnt do too much.

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The blanket of roses is laid out in front of the stall of Mage on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The likely next step for Mage is the Preakness on May 20 in Baltimore, though Delgado said connections are taking it day by day and have not confirmed plans to ship the horse to Maryland.

If Mage skips the Preakness, he would be the second consecutive Kentucky Derby winner to do so. Rich Strike skipped last years Preakness before running in the Belmont.

We really dont want to feel any pressure about going or not going to the Preakness, Delgado said. Were letting the horse tell us. Its going to be a huge effort after two weeks.

Delgado said there are no plans to breeze Mage over the next few days.

Who will run at Preakness? Here's a look at possible field for second leg of Triple Crown

Winner of the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby Mage walks around the barn Sunday, May 7, 2023 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Hes fit enough already, Delgado said. Its pretty much about keeping him happy at all times. If he has any effort, its going to be in the race  if we decide to go, if he wants to go.

Delgado said hes still digesting the Derby victory and has watched a replay of the race at least 400 times.

Delgados father, Gustavo Sr., is Mages head trainer, and Javier Castellano is the jockey. Both were born in Venezuela.

Lots of people have reached out to us, especially from Venezuela, Delgado Jr. said. The whole country, I understand, is in pure joy. For us, we cant feel any more proud. This is for them.

Story continues

C.L. Brown: Mage, trainer Gustavo Delgado provide reason to celebrate during unexpected Kentucky Derby

Run for the Rose runner-up: Jareth Loveberry, aboard Two Phil's, falls short in Kentucky Derby debut

Two Phils to skip Preakness

Jockeys for the winner, Mage, and Two Phils talk as they run past the finish during the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky. May 6, 2023

The Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald reported Monday night that Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phils will not compete in the Preakness.

Too soon, trainer Larry Rivelli said. Phil came out of the Derby great. We shipped back to Chicago Sunday, but the Preakness is just 12 days away. That's just too soon.

Two Phils and jockey Jareth Loveberry took the lead with a quarter mile remaining in the Kentucky Derby but lost by one length to Mage.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Preakness Stakes 2023 contenders: Latest on Kentucky Derby winner Mage
Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey - PA

A Somalian man accused of fatally stabbing a Christian charity worker in the neck was allegedly found with a shard of mirror when he was arrested, a court has heard.

Mohamed Nur, 33, allegedly set upon Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, 31, from behind with a sharp weapon in Brixton, in the south of the capital, on the afternoon of May 1.

On Tuesday, Nur appeared at the Old Bailey charged with her murder, injuring two other women and a man two days before, and having offensive weapons.

Members of Dogbeys family appeared tearful as they watched the preliminary hearing.

Nur is suspected of being armed with a pair of scissors on the day he allegedly murdered Dogbey.

The court heard that the following day, when the suspect was arrested after a police manhunt, he was stopped on Brixton High Street allegedly in possession of a weapon fashioned from a piece of broken mirror.

Cause of death sharp force trauma to the neck

Prosecutor Julian Evans KC told the court on Tuesday: There is no suggestion she and the defendant were known to one another.

Dogbey had been walking alone on Stockwell Park Walk, a residential street in Brixton, after travelling into central London to do some shopping on May 1.

She was attacked from behind and died at the scene. A post-mortem examination identified the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.

It is understood she had been on her way to a birthday celebration at the flat where she lived with her mother, father, brother and sister, and was just 300 yards from home when she was killed.

It is also believed she had been on the phone to her grandmother when she was attacked.

Suspect accused of three other attacks

Two days before, on April 29 at about 11.30pm, Nur allegedly attacked three members of the public in quick succession in separate incidents in Brixton, namely on Town Hall Parade, Brixton Road and Acre Lane.

A hand-made weapon with two blades with a piece of blue fabric tied around the middle was found discarded in a bush close to a nearby underpass.

Story continues

Nur is charged with Dogbeys murder, three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on April 29 and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon relating to a bladed article made from scissors on May 1 and glass on May 2.

Nur, who was living in a hostel in Vauxhall, south London, spoke only to confirm his identity in the dock of the Old Bailey on Tuesday, wearing a khaki T-shirt.

He was remanded into custody and Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a plea hearing for July 25 and a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey from April 29 2024.

Dogbey, a devout Christian who had founded a sickle cell disease charity called the Odette Foundation, was remembered by her family in a tribute last week as a smart, dedicated and loving girl who always helped anyone.

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A 49-year-old man accused of throwing a lit pipe bomb at three people last month in Marissa is facing criminal charges.

On April 29, local law enforcement, Scott Air Force Bases Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, a state bomb squad and the FBI responded to the South Marissa Trailer Park to close roads, evacuate trailers and neutralize the explosive device.

Marissa Police Chief Brian Sheridan said no one was injured.

Jim F. Lanier, of Marissa, was arrested May 1 and has since been charged with three counts of possession of an explosive or incendiary device, a Class 1 felony, in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

A May 4 order from Circuit Judge Robert Haida appointed the public defenders office to represent Lanier in the case. A representative from the office said Tuesday they had not yet received the order, so an attorney had not been assigned to the case.

The police chief said three people confronted Lanier at the trailer park, believing he was a suspicious individual. The three did not know Lanier, according to Sheridan. He said authorities do not believe Lanier went to the trailer park to target them.

A Marissa police officer responded to the area in the 100 block of Hotz Street at about 2:50 a.m. to investigate.

The officer learned a confrontation occurred and found a cylinder wrapped in white tape in the street that was burnt on one end. It later was determined to be a pipe bomb, the Marissa Police Department wrote in a news release.

The Marissa Police Department conducted a joint investigation with the Illinois Secretary of State Police Hazardous Device Unit and the FBI. Sheridan said Tuesday the investigation was ongoing.

Lanier is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on a $90,000 bond awaiting a grand jury hearing. A hearing date had not been set as of Tuesday.
Joe Rankin has admitted to killing 40-year-old Emma Potter. (SWNS)

A man has admitted to murdering a "kind" woman whose body lay undiscovered in her flat for weeks.

Joe Rankin, 33, is facing life in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing 40-year-old Emma Potter.

Ms Potter was found dead at her flat in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 4 November last year by police officers after a neighbour had raised concerns, a previous court hearing was told.

Rankin, of Stroud, who has a long history of psychiatric problems, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday for his arraignment after it was deemed he was now fit to plead.

Emma Potter was found dead at her flat in Stroud on 4 November last year. (SWNS)

Rankin spoke only to confirm his name and submit a plea of guilty to the charge he murdered Ms Potter sometime between 19 September and 4 November last year.

No further details of the crime were given in court during the short hearing and he was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing next month.

Ms Potter's death was treated initially as unexplained but after a post-mortem examination was carried out, Gloucestershire Police opened a murder investigation.

Rankin was told a medical report would now be prepared ahead of sentencing to look at any mitigating factors that could affect the minimum term he is given.

The prosecution said that instead of opening the case now it would, in their view, be "better to have everything heard at once" and have the judge assisted by a psychiatric report.

The court heard the defendant had a "detailed psychiatric history" but by his "guilty plea to the charge on the indictment" the conclusion was he was "not suffering to an extent that equates to diminished responsibility."

Rankin was no longer in a hospital setting and was now being held in custody in prison, the court also heard.

The Recorder of Bristol, His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC, told the defendant: "As you will already have had explained to you in detail by your solicitor, you will receive a life sentence and the question for me will be to determine what the minimum period will be before you can even be considered for release.

Story continues

"In the meantime you will be remanded in custody."

Paying tribute to her at the time of her death, Emma's family said: "We mourn the death of our daughter, Emma, who joined our family as a beautiful five-month-old baby.

They added: "All her life, Emma tried to be kind to anyone who befriended her.

''Life wasn't always easy, but she was trying to find ways to improve herself. We will never know whether she would have succeeded.
A man was found dead with a gunshot wound following a vehicle crash Monday evening in Antelope, Sacramento County sheriffs officials said.

Deputies responded around 9 p.m. to a report of a two-vehicle collision near Fawn Hollow and Firestone ways, Sacramento County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said. The 911 caller reported that the driver of one of the vehicles had been shot.

First responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. It was not immediately clear where the shooting took place, Gandhi said; it was unknown whether the victim was shot while driving or if the crash took place as the victim was being transported to a hospital after being shot, he said.

Homicide detectives are investigating, Gandhi said. No suspect information was immediately available.

One of the two vehicles involved in the collision ended up crashing into a nearby house, Gandhi said. No other injuries were reported.

The shooting victims identity will be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office pending notification of family.
A man walked free on Monday after spending nearly three decades behind bars for a rape he didn't commit.

Patrick Brown was convicted in 1994 of raping his then 6-year-old stepdaughter, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office in Louisiana said. The sexual assault survivor did not testify at Brown's trial and, beginning in 2002, she repeatedly asked for the case to be reviewed, insisting Brown wasn't her attacker, the district attorney's office said.

But the case was not investigated again until recent years.

"It is incredibly disheartening to know that this woman was dismissed and ignored, no matter how inconvenient her truth, when all she wanted was the real offender to be held responsible," Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said in a statement Monday. "When someone is wrongfully convicted, not only is it an injustice for the person who has years of their life stolen, but it is an injustice for the victim and the people of New Orleans because the real perpetrator is left to harm others."

Williams said that the office's civil rights division "conducted a thorough investigation and the evidence corroborated the victim's account, which has remained steadfast for over 20 years." Williams did not provide details on the exonerating evidence.

The office asked the court to vacate Brown's conviction and Judge Calvin Johnson presided over a hearing Monday, after which Brown was released.

Civil Rights Division Chief Emily Maw said she hoped Monday's news brought some closure to both Brown and his stepdaughter.

"This victim has endured not just the deep trauma of child sexual assault, but the trauma of knowing the wrong man has been imprisoned for almost three decades while the man who raped her walked free," Maw said in a press release. "This is a very sad case, but we are hopeful that this will bring some closure to the victim and that she, and Mr. Brown, can move forward in healing."

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Brown was spending time with his family on Monday night, his attorney, Kelly Orians, said.

"Although the right decision was reached today, and there is reason to celebrate, it will never make up for the pain and the loss that Mr. Brown, his stepdaughter, and their family have endured over the last three decades," Orians said.

Prosecutors have not shared details regarding the man whom the woman says raped her as a child. Williams said the state is "actively reviewing the viability charges against the actual perpetrator."

"To say more on that at this time would not be prudent as it could jeopardize the case," Williams said.

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A man drowned in a Wisconsin river after jumping in to rescue his brother, authorities say.

The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, in the Pike River in Kenosha County, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee, according to the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department.

Deputies said a man swimming in the river began to struggle and a child he was with went to get help. The mans brother and another man jumped into the river to rescue him, the sheriffs department said in a news release.

The struggling swimmer was pulled to shore, according to the sheriff, but the 39-year-old brother did not immediately resurface.

First responders found the brother, identified as Adrian Sanchez-Trujillo, underwater more than an hour later. Deputies said he was unconscious and not breathing.

Sanchez-Trujillo was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department expresses our deepest condolences to the family, authorities said.

A GoFundMe states Sanchez-Trujillo was working to bring his wife and their three children to the United States.

He is a hard working man that would send all of his money to his wife and kids to provide for them, the GoFundMe says. He always spoke about the dreams and plans he had for his family once they would reunite. Adrian with out a doubt was a incredible person.

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A New Mexico man was killed and an Illinois State Police trooper was injured in exchange of gunfire on Interstate 64 near Mount Vernon early Tuesday, police said.

Gunfire was exchanged about 3 a.m. between 23-year-old Brandon L. Griffin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a trooper at Milepost 72 on eastbound I-64 in Jefferson County, Illinois State Police said in an updated news release Tuesday afternoon.

While on scene, an altercation occurred during which gunfire was exchanged between Griffin and a responding officer, the news release stated.

Griffin was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 16-year veteran of the Illinois State Police suffered serious, although non-life threatening, injuries after being shot during the altercation and is being treated at a regional hospital. The troopers name was not released.

Two troopers had responded to the site. The first one stopped to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder, according to the news release. This trooper encountered Griffin and a female passenger. A second trooper arrived for routine assistance.

Only one of the troopers was injured and the female passenger was not injured.

The eastbound lanes of the highway were closed after the shooting but reopened at about 6:25 a.m. They were closed again at 7:48 a.m. as part of the investigation and reopened again at 8:53 a.m.

The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is investigating the shooting and then all evidence and facts will be submitted to the Jefferson County States Attorneys Office.

No other information about the shooting was available to be released.

Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse said an autopsy will be conducted Thursday morning.
A week after a road rage incident that ended in a fatal shootout with Jasper County police, officials say the South Carolina mans death may have been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Calaab Heath Kirby, 33, of Union, was pronounced dead at 8 a.m. May 1 on Brooks Willis Drive, according to Jasper County Coroner Willie P. Aiken III. The investigation had closed Exit 8 off I-95 for most of a day.

The case is pending further investigation, but Aiken is investigating Kirbys death as a suicide. The position and angle of the mans multiple gunshot wounds indicate self-inflicted gunshots, he said, adding that several wounds could have resulted from a single bullet.

An autopsy was performed May 3, Aiken said.

One Sheriffs Office deputy and three Hardeeville officers involved in the shootout were put on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.

Hardeeville and Jasper County police called on SLED to investigate, which is standard practice to prevent bias after officer-involved shootings, said Chief Jeff Crosby of the Jasper County Sheriffs Office.

Kirby was a disabled veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, according to his obituary.

Hardeeville officers received a 911 call around 4:15 a.m. May 1 about a road rage incident in which an armed and aggressive driver shot another vehicle multiple times on U.S. 278, according to a May 2 press release from SLED. Police do not know how the disagreement began.

Locating the suspects car at a nearby gas station, police chased the driver, who was later identified as Kirby, onto Brooks Willis Drive, where his car struck a barricade and stopped, Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward said. From there, officers exchanged gunfire with the man.

Woodward, Crosby and SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich would not say how many rounds were fired by officers. Woodward would not specify whether police or Kirby fired the first shot.

Police do not know why Kirby was in Hardeeville that morning, but Woodward said the man was traveling upstate back to Union when the road rage incident unfolded.

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Two Hardeeville officers exchanged gunfire with Kirby, Woodward said. A third officer on the scene was a supervisor.

Woodward and Crosby would not name the officers who have been placed on leave.

Woodward offered his condolences to Kirbys family.

Were all heartbroken about it, he said.

The May 1 incident is the first officer-involved shooting in 2023 for the Hardeeville Police Department and Jasper County Sheriffs Office. Neither department had an officer-involved shooting in 2022, according to SLED.
Fresno police arrested a man they suspect of robbing Central Valley Community Bank on Tuesday afternoon.

Police were alerted to the robbery at 8375 N. Fresno St. around 1:15 p.m. after a man entered the bank and demanded money from a teller. The man was wearing a mask and gloves and said he had a gun, Lt. Bill Dooley said.

The man fled from the bank, but Dooley said a suspect was taken into custody in the 300 block of West Teague Avenue, about 5 miles west from the scene.

Police have yet to determine the exact amount of of money that was taken, but said evidence was recovered during the arrest.
One thing Millennials and Gen Z travelers look forward to is a good baecation. Who doesnt love a good getaway with their significant other under the tropical sun? Well, one man forfeited a chance to travel with his bae because her pockets were a little light on cash.

On the Reddit thread Am I The Asshole, a 24-year-old traveler questioned if hed made the wrong choice by booking a trip to Japan without his girlfriend. Despite his anticipation of this trip for years, hes now concerned his impulsive decision couldve put his relationship in jeopardy.

See Ya Later Sucka

In the thread, the man described how hed always wanted to go to Japan. Being more financially stable than his girlfriend, he followed his impulse and booked a flight.

Once she found out about his unexpected travel plans, his partner was extremely upset. Not only was she frustrated with his impulsive purchase, but it was hurtful that she wasnt able to afford traveling and hed left her out.

When I got the chance to buy cheap roundtrip tickets, I informed her briefly but I went ahead and booked for myself, he said. Of course, she was understandably upset.

Although he reassured her they could take trips together in the future, the man is still struggling with taking the trip. He took to the Reddit AITA thread for advice from online users.

Its really tough for me because of course, I want to share these experiences with her but I also wanted to really pursue this trip for myself, even though Im alone, he said.

Should He Postpone His Trip?

Now that things have hit the fan, the traveler is questioning if he should still head overseas to Japan. Many Reddit users also believe he may have even damaged his relationship beyond repair.

I truly understand where my girlfriend is coming from Now I feel really guilty of what Ive done and Im thinking of not going anymore, he said.

Some users felt the biggest issue was his not even discussing the trip with his girlfriend.

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You dont just book tickets for yourself and say bye-bye Im off for a few weeks/months, one user said. A friend of mine did that to the guy she was living with at the time, and was SHOCKED that he moved out while she was gone, lol.

However, many other users disagreed saying theres nothing wrong with taking a solo trip without your partner as long as there is good communication about plans.

While I understand her being upset you shouldnt exactly feel guilty, another user said. You can travel alone, and while I get she would want to be included and it can be rough to see others get to do things you cant, that is not your fault.
A man who was shot nine times in 2021 by deputies has filed a lawsuit against York County and the sheriffs office, court records show.

Trevor Mullinax and his mother, Tammy Beason, allege gross negligence and other claims against the York County, S.C., Sheriffs Office and York County, the lawsuit states. Mullinax and Beason are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The county and sheriffs office are named as defendants.

In a statement Tuesday, the sheriffs office said the lawsuit has not yet been served and denied wrongdoing. Mullinax pulled a shotgun, Sheriff Kevin Tolson said.

These deputies responded appropriately to the threat as they were trained to do, Tolson said in Tuesdays statement. Had Mr. Mullinax made different choices that day, deputies would not have been required to use force.

Mullinax has been charged by State Law Enforcement Division agents with pointing and presenting a firearm. Online court records show the criminal charge against Mullinax remains pending in York County court.

York County prosecutors declined to prosecute the deputies.

Lawyers for Mullinax and his mother filed the lawsuit Friday in York County civil court. The lawyers who filed the lawsuit are Justin Bamberg, a S.C. State Representative in the General Assembly representing Bamberg and other counties, and J. Taylor Bell of Columbia.

Mullinaxs lawyers said Tuesday and in the lawsuit that Mullinax had a hunting gun but did not point it at anyone.

The lawsuit allegations

The lawsuit alleges deputies were responding to a wellness check at a site off S.C. 324 southwest of Rock Hill.

Mullinax never indicated he intended to use the hunting gun on anyone other than himself, the lawsuit states.

Deputies arrived and fired almost 50 times, the lawsuit states. Mullinax, who was in a truck, was hit by nine bullets as the truck was hit by gunfire, according to the lawsuit.

Prior to arriving at the Plaintiffs location, Sheriffs deputies failed to plan, choosing instead to ride in like cowboys from a John Wayne movie, defaulting to using deadly force immediately, without attempting to de-escalate the situation, the lawsuit states.

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The lawsuit alleges Beason was next to the truck when deputies fired the shots, but was not hit.

At no point prior to, during, or after Sheriffs deputies began shooting did Plaintiff Mullinax raise, point, or otherwise move with a weapon in such a fashion as would authorize Sheriffs deputies to use deadly force, the lawsuit states. At no point did Plaintiff Mullinax refuse, or fail, to comply with the limited instructions yelled by Sheriffs deputies from approximately 30 to 40 feet within the mere seconds before Sheriffs deputies began firing approximately 50 rounds.

Mullinax was injured and hospitalized before he was later arrested and charged with pointing and presenting a firearm.

The lawsuit claims that the criminal allegations are false.

The criminal charges were brought against Plaintiff Mullinax due to the horrific nature of the shooting and the need to attempt to justify and/or provide cover to Sheriffs deputies for the utter excessive use of deadly force exhibited by Sheriffs deputies, the lawsuit states.

News conference held by plaintiffs

On Tuesday, lawyers for Mullinax and Beason released sheriffs office body camera and dash camera videos from the incident. They held a news conference with Mullinax and Beason at the shooting location.

Sheriffs office video of the shooting was also released by Bamberg, one of Mullinaxs lawyers, on social media.

Lawyers said calls to 911 had asked for help for Mullinax who was having a mental health situation the day of the incident.

Nobody was at risk until the cops put them at risk, Bamberg said at the news conference, which was broadcast live on the WJZY TV Web site. This lady (Beason) could have been dead.

The lawsuit was filed before May 7, 2023, because in South Carolina state civil court an action must be filed within two years of the incident, Bamberg said.

Beason said at the news conference that people sought help for Mullinax.

All we wanted was to get some help for my son, Beason said.

Mullinax was at the news conference Tuesday but did not address the incident or charges.

Mullinax said at the news conference that mental health is an issue.

I hate that I have to be the face of it, Mullinax said.

Sheriff responds to lawsuit

SLED responded to the scene in May 2021 and investigated the officer involved shooting because it involved deputies. SLED charged Mullinax with pointing and presenting a firearm, according to York County prosecutors and court records.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Sheriff Kevin Tolson said his office has not had a chance to review the lawsuit. Tolson said SLED did an independent investigation, and prosecutors determined no criminal charges would be filed against the deputies.

Tolsons statement said:

As of the publication of this statement, the York County Sheriffs Office has not been served with a lawsuit filed by Trevor Mullinax related to an officer involved shooting on May 7, 2021. The YCSO cannot respond to any specific allegations until we and outside council have had an opportunity to thoroughly review the document in its entirety.



This matter was investigated independently by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and all of the deputies involved were cleared of any wrongdoing by the 16th Circuit Solicitors Office.

The only individual that was found to have engaged in wrongdoing on May 7, 2021 was Trevor Mullinax and that was why he was charged criminally with point and presenting a firearm (Warrant No. 2021A4610100429) by SLED as a result of this incident.

I tell all of my deputies that their goal is to serve the citizens of York County and then to go home safely to their families. Mr. Mullinax chose to put these men in danger by pulling a shotgun. These deputies responded appropriately to the threat as they were trained to do. Had Mr. Mullinax made different choices that day, deputies would not have been required to use force. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the safety of the public and our deputies. Regardless of the outcome of this lawsuit, we want to reassure our residents that we will continue to provide high quality and professional law enforcement service.

Three of the four deputies involved in this incident are still serving the community as YCSO deputies. One deputy voluntarily left the agency in April 2022 to take a job in the private sector.

The Sheriffs Office looks forward to vigorously defending against these allegations in the appropriate legal forum.

Solicitor makes final decision

Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett, York Countys top prosecutor, reviewed the SLED investigation and determined in October 2021 no criminal charges would be filed against the deputies, according to a letter sent by Brackett to SLED.

Although SLED already had charged Mullinax in June of 2021, Brackett said in the letter that charges against Mullinax were the only charges the incident merited. Deputies had an outstanding arrest warrant against Mullinax at the time of the May 7, 2021 incident, Brackett said.

Brackett said Tuesday because the weapons charge against Mullinax is pending, he could not comment on the ongoing case.

Bracketts letter named the four deputies involved in the May 2021 incident. The full letter from Brackett to SLED in October 2021, which declined to prosecute deputies, said:

I am writing in reference to the above case file regarding your investigation into the officer involved shooting of Trevor B. Mullinax.

I have reviewed the file containing your investigation and conclude that the use of force by the officers involved, Deputy Daniel Taggart, Deputy Michael Griffin, Deputy Gary Pence and Deputy Brian Whitesides was appropriate given the nature of the threat they faced.

The officers were dispatched to take Mr. Mullinax into custody pursuant to a warrant issued in the City of York for his arrest. ln addition, they had been alerted that he was possibly suicidal and armed.

Upon arriving at the location where Mr. Mullinax was sitting in his truck they approached him. A woman later identified as his mother was standing near the truck apparently talking to Mr. Mullinax. As they approached his truck, Mr. Mullinax retrieved a shotgun from the rear seat of the truck and presented it or pointed it at the officers.

The officers justifiably believed that Mr. Mullinax posed a threat to their lives and possibly the life of the woman standing near his vehicle door.

Based on this reasonable assessment of the threat, they opened fire with their service weapons in self-defense. Mr. Mullinax has been charged with pointing and presenting a firearm based on his actions that day. These are the only charges which should issue as a result of this incident.

What happens now?

No trial date has been set for the civil lawsuit filed Friday.

The sheriffs office and York County have 30 days to file a written response, under court rules.

It also is unclear when the weapons case against Mullinax will be scheduled for criminal court.
A 31-year-old man faces charges that he secretly filmed women inside a San Francisco dry cleaning shops fitting room using a clock, California officials reported.

Six women came forward after becoming suspicious when the employee kept adjusting a dressing room clock, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said in a Tuesday, May 9, news release.

The man also insisted they undress for alterations or fittings, raising their suspicions, the office said. He faces six counts of misdemeanor invasion of privacy.

I would like to thank all of the women who came forward and shared their stories with investigators, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in the release.

Police arrested the employee March 25 after a search of his home and the Divisadero Street business, the release said. He faces up to three years in jail if convicted.

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Marine units must once again conduct random breathalyzer tests on assigned troops, following a years-long pause in the program because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because Marines must blow into the apparatus, the federal governments COVID-19 emergency policies had necessitated a halt to the testing of on-duty Marines for alcohol via breathalyzer, according to a Marine administrative message. But with the public health emergency officially ending Thursday, units are required to resume the testing by June, if they havent done so already.

A randomly selected tenth of each unit will undergo the testing, known as the Alcohol Screening Program, each month, according to the Marine message. Thats in line with how the program ran prior to the pandemic.

The Marines selected for the breathalyzer testing must also get screened for urinalysis drug testing, as had been the case since 2014. The testing is supposed to happen at different times of the day, on different days of the month, to make it hard for troops to predict when it will occur.

The ASP supports a commanders efforts to ensure Marines arrive to work safely and fit for duty, the MARADMIN states.

The purpose of the program is twofold: to deter drinking on or before the job, and to identify Marines who may have a problem with alcohol misuse, according to the order laying out the program. Those who are found to have a blood alcohol content of .04 or higher get referred for counseling, according to the order.

The command typically opens an investigation into a Marine found to have been drinking, according to Army veteran Robert Capovilla of Capovilla & Williams, a law firm that specializes in defending service members.

Under military law, its illegal to be at work with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, or while impaired. The crime can carry serious punishments, including confinement of up to nine months, a bad-conduct discharge, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

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And Capovilla said its common for service members found to have been drinking to get punished for violating a lawful order.

3-star aims to prevent alcohol abuse with conversations

In practice, according to the web site of Bilecki Law Group, which specializes in defending military clients, wed argue that drunk Marines running PT is such a common phenomenon in the Corps that command has no choice but to look the other way.

Rand researchers have found that the Marine Corps is the service with the highest prevalence of binge-drinking, defined as more than five drinks for men or more than four for women in one sitting. In 2018, 44.9% of Marines reported binge-drinking in the previous month, compared to 34.0% across the military.

That kind of drinking, if done into the wee hours, can affect blood alcohol levels the next morning, even if the Marine is not drinking on the job.

Editors note: This article has been updated with additional legal context about the alcohol screenings.
Mark Zuckerberg competed in his first jiu-jitsu tournament on Sunday and won some medals, according to the Facebook CEO.

Zuckerberg is a known practitioner of multiple martial arts, and the 38-year-old seemed to enjoy a successful debut in competitive jiu-jitsu as he applied his learnings in a tournament format.

Competed in my first jiu jitsu tournament and won some medals for the Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu team, Zuckerberg wrote on Instagram on Sunday (7 May). Thanks to @davecamarillo @khaiwu @intense0ne for training me.

The American also shared photos of himself competing, adding two medal emojis  gold and silver.

In September, UFC president Dana White denied reports that Zuckerberg had rented out the mixed martial arts promotions Apex institute to watch a Fight Night.

The UFC stages fight cards weekly, with pay-per-view events taking place once a month, and many of the weekly shows have been held at the promotions custom-built Apex facility in Las Vegas over the last two years. Unusually, fans and media were not allowed to attend a card on 1 October, prompting speculation as to the reason why, before rumours spread that Zuckerberg had rented out the venue.

Shortly before that event, Zuckerberg posted footage of himself training with a UFC hopeful, and the Facebook CEO replied to numerous UFC fighters in the comment section of his Instagram video.
Tiger Woods former girlfriend raised questions about the non-disclosure agreement that the famed golfer wanted her to sign in 2017, expressing concerns she would lose control and become "heartbroken and jobless" in five to 10 years if she signed it, according to a court document filed this week in Martin County.

That NDA is now the subject of a high-profile dispute in public court after the former girlfriend, Erica Herman, went through a messy breakup with Woods in October. She wants the NDA declared invalid by the court and has accused Woods of sexual harassment. She sent an e-mail to Chris Hubman, the chief financial officer for Woods' company, two days before she apparently signed the disputed NDA on Aug. 9, 2017.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday morning in the Martin County Courthouse before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger.

My only concern is if by chance TW does something that brings our relationship to an end, do I automatically loose (sic) my job? Herman asked. I don't have any problems with what's in the document because I wouldn't go public or use anything I know to hurt him or the kids but with my whole life in his hands now I would want to have some kind of control over my future in the business. If something happened 5-10 years down the road I don't want to be in my 40's heartbroken and jobless. Thoughts?

EARLIER: Tiger Woods' former girlfriend accuses him of sexual harassment

COURT FILING: Woods' ex-girlfriend provides new details about how he broke up with her

Hubman replied with an e-mail later that day, Aug. 7. Herman then was an employee at Woods restaurant, The Woods, in Jupiter, Florida. She resigned from her position there in 2020, according to court documents.

In my mind, your employment by The Woods Jupiter and your personal relationship with TW are two separate items, wrote Hubman, the chief financial officer of Tiger Woods Ventures. I don't think the end of one automatically impacts the other...although I admit it could be complicated. It will most likely depend on the terms, condition or reason for the relationship ending. The NDA doesn't address the terms of your TWJ employment...only the dissemination and control of information that you become privy to as a result of your personal and professional relationship with TW.

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I understand, she replied.

Tiger Woods, shown during the second round of The Masters on April 8, 2023.

What is this about?

Herman has accused Woods of sexual harassment, arguing that he pursued a sexual relationship with her when she was his employee and then forced her to sign a non-disclosure agreement about it  or be fired from her job if she did not, according to a document filed by her attorney on Friday.

Herman previously sued a trust established by Woods for his residence in Florida, stating she was kicked out of his house in violation of an oral tenancy agreement to live there. She claimed more than $30 million in damages.

The e-mails were filed in court by Woods attorney late Sunday in response to a court filing Friday by Herman in which her attorney stated she didnt even recall signing the NDA and raised questions about its validity. Woods himself signed a declaration about it Sunday to address this.

Over the course of my relationship with Ms. Herman, I became familiar with her signature and handwriting. Ms. Hermans signature appears above her printed name, Woods stated in his declaration filed in court. The other handwriting on page 3 (i.e., the dates and the handwriting on the address line below Ms. Hermans name), is Ms. Hermans handwriting.

The disputed three-page NDA filed in court as an exhibit stipulates that disputes between them should be resolved through confidential arbitration rather than in public court. Woods attorney is trying to compel this dispute to go to arbitration based on that. But Hermans attorney is fighting it, citing new federal laws that invalidate NDAs and forced arbitration in cases of sexual harassment.

What does the NDA say?

The disputed NDA filed in court begins with this preamble:

As consideration for the opportunity to continue to (i) spend time with Eldrick "Tiger" Woods ("you") and to be privy to certain private and confidential aspects of your personal life and your professional and business endeavors and (ii) be employed at the restaurant known as The Woods Jupiter and owned indirectly by you, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, I am entering into this Agreement of my own free will, and agree as follows:

Among other things, it then says she is not to disclose private and confidential information which is not generally known to the public" pertaining to health and medical information, sexual matters, leisure activities and personal relationships.

Hubman stated in court records that Herman requested revisions to the NDA regarding photographs of Woods children.

Its not clear what those revisions were, but the NDA filed in court states she will not directly or indirectly post, share or upload on the internet or in any social media, or otherwise publish or disclose, any pictures, videos, films, tapes or sound recordings of you, your family members, your friends or your business associates.

In a document filed in court Friday, Hermans attorney tried to poke holes in the purported NDA by stating Woods didnt seem concerned about it.

Woods caused Ms. Herman to be allowed to wear a `players spouse badge, posing in public for photo opportunities (including on some occasions with Mr. Woodss children), and other public events, said the document submitted by attorney Benjamin Hodas. Ms. Herman posted photos of herself with Mr. Woods, their friends, and colleagues on social media, with Mr. Woodss knowledge. Mr. Woods never invoked an NDA to stop such publicity, and such activity would have been prohibited if an NDA was in force or effect.

The NDA also says disputes are to be resolved in arbitration, though Herman disagrees and wants the court to declare the NDA is invalid and unenforceable for various reasons.

Because of the aggressive use of the Woods NDA against her by the Defendant and the trust under his control, the Plaintiff is unsure whether she may disclose, among other things, facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has, her attorney stated in her lawsuit filed in March.

Woods attorney, J.B. Murray, has labeled Herman a jilted ex-girlfriend and said her case has no merit and is flawed.

Ms. Herman in this case does not even attempt to assert a cause of action rising to the level of sexual harassment under any federal, tribal, or state law, he stated in a document filed late Sunday. This Court should not permit Ms. Herman to end-run her obligation to arbitrate her disputes with Mr. Woods with implausible claims of sexual harassment that are not even raised in her amended complaint.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiger Woods court case with ex-girlfriend Erica Herman takes new twist
James Gunn has ensured that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 will be different every time you watch it.

The director has worked with Marvel to create 600 versions of the new film that will offer a different experience for cinemagoers.

These changes will not consist of any alterations to the story, but have been designed to ensure every exhibitor in the United States and in most international territories has the option to maximise their screen size for the audience.

Disneys vice president of finishing and stereo, Evan Jacobs, told The Hollywood Reporter: So wherever you go to see it, youre gonna see the best version.

Each version has been designed for a different aspect ratio, meaning you may witness more or less action depending where you see the film.

While every Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film comes in hundreds of different aspect ratios, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 has broken the record for the most.

Jacobs said: It wouldve been harder, frankly, to accommodate this kind of creative vision on a different delivery schedule. But we had the time and we were able to make it work.

Reviews are in for the film, and they have been mostly positive. Find The Independents verdict on the film here.

Last week, on the day of the films UK release, lead star Chris Pratt was urged to remove a hideous Instagram post, which prompted a reply from his mother-in-law, Maria Shriver.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is in cinemas now.
A Maryland county executive announced her bid Tuesday to run for the newly open Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who announced his decision to not seek reelection earlier this month.

Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) launched her campaign Tuesday, making her the latest candidate to join the open race for Cardins seat. Maryland Rep. David Trone (D) also announced last week that he is running for the open seat, creating a high-profile election for Democrats in 2024 who are trying to keep hold of the Senate.

There arent a lot of people like me in the U.S. Senate  people who live like, think like and who look like the people theyre supposed to represent, but isnt it time that changed? Alsobrooks said in her campaign announcement. Im running to be a voice for families like the ones I grew up with and who Ive worked for my entire life.

Alsobrooks has emerged as a prominent leader in Maryland politics over the last few years, especially since she was elected as Prince Georges County executive in 2018. Before then, she had served as Prince Georges County states attorney and was the first woman to serve in that role.

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando also announced last week that he would be seeking the Democratic nomination for Cardins seat. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is also expected to make a decision as to whether he will throw his hat in the ring.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Its all about work conditions. At least thats what Massachusetts nurses are saying about their colleagues' decisions to leave bedside care positions in the states hospitals to find other work environments.

Massachusetts Nurses Association President Katie Murphy voices her concerns about the growing crisis in health care; she was a moderator at a virtual hearing on several legislative measures that would increase compensation, limit patient loads and address workplace violence held virtually Monday.

The nursing shortage is not real, said Katie Murphy, who is assigned to the intensive care unit at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston and is president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, an umbrella organization that represents some 25,000 nurses throughout the state. She said Massachusetts has an adequate number of professional nurses and is graduating more every year.

The issue, the lack of bedside nurses staffing hospitals, is all about worker burnout, Murphy said during a legislative hearing on three separate measures that address issues in health care, from staffing problems to workplace violence and the effect of service interruptions and closures on the communities where they occur.

The online hearing Monday, timed to coincide with National Nurses Week, was sponsored by Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, and Rep. Denise Garlick, D-Needham.

Claims that work conditions is the driver behind the lack of health care workers is not just hearsay.

Almost 1,000 bedside nurses responded to a survey conducted by Beacon Research that crystalized the state of nursing and patient care in Massachusetts. Of those who responded, 85% thought the state of health care in Massachusetts was worse than it was pre-pandemic, and 52% qualified it as much worse.

Stretchers, chairs set up in hallways to accommodate overflow

Kimberly Vazquez, a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, said the national standard limits the number of patients assigned to emergency room nurses at four; in her hospital, she said, she has had up to 31 on one shift.

We have stretchers, chairs in the hallways, Vazquez said.

Maureen Healey, no relation to the governor, who is assigned to the cardiac care floor of her hospital, said she works in chaos."

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I start my workday running, going as fast as I can, but patients are not getting the care they need; this causes problems with medication, causes mistakes, Healey said. Morale is low, nurses are leaving in droves.

Major challenges cited by respondents: No time to care adequately for patients (72%), too many patients assigned to one nurse (72%), inadequate pay (67%) and the use of travel nurses, or contract workers to fill vacancies in schedules (51%).

Many nurses said the conditions were present pre-pandemic and exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.

Almost all of those questioned, 88%, favored setting limits to the number of patients assigned to each nurse. The proposal was posed as a ballot question in 2018 but voters rejected it. However it has since been taken up by legislators in this new session with the filing of legislation by Sen. Lydia Edwards, D-Boston, and Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster.

The bills would require the state Department of Public Health take the question of whether limits should be set, and at what level, directly to the public in a series of hearings around the state. Once the department has collected the necessary data and heard public comment, it would be responsible for setting and enforcing limits.

By law, we couldnt go back to the voters once the ballot question was defeated, Murphy said. Massachusetts nurses had to find a new way to address the overriding issue of ensuring patient safety by limiting patient loads, and to ensure safe working conditions for the nursing staff.

In 2022, said Healey, hospitals spent $1.5 billion on travel nurses. She believes that if the state had addressed the conditions that are driving nurses from the workforce, those funds could have been used to hire and compensate staff.

One assault every 38 minutes

Workplace safety is also a significant consideration for bedside staff  at least 63% of those surveyed said it was a serious problem.

John Palmgren, an emergency room nurse at UMass Memorial Health Marlborough Hospital, said the level of violence in the workplace has escalated in the last two years. The increase of assaults on nurses is partially due, he believes, to the lack of psychiatric beds in Massachusetts and the warehousing or boarding of patients in the states emergency rooms.

Addressing care deserts in Massachusetts

And its not a case of an elderly patient inadvertently scratching a nurse, Palmgren said, citing incidents that resulted in concussions and other major injuries. He told of a 30-year-old colleague who was randomly punched in the head by a patient they were not assigned to treat. The assault resulted in a two-week recovery time.

That patient, Palmgren said, had been brought to the facility by police for assaulting strangers and, due to a lack of psychiatric beds, was boarding in the ER. The patient assaulted six other people in the hospital, he said.

Colleague Amy Baker, a nurse for more than 22 years, said the situation is bad.

According to statistics compiled by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, in 2020, there was an incident every 57 minutes on average; now, theres an assault every 38 minutes.

This is unacceptable; the risk is not worth it, Baker said. One of her colleagues, a new graduate, left the position as a bedside worker just four months after starting because she could not deal with the violence. Another, a travel nurse signed to a 12-week contract with maximum pay, left within days after being punched in the stomach by a patient when she was eight weeks pregnant, Baker said.

It happens day-in, day-out, and we have no protection apart from our scrubs, Baker said.

Its not just the staff members who are affected by violence: Patients suffer as well.

Hospitals are not a healing environment, Baker said.

The chart indicates communities in Massachusetts lacking maternal care facilities

The nurses also discussed the effect of service closures on the states health care environment, describing maternal care, pediatric and mental health facility closures as a problem that needs oversight by the state.

Everybody, said Janet DeMoranville, a maternity nurse in Plymouth, loves the feel-good story about the cop delivering the baby in the back seat of the patrol car. It's all well and good if the baby is healthy and born without complications.

"But what happens when the baby isn't fine," DeMoranville said. "A community hospital should service the whole community, not just the departments that bring in the highest revenue."

Lovely urged legislators to work "shoulder-to-shoulder" to get the legislation passed in this session. Legislators noted that it costs between $40,000 to $60,000 to train a nurse, depending on their field.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Nurses say dearth of hospital workers due to burnout, work conditions
For the month of May, The Arizona Republic is documenting homicides in the early stages of investigation. If you have a tip on an incident we've reported on, or on one we've missed, send us information at https://azcentral.formstack.com/forms/homicide_tips.

Here is a list of known homicides being investigated.

Luis Montoya, 36, found dead near 35th and Glendale avenues

What happened: Phoenix police responded to reports of an injured person in the area of North 35th Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Montoya with obvious signs of trauma. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Where and when: Around 6:30 a.m. May 11 near North 35th and West Glendale avenues.

Arrests and charges: No arrests have yet been made.

More information: Anyone with information is urged to call Silent Witness at 480(WITNESS) or 480(TESTEGO) and provide an anonymous tip, and may be eligible for a cash reward.

2 dead in north Phoenix apartment complex shooting

What happened: Phoenix police responded to reports of shots fired at a Phoenix apartment complex. Upon arrival, police found an unidentified man and woman with gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary information suggests the man shot the woman before turning the gun on himself, according to police. An investigation into the incident, as well as the pair's relationship, was ongoing.

Where and when: Just after 7:20 p.m. on May 11 near North Valley Parkway and Dove Valley Road in north Phoenix.

Arrests and charges: No arrests or suspects were being sought.

Aaliyah Anderson, 18, killed by stepfather in Goodyear murder-suicide

What happened: According to Goodyear police, officers responded to a medical call at the home. Upon arrival, police found two people, identified as 41-year-old John Castro and 18-year-old Aaliyah Anderson, dead inside the house with "apparent gunshot wounds." Police said evidence from the scene, as well as the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's autopsy, indicate that Castro, Anderson's stepfather, shot her before committing suicide. The motive for the incident remained under investigation.

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Where and when: Around 4:30 p.m. May 10 near Elwood Street and Estrella Parkway.

Arrests and charges: No arrests yet.

Walter Morman IV, 24, shot near 19th, Northern avenues in Phoenix

What happened: Phoenix police were conducting a welfare check when they found a man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.

Where and when: At about 5:30 a.m. May 9 near 19th Avenue and Butler Drive.

Arrests and charges: No arrests yet.

More information: If anyone has information that can lead to an arrest in this case, they are asked to call into Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Aloysius Mamattah, 28, dies from gunshot in Phoenix

What happened: Phoenix police were called to investigate reports of an injured person. They found a man with a gunshot wound. Police said he died at the scene.

Where and when: At about 3 a.m. May 9 near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

Arrests or charges: No arrests yet.

More information: If anyone has information that can lead to an arrest in this case, they are asked to call into Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Daniel Cassidy, 66, found with 'obvious signs of trauma'

What happened: Police received a call about "unknown trouble" from a caller who said they found an unresponsive man with injuries. Officers who responded found a man with "obvious signs of trauma," according to Phoenix police. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Where and when: Just before 5:30 a.m. May 7 in the area of 32nd Street and Cactus Road.

Arrests and charges: No arrests yet.

More information: If anyone has information that can lead to an arrest in this case, they are asked to call into Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Jeremiah Aviles, 18, dies in Mesa weeks away from his graduation

What happened: Police said they responded to a shooting call and found Jeremiah Aviles dead inside a Mesa house. Aviles was a senior set to graduate in a few weeks at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, where he was part of the football team.

When and where: Just before 2 a.m. on May 6 near Lindsay Road and University Drive in Mesa.

Arrests: No suspects were arrested.

Errol Morgan, 30, stabbed to death in Phoenix

What happened: Phoenix police responded to calls about a stabbing. When officers got to the scene, they found an adult man with a stab wound. Police said fire personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Detectives took over the investigation and learned that the man who was stabbed and a suspect were in a fight with edged weapons before the stabbing. Police said the suspect left the area prior to police arriving and is believed to have cuts himself.

Where and when: At about 10:19 a.m. May 3 near 48th and Washington streets in Phoenix.

Arrests and charges: An unidentified man was detained and provided self-defense statements. He was released from custody and charges were submitted for review to the Maricopa County Attorney's office.

More information: If anyone has information that can lead to an arrest in this case, they are asked to call into Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Tanner Lewis, 18, dies from gunshot wound in Mesa

What happened: Police said they responded to a shooting call and found Tanner Lewis, 18, with a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, police said.

After investigating, police said they learned four people entered the house where Lewis was and a confrontation broke out. Police believe a 17-year-old pulled out a gun during the fight and shot Lewis. The people who had come into the house then fled and went to a residence in Mesa.

When and where: At about 5 p.m. April 30 near 16th Avenue and Warner Drive in Apache Junction.

Arrests: A 17-year-old, who was unidentified because he is a minor, was arrested and booked into jail.

More information: Apache Junction police ask anyone with information to call the department at 480-982-8260.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix-area homicides in May 2023: What we know
Wichita mayoral candidates proposed a range of ideas in response to the first health study of the 29th and Grove chemical spill site since its discovery in 1994, from changing state law and requiring Union Pacific to pay for cancer screenings to helping residents test their own air levels.

The report, issued Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, found that residents who live above the 2.9-mile plume of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene (TCE) in northeast Wichita were significantly more likely than other people in Sedgwick County and Kansas to be diagnosed with liver cancer.

State doctors cautioned that theres no way to know definitively if TCE is responsible for the outsized number of liver cancer diagnoses, but current and former residents of the area, which includes a number of the citys historically Black neighborhoods, are being asked to complete a community health assessment.

Candidates had various thoughts about who should pay for current and former residents cancer screenings, including KDHE, Sedgwick County and Union Pacific, whose rail yard was the site of the spill.

Our focus on health and safety has guided our efforts as we have worked to clean up soil and groundwater near our rail yard in northeast Wichita, Union Pacific said in a statement. With a final cleanup plan approved by KDHE in February, Union Pacific is ready to finish the job.

Mayor Brandon Whipple, who is running for re-election, characterized the state agencys rollout of the health study and approach to communicating with residents as disgraceful.

The entirety of this situation is just incredibly unacceptable when it comes to the actions of the state and KDHE, Whipple said. They are the ones who are supposed to be on top of this when it comes to getting out information to residents, and we have been working tirelessly to encourage them to do that.

Are there other incidents throughout Kansas where theres pollution that could negatively impact the health of folks living there without those people actually knowing it? We need to be updating and making sure that were modernizing our state statutes when it comes to proper communication.

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State Epidemiologist and Environmental Health Officer Dr. Farah Ahmed told reporters Friday that there are hundreds of sites across Kansas and that the state prioritizes its health response based on what is the potential for humans to be exposed to whatever the contaminant of interest is.

TCE, a common solvent used to clean off paint and remove grease, can cause cancer in humans  especially kidney cancer and possibly liver cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

For us to go nearly 20 years with no response, no communication, and no help at all levels of government is unacceptable, said former television reporter Lily Wu, who has secured a number of high-profile endorsements, including from Sedgwick County Commission Chair Pete Meitzner. No wonder why so many have lost faith in government. They werent there when people needed them the most.

KDHE should inform the affected community, provide resources for cancer screenings, and ensure something like this doesnt happen again.

All but one of the nearly 2,800 properties in the 29th and Grove contamination site were connected to city water before the chemical spill is believed to have taken place in the 1970s or 80s, the health study said. TCE exposure occurs when a person breathes, ingests or touches the chemical.

A timeline, I think, is what is important, Save Century II founder Celeste Racette told The Eagle. Regular meetings so that neighborhood residents and past residents know where were going and what Union Pacific is doing to clean up the site.

The railroad is expected to hold a community forum in the next 60 to 90 days.

Freelance journalist Jared Cerullo, who plans to get his name on the ballot by collecting 100 signatures rather than paying filing fees, offered a particularly scathing assessment of the states response to the chemical spill.

The fact that KDHE hid the details of this massive environmental disaster is appalling, Cerullo said in an email statement.

People should lose their jobs over the unacceptable handling of this matter.

District 5 City Council member Bryan Frye, who has been endorsed by former Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell, said the city needs to own its own role in keeping citizens informed.

Its important the city follow KDHEs lead and share information to neighbors as it becomes available, Frye said in a text.

Julie Rose Stroud, an environmental health manager at the Evonik chemical plant in Haysville, previously worked as a lab technician testing Wichitas drinking water and as an environmental compliance regulatory specialist for KDHE.

I am confident that the state of Kansas is doing their best with the resources they have to ensure the proper steps are taken in regards to the 29th and Grove contamination in terms of environmental remediation, Stroud said.

The state released its final corrective action for the 29th and Grove site in February, which requires Union Pacific to pay $13.9 million for the remaining cleanup.

My greatest concern in regards to this issue is the health and safety of those directly exposed to TCE, Stroud said.

She called on KDHE to conduct more extensive air vapor contamination testing, which the agency has indicated it plans to do, and encouraged residents living on top of the contamination site who want to test their own air levels to contact her.

These individuals should be educated and protected to ensure justice, Stroud said.

Assigning responsibility

Cerullo called on the railroad to fund annual cancer screenings for residents of the affected area.

The company should be required to create a fund that will pay for screenings for anyone living in the boundaries of the spill for at least the next decade, if not more, Cerullo said.

Union Pacifics statement did not respond directly to a question about its willingness to support such a fund on top of the state-sanctioned remediation efforts.

We are committed to reviewing this study and will continue to engage with KDHE, the community, elected officials, and other stakeholders as we proceed to implement the state-approved cleanup plan, a railroad spokesperson said.

Whipple suggested the Sedgwick County Commission may take the lead on a cancer screening fund.

The County Commission serves as the board of health and would have the resources for something like that, Whipple said. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder to them as far as execution of any plan that would be directed towards citizens in that area who might not only have concerns but be affected by this site.

Racette, who has addressed the City Council about issues related to groundwater contamination several times since 2019, noted that only the Gilbert and Mosley Project and the North Industrial Corridor Project appear in the citys financial records as contamination sites.

This site has never been on our books, never been on the financial statements and identified as being groundwater contamination, Racette said.

Not once in these maps that were in our financial statements would a citizen know this has been identified as a contaminated site.

She said not having these records amounts to a lack of transparency on the part of the city

Whipple said citizens need to understand that the citys role in the ongoing response to the 29th and Grove contamination is a supporting one.

I dont want folks who are running for mayor who dont know what we do out there saying basically we have to clean it, this is all on the city, Whipple said.

When it comes to public health, thats the county. When it comes to where the responsibility of this cleanup, thats KDHE. Were happy to play a role of course because we have a vested interest to ensure that residents know what threats are out there.

Mayoral candidates Thomas Kane and Shelia Davis did not respond to The Eagles inquiry.
WASHINGTON  Five months after he grabbed the gavel, this week marks the start of a defining challenge of House Speaker Kevin McCarthys two decades in elected office: whether he can strike a deal with President Joe Biden that averts an unprecedented debt default and quells the hard-right conservatives ready to revolt against him.

Failing to raise the debt limit in the next three weeks could be catastrophic for the U.S. economy, but neglecting to secure the spending cuts his right flank pushed for could spell doom for McCarthy's career.

To achieve his lifelong ambition of becoming speaker, McCarthy, R-Calif., allowed hard-right conservatives to put him in a political straitjacket, and any one of them can now force a vote to remove him if he doesn't come through.

At a high-stakes White House meeting on Tuesday, McCarthy will try to juggle those competing interests and jump-start negotiations with Biden that have been stalled since their first and only substantive, face-to-face meeting at the White House on Feb. 1.

Biden has insisted that hes happy to negotiate spending for fiscal year 2024 after Congress agrees to hike the debt ceiling with no strings attached. But a clean debt bill is a nonstarter for McCarthy.

Twice this year, McCarthy proved the naysayers wrong  he captured the speakers gavel after a grueling 15 rounds of voting and then muscled his plan to hike the debt ceiling and enact big spending cuts through the House by the slimmest of margins. That remarkable show of GOP unity strengthened his hand in the debt standoff, but the real test for McCarthy will be if he can keep his grip on the gavel and negotiate with the Senate and the White House on legislation that can pass and become law.

Going into the meeting, McCarthy seems to be keeping his cards close to his chest. A McCarthy spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

McCarthy is an honest man but he just about sold away everything [to the] far, far right, Biden said in an interview with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle ahead of his meeting with congressional leaders.

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Theres the Republican Party and theres the MAGA Republicans, the president said, and the MAGA Republicans really have put him in a position where in order to stay speaker he has to agree  hes agreed to things that maybe he believes, but are just extreme.

Motion to vacate

During the knock-down, drag-out speaker battle in January, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., emerged as McCarthy's most fervent foe, vowing that McCarthy would never seize the gavel. In the end, Gaetz folded his cards, but he extracted concessions that allow him to continue to be a thorn in the speakers side.

Gaetz or one of his allies now have the power to trigger a so-called motion to vacate if McCarthy cuts a debt deal with Biden and the Democrats that they feel is too liberal. He was already one of four GOP lawmakers who voted against McCarthys debt ceiling package that narrowly passed the House 217-215  with just one vote to spare.

Gaetz and his camp believe they have the upper hand over McCarthy, said one Gaetz ally in Congress. He didnt get taken off one committee and he is right back in the news, and not in a negative light," the lawmaker said.

Its easier said than done, but moderate Republicans argue that McCarthy should focus on getting the best deal he can with Biden on debt and spending cuts rather than worry about threats to his unstable speakership.

A four-seat majority by definition is difficult. I didnt like the single person to vacate rule, said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who represents one of 14 GOP House districts that Biden won in 2020. I think the speaker cant let this fact dominate though, and he seems to be playing this right."

Good policy is good politics, and hes winning, Bacon said.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., chairman of the Republican Main Street Caucus, which describes itself as a bloc of pragmatic lawmakers, made clear that McCarthy will need to deliver a deal to his 222 members that addresses what Republicans see as out-of-control federal spending.

One idea in the House-passed McCarthy plan is stricter work requirements for those who rely on safety-net programs like Medicaid and food stamps.

I think Kevin McCarthy will have a lot of latitude on the specifics. He wont have as much latitude on the magnitude of the deal. Republicans believe that major action is needed now, Johnson said in an interview.

We dont necessarily have to have every single thing exactly the way we proposed it, Johnson continued. But the final package does need to be a substantial change in how our country spends and borrows money. And Kevin McCarthy is going to have to deliver that. And he understands that, and hes prepared to do it.

Another pressure point for McCarthy is that hes defending his fragile House majority in 2024. Trying to exploit that vulnerability, Biden on Wednesday will hold a campaign-style rally in the district of Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who last year flipped a Democratic-held seat in the Hudson River Valley.

Ahead of Bidens visit, Lawler maintained he would not allow a debt default to happen. But he also said he believed McCarthy is in a stronger negotiating position after the House passed his debt plan.

If we are in a situation where default is on the table, of course, the objective is to absolutely 100% avoid default, but nobody should be playing the chicken game here and trying to force somebody to blink, Lawler said in a phone interview.

McCarthys hand is strengthened, Lawler argued, because were the only ones that have actually acted on this.

'Modest pessimism'

Time is running short. Last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed McCarthy that the U.S. could run out of measures to pay its debt obligations and default for the first time ever as early as June 1, sooner than previously expected.

"Its widely agreed that financial and economic chaos would ensue" if the U.S. defaults, Yellen warned Sunday.

Senior Republicans arent confident in a Biden-McCarthy deal, but they argue that things are moving in the right direction after House Republicans passed their debt hike and spending cuts package that served as an opening bid in negotiations.

Instead of being at the depths of the ocean, Im merely drowning, House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a McCarthy ally, said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation." So, my level of optimism is from complete and utter pessimism that anything can get done to some level of modest pessimism now.

A short-term extension of the debt limit could be one way to stave off an immediate default that would likely force a downgrade in U.S. credit rating, roil the stock market, deplete 401(k) and other retirement accounts, and possibly catapult the economy into recession.

Although there has been bipartisan skepticism of a short-term deal, both the White House and key Republicans like McHenry say all options must be kept on the table given that the deadline is just three weeks away.

Punting the debt hike for several months would align the issue with the annual government funding process  which will run out on Sept. 30  allowing Republicans to say that the two issues are moving in tandem while Biden could insist that they are on separate tracks.

Boehner and Obama

Twelve years ago, another Democratic president and a GOP speaker found themselves in a similar situation. President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, were on the verge of a historic debt default one year before Obama would face voters as he sought a second term.

At the 11th hour, Obama and Boehner cut a deal known as the Budget Control Act that hiked the debt ceiling by $400 billion while creating a bipartisan supercommittee responsible for tackling the deficit. Before Boehner needed to raise the debt limit again in 2015, he announced his resignation, then reached another deal with Obama and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., a former House assistant speaker who served in the lower chamber with McCarthy, said McCarthy appears to be prioritizing saving his speakership over averting a default.

When Speaker Boehner was confronted with this, he said, Fine, bring it on. Im here to do a job. And Im going to do whats right for the American people, and Im going to stand by that ideal. That does not appear to be where Speaker McCarthy is, which is, Hold on to the speakership,' which seems to be the priority. In this case, preventing the default should be the priority, Lujan said in an interview.

You wanted to be speaker, youre in that position. Now, you have a responsibility for the entirety of the American people, our country," the senator added. "And so with that responsibility comes tough decisions that have to be made.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, listens as President Joe Biden speaks before a meeting on the debt limit in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesdays meeting between him, other Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden had produced no forward progress on an agreement to stave off what economists say would be a catastrophic default on Americas sovereign debt.

Mr McCarty, who has kept the House in recess for the last two weeks and for a majority of the days since he and Mr Biden last met on 1 February, told reporters outside the White House that Mr Biden and both Republican and Democratic leaders had merely reiterated the positions they held when the House Speaker and the President met 97 days before.

Nothing has changed since then ... everybody in this meeting reiterated the positions they were at. I didn't see any new movement, he said.

The California Republicans last meeting came just a few weeks after he eked out enough votes to claim the Speakers gavel with support from extremist and white nationalist members of the House Republican Conference, many of whom demanded that he use the need to lift the governments century-old statutory debt ceiling as leverage to force Mr Biden to roll back much of the legislative record he and Democrats accomplished over the prior two years.

Since that February meeting, the White House and the House of Representatives have remained far apart on what is needed before legislation allowing the US to resume issuing new debt instruments can reach Mr Bidens desk for his signature.

For his part, the presidents view has remained consistent since the beginning of the year. Mr Biden has repeatedly said that Congress should pass a clean debt ceiling increase and negotiate on spending cuts desired for next fiscal year when Congress begins work on a budget.

Mr McCarthy characterised Mr Bidens insistence that the Congress lift the debt ceiling on its own and address the spending cuts Republicans covet during the regular budgeting process as intransigent even though Republicans have not introduced a budget proposal for the next fiscal year. He also accused Senate Majority Leader Check Schumer of trying to stymie negotiations so Congress would be left without a choice but to pass the clean debt ceiling increase desired by Democrats and Mr Biden.

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Chuck's whole idea before was to take us to the brink and someone's going to have to break right. I don't want to play politics with this. I think this is too important, said the Speaker, who suggested the only reason Mr Biden had called a meeting was because the GOP-led House had passed a bill to raise the debt limit while enacting drastic cuts to government programmes favoured by Democrats.

That legislation, which passed the House with a bare majority of GOP votes last month, would provide just a years worth of relief coupled with spending provisions that slash non-defence spending by as much as 20 per cent. Among the programmes on the chopping block: President Joe Bidens student debt relief initiative, as well as funding for new IRS personnel.

The plan would also add new work requirements for adults on Medicaid, cap the growth of the federal government, and impose 2022 limits on discretionary spending. The White House said in response to the bills passage that Republicans were attempting to strip away health care services for veterans, cut access to Meals on Wheels, eliminate health care coverage for millions of Americans and ship manufacturing jobs overseas.

While the House-passed bill is unlikely to go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate, thus far Mr McConnell and Senate Republicans have backed up Mr McCarthys demand for Mr Biden to sign off on GOP-endorsed austerity measures in exchange for Republican votes to allow the US to continue paying its debts.

Prominent GOP figures frequently claim that raising the statutory debt limit to enable the US to continue meeting financial obligations  a practice that was once routine under presidents of both parties and met no objections when it was done under Mr Bidens predecessor  is akin to authorising new spending.

That claim, however, is not how the debt limit works. Raising the debt limit does not increase or decrease the amount of money that is spent on programmes that have already been authorised by Congress and have had funds allocated to them in appropriations legislation.

Experts say a failure to raise the debt limit would force the government to default on its debt and precipitate a worldwide financial crisis. The last time the US flirted with that disastrous outcome was 2011, when Republicans controlled the House and Democrats controlled the Senate and the White House. Mr Biden, then the vice president under Barack Obama, led the negotiations with congressional leaders that headed off a default, but not before the US had its credit rating decreased for the first time in history.

That 2011 dispute ended with Republicans suffering a drop in their approval ratings and facing accusations of endangering the US economy for political reasons. It also came along with an unprecedented downgrade in Americas credit rating. Those same charges are being raised again now by the White House and the presidents allies in Congress, who are holding firm on Mr Bidens call for a clean debt limit boost.

Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that unless Congress acts, the US will by 1 June cease having the legal ability to issue debt instruments that allow the government to pay for spending already authorized and incurred.

Despite attempts by reporters to get Mr McCarthy to guarantee that the US would not default, the House Speaker repeatedly refused to make such a promise.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday shot down the idea of utilizing a short-term debt ceiling hike to prevent a government default.

Just hours before McCarthy is scheduled to meet with President Biden on the issue, the Speaker said the sides should come together to negotiate a compromise  combining a debt ceiling increase with sharp spending cuts  rather than punt the debate to a later day.

We shouldnt kick the vote, McCarthy told reporters in the Capitol.

The sentiment is shared by the White House and other congressional leaders in both parties, all of whom are scrambling to secure a bipartisan compromise that will prevent the first default in the countrys history  though whether a path to such a deal exists remains unclear.

The debt limit debate has gained urgency over the last week after Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen warned the department could exhaust its ability to pay all the countrys obligations as early as June 1.

Yellens announcement prompted Biden to call Tuesdays 4 p.m. meeting at the White House, which will also feature Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Heading into the gathering, however, the sides are no closer to a deal than they were in the first week of February, when Biden and McCarthy last met face-to-face.

Republicans are insisting that any increase in the Treasury Departments borrowing cap must be accompanied by steep cuts designed to curb deficit spending  the phenomenon that has, over decades, ballooned the national debt to more than $31 trillion. House Republicans last month had passed a debt ceiling hike that included cuts to federal programs estimated to reduce deficit spending by roughly $4.8 trillion over a decade.

Biden, however, has rejected the idea of marrying the two issues. The president has argued that because lifting the debt ceiling simply empowers the government to pay debts approved by Congress in the past, the cap should be lifted as a clean standalone bill, and the parties can haggle over deficit reduction strategies as part of separate negotiations on federal funding, which must be extended by Sept. 30 to prevent a partial government shutdown.

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The impasse has raised the odds that party leaders will need to seek a temporary suspension of the debt ceiling to prevent a default and allow the sides more time to negotiate. Some have suggested that a logical extension would be through the end of the fiscal year, thereby aligning the default and shutdown deadlines and allowing discussions of both to happen simultaneously.

McCarthy, though, is throwing cold water on the idea, saying Congress doesnt need more time, it just needs to come together on a deal.

Why kick the can down the road? he said. Lets solve it now.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has revealed his strategy to win back the Senate in 2024, focusing on candidate quality to avoid a repeat of 2022.

Though the Senate map next year is more favorable to Republicans than in most cycles, McConnell aims to not leave anything to chance. In an interview with CNN, the Senate minority leader explained: We do have the possibility of screwing this up and that gets back to candidate recruitment. I think that we lost Georgia, Arizona, and New Hampshire because we didnt have competitive candidates in the last cycle. Steve Daines [R., Mont.] and I are in exactly the same place  that starts with candidate quality.

McConnell explained that he, along with the Senate Leadership Fund and the Daines-helmed National Republican Senatorial Committee, will take an active role in primaries throughout the country. Well be involved in any primary where that seems to be necessary to get a high-quality candidate, and well be involved in every general election where we have a legitimate shot of winning  regardless of the philosophy of the nominee, McConnell said.

This marks a departure from the last cycle when the National Republican Senatorial Committee, then helmed by Senator Rick Scott (R., Fla.), decided to steer clear of intervening in the primaries, arguing they would let voters choose their candidates.

The Senate minority leader said he will focus on flipping four states: Montana, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He added that Republicans are still assessing two swing states with Democratic incumbents: Wisconsin and Nevada. The GOP is still searching for a top candidate in the former, and McConnell said he is likely to wait until after next years primary to decide whether to invest resources in the latter. The minority leader also anticipates hell pursue a wait-and-see approach in Arizona, where Kyrsten Sinema, the incumbent, will run for reelection as an independent. We would love to have had her, but we didnt land her, explained McConnell to CNN, referring to Sinemas decision to drop her Democratic Party affiliation.

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In West Virginia, McConnell and his allies have coalesced around popular West Virginia governor Jim Justice, who switched his affiliation from Democratic to Republican in 2017. Justice is already facing a challenge from Representative Alex Mooney (R., W. Va.) in his attempt to unseat incumbent Senator Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.). While Mooney has attracted support from politicians like Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and organizations such as the Club for Growth, McConnell told CNN he wont hesitate to get involved to help Justice.

In Pennsylvania, McConnell and Daines have their eyes on David McCormick, who fell short to TV personality Mehmet Oz in the last Republican primary. McConnell called McCormick a high-quality candidate, but avoided answering another question on whether he was worried about a bid from Doug Mastriano, who lost the gubernatorial race in the last cycle.

The Senate minority leader demurred from singling out a preferred candidate in Ohio and Montana. He also declined to comment on any controversial candidates that may emerge this time around, avoiding a question about Kari Lake, who lost the Arizona gubernatorial race in the last cycle and may challenge Sinema in the next one.

On the other hand, McConnell expressed confidence that Democrats have little chance on the offense, including in Florida where Scott is running and in Texas where Cruz is running. The Senate minority leader said bids to unseat them are really long shots.

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(Bloomberg) -- Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted US funding to support Ukraines military will continue to flow despite growing calls from isolationist members of his own party to reduce or end aid to Kyiv.

I do think that we have enough support within Congress to sustain this for a good deal longer, McConnell said. All the leadership in the House and Senate in my party is very much in favor of defeating the Russians.

The Kentucky Republican, who has negotiated more than $100 billion in US assistance for the war effort, also called on President Joe Biden to accelerate shipments of high-tech weaponry to the country before an expected spring offensive planned by Ukraine to retake territory seized by Russia.

Yet Republican voters are deeply split on funding for Ukraine. And the top-polling Republicans in the approach to next years presidential primaries  former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis  have wobbled on US support for Ukraine. In March, DeSantis, responding to a questionnaire from then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, said the war was not a vital US interest.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnells politics  and his hawkish stances on foreign policy and defense  more closely resemble those of Republican standard bearers during the Cold War than they do the upstarts in todays party.

But McConnell, who is widely unpopular among Trump-aligned Republicans, said he senses a shift within the party.

I do think the party of Ronald Reagan is coming back here, McConnell said Monday in an interview at his office in the US Capitol. I think the one good thing thats come out of this is a renewed belief that national security is important.

His distrust of Russia, in particular, runs deep. His father served with General George Patton in World War II and wrote letters home regarding his concerns about the Russians, said McConnell, who was born in 1942.

Even as relations between the two superpowers thawed, McConnell for years warned Russia is not our friend and has repeatedly singled out Russian President Vladimir Putin as a US adversary.

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He applauded last week when Speaker Kevin McCarthy told a Russian reporter he would continue to support Ukraine aid. McCarthy had previously said the US would not write Ukraine a blank check.

McConnell also was heartened that a recent letter questioning aid to Ukraine was signed by just three Republican senators. He dismissed them as outliers.

Holiday From History

Lately McConnell has repeatedly cited another Cold War warrior  former Defense Secretary Robert Gates  that the Ukraine war ended Americas holiday from history.

McConnell specifically called out Carlson, a frequent critic of Ukraine aid and Republican leadership in Congress, who was recently fired by Fox.

At the risk of patting myself on the back, not many Republicans went after Tucker Carlson, but I did, McConnell said. I think Carlson had developed a coterie of followers in the Congress as well as in the country that I found disturbing.

McConnell has warned that Russia winning in Ukraine would embolden Putin and heighten the risk China would attack Taiwan. He called the US investment in Ukraines military a bargain if Ukraine is able to defeat Russia.

McConnell has taken a leading role internationally as well, visiting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv last year and traveling to Finland and Sweden, where he encouraged their leaders to join NATO. A few months later, he engineered Senate ratification of NATOs expansion, 95-1.

All of that has earned him rare plaudits from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats.

For Senator McConnell to take a leadership position on this is critically important, said Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat.

Chiding Biden

I like Joe Biden personally, McConnell is quick to say about the president, with whom hes brokered several compromises, including last years bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Yet McConnell has been frustrated with Biden for taking months to approve each new weapon system  from Himars rockets to Abrams tanks.

McConnell urged Biden well before Russias February 2022 invasion to step up military aid to Ukraine and counter Russia, saying in January 2021 the new administration would have willing partners on Capitol Hill to do so.

In April 2021, he warned against cutting US defense spending with Russian troops massing on Ukraines border. And in July, he assailed Bidens decision to allow Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to escape crippling sanctions.

By December 2021, McConnell made a more explicit plea for Ukraine air defenses, and in the weeks before the invasion, again urged Biden to rush weapons into the country.

More recently, hes called on Biden to provide fighter jets, cluster bombs and longer-range munitions. He said he sees Biden as skittish about exercising American power.

McConnell said Biden has generally come around to do the right thing on Ukraine  just not, in his opinion, soon enough.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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The Tribeca Film Festival is always a star-studded affair, and this year Hip-Hop will make its presence felt in a major way, as Chance The Rapper and Megan Thee Stallion are confirmed to appear at the nearly two-week spectacle.

The Chicago rapper will take part in the Storytellers Series at The Indeed Theater at Spring Studios on June 14. The following day, the Savage rapper will be part of a live Tribeca Festival conversation held at the legendary Beacon Theatre.

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Cara Cusuamno, Tribeca Festival Director and VP of Programming, is thrilled to include various artists and genres over the course of the festivals itinerary. Music is an instrumental form of storytelling, and the Tribeca Festival is thrilled to weave dynamic performances into our Gala events. Our lineup features the best of Soul, Rock & Roll, Pop, and Hip Hop, she said. We hope our audiences are inspired by activism in art and riled up by the electrifying acts paired with the screenings.

For KHADIJA TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL JUNE 16 NYC ! ?

TICKETS ON SALE NOW ? https://t.co/DCMoqzmMnZ  French Montana (@FrencHMonTanA) May 3, 2023

French Montana will be in attendance as well, hosting a premiere of his documentary, For Khadija, on June 16 at the Beacon Theatre. Drake and Diddy are executive producers for the Mandon Lovett-directed film which focuses on the Unforgettable artists rise to stardom and the sacrifices his immigrant mother made on his behalf.

French and Triplets Ghetto Kids will take the stage following the premiere and there will also be a panel discussion featuring hip-hop heavyweights, social justice advocates, and pop culture icons. Tickets for the premiere of For Khadija at the 2023 Tribeca Festival can be purchased here.

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Meghan Markle was spotted in California yesterday on a hike, just a day after King Charles's coronation. Prince Harrywho returned to California Saturday eveningstayed home with their children, Prince Archie, who just turned 4, and Princess Lilibet.

For the Duchess of Sussex's first appearance since the coronation, she kept it casual and comfortable in navy leggings, a navy t-shirt, and her go-to J. Crew lightweight jacket (which is unfortunately sold out). She accessorized with with a wide-brimmed Panama hat, Victoria Beckham sunglasses, and a pink bandana tied around her neck. Meghan also appeared to be wearing Princess Diana's Cartier French Tank watch.

Backgrid

Meghan was also spotted wearing "The Clarity Retreat Necklace," a collaboration between her friend Abigail Spencer and jeweler Maya Brenner. Per the brand, "The Clarity Retreat Necklace is just the thing to help you see your way through any challenges. Made with a hand-cut clear quartz, this crystal is regarded as the most powerful energy amplifier on the planet! Its meant to help you manifest what you want in life and let go of anything that's not working. A subtle wearable crystal piece to protect your peaceso every day can be your retreat." Seems fitting for what Meghan is currently going throughshe is all about "protecting her peace."

Shop Now Free City Cotton Logo Sweatpants $148.00 bloomingdales.com

Meghan was joined by two of her longtime friends, Markus Anderson and Heather Dorak. Anderson wore a bright yellow Camp Tamakwa sweatshirt and Nike shorts, whereas Doark was spotted in Free City sweatpants and a peach t-shirt.

In 2021, following Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah, Dorak took to Instagram to defend her friends. She wrote on Instagram, "Its hard for me to watch her go through all that she has to as the Meghan the press can love to hate. Mostly because its so far from the Meghan that I know. Sweet. Kind. Always showing up! Two weeks ago, she was the first to surprise me with a gift after my knee surgery."

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Dorak added, "17 years ago, she walked into my fledgling Pilates studio and instantly became my rock in all things early 20s - career, love, figuring out how to adult. Since that day, she has never stopped being one of my brightest sources of light. It may be hard to see, but she lives for the little, thougthful things  flowers for no reason, a random sweet, handwritten note. Shes always been truly wonderful ... M, I love you."

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Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Melania Trump on Tuesday said she stood behind her husband's 2024 presidential campaign.

The ex-first lady told Fox News Digital that former President Trump had her "support" in his race.

Melania Trump said that if her husband were to win she would again focus on children's issues.

Former First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday said she stood behind former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, praising "the tremendous success" of his previous term in office as he seeks the White House for the third time.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, she said it would be a "privilege" to assume her old role once again and expressed confidence in her husband's lastest bid to occupy the Oval Office.

"My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us toward greatness and prosperity once again," she told the outlet. "He has my support, and we look forward to restoring hope for the future and leading America with love and strength."

Melania Trump said that if her husband were to win the general election next year, she would again focus on children's issues and perform work to help give them the "support and resources they need to reach their full potential."

The former first lady attended her husband's 2024 campaign launch last November, but by and large has not been a significant presence on the trail thus far.

Trump in recent months has visited the key presidential primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, as well as Iowa, home to the pivotal presidential caucuses, in an effort to connect with GOP voters and officials as he seeks to lock down the Republican nomination. The former president continues to hold a significant lead in most major polling, and his advantage widened after he was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney's office over his involvement in a hush-money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 presidential election.

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Besides Trump, the major Republican contenders in the race so far include former Govs. Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder.

But Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida  who is expected to enter the race in the coming weeks  remains Trump's most formidable potential opponent.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday began meetings with opposition parties to discuss her plans to reform the constitution and end chronic political instability in the euro zone's third largest nation.

Although Italy has had almost 70 governments since World War Two, more than twice the number in Britain and Germany, repeated attempts to produce a more robust system have always floundered amid myriad, competing visions.

There is little optimism that this time will be any different, but Meloni said it was important to try to find broad support for change as she headed into talks with the main parliamentary parties.

"We consider this to be an important confrontation for our democracy to approve measures that cannot be put off," she said.

Italy introduced numerous checks and balances in its 1948 constitution to try to prevent another dictator like Benito Mussolini from grabbing power.

But critics say the system has resulted in revolving door coalitions that have weighed on the Italy's international credibility and made it hard to pursue badly needed reform.

Meloni, whose right-wing bloc won elections last year, has said she is open to suggestions, but has made clear she would like to see the country adopt a presidential system, with the direct election of a powerful head of state.

"I think it is important to do such a reform with the largest consensus possible. This does not mean we will not do it if there is not a consensus," she told the opposition 5-Star Movement at the start of their meeting, her office said.

Any change to the constitution needs to secure a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament - something that is hard to envisage given the splintered nature of Italian politics. Failing that, any proposal must be put to a referendum.

The last serious effort to bring about change failed in 2016 when the then prime minister Matteo Renzi resigned after a referendum rejected his plan to streamline the parliamentary system.

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In the build up to Tuesday's talks, both the 5-Star and the centre-left Democratic Party have shown no enthusiasm for Meloni's suggestions.

"We did not come up with a shared position," former prime minister and 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte told reporters after his talks with Meloni.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante Editing by Crispian Balmer and Mark Potter)
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexicos Supreme Court voted Monday to overturn a pair of electoral law reforms favored by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador because Congress rushed them through to a vote without debate, or even time to read them.

The 9-2 vote threatens Lopez Obradors habit of demanding legislators approve bills they often received just a few hours or even minutes before, often late at night or in the early morning hours.

Justice Jorge Pardo said of one of the laws approved last year, there were not even three hours between the time the bill was sent (to congress) and the time it was voted on.

The Constitution requires congress to consider and debate any laws it passes. In one case, justices argued that changes were made to the text of one of the bills without telling the legislators before they voted on it.

The laws struck down on Monday involved electoral rules limiting partisan activity by politicians who hold public offices. Lopez Obrador had sought to loosen limits on what public servants can say about electoral races, or how they can use government advertising.

The presidents office accused the countrys highest court of overstepping its powers. On Sunday  apparently anticipating the ruling  the office claimed the vote would violate the separation of powers by overring the legislative branch.

The justice argued the legislative branch has to follow its own rules.

Lopez Obrador has high approval ratings, and his Morena party and its allies controls majorities in both house of congress. But because the president does not have the two-thirds majorities needed to change the Constitution, he has often resorted to ramming legal changes  some of which violate the Constitution  through the legislature.

The Supreme Court ruling appears to raise the possibility that more recently approved laws could be struck down as well, because they were also rushed through congress.

For example, in late April, Mexicos Senate approved 18 laws, including major changes to mining laws, in a few hours with no debate. The opposition occupied the Senates normal headquarters to protest a lack of debate on the measures, so the Morena senators and allies met in an alternative chamber and passed law after law past midnight.

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The court has already struck down some of the president's favored laws.

In April, the Supreme Court ruled that last years transfer of the newly created National Guard from civilian to military control was unconstitutional.

The vast majority of the National Guards members and leadership came from Mexicos military, but it was described in the Constitution as a force under civilian command and placed under the control of the civilian public security ministry.
(Bloomberg) -- Mexicos Supreme Court annulled part of a reform of the countrys electoral rules that had been sponsored by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a setback for the Latin American leader who has sought to overhaul the national election regulator before his term finishes in 2024.

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Nine of the 11 Supreme Court Justices on Monday voted in favor of invalidating the first part of the reform approved by lawmakers, which included changes to publicity and propaganda rules in campaigns, on the grounds that congress didnt follow proper legislative process. They have yet to vote on the second part of the reform, which includes cuts to the election regulators funding and could lead to thousands of firings, but Lopez Obrador acknowledged Tuesday that he would need to try other avenues to move forward with his plan.

Its an act of arrogance and authoritarianism that they dare to cancel the law. The ministers of the court are at the service of a predatory minority, said Lopez Obrador, proposing on Tuesday to send a series of legislative changes to congress after new lawmakers are chosen next year. What we have to do is reform the constitution.

The president known as AMLO had pushed for changes to the regulator known as INE, alleging it was running up excessive costs and being partisan. The second part of the changes approved by congress include cuts to INEs funding that would lead to thousands of staff members being fired. Protests against such measure have erupted in many Mexican cities.

Its a blow for the president because it sets the precedent against passing legislation that wants to undermine democratic control, said Alejandro Schtulmann, president and head of research at EMPRA, a Mexico City-based political consultancy.

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Read More: Mexico Senate Passes Electoral System Overhaul Ahead of Vote

In his daily press conference Tuesday, Lopez Obrador criticized the court as the only government branch that isnt directly elected by the people. In the courts own deliberations, ministers emphasized the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Our country is a constitutional democracy, Supreme Court President Norma Pina said during the discussion. Decisions must be adopted by majority rule once they have been deliberated long enough based on the relevant information, having heard all the political forces of representation in equal conditions.

The changes approved by Congress could have significant impact on the general election scheduled for mid-2024 and for a vote to pick governors in two states in 2023. Invalidating the first part of the electoral changes on procedural grounds makes it more likely that the court will also declare unconstitutional the second part, which was temporarily suspended earlier this year.

They managed to get nine votes in favor with important arguments in favor, defending parliamentary debate, said Claudia Aguilar Barroso, a constitutional law professor. Surely when they decide on the second decree, theyll take the same route, because the problems in the proceedings were similar.

(Update with AMLOs response in second paragraph.)

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The poet Michael Longley has said that the "complexities and difficulties of literature" must not be simplified to fit changing outlooks.

He was speaking after an event in his honour at Armagh's Robinson Library marking his Feltrinelli International Prize for Poetry last year.

At the event the 83-year-old reprised the lecture he gave in Rome in November where he accepted the 250,000 prize.

Speaking to BBC NI he described himself as something of an accidental poet.

"Once you have written a few poems you become addicted," he said.

"I'm always reluctant to call myself a poet. When people begin a sentence with: 'As a poet I,' I can't take them seriously because that's like calling yourself a saint and if someone said: 'As a Saint', you would tap your head as if they were a bit odd, a bit self-centred.

"I mean, it's what I most want to be and I like it when other people call me a poet, but I'm not going to call myself a poet."

Throughout his career he has witnessed huge societal change.

In recent times there have been examples of the re-editing of works of literature to fit modern outlooks.

'Beautiful things are difficult'

This is something Longely is uneasy with.

"There's an attempt, various attempts, by ill-advised educationalists to apologise in a way for the complexities and difficulties of literature by simplifying them or replacing them with more simple-minded writing," he said.

"I think it was Plato who said 'kalepa ta kala' - that beautiful things are difficult."

The robinson LIbrary

With that in mind he believes that poets must stay true to their work if they are to produce memorable pieces.

"If you sit down to write a great poem you will write rubbish," he said.

Longley has also won the Whitbread Poetry Award, the TS Eliot Prize and the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry.

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In 2001 he received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, and in 2003 the Wilfred Owen Award.

He was appointed CBE in 2010.

He was awarded the freedom of his native Belfast in 2015.

'True poems'

Longley told the BBC: "I don't think you can teach poetry. Creative writing classes might shorten the apprenticeship but I think good poems are a rare event and I think good poets are rarer.

"If you are really writing well there is the space between the lines where what is happening - that you don't understand and nobody understands, will in a mysterious way be registered.

"In other words, you don't write true poetry by sitting down and saying: 'I want to write a true poem about the Northern Irish problem or Rwanda or wherever'.

"True poems, it's very mysterious where they come from."
Michael Shannon is opening up about starring in "The Flash" alongside Ezra Miller, who was encircled in controversy much of last year.

In an interview with Vanity Fair published May 2, Shannon discussed filming the movie with Miller amid the actor's multiple arrests and legal issues, a situation Shannon said is hard to discuss considering Miller's transparency about their mental health.

"I thought Ezra was lovelyvery kind to me when I was there," Shannon told the magazine. "Its difficult to talk about, but I always give people a lot of slack in this business, because theres a lot of people in this business that have issues."

Audiences saw a first look of DC's "The Flash" during CinemaCon in April before the film's June 16 release, which comes before the DC movie universe gets a reboot. The film centers on the Flash, played by Miller, who uses super-speed to save his parents, but in the process accidentally breaks the world and meets his 18-year-old self. Starring Michael Keaton as Batman and Michael Shannon's reprised "Man of Steel" character General Zod, "Flash" puts a nifty superhero spin on a "Back to the Future"-type tale.

Michael Shannon says it's "difficult" to discuss working with Ezra Miller on "The Flash" amid their mental health issues.

First reactions: 'The Flash' wins raves at CinemaCon for 'nerdy details' and 'big heart'

In August, Miller broke their silence and apologized about their string of arrest and abuse allegations saying they are seeking treatment for "complex mental health issues" and that they had been going through a time of "intense crisis."

Ezra Miller speaks out 'The Flash' star undergoing treatment for 'complex mental health issues'

Shannon continued his reflection of his "Flash" co-star saying: "Some people have more privacy than others. Any time somebody is out in the spotlight getting picked on, I feel for them. Even if its warranted, its still a horrible situation."

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Last March, Miller was arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct, and was arrested again last April on suspicion of assault. In June, Miller was accused of grooming an 18-year-old activist by the teen's parents.

Weeks before their public apology, Miller was charged with felony burglary in Stamford, Vermont, according to a Vermont State Police report published Aug. 8. Authorities dropped the felony burglary against Miller and the actor accepted a plea deal to avoid jail time for a trespassing charge.

Miller's legal issues weren't addressed during the Warner Bros' CinemaCon presentation in April.

Despite the controversy, Miller has received praise for their role in the film. Collider.com's Steven Weintraub tweeted that the star has "made a lot of mistakes but they are soooooo good in this movie." And Cinema Blend's Sean O'Connell praised "two outstanding performances" from Miller in "The Flash." "Its magical. It presses every button. Ill see it 1,000 times."

Everything we know Ezra Miller pleads not guilty to burglary amid string of legal disputes

Contributing: Brian Truitt

.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Shannon addresses Ezra Miller 'The Flash' controversy
Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign Agenda 50, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.

On the occasion of the solemn signing of the document, a round table was held in Stoubcy with representatives of the public organizations that worked on the agenda, and with local authorities. Participants of the campaign Agenda 50 aimed at implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the local level, were personally congratulated by Lene Petersen, a representative of the non-profit organization European House" (Denmark).

- You have demonstrated full dedication to our business, and now we have approached the signing of the document. In order for the changes to be large-scale, there must be a shift at the state level. But please follow your local ideas, as they are based on the needs of local population, and no one is more aware of these needs than you. We are convinced that working at the local level plays an extremely important role, said Lene Petersen.

Lene Petersen. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

She also added that she was impressed by the efficiency and speed with which the participants prepared a local agenda and implemented a local mini-project, as well as by its quality.

It is assumed that the local agenda will be the foundation for the work of the local community.

The head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski told the audience about the draft law On the Rights and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. According to him, the draft law still has certain imperfections, but at the same time contains a number of innovations.

- In particular, it introduces the concepts of discrimination, universal design, inclusion, and also addresses the issues of integrating people with disabilities into society to improve the quality of their life. After all, it is impossible to reduce everything only to social support, says Siarhei Drazdouski.

According to him, this integration will be built not "vertically", but "horizontally": representatives of all sectors of the economy, as well as people with disabilities who jointly solve actual problems will be represented in each local council. Well, according to Siarhei Drazdouski, we still do not have the practice of collegial interaction between the branches of government and people dealing with disability issues.

From left to right: Zinaida Kotlashevskaya (Belarusian Society of Disabled People), Alexander Klimash (Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons), Zhanna Lysaya (Stoubcy District Executive Committee), Siarhei Drazdouski. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

- We see that the practice of creating local agendas is one of the most effective methods today. We would like the agendas, which already exist in the five pilot cities, to be an example for other regions. It is important that this does not remain a project, but become a set of permanent activities. At the same time, these documents will need to be developed, clarified - they will be living documents. We are lobbying for this activity at the legislative level so that it will receive support throughout the country, head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities noted.

Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

The local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed by representatives of the Stoubcy-based organizations of Belarusian Society of Disabled People and Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons, Stoubcy District Executive Committee, Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, and Nikolay Novikov, Assistant Deputy of Elena Anisim.

Svetlana Blashko, Director of Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, spoke about the work on creating a local agenda.

- At first it was very difficult to decide how we would do it, she noted. Our task was to work on the document in such a way as to outline in it all the problems and goals. We identified problems, managed to sort them out, select the most global ones, and then work with them.

Svetlana Blashko. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

The main objectives of the local agenda in Stoubcy are the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, legal awareness, solving the problems of people with disabilities, and their participation in solving these problems.

Zinaida Kotlashevskaya, chairwoman of the district organization of Belarusian Society of Disabled People, spoke about the Open Dialogue mini-project, which was implemented as part of the campaign Agenda 50 and consisted primarily in informing people with disabilities and their families about their rights. Under the mini-project, a round table and informational meetings with the population of the district were held, booklets were printed. Now the project funded by the European Union has been successfully completed.

Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

***

The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)".

The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland) and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during a keynote address.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during a keynote address. Credit - Jason RedmondAFP/ Getty Images

Theres no shortage of concern about the speed with which some of the worlds top artificial intelligence research labs are rolling out new AI tools that could change the way we live and work. The release of generative AI tools like ChatGPT to the public has prompted consternation about privacy and the spread of misinformation and bias. Not long after Microsoft released an AI-powered version of its search tool, Bing, to a select group of users in February, Bing threatened a philosophy professor with blackmail.

A month later, some of the biggest names in tech signed an open letter urging the worlds leading artificial intelligence labs to pause training their super-powerful computer systems for six months, arguing that recent advances in AI present profound risks to society and humanity. In an op-ed in TIME the same day, Eliezer Yudkowsky, a decision theorist who leads the nonprofit Machine Intelligence Research Institute, urged the labs to shut down their research entirely. Many researchers steeped in these issues, including myself, expect that the most likely result of building a superhumanly smart AI, under anything remotely like the current circumstances, is that literally everyone on Earth will die, he wrote.

But Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella isnt worried. Microsoft has put at least $13 billion into OpenAI, the lab that launched ChatGPT in November; both Microsoft and Google rolled out products in March that they say will use AI to transform workGoogle with AI powered features in Workspace that auto generate images, write and rewrite documents, and sort email; Microsoft with Copilot, an AI-based tool that works across its 365 suite of software (Word, Excel, Outlook) to summarize meetings, draft emails, and analyze data.

In a May 8 interview, Nadella said Microsoft has done its best to mitigate unintended consequences of AI. Copilot, for example, does not create content or send emails without a human first entering data that guides the AIs response. Such AI solutions, he says, will do our drudge work, freeing us to do the creative tasks where humans excel.

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Read More: The AI Arms Race Is Changing Everything

While skeptics cite big concerns about job displacement with this new wave of AI, Nadella argues that AI can democratize access to new skills, helping displaced workers find new jobs. Anyone can use generative AIessentially algorithms that can create new content, including emails, white papers, and even codeas a partner at work, even if they dont have a traditional education. That means that more people can become software engineers or security analysts, because theyll be working alongside skilled AI. Microsoft thinks the world can sustain a billion professional developers and that AI can help quicken that growth.

Thats why AI is exciting, he says. We need new technology to help us with the economic growth that we enjoyed in the early part of the 20th century. What if we can have that type of economic growth this time around, but its much more even?

Its true that productivity growth has been stunted in the U.S. After rising at an average rate of 2.8% between 1948 and 1970, productivity growth slowed to just 1.4% in the last 15 years. One reason for this slowdown, put forward by the economist Robert Gordon, is that we lack the technological advancements that came before 1970, like indoor plumbing, commercial air travel and the widespread adoption of communications technology. (The U.S. also saw a boost of productivity in the 1990s after the adoption of the PC.)

Nadella thinks AI might bring productivity growth back to the halcyon days of the mid-20th century. Yes, there are risks to deploying AI, he saysjobs may be displaced, people may have to go through transitions, and AI may learn biases because the information it learns from comes from real people, who themselves have biases. But the benefits of AI could outweigh the risks.

Microsofts own data suggests that the way we work today is broken. Microsofts Work Trends Index, released on May 9, shows that nearly two in three people polled say they struggle with having the time and energy to do their own job. The index surveyed 31,000 workers across 31 markets in February and March of 2023, and found that across Microsofts 365 software, the average employee spends a whopping 57% of their time communicating, and the rest creating. As a result, creativity is lagging; nearly two in three managers say they are concerned about a lack of innovation or breakthroughs on their teams.

Of course, even if AI does alleviate some of the negative parts of peoples jobs, it might create new issues for much of the workforce in the process. AI can and probably will displace jobs. It can and probably will provide more misinformation into a world already full of it. It can and probably will exacerbate existing racial biases, since it learns from information already available in the world. And perhaps most pertinent for people already overwhelmed with information at work: it can and probably will create even more information for us to sift through.

AI is both going to be responsible for helping us manage a lot more knowledge but also creating a lot more knowledge that we will have to handle, says Rowan Curran, an analyst at Forrester who researches AI and machine learning.

Nadella contends that the benefits of AIMicrosofts AI, at leastwill outweigh the potential negatives. After all, Microsoft put humans in the center of AI design by choice, he says, which in itself mitigates unintended consequences, he says. And, he notes, there is already healthy dialogue between governments and companies about what kind of regulation there should be on AI. At the end of the day, I think we will all be judged by one thing alone, which is, Do the benefits far outweigh anything that are the societal consequences?

That said, Microsoft has actively resisted European Union efforts to regulate the use of AI. The EUs Artificial Intelligence Act could ban certain uses of AI like facial recognition technologies, but Microsoft and Google have lobbied to ensure that general purpose AI of the kind that ChatGPT is based on is not covered in the regulations. Nadella said he was unfamiliar with what Microsoft may or may not be doing in Europe. He also refused to commit to any limits on the use of AI in military applicationsrelevant because competitor Google had to forgo a contract with the military that used AI to interpret video images and could have been used for drone strikes after thousands of workers signed a letter in protest.

Read More: The New AI-Powered Bing Is Threatening Users. Thats No Laughing Matter

Of course, we still dont know the societal consequences of relatively unchecked AI usage. Critics say they could be dire, and that even AI developers do not understand the possibilities. Nadella says that this type of complexity or uncertainty arent unusualwe study science because we dont fully understand it, after all.

Todays AI, he argues, fulfills the promise of the modern computer industry, which was founded in part to create tools to help the human mind understand more of the world around it. Way back in 1945, for example, in a seminal 1945 essay in The Atlantic, Vannevar Bush, an engineer who led the U.S. Office of Scientific and Research Development, suggested that further human advancement could only come if man mechanized his records more completely.

AI may be the next step in this development, Nadella says, arguing that calls on companies to stop working with AI are, in some ways, calls to stop embracing economic growth. And this growth, because its so accessible, doesnt have to be limited to Silicon Valley or even the U.S., but can be more widespread, he says.

Creating technologies that allow us as humans to be able to increase our knowledge, do science, and help the human condition is what has been core to enlightenment, he says. And so therefore trying to say, Well, now is the time to stop, that doesnt seem the right approach.

It may seem surprising that Microsoft, which not long ago seemed like it was falling behind competitors to its hoary Word and Outlook offerings, is talking about providing products that are the core to enlightenment. In the 2010s, as Apple and Google introduced new operating systems including web-based apps that stole Microsoft customers, some analysts were writing off Microsoft as a doomed business because of its focus on software that could easily be replaced, says Jason Wong, an analyst at Gartner. But Nadella, who took the helm in 2014, recognized the value of the cloud, and of artificial intelligence, Wong says. Microsofts share price has risen nearly tenfold since Nadella took the helm; the S&P 500 has merely doubled its value over the same time.

The AI arms race is just beginning. For now, though, AI is showing up in something not very intimidating and perhaps even a little disappointing: applications like Word, Outlook, and Excel, the productivity software that many people have used for years and that would certainly be hard to imagine taking over the world and killing us all.

That said, researchers have admitted that they dont always understand why generative AI produces the results it does. As Microsoft lifts the lid off of its AI, releasing Copilot to more customers (its initial launch was for 20 enterprise customers) and integrating more AI like the open image generator DALL-E into PowerPoint, what is so scary is that no onenot even Satya Nadellaknows what is going to happen next.
More than a decade ago, the now controversial medication mifepristone showed promise for alleviating symptoms of service-related post-traumatic stress disorder in men.

A new study published Tuesday, however, counters previous research, determining that, in most cases, the drug used in medication abortions currently facing judicial review in the U.S. court system is no more effective for treating military PTSD than a placebo.

Results of a randomized clinical trial released Tuesday in JAMA Network Open found that, while veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder with no history of a traumatic brain injury saw some improvement in their symptoms after taking mifepristone, those with a lifetime of PTSD and TBI were worse off at follow-up appointments than those who took a placebo.

Read Next: Meet the New Senior Enlisted Leader of the Space Force

The Department of Veterans Affairs researchers said that while the improvement seen in those without TBI may warrant additional research, overall, the study, which was conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of the treatment, did not support an argument for broader research.

"This study did not detect a signal for efficacy for mifepristone at 600 [milligrams per day] in male veterans with chronic PTSD. Thus, this study does not support a phase 3 trial of this population," wrote the researchers, led by Dr. Julia Golier, chief of psychiatry at the VA Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, referring to large-scale clinical trials.

It may seem odd that a drug at the heart of the medication abortion debate in the U.S. would be considered as a possible treatment for PTSD, but it previously had demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating mental health symptoms in those who use it for its other purpose, to treat Cushing's disease, a hormonal disorder.

At low doses, mifepristone, a synthetic steroid, blocks progesterone uptake needed to continue pregnancies, making it an effective abortive when combined with another medication.

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At high doses, it blocks uptake of cortisol and controls hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing's. As a result of treatment in patients with Cushing's, practitioners observed that those who also had a diagnosis of depression or psychosis saw their symptoms improve after taking mifepristone.

Given that track record, researchers theorized that the medication could be used to treat combat-related PTSD, and in 2012, a small study of eight male veterans found significant improvement in those who received the medication over a placebo.

Two types of antidepressants often are prescribed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including the brand-name drug Prozac, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Those medications, however, have not been found to be "uniformly effective" for treating PTSD, hence the effort to find existing medications or new drugs to treat PTSD, according to Golier and the other researchers.

Various types of therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder have proven to be effective, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, but research shows that veterans often avoid psychotherapy or drop out for reasons such as stigma, distrust of its success or of their providers, or fear of losing security clearances or access to weapons.

The researchers said the vast number of veterans who have not been treated effectively for PTSD suggests "a need for a new approach." They hoped mifepristone might prove to be a solution.

They noted that their research had limitations, including that the study was conducted only on men, mainly out of concern for the impact of using a progesterone blocker on women, and that they had access only to 600-milligram doses and not larger 1,200-milligram dosages, which they theorized may have resulted in different outcomes.

Mifepristone has been used since 2000 as part of a two-drug regimen for medication abortion. Last year, anti-abortion groups filed a lawsuit charging that the drug, which is used in about half of U.S. abortions, is dangerous and was illegally approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Last month, a U.S. District Court judge in Texas agreed with the plaintiffs and suspended its use; the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently placed a hold on that order while the case is appealed.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to review the case May 17.

By the end of the year, there may be another option for treatment of combat-related PTSD. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, is expected to file an application this year with the Food and Drug Administration to approve MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, for the treatment of PTSD.

In clinical trials of 90 veterans with PTSD, 80% of the patients who engaged in MDMA-assisted therapy showed improvement of their symptoms, with three-quarters of those achieving either complete remission or no longer having any symptoms.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: 'You Can Forgive Yourself:' Molly Helps Vets with PTSD, New Study Says
James Woods was considering colleges and had narrowed his choices to three.

The senior from Streetsboro, Ohio, hoped to break records in the upcoming track season in his new gold-bottomed spikes.

James and his friends had a trip planned in July to Dream Con, a comic book convention in Texas.

The 17-year-old had hopes and dreams that ended on Nov. 19 when he died by suicide.

James death was shocking for his family and friends, who never saw signs he was depressed or upset. They soon learned, though, that James had been the silent victim of a growing cybercrime known as sextortion.

These schemes typically use social media to target young people. The victims are persuaded to share a naked photo or explicit video of themselves that is then used to extort them for money or more images.

Tamia Woods is reflected in a portrait of her 17-year-old son, James, in Streetsboro. James died by suicide in November after he became a victim of sextortion.

Tamia Woods, James mother, had never heard of sextortion before her only childs death. But she and her husband, Tim, have now made it their mission to educate others about the crime.

People need to be made aware of this evil, Tamia Woods said in an interview at the familys Streetsboro home. My husband and I did everything we could. How can you regret something you didnt know anything about?

In the five months since James death, the Woods started the Do It for James Foundation and created tip cards with information on what young people can do if they fall prey to sextortion. They have spoken to numerous groups and Northeast Ohio schools and will be the featured speakers at a Mental Health and Safety Forum on May 10 at Streetsboro High School.

Alert Feds cite 'explosion' in child sextortion cases, FBI, DHS issue national public safety alert

The parents also are supporting state legislation that would require parental consent for children 16 and younger to use social media.

This is, after all, a problem that extends way beyond Streetsboro.

The FBI issued public safety alerts about sextortion in December and again in mid-January, saying law enforcement agencies had received more than 7,000 reports in the past year about the online extortion of at least 3,000 young people, most of them with boys. The FBI said more than a dozen sextortion victims have died by suicide.

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Since James death, three other Streetsboro students have reported being victims of sextortion. One of the victims told a school official he knew what happened to James.

Tamia, 39, a clinical specialty representative for the Mayo Clinic, is pleased the word is spreading. Asked why she and her husband have been so open about their sons death, Tamia said simply: Because of fear. My child took his life. I never want another mom to feel the hurt I feel."

James Woods was known for his great smile and running prowess

Tamia described her son as a humble young man who wasnt the typical teen. He loved comic books, anime and Dragon Ball Z and enjoyed playing chess with his father. In recent years, James found a passion for running and joined Streetsboros cross country and track teams. He was ranked 12th in Ohio last year for the 110-meter hurdles in Division II.

That was one of my joys  I loved to watch him run, said Tamia, who tried not to miss any of James meets.

The family enjoyed traveling and helped organize trips once a year for James and his closest friends. They already had tickets for Dream Con, the comic book festival in July in Austin, Texas.

Streetsboro Superintendent Mike Daulbaugh said James was a great kid and a stellar athlete who was known for his infectious smile.

He could light up a room, said Daulbaugh, who has led the school district since 2013. He was friends with everybody. Everybody loved James.

James, who was nearly halfway through his senior year by November, hoped to run in college and had in mind a career in law or law enforcement.

On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 19, Tamia went with James to a college fair. She said James laughed and danced with his friends, though she did notice he appeared to be on his phone a lot. She asked him to put it away.

James went off to learn about the 20 colleges at the fair, and Tamia headed to brunch with her aunt and cousin.

About 1:30 p.m., James called Tamia and said he had talked to three colleges he now considered at the top of his list  Central State University, Fisk University and Howard University.

Baby, Im so proud of you, Tamia told him. Well talk more about this when you get home.

That conversation never happened.

'I have to tell you, our son is gone. He's gone'

Tim arrived home about 6:45 that evening and found James dead.

He dropped to his knees, screamed and crawled to his sons body.

Tim then made the hardest call of his life  to his wife, who was running errands. He didnt want her to hear what happened from a neighbor.

I have to tell you, our son is gone, he told her. Hes gone. He killed himself.

Tamia, who teared up as she remembered that call, couldnt comprehend what she was hearing.

We told him we loved him every day, she said. Our son was our life  our everything.

The Woods, through phone records and with help from police, quickly learned James had been targeted in a sextortion scheme. He was contacted on Instagram by an attractive young woman.

Their conversation turned sexual and the woman asked James if he wanted to see her naked in a video chat. After the chat, the woman said it was James turn, and he reciprocated.

The woman or people she was working with captured a naked image of James from the video chat and used the image to begin threatening him. The initial demand was $6,000, but it dropped to $300.

James gave his tormentors $100 in iTunes gift cards, but the threats continued.

James received 200 messages in less than 20 hours.

They said James would be labeled a pedophile. His parents wouldnt love him. He wouldnt be able to get into college or get a job. They would hurt or kill his parents.

You might as well end it now, they told James at one point.

When James was on his phone at the college fair, Tamia now believes he probably was responding to the barrage of messages.

I didnt realize they were terrorizing my child, she said.

James exploiters made good on one of their threats and sent a naked photo of him to many of his friends and family members. Tamia learned about it from one of James friends after his death.

Tamia wishes James had told her and Tim what was happening.

We would have cussed him out and said, How dare you? and then gone to police, Tamia said. He made a mistake. Hes the victim.

'This is an attack on our youth'

Once Tamia and Tim realized what had happened, they wasted no time.

Two days later, Tamia addressed the track team at his high school, explaining what had happened to James and urging the students to make better choices. If they get into trouble, get help, she implored.

Theres never anything you can do that you cant tell your parents, Tamia said. Just like that, things can change in a heartbeat, and someone be gone.

Daulbaugh was shocked by Tamias candor but said it helped him and Streetsboro Police Chief Tricia Wain, who wanted to get the word out about what happened to James while respecting the familys privacy. With that concern removed, he said, he and Wain were free to share information.

We wanted the public to hear this is not going away, Daulbaugh said. This is an attack on our youth. As adults, we need to do something about it. We cant be quiet.

Tamia Woods shows one of the tips cards she and her husband had made to give to young people to let them know where to turn if they become victims of sextortion.

The Woods created cards with suggestions for what young people can do if they become victims of sextortion. The small, laminated cards can fit in a wallet or pocket and include contact information for the FBI and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The parents spoke at a sheriffs' conference in Columbus, Ohio, and a Portage County Police Chiefs Association meeting. They also shared their story at a news conference in March to announce the proposed Social Media Parental Notification Act, which would require social media companies like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to get parental consent before permitting those under 16 to join their platforms.

The Woods also would like to see Ohio law strengthened to make sextortion a serious criminal offense, with heightened penalties for those who target juveniles. Right now, people accused of sextortion face other criminal charges, such as extortion.

James Woods' parents spread their message as sextortion investigation continues

On a recent afternoon, Tamia and Tim Woods spoke to high school students in Amherst, Ohio, about James and what led to his death. Tamia gave the students the foundations tip cards and encouraged them to hold on to them. She said James last Google search was: How to get an Instagram page taken down.

He did not know what to do, she said.

Wain, the Streetsboro police chief, called what happened to James a targeted attack.

They were targeting his friends and family to expose him for what he was, Wain said. What he was was a kid who made a mistake. They made him out to be a sex offender or pedophile.

He said the investigation into James case is continuing with help from federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security.

Wain said James tormentors were from the Ivory Coast in Africa, an area that generally isnt cooperative with the United States. She said it is difficult with overseas offenders.

This is a screenshot of a man who was part of a sextortion scheme involving a Streetsboro student. His mother captured the image and shared it with police, who released it publicly. Police say the man is from Africa.

We are looking at people who look at this as a job, she said. Everybody has jobs. Their job happens to be tormenting children.

Investigators from Homeland Security didnt return messages conveyed through Streetsboro police and email seeking comment on James case.

Since James' death, three other Streetsboro students have reported being victims of sextortion.

One student sent his tormentors money but then told his mother what had happened when the threats continued. His mother took a screenshot of the man making the threats, which was forwarded to federal investigators and has been shared publicly by police.

Im glad kids are coming forward, Wain said. Without the reports and documentation and evidence were getting, we would not be able to do anything about it in the big picture.

No arrests have been made in Streetsboros sextortion cases.

While the investigations continue, the Woods are grieving the loss of their son during what would have been his final weeks in high school. Tamia said one of the toughest things for her are trips to the grocery store because she no longer needs to buy James the Pop-Tarts and barbecue chips he loved.

Tamia and Tim have plans to participate in 20 events through May and are organizing a 5K walk and run in August to try to raise $10,000 in scholarships. Tamia says her son is the force behind their efforts.

James is still here, she said. Hes helping save lives.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, or on Twitter @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Parents spread sextortion warning after son's death by suicide
By Julio-Cesar Chavez and Lizbeth Diaz

EL PASO, Texas (Reuters) -U.S. border agents in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday urged hundreds of migrants amassing on city streets to surrender to authorities as illegal crossings rose in the run-up to the end of COVID-19 border restrictions known as Title 42 later this week.

At the same time, migrants were gathering at different points on the Mexican side of the U.S. southern border in anticipation of crossing when border policy changes just before midnight on May 11.

In Matamoros, Mexico, migrants purchased pool floats and life jackets to prepare to cross the Rio Grande River into Brownsville, Texas, said migrant rights activist Gladys Canas. And in Tijuana, across from San Diego, California, migrants formed long lines in front of a towering border fence on Monday, with the aim of turning themselves in to U.S. border agents.

The scenes come as Title 42 is set to expire on Thursday. The policy, implemented in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has allowed U.S. authorities to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants to Mexico without the chance to seek U.S. asylum.

The Democratic administration of President Joe Biden is allowing the measure to lapse, as the broader COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

Biden, who is seeking reelection in 2024, has struggled with the record numbers of migrants arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border. His public approval ratings stood at 40% in recent days, close to the lowest level since he took office in 2021, with Americans unhappy about his handling of immigration and inflation, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

Republicans have criticized him for rolling back many of the more restrictive policies of Republican former President Donald Trump, the leading candidate for his party's nomination.

While Biden has kept Title 42 in place until now, not all migrants caught crossing the border illegally have been expelled, with more than half in recent months allowed into the U.S. to pursue their immigration cases.

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Mexico also accepts just certain nationalities and limits the migrants it takes in based on capacity.

In recent weeks, illegal border crossings have climbed and more migrants are coming in the hopes they will now be allowed to apply for asylum in the United States after Title 42 ends, leaving U.S. border cities struggling to provide housing and transportation to the thousands arriving each day.

To discourage illegal crossings, the Biden administration plans to issue a sweeping new regulation this week that would deny asylum to most migrants caught crossing if they passed through Mexico or other countries en route to the U.S. or failed to use other U.S. legal pathways.

The administration aims to quickly screen migrants for asylum under the new standard and, if they fail, deport them.

However, limited U.S. resources to deport migrants could stifle the effectiveness of the measure, which mirrors similar Trump policies that were blocked in court. The new rule is also expected to face legal challenges.

Asylum officers were being trained on the new standard on Tuesday but some staffers have pushed back for its hasty rollout and others are concerned it undercuts access to asylum services, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

"People are livid," said one Department of Homeland Security official, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

'MAXED OUT' SHELTERS

El Paso has been among border spots where crossings have risen even as U.S. authorities have deployed more personnel.

Men in civilian clothes handled out Spanish-language flyers in downtown El Paso on Tuesday morning calling on migrants to head to the nearest U.S. Border Patrol station for processing, migrants said.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not respond to requests for comment. But Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council representing U.S. border agents, confirmed that agents distributed the handouts.

Camille Castillo, director of the El Paso Coalition for the Homeless said most local shelters are already "maxed out."

Daniel Mena, a recently arrived Venezuelan migrant standing near the Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso, said on Tuesday morning that he would not turn himself because he was worried the U.S. might deport him.

But hours later, after seeing other migrants return with U.S. paperwork, he lined up at a Border Patrol station.

"I decided to go for it," Mena said.

(Reporting by Julio-Cesar Chavez in El Paso, Texas, Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico City, and Ted Hesson in Washington; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Writing by Ted Hesson; Editing by Mica Rosenberg and Deepa Babington)
Federal agents fanned out on the streets of El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, seeking out migrants who have been gathering at shelters and churches in the southern border town hoping to be able to stay in the United States ahead of the expiration of a Trump-era border-control policy that goes away at the end of the day Thursday.

The enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security came as a new surge of migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and elsewhere rush to the U.S.-Mexico border and Customs and Border Protections insistence that no one will be allowed through a U.S. port of entry without an appointment via its new CBP One app.

Despite such assertions, migrants have continue to surge to the border, hoping to beat Thursdays deadline and tougher immigration enforcement that could bar re-entry or a chance to apply for asylum for five years.

There are media reports in Mexico that there might be around 600,000 migrants heading to the border, July Rodriguez, the director of Support for Venezuelan Migrants, told the Miami Herald in an interview from Mexico City.

This is a big crisis. No one knows what is going to happen the day after the end of Title 42, she said. This is getting out of hand.

In recent days, advocates working with migrants from Venezuela and Haiti have tried to do outreach, warning them that the border isnt open and they face expulsions from the United States. But many of their efforts have fallen on deaf ears.

Rodriguez said there are currently waves of migrants headed to the U.S. from Colombia as well as from Chiapas, a Mexican state that borders Guatemala. Most of those migrants are concentrated near the border town of Tapachula and are trying to obtain from Mexicos National Migration Institute the 45-day migration status that would allow them to travel toward Ciudad Juarez. That would bring them across the border from El Paso.

But they are not all in Chiapas, Rodriguez said. There is also a large number of them already walking or riding toward the border.

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After three years, Title 42, the public-health authority invoked by the Trump administration at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to quickly expel migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, will go away  along with other coronavirus public-health emergency rules.

The pending end of the controversial border policy has led to fears that border towns in both Mexico and the U.S. will be overwhelmed as migrants become convinced that the border is now open.

Already, migrants who have made their way into Juarez are camping or lining up in informal areas hoping to cross into the U.S. ahead of the expiration, which is set to bring tougher enforcement laws.

As we have said repeatedly, individuals who do not have a lawful basis to remain will be removed, Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said about migrants gathered on the U.S. side. Individuals should not listen to the lies of smugglers and instead use lawful pathways to protection.

The U.S. recently dispatched 1,500 active-duty troops to the border to join 2,500 National Guards already there.

Rodriguez, who heads the nongovernmental organization focused on helping Venezuelans, said migrants are desperate to reach the U.S. border.

They are suffering a great deal of anxiety, despite our efforts to explain to them the different alternatives they can find in Mexico to ask for asylum or to ask for a CBP One appointment so they dont run risks at the border, where they can be kidnapped or robbed or become extortion victims. They are saying, I am not going to stay here. Ill get to the United States,  Rodriguez said.

There are a lot of rumors that people are being able to get into the United States and they believe that people are lying when they say that the border is closed, she added. And there is very little we can do about that. We can do no more than to try to keep informing them of what the real situation is.

In addition to the migrants in Mexico, Rodriguez said her organization has been informed that there is a large wave headed toward the border in Colombia, and that the Darien Gap  the jungle between Colombia and Panama where many migrants have lost their lives trying to cross  is full.

A large number of them set out a few weeks back with the idea of getting to the border by May 11 and crossing the border, she said. Others believe that the end of Title 42 will actually open the border and that they will be able to enter the following day. So we are seeing that El Darien is full of people and this has been the case for many weeks now. And most of those that were there when the rush began are already here in Mexico. They all think they will be able to cross.

The Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Republican governors and lawmakers, has insisted that it is prepared for the end of Title 42. Theyve announced several new policies that they say are aimed at curbing the flow of migration at the border.

We do expect to see an increase in migrants arriving at the border, a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. But we do believe over time that these programs that expand legal pathways, that increase consequences for irregular migration, will have a sustainable and longstanding impact on our flows.

The administration plans to open regional processing centers, initially in Guatemala and Colombia, in partnership with international organizations to prescreen individuals eligibility for a lawful pathway to the U.S.  a centerpiece of the administrations post-Title 42 plan, a second administration official said.

The administration also announced that CBP One will be expanded to allow for more appointments, to about 1,000 each day, and to provide additional time to complete requests and prioritize migrants who have been waiting the longest.

We do expect the initial, early days to include an increase in migration, the second official said, noting that over 4,000 personnel  including 1,000 law enforcement officers, 1,500 military personnel, and a record number of private contractors  have been deployed to the border to assist with the surge. We have been preparing for this for over two years now.

In a statement, CBP said that scheduling an appointment in CBP One provides a safe, orderly, and humane process for noncitizens to access ports of entry rather than attempting to enter the United States irregularly.

Asylum seekers who try to enter the U.S. without permission will face expedited removal and a re-entry ban, immigration officials have warned. In some cases, they will be deported to their home country, and in others back to Mexico, under an agreement with the Mexican government.

Deportations and a ban on re-entering the U.S. will apply to those who attempt to cross either by land at the U.S.-Mexico border or by sea through the Florida Straits or Puerto Ricos Mona Passage. Such migrants will be processed under whats known as Title 8, which bars re-entry into the U.S. for at least five years.

U.S. officials argue that such smuggling ventures are risky and put migrants lives at risk. They said they plan to expand legal pathways into the U.S. such as employment-based visa and family reunification, particular for Cubans and Haitians.

In January, the administration launched a two-year humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. Already provided to Venezuelan nationals, the program allows individuals from the four countries to legally fly to the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor and a valid passport.

Immigration advocates have said that while Title 42 should go away, it should not be replaced with policies that discourage or ban people from seeking asylum at the U.S. border or relies on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and surveillance.

Title 42 should never have been implemented in the first place, and the Biden administrations continuation of the policy for over two years has been shameful, said Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network. Now that it is finally ending this week, we are again making it clear: The administration must end Title 42 without relying on immigration detention and surveillance and restore access to our borders so people can seek safety and opportunity with dignity and respect.
The Herald-Leader is profiling the major candidates for the GOP nomination for Kentucky governor. Read the other profiles at Kentucky.com in coming days.

Mike Harmon knows hes a long-shot in his race to become Kentuckys next governor.

But the way he sees it, hes been a long-shot in every race hes run.

It took him three tries before he was finally elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2003, making him the first Republican to represent his county in 102 years.

And when he first ran for auditor in 2015? He loves to retell that tale.

I know youve probably heard the story 100 times, Harmon said. You know, I beat (incumbent Democratic Auditor) Adam Edelen. I only had $45,000, going up against him, who had $800,000. (MSNBC host) Rachel Maddow had described him as the next up-and-coming Southern Democrat compared to Bill Clinton. And, you know, I won, became the first Republican since 1967 to be elected to that spot.

With more than two decades in state government, Harmon says hes the most experienced candidate running in the 12-person GOP field  and likely the most conservative, too.

Harmon was the first to declare his intent to run for governor back in 2021, but he still heads into the final stretch of the primary with low poll numbers and few donations. Hes raised just $85,000 and recent polling shows his support among voter between 1.7% and 5%. Both figures are low enough to lead to his omission from recent televised debates.

Still, Harmon sees a lane for himself, consisting of the Liberty-minded, evangelical Christians and the average, day-to-day person that gets up, goes to work every day, they dont want to worry about politics.

Heres the complete list of candidates running for Kentucky governor in 2023

Harmon on the issues:

Eliminate state income tax: Harmon applauds the state legislature for working toward a 0% state personal income tax. Harmon supports the incremental approach the legislature has chosen and believes this will make Kentucky more competitive with states like Texas, Florida and neighboring Tennessee.

Treat all of Kentuckys regions equally: Harmon said no matter where he travels in Kentucky, people tell him their region feels forgotten. We need to make sure we dont forget any part of the state or any one in the state, with setting our priorities, setting our infrastructure, setting our economic development, he said.

Education: Harmon said he wants to improve parental empowerment in schools, get rid of current Commissioner of Education Jason Glass and restructure the state Board of Education to include people connected to homeschooling, private schools and Christian schools. He also supports school choice in which dollars would follow a student to their chosen school; Harmon acknowledges would require the passage of constitutional amendments to make a reality in Kentucky.

Abortion: Harmon supports Kentuckys abortion ban as-is, which only allows for abortions in the event of medical emergencies that threaten the pregnant persons life. While rape and incest are tragic circumstances, any resulting pregnancy is still a life and should be protected, he said.

LGBTQ legislation: Harmon supports Senate Bill 150, passed by the 2023 General Assembly. The bill bans gender-affirming care for kids under 18, lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation, prevents trans students from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity and stops school districts from requiring teachers use a students pronouns if they dont align with their sex assigned at birth. Harmon calls the bill the save our children omnibus bill. In schools, specifically, theres no need to be talking about sexuality. Whether its heterosexual or homosexual or anything like that. Let kids continue to be innocent.

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Kentucky is electing more than just governor in 2023. Meet the down-ballot candidates

Who is supporting Harmons bid?

Harmon is proud of his endorsements from Kentucky Right to Life Victory PAC and Northern Kentucky Right to Life PAC, two of the states leading anti-abortion groups. (Both organizations endorse multiple candidates who meet their criteria; Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles are also endorsed by both groups.)

Harmon was the only gubernatorial candidate endorsed by Kentuckians for Freedom, a group that self-describes on its website as a small group of concerned citizens that have been publishing a presidential newsletter to inform Americans about main political issues since the 2008 Presidential election. (The same voter guide lists Gov. Andy Beshear as pro-homosexual because he is backed by the PAC of the Fairness Campaign, a Kentucky LGBTQ rights organization.)

Rep. Daniel Elliott, who was elected to Harmons seat after he became auditor, has endorsed the campaign.

Harmon said he has not actively recruited endorsements from officials because his role as state auditor creates somewhat of an ethical dilemma.

What Harmons opponents are saying:

As the undisputed dad joke king of Kentucky politics, Harmons opponents dont have much bad to say about the affable auditor.

But candidate Eric Deters, a suspended Northern Kentucky attorney running to the far-right of the field, managed to fill a 55-second YouTube video about Harmon.

This is going to be brief because I dont have much to say, Deters says. Out on the campaign trail, Ive got to meet Mike Harmon, our state auditor. Hes a nice guy. ... This guy goes to every single possible event there is. How can you do that and serve people of Kentucky full-time as the state auditor?

Why Harmon says he is best to take on Beshear:

Harmon believes hes the best candidate to beat Beshear because hes the only one in the field who has already bested a high-profile Democrat at the top of their game.

Weve got a lot of great candidates. Any of them would be better than what weve got now, Harmon said of the Republican field. But, Im probably the most relatable of those that we have in this race currently even though theyre all wonderful. And Ive said Ill travel two hours to talk to two people, and Ive done that more times than I care to mention. I mean, I have, I really have. ... People like to have somebody that they feel comfortable in speaking with.

Harmon also said he uses his jokes as a way to get folks feeling comfortable enough with him so they can ask truly serious questions about the issues.

Harmon quick facts:

Name: Mike Harmon

Age: 56

City of residence: Junction City, Boyle County

Previous political/public experience: Two-term Kentucky auditor of public accounts, 13 years in the Kentucky House of Representatives

Professional experience: Mortgage and insurance industry professional

Learn more: www.mikeharmon.com, Mike Harmon for Governor on YouTube and Facebook, @MikeHarmonKY on Twitter

Quote: Some people are defined on the office that they hold; Im not defined by the office I hold. I truly believe I can  I truly believe I will  win this race. But if I dont, my world doesnt end. Im not a polished politician, even though Ive been serving longer than anyone thats running in this race. But if you want someone that loves the Lord and loves his family and loves this country, and in that order, well, I hope you think of me, Mike Harmon. And if you want someone whos fought for your freedom, your liberty, your conservative values, really, all my life, but politically for 20-plus years, well, I hope you think of me.

Heres the complete list of candidates running for Kentucky governor in 2023

Kentucky is electing more than just governor in 2023. Meet the down-ballot candidates
A millionaire says hes decided to sell his jet over concerns about how the aircraft was impacting the environment.

Georgia businessman Stephen Prince told Insider that the experience of flying private was so addictive that he compared it to using cocaine. Dont do it unless youre ready to get addicted to it, he told the outlet. Because it is absolutely addictive.

More from Robb Report

But upon learning about the environmental impact of jets, Princewho made most of his fortune through his ownership of National Business Products, which prints plastic business cardstold Insider he decided to sell his Cessna 650, which burns through about 241 gallons of fuel per hour.

I get on my plane and Ill spew ten times as much carbon into the atmosphere as I do when I get on a first-class flight on Delta or American Airlines, he told the outlet. Its just unconscionable  Its incredibly selfish.

Its a major turnaround for someone whod previously owned part or all of three private aircraft. He bought his first jeta Mitsubishi MU-2with a friend, but due to scheduling conflicts the pair encountered, he purchased a Cessna 560. Now, hes the sole owner of a twelve-seat Cessna 650, which he says will be his last.

The news will be welcome to environmental activists, who in recent years have campaigned to get ultra-high-net-worth people to stop using private flights altogether. The median net worth of a full and fractional private jet owner is $190 million and $140 million respectively, according to a study recently published by left-leaning think tank Patriotic Millionaires and the Institute for Policy Studies.

Another 2021 study from the European nongovernmental organization Transport & Energy found that just one percent of people in the world produce 50 percent of global aviation emissions. Robb Report has also reported on studies that revealed how flying private can produce eight times more emissions per person than on commercial carriers, and that private aviation has contributed 37.1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.



A group of business-aviation leaders have committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Robb Report has reported.

Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
The Milwaukee man who killed two people in a span of 20 minutes while out on bail last year was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison.

Allen Grant, 62, received 25 years in prison for each of the two counts of first-degree reckless homicide to be served consecutively, according to online court records. He also must serve 20 years of extended supervision.

Grant pleaded guilty to the two charges in April. At the time, other charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and bail jumping were dismissed, but read into the record.

More: Wisconsin bail referendum questions: What they're about, who supports them and who could be most affected by them?

According to the criminal complaint, Grant got into an argument with his downstairs neighbor, Eduardo Hernandez, 50, in the 6500 block of West Carmen Avenue around 9 p.m. on July 8.

Hernandez's longtime girlfriend, Cynthia Walker, and their son heard the two men arguing in the hallway. Walker told police she opened her apartment door and saw Grant shove Hernandez to the floor, then draw a gun. As she closed the door, she heard several shots.

She and her son saw Grant leave the duplex and get into an older Cadillac he was known to drive.

About 20 minutes later, neighbors saw a similar car park in front of a home in the 2400 block of North 44th Street, and an older Black male exit and walk up to a porch and fire a shot.

Police later found Walker, 66, dead on the porch from a single gunshot to the head. Her daughter told police her mother moved in about a month earlier from the West Carmen Avenue address she had shared with Grant. The mother left because the couple had developed problems.

More: Wisconsin voters change the state's constitution on cash bail. Here's what the decision means.

Police found Grant about four hours later inside a 1993 Cadillac DeVille that had crashed and come to rest on its roof in the 4600 block of North 76th Street. Inside the car, detectives found a 9mm handgun and a spent casing of the same brand found near Walker's body.

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Grant was out on bail at the time after being charged in March 2022 with fleeing and eluding, and possessing a gun as a felon. According to a criminal complaint in that matter, police saw Grant driving 56 mph in a 30 mph area of West Mill Road in a Mercury Grand Marquis. He refused to stop when officers activated their lights and siren, weaving though cars and crossing into oncoming traffic.

The officers ended the pursuit, but saw Grant crash into a light pole and run from the scene. When they caught him, he smelled strongly of alcohol and had a different 9mm handgun in his pocket.

Grant also refused to take a breath test after his arrest, and his license was revoked for a year.

More: Bail for Waukesha parade suspect Darrell Brooks was lower than average, analysis shows

His bail was set at $10,000 after he was charged. Grant's attorney argued for a lower bail on March 18. Circuit Judge Milton Childs reduced his bail to $1,000 and Walker posted that amount on April 4, according to court records.

Grant will be in court again on June 2 for a restitution hearing for the double homicide.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man get 50 years for killing 2 people while out on bail
A Mims woman, who Brevard sheriffs investigators said fatally shot a friend while showing off a loaded .38 Special she kept by the nightstand, will face a judge next month.

Brevard County Sheriff's Office patrol cars.

Alice Faye McClure, 36, was charged with manslaughter in connection with the April 18 fatal shooting of Heather Bowen, no age given, at McClures home in the 4100 block of Cinnamon Teal Drive.

Investigators reviewed statements from McClure and others along with the medical examiner over the course of several weeks before filing charges in the case. McClure was arrested May 1 and booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex. She posted a $15,000 bond and was released, jail records showed.

Investigators reported that the shooting happened as the two women  who met five years ago and frequently traveled to a South Carolina nudist colony  apparently talked about self-defense, court records show.

The shooting incident unfolded shortly after McClure got up about 4:30 a.m. and made her boyfriend coffee before he left for work. She then returned to her room to read a book. She came back out of her room and found Heather Bowen, 36, sitting up playing video games.

A short time late the two women struck up a conversation and Bowen  visiting with her boyfriend  talked about keeping a knife beneath her pillow, reports show. McClure told Bowen she no longer needed to do that since she kept a gun by her bed now, then went into her master bedroom to retrieve the firearm.

McClure told sheriffs agents that she was holding the weapon when it slipped from her hand, causing her to grip the gun, squeezing the trigger.

The single round struck Bowen in the forehead as she sat on the couch, court records show.

Deputies arrived within moments at the Hog Valley neighborhood after Bowens boyfriend called 911 for help.

Hello  my girlfriend has been shot, the man told dispatchers. Her friend was showing her a gun  she said it went off, he said, according to court records. Bowen was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne where she was pronounced dead two days later.

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McClure, whose twin children, 2, were also in the home, told investigators that she had had training with the weapon and had a concealed carry permit while living in Ohio.

McClure will appear before a judge June 1 for an arraignment.

J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard woman faces manslaughter charge in shooting death of friend
A convicted child sex offender is accused of killing a 15-year-old girl and hiding her body in a dumpster, Illinois police say.

Timothy Doll, 29, was in a dating relationship with the high school victim, Gracie Sasso-Cleveland, according to the DeKalb Police Department. He has now been charged with murder, among other charges.

Hes a predator, and he sought out this 15 year old, and snuffed her life out, DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd told WLS.

Gracie was last seen Thursday, May 4, and DeKalb officers were notified Saturday about her disappearance. Phone records indicated she had been at a home in DeKalb, according to police.

On Sunday, authorities found Gracies body in a dumpster on the same property where phone records had pinged her. The discovery was made near Northern Illinois Universitys campus.

Doll, a registered sex offender, was arrested Sunday and formally charged Monday. Police said he killed Gracie as they were arguing.

He held the victim down and suffocated her with a pillow until she lost consciousness, to which she did not recover, police said. He later put her body in the dumpster, removed her personal items from his apartment and threw her phone away in the garbage at another location.

Gracies cause of death was listed as asphyxiation, the coroners office ruled.

Doll was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sex abuse, concealment of a homicide, aggravated domestic battery, two counts of obstruction of justice, unlawful restraint and unlawful communication by a child sex offender.

Loved ones said during a vigil Monday that Gracie was a very loving, loyal girl, WREX reported.

She fought to her last breath. She was the sweetest soul in the world and all she ever wanted was to give love and be loved, Jessica Schlick told WREX.

Shaw Local reported that Gracie was a freshman at DeKalb High School.

It is with sadness that I share the news today that the students and staff of DeKalb High School, along with the entire District 428, experienced a tragedy today with the death of one of our freshman students, school district Superintendent Minerva Garcia-Sanchez said in an email to families, according to Shaw Local. All of us are grieving this tragic loss.

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Loved ones said in a GoFundMe they hope to plan a Sweet Sixteen funeral for Gracie to embrace happiness and good memories.

Gracie was an extremely amazing makeup artist, always on point with her outfits and hair, and she also played the violin, according to the GoFundMe. Gracie never (met) ... an animal she didnt love immediately and want to keep. She was a blessing as a sister, a daughter, and a friend to all.

DeKalb is about 65 miles west of Chicago.

18-year-old star athlete found dead in home, Oklahoma cops say. Ex-boyfriend arrested

Missing teen was sex trafficked to dozens after meeting Ohio man on dating app, feds say

Missing 17-year-old girl is found frozen to death near crashed car, Wisconsin cops say
A man who shot a friend at a Gulfport restaurant then asked the bartender to call 911 will spend the next 37 years in prison.

Antonio Jamar James, 24, of Columbia, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of Deontravies Williamson.

The shooting happened at Skeeters Bar & Grill February 7, 2021 at around 11:35 p.m. The restaurants video surveillance of the parking lot and indoors established what happened.

James, his brother and Williamson arrived in the same car. Williamson and James brother got out of the car and started arguing.

Video surveillance showed the brother push and then punch the victim in the parking lot. At the same time, the defendant is seen exiting the vehicle with a handgun, said Assistant District Attorney Matthew D. Burrell, who prosecuted the case.

James stepped between his brother and Williamson and shot the victim in the face, according to Gulfport Police investigators.

After asking the bartender to call 911, James and his brother left the restaurant without ever trying to assist the victim.

U.S. Marshals later arrested James and his brother in Marion County, charging James with murder and his brother with accessory to murder after the fact.

The defendants brother was arrested for assisting the defendant in leaving the scene, and he previously entered a guilty plea to accessory after the fact to murder and is currently pending sentencing, Burrell said.

During the plea and the sentencing, the defendant apologized for his actions, according to a release from the district attorneys office. He told the court he thought the victim had a gun and was going to use it on his brother, so he shot the victim.

Judge Lisa Dodson told the defendant his decision to use a gun in a fight changed the lives of two families. The Judge then sentenced the defendant to a total of 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and suspended three years, leaving 37 years to serve.

Unfortunately, this is another senseless killing where a 21-year-old is dead and another 22- year-old [at the time of the incident] will spend the next 37 years of his life in prison with no probation or parole, said District Attorney Crosby Parker. From all indications, these two individuals were friends, and the defendants knee-jerk, in the moment, reaction leaves two families without their sons. Nothing was gained and everything was lost.
The Republican-controlled Missouri House on Tuesday passed legislation that would make it harder for Missouri voters to approve amendments to the state constitution.

The constitutional amendment, which passed by a vote of 107-55, would increase the number of votes required for a constitutional amendment to pass on the ballot  from more than 50% to at least 57%. Under the plan, several amendments recently passed by voters, including last years measure to legalize recreational marijuana, which received 53% support statewide, would have failed.

It comes as abortion rights groups are pushing to restore abortion access at the ballot box after the procedure was almost entirely banned in Missouri last year.

I just hope the constitution is something sacred, said state Rep. Mike Henderson, a Bonne Terre Republican who sponsored the legislation. Missouris right now is an ever-growing document.

The proposal, which was the result of negotiations between the two chambers of the General Assembly, now heads to the Senate with four days left in the legislative session. If passed by both chambers, it would have to be approved by voters in the November 2024 election unless Missouri Gov. Mike Parson calls an earlier special election.

Under the new plan, both chambers of the General Assembly, which have strong GOP supermajorities, would also need 57% of the vote to place an amendment on the ballot. Lawmakers would be barred from changing voter-approved laws for at least three years unless they get 57% approval from both chambers.

The proposal is part of an onslaught of GOP-led bills filed this year that would raise the threshold for voters to pass citizen-led ballot measures, called initiative petitions. It comes after Missouri voters approved several liberal-leaning policies through changes to the constitution  many of which would not have passed under the proposed legislation.

Ballot initiatives since 2018 have led Missouri voters to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana, overturn a right-to-work law  which would have prevented unions from requiring employees to pay union dues  and expand eligibility for Medicaid.

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I think this is very anti-voter, state Rep. Robert Sauls, an Independence Democrat, said Tuesday. I dont think this is what the people want.

The new version of the legislation strips a first-in-the-nation provision passed by the Senate last month that would have required a majority of the states eight congressional districts to amend the constitution.

Legal experts and some lawmakers had argued that the congressional district requirement would have violated the U.S. Constitution and given rural residents more power. Henderson said Tuesday that negotiators agreed to strip the provision after meeting with a number of attorneys about whether it was constitutional.

Republicans have made whittling away at the initiative petition process a major priority this year, arguing that the Missouri Constitution has been too easy to change. Some have compared the document to a thick book, inundated with policies that belong in state law, not the constitution.

State Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican, pushed back on arguments that the plan would restrict peoples voting power. He touted the provisions that place voting limits on the legislature.

The constitution, when done well, limits the authority of the government and thats what this does, he said Tuesday.

While Republicans say its been too easy to change the state constitution, data provided to The Star earlier this year shows that voters have approved only 40.6% of the 69 citizen-driven initiative petitions placed on the ballot between 1910 and 2022.

A coalition of Missouri conservatives have also pushed back against the proposal, saying it infringes on voters freedom to place checks on the legislature.

Republicans in the Senate should stand up for conservative values and filibuster the motion, said Carl Bearden, a Republican who served as speaker pro tem in the Missouri House from 2005 to 2007. Bearden called on lawmakers to block this government power grab now and forever.

Defenders of the current ballot measure process have framed the legislation as an attack on democracy. They say it takes away voters ability to directly participate in the democratic process.

House Democrats also criticized the deceptive ballot language that would be placed in front of voters, saying that Republicans were using confusing ballot candy to get voters to agree to take away their voting power.

The proposed ballot initiative would ask Missourians to Allow only U.S. citizens to vote on ballot measures, despite the fact that Missouri law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens.

When they show up at the ballot, people are going to be misled, state Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said Tuesday. Theres an old saying that if you put icing on dog poop, you dont have a birthday cake. You just have dog poop with icing on it.
A federal magistrate judge on Tuesday considered whether to send a Blue Springs man to jail for violating his bond in his Capitol riot case after he was caught scaling a building while possessing knives and razor blades.

But after hearing testimony in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya decided to instead grant John George Todd IIIs request to move to South Carolina to live with his sister and her husband while he awaits his trial later this year.

Upadhyaya swore in Kristen and Christopher Revels as Todds third-party custodians and transferred his pre-trial supervision from the Western District of Missouri to the District of South Carolina.

Todd will be restricted to his residence at all times except for activities such as employment, education, religious services, medical or mental health treatment and court appearances, according to the judges ruling.

Todd, 33, had been free on a personal recognizance bond since his May 2022 arrest in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. Prosecutors allege he was caught on video making threatening remarks to police during the riot.

He faces four misdemeanor counts related to the breach: entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Todd has declined to accept a plea bargain, and a bench trial is scheduled for Oct. 16.

Prosecutors said Todd should be sent to jail pending trial for violating his conditions of release that prohibited him from possessing any firearms or weapons or consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.

Specifically, the defendant had contact with local law enforcement, while experiencing suicidal ideations and was found to have both razor blades and knives on his person, said a document filed April 25 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. More concerningly, the defendant also scaled the side of a building to try to gain access to a person with whom he was upset.

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Todd also was intoxicated at the time, prosecutors said.

The government said that while this incident alone is disturbing, this is not the only transgression in this case.

...The defendant has previously violated his conditions, unlawfully possessing a firearm while experiencing acute mental health concerns. As a result of this incident, the defendant was ordered to undergo medical or psychiatric treatment.

The episode involving the firearm possession occurred in September 2022, the government said, and the case involving the razor blades and knives was on April 12.

While it appreciates the defendants mental health condition(s), the government said, the issue the court now faces is whether Todd violated his conditions of release  and if he did, whether his current state of supervision remains appropriate.

Respectfully, it does not.

In its filing, the government said the court also must consider whether any conditions of release would assure that Todd would not flee or pose a danger to other people or the community, or whether he is unlikely to abide by any conditions of release.

Here, over the course of approximately six months, the defendant possessed multiple weapons, appeared to stalk another civilian, and threatened his own life, necessitating response by local law enforcement, the government said.

Those concerns, it said, must be considered with the backdrop of Todds pending criminal charges involving the Capitol breach.

During the riot, while in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building, the defendant screamed, near law enforcement, I swear to G-d, Ill hip toss your ass into the f--- crowd, mother ---! the governments filing said. He appeared to then smoke a cigarette while in the Rotunda. The seriousness of this crime is not to be understated. All in all, the defendants prolonged and repeated violations raise substantial concern about his compliance with pretrial release.

In an April 27 response, Todds attorney, John Pierce  who has represented more than 20 Capitol riot defendants, including QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley  said Todd is an Afghanistan combat veteran who is dealing with combat-related PTSD.

Mr. Todd has suffered several traumatic bouts of mental health episodes and has been continuously under the care of Veterans Administration (VA) mental health counselors and treatment physicians, Pierce said.

He described Todds actions on April 12 as a minor incident that involved a domestic issue and alcohol use.

Pierce said Todd was getting medical and mental health treatment at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and is doing well under the circumstances, with a comprehensive plan for outpatient recovery.

Mr. Todds doctors do not believe Mr. Todd is a threat to himself or others at the present time, Pierce said. Incarceration would only exacerbate Mr. Todds health and mental health problems.

Pierce said Todd was not charged with any criminal conduct in the April 12 case but instead taken to a mental health facility.

Mr. Todd did possess a knife and/or razor blade on that date; but these instruments were in Mr. Todds pockets and were not used, brandished or presented in any way as weapons, Pierce said. Incarcerating Todd before his trial, Pierce said, would pose the serious risk of over punishing Mr. Todd, even in the event of possible conviction in this matter.

Todds court filing included letters of support from Kristen and Christopher Revels, who pleaded with the judge not to put Todd in jail. They said they were willing to let him move in with them and help him get the treatment he needed.

Kristen Revels wrote that Todd was a combat Marine in Afghanistan who developed PTSD as a result of seeing friends blown up in front of him and witnessing their deaths.

Unfortunately, due to the behaviors John had in trying to cope with these traumas he was discharged, other than honorably, she wrote. Instead of his command or supervisor reaching out and ensuring he had the support he needed after returning from combat, they tossed him out and stripped him of the benefits he needed to get the care and treatment that would aid him in healing.

In recent months, Kristen Revels said, Todd had finally been able to start receiving assistance from the VA. However, he did not, nor has he had the support system around him needed to heal and thrive, she said.

She said she and her husband, both military veterans, also had experienced PTSD from combat and we have an amazing VA that has done wonders in learning to cope and heal from our trauma.

John will be employed by my husband and closely supervised, he will have the ability to get to and from appointments needed to continue treatment for his PTSD correlated to his military service while in the United States Marine Corps, Revels said. Incarceration at this time in Johns mental health treatment would be a complete disservice to him as a veteran who was disabled due to his service.

In a motion filed Tuesday morning, Pierce said the Revels have a roughly two-acre farm where they raise chickens, goats and pigs. The property includes an auto body shop, where Todd would work, he said, and the local Veterans Administration and the South Carolina pre-trial services staff would provide treatment and supervision.

Most of all, this would provide a strong separation from all of the influences, people, memories, or the like that could hinder his healing, Pierce said. It would provide a fresh venue for a fresh start.
The Columbia, Missouri, police officer apparently shown on video punching a restrained man doesnt deserve to be a peace officer. And if he or any other officer on the scene failed to report the use of force incident to higher-ups, thats all the more reason to relieve the unidentified officer and possibly others of their duties.

Cover-up, anyone?

Investigators with the Boone County Sheriffs Department will determine if criminal charges are warranted in this case. We welcome any independent or internal investigation that could unearth a violation of department policy or the law.

We also call on federal authorities to take a hard look into the officers actions. We must know if the officer violated the civil rights of the man he sucker punched.

In a video circulating online, we watch as a man in a Columbia Police Department uniform repeatedly punches a man directly in the face  by our count, hes struck at least five times, drawing blood almost immediately. Never mind that another officer already had the man pinned down and restrained after responding to a disturbance outside a bar early Sunday, police officials said.

Hes punching him in the face, someone is heard saying off camera on the video. Oh, my God.

As with any use-of-force claim, officers involved are afforded due process. But the short video we viewed is damning  and shocking.

By the very nature of the job, police work is difficult. But that does not excuse the behavior the officer displayed on video. He showed little regard for the safety of his fellow human being.

Yes, police are allowed to use force against suspects who resist arrest. But law enforcement officials are held to a different standard from most and must operate with the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.

Clearly, that isnt the case here.

In a statement released Monday, Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones said officers are ethically bound to report or intervene when excessive force is used, but that did not occur in this case. As best we can tell, the incident came to light only after a private citizen posted the disturbing video online.

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We have a high expectation that officers act appropriately when using force, and they are expected to intervene when they observe force that is not to these standards, Jones wrote. I will enforce that expectation.

Two police officers are under investigation for their role in the use-of-force incident, Jones said. Good.

We are watching developments closely. Will officers involved in pummeling a restrained man avoid accountability or will justice prevail? Chief Jones and the Columbia Police Department are on the clock.

The police chief thanked bystanders for bringing to light the unacceptable conduct. Unless the video is unbelievably misleading, the offending officers have no business in law enforcement.

Police use of force must be reasonable, Jones said

And we wholeheartedly agree.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mitch McConnell recently offered his most blunt remarks yet on former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

He said he was disturbed by Carlson's "followers in the Congress as well as in the country."

He also said the "party of Ronald Reagan is coming back" because of the war in Ukraine.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made clear this week that he's no fan of Tucker Carlson.

Though the Kentucky Republican has criticized the recently-fired Fox News host before, McConnell has typically opted to make those criticisms indirectly.

But in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday, McConnell said he was disturbed by Carlson's following in the congressional GOP with respect to the war in Ukraine and even bragged about being one of the few Republicans to criticize him.

"At the risk of patting myself on the back, not many Republicans went after Tucker Carlson, but I did," McConnell told Bloomberg. "I think Carlson had developed a coterie of followers in the Congress as well as in the country that I found disturbing."

In addition to Ukraine, McConnell has been critical of Carlson's skewed depiction of the events of January 6, 2021.

At a March press conference, he began his remarks by holding up a letter from the Capitol Police Chief calling Carlson's depiction of security footage from January 6 as "offensive and misleading."

The Senate minority leader said in that same interview that he believes there's "enough support within Congress to sustain" US support for Ukraine  of which Carlson had been a key critic  for "a good deal longer."

McConnell also said he sensed a shift in his party away from former President Donald Trump, who broke with longstanding Republican orthodoxy on foreign policy, as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

"I do think the party of Ronald Reagan is coming back here," said McConnell. "I think the one good thing that's come out of this is a renewed belief that national security is important."

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Despite McConnell's comments, Carlson continues to enjoy warm relations with many in the Republican Party.

Last week, after a leaked text message from Carlson revealed that he had made racially-tinged remarks, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio defended the former Fox News host, who he called a personal friend.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, another skeptic of US aid to Ukraine and an ally of Carlson's said he wished the Fox News host well even after being informed of the contents of the text.

"I wish Tucker the best," said Hawley. "I'm not gonna comment on his texts, and emails, and whatever else, Snapchat, that's next."

And Trump continues to be the overwhelming frontrunner for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2024, according to averages of recent polling.

Note: May 9, 2023  This article has been updated to reflect that McConnell was primarily referring to Tucker Carlson's views on Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
At least 11 protesters were arrested as they clashed with authorities in New York City on Monday night, during demonstrations over the killing of Jordan Neely, who was choked to death on the F train earlier this month.

Crowds of protesters gathered outside the subway station in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood where Neely was killed on May 1, CBS New York reported. Authorities stopped traffic in the surrounding area and made several arrests, taking some protesters into custody who were bleeding from their heads, according to the news station. Police estimated that more than 150 people were involved in the demonstration.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey acknowledged protesters' right to demonstrate over "the senseless death" of Neely, but said at a news conference late on Monday that people in the crowd had broken the law, including by bringing weapons and dangerous substances to the demonstration. Maddrey noted specifically that authorities found a Molotov cocktail at the intersection where the crowd had gathered to protest.

This is a Molotov Cocktail that was found at tonights protest. We are committed to ensuring everyones right to protest. Violence has no place in civic demonstration. These actions will never be tolerated & anyone bringing weapons or dangerous substances will be arrested. https://t.co/5eS5A525SQ pic.twitter.com/VMh14FQQSD  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 9, 2023

For days, protesters have been calling for the arrest of Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old student and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who, in video footage lasting nearly three minutes, can be seen placing Neely in the chokehold that led to his death. Although the New York City medical examiner formally ruled 30-year-old Neely's death a homicide, Penny has not been criminally charged in the killing. The former Marine was questioned by police, but released the same day.

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The case is expected to go before a grand jury this week, as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg faces growing pressure to file criminal charges against Penny. The grand jury will determine whether or not to bring charges.

Protesters have said they will continue to demonstrate until Penny is arrested. Monday's demonstration over Neely's death followed another over the weekend inside a subway station at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Authorities say a crowd of about 100 people stormed the station, with some jumping onto the subway tracks in protest. At least 12 people were arrested during the demonstration, where multiple officers were injured, and police later released photos of six other alleged protesters wanted for criminal trespassing in connection with the incident.

Neely, a homeless man who performed in New York City as a Michael Jackson impersonator, had a history of mental illness as well as an arrest record, sources previously told CBS New York. Witnesses and Penny's attorney said that Neely was acting erratically, yelling about being tired and hungry, on the subway train when Penny, allegedly attempting to subdue him, placed Neely in the fatal restraint.

On Monday, Neely's family urged city officials to take action to move his case forward in a statement released by their attorneys.

They argued that Penny's "actions on the train," as well as his own statement released after the fact, "show why he needs to be in prison." A press release issued on Penny's behalf by his attorney last week said the former Marine "never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death," calling the deadly chokehold "a tragic incident on the NYC subway."

A group of several hundred people protest the death of Jordan Neely, Friday, May 5, 2023, at Washington Square Park in New York. Neely, a locally-known Michael Jackson impersonator who friends say suffered from worsening mental health, died Monday, May 1, when a fellow rider pulled him to the floor and pinned him with a hold taught in Marine combat training. / Credit: Brooke Lansdale / AP

Michael Bachner, the former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, told CBS Mornings that a grand jury could potentially find that Penny acted in self defense when he restrained Neely on the subway.

"I think what happened is, things got really out of control. But horrible accidents can sometimes turn into a manslaughter," Bachner said. "The testimony of other people on the train, how endangered they may have felt, how heightened and really kind of scary and aggressive the whole situation was, that could lead to the conclusion that he acted in self defense."

But Lennon Edwards, the attorney for Neely's family, argued that Penny should be held accountable for his role in the killing.

"Justice, immediately, means an arrest," Edwards told CBS Mornings. "It means following the process through, and letting Daniel Penny have a day in court where he tries to prove that none of this is what we know it to be. A murder."

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Bed Bath & Beyond will pay severance to 1,300 workers after it tried to get out of taking responsibility.

The cash-strapped home retailer ignited a firestorm in March when planned layoffs made headlines. Bed Bath & Beyond said a first round of layoffs would terminate workers on April 9, a day before an expanded state layoff regulation went into effect. The timing allowed the company to skirt a new requirement effective April 10 that guarantees one week of severance for each year worked at the company.

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Bed Bath & Beyond representatives did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Northjersey.com, which first reported the updated severance payout, quoted N.J. State Sen. Joseph P. Cryan (D-Union) as noting that he hasnt heard of any non-compliance following the post-WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) effective date. Cryan, who sponsored the expanded law, was an early critic of the retailers timing of its layoff notice. The report cited public records indicating the severance payment.

It would appear that the bankrupt retailer is adhering to the state regulations for layoffs after April 10. However, it wasnt clear what would happen to those who were part of the April 9 announcement. At that point in time, the company wasnt obligated to pay severance. Moreover, now that it is in bankruptcy, if they were entitled to benefits, they might be classified as unsecured creditors.

The April 9 layoffs prompted former employee Michael Palmeri to file a lawsuit seeking class-action status on behalf of himself and others claiming Bed Bath & Beyond violated the WARN act. The suit was put on hold when Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 23.

Bed Bath & Beyond is also a defendant in a lawsuit, also temporarily on hold, filed by ex-CEO Mark Tritton, who accused the company of failing to pay some of his $6.8 million severance. And it was sued by Sparx Logistics USA Ltd. for breach of contract related to two agreements in which the retailers alleged delay in collecting shipping containers resulted in millions of fees incurred by the shipper.

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Bed Bath & Beyond is liquidating operations while also trying to find a buyer.

The Union, N.J.-based chain is trying to claw back $31.7 million from container shipping company OOCL for fees and other surcharges when its subsidiary allegedly failed to meet minimum quantity commitments under two service contracts, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Maritime Commission.

Bed Bath & Beyonds money problems seem to have infected a one-time subsidiary as Christmas Tree Shops Inc. and parent Handil Holdings on Friday filed Chapter 11 petitions in Delaware. Bed Bath & Beyond sold the nameplate to Handil in October 2020 as the home retailer tried to slim down by selling off One Kings Lane, PersonalizationMall.com and Linen Holdings. Bed Bath & Beyond officially offloaded the home and decor specialty chain Cost Plus World Market in January 2021.

Christmas Tree Shops bankruptcy petition listed estimated assets at between $50 million to $100 million and estimated liabilities at between $100 million and $500 million. Its top 30 largest unsecured creditors include a number of vendors, freight firms and landlords.

Click here to read the full article.
What better person to serve on a state humanities board than a far-right conspiracy theorist with a record of espousing racist and transphobic views?

That appears to have been the thinking by Montana GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte, who quietly appointed Jeremy Carl to a Humanities Montana board seat in November.

For months, Carl has helped oversee Humanities Montana, the states nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The stated goal of the organization is to nurture imagination and ideas by speaking to Montanans diverse history, literature, and philosophy.

Carl, whose term runs from November 2022 to January 2025, is a prolific politics writer who has called the Black Lives Matter movement racist and dismissed white liberals as a cult of ethnic sado-narcissism. A 2018 Fox News op-ed that he wrote cited a white supremacist website, though Carl later said the citation was unintentional and Fox News removed the link to the website after being contacted about it by Media Matters.

He served as a high-ranking Interior Department official in the Trump administration. Since leaving that post, Carl has continued writing against purported anti-white racism, attacked LGBTQ rights and fueled conspiracies about the 2020 presidential election being rigged.

In February 2022, he wrote a piece titled End Mass Immigration And White Stigmatization to Boost Assimilation, in which he fueled the great replacement conspiracy theory, a dangerous concept once largely relegated to white supremacist rhetoric. It posits that there is an active and covert effort  often by influential Jewish people  to replace white populations in white-majority countries with immigrants, Muslims and other people of color.

White Americans need not apologize for our desire not to be replaced, Carl wrote in American Mind, a publication of The Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank where Carl serves as a senior fellow. By bringing in millions of people whose traditions are often foreign to those of the West, the Great Replacement threatens a culture that my childrens ancestors have lived in and helped to build for generations  especially since the ideology of patriotic assimilation has largely been abandoned for multiculturalism.

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He ended his piece with a call to allies to fight back against liberals advocating policies that bring more nonwhite people into the country. We must utterly defeat the Great Replacement as a political strategy, he wrote, and permanently remove from power all who advance it.

Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Jeremy Carl, an election denier who has pushed racist and transphobic ideas, to oversee the state's humanities programs.

Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Jeremy Carl, an election denier who has pushed racist and transphobic ideas, to oversee the state's humanities programs.

Carl took aim at transgender people in another piece published last month in American Mind. In a particularly vitriolic series of attacks, he claimed that gender-affirming medicine is horrifically damaging for kids and called transgender peoples existence somewhere between demonic and laughable. He also went after Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender woman and TikTok personality who recently met with President Joe Biden to talk about transgender rights.

A man cannot be a woman, wrote Carl. From the womb, every cell of a mans body is encoded with his maleness. This is true from a religious perspective, and it is true from a scientific perspective. In essentializing femaleness into a puerile performance, the transgender woman playacts an elaborate and insulting stereotype  but he does not change his sex.

He added, Can anyone picture a more pathetic caricature of womanhood, or girlhood, than Dylan Mulvaney?

Carls Twitter feed is rife with attacks on transgender people. Two weeks ago, he retweeted a post by right-wing commentator Matt Walsh calling for a ban on all gender-affirming surgeries, calling them Frankenstein butchery. Hes called trans people sexual fetishists. He celebrated the governor signing a law banning gender-affirming medical care to transgender minors. He routinelymocks and misgenders state Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), a transgender lawmaker whom Republicans banished from the House floor last month for speaking out against the bill limiting health care for transgender minors.

The entire existence of Zooey Zephyr is a marketing and PR fantasy, Carl tweeted late last month.

The entire existence of "Zooey Zephyr" is a marketing and PR fantasy. https://t.co/ziGSLlQJ14  Jeremy Carl (@jeremycarl4) April 28, 2023

Then theres Carls false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. In a January 2021 piece on a conservative website called American Greatness, Carl parrots the conspiracy theory that Democrats rigged the election results and accuses them of waging a domestic terrorism witch hunt against Trump.

They rigged the election in front of our very eyes because we werent smart enough, tough enough, and most importantly, not powerful enough to stop them, Carl wrote.

Meanwhile, these same election riggers have launched a domestic terrorism witch hunt against Trump supporters, in a clear and obvious attempt to suppress political opposition to the new regime, he continued.

Its hard to believe Gianforte didnt know at least some of this about Carls record, if not all of it, before appointing him to oversee Humanities Montana.

The question is: Why does the governor think Carl belongs on the board of any statewide organization when he regularly espouses white nationalist views, never mind that he gave Carl a seat atop an entity claiming that it serves Montanas multicultural communities through stories and conversation and provides programs that tell our diverse stories?

A Gianforte spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, Carl said he is on the board of Humanities Montana because he cares about the growth and quality of the humanities in his state. He also claimed that he is the target of a hysterical and hilarious campaign by liberals to silence and intimidate him.

Carl requested that his full statement be provided, so here it is:

I joined the board of Humanities Montana because I care about the growth and quality of the humanities in Montana. Unfortunately, the organization does not have a democratically accountable governance structure and has thus historically been controlled by the far left, which is totally unrepresentative of Montana, but which feels, as they do everywhere, that they own the humanities, and that dissenting voices and perspectives, including those of conservative Republicans like me, cannot be allowed. This intolerant leftist attitude, hardly unique to Montana, has led to a tragic decline in relevance and prestige of the humanities throughout the country. The far-lefts hysterical and hilarious campaign to silence and intimidate me will backfire badly.

On Tuesday, Carl took aim at another segment of the LGBTQ community: drag queens.

He tweeted out a news story about Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt cutting off funding for the states lone PBS television station for exposing children to LGBTQ-themed content. Among the programming Stitt has criticized is a show that featured a drag queen reading aloud a childrens book titled The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.

This is the way, Carl said in response to Stitts veto.
A second group of student workers at Western Washington University is seeking to unionize, joining the 1,100 tutors, teaching assistants and researchers who organized late last year.

Some 1,500 WWU students who work in university operations  support staff, office assistants, clerks, laborers, lifeguards and resident advisors  will be the first such students in Washington state to unionize, according to a statement from the Western Academic Workers United.

Operational student employees perform critical work at the university, managing events, providing support services, doing outdoor education and recreation work, and much, much more, the union said in a statement.

However, [they] cite ongoing struggles around low and late pay, unsafe work environments, unpredictable schedules, and the need for a voice at work to determine their working conditions as reasons for their collective action, the union said.

They will be part of the same union as the teaching assistants, researchers and tutors who signed union cards in December. A union election for those workers is planned this month, the union said.

Many students are working at minimum wage, which they said was too little pay to make ends meet, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.

Western Washington Union was Whatcom Countys third-largest employer in 2020, with 2,060 workers, the latest figures available, according to the schools Center for Economic and Business Research.
A parade was held in Moscow on May 9

Agentstvo said 10,000 soldiers were supposed to have taken part in the event, but in fact there were about 8,000  the fewest since 2008. Allegedly, those who are fighting against Ukraine also took part, but several military formations that were represented last year were missing.

Read also: At last minute, three more heads of state decide to attend Putin's parade

In particular, the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division, whose troops were in Kharkiv Oblast during Ukraine's counter-offensive in the fall, were nowhere to be seen, Agentstvo wrote.

The amount of military equipment brought to Red Square was also much less than in 2022  the Russian service of the BBC reported that the Kremlin had allegedly mustered 125 units in total.

Read also: Why the Kremlin may have staged a false flag drone attack on itself  ISW

At the same time, a correspondent of the German tabloid Bild counted several types of armored vehicles, Iskanders, S-400s, and the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile.

There was only one tank in the parade, a museum-piece T-34, which is about 80 years old. Last year, there were about 20 different tanks, and the T-34 usually each year heads the mechanized column, which always featured newer tanks. This time it was followed only by some armored cars.

-34 tank REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

The military aviation fly-past part of the event was canceled at the last minute.

Read also: Putin cancels his official May 9 reception in Kremlin for veterans for fourth time

The parade was commanded by the head of the Ground Forces, General Oleg Salyukov, and hosted by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who crossed himself before entering the square.

Before the parade began, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin gave a speech, repeating falsehoods about Ukraine and the West, and blaming them for Russias own war of aggression.

The leaders of six countries  Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan  as well as the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, showed up to listen to Putin.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
For two weeks, the little girl did not wake up. Three more passed until she spoke.

Before she was rushed to the hospital on Jan. 15, 2022, 4-year-old Bella Hopkins spent several hours bleeding, critically hurt, on her bed. To family who saw her taken into the emergency room, it looked like her small head had been stomped on.

Her mother, Mackenzie Hopkins, 24, was found dead that night, submerged in the bathtub. She had been beaten severely, and bloody boot prints marked the floors of her newly rented Kansas City home.

In the 15 months since then, the Hopkins family has come to learn many of the haunting details behind the brutal attack. But, many questions linger  including ones that, for Shannon Hopkins, bring a mix of anger and sadness.

Why did two Kansas City police officers who responded to Mackenzie Hopkins home on a 911 call stop at her door and leave without going inside?

Was it after police left, and the alleged killer returned to the house, that he brutally attacked Bella?

Could the officers who first responded have saved the mothers life and prevented the child from being injured?

Twelve hours before the mother and daughter were found, a 911 call from Mackenzie Hopkins cellphone brought the police to the house. But they left, giving the alleged killer, 31-year-old Jose Escalante-Corchado, the freedom to go back inside  an act authorities say was captured on surveillance video.

The Hopkins family says detectives told them the officers who responded to the 911 call could not enter the house because of a policy that came after the conviction of Eric DeValkenaere, a white Kansas City police detective found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man.

Police officials have publicly denied that any changes in practice or policy were made in response to the DeValkenaere case, in which the former officer was faulted for going onto private property without probable cause.

But they have not offered another explanation for the officers failure to find Mackenzie and Bella Hopkins until 12 hours after the 911 call was made.

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Officer Donna Drake, a Kansas City Police Department spokeswoman, declined to answer The Stars questions concerning the actions of officers that day, saying the department could not discuss the case as it has been referred to Jackson County prosecutors.

Outside of probable cause statements filed in Jackson County court, Drake said the only publicly available record is an incident report generated after Mackenzie Hopkins was found dead and the homicide investigation was opened. The one-page document contains a two-sentence narrative, and makes no mention of the discovery of the injured child.

Many other records, including the final autopsy report and the recording of the 911 call made on the morning of her death, remain closed under state law.

Mackenzie Mickey Hopkins, 24, is pictured with her daughter, Bella. After they were attacked in their home, Bella spent weeks in intensive care. Hopkins did not survive.

Meanwhile, the strongest defense of the two officers has come from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who told The Star she did not believe they made mistakes when they left Mackenzie Hopkins home. While she declined to discuss details of the criminal case, Baker said the officers did not appear to depart from normal police procedure in the actions they took that morning.

Still, Baker called it cruel that the Hopkins family was given bad information that has further caused the family pain. She said nothing has changed about the law or KCPD policies and training since DeValkenaere was convicted.

For his part, Shannon Hopkins is thankful that Bella, his granddaughter, is still with him. She is a happy-go-lucky 5-year-old.

Still, she carries a physical reminder of the attack she survived: a large scar across her forehead where surgeons replaced a piece of her skull.

The family wonders what trials she will face without Mackenzie Hopkins  fondly remembered as Mickey  to be there as the dedicated and loving single mother she was.

She talks about her mom, but never in a sad way, Shannon Hopkins said of his granddaughter. Thankfully, I dont think she has a memory, or at least going to the counseling she went through afterwards, and just in conversations with her grandmother and I, and other family members. She really doesnt have a recollection of the incident.

For the Hopkins family, the grief of losing Mackenzie Hopkins to a sudden act of violence is still compounded by what-ifs. They have never heard a convincing explanation for what police officers did that day after the 911 call and why. And those are answers Shannon Hopkins believes his family deserves to have.

Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department, is seen in a file photo. She declined to answer questions about how officers responded to Mackenzie Hopkins 911 call.

From what Ive been told, they stood less than three physical feet from my daughter, my dying daughter, or my dead daughter, he said.

He wonders, too, what conversations were had outside her door when the officers decided to leave.

Well never know what that was. But I think that it needs to happen. We need to know, he added.

It certainly would have helped me to know why those two people didnt go in to save my daughter who called them to come.

The police department declined to make Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves available for an interview to discuss the case.

The five members of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, including Mayor Quinton Lucas and four members appointed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, did not respond to The Stars request for comment.

Kansas City Council members Ryana Parks-Shaw and Lee Barnes Jr.., who represent the district where the crime occurred, also did not respond to The Stars request for comment.

A 911 call and a struggle

Surveillance cameras near Hopkins house in the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue showed a white pickup truck with a Kansas license plate pass by her house at 5 a.m.

Forty-six minutes later a man with dark-colored clothes, alleged to be Escalante-Corchado, who was romantically involved with her friend, walks up to Hopkins home and disappears from view into the back yard.

Fifteen minutes later, at 6:01 a.m., the 911 call was placed from Mackenzie Hopkins cellphone. On other end of the line, a call taker could hear the sound of a disturbance and people fighting. The Hopkins family was later told there were sounds of a struggle, and that whoever dialed 911  presumably Mackenzie Hopkins  did not terminate the call.

One minute after that phone call, the alleged killer is seen on surveillance cameras running from the residence. He heads south on Wabash and east on 74th Street.

Police have never outlined the precise actions of the officers who responded to the call that morning, including what time they arrived, how much time was spent there, and what they did. The only confirmation that two police officers did so much as stop at the house and knock on the door has come from the Hopkins family and the Jackson County Prosecutors Office.

A photograph of the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue in Kansas City. On Jan. 15, 2022, Mackenzie Hopkins had recently moved in on the block when she was killed in her home.

During that window, Escalante-Corchado  wearing a blue COVID-19 mask over his face  parked the white truck he was driving outside of a gas station convenience store at 70th and Prospect and walked inside.

At 6:27 a.m., his white truck was seen following two police cars that were traveling north on Prospect past Gregory Boulevard  heading in the opposite direction of Mackenzie Hopkins home.

At 6:48 a.m., Escalante-Corchado allegedly ran back toward the house and went around the back, according to court documents. He walked out two hours later and headed south on Wabash.

Over the time Escalante-Corchado allegedly spent in the house that day, he is accused of beating Mackenzie Hopkins with aid of a dangerous instrument. Drag marks were observed by Kansas City police crime scene investigators, and within pools of blood were sole prints stamped with the word Ariat, a cowboy boot brand.

He allegedly attempted to murder 4-year-old Bella  who Shannon Hopkins says may have been able to recognize him because she played with his daughter, who is around the same age.

Plans had been made with Mackenzie and Bella Hopkins that day to be with family. Mackenzie Hopkins often stayed up late  on the last night she spoke to friends and family she was watching movies with her daughter.

So, there was not a great concern when she did not answer the phone that morning.

But by the afternoon, worry started to grow. Shannon Hopkins and his youngest daughter, Hazel, decided to make the 20-mile drive from their Shawnee townhome to check on them.

As they were driving, Shannon Hopkins was overcome with the fear that something horrible had happened. He thought perhaps there had been a gas leak in the house.

Whatever the case, he did not want to open that door alone. He called the police.

That evening, at 5:49 p.m., a second set of officers was dispatched to Mackenzie Hopkins house. After arriving there, a detective wrote in court documents, the officers noticed what appeared to be blood leading up to the front steps. The officers were on the block when family arrived.

Officers asked Shannon Hopkins if he could open the door. He walked up the staircase, the key in hand, and pushed. Already unlocked, it opened.

It was nighttime by then, and the house was dark. He took a step inside to flip a light switch. Thats when the flashlights of police illuminated the blood-covered floor. His younger daughter, still standing behind the screen door, screamed.

The officers drew firearms, pulled Shannon Hopkins out, and went in.

I thank God every day that I called the police, Shannon Hopkins said. Because I cant imagine having walked farther into the house and finding Mickey in that state, and Bella. So, I was thankful for that small, small grace.

Mackenzie Hopkins is pictured with her daughter, Bella. Family members say Bella does not demonstrate that she remembers the January 2022 attack but still talks about her mother.

On Jan. 16, 2022, the day after that door was opened, police arrested Escalante-Corchado after serving a search warrant at his Kansas City, Kansas, home. They were led to him as a suspect after Escalante-Corchados girlfriend told detectives she had used her friend Mackenzie Hopkins as an alibi the night before she was killed, and that he had been out all night long.

As the family continued to hope and pray that young Bella Hopkins would survive, they were met by police detectives and told the man responsible had been caught.

Shannon Hopkins was impressed by the quick work of Kansas City police to solve the case. But then the family learned about the early-morning 911 call.

At first, he said, he believed the detectives had misspoken, and they were referring to the call he made 12 hours later that evening asking police to come meet him at his daughters home. Then, his daughter-in-law asked: So, she called 911?

And they said, Yes, Shannon Hopkins recalled. And thats when it occurred to me that they werent talking about my call.

The family was alarmed and extremely upset, Shannon Hopkins said. They wanted to know why Mackenzie Hopkins did not get help that morning. And they heard a puzzling explanation that never sat right.

The DeValkenaere explanation

Detectives told the Hopkins family about the DeValkenaere case, saying his conviction in the killing of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb in Kansas City months earlier had imposed new restrictions on what police officers could do in emergency situations.

They told us at that time it was a policy change, Shannon Hopkins said. We were told later by the D.A. that there was no policy change.

Family members were not the only ones who heard a similar explanation from police.

Sarah Erikson, a friend of Mackenzie Hopkins, said she too called a homicide detective seeking answers for her and on behalf of other concerned friends. During a brief call, Erikson told The Star, she raised the subject of the 911 call.

The detective, she said, explained in an irritated but airy tone how a fellow officer just got his entire life ruined because he went in the back of somebodys yard and shot the (homeowner), and said the police cant help anybody anymore.

And I was just like, Are you kidding me? Erikson said. I was so baffled by how angry he was. I mean, he was blaming the law on their inaction. And I just thought that was the biggest excuse Ive ever heard in my life.

Eric DeValkenaere is pictured in a file photo from his 2021 trial for manslaughter. Family of Mackenzie Hopkins said police told them the case was the reason why two officers did not go inside her home after she called 911.

In 2020, DeValkenaere, a plainclothes detective with the Violent Offenders Squad, responded to a police helicopters report of a traffic incident. With his partner, DeValkenaere ran into the backyard where Lamb was backing his pickup truck into the garage at his home near 41st Street and College Boulevard.

Within seconds of arriving, DeValkenaere shot and killed him.

DeValkenaere maintained he shot Lamb in defense of his partner after seeing Lamb with a gun. Jackson County prosecutors charged him criminally, saying at trial that Lamb was unarmed and the gun had been planted along with other evidence.

DeValkenaere was convicted in November 2022 following a bench trial overseen by Jackson County Judge Dale Youngs. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, and sentenced to six years in prison.

In finding him guilty, Youngs relied in part on protections outlined under the U.S. Constitutions Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unlawful searches and seizures. Youngs found DeValkenaere and his partner did not have probable cause to be on Lambs property when he was shot and killed.

Fifteen months ago, when news reports, including The Stars, first surfaced calling into question whether the DeValkenaere verdict had resulted in any changes in police procedure or policy, the official word from the Kansas City Police Department was that no changes had been made.

But in another case, which originated in the Metro Patrol, the same station that polices the neighborhood where Mackenzie Hopkins lived, the so-called DeValkenaere policy was referenced by a police captain in a voicemail left for a resident who publicly complained on social media that police officers had failed to investigate a break-in at his neighbors residence.

In the voicemail, a copy of which was obtained by The Star, the captain referenced a policy named for DeValkenaere specifically that he did not agree with but was something you citizens need to know. He said officers were limited in how thoroughly they could investigate crimes to the extent that  absent a search warrant  they could only go inside a residence in extreme circumstances, such as someone screaming for help inside.

Prosecutor Baker has publicly taken issue with that statement, saying the police captain profoundly misstates the law.

During a recent interview with The Star, Baker said she does not understand why that information would be disseminated. She has likewise been left to opine what would have motivated police to tell the Hopkins family that convicting a police detective had some impact on their ability to respond to an emergency.

It makes you wonder if theres a willful ignorance happening here for some kind of a political view of the Fourth Amendment, Baker said. I dont know. Thats where Im stuck opining, because this is not difficult. KCPDs policies have not changed. KCPDs trainings have not changed.

She takes issue with the incorrect interpretation that the DeValkenaere verdict had any effect on the law, and the fact that a crime victims family was given bad information that has caused further suffering.

Mr. DeValkenaere was convicted in a court of law with rules of evidence, and one of the ways he was convicted was based on KCPDs policies and trainings on the Fourth Amendment, Baker said. Those things havent changed. Not before DeValkenaere was convicted, and not after he was convicted.

So, thats where there appears to be just this willful ignorance of the law, she added. And when it touches on victims, victims receiving bad information on that, that I want to speak out about. Because its cruel. Its cruel. And I want people to kind of get their heads on straight here. Weve got serious work to do. Solving homicides and successfully trying those homicides before a court of law.

Kansas City police are seen in a 2020 file photo. The Kansas City Police Department has denied claims that it changed policy after a detective was convicted of shooting and killing a man at his home.

Lauren Bonds, a civil rights attorney and executive director of the National Police Accountability Project based in Kansas City, Kansas, said there isnt any basis for the idea that the DeValkenaere verdict mandated a policy change because of a shift in the law. But she said decisions may have been made to limit liability of police officers in response.

She also thought a department-wide change resulting from a very specific set of facts in the DeValkneaere case  something that differed greatly from the Hopkins situation  would be odd.

It would be unusual to do a wholesale blanket requirement that police respond more slowly or dont engage in situations that are so factually different from the case where this verdict was issued, Bonds said.

Meanwhile, Bonds agreed with the assessment made by Baker last year that some police officers may have reacted emotionally to the DeValkenaere verdict. She spoke of trends seen in Minneapolis, for example, after the killing of George Floyd, where a wave of police officers began collecting disability.

We hear a lot from police advocates who are opposing accountability bills: Police officers are going to be too afraid to do their job if you enact (legislation) where we can be held civilly liable or criminally liable in these situations.

Thats a threat that weve heard across the country, Bonds said.

In the case of the Mackenzie Hopkins 911 call, Bonds said there are very few legal requirements for how police actively respond to an emergency and little to hold them accountable for failing to act.

Generally, she said, they are not liable unless they create a danger that causes injury or a person is harmed by their actions or negligence after being taken into custody.

So if they show up and say, This isnt a situation where I feel like we can do anything  or something thats just kind of like a non-response once they show up, thats usually not going to be a situation where theres legal liability.

A mom, a nurse, a woman with drive

The middle of three children, Mackenzie Hopkins grew up around Wichita before moving with her family to suburban Kansas City for her senior year of high school.

She hated the local school system and got her GED that summer before going on to college for her associates degree.

Shannon Hopkins acknowledges most parents have a lavender screen when it comes to their own children. But he can say of his that theyre all good kids.

Shannon Hopkins, left, and Mackenzie Hopkins, right, smile for a selfie photograph.

I was a bad kid. I was always in trouble when I was a teenager. I just never got paid back, I guess. Which is always what you expect as a parent that youre gonna reap what you sow, he said with a chuckle. But my kids are just salt of the earth. I just dont know how else to put it.

They did not always see eye to eye on everything. Dinner table conversations with his daughter would sometimes gravitate toward policing in the U.S. He thought the cops got a bad rap in many cases  she often disagreed.

We didnt agree on most politics, Shannon Hopkins said. And that certainly was something that we battled over more than once.

Ive had a struggle with that mindset, I guess, over the last year because it has been slammed down in front of this family that quite possibly some of the things that I believed were not true. And certainly didnt play out that early morning.

The fact that I spent so many years defending a group of people that, when we truly needed them, let us down, is a source of guilt that I carry with me now.

Outside of her home life, Mackenzie Hopkins made fast friends where she went, those close to her told The Star. She cared deeply for others  a trait that extended to her chosen profession.

She was already working as a certified nursing assistant in North Kansas City Hospital, and was taking college courses to become a registered nurse.

Mackenzie Hopkins was working as a certified nursing assistant in North Kansas City hospital and was taking college courses to become a registered nurse. A friend admired her drive for self-improvement.

In adulthood, she and the father of her daughter, Hector, split up but remained close. She spent about a year living at home with her parents when she decided to find a place for her and Bella Hopkins to call their own.

Erikson, who considered Mackenzie Hopkins her best friend, knew her as Kenzie. They first met around the fall of 2019 while they were both working at the Hy-Vee in Raytown. Both took interest in the medical field.

An average outing, where Bella Hopkins would often tag along, was a walk around the River Market or the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Mackenzie Hopkins loved to be outdoors. She and Erikson had talked about taking out-of-state trips to Colorado and Texas.

She just was always so motivated to not only be a better person, but be a better mom, to be a better worker. She was always chasing being able to elevate and make more money so she could give Bella anything that she needed or desired, Erikson said.

I just cant emphasize enough how much drive she had, while taking care of a toddler, she added. I mean, she was just always going, going, going. Working on being better.

Two weeks before she was killed, Shannon Hopkins helped move his daughter into the new house at 73rd and Wabash. It was there, he said, that he briefly met Escalante-Corchado. They never spoke, but Shannon Hopkins said he was there to help her move her things in, too.

His daughter was close with Escalante-Corchados girlfriend, he said  so much so that she had a key. And on Jan. 14, the night before Mackenzie Hopkins died, the girlfriend told Escalante-Corchado she was going out to see Mackenzie Hopkins  something she later told police was a fake alibi.

From what Shannon Hopkins has gathered from authorities since, the morning that Escalante-Corchado came to his daughters house he was looking for his girlfriend and obviously didnt find her there.

And then my daughter and granddaughter took the brunt of his anger, he said.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Escalante-Corchado with first-degree murder. He is also charged with first-degree assault, accused of attempting to kill Bella Hopkins.

The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Among the legal filings in the case was one where his defense attorney contended Esclante-Corchados mental fitness was in question, saying he hears voices that arent real and suffers from periodic blackouts.

His attorney did not reply to The Stars request for comment for this story. His trial is scheduled to begin in October.

Miracle of the family

After she was rescued from her home in critical condition, Bella Hopkins was rushed into surgery.

She spent weeks in the intensive care unit before she was cleared to leave the hospital in February 2022.

Her recovery earned her a title as the miracle of the family. Videos, captured by family and friends, documented the progress she made  from stumbling as she tried to walk again, to running through the house with her nasal feeding tube trailing behind her, paying no mind to the helmet on her head.

Along with physical and occupational therapy, she continues to go through counseling. The family does too.

Over Easter weekend, they gathered in memory of what would have been Mackenzie Hopkins 26th birthday. Shannon Hopkins said part of that included talking about how they deal with the pain and, sometimes, guilt that comes whenever they are reminded of what happened to them.

For Bella, they realize many of these feelings wont strike until she is older. And they want her to be prepared for that.

I think now, because shes a child, she sees things in childlike ways. So were just sort of putting things in motion so she has a constant backdrop for ways to address those immediately and not always in hindsight, Shannon Hopkins said.

When she visits her grandparents, the 5-year-old girl brightens their days. Every time shes there, Shannon Hopkins said, its never enough.

As he thinks about the questions they all still have  about what is, and what could have been  Shannon Hopkins considers the possibility the case will go to trial and the trauma of having to relive those moments again.

We pray every day that hes going to plead for life without parole, and that we wont have to sit through hearing evidence that we dont want to hear nor see, he said.

I dont know if my wife or anybody in the family will be able to sit through that, he added. But Im hoping that Ill be strong enough if we have to.

The Stars Anna Spoerre and Glenn E. Rice contributed to this report.
Mothers Day is all about celebrating the maternal figures in ones life, but how did the holiday start?

Family members still have a few days to gather gifts and flowers before the holiday on Sunday. If going out to eat sounds more appetizing, Fort Worth has a plethora of options for dining.

While many celebrate Mothers Day, the holidays origins might be fuzzy for some. Heres what we know about how the holiday started and its Christian origins:

How Mothers Day came to be

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day, but the holidays roots go way back.

Years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis helped start the Mothers Day Work Clubs to teach local West Virginian women how to care for children, according to the History Channel. During the Civil War in the early 1860s, the club became a unifying force for many during a divided time.

With the war in the nations rear view in 1868, Jarvis organized Mothers Friendship Day where moms of both Union and Confederate soldiers gathered to promote reconciliation.

Following Ann Reeves Jarvis death in 1905, her daughter  Anna Jarvis  championed the efforts to establish a day celebrating mothers, according to the History Channel. With money from a Philadelphia store owner, Jarvis organized the first Mothers Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia in May 1908.

Anna Jarvis promoted and achieved the proclamation of Mothers Day as a national holiday, in honor of her mother, Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis.

With the first celebration under her belt, Jarvis continued to push for the holiday to be celebrated nationwide. She started a letter writing campaign to newspapers and politicians. By 1912, many states and towns started celebrating the holiday, culminating in President Wilson signing the holiday into law two years later.

While both mother and daughter were instrumental in the creation of the holiday, other supporters included abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe, temperance activist Juliet Calhoun Blakely, Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering.

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Is Mothers Day a Christian holiday?

The short answer is yes, after all, Anna Jarvis hosted the first Mothers Day celebration in a Methodist church.

Before Jarvis helped establish the holiday, a day celebrating mothers can be traced back to ancient Greek and Romans who celebrated the mother goddesses  Rhea and Cybele. However, the biggest precedent for the maternal holiday can be traced back to Mothering Sunday.

Primarily celebrated in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent, according to the BBC. While similar to Mothers Day in that it celebrates maternal figures, the European holiday has its own unique origins.

On Sundays, English churchgoers worship at the nearest parish to them. It was considered important for many that people return to their home or mother church once a year.

Thus, the return to church for many was a homecoming of sorts. It was a time for families to get together, reuniting with children for worship. Mothering Sunday was also a way for domestic servants or workers to get the day off to visit their mothers, according to the BBC.

Today, Mothering Sunday is still celebrated on the fourth Sunday of lent, around late March every year, with families reuniting to celebrate their moms.

Is Mothers Day one of the busiest day for restaurants?

Yes, families love taking their mom out for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Besides Valentines Day and Fathers Day, Mothers Day ranks as the busiest day for restaurants. In a new poll from the National Restaurant Association, 86% of people say they plan to go to restaurants on Sunday:

40% of adults plan to use a restaurant as part of a special Mothers Day meal.

30% of adults plan to go out to a restaurant.

13% of adults plan to order food in.

3% of adults plan to both dine out and order in for two different meal occasions.

Make reservations now and beat the Sunday rush.
Maria Cabarcas holds up her phone with what she believes is a photo of her son's body, in Brownsville, Texas on May 8, 2023

As she waited in a migrant processing center in Texas this weekend, Maria Cabarcas says she felt a sudden sense of "desperation," and found herself crying for no reason.

"A lady prayed to me, she told me to give my son's life to God and I didn't understand why," she told her husband in a WhatsApp audio message that he later played for AFP.

The next day, she learned that her 23-year-old son, Enyerbeth -- who had been separated from her after they crossed the border together -- was among the eight people killed when an SUV plowed into a crowd at a bus stop in the city of Brownsville.

Police in the border city have charged the driver, 34-year-old George Alvarez, with manslaughter and aggravated assault after the incident, which also left 10 people injured -- some in critical condition.

The tragedy has added to tensions as the United States lifts its tough Covid-19 emergency immigration controls on Thursday, fuelling predictions of a spike in migration across the border.

Cabarcas first learned of her son's death when police returned her phone to her at the detention center near Eagle Pass, some six hours by bus from Brownsville, where she and her daughters were being processed.

The tragedy was all over social media -- and then a friend messaged her.

"They sent me pictures of him lying there and the friend says he found him there," Cabarcas told AFP.

With men and women sent to different detention centers, the 43-year-old and her two daughters were kept apart from her husband, Wilmer Colina, and Enyerbeth after the family -- who originally hail from Venezuela -- crossed the Rio Grande river last week.

They had planned to head on to Chicago, where they have relatives, together.

"He dreamed of buying me a house and buying a car to work," Cabarcas said of her son.

On Monday, the family attended an event at a local church that had been organized in a bid to ease tensions.

Sitting on a blue bench nearby, as Venezuelan music and singing washed over him, Colina found it difficult to speak of his stepson.

Story continues

But Cabarcas said the family will go on.

"We will work and fight for the dream that my son was coming to fulfill, in his memory," she said.

mav/st/des
Kouri Richins is accused of murdering her husband Eric in March 2022 (Facebook)

A Utah mother of three who wrote a childrens book about grieving after her husband died has now been charged with his murder.

Kouri Richins, 33, was arrested Monday for the March 2022 murder of her husband Eric Richins. She is accused of having poisoned her husband with fentanyl at their home in Kamas, Utah  a small town in the mountains close to Park City, according to the Associated Press.

Prosecutors argue that Ms Richins made a late-night call to the authorities in March last year to say that her husband was cold to the touch.

Ms Richins told police that she made her husband a mixed drink using vodka to supposedly celebrate a recent sale of a home before she left to help one of their three children to sleep in their bedroom.

She claimed that when she returned, she found him unresponsive and called the emergency services.

A medical examiner found that Eric Richins had five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.

Ms Richins has been charged with murder in addition to allegedly possessing GHB. Its a narcolepsy drug often used recreationally, such as at dance clubs, the AP notes.

The charges are based on the officers accounts of their interactions with Ms Richins as well as the account of an unnamed acquaintance who said they sold the fentanyl to Ms Richins.

This photo provided by KPCW.org shows Kouri Richins at the KPCW studio in Park City, Utah, April 12, 2023 (AP)

The charges come two months after Ms Richins appeared on local TV to speak about her picture book Are you with me?  which she authored to help children after losing someone close to them.

Ms Richins appeared on a segment called Good Things Utah, saying that the death of her husband was unexpected and describing how it adversely affected her and her three children  all boys.

She said that grieving for children was about making sure that their spirit is always alive in your home.

Its, you know, explaining to my kid just because hes not present here with us physically, doesnt mean his presence isnt here with us, she told the local TV station.

A police search warrant states that Mr Richins died on 4 March 2022.

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The Richins family is notable in Summit County, according to KPCW. The Richins Building in Kimball Junction was named after one member of the family  Sheldon Richins.

Members of Mr Richinss family said not long after his death that they suspected his wife of having killed him. Warrants state that he warned them that if anything happened to him, she was to blame.

One of Mr Richinss sisters claimed that he called her a few years ago when he was in Greece on vacation. He claimed that one of the drinks his wife had given him had made him very ill. The sister claimed that Ms Richins had made an attempt to take her brothers life.

A warrant also states that Ms Richins was caught changing her husbands life insurance policy to make herself the only beneficiary.

On Valentines Day last year, less than a month before his death, Mr Richins had an allergic reaction after having dinner with his wife. He broke out in hives, was unable to breathe, and passed out after using taking Benadryl and using his sons EpiPen.

According to court filings, Ms Richins had bought fentanyl pills for $900 a few days before the dinner. She asked for another $900 not long before Mr Richinss death.

Before he died, Mr Richins changed the beneficiary of his will and his power of attorney from his wife to his sister. A warrant states that he thought his wife might kill him for the money.

Warrants also state that Mr Richins was planning on divorcing his wife, but that proceedings had yet to start at the time of his death.

Ms Richins published the book on 7 March of this year, telling KPCW a few weeks later that its designed to offer comfort and solace to young minds.

Last month, she told KPCW that the book was inspired by her own kids questions.

You know, Is dad with us? she said. Because theyre going through the sadness of knowing that hes not here, presently.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Richinss attorney for comment.
Police stopped a motorist who had been driving without a licence for 50 years. (SWNS)

A motorist who was stopped by police had been driving without a licence for 50 years.

Officers were stunned when they pulled over the 69-year-old in Derbyshire and found out he had driven five decades without a licence.

Derbyshire Police said on Saturday that the man had never passed a driving test, even though he had been behind the wheel since he was a teenager.

The force said he was finally caught out after so long because of his "bragging".

It said he had hoodwinked insurance companies throughout that time by falsely claiming he had a driving licence.

The man's car was seized by police and he was reported for a number of driving offences.

Read more: Driver who led police on 30-mile chase gave officers Legoland 'licence'

Derbyshire Road Policing Unit tweeted an image of the man's car on Saturday.

It said: "The driver of this vehicle has never passed a test despite being 69 years old and having been driving for over 50 years.

"He has systematically provided details to insurance companies indicating that he had a licence but the flaw in his dastardly plan was bragging.

Derby



The driver of this vehicle has never passed a test despite being 69 years old and having been driving for over 50 years.



He has systematically provided details to insurance companies indicating that he had a licence but the flaw in his dastardly plan was bragging. pic.twitter.com/JJJDNM1b2E  Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit (@DerbyshireRPU) May 6, 2023

"His long reign came to an abrupt end once we found out. Vehicle seized and driver reported for numerous offences."

Officers seized the pensioner's car in a Derby retail park.

Paul Farley, from the Motor Insurers' Bureau, tweeted: "Finally, brought a totally unacceptable reign to an end."

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One Twitter user commented: "It's not a good look for the system he's managed to carry out his entire life without being caught before."

Failure to have a driving licence can result in a fine and penalty points. (PA)

In January 2022, police stopped a driver in Nottingham who had been driving without a licence or insurance for more than 70 years. The man, who was born in 1938, told officers he had been driving without a licence since he was 12 years old and had never previously been stopped by police.

Driving licences: the facts

Anyone caught driving without a licence faces a fine of up to 1,000 and between three and six penalty points.

Figures obtained last year by the RAC from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) showed there were more than 105,000 uninsured drivers recorded in 2020. The figures showed there were 15,933 people who had neither insurance nor a licence.

A report published earlier this year by MPs revealed that three million people have experienced driving licence delays since April 2020, costing people their jobs, income and independence.

The number of driving licences registered with the DVLA last April was 50,501,813. Of these, 41,202,187 were full and 9,299,626 were provisional.

One in 25 driving licence holders in Britain is aged 80 or above, equating to 1.6 million people.

The DVLA says the most common reason for failing a driving test is not looking properly at a junction.

Watch: Photo ID becomes compulsory for all voters in England's local elections
MSNBCs Joy Reid on Monday responded to the latest U.S. mass shooting  the killing of eight people at a Dallas-area mall  with a damning critique of the Republican response to gun violence.

We are all literally on a Russian roulette lottery, just waiting for it to be our turn to run screaming from gunfire, said The ReidOut host.

If you managed to not get dead in a mall, at a restaurant in the Walmart or another store, at a concert, at church, in school, in third grade, at high school or in college, or even inside your own home, consider yourself lucky, she continued. Because America is a shooting gallery.

And all that Republicans have to offer for this constant state of terror are thoughts of prayers, Reid added.

After examining right-wing interpretations of the Constitutions Second Amendment, Reid said: What Republicans are basically saying is that their precious Second Amendment is a suicide pact, a murder pact and a national consent to get slaughtered at the mall.

Watch the video here:

Related...
The chair for the Myanmar delegation sits vacant at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Labuan Bajo on Tuesday

Southeast Asian nations are at a "crossroad", a senior Indonesian minister warned Tuesday, as escalating violence in junta-controlled Myanmar loomed over a regional summit.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- long-decried by critics as a toothless talking shop -- has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis.

Those efforts have been fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents, which include ousted lawmakers, anti-coup "People's Defence Forces" and armed ethnic minority groups.

An air strike on a village in a rebel stronghold last month that reportedly killed about 170 people sparked global condemnation and worsened the junta's isolation.

It also fuelled calls for ASEAN to take tougher action to end the violence or risk being sidelined.

"ASEAN is at a crossroad," Mahfud MD, Indonesia's coordinating minister for politics, legal and security, warned Tuesday, the first day of the summit.

"Crisis after crisis is testing our strength as a community. And failure to address them would risk jeopardising our relevance," he said according to a copy of his remarks, listing Myanmar among the emergencies facing the bloc.

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that last month's air strike in the central Sagaing region was a "likely war crime", and urged ASEAN to "signal its support for stronger measures to cut off the military's cash flow and press the junta for reform".

Pressure on the regional bloc increased Sunday after a convoy of vehicles carrying diplomats and officials coordinating ASEAN humanitarian relief in Myanmar came under fire.

Few details have been released about the shooting in eastern Myanmar's Shan State, but Indonesia and Singapore both confirmed that members of their embassies in Yangon were in the group.

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Singapore said its two staff members were unharmed. It condemned the attack in a statement late Monday.

Indonesia, the ASEAN chair this year, said two of its diplomats were in the vehicles and were "in good condition".

- 'Feckless' -

The shooting happened days before the May 9-11 ASEAN summit on the Indonesian island of Flores, where foreign ministers and national leaders will continue efforts to kick-start a five-point plan agreed upon with Myanmar two years ago after mediation attempts to end the violence failed.

The foreign ministers held talks Tuesday while their countries' leaders were scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday.

Ahead of the arrival of officials in Labuan Bajo, the army deployed more than 9,000 personnel and warships to the small fishing town that serves as the entrance to Komodo National Park, where tourists can see the world's largest lizards.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the ministers discussed Myanmar "a lot" during Tuesday's talks, including Sunday's attack. She did not elaborate.

A Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP that Sunday's shooting "raises the urgency of Myanmar as a key discussion point at this summit".

The US State Department said it was "deeply concerned" about the shooting and urged the junta to "meaningfully implement the Five-Point Consensus".

Myanmar remains an ASEAN member but has been barred from top-level summits due to the junta's failure to implement the peace plan.

There was a vacant chair for Myanmar at the foreign ministers' meeting on Tuesday.

Marsudi said Friday that her country was using "quiet diplomacy" to speak with all sides of the Myanmar conflict and spur renewed peace efforts.

ASEAN has long been criticised for its inaction, but its initiatives are limited by its charter principles of consensus and non-interference.

Other nations, such as China and individual member countries of ASEAN, have taken the lead in trying to resolve the Myanmar crisis.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday welcomed international support for the bloc's efforts on Myanmar, but said the resolution should "remain ASEAN-led".

US-based analyst Zachary Abuza said the group was unlikely to offer more than "another milquetoast statement of condemnation" despite Sunday's attack.

"Had a diplomat been killed, there would have been more pressure on the organisation to do something, but frankly they've been so feckless in the past two years that it's hard to see them actually acting in a meaningful way," Abuza told AFP.

mba-amj/mtp
By Kate Lamb

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (Reuters) - Southeast Asian leaders meeting in Indonesia called on Wednesday for an immediate end to violence in military-ruled Myanmar, in an effort to create a window for dialogue and the delivery of humanitarian aid as fighting intensifies.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit was expected to see wrangling over Myanmar's bloody crisis, with patience wearing thin as its junta demonstrates no intent to pursue a peace plan agreed with the regional bloc after it seized power in a 2021 coup.

"We were deeply concerned with ongoing violence in Myanmar and urged the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force," the leaders said in a joint statement.

Leaders called for "a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues."

The meeting in the sleepy Indonesian fishing town is being held as Myanmar's military intensifies attacks and air strikes on resistance forces and ethnic minority rebels as it tries to consolidate power ahead of a planned election.

It also comes days after unknown assailants shot at a convoy of regional diplomats in Myanmar that was delivering supplies to some of the more than 1 million people displaced by conflict.

MORE ASSERTIVE

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the current ASEAN chair, earlier called for the bloc to speak up as one about the challenges it faces in the region.

"Will ASEAN only be silent or will ASEAN be able to become the driver or peace or growth?", he said.

ASEAN, which has a policy of non-interference in its members affairs, has become increasingly assertive with Myanmar's junta over its failure to implement a five-point peace "consensus" that its top general agreed to with ASEAN a few months after his coup sparked chaos.

"Malaysia is disappointed that there continues to be a lack of meaningful and real progress in the implementation of the 5PC," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on the sidelines of the summit.

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Myanmar's junta leaders are currently barred from attending high-level meetings until they execute the peace plan, which includes ceasing hostilities.

Indonesia has been quietly engaging Myanmar's military, its shadow government and armed ethnic groups to try to kick-start peace talks, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said last week.

"ASEAN is doing as much as it can really because when you are there on the ground it's not that easy," Philippine foreign minister Enrique Manalo said.

But some have called on ASEAN to take a harder line.

"To leave the seat empty at ASEAN summits is actually their comfort zone, they don't have to be held accountable," said former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa.

"Excluding the junta is only part of a series of steps that should be taken."

The leaders meeting was also expected to include talks on a code of conduct for the South China Sea and rising tensions over Taiwan, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said late on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if those were discussed.

ASEAN leaders on Wednesday issued a series of joint declarations, including joint commitments to combat human trafficking, protect migrant workers and support the electric vehicle industry across the region.

(Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Angus MacSwan, Martin Petty and Christian Schmollinger)
Naomi Osaka attends Victoria's Secret x Naomi Osaka on Feb. 21 in Los Angeles, California.

Naomi Osaka attends Victoria's Secret x Naomi Osaka on Feb. 21 in Los Angeles, California.

Ifyourefeeling anxious right now, stop what youre doing immediately, get on YouTube, and listen to Naomi Osakas Meditations for Children. I dont care how old you are. Just trust me.

On her journey to further center mental health, Osaka recently partnered with Modern Health, a mental healthcare platform, to release a series of meditations that are free and accessible to anyone with wifi. Although theyre technically crafted for children, if youre a specific type of adult like me who gets overwhelmed by the very thought of meditating, this will do the trick.

Osaka decided to start the meditation services because of her own struggles with anxiety, as well as the growing mental health crisis among young people in general. According to Georgetown Universitys Health Policy Institute, from 2016 to 2019, rates of anxiety and depression among teens grew by 24%, a number that has likely increased even more since the pandemic.

Personally, I think its really soothing to see a young woman of color be so prominent in spreading awareness around mental health. As an immigrant living in America who is doing their best to unlearn the idea that your career should come before your well-being, seeing Osaka make mental health a priority feels like permission to do the same.

For a long time, Ive associated practices like yoga and meditation with a certain flavor of upper-class whiteness, but the more other people of color admit that we need to take care of our mental health, the more I think we can all admit that its OK to not feel put together.

Also, theres something that feels particularly tender and gentle about these meditations being made for children and teens  its almost like the simplicity of the language makes you remember how basic the emotions that we all share really are. I invite you to notice the air coming in through your nose and out through your mouth, she says. This is what we call the breath. It gives our body life and the ability to play, dance and jump around.

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We really gotta thank Naomi for this one.

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A National Guard serviceman who is part of a mobile firing team shot down a Russian cruise missile during an attack on the city of Kyiv on the night of 8-9 May.

Source: press service of the National Guard of Ukraine

Quote: "During the air-raid warning, a mobile firing team of the National Guard of Ukraine moved to its position. A short time later, information was received about an approaching air target. A guardsman captured the target and fired from the Igla man-portable air defence system. As a result, he managed to shoot down an enemy Kh-55 cruise missile."

Details: It is noted that parts of the downed Russian missile were found on the territory of a settlement in one of the districts of the oblast. There is partial damage to civilian infrastructure.

Background: Air defence forces destroyed 23 of the 25 cruise missiles launched by the Russian aggressor on the night of 8-9 May.

The Ukrainian President's Office stated that Russia had used several Kh-55SM missiles during the overnight attack, which fortunately did not inflict significant damage.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, said that a destroyed missile (a Kh-55SM) fell into the yard of a house in the village of Myrotske in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast. The debris damaged the roof. There were no casualties.

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National Guard soldier shoots down Russian cruise missile with Igla MANPADS

During an air raid alert, an NGU mobile firing group advanced to its position and received information about the approaching air target in a short time.

Read also: Mykolayiv paratrooper brings down Russian Su-25 using Igla MANPADS

The guardsman locked onto the target and fired the Igla MANPADS, downing a Russian Kh-55 anti-ship cruise missile.

The head of the National Police of Kyiv Oblast, Andrii Nebytov, said parts of an enemy missile had been discovered on the territory of a settlement in one of the regional districts. In addition, civil infrastructure has been partially destroyed.

Read also: National Police show aftermath of Russian missile attack on Kyiv Oblast

But thanks to the skillful work of the Ukrainian Air Defense, it was possible to avoid human casualties and turn another Russian cruise missile into scrap, he said on Telegram.

Russia launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine overnight on May 9. About 15 missiles were intercepted in Kyiv Oblast.

Fragments of an enemy cruise missile hit a private residential building. Fortunately, no people were killed or injured as a result of the strike.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.

Posts reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers include photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

The profile allegedly belongs to Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old who was fatally shot by police after he fired an AR-style rifle at the outlet mall, killing eight and injuring seven others.

Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed or suggested a motive behind the mass shooting. A federal law enforcement bulletin notes that the FBIs review and triage of the subjects social media accounts revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.

The profile did not have any followers or appear to have any engagement from other users.

One image on the ok.ru profile includes a picture of his hand which appears to be the same tattoo that belonged to the gunman. Another photo receipt from January has the name Mauricio and a phone number that appears to match one that belongs to Garcia.

Photos on the profile also include dumped-out boxes of ammunition, posted at the same time with images outside the mall. The profile had appeared to telegraph preparations for violence for years; a photo of a written diary entry in a spiral-bound notebook from 2019 details a dream about racist violence.

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In what appears to be a final post, the user claims that a psychologist would not be able to fix him. A link to a YouTube video posted by the same person on the day of the shooting shows Garcia removing a Scream mask and asking, Not quite what you were expecting, huh?

During the attack, he was reportedly wearing a patch reading RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad  a flak jacket with the patch appears on the ok.ru profile.

Post from April 21st pic.twitter.com/ToWKclPplk  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

This catchphrase has emerged in recent years as both a far-right brand and rallying cry popular with the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group. Its also often associated with memes and T-shirts praising Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and his extrajudicial killing of political enemies by throwing them from helicopters.

Dissidents, particularly leftists, socialists, and supporters of the previous government, were dropped to their death from helicopters by Pinochets regime, West Points Combating Terrorism Center notes in its research of the Right Wing Death Squad meme. Today, the reference often features an image of a helicopter and is often accompanied by slogans such as Right Wing Death Squad, Free Helicopter Rides, and other iterations.

The phrases are emblazoned on T-shirts and stickers; several members of the Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding the January 6 attack have been photographed with similar patches or T-shirts reading Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong.

Jeremy Bertino, center left, is pictured with an RWDS patch in 2020. (EPA)

Members of the Proud Boys are photographed with RWDS on their hats in 2020. (AP)

RWDS has appeared at neo-Nazi gatherings, far-right protests and other events attracting Proud Boys members and other fascist groups within the years after the 2016 election.

The phrase was scrawled on shields during the so-called Unite the Right rally white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. At the time, Facebook removed several racist groups from the platform, including one called Right Wing Death Squad.

In 2019, federal investigators uncovered an alleged plot involving an active-duty US Marine to kill minorities, drug users and members of the Democratic National Committee in a group chat called Right Wing Death Squad.

Allen is among one of the most diverse suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to roughly 105,000 people.

Many of the posts allegedly written by Garcia also discuss or reference his Hispanic heritage, underscoring the ways in which white supremacism, fascism and violent extremist ideologies often escape rigid racial or ethnic lines.

Virulent antisemite and white nationalist Nick Fuentes has a half-Mexican father, and Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol attack, is Afro-Cuban.

Nazi propaganda website The Daily Stormer also began publishing in Spanish in 2017 in an effort to seize on Latin American audiences. The ok.ru profile mentions the website and its founder Andrew Anglin.

I think I even read in the news Hispanics could be the new white supremist [sic], one of the ok.ru post reads. Just the other day this black dude told me the line is blurring. He cant tell the difference anymore. Someone would look white but their [sic] actually Hispanic.

In photographs of his spiral-bound diary entries, he also said he wore an Its OK to be White shirt and that he is Hispanic whether he likes it or not.

A Dallas-area home connected to Mauricio Garcia, who killed eight people at a mall in Allen, Texas on 6 May. (AP)

Garcia was heavily armed and armoured when he began firing indiscriminately with an AR-style rifle at the Allen Premium Outlets shopping centre on 6 May.

Among the eight victims are a three-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl, according to the Allen Police Department.

An Allen police officer who was already at the scene for an unrelated incident fatally shot him.

There have been more than 200 mass shootings, including 21 mass murders, so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

White supremacists are behind the highest number of extremism-related murders in most years, according to an analysis from the Anti-Defamation League. Last year, 21 of 25 extremism-linked murders were committed by white supremacists  but all the extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds, the report found.
The bill banning abortions after 12 weeks sitting on Gov. Roy Coopers desk took GOP lawmakers months to put together. But it spent less than 48 hours in the public eye before passing the General Assembly.

Between Tuesday night and Thursday evening, House and Senate Republicans announced they had reached an agreement on new abortion restrictions, unveiled the 46-page bill, moved the bill out of a joint committee meeting and passed the bill through each chamber so it could be sent to the governor.

Debates on the bill were fairly extensive. The Senates floor debate was the longest of the last decade, according to Senate leader Phil Bergers office. But critics have slammed the speed with which the bill cleared the legislature through a special process that meant it didnt need to go through multiple committees and couldnt be amended.

Republicans spent months holding talks within their own ranks trying to come up with a consensus position that all 72 Republicans in the House and 30 in the Senate could agree on and vote for.

GOP leaders said they convened working groups within both chambers to make sure the final proposal they unveiled last week would have the entire partys backing, and could be passed over a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has vowed to block the bill but will likely see his veto defeated since Republicans control supermajorities in both the House and Senate.

When the bill was released Tuesday night, it was in the form of a conference report that substituted an existing bill. Instead of having to file a new bill, GOP leaders could swap the existing legislation filed as Senate Bill 20 with their abortion bill. And since the bill took the form of a conference report, amendments werent allowed.

A debate over deliberative process

During House and Senate debates on the bill, Democrats protested the rushed process by which the bill was advanced through the legislature.

Speaking to reporters after the Houses vote on the bill Wednesday night, House Minority Leader Robert Reives, a Goldston Democrat, said the most important thing was for critics of the bill to feel heard.

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Rep. Robert Reives, a Chatham and Randolph County Democrat debates an abortion restriction bill on the House floor Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the State Legislature Building. The House passed the bill.

A lot of people, since Ive been here, have understood that we might lose, but they feel like they deserve the right to be heard, Reives said.

He also said that even though both parties are far apart on what abortion laws should look like, he thought the process should have been more deliberative before the bill reached the House floor.

Had this been a more inclusive process  had people been heard  no, we definitely wouldnt have been happy with the result, but one, Id be interested to see what the final result would look like, Reives said.

House Democratic Leader Reives and Rep. von Haefen talking to reporters after the abortion vote, which fell along party lines. #ncga #ncpol pic.twitter.com/FKlsp8LeSz  Dawn B. Vaughan (@dawnbvaughan) May 4, 2023

Rep. Julie von Haefen, an Apex Democrat who spoke against the bill during House debate and joined pro-abortion rights protesters during a demonstration outside the General Assembly earlier in the day, echoed Reives frustration.

I also think its just really important for people outside of this building to be heard, she said. We have had such limited opportunity to do that, and especially on a bill as huge as this, that for me that was the most egregious part of the process.

House Speaker Tim Moore, a Kings Mountain Republican, told reporters that he felt critics of the bill had ample opportunity to debate it. Debate in the House began just before 9 p.m. and was about to reach the hour mark when Democrats tried to lodge a constitutional protest to stop the proceedings. At that point, Moore said the House would move immediately to a vote.

If folks wanted to keep debating, wed still be in session right now, Moore said after the vote.

After tonights party-line vote approving the GOPs 12-week abortion ban, House Speaker Tim Moore says there were at least two Democrats who indicated to him that they wanted to vote for the bill but didnt do so because of the political pressure. #ncga #ncpol pic.twitter.com/Ylvraum34J  Avi Bajpai (@avibajpai_) May 4, 2023

Moore also addressed the notion that the bill couldve been inserted into a budget proposal, which he said may have made things easier for Republicans, but wouldve been the wrong approach.

It deserved to have its day, and have its vote, and have its debate on the merits of the bill, and putting that just as something in the budget  while it could have been convenient, it could have been even more secure  I dont think is the right thing to do, Moore said. And I wanted even the folks who were very much opposed to this bill, I wanted them to have their say so. I wanted them to have their opportunity to be heard. I wanted them to be able to debate this bill just as much as those of us who supported it.

House Speaker Tim Moore, center, sits in the N.C. Senate chamber, listening to the debate on Senate Bill 20, which could restrict abortion in North Carolina, on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh, N.C.

Transparency concerns among open government groups

Moving bills through a special, expedited process is nothing new in Raleigh, or in other state capitals or in Washington, advocates for more transparency in government say.

Brooks Fuller, director of the N.C. Open Government Coalition, said that state legislatures and Congress often rush complex bills through the voting process after negotiations have been done in private.

Elected leaders that are in safe House and Senate seats, they may get the impression that they dont have to answer to anybody except for the voters in their caucus, Fuller said. I dont think thats an accurate picture of the way the government ought to work in North Carolina or anywhere.

I think that we could really improve trust in government if elected leaders took their responsibilities more seriously to explain legislation that they bring to the floor and how they plan to bring it, he continued.

A demonstrator holds a sign and a baby outside a House Floor gallery window at the North Carolina State Legislature after Republican state lawmakers announced their plan to limit abortion rights across the state.

Fuller, who also teaches journalism at Elon University, said that government works better when the public fully understands every step of the process and has the ability to comment on proposed bills. He added that its plenty common as a legislative maneuver to run a legislative play at light speed, but its not necessarily good for government, especially on an issue as contentious as abortion.

They can negotiate proposed legislation privately and then introduce it, Fuller said. But its a real slight to the public to not have any access into the process and any understanding of policies that affect the lives of North Carolinians  every single one of us.

Common Cause NC, an open government advocacy group, has pushed for legislation to require 24 hours between the time a bill has been introduced and the time it goes to committee and at least 24 hours before a bill goes to a floor vote.

We didnt even have 12 hours with this bill  and it was a 40-page-long bill, Jane Pinsky, a program director with Common Cause, said. Its impossible to expect a legislator to do their job if they have 10 minutes to read a 40-page bill.

Demonstrators in the House gallery raise their hands in support of debate on the House floor on an abortion restriction bill at the North Carolina State Legislature. The House passed the bill.

Pinsky also criticized the legislature for not allowing public comment on other controversial bills, such as the bill to ban gender-affirming surgery for minors that passed the House last week.

And when they do allow for public comment, they allow a minute or a minute and a half, she said. If I drove all the way from Lone Pine, Elizabeth City, Southport  if that was all the consideration I got, Id be very upset.

Pinsky said that people, regardless of their opinion on abortion, should be concerned when there isnt openness and transparency in the legislative process.

This is supposed to be a deliberative process, she said. It is not supposed to be a rushed process.
A Hyde Park police officer responding to a domestic violence call fatally shot a mother of three last year after failing to wrestle a knife from her and as her partner screamed in agony, newly released video shows.

Jamie Feith, followed by a Taser-wielding Hyde Park police Officer Bryan Sweeney, moments before she is fatally shot by Hyde Park police Officer Joshua Kemlage after they responded to her home on a domestic violence call on April 29, 2022. This is a screen grab from body-worn camera video of state Trooper Christopher Miller that was released by the New York State Attorney General's Office. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the AG's Office of Special Investigation.

The state Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation on Tuesday released the video of the April 29, 2022, killing of Jamie Feith as its probe of the police shooting continues.

Feith, 34, lived with her partner and their three young boys on North Cross Street in the Dutchess County town. Shortly before 3:30 pm that Friday afternoon, Hyde Park police Officers Joshua Kemlage and Bryan Sweeney responded to the house on a report of physical domestic violence, joined by state Trooper Christopher Miller.

They initially de-escalated the dispute between Feith and her partner, who was not identified.

What does the video show?

The 42-second video, taken by Miller's body-worn camera, begins with Kemlage leading Feith away from a bedroom, with one of her children  his face redacted  standing in the background.

Hyde Park police Officer Joshua Kemlage with Jamie Feith a moment before police realize she had a knife during their response to a domestic violence call at her home April 29, 2022. Kemlage shot her to death moments later. This is a screen grab from body-worn camera video of state Trooper Christopher Miller that was released by the New York State Attorney General's Office. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the AG's Office of Special Investigation.

But it quickly becomes apparent that she is armed, opening a knife in front of her that she grabbed from her pocket.

One of the officers screams "knife" nine times, and "911, send an additional, we've got one at gunpoint," as Kemlage wrestles Feith to the living room floor and tries to get the weapon from her.

Hyde Park police Officer Joshua Kemlage wrestles Jamie Feith to the ground and tries to get a knife away from her during a domestic violence call at her home April 29, 2022. Moments later, after she managed to get up and move to the kitchen still with the knife, Kemlage fatally shot her. This is a screen grab from body-worn camera video of state Trooper Christopher Miller that was released by the New York State Attorney General's Office. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the AG's Office of Special Investigation.

Feith manages to get up, and as an officer demands that she put the knife down, Sweeney uses a stun guns to try to subdue her. That doesn't work, and as Feith proceeds through the kitchen, still with the knife, one of the other officers says "shoot her" and Kemlage fires two shots, knocking Feith to the floor.

The partner, being held back just feet away, yells, "Don't (expletive) shoot her" twice as Kemlage fires a third shot and then a fourth.

Hyde Park police Officer Joshua Kemlage firing his gun at Jamie Feith during a domestic violence call at her home April 29, 2022. This is a screen grab from body-worn camera video of state Trooper Christopher Miller that was released by the New York State Attorney General's Office. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the AG's Office of Special Investigation.

"No, No, No. No. What the (expletive)," the partner yells as Sweeney straddles Feith to pull the knife from her. "Get off of her. Get off of her."

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The video ends just after he yells at Kemlage not to kill him as well.

Feith was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Attorney General's Office investigates all officer-involved killings in New York state. Hyde Park police Chief Robert Benson has not commented on the shooting, citing the state probe. He did not return phone messages or an email on Tuesday.

The partner declined to be interviewed and efforts to reach Feith's mother and other relatives were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Response from town supervisor

Hyde Park officers began using body-worn cameras only last month. They will soon have a mental health officer accompany police on domestic violence and emotionally disturbed calls, town Supervisor Al Torreggiani said Tuesday.

Torreggiani said he had not yet seen the video but expects that the investigation would end with Feith's death being considered a "clean shoot" because she had wielded a knife at the officers.

"It's tragic no matter what, and the officers have to come to grips with it," he said. "It's not an easy thing to pull that trigger and take a life."

Kemlage, a police officer for 13 years, joined the Hyde Park Police Department in January 2020 after working as a City of Newburgh police officer. He had also previously worked for the village of Wappingers Falls and the town of Newburgh, according to state records.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Body cam video of Hyde Park police shooting Jamie Feith released
Law enforcement officers from the Department of Homeland Security outside the federal courthouse in Worcester April 27.

WORCESTER  Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top-secret documents on a social media channel, is slated to return to Worcesters federal courthouse Thursday to continue his detention hearing.

According to the online docket for the state federal court, Teixeira will appear before federal magistrate judge David H. Hennessy at 3 p.m. Thursday, an hour later than originally planned.

Teixeira will be in Worcester because it is the courthouse where Hennessy, the judge assigned to the case, usually sits.

The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman is on trial for allegedly posting top-secret government data to friends in a Discord social media forum.

He first appeared in the Worcester courthouse April 27, where Hennessy mulled whether to detain Teixeira after a hearing.

In this artist depiction, Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, center, is seated as defense attorney Brendan Kelley stands and speaks, at right, and his father, Jack Michael Teixeira, is seated in the witness stand, during a detention hearing in federal court April 27 in Worcester.

During the hearing, prosecutors painted Teixeira as a dangerous, self-centered and disloyal person with a fixation on mass murder. A court filing by prosecutors argued that Teixeira has a history of violent and racist statements.

Prosecutors also said Teixeira could possibly be vulnerable to foreign influence.

Teixeira's three court-appointed public defenders argued he had never taken steps to actually harm anyone and that the government does not have proof Teixeira intended to share the top-secret documents outside of his private Discord forum.

The defense argued for Teixeira to be released to the custody of his father, Jack Teixeira Sr.

If convicted, Teixeira could face up to 25 years in prison on charges of violating the Espionage Act and an act prohibiting unauthorized removal of classified documents.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Jack Teixeira detention hearing to resume in Worcester on Thursday
Nick Cannon visits 'The Howard Stern Show' at SiriusXM Studios in Los Angeles, California. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Nick Cannon has fathered 12 kids with 6 women.

He told the Los Angeles Times that he keeps clothes at all his partners' homes.

He also decides who to stay overnight with based on who calls him during the day.

Nick Cannon, who's fathered 12 children with six different women, says he has a system to decide which partner he stays with.

"A lot of times it's whichever of them has called me that day, to be honest," Cannon told the Los Angeles Times. "I am such a creature of habit. I like who like me."

Cannon also said he sometimes charts the route to drop off his many children with his partners and stays with whoever's house he arrives at last.

Cannon has homes in New Jersey and Temecula, California, and will soon have a place in Joshua Tree, per the Los Angeles Times.

The TV host also told the Los Angeles Times that because he has so many children, he's carved out space in his office for a nursery, complete with a ball pit and many toys. As for why he's had so many children, he said he was a people-pleaser and wanted to give the women in his life the kids they wanted.

"A lot of them are in the same age group," Cannon said of his romantic partners. "And I just wanted to give them what they desired. I kept saying, 'I can handle it.'"

Cannon has children with the pop legend Mariah Carey, the DJ Abby De La Rosa, and four models: Alyssa Scott, Brittany Bell, Bre Tiesi, and Lanisha Cole.

In March, Cannon said he wished he'd had a baby with his ex-girlfriend and former costar, Christina Milian. In April, Cannon said it'd be "amazing" to have a baby with Taylor Swift after he heard she was single again.

And Cannon might not be done yet: In February, he said he would let God decide when he should stop having kids.

Representatives for Cannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
Nick Cannon attends the Fox Upfront on May 16, 2022, in New York City. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

In a recent interview, Nick Cannon responded to critics who say he's a "deadbeat dad."

Cannon notably has 12 children with six different mothers, but said he's present for each of them.

"I've been villainized," the actor said of the "deadbeat dad title" given to him by some critics.

Nick Cannon may be a father to 12 children, but the actor said in a recent interview that he's been unfairly labeled a "deadbeat" parent by some critics.

"I've been villainized. I hear all the time: 'You can't be present for all those children.' So, therefore, I get this deadbeat dad title," Cannon told the Los Angeles Times' Amy Kaufman.

But according to Cannon, he keeps track of his children's schedules and tries to spend as much time with each of them as possible  even if it's just to drive them to an extracurricular activity or school.

"Right now the narrative is, 'He has a bunch of kids,'" Cannon said in the interview. "But I'm really at a place now where I don't care what people know. I'd rather just operate. It's more about really being a good person instead of telling people you're a good person."

Cannon famously shares 11 children with six different women. He has 11-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey, and three children (Golden, 7, Powerful, 2, and Rise, seven months) with model Brittany Bell.

He's also a father to 1-year-old twins Zion and Zillion and 5-month-old Beautiful with radio host Abby De La Rosa; nine-month-old Legendary with model Bre Tiesi, four-month-old Halo with model Alyssa Scott, and seven-month-old Onyx with film producer LaNisha Cole.

Cannon and Scott also had a son, Zen, together, who died of brain cancer at five months old.

Read the original article on Insider
Nigerias vice president-elect Kashim Shettima has claimed that Bola Tinubu, who will be sworn in as president in late May, was the first governor to have a female deputy when he was elected to lead Lagos state in 1999. Shettima also alleged that Tinubu appointed the countrys first female state chief justice. But AFP Fact Check found both assertions to be false: Cecilia Ekpeyong and Sinatu Ojikutu were named deputy governors in 1992, while Rosaline Omotosho was appointed the first female state chief justice years before Tinubu became a governor.

He was the first governor to appoint a female as his deputy; he is also the first person to appoint a woman as a chief judge of a state, Shettima told a small gathering at a recent book reading event in Nigerias capital Abuja on April 29, 2023 (archived here).

His Excellency, the Vice President Elect @KashimSM urged on Nigerians to buy and read more books as the follow the rule of law at the book reading and signing of @hadizabalausman's memoir #SteppingOnToes@SteppingOnToes_pic.twitter.com/X8OnRDP0Yu  .  (@abdoulrahman_i) April 29, 2023

In response to this, a supporter of opposition leader Peter Obi claimed that the Labour Party presidential candidate was, in fact, the first Nigerian governor to appoint a female deputy.

Her tweet has been reposted more than 1,500 times since it was shared on May 1, 2023.

Nigerian women have seen extremely limited success in politics in Nigeria.

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A 2022 report by Gender Strategy Advancement International showed that womens political participation in Nigeria falls below global standards, with the national average at 6.7 percent in elective and appointed positions (archived here).

This is far below the global average of 22.5 percent, the African regional average of 23.4 percent and the West African subregional average of 15 percent.

Although Tinubu had a female deputy when he ran Lagos, she was not the first in Nigeria or the state. He also never appointed a female chief judge while in power.

Class of 1992

A search of Lagos states official website showed that the state had two female deputy governors before Tinubu became governor in 1999.

Lateefat Okunnu was appointed a civilian deputy governor to Brigadier-General Raji Rasaki in 1990. Okunnu, however, was not elected (archived here).

The same year, Pamela Sadauki was also named deputy governor of Kaduna state in northwest Nigeria (archived here).

In 1992, Ojikutu and Ekpeyong were sworn-in as deputy governors in Lagos and Cross River states respectively as the candidates of the now-defunct National Republican Convention. They were the first female deputy governors to be elected.

Meanwhile, records show that Rosaline Omotosho was the first female state chief justice in Nigeria. She was the chief justice of Lagos from April 1995 to February 1997  more than two years before Tinubu was sworn in as governor on May 29, 1999 (archived here).

Tinubu and Obis female deputies

While Tinubu and Obi did not become governors until 1999 and 2003 respectively, they both had female deputies.

Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele served as deputy governor in Lagos between 1999 and 2003.

Virginia Etiaba was Obis deputy when he became the governor of Anambra state in southeast Nigeria in 2003. Etiaba also had a short stint as governor  the first woman in Nigeria  in Anambra state between November 3, 2006, and February 9, 2007, when Obi was illegally impeached and subsequently reinstated.
The National Institutes of Health renewed a grant to EcoHealth Alliance for research on the risk of bat coronavirus spillover emergence despite multiple agencies of the U.S. government embracing the lab leak theory of Covids origin.

Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) represent a significant threat to global health, as demonstrated by the emergence of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, a press release read. Bats were identified as the wildlife reservoirs of SARS-CoV by EcoHealth Alliance, and since then, we have published hundreds of novel SARS-related CoV (SARSr-CoV) sequences from wildlife in China and across Southeast Asia.

Eco Health Alliance is a U.S. nonprofit that used National Institute of Health funds to conduct dangerous coronavirus research in partnership with Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the NIH in 2019 gave a grant to the organization but paused it in April 2020 after the outbreak of Covid over concerns about ongoing collaborative lab research with the WIV. The WIV subaward through EcoHealth Alliance was then permanently suspended in August 2022 for compliance failures regarding reporting requirements.

To address some objections, on-the-ground work under the auspices of this new grant will not be conducted in China, the press release said. While the study pertains to southern China, the renewed work will involve collaboration only between EcoHealth Alliance and the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School.

All recombinant virus culture or infection experiments will also be removed from the research process. The press release assured that the research would not be gain of function, which involves extracting viruses from animals and engineering them in a lab to make them more transmissible or dangerous to humans.

In February, national-security council communications coordinator John Kirby said the Biden administration supports gain-of-function research despite the potential risks as long as that it is pursued in a safe and transparent manner.

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[The president] believes that [the research is] important to help prevent future pandemics, which means he understands that there has to be legitimate scientific research into . . . the potential sources of pandemics so that we understand [them] and so we can prevent them from happening, Kirby said.

In an updated assessment released in February, the Energy Department concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory accident, although it made that judgment with low confidence, the Wall Street Journal reported. Also in February, FBI director Christopher Wray told Fox News that Covid likely escaped from a laboratory in China, issuing the first public opinion of the sort from the agency on the origins of the virus.

The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan, Wray said. Here you are talking about a potential leak from a Chinese government-controlled lab.

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Get caught in New Hampshire with brass knuckles, a blackjack club, or slung shot and you could face misdemeanor charges. The police can also take them. Despite efforts of largely House Republicans, that looks unlikely to change.

In a 4-1 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee is recommending the full Senate kill House Bill 31, which would lift the prohibition on selling and possessing those items, often referred to as street-fighting weapons, in most cases. A blackjack is a weighted leather club, usually 8 to 12 inches long. A slung shot, different from a slingshot, is a weight attached to the end of a hand-held cord.

It is illegal to sell or possess those weapons in most situations. The Republican-sponsored legislation repealing that prohibition passed the House in March, 196-176, largely along party lines.

Get caught in New Hampshire with brass knuckles and you could face misdemeanor charges.

Rep. James Spillane, a Deerfield Republican and the bills prime sponsor, told a House committee earlier this year that the law allows possession of more lethal weapons.

We allowed knives of any length to be legal in New Hampshire over 12 years ago, he said. We have people able to carry firearms for self-defense, and the truth is that blackjacks, slung shots, and brass knuckles are purely non-lethal defense weapons tools to be used to protect yourself.

Although more than two dozen people registered opposition to the bill when it was before the Senate Judiciary Committee, none testified to say why. The full Senate is scheduled to take up the bill Thursday.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: No brass knuckles allowed: NH Senate committee balks at lifting ban
The claim: Produce from AeroFarms contains COVID-19 vaccine

An April 20 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) includes a short video that shows AeroFarm products on the shelves of a Whole Foods and the AeroFarms CEO talking about developing "therapeutic solutions and vaccine boosters" to combat COVID-19.

"Are Whole Foods customers being (injected) with the C19 mRNA shot via food products without their customer's knowledge or consent?" reads on-screen text.

"This is attempted murder," reads additional text.

The post was liked more than 200 times in two weeks.

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Our rating: False

There is no evidence COVID-19 vaccines are in the produce from AeroFarms. While AeroFarms researched using its technology to manufacture protein at a scale that could be extracted for therapeutics and vaccines, this research was not conducted at farms that grew produce the company sold to consumers.

Company examined using leafy greens to produce proteins

AeroFarms has never experimented with creating edible vaccines and has not sold any products that would have been engineered to contain proteins needed for COVID-19 vaccines, according to Marc Oshima, the companys chief marketing officer and co-founder.

"All that goes into our plants are water and nutrients," he said.

AeroFarms has developed technology and intellectual property around vertical farming to grow leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach. Oshima said the produce the company sells carries multiple third-party certifications, including a non-GMO certification.

The claim on social media includes a clip of David Rosenberg, CEO and co-founder of AeroFarms, saying the company was working on very specific therapeutic solutions and vaccine boosters as well as creating a platform to produce proteins for protein-based vaccine solutions.

That clip comes from a video posted on YouTube in 2021 by the account Unreasonable Group, which says it connects investors, institutions and entrepreneurs to solve pressing global problems. Oshima said Rosenberg was discussing the companys research into using its technology to grow plants containing proteins that could be extracted and used as components of vaccines or therapeutics.

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We did some preliminary trial work at one of our R&D farms about our ability to help grow proteins, Oshima said, adding that the work has since ended.

Fact check: No mRNA vaccine approved for cattle in US

AeroFarms research and development farms are separate facilities from its commercial and community operations, Oshima said. None of the research was conducted on vegetables that were sold to consumers.

USA TODAY previously debunked a viral post that claimed mRNA vaccines were in the food supply through the meat and milk of vaccinated animals. Pall Thordarson, the director of the University of New South Wales RNA Institute, previously told USA TODAY that even if someone did ingest elements of a vaccine, the particles would be destroyed in the stomach by gastric juices.

The video also references "bioengineered foods," which also have no connection to COVID-19 vaccines. That term refers to food that contains "genetic material that has been modified through certain laboratory techniques" that can't be replicated naturally, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USA TODAY could not reach the social media user who shared the claim for comment. Whole Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters and Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, COVID-19 vaccines are not in AeroFarms produce | Fact check
Vigil to honor the life of Jordan Neely in New York

People attend the vigil to honor the life of a 30-year-old homeless African-American man Jordan Neely who was killed after being held in a chokehold by a 24-year-old Marine veteran on a subway in New York, United States on May 08, 2023. Multiple people, including a female journalist were arrested during a vigil to honor the life of Jordan Neely. Credit - Selcuk AcarAnadolu Agency/Getty Images

Jordan Neely was 30. His mother was murdered by her boyfriend when he was 14. He was not a troublesome student, but he didnt make it through school. He loved dancing, adored Michael Jackson, and made some cash impersonating him on the subway, but he didnt have a stable living situation. Jordan Neely had also been arrested 42 times, according to CNN. He had a drug problem. His behavior was erratic. In 2021, he hit an old lady and was arrested again, and in February a judge spared him prison in exchange for agreeing to go to a rehab center and not use drugs for 15 months. He left the center after two weeks.

Very few people cared about any of this until Jordan Neely was killed.

A lot of people now have opinions and concerns about Neely, who was screaming and had thrown his coat on the floor of the New York City subway, according to witnesses, when Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine, with the help of others, held him in a chokehold until he died. A lot of people have a lot of views of what was wrong with what happened, how Neely should have been treated and who failed him, and whose fault it is, and who should have done what, but extremely few people really want to regularly interact with the community to which Neely belonged.

Read More: Jordan Neelys Death Reminds Some New Yorkers of the 1984 Bernard Goetz Case

In some ways, Daniel Penny did what nobody else wanted to dohe engaged with Neely. He had a tragically poor understanding of how to handle the situation and seems to have believed, possibly influenced by cultural stereotypes about poor and Black people, that Neely presented an imminent threat. To many, his actions ended up more like a lynching than an intervention. His lawyer says that Penny never intended to harm Neely. (Had Neely been afforded a lawyer before he was judged, he or she might have argued that Neely never meant to hurt anyone either.)

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One of the reasons Neely is dead is that Penny brought a combatants skills to a negotiators problem. People see those who are homeless or mentally ill as a threat in a way they dont see people with purely physical ailments and their fear can cloud their judgment. Associating erratic behavior [like Neelys] with dangerous behavior to me is a cognitive leap, says Josiah Haken, who runs City Relief, an organization that sets up mobile outreach stations for people who are living on the streets throughout New York City. That is a direct result of a narrative that we tell in our society about the dangerous Black homeless man.

Ive been mugged on the New York City subway. I understand what it is to suddenly have ones life threatened between stops. But Ive also slept, as a volunteer, at a homeless shelter, and Ive learned that nobody not in an actual war has more reason to fear being attacked than people who are unhoused. They are much more often the victims than the perpetrators of violence. One of the women at the shelter kept her shoes on while she slept, the better to run away if necessary.

The number of people experiencing the kind of chronic homelessness that cursed Neely increased by 16% between 2020 and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He belonged to a subset of the unhoused population who have been without a place to live for a long time and are often dealing with a disability that makes them a bad fit for shelters or congregant housing. Theyre the ones who often end up on the streets and in public view.

Perhaps partly because of this increase, homelessness advocates have noticed a waning in empathy for those experiencing homelessness and mental-health challenges across the board recently. It feels like these days, theres less tolerance for people who are having a harder time, people who are living on the margins of our city, says Brian Ourien, the director of communications at The Bowery Mission, the oldest rescue mission in the U.S. During the pandemic, there was a heightened involvement, a heightened engagement, and heightened giving. But post pandemic, all of that has been decreasing, including giving, engagement and empathy.

The pandemic and the unprecedented restrictions necessitated by its arrival may have played a role in peoples increasing trepidation toward those living on the margins Ourien mentions. Two years of heightening threats have left folks out of practice at de-escalation. Moreover, they dont have a lot of examples around to imitate. They dont see people toning it down on their social media feeds; they dont see it on the streets, in the schools, in the stores, in the places where we (used to) all learn how and when to take the temperature down a notch.

Haken, who wrote a book on homelessness, Neighbors With No Doors, says the use of police to deal with those experiencing homelessness has made an anxious people even more afraid. My first thought [when I heard about Neely], honestly, was that we created the situation by reinforcing negative stereotypes, and utilizing police to respond to homeless folks, rather than care coordinators, social workers, outreach professionals, he says. We made our bed. And this is the consequence.

Recent data has shown that murders of unhoused people have been on the rise. Just in the past few days, eight undocumented migrants were killed when a car slammed into them as they sat on the curb in Brownsville, Texas. In April, a former San Francisco city official was accused of attacking residents of a local tent community, with, among other things, bear spray. Instead of compassion, homeless people are getting hostility.

Mentally ill folks who are homeless are doubly cursed, because they dont have a good spokesperson. Theres no Gabby Giffords to explain what its like to be paralyzed by a bullet, no Randy Pausch to plead the case for more pancreatic cancer funding. There are just people whose brains have betrayed them, who havent eaten or slept, who have been the subject of public revulsion. Those folks have a tough time advocating for themselves. Their attempts often look like ranting or aggression. Its hard for those they encounter to be empathetic toward someone whos yelling and spitting at them. Its much easier to care about them in the abstractlike when theyre dead.

Its tempting to point the finger at the families of those who are mentally ill, to ask what happened to all the people who are supposed to care about them. Why would bystanders care if their family of origin didnt? And its true that far fewer people end up on the street when theyre mentally ill if they have intact families who know them, watch their medication, keep an eye on their moods, provide stability. People with mental illness can run through the folks trying to help them pretty quickly, and if they dont have a loved one watching out for them, they can spiral fast.

But sometimes its the families that caused the harm in the first place. There was abuse or cruelty. Underlying a lot of homelessness is a lack of trust, says Ourien. People have had promises broken by family, friends, even people who were wanting to help them. One guest at the Bowery Mission told Ourien that when he addressed him by his name, it was the first time hed heard it in 20 years.

Neelys death is a tragedy and an outrage. But the life of every unsheltered person is also its own kind of tragedy and outrage. Protests of Neelys death are appropriate, but the afflictions that took him to that subway car and to that fate are being visited upon thousands of people right now. And until we see those people as worthy of our attention and compassion, of dignity, and begin to treat them that way when we encounter them, there will only be fear and distrust and more unnecessary deaths. Homelessness can be overcome through the power of community; mental-health challenges can be overcome through the power of community, says Ourien. We find that community, a safe community, where theres a lot of camaraderie and shared growth, that builds trust.
New graduate Hattie Peterman shakes hands with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow as she crosses the stage on May 5, 2023 during the North Central Michigan College commencement ceremony.

PETOSKEY  Petoskey Plastics Arena was filled with proud family members and friends on Friday, May 5 as North Central Michigan College celebrated its Class of 2023.

Earlier in the day, the college had also hosted the traditional nurse pinning ceremony for graduates of the student nursing program. In total, 25 student-nurses received their pins.

NCMC nursing graduate Madison Murphy poses with her grandmothers, who pinned her during the May 5 ceremony.

The graduating class included the awarding of 230 associate degrees, seven certificates of development and 19 certificates.

According to college president David Roland Finley, 68 percent of the graduates plan to transfer to a four-year institution. Seven of the students were graduating with a family member and 32 percent are the first in their family to earn a degree or certificate.

Hundreds of new graduates received associate degrees and certificates on May 5, 2023 during the North Central Michigan College commencement ceremony.

Thats a big deal, he said.

All these graduates have exhibited intelligence, resilience, drive, focus and teamwork in getting to this day, Finley added. And we are pleased to call them Timberwolves. Were extremely proud of this years pack.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow delivered the keynote address on May 5, 2023 during the North Central Michigan College commencement ceremony.

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The keynote speaker for this years commencement was U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Stabenow, who has announced that she will not seek re-election and will retire from the Senate when her term ends in January 2025, likened her experiences to the new graduates, as she is also embarking on a new chapter in her life.

Jennifer (right) and Natasha Ball celebrate together on May 5, 2023 following the North Central Michigan College commencement ceremony.

Its never too early or too late to think about your legacy, Stabenow advised the graduates. What do you want yours to be? One thing I do know, is that if we all are willing to take a few risks, if were willing to stay true to our core values and do what we can to make a difference, Michigan and our country will be a better place.

Both the nurse pinning and the commencement ceremony were live streamed and are available to view at ncmich.edu/community-events/commencement.

 Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: NCMC celebrates 2023 commencement
Bus maker Wrightbus has received a 12m cash boost to produce green buses at its County Antrim factory.

The NextGenZEBs project will develop battery-electric and fuel-cell-powered buses to replace diesel engines.

It is part of a 77m joint government and industry-backed funding to develop zero-emission vehicles.

Meanwhile, it's been annouced two NI firms will split 3.6m in government funding to cut down on their use of fossil fuels.

FP McCann Ltd is getting 3.39m to improve the energy efficiency of crushing and concrete manufacturing at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea.

Woman shovelling concrete

Natural World Products in Dunmurry produces peat-free composts and soil conditioners.

It will put almost 300,000 towards replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric-powered equivalents.

The funding supports businesses which use high amounts of energy to clean up their manufacturing processes using low-carbon technologies.

It's a portion of a wider pot of 24.3m funding awarded through the UK government's Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.

A Natural World Products spokesperson said the funding had "allowed the company to make significant further greenhouse gas emissions savings at one of its key processing facilities".

'Filling a gap'

Wrightbus will work alongside Queen's University Belfast and Translink to deliver its NextGenZEBs project.

It is hoped that it will fill a gap in supply for zero-emission, multi-axle vehicles, as well as creating and safeguarding 883 jobs.

Jo Bamford, Wrightbus executive chairman, said: "When I took over the company, I was clear about my ambitions for it, both in terms of contributing to the UK's plans for net zero and in terms of supporting the British economy.

"We have always said that we will continue to drive forward with our zero-emissions vision."

In February, Wrightbus announced it is planning to develop a green hydrogen production facility.

Two months later, the Ballymena business secured an order to deliver 48 zero-emission buses for use in London by the end of this year.

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Wrightbus will work alongside Queen's University Belfast and Translink to deliver the NextGenZEBs project

'Cutting-edge work'

In Northern Ireland, Wrightbus already supplies Translink with battery and hydrogen powered buses, the first of which hit the streets in March 2022.

The NextGenZEBs project is one of seven schemes across the UK with joint government and industry backing, ranging from work on green fire engines to a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Ford Transit van.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: "Zero-emission cars, vans and taxis are increasingly common but this cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs too, from life-saving emergency services to haulage and public transport."

The funding has been awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme, which aims to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emission vehicles in the UK.

More than 38m of this investment comes from the government, backed by a further 38.7m from the automobile industry - taking the total to just over 77m.
Fighting for equal protection for all workers who are victims of domestic violence. A Webster family continues their push in honor of their daughter.

If youre working, youre earning a paycheck, youre paying taxes, dont you have the rights for protection, said Websters mother, Beth Dabrowski. Thats why we fight

Beth and Ed Dabrowski and their daughter Victoria took that fight to the State House Tuesday in honor of their daughter, Amanda Dabrowski.

Amanda was attacked during a violent home invasion inside her home in Ayer in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, 2019. Her alleged attacker, a coworker and ex-boyfriend Carlos Asencio.

As 25 Investigations has documented, Amanda notified her employer of the attack but learned she was terminated just two days later.

Massachusetts has employment protections for victims of domestic violence, up to 15 days of leave. But right now, it only applies to full-time employees. Amanda was a contracted worker.

Anyone who is a victim, needs that time, said dad, Ed Dabrowski. Get back up on their feet, get the help they need whether that be physical, emotional.

And thats what the family told the Joint Committee on Labor Workforce Development, adding being a victim of a brutal assault should not cost you your job.

It was not right, it was not fair, and she was absolutely devastated, Beth Dabrowski told lawmakers.

This is common sense, said State Senator Ryan Fattman (R -Worcester 18th) whos co-sponsoring legislation for the third consecutive session, hoping to ensure domestic violence protections for all workers in the state.

15 days, paid, unpaid, to the discretion of the employer. If they are victims, they deserve the time off to get their situation fixed, medically, mentally whatever it might take, Fattman told anchor and investigative reporter Kerry Kavanaugh.

Fattman says hes confident this bill will gain momentum this year, perhaps getting a boost during the hearing. Attorney General Andrea Campbell was there for something else, but she gave a nod to the Dabrowskis push for change.

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It changes the dynamic in the room and frankly the energy in the room when you hear such a painful story, so I wanted to first acknowledge that, she told the committee.

Two months after the home invasion attack, police say Amandas ex-boyfriend tracked her down to a crowded Worcester restaurant where he stabbed her multiple times.

Amanda was 31 when she was murdered. Her family now hoping to this simple change in the law will become part of her legacy.

I think we want to fix this loophole. I dont think it was intended, said Ed Dabrowksi. Hopefully this will fix it and help someone down the road.

25 Investigates will let you know if this bill gets voted out of committee and well follow it from there.

The trial for Amandas alleged killer is set to begin in June, early four years after her murder.

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
Russian war crimes in Ukraine

Read also: UK blocks address by Russian childrens rights ombudsman, a wanted war-crimes suspect, to UN Security Council

The academy is an organization dedicated to the advancement of international criminal law, located in Nuremberg, the birthplace of modern international criminal law.

The Nuremberg Declaration calls for the creation of a court to prosecute crimes committed in Ukraine. The document also proposes expanding the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction and setting up a tribunal to prosecute crimes committed in Ukraine.

The declaration urges the international community to support the establishment of a tribunal to investigate acts of aggression committed on Ukrainian soil.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the declaration, making parallels between the post-WWII Nuremberg Trials and Kyivs push towards setting up a tribunal to hold Moscow accountable for its apparent war crimes in Ukraine.

Read also: EU calls for criminal accountability of Russia for environmental damage in Ukraine

I welcome the Nuremberg Declaration which draws a direct link between the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine were working on now, Kuleba said in a Twitter post.

Read also: EU official details possible structure of tribunal for Putin

Russian leadership, like Nazi leadership in 1945, must be prosecuted for the crime of aggression.

At the Bucha Summit on March 31, 50 participating countries and organizations signed the Bucha Declaration, supporting the prosecution of those responsible for Russian crimes in Ukraine.

Russian troops occupied Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, in the opening weeks of the invasion of Ukraine. After their withdrawal in late March 2022, the horrific toll of the occupation has emerged: at least 1,400 civilians were killed by enemy troops in the Bucha District, including 637 in the town itself.

Read also: Former Wagner commanders confess to massive war crimes, including killing children

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Several countries and international organizations are assisting Ukraine in investigating and documenting apparent Russian war crimes committed during the occupation of Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, and other settlements across Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A nurse who had the authority to prescribe pills did so for two patients she had sex with over the course of four years, federal prosecutors said.

During this time, the advanced practice registered nurse from Dyersburg, Tennessee, also prescribed dangerous pill combinations  including the Holy Trinity, which is known as a mix of a benzodiazepine, an opioid and muscle relaxant, according to court documents.

The nurse who ran the Convenient Care Clinic was caught illegally distributing prescription drugs, prosecutors said.

In the cases latest development, the woman, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances as well as healthcare fraud, the Justice Department announced in a May 9 news release.

She could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on each controlled substance count, prosecutors said.

She also could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in connection with billing Medicare and Medicaid for medical services she never performed herself, prosecutors said. Medicare and Medicaid paid her about $16,234 as a result, according to officials.

McClatchy News tried to contact federal public defender Dianne Smothers, who represents the woman in the case, and didnt immediately receive a response.

Months before charges were filed against the nurse in the federal case, the Tennessee Board of Nursing forced her to stop practicing as a nurse in the state and suspended her nursing license and advanced practice registered nurse certificate in June 2021, prosecutors said.

The board accused the womans conduct of being so severe that it imperatively requires emergency action in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, according to a July 2021 report by WREG-TV.

She was accused of being unprofessional at work, pulling a clinic door off the hinges and bringing sex toys into the clinic, the outlet reported.

From January 2017 through early 2021, she issued more than 50,000 controlled substance prescriptions, including more than 2 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills and over 900,000 benzodiazepines, according to an indictment, which didnt specify how many of these prescriptions were illegal. During this time frame, shes accused of having sex with two patients.

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Its unclear if the patients she had sex with were prescribed drugs with or without a valid medical reason.

A plea agreement shows the woman ultimately admitted to illegally distributing 3,525 mg of hydrocodone, 3,600 mg of oxycodone, 1800 mg of amphetamines and 120 units of alprazolam without a legitimate purpose.

She also left pre-signed prescriptions so her coworkers could distribute drugs when she was out, according to the indictment.

Hundreds of opioid prescriptions, issued by the nurse, were dispensed when she wasnt at work, the indictment says.

The case against the woman was prosecuted in the Western District of Tennessee.

Dyersburg is about 80 miles northeast of Memphis.

Nursing student stole fentanyl and injected herself in hospital bathroom, feds say

Woman without a license treated patients with life-threatening conditions, feds say

Nurse practitioner prescribed pills to have sex with women, promote TV show, feds say
A Wisconsin nurse reportedly tampered with medications at a hospital, secretly swapping one kind for another, federal officials said.

The nurse, a 54-year-old woman from Janesville, replaced fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, with saline, a mixture of salt and water, while working at a local hospital in 2021, according to a May 8 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Wisconsin.

An attorney for the nurse could not immediately be reached for comment by McClatchy News.

After replacing the vials of fentanyl with a saline solution, she apparently resealed the containers with what appeared to be superglue to cover her tracks, officials said.

Afterwards, she placed the tampered vials into the hospitals automated dispensing system, meaning some hospital patients would receive the wrong medication.

Those experiencing severe pain, often cancer patients, are prescribed fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A subsequent investigation into the nurses transactions on the dispensing system revealed a pattern of fentanyl waste, officials said.

When confronted by hospital officials and asked to submit to a drug test, the nurse declined and resigned instead, according to the release.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of product tampering on May 8 following an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration, officials said.

Her plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 18 months in prison and a $30,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A date for her plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Multiple medical workers across the country have been charged with tampering with fentanyl supplies in recent years.

A Kansas City health worker was sentenced to a year in prison in March for allegedly stealing fentanyl from two hospitals, according to KMBC. And a Colorado paramedic was sentenced to three years in prison for reportedly stealing over 1,000 vials of fentanyl, CBS News Colorado reported.

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Fentanyl, like other opioids, can be highly addictive, according to the American Addiction Centers, and because medical professionals have increased access to the drug, theft has been a major issue in hospitals.

Daughter hid her moms body for a decade, California cops say. Then brother found out

Walmart worker filmed children in store bathroom, Alabama cops say. Hes been indicted

Substitute teacher trying to fit in shares vape pen with 7th grader, Florida cops say
 Read the full article on Motorious

He wants the publics help

Just like in many other large cities, car theft in New York City is raging out of control. Mayor Adams, the same guy who smugly reminded everyone from flyover country that the Big Apple has its own unique brand, recently addressed grand larceny auto problems during a press conference. But one of his remarks really caught the attention of the media and public since he encourages the use of Apple AirTags in vehicles to help with recovery efforts.

See what NYC was like in the 1930s here.

Weve been telling people to use GPS trackers in their vehicles for some time now. Even if you have a factory GPS unit thats active, its a great idea to install at least one more in your ride, especially if you have a vehicle thieves likely would want to steal. And these days thats pretty much anything.

Whats great about the Apple AirTag is its small, cheap at $29, and simple to use. The only catch is you have to own an Apple device to track it and if thieves have an iPhone, they can be alerted to its presence. However, there are tutorials on how to remove the speaker from AirTags so you can make it more difficult for thieves to detect where youve hidden it in the car.

Adams also addressed the TikTok trend of kids stealing Kias and Hyundais that lack engine immobilizers. Just like in many other cities, kids are now swiping those cars at alarming rates with indications the trend is only growing. Its gotten so bad that some insurance companies wont cover certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles in various areas since the likelihood of a theft claim is incredibly high.

While the police try to deter theft, Adams is right that the citizenry has the responsibility to help with that as well as tracking down their vehicle if it is stolen. With such cheap technology readily available, using something like an AirTag only makes sense.

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New York City is stressing phonics in its newly announced revision of its reading curriculum, calling it a historic day for the city.

Chancellor David Banks, head of the citys Department of Education, announced Tuesday that schools in New York will switch to the science of reading to educate students because they are falling behind on reading scores.

Before kids can learn to love to read, we first have to teach them how to read. And the science on that, on how kids learn to read, is now pretty clear. We must give children the basic foundational skills of reading, teach them to sound out words, teach them to decode complex letter combinations and build them into confident readers, Banks said at a press conference.

The switch is part of a long debate between the science of reading, which stresses teaching students phonics and sounding out words, versus balanced literacy, which focuses more on teaching students to read by showing them cues or using context clues to understand a book.

Banks said some schools are ready to adopt this new approach now, while others will begin at the start of the new school year in September.

This is the beginning of something new, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said in the announcement of the new reading curriculum.

The debate between the two reading styles is not new, but the support for the science of reading has grown, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic and students were found to be far behind in reading.

The switch to the science of reading in New York City schools will be massive, with hundreds of schools having to go from balanced literacy to the science of reading. It will also require teachers to change how they have been teaching reading for a long time.

This is the framework of what a solid reading foundation actually looks like, Banks said. Its not just phonics. It is a very comprehensive approach. But phonics and phonemic awareness are the bedrock of that. It has been missing in far too many of our schools, and were going to fix that.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows a roadside store in Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Chen Qingbing)

Adam Mahmood's story in search of "Ren," a traditional Chinese philosophy of benevolence advocated by ancient Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius, begins in the hustle and bustle of Chongqing, a southwestern Chinese metropolis.



Mahmood was one of the dozens of foreign filmmakers who participated in a documentary-making activity held by Southwest University recently. The activity aims to help young directors experience the charm of China's excellent traditional culture. What Mahmood focused on during the trip to Chongqing is "Ren," a key idea in the thoughts of Confucius.

"Prior to this journey, I have learned a little about the Chinese traditional culture of 'Ren,'" said Mahmood, the 23-year-old British national.

After taking a few hours by bus, Mahmood and his film shooting partner arrived at their final destination -- Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District of Chongqing Municipality. Tucked away in deep mountains, the town bears a history of over 300 years.

After a spring rain, birds were chirping on the local centuries-old trees while the tree leaves fell gently onto roofs of nearby old residential buildings and covered part of the stone walkways. Following the streams winding through the sleepy town, Mahmood and his partner curiously observed the surroundings with mud on their pants and shoes.

"I believe the residents here were more able to show me the culture of Pianyan than the architecture of the old town," said Mahmood as he began his visits to local residents.

Pianyan is known for its intangible cultural heritage, Tangmen Caizha, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The old craft mainly integrates handcrafts, traditional calligraphy, and paintings as well as engraving arts.

Tangmen Caizha's artworks are all structured with bamboo strips. Local craftsmen paste paper on the structures, draw vivid colors and then attach various kinds of adornments on them. The finished products were used for dragon or lion dances and parades on important festive occasions in ancient times.

Tang Qiantai, 80, is a fourth-generation inheritor of the old craft. The senior master now volunteers to teach children in order to better preserve and revive the craft.

Thanks to Tang's efforts, the Tangmen Caizha has drawn more attention over recent years, becoming a major magnet for visitors to the ancient town. During the first seven months of 2022, over 520,000 tourists were received by the Jindaoxia scenic area, which includes the ancient town, up 85 percent year on year.

Deeply touched by Tang's spirit, Mahmood speaks highly of Tang and deems the master's efforts as a vivid image of "Ren" culture. The filmmaker even experienced the handcraft making and dragon dance himself, trying to comprehend the essence of "Ren."

Apparently, the foreigner underestimated the great difficulties of grasping the craft. "My arms ached from long hours of holding the dragon's head in the blazing sun. And I realized that dragon dance was not easy even for a young man like myself," said Mahmood.

After days of practicing the performance, Mahmood had his debut show on a sunny day, dancing with the local dragon dance team for the residents. Rounds of applause that burst from the audience spoke volumes about the success of their performance.

Mahmood recorded the whole process through his lens. The finished film was named "The Dance of 'Ren'" by him, as he began to realize the rich connotation of traditional Chinese culture and philosophy.

"The spirit of 'Ren' is not only a human trait, but also a culture that has been precipitated by thousands of years of history," said the man. "It's not only the insistence on heritage in Master Tang, but also the spirit of selflessness and dedication of Tang and friendliness of all the people in the town."
New York City police arrested at least 11 people and discovered what officials called a Molotov cocktail during a vigil and protest marking one week after the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless street performer who was placed in a fatal chokehold inside a Manhattan F train.

Photojournalist Stephanie Keith, who has contributed to The New York Times, Bloomberg and Reuters, among other outlets, was filmed being arrested and placed into a New York City Police Department van near protests at Houston Street and Broadway on 8 May. A press pass and camera equipment are clearly visible in widely shared footage of her arrest.

I was flabbergasted, she wrote in an Instagram post after her release later that night. She said she was standing with other photographers, apart from police making arrests. For some reason they chose me from that situation, she added.

I said, Im press and they said, Youre not, youre arrested, she told The New York Daily News.

People who were taken into custody violated several laws, including using a loud microphone and blocking the street, according to Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey and Chief of Patrol John Chell, speaking at a press conference later that night.

Ms Keith was detained for interfering with arrests, Mr Chell said.

Footage of her arrest shows her attempting to cross the street before several officers surround her; Mr Chell tells her to get on the sidewalk followed by lock her up.

Video here of the lead-up to Stephanies arrest.



It looks like NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, one of the highest ranking members of the department, ordered her arrest. Lock her up, Chell can be heard telling officers after she stepped into the sidewalk to try to get a photo. https://t.co/iUiN6C7Jqk  Chris Sommerfeldt (@C_Sommerfeldt) May 9, 2023

Police also recovered a Molotov cocktail on the ground after protesters were moved away from the area, Mr Maddrey said. No arrests have been made in connection with the object, which appears to be an empty bottle of Topo Chico with an unknown liquid and rolled up paper.

Story continues

Agitators that come from outside our city with Molotov cocktails, we should all be concerned about that, Mayor Eric Adams told The City during an unrelated event in Queens.

This is a Molotov Cocktail that was found at tonights protest. We are committed to ensuring everyones right to protest. Violence has no place in civic demonstration. These actions will never be tolerated & anyone bringing weapons or dangerous substances will be arrested. https://t.co/5eS5A525SQ pic.twitter.com/VMh14FQQSD  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 9, 2023

I want to make it clear: we respect peoples right to protest, we respect their First Amendment rights, but we will not tolerate people breaking the law, Mr Maddrey said. More importantly, we will not tolerate people bringing weapons and dangerous substances to peaceful protests.

The protest was held one week after Neely was fatally choked on a train arriving at the Broadway-Lafayette subway station. Daniel Penny was filmed wrapping his arm around Neely for several minutes.

The citys medical examiner determined the cause of death was homicide. No charges have been filed, and police and the Manhattan district attorneys office are investigating.

On Monday night, a small group of demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk near the entrance to the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan. A group also gathered on the platform below.

Dozens of officers arrived on the scene, breaking up a group gathered on the street. One man was pinned to the ground, and another demonstrator with a bloodied face was photographed by Ms Keith as he was loaded into a police van.

Demonstrators later walked from Houston Street and Broadway to NYPDs seventh precinct station house.

In a statement on 5 May, attorneys representing Mr Penny said the 24-year-old former US Marine and other passengers acted to protect themselves, until help arrived and never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death four days earlier.

Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness and began aggressively threatening Mr Penny and others on the train, according to the statement from Mr Pennys attorneys with the firm Raiser and Kenniff.

Earlier on Monday, attorneys for Neelys family condemned the statement as neither an apology nor an expression of regret.

It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordans life, according to attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards.

The attorneys also urged Mayor Adams to give us a call.

The family wants you to know that Jordan matters, they wote.

Mr Adams told The City that he has tried to reach Neelys family several times to give them my condolences.
A metallic object hit a New Jersey home this week and officials think it may be a meteorite.

The object hit a home around 1:15 p.m. Monday in Hopewell Township, New Jersey, about 15 miles northwest of Trenton, according to the Hopewell Township Police Department.

Police said the four by six inch oblong-shaped object went through the roof and ceiling before hitting the hardwood floor and stopping.

Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer at the Philadelphia-based Franklin Institute Science Museum, said objects fall into the Earth's atmosphere all the time, so this isn't a rare occurrence.

What is rare is items hitting someone's home.

A metallic object that hit a home in Hopewell Township, New Jersey on May 8, 2023.

"Here's an instance where a sizable object has not only fallen in a populated region, it also hit a house and it was immediately collected by the occupants," he said. "The instance of that happening, you can count on one hand over the last 1,000 years, maybe."

That's only if this is really a meteorite though, he said. That'll come with more in-depth analysis, he said.

"If you look at it, it does resemble what certain kinds of meteorites look like," he said. "It stands as a strong possibility that that's what this could be."

Eta Aquariid: Meteor shower peaks tonight: How to watch Eta Aquariid in the night sky

Meteor showers: The Eta Aquariid meteor showers: A visual guide on where, when and how to view

What is this object?

Pitts said the item could very well be a meteorite.

Objects that fly around in space are called meteoroids, he said. If they fall into earth's atmosphere, they're called meteors and if they land, they're called meteorites.

So in this case, the object that hit the house would be a meteorite.

He also said it's likely extremely old, as in 4 billion or 5 billion years old.

"Pieces of space junk flying around, these things tend to be in the billions of years old," he said. "That's because this is trash leftover from the beginning of the solar system. This is junk that didn't get swept up into planets. A lot of this is dust and dirt and little bits of rock and some larger pieces of rock and asteroids."

Story continues

These objects fly around the solar system until they get caught in the gravitational field of a planet or another body, he said.

The objects then get pulled down to that planet or body.

Where did the (potential) meteorite come from?

The police department investigating the incident said it reached out to multiple agencies to learn more about the object.

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower happens every year between mid-April and the end of May, according to the American Meteor Society. The fireballs can be seen once Earth runs into a dense stream of debris from the Comet Halley. The debris dates back to over 3,000 years ago.

But Pitts said it's unlikely that the object was related to the Eta Aquariids.

"My own personal belief is that this is just a happy coincidence," he said. "I don't think it's part of the Aquariid shower. It just happens that the peak of the Aquariid shower was two days before this object was reported. People tend to draw conclusions like that."

Until more research is done, Pitts is referring to the New Jersey object as a "very tiny asteroid."

"It's much more intriguing and exciting for it to be extraterrestrial than ... the kid next door throwing something through the neighbor's roof," he said.

A metallic object that hit a home in Hopewell Township, New Jersey on May 8, 2023.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A meteorite in Hopewell, NJ? Metallic object has residents wondering
A man has died due to Russian shelling of the city of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Serhii Chaus, head of the City Military Administration of Chasiv Yar, in a comment to Suspilne

Details: Chaus did not specify when the shelling took place.

He said that over the past week, about 20 people left the settlement, but on 9 May, no one was willing to evacuate. According to him, several doctors and nurses work in the city, and there is one pharmacy and three shops open.

Earlier, Chaus reported that the occupying forces destroyed the bridge leading to the Skhidnyi neighbourhood, and driving there is no longer possible. There are still people who refused to evacuate even before the destruction.

According to him, on 9 May, they talked with some residents about leaving, but they did not volunteer to be evacuated.

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Henry County Sheriffs Office deputies have captured a felony shoplifting suspect who escaped at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

The sheriffs office said the suspect, identified as Quasha Harris, escaped custody around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

She walked away towards Rock Quarry Road. She was later arrested in Atlanta Tuesday night.

This is a situation that should not have happened. Ms. Harris came into court to face charges and quickly became a fugitive of the law and is now at risk of facing some real time. I dont know why people think they can get around the law and escape custody without being held accountable, Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett said.

Harris now faces an escape charge and other charges are pending. Deputies say Harris mother is also in custody potentially facing obstruction charges.

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At the close of a long weekend of coronation celebrations, Buckingham Palace shared three official portraits of King Charles, Queen Camilla, and working members of the royal family. King Charles is wearing the full regalia from the Westminster Abbey ceremony, but the portrait also gave the public its first glimpse of the ivory Alexander McQueen gown the Princess of Wales wore beneath her formal robesas well as her chosen jewelry.

King Charles III coronation Photo: Hugo Burnand / Courtesy of the Royal Household

King Charles III coronation Photo: Hugo Burnand / Courtesy of the Royal Household

Kates dress is adorned with embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock motifs, to represent the four nations of the United Kingdom (the same flowers appeared on her wedding dress in 2011). The image also shows how the Princess honored the late Queen Elizabeth II on the day by wearing her George VI Festoon Necklace, which was commissioned in 1950 by King George VI for the then Princess Elizabeth. The King asked royal jeweler Garrard to turn 105 loose diamonds from the Royal Collection into a special necklace for his daughter, made up of three tiered strands of diamonds of different sizes. The gift from her father, who died when she was just 25, was one of the Queens favorite pieces of jewelry.

Queen Elizabeth II Photo: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II Photo: Getty Images

The Queen was first photographed wearing the necklace shortly after her Coronation in 1952, and wore it on several occasions during her first Commonwealth tour. The monarch then selected the Festoon Necklace for many memorable, historic moments throughout her reign, including for at least 10 state openings of parliament and important royal tours and meetings with dignitariesshe was wearing it when she danced with President Ford at the White House.

State Opening of Parliament Photo: Getty Images

Royal Arrival Photo: Getty Images

This is the first time the Princess of Wales has worn this necklace, and its a highly significant choice. All of Kates jewelry choices were sentimental: she also wore diamond and South Sea pearl earrings that previously belonged to Princess Diana, which have a horseshoe design with intricately-linked marquise-cut diamonds. Diana was photographed wearing them numerous times including on a visit to Australia in 1996. As for Kates Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece, that was made extra special by the fact that her daughter, Princess Charlotte, wore a miniature version on the day.

Originally Appeared on Vogue

More Coronation Coverage from Vogue
Officials identified three children among the eight victims who were shot and killed in the Texas mall mass shooting over the weekend.

The Texas Department of Public Safety released the identities of the Allen Premium Outlets shooting victims in an update to the investigation Monday. Officials said that an 8-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy were among the deceased victims of the shooting.

CBS News Texas reported that the two girls were sisters who attended Cheri Cox Elementary School. CBS News reported that the school district sent a letter to parents to describe the heartbreaking situation.

Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy, the letter reads, according to CBS News.

CBS News also reported that the girls mother was injured in the shooting and remains hospitalized.

Kyu Song Cho, 37, and Cindy Cho, 35, the parents of the 3-year-old victim, were also identified as victims in the shooting. According to a GoFundMe set up in the familys honor, the couples 6-year-old son was injured in the shooting but ultimately survived after being released from the ICU.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, the GoFundMe page reads. Cindy, Kyu and three year old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning. After being released from the ICU, their six year old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

The remaining victims that officials identified in the shooting were Christian LeCour, 23,

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26. LeCours family told CNN that he worked in the mall as a security guard, describing him as a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family.

The suspect in the shooting was shot and killed by a police officer who was responding to an unrelated incident at the mall when he heard gunshots. Officials identified the suspect as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, whose extremist social media posts are under review by investigators.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A knife-wielding man refusing to leave a Brooklyn residence was shot and injured by a state police trooper on Tuesday, officials said.

At approximately 9:37 a.m., troopers assigned to the Troop D barracks in Danielson were dispatched to assist a state marshal with the court-ordered eviction of a tenant residing at 29 Tiffany St. in Brooklyn, state police said.

Police said the man refused to vacate the premises and was seen wielding a knife. A trooper at the scene discharged his weapon, causing injury, state police said in a statement.

The individual, who was not identified, was transported via medical helicopter to UMASS Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. Police on Tuesday afternoon said the man was in stable condition and undergoing surgery.

No one else was injured, state police said.

More: Police: Man found in shallow grave at Mohegan Park in Norwich a homicide victim

The investigation into the shooting is being led by the state Office of Inspector General, with assistance from detectives assigned to the state polices Major Crimes Unit- Central District.

State police officials referred all questions related to the shooting to the inspector generals office. That agency, which is tasked with investigating all police-involved shootings in the state, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

John Penney can be reached at jpenney@norwichbulletin.com or at (860) 857-6965.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: State police: Brooklyn man shot, injured by trooper in eviction dispute
A Facebook post shared a photo purporting to show Ethiopian federal soldiers on their way to crush a militia group in the countrys Amhara region. However, this is false: it is an old photo taken in 2022 and shows federal police preparing to safeguard facilities in the Tigray region.

The post was published on Facebook on May 1, 2023 and has been shared more than 120 times.

The post begins with the hashtag #breaking_news_Amhara.

The [federal] defence forces launched heavy fighting in Majete and Mahal Meda against terrorist Fano groups earlier today and destroyed them entirely, the post reads in part.

Screenshot of the false post, taken on May 8, 2023

The post also asks users to share the story and to follow the account for updated information.

Majete and Mehal Meda are towns in the North Shoa zone of the Amhara region, and Fano is a local militia.

The post includes a photo of armed men in blue uniforms seated in a pickup with a logo that reads Ethiopian Federal Police Commission.

Instability in Amhara

Anti-government protests were held in the Amhara region in April over the governments decision to dismantle regional security forces.

On April 30, 2023, federal agencies arrested 47 people (archived here), accusing them of plotting to overthrow the Ethiopian government after the Amhara regional head of the ruling Prosperity Party was assassinated three days earlier (archived here).

According to local media reports (in Amharic), calm has returned to most of the region, although the city of Gondar saw public demonstrations on May 4, 2023.

However, there have been no reports of fighting between federal forces and Fano in recent weeks, nor does the photo show Ethiopian soldiers in Amhara.

Old photo from Mekelle

A reverse image search found that the photo shows Ethiopian police in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray region, in December 2022.

The photo was originally shared by federal police on their verified Facebook account.



Screenshot of original photo, taken on May 4, 2023

The Amharic description accompanying the photo translates to: Ethiopian federal police entered Mekelle to protect federal institutions including airport, telecom and electric power facilities in the city.

The mobilisation in Mekelle was part of the implementation of a peace deal reached between the government and Tigray rebels after two years of war.
A man was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon in a Kansas City, Kansas, neighborhood, according to police.

Police officers were dispatched shortly before 2 p.m. to the 2200 block of North 56th Terrace on a reported shooting, Officer Jovanna Cheatum, a department spokeswoman, said at the scene.

There, police located one gunshot victim inside a home. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Cheatum said.

Detectives were working to speak with witnesses and search for any home surveillance cameras in the area. Cheatum said the circumstances of what led to the shooting remained unclear Tuesday afternoon.

Police also did not have information to share with the public concerning a suspect. No one had been arrested or detained in regard to the shooting, Cheatum said.

The killing marks the eighth homicide in Kansas City, Kansas so far in 2023, according to data maintained by The Star. In 2022, the city saw 40 homicides.

Kansas City, Kansas police were asking that anyone with information concerning the homcide call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
In this image from a Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer's body-worn video camera, released and annotated by the Justice Department, Peter Schwartz, circled in red, is shown using a canister of pepper spray against officers on January 6, 2021, in Washington. Justice Department via AP

A Kentucky man with 38 prior convictions received the longest January 6 sentence yet on Friday.

A judge sentenced Peter Schwartz to 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Schwartz used stolen police pepper spray to attack officers several times that day.

A Kentucky Capitol rioter with a rap sheet 38 convictions in length was sentenced Friday to more than 14 years in prison  the longest sentence yet of any January 6 insurrectionist  after being found guilty of attacking police officers with pepper spray and a chair.

Judges have handed down hundreds of sentences to January 6, 2021 riot participants in the more than two years since a mob of Trump supporters laid siege to the US Capitol, but rioter Peter Schwartz set a new record this month when US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced him to 14 years and two months, as well as three years of supervised release, and a hefty fine for his role in the attack.

Mehta also sentenced the rioter who previously held the record for longest January 6 defendant sentence, which was 10 years for a retired New York Police Department officer who attacked officers during the assault.

A jury convicted Schwartz, 49, of multiple counts related to his role in the January 6, 2021, riot in December, including several counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of interfering with law-enforcement officers, and one count of obstruction, among others.

Prosecutors had asked for a whopping 24 years and six months, but Mehta said in court on Friday that the ask was overly punitive, according to WUSA. Schwartz's lawyer, meanwhile, requested 4 years, arguing that his client's behavior that day was informed by a "misunderstanding" of the 2020 presidential election.

Dennis Boyle, an attorney for Schwartz, said they will be appealing both the conviction and the sentence.

"Although we are pleased that the court found both the guidelines calculation and the government's requested sentence of more than 24 years unreasonable, we believe that the 14-year sentence was too long," he told Insider.

Story continues

Schwartz, alongside his then-wife, Shelly Stallings, traveled to DC ahead of January 6, 2021, to attend the riot, "intent on violence," prosecutors wrote. During the attack, Schwartz stole chemical irritants, including pepper spray that was abandoned by police officers during the chaos, and then used it to attack authorities multiple times that day.

Stallings pleaded guilty to several charges, including assaulting officers, in August and was sentenced to two years in prison last month.

Schwartz spoke briefly during his sentencing hearing on Friday, according to the Associated Press, expressing his "sincere regret" for the damage done on January 6, 2021.

But Mehta wasn't buying it.

"You were on a war front," the judge said, according to reports. "You were a soldier against democracy."

Prosecutors said Schwartz boasted about his role in the riot, even claiming that he threw the first chair that broke the police line and allowed rioters to overwhelm the building.

"You took it upon yourself to try and injure multiple police officers that day," Mehta said in court on Friday.

Schwartz was on probation when he took to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to the AP, stemming from one of his "jaw-dropping" 38 prior convictions since 1991, prosecutors said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Prominent filmmaker Pema Tseden died on Monday due to a sudden illness at the age of 53. The Tibetan director, writer and producer was a pioneer of Tibetan-language film.

Director Pema Tseden speaks at an event in April during the 13th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), where he served as the president of the international jury for the Forward Future Section this year, awarding honors to talented young filmmakers. [Photo courtesy of BJIFF Organizing Committee]

According to the Beijing News, Pema Tseden was rushed to hospital for treatment on the early morning of May 8 after showing signs of acute altitude sickness while working. However, despite the best efforts of hospital staff, he died from what his brother later stated was a sudden heart attack. As the news broke, condolences poured in from all over the country.

Born in December 1969 in a Tibetan-inhabited prefecture of Qinghai province in northwest China, Pema Tseden was a graduate of both the Northwest Minzu University and the Beijing Film Academy. Before achieving success as a filmmaker, he was a prolific writer, publishing over 40 short stories and novellas in both Tibetan and Mandarin since 1991. The title of one of his short story collections, "A Half Told Story," has been adopted by many on social media to mourn his sudden passing, as his own life story has been cut short and many of his future projects and stories left untold.

As a director, Pema Tseden created a slew of critically acclaimed and award-winning films, including "The Silent Holy Stones" (2005), "The Search" (2009), "Old Dog" (2011), "Tharlo" (2015) and "Balloon" (2019). His credits also include "Jinpa" (2018), which won best screenplay when it premiered in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival in 2018. He just finished filming his latest film "Stranger" early this year, while another film, "Snow Leopard," is awaiting release.

Prior to his directorial debut with "The Silent Holy Stones," which won the award for best directorial debut at the prestigious Golden Rooster Awards, there were no Tibetan filmmakers quite like Pema Tseden. As an ethnic Tibetan who was born in Tibetan-inhabited area, fluent in the language, and deeply knowledgeable about the culture, his films are distinguished by their authentic portrayal of Tibet and people live there, exploring real human dilemmas and conflicting contradictions. In addition, Pema Tseden made important technical innovations in audio-visual language, producing both feature films and documentaries that depict his ethnic group while retaining a universal and international vision, sharing Tibet's stories with the world.

Director Pema Tseden receives the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay for "Jinpa" at the closing ceremony of the 75th Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sept. 8, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

In addition, Pema Tseden also worked hard to nurture, help and support Tibetan filmmakers, and even tried to mentor and train his own crew to be film directors. Many Tibetan filmmakers, such as Sonthar Gyal and Lhapal Gyal, have expressed their gratitude for him and spoken of how he inspired them.

"We deeply mourn the loss of the great film director who created works about the destiny of Tibetan people," reads the condolence statement from the China Film Directors Guild on Monday. The statement called Pema Tseden an "outstanding representative of China's film industry and a leading figure in the Tibetan new wave cinema." It also recognized his significant contributions to the inheritance and development of Tibetan culture by integrating it with modern cinema.

"His films showcase Tibet's unique natural scenery and folk culture while also conveying deep reflections and explorations on themes such as life, humanity and faith. He was not only an outstanding filmmaker, but also a cultural communicator and thinker who adhered to tradition and loved life," the guild continued, "His passing is a huge loss to the Chinese film industry."
With a pair of top candidates absent, three GOP candidates for governor of Kentucky dug into the issues in another live televised debate on Monday night at Transylvania University.

This time turned out to be less combative than last. The debate, hosted by Lexington TV station WKYT, took a shorter format approach that offered fewer opportunities for candidates to banter.

Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles, conservative activist Eric Deters and auditor Mike Harmon all weighed in on taxation, abortion, LGBTQ issues, education and more. Attorney General Daniel Cameron and former ambassador Kelly Craft  who polled first and second, respectively, in a recent survey  declined invitations to attend.

At the last GOP candidate debate held last week, a feud between Cameron and Craft got fiery and Deters often stoked the flames.

Harmon said he was a little disappointed that Craft and Cameron chose not to attend the debate.

A group of politically invested Transylvania students expressed some disappointment in Craft and Camerons no-shows, but said they werent surprised.

I think its because Cameron is content with the (former president Donald) Trump endorsement, said Tate Ohmer, a senior who was previously president of Kentucky College Democrats. Hes hoping that takes him over the finish line, and hes concerned that every time he sticks his neck out in the debate he can only do damage.

Craft discusses transgender agenda

Instead of attending the debate, Craft opted to host a tele-town hall at the same time Monday evening. During the hour-long call, a host read questions that were reportedly submitted by callers; other listeners did not hear the voices of the participants who submitted the questions.

Craft used the time to focus on her signature issues: combating woke ideologies in schools, beating the opioid epidemic and bashing Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

One question asked Craft how shed combat the transgender agenda in classrooms. Craft touted the record of her lieutenant governor running mate, State Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. Wise sponsored Senate Bill 150 in the 2023 General Assembly; it started as a bill that would not require teachers to use a transgender or nonbinary students pronouns but morphed into an omnibus anti-trans bill that also banned gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Story continues

Under a Craft-Wise administration, we will not have transgenders in our school system, Craft said, before pivoting to talk about library materials available in public schools.

You just cant imagine whats out there, but under a Craft-Wise administration we will not have transgender, Craft said, before abruptly pivoting again. I traveled with Riley Gaines. If you hear her story, you will understand. Women compete with women in sports. We have girls are girls and boys are boys. And were going to keep it that way.

Gaines is the former University of Kentucky swimmer who has become a right-wing darling for speaking out about having to compete against trans swimmer Lia Thomas.

The Herald-Leader reached out to the Craft campaign to clarify what the candidate means by not having transgenders in our school system. The newspaper received a response Tuesday morning.

Of course Kelly was referring to the woke ideologies being pushed in our schools, a campaign spokesperson said. She has been advocating for the best for all children this entire campaign.

Crafts comments about trans issues in schools came just days after she seemingly compared transgender people to horses.

I thought about this today, Oaks day, weve got all the fillies racing, Craft said in an interview with NewsRadio 840 WHAS Friday. Can you imagine after  Riley Gaines has been traveling around the state with me, shes a close friend  an you imagine if those fillies looked over in that race here shortly, coming up  and saw a male horse running next to them. Three-year-old fillies that have done nothing but training for this moment, how do you think they would feel?

The Kentucky Oaks is a race at Churchill Downs held every Friday before the Kentucky Derby. The race is for fillies  female horses.

On the issues

Bryant found some daylight on taxing and spending between the three candidates who made it to Transylvania on Monday night.

Deters said he wanted to cut income taxes at a faster pace than the current GOP-led state legislature has put in place. Quarles and Harmon shared the sentiment that they wanted to erase the income tax, but didnt call for any change to the current plan.

Asking the candidates what they would recommend the legislature do with the states historic budget surplus, answers varied.

Quarles recommended one-time injections into the states pension obligations, and to protect and extend benefits to all state employees. Deters suggested that more money should be given to victims of recent natural disasters in Eastern and Western Kentucky. Harmon said that the surplus should be given back to taxpayers somehow.

All candidates were in agreement that public school teachers should be directly awarded a raise.

When asked about whether or not they would support an initiative to give localities more options for taxation, all three expressed openness to the idea as a lifeline for cities and counties.

On abortion, none of the three candidates on stage said they would make any changes to Kentuckys trigger ban on abortion. After the debate, however, Deters said that he supports exceptions for victims of rape or incest before 15 weeks of pregnancy. Quarles has said before that hes open to further discussion on the ban after a supreme court challenge to the law is ruled upon.

All candidates said they supported the provisions of Senate Bill 150, which some have characterized as one of the most anti-trans bills passed passed by any state legislature.

Ysa Leon, a junior who uses they/them pronouns, said they asked candidates post-debate why transgender issues were such a major talking point for conservatives and was disappointed to hear some candidates express only privately that they wanted to focus on other issues.

They just used their buzzwords (during the debate), and they wont do that face-to-face, Leon said.
Hi there, OnPolitics readers.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., meet today to try to restart debt ceiling negotiations as the nation hurdles towards a potentially catastrophic default.

Top congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, are set to join the two.

But how likely is it that they resolve the stalled talks as both stand by their own plans? Is there any room for compromise?

Well, USA TODAY political reporter Maureen Groppe and graphics editor Javier Zarracina break down how their plans compare:

What to know: Republicans want to cut spending while Biden wants to spend more. Biden wants to raise some taxes to make up for his increased spending, which the GOP doesn't like.

Currently, the government is spending 29% more this year than it will earn in revenue, and the measured share of the economy  spending, revenue and the deficit  are larger now than theyve been on average for the last 50 years.

And now, the debt could reach a record high of 118% of the GDP by 2023 if no policy changes are made.

Bidens plan: The presidents plan would cut the deficit by about $3 trillion over the next decade  despite proposing increased spending in some areas, which would be countered by proposed tax increases and savings.

The GOP's plan: Under the bill House Republicans passed in April, the deficit would be cut by about $4.8 trillion over the next decade. But the plan includes cancelling the increase in IRS funding approved by Democrats last year, which would ultimately cost more in lost tax revenue than it would save.

 Keep reading: Debt limit crisis has Biden and GOP divided. Here's how their plans to fix things compare.

 'The coming weeks are critical': Bipartisan Policy Center estimates earlier 'X-Date' for US default

 ICYMI: 'The luxury of shuttle diplomacy': McConnell could use ties to McCarthy and Biden to end debt fight

 Get newsletter in your inbox: Don't miss our politics coverage. Sign up for OnPolitics.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Biden, McCarthy agree? Here's how their debt limit plans compare
If you travel through Fort Lauderdale, chances are youve zipped through the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. But over the past two years, the tunnel zone has been a headache zone.

Constant construction has been a nuisance to drivers who want to get across the New River to and from the Las Olas and downtown areas.

KNOW MORE: South Floridas two underwater tunnels

Now, the tunnel area will be a nuisance a bit longer. This week, the completion date was pushed back from December to early 2024.

The Fort Lauderdale tunnel is one of two underwater tunnels in South Florida  the PortMiami tunnel from the MacArthur Causeway to Dodge Island is the other. The namesake of the Fort Lauderdale tunnel, which opened in 1960, was the founding editor of the Broward edition of the Miami Herald, Henry E. Kinney, who advocated for a tunnel to replace an old bridge across the New River.

Heres what to know about the tunnel construction project:

A rendering of what the top of the Kinney Tunnel will look like.

Whats happening to Fort Lauderdale tunnel?

The $28.4 million rehab project will upgrade structural, mechanical, electrical and safety components, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The state also is resurfacing a section of Federal Highway, U.S. 1.

But its not just under-the-surface improvements. The project also includes a pedestrian plaza on top of the tunnel. The plaza includes fountains, seating, artificial turf and landscaping, art, and a new intersection at Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast Sixth Avenue.

Why is the tunnel project delayed?

Weather delays and material shortages across the state slowed the projects timeline, the Florida Department of Transportation says.

Like much of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Kinney tunnel flooded during the unprecedented rainfall and flooding in April. The tunnel, which has been closed occasionally during construction, also was shut down during the height of the floods so that crews could safely implement remediation efforts.

.Henry Kinney Tunnel in Fort Lauderdale.

What should I know before driving through the tunnel?

During this phase of construction, southbound U.S. 1 is diverted to the northbound tunnel chamber, where one lane in each direction is being maintained, FDOT says. That traffic pattern will swap during the summer, with northbound U.S. 1 diverted to the southbound tunnel chamber.

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The tunnel should fully open to traffic by late 2023, depending on weather and any surprises, , according to FDOT.

Caught in a closing? Here are possible detours

If traveling southbound on U.S. 1: Head to Broward Boulevard, Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast Seventh Street

Possible detours if the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel in Downtown Fort Lauderdale is closed.

Traveling northbound on U.S. 1: Head to Southeast Seventh Street, Southeast Third Avenue and Broward Boulevard
An opera based on the life of an enslaved man who lived in Fayetteville has won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

"Omar," co-written by North Carolina musician Rhiannon Giddens, formerly of the Black string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, and by Michael Abels, premiered last year at the Spoleto festival in Charleston, S.C. It tells the remarkable story of Omar Ibn Said, an Islamic scholar captured during a military conflict in modern-day Senegal and sold into slavery.

The Pulitzer committee called "Omar" "an innovative and compelling opera about enslaved people brought to North America from Muslim countries, a musical work that respectfully represents African as well as African American traditions, expanding the language of the operatic form while conveying the humanity of those condemned to bondage."

Omar Ibn Said, an enslaved African man, lived much of his life in 19th-century Wilmington. An opera about his life has won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

According to NCPedia, a site managed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Said was born in 1770 to a wealthy Muslim family in what is now Senegal. Educated in Islamic schools, he worked as a teacher and is said to have made a pilgrimage to Mecca as part of his religion.

He was nearly 40 when he was captured in 1807 and had the bad luck to be one of the last Africans transported to the United States before the trans-Atlantic slave trade was abolished that same year.

Originally taken to Charleston, South Carolina, not far from where the opera about his life would debut, Said escaped in 1810 and made his way to Fayetteville. When he tried to pray in a church there, he was captured and imprisoned. Today, the Masjid Omar Ibn Sayyid mosque in Fayetteville bears his name.

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Said was eventually claimed as property by James Owen of Bladen County (brother of N.C. Gov. John Owen), and he spent the rest of his life with the Owen family. In 1831 Said wrote his autobiography, "The Life of Omar Ibn Said," which is likely the only autobiography written in Arabic by an enslaved person. It inspired the Pulitzer-winning opera.

"Omar" co-writer Abels told National Public Radio last year that Said wrote his autobiography at Owen's request.

"On the one hand, while they had respect for his abilities," Abels told NPR, "They certainly had no intention of ending his enslavement as a result of that. They were more interested in having him perform and having him convert to Christianity to make them feel better."

Though he did convert to Christianity, some modern scholars maintain Said kept his Muslim faith.

In 1836 Said moved with the Owen family to Wilmington, where he lived until the Civil War broke out a quarter-century later. All told, Said appears to have lived about a quarter of his life in Wilmington, where he worshiped with a local Presbyterian congregation.

It's in Wilmington that Said appears to have achieved a degree of notoriety: doing newspaper interviews and giving public displays of his ability to speak and write in Arabic. According to NCpedia, "There are reports that he accompanied his enslavers to resort springs in the South and there entertained children with folk stories. An added source of public interest in the 1850s was Omar's advanced age."

Said died at the age of 94 in 1864 in Bladen County, where he had moved after the start of the Civil War.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Opera based on life of Fayetteville's Oman Ibn Said wins Pulitzer Prize
Birds, beware. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

As night falls, look up. At this time of year, tens of thousands of birds make their way across Los Angeles, navigating by starlight and Earths magnetic fields to breeding grounds along the West Coast. Though cloaked in darkness while they pass L.A., these birds are of every color of the rainbow, rivaling even the most vibrant superblooms.

But not all of these avian voyagers will find safe passage. In the U.S. every year, hundreds of millions of birds die after colliding into buildings  often during migration. Our city should be part of the solution.

Building collisions usually occur when birds crash into windows. Birds do not perceive clear panes of glass as obstacles but, rather, as empty space through which they can fly. Daytime is hazardous because windows sometimes reflect the sky or nearby trees, adding to birds confusion. Nights are dangerous because nocturnally migrating birds are attracted to lights, drawing them toward cities.

Los Angeles leaders can take action to make our city safer for birds. One key step is to require the use of bird-safe glass, which is designed to obscure windows reflections. This helps birds recognize windows as obstacles and minimizes collisions. Bird-safe glass can be opaque, frosted or clear  with an etched design or external covering, such as film or decals.

In December, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission approved a wildlife ordinance that would require all new buildings and significant remodels within a proposed wildlife district in the Santa Monica Mountains to use bird-safe glass. The City Council has not yet voted on this ordinance.

While incorporating bird-safe building policies in the new wildlife district is a laudable first step, the City Council should go further and enact this rule for all new construction and significant remodels throughout Los Angeles.

Bird-safe building ordinances have been implemented across the U.S., from New York to Portland, Ore., and from Chicago to our neighboring Ventura County. San Francisco has championed bird-friendly building codes for over a decade, now codified in the citys Standards for Bird Safe Buildings. Nine other cities in the Bay Area have followed suit, passing local legislation to mandate the use of bird-safe glass. Los Angeles adoption of bird-safe building standards would put the city in line with neighboring regions and strengthen our commitment to biodiversity initiatives in California .

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But even before the City Council votes on the wildlife ordinance, Angelenos can take other actions to help prevent bird collisions:





Treat the windows in your home to make them safe for birds. DIY window coverings , including decals, tape, tempera paint and one-way transparent film, help boost visibility and mitigate collisions with glass. Insect screens double as mosquito protection and bird-safe window treatments. If youre building a new home or remodeling, consider choosing bird-safe glass from the start.

Turn off your indoor lights when youre not using them. If youre updating your landscaping, consider using shielded outdoor lighting fixtures , which help minimize the light pollution that confuses birds.

Monitor for collisions to help scientists understand where and how often they are happening. If you find a bird that died from impact with a window, add your observation to dBird.org or the Global Bird Collision Mapper and report your sighting to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County by sending an email to birds@nhm.org .

Contact your City Council representative and encourage them to pass the wildlife ordinance and draft a citywide bird-safe building policy.

A few simple steps can help ensure safe passage for the millions of birds that migrate through the night skies of the City of Angels.



Olivia Sanderfoot is a postdoctoral scholar in ecology at UCLA. Madeleine Siegel is a doctoral researcher in environmental science and policy at UCLA. Hayley Spina is a doctoral candidate at the University of Guelph in Canada.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. (Universal)

Summer 2023 sees the release of Christopher Nolans new film, Oppenheimer, his first movie since 2020s Tenet and his split from Warner Bros.

Billed as an epic thriller about the man who changed the world, this $100m drama is certainly more adult-oriented than most of whats on offer this summer blockbuster season. Shot on IMAX cameras both in colour, and black-and-white, the film charts its title characters contributions to the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb.

Where theres usually a veil of secrecy around the plots of Nolans films, Oppenheimer is the first biopic hes made, so we do know a fair bit of what the films about.

Read more: Christian Bale would play Batman again for Christopher Nolan

So, with that very mild spoiler warning in mind, heres everything we know about Oppenheimer so far

Oppenheimer release date

Oppenheimer written and directed by Christopher Nolan, seen here on set with Cillian Murphy. (Universal)

Oppenheimer will be released exclusively in cinemas worldwide on 21 July, 2023. After Nolans falling out with Warner Bros over the day-and-date release strategy for its 2021 film slate on HBO Max, Universal Pictures is financing and distributing the film.

Amusingly, Nolans old muckers at Warner are counter-programming Greta Gerwigs Barbie opposite it on the same day.

From a casting point of view, it seems as if everyone whos anyone is either in one film or the other

Oppenheimer cast

Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Universal Pictures)

Cillian Murphy plays the title character, theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. This marks his sixth film collaboration with Nolan after the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk, but the first time hes been in the leading role. And not for lack of trying.

I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris [Nolan], that if Im available and you want me to be in a movie, Im there. I dont really care about the size of the part, Murphy told AP in 2023. But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.

You realise this is a huge responsibility. He was complicated and contradictory and so iconic, Murphy said of Oppenheimer, the man. But you know youre with one of the great directors of all time. I felt confident going into it with Chris. Hes had a profound impact on my life, creatively and professionally. Hes offered me very interesting roles and Ive found all of them really challenging. And I just love being on his sets.

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Read more: Cillian Murphy says his kids have posh English accents

Additionally, Nolans Interstellar surprise guest-star Matt Damon plays a major role as Lt. General Leslie Groves, the engineering officer who directed the Manhattan Project.

Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, right, director of the Institute for Advanced Study, with Dr. Albert Einstein. (Corbis via Getty Images)

Other returning Nolan collaborators include Sir Kenneth Branagh, James DArcy, Matthew Modine, David Dastmalchian, and Casey Affleck. Another Dark Knight alum, Gary Oldman, has a cameo role as US President Harry S. Truman.

Working with Nolan for the first time, Emily Blunt plays activist and scientist Kitty Oppenheimer; Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimers opponent in the debate about developing the hydrogen bomb; and Florence Pugh plays Jean Tatlock, an old flame of Oppenheimers and a member of the American Communist Party.

Robert Downey Jr in Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Universal)

Rounding out the star-studded cast (among others!) are Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Olivia Thirlby, Michael Angarano, and Josh Hartnett.

And thats not all  theres also Jason Clarke, Alex Wolff, Tony Goldwyn, Jack Quaid, Emma Dumont, and Dane DeHaan.

We could go on all day listing even more names, but suffice to say, its a suitably epic ensemble.

The true story behind Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. (Universal)

Per Universals official synopsis, Oppenheimer is an epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.

Talking about the film at Cinemacon in 2023, Nolan said: I know of no more dramatic tale with higher stakes."

Like it or not, J. Robert Oppenheimer is the most important person who ever lived, Nolan said, adding, He made the world that we live in for better or for worse. His story has to be seen to be believed.

Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)

Reportedly, Nolan is taking his lead from Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwins Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, which was published in 2005. The biography spans from Oppenheimers early career to the beginnings of the Cold War and his life after World War II.

Read more: Everything we know about Barbie

Often credited as the father of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist whose involvement in the war effort began with his appointment to the Office of Scientific Research and Development, (OSRD) whose role was to explore the weapons potential of uranium.

Brig. Gen. K. D. Nichols, Prof. H.D. Smythe who wrote the government atomic report and J.R. Oppenheimer, director of the Los Alamos, N.M. atomic laboratory. (Getty)

When command of the OSRD was handed over to the military in 1942, Groves selected Oppenheimer to head the top-secret Manhattan Project in a purpose-built laboratory at Los Alamos, New Mexico.

The joint efforts of Oppenheimer and the scientists at Los Alamos eventually resulted in the worlds first nuclear explosion, the Trinity nuclear test, in July 1945. The famously CG-averse Nolan recently revealed that the film recreates this event using real explosives, which should make most of us happy that he didnt film anywhere near us.

Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan (Universal)

The film is also expected to cover some of Oppenheimers life after the war, including subsequent accusations of disloyalty to the United States and a pivotal security hearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1954.

Some sections of the film were shot in black-and-white on IMAX cameras, and judging by the trailer, these might be the post-war parts of the story. Then again, Nolan seems as averse to linear storytelling as he is to CGI, so maybe this will distinguish a Dunkirk-like structure, where we see the subsequent scenes unfolding in between bits of the build-up.

In any case, all the hype seems to suggest Oppenheimer will arrive with a bang, not a whimper

Is there a trailer for Oppenheimer?

Universal launched the official teaser for Oppenheimer on 28 July, 2022  nearly a full year before its release  via a dynamic, livestreamed teaser that counts the hours, days, and months to the anniversary of the Trinity test with every viewing.

The first full trailer was released in December 2022 after it appeared in front of Avatar: The Way of Water, another film with strong links to the IMAX format. Watch it below.

A third, more revealing, trailer was released in May 2023 which gave a more straightforward look at the plot of the film.

Oppenheimer is coming to cinemas and IMAX on 21 July, 2023.
This article originally appeared on Backpacker

In profile, the tip of Cape Falcon looks like a long, crooked finger dipping into the Pacific. From the coastal rainforest 200 feet above, it slopes down to sea level, hemlock and spruce giving way first to ferns and gnarled salal, then to sheer, banded sandstone cliffs that drop straight into the roiling surf.

Perched on a nearby lookout, I peered down at the waves below and instinctively tightened my grip on my 3-year-old son Rhys's jacket. We were less than two hours into a 13-mile hike through the Oswald West State Park section of the Oregon Coast Trail, and for the sixth or seventh time we had stopped to take in the view. But how could we just walk on by this?

This is the hikers dilemma on the Oregon Coast Trail: There are 425 miles to cover, and so many sights to stop and see along the way that, if you're not careful, you might never get to the finish line. At its best, the OCT is like a hiking Greatest Hits album, a series of soaring clifftop vistas, towering forests, and wild Pacific beaches stitched end to end. A day or a weekend on it is a sampler of everything captivating about the Pacific Northwest. An end-to-end thru-hike? As long as you can handle some pavement-pounding--the trail still has its gaps--it's the kind of adventure you won't be able to replicate anywhere else.

The sun still hadn't risen when my wife dropped us at a pullout off of US 101 to begin our hike south. It was slow going at first: Under the rainforest's canopy, the October morning gloom condensed into inky blackness. A hundred feet from the trailhead I snagged my foot on a tangle of roots and nearly went down, catching myself on my trekking poles before I pitched onto my face. As the first hints of daylight began to filter through the foliage and fog, we picked our way south and west, heading toward the sound of the sea.

Before it's anything else, hiking the Oregon Coast Trail is a sonic experience. As you walk away from 101, the federal highway that traces the length of Oregon's coast, the rumble of trucks and traffic recedes; approaching the coast, you hear the crash of waves breaking against rock before you smell the salt spray or see the water. In between, the rainforest blankets everything in a thick, heavy quiet, the pine needles and humus muting even your footfalls. Paradoxically, with outside sounds turned down, the natural noises of the forest only stand out more. Each bird call, creaking branch, and drip of water is audible against the silence.

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A mossy scene in the rainforest (Photo: Adam Roy)

If you're used to lesser woods, the sheer density of Oregon's old-growth rainforest is shocking. Sitka spruces and Douglas firs interweave their canopies with beards of lichen hanging off their branches and turkey tail and reishi mushrooms jutting from their trunks like shelves. Ferns and skunk cabbage sprout between them in the wet duff. Moss coats everything from living trees and punky deadfall to signposts and the ground itself. By some estimates, this and other temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest are the most concentrated collection of plant life in the world, with a biomass several times higher than that of a tropical forest.

That these temperate rainforests are so dense is partially due to wildfires--specifically a lack of them. Unlike the drier forests of central Oregon or California, large-scale blazes are rare here, thanks in part to the more than 100 inches of rainfall that the wettest parts of Oregon's coastal rainforests receive annually. (It bears mentioning that the rainforest can still burn during unusually dry summers, which many researchers expect will become more and more common as the Earth's climate warms.) In recent years, that has made the OCT a fallback for Pacific Crest Trail hikers forced off-route by megafires, as many were in 2022.

Even when its not raining, the moisture on the coast seems ambient, thickening the air and coalescing into dense fog banks. As we hiked, every bush and branch we pushed past sprinkled us with dew. Within an hour, my clothing was damp enough that it clung to my skin.

Despite the temptation to stop and snap photos every 100 yards, we made decent time. Rhys alternately rambled down the trail, pausing to pick up toddler-size walking sticks-slash-pirate-swords, and rode on my back in a soft carrier I had brought. By 10:30 a.m. we had reached our planned lunch spot at Short Sand Beach, a hike-in-only half-mile stretch of coast bounded at one end by a waterfall and the other by forest-topped sea cliffs. We ate ramen we cold-soaked in a Nalgene; Rhys built a sand castle ornamented with driftwood and smooth cobblestones while I squished the damp sand between my toes and watched a half-dozen wetsuited surfers catch waist-high waves backdropped by a wall of sea fog. For somewhere just more than a half-mile from the nearest parking lot, the beach felt oddly remote, like we had found a place on the edge of everything.

Short Sand Beach (Photo: Adam Roy)

If it weren't for the way Oregon has preserved its beaches, it's fair to say the OCT wouldn't exist. Nearly 40 percent of the trail is beach walking, long rambles down public stretches of sand. The fact that those beaches are open to hikers at all largely comes down to two bold moves that the state government made a half-century apart.

The first occurred in 1913, when, in response to private sales of beach property, Governor Oswald West and the state's legislature declared the entire shoreline of Oregon a public highway. That same year, they established the Oregon State Highway Commission. Beginning in 1922, the Commission established Oregon's first state park from donated land, founding what would soon become a string of recreation areas down the coast. Ten years later, it completed work on what is now US 101, the highway that traces the path of the OCT today.

But there was a catch to those protections: They only applied below the high tide line. In 1966, Bill Hay, the owner of the Surfsand Motel in Cannon Beach, took advantage of that loophole, using logs to fence in a section of beach for guest use only and posting "no trespassing" signs around it. In response, the state legislature introduced the Oregon Beach Bill, which declared all of the state's beaches, from the vegetation to the water, public.

At first opposition to the measure was stiff; conservative legislators rebuked it as government infringement of property rights. But the bill had a powerful supporter in Tom McCall, the state's Republican governor, and after he successfully rallied public opinion with a high-profile appearance in front of the Surfsand's disputed plot of beach, the state's legislature passed it near-unanimously in June 1967. As a result, Oregon's entire coast is open to the public, with little of the ambiguity, carve-outs, or legal dodges that have locked up sandy shores in other parts of the country. If there's a beach in Oregon, you can hike on it.

I think this is as it should be. Spend a few hours walking the OCT, and you'll come to appreciate my point of view. The coast here is sculpted, with sea stacks and cauldrons and little pocket beaches carved into the rock by the distal edge of a sea that stretches clear to Japan. The idea that someone rich or fortunate enough could stamp "mine" on all that beauty and keep the rest of us out would be laughable if it weren't so offensive.

High on Neahkahnie (Photo: Adam Roy)

With our break over, we got back to hiking. Before long, we had crossed 101 and started the steep ascent up Neahkahnie Mountain, the high point of the trail at just over 1,400 feet. We switchbacked through meadows blanketed in fog, Rhys riding in the soft carrier on my back while I gritted my teeth and plodded up.

As we climbed back into the forest, the clouds thinned, and shafts of light began to glow through the mist and illuminate the understory. It was Hallelujah Chorus light, the kind of sunbeams you'd expect to see trained on a saint in some medieval painting. After spending hours trudging through the damp brush, the dry warmth was a welcome change.

Near the crest of the mountain, the trees finally broke, and for the first time all day, we could see the clear, blue sky. Below us, the cloud layer stretched as far as we could see, covering everything to the horizon like a second ocean. I snapped another picture, and both of us spent a long moment taking it all in. Then, we started our descent toward Manzanita, back down into the drizzle and the fog.

Four days of tidepooling and whale-watching later, I was ready to stretch my legs again. After an early breakfast at our site in the Forest Service's Tilicum Beach campground, my wife, Nat, settled in with a book while I threw snacks, water, and extra layers in a daypack and began following the shoreline south with Rhys.

It was just past low tide, cool and foggy again, and the damp sand made for easy going. We took it slowly, stopping to check out the flotsam the waves had carried in, like skate egg cases and driftwood. Rhys found and dragged a long strand of bull kelp after us, leaving a track in the sand. At one point, I spotted movement in the waves and turned to find a pair of sea lions swimming through the surf alongside us.

A staircase and a tunnel carved into the overgrown bushes brought us into Yachats, a town of about 1,000 people hugging the edge of a river mouth. The trail passed through neat residential neighborhoods and a small downtown on marked sidewalks and dirt paths. Maybe it was because we were hiking on a drizzly weekday morning, but it seemed nearly deserted, apart from a few seaside dog walkers and a lone fisherman casting into the surf.

Amanda De-Cuys

Just past town, where the trail began to climb into the forest once again, we came across an amphitheater cut into the trees. Rows of benches clustered around a small, flat clearing; on the far side of the clearing, a wooden suspension bridge over a now-dry creek led further into the mountains. At the center, draped in beads and stone necklaces, sat a stylized concrete statue of a woman, her face turned to the sky. Her name was Amanda De-Cuys, this 3.7-mile stretch of the OCT--dubbed Amanda's Trail--was her namesake. As a nearby historical sign informed us, her story was emblematic of one of the darkest chapters in Oregon's history.

In 1855, the United States government established the Coast Reservation, a 1.1-million-acre parcel spanning one-third of the current state of Oregon's shoreline. A number of central and southern Oregon tribes, including the Coos, Alsea, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, signed a treaty with the U.S. agreeing to live on the reservation and allow settlement of their homelands in exchange for food, clothing, and other benefits.

If you have the barest grasp of American history, then you can guess what happened next. The U.S. government never ratified the treaty and never provided the supplies or aid it had promised, but took the tribes' land anyway. Over the next two decades, the U.S. split and shrank the reservation again and again, giving away the best farmland to settlers. In 1860, soldiers forcibly marched tribal members to the Alsea Subagency in what's now Yachats. Unable to hunt or farm the poor land, half of the subagency's Native residents would die over the following 17 years, falling victim to hunger, disease, or the brutality of the soldiers sent to keep them in line.

Against that backdrop in 1864, a small U.S. army detachment traveled up the Coos River, just down the coast from Yachats, to round up members of the Coos tribe who had refused to move to the subagency. At a ranch owned by a settler named De-Cuys, the soldiers captured three people, including De-Cuys's common-law wife, Amanda. In his diary, one of the soldiers, Corporal Royal Bensell, described her as "old and blind". (De-Cuys, it's worth noting, could have saved Amanda from captivity by marrying her; he refused.)

"After getting in the boat I was surprised to hear one of the [women ask] me, 'Nika tika nanage nika tenas Julia [Let me see my little Julia],'" Bensell wrote. "I complied with this parental demand and was shocked to see this little girl throw her arms about old Amanda De-Cuys's neck and cry, 'Clihime Ma Ma [dear mama].'"

Being separated from her daughter was only the beginning of Amanda's troubles. Over the next nine days, Bensell and his comrades marched her and nearly four dozen other Native captives up the coast. Amanda, unable to see, often lagged behind. At one point she tore her bare feet so badly on the rock, Bensell wrote, that she left "blood sufficient to track her by." There's no record of Amanda after she reached Yachats; we can only guess as to what the rest of her life, short or long, was like.

Separated from her child and marched at gunpoint to a place she didn't know--Amanda De-Cuys's story seems unimaginable in its cruelty. But unimaginable is a poor word to describe something that didn't just happen, but happened again and again. Today, the Siletz Reservation, which succeeded the Coast Reservation, covers just 0.3 percent of the land it originally did. The violence that Amanda and her contemporaries suffered wasn't just real, it was foundational: Those land grabs were the basis of the U.S. state of Oregon and everything built there since, from the highways to the national forests to the little towns that stud the coast. After a while at Amanda's statue, we continued on across the bridge. Rhys sang to himself as he looked down at the dry creek bed below; I followed silently, distracted by my thoughts.

There were slower hikers on the trail than us. (Photo: Adam Roy)

The trail kept climbing, through Jurassic ferns and trees hundreds of years old. Compared to Neahkahnie, it was easy going: the route ascended gradually, tracing ridges and hillsides. The rooty, rough conditions we had encountered earlier were gone, replaced now by even, cruiser treadpath matted with pine needles. With only a few miles left to go and hours of daylight left, Rhys and I stopped for every promising distraction, looking at dew-covered orb weavers' webs and watching fat banana slugs mosey across the forest floor.

We passed and stopped to greet a few fellow hikers, an older couple out for a dayhike and an OCT thru-hiker with a closed-cell foam mat strapped to the outside of his frameless pack. It was only afterward that I realized why those encounters felt so strange: Until then, we had been hiking almost completely by ourselves. Over the course of two days on the OCT, we had encountered fewer than a half-dozen other hikers, mostly clustered around trailheads and road access.

I understand why the Oregon Coast Trail is the dark horse of long trails. It doesn't have the wildness of the Pacific Crest Trail or the community of the Appalachian Trail. There's little backcountry camping, and the trail rarely strays more than a few miles from a paved highway as the crow flies. While the roadwalks are getting shorter, they're still substantial.

But listen: The OCT has something no other long trail has. It sits on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, and a hike down it is a chance to get to know every spectacular inch--the tidepools, the ancient forests, the whales sounding offshore, and the people who call it home. It's the kind of environment that seems to be begging you to go slower, just to soak it all in.

After another hour and a half, we reached the West Shelter, a small three-walled stone shack set up on the top of a sea cliff. When the weather's clear, it's the best spot to see Cape Perpetua, a high, wooded headland projecting into the ocean. No such luck: The fog was so thick it was almost corporeal. Rhys and I ate the last of our trail snacks and gazed out into what looked like a wall of swirling cotton.

Still, I didn't sweat it. On the Oregon Coast Trail, the best view of your life is always just around the corner.

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By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations said inspections resumed on Tuesday of outbound vessels under a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.

There were no inbound or outbound inspections of ships on Sunday or Monday.

The U.N. and Turkey brokered the Black Sea export agreement in July to help tackle a global food crisis that has been worsened by Moscow's war in Ukraine. Officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the U.N. make up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, which implements the deal.

"The JCC has confirmed that inspections have resumed today on outbound vessels," Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

Senior officials from the four parties are due to meet in Istanbul this week for talks. Russia has said it will not extend the pact beyond May 18 unless a list of demands is met to remove obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths is traveling to Istanbul, Haq said.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Tuesday described discussions ahead of the planned meeting on Wednesday and Thursday as "positive."

"We will be working to continue the grains deal on May 18 without allowing for any stoppage or cessation," Akar told broadcaster Haberturk.

To help convince Russia to allow Ukraine to resume Black Sea grain exports, a three-year pact was also struck in July in which the U.N. agreed to help Moscow facilitate those shipments.

While those Russian exports are not subject to Western sanctions imposed following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments.

Russia in an excerpt of a letter seen by Reuters last month told its JCC counterparts that it will not approve any new vessels to take part in the Black Sea deal unless the transits will be done by May 18 - "the expected date of ... closure."

No new vessels have been authorized by the JCC since Thursday.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Mark Porter)
A Mecklenburg County electric vehicle charging technology company plans to invest nearly $4.2 million to expand its Huntersville operation and add 205 jobs, local and state officials said Tuesday.

Atom Powers EV charging stations will be located throughout North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. He said electrical vehicles are key to helping the state and nation transition to the clean energy economy.

Atom Powers expansion over the next four years includes creating jobs in electrical, mechanical, and software engineers, electrical technicians, and other manufacturing and support personnel, a Mecklenburg County news release said.

The average annual salary will be $91,804. Thats higher than the countys current average wage of $80,349.

Atom Power currently has 82 employees. The new employees will increase its workforce by 250%.

For its investment, Atom Power will receive over $1.6 million in state, county and local tax incentives. The state Jobs Development Investment Grant award of $1.2 million over 12 years. The county award is $45,771 over five years.

The company at 13245 Reese Blvd. W. was co-founded nine years ago by CEO Ryan Kennedy. Kennedy attended both Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte, where he started the business. He invented the only digital breaker switch ever approved for commercial use, according to the county.

Kennedy was on hand for the announcement, as was Cooper and local officials.

NC focus on zero-emission vehicles

Cooper has been focused on the emerging clean energy economy as part of a strategy to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change.

In January, Coopers Executive Order 246 set a goal of at least 1.25 million registered zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, by 2030, The News & Observer reported. The plan calls for ZEVs, including plug-in hybrids, to comprise half of all North Carolina vehicle sales by 2030, which is in line with car manufacturers like Ford and General Motors goals.

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North Carolina will receive $109 million over five years as part of a federal infrastructure bill building chargers for electric vehicles, The News & Observer reported.

Five years ago, Cooper signed Executive Order 80, which includes fostering market innovation and development to advance clean energy technology and a skilled workforce.

NC Gov. Cooper set a goal of 1.25 million electric vehicles by 2030. Is that possible?

Other regional expansion plans

The Charlotte area also has seen other expansions recently.

Last month, Australian environmental engineering company EPOC Enviro said it will open a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Statesville and expects to hire 226 employees, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

The remediation company removes harmful substances from the water, soil and industrial systems. OPEC stands for Emerging Pollutants of Concern.

In March, Charlotte-based Albemarle Corp. said it will invest $1.3 billion to build a lithium hydroxide plant in Chester County, South Carolina, creating over 300 jobs. The facility will serve electric vehicles using lithium-ion batteries.

And in December, Albemarle Corp. said it will invest $200 million and create at least 200 jobs by establishing an advanced materials research and development facility in the University City area. The plant will focus on lithium and battery tech.

The facility is expected to open in early 2025 with completion of the campus by late 2026.

This is a developing story

Heres the company with $1.3 billion plans for Chester County, and 300-plus new jobs

Heres how a new Iredell County solar farm could lower Charlottes carbon footprint
Freestyle Poke is back in Johnson County with new owners and a new location.

It originally opened at 509 Delaware St., in the River Market, in 2018. Locations later opened in south Overland Park and Liberty but later closed. Now it has a location at 7221 W. 80th St. in Overland Park.

Customers go down a line to build their own poke bowl by selecting items from six categories.

 A base: White sushi rice, forbidden rice, quinoa or organic zucchini noodles.

 A protein: Sushi grade ahi tuna or salmon, spicy tuna, cooked salmon, cooked shrimp, shredded chicken or organic tofu.

 Up to three mix-ins: Tomato, spring onions, cilantro, cucumber, edamame, jalapeno or wasabi.

 Toppings: Such as sweet potato, mango, crab mix, spicy cashews, marinated kale, kimchi, carrots, pickled ginger or sweet corn.

 Sauce: From such choices as sriracha mayo or togarashi yuzu mayo.

 Final Touches: Sesame seeds, fried onions, wasabi toasted coconut or crispy garlic.

Freestyle Pokes signature bowls include the Why So Serious? with spicy tuna, jalapeno, cilantro, cucumber, avocado, pickled ginger, marinated kale and sriracha mayo. A new menu item, the Firecracker shrimp bowl, has edamame, spring onions, jalapenos, carrots, pineapple, house-made spicy cashews and its new sweet Thai sauce.

It will soon have poke nachos.

New local owners took over the rights to the Freestyle Poke name and recipes, and the lease for the River Market location in 2019. The suburbanlocations had already closed.

Freestyle Poke abruptly closed three restaurants in November. New owners to reopen one

Bon-die Fortner, his son, Caleb Fortner, and Kendall Pearl bought the company in 2022. They plan to open more locations locally  perhaps on 39th Streets restaurant row, Lees Summit or Liberty  as well as in the region including Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska. They are looking for spaces of about 1,500 to 2,200 square feet.

Were the third ownership of the brand and you just keep moving forward, Bon-die Fortner said. The original owners created a sophisticated operation, then the second owners were just trying to keep the doors open and thrive during the pandemic.

For me it is the healthy menu, an alternative to burgers, and a very simple operation. I can run a busy day with one manager and two team members.
People shop at a department store ahead of the Spring Festival in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 18, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]



Shanghai ranked first among Chinese mainland cities in terms of number of newly opened first stores by domestic and international brands last year and in the first four months of this year, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce said on Sunday.

Altogether 1,073 newly opened first stores of various categories were added in Shanghai in 2022, showcasing the municipality's innovation power and vitality in building itself into an international consumption center, said the commission.

Another 375 first stores were opened from January to April this year, keeping the city at the forefront in terms of scale and quality. Four were globally or Asia's first, and 52 were the first nationally. Nearly one in six were deemed as high-level first stores, the commission said.

As this year's launch season of global new products in Shanghai kicked off on Sunday, which will be monthlong, more than 150 additional first and flagship stores will be opened in the city.

Among them, California-based medical cosmetic producer Obagi will operate its world's first experience store, Estee Lauder's handmade perfume brand Le Labo will have its first shop located in Shanghai's downtown Xintiandi commercial area and Lego group will unveil its first digital retail store.

During the launch season organized by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Jing'an district government, diversified activities themed "first launch" will be held with a focus on innovative consumption formats and creative consumption activity scenarios.

Uniqlo is a participant in the 2023 launch season of global new products in Shanghai.

"More than 50 new products will be available at the shop over the upcoming two months," He Yuyun, chief store manager of Japan's clothing brand Uniqlo's global flagship store on Shanghai's Nanjing Road (West), told Shanghai Television Station.

"We hope that events such as the launch season will further stimulate and promote consumer purchasing desire," she said.

To provide convenience for more consumers to explore the first stores, Data Quest China  a service provider of commercial real estate big data applications  and Tencent Map jointly debuted the country's "first store map" on Sunday. It summarizes more than 700 representative first stores of various brands over the past four years, presenting such shops digitally.

The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce data showed that following a continuous increase over the past few years, there was a slight improvement regarding the activity index of the debut economy in the city in 2022 compared with the previous year, especially in terms of the effect of the debut activities and the balanced proportion of first stores.

Districts in Shanghai have also focused on their respective industrial advantages and regional characteristics to formulate a string of support policies around new product launches and new store settlements.

"Xuhui district is on its way to building a pilot demonstration zone in the international consumption center, and a batch of commercial brands famous at home and abroad have gathered in the Xujiahui business area, Hengshan Road-Fuxing Road historical blocks and Xuhui waterfront area along the Huangpu River to operate their first or flagship stores," said Tang Xiaolin, deputy director of the Xuhui District Commission of Commerce.

"By 2025, more preferential policies and funds will be rendered to attract more businesses to relocate to Xuhui," she said.

Between 2018 and 2022, Shanghai introduced a total of 4,881 first stores of various domestic and foreign brands. Among them, 77 were the world's or Asia's first and 925 were nationally first, ranking Shanghai No 1 in both quantity and quality in terms of first stores in the country.
An employee of a petrol station fills a motorbike's tank in Karachi in February 2023 after a hike in prices by the government

Facing a deep economic crisis, Pakistan has started to buy Russian oil, but the country's petroleum minister says the future lies in diversified, especially green, energy.

Minister Musadik Malik was visiting the United States for talks with corporations as well as with the government, which has led global efforts to choke off Russia's oil exports that help fund its invasion of Ukraine.

Malik confirmed that a first order was placed for Russian oil and would arrive within a month in Pakistan, which will then assess how much to import in the future.

"Based upon the results, we'll move forward and see for what part of our portfolio we can use Russian energy," he told AFP.

Asked if Pakistan will pursue more Russian imports, he said, "If today we get cheaper sources of energy, we'll go there."

- 'A little drop' -

Pakistan, the world's fifth most populous country, faces chronic energy shortages and imports 84 percent of its petroleum products, overwhelmingly from Gulf Arab allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Malik said Pakistan had been fully transparent and that its initial dealings with Moscow were far less than those of other countries -- notably China and Pakistan's rival neighbor India, whose enthusiastic buying of Russian oil has cast a shadow over New Delhi's warming relationship with Washington.

"We have not faced any problems, either with the United States or with any other country," Malik said.

"A whole lot of countries are legitimately getting energy from Russia," he said.

Pakistan's share "is a little drop, but it helps."

Russian oil exports in March jumped to their highest level since the Ukraine invasion more than a year earlier despite European cuts in purchases, according to the International Energy Agency, as China and developing countries buy at a discount.

But revenue to Russia was still significantly lower, with the Group of Seven industrial democracies trying to enforce a cap of $60 per barrel.

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A State Department spokesperson said the United States understood "the pressure governments face to secure affordable fuel," while saying that Russia has shown that it is "not a reliable supplier of energy."

"We hope countries are able to leverage the oil price cap to purchase Russian oil at a lower price," the spokesperson said.

- Seeking green boost -

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said he believed there was a broad consensus in Washington that "this is an opportunistic situation where Pakistan is desperate for cheap oil" and substantively different from India's historic relationship with Russia.

"My sense is that Islamabad is in such a difficult state that it's not going to risk antagonizing the United States, given Washington's influence over key international financial institutions that are important to Pakistan right now," Kugelman said.

Pakistan, fearing the collapse of its economy, has been seeking a new tranche of a bailout from the International Monetary Fund which has demanded lasting reforms including subsidy cuts, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking the unpopular step of raising fuel prices.

Malik said he spoke with US companies about buying shale liquified natural gas, upgrading Pakistani refineries and storage facilities, exploring offshore oil and gas and starting horizontal drilling, a method the country does not yet use.

But Malik said his talks with the United States will also seek support for green energy in line with Pakistan's goal of generating 30 percent of electricity from renewables by 2030, including a plan for widespread solar power on rooftops.

Pakistan is one of the nations most vulnerable to climate change, with floods last year submerging one-third of the country. A 2020 World Bank study said Pakistan could meet all electricity demand at the time by devoting just 0.071 percent of its land for solar power.

Geoffrey Pyatt, the assistant secretary of state for energy resources, promised US backing for renewable goals on a March visit to Pakistan.

"Strategically, it's very clear to us that the future of energy security is in green energy," Malik said.

sct/md
Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hold a banner of their leader next to burning tires during a protest to condemn the arrest of their leader, in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in a court in the countrys capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. Security agents dragged Khan outside and shoved him into an armored car before whisking him away. | Pervez Masih, Associated Press

Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday outside the High Court in Islamabad, the capital.

He was arrested on charges of corruption, which he says are politically motivated, BBC reported.

Why was former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested?

Khan was accused of money laundering and faces a number of other charges in separate cases, all of which he has rejected, according to The Washington Post.

A day before his arrest, Khan received a rare public rebuke from the powerful military for repeated claims that a senior military official was attempting to assassinate him, and that the militarys former chief was behind removing him from power in April 2022, per Reuters.

Khans political party  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Movement for Justice  claims there was a political motive behind the arrest. Khan was attempting to run again after being ousted in April 2022, and he was performing higher than expected in by-elections in October.

What did Imran Khans supporters do after his arrest?

Supporters of Khan took to the streets to protest his arrest and appeared to overrun a gate leading into the compound of Pakistans military headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi, per NPR.

Islamabad police issued a ban on demonstrations, but Khans supporters have been known to ignore such calls in the past, per NPR.

Theres going to be rising temperatures, potential conflict, hopefully limited pockets of violence, hopefully nothing too serious, but at this point, whether, for better or worse, a lot will depend on the PTIs leadership, columnist Mosharraf Zaidi told NPR, referring to the acronym of Khans political party, Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The parade on Red Square in Moscow on Victory Day, 9 May 2023, was attended by significantly fewer units of Russian military equipment than in previous years; in particular, there was only one tank  a World War II-era -34.

Source: footage of the parade broadcast; Radio Svoboda (Liberty) referring to the calculations of analyst Oliver Alexander

Details: According to Alexander, a total of only 51 vehicles were involved in this year's parade. Last year, when the parade was already reduced compared to the times before Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, 131 combat vehicles took part in the parade. In 2021, there were 197. That is a reduction of almost four times compared to the last year before the full-scale invasion.

Finally the 3 VPK-7829 Bumerang IFVs closed off the parade. (FINAL VEHICLE COUNT: 51) pic.twitter.com/Nsc8XUlKlg  Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) May 9, 2023

The parade itself lasted about 45 minutes, including a tour of the troops and a speech by Vladimir Putin. In previous years, the parades lasted up to an hour and a half, but then the parade also included an aerial part, which was cancelled this year.

Alexander, like many other commentators, drew attention to the absence of modern tanks. It was the first time since 2007 that the parade marched without heavy armoured vehicles.

The parade was opened by a World War II-era T-34 tank.

  ""      ..   -  . -34 pic.twitter.com/z00LQerXAN     (@ukrpravda_news) May 9, 2023

Next came light combat vehicles  Tigr (Tigers), then Ural and Boomerang infantry fighting vehicles, Iskander and S-400 missile systems, and three Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles were also paraded across Red Square.

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The military equipment took less than 10 minutes to pass through during the parade.

In previous years, the passage of equipment took significantly longer, and modern Armata tanks and other vehicles were demonstrated, which, according to commentators, have "no analogues in the world". At the same time, many commentators noted that this equipment either did not take part in the fighting in Ukraine at all or was present at the front in very limited numbers.

According to Agentstvo's [a Russian news outlet  ed.] estimates, about 8,000 people took part in the parade. It is the lowest number of participants since 2008 (the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed 11,000 participants).

In 2022, 11,000 military personnel took part in the parade.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Monsieur Paul is located in the France Pavilion at Epcot in Disney World. Carly Caramanna

My party of two ate dinner at Monsieur Paul, one of Disney World's fanciest restaurants, for $680.

The restaurant was opened by chef Paul Bocuse and offers French nouvelle cuisine.

The experience was a splurge, but Monsieur Paul is now my favorite Disney restaurant.

Monsieur Paul is located in Epcot's World Showcase at Disney World.

Monsieur Paul originally opened in 1984. Carly Caramanna

After a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, Monsieur Paul reopened at Epcot in October 2022. Acclaimed French chef Paul Bocuse launched the restaurant (then called Bistro de France) in 1984 alongside Roger Verge and Gaston LeNotre. It's now helmed by Bocuse's son, Jerome.

The signature table-service experience is one of few restaurants at Disney World that has a minimum age requirement of 10 years old.

The upscale atmosphere also requires a dress code: "Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please no swimwear," according to Disney's website.

Reservations are challenging to come by.

We got a table a few weeks in advance. Carly Caramanna

Guests can book a dinner reservation 60 days in advance at Disney World. Because of the limited amount of seating at Monsieur Paul, it's often difficult finding a reservation.

The restaurant also requires guests to cancel reservations at least 72 hours in advance or pay a penalty fee of $100 a person. Generally, Disney World restaurants charge a fee of $10 a person for cancellations within two hours of the reservation time.

We used MouseWatcher, a paid service that tracks down reservations at the parks, and were able to get a table a few weeks in advance.

Given the restaurant's location inside the French Pavilion at Epcot, a valid park ticket and reservation were required for admission. As an annual passholder, I just had to make an Epcot reservation through the My Disney Experience app.

We arrived early to enjoy Champagne next door.

We ordered two glasses of Dom Perignon before our reservation. Carly Caramanna

We arrived at the France Pavilion about an hour before our reservation.

Our evening started next door at the pavilion's wine bar, La Maison du Vin, which is connected to Les Vins de France and L'Esprit de la Provence.

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We opted for two glasses of celebratory Dom Perignon to mark the occasion.

We checked in at the restaurant and were promptly taken upstairs.

Monsieur Paul is located on the second floor. Carly Caramanna

Monsieur Paul is located on the second floor of a building in the France Pavilion that houses Chefs de France on its first floor.

The walls of the staircase were lined with images from the restaurant's history, including photos of Chef Bocuse and Mickey Mouse.

The restaurant's atmosphere is elevated yet welcoming.

The inside of the restaurant had classic French architecture. Carly Caramanna

Monsieur Paul's atmosphere depicts a modern, French elegance but still feels approachable. There were no obvious Disney details in the dining room.

Disney describes the restaurant as showcasing "classic French architecture with bright colors and a touch of modern design."

It felt like an ideal spot for a romantic meal or special occasion.

The menu is prix fixe.

Eating at Monsieur Paul costs $195 a person. Carly Caramanna

Priced at $195 a person (plus tax and gratuity) the prix-fixe menu is a take on French nouvelle cuisine, which Chef Bocuse helped to pioneer. The avant-garde cooking style led the chef's France-based restaurant, L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, to hold the longest-running record in receiving three Michelin stars until 2020.

Monsieur Paul's dining experience is inspired by the gastronomical meal, a popular style of dining in France. It entails making food an affair that celebrates classic recipes with modern twists, seasonal ingredients, and multiple courses paired with beverages.

Meals include a starter cocktail, appetizer, fish course, palate-cleanser, meat course, cheese course, dessert, and digestif. Additional cocktails and wine are also available for purchase.

We were seated at a table with a window and view.

We had a view of Epcot from our table. Carly Caramanna

We arrived for the evening's first round of seating and were pleased to be placed at a window-side table.

The window offered large, sweeping views of the World Showcase and Spaceship Earth in the distance.

The meal began with complimentary Champagne.

There are also nonalcoholic options to substitute the complimentary Champagne. Carly Caramanna

After being seated, we were presented with a glass of Champagne and the menu. The champagne was dry, with a hint of subtle fruitiness.

For those desiring a nonalcoholic option, there are drink substitutes.

At this time, the server also introduced himself and explained the menu.

Next an amuse-bouche arrived at the table.

An amuse-bouche is a small, complimentary appetizer before a meal. Carly Caramanna

A generously portioned amuse-bouche, or a bite-sized hors d'oeuvre, arrived at the table.

It included a savory shortbread with Parmesan and lemon zest, fried zucchini balls, and sliced tuna with herb oil and salt.

After we ordered, we received the bread basket.

We were given a variety of bread. Carly Caramanna

As we were awaiting our courses, we were served complimentary bread.

There was a variety to choose from, and I was impressed by the freshness and quality. It was similar to other bread I'd had in France  my favorite had a bit of cheese baked into it.

During this time, we also chatted with our server about add-on wine pairings, available a la carte, that would best complement our course selections.

I chose the lobster for my appetizer.

I loved how the lobster was presented. Carly Caramanna

Monsieur Paul offers a diverse starter menu, which included saffron mussels soup and escargot. I decided to order the Maine lobster salad with passion-fruit vinaigrette.

The lobster was poached and seared and served with clams and shallots. It was well-cooked and paired perfectly with the bright vinegar that had notes of passion fruit, mango, and lime.

The dish's delicious taste and beautiful presentation were a wonderful start to the meal. The portion size was perfect for one and was one of the lighter courses of the experience.

My friend chose the escargot as a starter.

We loved dipping our bread in the escargot sauce. Carly Caramanna

My friend went with a more traditional French dish of escargot cassolette with watercress and potato emulsion for her starter.

The escargot was served out of the shell and was perfectly cooked before being placed in a rich, buttery emulsion. This made for a fantastic dipping sauce for the bread and was one of the highlights of our meal.

I thought this had the best presentation out of the many escargot platters I've had in both the US and France.

Our next dish was the fish course.

The fish is one of Monsieur Paul's signature dishes. Carly Caramanna

There were three options to choose from for the fish course: sea bass in a puff pastry, seared scallops, and snapper.

I chose one of Monsieur Paul's signature dishes, snapper en ecailles de pommes de terre, which is snapper with potato scales and thyme sauce.

It was bursting with flavor, and the fish was extremely delicate. It ended up being my favorite course of the evening.

A pear brandy was served as a palate cleanser.

The pear brandy and sorbet paired well together. Carly Caramanna

As is often customary with lengthy, fine-dining meals, we were served a palate cleanser after the fish course.

It consisted of pear brandy and sorbet. I've had sorbets as palate cleansers before, but this was the first time I had it served with pear brandy.

The presentation was also captivating, adding an element to the experience.

We ordered additional drinks to pair with our food.

Our server guided us through the wine selections. Carly Caramanna

Although there weren't any set wine pairings, we opted to order glasses throughout our meal.

Our server guided us through this and gave excellent suggestions based on the food we were ordering.

The meat course was up next.

This was one of the best steaks I've had at Disney World. Carly Caramanna

The meat course offered several options, including a rack of lamb and chicken fricassee. I decided on the center-cut beef tenderloins served with porcini fricassee, creamy mashed potatoes, and bordelaise sauce.

The medium-rare steak was incredibly tender. It was well-seasoned and paired perfectly with the bordelaise sauce. It quickly became one of the best steaks I've had at Disney World.

A steak entree of this size and quality can go for upwards of $60 to $70 at other Disney restaurants. Considering the price of the prix-fixe menu price at Monsieur Paul, this added great value.

After the steak, we received a platter of curated cheeses.

Our cheese platter included fig jam, honey, and walnut bread. Carly Caramanna

After ample time to enjoy our meat course, we were presented with an imported cheese plate.

This included cow's-milk brie, fresh goat cheese, and blue cheese served with fig jam, honey, and walnut bread.

I chose a chocolate-almond cake for dessert.

The chocolate dome melted away from the heated sauce. Carly Caramanna

The dessert course offered three options: classic meringue, apple tart, and almond cake.

I went with the almond cake with chocolate cream, hazelnut biscuit, and chocolate ice cream.

The platter was presented with a lavish chocolate dome on top adorned with the restaurant's name. The server then poured warm chocolate-cognac sauce over it to slowly melt the dome. It was absolutely delicious.

My friend ordered a thin apple tart with almond cream, which was also excellent.

The meal ended with more desserts.

We took our final course to go. Carly Caramanna

We were finally presented with several small desserts, including macarons and a digestif of sweet port wine.

The digestif was the perfect ending to the meal, and we opted to take this final course to go.

Although we spent $680, I thought Monsieur Paul was worth every penny.

We loved the attention to detail during our meal. Carly Caramanna

With tax and tip, we spent $680 on our almost three-hour dinner experience.

Both the food and the service were absolute highlights. I felt totally removed from the often hectic nature of the theme park.

Although the atmosphere felt fancier than the rest of Disney World's restaurants, it was approachable, welcoming, and relaxed. Even though there were many courses, it felt well-paced. The attention to detail was also incredible  the servers even reset our utensils for every course.

The quality of each course and overall execution justified the expensive meal. Monsieur Paul is now my favorite restaurant in all of Disney World.

Read the original article on Insider
large ship on sea

Imagine enjoying your cruise, then finding a hidden camera. Thats exactly what happened to one passenger, who was using a public bathroom on board Harmony of the Seas, one of the Royal Caribbean fleet.

The ship departed Miami on April 29. Over the course of a week, it had stops in St. Martin, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

A Gross Violation of Privacy

The passenger, who wasnt named, discovered the hidden camera on May 1, 2023. They alerted the crew.

According to Business Insider, a hidden camera with WiFi capabilities was placed [by the culprit] in a public bathroom on the ships top deck.

After removing the camera, the authorities found hours of footage, showing some 150 passengers. At least 40 of them were minors, around the age of 4 or 5.

At one point, the culprit himself appeared in the footage. He was adjusting the position of the camera so that it would focus on the toilet.

There Was an Arrest

The culprit, Jeremy Froias, said he had set up the camera when questioned by authorities.

He faces charges of video voyeurism and attempted possession of child exploitation material among other things.

The FBI is trying to identify the victims. They believe Froias primarily targeted cruise ship passengers between the time frame of April 30 and May 1, 2023.

Those who used the bathroom during that period may well have been in the video.
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.

On May 8, the world honors the memory of those who sacrificed their lives defending the world from Nazi German dictatorship. This victory of the Allied forces laid the foundation for the modern rules-based international order, ensuring equal rights for every country and people.

Nonetheless, 78 years after the defeat of Adolf Hitlers Nazi regime, the echoes of those dark times reverberate in our world today through Vladimir Putin's genocidal regime and Russias attempt to destroy Ukraine and reestablish a Russian empire that resembles the Soviet Union.

If we allow Russias actions to go unpunished, it paves the way for tyrants around the world to make a significant push to destabilize our way of life and threaten our common values. Just as Nazi Germanys crimes had to be exposed and punished, so too must the crimes of Putins Russia.

Putin claims real war unleashed against Russia during Victory Day speech During his address at the annual Victory Day celebration at Moscows Red Square to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that a real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Ukrainians who worked as teachers, mechanics, lawyers, electricians, or businesspeople were suddenly forced to learn to become soldiers and take up arms against one of the largest militaries on Earth. Innocent civilians went from planning their babys first birthday to planning their route out of the country. Thousands upon thousands have been killed simply because Russia yearns to destroy the Ukrainian state and deny the existence of the Ukrainian nation.

Russia has committed unspeakable war crimes and human rights abuses. Soldiers of the regular Russian army and Wagner Group mercenaries have carried out mass shootings, tortures, and rapes of civilians in cities such as Bucha, Izium, and Mariupol. These crimes together with the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children are manifestations of Russias genocidal policy  a genocide that many legislatures have correctly recognized as such.

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The goal of Russia's invasion is not merely territorial conquest, but the elimination of Ukrainian national identity and the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Russian military personnel arrive to participate in the Victory Day parade held at Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2023. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

To justify its aggression, Russia relies on a policy of distorting historical facts, manipulating the memory of the victory over Nazism in World War II to promote militarism and justify its war against Ukraine. Russia uses the date of May 9 to misrepresent itself as a liberator to whitewash the horrific crimes of Soviet Communist colonialism and justify its own war against Ukraine.

The litany of crimes committed by Russia and the ongoing human rights atrocities being committed in occupied territories of Ukraine make any concession short of total liberation unconscionable. Any Ukrainians abandoned to Russian occupation would surely be persecuted and destroyed, and any territorial concessions to the Russians will be exploited for further, future aggression.

Just as Hitler did not stop at Czechoslovakia, Putin will not stop at eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Let us not forget the apologists who argued that, if Ukraine concedes Crimea and Donbas to Putin, hell leave the rest of the country alone.

Crimes that go unpunished will be repeated. It is crucial that a United Nations international war crimes tribunal investigate, prosecute, and punish Russian crimes against Ukraine.

As we demand accountability for Russia's crimes, we also must address the pervasive disinformation and propaganda that the Kremlin employs to distort the truth and manipulate global perceptions. By exposing and countering these falsehoods, we can weaken the foundations of Russia's hybrid warfare and diminish its capacity to wage war on Ukraine and other nations.

Ukraine war latest: Russian overnight attacks on Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson oblasts injure 18 Key developments on May 8: * Russia launches missiles, drones at Kyiv, Odesa * Russian attack injures 10 in Kherson Oblast * Moscow blocks Grain Deal, says Infrastructure Ministry * Drone Armys 8 new units ready to fight * Russia deports locals from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, st Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

Educating the international community about the reality of Russia's actions in Ukraine is an essential step in building a coalition of nations united against aggression and tyranny. Through diplomatic and economic pressure, we can force the Russian government to abandon its imperial ambitions and embrace the values of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect that underpin the rules-based international order.

It is our responsibility as global citizens to stand up against tyranny and oppression, wherever it may arise. By acting against Russia's genocidal war in Ukraine, we reaffirm our commitment to the cause of peace, justice, and human dignity, and we honor the memory of those who fought for these ideals in the past. Let us be unwavering in our pursuit of justice and let the cry for justice reverberate across the world, so that the horrors of this war may never be repeated.

On May 9, as Russians attempt to celebrate their victory day and memorialize their immortal regiment, the civilized world must shame Russia and not allow their propagandists to portray them as liberators. This date is fittingly branded #RussianShameDay and should be used as a day to tell the truth about the unimaginable crimes committed by Russia in its unprovoked genocidal war against the Ukrainian people.

The global community must unite to spread the truth, debunk Russias lies and disinformation, and expose and punish the evil that Russia has brought to Ukraine, and to the world.
The film was one of the last things comic Paul O'Grady shot before his death

The late comic Paul O'Grady is among a host of stars set to feature in a short film to mark the official opening of the Eurovision Song Contest later.

The TV stalwart, originally from Birkenhead, shot the piece to welcome people to the Merseyside region, which is hosting the event on behalf of Ukraine.

It was one of the last things O'Grady filmed before his death on 28 March aged 67.

Other famous faces include Wirral-born TV baker Paul Hollywood and actor Ricky Tomlinson.

O'Grady, who started his career with his drag act Lily Savage, will be seen preparing his home in anticipation of Eurovision's arrival, vacuuming while holding one of his beloved dogs.

Stars including Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin and Drag Race UK contestant Sister Sister also feature.

Paul O'Grady launched his career with his distinctive drag act Lily Savage

The film will open the contest's first semi-final when it airs at 20:00 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The film, which is already available to watch online, begins with the moment a young Liverpudlian boy discovers his home city is set to host the event.

He travels across the city telling his family, friends and neighbours that the world-famous competition is arriving.

The final will take place at the M&S Bank Arena on 13 May.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Should parents be paid for caregiving? Here's why it's important. (Photo: Yahoo News Visuals)

Parents, every day, assume the role of nurse, chauffeur, personal shopper, housekeeper, chef and more. With those roles in mind, in fact, data from job search database Adzuna calculated that for all the jobs parents do, their annual salaries should be roughly $185,060. Instead, a parent's labor is generally not considered real work, but a duty  one that doesnt come with a salary.

It's why many people are working to shift our culture in order to get parents paid for their very real work.

The radical idea of wages for housework was first proposed by a woman named Selma James  in 1972, at the third National Women's Liberation Conference in Manchester, England. James went on to build the international, multiracial network that now coordinates the Global Women's Strike, campaigning for a "care income" for all caregivers. Its an issue that women, disproportionately the worlds caregivers, are at the center of.

When people are forced out of the workforce in order to raise their children, says James, they are economically disadvantaged and tied to others  like a partner  in order to survive, which, even in healthy partnerships, is a deprivation of economic freedom.

When women have money of their own, they are more autonomous and can make more decisions, and I think better ones, James tells Yahoo Life. If you get remuneration in some form because of the work you are doing, you transform not only the nature of that work, but also the social value that is placed on it That's what money does. It not only enriches you, but it enriches the value of what you are doing.

In discussing what such a "care income" might include, James explains, it's important to know what the people of a community value  land as opposed to cash, for example. But while its always a good strategy to fight for "whats on offer," such as tax credits, she says, what's most crucial is pushing for benefits of cash, as opposed to social services.

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Cash has value, says James (slated to give a keynote speech at the upcoming End Womens Poverty: A Guaranteed Care Income for People and Planet conference in Philadelphia). I wish it didnt, but it does, and if cash does have value, I want it  and I want everyone who is doing the same work as me, or similar work to build up society and nature  to have it, too.

This was the tenor of a 2021 Global Womens Strike letter to President Biden and vice president Kamala Harris, urging them to provide Child Tax Credits for mothers and other primary caregivers.

Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First, a national non-profit advocating for public and private sector changes to advance women's economic freedom, also stresses the importance of getting money into the hands of parents. Like James, she points out that we dont value what we dont pay for, and so as long as caregiving and household work is uncompensated, its basically invisible: It goes unnoticed, unappreciated and, worst of all, unsupported.

When she first established Moms First (then known as the Marshall Plan for Moms) in 2021, Saujani, too, called for direct payments to mothers, who were forced out of paid employment to essentially function as Americas social safety net, for free."

At the time, she says, "people would say oh, but motherhood is a blessing! Thats true, and I know that better than anyone as a mother of two little boys I fought like hell to have. But motherhood is also a job, and the work that goes into it is real and deserving of not just admiration but compensation."

In the United States, Saujani notes, until the government steps up for these payments  by providing basic income or expanding the Child Tax Credit, for example  its vital that employers step up.

Until the government acts, the number one thing employers can do to help parents is support them with child care, she says. Whether its in the form of flexibility, back-up care, on-site care, tuition stipends, there is no one-size fits all, but every company has got to be doing something. Moms First launched the National Business Coalition for Child Care, which is a first-of-its-kind coalition of companies from across industries who are leading on this issue. Together we are going to demonstrate that child care is a business imperative, not a personal problem, and expand the number of American workers with access to child care benefits.

These economic conversations are even making their way onto social media. TikToker Autumn Lucy of Michigan, for example, typically shares shopping hauls, taste testing and recipe videos with her more than 425,000 followers. In a March video, however, she took time to share her belief in why stay-at -home parents should be compensated for the work they do inside the home.

I think that at the very least, stay-at-home parents should earn the equivalent of working full-time on minimum wage, she tells Yahoo Life about what inspired her to make the video. In Michigan, this would be about $1,600 a month. However, I think to really make this work you should offer all parents either a monthly [stay-at-home parent] stipend or a voucher for free daycare. This would allow parents to have more freedom to make the decision that will work best for their family without sacrificing their career, if they would like to continue working.

As a mom to a six-month-old, Lucy adds, Often when I discuss this, the argument I hear against it is that You shouldn't be paid to raise your own children. To characterize this compensation as being paid to raise your child heavily implies that parents that work outside of the home are not raising their children. Whether working outside the home or inside the home, we are all raising our children. However, only the parents working outside of the home are being compensated for the time spent working.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Several media organizations are joining forces to collect personal stories from across the Puget Sound region regarding school desegregation. KCTS 9 is hosting recording sessions for willing participants in collaboration with PBS American Experience and StoryCorps, a nonprofit focused on telling and preserving stories from Americans of all backgrounds.

The KCTS 9 studios at 401 Mercer St. in Seattle will be used for the recording sessions between May 21 and 23.

The organizations are asking anyone with thoughts on the subject, no matter who they are, to consider signing up for a recording session. Participants are asked to bring someone with them so a conversation can be recorded.

Our goal is to collect a broad range of desegregation stories, stated Diane Buxton, Senior Project Manager. From teachers, students, bus drivers, police officers and community members of all ages and ethnicities. Seattle has a rich history and will provide important context to this complicated time for generations to come.

PBS says American Experience is TVs most-watched history series, combining real stories and expert commentary with dramatic reenactments. Its website includes in-depth features on an array of historical topics.

Understanding our history is key to grappling with the complex questions of today, said Rob Dunlop, KCTS 9 President and CEO. This project will help our community and our country address, through first person accounts of desegregation, the impacts of our policies and practices.

How to participate

Participation in the school desegregation experience project will be for the American Experience website, once a release is signed. With permission, the recorded conversation will also be shared with the Library of Congress. StoryCorps will also edit conversations down to a few minutes long, and some may be shared on NPR Morning Edition.

To better understand what it would be like to take part in this project, McClatchy reached out to project manager Buxton.

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The entire process takes around an 75 minutes, according to Buxton. A brief welcome will precede the recorded conversation, which will take place in a private conference room.

Participants will speak with the person they brought for about 40 minutes on the topic of school desegregation in the Puget Sound region. There will also be a StoryCorps facilitator in the room recording the audio, who may move things along depending on the conversation.

A conversation guide will also be provided to participants, but theyre encouraged to direct the story themselves.

A photo will be taken of the participants after their conversation. Any memorabilia theyd like to share will be photographed as well. Theyll be asked to sign a release, then theyll be free to go. Everyone will be able to receive a copy of the interview they did.

If interested, email Buxton at diane_buxton@wgbh.org.
NEW YORK (AP)  This Buddy Holly no longer has to sigh, Thatll be the day.

A petit basset griffon Vendeen named for the late rock n roll legend won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday night, a first for the rabbit-hunting breed. Buddy Holly bested six other finalists to garner the most prestigious dog show award in the United States.

I never thought a PBGV would do this, handler and co-owner Janice Hayes said. Buddy Holly is the epitome of a show dog. Nothing bothers him.

Indeed, his white-tipped tail didn't stop wagging while he competed in the stadium where the U.S. Open tennis tournament's top matches are played. Not even while he posed for countless pictures after a win that Hayes called so surreal.

We're so proud of him, she said.

His competitors included Rummie, a Pekingese that came in second after aiming to bring home the third trophy in 11 years for his small-but-regal breed  and for handler, owner and breeder David Fitzpatrick. He guided Pekes Malachy and Wasabi to Westminster wins in 2012 and 2021, respectively.

Rummie is true to Pekingese type, lots of carriage, presence  everything in one, here, he said Monday.

Winston the French bulldog was gunning for the title after coming oh-so-close last year. An Australian shepherd named Ribbon, an English setter called Cider, a giant schnauzer named Monty and an American Staffordshire terrier called Trouble also were in the pack of contenders.

If Buddy Holly was feeling the pressure, he wasn't letting it show ahead of the finals. Instead, he seemed more concerned late Tuesday afternoon with playing with his people and rejecting the notion of a nap in his crate.

He just screams PBGV, Hayes said. They're just very independent but very charming and just silly. Their goal is to make you laugh every day.

Originally from France, the small hounds are the 154th most prevalent purebreds in the country, according to recent American Kennel Club rankings. (Their name means low-lying, wire-haired dog from the Vendee region and is pronounced peh-TEE bah-SAY grihf-FAHN vahn-DAY-ahn.)

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Buddy Holly  so named because he's a buddy," breeder Gavin Robertson explained  has also lived and competed in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia.

About 2,500 dogs of 210 breeds and varieties vied for the trophy. Among them: the newly eligible bracco Italiano breed, won by a dog co-owned by country music star Tim McGraw.

Besides the chosen finalists, there were other fan favorites, too.

There was the bloodhound that bowed deeply before a judge, the golden retriever cheered by the breed's many fans, and the spunky German shorthaired pointer that did a few leaps before its lap around the ring. Spectators applauded 10-year-old handler Audra Maes and her shiba inu, and breeder/owner/handler Alexandria Mitchell and her Ibizan hound. They made the judges first cut, an accomplishment at a show where many exhibitors handle other peoples dogs as a career.

The Westminster show, held this year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, also includes obedience and agility competitions that are open to mixed-breed dogs.

And what was next for Buddy Holly? A good night's sleep, upside down, rolling in pillows, Hayes said.

He just gets to go back to being a dog.

___

Associated Press writer Anna Furman contributed. New York-based AP journalist Jennifer Peltz has covered the Westminster dog show since 2013.
You are here: Business

U.S. chip designer Qualcomm signed an agreement to acquire the Israeli car communications company Autotalks, the two companies said in a joint statement on Monday.

The amount of the deal, carried out through Qualcomm's subsidiary Qualcomm Technologies, was not revealed, but was estimated by several Israeli media at around 350 million U.S. dollars.

Autotalks is a semiconductor chip company that developed V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications solutions to reduce collisions and improve mobility.

This includes communications chips between vehicles, as well as with other objects in the road environment such as infrastructure, traffic lights, road signs and two-wheelers.

Through the acquisition, Autotalks' safety solutions will be incorporated into Qualcomm Technologies' cloud-connected automotive platforms, according to the statement.

In late 2022, Autotalks signed an agreement to install its chips on German highways, allowing drivers to receive a digital alert a kilometer ahead of a roadwork zone.

The company also demonstrated last month together with Volkswagen, Bosch eBike Systems, and Commsignia companies how V2X technology can prevent collisions between cars and electric bikes.
The Ukrainian military has downed a Russian missile using the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system, the Pentagons top spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

I can confirm that they did down a Russian missile by employing the Patriot missile defense system, press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. As you know, that system is part of a broader range of air defense capabilities that the United States and the international community have provided to Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials said Saturday that a U.S.-supplied Patriot was used to hit an incoming Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv earlier that week.

The system destroyed a Kremlin Kinzhal, an armament capable of traveling up to 10 times the speed of sound, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said in a post on Telegram.

The event is believed to be Ukraines first use of the U.S.-made defense system, pledged to Kyiv by Washington back in December and arriving in the country last month.

Ryder said that the U.S. and its allies and partners will continue to rush ground-based air defense capabilities and munitions to help Ukraine control its sovereign skies and to help Ukraine defend its citizens from Russian cruise missiles and Iranian drones.

The Biden administration earlier Tuesday pledged $1.2 billion in long-term military assistance to Ukraine to include air defense systems and munitions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Phoenix police release snippets of body camera footage depicting an April 24, 2023 shooting that injured a man who ran toward a sergeant while armed with a knife.

Phoenix police released snippets of body-camera footage depicting a police shooting where an officer shot and injured a man who was armed with a knife in April.

Sgt. Rob Scherer, a department spokesman, said officers responded to the area of 33rd Avenue and Bell Road on April 23 after receiving a 911 call about a man trying to steal from a business.

Scherer said the man attacked the caller while they were on the phone and shared a clip of the calls recording where a person can be heard saying a man tried to steal a jacket from the store, claiming he owned it.

The caller said the man was still riding his bike around in the parking lot shortly before another voice can be heard. The caller then reports to the operator that the man kicked them and demands officers remove him from the property.

Scherer said responding officers found a man matching the 911 callers description riding a bike near 31st Avenue and Bell Road. He said a sergeant ordered the man to get off his bicycle, but the man refused and instead rode into an apartment complex a couple blocks away where the sergeant lost sight of him.

Footage from the sergeants body camera shows him repeatedly shouting you better stop! at the man from his police cruiser.

A man can be heard shouting back What did I do?

Scherer said the sergeant drove to the apartment complex and searched for the man on foot. He said the sergeant later found the man and ordered him to lay on the ground, to which the man refused and ran away.

Scherer said the sergeant and another officer chased after the man when the sergeant noticed he was holding a knife and ordered him to drop it.

Body-camera footage shows the sergeant running through an apartment complex with lawns and paved pathways and into a parking lot where the man stops and appears to say something to the sergeant.

The man, still holding the knife, runs toward the sergeant, who fires multiple shots at the man while the officer deploys a stun gun, the video shows. The man immediately collapses , crying in pain. The sergeant and officer handcuff the man, who can be heard saying he cant breathe.

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Help, please the man says.

Scherer said police rendered first aid until Phoenix fire fighters arrived. The man was taken to a hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Scherer said the sergeant who shot the man has been with the department approximately 24-and-a-half years.

Scherer did not identify the man or say if he faced any criminal charges as of Monday evening.

He added that the department had launched a criminal and administrative investigation into the shooting as is standard protocol in police shootings.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police release body-cam footage of shooting that injured man armed with a knife
A composite image shows tanks at the 2020 Victory Day parade in Moscow, compared to the 2023 parade. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko; Contributor/Getty Images

Russia showed off its military power and equipment in its annual Victory Day celebrations.

But this year's parade was much shorter, with less weaponry, fewer troops, and just one tank.

Experts say Russia is using much of its equipment in Ukraine and also wants to hide military losses.

Russia's annual Victory Day parade, which is used to show off its military might, was a far more muted affair this year, as it struggles in its invasion of Ukraine.

The annual May 9 Victory Parade, which marks Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, has in the past featured a huge amount of Russian weaponry, as well as some of its most advanced equipment.

But this year's event was different, and even before Tuesday's parades began Russia had cancelled or scaled back many of its events.

Photos from this year compared to previous years show how much the Victory Day parade has changed:

A Soviet T-34 tank during the Victory Day Red Square Parade on May 9, 2023, in Moscow, Russia. Contributor/Getty Images

Just one decades-old tank rolled through the streets of Russia's capital city. The T-34 model was first used in 1940.

In the past, Russia has brought far more firepower to the parade, as can be seen in 2021.

Russian tanks in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

While Russia showed off armored vehicles, air defense systems, and ballistic missiles this year, the parade was shorter than normal. There were just 50 military vehicles this year, compared to 131 in 2021, The Washington Post reported.

Russia also usually releases a list of the equipment it is parading, but it didn't do so this year.

Meanwhile, Russia's air force typically stages a large display over Moscow for Victory Day.

In 2016, this included 71 aircraft including Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bombers and Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack planes, the BBC reported.

Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly over Red Square leaving trails of smoke in colors of national flag during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, in 2020. AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, Pool

But there were no air displays this year, with Russia offering no explanation for the absence.

Armored vehicles drive past the Kremlin after a military parade on Victory Day, with an empty sky, on May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Russia has cancelled air displays in the past, citing bad weather, but the weather was clear on Thursday.

Last year's parade also didn't feature any aircrafts, with Russia blaming bad weather, despite sunny forecasts.

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Fewer troops

The 2023 parade had around 8,000 troops, the BBC reported, down from previous years.

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

The parade had around 11,000 troops in 2022, and roughly 13,000 in 2019.

Experts said Russia likely wanted smaller celebrations this year to try to hide military losses in Ukraine, and noted that Russia needs much of its equipment and soldiers to stay in the fight.

Putin didn't join in

In past parades, Putin has taken part in the Immortal Regiment march in Moscow. The event is for remembrance, with millions typically taking part across Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a portrait of his father Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin as he walks among other people carrying portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, during the Immortal Regiment march through Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9, 2019. Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

A photo shows the scale of the Immortal Regiment march in Moscow, Russia, in May 2019. AP Photo/Denis Tyrin, File

But the Moscow event was cancelled this year. The Kremlin blamed the potential of attacks by Ukraine.

A Russian service member walks across a street before a military parade on Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, on May 9 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

The UK Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, suggested that Russian authorities were more likely worried that "participants would highlight the scope of recent Russian losses" in Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A post has been shared multiple times on social media showing a plane underwater with claims that it belongs to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 that went missing in 2014 with 239 people aboard. But this is false: the image shows a plane sunk in 2019 by the Jordanian government to serve as an artificial reef in the Red Sea. Flight MH370 is still missing as of May 2023.

Malaysia Airplane MH370 that disappeared 9 years ago has been found under ocean with no human skeleton. The plane had 239 passengers on board, reads a tweet published on May 2, 2023.

The post, with an image of a damaged plane resting on the seabed, has been retweeted more than 20,000 times and received more than 140,000 likes.

A screenshot of the false claim, taken on May 5, 2023

The claim also appeared on Facebook and elsewhere on Twitter with additional images.

MH370 mystery

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014 (archived here) while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 14 different nations.

After a three-year hunt (archived here) coordinated by Malaysia, China and Australia, the search ended in January 2017. No conclusion (archived here) was drawn about what happened to the flight.

Meanwhile, families of those onboard the missing airplane continue to call on the Malaysian government to restart the search after Texas-based technology company, Ocean Infinity, reported it was ready to embark on another expedition after a failed first attempt (archived here).

The claim that the wreckage of MH370 has recently been found is false.

Artificial reef

Using reverse image searches, AFP Fact Check traced the original photos to an Instagram account (archived here) called deepbluedivecenter. The Deep Blue Dive Center is a scuba diving operation based in Aqaba, Jordan.

On April 6, 2023, the dive center posted a video on its Instagram account showing the exact same plane seen in the picture -- which is in fact a screen grab from this video. All the details match perfectly, including the plane's damaged nose cone.

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Screenshots showing the Instagram video (left) and the false post (right)

The caption on the dive centre's Instagram post reads "Tristar Airplane Wreck" and notes that the location is "Red Sea, Aqaba".

A Google search for the keywords Tristar dive site and Dive site in Aqaba led to another Instagram account named Bubba Aqaba (archived here) belonging to an underwater photographer in Aqaba.

Several videos and pictures on the page were taken during scuba diving expeditions. One of them shows the TriStar with its damaged nose cone.

A screenshot of Bubba Aqaba's page showing a video of the TriStar, taken on May 4, 2023

The account holder confirmed to AFP Fact Check that this site is not the final resting place of flight MH370.

Meanwhile, information on the dive centres Facebook page shows that the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar is a commercial plane that was out of service and parked at Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport for several years (archived here).

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) purchased it to sink and use as an artificial reef in a barren area in the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba (archived here).

The TriStar was sunk in 2019, joining a military Hercules C130 aircraft, which was also scuttled in Aqaba two years earlier.

A YouTube video further shows a scuba diver filming the TriStar wreckage.

Mohammed Leddawi, operations manager at Deep Blue Dive Center, confirmed that Aqaba has two planes  the C130 and the Tristar  both sunk by the government.

The picture recently shared on social media "is not the wreckage of the missing plane, Leddawi said.
A large multifamily project being plotted for downtown Pineville could be on the verge of securing key approvals.

At its meeting on Tuesday, Pinevilles town council is scheduled to consider site plans and architectural approvals for large portions of a project proposed by Birmingham, Alabama-based LIV Development.

ALSO READ: Manufacturer to create local jobs with HQ move, new Pineville facility

Pinevilles town manager, Ryan Spitzer, confirmed to the Charlotte Business Journal that the council is set to consider site plan approvals for two of the three buildings being proposed by LIV Development. The council will also consider architectural approval for all three buildings, Spitzer said.

Site plans available in town documents show that LIV Developments proposed project calls for 237 apartments at a 7.6-acre downtown site.

Keep reading here.

VIDEO: County expands Pineville Police Departments jurisdiction




Many congressional Republicans support what they see as a logical way to keep key parts of the federal government running if it hits the current debt limit before there is an agreement to raise it: fund Social Security, Medicare and the military first.

Everything else? It would be paid for in what they view as descending priority  if funding is available.

No president can threaten to hold seniors or service members or veterans hostage as well, said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove. Hes the chief sponsor of the Default Prevention Act, which has been approved by the Republican-led House Ways & Means Committee and is headed for a full House vote.

Republicans and Democrats are far apart over how to increase the debt ceiling. The $31.4 trillion limit was reached in January and Treasury has since been taking what it calls extraordinary steps to continue to paying the nations bills.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that the government could run out of money to meet its obligations as soon as June 1. The House approved a detailed plan to cut spending while increasing the limit. Democrats, who say that plan would be devastating to social programs and other measures, are seeking a clean increase without strings attached.

President Joe Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, and other congressional leaders are scheduled to meet Tuesday for talks. If the government defaults, for the first time ever, its uncertain what would happen.

Yellen has argued against the McClintock-inspired plan, calling it an exceptionally risky, untested and radical departure from normal payment practices of agencies across the federal government.

Top congressional Democrats also are critical. We need to pay all our bills, said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Oergon, whose committee would have to approve such legislation.

Even if the GOP plan were in effect, Wyden asked, Does the federal government have the technical capacity to prioritize some payments ahead of others? Government experts are doubtful.

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The Republican plan

The Ways & Means-approved measure says the debt of the United States will be paid in full and on time in the event of a fiscal impasse over the debt limit.

Until there was a resolution, Treasury would pay based on a tiered structure.

First priority would be principal and interest on the public debt, as well as Social Security and Medicare benefits. Next in line would be bills incurred by the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

After that would come payments for any program not in a designated tier, such as other Cabinet agencies.

Finally, if funding was available, there would also be funding for other items, such as executive branch travel, and compensation of the President, Vice President and some political appointees. The last priority would be compensation for members of Congress.

Just like regular Americans, the President and Congress shouldnt get paid until the job is done, explained House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo. The committee sent the bill to the House floor on a party line 21 to 17 vote.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the cost of implementing this system would significantly exceed $500,000. But theres a much bigger technical hurdle, according to CBO: the Treasurys payment systems are not set up to handle different priorities.

Problems with the plan

Yellen explained at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

The government on average makes millions of payments each day and our systems are built to pay all of our bills on time and not to pick and choose which bills to pay, she said.

Yellen said the GOP proposal is an incredibly risky and dangerous idea and it has never been tried before. I cannot give any assurances about the technical feasibility of such a plan.

Critics also point out that by prioritizing public debt, the government would be placing the interests of investors, particularly foreign investors, ahead of the needs of constituents.

McClintock counters that most U.S. government debt is held by Americans, in the form of government and private retirement funds, and not foreign investors. With his plan, these investors are important because they would help keep Social Security, Medicare and military payments going.

His chief argument for the plan is that the Treasury was given the authority to implement such a system when Congress established the department in 1789.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to digest and prepare plans for the improvement and management of the revenue, and for the support of public credit, it says.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution goes somewhat further, saying validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.

Yellen is unenthusiastic about using the amendment as a basis for paying off debt.

We shouldnt be in a position where we need to consider whether or not the 14th Amendment applies, she told ABCs This Week in 2021.
A collection of historical artifacts found in Valery Horbatov

Police found a large cache of antiquities during a search of a property belonging to the MP and other members of his criminal group. The items may have been illegally removed from the Museum Fund of Ukraine or may have been found during illicit excavations.

Read also: Ukraines SBU seizes ex-MP Novynskyis hidden assets worth $287.1 million

The cache contains more than 1,000 artifacts dating from the Bronze Age and late Middle Ages, including:

a unique Hun sword with gold trim decorated with almandines, similar in style to the Hun tiara that Russian invasion forces stole from the Melitopol Museum;

armour from the 16 th to 19th centuries, including that of Polish hussars, and Iranian helmets;

coins from antiquity to the late Middle Ages;

a Byzantine gold icon of the 11 th to 12th century depicting the Archangel Michael;

ancient and Scythian antiquities;

icons;

edged weapons from the 14 th to 19th centuries, WW1 and WW2;

Migration Period swords, etc.

The artifacts were now put in storage at the National Museum of History of Ukraine. Their cultural value and cost will be determined by experts. The collection is thought to be worth millions of dollars.

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

State Bureau of Investigation (DBR)

In addition to the cache, documents of illegal economic activities in the occupied Crimea and the occupied part of Donetsk region were discovered, the DBR said.

Read also: Former MP Kuzmin ordered arrested in absentia, with no bail option  DBR

Horbatov fled Kyiv to Russian-occupied territories before the full-scale invasion, according to police. He headed the Council of Ministers in Crimea in early 2000s, and twice served as a presidential representative on the peninsula.

The DBR served a notice of suspicion to Horbatov over financing the "DNR" terrorist organization and misappropriating historical artifacts stolen from Crimean museums and purchased from "black archaeologists."

More than 6,000 historical and cultural valuables, including Scythian swords, ancient coins, helmets and pottery of Trypillian culture, were found in one of his offices.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The wreckage of a Russian missile which was still smoking and a vast crater have been found by law enforcement officers in Kyiv Oblast. No injuries or damage have been reported.

Source: Andrii Niebytov, Chief of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv Oblast, on Telegram; Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote from Niebytov: "The wreckage of an enemy cruise missile has been found in one of the districts of Kyiv Oblast. There is partial damage to civilian infrastructure facilities.

However, due to the excellent work of Ukrainian air defence, we have managed to avoid casualties and turn a Russian cruise missile into a bunch of metal."

Details: Fragments of another cruise missile have been found in the field in one of the districts of Kyiv Oblast. There have been no casualties or damage.

In addition, law enforcement officers have found a giant crater from Russian attacks.

The diameter of the hit was about 8 metres, with a depth of over 2.5 metres. No casualties or damage have been reported.

Niebytov urged residents not to approach the wreckage of missiles or drones and to immediately call special services and limit any contact with the crash site.

In turn, Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has reported that fragments of shot-down Russian missiles have been detected in the village of Myrotske, Bucha district, in the yard of a private house.

Another missile has been found in the field of the village of Tarasivka, Fastiv ditrict.

Yermak has said that fragments resemble a Kh-55SM cruise missile in both cases.

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The Amarillo Police Department is seeking information from the public after a small business was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night.

According to police, at 11:53 p.m. Sunday, May 7, Amarillo officers were sent to the Amarillo Social Club, 1619 S. Kentucky, on a reported robbery. Police said the employees delayed calling the police for about 45 minutes; the robbery actually occurred at about 11:10 p.m.

An employee told officers a vehicle backed up to the business, and a man got out of the car and came inside. He handed the employee a note demanding money and pointed a gun at the employee.

The employee gave him the money, and the man got back into the vehicle and left the scene.

Amarillo PD Violent Crimes are assigned to this investigation.

Anyone who has any information on this crime is asked to call Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400 or go to their website, amapolice.org or download the p3 tips app and make a tip there. Tips will remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo Social Club robbed at gunpoint Sunday, police seek info
Years of investigating and testing DNA evidence led Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to arrest a suspect in a decades old cold case.

On June 17, 1994, a 39-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint, according to CMPD. A man, police said, had attacked her after breaking into her home.

She reported the assault to police and completed a sexual assault test kit. Over the years, police would revisit the evidence, according to a news release Tuesday by CMPD.

Nearly three decades of great investigative work have led to our Cold Case Unit charging a suspect in a sexual assault investigation from 1994. This past Thursday, James Wayne Ingersoll was arrested in Concord, North Carolina with the help of SLED & @ColumbiaPDSC (1/2)  CMPD News (@CMPD) May 9, 2023

Five years ago investigators finally had a lead.

In 2018, and again in 2019, the DNA samples from the scene were linked to a sexual assault from 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina, CMPD said.

Three years later, detectives used forensic genetic genealogy tests to identify a suspect, according to CMPD.

A DNA sample was obtained from James Wayne Ingersoll, 50, and it matched both sexual assaults, CMPD officials said Tuesday.

Last week, CMPD arrested Ingersoll in Concord. He is in the Mecklenburg County jail charged with first-degree rape, burglary and is listed as a former fugitive, according to records from the sheriffs office.

The victims of the sexual assault have been notified of his arrest, police said.
You are here: Business

Workers inspect seamless steel tubes at a plant of Ansteel Group Co., Ltd. in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 5, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]



Most of the capital goods in China posted lower prices in late April compared with mid-April, official data showed Monday.

Of the 50 goods monitored by the government, which include seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer, and some agricultural products mainly used for processing, 19 posted rising prices, 30 registered lower prices and one remained unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Hog prices climbed 4.3 percent in late April to 14.7 yuan (about 2.13 U.S. dollars) per kg, NBS data showed.

The figures, released every 10 days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions across the country.
A New York jury has concluded that it is more likely than not that Donald Trump sexually abused and defamed E Jean Carroll. The verdict may be a harbinger of political and legal damage to come.

While the ruling may not make a dent in Mr Trump's base within the Republican Party, where his supporters view the US legal system with scepticism and have stood by him through all manners of adversity, it could have a lasting sting.

The response of two Republican senators highlights the risk this moment poses to his 2024 bid to regain the White House.

"It has a cumulative effect," said Senator John Thune of South Dakota. "People are going to have to decide if they want to deal with all the drama."

"I don't think he can get elected," warned John Cornyn of Texas. "You can't win a general election with just your base."

In the end, Mr Trump may have been his own worst enemy in this case.

Central to Ms Carroll's lawsuit was the former president's deposition testimony, in which he seemed both demeaning and defensive. He explained away his infamous Access Hollywood tape boasts about grabbing women by their genitals as reflecting a historical truth about the power of celebrities - "unfortunately or fortunately".

Fortunately?

He said that both Ms Carroll and another woman who testified that Mr Trump sexually assaulted her were not his type - a description he also applied, voluntarily, to the female attorney conducting the deposition itself.

For a jury weighing whether Mr Trump was the kind of person capable of sexual assault - or, at least, whether he was more credible than his accuser - it was exactly the wrong attitude to present.

He also mistakenly identified a photograph of Ms Carroll as being of his former wife, Marla Maples, directly undercutting that "not his type" assertion.

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In the 2020 presidential election, suburban voters, particularly women, recoiled from Mr Trump's brand of brash politics. The jury's ruling in this case can only push those kinds of voters farther away from him.

The former president was defiant on his social media platform, calling the verdict a disgrace and insisting he had no idea who "this woman" was. Outside court, his lawyer told reporters Mr Trump would appeal.

Up until now, the former president has run a fairly disciplined campaign to regain the White House in 2024. His team has methodically built up grass-roots support in key primary states across the country. His focused attacks on his rival Ron DeSantis appear to be drawing blood. He has managed to turn his New York indictment into a badge of honour among his base.

The sexual abuse and defamation ruling could give his Republican opponents an avenue for attack, however. If they can rattle him the way Ms Carroll's lawyer did, forcing him off message and into a defensive crouch, it could knock a candidate seemingly in control of his party into committing more unforced errors.

At the very least, it is another historic first for a former president who already faces one criminal indictment and has possibly others to come.

Up until now, Mr Trump has shrugged off such legal concerns. But the New York jury's decision lands a blow against Mr Trump in a way that mere "investigations" do not. A jury of everyday Americans have considered the evidence and found that Mr Trump did wrong.

None of it bodes well for those other legal headaches, including special counsel Jack Smith's inquiry into the former president's involvement in the attack on the US Capitol and his handling of classified documents after he left the White House, as well as Georgia's investigations of Mr Trump's attempt to reverse that state's 2020 presidential election results.

While it's unlikely in the extreme that Mr Trump would ever take the stand if those investigations turn into indictments - or will testify in the current New York indictment - prosecutors may look for ways to use the former president's statements or previous testimony against him as effectively as Ms Carroll's lawyer did.
Months after studies suggested massive ports could be built on the Central Coast to support the offshore wind energy industry, the Port of Long Beach has released a report showing how it, instead, could be home to a wind turbine construction port.

The Port of Long Beachs 152-page conceptual report details its proposed plan to build a 400-acre pier, dubbed Pier Wind, to support the construction and assembly of the floating wind turbines.

Should the ports plan go forward, the assembled turbines could then be transported more than 200 nautical miles to the Morro Bay wind energy area off the Central Coast, where a floating wind farm would generate 3 to 6 gigawatts of electricity.

Imagine fully assembled wind turbines capable of generating 20 megawatts of energy towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to offshore wind farms in Central and Northern California, said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero in a Tuesday news release. As society transitions to clean energy, our harbor is ideally located for such an enterprise  with calm seas behind a federal breakwater, one of the deepest and widest channels in the U.S., direct access to the open ocean and no air height restrictions.

Long Beach Harbor Commission President Sharon Weissman noted in the same news release that Pier Wind would be constructed to lay the foundation for a zero carbon energy future for the energy grid as well as its own operations.

Offshore wind is essential to the Port of Long Beachs own goals to transition to zero emissions, and ensuring there is a ready supply of reliable, resilient, and renewable power is vital for the work we do moving commerce, she said in the prepared statement.

Pier Wind is expected to cost about $4.7 billion, according to the news release. To finance the project, the Port of Long Beach is seeking funding from state and federal officials as well as developers and other sources.

The Port of Long Beach proposes building Pier Wind, a $4.7 billion, 400-acre facility to build and assemble wind turbines for the Central Coast.

Pier Wind would also create new jobs and career opportunities for the communities closest to the Port that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and port operations, the news release said. Community members would participate and benefit as California transitions away from fossil fuels and into a green economy.

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Construction of Pier Wind could begin in January 2027, according to the news release. About 100 acres of the facility could be operational in early 2031, the second 100 acres operational later that year and the last 200 acres online by the end of 2035, the news release said.

Californias offshore wind energy goals call for having 5 gigawatts operational by 2030 and 25 gigawatts by 2045.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has not yet issued the final leases to the three provisional winners of the Morro Bay wind energy area. Those companies  Ocean Winds North America, Invenergy and Equinor  bid a total of $425.6 million during an auction in December to lease the 376-square-mile area of the Pacific Ocean for offshore wind energy development.

Wind turbine port could also be built in SLO County

A study by REACH Central Coast, a local economic development think tank, released in December showed how San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties could industrialize some areas of their shorelines to provide adequate ports where floating wind turbines would be assembled and maintained.

That study showed that locations such as Port San Luis and the area off Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant north of Avila Beach could potentially be developed to house ports of about 70 to 100 acres. Those ports could handle the construction and assembly of the wind turbines, which would then be towed to the nearby Morro Bay wind energy area, according to the REACH study.

This rendering shows a possible conceptual design for a port at Port San Luis to support the floating offshore wind industry.

Another study released in February by the California State Lands Commission dove further into the issue and looked at the entire coastline of the state to determine where the massive floating offshore wind energy ports could be located.

It found that while theres space along San Luis Obispo Countys shoreline for the massive ports, such development does not appear likely due to various environmental and financial constraints.

However, the state study, along with the REACH study, found that a smaller port could be feasible in Morro Bay. The 5- to 10-acre port could host the maintenance and operations facilities such as warehouses, offices, spare part storage and marine facilities to support wind turbine maintenance, boat refueling, charging and storage.

These renderings show the Morro Bay harbor before (top) and after (bottom) a conceptual port is built to support some operations and maintenance of the proposed floating offshore wind energy developments.

Where exactly the various ports will go and when construction will begin, however, is still unknown.

There are some very aggressive aspirational goals being set forth, but theres a lot of planning needed, said State Lands Commission science policy advisor Jennifer Mattox in a May 4 panel event held by The Tribune at Morro Bay High School. Theres a benefit to having (the large assembly port) as close as possible to the wind energy area, but there are also impacts.
PORTSMOUTH  A sea of students at Portsmouth High School staged a walkout Tuesday morning in protest of gun violence, nearly one month since all city schools were closed while authorities investigated an alleged online shooting threat made against the high school.

Senior class members Gabby Rothstein and Cami Zadravec, who have both attended Portsmouth schools since kindergarten, organized the walkout. Rothstein recalled the first lockdown drill she experienced in elementary school, and noted being reminded of classroom escape routes and active shooter preparedness training by instructors throughout her years in school.

Portsmouth High School students organized a walkout against gun violence May 9, 2023. Gabby Rothstein stands on a table to speak with students and communicate that they will march to the football field.

Every time Rothstein opens her phone, she feels shes being notified of another act of gun violence that kills at least one child simply trying to learn at school.

Fifty years ago, active shooter drills were somewhat unheard of. This is not normal, she said. As I prepare to leave Portsmouth High School, I must use my voice to advocate for change.

Portsmouth school has been targeted by threats

The high school has been at the heart of two law enforcement investigations this academic year. In December, Portsmouth High School and other New Hampshire schools were swept by police after a fake report of an active shooter was called in to authorities. Such false reports are referred to as swatting.

Portsmouth High School students organized a walkout against gun violence May 9, 2023.

All six Portsmouth schools were closed on Thursday, April 13 by the school district after Portsmouth police were notified by the FBI about a social media threat made against Portsmouth High School. The day the schools were closed, police in Portland, Maine arrested Kyle Hendrickson in connection with the alleged threat, accusing him of sharing a Snapchat video while in possession of an AR-15 and other firearms and ammunition in his vehicle outside Portsmouth High School and threatening to shoot up the school.

Hendrickson has been charged in New Hampshire with criminal threatening with a firearm, a Class B felony, and faces a federal count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another, according to Jane Young, U.S. attorney for New Hampshire.

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More: Portsmouth threat sparks call for NH laws, banning guns '100%' on school grounds

Portsmouth students shaken by incidents

There is power in proximity. After receiving a threat at our own school, I think many students felt the issue was very close to home, Rothstein said. We couldn't come to school for a day. The threat interfered with our education. It was a bit unnerving, and of course, it was a bit unsettling to return to school the next day with an increased police presence. This event was a factor in planning the walkout, but it certainly was not the only reason we decided to do this. One might call it somewhat of a catalyst.

Portsmouth High School students organized a walkout against gun violence May 9, 2023.

Rothstein addressed students at the walkout while holding a dotted sign that read, The number of dots on this poster are the number that can be shot in the time it takes to read it.

In 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 14,900 gun violence deaths in America as of Tuesday, with over 8,500 attributable to death by suicide. The remainder, the archive reports, are due to homicide, murder, unintentional firing of guns and self-defense.

More local news: St. Thomas Aquinas teachers let go. School denies claims LGBTQ+ affiliation is reason.

Portsmouth High School students organized a walkout against gun violence May 9, 2023.

School shootings keep happening all across the country, and change is not coming. It is frustrating to feel so helpless, especially as teens who can't vote, Rothstein said. We are scared, and we are tired. So many students, parents, and teachers' lives are taken or overturned by these events. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. Thoughts and prayers don't stop school shootings. How many more times can we let the media say, "Never again"? These frustrations culminated in a call for action, and we hope to bring attention to our cause.

School administrators were aware of the walkout, allowed students to make school-wide announcements leading up to the event and let students conduct poster-making sessions ahead of time, she noted.

Portsmouth High School principal Stephen Chinosi waited on the turf field with other administrators and teachers as students lapped around the school building and down to the turf at Tom Daubney Field on Tuesday. The first-year school principals breath was taken away as the throng of Clippers made their way down to the field, with Chinosi estimating nearly 1,000 high school students participated in the walkout.

Portsmouth High School students organized a walkout against gun violence May 9, 2023.

Ultimately whats really important for us as educators is teaching about civil disobedience, what peaceful protest means, and what civil action means and what role your voice has in the community, he said. I told them that this walkout was a safe step to start exercising that civic responsibility.

The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as a single incident in which four or more are either injured or killed, not including the shooter. Through Tuesday, per the organization, the United States has seen 208 mass shootings since the start of the year.

Chinosi observed the message on one Portsmouth High School students poster during the walkout: Im really tired of planning my evacuation route, i just want to get back to math class.

It was important for me to support the kids in their advocacy and in using their voice and be behind them, because we are, he said. This isn't political. Its about school safety. It's about ringing a bell saying that we want safe schools.

While rallying is important, the work to call attention to gun violence and advocate for violence prevention doesnt end there, Rothstein added.

We will be notifying state representatives of what we did today, and we hope they take notice, she said. We hope students and staff will keep advocating. We are the future, and we hope they listen to what we have to say.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth High students walk out to protest gun violence
From now on, if youve the victim of a massive flight delay or a cancellation, you may be entitled to compensation.

At least thats what President Joe Biden is hoping. On Monday, his administration said it was writing new rules that would require airlines to pay passengers for the inconvenience if the carrier was responsible, Reuters reported. Currently, companies dont legally have to provide compensation for such incidents.

More from Robb Report

When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The Biden administration didnt say how much it would require airlines to give passengers, but last year it asked carriers whether they would agree to pay a minimum of $100 for a delay of at least three hours. (In comparison, the European Union and some other countries require up to 600 euros, or $663, for significant delays.) The presidents office is also hoping to ensure that airlines pay for meals and hotels, which many voluntarily committed to in August, and plans to propose the the new guidelines by the end of this year.

While no carriers currently offer cash to make up for delays and cancellations, some do offer other forms of repayment. JetBlue, for example, gives passengers frequent-flyer miles, travel credits, or vouchers when they have to wait three hours or more due to a delay or cancellation under the airlines control. Alaska Airlines similarly offers travel credits or vouchers in those sorts of situations.

U.S. airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel a flight and do everything in their control to ensure flights depart and arrive on time, but safety is always the top priority, trade association Airlines for America said, according to Reuters.

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This is just the presidents latest move in his crackdown on air carriers after an enormous number of flight disruptions occurred last year, Reuters reported. (The Federal Aviation Administration has noted that it doesnt have enough air-traffic-control staff, and its running 10 percent fewer flights than in 2019.) Among other actions, the Biden administration has investigated 10 carriers for not providing refunds and urged Southwest Airlines to do better after that companys holiday morass, in which more than 16,000 flights were canceled.

Were a catastrophe like that to happen again, Bidens new rules would ideally get you a hotel room and a hamburger while you wait for the next flight out of the airport.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military has systematically evaded accountability in the deaths of 20 journalists over the past two decades, launching slow and opaque investigations that have never resulted in prosecution or punishment, an international press-freedom group said in a report Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued its report ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh  a Palestinian-American journalist with the Al Jazeera satellite channel who was killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

The army has said Abu Akleh was likely killed by Israeli fire, but said the shooting was accidental and not announced any disciplinary action.

The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the failure of the armys investigative process to hold anyone responsible is not a one-off event, said Robert Mahoney, CPJs director of special projects and one of the reports editors. It is part of a pattern of response that seems designed to evade responsibility.

The New York-based CPJ documented the cases of 20 journalists killed by Israeli military fire over the last 22 years. Eighteen of the dead were Palestinians, while the other two were European foreign correspondents. At least 13, including Abu Akleh, were clearly identified as journalists or traveling in vehicles marked with press insignia, it said.

No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths, the report said. The impunity in these cases has severely undermined the freedom of the press, leaving the rights of journalists in precarity.

The report found a routine sequence in the deaths of journalists. Israeli officials typically discount evidence or witness claims while cases are still under investigation, and journalists are accused of terrorism without providing any evidence. Probes can drag on for months or years and clouded in secrecy before they are closed, and families of the dead have little legal recourse.

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Israels procedure for examining military killings of civilians such as journalists is a black box, it said. There is no policy document describing the process in detail and the results of any probe are confidential.

It found that the army tends to launch more robust investigations in cases such as Abu Aklehs, when the journalist holds a foreign passport, but even those do not result in prosecution.

It called for criminal investigations into three cases: Yasser Murtaja, a well-known Palestinian journalist killed while covering protests along the frontier with Israel in 2018; Ahmed Abu Hussein, another journalist killed covering Gaza protests in 2018; and Abu Akleh.

Israeli officials claimed without giving evidence that Murtaja was a militant.

In the case of Abu Akleh, the army said there was a very high probability that she was shot by an Israeli soldier who had misidentified her as a militant. But it held out the possibility that she had been shot by a Palestinian militant, though it gave no evidence to support that claim.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it regrets any harm to civilians during operational activity and considers the protection of the freedom of the press and the professional work of journalists to be of great importance.

It said it operates in a complex security reality and does not intentionally target noncombatants, using live fire only as a last resort. It said criminal investigations are typically opened in cases of civilian deaths, unless the incident occurred in an active combat situation or if there is no suspicion of a crime having been committed by IDF soldiers.

Abu Akleh, who was 51, was shot while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on May 11, 2022. The area is known to be a stronghold of Palestinian militants.

The Israeli military frequently operates in the camp and said its soldiers had been involved in intense gunbattles with militants that morning. But it has provided no evidence that Palestinian gunmen were in the vicinity of Abu Akleh.

A number of independent investigations, including one by The Associated Press, concluded that Abu Akleh was almost certainly killed by Israeli fire and found no evidence of militant activity in the area. Witness accounts and amateur videos have also shown the area to be quiet before she was shot.

The United States concluded that an Israeli soldier likely killed her by mistake, but it did not explain how it reached that conclusion. A U.S.-led analysis of the bullet last July was inconclusive as investigators said the bullet had been badly damaged.

The Palestinian Authority, Al Jazeera and her family have accused the army of intentionally killing Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist well known across the Arab world for documenting the harsh realities of life under more than half a century of Israeli military rule.

The report said the shooting has had a chilling effect on press freedom.

Many reporters covering similar raids and tensions  which have risen markedly since Shireens killing  are afraid of being shot, said Guillaume Lavallee, chairman of the Foreign Press Association at the time of the shooting, told CPJ. He said the feeling of vulnerability is especially strong among Palestinian colleagues.

The FPA represents dozens of international media organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including The Associated Press.

In its report, the CPJ called on the Israeli military to reform its rules of engagement to prevent the targeting of journalists, to guarantee swift, independent and transparent investigations and to make their findings public.

It also called on the U.S. to issue an update on the status of a reported FBI investigation into Abu Aklehs killing and to put pressure on Israel to reform its rules of engagement.

___

This story has been corrected to show that CPJ is asking for an investigation into the death of Ahmed Abu Hussein, not Yousef Abu Hussein.
Prince Harrys ghostwriter JR Moehringer has revealed the passage from the dukes recent memoir that the two of them fought over.

Harrys tell-all book, Spare, was released in January earlier this year, sparking a media storm over his numerous claims and revelations about the royal family.

In a new piece written for The New Yorker, Moehringer recalled butting heads with Harry over a part about his military training.

In the excerpt in question, Harry is subjected to terrorism training by military personnel posing as insurgents.

At last, Harrys captors throw him against a wall, choke him, and scream insults into his face, culminating in a vile dig at Princess Diana, Moehringer wrote.

The insult was so egregious that once the training is over, one of the officers apologised to Harry for it.

According to Moehringer, the duke wanted to end the chapter with the comeback he told his captors, which the author found an unnecessary, and somewhat inane addition.

Prince Harrys ghostwriter (left) describes working with the Duke of Sussex (Getty)

Good for Harry that he had the nerve, but ending with what he said would dilute the scenes meaning, the author wrote.

In a 2am Zoom call with the royal, Moehringer said Harry lost his cool over the lines omission.

It felt as if we were hurtling toward some kind of decisive rupture, in part because Harry was no longer saying anything. He was just glaring into the camera, he wrote.

The ghostwriter said that Harry explained that he wanted the line included because all his life, people had belittled his intellectual capabilities, and this flash of cleverness proved that, even after being kicked and punched and deprived of sleep and food, he had his wits about him.

Despite understanding his reasoning, the author refused to include the line, which the duke eventually conceded to in good humour. He did not clarify what the comeback was.

Elsewhere in The New Yorker piece, Moehringer described how Meghan Markle made him feel comfortable during stays at their home.

The duke returned to the UK for the first time since Spares release this week for the coronation of his father, King Charles III.

Harrys visit was notably brief; he arrived a day before the coronation ceremony and then returned to California shortly after the crowning concluded.
To say that Priyanka Chopra is a busy bee right now is one helluva understatement. The actor is currently taking part in not one but two different press tours. The first, for her Amazon Video series Citadel (starring alongside Richard Madden) aaaaand the other promoting her new rom-com, Love Again.

Unsurprisingly, Priyanka's also got the wardrobe to match her impressive roles. From repping a liquid gold evening gown and scarlet red Vivienne Westwood corset dress to debuting a Y2K-inspired silky pink cut-out design, the actor's wardrobe is one to watch. But after some incredibly stylish weeks, she's still not done. The 40-year-old has just gone and repped another killer lewk: a plunging white halterneck dress that's giving major Marilyn Monroe vibes.



Just yesterday, Priyanka stepped out in New York City wearing a classic summer dress that makes our hearts *sing*. Arriving to a slew of waiting photographers, Priyanka looks cool as a cucumber in a sleeveless white midi with a very low neckline finishing at the waist. The star accessorises the gown with matching ivory pieces, including pointed boots and a pair of retro-inspired cat-eye sunglasses. Yup, it's giving old Hollywood glamour with a 2023 spin and I, for one, can't get enough.

See the look for yourself here:

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The plunging neckline and halterneck top, the cinched waist, and voluminous skirt - this look is very reminiscent of Marilyn's iconic pleated midi from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, famously pictured blowing up in the air when the Marily stood over a subway grate.

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As for hair and makeup, Priyanka went for a more modern combo consisting of a wavy blow-out, a pink lip and subtle feline flick on the eyes.

Getty Images

I can't wait to see what she wears next <33

Follow Natasha on Instagram.

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At a recent Board of Education meeting in the town of Jericho, New York, an agitated mother took the mic to address the administrators and trustees seated at the dais. Are children in the middle school and high school asked what their pronouns are? Julianna Feigenbaum inquired. He? She? They? It? Unicorn?

Everyone in the room knew why she was asking: the Project Veritas video.

Over the last few years, the humble school board meeting has gone from a space to discuss sundry budgetary issues and school superlatives to the front line of this countrys culture war. A sustained conservative crusade over the supposed inclusion of critical race theory in elementary, middle and high school curricula has set the stage for attacks on other topics pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI  namely, sexuality and gender identity.

And thanks to at least three undercover videos released by the right-wing organization Project Veritas, all of which show, without any context, Long Island public school staff members discussing gender and sexuality, multiple administrators and teachers are facing professional consequences  and finding that many parents have decided they can no longer be trusted to work with their children.

Perhaps you havent heard of Project Veritas by name, but you might be familiar with its work. Remember the 2009 takedown of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a collection of advocacy groups for low-income families connected to President Barack Obama? Project Veritas was behind that, with founder James OKeefe posing as a pimp. Or how about the videos promoted by Donald Trumps campaign and its surrogates in 2020 that erroneously accused Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) of ballot harvesting? Yup, that was Project Veritas, too.

The Project Veritas attacks go beyond these stunts, causing real-life suffering to their subjects. ACORN was stripped of its federal funding after the sting. Omar, who had already been threatened as one of two Muslim women in Congress, became even more of a conservative target thanks to what a spokesperson at the time called a coordinated right wing effort to delegitimize a free and fair election.

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In February, Project Veritas board ousted OKeefe from the organization over alleged financial malfeasance, leaving some to wonder if the group would be able to make it without its highly visible and theatrical leader. Without him, I dont think they exist, Ryan Girdusky, a former Project Veritas employee and founder of a PAC focused on electing conservatives to school boards, told the conservative blog RedState shortly after OKeefes departure. It would be like having a White Stripes concert without Jack White.

But just a month later, the organization was stirring up controversies in New York  having set its sights on DEI efforts at Jericho, East Williston, Manhasset and East Meadow public schools. Troubled GOP Rep. George Santos, who represents three of the four towns in Congress, added fuel to the fire.

The videos were an escalation of the groups prior attacks on two private schools: In September, Trinity School in Manhattan put an administrator on leave after an undercover clip of her discussing her liberal agenda was published; the school later announced she was no longer employed. And in December, a dean at a private school in Chicago found himself in the eye of a right-wing media firestorm when a Project Veritas operative released an undercover video of him talking about LGBTQ-inclusive sex education. After the videos release, the K-12 school had to be evacuated due to a bomb threat.

There is a nationwide conservative effort to keep kids from learning about different genders, sexualities, races and religions  anything that threatens the white Christian status quo  and the involvement of Project Veritas, a group with a long record of producing misleading videos, in this fight signals conservatives willingness to do whatever it takes to win the culture war.

The Videos

Its evident from watching the videos that the Long Island educators were likely filmed without their knowledge. The shots are poorly framed and filmed from below, indicating that whoever was filming was attempting to hide their recording device. They catch the subjects during meals and conference sessions where they make off-the-cuff comments about their evolving views on how to approach gender and sexuality in schools when they know theyre under a microscope from parents and media.

The first such video Project Veritas released features Dave Casamento, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at East Meadow School District, apparently answering a question about hiring for the district.

I think I said this before, but people dont give up power, you have to take it from them.  You stop hiring those types of people, Casamento says, apparently referring to conservatives. We created a whole rubric for hiring in light of DEI.

Its all secret, he continues. So, I would rank them [conservatives] so low [in their interview process] that their score couldnt possibly raise them up to the level of moving on. He also shared that, as an out gay man, My sexual identity was always a part of my work because I believe in making connections with kids.

Casamento did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment about the video.

I particularly love working with families and helping them ... through their childrens journey of sexuality and gender.Elisa Waters, a middle school teacher, in a Project Veritas video

Two of the videos appear to have been filmed during an event hosted by LGBTeach, an organization that provides teachers with resources to better connect with their LGBTQ+ students.

One was about six and a half minutes long and featured several teachers, including Mike Smith, an American Sign Language teacher at East Meadow. In the video, he discusses gender-affirming care for trans teens, including the potential benefits of hormone blockers.

Smith did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment. A district spokesperson for East Meadow declined to comment on Smiths employment status; it is not clear if he has been punished.

Santos tweeted the video on March 9 and wrote: They always say its not a coordinated effort then what is this? #ProtectOurChildren. The lawmakers office did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Four days later, Project Veritas released another video from the LGBTeach event. In it, LGBTeach founder Elisa Waters, a middle school Spanish teacher in Jericho, talks about supporting LGBTQ+ kids.

I particularly love working with families and helping them, you know, practicing, you know, affirmation through their childrens journey of sexuality and gender, she says in the recording.

Waters also seems to acknowledge that it can be risky for new teachers, who dont have the job security of tenure, to openly express their views. I always tell untenured teachers, Youre going to have more longevity making change if you maybe play it a little safer for a little longer Lean on your tenured colleagues to do some of this [DEI] work because we need you, she says. Waters declined to speak to HuffPost while the investigation is underway.

In a post about the video on the groups website, Project Veritas characterized Waters comments as grooming, a derogatory term conservatives often use to ostracize LGBTQ+ people and their allies.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has tweeted out Project Veritas videos of teachers in his congressional district.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has tweeted out Project Veritas videos of teachers in his congressional district.

Donald Gately, the assistant superintendent of Manhasset schools, and Joseph Wiener, principal of the East Williston school districts high school, were briefly featured conversing elsewhere in the same video. (Gately is married to Danielle Gately, the superintendent of the East Williston school district.)

If youre a teacher now, youve got kids with parents, some of whom are extremely conservative and right-wing, Donald Gately says in the video. Now youre gonna make people make  theyre gonna connect politics to DEI work. And the purity that you feel about DEI work now gets complicated and fraught, and pushed back on.  I have to calibrate my approach to diversity, equity and inclusion through that lens.

Wiener defends bringing in speakers to his school to speak about anti-racism.

Theres no in-between, he says. If youre not doing anti-racist work, then you are contributing to racial divide.

Santos tweeted out that video as well, writing: This is in #NY03 seems like a good reason to get back out there and remind teachers that their job is to EDUCATE not Indoctrinate.

The Fallout

Many of the people featured in the videos have faced significant backlash, with board meetings growing tense and some parents calling for repercussions  and succeeding.

The Manhasset school districts Board of Education meeting on March 16 erupted into a debate about Donald Gatelys appearance in the video. Project Veritas operatives even seemed to be in attendance, as one parent addressed the group directly and the organization later released a video of an interaction at the meeting.

One mother who said We dont want DEI in our schools claimed that students werent learning core subjects like English and math because of a disproportionate emphasis on social justice, gender and sexuality. Where is the color representation of heterosexuals on the Pride flag? she asked the board.

Manhasset alumna Nicole Kipperlove spoke out against what she characterized as the blatant, shameless, brutal indoctrination of kids in different school districts.Kipperlove also happens to be chief of staff to Republican New York City Councilmember Vickie Paladino and has a leadership position with the New York Young Republicans Club, a group that has embraced and hosted events featuring conspiracy theorists and white nationalists.

I actually want to thank Project Veritas for exposing this corruption of our kids throughout different school districts and encouraging parents to speak up in order to protect their kids, Kipperlove said, raising her voice. There is nothing wrong with that!

A group identifying themselves only as Manhasset Parents went on to email administrators on March 29, indicating they were eager for Donald Gately to suffer consequences.

We request that the Board of Trustees promptly place Dr. Gately on leave until the investigation is complete, the parents wrote. As you know, the board has a legal and fiduciary obligation to investigate this matter and we therefore respectfully request your immediate attention.

Donald Gately did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

When reached for comment, an external spokesperson for the Manhasset school district  the same used by the East Meadow and East Williston districts  referred HuffPost to an email Manhasset Superintendent Gaurav Passi had previously sent to the community.

The videos are concerning because they suggest that Districts on Long Island conspire in their hiring practices to root out candidates based on their political beliefs and that Districts are covertly pushing a particular agenda into both hiring practices and curriculum, Passi wrote. If this were true about Manhasset, it would certainly be cause for concern. Let me assure you, it is not.

Please dont get confused by a Project Veritas report if all you have to do is Google 'Project Veritas' and take a look at all the different ways theyve been sued for misinformation.Mike Harnett, high school teacher

In Jericho, an outside attorney is investigating Waters conduct  which Superintendent Henry Grishman confirmed at the March 30 Board of Education meeting where some community members butted heads with educators. Grishman said attendees wouldnt be allowed to discuss Waters by name.

I have four children in this district and I dont feel comfortable sending them to class because I dont think, in the spirit of transparency, you guys know what the teachers are teaching, said Feigenbaum, the parent who asked about pronouns.

Grishmans reply to that remark is one many administrators nationwide could use to defend their staff.

For 18 months, we were teaching our kids in your living rooms, he said, referring to the remote learning that took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. You heard every statement and every lesson that our teachers shared with our students. Kindergarten through 12th grade. You had an opportunity  to watch the quality of instruction that our teachers deliver to our kids.

There were no complaints about how discussions of gender or sexuality were incorporated into class time, he said.

Mike Harnett, a teacher at Jericho High School for more than 30 years, echoed Grishman.

Parents have never been shy about complaining in the school district, he said. I will hear about everything. I have not heard about this. Please dont get confused by a Project Veritas report if all you have to do is Google Project Veritas and take a look at all the different ways theyve been sued for misinformation. (The organization has faced myriadlegal troubles. Just this past September, it lost a lawsuit brought by a Democratic consulting firm that said Project Veritas had used deceptive recording practices that harmed its business.)

Casamento, the assistant superintendent in East Meadow, has been administratively reassigned and will not be present in any school buildings while an investigation is conducted, according to a letter the Board of Education president, Alisa Baroukh, sent to the community on March 10.

Asked about the status of Casamentos employment and whether the district has any plans to protect staff and students from possible future Project Veritas confrontations, East Meadow Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Card replied through an external spokesperson: The district does not discuss ongoing personnel matters. The safety procedures in place are consistent with our district safety plan and building emergency response plans.

Danielle Gately, the superintendent of the East Williston school district who is married to Donald Gately, was the only administrator to explicitly and publicly condemn Project Veritas tactics. In a March 14 letter to the community, she addressed East Williston principal Wieners appearance in the video.

He was filmed without his knowledge or permission while answering questions about experiences with a diversity, equity, and inclusion situation at his former district, she wrote. The organization edited the video and altered the context of the conversation.

East Williston has not announced an investigation into Wiener and has resisted calls to investigate Casamento, who previously worked for the district.

Some parents have demanded a retroactive investigation into Casamentos hiring practices and have continued to push culture wars further.

On March 15, two days after the Project Veritas video featuring Wiener was released, the school districts Board of Education announced that the book Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe would be temporarily removed from circulation to allow for further clarification with respect to the appropriate audience for the book. The memoir about exploring sexuality and gender identity is one of the most banned books in the country.

"Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe, a graphic novel about a nonbinary teen, is one of the most banned books in the country. The East Williston Board of Education announced the book would be temporarily removed from district school libraries "to allow for further clarification with respect to the appropriate audience for the book.

A group of East Williston parents has also created a petition calling for parental transparency, a copy of which was shared with HuffPost. In the document, they demand that students not be exposed to curricula or content related to gender ideology, sex acts (outside of approved sex-ed), sex orientation, racial superiority/privilege, skin color comparisons, restorative justice & active social/political issues without an explicit opt-in from a parent or guardian, and that school personnel shall limit expressions (ex: verbal, clothing) regarding the above categories while on duty, on school premises or on social media accounts associated or identifying with the schools.

The loud opposition isnt, however, representative of all parents in the district.

In a WhatsApp group, some East Williston parents are pushing back on those who are celebrating the removal of Gender Queer from the school library.

You are just doing what you seem to be best at, which is jump to conclusions, spread your version of what you think is going on and brow beat anyone who questions your opinion or thoughts, one wrote in response to a message arguing that the book provides validity and normality to something that is not normal.

And at school board meetings, some parents have supported the educators in the videos.

Paula Geslani, the parent of a Jericho High School student, told HuffPost she sees Waters comments as an effort to bring humanity to students who are struggling. And she takes issue with the way this one video has, for some people, completely wiped out core truths about Jerichos schools.

What concerned me was the parents that were getting up and saying that the quality of our teachers is no longer there, Geslani said after the meeting. The people that live in Jericho, I would say 80% of them have moved to this district for the school and the teachers, and it is the same quality of teachers its always been. They have the same commitment they always have.

In Manhasset, parent Vasu Krishnamurthy stood to address Project Veritas directly.

Their laughable brand of fakery and cynical fanning of division is not welcome in Manhasset, he said. Please pack your circus and get out, and stay out.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2023. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

President Vladimir Putin has delivered his Victory Day speech in Moscow.

He sought to portray the war in Ukraine as part of a plot to destroy Russia.

Critics said the speech was riddled with distortions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his Victory Day speech Tuesday to rant against the West, claiming it had created a "cult of Nazism."

At the parade in Russia's capital marking the anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an extension of the Soviet Union's battle against fascism.

His comments came just hours after Russia sent a barrage of missiles towards Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

"We see that in a number of countries, they are destroying the memorials to the Soviet fighters, to the great generals, they are creating a real cult of Nazism, and they are trying to delete the memory of real heroes," Putin told crowds gathered in Red Square.

He said that the "mocking of the memory of past generations is a real crime."

Putin has sought to portray the war in Ukraine as a battle against Western powers who he claims are determined to destroy Russia. He has also baselessly claimed the Ukrainian government is led by Nazis.

"Today, civilization is again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland," he said during a parade in Moscow on Tuesday.

"The West forgot who defeated the Nazis," he said.

The Kremlin initially sought to portray the invasion as a limited "special military operation" aimed at eliminating Ukraine's government, but amid a series of battlefield setbacks and steep casualty rates, Kremlin propagandists have ramped up their rhetoric.

In recent months, they have invoked comparisons to Russia's battle against the invasion by Nazi Germany in 1941. During the war, Russia was allied against fascist powers with Western powers including the UK and US.

In his speech Tuesday, Putin claimed that "Western globalist elites" were spreading hatred of Russia, while the Ukrainian people had become "hostages to a state coup."

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Analysts said that Putin's claims were a distortion of history, and were unlikely to be accepted by most Russians.

"Today Russia celebrates 'Victory Day', looking back to the immense sacrifice the Soviet peoples made to defeat the Nazis. All the while Putin's forces wreak Nazi-like destruction on Bakhmut and other Ukrainian towns," tweeted John O'Brennan, a professor of European politics at Maynooth University in Ireland, referring to Russian attacks that've reduced some Ukrainian cities to rubble.

"His story is that Russia is continuing the good work of the Second World War and he and his propagandists have been saying for some time now that effectively the Second World War was Russia against the rest, was against the West," Dominic Waghorn, Sky News' international editor, said in his analysis of the speech.

"They've even said that the West created Nazis," he added, calling it a "grotesque perversion of and distortion of history".

Mark Galleotti, an expert on the Russian military, described Putin's speech on Times Radio as "short and sour," and as "really the last card he can play with the Russian people" by portraying the Ukraine war as a threat on the scale of that Russia faced in World War II.

In remarks to Politico in February, a Russian pollster said that the Kremlin's narratives about the West predated the invasion.

"Long before February last year, people were already telling us: We are being dragged into a war by the West which we don't want but there is no retreating from," Denis Volkov, director of the independent pollster Levada Center, told the outlet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
During his address at the annual Victory Day celebration at Moscows Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that a real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland.

Putin walked from the Kremlin to the Red Square, greeted by masses of Russian military personnel, on the morning of May 9 amid the ongoing celebration of Nazi Germanys defeat in World War II.

Today, civilization is again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our homeland. We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security, Putin said.

Putins use of the word war marks a shift from the Kremlins insistence on Russias full-scale war against Ukraine being a so-called special military operation, a term employed for propaganda purposes.

Ukraine war latest: Russian overnight attacks on Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson oblasts injure 18 Key developments on May 8: * Russia launches missiles, drones at Kyiv, Odesa * Russian attack injures 10 in Kherson Oblast * Moscow blocks Grain Deal, says Infrastructure Ministry * Drone Armys 8 new units ready to fight * Russia deports locals from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, st Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

In his speech, he claimed that Western globalist elites were spreading Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, adding that the Wests goal is the disintegration and destruction of Russia. Putin also said that the Ukrainian people have become so-called hostages to a state coup and the schemes of the West.

This is the second year that Russias Victory Day celebrations took place against the backdrop of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The event was reportedly attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Armenia, marking the first time the Central Asian leaders will meet Putin after his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

Reflecting increased security concerns caused partly by recent drone attacks, Russian authorities have cancelled the traditional flyover. There have also been reports of fewer soldiers and less military hardware joining this years parade as the war against Ukraine takes a heavy toll on men and equipment.

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Russian soldiers take part in a parade for Victory Day in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The day prior, President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted a draft to the Ukrainian parliament proposing that May 8 be the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War.

This is pure history, without ideological admixtures, he said. And this is the history of our people, our allies, the entire free world. Today we will return it to our state.

Most European nations celebrate Victory in Europe Day on May 8 to mark the anniversary of Germanys unconditional surrender. Russia and some former Soviet countries celebrate Victory Day on May 9, using the term the Great Patriotic War.

Russia launches another large-scale strike against Ukraine, injuring at least 5 in Kyiv At least five people were wounded in Russian strikes on Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported in the early hours of May 8, as Moscow launched another large-scale attack on Ukraine. Three people were injured in blasts in Kyivs Solomyanskyi district, and two others were injured when drone wreckage f Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine also celebrated Victory Day on May 9 until 2015, when then-President Petro Poroshenko changed its name to the Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II. He designated May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. May 8 was a working day, and May 9 remained a public holiday.

"We will never forget the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism. And we will not allow lies as if the victory in that war could happen without the participation of any country or nation," Zelensky said.
Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.

The beginning of a long work

The campaign "Agenda 50" designed to facilitate the implementation of the Convention principles on the ground, is coming to an end in Stolin. Its outcome has become the creation of a document that takes into account all the peculiarities of the region and thus helps the local community to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. Though, as noted by the representative of the Danish non-profit organization "European House" Leni Peterson, this is only the beginning of a long work.

The way of creation of the local agenda, what has been achieved and what remains to be done - all these issues were discussed by the campaign participants in the course of the round table in Stolin.

Leni Peterson recalled that the campaign "Agenda 50" had started in Belarus three years ago (back then, the Centre for European Transformation conducted a study that reflected the willingness of Belarusian cities to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and five pilot cities were chosen for the local agendas implementation).

"In Denmark, all local municipalities have their own agendas developed which considerably differ from each other. Changes are constantly being introduced into them. And I hope that you will do it, too, when youll feel the necessity. This is just the beginning of a long work", said Leni Peterson.

She congratulated the participants of the campaign with the local agenda creation and noted their success in mini-projects that they were implementing in parallel: they wrote a guide to Stolin and to the area for people with disabilities.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

At least one completely accessible place

Initially, the local agenda developers had identified three main problems in the Stolin area: inaccessibility of the environment, lack of the possibilities for independent living and insufficient qualification of social workers.

According to Mikhail Skrebeyko, local coordinator of the campaign "Agenda 50" in Stolin, the designed document provides a number of changes that will make the city more accessible. First of all, the changes will affect the central intersection, and a local bar "Olympus" will also become accessible.

"We will try to do at least one completely accessible place in the city", promised Mikhail Skrebeyko.

The work on the staff development will also continue for the personnel working with people with disabilities, and the issue of independent living will be addressed.

"Our goal is to create working places in the village of Luka, and then to invite people here so that they know they could live and work there. We also have workshops in the city where vocational adaptation is conducted", said the coordinator.

It is planned that people with neuropsychiatric diagnoses will work there, and this will contribute to preventing the deprivation of legal capacity.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The chief of the Administration of Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Stolin District Executive Committee Galina Voropaeva has long been engaged in a barrier-free environment program in Stolin area.

"I like that there are public organizations in Stolin which do not only realize the problem, but also want to deal with it, and they have become our partners. The state is ready to meet the wishes and demands, but also the public organizations need to understand that it is them who have something to do in the first place. And people with disabilities do need to understand that they have to do something by themselves, not only waiting to have everything done for them", summarized Galina Voropaeva.

In the development of the local agenda organizations such as the "Support center for young people with disabilities", Belarusian Society of Visually Impaired Persons (BelTIZ), Belarusian association of assistance to children and young people with disabilities (BelAPDIiMI), Republican Association of Wheelchair Users (RAIK) and Stolin Territorial Center of Social Service and Administration on Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Stolin District Executive Committee are involved. Trainers from the partner organization of the project  the Polish TUS Foundation  Peter Todys and Malgozata Peretyatkovich were inspiring and motivating others. They conducted strategic planning sessions with participants teaching to formulate goals and objectives by focusing on local issues and resources.

In addition to strategic planning sessions, the city residents, along with other cities representatives participating in the program "Agenda 50", had a chance to have a look at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Poland and in Denmark.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Gentlemen agreement

"In Belarus, its a tradition to draw big generic plans first, not trying to take into account the unique experience of each region. We started preparation of local plans in the hope that by the end of this work the signing of the Convention would be just in time. But the reality surpassed our expectations: in 2016 the Convention was ratified", said director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Siarhei Drazdouski emphasized that every region has its own specific local agenda. General is only the structure, but the peculiarities and the understanding of the problems is unique.

According to him, it is exactly in Stolin that there was a prototype of the local committee on disability issues at the start of the campaign. Therefore, one of the agendas objectives was the creation of conditions for the work of the committee and establishing a dialogue between the state and the local community.

Deputy director of the Office and the general coordinator of the campaign "Agenda 50" in Belarus Mikhail Matskevich believes that in case such committees are established, the action plan is already designed for them.

"Thanks to the European Union. We will disseminate the experience throughout Belarus, on the preparation of agendas with the participation of authorities and public organizations", he promised.

Along with Scucyn, Babruysk, Valozyn and Stoubcy (which, though being the last one to join the campaign, signed the action plan the first), Stolin walked through the difficult path of creating a local agenda, the total of which has become a "living" document that can be changed and supplemented depending on the situation.

"The signing of the local agenda is a kind of a gentlemen agreement, thus we promise each other that we will fulfill it", concluded Mikhail Matskevich.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

***

The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)".

The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland)and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus.
Pregnant Tibetan antelopes have begun their annual migration to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, where they intend to give birth, the reserve's management office said Monday.

This year's annual migration of Tibetan antelopes began nine days earlier than last year. Since April 26, over 270 antelopes have embarked on their journey.

Wu Xiaomin, an expert on the species' protection, attributed the reason behind the advanced annual migration to the steady growth of the antelopes' population, the species' distribution tendency to spread and to get closer to monitoring stations as well as climate changes over the years.

Under the first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered species is mostly found in the country's Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The species plays a key role in maintaining the ecological balance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.




Russian President Vladimir Putin is shown in Moscow in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Mikhaul Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

The Russian government, U.S. President Joe Biden and mainstream Western media are among the observers who all responded to Russian President Vladimir Putins arrest warrant for war crimes with a shrug.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court announced the warrant for Putin and his commissioner for childrens rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, because they allegedly directed the abduction of Ukrainian children. The court says that these charges amount to war crimes.

While Biden said the arrest warrant was justified, he also noted that the International Criminal Court is not recognized by us either.

The skeptics have a point  the ICC, based in the Hague, Netherlands, does not have its own police force to execute its orders and must rely on other countries police to arrest the people it indicts.

Indeed, there are a number of barriers potentially preventing Putins arrest.

One is that Russia, like the United States, is not a member of the court  so as long as Putin does not set foot in a country that is a member of the court, he is safe from arrest. Putin also remains popular within Russia and is unlikely to soon be overthrown and turned over by his successor.

But it still would be rash to assume that Putin is safe from the courts grasp.

I am a scholar of criminal justice who specializes in international courts and the creativity that prosecutors show in catching their targets, often under very difficult political circumstances.

History shows that it would require a little bit of good luck for prosecutors  and a few bad decisions by Putin  for the Russian autocrat to end up in handcuffs. But its far from impossible.

The ICCs arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin is seen in a news release in March 2023. Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

How international courts work

A group of 60 countries established the International Criminal Court in 2002 to prosecute people who commit the worst crimes, including genocide and wartime sexual violence, that violate international law. The court is part of a long line of international criminal tribunals going back to the military tribunal the U.S. and allies set up to prosecute Nazis at the end of World War II, as part of the Nuremberg Trials.

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There are other international criminal courts that prosecute war crimes, but the ICC is the largest and arguably most influential, since 123 member countries fund the court and abide by its rulings.

Since its inception, the ICC has issued 38 arrest warrants, arrested 21 people, convicted 10 and acquitted four. Other suspects, like Putin, remain at large or have had their charges dropped.

Yet there are a number of options for prosecuting war crimes outside of the ICC that have been used in the past.

There are also other, smaller tribunals similar to the ICC that countries have helped set up to focus on specific conflicts. In other cases, individual countries can use their own courts to prosecute international criminals who have evaded arrest abroad.

In the case of the Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a new international tribunal to prosecute war crimes committed by Russia during the conflict. Others have argued that Putin could be prosecuted in a Ukrainian court specifically designed for this purpose.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor appears in court in July 2006 in the Netherlands. Rob Keeris/AFP via Getty Images

Lessons for Putin

There have been several long but ultimately successful efforts to arrest fallen political leaders and mass murderers.

For example, Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia who helped instigate a civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone in the 1990s, is now serving a 50-year prison sentence in the United Kingdom.

Prosecutors from an international tribunal set up in Sierra Leone announced Taylors indictment when he was in Ghana in 2002, forcing him to quickly flee a political conference and head home for safety. But Taylor then fell from power in 2003, in the midst of a rebel insurgency. He then fled to Nigeria.

Eventually, Nigerian authorities arrested Taylor and handed him back to Liberia, which quickly passed him off to Sierra Leone for trial in 2006. He was then convicted in 2012.

Slobodan Milosevic, the late president of Yugoslavia, was indicted by an international tribunal that addressed the Balkans wars  along with two of his cronies, Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic - for crimes committed against civilians during the wars in the 1990s.

They, too, initially evaded jurisdiction - Milosevic initially remained in power, while Mladic and Karadzic went into hiding. Serbian authorities ultimately handed Milosevic over to the International Criminal Court in 2001, months after he stepped down from his post in 2000. Serbian police arrested Mladic and Karadzic about a decade later.

All three faced trial in the Hague. Milosevic died while on trial in 2006. Mladic and Karadzic are now serving life sentences.

And in Finland, former Sierra Leone rebel group leader Gibril Massaquoi is facing trial for war crimes he committed during Sierra Leones civil war from 1991 to 2002.

Prosecutors at a Sierra Leone tribunal granted Massaquoi immunity in 2009 in exchange for his testimony against other rebels. He then relocated to Finland under a witness protection program.

But that did not stop Finnish prosecutors, who arrested Massaquoi in March 2020. His trial is currently under appeal in Finnish court system following Massaquois acquittal by a lower Finish court in 2022.

Even without prosecution, life wont be good

There are people such as Omar Al-Bashir, the former president of Sudan, who have so far avoided extradition to an international court. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir in 2009 for allegedly committing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Al-Bashir remains in Sudan and has continued to avoid the ICCs arrest warrant. But with the current civil war in Sudan, the warring powers may yet conclude that theyre better off with Al-Bashir in the Hague and away from Sudan.

But even if Putin isnt prosecuted, his life will probably get much more difficult as a result of the arrest warrant.

When the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet left office in 1998, he declared himself Senator for Life, ensuring under Chilean law that he would never be prosecuted for the tortures, killings and disappearances of leftist political opponents that took place on his watch.

But while Pinochet was receiving care for a back injury in London, a Spanish judge requested his extradition to Spain, and he was arrested by British police in 1998.

After over a year of legal limbo, the British government declared that Pinochet was mentally unfit for extradition and returned him to Chile. By then, he was a very diminished man and the target of many lawsuits before his death in 2006.

Putin may ultimately elude prosecution, but not the effects of the charges against him.

History shows that prosecutors are willing to wait for years for their targets to either fall from power or make that crucial mistake that exposes them to arrest, such as a medical emergency abroad or a visit to a country that is willing to cooperate with international prosecutors.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent 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: Aaron Fichtelberg, University of Delaware.

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Aaron Fichtelberg does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A World War II ages Soviet army T-34 tank rolls during the Victory Day military parade at Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square to celebrate 78 years after the victory in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) (AP)

Vladimir Putin has been mocked for Russias slimmed-down Victory Parade - with only one tank.

Cheers rang out across Red Square, with a gun salute and the Russian national anthem, though with a much reduced show of military hardware - and no aviation. Only one tank took part showing the impact of Russias war in Ukraine on the Kremlins military resource.

Undeterred by the reduced showing, Mr Putin said Russians were united in a sacred fight with the West over Ukraine that would end in victory, and accused the United States and its allies of forgetting the Soviet triumph over the Nazis in World War Two.

The T-34, an 83-year-old relic, has traditionally opened the annual display of military might because of its symbolic role in helping Russia overcome Nazi Germany.

However, the Soviet-era tank is normally accompanied by more modern fighting machines in a full display of Moscows military power.

Spectators from across the world took to social media to mock the Kremlin leader.

One user said: Just one tank on display during this years Victory Day parade! Putins traditional show of strength has served to expose the extent of Russian weakness.

Another added: If you look well Putin is crying....because this is his last tank.

No tanks, no aircraft, no helicopters, nothing... Putin is now leaving. This is really embarrassing for Russia, a third said.

During Moscows Victory Day Parade, only one tank rolled across Red Square .



I think it is safe to assume that Ukrainian farmers  now have a larger reserve of Russian tanks. pic.twitter.com/EcvCX1GcFL  Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) May 9, 2023

According to military analyst Oliver Alexander, Russia had to borrow 10 Remdiesel Ahmat Z-STS from Ramzan Kadyrov to feature in the parade.

He said: No reason for Ukraine to do anything at the parade. The Russian military is perfectly capable of embarrassing itself.

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I am amazed they couldn't even drag one of the T-14s to the parade.

No reason for Ukraine to do anything at the parade. The Russian military is perfectly capable of embarrassing itself.



I am amazed they couldn't even drag one of the T-14s to the parade.  Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) May 9, 2023

Last year, the traditional T-34 was accompanied by a T-14 Armata and a T-74, two of Russias more modern battle tanks, which have both been spotted on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Russia has desperately been attempting to plug its shortfall of tanks by taking older models out of deep storage to send across the border.

Just 10 different weapons systems were on display during the military parade on Tuesday, while the aerial portion, which usually features fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, was cancelled entirely, according to local media reports.

Russia at Tuesdays parade deployed the smallest number of troops since 2008.

Just 8,000 troops marched across Red Square that's less than at the Victory Day parade in 2020, which was held six weeks later because of a raging Covid pandemic. Last year, 11,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscow.

Russians were treated to a slimmed down Victory Day parade (REUTERS)

No Western leaders attended Tuesday's parade, which was much reduced in scale and came less than a week after Russia said Ukraine had attacked the Kremlin with two drones in an attempt to kill Putin. Kyiv denied any involvement.

Vladimir Putin said Western globalist elites were sowing Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people had become "hostages to a state coup" and to the ambitions of the West.

Putin said the memory of World War Two was sacred and paid tribute to those who fought against Nazis, including the armies of the United States and Britain, and also to China's fight against the Japanese.

We want to see a peaceful, free and stable future, Mr Putin said, adding that memorials to Soviet soldiers were being destroyed in a number of countries.

We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas (in eastern Ukraine), we will ensure our security, said Mr Putin, who was joined in Red Square by leaders of several ex-Soviet republics.

He did not address the challenges facing Russia as its forces prepare for an expected major counter-offensive by Ukraine, or outline any path to victory.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said a "real war" was again being waged against Russia as he invoked the Soviet Union's victory in World War Two to say the West was trying to destroy his country.

In a speech on Red Square as part of Russia's Victory Day celebrations, Putin said Russia wanted to see a peaceful future, and said the entire country was behind what Russia calls the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Putin said the West had forgotten the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Claims by the head of the Wagner mercenary group that a Russian brigade has abandoned the fight in Bakhmut are accurate, the Ukrainian military said Tuesday, according to a translation by the Kyiv Independent.

Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has been locked in a long-running feud with Russian military leaders over strategy and ammunition, alleged that the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade fled the hotly contested eastern city. In a lengthy statement Tuesday, he also said he and his troops have been told they will be deemed traitors if they withdraw from Bakhmut.

A combat order came yesterday which clearly stated that if we leave our positions it will be regarded as treason against the motherland, Prigozhin said. If there is no ammunition, then we will leave our positions and we will be asking who is really betraying the motherland.'' He said military leaders who signed orders providing insufficient firepower should take the blame.

Prigozhin, who warned Russian troops could be ill-prepared for a Ukrainian offensive, also alluded to major personnel losses. Ukraine's Third Assault Brigade confirmed those in a statement saying his report of the Russian brigade's departure "and the '500 corpses' of Russians who remained there is true.''

Prigozhin made his accusations just as Russia was holding a scaled-down Victory Day celebration, marking the anniversary of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

"Victory Day is the victory of our grandfathers," he said. "We do not deserve this victory by a millimeter.

Russian soldiers march in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on, May 9, 2023, marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Developments:

Arman Soldin, the Ukraine video coordinator for Agence France-Presse, was killed Tuesday during a rocket attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Soldin was 32.

 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, lauding the capital city as the "beating heart" of European values.

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 Ukrainian authorities said Russia fired another barrage at Ukraine but that air defenses destroyed 23 of the 25 missiles that were launched. The air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

Putin rails against Western 'arrogance'

Western "arrogance" is driving a "real war" against Russia, and the West's "superiority ideology is by definition repulsive, deadly and criminal," Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday during a Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square.

Putin did not dwell on his own bold invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the massive military response from the U.S. and its allies and has blunted the Kremlin's push to seize large swaths of the war-battered but resilient nation. Since Russias invasion in February 2022, the U.S. alone has provided Ukraine with about $37 billion in military aid, including a $1.2 billion package announced Tuesday. Other nations have also provided billions of dollars of aid to Ukraine.

Putin said Western leaders "still talk about their exclusivity, put people against each other and divide society, provoke bloody conflicts and coups, sow hatred, Russophobia, aggressive nationalism, destroy those family, traditional values that make humans human."

Victory Day, celebrated Tuesday in Moscow, marks the anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on the night of May 8, 1945. A major parade was also held in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, but dozens of parades and other public commemorations were canceled across the country. Regional officials cited security concerns or simply the current situation.

Ukraine getting another $1.2 billion in military aid

The Pentagon on Tuesday announced a $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that includes orders to contractors for critical near-term capabilities, including air defense systems and 155mm artillery rounds. The assistance initiative will fund HAWK air-defense systems, air-defense munitions and drones for air defense. It will also buy artillery, rockets, satellite imagery assistance and funding for ongoing maintenance and spare parts for a variety of systems.

Last week, the Pentagon sent Ukraine $300 million in ammunition and other equipment from existing stocks. The shipments come as Ukraine prepares to launch a long-planned offensive. Ukraine also needs air-defense systems to shoot down waves of Russian missiles and drones.

 Tom Vanden Brook

UN chief says peace talks 'not possible' now

Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are currently impossible as "both parties are convinced they can win," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Spanish newspaper El Pais. He said the Russian invasion was a clear breach of international law. But he said the U.N. is focused on solving specific problems such as securing exports of Ukrainian grain, desperately needed to feed the developing world, through the Black Sea.

"I think that negotiation for peace is not possible at this time," Guterres said. "I do not see Russia at the moment willing to withdraw from the territories it occupies, and I think Ukraine is hoping to retake them."

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine Russia updates: Russian unit left Bakhmut, mercenary head says
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe Russia is trying to demonstrate its influence in Central Asia with the 9 May Victory Day parade.

Source: ISW

Details: The report says Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to use the Victory Day parade in Moscow to demonstrate Russia's further influence in Central Asia.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon will attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May.

The institute believes that the late announcement of the Central Asian leaders' participation is likely to indicate their reticence to directly and publicly support the war, despite the Kremlin's efforts to demonstrate its power.

The report adds that Alexander Lukashenko, self-proclaimed President of Belarus, and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, have also reportedly arrived in Moscow for the Victory Day parade.

The Institute's review recalls that Russian forces launched another major missile and drone attack against Ukraine on the night of 7-8 May.

Analysts point out that senior Ukrainian officials have indicated that Ukrainian troops may be preparing for counter-offensive operations in May or June.

The report also notes that Russian-occupied Transnistria [an unrecognised breakaway state internationally recognised as a part of Moldova  ed.] has asked Russia to increase its peacekeeping contingent in the region, which is likely to support the Kremlin's efforts to destabilise Moldova.

However, as the ISW analysts state, Russia is still unlikely to deploy additional forces in Transnistria, given its existing military needs in Ukraine.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 8 May:

Russian forces conducted another large-scale missile and drone strike against Ukraine on the night of May 7 to 8.

Senior Ukrainian officials indicated that Ukrainian forces may be preparing to conduct counteroffensive operations in May or June.

Russian-occupied Transnistria called on Russia to increase its peacekeepers in the region likely to support the Kremlins efforts to destabilize Moldova.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to use the Victory Day parade to show Russias continued influence in Central Asia.

Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.

Russian forces have made marginal advances within Bakhmut as of May 8 amid reports of intensified Wagner Group forces offensive operations and continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.

Russian forces continued defensive operations in southern Ukraine.

Russian authorities have reportedly escalated their campaign targeting ethnic minorities for contract service in the Russian military.

Russian occupation authorities continued to forcibly evacuate civilians in rear areas in Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) President of Kazakhstan Kasim Comert Tokayev (R), President of Tajikistan Imamali Rahman (2nd R), President of Uzbekistan Sevket Mirziyoyev (3rd R) in Moscow, Russia on May 9, 2023. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Vladimir Putin was joined by a small number of world leaders in Moscow for Victory Day.

Putin sought to portray the Ukraine war as an existential battle for Russia's survival.

But a US think tank claims there were cracks in the show of support.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by several foreign leaders for the Victory Day parade Tuesday, in what appeared to be a rare show of international support.

Central Asian leaders Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon were among those present in Moscow for the event marking the anniversary of the end of World War II, Russian state media reported.

Also present was close Putin ally Viktor Lukashenko of Belarus, along with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Their attendance certainly marked an improvement on last year, when no foreign leaders joined Putin in Moscow for Victory Day, which was held amid international condemnation of Russia's Ukraine invasion.

But analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington DC think tank, believe that not all the leaders were particularly enthusiastic about attending the event.

The last-minute confirmation of the attendance of some of the leaders, which was only reported in local media on Monday, indicated an apparent reluctance to take part in the Kremlin's show of strength, it said.

"The late announcement of Central Asian leaders' attendance likely indicates their reticence to show direct and public support of the war despite Kremlin efforts to project power," said the ISW.

Japarov was the only Central Asian leader to confirm his attendance well in advance, accepting his invitation on April 24, Vedmosti reported.

The leaders who attended the parade are all from former Soviet Republics, which gained independence after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

Ukraine is another former Soviet Republic, and has been treated with escalating aggression by Moscow as it sought to build closer ties with the West, culminating last year in Russia's brutal invasion.

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Some of the Central Asian leaders who attended the Victory Day parade have been critical of Russia's invasion, and sought to steer a more independent path from Moscow while apparently seeking not to excessively aggravate the Kremlin.

Kazakhstan has accepted thousands of Russians who have fled the country fearing conscription, and the Central Asian republics have either criticised Russia's claim to have annexed swaths of Ukraine, or have not publicly supported it, RFERL reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Warning: This post contains spoilers for "Queen Charlotte."

Arsema Thomas, who plays a young Lady Agatha Danbury in "Queen Charlotte," calls her role in the new "Bridgerton" series a type of "emotional reparations."

In the Shonda Rhimes' prequel spinoff  which centers on Queen Charlotte's marriage to King George III and her early days as the first Black queen of England  Thomas says starring in the Regency-era drama provided an opportunity for her to address the oppression of Black women while also allowing them to reclaim their power.

Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury ( / Netflix)

"It's such a complex situation yet also ... it's tied so simply to misogynoir," Thomas tells TODAY.com, referring to the misogyny that Black women face in which their race and gender are intersecting forms of oppression.

"Black women and their relationship to the world around them is so different," she explains. "One, because of anti-blackness. But also ... it's the sexism of it all."

Thomas says even with those types of oppressive systems in place, her character finds a way to fight back.

The actor says Lady Danbury rebukes conventions, choosing to advocate for her own place in society and to not remarry after the husband, Lord Danbury, dies. Tomas says in doing so, her character not only challenges the status quo, but she asserts her agency.

To be able to play this character, who essentially voluntarily wants to be alone, turns down men, turns down the 'stability and security' that a relationship would give during that time and says, I would rather be alone and take that risk, is something so liberating and hopefully encouraging to people, she says.

The American-born actor, whose parents are Nigerian and Ethiopian, hopes that Lady Danbury's actions signal to other women, specifically Black women, "that theyre able to do that, as well know that they can stand on their own.

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Adjoa Andoh as Lady Agatha Danbury ( / Netflix)

Thomas tells TODAY.com that just by reciting Rhimes' prose, she found empowerment by proxy of her character. She says several of the lines left her thinking, "I have felt this before, and I just didnt have the words."

"Finally being able to reclaim power in the room, in those situations, where white people are stripping me of my value and worth and thinking less of me, is almost ... it feels like emotional reparations," Thomas says. "I get to take my power back from the times when it was lost."

For example, a young Lady Danbury stands up to Princess Augusta, bargaining information on Charlotte and George's relationship in exchange for the social opportunity due to her and her husband.

She also reminds Queen Charlotte of her duty, telling her, "You are the first of your kind ... Do you not see what you are meant to do for us?" Her subtle remarks reaffirm that race, class and gender inequalities are still a fundamental issue of the time.

Thomas says it's "highly important" for these moments  in which Black women are able to talk about issues that affect them while still being their authentic selves  to be seen on the screen.

"Just to be able to touch on so many different aspects of the Black woman narrative. I think for a lot of us the fact that we're all grouped into a monolith, yet we are all so different," Thomas says.

"It's beautiful to be able to see that," she adds.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Hugh Sachs and Golda Rosheuvel as Brimsley and Queen Charlotte. Liam Daniel / Netflix

"Queen Charlotte" star Golda Rosheuvel wears several elaborate wigs in the new show.

Rosheuvel said during a panel at the Paley Center last week that they were very heavy.

She added that director Tom Verica and the crew "kindly made me a neck brace" to help her wear them.

"Bridgerton" star Golda Rosheuvel said that her "Queen Charlotte" wigs were so heavy that she had to wear a neck brace to avoid injury.

During a panel for the new Netflix spinoff at the Paley Center for Media last week, which was attended by Insider, Rosheuvel was asked about her various elaborate wigs in the series, since they've become an iconic part of the character.

"Yes, they are heavy. Very, very, very, very heavy. Tom and the crew very kindly made me a neck brace," the 53-year-old actor said, referring to the series' director, Tom Verica. "Not all the time but some of the time I did have to use it."

In press materials for "Queen Charlotte," Rosheuvel said that she wore her "heaviest wig" yet in the new show, and that the wig in the opera scene in episode five was "the tallest thing I've ever worn in my life."

Speaking at the Paley Center, Rosheuvel also said that she was driven to set in her wigs because her looks were so elaborate.

"The journey is about 2 hours from start to finish to create [Charlotte] and all the stuff," she said. "That includes driving to set because the costume and the wig are too big to get changed in the trailer like everybody else does. So, there is a point where I have to be driven to set in a van. Sometimes I have to sit on the floor of said van because the wigs are too high."

Queen Charlotte actors Rosheuvel and India Amarteifio. Liam Daniel / Netflix

Rosheuvel added: "It's all very glamorous. And then I get out of said van and into an easier tent where the costume is hanging and we get to put it on. The costume is the last thing and jewelry is the last thing to get put on, so it's a whole journey."

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The "Queen Charlotte" actor also said that she had to meditate when she was not filming in order to "sustain" working in costume all day.

While Rosheuvel wears a lot of elaborate wigs as the older Queen Charlotte, young Queen Charlotte, played by India Amarteifio, wears her natural hair in the show.

When asked about this on the red carpet ahead of the Paley Center event, Amarteifio told Insider that she initially assumed she would also have to wear long gray wigs like Rosheuvel.

"I was incredibly moved," Amarteifio said. "It made me really angry with society's view that Eurocentric beauty is the standard because all you have to do is look at the show and see all the hair represented."

"Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is available to stream on Netflix.

Read the original article on Insider
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow struggled a bit on Monday night to keep calm on-air, as she broke down the apparent connections between the countrys latest mass shooting, the last several that have preceded it and right-wing political messaging.

In the days following the mass shooting in Allen, Texas that left eight dead, it has been revealed that the shooter appears to have been a white supremacist, who frequently posted neo-Nazi content on social media. Of course, Maddow immediately pointed out that more and more shootings as of late have been racially motivated, most commonly carried out by white supremacists.

All of these things have the same smell right? Maddow said. They dont just happen to be connected in the news right now, theyre connected.

Also Read:

Rachel Maddow Says Tucker Carlson Firing Puts Fox News  and GOP  at Crossroads: There Will Be Someone After Him (Video)

But the host also had an idea as to why theyre all connected, and how these beliefs are spreading.

In a nation recoiling, and ashamed, and disgusted, Maddow said, needing to pause several times to keep her composure, Theres also these apparent connections, right, between this bleeding, ragged right-wing mass violence and the bleeding ragged right-wing edge of politics. The most mainstream possible electoral Republican politics, the most mainstream, most successful right-wing media as well.

More specifically, Maddow turned her ire to twice-impeached-once-indicted former president Donald Trump, criticizing him and his team for the people they are not simply allowing into their events, but welcoming with open arms.

Theyre inviting literal Hitler was right outspoken anti-Semites, putting Stars of David Jewish stars on the heads of their enemies, telling people Thats who we need to be going after, just the way Hitler  theyre inviting people like that to their events with the highest ranking former officials of their government, Maddow said angrily.

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And its all happening while that former president is running for president again, she added. And its happening amid this unrelenting wave of white supremacist-motivated mass murderer.

You can watch the full segment from The Rachel Maddow Show in the video above.

Also Read:

Maddow Drags Trump for Flip-Flopping on Indictment Media Blitz: Thought You Were Excited About the Mug Shot? (Video)
Several Uvalde victims' relatives burst into sobs and cheers when a Texas House committee passed a new restriction on purchasing guns. Also in the news: President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet today to spar over raising the debt ceiling. Winston the Frenchie is fighting for the title in the finals at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. The Pulitzer Prizes has honored the Austin American-Statesman's Uvalde coverage in collaboration with the USA Today Network. Congrats to these incredible colleagues and journalists!

Now here we go with Tuesday's news.

Bill passes Texas committee after months of advocacy by Uvalde families

A bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 passed out of a Texas House committee advancing the measure hours before a key deadline.

The moves comes after months of advocacy by relatives of the 19 fourth graders and two teachers killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24, 2022.

While Mondays progress was a major, and unexpected, step forward , the future of the bill remains uncertain. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan cautioned that he doesnt believe it has the votes to pass the House and Gov. Greg Abbott has said he believes the measure to be unconstitutional.

As the names of the eight people killed in a shooting at a suburban Dallas mall emerged Monday, authorities worked to determine whether the gunman was motivated by white supremacist and neo-Nazi views.

Click on the video below to watch families react to the vote:

President Biden's stance on spending cuts tested in debt ceiling meeting with McCarthy

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed President Joe Biden's unwillingness to negotiate the debt ceiling ahead of his meeting Tuesday with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. House Republicans are "manufacturing a crisis" over raising the debt ceiling, which she noted Congress has raised 78 times since 1960. But Biden is facing increasing pressure to soften his stance on Republicans' demands for spending cuts ahead of a June 1 deadline to avoid a government default. The two sides will open talks with little common ground besides the commitment of both parties not to touch Social Security or Medicare, the two biggest drivers of national debt that's exploded to $31.4 trillion. Read more

Story continues

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

El Paso sees sharp increase in migrants as officials brace for Title 42 end

As cities near the U.S.-Mexico border brace for the end of Title 42, the city of El Paso has seen an influx of migrants, with more than 3,300 reported Monday camped out near shelters. With more expected to begin arriving when Title 42 restrictions expire later this week, the El Paso City Council on Monday unanimously approved extending a disaster declaration due to a "state of emergency" to assist in transporting and sheltering migrant asylum-seekers. City officials said the biggest concern is the large number of migrants expected to enter the city, adding to the growing number already in El Paso. Read more

As Title 42 ends, chaos at border is inevitable. Is Biden prepared?

Migrants camp outside of the Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso, Texas on May 8, 2023.

Putin tells Red Square parade 'real war' unleashed on Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed his countrys Victory Day parade on Moscows Red Square, claiming that a real war has been unleashed against Russia  a reference to the war in Ukraine that the Kremlin portrays as being a proxy conflict with the West. Earlier Tuesday, Russia unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles on Ukraine, hours before the start of the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Kremlins forces launched 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine. Read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2023.

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The 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is back with over 3,000 dogs of more than 200 different breeds competing for the ultimate prize, glory and bragging rights. Buddy Holly the PBGV, Rummie the Peke, Winston the Frenchie and Ribbon the Australian shepherd are headed to the show finals Tuesday, along with three other finalists yet to be chosen. Winston came in second at Westminster last year and went on to win last fall's National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. Read more

Rummie, a Pekingese, competes in the toy group competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Monday, May 8, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Rummie won best in toy group.

Quick hits

Photo of the day: 'The Little Mermaid' world premiere

The live-action movie of the 1989 animated classic, "The Little Mermaid," is almost here! Stars of the highly anticipated film strutted down the blue carpet to celebrate its world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday. The movie features Halle Bailey as the title character, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Jacob Tremblay voices the adorable Flounder. Click here to see more photos from the blue carpet.

Halle Bailey

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas gun law, Texas shooting, debt ceiling, Title 42, Ukraine, Putin, dog show, Little Mermaid: Daily Briefing
Pan Guanghao only needs his laptops and Wi-Fi for work, so he bought a refitted van and now lives in it, driving and working anywhere he can connect to the internet. That makes him a typical digital nomad.

He used to work in imposing buildings in Auckland, New Zealand, and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, but now he sets up his laptops in front of fields and a pond and works in the sunshine as the day begins.

The name "digital nomad" refers to people who live a nomadic lifestyle and work via the internet. They don't have to be physically present in an office, so they exploit "geographical arbitrage"  taking advantage of differences in prices between various places  to live in cities with better environments but lower living costs while earning a salary from a company in a tier-one location.

The number of digital nomads has been growing in China as the pressures of big-city living have grown, such as expensive housing, long working hours and too much neijuan, one of the hottest words used online, meaning unnecessary excessive peer competition. The rise in numbers accelerated during the COVID-19 epidemic as many people had to work remotely.

Pan works as a programming engineer for Mega, a cloud drive company in New Zealand. However, he was marooned in China after he returned for a vacation in 2020 and couldn't return to Auckland because of quarantine regulations. A similar situation affected some of his colleagues from countries such as the Philippines, India and Sri Lanka. In response, he started working remotely.

That suited his wishes as he doesn't like high-rises in big cities. In 2021, he bought a secondhand recreational vehicle in Dali, Yunnan province, and drove it to Wenzhou, Zhejiang, his hometown.

"I bought an apartment in Hangzhou at peak price, because I wanted to give my then-girlfriend a home to provide stability," Pan said. "The mortgage was a big burden, so I had to work overtime to pay it off as quickly as possible, but it didn't lead to stability."

People with loans are afraid of uncertainty. Any change can be a threat to monthly repayments. Many young people in China face the same pressure, which is why Pan left the city. Despite living in the RV, Pan doesn't feel he's drifting. Instead, he feels in unprecedented control of his life. "Too many changes happen in the world now. But whatever changes, the basic ways of living won't be altered. I feel secure in this lifestyle," he said.

Service centers

As the number of digital nomads in China grows, related service centers and communities have started to appear. Dali has long been popular with remote workers for its environment and scenery. Hegang, Heilongjiang province, was hot for a while about two years ago thanks to its low housing prices. A one-bedroom apartment sells for about 100,000 yuan ($14,500), close to the price of 1 square meter in Beijing. However, Zhejiang's Anji county, close to Pan's hometown, has become popular thanks to the construction of a community designed for digital nomads.

"The problems come when someone stays alone too long: that's the time when you want to join a community and make some social connections," Pan said.

He arrived at the Anji Creative Design Center in Xilong village, Huzhou, Zhejiang, on April 5 and decided to stay after he met young people from different cities. They work various jobs, including designers, photographers, bloggers and programmers, and some work in the financial field.

"They are fun. When somebody comes to talk with me after a long day's work buried in my screens, I love to chat and share their experiences," Pan said.

The temporary residents host a range of activities such as idea-sharing spaces, barbecues, gym classes, board games and art fairs. People who attend can sell their artwork, talk and exchange stories.

According to Digital Nomad Anji, the residential building at the ACDC, 30 percent of those who have lived there have a master's degree, and some have attained financial freedom.

The ACDC and DNA were built in 2021. Nearly 700 digital nomads have stayed at the DNA since its trial opening in December 2021, and about 80 live in the compound now.

Membership and residence fees are low. A container room costs just 1,900 yuan a month, while a bed in a multiple-person shared room costs less than 800 yuan a month. By contrast, a bedroom in downtown Shanghai can reach 4,000 yuan.

"I have this metaphor: this place is the center of a circle. We come here and become friends, then after staying for a while we separate to travel elsewhere. But DNA is still a second home, where we reunite sometimes," said Chen Qincong, one of the first applicants for the trial opening.

Work-life balance

Chen co-founded Pinewood Bus, a vehicle refitting company, after she quit e-commerce giant Alibaba in 2017. Her partner used to work for Ikea and Volvo. "We both worked for giant companies, or dachang as we call them in China. But when we were approaching 30, we could see where we were going, but that wasn't what we truly wanted in life," Chen said. "When you want to make a change, do it while you are young."

Instead of staying in the office till midnight and dealing with endless requests from bosses, Chen and her partner, Lin Han, chose to combine work and life and hit the road. They've lived in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, as well as Dali, mainly in their RV.

"Being a digital nomad doesn't mean you are playing around. Instead, you can be busier and have to work on weekends sometimes. On the other hand, you have the freedom to do your own thing on any work day for other people," Chen said.

They support each other's travel plans. The one who is traveling does the work that can be done online  for example, purchasing and design, communicating with clients, etc  while the other takes care of their base and the workers.

"We have been exploring a new way for life. Now, after years of adjusting we have found one we like: having control of our own time and a small business with an income that doesn't have to be huge, and some like-minded friends," Chen said.

The DNA can only accommodate 80 people, and applications have already piled up for next year. The facility's second phase, 35 more containers, will be installed soon, so about 70 more people will be able to live there.

Although the ACDC is the most popular and biggest compound for digital nomads, the community is still small compared with those in Western countries.

According to statistics released in December by nomadlist, a website for digital nomads, there are 35 million digital nomads around the world, and one-third come from the United States. The most popular cities are Lisbon in Portugal, Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok in Thailand and Buenos Aires in Argentina. Nearly half the nomads are in their 30s.

The website shows that its members work remotely for companies such as Apple, Google and Airbnb. They meet, share information about visas and remote jobs, and have developed their own dating app and insurance.

A select lifestyle

The word most DNA residents use to describe their life is "freedom", followed by "independence", "relaxed" and "happy". Some digital nomads have mentioned loneliness, too, and other issues under the surface.

"I met this 27-year-old girl who used to be a livestreamer. In her WeChat moments, she said that her period only returned to normal three months after she quit and drifted to Bangkok," said Xie Xuelin, who has been a digital nomad since she left Beijing seven years ago.

She has traveled and lived in cities such as Dali, Shanghai, Chengdu in Sichuan province, Hangzhou, Langkawi in Malaysia, and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

She works at shared offices or coffee shops when she gets an assignment. She usually wakes up at about 8:30 am, works and then cooks noodles with vegetables for dinner at about 6 pm. She tries to be in bed by midnight.

"Self-discipline is important because it helps people establish a sense of order, and a disrupted schedule often means losing control," she said. "This kind of life isn't for everyone, and few people can endure being alone for long. Some people eventually quit and start looking for work again. You need to be strong to be a digital nomad."

For example, Zhang Na vowed to be a blogger after quitting his job in Beijing, but ended up staying in bed till noon and living off his parents for months in his Jilin province hometown. He had plans to go to the gym, eat healthily and lose weight, but things seem to have gone the opposite way.

In addition to self-discipline, the ability to deal with loneliness is important.

"We travel a lot, so we meet too many new people. We introduce ourselves, talk about things such as 'how's the weather?' 'where are you from?' and 'what do you do?' but deeper communication is hard," said a digital nomad surnamed Li. "After several months, I feel a strong need to embrace 'more concrete' people. Those nomads who are doing well are mostly in a similar situation  they have skills to make money, can earn a good, steady income and have a steady partner but no children."

Children's education and parents' need for senior care can also be reasons for travelers to return to cities or hometowns.

After living abroad for more than four months, Xie plans to return to her family and friends soon. "Even though I enjoy the freedom, I must admit that love, companionship and living safely in a city I know and love, even for a while, is deeply ingrained in everyone's heart," she said.
This combination photo shows Tory Lanez performing at HOT 97 Summer Jam 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 2, 2019, left, and Megan Thee Stallion attending the 5th annual Diamond Ball benefit gala in New York on Sept. 12, 2019. Rapper Tory Lanez pleaded not guilty through his attorney Wednesday to felony assault charges in the July shooting of hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.

This combination photo shows Tory Lanez performing at HOT 97 Summer Jam 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. on June 2, 2019, left, and Megan Thee Stallion attending the 5th annual Diamond Ball benefit gala in New York on Sept. 12, 2019. Rapper Tory Lanez pleaded not guilty through his attorney Wednesday to felony assault charges in the July shooting of hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion.

Tory Lanez wont be getting a new trial, Los Angeles District Attorneys office confirmed to HuffPost on Tuesday, following multiplereports.

After a two-week trial in December 2022, a Los Angeles jury convicted Lanez, whose government name is Daystar Peterson, on all three charges he faced in the July 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. He was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence in the Los Angeles District Attorneys criminal case against him.

The court finds no error, prosecutorial misconduct or newly discovered evidence, Judge David Herriford, who presided over Lanezs trial, said Tuesday, according to City News Service. Motion denied.

Herriford added, according to journalist Meghann Cuniffs reporting: In the end, the jury believed the prosecutions case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lanezs sentencing date has not been officially announced as of yet.

We have full faith and confidence in our trial team and are pleased with the courts ruling in the matter, the Los Angeles District Attorneys office told HuffPost in an emailed statement.

The decision came after multiple hearings and arguments since Lanezs post-trial attorneys, who differ from other attorneys who represented him before and during the trial, filed a motion for a new trial in March.

Please dont ruin my life, Lanez told Herriford in front of the court at a Monday hearing. I could be your brother. Both Lanez and Herriford are Black. (Lanez has relied heavily on his protect Black men stance throughout his trial and the two years leading up to it.)

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Lanezs attorneys claimed that multiple errors occurred throughout the trial  including Herrifords allowance of an Instagram comment and pre-trial testimony from Megans former best friend Kelsey Harris to be used during the trial  causing a miscarriage of justice in the motion for a new trial, which Cuniffs Legal Affairs and Trials published. Lanezs current attorneys did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Prosecutors said the motion lacked substance.

The defendants brief is replete with colorful rhetoric and conclusory statements, but it lacks substance, read the prosecutors opposition.

Despite being nearly 80 pages long, the defendant has failed to cite a single instance of error in the trial court, it reads.

Lanez faces up to 22 years in prison and possible deportation to Canada, his home country. With this motion denied, its possible that Lanezs attorneys will seek an appeal after his sentencing.

Megan Thee Stallion, whose government name is Megan Pete, spoke publicly about the trial for the final time last month in an essay for Elle.

As I reflect on the past three years, I view myself as a survivor, because I have truly survived the unimaginable, Megan said. Not only did I survive being shot by someone I trusted and considered a close friend, but I overcame the public humiliation of having my name and reputation dragged through the mud by that individual for the entire world to see.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Related...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  As a Republican in the Texas Capitol, Sam Harless turned heads: He voted in favor of a stricter gun law.

In doing so, the Houston state representative helped advance a bill in the Texas House that would raise the purchase age for AR-style rifles like the kind used by an 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde last year. The vote came just days after eight people at an outdoor mall in Dallas were killed by a 33-year-old gunman, who President Biden said used an AR-15-style weapon.

The bill has little chance of becoming law, but that did not stop powerful gun rights groups Tuesday from springing into action to stamp out the rare glimpse of momentum for supporters of tougher restrictions as mass killings continue to spread anguish in Texas.

It underlined how almost any attempt to tighten gun laws in Texas is off the table in the state's GOP-controlled Legislature, which in recent years has made gun access easier following other mass shootings and shows no appetite for reversing course. That includes Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who  since Saturday shooting in Allen  has called mental health the root of the problem.

That made Harless' vote Monday all the more notable.

Every kid has a right to go to school and feel safe, and every parent has a right for the kid to feel safe at school, Harless said in an interview.

Another Republican, state Rep. Justin Holland, also joined Democrats on the House Select Committee on Community Safety in voting 8-5 to advance the measure that would raise the purchase age of certain semiautomatic weapons from 18 to 21. The bill has been the priority all year of several Uvalde families whose children were among the 19 students and two teachers killed by a gunman nearly a year ago at Robb Elementary School.

The vote Monday came unexpectedly. For weeks the bill had stalled in the committee, but as protesters filled the Capitol and shouted Do Something! two days after the shooting in Allen, the committee gathered to vote the bill out.

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In a statement defending his vote, Holland said, I do not believe in gun control, and he noted that he previously voted in support of Texas removing training and background checks to carry a handgun. He also said he has earned three consecutive A ratings from the National Rifle Association  but acknowledged he has no idea if they will rate him so highly going forward.

He said testimony given to the committee convinced him that a law raising the purchase age might serve as a significant roadblock to a young person acquiring certain semiautomatic weapons and causing harm.

Gun rights groups, which are rarely forced to aggressively play defense in the Texas Capitol, responded to the bill advancing by urging its members to call lawmakers. Texas Gun Rights, one of the most outspoken groups, said Tuesday that Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three people during a Wisconsin protest in 2020 and was later acquitted of murder, had joined them in opposition to the bill.

Harless, who represents a solidly GOP-leaning district in the Houston suburbs, said he has received no pushback from other House Republicans.

I just voted my heart and my constituents are likely not the gun groups, Harless said.

For a decade, Nicole Golden has been a mainstay in the Texas Capitol in pushing for stricter gun laws, only to see Republicans instead gradually keep removing the ones that are in place. She called Monday's vote unprecedented" given the attention that had surrounded the bill.

Golden, the executive director of the group Texas Gun Sense, said the Legislature has let wither far less contentious bills over guns this year, including one to promote education about gun storage safety. She could not recall a previous time that Republicans took a vote like the one Monday.

"Weve gone to their offices to thank them," she said. And I think that thanks are due.
Ray Liotta (PA)

Ray Liottas cause of death has been revealed almost a year after the Goodfellas actor passed away.

The actor, who was best-known for his starring role in Martin Scorseses 1990 crime classic, died in his sleep on May26, 2022 when he was shooting a new film in the Dominican Republic.

The star, who was 67 when he died, was shooting movie Dangerous Waters.

Officials have now confirmed Liottas cause of death was due to heart and respiratory system issues.

According to TMZ, who obtained official documents, Liottas death was categorized as natural and non-violent, with respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema - fluid in his lungs - and acute heart failure cited as causes of death.

With more than 60 feature films to his credit, the actor excelled at diverse and challenging roles in both comedy and drama.

He found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in the 1986 black comedy Something Wild, going on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field Of Dreams (1989), before his role in Martin Scorseses gangster epic.

Ray Liotta honoured with posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (Chris Pizzello/AP) (AP)

In February, he was remembered as an actor of rare calibre as he was posthumously honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Goodfellas actor was praised for his unparalleled capacity for vulnerability and charm and mischievousness at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

The actors daughter, Karsen Liotta, said she was so touched to be accepting the award on her fathers behalf, telling audiences if you have a Ray in your life, youre lucky.

Im so touched to be accepting this honour on behalf of my dad, she said.

I couldnt be more proud of him. He was a one-of-a-kind actor, and the best friend, brother and father anyone could ask for. I lucked out with you.

If you have a Ray in your life, youre lucky. Thank you for your work, and the imprint you left on me and all of those who love you.

Everyone deserves a Ray in their life.
The names of the eight people killed in Saturday's shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas have been identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Allen city officials announced Monday.

They include two sisters who attended an elementary school in a neighboring town, a husband and wife and their 3-year-old son, an engineer from India, and a young security guard.

The victims' names began to emerge nearly 48 hours after the alleged gunman Mauricio Garcia, 33, opened fire Saturday outside an outlet mall in Allen, Texas. Garcia was killed by police responding to the shooting.

Here's what we know about the people who died from the attack:

Sofia Mendoza and Daniela Mendoza

Sisters Sofia Mendoza and Daniela Mendoza attended Cheri Cox Elementary School in the Wylie Independent School District, where Sofia was in second grade and Daniela in fourth, according to WFAA-TV. The district identified them in an e-mail to the school community and said their mother, Ilda, is in critical condition after the shooting, WFAA reported.

Cox principal Krista Wilson called the girls "rays of sunshine" in the email.

In a GoFundMe post, Ilda Mendoza's sister Anabel Del Angel asked people to pray for their "now broken family" and said the two sisters will be "forever missed and loved."

"The girls have left a void that nothing in the world could ever fill. Please pray for their mom, my sister, and her broken heart," the GoFundMe post said. "Please also pray for their dad, that despite all the trauma he has had to endure, is still unbelievably strong."

The fundraiser has collected more than $70,000 of its initial $20,000 goal as of 12 a.m. ET Tuesday.

TEXAS MALL ATTACK: A deeper look at shopping mall shooting in Allen, Texas, second-deadliest in 2023

Kyu Song Cho, Cindy Cho, and their 3-year-old son

Three members of a family of four were among those gunned down in Saturday's shooting, according to a GoFundMe page set up by their friends.

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Kyu Song Cho, 37, Cindy Cho, 35, and one of their two sons, a 3-year-old, were fatally shot during "an afternoon that should have been filled with light, love, and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre," the GoFundMe post said.

"Cindy, Kyu, and three-year-old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning," the post read, adding: "After being released from the ICU, their six-year-old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event."

The fundraiser has collected more than $504,000 of its initial $50,000 goal as of 7 p.m. ET Monday.

Meanwhile, Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, also released a video message Monday afternoon acknowledging the family was among the school community.

"Were fortunate in the fact that we have several professionals that have been in the classroom with me today just to even visit with the students who are directly or indirectly impacted by this," said Mike Goddard, Prestonwood Christian Academy School System superintendent. "We're very family-oriented and we rely on God in times like this."

Christian LaCour, 20

Christian LaCour was a security guard working at the mall when he was killed Saturday, family members told CNN and WFAA. LaCour was a "sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family," his sister, Brianna Smith, told CNN.

Max Weiss, who worked in a store a the mall, also told CNN LaCour was "the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there. ... He brought laughter and joy."

LaCour's mother, Tracye Norris LaCour, said on Facebook that she and the family are "broken," according to WFAA.

"He's [my] baby, my light, my peace and he's gone," Norris LaCour said, adding: "At this time there is nothing we need except prayers and time to mourn together as a family."

CALL FOR ACTION: Texas mall shooting: Biden urges Congress to pass assault weapons ban, says he'd 'sign it immediately'

Aishwarya Thatikonda

Aishwarya Thatikonda, an engineer from India, lived in McKinney, Texas, seven miles north of Allen. A family representative told WFAA that Thatikonda was visiting the mall with a friend, who was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition at a hospital.

Thatikonda was a few days shy of turning 28, Ashok Kolla, a spokesperson with the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) told CNN. The nonprofit organization helps the Telugu community in the United States.

Thatikonda is described by family and friends as a loving and hard-working person who was respected by co-workers, Kolla said. Thatikonda moved to the U.S. about five years ago to pursue her masters degree, Kolla said.

The family wants to have Thatikonda's body sent to India, Kolla told CNN.

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32

On Monday, the Texas Department of Public Safety identified Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, of Dallas as a victim in the deadly attack.

Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz and John Bacon, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas mall shooting victims remembered by grieving families, community
Former President Donald Trump Alex Brandon/AP

A New York state judge muzzled Trump with a social media gag order in his hush-money indictment.

Judge Juan Merchan, whom Trump has railed against on Truth Social, issued the order on Monday.

Trump will be permitted to view "limited" evidence but cannot publicly discuss or disclose the material.

A New York judge banned Donald Trump from posting any evidence on social media in his ongoing "hush-money" case after prosecutors accused the former president of having a history of targeting witnesses.

State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan fulfilled prosecutors' request this week in issuing a social media gag order on the former president, who is facing criminal charges stemming from allegations he oversaw hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

On April 4, Trump was arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege he covered up a $130,000 non-disclosure payment just two weeks before the 2016 election in order to silence porn star Stormy Daniels over an alleged affair between the two. Trump has denied the affair and any wrongdoing.

Merchan's Monday order comes as Trump's legal team attempts to move the state criminal case to federal court. The order also stops Trump from publicly discussing details about witnesses involved in the case or any other evidence prosecutors plan to use against him.

A representative for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The judge said Trump would be allowed to view "limited" evidentiary material while in the presence of his lawyers, but the court order explicitly forbade Trump, or anyone else involved in the case, from copying, transcribing, or photographing the material.

Following his March indictment, Trump took to Truth Social, where he railed against Merchan, saying the judge "HATES ME," and accusing the judge's wife of being "anti-Trump."

During Trump's April 4 arraignment, prosecutors warned that the former president had previously made threatening and insulting comments about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but declined to request an official gag order at the time.

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Three weeks later, during a hearing that Trump notably skipped, prosecutors changed their tune, asking for an official protective order around the case. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina called the request "extreme" earlier this month, and said any gag order should be equally applied to all parties, including prosecutors.

The Monday order bars any person with access to evidence in the case from disseminating or disclosing it without approval from the court.

Some such evidence includes witness contact information and photos of the inside of the home belonging to star witness Michael Cohen, Insider previously reported.

Read the four-page court order:

Read the original article on Business Insider
Missing Tucker

With the departure of Tucker Carlson my long and satisfying association with Fox News has come to an end.

Once again, rich sheltered corporate types like Rupert Murdoch abuse their most ardent supporters using the most trivial of pretexts.

What the powerful fail to realize is when you betray your base, you eventually lose everything.

Gregory Bontrager, Hutchinson

Contamination cover-up

What an outrage!

To think we denied our own neighbors proper disposal of toxic waste, and, then to hide the evidence for so many years! (Eagle, May 7, Health study released for 29th and Grove contamination).

Despicable! It is only because we have such diligent and thoughtful professional journalists do we now know of the harm that was perpetrated upon our neighbors.

Believe me if that had happened in College Hill or Eastborough it would have been cleaned up immediately. Please keep us apprised of any new developments.

Judy L. Young, Wichita

Century II fail

Century II was swamped with Womens Fail or Fair, Freudian slip  and allowed to move Kansas Home Educators out of their usual space, and provided lousy service, limited food at outrageous prices, and a menu that took me bifocals to read to find that a pretzel cost $6  and up for everything else.

No working water fountains, so people paid pop prices for water, and the toilets were so small that I had to consider how to pull my pants up without cleaning the walls first.

I walked half of the allotted space to find a trash can.

I understand that the head of the management group recently told the City Council what a wonderful job they were doing, and I beg to differ.

Cathryn Hay, Wichita

The long view of archaeology





Congratulations to Dr. Don Blakeslee and his teams ongoing research of Etzanoah, (Eagle, April 30, Portal to the past).

But caution should be taken to ensure we do not view indigenous history through the lens of European terms.

Describing Etzanoa as the second largest pre-Columbian civilization feels like a disservice in multiple ways.

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First, describing North America in just two phases, pre-Columbian and not pre-Columbian, glosses over the extraordinary diversity of cultures which existed, came and went, during the prior 12,000 years.

Second, using a term like civilization implies a certain hierarchical structure which only occasionally existed in these many diverse manifestations.

And third, assuming largeness means that what occurred at Etzanoa was more significant than what occurred in smaller locales, like Spiro in Oklahoma, is a classically European way of viewing things.

The ascent of European civilization is a millennia-long journey to sameness. What happened here in North America was a millennia-long journey of constant reinvention and societal experimentation.

The language we use to describe the two should be equally distinct.

Richard Vogt, Newton

Thank public servants

Since it was established by Congress in 1985, Public Service Recognition Week  May 7-13  is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the contributions of public servants of all kinds.

From first responders to city administration, and public works staff to teachers, our friends who work in the public sector are vital to our health, safety, and quality of life. We know how hard they work to make all of our lives better.

This is an opportunity to recognize public servants as a community. As neighbors and friends it is our role to renew our commitment to the common good. Interested in getting involved? Here are a few ideas: post on social media, donate to your favorite cause, buy coffee for a friend who works in public service.

Please join me and the Public Policy & Management Center at Wichita State University in celebrating Public Service Recognition Week.

Lets remember to appreciate the hard work it takes to create the communities we call home.

Misty Bruckner, director, Public Policy & Management Center, Wichita State University
Office work

Ministers are considering major reforms to the controversial EU Working Time Directive in an attempt to save businesses 1 billion a year and to take advantage of the UKs new Brexit freedoms.

The EU-era law limits the amount of time most people have to work to 48 hours a week on average, including overtime.

The Department for Business and Trade is looking at removing the requirement on firms to record the number of hours each staff member works.

They say the change would not compromise workers rights and believe the reduction in red tape could save companies more than 1 billion.

A Government spokesperson said: This Government has no intention of abandoning our strong record on workers rights, which are amongst the highest in the world.

The Retained EU Law Bill will make sure that the UKs rules and regulations best serve the interests of the country as a whole and support workers and businesses to build a thriving economy.

Aim to remove 800 pieces of EU legislation by end of year

Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, is currently going through more than 4,000 pieces of EU legislation which are still on the UKs statute book despite Brexit.

She hopes to remove around 800 of them by the end of the year, and others could go in future years.

Kemi Badenoch - Shutterstock

The Retained EU Law Bill is before Parliament and expected to be amended to give ministers the power to remove further EU-era legislation beyond the end of this year if it is deemed necessary.

One of the major pieces of EU law which still remains part of British legislation is the Working Time Directive.

It governs the hours employees can be asked to work. This must not exceed 48 hours on average, including any overtime.

The rule came into force in Britain in 1998.

Some employers believe the rule harms the UKs productivity because it stops firms from paying people to take on overtime when they have a large amount of orders.

It has also been blamed for making it harder for the NHS to reduce waiting times.

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Some exceptions to 48-hour work week

But employees can choose to opt out of the 48-hour week if they often work overtime in roles in the emergency services, for example.

Exceptions include if people work in jobs where 24-hour staffing is required, or if they are in the police, armed forces, security or surveillance.

Others include people working as a domestic servant in a private household, or as a seafarer, sea-fisherman or worker on vessels on inland waterways.

People are also not covered where working time is not measured and they are in control, such as managing executives with control over their decisions.

Certain staff can opt out of the 48-hour maximum working week, including airline staff, a worker on ships or boats, delivery drivers, bus conductors and security guards.

Their employers can ask staff to opt out, but they cannot be sacked or treated unfairly for refusing to do so.

Trade unions have warned that scrapping the EU Working Time Directive in its entirety could lead to more accidents at work and reduce employee wellbeing.

The regulations also enshrine in law the right to paid time off, equating to 28 days per year including bank holidays, and rest breaks, with employers mandated to provide at least a 20-minute uninterrupted break during a workday of six hours or more.

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Republican leaders on Senate and House committees with oversight of federal energy policies are requesting a watchdog investigation into the Biden administration's depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

The lawmakers  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member John Barrasso, R-Wyo.  requested in a letter Monday that the Government Accountability Office probe the Department of Energy (DOE). They argue that the agency's heavy reliance on the SPR has undermined U.S. energy security.

"DOEs mismanagement of the SPR has undermined Americas energy security, leaving the nation more vulnerable to energy supply disruptions, and increasing the ability for OPEC and Russia to use energy as a geopolitical weapon," McMorris Rodgers and Barrasso wrote in the letter to Gene Dodaro, the GAO's comptroller.

"DOE has failed to establish long-term plans for the optimal size, configuration, maintenance, and operational capabilities of the reserve," they added. "We are concerned that the rapid depletion of the SPR may have caused structural damage to the SPRs pipelines and caverns, compromising its ability to meet its energy security mission in the event of a true energy supply disruption."

REPUBLICANS' SPR BILL LEAVES DEMOCRATS SQUIRMING OVER OIL LEASING: 'IT'S THE PROCESS OF BALANCE'

President Biden has ordered three massive releases from the emergency reserve, taking its level from 638 million barrels to 362 million barrels, a 43% decline.

They noted that the SPR, which consists of four storage facilities in Texas and Louisiana, is made up of a system of wells, pipelines and pumps that use water and brine to control oil flows. The lawmakers expressed concern that the repeated drawdown of oil stocks from the system could ultimately erode the SPRs physical integrity.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Overall, in three separate releases, President Joe Biden has ordered the DOE to release a total of about 260 million barrels of oil stored in the SPR since taking office to combat record fuel prices hitting American consumers.

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MANCHIN, CRUZ INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL BARRING BIDEN ADMIN FROM SELLING US OIL RESERVES TO CHINA

The SPR, which has a capacity of about 714 million barrels, has fallen from about 638 million barrels to 362 million barrels, its lowest level since October 1983, since Biden took office.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.

"DOE also recently created new rules, without Congressional authorization, for fixed-price purchases of crude oil, rather than conventional purchase contracts," McMorris Rodgers and Barrasso continued in the letter Monday.

"The failure of DOE to secure contracts to purchase oil under the new fixed-price bidding scheme raises serious questions about DOEs replenishment strategy and the ability of the SPR to protect the American consumers and the economy in times of emergency," the letter stated.

The White House unveiled a plan last year to refill SPR stocks by buying back oil at between $67 to $72 per barrel, a plan it said would amount to purchasing oil at a discount. However, DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm suggested in March that it could take years to refill the emergency reserve to its previous level.

The Government Accountability Office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The museum says the black rings on the vivid orange wings are "reminiscent of the all-seeing Eye." B. Huertas (c) Trustees Natural History Museum

Two newly-discovered butterfly species were named after Sauron, the "The Lord of the Rings" villain.

Blanca Huertas said she was inspired by the butterfly's wing patterns and her decade-long research.

She told The Washington Post there were parallels between Tolkien's novels and species conservation.

J.R.R. Tolkien's magical "The Lord of the Rings" universe includes hobbits, elves, wizards, and now, a new genus of butterflies called Saurona after the dark lord Sauron.

"Naming a genus is not something that happens very often," said Blanca Huertas, a senior curator of butterflies at the Natural History Museum in London, in a release from the museum that announced the new name on Sunday.

Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) May 7, 2023

So far, Huertas has identified two species of the new genus: Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera, both of which live in the southwestern Amazon rainforest  one of the richest concentrations of butterfly species in the world.

Part of the iconic nomenclature is the butterfly's look. Huertas said she was inspired by the butterfly's eye-like patterns, which she thought resembled Sauron's fiery red and black eye. The name was also a way to ignite interest and drive conservation efforts.

"Giving these butterflies an unusual name helps to draw attention to this underappreciated group," Huertas said.

But in an article from The Washington Post, Huertas drew other connections to "The Lord of the Rings" that suggest there may be additional reasons behind the butterfly's name.

This study was 'a lot of strain looking at me like Sauron'

The museum says the black rings on the vivid orange wings are "reminiscent of the all-seeing Eye." B. Huertas (c) Trustees Natural History Museum/YouTube/Warner Bros

The genus Saurona is part of a larger subtribe of butterflies called Euptychiina, which are all known for being relatively small and brown, so they're difficult to differentiate from one another, which makes them one of the most complex butterfly groups in the American tropics to study.

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It took Huertas and a team of researchers about ten years to analyze over 400 different species in the Natural History Museum of London's collection of more than 5.5 million butterfly specimens. The team published their results earlier this year in the journal Systematic Entomology.

For Huertas, the effort was like her own personal Eye of Sauron.

She told the Post she began studying the butterflies 15 years ago for her doctoral thesis but only had time to complete the research recently. "Ten years dealing with this study is a lot of strain looking at me like Sauron," she told the Post.

Studying various species of butterflies is important for understanding the issues that they face, the museum said, such as air pollution, climate change, and habitat loss. Last year, half of all British butterflies were placed on the UK Red List for concerns over extinction.

Huertas also sees a parallel between the struggle to prevent the extinction of rare species and the epic battle of good and evil in "The Lord of the Rings". The world needs an "army" of people to "get involved in getting worried about nature," she told the Post.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Archeologists have discovered a submerged island off the coast of Florida that contains the remains of a quarantine hospital and a cemetery, The Washington Post reports.

Watercolor painting of hospital and cemetery.

Image courtesy of National Park Service via AP

The site was located in the state's Dry Tortugas National Park, according to a press release from the National Park Service. Though just one grave was identified, "historical records indicate that dozens of people, mostly U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Jefferson, may have been buried there."

The island was first discovered by Joshua Marano, a maritime archaeologist with the National Park Service, when he noticed what appeared to be a series of dots in an L-formation under the water in Dry Tortugas. Years later, he dove to the area with a team of researchers and discovered the grave of a civilian named John Greer. And the dots, meanwhile, turned out to be "old building foundations that stood on a now-submerged island," the Post writes. "This intriguing find highlights the potential for untold stories in Dry Tortugas National Park, both above and below the water," Marano said in the press release.

Diver examining submerged tombstone

C. Sproul/National Park Service via AP

Those buried in the cemetery were largely military members that served or were imprisoned at Fort Jefferson. There were also civilians like John Greer, who was discovered to have been a laborer at the fort. "We had no idea, like there was no inkling" about the existence of the grave, according to Devon Fogarty, an archaeology student on Marano's team. "We knew that there are cemeteries out there, that there are grave plots, but we didn't expect anything to be preserved."

Fogarty added: "We want to be able to establish that we can put the extra effort into remembering regular people."

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Participants pose for a group photo during a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese held by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

On Monday, the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations opened in Beijing. As an important platform that gathers associations of overseas Chinese from around the world, the conference this year is attended by about 500 heads of such associations from over 130 countries and regions.

As the Chinese leadership once noted, for Chinese people, both at home and abroad, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a shared dream. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to closely uniting overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and encouraging them to play an active part in national rejuvenation.

To ensure that work related to overseas Chinese is sound and effective, Chinese authorities have held meetings to enhance overall planning, and also reformed relevant institutions and mechanisms. These measures have enhanced the coordination of departments, enabling work related to overseas Chinese to progress in a systematic and holistic manner.

With an effective work mechanism established, the Chinese government was able to introduce more tangible measures to attract overseas Chinese to participate in China's social and economic development.

For instance, in 2014, the State Council approved the establishment of the 480-square-km China (Shantou) Pilot Zone for Economic and Cultural Cooperation with Overseas Chinese in Shantou, Guangdong Province. After years of development, the zone has become a significant booster of local economic development. In 2020 and 2021, the annual GDP growth rate of the zone stayed above 20 percent.

Over the past decade, central and regional authorities have been constantly upgrading measures to serve overseas Chinese and safeguard their legitimate rights and benefits.

On April 27, two vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy arrived in the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on an emergency evacuation mission. That day, 668 Chinese citizens were evacuated from Sudan, where weeks-long conflicts posed severe safety threats.

"Above all, we are so grateful to our motherland. The motherland is always our strong backing," said Chen Lihui, an evacuee.

Ensuring safety and well-being is only one aspect of China's endeavor to serve overseas Chinese. Over the years, a number of policies have been formulated to streamline the application of visas and long-term or permanent residence for Chinese of foreign nationalities.

In addition, overseas Chinese and their family members can now benefit from a plethora of policies and regulations that ensure their rights to receive education, operate businesses, and receive timely medical attention when in need.
Editors note: This, the fourth in a series of columns about topics currently slated to be deleted from Tennessees eighth-grade social studies standards, concerns the founding of Memphis as center for cotton and the slave trade.

A few years after the War of 1812, the U.S. government acquired present-day West Tennessee from the Chickasaw Nation. Andrew Jackson represented the U.S. government in this 1818 transaction, which most textbooks refer to as the Chickasaw Purchase. After it occurred, the Chickasaw Indians were forced to move to present-day Mississippi.

Settlers quickly moved into West Tennessee, creating one of America's first land rushes. People organized counties and towns with speeda process well-documented in newspapers of the time.

Named for a city in ancient Egypt, Memphis was one of about 30 of these towns. It eventually emerged as the largest because it was on the Mississippi River, because its riverfront was stable, and because its founders were John Overton, James Winchester and Andrew Jackson.

[The] town of Memphis has been laid off by the proprietors on the Chickasaw Bluff, on the east bank of the Mississippi, 224 miles below the mouth of the Ohio, reported the July 3, 1820, Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette. The site of this town is believed to be the handsomest on the Mississippi below St. Louis.

Migration to West Tennessee and beginnings of slave trade

As settlers moved into West Tennessee, they harvested its natural resources. At first, this meant cutting down trees, dragging them to the nearest river, and floating them downstream to a place where they could be sold as lumber. By the 1830s, Memphis had become the center of the mid-Souths hardwood industry. The city sent hardwood downriver to New Orleans and upriver (via steamboat) to St. Louis and points further north.

After West Tennessees thick forests were cleared, farmers began planting crops. It didnt take long for it to become obvious that cotton grew wonderfully in West Tennessee., and large cotton plantations were established.

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These plantations needed labor, and that largely meant enslaved labor. In the 1820s and 1830s, enslaved people from places such as Virginia, Maryland and East Tennessee were sold and forced to move to West Tennessee. By the 1850s, West Tennessee had more slaves than the other two Grand Divisions of the state.

Located on the river, and at the junction of three pro-slavery states, Memphis soon became the center of the regions slave trade.

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Who controlled the slave trade?

Bolton, Dickens and Company was Memphis first big slave trading firm, and one of the largest slave trading businesses in American history. The company had buying offices and slave marts  as private slave prisons were known  in Memphis, New Orleans, Vicksburg, Mobile, Lexington, Richmond, St. Louis and Charleston.

To summarize the general business plan, Bolton, Dickins and Co. sent agents to places where enslaved people were no longer needed, bought them, and forced them to move to markets where they could be sold for more money. By 1846, ads for Bolton, Dickens & Co. were a regular feature in newspapers such as the Tri-Weekly Memphis Enquirer. We are now in receipt of 25 Negroes, consisting of men, women, boys and girls, as likely as was ever offered in this market, one ad proclaimed.

Bolton, Dickens & Co. might buy 20 slaves from someone in St. Louis and sell them to someone in New Orleans; or buy 50 in Memphis and sell them in Vicksburg, Mississippi; or buy 100 in Vicksburg and deliver them to Texas.

However, in May 23, 1857, Bolton, Dickens & Co. president Isaac Bolton shot and killed another slave trader named James McMillan at the firms Adams Street headquarters. McMillan died a few hours later, and Bolton was tried for the murder.

Bill Carey

At least seven lawyers were hired to defend Isaac Bolton, and he was somehow found not guilty of murder. However, the crime and the publicity that surrounded it resulted in the decline of Bolton, Dickens & Co.s business and the rise of business of a competing slave traderthe man to whose office McMillan had been carried after he had been shot.

That completing slave trader was Nathan Bedford Forrest. By 1858, his was the largest slave trading firm in Memphis.

Bill Carey is executive director of Tennessee History for Kids. Email him at bill@tnhistoryforkids.org.

Speaking of Nathan Bedford Forrest, since his name is also slated to be removed from Tennessees eighth-grade social studies standards, a column next month will be about him.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Memphis became the center of cotton and slave trade
A recent uptick in mpox diagnoses in Chicago, some of them in people vaccinated against the virus, has raised concerns about a possible increase in cases among gay and bisexual men during the summer.

On Monday, Howard Brown Health, an LGBTQ-focused clinic in Chicago, reported eight new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, since April 17. By comparison, only one case, also diagnosed at Howard Brown, was reported to the Chicago Public Health Department in the previous three months.

Public health experts expressed measured concern that, similar to other cases of infections that are transmitted through sexual contact, mpox cases could rise during the summer, especially as gay and bi men travel to Pride festivals and other major LGBTQ events.

Without renewed vaccination and prevention efforts, we are at risk for a resurgence of mpox, said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the deputy coordinator of the White House national mpox response. Vaccine is a really important tool, even if its not perfect.

Diagnosed cases have been increasing slightly in eight countries in the past three weeks, including France and several countries in east Asia, said Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the technical lead for mpox at the World Health Organization. About half of the recent French cases were in vaccinated people.

Otherwise, global case counts have continued to decline since the early-August peak. Since mid-April, Lewis said, only 21 of the 111 nations to report cases during the outbreak have reported any new diagnoses. However, many cases may go undetected, she said.

Chicagos weekly mpox case rate is the highest since early November. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, which is updated biweekly, the U.S. has had a rolling seven-day average of no more than 17 diagnoses since mid-February.

The Howard Brown clinic is analyzing the new cases to determine whether any are part of a linked cluster of infections.

Mpox vaccination rates are insufficient

Seven of the eight newly diagnosed patients were in gay or bisexual men, said Dr. Leanna Gordon, the medical director of preventive medicine at Howard Brown. One person was unvaccinated, one had received one dose of the two-dose Jynneos vaccine, and six were fully vaccinated.

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All eight cases were mild, none of them requiring treatment for pain. Even with a breakthrough infection, the vaccine is still likely to reduce the severity of an infection, Gordon said.

Gordon emphasized the importance that people at substantial risk of mpox get both doses of the Jynneos vaccine to protect themselves and their sexual partners.

One of our major concerns is that our population at risk are under-vaccinated, Gordon said. We havent had as much interest in the vaccine as we would like.

According to the CDC, more than 1.2 million doses of the Jynneos vaccine have been administered across the country to 725,000 people, 90% of them male. The agency estimates that only 1 in 4 of those most at risk, including gay and bi men and transgender people, have been fully vaccinated.

Two doses of the Jynneos vaccine reduced the risk of mpox disease by 69%, and that one dose was 37% effective, the CDC reported in December. Updated figures are expected next week.

Public health experts expressed concern that mpox could spread more widely across the country after Chicago hosts the International Mr. Leather festival, a popular destination for gay men, at the end of the month.

Daskalakis said the CDC is working with Howard Brown and other local partners to leverage the event to promote mpox prevention and awareness.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious disease physician at the University of Southern California, said, We need to maintain vigilance and promote and provide free vaccination.

Symptoms of mpox

Mpox, which has an incubation period of about three to 17 days, typically manifests as a rash and lesions. Other potential symptoms include:

Fever.

Chills.

Swollen lymph nodes.

Exhaustion.

Muscle aches.

Headache.

Sore throat.

In France, national health authorities recently reported that of the 19 diagnoses this year through April 3 in the Centre-Val de Loire region, 16 were made after March 1 and all but one were in men who have sex with men. Ten of the cases were in people who were fully vaccinated: six who had two doses of the Jynneos vaccine and four who had received the smallpox vaccine in childhood and a recent Jynneos dose.

Could mpox return this summer?

Last summer's mpox outbreak declined following a combination of vaccination, immunity after infection and behavior change among gay and bi men.

Infectious disease experts believe existing immunity from previous infection and vaccination would be likely to prevent mpox from spreading at the same level as last year.

But questions remain about the duration of immunity and whether gay men, many of whom reported reducing their number of sexual partners or even practicing abstinence last summer, have returned to their baseline behavior patterns after mpox cases dramatically waned.

Everybodys efforts have contributed to controlling the outbreak, but its not gone, Lewis said. She noted that there is evidence that mpox can spread both before symptoms begin and from people who never develop symptoms.

Dr. Marc C. Shamier, a resident in clinical microbiology at University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands, reported that in September, about 45% of gay and bi men visiting sexual health centers in Rotterdam and Amsterdam had detectable antibodies against orthopoxviruses, the family to which mpox belongs.

However, Shamier said in an email, this level of immunity is not sufficient to fully stop viral circulation, so sporadic clusters of monkeypox are to be expected.

Shamier continued: Large-scale events such as annual Pride parties could increase the number of sexual contacts among the risk group, which may lead to a rise in viral circulation and infections."

With testing, isolation of cases and higher levels of mpox immunity among risk groups, Shamier expects the number of cases to be relatively low compared to last year.

Daskalakis said the recent cases in Chicago amount to a call to action as opposed to a call to panic.

We have the tools to take care of this, he said. We just have to get it done.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A man was fatally shot in a road rage incident Monday afternoon in Marina del Rey. (KTLA-TV Channel 5)

A 25-year-old man was killed Monday afternoon in Marina del Rey after another man shot into his vehicle following a road rage incident, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The shooting victim, who was not identified, was pronounced dead near the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Maxella Avenue just after 12:15 p.m., said Officer Norma Eisenman, an LAPD spokesperson.

The suspect fled the scene and has not been identified, Eisenman said.

The two men, driving separate vehicles, got into a dispute while on the freeway; it escalated once they exited near the Marina del Rey intersection, she said. The suspect pulled out a handgun and fired into the other vehicle, killing the driver, Eisenman said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Robert Kennedy Jr., who recently launched a long shot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, said his fathers first instinct was that the CIA killed former President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy Jr. said the first call his father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, made after learning his uncle had been shot was to a CIA desk officer.

My father said to him, Did your people do this? Kennedy Jr. told Fox Newss Hannity on Monday.

His next call was to [Enrique Ruiz-Williams], who was one of the Cuban Bay of Pigs leaders who had remained very, very close to our family and to my father, he continued. My father asked him the same question.

Kennedy Jr. said his father then called John McCone, the head of the CIA, and asked him to come to the familys house.

When I came home [from] Sidwell Friends School, my father was walking in the yard with John McCone, and my father was posing the same question to him, Was it our people who did this to my brother? he said. It was my fathers first instinct that the agency had killed his brother.

The Democratic presidential candidate recently expressed support for the conspiracy theory that the CIA killed Kennedy, an allegation that the agency has repeatedly denied.

There is overwhelming evidence that the CIA was involved in his murder, Kennedy said in an interview with radio talk show host John Catsimatidis on Sunday. I think its beyond a reasonable doubt at this point.

Kennedys assassination has fueled endless conspiracy theories in the last 60 years, particularly after a 1979 House committee suggested it was probable there were at least two gunmen involved and coconspirators in the assassination plot.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ron DeSantis speaks during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 8, 2022. GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a new bill banning Chinese citizens from buying land in Florida.

DeSantis cited concerns that Chinese investors have been buying up too much farmland in the state.

An exception allows those on non-tourist visas to buy smaller properties away from military bases.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on Monday that bans most Chinese citizens from purchasing land in his state.

The new bill, SB 246, prevents Chinese nationals from buying land in Florida unless they are also American citizens or permanent residents.

"Today, Florida makes it very clear we don't want the CCP in the Sunshine State," DeSantis said at a press conference on Monday. "We want to maintain this as the free state of Florida."

There's an exception to the new rule. Lawmakers added an amendment allowing anyone holding a non-tourist visa to buy one property of up to two acres, as long as it's not within five miles of a military installation.

Russian, Cuban, Iranian, North Korean, Syrian, and Venezuelan citizens are also banned from buying property within 10 miles of military bases  but were not wholly banned from purchasing land in Florida.

DeSantis called the latest measure a response to a "concerted effort" by the Chinese Communist Party to acquire farmland in Florida.

He referenced an incident where a Chinese-owned drug developer tried to buy 1,400 acres in Levy County for $5.5 million in late 2022.

"Our food security is also national security, and so we don't want the CCP in charge of any food production," he said.

Florida has more than 21.8 million acres of privately held agricultural land, around 6% of which is owned by foreign investors, according to the US Department of Agriculture's 2021 data.

The agriculture department's report doesn't say how much of this farmland is owned by China. But it noted that Chinese investors in 2021 owned 383,935 acres of land worth $2.1 billion across the entirety of the US. That accounts for about 1% of all foreign-held US land.

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Investors from Canada own the most US land out of any foreign country, holding 12.8 million acres worth around $11.6 billion, per the department's 2021 report.

Dozens of Chinese-American and green card holders protested the new bill at Florida's capitol, saying the legislation's language is too broad and could open the door to discrimination.

In response to queries from Insider, a spokesperson for DeSantis pointed to the governor's Monday press conference.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

May 10, 2023: This story was updated to reflect comment from DeSantis' office.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday signed a bill into law to greatly restrict the ability of many foreign nationals to buy land in the state, and to prohibit most Chinese citizens from purchasing any land there whatsoever.

An exception is made for Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas, though they will still see their property rights curtailed. They will be limited to single parcels that are smaller than 2 acres and at least five miles from military bases.

The contentious measure, Senate Bill 246, also targets citizens of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela.

Under the law, people or entities hailing from those six countries, including businesses, will be prohibited from acquiring agricultural land in Florida, and barred from buying any property within 10 miles of military bases and infrastructure like seaports, airports, power plants and water treatment facilities.

State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D) opposed the legislation, warning that it appeared to be veering into the area of national origin discrimination.

More than 100 people signed up to testify against the bill at a hearing covered by the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper, many of them Chinese Americans who live in Florida as permanent, lawful residents.

We have nothing to do with the government, said Echo King, a woman from China who works in Orlando. We are here for the freedom, the democracy, that [China doesnt] have.

DeSantis described the law as a strike at the Chinese Communist Party, which he cast as the United States greatest geopolitical threat.

They have established a position of economic might, of industrial hegemony, and their military is far stronger today than it was 20 or 25 years ago, DeSantis said at a bill-signing ceremony. They have a leader whos very ideological and is intent on expanding CCP influence, not just in their region but even around the globe.

The governor has spent the past several weeks attempting to burnish his foreign affairs credentials ahead of an expected bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

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DeSantis also signed off on two other bills he claimed are necessary to diminish foreign influence in Florida.

One of them, SB 846, prohibits state colleges and universities from accepting gifts or grants from  or participating in any agreement with  institutions based in a foreign country of concern.

SB 258, meanwhile, directs a state agency to create a list of foreign-owned apps  like TikTok from Chinese tech giant ByteDance  so they can be banned from any government and educational institution.

The laws are set to go into effect July 1.

Related...
Volunteers at the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project, a wolf-dog sanctuary in Ohio, spent Saturday digging, hammering and building a home for a pair of soon-to-arrive residents from Rhode Island.

It will be called the "401 Run" as a tribute to apparent wolf dogs Bella and Libby and the people of Rhode Island who've supported their rescue efforts, donating money to transport the animals and build the run, said Susan Vogt, co-founder and board president of the rescue.

Initially believed to be black coyotes, Bella and Libby induced fascination, and some fear, when they were spotted roaming Warwick over several days in April. Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi posted to social media, advising residents to keep their distance.

Initially thought to be coyotes, apparent wolf dogs Bella and Libby created a stir when they were spotted roaming around Warwick over several days in April. Photographer Scott Manne caught this photo at about 6:45 a.m. on April 19 off Seaview Drive in Oakland Beach.

As it turns out, the pair had been kept as pets, and their owner told officials they were wolf hybrids, which are illegal in Rhode Island. Now kept at the Warwick Animal Shelter, they will soon join 18 wolf dogs at the 20-acre Ohio facility, which opened 15 months ago.

"We had hoped to be at eight animals at this point, and they keep showing up," Vogt said.

Wolf-dog hybrids a growing problem

Finding proper homes for wolf dogs can be a challenge. There are an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 wolf dogs in the United States, according to Mission: Wolf, a Colorado sanctuary. Experts say many of them are traumatized, having been kept in unfit conditions.

A combination of unethical breeding and owners with bad intentions or ignorant of wolf dogs' challenges has left sanctuaries like Vogt's trying to heal the dogs and give them better lives, experts say.

In separate cases earlier this year, Rhode Island rescuers found new homes for two wolf dogs that had been in the state illegally. One dog was adopted by an experienced owner in Vermont; another was sent to live in a sanctuary in Kansas.

The sanctuary in Middletown, Ohio, was full, or so Vogt thought, when Warwick Animal Shelter Director Ann Corvin called her about taking Bella and Libby. After Corvin made her pitch, the sanctuary decided, "Let's build. It costs money, but we can build," Vogt said.

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More: How RI's wolf-dog hybrid will help bring magic to Kansas veterans

Their new home will meet U.S Department of Agriculture standards and include a doghouse, 8-foot tall fence, dig guards, sun shades and a pool. The enclosure will be 100 feet by 30 feet.

"We like it to be long enough so they can run," Vogt said.

Bella and Libby face an uphill battle, but could be adopted

DNA tests haven't come back, but Vogt says Bella and Libby, believed to be about six months old, look and act like they're part wolf. They'll be kept together, separate from the other wolf dogs, at least initially, she said. They will need a lot of work. "They're not socialized. They're not animals you can just walk up to and touch," Vogt said.

DNA tests on the dogs haven't come back, but Susan Vogt, co-founder of the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project, says the dogs look and act like they are part wolf.

In Rhode Island, Corvin has already started trying to socialize the dogs, according to Vogt. That work will continue in Ohio. They will probably need a lot of time to decompress, adapt to their new surroundings and develop trust, Vogt said.

Walking them on a leash with other wolf dogs would mark a significant milestone, Vogt said.

"It's a very slow process," she said.

If that goes well, Bella and Libby could be adopted, but the adopter would have to meet stringent requirements, Vogt said. For example, they would need to live in a state where it's legal to own wolf-dog hybrids, have experience with wolf dogs or northern breed dogs, own their own home and have a secure outside run.

More: How RI's wolf-dog hybrid will help bring magic to Kansas veterans

"We promise a lifetime of care if they arent adoptable," the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project says on its Facebook page.

Vogt estimates it will cost $8,000 to build the run and bring Bella and Libby to Ohio. She won't say when they're due to arrive but noted on Friday, "We're working fast this weekend."

Volunteers at Red Riding Hood Rescue Project spent Saturday building a pen for Bella and Libby. Wolf dogs are clever and can jump high, so the volunteers have to ensure they can't dig under or jump over the fencing.

The all-volunteer, nonprofit sanctuary has raised about $5,200 so far, most of it from Rhode Islanders. One way they're raising money is by selling T-shirts displaying an image of Bella and Libby with the words "I GOT THE '401 GIRLS' TO THE RED." Rhode Island photographer Scott Manne snapped the photo they're using.

Even if Bella and Libby are eventually adopted and moved from the sanctuary, the "401 Run" title will remain on the pen. Vogt, impressed by the way Rhode Islanders have supported the animals, said, "It's a sign of a tremendous community of love."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Warwick wolf dogs mistaken for coyotes going to Ohio Red Riding Hood Rescue
Ukrainian sappers explode anti-tank mines and other explosive materials found near the town of Bucha, on a military range outside Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 13 April 2023, amid Russia's invasion

It was a curious sight. Russias annual Victory Day parade, a display of military might and a celebration of its role in defeating Nazi Germany, could only muster a solitary T-34. The serried ranks of tanks seen in recent years were absent; many of them will be lying burned out in the Donbas. Putins speech, meanwhile, was desperate, even delusional. He claimed civilisation was at a decisive turning point; that a real war has been unleashed against Russia; that the West seeks the disintegration and destruction of Russia. The only person driving towards that goal is Putin himself.

His army is in a shambolic condition, with multiple reports indicating that troops are fighting without adequate body armour. Young men are conscripted and thrown into the meat grinder of the Donbas, backed by antiquated tanks. They face forces combining modern Western equipment with significant new tactical innovations. And they are being slaughtered.

Over the last century, battlefield casualties for Western forces have seen a steady decline. Modern medical techniques, antibiotics and military developments have all played their role. But assumptions based on this experience may not work when estimating the losses suffered by Putins poorly-equipped conscripts.

Ukrainian reports of Russian casualties resemble something from the fronts of the First World War, with hundreds killed and injured each day. Western analysts have tended to be more conservative in their estimates.

But this conflict is not like those we have seen previously. Kyivs forces are innovating new ways of conducting warfare, with drones at their heart. Tech savvy young men and women are repurposing and re-engineering for the battlefield off-the-shelf and inexpensive equipment developed for peace.

This is a game changing moment. Russias armed forces are centred around the use of artillery; various sources list Moscows expenditure of shells as multiples of Ukraines. And yet even pessimistic assessments show a casualty ratio skewed heavily in Ukraines favour, despite being theoretically outgunned.

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The key to this appears to be innovation. What is unique to the Ukraine conflict is the use of both drones as striking weapons and as platforms for observation. Some analysts suggest that using the standard ratios of deaths/wounded will be very far from reflecting the lethality of this new mode of warfare. Some have gone so far as to suggest that the vast majority of artillery rounds and mortar shells fired by Kyivs forces will be watched by drone, allowing for  in artillery terms, at least  pinpoint accuracy.

And the pace of change is set to continue. The Ukrainians have trained 10,000 drone operators, who will add to Kyivs capability to observe and guide indirect fire. This type of attack was called precision targeting when I first went to Afghanistan in 2008. In those days we would have a huge Nimrod aircraft with 20 or so operators on board, flying at 20,000ft with a single camera. There would be five or six of us on the ground monitoring the live feed; if the right target was identified we called in a precision air strike from a fighter jet. We conducted a few of these strikes per week. Later, we moved on to Reaper drones with hellfire missiles. But these strikes were rare; what Kyiv is doing is new.

Fighting a battle for national survival, every tank or enemy combatant is a fair target. the Ukrainians are developing techniques not only focused on precision attack but also on directing artillery fire. Battlefield footage may look like the First World War  trenches, shells and casualties abound  but we have moved on from rare balloon spotters sending messages to guns. Now, there are hundreds of tiny drones with amazingly capable cameras, giving detailed pictures and highly accurate meta data back to the guns. This is a type of warfare which few in Nato have ever experienced; when Russian casualty rates as estimated by the West appear to be half what the Ukrainians are claiming, it is surely possible that the Ukrainians are right.

This is backed up by the scramble in Russia to find soldiers. Both sides might lack ammunition, but the Kremlin appears to be running out of soldiers to fire that ammunition. The long-term costs for Russia are likely to be devastating.

Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a former commander of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a regular contributor to the Telegraph's 'Ukraine: The Latest' podcast. With over 30 million downloads, it is your go-to source for live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. You can listen here

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address thousands of troops standing at attention in Moscow's Red Square at a military parade marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945

President Vladimir Putin is set to preside Tuesday over Victory Day celebrations overshadowed by Russia's battlefield failures in Ukraine, confrontation with the West and fear of new attacks at home.

But in a major coup for the Kremlin, at least six post-Soviet leaders including the prime minister of Armenia and the president of Kazakhstan are expected to attend the military parade that fetes the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Putin, who has become the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, is expected to address thousands of troops standing at attention in Moscow's Red Square amid ramped-up security.

However, after 14 months of fighting in Ukraine, Russia has little to show for its military campaign, with troops failing to take control of the eastern town of Bakhmut, its military leadership riven by conflict and Kyiv preparing to go on the offensive.

Political analyst Arkady Dubnov said that "for the first time in many years" Putin will be surrounded at a Victory Day parade by a number of post-Soviet leaders.

"Despite the serious weakening of its global positions after February 24, 2022, Russia remains to a certain extent the metropolis of a former empire whose actions have to be taken into account," Dubnov said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "all necessary measures" were being taken to ensure the safety of the leaders.

In the run-up to the festivities, Russia has witnessed numerous incidents, including explosions derailing trains, fires, a drone attack on the Kremlin and a bombing attack that wounded a fiercely pro-Kremlin writer, Zakhar Prilepin.

More than two dozen cities and towns -- near the Ukraine border, but also in more distant Russian regions -- have cancelled plans to stage their own military parades over security concerns.

The Kremlin has, however, said that the Red Square parade, which is seen as bolstering Putin's legitimacy, will take place.

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Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has stoked patriotic fervour around the 1945 Soviet victory over the Nazis, boosting his standing as the heir of Soviet power.

The Kremlin has also used the memory of the Soviet war effort to justify its offensive in Ukraine, claiming it is fighting "fascists" supported by the West.

Authorities have scrapped plans to hold so-called "Immortal Regiment" marches in which people carry photos of veterans or family members who died in World War II.

While officials said the events would not take place due to security concerns, Kremlin critics say many Russians could have brought photos of those who died fighting in Ukraine, highlighting the scale of Moscow's losses.

- Problems at the front -

Ahead of the parade, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, issued a series of blistering, profanity-laced videos, blaming Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for withholding ammunition amid talk of infighting and rivalries.

The Institute for the Study of War has pointed to "chain of command problems" for the Russian army in Ukraine that cast doubt on Moscow's ability to "coordinate a coherent theatre-wide defensive campaign".

Still, it has been able to launch wave after wave of aerial attacks across Ukrainian territory, including on Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

The commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said in a statement that out of 25 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight, 23 were shot down.

Regional military authorities for Kyiv said around 15 incoming missiles had been shot down around the city, adding that "there were no casualties or serious damage due to falling debris".

Earlier on Monday, Ukraine had commemorated the end of World War II together with Europe, with President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing that Russian forces would be defeated just as Nazi Germany was beaten in 1945.

The Ukrainian leader said the Kremlin was responsible for "aggression and annexation, occupation and deportation", as well as "mass murder and torture".

Zelensky said he had submitted a bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on May 8. For years the anniversary was marked on May 9, as it was in Russia and other ex-Soviet countries.

Ukraine will also mark a separate Europe Day on May 9, which promotes peace and unity on the continent, he said.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the occasion, and to meet with Zelensky and work on Ukraine's quest for eventual EU membership, a reporter on her overnight train said.

bur/kjm/smw/aha
(Bloomberg) -- Russian crude oil flows to international markets show little sign of ebbing even as Moscows threatened output cut stretches into a third month.

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Four-week average seaborne shipments, which smooth out some of the volatility in weekly numbers, rose in the period to May 5 to the highest since Bloomberg began tracking them in detail at the start of 2022. With almost all Russias crude going to China and India, volumes to Asia also hit a new high.

Moscows assertion that high exports by sea were offset by an unreported drop in piped flows to Europe doesnt appear to stand up to scrutiny. While exports through the Druzhba pipeline to Europe have fallen, the drop happened in January and February, before the output cut. It was accompanied by a jump in seaborne exports, clearly visible in the four-week flows in the chart below. Crude cargoes on tankers continued to rise in March and April.

Several of Russias OPEC+ partners have joined it in making production cuts with effect from this month to try to stabilize oil markets. Moscow may have to work hard to convince them that it has actually implemented its own reduction.

A drop in weekly flows from Russia is a result of tanker scheduling at the Arctic port of Murmansk and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. While only one tanker loaded last week at the Arctic terminal, another two have already taken on cargoes in the first three days of the current week. At Novorossiysk, weekly flows are always variable driven in part by the number of Kazakh cargoes loaded at the port. This volatility is reduced by looking at the four-week average flows, which give a clearer picture of trends in export volumes.

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Russias crude has continued to flow to international markets since its troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. But Moscows oil revenues have shrunk, falling in April to just a third of last years level, hit by sanctions and price caps on its exports. Budget proceeds from crude and petroleum products fell 67% to 496.9 billion rubles ($6.4 billion) last month, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.

Russias Lifelines

The combined volume of crude on vessels heading to China and India plus smaller flows to Turkey and quantities on ships that havent yet shown a final destination rose for a fourth week to reach a record 3.55 million barrels a day in the latest four-week period, the highest since Bloomberg began tracking the flows in detail at the start of 2022.

As the ultimate destinations of cargoes loading in late January became apparent, flows to China rose to new post-invasion highs, and remained close to those levels in February and the first weeks of March. Historical patterns suggest that most of the vessels currently identified as Unknown Asia destinations and heading for the Suez Canal will end up in India, while those loaded onto very large crude carriers off the north coast of Morocco or, more recently, in the Atlantic Ocean, will head to China.

Crude Flows by Destination

On a four-week average basis, overall seaborne exports in the period to May 5 were up by 180,000 barrels a day to 3.63 million barrels a day, the highest since the start of 2022, when Bloomberg began tracking the flows in detail. More volatile weekly flows fell by about 460,000 barrels a day from the previous week in the seven days to May 5, dropping to 3.62 million barrels a day.

Weekly data are affected by the scheduling of tankers and loading delays caused by bad weather. Port maintenance can also disrupt exports for several days at a time.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk.

The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export grade. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies. Transit crude is specifically exempted from European Union sanctions.

Four-week average shipments to Russias Asian customers, plus those on vessels showing no final destination, rose to a new high of 3.37 million barrels a day in the period to May 5. Thats up by 124,000 barrels a day from the period to April 28.

While the volumes heading to China and India appear to have declined from recent highs, history shows that most of the cargoes on ships without an initial destination eventually end up in one or other of those countries.

The equivalent of 665,000 barrels a day was on vessels showing destinations as either Port Said or Suez in Egypt, or which already have been or are expected to be transferred from one ship to another off the South Korean port of Yeosu. Those voyages typically end at ports in India or China and show up in the chart below as Unknown Asia until a final destination becomes apparent.

The Other Unknown volumes, running at 495,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to May 5, are those on tankers showing a destination of Ceuta, Kalamata or no destination at all. Most of those cargoes go on to transit the Suez Canal, but some could end up in Turkey. An increasing number are being transferred from one vessel to another in the Mediterranean, or more recently, in the Atlantic Ocean for onward journeys to Asia.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries rose to 83,000 barrels a day in the 28 days to May 5, with Bulgaria the sole destination. These figures do not include shipments to Turkey.

A market that consumed more than 1.5 million barrels a day of short-haul crude, coming from export terminals in the Baltic, Black Sea and Arctic has been lost almost completely, to be replaced by long-haul destinations in Asia that are much more costly and time-consuming to serve.

No Russian crude was shipped to northern European countries in the four weeks to May 5.

Exports to Turkey, Russias only remaining Mediterranean customer, rose to a 10-week high of 177,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to May 5.

Flows to Bulgaria, now Russias only Black Sea market for crude, rose to 83,000 barrels a day, recovering the previous weeks loss.

Flows by Export Location

Aggregate flows of Russian crude fell to 3.62 million barrels a day in the seven days to May 5, led by drops in shipments from the Black Sea and the Arctic. The volumes leaving the Baltic and Pacific ports were unchanged from the previous week.

Figures exclude volumes from Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

Export Revenue

Inflows to the Kremlin's war chest from its crude-export duty fell by $6 million to $50 million in the seven days to May 5, while four-week average income rose by $3 million, also to $50 million.

President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a second amendment to the way Russias oil price is assessed for tax purposes. From June, rates of export duty will be calculated in the same way as those for mineral extraction tax and profit-based tax on oil companies, using a decreasing discount to prevailing Brent prices, rather than assessments of Urals crude. Oil taxes will be based on a reference export price set $28 a barrel below Brent next month, with the discount falling to $25 in July and remaining at that level until the end of the year.

The duty rate for May is $1.96 a barrel, based on a Urals price of $51.15 a barrel between March 15 and April 14.

Origin-to-Location Flows

The following charts show the number of ships leaving each export terminal and the destinations of crude cargoes from the four export regions.

A total of 34 tankers loaded 25.3 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to May 5, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. Thats down by 3.2 million barrels, or 11% from the previous week. Destinations are based on where vessels signal they are heading at the time of writing, and some will almost certainly change as voyages progress. All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

The total volume on ships loading Russian crude from Baltic terminals was unchanged at 1.77 million barrels a day.

Shipments of Russian crude from Novorossiysk in the Black Sea tumbled, dropping to 459,000 barrels a day. One cargo of Kazakhstani crude was also loaded at the port during the week.

Arctic shipments halved to 143,000 barrels a day, with one Suezmax tanker loading in the week to May 5.

Flows from the Pacific were virtually unchanged, with 12 tankers loading at the regions three export terminals in the week to May 5.

Seven cargoes of ESPO crude out of nine loaded during the week are on vessels heading to China. The other two are heading to India.

The volumes heading to unknown destinations are mostly Sokol cargoes that recently have been transferred to other vessels at Yeosu, or are currently being shuttled to an area off the South Korean port from the loading terminal at De Kastri. Most of these are also ending up in India.

Some Sokol cargoes are now being transferred a second time in the waters off southern Malaysia. A small number of ESPO shipments are also being moved from one vessel to another in the same area. All of these cargoes have, so far, gone on to India.

Note: This story forms part of a regular weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the export duty revenues earned from them by the Russian government.

Note: All figures exclude cargoes owned by Kazakhstans KazTransOil JSC, which transit Russia and are shipped from Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga as KEBCO grade crude.

Note: Some figures for Black Sea exports in 1Q22 have been revised to exclude shipments from Ust-Luga of crude owned by Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Note: The next update of this story will be published on Monday May 15.

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Over 30 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) ambassadors and representatives gathered at Tsinghua University on April 28 to discuss high-quality development and the Chinese path to modernization, with the goal of fostering more students with a global outlook and enhanced competencies.

China has been a steadfast supporter of LAC countries in bolstering their peace, stability, independence, solidarity and development, advancing regional integration, and playing a greater role in international affairs .

Wang Xiqin, president of Tsinghua University, speaks at the convening event of LAC ambassadors at Tsinghua University in Beijing, April 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Wang Xiqin, president of Tsinghua University, welcomed and extended his gratitude to the guests. He said that Tsinghua is seeking an approach to better integrate science and technology as the primary productive force, talent as the primary resource, and innovation as the leading driver of growth to boost high-quality development. The university is also actively exploring a talent cultivation model that takes root in China and draws on Chinese and foreign experience.

Wang noted that Tsinghua University values the importance of cooperation with trustworthy global partners, as demonstrated by its long-standing friendship with embassies and institutions of LAC countries. He emphasized that China and LAC countries should jointly promote peace and development to build a community with a shared future for mankind as global efforts to achieve socio-economic advancement are facing significant challenges amid the major changes occurring worldwide.

Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China and head of the Latin American and Caribbean Mission, speaks at the convening event of the LAC ambassadors at Tsinghua University in Beijing, April 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China and head of the Latin American and Caribbean Mission, highlighted the significance of understanding what high-quality development means and its impact on enhancing the China-LAC comprehensive cooperative partnership.

He also hailed Tsinghua University's Latin American Center for serving as the university's liaison and exchange hub in Latin America, emphasizing its dedication to fostering academic research cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed a desire to further explore collaboration models between Chinese and LAC universities to enhance mutual learning and progress.

Liang Yu, former Chinese ambassador to Peru, speaks at the convening event of Latin American and Caribbean ambassadors at Tsinghua University in Beijing, April 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Liang Yu, former Chinese ambassador to Peru, stressed that the Chinese path to modernization is not about self-interest; instead, it is a path towards China's development, which will contribute positive energy to global peace and create new opportunities for the world, including LAC countries.

He pointed out that China will firmly support LAC countries in exploring modernization paths suited to their national conditions and will enhance bilateral cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, digital economy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and smart cities within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative.

Bai Chongen, dean of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, delivers a keynote speech at the convening event of Latin American and Caribbean ambassadors at Tsinghua University in Beijing, April 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Bai Chongen, dean of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management (SEM), delivered a keynote speech interpreting the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Conference and the Chinese path to modernization. He shared his insights into Chinese modernization by examining four key aspects: growth driven by innovation and efficiency improvement, people-centered development, green development, and peaceful progress.

During the roundtable discussion, ambassadors and other attendees delved into topics like green and peaceful development, expanding opening-up, technological innovation, AI, infrastructure building, supply-side reform, and educational cooperation. They also explored leveraging China's experience for joint development between China and LAC countries. The dialogue enhanced participants' understanding of Chinese modernization and boosted their desire to collaborate with China to build a China-LAC community with a shared future.

Additionally, He Ping and Xu Xin, deputy deans of the SEM of Tsinghua University, provided an overview of the school's development and its cooperation with universities worldwide. They conveyed their aspirations to establish more partnerships with LAC universities in order to nurture individuals with a global perspective and skillset.

Wang Hongwei, vice president of Tsinghua University, concludes the convening event of Latin American and Caribbean ambassadors at Tsinghua University in Beijing, April 28, 2023. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Wang Hongwei, vice president of Tsinghua University, concluded the event by citing an ancient Chinese poem, "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near." He pointed out that despite the geographical distance between China and LAC countries, their close communication has increased bilateral understanding. He stated that Tsinghua's Latin American Center will continue to serve as a bridge between China and LAC countries and promote balanced, coordinated and inclusive development globally. The event is expected to advance more practical cooperation between the two sides in fields such as economic development, youth empowerment, and online education.

Other distinguished attendees at the event included ambassadors to China from various countries, such as Leonardo Kam of Panama, Anyin Choo of Guyana, Hallam Henry of Barbados, Jesus Seade of Mexico, Mauricio Hurtado of Chile, Pick Fung Ho-Chong of Suriname, and Sergio Cabrera of Colombia. Additionally, Melissa Price Pryce, charge daffaires of the Embassy of Jamaica in China, Tricia D. Bethel, charge daffaires of the Embassy of Grenada in China, and representatives from Venezuela, El Salvador, Dominica, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Peru and Bahamas were also present.

The event was jointly organized by the Office of International Affairs, the SEM, the Institute for Global Development, and the Latin American Center of Tsinghua University. It attracted nearly 100 faculty and students from various schools at the university.
Troops paraded through Red Square and President Vladimir Putin exalted his war in Ukraine on Tuesday, but scaled-back celebrations saw Russias cherished Victory Day showcase its vulnerability and military weakness, rather than its might.

The countrys annual holiday marking the defeat of Nazi Germany comes nearly 15 months into its own bloody invasion of its neighbor, and just days after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin, as well as the public escalation of a bitter feud between top military leaders ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Though Kyiv has denied involvement in the mysterious incident, events across the country were curtailed over security fears and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin renewed his rhetorical assault on the Kremlin's top brass, ensuring the most sacred day on the calendar for Putins Russia took place under a growing shadow.

Putin said in his address that a real war has been waged on Russia, yet again framing his invasion as a response to the West's "exorbitant ambitions."

Russia celebrates the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. (Gavriil Grigorov / AFP - Getty Images)

But for all his grandiose language and efforts to rally public support, there were growing signs of disquiet within the Russian ranks.

Shortly after the parade, Prigozhin lambasted the Russian defense ministry for failing to supply his fighters with ammunition, after promising to pull his forces from a key battle last week. He questioned the state's ability to defend the country and the wisdom of holding the celebrations in the midst of a brutal conflict.

The high-profile clash over the struggle to capture Bakhmut illustrates the lack of any symbolic victory from a costly winter push on the battlefield. In addition, a wave of explosions have hit strategic targets deep inside Russia and several prominent pro-war figures in recent months, fueling a growing sense of unease over the security of territory Russia controls  from the capital to Crimea.

It prompted authorities in many regions to scale back or cancel military parades that normally draw huge crowds.

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Red Square was closed to the public for two weeks ahead of the occasion, in an apparent move to stave off any security threats to the high-profile event in the heart of the capital. Moscow also banned the use of civilian drones and ride-sharing services were unavailable in the city center, with security fears given new urgency by what the Kremlin claims was the Ukrainian assassination attempt on Putin.

The Immortal Regiment procession, which sees hundreds of thousands of Russians march with the portraits of family members who fought against Nazi Germany every Victory Day, was moved online, with people being asked to share photos of the veterans on social media, buildings and cars instead.

Some activists and analysts have suggested that authorities may also have feared a potent display of the effects of the current war, especially if families brought portraits of the many killed in Ukraine.

Victory Day Commemorations In Moscow (Oleg Nikishin / Getty Images file)

Authorities in Crimea all but canceled Victory Day events due to security considerations, according to state media, after a series of apparent Ukrainian drone attacks on military bases and fuel depots in the annexed peninsula that Kyiv is determined to seize back.

It is better to take precautions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

But the war is increasingly being brought home to a population that the Kremlin has worked to insulate from its realities.

Thats a country clearly on edge, Michael A. Horowitz, head of intelligence at the Le Beck consultancy, told NBC News on Monday. When President Putin steps on the podium, everyone will have in mind the image of the drones striking the Kremlin.

A limited display of pomp and pageantry took place in Moscow, including a solitary tank and no military aircraft flying over Red Square. For the first time in years, the parade ended in under an hour.

Putin thanked WWII veterans for saving humanity from Nazism, but stuck to his narrative that the war in Ukraine was necessary to prevent a new attack on Russia, saying that a real war has been waged against our Motherland again.

Kyiv and its Western allies dismiss these claims, seeing Putins war as part of his imperialist project to restore Russian prestige and power.

Following a moment of silence, Putin said the safety of Russia and its sovereignty depends on the soldiers fighting in Ukraine, some of whom took part in the parade.

The whole country has united to support our heroes, Putin added, a narrative that the Kremlin and state media have tried to promote amid an unprecedented crackdown on opposition to the war.

Russia Putin WWII Victory Day Parade (Grigory Sysoev / Sputnik via AP)

Russia celebrates the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. (Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images)

Since the Soviet era, Victory Day has held tremendous sentimental value for Russians, honoring the sacrifice of 27 million people in the fight against Nazi Germany. But in the decades of Putins rule, the Kremlin has weaponized that memory, using it to demonstrate its military might and send a message to its adversaries.

Victory Day is central to Putins narrative, Horowitz said. In the Russian presidents mind, Russia is still engaged in a long battle against Nazism that stretches from 1941 (comfortably skipping Russias own arrangement with Nazi Germany beforehand), up until today.

But this is also the second Victory Day that Russia marks without any major victories on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Prigozhin, whose Wagner troops have led the assault on Ukrainian defenses in Bakhmut, furiously claimed Tuesday that some army soldiers were "fleeing" the front lines and that military chiefs had been lying to Putin while withholding supplies.

Happy Victory Day to everyone, celebrating the victory of our grandfathers," he said in a video posted to social media. "Why we celebrate it is a big question. We just need to remember about them and not f--- about on Red Square.

It was expected that Russia would want to claim the symbolic victory of capturing the eastern city in time for Victory Day, but fierce opposition and Moscows own military shortcomings mean the brutal fight has only added to a sense of frailty.

Underscoring this, Ukraine took another symbolic step to distance itself from the Kremlin.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he had signed a decree to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8, in line with his Western allies. May 9, Zelenskyy said, would be an occasion to observe Europe Day, which the countries of the European Union mark as a day of peace and unity on the continent.

The move was swiftly decried in Russia.

By canceling Victory Day on May 9, he betrayed his ancestors once and for all, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, while the Moscow-appointed leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, called it a vile but expected decision by Kyiv.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in ten Ukrainian oblasts  Kyiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, and Donetsk.

According to local authorities, 17 civilians were injured.

Russia struck a total of 139 settlements using mortars, small arms, grenade launchers, tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), anti-aircraft missile systems, drones, strategic and tactical aviation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center said on May 9. According to the report, 104 infrastructure facilities have been hit.

Russian forces launched a total of 25 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles overnight on May 9, the Ukrainian Air Force said in its morning update. The Ukrainian air defense destroyed 23 missiles.

Missile debris damaged a household in Kyiv Oblast, according to the regional administration. Two cruise missiles hit Ukraine's central Cherkasy Oblast, damaging a communal facility, Governor Ihor Taburets reported. There were no casualties.

A civilian was injured after missile remains fell on a four-story building in the city of Dnipro, said regional governor Serhii Lysak.

Russian attacks wounded one civilian in Bakhmut, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit at least ten settlements and two communities in the region, damaging over 30 houses, seven high-rises, two industrial facilities, and two administration buildings, said Kyrylenko.

Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 46 times, injuring 14 civilians, including a 9-year-old child, the regional administration said. The attacks reportedly hit residential buildings, a school, a clinic, a care home for seniors, and a village council.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast was targeted 68 times over the past 24 hours, according to the regional administration, which received 38 reports of damages to the civilian infrastructure. A 15-year-old child was wounded in one of the Russian attacks, local authorities said.

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Ukrainian defenders from the 3rd Assault Brigade confirm destruction of Russian occupants and their military equipment near Bakhmut

Read also: Wagner to get weapons for ongoing Bakhmut offensives, mercenary chief Prigozhin says

"Prigozhins report about the withdrawal of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces from Bakhmut is accurate," the message said.

The Ukrainian unit added that in the last few days, Ukraines Azov tactical group has eliminated 64 enemy troops, injuring 87 more, and capturing five. Some of the soldiers killed were serving with Wagner PMC.

Its worth mentioning destroyed Russian equipment: several ammunition depots, mortars, and several IFVs, the report adds.

Earlier on May 9, Prigozhin published a video complaining about the lack of ammunition. He said that regular Russian army troops fled from their positions in Bakhmut, exposing one of the flanks.

Read also: AFP videographer Arman Seldin killed near Bakhmut

We have a ministry of intrigue instead of a ministry of defense, so our army is running away, Prigozhin said.

Read also: Prigozhin says Surovikin mediating between mercenaries and Russian Defense Ministry

Running away because the 72nd brigade lost three square kilometers today, where about 500 people died, it was a strategic foothold. They just packed their things and ran away.

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Volodymyr Saldo, a collaborator and the so-called "head" of occupied Kherson Oblast, unexpectedly addressed the Ukrainian soldiers in Ukrainian and asked them to "forget everything that happened".

Source: Saldo on Telegram

Quote: "I personally want to address the Ukrainian soldiers. Guys... We are not enemies. Understand, most of us are kindred. And there was a time when we may or may not argue, but we have everything needed to forget our disputes...

Let's forget about everything that happened. Let's unite and turn in the opposite direction and do everything to end the war. And live together again."

Details: The accomplice of the invaders cynically calls the decommunisation that took place in independent Ukraine the biggest "mockery".

Saldo is concerned about the fate of Soviet monuments, not mentioning the Ukrainian cities destroyed by the Russian invaders with the number of victims still unknown.

According to him, in Russia there are memorable places that "have the same relation to the Ukrainian people," although he did not specify which places he means.

With his desperate propaganda appeal, the occupier is trying to attract the attention of Ukrainian soldiers and claims that the Ukrainian people are "scared," and that "the Americans themselves must go to war."

It is noteworthy that on 9 May, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine decided to confiscate part of Saldos assets.

Previously, the collaborator's company associated with grain was found registered in the UK.

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Representatives of the Legion of Freedom of Russia claim that the Su-24 burned down in Novosibirsk

The guerrillas said they had set the aircraft on fire on May 8 at the Sukhoi Superjet Company's aviation plant in Novosibirsk, in the south of Siberia, the message reads.

Read also: Ukrainian military downs Russian Su-24 near Bakhmut  video

"As we were informed, the plane was successfully burnt out. It will no longer need repairs," they said," captions to the video read.

The guerrillas burned the combat plane in order to demonstrate that "this war (of Russian against Ukraine) must be ended," the legion said.

"You can't fight for peace by killing children and women in a neighboring country. The Kremlin has indeed managed to repeat the crimes of the Nazi regime against humanity, and everyone involved will be held accountable for it in court," the legion said.

Meanwhile, at a military parade held in the center of Moscow on May 9, Putin gave a speech in which he again blamed the West and Ukraine for his own regimes war and invasion.

The parade reflected the failures and huge losses of the Russian invasion army in Ukraine  there was only one tank on display, and it was a museum piece Soviet T-34 tank from the times of the Second World War, almost 80 years ago.

Read also: Russias offensive slows as it introduces Soviet-era T-54/55 tanks to the front  ISW

The T-34 was designed in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

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The Russian military launched a missile attack on the city of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, injuring three people in the evening.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy has just launched another missile attack on Kupiansk. There was a hit to a civilian industrial facility. At least 5 private residential buildings were also damaged. Unfortunately, there are wounded."

Details: He specified that two women and a man were injured. One person was administered first aid on the spot, and the other two were hospitalised. Emergency services are working at the site of the strike.

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Military personnel from Air Command Skhid (East) have shot down all eight missiles launched by Russian forces on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and a woman was wounded as a result of falling debris in Dnipro.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "During the night, military personnel from Air Command Skhid (East) shot down all eight missiles that the enemy directed at the oblast.

Russian scrap metal debris fell on a four-storey building in Dnipro. A 32-year-old woman was wounded and is in hospital.

The roof and ceilings of several apartments in the building have been damaged."

Details: In addition, a missile warhead was found on the third floor. Several dozen residents were evacuated while the bomb disposal experts were working.

The dangerous debris has already been removed and will be destroyed.

Lysak also reported that the situation was restless in the Nikopol district. The aggressor fired heavy artillery at Nikopol itself and the Marhanets hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.].

One private house was destroyed, and another four have been damaged. An outbuilding and power lines have been damaged.

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A view shows decorations installed ahead of Victory Day, marking the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in front of the Federal Security Service (FSB) building on Lubyanka Square in Moscow, Russia May 8, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

US authorities have busted open a secret computer network run by Russian security agents.

The network is around 20 years old and has targeted the US and its NATO allies, officials said.

FBI agents have neutralized what the Justice Department called "sophisticated malware."

US authorities cracked open a secret network of compromised computers that Russian security agents built and have been using to spy on NATO members for years, the Justice Department revealed on Tuesday.

The FBI managed to disrupt a global network of computers that had been compromised by a "sophisticated malware" known as "Snake," the Justice Department said in a statement. To do this, the agency carried out a court-authorized operation to disable Snake on compromised computers by using a tool that instructed the malware to destroy itself.

For nearly two decades, a unit within Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB)  successor to the Soviet-era KGB  has used Snake to target and steal sensitive documents from computer systems in dozens of countries across the world, including NATO members, the Justice Department said.

"We consider Snake to be the most sophisticated cyber espionage tool in the FSB's arsenal," the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in an advisory on Tuesday. "Globally, the FSB has used Snake to collect sensitive intelligence from high-priority targets, such as government networks, research facilities, and journalists."

CISA detailed one specific case where FSB agents managed to use Snake to "access and exfiltrate sensitive international relations documents, as well as other diplomatic communications" through a victim in an unspecified NATO country. Within the US, the FSB has "victimized" several sectors, including government facilities, critical manufacturing, financial services, education, media organizations, and small businesses, the advisory said.

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According to an FBI affidavit, the agency worked with US intelligence partners and foreign governments to investigate how Snake worked. The FSB used Snake to pull data from sensitive computer systems  including those run by NATO governments  and transmit the data through compromised systems in the US before it got transmitted back to Russia. Doing so made it difficult for victims to uncover how the network was connected.

Director of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov attends a meeting of the service's collegium in Moscow, Russia, February 28, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS

Eventually, through its analysis of Snake, the FBI developed an ability to decode and decrypt Snake's communications, the Justice Department said. The FBI then created a tool called Perseus, which could communicate with Snake on a specific system and use commands to force the malware to essentially self-destruct.

"Russian government actors have used this tool for years for intelligence collection," said Rob Joyce, the National Security Agency's director of cybersecurity, in a statement. "Snake infrastructure has spread around the world. The technical details will help many organizations find and shut down the malware globally."

Top Justice Department officials praised the FBI's ability to neutralize the FSB's network.

"The Justice Department, together with our international partners, has dismantled a global network of malware-infected computers that the Russian government has used for nearly two decades to conduct cyber-espionage, including against our NATO allies," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

"We will continue to strengthen our collective defenses against the Russian regime's destabilizing efforts to undermine the security of the United States and our allies," he continued.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, arrives to pay the last respects to slain Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, during a funeral ceremony at the Troyekurovskoye cemetery in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 8, 2023. AP Photo

The Wagner Group threatened to withdraw from Bakhmut unless it got more ammunition from Moscow.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group's founder, said Moscow agreed and the fight for Bakhmut would continue.

Irregular commanders, like Prigozhin, appear to be calling more of the shots in Ukraine, war experts say.

Irregular Russian commanders, like the leaders of the paramilitary Wagner Group and Chechen fighters, appear to be calling more of the shots in Ukraine. War experts say they may be forcing the hand of a top general and threatening battlefield operations.

The Wagner Group, a notorious mercenary outfit with close Kremlin ties, has played a key role in Russia's efforts to capture the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, which has been the epicenter of intense and brutal fighting for months. Russian operations have relied heavily on the group's professional troops, as well as an army of convicts its leader recruited to boost its numbers.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group's founder, and his fighters have routinely criticized Russia's top military officials over their handling of Russia's faltering war in Ukraine. A major complaint from Prigozhin has been about a lack of weaponry and ammunition from Moscow, and these tensions seemingly reached a tipping point last week.

The mercenary group leader took aim at Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gen. Valery Gerasimov in a screaming tirade, blaming them for the deaths of his troops. Hours later, Prigozhin shared another video where he threatened to pull Wagner from Bakhmut over the problem of insufficient ammunition.

But Prigozhin appeared to backtrack on his threats on Sunday, claiming that his forces would no longer retreat from Bakhmut after being promised ammunition from Moscow. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, noted that this course correction could have been the result of dual efforts from both Prigozhin, and Ramzan Kadyrov, who leads a band of Chechen fighters in Ukraine.

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Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov attends a military parade in the Chechen capital Grozny, Russia, in May 2022. REUTERS/Chingis Kondarov/File Photo

Kadyrov and Prigozhin signaled that Chechen fighters would reposition and take over Wagner positions in Bakhmut, potentially weakening other sectors, should the Wagner mercenaries actually follow through with their planned withdrawal. In threatening to do so, the two "likely effectively blackmailed" Russia's military command into giving resources to Wagner, the ISW said in a Monday assessment.

The two commanders "may have compelled" Russia's Gen. Gerasimov, who oversees Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine, to give more ammunition to Wagner, despite the fact that Gerasimov has indicated an inclination to pivot, to a certain extent, away from the offensive operations in Bakhmut, prioritize the conservation of ammo, and emphasize defense ahead of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive.

"Gerasimov's apparent need to negotiate with subordinate commanders and those commanders' ability to force his hand suggests that chain of command problems are having a significant impact on the Russian military's ability to conduct coherent theater-wide operations," ISW wrote in its analysis.

Ahead of an expected Ukrainian counterpunch, "these events raise questions about Russia's ability to coordinate a coherent theater-wide defensive campaign," it continued. "The Russian military command appears to be increasingly delegating responsibilities for different sectors of the front in Ukraine to various Russian commanders while the power of the theater commander continues to wane."

Graves of Russian Wagner mercenary group fighters are seen in a cemetery near the village of Bakinskaya in Krasnodar region, Russia, on January 22, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

It was not immediately clear if Wagner has received any additional ammunition from Moscow, which observed a scaled-back Victory Day parade on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Prigozhin marked the occasion by feuding with Russia's military leadership, attacking their ability to defend the country. He even attempted to blackmail Russian leaders with a threat to leak details of embarrassing Russian retreats if he didn't get the ammunition he wanted.

With Wagner now slated to remain in Bakhmut, unless Prigozhin changes his mind on the matter, the war's longest and bloodiest battle  which has killed thousands of soldiers on both sides and destroyed the city  continues, but with Russian forces more and more in a defensive posture along the front lines.

Backed by a substantial influx of Western weapons, including tanks and other armored vehicles, Ukrainian forces, on the other hand, are gearing up for a much-anticipated counteroffensive coming after Russia's winter offensive saw it fail to capture a notable amount of territory.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress last week that Russian forces are transitioning into defensive positions ahead of the expected Ukrainian offensive, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in late April that Ukraine received a massive wave of heavy armor from its Western military backers.

Ukraine's top defense official previously hyped up the counteroffensive, which will likely be aimed at liberating Russian-occupied territory in eastern and southern Ukraine, although he has expressed more cautious remarks in recent days in an attempt to manage expectations for it.

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Proud Boy Jeremy Bertino wore an RWDS patch at a protest in Raleigh, North Carolina Anthony Crider

Authorities have identified the gunman of the Allen, Texas, mass shooting as Mauricio Garcia, 33.

Law enforcement sources told AP that the man wore a patch that said "RWDS."

The acronym, for Right Wing Death Squad, is more a meme than a formal group, experts told Insider.

The gunman who killed at least eight people in a mass shooting at an Allen, Texas, shopping center on Saturday wore a patch on his chest with a phrase frequently thrown around in far-right circles and extremist groups, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press.

On Sunday, the Texas Department of Public Safety identified the shooter as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, CNN reported.

A law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the AP that Garcia, after being fatally shot by a police officer, was found wearing a patch that read "RWDS"  an acronym that stands for "Right-Wing Death Squad."

Despite what the name suggests, several extremism experts told Insider that RWDS is not a formal group or organization.

"It's essentially a call-to-arms for would-be fascists, neo-fascists, and anyone who believes in a hard-right authoritarian state," Micheal Edison Hayden, a spokesperson and senior investigative reporter for Southern Poverty Law Center, said.

Origins of the acronym

Hayden told Insider he first encountered the phrase in the early days of the Trump era and that it appeared as a "kind of insidious meme." But the acronym referenced in alt-right social spheres has evolved from being a simple online meme to appearing in real-world extremist crime scenes.

The attacker who killed 11 people in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in 2018 frequently shared RWDS memes online before carrying out the attack, Meghan Conroy, a research fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab and a former investigator for the Subcommittee on January 6, told Insider.

Similarly, an active duty Marine, who was investigated under suspicion of plotting to murder minorities and DNC employees, among others, was part of a Facebook messenger chat group called Right Wing Death Squad, Conroy noted. The Marine, Travis Owens, was released from the military over the incident but was not charged with a crime, Insider previously reported.

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"And obviously these people are not necessarily Proud Boys, right? They're not even necessarily part of a specific group," Conroy told Insider. But embracing the online culture surrounding the RWDS memes "enables them to feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves, and they're part of this internet culture that is cool and trendy and is doing something  because if you have death in the title of your chat group, or meme or whatever it may be, that's a not-so-subtle hint that this is going to manifest in some kind of offline action."

Proud Boy Jeremy Bertino at a protest in Raleigh, North Carolina, in November 2020. Anthony Crider

While it is unclear if the Texas shooter was associated with an extremist group, members of the Proud Boys have been seen wearing references to RWDS.

Proud Boy member Jeremy Bertino, who pleaded guilty in October to seditious conspiracy charges in connection to the January 6 riot, can be seen wearing an RWDS patch, as well as a Fred Perry brand logo and an American flag, at a protest near the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh shortly after the 2020 election.

Lawyers for Bertino and representatives for the Fred Perry brand did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

At another event in Pittsboro, North Carolina, Bertino added an RWDS patch to his t-shirt that read, "Pinochet did nothing wrong."

The memes reference former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte and his real-life right-wing death squad, Hayden and Conroy noted.

Pinochet ruthlessly sought out his opposition after his 1973 coup d'etat  and one way he executed his enemies was by throwing people off a helicopter mid-flight.

"Action is absolutely imbued into the very name of RWDS, especially because Pinochet was a real person, the right-wing death squads were real and they actually did the thing that a lot of these folks want to do, which is murdering political enemies, and also staging a coup against the democratically elected president," Conroy told Insider. "The through lines are so there and the precedent exists  because they have this tangible thing that happened in history that they can point to and be like, 'Oh, look, we can do it too.'"

Hayden said a meme about helicopter rides circulated on Twitter before the 2016 election, sending the message that when Donald Trump is elected, his critics will be thrown out of a helicopter.

Proud Boys members also sold RWDS and Pinochet T-shirts for $40 at rallies and online beginning in 2018, according to SPLC.

Mixing the message, "Pinochet did nothing wrong" and "Right-wing death squad," the overall point is straightforward, Hayden said. "It is for people who desire a hard-right authoritarian state  a brutal fascist takeover of the United States," he said. "And it is a way to signal interest in extrajudicial violence."

How extremists use humor

Extremists have long used memes, jokes, and irony to advance their ideology while maintaining an air of plausible deniability. Viveca Greene, a professor at Hampshire College who researches the use of satire across extreme ideologies, told Insider it's an approach that modern alt-right activists have embraced.

"A lot of the memes function by appealing to people who like having the insider knowledge to be able to get the joke," Greene told Insider. "A lot of them perform what humor scholars called boundary maintenance: there's an 'us' and there's a 'them.' I mean, racist jokes and humor have done that forever."

By using memes and jokes to signal you're part of the in-group, people who share them can feel a sense of belonging and continue perpetuating the sense of the difference between those who understand and agree with the meme versus those who don't.

"Admittedly, it can be difficult when you're trying to determine whether someone is shitposting on the internet because they're angry or they're sad or they feel they want to feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves," Conroy told Insider. "Or if you're going to have a situation where someone is going to mobilize offline."

Authorities are still investigating a motive for the attack by the Texas shooter. However, a source told AP that federal agents who reviewed his social media accounts found posts expressing neo-Nazi and white supremacist views.

Conroy noted that the continued circulation of the memes, especially after mass violence, can recruit more extremists, glorifying the perpetrator and urging like-minded followers to stop posting and take action.

Hayden said the RWDS meme was circulated "heavily" in fringe Telegram channels following the Texas shooting.

"Some people say, 'Oh, well this is just a joke' and stuff like that," Hayden added: "Very clearly, if Garcia was wearing it, he did not take it as a joke."

Read the original article on Insider
You are here: China

Chinese researchers have conducted a 10-day aerial integrated observation experiment to accurately monitor the quality and condition of black land in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to Tuesday's China Science Daily.

In order to monitor the location, degree, and speed of black land degradation, the researchers carried out sky-ground monitoring on a farm covering 900 square kilometers.

They completed the ground survey of almost 200 quadrats by collecting the scanning images and designed six types of observation quadrats, including black soil, sandy soil, white slurry soil, and meadow soil.

During the observation experiment, black land topography, soil nutrients, soil temperature and humidity, crop properties, and cultivated land quality were diagnosed accurately, facilitated by 15 homemade satellites achieving more than 50 images, according to the report.

Totally 16 organizations, including both the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology and the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, participated in the observation.
Salt Lake Fire Battalion Chief Dan Walker speaks to members of Utahs news media outside of the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Monday. Walker said there has been an uptick in fires involving vacant buildings over the past two weeks. | Carter Williams, KSL.com

Firefighters still aren't sure what sparked a blaze that engulfed three vacant buildings near a beloved concert venue Sunday morning; however, they say it follows a pattern they've noticed over the past few weeks involving vacant structures.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department responded to a fire at 740 S. Kilby Court, across the street from the Kilby Court music venue. None of the buildings consumed were occupied by anyone and there weren't any injuries reported.

It was one of six separate incidents involving at least one vacant structure over the past two weeks, said Salt Lake Fire Battalion Chief Dan Walker. Firefighters also responded to a fire Sunday night that consumed a pair of vacant houses near 1032 W. Learned Ave. It's why Walker is asking for residents to report "any suspicious activity" at any existing vacant structures, so the department can get a better hold on preventing vacant building fires.

"These vacant structure fires pose a risk to the neighbors, the properties and the community," he said, as he stood outside the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Monday afternoon. "Also, they pose a significant risk to firefighters and first responders who are going into them."

Walker explained that all of the different buildings were at various levels of demolition or renovation at the time each blaze began. Because of the potential safety risks, the department usually only sends firefighters into a vacant building if they need to rescue someone. That also means most of the fires are too damaging to really determine a cause without a long investigation  if a cause is ever determined.

That's why it's unclear what has caused any of the recent fires. Walker said he is "sure" that investigators are looking for signs of human activity causing the fires, either accidentally or intentionally, including any video surveillance in the area of a fire.

The only connection between any of the new fires is that they all involved vacant structures, at least at this point. Walker said it's possible that there have been more vacant building fires because there is more land slated for redevelopment, and it can take time for developers to tear buildings down once they are vacated.

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He adds there is no indication any of the fires are connected to the five fires that broke out in a two-week stretch within the city's Ballpark neighborhood in December. The department hasn't been able to pinpoint an exact cause of any of those fires, either.

That's why the department is turning to the public's help to keep an eye on signs someone has broken into a vacant structure, such as windows that are broken or boardings that have been removed.

Anyone who spots suspicious activity can call Salt Lake City police at 801-799-3000 unless it's an emergency; in that case, they can dial 911.

"If someone sees something, call right away," Walker said. "The sooner we can get there, the more likely we're going to identify the cause, as well as identify who may have been involved."
CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will reopen its diplomatic mission in Syria, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Tuesday, nearly a decade after diplomatic ties were cut and two days after Syria was readmitted into the Arab League.

Some Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, have turned the page with Damascus, reversing years of isolation over President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on protests in 2011 and the ensuing civil war.

Sources told Reuters in March that Damascus and Riyadh had agreed to reopen their embassies. The Saudi foreign ministry did not say on Tuesday when the embassy would re-open.

Syria's state news agency said Damascus has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.

Contacts between them had gathered momentum following a landmark China-brokered deal to re-establish ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a key ally of Assad, a regional source aligned with Damascus had said.

The United States, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has opposed moves by regional countries to normalise ties with Assad, citing his government's brutality during the conflict and the need to see progress towards a political solution. Some Arab countries are also opposed.

The Saudi foreign ministry said the decision would support regional security and stability.

(Reporting by Moaz Abd-Alaziz and Omar Abdel-Razek; Writing by Yousef Saba; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell)
Saudi Arabia has said that its diplomats will resume work in Syria -- pictured is the closed Saudi embassy in Damascus in April 2023

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad cemented his return to the Arab fold Tuesday when leading Sunni power Saudi Arabia, which long supported Syria's opposition, said its diplomats would resume work in the country.

The restoration of diplomatic ties, later confirmed by Damascus, came more than a decade after Riyadh withdrew its representatives during Syria's civil war, and two days after the Arab League bloc ended Syria's years-long suspension.

The kingdom "has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria," Riyadh's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, saying it would seek to "develop joint Arab action".

Syria's SANA news agency also said "the Syrian Arab Republic has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia," quoting a foreign ministry source.

Saudi Arabia will host the pan-Arab bloc's next summit on May 19.

Assad had been politically isolated in the region since Syria's war began, but a flurry of diplomatic activity has been underway in past weeks after a decision by Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties shifted the political landscape.

Three weeks ago Assad met in Damascus with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the first such visit since the war broke out in 2011.

At that time, Assad and Prince Faisal discussed steps to "achieve a comprehensive political settlement that... contributes to Syria's return to the Arab fold," the Saudi foreign ministry said.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Assad's government in 2012 and Riyadh had long openly championed Assad's ouster, backing Syrian rebels in earlier stages of the war.

Assad hopes normalisation with wealthy Gulf states can bring economic relief and money for reconstruction, as broader international funding remains elusive without a United Nations-backed political settlement to the conflict.

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- No political solution -

On Sunday the Arab League welcomed back Syria's government.

The body had suspended Damascus in November 2011 over its crackdown on peaceful protests, which had begun earlier that year and spiralled into a war that drew in foreign powers, has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country's infrastructure and industry.

While the front lines have mostly quieted, large parts of the country's north remain outside government control, and no political solution has yet been reached to the conflict.

Arab League foreign ministers on Sunday emphasised their "keenness to launch a leading Arab role in efforts to resolve" the Syria crisis.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, head of the 22-member Arab League, said the decision "brings the Arab side into communication with the Syrian government for the first time in years".

Syria's return to the bloc is "the beginning... not the end of the issue", he added, noting it was up to individual countries to decide whether to resume ties with Damascus.

The Syrian National Coalition, the main opposition alliance, said Sunday's decision meant "abandoning" Syrians and leaving them "without official Arab support".

The United States and Britain said they still opposed relations with Assad but would work with Arab states that are re-establishing relations.

"And our position is clear: We are not going to be in the business of normalising relations with Assad and with that regime," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Washington.

But Blinken said the United States shared the goals of Arab partners in Syria, including on providing humanitarian assistance and combatting the Islamic State extremist group.

"So I think the Arab perspective, as articulated through the Arab League, is they believe that they can pursue these objectives through more direct engagement," Blinken said.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking alongside Blinken, said London was "very uncomfortable" with the Arab League decision.

"We cannot just wish away the actions of the Assad regime over the last few years; the brutality against Syrian people cannot just be ignored. And the UK certainly won't brush that under the carpet," Cleverly said.

"But we do recognise that there is a huge amount of pressure on countries in the region," he said.

The United States maintains hundreds of soldiers in Syria as part of a coalition against the Islamic State group. Turkish and Iranian-linked forces are also in the country.

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When you think of gay-friendly destinations, New York, San Francisco, the Netherlands and other such places come to mind. Now, in an effort to make to make the country palatable, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) says LGBT+ tourists are welcome.

In the FAQ section of STAS website, somebody inquired whether or not LGBT+ visitors were welcome in Saudi Arabia. The response was: everyone is welcome to visit Saudi Arabia, and visitors are not asked to disclose such personal details.

This Announcement Doesnt Align With The Countrys Conservatism

Quite understandably, the gay community wont find this announcement reassuring. Historically, Saudi Arabia has not taken kindly to non-heterosexual sex. Over the years, there have been distressing stories of gay Saudis facing arrest, torture or worse.

The aversion to the gay community is so overwhelming, that Saudi Arabian authorities raided a shop selling rainbow-colored items last year. By way of explanation, one official told the BBC, the items contradict the Islamic faith and public morals, and promote homosexual colors targeting the younger generation.

The Human Dignity Trust, a pro-gay organization, notes consistent reports of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ people.

The organization adds, Saudi Arabia criminalizes same-sex sexual activity between men and between women. The gender expression of trans people is also criminalized.

Bolstering Tourism In Saudi Arabia Is The Goal

Gay travel is a lucrative part of the tourism industry, so it makes sense that STA is trying to tap into that.

CNN Travel writes, [gay couples] spend more money in a destination than heterosexual couples, and tend to travel more times a year.

But, Darren Burn, CEO of Out of Office, has his reservations about STAs announcement.

Its pretty vague, he told CNN, and it doesnt offer the assurances that would make me feel able to send our clients safely to the destination. But my concern is what the reality is like in the destination. Are they saying that a same-sex couple can check into a hotel and get a double bed without any issues? My hunch would be that thats not the reality.

With all that in mind, should you go to Saudi Arabia as an LGBT+ person? Well, that depends. For certain, there are far more gay-friendly destinations out there. But if you do venture to Saudi Arabia, familiarize yourself with the customs, and err on the side of caution.
Safe Streets Wichita, the organization that has distributed some 3,500 naloxone kits at opioid overdose hotspots across the city, will be able to purchase another 4,000 kits.

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved $4,300 from the citys opioid settlement recovery fund for Safe Streets. The council also allocated $20,675 for the program in January, of which the organization still has $3,850 to put toward more kits.

Safe Streets reports that at least 8.8% of the kits  or approximately 308  distributed so far have been used to address overdoses through injections.

Thats probably under-reported because we know that not everyone who uses a kit is going to contact us and let us know, Safe Streets Coalition Chair Lisa Vayda said Tuesday.

The Federal Drug Administration has announced that by late summer 2023, naloxone nasal spray will be made available over the counter at pharmacies, big box stores and gas stations.

Safe Streets has said the fewer than 500 remaining kits in their inventory will not last through September. In March alone, 1,600 kits were distributed at community events  nearly twice what was expected. Another event at Lincoln and Oliver will be held in either late May or early June.

I just want to also take a moment to thank you all, Mayor Brandon Whipple told Safe Streets representatives before the vote. Youre doing more than just helping people. Youre saving people. The data speaks for itself.

City Manager Robert Layton said Safe Streets used geospatial data through the Overdose Detention Mapping Program to identify and provide outreach at overdose hotspots along the Broadway corridor and west Kellogg.

He said the city has prepared a request for proposals to put together a strategic plan on how best to use opioid settlement funds Wichita receives through the Kansas Fights Addiction Act Grant, a $340 million fund established when Kansas reached settlements with multiple major pharmaceutical companies.

We are hoping to partner with Sedgwick County in the issuance of that RFP so we can coordinate the use of our settlement funds, Layton said.

Safe Streets can by contacted by phone at 316-263-1389 and on Facebook.
A new real estate scam has come to San Luis Obispo County, with at least seven cases of fraudsters trying to sell property they dont own, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office said in a Tuesday news release.

According to the release, several law enforcement agencies have seen a sharp increase in reports of real estate fraud associated with the sale of vacant land and unencumbered property.

Scammers are posing as property owners and negotiating sales of vacant and lien-free properties through a series of impersonations, the release said.

The scam has been reported to the county multiple times since mid-April, the release said, and the District Attorneys Office is investigating.

The District Attorneys Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has notified countywide real estate associations, title companies and the county Clerk-Recorders Office.

How the scam works

The agency said scammers can identify real estate free of mortgage and other liens through public record searches. These properties often include vacant lots or rentals.

The scammer will then contact a real estate agent to list the property for sale below market value to generate interest. They will also prefer a cash buyer and quickly accept an offer.

The scammer will then refuse to sign closing documents in person and request a remote notary signing. They will then impersonate the notary and provide false documents to the title company or closing attorney.

The title company or closing attorney then transfers the profit to the scammer.

Red flags to look out for are a refusal to meet in person and only communicating electronically, the office said.

The scam is usually discovered when recording the transfer of documents with the relevant county. Property owners most affected are elderly or foreign.

The burden of verification is on the real estate and title companies, the District Attorneys Office said.

How to protect yourself

The DAs Office recommends that real estate agents conduct open-source research on the identity and photo of a potential seller.

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The agency also urges agents to request in-person or virtual meetings, and to ask for government issued identification.

Accepting an offer below market value in exchange for receiving the payment in cash and/or closing quickly should put an agent on alert.

The agency also said real estate agents should only use trusted title companies and attorneys for the exchange of closing documents and funds.

In addition, the agency encourages property owners to check their property address using a trusted real estate site such as Zillow or Multiple Listing Service to determine whether their property has been fraudulently listed for sale.

Property owners can also search for their propertys title using the clerk-recorders official record search.

The agency asks anyone who finds that their property was fraudulently listed for sale or sold to contact San Luis Obispo County DAs Office investigator Eric Vitale at 805-781-5868.
Scarlett Johansson in 2020. Emma McIntyre /VF20/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson told Variety she's excited to buy tickets to Disney's new "The Little Mermaid" live-action reboot.

The actress famously sued Disney in 2021 over its handling of the release of "Black Widow."

Johansson loves visiting Disney World, and goes at least 10 times a year, according to Variety.

Scarlett Johansson says she's stoked for Disney's new live-action remake of "The Little Mermaid" and loves visiting Disney World, even though she famously sued the studio over Marvel royalies.

In a new interview with Variety, the Oscar-nominated actress gushed about her love for all things Disney, which started when she lived in Florida for two years as a child.

"We had annual passes to Disney World, and I have a real passion for the Disney parks," Johansson told Variety. "Also, when I was growing up, it was a great time for Disney animation  'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin' and 'Lion King' with the incredible soundtrack. Like, I will be pre-buying tickets to 'The Little Mermaid.'"

Johansson famously sued Disney, one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world, in 2021 over the company's decision to release its Marvel flick "Black Widow," starring Johansson, simultaneously in theatres and on streaming.

Johansson's lawsuit  which was settled a few months later for an undisclosed amount estimated to be in the tens of millions  argued that skipping an exclusive theatrical release violated her contract and cost her millions in expected income.

But, that apparently hasn't hurt her love for Disney. The actress told Variety that despite the legal battle, "I've had such great working relationships with so many creatives [at Disney] and continue to. I believe in the magic of Disney."

And she gets plenty of that magic  Johansson still visits Disney World at least 10 times a year, according to Variety.

Read the original article on Insider
(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged the European Union to reduce its reliance on China, accusing the government in Beijing of increasingly acting as a rival and competitor rather than a partner.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speaking to EU lawmakers in Strasbourg to mark Europe Day, Scholz laid out his vision of a reformed and enlarged bloc that must speak with one voice on issues including ties with China if it wants to play a leading global role.

Our relationship with China is aptly described by the triad partner, competitor, systemic rival - although without a doubt rivalry and competition on Chinas part have increased, Scholz said. The EU is aware of this development and is reacting accordingly.

Scholz said he agreed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the 27-nation bloc should not aim for an immediate decoupling from China, but implement a smart derisking.

The EU should reach out to countries of the so-called global south and offer new partnerships and trade deals which create jobs and wealth on the ground in Africa, Asia and South America, he added. This could also help to reduce economic dependencies on China, Scholz argued.

China is Germanys most important trading partner and cutting entrenched business ties would hurt Europes largest economy.

At the same time, tensions with Beijing have increased due to Chinas increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan. Russias attack on Ukraine exposed Germanys over-reliance on Russian fossil fuels and Scholz and his government are keen to avoid a similar error with China in areas including technology and raw materials.

The EEAS, the EUs foreign affairs arm, is working on a new strategy for the bloc toward China which will be discussed by member states.

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Echoing the main points from a speech in Prague last August, Scholz called for an overhaul of EU decision-making and reiterated a proposal that majority voting should be used for decisions in areas like foreign policy and taxes, instead of a current requirement for unanimity.

The EU must keep its promises on enlargement, particularly to Western Balkan nations which have been waiting to join for around two decades, he added.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS - Getty Images

An Australian scientist says probabilities are the leading cause of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances. And hes not the only one.

Add in suspect weather, and iffy plane and boat piloting, and Karl Kruszelnicki believes theres no reason to believe in the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.

While the conspiracy of the Bermuda Triangle has existed for decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and Lloyds of London has long championed the same ideas.

Pick any one of the more than 50 ships or 20 planes that have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in the last century. Each one has a story without an ending, leading to a litany of conspiracy theories about the disappearances in the area, marked roughly by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles.

Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki, along with the United States own National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), dont subscribe to the Bermuda Triangles supernatural reputation. Both have been saying for years that theres really no Bermuda Triangle mystery. In fact, the loss and disappearance of ships and planes is a mere fact of probabilities.

There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean, NOAA wrote in 2010.

And since 2017, Kruszelnicki has been saying the same thing. He told The Independent that the sheer volume of trafficin a tricky area to navigate, no lessshows the number [of ships and planes] that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis. He says that both Lloyds of London and the U.S. Coast Guard support that idea. In fact, as The Independent notes, Lloyds of London has had this same theory since the 1970s.

NOAA says environmental considerations can explain away most of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances, highlighting the Gulf Streams tendency towards violent changes in weather, the number of islands in the Caribbean Sea offering a complicated navigation adventure, and evidence that suggests the Bermuda Triangle may cause a magnetic compass to point to true north instead of magnetic north, causing for confusion in wayfinding.

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The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea, NOAA says. Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.

Kruszelnicki has routinely garnered public attention for espousing these very thoughts on the Bermuda Triangle, first in 2017 and then again in 2022 before resurfacing once more in 2023. Throughout it all, hes stuck to the same idea: the numbers dont lie.

Even with some high-profile disappearancessuch as Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bombers lost in 1945pushing the theory into popular culture, Kruszelnicki points out that every instance contains a degree of poor weather or likely human error (or both, as in the case of Flight 19) as the true culprit.

But culture clings to Bermuda Triangle conspiracy theories. The concepts of sea monsters, aliens, and even the entirety of Atlantis dropping to the ocean floorthose are fodder for books, television, and movies. It sure does sound more exciting than poor weather and mathematical probabilities, anyway, even if the boring story holds more water.

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MANCHESTER, N.H.  In one of the most consequential weeks in Washington politics, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., headlined a town hall Monday in the key early voting state of New Hampshire, where he blasted President Joe Biden over the nation's debt and border crisis.

He fielded questions from Granite State voters for almost an hour at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, offering a mix of quips and digs among his answers in what was all but a campaign stop before he is expected to officially announce a presidential campaign on May 22 in North Charleston, South Carolina.

After Noel Licata, 18, from Tilton asked the South Carolina senator what qualities make a good role model, Scott asked how old he was.

Ok you can vote, Ill answer this question, Scott joked.

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Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks during a town hall, Monday, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Scott recently launched an exploratory committee for a 2024 GOP presidential bid, a step that comes just shy of making his campaign official.

Scott: 'The proof of my life disproves your lies'

The South Carolina senator has campaigned heavily on his background as a child of poverty and the grandson of a man who had to drop out of school to pick cotton.

He was forced out of school and had to go start picking cotton, but he lived long enough to watch his grandson pick out a seat in Congress, Scott said. The proof of my life disproves your lies.

Scott has not shied away from his future possible status as the only Black Republican candidate in the 2024 race  his ascension from poverty to becoming a U.S. Senator is proof, he argues, the American dream is still possible.

This may surprise some of yall, Im Black, Scott quipped after being asked about how the GOP can appeal to voters of color.

Related What Sen. Tim Scott does and doesn't say about race in 2024 exploratory announcement

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks during a town hall, Monday, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Scott recently launched an exploratory committee for a 2024 GOP presidential bid, a step that comes just shy of making his campaign official.

Scott takes aim at Biden over southern border

As Title 42, a Trump-era COVID policy that made it easier to expel migrants at the southern border, is set to expire and result in a migration surge, Scott pinned the crisis at the border on President Joe Biden.

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"If you dont control your back door of your house, its not your house, Scott said. If you dont control your southern border, its not your country.

When asked how he would solve the migrant crisis, Scott put it simply: keep constructing former President Donald Trumps wall at the southern border, albeit without mentioning his potential 2024 rival by name.

We have to have actual dedicated resources for building a physical impediment. Technology in of itself wont do, Scott said.

Related Pentagon to send 1,500 active-duty troops to US-Mexico border to help with surge of migrants

Clean debt ceiling increase? No thanks, Scott says

Scott has made multiple stops for months as part of his Faith in America tour and the South Carolina senator has started to build his campaign on a message of traditional conservatism  including fiscal responsibility.

I like numbers. If youre suffering from insomnia, give me a call, Ill walk you through the numbers of the budget and you will take a good nap, Scott said, touting his credentials as the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee.

And as the country nears a first-ever default as early as June 1, Scott went after Biden and congressional Democrats for their push for a clean debt ceiling increase without the spending cuts congressional Republicans have demanded.

No one thinks its a good idea, Scott said of a clean debt ceiling increase with no strings attached. We need a balanced budget.

'The luxury of shuttle diplomacy': McConnell could use ties to McCarthy and Biden to end debt fight

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks during a town hall, Monday, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Scott recently launched an exploratory committee for a 2024 GOP presidential bid, a step that comes just shy of making his campaign official.

N.H. voter: 'I'd vote for Tim Scott, but today's not the election'

New Hampshire is attempting to fend off a plan from the Democratic National Committee that stripped it of its first-in-the-nation primary status, which has become core to the states political identity. Scott sought to directly court New Hampshire voters in the state that has paved the path for multiple presidential hopefuls, even at the expense of his own home state of South Carolina, which the DNC newly crowned as the first state on its nominating calendar earlier this year.

Not gonna happen, Scott told voters on whether he would support such a move in a line that perhaps received the most applause from the crowd. They will hear this in South Carolina by the way too  I love being the first in the South but New Hampshire is staying the first-in-the-nation.

Holderness voters Peter Barach and Debra Barach, 58 and 46 respectively, said they were impressed by Scotts laid back personality and his traditional conservative campaign platform.

Im not a religious person, but I believe in faith, Peter Barach said of Scotts Faith in America Tour. Sitting down with him, listening to Tim Scott face to face goes a long way.

And Licata, who only recently turned 18 and has yet to register to vote, said Scott exemplified his own values. Licata thinks the two frontrunners in the GOP primary, Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are too inflammatory.

Id like to see somebody who can unify the nation more, Licata said, adding he is still completely undecided on a candidate. If I were to vote today, Id vote for Tim Scott, but todays not the election.

Scott promised, even before formally declaring his candidacy, that he will be in New Hampshire again, a lot.

I will be back so often that youll say, Hes back again? Scott promised.

Biden vs. Trump Big challenges, but opposite ones, as 2024 rematch begins  Poll

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., shakes hands with guest following a town hall, Monday, May 8, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Scott recently launched an exploratory committee for a 2024 GOP presidential bid, a step that comes just shy of making his campaign official.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tim Scott in N.H. said the border wall is the solution to crisis
Beijing recently designated 39 agricultural production and operation entities as eco-farms. These farms, located in 31 towns across 12 districts, cover a total area of 1,320 hectares.

Unlike traditional farms, eco-farms prioritize sustainable output while aiming to match resources, be environmentally friendly, and ensure food safety.

Eco-farms are a new business model for environmental protection and agricultural development, said an official from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. They can increase the supply of high-quality agricultural products, enhance the performance and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, reduce carbon emissions in rural areas, and promote green agricultural development, the official noted.

The 39 municipal-level eco-farms were selected through a rigorous process based on their abilities to reduce carbon emissions, efficiently use resources, protect biodiversity and the environment, and ensure food safety. These farms are subject to public supervision and random examination by an expert committee to maintain their high standards.

By 2025, Beijing plans to build around 500 municipal-level eco-farms. The city also plans to explore additional policies to support eco-friendly agriculture.
Ghostface and Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin in "Scream 6." Paramount Pictures

"Scream 6" writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick told Insider why Chad survived the sequel.

Mason Gooding's character was stabbed several times in the movie's climax.

Spoilers ahead for "Scream 6."

When "Scream 6" arrived in theaters, horror fans were thrilled to see a new Ghostface hunt the latest batch of Woodsboro survivors through New York in the 2023 sequel, as they come looking for revenge for the death of Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) in 2022's "Scream."

And although there are some incredibly gruesome kills scattered throughout the movie, Sam and Tara make it out alive, along with Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown).

However, Chad finds himself turned into a human pincushion in the film's climax when he is attacked by not one but two Ghostface killers, leading a few fans to wonder whether he was originally meant to die.

Insider recently spoke to "Scream 6" writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, who explained that they debated killing off the charismatic teen.

Vanderbilt said: "We test every character dying in our heads at a certain point in time and go back and forth on certain ones. And so, you know, we definitely had a conversation about that with Chad, with everybody."

The writer went on to say that "Scream" movies are meant to be enjoyable for audiences and killing Chad didn't fit the happy ending they were going for.

"You know, 'Scream' movies are sort of supposed to be roller coasters," said Vanderbilt. "And Tyler Gillett, one of the directors, talks about that they're meant to be secret feel-good movies at the end of the day. And we kind of felt like, you want to get off the roller coaster and you want to be smiling, not bummed and him not surviving at the end of the movie felt like a real... Chad has cheated death once again. He was supposed to die in 5 and he didn't. And he made it through this. God bless him."

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Vanderbilt's cowriter Busick said that the scene was originally more violent, and Chad was stabbed several more times, but it didn't feel believable.

"And I believe, just a little bit of trivia, that some of the stabs were cut in post because there were several more stabs," he said. But it was just too It's already stretching credibility a bit. But all the stabs you would have really called foul, I think."

"We digitally removed some of the stabbing," added Vanderbilt. "But the guys always overshoot the violence to be able to, to pull it back or dial it up and add it, which I think is super smart."

"Scream 6" is available to download and keep on video-on-demand now, and is available on DVD and Blu-ray from July 10.

Read the original article on Insider
[Source]

Philadelphia Chinatown and Seattle Chinatown-International District (CID) were listed among Americas 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2023.

On Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released this year's annual list, highlighting two Chinatowns in the U.S. that are actively fighting "large-scale development projects that demand they and other communities of color accept disproportionate harm in the name of progress for all."

The annual list, which first started in 1988, relies on nominations from the general public. The National Trust spotlights the connections between people and history and hopes to draw attention to historic places in danger of disappearance.

This year we highlight two such communitiesSeattle Chinatown-International District and Philadelphia Chinatownwhere residents, businesses, and other supporters are demanding that decision-makers center their voices, illuminating more equitable paths forward for these irreplaceable neighborhoods. More from NextShark: 108-year-old Japanese American silent film found in NY museum to be preserved

Philadelphia Chinatown annually welcomes thousands of visitors to its businesses, institutions and cultural events.

Describing the area as one of the oldest remaining active Chinatowns in the U.S., the organization noted that Philadelphia Chinatown has been a gateway and sanctuary for working class Asian immigrants since 1871.

While the community is home to more than 40 locally designated landmarks and a vibrant community of Asian American businesses and residents, the area is currently threatened by the proposed 76ers arena at 10th and Market Streets in Fashion District Philadelphia.

More from NextShark: 'Sesame Street' debuts its first Filipino muppet

The $1.3 billion-arena is being met by strong opposition from the Chinatown community, who cite concerns from limited parking and traffic congestion to gentrification, displacement and the loss of Chinese culture in the area.

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CID, which is one of the oldest Asian American neighborhoods on the West Coast, also made it to the list due to several plans for transit expansion that may impact the communitys cultural preservation.

It is reportedly the only area in the continental U.S. where Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese and African Americans settled together to build one neighborhood, according to the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.

More from NextShark: Armed man accused of threatening to kill Rep. Pramila Jayapal outside her home released from jail

The National Trust notes that advocates are fighting for a more transparent, equitable process that reflects careful decision-making and centers the voices of the CID when it comes to constructions in the neighborhood.

The full list of Americas 11 Most Endangered Places for 2023 can be read here.

More from NextShark: Suspect Arrested After High School Teacher's Nose, Teeth Damaged in Seattle Chinatown Attack
The second of two Virginia inmates who escaped about a week ago was recaptured Monday near the city where he had been jailed, officials said.

Bruce Callahan escaped from Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville on April 30, the Prince Edward County Sheriffs Office has said.

Jail officials discovered May 1 that he and another inmate, Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo, were missing. Officials have said the men are believed to have escaped at different times.

Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Va. (Google Maps)

Callahan, 44, walked onto the property of an apartment complex managed by Longwood University in Farmville around 5:30 a.m. Monday and pulled a fire alarm, the university said.

Callahan was injured, and he surrendered to university police and asked for medical help, the university told the campus in a notice Monday.

Marin-Sotelo was arrested in Mexico last week, the FBI said.

Callahan escaped through an unsecure door around 11:15 p.m. April 30, and he put a T-shirt over barbed wire when he scaled the fence, according to an affidavit associated with a federal escape charge.

The shirt was found bloodied, and Callahan was last seen wearing only blue prison shorts, Deputy U.S. Marshal Danielle Shimchick wrote in the affidavit.

Callahan had arranged for $5,000 to be paid in all to several people so someone would pick him up, Shimchick wrote.

The driver got to the jail around 12:30 a.m. May 1 and waited an hour but left without Callahan, Shimchick wrote, citing a confidential source. The court document does not name the driver.

Jail superintendent Jerry Townsend has said both inmates manipulated the locking mechanism on the rear exit door, NBC affiliate WRAL of Raleigh, North Carolina, reported.

Callahan was being held at the jail after he was indicted on fentanyl-related charges in 2021, according to court records. He has pleaded not guilty.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Jennifer Garner is showing off her wild side in an edgy new photo shoot for Allure magazine.

The former "Alias" star, 51, whose hair is normally a brunette shade, experimented with several eye-catching hair colors and styles for the pictures, which were shot by photographer Tom Schirmacher.

Jennifer Garner undergoes dramatic transformation with colorful hair looks -- see the pics (Tom Schirmacher for Allure)

Garner appeared on the magazine's cover, sporting a pinkish-blond wavy bob. She posed in a sheer Miu Miu dress, giving viewers a peek at her Miu Miu bra and briefs. The "Catch Me If You Can" star looked downright vampish in another pic that showed her wearing a bowl-cut blond wig to match her bright yellow LaQuan Smith vinyl trench coat.

Garner, who appeared to be wearing no clothing underneath her coat, topped off the look with blood-red fingernail polish, smokey eye makeup and a fabulously fierce stare.

Jennifer Garner undergoes dramatic transformation with colorful hair looks -- see the pics (Tom Schirmacher for Allure)

The mom of three continued to toy with her good-girl image by posing in a daring black off-the shoulder Michael Kors dress featuring a torso-baring cutout.

She underwent yet another dramatic hair transformation for that pic, opting for red tresses styled in a wet look.

Jennifer Garner undergoes dramatic transformation with colorful hair looks -- see the pics (Tom Schirmacher for Allure)

While speaking to Allure, Garner opened up about the surprising career path she might have pursued had she'd never made it in Hollywood.

I would have really liked being a minister, said the "Juno" star, adding, My mom thinks I still will be.

Garner told the magazine that she regularly attends church with her three kids  Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11  whom she shares with ex Ben Affleck, and that Violet teaches Sunday school.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
TipBot

Tipping workers is undeniably good, but we may officially be through the looking glass now that self-checkout machines  which replace human cashiers  prompting customers for tips at the end of transactions.

In interviews with the Wall Street Journal, confused consumers admitted to being confounded when self-checkout kiosks asked them if they wanted to tip.

"Theyre cutting labor costs by doing self-checkout," Ishita Jamar, a senior at Washington, DC's American University, told the newspaper. "So whats the point of asking for a tip? And where is it going?"

While multiple business owners who spoke with the WSJ said that these sorts of prompted tips are pooled among the humans working on staff, others  including some food labor researchers  are not as convinced.

"Just the prompt in general is a bit of emotional blackmail," Garrett Bemiller, a twentysomething public relations worker in New York City, told the paper after being caught off guard by a tip prompt at a convenience store inside Newark International Airport. He and another person who spoke to the WSJ both said that they declined to tip at these airport self-checkouts.

New Norms

Holona Ochs, a Lehigh University assistant professor who co-wrote two books on tipping, told the WSJ that federal laws that require employers to pay tips out to employees don't apply to machines, and some employers are, thusly, exploiting "the high adherence to tipping norms as a way to generate more revenue for the company."

Translation: there's no way to know for sure that a self-checkout-prompted tip is going to the actual workers and not into their bosses' pockets.

At the end of the day, it's still definitely good to tip  but it's understandable that people are nonplussed by being asked for a tip by a machine, in an uncanny valley type of way that's becoming all too familiar.

More on labor: A Shocking Number of Gig App Workers Were Murdered on the Job Last Year
Sen. Todd Young, right, talks with Professor Phil Richerme, left, about the work done inside the quantum lab inside Simon Hall at Indiana University on Monday, May 8, 2023.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young toured a physics lab at Indiana University Monday and said a recently adopted $252 billion federal piece of legislation would support research into next-generation computing and create jobs in the industries of the future.

The legislation, called the CHIPS Act, provides incentives to produce semiconductors and for research and innovation in sciences including materials, biology and quantum information.

'Where do I begin?': US Sen. Todd Young rejects Trump for 2024 presidential bid

Young, R-Ind., worked to get the legislation passed in part to prevent ceding leading-edge technology to Americas political adversaries.

Its an investment in our national security, Young said Monday in IUs science building after he had toured the quantum simulation lab that is part of the Quantum Science and Engineering Center.

The senator said the U.S. military relies on highly specialized computer chips that control radar systems, advanced fighter jets and other weapons platforms, and about 90% of those chips are being produced in Taiwan. Young said he and other congressional leaders believe research and production for those chips must be brought back to the U.S. to eliminate the nations vulnerability to having its computer chip supply chain interrupted by a pandemic or geopolitical crises.

According to the Indianapolis Star, a sister paper of The Herald-Times, the CHIPS Act passed (i)n large part due to Young's attempts to persuade his Republican colleagues to join him. The bill passed the Senate with support from every Democrat and 17 Republicans. President Joe Biden signed it into law last summer.

Strategic plan: Indiana University plans to change the first-year experience. Here's what we know.

What does the IU lab do?

Professor David Baxter, chair of the Physics Department at Indiana University, talks with Sen. Todd Young, right, and Professor Phil Richerme, left, about the work done inside the quantum lab inside Simon Hall at Indiana University on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Scientists at the lab study quantum mechanics, or the science that governs the behavior of the universe at the atomic (and smaller) length scales."

What is quantum computing?

Quantum computers are computers that consist of quantum bits, or qubits, that play a similar role to the bits in today's digital computers, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The laws of quantum mechanics allow qubits to encode exponentially more information than bits. By manipulating information stored in these qubits, scientists can quickly produce high-quality solutions to difficult problems. This means quantum computing may revolutionize our ability to solve problems that are hard to address with even the largest supercomputers.

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Why is the CHIPS Act important to IU?

The legislation provides $200 billion for research. Young said he expects academic institutions and private industry in Indiana to get some of those funds.

Phil Richerme, associate professor of physics at IU, said the industry desperately needs personnel.

We are already running out of people, he said as he stood next to some high-tech equipment that was suspending particles in a near-vacuum-environment chamber.

Richerme said the nation doesnt just need a thousand people with a doctorate in physics but also computer programmers and electrical and mechanical engineers in the private sector to take advantage of the research that's being done.

Federal help in town: FEMA opens Disaster Recovery Center in Stinesville to help storm, tornado victims

Too often, the U.S. educates and trains the best and the brightest, often from overseas, only to see many of them return to their homelands because they can get more research funding there.

David Baxter, professor of physics and chair of the physics department, said that while research dollars in the U.S. are available, they pale in comparison to what other nations are providing, which often prompts graduates to go elsewhere.

"We're having trouble competing," Baxter said.

Young acknowledged thats a problem.

Were shooting ourselves in the foot, no question, he said.

How could the CHIPS Act benefit Indiana?

Sen. Todd Young talks with Professor Phil Richerme about the work done inside the quantum lab inside Simon Hall at Indiana University on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Young said funding that will go to universities, such as IU, and to private companies, such as Samtec, will support research, which will draw private investment and create new businesses.

Multiple companies are in conversations with the state of Indiana right now about also potentially locating their manufacturing operations here in the state, Young said.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Sen. Todd Young visits Indiana University's quantum computing lab
In a Tuesday letter to Clarence Thomass friend Harlan Crow, Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee demanded the billionaire provide an itemized list of all gifts, payments, and items of value exceeding $415 given to a Supreme Court justice or a member of his or her family.

The move comes as Democrats double down on their push to force the nations High Court to adopt an ethics code, even contemplating making approval of the Courts budget, which provides for the security of the justices, conditional upon such a code being adopted.

The letter, signed by chairman Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) as well as the other Democrats on the committee, also demands Crow submit an itemized list of all real estate transactions with the justices or a member of their families and all transportation or lodging provided to them. The senators even demanded a list of all occasions when entrance to any private, members-only club was provided by Crow to the justices or any members of their families.

The requests follow a ProPublica series that described in detail Thomass personal and financial relationship with Crow. The most recent installment suggested impropriety on account of the fact Crow had paid for the tuition of Thomass grandnephew.

Mark Paoletta, an attorney and personal friend to Thomas called the story a disappointing attempting to manufacture a scandal about the justice.

Lets be clear about what is supposedly scandalous now: Justice Thomas and his wife devoted twelve years of their lives to taking in and caring for a beloved childwho was not their ownjust as Justice Thomass grandparents had done for him. They made many personal and financial sacrifices to do this. And along the way, their friends joined them in doing everything possible to give this child a future, wrote Paoletta in a statement.

Republicans have decried the new ethics push as a veiled attempt to delegitimize the court. In a letter to Senate Finance chairman Ron Wyden (D., Ore.), a group of Republican senators asserted that Justice Thomas is an honorable man who is now the subject of attacks because he refuses to compromise his principles. They also condemned Wydens April letter demanding Crow send a complete account of gifts to the Senate Finance Committee.

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We reject this manufactured ethics crisis at the Supreme Court as a ploy to further Democrats efforts to undermine public confidence and change the makeup of the court, explained the group, led by Senator Mike Lee (R., Utah). These attacks on the Supreme Court and the justices must end. They are undermining the rule of law, endangering the security of the justices and their families, and inflicting incalculable damage on our country.

Senator Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, released a statement that he will oppose the efforts of Democrats to subpoena Crow.

I believe in the integrity and honesty of the Court and that of all nine Justices. I will oppose any effort to issue a subpoena in the Finance Committee or to use other tools at the committees disposal to further efforts to undermine the independence of the Supreme Court and its individual Justices, wrote Crapo in a statement.

Taxpayers have a fundamental right to the certainty that their tax and financial information is protected, remains confidential and will not be used for political purposes, he added.

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Washington  Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pushing Republican donor and real estate magnate Harlan Crow to provide a full accounting of the gifts, trips and travel accommodations he has given to Justice Clarence Thomas and any other members of the Supreme Court.

The letter from the 11 members of the Judiciary panel, led by Chairman Dick Durbin, directs Crow to provide the committee with itemized lists of all gifts worth more than $415, real estate transactions, and transportation or lodging given to Supreme Court justices or their family members, as well as a list of the occasions when Crow provided any of the justices with entrance to any private, members-only clubs.

In addition to Crow, Senate Democrats sent letters to the entities that own Crow's private yacht, called the Michaela Rose, plane and private lakeside resort in the Adirondacks, known as Camp Topridge. The senators want the full itinerary for all travel Thomas or any other justices took on the yacht and jet, as well as a list of all guests whose trips overlapped with the justice's.

"The appearance of special access to the Justices  that is not available to all Americans  is corrosive to the legitimacy of the Court because, at minimum, it creates an appearance of undue influence that undermines the public's trust in the Court's impartiality," they wrote in the letters.

The Judiciary Committee Democrats said the information they are seeking about the gifts, travel and accommodations that Thomas received will help "clarify the scope of ethical concerns" that future legislation should confront.

"Maintaining faith in the impartiality of the federal judiciary is a necessary prerequisite for preserving the rule of law," they wrote. "In the absence of action by the Supreme Court to address shortcomings in its ethical standards and practices, Congress must act to restore faith in the Court by passing legislation that addresses those shortcomings."

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It's unlikely Crow will provide the requested information to the Judiciary panel, as his lawyer rebuffed a similar request Sen. Ron Wyden, head of the Senate Finance Committee, made in April to see whether Crow's gifts to Thomas complied with all relevant federal tax and ethics laws.

Wyden sought a detailed list of all flights Thomas took on Crow's private jets, information about the justice's trips aboard his yacht, a list of gifts valued at more than $1,000 given to Thomas since he joined the Supreme Court and details about the three Georgia properties Crow purchased from the justice and his relatives.

But Michael Bopp, Crow's lawyer, told Wyden in a letter Monday that his inquiry "appears to be a component of a broader campaign against Justice Thomas and, now, Mr. Crow, rather than an investigation that furthers a valid legislative purpose." He also claimed the committee's examination raises separation of powers concerns, given that its target is a Supreme Court justice.

"The Committee's powers to investigate are not unlimited. Indeed, the Committee must have a legitimate legislative purpose for any inquiry, and the scope of the inquiry must be reasonably related to that purpose," Bopp wrote. "Moreover, issues that implicate the separation of powers require a heightened showing. The Committee's letter meets none of those standards here."

In response to the letter from Crow's lawyer, Wyden said he plans to discuss with Finance Committee members "how best to compel answers" to his questions, including by using "any of the tools" at the committee's disposal.

"The assertion that the Finance Committee lacks a legislative basis for an investigation of the abuse of gift taxes by the wealthy is simply preposterous," Wyden said in a statement. "In fact Mr. Crow takes this position to an even more absurd level. He implies that the specter of public corruption created by his own unreported gifts to Justice Thomas somehow insulates the details of those gifts from Congressional investigation. This argument is, on its face, a joke."

Senate Democrats have turned their attention to the Supreme Court's ethics standards in response to a steady stream of revelations about Thomas' relationship with Crow. A series of reports from the news outlet ProPublica detailed the gifts, luxury travel and financial arrangements Thomas has benefited from during his 25-year friendship with Crow. The latest investigation from the news organization found that Crow paid for two years of tuition at private schools for Thomas' grandnephew, which the justice did not disclose on financial disclosure forms.

Durbin invited Chief Justice John Roberts to testify before the committee last week about the ethics guidelines that the justices follow. Roberts declined to appear and instead sent Durbin a letter that included a three-page "Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices" signed by the nine justices.

The statement, though, has not quelled Democrats' concerns about the Supreme Court, and they have warned that they could take legislative action to strengthen the ethical rules that govern the justices.

Republicans, meanwhile, have defended Thomas and instead have claimed the focus on his conduct is part of a campaign to delegitimize the Supreme Court after controversial rulings on abortion, the Second Amendment and climate change.

"We reject this manufactured 'ethics crisis' at the Supreme Court as a ploy to further Democrats' efforts to undermine public confidence and change the makeup of the court," 13 GOP senators wrote to Wyden on Monday. "It is clear to us that Democrats are simply enraged that the court is no longer acting as a super legislature to implement progressive policies. This anger has not manifested itself in baseless smears toward the justices."

The Republicans said there is "nothing wrong" with Thomas' friendship and "occasional travel" with Crow.

"These attacks on the Supreme Court and the justices must end," they wrote. "They are undermining the rule of law, endangering the security of the justices and their families, and inflicting incalculable damage on our country."

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the tangled web of revelations surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomass lack of financial disclosures gets worse and worse by the day.

Speaking with Jake Tapper for CNNs State of the Union, Mr Durbin expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts for failing to enact regulations regarding Justices disclosures.

I thought I had heard it all but more disclosures about [Justice Thomas] activity- just embarrass me, Mr Durbin said.

Last month, ProPublica revealed that Justice Thomas had received lavish and expensive vacations from GOP donor Harlan Crow over the years without disclosing them. The investigation suggested that the heaps of gifts possibly played a part in Justice Thomas decision-making as a Supreme Court Justice.

Since then, more information has come to light showing how Justice Thomas has benefitted from Mr Crows generosity. In another ProPublica report, it was revealed that Mr Crow paid thousands of dollars in tuition for Justice Thomas grand-nephew to attend boarding schools.

Yet another ProPublica report revealed that Justice Thomas mother was living in a home rent-free, paid for by Mr Crow.

The question is whether it embarrasses the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, Mr Durbin added.

Mr Durbin invited Justice Roberts to testify in front of the Judiciary Committee on the possible influence that the Justices undisclosed financial ventures could have had on rulings.

Notably, Justice Roberts declined.

The bottom line is this: Everything is on the table. Day after day, week after week, more and more disclosures about Justice Thomas  we cannot ignore them, Mr Durbin said.

Mr Durbin, as well as other Democrats, are serious about getting Justice Roberts to impose disclosure rules on the Court.

The Illinois Senator added: The thing were going to do first, obviously, is to gather the evidence, the information that we need to draw our conclusions. Im not ruling out anything.

Mr Durbins commentary comes just one week after the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing regarding the matter.
Texas billionaire and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow is seen here in 2015. Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Harlan Crow on Monday.

The letter asks Crow to list any gifts he's given to a Supreme Court justice or their family worth more than $415.

The letter follows reporting from ProPublica documenting the many vacations Crow's paid for with Justice Clarence Thomas.

On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee asked GOP megadonor Harlan Crow to document the gifts he's given to Supreme Court justices and their families over the years.

The Judiciary Committee sent its letter to Crow a week after it held a hearing on ethics reform for the Supreme Court, which Chief Justice John Roberts declined to attend. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden previously sent a similar letter to Crow in late April asking him to list any gifts he'd given to Justice Clarence Thomas, and ultimately received an "obstructive letter," according to NBC News.

In the committee's letter to Crow, it asked for him to list:

All gifts and items given to justices and their families that were worth more than $415

Real estate transactions between Crow and Supreme Court justices and their families

Any transportation or lodging that Crow provided to a justice or their family

Any times when Crow provided a justice or their family access to a "private, members-only club"

The committee hearing was spurred by a report from the investigative outlet ProPublica, which revealed that Crow paid for lavish vacations and travel on private jets and yachts with Thomas and his wife, Ginni. Further reporting from ProPublica found that Crow purchased the home Thomas' mother lives in, and previously paid for a child in Thomas' custody to attend a $6,000 per month private boarding school.

Since ProPublica's revelations, Crow has claimed he's the victim of a "political hit job."

"I think that the media, and this ProPublica group in particular, funded by leftists, has an agenda to destabilize the Court. What they've done is not truthful. It lacks integrity," Crow told the Dallas Morning News. "They've done a pretty good job in the last week or two of unfairly slamming me and more importantly than that, unfairly slamming Justice Thomas."

Read the original article on Business Insider
An investment promotion conference was held in Beijing's Haidian district on Monday with an aim to enhance cooperation between high-tech companies in the district and both domestic and international investment institutions.

The event attracted 22 international investment institutions, including the Goldman Sachs Group, Oman Investment Authority, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, as well as 14 domestic investment institutions.

Haidian district is known for its robust economy, science and education, and human resources. In 2022, its regional GDP reached 1.02 trillion yuan (US$147.44 billion). It is also the core area of both the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone and the International Science and Technology Innovation Center in Beijing, making it a major hub for modern industries and a cradle for entrepreneurs.

Data shows that Haidian district is home to 9,764 national high-tech enterprises, with the core industries of digital economy accounting for 53% of its regional GDP. It also has more than 1,000 key enterprises in the field of artificial intelligence, representing over one-sixth of the country's total. Additionally, there are 265 national-level specialized and sophisticated "little giant" firms and 51 unicorn enterprises.

Haidian district has supported the application of scientific and technological advances and encouraged universities and research institutes to establish and improve the mechanisms for applying scientific and technological achievements. The district now has 218 entrepreneurial incubation institutions with a total incubation area of over 2 million square meters.

Moreover, it has strengthened intellectual property (IP) protection by launching two IP protection centers, and the average patent approval time has been reduced from 540 days to just 54 days.

An official from Haidian said that the district will take the investment promotion conference as an opportunity to improve its business environment and expand cooperation with global investors.
(Bloomberg) -- Senator Dianne Feinstein is heading back to Washington for the first time in months as Congress approaches an imminent deadline to address the governments debt ceiling.

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Feinstein is flying from her home in San Francisco, spokesman Adam Russell said Tuesday. The California Democrat has been recovering from shingles, which has kept her from voting in the Senate since February.

News of Feinsteins return was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Feinsteins vote could allow a number of key priorities to move forward in the narrowly divided Senate.

Feinsteins prolonged absence from the Senate Judiciary Committee has prevented the confirmation of several of the Biden administrations judicial nominees and led to calls for her resignation from some fellow Democrats.

Democrats may also need Feinsteins vote to confirm Julie Su as President Joe Bidens Labor Department secretary and to the extend the governments borrowing ability as soon as next month.

Shortly after news of Feinsteins return broke, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer scheduled a vote on a judicial nominee that has been waiting since early February for a floor vote. The Senate is scheduled to be in session for parts of the next two weeks.

Schumer in a statement applauded Feinsteins return.

Im glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work, Schumer said. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, its clear shes back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California.

Feinstein, 89, announced in February that she will not seek re-election in 2024.

Story continues

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(Bloomberg) -- Senegals leading opposition politician could be disqualified from next years presidential election after a court sentenced him to a six-month suspended prison sentence after a conviction for libel.

Ousmane Sonko has been widely seen as the most prominent challenger to President Macky Sall, whose second term in office ends in 2024.

The 48-year-old former tax inspector was re-sentenced Monday for accusing Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang of embezzlement during a televised statement last year.

Senegals state prosecutor won an appeal to stiffen a previous two-month suspended prison sentence that would have allowed Sonko to participate in the February ballot. The court also ordered the leader of the Pastef-Les Patriotes opposition to pay 200 million CFA francs ($336,000) in damages.

The decision can still be appealed, his lawyer Ousseynou Fall said by phone. Ill discuss all the options with my client, he said.

Sonkos popularity has swelled since 2019 when he came third in presidential elections with just 16% of votes. Sall, 61, secured his reelection with 58% and his closest rival at the time, Idrissa Seck, with 21% of votes, has since joined his administration.

Many young Senegalese now see Sonko as the strongest rival to Sall who has argued that a constitutional amendment in 2016 allows him to run for another five-year mandate. Senegals constitution limits the presidential mandate to two consecutive terms.

Last month, more than 100 Senegalese political and civil society groups launched a joint coalition against Salls possible re-election bid, describing it as an illegal and illegitimate third term.

Meanwhile, Sonko still faces a separate case in which he is accused of raping an employee at a beauty salon in a trial that resumes on May 16. He has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated, even as his frequent court appearances have sparked violent protests.

(Updates with previous protests from penultimate paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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Ukrainian military during exercises

Its not in the Wests interests (to rush) the Ukrainians, he wrote on Twitter on May 8.

Countries supporting Ukraine should be aware that the effectiveness of actions in the coming weeks will depend on the level of preparation of the military operation and its logistical base.

Read also: Poland handed over 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, minister says

Zaryn said that it was necessary to plan actions and prepare well, while the information about pressure on Ukraine doesnt contribute to efficiency.

Starting an offensive without proper preparation could negate the Ukrainians chances to change the situation at the front, the official said.

Earlier Czech President Petr Pavel also privately warned Ukraines leadership about the dangers of a rushed counter-offensive.

Read also: Czech president gifts Zelenskyy legendary CZ 75 pistol

In recent meetings in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Pavel cautioned that Ukraine no longer had the element of surprise that aided its successful assaults on the eastern city of Kharkiv and southern region of Kherson last year.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Saying Daniel Perry is a loaded gun who could harm others when released from prison, a prosecutor urged a judge on Tuesday to sentence him to at least 25 years behind bars for the 2020 shooting death of Austin protester Garrett Foster.

Defense lawyers argued that Perry, an Army veteran with no criminal history, was not the racist that prosecutors claimed him to be and asked District Judge Clifford Brown to give Perry 10 years after a Travis County jury found him guilty of murder on April 7.

Whatever sentence Perry receives, which Brown is expected to announce at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he might serve little to no time. Gov. Greg Abbott, after facing growing calls from national conservative figures to undo the conviction, posted April 8 on Twitter that he would approve a pardon for Perry if a request was sent to him from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez said a doctor had testified Tuesday that Perry has autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. He also said that Perry has "lethal" military training.

"This man is a loaded gun ready to go off on any perceived threat that he thinks he has to address," said Gonzalez. "He will do it again. When you look at his social media he had issues with Muslims, transgender people, Black people, Black Lives Matter and protesters. I'm frightened it may lead to another situation like this."

Daniel Perry enters court Tuesday for his sentencing hearing. Judge Clifford Brown will sentence Perry, who was found guilty of murder in the 2020 shooting death of Austin protester Garrett Foster.

Defense attorney Doug O'Connell said Perry's social media posts were taken out of context, and that defense witnesses who had served with Perry in the Army had testified Tuesday that Perry wasn't a racist.

"He was a trusted brother-in-arms," said O'Connell. "We are asking you to draft a sentence that doesn't crush any hope that Daniel Perry may have that one day he can get out of prison and be with his family."

The prosecution presented a different view Tuesday by showing a cartoon meme Perry posted on Facebook that showed a woman pushing her baby girl's head under the water in a bathtub. Underneath the meme it said, "When your daughter's first crush is a little negro boy."

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Perry was working as an Uber driver in Austin when he ran a red light and turned into a Black Lives Matter march on July 25, 2020. He told police that Foster approached his car with a raised AK-47, so he shot Foster, 28, five times with a handgun.

Gonzalez said during closing arguments Tuesday that Perry instigated the incident by running a red light at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue, where he could clearly see the marchers before he drove into them.

'I am a racist': Daniel Perry's social media posts reveal racist comments, anti-protester views

Evidence unsealed after Perry was convicted showed that Perry had said on social media he was a racist.

Greg Hupp, a forensic psychologist hired by the defense, testified in court Tuesday that he had determined that Perry was autistic and had PTSD after he spent six to eight hours examining him. Perry had served in Afghanistan, stood close to a soldier who fatally shot himself and had been bullied as a child, Hupp said. People with autism and PTSD have impaired ways of seeing the world, the psychologist said.

"They tend to look at things in black and white and not a whole lot of gray," said Hupp. People with Perry's problems also have an "us against them" perspective and might feel "the world has been out to get me since I was a little boy," Hupp said.

O'Connell, referring to the meme that Perry posted showing the woman trying to drown her daughter, said there were some things Perry posted on social media that the "average person would find disgusting."

"That's just raw testosterone coming out," said Hupp, who added that he didn't think Perry hated other races.

More: Gov. Greg Abbott announces he will push to pardon Daniel Perry after murder conviction

Judge Clifford Brown speaks with the defense and prosecution Tuesday during Daniel Perry's sentencing hearing. Brown is expected to announce the sentence at 10 a.m. Wednesday,

Prosecutor Efrain De La Fuente said there was no medical record in the military of Perry being autistic, having PTSD or seeking mental help.

Perry's supervisor at Fort Hood, Kevin Wilcox, testified Tuesday that Perry was hardworking, very caring about his fellow soldiers, kept morale up and was very "happy-go-lucky" most of the time.

"His outlook was positive on most things," Wilcox said.

De La Fuente said that according to Perry's Army evaluation records, he drove around with a bumper sticker that said "F--k the commander-in-chief" and had exercised poor judgment by allowing soldiers to sleep behind a vehicle.

Another defense witness, Ronald Wilson, said he had served with Perry in the Army and that Perry had treated soldiers of all races with dignity and respect. Wilson, who is Black, said he called Perry his "brother." Perry often helped him by lending him money, Wilson said.

Lead detective: I didn't arrest Daniel Perry because self-defense was possibility

Whitney Mitchell, wife of slain protester Garrett Foster, describes in court Tuesday how difficult her life has been since he was fatally shot in downtown Austin in 2020. Foster was the primary caregiver for Mitchell, who is quadriplegic.

"He's done more for me as my brother than anyone else in my family," he said.

"Do you believe Daniel is racist?" O'Connell asked Wilson. "No," said Wilson.

A prosecutor then showed Wilson the meme that Perry had posted of the woman pushing her baby daughter's head under water.

"That doesn't offend me," said Wilson. "Why would it? The way I see it it's a joke."

Wilson also said people in the military have a different "mindset" than civilians and use memes like the one he was shown to deal with the tensions and pressures they face.

Garrett Foster shown with wife Whitney Mitchell.

Perry's mother, Rachel Perry, testified Tuesday that her son was diagnosed with autism as a child, had a speech impediment and was ostracized in his youth. She said Daniel Perry loved the military because it gave him structure.

Whitney Mitchell, Foster's wife, testified Tuesday that Foster had been her full-time caretaker and helped her in her dress designing career. Mitchell is a quadruple amputee. She said she gave up her career after Foster was killed.

"It's just too awful without him," she said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Prosecutors ask judge to sentence Daniel Perry to 25 years in prison
[Source]

"Sesame Street" has welcomed its first Filipino muppet.

TJ the muppet, created by Filipino American animation director Bobby Pontillas, was introduced in a recent episode of the iconic children's show.

During a segment the Filipino muppet shared with actor Kal Penn, Grover and Korean American muppet Ji-Young, Penn explains, "Confidence is when you believe in yourself and your abilities or in the abilities of others."

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In the scene, TJ reveals how he feels confident while learning Tagalog, the local dialect spoken by his Filipino family.

"I'm confident because I can always ask my lola for help when I don't know a word," he says.

Ji-Young, the shows first Asian American muppet, was introduced during a Thanksgiving special back in Nov. 2021.

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Pontillas, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2019 for his short film "One Small Step," shared on social media that he based TJ's appearance on his lifelong friends' kids, Max and Mateo.

TJ the muppet has brown skin, side-swiped black hair, a purple nose and wears a yellow and orange-striped hoodie.

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"I was blessed to collaborate with master puppeteer Louis Mitchell, the loveliest human on earth," Pontillas said in an Instagram post where he shared some concept art for the muppet.

He also expressed his gratitude to Sesame Workshop for giving him the opportunity to create a Filipino muppet for the show.

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Sesame Workshop's director of Talent Outreach, Inclusion, and Content Development Rosemary Espina Palacios also welcomed TJ to "Sesame Street" in her own Instagram post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rosemary Espina Palacios (@rosemvpmary)

Im so proud to help bring some Filipino representation to the neighborhood, and just in time for [Asian American and Pacific Islander] Heritage Month to show the range in our diaspora. His first segment with @kalpenn and Ji-Young is all about confidence, something I personally feel can help unravel the model minority stereotype.

Palacios also thanked puppeteer and voice actor Yinan Shintu for bringing TJ to life and the "Sesame Street" team for making the new muppet possible.
[Source]

Progressives in San Francisco recently shut down an attempt by a former Obama administration staffer to form a liberal club.

Cyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant and member of the LGBTQ+ community who worked as a diplomat in the foreign service, faced heavy opposition from the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) over her proposal for a club called the Westside Family Democratic Club, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

Wangs club aims to push for several advocacies, including public school improvements, better public transportation, increased housing availability and cleaner streets.

During the committee meeting, the club's supporters were questioned about their income levels, racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and voting patterns, particularly with regard to the school board recall. Wang's club was also accused of being racist and secretly funded by Republican groups.

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"@SFDemocrats refused to charter our new @WestsideFamilyD club at its last meeting. Despite being lifelong Democratic activists, we were accused of being DINOs and pro-segregation, & taking Republican money, among other wild and false allegations," Wang wrote in a Twitter post on Saturday.

@SFDemocrats refused to charter our new @WestsideFamilyD club at its last meeting. Despite being lifelong Democratic activists, we were accused of being DINOs and pro-segregation, & taking Republican money, among other wild and false allegations. https://t.co/mFankXm4TF  Cyn Wang  (@cynyurita) May 6, 2023

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Parag Gupta, one of the founders of the club, told the DCCC during the session: 'Were just starting out. We seek to be an inclusive club, and we seek to be representative of all demographics, genders, races and inclusive of all families. If someone considers themselves a family, we consider them a family."

While DCCC chairperson Honey Mahogany acknowledged that Wangs group had met all the necessary criteria to be chartered, the DCCC ultimately managed to generate enough votes to temporarily keep the club from forming.

"Its that 'You cant sit with us' mentality that makes me very uncomfortable with the state of San Francisco politics. Its very: 'Youre not even allowed in.' Its very Mean Girls," Janice Li, a DCCC member, said.

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DCCC reportedly banned the club due to the inclusion of the word "family" in its name and Wang's support for a recall of a school board that some saw as being overly "woke."

The word family is not a right-wing dog whistle. SF is the most childless major city in the US. Groups like ours want to help register Democrats, improve public schools, promote safe, clean streets, transit, parks, & more housing - so families feel they can thrive here.  Cyn Wang  (@cynyurita) May 6, 2023 More from NextShark: 3 suspects accused of targeting up to 20 Asian Americans in New York burglary ring are arrested

According to Mahogany, there will be another charter vote set up soon.

Wang, who describes members of her group as "lifelong Democratic activists, pushed back against the criticisms in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Those allegations could not be more false," she said. "Fighting systemic racism is one reason Im involved in local Democratic politics. To me, it lifted the veil on how narrow of a definition they have of what being a Democrat means."

Despite the setback, Wang shared in a recent Twitter post that her group intends to continue trying to get chartered.
Green Bay Preble High School stadium

GREEN BAY  Many parents kept their children home from school Tuesday after the Green Bay School District on Monday night received social media threats of a school shooting at both Edison Middle and Preble High schools.

Increased security and police presence will continue at Preble on Wednesday as police investigate the source of the threat, according to a Green Bay Police Department update Tuesday afternoon.

The department increased security at both schools on Tuesday, but some parents across the district took to social media, saying they're keeping their child home from school because of the threats.

Edison Middle School had 631 absences called in Tuesday, over half of the school's student population, Interim Superintendent Vicki Bayer said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Preble had 150 absence calls which is five times what the school sees on a typical day.

"Students don't seem to understand the severity of this," Bayer said. "We had major disruption in our district today because of this."

An individual posted on Snapchat threatening a school shooting at Edison during Tuesday's fifth hour classes. The Green Bay Police Department learned of the threat around 7 p.m. Monday, and a few hours later, they identified the person as a juvenile student in the district. Police determined the threats were not credible, according to a district email sent to parents.

Charges are being referred to the Brown County District Attorneys Office, including terroristic threats and unauthorized use of computerized communication system charges, according to Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis.

More: 11 schools are slated to close in Green Bay. Here's how the GBAPS task force chose them.

Criminal charges in the Edison case are a more appropriate course of action than solely a school-based punishment for the student, according to Davis.

"Just because a case goes into the criminal system doesn't mean what accountability looks like at the end of that process doesn't also involve help if there is an underlying (mental health) issue that we can help with," he said. "But I'm not saying that's the case with this specific threat."

Story continues

The student responsible will also move to an expulsion hearing, Bayer said.

"We have very serious consequences. The likelihood of them returning to our school is very low," she said.

As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, police had not identified the person behind the Preble threat, according to Davis. Police first learned of the Preble threat around 10:15 p.m. Monday.

"We take all threats very seriously and when an incident like this occurs, we work closely with the Green Bay Area Public School District to ensure the safety of students and staff," Lt. Keith Gering of the Green Bay Police Department said in a media statement. "This morning, students were welcomed into Edison Middle School and Preble High School like any other day, but with the situation at hand, we are staffing each location with additional officers throughout the day.

The police department provided additional security and police presence at both schools Tuesday. Davis said the department will reevaluate the situation to see if it's needed throughout the rest of the week.

The police department is encouraging anyone with additional information to call Green Bay Police at 920-448-3200 and reference case #23-224230 for Edison Middle School and #23-224262 for Preble High School.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime stoppers at (920) 432-STOP (7867). Tips can also be submitted online at www.432stop.com or use the "P3 Tips" app for crime tips.

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Preble shooting threat investigation continues with increased security
One could argue, and rightfully so, that the 90s was an era full of Black pride as represented in culture, particularly in music, television, and film.

From the anthems of R&B groups to the display of Black excellence on the big and small screen, there was no shortage of inspiration from fine art. One of the common themes, especially in television and film, was the consistent examples of Black creatives and executives.

The New York-centered sitcom Living Single is an example of a group of Black 20-something women and how they navigated the hustle of dreaming big until they tapped into the success of reaching that dream. Entrepreneurship and success were always at the center, and there was iconic representation for those who aspired for the same.

While there are several examples of Black women entrepreneurs throughout history, the depiction of such figures in pop culture has influenced many since the 90s. According to a Forbes report, Black-owned businesses rose during that decade, only dipping during the 2008 recession. Now, those businesses have increased again, with Black women at the forefront of that growth.

Although characters such as Khadijah James from Living Single were fictional, she represented a foretelling of successful Black women to come, one of them being Pinky Cole.

Cole is a Baltimore, MD, native whose success story started in her former apartment. It was there that she began selling her renowned vegan burgers in 2018. Although she nearly lost all she built in a fire, through hard work and determination, the restauranteur has become somewhat of a household name, continuing to level up in her business endeavors and sharing her expertise along the way.

Veg World Magazine, Cole is also opening a Dallas, TX, location in Summer 2023. Whats more, the success of her restaurants led to a $100 million valuation in 2022 after a Series A funding round.

In addition to her Slutty Vegan empire, the 35-year-old owns Bar Vegan, a sleek restaurant in Atlanta, GAs Ponce City Market, offering an array of vegan dishes and good vibes.

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With so much success in the restaurant business, Cole has been dedicated to sharing her knowledge and perspectives, hoping to inspire others along the way. A previous AfroTech report noted that Cole gave Clark Atlanta Universitys Class of 2022 LLCs to go and officially establish their businesses.

Now, she is ready to shake up the business world with another innovative idea to directly inspire and motivate emerging entrepreneurs in a unique and more personal way.

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Humza Yousaf at a Big Help Out event in Dundee on Monday. His party wants an independent Scotland to join the EU - GETTY IMAGES

The SNP would "undo Brexit as far as possible" if the next general election results in a hung Parliament, the party has said.

Results from last week's local elections in England suggested that if the same voting pattern was followed at a general election, no party would have an overall majority.

Labour - who lead the Tories by more than 20 points in some opinion polls - could fall short of a majority and seek to form a coalition government.

On Tuesday, the SNP's EU Accession spokesperson, Alyn Smyth, said his party would demand the UK has a close relationship with Brussels in any negotiations with a minority Labour government.

Mr Smyth said ahead of seeking to row back on Brexit, the SNP's key demands for the relationship between the UK and the EU would be to secure single market membership and restore free movement.

The SNP is one of the only major parties to support rejoining the EU, as Labour has ruled out any Brexit reversal. The Liberal Democrats have officially dropped calls for a rerun of the EU referendum, though The Telegraph reported on Sunday that Ed Davey's party may demand a second vote as the price of joining a coalition.

Mr Smith said: "Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK - costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis - and there's been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.

"While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.

"With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe."

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He added: "The SNP would also push for the UK to rejoin Erasmus and Horizon Europe, and defend the European Court of Justice, while ensuring Scotland has the power to escape Brexit entirely with independence.

"At the next election, voting SNP is the only way to beat the Tories in Scotland - and a strong team of SNP MPs can get the best deal for Scotland, including powers over an independence referendum, a close relationship with Europe and making the cost of living crisis a key priority."

The vast majority of Scots believe the Tory Government is handling Brexit badly, according the latest YouGov poll on May 1  84 per cent of Scots and 67 per cent of people across the UK think this.

Only 9 per cent of Scots and 22 per cent of people across the UK told pollsters they believe the Government is handling Brexit well.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
The South Bend ethanol plant has a new owner with plans to invest $230 million in the operation on the southwest side of the city.

SOUTH BEND  City officials on Monday moved to grant large tax breaks to the new owner of the ethanol plant on the southwest side, setting the stage for more than $230 million of private investment.

The South Bend Common Council passed resolutions supporting two tax abatements that would waive an estimated $16.5 million in property taxes over the next eight years for Verbio North American Holdings Corp., the company that bought the facility last week. Verbio said it will retain 61 jobs and create eight new positions at the plant as part of its $232.5 million plans to expand and produce ethanol as well as renewable natural gas.

More: Germany's Verbio buys South Bend ethanol plant and plans $230 million upgrade

The council will take a final vote on the tax abatements at its May 22 meeting. Council members on Monday voted unanimously in favor of the plan.

Verbio would still pay roughly $6.3 million in taxes over the eight-year abatement period, according to the petitions. But under the plan, more than 70% of taxes would be waived.

Verbio CEO Greg Northrup said the city's tax abatement is crucial to the company's goal to produce 85 million gallons of corn ethanol and 2.8 billion cubic feet of renewable natural gas per year. The company would also make fertilizer for use in agriculture.

Verbio CEO Greg Northrup

"We've spent about the last six months of due diligence looking at this site," Northrup said. "I can tell you that some days it was, 'Should we buy it?' Some days it was, 'I don't think so. It's a high-risk proposition.'"

Northrup alluded to a fraught two-year period in which the plant at 3201 W. Calvert St. was shuttered after a previous owner went bankrupt in 2012. Then the firm Noble Americas bought the plant, saving it from impending demolition.

In 2018, Mercuria Investments purchased the facility and spent $30 million to boost its production and efficiency. Verbio, a German company, took over ownership from Mercuria last week.

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Most of Verbio's investment will be spent to build 16 massive storage tanks, 10 buildings and new equipment to upgrade methane gas to "pipeline-quality natural gas."

"We believe, because of our technical skillsets and our capabilities, that we can turn this around," Northrup said, "and that we can make this plant a wonderful example of what the next phase of ethanol production will look like."

Tax abatements: In March, South Bend spurs $21 million in private investment with support for tax breaks

There are nearly 200 ethanol plants in the U.S., Northrup said, most of which produce the fuel and use the residue as feed for farm animals. But over the last decade, Verbio, a German-based company, has developed technology that converts the waste into renewable natural gas.

Northrup said the South Bend facility would be the first in Indiana to employ the conversion process and Verbio's second plant in the U.S., alongside its facility in Nevada, Iowa.

If the abatement passes, construction would begin later this year and advance over three years.

The 1,000-employee company has been active for nearly 25 years, Northrup said.

The eight new full-time employees and the 61 employees retained would earn about $100,000 salaries, according to Northrup.

Alyson Herzig, director of economic development for the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce

Alyson Herzig, director of economic development for the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, told the council that Verbio's investment will have an estimated $351 million impact in the regional construction industry over three years.

Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend supports Verbio ethanol, natural gas plant with tax breaks
South Fulton police confirmed one of their officers was shot at a gun range.

The accidental shooting happened David L. Hagins Firing Range in College Park.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police tell Channel 2 Action News that the officer accidentally shot himself in the leg as he was trying to holster his gun.

The officer is being transported for medical care. Police said the officer was at the range for a yearly Georgia P.O.S.T mandated course.

We are gathering new information for Channel 2 Action News starting at 4:00 p.m.

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IN OTHER NEWS
The Tender Bar author J.R. Moehringer, who spent two years ghostwriting Spare with Prince Harry, thought he had royally screwed up  and revealed in a New Yorker essay published Monday that he screamed at Harry during a particularly intense Zoom call.

I was exasperated with Prince Harry, wrote Moehringer. My head was pounding, my jaw was clenched, and I was starting to raise my voice. And yet some part of me was still able to step outside the situation and think, This is so weird. Im shouting at Prince Harry.

Then, as Harry started going back at me, as his cheeks flushed and his eyes narrowed, a more pressing thought occurred: Whoa, it could all end right here, he continued.

The 2 a.m. argument last summer concerned a book passage about Harrys military training, describing how fellow personnel posing as insurgents beat him and berated him with obscenities about his mother, the late Princess Diana. Harry served in the British Army for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan.

Its a simulation, but the tortures inflicted upon Harry are very real, wrote Moehringer. Hes hooded, dragged to an underground bunker, beaten, frozen, starved, stripped, forced into excruciating stress positions by captors wearing black balaclavas.

The idea is to find out if Harry has the toughness to survive an actual capture on the battlefield  At last, Harrys captors throw him against a wall, choke him, and scream insults into his face, culminating in a vile dig at  Princess Diana? Moehringer continued.

Harry notably attended the coronation of his father, King Charles III, despite his royal exit.

Harry notably attended the coronation of his father, King Charles III, despite his royal exit.

The Duke of Sussex was adamant about ending the story with a comeback he muttered at his captors, to show readers he still had his wits about him. Moehringer said he found this unnecessary, and somewhat inane and the disagreement devolved into screaming.

Moehringer, who also wrote Nike co-founder Phil Knights memoir, recalled arguing that Harry didnt need a comeback because memoirs consist of a particular series of events chosen because they have the greatest resonance for the widest range of people.

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Harry ultimately relented  but not before cheekily breaking the tension.

He shot me a mischievous grin. I really enjoy getting you worked up like that, Moehringer recalled the prince saying. I burst into laughter and shook my head, and we moved on to his next set of edits.

Spare went on to become the fastest-selling nonfiction book in history after moving 1.43 million units in one day. It was enshrined in the Guinness Book of World Records, dethroning former President Barack Obamas A Promised Land.

The book contained numerous bombshells, including Harrys childhood belief that his mother had faked her own death. Harry, who famously stepped away from the royal family with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020, attended his father King Charles IIIs coronation nonetheless.

Related...
Spartanburg County continues to make strides in tackling roadside litter, but as long as people litter, the more time it will take to get rid of it, county administrators say.

"We've been talking about litter in the county (for more than 30 years)," said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, who was elected to the council in 1991. "We have tried unsuccessfully, but that doesn't mean we should stop."

The litter issue was raised at the April County Council meeting by Boiling Springs resident Larry Bates. Also, April was "Zero Tolerance for Litter Month" in South Carolina.

Last year, Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful teamed up with 2,480 volunteers for a total of 8,873 hours of roadside litter pickup.

Bates said during his twice weekly jogs, he stops to pick up litter  mostly fast-food, soda and beer containers along Boiling Springs area roads.

He said each week, the problem returns nearly as soon as the litter is removed.

"Every time I come to this meeting, I hear all about finances, the budget, how many people are moving here and businesses here, and it's growing by leaps and bounds," he said. "With those growing pains, there's more litter."

Boiling Springs resident Larry Bates picks up roadside litter with a grab stick and kitchen trash bag. He says litter trashes Spartanburg County.

Along interstates, he said there have been times when the S.C. Department of Transportation mows grass before the litter is picked up.

"Would you mow your yard if there's garbage in there and then you've got to pick up 10,000 more pieces of garbage and it's flying everywhere?" he said.

Britt said he's seen the same issue.

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt: Litter trashes everyone

"It disturbs me to no end to ride down the interstate and see those big mowers, or the county roads and see the big mowers running over trash and just scatter litter everywhere," Britt said.

South Carolina Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelly Moore said the DOT has mowing crews that coordinate with litter pickup contractors "so that litter is picked up before mowing begins" along interstates.

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, responding to complaints of litter and graffiti by a Boiling Springs resident, said the county should continue to play an active role to keep the roadways clean.

"We also have crews that work along primary and secondary state roads," Moore said. "They particularly focus on areas that have more litter issues and rotate through those routes on a quarterly or monthly basis depending on need.

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"In addition, we recently started a program with Spartanburg County Environmental to add additional crews to pick up litter on primary and secondary roads. We are seeing a positive impact on reducing litter in the area."

The "Zero Tolerance for Litter" campaign was created in 1999 by the statewide law enforcement agencies and PalmettoPride. The campaign's mission is to increase awareness of litter laws and remind people that littering and illegal dumping are crimes.

Spartanburg County litter crew expands 'Drowning' in roadside trash, Spartanburg County approves adding more full-time litter crew

Spartanburg County's Jamie Nelson: Litter stops when litterbugs stop

Jamie Nelson, director of the county's Environmental Enforcement, said littering will only be solved when people stop littering.

"Overall, I think it's getting better," he said. "Litter will always be around. The question is, what can local governments and the state do to solve that issue."

Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Director Jamie Nelson updates County Council on litter control efforts.

Nelson and his officers can issue fines if they track down a litterbug.

Just recently, a Travelers Rest man was arrested after more than 1,000 tires weighing a total of 17 tons were dumped illegally in Spartanburg County. Terry Scott Owens Jr. was charged with five counts of littering exceeding 500 pounds.

"Litter is a crime, and we need to address it," Nelson said. "It could be as simple as a cigarette butt, or someone dumping 2,500 tires."

Meanwhile, the county has a roadside litter crew that goes to the most problematic areas throughout the county, he said.

Roadside litter along Harmon Drive.

"There are still issues on roads leading to convenience centers and the landfill," Nelson said. "Either individuals don't secure their loads, or they illegally dump somewhere else."

Nelson said last year 2,480 volunteers spent a total of 8,873 hours picking up nearly 15,000 pounds of litter. In addition, 14,200 pounds of recyclable material was collected, he said.

So far in April, he said his department has issued 29 citations and eight warnings for littering. He urges residents to contact law enforcement if they see anyone littering.

KeepOneSpartanburg Beautiful tackles 25,000 pounds of litter

Claire Roussos, the coordinator for the county's Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful, said there have been 42 organized cleanups so far this year in the county, resulting in 25,000 pounds of litter picked up.

"It always helps our volunteer turnout when town leaders are involved in these cleanup efforts," she said. "We had a great reception in Cowpens and Pacolet by their town administrators. Students are also active in supporting our cleanup efforts.

Claire Roussos is the coordinator of Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful (KOSB), said reducing roadside litter is a difficult challenge but can be achieved when residents see active groups taking pride in their community.

"Unfortunately, the major roadways are always a challenge and they happen to be the highly visible areas that people notice litter on," she said. "Lots of window litter by passing vehicles. We also see roads that are cut-throughs that aren't monitored by residents or businesses, so they are prime for folks dumping entire bags of household trash or unwanted furniture like mattresses."

City of Spartanburg: Litter volumes remain steady

Last year, the city's litter crew picked up 2,114 bags of roadside litter, amounting to 25,360 pounds, city spokesman Christopher George said.

"We're seeing roughly the same kind of volume so far this year," George said. "Typically, our most problematic areas for litter are where we've found large groups of individuals experiencing homelessness who are camping."

George said city neighborhood associations have been actively reporting litter problems and organizing pickup events.

"We've got great engagement from our residents around the litter issue," he said.

Like Bates and Nelson, Roussos said it seems as if the problem returns nearly as soon as it is addressed.

"We are seeing about the same amount of litter, but we know these behavior changes take time," she said. "It's also a perception thing. When you see active groups cleaning up and taking pride in their community, it helps support that positive behavior of not littering."

She said the most commonly littered items include fast-food and beverage containers and cigarette butts.

"Probably the strangest item was a coconut we found in Saxon," she said.

Quick tips to avoid littering:

 Everyone can secure their vehicles' loads, preventing any items from coming out and becoming roadside litter.

 Everyone can place their waste in the proper receptacle or location.

 Remember illegal dumping is not allowed on private or public lands or in our waterways.

 Remember our private properties are not sanitary landfills.

 Source: Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement Department

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Litter remains a problem in Spartanburg County, despite 'Zero' goal
For the second straight year, a bill to split up the state Department of Health and Environmental Control has hit a possible snag in the state House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to reject the Senates plan for breaking up the agency. The committee instead approved its own plan, which was proposed in an amendment by state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

Cobb-Hunter complained that the Senate last week sent to the House a detailed plan with just days left before this years regular legislative session ends on Thursday.

The Senate sent over a bill thats 119 pages. I dont know what they expected the House to do, Cobb-Hunter said during the Ways and Means Committee meeting. We tackled this issue last year and thought the Senate would do their due diligence and not try to cram something down our throats at the 11th hour and 59th minute. But alas, here we are.

Last year, an effort to break up DHEC fell apart in the final week of the legislative session because of concerns over how the new public health department would be structured. This years last-minute snag raises questions about whether legislation splitting the agency will pass this year.

Formed in the 1970s, DHEC for the first time combined the states pollution control agency with the state health department. It has become one of South Carolinas largest agencies, employing more than 3,500 full-time workers, according to previous reporting by The State Media Co. The department does everything from restaurant inspections to running county health departments to monitoring shellfish beds.

We dont need to rush into it, and if we are doing this under the guise of efficiency and more convenience for the taxpayers, then we really need to be careful in what we do and how we do it, Cobb-Hunter said.

Similar to the Senates bill, the House would create a Department of Public Health and a Department of Environmental Services. Both would be headed directors appointed by the governor.

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Like the Senates, the House bill would preserve automatic stay, which temporarily stops work on construction when a government-issued environmental permit is being challenged.

The Senates proposal included a detailed plan for a new environmental agency, but senators called for the state Department of Administration to propose how the health agency would be structured. The Ways and Means Committee plan calls for the Department of Administration to propose detailed plans for both agencies, including how water resources would be managed.

Bill Stangler, riverkeeper for the Saluda, Broad and Congaree and who serves on Broad River Basin Council, said he doesnt want the DNRs state water planning, which includes formulating and establishing a comprehensive water resources policy, to get derailed in the process. He said hes now seeing a lot of progress.

Cobb-Hunter shares Stanglers concern about moving carefully and making sure the right voices are heard.

Water is a resource that all of us care about regardless of what we do, Cobb-Hunter said. We just want to make sure that were doing it based on the best interests of the state and the people of this state and that we are protecting our waterways and our water resources.

State Rep. J. David Weeks, D-Sumter, shared reservations about how quickly the process was moving.

Im concerned about us ending up with two agencies that dont function very well, when we have one that does OK, Weeks said during the committee meeting.

Environmentalists largely said its too soon to know whether legislation splitting up DHEC will be passed this year.

Upstate Forevers Megan Chase-Muller said the nonprofit would support any move that makes the Senate plan mirror the House version more closely. She said if the legislation isnt passed this year, she expects it will be next year.

Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, whos been steering the Senates bill, said he expects the bill will head to a conference committee, where both chambers will negotiate the final outcome.

The bill could be voted on Thursday or the following week when the Legislature is called back to session by the governor.

However, even so, the bill outlines that it would not become law until July 2024.

Joe Bustos, state government and politics reporter at The State, contributed to this report.
By Uditha Jayasinghe

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has given the green light to a bill seeking to decriminalise homosexuality, the speaker of parliament said on Tuesday, in a move hailed as a "historic development" by campaigners.

LGBTQ+ rights activists in Sri Lanka have been campaigning for years to change the law in a country where homosexuality is still punishable by a prison sentence and a fine, leading to the private member's bill presented in parliament last month.

The Supreme Court, after hearing more than a dozen petitions on both sides of the argument, ruled it was not unconstitutional, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

The Supreme Court is of the opinion that the bill as a whole or as any provision thereof is not inconsistent with the constitution, the speaker told parliament.

The decision is seen as a "historic development that has created hope towards real change", said Kaveesha Coswatte attorney-at-law and advocacy officer for iProbono in Sri Lanka, which supported many of the petitions backing the bill.

Activists will still have to lobby for support from the 225 parliamentarians to push forward the proposed legislation through parliament.

Neither the government nor the opposition have made any comment on whether they support the bill, proposed for consideration by an individual member of parliament, so the next steps for it to eventually become legislation, or not, are not yet clear.

"But the door is finally open. This Supreme Court decision is major for the community in terms of any kind of progress they have seen over the last couple of years," Coswatte added.

(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Editing by Alison Williams)
A Louisville hunter stands accused of bringing a severed deer head that tested positive for a deadly disease into Kentucky and is now being sued over it, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.

The state agency said in a news release it had filed a civil lawsuit against Nicholas Behringer, 47, of Louisville. Behringer could not be immediately reached for comment Monday afternoon.

The agency said the hunter illegally imported the deer head from Wisconsin and paid a $50 fine plus court costs in Shelby County District Court Jan. 3. Behringer, the agency stated, admitted to the violation, specifically state regulation 301 KAR 2:095. The head later tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

According to the agency, this is the first time it has sued a hunter accused of importing a diseased deer carcass into the state. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says no deer or elk in the state has ever tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease fatal in animals.

Over the past two decades, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has tested more than 40,000 deer and elk in Kentucky for CWD as part of its efforts to prevent the spread and introduction of this disease into the commonwealth, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Rich Storm stated in the news release published Monday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been no cases of chronic wasting disease reported in humans. Still, some studies suggest its harmful to certain primates, like monkeys, that eat infected meat or come into contact with the brain or body fluids of positive deer or elk.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife alleges the severed deer head came from Wisconsin, which documented its first case of the disease more than 20 years ago. It still contained the animals lymph nodes, spinal column and brain tissue, which are places the disease can occur, the agency said. It is legal for hunters to bring de-boned meat, antlers, cleaned skull caps and the hides of deer from other states, but these high-risk tissues must be removed.

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Agency personnel later incinerated the head to safely dispose of it. At this time, theres no risk to Kentuckys deer and elk population as the head was frozen when it was inspected and the deers carcass was not disposed of in the state, the agency said.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife lodged a complaint against Behringer April 26 in Franklin County District Court seeking $1,900 in damages. The agency stated the hunter checked his 8-point buck in accordance with Wisconsins regulations.

He then brought the infected deer head into Kentucky to be taxidermied, the agency alleges.

Conservation officers followed up on information it received about the deer head and discovered it still contained high-risk tissues.

According to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, chronic wasting disease can be introduced into the environment if it comes into contact with infected tissues, such as discarding the tissues on or in the soil.

After it was first observed in a mule deer at a Colorado research facility in 1967, chronic wasting disease has since spread to 30 states and four Canadian provinces. It is fatal in white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, caribou and moose.

The disease has been documented in every surrounding state except Indiana, Wildlife Division Director Ben Robinson said in the agencys news release, so we want to keep it from spreading to Kentuckys deer and elk herds.
COVENTRY  Two Rhode Island men were charged Thursday in the 2022 death of a pregnant Massachusetts woman whose body was found under ice at Carbuncle Pond last year.

Both the 35-year-old father of the Brockton woman's unborn baby, Gary R. Gromkiewicz, of Lincoln, and one of his associates, 46-year-old Michael P. Lambert, were arrested on Tuesday, according to Rhode Island State Police Detective Maj. Kenneth M. Moriarty.

Both men are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of 34-year-year Leila Patricia Duarte Da Luz, Moriarty said.

More: Angler finds woman's body in Coventry pond

An area of Carbuncle Pond became a crime scene in December when a woman's body was found beneath ice.

Gromkiewicz was held Tuesday following his arrest and his appearance was expected Wednesday in District Court, Warwick. Gromkiewicz has been on probation for committing felony assault with a deadly weapon in 2015, Moriarty said.

At the time of Da Luz's death, Lambert, whose last known address was in Pawtucket, was serving parole for a 1990s murder conviction, Moriarty said.

Lambert was held on a parole violation at the Adult Correctional Institutions on Tuesday, Moriarty said.

Lambert was previously convicted in grisly murder

Lambert was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1996 in the slaying of a 45-year-old homeless man, Sylvester R. Gardiner.

Gardiner was murdered on Thanksgiving Day 1994 under an on-ramp to the Interstate 95 interchange near what was, at the time, the Providence Civic Center, now the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Lambert, then 17, was arrested within a day of the killing. He blamed a co-defendant, William Page, for the slaying, according to a statement attributed to Page and reported by The Providence Journal.

Page was convicted of first-degree murder.

When the two men initially encountered Gardiner, Page had pointed a BB pistol at Gardiner and told Lambert to get a rope, according to The Journal's report.

Lambert, the report says, found a length of window-sash cord and Page tied it around Gardiner's neck. It appeared Gardiner had been stabbed 40 to 50 times, the report says.

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A prosecutor said Lambert's fingerprints were on the handle of an ice chopper found at the scene of the killing and Page's fingerprints were on an ax handle protruding from the victim's skull, says the news report. At trial, prosecutors introduced evidence that both men tortured the victim.

Gardiner was the oldest of East Greenwich Town Clerk Avis B. Gardiner's four sons, and police said he had resisted the family's efforts to provide assistance.

Both Lambert and Page were charged with first-degree murder. The eventual verdict against Lambert, guilty for second-degree murder, was rendered by a jury, a court record says.

Superior Court Robert Krause sentenced Lambert to life imprisonment. Lambert's chance for parole remained intact.

Page was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance for parole.

Krause called Gardiner's murder "the most atrocious, barbaric killing imaginable," according to a court record.

Da Luz identified through missing persons report

A fisherman discovered Da Luz's body underneath ice and near a fishing dock on the morning of Dec. 21.

Carbuncle Pond is in the Nicholas Farm Management Area administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

State police at the time classified the death as suspicious.

Rhode Island State Police seal

They identified Da Luz as the victim on Dec. 27 when a missing persons report was filed with the Brockton Police Department, Moriarty said. Da Luz, he said, had lacerations on her face, and an autopsy determined she was the victim of a homicide.

Detectives, he said, obtained 53 search warrants during their investigation of the woman's death.

Information from those searches, as well as from numerous witnesses, established the framework that detectives assembled prior to the arrests on Tuesday, according to Moriarty.

State police Col. Darnell S. Weaver extended condolences to Da Luz's loved ones and commended troopers for their hard work.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Two RI men arrested in death of woman found in Carbuncle Pond
The mother of Stephen Smith, whose death on a lonely Hampton County road was ruled a homicide more than seven years after the case was closed, joined calls for criminal justice reform in South Carolina at a State House rally Tuesday.

Sandy Smith honored her son, who she remembered as smart, kind and generous, and joined seven other speakers in calling for more protections for victims in South Carolinas judicial system.

Its a new chapter were starting, Smith said. For eight years we have been fighting for Stephen to get the answers in his case. I dont know how to fix the problems that led to my sons murder being mishandled from the beginning, but I do know that I am thankful to have so many wonderful people helping me to get justice for Stephen.

A crowd gathered in front of the State House on a spring day to rally for the rights of victims. Among the speakers were lawmakers, advocates and the victims parents. As the legislative session enters its last week, they called for support for a broad range of bills and initiatives intended to fill holes in South Carolinas judicial system.

Among the bills is a proposed law that would make sexual extortion a crime punishable by 30 years in prison, a law that would allow victims of a crime to break a lease and relocate without financial penalty and a law that would increase confidentiality protections for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

People think these issues are isolated silos, but its all connected, said Sarah Ford, the legal director at the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network.

I dont want what happened to me to happen to any other family, said state Rep. Brandon Guffie, R-York, who introduced legislation to criminalize sexual extortion after his son Gavin died by suicide after a scammer threatened to release nude pictures that hed sent.

Rep. Joe White, R-Newberry, called for changes to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which screens candidates for judgeships before they are voted on by the General Assembly.

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Were the only state in America that elects judges this way, which tells us that we arent doing it right, White said.

The election of judges has drawn fresh scrutiny since the release of Jeriod Price, a convicted murderer released 19 years into his 35-year sentence following a secret deal between prosecutors and his attorney in a judges chambers.

Many of the speakers expressed frustration with the many obstacles that continue to impede the victims of crimes despite strong laws intended to protect victims.

South Carolina has some of the best laws in the nation for crime victims, yet every day we hear from victims whose cases have gone awry. Something has gone wrong with their system, said Veronica Swain Kunz, the South Carolina Crime Victim Ombudsman, whose office acts as a liaison between victims and the criminal justice system. She urged victims who believed that they werent being served by the criminal justice system to contact her office.

Karl Stoller, whose daughter died by suicide after alleging that she was raped by Bowen Turner, expressed his rage at how well-connected defendants are treated differently in South Carolinas close knit judicial system.

I watched the good ol boy start its engines and work its magic, Stoller said. I watched a system... aid in destroying our childs life.

The charge against Turner in the Dallas Stoller case was dropped after her death. Turner later received five years probation after being charged with sexually assaulting another woman.

The families of other victims described obstacles they faced. Shannon Nix, whose son Damion Greene was killed in 2015, described her disbelief that solicitors dropped charges in her sons case because after seven years two of the key eyewitnesses had died.

Timely investigations and trials should be part of a victim-first philosophy, Eric Bland, the Smith familys lawyer, told The State. Stephen Smiths death was initially ruled an accident in 2015. In March, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division took the unusual step of publicly confirming that Smiths death was being investigated as a homicide.

Our victims rights and laws dont matter unless they are enforced, unless we demand them, Ford told The State.
Calling for action to stop the pain and suffering, the parents of a Boston University professor who died when he fell through a broken MBTA station staircase made an emotional call Monday for strengthening safety oversight of the under-fire transit agency.

Debra Bingham and Kent Hamilton of Milton told lawmakers about the pain they have endured since Sept. 11, 2021, when their son, David Jones, fell to his death from a dilapidated set of stairs that had been closed to the public at the JFK/UMass station.

Joness death is one of the most high-profile incidents in the past two years of crisis at the MBTA, which also involved a riders death due to a faulty Red Line door, a federal investigation that produced searing findings, and injuries stemming from derailments, crashes and deteriorating stations.

Davids mother and I are asking our state legislators to stop the deaths, stop the injuries, stop the pain and suffering caused by the lack of effective leadership and oversight, Hamilton, Joness stepfather, said at a Transportation Committee hearing about proposed MBTA safety reforms. We strongly hope David will not have died in vain and that his loss will help create the conditions to ensure a safe transportation system for Massachusetts.

A pair of bills before the panel would reshape the hierarchy of outside safety review at the MBTA by stripping the title of designated state safety oversight organization from the Department of Public Utilities and giving it to another office.

One measure from Transportation Committee Co-chair Rep. William Straus (H 3452) would task a working group with determining a better home for those responsibilities, such as the office of the inspector general. The other (S 2199), filed by Sen. Mike Barrett, would stand up a new Commission on Transportation Oversight and Regulation and task it with taking over the DPUs transportation-related duties.

We serve two purposes here in moving the transportation safety issue, Barrett said. We find a home for transportation safety, which is critical. We also let the [DPU] focus, as weve asked it to, on all manner of new climate change priorities that weve assigned to it.

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Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro told lawmakers he agrees the status quo does not work and that the DPU is not the right agency to fulfill the legally required safety oversight duties, largely because of the departments other responsibilities regulating the energy industry and the offshore wind sector.

Shapiro suggested creating a brand-new agency focused solely on MBTA safety, with one division in charge of subway operations and the other tasked with reviewing commuter rail, buses -- including at regional transit authorities outside the MBTA -- and ferries.

The new department would need to be fully independent from the MBTA and the Department of Transportation, Shapiro said, and have broad authority to issue subpoenas and enforce any response actions at the T.

You want somebody whos going to call it as they see it -- the good, the bad and the ugly on this, Shapiro said. Thats what the public wants.

Hamilton indicated he, too, prefers creating a new organization for MBTA safety oversight, describing any transfer of those responsibilities from the DPU to the inspector general as just passing the MBTA hot potato from one agency to another.

Federal Transit Administration investigators concluded last year that the DPU for years had been falling short of its duties to oversee and enforce safe operations at the MBTA.

In addition to implementing personnel changes at the T, Gov. Maura Healey has also reshaped the DPU. Robert Hanson started in January as the departments first-ever rail transit safety director. In March, Hanson ordered immediate corrective actions after a site visit flagged track defects.

Bingham said she read the entire 90-page FTA report, which came out just a bit less than a year after her sons death. She called it horrifying and further traumatizing.

BU professor killed in apparent fall from dilapidated staircase near JFK/UMass Station

Since the MBTA crisis exploded into public view last year, the Legislature has steered hundreds of millions of dollars to the agency to invest in safety-related programs and bulk up headcount, but lawmakers have been slower to embrace major policy or oversight changes.

Meanwhile, service deteriorated for months. Weekday service cuts remain in place on the Red, Orange and Blue Lines nearly 11 months after MBTA officials implemented them on a temporary basis. After claiming to have addressed some slow zones during a month-long Orange Line shutdown last summer and then slowing travel down while crews redid inspections across the system, T officials now say trains safely cannot run at full speeds on 22 percent of the tracks because of track defects.

That changing narrative drew Shapiros attention.

The inspector general took aim, without naming any particular individuals or even a specific administration, at the predecessors who ran the MBTA before Healey -- who is four months into her first term -- instilled Phil Eng as general manager.

A critical foundation for this work is trusted communication from the MBTA and its leadership. Under the prior leadership, communications have often been incomplete, nuanced or silent, Shapiro said in his testimony. For example, for nearly one year, the traveling public has either been misled about the immediate benefits after the shutdowns or the cause and duration of the slow zones. Or worse, the information conveyed by the MBTAs leadership was thought to be accurate but turned out to be only partially accurate or simply inaccurate. Fixing a system so critical and so damaged can only be done if there is open, accurate and trusted communication with and among the stakeholders -- most especially with the public.

No one from the MBTA or MassDOT testified in-person at Mondays hearing, though Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca and Eng submitted a three-page letter to chairs in which they summarized their efforts to rein in speed restrictions, respond to FTA and DPU orders, and hire more workers.

Asked about the oversight reform bills at an unrelated event, Healey said she would review anything that comes to my desk and pointed out that MassDOTs first-ever chief safety officer, Patrick Lavin, started work Monday.

The Transportation Committee convened hearings last year to probe the Ts failures, a process that concluded with a report whose recommendations -- including action to move MBTA oversight responsibilities from the DPU to another agency -- have yet to pick up momentum.

In that report you all submitted on January 3, 2023, you have a long list of notable events. Theyre single-spaced, one line, maybe two lines, Bingham told the committee. It was really chilling to see my sons event on a five-page list. Of course, it should have been there. Of course. But I couldnt help but think about all the other families and communities that that list represents.

[Sam Drysdale contributed reporting.]

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The study examined more than 7,800 MRI scans from men and women across 29 countries (AFP via Getty Images)

Stress caused by gender inequality is harming womens brains, a first-of-its-kind study has suggested.

Researchers at more than 70 institutions discovered the outer thickness of the right part of womens brains was slimmer than men's in countries with worse gender inequality but there was no substantial difference in nations with greater gender equality.

The study, which examined more than 7,800 MRI scans from individuals across 29 countries, noted the parts of the brain impacted are especially linked with stress and emotions.

Dr Nicolas Crossley, the lead author who is visiting professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said: Our analysis suggests some sex differences in brain structure are associated with the adverse social environment under which many women live.

These changes were particularly located in brain regions involved in control of emotions and that are also affected in stress-related disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr Crossley, who is also an associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica in Chile, said the findings appeared to demonstrate the effect of chronic stress in womens brains in gender-unequal environments.

He added: Stress affects neurons connections, which we would then see as thinning of the grey matter cortex in MRI studies. However, other mechanisms could also be involved, such as the effect of reduced opportunities including education in womens brains, leading to lower development of connections.

These results suggest a potential neural connection between gender inequality and higher risks of mental health problems and reduced academic performance - pointing to the potentially hazardous effect of gender inequality on womens brains.

Dr Crossley noted the study could be used to inform gender equality policies but said additional research was required to help examine in greater details how and when this happens.

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Researchers examined MRI scans from just over 4,000 women and almost 4,000 men between the ages of 18 and 40 from nations including the UK, the US, Latin America, China, South Africa, and India.

The research, released in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, saw dozens of academics linked to more than 70 institutions come together.

It comes after a major study, shared exclusively with The Independent, found two in five Britons think efforts to champion womens equality are so robust that men are being discriminated against.

The research, carried out by Kings College London and Ipsos, found that 53 per cent of men back that view while a third of women take the viewpoint.
It's unusual for Emma Cooper, a nurse who cares for women after they've given birth, to be proud of the work she does every day.

"To have a patient sitting in front of me crying because they feel that they haven't been taught how to feed their baby is so upsetting," Cooper, of Portland, Maine, said.

The explanation for the lapse in guidance is simple: "None of us had time." Cooper and her nursing colleagues at Maine Medical Center have so many patients that they are unable to focus appropriately on any single one, she said.

Nurses nationwide are overworked, overloaded with patients and, quite frankly, over it all. There are not enough nurses in the workforce to ease the problem.

And it's younger nurses, like Cooper, 27, who are sounding the alarm.

"Imagine trying your hardest every day at work, and you're barely scratching the surface of usefulness," Cooper said. "Then you get in your car and cry."

Physically and emotionally drained

Cooper's frustrations mirror the findings of a survey published last week of more than 18,200 registered nurses. The survey from AMN Healthcare, a health care staffing agency, was riddled with evidence of a stressed out, burned out nursing population.

"Our survey data illustrates the growing dissatisfaction and wellbeing struggles among nurses  and the workforce challenges that this is escalating," Landry Seedig, AMN Healthcare's chief operating officer, said in an email to NBC News.

The findings show a recent drop in job satisfaction that had remained over 80% for a decade. In 2023, 71% of survey respondents said they were satisfied with their nursing career.

Younger nurses were much less satisfied with their careers and jobs compared to older generations, and were least likely to recommend the job to others. Just 42% of Gen Zers and 43% of millennials said they would encourage their peers to pursue nursing as a career, compared with 62% of baby boomers.

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But signs of dissatisfaction were apparent in the majority of nurses surveyed.

More than three-quarters said they felt emotionally drained, up from 62% in 2021. And 70% of respondents in 2023 said they worried that their job is hazardous to their health, compared with 51% during the height of the pandemic in 2021.

The latest survey also showed that more than half of surveyed nurses felt unappreciated and often felt like quitting.

Among the biggest issues, nurses say, is the large number of patients they must care for each day.

Spencer Paddyaker, 28, is an emergency room nurse in the Dallas area. A typical shift has him caring for at least six patients at once.

Each of those patients may need help at the same time. One needs assistance getting to the bathroom. Another is having chest pain and is frightened about what it means. Another patient has questions about the medications they've been prescribed.

"All these things, piece by piece, are fine. It's when they start to happen all at once that it becomes cumbersome," Paddyaker said. "While you're addressing the person who is very sick or demands your attention immediately, your other patients start to feel a little blown off and neglected."

Emma Cooper addressed the Maine legislature (National Nurses United)

Last week, Cooper urged the Legislature in her home state of Maine to pass a bill that would set minimum requirements for nurse-to-patient ratios. Cooper is involved with National Nurses United, a union that represents registered nurses.

The state does not have a law limiting the number of patients each nurse can care for during each shift. Only California has passed a law mandating a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio.

"We need more nurses at the bedside," Cooper said. "My patients deserve better."

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, a 26-year nursing veteran and president of American Nurses Association, remembers "working 12 hour shifts and not going to the bathroom or getting anything to drink."

"That should have never been accepted as normal," she said, adding that she is proud of this generation "for not putting up with what I put up with."

"They're holding us accountable for an environment that we allowed to happen for a very long time," Kennedy said.

Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University, said that "nurses have a huge long history of taking great care of everybody else, but they often don't prioritize their own self care."

"We've got a population of about 5 million nurses that overall isn't so healthy," she said.

'Nurses didn't get a break'

Job satisfaction among nurses was higher during the height of the pandemic than it is now. In 2021, 48% of nurses said they were "extremely satisfied" with their job, compared to 33% in 2023, the AMN Healthcare survey showed.

"As Covid patients started to decrease, we started to get people coming back to the hospital who held off their medical treatments" during the pandemic, Kennedy said. "Now they're even sicker than they would have normally been. Nurses didn't get a break."

Nearly 9 in 10 nurses said the nursing shortage is worse than it was five years ago, the survey found. Nearly all respondents  94%  said there is a severe or moderate shortage of nurses in their area.

National Nurses United balks at the idea of a true shortage.

"There is only a shortage of nurses willing to work in environments that risk their licenses and the safety of their patients," the Union wrote in a media statement.

In January, thousands of nurses in New York City went on strike, demanding in part an increase in staffing to ease a shortage that's being felt nationwide.

Cooper, who is part of a union, said that while she has the deepest admiration for her health care co-workers, she and her peers deserve time and flexibility to focus on their patients.

She has advice for other nurses frustrated by their workload.

"Stand up, use your voice," Cooper said. "You know how to be an advocate already; you do it everyday for your patients. It's time for you to do it for yourself."

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Sarra Eljak and her husband Mustafa Abbas (pictured with three of their children) had gone to Sudan to visit family

A British family who were stranded in Sudan have managed to return to the UK but said they continued to fear for the lives of their loved ones.

Sarra Eljak, from Langley, near Slough, Berkshire, said being unable to leave Sudan while street battles were ongoing was a "nightmare".

She had flown to Khartoum with her husband, three daughters and son to visit family for Easter.

But they became trapped when fighting began on 15 April.

The clashes between the regular army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are a result of a power struggle within the country's military leadership.

After days spent "hearing gunshots every single minute" and a bullet hitting the front door of the family home in Sudan, Ms Eljak and her family managed to get on a RAF flight back to the UK.

They told BBC Radio Berkshire they are now safe but very worried about the future of their parents and siblings who could not leave Sudan as they did not have British passports.

"As I said before we have a feeling we are going to lose one of our family members at any point," Ms Eljak said.

She said the entire experience and the constant thought about the loved ones they left in Sudan made her very stressed.

"But as a mother I have to stay strong, I have to put my children back to the right track," she added.

Her husband Mustafa Abbas hoped the conflict would come to an end soon.

"At the end of the day Sudan will pay a huge price," he said.

Drone footage shows dense smoke rising from fires near Khartoum

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Gunfire and air strikes were again heard on Tuesday in the capital Khartoum despite ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia

The number of people displaced inside Sudan by fighting between rival military factions has more than doubled in the past week to around 700,000, a UN agency has said.

The increase in displacements has raised fears of an escalation in violence despite ceasefire talks being held in Saudi Arabia.

Air strikes and ground battles are continuing in the capital Khartoum.

Entire neighbourhoods have become empty as residents flee their homes.

Khartoum had a population of 5.4 million, but the once-peaceful city has been devastated by the conflict that broke out on 15 April between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

On Tuesday, the RSF alleged that a military air strike hit an Ottoman-era palace in downtown Khartoum.

There is no independent confirmation of the RSF's claim.

Now a museum, the palace was built in 1832 when Sudan was part of the Ottoman Empire.

The palace is next to Sudan's new presidential palace, which was occupied by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan until the conflict broke out.

Fierce battles have been raging in the area since Monday, but a resident who spoke to the BBC did not know whether the historic palace had been hit.

Other residents said that military fighter jets were flying all over south Khartoum and heavy fighting was taking place in the middle-class neighbourhood al-Sahafa, not too far from the international airport, which is shut.

More than 600 people have now been killed and 5,000 wounded in the conflict.

Fierce fighting has also been reported in two cities adjacent to Khartoum - Bahri and Omdurman - and the western region of Darfur.

"Many IDPs [internally displaced people] are sheltering with relatives, while others are gathering in schools, mosques and public buildings," said Paul Dillon, a spokesman for the UN's International Organization for Migration.

Mr Dillon said people were running out of cash, and basic supplies like fuel.

"The ATMs aren't working and the banking system is not functioning. Fuel is difficult to come by and expensive," he added.

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Last week, the UN said that about 100,000 people had fled to neighbouring states, and the number could reach more than 800,000 if fighting does not stop.

Representatives of the the army and RSF have been holding their first face-to-face talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah in a bid to negotiate a ceasefire.

Speaking to Egypt-based Al-Qahera News on Monday, Gen Burhan said that a "permanent ceasefire" needed to come into effect in Khartoum before a political settlement could be negotiated with the RSF.

"We can discuss a settlement after we reach a permanent ceasefire in Khartoum," he said.

RSF are in control of much of the capital, with the military's air strikes aimed at weakening its positions and to prevent it from getting reinforcements.
By Mahamat Ramadane, Joe Bavier and Emma Farge

GOUNGOUR, Chad (Reuters) - When a power struggle between Sudan's rival military leaders shattered a tenuous peace in her village in Sudan's western region of Darfur, Halime Yacoub Issac's first instinct was to take her five children and run.

But four days after seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad - a country with its own dire humanitarian crisis - she had yet to receive any assistance and was just hoping they wouldn't starve.

"We're entirely dependent on food Chadian families give us," Issac told Reuters, sitting in a rare patch of shade near the border village of Goungour with other newly arrived women and children, some of them orphans.

Nearby, hundreds of families were camped out under trees or had built flimsy shelters out of sticks and bedsheets that swayed in the wind.

The battles between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that erupted in the capital Khartoum in mid-April have now engulfed large parts of Sudan, killing hundreds, wounding thousands and unleashing a humanitarian disaster that could not have come at a worse time.

Africa was already facing a deepening set of crises  from drought to floods and a growing list of armed conflicts  that has seen demand surge for life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Now, according to an internal U.N. estimate obtained by Reuters, 5 million additional people in Sudan will require emergency assistance, half of them children.

By October, some 860,000 people are expected to flee to neighbouring countries including Chad, placing additional strain on nations already facing some of the world's most under-funded humanitarian crises. (For a FACTBOX please click [L8N3740DW])

Yet a Reuters analysis of United Nations funding data for Africa shows financial support from key donor governments is dropping off.

Securing additional money is a long shot, 12 aid workers, diplomats and donor government officials told Reuters. More likely, they said, funding gaps will grow as Europe focuses on Ukraine, post-Brexit Britain turns inward, and some lawmakers in the United States, the world's largest donor, target budget cuts.

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"There is going to be less funding this year," the World Food Programme's (WFP) new executive director, Cindy McCain, told Reuters during a visit to Somalia this month. "I pray that there won't be. But the reality of it is that there is going to be less."

Every day, hundreds of Sudanese trek across the desert scrubland and dry riverbeds that make up large sections of the country's 1,400-km (870-mile) border with Chad. Some 30,000 have arrived so far, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, which expects it will need to establish five new camps to accommodate them.

Aid agencies are rushing to distribute emergency food and register new arrivals, but resources are tight. Even before the latest crisis, U.N. humanitarian appeals for Africa faced a $17-billion funding gap this year, risking leaving millions without lifesaving assistance.

Desperation is growing among the refugees. Chadian soldiers used whips on Sunday to beat back dozens of women who had started grabbing bags of provisions in Koufroune, another border village, when they saw that supplies brought by a Turkish aid group were running out.

"You've got this huge arc of misery across this part of Africa, and Sudan is just the latest crisis to be added to that in humanitarian terms," Andrew Mitchell, Britain's minister of state for development and Africa, said during a trip to Kenya this month.

DONORS PULL BACK

Between 2020 and this year, Africa's needs reflected in U.N. appeals grew nearly 27%. But as wealthy countries began looking inward to shield their citizens from the COVID-19 pandemic, many cut back on humanitarian activities abroad.

Britain, for example, announced in 2021 it would temporarily reduce its aid budget to 0.5% of gross national income from 0.7% to pay for the pandemic response. Last year, it spent a third of its overseas aid budget housing refugees inside the UK, a British aid watchdog said in March.

"There's no question that very large amounts of money have been lost," Mitchell said, asked about Britain's aid budget.

Between 2020, when the UK was the third-biggest contributor to U.N. humanitarian appeals in Africa, and 2022, its contribution dropped by 55%. Mitchell declined to say how much the UK would contribute for 2023.

Funding for U.N. appeals does not reflect all donor money for Africa, but relief agencies and government officials say it is indicative of broader contribution trends.

Britain isn't an outlier - and Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year has accelerated the exodus, humanitarian officials say.

Between 2021 and 2022, the continent's humanitarian needs rose by nearly 13%. But leading donors, including Canada, Sweden, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands, all scaled back funding for Africa, the U.N. data showed.

The United States has in recent years stepped in to fill gaps. Washington nearly doubled its contribution for the U.N.'s Africa appeals between 2020 and 2022. Last year, it provided nearly $6.4 billion, or over 56% of all funding.

That looks set to change, however.

Most of Washington's added support has come via supplemental budget appropriations from Congress, initially for pandemic relief and last year to mitigate fallout from the Ukraine war.

But U.S. lawmakers are now embroiled in a fight over the debt ceiling, with many Republicans focused on cutting budgets, not expanding them.

"With this Congress, it's unlikely there will be more supplemental funding," said one U.S. official involved in humanitarian response, who was not authorised to speak to the media.

Without it, overall U.S. humanitarian spending will fall by nearly 20% to $10.5 billion in 2023, with a further decline to $8.5 billion next year.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For aid agencies, that's meant belt-tightening.

WFP has cut rations in Nigeria, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Without additional financing, the agency told Reuters, it will halt all assistance for over 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people in Chad this month.

Sudan was hosting over 1 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria, before the outbreak of fighting last month. A third of Sudan's own 46 million citizens also relied on aid, according to the U.N.

But the lack of funding has forced WFP to cut back on nutrition interventions for mothers and young children since last year. Now, the violence has brought some humanitarian operations to a standstill. Aid workers have been killed, food aid looted, and WFP says it's running out of stocks.

UNHCR is appealing for an additional half billion dollars for Sudan. But the U.N.'s joint appeal for the country - a request for $1.75 billion that predates the latest violence - is only 15% funded.

"I've been briefing our donors constantly since day one," said one international aid official, who asked not to be named for fear of antagonising benefactors. "They all say it's great that you're committed to helping the Sudanese people, but it stops there."

'CATASTROPHICALLY UNDERFUNDED'

Humanitarian agencies are rushing to reallocate resources to Sudan fallout. With record numbers of Africans already going hungry, it's a zero-sum game.

Aid workers off-loaded jugs of cooking oil and sacks of grain onto the dusty ground in eastern Chad last week, as crowds of Sudanese refugees waited patiently nearby.

But that food had been earmarked to help needy Chadians make it to the next harvest and will need to be replenished. Just 4.6% of Chad's own U.N. appeal has been financed this year.

WFP says it has scraped together enough provisions to support 20,000 new refugees for one month, but it's expecting five times that number.

Food prices in local markets are sky-rocketing due to demand from refugees, and malnutrition admissions at health centres have spiked.

"It's an extra strain on the entire Chadian population," said Pierre Honnorat, the WFP director in Chad. "It's becoming very, very hard."

A similar scenario is playing out in South Sudan, where some 35,000 people have arrived from Sudan. Most are South Sudanese who fled north to escape their own country's violence.

"We left our homes in South Sudan. We left our homes in Sudan. We've left our homes everywhere to come sit in a desert like this," said Suzan William, who had been working as a nurse in Khartoum when the fighting broke out and was waiting for food near the border.

Elsewhere in Africa, other disasters, including a looming famine in Somalia, are also vying for money.

Concerned about support from traditional donors, aid agencies are courting new sources - notably Gulf States - but they are struggling.

"I'm really worried for 2023, honestly," Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters.

"The only fully funded operation in the world now is in Ukraine. All other operations are catastrophically underfunded."

(Joe Bavier reported from Washington and Emma Farge from Geneva; Additional reporting by Zohra Bensemra in Koufroune, Chad, Denis Elamu in Renk, South Sudan, Aidan Lewis in Cairo, David Lewis in Nairobi, Edward McAllister in Dakar, and Ayenat Mersie in Mogadishu; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Daniel Flynn)
Sacramentos Sutter Health reported that the rising costs of labor and supplies eroded some of its financial gains in the first quarter of this year, so its operating profit of $89 million fell short of the $95 million the company brought in a year ago.

Although there was a decline in operating profits, the company saw revenue from patient services increase 7.9% as patient traffic picks up. Hospitals around the nation have said their admissions dropped amid the COVID-19 pandemic as people put off seeking care, either because they wanted to leave space for patients in acute distress or because they were concerned about the risk of exposure to someone who had COVID-19.

In an interview with The Bee as the quarter closed, Sutter Chief Executive Officer Warner Thomas said that Sutter is in a really good financial position but that he and other health care industry leaders around the nation are concerned that low Medicare payments will challenge ongoing financial sustainability. Roughly 11,000 people age into Medicare daily, he said.

Every day that we see a patient move from say commercial insurance into Medicare, it causes a payment reduction for hospitals and physicians across America, not just here in California and Northern California. It happens across America, Thomas said. Medicare has for years not paid hospitals enough that they could break even.

In the first quarter, Sutter reported revenue of $903 millions from Medicare, $308 million from Medi-Cal and $1.94 billion from commercial insurers. In the comparable period of 2022, the company received payments of $850 million, $294 million and $1.78 billion in the respective categories.

While operating profit narrowed, the health care system saw the paper value of the investments it holds soar by $82 million. In the year-earlier period, Sutters investment portfolio had plummeted by $166 million amid a stock market sell-off. The company also wrote off a loss of $208 million a year ago, the result of giving Samuel Merritt University the independence it had sought.

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With the gains on investments and other income, Sutter Health posted overall income of $198 million, up from a loss of $184 million in the comparable period. The company would have to sell its investments, though, to realize any income. The operating budget, on the other hand, shows available cash for daily business functions.

The revenue included a payment of $128 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has distributed funds to many hospitals to reimburse them for expenditures they made amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sutter shared its financials in a report to bondholders. The company also noted that it will be negotiating new labor contracts this year with 17 of the 61 collective bargaining units representing thousands of its employees. Consequently, Sutter leaders said, they have made contingency plans in the event of strikes.
A blue plaque to Basil Brown has been placed on his former house in Rickinghall, Suffolk

A blue plaque to commemorate the archaeologist who uncovered Anglo-Saxon treasures at Sutton Hoo has been unveiled.

Basil Brown spent almost his entire life in the Suffolk village of Rickinghall and largely taught himself the profession.

A plaque was unveiled on Monday at the house where he lived for more than 40 years.

It was organised by a small group of volunteers, known as Quatrefoil.

The group was formed in 2012 to research the history of the Suffolk villages of Botesdale, Redgrave and Rickinghall.

When Edith Pretty decided to excavate part of her estate at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1938, she was advised by Ipswich Museum to call upon Mr Brown.

He found a burial ship and a central chamber filled with pieces, including a warrior's helmet, a gold belt buckle, sword and shield, believed to have belonged to East Anglia ruler King Rdwald.

The discovery of the treasures was retold in Netflix film The Dig, where Ralph Fiennes took on the role of Mr Brown.

Basil Brown was an archaeologist who worked for Ipswich Museum

Cambridge archaeologist Charles Phillips, who took over the excavation once it became clear it was of huge significance, called Mr Brown "a pure piece of rustic Suffolk" in his book, My Life in Archaeology.

Mr Brown's belief that his initial finds in 1938 were of a rich ship burial was confirmed in excavations led by Prof Martin Carver.

Sarah Doig, chair of Quatrefoil, said: "We are absolutely delighted that we now have such a visible recognition of our most famous resident.

"Basil is fondly remembered in the neighbourhood by all who knew him, and we are all proud of his many archaeological achievements.

"He was always generous with his time and expertise, inspiring the younger generation's interest in archaeology and local history."

The plaque commemorates him as the discoverer of the Sutton Hoo treasures and an archaeologist and astronomer.

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What was found at Sutton Hoo?

The remains of the Sutton Hoo warrior's helmet are at the British Museum in London
A peak in western Oregon's Umpqua National Forest dubbed Swastika Mountain has a new name after residents suggested a change to the appellation.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved renaming the mountain Mount Halo on April 13.

The new title, Mount Halo, pays tribute to Chief Halito of the Yoncalla Kalapuya tribe. He led the tribe in the 1800s, according to the Oregon Historical Society. The tribal village was located 20 miles west of the mountain.

The move was approved in a 19-3 vote during a Dec. 6 Oregon Geographic Names Board meeting. It was made official by the board last month.

How many traveled the Oregon Trail? That and more facts about history of the route.

Chief Halito, also called Chief Halo, was leader of the Yoncalla Kalapuya tribe in the 1800s.

The mountain is nestled in the Umpqua National Forest on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Explosive geologic events shaped the landscape and "provide spectacular scenery," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Is Badlands National Park worth a visit? Yes, and here's why.

No ties to German Workers' Party

The mountain  as well as the now-extinct town of Swastika  was named after a cattle ranch in the early 1900s before Adolf Hitler's rise to power, Kerry Tymchuk, executive secretary at the Oregon Historical Society, told NPR in 2022.

According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum the swastika symbol dates back some 7,000 years and means "good fortune" or "well-being" in Sanskrit. However, in the early 20th century, the marker came to symbolize German nationalists and Hitler's Nazi Party.

Includes reporting from Tatiana Parafiniuk-Takesnick with the Eugene Register-Guard, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swastika Mountain renamed: Oregon peak in Umpqua named Mount Halo
PORT ST. LUCIE  A 25-year-old man was arrested after Port St. Lucie police said he barricaded himself in a home following a domestic incident involving his family.

What: Police about 4:45 p.m. Sunday went to an address in the 1200 block of Southwest Wampler Avenue regarding a domestic incident. The location is near Southwest Savona Boulevard and Southwest Paar Drive. Eventually the SWAT team was called, and investigators remained at the scene until about 8:45 p.m., according to Sgt. John Dellacroce, police spokesperson.

Unsolved homicide of Vietnam vet: Son of Fort Pierce homicide victim wants legacy of his dad to move forward

Taken into custody: A 25-year-old man was arrested on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery to a pregnant person and a misdemeanor battery charge.

How: SWAT team went in and took the man into custody after negotiators were unable to communicate with him. A firearm was recovered, Dellacroce said.

$30,000 reward: 'Final push' in Port St. Lucie homicide case

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: SWAT team responds to PSL domestic case on Southwest Wampler Avenue
The premiere of The Little Mermaid was a star-studded event. Celebrities made sure to bring along their kids to take part in the fun-filled festivities. A-list parents and their little ones walked down the red carpet as cameras flashed. Although one of the most talked-about outfits of the night was Halle Baileys stunning metallic ensemble, the celebrity children in attendance held their own too.

Photo credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

21Ninety rounded up some of the smallest attendees and their looks from the movies glamorous premiere.

Kulture Kiari and Kalea Marie Cephus

Photo credit: VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Rapper, Offset, arrived on the red carpet with his adorable daughters, 4-year-old Kulture Kiari and 8-year-old Kalea Marie. The two acted as their famous fathers dates for the evening. The trio decided on monochromatic black and white looks for the premiere. Kulture Kiari and Kalea Marie also rocked red hair emulating the main characters auburn tresses.

Ariah Housley and Cairo Hardict

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/WireImage

Iconic twin sisters, Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry-Housely, had a glitzy girls night out with their adorable daughters Ariah Housley, 7, and Cairo Hardrict, 5. According to Mowry-Housley, the experience was inspiring and empowering for their little ones.

As a young girl, Disney is everything. Its all about the Disney princesses. So now that we have a Little Mermaid, Princess Tiana, this is everything for our little girls. Mowry-Housley told PEOPLE.

Brooklyn Daly

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/WireImage

Iconic Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore attended the premiere with her daughter Brooklyn Daly. The lovely duo chose to rock the red carpet in adorable mommy-daughter, floral dresses.

Lyric and Liyah Kilpatrick

Photo credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

The ever ageless Kyla Pratt attended the event with her stunning daughters Lyric and Liyah Kilpatrick. Pratt won over the internet by wearing comfortable clothes paired with nude heels. Her daughters, who look just like mom by the way, opted for classic, street style attire.

A Film To Inspire

The new Little Mermaid is an adaptation of the 1989 animated feature of the same name. Baileys version of the classic debuts in theaters on Friday.

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For many, the new adaptation is an ode to Black excellence and a guide for young Black girls.

I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that theyre special and that they should be a princess in every single way, Bailey said in an August 2022 interview with Variety.

During the premiere, Halle told The Hollywood Reporter she was honored to be at the event.

Im so grateful  and I cant wait for everyone to see it. I love how fearless and strong Ariel is, Bailey said.

The post We Cant Get Over These Celeb Kids at The Little Mermaid Premiere appeared first on 21Ninety.
If theres any state known for its plethora of paranormal and mythical entities, its Washington. The Evergreen State has had its share of incredible anomalies and mythical creatures, like the Oakville Blobs, the haunting of Tacomas Old City Hall, and, if this can be counted, the vampires from the Twilight film series.

But theres one fabled and elusive cryptid that stands taller than any other in Washington state folklore. The legendary Bigfoot is often associated with the Pacific Northwest region and Washington in general. According to the research database Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, the mammoth Sasquatch has been spotted over 700 times in the Evergreen State, the highest number of sightings recorded in any state in the U.S.

Across the state, Pierce County has experienced the highest number of sightings at 83.

Washingtons notoriety for Bigfoot sighting was recently acknowledged in a report from lawn care company Lawn Love in its ranking of best cities for paranormal activity. Although Tacoma ranked 56th best city for paranormal activity, Lawn Love determined the city to be the seedbed of Sasquatch activity in the Pacific Northwest.

A few different Sasquatch feet casts are shown on a counter.

According to Lawn Love, the Pacific Northwest cities renowned for Sasquatch sightings are:

Tacoma, WA Seattle, WA Bellevue, WA Portland, OR

Beyond Bigfoot, Lawn Love analyzed cities based on four metrics: sightings, haunted locations, lifestyle and paranormal community. So cities that have robust ghost tours, paranormal investigation communities, notable haunted locations or creature sightings and regular paranormal conventions are considered more paranormal-friendly than other locations.

Background on Bigfoot in WA

Legend of a hair-covered, 7- to 10-foot-tall ape-like creature wandering the natural landscape has been passed down in North American folklore for generations, as far back as pre-colonial Indigenous settlements. The hairy entity has gone by different names, but one of its most common names, Sasquatch, derives from the Salish name Sasquits, according to the Washington National Guard. Other versions of Bigfoot lore sometimes refer to the hairy bipedal animal as a Wendigo or Yeti.

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Fascination with Bigfoot ranges far and wide, with many refuting the elusive creatures existence. But Washingtons law officially acknowledges Sasquatch as a being with its own rights and protections, according to NWSidebar.

In 1969, Skamamia County implemented a statute barring hunters from poaching Bigfoot. At the time, slaying the Sasquatch was considered a felony with the potential of a mandatory five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. The statute eased up in 1984, when the Skamamia Board of Commissioners reduced the cost of murdering Bigfoot to a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison and a $500 fine.

Other counties have set in place resolutions to protect Bigfoot, such as Whatcom County, which declared itself a Sasquatch protection and refuge area in the early 90s.

The Washington State Legislature has even recognized Bigfoots ties to the state. Senate Bill 5816 proposed officially recognizing the Sasquatch as the official cryptid of the state of Washington during the 2017-2018 legislative session. The bill was referred to the Senate State Government Committee but was never signed into law.

Even after centuries of Bigfoot stories around the campfire, the search for the cryptid remains steady.

In 2022, Bigfoot was searched on Google four million times in the U.S., the second-highest of any monster, according to marine attraction chain SeaQuest. The Sasquatch only came behind New Mexicos Skinwalker, a malicious entity that can supposedly shapeshift into animals.

Best cities for paranormal activity

The overall ranking by Lawn Love for paranormal activity includes these Washington cities in the top 100:

Seattle  18th

Spokane  50th

Tacoma  56th

Vancouver  78th

In addition to its high overall ranking, Seattle tied for second place with the most paranormal conventions and events. A notable upcoming event is Crypticon Seattle, which takes place May 19-21. The Tri-Cities region in southern Washington also holds an international event dedicated to Bigfoot enthusiasts, the International Bigfoot Conference.
This week, I did something I really havent done in my three-plus years as your Tacoma food writer: I was critical of a restaurant.

I tend to focus my work on the bright side of our local food community. Where larger publications might have several reporters on the food beat, with one or two specializing in restaurant criticism, I am just one person. I only have so much time, and it feels more advantageous to offer the highlights, to encourage you to head out to a random intersection in Puyallup for awesome tacos or to Lakewood for Korean doughnuts, and to praise boundary-pushing (for a mid-sized city next to one of the countrys culinary beacons) and amiable service where it shines.

But our region is changing and growing  look at all those cranes!  and with that comes both creativity and competition angling for a swipe of your credit card.

I never intended to eschew criticism entirely. When I arrived in Tacoma in December 2019, I had every intention of developing my voice as both a feature writer and a critic. I moved here sensing the Tacoma area was on the cusp of a culinary shift, and that many restaurants  notably the popular waterfront destinations  had perhaps been resting on their laurels. (That The Lobster Shops new owners are spending millions modernizing the space and menu speaks to that hypothesis.)

Then the pandemic thrust my plan into disarray. Following fellow food writers, I knew any tough criticism would have to wait.

At some point last year, we turned a corner.

The writer encourages you to explore unique culinary offerings, like the chapssal, Korean sweet rice doughnuts available at Bon Bon Bakery in Lakewood.

Importantly, I should note that I am not anonymous: I hosted a public panel discussion last fall, and I meet the people I feature all the time because it allows me to tell stories I couldnt otherwise tell. I cant explain how the chef of The Red Hot slices and dips a luscious Italian beef sandwich without being in his kitchen. I cant showcase the incredible work ethic of a Cambodian refugee who has been making doughnuts every day since 1985 without spending the morning in his bakery. When I visit restaurants as a customer, I never announce myself (which, for some reason, people regularly ask if I do). Even if I have met the owner or the chef, its rare that the staff recognizes me, and if they do, we have a mutual understanding that I am a paying customer who chose to be there.

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The scope of food media has veered wildly from its stringent 20th-century ways, and I think were all the better for it. Food writers, regardless of their self-identification as critics, can just as easily publish recipes and travelogues as they can uncover harassment scandals and farm-to-table fables. Perhaps more poignantly, I dont want to build a box around what I can and cannot cover, how and why. I just want to point you in the direction of great food, memorable hospitality, unique experiences and compelling stories about food and people. Sometimes I achieve that goal through sitting down for an hour with someone in their space; in others it means having dinner at the bar with my partner on a normal Thursday.

To those who ask, I have said that my opinion of restaurants, particularly new ones, speaks in the choice of writing about them at all.

So why did I take the time to review this young steakhouse if I thought it was missing something?

The answer is simple: The place is packed, night after night. Wake up one Friday morning and think, lets make a reservation for tonight, or tomorrow? Cuerno Bravo is booked, at least until 9:30 p.m. You could try and get lucky with a seat at the bar, but even thats a shot in the dark.

Cuerno Bravo, a steakhouse in downtown Tacoma, touts its wood-fired oven and sourcing of wagyu beef from the U.S., Japan and Australia.

It opened at a difficult time, prepped to debut before the pandemic. It closed for several months and was then stymied by limited capacity for many more. Staffing has been incredibly challenging, to say the least. But I have had several meals there, dropping hundreds of dollars, and each time left baffled by much of the food, the service and the execution. I went back because I felt like I had to.

I can let slide various mishaps if the food is spectacular. At best, its been inconsistent.

You deserve to know if one of the most popular restaurants in town, where two people will easily spend $100-plus and a group of four upwards of $250 with drinks, is worth the squeeze. Likewise, restaurants like Cuerno Bravo deserve a chance to reflect and, for the sake of its obvious importance to downtown Tacomas evolution, I hope, adjust.

As I wrote in a recent preview, ambitious projects are afoot. One set to open later this year even promised me it would be, hands-down, the best restaurant in town. With that kind of confidence, it will need a watchful eye and many empty stomachs.

Is wagyu enough to splurge at Tacomas trendy downtown steakhouse? Our writer has her say
TAIPEI  Taiwan needs to earn U.S. military assistance and diplomatic support as it faces down a potential Chinese invasion or blockade.

That was the message from Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu during a briefing with international reporters at the Taiwan Foreign Ministry Tuesday.

If we do not have the determination to fight for ourselves, we dont have the right to ask other countries to fight for Taiwan, or to support Taiwan if theres going to be a fight, Wu said.

So this is the expression of our strong determination to defend ourselves.

His remarks come as the U.S. is expected to announce $500 million in direct military assistance for Taiwan, using a presidential authority that provides an immediate transfer of weapons straight from U.S. stockpiles.

The package is aimed at delivering critical munitions as $19 billion in direct military sales are held up amid production challenges, Taiwans Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng reportedly told lawmakers Monday.

It would mark the first time the Biden administration has used the Presidential Drawdown Authority for weapons transfers to Taiwan, tapping into a Congressional authorization in the 2023 budget allocating $1 billion for Taiwan.

Wu, in response to a question from The Hill, said China might use force against Taiwan if Beijing perceives Taipei as weak and that the country is engaging in very serious military reform, and we have also been making more military investment in our own defense needs.

U.S. officials have warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping is gearing up to launch a military invasion of Taiwan as early as 2027. Beijing may also launch a blockade of the island in a bid to exert economic control.

The Biden administration, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, have said supporting Taiwan to fend off aggression by the Peoples Republic of China is a core American interest  drawing parallels to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

But lawmakers have also warned that Taiwan is ill prepared to fend off a military invasion or withstand a blockade.

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Wu would not comment on the $500 million package but said that Taiwan is working with the U.S. administration to find creative ways for those weapons to be delivered.

And while he said Taiwan is carrying out military reforms  the government is working to expand conscription from four months to one year  he described the U.S. training of Taiwanese forces as critical for Taiwans self defense.

We dont want to think about the D-day type of scenario at this moment; we think that the war can be avoided, Wu said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan is working to deepen its existing diplomatic ties and foster new ones, seeking to show Beijing that Taipei has the backing of a coalition of supporters similar to the NATO-led alliance supporting Ukraine and punishing Russia.

Those kinds of support will not only be felt by the Taiwanese people that we are not alone, it will also be heard by the authoritarian leaders in Beijing that NATO, or EU, or G7 are behind Taiwan.

Taipei is keeping a close eye on President Bidens trip to the Group of 7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 19, pushing for the member-states to issue a joint statement in support of Taiwan and warning China off of aggressive action.

Their joint statement, if they mention about the peace and stability over the Taiwan strait, or their opposition to the unilateral change of status quo, or other languages of support for Taiwan, I think China is going to understand that Taiwan is not alone and that would prevent China from thinking they are dealing with Taiwan alone, Wu said.

And Bidens planned trip to Papua New Guinea following the G7 summit, announced early Tuesday morning, was hotly anticipated in Taipei, which views the presidents travel as a historic trip that serves to push back against Chinas inroads in the region.

While Taiwan is seeking a broad international coalition of support, its relationship with the U.S. is viewed as its most consequential, and leaders of both political parties have offered strong messages of U.S. backing amid Chinese threats.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in California in April, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited the island last summer.

The self-governed, democratic island of Taiwan has increasingly sought to elevate its profile on the global stage as a key strategy in pushing back against Beijings claims that the island is subservient to the mainland.

The Taiwan government, which evolved into a democracy following its establishment in the aftermath of Chinas civil war, has not said it seeks to declare independence, but is focused on maintaining a status quo where it operates independently until it can hold peace talks with Beijing.

We have made it known for a long time that we are open for dialogue free from political preconditions, Wu said.

We openly call for peace dialogue between Taiwan and China based on reciprocity, based on parity  the two sides should be sitting together with each other without political preconditions, so that we can iron out our differences between the two sides.

The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the legitimate representative Chinese government, but it is also committed to helping Taiwan defend itself from outside aggression. Officials in Washington have grown more hawkish in supporting Taiwan as they have described China as becoming more repressive at home and aggressive abroad.

Biden has pushed the boundaries of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, called strategic ambiguity, by saying at least four times that American troops would defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion  even as senior officials have played down that commitment.

I think President Biden has mentioned about that several times, and we really appreciate it very much, Wu said, referring to the presidents remarks about U.S. defense commitments.

But again, in order for Taiwan to be able to defend itself, we need to toughen our training, we need to make more investment in our own security, and we will also discuss further with the U.S. government so that Taiwan can be more capable in defending itself.

The writer was on a press trip to Taiwan paid for by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A new policy regarding minors access to South Dakotas six public college campuses passed unanimously during the South Dakota Board of Regents meeting Tuesday morning.

Requests for the policy were sparked by some people, including lawmakers, who were concerned minors were welcomed at a student-led drag show at South Dakota State University in November.

The event, sponsored by the SDSU Gender and Sexualities Alliance student group, was billed on the university website as family-friendly, to the consternation of some conservative lawmakers who pledged to bring bills limiting similar events in the future and limiting minors from being involved.

More: South Dakota Board of Regents' new 'minors on campus' passes first reading

Two different bills taking aim at preventing such events from ever happening again on state-funded facilities failed during this years legislative session.

Drag performer Kassie Kain performs for the crowd at Pride Prom on April 28, 2023.

In advance of the session, though, the SDBOR announced a closed, remote special meeting in December in which Regents discussed the recent drag show, placed a moratorium on minors attendance of campus events for the time being and directed the SDBOR central office to come up with a minors on campus policy. That policy passed Tuesday.

More: Regents will weigh student activity policies behind closed doors after SDSU drag show sparks criticism

SDSU President Barry Dunn said during Tuesdays meeting the university had a great deal of input into the issue, and said he feels confident this will help the university manage the challenges we faced last fall.

South Dakota Mines President Jim Rankin also said there were a lot of comments on campus about the issue and appreciates that his and others suggestions on the policy were taken to heart.

Board President Tim Rave said coming up with the policy was a collaborative process for an issue bubbling up this (past) fall and that the board threaded the needle on state statute and potential First Amendment challenges. Rave also said these issues can evolve.

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Well see what happens next legislative session," he said.

More: South Dakota lawmakers push for 2 bills banning 'lewd' school events as reaction to SDSU drag show

Nathan Lukkes, current general counsel and soon-to-be executive director of the board, said the policy was positively received among stakeholders and a number of changes to the policy from the first reading in March to now came as a result of conversations with Gov. Kristi Noems office.

Any student organizations to host an event on campus during the summer or next fall can organize their events through the normal campus process, Lukkes said, noting event promotions and administration must include content descriptors and university authorization.

USD student organization reports they've already seen effects from this policy

Spectrum: Gender and Sexuality Alliance, a student organization at the University of South Dakota, said in a statement last month that the Regents new policies, including one requiring all student organization events to be submitted to the SDBOR for approval, have directly affected the groups events and impeded their ability to fundraise.

Two weeks after Spectrum submitted event plans for the spring semester, all were approved except the annual spring professional drag show, which was approved later on March 10, before the start of spring break and 19 days before the event was set to take place, crippling the organizations ability to properly host, Spectrum leaders said.

Pollie Esther dons a large tulle cape before a drag performance on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Pioneer Park for Brookings Pride.

The student group has hosted these drag shows at least once each semester since 1991, the organization stated. With a limited time to advertise the event and sell tickets, and with the new minors on campus policy requiring refunds to children and their parents, the event sold 175 tickets, which is 75 fewer tickets than the average drag show attendance, Spectrum stated.

The policies and rhetoric have also diminished the sense of safety on campus for LGBTQ+ members of the USD community, Spectrum members wrote, calling the SDBORs move passive discrimination.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Board of Regents finalize 'minors on campus' policy
Laura Linares cooks traditional Venezuelan food to ease her homesickness in Mexico

Like many migrants who leave their family and friends behind, Laura Linares finds that when she misses Venezuela, preparing traditional dishes from her childhood helps to ease her homesickness.

"I want to feel close to my family, to my grandmother, to important moments," the 29-year-old told AFP while cooking in her small apartment in the Mexican capital.

Linares moved to Mexico to study for a master's degree in linguistics after leaving her crisis-racked country five years ago.

She was one of the winners in March of the international culinary and cultural competition Sabores Migrantes Comunitarios (Community Migrant Flavors), organized by IberCultura Viva, a cooperation program between the governments of the region, chaired by Mexico.

Linares, who hails from the Andean city of San Cristobal, won the competition with a typical potato stew from her region called turmada -- made with milk, chives, cheese and hard-boiled eggs.

"It's a warm dish. You feel like you're at home. You feel like you're being hugged," she said.

Migrating -- as seven million Venezuelans have done in recent years -- has not been easy for Linares, even if it means she can enjoy food like apples, which have become something of a luxury in Venezuela.

The South American country is going through an unprecedented crisis, with the national economy contracting by 80 percent between 2013 and 2021.

- Building a community -

To overcome the emotional highs and lows of leaving home, Linares immersed herself in preparing dishes from her country.

As well as turmada, she makes pastel de platano -- banana cake -- and bollitos alinados, a type of corn dumpling made with fried onions and seasoned with paprika and sweet pepper.

Cooking is a way of "bringing my home" to Mexico, Linares said.

It has also helped her create a community around little-known dishes not usually found in Venezuelan restaurants in the Mexican capital.

Around 340,000 foreigners settled in Mexico in 2022, according to official figures.

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When "we are in another country, we experiment with other foods, but we always come back to the origin of our food, the one that our mothers gave us, to feel this connection," said Edizon Muj Cumes, a Guatemalan researcher on the food systems of indigenous peoples.

It is part of an "identity process that is forged from the moment we are born," he told AFP.

Jose Bustillos, a 45-year-old Venezuelan, said that he cried the first time he tasted an arepa -- a kind of cornmeal patty -- two and a half months after arriving in Mexico.

"My country, my city, my people came back to me," he said.

In front of a shelter for migrants in the Mexican capital, a group of Haitians gathered around a compatriot selling chicken.

For the price of one serving, the equivalent of $5.50, they could buy up to eight Mexican tacos.

But the chicken is seasoned like on their island, so for them it is worth it for a taste of home.

jg-dr/md/dva
A Teaneck man was sentenced Friday to eight years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to money laundering in a Ponzi scheme, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Chander Singh was charged in 2020 with perpetrating the scheme in order to help his investment firm, SC Capital Investors LLC, stay afloat. Prosecutors said Singh solicited money from 30 investors, promising them double digit returns and rolled losses from a previous failed company. The scheme had been going on since at least 2014.

Singh, founder of the company, enlisted his parents, his brother and a family friend, all of whom work as real estate agents, to be part of the scheme, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. Singh and the co-conspirators defrauded the victims out of as much as $4.7 million over five years, prosecutors said.

Congestion pricing NYC What is congestion pricing? Answering all your questions about toll program for NJ drivers

Investigators were tipped off about Singh in February 2020, and he was charged that November.

In exchange for a guilty plea to first-degree money laundering, prosecutors recommended a second-degree sentencing range. The eight-year sentence also comes with a three-year parole ineligibility.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck NJ man gets 8 years in prison for $4.7M Ponzi scheme
A man was found dead more than a year after he vanished after leaving an Uber in California, according to police and the mans company.

The remains of Beau Mann, 39, were found in the courtyard of an abandoned property in Santa Monica on April 25, the Santa Monica Police Department said in a May 8 news release.

Beau was a beautiful soul who spent the better part of his life helping others, his family wrote on Facebook. We miss his infectious smile and positive attitude every day.

Manns fiance, Jason Abate, remembered him as wonderful, NBC4 reported.

I never felt more love in my entire life than I did when I was with Beau, Abate told the news outlet.

Mann was the founder and CEO of Sober Grid, an app meant to provide an online sober community and resources for those recovering from addiction, according to the companys website.

Mann texted 911 as he rode in an Uber on Nov. 30, 2021, before he was dropped off in Santa Monica, Sober Grid wrote in a May 8 Instagram post. His remains were found about a mile from where his Uber dropped him off.

In an email to McClatchy News on May 9, Uber said there was no incident report filed about Manns trip and that the driver immediately picked up another rider.

Jill Calhoun with the Los Angeles Police Department told NBC News in May 2022 that police received Manns 911 text, but he never responded to attempts to reach him.

After suffering from addiction, Mann turned his drive towards helping others and created Sober Grid in 2015, according to his company.

Simply put  Beau was our light, the company said. His bright smile and endless energy and compassion will be missed.

Manns cause of death hasnt been determined, police said.

Anyone with information about Mann is asked to call police at 310-458-2256.

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A man attempts to clear a drain in a flooded street in central Auckland, New Zealand (AP)

Auckland is under a state of emergency after heavy rainfall and thunderstorms sparked flooding, landslides, disrupted rail services and led to a boy being missing inside a flooded cave.

The emergency was declared on Tuesday after heavy rains lashed New Zealands largest city overnight, submerging roads and filling basements with floodwater.

Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson told reporters that disaster response services were being mobilised.

A teenager has been missing in a flooded cave north of the city, New Zealand police superintendent Tony Hill told local media.

The student was part of a group of 15 high school students who were visiting the Abbey Caves near Whangarei.

The group, along with two adults, has been rescued, but the search for the missing teen continues. Police rescue teams suspended operations for the day after hours of search, but a team has been stationed at the site until it resumes at first light on Wednesday.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the unaccounted-for student, said Mr Hill in a statement. The school is also being supported by the Ministry of Educations Traumatic Incident Team.

Authorities said fire and emergency crews had responded to more than 200 calls from panicked residents as floodwater entered buildings. Many calls were related to falling trees, trapped cars and landslides.

Some train and bus services were also cancelled, and authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Cars plough through water in the flooded streets of central Auckland, New Zealand (AP)

The Auckland region has already received 90 per cent of its average total annual rainfall from January to April, according to the countrys weather department.

The region is very saturated after a very rough five months. Were pretty soggy, noted Georgina Griffiths from the New Zealand Meteorological Service.

Devonport right now. This didnt happen even during the Auckland Day floods.

Paving every surface leaves no way to the ground to absorb rainfall like this. pic.twitter.com/c5jP4zz1HP  Tim Welch (@t@mastodon.nz) (@TimFWelch) May 9, 2023

Prime minister Chris Hipkins said it was a difficult time for the region.

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We will get through this. We will support Auckland through it, he told reporters.

We know that its tough coming on top of everything else that theyve been dealing with, but right now my request to people is just to keep yourself safe.

The current events are happening just months after Auckland experienced severe flooding in January, which claimed the lives of four people and cyclone Gabrielle hit in February, causing widespread damage across much of North Island and leaving at least 11 people dead.

Authorities said heavy rain was expected to continue off and on until midnight, although they hoped the most severe downpours may have already passed.

Various scientific studies have pointed that the climate crisis is increasing the annual amount of rainfall and the number of days with extreme rainfall in New Zealand.

A study carried out by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) in April found global heating to be responsible for the increased amount of rain in the country after cyclone Gabriel made landfall.
Telegram has said a Brazilian bill aimed at stemming disinformation online constitutes an 'attack' on democracy

Messaging app Telegram warned Tuesday that "democracy is under attack in Brazil," the latest salvo by tech companies opposed to a bill seeking to stem disinformation online.

"Brazil is about to pass a law that will end free speech," the company said in a message sent to users on Bill 2630, which has passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the lower house of Congress.

It claimed the bill "gives the government censorship powers without prior judicial oversight," calling it "one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation ever considered in Brazil."

Telegram's statement came a week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government accused Google of "deceitful and abusive propaganda" against the bill.

The US tech giant had displayed a prominent message on its Brazilian homepage warning the legislation could "make your internet worse."

Google removed the message the same day the National Consumer Protection Bureau ordered it to also give space to opposing views or face a fine of one million reais ($200,000) an hour.

Telegram has also faced legal problems in Brazil.

Last month, a court ruled to suspend the app for refusing to give the authorities requested data on neo-Nazi groups allegedly fueling school violence via the platform.

The ruling was overturned on appeal two days later.

In March 2022, a Supreme Court justice threatened to block Telegram in Brazil for refusal to respect court orders, notably one to suspend the account of blogger Allan dos Santos, a prominent backer of far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro who is under investigation for spreading disinformation.

Dubbed the "fake news bill" by the media and the "censorship bill" by opponents, the Brazilian legislation was introduced three years ago.

It shot to prominence after Bolsonaro supporters ran riot in Brasilia on January 8, allegedly egged on by social media disinformation claiming their candidate's 2022 election loss to Lula was fraudulent.

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) called on the state legislature to convene for a special legislative session focused on gun reform and public safety just one month following a school shooting in Nashville.

Lees office made the announcement Tuesday, adding that the session will begin August 21.

The governors office also noted that Lee will meet with legislators, stakeholders and local residents throughout the summer to discuss practical solutions ahead of the special session.

After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21 to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, Lee said in a statement.

There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, well continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health, he added.

The news comes week after Lee first announced plans to call for a special legislative session late last month. His office said in the first press release that the governor hopes to pass legislation that will strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights.

He made the decision after receiving input from discussions with state lawmakers and legislative leadership, according to the release.

Its been more than a month since a gunman entered The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tenn., and opened fire, killing three students and three adults. The shooting has renewed calls for action against gun violence and gun control in this country.

The incident also led to the GOP-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives voting to expel Democrat state Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville) and Justin Pearson (Memphis)  who are Black  last month for their participation in a protest against gun violence on the state House floor in the aftermath of the shooting.

Both Jones and Pearson were reinstated to their positions a week later.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The information age, technology advancements and the race for talent have transformed and disrupted businesses across the globe.

Managing that change is challenging for internal company stakeholders and their consumers.

One question that can be tough to assess is: How do you know when you need to change and how do you implement it?

On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, Kevin Cowherd addressed this question.

Kevin Cowherd

Cowherd is senior managing director at consulting firm Ankura's Nashville-based S&P practices.

He has worked on leading change at major companies across the globe over the last two decades and his clients have included automotive, manufacturing and software enterprises.

We talked about numerous business concepts from "good enough" versus perfection to divergence versus convergence.

He also discussed the importance of diversity of thought in business.

Cowherd previously worked at IBM in senior leadership positions and obtained his executive MBA at Vanderbilt University.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.

Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter: Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.

About Tennessee Voices

The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.

Watch past episodes:Tennessee Voices videocast

Please email your ideas for future guests to me at dplazas@tennessean.com. Thank you for watching.

Finally, our journalists are working hard during this pandemic to bring you accurate, verified and solid information. Please consider subscribing and supporting local journalism.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee. He is of Colombian and Cuban descent, has studied or worked in several Spanish-speaking countries, and was the founding editor of Gaceta Tropical in Southwest Florida. He has lived in Tennessee since 2014. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Video podcast: Kevin Cowherd, senior managing director, Ankura
Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Scucyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.

The preparation of the local agenda for improving the quality of life of people with disabilities under the campaign "Agenda 50" in Scucyn has been completed. In the course of the roundtable, the campaign participants shared experience and discussed the results, which they managed to achieve in two years of work.

- I am very pleased that this issue (challenge of people with disabilities - EuroBelarus) is no more suppressed, it has begun to harmoniously interweave with all the processes that occur in the country and in our region. We are gradually realizing that it's not just people who need our attention, but the people who are entitled to have the same benefits as everybody else enjoys, said Deputy Chairman of the Scucyn Executive Committee Elena Pasyuta.

She noted that the local agenda of Scucyn has the truly significant local issues reflected, and representatives of various organizations and residents of the area contributed to their defining.

Photo of "EuroBelarus" Information Service

Head of the Department of Tourism and Investment Activities of the Administration of Economics of Scucyn Executive Committee Alexandr Amshey stressed that as a result of the work on the agenda the most comprehensive cross-section of relevant issues for people with disabilities in the region was obtained.

- Agenda is a strategy of our actions, the roadmap. The path will not be easy, but we have got now the development direction. It is the most valuable.

Photo of "EuroBelarus" Information Service

According to Director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski, Scucyn has a good potential for successful implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

- We have been working in different cities. Youd think, how large Belarus is? But in all the cities, all the five agendas are different. This confirms once again that it is impossible to solve the same problem in different areas in a similar way, noticed Siarhei Drazdouski.

Photo of "EuroBelarus" Information Service

Deputy Director of the Office on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Mikhail Matskewich reminded about the main stages of the campaign "Agenda 50". He said that with the signing of the local agenda, cooperation with the campaign participants in Scucyn will not finish: the Office has prepared several educational activities which the local community can participate in later.

According to the director of Territorial Center for Social Service of Scucyn Angelina Shpakovskaya, the local participants were shocked at the beginning of the campaign because they did not know where to start from. But the "22 steps" technique, designed by the campaign Polish partners from the TUS foundation helped to structure the work - and the things went on.

At the work start, the participants formulated 12 problems, but many of the issues were addressed in the work course. The final document defines 4 problems to deal with:

- It is the scarce illumination of distant streets, lack of social taxi, insufficient accessibility of buildings and structures and low socialization and employment possibilities of people with disabilities. All these problems will be addressed. We have 5 people who have been certified under the "Inclusive barista" project, people are getting jobs through the center of employment, as well. A lot depends on the willingness of the people themselves - this is very important, summed up Angelina Shpakovskaya.

Photo of "EuroBelarus" Information Service

The outcome of the round table in Scucyn was the signing of the local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Prior to that, such documents were signed by the campaigners in Stoubcy and Stolin for their regions.

Photo of "EuroBelarus" Information Service

***

The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)".

The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland)and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus.
A witness to the car crash that killed eight people outside a migrant shelter in Texas says the driver made anti-immigrant remarks before he was detained by members of the public.

Suspect George Alvarez, 34, has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after Sunday mornings incident.

Police say they are still investigating whether the crash was intentional as well as the drivers alleged remarks.

Earlier police revealed that Mr Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple assault charges.

And shocking security camera footage shared by Texas congressman Henry Cuellar showed the moment a grey Ranger Rover, travelling along North Minnesota Avenue towards Boca Chica Boulevard, smashed into the crowd outside of the citys Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center.

The Venezuelan government has called for an investigation to determine if the crash was deliberate and motivated by hate or xenophobia, after it emerged that several of the victims were from Venezuela.

Key Points

Death toll rises to eight from horror crash at Texas bus stop

Driver behind crash named as George Alvarez

Shocking video captures moments before fatal incident at Brownsville migrant shelter

Injured man says driver insulted migrants and shouted: Youre invading my property!'

Venezuela calls for hate crime investigation

A Venezuelan migrant who survived the crash is worried for the future of his family

16:10 , Graig Graziosi

Telemundos Noticias gained access to one of the victims struck and injured during the Brownsville crash that left eight people dead and 10 seriously hurt.

Gabriel Gallardo spoke with Noticias from his hospital bed where he is recovering from the crash. His leg was severed after George Alvarez, the driver, allegedly ran into him and more than a dozen other men waiting for a bus in Brownsville.

Mr Gallardo said he set out for the US to try to build a future for his children, but now fears his dreams are broken.

Story continues

I came to look for a better future for my children and now it turns out that I have no legs. My dreams have all been broken, he says in the interview.

 | ''Vine a buscar un mejor futuro para mis hijos y ahora resulta que no tengo piernas. Mis suenos todos se han roto'', dice migrante venezolano sobreviviente del arrollamiento en Brownsville.



@TelemundoNews pic.twitter.com/zPYP1SBwIw  Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundial2) May 9, 2023

Man arrested for allegedly pointing gun at migrant centre near Brownsville crash site

15:08 , Graig Graziosi

A man was reportedly arrested after he was spotted pointing a gun at the Ozanam Centre in Brownsville, Texas. Eight people  many migrants  were killed just outside the centres gates over the weekend after George Alvarez, 34, allegedly hit them with his car.

On Monday, a driver reportedly approached the migrant centres gate with a gun and attempted to enter, prompting a lockdown. News Nations Ali Bradley was at the centre when it happened and spoke with witnesses who said they saw a man in a blue car with a gun try to ram the gates to the centre with his vehicle.

#BREAKING A man reportedly just showed up to the Ozanam Center with a pistol and tried to get through the gate.



Everyone was ushered inside the center.

Migrants say the man was driving a dark blue or black car and was pointing his gun at them.



No one was in custody when we pic.twitter.com/0MJoXuIrpi  Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) May 8, 2023

Police later arrested a man matching the description of the suspect. He was charged with marijuana possession. It is unclear if police found a weapon.

TX: UPDATE from Brownsville PD: A man was parked across the street and pointed a gun at the security. The suspect was in a blue car and left. Police located the vehicle and the male driver. He was arrested for possession of Marijuana and our criminal investigation.



Waiting for  Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) May 9, 2023

What are the charges?

13:53 , Rachel Sharp

Suspect George Alvarez, 34, has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after Sunday mornings incident.

Officials announced the charges on Monday.

Further charges could be brought as investigators seek to determine whether or not the crash was intentional.

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from weekend of horror

13:30 , Rachel Sharp

The state of Texas  from the border with Mexico to the swanky suburbs north of Dallas  spent Monday reeling from unimaginable horror.

Traumatised shoppers were gathering in Allen to reclaim vehicles at the outlet mall where an active shooter on Saturday killed eight and injured seven.

Officers in Brownsville were preparing to update the public after a driver plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, again killing eight and injuring at least 10 on Sunday morning.

And police in Dallas were holding a gunman who opened fire on a city light rail line on Sunday afternoon, killing one and injuring two.

The Independents Sheila Flynn reports on Texas horror weekend:

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence

Greg Abbott shows off barbed wire fence in Brownsville  while ignoring migrant deaths

13:10 , Rachel Sharp

Governor Greg Abbott showed off a barbed wire fence in Brownsville on Monday night  while ignoring the deaths of eight migrants in a horror crash one day earlier.

This is one thing Texas is doing to secure the border. This is the area near Brownsville where migrants were crossing in large numbers a few days ago. We now have it wired shut. Other areas will surface for crossing. We will wire them shut also. More to come, he tweeted.

This comes after eight victims were killed when a man rammed into a crowd of migrants waiting at a bus stop outside a migrant shelter on Sunday.

This is one thing Texas is doing to secure the border.



This is the area near Brownsville where migrants were crossing in large numbers a few days ago.



We now have it wired shut.



Other areas will surface for crossing.



We will wire them shut also.



More to come. pic.twitter.com/Otk7dN0lnf  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 9, 2023

George Alvarezs criminal history revealed:

12:50 , Rachel Sharp

During a press conference on Monday, police noted that George Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history.

His past charges include numerous assault charges, an aggravated assault charge, and additional charges for burglary, theft, DUI, and resisting arrest.

He is currently being held on a $3.6m bond, according to CNN.

WATCH: George Alvarez charged with manslaughter

12:28 , Rachel Sharp

Vigil planned for victims for Tuesday

12:05 , Rachel Sharp

A candlelight vigil will be held on Tuesday in honour of the victims killed when a car rammed into a group of migrants outside a shelter in Brownsville, Texas.

The vigil will be held at 7pm MST outside the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday.

Following the tragic incident that occurred last Sunday, May 7 in Brownsville, Texas, which resulted in the deaths of 7 innocent lives, the Border Network for Human Rights will hold a vigil in solidarity with migrants across our state and nation, said the Border Network for Human Rights in a Facebook post.

Seven victims still hospitalised after Brownsville crash

11:45 , Rachel Sharp

Seven victims are still hospitalised with their injuries in the aftermath of the Brownsville horror crash.

Eight people were killed when driver George Alvarez drove into a group of migrants who were waiting for a bus outside the migrant shelter.

The victims have not been publicly identitied.

ICYMI: Everything we know about George Alvarez

11:25 , Rachel Sharp

My colleague Graig Graziosi has rounded up all the information we currently have about the alleged driver of the SUV, George Alvarez.

Police say Mr Alvarez, 34, was well known to them thanks to a long list of previous criminal charges including assault, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

George Alvarez: Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed 8

There isn't any protection for us'

11:05 , Io Dodds

A witness to the crash has given a defiant message to anyone who looks down on undocumented migrants.

The 29-year-old Venezuelan man, who asked for his name to not be published, told local broadcaster KIII that he was outside the shelter when the crash occurred and that his only motive in coming to America was to give his wife and son a better life.

"There isn't any protection for us," said the man. "The people that come walking all the way over here are at the mercy of God....

"If you treat me bad because you think you're better than me, for whatever you reason  you have a house, a job, a car, whatever it is  you find a Venezuelan here walking. You should show some more empathy for us, and that goes for the whole world."

'We're all Hispanics, who feel everything that is happening'

10:45 , Io Dodds

The crash has prompted an outpouring of support from Brownsville residents, who are 95 per cent Hispanic or Latino according to the latest US census.

According to Texas broadcaster KIII, locals have held a vigil for the crash victims and set up a makeshift memorial with flowers and crosses.

"We're all Mexicans, Hispanics, who feel everything that is happening," said one resident, Maria Esparza. "Me and my family came from immigrants, and we came for a better life."

Police considering three possible explanations

10:25 , Io Dodds

Authorities say they are actively considering three distinct possibilities about Sunday's crash, according to CNN.

The first possibility is that the driver of the SUV was intoxicated (police have taken a blood sample). The second is that the car may have "malfunctioned". The third is that it was a deliberate attack.

"All of these are possibilities", Brownsville Police spokeperson Martin Sandoval told the cable news channel.

Some victims killed in car crash arrived night before

09:25 , Namita Singh

Cesar Romero, 34, a Venezuelan national who witnessed his friends being run over by the vehicle told CNN some of the men killed had just arrived the night before.

Mr Romero corroborated accounts by other witnesses that the driver, who police have identified as George Alvarez, tried to run away and yelled obscenities before being held by other bystanders until police arrived.

In pictures: Venezuelan migrants at a vigil near the Plaza Bus Station

09:13 , Namita Singh

Venezuelan Maria Cabarcas (L), 43, holds her phone with the picture of who she believes is her deceased son, Enyerbeth Cabarcas, 23, who allegedly was one of the eight victims after an SUV plowed into a crowd, in Brownsville, Texas on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Wilmer Colima (C), mourns his step son, Enyerbeth Cabarcas, 23, who allegedly was one of the eight victims after an SUV plowed into a crowd, in Brownsville, Texas on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Venezuelan migrants mourn as they gather near The Plaza Bus Station, in Brownsville, Texas on 8 May 2023, a day after an SUV plowed into a crowd and killed eight (AFP via Getty Images)

Venezuelan migrants chant and hold a Venezuelan national flag as they gather near The Plaza Bus Station, in Brownsville, Texas on 8 May 2023, a day after an SUV plowed into a crowd and killed eight (AFP via Getty Images)

Outpouring of support for migrants after Brownsville crash

09:03 , Namita Singh

Brownsville residents gathered outside Oznam Center at a makeshift memorial to pay their respects to those killed in the crash.

For a number of locals, the tragedy was personal. Were all Mexicans, Hispanics, who feel everything that is happening, Rio Grande Valley Maria Esparza told ABC affiliate KIIITV.

Not one person is prepared to encounter and experience all that journey, a 29-year-old man said on condition of anonymity. I cant even mention what the dangers are the majority of this, you need luck to deal with most of this.

Im here with my wife and my son, he said. I have family in Venezuela, still. All my family is there still. My dad, my mom, my grandparents, brothers, uncles.

Venezuelan migrants mourn as they gather near The Plaza Bus Station, in Brownsville, Texas on 8 May 2023, a day after an SUV plowed into a crowd and killed eight (AFP via Getty Images)

He said that while the journey to the US soil was tough, the latest incident has made it worse.

There isnt any protection for us, he said. The people that come walking all the way over here are at the mercy of God.

If you treat me bad because you think youre better than me, for whatever you reason -- you have a house, a job, a car, whatever it is -- you find a Venezuelan here walking, he said. You should show some more empathy for us, and that goes for the whole world.

ICYMI: Brownville mayor Trey Mendezs update following crash

09:02 , Graig Graziosi

The citys mayor posted an update on Facebook following the crash, noting the increased death toll, reporting the lack of information from the driver and promising a police press conference later today.

He also thanked emergency service personnel for their response and expressed his condolences to the shelter staff reeling from the tragedy.

Brownsvilles mayor gives an update on the incident (Trey Mendez/Facebook)

Shocking video captures moments before car rammed into migrants outside Brownsville shelter

08:50 , Namita Singh

'I had time to think, do I jump forward or backward?'

07:31 , Io Dodds

Another Ozanam resident has described how he faced lethal danger on his trek from Venezuela to Texas, only to be nearly killed by Sunday's crash.

Yohonny Miratriz told The New York Times that he was right in the path of the SUV when it flipped on its side and skidded towards a group of migrants waiting outside the shelter.

"I had time to think, do I jump forward or backward?" said Mr Miratriz. Which way would give me a better chance at survival?" He went forward, and the truck clipped his leg.

"At first it didnt hurt. I was in shock, but then the pain came rushing. How did I survive? I think only God knows," he said, adding that one of his friends died in the crash.

It was a grim welcome for someone who already felt lucky to have survived the difficult foot journey from Venezuela.

Mr Miratriz said that while climbing over sharp rocks in the mountainous Darien Gap that links South America to Central America, he watched a woman slip and fall to her death.

"I just kept walking, because I knew that if I hesitated, I could fall to my death too," he told the Times.

Its a terrible, tragic event, says judge

07:29 , Namita Singh

Cameron county judge Eddie Trevino Jr said on Monday that does not know whether Sundays crash was a hate crime, as he mourned the loss of souls.

I think the community as a whole is in mourning for the loss of the souls, Judge Trevino said at the Brownsville Police station on Monday, where the suspect, George Alvarez, was being held.

Its a terrible, tragic event. And regardless, whether it was intentional or accidental, it doesnt matter. Those now eight individuals that lost their lives and the other 10 that are hospitalised, were praying for them and for their families.

Theres still no confirmation whether the driver struck the group of people intentionally as a hate crime, as police continue to investigate the motive.

I hope it wasnt [deliberate], Judge Trevino said. The indications are this was just a terrible, tragic accident.

I dont feel welcome: Migrants on edge after crash

07:26 , Namita Singh

A day after an SUV ploughed into a crowd of people waiting for a bus outside a migrant shelter in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, refugees and asylum seekers have come forward to raise concerns about their safety.

Junior, a bartender from Venezuela says he travelled for months to reach Brownsville. Looking for a construction job in the city, he said he was waiting at the bus stop when he saw a car bareling towards him. He moved five feet to the side, crouching on the ground as he covered his head with his hands.

While he escaped unhurt, another Venezuelan man he knew died.

A cross setup at a memorial at a vigil for 8 migrants that were run over and killed yesterday waiting at a bus stop on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

Thank God I am alive. But it was awful. He died right in front of me, he told local news website Border Report. No one here has money, so we were all waiting for the city bus.

Only wanting to be identified by his first name, he told the outlet he is afraid to walk on the street now.

I dont feel welcome. And I tried so hard to get to this country, he said.

Junior said the driver had been yelling at the group of migrants, and he feels the crash was a targeted attack.

Two migrants who came from Venezuela in pursuit of American Dream critical

07:03 , Namita Singh

Three out of 10 survivors of the car crash were able to go home on Monday, while seven more are still being treated at a local hospital.

Of them, two are the brother and cousin of Jose Luis Ruiz, who travelled together from Venezuela to pursue the American Dream.

He told CBS affiliate KHOU that he does not have much information about their recovery but knows that his brother suffered a severe head injury and both remain in critical condition.

No one feels safe anymore, says migrant

06:49 , Namita Singh

Migrants do not feel safe anymore in Brownsville said an asylum seeker, after the car crash incident on Sunday in which an SUV ploughed through 18 people standing at a bus stop near the overnight shelter.

I dont feel safe anymore. No one there feels safe anymore. Everyone there wants to leave, said Jesus Moreno, a migrant in Brownsville told ABC affiliate KSAT-12.

Also a witness to the crash, he told the outlet that he knew one of the victims.Its a moment where you enter shock, Mr Moreno said.

The mentality of that 18-year-old that died there was different. He wanted to work. He wanted to buy his mom a house.

Its dangerous, he said of migrants. The people are scared now. The people dont confide in anyone.

ICYMI: Surge in arrivals from Venezuela prompted Brownsville to declare state of emergency

06:09 , Graig Graziosi

Brownsville has seen a surge in the number of Venezuelan migrants arriving over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, local authorities said in light of yesterdays incident.

On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texas Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

The surge prompted Brownsville commissioners to indefinitely extend a declaration of emergency during a special meeting held last week, as local, state and federal resources coordinated enforcement and humanitarian response.

We dont want them wandering around outside, Pedro Cardenas, a city commissioner, said in the wake of Sundays deadly crash. So, were trying to make sure theyre as comfortable as they can be so they dont have to go out and look for anywhere else.

Brownsville has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border and it has become a key location of interest for next weeks end to pandemic-era border restrictions known as Title 42. The Ozanam shelter is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.

NEW: Stunning new footage from our amazing Fox Flight Team showing enormous groups of hundreds arriving in Brownsville this afternoon @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/l3ldMZ5jFY  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 8, 2023

Victim was headed to New York to start new life

06:06 , Namita Singh

Angel Carvacas, one of the victims killed in the Brownsville car crash, was on his way to reunite with his mother when the SUV ploughed through him.

I saw him on the ground, it was as if the world fell apart, his cousin, Silbio, told CBS News. The two of them were headed to New York to start their new lives in the country, he told the outlet.

He looked out a lot for his family, Silbio said. He worried a lot for his family.

How did I survive? I think only god knows

05:53 , Namita Singh

Yohonny Miratriz was walking with his friend near the shelter, when he saw the SUV skidding towards him.I had time to think, do I jump forward or backward? he told the New York Times.

Which way would give me a better chance at survival?

Mr Miratriz, who made it through the rough terrain while on his way from Venezuela to Texas border, says he decided to dive head first before the truck hit his left leg.

A votive candle sits next to a spray-painted evidence marker at the site of the deadly crash where eight migrants were run over and killed yesterday waiting at a bus stop on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

At first it didnt hurt. I was in shock, but then the pain came rushing, he told the outlet. How did I survive? I think only God knows.Mr Miratriz shared that he lost his friend Luis Matute to the crash, while another friend Johan Quiroz was severely injured.

Driver yelled anti-immigration insults, claims witness

05:35 , Namita Singh

Michael Eduardo de Aponte Fonseca, an eyewitness, has claimed that crash driver George Alvarez yelled anti-immigration insults at the group.

I saw what happened around me, and I didnt want to see more, he told the New York Times.

I grabbed my things, and scared and in shock I crossed the street.Most of the victims stay in Brownsville to do odd jobs and get a little money so they can move on, Mr Fonseca said. But, some of those folks tonight will not reach their destination.

Meanwhile, police were also looking into reports that he had uttered anti-immigration remarks.

Criminal history of George Alvarez

05:32 , Namita Singh

George Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history, police said during a press conference on Monday.

His past charges include numerous assault charges, an aggravated assault charge, and additional charges for burglary, theft, DUI, and resisting arrest.

He is currently being held on a $3.6m bond, according to CNN.

Mr Alvarez allegedly attempted to flee the scene of the incident after he struck the victims and rolled his jeep.

Bystanders reportedly stopped Mr Alvarez and kept him detained until police arrived. He was then taken into police custody and then to an area hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained in the wreck.

Police said Mr Alvarez was being very uncooperative with them during their initial investigation.

Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed eight migrants

05:15 , Namita Singh

Police in Brownsville, Texas, have identified the driver who crashed his SUV into a group of people waiting for a bus outside a migrant centre, killing eight and seriously injuring 10 others.

Since the wreck, police and the FBI have been investigating the cause of the crash, including whether or not the incident was intentional.

The government of Venezuela, noting that several of the victims were migrants from the country, has called for a thorough investigation into the drivers motives.

Heres everything we know about the Brownsville driver:

Vigil for victims at Texas State Capitol

05:08 , Namita Singh

A vigil was held at the Texas State Capitol on Monday night in honour of those killed after an SUV ploughed into them in Brownsville. At least eight were killed and 10 injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, NGOs advocating for migrant rights sought justice for the victims.

We grieve for the victims in Brownsville, Texas who were run over outside a migrant shelter where people from around the world are seeking asylum and safety, Oni Blair, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

Votive candles, flowers and crosses setup at a memorial for eight migrants that were run over and killed today waiting at a bus stop on 7 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

We understand the motive is still under investigation, she said as she urged the authorities to ensure that witnesses feel safe enough to give their account without fear of retribution or deportation.

This horrific event comes after weeks of escalating anti-immigrant policy-making by Texas politicians and while the Biden administration considers imposing a new asylum ban aimed at deterring, rather than welcoming, migrants seeking protection, she told the outlet.

Catholic Charities director: Migrants dont service this tragic reality

04:55 , Graig Graziosi

Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the Ozanam Center in Brownsville typically houses some migrants overnight and had received no direct threats in connection with the border crisis in recent weeks.

Sister Pimentel said it was truly unfortunate that this tragic thing happened, according to NBC.

Its something that, with all the attention to the migrants, it must pick up the attention to those who are against them.

Migrants dont deserve to face this tragic reality, she added.

Venezuela calls for hate crime investigation

04:47 , Namita Singh

The Venezuelan government called for an investigation to determine if the incident was motivated by hate or xenophobia after it emerged that the victims were all male and several of them from Venezuela.

The local police have so far not ruled out the possibility of the crash being intentional, said officials, adding they are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether driver George Alvarez was intoxicated as he drove into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville.

A Venezuelan flag flies at the site of the deadly crash where 8 migrants were run over and killed yesterday waiting at a bus stop on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

Brownsville, a city of some 165,000 people on the US border with Mexico, and other communities are bracing for a likely surge in migrants when a Covid-19 restriction known as Title 42 is set to end on Thursday.

Title 42, in place since 2020, allows US authorities to quickly expel migrants caught crossing the border illegally, without giving them the chance to seek US asylum.

Driver George Alvarezs charged with manslaughter

04:15 , Namita Singh

An SUV driver who killed eight people when he slammed into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville, Texas, was charged with manslaughter, police said on Monday as investigators tried to determine if the crash was intentional.

Authorities believe driver George Alvarez, 34, of Brownsville, lost control after running a red light on Sunday morning, and ploughed into a crowd outside a migrant centre in the city, which has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border.

The picture of 34-year-old George Alvarez, the driver, that killed eight people and injured at least 10 when he plowed into the crowd early Sunday, is displayed by the Brownsville Police Department at a news conference in Brownsville, Texas, on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Police Chief Felix Sauceda said Mr Alvarez was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Well see each other in a bit: Victims friend shares last conversation he had with them

04:12 , Namita Singh

On Monday morning, Jackson Duarte, 30, a Venezuelan migrant, was sporting a haircut from a friend he made at the Ozanam shelter, where they were both staying.

It was the last haircut hed receive from him.

Mr Duarte said three people he met at the shelter were among the victims; two of them died while a third is in the hospital with a missing limb. He said one of his friends who was killed was a barber, and the other was a young man who had recently celebrated a birthday.

Shortly before the crash, Mr Duarte had decided to share an Uber with a friend rather than wait for the bus downtown. It was during that ride that Mr Duarte began receiving messages about the fatal accident through WhatsApp.

Two migrants bow their heads during a prayer at a vigil at the Ozanam Center, a homeless and migrant shelter, on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

When I got there, the survivors had already been taken. I counted about seven people who had died, he recalled.Mr Duarte said his friend, whom he described as a studious and ambitious young man, was going downtown to reunite with his mother after crossing the border. Only Mr Duarte made it to the bus station.

Unfortunately, I had to share that with his mom, he said. She was desperate, because her son had just turned 18 years old and they had gone through so much trying to get here just so that hed lose his life here.

His other friend, the barber, was also heading downtown to look for a cellphone after raising money by offering haircuts, he had told Mr Duarte.

Mr Duarte said his friend told him Well see each other in a bit, and that it was one of the last things his friend said to him.

It hit me really hard. I still feel bad. I dont believe it. I dont feel well. I couldnt sleep all night, Mr Duarte said, breaking down as he thought about his friends who lost their lives.

Police awaits drivers toxicology report

04:10 , Namita Singh

Officials are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether driver George Alvarez was intoxicated as he drove into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville, Police Chief Felix Sauceda said, adding that there was no motive that he could discuss.

Asked about reports from witnesses that the accused was cursing at them, Mr Sauceda said there was nothing to confirm that yet.

Brownsville Police Department Chief Felix Sauceda announces manslaughter charges against George Alvarez, a local resident who allegedly plowed his SUV into a crowd killing eight men, during a news conference in Brownsville, Texas, on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The SUV ran a red light, lost control, flipped on its side and hit 18 people, Mr Sauceda told reporters Monday morning. Six people died on the scene and 12 people were critically injured, he said. Officials have said the death toll rose later.

Mr Alvarez tried to flee, but was held down by several people on the scene, he said. His bail was set at $3.6m.

First responders joined Sunday night prayer vigil after car crash tragedy

03:48 , Graig Graziosi

The aforementioned Bishop Flores said Mass at the Ozanam migrant shelter last night for the victims of yesterdays horrific road smash.

Many first responders attended the Mass, he states. Pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great.

I, with Bp Mario & local clergy, said Mass at the Ozanam Center this evening, to offer consolation to the immigrants and staff.

Pray for those who saw it happen; they are devastated. Many first responders attended the Mass; pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great. pic.twitter.com/372n51B17P  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

Ozanam resident describes near miss with danger

03:00 , Io Dodds

A resident of the Ozanam migrant shelter has described his near miss with catastrophe after making a last-minute decision to take an Uber instead of a bus.

Jackson Duarte, 30, from Venezuela, told the Associated Press that he might have been one of the migrants waiting for transport outside the shelter had he not decided to share a taxi with a friend.

While in the car, he said, they began getting WhatsApp messages about the tragedy. Two of his friends at the shelter were killed, and the second is in hospital with a missing limb.

One of the dead was young man who had recently celebrated his birthday. The other was a barber who had recently cut Mr Duarte's hair, and who was heading downtown to reunite with his mother after crossing the US border.

"Unfortunately, I had to share that with his mom," Mr Duarte said. "She was desperate, because her son had just turned 18 years old and they had gone through so much trying to get here just so that hed lose his life here...

"It hit me really hard. I still feel bad. I dont believe it. I dont feel well. I couldnt sleep all night," Duarte said, breaking down as he thought about his friends who lost their lives.

Brownsville bishop: We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants

01:59 , Graig Graziosi

Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has issued the following pointed statement on Sundays tragedy.

As we await a fuller report from law enforcement authorities, let us stop for a moment to mourn these losses of life and to pray. Pray for the victims, pray for the families and loved ones, and pray for our community, Bishop Flores said.

We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor, and the vulnerable. Let us take extra steps as a local community to care for and protect one another, especially the most vulnerable.

Statement from the Bishop on the Deaths of Immigrants near the Ozanam Center in Brownsville pic.twitter.com/Yvz9mJtPM8  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

George Alvarez: Everything we know

01:10 , Io Dodds

What do we know so far about the alleged driver George Alvarez?

The 34-year-old, described by police as "very uncooperative", reportedly has a lengthy criminal history  including assault, burglary, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that this was deliberate attack, and are investigating claims that the driver was hurling invective at migrants just before the crash.

My colleague Graig Graziosi explains more here.

George Alvarez: Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed 8

How Texass weekend of violence unfolded

Tuesday 9 May 2023 00:07 , Io Dodds

The state of Texas, from the border with Mexico to the swanky suburbs north of Dallas, has spent today reeling from unimaginable horror.

In three separate incidents over two days, 18 people were killed:

Eight by a shooter in Dallas on Saturday afternoon, plus the gunman himself

Eight more by the SUV that drove into a crowd yesterday morning

One more in a shooting on Dallas's DART metro line yesterday afternoon

In a new feature, my colleague Sheila Flynn explains how this weekend of violence unfolded and how it has affected Texans. You can read her full story here.

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence

Shocking video captures moments before car rammed into migrants outside Brownsville shelter

Monday 8 May 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

Shelter director describes horror crash

Monday 8 May 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

The director of the migrant shelter where the crash unfolded has spoken out about the horror scene.

Victor Maldonado, the director of the Ozanam Center, told CNN that there was about 20 to 25 migrants outside the centre waiting for a bus.

He said the migrants were from Venezuala and had come to the shelter about two or three days earlier.

Security footage from the shelter captured what happened next.

The SUV sped quickly along the road, crashing into the group.

Mr Maldonado said he and a staff member ran outside and came across the horrific scene with victims body parts strewn around.

He said that they are both still in shock from what they saw.

Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people outside a migrant centre

Monday 8 May 2023 20:16 , Graig Graziosi

Eight people were killed and 10 others injured after a driver in Brownsville, Texas, plowed his SUV into a group pedestrians waiting for a bus.

Many of the individuals hit by the SUV were migrants who had just left a nearby migrant centre, according to Brownsville police.

The crash comes at a time when Texans are still recovering from another shocking tragedy involving public violence  a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen  and just weeks after Brownsville issued a state of emergency due to an influx of Venezuelan migrants to the region.

Heres everything we know about the crash:

Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people

Driver in Brownsville wreck held on $3.6m bond

Monday 8 May 2023 19:25 , Graig Graziosi

George Alvarez, 34, the man identified by police as the driver of a grey SUV that slammed into migrants in Brownsville, Texas, is reportedly being held on a $3.6m bond, according to the citys police chief, Felix Sauceda.

The wreck left eight people  many Venezuelan migrants  dead and 10 others seriously injured.

Mr Alvarez has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Venezuela calls on US law enforcement to fully investigate the cause of the fatal Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 18:37 , Graig Graziosi

The Venezuelan government issued a statement calling on US authorities to fully investigate the cause of the crash that left 8 people  many Venezuelan migrants  dead and 10 others injured.

Caracas has asked for police to thorougly investigate in order to rule out any intentions related to hate and xenophobic practices against Venezuelan people ... a product of a culture of violence and intolerance promoted by extremist sectors of US politics and society.

Venezuela calls on U.S. authorities to thoroughly investigate and clarify the causes of the killings of at least 7 people, among them Venezuelan nationals, after a group of migrants was ran over with a vehicle in the U.S. border city of Brownsville, Texas  today. @yvangil pic.twitter.com/V1OIuISNSe  Camila (@camilapress) May 8, 2023

FBI pictured at the scene of Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 17:25 , Joe Sommerlad

With the investigation still ongoing and the local police department leaving many questions unanswered after that brief press conference, here is a short clip of federal agents visiting the scene on Sunday.

NEW: FBI on scene in Brownsville where a driver struck a group of individuals killing 7, injuring several others with migrants among the fatalities. Driver in custody after being detained by bystanders @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/mJ6boPi4k3  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 7, 2023

George Alvarez pictured in police mugshot

Monday 8 May 2023 16:55 , Joe Sommerlad

Heres a picture of the suspect in Sundays deadly car crash, courtesy of the Brownsville PD.

George Alvarez is seen in his mugshot after deadly crash outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Police Department)

Driver behind crash named as George Alvarez

Monday 8 May 2023 16:43 , Joe Sommerlad

Brownsville police chief Felix Sauceda names the suspect in the case as Brownsville resident George Alvarez, 34, whom he says has an extensive cirminal record.

He says the department is still awaiting toxicology results from the suspect and that it is too soon to determine a motive, telling one reporter that investigators have not yet definitively ruled whether the episode was an accident or intentional.

Brownsville police chief Felix Sauceda (Screenshot/KMOV)

He adds that the victims are all male and that the investigation remains ongoing before swiftly departing, answering only a handful of questions from the press.

My colleague Graig Graziosi has this report on the latest developments.

George Alvarez identified as driver in Texas migrant shelter crash

Brownsville police to give press conference

Monday 8 May 2023 16:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The local police department in Texas are due to give an update in around 10 minutes time, livestreaming on Facebook.

Recap: Shocking video captures moment before car rammed into migrants

Monday 8 May 2023 15:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Heres the latest on the security camera footage of the incident, of which we are only able to share an abridged version for reasons of sensitivity.

Shocking video captures moment before car rammed into migrants in Brownsville

Ozanam Center director: People have come by the gate to say the reason this happened is because of us

Monday 8 May 2023 15:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Despite the tensions surrounding the influx of Venezuelan migrants and the subsequent declaration of emergency, Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the Ozanam shelter had not received any direct threats prior to Sundays events.

Victor Maldonado, the centers director, likewise said there had been no prior threats  but there have been since.

Ive had a couple of people come by the gate and tell the security guard that the reason this happened was because of us, he told the AP.

Surge in arrivals from Venezuela prompted Brownsville to declare state of emergency

Monday 8 May 2023 14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Brownsville has seen a surge in the number of Venezuelan migrants arriving over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, local authorities said in light of yesterdays incident.

On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texas Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

The surge prompted Brownsville commissioners to indefinitely extend a declaration of emergency during a special meeting held last week, as local, state and federal resources coordinated enforcement and humanitarian response.

We dont want them wandering around outside, Pedro Cardenas, a city commissioner, said in the wake of Sundays deadly crash. So, were trying to make sure theyre as comfortable as they can be so they dont have to go out and look for anywhere else.

Brownsville has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border and it has become a key location of interest for next weeks end to pandemic-era border restrictions known as Title 42. The Ozanam shelter is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.

NEW: Stunning new footage from our amazing Fox Flight Team showing enormous groups of hundreds arriving in Brownsville this afternoon @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/l3ldMZ5jFY  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 8, 2023

About 2,500 migrants have crossed through the Rio Grande river daily into Brownsville in the past few days, Mr Cardenas said.

He added that Border Patrol is aware of the citys capacity of 1,000 at their processing area near the crossing point and a downtown building where city employees and volunteers guide migrants on how to purchase bus or plane tickets to their final destinations. The city is considering expanding those services to accommodate needs in the coming days, Mr Cardenas said.

While 80 per cent of people released from federal custody typically leave the same day, the citys emergency management official said, a bottleneck has formed over the past few days.

Most of the people coming across dont want to stay in Brownsville, but we dont have enough buses for them to buy their ticket to leave, Mr Cardenas said. Some are waiting for family members.

The Ozanam shelter itself can hold 250 people.

In the last two months, weve been getting 250 to 380 a day, its director Victor Maldonado said.

While the shelter offers migrants transportation during the week, they also use the citys public transportation.

Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, said in a statement shared on Sunday afternoon: I hope that today serves as a wake up call, and that state officials will begin investing in a humanitarian response that might have helped the people who were impacted by this mornings tragedy.

US representative Vicente Gonzalez said that local officials are in communication with the federal government about the crash.

We are all extremely sad and heartbroken to have such a tragedy in our neighbourhood, he said.

AP
A witness to the car crash that killed eight people outside a migrant shelter in Texas says the driver made anti-immigrant remarks before he was detained by members of the public.

Suspect George Alvarez, 34, has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after Sunday mornings incident.

Police say they are still investigating whether the crash was intentional as well as the drivers alleged remarks.

Earlier police revealed that Mr Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple assault charges.

And shocking security camera footage shared by Texas congressman Henry Cuellar showed the moment a grey Ranger Rover, travelling along North Minnesota Avenue towards Boca Chica Boulevard, smashed into the crowd outside of the citys Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center.

The Venezuelan government has called for an investigation to determine if the crash was deliberate and motivated by hate or xenophobia, after it emerged that several of the victims were from Venezuela.

Key Points

Death toll rises to eight from horror crash at Texas bus stop

Driver very uncooperative in hospital, police say

Shocking video captures moments before fatal incident at Brownsville migrant shelter

Injured man says driver insulted migrants and shouted: Youre invading my property!'

Driver behind crash named as George Alvarez

Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people outside a migrant centre

ICYMI: Surge in arrivals from Venezuela prompted Brownsville to declare state of emergency

06:09 , Graig Graziosi

Brownsville has seen a surge in the number of Venezuelan migrants arriving over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, local authorities said in light of yesterdays incident.

On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texas Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

The surge prompted Brownsville commissioners to indefinitely extend a declaration of emergency during a special meeting held last week, as local, state and federal resources coordinated enforcement and humanitarian response.

Story continues

We dont want them wandering around outside, Pedro Cardenas, a city commissioner, said in the wake of Sundays deadly crash. So, were trying to make sure theyre as comfortable as they can be so they dont have to go out and look for anywhere else.

Brownsville has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border and it has become a key location of interest for next weeks end to pandemic-era border restrictions known as Title 42. The Ozanam shelter is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.

NEW: Stunning new footage from our amazing Fox Flight Team showing enormous groups of hundreds arriving in Brownsville this afternoon @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/l3ldMZ5jFY  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 8, 2023

Victim was headed to New York to start new life

06:06 , Namita Singh

Angel Carvacas, one of the victims killed in the Brownsville car crash, was on his way to reunite with his mother when the SUV ploughed through him.

I saw him on the ground, it was as if the world fell apart, his cousin, Silbio, told CBS News. The two of them were headed to New York to start their new lives in the country, he told the outlet.

He looked out a lot for his family, Silbio said. He worried a lot for his family.

How did I survive? I think only god knows

05:53 , Namita Singh

Yohonny Miratriz was walking with his friend near the shelter, when he saw the SUV skidding towards him.I had time to think, do I jump forward or backward? he told the New York Times.

Which way would give me a better chance at survival?

Mr Miratriz, who made it through the rough terrain while on his way from Venezuela to Texas border, says he decided to dive head first before the truck hit his left leg.

A votive candle sits next to a spray-painted evidence marker at the site of the deadly crash where eight migrants were run over and killed yesterday waiting at a bus stop on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

At first it didnt hurt. I was in shock, but then the pain came rushing, he told the outlet. How did I survive? I think only God knows.Mr Miratriz shared that he lost his friend Luis Matute to the crash, while another friend Johan Quiroz was severely injured.

Driver yelled anti-immigration insults, claims witness

05:35 , Namita Singh

Michael Eduardo de Aponte Fonseca, an eyewitness, has claimed that crash driver George Alvarez yelled anti-immigration insults at the group.

I saw what happened around me, and I didnt want to see more, he told the New York Times.

I grabbed my things, and scared and in shock I crossed the street.Most of the victims stay in Brownsville to do odd jobs and get a little money so they can move on, Mr Fonseca said. But, some of those folks tonight will not reach their destination.

Meanwhile, police were also looking into reports that he had uttered anti-immigration remarks.

Criminal history of George Alvarez

05:32 , Namita Singh

George Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history, police said during a press conference on Monday.

His past charges include numerous assault charges, an aggravated assault charge, and additional charges for burglary, theft, DUI, and resisting arrest.

He is currently being held on a $3.6m bond, according to CNN.

Mr Alvarez allegedly attempted to flee the scene of the incident after he struck the victims and rolled his jeep.

Bystanders reportedly stopped Mr Alvarez and kept him detained until police arrived. He was then taken into police custody and then to an area hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained in the wreck.

Police said Mr Alvarez was being very uncooperative with them during their initial investigation.

Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed eight migrants

05:15 , Namita Singh

Police in Brownsville, Texas, have identified the driver who crashed his SUV into a group of people waiting for a bus outside a migrant centre, killing eight and seriously injuring 10 others.

Since the wreck, police and the FBI have been investigating the cause of the crash, including whether or not the incident was intentional.

The government of Venezuela, noting that several of the victims were migrants from the country, has called for a thorough investigation into the drivers motives.

Heres everything we know about the Brownsville driver:

Vigil for victims at Texas State Capitol

05:08 , Namita Singh

A vigil was held at the Texas State Capitol on Monday night in honour of those killed after an SUV ploughed into them in Brownsville. At least eight were killed and 10 injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, NGOs advocating for migrant rights sought justice for the victims.

We grieve for the victims in Brownsville, Texas who were run over outside a migrant shelter where people from around the world are seeking asylum and safety, Oni Blair, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

Votive candles, flowers and crosses setup at a memorial for eight migrants that were run over and killed today waiting at a bus stop on 7 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

We understand the motive is still under investigation, she said as she urged the authorities to ensure that witnesses feel safe enough to give their account without fear of retribution or deportation.

This horrific event comes after weeks of escalating anti-immigrant policy-making by Texas politicians and while the Biden administration considers imposing a new asylum ban aimed at deterring, rather than welcoming, migrants seeking protection, she told the outlet.

Catholic Charities director: Migrants dont service this tragic reality

04:55 , Graig Graziosi

Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the Ozanam Center in Brownsville typically houses some migrants overnight and had received no direct threats in connection with the border crisis in recent weeks.

Sister Pimentel said it was truly unfortunate that this tragic thing happened, according to NBC.

Its something that, with all the attention to the migrants, it must pick up the attention to those who are against them.

Migrants dont deserve to face this tragic reality, she added.

Venezuela calls for hate crime investigation

04:47 , Namita Singh

The Venezuelan government called for an investigation to determine if the incident was motivated by hate or xenophobia after it emerged that the victims were all male and several of them from Venezuela.

The local police have so far not ruled out the possibility of the crash being intentional, said officials, adding they are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether driver George Alvarez was intoxicated as he drove into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville.

A Venezuelan flag flies at the site of the deadly crash where 8 migrants were run over and killed yesterday waiting at a bus stop on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

Brownsville, a city of some 165,000 people on the US border with Mexico, and other communities are bracing for a likely surge in migrants when a Covid-19 restriction known as Title 42 is set to end on Thursday.

Title 42, in place since 2020, allows US authorities to quickly expel migrants caught crossing the border illegally, without giving them the chance to seek US asylum.

Driver George Alvarezs charged with manslaughter

04:15 , Namita Singh

An SUV driver who killed eight people when he slammed into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville, Texas, was charged with manslaughter, police said on Monday as investigators tried to determine if the crash was intentional.

Authorities believe driver George Alvarez, 34, of Brownsville, lost control after running a red light on Sunday morning, and ploughed into a crowd outside a migrant centre in the city, which has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border.

The picture of 34-year-old George Alvarez, the driver, that killed eight people and injured at least 10 when he plowed into the crowd early Sunday, is displayed by the Brownsville Police Department at a news conference in Brownsville, Texas, on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Police Chief Felix Sauceda said Mr Alvarez was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Well see each other in a bit: Victims friend shares last conversation he had with them

04:12 , Namita Singh

On Monday morning, Jackson Duarte, 30, a Venezuelan migrant, was sporting a haircut from a friend he made at the Ozanam shelter, where they were both staying.

It was the last haircut hed receive from him.

Mr Duarte said three people he met at the shelter were among the victims; two of them died while a third is in the hospital with a missing limb. He said one of his friends who was killed was a barber, and the other was a young man who had recently celebrated a birthday.

Shortly before the crash, Mr Duarte had decided to share an Uber with a friend rather than wait for the bus downtown. It was during that ride that Mr Duarte began receiving messages about the fatal accident through WhatsApp.

Two migrants bow their heads during a prayer at a vigil at the Ozanam Center, a homeless and migrant shelter, on 8 May 2023 in Brownsville, Texas (Getty Images)

When I got there, the survivors had already been taken. I counted about seven people who had died, he recalled.Mr Duarte said his friend, whom he described as a studious and ambitious young man, was going downtown to reunite with his mother after crossing the border. Only Mr Duarte made it to the bus station.

Unfortunately, I had to share that with his mom, he said. She was desperate, because her son had just turned 18 years old and they had gone through so much trying to get here just so that hed lose his life here.

His other friend, the barber, was also heading downtown to look for a cellphone after raising money by offering haircuts, he had told Mr Duarte.

Mr Duarte said his friend told him Well see each other in a bit, and that it was one of the last things his friend said to him.

It hit me really hard. I still feel bad. I dont believe it. I dont feel well. I couldnt sleep all night, Mr Duarte said, breaking down as he thought about his friends who lost their lives.

Police awaits drivers toxicology report

04:10 , Namita Singh

Officials are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether driver George Alvarez was intoxicated as he drove into a group waiting at a bus stop in Brownsville, Police Chief Felix Sauceda said, adding that there was no motive that he could discuss.

Asked about reports from witnesses that the accused was cursing at them, Mr Sauceda said there was nothing to confirm that yet.

Brownsville Police Department Chief Felix Sauceda announces manslaughter charges against George Alvarez, a local resident who allegedly plowed his SUV into a crowd killing eight men, during a news conference in Brownsville, Texas, on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The SUV ran a red light, lost control, flipped on its side and hit 18 people, Mr Sauceda told reporters Monday morning. Six people died on the scene and 12 people were critically injured, he said. Officials have said the death toll rose later.

Mr Alvarez tried to flee, but was held down by several people on the scene, he said. His bail was set at $3.6m.

First responders joined Sunday night prayer vigil after car crash tragedy

03:48 , Graig Graziosi

The aforementioned Bishop Flores said Mass at the Ozanam migrant shelter last night for the victims of yesterdays horrific road smash.

Many first responders attended the Mass, he states. Pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great.

I, with Bp Mario & local clergy, said Mass at the Ozanam Center this evening, to offer consolation to the immigrants and staff.

Pray for those who saw it happen; they are devastated. Many first responders attended the Mass; pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great. pic.twitter.com/372n51B17P  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

Ozanam resident describes near miss with danger

03:00 , Io Dodds

A resident of the Ozanam migrant shelter has described his near miss with catastrophe after making a last-minute decision to take an Uber instead of a bus.

Jackson Duarte, 30, from Venezuela, told the Associated Press that he might have been one of the migrants waiting for transport outside the shelter had he not decided to share a taxi with a friend.

While in the car, he said, they began getting WhatsApp messages about the tragedy. Two of his friends at the shelter were killed, and the second is in hospital with a missing limb.

One of the dead was young man who had recently celebrated his birthday. The other was a barber who had recently cut Mr Duarte's hair, and who was heading downtown to reunite with his mother after crossing the US border.

"Unfortunately, I had to share that with his mom," Mr Duarte said. "She was desperate, because her son had just turned 18 years old and they had gone through so much trying to get here just so that hed lose his life here...

"It hit me really hard. I still feel bad. I dont believe it. I dont feel well. I couldnt sleep all night," Duarte said, breaking down as he thought about his friends who lost their lives.

Brownsville bishop: We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants

01:59 , Graig Graziosi

Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has issued the following pointed statement on Sundays tragedy.

As we await a fuller report from law enforcement authorities, let us stop for a moment to mourn these losses of life and to pray. Pray for the victims, pray for the families and loved ones, and pray for our community, Bishop Flores said.

We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor, and the vulnerable. Let us take extra steps as a local community to care for and protect one another, especially the most vulnerable.

Statement from the Bishop on the Deaths of Immigrants near the Ozanam Center in Brownsville pic.twitter.com/Yvz9mJtPM8  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

George Alvarez: Everything we know

01:10 , Io Dodds

What do we know so far about the alleged driver George Alvarez?

The 34-year-old, described by police as "very uncooperative", reportedly has a lengthy criminal history  including assault, burglary, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that this was deliberate attack, and are investigating claims that the driver was hurling invective at migrants just before the crash.

My colleague Graig Graziosi explains more here.

George Alvarez: Everything we know about driver in Brownsville crash that killed 8

How Texass weekend of violence unfolded

Tuesday 9 May 2023 00:07 , Io Dodds

The state of Texas, from the border with Mexico to the swanky suburbs north of Dallas, has spent today reeling from unimaginable horror.

In three separate incidents over two days, 18 people were killed:

Eight by a shooter in Dallas on Saturday afternoon, plus the gunman himself

Eight more by the SUV that drove into a crowd yesterday morning

One more in a shooting on Dallas's DART metro line yesterday afternoon

In a new feature, my colleague Sheila Flynn explains how this weekend of violence unfolded and how it has affected Texans. You can read her full story here.

Two days, three attacks, 18 dead: Texas reels from horrifying weekend of violence

Shocking video captures moments before car rammed into migrants outside Brownsville shelter

Monday 8 May 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

Shelter director describes horror crash

Monday 8 May 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi

The director of the migrant shelter where the crash unfolded has spoken out about the horror scene.

Victor Maldonado, the director of the Ozanam Center, told CNN that there was about 20 to 25 migrants outside the centre waiting for a bus.

He said the migrants were from Venezuala and had come to the shelter about two or three days earlier.

Security footage from the shelter captured what happened next.

The SUV sped quickly along the road, crashing into the group.

Mr Maldonado said he and a staff member ran outside and came across the horrific scene with victims body parts strewn around.

He said that they are both still in shock from what they saw.

Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people outside a migrant centre

Monday 8 May 2023 20:16 , Graig Graziosi

Eight people were killed and 10 others injured after a driver in Brownsville, Texas, plowed his SUV into a group pedestrians waiting for a bus.

Many of the individuals hit by the SUV were migrants who had just left a nearby migrant centre, according to Brownsville police.

The crash comes at a time when Texans are still recovering from another shocking tragedy involving public violence  a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen  and just weeks after Brownsville issued a state of emergency due to an influx of Venezuelan migrants to the region.

Heres everything we know about the crash:

Everything we know about the Brownsville, Texas crash that killed 8 people

Driver in Brownsville wreck held on $3.6m bond

Monday 8 May 2023 19:25 , Graig Graziosi

George Alvarez, 34, the man identified by police as the driver of a grey SUV that slammed into migrants in Brownsville, Texas, is reportedly being held on a $3.6m bond, according to the citys police chief, Felix Sauceda.

The wreck left eight people  many Venezuelan migrants  dead and 10 others seriously injured.

Mr Alvarez has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Venezuela calls on US law enforcement to fully investigate the cause of the fatal Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 18:37 , Graig Graziosi

The Venezuelan government issued a statement calling on US authorities to fully investigate the cause of the crash that left 8 people  many Venezuelan migrants  dead and 10 others injured.

Caracas has asked for police to thorougly investigate in order to rule out any intentions related to hate and xenophobic practices against Venezuelan people ... a product of a culture of violence and intolerance promoted by extremist sectors of US politics and society.

Venezuela calls on U.S. authorities to thoroughly investigate and clarify the causes of the killings of at least 7 people, among them Venezuelan nationals, after a group of migrants was ran over with a vehicle in the U.S. border city of Brownsville, Texas  today. @yvangil pic.twitter.com/V1OIuISNSe  Camila (@camilapress) May 8, 2023

FBI pictured at the scene of Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 17:25 , Joe Sommerlad

With the investigation still ongoing and the local police department leaving many questions unanswered after that brief press conference, here is a short clip of federal agents visiting the scene on Sunday.

NEW: FBI on scene in Brownsville where a driver struck a group of individuals killing 7, injuring several others with migrants among the fatalities. Driver in custody after being detained by bystanders @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/mJ6boPi4k3  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 7, 2023

George Alvarez pictured in police mugshot

Monday 8 May 2023 16:55 , Joe Sommerlad

Heres a picture of the suspect in Sundays deadly car crash, courtesy of the Brownsville PD.

George Alvarez is seen in his mugshot after deadly crash outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Police Department)

Driver behind crash named as George Alvarez

Monday 8 May 2023 16:43 , Joe Sommerlad

Brownsville police chief Felix Sauceda names the suspect in the case as Brownsville resident George Alvarez, 34, whom he says has an extensive cirminal record.

He says the department is still awaiting toxicology results from the suspect and that it is too soon to determine a motive, telling one reporter that investigators have not yet definitively ruled whether the episode was an accident or intentional.

Brownsville police chief Felix Sauceda (Screenshot/KMOV)

He adds that the victims are all male and that the investigation remains ongoing before swiftly departing, answering only a handful of questions from the press.

My colleague Graig Graziosi has this report on the latest developments.

George Alvarez identified as driver in Texas migrant shelter crash

Brownsville police to give press conference

Monday 8 May 2023 16:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The local police department in Texas are due to give an update in around 10 minutes time, livestreaming on Facebook.

Recap: Shocking video captures moment before car rammed into migrants

Monday 8 May 2023 15:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Heres the latest on the security camera footage of the incident, of which we are only able to share an abridged version for reasons of sensitivity.

Shocking video captures moment before car rammed into migrants in Brownsville

Ozanam Center director: People have come by the gate to say the reason this happened is because of us

Monday 8 May 2023 15:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Despite the tensions surrounding the influx of Venezuelan migrants and the subsequent declaration of emergency, Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the Ozanam shelter had not received any direct threats prior to Sundays events.

Victor Maldonado, the centers director, likewise said there had been no prior threats  but there have been since.

Ive had a couple of people come by the gate and tell the security guard that the reason this happened was because of us, he told the AP.

Surge in arrivals from Venezuela prompted Brownsville to declare state of emergency

Monday 8 May 2023 14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Brownsville has seen a surge in the number of Venezuelan migrants arriving over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, local authorities said in light of yesterdays incident.

On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texas Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

The surge prompted Brownsville commissioners to indefinitely extend a declaration of emergency during a special meeting held last week, as local, state and federal resources coordinated enforcement and humanitarian response.

We dont want them wandering around outside, Pedro Cardenas, a city commissioner, said in the wake of Sundays deadly crash. So, were trying to make sure theyre as comfortable as they can be so they dont have to go out and look for anywhere else.

Brownsville has long been an epicentre for migration across the US-Mexico border and it has become a key location of interest for next weeks end to pandemic-era border restrictions known as Title 42. The Ozanam shelter is the only overnight shelter in the city and manages the release of thousands of migrants from federal custody.

NEW: Stunning new footage from our amazing Fox Flight Team showing enormous groups of hundreds arriving in Brownsville this afternoon @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/l3ldMZ5jFY  Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) May 8, 2023

About 2,500 migrants have crossed through the Rio Grande river daily into Brownsville in the past few days, Mr Cardenas said.

He added that Border Patrol is aware of the citys capacity of 1,000 at their processing area near the crossing point and a downtown building where city employees and volunteers guide migrants on how to purchase bus or plane tickets to their final destinations. The city is considering expanding those services to accommodate needs in the coming days, Mr Cardenas said.

While 80 per cent of people released from federal custody typically leave the same day, the citys emergency management official said, a bottleneck has formed over the past few days.

Most of the people coming across dont want to stay in Brownsville, but we dont have enough buses for them to buy their ticket to leave, Mr Cardenas said. Some are waiting for family members.

The Ozanam shelter itself can hold 250 people.

In the last two months, weve been getting 250 to 380 a day, its director Victor Maldonado said.

While the shelter offers migrants transportation during the week, they also use the citys public transportation.

Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, said in a statement shared on Sunday afternoon: I hope that today serves as a wake up call, and that state officials will begin investing in a humanitarian response that might have helped the people who were impacted by this mornings tragedy.

US representative Vicente Gonzalez said that local officials are in communication with the federal government about the crash.

We are all extremely sad and heartbroken to have such a tragedy in our neighbourhood, he said.

AP

First responders joined Sunday night prayer vigil after car crash tragedy

Monday 8 May 2023 14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The aforementioned Bishop Flores said Mass at the Ozanam migrant shelter last night for the victims of yesterdays horrific road smash.

Many first responders attended the Mass, he states. Pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great.

I, with Bp Mario & local clergy, said Mass at the Ozanam Center this evening, to offer consolation to the immigrants and staff.

Pray for those who saw it happen; they are devastated. Many first responders attended the Mass; pray for them also, for the burden they carry is great. pic.twitter.com/372n51B17P  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

Police questioning driver after eight killed and nine injured in bus stop crash

Monday 8 May 2023 14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

As we await further updates on this story, heres a look back at my colleague Graeme Massies orginal report on the tragedy.

Seven dead after being run over in front of Brownsville Texas migrant shelter

Man injured in crash says driver insulted migrants and shouted: Youre invading my property!'

Monday 8 May 2023 13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

While local police have insisted so far that they have yet to establish whether the drivers actions were intentional or accidental, comments made by one man at the scene cast doubt on that position.

Luis Herrera, 33, who was hit by the SUV on Sunday and suffered a broken arm in the incident, claimed the driver was taunting the migrants before the crash took place.

He crossed the street and he hit the gas and he drove by my legs, and hurt my arm. The others, he killed almost all of them, The Washington Post quotes him as saying.

The Post also reports that Mr Herrera recalls the driver yelling: Youre invading my property!

Driver very uncooperative at the hospital say police

Monday 8 May 2023 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The suspect accused of ramming his car into a crowd in Brownsville was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained when the car rolled over, police have said, adding that he was being very uncooperative at the hospital.

But he will be transported to our city jail as soon as he gets released, they added. Then well fingerprint him and [take a] mug shot, and then we can find his true identity. Police retrieved a blood sample and sent it to a Texas Department of Public Safety lab to test for intoxicants.

Brownsville investigator Lt Martin Sandoval said there are three possible explanations for the collision: It could be intoxication; it could be an accident; or it could be intentional. In order for us to find out exactly what happened, we have to eliminate the other two.

Catholic Charities director: Migrants dont service this tragic reality'

Monday 8 May 2023 12:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said the Ozanam Center in Brownsville typically houses some migrants overnight and had received no direct threats in connection with the border crisis in recent weeks.

Sister Pimentel said it was truly unfortunate that this tragic thing happened, according to NBC.

Its something that, with all the attention to the migrants, it must pick up the attention to those who are against them.

Migrants dont deserve to face this tragic reality, she added.

Brownsville bishop: We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants'

Monday 8 May 2023 12:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has issued the following pointed statement on Sundays tragedy.

As we await a fuller report from law enforcement authorities, let us stop for a moment to mourn these losses of life and to pray. Pray for the victims, pray for the families and loved ones, and pray for our community, Bishop Flores said.

We must resist the corrosive tendency to devalue the lives of immigrants, the poor, and the vulnerable. Let us take extra steps as a local community to care for and protect one another, especially the most vulnerable.

Statement from the Bishop on the Deaths of Immigrants near the Ozanam Center in Brownsville pic.twitter.com/Yvz9mJtPM8  Amigo de Frodo (@bpdflores) May 8, 2023

Brownville mayor Trey Mendez posts update

Monday 8 May 2023 12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The citys mayor has posted this update on Facebook, noting the increased death toll, reporting the lack of information from the driver and promising a police press conference later today.

He also thanks emergency service personnel for their response and expresses his condolences to the shelter staff reeling from the tragedy.

Brownsvilles mayor gives an update on the incident (Trey Mendez/Facebook)

Recap: What we know so far

Monday 8 May 2023 11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

If youre just joining us, this is what we know so far about Sundays shocking incident near a migrant shelter in the Texas border city of Brownsville.

A grey Range Rover SUV slammed into a crowd of people waiting for a bus outside of a migrant shelter known as the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center in Brownsville at approximately 8.30am on Sunday morning.

Eight people died in the incident and another nine were hospitalised, the victims largely composed of Venezuelan men said to be returning to downtown Brownsville after spending the night at the shelter.

The driver, an unnamed Hispanic male, was reportedly detained at the scene by bystanders and is also now in hospital and has been charged with reckless driving. He has been described by police as very uncooperative.

They are seeking to establish whether his actions were accidental or intentional and are working to determine whether he was intoxicated by alcohol or drugs at the time.

One witness told local media: We were going to the airport and it happened unexpectedly because a woman in a car passed by and advised us to separate and moments later the killer was coming in the car gesturing and insulting us.

Shocking video captures moments before car rammed into migrants outside Brownsville shelter

Monday 8 May 2023 11:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Be warned, some viewers may find this security camera footage taken at the scene distressing.

Shelter director describes horror crash

Monday 8 May 2023 10:25 , Rachel Sharp

The director of the migrant shelter where the crash unfolded has spoken out about the horror scene.

Victor Maldonado, the director of the Ozanam Center, told CNN that there was about 20 to 25 migrants outside the centre waiting for a bus.

He said the migrants were from Venezuala and had come to the shelter about two or three days earlier.

Security footage from the shelter captured what happened next.

The SUV sped quickly along the road, crashing into the group.

Mr Maldonado said he and a staff member ran outside and came across the horrific scene with victims body parts strewn around.

He said that they are both still in shock from what they saw.

Investigation continues into Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 10:00 , Namita Singh

An SUV slammed into a crowd of people waiting for a bus Sunday outside a migrant shelter in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 10, police said as they prepared to arrest the hospitalized driver.

With no bench at the unmarked city bus stop, some of the victims were sitting on the curb around 8.30am when the driver hit them, surveillance video from the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center showed. Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said police did not know whether the collision was intentional.

Police work at the scene after a driver crashed into several people in Brownsville, Texas, on 7 May 2023 (AFP/Getty)

Shelter director Victor Maldonado said the SUV ran up the curb, flipped and continued moving for about 200ft. Some people walking on the sidewalk about 30ft from the main group were also hit, Mr Maldonado said. Witnesses detained the driver as he tried to run away and held him until police arrived, he said.

This SUV, a Range Rover, just ran the light that was about 100ft away and just went through the people who were sitting there in the bus stop, said Mr Maldonado, who reviewed the shelters surveillance video.

Victims struck by the vehicle were waiting for the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after having spent the night at the overnight shelter, said Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valle.

Death toll climbs to eight from horror crash

Monday 8 May 2023 09:40 , Rachel Sharp

The death toll from the horror crash outside a migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas, has now climbed to eight.

Seven people were found dead at the scene and 10 others were rushed to hospitals.

Later on Sunday, an eighth victim succumbed to their injuries in hospital, officials said.

Video: Pedestrians hurt after driver ploughs into crowd near Texas migrant shelter

Monday 8 May 2023 09:00 , Namita Singh

Heres a local news report on this developing story.

Injured victim describes Brownsville crash

Monday 8 May 2023 08:00 , Namita Singh

One injured victim told Valley Central that the group of men were sitting on the curb near the bus stop when a grey Range Rover slammed into them.

Luis Herrera told the news channel that he and his friends, a number of whom were killed, were waiting to go to the airport when they were struck by the vehicle.

We were going to the airport and it happened unexpectedly because a woman in a car passed by and advised us to separate and moments later the killer was coming in the car gesturing and insulting us, Mr Herrera said.

Deadly Bus Stop Crash (NewsNation/KVEO-TV)

Most victims struck by SUV were Venezuelan, say police

Monday 8 May 2023 07:30 , Namita Singh

Most of the victims struck by the vehicle were Venezuelan men, said shelter director Victor Maldonado. Brownsville has seen a surge of Venezuelan migrants over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, authorities claimed.

On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texass Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

Police have so far not attributed the motive to the incident, adding that they are probing if it was intentional or accidental.

Death toll rises to eight

Monday 8 May 2023 07:12 , Namita Singh

The death toll has risen to eight in the incident of an SUV slamming into a crowd of people waiting for a bus on Sunday outside a migrant shelter in the border city of Brownsville, Texas.

At least 10 others were injured, police said, as they prepared to arrest the hospitalised driver.

Police shut down road as seven killed after being run over in Texas

Monday 8 May 2023 07:00 , Namita Singh

Driver very uncooperative at the hospital say police

Monday 8 May 2023 07:14 , Namita Singh

The suspect who allegedly rammed his car into a crowd at a Texas border town was taken to the hospital for injuries sustained when the car rolled over, said police, adding that he was being very uncooperative at the hospital.

But he will be transported to our city jail as soon as he gets released, said the police. Then well fingerprint him and (take a) mug shot, and then we can find his true identity.

Police retrieved a blood sample and sent it to a Texas Department of Public Safety lab to test for intoxicants.

Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said there are three possible explanations for the collision: It could be intoxication; it could be an accident; or it could be intentional. In order for us to find out exactly what happened, we have to eliminate the other two.

SUV driver hits crowd at Texas bus stop near border; 7 dead

Monday 8 May 2023 06:30 , Namita Singh

An SUV slammed into a crowd of people waiting for a bus Sunday outside a migrant shelter in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, killing at least seven people and injuring at least 10, police said as they prepared to arrest the hospitalized driver.

With no bench at the unmarked city bus stop, some of the victims were sitting on the curb around 8.30am when the driver hit them, surveillance video from the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center showed. Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said police did not know whether the collision was intentional.

Police work at the scene after a driver crashed into several people in Brownsville, Texas, on 7 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Shelter director Victor Maldonado said the SUV ran up the curb, flipped and continued moving for about 200ft. Some people walking on the sidewalk about 30ft from the main group were also hit, Mr Maldonado said. Witnesses detained the driver as he tried to run away and held him until police arrived, he said.

This SUV, a Range Rover, just ran the light that was about 100ft away and just went through the people who were sitting there in the bus stop, said Mr Maldonado, who reviewed the shelters surveillance video.

Victims struck by the vehicle were waiting for the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after having spent the night at the overnight shelter, said Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.

Pictures from scene of crash in Brownsville

Monday 8 May 2023 06:00 , Namita Singh

(AP)

(AP)

(AP)

Images from scene of fatal Texas crash

Monday 8 May 2023 05:00 , Namita Singh

(AP)

(AP)

(AP)

Mayorkis briefed on Brownsville deaths

Monday 8 May 2023 04:04 , Graeme Massie

Seven dead after being deliberately run over in front of Texas migrant shelter, say police

Monday 8 May 2023 02:02 , Graeme Massie

Accident involving Range Rover took place outside citys Ozanam Center say police.

Seven dead after being deliberately run over in front of Texas migrant shelter

7 dead, at least 6 injured after driver plows into Brownsville crowd near migrant shelter

Sunday 7 May 2023 22:53 , Graeme Massie

Officials say 7 dead at scene and 12 wounded taken to hospitals

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:18 , Graeme Massie

7 individuals have been pronounced dead at the scene and 11 transported to local hospitals. 1 individual was airlifted to Valley Baptist Harlingen. The area is still closed to traffic, stated Brownsville Fire Department on Facebook.

Some migrants among dead, say police

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:54 , Graeme Massie

Some migrants were killed in the incident, Lt Sandoval told Fox News.

We are doing an investigation in forms of intoxication to see if he was intoxicated at the time of the accident, said Lt Sandoval.

Seven dead outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:17 , Graeme Massie

This is a live blog covering a car accident in Brownsville, Texas, that left seven people dead outside a migrant shelter.
Texas Capitol in Austin Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images

Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton (R) resigned Monday, a day before he faced near-certain expulsion in the state House following an investigation into his conduct with young female legislative aides and interns. Specifically, a report released Saturday concluded that Stanton had invited a 19-year-old aide over to his condo in Austin on the night of March 31, gave her three large cups of rum and coke, had unprotected sex with her later that night, then tried to intimidate the unidentified woman and her friends to keep them silent.

Due to the large amount of alcohol, the aide "could not effectively consent to intercourse and could not indicate whether it was welcome or unwelcome," the report from the General Investigations Committee concluded. The five-member panel unanimously endorsed expelling Slaton.

Slaton, 45, was one of the Texas House's most socially conservative members. He is married and has served as a Southern Baptist youth and family minister. In his resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Slaton said he looks forward to "spending more time with my young family" and did not mention the sexual misconduct that led to his departure. He did not show up on the House floor Monday.

Slaton's "resignation gave no apology to the young woman he violated, his wife whom he betrayed, or his district that he failed," Rep. Steve Toth (R) wrote on social media. "No remorse. No acceptance of responsibility. ... That was the resignation of a narcissist."

Rep. Andrew Murr (R), chairman of the House General Investigations Committee, said he will still call up his motion to expel Slaton on Tuesday. "Under Texas law he is considered to be an officer of this state until a successor is elected and takes the oath of office to represent Texas House District 2," he wrote on Facebook.

By the time Slaton submitted his resignation on Monday, a growing number of colleges, the Texas Republican Party, and former backers including the Texas Right to Life anti-abortion group called for his exit. Abbott cannot call a special election to fill Slaton's seat before the legislative session ends in late May, The Texas Tribune reports.

Story continues

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The Texas House of Representatives passed the Athena Alert bill Tuesday, allowing law enforcement to quickly issue a regional alert when a child goes missing without confirmation of a kidnapping, according to the Varghese Summersett Injury Law Group.

House Bill 3556, also known as the Athena Alert bill, aims to close the gap between the time a child disappears and when a statewide Amber Alert may be issued.

The bill is named in memory of 7-year-old Athena Strand, who authorities say was kidnapped and killed by a FedEx driver last year in Wise County.

The bill would allow law enforcement to activate an alert within an 100-mile radius and to neighboring counties of where a child is believed to have gone missing or was last seen, according to the Fort Worth law firm hired by Athenas mother, Maitlyn Gandy.

The legislation, authored by Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Sanger, is on its way to the Senate. It will be carried by Sens. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Angela Paxton, R-McKinney. If passed, the bill will make its way to the governors desk.

I would like to thank Rep. Stucky and other lawmakers for their support of an Athena Alert in honor of my daughter, Gandy said in a news release. An Athena Alert will give law enforcement the ability to quickly notify the local public about a missing child in their area, even if the case doesnt meet the strict criteria for a statewide Amber Alert.

If a localized alert had been issued as soon as Athena went missing, it could have made a difference, Gandy said. We will never know, but I do know that I never want another parent to feel the helplessness that I felt. Law enforcement wanted to sound an alert, but under the current laws criteria, they just couldnt.

On Nov. 30, 2022, Athena was playing in the front yard of her fathers Paradise, Texas home in rural Wise County when she went missing.

An Amber Alert wasnt issued until the following afternoon  about 24 hours later  when investigators determined that her disappearance met the criteria for an Amber Alert, which is defined in Texas Government Code Section 411.355 and requires law enforcement to believe that a child has been abducted.

Story continues

The following day, Athena was found dead about six miles from her fathers home. A FedEx Ground driver, Tanner Horner, was arrested and charged with capital murder in her killing and kidnapping.

He is facing the death penalty if convicted.

Horner told investigators that he killed Athena the same day that he kidnapped her, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Horner said that he hit the girl with his truck while delivering a Christmas present outside her home and panicked, putting Athena in the back of his truck, where he strangled her, according to the warrant.

Rep. Stucky, who represents Wise County as part of District 64, filed the Athena Alert bill in March after consulting with Gandy and her attorneys at Varghese Summersett, which filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Horner, FedEx, and contractor Big Topspin, in March.

Last month, Gandy and her attorney, Benson Varghese, traveled to Austin to testify before the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, which voted unanimously to advance the bill to the full Texas House of Representatives.

Varghese called an Athena Alert common sense legislation that will not result in additional taxes or financial burdens on the public.

This proposed law is not intended to replace the AMBER Alert  an incredible law that has saved hundreds of childrens lives, Varghese said. It extends an alert system that is already in place, allowing it to be used locally during the early stages of an investigation into the disappearance of a child.

Because it is local, we believe more people will pay closer attention to the message when they hear it. The sooner we can get the word out, the more likely a child can be found, said Varghese.
A Texas House committee advanced a bill Monday that would raise the minimum age to buy some semi-automatic rifles, a surprising moment for the Republican-led chamber.

Two Republicans, state Reps. Sam Harless and Justin Holland, joined six Democrats to advance the bill, HB 2744, in an 8-5 vote. The legislation would raise the minimum age required to buy many semi-automatic firearms from 18 to 21. Police officers, military members and veterans would be exempt for the law, as would those who use the firearms for hunting or competition.

But despite Mondays victory, the bill faces a difficult battle to become law in Texas Republican-controlled legislature, which has moved to ease gun restrictions in recent years despite a spate of mass shootings. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said he didnt believe the bill had the votes to pass, but told the Texas Tribune he would not move to block it from being debated.

The bill was championed by relatives of the victims of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting last year that left 21 people dead, including 19 kids. Supporters rallied in the Texas Capitol building Monday chanting raise the age! and became emotional as it advanced through the panel. The shooter in the Uvalde attack used an AR-15-style rifle that was legally purchased just days after he turned 18, and critics of the legislature argue the massacre may have been prevented with stricter gun control laws.

Protesters gather at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 8, 2023, to call for tighter regulations on gun sales. A gunman killed several people at a Dallas-area mall Saturday.

Protesters gather at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 8, 2023, to call for tighter regulations on gun sales. A gunman killed several people at a Dallas-area mall Saturday.

Tess didnt have a choice in life or death. But you as leaders have a choice of what my daughters life will be remembered for, Veronica Mata, whose daughter was killed in the Uvalde shooting, told lawmakers last month during a hearing on the bill. Will she die in vain or will her life have saved another child?

Mondays development came just days after a gunman opened fire at a mall in Allen, Texas, killing eight people and hospitalizing seven others before he was killed by police. The gunman in that attack was 33, meaning any changes in the law would not have impacted his ability to acquire a semi-automatic weapon.

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Another gunman shot and killed five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, last month after they asked him to stop firing a gun in his yard.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Sunday the state would focus its efforts on addressing mental health problems behind gun violence, but did not mention gun control.

President Joe Biden has urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, saying he would sign such legislation immediately if possible. But such efforts are also unlikely to make headway in the GOP-controlled house.

Related...
Emergency personnel work the scene of a mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas on May 6, 2023.

The man accused of killing eight people at a Texas shopping mall recently obtained large Nazi tattoos, praised other mass shooters and wrote just ahead of his attack that he would "fight hate with more hate."

Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old who police say opened fire with an assault rifle on shoppers at the Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday, posted his diaries, photographs of his tattoos, and cryptic warnings of his coming attack on the Russian social media site OK.RU.

His diaries expressed hate for women, Jews, and "diversity," rarely commenting on his own Hispanic ethnicity.

He also posted pictures of his guns, body armor, and patches of skulls and the initials for "Right Wing Death Squad" popular with far-right militias.

But there was no indication that Garcia was a part of any group or had the support of anyone else in his Saturday attack.

Garcia was shot dead by a police officer shortly after launching his attack on the busy mall in the suburb north of Dallas, authorities said.

His victims included three members of a Korean-American family, two sisters of elementary school age, an Indian-American engineer, a security guard at the mall and a 32-year-old man.

- Nazi groups and incels -

MSNBC reported that US law enforcement were examining Garcia's web pages on OK.RU as part of their investigation into the killing.

There were strong indications that the page labelled "PsycoVision5," using a logo of a smiley face with a Hitler-style moustache, was Garcia's.

It included extensive personal pictures, photos of his identity papers, a traffic ticket, and other personal items that closely tied him to the page.

Garcia posted photos of tattoos he obtained last month, including a large swastika on his chest and the logo of the Nazi Party's Waffen SS paramilitary body.

He also posted images of modern neo-Nazi groups, which he apparently took from the internet, writing next to them "My kind of people."

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There was no indication he belonged to such a group, however.

In his writings he identified himself with "incels," men whose relationship failures lead them to despise women.

His Hispanic ethnicity sparked questions about how he could support the white supremacy ideology of Nazis.

But Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a professor at American University who studies extremism, said it was not strange for a person who is not considered white in some communities to subscribe to white supremacist extremism (WSE).

"The very category of whiteness is always changing. & neo-Nazi, WSE movements are not only about race," she wrote on Twitter.

Some ethnic minorities may identify or see themselves as white, she wrote.

"Some are attracted to other parts of the supremacist beliefs -- the misogyny, the Christian supremacy," she said.

pmh/mlm
Eight people were killed in Saturday's rampage at a Texas shopping mall

A gunman who killed eight people at a Texas shopping mall last weekend appeared to have neo-Nazi beliefs, but targeted people at random, law enforcement officials have said.

Police said the 33-year-old suspect appeared to have chosen his victims with no regard for their race or sex.

He had not been in trouble with the law before Saturday's attack in the city of Allen, police said.

Investigators are reviewing his social media.

The suspect, Dallas resident Mauricio Garcia, was shot dead at the scene by a police officer.

"We do know he had neo-Nazi ideation," Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Regional Director Hank Sibley told a news conference on Tuesday. "He had patches. He had tattoos."

Visible during the attack was a clothing patch the killer wore with the letters RWDS, which stands for "right-wing death squad", a phrase popular among white supremacist groups.

"To me, it looks like he targeted the location rather than a specific group of people. He was very random in the people he killed, it didn't matter the age, race or sex," said Mr Sibley.

"The big question that we're dealing with right now is what's his motive, why did he do this? Well, the big question is, we don't know."

He added that the man had legally bought eight weapons, including the AR-15 he was seen firing. Three firearms were found in his possession, while another five were in his vehicle.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Center on Extremism said on Tuesday that research into the suspect's social media indicate he was "obsessed with violence and subscribed to a range of extremist ideologies, including antisemitism, violent misogyny and white supremacy".

Mr Sibley also confirmed reports of the gunman's brief stint - and discharge - from the US Army.

"Early on in basic training, they realised, from what I've seen, that he was not a fit for the army," he said, adding "there were some questions about his fitness for duty".

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According to the US Defence Department, the suspect entered the army in June 2008 and was "terminated three months later without completing initial entry training" because of "physical or mental conditions".

His weekend attack, which took the lives of three children as young as three and left seven other people injured, ended when a police officer responding to an unrelated call killed him on the scene.

The suspect had by then shot 15 people inside the crowded Allen Premium Outlet Malls within the space of three or four minutes, according to the Texas DPS.

Zach Horn, an attorney for the responding officer, released a statement to local media lauding him as "a brave servant" who had "sprinted towards high power rifle fire as everyone else ran away".

"He's doing well and would appreciate privacy as he continues to process this life-altering tragedy," Mr Horn said.
Survivors leave the scene of a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas (Associated Press)

Eight people have died and seven were injured when a gunman dressed in tactical gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.

The suspect was shot dead by a police officer who was responding to an unrelated call, police said.

He has been identified by law enforcement sources as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, according to NBC News.

Hundreds of shoppers fled from Allen Premium Outlets, a large outdoor shopping centre, after gunfire erupted at about 3.30pm local time on Saturday.

Seven people, including the gunman, were pronounced dead at the scene, and two more died after being taken to hospital, the Allen Police Department said.

Heres what we know so far about the shooting.

How the shooting unfolded

Dashcam video circulating on social media appeared to show the gunman getting out of a grey sedan just outside the malls entrance and immediately begin shooting at passersby in the carpark.

More than three dozen shots could be heard on the footage.

Witnesses told CNN that panicked shoppers screamed and hid behind cars as the suspect shot indiscriminately.

Inside the mall, families and employees rushed to take cover in storage areas and hallways, witnesses said.

According to Allen police, an officer attending an unrelated call at Allen Premium Outlets heard gunshots at 3.36pm on Saturday.

The officer engaged the suspect and neutralised the threat, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Hundreds of shoppers exiting the Allen Premium Outlets after a mass shooting on Saturday. (Associated Press)

Audio footage obtained by the Daily Mail captured the officer telling dispatch: I need everybody I got.

About two minutes after calling for backup, the officer told said he got him down.

The area was soon flooded with law enforcement officers and medics.

An image obtained by media appeared to show the suspect lying on the ground after being shot.

He was dressed in black body armour, with additional magazines strapped to his chest, and an AR-15-style rifle was lying beside him.

Maxwell Gum, a 16-year-old pretzel stand worker, told the Associated Press that terrified shoppers stampeded as they sought safety. He said that he sheltered in a storage room.

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Another witness Kingsley Ezeh told CNN he heard a woman behind him scream someones shooting, and saw a man holding a neck wound that was dripping with blood.

Mr Ezeh said he and others huddled at the back of a store for more than two hours as police cleared the scene.

Allen resident Steven Spainhouer said he rushed to the scene after his son, who was working at an H&M store in the outlet, called him.

Dashcam footage shows the gunman opening fire (AP)

Mr Spainhouer said he saw several children among the deceased, and tried to perform CPR on several victims. At least three of the people he tried to save succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

I never imagined in 100 years I would be thrust into the position of being the first first responder on the site to take care of people, Mr Spainhouer told CBS News.

The first girl I walked up to was crouched down covering her head in the bushes, so I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side and she had no face.

Video footage showed hundreds of shoppers exiting the mall with their hands raised.

What we know about the victims

Seven people  including the suspect  were killed at the scene, Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said at a press conference on Saturday. Nine people were transported to hospital, where two more succumbed to their injuries.

Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security guard at the mall, was identified by family members as one of the victims on Sunday.

LaCours grandmother posted a tribute to her grandson on social media.

He was such a beautiful soul, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him 2 weeks ago.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, an engineer who moved to the US from India, was also killed in the attack.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

Thatikonda was shopping with a friend at the mall when she was shot and killed by the gunman, a family representative told WFAA.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting

Her friend was also shot and injured in the shooting and is currently in stable condition in hospital.

Thatikondas family is planning to fly her body to India where she has family.

The identities and ages of the victims have not yet been released, but witnesses reported they included young children.

Three survivors were undergoing surgery and remained in a critical condition on Saturday night, while four others were in a stable condition.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting (Family photo)

Medical City Healthcare spokesperson Janet St James, said their trauma facilities received eight patients between the age of 5 and 61 following the shooting.

What we know about the suspect

Mauricio Garcia, 33, was identified on Sunday as the gunman who killed eight innocent shoppers and mall staff members in Saturdays horror attack.

Garcia drove to the mall with several weapons and opened fire as soon as he stepped out of his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle and a handgun were reportedly found on him and in his car.

Police have not released a possible motive, but investigators are looking into Garcias possible neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs.

Garcia was wearing black body armour and a patch on his chest that suggested he may have harboured extremist ideologies, law enforcement sources told The Washington Post.

A girl runs as other shoppers leave with their hands up after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas

The patch read RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad, a popular phrase among far-right extremists.

Police sources told NBC News that Garcia had posted and engaged with neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online.

People gather at the shopping mall after the mass shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

His accounts appear to have since been taken down.

Garcia entered the US Army in June 2008 but was terminated three months into his initial training, Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman, said in a statement provided to The Independent.

Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterisation of discharge for any soldier, Ms Hagan said.

However, a US Army official indicated Garcia was terminated due to, Other designated physical or mental conditions.

After that, he became a security guard, most recently working for an aluminum supply company.

Through his work as a security guard, Garcia underwent firearms proficiency training as recently as 2018, according to the Texas Online Private Security database.

The online records show that he began training in 2015 before becoming a commissioned security officer in April 2016.

His licence expired in April 2020.

During that time, he is listed as working for three security companies: Ruiz Protective Service, Statewide Patrol and Verified Response Security & Investigations.

Police officer on the scene of the mall shooting

It is unclear why his security guard licence was suspended.

It is unclear if he had any connection to the mall where he carried out Saturdays rampage.

Private security guards are vetted and are barred from gaining a license if they have convictions for crimes such as assault or sexual offenses, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to CBS News reporter JD Miles, Garcia was a security guard with no serious criminal record.

At the time of the shooting, Garcia had reportedly been living in a motel.

A girl runs as other shoppers leave with their hands up after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas (via REUTERS)

FBI agents raided a Dallas home where Garcia had been living with his parents for years, according to Fox News.

Officers were stationed outside the address on Sunday. The suspects family requested a translator to speak with authorities.

The Texas Bureau of Public Safety is leading the investigation into the suspect. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Rangers have also been deployed to assist local law enforcement agencies with the investigation.

What lawmakers are saying

Allen Mayor Ken Fulk said in a statement that the quick thinking of law enforcement had prevented greater loss of life.

Their thorough training not to hesitate to move toward the threat likely saved more lives today.

He said the community would wrap our arms around the victims and familiesimpacted by the tragedy.

Allen is a proud and safe city which makes todays senseless act of violence even more shocking, he said.

Law enforcement officers at a mall in Allen, Texas, where a gunman killed eight people on Saturday. (Associated Press)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who recently signed laws easing gun restrictions, called the mall shooting an unspeakable tragedy.

His comments were met with anger from gun safety advocates, and state and national lawmakers.

Roland Gutierrez, a Texas state senator, told MSNBC there was a special place in hell for lawmakers who do nothing to stem the unprecedented wave of gun violence.

I dont care about their thoughts and I dont care about their prayers, Mr Gutierrez said.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was murdered in the Parkland school shooting, called on Mr Abbott to tell Texans the truth about why mass shootings continue to occur.

You need to explain that your policies failed and that you lied. Your policies are to blame.

Survivors of the Allen mall mass shooting are escorted away from the scene by police officers. (via REUTERS)

President Joe Biden implored Congress to send him a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and enacting universal background checks.

Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug, he said in a statement. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.

He ordered American flags at the White House, public buildings and on military bases to fly at half mast as a mark of respect to the victims.

Senator Ted Cruz said he was praying for the victims and the wider Collin County community.

Thank you to the incredible law enforcement who put a stop to the monster who committed this act of evil.

The shooting came one week after five family members were killed by a neighbour in Cleveland after asking him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been nearly 200 mass shootings already in 2023.

FBI asks for video of shooting

The FBI is asking for anyone with video, audio or photographic evidence of Saturdays shooting to share it with them.

The bureau has set up a portal where evidence can be submitted anonymously.

The FBI told CNN it was present at two locations in Dallas, and is helping state and local police by devoting all available resources to include investigative, intelligence, digital forensics, and victim services personnel among others.

Texas dark weekend

The mall shooting marked the start of a dark weekend for Texas.

In Brownsville, eight people were killed when an SUV slammed into a crowd of people outside a migrant shelter in the border city on Sunday afternoon.

Horrifying footage, taken from a security camera and shared by Texas Rep Henry Cuellar, shows a group of people waiting for a bus outside the citys Ozanam Center. The SUV then rams into the victims.

Seven people died before an eighth victim succumbed to their injuries in hospital later that day. At least nine others were hospitalised.

Most of the victims were Venezuelan men who had spent the night at the shelter and were boarding a bus to return to downtown Brownsville.

Officials initially said that the incident appeared to be intentional and described the driver  whose identity remains unknown  as very uncooperative.

Police on the scene of the car crash in Brownsville

Also on Sunday, one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on a DART train in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday  just a 30-minute drive from the mall massacre.

Gunfire broke out on board a Green Line train near Hatcher Station when two people got into an argument on Sunday afternoon, accoding to authorities.

DART police said that officers were called to reports of a shooting on the northbound train at around 4.30pm.

Officers arrived on the scene to find two people  one of them a bystander  suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were both transported to local hospitals where one of the victims was pronounced dead. The condition of the second victim  the bystander  is unknown.

A third individual was also wounded in the shooting after being struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene, police said.

Now, DART police are searching for the suspected shooter, whose identity is unknown.
MoneyWise

Since the 1980s, the economy has changed in ways that are simply difficult to describe. The real impact of inflation and wage stagnation isnt apparent unless you dig deeper into the numbers. Thats precisely what a recent college grad did when her mother commented on the idea that young workers expect too much.
A mass shooting at a Texas outlet mall over the weekend nearly decimated two families, leaving three children dead and another orphaned, their loved ones and officials said Monday.

Eight people were fatally shot and a half-dozen more were injured when a 33-year-old gunman, who was later killed by police, opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets, about 25 miles north of Dallas, authorities said.

The victims include a young boy and his parents, two elementary school-aged sisters, a security guard working toward his goals, and an engineer with a masters degree.

Kyu Song Cho, 37 and Cindy Cho, 35, were shot dead, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement. Their 3-year-old son, James, was also killed, according to a GoFundMe campaign created to help the family and The Dallas Morning News, which cited the Houston office of the South Korean consulate.

The only surviving member of the family is the couples oldest child, William, who just turned 6, according to the fundraising page.

Young-Hwan Kim, the Houston consul for South Korea, told NBC News that the family were not Korean nationals but Americans. Though he declined to confirm the identities of the victims, the consul said he had been in contact with the family.

Two young sisters also died in the shooting and their mother, Ilda Mendoza, remains in critical condition, according to a letter sent to parents by the girls school.

Daniela Mendoza, a fourth-grader at Cox Elementary in Sachse, Texas, and her sister Sofia Mendoza, a second-grader, were described by the schools principal as rays of sunshine.

Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy, Wylie Independent School District Superintendent David Vinson wrote.

Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them, Vinson added.

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A member of the Mendoza family declined to comment.

Among the other lives cut short was 26-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda, according to her employer; she was also a representative from the Telugu Association of North America, a group that serves the Telugu community and is now assisting her family.

Aishwarya Thatikonda. (via LinkedIN)

Thatikonda was a project engineer at Dallas contracting firm Perfect General Contractors. On the night of the shooting, she had a work meeting scheduled at one of the firms projects, her boss Srinivas Chaluvadi told NBC News.

But as 5 p.m. rolled around, Chaluvadi said he received a call from the company architect, alerting him that the always prompt Thatikonda never showed.

I became more and more fearful and panicked, Chaluvadi said.

Many hours later, he learned that Thatikonda  whom he admired for her work ethic and kind personality  had been killed.

It was delayed identification because her face was mutilated, totally unrecognizable, he said. Its a grief Ive never experienced. I pray that this situation doesnt happen to anybody.

Chaluvadi said he and Thatikonda were from the same town in India and that they had grown close since she began working at the firm in 2020.

Over the years, he said, he considered her to be a second daughter. Thatikonda regularly attended several of Chaluvadis big family events. And later this month, he was planning on organizing an intimate family dinner to celebrate Thatikondas 27th birthday.

Thatikonda earned her masters degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2020, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Thatikondas family will have her remains sent to India, the Telugu Association of North America said.

The shooting also claimed the life of Christian LaCour, a security guard at the mall, his grandmother Sandra Montgomery shared on Facebook.

Texas mall shooting victim Christian LaCour. (via KXAS)

LaCour was a such a beautiful soul, who had goals for his future and made his grandmother proud, Montgomery wrote, adding that she last saw him two weeks ago.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said Monday that the 23-year-old was from the town of Nevada, northeast of Dallas.

The department also said that Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was gunned down in the shooting.

The mass shooting was the second deadliest in the U.S. this year and the second in Texas in a little over a week.

I know this is almost unbearable, Montgomery wrote.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The man accused of killing eight people and injuring seven others at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, over the weekend was armed with eight weapons, all of which were obtained legally, a state official said Tuesday.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, had three weapons on him and five more in his car, said Hank Sibley, the regional administrator for the Texas Department of Public Safety, at a press conference.

The big question that were dealing with right now is whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley added. Well, the big question is we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

He confirmed Garcia had neo-Nazi ideation, noting he had patches, tattoos, even his signature verified that.

A law enforcement official had told The Associated Press social media accounts and posts believed to belong to Garcia indicated an interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views. Garcia also reportedly was wearing a patch with an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad, a phrase popular with right-wing extremist groups.

However, Sibley noted the alleged shooter appeared to have targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people.

He was very random in the people he killed, Sibley said. It didnt matter the age, same with race or sex. He just shot people, which is horrific in itself.

Three children were among the eight victims of Saturdays shooting, including two elementary-age sisters and a 3-year-old boy and both his parents.

Garcia was killed shortly after the rampage began by a police officer who had been responding to a separate call at the Allen Premium Outlets.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The title treatment for The Little Mermaid (Disney)

Shes almost ready to be a part of our world all over again, with the release of the live-action version of The Little Mermaid swimming onto the horizon.

Fans have been speculating what the latest Disney live-action remake will look like since its initial announcement back in 2016, with production officially beginning in early 2021. After being delayed due to the pandemic, the main body of filming took place at Londons famous Pinewood Studios.

Set to define our favourite fictional mermaid in a completely new way, fan opinions have already been divisive through the high-profile production process.

Read more: The 50 most exciting movies of 2023

Heres everything we know about The Little Mermaid so far.

The Little Mermaid release date

The Little Mermaid currently has a UK and US release date of 26 May, 2023.

Disney fans are having to wait a little longer than expected to head back under the sea, with the films original filming schedule being delayed twice by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Halle Bailey is Ariel in Disney's live action The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

As of yet, theres no set home release date for The Little Mermaid, but expect it to make its streaming debut on Disney+.

The Little Mermaid cast

Halle Bailey pictured at Walt Disney World. (Matt Stroshane/ABC via Getty Images)

If theres one thing the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid makes clear, its that the film will feature a heavily star-studded cast.

Read more: Who is Halle Bailey?

In 2019, Halle Bailey was announced to play the leading role of Ariel, who is best known for being a member of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle.

Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

Shes previously worked with Disney in a role on Let It Shine, with further acting credits including Grown-ish and Last Holiday.

Bridesmaids favourite Melissa McCarthy will star as Ursula, while the role of Prince Eric will be played by Little Womens Jonah Hauer-King.

Melissa McCarthy as Ursula in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

(L-R): Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

Javier Bardem of No Country For Old Men and Skyfall fame will also be appearing as King Triton. Although the film is primarily live-action, there will also be a number of notable voice roles.

Read more: Melissa McCarthy has 'fallen in love' with Ursula

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Hamiltons Daveed Diggs will be taking up the role of Sebastian, while Room star Jacob Tremblay will play opposite as Ariels other faithful sidekick Flounder.

(L-R): Halle Bailey as Ariel and Javier Bardem as King Triton in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

Oceans 8 actor Awkwafina is additionally voicing the role of Scuttle, changing to a female diving bird rather than the male seagull seen in the original adaptation.

Who are the production team behind The Little Mermaid?

Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

Spearheading the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is director Rob Marshall.

Hes previously worked on projects including Mary Poppins Returns, Into The Woods, and Chicago, having received Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations for all three films.

Read more: Original Little Mermaid defends remake casting

Marshall is joined by Hamilton and Encanto songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has confirmed that none of the original hit songs  including Part Of Your World and Kiss The Girl  will be replaced.

Lin-Manual Miranda and Rob Marshall attend Disney's Mary Poppins Returns Paris Gala Screening, 2018. (Getty Images For Disney)

Famed composer Alan Menken will also be returning to the project, hinting that there will be four new songs in addition to fan favourites.

Marshall and Miranda are also producers for The Little Mermaid, and are joined by Marc Platt and John DeLuca.

What do we know about The Little Mermaids plot?

King Triton, Ariel and Flounder in 1989's The Little Mermaid. (Disney/Alamy)

Following in the footsteps of other Disney live-action remakes such as Aladdin and Mulan, fans can expect that most of the main classic elements of The Little Mermaid will remain the same. However, Halle Bailey promises Ariel is much more empowered in the live action remake.

Im really excited for my version of the film because weve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy, Bailey told Edition magazine. Its way bigger than that. Its about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants.

As women we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above, she added. And Im glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.

(L-R): Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

Its likely the viewers will notice a few small changes along the way, particularly given the inclusion of multiple new songs in the films soundtrack. Characters have also been modified to fit the new 2023 cast.

The official Disney synopsis reads:

The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Tritons daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric.

Ariel falls for Prince Eric in 1989's The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

"While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life  and her fathers crown  in jeopardy.

The Little Mermaid first reactions

A still for the new The Little Mermaid trailer. (Disney)

Reactions to Disney live action adaptation began appearing on social media on Tuesday, 9 May after early screenings of the film, and critics were largely praiseworthy of the new take on the classic on Twitter.

Critics were keen to point out Bailey's star-making turn as Ariel, and also heaped praise on her co-stars like Bardem, McCarthy and Diggs for their performances.

Some pointed out issues with the visual effects, particularly during scenes that took place underwater, with one critic saying that it did look "weak and disjointed."

In terms of the music, meanwhile, most remarked on Bailey's success in her singing, but it was also pointed out that one of the film's new songs featured "too much autotune."

One critic wrote that The Little Mermaid "is a live-action remake that retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love, and its elevated even further by a note-perfect star-making performance from Halle Bailey - she was born to be on the big screen, & shes why this new take is worth watching."

(L-R): Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. (Disney)

A critic added: "It may look visually rough under the sea, but THE LITTLE MERMAID eventually recreates some of the originals magic through its timeless story & cast. Daveed Diggs & Melissa McCarthy are highlights but Halle Bailey is the one astonishes with her gorgeous singing & empathetic charm"

One person also said: "Endearing but uneven, #TheLittleMermaid doesnt deliver the magic of the animated classic but there are plenty of creative touches from Rob Marshall to float the audiences boats. Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are great. Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina provide solid comic relief."

Another critic shared that the film "is the best Disney live-action adaptation to date. Halle Bailey IS Ariel. Major props to the sound effects team. Good changes, though one new song with too much autotune. Could watch this versions Under the Sea all day, it was the highlight of the whole thing."

It may look visually rough under the sea, but THE LITTLE MERMAID eventually recreates some of the originals magic through its timeless story & cast. Daveed Diggs & Melissa McCarthy are highlights but Halle Bailey is the one astonishes with her gorgeous singing & empathetic charm pic.twitter.com/DhmmtOLaLJ  Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) May 9, 2023

Its real simple. Are you excited for #TheLittleMermaid? Youll like it. Its exactly what you think it is. Are you skeptical and worried about it? Thats valid too. It looks weird and disjointed. Bailey is great, McCarthy rules, the songs work but it just feels so unnecessary. pic.twitter.com/n4qp7MsVFH  Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 9, 2023

#TheLittleMermaid is a live-action remake that retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love, and its elevated even further by a note-perfect star-making performance from Halle Bailey - she was born to be on the big screen, & shes why this new take is worth watching. pic.twitter.com/Tcewp2L4MY  Zoe Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) May 9, 2023

#TheLittleMermaid is the best Disney live-action adaptation to date. Halle Bailey IS Ariel. Major props to the sound effects team. Good changes, though one new song with too much autotune. Could watch this versions Under the Sea all day, it was the highlight of the whole thing.  Gillian Blum (@GillianBlum) May 9, 2023

Is there a trailer for The Little Mermaid?

Yes. The main trailer for The Little Mermaid was released by Disney on 12 March during the Oscars. Watch it above. It was a huge hit online, according to The Hollywood Reporter, generating 108 million global views over 24 hours making it the biggest trailer for a live action Disney title since 2019's The Lion King.

While some trolls have been downvoting the trailer on YouTube, it also inspired many heartwarming reaction videos from young fans around the world. Talking about the response to the trailers, Bailey said: Seeing the worlds reaction to it was definitely a shock, but seeing all the babies reactions, all the brown and Black young girls, really tore me up emotionally.

Disney also released a teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid in early September.

The teaser shows a glimpse of the watery world under the sea, hinting at the quality of CGI that fans are likely to see.

Ariel is shown to be swimming through a shipwreck up to the oceans surface, singing a few lines from Part Of Your World.

In February 2023, a 30-second TV spot was released revealing more of Ariel's underwater world. Watch it below.

The Little Mermaid is coming to UK cinemas on 26 May, 2023.

Watch: Halle Bailey is an inspiration to young girl
Charles and the rest of the working royals, after the coronation on 6 May. (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023)

An official portrait has been released by Buckingham Palace of the senior, working members of the Royal Family to mark King Charles's coronation.

It shows the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Anne and her husband Vice-Admiral Tim Laurence, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh  physically supporting 86-year-old Princess Alexandra  standing alongside the newly crowned King and Queen.

In short, it displays the long-touted 'slimmed-down monarchy' that both Charles is understood to be keen on, and many European royal families have also worked towards.

Louis and Charlotte with their parents during the coronation service. (Getty Images)

However, something about the issue caught the attention of many social media users: the average age of those pictured.

One royal correspondent, Charlie Proctor, wrote that it was "worrying" that "seven of the 11 working royals in this photo are aged 70+".

Of the four who are not, the Prince and Princess of Wales are in their forties and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are in their late fifties.

All the other working royals are significantly older and despite their best efforts are unlikely to have the energy to undertake engagements that someone in their middle age would.

Since Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew stepped back, the pool of royal adults of general working age has been cut down by a third and, of the first 10 in the line of succession, only four are over 18.

Images: Getty Images and Misan Harriman instagram

To complicate matters further for King Charles and his slimmed down monarchy, the Waleses do not appear to want to increase their workload. As The Telegraph has reported, William and Kate "are fiercely protective of their family time, driving their children to school every day and minimising the amount of time they spend apart from them".

It is perhaps unsurprising, given Kate's long-term work in early years development and her  relatively  normal upbringing that she and her husband are said to be hands-on parents.

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The appearance of the Wales children over the weekend  and Prince Louis, in particular, taking part in his first official royal engagement on 8 May  displayed the issue at the other end of the age spectrum: they are too young to often make public appearances or to be expected to shoulder the burden of representing the Royal Family as national symbols with any regularity.

Louis, aged five, yawns during the coronation, and had to take a short break from the lengthy service. (Getty Images)

Their "fiercely protective" parents are unlikely to want their young children to carry that weight either.

Even before Prince Harry's memoir Spare was released and explored in detail the personal cost to his childhood and adolescence growing up in a public role, both he and his brother had remarked upon the difficulty of having to put on a "game face" and work in the aftermath of their mothers death in 1997, comforting mourners and taking part in their mother's funeral procession.

In 2017, Harry said of walking behind his mother's coffin when he was 12 that no "child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances".

William said the same year that he initially found it confusing why the public were grieving, saying in a documentary: "You didn't even know her, why and how are you so upset?"

Charles, William and Harry inspecting tributes left to Diana after her death in 1997. (Getty Images)

While Diana's death may be an extreme example, that both of the brothers know the pressure of the public eye personally from their own childhoods makes it more likely their protective instincts will be well set when it comes to their own children.

Charles then faces a conundrum, with the majority of working royals both too old to practically be expected to do an extensive schedule of engagements and to engage and bring back into the fold the younger generation of the public, many of whom are either ambivalent or actively hostile towards the monarchy.

Omid Scobie  Yahoo UKs royal executive editor  suggested in November that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie would be well poised to take on some engagements on behalf of their uncle the King  although he reported that there had been pushback from the palace on this suggestion.

Louis - a fan favourite - undertook his first royal engagement on 8 May aged only five. (Getty Images)

Equally, Lady Louise Windsor, 19, could  as Proctor suggested  pick up some of the slack. This wouldn't be for some time, however, as she is currently studying at the University of St. Andrews.

Charles cannot magic younger major royals out of thin air, nor can he make the Prince and Princess of Wales less dedicated to their family.

This may mean that he has no choice but to widen the net of working royals to include some part-timers like Beatrice and Eugenie or even the well-liked Zara and Mike Tindall  who, although they don't have titles, do have a well-established public brand.

If the King doesn't, in the course of time the monarchy won't just be slim, it will become increasingly emaciated.

Watch: Charles and Camilla's friends 'aghast' the King hasn't put arms around Harry and William
WASHINGTON (AP)  Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico's border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach U.S. soil.

The volume was overwhelming the nations busiest border crossing in San Diego. In Tijuana, thousands of Ukrainians slept in a municipal gym hoping for a chance to cross into the U.S.

In response, the Biden administration announced it would admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians for two years  if they applied online, had a financial backer and entered through an airport. At the same time, border officials turned back Ukrainians who arrived on foot at the U.S. border.

The Democratic administration has considered those policies to be so effective that a similar model has become the centerpiece of a broader border policy rolling out in earnest Thursday as coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions that had allowed U.S. officials to quickly turn away migrants crossing illegally come to an end.

The results are sure to be a test for President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection as the border shifts back into the political spotlight and Republicans seek to portray him as soft on security.

Our model is to build lawful pathways and then to impose consequences that the law provides on those that do not avail themselves of those lawful pathways, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last month.

It's a shift away from the more open immigration policies that characterized Bidens first year as president in favor of an approach that pairs beefed-up enforcement with expanded legal pathways and diplomacy.

The policies have been criticized by the left as too much like former President Donald Trump's. Others wonder whether anything Biden does will stop the flow of migrants along the southern border, and whether the new policies can survive expected legal challenges and a lack of resources.

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But some immigration experts think it may be a balanced approach that results in fewer illegal crossings while still providing a haven for those fleeing persecution.

I think they have a fighting chance, over time, to turn this into a real system that is both more fair and more controllable, said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan immigration think tank.

This account is based in part on interviews with more than a dozen current and former administration officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Within his first month in office, Biden signed a slew of executive actions to undo Trump-era policies. He backed legislation to provide a path to citizenship for millions in the country illegally. He stacked his administration with immigrant advocates eager to push back against what they saw as anti-immigrant policies by Trump.

But alarms rang almost immediately when nearly 19,000 children traveling alone were stopped at the border in March 2021. Senior officials met twice weekly to strategize, moving children out of badly overcrowded Border Patrol facilities to emergency shelters, including convention centers in California and military bases in Texas.

While the number of unaccompanied children eased, a "daily dashboard" monitored by top officials showed overall arrivals continuing to rise, especially families.

Most of the people coming to the U.S. border illegally are fleeing persecution or poverty in their home countries. They ask for asylum and have generally been allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. That process can take years under a badly strained immigration court system, and it has prompted increasing numbers to come to the border hoping to get into the U.S.

Even though many ask for asylum, the legal pathway is narrow and most do not meet the standard.

By the time Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many officials with close ties to immigration advocacy groups had left the administration, some exasperated that their views werent gaining more traction and feeling that Biden was not as focused on the U.S.-Mexico border as he was on other issues. That left officials with more centrist views in charge.

Mayorkas and others were worried that Ukrainians could be unsafe in their travels and their circuitous route to the U.S. was further straining border resources. That led to the Uniting for Ukraine policy, under which 128,000 people have been allowed into the U.S., with tens of thousands more approved to come. And the number of Ukrainians coming on foot essentially stopped.

We built at incredible speed and it proved successful, Mayorkas said.

The administration turned its focus to other people coming to the border illegally who could not be easily returned to their home countries. Venezuelans had become the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, and in October 2022, they became the second group where the policy would apply. If they crossed illegally on foot, 24,000 would be returned back over the border to Mexico. If they came by air, with sponsors, the U.S. would take in 24,000.

Meanwhile, Cubans and Nicaraguans had pushed illegal crossings to the highest levels on record in December, as Fox News aired live reports of hundreds of waiting migrants under the banner: Bidens Border Crisis.

Republican-led states had sued to keep the COVID-19 restrictions in place. And Biden officials were waiting to see if a bipartisan immigration bill in Congress could actually pass. It didn't.

So in January, Biden announced the policy would be expanded again to people from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, and they increased the number of people: 30,000 from each of the four nationalities would be allowed in as long as they flew in, met background checks and had sponsors. Mexico agreed to take the same number back from those four countries who cross the border illegally.

We cant stop people from making the journey, but we can require them to come here in an orderly way under U.S. law," Biden said in announcing the policy.

Soon, the administration was reporting that Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans made up only 3% of illegal crossings in March, down from 40% in December.

The U.S. has now declared the COVID-19 emergency over, and the restrictions will end this week that have allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants more than 2.8 million times since March 2020.

The Biden administration has bolstered its centerpiece policy with other moves meant to clamp down at the border and open up other pathways for migrants.

Last week, the administration said it would admit 100,000 people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who come to be reunited with their families in the U.S. New immigration hubs in Guatemala, Colombia and perhaps elsewhere will field applications to come to the United States.

But border officials are also speeding up the process asylum seekers go through, to more quickly expel those who fail. And it's finalizing a new rule  similar to a Trump policy that was blocked in court  to make obtaining asylum extremely difficult for anyone who passes through another country, like Mexico, to reach the U.S. border.

Meanwhile, the number of Venezuelans illegally crossing the border is rising again. Administration officials are waiting to see whether it's a temporary blip related to the end of COVID-19 restrictions.

Mayorkas acknowledged the concerns during a tour of Texas' Rio Grande Valley last week. In the end, he said, nothing is a substitute for congressional action.

We have a plan, we are executing on that plan, Mayorkas said. Fundamentally, however, we are working within a broken immigration system that for decades has been in dire need of reform.

___

Spagat reported from San Diego.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to the Senate on Wednesday for the first time since mid-February, giving Democrats a crucial vote thats stymied their efforts to approve judges and pass key legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who confirmed her return, welcomed the 89-year-old California Democrat.

Im glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, its clear shes back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California, he said in a statement.

Without Feinstein, the Senate Judiciary Committee lacked the majority needed to approve most judges nominated by President Joe Biden.

That meant a backlog of judicial nominees opposed by Republicans. Democrats tried to fill the Feinstein seat temporarily but were blocked by the GOP

With Feinstein returning, the judicial nominees should be able to start moving again, with 11-to-10 committee votes.

Once on the floor, they should have little trouble winning approval, since Democrats control 51 of the Senates 49 votes.

The return of Feinstein also gives the Democrats an edge on close votes. During her absence, Republicans won an effort to overturn a Biden administration rule limiting truck emissions when Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, sided with 49 Republicans. The GOP plan was then approved by a 50 to 49 vote

Had Feinstein been present, the result would have been a 50-50 tie broken by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Feinstein had been staying at her San Francisco home after suffering a case of shingles. A senator since 1992, she plans to retire when her current term ends in 2025.

Although she has been out of the public eye, last week she issued a statement noting that the Senate continues to swiftly confirm highly qualified individuals to the federal judiciary, including seven more judicial nominees who were confirmed this week. There has been no slowdown.

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But she also noted many judges have not been approved. Im disappointed that Republicans on the committee are blocking a few from moving forward, the senator said.

Im confident that when I return to the Senate, we will be able to move the remaining qualified nominees out of committee quickly and to the Senate floor for a vote, she added.

Senate Democrats were patient as they waited for Feinstein to return, but liberal groups in California and four members of Congress, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, urged her to step down.
Since early March, Ken Waks, a TikTok creator with 1 million followers, had been pursuing an investigation into a potential serial killer working in various cities in the U.S. The Chicago-based marketer has claimed that someone  or even a group of people  has been targeting men walking home from a bar or club at night and dumping them in rivers across the country.

However, Waks soon became an object of scrutiny himself, with other TikTok users now referring to his case as a Kentroversy.

Like many true crime sensations, his series garnered a lot of support and millions of views. But many viewers started to get suspicious when in late April Waks posted videos claiming that a private investigator had showed up to his house and recruited him into a team looking into the Smiley Face Killers.

The Smiley Face Killer case is a true crime theory alleging one or more killers murdered and dumped dozens of men into rivers; the investigation on this case was spearheaded by former New York Police Department detective Kevin Gannon. (A Smiley Face Killers docuseries was released on Oxygen, which is owned by NBC Universal.)

The stories just started to get so big that I had to pause, Meredith Lynch, a pop culture TikToker with 227,000 followers said of Waks' videos.

Lynch and others online then began expressing public skepticism toward Waks after they noticed he mentioned Foresyte, a social calendar startup where he worked as chief marketing officer, in two videos about his amateur detective pursuits. Critics called his motivations into question, sparking a debate on creator ethics.

Enthusiasts online have argued that true crime content can draw attention to unreported cases and help investigators. However, critics of so-called TikTok sleuthing have grown weary of the genre because they argue creators may inhibit investigations, exacerbate families pain and capitalize on other peoples traumas.

Waks told NBC News in an email statement that he started his series because he wanted to raise awareness about a potential public safety issue in Chicago. He said he was approached on two occasions by an individual trying to lure him into a car while he was walking home from a bar. NBC News reviewed the police report Waks filed regarding the incidents.

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I quickly learned that this was happening to many others in the Chicago area and beyond, he said. I began diligently collecting information and sharing it online, as well as with law enforcement, private investigators and other authorities in an attempt to bring awareness to these crimes.

NBC News reviewed emails sent by a spokesperson for Waks that appear to show communication between him, private detective Jordan Scherer and Gannon discussing his research.

Scherer, owner of R.A. Private Investigation and Security, confirmed in a phone interview that he connected with Waks to see if his research could be useful. He clarified that his team was not working in partnership with Waks, who is an unlicensed citizen.

Him and his team are offering us research and data points that may provide assistance that may be helpful in our investigations to these ongoing suspicious deaths, Scherer said.

After seeing a now-deleted post from the CEO of Foresyte, viewers began to wonder if Waks series was just a marketing ploy to direct traffic to his startup. The post praised Waks organic integration of Foresyte into his recent viral content, which included videos about his investigation.

On Saturday, a Foresyte spokesperson said Waks and Foresyte have made the amicable decision to part ways.

The statement came days after the spokesperson had said Waks work and involvement in that case is entirely his own and our company is not involved in any capacity.

We have never actively monitored or dictated employees personal social media accounts, and while we were initially excited by the potential increase in visibility and even celebrated it on LinkedIn, we have since learned the fuller details of the situation and have ensured moving forward that employees understand the importance of maintaining a clear separation between our company and personal matters in any public forum, a Foresyte spokesperson said in an email statement last week.

my current biggest flex is that i never believed Ken Waks   (@lilyjohnsonxo) May 6, 2023

Justin Burnett, a TikToker with 15,000 followers, said Waks made an example of himself but believes the incident is something that people can learn from.

This is a person whos influencing 1.1 million people and his followers, his reach is ginormous, Burnett said. Waks follower count has since fallen back to 1 million amid the fallout from his investigation.

Burnett, a military police veteran with investigation experience, was initially optimistic about Waks series on TikTok. However, after Waks declared that he had cracked the case, Burnett felt like some of his claims werent adding up and warned against content creators gaining clout off of peoples misfortunes.

When you do things like this, you actively impede the logistics of police, he said. Theyre gonna get people who get hysterical, tip lines get flooded and its so hard to sift through that information.

Burnett also said that videos like Waks can be insensitive to grieving families who are still looking for answers about their deceased loved ones. Burnett said creators need to ask themselves: Is what Im doing causing harm?

Burnett, Lynch and other critics have argued that Waks videos are harmful to the families of the deceased men included in his investigation. Jane Polhill, whose son Jay died in 2010 in Chicago, attests to this.

Since her sons body was found in the Calumet River in Chicago 13 years ago, Polhill has been searching for answers about his death. She stumbled upon Waks series while scrolling on TikTok one day, and she thought Waks could help her.

My husband said  dont get your hopes up, Polhill said in a phone interview. You know, because when you get your hopes up, it just seems like in our experience, youre gonna be disappointed.

Still, Polhill emailed Waks information about her son, and she said she noticed that he added Jays name into his public database. However, she said her emails were left unanswered. Desperate for potential information about her sons death, she said she paid for a 15-minute Zoom meeting with Waks, which was offered via a link in his bio for $30.

When he didnt show, Polhill said she felt duped, angry and embarrassed.

A spokesperson for Waks said he missed this appointment because of a defunct calendar and contacted the mother to apologize. The link to buy time on Waks calendar appears to be taken down.

He was absolutely willing and wanted to meet with her, a representative for Waks said.

Polhill confirmed that Waks apologized and that she received a refund. However, she said she didnt believe Waks investigation was truthful or sincere. She added that she hopes that other parents didnt try to get Waks help.

Polhill said she believes a more ethical way to approach true crime is to loop in the affected families from the start.

I think communication between the creator and the families is a must, she said. Because some families are going to say yes and some families are gonna say no, and that needs to be respected.

After receiving backlash online, Waks made a TikTok on Thursday announcing that he would stop his investigation.

My reporting on this topic has since turned into a contentious subject and I now realize that its not my place at all to continue chasing this story despite my own personal connection to it with those two attempts on me, he said in the video.

Waks continued by saying he bit off a lot with the investigation and got lost in the sauce with his pursuits. He also apologized to the families impacted by his series and for incorporating his startup into his content.

In an email statement, Waks said he was handing over his information to the authorities.

As it relates to the case, Ive been in contact with the Chicago Police Department about my discoveries throughout this process, he said, and am working closely with a team of private investigators to hand over all the data and work Ive done over the past two months so that they can use their time and resources to give this case the attention it deserves.

CORRECTION (May 8, 2023, 6:55 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the name of the company where Waks worked as chief marketing officer. It is Foresyte, not Forsyte.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Priya Sahi racially abused a Polish police officer after she was arrested in Swindon. (SWNS)

A TikTok star racially abused a Polish police officer after she was arrested for drinking in her car in an Asda car park, a court has heard.

Social media influencer Priya Sahi, known on TikTok as Queen Bee, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday to a racially aggravated public order offence.

Sahi, 29, live-streamed her arrest on 25 October last year to her more than 100,000 followers on TikTok after being found by police in her Audi outside the Asda supermarket in Swindon, Wiltshire.

She was arrested on suspicion of being drunk while in charge of a motor vehicle, the court heard.

After she was removed from the car and handcuffed, she repeatedly told Polish police officer PC Marcin Kozak that she didn't understand him.

The court heard that later, in police custody, she told PC Kozak: "Learn English you European whatever you are.

Social media influencer Priya Sahi pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court to a racially aggravated public order offence.(PA)

As a result, she was further arrested for a public order offence.

After she was removed from her car, Sahi, from Swindon, could be heard shouting at officers: "I'm allowed to park up and drink. I'm not driving, so what are you arresting me for?"

An officer then pointed out a number of bottles of alcohol in the vehicle to his colleague, PC Kozak.

Sahi told officers, "I want my TikTok running" before the stream ended.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said Sahi had a previous conviction for racially-aggravated assault dating back to 2015.

Read more: Moment car left dangling over canal after crashing through bridge

In a victim personal statement, PC Kozak, who joined Wilshire Police in 2018 as the force's first Polish community support officer, said that following Sahi's comments about his nationality and accent he "did not even feel human at this point".

He said: "I'm a serving officer and Polish national. It took hard work and courage to become a police officer, I had to prove I speak good enough English and pass tests; I work to exactly the same criteria as my British colleagues.

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"Almost every day I'm subject to some sort of derogatory comment."

The court heard how Sahi was convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath in relation to this incident.

Priya Sahi racially abused a police officer after she was arrested in a supermarket car park in Swindon. (SWNS)

In a separate incident, she was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, but failed to provide a specimen, the court heard. She later admitted the charge.

As a result, Sahi is serving two concurrent driving disqualifications and has accrued hundreds of pounds worth of fines, the court was told.

Defence solicitor Sandeep Kaushal said his client apologises to PC Kozak.

He said she feels "embarrassed" by what she said and hopes her apology can be passed on.

Mr Kaushal said Sahi, a single mother to her three-year-old son, was going through a "traumatic time" and was in a "frustrated state" explaining her thoughts live on TikTok as police officers surrounded her car.

He said that when they arrested her she "spiralled completely out of control".

Sahi was fined 80 and must also pay 85 costs and a 32 surcharge.
EXCLUSIVE  Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina wants to "reinstate" the Title 42 immigration restrictions, which are set to sunset this week, to combat the nations spike in fentanyl-related overdose deaths.

Scott, the Republican lawmaker from South Carolina whos expected to declare his candidacy for president later this month, is proposing a trio of bills that would take aim at the migrant crisis at the nations southern border with Mexico.

"If you dont control your back door, you dont control your country," the senator emphasized during a town hall at Saint Anselm Colleges New Hampshire Institute of Politics on Monday evening. "With our wide-open border, weve seen six million illegal crossings in just two years," Scott said.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina speaks at a town hall at Saint Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute of Politics on May 8, 2023.

Minutes later, in an exclusive national digital interview with Fox News, Scott outlined the goals of his plan.

"The first one is fending off fentanyl, which basically says lets freeze the assets of Mexican cartels. Theyve led to 70,000 plus Americans losing their lives by bringing the drugs across our southern border. The second thing I say is if theres an impediment to them bringing it across, we are in much better shape. My other bill provides for $10 billion to build the wall and another $5 billion for us to have the surveillance technology that catches fentanyl before it crosses the border."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Scott, in conjunction with other Senate Republicans, has already introduced those pieces of legislation. He says the third leg is coming next.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE BORDER CRISIS

"Combine those two together with another one coming soon  May 11  the end of Title 42. I have a bill that allows us to reinstate Title 42 because the health care crisis that continues is not COVID. But it is fentanyl. So, if we attack fentanyl as a health care crisis, we can reinstate Title 42," he outlined. "That coupled with the other two pieces of legislation, I think makes us a healthier, safer country."

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The senator said Republicans "bought in overnight and then the Democrats have slowly moved in as well."

"We do have a lot of support. The good news is that were talking with the Democrats as well as getting on board for some of the legislation. I find that theyre very interested." Scott added that a handful of Democrats are already supportive of the "fend off fentanyl" measure. "This is bipartisan legislation that I think could become law this year."

Most fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S. through the southern border, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), as Mexico based cartels and other criminal groups have profited from the production of the deadly synthetic opioid. And Republicans criticize President Biden and his administrations handling of the surge in illegal border crossings the past couple of years for the spike in the nations fentanyl-related overdose deaths.

Title 42 was an order issued by former President Donald Trumps administration amid the coronavirus outbreak. The controversial rule was used by both the Trump and Biden administrations to rapidly expel asylum seekers that crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

While it is a public health order, not an immigration policy, Title 42 became one of the central border policies in place as the U.S. faces a continuing crisis of numbers at the border. The Biden administration's move to end the order came after more than a year of pressure from fellow Democrats amid frustration with the inability to end a policy they view as illegal and cruel to those fleeing persecution.

Title 42 is set to end on Thursday  barring any last-minute developments  because the national COVID-19 public health emergency will expire on May 11, eliminating a key legal underpinning of the policy.

Since it was implemented in March 2020, as the worst pandemic in a century swept the globe, Title 42 has been used to expel hundreds of thousands of migrants either to Mexico or their home countries on the grounds that their entry into the U.S. could contribute to the spread of the coronavirus.

Government officials say they expect the level of border crossing to soar after Title 42 sunsets. While progressive Democrats have targeted the policy, Republicans have supported Title 42 as an effective border control policy that should be continued.

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina speaks at a town hall at Saint Anselm College on May 8, 2023, in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Scott spoke with Fox News during a two-day swing through New Hampshire, which holds the first primary and second overall contest in the Republican calendar. It was the senators second trip to the Granite State in a month, and looking ahead to his expected presidential campaign, Scott told the town hall audience, "I will be back so often that youll say, Hes back again."

The senator held a similar town hall this past weekend in Iowa  his third trip this year to the state whose caucuses lead off the Republican presidential schedule.

SCOTT HEADS TO IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AHEAD OF EXPECTED 2024 LAUNCH

The stops by Scott, a rising star in the GOP and the only Black Republican in the Senate, come ahead of whats being billed as a "major" 2024 announcement that the senator will make May 22 at Charleston Southern University. The North Charleston, South Carolina, school is Scotts alma mater, and the announcement is expected to be the senators formal declaration of candidacy and launch of his White House campaign.

Scott, who kicked off a "Faith in America" listening tour in February, told Fox News, "I am excited about this next step. Im certainly ready for this next step. And I am excited to have an opportunity to talk about my positive, conservative message that is anchored in American values that have always led the way."

Hell join a GOP White House field that includes former President Donald Trump, who announced his third straight presidential run in November and remains the clear front-runner in the Republican nomination race.

Trump has continued to relitigate his 2020 election loss to President Biden as he repeats his unproven claims that his defeat was due to an election "stolen" through "massive voter fraud." And the former presidents listing of his many legal grievances also became a campaign staple this year.

Asked if Republican primary voters are receptive to his positive vision rather than Trumps much more combative message, Scott answered, "Ive seen this all across the country so far that people are hungry for an optimistic, positive message as long as you have a backbone."

"Dont conflate being positive with being uninterested and having a tough stand on those issues that matter," he emphasized. "China  were going to be tough as nails. Were going to be lethal to our adversaries, whoever they are, and loyal to our allies."

The contrast between Scott and Trump was evident at the townhall.

When given an opportunity - courtesy of a question from the audience - to swipe at Bien for being too old to handle his duties in the White House, Scott passed.

"I think hes failing his job because hes incompetent. I refuse to say its because hes too old or hes too frail," Scott said of Biden in his answer. "I think the bottom line is he has been co-opted by the radical left in his party."

It's extremely unlikely Trump would have also taken a pass.
Tom Hanks promoted his new book, "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece," in a BBC interview. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press)

Noted Hollywood nice guy Tom Hanks just made a stunning admission about his movie-set demeanor: He hasn't always been nice.

In recent interviews to promote his debut novel, "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece," the "Cast Away" and "Toy Story" actor claimed he has sometimes behaved like his book's main character, the nasty and inconsiderate star of a big-budget superhero movie.

"I have pulled every single one of those moments of behavior myself on a set," Hanks told the BBC.

"Not everybody is at their best every single day on a motion picture set," he added. "I've had tough days trying to be a professional when my life has been falling apart in more ways than one and the requirement for me that day is to be funny, charming and loving  and it's the last way I feel."

Appearing Tuesday on "CBS Mornings," Hanks insisted to a skeptical Gayle King that he has occasionally been a jerk during production. He even offered an example  though it's unclear how much of the anecdote was real and how much was exaggerated to make a point.

"I've been the guy who says, 'Why can't I wear sunglasses? I think the guy should wear sunglasses in this scene! ... Let me wear sunglasses!'" Hanks said on CBS.

"And the [director of photography] comes up and says, 'Well, we're just gonna lose your eyes.' Or the producer says, 'Tom, we'll have to take the glare out, and that's $250,000 in [post-production].'"

The Oscar winner also shared his thoughts on "CBS Mornings" about the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike over compensation in the streaming era. The Writers Guild of America is demanding better pay, higher residuals for streaming content, higher contributions to the unions health and pension plan and more protections for its members.

"The entire industry is at a crossroads, and everybody knows it," said Hanks, who has several screenwriting credits. "The financial motor has to be completely redefined, and there is some degree of pie here that is going to have to be equitably distributed by the people who are responsible for the content. Not the folks who make the deals for the content  the folks who actually make it. And first up is the writers."

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"We do not have scripts without writers," he continued. "We do not have films, stories without directors. And the actors are coming up as well. ... Like minds are going to have to come down and be equitable and come up with  believe it or not  some type of win-win situation."

Hanks' "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece" hit shelves on Tuesday.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Tony Danza and Christopher Lloyd reunited with their "Taxi" co-stars Judd Hirsch and Carol Kane  40 years after the legendary sitcom went off the air.

On May 8, Lloyd shared photos on Instagram showing the four actors smiling as they dined al fresco at a New York restaurant. "What the hell is going on here?" he joked in his caption.

Danza shared his own pic from the mini-reunion, writing, "Love this crew of old friends so much!" and adding the hashtag #OldFriends.

"Taxi" fans filled up the comments of Danza's and Lloyd's posts to share how much they loved seeing the old gang back together.

"I bet people walking by are going nuts with happy memories," wrote one.

"How awesome is this!!!!!" gushed someone else, while other excited fans wondered if a "Taxi" reboot could be in the works.

Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd and more Taxi stars reunite in sweet pics: Love this crew (@mrchristopherlloyd via Instagram )

"Taxi" aired for five laughter-filled seasons from 1978 until 1983. The series, which won 18 Emmys during its run, followed a group of people who all worked the night shift together at a New York taxi cab agency.

The show also starred Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, Marilu Henner and Jeff Conaway.

TAXI -- Pictured: (clockwise from top left) Tony Danza as Tony Banta, Andy Kaufman as Latka Gravas, Carol Kane as Simka Dahblitz-Gravas, Danny DeVito as Louie De Palma, Judd Hirsch as Alex Reiger, Marilu Henner as Elaine O'Connor-Nardo, Christopher Lloyd as Reverend Jim Ignatowski (NBC / via Getty Images)

As big a hit as "Taxi" was when it aired, many of the show's stars went on to to score further success in Hollywood.

Danza, Henner and Kane made TV magic again in the sitcoms "Who's the Boss?," "Evening Shade" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," respectively. More recently, Danza announced in October 2022 that he was joining the cast of the "Sex and the City" revival "And Just Like That..."

Lloyd and DeVito found success on the big screen, with Lloyd famously portraying Dr. Emmett Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy, and DeVito starring in a string of beloved comedies including "Twins" and "Get Shorty" before returning to TV in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

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Kaufman, who died in 1984, became a household name thanks to his trademark brand of off-the-wall stand-up comedy.

And Hirsch, who's also a talented dramatic actor, has been a constant presence in both movies and television for decades. Most recently, Hirsch was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in Steven Spielberg's 2022 coming-of-age drama "The Fabelmans."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
 Flash

The forthcoming China-Central Asia Summit is of milestone significance in the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

At a routine press conference, Wang introduced relevant arrangements for the summit, which will be held on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the summit, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will be in attendance at China's invitation.

Noting that it is the first major diplomatic activity that China hosts this year, and also the first summit held offline by the heads of state of the six countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties 31 years ago, Wang said the event is a milestone in the history of the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries.

During the summit, President Xi will deliver an important speech, and the heads of state will review the development of China-Central Asia relations and exchange views on China-Central Asia mechanism building, cooperation in various fields and major international and regional issues of common interest, according to Wang.

The heads of state will also sign important political documents, Wang added.

"With the joint efforts of all parties, we believe this summit will draw a new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations and open up a new era of cooperation," Wang said.

At the invitation of President Xi, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will pay a state visit to China from May 16 to 20.

President Xi will hold separate talks with the presidents of the four countries, Wang said, adding that China is making meticulous preparations with all parties to ensure the complete success of the visit.

China and Central Asian countries are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners, Wang said, adding that the two sides have always followed the principles of mutual respect, good neighborliness, friendship, mutual assistance, and win-win cooperation in developing relations.

The two sides have become good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers through deepening political mutual trust, upgrading practical cooperation and strengthening international cooperation, Wang added.

"China is ready to work with Central Asian countries to take the above visits as an opportunity to further expand all-round cooperation, lift bilateral relations to a new level and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity," Wang said.
A policeman inspects a damaged house after an Israeli air strike in Rafah refugee camp

The Israeli army said it killed three leaders of the Islamic Jihad militant group Tuesday in air strikes on Gaza, which left a dozen dead according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.

The ministry said that women and children were among the dead, publishing a list of names without ages or detailing any affiliations.

An AFP journalist in Gaza saw the top of a building on fire immediately after the strikes as well as ambulances evacuating victims.

The Israeli army said it had targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad, which it considers a terrorist organisation, and had hit "weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group.

Army spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists the force "achieved what we wanted to achieve" in the overnight strikes, which he said involved 40 aircraft.

The militant group confirmed three senior officials were killed, naming them in a statement as Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the Al-Quds Brigades military council, and Khalil al-Bahtini, also of the council and commander of the military wing in northern Gaza.

The third, Tareq Ezzedine, was described by Islamic Jihad as "one of the heads of military action" in the occupied West Bank who operated from Gaza.

In Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, an AFP photographer saw the body of a man identified as Ghannam.

"We mourn the leaders and their wives and a number of their children who were killed in a cowardly Zionist crime," Islamic Jihad said in a statement, vowing "the blood of martyrs will increase (the) resolve" of the movement.

An AFP photographer saw a boy's body in the morgue of Gaza City's Shifa hospital, where mourners had gathered.

Asked by journalists about child casualties, Hecht said: "If there were some tragic deaths, we'll look into it."

Explosions from air strikes, which began a little after 2 am (2300 GMT), could be heard for nearly two hours, according to AFP journalists.

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The operation came less than a week after Islamic Jihad announced a truce around Gaza -- brokered with help from Egypt -- following a flare-up in violence after the death in Israeli custody of a hunger striker with ties to the militant group.

On Tuesday, Islamic Jihad said Israel had "scorned all the initiatives of mediators" and vowed it would "avenge the leaders" killed in the latest air strikes.

- 'Treacherous operation' -

In separate statements detailing each of the Islamic Jihad figures killed, the military presented Ghannan as "one of the most senior members of the organisation" who coordinated weapons and money transfers between the group and Hamas.

Bahtini was "responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month", Israel said.

Ezzedine was recently "planning and direction (sic) multiple attacks against Israeli" civilians in the West Bank, where he was from, and which has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Israel for his involvement in suicide attacks in the 2000s, before being freed in a 2011 prisoner exchange and transferred to Gaza, according to the army.

An Islamic Jihad source told AFP that Ezzedine was part of a delegation from the group due to travel to the Egyptian capital Cairo for a Thursday meeting, which has been cancelled in the face of the air strikes.

Hecht said the military was "looking where this thing will develop", with the army instructing Israeli residents within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of the Gaza border to stay near bomb shelters until Wednesday evening.

The army subsequently said its troops had entered Nablus in the northern West Bank, with residents telling AFP they heard explosions during the raid.

In a statement, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said "assassinating the leadership in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but instead greater resistance".

The militant group's spokesman, Hazem Qassem, warned that Israel "bears responsibility for the repercussions of this escalation".

Israel and Gaza militants have fought multiple wars since Hamas took control of the Palestinian enclave in 2007.

A three-day conflict in Gaza last August left 49 Palestinians and no Israelis dead, with Cairo playing a key role in securing a truce.

Tuesday's deaths bring to 120 the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.

Nineteen Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP count based on official sources from the two sides.

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Three individuals accused of illegally operating a New Jersey veterinary clinic have been slapped with a sprawling 77-count indictment that includes charges of animal cruelty, fraud, theft, drug offenses and other violations, according to the office of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes, who announced the indictment Monday.

Adel Hamdan ran the Totowa Animal Hospital until his untimely death from COVID-19 in December 2020, according to prior reporting.

His wife, Alia Muslih, 41, of Montclair, is suspected of keeping the clinic afloat by employing Yaser Abdel-Fatah, 50, of Buffalo, New York, and Marco Gamarra, 64, of the Bronx, to work as her veterinarians even though the two men lacked proper licensure.

Alia Muslih, checks on Mickey, during work in Totowa on Tuesday April 13, 2021.

Abdel-Fatah and Gamarra, who join Muslih in the indictment, allegedly continued to perform illegal surgeries and other medical procedures through August 2021, prosecutors claim.

Authorities opened an investigation into the clinic a month earlier when a resident told borough police her dog died after a routine spaying.

More: Beloved Totowa animal doctor remembered by 'keeping his legacy'

The purported animal doctors received further scrutiny from the prosecutor's Division of White Collar Crimes, resulting in all three defendants facing charges of distributing prescription drugs and controlled substances, forging drug prescriptions, theft by deception, forgery, submitting fraudulent health care claims, insurance fraud, misconduct by a corporate official, two counts of impersonation, money laundering, failure to file and pay taxes, and two counts of animal cruelty.

If convicted, the trio could face anywhere from 18 months to 10 years in prison for each charge, depending on the degree of the offense.

Muslih, Abdel-Fatah and Gamarra were all released pending the outcome of the trial and are awaiting their arraignments in state Superior Court.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Totowa Animal Hospital allegedly operated with phony veterinarians
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A former BNSF worker who was named one of the railroad's employees of the year in 2021 for her work in supporting LGBTQ+ workers is now suing the railroad where she worked for 30 years, saying that after being promoted regularly earlier in her career she was denied advancement opportunities after her gender transition.

Randi Berghorst sued the Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad in federal court recently, arguing BNSF discriminated against her.

Im extremely disappointed that this is where it had to go, she said.

BNSF declined to comment directly on Berghorsts lawsuit, and it hasnt yet responded formally in court. But railroad spokesperson Lena Kent defended BNSFs hiring practices and said the railroad doesnt discriminate against people based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Kent cited the PRIDE+ employee group that Berghorst helped form as evidence that BNSF is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Once hired, our employees are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect; have equal access to tools, resources, training and development opportunities and have equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, Kent said.

Berghorst still has the plaque the railroad gave her thanking her for making a significant impact on BNSF's diversity and inclusion journey" hanging on her wall.

But around the same time she got that award, Berghorst said she was struggling to even get an interview for the more than a dozen jobs she applied for despite her impressive resume. That was in sharp contrast from earlier in her career when the 50-year-old was promoted regularly before her gender transition in 2018.

Berghorst said she had even previously held some of the jobs she was applying for and got positive reviews from her supervisors when she did them. Berghorst had worked her way up in the ranks to several different management jobs, but she decided to step away from a demanding roadmaster job in 2016 when she was struggling with mental health issues.

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I was going through quite a bit of stuff and getting ready for what would soon be my transition," she said.

Berghorst's lawyer Nick Thompson said it's not unusual for roadmasters to step down from those jobs that require people to be available all the time when they are dealing with personal issues, such as a divorce. But Thompson, whose Casey Jones law firm specializes in representing railroad workers, said he's never seen anyone else have issues returning to that job later because they stepped down.

Berghorst said human resources officials never seemed to have a good answer when she asked why she was being passed over. She said the representative she talked to never could point to any deficiencies in her resume.

According to Berghorst, one of the most troubling examples of being passed over for a job came when Berghorst applied for a training job after she had been known throughout her career for teaching other workers, and she already had more than eight years of managerial experience.

The job listing said she needed five years of management experience, but Berghorst said she couldn't get a good explanation about why she never got an interview. Then, a short time later, she said the job was reposted to require only three years of management experience, and BNSF went on to hire two men with much less experience than Berghorst for the job.

They didnt have any people besides me  or any people they wanted  that had over five years, so they had to lower the requirements so they could get somebody," Berghorst said.

That prompted Berghorst to start looking into filing a discrimination complaint against the railroad and eventually to apply for the Federal Railroad Administration job she holds now as an inspector based in the Illinois city of Woodstock, although she still maintains a home in the small Minnesota town of Luverne not far from the South Dakota border.

Deciding to leave BNSF in January was difficult.

I made that decision after it seemed that things were going nowhere with BNSF," Berghorst said. "And I had my 30 years in, so I was locked into the railroad retirement.

Berghorst is seeking damages in her lawsuit, but mostly she says she hopes her case will force BNSF to change. BNSF is owned by Warren Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, but Buffett maintains a hands-off approach to its subsidiaries and largely lets the railroad run itself.
Pizza was invented in Italy, specifically Naples. Those who emigrated to the United States, brought their beloved Italian cuisine with them, and it spread like wildfire.

Pizza continues to widen its fan base across U.S. cities, and there are many variations. Thin crust with gourmet toppings. Deep dish. Sicilian. There are even vegan options that taste almost as good as regular pizza. Yes, theres plenty of delicious food out there. But nothing quite hits the spot like dough, tomato sauce and cheese.

As for the question where can you find the best pizza? The answer would have to be Italy. But what about within the United States? Here are our five choices.

New York City, NY

Photo Credit: Michael Discenza

There are four foods New Yorkers take seriously: pizza, bagels, chopped cheese, and bacon egg and cheese sandwiches.

When it comes to pizza, you wont have to venture far to get it, especially in Manhattan. Whether you go to a mom and pop restaurant that has been owned by the same Italian family for generations, or you grab a slice for a dollar, your stomach will thank you.

New York is known for making pizza with a thin crust and light sauce. The crust is soft enough for you to fold and eat on the go.

According to Bodrum, pizza has a long history in New York City, longer than its history in any other place in America. Pizza was first brought to this country by Italian immigrants in New York, and they founded the first pizzeria in the United States in 1905.

Chicago, IL

Photo credit: Sawyer Bengtson

Make no mistake  Chicago-style pizza is tasty and very filling. Some say its more like a cheesy, tomato pie than pizza. But its so delicious, no matter what you call it.

The Sky Deck reports, enjoying real deep-dish Chicago pizza can be more of a sit-down meal with a fork, knife, and napkins. Unless you have a very hearty appetite, you probably wont need an appetizer.

Where can you go in the Chi? Giordanos, Lou Malnatis and Pizzeria Uno are three of the best.

New Haven, CT

Photo Credit: DenisTangney Jr

Theres substantial Italian presence in Connecticut. So naturally, the pizza is on point.

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Wethersfield Historial Science explains, as the nineteenth century ended, thousands of Italians entered Connecticut from small Italian villages, especially south of Rome.

The immigrants settled in New Haven, Waterbury, Hartford, and other parts of the state.

The Nutmeg State of Connecticut has several top pizzerias. In New Haven, Frank Pepes and Sallys get top marks, and theyve been around since 1925 and 1938, respectively.

Detroit, MI

Photo Credit: Mike Kline

Food & Wine calls Detroits pizza scene, one of the most exciting in the country.

Detroit has its own style of pizza. Its deep dish (not as deep as Chicago, however), and it has a square shape. The crust is crunchy and the cheese covers the full slice.

Food & Wine writes, legend has it that Detroits pizza-makers achieved the crust by baking their pie not in traditional pizza trays, but in thinner metal pans originally designed to hold factory parts, fitting enough for the Motor City.

Pie Sci restaurant offers the circular and square pizza pies. Choose from vegan, vegetarian, meat-lover and gluten-free pies.

For sourdough pizza, head to Sicilys Pizzeria and Subs. Customers praise the quality of the dough, cheese and the toppings.

San Diego, CA

Photo Credit: James Hilger

California may be known for its Mexican food, but dont sleep on what San Diego has to offer on the pizza front. Theres a Little Italy here, filled with shops, Italian restaurants, breweries and more.

The Shop restaurant has two locations in the city. On the deep dish side of the menu, try the 858, which is loaded with spinach, mushrooms, bacon, onions, garlic and ricotta. From the traditional menu, the Hawaii 5-0 is tasty, and you cant go wrong with the margherita.

You have the option of building your own pizza, including the crust. Aside from the traditional dough, theres cauliflower and gluten-free crust.

For a casual lunch with friends, head to Pizza E Birra, praised for its artisan pizzas, pastas and variety of drinks.
plane taking off in the sky - bereavement travel airline offers

Losing a family member or romantic partner is upsetting enough. Fortunately, if you have to fly, there are five carriers that offer options for bereavement travel. This can help make a challenging time a bit more bearable.

Youll notice that most of these carriers require passengers to call the customer service number, rather than book a flight online. Currently, there are no bereavement travel options for deceased friends, neighbors, co-workers, or anybody who isnt an immediate family member or spouse/domestic partner.

If you need to travel for a funeral or memorial, consider the following airlines.

Alaska Airlines

If you want to secure a bereavement fare with Alaska Airlines, call their customer service and reservations line at 1-800-252-7522. If you try to book a flight through the website, the discounted rate wont apply.

US News explains, If you have already begun your travel, you will not be eligible for a bereavement flight.

The discount offered by Alaska Airlines only applies to those who have lost an immediate family member. This includes a domestic partner/spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece.

The discounted rate doesnt apply to deceased friends or extended family members like in-law relatives or cousins.

Air Canada

If youre planning to fly with Air Canada, their reservations/customer support line is 1-888-247-2262. Reach out to them this way to learn your bereavement travel options.

A representative will ask you to answer a few questions. They include the name of the deceased, the hospital, hospice, or nursing home where they died, and what your relationship is to the deceased. The representative might also ask you for the date of the funeral and where it will be held.

Air Canada may request proof of death. A death certificate is the best example, but a statement from the funeral director or the coroner on an official letterhead may also suffice.

Delta Airlines

Youll have to call Delta to see if you qualify for a bereavement fare. This carrier is strict about when you travel in relation to a persons death. You have to fly within a week of the death or imminent death of an immediate family member.

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Deltas number for domestic bereavement travel is 1-800-221-1212. The number for overseas bereavement travel is 1-800-241-4141.

Delta only extends bereavement fares to customers who are SkyMiles members. You can become one before you call the reservation number. Be prepared to provide the name of the deceased, your relationship to them, the number/name of the funeral home, hospice, or hospital, and, if applicable, the name of their physician.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines has restrictive options where bereavement travel is concerned. You have to be traveling within the Hawaiian islands.

Those who need to travel outside of those islands might be able to have their ticket fees discounted if they call the reservations line and book tickets within 48 hours of a family members death.

In addition to immediate blood family, in-laws, adopted children, and step-family members are recognized by Hawaiian Airlines as immediate family.

US News notes, Hawaiian Airlines offers a bereavement waiver request should you need to change or cancel an existing booking.

As with the other carriers, youll need to provide official documentation proving that a family member or spouse has died.

WestJet

Founded in 1996, WestJet has bereavement options, too. However, US News writes, Bereavement fares apply to WestJets Econo, Econoflex, and Premium fares.

Call the customer service and reservations line, which is 1-888-937-8538. Keep your phone close to you in the event a WestJet representative calls you to ask for additional details.

This carrier offers civic funeral fares. This is for those who need to travel for the funeral of a police officer, firefighter, someone who served in the armed forces, or somebody in the emergency services industry.

RELATED: The History Of New Orleans Jazz Funerals
A trooper shot a knife-wielding tenant being evicted from his Connecticut home after the man refused to vacate, police said.

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on May 9 at a home in Brooklyn, a town about 45 miles east of Hartford, according to a Connecticut State Police news release.

State troopers were sent to the home to help with a court-ordered eviction after the tenant declined to leave the property, police said.

Troopers arrived at the residence and advised Troop D dispatch that the tenant refused to comply with the court-order and that he was wielding a knife, police said. A Trooper at the scene discharged their duty weapon at the individual, causing injury.

The tenant was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Massachusetts, where he underwent emergency surgery, police said.

The tenant, who was not identified, is in stable condition.

The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Office of the Inspector General with assistance from state police.

A representative for the Office of the Inspector General did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

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(Bloomberg) -- Conservative attorney Sidney Powell recently prevailed against an ethics case in Texas tied to her failed legal fight to overturn the 2020 election results in favor of former President Donald Trump  even as she faces a new complaint in Michigan.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In Texas, a judge in February dismissed an ethics case against Powell because state bar regulators filed court briefs with numerous defects. The Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline acknowledged inadvertent mistakes in how exhibits were labeled, but asked the judge to reconsider because theyd presented ample evidence against Powell.

Late last week, Judge Andrea Bouressa rejected the commissions request. A spokesperson for the Texas commission declined to comment.

But Powell now faces a separate complaint, also filed last week, by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, which claimed Powell and other lawyers brought a frivolous post-election challenge in the state. The case, which could affect her law license in Texas, was reported earlier by the Detroit Free Press.

The Michigan commission also alleged that Powell prejudiced the administration of justice, engaged in conduct that exposed the legal profession to obloquy, contempt, censure, or reproach, and acted contrary to justice, ethics, honesty, or good morals.

An initial hearing before the states Attorney Grievance Board is scheduled for June 29. Powell did not return a request for comment.

The Michigan complaint names Powell and eight other attorneys. Although Powell and several of her former co-counsel arent members of the state bar in Michigan, they can still face disciplinary action because they performed legal work there, according to the commission.

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Its an unusual situation  state bar regulators typically bring cases against their own members. If the Michigan disciplinary board concludes Powell violated ethics rules, that could trigger another round of proceedings in Texas through a process known as reciprocal discipline. State bar regulators in Texas could present a future order out of Michigan as new evidence and argue Powell should be sanctioned; penalties can range from a public reprimand to disbarment.

The Michigan complaint stems from a civil lawsuit that Powell and her team filed in federal court in Detroit a few weeks after the 2020 election that featured baseless allegations that state and local officials engaged in widespread voter fraud to help President Joe Biden win. The judge dismissed the case on a host of grounds, and Powell lost a last-ditch bid to convince the US Supreme Court to intervene.

US District Judge Linda Parker imposed sanctions on Powell and the other attorneys involved, describing the lawsuit as a historic and profound abuse of the judicial process. The judge found that the legal team had violated their obligations as attorneys by bringing claims that werent rooted in legitimate evidence.

Parker ordered the lawyers to pay more than $175,000 in legal fees to the officials theyd sued and to take legal education classes. She also directed the court clerk to send copies of her decision to the attorney conduct regulators in all of the states where the attorneys were licensed.

Powell and the other sanctioned attorneys appealed Parkers decision. The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in December and has yet to rule.

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EXCLUSIVE: Former President Donald Trump told Fox News Digital that he will appeal the ruling in the E. Jean Carroll civil case, saying he has "absolutely no idea" who she is while blasting the verdict as a "disgrace" and "a continuation of the greatest political witch hunt in history."

A federal jury in New York City decided Tuesday that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president has been ordered to pay $5 million.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media during an election night event at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Florida.

In an exclusive interview just after the jury delivered the verdict, Trump told Fox News Digital that he has "absolutely no idea who this woman is."

"This verdict is a disgrace," he told Fox News Digital. "It is a continuation of the greatest political witch hunt in history."

Trump told Fox News Digital that he "will appeal."

Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll arrives for her civil trial against former President Donald Trump at Manhattan Federal Court on May 9, 2023, in New York City.

"We'll appeal. We got treated very badly by the Clinton-appointed judge," Trump said. "And [Carroll] is a Clinton person, too."

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He added, "I have no idea who this woman is."

Carroll, 79, alleged that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan sometime in 1996. According to Carroll, the two had a chance run-in at the store, where Trump was shopping for a gift for "a girl." She said he asked for her advice, and the two shopped together before he pushed her into a dressing room and assaulted her. Trump and his legal team insist that Carroll's allegations are fabricated, with the former president's initial reaction including an accusation that Carroll was motivated by wanting to sell copies of her book.

Former President Donald Trump is pictured in an October 2022 deposition in which he denied claims that he raped E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.

That denial resulted in Carroll slapping Trump with a defamation claim, claiming that his response caused harm to her reputation.

"I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back," Carroll said in a statement. "Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed."

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Carroll's lawsuit requested compensatory and punitive damages as well as an order that Trump retract his statement.

Trump's presidential campaign released a statement that said the Democrats' "witch hunt" had reached a "new low," calling it an "abuse of our great Constitution."

"In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nations justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics. We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage," the statement said.

"Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States."

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, had told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carroll's story is too far-fetched to be believed. He echoed the claim that she made it up to fuel sales of her 2019 memoir, and he argued that she wanted to disparage Trump for political reasons.

"The facts in evidence made plain here that E. Jean Carroll's story is not worthy of your belief, not even close," Tacopina said. "Her story  and it's just that, a story  is not true, she was not raped at Bergdorf Goodman's. She was not defamed by being called out on making up that story."

Trump did not testify during the trial, but he was deposed on camera in October.

Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Marta Dhanis, Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Shortly after being found liable for sexual battery and defamation in the E. Jean Carroll civil trial Tuesday, former President Trump called the verdict a disgrace.

I have absolutely no idea who this woman is, Trump wrote in all capital letters on Truth Social shortly after the verdict was announced. This verdict is a disgrace  A continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!

In a subsequent interview with Fox News Digital, Trump said he planned to appeal the verdict while bashing the judge in the case as a Clinton administration appointee.

Well appeal. We got treated very badly by the Clinton-appointed judge, Trump said.

The nine-member jury found that Trump did not commit rape of Carroll in the mid-1990s but did find him liable for sexual abuse. He was also ordered to pay Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.

As a civil case, Carroll had to prove her claims of sexual battery and defamation by a preponderance of evidence. Trump faces no related criminal charges, which would have required a higher burden of proof.

Trump says he will appeal E. Jean Carroll case over unconstitutional silencing

During the nearly two-week trial in federal court, Carroll told jurors that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in New York City during the spring of 1996.

Since Carroll first went public with the accusation in 2019, Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations and maintained he does not know her. In a 2019 interview with The Hill, Trump claimed Carroll was not his type.

Carroll is one of several women who have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior by Trump since he launched his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has denied all of the claims.

The former president is now running for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024 and leads his potential challengers in nearly every national poll.

He faces additional investigations for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and for his handling of classified materials upon leaving the White House.

Story continues

Trump last month was charged with 34 felony counts in connection to a hush money scheme to keep an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels quiet during the 2016 campaign.

Updated at 4:28 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

What really was on trial in the E. Jean Carroll case was our attitudes towards sexual assault.

A Manhattan jury took only three hours to find former President Donald Trump liable for the sexual abuse of the writer E. Jean Carroll that occurred almost 30 years ago, but the defense Trump mounted dated back far longer.

$5M Gut-Punch: Jury Finds Trump Sexually Abused E. Jean Carroll

Trumps defense team chose to present no evidence in the case, but relied entirely on a cross-examination of Carroll that was a showcase of sexual assault victim tropes. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina applied long-discredited assumptions about how sexual assault victims must behave if they are to be believed.

Tacopinas strategy focused on the fact that Carroll had delayed in bringing out the allegationsand never reported them to the policeas well as the fact that she had not screamed during the attack. Both of these lines of questioning are based on ignorant assumptions about how trauma affects victims and especially sexual assault victims.

Delayed reporting by survivors needs to be viewed in light of the fact that the majority of survivors never report being assaulted. One study found that only one in five women even report the sexual abuse.

Factors that affect the decision to report include the person who committed the assault being in a position of power compared to the victim, as well as the fact that many victims blame themselves for what happened.

As a former sex crimes prosecutor, I heard many times the self-doubt experienced by victims questioning if they had somehow brought this violence upon themselves. In what I understood was due in large part to the shaming that our history has imposed upon survivors, and also what I felt was some attempt to exert control over an uncontrollable situation by thinking that there might have been something they could have done, many victims would wonder aloud to me and police if they were to blame. They wondered if they had led the perpetrator on and criticized themselves for not fighting back or screaming for help.

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Such factors were front and center in the E. Jean Carroll versus Trump trial. Carroll testified about her feelings of shame, and one of the good friends she told about the attack advised her to not report it because Trump was so powerful that he would crush her. Which, of course, is exactly what Trump tried to do once she did go public with the accusation.

Americas Tragedy Is Its Culture of FearArmed With Millions of Guns

Tacopinas focus on whether Carroll screamed during the attack ignored the well-documented research findings about how our brains react to trauma. Freezing up and dissociation are common reactions to traumatic stress, and Carroll described her feelings of being frozen during her testimony. Tacopinas efforts to grill her about why she didnt scream backfired on him when Carroll told him I was in too much of a panic to scream. You cant beat up on me for not screaming. This caused Tacopina to retort that he was not beating up on herwhich isnt exactly the best statement for a male lawyer cross-examining a woman to make.

Thankfully, in recent years, trauma-based interviewing of sexual assault victims gradually has become the standard training and approach for sexual assault advocates and investigators. From my own experience, I have seen how such interviewing and questioning techniques are not only compassionate but far more effective in eliciting evidence in sexual assault cases. But even though the research and training have been used for many years now we are far from societal-wide understanding.

Tacopina had a duty as a lawyer to zealously represent Trump, and the fact that he used such ignorant misogynistic assumptions shows his belief that these assumptions still exist in the minds of many.

Trumps depositionin which he leaned into his assertion on the Access Hollywood video that his star status allowed him to grab women by the genitals without consentwell illustrates this. Indeed, Trump actually testified that such behavior dated back for as long as a million yearsan obvious invocation of so-called cave-man behavior.

E. Jean Carrolls Lawyers Leveled a Knockout Blow on Trump

The jury rejected these assumptions in its verdict against Trump, but that is no sign that such attitudes have been now fully consigned to the past. Indeed, much of Trumps appeal to his base is rooted in the idea that America needs to return to a more misogynistic and racist past in order to reclaim supposedly lost glory.

The reveal of this theme in conservative thinking has become more emboldened, not less. Lets remember that Justice Samuel Alitos opinion overruling Roe v. Wade relied in part on the thinking of 17th century jurist Matthew Hale, who presided over witch trials resulting in women being put to death. (Hale also believed that women could not be raped by their husbands.)

Trump and his like-minded thinkers want the progress toward enlightenment to be reversed. But courageous survivors like E. Jean Carroll and the other women who testified against Trump ensure through their courage that the progress wont easily revert to 17th century beliefsmuch less the million-year old thinking espoused by Trump.

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A Palestinian evacuated from Sudan is welcomed by his relatives at the Rafah Border Crossing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, April 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite several ceasefires declared by Sudan's conflicting parties, tensions and some deadly fighting continue to rage in the capital Khartoum and other areas.

According to Xinhua reporter in Khartoum, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Khartoum on Monday when representatives from the two sides are in Saudi Arabia for talks which mediators hope could bring an end to the over three weeks of hostilities that have killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

Sudan's health ministry stopped updating the number of casualties on May 2, when the death toll stood at 550 with 4,926 people injured.

In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing to neighboring countries. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a total of 123,110 refugees have fled to South Sudan, Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic since the conflict erupted in mid-April.

The UN agency projected the number could rise to 860,000 in the next six months.

Ceasefire breached

Several ceasefire agreements were reached and breached by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the past few weeks, according to recent statements or tweets by both sides.

Both sides have sent their envoys to Jeddah for peace talks brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, but both had made it clear that they would only discuss a humanitarian truce, not an end to the conflict.

Tensions had been building up between the Sudanese army and the RSF in recent months before it plunged into a conflict.

The two sides, once allies in toppling former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and ousting the transitional civilian government in 2021, disagreed on the RSF's integration into the army, a key condition of Sudan's political reconciliation process to resume civilian rule.

The two sides were at loggerheads over how the RSF would be integrated into the military and who would have ultimate control over fighters and weapons.

The simmering tension finally broke out into a conflict on April 15, when fighting erupted at a military base south of Khartoum, with each side blaming the other for having initiated the violence.

Since then, the army and the RSF have battled each other with heavy weapons in densely populated areas of the capital and the adjoining cities. The Sudanese army has pounded the RSF bases with airstrikes.





People evacuated from Sudan arrive at Marka Military Airport in Amman, Jordan, April 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Humanitarian crisis

In addition to the hundreds of thousands that have been displaced, people who had no choice but to stay in Sudan are suffering from a shortage of basic services.

Residents in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri (Khartoum North) are enduring serious hardships that feature a short supply of bread, water, and electricity.

Several hospitals are out of service due to a shortage of medicines. According to the Sudanese Doctors Union, medical staff is unable to reach hospitals and health facilities have either been destroyed or seized and turned into military barracks.

Additionally, Internet services are hardly accessible to the residents of Khartoum, who are also facing difficulties in communicating through the main telecommunications networks.

MTN Communication Sudan, a telecommunications provider, announced on Friday that it had to suspend all services provided to subscribers in Khartoum because of power outages at its facilities.

Meanwhile, the lack of a humanitarian corridor in Sudan has disrupted the assistance of international organizations. The UN World Food Programme said six of its trucks heading to Darfur had been looted on Wednesday "despite assurances of safety and security," amid the ongoing power struggle.

With no end in sight to the conflict, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned on Friday that there will be 19 million acutely food-insecure people in Sudan in three to six months if the conflict continues.

The UNHCR said the agency and its partners will need 445 million U.S. dollars to support an outflow of refugees from Sudan and asked neighboring countries to keep their borders open to those fleeing the violence. It also requested the suspension of forced returns to Sudan, including those who previously had their asylum claims rejected.

Considering the dire humanitarian situation, the international community has intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.

During a high-level global meeting on April 20, 2023, the United Nations (UN) and regional organizations including the African Union (AU), the Arab League, and Sudan's neighboring countries agreed to exert pressure on the belligerent two sides to silence the guns.

They agreed to support Sudanese stakeholders through a jointly led AU-UN mechanism aimed at coordinating international action to end the violence and the destabilization of Sudan, the region and the continent, according to a press release by the AU.

The Arab League Council issued a resolution on Sunday to form an Arab ministerial contact group to communicate with the Sudanese parties and influential countries, aiming to reach a settlement of the crisis in Sudan.

The contact group will hold communication with the Sudanese parties, influential countries regionally and internationally as well as relevant international organizations, and coordinate with international relief organizations to provide urgent humanitarian and medical support to citizens and displaced persons inside Sudan.
(Bloomberg) -- A federal jury in New York found Donald Trump liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll and then defaming her by calling her a liar, the first verdict against him in a string of legal cases that threaten to erupt during the 2024 presidential campaign.

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The panel of six men and three women returned the verdict on Tuesday in Manhattan after deliberating on the civil lawsuit for less than three hours. Carroll had accused Trump of attacking her in the dressing room of a Fifth Avenue department store in the 1990s and then harming her reputation by saying she made it up when she went public with her account in 2019. He must pay her $5 million in damages, $3 million of it for defamation.

The jury stopped short of finding Trump liable for rape, which has a technical definition under New York state law. Instead it found him responsible for sexual abuse and forcible touching, two of the three elements of Carrolls battery claim.

Earlier, as the two sides gathered to learn the outcome, Carroll and her lawyers were chatting and smiling, perhaps aware that a fast verdict was likely to be one in their favor. Afterward the judge thanked the jurors and urged them not to identify themselves to the press, before dismissing them to be returned by a van to a secret location. He had ruled the jury should be anonymous to protect their privacy and safety.

Read More: Trumps Fate in Rape Lawsuit in Hands of Librarian, Janitor

The jurors filed past Carroll without looking at her as they left the courtroom.

Oh My God, Oh My God

Carroll put her arms around her lawyers, Roberta Kaplan and Shawn Crowley, who flanked her. Trump attorney Joe Tacopina hugged Kaplan and shook Carrolls hand.

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Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, Carroll said later in a conference room full of lawyers and supporters just outside the courtroom. In a statement after that she said the verdict was a watershed.

I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back, she said. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

Kaplan said in a statement that the verdict was an important step in tearing down a wall of doubt and intimidation facing victims of sexual assault.

Trump Strong, Will Fight

The trial renewed attention on Trumps fraught history with women as he embarks on another run for the White House. On his Truth Social platform, the former president called the verdict a political hit job.

I have absolutely no idea who this woman is, he said. This verdict is a disgrace  a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!

QuickTake: What Trumps Many Legal Perils Mean for His 2024 Bid

Meanwhile early polls show Trump as the clear front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination  and his standing in surveys only improved after he was indicted in a criminal hush money case, as Republicans rallied behind him and his contention that the prosecution was politically motivated.

Tacopina said Trump would appeal Tuesdays verdict and seek to reduce the damages.

Hes strong, he said on the steps of the courthouse when asked for his clients reaction. He said Trump was moving forward as he always does and planning a town hall this week.

Tacopina referred to the Access Hollywood hot-mic recording, played for the jury, of Trump making unguarded remarks about groping women and getting away with it. The tape should not have come into this case, and weve made many motions that create issues for appeal, and were going to employ them, he told reporters, citing an unsuccessful request the defense made for a mistrial over what he said was US District Judge Lewis Kaplans bias against Trump.

Read More: Trump Lawyer Tacopina Has a Lot in Common With His Client

He said the judge made several errors during the trial, including barring the mention of Carrolls litigation financing from billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a major Democratic party donor.

Verdict a Compromise

Jamie White, a lawyer who has represented victims of sexual assault, including victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, said average damages for such cases are between $800,000 and $3 million.

This verdict is a jury sending a message to Mr. Trump that they are holding him accountable for what he did to this woman, and $5 million sends that message, White said. Will it change Mr. Trumps life? No. But it does send a message that we are not going to tolerate, not only sexually abusing someone, but defaming them after the fact.

Read More: Trumps Lawyer Presses E. Jean Carroll on Details of Alleged Attack

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani sees a compromise in the outcome.

The split verdict on sexual battery and rape means the jury compromised to finish their deliberations after only a few hours, especially when they also had to award damages, Rahmani said. Its most likely some jurors just didnt believe that Trump raped Carroll.

Because it was a civil rather than criminal case, Trump was never at risk of imprisonment over Carrolls allegations. The standard of proof was also lower  the jury needed only to find that Trump was more likely liable than not, as opposed to beyond a reasonable doubt.

Trumps Troubles

Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine who also hosted a daily talk show, wrote in 2019 that Trump had raped her more than two decades earlier in a sixth-floor dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store. She sued him last year under a New York law that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations on such claims.

The former president says he has never assaulted anyone and maintains that Carroll made up her claim to undermine him politically and help sell her book. It didnt happen, Trump said in a sworn video deposition played for the jury at the trial. He declined to testify in person and never appeared in the courtroom.

Read More: Trump Jury Hears From Woman Who Claims 70s Assault on Plane

Trumps alleged conduct with women is at the heart of the New York criminal case accusing him of trying to conceal a hush money payment to a porn star just ahead of the 2016 election. He overcame claims of sexual misconduct in both 2016 and 2020 to win his partys nomination. In the 2020 election he lost support among suburban women, a deficit that contributed to his loss to Joe Biden.

Trump is also facing potential criminal charges over his alleged attempts to influence the 2020 election, his retention of highly classified documents after leaving the White House and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, siege on the US Capitol.

He denies wrongdoing and ascribes the probes and cases facing him to animus.

Trial Witnesses

The trial in Carrolls suit lasted eight days and featured testimony from almost a dozen witnesses, including the plaintiff herself, who provided a graphic account of the assault and withstood a withering cross-examination by Trumps lawyer.

Read More: Trump Jury Hears Expert Explain Why Carroll Reacted as She Did

The jurors also heard from two of Carrolls friends who testified that she told them, at the time, that she had been sexually assaulted. One friend suggested she go to the police, while the other said she should stay silent because Trump could ruin her. The jury also heard testimony from two former Bergdorf Goodman employees who said it wouldnt have been unusual for the dressing room area to be unstaffed or have no customers in the evening.

Two other women, who in 2016 went public with claims that Trump had sexually assaulted them, testified to illustrate for the jury an alleged pattern of behavior.

Read More: Trump Jury Hears of Alleged Mar-a-Lago Assault on Reporter

In the October deposition played for the jury, Trump called Carroll a liar and accused her lawyer of being a political operative. He reasserted that Carroll wasnt his type, although he mistook her in a photo for his ex-wife Marla Maples.

The jury heard the Access Hollywood tape several times.

If you look over the last million years, I guess thats been largely true, Trump said of powerful men having their way with women. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately.

The case is Carroll v. Trump, 22-cv-10016, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Read More

Trump Accuser Carroll Testifies George Conway Prompted Suing

Trump Confused Rape Accuser Carroll With Ex-Wife in Deposition

--With assistance from Bob Van Voris and Mark Niquette.

(Adds Carrolls statement in second section and, in third, Trumps position in polls and Tacopinas remarks on planned appeal.)

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E Jean Carroll Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Federal jurors in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday awarded E. Jean Carroll $5 million in damages after finding former President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against the author. The verdict, rendered in civil rather than criminal court, marks the first time that the former president has been found significantly liable in any of the dozens of sexual assault and harassment allegations made against him over the past several decades.

Jurors were unable to find a unanimous consensus that Trump had explicitly raped Carroll based on the legal standard set forth by presiding Judge Lewis Kaplan. Kaplan had instructed the court to consider specific factors such as whether there had been "any penetration of the penis into the vaginal opening," as opposed simply to unwanted sexual contact of any kind, as the jury ultimately determined took place.

Jurors deliberated for approximately three hours before concluding that not only had Trump sexually abused Carroll, but that he had defamed her when he denied assaulting her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the late 1990s, instead accusing her of inventing assault to promote her 2019 memoirs and damage him politically. During the trial, Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina repeated that allegation, claiming Carroll would "profit to the tune of millions of dollars" should his client be found liable.

Trump has repeatedly denied that he assaulted Carroll, calling the verdict "a disgrace" in a post on his Truth Social network shortly after the decision was announced. During the trial, jurors were shown video of Trump's deposition in which he insisted Carroll was not his "type," while at the same time mistaking a photo of Carroll for his former wife, Marla Maples.

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, also showed jurors Trump's now-infamous Access Hollywood footage, in which he bragged about his ability to commit sexual assault as a celebrity. "That's who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And that's what he does," Kaplan argued at one point.

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Taking the stand during the trial, Carroll stated unequivocally: "I'm here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn't happen."

"He lied and shattered my reputation, and I'm here to try to get my life back," she continued. According to communications expert Ashlee Humphreys, who testified on Carroll's behalf during the trial, a full reputational rehabilitation effort could cost nearly $3 million dollars.

Exiting the courthouse after the verdict had been reached, Carroll thanked supporters who had gathered on her behalf, then left without answering any questions.

A statement from Trump's presidential campaign blamed Tuesday's verdict in part on a justice system "compromised by extremist left-wing politics," and vowed to appeal the decision in the future.

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Former President Trump met with the prominent anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America on Monday after the group criticized Trump for his stance on abortion restrictions.

During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his opposition to the extreme Democratic position of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth, paid for by taxpayers  and even in some cases after the child is born, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. President Trump believes such a position is unworthy of a great nation and believes the American people will rebel against such a radical position that aligns us with China and North Korea.

Dannenfelser noted Trump participated in the meeting with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)  whos backing the former presidents 2024 bid  and evangelical leader Tony Perkins.

President Trump knows the vast majority of Americans oppose brutal late-term abortions when the child can feel pain and suck their thumbs, she added. President Trump reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.

Dannenfelsers remarks come several weeks after SBA Pro-Life America criticized Trump for his position on abortion restrictions. The group called the former presidents position unacceptable after his campaign released a statement to The Washington Post last month suggesting Trump supported the idea that abortion access should be decided at the state level.

President Trumps assertion that the Supreme Court returned the issue of abortion solely to the states is a completely inaccurate reading of the Dobbs decision and is a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate to hold, Dannenfelser said at the time, emphasizing the group would only support candidates who supported a minimum of a 15-week abortion ban.

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Lila Rose, the president of anti-abortion group Live Action, also criticized Trump for his position, saying in her statement that, Donald Trump has DISQUALIFIED himself from the nomination of our nations pro-life political party by calling the human right to life merely a state-level issue.

What remains unclear from Dannenfelsers statement, however, is whether Trump offered any promises of passing a federal abortion ban.

The discourse over abortion restrictions illustrates the pressure Republican presidential candidates are facing in outlining restrictions that appease a Republican primary electorate while also navigating a general electorate that includes Democrats and independents.

Other candidates have offered differing views on abortion restrictions. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R )  a presumed White House contender who has not officially entered the race  signed a six-week abortion ban into law, and former Vice President Pence said last month the American people would welcome a minimum national standard in Washington, D.C., 15 weeks.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- A New York judge barred Donald Trump from posting evidence from his criminal case on social media, restricting the former presidents ability to make public statements about charges alleging he directed hush-money payments to an adult film actress.

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State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan on Monday also restricted Trump from publicly disclosing details about witnesses or other evidence that Manhattan prosecutors have collected against him. The order comes as Trump is trying to get the case transfered to federal court.

Trump Defense Fights DAs Bid to Limit Access to Evidence

Trump was indicted in March by a grand jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records for allegedly ordering payments to Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign to keep her quiet about an affair a decade earlier. Merchan is presiding over the case. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies the alleged affair with Daniels.

When Trump was arraigned April 4, prosecutors in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed concern that he had made threatening and derogatory public statements about the DA and the case, but they stopped short of seeking restrictions. Three weeks later, they said a protective order was warranted because of Trumps social-media posts and other public statements hed made about his case.

Trump Sues Ex-Lawyer Cohen for $500 Million Over Breaches

Bragg cited Trumps history of attacking potential witnesses, including Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer who paid $130,000 to Daniels just before the 2016 election  and pleaded guilty to crimes including campaign finance violations and bank fraud. After his indictment, Trump sued Cohen.

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Prosecutors also cited Trumps history of targeting witnesses against him in criminal investigations, including ridiculing witnesses and officials involved in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as two separate impeachment trials in Congress.

At a May 4 hearing, Merchan rejected arguments from Trump lawyers Susan Necheles, Todd Blanche and Joe Tacopina, who had called the district attorneys request extreme and said any restrictions on the former president should also apply to prosecutors.

On Monday, Merchan said anyone with access to the evidence shall not copy, disseminate or disclose the material to any third party, including Trumps Truth Social platform, without prior approval from the court.

Trump can review limited material only in the presence of defense counsel, but defendant shall not be permitted to copy, photograph, transcribe or otherwise independently possess this evidence, according to the judges order.

The judge also said prosecutors can delay disclosing to Trumps team the names and information about employees with the DAs office who worked on the case until just before trial.

A May 4 request by Trump to move the case to federal court has been assigned to US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan. Braggs office asked Hellerstein to schedule a hearing as soon as possible, saying in a filing Monday that prompt resolution is needed to minimize disruption to New Yorks traditional state authority to punish local criminal activity.

The case is The People of the State of New York v. Trump, 71543-23, Supreme Court, State of New York, County of New York.

(Updates with Braggs office asking for hearing on motion to transfer case to federal court.)

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Lawyers for Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll offered closing arguments Monday in the civil trial in which Carroll has accused the former president of raping her in a dressing room at a luxury department store in the mid-1990s. She is suing him for battery and defamation. He has denied her claims, saying the alleged incident never happened.

The judge is expected to instruct the jury on Tuesday morning, after which the jurors will begin deliberating.

In more than four hours of closing arguments, lawyers for both sides offered a series of questions for the jury to consider. Here are some of the most critical.

Is Carroll credible?

Carrolls attorneys made their clients three-day appearance on the witness stand the centerpiece of their case, and during closing arguments her lawyer Roberta Kaplan said her clients testimony was credible, it was consistent and it was powerful. Kaplan told the jury that every single aspect of what she said is backed up or corroborated by other evidence, including not just the alleged incident at Bergdorf Goodman, but also Carrolls account that she told two friends about it contemporaneously.

Kaplan pointed to the testimony of those two friends, saying details from their testimony rang true. One of the friends, Lisa Birnbach, testified that when Carroll called her and told her of the attack, Birnbach was busy feeding dinner to her two young children and went into another room to avoid uttering rape in front of them. The fact that she left the kitchen, by the way, is a very telling detail, Kaplan said. Its the kind of detail you dont make up.

Another member of Carrolls legal team, Mike Ferrara, argued that some of the holes in Carrolls account, primarily the fact that she cant recall the precise date on which the alleged rape occurred, actually bolster her credibility. If she were manufacturing the story, Ferrara said, she would have named a date to avoid criticism over her failure to do so.

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Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina, however, made those holes the centerpiece of his defense of the former president, saying the jury shouldnt find someone unable to recall the date of her alleged rape to be a trustworthy witness. He seized on her testimony that she now recalls that the alleged attack took place on a Thursday. Now she claims she didnt say the day of the week because she wasnt 100% certain, he said. She tailored her testimony right in front of you, right in front of you.

We know reality from fiction, he told the jury.

Repeatedly pointing out that Carroll never went to the police to report the alleged rape, Tacopina suggested to the jury that was because the case would never make it through a police investigation in a million years.

Is the Access Hollywood tape a confession of sexual assault or locker room talk?

Carrolls attorneys showed, referenced or described parts of this tape at least five separate times during their closing arguments. Kaplan argued that Trumps infamous commentary captured on a hot mic constitutes a roadmap he has used to repeatedly commit sexual assault. The tape is from 2005 and resurfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"I just start kissing them," he says on the tape, referring to attractive women. "It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait.

When youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, he says on the recording, adding: Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.

What is Donald Trump doing here? Telling you in his very own words how he treats women, Kaplan said to the jury. Its his modus operandi, M.O. Or as Ferrara put it: It was a confession.



The evidence in this case established overwhelmingly that Trump followed the same playbook when he assaulted Carroll, Kaplan said. He grabbed her, using his words, by the pussy.

Kaplan also seized on Trumps response to the Access Hollywood recording in portions of a videotaped deposition that were played for the jury, particularly his answer to whether he stood by the statement that a star could grab them by the pussy.

Trump said: Well, I guess if you look over the last million years, thats been largely true  not always true, but largely true, unfortunately or fortunately.

Who would say fortunately to describe the act of sexual assault? Kaplan asked. I know who, she said. Someone who thinks its a good thing that stars can grab women by the pussy.  He thinks stars like him can get away with it.

Tacopina dismissed the significance of the tape, describing it as his client has  as locker room talk.

Its crude, its rude, Tacopina said. Id knock my boys teeth out if he talked like that, honestly, he added. But that doesnt make Ms. Carrolls unbelievable story believable.

Tacopina also said that contrary to Kaplans claim that the tape captures Trump discussing sexual assault, it instead shows Trump talking about women letting you do something.

Two things can be true at the same time: You can think Donald Trump is a rude and crude person and that the story makes no sense, he said, referring to Carrolls claim. Both things can be true.

Do other Trump accusers prove a pattern, or are they unrelated?

Kaplan told the jury that the accounts of two other women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them, demonstrate that Trumps actions are part of a pattern of sexual assault.

Three different women, decades apart, but one single pattern of behavior, Kaplan said. She displayed a chart with photographs of Leeds, Stoynoff and Carroll accompanied by columns titled semi-public place, grab suddenly and not my type, along with checkmarks. Trump has suggested all three women are not the sort to which he would typically be attracted.

Tacopina, however, said of the two women: They have nothing to do with whether you should believe E. Jean Carrolls unbelievable story.

He cast doubt on Leedss story, saying it wasnt credible that, as she claimed, a stranger  Trump  would have assaulted her on a plane while another passenger sat by and watched it happen.

Besides, Tacopina said of Leeds and Stoynoff, they have no legal claim for you, the jury, to decide.

How should Trumps decision not to attend the trial reflect on him?

Carrolls lawyers seized on Trumps decision not to attend the trial, testify or put on a defense case.

Trump, Kaplan said, offered no one to back up a single thing he said.

You only saw him on video, she added. He didnt even bother to show up here in person.



Ferrara went further. Trump, he said didn't come into the courtroom, didnt take the witness stand, and you should conclude thats because he did it. He raped Ms. Carroll, and he didnt want to answer questions about it.

Tacopina used what he described as Carrolls vagaries about the date of the alleged incident to help explain why Trump didnt offer any witnesses. Who are we going to call, someone who wasnt in Bergdorf Goodman at some unknown date? Tacopina asked.

What could I have asked Donald Trump? he continued. Where were you on some unknown date 27 or 28 years ago?

Tacopina also told the jury that Carroll could have called his client as a witness, but chose not to. Instead, what they want is for you to hate him enough to ignore the facts, he said.

CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this article misidentified E. Jean Carroll's legal team as a "defense" team. Carroll is the plaintiff.
A pro-Trump super PAC is trying a new tactic to woo donors, warning that any cent spent on any GOP candidate other than Donald Trump is a de facto in-kind donation to President Joe Biden.

In a memo sent to top Republicans on Tuesday, MAGA Inc.s CEO Taylor Budowich painted the 2024 GOP primary as a fait accompli (even without all the candidates even in it). He cited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tumble in the polls and Nikki Haleys inflated fundraising numbers as reasons for donors to unite around Trump.

One month after Alvin Braggs indictment, President Trump has a 41-percent lead in the Morning Consult tracking poll. Republicans have coalesced around President Trump, the memo reads. This reality presents a unique opportunity to unite our Party and take the fight directly to Joe Biden and the divided Democrats.

The memo was sent hours before a New York court delivered a verdict finding that Trump was guilty of sexual abuse of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll and awarding her $5 million in damages for that and defamation.



Budowichs memo is, to a degree, a classic boast of a campaign that finds itself in a leading position. He describes Trump as thoroughly vetted on a national stage and portrays the legal troubles surrounding the ex-president as fundamentally good for him. GOP voters arent just supporting President Trump overwhelmingly despite the investigations, they are supporting him because of the investigations, he writes. He also writes that the argument Trump is not electable doesnt hold water with recent polling.

But the memo is also notable in another respect: underscoring that Team Trump isnt content to rest on its current lead but eager to keep attacking its main competitors. The memo bashes DeSantis Florida legislative session as a bucket of cold water for the governor.

On top of losing major financial backers and cratering poll numbers, the most memorable part of his legislative session is that he picked a fight with Disney and lost, Budowich writes. DeSantis invested tremendous political capital to pass a 6-week abortion ban  in contrast, President Trump maintains a strong pro-life record with exceptions for rape and incest.

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The memo comes as DeSantis inches closer to making a presidential announcement and as Trumps team is going after high dollar donors for support  some of whom have publicly wobbled on support for DeSantis or have put their donations on ice until they have a more clear picture of the field. The latest sign that the Florida governor plans to announce soon: DeSantis recently severed ties with his state-level PAC, which has a whopping $86 million, opening the door for that money to be transferred to a pro-DeSantis super PAC supporting his presidential ambitions.

Last month, Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis PAC, said it had raised $30 million. The PAC also plans to have staff in the first 18 states on the Republican nominating calendar, according to the AP.

While Governor DeSantis tallied up an impressive number of wins for the people of Florida this legislative session, Donald Trump offers the same old, pathetic attacks right out of Nancy Pelosis playbook to attempt to diminish the Governors conservative success story, said Erin Perrine, the communications director for Never Back Down in a statement. Donald Trump blamed the pro-life movement for his endorsed candidates losses in the 2022 midterm elections, and states like Trumps real home, New York, have legalized infanticide up until birth. In Florida, Governor DeSantis has enacted historic measures to defend the dignity of human life and transform Florida into a pro-family state, she added.

At the end of 2022, MAGA Inc. reported $54.1 million on hand, and the PAC has spent millions on national cable ads taking direct aim at DeSantis record on Medicare and Social Security. The PAC also paid for an eyebrow raising ad that accused DeSantis of sticking his fingers where they dont belong into entitlements. The ad was also a reference to a story about DeSantis using his fingers to eat chocolate pudding on an airplane.

The MAGA Inc. memo, according to a PAC official, was being circulated on an individual basis Tuesday to current, past, and targeted donors to MAGA Inc. and like-minded committees as it makes a strong push for unity as it looks towards the end for the quarter.

After a disappointing midterm election for Republicans, where some important primary races were split over Trumps endorsement and involvement, the memo calls on donors to rally around one singular Republican candidate to best help 2024 down ballot candidates.

The 2024 cycle presents a promising opportunity for Republicans to realize massive gains in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and down ballot races across the nation. Unifying early and focusing our collective resources towards maximizing our gains can be the difference maker, Budowich writes.
There are roughly 1.5 million registered Turkish voters living in Germany, the largest diaspora participating in Turkey's pivotal election

Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Germany have been trying to intimidate voters ahead of the country's crunch election, politicians and voters said on Tuesday.

In Berlin's Neukoelln district, a local chapter of the opposition CHP party has been laying on buses to carry voters across the city to vote in the Turkish consulate.

Ercan Yaprak, co-leader of the local chapter, said he had seen groups of pro-Erdogan demonstrators at the consulate.

"We are being provoked. But we won't rise to it," Yaprak told AFP.

"If they are waiting in the consulate for us to say something back, we won't do that. We don't want a fight."

As voters gathered at the CHP bus station on Tuesday, a car drove past blasting pro-Erdogan music.

Katresu Ergez, 29, a Turkish-German citizen among those waiting to board, had already gone to the consulate last week to accompany one of her friends to vote.

"You get insulted on the way in," she said.

"If you don't wear a headscarf or you wear more modern clothes, you are directly labelled as anti-Erdogan and insulted."

Ergez said she had also seen abuse from Erdogan supporters on social media.

"You often get insults, you are called a terrorist and many other things," she said.

- 'Blatant attempt' -

There are roughly 1.5 million registered Turkish voters living in Germany, the largest diaspora participating in Turkey's most pivotal election in decades.

They have been voting since April 27, with polling stations due to close on Tuesday evening.

Around one in two voters in Germany went to the ballot during the last elections in 2018, and support then for Erdogan was stronger in Europe's biggest economy than in Turkey itself.

With polls showing Erdogan, 69, locked in a tight battle with secular rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu and his powerful alliance of six parties that span Turkey's cultural and political divide, the pressure is on for every vote.

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Erdogan backers have been pressing Turks in Germany "with methods that are not acceptable", according to Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

"There is a blatant attempt to influence opinion-forming or even to put people under pressure," Reul told the ZDF broadcaster in an interview to be aired on Tuesday evening.

Supporters of Erdogan and his AKP party have often stirred controversy in Germany.

Earlier this year, an AKP politician in Neuss threatened Turkish opposition politicians in exile in Germany, saying: "We beat them up in Turkey and now we'll beat them up in Germany."

Such statements must be countered, Reul said.

"If any politician thinks they can continue the Turkish election campaign here, then we won't allow it."

fec/hmn/imm
Tweeting at some airlines for customer support won't work anymore. They stopped using Twitter amid Elon Musk's changes. Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP, Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

Some airlines will no longer handle customer service requests over Twitter.

The decision came after Elon Musk began charging for access to Twitter's API and for verification.

So far, just Air France and KLM have halted the service on the platform.

A clever customer service hack for dealing with airlines is becoming harder to do thanks to Elon Musk's changes to Twitter.

Both Air France and its sister airline KLM will no longer field customer service requests over the social media platform, the companies announced over the past few weeks.

Both statements arrived in the wake of an overhaul to the platform. In an attempt to make the company more profitable, access to Twitter's application programming interface, or API, was placed behind a paywall. API allows developers to program automated or semi-automated accounts, and it also facilitates direct messaging services.

Mark Zablan, chief executive of customer-experience platform Emplifi, told The Wall Street Journal that costs for the API can add up to tens of thousands of dollars each month.

The paywalled API contributed to Air France's decision to suspend customer service through Twitter, the Journal reported.

Businesses now also have to pay more than $1,000 a month to receive a gold verification mark. In the past, businesses were able to receive verification for free.

While Air France does not have the gold verification badge associated with its account, a spokesperson told the Journal that the company would still continue to maintain its presence on Twitter. KLM, on the other hand, does have a gold verification badge.

Air France and KLM did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Twitter responded with an automated poop emoji to Insider's request for comment.

"We no longer offer customer service by private message on this platform at the moment, but our commercial teams are still available via the usual channels, including other social networks," an Air France spokeswoman told the Journal.

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A range of other major airlines, including Delta, British Airways, Lufthansa, and American Airlines, appear to have paid for verification.

Since Musk enacted his verification system, impersonations of both public figures and businesses have become more commonplace.

Singapore Airlines, which has not paid for gold badge verification, issued a warning about potential scams at the end of March. The airline is seemingly still fielding customer service requests over Twitter.

Singapore Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

For years, Twitter and other social media channels have been an avenue for airline customers to receive responses to issues that arise throughout the traveling process.

Most airlines will allow passengers to connect their social media profiles with their airline profiles, giving customer service representatives easier access to their flight details when communicating over a given social platform, per the Journal.

KLM, for example, has allowed customers to integrate their LinkedIn and Facebook profiles with their personal flights since 2012.

In 2015, Delta announced it would attempt to respond to user requests over Twitter within an hour, while American Airlines promised it would respond positively to any tweet, no matter how offensive, back in 2013.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two people associated with a massage parlor in Burien have been arrested and charged with organized crime, money laundering, and ten charges of promoting prostitution, according to the King County Sheriffs Office.

Jing Emtage and Gerald Allan Emtage were arrested May 2 after a two-year-long organized crime and money laundering investigation.

According to a media release, the investigation began in Jan. 2021 after a complaint from a community member about a massage parlor in Burien.

The original complaint alleged prostitution and other suspicious behavior at the massage parlor.

The investigation uncovered nine different massage parlors in four different counties - Benton, King, Snohomish and Skagit.

Detectives served 11 warrants at multiple locations and seized over $600,000.

Twenty-three victims were also rescued.

Jing and Gerald Emtage were booked into the King County Jail.

Their next court date is scheduled for May 11.








A girl runs as other shoppers leave with their hands up after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas (via REUTERS)

The state of Texas  from the border with Mexico to the swanky suburbs north of Dallas  spent Monday reeling from unimaginable horror.

Traumatised shoppers were gathering in Allen to reclaim vehicles at the outlet mall where an active shooter on Saturday killed eight and injured seven. Officers in Brownsville were preparing to update the public after a driver plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, again killing eight and injuring at least 10 on Sunday morning. And police in Dallas were holding a gunman who opened fire on a city light rail line on Sunday afternoon, killing one and injuring two.

Meanwhile on Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was tweeting about the border.

Up bright and early to provide a border security update ahead of the end of Title 42, the Republican leader wrote, urging his followers to join him for a live update from the state capital of Austin.

Border security update? retorted Twitter user Faustina Marie, @theroyalruffian. How do you plan to prevent Texans from being slaughtered by other Texans?

Here, The Independent recaps a horror weekend of violence that left 18 dead and many more injured.

Allen Outlet Mall Shooting

Reports of the first mass tragedy of the weekend began on Saturday afternoon, as panicked social media posts and pictures emerged showing an active shooter at Allen Premium Outlets, about a half-hour north of Dallas. Around 3.30pm, an officer responding to a nearby call heard gunfire at the outdoor mall, responded, identified and killed the shooter, law enforcement said  but the gunman had already fatally wounded eight people and injured nine others.

Among the dead were security guard Christian LaCour, 20; engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, whose 28th birthday was just days away; sisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, in fourth and second grade, respectively; and parents Cindy and Kyu Cho, along with their three-year-old, James.

As of Sunday morning, Allen authorities said three injured remained in critical condition in area hospitals and three were in fair, including one patient being treated at a childrens hospital.

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Covered bodies are shown at the Allen Premium Outlets, about a half-hour north of Dallas, where a shooter killed eight on Saturday (via REUTERS)

Police on Sunday confirmed the identity of the suspect as Mauricio Garcia, 33, of Dallas. A law enforcement official told AP that multiple weapons had been found at the scene after Garcia was killed, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun. Investigators searched a Dallas motel near an interstate where Garcia had been staying, as well as a home connected to the suspect, the official said.

Federal agents reviewed social media accounts believed to have been used by the suspect expressing interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views; Garcia had a patch on his chest bearing the acronym for a popular right-wing extremist phrase, the official told AP.

Garcia also had a patch on his chest when he was killed by police that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups, the official said.

The front entrance is shown of a home connected to Allen shooting suspect Mauricio Garcia, 33, of Dallas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Dallas-area churches on Sunday night were holding services for victims as news of the tragedy spread. Within hours of its creation on Monday, a GoFundMe for the young Cho family had raised $380,000 more than its $50,000 goal.

The page says that the parent and three-year-old had visited the mall on Saturday along with older son, William, to celebrate his sixth birthday four days earlier.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, the GoFundMe continued. Cindy, Kyu and three year old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning. After being released from the ICU, their six year old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

Another mother and her children were also caught up in the atrocity, Wylie Independent School District officials said in a letter to families, according to reporting by ABC affiliate WFAA.

The Mendoza sisters, who attended Cox Elementary in Sachse, Texas, were killed while shopping at the outlets with their mother, Ilda, who was critically wounded, Superintendent David Vinson wrote.

Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten, he continued. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.

The father of one Premium Outlets employee who rushed to the scene on Saturday described the horrifying site and called for change within his gun-loving state.

A veteran and former cop, Steven Spainhouer told MSNBC: Im a gun lover; I have guns. But these M4s, AR-15s, theyve got to get off the streets or this is going to keep happening, and weve got to stop that at some point. Prayers an condolences wont bring these people back. We need some action in our legislatures at the federal and state level for better gun control, and Im saying that as someone who loves guns.

President Joe Biden echoed those calls for action, also ordering flags lowered to half-staff.

Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, andnot for the first time, he tweeted Sunday. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives.

Brownsville Bus Stop Attack

Early Sunday morning, as Texans readied for church services praying for the souls of the mall victims, another tragedy struck the state  570 miles south of the crime scene.

Footage captures the fatal crash at a migrant shelter in Brownsville (Rep Henry Cuellars office)

A grey SUV driven by a local 34-year-old crashed into a group waiting at a Brownsville bus stop just before 8.30am, killing eight and injuring ten more, police said. During a press conference on Monday, Chief Felix Sauceda said George Alvarez  who had an extensive rap sheet  had run a red light, flipped the vehicle and smashed into 18 people before attempting to flee the scene.

The bus stop was near a non-profit Ozanam facility that helps to house migrants  whose ranks have been swelling quickly in the run-up to immigration law changes taking effect on Thursday.

At least some of the victims were Venezuela natives, Chief Sauceda said, calling the Sunday event in the border city a very tragic scene. He said Alvarez had been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The chief also noted that investigators were still working to determine a motive and whether or not the deaths were intentional as well as awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

One Venezuelan migrant, who gave his name as Jesus, told local station KVEO that hed been near the bus stop on Sunday at the time of the tragedy. He said hed been at the Ozanam center for three days after traveling from his native country and his family had bought him a plane ticket to Utah.

George Alvarez is seen in his mugshot after deadly crash outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Police Department)

We were waiting there, and the truck sped through the traffic light, and by the grace of God nothing happened to us, but they did hit the others around us, he told the station.

Brownsville police said on Monday that they had also not ruled out additional charges against Alvarez. The FBI was assisting in the investigation.

I cannot describe the heartache I feel at hearing the news from this morning, not just as an advocate for the rights of migrants, but as a resident of Brownsville, Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, tweeted on Sunday. My heart goes out to those who were impacted by this tragedy.

Dallas DART Shooting

Eight hours after the Brownsville bus stop carnage, gunfire broke out in Dallas on a city light rail line, leaving one dead, two injured and a suspect temporarily on the run.

A disagreement between two people broke out aboard a northbound Green Line train around 4.30pm near the Hatcher station within the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, spokesman Gordon Shattles told The Independent. A shooter subsequently fatally wounded one person and injured a bystander before taking off, police said.

A third victim was believed to have been struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene, police told CNN. The shooting disrupted Green Line service for hours as passengers were routed via bus shuttle between various stations amidst police investigations.

A shooting broke out on Sunday afternoon near the Hatcher Station of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, leaving one dead and two injured (Alamy)

Mr Shattles said Monday that DART police had apprehended the suspect and recovered the weapon used in the incident.

The individual has officially been charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, he told The Independent.

The Dallas-area incidents occurred at an especially difficult time for the Dallas Police Department  a separate entity from DART Police  which was hit by a ransomware attack just days before the outlet mall shooting. The FBI said on Friday that it was coordinating with the city, after the ransomware disrupted public services and websites, according to Reuters.

The computer disruption hindered efforts to quickly find information about the Allen suspect, who was believed to be from Dallas, police told local outlets following the mall shooting. The Dallas CIO was scheduled to brief the public safety committee on Monday on the status of the ransomware attack, WFAA reported.

North Texas and federal authorities, meanwhile, continued to piece together details from the Saturday outlet shooting as Gov Abbott continued to tweet about the border later on Monday. Aside from one weekend tweet about the Allen tragedy  highlighting his attendance at a vigil  the Republican avoided most mention of the weekend carnage on his social media.

Were deploying the new Texas Tactical Border Force to border hotspots to repel illegal crossings, he tweeted Monday, adding: In Bidens absence, Texas continues taking unprecedented action to respond to this crisis.

Some of his constituents urged him to look more closely and quickly at other crises, particularly after the Lone Stars horrific weekend of violence.

We knew we could count on you to commence with xenophobic gaslighting in an attempt to take the focus off all the carnage across Texas this weekend, wrote @CariMarshallTX. Guess what - its not working.
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The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ottawa is shown on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

The Chinese embassy in Canada on Monday strongly condemned Canada for asking one Chinese consular official to leave Canada.



According to a news release from the Chinese embassy, the Canadian side blatantly declared one consular official from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto persona non grata based on rumors of the so-called "China Interference" hyped up by some politicians and media.

It said that this has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, and that the Chinese side strongly condemns and firmly opposes this, and has lodged stern protest with the Canadian side.

"The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side," the release said.

China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, the Chinese embassy said. The so-called "China Interference" is totally groundless, which is the out-and-out smear of China and the political manipulation driven by ideological bias. Such provocations by the Canadian side have severely undermined the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.

It must be pointed out that Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel to Canada always perform their duties in accordance with related international conventions and bilateral agreements. Instead of protecting China's diplomatic and consular personnel's legitimate rights, the Canadian side has chosen to condone and echo the anti-China forces' hype-up and conduct extreme actions against a Chinese consular official. China does not accept this completely, it said.

"We urge the Canadian side to step back from the brink and refrain from moving further down the wrong path," the release said. "If the Canadian side acts wantonly and arbitrarily, it will be met with China's resolute and strong reactions."
The annual Alaska Native Federation conference. (Photo: AFN Facebook)

JUNEAU  The largest federally recognized tribe in Alaska and a nonprofit representing 39 villages said they are withdrawing from the largest Native organization in the state.

The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) announced yesterday it will not be renewing its membership to the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), effective immediately.

With more than 35,000 tribal citizens, Tlingit & Haida has been a long-standing member of AFN, which was formed in 1966 to advocate for the cultural, economic, and political priorities of Alaska Natives.

According to its website, AFN represents more than 140,000 Native peoples, 185 village corporations and ten regional corporations.

Tlingit & Haidas Executive Council voted to end its membership with AFN during a meeting held on May 1, 2023.

In a separate announcement, the Fairbanks-based Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), which represents 39 Alaska Native villages and 37 federally recognized tribes, also said it would be leaving AFN. A statement from the TCC indicated the lack of progress on its core issues were the reasons behind the decision.

TCC Tribal leaders have made it clear that the biggest priority for them is the protection of our salmon and ways of life, the statement said. Over the past few years, over 40 resolutions were passed by the full board at AFN that support a subsistence way of life, but no significant action has been taken on those directives.

Yesterdays announcements were the latest in a series of defections from AFN since 2019, when the board of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., which represents shareholders from the oil-rich North Slope region, withdrew from AFN.

In 2020, the board of Doyon, Ltd, followed suit. Doyon, which represents Alaska Native shareholders from the Interior, is the largest private landowner in the state.

Last fall, Aleut Corp., which represents shareholders from the Aleutian Islands region, decided that it would not renew its membership this year in response to the way AFN handled a resolution about declining salmon runs.

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In a statement released yesterday, representatives of the Tlingit & Haida cited sovereignty and self-determination behind the exit.

From protecting our lands, waters, and way of life to advocating on behalf of our communities and for the need for wellness, healing, protection, and support for our tribal citizens and families, weve carved our own path and know the solutions that are needed, Second Vice President Rob Sanderson Jr. said in a statement. It is critical we do the work every day exercising our sovereignty and to be intentional and focused on elevating the voice of our Tribe and representing the people we serve.

Tlingit & Haida President Richard Chalyee Eesh Peterson said the Tribe has been working for the better part of a decade to strengthen sovereignty through economic development and establishing infrastructure to advance the Tribes priorities.

It has always been in the best interest of the Tribe to directly promote, advance, and advocate for our people and communities, and we have positioned the Tribe and strategically built our capacity to do just that, Peterson said. The truth of the matter is our Executive Council has diverse areas of expertise, and this has been a true strength in the governance of our Tribe. We have also built up a Governmental Affairs team that supports our work on important legislation, federal/state tribal issues, budget priorities, and funding opportunities. We will continue to collaborate with AFN where it is needed.

Last week, Tlingit & Haida announced plans to launch a bingo operation in downtown Juneau. The group also acquired a hospitality property in March with a total assessed value of $3.7 million.

AFN President Julie Kitka told the media that the organization will wait to comment on the withdrawal until after its board meeting next week.

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Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Two New York University business students were killed on vacation in Puerto Rico over the weekend, school officials said.

The victims were identified as Franco Medina Angulo and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, international students from Peru who were enrolled in the Stern School of Business, an NYU spokesperson said.

They were on vacation in Puerto Rico with a group to celebrate a birthday before finals when things went awry, a school spokesperson said.

Franco Medina Angulo and Sergio Palomino Ruiz. (via GoFundMe)

They were bystanders caught in an altercation between two unrelated groups when they were killed early Saturday, NYU spokesperson John Beckman said in a statement.

He described them as the victims of senseless, tragic gunfire.

Puerto Rico police said the shooting took place in front of a business on Loiza Street in San Juan.

The police departments Criminal Investigations Corps, which is investigating, shared video showing a woman shooting from the sidewalk and asked for help in identifying her.

The University has been in touch with the remaining group members to offer them support and aid; none of the others were injured, Beckman said in a statement. NYU has also reached out to the families of the slain students to provide whatever assistance we can and to express the sympathies of the University community.

Counseling services will be available to students in the program and close friends of the slain students.

NYU grieves today with the family, loved ones, and friends of these students, whose lives ended tragically, suddenly, and far too early.

A dean for the Stern School of Business said a scholarship will be established in each of Angulos and Ruizs names, NBC New York reported.

A fundraiser gathering donations to support their families had raised over $44,000 as of Tuesday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
North Port Police officers arrested two people on Tuesday for a home shooting.

Santos Zambrana-Lopez, 36, and Odessa Harrell, 35, have been arrested and are facing multiple charges. Police officials said they shot up a house in the 4000 block of Blackman Street over a dispute with those living there.

More: 35-year-old Bradenton man dies Friday in motorcycle crash along I-75, FHP says

In case you missed it: North Port officers arrest getaway driver in Facebook Marketplace scam

The police department didnt indicate if anyone was hurt doing the shooting or what charges Zambrana-Lopez and Harrell are facing.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Two people arrested from North Port home shooting on Blackman Street
By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Tuesday a new $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that will include air defense systems, ammunition and funds for training, the Pentagon said.

Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds will be used to purchase the weapons, allowing President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull them from U.S. stocks. Delivery of the weapons and systems depends on their availability and production timeline.

In the package, Ukraine will receive additional air defense systems and munitions as well as the technology to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraine's native defense systems. The funds will pay for 155-mm Howitzer ammunition, counter-drone ammunition, satellite imagery and various types of training, the Pentagon said.

So far in fiscal 2023, the Department of Defense has provided $5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine under the USAI in four separate tranches. In fiscal 2022, the U.S. put $6.3 billion worth of USAI funds to work buying for Ukraine's defense.

The U.S. has also rushed more than $35 billion worth of weapons to Ukraine using Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval during an emergency.

Tuesday's military aid comes as Congress and the White House debate ways to avoid a default on the nation's debt, with many Republicans demanding sharp cuts in domestic spending in exchange for lifting the debt limit.

However, members of both parties insist they support continued aid for Ukraine including top Republicans House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate.

(Reporting by Mike Stone; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
In the main event of UFC 288 on Saturday, Aljamain Sterling made Henry Cejudos return to the ring an unhappy one, retaining the bantamweight title against the former champion.

Sterling won a split decision against Cejudo, who was competing for the first time in three years, before facing off with rising star Sean OMalley in the Octagon.

In a welterweight co-main event, Belal Muhammad outpointed an injured Gilbert Burns, who was battling a shoulder issue, and earlier in the night, Yan Xiaonan scored a TKO win over ex-strawweight champion Jessica Andrade.

Below, The Independent plays matchmaker for the protagonists of UFC 288.

Aljamain Sterling vs Sean OMalley

This one takes care of itself, after Sterling and OMalley faced off in the ring at the conclusion of UFC 288. OMalley, who snatched a controversial decision win over former champion Petr Yan last time out, was expected to be next for Sterling anyway, and Saturdays face-off only confirmed the UFCs plan.

The only other viable contender right now is Merab Dvalishvili (more on him shortly), but he is a teammate and good friend of Sterling, and the pair have vowed never to fight one another.

Sterlings profile does not yet match his impressive, grappling-centric skill set, but it would be boosted significantly if he were to clash with OMalley  a slick striker and one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC.

Sean OMalley (centre) seems to be next for bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (Getty Images)

Henry Cejudo vs Merab Dvalishvili

Cejudo admitted after losing to Sterling that he did not know what would be next for him. His defeat put to bed machinations of reclaiming the bantamweight belt, which he vacated in 2020 after relinquishing the flyweight title, and moving up to featherweight to challenge for gold there.

However, the Olympic gold-medalist wrestler quickly decided that he will not make a rapid return to retirement; the American took to Twitter to call out Dvalishvili, who keenly accepted the challenge.

Cejudo expressed a desire to face the Georgian, who has won nine straight fights dating back to late 2018, in August, which would mark a quick turnaround. That might be just what Cejudo needs, however, to shed the little ring rust that he exhibited at UFC 288.

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Belal Muhammad vs Leon Edwards / Colby Covington

Saturdays bout between Muhammad and Gilbert Burns was billed as a No 1 contenders fight at 170lbs, and the UFC should follow through with that. While champion Edwards is expected to face pantomime villain Colby Covington later this year, Muhammad should fight the winner of that contest  or even challenge Edwards in the near future, if the Covington fight is stalling.

Muhammad has history with Edwards, having fought the Briton to a No Contest in 2021, when Edwards accidentally poked the Amerian in the eye. With the exception of that strange bout, Muhammad has won nine fights in a row since late 2019 and is fully deserving of a shot at gold.

Most fans have not yet taken to the 34-year-old, but he has an unappreciated charisma, and he is improving quickly enough to suggest that he could find a way past Covington or put on a better showing against Edwards than he did in their first meeting.

Belal Muhammad (left) fought Leon Edwards to a No Contest in 2021 (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Yan Xianoan vs Zhang Weili

Yan looked a step ahead of a reckless Jessica Andrade in every phase of their fight on Saturday, leading to a TKO win inside two-and-a-half minutes.

It was just a second straight win for the Chinese fighter, who suffered back-to-back losses prior to her current streak, but Yan had won 13 fights in a row before that. Furthermore, her victory over former champion Andrade saw her shoot up from sixth to third in the strawweight rankings, and the fighters ahead of her are not due a title shot right now.

A clash between Yan and compatriot Zhang, who holds the belt, would be huge for the UFCs Chinese audience. Such a bout should take place next, and it should take place in China.
The UK is likely to send long-range missiles to Kyiv.

Source: The Washington Post, referring to a procurement notice posted on 2 May by the British-led International Fund for Ukraine

Details: The Washington Post reported that in this document, the UK Ministry of Defence asked for "expressions of interest" in the provision of strike capabilities with a range of up to 300 kilometres. They asked for a response within three days.

The Washington Post, citing a British official, writes that no final decision has been made. However, the notice is a significant step towards the UK supplying such munitions. It was also reported that the requested specifications are very likely for air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The Washington Post recalled that Ukraine has long asked Western countries to provide it with longer-range missiles, arguing that such weapons could change the course of the war by enabling Ukrainian forces to strike Russian command posts, supply lines, ammunition and fuel depots deep inside Crimea and in the temporarily occupied territories in the east of Ukraine.

The Washington Post noted that since Kyiv is preparing to launch a major counteroffensive in the next few weeks, the ability to strike far behind the contact line will help clear the way for a ground offensive by tanks and infantry troops.

It was reported that Storm Shadows can be installed on Soviet-made Ukrainian jets. Such missiles can reach Russian territory. At the same time, Kyiv has promised the West that it will not use donated weapons to strike Russian territory.

The fear that Ukraine will fire missiles at targets in the Russian Federation is a key reason why the US has repeatedly rejected Kyiv's requests for long-range American munitions.

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(Bloomberg) -- The UK is raising pressure on financial regulators to do more to boost growth, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces criticism of the countrys business climate.

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The Treasury is requesting proposals on how its financial regulators can improve the UKs international competitiveness, City minister Andrew Griffith said in a statement. The government wants the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority to take steps to fulfill obligations imposed in the wake of the UKs exit from the European Union to build a more growth-friendly regulatory framework.

Id like ideas from industry, the regulators themselves and other stakeholders on which regularly published metrics will best chart our way to the outcomes we seek of higher growth and growing international market share, said Griffith, the Treasurys economic secretary. Just as we successfully export our regulatory know-how to the world, Id also like to learn from what competitor international financial center jurisdictions use as their yardsticks of success.

Sunak is under pressure to make good on his pledge to grow the economy this year, as he prepares for a general election that must before held no later than January 2025. Labour leader Keir Starmer has sought to court the business community in a bid to demonstrate the party is ready to lead after 13 years in opposition.

At the same time, the government has been buffeted by high-profile criticism that the UK isnt friendly to investment or innovation. Last week, the co-founders of Revolut said the London-based neobank wouldnt consider a public offering in the City after waiting more than a year for a licensing decision by the PRA.

Story continues

This is not the business environment to operate in the modern world, Chief Executive Officer Nik Storonsky told the Times of London newspaper.

UK Government Faces Fresh Calls to Scrutinize Regulators

Griffith said he wanted to address anecdotal stories of slow authorization and decisions in financial regulation that runs from reinsurance to crypto. A good outcome will be a proportionate set of metrics which strike the right balance between high-quality regulation and the agility and focus on growth and competitiveness that the sector needs, he said.

--With assistance from Tom Metcalf.

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British air-launched cruise missile Storm Shadow

Read also: Ukrainian counteroffensive could succeed only on a small section of the front, retired UK general says

Last week, the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), established to procure weapons for Kyiv, issued a call for companies that could provide Ukrainian forces with long-range missiles. The fund's executive committee includes the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

The UK Defense Ministry, which manages the fund, asked companies to contact them if they could provide land-, air-, or sea-launched missiles, with 20-490 kg warheads.

Other desired requirements specified by IFU include "low intercept probability," and "means of overcoming missile defenses to increase the likelihood of a successful strike."

Read also: Shmyhal and Wallace visit Ukrainian troops training in UK

However, a UK official told Reuters that no final decision has been made regarding sending these missiles to Ukraine.

Read also: Russia unlikely to restore stockpile of long-range missiles, says Air Force

Yuriy Sak, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, stated that Kyiv has no specific information regarding the UK's efforts to supply long-range missiles, adding that Ukraine has repeatedly asked for this kind of weapons.

We would be happy if the United Kingdom led the way when it comes to (supplying) long-range missiles  just as it did with the Challenger-2 main battle tanks," said Sak.

Read also: UK to procure 100-300-kilometer-range missiles for Ukrainian army

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the UK may be preparing to transfer Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine, which meet the specifications requested by IFU. During President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the UK in late February, London has agreed in principle to supply long-range weaponry to Kyiv.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(Bloomberg) -- The US announced a $1.2 billion package to bolster Ukraines air defenses and supply ammunition as President Vladimir Putin reinforced his war aims at a parade marking Russias World War II Victory Day holiday.

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In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hosted European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who said the European Union is doing everything it can to erode Putins war machine and his revenues. Multiple explosions were heard in the capital early Tuesday, marking the fifth aerial attack on the city this month.

Putin delivered a speech at the customary Red Square military parade despite heightened security concerns, accusing his enemies of seeking to dismember Russia. Authorities canceled or scaled back plans for events marking the holiday and banned the use of drones after an incident at the Kremlin last week.

Key Developments

Putin Vows Victory in Ukraine at Scaled-Back Red Square Parade

Putins Victory Day Masks Reality in Ukraine: Balance of Power

European Spies Piece Together Strategy Behind Russian Abuses

China Warns of Strong Reaction If EU Sanctions Its Companies

Russias Oil Flows Reach New High as Output Cuts Fail to Show

(All times CET)

US, Allies Dismantle Russian Snake Malware Spying Operation (5 p.m.)

The US and allied countries have disrupted a wide-ranging Russian hacking operation that spied on its adversaries over some 20 years, the Justice Department announced.

Law enforcement agencies penetrated a global network of computers infected with malicious software that the US said Russias federal intelligence service used to spy on computers in at least 50 countries, including governments belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Story continues

Read More: US, Allies Dismantle Russian Snake Malware Spying Operation

EUs von der Leyen Backs Dedicated Tribunal for Russian Crimes (4:59 p.m.)

The commission chief endorsed the creation of a dedicated tribunal for the crime of aggression to address Russian actions in Ukraine and said the support of the international community is essential.

Justice means accountability for Russian war crimes, von der Leyen said in a speech during a visit to Kyiv. She didnt specify the exact format of the tribunal or where it should be located. The EU is already working to set up an international center to help collect and analyze evidence related to such crimes.

Pentagon Package Includes Air Defense, Ammunition (3:11 p.m.)

The US Defense Departments $1.2 billion package to Kyiv includes air-defense systems, munitions, equipment to integrate western systems, satellite-imagery services and ammunition, it said in a statement.

The package underscores the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraines most urgent requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities, the statement said.

Russias Oil Flows Reach New High as Output Cuts Fail to Show (1:15 p.m.)

Russian crude oil flows to international markets show little sign of ebbing even as Moscows threatened output cut stretches into a third month.

Four-week average seaborne shipments, which smooth out some of the volatility in weekly numbers, rose in the period to May 5 to the highest since Bloomberg began tracking them in detail at the start of 2022. With almost all Russias crude going to China and India, volumes to Asia also hit a new high.

Ukraine, EU to Open Coordination Platform (12:57 p.m.)

Ukraine agreed to set up a special platform with the EU to coordinate and monitor problems pertaining to Kyivs agricultural exports to the bloc, Zelenskiy said alongside von der Leyen. Restrictions on Ukraines exports imposed by EU neighbors strengthen the capabilities of the aggressor country, he said.

We propose to start a consultative group to monitor problematic issues and refrain from any trade decisions without consulting Ukraine, the Ukrainian leader said. The immediate priority is that grain transit goes seamlessly and close cooperation between different stakeholders is required, von der Leyen said.

Prigozhin Calls Russian Bureaucrats Enemy (12:20 p.m.)

Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces wont pull out of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut for now, even though theyve received only about a 10th of the ammunition theyre seeking from the Russian Defense Ministry.

Our enemy isnt the Ukrainian military today but Russian bureaucrats, Prigozhin said in a video posted on his Telegram channel, accusing the Kremlins army chief of intervening personally to cut ammunition supplies.

Prigozhin has threatened several times to withdraw from Bakhmut in clashes with the Defense Ministry over support for his troops, whove been fighting there since late last year. A regular Russian army regiment had fled the battlefield, weakening a three-kilometer section of Wagners flank, he said.

Chinas Exports to Russia Hit Record (11 a.m.)

Chinas exports to Russia hit a record in April, jumping 153% from a year earlier to $9.6 billion in a sign of increasingly close economic relations.

Firms in China imported $9.6 billion worth of oil, gas and other goods, taking total trade to the second-highest level on record  some $19 billion, just shy of Marchs peak.

McConnell Says Congress Will Keep Funding Kyiv (11 a.m.)

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted US funding to support Ukraines military will continue to flow despite growing calls from isolationist members of his own party to reduce or end aid to Kyiv.

I do think that we have enough support within Congress to sustain this for a good deal longer, McConnell said. All the leadership in the House and Senate in my party is very much in favor of defeating the Russians. The Kentucky Republican also called on President Joe Biden to accelerate shipments of high-tech weaponry to Ukraine before an expected spring offensive to retake territory seized by Russia.

Scholz Responds to Putin in Strasbourg (10:40 a.m.)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to respond to Putin, saying the EUs peaceful path represented a clear contrast to the saber-rattling parade that we see in Moscow today.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine is also an attack on the values and principles that have guided us since the founding of the EU, Scholz told reporters after talks with Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Together we will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary, he said, before heading into the chamber for a debate with lawmakers.

Russia Says US Isnt Engaging on Jailed Reporter (10:30 a.m.)

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the US of rejecting dialog over the case of jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, state news service Tass reported. The Biden administration is using only tactics of pressure to try and secure Gershkovichs release, Ryabkov said.

Gershkovich is being held in Moscows notorious Lefortovo prison on allegations of espionage after he was arrested in March in the city of Yekaterinburg in Russias Urals region. Hes the first American reporter to be detained on accusations of spying since the Cold War, a charge that carries a 20-year maximum prison term in Russia. He denies the allegations.

EU Seeking More Details on China Peace Drive (10 a.m.)

The EU is still trying to get more information from Beijing on its recently announced peace delegation to Ukraine and other unspecified countries, the blocs top envoy in China said Tuesday.

We are trying to talk to the Chinese government about where they are sending a special envoy and what are their intentions, EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo said at a press conference in Beijing to mark Europe Day. But we still have no news. China announced late last month it would send a delegation to Ukraine and other countries led by Li Hui, who was Beijings ambassador to Moscow for 10 years.

Putin Seeks to Cement Support for War (10 a.m.)

A real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland, Putin said in a brief speech at the start of Tuesdays parade.

Seeking to cement public support for his attack on Ukraine, he claimed troops at the front have the fate of Russia in their hands. The display of military equipment this year was considerably smaller than in the past, with only one tank  a World War II vintage T-34  and no flyover by warplanes and helicopters.

Zelenskiy Discusses De-Mining Ukraine (10 p.m.)

Zelenskiy held meetings Monday with his officials to discuss how to deal with mines and unexploded ordnance which he said affects more than 170,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory.

They say it will take decades to deal with such a threat, the Ukrainian leader said in his evening address. We have to do it much faster, he added, saying Ukraine will cooperate with everyone in the world who has the experience, who has the technology, who has the financial capacity to support us to make Ukraine clear of Russian mines again.

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Ursula von der Leyen at Kyiv railway station, May 9, 2023

Read also: Berlin lifts ban on Ukrainian symbols for V-E Day, Russian flags still prohibited

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 on May 8. Russia celebrates on May 9 because it took a day for news of the Nazi surrender in Europe to reach the Kremlin.

"Today I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will honor our historical unity  the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat rascism (Russian fascism)," the Ukrainian leader said in an address on May 8.

Read also: Zelenskyy addresses nation on occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism

The Ukrainian leader also said he would submit a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that would establish May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II of 1939-1945.

First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko stated that the Rada would adopt the new holidays  May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II, May 9 as Europe Day  by the end of May.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv

By train early on May 9, an hour after the all-clear was sounded in the Ukrainian capital following a second overnight air raid by Russia.

The Ukrainian Air Force said aid defenses had shot down 23 out of 25 missiles Russia had fired at Ukraine, and all 15 that were targeted at the Ukrainian capital.

Arriving in Kyiv, Von der Leyen said she welcomed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to make May 9 Europe Day in Ukraine.

"Good to be back in Kyiv, where the values we hold dear are defended everyday, she wrote on Twitter.

Read also: Ukrainian Intelligence warns of possible Russian provocations on Victory in Europe Day

So it is such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe.

During the visit, the head of the European Commission plans to meet with President Zelenskyy.

Story continues

Why Victory Day is celebrated on May 8, and not May 9

On May 8, 1945, the German Instrument of Surrender came into force, which was signed the day before  on May 7 at 2:41 am CET in the French city of Reims.

Since then, May 8 has been celebrated worldwide as Victory Day in Europe (V-E Day), as Germany's capitulation ended the war on the continent.

And since 2005, the world has also celebrated May 8-9 as the Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation, as a tribute to all the victims of World War II.

Ukraine joined this tradition in 2015, when then-President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on the new holiday.

The Soviet Union and the countries of the Eastern Bloc celebrated May 9 as Victory Day due to it taking a day for news of the Nazi surrender to reach Moscow.

Russia also still refers to the Second World War as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 to obscure the fact that it was an ally of Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1941, and to diminish the role played by the Western allies, primarily the UK and the United States, in defeating Nazi Germany.

Read also: At last minute, three more heads of state decide to attend Putin's parade

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday hit out at a cruel European Union export ban on Ukrainian grains to five member states, reports Joe Barnes.

The Ukrainian president said the embargo only helps Russia as it wages an illegal invasion of his country after talks with European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen.

Protectionist measures from our neighbours cannot but disappoint, softly speaking, Mr Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv.

All restrictions on our exports are completely unacceptable right now. They only reinforce the abilities of the aggressor.

He added: "We are waiting for the EU to stop all restrictions as fast as possible.

His rant came after Brussels signed off on allowing Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Romania to ban imports of wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed from Ukraine.

The Eastern European nations leaders had complained cheap Ukrainian imports were undercutting farmers producing the same grains domestically.

Mrs von der Leyen described the situation as difficult, but vowed to assist Ukraine in exporting its agricultural products.

The immediate priority now is that the grain transit goes seamlessly and at the lowest possible cost outside from Ukraine towards the European Union," she told Mr Zelensky.

This requires very close cooperation of the different stakeholders. Therefore, we will jointly set up a coordination platform."

03:04 PM

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We will be back tomorrow with all the latest updates on Ukraine.

03:03 PM

'A real war has been unleashed... we have repulsed international terrorism,' says Putin

Vladmir Putin has said that Russia has repulsed '"international terrorism" as he blamed the West for sparking war in Ukraine in his annual Victory Day speech.

The Russian president said a real war has been unleashed against Russia" adding that "civilization is again at a decisive turning point."

Story continues

"A real war has been unleashed against our homeland.

"We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security," Putin said as the country marked the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Elsewhere in the 10-minute speech on Red Square, he said that Russia's future "rests on" soldiers fighting in Ukraine

"There is nothing more important now than your combat effort," the Russian president said, addressing troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were present at the parade.

He continued: "The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you."

02:47 PM

Bakhmut 'fully destroyed', says Zelensky

Russia failed to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut ahead of its Victory Day celebrations, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky has said.

They were not able to capture Bakhmut. This was the last important military operation that they wanted to complete by the ninth of May, President Zelensky said in a joint news conference with European President Ursula von der Leyen.

Unfortunately, the city does not exist anymore. Everything is fully destroyed," he added.

02:39 PM

Moscows ambassador to Poland confronted with installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine

Moscows ambassador to Poland was confronted with a large installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine when he tried to place a wreath at a Warsaw memorial to Soviet soldiers on Russia's Victory Day holiday, reports James Crisp, The Telegraph's Europe Editor.

The installation included hundreds of fluttering blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and crosses serving as symbolic grave markers for Ukrainians killed by Russians during the full-scale war launched by Moscow last year.

A pool of fake blood below the crosses underlined the message of the protest, which was created by Euromaidan-Warszawa, a citizens' initiative that supports Ukraine.

Protesters, mostly Ukrainians but also Poles, blocked Ambassador Sergey Andreev's passage to the memorial, which is set amid graves of Red Army soldiers.

With his path blocked, Mr Andreev instead left a wreath of red carnations in front of the hundreds of Ukrainian flags fluttering in the wind as loudspeakers blasted the sounds of bombs and air sirens. He vowed to return later in the day.

The installation also included large mock-ups of bombed buildings and the names of Ukrainian cities where Russia has carried out atrocities against Ukrainians: Bucha, Irpin, Kherson, Bakhmut.

02:05 PM

Analysis: Putin has nothing left to display

This years Victory Day parade in Moscow to remember the fallen in the Second World War was always expected to be a pared-back affair, writes Dominic Nicholls, The Telegraph's Associate Editor.

With commitments to, and losses in the war in Ukraine, the amount of military equipment on display was always likely to be underwhelming compared to recent years.

But theres underwhelming and then theres millennium bug levels of underwhelming.

Tuesdays parade eclipsed even the latter.

Read more here. This article is part of The Telegraphs Dispatches newsletter. Sign up here to get exclusive insight delivered directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.

01:53 PM

Ukraine on 'frontline of everything we Europeans cherish'

Ukraine is on the frontline of everything we Europeans cherish, Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, as she claimed Russia was troubled by Ukraine joining the EU, reports Joe Barnes.

Courageously, Ukraine is fighting for the ideals of Europe that we celebrate today, the European Commissions president said.

In Russia, Putin and his regime have destroyed these values, and now theyre attempting to destroy them here in Ukraine because theyre afraid of the success you represent and the example you show, and they are afraid of your path to the European Union.

Mrs von der Leyen called on Europe to make the impossible possible by allowing Ukraine to join the bloc in the future.

We should never forget that peace in Europe seemed impossible, improbable and far too distant for much of the last century, she added.

But it was achieved, despite the pain and despite the divisions of war. But as we stand here today in the country senselessly attacked, some might think it is impossible, improbable or too distant to talk about a free and peaceful Ukraine in the European Union.

01:17 PM

Victory Day in pictures:

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square - Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Participants, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, attend a military parade on Victory Day - Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS

01:05 PM

Zelensky brands move by five EU member states to ban imports of Ukrainian grain 'unacceptable'

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, branded a move by five European Union member states to ban imports of Ukrainian grains unacceptable, reports Joe Barnes, The Telegraph's Brussels Correspondent.

Protectionist measures from our neighbours cannot but disappoint softly speaking, he told a news conference with Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv.

His rant came after the EU backed a ban on Ukrainian grain exports into five member states close to the border with the war-torn country.

Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia have all complained that their farmers are being undercut by cheap grain exports from Ukraine as logistics firms refuse to transport the shipments onwards.

12:57 PM

Zelensky: 'Time has come' to start talks on Ukraine's EU accession

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the European Union should make a decision on formally opening talks on Ukraine's assession into the bloc, after it officially gained candidate status last year.

"The time has come to remove the artificial political uncertainty in the relations between Ukraine and the EU.

"The time has come to take a positive decision on the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU," Mr Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

12:38 PM

Rishi Sunak: Suffering inflicted on Ukrainian people is 'appalling'

Responding to Vladimir Putins speech, Rishi Sunak said:

"There is only one person who is responsible for the illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and that is President Putin. The crimes that are being committed are appalling. The suffering that is being inflicted on the Ukrainian people is appalling. That is why it is right that we remain steadfast in supporting the people of Ukraine to stand up to that aggression. Thats what I and the United Kingdom will continue to do.

12:32 PM

Ukraine in pictures:

Alyosha of Ukraine performs during a dress rehearsal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool - Martin Meissner/AP

Ukrainian soldiers look at the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders - Celestino Arce/NurPhoto/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

A woman touches the photo of a relative killed during the war on the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders - Celestino Arce Lavin/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

12:24 PM

Zelensky urges EU to speed up ammunition deliveries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the need for faster deliveries of artillery shells from the European Union during a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"We discussed a key issue: the speed of procurement and delivery of these munitions. The need for them on the battlefield is already present," President Zelensky said during a press conference in Kyiv.

12:08 PM

Winter gas prices 'to almost treble' as Putin's energy war intensifies

European gas prices could nearly treble this winter and remain higher into summer next year, according to Goldman Sachs, delivering a shock to households and a boost to Vladimir Putin's efforts to fund his war in Ukraine.

Wholesale gas prices could rise above 100 per megawatt hour in the second half of the year, nearly three times higher than present levels of around 36.

European gas prices have fallen after the continent emerged from winter with gas stocks more than half full and close to record highs for the time of year.

However, Goldman Sachs expects European consumption and liquified natural gas (LNG) demand elsewhere in the world to rebound in the second half of 2023 raising prices on average above 90 per megawatt hour.

In a note to investors, analysts warned that "even if industrial demand remains sluggish this summer, this is not a guarantee that storage will be comfortable throughout winter".

It said there is "only so much capacity to store gas ahead of heating season".

11:54 AM

Ukraine discusses integration with EU as Russia marks Victory Day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed European integration, defence matters and sanctions against Russia at talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

After talks held in Kyiv as Russia celebrated the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, Zelensky said he expected the European Union to soon approve more sanctions on Russia over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

11:37 AM

Tank comparison

11:29 AM

Ukraine in pictures:

A soldier fires a rocket gun as Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region - Anadolu Agency/Anadolu

Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region - Anadolu Agency/Anadolu

A military vehicle moves from bumpy road as Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region - Anadolu Agency/Anadolu

11:12 AM

Ukraine peace talks 'not possible' right now, says UN Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine were "not possible at this moment," in an interview published by Spanish daily El Pais.

His statement came as the leaders of Russia and Ukraine called for victory during events commemorating the end of World War II.

"It is clear that the (two) parties are completely absorbed in this war" and "convinced that they can win", said the UN chief during an interview with the Spanish daily, El Pais.

Guterres said he hoped it was possible "in the future" to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

10:58 AM

Putin watches single tank drive down Red Square in scaled-back Victory Day Parade

Vladimir Putin watched a single World War Two tank roll through Moscow as part of a scaled back Victory Day parade in which he claimed war had been unleased on Russia.

The T-34, an 83-year-old relic, has traditionally opened the annual display of military might because of its symbolic role in helping Russia overcome Nazi Germany.

However, the Soviet-era tank is normally accompanied by more modern fighting machines in a full display of Moscows military might.

Read the full story from Joe Barnes and Nataliya Vasilyeva here

10:54 AM

Scholz: 'EU should not be intimidated by Russia'

A prosperous Ukraine inside the European Union will be the strongest possible rejection of imperialist Vladimir Putins brutal aggression, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said as he urged support for Kyiv for as long as necessary, reports James Crisp, The Telegraph's Europe Editor.

Mr Scholz called for a reformed and larger geopolitical Europe , without the need for unanimity in foreign policy decisions, in a speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday in which he said the EU should not be intimidated by Russia.

In Moscow Putin is parading his soldiers, tanks and artillery. Let's not be intimidated. Let's stand firm in our support for Ukraine as long as necessary, Mr Scholz said on May 9, which is Europe Day, as well as the day Russia celebrates victory in World War Two with a military parade in Red Square.

I don't think any of us wants to go back to a time when the law of the jungle reigned in Europe, when small countries had to bow to large countries, when freedom was a privilege of a few rather than a fundamental right for everyone.

He said, Our European Union, united in its diversity ,is the best insurance that we have to ensure that this past does not return.

The message of the ninth of May is not what's coming from Moscow today. The message is ours. And it is that the past will not triumph over the future. Our future is the European Union.

10:14 AM

Wagner chief accuses Russian army leaders trying to 'deceive' Putin:

The head of Russia's private Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin accused Moscow's top generals of trying to "deceive" President Vladimir Putin over the Kremlin's Ukraine campaign.

"If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your a*** or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost," Prigozhin said.

10:10 AM

Pictured: Victory Day Parade in Moscow

World War Two veteran Giorgi Dekanosidze, 101, sits on a bench holding a portrait of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin during Victory Day celebrations - VANO SHLAMOV/AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a military parade on Victory Day - SPUTNIK/via REUTERS

10:02 AM

Wagner chief claims Russian state unable to 'defend' country

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin questioned the Kremlin's ability to defend the country as Ukraine prepares for a spring offensive.

"Why is the state not able to defend its country?" Prigozhin said in a scathing video, adding that Ukraine was hitting Russian border regions "successfully".

He claimed that Russian soldiers were "fleeing" the army because the defence ministry was "instead of fighting, scheming all the time."

09:55 AM

Putin: Russians united in a 'sacred' fight with the West

President Vladimir Putin said that Russians were united in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine that would end in victory, and accused the United States and its allies of forgetting the Soviet triumph over the Nazis in World War Two.

Putin has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine - which he casts as a defensive move against a West which wants to carve up Russia - to the challenge Moscow faced when Adolf Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

"The decisive battles for the fate of our Motherland have always become patriotic, all-national and sacred," the 70-year-old president told veterans and soldiers assembled on Red Square for the annual Victory Day parade.

09:27 AM

Victory Day Parade in pictures:

Putin at Victory Day Parade in Moscow - grabs from TMG Live stream/grabs from TMG Live stream

Russian cossacks arrive to participate in the Victory Day military parade - KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP

A woman carries portraits of Red Army soldiers during the celebrations of Victory Day - PAVEL MIKHEYEV/REUTERS

09:08 AM

From The Telegraph's Senior Foreign Correspondent in Ukraine...

Russia launched a large missile attack against Ukrainian cities overnight, the fifth air attack so far this month, reports Roland Oliphant, The Telegraph's Senior Foreign Correspondent in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 23 of 25 missiles fired at the country, most of them launched by Russian strategic bombers from the Caspian Sea region.

In Dnipro in central Ukraine loud explosions were heard at about 10 PM as air defence systems engaged incoming missiles.

Authorities later said eight missiles had been fired at the region, seven of them at the city itself. Fragments of one missile struck the roof of a four storey apartment block and penetrated as deep as the third floor, badly damaging several homes. One woman was taken to hospital with spinal and brain injuries.

The warhead was found unexploded on the third floor and made safe by bomb disposal teams before being removed, local authorities said. About 40 people were evacuated from the building.

Falling debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv, Kyiv's Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on his Telegram messaging channel, adding there were no casualties nor much damage.

09:02 AM

Putin: Russia's future 'rests on' soldiers

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country's future "rests on" soldiers fighting in Ukraine during a speech at Moscow's Victory Day parade, taking place 15 months into the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine.

"There is nothing more important now than your combat effort," Putin said, addressing troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were present at the parade.

A Russian serviceman stands in a vehicle rolling toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

"The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you."

08:59 AM

Russia scraps traditional fly-past at Victory Day parade

Russia has scrapped the traditional fly-past at the Victory Day parade on Red Square, reports Nataliya Vasilyeva.

Questions about security for the fly-past were raised after a daring drone attack on the Kremlin last week.

The Kremlin, however, never confirmed that jets would not be deployed at the parade.

Last year, authorities scrapped the fly-past, citing weather conditions, although similar weather did not hinder it in the past.

08:55 AM

Analysis from our Russia Correspondent

Vladimir Putin has stolen the show at Russias annual Victory Day parade in Moscow by portraying Russias invasion of Ukraine as the countrys yet another existential battle, writes Nataliya Vasilyeva, The Telegraph's Russia Correspondent.

Victory Day that Russia marks on May 9 has always been the moment to mourn the colossal military and civilian losses that the Soviet Union sustained in the Nazi invasion.

The Russian president in the traditional address to the troops said a few words commemorating the Soviet casualties before launching into an angry tirade about Russias protracted invasion of Ukraine.

Standing on stage on Red Square, surrounded by elderly veterans and young officers, Mr Putin lashed out at the West, saying a real war has been unleashed against Russia and sought to portray Ukraine as a hostage of the West and its neo-Nazi allies.

He likened Russias own unprovoked invasion of Ukraine to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, portraying Russia as a victim of its enemies plans to destroy and decimate it.

08:35 AM

Pictured: Vladimir Putin with the Kazakh President and Uzbek President

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attend a military parade on Victory Day - SPUTNIK/via REUTERS

08:24 AM

Putin: 'World is at turning point'

President Vladimir Putin told Russians that the world was at a key turning point and they were engaged in a patriotic struggle for the future of their country, as the country marked the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

"Today, civilisation is again at a decisive turning point.

"A real war has been unleashed against our homeland. We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security," Putin said as the country marked the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

In a 10-minute speech on Red Square, Putin repeated familiar messages he has delivered many times in the nearly 15 months of Russia's war in Ukraine.

He said "Western globalist elites" were sowing Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people had become "hostages to a state coup" and to the ambitions of the West.

08:20 AM

Victory Day Parade in pictures:

Putin at Victory Day Parade in Moscow - grabs from TMG Live stream/grabs from TMG Live stream

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

08:12 AM

Victory Day parade begins

Russian President Vladimir Putin walked from the Kremlin on to Red Square to be greeted by mass ranks of military personnel as the start of a Victory Day celebrations to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.

State television showed Putin positioned next to World War II veterans on Red Square where thousands of Russian army personnel in ceremonial uniform gathered to march to the accompaniment of a military brass band.

Victory Day is one of the most important public holidays in Russia, when people commemorate the huge sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during what is called the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, in which around 27 million citizens perished.

This anniversary is even more emotionally charged as Russia mourns thousands of soldiers killed in the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine which shows no sign of ending.

08:07 AM

Six post-Soviet leaders to attend military parade

At least six post-Soviet leaders including the prime minister of Armenia and the president of Kazakhstan are expected to attend the military parade that fetes the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Political analyst Arkady Dubnov said that "for the first time in many years" Putin will be surrounded at a Victory Day parade by a number of post-Soviet leaders.

"Despite the serious weakening of its global positions after February 24, 2022, Russia remains to a certain extent the metropolis of a former empire whose actions have to be taken into account," Mr Dubnov said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "all necessary measures" were being taken to ensure the safety of the leaders.

08:02 AM

Pictured: Putin at Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Putin at Victory Day Parade in Moscow - grabs from SKY NEWS/ grabs from SKY NEWS

07:59 AM

Putin arrives in Red Square

Vladimir Putin has arrived at Red Square in Moscow for the Victory Day parade.

The Russian president is set to address thousands of troops standing at attention in Moscow's Red Square amid ramped-up security.

07:37 AM

EU chief Von der Leyen marks 'Europe Day' in Kyiv

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kyiv to mark the Europe Day celebration of peace and unity, as Ukraine delivered a symbolic retort to Moscow's Victory Day parade.

The president of the European Commission travelled on an overnight train from Poland to see President Volodymyr Zelensky and work on Ukraine's quest for eventual EU membership, a reporter on the train said.

Good to be back in Kyiv.



Where the values we hold dear are defended everyday.



So it is such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe.



I welcome President @ZelenskyyUa's decision to make 9 May Europe Day also here in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/MEGOEfgyIq  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 9, 2023

The Ukrainian leader has decreed that May 9 would be celebrated in his country as Europe Day, as it is in Brussels, spurning the martial Victory Day tradition of the former Soviet Union.

07:31 AM

Kim Jong Un says Russia 'will prevail' over hostile forces

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Russia "will prevail" in its fight against what he described as "imperialists," state news agency KCNA said, in remarks seen to be aimed at Ukraine and its Western supporters, such as the United States.

North Korea has forged closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, including its proclamation later of having annexed parts of Ukraine that most U.N. members condemned as illegal.

"We send warm wishes to you, the Russian army and the people of Russia for their holy fight to preserve world peace," the agency quoted Kim as telling Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter.

Kim also congratulated Putin on Tuesday's Victory Day anniversary that celebrates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, saying Russia would continue to protect its "autonomy" and the "stability of the region".

07:30 AM

Ukraine in pictures:

An explosion is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv - GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

A Ukrainian air force pilot stands near his Su-25 ground attack jet on his base in Eastern Ukraine - LIBKOS/AP

A part of a cruise missile shot down during a Russian missile strike is seen in the backyard of a private house in Kyiv - HANDOUT/via REUTERS

06:56 AM

Ukraine war driving rise of tuberculosis

Senior United Nations officials and activists have demanded that the world invest more to develop new vaccines and tackle a surge in tuberculosis fueled by Covid-19 and the conflict in Ukraine.

Dr Lucica Ditiu, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, told a press conference at the UN that the war is having a huge impact on efforts to treat people with TB and diagnose new cases.

Ukraine has the highest number of estimated people with TB in the European region  34,000  and also a high number with drug-resistant TB, Dr Ditiu said.

Its remarkable, the fact that the Ukrainian people are actually showing an amazing resilience in doing their best to maintain the services for TB, Dr Ditiu said. But obviously a lot of people left the country.

Nonetheless, she said, major efforts have been made to track down those with the disease, and a key priority remains to ensure that people in Ukraine have access to treatment.

Tuberculosis is the biggest infectious disease killer in the world today, taking the lives of around 4,400 people every day around the world including 700 children.

06:37 AM

No Black Sea grain ships inspected in past two days

The United Nations said no ships were inspected on Sunday or Monday under a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its own grain and fertiliser exports.

Officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations make up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, which implements the Black Sea deal agreed in July.

Ukraine has been putting forward daily a list of ships to be authorised.

Ukraine has told the JCC that 62 vessels are waiting to travel to Ukrainian ports, of which eight have been put forward for authorisation by the JCC, the UN said on Monday.

The JCC has not agreed to any new authorisations for the past several days.

05:56 AM

Russia launches fresh attack on Kyiv

Russia bombarded Kyiv with about 15 cruise missiles on Tuesday morning, the second attack in as many days, with air defence systems shooting all of them down, officials said.

"As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed," Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on Telegram .

"(They) try to kill as many civilians as possible - on this day."

According to preliminary information, there were no casualties in the attack that was carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said falling debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv.

In the often-targeted Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kyiv, debris was found on a road.

"Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future," Mr Popko said.

05:40 AM

Zelensky branded traitor for moving Victory Day

The Kremlin has branded Volodymyr Zelensky a traitor after his decision to move the day that his country marks the allied victory over Nazi Germany.

Mr Zelensky on Monday annoyed Russia by changing the day it commemorates the war to May 8, aligning it with Western nations in a repudiation of its Soviet past.

May our victory over the current evil of Rashism be the best way to honour the memory of those who fought against and defeated Nazism, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address, using a commonly used term in Ukraine to denote Russian fascism.

Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Mr Zelenskiy was a traitor and said he had betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who died fighting the Nazis.

Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, suffered higher per-capita casualties than Russia in the Second World War and was home to a significant Jewish population that was wiped out in the Holocaust.

On the day of Russia's parade, Mr Zelensky will underscore Ukraine's ambition to join the West by receiving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

President Volodymyr Zelensky giving an address on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War - AFP

05:06 AM

Ukraine shells Belgorod region

Ukrainian forces shelled the Belgorod region on Russia's border with Ukraine on Monday, injuring at least five people and damaging houses and power lines, the region's governor said.

The town of Shebekino in southern Belgorod was shelled three times, injuring five, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Telegram. At least five other settlements also came under fire, he said.

Late on Monday, Russia's air defence systems shot down a drone over the town of Valuyki, Mr Gladkov said. There was no immediate information on casualties and destruction, but emergency services were working on the site.

Russian rockets launch against Ukraine from Russia's Belgorod region - AP

04:57 AM

Air raid alerts sound across Ukraine

Ukraine's air defence systems were repelling Russian attacks on Kyiv, the countrys military administration said early on Tuesday, after air raid alerts sounded across the country.

"Air defence systems are working on the outskirts of Kyiv," the administration said on Telegram.

Tuesday's attacks came a day after Russia launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.

04:56 AM

Putin set to rally support for his war

Putin will today deliver a speech in the Red Square, where he will be joined by leaders of several former Soviet republics.

Like last year, he is likely to compare the fighting in Ukraine with the Second World War in a bid to whip up support for his war.

In last year's address he made few direct mentions of the invasion of Ukraine but called on Russians to live up to the bravery of their ancestors.

The defence of her homeland, when her fate was being decided, has always been sacred, he said.

With such feelings of genuine patriotism, they rose for the fatherland, militiamen of Minim and Pozharsky, went on the attack in the Borodino field, fought with the enemy near Moscow and Leningrad, Putin and Minsk, Stalingrad and Kurs, Sevastopol and Kharkov.

Now, these days, you are fighting for our people in the Donbas, for the security of our homeland - Russia.

Last year Putin attacked Nato for expanding towards Russia's borders and hailed Soviet heroism in resisting Hitler. Since then, Finland  which borders Russia  has also joined Nato.

He said: Nato is actively pursuing our territory. That is absolutely unacceptable to us. We are talking about neo-Nazis in Ukraine that the US and its partners are working with.

Vladimir Putin gives a speech at last year's Victory Day military parade - AFP

04:54 AM

Welcome to today's live blog

Vladimir Putin is set to preside over Victory Day celebrations overshadowed by Russia's battlefield failures in Ukraine.

We will bring you the latest updates as they happen today.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in Ukrainian documentary "The Year: Off-screen" by Dmytro Komarov. Dmytro Komarov/ /YouTube

Ukraine says Russia turned down an offer to repatriate the remains of 3,000 soldiers early in the war.

Russia refused to acknowledge more than a handful had died, per Ukraine's defense minister.

Oleksii Reznikov made the remarks in a new documentary about the war one year on.

Russia turned down an offer to retrieve thousands of its dead soldiers during negotiations early in the war, according to Ukraine's defense minister.

In a recently-released documentary, Oleksii Reznikov said Russia's representatives rejected the offer because they wouldn't acknowledge the high mortality rate.

Reznikov was describing negotiations in Belovezhskaya, Belarus, in early March 2022, when he met with a delegation including a Russian deputy defense minister, who he did not name.

Reflecting on what he called "the cynicism of the Russians," Reznikov said that Ukraine had counted around 3,000 Russians killed, per translations provided by the filmmaker.

He said that he asked the Russian delegation: "'What will we do with the bodies of your dead? Maybe we will give them to you so that their mothers can bury them following proper ceremonies.'"

A helmet of a soldier is seen after Russian forces withdrew from Balakliia, September 15, 2022. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

He offered to organize it with the help of the Red Cross, but the deputy defense minister said that Russia had only lost between 10 and 30 men, Reznikov said.

Reznokov said he then retorted: "'You may not confirm it, but 3,000 of your bodies are rotting on our land. Then I will pour seeds on them, let them sprout like sunflowers.'"

The idea of sunflowers  Ukraine's national flower  being fertilized by the bodies of Russian soldiers is a common symbol of resistance in Ukraine.

An edited clip of the documentary was translated and tweeted by Ukrainian-American campaigner Igor Sushko:

Sushko called the Russian reaction a "classic Soviet response."

Story continues

Two weeks later, Reznikov said he asked Red Cross president Peter Maurer  who had recently returned from Moscow  if he believed accurate death tolls were being reported higher up the chain of command in Russia.

Per Reznikov, Maurer said: "'The deputy minister knows for sure. It was written on his face.'" But Maurer said officials were too scared to tell anyone above the defense minister, according to Reznikov's recollection.

The dead body of a Russian soldier lying on the road on March 5, 2022 in Sytniaky, Ukraine. Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images

Insider could not independently confirm the numbers of Russian dead at that time.

Around the time of the reported conversation with Maurer, tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda published Russian figures saying deaths had climbed to 9,861, citing the Russian MOD. This was at a time when the Kremlin was only publicly acknowledging 498 dead.

That figure was quickly deleted, with the newspaper claiming it was hacked.

As of May 2023, the US estimates that more than 100,000 Russians have been killed since it launched its full-scale invasion.

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
F-16 Fighting Falcon US Air Force photo

The Ukrainian military is raising concerns about Russia's latest tactics, specifically guided glide bombs.

Its defenses struggle to counter the bombs, so Ukraine wants tools to take out the Russian strike fighters.

Experts said that if Ukraine can't kill them on the ground, then it needs jets and surface-to-air missiles.

Ukraine can't counter the crude, guided glide bombs Russian strike fighters have been dropping and needs fighter jets and long-range air defense to go after the Russian planes, a military spokesman said. Airpower experts agreed, telling Insider that Ukraine needs the tools to take its enemy out in the air.

Well over a year into Russia's war in Ukraine, the front lines are murderous and largely static, but that could change should one side get the edge in the air, experts said, arguing that more surface-to-air missiles and airpower would give Ukraine a tougher defense and stronger offense that might stanch the blood loss in this war of attrition.

David Deptula, a retired US Air Force lieutenant general who planned the Desert Storm air campaign and directed air operations in later conflicts, told Insider that additional "airpower is the one asymmetric advantage that can break this stalemate, and it's the only way to fundamentally give the Ukrainians a decisive advantage over the Russians." For him, that means F-16s, and that's what Ukraine wants.

Ukrainian Air Force Col. Yurii Ihnat said in a press briefing last Tuesday that Kyiv's forces are facing a difficult challenge  guided glide bombs that Russian fighters can drop at range to skirt enemy defenses. Ihnat said that "the use of the guided aviation bombs along the state border and along the forward edge of the battle area is going on on a daily basis," adding that about 20 to 200 of these bombs hit every day. And though they're "poor quality," they pack a punch.

"We cannot counter this type of ammunition," Ihnat said of the guided glide bombs with a range of about 70 kilometers, or just a bit over 43 miles. "It's irrational, and our air defense is inefficient against the bombs themselves. But, we should rather try to down the Su-34 carriers of those aviation bombs, the tactical fixed-wing aircraft," which include Russian Su-35s.

Story continues

Throughout the war, Ukraine's surface-to-air missiles have proven a hindrance to efforts by Russia's air force, which has an advantage in numbers and technical capability, to conduct significant and sustained operations. Likewise, Ukrainian pilots have faced troubles with Russian air defenses, and both sides have lost dozens of aircraft.

Adjusting its tactics to adapt, Russia has been modifying its stockpile of cheap unguided bombs, weapons it has previously been unable to use due to the threat posed by Ukrainian defenses.

"We started hearing noise about Russia upgrading some of them with glide packages, similar to the US JDAM, and we've seen them in use since about April," Ian Williams, a missile defense and international security expert at the DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Insider. JDAMs, or Joint Direct Attack Munitions, are guidance kits able to turn unguided "dumb" bombs into guided munitions with greater range using fins.

Williams said his guess is that "the Russian aircraft are flying low to avoid radar detection, climbing briefly to release the bombs, then getting out" of Dodge, as the saying goes, leaving a problem for the Ukrainian defenses. "Guided bombs are tricky for air defense because they have short flight times and usually very little infrared signature," he said.

Ukrainian soldiers are on standby with a US made Stinger MANPAD (man-portable air-defense system) on the front line on December 29, 2022 in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Pierre Crom/Getty Images

'What is needed to fight them?'

Ihnat has previously characterized Russia's guided glide bombs as a threat requiring an urgent response and emphasized during last Tuesday's press briefing that Ukraine needs additional weaponry, particularly air defenses and fighter jets, from its Western supporters to combat this Russian tactic, stressing that his country's ground-based air defenses are insufficient.

"What is needed to fight them?" he asked before saying that "everybody knows the answer."

"We need a long hand to reach the enemy on the distance further than we can do it now," he said. "The air defense system with the longest distance available to us is the S-300, but it's Soviet-era weapons."

Ihnat said Ukraine now possesses some Western equipment that can target enemy aircraft out to 150 km, a reference to the Patriot batteries his country recently received from the US and its partners in Europe, but indicated air defense systems with suitable range are limited in number.

Pressing for the American-made F-16, which Kyiv has long sought but the US has so far refused to provide, Ihnat said the aircraft could "efficiently counter Russian aviation all along the forward edge of the battle area" and "reduce the desire of enemy aviation to approach our borders and to use those guided bombs." He noted it might not even be necessary to shoot down Russian planes to achieve a deterrence effect.

Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 4, 2023

Some expert observers like John Venable, a former F-16 pilot and an expert at The Heritage Foundation, argue that deployed Russian air defenses are a fairly insurmountable obstacle for the fourth-generation aircraft he once flew. He said these planes are "completely outmatched in high-threat environments."

Others, however, see fighter jets like the American F-16, a multirole fighter that first flew in the 1970s, as critical combat assets that would give Ukraine the edge in the air domain and help it break the stalemate in the battle for control of the skies.

F-16 Fighting Falcon US Air Force photo

Looking for the right tools to 'kill the Su-34s'

Without specifically commenting on the American fourth-generation fighter jet, Williams said that "additional fighter aircraft equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles will help here," noting that "they can better see over the horizon and engage Russian aircraft before they can get within bombing range."

Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, made the point earlier this year that although there is a substantial threat from Russian SAMs and missiles able to target Ukrainian bases, "Western fighters will undoubtedly provide a major boost to Ukrainian Air Force survivability and air-to-air lethality."

Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Insider the "most effective" way to deal with Russian fighters dropping bombs is to "kill the Su-34s," and the best approach is to eliminate them "before they take off."

Arguing that Russia does not deserve sanctuary in this war, he said that long-range strike capabilities like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)-launched option that the US withheld over key concerns about the potential to strike Russian territory, would make a difference.

"From a military perspective, take all the politics out of it, the most effective way to deal with that threat is to take out those offensive aircraft on the ground," Deptula said. But, "if you have to deal with the pragmatic realities of the handcuffs that have been issued to them, then you have to take out those aircraft in the air."

"And the most effective way to do that is with other air-to-air combat aircraft with capable weapon systems with the appropriate reach and with the radars onboard that can employ those," he said, pointing out that this is a strong rationale for providing the F-16, which has been a key US air defense asset for decades as part of the post-9/11 Noble Eagle mission that defends US and Canadian airspace.

"No one is presuming that there's going to be zero losses. That is absolutely unrealistic," he said, challenging the arguments against sending fighter aircraft. "But the reality is Ukrainians are dying every day, and prolonging the war by allowing the duration to be extended is the more deadly of the options at hand."

"The sooner we get fighters into the hands of Ukraine's combat-experienced fighter pilots, the greater Ukraine's chances of success," Deptula said, noting though that it doesn't even have to be the F-16, though it is a particularly versatile and available platform. The F-16 can carry short-range air-to-air missiles like the AIM-7 or AIM-9 and long-range air-to-air missiles like the AIM-120, as well as air-to-surface missiles for a variety of targets, including enemy air defenses.

Last summer, Bronk argued that though the F-16 was politically and logistically expedient, the aircraft might not be as effective as the Swedish Gripen, which "would be better suited from an operational point of view due to design [concept of operations], internal [electronic warfare] suite optimized for Russian SAM defence at low level, ease of maintenance and Meteor option," a reference to the beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with a maximum operational range of about 200 km.

"Whether it's F-16s, F/A-18s, Gripens, Rafales, they're all available in quantities in Europe today," Deptula said, but it only matters "if the United States has the courage to lead by supporting providing fighters to Ukraine."

A Russian Sukhoi Su-34 shot down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns. Nicola Marfisi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Air defense 'has greatly shaped the course of the war'

Regardless of which aircraft would be the best option, delivering Western fighter jets and standing up that capability in the middle of a war is easier said than done. There are significant training, supply chain, and operational hurdles to overcome, making essential ground-based air defense a priority in the meantime.

A recent Center for Naval Analyses report on the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian air forces from Bronk made the case that the ongoing air battle in Ukraine turns on whether Ukrainian forces can maintain an adequate supply of surface-to-air missiles.

Bronk wrote that "if Ukraine's SAM systems cannot be kept resupplied, augmented, and ultimately replaced by Western partner nations," then it is possible Russia's air forces "could credibly threaten to overpower the [Ukrainian Air Force's] remaining fighters and gain control of the airspace over the frontlines in key areas," shattering the stalemate in Russia's favor.

Williams made a similar point in a new CSIS report, writing that the success of Ukrainian air defenses "has greatly shaped the course of the war, limiting Russian striking power to diminishing numbers of stand-off missiles or uncrewed aerial systems."

A diminished air defense capability, however, would not only leave "Ukraine at greater risk from Russian missile attack but raise the prospects of the Russian Air Force resuming penetrating sorties into Ukrainian airspace," he wrote, adding that "to the extent possible, replenishing Ukraine's air defense capacity should remain a priority for Western military aid for the foreseeable future."

Air defense is not just on the ground though, and sooner rather than later, Deptula said, Kyiv is going to need Western fighter aircraft that are able to deliver not just additional air defense options for Ukraine but also rapid counteroffensive effect.

"Ukraine has made the most of their Soviet-era combat aircraft, but combat losses and parts shortages, they're taking a toll," he said. "So Ukraine's got to transition to Western combat aircraft or face a future without any combat aircraft at all," a possibility which could threaten its survival in this war.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Key developments on May 9:

Ukraine intercepts most of Russian missiles in latest mass attack

Putin reiterates anti-Western propaganda during Victory Day speech

Wagner mercenaries again threaten to leave Bakhmut, saying they havent gotten ammunition despite requests

Peace talks impossible now because both parties are convinced they can win, says UN chief

US announces new $1.2 billion security package for Ukraine

UK reportedly prepares to give long-range missiles to Ukraine

UN updates its count of casualties in Ukraine

EU chief visits Kyiv

Russian forces launched 25 Kalibr and Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and nine S-300 surface-to-air missiles at Ukraine overnight on May 9, injuring one civilian, the Ukrainian military reported.

The air defense downed 23 cruise missiles, according to Ukraines Air Force.

Missile debris damaged an apartment building in Dnipro, injuring a woman. She has been hospitalized, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on May 9.

An intercepted Russian missile has also damaged a household in Kyiv Oblast, according to the regional administration.

Two cruise missiles hit Ukraine's central Cherkasy Oblast, damaging an unidentified city-owned facility, Governor Ihor Taburets said. No casualties were reported.

In addition, Russian forces struck Kharkiv Oblast with at least six S-300 surface-to-air missiles, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. They damaged houses and roads, but no casualties were reported, according to the governor.

S-300 are Soviet missile systems designed for air defense. However, Russia has been using the repurposed S-300 to attack targets in Ukraine.

Due to its proximity to the Russian border, Kharkiv Oblast has been targeted by Russian attacks on a near daily basis since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian forces also launched three S-300 missiles against Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast overnight, damaging civilian infrastructure, the military said.

On May 9, the United Nations human rights agency updated its count of casualties in Ukraine. According to it, Russias war has killed at least 8,791 civilians and wounded at least 14,815 in Ukraine from Feb. 24, 2022, to May 7.

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The agency said that the actual number of casualties is likely much higher, as there is no access to the Russian-occupied territories or the places where the hostilities are ongoing.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk said on March 31 that the number of civilian casualties in Russias invasion of Ukraine far outstrips official figures. These figures are just the tip of the iceberg, Turk said.

Patriot air defense faces its toughest challenge ever in Ukraine The wait is over  after almost a year of refusals and hesitation, Western-provided MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems have finally arrived and become operational in Ukraine. On April 21 and 26, Ukraines Air Force confirmed the full employment of two Patriot batteries. As Ukraines own Soviet-er Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko

Putin reiterates key propaganda claims at Victory Day celebrations

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin during his address at the annual Victory Day celebration in Moscow claimed a real war has once again been unleashed against Russia, calling it a decisive turning point for civilization.

On May 9, Russia celebrates the Nazi Germanys defeat in World War II. For the second year, the celebrations take place amid Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In his address, the Russian dictator used the usual propaganda narratives to fuel war sentiments among Russians and justify the war Russia is waging against Ukraine.

He said that the Ukrainian people became so-called hostages to a state coup, referring to the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan revolution, the civilian protests across Ukraine against the pro-Russian regime of then-President Viktor Yanukovych.

Putin also lashed out against the West, claiming the Western globalist elites were spreading Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, aiming for Russias disintegration and destruction.

The leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Armenia attended the celebration with Putin, marking the first time the Central Asian presidents met the Russian dictator after his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update on May 9 that Putin attempted to use the Victory Day parade to show Russias continued influence in Central Asia.

Russian authorities have canceled the traditional flyover at Moscows Red Square, as well as many celebrations across Russian and Russian-occupied territories, citing security concerns.

The main military parade in Moscow included fewer soldiers and less military hardware, compared to previous years, as the war against Ukraine has been taking a toll on the Russian army.

According to the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces, Russia has lost 195,620 troops, 3,734 tanks, 7,257 armored fighting vehicles, 308 airplanes, and 294 helicopters in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion. These numbers cant be independently confirmed.

Ukraine-Russia peace talks 'impossible' now, UN chief says

Peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow are currently impossible as both parties are convinced they can win," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in an interview to Spanish newspaper El Pais, published on May 9.

"This was a Russian invasion against international law, against the UN Charter, but I do not see Russia at the moment willing to withdraw from the territories it occupies, and I think Ukraine is hoping to retake them," said Guterres.

Leaked intelligence files suggest the U.S. believed the UN Secretary-General Guterres was "too accommodating" to Russia while trying to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the BBC reported on April 13.

The UN and Turkey-brokered deal, first signed in July 2022, has allowed Ukraine to renew its grain exports after Russia blocked them in the first days of the full-scale invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in September last year Kyiv would have no negotiations with Russia until Putins regime changes. Zelensky presented his own Peace Formula two months later.

The 10-point peace plan, which Zelensky introduced at the G20 summit in November 2022, includes the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory, the establishment of a Russian war crimes tribunal, the release of all prisoners and forcibly relocated people, and the prevention of ecocide.

Russias centuries-long quest to conquer Ukraine Editors Note: This is episode 2 of Ukraines True History, a video and story series by the Kyiv Independent. The series is funded by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting within the program Ukraine Forward: Amplifying Analysis. The program is financed by the MATRA Programme of the Embassy o Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov

Military aid

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on May 9 that it would provide an extra $1.2 billion security assistance package to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

The USAI is focused on "meeting Ukraine's most urgent requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities" as well as preparing the Ukrainian military with the capacity to "deter Russian aggression over the long term," the Pentagon said.

The security package includes additional air defense systems and munitions, 155 mm artillery shells, the equipment to integrate Western-provided air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems, ammunition for counter-unmanned air systems, commercial satellite imagery, and support for training, maintenance and sustainment activities.

The U.S. has provided $35.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to the U.S. State Departments fact sheet published on May 3.

U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly pledged to stand with Ukraine for "as long as it takes."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on May 9 to discuss the EU ammunition supply plan, an upcoming package of sanctions against Russia, and the bloc's ban on certain Ukrainian food exports.

They also discussed financial support for Kyiv and the country's progress on its path to EU membership, a day after Zelensky signed a decree on celebrating Europe Day in Ukraine.

The EU agreed to provide Ukraine with one million artillery rounds on March 20. The bloc dedicated one billion euros to reimburse member states that could send their shell arsenal right away. Another billion is reserved for the joint purchase of new rounds, and the final part of the program will be the production of the remaining artillery rounds.

Meanwhile, the U.K. is reportedly ready to send Ukraine long-range missiles that can hit targets up to 300 kilometers away.

The Washington Post reported on May 9, citing sources, that no final decision has been made.

The reports havent specified the details on the type and quantity of the missiles as well as delivery time.

Kyiv has long been asking its allies to have longer-range missiles, and now it appears that the notice from the U.K. is a noteworthy advancement towards providing Ukraine with such munitions.

In the notice posted on May 2, the U.K. Defense Ministry asked for "expressions of interest" in supplying such missiles, requesting a response within three days, according to the report.

The requested specifications match the U.K.-owned Storm Shadow cruise missiles that can be installed on Soviet-made Ukrainian jets.

Such missiles can reach Russia's territory, but Ukraine has repeatedly said it would not attack targets within Russia if the West provides Kyiv with long-range weapons.

Instead, Ukraine vowed to use such weaponry to attack Russian command centers, supply lines, ammunition, and fuel depots deep into Russian-occupied territories.

The U.K.s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Feb. 8 that London would supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons. However, it was not clear what kind of missiles Sunak was referring to and when they would arrive.

The Battle of Bakhmut

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group, reiterated that the Russian military commandment demands that his mercenaries stay in Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, where they have been fighting for almost a year, but still hasnt been sending the ammunition the group requested.

A combat order came yesterday which clearly stated that if we leave our positions it will be regarded as treason, Prigozhin's press service said. That was the message to us (from the commandment).

If there is no ammunition, then we will leave our positions and we will be asking who is really betraying the motherland. Apparently, the one (betraying Russia) is the person who signed (the order to supply too little ammunition), the statement continued.

Prigozhin has repeatedly complained about ammunition shortages, blaming Russia's top military leadership and threatening to abandon positions in and around Bakhmut if Wagner mercenaries would be denied additional supplies.

Ukrainians will come to you in Rostov if the front line collapses. (They) do everything for the front line to collapse, Prigozhin said in a May 9 video, addressing an unnamed Russian general who allegedly pledged to supply Wagner mercenaries with the requested ammunition but hasnt fulfilled the promise yet.

Russias Rostov-on-Don city that Prigozhin refers to in the video is headquarters to the Russian Southern Military District, led by Colonel General Sergey Kuzovlev.

However, Ukraines military dismissed Prigozhins claims of ammunition shortage as fake.

Prigozhin has taken on military obligations and is unable to fulfill them  in particular, to capture Bakhmut, Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhii Cherevatyi said on May 8.

The Wagner mercenaries have served as the main attack force in Russia's attempts to seize Bakhmut and the entire Donetsk Oblast, more than half of which it currently occupies.

The Washington Post called Prigozhins threat to withdraw the mercenaries from Bakhmut a "last-ditch effort to cling to a prominent role in the invasion."

Bakhmut has been the epicenter of fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. The Wagner mercenaries have served as the primary shock troops in Russia's attempts to expand its control over Donetsk Oblast, more than half of which Russia currently occupies.

For the past year, Russian troops made only incremental gains in the Bakhmut sector, advancing only a few kilometers at the cost of thousands of killed and wounded in action.

Ukraine still holds western parts of the city.

The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said in its evening update on May 9 that Bakhmut and Marinka continue to be experiencing the most severe fighting.

Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka remain the primary targets of Russia's offensive in the region, where Ukraines forces repelled almost 30 Russian attacks on May 9, the military said.

Apart from Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces also attacked Sumy, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson oblasts on May 9 with artillery, mines, and missiles, according to the military.
Russia has lost 195,620 military personnel, 3,734 tanks, 7,258 ground combat vehicles and 955 cruise missiles in the war against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 9 May 2023

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 9 May 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

195,620 (+650) military personnel

3,734 (+4) tanks

7,257 (+4) armoured combat vehicles

3,031 (+13) artillery systems

554 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems

307 (+1) air defence systems

308 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft

294 (+0) helicopters

2,618 (+4) operational-tactical UAVs

955 (+8) cruise missiles

18 (+0) ships/boats

5,969 (+11) vehicles and tankers

388 (+4) special vehicles

The data is being confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Elaine Lies

TOKYO (Reuters) - The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations must condemn any threat to use nuclear weapons and vow "decisive action" against such a move when they hold a summit next week in the city of Hiroshima, Ukraine's envoy to Japan said.

Nuclear tension has surged since the start of the conflict with Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Russia is ready to use its nuclear arsenal, if necessary, to defend its "territorial integrity."

Sergiy Korsunsky also told Reuters that conditions around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant had deteriorated rapidly, a situation the head of the U.N.'s nuclear power watchdog warned at the weekend had become "potentially dangerous".

"It should be a very clear statement from specifically those nuclear powers among the G7 that the use of nuclear weapons or nuclear terrorism will not be tolerated and will be met with almost decisive actions from major powers," he said.

The envoy's comments came as Russia launched drone, missile and air strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other cities in the run-up to its cherished Victory Day holiday on May 9 that celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskiy will use video link to attend the G7 gathering from May 19 to 21 in Hiroshima, which became the world's first city to suffer an atomic bombing in 1945, adding significance to his country's message.

"It's most important that the summit when we have a real threat of nuclear terrorism, that summit will be in Hiroshima," Korsunsky added.

He called for G7 talks on nuclear security and the global architecture, as both the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) and the U.N. Security Council lacked power.

"Maybe additional decisions should be taken" about a new system, he added.

"We believe that among the G7 there must be consensus if we want a bigger system of international security to protect any country in the world. We're not talking about just Ukraine."

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Ukraine's other big hope is that the summit will discuss efforts for reconstruction - in which Korsunsky hopes Japan can play a key role, in light of its experience rebuilding from disasters - particularly using frozen Russian assets to do so.

In February, the European Union said it had formed an ad hoc group to see about using frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine.

Last week, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said his government was examining how Russian assets could be used to help Ukraine's war effort.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Ukraine considers the attendance of the leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the Russian "victory parade" in Moscow alongside war criminal Vladimir Putin to be an immoral and unfriendly move.

Source: statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Details: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drawn attention to the participation of the prime minister of Armenia and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the event on Red Square in Moscow on 9 May 2023.

Several leaders of other countries still joined Putin at the parade

Several leaders of other countries still joined Putin at the parade

Photo by the Kremlin-aligned news outlet TASS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that during the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is internationally wanted for war crimes, justified the killing of Ukrainians, the destruction of Ukrainian towns and villages, the abduction of Ukrainian children and the repression of residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories.

And the night before the parade, Russia fired 25 cruise missiles on Ukraine, including 15 on Kyiv, "to cause even more deaths and destruction on Ukrainian land," the outraged diplomats said.

Nevertheless, attendees at the gathering in Moscow were shown Russian military equipment, now in its tenth consecutive year of being used in Russia's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

Quote from the Ministry: "We consider the participation of the leaders of these foreign states in a public event alongside a war criminal who boasts of unleashing a war in Europe on a scale unprecedented since World War II to be an immoral and unfriendly move in relation to Ukraine, a manifestation of contempt for the Ukrainian people who are fighting for their survival and freedom.

The peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazism 78 years ago. They do not deserve the fate of being used by the Kremlin today to participate in a fake event that has nothing to do with the victory over Nazism."

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was also at Putin's parade, but no one expected anything else from him.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was also at Putin's parade, but no one expected anything else from him.

Previously: Despite colossal losses in his war against Ukraine, the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin decided to go through with the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2023. The aviation part of the parade was cancelled, as was the case in 2022, and only one WWII-era T-34 tank was presented among the heavy armoured vehicles.

In his speech at the Victory Day parade, Putin lied that Russia has no enemies among other countries and wants to see a peaceful and free future. Nevertheless, he added that today the war in Ukraine is the most important thing.

The presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, as well as the prime minister of Armenia have agreed to join Russian President Vladimir Putin at the parade.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that in this way Russia is trying to demonstrate its influence in Central Asia.

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Irena Taranyuk is the new sound of BBC Radio Merseyside

Listeners to BBC Radio Merseyside this week will hear Ukrainian as well as English jingles as Liverpool hosts the Eurovision Song Contest.

Irena Taranyuk, from the BBC Ukrainian Service, has voiced the special station sound that will run across the station's output until after Saturday's grand final.

The service's editor, Marta Shokalo, said: The whole Eurovision experience in Liverpool is about seeing and hearing Ukraine.

"We are very proud that weve made our own little contribution to it via the beautiful voice of our Irena Taranyuk."

Thank you Irena Taranyuk @Irenatar from the BBC Ukrainian Service for helping us produce jingles in Ukrainian for BBC Radio Merseyside. We are honoured!  #Eurovision2023 pic.twitter.com/RWYGIwzvFs  BBC Radio Merseyside (@bbcmerseyside) May 9, 2023

Ms Shokalo added: "She has been listened to by thousands of people in Ukraine and now thousands of British people, and the guests of this event will hear this strong and beautiful Ukrainian voice.

Ms Taranyuk said: "To be able to say in Ukrainian 'Liverpool calling' was a moment of both intense emotion and huge pride.

"It truly felt as if a part of Ukraine came to Merseyside and we were heralding the fact.

"Whoever wins Eurovision, it feels like a victory for Ukraine, the UK and for Liverpool."

'Ukraine's party'

BBC Radio Merseysides executive editor Andrew Bowman said: Sam Ryder said this is Ukraines party and were hosting it in our house  and these special jingles really embody that spirit.

"Were honoured in Liverpool to be the Host City on behalf of Ukraine. Eurovision is an amazing celebration but this year is also poignant because of the war."

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Meanwhile commuters in Liverpool are being treated to music from Ukrainian buskers.

The Sounds Of The Underground campaign has been launched by train operator Merseyrail, in partnership with the Supplies For Ukraine community interest company, to raise funds for life-saving equipment for civilians and volunteers on the front lines of the conflict.

The buskers will perform traditional Ukrainian songs and commuters will be able to scan QR codes to donate and find out more.

Suzanne Grant, commercial director at Merseyrail, said: "We're delighted that we can provide an opportunity for these musicians to have their music heard during Eurovision, just as they would have done if Ukraine was able to host the event.

Alfie Roberts, director at Supplies For Ukraine, said: "The ongoing war in Ukraine has robbed these incredibly talented musicians of the opportunity to share their passion and the joy of their music with the world."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also email story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
The Ukrainian soldiers who work on Mi-8 helicopters are true professionals in their field. They have come under Russian attack numerous times as they protect Ukraine.

The commander and the machine gunner of one crew talk about their work and its challenges, and a pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine answers a question thats frequently asked by civilians, in a video posted by the Ukrainian Witness project.

The Mi-8 is a multi-target helicopter which can be used to attack Russian troops and strongholds, to transport weapons, evacuate the wounded, etc.

The commander of the helicopter crew showed an attack in action: this is the so-called "positive pitch", the launch of non-guided missiles in the front contact line.

"We are like the artillery. The only difference is that the artillery takes a stationary position and launches an attack, while we do it in motion," the commander explains.

Photo: Ukrainian Witness

The crew commander is on his fifth rotation already. He does not mention how many flights he has been on, but remarks that at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, they were more frequent.

During the 14 months of the full-scale war, these servicemen have fought on the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kharkiv fronts, and participated in battles near the settlements of Lysychansk, Bakhmut and Soledar.

"As pilots we are good at manoeuvring. We can be sent anywhere. Any pilot will share the very extensive geography of their flights with you," he says.

Ukrainian Witness learned how the helicopter crew of the Armed Forces of Ukraine works

A combat Mi-8 gunner told Ukrainian Witness that he has survived 11 missile attacks and many mortar and artillery attacks. He says he loves his job and believes that when you are scared, you should laugh.

"You cant lose heart during a war," he said. He advises all pilots to learn as much as possible, as it helps them to live longer.

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A 28-year-old pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine revealed why pilots wear leather jackets.

"We carry large quantities of aircraft fuel on board, kerosene. If theres an accident or a missile strike, the helicopter turns into a flammable barrel, and if you have to land and run out, your uniform starts melting.

So we wear gloves made of a special non-combustible material, leather jackets, and balaclavas," he explains.

A 28-year-old pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reveals why pilots wear leather jackets

A 28-year-old pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reveals why pilots wear leather jackets

A machine-gunner from the helicopter crew also talked about his job.

"At the beginning of the [full-scale] war, when there was no front line yet, we were repelling Russian columns. It went like this: you see equipment with Z on it  you fire." [Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Russians have been marking their military equipment with the letters "Z" and "V"  ed.]

This took place in Mykolaiv Oblast, as that is where the crew was deployed at the time.

"Now that the front line is distinct, and the troops are deployed along this line, my task is to report to the crew commander about any change in the situation," the machine-gunner adds.

The machine-gunner sends greetings to the Ukrainian infantry

Sometimes a helicopter would be ambushed. There would be bullet holes in the fuselage and damage to the blades and the gearbox.

"I was covering the retreat then. It seemed like everything was in slow motion. I realised I needed to get through this moment and survive, because I am responsible for the crew. I shot 250 cartridges then. Thats enough for 20 seconds of covering fire, just enough to retreat a kilometre and hide," the commander says, recalling one of his previous battles.

Finally, he sent his greetings to the Ukrainian infantry.

"They are people of steel We will do everything possible to deter the Russians and support our infantry. We are beyond proud of them," he said.

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The Ukrainian President's Office has stated that Russia used several Kh-55SM missiles during the attack on the night of 9 May, which fortunately did not deal significant damage.

Source: Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, on Telegram

Details: The official said that a destroyed missile (Kh-55SM) fell into the yard of a house in the village of Myrotske in the Bucha district of Kyiv Oblast. Debris has damaged the roof. No one has been killed or injured.

Another missile was discovered in a field in the village of Tarasivka in the Boiarka hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] of Fastiv district of Kyiv Oblast. Based on the debris, it is likely to be a Kh-55SM cruise missile.

The debris of a destroyed missile fell on a household plot in the Holosiivskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of Kyiv.

The remains of a missile, presumably a Kh-101 cruise missile, were found in a forest near the village of Orshanets in Cherkasy Oblast. The explosion caused a fire, which was put out. There were no casualties reported.

The blast wave shattered 47 windows of the Cherkasy Oblast Tuberculosis Dispensary building. The staff evacuated 47 patients to an undamaged part of the building.

A second missile crash site was found in the Zvenyhorod district of Cherkasy Oblast. It hasnt dealt any consequences.

Background: On early 9 May, Ukraine's air defence destroyed 23 cruise missiles out of 25 launched by the Russian invaders.

For reference: The Kh-55SM missile is a longer-range modification of the Soviet Kh-55 cruise missile (capable of carrying a nuclear charge, but Russia doesnt use it to attack Ukraine).

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Russian invaders dropped incendiary munitions on Bakhmut

Ukraines Operational Command East spokesman, Serhiy Cherevatyi, said on national television on May 9 that Russian invasion forces had violated all possible rules of war, including by using outlawed weapons  ranging from anti-personnel mines to phosphorus munitions.

Read also: Intercepted Russian conversations suggest use of banned munitions

"Despite the enemy's viciousness on the battlefield, our soldiers survived. The strategic positions of either our forces or the enemy have remained unchanged. Our positions stand, we are standing," Cherevatyi said.

Russian invasion forces used phosphorus ammunition and incendiary weapons in Bakhmut on the evening of May 5. Residential areas were set on fire.

Read also: Russians use banned cluster munitions against Kryvyi Rih

The Geneva Convention bans the use of phosphorous bombs in and around settlements. However, Russia has repeatedly used them against civilians in its full-scale war against Ukraine.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
LONDON (Reuters) -The Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday that John Allan, the chairman of Britain's biggest retailer Tesco, was facing claims of inappropriate behaviour from four women.

One of the allegations relates to Allan's conduct at Tesco and three to his time at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), where he was president from 2018-2020.

Responding to questions from Reuters, Tesco said Allan "strongly denies" an allegation that he touched a senior female Tesco employee's bottom at a group annual shareholder meeting in 2022, and that there have been no complaints about Allan's conduct during his eight years as chairman.

The Guardian, which did not identify its sources, said Allan was also alleged to have grabbed the bottom of a woman at a CBI dinner in 2019 and to have made inappropriate remarks to female members of CBI staff on two other occasions.

A spokesperson for Allan said in a statement the Tesco chairman had been "mortified" after making a comment to a female CBI colleague in 2019 for which he immediately apologised. The spokesperson said the woman concerned agreed that the matter was closed and no further action was taken.

"Regarding the other claims, they are simply untrue," the spokesperson said.

"Even so, Mr. Allan requested that Tesco and (law firm) Fox Williams  who were instructed by the CBI to conduct an investigation following various allegations  investigate them. Fox Williams decided not to," he said.

The CBI hired Fox Williams to investigate accusations of serious workplace misconduct last month. One of Britain's best-known business organisations, the CBI is now under police investigation and battling for its survival as a number of big firms cut ties.

A spokesperson for Fox Williams said it was not correct that it had decided not to investigate the allegations, but that its work for the CBI had been conducted within strict parameters.

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"As a result, we were not permitted to speak to all individuals involved in the allegations," the spokesperson said. "Mr Allan was provided with the opportunity to give an account to the CBI via Fox Williams which, as far as we are aware, he has chosen not to do."

Allan's spokesperson said his lawyers had contacted Fox Williams twice in April but that no meeting had been set up, although the firm had offered to forward a statement from Allan to the CBI.

Fox Williams later confirmed that Allan's lawyers had contacted the firm.

One of Britain's highest-profile corporate names, Allan, 74, is often featured in British media commenting on retail and general business matters. He also chairs housebuilder Barratt Developments, where he is due to step down in September.

Allan is expected to step down as Tesco chairman next year, having completed nine years in the job.

"At Tesco, we are committed to ensuring all colleagues are respected and feel safe at work," a Tesco spokesperson said in a statement. "John Allan's conduct has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco."

(Reporting by Sarah Young and James Davey; Editing by Catherine Evans and Alexander Smith)
Liz Truss gave a speech to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China in Tokyo on February 17

British former prime minister Liz Truss said Tuesday she would head to Taiwan next week to support the island democracy against what she said was China's "increasingly aggressive behaviour".

The announcement coincided with the first visit by a British minister to Hong Kong since 2018, before China dismantled the former UK colony's democracy movement in a crackdown that has sent thousands of Hongkongers leaving for new lives in Britain.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman denied that the government was kowtowing to China, insisting the visit by investment minister Dominic Johnson was "completely appropriate" to support UK jobs and that London would continue to challenge Beijing.

Commenting on Truss's trip, which is likely to rile Beijing given its insistence that self-governing Taiwan remains Chinese territory, the spokesman added: "Our longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed."

Britain and Taiwan have a "strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, and that's underpinned by our shared democratic values", he told reporters.

Truss, who is expected to deliver a speech in Taipei on May 17, said in a statement: "Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy."

"I'm looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing."

Sunak has rowed back on Truss's tough rhetoric against China issued before and during her 49-day tenure in 10 Downing Street last year.

- Rebuilding profile -

Had her premiership lasted longer, it was widely expected that Britain would designate China as a strategic "threat" rather than a "systemic challenge" as it is viewed now in London.

But her disastrous economic plans ensured she became the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.

Since then, she has been trying to rebuild her profile with a series of speeches overseas, including in Tokyo and Washington.

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In March in the US capital, she welcomed the announcement that the UK would be joining 11 other economies in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

But Truss warned at the time: "It's essential that any idea of Chinese accession is ruled out (and) I'd expect the British government to oppose any such proposal."

On Friday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met with China's Vice President Han Zheng, who was visiting London for the coronation of King Charles III.

Han's attendance at Saturday's coronation was condemned by China hawks in Sunak's Conservative party, given that he took a leading role in the Hong Kong crackdown.

Cleverly said afterwards that he broached areas of "deep disagreement" with the vice president including Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

jit/phz/giv
(Reuters) - British union Unite said on Wednesday that 1,200 contractors will resume a 48-hour strike until Friday in a dispute over jobs, pay, and conditions in the offshore sector.

The walkout will hit oil and gas operators including Apache, BP, Harbour Energy, Enquest, Ithaca, Repsol, Shell and TAQA, the union said.

(Reporting by Deep Vakil in Bengaluru)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres received the Carlos V European Award

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine were "not possible at this moment," in an interview published by Spanish daily El Pais on Tuesday.

His statement came as the leaders of Russia and Ukraine called for victory during events commemorating the end of World War II.

"It is clear that the (two) parties are completely absorbed in this war" and "are convinced that they can win", the UN chief was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Guterres said he hoped it was possible "in the future" to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday at Moscow's Red Square Victory Day parade the world was at a "turning point" and claimed a "war" had been unleashed against Russia.

The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that Russian forces would be vanquished "just as Nazism was defeated".

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is visiting Europe this week as China pushes to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.

On Tuesday, Guterres received the Carlos V European Award, given to individuals or organisations that have contributed to the enhancement of Europe's cultural and historical values or to EU integration.

"Universal values, principles and ideas which unite us as the human family... have not been under so much threat since the creation of the United Nations," Guterres said.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine... cause the country and its population suffering and massive destruction and add to the global economic disruption provoked by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"That's why we have to raise our voice and reaffirm our values. And above all, we need peace," added the 74-year-old former prime minister of Portugal.

mg/CHZ/iwd/jm
The University of Southern California is pictured in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Graduates of USC's Master of Social Work program sued the school last week.

They accused it of misrepresenting the online program and equating it to the on-campus program.

They also accused the school of targeting minorities and pushing them into "massive" student debt.

The University of Southern California just got hit with a lawsuit accusing it of misrepresenting its online social work program.

Last week, the Project on Predatory Student Lending filed a lawsuit on behalf of three graduates of USC's online Master of Social Work program, accusing the school of falsely advertising the online program and claiming it had the same offerings as USC's in-person program on campus, charging the same $100,000 tuition for both of the programs.

The lawsuit claimed that the online program offered curriculum that was outdated and left those students with far worse career prospects than the students who attended the on-campus program, leaving the online graduates with a "massive" amount of student debt and job placements that were insufficient to pay off that debt. Additionally, the program was run by an online program management company called 2U, and the plaintiffs said that USC did not disclose that the employees contacting them were actually 2U employees  and not USC's. That arrangement turned the program into an "enormous degree mill," the lawsuit said.

"As a direct result of USC's misrepresentations, false advertising, and unfair business practices, Plaintiffs and their fellow online students did not get what they applied, enrolled, and paid for," the lawsuit said. "If not for USC's false advertising and deceptive and discriminatory practices, Plaintiffs would never have paid the inflated tuition for USC's completely different and decidedly unequal online MSW program."

2U did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. USC told Insider in a university statement that "we have received the lawsuit and are reviewing it in detail."

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The lawsuit also accused USC of "reverse redlining," in which it "intentionally targeted toward people of color and veterans whom USC thought were better marks for 'conversion' that is, more likely to enroll once they were in touch with a recruitereven if what they were getting was worth less than what they would have to pay for it by taking on massive debt."

Stephanie Luna, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, graduated the program in 2021 and she paid over $110,000 for the online social work program, according to the lawsuit. While Luna expressed concerns with her ability to afford the program, a 2U representative told her that federal student loans would "cover everything." Luna later noticed discrepancies with the online curriculum and on-campus curriculum, and after reading a 2021 Wall Street Journal article that reported on the school targeting minorities, she believed she was targeted for her race and gender. She now has $100,000 in student debt and said she would not have enrolled in the program had she known the online program was not the same as on-campus.

"When I found out the truth about this program and just how much USC lied to us, I was livid. The fact that the MSW program was used as a moneymaker and to deceive people like myself and the communities that I come from is not okay, and something needs to be done because people continue to be recruited," Luna said in a statement. "We were taught that as social workers, our job is to advocate for people who don't have voices and who are from underserved communities, so to have USC preach these values while lying to our faces and taking advantage of us is so hypocritical."

The lawsuit is seeking an order to prevent USC from misrepresenting the online social work program to future students, along with tuition reimbursement to compensate online students for differences in the online and on-campus degrees.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As more than 20 million people tuned into watch the Kings coronation on Saturday (6 May), only a handful of eagle-eyed viewers spotted the mysterious cloaked figure holding a scythe and walking through Westminster Abbey.

A clip of the moment went viral online, with viewers joking that it had been the grim reaper, a mythological character known as Death personified, who collects souls after they die.

aaAnyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? wrote one person on Twitter, while another added: Who invited the Grim Reaper?

Social media users were left asking whether the figure had been someone pulling a prank, knowing the coronation was being televised, or if it had just been a random passerby.

When contacted by Newsweek, Westminster Abbey identified the figure as a verger, a member of the abbey community who assists with religious services but who is not a member of the clergy.

A verger is sometimes seen carrying a rod before a bishop or dean as a symbol of office.

Anyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? #Coronation pic.twitter.com/77s4XIY17i  Joe (@realjoegreeeen) May 6, 2023

Other viral blink-and-youll-miss-it highlights of the coronation included American popstar Katy Perry looking extremely lost as she struggled to locate her seat in the abbey, Penny Mordaunts triceps, and Ant and Decs peculiar facial expressions throughout the service.

Camilla was also accompanied by her companions  her sister, Annabel Elliot, and one of her close confidantes, Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne with social media users pointing out that all three blonde women, who all wore ivory-coloured dresses, looked quite similar to one another. They joked they were the Queens stunt doubles.
The first four months of the year have been costly and record-breaking regarding weather and climate disasters.

As of May 8, seven weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each have been confirmed so far this year, according to scientists from NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information.

The disasters comprised of five severe storm events, one winter storm and one flooding event. The total cost exceeded $19 billion and resulted in 97 deaths, data from NOAA reports.

The direct costs equaled $19 billion. It tops second place behind the first four months of 2021 with $36.1 billion, mostly driven by the historical Feb. 2021 winter storm and cold wave that crippled the Texas energy grid, NOAA said.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Numerous atmospheric rivers in continuous succession caused severe flooding, record snowfall and copious rainfall that significantly reduced drought deficits across California, between late-December and March.

Flooding impacted many homes, businesses, levees, agriculture and other infrastructure, particularly across central California. Overall, the storm was estimated to cause $3.5 billion in damage.

A multiday strong winter storm from Feb. 2-5 produced snow, high winds and bitter cold across numerous northeastern states.

High winds caused widespread power outages in Massachusetts while Mount Washington, New Hampshire observed a wind chill temperature of negative 108 degrees. This was one of the coldest wind chill temperatures ever recorded in the U.S., according to NOAA. One death was also reported.

The event had an estimated cost of $1.6 billion.

Two days of severe storms impacted numerous southern and eastern states including Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio from March 2-3.

The high wind and tornadoes caused widespread damage estimated at $4.5 billion to homes, vehicles, businesses, government buildings and infrastructure, according to NOAA.

Thirteen deaths were also reported from the severe weather event.

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More than 40 tornadoes caused $1.9 billion in damage across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee during a severe weather event spanning March 24-26, NOAA reports.

Across southern and eastern U.S., severe storms damaged homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure. According to NOAA, additional high wind damage occurred in parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

A historic tornado outbreak unfolded March 31-April 1 across numerous central states causing $4.3 billion in damages, killing 33 people.

At least 145 tornadoes were reported with Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee and Pennsylvania seeing the most impact from severe damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, agriculture and other infrastructure.

One of the hardest-hit places was the western Mississippi town of Rolling Fork, where the terrifying night began. Many of the states fatalities happened in the town that has a population of just under 2,000 people.

More severe storms days later produced large hail, high winds and more than 35 tornadoes across many central and southern states, NOAA states.

The states most affected were Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Michigan where there was considerable damage to homes, businesses, agriculture, vehicles and other infrastructure.

As much as $2.2 billion in damages was estimated, according to NOAA, resulting in 5 deaths.

The last billion-dollar disaster this year occurred on April 15 across several central and southern states.

Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle were all impacted by hail, tornadoes and high winds, NOAA reports. These storms caused $1 billion in damage to many homes, vehicles and businesses. No deaths were reported.

According to NOAA, these seven billion-dollar disasters so far this year is the second-highest number recorded during the first four months of a year. Only 2017 and 2020 had more, with eight separate disasters recorded in January-April.

NOAA said there are still three more events on a preliminary list with calculations not yet finalized that could potentially exceed the $1 billion-dollar threshold. They include the April severe storms that cause severe damage across numerous Central states, in addition to the Florida and central Texas hail storms.
Pentagon

According to the message on the Pentagons website, the package includes the following items:

Additional air defense systems and munitions;

Equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems;

Ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;

155mm artillery rounds;

Commercial satellite imagery services;

Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

Read also: US expects counteroffensive within weeks, Russian fuel train derailed, prices expected to fall

The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements, reads the report.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine on May 3. The package includes howitzers, artillery rounds, and HIMARS ammunition, among other things.

Read also: Fighter jets ranked 8th on Ukraines list of military needs, Pentagon says

In total, the United States has provided almost $37 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russias full-scale invasion in February 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
The Biden administration on Tuesday pledged a massive $1.2 billion chunk of long-term military assistance to Ukraine as the embattled country readies a counteroffensive that could alter the course of the war.

The aid will include weapons seen as Ukraines most urgent requirements, including air defense systems and munitions. The package will also provide equipment that Ukraines Armed Forces need to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The United States will provide the assistance under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, meaning it will purchase weapons from partners or defense contractors to then be delivered to Ukraine over the coming months or years  rather than pulling weapons directly from Pentagon stocks.

The newest weapons tranche will focus mainly on bolstering Ukrainian air defenses, a dwindling resource for Kyiv, according to U.S. intelligence documents leaked last month. The secret material warned that Ukraine was running out of the weapons to keep Russian attack jets and helicopters away from ground forces.

Such weapons are critical as Russia continues to pound the country with rockets, surface-to-air missiles and drones; Ukraines air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv late Sunday night into Monday, according to officials.

The new package will fund additional air defense systems and munitions, ammunition for counter-unmanned aerial systems, 155 mm artillery rounds and equipment to help modify Western air-defense launchers, missiles and radars to be used with Ukraines systems. It will also buy satellite imagery services and support ongoing training and maintenance, according to the Pentagon.

With this latest package, Washington has now given Kyiv nearly $37 billion in lethal aid since Russia first attacked in February 2022.

American and NATO allies have been pouring artillery and ammunition into Ukraine ahead of the upcoming spring battle. The weapons are seen as crucial for a decisive Ukrainian victory, as without one, Western support for Kyiv could weaken and send the conflict into a protracted battle with no end in sight.

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), however, predicted this week that U.S. military and economic assistance will continue to flow into Ukraine despite calls from some in his party for the United States to pull back from the war.

I do think that we have enough support within Congress to sustain this for a good deal longer, McConnell said in an interview with Bloomberg News. All the leadership in the House and Senate in my party is very much in favor of defeating the Russians.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
American Patriot air defense systems

Read also: Zelenskyy inspects Dutch Patriot batteries to be handed over to Ukraine

The interception of a Kinzhal missile is significant because Moscow has previously touted the hypersonic weapon to be impervious to conventional air defenses.

I can confirm that they shot down the Russian missile using the Patriot missile defense system..., said Ryder.

As you know, this system is part of a wider range of anti-missile defense means that the United States and international community have provided to Ukraine.

He added that Washington along with its partners, will accelerate the delivery of "ground-based air defense systems and munitions" to Ukraine to help Ukrainian defenders control the airspace and protect the population from Russian air strikes.

Read also: Air Force cautions against hype after Kinzhal downing, citing Ukraine's inadequate air defense capabilities

On May 6, the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleschuk, confirmed that a Kinzhal missile was intercepted by Ukraines air defenses.

Read also: National Police show aftermath of Russian missile attack on Kyiv Oblast

Ukrainian military-focused news outlet Defense Express was the first to report that the hypersonic missile was shot down over Kyiv on May 4.

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
E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan's federal court in New York City on May 9, 2023, as the jury deliberates in her lawsuit against Donald Trump

A US jury began deliberating Tuesday on whether to find Donald Trump liable for the alleged rape of an American former magazine columnist in the mid-1990s.

If the nine jurors rule in favor of accuser E. Jean Carroll then it will be the first time Trump has faced legal consequences over sexual misconduct claims.

Trump denies the allegation and has not been criminally prosecuted. The New York jury is weighing a civil lawsuit that seeks unspecified damages from him.

Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in 1996.

The former columnist for Elle magazine also claims that Trump defamed her when he called her "a complete con job" after she went public with the allegation in 2019.

Trump, the 76-year-old frontrunner for the Republican nomination for next year's presidential election, has called her case a "hoax" and "a lie."

Carroll told the two-week-long civil trial that the alleged assault had left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to have romantic relationships.

She said it took her more than 20 years to go public because she was "frightened" by Trump.

Her lawyers called to the witness stand two other women who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago.

Former businesswoman Jessica Leeds told the Manhattan federal court that Trump groped her in the business class section of a flight in the United States in the 1970s.

Journalist Natasha Stoynoff said Trump kissed her without her consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005.

Around a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct ahead of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House.

He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal case can stem from Carroll's lawsuit.

- Porn star case -

Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defense team call any witnesses.

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A video of a sworn deposition he gave in October was played to the jury. In it, Trump called Carroll "a liar" and "really sick person."

His lawyers argued that Carroll invented the allegation "for money, for political reasons, and for status."

She filed her lawsuit under a New York law that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred.

It accused Trump of one count of battery, "when he forcibly raped and groped" Carroll, and one count of defamation for comments that caused "reputational, emotional, and professional harm."

The jury must consider whether Carroll's lawyers proved her case by a preponderance of the evidence, a lower burden than criminal trials which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is one of several legal challenges facing Trump that threaten to complicate his bid to regain the presidency.

Last month, he pleaded not guilty in a criminal case related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star just before the 2016 vote.

Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021.

pdh/st
Senior officials with the U.S. State Department appeared at a forum in Iraq that featured a known terrorist as its keynote speaker.

Alina Romanowski, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, and Barbara Leaf, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, attended and spoke at the Iraq Forum last week, despite the event featuring Qais al-Khazali, who is listed by the State Department as a specially designated global terrorist, according to a report from the Long War Journal.

Khazali, an active Shia terrorist, leads the group known as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or the League of the Righteous, which has also been classified as a foreign terrorist organization.

NOTORIOUS IRAQ MILITIA LEADER ONCE HELD BY US THREATENS AMERICANS ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq

Khazali has long been known for arming and training Iranian-backed militias that have carried out several attacks against U.S. troops for more than a decade, including the 2006 attack against the Karbala Provincial Joint Communications Center in Iraq that resulted in the murders of five U.S. soldiers after plans to kidnap them and bring them to Iran fell through.

"What message does this send to U.S. soldiers who fought against these groups, who have had their friends killed or wounded?" Bill Roggio, managing editor of Long War Journal, told Fox News Digital. "This is a complete kick in the gut to anyone who served in Iraq and who had to deal with these Shia militia groups."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Roggio told Fox News Digital that Khazali is "responsible for killing hundreds of American soldiers" over the years and that he was "instrumental in "organizing, recruiting, training and building up all the Shia terrorist militias associated with Iran."

Roggio believes the event should have been boycotted by U.S. officials because of Khazali's appearance, both because of safety concerns and because of the message it could potentially send to the world.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski

POWERFUL IRAQI MILITANT APPEARS ON LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER

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"The State Department should not appear at an event with him and the fact that state officials did tells me there is a major breakdown somewhere," Roggio said. "Either they knew he was in attendance and they didn't care and allowed their senior personnel to attend or they didn't know and have a major breakdown in their security apparatus. Neither is comforting."

"We've legitimized them," Roggio continued. "Khazali is loving this, because he's being legitimized. The Iranians are emboldened by this."

Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a State Department spokesperson confirmed that Leaf attended and spoke at the forum on the invite of Dlawer AlaAldeen, the founding president of the Middle East Research Institute. However, the spokesperson noted that Leaf's appearance was on May 2, while Khazali's appearance was on May 3.

The spokesperson also added that Khazali remains a U.S. designated terrorist and that Leaf was at no time in the same room as him.

The White House National Security Council referred a Fox News request for comment to the State Department.

Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs

A follow-up request for comment on whether the State Department was aware Khazali would be speaking at the event and if a boycott was considered as a result was not immediately returned.

But Roggio argues that speaking on separate days of the forum is not an adequate explanation.

"U.S. officials should never participate in a forum that a specialty designated global terrorist is involved in, even if they're in attendance on different days," he said.

"At the very least they should have issued a statement saying they can't participate in the event because there is a special designated global terrorist in attendance," Roggio said. "They should have boycotted it."
The United States is planning to send Ukraine around $1.2 billion in long-term military aid to help the country defend itself against a barrage of drone, rocket, and surface-to-air missile attacks from Russia, according to U.S. officials.

The officials, who spoke anonymously, told The Associated Press that the aid package will likely be announced on Tuesday and the money will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 4, 2023, a Ukrainian air force pilot stands near his Su-25 ground attack jet on his base in Eastern Ukraine.

With this latest package, the U.S. will have provided Ukraine with nearly $37 billion in military aid since Russia invaded in late February 2022.

But unlike other equipment, weapons, and ammunition already sent from Pentagon stocks, the latest package is intended to be spent over the coming months or even years to ensure Ukraine's future security needs.

RUSSIA VOWS ON VICTORY DAY TO CRUSH NEO-NAZISM IN UKRAINE AS ZELENSKYY MARKS WORLD WAR II HOLIDAY

The assistance initiative will fund HAWK air-defense systems, air-defense munitions, and drones for air defense. It will also buy artillery, rockets, satellite imagery assistance, and funding for ongoing maintenance and spare parts for various systems, according to the officials.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Polls in March showed support for further military aid to Ukraine dropping slowly and steadily in the U.S., challenging President Bidens vow to support the regime for "as long as it takes."

FILE: A view shows residential buildings damaged by a military strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine April 16, 2022.

Polls from the Associated Press, Pew Research and Fox News show rising skepticism toward the massive aid packages the Biden administration has made a habit of delivering to Ukraine. Support for such aid among Americans fell from 60% in May 2022 to just 48% today, according to the AP.

The share of Americans who say the U.S. has already given too much to Ukraine has risen from just 7% in March 2022 to 26% today, according to Pew.

RUSSIA EVACUATES UKRAINE REGION THAT HOLD'S EUROPE'S LARGEST NUCLEAR PLANT

Ukraine, meanwhile, is preparing to launch a spring offensive against Russian forces, with air defense a persistent issue.

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Ukraine's air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russia's latest nighttime assault, officials said Monday. Wreckage from a drone struck a two-story apartment building in Kyiv's western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post.

Russian shelling of 127 targets across northern, southern and eastern parts of Ukraine killed three civilians, the Ukrainian defense ministry said.

Facing economic sanctions and limits on its supply chains due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has routinely turned to Iran's Shahed drones to bolster its firepower. And U.S. aid packages  including more immediate military weapons and support  have included systems to shoot down and otherwise defeat the drones.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The logo of Russsia's FSB intelligence agency

The US Justice Department said Tuesday that it had disabled a "sophisticated" malware network used by Russia's FSB intelligence agency for two decades to spy in 50 countries including a NATO ally.

The FSB had successfully inserted the "Snake" or "Uroburos" malware on computer systems around the world, focused on government networks, research facilities, journalists and other targets, according to US officials.

Computers in the system also served as relay nodes to disguise traffic to and from Snake malware inserted on target computer systems, they said.

In a years-long operation, the FBI was able to defeat Snake by inserting its own bit of computer code into it, which issued commands causing the malware to overwrite itself, the Justice Department said.

"Through a high-tech operation that turned Russian malware against itself, US law enforcement has neutralized one of Russia's most sophisticated cyber-espionage tools, used for two decades to advance Russia's authoritarian objectives," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

The malware has been known by computer security experts for at least a decade, and CISA, the US cyber defense agency, said the FSB began developing it in 2003.

CISA called Snake "the most sophisticated cyber espionage tool in the FSB's arsenal," noting that it was particularly stealthy, extremely hard to detect in computer systems and network traffic.

In addition, it was designed for easy updating and modification, and yet had "surprisingly few bugs given its complexity," CISA said.

Those aspects allowed the FSB to work undetected for years through sprawling host networks to get into computers with sensitive documents.

At least in one case Snake was placed on the systems of an unnamed NATO country, allowing Russian intelligence to access and exfiltrate sensitive international relations documents and diplomatic communications, CISA said.

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"The effectiveness of this type of cyber espionage implant depends entirely on its long-term stealth," the agency said.

- FBI hacks back -

Previous official and news reports have indicated that Snake and related software has been found on government systems in Germany, Belgium, Ukraine and Switzerland.

CISA said US investigators had traced the malware's development to an FSB unit known as Center 16 operating out of Ryazan, Russia, and its operation from an office the unit has in Moscow.

CISA said it and cyber experts in allies have been investigating the unit and its hacking tools -- more broadly known as the Turla toolset -- for almost 20 years.

The FSB has adapted it for use in Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems, and even when it was exposed as a threat by computer security firms, the Russians were able to modify it to keep it hidden and functional.

But Snake's sophistication led to errors in using it by less skillful FSB operators, which allowed Western investigators to permeate its inner workings and track the malware, CISA said.

The Justice Department said the FBI developed a tool dubbed Perseus, that rendered the Russian malware ineffective.

Perseus "establishes communication sessions with the Snake malware implant on a particular computer, and issues commands that causes the Snake implant to disable itself without affecting the host computer or legitimate applications on the computer," the department said.

Despite the success the Perseus implant, Snake malware is still a threat, according to a joint advisory issued Tuesday from cyber authorities in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

pmh/caw
Dianne Feinstein returns to the US Capitol after a nearly three-month absence

US Senator Dianne Feinstein has returned to Washington after nearly three months of absence led to calls from within her own party to resign.

The 89-year-old California Democrat was in hospital after being diagnosed with shingles in late February and has been recovering at home in San Francisco.

Critics claimed her absence was complicating efforts by Democrats in the Senate to nominate federal judges.

Ms Feinstein said she plans to resume her duties on "a lighter schedule".

"Even though I've made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I'm still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus," she wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

"My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate. I'm hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover."

Footage shows the lawmaker returning to the US Capitol complex in a wheelchair, her hand visibly trembling as she tells Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer she is feeling "much better".

According to her office, Ms Feinstein has had impaired vision and balance since her illness, and may "at times require the use of a wheelchair to travel around the Capitol".

The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the news of Ms Feinstein's return, and her office confirmed to the BBC later that she was flying from California to Washington DC on Tuesday.

She did not attend votes scheduled for Tuesday night or a round of votes scheduled earlier on Wednesday but did cast a vote on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Feinstein is the oldest US senator and has faced questions in recent years about her health.

Her office has long maintained that she is able to carry out her duties. Ms Feinstein has already said she will not seek re-election in 2024.

But her fitness came once again under scrutiny after she was diagnosed with the shingles virus. The illness, which causes painful rashes, can be serious for seniors.

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After a brief time in hospital, Ms Feinstein continued to recover and work at home in San Francisco.

Her absence caused headaches for Senate Democrats back in Washington, who hold a narrow one-seat majority in the US Senate and on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, where Ms Feinstein serves.

Democrats have worried that Ms Feinstein's absence from the judiciary committee would complicate their ability to confirm federal judges, one of the few priorities they can accomplish with a divided Congress.

The party is eager to install liberal-leaning justices to the lifetime posts after Republicans sought to remake the federal judiciary under former President Donald Trump.

Ms Feinstein has maintained her inability to vote did not hamper her party's ability to confirm federal judges.

"The Senate continues to swiftly confirm highly qualified individuals to the federal judiciary, including seven more judicial nominees who were confirmed this week," she said in a 4 May statement.

"There has been no slowdown."

Progressive Democrats began calling for her to resign in mid-April after Republicans refused Ms Feinstein's request to temporarily replace her on the judiciary committee and Mr Schumer declined to provide a timeline for her return.

Reps Ro Khanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib, all Democrats, have called on Ms Feinstein to step down before her term ends so Democrats could pass their legislative priorities.

While Ms Feinstein has faced calls to resign before, this latest round of demands "does feel different, because she's missing these votes and the Senate is so closely divided," Eric Schickler, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, told the BBC last month.

A high-profile race to replace Ms Feinstein is already underway in California. Representatives Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter are all vying for the a once-in-a-lifetime seat.

Should Ms Feinstein not finish her term for any reason, California Governor Gavin Newsom would appoint her replacement.

Ms Feinstein, however, has given no indication she plans to step down early.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is encouraging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21 to 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, in remarks that provoked criticism from China.

China, which considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces, began blocking its participation in the WHO's annual assembly from 2017, in a diplomatic campaign to isolate the island, which rejects the Chinese sovereignty claims.

"Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHOs commitment to an inclusive, 'health for all' approach to international health cooperation," Blinken said in a statement.

The U.S. support for participation is in line with Washington's one-China policy, he added.

In a statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked the United States for its strong support for participation, adding that the island's exclusion would be "completely beyond reason" and harm global health co-operation.

Excluded from most global groups due to Beijing's objections, Taiwan says its exclusion from the WHO hampered efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It is allowed to attend some technical WHO meetings, however.

In Beijing, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said the United States' comments were confusing the public, and urged it to avoid using the WHO assembly meeting to "hype up" Taiwan-related issues.

"Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organisations, including WHO, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle," Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference on Wednesday.

"We once again urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques," Wang said, urging the United States to implement commitments by its leaders not to support "Taiwan independence".

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Rami Ayyub; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Bernard Orr in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Ms Richins published a book on grief one year after the death of her husband

A Utah woman who published a children's book about grief after the sudden death of her husband has been charged with his murder.

Kouri Richins, a mother of three, called police late one night in March 2022 and said her husband, Eric Richins, was "cold to the touch".

She told authorities she had made her husband a mixed vodka drink before finding him unresponsive hours later.

A medical examiner later found Mr Richins died from a fentanyl overdose.

He had five times the lethal dosage of the drug in his system, the medical examiner said.

According to court documents, between December 2021 and February 2022, Ms Richins had texted a person who had previously been arrested on drug charges asking for prescription pain medication for an investor with a back injury.

Ms Richins received hydrocodone pills, the court documents said, before she requested something stronger - "some of the Michael Jackson stuff", asking specifically for fentanyl.

Three days after Ms Richins allegedly obtained the drugs, she and her husband had a Valentine's Day dinner, after which he fell ill.

"Eric believed that he had been poisoned," the court documents said. "Eric told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him."

Two weeks later, according to court documents, Ms Richins acquired more fentanyl.

Prosecutors allege on 4 March Ms Richins called police in the middle of the night to say she had found her husband unresponsive.

She told authorities she had served her husband a mixed vodka drink, Moscow Mule, in bed and then went to sleep with one of her young children who was having a night terror. She later returned to her husband in their room and found him "cold to the touch".

Kouri Richins was interviewed by KPCW in April to discuss her book on grief

The charges come two months after Ms Richins wrote a picture book "Are You With Me?" to help children cope with the death of a loved one. She told local radio station KPCW the book was to bring "peace" to her and her three sons.

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"We wrote this book and we're really hoping that it provides some comfort for not just obviously, our family, but other families that are going through the same thing," she told KPCW in an interview last month.

She dedicated the book to Mr Richins, "my amazing husband and a wonderful father".

In addition to the murder charge, Ms Richins also faces charges involving the alleged possession of GHB, a narcolepsy drug that is used recreationally and sometimes referred to as a date rape drug.

A detention hearing is scheduled on 19 May.
The rate of mortality for cervical cancer in Venezuela jumped from 10.45 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019 to 11.82 per 100,000 two years later

Venezuelan Glorimar Montano saved up for months to pay the $120 for a single dose of the vaccine that protects against the cancer-causing HPV virus -- a shot that is free and compulsory in most other countries.

She is one of relatively few in the South American country to have been inoculated against the sexually-transmitted Human papillomavirus that the World Health Organization (WHO) says causes 95 percent of cervical cancer.

In Venezuela, people have to pay for the shot themselves.

"To get vaccinated was not easy," Montano, a 26-year-old business administrator told AFP after sitting for her third and final dose of the Gardasil 4 vaccine, which protects against four HPV types.

"I saved up for a few months to be able to do it," Montano added.

There is no official data on HPV infection -- which can also cause penile, anal and other cancers -- in Venezuela, a country of about 30 million people.

According to the country's non-profit Anti-Cancer Society (SAC) there were more than 5,900 cases of cervical cancer registered in the country in 2021.

The rate of mortality for cervical cancer in Venezuela jumped from 10.45 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2019 to 11.82 per 100,000 two years later, according to the SAC, which did not provide a reason for the increase.

The incidence rate over the same period grew from 23.82 to 32.16 per 100,000.

Breast cancer, which has not been linked to HPV, remains the main cause of death for women in Venezuela.

- 'Not talked about' -

The government had promised years ago to include the HPV vaccine in its free inoculation schedule, but Venezuela remains one of the few Latin American countries not to have done so.

The WHO recommends vaccination for girls from the age of nine, though it can also be administered to adults. In Venezuela, as in many countries, HPV vaccines are also given to boys.

"Averting the development of cervical cancer by increasing access to effective vaccines is a highly significant step in alleviating unnecessary illness and death," the UN's health agency said in a report last year.

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As HPV vaccination is done privately in Venezuela, there is no official data on how many people have received one or more shots.

Tests and screens for cervical cancer are also hard to come by in public hospitals, meaning patients have to pay for a private consultation or wait for help from an NGO.

Making matters worse, sex is a taboo topic in the conservative, Catholic country where people known to carry a sexually transmitted infection (STI) are stigmatized.

STIs are "not talked about," university student Corina Garcia, 27, told AFP as she received her third dose in the capital Caracas, thanks to her mother who is a doctor.

Garcia told AFP she was trying to get her partner to follow suit.

"One never knows" about the disease risk people could be exposed to from their sexual partners, she said.

- Unaffordable -

Gynecologist Ana Teresa Serrao told AFP a single dose of Gardasil 4 can cost as much as $140 or $150, while Gardasil 9, which acts against nine HPV types, can cost up to $350 per dose.

The WHO recommends at least one or two doses. But in Venezuela, given there is no herd immunity from widespread vaccination, doctors suggest three.

"Prices are rather high and unaffordable for the population," said Serrao, in a country where the minimum monthly income is about $75 and a basket of basic household goods for a month costs more than $500.

For Suzany Gonzalez, director of the non-governmental Centre for Studies on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (Cedesex), the absence of a free HPV vaccine is a violation of sexual rights.

"Sexual and reproductive health is not prioritized," she said.

In December 2022, the WHO said first-dose HPV vaccination coverage declined by 25 percent to 15 percent between 2019 and 2021 worldwide, meaning 3.5 million more girls missed out.

"Its vital that countries strengthen their HPV vaccination programs, expedite implementation and reverse the declines in coverage," said its report.

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The verdict in a murder trial that has captured national attention in part for its fringe religious aspects will be livestreamed, the presiding judge ruled Tuesday. Closing arguments are set for Thursday.

Prosecutors rested the state's case Tuesday against Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called doomsday mom who is charged with murder in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. JJ and Tylee were found buried on her husband Chad Daybell's property in Idaho after being missing for months. Vallow Daybell was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in their deaths and the death of her husband's first wife, Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell is also charged with grand theft for allegedly collecting Social Security payments on behalf of her children.

Judge Steven Boyce had earlier ruled there would be no video or live audio of the trial. The court has released audio recordings of each day's proceedings after trial is done for the day.

The defense also rested its case Tuesday. Vallow Daybell elected not to take the stand and the defense called no witnesses.

The trial has revealed aspects of the Daybells' religious beliefs that fall outside the mainstream Church of Latter-day Saints, of which both were members. Friends testified that Vallow Daybell said some people were "dark" or "zombies," having been possessed by evil spirits who took over their bodies, and that she and Chad Daybell had been married in their past lives.

Chad Daybell is being tried separately on murder and conspiracy charges in the three deaths, and faces the death penalty. Vallow Daybell also faces charges in Arizona in the death of her fourth husband and JJ's father, Charles Vallow, who was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox.

Both Vallow Daybell and Daybell have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Search underway after report of downed aircraft off California coast

Guaranteed income program helps a single mother make ends meet

Commercial real estate struggles have contributed to regional bank crisis
Donald Trumps one term in office produced several presidential firsts in our legal system. He was the first president to be impeached twice, the first president to have been charged with a crime, and now, the first president to be deemed liable for sexual assault by a jury of his peers.

On Tuesday afternoon, a jury in federal court in Manhattan rendered its verdict in a case brought late last year by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged that Trump assaulted her in a dressing room in Bergdorf Goodman in the spring of 1996. The jury concluded within hours that Trump was liable on two civil claims brought by Carroll under New York law  one for battery, and another for defamation based on Trumps denial of Carrolls allegations in a post on Truth Social in October 2022. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million. (A separate defamation lawsuit brought in 2019 based on Trumps denials of Carrolls claims while in office technically remains pending, thanks to the Justice Departments ill-advised decision to intervene on Trumps behalf.)

Before we go further, it is important to recall at the outset the difference between the standards of proof in civil and criminal legal proceedings. In a civil case, the plaintiff typically has to establish that her claims are true under a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, which essentially just means that it is more likely than not that the plaintiffs allegations are true. In a criminal case, the government has to establish that the defendant committed the alleged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, a higher threshold. The centerpiece of Carrolls case was an alleged crime  sexual assault  but the criminal statute of limitations had long lapsed, so Carroll brought a civil suit, which was resolved under a much more forgiving legal standard than the one that applies in an actual criminal case.



The verdict came, however, with an important qualification: The jury concluded that Carroll did not prove that Trump had raped her, as Carroll had alleged, but that Trump had nevertheless sexually abused her. A finding of rape would have required the jury to conclude that Trump had engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse with Carroll, but the jury apparently opted to conclude that something short of that  but nevertheless disturbing, illegal and sexually abusive  had happened.

Still, the jurys verdict in Carrolls favor is a stunning result, though for people who have been following the case closely, it was not particularly surprising. Carroll had very capable lawyers, who moved their case forward briskly and professionally and kept the pressure on Trump, who tried to dodge the case in pretty much every conceivable way. (Disclosure: I used to work with Carrolls lead attorney, Roberta Kaplan, and remain friendly with her.)

At the trial, according to reporting from journalists who watched the proceedings, Carrolls lawyers presented an efficient, well-constructed and coherent case  including testimony from Carroll herself, from two witnesses who spoke with Carroll shortly after her encounter with Trump, from a former Bergdorf Goodman employee who testified that the relevant area in the store at the time matched Carrolls description, and from another employee of the store who testified that there were no security cameras in the area at the time.

Other witnesses for Carroll included Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who testified that Trump had sexually assaulted them as well. In short, Carrolls lawyers presented her account, they corroborated it with testimony from other witnesses close to Carroll or who had had their own encounters with Trump, and they addressed head on some of Trumps lawyers dubious claims in defense, which included questioning why there was no video available of an assault that occurred more than 25 years ago.

For their part, Trumps lawyers struggled to put up much of a defense. In the run-up to the trial, they made multiple long-shot efforts to get the trial adjourned, which the presiding judge  a long-serving, well-regarded judge in the district  repeatedly rejected. At trial, Trumps lawyers vigorously cross-examined Carroll, though this clearly did not fully persuade the jurors, and Trumps lawyers put on no witnesses of their own. Trump did not testify in his own defense, even though nothing prevented him from doing so if he had a compelling response to offer to Carrolls claims. Instead, Carrolls lawyers played excerpts from Trumps deposition, which was a debacle that effectively made Trump a witness against himself.



Of course, Trump is not the only politician  he is not even the only president  to face allegations of sexual assault. Former President Bill Clinton, for instance, has also been accused of rape  a point that Trump has raised before in trying to deflect from the more voluminous and broader array of allegations against him. President Joe Biden has also been accused of sexual assault, though that claim faded from mainstream news coverage after questions emerged about the credibility of the accuser. (Both Clinton and Biden have denied the allegations against them.)

Needless to say, every allegation needs to be taken and judged on its own terms, but even if you hate Clinton or Biden, Trumps case now exists in a distinct realm: The allegations by Carroll were subject to a legitimate and robust adversarial legal process; the case was overseen by a highly competent judge and litigated by competent attorneys on both sides; and the claims were adjudicated by a jury of Trumps peers pursuant to the law.

It is true that Manhattanites strongly dislike Trump, but there is no indication at this time that the jury did anything less than listen to the evidence and to the judges instructions. During the trial, Trumps lawyers sought to lay the groundwork for an appeal by complaining about alleged bias on the part of the judge, but the arguments raised so far do not appear to be particularly strong.

By itself, the verdict in Carrolls case is a remarkable and ugly turn of events for Trump, but there are broader implications as well.

Most notably, the verdict serves as at least partial vindication for many other women who have lodged their own allegations against Trump. Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women over the years. Carrolls allegations were particularly shocking and horrifying, so the case served both as a referendum on Carrolls specific case  albeit one that the jury resolved in somewhat mixed fashion  but also as a larger proxy battle over Trumps mistreatment of women over the decades. Whether Trump likes it or not, the verdict lends further support to the credibility of all of those other allegations, which range in their substantive particulars but generally track Trumps appalling comments on the Access Hollywood tape about how he can do pretty much whatever he wants to women, including assaulting them.



There is, however, little reason to believe that there will be a cascade of litigation following Carrolls victory, but that appears to have just as much to do with legal constraints as anything else. The statutes of limitations for any other civil and criminal claims based on other alleged sexual misconduct by Trump have probably largely if not entirely lapsed, which is fortunate for the former president. Carrolls suit, however, managed to emerge for at least two reasons  first, because Trump offered very specific and repeated denials of her allegations even after he left office, and second, because New York passed a law last year that revived civil claims based on sexual assault that would otherwise have been too old to bring in court. Under the circumstances, it is safe to assume that anyone else with a viable legal claim against Trump for comparable conduct would likely have brought it by now.

As a country, we also now have to grapple with the political implications of having a leading presidential contender who has been found liable for conduct as grotesque as sexual assault. Regardless of what one thinks of Trumps fitness for the presidency, this is a qualitatively new development that could  or at least should  conceivably turn some voters away from him.

In the political arena, Trump might offer some version of his usual bluster to defend himself  perhaps that the judge was systematically biased against him, that Carrolls lawyer is some sort of covert political operative working on behalf of the Democratic Party, or that he was for some reason or another unable to defend himself in court. None of this is true, though that has never stopped Trump before. Indeed, after the verdict, his presidential campaign claimed: In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nations justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics.

Even before the verdict, there were assessments in the media of the political fallout  or lack thereof  from the case, but there is at least one important reason that the case did not attract more widespread or prominent coverage in the run-up to the trial: Carroll and her lawyers appear to have exercised extraordinary restraint in giving interviews or making public appearances in the months leading up to the trial, perhaps so as not to antagonize the judge, who was particularly concerned about ensuring that the case was decided based on the evidence in the courtroom rather than media coverage. Suffice to say that that may now change  both Carroll and Kaplan should now be free to give interviews if they like  now that the verdict is in.

Still, we should also be prepared for the distinct possibility that the verdict will not significantly shift voters preferences. This may be a dispiriting prospect, but so far, his supporters do not appear particularly concerned about his many legal problems, and many of them are likely to hang much on either Trumps denials or the jurys rejection of Carrolls specific claim of rape, even though sexual assault without intercourse is awful enough on its own terms.

That political dynamic could always change, but at least one thing remains true. Trump, while often wrong, has always been right about something that the verdict on Tuesday confirmed once again. The former president is one of a kind  just not for the reason he might like.
Aishwarya Thatikonda, Christian LaCour, Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, and James Cho, Kyu Song Cho and Cindy Cho (clockwise from top left) (Facebook/Handout/GoFundMe)

A three-year-old boy, two elementary-age sisters, a young engineer from India and mall workers are among the eight people killed in last weekends horror mass shooting in Allen, Texas.

The shooting unfolded at around 3.30pm local time at the crowded Dallas-area Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday as families and friends enjoyed their weekends.

Mauricio Garcia, a 33-year-old former security guard believed to have harboured neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs, drove to the mall armed with an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire on innocent shoppers and workers.

He was killed by a law enforcement officer who was on the scene and rushed to subdue the gunman.

Eight people were killed and seven others injured.

Police have not released a possible motive behind the shooting, but the gunman was wearing a patch reading RWDS  that stands for Right Wing Death Squad  as he carried out the rampage.

Police sources told NBC News that Garcia  an army veteran who worked as a security guard  had also posted neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online.

While details are yet to emerge about the gunman and what led up to the horror attack, the identities of those killed are coming to light.

Heres what we know so far about the victims:

Christian LaCour

Christian LaCour, a security guard who worked at the mall, was identified as one of the people killed in the gunfire by his family.

LaCour was 20 years old and had grown up in nearby Farmersville area.

He was working as a security guard at the mall when he was shot and killed on Saturday.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

LaCours grandmother had posted on social media on Saturday, saying his family was unable to locate him.

She then later paid tribute to him in another post.

He was such a beautiful soul, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him 2 weeks ago.

LaCours family said they are still processing his passing and that it has broken their hearts that they have had to spread this news to others.

Aishwarya Thatikonda

Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer who moved to the US from India, was also identified by family members as one of the victims.

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Thatikonda was shopping with a friend at the mall when she was shot and killed by the gunman, a family representative told WFAA.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting (Family photo)

Her friend was also shot and injured in the shooting and is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

Thatikondas family is planning to fly her body to India, where she has family.

Kyu Song Cho, Cindy Cho and James Cho

Three-year-old James Cho was among the eight killed in the shooting, along with his parents Kyu Song Cho, 37 and Cindy Cho, 35, according to officials.

His six-year-old brother was also present at the mall and suffered injuries, but survived and was released from the ICU. He is the only surviving member of the family.

Parents Cindy and Kyu Cho were killed along with their three-year-old son James in the Texas mall shooting (GoFundMe)

According to a GoFundMe page set up by friends and relatives, the Cho family had gone to Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday to exchange clothes that their six-year-old son had received as a birthday present a few days earlier.

Friends of the family, who set up the page, wrote that the afternoon, which was supposed to be filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre.

The Cho family was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Dallas Morning News newspaper cited Korean consulate officials confirming that the Cho family were American citizens of Korean descent and that diplomats are in contact with their family members.

Daniela and Sofia Mendoza

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed in the horror attack while they were shopping at the outlet mall with their mother.

Wylie Independent School District paid tribute to the two elementary school students at Cox Elementary School, who were in grades four and two respectively.

They were remembered by their school principal Krista Wilson as the kindest, most thoughtful students with smiles that could light up any room in a letter to parents.

In a GoFundMe launched to help the family, organiser Anabel Del Angel revealed that their mother survived the attack but is still in hospital.

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed at the Allen mall massacre (GoFundMe)

With a heavy heart, we share that our beautiful Daniela and Sofia have passed away. They were tragically taken from us by a senseless act on May 6th, 2023. Their mom is currently still hospitalized. We want to thank everyone that has been reaching out and offering their support and assistance. Please pray for our now broken family, it read.

The girls have left a void that nothing in the world could ever fill. Please pray for their mom, my sister, and her broken heart. Please also pray for their dad, that despite all the trauma he has had to endure, is still unbelievably strong. They will be forever missed and loved.

Elio Cumana-Rivas

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was the eighth victim identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday evening.

No further details about him have been released yet.
Users of both local and foreign social networks will need to verify their identity

Social media users in Vietnam must soon verify their identities, in what the government says is a bid to crack down on online scams.

The move is aimed at stopping people from using anonymous accounts to break the law.

Unverified accounts on both local and foreign social media platforms such as Facebook must comply with the new regulations.

It is unclear how the new measures, expected by end-2023, will be enforced.

Authorities will monitor and possibly block anonymous accounts, said state media

It's the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on social media users in Vietnam.

Last year, social media platforms were required to take down news deemed as fake in 24 hours, rather than the previously mandated 48 hours.

Laws requiring tech firms like Google and Facebook to store users' data locally were also passed in 2022.

This gave the government "greater ability to pressure companies and is likely to lead to violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and privacy," Human Rights Watch said.

The latest regulations are part of the upcoming Telecommunications Law Amendment, which must be passed by lawmakers and are expected to come into effect by end-2023. Full details have not been revealed yet.

Not all providers in Vietnam currently offer identity verification.

However both individuals and organisations, must comply with the new rules.

Information deputy minister Nguyen Thanh Lam told the state-run Voice of Vietnam outlet that while authorities can identify social media account holders that break the law, they cannot be tracked down as they use cross-border applications.

Experts say that while disinformation and rising hate speech are legitimate concerns for governments in South East Asia, governments including Vietnam's have used vague definitions to exert greater control over the digital space.

"This weaponizing of fake news has served to tighten the regimes' grip on information to the detriment of a healthy information environment," a study by the The ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute found.

In the 2023 World Press Freedom rankings, Vietnam was ranked 178 out of 180, just above North Korea and China.
Amid a rise in violence against health care workers, Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed into law harsher penalties against those convicted of threatening or assaulting nurses, doctors or anyone who works or volunteers in a health care setting.

The new law, called the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act, enacts two main sets of new penalties:

Those who threatened a health care worker will automatically be charged with a disorderly persons offense, which is punishable by a prison sentence of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Those convicted of assaulting a health care worker will have to take an anger management course for up to 12 months and complete up to 30 days of community service in addition to any prison term or fine imposed on them by a judge.

The law comes less than a year after the New Jersey Hospitals Association reported a 14.6% increase in physical and verbal abuse against staff between 2019 and 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many health care workers were being celebrated as frontline heroes with daily rounds of applause and pot-banging in communities across the U.S.

A health care worker conducts a drive-up COVID-19 test.

More than half of the incidents reported were acts of violence - an 11% increase in incidents between 2019 and 2021. About 44% were incidents of verbal abuse - a 25% increase between 2019 and 2021.

"Its time to treat workplace violence in health care settings with the seriousness this crisis warrants," said Debbie White, president of HPAE one of the largest health care workers unions in New Jersey. "If our hospitals and nursing homes are unsafe for workers, they are unsafe for our patients too.

New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, center, talks with heath care workers at University Hospital in Newark as they prepare to give their co-workers the first doses of the COVID vaccine on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020

About 84% of all incidents are perpetrated by patients followed by coworkers at 9% and relatives of patients at 7%, according to the hospitals association.

In March, a nurse was allegedly assaulted at St. Clare's Hospital in Morris County.

One of the most heinous attacks in recent memory occurred when a travel nurse struck a 54-year-old employee of Hackensack University Medical Center with a wrench and set her on fire in February 2022. The victim survived but suffered third-degree burns to her upper body, face and hands. The alleged assailant - Nicholas Pagano - was found dead the next day of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Violence at health care facilities may be growing, but it's been a problem for years.

Health care and social service workers experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 report. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 207 health care worker deaths due to workplace violence in the U.S.

The new law also requires health care facilities to post a notice stating that it is a crime to assault a health care worker.

Rise in violence

The number of physical attacks and verbal abuse reported at New Jersey hospitals has risen in recent years.

2019: 8,691

2020: 9,202

2021: 9,962

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New NJ law adds penalties for violence against health care workers
One teen died and another was hurt in a rollover crash in rural Fresno County, the California Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

A 2007 GMC Sierra driven by a 17-year-old from Visalia was headed east on Highway 198 near Dickenson Avenue, about five miles west of Lemoore Station, before 1 a.m. Saturday, the CHP said.

The Fresno County Coroner identified Nathan Oliva, a Mt. Whitney High School student in Visalia, as the 17-year-old who died. A 19-year-old from Visalia was also in the truck, CHP said.

Oliva was driving at about 60 mph and for an unknown reason allowed the truck to veer to the right onto the dirt shoulder before hitting an irrigation ditch and rolling onto its roof, CHP said.

The driver was not wearing a restraint and was ejected during the crash, CHP said. The passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

Officers could not immediately say if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.
US President Joe Biden is set to visit Papua New Guinea in May 2023 as Washington vies with Asian power China for influence in the region

The White House confirmed Tuesday that Joe Biden will visit Papua New Guinea in May, a "historic" first trip for a sitting US president, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region.

Biden will also meet with Pacific Island leaders as he seeks to deepen cooperation on issues "such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth," the White House said in a statement.

The trip will come as Biden travels from the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan to the Quad Leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia later this month.

The South Pacific was seen as a relative diplomatic backwater after World War II, but it is an increasingly important arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence -- and could prove vital in any possible military conflagration over Taiwan.

Last month, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told a news conference Biden would attend bilateral talks with his hosts and is "also having a meeting with the 18 Pacific Island leaders."

The Pacific Island Forum is a regional bloc of mostly small states scattered across the vast swath of ocean.

The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand will also attend.

Last month, US special envoy Joseph Yun said the United States was playing "catch-up" after years of relative neglect in which China's influence soared across the South Pacific.

"Let's face it, it is strategic competition between China and us," he told the Hudson Institute.

"Have we neglected the Pacific? The answer is yes.... We are trying to correct that quite a bit."

China recently signed a secretive security pact with Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea, that could allow Chinese troops to be deployed or based there.

And a state-backed Chinese company won a contract in March to develop the international port in the capital Honiara, a major victory in Beijing's quest to gain a strategic toehold in the South Pacific.

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Biden's trip may also put the finishing touches on a US-Papua New Guinea Defence Cooperation Agreement that would allow more joint training and the development of security infrastructure.

Washington is working to establish a joint naval facility at Lombrum on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.

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Russian billionaire and businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

The boss of the Wagner Group said Russian troops fled from the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin made the claims in a scathing video posted on Tuesday.

"They all fled and opened up a front almost two kilometers wide and 500 meters deep," he said.

The boss of the notorious Russian paramilitary Wagner Group said that some of the Kremlin's forces "abandoned their positions" and ran away from the frontlines of Moscow's war with Ukraine.

In a video published to Telegram on Tuesday, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin mocked the Russian troops as he detailed how they ran from their positions near the war-torn Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

"So today, one of the units of the Ministry of Defense fled from one of our flanks, abandoned their positions," Prigozhin said. "They all fled and opened up a front almost two kilometers [1.24 miles] wide and 500 meters [1,640 feet] deep."

Prigozhin said in the video  posted ahead of Russia's annual Victory Day parade  that the Russian troops ran off because of "stupid" and "criminal" orders given by senior military commanders, according to a translation by The Moscow Times.

"Soldiers should not die because of the absolute stupidity of their leadership," Prigozhin said, according to the news outlet.

Additionally, Prigozhin, who recently threatened to pull his fighters from Bakhmut over ammunition shortages, threatened to publish a video by the end of the Victory Day parade spilling more details on the situation on the front lines if the Kremlin does not send more ammunition.

"What if we get the ammunition, after all? Then we won't show it," Prigozhin said.

 Albina Fella   (@albafella1) May 9, 2023

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It's unclear whether Prigozhin got the ammunition he demanded by the end of the Victory Day parade.

Wagner Group fighters have played a key role in the battle that has been playing out in Bakhmut for months.

Prigozhin has long been a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin but has accused Russia's top brass of cutting him off and blamed Putin for the death of his fighters in Ukraine.

Translations by Oleksandr Vynogradov

Read the original article on Business Insider
Yevgeny Prigozhin

He also reiterated that if he does not receive ammunition, Wagner Group will abandon its positions in Bakhmut. Earlier, he said the mercenaries would pull out of Bakhmut on May 10 if supplies of ammunition were not sent to them.

Read also: Prigozhin says Surovikin mediating between mercenaries and Russian Defense Ministry

"Yesterday we received a combat order stating that leaving our positions would be recognized as treason against the motherland," Prigozhin said.

This was primarily an appeal to us. If there is no ammunition, we will leave the positions and ask the question: who is betraying the homeland? Probably the one who signed (the combat order).

Prigozhin said that the same combat order stated that "we are obliged to provide the Wagner PMC grouping with everything absolutely necessary."

"Apparently, he made an emotional statement and this combat order; the person who signed it, was afraid that we would leave and come to him in Rostov," Prigozhin said, apparently referring to Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who has his headquarters in the southern Russian city.

But it is the Ukrainians who will come to him in Rostov if the front falls apart.

Read also: Military observer analyses ongoing media battle between Prigozhin, Kadyrov, and Russian Defense Ministry

Prigozhin said the Russian army was doing everything to make the "front crumble," and one of the Russian Defense Ministry's units fled from the flank, abandoning its positions.

"Today, one of the Defense Ministry's units fled from one of our flanks," he said.

Having abandoned their positions, all of them fled and (left a gap in the) front almost two kilometers wide and 500 meters deep. Good thing that we were able to block it somehow.

Prigozhin also argued that instead of fighting, the Russian army is constantly involved in intrigues.

"We have a Ministry of Intrigue instead of a Ministry of Defense, so our army is fleeing," he said.

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It's fleeing because 72 brigades today (May 9 - ed.) have frittered away three square kilometers, where I had about 500 people killed, because it was a strategic foothold. They just (ran away).

Prigozhin said he was also concerned about the upcoming counter-offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and said that the Ukrainian attack "will be on the ground, not on TV."

"There are meetings from dawn to dusk," he said.

Nobody understands what the meetings are about. So far, the only meeting (topic) is how not to give Wagner (mercenary company) ammunition, how not to give weapons so that we can defend Russia and continue to storm Bakhmut and disrupt Ukraine's offensive.

Read also: Russia attacks Bakhmut with phosphorous munitions  video

Today, Ukraine is pounding Belgorod Oblast  successfully pounding. People are not panicking, but they are very concerned. Why can't the state defend its country? Today, they are tearing up the flanks on the Bakhmut axis, regrouping in Zaporizhzhya (Oblast), and a counter-offensive will begin soon. They are quite clear that the counter-offensive will be on the ground, not on TV, because so far everyone in our country thinks that we need to celebrate the Victory Day."

Prigozhin said that the fact that Russian troops are fleeing is not a problem with the soldiers, but of those who gave them their orders.

Why Prigozhin speaks of "shell hunger"

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces has explained why Prigozhin has been making statements about "shell hunger" in recent days.

The spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Cherevatyi, said on Ukrainian national television that the mercenary leader had taken on obligations that he was unable to fulfill.

"The main reason for Prigozhin's statements is that he has taken on military obligations, but is unable to fulfill them, including the capture of Bakhmut, and is making up this nonsense about a shell famine," Cherevatyi said.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces spokesman added that the Russian military opened fire 415 times on May 8, and 489 times on May 7.

Read also: Conflict between Russian MoD and Wagners Prigozhin reaching climax

Cherevatyi also emphasized that in fact, the main problem of Prigozhin is the constant destruction of personnel by the Ukrainian military. It is difficult to replenish these losses, as the Kremlin regime no longer gives the Wagner leader prisoners to add to his ranks.

"The government itself does not give it, and the prisoners are not very eager to leave, because they realize that it is a one-way ticket," Cherevatyi concluded.

Earlier, Wagner chief Prigozhin publicly demanded in an expletive-laden rant on video that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov provide his formation with ammunition. He threatened to withdraw his Wagner fighters from Bakhmut by May 10 if the ammunition was not forthcoming.

Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, responded to this statement by accusing Prigozhin of washing dirty linen in public and said he was ready to send his "Akhmat" unit to Bakhmut to replace Wagner.

The Russians have been actively storming the city for around 10 months, but Ukrainian defenders continue to repel enemy attacks.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The leader of Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the Russian army left part of their positions in Bakhmut and "exposed" part of the front, which had to be covered by the Wagnerites [fighters of Wagner Group  ed.]. He gave an ultimatum to the Russian Defence Ministry and the General Staff  if his mercenaries are not given ammunition, they will leave their positions.

Source: Prigozhin's press service

Quote: "We received a combat order, where it was said that withdrawal from the positions would be considered high treason. This, first of all, was aimed at us [Wagner Group  ed.]. If there is no ammunition, we will withdraw from our positions...

Instead of fighting, we [Russian forces  ed.] are constantly having intrigues. We have a Ministry of Intrigue instead of the Ministry of Defence, so our army is running away. Its running because the 72nd brigade today [on 9 May  ed.] lost 3 square kilometres, on which I lost about 500 people because it was a strategic foothold. They just ran away...".

Details: Prigozhin attacked the Russian Defene Ministry with another batch of criticism. According to him, despite the promised ammunition and the appointment of Sergei Surovikin, almost no changes occurred.

He said the Wagnerites were allocated 10% of what they demanded: "We were deceived". Prigozhin said that Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, personally reduced the number of weapons they wanted to allocate to the Wagner Group.

At the same time, Prigozhin said that his mercenaries would remain on the Bakhmut front: "We will fight, and then we will figure it out".

According to him, Surovikin is constantly at meetings and is not available. However, Prigozhin welcomes his appointment as an intermediary between the Russian Defence Ministry and private military companies [such as Wagner  ed.].

Russia said that the Russian military is not to blame for fleeing their positions because "fish rots from the head down", and those who gave them these tasks are to blame. He considers the leadership of the Ministry of Defence "fools", and the functions that are given from there to generals and directly to the military  "criminal": "There is a crime called the destruction of the Russian people  high treason."

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The PMC head also accused Gazprom's Fakel PMC of fleeing, calling it "an anal plug slipping out".

In the video, Prigozhin often repeats the thesis that the biggest enemy of Russia is not the Armed Forces of Ukraine but those "scoundrels" who do not give them weapons. He claims that there is ammunition, which is accumulated in storages because someone came up with the idea to collect a "reserve". The PMC leader said he would not mention these names again to avoid swearing.

He also praises the "enemy", that is, the Ukrainian defenders.

Note:

On 5 May, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private military company, wrote a letter to the Russian Defence Ministry stating that he would be withdrawing his mercenaries from Bakhmut after 10 May.

He claimed that the reason for the move was that the Ministry of Defence did not give his fighters enough ammunition, and he did not want his people to be "doomed to a senseless death" because of this.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are sceptical about the claim made by Prigozhin that soldiers will start withdrawing from Bakhmut on 10 May.

Later, Kadyrov suggested his help in the occupation of Bakhmut.

On 6 May, Prigozhin announced that he would supposedly hand over the positions of his fighters in Bakhmut to Kadyrov's soldiers.

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An Alabama man has been indicted on 53 charges after police accused him of filming minors in a Walmart bathroom.

Ethan Richardson, a 25-year-old employee at the Walmart in south Cullman, was first arrested in February after he was accused of using his phone to film a minor while on duty, McClatchy News previously reported.

Cullman Police spokesperson Adam Clark told WBMA in February that officers were at the Walmart on an unrelated call when someone approached them about a recording device being used by Richardson.

Clark told McClatchy News that Richardson had been using his personal device to film a minor inappropriately.

Richardson was terminated by Walmart, WBMA reported, and police said Richardson was charged with production and possession of child pornography, but more charges may be brought.

On May 5, Richardson was indicted on 53 charges, police said.

All charges stemmed from a prior arrest and investigation, police said.

The indictment, obtained by AL.com, said the felony charges ranged from producing pornography with minors to aggravated criminal surveillance.

Police said Richardson had filmed 19 minors, as young as 2 years old, in the bathroom of the Walmart for the purposes of sexual gratification, according to the indictment, AL.com reported.

Cullman is 50 miles north of Birmingham.

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The Ada County Courthouse in Boise will livestream the verdict of the Lori Vallow Daybell trial. The 49-year-old mother and her husband, Chad Daybell, were charged with the first-degree murders of two of her children.

The criminal trial against Vallow Daybell is in its sixth week and the fifth week of testimony. Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce announced in a written order that the court will broadcast the verdict on the judges YouTube Channel.

Boyce said the court received requests from various news outlets asking to record and broadcast the verdict. According to court records, both East Idaho News and CourtTV submitted requests to broadcast the trial  which were both denied.

Instead, the court will broadcast the verdict with its own devices.

Can you watch the Lori Vallow Daybell trial? Not unless youre in an Idaho courtroom

In September 2022, Boyce banned the use of still and video cameras from the courtroom throughout the jury trial. Over two dozen news outlets  including the Idaho Statesman  opposed the ban.

Throughout the trial, reporters and members of the public have been able to watch the proceedings through the courtroom  where seats have been filling up within minutes each morning  and an overflow room on the first floor of the courthouse.

The overflow rooms in Ada or Madison counties will be unavailable to the public while the jury deliberates or once theyve reached a verdict, according to Ada Countys website. Spectators can watch the verdict from the courtroom on a first-come, first-served basis because the court wont be taking reservations online beforehand.

The prosecution finished presenting its side of the case Tuesday afternoon, and the defense chose not to present any evidence. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday.

The first week of the trial was spent on jury selection. Attorneys for the prosecution and defense whittled down a pool of roughly 1,800 potential jurors to get the 18-person jury  12 jurors and six alternates.
A Warner Robins woman died Sunday night in East Dublin after a man stabbed her and left her in a house, officials said.

East Dublin police and Laurens County sheriffs deputies found Ericia Avyana Smith, 22, dead just after 9 a.m. Monday at a house on Soperton Avenue in East Dublin and called the GBI to investigate, according to a release from the GBI.

The GBI arrested Tahvien Dewberry, 26, of East Dublin and charged him with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime after allegedly connecting him to Smiths death.

It was unclear in the statement whether Smith knew Dewberry or how investigators connected Dewberry to the death. The investigation was still underway and further information was not available.

The GBI asked that anyone that has information regarding the investigation please contact the GBI Eastman office at 478-374-6988.
Firefighters are investigating what caused a Union County house fire Monday night.

ALSO READ: Homegoing service announcement for city worker killed in house fire

It happened on Yellow Horn Trail in Waxhaw just before 8 p.m.

Video posted to Facebook by the Pleasant Valley Fire Department shows flames covering the roof of the home.

Pleasant Valley companies assisted Wesley Chapel Fire Department on a house fire this evening. Where we sit, often... Posted by Pleasant Valley Fire Department on Monday, May 8, 2023

According to Union County dispatchers, a Wesley Chapel firefighter was treated for burns at the hospital. He was released Tuesday morning.

Authorities said the family wasnt home at the time of the fire. Their home is considered a total loss and theyre now staying with family members.

Investigators are working to determine how the fire started but they dont believe a crime has been committed at this time.

No further information has been released.

(WATCH BELOW: 2 hurt after fire destroys home in south Charlotte, officials say)
New Suncor CEO Rich Kruger says he will waste no time in cutting costs at the Calgary-based oil and gas company. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

New Suncor Energy (SU.TO)(SU) CEO Rich Kruger put his executive team on notice Tuesday, telling them on a post-earnings conference call with analysts that "I just signed you guys up to deliver" on his plan to improve safety and operations at the Canadian oil and gas giant.

Kruger, a 40-year veteran of the industry who previously led rival Imperial Oil (IMO.TO)(IMO), promised to act swiftly to boost efficiency across the company, and restore Suncor's reputation as a leader in the oilsands.

"I see a company with untapped potential. I see a gap between our current performance, and what I would consider best-in-class," Kruger said on the call. "Will this be easy? No. But quite frankly, I wouldn't have come out of retirement to be here had it been easy."

From worker deaths at mine sites, to U.S. activist investors calling for parts of the business to be hived off, Suncor has faced a litany of challenges in recent years. Speaking on his first earnings call as Suncor's CEO, Kruger says his plan to address the company's operational issues involves "lots of little things," from cutting downtime at the company's refining business, to shorter hauling distances for trucks at mines. He also suggests a leaner workforce may be in the cards.

"I think we can eliminate work," Kruger said. "If that's focusing on higher-value activities, so be it. If that's eliminating low-value-added work, awesome."

Last year, Suncor said it would cut its contractor workforce by 20 per cent to improve safety and cut costs. On Tuesday, Kruger did not give a specific timeline for implementing his efficiency plans. However, he says "there's no time better than the present."

The veteran oil and gas executive also took aim at a common critique of Suncor versus its peers: the age of its facilities. The company's largest oilsands mine near Fort McMurray is set to run out in the mid-2030s.

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"Advanced age is no excuse for poor performance," Kruger said.

Toronto-listed Suncor shares fell 1.57 per cent to $39.45 as at 12:27 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The company reported first-quarter financial results late Monday, booking a 34 per cent drop in earnings year-over-year, due largely to lower realized oil prices.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

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Four times Officer Taylor Smith calls out, "I've been shot," followed by an even more ominous "I've been shot in the throat."

As he continues to recover, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has released the intense moments of his and other officers' body camera footage in that April 18 police confrontation and pursuit that culminated with the suspect being killed outside Baptist Medical Center South.

Keeping in line with Sheriff T.K. Waters' revised policy about releasing portions of officers' bodycams within 21 days of a police shooting, he and Chief of Professional Standards Chris Brown posted their fifth "critical incident community briefing" of 2023 on the agency's Facebook.

For print subscribers, the video can be viewed at facebook.com/JacksonvilleSheriffsOffice.

Leon Burroughs: Jacksonville sheriff releases Jan. 20 police shooting bodycam. Here's what it shows.

Eric Thornton: Jacksonville sheriff releases Jan. 19 bodycam video of fatal police shooting. Here's what it shows

Brown reiterated these investigations involve multiple interviews and hours of body camera video and forensic analysis and are only a preliminary stage of the ultimate findings between the Sheriff's Office and State Attorney's Office. Discretion also is advised about viewing the footage since it involves two people being shot and some foul language.

What happened on April 18?

The situation began about 9:30 p.m. with an off-duty officer working at the hospital on Old St. Augustine Road noticing a suspicious Chevrolet Impala circling the parking lot in continuous loops for more than 10 minutes, Brown said. The officer attempts to stop the car, but the driver flees.

Other officers respond, including one who was outside his vehicle when he spotted a car of the same description in the parking lot. He raises a hand and tells him to stop the car four times. The man keeps going and can be heard in the video yelling, Shoot it, which is a little different than initially reported at the scene when media were told he said "Shoot me."

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The officer does not shoot but advises on the radio that "He's got a zero," which means a gun. Then the video shows the man slowly drive by another officer's vehicle and fire once.

Officer down: What we know about the shooting of a Jacksonville policeman

No one is struck as other officers follow him and attempt to force the car sideways to get the driver to stop.

"I rammed it," an officer can be heard saying over the radio of another officer in pursuit. "... He's coming back around again. ... He's coming up behind me now. Hey, he's coming up behind me fast! Move out of my way, I think he's trying to get me."

It intensifies as the man starts to pull out of the parking lot. "Make sure he doesn't leave," an officer says.

"He's right behind you... He just rammed another police car," another says.

A radio supervisor then states, "You all need to take him out."

An image from a Jacksonville sheriff's officer's body camera video shows police returning fire on Jeffrey Alan Martin after another officer was shot outside Baptist Medical Center on April 18.

The man crashes and officers use their vehicles to block him in. Get out of the car, they repeat.

Smith approaches the passenger side of the Impala with gun drawn. "He's got something in his hand," he yells. When he gets within arm's length of the rear passenger door, the suspect fires a round at him, striking him in the face. He shoots back then calls out to the others who shoot and kill him. Five officers shot him.

Who was the man who shot the officer and was killed?

Jeffrey Alan Martin, 38, was identified in the shooting.

From what's available in Duval County court records, Martin only has some traffic citations dating back to 2004; no criminal offenses. Court records also reveal the shooting happened the day before the two-year anniversary that he and his wife separated. She officially filed for divorce in February 2022 after they had been married since 2014. They had two children, 9 and 3 years old. His parents told First Coast News he was going through some mental health struggles and fighting depression.

How is Officer Taylor Smith and how can anyone help?

"He is truly blessed to have not been fatally injured in this shooting," said Randy Reaves, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5-30. "Right now he is making what will hopefully be a full recovery."

Smith

Reaves said the Signal 34 Foundation has planned a benefit on June 10 with all proceeds going to Smith and his family. It will be from 5 to 9 p.m. at American Legion Post 283, 9459 Fort Caroline Road. A $25 donation includes dinner and open bar. There also will be a raffle and silent auction. Register at the Signal 34 Foundation Facebook at facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082421593427.

Who were the Jacksonville officers involved?

Their names are protected under the state's Marsy's Law, but they were five white males, according to the Sheriff's Office. The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments in December about whether the identities of officers who kill suspects can be kept secret under Marsys Law, a constitutional amendment designed to protect victims of crime.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said this AK-47 was found in Jeffrey Alan Martin's trunk after he was killed by police and another officer was wounded on April 18 outside Baptist Medical Center South.

What else was found at the scene?

Brown said a 9mm handgun was located under one of the gunman's legs and four spent casings. In the trunk was an AK-47 with three fully loaded magazines amounting to 90 live rounds.

What happens next in the Jacksonville police shooting case?

An independent investigation of the case will be conducted by the State Attorney's Office to determine if the officers' actions were lawful. The Sheriff's Office will then begin an administrative review that involves its internal Response to Resistance Review Board, which will hear testimony from the officers and decide if any policies were violated. The sheriff will make a final decision on any recommendations that could call for reprimands or additional training.

How many Jacksonville sheriff's officers have been shot this year?

In what the sheriff described as an alarming and disturbing trend, three officers have been shot this year in Jacksonville. All three suffered gunfire at close range to the head area and mercifully all survived. Two of the gunmen were killed by officers returning fire and the other by suicide. Only one had an extensive criminal history.

How many police shootings have there been in Jacksonville in 2022 and 2023?

So far this year, Jacksonville police have shot six suspects, five fatally. In 2022, Times-Union records show they shot 12 suspects, eight of whom died.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bodycam video shows Jacksonville officer shot, Jeffrey Martin killed
The gunman who killed eight people before he was fatally shot by a police officer at a Dallas-area mall on Saturday was wearing a tactical vest with a patch that read RWDS, an acronym which stands for Right Wing Death Squad  a phrase that has been embraced in recent years by far-right extremists.

Law enforcement officials are exploring whether the shooter, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, had expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology and neo-Nazi views as they look for a motive for the attack.

Heres everything we know about the phrase and investigation, culled from our original reporting and trusted partners, including the Associated Press, NBC News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The origins of RWDS

People identifying themselves as members of the Proud Boys join supporters of then-President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14, 2020. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

According to the AP, the term Right Wing Death Squad originated in the 1970s and was used to describe Central and South American paramilitary groups who supported right-wing governments and dictatorships and opposed perceived enemies on the left.

Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, told the news service that RWDS reemerged in the 2010s among some right-wing groups, who used it on stickers, patches and in online forums.

It essentially became a phrase that was co-opted to demonstrate opposition to the left more broadly by right-wing extremists, Segal said.

Right Wing Death Squad was the name of the smaller groups that participated in the white nationalist Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017.

A phrase popularized by the Proud Boys

Trump supporters, along with members of the far-right group Proud Boys, attend a rally to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2020. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

According to Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, the Proud Boys  a neofascist group of self-described Western chauvinists  are largely responsible for popularizing the use of RWDS among the far-right.

Following the 2020 election, members of the Proud Boys joined supporters of then-President Donald Trump at rallies protesting the results.

Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and other leaders of the group were photographed wearing RWDS patches at those demonstrations.

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Last week, Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Investigators eye white supremacist ideology

Officers with the Allen Police Department staff the mobile command post the day after a gunman shot multiple people at the Dallas-area Allen Premium Outlets mall. (Jeremy Lock/Reuters)

Given the RWDS patch worn by the Texas shooter, investigators quickly zeroed in on his social media accounts in search of a possible motive.

According to NBC News, a preliminary review revealed hundreds of posts that expressed interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views.

AP reports that posts made by Garcia on a Russian social networking site showed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport.

And photos he posted showed what appeared to be large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt symbol of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

Other online activity suggests the 33-year-old had researched when the shopping center, located in one of the Dallas areas most diverse suburbs, would be the busiest.

"The big question that we're dealing with right now is, what's his motive? Why did he do this?" Hank Sibley, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a press conference Tuesday. "We don't know, that's what the investigation is trying to find out. We do know that he had neo-Nazi ideation. He had patches, he had tattoos, even his signature, you know, verified that."

How the shooting unfolded

Robert Jackson comforts his mother, Cheryl Jackson, by a memorial near the scene of the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Monday. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

According to police, the shooting began around 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, about 25 miles north of Dallas, when a man armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and wearing tactical gear opened fire. Eight people were killed and seven others were injured before the gunman was fatally shot by a police officer who happened to be at the mall.

Among those killed were Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security guard; Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 27-year-old Indian engineer; and three members of a Korean American family: Cho Kyu Song, 37, Kang Shin Young, 35, and their 3-year-old son.

The Texas Department of Public Safety later identified the gunman as Garcia, who lived in the Dallas area. NBC News reported that police recovered an additional handgun at the scene, more weapons and ammunition in his car, and the tactical vest emblazoned with the RWDS patch.

People visit a makeshift memorial near the scene of the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas, on Tuesday. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Nobody is going to accidentally have a Right Wing Death Squad patch, American University professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss, director of the schools Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab, told the AP.

But extremists who adopt these terms and symbols often dont fully understand their origins, Miller-Idriss said.

Because of this whole meme culture, and generally the way that iconography is used to signal encoded speech or messages, they dont always know exactly, she said.
A school shooting threat made last Friday by a Florida high school student caused panic in multiple counties as well as other states.

While the threat was ultimately deemed a hoax  authorities say the student was trying to get a classmate in trouble  the response by law enforcement agencies was real.

And based on data collected by TDR Technology Solutions, so was the cost to taxpayers.

TDR Technology Solutions works with school districts and municipalities on security technology, tracks school threats and swatting incidents across the country.

For subscribers: Parents concerned by anonymous app used to report Florida school threats

Arrested: Student taken into custody for viral school shooting post that caused panic across Florida, nation

Volusia, Flagler sheriffs' offices: Statewide school shooting threat 'a hoax'

Florida, according to TDR's data, saw more threat calls, more students impacted and a greater cost to taxpayers than any other state between July 2022 and Wednesday.

Cost to taxpayers for threatening school calls

Florida - $18,115,352.53 Virginia - $12,888,489.63 Massachusetts - $12,572,544 Texas - $10,324,986.16 New York - $9,095,246.98

TDR's CEO Don Beeler said the cost is the value of lost instructional time.

Top 5 states by number of students impacted

Florida - 1,140,652 Texas - 652,478 Colorado - 297,035 Virginia - 275,308 North Carolina - 241,139

Beeler said the number of students impacted is determined by the number of students in the targeted school or district.

Top 5 states by number of calls

Florida - 187 Texas - 184 New York - 160 North Carolina - 130 Ohio - 127

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: FL ranks No.1 in report on most school-shooting threats, taxpayer cost
Leftovers from Kentucky Derby 149:

 It says here the state veterinarian did the right thing scratching Kentucky Derby favorite Forte the morning of the race. If there were any questions about Fortes soundness, the colt should not have been allowed to run. And he wasnt. Better to err on the side of extreme caution, even if it is the Kentucky Derby. Or especially if it is the Kentucky Derby.

And while disappointing, it is best that Forte not run in the Preakness, either. Under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules, a horse that was scratched from a race for safety reasons will be placed on the vet list for 14 days, meaning he cannot compete in races during that time. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission placed Forte on the vet list on Sunday.

That had to be news to trainer Todd Pletcher, who had said Sunday morning that if the colt worked well this weekend in Louisville he would be shipped to Baltimore for the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Under HISAs rules, which are followed by Kentucky and Maryland, that cant happen. Nor should it.

If the trainer had scratched Forte, the colt would not have been placed on the vets list. That was not the case, however. Churchill Downs statement Saturday said Forte was scratched by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission state veterinarian. Thats why he was placed on the vets list on Sunday.

Dr. Nicholas Smith, the chief veterinarian of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, checks the fitness of Forte after the Kentucky Derby favorite tested his bruised foot on the Churchill Downs track Saturday morning. Watching at right is Fortes owner, Mike Repole.

 I liked this tweet from California trainer Dan Blacker: What weve learned in California is its possible to have racing with almost no catastrophic injuries. To achieve this, everyones routine has to change. Yes change not easy & additional veterinary scrutiny can be frustrating, but this is only way to ensure future for the sport.

 After being postponed a couple of times, HISAs Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program wont start until May 22, two days after the Preakness. What happened at Churchill Downs last week  seven horses euthanized over a week and a half  shows the need for stricter and more uniform rules is stronger than ever.

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 With a bit of an edge in his voice, Pletcher said Sunday of Mages Kentucky Derby win, I guess on the bright side everybody who was critical of (Fortes) Florida Derby can put that to bed.

Forte rallied to beat Mage by a length in that Grade 1 race at Gulfstream on April 1. Fortes detractors had pointed to his performance in that race as a reason why he would not win the Kentucky Derby, however.

 One thing we are learning from these Kentucky Derby races: Experience doesnt matter as much as it once did. In 2018, Justify became the first Kentucky Derby winner that was unraced at 2 years old since Apollo in 1882. Five years later, we have another one in Mage, who did not run at 2.

Mage is also the fourth Kentucky Derby winner who had made just three previous starts. But three of those winners have come in the last 16 years  Big Brown in 2008, Justify in 2018 and Mage this year. Regret won the 1915 Kentucky Derby in her fourth career start.

Interestingly enough, Mages dam sire is Big Brown.

 Shout out to Robert Clay and Grandview Equine, Mages breeder, and Catesby Clays Runnymede Farm in Paris, where Mage was foaled, raised and initially sold. Robert Clay founded Three Chimneys Farm in 1972 before selling to Goncalo Torrealba in 2012. Runnymede was founded in 1867 by Colonel Ezekiel Clay.

 The horse to watch in the Preakness is Brad Coxs First Mission, winner of the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 15 at Keeneland. The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense is on a two-race win streak and has been working well, Cox said the day after the Derby.

 One more thing: Kudos to trainer Larry Rivelli and runner-up Two Phils. I was among those who dismissed the colts 101 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks as a product of Turfways synthetic surface. I was wrong. Alas, Two Phils is skipping the Preakness.

A day after the 2023 Kentucky Derby, there are celebrations, questions and regret

Its just magical. South Florida owners of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage ecstatic.

Mages magic in 2023 Kentucky Derby brightens a dark week for horse racing

My boss gave me $100 to bet on the Kentucky Derby. Heres how it went.
At least theyre still talking.

Congress top four leaders in both parties and President Joe Biden made little to no tangible progress during their first real meeting on averting an economically catastrophic debt default as soon as next month. Yet beneath the enduring stalemate was an only-in-Washington bright spot: Nobody walked out of the meeting, or away from the negotiations altogether.

The progress made is: We were actually able to meet, Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters after months of badgering Biden for declining his requests for a meeting on the nations imminent breach of its borrowing limit. Im hoping that the next two weeks are different.  You cant be so extreme in your views that youre not going to negotiate.

Aides to the four party leaders in each chamber of Congress and White House staff will continue talks during the week, McCarthy said, and the players will convene again on Friday. Democratic leaders said separately that party leaders would begin discussing a possible budget and spending deal as soon as Tuesday evening  a step closer to pairing the debt limit with another major headache for party leaders.

Yet neither partys leaders even edged away from their entrenched positions on the debt limit: Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said theres nothing to negotiate. And McCarthy dinged Biden for being unable to articulate any spending cut he might consider as part of a deal to increase the Treasury Departments borrowing power.

Instead, the speaker reiterated that the House is the only chamber that has passed a bill dealing with the topic  a measure packed with conservative priorities that Biden's party has rejected.





Biden actually went further after the meeting, saying he was considering the use of the 14th amendment as a means to circumvent the debt ceiling standoff. But he cast some doubt on whether it could work, saying it would have to be litigated, and in the meantime without an extension itd still end up in the same place.

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Deal-making senators in both parties, however, appeared irked by the lack of progress. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who met with McCarthy himself and pressed Biden to negotiate, said he expected more.

To have five of the political leaders for our country walk out of the meeting and not one of them say that we made progress? Manchin said. Ridiculous.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said that whether the country defaults or not depends largely on Biden saving the day: If the president shows leadership, I dont think were going to default. If the president just kind of sits there and, you know, repeats the same thing over and over again, weve got an issue.

Despite that bleak result, Tuesdays meeting ended as positively as anyone could have hoped for with a possible debt ceiling breach potentially a month or less away. After near-total silence since February between Biden and McCarthy, the two main negotiating partners, the duo is now set to meet twice in one week.

As McCarthy returned to the Capitol after a week-long recess on Tuesday, the California Republican declared that party leaders should nail down the outlines of a deal in the next two weeks to ensure the U.S. doesnt go careening off a fiscal cliff.

We now have just two weeks to go, McCarthy said, offering little clarity on that timeline. While the Treasury Department has predicted the country could breach the debt limit as soon as June 1, the Senate is scheduled to leave Washington in just 10 days, with the House going on a separate recess the week of Memorial Day.

Schumer described Tuesday as a bad news and good news meeting, blasting McCarthy for refusing to rule out default.

McCarthy dodged reporters attempts to get him to promise the nation would make good on its debt, though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said pointedly: The United States of America is not going to default.

Despite McCarthy suggesting a firm deadline and both parties pooh-poohing the idea of a short-term hike, it remains unclear how seriously negotiators are taking Treasurys projections of a default as soon as June 1. It took the White House and congressional leaders a week to sit down together after that estimate, and some in Congress are privately wondering whether the debt limit wont get dealt with until after the Memorial Day holiday.

I believe the Treasury secretary when she names the X-date, House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said, referring to the departments June 1 warning. I think we have to be prepared to move in anticipation of that date being earlier in the month [of June].

McHenry, like McCarthy, said a short-term increase was off the table. But it may be difficult to negotiate a budget deal in time to avoid a debt ceiling breach without more breathing room.

McConnell essentially backed McCarthys position during the meeting and the press availability afterward. Rather than raise alarms, he said the back and forth is normal and Washington is merely having a debate here on federal spending in conjunction with raising the debt ceiling.

In the run-up to the meeting, the GOP hardened its position: 43 Republican senators signed on to a letter pledging to filibuster any bill raising the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms. McConnell signed onto that letter and has rhetorically locked arms tightly with McCarthy.

Biden also has refused to budge from his opposition to negotiations on the debt ceiling. Democrats cite the 2011 debt limit crisis, and the spending cuts and credit downgrades that resulted from that eras talks with the GOP, as an episode they are unwilling to repeat.

People have asked: Will the president give Speaker McCarthy an off-ramp, an exit strategy? White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. The exit strategy is very clear: do your job, Congress must act, prevent a default.

House Republicans had generally set low expectations for the meeting, given Democrats repeated insistence that they wont entertain the GOPs demands. One of the best scenarios possible, as they saw it, was simply that negotiators would agree to a second meeting.

Some, however, are leaving it to McCarthy to decide what constitutes a win.

Ill let him define that, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chair of the House Rules Committee, said of the speaker after McCarthy departed for the meeting.

In the meantime, House GOP leaders have no plans to tee up any additional debt measures on the floor. Many privately feel that Biden has more to lose than Republicans, as his approval ratings teeter around 40 percent compared with McCarthy, whose conference has been in lockstep behind him.

The Senate has not yet voted on the Houses bill or a clean debt ceiling bill introduced by Schumer.

While both sides prepare to meet again, the parties are expected to keep duking it out in a messaging battle over who would shoulder the blame for the painful effects of a drawn-out debt crisis. That finger-pointing will only grow more tense as financial markets begin to respond to the specter of a potential default.

The 2011 debt ceiling debacle, which stemmed from Tea Party Republicans pushing the Obama administration for steep spending cuts, ultimately resulted in a downgrade in the countrys credit rating  even after an 11th-hour deal to avoid a default.

At the time, McConnell swooped in to work with Democrats and then-Vice President Biden to secure a plan they could all swallow. But he has stated clearly that wont be the case this year: McCarthy is leading the charge this round.

Adam Cancryn, Sam Stein and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The White House is threatening to veto a top-priority bill from House Republicans to crack down on illegal immigration at the Mexican border as the administrations use of a pandemic-era tool to expel most migrants comes to an end.

This bill would make things worse, not better, President Joe Bidens Office of Management and Budget wrote Monday as the GOP-led House prepares to pass the Secure the Border Act of 2023 later this month. Because this bill does very little to actually increase border security while doing a great deal to trample on the nations core values and international obligations, it should be rejected.

The veto threat comes as Bidens use of Title 42, a public health statute, to deport migrants without an asylum hearing will come to an end on Thursday because of a court order.

That policy began under former President Donald Trump, who made his opposition to illegal immigration a cornerstone of his 2016 campaign, and cited the COVID-19 pandemic as justification. Biden continued the policy during his first two years in office even as he called for legislation increasing the number of immigrants permitted into the country and ramping up the infrastructure for processing asylum claims.

Migrant people camp on the banks of the Rio Grande as they wait to be processed by the Border Patrol in Texas after crossing from Ciudad Juarez on May 8.

Migrant people camp on the banks of the Rio Grande as they wait to be processed by the Border Patrol in Texas after crossing from Ciudad Juarez on May 8.

Illegal immigration fell sharply during the pandemic, but rose again as the disease waned. Experts predict that the end of Title 42 will lead to a dramatic increase in the number of migrants trying to get into the country to claim asylum.

Many Republicans accuse Biden of encouraging migrants to come into the country illegally and have demanded that he resume building a barrier along the southern border that was underway under Trump.

The bill pushed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, would require the resumption of border wall construction that was suspended by Biden when he took office, increase the number of Border Patrol agents and make it harder for migrants to qualify for asylum, among numerous other provisions.

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her Monday daily briefing that Biden remains ready to work with Republicans on a comprehensive immigration package, but not one like the bill the House is trying to pass. Instead of providing the needed resources for more border security technology and asylum officers and judges, it would waste taxpayer dollars on an ineffective wall, again  an ineffective wall that cant even withstand heavy winds, let alone sophisticated criminal smuggling networks, she said.

Its unlikely that Mondays veto threat will ever be necessary, as the House Republican proposal has little chance of passing in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

Trump promised during his 2016 campaign that he would build a wall along the entire southern border and force Mexico to pay for it. But he never asked Mexico to pay, and could not persuade Congress to pay for it, either, even when both chambers were controlled by Republicans.

He ultimately diverted billions of dollars from housing and other programs for military service members to pay for building steel fencing as tall as 30 feet. A total of 405 miles of existing barrier were replaced with the new fence, but only 47 miles constitute new barrier, where none previously existed.

Related...
Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valozyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.

Although the document is not an official regulatory act, both local authorities and public social associations as well as people with disabilities took part in its development. The local agenda is a special action plan outlining measures to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the region for the years 2019-2020. Valozyn became the fourth city in Belarus (after Stoubcy, Stolin and Scucyn) where a similar document was created and signed. The work on it was carried out within the framework of the Agenda 50 campaign aiming to implement 50 articles of the UN Convention at the local level, taking into account local peculiarities. Indeed, contrary to stereotypes, the specifics of disabilities challenges are different in different parts of our small country. Just the priority topic of the general problem is currently common for all regions - it is addressing issues of the barrier-free environment.

Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Besides accessibility, the Valozyn agenda also reflects other issues related to disability. Among them are discrimination against children with disabilities at school, problems with employers, lack of awareness of people with disabilities on their rights and the lack of rehabilitation facilities maintenance. To solve these problems, local activists will hold information campaigns, inclusive events, create accessible environment, organize trainings for personal growth and much more.

The signing of the document in Valozyn took a year and a half. In addition to achieving the main goal - creating a local agenda, during this time the local campaigners implemented a mini-project to inform the public about the problems and rights of people with disabilities, learned how to discuss important issues in a horizontal format (rather than to implement decisions lowered from above by inertia. They have also gained valuable experience of working in a team of interested people.

- The working group gathered, we sat down together and literally spelt out the problems in the field of disability in Valozyn district. Thanks to the Polish colleagues from the TUS Foundation, we managed to formulate the goals and objectives correctly and to discuss the problems. We did not invent anything new, nothing that would require some incredible costs, this is how the process was described by one of the authors of the agenda, psychologist of the Valozyn Territorial Center of Social Service, Elena Zhdanyuk.

In the center - Elena Zhdanyuk. Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

According to her, thanks to the work on the agenda it turned out that the solution of many issues that are acute for people with disabilities does not require any special events and funding, a simple dialogue, but real, taking into account the views of all parties.

One of the main principles of working on the local agenda was the inclusion of the local community, and first of all the main stakeholders - people with disabilities.

This is a new approach for our country, said Siarhei Drazdouski, Director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

- Usually, all documents are written in the offices of ministries, and then communicated to people. Here, the approach is reverse, a European one: first, all sentences are designed on local level, and then established in high offices. This gives the most realistic picture for the problem solving.

Siarhei Drazdouski (left) and Deputy Chairman of the Valozyn District Executive Committee Igor Shakun. Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Siarhei Drazdouski stressed that such a method makes it possible to develop an action plan based on local needs and resources most effectively. In general, one of the main criteria when writing a local agenda has been the feasibility. After all, real changes need real goals, rather than even a beautifully presented, but impracticable concept.

Another important point: the local agenda is not a closed document. It can and should be revised and modified based on the situation. As the Deputy Director of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Mikhail Matskevich noted, the document is written in simple language so that everyone interested could read and understand it.

Failure to meet the local agenda does not provide for any penalties and sanctions. But the people who signed it take on a symbolic duty to implement this plan. For its part, the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promised campaigners the support in meeting the agenda.

However, the Valozyn residents themselves are determined to implement their plans.

- I do not agree that the signing of the agenda does not commit to anything. This strategy is our two-year action plan, and I believe that we must implement it, because these are the needs of all our people, says Larysa Scarbacevic, chairman of the Valozyn branch of Belarusian association of assistance to children and young people with disabilities (BelAPDIiMI).

Larysa Scarbacevic (left). Photo of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The local action plan in Valozyn was signed by the representatives of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Valozyn Territorial Center of Social Service, a regional branch of the Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons, the BelAPDIMI offices, the district executive committee, the regional organization of trade union branches, the Valozyn housing and communal department, local Administration for labour, employment and social protection.

***

The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)".

The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland)and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus.
(Bloomberg) -- China and Canada have found themselves embroiled in a fast-escalating spat, following newspaper revelations that Beijing had targeted a Canadian lawmaker over his critical views about the country.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Its just the latest diplomatic altercation between the two nations, which saw ties unravel in 2018 after Canada arrested Huawei Technologies Co. Meng Wanzhou as part of a US-led extradition effort and China detained two Canadians on suspicion of spying. While Meng and the Canadians have since been released, ties between Beijing and Ottawa remain frosty.

In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping confronted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, accusing him of leaking details of a private meeting.

Heres what the latest spat is about and how diplomats from either side got expelled:

1. How did the latest Canada-China spat begin?

The dispute started when the Toronto-based Globe and Mail newspaper reported on May 1 that the nations intelligence services had uncovered threats against lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong-based family, in retaliation for a motion passed in Canada's parliament in 2021 that branded China's treatment of its ethnic Uyghur minority as genocide. The report, citing a top-secret intelligence assessment and an unnamed national security source, said diplomat Zhao Wei had gathered information on Chong, who represents a district west of Toronto.

2. What threats were made?

Beijing was looking to penalize Chong for his position on China  he had sponsored the parliamentary motion  and that punishments could include sanctioning relatives in Hong Kong, according to the newspaper. The report cited the spy agency document as saying Beijing was almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions.

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3. What effect did the revelations have?

The report sparked a firestorm in Canada, with Chong furious that he hadnt been notified sooner by the intelligence agency. Trudeau told reporters he hadnt been briefed on the matter. It later emerged that at least one of Trudeaus security advisers had been informed, even if the prime minister himself had not.

4. What did Canada do next?

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Zhao, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto, would be declared persona non grata and expelled. We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, Joly said in a statement on May 8.

5. How did China respond?

China similarly gave Canadian diplomat Jennifer Lalonde three days to leave the countrys consulate in Shanghai, calling the move a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unreasonable behavior.

6. What happens next?

Trudeau will continue to face political heat over his handling of the matter and why he didn't act faster. Later this month, he's due to receive a recommendation from a special rapporteur on whether allegations of Chinese interference into Canadian elections warrant a public inquiry. Chinas next move is unclear, but Canadian industry groups are bracing for potential economic retaliation. Regardless of what next choices they make, we will not be intimidated, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on May 9.

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Cairo  As soon as Netflix dropped the trailer for its upcoming "docudrama" about ancient Egypt's Queen Cleopatra, drama started bubbling up online. The preview quickly drew criticism. Some Egyptians complained that the feature was appropriating their culture and rewriting their history, primarily because Cleopatra is portrayed by a Black woman in the film.

The movie, produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and starring biracial British actor Adele James as Queen Cleopatra, is set for release on May 10. It is the second part of a Netflix "docuseries" on African queens, focused on female rulers from the African continent.

In the latest official response to the controversy, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a long statement at the end of April stressing that "Queen Cleopatra had light skin and Hellenistic (Greek) features."

The statement criticized Netflix for casting James, whom the ministry said has "African features and dark skin," to play Cleopatra.

Who was Cleopatra, and who's complaining?

Cleopatra was the last ruler of ancient Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty. She was the all-powerful queen for about two decades, until her death in 30 BC. Her story has been told in literature and by Hollywood for years, and while she's often portrayed primarily as a temptress, historians note that she was also very likely a "consummate politician."

Some critics of the upcoming Netflix version of her story have argued that, while ancient Egypt is often portrayed inaccurately by Hollywood, fiction is one thing, but anything presented as a documentary is another.

Cleopatra, as portrayed in the 1963 Hollywood movie by Elizabeth Taylor. / Credit: 20th Century Studios

"Since the film is classified as a documentary and not a drama, those making the film have to be accurate and it should be based on historical and scientific facts, to ensure that history and civilizations are not falsified," the Egyptian Ministry said, stressing that "the rejection of the film before its screening was in defense of the history of Queen Cleopatra and has nothing to do with racism."

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An Egyptian lawyer filed a formal complaint against the film, asking the public prosecutor "to investigate and take all legal measures against the creators of this work and against the platform's management for participating in this crime, and ban the platform in Egypt."

"We have known for thousands of years that Cleopatra is of Greek origin and was born in Egypt. This is a fact," Mahmoud El-Semiry, the lawyer who filed the complaint, told CBS News. "Our main objection is the falsification of these facts. It is not about being Black or White or even Yellow. Let's say they wanted to portray Cleopatra as a man, we would also object to that."

Does it matter if Netflix's Cleopatra is Black or White?

A feeling that Egypt must protect its cultural identity from appropriation, and that there are people actively trying to illegitimately claim it, appears to be the primary driving force behind the strong reaction to the Netflix feature.

Some Egyptians believe the casting decision is part of an elaborate scheme, backed by Black American celebrities, to "blackwash" their ancient history. They view it as an overreach by the Afrocentrism movement and a bid by non-Egyptians to claim Egyptian heritage as their own.

Cleopatra VII, who was the last Queen of ancient Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty, ruled from 51 B.C. until her death in 31 B.C. / Credit: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

"I am against the film because it is pushing an Afrocentric agenda, regardless of the historical accuracy of whether Cleopatra was Black or White," Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Monica Hanna told CBS News. "They are imposing the identity politics of the 21st century and appropriating the ancient Egyptian past, just as the Eurocentrists and the far-right in Europe are doing."

"The Afrocentrists are just a mirror of the Eurocentrists," argued Hanna."They're both racists and both inaccurate and incorrect."

"I understand why Egyptians are angry, but I reject any racist comments," Hanna told CBS News. "Egyptians were let down by their formal studies of their past. Such debates and critical issues are never part of the school curricula. That's why Egyptians have a very fragile understanding of their past."

What race was Cleopatra?

Ancient "Egyptians were all colors," according to Hanna. "Egypt was more of a culture than a race, and the idea of skin color is really irrelevant in the ancient world."

The antiquity ministry's statement said Cleopatra was descended from a Macedonian family that ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years, and as per customs of that time, kings married their sisters and kept their Macedonian race "pure" during this period. Many archeologists share the government's take on Egypt's ancient history, and leave no room for doubt about the queen's skin color.

But Hanna told CBS News the facts from more than 2,000 years ago were less clear.

"We do not know for sure whether Cleopatra was Black or White or even red, and we don't even know if she thought of herself as an Egyptian or not," said the archaeologist. "We have not discovered her tomb. We have not been left with any contemporary descriptions of her. We do not know who her mother was nor who her grandmother was."

"We can argue about her complexion and whether she identified herself as Egyptian or not," she added. "But most likely, we will not find a real answer, because maybe it doesn't exist yet."

What does Adelle James think about the controversy?

James, who portrays the ancient queen, told the U.K.'s Glamour magazine in an interview published earlier this month that she expected the Netflix feature to generate a certain amount of discussion about race.

"I did think people would be excited about it," she told the magazine. "I remember when I first got the audition and how excited I was that they were doing something like this in terms of the racial precedent, but also in terms of just humanizing her on so many other levels and her not being likened to this sexual temptress that she's been portrayed to be. I was expecting some backlash because I grew up as a biracial woman in the Western world, and I know how things go, but I wasn't expecting the level of it. The lawsuits and accompanying things like that are a bit intense."

James echoed Hanna's point, noting that "we just don't know" what Cleopatra's skin tone actually was, and adding that she felt she had "every right to have a shot at humanizing this incredible woman."

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The monument toi Andrey Vlasov in Nanuet, N.Y. (Colin Campbell/Yahoo News)

NANUET, N.Y.  On Tuesday, Russia celebrated Victory Day, the annual national holiday that marks the Soviet Unions triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. With the war in Ukraine now in its second year and Russia condemned by much of the world for its unprovoked invasion of a much smaller and less powerful neighbor, the moral and military triumph against Adolf Hitler can seem far away.

And then there is the lonely memorial to the renowned Soviet lieutenant general Andrey Vlasov, an obelisk at the edge of a graveyard in a monastery in Nanuet, New York. Vlasov was an actual Nazi collaborationist, of the very kind Russia now claims to be battling in Ukraine.

The Vlasov monument is one of several remaining monuments to Nazis and Nazi collaborators in the United States. It stands, improbably, at the edge of one of the largest communities of observant Jews outside of Israel  and is a tragically apt symbol for the Soviet excesses that produced modern Russia.

The faltering war effort has caused the Kremlin to lash out in blame, looking for fifth columnists responsible for the bungled invasion. Vlasov is once again a hated figure in the land he betrayed, says Russia expert Jade McGlynn, a development she says reflects how Moscows political rhetoric and historical falsehoods have unraveled as its soldiers are driven back on the battlefield.

The man

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1943: World War II. Soviet General Andrey Vlasov during manoeuvres of Russian volunteers' training, 1943. (Roger Viollet via Getty Images)

Vlasov could have been one of the great Soviet generals of World War II, one of those whom Soviet youths would come to know by a single name: Zhukov, Chuikov, Rokossovsky.

Instead, he was executed by hanging in Moscow on Aug. 1, 1946. It was an ignominious end to what had been a stellar career.

The son of peasant farmers, Vlasov first distinguished himself while fighting for the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. Later, he was sent on a military mission to China, which allowed him to escape the murderous purges Stalin unleashed against the Red Armys officer corps in 1937.

Vlasov returned to the Soviet Union in 1939, after Germany had invaded Poland and appeared poised for an attack on the USSR. When that attack finally took place in 1941, Vlasov fought in the failed effort to defend Kyiv from the Nazi advance, as well as the successful effort to keep Hitler from taking Moscow. He was subsequently dispatched to help break the Nazi siege of Leningrad but failed to do so and was captured in July of 1942.

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The Russian Liberation Army

1941: Red Army troops storming an apartment block amidst the ruins of war-torn Stalingrad during World War II. (Georgi Zelma/Slava Katamidze Collection/Getty Images)

Stalins inability to initially contain the advancing Nazi war machine convinced Vlasov that the Soviet system was rotten to the core. Taken by his captors to Germany, he began to conceive of a Russian army that would fight for the Third Reich in the name of a post-Bolshevik Russia.

In 1943, Vlasov published the Smolensk Proclamation, in which he declared that Bolshevism was the enemy of the Russian people. His aim was to recruit other Russians now in Germanythe Nazis had taken hundreds of thousands of Red Army soldiers prisoner in the first two years of the war to unite against the Soviet Union.

But after the shattering victory at Stalingrad, the Red Army began to believe that victory was possible. Germany, which had boasted the worlds most formidable military at the start of the war, suddenly seemed vulnerable. Even if its weaponry was less sophisticated and its troops poorly prepared, the sheer size of Russias forces could overwhelm the enemy  a reality that holds 80 years later, as the war in Ukraine grinds on and the patience of Kyivs partners in the West begins to wear thin.

Vlasovs life in Germany was far from lavish. My underpants are completely worn out, he complained at one point, according to one historian. Apparently, the Germans had only given him one pair.

Vlasov wanted to from a Russian anti-Soviet force, but Hitler was reluctant, fearing latent sympathies with Moscow. But by late 1944, he had few other options. Vlasov finally prevailed on Heinrich Himmler, the brutal SS chief. Himmler in turn managed to convince the increasingly desperate Hitler.

And so, in September 1944, the Russian Liberation Army was born.

Its life would be short. Vlasovs division fought only once for the Nazis, in February 1945, in a futile attempt to stop the Soviet push across the Oder River and into the heart of the Third Reich.

After being beaten back by Soviet forces, the Russian Liberation Army retreated to Prague. In yet another reversal of loyalties, Vlasov hoped to help anti-Nazi forces and eventually surrender to the United States.

Here, again, Vlasov was unlucky. He surrendered to the United States, but the Americans turned him over to the Soviets. Vlasov was taken to Moscow, where he was imprisoned and ultimately executed.

Russian military leaders remain fond of such vivid reminders of what traitors face. Last year, a deserter of the Wagner Group militia was executed with a sledgehammer, which the outfits leader Evgeny Prigozhin has taken to wielding as a symbol.

The monument

The text of the monument at the Novo-Diveevo Russian Orthodox Convent in Nanuet, N.Y. (Colin Campbell/Yahoo News)

The Novo-Diveevo Convent sits in a grove of trees about a 45 minute drive north of New York City. Across the way is a shopping mall; the orange signage of a Lowes Home Improvement outlet is visible from the convents driveway. But within the compound, trees block out the surrounding noise, while the ever-present Orthodox iconography  the slanted cross, the Cyrillic letteringevoke the birch forests outside of Moscow or Leningrad.

The Vlasov monument is about 20 feet tall and topped by a golden cross. An image of Vlasov  bespectacled, his face drawn  is embossed on one side. On another, a sword rises along the monument's length, pointing towards the gray winter sky.

In dedication to the participants of the liberation movement of the peoples of Russia falling in the fight for freedom, 1941-1945, a dedication says.

The monument went up in the 1960s, likely erected by Russians who had fled to the United States during the Bolshevik revolution and had remained hostile to the Soviet Union, including after the war.

A nun emerged from one of the convents several cottages to talk to Yahoo News.

We were pleased to put it up, she said of the monument, speaking in deliberate, classical Russian. She defended Vlasov in general terms. What happened yesterday  who knows? He did a lot, didnt he?

She is similarly ambivalent about the war in Ukraine, as are the parishioners of the church that sits on the monasterys grounds. Some are against the war, she says, but others still support Putin and see him as something of a victim.

Poor Putin, the parishioners say.

Reckonings

Crews prepare to remove one of the country's largest remaining monuments to the Confederacy, a towering statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue, September 8, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Steve Helber/Getty Images)

Monuments to Confederate generals, racist political leaders and other objectionable figures have been coming down across the United States in recent years. There still stand a surprising number of monuments to Nazi collaborators across the United States, many of them erected by Orthodox or Catholic parishes that have sometimes overlooked the Nazi collaboration of national heroes from countries like Poland and Lithuania.

In Ukraine, the recent rehabilitation of nationalist leader Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with the Germans during World War 2, appears to have been the basis of the Kremlins claims about the rise of Nazism there.

Meanwhile, the U.S. essentially adopted some of Nazi Germanys most prominent scientists, many of whom became celebrated pioneers in the American space program. Their wartime abuses were overlooked, and some of them are still honored by institutions like Harvard and Stanford.

Vlasov was more obscure and more complex. Few local Nanuet officials appear to know who he was, or that he is honored at Novo-Diveevo.

This is the first time Im even being made aware of that and have not heard anyone in the county talking about it, Rockland County commissioner Beth Cefalu told Yahoo News. She said that the Vlasov monument was wholly within the convents jurisdiction and seemed satisfied to leave the matters there.

In heavily Jewish towns like Munsie and Ramapo, antisemitism has been sharply on the rise  as it has been across the United States. To some, there are echoes of Weimar Germany in todays political divisions and culture-war battles.

Vlasovs own attitudes about Jews were difficult to divine. At the very least, it did not seem to occur to him that by fighting for the Third Reich, he was helping to prolong the Holocaust.

Today, of course, the Soviet Union is a historical memory. But in many ways, the brutality and incompetence that Vlasov so passionately denounced continue to haunt the Kremlin.
Last weekend, the activist organization Justice for Wyandotte held a rally requesting that the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department release body camera footage from the night two weeks ago when an officer shot and killed 25-year-old Amareeya Henderson during a traffic stop.

His girlfriend was in the car with him, and his mother was on FaceTime with the couple when the shooting happened. Both said he did not have a weapon and have told The Star about how he was a beloved member of their family who was trying to earn some extra cash delivering Doordash orders that night.

Kansas City, Missouri police are investigating the shooting because of an agreement between the two departments and have not released details about the incident.

While the family has put in a records request to view the video, it may be a while before they are able to see it. And even after that, it may never be released to the public.

Thats because Kansas has one of the strictest laws related to police body camera footage in the country.

What are Kansas laws around body camera footage?

To understand the rules around releasing body camera footage, you have to know a bit about how Kansas handles public records, which is all detailed in a law called the Kansas Open Records Act.

According to the law, public agencies in Kansas are not required to disclose anything that is considered a criminal investigation record. As of 2016, that includes all footage from police body and vehicle cameras.

This means that law enforcement agencies in Kansas, by law, do not need to release body camera footage to the public, but they can choose to do so at their own discretion.

Anyone can make a records request to ask a police department to release body camera footage, but the department can deny requests based on this law.

In Kansas City, Kansas, you can submit a request through the NextRequest portal.

The KCKPD policy is that the chief can decide to voluntarily release body camera video if there is a compelling reason, such as an overall benefit to the safety or education of the public.

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Does the law ever require a body camera video to be released?

It says that a district court can order a police department to release body camera footage under certain circumstances. A district judge needs to decide that the video is in the public interest, wouldnt interfere with ongoing investigations, wouldnt endanger anyones life and that it meets a few other qualifying conditions.

A 2021 court decision opened up the possibility for body camera video footage to be released in the public interest under the open records law, according to Max Kautsch, an attorney in Kansas and the president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government.

In that case, a district judge ruled in favor of The Wichita Eagle after the paper requested body camera footage from the Wichita Police Department for two incidents related to possible police misconduct.

The district judge said the videos were connected to the core of public confidence in law enforcement, and thus most definitely in the publics interest. He ordered them to be released after the investigations into the incidents were complete.

Kautsch said that even with this decision, the law is still ambiguous enough that it can be interpreted differently in different situations by different judges.

What does the law say about who can request to see a video?

Even if a judge doesnt order a video to be released, some select people who are most closely connected to an incident captured on a police body camera may request to listen to the audio from or view the video.

Those individuals include:

The person who is the subject of the recording

The parent or legal guardian of a person under 18 who is the subject of the recording

The attorney for the subject of the recording

The heir at law, an executor or an administrator of a decedent, if the person who is the subject of the recording has died

Police departments are required by the law to let an individual who fits into one of those categories listen to the audio or view the video if they request to, but they can charge a fee.

KCKPD requires individuals to make those requests in writing. Then someone from the department will schedule a time for the person to listen to or view the video in person at City Hall in the company of a police officer, according to the departments policy.

Granting this kind of request for a select individual to listen to or view the video is not the same as the department publicly releasing the video.

What have families experiences been with requesting body cam footage?

Nikki Richardson, president of Justice for Wyandotte, said its taken some families years to get access to footage from police body cameras, referencing specifically the families of residents in the metro killed during police shootings such as Tyrea Pryor, killed in Kansas City in 2022, Malcolm Johnson, killed in Kansas City in 2021 or John Albers, killed in Overland Park in 2018.

There needs to be reform in the open records request act in reference to officer involved shootings, even though families are submitting requests [for footage], they are getting denied, Richardson said.

What else do we know about Amareeya Hendersons case?

In a statement released during the protest on Saturday, the family said they are outraged that Amareeyas life was taken through unjustified violence... If there is nothing to hide, release the footage to the public!

Earlier this week, his family retained a lawyer. They have submitted an open records request and dont have any more comments on that at this time.

The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the shooting as an outside agency from the Missouri side of the state line, and that investigation is ongoing.

If you want to refresh yourself on what we know about what happened to Henderson, we recapped it here.

The Stars Mattie Gellman, Natalie Wallington, Anna Spoere and Laura Bauer contributed reporting.
Guns. Illustrated | Gettyimages

There is no question the United States has a ton of guns  more than anywhere else in the world by far. There are an estimated 352 million guns in private circulation in the U.S., according to data collected by The Trace, and some other studies cited by the outlet suggest the number is even higher.

It comes as no surprise, then, that the U.S. leads the world in mass shootings. There have already been over 180 of these incidents in 2023 alone, The New York Times reports. Many mass shootings occur in schools; since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, more than 352,000 students have experienced gun violence in the classroom, according to The Washington Post.

While the United States leads the world in number of firearms, it's hardly the only country where gun ownership is high. Yet in most other countries, mass shootings are rare, if not unheard of, mainly due to gun laws being significantly stricter than they are in the U.S. Between 2009 and 2015, there were just 19 mass shootings in all of Europe, research shows. School shootings are even rarer, and World Population Review reports that every country besides the U.S. has had less than 10 of them in 2023. These are five nations that have high numbers of firearms but little trouble with shootings.

Finland

There are an estimated 1.5 million licensed firearms in Finland, the country's interior ministry reports, in a nation of just 5.6 million. This high rate of gun ownership is due to an activity widely seen in Finland (and many other nations): hunting. Finns "have hunted and fished for food for thousands of years," Slate reports, and "hunting remains a popular weekend, or even after-work, activity." Finland's large area provides ample space for the hunting industry to flourish.

Despite this, Finland has had less than five documented cases of mass shootings. This is because, like most of the Nordic countries, Finland has highly regulated gun control laws. Following a school shooting in 2007, Finnish Parliament raised the minimum age to purchase a gun from 15 to 18, and the prospective buyer must fill out a detailed application to receive a handling license. The interior ministry has also implemented "changes to the provisions on the storage of firearms, component parts of firearms, and cartridges," as well as additional legislation to ensure guns remain safely locked away when not in use.

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Switzerland

Like Finland, hunting is a part of life in Switzerland, which may be why the Alpine country has approximately 2 million privately owned guns, Insider reports, in a country of just 8.7 million people. Despite this staggeringly high rate of gun ownership, though, there has not been a mass shooting in Switzerland in more than 20 years.

Insider notes that the U.S.' National Rifle Association often points to Switzerland as an example of gun laws not being necessary, because they claim the Swiss have limited legislation on firearms. But this is simply not true. Firearms in Switzerland are highly controlled and regulated, according to the official Swiss Confederacy portal. Semi-automatic rifles with large magazines are banned, and people who want to purchase handguns or smaller magazine semi-automatic rifles must undergo a permitting process and send their weapon's information to the government.

Canada

Canada's vast northern lands make it another ample country for hunting, which contributes to the 7.1 million firearms in private hands, according to the Canadian government, in a nation of 39 million people. This statistic lies in a similar range with comparable Western nations, the government notes, except the United States.

The country has had a few recent mass shootings, including one in 2020. Despite this, instances of mass violence remain very rare, Reuters reports. This is because Canada has some of the harshest regulations against assault rifles in the world, and the nation's public safety arm notes Canada "has prohibited over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and certain components of some newly prohibited firearms." Many of these weapons became newly prohibited following the 2020 mass shooting, and there are also limits in the Canadian criminal code placing restrictions on the number of rounds in rifles, handguns and shotguns.

New Zealand

New Zealand also has a lot of guns  1.5 million in a country of just 5.1 million people  but unlike the United States, New Zealand took legislative action after a tragedy.

Following a 2019 mass shooting in Christchurch that killed 51 people, then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern implemented a series of sweeping reforms to the country's already strict gun laws. Ardern announced these reforms just one week after the shooting, Time reports, and the new laws were pushed through parliament almost immediately. The laws included creating a firearms registry and placing a complete ban on AR-15s and other assault rifles. New Zealand also created a gun buyback program to try and get weapons off the streets. By the end of the program, Kiwis had turned in more than 50,000 guns, NPR reports, greatly slashing the number of firearms on the streets of New Zealand.

Australia

Like their neighbors to the southeast, Australia also has a high rate of gun ownership, and the University of Syndey notes there are about 3.5 million registered firearms in the nation of 26.4 million. However, the university also reports that the "proportion of Australian households with a firearm has fallen by 75% in recent decades."

This drop was similarly spurned by just a single tragedy: the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania. Thirty-five people died in the worst mass shooting in Australian history, and the country's conservative government enacted similar new restrictions on guns. This includes a national gun registry, and Time notes that firearm license applications must prove the prospective owner has "a 'genuine need' to own weapons." The Aussies also implemented a gun buyback program after Port Arthur, and Vox reports the country confiscated 650,000 weapons. There have been almost no mass shootings in Australia since then.

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Allen Police on the scene at the mall on Sunday

Social media posts by the man who killed eight people at a mall in Texas show he was deep into neo-Nazi and far-right imagery and propaganda.

But some activists have tried to cast doubt on the authenticity of the posts.

They're claiming - without evidence - that the material is somehow part of a "psychological operation" or that the social media account is "fake".

It may seem fringe, but the doubts have spread to millions via Elon Musk and others with popular Twitter accounts.

Six people, including children, were pronounced dead at the scene in the north Dallas suburbs on Saturday, while two died later in hospital.

The suspect, named by police as Mauricio Garcia, used an AR-15 style rifle and wore combat tactical gear during the shooting.

Garcia, police say, wore a patch reading "RWDS", short for "Right Wing Death Squad" - a phrase commonly referenced by hate groups.

Hank Sibley, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in a press conference on Tuesday that the motivation for the shootings was still under investigation, and that the victims appear to have been chosen at random.

"We do know he had neo-Nazi ideation," he said. "We're trying to find what he looked at [online] and trying to find any information we can."

Mr Sibley said investigators were continuing to examine Garcia's electronic devices and social media posts.

What did the suspect post?

Garcia posted a huge variety of material on a lightly-moderated, Russia-based site named Odnoklassniki. The account was mentioned in news reports and uncovered by the investigative outlet Bellingcat.

His posts included pictures of a swastika tattoo, long violent screeds, and pictures of the mall taken as recently as last month - interspersed with other pictures of boxes of ammunition and guns.

Other posts praised Nazis and the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who is often feted by people who use the "Right Wing Death Squad" phrase.

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He directly addressed his ethnic background in one meme he posted which mentioned "Latino children" and the phrase "become white supremacist".

How do we know the account was his?

The BBC has examined the material and we can be confident the suspect was the person behind the posts.

Garcia appeared to use the account, on a social network popular in Russia, as an online diary. He posted multiple documents including his name, date of birth and other identifying details, including a plane ticket, a speeding ticket and an ID card.

Photos on the account also showed a distinct tattoo on his hand, which matches a graphic video of Garcia's dead body taken at the scene of the shooting.

The shooter also posted images of the mall and its location on Google Maps, including the time the mall had the highest number of visitors, weeks in advance.

In addition, open-source investigators found a YouTube channel with a video showing Garcia taking off a mask. Material on the channel was also posted on the Odnoklassniki account.

Who's spreading false rumours?

Despite the clear evidence, several activists and internet personalities, including at least one mentioned in Garcia's posts, have attempted to cast doubt on the authenticity of the material. They've claimed, without evidence, that it's part of a "psychological operation" or "false flag" by the government to smear those on the right or far-right.

A number of posts spreading the false rumours were viewed millions of times. Among them, one by Twitter chief Elon Musk called the fact the suspect had an account on a Russian platform "very odd" and in another message said it was "either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!"

Didnt the story come from @bellingcat, which literally specializes in psychological operations?



I dont want to hurt their feelings, but this is either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2023

However, Odnoklassniki has an English interface, and its lax content moderation policies mean extreme content is less likely to be taken down. Mr Musk and Twitter's communications team did not respond to a request for comment.

The podcaster Tim Pool, a former Occupy Wall Street supporter and Vice News reporter, was among those mentioned several times in the suspect's posts.

There's no evidence that Garcia was inspired to action by Mr Pool's podcasts, which cover right-wing talking points and conspiracy theories.

But Mr Pool immediately tried to cast doubt on the veracity of the material, accusing those digging up the material as being part of a "psyop".

Mr Pool did not respond to requests for comment.

Tim Pool, pictured in this photo from 2012, spread false rumours about the suspect's social media accounts

Adding to the misinformation were a photo of a man who shared a name with the suspect which circulated widely online, and several viral posts have claimed the gunman was part of a Mexican cartel or drug gang. Police said during Tuesday's press conference that he had no prior criminal record.
Mykola Solskyi

Ukraine has a plan B for this scenario, he added.

Read also: Ukraine and Russia to discuss extending Black Sea grain deal

The Black Sea Grain Initiative hasn't worked since the end of the past week as Russia has been blocking any inspections of ships which are to pass through the grain corridor.

"It (the grain corridor) allegedly works in legal terms, but in fact Russia is trying to block the passing of any ships. Its work has been 90% paralysed," Solskyi said.

Russia is threatening to leave the agreement on May 18. Ukraine is ready for this scenario, despite desiring to avoid it, the minister added.

Read also: Black Sea grain deal talks in deadlock

"There is always a Plan B. We also have it, but as for now were putting our maximum efforts into Plan A. We'll see how it goes," he said.

The possibility of the grain corridor's further work will become apparent in coming weeks, the minister said.

Russia blocked the work of the grain initiative on April 26, the Ukrainian Navy reported.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was prolonged on March 18 for another 120 days, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov reported.

Russia's Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of violating the grain agreement, referring to the drone attack on the occupied port city of Sevastopol on April 24. The attack was allegedly launched from Odesa Port water area. Russia threatened not to prolong the deal on May 18.

In fact, it has continually tried to hinder the work of the initiative.

Read also: Whats the deal with the grain ban by Ukraines allies?  expert analysis

The spokesman for the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Andriy Yusov said Russia was lying, and emphasized that any Ukrainian attacks on Russian-occupied Crimea targeted military facilities exclusively.

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 bill to regulate trampoline parks in Texas is not expected to pass this legislative session, after stalling in committee in the sessions final weeks.

The proposal by Rep. Chris Turner, a Grand Prairie Democrat, follows a 2022 Star-Telegram investigation into the lack of state regulations at trampoline parks and injuries sustained at them. Testimony was taken on the proposal on April 11, but it hasnt been voted out of the House Insurance Committee, missing a key deadline.

Monday was the last day for House committees to vote out House bills. While the deadline isnt expressly written in the Houses rules, its effectively the last day for a House bill to be reported and still have time to be placed on a calendar for consideration on the floor before the whole chamber, according to the Legislative Reference Library.

The legislative session ends May 29.

Its unfortunately not going to pass this session, Turner said in a Tuesday interview. I think that this was a novel concept. No one had ever filed legislation to regulate trampoline parks before, that Im aware of, and so a lot of times when you file something for the very first time, theres resistance to it.

Currently, there arent state laws regulating the parks or inspection requirements and injuries and safety protocols at the facilities are not tracked, the investigation found. The industrys trade association has safety guidelines, but the state doesnt require parks to follow them.

The news report, which included the review of ambulance calls, uncovered nearly 500 reports of injuries at 21 trampoline parks in Dallas-Fort Worth since 2015.

Members, serious, sometimes life changing, injuries are occurring in these unregulated facilities, and its up to us to take action particularly as they continue to proliferate in our state, Turner said during the April committee hearing.

Turners bill would have put trampoline parks in the same regulatory category as amusement park rides. Among other requirements, the parks would have to be inspected at least once each year by their insurer. Theyd also have to have insurance for bodily injury and property damage and submit injury reports, Turner said.

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Turner said there was industry opposition to the bill  many businesses dont like additional regulation, he said  but that his office had been in contact with a industry group that had been helpful with regulation suggestions.

But theres a lot of ideas that still have to be worked through and simply ran out of time, Turner said.

He doesnt believe the legislation had the votes to pass out of the Insurance Committee.

Turner said incremental progress was made but that the push would be a multi-year effort. He hopes the issue will be studied between legislative sessions. Lawmakers meet in Austin every two years unless the governor calls a special session, but hold interim hearings between to study various issues.

Whether it is formally or not, its an issue I intend to continue working on during the interim to where hopefully we can file a bill next session that will perhaps have some support from responsible operators in the industry  the operators that recognize that some degree of regulation is actually beneficial in weeding out bad actors, he said

Turner said there seemed to be support for requiring liability insurance and inspections, but there were questions around who should conduct inspections and local law enforcements authority to close a facility if safety violations are found.

Bills can be resurrected as amendments to other pieces of legislation, but Turner said hes not aware of an opportunity for that route. Most likely, its something that will be deferred to next session, he said.

In April, Sarah Pugliano of Fort Worth testified that she went to a trampoline park with her daughter and husband and was injured and taken to the emergency room. Pugliano said shed fractured her tibia and fibula, and crushed her talus bone, and continues to deal with a complication called called vascular necrosis.

I am by nature a cautious person, she told the panel of lawmakers. I am not at all a risk taker. There were no back flips or craziness.

Pugliano described a lack of staff supervision and instruction. A lawmaker asked Pugliano whether shed inquired into whether the park had any liability for the injury, and Pugliano said she was told shed signed a waiver.

I support this bill because right now theres no consistent regulation or oversight for trampoline parks across the state of Texas, she said.

Stephen Polozola, the chief legal officer for Urban Air Adventure Parks and Unleased Brands, opposed the bill, calling it unnecessary regulation during the April hearing. Urban Air Adventure Parks has sites across the country, including in Fort Worth, according to its website.

He told lawmakers that parks are already insured.

There is no need to pass a bill to correct the problem that doesnt exist, Polozola said.

He also expressed concern over a separate proposal requiring amusement ride operators to be at least 16. If it and Turners proposal passed into law, Polozola said those 15 and younger could no longer supervise trampoline parks.

I can no longer use those employees, and theyre a vital source of employees for us, Turner said.
Kouri Richins, seen last month, is accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl last year at their home in Kamas, Utah.

Kouri Richins, seen last month, is accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl last year at their home in Kamas, Utah.

A Utah woman who wrote a childrens book on grief following her husbands death last year is now accused of his murder.

Kouri Richins, 33, was charged Monday in Summit County with aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

The mother of three claimed to have found her husband, Eric Richins, lying unresponsive in their bedroom on March 4, 2022, after he consumed a drink she made, according to court documents cited by local stations KSLTV and KUTV.

She felt Eric, and he was cold to the touch. That is when the defendant called 911, the documents state.

According to prosecutors, Kouri Richins said she had served her husband a Moscow mule to celebrate the closing of a house for her real estate business in Kamas, just east of Salt Lake City. She then went to care for one of their children in a separate room and ended up falling asleep there. When she returned to her own room at roughly 3 a.m., Eric Richins was unresponsive and she called 911.

Kouri Richins told investigators that her husband died at their home last year after she made him a Moscow mule (like the one pictured).

Kouri Richins told investigators that her husband died at their home last year after she made him a Moscow mule (like the one pictured).

An autopsy later determined that Eric Richins died from orally consuming about five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl, according to court documents.

Kouri Richins electronic devices were later searched with a warrant. According to prosecutors, this revealed that she had been on her phone in her childs room at the time of Eric Richins death  contradicting her claim that she had left it in their shared bedroom. She is also accused of deleting text messages that she had sent and received during those hours.

The search further showed that she had allegedly been in contact with an acquaintance who had prior drug charges. That unidentified individual, in a later interview with detectives, said that they sold prescription pain medication to Kouri Richins several times in the weeks before her husbands death.

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The person said that two weeks after an initial purchase, Kouri Richins reached out again to request something stronger. She asked for some of the Michael Jackson stuff, specifically fentanyl, according to court documents.

The person said they supplied her with 15 to 30 fentanyl pills in February 2022. That same month, Eric Richins fell ill after a Valentines Day dinner at their home. He told a friend that he thought his wife had poisoned him, authorities said.

Kouri Richins acquaintance told detectives that she later reached out again to request more fentanyl pills. Her husband would end up dead a few days after she allegedly purchased them.

Last month, the widow described her husbands death as totally unexpected.

It completely took us all by shock, she said at the time during a TV interview promoting her self-published book. Are You With Me?  written with her sons  features a cover drawing of an angel resembling Eric Richins who appears to cheer on a little boy.

Its just comforting to them to know that theyre not living this life alone, she said of her children. Dad is still here. Its just in a different way.

Kouri Richins attorneys and the Summit County Attorneys Office did not respond to HuffPosts requests for comment Tuesday. She has a detention hearing scheduled for May 19.
William Burns, right, the director of the CIA, is joined by, from left: FB Director Christopher Wray; Gen. Paul Nakasone, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and the director of the National Security Agency; and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines at a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington on March 8, 2023. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

WASHINGTON  To mark the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, CIA Director William Burns stood in the lobby of the agencys headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and sought to exorcise the ghosts of the prewar intelligence failures that haunt the building to this day.

Addressing some 100 CIA officials on March 19, Burns acknowledged how the agency catastrophically blundered in its assessment that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. But he noted, according to two people present, that there was ample blame to go around. The culprits included a hubris-stricken Bush White House as well as the State Department  where Burns served at the time as a senior official  which he said had unwarranted confidence that it could derail the invasion plans.

Notably Burns added, Weve learned from that hard lesson. The intelligence the agency and others collected on Russias plans to invade Ukraine, he said, stands as a powerful example of that. It enabled us to provide strong, resolute and confident warning, to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and to help the president cement a strong coalition.

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The tableau was a reminder that Burns, 67, has for decades been a near-omnipresent if subdued actor on the U.S. foreign policy stage, having served every Democratic and Republican president since Ronald Reagan, with the exception of Donald Trump. And yet the moment only hinted at how Burns, a key figure in the Biden administrations support of Ukraine, has amassed influence beyond most if not all previous CIA directors.

His ascent is an unlikely turn for a tall, discreet figure with wary eyes, ashen hair and a trim mustache, a sort you could easily imagine in a John Le Carre novel whispering into a dignitarys ear at an embassy party that the city is falling to the rebels and a boat will be waiting in the harbor at midnight.

The impact of his two-year tenure has been as sweeping as it has been subtle. The CIA, demoralized and marginalized during the Trump years by a president who said publicly that he believed Putin over his own intelligence agencies, has entered a period of resurgent prestige. As a member of Bidens inner circle who once served as the ambassador to Russia, Burns has helped restore the United States upper hand over Putin. Though spy chiefs are typically relegated to the shadows, the Biden administration has thrust theirs into the spotlight.

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It was Burns, rather than Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom Biden dispatched in November 2021 to Moscow, where from a Kremlin phone the CIA director spoke with Putin (who was in Sochi, Russia, that day) for an hour and warned him not to invade Ukraine. Three months earlier, Burns was in Kabul to meet with Taliban leaders and thus confer legitimacy on the regime as the United States was withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

Burns, who declined to be interviewed on the record for this article, has also taken some three dozen trips overseas during his two years as director, often to meet with agency section chiefs and their foreign counterparts, as is customary, but also to discuss U.S. policy with foreign leaders in Egypt, Libya and elsewhere. Biden frequently asks Burns to accompany the regular CIA briefer to the Oval Office for the presidents daily national security briefing, when the president sometimes solicits and gets Burns opinions on policy matters, an administration official said.

Previous CIA directors have played a role in U.S. foreign policy  George Tenet was harshly criticized for tailoring intelligence to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq and served as an interlocutor in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians  but the position has traditionally been viewed as an objective overseer of intelligence gathering separated from policy and political influence.

Burns, however, is the first CIA director to have previously been a career diplomat (for 32 years), and is on a first-name basis with numerous foreign leaders. He speaks Russian, French and Arabic. Hes one guy you werent bringing in and having to break out a map for, or having to explain why it is that the Turks dont like the Kurds, said Eric Traupe, who until last summer was the CIAs assistant director for the Near East.

Burns, Traupe said, is relied upon as an in-house resource for the administration, including by Blinken and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, on how to deal with foreign adversaries. Its whats he like, how do you negotiate with him? said Traupe, who praised Burns deftness so far in not being the center of attention.

Of course, the absence of drama in the Biden foreign policy team can also produce groupthink, said Douglas London, a former CIA clandestine services officer who later served as a counterterrorism adviser for the Biden campaign and is now an author and professor at Georgetown University.

As an example, he cited the administrations failure to foresee the swift collapse of the Afghan military as U.S. troops withdrew from the country in August 2021. Though Burns has publicly maintained that the CIAs assessments of the Afghan militarys resolve were on the pessimistic end of the scale, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines acknowledged after the collapse that it unfolded more quickly than we anticipated, including in the intelligence community.

The son of a two-star Army general who fought in Vietnam, Burns attended La Salle University in Philadelphia, then won a scholarship to the University of Oxford, where he developed his appetite for international relations. He met his future wife, Lisa Carty, in 1982, when the two were seated alphabetically next to each other during foreign service orientation. (Carty now serves as the ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.)

Burns and Biden go back roughly a quarter-century, when Burns was the U.S. ambassador to Jordan and Biden was the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They grew closer during the Obama years, when Burns was the deputy secretary of state and Biden was vice president. In national security discussions, Biden and Burns agreed on not aggressively pushing President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to step down during the Arab Spring in 2011, but they diverged on conducting airstrikes on the Gadhafi regime in Libya and on raiding the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden took refuge. In both cases Biden urged restraint and Burns urged action.

As Burns prepared to step down from government service in 2014, The Wall Street Journal reported last month, a mutual friend introduced him to Jeffrey Epstein, the financial consultant who would later be convicted of multiple sex crimes. A spokesperson for the CIA said Burns met twice with Epstein, both times to discuss private sector opportunities, and did not socialize with him.

In a statement to The New York Times, Burns said that he deeply regrets having met with Epstein and did not know who he was, adding, I wish I had done my homework first.

After Biden won the presidency in 2020, transition officials asked Burns if he was interested in an ambassadorship to Japan or China, according to two people familiar with the dialogue. But before Burns could respond, Bidens preferred candidate for CIA director, Tom Donilon, a former Obama national security adviser, decided against taking the job. Biden then focused on Burns, who had never aligned himself with any partisan cause and thus would not face a difficult path to confirmation. He was ultimately confirmed in the Senate by a voice vote.

Burns inherited an agency reeling from Trumps open disdain of the intelligence community, not to mention the lingering aftershocks of two wars and a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Trumps first CIA director, Mike Pompeo, had come into office with a conservative agenda and in an early meeting, according to a witness, accused senior analysts of already having made your minds up before producing an assessment that Russia had tried to help elect Trump in 2016.

Pompeos replacement, Gina Haspel, a career case officer, made a more conscious effort to insulate the agency from Trumps whims, former officials said, but at times her efforts to mollify him struck some in the agency as unseemly. That included when she publicly praised Trumps wisdom in engaging with North Korea in 2019 and when she stood and applauded the president during his State of the Union address a year later.

All of which is to say that Burns had a low bar to clear upon taking office in March 2021. Current and former members of the intelligence community praise him for some internal changes, including working to stabilize the agency, pressing for greater diversity in the workforce and instituting a mission center devoted to employee wellness.

Externally there have been more tangible successes, most notably the intelligence sharing with Ukraine that is widely credited with improving Kyivs ability to anticipate maneuvers by Russias military. An additional source of support for Ukraine has been the selective declassification of intelligence documents to expose Russian disinformation, which grew out of discussions between Burns, Sullivan and Haines, after Haines office formalized a system to avoid revealing sources and methods in the process.

By contrast, the CIA under Burns has shown restraint on the origin of the coronavirus. In February, new intelligence prompted the Energy Department to conclude that the virus had most likely been accidentally leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. But the department did so with low confidence, and the CIA remains unpersuaded, according to two people familiar with the process. The CIA has so far declined to issue its own conclusion.

In the meantime Burns has called China the United States foremost adversary, one whose influence pervades nearly every aspect of the agencys intelligence-gathering mission, from military capability to digital influence to mineral resource acquisition. As a result, the director has moved the CIAs disparate China-related departments into a single mission center. Doing so  along with his increasing promotion of the agencys efforts to address the flood of fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border  dovetails with Bidens political agenda as the president heads into a bruising reelection campaign.

Should the president win a second term, people close to the administration speculate that Burns would be a candidate to replace Blinken, should Blinken choose to step down. Burns refuses to talk about it, as do his colleagues. Richard Armitage, Burns friend and former superior at the State Department, said only, Whatever the president asks, hell do it.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Hurricane force winds can damage even the sturdiest wind turbines

The world's biggest storms, which whip the high seas into a frenzy or flatten buildings on land, have long daunted wind farm developers. But that is changing.

Operators are increasingly adopting turbines designed to withstand tropical cyclones. One of the latest examples is a "typhoon-resistant" floating wind turbine, which will soon help to power an offshore oil platform in China.

According to the manufacturer, MingYang Smart Energy, this 7.25 megawatt (MW) turbine can survive wind speeds of up to 134mph for 10 minutes. It has been installed at a facility 136km off the coast of the island province of Hainan.

MingYang did not respond to a BBC request for comment but theirs is not the first turbine designed to face down such an onslaught. In 2021, US firm GE received typhoon-certification for its mammoth Haliade-X turbine. It is fixed, not floating, and has a capacity of up to 13MW.

The blistering growth of the wind energy industry is pushing turbines to their limits and some question whether the pace of the rollout is wise.

While components such as turbine blades are remarkably strong, they are not indestructible. And the forces of nature, especially out at sea, are notoriously unpredictable, meaning the pressure is on to prove that wind turbines really are hurricane-ready.

Tropical cyclones - often called typhoons or hurricanes depending on location - are a familiar threat in certain parts of the world, including in the Gulf of Mexico or around much of Southeast Asia.

Such storms can produce wind speeds well in excess of 100mph. The strongest one-minute sustained winds on record, of 215mph, were created by Hurricane Patricia in the Eastern Pacific in 2015.

Hurricane Patricia broke records in 2015 with wind speeds of 215mph

Despite the meteorological challenges in such regions, the expansion of wind energy is expected there in the coming years and decades.

Today's turbines already put up with some powerful gales. Those positioned off the northeast coast of the UK in the North Sea operate in wind speeds of up to 50mph or so, after which point they are switched off, notes Simon Hogg at Durham University, who holds the rsted chair at the university, which is funded by energy firm rsted.

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Technically, such turbines are designed to survive even higher wind speeds.

Leon Mishnaevsky of the Technical University of Denmark suggests that wind turbine blades are generally quite reliable. These days, they are made from strong but lightweight carbon fibre composites and automated manufacturing processes help to ensure the uniform placement of the fibres, which is important for the blades' robustness, he notes.

Wind turbine makers also perform a range of stress tests on blades to ensure that they are up to scratch.

This can include attaching large "exciters" to the blades, which bounce up and down, simulating the repeated stresses of winds on the structure. Giant blades are also sometimes bent to the point of breaking, says Prof Hogg, which helps to confirm the maximum loads they can bear.

But the fallibility of turbines, especially the biggest ones, is becoming more apparent as time goes by. Insurer GCube notes in a recent report that offshore wind losses rose from 1m in 2012 to more than 7m in 2021.

Plus, machines with capacities larger than 8MW can suffer component failures within just two years of installation, the firm says, more than twice as fast as 4-8MW devices.

More technology of business:

Some of the most dangerous forces to trouble turbine blades are torsion, or twisting, loads, says Find Mlholt Jensen, chief executive of Bladena, a firm that specialises in diagnosing and repairing large turbine blades around 60m in length, or longer.

Repeated twisting of blades can induce difficult-to-spot fractures, he says: "The damage cannot be seen from the outside."

The longer the blade, the greater the risk, comments a spokesman for Bladena.

Current testing and industry standards are not sufficient to prove that the largest turbine blades can withstand these stresses, argues Dr Jensen.

New designs could help, though. In Japan, Challenergy has been working on a turbine with tall, vertical blades that spin around a central tower.

While currently much smaller and less powerful than the biggest traditional, three-bladed turbines in operation today, Challenergy's device is intended to cope with very high winds.

When a powerful typhoon called Hin Nam No struck the Philippines and Japan last August, it passed over two of the company's turbines. One of the devices, at Ishigaki City in Okinawa, recorded wind speeds of around 64mph. The turbine continued to operate without any problems, according to Challenergy.

The University of Colorado designed this turbine with flexible blades that face downwind

In the US, a research team has taken a cue from nature in their design of an alternative hurricane-resistant turbine.

"We were inspired by palm trees," explains Lucy Pao at the University of Colorado Boulder. "In high winds they kind of go with the flow, they bend with the wind."

She and her colleagues designed a prototype two-bladed wind turbine design with flexible blades. Plus, the rotor faces downwind rather than into the wind, as is common in traditional configurations, helping it to absorb the impact of strong gales.

During tests at an onshore site in Colorado, the blade tips were observed deflecting by up to 600mm, more than half a metre. "None of them snapped," says Prof Pao.

Wind speeds in the area can reach 100mph in the wintertime, she adds.

However, the wind energy industry has almost universally adopted the upwind, three-bladed design so selling a new concept is difficult, Prof Pao explains. Currently, her research in this area is on hold, pending further funding.

Lucy Pao at the University of Colorado Boulder says the wind farm industry is committed to three-blade turbines

She shares the concerns of other observers who question whether wind turbines are really ready for some of the strongest winds nature can hurl at them.

"The novel materials, they are stronger, they are pretty amazing, but I don't know that they've been tested out as thoroughly as maybe they should be," she says.

Then there are the tricky economics of siting turbines in places where winds are especially variable. James Martin is chief executive at Gulf Wind Technology, a company exploring the deployment of turbines in the Gulf of Mexico.

In this area, low wind speeds are common for most of the year - with the occasional hurricane blasting its way through.

"If you design that turbine to be strong enough to withstand the peak wind event, then you'll be carrying a lot of extra cost for the times that you've got light wind," notes Mr Martin. He declines to share details of the turbines or technologies his firm is considering.

In the coming years, you can expect to see more and more turbines arriving in regions affected by cyclones, though.

"We need [turbines] there as much as we need them in any other area of the globe," argues Prof Hogg. "I don't think we should shy away from it."
WOODLAND PARK, Colo.  When a conservative slate of candidates won control of the school board here 18 months ago, they began making big changes to reshape the district.

Woodland Park, a small mountain town that overlooks Pikes Peak, became the first  and, so far, only  district in the country to adopt the American Birthright social studies standard, created by a right-wing advocacy group that warns of the steady whittling away of American liberty. The new board hired a superintendent who was previously recalled from a nearby school board after pushing for a curriculum that would promote positive aspects of the United States. The board approved the communitys first charter school without public notice and gave the charter a third of the middle school building.

As teachers, students and parents began protesting these decisions, the administration barred employees from discussing the district on social media. At least two staff members who objected to the boards decisions were later forced out of their jobs, while another was fired for allegedly encouraging protests.

People enjoy a sunny day at Memorial Park on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

These rapid and sweeping shifts werent coincidental  instead it was a plan ripped from the MAGA playbook designed to catch opponents off guard, according to a board members email released through an open records request.

This is the flood the zone tactic, and the idea is if you advance on many fronts at the same time, then the enemy cannot fortify, defend, effectively counter-attack at any one front, David Illingworth, one of the new conservative school board members, wrote to another on Dec. 9, 2021, weeks after they were elected. Divide, scatter, conquer. Trump was great at this in his first 100 days.

The leaders of the Woodland Park School District are enacting an experiment in conservative governance in the middle of a state controlled by Democrats, with little in the way so far to slow them down. The school boards decisions have won some praise in heavily Republican Teller County, but opposition is growing, including from conservative Christians and lifelong GOP voters who say the board has made too many ill-advised decisions and lacks transparency.

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I think they look at us as this petri dish where they can really push all their agenda and theories, said Joe Dohrn, a Woodland Park father who described himself as a staunch Republican and very capitalistic. They clearly are willing to sacrifice the public school and to put students presently in the public school through years of disarray to drive home their ideological beliefs. Its a travesty.

A small herd of deer walk past Gateway Elementary School on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

People wait outside of the Woodland Park School District Administration building to attend a school board meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Teachers grew particularly alarmed early this year when word spread that Ken Witt, the new superintendent, did not plan to reapply for grants that covered the salaries of counselors and social workers.

At Gateway Elementary School in March, Witt told staff members he prioritized academic achievement, not students emotions. We are not the department of health and human services, he said, as teachers angrily objected, according to two recordings of the meeting made by staff members and shared with NBC News.

Someone in the meeting asked if taxpayers would get a say in these changes, and Witt said that they already did  when they elected the school board.

Over the past two years, school districts nationwide have become the center of culture war battles over race and LGBTQ rights. Conservative groups have made a concerted effort to fill school boards with ideologically aligned members and notched dozens of wins last fall.

In Colorado, conservatives started making gains earlier because school board elections are held in off years. Woodland Park offers a preview of how quickly a new majority can move to reshape a district  and how those battles can ripple outward into the community. Some longtime residents say that the situation has grown so tense, they now look over their shoulder when discussing the school board in public to avoid confrontation or professional consequences.

David Rusterholtz, the boards president, believes that chasm predates his election in November 2021.

This division is much more than political  this is a clash of worldviews, Rusterholtz said at a board meeting in January. He concluded his remarks with a prayer for the district: May the Lord bless us and keep us, may His face shine upon us and be gracious to us.

Rusterholtz, Illingworth, Witt and three other current school board members declined interview requests when reached by email and approached in person at the districts office. To tell this story, NBC News reviewed dozens of emails board members exchanged with parents and staff, obtained through open records requests, and spoke with over 40 Woodland Park community members, including students, current and former school staff and administrators, and former school board members.

Woodland Park School Board Interim Superintendent Kenneth Witt, left, speaks during the Woodland Park School District Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

When asked to respond to criticism from school personnel and parents, Illingworth, the board's vice president, replied in an email: I wasnt elected to please the teachers union and their psycho agenda against academic rigor, family values, and even capitalism itself. I was elected to bring a parents voice and a little common sense to the school district, and voters in Woodland Park can see Ive kept my promises.

As the school year winds down, many of the Woodland Park School Districts employees are heading for the exit, despite recently receiving an 8% raise. At least four of the districts top administrators have quit because of the boards policy changes, according to interviews and emails obtained through records requests. Nearly 40% of the high schools professional staff have said they will not return next school year, according to an administrator in the district.

The boards critics have pinned their hopes on the next election in November  when three of the five school board members are up for a vote  to claw back control of the communitys schools.

This is an active case study on what will happen if we allow extremist policies to start to take over our public education system, said David Graf, an English teacher who recently resigned after 17 years in the district. And the scariest part about it, they knew that this community would bite on it.

David Graf, former teacher and coach at Woodland Park High School, poses at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 5, 2023. (Rachel Woolf for NBC News)

A culture shift on the board

The four candidates who won nonpartisan positions on Woodland Parks school board in 2021 had to say little but that they were conservative to win. The mostly white, middle-class city of 8,000 people up the mountain pass from Colorado Springs had voted for Donald Trump over Joe Biden by 2-to-1 a year earlier.

But while many conservatives running for school boards across the country recently were swept into office on a wave of parent complaints about critical race theory, library book content and policies supporting transgender youth, Woodland Park had no such activism in 2021. In fact, few people bothered to attend board meetings, according to Chris Austin, a pastor and the lone board member who was not up for re-election that year.

It was a culture of collaboration, Austin said. You had freedom to bring forward your thoughts and evidential data, people listened, we did not even know each others political affiliations. Thats the way I experienced it for the first nearly two-and-a-half years. Then it shifted abruptly with the first meeting with the new board.

Newly elected conservatives on the board acted quickly to approve an agreement with Merit Academy to become the districts first charter school.

Yet, the vote, at a special meeting on Jan. 26, 2022, caught community members by surprise because the agenda made no mention of Merit  it had been listed instead as board housekeeping.

Woodland Park resident Gail Gerig, center, makes a thumbs down gesture during the public comment period of the Woodland Park School District Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

The districts teachers union complained in an email to middle school staff that the boards action was underhanded, and at worst illegal. A parent sued, aiming to force the board to follow open meetings law. A trial court judge did not rule on the legality of the boards actions but ordered the board to list agenda items clearly, honestly and forthrightly.

In response to the teachers complaints, Illingworth accused the union of attempting to organize a coup, and instructed then-Superintendent Mathew Neal to make a list of positions in which a change in personnel would be beneficial to our kids and help the union see the wisdom in cooperation rather than conflict."

Illingworths emails spread after parents obtained them through open records requests. Subsequent board meetings attracted boisterous crowds, as teachers accused board members of creating a hostile environment, while other community members spoke in favor of the board for supporting school choice and quoted Scripture. A handful of parents, including some lifelong Republicans, tried to organize a recall, but failed to get enough signatures to force a vote.

Other parents felt the criticism was overblown.

I think a lot of people are angry because people dont like change, said Andrea Kendall, a mother with children in both Merit Academy and the traditional district schools. I do feel for the teachers to a certain extent, for sure. I do feel for the board, too, because I feel like theyre trying their best with what they have, and theyre getting attacked for it.

The Woodland Park school board meeting on April 12 drew a line of people to the administration building. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Illingworth said in emails to NBC News that the districts enrollment has increased, the district had expanded food and transportation services, and academic performance has improved. The facts show the Woodland Park School District is doing better than ever, he said.

Neal resigned as superintendent in July 2022. He declined an interview request, but said in an email, I know how to captain a ship and also know when the direction were headed doesnt align with my philosophy.

Austin resigned from the board last November for a similar reason: The direction of the new board was just incongruent with my value set.

For Austins replacement, the board appointed Mick Bates, who records show donated $500 to Illingworth last fall and was a recent chair of the county Republican Party.

And for Neals replacement, the board picked Ken Witt.

Woodland Park School Board Vice President David Illingworth II, left, and Director Mick Bates talk before the Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

'Everyone has their line'

A week before Witt was hired, on Dec. 13, students in a class called Sources of Strength, which is part of a national suicide prevention program, asked their teacher what should they know about him as the sole finalist for the superintendent job.

Sara Lee, a longtime teacher at Woodland Park High School, responded, You should Google him.

The students did, and they didnt like what they learned.

They discovered that Witt, as president of the school board in neighboring Jefferson County, supported a plan in 2014 to ensure the districts curricula would promote patriotism and not encourage social strife. Witt said students who protested the board policies at the time were pawns of the teachers union. After he and two other conservative members of the board were recalled, Witt became executive director of an organization that oversees charter, online and other schools and helped launch Merit Academy.

Parents and teachers protested in March after the Woodland Park school district decided to give part of the middle school to a new charter school. (Erin O'Connell)

Woodland Park students staged a protest against Witts hiring on the morning of Dec. 14. An hour later, the administration placed Lee on leave. The district said she was inappropriate and insensitive for sharing information about Witt, according to a letter of reprimand she shared with NBC News, and forbade her from talking about the board and its decisions with students.

The following month, the district transferred Lee to an elementary school, even though shed worked in a high school setting for 25 years. She quit, and got a job at a school thats 45 minutes away.

It was my values that were being called into question, Lee said. It was the fact that I was suddenly in a place where I couldnt have an open and honest conversation with my students. And that had never happened in the 18 years Id been in Woodland Park.

The board held its lone public interview with Witt on the evening of Dec. 19. Afterward, Witt met privately with Rusterholtz, Illingworth and board member Cassie Kimbrell in the districts administrative office.

Two days later, the board voted to hire Witt.

Members of the Woodland Park School District Board of Education listen to public comment during their meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Community members attend the Woodland Park School District Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

But that private meeting  which was captured by a surveillance camera  became a flash point. Any time three or more members of a school board gather and discuss the district, the meeting must be open to the public under Colorado law. People in the community began clamoring for the district to release the footage.

Witt declined. The district argued in response to one mothers lawsuit that the conversation was of a personal nature, and that it would be a security risk to disclose where the surveillance camera was placed.

Teller County District Court Judge Scott Sells disagreed and said he found it troubling, the lack of transparency by the school board and the school district. Sells ordered the video to be released, but the district appealed and the case is still pending.

NBC News obtained the footage, which shows Witt, Illingworth and Kimbrell walking into the receptionist area of the administrative building just before 8 p.m. Once Rusterholtz joins 7 minutes later, they stand together conversing for 8 minutes and then walk out of the room. There is no audio.

Logan Ruths, the districts former information technologist, first watched the video in late December, because he was in charge of responding to open records requests.

Ruths said that when he saw it, his first thought was: This is very damning for the board."

Ruths, who wears his Eagle Scout ring most days, said he was shocked that the district refused to release the footage. He believed it was part of a recent pattern of withholding public information, which he had repeatedly raised to district administrators and lawyers.

On March 10, Witt summoned Ruths to his office. The district had terminated his position as a consolidation measure, according to audio shared with NBC News.

Tearfully, Ruths pleaded with Witt to be honest, for once, and tell him the real reason that he was losing his job. Witt didnt say much. Ruths called him an awful human being before walking out.

Miles Tuttle, Ruths boss, told Ruths afterward that he was going to resign. Everyone has their line, Tuttle said to him, and this being done to you, that was my line.

Discouraging civic engagement

At the first board meeting in January with Witt as superintendent, the board voted to adopt the American Birthright social studies curriculum standard. No social studies teachers had been consulted prior to the vote, according to three current employees and an administrator who asked to speak anonymously to protect their employment.

American Birthright materials emphasize patriotism, argue that the federal government should have no authority over public schools and say teachers should not encourage civic engagement, such as registering to vote or petitioning local lawmakers on issues students care about.

It is terribly important to be a disengaged citizen, and indeed, a disengaged student, said David Randall, research director at the National Association of Scholars, a conservative organization that created the standards last year.

A sign supporting President Donald Trump sits in the yard of a home across from Woodland Park High School on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Randall said American Birthright was modeled off state standards in Massachusetts and Florida. The group received input from dozens of right-wing groups and activists, including the Claremont Institute, the Family Research Council and Moms for Liberty. Randall sees it as a bipartisan alternative to coursework that he described as hijacked by liberal concepts. Critics, though, say its biased toward the right  for example, it includes Bill Clintons impeachment but not Donald Trumps.

The Colorado State Board of Education rejected American Birthright in October. The National Council for the Social Studies, a professional trade group for educators, issued a rare warning against using it.

Theyre trying to push a certain agenda down to these kids, Amy Schommer, a mother in Woodland Park, said of the school boards adoption of American Birthright. Im a conservative but Im not against my kids learning something they disagree with. Theyre trying to fix problems that dont exist here.

The districts adoption of American Birthright had immediate fallout for an elective class called Civil Disobedience. Graf, the English teacher, had created the class in 2015 to trace protest movements like Black Lives Matter back to Americas founding.

Five days after the board approved American Birthright, a community member who does not have children complained to Witt about Civil Disobedience, and accused Graf of using Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates  about growing up Black in America  as an indoctrination tool, according to emails obtained through open records requests.

A week later, Graf read in The Pikes Peak Courier that Witt had decided Coates book would no longer be used because it didnt conform with American Birthright. Graf said no one from the administration spoke to him about how he taught the class.

David Graf, former teacher and coach at Woodland Park High School, poses at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., on May 5, 2023. (Rachel Woolf for NBC News)

Graf resigned last month. Theyre taking autonomy away from teachers, limiting the scope of the free-thinking, controversial discussions that I think are age-appropriate, he said, especially for 16-, 17-, 18-year-olds, who are about to go out and experience what its like to be an adult.

Several more high school teachers resigned this year, citing the board as a reason, according to interviews and copies of resignation letters reviewed by NBC News. Some in the community, though, saw this as a good thing.

I feel like if theyre leaving, its because they have an agenda, said Deborah Bruner, a Woodland Park grandmother. What it sounds like to me is that this board is going to hold teachers accountable for what they teach, and to teach the truth.

A contentious meeting

By the time Witt arrived at Gateway Elementary School on March 2 to meet with the staff, emotions were running high.

The teachers had heard that Witt was questioning the need for mental health support for students, and they were worried.

During the meeting, Witt would not commit to keeping the same number of guidance counselors and social workers for the next school year. He said that his focus was on academic success, according to the recordings obtained by NBC News.

Staff members tried to explain why it was critical to address students emotional issues so that they could learn. One employee mentioned recent familial homicides in the community as an example of the kind of trauma children are facing, including a murder-suicide that left a student dead.

Woodland Park School Board Interim Superintendent Kenneth Witt listens to pubic comments during the Woodland Park School District Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Witt asked if the school had a social worker. The employee replied affirmatively, and then Witt asked, Did the murder-suicide still occur? Several people in the room gasped.

That same week, Laura Magnuson, the districts mental health supervisor, had a call with Witt to press him on reapplying for grants for mental health professionals. She had emailed him to warn that due dates were coming up, and a couple had already passed. If the district did not reapply, it would lose $1.2 million in annual funds that covered the salaries of 15 positions, such as counselors, social workers and career and college readiness specialists.

The following week, after she couldnt convince Witt to reapply for the grants, she sent him her resignation.

I feel most worried that this new vision will leave our most vulnerable students and families behind, Magnuson, who declined an interview request, wrote in an email to Witt.

Magnusons email circulated online after Matt Gawlowski, a father who chronicles the administrations actions on a blog, got a copy through an open records request, and it disturbed some families enough to pull their children from the district.

A girl walks home from Gateway Elementary School on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Craig Johnson, a father who describes himself as a pro-life, gun loving native of Woodland Park, transferred three of his children to a neighboring district in Manitou Springs. That district said 47 students from Woodland Park are transferring in the fall.

Johnson said he was particularly bothered that the districts leaders thought mental health was best left for parents to address at home.

There are lots of kids for whom home is a problem place, unfortunately, Johnson said. So dont tell me mental health starts at home when we have examples of parents murdering at home.

Zehan Rogers, a Woodland Park sophomore, said hes had a friend die by suicide and others who have had depression. He said he doesnt think the board understands how important having mental health staff available is for the 2,000 students in the district.

It can save their lives, he said. Theres so many unforeseen consequences that will come from this.

Jacob DeSmidt, 17, a junior, and Zehan Rogers, 16, a sophomore at Woodland Park High School, at the public library in Woodland Park, Colo., on May 5, 2023. (Rachel Woolf for NBC News)

'A very important step'

At the Woodland Park school boards most recent meeting on April 12, only a handful of the 50 people packed into a conference room under fluorescent lights voiced support for the board.

One was a man whod brought a red leather-bound Bible with him. He gave a short speech during the public comment session in which he called teachers insurrectionists and implored the board to stand up to them to stop the next Reichstag that is bound to happen in the Woodland Park school district  referring to an arson attack on the German parliamentary building in 1933 that Nazis blamed on Communists.

But the hot topic that evening was students mental health. The board had proposed a resolution declaring opposition to a bill in the Colorado Legislature to offer voluntary annual mental health screenings of students in sixth grade and above.

Amber Hemingson, a sixth-grade teacher and mother, described how supportive colleagues and previous administrators were when her husband died of cancer in 2020, and her family struggled with depression in the aftermath.

Woodland Park Middle School teacher and parent Amber Hemingson delivers an emotional speech to the Woodland Park Board of Education during their meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

Standing at a podium a few feet away from the board members, Hemingson said the district had provided vital counseling services so she could continue working and her children could function in class. She recalled how Lee, the teacher who recently left the district, once found Hemingsons suicidal daughter crying in the bathroom and comforted her.

Selfless WPSD employees cared for orphans and a widow in their distress, she said, trying not to cry. Will you look after orphans and widows in their distress, or will Christ say to you, as he said in Matthew 25:45, whatever you did not do for the least of thee, you did not do for me.

Fifteen minutes later, the board read the resolution, which vowed that the district would opt out of the mental health screenings if the bill passed. Rusterholtz said he was proud to support the resolution because parents should be in charge of their childrens education and mental health.

This is a very important step, Rusterholtz said. This is one more standing in the way of big government taking charge of your children.

The board passed the resolution unanimously. The man whod earlier called teachers insurrectionists stood and applauded.

Woodland Park resident Drew DePatie holds a Bible after speaking against woke agendas during the public comment period of the Woodland Park School District Board of Education meeting on April 12, 2023 in Woodland Park, Colo. (Michael Ciaglo for NBC News)

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Faced with the likely possibility that yet another mass shooter was inspired to kill by his far-right beliefs, right-wing grifters and media personalities are rallying around conspiracy theories to explain the massacre that took place at a mall in Allen, Texas, over the weekend.

The shooting, which left eight dead  including three children, ages 11, 8 and 3  was allegedly perpetrated by Mauricio Garcia, who was himself shot dead by police during the attack. Garcia reportedly maintained a social media presence rife with neo-Nazi, misogynist and other far-right beliefs.

All available evidence suggests the shooting was yet another in the seemingly endless wave of right-wing extremist shootings in recent years.

But rather than confront that evidence head on, prominent right-wing voices  most notably Elon Musk, the worlds second-richest man and owner of one of the largest social media platforms in the world  have instead propped up an alternate reality about a government conspiracy. As Musk, the government-subsidized tech billionaire, told his millions of Twitter followers Monday, Assume youre always being manipulated.

What We Know About The Suspect

Garcia reportedly wore a patch during the shooting with the text RWDS  short for Right Wing Death Squad. And multiple news outlets reported on a hate-filled social media profile that they say investigators believe belonged to Garcia.

While the suspects precise motive for the attack is still unknown, We do know that he had neo-Nazi ideation. He had patches. He had tattoos. Even his signature verified that, Hank Sibley, North Texas regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a press conference Tuesday.

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on the details of a Rolling Stone report that said an FBI review of Garcias social media footprint had revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.

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The bulletin that is mentioned is a leaked confidential law enforcement report, Melinda Urbina, a public affairs officer with the FBI Dallas field office, told HuffPost in an email Monday. I am not sharing that document with anyone since it was not meant for dissemination to the public.

Nonetheless, Garcias social media footprint has been reported independently: Investigators are probing a Russian social media account rife with hate-filled rants against women and Black people believed to belong to the gunman, according to The New York Times. Later on Monday, Aric Toler, a researcher at the open-source research outlet Bellingcat, claimed to have found the profile in question, a diary-like presence on the Russian site OK.ru.

In a lengthy Twitter thread and article showing his work, Toler documented the details he used to show that all available evidence points to it being tied to the shooter, including numerous photographs, identification documents, a speeding ticket, and evidence that the alleged shooter surveilled the mall days before the attack. A photo of a tattoo on the suspects body also matched months-old photos and videos on the account. Another photo on the account showed a swastika tattoo with a caption reading, Heres what I think about your diversity you fucking losers.

Toler also shared a picture from the account of a tactical vest with a RWDS patch on it  matching descriptions taken from unnamed law enforcement sources to other reporters. The patch appeared to match one previously for sale on the neo-Nazi apparel web store Anime Tobacco Firearms. The store said on its Facebook, Twitter and Gab pages Monday that as a result of certain events, its closing for the time being.

Its not unusual  at all  for people of color to participate in far-right politics, including endorsing the views of white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The social media page reported by Toler addresses this numerous times. In one meme posted to the account, a cartoon child labeled Latino children stands before two paths: one labeled act black and another, become white supremacist. Its funny cause its true, the account commented below the meme. I think Ill take my chances with the white supremacist.

Toler noted that the account included clips from Tim Pool, the prominent conservative YouTuber, and that one post on the page began, This post was inspired by Libs of TikTok, referring to a prominent anti-LGBTQ hate account.

Faced With The Violent Result Of Fascism, Grifters Turn To Conspiracy Theories

Musk, who isnt shy about his own ultra-conservative politics, has worked for months to make Twitter a welcoming place for far-right grifters and ideologues. And in the wake of the shooting in Allen, he eagerly promoted a just-asking-questions credulity to insane assertions that, actually, the suspects well-documented history of neo-Nazi beliefs were in fact a front for some kind of Deep State false flag operation.

[T]his is either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop! Musk wrote Tuesday, after falsely saying Bellingcat specializes in psychological operations.

That phrase, psychological operations, or psyops, is a rich one among conspiracy theorists, in part because governments throughout history have engaged in the tactic in the past. But applied to modern-day mass shootings, the theories arent grounded in any evidence  just ask Alex Jones, who owes over $1 billion to the families of victims of the Sandy Hook mass shooting for claiming it was a hoax.

Nonetheless, Musks thinking was representative of the Twitter far right.

The regimes two biggest priorities are disarming law abiding Americans and silencing people who tell the truth, wrote Mike Cernovich, a career conspiracy theorist and far-right activist. Coincidentally, a Mexican with a swastika on his chest committed a mass shooting and said he was inspired by LibsOfTikTok, and he posted this all to Reddit.

Absolutely nothing suspicious about the fact that we know all about this guys alleged motivations a day later and yet more than a month after the trans terrorist killing in Nashville we still havent been told a single thing about her motives, wrote Matt Walsh, the broadcaster who jokingly refers to himself as a Theocratic fascist on Twitter.

For conspiracy theorists, the value in sarcastic rhetoric spiked with absolutely nothing suspicious about and coincidentally is its ambiguity: The observations require no evidence, nor any alternate explanation of events.

Greg Price, a political operative and Substack writer, offered a pristine example of that sort of response to a mass shooting. Youre telling a Mexican guy just happened to have Nazi tattoos and by total coincidence posted about Nazis, along with prominent conservatives, on a Russian social media account with zero followers and this discovery was made by a guy who works for an org bankrolled by the CIA? he commented sarcastically.

Ian Miles Cheong, an online culture warrior who, years ago, reportedlypraised Hitler, was slightly more direct, calling the reported biographical details of the shooter suspicious  apparently because the suspects internet habits included engaging with Cheongs peers.

The alleged shooters alleged profile claims that he was inspired by Libs of TikTok. Between this and the Tim Pool references, this thing is suspect. Where is his Twitter account? Why was he using a Russian social media site to write [what] was essentially a diary to zero followers? Cheong wrote.

So that Im clear on this, a Jewish lady and a milquetoast fence sitter radicalized a Mexican neo nazi from a Russian website into slaughtering white Texans according to the CIA operative who broke the story, snarked Josie Tait, who goes by The Redheaded Libertarian on Twitter.

Twitters new owner pushed the conspiracy theorizing further.

Very strange, Musk wrote in response to Tait, whose Twitter feed he apparently subscribes to. Separately, Musk commented, This gets weirder by the moment after Tait amplified Cheongs post.

Some journalists attempted to push back on the just asking questions campaign.

So @elonmusk - tell us your theory. The feds did this shooting to spark outrage at white nationalists and launch a gun crackdown? That what youre hinting at? prompted Ryan Grim, D.C. bureau chief at The Intercept, in response to Musks This gets weirder by the moment comment.

Musk didnt respond, but Grim pointed out that right-wing activists often claim mass shootings are actually government creations, even though none has prompted any serious change in gun laws  one of the supposed justifications invoked in the conspiracy theories. To take it seriously for a second: why would that work for the feds this time? There have been endless mass shootings. Why would the FBI think one more would do the trick? Grim wrote.

Anna Merlan, who tracks conspiracy theories at Motherboard and authored the book Republic of Lies, commented on yet more conspiracy theories about the alleged shooters tattoos by invoking an illegal experiment the CIA carried out decades ago: Is the idea that someone forcibly tattooed him and then MKUltra-ed him into god Im gonna give these people ideas.

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New York State Police have dedicated resources from its Major Crime and Cold Case units to further assist with the investigation of the disappearance of Tammy Mahoney, who was last seen hitchhiking along state Route 46 in Oneida in early 1981.

The additional resources into Mahoneys disappearance were announced Monday during a joint press conference between New York State Police, the FBIs Albany Field Office, Oneida Indian Nation Police Department and Mahoneys sister.

Were making some progress, said Sarah Ruane, public affairs specialist for FBI Albany.

Images of Oneida resident Tammy Mahoney, who disappeared in May 1981, on display Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, at the FBI's Syracuse resident agency.

Monday marked 42 years since authorities believe Mahoney was picked up and brought to a party on Territory Road.

Who is Tammy Mahoney?

Tammy Mahoney was 19 when she went missing in May 1981. She had moved to Oneida from Farmingdale, Long Island, in order to study at Morrisville State College  she hoped to pursue a career working around horses. She also worked at Vernon Downs as a groomer, according to Observer-Dispatch archives.

On May 8, 1981, authorities believe she was kidnapped, raped and murdered after hitchhiking along state Route 46 in Oneida. It has long been believed she ended up at a party on Oneida Nation Territory and has not been seen since.

Previous update: FBI releases new information on decades-old disappearance of Oneida woman

Family speaks out: Tammy Mahoney's sister believes justice is closer

Despite numerous searches for her body or clues over the years, the case has never been solved.

What's new in the Tammy Mahoney disappearance case?

Earlier today SAC DiGuiseppi joined our partners from @nyspolice, Oneida PD, Oneida Indian Nation PD, & Tammy Mahoney's sister to mark 42 years since Tammy was picked up and brought to a party on Territory Road (East.) Tammy was never seen again. pic.twitter.com/J6JlO7sLiU  FBI Albany (@FBIAlbany) May 8, 2023

During Mondays presser, authorities said several witnesses have gone on record and shared their truths, prompting additional resources to be brought into the investigation, according to the FBIs Albany field office. New York State Police have dedicated resources from its Major Crime and Cold Case units.

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Ruane said she could not delve too deeply into the witness testimony, but said there was a mixture of new and old information.

It is our hope that with these resources, we can bring Tammy home, the FBIs Albany field office said in a statement posted on Twitter. While we implore those involved to do the right thing and come forward, we will continue to actively investigate her disappearance with or without your cooperation.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call (315) 731-1781.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Tammy Mahoney 1981 cold case turns to witness testimony, new resources
Erica Jones, the 39-year-old woman accused of killing two people while driving drunk and trying to evade police, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to multiple charges related to the April 24 crash in central Fresno.

Jones began to cry as Judge Mark Cullers set her bail at $3.8 million.

In addition to being charged with two counts of murder, Jones faces a total of 13 charges, including two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, two counts of evading an officer while causing death, driving under the influence of alcohol while causing injury and child abuse and endangerment.

If convicted on all counts, Jones faces a maximum of 37-years-to-life in prison.

Police said the crash happened at about 1:35 a.m. near Highway 41 and Ashlan Avenue. Jones was trying to get away from Fresno County Sheriffs deputies who had tried pulling her over earlier. The deputies broke off the chase, but a few minutes later, Jones crashed into a pair of tents, killing the occupants, Brianna Britten, 30, and Kathy Esqueda, 61.

Both women were taken to Community Regional Medical Center where Britten died soon after and Esqueda died a week later.

Witnesses told police they saw a woman, identified later as Jones, run from the crash with a boy in tow. Officers found Jones and the boy near Ashlan and Blackstone avenues.

Prosecutor Steven Ueltzen explained that Jones is charged with murder because she has a DUI conviction from 2019.

At the time, she was warned by a judge that if she drove drunk again and someone died as a result, she would be charged with murder.

Jones lawyer Eric Castelllon said his client is extremely remorseful for what happened. Castellon said Jones worked as a medical assistant.

She comes from a good family that loves her, Castellon said. She is not the person I thought I was going to be meeting. This is a sad state of affairs for both sides.

Jones next court hearing is May 30 in Department 11.
A 48-year-old woman who was stranded for five days in the dense bushland of Australia said she survived on only wine and lollipops.

The woman, identified as Lillian Ip from Cheltenham by authorities, was treated at a hospital for dehydration after she was rescued by Victoria Police on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

"She was only planning a short-day trip so she had only taken a couple of snacks and lollies with her, but no water," said Sgt. Martin Torpey of the Wodonga police station. "The only liquid Lillian, who doesn't drink, had with her was a bottle of wine she had bought as a gift for her mother."

Ip was headed to Dartmouth Dam in Bright, Victoria, by car last week when she took a wrong turn and ended up stuck in the mud, police said. With no cellphone service, she couldn't call for help.

When she didn't call her family on April 30, letting them know she had reached her destination, they became worried and soon notified the police. Emergency crews used helicopters and ground units to carry out "extensive searches" of the region over four days, police said.

A police helicopter located a woman who was stranded for five days in the Australian bushland in Victoria, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. (Victoria Police)

They were unable to locate Ip until Thursday when they conducted yet another sweep of the hilly terrain by helicopter and spotted Ip's car at the end of a dirt road in the Mitta Mitta bushland - 37 miles from the nearest town, according to police.

Ip could be seen on a police video waving to get the attention of rescuers. The helicopter then directed a local police van to her location, "where she was located safe and well," police said.

"While she couldn't move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight to keep herself warm," Sgt. Torpey said.

The low temperature on Thursday was 36 degrees in Mitta Mitta, the coldest the area got while Ip was stranded out in the bushland, according to AccuWeather data. Temperatures had dipped into the 40s the four previous nights.

"I thought I was going to die there. My whole body shut down on Friday," Ip told 9News Australia, adding that she "was about to give up."
A lawsuit against Community Hospice of Modesto seeks alleged unpaid wages over a 19-month period for current and former employees.

The class-action complaint was filed in early April in Stanislaus County Superior Court against a hospice organization that was recognized recently as one of the best places to work in the region.

Tyeisha Travis, the plaintiff, claims the nonprofit hospice organization failed to pay overtime and other wages in violation of California labor laws. The suit also alleges Community Hospice did not provide required meal breaks and rest periods for workers and underpaid them for sick time.

According to the lawsuit, the unpaid amounts for current and former employees could be up to $5 million. It doesnt say how many workers are seeking compensation. The lawsuit is claiming unpaid or underpaid wages between September 2019 and April 13, 2022.

A Southern California law firm that filed the complaint did not return messages seeking comment Monday.

Alisa Bettis, who took over as chief executive officer of Community Hospice in September, also did not comment, but Community Hospice released a statement Monday in response to the litigation.

Community Hospice is aware of the filing of a class action lawsuit made by the plaintiff, a prior employee. The health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance, and we work diligently to ensure legal, ethical, and safe practices for all our employees.

The statement said Community Hospice has retained a legal team and has every intention to work towards resolution. We will remain transparent through the legal proceedings, however, we will not provide further details or response publicly regarding the allegations made, as it is a personnel matter. We are committed to the privacy of each of our current and prior employees.

The Modesto-based hospice promised to ensure the legal dispute does not interfere with its mission and care for patients.

According to a news release from the firm representing the workers, Community Hospice was not accurate in its sick pay for employees, which is a violation of the California Labor Code. 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 pay, the news release said.

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Another claim in the lawsuit is that hospice workers, paid by the hour, were offered an incentive program including performance-based bonuses. But those employees were underpaid for overtime hours because the overtime was paid at the regular pay rate instead of the increased incentive wages, the lawsuit alleges.

Travis, the lead plaintiff, also alleges she was subjected to discrimination and comments about her African-American hairstyle and skin color while working for the hospice. The lawsuit says her complaints to a human resources director about discriminatory treatment were not taken seriously and she resigned April 13, 2022.

Another issue in the case is employee reimbursements for business expenses.

The lawsuit is set for a case management conference in August.

Community Hospice, the largest nonprofit hospice provider in the Central Valley, was recognized in April as one of the 10 best places to work in the Valley by Opportunity Stanislaus, a county workforce development agency.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is working with its partners on provision of additional defence packages.

Source: Zelenskyy in a video address

Quote from Zelenskyy: "There is a new defence package from the United States. The total amount is US$ 1.2 billion. [That includes] Artillery, defence against missiles and drones of terrorists, [and] other things to strengthen our defenders.

We are also working with other partners on additional defence packages  we are adding new opportunities for our soldiers."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked US President Joe Biden, US Congress and every American family for their continued support and "American strength that contributes to strength" of Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Students from across generations come together to improve their workforce skills

ROCHESTER  Students from Spaulding High School preparing to enter the workforce and seasoned employees from Laars Heating Systems Co. completed a novel new WorkReadyNH course.

Both groups learned skills related to career success, while developing peer-to-peer generational friendships. Dawn Hamdi, WorkReadyNH director at Great Bay, hopes the class becomes a model. This has been a real success for both groups, and we want to keep it rolling. Its a win-win for everyone, said Hamdi.

Students from Spaulding High School and employees from Laars Heating Systems participate in novel program to learn and expand career skills through WorkReady NH program.

Offered through the Community College System of New Hampshire, WorkReadyNH is a tuition-free professional-development program designed to build skills that help employees succeed in the workforce and adapt to changes. Those skills include effective communication, team building, problem solving, and decision making. The program is tailored for those who are entering the workforce, as well as people who are employed and interested in improving their skills to become more effective and valuable to their employers.

Historically, the two largest age-groups of participants are 51 to 60 and 18 to 30. Hamdi said this is the first time a community college has offered a WorkReadyNH course with both groups at the same time. During the recently completed session at Great Bays Rochester campus, seven graduating seniors from Spaulding took classes with five full-time employees from Laars, a Rochester-based company that designs, builds, and installs residential and commercial heating and water systems.

The participants gathered for three hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from late January through early April. After the high-school students left school, they walked down the street to our campus, and the Laars folks came over from their facility, Hamdi said. They learned from each other, and they had fun getting to know each other.

Tuition reimbursement available for students interested in Early Childhood Education

The Community College System of New Hampshire is partnering with Granite State College and the states Preschool Development Grant program to create a pipeline of skilled workers to help meet workforce demands in Early Childhood Education with tuition reimbursement opportunities.

CONCORD  The Community College System of New Hampshire is partnering with Granite State College and the states Preschool Development Grant program to create a pipeline of skilled workers to help meet workforce demands in Early Childhood Education. The $500,000 award will cover the full tuition for up to two classes per term for qualifying students enrolled in ECE courses through 2023 at New Hampshires seven community colleges.

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The goal of the program is to expand available support so individuals can more easily continue their studies while they fulfill any training requirements by working in ECE. Grants are available to individuals working in a New Hampshire licensed childcare or out-of-school childcare facilities. This award builds on an existing program at GSC, which is funded by an Early Childhood Education Assistance grant provided by the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services. Interested students can apply for these funds via the Preschool Development Tuition Assistance website which includes eligibility requirements, application timelines, eligible course lists, and award specifications.

Six NH seniors named semifinalists in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

CONCORD  Considered one of the nations highest honors for graduating high school seniors, six New Hampshire students have been named semifinalists in the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The semifinalists include: Sydney Buffett of Bedford High School, Aaron R. Joy of Phillips Exeter Academy, William Longtin of Hollis/Brookline High School, Sam McLaughlin of Spaulding High School, Sora Shirai of Hanover High School and Kelly Zhang of Oyster River High School.

New Hampshires six semifinalists join an elite group of 628 semifinalists from throughout the nation who are being recognized for their outstanding achievements in academics, the arts, leadership, school and community involvement and career and technical fields; there were more than 5,000 candidates for this years program. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in mid-May.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: WorkReadyNH, award finalists: Education news
(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

Global climate diplomacy is still moving at a glacial pace, even as actual glaciers melt at a faster rate than ever.

For the past few years, the big fight has focused on whether all 192 countries in the United Nations can agree to phase out fossil fuels and put the phrase into the final communique of the annual COP climate summit. The outcome has been an easy way for news organizations to judge if the meetings were a success or failure. Thats why, months before COP28 is held in the United Arab Emirates, European diplomats are thinking about workarounds.

Its frustrating to watch, veteran climate diplomat Pete Betts told the Financial Times. The wording of an agreement shouldnt be the barometer of how the world is progressing in the fight against global warming, he says. It should be documents called nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that each country submits in the run up to COP meetings.

Betts was a key UK negotiator involved in securing the Paris Agreement in 2015 and, since then, has remained one of the most respected thinkers on the climate problem, advising various countries including his own. Last year, after turning 63, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given months to live. In a moving reflection published last week, he says that COP meetings are wildly misunderstood.

Under the Paris Agreement, every country committed to making changes that will help keep global average temperature rise well below 2C and ideally below 1.5C. NDCs contain the list of initiatives a country will make toward that goal  and thats where the real measure of progress is to be found.

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Thats one reason why, weeks before a COP meeting starts, the UN publishes a synthesis report that collates all the promises countries have made and what level of warming the world will experience if those pledges are met. The 2022 report found that the world was on track to warm between 2.1C and 2.9C by the end of the century, a catastrophic outcome for the planet.

Listen to Akshat Rathi and Aaron Rutkoff talk about the thinking that underpins COP28 president and head of UAEs oil giant Sultan Al Jabers priorities for this years UN climate summit.

Betts is right that analyzing NDCs and holding governments to account over their contents is crucial. Especially because the documents set out targets and goals for the coming decade, which require shorter-term targets than net zero goals that are decades away.

The problem is that analyzing NDCs is much more complex than parsing a single statement at the end of a conference. The work can take skilled analysts weeks to complete, and thats when countries put in the work to drill down into the details needed.

The process of writing and updating NDCs is extremely important and should be taken much more seriously by governments, said Hanna Fekete of the NewClimate Institute, an environmental nonprofit. We dont really see that happening.

Lets consider Turkey, which ranked 13 among the worlds largest emitters of carbon dioxide in 2021. It submitted a five-page document in 2015 that stated its targets.

One of its goals was to reach 10 gigawatts of solar power capacity by 2030. The country almost accomplished that in2021, according BloombergNEF, but, instead of raising its ambitions, Turkey kept its solar target the same when it simply re-submitted the document before COP26.

Climate Action Tracker, which has dozens of analysts focused on NDCs, including Fekete, published a 7,000-word analysis of Turkeys commitments. It assigned the country an overall rating of critically insufficient, the lowest grade in its ranking, with a comprehensiveness rating of poor.

Then in 2022, the country announced a net zero by 2053 goal, but didnt share any plans of how it will get there. In April, the country submitted an updated NDC thats 43 pages long. Climate Action Tracker says its new analysis will be available this month.

The time it takes Climate Action Tracker to complete its analysis can range from days to weeks, depending on the complexity of the document. The process has been getting a little more streamlined as more countries update their NDCs and start using some common methodology.

As more minds focus on whats needed to tame global temperatures, analysis of the documents is also getting more nuanced. But theres still plenty of room to fake it. If a country wants to keep its targets ambiguous, they still can, said Fekete.

Akshat Rathi writes the Zero newsletter, which examines the worlds race to cut emissions. You can email him with feedback. His book Climate Capitalism will be published later this year.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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"We know that the nonuplets are a gift from God," the children's mom said. "Raising children is not easy, even with one child it is difficult"

AP

For the first time ever, the world's only nonuplets celebrated a birthday at home!

The nine siblings, who turned 2 on May 4, spent the first 19 months of their life in their birthplace of Morocco receiving specialist care before being able to return to their home in Mali.

Parents Halima Cisse and Abdelkader Arby threw a party for their boys (Mohammed, Bah, Oumar, Elhadji) and girls (Hawa, Adama, Oumou, Kadidia, Fatouma) that was themed "Miraculous" after the children's favorite superhero cartoon. Family and friends joined in the celebration.

"We know that the nonuplets are a gift from God," mom Cisse said to the Associated Press. "Raising children is not easy, even with one child it is difficult. So, nine babies at the same time!"

Related:Woman Gives Birth to 9 Babies at Once After Only Expecting 7: 'God Gave Us These Children,' Says Husband

AP

"Since I am in Mali, members of my family support me to raise the children," she added.

Cisse and Arby welcomed their nine babies in Morocco in 2021. Doctors had initially believed Cisse was expecting only seven children. A total of 32 medical professionals worked together to make sure the delivery happened safely.

After initially remaining at the clinic for monitoring, the family moved to an apartment in the North African country, where they continued to receive care.

The birth broke the Guinness World Record for the title of most children delivered at a single birth to survive, with the previous record held by "Octomom" Nadya Suleman's eight children.

Related:Mom Gives Birth to Identical Quadruplets amid Pandemic: 'We Were Just Absolutely Floored'

AP

Youssef Alaoui, the director of the facility where Cisse gave birth, noted at the time that as far as he was aware, she had not used any fertility treatments.

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The children arrived at 30 weeks and were "in perfect health," their father told the BBC at the time of their first birthday in 2022.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The couple are also parents to an older daughter, Souda, 4.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Its been four years since the tragic and untimely death of then-20-year-old Cameron Boyce, who died in July 2019 following a fatal seizure related to his epilepsy. Since then, his family has set up The Cameron Boyce Foundation in his honor to support epilepsy awareness with more educational resources and research funding for neurological disorders.

This June will mark the foundations second annual CAM FOR A CAUSE gala, where actor and activist Yara Shahidi will receive the first Cameron Boyce Youth Empowerment Award.

Boyces sister will present the award to Shahidi  who most recently played Tinker Bell in Peter Pan & Wendy  at the upcoming gala. According to the foundation, the award is for an extraordinary young person who is dedicated to making a difference in the world.

the foundation is said to be shining a light on Shahidis activism surrounding STEM awareness, womens rights, civil rights, and her countless acts of kindness toward others, Good Morning America reported.

Boyce is known best for starring as Luke in Disney Channels Jessie, as Carlos in Disney Channels Descendants movies, and alongside Kiefer Sutherland in Mirrors. Boyce also worked with Shia LaBeouf in Eagle Eye and Adam Sandler in Grown Ups/Grown Ups 2. Other credits include CBS Code Black and Disney Channels Gamers Guide to Pretty Much Everything. His last credits included a debut in the HBO series, Mrs. Fletcher and as the lead in the indie film RUNT.

Boyce passed from what is known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP yearly.

Per the foundations website, Boyce was a humanitarian extraordinary beyond measure who used his voice to enact change through his global reach and social following.

In a statement obtained by GMA, the 23-year-old Shahidi expressed her gratitude for the honor.

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It is such an honor to be the recipient of the first Youth Empowerment Award, Shahidi said. I met Cameron when we were 5 years old, and even then, his talent, his fearlessness and his belief in the power of his peers was evident.

It means so much to be recognized for my advocacy and the work I continue to do to effect change, her statement continued.

Yara Shahidi on the passing of Cameron Boyce  he was so loved pic.twitter.com/agpzUBAorO  A. (@MakeItShady) July 7, 2019

Im grateful to my friends and family at The Cameron Boyce Foundation for thinking of me, as I will always be inspired and activated by their incredible work in the fight to end epilepsy.

The gala will be held June 1 in Los Angeles, featuring special performances, presenters and guests.
In the five years since it launched in the U.S., 5G coverage has expanded across the nation, fueling personal and commercial applications.

The low latency and high-speed mobile network can improve efficiency, letting consumers rely on faster connection amid a rise in smart devices and manufacturers streamline production.

But as 5G spreads  with roughly 62 percent of Americans able to receive high-speed coverage at home  rising demand, lack of infrastructure and a political impasse are posing roadblocks to pushing it further.

Read more from The Hills special coverage on the future of broadband here.

Chip Pickering, CEO of Incompas and a former Republican congressman in Mississippi, said 5G is one more big leap ahead in innovation.

When 4G launched around 2008, the iPhone hitting the market led to an influx of apps, he said, going from a market of about 10 apps to 10 million in 15 years. And 5G has propelled advancements.

As we look at 5G, and we look ahead, it just enables more advanced technologies. Everything from AI to the internet of things, to autonomous vehicles, everything is being connected to everything, Pickering said.

The impact will be a driving force across sectors, from health care to education to manufacturing, he said.

Approximately 206.4 million Americans can receive high-speed 5G coverage at home, according to data by Broadband Now, an independent broadband availability website. But that access isnt spread evenly across the country, with gaps especially in more rural areas, based on Broadband Nows map of coverage.

Infrastructure, especially in rural America, is one roadblock in the way of expanding 5G access, said David Grossman, vice president of regulatory affairs at the Consumer Technology Association.

Over the next decade, demand for 5G is expected to skyrocket as the number of average consumer connected devices increases. That expected increased demand is leading industry groups to push for more spectrum to be available for commercial use.

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At the same time, stakeholders are grappling with a political roadblock: a fight over access to that spectrum availability.

Congress let the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) longstanding authority to auction spectrum lapse in March for the first time in decades, an issue that both the agency and the wireless industry are urging Congress to fix in order to let the U.S. meet demand and stay globally competitive.

At the crux of the political issue are Department of Defense allies on Capitol Hill pushing for the government to keep control over more of the available spectrum, with wireless companies pushing for more spectrum to be available to be licensed to them, said Tom Wheeler, a visiting fellow in governance studies at Brookings Institution and former FCC chair during the Obama administration.

Wheeler said the political arm wrestling that led to hampering the FCCs authority to auction spectrum may not limit the expansion of 5G today, but it certainly does in the future.

I dont mean 10 years from now, I mean in the near term, Wheeler said.

Amid negotiations on a longer-term resolution, the House passed a bill that would have extended the authority through May 19. That proposal in the Senate was rejected by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who offered a different bill that would have extended it through the end of September to give the Pentagon and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) time to finish a joint study on spectrum needs of critical defense capabilities.

Rounds said during a floor debate in March that the review was critical to make sure national security is protected.

Roundss proposal, put forward along with Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), was blocked by Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), which led to the current lapse. Welch said the 60-day stop-gap bill to extend the authority through May 19 would have applied pressure to parties negotiating a longer-term resolution and that the September extension was not supported in the House.

The FCC wrote a letter to the top members of the House and Senate commerce committees urging them to act promptly to restore the commissions spectrum auction authority, in part to help the U.S. compete globally, especially with China. The commissioners underscored the need to do so in the lead up to the World Radiocommunication Conference in November, when countries gather to review and revise the international treaty governing use of radio-frequency spectrum.

The commissioners told Congress, we must send a strong signal in advance of that meeting of our continued commitment to lead in coming generations of wireless technologies.

Telecom industry associations sent a joint letter to the leaders of the Commerce and Armed Services committees with a similar request, urging them to restore the authority, especially as demand for wireless networks is expected to increase and as China is looking to expand 5G spectrum.

Grossman said the U.S. traditionally has been seen as a leader in supporting the next generation of wireless services. As other countries, especially China, look to free up additional spectrum, the fact that we cant get our act together in the U.S. has a really negative impact on the U.S. to keep its reputation as a leader in this space, he said.

That to me  is a reason for congress to move expeditiously to get the FCC spectrum authority reauthorized, Grossman said.

A Republican House Energy and Commerce aide said lawmakers are actively working to get a deal done quickly. Their goal is to move forward with a comprehensive bill to extend the authority for several years, but a stop-gap bill for a lesser extension is not off the table as an option, according to the aide.

House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said time is of the essence to extend the authority amid Chinas expansion.

The House has acted several times, including by unanimously passing my own bipartisan bill to prevent this lapse. But we cannot give up  the stakes are too high, Pallone said in a statement.

The ongoing lapse comes as the administration is starting discussions on the next generation of 6G. The White House held a 6G summit last month.

Tom Power, general counsel at CTIA, the Cellular Telephone Industries Association, said 6G talks during the current lapse in FCC spectrum auction authority is essentially moot.

Its kind of like the emperor has no clothes. But you dont have a spectrum policy? he said. Which 6G is nothing but a standard for, or will be a standard for, how you use spectrum in a way that increases speed and reduces latency and makes it as robust as possible. And were talking about a policy for a product that, right now, the FCC cant even offer.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ATLANTA  A scientist from the United Kingdom will attempt to turn seismic activity recorded in real time at Yellowstone National Park into music that will then be turned into a live performance on stage at a conference in Georgia on Tuesday.

If successful, this will give a whole new meaning to the definition of a "rock" concert.

THESE US NATIONAL PARKS REQUIRE RESERVATIONS IN 2023

FILE - The iconic Old Faithful Geyser springs to life (every 90 minutes) in Yellowstone National Parks Upper Geyser Basin on September 18, 2022, in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Sitting atop an active volcanic caldera, Yellowstone, Americas first National Park, is home to more geological hydrothermal features (geysers, mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles) than are found in the rest of the world combined.

Dr. Domenico Vicinanza, a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin Universitys (ARU) School of Computing and Information Science in the U.K., developed a computer program that will map the seismic activity recorded at Yellowstone National Park in real time and then turn that into musical notes.

Vicinanza is a leading expert in data sonification, which is the process of converting scientific measurements into sound, according to a news release from ARU.

"We have absolutely no idea how the music will turn out," Vicinanza said. "Using my program, Ill be converting the data to musical notes, and if theres significant seismic activity and big spikes in the data were receiving at that time, the music will be incredibly dramatic."

YELLOWSTONE WARNS AGAINST APPROACHING ANIMALS AFTER VIDEO SHOWS MEN GETTING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO BISON

The musical notes will be performed live on stage by Dr. Alyssa Schwartz, visiting assistant professor of flute and musicology at Fairmont State University in West Virginia.

And this ambitious event will mark the first time data sonification using live geophysical data has been attempted on stage.

HOW THE NATIONAL PARKS PRESERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE US

"Alyssa wont be able to change any note, but she will be able to interpret the piece of music created before her eyes, and she will be able to creatively use speed, articulation, or make certain parts softer or louder," Vicinanza said.

The performance will be held at the 2023 Internet2 Community Exchange conference in Atlanta on Tuesday.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Yellowstone region is one of the most seismically active areas in the U.S. and experiences an average of 1,500 to 2,500 earthquakes yearly.

Earlier this year, seismologists monitoring Yellowstone reported dozens of earthquakes beneath the northern portion of Yellowstone Lake.

Within 12 hours in March, at least 60 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 0.1 to 3.7 were detected.
Upstate New York counties are vowing to fight New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to send migrants and asylum seekers north for temporary housing.

On Monday, Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus issued an Execute Order for hotels not to accept asylum seekers.

Neuhaus accused the mayor of reneging on his promise to send only 60 adult male migrant asylum seekers without notifying Orange County officials. He said the county could no longer rely on the representations of New York City officials.

FILE: New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks to family members of fallen NYPD Officers while attending the NYPD Memorial Day Ceremony where new names were added to the Memorial Wall located in the lobby of the headquarters.

"[T]here is no reason to believe that these migrants or asylum seekers will leave Orange County after New York City ceases to pay for the housing and any services that are presently receiving in New York City, or that many thousands more migrants or asylum seekers will not be transported to Orange County," Neuhaus said.

The County Executive predicted that a surge of migrants into the county will overwhelm city resources and, as such, there is "there is no legal basis to provide adequate services to these migrants or asylum seekers."

LIFTING OF TITLE 42 CAUSING CRISIS, SENDING WRONG MESSAGE TO MIGRANTS, SAYS HEAD OF TEXAS CHARITY

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Neuhaus ordered that all "hotels, motels and/or facilities allowing short-term rentals do not accept said migrants and/or asylum seekers for housing within Orange County."

At a news conference with U.S. Rep Michael Lawler and other officials, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the county was "not equipped to humanely assist these individuals, which eventually we're going to have to do."

Day, a Republican, called Mayor Adams' plan to bus up to 300 single adult male migrants to hotels in Rockland and neighboring Orange counties "the same as throwing people out to the middle of the ocean who can't swim and saying 'go to shore.' It can't work."

Adams, a Democrat, announced the plan Friday to bus migrants to the two counties north of the city on a voluntary basis. He said the program would help the city handle the more than 37,500 asylum seekers in the city's care.

Story continues

DEMOCRATS RAIL AGAINST BIDEN ADMIN'S HANDLING OF SOUTHERN BORDER AS TITLE 42 EXPIRATION APPROACHES

Adams announced the plan as cities across the U.S. prepare for an increase in migrants seeking asylum when the pandemic-era policy, Title 42, that permitted the expulsion of many migrants ends. Officials anticipate that the end of the immigration limits under Title 42 of a 1944 public health law will mean more migrants trying to cross the southern border.

FILE: Immigrants keep warm by a fire at dawn after spending a night alongside the U.S.-Mexico border fence on December 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas.

Adams said the migrants sent from New York City to Rockland and Orange counties would be provided with meals, counseling and other services for a stay of up to four months in the hotels.

Adams has complained for months that the volume of migrants arriving in New York was beyond the city's capacity to house and has criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican elected officials for busing migrants to New York.

Adams' administration has been using hotels within the city to house some migrants, mainly families with children. Plans to house others at sites including a cruise ship terminal and a beach parking lot in the Bronx have been scrapped. Texas and other border states have been dealing with historic numbers of illegal border crossings since the crisis began in the earliest days of President Biden's term.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayors office for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A federal jury in New York City reached a decision Tuesday in the civil trial of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll vs. former President Donald Trump.

The jury decided that Trump was not liable for rape but was liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The jury awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.

The six men and three women on the jury began deliberating Tuesday morning on the ninth day of the civil trial, which took place in Manhattan federal court.

E. Jean Carroll arrives for her civil trial against former President Donald Trump at Manhattan federal court on May 9, 2023, in New York City.

Trump chose not to attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read.

Carroll, 79, alleged that Trump raped her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store across the street from Trump Tower in Manhattan sometime in 1996. According to Carroll, the two had a chance run-in at the store, where Trump was shopping for a gift for "a girl." She said he asked for her advice, and the two shopped together before he pushed her into a dressing room and assaulted her.

Trump and his legal team insist that Carroll's allegations are fabricated, with the former president's initial reaction including an accusation that Carroll was motivated by wanting to sell copies of her book.

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That denial resulted in Carroll slapping Trump with a defamation claim, claiming that his response caused harm to her reputation.

TRUMP VIDEO OF E JEAN CARROLL DEPOSITION RELEASED: SHE WOULDNT BE MY TYPE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM'

Carroll's lawsuit requested compensatory and punitive damages as well as an order that Trump retract his statement.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carroll's story is too far-fetched to be believed. He echoed the claim that she made it up to fuel sales of her 2019 memoir, and he argued that she wanted to disparage Trump for political reasons.

COURT REJECTS TRUMP'S REQUEST FOR MONTH-LONG DELAY IN DEFAMATION TRIAL

"You know, facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts in evidence. The facts in evidence made plain here that E. Jean Carroll's story is not worthy of your belief, not even close," Tacopina said. "Her story  and it's just that, a story  is not true, she was not raped at Bergdorf Goodman's. She was not defamed by being called out on making up that story."

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"One motivation that should drive all in this courtroom is adherence to the rule of law," he told jurors. "To condemn someone as a rapist is a decision you would have to live with for the rest of your lives. Don't let her throw that burden on you."

Magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll arrives for her civil trial against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan federal court on May 9, 2023, in New York City.

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, cited excerpts from Trump's October deposition and his notorious comments on a 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which he said celebrities can grab women "by the p----." She urged jurors to believe her client.

"He didnt even bother to show up here in person," Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from court during the two weeks of trial. She said much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements "actually supports our side of the case."

"In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself," she said. "He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll."

MELANIA FULLY BEHIND TRUMP'S 2024 CAMPAIGN, SAYS IT WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS FIRST LADY AGAIN

While the jury was deliberating Tuesday, Trump spoke out in a Truth Social post.

"Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard-nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me," he wrote. "In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press. I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!"

Trump did not testify during the trial, but he was deposed on camera in October.

"She's accusing me of rape, a woman that I have no idea who she is. It came out of the blue. She's accusing me of rape  of raping her, the worst thing you can do, the worst charge," Trump told Kaplan at his law office in October. "And you know it's not true too. You're a political operative also. You're a disgrace. But she's accusing me and so are you of rape, and it never took place. And I will tell you I made that statement, and I said, while it's politically incorrect, she's not my type. And that's 100 percent true. She's not my type."

E. Jean Carroll leaves Manhattan federal court in New York City on May 9, 2023, after a jury ruled that former President Donald Trump was liable for sexually abusing her in the mid-1990s and for defaming her. Trump was ordered to pay Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.

Carroll nodded as the verdict was read. Afterward, her lawyers put their arms around her, and she hugged supporters in the gallery, smiling through tears.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, shook hands with Carroll and hugged her lawyer, Kaplan. As the courtroom cleared, Carroll could be heard laughing and crying.

Speaking to reporters later, Tacopina said Trump's legal team was "in one sense gratified" but "not happy he was found liable for anything whatsoever based on this evidence."

"[Trump] wants to fight this on appeal again. He was successful in one appeal before the Second Circuit  with Judge Kaplan on Carroll vs. Trump, and he thinks he's going to be successful in the second one," Tacopina said.

After the verdict was read, Trump took to Truth Social, again insisting he didnt know Carroll.

"This verdict is a disgrace," he wrote. "A continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
young-thug-year-on-trial.jpg Young Thug Hearing - Credit: Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

Today marks one year since Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 others were charged in a 56-count indictment in Atlanta. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis alleges that Thug (real name: Jeffery Williams) is the leader of Young Slime Life, which she claims is a criminal street gang. Williams, who has denied all allegations, has been incarcerated since May 9, 2022, when Fulton County Police arrested him at his Atlanta home. Hes filed for bond on four separate occasions, with his last attempt on April 26, but hes been denied three times because of presiding judge Ural Glanvilles belief that hes a danger to the community.

But that perception is in part fueled by Williams rap lyrics, a First Amendment qualm that highlights the justice systems racial inequities. Critics have decried that Williams and his codefendants are being denied their presumption of innocence while sitting for so long awaiting trial. But its not just Williams facing this plight; the carceral states inherent racial bias hinders all Black and brown defendants from truly being seen as innocent until proven guilty, allowing prosecutors to restrict their freedom and rights before their case is even tried. In Georgia and elsewhere, citizens are overpoliced, and jails are overcrowded, creating legal logjams that keep innocent people incarcerated as if they were already convicted.

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In October 2022, Willis filed a motion seeking to push back the start date of the trial from Jan. 9 to March 27 because they reportedly had over three terabytes of data in discovery to cull through. When Glanville denied their motion, he proclaimed, Most of these people have no bonds. That is something that weighs heavily on the court in terms of a start date for this trial. They deserve to have a right to go to trial.

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Jury selection started on Jan. 4 and has moved at a glacial pace because of the travails of finding 12 jurors able to clear their schedule for what Glanville expects to be a six-to-nine-month trial. Over 1,200 jurors are expected to be summoned by May 19  and more could be called if they dont find 12 people within that throng.

Lawyer and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani says that the sluggish jury selection is also a result of the sprawling nature of the case, with 10 defendants being tried simultaneously. The issue, in this case, is the judge wants to try all the cases together. So youre talking about more than a dozen defendants [who] all have a right to their own lawyer, he says. They all have a right to question each potential juror or each witness. So something that might normally take minutes might take hours [with] a dozen lawyers asking potential jurors and witnesses questions.

Rahmani also said that the cases notoriety is hampering jury selection: This is probably one of the biggest trials ever to happen in Atlanta. Its up there with the big, high-profile civil rights cases that have happened. So youre going to be pressed to find jurors that dont have preconceived notions.

Jury selection is expected to go all the way into August, which would make 15 months in jail for Williams and the 13 other trial-standing defendants. Along with the YSL case, Willis is still investigating Donald Trump for potential racketeering charges in relation to the 2020 election. Rahmani says taking on two such high-profile cases is undoubtedly expending resources from an already depleted Fulton County Prosecutors Office.

Fani Willis is investigating Trump. That would be the most politically-charged prosecution in American history if she charges him with conspiring to overfill the election. So the practical reality is that its going to take away from other cases.

He adds, I was a drug and human trafficking prosecutor, so I was focused on the drug cartels. I wasnt going to prosecute weed cases or just street dealers. It just didnt make sense.

Bridgette Simpson is an abolitionist and co-founder of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Barred Business, which assists incarcerated people with housing, legal protection, and other resources formerly to aid their reentry into society. She tells Rolling Stone that the case shows how often Black people are denied their due process in court based off of whatever theory that the prosecutors or the court system may have. Simpson adds that theres so much overcrowding [in Atlanta jails] because they sentence poorly, they arrest poorly, and they dont move through the court dockets at all. And its reflected in all of the cases that you see in the news, in all of the people that are laying on floors and sleeping on concrete to wait for a trial date.

Last September, 35-year-old Lashawn Thompson was found dead in a Fulton County jail cell, eaten alive by bedbugs. The cell was so unsanitary that a jail employee put on a HAZMAT suit before entering it.

Simpson says that the inhumane conditions are a symptom of overcrowding and that she and other organizers have been attempting to shift legislation around cash bail but keep running into roadblocks such as the recently vetoed Senate Bill 63, which vied to prohibit signature bond for misdemeanors such as shoplifting and marijuana possession. She says bail bondsmen and others who profit from the costly legal process have no incentive to act. So they continue to lobby, they keep fighting back and forth in order to end [cash bail]. As far as pushing forward with statewide legislation, were still in the process of it, [but lawmakers feel like] why invest in a solution when the problem plays? 

The sprawling indictments against Williams and his fellow defendants include Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges originally created to ensnare the Italian American Mafia. But in New York, alleged mobster Ralph DiMatteo was given bail last year while awaiting federal RICO charges. In April 2021, Williams and Gunna (real name: Sergio Kitchens) posted bail for 30 people who couldnt afford to post their own bail but werent able to get their own bond approved (Kitchens is free after being sentenced to time served). Rahmani says that granting a defendant bond can be detrimental to a prosecutors efforts.

If youre a prosecutor, you want to keep defendants in custody without bond, he says. Obviously, any defendant, if theyre out, theres potential that they commit other crimes. [Also], its very difficult to get someone to plead guilty and voluntarily go to prison when theyre out enjoying their freedom. Youre much more likely to convince someone to plead when theyre already in custody. So thats a strategic reason why prosecutors like to keep people in custody.

It also makes it harder for the defendant to defend a case. When theyre out, they can fully meet with their lawyer and come and go as they please. But if theyre in custody, then the lawyer needs to go into the jail to meet with the defendant. It makes it harder for the defense to prepare for trial. So thats the strategic reason why prosecutors like to keep defendants in custody.

Holding defendants in jail can be a smart stratagem for a prosecutor, but it also means exposing someone innocent until proven guilty to harsh conditions. Last May, Williams lawyer Brian Steel explained his treatment in Fulton County Jail: solitary confinement/total isolation, a windowless cement compartment with only a bed and a toilet and an overhead light, which remains on 24 hours per day, preventing any sleep, rest or meditation, no access to any type of media, and no ability to exercise, shower, or have human contact aside from attorneys. In Brian Steels April bond motion, he said that Williams is sleep-deprived at Fulton County jail, which is affecting his ability to prepare for trial.

Williams, a platinum-selling rapper, is contending with a more complicated set of bond factors than the average defendant. The racially motivated stigma against rap has hindered his presumption of innocence. Williams lyrics were used as evidence in the indictment and read aloud by prosecutors, framing them as proof of his guilt.

Simpson contends that the torrential media coverage of the YSL trial is also making it difficult to find sufficiently unbiased jurors. Willis has previously said that the alleged YSL vs. YFN feud created violence like Atlanta has never seen and alleged that the 28 defendants charged really do havoc in our community. [Potential] jurors are not going to be shielded from all thats going on, she says. So how are you going to find a jury when you have a judge thats on TV saying [Williams is] a threat to society? Youre condemning him guilty already. What jury of his peers are you going to find if youve already painted the message?

Simpson and her Barred Business colleague Chartisia Griffin feel that prosecutors are amplifying the notion that Williams is a gang leader but not fully considering the good hes done in Atlanta. Griffin describes Williams as a healer in the community who helped change the lives of numerous young people in Atlanta by not just encouraging them to leave the streets but giving them the means to do so.

Hes paid young boys I know personally [where] hes like, Hey, no, no, no. Come out the street, man. What you think you going to make today? Im going to give you that amount of money today to go get in the studio and record because you talented,  she says. It was the power and the [positive] influence that he had that was fearful and the things that he was now promoting  Could I get you to graduate? Could I get you to stay out of the street so we can vote? Thats why I feel so bad for his family.

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An entrance to Abbey Caves in New Zealand is shown in this file photo

A teenage boy has gone missing in a cave system amid widespread flooding in New Zealand's Auckland region.

He was among 15 students and two teachers who had gone to Abbey Caves, a series of three underground caves.

The rest of the group was initially trapped but made it out safely.

Auckland, which is New Zealand's largest city, has declared a state of emergency after heavy rainfall stranded cars, toppled trees and disrupted rail services.

Late on Tuesday, the search for the missing boy was suspended until first light on Wednesday. He was reported to be in Year 11, typically a level for students aged 15 or 16.

The Abbey Caves Reserve features limestone outcrops and sink holes. Rapidly rising water and roof falls in the caves pose significant risks for cavers, say local authorities.

It is unclear why the outdoor education class went ahead despite the bad weather, but the principal of Whangarei Boys' High School has promised an investigation, the New Zealand Herald reported.

In a statement, police Supt Tony Hill said: "Our thoughts are with the whanau (family) of the missing child, as well as all those involved in the group outing and the school."

The same region of New Zealand was hit by record rainfall in January, and Cyclone Gabrielle a month later.

On Tuesday, images on local media showed people rushing out of office buildings to go home early, causing traffic jams in some parts of the city.

A state of emergency was declared as a precaution and disaster response services mobilised, Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told reporters.

She described the flooding as an "evolving emergency situation".

From January to April, the Auckland region received 90% of its average total annual rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 35mm (1.3in) of rain in just one hour.

The New Zealand Meteorological Service noted that the region is "very saturated" after a "very rough" five months.

Authorities advised people to postpone unnecessary travel and avoid driving on flooded streets.

Story continues

Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged New Zealand in mid-February, leaving 11 people dead and a trail of devastation that Finance Minister Grant Robertson likened to the damage wrought by the Christchurch earthquake from 12 years ago.

New Zealand's Climate Change Minister James Shaw attributed the scale of the disaster to climate change.

The cyclone hit just weeks after torrential rains and flooding left four dead and parts of Auckland's main airport submerged.
Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has said that todays Victory Day parade in Moscow is evidence that Vladimir Putin is living in a world of his own imagination. According to Podoliak, Putins reliance on cliches and symbolic gestures is preventing him from either reviving the Russian Empire or being able to justify the war in Ukraine.

Source: Mykhailo Podoliak on Telegram

Quote from Podoliak: "What was that? Panic, primitivism, and the classic emotional self-justification of the aggressor: They made me murder, rape, and loot. This is who Putin is today: the person who has once and for all put an end to Russia as an empire and to attempts to bring back the USSR and Victory Day [...]

Trite repetitions of (falsely alarmist) cliches (They attacked us!) against the backdrop of total mobilisation in the regions of the Russian Federation, which has become an obsolete and barbaric country  this is what 9 May in Russia looks like.

Putin today is a perfect embodiment of what psychoanalysis textbooks call split consciousness. He has invented his own imaginary world in which he sees himself as an important geopolitical strategist, with the worlds second army to back him and the compulsory recourse to Lenin, Fomenko and Ilyin as creators of a just universe. [Vladimir Lenin, founding head of government of Soviet Russia, Anatoly Fomenko, author of the New Chronology conspiracy theory, and Ivan Ilyin, a conservative monarchist philosopher, are all seen as Putins ideological touchstones  ed.] He then started a large-scale war, and is now murdering civilians en masse, organising forced deportations, razing large and small cities to the ground  and whining about being treacherously attacked when he receives any pushback.

But[We live in an] information age. Everything is laid bare. Everything is broadcast live. It was the deplorable Russia that unleashed this war, a country that spearheads international terrorism willingly, eagerly, and with great pleasure."

Story continues

Details: Podoliak explained that Ukraine is an independent state, and "whatever happens here, whatever social and political processes unfold", it is none of Russias business.

The advisor also said that Putins "whining about the 2014 coup detat in Ukraine only bears out the Russian political elites total lack of relevance and competence."

Podoliak stressed that "whatever happens in Ukraine, it has nothing to do with Russia. We became independent states 32 years ago, and each of our countries is going its own way. Ukraines revolutions or international alliances have nothing to do with the Russian barbarians."

He added that Russia is exhibiting "outright violence", and this has nothing to do with civilisation, international relations, ideology or "multi-vector policy" and everything to do with "crimes, future trials, punishment and reparations".

Moreover, Podoliak is convinced that Russians will have to "pay their bills", even if they are used to impunity. "History already has the powerful noose of the special tribunal waiting for Russia [...]," he believes.

Quote from Podoliak: "A parade? No. Only darkness. Russia is being consumed by panic and doomsaying. The people that Putin has dragged into the imaginary and schizophrenic world of the neo-empire will have to be brought back to reality and pay out of their own pocket for decades of indifference and tolerance of evil."

Background:

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin held the traditional Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2023, despite heavy fighting in Ukraine and enormous losses in the war. As in 2022, the parades flight programme was cancelled, and only one tank, a WWII-era T-34, was featured.

Putin told a succession of lies during his speech at the Victory Day parade, claiming that Russia has no enemies among other countries and wants to see a peaceful and free future, while adding that the war in Ukraine is the most important thing today.

The presidents of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and the prime minister of Armenia, agreed to join Putin at the Victory Day parade in Moscow.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War believe Russia was using them to demonstrate its influence in Central Asia.

Ukraine considers the attendance of the leaders of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the Victory Parade in Moscow alongside war criminal Vladimir Putin to be an immoral and unfriendly move.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Ukraine is counting on receiving a positive interim assessment on its progress toward European integration from the European Commission in June.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint briefing with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, in Kyiv on 9 May, reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy said it was high time the artificial political uncertainty in relations between Ukraine and the European Union was removed.

"The time has come for a positive decision on the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's membership of the European Union," Zelenskyy said.

He added that "our values, security, prosperity, peace on the continent  all this can only be implemented 100% for Europe together with Ukraine".

Quote: "In this context, we are counting on the European Commission presenting a positive interim assessment of Ukraine's progress on the path to European integration in June. We are really counting on it."

More details: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has always been and will always be an integral part of the common European space.

Background: In June, the European Commission will publish its preliminary assessment of Ukraine's progress in the reforms it needs to implement for EU membership negotiations to be opened.

According to a study conducted by a consortium of Ukrainian think tanks, the final score for Ukraine's fulfilment of the "European integration" criteria was 6.8 points out of 10, which is more than two-thirds.

Taking that into account, starting EU accession negotiations in 2023 seems to be a realistic goal. Read more on this: Seven EU Requirements for Ukraine: Accession Negotiations Getting Closer.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Read also: In The Hague, Zelenskyy calls for and tribunal and trial for Putin, Russia to pay compensation to Ukraine

Zelenskyy noted that the International Criminal Court has no mandate over crimes of aggression, meaning that a special tribunal is necessary to hold Russia accountable.

He thanked the 37 countries already supporting the initiative, and said that the International Criminal Investigation Center for Russian Aggression will begin operating in The Hague sometime this summer.

"Russia began its aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and made it a full-scale one in 2022, because the idea prevailed in Russia's leadership that Europe left history to historians and that European peoples and politicians do not dare to protect their values and defend themselves," Zelenskyy said.

Read also: Moldova joins international Russia tribunal initiative, FM Kuleba says

The president called on foreign leaders to join him in proving that Moscow was wrong in every way: in its military calculations, assessments of Ukraine's resilience, and of how the free world values justice.

We can discuss among ourselves what the model of a special tribunal should be for the crime of aggression against Ukraine... but I emphasize again: it must be a tribunal, he added.

Read also: North Macedonia supports special tribunal against Russia

Im glad we agree that the aggressor's responsibility for the crime must be inevitable, and that responsibility is for the crime of aggression.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba later tweeted that all 37 summit participants confirmed their determination to hold Russias leadership accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Read also: EU official details possible structure of tribunal for Putin

The tribunal initiative has been supported by resolutions of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ursula von der Leyen

The president said the meeting had been scheduled for the "special day" of May 9, which from now on will be celebrated in Ukraine as Europe Day, as it is across the whole of the EU.

"Kyiv is the perfect place to celebrate Europe Day. The brave Ukrainian people are defending every day those same values that are in the heart of the European Union," Zelenskyy said.

Read also: EUs top diplomat accepts only Zelenskyys peace formula, rejects Chinas position paper

Von der Leyen honoured the memory of fallen soldiers at a memorial in the city, and took a look at the destroyed Russian military machines on display at Saint Michael's Square in the center of Kyiv.

Reuters news agency published photos of the visit.

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

Later, two presidents held a joint briefing.

REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

This was von der Leyen's fifth visit to Kyiv since the Russian full-scale invasion began. She came to the Ukrainian capital the previous time at the beginning of February, together with President of the European Council Charles Michel and other European officials to attend an EU-Ukraine summit.

Read also: Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell arrive in Kyiv

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Shares of Indian food delivery firm Zomato ended session on Tuesday at a decline of 6%, hours after it became known that Invesco had cut the valuation of its rival Swiggy.

Shares of Zomato ended Tuesday's trading session at 60.94 Indian rupees (or 74 U.S. cents ), a 6% decline over the day's opening at 64.80 Indian rupees. The share drop wiped over $400 million in Zomato's market cap.

TechCrunch first reported on Monday, after local trading hours, that the U.S. asset manager Invesco had slashed the valuation of Swiggy, the chief rival of Zomato, by 48.6% in a year to $5.5 billion. Invesco led a $700 million funding round in Swiggy in January last year, valuing the Bengaluru-headquartered startup at $10.7 billion.
Buying a home is one of the largest investments most people make and its important that their agent be knowledgeable to help them through the buying or selling process.

Kem Cobb, a 58-year-old Realtor with Elite Realty, based in Lynchburg, takes pride in her job because of the people she gets to work with and, at the end of the day, become friends with.

Cobb grew up in Christiansburg, attended Virginia Tech where she studied communications before moving to Lynchburg with her ex-husband Kevin where they started their own office equipment business, Cobb Technologies in 1990.

She worked there until 1999 and decided to leave the family business and start something new.

I never loved that. I would travel all over the state delivering fax machines and Id wake up and say Oh God, Ive gotta go knock on some doors. It didnt bring me joy but I wanted something that would give me flexibility because of my kids. she said, adding she has three children and five grandchildren.

She stumbled into real estate through a friend and broker, Max Guthrie.

At the time we tailgated together at Virginia Tech games and he was a broker. He owned his own company in real estate. And I just talked to him about it one day, and he thought that it would be something that I would enjoy and he thought Id be good at it. So I got my license, she said.

Initially, she thought real estate was all about selling houses. However, over the years, she has realized that its about building relationships with clients. She now considers her clients her friends and treats them as such. This approach has resulted in a lot of referral business for her.

Cobb is intentional about staying in touch with her past clients. She holds a couple of appreciation events every year that she invites all of her clients to, and she regularly meets them for coffee or lunch.

She believes in running her business like a business and is always staying on top of changes in laws and contracts. The Lynchburg Association of Realtors offers continuing education classes every month Cobb takes advantage of.

People do think its easy and it is easy to get into it. You just take a class and you pass a test and then you have license, she said. But I think that when a lot of people do get into the industry, they realize its not as easy as they thought it was.

When she first got into the business 23 years ago, she said she was just dabbling in it part-time.

I probably didnt do my clients justice because Im very, very full-time now, she said. When I started running my business like a business, my business changed, and thats really just working by relationships and being intentional with staying in touch with past clients.

Cobb does not view her peers as her competition. She believes that everyone brings something different to the table and that there is enough business to go around. She does understand that there are times when she will be up against other agents when a client wants to list their house. In those situations, she talks about her experience, company, marketing and the fact that 95% of her business comes from referrals.

I love what I do. I know that I am their trusted advisor, she said. I have people that Ive sold houses to 20 years ago that will still call me if they need a painter and theyll call me. If they relocated here, they say, Whos my doctor, whos my dentist, where do I shop? They come to me as their resource.

Cobb said she values the friendships shes made and continues those relationships long after the sale has closed.

There is no bigger compliment than the referrals that I get, knowing that they trust me to take care of their friends and family, she said.

Beth Cothron and her husband, Tony, were enjoying their retirement plans and looking forward to traveling when Tony received a phone call about a job opportunity at Liberty University in 2021. With his Navy and government work experience, he was a perfect fit for the role. They started searching for houses in the area, and through Zillow, he found a house he liked and clicked on a Realtors ad, which turned out to be Cobb, who had just started advertising on Zillow.

Cobb was the first person the couple contacted, and they felt an instant connection with her. She took them on a tour of Lynchburg, showed them different neighborhoods and listened to what they were looking for in a home, Cothron said.

With houses selling fast during 2021, Tony had to rely on Cobb to show him homes and would use video calls to show Beth the houses virtually.

Despite living in Northern Virginia, Cobb and Cothron kept in touch and developed a friendship.

Cothron said she appreciated Cobbs genuine and caring nature, not just as a Realtor but as a person. She added Cobb was personable and has a life full of friends who she loves and who love her.

I mean shes the person I think I know the best here in the area, Cothron said. So we developed a friendship. She was just so genuine and she listened to what we were looking for.

The Cothrons were grateful for the random click on Zillow, which led them to Cobb, who helped them find their dream home and a new friend.

One aspect of the real estate industry that Cobb particularly enjoys is relocation. She said she loves introducing people to Lynchburg and showing them all that the city has to offer. Several companies in town reach out to Cobb to give town tours to new hires. She starts her tours downtown and talks about how much the city has changed since she moved to it 35 years ago.

I think we have one of the most beautiful places around, she said. I love that we have a small town feel even though we have 80,000 people. I love that its safe. I love that we have hiking and walking trails and I feel like people are friendly. I think that were very family friendly and can go anywhere in Lynchburg and bring your kids and grandkids.

In her personal life, she enjoys working out, spending time with her family and grandchildren, who she soon hopes to take to Disney World.

She also enjoys the travel. In this year alone, she has plans to visit St. Lucia, Montana and Seattle. Most recently, she spent time in Scottsdale, Arizona and hiked the Grand Canyon.

She attends Impact Church in Forest and serves as a greeter there as well as leads a Bible study.

She sets personal and business goals every year and said she has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Thats the thing about this business, you can work as much or as little as you want. So I dont see that happening anytime soon, she said.
The Virginia State Police is investigating a single-vehicle incident in Campbell County on Tuesday morning that ended with one man dead from a gunshot wound, according to a news release from the department.

State Troopers were called to the scene at about 4:30 a.m., after a Ford Escape, which had been fleeing from Amherst County Sheriff's Deputies, crashed.

The vehicle was traveling south on U.S. 29 at a high rate of speed as it entered into Campbell County, according to the news release.

Deputies observed the Ford suddenly veer off the road and crash into the 11400 block of Wards Road. The deputies immediately approached the vehicle to render aid to the driver when they discovered the driver was deceased and had suffered a gunshot wound, the state police said.

According to the news release, the male driver's body has been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for examination and autopsy. State police are still in the process of locating and notifying the next of kin.

The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Appomattox Field Office is investigating the incident as a suicide, VSP said. A firearm was recovered at the scene and the driver was the only occupant in the vehicle.

No law enforcement officers fired their weapons in the incident, VSP said.
Now in its third year, the World-Heralds and Daily Nonpareils special recognition program, Nurses: The Heart of Health Care, wants to thank all of the community's nurses and health care workers.

While we are grateful for their contributions every day, today is especially poignant as we celebrate 2023 Nurses Week. This year's national theme is "You Make a Difference."

Once again, we asked our readers to nominate a nurse who has made a significant impact in their lives or the lives of others. A panel of local, experienced judges determined our honorees -- seven from Omaha and three from Council Bluffs -- and were introducing the them in this section.

All of our honorees are representative of the national theme: They all make a difference.

The World-Herald and Daily Nonpareil are once again proud to partner with our presenting sponsors, RTG Medical and Methodist Jennie Edmundson, as well as our supporting sponsors, Methodist Health Systems and Iowa Western Community College, to honor these outstanding nurses.

Whether this week, next week, next month or every day, we say "thank you" to our local nurses for everything they do for their patients and their communities.
Council Bluffs Madison Avenue Hy-Vee received a call Sunday that turned out to be a false bomb threat, but raised questions about the decision not to evacuate the store out of an abundance of caution.

A recorded male voice told a Hy-Vee manager Sunday afternoon that a bomb was located in the back of the store. Hy-Vee management soon discovered that other grocery store locations in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received similar threats  part of an attempted scam.

Police were called to the Madison Avenue Hy-Vee at 12:51 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, and were notified by emergency dispatch that the store would be evacuated.

When the dispatch recording was uploaded to the Council Bluffs Scanner Facebook page, it created a frenzy of responses. Many comments said that the store had not been evacuated and that shoppers and employees were not notified.

The Council Bluffs Police Department said in a statement Monday that that no bombs were located and that detectives are following up on where the call may have been generated.

Many similar scams exist, but this particular scam is unusual to police.

Normally theyre not at businesses, said Capt. Scott Milner of the Council Bluffs Police Department. Usually there will be eight or 10 high schools from across the state who get these active shooter calls within five minutes of each other.

The Hy-Vee scam also was unusual because the suspected caller or automated voice recording demanded money.

This is blackmailing a business for money, Milner said. Theyre just hoping somebody will bite.

Both Sioux Falls' and Lincolns Hy-Vee stores were evacuated by management and police. Neither location found explosive devices, so when a third identical call came in  the call received by the Madison Avenue Hy-Vee  a decision was made not to evacuate while police conducted a search for a bomb.

We take this seriously and would normally evacuate, said a spokesperson for Hy-Vee reached by The Daily Nonpareil who refused to be named. Were not going to put people at risk, but we knew it was a scam targeting Hy-Vees.

The police went along with the decision and could have also cleared the store.

Its not about keeping the situation top secret, Milner said. Its just doing whatevers best.
Council Bluffs police responded to reports of a bomb threat Sunday at the Madison Avenue Hy-Vee.

A male called the store at 12:51 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, telling a manager that there was a bomb in the back of the store.

911 Center was notified of the call and officers responded, securing the store and making a complete search of the building. Officers then did a secondary search; no device was located.

Detectives are following up on where the call may have been generated.

The store is safe and open for business, the police department said in a press release on Monday.

"Hy-Vee management worked well with officers on scene to work through the incident while still keeping everyone safe," the release said.
Mental health awareness is something I am passionate about because I want to normalize people talking about it and asking for help when needed without feeling judged, criticized, or even afraid, said Tanner Eddy. Council Bluffs offers many great services for those in need, and this event is a great way to showcase what is available.

Tanner, the Central Stores Manager for the City of Council Bluffs, was one of the founding members of Council Bluffs Cares: A Mental Health Awareness Event (CB Cares). His involvement started through Leadership Council Bluffs, and he says he plans to stay.

Leadership Council Bluffs was an incredible experience that opened my eyes to see just how many groups of people are working together to improve our community, he said. I am fortunate to have had that experience and am now using it with CB Cares.

Council Bluffs Cares is a small organization of individuals representing local hospitals, the City of Council Bluffs, local nonprofits and mental health professionals. Only in its second year since the groups inception, the group is getting prepared to host its second annual event.

On May 18, at Bayliss Park, Downtown Council Bluffs, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., there will be an awareness event.

This years event has an excellent panel of individuals from across the community who will be sharing about a variety of topics, Tanner said. There will be information booths with free resources and handouts, a yoga instructor will be leading mindfulness opportunities and more.

The group of individuals that have been meeting for weeks are truly invested in making this event successful. The organizations partnering together is another indication that we have an amazing community.

I am a survivor of suicide myself, and if I can prevent others from going through the same pain, then it is worth it, Tanner said. Im proud to be a part of this event and I am happy the community had enough interest last year that we can do it again.

In his free time, Tanner keeps busy with his wife and two boys.

We are always looking to do something active when the weather is nice, he said. We enjoy going on walks with our dogs, riding bikes and exploring the city.

The CB Cares event is held in conjunction with The 712 Initiatives Farmers Market. In addition to being a free event open to all ages in the community, the first 500 registrants of the event will receive $5 in Farmers Market bucks.
On Tuesday, May 9, law enforcement officials charged Mark Dupre, 26, of Sidney with first-degree murder, a Class A Felony, for the April 17 stabbing death of Corey Miller, 26, in Sidney, according to a press release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Dupre has also been charged with attempted murder, a Class B Felony; willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C Felony; and going armed with intent, a Class D Felony.

This is a joint investigation between the Fremont County Sheriffs Office, Fremont County Attorneys Office, Iowa Attorney Generals Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Dupre was already in custody at the Fremont County Correctional Facility on unrelated drug charges.

On April 17, the Fremont County Sheriffs Office responded to the report of a stabbing at 508 Main St. in Sidney. Upon arrival, deputies and first responders located two male subjects outside the residence who had been stabbed. One individual later succumbed to his injuries, while the other was flown to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha with life-threatening injuries, the press release stated.

A search warrant was conducted at the home in Sidney, whereupon illegal and illicit items were seized. On April 18, occupants Dupre and Katelan Jacobs, 23, were arrested at a separate location by the Fremont County Sheriffs Office on charges stemming from the search warrant. Both Dupre and Jacobs were charged with possession of a controlled substances with intent to deliver over 5 grams of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dupre was also charged with possession of marijuana, second offense, and Jacobs was charged with possession of marijuana, first offense. Dupres bond was set at $100,000 cash and Jacobs was set at $300,000 cash, according to the press release.

After an autopsy was conducted on Miller on April 18, the death was ruled a homicide, and the cause was identified as stab wounds.

By that time, the second stabbing victim, DAndre Kyle, 28, of Sidney was in stable condition at Nebraska Medicine.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
AMES, Iowa  More than 70 tips have poured in after an Iowa nurse practitioner who is accused of photographing a teen's genitals during an exam was arrested on sex crime charges, police say.

Several districts and one university also have issued alerts that Carl Markley, 44, performed school physicals for their students, although none of the charges against him allege that crimes occurred during those exams.

Markley, who is free on bond, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, pimping, prostitution and human trafficking. The charges were filed in two batches, and police in Ames arrested him the second time Monday.

His attorney, Nicholas Arthur Sarcone, didn't immediately respond Saturday to a phone message and email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

According to the affidavit, several electronic devices, a hidden camera clock and pen were seized from Markleys residence. During examination of the seized devices, detectives located a commercial pornographic video depicting doctor models conducting sex acts with patient models in a clinical setting.

Detectives also located multiple thumbnail images, including one of a teen boy with his genitals exposed, taken covertly in Markleys clinic, the affidavit says

The minor later said that he was 15 to 16 years old at the time and had been told by Markley that he needed the physical examination to work at Markleys business, according to the affidavit. It says Markley touched the minor males genitals during the appointment with the intent of the act being recorded so it could be viewed later for purposes of arousal or sexual gratification.

Markleys search history also showed searches on tween porn sites.

Another criminal complaint alleges that Markley paid for sex at a local motel and at an apartment complex he owns.

WHO-TV reports that police believe the allegations against Markley date back to 2008. They now have a special unit dedicated to investigating Markley.

Ames and Gilbert public school districts both contracted Markley to provide pre-activity physical examinations. Both school districts are now urging potential victims within the schools to come forward.

Grand View University President Rachelle Keck said in an email Friday that Markley also performed physicals there.

This is the first we have heard of these allegations and wanted to share what we know so far, the statement said.

Wettest counties in Iowa Wettest counties in Iowa #50. Warren County #49. Tama County #48. Hardin County #47. Mahaska County #46. Taylor County #45. Franklin County #44. Marion County #43. Clarke County #42. Story County #41. Wapello County #40. Cerro Gordo County #39. Jefferson County #38. Grundy County #37. Van Buren County #36. Poweshiek County #35. Monroe County #34. Washington County #33. Worth County #32. Butler County #31. Ringgold County #30. Linn County #29. Lucas County #28. Louisa County #27. Henry County #26. Decatur County #25. Johnson County #24. Davis County #23. Des Moines County #22. Muscatine County #21. Black Hawk County #20. Mitchell County #19. Wayne County #18. Jones County #17. Cedar County #16. Floyd County #15. Buchanan County #14. Appanoose County #13. Lee County #12. Scott County #11. Fayette County #10. Dubuque County #9. Bremer County #8. Clinton County #7. Howard County #6. Jackson County #5. Delaware County #4. Chickasaw County #3. Clayton County #2. Winneshiek County #1. Allamakee County
An intruder allegedly spent four hours inside an eastern Iowa nursing home before the staff found him partially undressed in bed with a female resident.

According to newly released state inspection reports, the intruder  later identified by police as Michael James Beaver, 54, of West Branch  interacted with the staff at Crestview Specialty Care in West Branch on April 5 before being found in the residents bed.

During those hours, one of the workers expressed concern that Beaver appeared to be homeless. Another worker twice gave Beaver directions to the victims room, and one employee heard the woman crying out, Help me while being wheeled through the facility by Beaver.

Beaver has not been criminally charged, although he is currently facing a charge of indecent exposure for his alleged conduct in a public library two days before the incident at Crestview. The nursing homes owners, Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, have not responded to calls from the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

The state inspectors reports provide a timeline of the events that occurred on April 5, according to the statements given to inspectors by the Crestview staff:

10:30 a.m.: A nurse aide saw a male stranger walking around the facility, appearing to look for someone.

11 a.m.: The aide saw the man pushing a female resident in her wheelchair and calling her mom. The resident  the same woman with whom Beaver would later be found in bed  was legally blind and was one of 26 residents at the home with cognitive issues.

11:30 a.m.: A second aide saw Beaver pushing the resident in her wheelchair. Beaver asked the aide where the residents room was and was told, Down the hall, to the left and her name should be on the door.

Noon: A third aide noticed the resident was at her table, eating lunch alone. Around that time, an aide approached the director of nursing and informed her there was a stranger who looked a little dirty sitting in a common area. The aide said the man had dirt on his face and clothing and, to her, appeared to be homeless. The director of nursing left her office, looked at the man later determined to be Beaver, and said he might be a family member of a resident.

12:30 p.m.: The aide who had contacted the director of nursing saw Beaver pushing the female resident in her wheelchair down a hallway, with the woman calling out, Help me. The aide said she thought nothing of it as the resident often said such things.

1 p.m.: At this point, and for some unspecified time afterward, the staff observed Beaver pushing the resident in her wheelchair throughout the facility. The aide who had previously given Beaver directions to the residents room saw him looking confused by the front door, so she gave him a reminder, saying, Remember, I told you, her room is down the other way.

2:40 p.m.: Two aides told the director of nursing something weird was going on in the residents room: A man is in bed with the resident, claiming to be just cuddling with her.

2:45 p.m.: The director of nursing and a registered nurse entered the residents room. The residents head was at the foot of the bed, Beaver was under the covers, but appeared to be shirtless with his pants pulled down. The residents one-piece jumpsuit was unzipped halfway in the back.

The director of nursing asked what was going on and Beaver replied that he was just trying to help her sleep. The director of nursing asked him why he wasnt dressed, Beaver said he had his clothes on. The director of nursing replied, Having pants around your ankles in not having clothes on.

The staff removed Beaver from the residents bed at which point he zipped up his jacket and attempted to leave, saying, I will get out of the way. The director of nursing replied, No, you will stay until the police come, and the staff escorted him to the lobby.

Home cited for abuse and safety violations

Beaver initially told the staff he was a distant relative of the resident. Later, he reportedly said he was not related to her but had known her about 20 years prior. The residents nephew reported he had never heard of Beaver, but declined to have the resident sent to a hospital for an assessment.

The resident said nothing at the time but was reported to be anxious and tearful. When questioned a short time later, she had no recollection of the incident.

The police, who had picked up Beaver earlier in the day and dropped him off at a trailer park, took him to a local hospital for psychiatric commitment and evaluation.

The incident resulted in possible distress for the resident, state inspectors concluded, while noting that a physical assessment conducted at Crestview resulted in no findings that the resident had been assaulted.

The facility took all precautions necessary to mitigate another similar incident of this type, according to state inspectors. The home had placed residents in immediate jeopardy, the inspectors concluded, but they lowered the scope and severity of the violation after concluding the staff had immediately corrected the problem by locking the doors to the facility, educating the staff, creating a visitors log, and installing a doorbell at the front entrance for visitors to gain entry.

Prior to those changes, visitors had only to push a button near the front door to enter the building.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals imposed and immediately suspended two $6,500 fines against Crestview  one for failing to protect residents from abuse and one for failing to keep residents safe. With the state fines suspended, the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services will consider what federal penalties, if any, will be imposed.

Court records show that two days before the incident at Crestview, Beaver was arrested and charged with indecent exposure at the Iowa City Public Library. According to the arrest report, video evidence showed Beaver entering the library, going to the computers on the second floor, taking off his sweatshirt and pants, placing a jacket over his genitals, and then spending four hours watching pornographic videos while reaching under his jacket and stimulating himself.

The day after he was arrested, he was released from jail on his own recognizance. District Associate Judge Jason A. Burns released Beaver on the condition that he not return to the library. The indecent exposure case is still pending.

Wettest counties in Iowa Wettest counties in Iowa #50. Warren County #49. Tama County #48. Hardin County #47. Mahaska County #46. Taylor County #45. Franklin County #44. Marion County #43. Clarke County #42. Story County #41. Wapello County #40. Cerro Gordo County #39. Jefferson County #38. Grundy County #37. Van Buren County #36. Poweshiek County #35. Monroe County #34. Washington County #33. Worth County #32. Butler County #31. Ringgold County #30. Linn County #29. Lucas County #28. Louisa County #27. Henry County #26. Decatur County #25. Johnson County #24. Davis County #23. Des Moines County #22. Muscatine County #21. Black Hawk County #20. Mitchell County #19. Wayne County #18. Jones County #17. Cedar County #16. Floyd County #15. Buchanan County #14. Appanoose County #13. Lee County #12. Scott County #11. Fayette County #10. Dubuque County #9. Bremer County #8. Clinton County #7. Howard County #6. Jackson County #5. Delaware County #4. Chickasaw County #3. Clayton County #2. Winneshiek County #1. Allamakee County
Treynor City Hall has a new address, and its one that should be familiar to residents.

Using American Rescue Plan Act funds that were provided to Pottawattamie Countys small towns by the county board, the City of Treynor moved its administrative offices from the old maintenance building on South Eyberg Avenue to the familiar confines of the town community center.

Now located at 11 W. Main St., Treynors new city hall is located at the southeastern corner of the building in a newly built office space.

The project actually started a couple of years ago, City Administrator Michael Holton said at a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning, May 8. And the project was to take a look at the city hall offices that were in the maintenance building, and they were  I dont ever want to be the one to say they were awful, they were OK  but if you look at the people that had to come and bring their bills, and do any kind of business with the city, the place was not conducive to any kind of public service to the people, and I think that was the most important thing.

One of the citys deputy clerks, Rachel Richardson, drew an outline for what offices at the community center would look like, and as the idea progressed, city staff brought it to the city council.

About a year ago, the city budgeted $100,000 for the project.

We found out that $100,000 was starting to not go very far, Holton said.

Enter the Rural Pottawattamie County Infrastructure Coalition  a partnership between Pottawattamie County, Iowa West Foundation and Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation that works to facilitate infrastructure projects in the rural parts of the county  and ARPA funds.

The county presented the City of Treynor with a $125,000 forgivable loan for its new city hall.

Next, the city needed to find a contractor who would accept such a relatively small job.

I sent out 15 bid requests, Holton said. At first, we got none back. Too busy, nobody wants it, it wasnt big enough to fit the scope of what we wanted to do, so that was a setback.

The city sent the project out to bid a second time and received one bid for $140,000, which, while more than the $125,000 in ARPA funding the city was going to get, was probably doable, but it would have taken some work, Holton said.

Then, the city public works director, Brad Klahn, suggested they ask PowerTech, a Council Bluffs-based electrical service company, if they would be interested in the job.

They came back for a bid of $111,000, Holton said. City Council accepted that bid and PowerTech used it as a very good, hopefully, winter project.

PowerTech started work in February 2023 and the space was ready to move into by May.

The project isnt completely done just yet. There are still a few finishing touches to be added, like big metal letters above the door that say City Hall, similar to the letters that spell out Community Center at the other end of the building, and some signs for the parking lot.

But despite those small details, the city is all moved in and open for business.

We could have went ahead without the ribbon cutting, Holton said. Its just a renovation, people are saying, Its just a renovation, get over it, Mike, get over it. But this was very special in the way timing came together for the city, for the county and for the staff.

For us to be able to do something like this, everything has to work in harmony for the right reasons, and money in, money out, its been an enjoyable year to work with the county and to work with the city and to be able to get this done.
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Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, a Burundi former Prime Minister arrested late last month has been charged for undermining the internal security of the state, undermining the proper functioning of the national economy and illegal enrichment.

A session held Monday extended Bunyonis pre-trial detention at Ngozi Prison in the north of the country.

The former Premier was charged on Friday before a three-judge high court in a closed session, a judicial source who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP. The prosecution also indicted him for illegal possession of weapons and insulting the president.

The former Internal Security Minister Bunyoni was Prime Minister from June 2020 to September 2022, when President Evariste Ndayishimiye sacked him amid reports of an alleged coup plot.
The healthcare sub-fund of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and B Investments company have entered into a partnership with El-Ezaby pharmacy chain to launch a new venture tasked to provide business-to-business (B2B) services in the Egyptian pharmaceutical sector, Ahram Online reports.

The company, named EZ International, will provide pharmaceutical companies in Egypt with a slew of services, including logistical and administrative support to distribution and trade services to grow their businesses and ensure customer satisfaction, TSFE said in a press release on Monday.

EZ International will serve over 500 pharmacies in Egypt, starting with more than 250 branches affiliated with El-Ezaby per the communique. The new companys launch will be funded by increasing the capital of TSFE and B Investments by an undisclosed amount.

TSFE collaborates with only the top experts and specialists to ensure that its projects are successful and create real and positive social impact through distinctive services at competitive costs, which contributes to achieving the states goals and the states ownership policy document, TSFE Chairperson and Minister of Planning Hala El-Said stated.

The Arab country is aiming to raise the private sectors share in the national economy to 65 percent, up from the current 30 percent. Pharmaceutical sales in the country hit $5.5 billion in 2022. The sector projects the exports to increase by five percent every year in the next three years.
Togos parliament rubber-stamped the West African countrys move to become member of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in view of tapping into the support of the organizations technical assistance.

The lawmakers voted in favor of President Faure Gnassigbe administrations bid to join the treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies.

The move, according to the legislature, heralds transition to a resilient national economy by promoting job change, job creation, and skills development, local media Togo First reports.

In October 2020, Togo announced its decision to join the Seoul-based organizations.

Togo, by joining this organization based in Seoul, will strengthen its commitment to sustainable development and the fight for biodiversity, climate change, or access to water and clean energy, the office of President Gnassigbe said in a statement.

GGGI was established as an international intergovernmental organization in 2012 at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

The organization envisions to attain a low-carbon, resilient world of strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth and its mission to support Members in the transformation of their economies into a green growth economic model.
The UK government has praised Moroccos serious efforts to advance the UN-led process seeking a lasting and peaceful resolution to the Sahara regional conflict.

The supportive stand comes in the Joint Statement issued Tuesday in Rabat following the 4th UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita and UK Minister for MENA region Lord Ahmad Tariq.

The UK has reaffirmed its commitment to help the parties to Sahara conflict to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise.

In the joint statement, the two ministers renewed London and Rabats full support to the efforts engaged by UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura in a bid to find a realistic solution to the Sahara issue.

The UK government underlined in this regard the exclusive role of the UN in facilitating the political process to resolve Sahara dispute and reaffirmed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2654 which hails Moroccos serious & credible efforts and backs the autonomy plan offered by Rabat for the Sahara under its sovereignty for a lasting peace in the region.

London also hailed Moroccos constructive role in the region, including the promotion of stability, security and economic development, as well as in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The United Kingdom welcomed and expressed its support for the major reforms carried out by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, which are part of the new Moroccan Development Model (2021-2035) aiming at a more open, inclusive and dynamic Moroccan society and economy, including in the area of human rights.

This came in the joint statement issued at the end of the 4th session of the Morocco-United Kingdom Strategic Dialogue, held Tuesday in Rabat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

On this occasion, the two ministers recalled the deep history of friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries and which date back at least to the year 1213. They also recalled the first commercial treaty between the two countries, concluded in Fez on 23 January 1721.

The partnership is based on the long-standing friendship and mutual esteem between the two Royal families.

The United Kingdom considers Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, as a credible and listened to regional and international partner that plays an essential role and constitutes a decisive relay for stability, peace and development in the region, particularly in the Mediterranean, the Sahel-Saharan area and West Africa.

The United Kingdom also welcomed the important role of the King, Commander of the Faithful, in promoting interfaith dialogue and disseminating the universal values of peace, tolerance and otherness.
The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education approved a 3.39% increase for administrative salaries at Mondays regular meeting.

The increase for individual administrators is completed through a process that includes longevity, education and performance as determined by Todd Rhodes, superintendent.

Stuart Simpson, executive director of finance, said the Personnel and Finance Subcommittee discussed the increases for the current staff members.

Those salaries are not arbitrarily set, Rhodes said. We meet with the principals each quarter and there are specific standards. There is a performance-based element and you need that in there.

The board voted in favor by a 6-0 vote.

Four requests for bids were sent out for a transit/cargo van and Janssen Buick GMC was the only bid received. The bid was for $43,000 including trade-in of a van that is no longer running. The board approved the purchase that Simpson said would be delivered within a couple of weeks.

The board received the second superintendent evaluation that board member Skip Altig said was a very good evaluation. State statute requires two evaluations during the first year a superintendent is in a new district. The first evaluation was completed in the fall.

Matt Pederson, board member, said the committee would be looking at defining more specific goals for the next evaluation that will come during the next school year. Rhodes suggested the board discuss tying the districts strategic plan to the evaluation.

Kevin Mills, director of Human Resources, reported that 48 teachers have or will leave the district this school year, but that he has hired 48 teachers for 2023-24. He reported there are still 11 positions open that will not likely be filled and the district will move forward anticipating those positions will remain open.

Kelli Sheets, English Learners program director, gave a report on the program at Mondays meeting. Sheets has been with the district as program director for seven years and she said the number of languages within the district has increased from 12 to 21 during that time.
This week, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, met with Donald Trump at his Florida home/crime scene, and came away praising the former president. This may be the most brutal development for Governor Ron DeSantis in the election cycle yet.

Consider the following sequence of events.

On January 1, Trump posted a social-media message blaming the pro-life movement for the partys disappointing midterm performance:

It wasnt my fault that the Republicans didnt live up to expectations in the MidTerms. I was 233-20! It was the abortion issue, poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters. Also, the people that pushed so hard, for decades, against abortion, got their wish from the U.S. Supreme Court, & just plain disappeared, not to be seen again.

DeSantis, by contrast, positioned himself as the movements unwavering ally. On April 13, DeSantis signed a law banning abortion after six weeks. The measure is deeply unpopular, drawing opposition from three-quarters of his states residents and even most Republicans. DeSantis, clearly aware of the risks he took on, signed the measure in a closed ceremony late at night and has declined to bring it up since, not even at a speech the next day at theocratic Liberty University. But DeSantis needed the pro-life movement in his corner, and this, he believed, was the cost of admission.

On April 20, Dannenfelser announced that her organization will oppose any presidential candidate who refuses to embrace at a minimum a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions while allowing states to enact further protections. She called Trumps position, leaving the issue to the states, morally indefensible.

On April 28, Trump gave an almost comically noncommittal explanation of his position. Well get something done where everyone is going to be very satisfied, he said. Trump said his campaign was looking at a lot of different options and that I think well get it done on some level, it could be on different levels, but were gonna get it done. I know the issue very well. I think I know the issue better than most and we will get that taken care of.

Trump was not promising to support any particular policy, merely that something would be done, possibly (but not necessarily) by him. The term some level seemed to indicate his belief that different levels of government, such as the states, could enact some kind of abortion restriction. But his statement contained no promise of any kind that he could be called to account for.

And now here is Dannenfelser after her visit to Mar-a-Lago. In the meeting, according to her statement, Trump committed himself only to two positions: attacking Democrats for their support of late-term abortion, and reiterat[ing] that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest. Notably, the latter position did not commit Trump to supporting any federal legislation. Instead, it merely ruled out signing any legislation lacking certain exceptions. Nonetheless, she described the meeting as terrific.

DeSantis is considerably more intelligent than Trump and has also shown himself to be a more competent executive. But watching the two candidates maneuver on abortion, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that Trump possesses a far keener sense of how to navigate a complex issue. Trump understood that, even though the pro-life movement may be powerful, its policy demands are a bluff that he can call. He took their demands seriously but not literally. DeSantis, by contrast, comes off looking like a fool.

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Photojournalist Stephanie Keith is arrested by the NYPD during a vigil for Jordan Neely, who was killed in the subway a week ago. Photo: Alex Kent

In the days since Jordan Neely was killed on a subway train after being placed in a choke hold, demonstrators have taken to the city streets to call for his killer to be charged. The police have responded with increasing hostility to demonstrations, and on Monday, officers arrested what were described by the press and eyewitnesses as nonviolent protesters, as well as an NYPD-credentialed photojournalist doing her job.

It all began with a planned vigil at the Broadway-Lafayette subway stop, where Neely was choked to death a week ago. The New York Post reports that people on the station platform chanted Neelys name, surrounded by a heavy police presence. A crowd of protesters formed aboveground on the sidewalk outside the station, giving speeches. Soon, officers began to clash with the group, arresting several of the participants. One man was seen with blood streaming down his face as he was led away to a police van.

NOW: Cops are arresting journalists at this evenings candlelight vigil for Jordan Neely. pic.twitter.com/AGT4M5608i  Chi Osse (@OsseChi) May 9, 2023

Stephanie Keith, a well-known photojournalist, was also arrested despite wearing a credential identifying her as a member of the press. She was released a short time later.

The fact that their reaction to protesting the lynching of Jordan Neely is more aggressive than the attention that they gave to Jordan Neelys actual murderer speaks volumes, Kimberly Bernard, a protester at the scene, told CBS New York.

NYPD chief of department Jeffrey Maddrey spoke at a press conference later that evening, saying that there were approximately 150 demonstrators at the scene and that officers made about 11 arrests. Maddrey also said that a Molotov cocktail was later discovered on the ground at the scene.

At an unrelated event Monday night, Mayor Eric Adams was asked about the protests happening in the city. Adams, a former NYPD officer himself, seemed to point the finger at nonNew Yorkers.

Agitators that come from outside our city with Molotov cocktails, we should all be concerned about that, Adams told The City.


Stormy Daniels Hush Money

Case type: Criminal

Where: New York County

Prosecutor: Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney

When: Trump was arrested and charged on April 4, the next hearing is currently set for December 4

On March 30, a grand jury officially voted to indict Trump, making him the first former president to face criminal charges. Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from sharing her story about an alleged past affair with Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen has maintained that his former boss directed him to make the payoff, reimbursed him in a series of payments for the cost, and cooked the Trump Organizations books to cover it up. On April 4, Trump surrendered in Manhattan and was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree over how the payments to Cohen were recorded by the Trump Organization. You can read Ankush Khardoris analysis of the charges and their legal chances here. Judge Merchan has set rules barring Trump from using evidence in the case and required the former president to attend a May 23 hearing via video conference to learn about the restrictions.
Joshua Dairen and his wife, Keema, now own The Coffee Shop in downtown Opelika.

In April, the couple bought the business at 122 South 8th St. from former owner Gleason Jones. They have dreamed of opening a coffee shop for quite some time.

We are risk takers. We do a lot of faith moves, Dairen said.

Dairen, an Auburn native, also serves as a communications manager for an online company. He owns a paranormal TikTok account with nearly 150,000 followers and 2.2 million likes.

Dairen and Keema were in living in Fort Collins, Colorado, when they had an experience with Human Bean coffee baristas that inspired them to own a coffee shop.

As customers who frequented the spot, they got to know the baristas there on a personal level. The staff at the Human Bean took their time with customers, and that left a lasting impression on the couple. They knew they wanted to bring something similar to the Auburn-Opelika community they call home.

Jones opened The Coffee Shop in March 2022. It was meant to be an expansion of his Minimalist Coffee Company, a coffee roaster based out of a renovated school bus. Earlier this year, he decided to sell the business.

Dairen and Keema decided to move back to Auburn about a year ago. Keema saw a post about Jones selling The Coffee Shop early one morning and woke her husband up to share the news. They jumped at an opportunity to buy it.

We called and got a meeting set up. We were here within a couple of hours that day, and the ball rolled downhill from there, Dairen said.

More than anything, Dairen wants people who visit the downtown business to feel as if theyre interacting with somebody who has their best interests at heart.

The Coffee Shop features a variety of coffees, espressos, teas and pastries. Dairen said some of customers favorite drinks include the Mr. Able, the Mrs. Addie and the Honey Kiss. They plan to expand their food menu items soon to include lunch and breakfast items.

They will also open the space up for events and workshops. Dairen said they may host art shows and barista classes. He said he wants The Coffee Shop to be a place where people can engage with other downtown businesses as well.

Were very blessed to be in a spot where theres other really good shops that people should go to, Dairen said. I love the organic growth thats happening here, too. It seems like people want to be here and thats really special. You dont get that everywhere.

For more information, email The Coffee Shop at info@thecoffeeshopal.com. You can also visit their Instagram account (thecoffeeshop.al) or Facebook page.
Please put part under a cut, merci!

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I knew I fucked up something! I think I got it to work now

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Thanks a tonne!

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Bummer, but I get it

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absolute BAMF

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While I'm sad we won't be seeing her acting in films anymore, I respect her a lot for not wanting to participate in a harmful industry.



ia. wishing her all the best!

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You know it's been a long and disappointing day 'cause I read this and for a nanosecond I thought she was shit-talking MeToo and stepping away from films because cancel culture is ruining lives bwah wah.

Thankfully not that.



So I expected the absolute worst and the upside is that it wasn't the worst but the downside is that a talented woman is leaving her chosen industry because it's inherently shitty. -_____-

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May all the good things in life happen to this badass woman.





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On the one hand, do what you need to do to feel right

On the other, you could work with and lend your name to any number of women creatives or those who are not making the kind of creations you rightfully want nothing to do with.

But it's her path, so whatever makes her happy.

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She doesn't rule out working with Celine Sciamma again.

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On the other, you could work with and lend your name to any number of women creatives or those who are not making the kind of creations you rightfully want nothing to do with.



Haenel, who walked out of the Cesar Film Awards in 2020 protesting Roman Polanskis Best Director win for An Officer and a Spy, is now solely focused on working in the theater but didnt rule out making films with fellow activists like Gisele Vienne and Celine Sciamma. I want to participate in another world, she said. If I stayed today in this film industry, I would be a kind of feminist guarantee to this masculine and patriarchal industry. My dream is to make it clear: this industry defends a capitalist, patriarchal, racist, sexist world of structural inequality. This means that this industry works hand in hand with the global economic order, in which all lives are not equal.



Generally you'll find a lot of your questions and concerns get answered when you read past the headline to the body of the article. Generally you'll find a lot of your questions and concerns get answered when you read past the headline to the body of the article.

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Hey this is ONTD, we don't do that here

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Thats included in the article itself not the post. But shocked at her response, amazing tbh

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The onus shouldn't be on her, though.

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I'm glad she's able to make that choice for herself because not a lie is told!!

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She deserves all the best things in the world and r**an p*****ki can fucking rot

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She absolutely is right and she should say it!

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I'm still side eyeing her relationship with Celine Sciamma who as far as I can remember she met when she was a teenager 



Also whatever happened to her Portrait of a Lady on Fire costar, Noemie Merlant? There was a She's right and she should say it. Call that shit out.I'm still side eyeing her relationship with Celine Sciamma who as far as I can remember she met when she was a teenager Also whatever happened to her Portrait of a Lady on Fire costar, Noemie Merlant? There was a post here of her being in a relationship with a 16 year old actor.

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IA. I know she's only ever said nice things about Sciamma but the timeline of their relationship honestly seems so ick.



Like she was groomed by an older director in such a disturbing way that she completely walked away from acting, was persuaded to return to acting with assurances that it would be a safe set and her comfort was paramount and then ended up in a relationship with the director of her next film who was also significantly older than her (Adele would have been 17/18 at the time of Water Lilies and Sciamma is 11 years older).



IDK, IDK. I just wish all the good things for Adele.



Edited at 2022-05-15 08:44 pm (UTC)

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She's annoying tbh

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How so?

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She criticizes Bruno Dumont, and yet his last film France was a tremendous showcase for Lea Seydoux. Probably one of the best ~roles for a woman~ in years.

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She's 100% right tho, and besides she might work with Celine or an upcoming director so you know she's just chosing not to go with the film industry ideas/terms and that I wholeheartedly support

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It sucks that women are driven away from what we love/enjoy, but she should do what's best for her. I respect her stance and also understand women who have to compromise to get where they want to go. It must feel like crazy that everyone around you is applauding a known rapist.

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in the video, is the person on stage just presenting the next award or was she accepting on behalf of polanski?

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Russias crude oil exports by sea hit a new high of 3.55 million barrels per day (bpd) in the four weeks to May 5, the highest shipments since at least early 2022, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed on Tuesday.

Russian crude shipments have continued to rise over the past four weeks, according to the data reported by Bloombergs Julian Lee, despite Russias insistence that it is cutting oil production by 500,000 bpd and even more.

Russia warned in February that it would cut its crude oil production by 500,000 bpd due to EU import bans and price caps on its crude oil and oil products. Initially, Russia said this lowered production would apply to March. But Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced part way through March that the cuts would be extended.

Those 500,000 bpd cuts will now extend until the end of 2023, but crude oil export data in recent weeks do not reflect any cutson the contrary, Russian crude oil exports by sea are rising.

On a four-week average basis, Russian crude oil shipments to May 5 rose by 180,000 bpd to 3.63 million bpd, also the highest since Bloomberg started to closely track vessels departing from Russias oil export terminals at the beginning of 2022.

Volumes headed to China and India in the past four weeks were also at a record, considering that nearly all Russian exports are now headed to the two biggest Asian importers and other destinations in Asia flashed as unknown on vessel data.

The four-week average crude oil exports from Russia to Asia and unknown destinations increased by 124,000 bpd in the four weeks to May 5, compared to the four-week average for the period to April 28, according to the data compiled by Bloomberg.

The main destinations of Russian crude oil shipments continue to be China, India, and Turkey, while the cargoes currently labeled as headed to an unknown destination eventually end up in one of those three countries.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Morocco has the potential to become a renewable energy giant in the coming years as it is a prime location for both wind and solar farms and is already exporting solar power to Europe.

Morocco is at a crossroads. Its ecological conditions, with the sun of the Sahara and the wind of the Atlantic coast, make it a prime candidate for massive-scale solar and wind farms. Its numerous port cities and proximity to Europe also make it a prime candidate for becoming a major source of European energy as the continent pivots away from its dependence on Russian natural gas. But while this approach would undoubtedly be a boon to the Moroccan economy, it would come at a major cost to the African energy market.

As much as North Africa needs investment and industry to build its economy, it also desperately needs energy to fuel its own development. Despite its vast clean energy potential, Morocco currently depends on imports for 90% of its energy, the lions share of which comes from fossil fuels. In 2021, just 2.4% of Moroccos energy mix came from wind power, and 4.4% from solar. Under a scenario put together by the International Energy Agency in 2019, electricity demand in North Africa is projected to increase by almost 35% by 2030. A large amount of this demand will come from air conditioning, a need that is projected to increase as the blistering Saharan climate grows even hotter with climate change. Renewable energy growth is therefore an essential pathway toward helping the region meet its energy needs as well as its own climate goals.

There are already major renewable energy projects underway in North Africa, many of which were designed to meet the high and growing demand to power African grids and lessen the regions own carbon footprint. However, this added energy production capacity is being increasingly diverted to European markets as Europe struggles to regain energy security. Morocco has connections via a regional power pool that could send green electricity to most nations in West Africa, while Egypt is similarly linked to most of East Africa, Yale360 recently reported. But both countries electricity exports are currently earmarked for European markets instead.

Many Moroccan politicians and business leaders are cheering this trend, but for the North Africans who wont benefit from the business dealings with Europe, the outlook is starker. The scale of the clean energy projects being planned in Morocco means that North Africa is primed for a fresh round of land-grabbing. Utility-scale solar and wind farms require at least ten times as much space per unit of power as coal- or natural gasfired power plants, including the land used to produce and transport the fossil fuels, McKinsey recently reported about solar and wind farms in the U.S. Wind turbines are often placed half a mile apart, while large solar farms span thousands of acres. And some of the projects being planned in North Africa are among the largest in the world.

Whats more, these developments will likely take place with minimal community consultation or ecological assessment, warns Yale. Assessment or no, we can be sure that there will inevitably be major disturbances to the flora, fauna, and human populations where these mass-scale projects are developed. While the Sahara Desert is often portrayed as an empty and desolate place, the desert is actually a fragile and essential ecosystem that supports communities of nomadic pastoralists whose lives and grazing patterns will be upended by the arrival of an industrial energy revolution. The reality of this disturbance would be especially bitter if that energy were never to touch the countrys own energy grid.

But there are, of course, two sides to this story. Producing wind and solar energy for export to Europe could create as many as 28,000 jobs per year, according to the World Bank's lead economist for the region, Moez Cherif. This is extremely meaningful in a nation with an unemployment rate of 11.2%. Cherif also said this approach would allow Morocco to "position itself as an industrial hub for investments for exports of green industrial products."

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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With economic uncertainty in the U.S., a slower-than-expected demand recovery in China, and a new OPEC meeting looming, volatility isnt going anywhere.

Low open interest and liquidity in the oil market are bound to make price swings even more extreme.

Growing economic concerns have caused speculators to leave the oil market, with open interest in U.S. crude oil futures at a three-year low.

Concerns about the economy and new banking sector jitters have sent oil traders rushing for the exits and cutting their bullish bets on crude oil again.

As more speculators leave the market  with open interest in U.S. crude oil futures at its lowest in three years  prices are set for more extreme volatility.

WTI Crude, the U.S. benchmark, saw the biggest drop in the net long position  the difference between bullish and bearish bets  in six weeks in the week to May 2, data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) showed on Friday.

The previous large drop in bullish bets had taken place right before early April when the OPEC+ group surprised the oil market by announcing additional cuts to production between May and December 2023 to ensure the stability of the market.

The OPEC+ move burned the short sellers, following through with the proverbial promise of Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman from 2020, Im going to make sure whoever gambles on this market will be ouching like hell.

After the production cuts were announced, prices spiked for two weeks until the middle of April, before negative sentiment about the economy and underwhelming Chinese recovery took over again and drove prices back down to the low $70s. WTI Crude even fell below the $70 a barrel mark last week.

Speculators have been consistently caught off-guard in the past two months, and many have now opted to stay away. Lower open interest and liquidity in the market is bound to make price swings even more extreme, according to analysts.

In short, the oil market needs more players on the field, Michael Tran, managing director at RBC Capital Markets, told Bloomberg.

But in the week to May 2, money managers cut their long positions and added short positions, cutting their net bullish bets in both WTI Crude and Brent Crude futures and options contracts, data from exchanges showed.

Driven by heavy selling in energy, bullish bets on the major commodities futures plunged by one-third in the latest reporting week to the lowest since June 2020, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, noted. Brent, WTI, and European gasoil  the proxy for diesel  were the hardest hit by selling.

The technical downside break forced speculators to cut their net long position in WTI Crude by 36,000 lots and in Brent by 69,000 lots in the week to May 2. The combined net long position in the two most important crude oil futures and options contracts was slashed by one-fourth, while the net short position in ICE gasoil futures continued to swell to a fresh high in more than seven years.

A nightmare two-month period for momentum traders continued in the week to May 2, Hansen commented.

During an eight week period the crude oil market has seen a banking crisis, an Opec cut driving a spike and subsequent focus on gap closing, and fresh demand concerns, he added.

Speculators have responded by selling 393,000 lots and buying 213,000 lots, the bulk of these at unprofitable levels, according to Saxo Banks head of commodity strategy.

The economy in the U.S., the pace of the Chinese recovery, and the upcoming OPEC+ meeting in early June will continue to drive oil markets, while fresh bank runs could quickly sour sentiment again in the coming weeks.

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Reports emerged last week, when oil prices crashed again, that OPEC+ would hold its June 4 meeting in person. The last time OPEC+ ministers met in person in Vienna was in October 2022, when the alliance announced oil production cuts from November 2022 through December 2023.

In the meantime, speculators and momentum traders could be more careful with bets in the oil market, which would leave prices exposed to wild swings in either direction.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, has made headlines once again with its lower Q1 profits of $31.9bn, which is a 19.25% decrease compared to the same period a year earlier when it made $39.5bn. This drop in profits can be attributed to global market developments, such as reduced oil prices and production cuts. Despite this, Aramco's overall profits remain staggering when compared to its peers. In its report, the Saudi company revealed that the decrease in profits was primarily due to lower crude oil prices, although this was partially offset by lower taxes and higher finance and income. The global markets have been experiencing volatility lately, with a partial banking crisis affecting the markets, and the anticipated demand surge from Asia, especially China, failing to materialize. Aramco is also facing tough competition from Russia, which is eating into its market share in Asia's major markets by offering significant discounts, leading to partially reduced prices.

Despite the decrease in overall revenues by 10.61% to SAR459.8bn in Q1 2023, compared to SAR517bn in Q1 2022, Aramco's net-profit increased by 3.75% when compared to the $30.73bn reported in Q4 2022. Amin Nasser, the CEO of Aramco, attributed this success to the company's unwavering reliability, focus on cost, and ability to respond to market conditions. The company remains committed to paying out a dividend of $19.5bn in the second quarter of the year, in line with the previous quarter. Additionally, Aramco plans to introduce a mechanism for performance-linked dividends to provide shareholders with a balanced mix of growth and yield. The amount of this dividend will be determined with the annual results and distributed in addition to the existing dividend payments. Aramco has indicated that it is exploring a scheme in which additional payouts would target 50-70% of annual free cash flow, net of the base dividend and other amounts, including external investments. Related: Top African Bank Defends Support For Fossil Fuel Projects

Furthermore, Aramco has reiterated its commitment to increasing investments in unique growth opportunities, though no specifics were provided. Analysts predict that the company will focus on increasing investments in global energy mix opportunities, particularly in the fields of green hydrogen, green ammonia, and other new fuels. The Saudi giant is already targeting low-carbon fuels. Currently, Aramco's capital expenditures and external investments in Q1 2023 are SAR32.8bn and SAR9.9bn, respectively, and the company is targeting a capital expenditure of $45bn to $55bn for 2023. In recent weeks, Aramco has announced a flurry of new investments, such as its acquisition of a 10% stake in China's Rongsheng Petrochemical Company for SAR13.5bn, expanding its downstream presence in China. As part of a long-term sales agreement, Aramco has also committed to supplying 480 million bpd of crude oil to Rongsheng Petrochemical's affiliate, Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Company. Additionally, Aramco has completed its acquisition of Valvoline's global products business, valued at SAR10.4bn.

For years, analysts have been closely examining Aramco's dividend policies and anticipating significant changes if necessary due to the financials of the Saudi government. As Aramco remains the primary source of revenue for the Saudi government's budget and investment projects, any additional dividends would be welcomed, particularly as weaker oil prices have already led to a deficit in the state budget. The current financial report is a godsend for the Saudi government, as it has already boosted Aramco's share price by 3.7% to 4%. This is especially attractive considering that the Saudi government directly holds a 90% stake in the oil giant, while the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF holds around 8%. Overall, Saudi Aramco's share prices have risen by 16% over the past year, surpassing all of the Seven Sisters (such as Shell and BP).

This week, the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia announced that the country saw a deficit of 2.91 billion riyals ($770 million) in the first quarter of the year. The main cause of the deficit a substantial increase in government spending, particularly in its Vision 2030 program aimed at economic diversification. The MOF's budget report revealed that despite higher non-oil revenues that partially offset the budget expenditure, total spending rose by 30%, resulting in a budget deficit. This situation could persist for a longer period if oil prices do not increase or generate more oil revenues. The Kingdom's ongoing efforts to diversify its economy are imposing a significant burden on government finances, despite the substantial increase in foreign direct investment (FDI).

Saudi financial advisors will be keeping a close eye on Aramco, and whatever is being said by Vision 2030 supporters, the main money maker for the kingdom remains oil and gas. New megaprojects will not only require access to international financial markets but may also lead to additional sales of Aramco shares by the kingdom to raise funds.

Many other GCC countries will need to reevaluate their own situation as well, as Saudi Arabia's situation serves as a leading example in many ways for the region.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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Australia's government is allocating $1.35 billion (AUS$2 billion) in the 2023- 24 budget to accelerate large-scale renewable hydrogen projects, aiming to become a world leader in green hydrogen production.

The Australian government will invest the sum in the so-called Hydrogen Headstart, a new program to support hydrogen production, it said in the budget unveiled on Tuesday.

"Australia already has the largest pipeline of renewable hydrogen projects in the world. Hydrogen Headstart will bridge the commercial gap for early-stage projects, and position Australia to be a world-leading hydrogen producer and exporter," the government said in the annual budget.

As of 2022, Australia had an announced pipeline of more than 100 hydrogen projects, which could be worth around $155 billion - $203 billion (AUS$230-300 billion) of potential investment, according to a government report from last year.

"This represents close to 40% of all global clean hydrogen project announcements, and underlines Australia's potential to be among the global leaders," Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in the report.

The new funding for hydrogen is expected to support the delivery of up to 2-3 large hydrogen projects, scaled to need up to 1,000 MW of electrolyzer capacity. The program is expected to be open for expressions of interest in the first quarter of 2024. Following assessment, successful applicants will be awarded contracts and provided with ongoing payments over a 10-year period from 2026-27.

In total, Australia's Budget for 2023-24 invests a further $2.7 billion (AUS$4 billion) in the country's plan "to become a renewable energy superpower," the government said.

These commitments bring the government's total investment in becoming a renewable energy superpower to more than $27 billion (AUS$ 40 billion).

"Australia's biggest opportunity for growth and prosperity is the global shift to clean energy," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in the Budget speech today.

"By acting now, our resources, our researchers and our regions can help power the world," Chalmers added.

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Wildfires in Canada have so far resulted in the shut-in of 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) from the countrys oil and natural gas production, or 3.7% of all output, as operators shut down producing fields and processing plants.

Alberta, the main energy-producing province in Canada, declared this weekend a state of emergency, with tens of thousands forced to evacuate amid raging wildfires in Canadas oil country.

On Saturday, there were 110 active wildfires in the province, of which 36 were out of control. Some 24,000 people were forced to evacuate because of the fires. By Monday, the number of people affected by evacuation orders had risen to nearly 30,000, according to the Edmonton Journal.

Alberta has requested assistance from the federal government to deal with the devastating wildfires, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Monday.

Prime Minister Trudeau assured me that Canada would be there to support Alberta in any way possible.

As of Monday, at least 145,000 boepd in the oil-rich province of Alberta were shut in due to the wildfires. The figure has doubled as of Tuesday, with nearly 320,000 boepd out of operations, mostly natural gas.

Natural gas exports from Canada to the United States dropped this weekend to the lowest level in more than two years, per Refinitiv data cited by Reuters. Canadian gas exports slumped to 6.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) on Sunday, which was the lowest since April 2021.

One of the largest oil and gas producers, Cenovus Energy, said in its latest update on Monday that on May 4, as a precaution, it had begun safely and methodically shutting in a number of producing conventional fields and bringing down processing plants. Around 85,000 boepd of production, primarily dry gas, has been impacted in the companys Rainbow Lake, Kaybob-Edson, Elmworth-Wapiti, and Clearwater operating areas. The company is monitoring the situation closely, and at the time of the update, it wasnt aware of any significant damage. Cenovus said it would resume operations as soon as it was safe and permitted to do so.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Church of England (CofE) will vote against the reappointment of all directors at upcoming AGMs  starting with Shell later this month  in response to a perceived lack of progress over climate change objectives.

The Church Commissioners, which manages the CofEs 10bn endowment fund, will vote to oust Shells chief executive Wael Sawan and chairman Sir Andrew Mackenzie at the energy giants upcoming shareholder meeting on May 23.

It will showcase similar defiance at rival AGMs including Exxon, Occidental Petroleum. and Total .



Shell has been accused across the industry of backtracking on net zero commitments, and the CofE is particularly concerned that the London-listed company has rowed back on promises to switch to clean power after the Ukraine war sent oil and gas prices soaring.

Olga Hancock, acting head of responsible investment at the Church Commissioners said: High energy prices produced huge profits at oil and gas companies last year  a golden opportunity to invest very significantly in the transition to a low carbon economy, and one that was comprehensively missed. So we will be supporting all the relevant climate resolutions, and voting against all of their directors.

Meanwhile, the CofEs Pensions Board  which separately manages the churchs 3.2bn retirement pot  has also confirmed it will vote against re-approving members of Shells senior leadership team.

Adam Matthews, chief responsible investment officer for the CofEs Pension Board, told The Telegraph it was with genuine regret that he was preparing to vote against Sawan and Sir Andrew but claimed closed door talks on climate issues had ground to a halt.

Matthews said: We have lost confidence in the direction of the company.

He accused Sawan of downplaying the importance of renewables and prioritising short-term profits since he took over as chief executive in January with the energy boss open to raising oil and gas production.

It also feared the company was refusing to use the cash windfalls to ramp up investment in renewables, instead handing 9.5bn to shareholders.



Related: China Is Coming Out Of The Shadows To Defend Its Oil Interests

Shell reported an annual profit of 32.2bn earlier this year the biggest in its 116-year history.

Matthews argued this approach may provide short-term dividends but risked making the global switch to green energy less likely and more unstable.

When approached for comment, a Shell spokesperson said: Shell and the CofE pensions board have worked together as partners on the energy transition for almost a decade, with an emphasis on changing the use of energy as much as its supply. We continue to believe that is the right approach and strongly disagree with the pension boards changed position.

Our strategy remains unchanged  to become a net zero energy company by 2050 or sooner. And in the last year weve made very good progress in reducing emissions and investing in low carbon energy.

We trust a vast majority of shareholders will agree on the need to collaborate in balancing the supply and use of energy to accelerate the energy transition and minimise the social costs.

Could the CofEs stance lead to others changing their mind?

Both church bodies plan to vote against Shells proposed green energy strategy and will instead back Follow This alternative proposals  which include stringent scope three targets.

Mark van Baal, founder of Follow This, welcomed praised the CofE for joining the leading investors in the fight against the climate crisis.

He said: Big Oil can make or break the Paris Climate Agreement and will only change if shareholders vote for change. As long as investors enable Big Oil to cause climate breakdown with their votes against climate resolutions that request Paris-alignment, oil majors will hang on to their fossil business model as long as possible, investing in fossil fuel extraction far outside the boundaries of the Paris Accord.

North Sea climate transition group Uplift also praised the CofEs latest stance towards energy giants.

Tessa Khan, executive director, said: The Church is right to call time on Shells short term profiteering and demand that it shifts its investment away from oil and gas to more affordable renewable energy. This is what the science and public demand; there must be no more delay. Whether its the millions of households being pushed into fuel poverty from high energy prices, or the increasingly alarming impacts of the climate crisis, companies like Shell have finally lost their social license to operate. This action by the Church is overdue but welcome.

Shell has consistently argued that it is ramping up production of climate-friendly energy sources faster than the world is adopting them.

It has also managed to consistently maintain majority support from shareholders for its climate proposals.

Shell has set a target of reducing its own emissions 50 per cent by 2030, and recently announced that it was already over halfway towards meeting that goal.

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The votes against Sawan and Sir Andrew are chiefly symbolic given the CofEs minor stake in the company  which is worth around 1.2m.

However, the activism could prompt other investors to put pressure on the company.

The church is part of the Climate Action 100+ group, which pressures companies responsible for the most greenhouse gas emissions  including oil companies such as BP and Shell  to gradually switch to renewables.

Other members include Blackrock, and Legal and General Investment Management  with both declining to comment.

The expected tussle at the AGM in two weeks followed BP grappling with a backlash for scaling back its climate commitments.

However, it ultimately won over investors  defeating a push from British pension groups to oust its chairman Helge Lund and voting down Follow This proposals for more stringent scope three rules.

By Nicholas Earl via CityAM.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Two Republican legislators have called for an evaluation of the Department of Energys management of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and an audit of its modernization program. The calls come in the wake of the largest withdrawal from the reserve by the federal government.

According to them, the withdrawal has undermined the countrys national security and increased U.S. reliance on foreign energy.

DOEs mismanagement of the SPR has undermined Americas energy security, leaving the nation more vulnerable to energy supply disruptions, and increasing the ability for OPEC and Russia to use energy as a geopolitical weapon, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member John Barasso wrote in a letter to the Government Accountability Office.

This is not the first time the two Republican legislators have sounded the alarm about the state of the SPR. Last year, they wrote to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, warning that SPR withdrawals from last year led to a "rapid depletion of the SPR that may have caused damage to SPR's pipelines and caverns, compromising its ability to meet its energy security mission in the event of a true energy supply interruption."

The Energy Department dismissed the concern, with an official stating that the SPR storage and pipeline infrastructure was being monitored and the reserve was operational and ready to be deployed in case of emergency.

Last year, the Biden administration released a total of more than 220 million barrels from the system to counter rising retail fuel prices. Plans were to start replenishing the SPR as soon as prices fell to between $67 and $72 per barrel but when price did fell to these levels, the administration deflected, indicating it was in no rush to start buying.

Now, WTI is once again within the stated range of the White House but there is no talk of replenishment. According to a Department of Energy official who spoke to Reuters, the administration will replenish the SPR "in a manner that will deliver the best value for American taxpayers and protect U.S. national (and economic) security interests, while abiding by congressional mandates and undertaking necessary maintenance that is also part of good stewardship."

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Bear-ly noticeable! suggests Omahan Barb May for last weeks Creative Captions photo of a big bear silhouette in a window.

Anybody know the Wi-Fi password? offers Shannon Willard, also of Omaha.

Yum! Peasants under glass! says Carolyn Rix of Fremont, Nebraska.

More offerings:

Papa bear must have steroids in his porridge?

Joanie Hoffart, Omaha

Only thing missing is a pic-a-nic basket.

Dick Schell, Omaha

Free samples were being offered at the National Honey Board headquarters.

James A. Jimmie White, Omaha

Hey, guys, is there a restroom in this building? I can bearly hold it ...

Kathy Campbell, Riverdale, Neb.

Could you please speak up? That roaring noise from outside is so loud I can BEARly hear you.

Tony Schieffer, Columbus, Neb.

That looks like a grizzly. Oh, I hope its not Cocaine Bear!

Diane Holmes, Omaha

I can bear-ly see from here.

Gloria Ball, Columbus

So, I had this dream last night about this huge bear that was following me everywhere ...

Dale Brincks, Omaha

I can bearly move this thing forward.

Linda Robb, Omaha

Weird! Those guys dont even know Im here! Hey!

Doug Sandquist, Ralston

Standing on the outside looking in.

Dee Clark, Bennington, Neb.

We see you knocking, but you cant come in!

Dave Dowling, Hartington, Neb.

No worry, its just the Chicago Bears mascot on the loose.

Patsy Schmidt, Bennington

The paws that refreshes.

Dan Hlavacek, Omaha

Guys discussing the BEARLY completed new building!

Gary Brehmer, Pender, Neb.

I wonder if they can Bear-ly see me?

Lorie Miller, Omaha

Keep the Bear market out of Wall Street.

Dianne Cook, Fremont, Neb.

A big bear casts a bigger bear shadow.

Brian Cook, Grand Island, Neb.

Oh, look, little Teddy is all grown up!

Sharon Stapleton, Council Bluffs

Its rare that these dudes arent aware or dont care that theres someone out there who will dare to impersonate a bear trying to give them a scare.

MoppyRoda Elman, Omaha

What bear ... outside the room?!

Connie Buller, Blair, Neb.

Oh, we were just talking about the BEAR necessities.

Mabel Merle, Omaha

Oh dont worry about him getting in. The manufacturer guarantees the glass is unbreakable.

Joan Benson, Papillion

That thing is so big I cant bear to look at it.

Hal Capps, Omaha

Dont look now, but I think the giant bear standing outside on the ledge is very mad, because he wasnt invited to our meeting.

Therese Lenhart, Omaha

Papa bear wants to know, do they serve porridge for lunch?

Huxley Roza, Bennington

And when your client wanted enough room for a man cave, you didnt have a clue?

Leola Bonge, Bennington

Hey! This is higher than I thought!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom Dahulick, Omaha

I have an eerie feeling that we are being watched.

Carol Roth, Kearney, Neb.

Objects in the window may be larger than they appear.

Jared Lee, Bennington

Well need to bearicade these doors to keep the animals out.

Austin Knudsen, Omaha

Yeah...thats our new window washer, Barry...

Steve Buller, Blair

Come on, fellas, let me in, pleeese.

Gayle Dahlkoetter, Homer, Neb.

Im looking for Goldilocks. Have you guys seen her?

Richard Thies, Omaha

Hoping to downsize.

Jim Berk, West Bloomfield, Mich.

Just try to ignore it, maybe hell go away.

Dale Ingkis, Omaha

I hope Dick locked the door.

Bill Henderson, Omaha

If that is one of three bears, we are in trouble.

H. Henderson, Omaha

Investors: BEWARE. Its a BEAR MARKET!

Muriel Docker, Essex, Iowa

This is one of those grin and BEAR it moments.

Kay Klevemann, Fremont

The bear went over the mountain and got lost and is trying to get someone to give him directions.

Jody Williford, Omaha

I just escaped from the zoo and need a place to hide. Please let me in.

Kay Theiss, Florissant, Missouri

He must have forgotten his front door key!

Vance Taylor, Omaha

Can I have the peanut butter and honey with extra honey?

Ian Wilton, Omaha

Faux-cain Bear.

Vicki Burns, Omaha

I would say grin and bear it, but Im leaving.

Doug Burns, Omaha

What would you expect in an unbearable market?

Fred Veleba, Bellevue

Please let me in. I promise I wont hurt anyone!

Beth Lindblade, Osceola, Neb.

My broker warned of a BEAR market. Looks like it has arrived.

Rick Carroll, Omaha

He gives me the creeps. Ill be glad when they finish making the movie!

Wally Loeb, Laurel, Neb.

I hope they dont let the Big Bear in!

Jim Swanson, Kearney

Are we meeting for lunch or are we going to BE lunch? Run!

Blanche Swanson, Kearney

With the 13th pick, the Chicago Bears select from Yellowstone University, defensive lineman, Teddy Claws!

Ed Volpi, Fremont

This bears no resemblance to my cozy den, so Ill just have to grin and bear it.

Elaine De Well, Omaha

The monster world is well and alive and may be part of their conversation SOONER than later!

JoAnn Hoffer, Columbus

Ill hypnotize him with a bee hive while you run out the back for help.

Raymond Earl Moore, Omaha

Bear on duty to show any job worth doing is worth doing well.

Beverly Bippes, Norfolk, Neb.

Dont look now, but I think were being watched by King Kongs cousin.

Mary Grimes, Pacific Junction, Iowa

Klaus, after that fiasco with the beagle puppies, your idea to test the new vaccine on bear cubs was genius, pure genius!

Tom Johnson, Omaha

Door Dash delivery for a Mr. Kong!

Dawna Pitts Nelson, Omaha

King Kong! Supersized!!

Carmen Dau, Omaha area

We need to handle this bear market a little better, Chuck.

Kay Petca, Andover, Kansas

Havent you seen a bear on steroids before?

Kraig Debban, Omaha

Teary-eyed Baby Bear still searching for his long lost friend Goldilocks.

Nancy Ermer, York, Neb.

Hey, you guys! Have you seen Goldilocks anywhere?

Mary Hurlburt, Omaha

Our new window cleaner.

Lorraine Feind, Kearney

We made it. BEARLY.

Ken Brian Gooch, Omaha
An Omaha woman accused of killing a security guard during a weekend altercation was denied bail during her first court appearance Tuesday.

Keloni Jones faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony related to the Sunday morning killing of 23-year-old Gom Gout. On Tuesday, she was ordered to be held in custody without bail by Douglas County Court Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo.

According to Gout's family, he was working as a security guard in the Capitol District and was shot  allegedly by Jones  while trying to break up an altercation.

"Despite his efforts to de-escalate the situation and ensure everyone's safety, he got caught in the crossfire," Shol Gout, Gom's brother, said in a GoFundMe message.

Officers were dispatched to Moe and Curly's Pub near 10th Street and Capitol Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday morning, according to an arrest affidavit for Jones. They found Gout unresponsive outside the bar.

Gout was taken to Nebraska Medical Center with CPR in progress. He died at the hospital.

According to the affidavit, police found Jones walking near 24th and Dodge Streets shortly after the shooting. She was taken to police headquarters for an interview and subsequently arrested.

Jones will appear for a preliminary hearing on June 9.
Authorities are seeking information on the whereabouts of a Nebraska City woman who has been missing since earlier this month.

Peggy Simpson, 64, was last seen in Hamburg, Iowa, on May 1, according to a statement from the Fremont County (Iowa) Sheriffs Office. She may have been traveling from Iowa to Nebraska, the statement said.

According to a social media post from a friend, Simpson does not drive. She is often seen walking in Nebraska City, sometimes with a basket cart on wheels.

Simpson is described as being 5-feet-4, approximately 115 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue coat and a multicolored stocking hat.

Anyone with information about Simpsons whereabouts is asked to contact the Fremont County Sheriffs Office at 712-374-2424.
LINCOLN  After the failure of a bill that would have banned abortions around six weeks of pregnancy, a Nebraska lawmaker is looking to introduce new abortion restrictions as part of a separate bill that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair introduced an amendment to Legislative Bill 574 that would ban abortions at 12 weeks past gestation and would change the details of the original bill. As currently written, LB 574 would ban puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19.

Hansens amendment would instead just ban surgeries for those under 19, and would task the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to regulate puberty blockers and hormone treatment. Patients who have already undergone such treatment prior to the legislation taking effect would be exempt.

Framed by supporters as a compromise, the proposal drew fierce criticism Monday from opponents. Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said the amendment joins the two most explosive, nuclear bills of the session into one piece of legislation, and called out lawmakers for trying to resurrect a bill that was already killed.

You are so unable to lose fair and square that youre seriously willing to blow up the entire session, Hunt said.

In terms of transgender health care, Hansens amendment is a less restrictive version of what LB 574s introducer, Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, was planning to offer through her own amendment. She previously said her amendment would mainly be to include a grandfather clause, while maintaining LB 574s ban on puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries.

Monday, however, Kauth expressed her support for Hansens amendment. Although she isnt totally happy with the changes he is proposing, she said Hansens amendment should ensure the votes are rock solid to pass the measure.

Hansen and Kauth both described the amendment as a compromise  both on LB 574, and on the previous bill that aimed to increase abortion restrictions. Hansen said the changes to LB 574 incorporated suggestions opponents made during a series of talks after the trans health care bills second round of debate.

Two weeks ago, lawmakers failed to advance LB 626, which would have banned abortions once embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, around six weeks of pregnancy. The bill was blocked by one vote when co-sponsor Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston was present but not voting on a filibuster-ending cloture motion.

Riepe had introduced his own amendment to LB 626, which would have banned abortions at 12 weeks after fertilization. Hansen said he consulted with Riepe on his amendment, which incorporates Riepes suggestions with some of the original components of LB 626.

A 12-week ban based on gestational age is more restrictive than Riepes proposal at 12 weeks post fertilization. Gestational age measures a pregnancy based on the womans last menstrual period, whereas fertilization refers to the moment the egg is fertilized. The difference between the two could amount to several weeks.

Hansens amendment also does not include an exception for fetal anomalies, as Riepes amendment did. Although Hansen said Riepe had committed to supporting the amendment, Riepe indicated Monday that he was still undecided.

I want to wait until it plays out, Riepe said.

A 12-week abortion ban is more expansive than many conservative lawmakers had hoped to pass this session, including Hansen. Last year, lawmakers narrowly failed to pass a total abortion ban, and before LB 626 was blocked, many lawmakers spoke against Riepes 12-week suggestion.

Kauth and Hansen said many of those same lawmakers were disappointed when LB 626 failed, and while they would favor more restrictive legislation, they would rather increase abortion restrictions somewhat than to do nothing.

Pro-life is sometimes a gradient, Hansen said.

Two presumed swing votes on LB 574, Sens. Tom Brandt of Plymouth and Jana Hughes of Seward, would not confirm how they plan to vote when the bill reaches its final round of debate. Brandt said he was given a rough outline of the Hansen amendment before it was introduced, but he still wants to read it for himself before he decides. Hughes said she also hasnt finished reading the amendment, but as of Monday afternoon she was leaning yes.

Opponents railed against various aspects of the amendment on the floor Monday. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who has launched a session-long filibuster in protest of LB 574, said adopting the amendment would be inviting a lawsuit based on Nebraskas single-subject rule alone.

Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said some senators were treating the legislation as a game, with winning as the goal. But all this legislative maneuvering, she said, will have a big effect on peoples lives.

I literally have no idea how you people sleep at night, she said. People are going to die.

World-Herald staff writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
LINCOLN  A week after more than 100 Nebraska businesses and nonprofit groups signed a letter opposing restrictions on gender-affirming care, a similar message from national corporations was sent to the states lawmakers.

The Human Rights Campaign sent a letter to state senators and Gov. Jim Pillen listing businesses opposed to anti-LGBTQ state legislation. First drafted in 2020, the letter has so far amassed 319 signatures, including major corporations such as Apple, General Motors, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and United Airlines.

The letter includes some companies that have deep roots in Nebraska  such as Union Pacific, which is headquartered in Omaha  or significant operations in the state: such as Amazon, Cargill, Kellogg, Google and U.S. Bank.

Union Pacific signed on to the Human Rights Campaigns (HRC) Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ+ State Legislation in 2021 and has a longstanding public record of supporting our LGBTQ employees and community, including membership in Nebraska Competes and our 100% rating from the HRC Foundations Corporate Equality Index, the company said in a statement.

This session, the Nebraska Legislature has been embroiled in a debate centered on Legislative Bill 574, which currently aims to ban puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19. Backlash to the bill includes an ongoing filibuster by opponents that has slowed progress on all bills that have made it to the floor.

The letter contends that such bills are harmful to companies bottom lines, making it difficult for businesses in places with those restrictions to recruit qualified workers. It says such legislation deters businesses from investing in those areas.

Legislation promoting discrimination directly affects our businesses, whether or not it occurs in the workplace, the letter reads. As we make complex decisions about where to invest and grow, these issues can influence our decisions.

LB 574s introducer, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, called that argument fear-mongering. In fact, she suggested, Nebraska economic prospects might be harmed if it fails to pass such legislation, since many of the states residents are conservative.

But Mike Hornacek, CEO of the nonprofit Together Omaha and LB 574 opponent, said he knows that not all conservatives support the bill.

The Human Rights Campaign letter reflects similar statements made in the letter that Hornacek drafted and sent to lawmakers last week. The more than 100 signatories to his letter said they opposed LB 574 and a similar Kauth bill, LB 575, which would regulate transgender students access to bathrooms and locker rooms, and their participation in school sports.

Some of the businesses and groups who signed the Hornacek letter say they have been harassed by supporters of the bills. But Hornacek said he hasnt been asked by any businesses to retract their signatures.

Hornacek said its difficult to know the level of legitimate danger behind such harassment. As a parent to a transgender teenager, he said he constantly fears for his familys safety since he started speaking out. He said its disappointing that Nebraska has reached a point where there cant be real dialogue about these issues.

If we listened to experts in this area, we wouldnt even be here, Hornacek said.

Read the full Human Rights Campaign statement here.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
There is a water crisis in America. Nebraskans know it. Many respected organizations are doing what they can to address it.

The western United States is experiencing a 20-year period of the worst drought in 1,200 years.

The scarcity of water has had a devastating impact on crops, livestock and dairy production in key producing regions last year. Right here in Nebraska, farmers have been grappling with effects that have had a multi-billion dollar impact on them just in the last year. This drought and its broader environmental impacts are putting our agricultural industry into dire straits with a growing level of concern and uncertainty. I see the ingenuity of the Nebraska farmer every day in my business and all need to pay attention to the challenges they face.

I have the honor of serving on the board of directors for Land OLakes, a farmer-owned cooperative. This week, Land OLakes President and CEO Beth Ford is addressing the central role of water in a speech at the University of Nebraska.

At Land OLakes, we know our global food supply is fragile. The worlds population is set to grow to about 10 billion people by 2050. During that time, we need to produce more food than in the last 8,000 years combined. And we must accomplish that with less fresh water and less arable land. In Lincoln, Beths remarks will explore how we can meet the water challenges of the future head-on, and why we need to focus on this issue. What happens in Nebraska  the problems and the solutions  can be a bellwether for the rest of the world.

Water is critical not only for drinking but for our ability to grow food. There are issues around availability, quality, storage and natural disasters. Without water, food cant grow. Without water, communities cant thrive and people cant survive.

Land OLakes is impressed with work already being done in Nebraska to tackle the water challenges were facing across the country. The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska is hard at work to achieve food security with less stress on water resources through water management and agricultural and food systems. The universitys attention to this issue is forward-thinking and worthy of recognition, and its leadership in solving the problems of our future is crucial.

This is a problem thats going to take every single one of us to address. A farmer. A student at a university. A business leader. A policymaker. And the many organizations that are working hard to find a solution. The urgency of the issue and the impact on our families, communities and nation require collection attention and work to find a realistic and sustainable solution on water, ensuring that we maintain global food security.

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., must address this, too. The House of Representatives has 435 seats and only 35 are tied to rural or agricultural areas. We have a lot of work to do to foster an understanding about the food supply, production, and explain how water access is self-protective of all Americans.

Our water crisis is jeopardizing our food security. We farmers who feed the world know that food security is national security. Now is the time Americans  and lawmakers in Washington  to put our attention and resources toward innovatively finding solutions to effectively and sustainably feed a growing population with less water and an increasingly fragile and interconnected food supply.
The U.S.-Mexico border is a symbol of our increasingly divided world. We can overcome the division if we recognize our common humanity.

The Omaha World-Herald recently printed a stunning Los Angeles Times story Poverty, violence drive exodus to United States that examined which countries send migrants to the U.S. border, and what are they fleeing. The article highlighted how extreme violence, poverty and climate disasters have led people to flee Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia and Haiti and risk the perilous journey north.

I take hope that our local newspaper published this story, shining a light on the issue. The immigrants Ive worked with for over 35 years have taught me that no one leaves home with little more than the clothes on their backs unless they are desperate. Nebraskans would benefit by understanding the root causes of the border crisis and pushing for humane immigration policies that serve us all.

Timing is critical. A pandemic-era public health order known as Title 42 is set to expire Thursday, which will enable thousands of desperate people who have been stuck at the border to once again seek asylum in the United States, potentially worsening an already challenging crisis.

As a Sister of Mercy who moved to the border in 1990, near El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, I witnessed Border Patrol agents chastising individuals and families without documents for crossing into the United States to work, but at that time detention and punishment was rare. We needed those farmworkers.

But gradually more and more Central Americans fled north, seeking relief from extreme violence and poverty largely caused by U.S.-backed dirty wars. The Border Patrol responded with increasingly aggressive enforcement. However, people kept coming, including many Mexicans who lost their farms, victims of the devastating collateral damage inflicted by the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

After the 9/11 attacks, the border became militarized, and the last administration spent about $20 million a mile to build a wall that was meant to be impenetrable but famously isnt. Crossing the border without documents became criminalized  even for those with legitimate claims for asylum  and for-profit prisons and detention centers flourished.

The tragic fire at a Juarez detention center in March that claimed 40 lives and injured many others is emblematic of everything that is wrong with U.S. immigration policies. By forcing migrants to wait in Mexico until they receive an asylum appointment  which they can obtain only through a glitchy app  the United States has outsourced its responsibilities to Mexican authorities. The only way to avoid such tragedies is for the United States, Mexico and other countries to come together cooperatively to honor the right of all people to seek asylum, a right enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the face of the seemingly growing backlash toward migrants worldwide, we are called to keep the issue in the public eye. I take hope from the handful of Nebraskans who come together every Thursday morning at 72nd and Hickory Streets in Omaha, to hold signs in support of detained immigrants. We call ourselves Mothers & Others: Mercy and Justice for Immigrants.

As we in Nebraska and nationwide begin to understand the root causes of migration, may we recognize that we are not separate, we depend on one another in universal ways: A recent study by the University of Nebraska at Omaha shows that immigrants contribute $22 billion a year to the states economy and created more than 94,000 jobs. But our state still needs tens of thousands of workers, according to Nebraska labor experts.

Humane policies such as lifting Title 42 and avoiding even more onerous obstacles to legal status is one step our federal government should take. At the state level, migrants should be allowed basic status, receiving work permits and drivers licenses. This will help us to start to bring our divided world together.
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By Lateef Taiwo

The South-East Caucus in the Senate has warned Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the president  elect of the grave danger in endorsing or interfering with the election of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

The Caucus gave the warning in Abuja in a Communique issued after its meeting on Sunday saying

The have  observed with dismay the antics of persons with vested selfish interests who have planted themselves around the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have vowed to shut out the South East from the Senate Presidency of the 10th Senate.

Beyond ethnic and religious considerations, in the forthcoming 10th Senate, the Southeast has been blessed with ranking Senators-elect including members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who have the cranial capacity, competence, influence, experience and Political followership to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber, it becomes imperative that the All Progressives Congress upholds the Principle of natural Justice and equity which it preaches founded on reasons and zone the seat of Senate President to the South East region. 

The Communique futher stated  the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should extend the same democratic opportunity he received from the outgoing administration which gave all aspirants equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental and constitutional rights during the APC Presidential Primaries. He should be conscious of the grave implications of zoning and endorsing a candidate from the South-South without any regard for the Southeast, such move will no doubt serve as a recipe for Injustice which will culminate to restiveness it warns.

 We implore the President-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the party of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa Igbo Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones

The country is already divided amongst ethnic and religious lines due to the exclusion of the Southeast region, which formed the major reason the APC received the amount of votes from the Southeast. The incoming Administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu must correct this anomaly by ensuring that the Southeast is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.

With the side-lining of the Southeast from producing the Presidential candidates of the major political parties before the general elections, the only means through which the zone can be compensated and given a sense of belonging is for the zone to produce the next Senate President as this will restore confidence of the people from the South-east and South-south geo-political zones and indeed all Nigerians in the unity of the country

The APC must rise above primordial and political interest and shun the winner takes all syndrome and pursue ethno-religious inclusivity and a strong, virile, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic nation 

Mr President-elect, how would an average Igbo man feel after he sees evidence of total discrimination. The South East have been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966. The South South has produced President for six years and also had Deputy Senate President in the outgoing administration. The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South East. The outcry of marginalization by the South East and the entire Igbo should be addressed by your incoming administration rather than aggravating it. The South West has President, the North East has Vice President, it is only just that the least position at the moment that can assuage the South East is given the chance to be the President of the 10th Senate.

The Communique was signed by

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah

Senator Victor Umeh

Senator Osita Izunaso

Senator Ezenwa Oyewuchi

Senator Tony Nwoye

Senator PC Ndubueze

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The Senate chief whip, Orji Kalu, has declared interest in running for the position of the 10th Senate presidency

Kalus declaration is coming at a time his party, APC, announced the zoning of the position to the south-south and anointed Godswill Akpabio

In a letter he personally signed to each member of the APC NWC and 108 Senators-elect, Kalu disclosed that his seemingly not contesting was due to the mourning of his late wife

FCT, Abuja  Senator Orji Kalu, the Senate chief whip, has officially written to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) and the 108 senators-elect, indicating his interest in becoming the next senate president.

Kalu disclosed his interest in a statement signed by the media wing of the office of the chief whip to the senate in Abuja on Monday, May 8, Vanguard reported.

Orji Kalu declares intention to run for senate president as APC officially zones position

Photo Credit: Orji Uzor Kalu

Source: Facebook

Details of Orji Kalus letter to APC national working committee, senators- elect

However, the Abia-born politician denied the report that he had been endorsed by the senators-elect from the southeast.

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He revealed that the south-east senators-elect only met with the aim of making a demand from Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, and the APC and that they are yet to throw their weight behind anyone.

The senator personally signed the letter and addressed it to each member of the NWC of the APC and the Senators-elect.

Kalu, who is representing Abia North senatorial district, said he offered himself for the position with humility, candour and sincerity of heart.

Latest about APC, Orji Kalu, Southeast, Abia, Senate Presidency

He said that it appeared that he had not been vocal in contesting for the position, but that was due to the one-month mourning of his late wife, Ifeoma Kalu

The letter reads in part:

I most humbly write to officially inform you of my interest to be elected the next Senate President.

Kalus letter is coming at a time the APC zoned the position to the south-south and announced Godswill Akpabio as his preferred candidate for the position.

Source: Legit.ng
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

Nigerias First Lady, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, called on African First Ladies to join hands and work together in order to curb the escalation of the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

Dr. Buhari made this call in her remarks at the 10th General Assembly of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

She announced that the newly completed AFLPM Secretariat in Abuja would be commissioned on May 9, 2023.

According to her, The realisation and completion of the Secretariat, which Im very proud to launch was funded by the support of the Nigerian government, member states and private donors. This is a true testament of AFLPMs mission and vision to serve as a supportive platform and mechanism for the women-led initiatives that will contribute to the advancement of peace, stability and security on our continent.

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Indeed, beyond serving as a secretariat for the AFLPM, the building will also be a home and hope for other Africa women-led organisations, and a center of excellence.

Another humanitarian window has been exposed with the sudden eruption of violence in Sudan. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the problems are not allowed to escalate. This mission is open to engaging with all relevant bodies in this regard.

Noting that kinetic approaches have not been successful in ending conflicts,Mrs Buhari said other approaches must be pursued such as constructive engagement with wealthy individuals to create deliberate opportunities for poverty reduction and engaging the media as a key player to be tasked with its agenda-setting role.

The outgoing Chairperson of AFLPM further said that educational institutions must introduce a curriculum of peace studies and promote the development of peace clubs in secondary schools.

She said, As you are aware, my husband tenure as president of Nigeria will end on the 29th of May 2023. Accordingly, a new president and vice president have been elected during our closed-door session and they are officially to Burundi as the president AFLPM and the vice president is the First Lady of Niger Republic.

Her term begins on the day my term as First Lady ends, that is 29 May 2023. I wish her good luck during her tenure, and as I express confidence that her tenure will move AFLPM a notch higher and I promise to remain supportive to her in my role as the Chair of the honourary Advisory Council.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for peace in eastern DRC

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has expressed dismay at the unintended public release of personal information of eight Krugersdorp rape victims. The eight victims were gang raped in July 2022, while they were on set shooting a music video near a mine dump. Joemat-Pettersson said the relea... See more
Gradual thaw has not been planned yet.

"The European Council (of member states) has extended until June 23, 2017, the restrictive measures adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia," a statement said.

The Crimea sanctions prohibit certain exports and imports, and ban investment and tourism services by EU-based companies there.

Let us recall that the sanctions were imposed after the annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

EU diplomatic sources say the economic sanctions will likely be extended for another six months from end-July on the grounds that Russia has failed to live up to its commitments to the Minsk ceasefire accord in eastern Ukraine, AFP informs.

At the same time, some EU member states led by Italy make the case that Russia is a neighbour and its help and cooperation is needed in tackling key shared problems, such as the Islamic State terror threat.

For its part, Russia says the sanctions regime is pointless if damaging, and President Vladimir Putin regularly insists Crimea will never be given back.

On Friday, Putin told a top economic forum in Saint Petersburg he was ready for a fresh start -- if the EU also played its part.

"We hold no grudge and are willing to reach out to our European partners but obviously this can't be a one-sided game," Putin said, stressing that it was the EU's introduction of sanctions which had led to the "collapse" in relations.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker made his first visit to Russia this week since the sanctions were imposed, telling Putin that there could be no lifting of sanctions until the Minsk deal was honored.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko meanwhile said he welcomed the EU's decision to roll over the Crimea sanctions.

"We will continue fighting until Russia frees Ukraine's Crimea and Ukraine's Donbas," Poroshenko said on Facebook, referring to the rebel-controlled areas of his country.
Atiku Abubakar Bagudu

Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, a Nigerian politician exposed by the United States as one of the conmen who helped a former dictator, Sani Abacha steal billions of dollars from Nigeria after forcing himself into power accusing politicians of corruption has been rewarded by his people who elected him as Governor.

He is today, the current governor of Kebbi, a state in northern Nigeria after being re-elected in 2019. A position meant for men of integrity. He had served as the Senator for Kebbi Central constituency of Kebbi state.

Bagudu who is said to be just as corrupt and dishonest as Sani Abacha was among the many conspirators who planned with the late dictator to embezzle billions of dollars supposed to be used to execute impactful infrastructural projects in Nigeria; but the kleptomaniac Abacha stole the money and deposited it in different foreign accounts in Switzerland, UK, US and other countries in Europe.

The wicked act deprived Nigerians of valuable developmental growth that condemned the country to its present state of stagnation.

While trying to recover the stolen funds, the Nigerian government under Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 instead of choosing to be transparent, decided to follow the path of secrecy by entering an agreement with Mr. Bagudu. In the agreement, $163 million stolen from Nigeria which Bagudu claimed belonged to him was returned to Nigeria.

In exchange, Nigeria renounced any interest whatsoever in Mr. Bagudus other stolen assets which include funds domiciled in Blue Holding trusts held in the United Kingdom as well as any future plan to prosecute him for laundering the stolen funds on behalf of Mr. Abacha.

It is right to say that he bought himself immunity from prosecution and thus secured his future. Funds held in Blue Holdings trusts are also believed to be part of Nigerias commonwealth Mr. Bagudu laundered for Mr. Abacha, according to a report by PremiumTimes. The contested funds are different from the $300 million Abacha loot recently repatriated to Nigeria after a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Jersey and the United States, although it was repatriated from the accounts of one of Mr. Bagudus money laundering vehicles, Doraville properties domiciled at Deutsche Bank in Jersey.

Bagudu played a pivotal role in stealing the country dry. A special report by DailyTrust, a popular Nigerian newspaper revealed that Nigeria has successfully recovered $4.6 billion (1.4trn) that was stolen by Abacha, Bagudu and his cronies.

Commenting on the looting carried out by Abacha, Bagudu and his other associates, the US Department of Justice gave this update on February 3, 2020:

The Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. government, has executed a trilateral agreement with the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria) and the Bailiwick of Jersey (Jersey) to repatriate to Nigeria approximately $308 million traceable to the kleptocracy of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his co-conspirators.

In 2014, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates for the District of Columbia entered judgment forfeiting approximately $500 million located in accounts around the world, as the result of a civil forfeiture complaint the Department of Justice filed against more than $625 million traceable to money laundering involving the proceeds of Abachas corruption. After appeals in the United States were exhausted in 2018, the government of Jersey enforced the U.S. judgment against over $308 million located in that jurisdiction.

General Abacha and his cronies robbed Nigerians of vast public resources and abused the U.S. and international financial systems to launder their criminal proceeds, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Todays landmark agreement returns to the people of Nigeria hundreds of millions of the embezzled monies through a lawful process that ensures transparency and accountability.

The forfeited assets represent corrupt monies laundered during and after the military regime of General Abacha, who assumed the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a military coup on Nov. 17, 1993, and held that position until his death on June 8, 1998. The complaint alleges that General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria and others, then laundered their criminal proceeds through U.S. financial institutions and the purchase of bonds backed by the United States. Jerseys cooperation in the investigation, restraint, and enforcement of the U.S. judgment, along with the valuable contributions of Nigeria and other law enforcement partners around the world, have been instrumental to the recovery of these funds

In addition to the more than $308 million forfeited in Jersey, the Department of Justice is seeking to enforce its forfeiture judgment against approximately $30 million located in the UK and over $144 million in France. The United States is also continuing to seek forfeiture of over $177 million in additional laundered funds held in trusts that name Abacha associate Bagudu, the current governor of Kebbi State, and his relatives as beneficiaries. The United States has asked the government of Nigeria to withdraw litigation it has instituted in the UK that hinders the U.S. effort to recover these additional funds for the people of Nigeria. The United States entered into the trilateral agreement to repatriate the Jersey assets because of its longstanding commitment to recover assets for the benefit of those harmed by grand corruption and because of the important safeguards embodied in the agreement. It is a shame that a country like Nigeria rewards those who have abused, stolen and dishonestly raped it with positions that should be left for exemplary citizens.

With this evidence against Bagudu and the infamous role he played in robbing millions of Nigerians the necessities of life, it was surprisingly annoying that a man with such a very dirty past could be allowed to superintend over a state in Nigeria and lead its affairs. A man of such despicable character who clearly participated in a looting spree with a late dictator should have his days in court and if found guilty of the crimes against the state, should be incarcerated. It is sad that Bagudus conscience is dead no wonder after the dishonorable role he played to rob his own countrymen, he still had the audacity to return to Nigeria to contest for political positions  such a shameless cretin. History will always remember him as a thief. He will be remembered as a man who refused to stand up for good but chose to follow a dictator to rob his countrymen of valuable assets that would have impacted their lives positively.

It is the same conman who is now a close ally of Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari, the same person who some years ago swore with his life that Abacha never stole from Nigeria.

Bagudu apart from ruling his state of Kebbi, is also the chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors Forum  a powerful political bloc made up of governors from the ruling party.

It is just pathetic that Nigeria is filled with docile citizens who are ready to swallow every shit thrown at them by shylock politicians who buy their way to power only to steal and rob their people. The government of Buhari claims to be fighting corruption but dines and drinks with a man who robbed his countrymen of valuable necessities of life.

If Bagudu still has any sense of integrity left in him, he should have resigned from his position as Governor and beg for forgiveness from Nigerians. Sadly, the country is populated by men and women who would rather die in power no matter the evidence of dishonesty brought against them. Men and women of no integrity; dishonest and hopelessly greedy folks. Bagudu, when he dies, will continue to be haunted by his evil past, just like the heartless and devilish dictator he helped steal from his people.

***

Source: Cowry News
Thursday, May 4

DoubleTree by Hilton, Bloomington

More than 400 gathered to celebrate and support the YWCA McLean County. The YWCA is dedicated to creating positive, lasting change and provides critical services to individuals and families in our community.

Recently, YWCA McLean County was awarded a Human Services Capital Investment Grant from the State of Illinois in the amount of $200,000 for the expansion of Stepping Stones, McLean Countys rape crisis center. For more information go to YWCAMcLean.org
BLOOMINGTON  The murder trial proceeded Tuesday for the McLean County man accused of killing one and injuring another in a shooting in January 2021, despite his absence.

Law enforcement were still searching for Michael Bakana, 44, on Tuesday after he failed to appear in court Monday for his scheduled jury trial and pretrial services officers said he cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet.

Bakana of Normal is accused of killing 22-year-old Mariah C. Petracca and injuring another woman in a shooting outside a downtown Bloomington bar in January 2021.

After issuing a no-bond warrant Monday, Judge Casey Costigan ruled Tuesday that the trial would proceed in absentia  without the defendant present  because Bakana was willfully absencing himself from the trial.

He knew what was going to happen should he not show up for court. He was admonished that he could be waiving and forfeiting certain rights should he elect not to appear including certain fundamental rights, like being present for and participating in every stage of the trial, Costigan said.

Sean Brown, one of Bakanas attorneys, argued that case law indicated Bakana was required to have notice of the trial beginning Tuesday by certified mail since he was not present Monday.

However, Costigan said Bakana always had in-person notice of his trial date and the only reason that we didnt go yesterday was to try to get him here because the GPS was only cut off nine minutes before the warrant was issued in the case, and the court believed that we could get him and get him here. Obviously that was not the case.

Costigan said it was his strong preference to have Bakana present, but after 18 status hearings, four separate attorneys and 27 months  Thats long enough.

He also said the victims named in this case had asserted their constitutional rights under the Victims Rights Act, which include the right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.

I understand that this may be new territory with regard to a first-degree murder case in the state of Illinois to proceed with trial in absentia, however there have been numerous warnings to Mr. Bakana and the court believes that its time for the case to go forward, Costigan said.

Bakana is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery with discharge of a firearm.

After the judge ruled that the trial would proceed, Bakanas attorney Clyde Guilamo entered a motion for a change of venue.

Its going to be very difficult to select a jury in this county that has not heard of what has happened, he said, noting media coverage, law enforcement notices and school lockdowns that took place Monday after the warrant was issued.

Costigan denied the motion for a change in venue but told the attorney that he could raise the issue again at a later time if he wished.

Jury selection began late Tuesday morning and continued through the afternoon. Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday.

Prior to Monday's proceedings, Bakana's bond had been set at $2 million with 10% to apply and he was released in October, having paid $200,000 plus fees to be let out. His bond was reduced by $50,000 in March to pay a portion of Bakana's contract with his attorney.

WHAT TO KNOW BACKGROUND: Michael Bakana is charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm in the death of 22-year-old Mariah C. Petracca in January 2021. WHAT HAPPENED: Bakana failed to appear Monday for jury trial. As law enforcement continued to search for him Tuesday, his trial began despite his absence. DESCRIPTION: Bakana is described as a 44-year-old Black man with short black hair, brown eyes. He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds. He speaks with a French accent. IF YOU SEE HIM: Do not approach. Call 911 or text anonymous tips to 847411 with the word "BPDTIPS."

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson
NORMAL  Former U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi was appointed the inaugural Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professor in Diplomacy and International Affairs at Illinois State University.

The professorship was named in honor of McHenry, an ISU alumnus who served as the ambassador and the United States' permanent representative to the United Nations. McHenry also would serve in former President Jimmy Carter's cabinet from 1979 to 1981.

Illinois State students will benefit greatly from Geeta Pasis incredible knowledge and experience, Interim President Aondover Tarhule said in a news release. We are grateful to Donald McHenry for his generosity and foresight that will continue to enrich our classrooms and campus community.

Pasi most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia until 2022 and had previously served as ambassador to the countries of Chad from 2016 to 2018 and Djibouti from 2011 to 2014. She also served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, which developed and advanced U.S. policy in Africa.

She also had overseas postings in Cameroon, Romania, Germany, Bangladesh, Ghana and India with a focus on human rights, democracy and humanitarian work.

Pasi has received numerous awards for her service, including the Presidential Rank Award, which is awarded to high-performing senior U.S. government employees.
MOUNT VERNON  A state trooper was wounded and a 23-year-old motorist killed early Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire along an interstate highway in Southern Illinois, police said.

Illinois State Police said preliminary findings indicate that troopers were responding to help a motorist at about 3 a.m. along Interstate 64 when an altercation happened.

Police said the motorist, identified as 23-year-old Brandon L. Griffin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, displayed a firearm and exchanged gunfire with troopers. Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 16-year-veteran trooper was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

A second trooper who had responded to the scene and a female passenger in Griffin's vehicle were not hurt, the agency said Tuesday afternoon.

The shooting happened near the Jefferson County seat of Mount Vernon, closing the interstate's eastbound lanes for more than three hours. Mount Vernon is about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis.

State police said the agency's own internal investigators are handling the case, with evidence to be turned over to the Jefferson County State's Attorney's Office for review.

No additional information was made available Tuesday afternoon.

Gallery: Photos from massive Interstate 39 crash 123.png Winter-Weather-Illinois Winter-Weather-Illinois Winter-Weather-Illinois Winter-Weather-Illinois Winter-Weather-Illinois Winter-Weather-Illinois
MTN Ghana has appointed Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe as Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer (CCSSO) effective 1stMay 2023.



In her role, Adwoa will have oversight responsibility for the Corporate Services function focusing on Regulatory Affairs, Sustainability, Corporate Communications and Commercial Legal departments. She will also serve on the MTN Ghana Foundation Board as Executive Director for the Foundation.



Commenting on her appointment, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh said I am excited about the appointment of Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe and wish to use this opportunity to warmly welcome her to the Yello family. With her rich experience in the corporate space over the years, I am confident that Adwoa will fully support MTNs sustainability initiatives which is a new dimension of the business to realize MTNs Ambition 2025.



Adwoa joins MTN from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where she was a member of the Executive team with overall responsibility for Legal and Compliance and Regulatory Affairs. In her role at GNPC, she represented GNPC before regulatory bodies, led the negotiation of major transactions, participated in the review of legislation, and served on various inter-governmental teams on petroleum industry related matters.



Prior to GNPC, Adwoa worked at the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands; Saah & Partners, Ghana; and The Special Court for Sierra Leone, a United Nations ad hoc war crimes court and has also consulted for the United Nations Mission in Liberia. She is currently an adjunct Lecturer for the LLM/MA in Energy Law program at the University of Ghana School of Law, Legon and has contributed to papers and publications at the national and international level.



Adwoa holds a Master of Law degree (LLM) from the Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from St. Hughs College, Oxford University, UK; Qualifying Certificate in Law (QCL) from Ghana School of Law and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Ghana, Legon.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Ghana Thoracic Society (GTS) has unveiled the National Asthma Guidelines, to provide a uniform approach to asthma diagnosis and guide disease treatment and management in Ghana for better patient outcomes.



The Asthma Guidelines was launched on May 2nd, 2023 in Accra to commemorate World Asthma Day and to create awareness and knowledge of asthma, enhance illness treatment, and lessen the disease's impact.



Dr. Clement Laryea, President of the Ghana Thoracic Society (GTS), said the development of the document is the outcome of significant study and cooperation among healthcare experts and stakeholders in the nation to offer clear and comprehensive advice for diagnosing, treating, and managing asthma in adults and children alike.



According to Dr. Clement Laryea, Asthma is a major public health issue in Ghana, and its prevalence is rising. "Creating this guideline is an important step towards better asthma treatment and lowering the burden of asthma on people, families, and the healthcare system. We believe the manual will provide medical professionals with the tools they need to improve asthma treatment in Ghana and, as a result, the quality of life for people with asthma."



Dr. Laryea assured that the guideline covers all aspects of asthma care, from initial diagnosis and assessment to ongoing management and follow-up. It also includes medication recommendations, including inhaled corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and oral medications.



Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions of individuals throughout the globe, including Ghana. Available records from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that over 3 million Ghanaians suffer from asthma, which, if left untreated, may cause severe morbidity and death. Asthma care is critical for preventing and controlling symptoms, improving quality of life, and lowering the risk of severe asthma episodes.



The new guideline also emphasizes the importance of patient education, self-management strategies, and all aspects of asthma care, from initial diagnosis and assessment to ongoing management and follow-up, such as avoiding triggers and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.



The GTS hopes that the guideline will improve the quality of care for asthma patients in Ghana and reduce the burden of the disease on individuals, families, and society as a whole.



The GTS, through the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health will disseminate the guidelines to healthcare professionals nationwide and provide training on its implementation. The society also plans to work with policymakers to ensure the guideline is integrated into national health policies and programs.

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.

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The Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested five persons for allegedly attacking some officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) when they were performing their duties.



The suspects are currently assisting the police in their investigations pending prosecution.



ECG Regional General Manager Ing. Sariel Etwire who confirmed this at a press conference in Koforidua explained that the incident occurred at Otweso, near Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality where the Police rushed to the scene to rescue the ECG officials when they had the information.



According to the Regional ECG Boss, another situation was recorded at Apinaman in the Akwatia District, where an Assembly member for the area, announced at the Community Information Centre to instigate customers against ECG staff.



She added that the swift intervention of the police averted any clashes.



Revenue Collected



She said the Region had a target to collect GHC231 million, adding that We were able to collect GHC63.6 million as at the 20th of April and still counting.



This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of staff who braved the odds and went through our vigorous terrain to support the five-week national exercise in the 14 Operational Districts, she noted.



Illegalities



She noted that the region was able to uncover seven illegal connections in Akwatia, Kade, Suhum, and Koforidua Districts.



She noted that the Revenue Protection Unit has so far recovered 32,000 kilowatts per hour from five of the customers.



The corresponding amount of money is GHC38,000 out of which an amount of GHC23,000 has been paid she said.



She explained that notable among the identified illegal connections is a Pub in Suhum which had bypassed a meter and a customer who had connected power without authorization in Kade.



Meters



She notified the general public that the Company identified some faulty meters and has commenced the replacement of all such meters to improve revenue inflows.



The company is also intensifying the capturing of all Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) meters to ensure every customer receives their bills and pays promptly. Customers who had not yet received bills after three months after installation should visit any of our 14 District Offices for help, she added.



She said the 14 Districts are; Koforidua, Oda, Tafo, Asamankese, Asesewa, Begoro, Kibi, Nkawkaw, New Abirem, and Mpraeso. The rest are, Kade, Akwatia, Donkorkrom and Suhum.



Visibility Project



She added that currently, the ECG Revenue Protection Team is carrying out a field visibility exercise to check the metering status of customers and update offline MBH meters.



They will also check for illegal connections and self-reconnection among customers who have been disconnected due to their indebtedness she noted.



Positive Response



IngSariel Etwire added that Both Special Load Tariff (SLT) Customers and Non-Special Load Tariff (NSLT) Customers supported the exercise by coming out in their numbers to pay their bills when we approached them. This is commendable and we urge them to continue to do so.



Assurance



However, she urged customers to use our new payment platforms such as the enhanced Mobile App and short code *226# to ensure that they paid their bills in the comfort of their homes.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Professor Kofi Agyekum has condemned Christians over-dependence on their religious leaders for spiritual guidance.



The Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana bemoaned the culture where people, particularly women, seek directions from their Pastors without discerning whether or not it comes from God and whether or not they will be harmed.



He noted that some people follow blindly everything that their religious leaders tell them to do and this could be very detrimental.



He advised people to know God for themselves to avoid being deceived by their Pastors.



Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly called 'Opanyin Agyekum', gave this counsel while reacting to an unfortunate incident where a Pastor has burnt a woman to death.



In a shocking incident, a man of God known as Pastor Isaac Okyeam, popularly called Pastor Owusu, has been arrested for allegedly causing the death of a 42-year old woman, Ama Nkansah Appiah.



The victim suffered from burns caused by a spiritual oil reportedly administered by the Pastor during a deliverance session.



This incident happened on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Akyem Asawase, a suburb of Akyem Awisa in the Birim South district of Eastern Region.



Not every person wearing clerical collar is a Pastor, Opanyin Agyekum snapped while speaking on the issue with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FMs morning show Kokrokoo.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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NDC aspiring parliamentary candidate for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, Faustina Elikplim Akurugu has vowed to snatch the parliamentary seat from the ruling New Patriotic Party in the upcoming 2024 general election.



She believes that, Dome-Kwabenya is not an NPP stronghold and that the NDC would change the political landscape of the constituency if they work together.



Elikplim Akurugu lamented the scarcity of job possibilities in her constituency.



She pledged to support the young people in the constituency and to provide them with employment possibilities.



Creating job opportunities, and improving the lives of Dome-Kwabenya citizens is my agenda as a lawmaker, Faustina Elikplim Akurugu exclusively told Accra-based Original TV.



The party needs someone who has the face, background, competence among others to reckon with the NPP in the coming elections, she added.



She said the constituency lacked development despite several years in the hands of the NPP and it was time to unseat that for the betterment and growth of the area.



However, there is mix reaction among constituents about the performance of the MP so far. Whilst some constituents believe the MP has failed others believe his performance is satisfactory.





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.

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The Campaign team of Dr. Kwabena Duffuor a flagbearer aspirant for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is seeking a postponement of the May 13 Presidential Primaries over what it describes as a flawed register.



A petitioned sent to the Electoral Commission and Election Committee of NDC on May 8, 2023 under the signature Kofi Kukubor, Head of Research and Strategy with the campaign team of Dr. Duffuor stated that extensive review of the voters' register or photo album for 220 Constituencies have identified several discrepancies that render the register incomplete or inaccurate.



The campaign team said going into an election with such a register undermines the credibility and integrity of the election and capable of causing irreparable damage to the flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, therefore demanding the following:



1. Postponement of the May 13th Presidential Primaries.



2. Stakeholders meeting to establish an agreeable roadmap that will guarantee the integrity of the voters register.



3. Clean the register within an agreeable time frame to ensure free and fair election.



4. To save the image of the NDC so that the party can have a credible voice so that the party can speak on national election matters when the need arises.



The aspiring Presidential candidate, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has said earlier that the May 13 Presidential Primaries must be free, fair and transparent to ensure unity after the elections.



Speaking on Agoo FM in Nkawkaw on Friday, May 5, 2023 to wrap up his 4-day campaign tour to the Eastern region, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor said inaccessibility to the final compiled register a week to the polls was disturbing.



He backed his campaign team's petition to the Electoral Commission on this regard.



"Today is 5th May, we are going to the polls on 13th May but we have not received the register which is going to be used for the election. So my campaign team is demanding for the release of the register. We have written to the party so we are waiting for them. There are rules and regulations about any election. My name could be conspicuously missing during the day of the election, what will I do in that situation. Am I going to fight or what, no. Reason we want to get access to the register to ensure that all qualified delegates are on the register," Dr Duffuor lamented.



The former Finance Minister and Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana, Dr. Duffuor added, "Why is the register not out? If this happened in National elections and it is just a week ahead what would they have done. We are not litigating, we just want to have access to the register to ensure every qualified delegates name is on the register so we go to the polls to vote fairly and peacefully. I am praying that they do the right things".



Nonetheless, he called on his supporters to remain calm and be peaceful to ensure unity in the NDC after the election to enable the party defeat the ruling New Patriotic Party in the 2024 general election.



Dr. Kwabena Duffuor is contesting the Presidential Primaries with former President John Mahama and former Mayor of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former Head of the Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has officially responded to former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng's report on galamsey activities in the country which sought to implicate the former.



Prof Frimpong-Boateng's report



Prof Frimpong-Boatengs 36-page report titled: Report On The IMCIM And The Way Forward, detailed the complicity of top government officials, some at the presidency, Members of Parliament on both sides of the divide as well as top party officials who have been engaged in the illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) business.



He accused late former Forestry Commission boss, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, of engaging in legal mining with his right-hand man Charles Owusu.



"Through Charles Owusu, the Director of Operations at the Forestry Commission, Sir John had Chinese gangs doing mining on his behalf. The issue about rosewood is something that is beyond the scope of this report.



I remember that at a meeting in the conference room of the President, I told the president in the presence of Sir John that the greatest danger to the forests of Ghana was Sir John, page 10 of the report stated.



Charles fights back



In a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Charles Owusu shot down the allegations against him, insisting he has never met or called the heart surgeon over a seized excavator during his time at the Forestry Commission.



I have never called Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in my life, I dont even have his number, I dont even know where his Ministry is . . . I dont have any mining site I work on. In my life I have never met him face-to-face, I have only seen him from afar and on TV. . . I have never spoken to him in my life.







According to Charles Owusu, the report was written out of bitterness and hatred.







In an official response from Charles Owusu, Lawyers representing the embattled former Forestry Commission staff said, "the mention of our client in the said publication rests on stark factual inaccuracies constraining our client to cause present reaction . . . much as he does not desire to be drawn into the furore and brouhaha generated by Prof. Frimpong-Boatengs report, our clients rights to seek redress for any wrong he suffers from the said report is strictly reserved."

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A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said that the agriculture sector holds the key to unlock the massive unemployment among the youth today.



He noted that Ghana only need to make the right investment to make that dream become releasable.



The job opportunities in the agriculture sector, according to Dr. Afriyie Akoto, are enormous, and they include industrialization, agro-processing, and advertising among others, insisting that when proper investment is made, it will change the fortunes of Ghana.



My vision is really targeted at the youth. To have an impact on the youth is to create job opportunities for them. They youth really need jobs and the agriculture sector holds the key, he noted.



Dr. Afriyie Akoto made this observation on Monday, May 7, 2023, when he mounted the podium of a Town Hall Meeting organized by NPP, Canada branch, via zoom and interacted with the party faithful on his vision when giving the nod to bear the flag of the UP Tradition and Ghana as a whole.



He was responding to a question posed by one Felix Brown on what could be the fate of the NPP youth under his leadership.



Commenting further on the issue, the former Minister of Food and Agriculture said the approach to addressing the myriads of unemployment issues confronting the youth has to do with pragmatic policies, assuring that under his leadership, he will put in place policies that are geared towards prioritizing investment into the agriculture sector.



For instance, he said introduction and execution of the governments flagship program, Planting for Food and Jobs, created more job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youth and the process, changed their lives.



Everywhere I go, you see these young people thanking me for giving them opportunities to venture into agriculture. It is very gratifying to note that the opportunities are changing lives, especially, when you go the northern parts of the country, he noted.



Agriculture Management Team



Motivated by results that he got from the Planting for Food and Jobs policy, Dr. Afriyie Akoto strongly proposed that under his leadership as President of Ghana, he will set up an Agriculture Management Team.



This team, he added, will consist of seven notable ministries that are all related to agriculture including the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Ministry of Roads and Highways, and Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.



They will form a standby committee to ensure that enough public resources are located to ensure the transformation of agriculture which holds the key to creating more job opportunities to turn around our economic fortunes, he noted.



Dying Poultry Industry my biggest disappointment



Despite achieving success in the portfolio he handled, Dr. Afriyie Akoto revealed that one of his biggest disappointments was to see the declining fortunes of the poultry industry.



The biggest challenge confronting the poultry industry, he noted, had to do with international trade, which he has little control over.



I know the challenge the poultry farmers have gone through over the years to the extent that prices of poultry feed have more than doubled in some cases. Some have attributed the challenge to lack of enough maize whiles others too are saying it has to do with the unavailability of soya beans. Well, our production of soy has gone up from 150,000 metric tons to 230,000 metric tons and that is no mean achievement. The thing is that a lot of these things have to do with international trade. We are bringing chicken into this country at something like GHS14.00 per kilo when the total cost of production as we are speaking is more than GHS35.00 per kilo. With that, I cannot see how anybody can produce chicken in the European Union or America. You put it in a ship, brig it all the way to Tema and charge GHS14.00. Obviously, there is some distortionary burden somewhere, he said.

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National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has stated that the party's planned parliamentary and presidential elections will come off as planned.



According to him, nothing will stop the elections and asked anybody who has grievances to consult the leadership of the party for rectification.



The Campaign team of Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a flagbearer aspirant for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is seeking a postponement of the May 13 Presidential Primaries over what they describe as a flawed register.



A petitioned sent to the Electoral Commission and Election Committee of NDC on May 8, 2023 under the signature of Kofi Kukubor, Head of Research and Strategy with the campaign team of Dr. Duffuor stated that extensive review of the voters' register or photo album for 220 Constituencies have identified several discrepancies that render the register incomplete or inaccurate.



The campaign team said going into an election with such a register undermines the credibility and integrity of the election and capable of causing irreparable damage to the flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, therefore demanding the following:



1. Postponement of the May 13th Presidential Primaries.



2. Stakeholders meeting to establish an agreeable roadmap that will guarantee the integrity of the voters register.



3. Clean the register within an agreeable time frame to ensure free and fair election.



4. To save the image of the NDC so that the party can have a credible voice so that the party can speak on national election matters when the need arises.



But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Mr. Asiedu Nketia explained that he could not fathom why the Duffuor campaign team are trying to make things difficult for themselves.



They have already been furnished with voters' register, and the photo album provided to them is an added document that the leadership of the party decided to provide so that they will have a fair idea of the voters.



"There is nothing wrong and no one is rigging the elections for nobody. The leadership of the party will organize a press conference and outline all the processes for the elections. Anybody with peculiar problems should endeavour to be present and have all those bottle necks removed," he said.



"Nonetheless, the party's presidential and parliamentary primaries will definitely come off as planned," he added.



Watch Video Below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been engaging stakeholders and interest groups in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of his official declaration of his presidential ambition.



The vice president who was given a triumphant reception by his kinsmen in Walewale, in the North East Region, during a visit to confer with chiefs and opinion leaders in his home region over the weekend.



According to sources, Dr Bawumia has already informed his, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of his intention to succeed him as well as former President John Agyekum Kufuor and MPs from the majority caucus about leading the party into the next election in 2024.



The Vice President, who was in Walewale for important social events, was startled by the show of support from thousands of residents who greeted him at the outskirts of the town with their motorbikes to welcome him home.



Although the Vice Presidents opponents have claimed that he has lost support among his kinsmen, the crowds outpouring of support demonstrated otherwise, boosting his chances for flagbeareship race.



Security details had a difficult time controlling the crowd as they chanted their support for Dr. Bawumia to be the next president.



The Vice Presidents visit to Walewale has been interpreted by many as a sign that he is still popular and has the backing of his people, despite rumors to the contrary.



He used the opportunity to engage with the people, listen to their concerns, and assure them that the government was committed to addressing their needs and improving their lives.



Dr. Bawumia also highlighted on some of the achievements of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Dr. Bawumia spoke about the governments efforts to stabilize the economy, create jobs, and improve the living standards of Ghanaians.



He also talked about the governments flagship programmes such as the Free Senior High School policy, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, and the Planting for Food and Jobs program, which are aimed at empowering Ghanaians and promoting economic growth and development.



As part of his visit, the Vice President attended a durbar held in his honour, where he was received by traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and the general public.



The upcoming Presidential Primaries of the NPP has seen Dr. Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong and Alan Kyerematen emerge as the frontrunners, with several other candidates also campaigning hard. The Vice Presidents popularity among his people and his track record in government has positioned him as a strong contender in the race to succeed President Akufo-Addo in 2024.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Women in need found the Janes through fliers and ads that read: "Pregnant? Don't want to be? Call Jane." The collective "would advertise in underground newspapers and by word of mouth, and give you a contact number that you could call, essentially a hotline, and ask for Jane," says Horwitz. "They would counsel you about this unwanted pregnancy and give you the option of coming to obtain an abortion that was at a much more reasonable price. The Jane Collective essentially made abortion way more accessible for people who could not afford it."

It was all very hush-hush, adds Horwitz. "Secrecy was important because this was in a pre-Roe v. Wade time where getting an abortion was extremely illegal and punishable by the law."

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To ensure secrecy and protect the privacy of patients, the operation had a number of clandestine elements. "They would have the patients come to a location that they called the front, which was an apartment where they would check you in and family could wait," says Horwitz. Then, patients were transported to a second location. "That really added another layer of security because, should the front get raided by police, the location where the woman was actually getting the procedure would be somewhere else."

At first, the Janes acted as go-betweens, connecting women with doctors who were willing to perform abortions. But soon, they began receiving training to perform the procedure themselves.

"What was unique about the Jane Collective is that they utilized people who were not formally medically trained, and gave them training with a doctor who knew how to do abortions, like an obstetrician or gynecologist," Horwitz explains. "They would teach them how to do proper, sanitary abortions, because it's really a pretty simple technique and can be taught to people without a formal medical degree."

That allowed the Janes to help even more women and lower the cost of the procedure from $500 to $100. Still, it was a risky enterprise. In 1972, seven Janes were arrested and charged. They faced years in prison, but the charges were dropped when Roe v. Wade was decided, before they went to trial.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Making uniform decisions to justify the decommissioning of offshore artificial structures at the end of their lives could pose significant environmental challenges, a new study has said.

In line with the global decarbonization agenda, governments and industries worldwide are exploring how best to expand the use of renewable energy technologies to replace fossil fuels.

This means that worldwide, an increasing number of structures such as wind turbines are being sited on land and in the sea, while oil and gas infrastructure is reaching its end-of-life and requiring decommissioning.

Writing in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, researchers say evidence is limited as to how best to manage such structures when they reach the end of their lives, with some arguments that any artificial structure should be removed in entirety and others proposing structures be repurposed.

To counter that, scientists have called for urgent global action so that the construction of future artificial structuresor the decommissioning of existing onesdoesn't create an additional ecological burden on areas of the planet already being severely impacted by the effects of climate change.

The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the UK Government's Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

It formed part of the DecommissioningRelative Effects of Alternative Management Strategies (DREAMS) project.

Dr Anaelle Lemasson. Credit: University of Plymouth

Dr. Anaelle Lemasson, post-doctoral research fellow at the University and the study's lead author, said, "Through our research, we only found around 50 studies worldwide that have provided direct evidence of how the decommissioning of offshore structures is impacting the marine environment. Most of these were off the coast of the U.S. or in the North Sea, which primarily focus on what happens to fish or invertebrates when structures are removed, but ignore consequences for other features. Clearly, this leaves a lot of gaps from both a geographical and environmental perspective."

Given an estimated 1,800 offshore wind turbines likely to require decommissioning by 2030, the need for consensus on future approaches has never been more pressing.

This is the latest study involving the University of Plymouth to examine the potential ecological impacts of both the construction and adaptation of coastal and ocean structures.

Dr. Antony Knights, associate professor in marine ecology and co-principal investigator on the DREAMS project, added, "Despite the current evidence being minimal, the last few years have seen a surge in the number of studies looking at this issue. It highlights the global recognition, within the scientific community at least, that efforts are critically required to prevent this from becoming a major environmental concern. We know that industry, national and international governments are keen to ensure that structures are decommissioned most effectively and efficiently. However, the evidence required to underpin best-practice decision-making and develop environmental policy that benefits both nature and society remains disparate with our knowledge of how best to tackle the issue falling short of what is required."

Provided by University of Plymouth
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Graphical abstract showing ice age migration routes from northern coastal China to the Americas and Japan. Credit: Li et al.

Scientists have used mitochondrial DNA to trace a female lineage from northern coastal China to the Americas. By integrating contemporary and ancient mitochondrial DNA, the team found evidence of at least two migrations: one during the last ice age, and one during the subsequent melting period.

Around the same time as the second migration, another branch of the same lineage migrated to Japan, which could explain Paleolithic archaeological similarities between the Americas, China, and Japan. The study appears May 9 in the journal Cell Reports.

"The Asian ancestry of Native Americans is more complicated than previously indicated," says first author Yu-Chun Li, a molecular anthropologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "In addition to previously described ancestral sources in Siberia, Australo-Melanesia, and Southeast Asia, we show that northern coastal China also contributed to the gene pool of Native Americans."

Though it was long assumed that Native Americans descended from Siberians who crossed over the Bering Strait's ephemeral land bridge, more recent genetic, geological, and archaeological evidence suggests that multiple waves of humans journeyed to the Americas from various parts of Eurasia.

To shed light on the history of Native Americans in Asia, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences followed the trail of an ancestral lineage that might link East Asian Paleolithic-age populations to founding populations in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and California. The lineage in question is present in mitochondrial DNA, which can be used to trace kinship through the female line.

The researchers scoured over 100,000 contemporary and 15,000 ancient DNA samples from across Eurasia to eventually identify 216 contemporary and 39 ancient individuals belonging to the rare lineage. By comparing the accumulated mutations, geographic locations, and carbon-dated age of each of these individuals, the researchers were able to trace the lineage's branching path.

They identified two migration events from northern coastal China to the Americas, and in both cases, they think that the travelers probably set dock in America via the Pacific coast rather than by crossing the inland ice-free corridor (which would not have opened at the time).

The first radiation event occurred between 19,500 and 26,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheet coverage was at its greatest and conditions in northern China were likely inhospitable for humans. The second radiation occurred during the subsequent deglaciation or melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. There was a rapid increase in human populations at this time, probably due to the improved climate, which may have fueled expansion into other geographical regions.

The researchers also uncovered an unexpected genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people. During the deglaciation period, another group branched out from northern coastal China and traveled to Japan. "We were surprised to find that this ancestral source also contributed to the Japanese gene pool, especially the indigenous Ainus," says Li.

This discovery helps to explain archaeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan, and the Americas. Specifically, the three regions share similarities in how they crafted stemmed projectile points for arrowheads and spears. "This suggests that the Pleistocene connection among the Americas, China, and Japan was not confined to culture but also to genetics," says senior author Qing-Peng Kong, an evolutionary geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Though the study focused on mitochondrial DNA, complementary evidence from Y chromosomal DNA suggests that male ancestors of Native Americans also lived in northern China at around the same time as these female ancestors.

This study adds another piece to the puzzle that is Native American ancestry, but many other elements remain unclear. "The origins of several founder groups are still elusive or controversial," says Kong. "Next, we plan to collect and investigate more Eurasian lineages to obtain a more complete picture on the origin of Native Americans."

More information: Qing-Peng Kong, Mitogenome evidence shows two radiation events and dispersals of matrilineal ancestry from Northern Coastal China to the Americas and Japan, Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112413. www.cell.com/cell-reports/full  2211-1247(23)00424-2 Journal information: Cell Reports
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Fin whales are the second largest mammals on the planet. The development of a new technology that allows researchers to eavesdrop on the animals as they swim in the Arctic could one day help prevent ship strikes. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Fiber-optic cables line the coasts of the continents and crisscross the oceans, carrying signals that are the backbone of communication in the modern world. While their main job is telecommunications, researchers have been exploring ways to use this giant network to eavesdrop on everything from storms to earthquakes to whales.

Now, working with two nearly parallel fiber-optic telecommunications cables off the Norwegian arctic archipelago of Svalbard, researchers have been able to estimate the positions and tracks of eight fin whales along a section of the cablefor five hours.

"This work demonstrates how we were able to simultaneously locate and follow these whales over an 1800 km2 areawith relatively low infrastructure investment," said Martin Landr, head of the Center for Geophysical Forecasting at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and one of the members of the team that did the work.

Transforming fiber cables into hydrophones

The system the researchers used for this work is called Distributed Acoustic Sensing, or DAS. DAS uses an instrument called an interrogator to send laser pulses into a fiber-optic system and records the returning light pulses, essentially turning the cables into a series of hydrophones.

Landr and his colleagues first began to explore the ability of DAS to record underwater vibrations and sounds in the waters off Svalbard in June 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, they collected 40 days of recordings and roughly 250 terabytes of data. From these data, researchers were able to identify more than 800 whale songs and calls. This audio file is the sound of one of the fin whales recorded by researchers from a fiber-optic cable that extends along the coast of Svalbard, the Norwegian arctic archipelago. The frequency of the sound has been scaled up so that it is audible to the human ear:. Credit: Robin A. Rrstadbotnen, NTNU

The researchers have built on this early work to expand their ability to identify different whale species and to conduct real time recording from the fiber optic cables in Svalbard.

For this latest effort, published in Frontiers of Marine Science, the researchers had access to two, nearly parallel 250 km long fiber-optic cables that extend from Longyearbyen, the main settlement in Svalbard, to Ny-Alesund, a research outpost to the northwest. The paired cables allowed the researchers to localize the whales with an accuracy of roughly 100 meters, within an area of roughly 1800 km2.

"This shows that the two fiber cables are a very effective means of monitoring whales in the Arctic," Landr said.

A melting Arctic

As a Norwegian territory in the high arctic, Svalbard offers Landr and other researchers an important base from which to study this changing ecosystem.

This graphic show how researchers were able to simultaneously tracking multiple whales using fiber-optic cables in the Arctic, off the coast of Svalbard. The maps shows an overview of a 60 km long section of the cables, showing the positions and tracks of up to eight acoustically-detected whales, color-coded from dark to light over a 5.1-hour period. Credit: Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1130898

Recent research predicts that the Arctic could be ice free in the summer as early as 2035, which could increase shipping and cruise ship traffic across the top of the globe.

As one small example, as many as 35 cruise ships and additional smaller expedition ships are expected to transport up to 75,000 people to Longyearbyen and surroundings in 2023, according to Visit Svalbard.

Could reduce ship strike risk

Whales are already changing the way they use the Arctic and Antarctic as feeding grounds, with some research showing that fin whales have begun spending time year-round in Arctic regions. That means increased ship traffic in these areas can also increase the likelihood of ship strikes. The use of the existing fiber-optic cable network and DAS could help reduce this possibility, the researchers said.

"The capabilities demonstrated here establish the potential for a near-real-time whale tracking capability that could be applied anywhere in the world where there are whales and fiber-optic cables," the researchers wrote. "Coupled with ship detection, using a similar approach .a real-time collision avoidance system could be developed to reduce ship strikes."

More information: Robin Andre Rrstadbotnen et al, Simultaneous tracking of multiple whales using two fiber-optic cables in the Arctic, Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1130898
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers Charlotte de Mouzon and Gerard Leboucher of the Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Developpement, Universite Paris Nanterre in France, have examined preferred feline etiquette when faced with an unfamiliar human. In the paper, "Multimodal Communication in the HumanCat Relationship: A Pilot Study," published in Animals, researchers examined four modes of human interactionsvocal, visual, bimodal and a no communication controlwith a dozen cats living in cat cafes.

Twelve cats living at two cat cafes in Bordeaux and Toulouse, France, were observed during the study, narrowed down from a group of 18. The six not included in the study were either overly wary of humans or just could not be bothered to interact with them.

By analyzing video clips of cat-human interactions, the research team found that the modality of communication significantly affected the time it took for cats to approach the human experimenter. Cats interacted significantly faster with visual and bimodal communication than with vocal communication alone and a control condition of no communication.

In addition, the communication modality had a significant effect on tail-wagging behavior. Cats displayed significantly more tail wagging when the experimenter engaged in the no communication control compared to visual and bimodal communication modes, indicating to researchers that they were less comfortable in this control condition. Cats also displayed more tail wagging in response to vocal communication than bimodal communication.

The experiment was conducted in the quiet of the morning before opening the cafe to the public. Two experimenters were present in the cafe. Experimenter 1 was sitting and engaged in communication according to each testing condition. Experimenter 2 recorded video of the interactions and sat still throughout the experiments. For each test, the cat entered the room with their owner (cafe owners at both locations), who was asked not to communicate with the cat. The testing conditions were then initiated.

Experimental setup. Credit: Animals (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ani13091528

The four modes

In the no communication control, experimenter 1 did not look at or speak to the cat. She sat still and did not offer her hand. Six cats still were sufficiently curious enough to approach the experimenter.

With vocal communication, experimenter 1 alternated calling the cat by their name and making cat-specific calling noises, described in the paper as "a sort of 'pff pff' sound, widely used by French humans for calling cats," but did not offer her hand and looked upwards to avoid eye contact. Seven cats responded to the calls by approaching, just one more than by no communication.

Ten approached in the visual mode, where the experimenter silently offered her hand to the cat and alternated gaze directed at the cat with gaze directed at the floor. Because narrowing of the eyes may be perceived as positive communication between cats and humans, experimenter 1 engaged in a neutral gaze with slow blinking sequences.

A fourth mode of bimodal (visual and vocal) communication had experimenter 1 offering her hand to the cat and cycled between directing her gaze at the cat (slow blinks) and directing her gaze at the ground while also calling the cat by name and making french-specific cat calling noises. Nine cats approached, signifying either an increased response to cat calls with a visual component or a decrease compared to just visual cues alone.

Throughout testing conditions, experimenter 1 hid treats in her pocket but did not offer the treat unless the cat came within a distance of 10 cm. If the cat did not approach experimenter 1 within 75 seconds, they were whisked away and received a treat at the door. While it is unclear what role the treats play in the overall study design, rewarding subjects for participating in an experimental trial is common, albeit usually in human trials.

Forty-eight video clips were generated, one video for each testing condition per cat, and coded using Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS). Statistical analysis was performed to compare cats' responses to the different testing conditions using the Friedman rank sum test, a widely-used method in computational biology.

Contrary to predictions when designing the study, the cats found visual communication more attractive than vocal communication initiated by an unfamiliar human. This can indicate a good study design when the results ignore potential prediction bias.

The results suggest that cats display a marked preference for visual and bimodal cues when being addressed by non-familiar humans compared to vocal cues. The authors speculate that this observation could serve as a basis for practical recommendations to navigate the codes of human-cat interactions.

More information: Charlotte de Mouzon et al, Multimodal Communication in the HumanCat Relationship: A Pilot Study, Animals (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ani13091528 Journal information: Animals

 2023 Science X Network
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Frank and Steven Ekwanga affixing a GPS collar to a lion in a study of their impact on the highly endangered Grevy's zebra. Credit: Dr Margaret Kinnaird

Protecting lions and the interests of cattle producers in Kenya is a difficult balancing act. In a recent Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution article, Dr. Laurence G Frank, a researcher at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia, Kenya, explored how protecting livestock can help protect endangered lions.

As part of our "Frontiers Scientist" series, Frank, who also is the director of "Living With Lions", a conservation research group working in nonprotected areas of Kenya to save the remaining wild lions and other predators outside National Parks, caught up with Frontiers to tell us about his career and research.

What inspired you to become a researcher?

All children love animals and some who never grow up become zoologists. At the age of 10 I was introduced to field biology at a local community museum, where we were taught basic ecology and animal behavior, collecting and specimen preparation technique, and formal field note format. My weekends were spent pestering local reptiles and trapping small mammals in the Bay Area hills; many of my juvenile specimens are in the California Academy of Sciences research collection.

A field course on east African mammals at the age of 18 hooked me on Africa and I returned to Kenya a few years later to study pesticides in raptors. After an MSc in ecology at the University of Aberdeen, I did my Ph.D. at Berkeley, studying the social behavior of spotted hyenas in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. With Prof. Stephen Glickman, I helped create the Berkeley Hyena Projecta large research colony in the hills overlooking San Francisco Bayto study the unique biology of female masculinization in this species.

Can you tell us about the research you're currently working on?

After 20 years of hyena research, in 1997 I turned to the conservation biology of lions, creating three projects in different parts of Kenya with two basic remits: helping traditional pastoralists (herding peoples) and modern ranchers better protect their cattle from lion predation, and understanding how lions adapt their behavior to avoid being killed by people angered at losing livestock to predators.

Those were carried out by Ph.D. and MSc students from Kenyan, American, and British universities, as well as dozens of Maasai warriors and colleagues from a variety of universities. I am partially retired now but am still active in Laikipia.

In your opinion, why is your research important?

Lions are one of the most iconic of animals but, like all African wildlife, are rapidly disappearing under the pressures of a burgeoning human population. National parks are critical to conservation, but most are too small and too far apart to protect wide-ranging animals like elephants and lions, which move beyond the boundaries of parks, create problems for humans, and are then killed in retaliation. If these species are to persist, viable breeding populations must be maintained in the human-dominated landscapes between parks, requiring coexistence, however uneasy, between people and problematic wildlife.

For large carnivores like lions, tigers, hyenas, and wolves, this requires managing both livestock and predators to minimize predation on livestock and subsequent retaliatory killing. It also means managing humans' ancient antipathy towards these animals, which are threats to livelihoods and occasionally to human lives.

Of course, it also means maintaining healthy populations of wild prey such as zebra, giraffes, buffalo, and smaller grazers, without which lions would have only livestock to prey upon. Conserving lions and other large carnivores necessarily means conserving their habitat and all the wildlife it supports.

Are there any common misconceptions about this area of research?

There are two major misconceptions among the western public: Firstly, that parks are all we need in order to protect lions and other African wildlife, and secondly that the primary threats are disease, climate change, and trophy hunting. Disease may affect individuals but only in rare exceptions threaten entire local populations, let alone entire species.

The climate crisis threatens much of life on Earth, but other human impacts are much more immediate. Trophy hunting removes individualsprimarily older malesbut is a minor factor compared to pervasive killing by local people to protect livestock. The widespread use of cheap and lethal agricultural pesticides has devastated lion and hyena populations in much of Africa.

Because lions return to a kill to feed again the following night, an aggrieved cattle owner need only sprinkle a dollar's worth of pesticide on the carcass and a whole pride is dead in the morning. Scavengers drawn to a carcass also die: vultures were ubiquitous until very recently but have nearly disappeared from much of Africa in this century due to poisoning targeted at lions and hyenas.

How would you address them?

Large carnivores are difficult neighbors if one's livelihood depends on livestock production. African pastoralists perceive little benefit from tolerating lions or expending time, effort, and money to protect their cattle if they can solve the problem permanently with a handful of poison.

As most remaining lion range is also occupied by people and their domestic animals, to promote coexistence conservationists must help pastoralists reduce cattle losses while also ensuring that wildlife improves rather than harms their economic and emotional well-being. Tourism is central to the latter but few tourist dollars reach the family whose favorite cow was eaten by lions last night. Moreover, much of lion range consists of hot, scrubby bushlands, unattractive for tourism.

What are some of the areas of research you'd like to see tackled in the years ahead?

Making lions and other wildlife worth tolerating is one of the great challenges to preserving wildlife in the developing world and will require much greater western investment than is spent today. Finding ways to promote tolerance of wildlife where impoverished people have more urgent immediate concerns will be key in stemming the wave of extinction sweeping the world today.

How has open science benefited the reach and impact of your research?

Our "Living with Lions" program in the Amboseli region of Kenya produced the highly successful Lion Guardians project, which employs uneducated Maasai warriors, most of them former lion killers, as citizen scientists, helping their communities avoid livestock losses to predators and working alongside professional biologists in collecting data on lion numbers and ecology.

Covering a vast region on foot, the Guardians turned around a rapidly dwindling lion population and produced invaluable data on persecuted lions which are nocturnal, secretive, and very hard to study with standard wildlife research methods. In Laikipia, most ranchers have invested heavily in new methods to protect their cattle from predators, building 'lion-proof' nighttime bomas (corrals) of moveable steel fencing rather than local thorn bush, and today very few lions are killed after taking livestock.

Innovations such as the Lion Guardians project and the lion-proof mobile bomas invented by a Laikipia rancher are too important to hide in academic publications, which are expensive and often inaccessible to the public and practicing conservationists. The current extinction crisis is progressing with terrifying speed.

All advances in finding effective measures to protect dwindling species must be made readily available to everyone working to protect life on Earth. Frontiers is at the forefront in the movement to put progress in science and conservation ahead of profits.

More information: Laurence G. Frank, Twenty years of lion conservation in a commercial rangeland, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1141195 Journal information: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

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Magnetotactic bacteria bind uranium in their cell wall (on the right). This can be used to purify uranium-contaminated water by separating the loaded bacteria with a magnet (on the left). Credit: B. Schroder/HZDR

A research team at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has managed to purify water containing uranium using a special kind of bacteria known as magnetotactic bacteria. The name derives from their ability to react to magnetic fields. They can accumulate dissolved heavy metal in their cell walls. These research findings also shed new light on the interaction between uranium and bioligands.

"Our experiments are geared towards potential industrial applications in the field of microbiological remediation of water, especially when it is contaminated with heavy metals of the type you find in mine drainage water in the old uranium mines," explains Dr. Evelyn Krawczyk-Barsch of HZDR's Institute of Resource Ecology. "For this project we sought help from a very special group of living creatures: the magnetotactic bacteria," her colleague, Dr. Johannes Raff, adds and continues, "Due to their structure, they are positively predestined for such a task."

Because they exhibit a feature that differentiates them from other bacteria, magnetotactic bacteria form nanoscopic magnetic crystals within the cell. They are arranged like a row of beads and so perfectly formed that humans would currently be unable to reproduce them synthetically. Each individual magnetic crystal is embedded in a protective membrane.

Together, the crystals and membrane form the so-called magnetosome which the bacteria use to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field and orientate themselves in their habitat. It also makes them suitable for simple separation processes.

Magnetotactic bacteria can be found in almost any aqueous environment from fresh water to saltwater, including environments with very few nutrients. Microbiologist Dr. Christopher Lefevre has even discovered them in the hot springs of Nevada. It was from him and his colleague Dr. Damien Faivre of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) that the Rossendorf scientists acquired their bacteria strain, not to mention expert advice on how best to preserve thembecause despite being fairly common, cultivating them requires some specialist knowledge.

Stable heavy metal collectors in a hostile environment

Magnetotactic bacteria can survive at neutral pH values, even in aqueous solutions containing higher concentrations of uranium. Over a wide pH range, they bind the uranium almost exclusively in their cell wallsan excellent basis for dealing with the conditions found in water associated with mining. None of the uranium penetrates into the interior of the cell in the process, nor is it bound by the magnetosome.

It was already known that different types of bacteria could bind heavy metals in their cell walls despite being potentially quite differently structured. In the case of magnetotactic bacteria the cell walls are formed of a peptidoglycan layer, a macromolecule composed of sugars and amino acids which is the main component of the cell walls of many bacteria, which is only four nanometers thick.

The cell walls of magnetotactic bacteria are surrounded by an external membrane composed of sugars and fat-like components: potential docking sites for uranium.

"Our results show that in magnetotactic bacteria peptidoglycan plays the main role in absorbing uranium. This knowledge is new and unexpected in this type of bacteria," says Krawczyk-Barsch. The team even managed to identify three specific uranium peptidoglycan species and confirm their findings with reference samples. These new insights were only possible thanks to a combination of microscopy and various spectroscopic techniques, a combination that is rarely found anywhere else in the world.

"By cooperating with the Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research at HZDR, for example, we were able to use the electron microscope. The proximity of our institutes at the site and the expertise of our colleagues are a major advantage for our work," Raff says.

Significance for purifying contaminated water

Thanks to their magnetic properties, magnetotactic bacteria can be easily separated from water using magnets. "It's conceivable this could be done on a large scale by carrying out the treatment right in the surface water or by pumping water from underground mines and directing it to pilot treatment plants," Krawczyk-Barsch explains.

Using magnetotactic bacteria could be an effective alternative to expensive, conventional chemical treatmentsbecause magnetotactic bacteria are undemanding in terms of upkeep; implementing other biomass-based solutions, by contrast, regularly fails due to the costs involved in increased nutrient and energy requirements.

And another detail has sparked the researchers' interest in these bacteria: their proteins can stabilize divalent and trivalent iron so that the magnetite stored in the magnetosomes can be synthesized. "So, we are really asking ourselves how these microorganisms interact with radionuclides in various oxidation states. In particular, we are thinking of plutonium," explains Raff.

This is because, unlike uranium, it is conceivable that its chemical similarity to iron means it uses other routes into the cell. How does this influence the migration behavior of plutonium in nature, and could this also be a way of removing plutonium from wastewater? Thus, the topic is also of relevance to repository research: any results could then be incorporated into the safety assessment.

The findings are published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

More information: Evelyn Krawczyk-Barsch et al, Peptidoglycan as major binding motif for Uranium bioassociation on Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 in contaminated waters, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129376 Journal information: Journal of Hazardous Materials
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This image provided by Hopewell Township Police Department shows a metallic object believed to be a meteorite on a hardwood floor at a residence in Hopewell Township, N.J. The object punched a hole in the roof of the central New Jersey home, smashing into a hardwood floor and bouncing around a bedroom. The family who owns the home discovered the black, potato-sized rock in a corner  still warm. Credit: Hopewell Township Police Department via AP

A metallic object believed to be a meteorite punched a hole in the roof of a central New Jersey home this week, smashing into a hardwood floor and bouncing around a bedroom. The family who owns the home discovered the black, potato-sized rock in a cornerstill warm.

Nobody was hurt and there was no serious damage to the residence, said police in Hopewell Township, north of the state capital Trenton. The object measures about 4 by 6 inches (10 by 15 centimeters) and weighs about four pounds (1.8 kilograms), police said.

Suzy Kop, whose family owns the home, said they initially thought someone had thrown a rock into an upstairs bedroom Monday, but soon realized that wasn't the case. The family plans to meet with an astrophysicist who will further examine the object.

"We are thinking it's a meteorite, came through here, hit the floor here because that's completely damaged, it ricocheted up to this part of the ceiling and then finally rested on the floor there," Kop told KYW-TV in Philadelphia. "I did touch the thing because it thought it was a random rock, I don't know, and it was warm."

This image provided by Hopewell Township Police Department shows a metallic object believed to be a meteorite on a hardwood floor at a residence in Hopewell Township, N.J. The object punched a hole in the roof of the central New Jersey home, smashing into a hardwood floor and bouncing around a bedroom. The family who owns the home discovered the black, potato-sized rock in a corner  still warm. Credit: Hopewell Township Police Department via AP

This image provided by Hopewell Township Police Department shows a metallic object believed to be a meteorite on a hardwood floor at a residence in Hopewell Township, N.J. The object punched a hole in the roof of the central New Jersey home, smashing into a hardwood floor and bouncing around a bedroom. The family who owns the home discovered the black, potato-sized rock in a corner  still warm. Credit: Hopewell Township Police Department via AP

Kop said hazmat officials responded to their home to check it out along with her family, in case they had been exposed to some type of radioactive material, but those checks were all negative.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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(a) Changes in air temperature, precipitation, and Landsat-derived normalized difference vegetation index across China from 1984 to 2021. (b) Box plots of distribution of  d trend from 1984 to 2021 by the trend categories of meteorological factors and vegetation cover. (c) Conceptual diagrams of key drivers reducing  d in western and eastern China lakes from 1980s to 2021. Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023GL103225

Lakes provide critical resources for humankind. The interaction of optically active constituents in water with solar radiation makes the lakes on the Earth colorful.

Compared with a single water quality parameter, lake water color can reflect the comprehensive state change of lake environment. In general, lake color is related to productivity, water quality, and ecological state. Hence, the influences of climate and human activities on lake environments can be reflected in water color, to some extent.

Researchers led by Dr. Cao Zhigang from Prof. Ma Ronghua's group at the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with their collaborators, conducted a comprehensive examination of color in 2,550 Chinese lakes from 1984 to 2021. They revealed the spatial and temporal patterns of shifts in lake color as well as their relations to climate and human activities. Their findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters on April 25.

"In the past 40 years, the blue lakes in western China became bluer, and the green-yellow lakes in eastern China shifted to greener colors," said Dr. Cao.

The researchers found that declines in visual wavelength were widespread whether in western China's blue lakes or in eastern China's non-blue (green and yellow) lakes. The decrease in visual wavelength of color was found in 1,723 lakes (68%) (mean changing rate: -8 nm/decade). Lakes in the Tibetan Plateau had larger declines in wavelength than lakes in other areas.

"Climate and human activities varied in different areas of China. Thus, controls from climate and humans on changing patterns of lake colors are heterogeneous across China," said Prof. Ma.

Most lakes in western China (e.g., Tibetan Plateau) are blue. The bluer color is mainly related to the higher temperature and rainfall, which also resulted in lake expansion and elevated water clarity there.

The lakes in eastern China (e.g., Yangtze River plain) are often "green-yellow." With the decrease in wind speed over the past decades, the resuspension of sediments, which usually relates to lake turbidity, was weakened. Likewise, more forest and grassland around the lakes reduced substances flowing into them. These processes reduced sediments in surface water and made the lake color shift to a green direction. In Lake Taihu and Chaohu, where the cyanobacterial blooms frequently break out, the trends of "greener" colors are more significant.

More information: Zhigang Cao et al, Shifts, Trends, and Drivers of Lake Color Across China Since the 1980s, Geophysical Research Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2023GL103225 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Just four years ago, the Spanish Supreme Court pointed out in a ruling that there is no such thing as a "conjugal debt." In other words, a woman is not obliged to satisfy her husband's sexual needs. It may come as a surprise that this point still needs to be made, but the statistics speak for themselves. According to a national survey carried out in 2019, 7.5% of Spanish women over 16 years old have been raped by their partners or ex-partners.

These rapes are usually subject to less attention, and they tend to be "perceived as something less serious." So says Josep Maria Tamarit Sumalla, a full professor of Criminal Law at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and the lead author of a pioneering study in Spain which concludes that Spanish courts hand down milder punishments for rapes when they are committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner.

The study is titled "How Criminal Is It to Rape a Partner According to the Justice System? Analysis of Sentences in Spain (2015-2022)," and has been published in the European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. It examines nearly a thousand rulings on cases of rape in which the victims were adult women, which were handed down by Spain's provincial courts between 2015 and 2022.

The conclusions are clear: when the rapist is the victim's partner or ex-partner, "there are fewer convictions, the punishments are milder, and the compensation amounts are lower," according to the professor, who is also a researcher in the VICRIM (Empirical and applied victimology) group in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the UOC.

Fewer convictions and one year less in prison

When conducting the study, the team of researchers selected all rape cases in which adult women were the victims, heard in Spain's provincial courts between 2015 and 2022. Among other factors, they looked at whether the cases had led to a conviction, the prison sentence and the amount of financial compensation that had been imposed.

In 37% of the 964 rape cases studied, the offender was the victim's partner or ex-partner; it was someone known to the victim in 17.6% of cases; it was a stranger in 22.7% of cases, and the offender was a relative of the victim in 20.9% of cases.

The study shows that the judges decided to convict 62% of those accused of rape who were partners or ex-partners of the victims. This percentage increases by 17 points, up to an average of 79%, in other cases. "That's a statistically significant difference," Tamarit pointed out.

The average prison term for those convicted was 83.4 months in cases of intimate partner rape, and 95.1 months in the other cases. In other words, the average length of the prison sentence was one year less for partners and ex-partners.

Partners and ex-partners had to pay an average compensation amount of around 12,600. Meanwhile, the compensation was almost 17,800 in the other cases.

An aggravating factor in only 22% of cases

The Spanish Criminal Code made no explicit reference to a rape or sexual assault being committed within an intimate partner relationship until 2022. As a result, the judges had to issue sentences on both types of cases on the same basis, although they were able to take intimate partner relationships into account as a mitigating or aggravating factor due to the relationship between the offender and the victim.

"Our analysis has concluded that the courts only found this situation to be an aggravating factor in 22% of cases. Most rulings did not mention it at all, and milder sentences were imposed as a result," said Tamarit.

This situation will change as a result of the country's 'only yes is yes' law, which was passed in October 2022. "Since the reform of the law, the courts must now increase the penalty when the rape takes place within an intimate partner relationship, and there will probably be a change," the professor continued.

On the other hand, the professor of Criminal Law at the UOC said that the judges' task is not an easy one because in cases involving rape within intimate partner relationships, there is often a lack of evidence and, furthermore, "the law exempts the victim from the obligation to testify."

Limited study of psychological effects

The article by the UOC researchers also points out that the prison sentences are longer and the financial compensation amounts are higher when the judges consider that the rape has had a serious psychological impact on the victims.

"It wasn't taken into account in many sentences because it wasn't apparent. The court isn't always able to take it into consideration, because there isn't always an expert assessment. There's still a long way to go to ensure that all victims receive a psychological assessment," Tamarit pointed out.

The perspective and gender of judges

As regards the judges' conscious or unconscious beliefs, the UOC professor refers to the myth of the 'real rape': "According to the stereotype, a real rape is committed against an attractive young girl by someone she doesn't know. Anything that differs from that profile may have greater difficulty being recognized as such, whether it's the rape of a man, of an elderly woman or a rape within an intimate partner relationship."

When assessing the extent to which judges are affected by this myth, "we'd need more qualitative studies and interviews with them, which is very difficult," he added.

Nevertheless, with regard to the study they have already published, "The fact that there is this difference in penalties must be considered within the framework of a Spanish Criminal Code which imposes very severe penalties in cases of rape compared to other countries. We wouldn't like to say whether it should be subject to longer terms of imprisonment. But we have found that there is some degree of inertia in terms of failing to take cases of sexual violence within an intimate partner relationship as seriously. And they do need to be taken seriously," concluded Tamarit.

More information: J.M. Tamarit Sumalla et al, How Criminal Is It to Rape a Partner According to the Justice System? Analysis of Sentences in Spain (20152022), European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10610-023-09537-x

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DNA being delivered into the nucleus of a stem cell - An artistic rendition of the study led by Dr Gang Ruan and selected as a supplementary cover art by the journal Nano Letters. Credit: American Chemical Society

A recent study published in Nano Letters has introduced a new method for delivering particles into stem cells, which are notoriously difficult to penetrate. The discovery will make it easier to direct and enhance the processes involved in regenerative medicine.

Regenerative medicine takes advantage of the fact that our body's stem cells can change into many other cell types that are vital for the regeneration of tissue and organs, such as heart or nerve cells.

Each type of cell has specialized properties and functions, so harnessing the potential of stem cell development means that regenerative medicine offers some of the most promising treatments for many diseases.

To control the type of cell the stem cells change into, scientists need to reprogram the cells' genes by inserting genetic information into the stem cell's nucleus, as an operator would adjust railway tracks to change the direction of a train.

However, stem cells have robust protection to stop anything from getting in, similar to our skin, so manipulating the differentiation of stem cells has been problematic.

The researchers have been working to overcome this using rat stem cells and have created a way to bypass the cells' protective barrier.

Dr. Gang Ruan, from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), China, and a corresponding author, says, "Our new method means we can deliver genetic information to the stem cells more quickly and efficiently and control the kind of cell they become."

Dr. Xiaowei Wen, also from XJTLU and a corresponding author, adds, "Being able to control cell differentiation with this new method means we can improve the efficiency of stem cell therapy as we can better control what the cells transform into. This means fewer cells will be wasted, and we will need fewer cells overall to help regenerate or repair damaged tissue and organs.

"This, in turn, brings down the cost and increases the quality of the patient's life as stem cells can be used rather than donor organs which have a limited supply."

Scaffolding solutions

Dr. Wen explains why the new technology is needed to take advantage of the unique properties of stem cells.

"As we age, the number of stem cells in our body decreases dramatically. So, to harness their potential to regenerate damaged cell tissue and organs, we need to implant them into the body.

"Unfortunately, the introduced stem cells usually die within about a week once they are in the body, yet can take around four weeks to differentiate into other cell types.

"So, in our lab, we grow stem cells outside the body. Then using our new method, we can insert specific genetic information into the cells using nanoparticles to cause them to change into a particular type of cell.

"Once the cells have differentiated into the target cell type, we put them into the area of the body where there is damaged tissue so that they can help to restore it."

In a previous study, the team identified the bottleneck in the process of delivery of nanoparticles to stem cells. They showed that the nanoparticles got trapped in bubble-like vesicles that prevented them from getting into the stem cell, but it wasn't clear why.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were less damaged after sonication than other cell types (top), measured by flow cytometry. BMSCs also had more cholesterol in their cell membranes (bottom). This could be why it is more difficult to penetrate stem cells. Credit: Gang Ruan (XJTLU)

Breached barriers

To understand how to overcome the difficulties posed by the stem cell barrier, the team of researchers studied ways to improve the movement of nanoparticles across the cell membranes, which could carry genetic information that would direct the transformation of a stem cell to its new cell type.

"We tried many methods that have worked in other cell types, and we found that most of these failed miserably, even ones we had high hopes for," Dr. Ruan says.

"Eventually, we found that coating the nanoparticles in a type of polymer helped them to get into the stem cells.

"The coated nanoparticles avoided getting trapped in vesicles, unlike the uncoated ones. In fact, they seemed to circumvent the vesicles altogether and enter the cell more directly.

"It actually wasn't a method we expected to be successful."

It's not yet clear why the coating works, but the discovery will help to make the delivery of genetic information to stem cells more efficient so that it is easier to control which cells they become.

However, the team recognizes there is a long way to go before this method can be used clinically.

Dr. Ruan says, "Not only do we need to further optimize delivery into the cells, but we also need to precisely control when it happens."

"But it's a big step in the right direction."

Discovering through destruction

Although the discovery that it was easier for coated nanoparticles to pass into stem cells has helped to solve the delivery problem, the fundamental question of why stem cells are so difficult to enter remains.

The team, therefore, looked at the barrier surrounding the stem cells, the cell membrane, to see which characteristics gave them such unique properties.

They took stem cell samples from six rats and used a device called a sonicator, like a mini pneumatic drill, to break up the cells, then measured the amount of damage.

They found that stem cell membranes were more difficult to break when compared to other cell types that are easier to transfer genetic information into.

"Stem cell membranes seemed more robust than other cell types when sonicated. The preliminary results of the study also show that the stem cells contain more cholesterol in their cell membranes," says Dr. Ruan.

"This extra cholesterol makes the membrane more rigid, similar to the problems caused by cholesterol in our blood vessels. This may be why it is so difficult for nanoparticles to pass through the membrane of stem cells, though much more research is required to confirm this."

Although the results are preliminary, this understanding of stem cell properties will further aid the development of stem cell delivery using coated nanoparticles and the optimization of future regenerative therapies.

More information: Wanchuan Ding et al, Mechanism-Driven Technology Development for Solving the Intracellular Delivery Problem of Hard-To-Transfect Cells, Nano Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04834 Journal information: Nano Letters
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Histogram of the 18,833 flares identified by NCEI for the time range specified in Table 1 using logarithmic bin widths. Note that the saturation at the smallest flare classes is due to low signal-to-noise ratio in the instrument, but is also due to the Sun's inherent background intensity, which can obscure the smallest classes of flares. The slope of the power law represented here is  peak_irrad = 2.16  0.01. Credit: The Astrophysical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/accc89

For a new study, a team of physicists recruited roughly 1,000 undergraduate students at the University of Colorado Boulder to help answer one of the most enduring questions about the sun: How does the star's outermost atmosphere, or "corona," get so hot?

The research represents a nearly-unprecedented feat of data analysis: From 2020 to 2022, the small army of mostly first- and second-year students examined the physics of more than 600 real solar flaresgigantic eruptions of energy from the sun's roiling corona.

The researchers, including 995 undergraduate and graduate students, published their finding in The Astrophysical Journal. The results suggest that solar flares may not be responsible for superheating the sun's corona, as a popular theory in astrophysics suggests.

"We really wanted to emphasize to these students that they were doing actual scientific research," said James Mason, lead author of the study and an astrophysicist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Study co-author Heather Lewandowski agreed, noting that the study wouldn't be possible without the undergrads who contributed an estimated 56,000 hours of work to the project.

"It was a massive effort from everyone involved," said Lewandowski, professor of physics and fellow of JILA, a joint research institute between CU Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Campfire physics

The study zeroes in on a mystery that has left even senior astrophysicists scratching their heads.

Telescope observations suggest that the sun's corona sizzles at temperatures of millions of degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the sun, in contrast, is much cooler, registering only in the thousands of degrees.

"That's like standing right in front of a campfire, and as you back away, it gets a lot hotter," Mason said. "It makes no sense."

Some scientists suspect that especially tiny flares, or "nanoflares," which are too small for even the most advanced telescopes to spot, may be responsible. If such events exist, they may pop up across the sun on a nearly constant basis. And, the theory goes, they could add up to make the corona toasty. Think of boiling a pot of water using thousands of individual matches.

The students' results cast doubt on this theory, Mason said, although he thinks it's too early to say for sure.

"I was hoping our result was going to be different. I still feel like nanoflares are an important driver of coronal heating," Mason said. "But the evidence from our paper suggests the opposite. I'm a scientist. I have to go where the evidence is pointing."

Peak pandemic times

The effort began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In spring 2020, CU Boulder, like most universities around the country, had moved its courses entirely online. Lewandowski, however, faced a predicament: She was teaching a class on hands-on research called "Experimental Physics I" that fall, and she had nothing for her students to do.

"This was peak pandemic times," Lewandowski said. "It's sometimes hard to remember back to what life was like then. These students were very isolated. They were really stressed."

Mason, who was then a researcher at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder, offered an idea.

The scientist had long wanted to dig into the mathematics of solar flares. In particular, he had tried examining a dataset of thousands of flares that occurred between 2011 and 2018 and had been spotted by instruments in space. They included the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series and NASA's Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS), a CubeSat mission designed and built at LASP.

The problem: There were just too many flares to examine on his own.

That's when Mason and Lewandowski turned to the students for help.

Mason explained that you can infer details about the behavior of nanoflares by studying the physics of larger flares, which scientists have observed directly for decades.

To do just that, students split into groups of three or four and picked a normal flare they wanted to analyze over the course of the semester. Then, through a series of lengthy calculations, they added up how much heat could each of these events pour into the sun's corona.

Their calculations painted a clear picture: The sum of the sun's nanoflares likely wouldn't be powerful enough to heat up its corona to millions of degrees Fahrenheit.

Educational experiences

What is making the corona so hot isn't clear. A competing theory suggests that waves in the sun's magnetic field carry energy from inside the sun to its atmosphere.

But the study's actual findings aren't its only important results. Lewandowski said her students were able to have opportunities that are rare for scientists and engineers so early in their careersto learn first-hand about the collaborative and often-messy way that scientific research works in the real world.

"We still hear students talking about this course in the halls," she said. "Our students were able to build a community and support each other at a time that was really tough."

More information: James Paul Mason et al, Coronal Heating as Determined by the Solar Flare Frequency Distribution Obtained by Aggregating Case Studies, The Astrophysical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/accc89. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.  847/1538-4357/accc89 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal
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Median sea level rise projections of IPCC AR6 (medium confidence, 2100 relative to 19952014) divided into different components, for three emission scenarios. The ocean component includes thermal expansion and ocean dynamical effects. The global projection is shown together with three local projections: Vaasa and Helsinki at the Finnish coast, Hanstholm at the North Sea coast of Denmark. Credit: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.5194/nhess-23-1613-2023

A recent study calculated new projections for mean sea level rise on the Finnish coast by 2100. In the worst-case scenario, the sea level in Helsinki would rise by more than half a meter.

The sea level is rising at an increasing rate due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets caused by global warming and the thermal expansion of sea water. In Finland, the phenomenon of land uplift protects the coast from rising sea levels, but in the future, the speed of land uplift will not be enough to completely compensate for sea level rise. The coastal flood risk is expected to increase, particularly on the southern coast of Finland, by the end of the century.

The newly published joint study between the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Aalto University has calculated new projections for future mean sea level in Finland by 2100. Sea level rise will increase flood risks on Finland's southern coast in the coming decades. On the coast of the Bothnian Bay, the rate of land uplift is faster, but there too, the decline in sea level will slow down.

However, the greatest effects of sea level rise will only be felt after 2100. If we do not succeed in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, sea level may rise by several meters over the following centuries. Such a great increase would have significant impacts in Finland as well. The work is published in the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.

Emission trends affect future projections

The new projections are based on extensive international research data and climate model results. In addition to rising sea levels and land uplift, they have taken into account special characteristics of the Baltic Sea region, such as the effect of changes in the wind climate on water exchange between the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Danish straits.

The projections have been calculated for three different emission scenarios representing different future pathways of how greenhouse gas emissions by humanity may develop. If global emissions could be mitigated quickly, the sea level in Helsinki would rise by about 9 cm by the end of this century. The corresponding figure under the medium emission scenario would be 25 cm and under the high emission scenario 54 cm.

On the coast of the Bothnian Bay, land uplift is stronger, so in Vaasa, for example, according to the most probable scenario, the sea level is not yet expected to rise during this century.

Glaciers and ice sheets may melt faster than expected

There are major uncertainties associated with the projections of sea level rise, especially as regards the melting of the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. The melting of Greenland would only have a minor effect on the sea level in Finland, as the change in the gravity field related to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets overrules the rise in the proximity of where it takes place. The melting of Antarctica, on the other hand, would have a full effect in our region.

The possibility of the glaciers and ice sheets of West Antarctica melting faster than expected cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, the new sea level rise projections have been calculated comprehensively for different probability distributions so that the possibility of higher sea level rise can also be taken into account in high-risk applications.

More information: Havu Pellikka et al, Probabilistic projections and past trends of sea level rise in Finland, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.5194/nhess-23-1613-2023
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When the Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965, it didn't just enfranchise Black voters in the American South. It also led to greater representation of Black lawmakers in local government, according to a new paper published in the April 2023 issue of the Journal of Political Economy. In "Race, Representation, and Local Governments in the US South: The Effect of the Voting Rights Act," authors Andrea Bernini, Giovanni Facchini, and Cecilia Testa analyze how the law promoted the election of Black politicians to county commissions and other offices in the immediate years after it was passed.

The Voting Rights Act eliminated literacy tests and other obstacles to Black voters' registration, and the legislation required certain "covered" jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to adhere to special provisions. Following its passage, Black voter registration and turnout quickly increased. But while civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. hoped the new law would lead to more Black representation in elected office, the actual delivery of this effect remained unclear. As Bernini, Facchini, and Testa put it: "Did the VRA live up to its promise?"

To answer this question, the authors embarked on the first systematic assessment of the Voting Rights Act's impact on racial representation in local governments in the American South between 1962 and 1980. From the National Roster of Black Elected Officials, they gathered data on African Americans serving on county governments, school district boards, and municipal governing bodies during that period in the 11 states that made up the former Confederacy.

The authors then applied two analyses to the dataset. First, they examined how the difference between the preexisting share of Blacks and Black office holding changed over time within counties subjected to coverage. They also analyzed if covered counties with larger preexisting Black populations experienced a larger increase in Black office holding after the passage of the VRA, compared with noncovered counties. "[W]hile before 1965 Black office holding in all states of the former Confederacy was unrelated to their racial composition," the authors write, "in the immediate aftermath of the VRA, Black representation increased more in counties with larger shares of African Americans, and the gradient of the relationship was clearly steeper for covered counties."

While Bernini, Facchini, and Testa note that anecdotal evidence might suggest Blacks were elected to only minor offices, they found that coverage significantly increased African American representation in county commissions. The authors call commissions "the most important local government bodies in the US South," as they control local finances, and the authors find that capital spending grew more rapidly within counties electing Black commissioners.

Despite the gains made in commissions, the authors did not find similar progress in municipal governing bodies and school boards. These offices were governed by different existing electoral rules, the authors write. Black office holders were elected more in single-member district elections than in at-large elections, in which the majority of a jurisdiction elects all representatives. Still, "in less than two decades, the VRA significantly changed the racial makeup of local governments in the US South," the authors write, noting that other possible consequences beyond increases in local spending remain open to future research.

More information: Andrea Bernini et al, Race, Representation, and Local Governments in the US South: The Effect of the Voting Rights Act, Journal of Political Economy (2022). DOI: 10.1086/722092 Journal information: Journal of Political Economy
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A koala eats gum leaves at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial in New South Wales.

The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death.

"It's killing koalas because they become so sick they can't climb trees to get food, or escape predators, and females can become infertile," said Samuel Phillips, a microbiologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast who helped to develop the vaccine.

The scientists' initial goal is to catch, vaccinate and monitor around half of the koala population in the Northern Rivers region of New South Walesthat means vaccinating around 50 animals.

The safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine, which has been designed specifically for koalas, has previously been tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions.

Now scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating a population of wild koalas. "We want to evaluate what percentage of the koalas we need to vaccinate to meaningfully reduce infection and disease," said Phillips.

A koala sits in a tree at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

The first koalas were caught and vaccinated in March, and the effort is expected to last about three months.

Researchers use binoculars to spot koalas in eucalyptus trees, then construct circular enclosures around the tree bases with doors leading into cages. After a few hours or days, the koalas will eventually climb down from one tree to seek tasty leaves on another, and wander into the harmless traps.

"It's hard to confuse a koala with any other animalsthey're pretty easy to spot," said Jodie Wakeman, veterinary care and clinical director at Friends of the Koala, a nonprofit that runs a wildlife hospital where the koalas are being brought for vaccination.

After a check-up to make sure the animals are in good condition, researchers administer anesthesia and shots of vaccine, then keep them under observation for 24 hours after they wake up, to confirm there are no unexpected side effects, said Wakeman.

Samuel Phillips poses for a photo in the Laboratory making UniSC Koala Chlamydia vaccine doses for wildlife vaccine trials at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia, on Nov. 15, 2022. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial. "It's killing koalas because they become so sick they can't climb trees to get food, or escape predators, and females can become infertile," said Phillips, who helped to develop the vaccine. Credit: Ton Stewart/Samuel Phillips via AP

The goal is to vaccinate healthy koalas to prevent them from becoming infected with chlamydia.

Before release, the researchers mark the koalas with a dab of pink dye on their backs, to ensure the same animals aren't caught twice.

When the first vaccinated koala was returned to her habitat on March 9, the scientists placed her cage at the base of a tree and opened the door. She quickly emerged and bounded up the tree trunk.

Koalas are iconic Australian marsupials, like wombats and kangaroos. They spend most of their time eating and sleeping in eucalyptus trees, and their paws have two opposing thumbs to help them grasp and climb up trunks.

Australia's wild koala populations have declined steeply in the past two decades.

Last February, Australia's federal government declared koalas "endangered" in the eastern regions of New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

A koala eats gum leaves at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

Facing compounded threats from disease, habitat loss and road collisions, koalas could become extinct by 2050, according to a 2020 assessment from the New South Wales government.

Around half of wild koalas in Queensland are already infected with chlamydia, scientists estimate.

In deciding to vaccinate, the scientists are balancing the risk of disturbing the animals against the danger of allowing the disease to spread. The trial was approved by multiple government bodies, including Australia's agriculture department and New South Wales' planning and environment department.

The origins of chlamydia in koalas aren't confirmed, but scientists believe it's likely the marsupials initially caught the disease from exposure to the feces of infected sheep and cattle. Then it's spread sexually, or passed from mother to offspring.

A koala sits in a tree at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

While humans and livestock infected with the bacteria that causes chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics, it's not so simple for koalas.

The "complex" microbes inside the stomachs of koalas are designed to neutralize toxins in eucalyptus leaves that are their main food source, said Mathew Crowther, a conservation biologist at the University of Sydney. But their digestive systems can also neutralize some medicines so "that means they don't respond well to antibiotics treatment," he said.

Crowther has been monitoring a population of koalas in northern New South Wales for more than a decade. In 2008, 10% of animals tested there were infected with chlamydia. Today that rate is 80%.

"It's been devastatingthere's very, very low fertility," he said. "You hardly see any babies."

The other threats koalas faceincluding habitat destruction from land clearing and climate-enhanced wildfiresmay increase their stress levels, weakening their immune systems and making them more susceptible to diseases including chlamydia, said Crowther.

A koala sits in a tree at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

Rebecca Johnson, now chief scientist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., previously led the Koala Genome Consortium in Australia. She said that seeing the effects of the disease up close was heartbreaking.

A necropsy of one koala with advanced chlamydia that was euthanized revealed "ovaries completely encased in cysts" and "intestines full of hard lumps of food, evidence that she couldn't properly digest food," recalled Johnson. "She was obviously infertile and in pain."

There are only a handful of other examples worldwide of scientists attempting to catch and inoculate endangered wildlife for conservation. In 2016, scientists began to vaccinate Hawaiian monk seals against a deadly strain of morbillivirus. Two and a half years ago, biologists in Brazil began to vaccinate golden lion tamarins against yellow fever.

"Vaccination for wildlife is certainly not routine yet," said Jacob Negrey, a biologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "But whether it should be used more often is a fundamental question that conservation biologists are really wrangling with right now."

Visitors take a selfie with a koala at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

A koala eats gum leaves at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, Friday, May 5, 2023. Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a pioneering field trial in New South Wales. The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Baker

The Smithsonian's Johnson said the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for koalas. "Vaccination is an incredibly resource-intensive thing to do. Koalas live high up in trees," she said.

"But because the effects of chlamydia are so debilitating, I think it's totally worth it."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
HUDSON FALLS  Police arrested a 14-year-old boy and charged him with six felonies in connection with a recent string of commercial burglaries.

On Tuesday, the Hudson Falls Police Department released details surrounding three businesses burglarized over the past week.

Police responded on Thursday to reports of an overnight burglary at McPhees Smoke Shop at 56 Main St. The suspect allegedly smashed a window to enter the store and stole over $1,000 in merchandise.

On Friday morning, police were again alerted of an overnight burglary, this time at Jack and Jills Ice Cream, also on Main Street. According to police, the suspect forced his way in through a window and committed a larceny.

Later that day at 11:05 p.m. police were called to the other McPhees Smoke Shop location at 345 Main St. for a burglary in progress.

From a description provided to the responding officers, they were able to locate and identify the suspect nearby walking on Lafayette Street.

According to police, he was still carrying some of the over $2,000 worth of merchandise from the burglary and was immediately arrested.

The minor was charged with three felony counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny.

Police were required by law to release him to a parent with a juvenile appearance ticket for the Washington County Probation Department.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday she does not plan to pursue further changes to New Yorks bail laws, an issue that has dominated her first two rounds of budget negotiations as governor.

The intense debate over revising the states 2019 bail reform legislation was the key reason New Yorks budget was 32 days late this year.

Hochul won a change to the bail law that will no longer require judges to use the least restrictive means to make sure a defendant returns to court.

The update pleased neither bail reform advocates, who argue it went too far in weakening the law, nor critics who say judges should be allowed to consider a defendants dangerousness.

But its more than enough for the governor.

We are done with bail  under the circumstances that are before me today, the governor said in a meeting with Buffalo News editors and reporters Monday morning.

She said she still supports the basic premise of bail reform, which was meant to make sure people dont languish in jail awaiting court proceedings simply because they cant afford to make bail.

And she said there are other parties, notably prosecutors, who must play a role in making sure people are charged appropriately. But she said the hard-won reform change will limit confusion for judges.

We accomplished what we needed to do, Hochul said.

Bail reform was one of a number of newsworthy issues Hochul addressed in a 30-minute meeting at The Buffalo News as she touted the terms of the final state budget that passed last week.

The other topics included:

Budget delays

State legislative leaders said the budget was delayed unnecessarily because Hochul tried to address too many of her policy priorities, such as bail reform and affordable housing, in her budget plan.

The governor on Monday acknowledged she used her budget to push an ambitious agenda.

Guilty, she said. Yes, it has a lot of policy. This is the one time of year the governor has a chance to really have a major hand in driving policy.

And, she said, she was willing to pass a budget after its due date in order to see some of her goals achieved.

It is always easier just to do a budget by the numbers, she said. That will always be the path of least resistance. But it will never be the path that I choose.

Housing

A highlight of the governors State of the State address in January was her proposal to build 800,000 units of housing over the next decade.

Hochul said its an economic development issue, too, because the lack of affordable housing is the main reason people leave New York for other states.

But the state Legislature wouldnt go along with a fundamental provision in the plan  allowing the override of local zoning regulations if communities didnt reach housing growth goals  and Hochul had to drop the provision from the final budget.

I knew it was ambitious, she said. I knew it was transformative in its scale. And then, as I saw, these issues do take time.

Hochul said she isnt giving up on the proposal  noting she was elected to a full, four-year term in November, spoke on the issue at a housing conference in December and had a plan prepared by January.

So the fact that people are saying, Well, if youd only taken the time to build support  I didnt have time, Hochul said. But I also didnt want to miss the window to really start the conversation and say, Were talking about housing now. So now I have a year to build consensus and support around a plan.

Housing advocates criticized the budget for not including just cause, or good cause, eviction language that makes it harder for landlords to eject residents from their properties.

Hochul said she was worried that the proposed language would prompt landlords to take more properties offline, limiting apartment supply and further driving up the cost of rent.

She said the way to make rental and owner-occupied housing more affordable, allowing more people to stay in their homes, is to encourage the construction of more housing.

Climate change

Hochul had proposed sweeping changes to state energy usage to reduce harmful emissions that are contributing to climate change.

The budget provision that grabbed the most attention called for phasing out natural gas-powered furnaces and appliances in existing homes in New York, with stiff opposition from utilities, Republican legislators and homeowners worried about the cost of conversion.

The more limited provision in the final state budget features an eventual ban on natural gas hookups in newly built homes and many other types of buildings.

Hochul said she ran into the kind of pushback that always greets major changes along these lines.

This is the future. You know, there was a time when we heated our homes with coal. And Im sure people didnt like the idea of, like, Im used to coal. I dont want to hurt the guy who brings coal to my house, she said. But, ultimately, the change is for the better. It is good were not burning coal in our houses to heat them.

She acknowledged a need for major improvements in the electric grid to support this transition from gas to electric. And, she conceded, there is an initial cost to homeowners to convert from gas to electric, but they will see savings over time.

The whole purpose is to make it easier on our consumers to pay their bills and help transition to the clean energy future, she said.

Nuclear power

The 2021 shutdown of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County led to an increase in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity in the state.

Hochul on Monday said the state has invested in renewable energy, including a $9 billion initiative to bring hydroelectric power from Canada to New York City, and she seemed open to reviving nuclear power production in the state.

Weve had a lot of advocates come to us and there seems to be a change in peoples attitudes about nuclear, Hochul said in response to a question.

The aging Indian Point plant was shut down in part because of concerns about its proximity to New York City. Three other nuclear plants remain in less populated parts of upstate New York.

The environmental advocates in some circles are talking about this, too, as a better option than staying longer on natural-gas and fossil-fuel generated power, Hochul said.
ABSECON  Local officials hope new regulations on hotel and motel occupancy limits in the city will prevent them from becoming crime hotspots, but it appears several business owners werent aware a change was looming.

Under the new restrictions approved unanimously by City Council on April 20, no one is permitted to remain in a hotel unit for more than 14 consecutive days or 14 days within 30 days. That stay also may not be extended by moving into another room at the same facility.

Rather than providing some of our states most vulnerable residents with mental health services they desperately need, social services has been warehousing people in our motels, which has led to an unacceptable increase in violent crime, City Council President Nick LaRotonda said in a statement.

LaRotonda said the city is working with social service and nonprofit agencies to address concerns about tenants needing a form of affordable shelter, but he wouldnt elaborate further, saying much of that effort is still being worked on.

The new law appears to be intended to keep crime from breeding at a stretch of motels on the White Horse Pikes eastbound side, just outside Atlantic City.

My thought is trying to help the people that need special attention, the motel owners, the residents and our community and police safety community, Councilman-at-Large Steve Light said.

Report: Too late to repair Ocean City condo complex OCEAN CITY  The time for repairs to the Seaspray Condominiums has passed, according to a st

In late March, authorities staging an investigation at multiple hotels along the highway arrested 11 people within 72 hours, charging them with drug-related offenses after officers seized narcotics including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Among those arrested was a person previously charged with aggravated assault against a 2-month-old child who failed to appear in court.

In announcing those arrests, police said the motels along the pike have become a hotspot for criminal activity, describing them as safe havens for those wanted by law enforcement.

The city is not the only Atlantic County municipality that has dealt with a motel crime problem.

In 2021, Egg Harbor Township approved the demolition of four motels in its West Atlantic City section, citing a need to improve the entryway to Atlantic City and the Downbeach towns. Some people using them, however, found themselves in the distressing position of not immediately being able to find new shelter.

Egg Harbor Townships motels also had been associated with crime, perhaps most notably the discovery of four dead sex workers behind the Golden Key Motel in November 2006. Their murders were never solved.

Transient occupancy limits were not included in Absecons city code before council approved the additions April 20, the ordinance states.

Ocean City condos red-tagged over structural concerns OCEAN CITY  City officials have ruled the Seaspray condominium at 34th Street and Bay Avenu

Several employees working at the Absecon motels Thursday said they were unaware the governing body had moved to revise its municipal code to include 14-day occupancy limits.

The city is preparing to mail copies of the ordinance to the affected businesses, LaRotonda said, citing the City Clerks Office.

Under the rule, every hotel and motel within the city limits is required to keep a registry, identifying each person occupying their rooms, as well as their vehicle information. A copy of their identification must also be logged and made available for possible inspections by the city code enforcement officer.

Absecons hotels and motels were never intended to become de facto apartment complexes, so this council took decisive action to protect our residents and alleviate the unfair burden being placed on our local schools, as well as our police, fire and emergency medical personnel, LaRotondas statement said.

Fines for breaking the new rules range from $250 to $2,500, as well as 90 days in jail or community service for repeat violators at the courts discretion and in default of payment of fines, the ordinance states.

Neighboring Galloway Township, which also has motels along its stretch of the White Horse Pike, passed a similar ordinance in recent years, LaRotonda said.

Absecon police arrest 11 people during operation at White Horse Pike motels ABSECON  Eleven people were arrested within 72 hours for alleged drug activity within multi

Galloway Councilman Tom Bassford said he isnt aware of new concerns being brought to the governing body pertaining to the townships hotel occupancy ordinance.

I havent heard complaints from anybody, Bassford said. We havent had any problems recently that Ive heard of.

Absecons occupancy ordinance also relieves motel owners of issues with squatters rights, which are those that help guard tenants from eviction, LaRotonda said.

In New Jersey, those rights refer to laws that allow a squatter to use or inhabit another persons property in the event that the lawful owner does not evict or take action against them, according to the American Apartment Owners Association. Pennsylvania and Delaware offer the same protections, the association says.

Typically, squatters rights laws only apply if an individual has been illegitimately occupying a space for a specific period of time, the associations website states.

By having those rights in place, several of the motels owners said they would have to consult a judge to order a person off their property, which is why several already have independently crafted rules to prevent such things from happening.
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A Holland-based documentary filmmaker has been visiting Cumberland County in recent years to uncover the history of Seabrook Farms, formerly the largest vegetable farm and frozen vegetable processing operation in the world during the 1950s.

Helga Merits, whose work focuses on refugees and dislocation after World War II, is making a film, The Paradox of Seabrook Farms, about the company that is not just based on its business success.

Merits is more interested in the fact that the global community was employed to do the farm production work. Seabrook employed 5,000 workers from 25 countries speaking 30 different languages.

It (Seabrook Farms) shows how you deal with injustice, said Merits, the documentarys director. How do you deal with it without getting depressed and embittered?

The Paradox of Seabrook Farms will focus on the experiences of all the communities at Seabrook Farms, their histories, the ways they managed to cope and all that it took to succeed, Merits said.

Among the most predominant of the employees were Japanese Americans and the little known Japanese Peruvians, who were released from U.S. internment camps starting in 1944 during World War II, and the Estonian and Latvian refugees from war-ravaged Europe, Merits said. African American migrant laborers from the Deep South escaping Jim Crow were also at Seabrook.

Ex-Ocean City school teacher sentenced for sexual contact with student CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  Ricardo Valle, a former teacher at Ocean City High School who pleaded

Merits explained to the Board of Trustees of the Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center that her film will be about all the communities who lived and worked at Seabrook Farms. The members voted unanimously to endorse the making of the Seabrook film.

Merits, whose father was Estonian, was in this country in 2018 for a screening of her fifth documentary, Coming Home Soon: The Refugee Children of Geislingen, at the Boston Baltic Film Festival.

All the interviewees found themselves in the Geislingen refugee camp from 1945 to 1950 in the south of Germany. The camp became a small Estonia with a choir, hospital, newspapers, orchestra, post office, schools, theater, workshops and more.

After the screening in Boston, about 10 people approached Merits and told her they had a similar experience growing up in Seabrook. She decided to do a documentary about Seabrook after talking to these people.

Seabrook Farms was located in a village in Upper Deerfield Township in northern Cumberland County. The company and the village were named after the founder of the company, Charles Franklin Seabrook.

Merits, who is also the documentarys producer, researcher and script writer, returned to the U.S. in September 2019 to do her first in-person interviews with Cumberland County people who knew about Seabrook.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the borders of the U.S. were closed in 2020 through the summer of 2021. Merits tried to obtain a special visa to return to the U.S.

I wrote President Biden. I heard nothing back, Merits said.

Merits returned in May 2022 to Cumberland County. She interviewed African-Americans, Estonian-Americans and Japanese-Americans who worked at Seabrook, and the local community.

The Seabrook Farms company ceased to exist in 1959 when the company was sold off to Seeman Brothers. Many years later, C.F. Seabrooks sons started a company that exists at a different location, 85 Finley Road, Upper Deerfield Township, and is titled Seabrook Brothers & Sons.

Last May, Merits was shown around the Seabrook Brothers & Sons plant and filmed fields, irrigation systems and spinach.

Merits made her third trip last month to Seabrook and Bridgeton to do interviews and filming for her documentary. She did a meet and greet April 22 at the Bridgeton Public Library, where she talked about her documentary, and people shared their familys memories and mementos.

Atlantic City police officers rescue man from back bay waters ATLANTIC CITY  Two officers rescued an unconscious man floating in the bay Tuesday afternoo

I came in contact with some people I didnt know yet. I had not yet come in contact with the Polish community, but thanks to the meeting, I could interview two people from this community. But there were also people from the German community, Japanese and Estonian. So I was very happy with the meeting, Merits said.

Bridgeton resident and Broadway and off-Broadway producer Robert Dragotta, the Cumberland County Historical Commission chairman, met Merits when she first visited in 2019. He offered his house as a place where she could talk to people who had experiences at Seabrook and were Cumberland County residents at some point. They met in his kitchen. He sat and listened.

I didnt realize how the U.S. government treated its Japanese citizens after Pearl Harbor, Dragotta said. I became interested in what Helga is doing.

Dragotta, who produced a 1990 documentary titled Encounters With Truth, about Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, decided to team up with Merits to help make her documentary a reality.

I was fascinated by the way all these people came together and lived together, Dragotta said. Its a wonderful history that needs to be maintained.

Merits left May 6 from the U.S. to head to Toronto until May 13 before flying back to Europe.

Merits North American trip completes the first phase of filmmaking  the development, research, interviews and pre-production filming. The second phase  script writing, music composition, editing, copyright and technical details  begins this summer and will need financial support for the documentary to come out next year.

A GoFundMe page is being set up, Dragotta said. We have got a plan to reach out to my friends in Hollywood (for financing).

GALLERY: Dutch documentarian interviews former workers and residents of Seabrook Farms
WILDWOOD  Facing sentencing on federal tax charges in August and under state indictment, Mayor Pete Byron has not decided whether he will seek reelection this year, he said Friday.

But he has stated publicly that he has no intention of resigning before the end of his term in January.

Byron has pleaded not guilty to the state grand jury indictment, announced in March, which also accused former Mayor Ernie Troiano and City Commissioner Steve Mikulski of accepting benefits to which they were not entitled under the State Health Benefits Program. Byrons attorney said he will take that case to trial.

Thats not Byrons only legal headache.

In March, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced that Byron pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns in 2017 and 2018, failing to report more than $40,000 in income. He faces a potential sentence of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Sentencing is set for Aug. 2.

Few details have been made public about how Byron earned that unreported income, and a search of public records does little to clarify the matter.

Court papers and a March 24 statement from Sellinger mention a Gloucester County law firm but do not name the firm.

From June through August of 2017, Byron sent multiple emails to the managing partner of a law firm located in Gloucester County, seeking assistance in obtaining a job, reads the March statement from Sellinger. Byron received a letter in October 2017 on the letterhead of the managing partners law firm which purported to set forth an employment offer to Byron from a company. According to the terms of the October 2017 letter, Byron was to receive an annual salary from the company for working as a salesman.

Requests for more information from the U.S. Attorneys Office shed no light. The identity of the firm, and its managing partner, were not included in the public documents, so they are not part of the public record, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said Thursday.

Public documents do indicate a connection between Byron and a Gloucester County law firm, one in which a former managing partner has himself been sentenced in a federal tax evasion case. There is no way to know whether the firm is the same one mentioned in Byrons charges, and those who would know are not talking.

In Wildwood, unindicted commissioner to go her own way WILDWOOD  When Pete Byron, Krista Fitzsimons and Steve Mikulski ran as a ticket for the cit

Byron declined to answer multiple questions on the matter, saying there is no ongoing investigation.

Id just like to move on with my life; my family has been through hell this past year, Byron said in an emailed response to questions.

Byron declared bankruptcy in 2017. In his filing, he indicates he was employed in marketing by a company called Hydo20 LLC, with an address listed in Woodbury, the county seat of Gloucester County.

The address is for a law firm called Marmero Law. The firm had formerly been known as Long, Marmero and Associates.

In December 2021, former managing partner Douglas Long of Upper Deerfield Township in Cumberland County was sentenced to 14 months in prison on charges of evading more than $250,000 in federal taxes.

Federal authorities say Long paid personal expenses out of the firms account, including school tuition for his children and utility fees for his home, which he had firm employees list as business expenses, according to details released by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

On Monday, attorney Albert Marmero said Hydo20 LLC was owned by Long, his former partner. He said he was not involved with the business, which he said performed political consulting work.

He said he could not say whether his firm was the one mentioned in the federal charges against Byron, saying he was not familiar with those documents.

Long, a former Cumberland County freeholder who had formerly served as that countys Democratic chairman, was also tied to a political action committee that paid Democratic officials as consultants, as outlined in a report in the Burlington County Times from 2014, based on details gleaned from public records filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. There was no indication that the payments were illegal.

Residents to indicted Wildwood mayor: Do not resign WILDWOOD  Speakers came, one after another, to deliver the same message to Mayor Pete Byron

Byron did not answer questions about whether he knows Long, or if Longs firm was the one mentioned in the federal charges.

Wildwoods government is officially nonpartisan, meaning candidates political affiliations are not listed on the ballot and party organizations are obliged to stay out of the campaigns. Byron is the only registered Democrat on the City Commission, and one of the few Democrats in office in Cape May County.

His financial disclosure form for 2022, the most recent available, reports income from Wildwood, from a real estate firm and from Holly Beach Consultants LLC. The report from 2020 also shows income from the Cumberland County Democratic Organization and from Prosperity of Our Future. The forms do not state how much income came from each source, and the addresses of the sources of income are redacted.

Campaign finance forms from the Democratic organization in Cumberland County do not show any payments to Byron in 2020, but a 2021 report shows a $1,000 payment to Holly Beach Consultants in October 2021 and another $1,000 in November of that year.

A Google search for an organization called Prosperity for Our Future came up empty, although the phrase is often used in speeches and petitions. There appeared to be no listing for an LLC named Hydo20 for Byron to market. Marmero said he believes the company is still in existence, and still owned by his former partner Long. He suggested the name could be Hydro20, a different spelling than appeared on Byrons bankruptcy form.

On its articles of incorporation, that company has a listed address at an Ocean City law firm, run by attorney Liz Casey. Contacted for this story, Casey said she did not know what the company did, she merely filed the required paperwork. If she did know about the companys operations, she added, she still would not be able to discuss them without the permission of the client.

Mikulski and Troiano have also pleaded not guilty on the state indictments. Mikulski ran with Byron in 2019, along with Krista Fitzsimons, when the ticket took all three seats in a nine-person race that included Troiano, who had run with Byron in the previous election.

This year, Fitzsimons plans to seek reelection with a new ticket. Mikulski has not stated whether he will run again.

Byron said he makes about $30,000 as mayor. He had his own real estate company for a time, but said he closed that about a decade ago.

Wildwood Boardwalk reopens WILDWOOD  Boardwalk renovations from Maple to 26th avenues have been completed, and the wal

He said he is still a Realtor, describing that as his primary source of income. But he would not say where.

I dont see the relevance of naming the company I work for. The last thing I want to do is bring negative press against them, Byron said.
ABSECON  A year after being closed following its liquor license being suspended by the state, the Hi Point Pub is set to reopen under new ownership in June.

The bar on North Shore Road will be hiring for all positions, new owner Lillian Cortes-Peterson wrote on Facebook, adding the bar will be "veteran owned" and "family operated."

The bar was for sale for about $1.3 million by Murray & Associates, a commercial real estate company.

Cortes-Peterson couldn't disclose a sale price when reached for comment Tuesday.

Northfield man pleads guilty in fatal Absecon hit-and-run A Northfield man has pleaded guilty in a fatal hit-and-run that happened last year, the Atla

The land the business sits on is valued at $650,000, and its inventory is listed at $15,000, according to Murray & Associates.

The former owners decided to sell the business after the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control suspended the bar's liquor license indefinitely, citing several violations and ties to fatal car crashes.

The 24-hour bar was established in the 1980s, according to its listing.

A notice of sale was filed with the Atlantic County Clerk's Office on Feb. 21.
There could be fewer striper keepers under new size limits recently imposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissions striped bass management board.

The minimum size allowable for an angler to keep a fish remains the same at 28 inches, but the maximum size has been reduced. Last year, someone could keep a fish that was up to 38 inches long. The approved emergency action will drop that to 31 inches.

The move comes in hopes of preserving striped bass that were spawned in 2015, and part of an overall attempt to return the striped bass population to previous levels by 2029.

Its an emergency measure to protect the fish, said Richard Herb, the acting chair of New Jerseys Marine Fisheries Council. He said the New Jersey council takes direction form the Atlantic States commission, which would usually present rules for evaluation in advance of a vote.

That didnt happen this time, Herb said Monday. We didnt know a thing about this until the end of last week.

He said he has been on the New Jersey council for years and has never seen anything like the change announced last week.

According to information posted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission vote must be implemented by the states by July 2. The emergency action will be in place for 180 days and could be extended.

The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council is set to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Stafford Township Administration Building, 260 E. Bay Ave. in Manahawkin, and there will be a remote option to attend. Herb said he has been studying the changes in advance of the meeting.

Ill know a lot more on Thursday, said Herb, a resident of Avalon. He said he has already heard rumblings from the fishing community.

The average recreational fishermen, they just want to catch something, said George Bucci, a Linwood resident and avid striped bass fisherman. They dont want to spend the gas money to go home empty handed.

Hes an organizer of the Cape-Atlantic Striper Club and travels throughout the Northeast in pursuit of striper. Bucci said there have been declines in the population and suggested it makes sense to add protections.

But he added that some who do not fish as often has he does may be frustrated by the new regulations, designed to protect more of the older, breeding age fish, what they call the class of 2015 fish.

In the 1960s and 1970s, striped bass were plentiful in the coastal waters of the Mid-Atlantic, Bucci said. There was a decline through the 1980s, when the fish became extremely rare, and a recovery from 1998 until 2004, before another decline. The goal is to get the striped bass population back to historic levels by 2029.

Part of that plan is to track how many of the fish are caught each year. Last year, people caught a lot more fish than expected.

In the first year of their plan, recreational fishermen took double what they expected them to take, Bucci said. There are a lot of factors going into why, including currents, water temperatures and the behavior of other fish, such as the peanut bunker that the striper like to eat, usually described as bait fish. That meant a lot of striper within the keeper size ended up on the hook.

It was very easy to catch a lot of fish that size, Bucci said. The bait came right in to the surf, and there was a lot of it.

New Jersey has some options, Herb said, including the possibility of appealing the emergency rules. But it sounds like there are few options that would not run the risk of seeing New Jerseys striped bass season shut down.

We have until July to conform or were out of the striper business, Herb said. As I read it, our regs have to match what they want, and if they dont, they can close our striper season.

With the rise in air and water temperatures comes heightened hopes of landing that trophy fish Some serious dilemmas tend to occur for certain outdoorsy sorts this time of year. While there is plenty of yard work, spring cleaning, house sprucing and honey-do lists that need attention, the mind tends to retain only such thoughts as huge striped bass hammering lures and nearly ripping the rod out of ones hands.

Both men expect a considerable turnout for the meeting Thursday.

Last weeks decision will remain in effect until Oct. 28 and can be expanded. According to information from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a management board can take emergency action if there is a substantial risk to public health or to the conservation of coastal fishery resources or the fisheries management objectives.

This action responds to the unprecedented magnitude of 2022 recreational harvest, which is nearly double that of 2021, and new stock rebuilding projections, which estimate the probability of the spawning stock rebuilding to its biomass target by 2029 drops from 97% under the lower 2021 fishing mortality rate to less than 15% if the higher 2022 fishing mortality rate continues each year, according to the commission.

Based on concern for the stock and the long-term interests of its stakeholders, the board acted decisively to protect one of the few remaining strong year classes, said Board Chair Marty Gary with the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. The public is concerned about stock rebuilding and has urged the board to expeditiously respond to the new stock projections.

All bag limits, seasons and gear restrictions will remain the same.

The commission will hold at least four virtual public hearings in mid- to late May to inform the public about the emergency action and identify next steps for management. More information is set to come with details of the public hearing schedule and webinar information.

Striped bass is one of the flagship species of the commission, and this action sends a strong signal that the board is firmly committed to rebuilding the stock for current and future generations, Gary said in a statement. At the same time, the board recognizes that this action will have a profound impact on the for-hire industry and recreational anglers, however, it feels it is a necessary step to ensure rebuilding.
CORBIN CITY  Atlantic Citys newest K-9, Narco, gave a demonstration of his drug sniffing abilities Tuesday at the county K-9 training center during a news conference to welcome him to the force and thank the professional football player who donated him to the Atlantic City Police Department.

Fletcher Cox, the Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl defensive tackle who gave the city the Belgian Malinois, said he has two personal protection dogs of the same breed and a deep love of K-9s.

He visits the John Sonny Burke Canine Training Center regularly in the offseason with his dogs, he said, to work with trainers there.

I have built relationships here, where we learn from each other. We never talk sports, we talk dogs, Cox said. Amir is like a brother to me, Cox said of ACPD Officer Amir Hughes, who works at the training facility.

Belgian Malinois dogs are also called Belgian shepherds and resemble German shepherds.

During his demonstration, Narco was clearly excited to sniff various boxes, and aggressively handled the box where he detected a narcotics smell.

Hes an aggressive indicator, said Hughes as Narco began his demonstration.

Cox said he got his personal protection dogs fully trained from the Netherlands.

These dogs are like loaded guns, he said. I had to train up to where hes at.

The Atlantic City Police Department has been using K-9 dogs since 1970, Chief James Sarkos said. Two-year-old Narco is the newest addition, having started work about two months ago.

The department has about 12 K-9 dogs, Sarkos said, about half trained for narcotics and patrol work and half for bomb and explosive detection.

On Monday, Narco and his handler, Officer Adrian Nunez-Santos, assisted the vice unit with a motor vehicle stop that led to the recovery of 512 bags of heroin, suspected fentanyl, 225 oxycodone pills, cocaine and $10,000 in cash, Sarkos aid.

Four people charged following Atlantic City fight that led to dog's death ATLANTIC CITY  Four people were charged in a fight on a city street that led to a dog's dea

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. gave Cox a proclamation, naming May 9 Fletcher Cox Day in the city, and encouraged him to take the Eagles to the Super Bowl again and win.

If you win the Super Bowl this year, well have a parade on the Boardwalk with you as grand marshal, Small said.

Lead instructor at the K-9 academy Joe Nicholas said Narco was trained in a class that included about 15 dogs, and the others went to departments all over South Jersey. One went to a Pennsylvania department.

The training takes about 22 weeks, he said.

The training facility is the largest on the East Coast, Nicholas said, with 60 acres and its own lake. It is in a former school for disabled students, and every room is fitted for some aspect of K-9 training.

The academy is named after Sonny Burke, a young Atlantic City police officer who made the citys first K-9 assisted arrest and who was shot and killed in the line of duty. It happened when he was 15 minutes from the end of his shift, and just before he was due to go on his honeymoon, Sarkos said.

His K-9, Thor, is buried in the pet cemetery on Shore Road in Linwood, Sarkos said, along with many other ACPD K-9 dogs.

This is only the beginning, Cox said of his involvement with the citys K-9 force. He plans to donate more dogs in the future.

GALLERY: Fletcher Cox donates dog to Atlantic City Police Department
A 12-year-old boy has died and his mother and sister are in critical condition after a fire swept through a Maple Shade apartment complex Sunday evening, displacing nearly two dozen families, police said.

The fire began just before 10:30 p.m. at the Fox Meadow Apartments on Adams Drive, where officials said they evacuated residents as flames and heavy smoke billowed from the complex's roof.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, police said. Three other people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation but are in stable condition, according to Maple Shade Township police.

The fire displaced 22 families, according to Red Cross New Jersey. As of Monday morning, the agency said it had provided temporary lodging, food and clothing to 40 people, and will continue assisting others throughout the day.

Officials did not disclose the identity of the 12-year-old boy but said grief counselors were in schools Monday. In a message to the community, Maple Shade School District administrators said crisis teams were available at the schools to support students and their families.

"Please keep our Maple Shade families in your thoughts and prayers," they wrote.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed legislation to provide greater oversight of unemployment insurance in New Jersey.

Assemblyman Bill Moen, D-Camden, Gloucester, who sponsored the legislation, said it was to help New Jersey residents receive unemployment benefits in a more timely manner after the system broke down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the height of the pandemic, thousands of unemployment cases were backlogged, leaving our residents without their benefits for weeks on end," Moen said in a news release. "This breakdown of services was entirely unacceptable, and it cannot happen again."

Under the law (formerly bill A3810/S2396), the commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development must issue annual reports on the departments performance.

The report will be required to include an evaluation of the causes of any deficiencies and a plan to correct them.

Disabled vets law

Jobs to process unemployment not advertised to general public The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development is constantly recruiting for workers

Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Steven Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths, all R-Sussex, Warren, Morris, to allow permanently disabled veterans to submit less paperwork to the Motor Vehicle Commission for parking privileges.

Under this bill (S660), permanently (100%) disabled veterans who apply for special benefits through the MVC will only need to submit proof of their disability with their first application  not on renewal ones," Oroho said in a statement. "This will improve efficiency at the MVC and allow our veterans to enjoy all of the benefits they so rightly earned in a timely manner.

The latest Department of Veterans Affairs data from 2019 shows 350,538 veterans live in New Jersey, Oroho said. Of those, 60,027 receive disability compensation, although its unreported how many of those are 100% disabled.

Health Care Heroes

The Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act (formerly bill A3199) makes it a criminal disorderly persons offense to intentionally threaten health care professionals or volunteers in an effort to intimidate them or interfere with their work.

Such a criminal act is now punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

For individuals convicted of assault against the covered workers, this act allows them to be sentenced to an anger management course of up to 12 months and community service of up to 30 days.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) US researchers, including one of Indian origin, have developed a simple test that works for both hepatitis C and COVID-19, and delivers results in just a few minutes.

The test was 97 per cent accurate for SARS-CoV-2 and 95 per cent accurate for the most prevalent version of the hepatitis C virus found globally, the researchers reported in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

The simplified test developed by University of Florida scientists currently happens in one small test tube, but it could arrive at doctors offices soon and, one day, become available as home tests that are as easy as a pregnancy test.

We are trying to build a home-based test that is as reliable as a lab-based test, said Piyush Jain, Professor of chemical engineering who led the latest research.

Our objective is to develop a simple test that eliminates the need for expensive equipment and provides results in just 10 to 20 minutes, he added.

Using AI, Jains group developed a system known as a one-pot reaction because the entire test happens in one small test tube.

These tests, based on a technology known as RT-LAMP, can amplify small portions of a viruss genome and produce a visible signal when it detects the virus.

Reading these tests can be as simple as looking for a blue colour or using a small device that detects a change in the test tube.

To determine the difference between a false positive and a true positive, Jain said he is combining another technology called CRISPR.

However, the RT-LAMP technology requires a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit, while CRISPR works best at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

That difference makes tests far more complicated requiring two separate reactions -- too complicated for at-home use.

To bridge this gap, Jains group turned to AI tools to analyse a CRISPR enzyme that thrives at 140 degrees and discovered changes to make it survive at 150 degrees.

Its very challenging for any human to do this kind of analysis on an enzyme. We didnt have to spend years; we could make these improvements in months, Jain said.

With everything working at the same temperature, now we are able to combine everything in a true one-pot reaction we call SPLENDID.

The team successfully verified their simplified SPLENDID test on clinical samples from patients with hepatitis C or COVID-19. Although it didnt work well against all other less predominant versions of the hepatitis C virus, straightforward changes to the test should quickly improve its accuracy, Jain said. IANS

Prenatal screening, detection a must to prevent thalassemia: Experts

Prenatal screening is of utmost importance to prevent thalassemia, a blood disorder, said doctors here calling on the need to increase screening. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder transmitted from both the parents to children, resulting in reduced haemoglobin, due to which the bodys red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the cells of the body, are not able to function properly. This leads to anaemia, which makes the patient feel tired or short of breath.

India has the largest number of children with thalassemia major in the world about 1-1.5 lakhs. About 10,000-15,000 children having thalassemia are born every year in the country accounting for 10 per cent of the total world incidence.

Avoiding the birth of a thalassemic child is the only feasible solution to the challenge of thalassemia facing the society today. When a woman is pregnant, she should be screened for this disease. If she is found to be a carrier, the husband should also be tested, said Dr (Prof) Pravas Mishra, Head, Haematology & BMT, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. If both are found positive, then a test is required on the unborn foetus. If the foetus is found to be affected, then the parents can consider the option of abortion, he added. IANS
The Pune court on Tuesday extended the ATS custody of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientist Pradeep Kurulkar till May 15 in connection with a case registered against him on charges of espionage. The ATS officials on Tuesday informed the court that they have received the forensic data of the seized mobile phone and they are yet to analyze it.

Kurulkar was arrested by the ATS team from Pune on May 3 for allegedly supplying sensitive information to Pakistan. The ATS officials have said that he was in contact with a woman Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO) and has shared some sensitive information which could be harmful for the nation if it falls in the hands of an enemy nation.

According to ATS officials, he was suspected to be honeytrapped by the Pakistan operative. Kurulkar was working as a lab director with the Pune based unit of DRDO. A case under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act was registered against him.
Long and erratic working hours, different shifts, insufficient sleep and work pressure Life isnt easy for our police personnel. Bhoi Foundation, a city-based NGO, has discovered during a survey that over 60 percent of the cops suffer from hypertension, blood pressure and diabetes.

Shockingly, almost 50 percent of cops are suffering from mental health issues, and around 70 percent of traffic police have hearing issues, Dr Milind Bhoi, the president of the NGO, told Pune Mirror. The NGO has prepared a presentation to help reduce the stress among the police and improve the health condition of police.

The study revealed that traffic police constables suffer with temporary hearing loss due to spending long hours at junctions amidst noise pollution. The audiometric tests conducted by the NGO found the constables suffering from varying degrees of hearing loss.

The air pollution on the streets is causing cold, asthma and breathing issues. Some constables were found to be suffering from joint pain and arthritis. While policemen serving in other branches and at police stations were diagnosed with hypertension, blood pressure and diabetes.We found that maximum cops are suffering from diabetics, arthritis and stress at an early age. The causes are excessive physical and mental stress, night duties, incomplete sleep and timeless food etc. This physical and mental pressure forces them into smoking, alcohol or tobacco addictions, said Bhoi.

Traffic cops are affected by hearing problems, respiratory diseases, bronchitis and URTI due to excessive exposure to air pollution and heat for long durations. Policemen who are in crime detection work under pressure from senior officers. They also have less manpower. Besides, they also have to deal with criminals, affecting them psychologically, resulting in a disturbed family life, he said.

While suggesting measures, the NGO has stated that regular counselling sessions will help reduce mental stress. Also, there should be a change in the duty pattern, like a traffic constable working at a busy junction should be deployed in a comparatively lower traffic zone the next day. The government should launch more health schemes for the cops. The present schemes are not effective, forcing the cops to visit private hospitals, thereby increasing their health budget. While expectations of the common man are high from the men in uniform, not many know the consequences of the tough working conditions they are exposed to.

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COUNSELLING FOR OFFICERS ON WAY

Pune police commissioner Retesh Kumaarr has launched a counselling programme for his force. The project will be conducted with the help of SNDT college and Savitribai Phule Pune University.

A team comprising psychologists, psychiatrics, nutritionist and health experts will visit each police station and conduct counselling sessions of officers and amaldars, deputy commissioner of police (zone-I) Sandeep Singh Gill told Pune Mirror

The officer said the team will focus on the mental as well as physical health of police personnel. They will also conduct family counseling and sessions for de-addiction. Nutritionists will guide them. We will get the data soon, following which the teams will start the actual work, he added.
A 16-year-old boy accused of killing another teen in rural Milan last month made his first court appearance Monday.

The Rock Island County State's Attorney's Office has charged Napoleon Jackson with first-degree murder, home invasion and aggravated battery. The charges stem from the April 14 shooting of 17-year-old Danny Taylor, who was killed at his parents' home. Jackson is charged as an adult.

He was arrested on April 19 in Newton, Iowa, and recently was extradited to Illinois.

At an afternoon hearing on Monday, Jackson appeared before Judge Peter Church. He wore a white T-shirt and jeans. There were shackles around his ankles.

Church read the charges to Jackson and explained the potential sentences he faces should he be convicted: For first-degree murder, the sentence is between 45 and 85 years, and Jackson would have to serve 100%.

On the home invasion charge, he could face anywhere between 21 and 45 years, Church said.

The underlying allegations for the aggravated battery charge were that Jackson shot and wounded a second person, Church read.

That person was identified only by initials, which is customary when a victim is a juvenile.

The identity of the second person was unclear from the information presented during the hearing. Police have said a 15-year-old was wounded in the incident, and he also is charged with murder.

Church asked if Jackson understood the charges and penalties to which the teen answered, "Yes." Asked if he could post the $1 million cash-only bond, Jackson said, "No."

When not replying to the judge, Jackson stood quietly.

The Rock Island County Public Defender's Office has been appointed to represent him. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 23.

Members of Taylor's family were present in the courtroom and sat quietly throughout the proceeding.

The second suspect  the 15-year-old  also faces first-degree murder and home invasion charges. Illinois law dictates all juveniles 15 and younger be charged in juvenile court. His identity has not been released.

Rock Island County Sheriff's Office deputies were sent at 12:44 a.m. on April 14 to the residence, where they found Taylor. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and attempts to save him were not successful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators think there was a confrontation in the home during which several shots were fired.

The 15-year-old arrived at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island about 20 minutes after the shooting, police said, and also sustained a gunshot wound or wounds. He later was transported to OSF St. Francis in Peoria for further treatment. From there, he was taken to the Mary Davis Detention Home for juveniles in Galesburg.
A 36-year-old man accused of causing a serious-injury crash in Moline awaits his next court hearing on multiple related charges.

The man, Tearrance Pipes, also faces a lawsuit because of the crash. The criminal case lists Pipes address in Rock Island, but the suit states he may have moved to Chicago.

In the criminal case, the Rock Island County States Attorneys Office has charged Pipes with nine counts of aggravated driving under the influence, according to county court records. The charges stem from a crash that happened on Feb. 12 on River Drive. Three people suffered broken bones.

The allegations include that Pipes, who was driving a 2021 Nissan Versa, was so impaired by cannabis use when the crash occurred that he could not safely drive, according to court records.

Some of the other charges state that Pipes was impaired by a combination of alcohol and other intoxicating compounds that rendered him unable to safely drive.

In a release issued shortly after the crash, the Moline Police said it happened just before 2 a.m. in the 4400 block of River Drive and the driver of the Nissan had to be resuscitated by officers using CPR.

Police did not identify Pipes by name in that release but said that the other vehicle was a Chevrolet Cruze and that there were two people in each vehicle.

The Nissan was eastbound and passed vehicles in front of it, colliding with the westbound Cruze, police said at the time.

Court documents state that police could smell the odor of alcohol on Pipes breath and that there was an open bottle of tequila in the passenger door of the Nissan.

An officer spoke with Pipes by telephone on Feb. 13 as he was being admitted into the intensive care unit of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, court records state.

During that conversation, Pipes said he must have blacked out and did not remember how the collision occurred, court records said. Pipes also told the officer hed had a beer and a shot of alcohol before the accident.

On Tuesday, the police department said Pipes had rented the Nissan from Enterprise.

The county issued a warrant for Pipes arrest on the charges on March 28, court records state. He made his first appearance on Monday before Judge Peter Church, and his next appearance is set for May 23.

His bail is $20,000, according to court records. To be released from the Rock Island County Jail, Pipes must post $2,000.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Jane A. Edwards, names Pipes and EAN Holdings LLC. as defendants.

The suit states that Edwards was the other driver and accuses Pipes of negligence, according to court records. The suit alleges EAN is also culpable because it owned the vehicle.

EAN does business as Enterprise, Alamo and National, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Edwards seeks damages in excess of $50,000, court records state.

As of Tuesday, the defendants had not filed answers to Edwards complaint.

In such documents, civil defendants address the allegations levied against them, usually by denying the culpability alleged by the plaintiff.

The civil case against Pipes was opened on March 21, according to court records. A hearing is scheduled for July 20.

Photos: Flood waters receding Saturday, cleanup to begin along the river
Three people were killed and two others were injured Monday in a two-vehicle crash in Louisa County, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The crash occurred at 12:55 p.m. on Iowa Highway 92 at L Avenue west of Grandview.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2006 Toyota RAV4 was eastbound on Iowa 92 and attempted to pass a semitrailer. The Toyota struck a westbound 2011 Chevrolet Silverado.

Both the Toyota and the Chevrolet came to rest in a field north of the roadway.

Three people were killed, including both drivers, and two were injured. One of the injured was taken by Wapello Ambulance to University Hospitals, Iowa City, while the other injured person was taken to University Hospitals by UIHC AirCare Air Ambulance.

The conditions of the injured were not available Monday night.

The names of the deceased have not been released pending notification of family members.

Police did not say how many people were in each of the vehicles.

The Louisa County Sheriffs Department assisted at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
Amazon has set a goal of hiring 1,000 people and opening its Davenport fulfillment center by August, according to Quad Cities Chamber officials.

Speaking to the Scott County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Chamber Senior Vice President of Business and Economic Growth Julie Forsythe said Amazon has communicated the plans to local officials.

'Were told that theyre going to be hiring," Forsythe told supervisors, referring to Amazon. "And they hope to open by August of this year."

The Chamber recently helped facilitate a meeting with Amazon officials, state workforce agencies and higher education institutions in the region, Tami Petsche, vice president for business and economic growth at the Chamber, wrote in an email Tuesday.

The purpose of the meeting was to "provide an update on the positions they will be hiring at the Davenport facility," Petsche wrote.

Currently, Amazon's website lists in-person hiring events for locations in Bondurant, Grimes and Ankeny in Iowa.

No Davenport jobs are yet listed on Amazon's hiring website, but job sites, such as Indeed list some Amazon jobs located in Davenport.

The massive fulfillment center at the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center just north of Interstate 80 was scheduled to open a year earlier, in September 2022. But in May of last year, the e-commerce giant confirmed it planned to delay the opening of the Davenport facility by two years, opening instead in 2024 because of global supply-chain issues.

An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amazon raced to build warehouse space during the pandemic as more people at home turned to online shopping. A year ago, Amazon posted its first quarterly loss in seven years, which the chief financial officer attributed to overbuilding warehouse space during the pandemic as shoppers returned to in-person retail.

Amazon canceled warehouse plans across the country and currently is in the middle of cost-cutting, including laying off 27,000 workers. The companys earnings jumped 9% this spring compared with last year, according to the Guardian.

Another large development in Davenport's industrial park, Fair Oaks' bacon-packaging facility, is expected to open in 2024, Forsythe told supervisors.

That project was expected to create about 247 new full-time jobs with an hourly wage of $23.95.

With Amazon and Fair Oaks Foods both hiring hundreds of workers in the Quad-Cities in the next year or two, Forsythe acknowledged finding enough workers is a challenge for businesses. Amazon, for example, offers flexible hours and tuition aid to attract students, she said.

This is a conundrum in every community  where are we going to get people? Everybody has to figure it out because its not going to go away, Forsythe said. The numbers just arent there. Were not having enough babies throughout the United States.
A South Dakota-based car wash company wants to build a new location at the Five Points intersection  where five streets intersect in Davenport.

If the City Council this week approves a rezoning request, Silverstar is to demolish three residential properties and a Jumpin Joey's building for a car wash at the corner of Hickory Grove Road and North Division Street.

Silverstar is a partially subscription-based car wash company with locations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Sioux City, Iowa; and Fargo, North Dakota. The company is also planning a car wash in Des Moines, according to its website.

In a prominent location and on an oddly shaped parcel, the proposed redevelopment has prompted a discussion about traffic safety at the intersection.

At recent meetings, council members have debated whether to require the company to build barriers to prevent motorists from making left turns into or out of the property at Division Street. Already, there were conditions to prevent left turns onto Hickory Grove Road, but the city engineer recommended the additional change to prevent a back-up of cars and a left-turn conflict.

Company representatives have opposed the staff-recommended change, telling council members that limiting left turns into the business would discourage customers from using the car wash and could force drivers to make U-turns in a residential area.

"We feel that would be pretty detrimental to the project," Josh Johnson, a representative of the engineering firm for the project, said at the City Council's April 19 Committee of the Whole meeting, referring to the Division Street amendment. "And we'd probably make some serious considerations as to how financially this would impact us."

City-provided data given to council members showed five vehicle crashes in five years at the Five Points intersection, according to City Council members.

The council voted 7-2 in favor of the amendment requiring the developers to install barriers at the entrance and exit points to prevent left turns at Division Street. The council will vote on the rezoning as a whole with those changes at its Wednesday meeting.

"Public safety being this council's and one of my top priorities, I'm going to have to side with the traffic engineer," Alderman Rick Dunn, Ward 1, said Wednesday as he proposed the amendment.

Despite the decision, Graham Westra, director of real estate, wrote in an email to a Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus reporter that the real estate arm of the company, Midwest Fidelity Partners, LLC, is "pleased where we are with this project."

"We have been honored to work with the Davenport City Council and will continue to work with them on this investment in Davenport and other investments we are making in the community," Westra wrote. "The city staff we have worked with have been first class."

"When we are completed with our development in the Davenport area, we will be employing over 100 people with high-paying jobs with great benefits, he added.
SPRINGFIELD  The state is making $50 million in grant funds available for artists and creators who experienced economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is distributing the grant funds to assist nonprofits, businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors and freelancers in the arts community.

When the pandemic hit, it just devastated a lot of these organizations, said Doug Johnson, executive director of the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. These organizations are still trying to make up a lot of lost ground. This is the point where were going to lose a lot of these organizations and these artists that have helped define what our communities are and what our culture is.

Johnson said this grant program will help local artists have enough resources to continue providing the creative outlets that communities rely on for quality of life.

"The arts and culture sector was one of the hardest-hit industries during COVID, and that pain is still being felt," said Kacie Smith, director of programs for the advocacy group Art Alliance Illinois. "But having a strong and vibrant arts and culture sector is so important for our quality of life and our economic stability."

During the worst of the pandemic, McLean County Arts Center had to cancel classes for almost a year, causing a significant drop in revenue, Johnson said. Even after classes were able to resume, the center had to operate at reduced capacity and a reduced class schedule.

The grant program, known as Back to Business Arts, is similar to the B2B grants that were distributed earlier in the pandemic. B2B Arts are specifically for the creative community, making more in the sector eligible to apply. Applications are due May 10.

This $50 million in relief for the creative sector couldn't come at a more critical time, said Claire Rice, executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois. Weve always said that the arts were the first to close and the last to reopen.

The creative community in Illinois has never had this much funding available, and with applications closing May 10, the window for people to access it is tight. Thats why were here: to make sure the arts and culture community not only knows that these funds are available, but also has all the help they need to successfully apply.

Eligible categories include those in dance, film, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, or visual arts, arts education organizations, cultural heritage organizations, and museums.

Eligible entities must have:

Experienced a loss in earned and/or contributed revenue of at least $5,000 due to economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Been in operation in Illinois since prior to March 12, 2020, and remain in operation at time of application.

"The grant application is really really simple, which I feel like isn't something we get to say too often with grants from the government," said Smith.

Arts Alliance Illinois is offering applicants assistance with the process including 1-on-1 assistance and webinars. More information can be found at www.artsalliance.org/creativerecovery.
Some children know what they want to say, but their brains and mouths wont let them talk. The condition is childhood apraxia of speech, and a Rapid City speech language pathologist wants parents and kids to know help is available.

May is Apraxia Awareness Month, as well as Better Speech and Hearing Month. May 14 is Apraxia Awareness Day to highlight childhood apraxia of speech, or CAS, which is a rare neurological motor speech disorder babies are born with that ultimately impedes their ability to speak. Parents may start to notice their childs inability to speak when the child is about 18 months old, and by age 2, the problem is apparent.

Maggie Klapperich of Dakota Speech and Swallow Center specializes in treating CAS. In December 2022, Klapperich was one of 30 speech language pathologists selected in the United States for a training intensive for a CAS therapy research project being conducted by Marquette University.

Because CAS is so rare the public doesnt know about it and speech pathologists dont get a lot of training in it, so it makes it hard to diagnose and hard to treat unless you know what youre looking for, Klapperich said.

I want to bring awareness to our community about this speech problem in children, she said. Childhood apraxia of speech is still unfamiliar, misunderstood and continues to have a significant impact on children and their families. Speech and communication are critical skills for young children to develop. We need to support children with apraxia of speech and their families. The only proven treatment for CAS is speech therapy, and it is quite costly as it extends over many years for these children. Through endless determination and hard work, children affected with CAS continue through their struggles to learn a skill  speaking  that comes effortlessly to other children.

While one in 12 children has some type of speech or swallow disorder, Klapperich said CAS affects about one out of every 1,000 children. CAS makes it difficult or impossible for an affected child to plan the movements of the lips, tongue and jaw that are needed for speech. Children with apraxia of speech predominately have a good understanding of language and know what they want to say, but they have difficulty learning or performing the complex movements that underlie speech.

Apraxia of speech is one of the most severe childhood speech and communication disorders.

Theres a disconnect, Klapperich said. A lot of times if children do speakthe biggest red flag is they might be able to say a sound in one word but not in another. No matter what they do, their mouth wont be able to speak like ours does [without treatment].

Medical professionals dont yet know what causes CAS, she said, and theres a lot of research being done to try to figure it out. Meanwhile, Klapperich said, there is specific evidence-based therapy designed to improve the brains ability to plan and program movements for speech.

Born and raised in Rapid City, Klapperich said she wants families in the region to have local access to CAS therapy.

I became so passionate because nobody [locally] could evaluate CAS, and parents were coming to me in tears, she said. I am so passionate about CAS and improving awareness so that children may have earlier access to services.

After I started my private practice, I realized there were no treatment options in the area. I was sending my patients to Denver or the University of South Dakota for a diagnosis, but I wanted these children to have the same therapy opportunities in the Black Hills that you could find in a metropolitan area, said Klapperich, who sees about 15 patients with CAS each week.

Klapperich works with patients from North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. Shes also provided services for children from military families at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Thats another reason I wanted to pursue [treating CAS], I didnt want kids who move here to suddenly not have the services they were having in these larger areas [they moved from], she said.

Klapperich is a volunteer for Apraxia Kids, the leading nonprofit organization that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with CAS through research, education and raising awareness.

May also is designated as Better Speech and Hearing Month, dedicated to increasing awareness about communication disorders and hearing loss that can occur at any age. Klapperich initially became interested in apraxia after her father experienced a form of it as a result of a brain tumor.

We want people to know there are services out there to help them, Klapperich said.

Klapperich said she, Tiffany Trask and Koni Berreth, who are also speech language pathologists at Dakota Speech and Swallow Center, see patients of all ages with speech and swallowing disorders.

More information can be found at dakotaspeechandswallowcenter.com about Klapperich's practice, and go to apraxia-kids.org for more information about CAS and Apraxia Kids.
On Tuesday, Mayor of Rapid City Steve Allender issued an executive proclamation to make May 9th Visit Rapid City  Travel Rally Day in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The proclamation was shared by Visit Rapid City which is the official destination marketing and promotion organization for the City of Rapid City. Allenders proclamation came before the annual Travel Rally Day at the Monument where officials from the travel and tourism industry network, share promotional materials and information and connect before the 2023 visitor season gets fully underway.

Rapid City welcomed 3.8 million visitors last year which provided significant economic benefits, including visitor expenditures totaling over $463 million and employment to 5,635 Rapid City residents every day, Allender said in the statement.

Tourist spending directly generates tax revenues, saving each Rapid City household $1,640 in taxes annually and supports a vibrant and safe community by generating $50 million in state and local tax revenue, according to Allender.

"Each citizen is recognized as an Ambassador of Rapid City, positively impacting the visitor experience, making Rapid City a prime visitor destination," Allender said in the statement.

Rapid City celebrates the impact of travel during National Travel and Tourism Week, May 7th through 13th and specifically at Travel Rally Day, May 9th.
The Wyoming Republican Party was united in condemning Laramie Democrat Rep. Karlee Provenza for posting a meme concerning transgender people that was criticized for its violent overtones.

But Republican leaders were split on Saturday over whether or not the party should urge disciplinary action against Provenza for posting the meme, with some passionately arguing that doing so could create a precedent for the infringement on free speech  a right that is strongly emphasized in the party.

The meme, which the House Minority Whip shared last month on Instagram and Facebook in recognition of the Transgender Day of Visibility, depicts an older woman pointing a scoped rifle with the caption Auntie Fa Says protect trans folks against fascists and bigots! The woman is wearing the colors of the transgender flag.

Provenzas post was criticized for its seeming reference to Antifa  the left-wing anti-fascist political movement  as well as its violent overtones and timing (Provenza made the post less than a week after a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee). Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne, who was reelected on Saturday, sent a letter on behalf of the Wyoming Republican Party to speaker of the House Albert Sommers last month urging him to strip Provenza of her committee assignments over the meme.

While defending the Second Amendment rights of LGBTQ people, Provenza apologized multiple times for her post.

We have a nation that is constantly hurting, and my failure to recognize how my words could be used to hurt people is something that I am truly sorry for, she wrote in a letter to her House colleagues last month.

On Saturday, the Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee passed a resolution in a voice vote encouraging voters to oust Provenza over the meme controversy.

The original resolution, which was brought by the Lincoln County GOP, urged Wyoming House leadership to take further disciplinary action up to and including [Provenzas] expulsion from the Wyoming House of Representatives.

But the GOP State Central Committee nixed this portion of the resolution after a debate among the Republican leaders over where to draw the line for free speech.

Jeff Pomeroy and Mark Armstrong, the state committeemen for the Washakie and Albany County GOPs, respectively, argued that Provenzas post crossed the line because they considered it to be a call to violence.

Where do we draw a line and say theres a responsibility for what you said? Pomeroy questioned. You may have the freedom to say it, but theres gonna be repercussions because of the responsibility of being a civilized society.

But others argued vehemently against the original resolutions language because of free speech considerations.

First of all, let me say that what this representative said is absolutely deplorable. I highly condemned it. I think it was irresponsible, Campbell County GOP Chairman and former lawmaker Scott Clem said.

He noted, however, that freedom of speech is a fundamental right under the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions and mentioned that Sen. Troy McKeown, a state lawmaker from his county, also posted a meme in 2021 that some said suggested violence. McKeown wasnt disciplined for doing so.

I had no issue with it, Clem said of McKeowns post. Now, I know there were many others that did have an issue with it. No disciplinary action was taken, nor do I think it should have been.

While he highly recommended that voters not reelect Provenza, whom he described as not fit for the Legislature, Clem said he doesnt believe its right for the GOP State Central Committee to urge disciplinary action against her for the views she expressed on social media.

Goshen County GOP State Committeeman Hugh Hageman also spoke strongly against the resolution as it was originally written.

I rise against this resolution because I am a liberty guy. Im gonna remain a liberty guy. Its gonna be liberty for all, its gonna be liberty for everyone, Hageman said, arguing that if someone gets hurt as a result of speech, the affected person can take the matter to court.

I dont want to hear where to draw the line. Im not going to draw the line. Free speech is free speech.

Sommers also cited free speech considerations in his letter announcing that he had dismissed complaints that had been filed against Provenza over the meme, writing that its imperative to remember that political expression is protected speech under the U.S. Constitution.

With this constitutional right also comes personal responsibility. We must remember that even constitutionally protected actions have the potential to deeply hurt others. Free speech is at times a messy thing, Sommers wrote.

Citing the First Amendment, some Republicans agreed with Sommers decision. Shortly after Sommers announced that he would not discipline Provenza for posting the meme, Wyoming Freedom Caucus member Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, said on social media that though she vehemently disagreed with Provenzas messaging, she thought Sommers had taken the right action.

Do we want to set a precedent of kicking Representatives out of the Legislature for social media posts? #1stAmendment, Ward wrote.

Goshen County GOP Chairman Kirk Haas brought the amendment to the resolution on Saturday that deleted the portion asking House leadership to take disciplinary action against Provenza and instead urges voters to oust her in the next election.

I think weve had excellent statements here about freedom of speech. This allows the state party to address it as a central committee, Haas said of the amendment. I think its important that we do address it.
The Wyoming Republican Party is asking local school districts to adopt policies that align with Senate File 117  a bill proposed during the session this year thats similar to Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay law, and which would have barred classroom instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in certain grades.

Two county parties  Park and Sheridan counties  passed resolutions in April and March, respectively, urging their local districts to adopt policies that align with Senate File 117. The state GOP central committee subsequently adopted a state resolution in a voice vote on Saturday. The resolution doesnt have clout and only expresses the desired direction of the party.

Senate File 117, which didnt survive the Legislature, would have barred classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate... It would have also required school personnel to report changes in students well-being or use of services to parents and guardians under most circumstances, and to encourage students to discuss issues related to their well-being with their parents and guardians.

Proponents of the bill argued that it was meant to protect students and empower parents to be involved with their childs well-being, while opponents said it would threaten the rights in particular of LGBTQ students and families and that the legislation wouldnt address any existing problem in Wyoming schools.

Senate File 117 cleared the Senate in an 18-12 vote in January. But Speaker of the House Albert Sommers, a Pinedale Republican, chose to withhold the bill from debate in the lower chamber, and it ultimately died without a vote on the floor after failing to reach a cutoff date.

Given that there are more bills than there is time to consider and vote on each and every one of them, the speaker of the House has to decide which bills to withhold and which will be allowed to move forward. Consequently, its common for bills to meet their end in the speakers drawer (the Senate president has the same power.)

Those decisions can be contentious.

During the session, Sommers came under fire from national figures for holding Senate File 117 in his drawer. State Freedom Caucus Network President Andrew Roth posted a photo of Sommers on Twitter and highlighted three bills  one of them Senate File 117  that had stalled in the House. The State Freedom Caucus Network  a Washington, D.C.-based organization that aims to establish state freedom caucuses across the country  officially partnered with the hard-line conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus in early January.

Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman retweeted Roths post and said that the bills were about protecting our children.

In Congress, Im fighting for these very issues. I hope the Wyoming legislature will do the same, she wrote.

Sheridan County GOP Chairman Bryan Miller said that people were angry because Sommers didnt pull the bill out of his drawer.

The bottom line is this: If we decide not to do anything here, thats not going to be the end of this, Miller said.

That is the point, the primary point, of bringing this out. This is something that needs to be done at the local level if the Legislature is not going to do anything.

The resolution comes amid a lawsuit filed by two parents against Sweetwater County School District No. 1 that alleges the district violated their rights by concealing information about their childs gender identity.

The parents  Ashley and Sean Willey  argue that Sweetwater County School District No. 1 was engaging in social transitioning by using the childs preferred pronouns. They also assert that the school districts use of the childs gender identity violated their religious beliefs, which dont recognize transgender people.

The Willeys aim to stop Sweetwater County School District No. 1 from using their childs preferred pronouns. They also seek monetary damages for emotional distress and psychological harm to the child and the family.
HCA Healthcare wants to build a new hospital in Hanover County complete with 60 beds, a small intensive care unit and a helipad. The company says it would be the missing link for health care along Interstate 95.

But the regions two competing health systems oppose the plan, saying HCA has not proven a need for the hospital and that its existence would hurt the business of nearby competing facilities.

One of the two competing systems, Bon Secours, has plans of its own for Hanover. The nonprofit health system is expanding the only existing hospital in the county, Memorial Regional Medical Center, and intends to build a freestanding emergency room farther north.

All of a sudden, Richmonds health systems have shown new interest in seizing market share in Hanover, the result of the countys growth, its relative wealth and its aging demographics.

The state health department gets the final say on HCAs proposal, which will shape the future of health care in the county and the region.

All in all, these big projects, they cause some concern, but theyre great projects for the community, said Brandon Turner, interim director of economic development in Hanover.

A new hospital proposal

HCA plans to construct a three-story hospital on a 39-acre plot adjacent to I-95. It would house 60 beds with space to grow to 150. The for-profit health system is calling it Ashland Hospital, even though it would be located on Sliding Hill Road, seven miles south of central Ashland.

The hospital would cost $234 million to build, a sum paid by HCA. It would employ about 300 workers, though many would be transferred from other hospitals.

A new hospital is necessary, HCA said, because traffic on I-95 slows patients and ambulances from reaching other HCA hospitals, such as Henrico Doctors and Parham Doctors.

The plan has support from the countys Board of Supervisors and moderate-to-strong support from residents, Turner said. Some residents are concerned about traffic, noise from ambulance sirens and the tearing down of a green space.

One of the concerned residents, Robin Dean, said the hospital adds too much congestion to Sliding Hill Road, which already connects to a FedEx Ground facility and the much-debated Wegmans distribution center.

Dean called the location too close to other hospitals  Memorial Regional is just six miles away  and noted that patients with life-threatening trauma, such as from car wrecks and shootings, must be taken to VCU Medical Center.

Larry Shaia, a developer and president of the homeowners association for the nearby Kings Charter neighborhood, said there is both support and opposition from the neighborhood. The county will hold public hearings this summer before it authorizes HCAs request to rezone the land.

The opposition

The regions two competing health systems, Bon Secours and VCU Health, have expressed opposition to the HCA hospital, saying there are already too many empty beds at HCAs other hospitals.

In 2021, there were nearly 700 HCA beds within 20 minutes of the proposed Ashland Hospital and, on average, less than 40 percent were occupied, according to Virginia Health Information.

HCA has not demonstrated a need for a new hospital, said Dr. Marlon Levy, interim CEO of VCU Health, in a letter to the health department. HCA never said its hospitals are too far away from its patients, Levy said.

Mike Lutes, president of Bon Secours Richmond, said a new HCA hospital would damage the business at Memorial Regional, which is owned by Bon Secours.

Lutes called the proposal a thinly veiled attempt to increase its market share in the greater Richmond area at the direct expense of other providers. Of the 12 public, acute-care hospitals in the region, six are owned by HCA, five by Bon Secours and one by VCU Health.

But the argument that other HCA hospitals are under capacity might actually favor HCA.

The health department encourages the reallocation of resources to meet the changing needs of the community, according to its policy. And that is what HCA plans to do  move beds and staff from underutilized hospitals to Hanover.

There are numerous factors the health department must consider  it aims to have enough beds for every patient, but not so many that beds go unused. Hospitals should be spread out geographically.

There is one other key factor  the health departments policy discourages the opening of facilities that undermine already existing businesses, which is exactly what Bon Secours says will happen.

Bon Secours is building, too

HCA is not the only health system building in Hanover. Bon Secours is nearing completion on a $50 million expansion project at Memorial Regional, adding 11 intensive care unit beds, 33 general inpatient beds and new units for orthopedics and neuroscience. Once it is complete, Memorial Regional will have a total of 269 acute care beds.

When Bon Secours announced the expansion in 2021, it said the health system was responding to growing demand for health services in Hanover, eastern Henrico County and the area toward the Northern Neck.

Bon Secours also plans to build a freestanding ER farther north on Lewistown Road. Some Memorial Regional patients travel from 30 miles away and would benefit from a closer location, Bon Secours said. And a new ER would decrease the high volume of patients at Memorial Regionals emergency room.

Unlike HCA, Bon Secours does not need state approval to open the ER, though certain elements of the facility do need a sign-off.

Hanover is growing and aging

Why all the interest in Hanover? The county experienced moderate population growth between 2010 and 2020. Its 10 percent increase was greater than the state average, more than Henrico but less than Chesterfield County.

Hanover has 113,000 residents, and nearly one in five is 65 years or older, making the county older than the state as a whole. The percentage of senior citizens in Virginia is projected to grow until at least 2030, according to a report by the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

And it is a relatively wealthy county, where patients are more likely to have private insurance, which reimburses hospitals better than Medicaid.

As the regions health systems compete for business in Hanover, the ultimate winner is the county.

New health care facilities improve the quality of life for residents, bring jobs to the area and often lead to more development, Turner said. Medical office buildings, restaurants and retirement homes often pop up near hospitals.

All of this attention increases health care amenities, he said. It addresses needs. It helps the community. We pride ourselves in Hanover on quality of life and amenities, like having good diversified health care.

Remember Safety Town? A look back through the Times-Dispatch archives Safety Town safety town Safety Town Safety Town Safety Town Safety Town Safety Town
The city of Richmond will make changes to West Main Street following the traffic deaths of two Virginia Commonwealth University students three months apart on a five-block stretch of the major westbound road.

City workers will add so-called bump-outs at intersections, designed to narrow the road and slow traffic, said Richmond City Council member Katherine Jordan. The city will also consider speed tables and more speed signs, said Lincoln Saunders, Richmonds chief administrative officer.

VCU is amid a traffic study, due at the beginning of July.

But council member Andreas Addison urged the City Council on Monday to improve traffic safety not just around VCU but in the entire city. He suggested significant changes, including making Main and Cary streets two-way, allowing rush-hour street parking and adding traffic lights.

He urged the council to make the bold unpopular decisions.

Right now, we have an opportunity to do whats right and whats best, that is not necessarily on the hinges of a VCU traffic study, Addison said. Weve got 64 other square miles of the city we have to take care of.

The council addressed traffic safety around VCU four days after the death of graduate student Shawn Soares. The 26-year-old was on the sidewalk of the 300 block of West Main Street on Thursday evening when he was struck and killed.

A driver in a center lane of Main Street attempted to make a right turn, cutting off another car and getting pushed onto the sidewalk, hitting Soares, said Michael Jones, president of the council. The wreck occurred on a downhill portion of road near the VCU business school, a spot identified by VCU Police as a problem area.

No one should die walking, Jones said. Absolutely no one should die riding a bicycle because they were hit by a car.

The Richmond Police Department has not announced any charges in the wreck, and the departments crash team is still investigating, a spokesperson for the department said Monday. Police have not said if alcohol was a factor. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator D. Olson at (804) 646-1664 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

Soares death occurred about three months after a VCU senior, Mahrokh Khan, was struck and killed crossing West Main at Laurel Street near the Altria Theater.

Following Khans death, VCU police instituted a traffic campaign in which it wrote more traffic tickets. In a six-week stretch, VCU officers wrote more tickets than in all of 2022. That campaign ended three days before Soares death.

Changes coming

In an effort to slow traffic on West Main, the city will add bump-outs to the intersections between Belvidere Street and Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Jordan said. A bump-out is an extension of the sidewalk that protrudes into the corner of an intersection, narrowing the road, slowing traffic and shortening the distance of the crosswalk.

The city is considering adding speed tables and speed signs around the 300 block of West Main in the weeks to come, Saunders said. A speed table is a longer, flattened speed bump. The speed limit on West Main is 25 mph but, this winter, the average driver went 28 where Khan was killed, according to VCU.

There were 32 fatal car crashes in Richmond in 2022, the most in at least eight years, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Eleven of them involved a pedestrian.

VCU leaders are scheduled to meet with city officials this week.

Changes suggested

Addison suggested the city make changes beyond VCU and rethink major facets of transportation. He suggested making Main and Cary streets two-way, which would decrease the number of travel lanes and slow cars down. He also called for more traffic lights around VCUs campus and more on-street parking.

The streets that run through VCUs campus are city property and are not owned by VCU. Some city streets are managed by the city, others by the state.

When many of the roads were designed around 1970, they were built with the mindset of getting cars in and out of the city as quickly as possible, Addison said. Traffic lights are timed to allow cars to quickly move through those roads.

Street parking on Main and Cary is forbidden during rush hour, adding more through lanes. Had cars been allowed to park on West Main, there would have been a buffer between the crash and Soares, Addison said.

What we need to do is take our city back, he said. He suggested designing roads so that visitors want to come to the city and walk around.

Addison added that there is rampant speeding in the city. Jones said too often drivers use bike lanes as passing lanes. A VCU police officer, Lt. Edgar Greer, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in March that traffic violations around campus are seemingly constant.

Lowering speed limits is unpopular, Addison noted. But six months later, no one remembers, and traffic is calmer, he said.

Richmond police officers could monitor speeding more and write more tickets, said Reva Trammell, a City Council member. Chesterfield County police are more likely to enforce speed limits, she said.

Its not happening in the city, she added.

Jones called for a greater use of automated speed cameras. The state allows localities to establish cameras at highway work sites and school zones. Offenders receive a ticket in the mail. Because some Richmond schools are on major roads, setting up cameras in school zones would help enforce speed limits on major roads, he said.

We owe Shawn and others a response, Jones added.
From one governor to another: the nations first elected Black governor, Doug Wilder, says the current tenant of the office he once held, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, needs to hold two top state officials accountable for letting down Virginia college students and the taxpayers who foot much of higher educations costs.

One, Virginia chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer Martin Brown, recently told faculty and staff at Virginia Military Institute that DEI was dead.

The other, Michael Rao, is president of Virginia Commonwealth University, whose VCU Health System recently paid $73 million to get out from under a failed redevelopment plan for the old Public Safety Building site in downtown Richmond.

Both the issue of Brown and VCU show it is essential that we have leadership that hears and understands and represents the needs of the people, Wilder said at a news conference at the state Capitol.

He said Youngkin is ultimately responsible for holding state officials to account.

Calling VCU Health Systems $73 million payment to a developer that threatened to sue when the project was abandoned a waste of public funds, Wilder said it was especially galling that, at about the same time, the school was proposing a tuition increase.

How many students were robbed from attending VCU on scholarship? he said.

He said it was also galling that what he called Browns inflammatory remarks on DEI came at VMI, given the schools history of racism and sexism.

Im not talking about 100 years ago, Im not talking about 50 years ago, Im talking about right now at VMI, he said.

He reiterated his call that Youngkin fire Brown.

Youngkin said Monday that Browns comments reflect recent trends, wherein a moment he feels is important has gone off the rails. Youngkin cited what he called a focus on equal outcomes at any cost, and said the point should be to encourage diversity and inclusion.

I dont think Governor Youngkin has the experience, or the knowledge, or the wherewithal to be considered anything close to an expert on diversity, Wilder said Tuesday in response to a question about Youngkins recent comments that DEI efforts had gone off the rails.

Meanwhile, Wilder said Youngkin needs to press for more transparency about what Wilder alleged was financial mismanagement at VCU.

Dr. Marlon Levy, interim CEO of VCU Health, said the hospital system paid off a third partys loan in order to avoid far greater financial problems down the road.

Wilder said he was skeptical of VCUs explanation that the payment came from health system operating funds  that is, the money it collects from patients and their insurers.

In response, VCU associate vice president Michael Porter said We agree with Gov. Wilder that this financial outcome is disappointing. But by late 2021, construction and other challenges made it simply impossible to build the original project...

Moving forward would have caused dire long-term financial repercussions, he said. He said the payment amounted to less than 2.5% of the health systems annual operating budget and did not tap university funds or taxpayer monies.

Wilder, a distinguished professor at VCUs Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, has clashed with Rao and the universitys leadership several times in recent years.

Wilder last year sued Rao and three other VCU officials, alleging damages of $5 million for acts that he said harmed his reputation, but he dropped the suit a few months later.

In 2018, he accused Rao and other administrators of ignoring allegations that a VCU dean harassed a female aide to Wilder and in 2019 he filed a complaint accusing Rao and VCU leadership of pervasive and persistent violations relating to racism and sexism.

From the archives: In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder was inaugurated as Virginia's first elected African-American governor
Cancun convict imprisoned since 2012 found dead inside cell

Cancun, Q.R.  A Cancun prisoner was reported dead inside the municipal facilities Monday morning. The 56-year-old inmate was found dead inside his cell of the Social Readaptation Center (Cereso) of Cancun around 9:30 a.m.

He had been imprisoned since 2012, serving time for rape. In a brief statement, the Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana de Quintana Roo reported In relation to the death of a person inside the Cereso of Cancun, the now deceased was a 56-year-old person who was serving a sentence for the crime of rape since 2012.

The now-deceased suffered from diabetes and hypertension and whose disease led him to lose a leg five years ago.

The agency added that he did not display any signs of injury when found in his cell and that he was transferred to SEMEFO for the corresponding investigations.
Disturbing public order complaint gets Cancun extortionist jailed

Cancun, Q.R.  A citizen complaint has lead to the arrest of a Tabasco man alleged responsible for business extortion in Cancun. On Monday, the Secretary of Citizen Security of Quintana Roo reported on the arrest of 29-year-old Jose Fernando from Tabasco.

The arrest was made in the vicinity of Superblock 36 at the intersection of Xcaret and Palenque Avenues where the male was disturbing public order, they reported. When police arrived and intervened, the now-detained put up resistance and tried to hit them.

After his arrest, police interviewed representatives of nearby companies who pointed him out as the person alleged responsible for crimes of extortion.
Mexican sent to Argentina to face criminal drug, laundering and association charges

Mexico City, Mexico  In compliance with the Extradition Treaty signed between Mexico and the Argentine Republic, the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) extradited a person of Mexican nationality to that country.

The FGR reported that Oscar F was required by the National Federal Criminal and Correctional Court of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the crimes of illicit association, laundering of criminal assets and illegal drug trafficking.

From 2005 to 2009, Oscar F was part of a criminal organization that illegally marketed ephedrine hydrochloride. The defendant was in charge of the administration of a hotel that was used for the development of the operations of the criminal organization.

The Government of Mexico granted the extradition of the defendant to the Government of Argentina. He was handed over to Argentine police agents from the Mexico City International Airport for his transfer to face charges.
Quintana Roo real estate associations respond to U.S. statement on fraud

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) has responded to a U.S. real estate and timeshare fraud statement made last week.

The AMPI Southeast region requests the Embassy and Consulate of the United States in Mexico to recommend that their compatriots contact and/or hire a real estate professional accredited by the state government to avoid conflicts, as well as attend the procedures established in this matter by law in Mexico, the real estate association said.

The comment was made by Miguel Angel Lemus Mateos, President of the Southeast region of the Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI) in response to a recent statement issued by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico.

U.S. citizens should exercise caution when considering time-share investments or purchasing real estate and be aware of the aggressive tactics used by some sales representatives. Before initiating a real estate purchase or time-share investment, U.S. citizens should consult with a Mexican attorney to learn about important regulations and laws that govern real estate property.

Although there are different types of timeshare fraud, the schemes often involve the following: (1) third-party scammers, who claim to have ready buyers, make unsolicited purchase offers to timeshare owners; (2) if offers are accepted, scammers make requests of timeshare owners for payments of advance fees and taxes, supposedly to facilitate or expedite the sale with assurances of reimbursement upon closing; and (3) once multiple payments have been made to the scammers, timeshare owners eventually realize that the offers were fictitious, that there are no buyers, and that their money is gone.

In 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a joint warning to consumers concerning fraudsters targeting owners of timeshares in Mexico. Individuals who have been victimized by this type of scam are encouraged to file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center.

At times, perpetrators of timeshare fraud misuse government agency names in attempts to appear legitimate. For example, perpetrators may call victims and claim to represent OFAC, demanding a payment in exchange for the release of funds that the perpetrator claims OFAC has blocked. Today, OFAC is also issuing an alert regarding such scams, warning that individuals may falsely claim to represent OFAC in furtherance of their fraud.

Other AMPI presidents from Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Chetumal emphasized that in Quintana Roo, there is a Real Estate Law and Real Estate purchase and sale operations for Mexicans and foreigners, which are regulated and carried out with legal certainty.

The Association said that a professional real estate agent must provide their services as established by the Law for the Provision of Real Estate Services with registration and accreditation from the state government and that the public notary accredits the personality of buyer and seller.

They also explained that in the Public Registry of Property and Commerce, all purchases and sales of real estate houses, land or condominiums have a registration folio that can be publicly consulted before any domain transfer operation.
Theres some good news and bad news on the downtown Roanoke parking-irritation front.

The good news comes from Corrine Casella, who thought she had paid $7 for parking at a lot off Church Avenue downtown, while attending a matinee performance of Jersey Boys at Mill Mountain Theatre back in April, with her daughter and grandson.

Casellas daughter parked in the Nickel Lot, off Church Avenue near Williamson Road, and Casella offered to pay the $7 fee. The lots operated by Metropolis.io, an artificial-intelligence company. Last year Metropolis merged with Nashville-based Premier Parking, which operates more than two dozen parking lots in or near downtown Roanoke.

To register a parking visit at one of those, a visitor needs to use his or her smartphone. Casella thought she had done that properly. But for whatever reason, the transaction didnt go through. And Casella got no warning about the glitch.

Instead, the companys system merely told her that her parking visit would end when her daughters car left the lot. By the time they returned to the car, about two hours later, they found a $70 private ticket on her daughters vehicle.

Casella paid the fine because she believed if she left it unpaid, Metropolis would escalate the charge, and that could negatively impact her daughter, who owns the car the fine was imposed upon.

Then Casella posted an account of what had happened on NextDoor.com, a social media website. A bunch of people there encouraged her to contact me, which she did.

I contacted a manager for Metropolis, Elijah Urias. He looked up the records of Casellas visit and determined she wasnt at fault. He said Metropolis would issue her a refund. But that hadnt happened by the time by April 18, when I wrote about about Casellas parking beef.

Metropolis subsequently came through, however, and credited Casellas account for $70. Thats the good news.

The bad news comes from others whove tangled with Metropolis. The column about Casellas complaint brought out other unhappy parking patrons who dished tales of outrage.

$70 fine for parking at Beamers

One was Bill Cleveland of Roanoke County (not to be confused with Botetourt General District Court Judge Bill Cleaveland, whose surname is spelled differently.) Clevelands complaint is about a $70 fine he received on Salem Avenue.

I met a group from church for lunch at Beamers, he wrote in an email. I parked in the lot next door. There were no cars there so I parked in the center of the lot. I saw the sign about scanning [the QR code] against the wall at Beamers. Didnt quite understand what it was about so I asked when I got inside.

They said they were having problems with the parking situation. One of our group said they couldnt get it to work. Therefore I decided Id not waste time and if they fined me Id just pay the fine, suspecting it would be around $25.

When he returned to his car, Cleveland found a $70 private ticket on his ride, which he termed outrageous. (Typically, on overtime street parking, the usual city of Roanoke parking fine is $20.)

Ive disputed the fine. However, [Metropolis is] asking for all kinds of stuff such as screen shots etc. Metropolis ultimately lowered the charge to $30, Cleveland noted. He decided to pay rather than keep disputing it.

Doubt Ill be going to Beamers again unless something is offered in the way of [logical] parking, Cleveland wrote.

That lot, at 351 W. Salem Ave. is known as the Salem Ave SW Lot.

Fines, fees near Amtrak platform

The other two complaints concerned a different Metropolis location, at 19 Salem Ave., known as the Knapsack Lot. Its the parking lot closest to Roanokes Amtrak platform. Ive both dropped off and picked up Amtrak riders there without incident, although not since the Metropolis-Premier Parking merger.

Virginia Savage of Salem got dinged there April 15, when she parked and took a day trip on the train to Washington, D.C., to have lunch with some friends in the nations capital. She returned to Roanoke that night.

Savages car was on the Knapsack lot for just under 14 hours. The parking fee on her credit card was $50.40.

That surprised her because in September, Savage left her car on the Knapsack Lot when she took five-day train trip to New York City. Her total parking fee back then was $44, which Savage considered reasonable.

Based on the fee indicated by signage at the lot, Savage had expected to pay $16 on April 15. By email, she complained about the charge to Metropolis. An employee named Savannah Wood replied.

Ive reviewed your account details and it appears there was event pricing in effect, Wood wrote.

When Savage asked what event was responsible for the surcharge, and wondered how much 24 hours parking there would cost, she got a reply from another Metropolis employee that ignored the first question.

The signage at our locations does state that the posted rates are subject to change, Marienette L replied. All our current rates  including event rates  are available for viewing either via the link in the Welcome back text or by scanning the QR code.

Knapsack Lot is also a camera-enabled location so your entry and exit are captured when you drive in or out. Because you were an existing Metropolis member when you entered the garage, you received a welcome text with the current rates. Staying 24 hours could cause [sic] you $80 on the same day. However  rates can change often based on day, hour, and special rate.

We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this may have caused.

Savage disputed that she ever got any welcome text upon driving onto the lot. It took three attempts to enter her information into the companys website via her phone, she added.

To make a long story short, Savage later learned the $16 charge was good for five hours, and that once that was up, Metropolis artificial-intelligence parking attendant billed her an additional $16 for a second five-hour stretch, then for a third $16 when the car was still there after 10 hours.

Since your parking lasted for 13 hours and 58 minutes, you were charged $48 plus a [$4.40] service fee, Marientte L. wrote.

(At downtown parking garages operated by a different company, Park Roanoke, the daily maximum fee is $8.)

I am not happy, but I am resolved to let the $50.40 charge go, Savage told me. However, I do want people to be warned NOT to park at that lot for an Amtrak trip, or at least be very wary when parking there to take the train. Their parking may well cost more than the train ticket!

After hearing a different story related by Rich Ellis Jr. of Roanoke, motorists may think twice about pulling into the Knapsack Lot altogether.

His mother, Elinor Ellis, 80, who lives in High Point, North Carolina, was dinged for $70.25 merely for dropping off her grandson at the Amtrak station downtown on March 12. He was heading back to college after spring break.

Elinor Ellis pulled into what they thought was the public parking lot for the station. They were in the spot for 15-20 minutes and there was someone in the car at all times, Rich Ellis wrote me in an email. (This is exactly what Ive done when picking up or dropping off visitors at the Amtrak platform.)

Later, Elinor Ellis received a ticket via mail from Metropolis for $70! Granted, she probably parked in the wrong lot, but who can really tell given the cluster-f that is the current parking and road closure and signage situation near the Amtrak lot, Rich Ellis wrote.

He added: Shes from out of town, and Roanoke is really doing itself a disservice to its reputation by allowing this private company to target locals and visitors alike.

I called Elijah Urias, manager of Metropoliss parking operations in Roanoke, on Monday regarding those three complaints. The called was returned by a spokesman for Metropolis, Corey Owens.

He told me any motorist who feels aggrieved by fees or fines after parking in a Metropolis lot can appeal online at help.metropolis.io, on the companys website.

If they enter their ticket number, our team will always get back to folks within 48 hours, Owens said. He added that Metropolis hasnt seen an unusual influx of complaints from Roanoke recently.

I can think of another option, for anyone who feels tempted to pull into the Knapsack Lot when picking up or dropping off Amtrak riders.

Do that instead at curbside along Salem Avenue. That way youre not risking a $70 fine.
A neighbor testified Monday that he helped Russell Steven Snider operate a cell phone last December  because Snider said that he wanted to report killing his own sister.

Snider, 52, was in Montgomery County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for a preliminary hearing that ended with charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony being sent to a grand jury. The grand jury will decide if Snider should be tried in the countys circuit court for the shooting death of his sister, Nancy Marie Snider, 60.

Judge Robert Viar said that a misdemeanor domestic assault charge will be dropped at the prosecutions request.

Russell Sniders case has been in the courts since his Dec. 21 arrest, with his preliminary hearing delayed some months so that mental health treatment could restore Sniders competency to assist in his own defense.

On Monday, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Rachel Shrader called as a witness James Moore, who said that he lived beside Snider on Switchback Road, west of Christiansburg.

Moore said that he had seen Snider mowing his yard and performing other tasks, but never actually met him until Dec. 21, at around 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. That was when Snider knocked on his door and asked to use a phone, and said that he had just killed his sister, Moore said.

Moore said that he gave Snider a cellphone. When Snider, standing on Moores front porch, appeared confused about how to use it to talk to an emergency dispatcher, Moore put it on speaker phone for him. Moore said that he stood in his front doorway and listened as Snider repeated to the dispatcher that he had killed his sister.

Moore said that Snider again seemed confused when the dispatcher asked for an address, so Moore leaned in and provided the information.

Montgomery County Sheriffs Deputy Tyler Morgan testified that he and other officers arrived at Snider and Moores homes soon after the call. Morgan said that he and another officer made a quick search of Sniders home but did not immediately discover his sister.

Instead, they found Russell and Nancy Sniders father, Curtis Snider Sr., who was confined to a bed in the living room and whose speech seemed rambling and mostly unintelligible.

Morgan said that the only words that he could make out from the older man were, Oh, its bad.

Morgan said that on a second sweep through the two-story residence, he looked further into the kitchen and found Nancy Sniders body under the kitchen table.

Questioned by Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Erin Little, who was working with Shrader on the case, Morgan said that he found a small pistol on a pillow on a couch.

Officers previously said that Nancy Snider lived in the Christiansburg area as well. On Monday, Investigator Andrew Jarvis of the sheriffs office testified that several times before the shooting, he had been called to intervene in domestic disputes between Nancy and Russell Snider.

A search warrant filed in the case said that Russell Snider told officers that he shot his sister to defend himself as she assaulted him and their invalid father. This was not mentioned Monday, however, as defense attorney Fred Kellerman of Christiansburg said that he would present no evidence at this point in the case.
A Roanoke man who shot another person last year, then was arrested seven months later after a police auto chase, pleaded guilty to firearm-related charges Monday.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Malcolm Levort Harrison, 32, was sentenced in Roanoke Circuit Court to eight years of incarceration, suspended after he serves four, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney John McNeil said.

On a malicious wounding charge, a judge sentenced Harrison to five years, suspended after he serves one. And on a firearm use charge, Harrison received a three-year sentence, the mandatory minimum for the charge in Virginia.

Once released, he will be placed on unsupervised probation for two years.

McNeil said that on June 23, 2022, Harrison engaged in a gun battle with another man at an apartment complex near the intersection of Dupree Street and Blaney Avenue Northwest.

At Harrisons bond hearing in January, McNeil detailed the events of that day. He said surveillance camera video from the apartment complex shows a man arriving with a gun in his hand.

The man made contact with Harrison. The pair spoke, then engaged in a physical altercation. McNeil said Harrison threw some keys to the ground and went inside an apartment.

The other man picked the keys up, and then Harrison came back outside with a rifle in hand. He fired the gun in the other mans direction, hitting his leg. Then Harrison returned the gun inside and left in an SUV.

About seven month later, on Jan. 10, police spotted Harrison in the same SUV. They chased him through Roanoke and eventually into a residence in the 1200 block of Stewart Avenue Southeast. He was arrested there.

While the other man has no state charges for the June incident, McNeil said, he is facing gun-related charges in federal court.
On May 6, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Virginia campus celebrated the graduation of 173 new physicians. After four years of study, these physicians have completed their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees and will now go on to residencies across the nation.

This is not the first time these students have experienced a commencement ceremony, but this one was particularly meaningful, in part because their experiences at VCOM were so deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit just as they were finishing their first year. Despite the challenges  or perhaps because of them  the Class of 2023 is one of VCOMs best, with significant academic achievements and high test scores.

The class was addressed by Martin Levine, DO, FACOFP-distinguished. Dr. Levine, an accomplished physician, educator and leader, serves as VCOMs vice provost for graduate medical education. In that role, he facilitates the development of residencies and other graduate medical opportunities for students across VCOMs four campuses. In his remarks, he reminded the new physicians to focus on their patients, who are the most important people in the room. The doctor-patient relationship is sacred, he said. Use that relationship to improve the health of the patients you see and the communities where you live and work. Engage in conversation with your patients. Dont rush. Show empathy.

VCOMs mission is to provide physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations in the Southeast United States, with a focus on communities in the Appalachian and Delta regions of the country, many of which have a pronounced need for primary care practitioners. This class significantly advances that mission.

More than 55% of the VCOM-Virginia Class of 2023 come from Virginia. For their residencies, they will head to 30 different states, with 59 members of the class staying in Virginia. More than 75% will be in an Appalachian state and 44% will head to an underserved community. More than 69% will continue their training in primary care, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology. Other specialties represented by the class include emergency medicine, psychiatry, neurology and anesthesiology, among others. Throughout their careers, these accomplished and talented new physicians will have millions of patient encounters and they were reminded to take the mission of VCOM and the philosophy of osteopathic medicine to every single one.

Military service is also a hallmark of the VCOM experience, evidenced by the high percentage of VCOM alumni who go on to serve in the United States military. More than 365 VCOM alumni across the colleges four campuses have or will serve in the armed forces, including 13 members of the VCOM-Virginia Class of 2023, who received military promotions on May 5.

Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully trained and licensed and are qualified to practice the full scope of medicine, including examining patients, diagnosing illness, performing surgery and writing prescriptions. Further, they practice the entire range of medical specialties, from anesthesiology to surgery and everything in between. They take a whole-person approach, considering a patients body, mind and spirit when delivering care.

- Submitted by Amy Ostroth
CHRISTIANSBURG  Montgomery County Administrator Craig Meadows will retire Nov. 3.

The county announced Meadows upcoming retirement Tuesday. The board of supervisors hired the county government leader in August 2009.

Craig is an absolute champion for Montgomery County, said board of supervisors Chairwoman Sherri Blevins. His leadership has been and will continue to be valued by both the board and employees. Montgomery County has been extremely fortunate to have such an exemplary leader like Craig. We will all miss him greatly, but we wish him and his family the very best in his retirement.

Meadows, 62, also serves in leadership roles with state and national organizations, including the Virginia Association of Counties, the Virginia Local Government Management Association and the International City/County Management Association.

Meadows serves in local leadership roles on the New River Valley Water Authority, the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority and the Economic Development Authority, among a number of other entities.

Among Meadows other functions the county highlighted included his role in the New River Valley Regional Public Health Task Force, a group formed in 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group has included both public and private health officials, first responders, educational leaders and other local government representatives.

I have enjoyed my time as county administrator in Montgomery County. Our community really is a special place, with a rich history and a very exciting future, said Meadows, who added that he and his wife consider the area home and that they will remain engaged in the community as they enjoy retirement.

Meadows, during his 14 years on the job, has led the locality through some significant growth, but also a few tragic events with grace and strength, according to the county announcement. He facilitated more than 20 new construction and renovation projects that addressed education, public safety, recreation and key infrastructure needs, according to the announcement.

He also continues to focus on economic development and growing and expanding businesses in the community.

Some of the latest data show the county during Meadows time as administrator beginning to overtake Roanoke as the largest municipality by population in Southwest Virginia. The county is one of the few localities in Southwest Virginia to have gained population since the 2020 census, according to the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Other supervisors commented on Meadows service.

As soon as we met Craig, we knew he was exactly what Montgomery County needed, said Supervisor Mary Biggs, who is the only current supervisor who was on the board when it hired its administrator. He has always been accessible and approachable. He is a wonderful collaborator with local, regional and even national partners and colleagues.

Meadows service and leadership in outside organizations has brought recognition and increased knowledge to the county, Biggs said.

Among the specific tasks Meadows undertook during his tenure, the county pointed to his organization of an unprecedented regional forum during the summer of 2019 that allowed government, higher education and health care leaders to open a dialogue about how localities can be part of the planning and anticipated growth of Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech.

Meadows already had extensive experience in municipal management prior to joining Montgomery County.

Meadows served as interim town manager of Red Springs, North Carolina. Before that, he served as city manager of Monroe, North Carolina, from 2005 to 2009 and as city manager of Bedford from 1998 to 2005.

Meadows, whos a certified public accountant, began his career doing accounting work in the private sector for nearly six years following his college graduation, according to the county. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors in accounting from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.

Meadows is also a graduate of the municipal administration program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills School of Government.

The countys board of supervisors plans to soon discuss the next steps for finding Meadows successor.

Meadows earns a salary of $220,000.
SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE  A Spotsylvania County man who shot into the rear of a vehicle full of teenagers who had mistakenly pulled into his driveway last year was ordered Monday to serve a year and a half in prison.

Brent D. Alford, who will turn 50 later this month, was sentenced in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court to a total of nine years with all but 18 months suspended. He was convicted by a jury in February of unlawfully shooting into an occupied vehicle and four misdemeanor counts of assault.

According to the evidence presented by prosecutors Crystal Montague-Holland and Ryan Mehaffey, three teenage siblings and a friend were on their way to a party on the night of June 18 in the 6300 block of Grace Hill when their GPS led them into Alfords driveway. The home they were intending to go to was a couple of houses away.

The driver, recent high school graduate Devin Johnson, was turning around to leave when Alford started banging on the car window and yelling. The car was headed back to the road when Alford fired his 9mm handgun into the trunk of the fleeing vehicle.

The round struck a jug of antifreeze in the trunk and missed the four occupants. Alford, who called 911 after firing the shot, told police that the car struck him twice and that he fired in self-defense.

Johnson and his younger brother both testified that they are still tormented by the thought that their sister or a friend in the backseat could have been killed by Alfords irrational actions.

A can of coolant altered the trajectory of that bullet, Johnson said. Pure luck and God Himself protected us.

Montague-Holland told Judge William Glover that Alford clearly fabricated the story about being hit by the car and said that if not for the antifreeze, Spotsylvania County might have made national news.

We simply cant have a community in which people shoot first and ask questions later, Montague-Holland said.

Alford on Monday apologized to the victims and their families and said he now realizes that his actions were wrong. Im truly sorry, said Alford, who previously worked as a sheriffs deputy in Johnston County, N.C., and as a correctional officer at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. My heart goes out to them.

Defense attorney Mark Murphy argued that Alfords terrible mistake should not outweigh the good hes done, including serving honorably in the Marine Corps. Murphy asked that Alford, who has spent two months in jail, be released.

Mehaffey said Alford deserved a prison sentence.

He almost killed children for absolutely no good reason, Mehaffey said.

Judge Glover agreed, saying that more is expected of someone with military and law-enforcement training.

It was nothing more than luck that you didnt kill somebody, Glover said just before pronouncing judgement.
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Sildenafil was created by two Pfizer scientists in 1989. The drug works on the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) enzyme, found primarily in the lungs, to relax the blood vessels and lessen the workload of the heart. For this reason, researchers believed it could be a potential treatment for high blood pressure and angina, a type of chest pain associated with coronary heart disease.

Sildenafil went into human clinical trials in the early 1990s but didn't perform well as a heart treatment. However, researchers found that it did perform quite well in the bedroom, at least according to male participants enrolled in the studies. Men taking the drug reported it gave them the unusual side effect of increased erections several days after taking the initial dose. The more clinical trials Pfizer conducted, the more reports of erection side effects it documented.

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"Coincidentally, around the same time, other studies were revealing more information about the biochemical pathway involved in the erection process," executive director of discovery research at Pfizer Global Research & Development's Sandwich Laboratories Ian Osterloh wrote in an April 2015 issue of Cosmos magazine. "This helped us understand how the drug might amplify the effects of sexual stimulation in opening up the blood vessels in the penis."

So how exactly is Viagra triggered when a man is sexually stimulated? Here's what happens:

When a man is aroused, his body releases nitric oxide into the erectile tissue of his penis, which stimulates an enzyme that produces cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This causes the smooth muscle cells to relax and the arteries in the penis to dilate, which increases the blood flow to the penis and causes the erectile tissue to also fill with blood. The combination results in an erection. Viagra works by maintaining the level of cGMP in the smooth muscle cells, which are only present in the first place when a man is turned on.

With the chances of sildenafil becoming a heart treatment fading fast, Pfizer decided to run pilot studies in male patients who were impotent. The positive results got a rise out of researchers and study participants alike, and Pfizer quickly sought regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In March 1998, the FDA approved sildenafil as a treatment for erectile dysfunction  the new clinical name for impotence. Pfizer marketed it under the brand name Viagra. This was such a big deal sales of "the "little blue pill" shot through the roof. In the first two months, Pfizer made more than $182 million in revenue, almost twice the revenue of the five leading drug launches of 1997 combined. Ten years later, Viagra was pulling in upward of $2 billion in annual sales.
People tend to avoid the discussion of estate planning because no one likes to think about their mortality. Plus, theres the presumption that only the wealthy have an estate that needs planning.

But many moderate-income families may have a very special need to do some simple estate planning. If they arrange their assets properly, they can make sure that if one spouse needs custodial care, the other spouse can still live a comfortable life.

Wealthy people buy long-term care insurance or decide they have enough assets to cover the cost of private care, either in-home or in assisted living. (Medicare will only provide skilled nursing-home care for up to 100 days  and then only if the patient is moved directly from a hospital.)

That leaves a big gap for many families with more moderate incomes and assets. Their savings could disappear in a flash if they need full-time care. Family members often provide help. But theres another way to get both care and peace of mind: using a specialist lawyer to pre-arrange your assets.

Understanding Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal/state program, administered by each state with its own regulations. In addition to providing health care to the poor, it is designed to provide long-term custodial care to those who have spent their assets. Each state has its own rules for spending down assets and using income from pensions, Social Security, savings or a spouses income.

For example, a single individual who needs nursing-home care to be paid by Medicaid in Illinois this year must qualify by having income (including Social Security, pensions, IRA distributions and rental income) under $1,215 per month and own assets under $2,000.

But in the case of a married couple, the law realizes it does no good to impoverish the spouse who is well. So, each state sets its own rules about allowable spousal income and assets for the community spouse. For example, in Illinois in 2023, that income allowance is $2,000 per month, plus assets totaling no more than $120,780. But a waiver could increase that income limit to $3,715.50 per month.

Florida does not allow an applicant to own countable assets worth more than $2,000. However, if the applicant's income is under $856 per month, the asset limit jumps to $5,000. In Florida, the community spouse can retain up to $148,620 in individual or joint assets in addition to the family home.

In most states, the community spouse may keep the family home regardless of value. But after death, a single homeowner can expect that the state will attempt to recoup its Medicaid costs from his or her estate.

How Medicaid planning can help

As you can see from this brief overview, Medicaid planning is a quagmire and requires a sharp lawyer in your state of residence to deal with issues of income, assets and homeownership. Complicating the process is the fact that its difficult to predict which spouse will need care first. Transferring assets at the last minute to qualify for Medicaid results in penalties, since states can look back at least five years to catch illegal transfers. But Florida is among the states that allow transfers between spouses, an essential element in the planning process.

You need a qualified elder law attorney in your state of residence to manage this process. Joannie Rodriguez is a Florida bar board-certified elder law attorney in Orlando. She says her practice is as much about preserving peace of mind as it is about saving the familys hard-earned nest egg while providing the best quality of care for the longest time  and protecting the community spouse.

Rodriguez makes no apologies for doing this type of planning, saying: This is not about taking advantage. I am helping people qualify for benefits they are entitled to receive but might not know about. She strongly advises people to plan while you are capable of making your own decisions.

To find a trusted senior estate-planning attorney in your state of residence, visit NAELA.org, the website of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Done correctly, this kind of planning is about having peace of mind for yourself and your family at the end of your life, no matter what your level of assets and income. And thats The Savage Truth.

-

Terry Savage is a registered investment adviser and the author of four best-selling books, including "The Savage Truth on Money." Email her at terry@terrysavage.com.
FLORENCE, S.C.  East Coast Wings + Grill, a full-service and family-dining restaurant renowned for its variety of buffalo wing sauces and heat indices, on Thursday celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Florence. The new restaurant is at 1360 Celebration Boulevard.

Deep Patel, co-owner of the new location, owns several convenience stores in the area and was looking for a new opportunity, according to the company.

Patel and the rest of the ownership team loved wings and wanted to branch out into restaurant ownership.

After researching opportunities, East Coast Wings + Grill was the clear choice due to the franchises leadership and ability to support their franchisees in every aspect of their business, according to an announcement.

Deep and his team are extremely passionate about the brand, and are looking forward to being more involved within their community, said Mark Lyso, chief development officer of East Coast Wings + Grill. We are happy to have Deep and his team join our franchise system, and help us grow East Coast Wings + Grills footprint in South Carolina.

South Carolina is a key growth market for the brand, as East Coast Wings + Grill recently signed a franchise agreement deal to open a unit in Clemson and has plans to open four more locations across Columbia and Greenville over the next three to five years.
FLORENCE, S.C .  Dillon native Curtis McLaurin entered Francis Marion University in the fall of 2019 as a history major and leaves with a passion for international work.

McLaurin, a 2019 graduate of Dillon High School, chose to study history at FMU because it was always his strongest subject and fascinated him. He particularly enjoyed European history, fitting as he spent the fall 2022 semester studying abroad at Carlow College in Ireland.

Before coming to Francis Marion, McLaurin had not traveled internationally. Two of his professors, Dr. Mark Blackwell, professor of philosophy and religious studies and director of international programs, and Dr. Jen Titanski-Hooper, assistant professor of geography and director of the McNair Institute for Research and Service, urged McLaurin to study abroad and guided him through the process.

At first, McLaurin did not have a preference on where he studied, he just knew he wanted to study abroad and be immersed in a new culture. He ultimately chose Carlow College in Ireland because he felt like it would be a good fit for him due to its similar size to FMU.

While at Carlow, McLaurin had the opportunity to work with Ukrainian refugees, an experience he says has changed him forever. McLaurin, along with other students, worked for a program coordinated by Carlow College faculty teaching English to refugees. Each week, for 10 weeks, he worked as a teacher helping around 60 refugees learn English through visual and audible learning techniques.

I was able to experience a great merge of cultures in Carlow, said McLaurin. As an American student, I had the privilege of teaching the English language to Ukrainian refugees under the guidance of Irish professors. It was just an incredible experience.

Throughout the fall, McLaurin was able to forge strong connections with many students whom he still keeps up with. He also participated in many extracurricular activities available to him in Carlow and traveled throughout the country visiting museums, historic sites, and landmarks. Another awesome experience he had before returning to the United States was spending a week in London with his mother, also a Francis Marion graduate.

My time in Ireland opened my eyes to so many things, McLaurin said. I have so many memories and experienced a great deal of personal growth during my semester abroad that I will carry with me forever.

At FMU, McLaurin participated in the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

In the future, McLaurin plans to work internationally and continue his education. He would like to work for the Peace Corps or UNESCO teaching and doing humanitarian work.
Affrontements a Ngor : Des blesses signales, les ambulances de la croix rouge interdites dacces

A lheure ou ces lignes sont ecrites, les jeunes de Ngor sont dans la rue pour affronter les forces de lordre.





Des sources nous renseignent que des blesses ont ete notes du cote des manifestants.





Par ailleurs, les ambulances de la Croix Rouge sont interdites dacces pour evacuer ces blesses . Ce qui oblige les jeunes a faire recours aux pirogues pour evacuer les ceux-ci vers Yoff.





Nous y reviendrons.
















 Should every state have a dedicated commission to receive complaints about prosecutors? | Main | "The Eighth Amendment's Time to Shine; Previewing Florida's Imminent Constitutional Crisis in Capital Punishment" 

May 8, 2023

Big spread in sentencing recommendations for Oath Keepers founder convicted of seditious conspiracy

As reported in this Washington Post piece, lawyers for "Stewart Rhodes urged a judge to sentence him to far less than the 25-year prison term sought by federal prosecutors for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack  asking for a penalty of time served or roughly 16 months behind bars  citing his military service and his founding and leadership of the right-wing extremist group Oath Keepers." Here is more:

In a Monday morning court filing, the attorneys emphasized that Rhodes volunteered for the Army in June 1983, completed Airborne school and was honorably discharged after suffering a spinal fracture in a low-altitude night jump in 1986. They emphasized his formation of the Oath Keepers in 2009, saying the group provided hurricane and other emergency relief, security in cities experiencing rioting, and protective details for VIPs during President Donald Trumps rallies after the 2020 presidential election.... The defense filing came after a Friday evening memo by prosecutors asking a federal judge to sentence Rhodes to 25 years in prison and eight followers to at least 10 years behind bars, in the first punishments to be handed down to defendants convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Capitol riot. Rhodes and the others face sentencing starting later this month. Rhodes was arrested in January 2022 and will have served roughly 16 months at that point.... Rhodes, a top deputy and four others were found guilty at trials in November and January of plotting to unleash political violence to prevent the Biden presidency, stashing a small arsenal of firearms at hotels in Northern Virginia before converging that afternoon at the East Capitol steps in military-style tactical gear. Three other co-defendants were convicted of obstructing Congress as it met to confirm the results of the 2020 election, among other crimes. Both top offenses are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but prosecutors asked the court to stack sentences for Rhodes, citing among other things an enhanced terrorism penalty for actions intended to intimidate or coerce the government. Prosecutors called for swift and severe punishment for Rhodes, saying his groups actions went far beyond the scope and magnitude of any other Jan. 6 defendants sentenced so far. They said Rhodes exploited his public influence in the anti-government extremist movement and mobilized people for political violence after spreading doubt about the presidential election and turning others against the government because their preferred candidate did not win.... Mehta, Rhodess sentencing judge, has handed down the two longest punishments to Jan. 6 defendants so far, both for assaulting police: 14 years for Peter Schwartz of Kentucky, who attacked multiple officers and who has a long criminal history of 38 convictions, including multiple domestic and police assaults; and 10 years for Timothy Webster, a former New York City police officer who attacked a Capitol Police officer with a metal flagpole. Rhodess attorneys said only those two men have been sentenced to more than eight years in Jan. 6 cases, attaching a 54-page government chart of sentences to a 16-page defense filing. About 200 of roughly 450 people sentenced have received no jail time, and more than half of the roughly 250 people who have been sentenced to prison received terms of less than two months. Of 110 people sentenced for felonies, about 76 who pleaded guilty have been sentenced to an average of 33 months, and about 34 who were convicted at trial have been sentenced to an average of 44 months in prison, according to a separate Washington Post analysis.

The defense's 70-page sentencing filing is available at this link; the government's 183-page sentencing filing is available at this link.

May 8, 2023 at 11:29 PM | Permalink

Comments

Judge Anon sentences Rhodes to 20 years.

Posted by: anon | May 9, 2023 9:24:19 AM

It seems to me that Rhodes will end up with a Leadership Role sentencing enhancement, and possibly get additional time because of his legal knowledge, with a J.D. from Yale Law school. While he may not personally have done anything violent, the truth is he organized and fomented much of what transpired, and the violence of others should have been reasonably foreseeable to him, down to the possible hanging of V. P. Pence. I see him getting 20 to 25 years in the BOP.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | May 9, 2023 9:43:51 AM

20 years is an appropriate sentence for Rhodes. His lackeys should receive sentences between 5-10 years.

Posted by: Anon1 | May 10, 2023 12:38:21 AM

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2023/05/10/surprise-no-justice-no-peace-crowd-silent-on-murder-of-chicago-police-officer-n2623021

Funny how the newfound tough on crime crowd is strangely silent about a preventable murder of a cop.

Posted by: federalist | May 10, 2023 12:12:42 PM

Post a comment
with strategic partnership with UM, UPM, MDEC and other regional players

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 9 May 2023  City University of Hong Kong launched the first ever HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition (HK Tech 300 SEA Competition) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, extending the highly anticipated innovation and entrepreneurship programme to Southeast Asia to foster start-ups and innovation and technology development in the region.







Professor Michael Yang Mengsu (5th from right), Vice-President (Research and Technology) and Chairman of the HK Tech 300 Executive Committee of City University of Hong Kong, and Emeritus Professor Dato' Dr Morshidi Sirat (5th from left), Higher Education Adviser to the Minister of Higher Education, joins distinguished guests and partners to kick off the HK Tech 300 Southeast Asia Start-up Competition.





A large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme by City University of Hong Kong, HK Tech 300 was organised with a total commitment of up to HK$600 million (about MYR 340 million).



"We are thrilled to expand our successful HK Tech 300 initiative to Southeast Asia," said Professor Way Kuo, President and University Distinguished Professor of City University of Hong Kong. "This Competition presents a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region to gain exposure and secure funding for their projects, and will help translate City University of Hong Kong's outstanding research into applications, which can have a transformative impact on the entrepreneurship landscape here. We are excited to witness the positive impact of HK Tech 300 on the region and are committed to supporting and empowering innovative ideas in this part of the world."



The HK Tech 300 SEA Competition is being held in partnership with universities and incubators in the region, including Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) from Malaysia, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from Brunei Darussalam, Chulalongkorn University from Thailand, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC), and various chambers of commerce. Through these partners, the Competition will bring together the most promising start-ups in the region to join the competition. The Top 10 winners will each be awarded Angel Fund investment of up to HK$1 million (about MYR 565,000), providing a significant boost for their entrepreneurial endeavours.



Datuk Seri Khaled Mohamed Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia, said, "A thriving small and medium enterprise (SME) and start-up ecosystem is essential for sustainable digital development. The Malaysian Higher Education Ministry welcomes City University of Hong Kong's decision to launch this regional edition of HK Tech 300 in Malaysia, as it demonstrates the success of Malaysia's efforts to accelerate the digital economy and produce knowledgeable graduates with excellent marketability. I believe the exposure and guidance they will receive from the Competition, will enable them to contribute to the expanding digital ecosystem."



Emeritus Professor Dato' Dr Morshidi Sirat, Higher Education Adviser to the Minister of Higher Education, in representing Datuk Seri Khaled and delivered his speech during the launch event at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.



Professor Dr Sabri Musa, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya said that they are delighted to be a partner in the Competition and hope to create synergy for the start-up ecosystem in the region.



Since its launch in March 2021, the HK Tech 300 programme has made significant strides towards its goal of creating 300 start-ups within three years. With a total allocation of HK$500 million in 2021, the programme is a strategic move to translate City University of Hong Kong's groundbreaking research results and intellectual property into practical applications, while simultaneously providing valuable opportunities for young talent and aspiring entrepreneurs to grow and learn. To further support the programme, the University added an additional of HK$100 million (about MYR 56.5 million) this year.



To date, HK Tech 300 has cultivated more than 560 start-up teams, each of which received a HK$100,000 (about MYR 56,500) Seed Fund, and it has provided up to HK$1 million (about MYR 565,000) in Angel Fund investment to more than 110 start-up companies.



Riding on the success and positive impact of the Programme, City University of Hong Kong has expanded the HK Tech 300 initiative to Southeast Asia, with Malaysia chosen as the location for the launch of the inaugural HK Tech 300 SEA Competition, demonstrating its vision and determination to make HK Tech 300 the biggest university-based innovation and entrepreneurship programme in Asia.



The expansion aims to promote technology transfer and commercialisation in the region, showcasing the University's commitment to support Southeast Asian start-ups in expanding their business to Hong Kong, Mainland China and the whole region, leveraging the unique advantages and resources available in Hong Kong.



Visit www.cityu.edu.hk/hktech300/seasia for more information.





Story continues

Hashtag: #HKTech300 #SEA #Start-up



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About City University of Hong Kong and HK Tech 300

As one of the fastest-growing universities in the world over the last decade, City University of Hong Kong is recognised as a hub for innovation in research and professional education. Our world-class faculty champion the integration of teaching and research and consistently excel across many key international indicators for research excellence. Focusing on our core mission, we are committed to promoting knowledge and contributing to society through outstanding teaching and research.





Under the theme "Venture Beyond Boundaries", HK Tech 300 is a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme launched by City University of Hong Kong for aspiring entrepreneurs among the Univeristy's students, alumni, research staff and others to establish start-ups and ignite their entrepreneurship journey. With an allocation of HK$600 million, the programme offers comprehensive support for entrepreneurship training, a seed fund, an angel fund, co-working space, and networking opportunities in the industrial and commercial communities.





HK Tech 300 aims to provide educational and growth opportunities for young entrepreneurs and to translate City University of Hong Kong's research results and intellectual property into practical applications. Since its launch in March 2021, over 1,300 people have participated in entrepreneurship training, more than 560 teams have each been awarded a seed fund of HK$100,000, and over 110 start-ups have been selected to receive angel fund investment of up to $1 million each to develop and validate their business models. Over 150 experienced industrialists and successful entrepreneurs have accepted our invitation to serve as mentors.





For more information, please visit: https://www.cityu.edu.hk


  1 University Hill160 20  THE HOLBORN 2%6%  33577  Arm9780  8ChatGPT 8 powerful ways to accelerate your learning Google AIBard180   GDP2.7%   NetflixNetflix196 DYNAM JAPAN623 10 9.7 TwitterCEO 0.48%  Groupon 1 1%   7 FDIC    1% 5%  3.5    4.47 1.76 TwitterTwitter CEOCEO  IMF
It seems like everyones going to Italy these days. Thanks to a strong dollar and pandemic-induced wanderlust, its not just influencers, old friends and exes filling up their Instagram feeds with gelato and pasta. Succession Season 3 took to a trip to Tuscany for a wedding, The White Lotus Season 2 checked in for a stay in Sicily, while Toni Collette landed in Rome to become the Mafia Mamma. And now the Book Club gals  Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, Diane Keaton and Candice Bergen  take off for a wine-soaked adventure off the page in the fluffy and fantastical Book Club: The Next Chapter.

Directed by Bill Holderman, written by Holderman and Erin Simms, this sequel is even more of a heightened fantasy than the 2018 film. It will require tossing aside every scrap of disbelief and grabbing onto a glass of Prosecco instead, but that doesnt mean that it cant also be a touching story about the importance of lifelong friendships. When Vivian (Fonda) grasps her girls in a group hug and declares them her soul mates, its hard not to be at least a little bit moved by their friendship, which is a lively balance of pleasure-seeking, hapless adventure and a healthy dose of just enough tough love.

In the first film, the gals got their groove back thanks to Fifty Shades of Grey, and in The Next Chapter, its about forging a new path forward with Paolo Coelhos The Alchemist, the quartet looking for signs, which lead them to Italy under the auspices of a bachelorette party for Vivian, who is now engaged to Arthur (Don Johnson).

The Next Chapter has a bit of a stumble at the outset. The 2020-set preamble retreads some tired pandemic material about Zoom happy hours as the book club goes virtual, and the machinations to get them to Italy are so tortured that as an audience, we often feel ahead of the characters. Its not until they arrive in Venice from Rome, rattled by the theft of their suitcases, that we fall into step with them, as they shake loose their uptight Brentwood sensibilities for the Italian way of life, following the signs like Coelhos protagonist. A spontaneous drink with a handsome stranger, Ousmane (Hugh Quarshie), leads to a serendipitous dinner party and a visitor from the past.

The film was shot on location in Italy offering a bit of a travelogue appeal, though it retains the aesthetic of a carefully lit studio backlot. The characters are also essentially riffs on these legendary actresses personas  its not exactly transformative acting here.

But once again, Bergen proves to be the MVP as salty, sarcastic retired judge Sharon. Shes the very necessary hit of acid needed to make this confection palatable, the spritz of lemon on a plate of fritto misto, cutting through the fat. Going with the Italian wine theme, as these ladies like to drink a lot of it, Sharon is a dry, full-bodied Montepulciano (she may be sardonic but she is still sexy). Fondas Vivian a crisp, bubbly Prosecco, chef Carol (Steenburgen) a velvety Chianti, perfect for pairing with food, while Diane (Keaton) is a cool, sweet Pinot Grigio. To continue the food metaphors, the story itself is also so easily digestible that it calls to mind polenta: warm, comforting, not too challenging, a little cheesy.

This is a film that wants to have it all, to celebrate the women who take the nontraditional path but still end in a white wedding; to offer a portrait of feminine sexuality of a certain age, but remain couched in heterosexual monogamy. There are some inherent contradictions in what it wants to hold as true at the same time, but its also honest in that it offers a space for those truths to coexist. Holderman and Simms script navigates those moments capably enough.

Ultimately, Book Club: The Next Chapter is about finding balance: between reading the signs and controlling your own narrative, between taking a leap of faith and putting in the hard work, and most importantly, putting your own desires first and having the bravery to take the reins, whether that means marriage or a rendezvous in a canal with a handsome professor of philosophy. Either or both can be the right choice. It may be treacly and unrealistic, but Book Club: The Next Chapter has heart and soul, and its as sweet and quaffable as an Aperol spritz on a hot day.



'BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER'

2.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: PG-13 (for some strong language and suggestive material)

Running time: 1:47

How to watch: In theaters Friday


HARTINGTON, Neb.  A man charged with killing four Laurel, Nebraska, residents last summer and setting fire to their homes has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.

Jason Jones on Monday waived his right to appear in person for a May 22 arraignment and instead asked the court to enter written pleas of not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson.

Jones, 43, of Laurel, is charged in Cedar County District Court with the shooting deaths of Michele Ebeling, 53, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in their home and setting both houses on fire.

District Judge Bryan Meismer had yet to enter Jones' pleas by mid morning Tuesday or set dates for a trial or other hearings.

Prosecutors in January filed notice they would seek the death penalty if Jones is found guilty of first-degree murder. His arraignment was delayed while his attorney challenged the constitutionality of Nebraska's death penalty statute. Meismer in March denied that challenge, clearing the way for the case to proceed to arraignment.

Authorities responded to a fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 4 at 209 Elm St., where they found Ebelings body with two gunshot wounds. A second fire at the Twiford home at 503 Elm St. was reported soon after, and responders found the bodies of the three family members, all with gunshot wounds.

Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, was arrested without incident at his home about 24 hours later and airlifted to a Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns. Hes being held without bond at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where he continues to receive medical treatment.

Investigators found empty .44-caliber shell casings near Ebelings body and a Ruger handgun registered to Jones, plus credit card receipts for gas and gas cans, in the Twiford home.

Jones wife, Carrie Jones, told investigators she had arrived home from work minutes before seeing her badly burned husband emerge from Ebelings home after the fire was spotted. She helped him into their home and put away his .44-caliber handgun, which he had been carrying.

Carrie Jones, 44, was arrested Dec. 16 and is charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and being an accessory to a felony. She is accused of aiding and abetting the death of Gene Twiford, whom she told investigators had verbally harassed her for several years.

She is scheduled to be arraigned May 22 and remains in custody on a $1 million bond.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Fernandez and others sold more than 1.3 kilograms of meth in the Sioux City area from May through July. On July 15, authorities executing a search warrant at Fernandez' apartment found approximately 1 pound of meth, drug distribution materials and more than $3,300.
SIOUX CITY  East High School senior Lidya Tadesse has been selected as the Rotary Club of Sioux City's Student of the Year.

Tadesse, who was chosen from among the previous Rotary Club Students of the Month this academic year, will receive a monetary award and a donation made in her name to a local nonprofit organization.

Tadesse, whose 4.47 GPA ranks first in her class, plans to attend Harvard University in the fall.

The daughter of Metadel Mengistu and Mulugeta Birhanu of Sioux City, she received the Borlaug Scholar, National African-American Recognition, AP Scholar with Distinction and Distinguished Young Women awards. She is president of the East National Honor Society and Environmental Club and is a class mentor for Mentors in Violence Prevention. She is a district officer in Iowa Youth Congress and is an executive council member of the Mayors Youth Commission.

She will be honored Monday during the Rotary Club's weekly noon meeting at the MidAmerican Energy Community Room.

The club's students of the month also included:

Destiny Adams of East, Rachel Noble and Gabe Nash of North, Abigail Hammer and Maya Augustine of West, Grace Isabella Nelson and Ella Demers of Bishop Heelan and Malachi Reynolds of Siouxland Christian.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Community School District and two unions representing school teachers and other staff have agreed on wage increases.

Teachers represented by the Sioux City Education Association, the teachers' union, will receive a $745 increase to the base salary, a 4 percent increase, from $37,966 to $38,711 for teachers base salary. The board also approved an $800 increase to longevity pay.

Staff represented by the Sioux City Educational Support Personnel Association, another union, will receive a 65-cent-an-hour increase, a 4.06 percent increase.

The Sioux City School Board approved both agreements on Monday.

Initial proposals occurred in February. For the teachers' union, the school district proposed a 1.29 percent increase to the base salary and a $575 increase to longevity pay. The percentage increase would have resulted in a $490 base pay increase, from $37,966 to $38,456.

The teachers' union sought a 6.6 percent base salary increase and an $800 increase to longevity pay. The percentage increase would have resulted in a $2,506 base pay increase, from $37,966 to $40,472.

For the staffers' union, the school district proposed a 50-cent-an-hour increase and no changes to longevity.

The staffers' union proposed a $1.95-an-hour increase and the addition of two new longevity pay categories: five years would get a $25 monthly increase and 10 years would give a $50 increase.

In the last few years both unions have only been able to bargain wages during the annual contract negotiations.

This year they were able to negotiate all aspects of the contract. The tentative agreement approved by the board on Monday stated This settlement also results in contractual language changes, but did not specify what those changes were.

In initial proposals, the teachers' union proposed various changes throughout the contract including increases to substitute pay and supplemental pay, changes to sick leave, personal time and bereavement, increased preparation time, an additional holiday and more.

Similar to last year, the teachers' union proposed increases to pay for teachers who substitute or receive increased numbers of students.

The district mostly proposed slight changes to the contract to fit current practices and remove gendered pronouns.

The board in April approved a 4 percent increase to wages and a $5 increase to longevity steps for the operations and maintenance employees, and a $.90 increase to wage steps for the bus drivers union effective July 1 and a $.70 increase effective July 1, 2024.

A 4 percent wage increase was given to administrators' wage pool, associate professionals, employees supporting special programs, food services, behavior technicians, CNAs, and educational services center administrative assistants.

The permanent substitutes received an increase to reflect the teacher base salary on the new Sioux City Education Association wages.

Previously, Board President Dan Greenwell said the school board feels a 4 percent increase for the various groups is fair and the right increase for the labor market.

"We always wish there was more but at the end of the day you have a budget and you only have so many funds," he said.

He added the Sioux City School District's figure is higher than most of the other comparably large schools, stating those who have settled are around 3 percent to 3.5 percent. The overall Iowa schools increase average is 3.9 percent, he said.

The district did not go to mediation with any of the unions, which has not happened in around a decade, Greenwell said. He said Superintendent Rod Earleywine chose to not have legal representation for the negotiations and handle it himself.

All wage increases will take effect on July 1.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution to create a wastewater treatment plant reconstruction and design advisory committee.

The committee is being created as a formal mechanism to address concerns by users during the design stages of the plant's reconstruction. The committee's overall mission is to ensure the reconstruction addresses the needs of the community now and in the future.

During the council's May 1 meeting, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan warned that council members were jeopardizing their relationship with the business community if they didn't "tap the brakes" on a projected $470 million rebuild of the city's aging wastewater treatment plant. McGowan handed council members a proposal to form a workgroup or committee and asked that they revise the ordinance to include it. City Attorney Nicole DuBois advised that the proposal couldn't be part of the ordinance, but, perhaps, could be included in a resolution brought before the council at a subsequent meeting.

The committee will be made up of 15 members: the utilities director, wastewater treatment plant manager, city manager, city finance director, lead project manager of the selected engineering firm, two citizens of Sioux City, five members of the major industrial users, one member of the Chamber/The Siouxland Initiative, one representative of the sister cities and one member of the Sioux City Council.

Sioux City wastewater treatment plant (copy) Sioux City's Wastewater Treatment Plant is shown in this 2022 file photo. The City Council green-lighted a resolution Monday to create a waste

No one representing industrial users addressed council members during Monday's meeting. However, Mayor Bob Scott asked whether the council would be picking the committee's five industrial members.

"What we're hoping is the industrial users amongst themselves will identify five members. It will then be confirmed by the council," City Manager Bob Padmore told Scott.

Councilman Alex Watters said a citizen already reached out to him and expressed interest in serving on the committee. Citizens wanting to fill two seats on the committee can fill out an application, which will be provided by the City Clerk's Office.

"There will be an application. They can email, call, whatever they need to do," City Clerk Lisa McCardle said.

Monthly committee meetings will be held as soon as the engineering design firm is selected. Subcommittees could also be formed to address specific areas of the project, according to city documents.

The plant, 3100 S. Lewis Blvd., would be rebuilt in phases. It currently poses significant safety issues for city staff and has a history of compliance issues with the state. In January 2022, the Iowa DNR filed suit against the city over alleged repeated environmental violations at the plant, which dated back to March 2012. The city faces fines adding up to millions of dollars.

The city would pay for the wastewater treatment plant project with a combination of funding, including residential, commercial and industrial rate increases and American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The city received $40.6 million from ARPA, a COVID relief package signed by President Biden in March 2021.

Industries will see a 5% sewer rate increase effective July 1 and a 25% increase effective Jan. 1, 2024. Rates are slated to jump 20% in FY 2025 and 2026, while in FY 2027 the increase will be 8.5%. Residential and commercial ratepayers will see an annual rate increase of 20% in FY 2024, which begins July 1, 10% in FY 2025 and 3% in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
SIOUX CITY  Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott expressed concerns Monday about multiple traffic lights flashing red around the city.

"What is the problem with controllers on stoplights, right now?" Scott asked during the council comments portion of the City Council's weekly meeting. "The one at Douglas goes out all the time. You've still got the one in Leeds out. Are we not able to get controllers?"

Sioux City Public Works Director Dave Carney told Scott the controller problem at 10th and Douglas is related to a power supply issue and that MidAmerican Energy is responsible.

"Leeds, it's just trying to put it back together. We're cobbling parts together," Carney said. "We don't keep a lot of them on hand because we do have different controllers. We don't have all the same controllers. It would be nice if we had a uniform set of controllers."

Traffic on Floyd Boulevard Traffic at the intersection of Floyd Boulevard and Northern Valley Place was initially regulated by stop signs, after a vehicle crashed into a

The traffic signal control cabinet at the intersection of Floyd Boulevard and Northern Valley Place was completely destroyed in a single-vehicle crash at 10:50 a.m. on April 22.

"The one in Leeds, they couldn't even do flashing red because of the way that it was hit. They got it flashing red, now," Scott said. "At first, it wasn't even flashing red. It was stop signs."

Sioux City Community Policing Sgt. Thomas Gill previously told The Journal a driver was trying to turn left out of the Walmart parking lot to go north on Floyd Boulevard, when he lost control of a tan 2004 Buick LeSabre and hit the traffic signal control cabinet.

"It was a 31-year-old guy. He was intoxicated. Nobody was hurt," said Gill, who said the cabinet is valued at $60,000.

Carney said the car went airborne and the impact pulled all of the wires out of the cabinet.

"It's a big thing when they wipe them out with a car," he said. "They had to re-wire all the lights because it yanked the wires out."

Scott also called Carney's attention to the controller at Eighth and Pierce streets, which he noticed was not functioning properly on Monday.

"That one, I don't know about," Carney said.
SIOUX CITY  OVG360, which provides venue management, food services and hospitality to the Tyson Events Center and the Orpheum Theatre, has named Jen Whipple as its director of partnerships and premium seating.

A Siouxland resident since she was a child, Whipple began her career in banking, working at First Federal/Vantus, Heritage Bank and, most recently, Primebank.

Whipple, who has also been involved with community organizations like the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Siouxland, started her new position in March.

"This role has so many opportunities to connect businesses in Siouxland to exciting ways to reach their customers," she said. "It is amazing to go from attending events at these venues to now working behind the scenes and seeing it all come together."

As director of partnerships and premium seating, Whipple will be responsible for the venue and event sponsorships at both the Tyson Events Center and the Orpheum.

"Jen's communication skills, creativity, and ability to relate to the organizations in Siouxland makes her a great fit for this role," general manager Nick Palmiotti said. "I am excited to see how she will continue to grow our partnerships and develop new relationships for our venue."
WASHINGTON  Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico's border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach U.S. soil.

The volume was overwhelming the nation's busiest border crossing in San Diego. In Tijuana, thousands of Ukrainians slept in a municipal gym hoping for a chance to cross into the U.S.

In response, the Biden administration announced it would admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians for two years  if they applied online, had a financial backer and entered through an airport. At the same time, border officials turned back Ukrainians who arrived on foot at the U.S. border.

The Democratic administration considered those policies to be so effective, a similar model became the centerpiece of a broader border policy rolling out in earnest Thursday as coronavirus pandemic restrictions that allowed U.S. officials to quickly turn away migrants crossing illegally come to an end.

The results are sure to be a test for President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection. Republicans seek to portray him as soft on security.

It's an approach that pairs beefed-up enforcement with expanded legal pathways and diplomacy.

The policies have been criticized by the left as too much like former President Donald Trump's. Others wonder whether anything Biden does will stop the flow of migrants along the southern border, and whether the new policies can survive expected legal challenges and a lack of resources.

Some immigration experts think it may be a balanced approach that results in fewer illegal crossings while still providing a haven for those fleeing persecution.

"I think they have a fighting chance, over time, to turn this into a real system that is both more fair and more controllable," said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan immigration think tank.

This account is based in part on interviews with more than a dozen current and former administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Within his first month in office, Biden signed a slew of executive actions to undo Trump-era policies. He backed legislation to provide a path to citizenship for millions in the country illegally. He stacked his administration with immigrant advocates.

Most of the people coming to the U.S. border illegally are fleeing persecution or poverty in their home countries. They ask for asylum and generally are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases, which can take years under a badly strained immigration court system. That has prompted increasing numbers to come to the border hoping to get into the U.S.

The legal asylum pathway is narrow and most do not meet the standard.

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and others worried Ukrainians could be unsafe in their travels and their circuitous route to the U.S. was straining border resources. That led to the "Uniting for Ukraine" policy, under which 128,000 people were allowed into the U.S., with tens of thousands more approved to come. The number of Ukrainians coming on foot essentially stopped.

The administration turned its focus to other people coming to the border illegally who could not be easily returned to their home countries.

Venezuelans were the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, and in October 2022 became the second group to which the policy would apply. If they crossed illegally on foot, 24,000 would be returned back over the border to Mexico. If they came by air with sponsors, the U.S. would take in 24,000.

Meanwhile, Cubans and Nicaraguans pushed illegal crossings to the highest levels on record in December.

Republican-led states sued to keep the COVID-19 restrictions in place. Congress failed to pass a bipartisan immigration bill.

So in January, Biden announced the policy would be expanded again to people from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, and increased the number of people: 30,000 from each of the four nationalities would be allowed in as long as they flew in, met background checks and had sponsors. Mexico agreed to take the same number back from those four countries who cross the border illegally.

"We can't stop people from making the journey, but we can require them to come here in an orderly way under U.S. law," Biden said in announcing the policy.

Soon, the administration reported Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans made up only 3% of illegal crossings in March, down from 40% in December.

Last week, the administration said it would admit 100,000 people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who come to be reunited with their families in the U.S. New immigration hubs in Guatemala, Colombia and perhaps elsewhere will field applications to come to the U.S.

Border officials also are speeding up the process asylum seekers go through to more quickly expel those who fail, and finalizing a new rule  similar to a Trump policy blocked in court  to make obtaining asylum extremely difficult for anyone who passes through another country, such as Mexico, to reach the U.S. border.

Photos: Chicago, other cities say shelters full, budgets hit by immigration uptick
Omaha police arrested a woman on suspicion of second-degree murder Sunday in connection with a fatal shooting in the Capitol District.

Gom Gout, 23, of Omaha, was found suffering from a gunshot wound shortly after 1 a.m. near 10th Street and Capitol Avenue, a police spokesman said. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he died.

Keloni Jones, 24, of Omaha, was located a short time later while walking in the downtown area and taken into custody. Jones was taken to Omaha Police Headquarters to be interviewed.

The Douglas County Attorney's Office then determined the charges, the spokesman said. Jones also was arrested for suspicion of using a weapon to commit a felony.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, at omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward for information.
A new effort was introduced late Monday in the Nebraska Legislature to restrict abortion access in the state, less than two weeks after a bill that would have banned abortion at around six weeks of pregnancy failed to overcome a filibuster.

The new plan to ban abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy drew fervent protests from opponents who had been assured by Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch that the abortion proposal was dead for the session.

Drawing even more outrage was the way the measure was introduced: as an amendment to a bill that would ban gender-affirming hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgery for minors  the most controversial bill of the session that has led at least two lawmakers to filibuster every bill before the body this year.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who has led the filibuster effort since late February to protest the trans bill, angrily promised Monday night to ratchet up her efforts to further slow the work of the Legislature following the abortion amendment.

We have 161 hours after today. That is going from 9 a.m. to midnight, she said. And you better believe Im going to maximize every minute of that. Every single minute of it.

In late April, an abortion bill that would have banned abortion once cardiac activity can be detected failed to get the 33 votes it needed to end the debate on it. Historically, that means the bill is shelved for the remainder of the session.

Sen. Ben Hansen, a chiropractor from Blair, introduced the 12-week abortion ban on Monday, billing it as a reboot of a compromise amendment introduced during the abortion debate last month by Republican Sen. Merv Riepe. Riepe had initially supported the 6-week ban, but he later voiced concern that the measure was too extreme. When his fellow Republicans rejected his compromise amendment to push the ban to 12 weeks, he withheld his vote on the motion to end debate, leading to the abortion bill's failure.

But opponents note stark differences in Hansen's amendment and Riepe's. While Hansen's measure offers exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, it does not include an exception for fatal fetal anomalies, as Riepe's bill did. Hansen's proposal also criminalizes abortion for doctors who perform it outside the exceptions listed.

Opponents of both abortion restrictions and the trans bill said the latest effort by conservative lawmakers that combines both subverts legislative rules that require two combined measures to be related and that call for any proposal that imposes a criminal element to first go through the Legislature's Judiciary Committee.

Adding the abortion ban as an amendment to the trans bill also means it gets to skip ahead in the legislative process. Instead of going through three rounds of debate that every bill must survive to pass, it would be subjected only to a final two-hour round of debate, critics said.

Liberal lawmakers in the officially nonpartisan body also complained that a promise last month by Arch and the author of the trans bill, freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, to reach a compromise with opponents on her bill before it was scheduled for a final round of debate never came to fruition. Instead, conservative lawmakers decided among themselves to make exceptions for minors already receiving gender-affirming care and call it a compromise, opponents said.

At a minimum, opponents wanted sections of the bill that would ban gender-affirming hormone treatments removed.

Omaha Sen. Jen Day railed against the move, noting that she and other lawmakers had heeded calls by conservative leaders to keep the temperature down during bill debates so as not to upset the compromise efforts on the trans bill.

And we did, in good faith, Day said. And then today, the proponents of the bill came in, threw a bunch of gasoline on the carpet, threw a match on the chamber, and lit the building on fire. So much for keeping the temperature down.
ASHLAND  They roar and swivel their heads.

The lifelike dinosaurs that now inhabit the Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland should delight visitors of all ages, said Dennis Schnurbusch, COO of Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.

Hes already seeing lots of people taking pictures.

In my opinion, they are very realistic, he said.

Around 20 of the creatures make up 14 vignettes that stretch from the visitors center to the bison overlook. The Jurassic Adventure was created by Dino Dan Inc., the only maker of full-sized dinosaurs.

Its founder, Dino Dan Lessem, was the dinosaur adviser to Steven Spielberg and his movie Jurassic Park.

Visitors will be able to dig in fossil pits and can consult a Jurassic Adventure Guide Map identifying all the things to learn, see and do at the park.

We have gone to great lengths to ensure the most accurate dinosaur robots in the world and dinosaur fans love them, Lessem said.

Schnurbusch said the exhibit is a great way to celebrate the parks 25th anniversary.

The exhibit opened Friday and runs until Oct. 1.

A lot of people arent aware that it is there, he said. It exists, and its a wonderful place to visit.

Schnurbusch said great care has been taken that the dinosaurs dont disturb the regular inhabitants of the park. That includes elk, deer, prairie dogs, wolves, black bears, American white pelicans, eagles and bison.

Visitors will find lots to see, he said, whether its a creature from millions of years ago or the bison just born last weekend.

With all the excitement surrounding the Wildlife Safari Park and its 25th year, we are hoping to see many more visitors exploring the park this year, Schnurbusch said.

Nebraska wildlife takes center stage in amazing photographs Bighorn sheep Elk Great blue heron Tom turkeys Canada geese White-tailed buck Bald Eagle Bison Pronghorn Sharp-tailed grouse Northern river otter Sandhill cranes Mule deer Blue-winged teal American avocet Bull elk Snapping turtle Bluegill Bighorn sheep Jackrabbit White-tailed deer Bison American bullfrog Goslings Northern prairie lizard Greater prairie chicken Ring-neck pheasant rooster Trumpeter swans Blanding's turtle Elk
Seven of Nebraskas regional airports will see rebuilt runways, taxiways or hangars with the help of $17.4 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants, the Nebraska Department of Transportation said this week in a press release.

The grants to airports in Ainsworth, Burwell, Norfolk, North Platte, Scottsbluff, Sidney and Wayne are part of the FAAs second round of Airport Improvement Program grants.

Under the program, the FAA typically pays 90% and the local airport 10% of improvement projects.

Scottsbluffs Western Nebraska Regional Airport received the largest single grant: $12.1 million to mill and resurface Runway 12/30, the 8,200-foot runway used for instrument landings, Airport Manager Raul Aguallo told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald.

Aguallo said the work will begin in July and continue for four months. He said the airfield will be closed from Aug. 21-30, temporarily halting the airports daily SkyWest Airlines round-trip flights to Denver.

The next-largest grant, for $2.9 million, was awarded to the North Platte Regional Airport for reconstruction of a taxiway. Karl Stefan Memorial Field will receive $600,000 to install runway lighting, airfield guidance signs and a runway vertical/visual guidance system.

At the four other airports, grants will go toward the construction of new hangars:

Ainsworth Regional  $553,980

Burwell Cram Field  $235,540

Sidney Municipal/Lloyd W. Carr Field  $451,562

Wayne Municipal/Stan Morris Field  $450,000

NDOT assisted the airport authorities in applying for the grants and will help administer the funds as the projects progress, said Ann Richart, director of the departments Aeronautics Division.

Were happy to be able to partner with the FAA Central Region in Kansas City to get this essential grant funding to our airports, Richart said in the press release.

In recent months, several airports have also received funding under a separate program that is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in 2021. The law created three new aviation-support programs.

In January, Omahas Eppley Airfield received a $21 million grant for the next phase of construction on the airports terminal entrance drive. Lincoln Airport received $415,000 for improvements to the terminal and its security screening area.

Airports in Kearney, Grand Island and North Platte also recently received grants of about $1 million each for various improvements.

This report includes information from the Scottsbluff Star-Herald.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Minsk should not deceive itself with hopes for joint operation the would-be Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravets, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Friday.

Minsk should not have hope that they will be able to sell electrical energy produced at the dangerous nuclear power plant, Delfi quotes the minister referring to Baltic News Service agency.

According to him, the Belarusian authorities could deserve confidence if the facility were monitored by independent experts.

Discussions about the safety of the Belarusian NPP were resumed after the recent incident at the construction site, Belsat informs.

Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka said Thursday that Lithuania should think of helping his country run the nuclear power plant instead of criticizing it. He also promised that Belarus would get rid of the reactor vessel that had been lately dropped if it suffered even the slightest bit of damage.

According to Lithuanian Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis, such step would be appropriate because the further usage of the dropped reactor vessel is posing a threat.

As reported earlier, during installation the enclosure of the future reactor fell from the height of 2  4 meters at the construction site of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Astravets (Hrodna region).

At first, the Belarusian Energy Ministry declined any comment on the situation. The press office group of the company Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Rosatom and the general contractor at the Belarusian NPP construction, said the information about the reactors fall was untrue.

Later, however, the Belarusian side confirmed that the emergency situation had occurred in the storage area of the reactor body during its movement in the horizontal plane but failed to go into specifics.

As the EuroBelarus Information Service earlier informed, Lithuanias government handed a note to the Belarusian Embassy over the incident. Vilnius also asked Brussels for involvement of the European Union in the matter. Lithuania is the main critic of the idea of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, which is only 20 km from the border and 50 km from Vilnius. Minsk rejects Lithuanias claims, arguing that nuclear power plants will have high safety standards.
Journaliststhe lazy ones anywayalways try to explain how movies are made, complains Bill Johnson, the everyday-guy auteur at the center of Tom Hanks new novel about Hollywood. They believe, Johnson complains, that filmmaking is some kind of step-by-step procedure listed like a flight plan for a voyage to the moon and back. Tom Hanks knows a lot about what its like to make a movie, and even a little about voyages to the moon and back. In his first novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, the star portrays the creation of a single blockbuster not as a systematic, predictable process but as a chaotic series of accidents, happy ones and unhappy ones, steered by the same kinds of steely, homespun pros who brought Apollo 13 back down to earth.

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Hanks had already written a screenplay, That Thing You Do!, when he sat down 10 years ago with an idea for a yarn about a bunch of neighborhood pals who fly to the moon. That story, the irrepressibly optimistic Alan Bean Plus Four, ended up in the New Yorker, and soon the tony Knopf publishing house had printed a whole book of his typewritten tales. (Hanks devotion to his typewriters is as dogged as his belief in the nobility of space travel.) When that book became a bestseller, his editor Peter Gethers suggested a novel about Hollywood, and Hanks overcame his initial reluctance to write about the biz, he said in a recent interview, when he realized he wanted to show that moviemaking is not as easy as it seems. That doing this is so difficult that it breaks people wide open.

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Hanks demurs from even referring to himself as a writerhe doesnt want to seem, he says in that interview, like one of those people who say things like Well, in my writing   But the fact remains that Americas pal Tom Hanks has decided that he is now a writer, and the instant he made that decision, Americas highbrow literary institutions showed up, hats in hand. Thats David Remnick, the editor of the New Yorker, interviewing him Tuesday night in New York. Yes, its a little embarrassing for everyone involved, but I choose to look on the bright side: At least hes not doing crypto commercials. Mediocre books hurt no one, and I can only hope at least a few obscure poets are getting Knopf contracts thanx to Hanx.

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And there are things that Tom Hanks is naturally gifted at writing. Incisive satire, no. Rich, complex characters, no. But charming banter? Homespun coinages? Wry yet inspirational speeches about show businessthe Business of Show, as his characters like to call it? Those are his sweet spots. These speeches are usually delivered by an experienced hand to a promising tenderfoot, someone whos new to the business but nonetheless instinctively gets what it takes to get a movie made. That might be Hanks foundational belief: that show business is made up not of avaricious, attention-desperate drama addicts but of hardworking nobodies plucked from obscurity on the basis of their pure and glorious talent for getting it done.

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What does it take to get it done, to get a movie madein this case, a fictional blockbuster called Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall? Be on time. Dont be a jerk. Know your lines, do your job, give it your all. Youre a hero, in Hanks novel, if youin one characters memorable phrasingsolve more problems than you cause. A plucky hotel clerk procures for a director some fro-yo, and in a couple of years shes a producer. Later, a plucky rideshare driver finds herself on set during preproduction and winds up unloading office furniture, ordering coffees, arranging catering, and stocking the bathrooms with toilet paper. In Tom Hanks moviemaking universe, when you do all that without complaining or even being asked, youre on the fast track to success in the Cardboard Carnival. (Thats another of Hanks whimsical coinages.)

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It might be the most charmingly old-fashioned detail in a portrait of the industry that, like Hanks recent career, sits uneasily on the edge of the old Hollywood and the new. Hanks characters idolize the heroes of yorewatch Bette Davis movies in their trailers, refer to Casablanca lorebut they also observe COVID protocols, depend on expensive CGI, and guard against toxic fans. Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall itself is a movie out of time. As its described by the books characters, and also drawn in brief comics sequences by the great R. Sikoryak, Knightshade is a unicorn that has never existed in any era of Hollywood: a superhero movie, yes, part of a Marvel-esque cinematic universe, but one made for a streaming network, written and directed by a fictional auteur with a resume like Spielbergs in 1986. (Acclaimed blockbusters, Oscar noms, one notorious flop, the deep respect of the industry, a high Q-rating.) In this auteurist superhero epic, actors give the performances of a lifetime. The stars exude sexual chemistry, despite their leather gauntlets and whatnot. The crew weeps watching dailies. The director gets final cut. Most improbably, that final cut comes in under two hours.

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There are no nepo babies on a Tom Hankswritten film set, and hardly any assholes. The writers are not on strike. Even the studio suits only show up on the first day of shooting, then make themselves scarce. A movie set, in Hanksworld, is a place of doggedly professional, kind people who are all working arm in arm to make magic. Hanks clearly prides himself on being an on-set mensch, someone who pulls his weight every day, shows up on time, notices the little people. And its true that many of the most enjoyable moments in this novel are about those little people: the makeup artists, the spouses, the production assistants, the day players. One chapter, in which two little old ladies have a grand old time during their two days on set, knitting and waving from a porch, is a wonderful little nugget of storytelling.

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But Hanks interest in every small partsorry, small actorcan make for rough reading. Hanks is simply constitutionally incapable of introducing a new character without delivering eight pages of their life story, which means that over the books first 100 pages we make our way very, very slowly through a 20th century delineated with all the complexity of Forrest Gump. (Sample Hanksian exposition: The so-called Summer of Love had been vaporized by many, many social ills, primarily the war in Vietnam, a nation roughly the size of California on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.)

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At least hes not doing crypto commercials.

Once were on set, things liven up a little, in part because the book introduces its only villain: movie star O.K. Bailey, a preening prima donna who cant play nice with all the down-to-earth craftsmen populating Hanks imagination. For as long as Baileys in the noveltearing around in an Audi, arguing with his French girlfriend, declaring seconds before his first shot that hes decided his flamethrower-toting Marine character is gayhe gives Hanks often saggy, conflict-free storytelling a little juice. But Hanks dispenses with him quickly: Johnson fires his star three days into filming, replacing him with, yes, a plucky supporting player whos willing to do whatever is necessary to get the movie made. (Needless to say, this almost never happens on a real film set.) Bailey simply has no place in Hanks portrait of filmmaking as family endeavor, one in which at the end of every day the assistant director announces, Thats a wrap. You are loved.

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Some readers may find Hanks corniness fatal. I admire, I admit, his commitment to this idea of moviemaking, one that ignores the stupid, corrupt, even ugly parts of the process. I admire his relentless good cheer, the good cheer of a guy who, by all reports, has managed to remain a nice guy despite being the priceless object at the center of a multibillion-dollar industry for decades. The Business of Show, in Masterpiece, has the well-scrubbed sheen of a Ron Howard picture. Contra Hanks interview, moviemaking in this novel does not even come close to breaking anyone. It is hard work, but joyous hard work, well paid, with a product at the end of which everyone feels immensely proud. Suspend your disbelief, indeed.
In March 2020, the Trump administration invoked its authority under Title 42 of the U.S. Code, a public health law, to close the southwest border to virtually anyone crossing in from Mexico. Since then, border officials deported or denied entry to would-be migrants more than 3 million times. The Title 42 border restrictions are arguably the most significant COVID-19 measure still in effect, and also one of the most durable holdovers of Trumps immigration agenda. When the COVID-19 public health emergency expires on May 11, the Title 42 immigration restrictions will finally end, leaving it to the Biden administration to craft a new framework for managing immigration at the border.

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Bidens approach to Title 42 has mirrored his campaign promises on COVID-19 more broadly. Biden ran on bringing competent leadership to clean up after Trumps mismanagement of the pandemic, finally bringing the country back to normal. Just so, Biden now seeks to end the state of emergency at the border that has left countless migrants and asylum seekers stranded in dangerous border cities, and has created an enormous backlog in the U.S. immigration court system. As part of this effort, the administration has proposed some novel alternative pathways for migrants to pursue their asylum claims. But in this effort to restore order, Biden has ended up preserving and legitimizing key elements of Trumps punitive approach to immigration. In the process, Biden has not only reneged on his campaign promise to roll back the Trump agenda, but has put the future of asylum itself in peril.

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Bidens task in managing the end of Title 42 is unenviable. As the Trump administration hoped, the border closing prevented migrants from coming to the United States to seek asylum, at least temporarily. But the emergency order has to end eventually, and unsurprisingly, federal authorities anticipate that once the restrictions are lifted, a significant number of people will attempt to enter the country to seek refuge. From the start of Title 42, a border crisis was all but inevitable.

In absolute terms, the number of people seeking to cross the border at the moment is not unprecedentedthe numbers are comparable to a previous peak in 2000but the situation is serious. Unlike in the early 2000s, when most migrants were single job-seekers, those arriving today are much more likely to be families seeking humanitarian protection. They therefore require both legal procedures to process their claims and various other social services to support them in the meantime. This places significant demands on the federal immigration system and on the local governments where migrants arrive.

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To address this challenge after Title 42 ends, the Biden administration has proposed a compromise: experimental new pathways for asylum for those who do not attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, in exchange for harsh limits on asylum access for illegal entrants.

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On the first front, some of Bidens new initiatives may turn out to be beneficial if implemented effectively. Notably, the administration has created new pathways for citizens of certain countries to apply for lawful entry to the United States. After using this model to allow displaced Ukrainians to enter the country, versions of the program were extended to Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians. More recently, the Biden administration has also unveiled plans to provide screenings for migrants in Colombia and Guatemala, in partnership with Canada and Spain. It remains to be seen whether these programswhich effectively externalize the border by requiring applications and screenings outside of the countrywill function as an additional roadblock for those seeking protection. But they might provide safer additional pathways for migrants to reach the United States safely, provided that fundamental asylum protections remain intact.

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However, Bidens vision of a postTitle 42 landscape includes curtailing the right to asylum as it has existed since enactment of the Refugee Act in 1980. That law provides that any person on U.S. soil may apply for asylum if they meet the definition of a refugee under international law. In contrast, Bidens proposed new plan includes a provision that presumes, with minor exceptions, that any person who enters the United States outside of an official port of entrythat is, who crosses the border unlawfullyis ineligible for asylum unless they first applied in another country along the way. This provision bears a striking similarity to a 2019 Trump administration policy that was struck down by a federal court.

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In pursuit of an orderly transition from Title 42, Biden has demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice key components of the right to asylumsomething he promised to protect in his presidential campaign. Yet it is not clear how Bidens version of the asylum ban will do any more than Trumps to reduce the number of people seeking protection in the United States. Meanwhile, these concessions have hardly put to rest sensational partisan rhetoric about a Biden border crisis. Recently, several Republican-led states have sued to stop parole programs for Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians. Although these programs were meant to induce migrants away from border crossings, it is clear that some on the right are less interested in border security than in eliminating asylum altogether.

Facing extraordinary challenges, the Biden administration is betting that it can shape long-term solutions to the inadequacies of the U.S. asylum system. There are many conversations to be had about how to improve this system. But these conversations cannot begin by compromising the most basic protections of the current humanitarian protection framework. If Biden continues down this path, we may remember himand not Trumpas the president who oversaw the end of asylum.
Last week, several new revelations surfaced about Justice Clarence Thomas and the gifts, benefits, and consulting fees he has garnered from right-wing judicial activist Harlan Crow, and the architect of right-wing judicial activism, Leonard Leo. In addition to ProPublicas reporting that Crow paid private school tuition for Thomas grandnephew, the Washington Post reported last week that Leonard Leo had consulting fees directed to Ginni Thomas in 2012 from a group to which he had ties. He directed pollster Kellyanne Conway to give Ginni Thomas another $25K, urging that the attendant paperwork have No mention of Ginni, of course. Those who continue to insist that Crow and Leo have no business before the courts tend to forget, as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse continues to emphasize, that their business is the courts. The same front group that paid Ginni Thomas in 2012 filed an amicus brief later that year in Shelby County v. Holder. Thomas was the deciding vote to radically constrict voting rights in that opinion.

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On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick tried to get a better sense of what the business of the court truly encompasses. She spoke with Lisa Graves, creator of True North Research. Graves has spearheaded several major breakthrough investigations into those who are distorting American democracy and public policy. Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Why is it that we dont like multimillionaire friends of Supreme Court justices funding their lifestyles, their trips, their travel, and seemingly, uh, their wards tuition?

Lisa Graves: Its because we in America believe that we should have a fair and independent judiciary. And I think that the code of conduct for United States judges that applies to every other judge in the federal system other than the U.S. Supreme Court really makes it clear:

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An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should maintain and enforce high standards of conduct and should personally observe those standards, so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved  A judge should not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment. A judge should neither lend the prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or others nor convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge.

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This really goes to the standard that applies to all judges in America, apparently except for, in any enforceable way, to the Supreme Court. This creates an appearance of bias, an appearance of impropriety, and I think reasonable people from both partiesall parties, no partieson hearing about Clarence Thomas relationship with Crow, the trips, the tuition, and more, are rightfully shocked that any Supreme Court justice, let alone a judge on any court, would engage in such behavior.

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The twin claims that Justice Thomas has used to defend himself are that hes super, super, really good, tight besties with the Crows, so that makes it OK. And also, that somebody told him early in his career that he doesnt need to disclose the stuff. Do either of those two claims solve the problem you just raised? I just want to point out that Justice Abe Fortas resigned from the court for taking, what, $15,000 to give some lectures at a college?

Yes. Its astonishing. For Clarence Thomas to assert that people told him he didnt have to disclose thisI think he should have to respond under oath, under penalty of perjury, and name each and every person in government or out of government who told him that he did not have to provide public disclosure of these sorts of gifts, particularly the gift of travel on private jets or Harlan Crows luxury yacht, because thousands of people employed by the federal government routinely follow those rules. The rules allowing for personal hospitality of a close friend are described in the instructions to comply with that statute. As you know, a meal, like a birthday meal from a friend or a small gift, is exemptbut not travel. Private jets, private yachts are not considered gifts of hospitality like a dinner. These are gifts; theyre valuable gifts. And they really put a stain on the court and on the integrity of the court.

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On this question of were just friends: Theyre not just friends. Lets look at the cases pending before the court this term. Right now, there are three cases where the Manhattan Institute has submitted amicus briefs to this Supreme Court, including the student debt case. Kathy Crowone of Clarence and Ginni Thomas best friendsis a trustee. So basically, shes a funder and a director of the Manhattan Institute. Has Clarence Thomas recused from the cases involving the amicus brief submitted by his best friend? No.

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I think there are a lot of issues at stake here, including whats been uncovered about Harlan Crows having business before the court. But its also the case that Harlan Crow isnt just a billionaire. Hes a billionaire who has spent a lot of money trying to influence law in this country and influence who wins offices, including who gets on the Supreme Court. In fact, Harlan Crow was a donor to one of the groups that helped spend money to get John Roberts and Samuel Alito onto the Supreme Court. So he has a deep and intense interest, it seems, in whats happening with this court and who is on this court. And now hes been spending years rewarding someone on the court.

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I do have to point out that Mark Paoletta tweeted this morning in defense of Clarence Thomas, [saying that] going after, uh, Thomas grandnephew, Mark Martin [is predatory]. Why sweep this innocent kid into this evil media gotcha campaign? The Thomases are so generous, being punished here.

Paoletta is not just a good friend of the Thomases; hes also a Thomas biographer. Hes involved in making the hagiographic documentary of Thomas. Hes Ginni Thomas lawyer on Jan. 6 issues. Hes testified before the House Judiciary Committee about why there should be no ethics rules. And, hes in the picture with Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo and Clarence Thomas. This tweet is actually the smoking gun here about why nobody is just friends in this situation.

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It is really stunning. We found that photo last year when we were in looking into the Ketanji Brown Jackson nomination. We were looking into the Judicial Crisis Network, the tool that Leonard Leo has deployed. It announced that it was going to spend $1.5 million on that Jackson nomination to try to stop her. When the ads came out, the ad was basically that Jackson doesnt like Thomas, but Thomas is great. Hes so great. Heres a biopic about him. So we looked into the biopic and we found that it was actually underwritten by Harlan Crow, and others. And in looking for photos of Harlan Crow with Thomas we found that photo of the painting that shows Harlan Crow with Clarence Thomas, with Leonard Leo, with Mark Paoletta. And also Bo Rutledge. But Mark Paoletta has been a defender of Thomas from the get-go.

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One of the things that struck me is that as the ProPublica reporters note, Thomas previously disclosed gifts of tuitionuntil it came to Harlan Crow. He hid that. Second of all, Paoletta refers to a clause within the rules regarding gifts, that rules involve whether you declare someone to be a dependent on your taxes. And we havent seen Clarence Thomas taxes to know whether he declared his grandnephew, who was living with him, who Paoletta says he was spending a lot of money on, as a dependent. But even regardless of that, this goes to the appearance of impropriety. This is tuition that costs $75,000 a year. Most Americans could not afford that tuition. Clarence Thomas could, in part because of the money that he receives as a Supreme Court justice and the money his wife has received from the undisclosed donors that have funded her pay from the right-wing infrastructure. But they chose not to. They chose to have Harlan Crow pay for that childs tuition.

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We again learned this week that Leonard Leo is part of this pipeline between the Federalist Society and big donors and their efforts to reshape the courts. Leo got a $1.6 billion donation [from a manufacturing tycoon]. Once again, the news of what Leo involves himself in and that whatever else he is overseeing proves the Federalist Society is not just a debate society, as he and others have long claimed.

Theres been a series of major breakthrough investigations, including that original Washington Post investigation in May of 2019. That first really unmasked the initial scope of money that had been raised with Leonard Leo at the center of it to help capture the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts, and reshape the law, and roll back our rights.

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The story of the Federalist Society is one of optics and reality. At the law school level, they do host debates. That is true. But the real operational function of the Federalist Society within the right-wing network is the operational imperative that their leaders described in a 1987 story by the New York Times, in which they basically said that the group had been founded just a few years earlier, but that within a decade they anticipated their people being in key positions in all branches of government, that that was their objective. And Leonard Leo has been the key operator in that objective of identifying people to help push into positions of power, including on the Supreme Court and state attorneys general. We know that the Republican Attorneys General Association has had a lot of donors over the years. One of those donors that has given more than $2 million since 2014 is Koch Industries. But you know who gave more? The Judicial Crisis Network, and its successor entity, the Concord Fund, and thats Leonard Leos operation.

So the biggest funder of the Republican Attorneys General Association is the operation tied to Leo. And its interesting because reporters have documented that its a pay-to-play organization: If you give $15,000 to RAGA, you get this much access to state AGs. If you give $150,000, you get this much access. And then it says for $250,000, details are available upon request. So, you know, what kind of access, what kind of influence does Leonard Leo have for that amount of money?
On Saturday, a 33-year-old man armed with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle opened fire on a crowd at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas. Seven people were killed, including a 3-year-old, an 8-year-old, and an 11-year-old.

It was at least the sixth public-space massacre in Texas during Greg Abbotts time as governor, along with the 2016 killings of five police officers in Dallas, the 2017 killings of 26 people attending a church in Sutherland Springs, the 2018 killings of 10 people at a high school in Santa Fe, the 2019 killings of 23 people at an El Paso Walmart, and the 2022 killings of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde. Other spray-of-gunfire massacres have taken place during that period in private homes; one, in which five people (including a child) were shot to death with a semiautomatic rifle by their neighbor in the town of Cleveland, Texas, occurred only eight days before the Allen massacre.

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Abbott tends to do the same thing after each of these shootings: He tries to change the subject. After the Cleveland shooting, he issued a statement saying authorities were seeking a man who killed five illegal immigrants. The dismissive phrase may not even have been accurate: Abbotts office retracted his statement upon learning that at least one of the victims may have been a documented U.S. resident. (The shooter was found and taken into custody last week.) After the Allen massacre, Abbott appeared on Fox News and argued that the legality and widespread availability of assault weapons was not a relevant contributor to the prevalence of shootings in his state. People want a quick solution. The long-term solution here is to address the mental health issue, said Abbott. Claimed the governor: We are working to address that anger and violence, but going to its root cause.

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Those talking points sounded like the ones Abbott relied on after the Uvalde massacre, which took place just a month after hed cut $211 million from the states mental health budget, as well as in his response to the El Paso massacre. He also doesnt just behave this way after shootings: After an enormous winter power outage in 2021, Abbott tried to pivot discussion toward the Green New Deal, a hypothetical framework for climate legislation that has little to do with Texas predominantly fossil fueldependent power grid.

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Greg Abbott, in other words, does a lot of blame-shiftingand it works. Elected in 2015 alongside the other right-wing Republicans who fill his states other top two offices, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, Abbott doesnt have term limits and just won reelection by 11 points. Patrick and Paxton cant be termed out, either, and none of the three have ever come close to abandoning their seats to run for national office.

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Why not? Perhaps Abbott in particular is cognizant of his limited charismaa longtime observer of Texas politics once described him to me as an utterly swagless man with no juice who cant give a speech to save his life. Another Texas governor with a doofy demeanor, Rick Perry, tried twice to run for president but dropped out soon after primary voting began in 2012 and didnt even make it to voting in 2016. For his part, Patrick is already 73 years old, while Paxton is occupied by various indictments, lawsuits, and investigations into his alleged corruption. (See the lengthy legal issues section of his Wikipedia entry.)

On the other side of things, no one is pushing them out. Incumbency and name recognition are as valuable in Texas as they are anywhere else, and the Democratic Partys hopes that long-term demographic change would work in its favor have been dealt a recent blow by D-to-R conversions in the rural districts along the Rio Grande. In 2022, George P. Bushone of those Bushesran a primary campaign against Paxton on the premise that he would be, essentially, a little less of a hardline yahoo than Paxton is. Paxton beat him by 35 points. Before the Abbott/Patrick/Paxton era, meanwhile, another group of three menPerry as governor, David Dewhurst as lieutenant governor, and Abbott as attorney generalthemselves served three terms atop state government.

In sum, both Texas leaders and its voters appear content with a status quo of disasters interspersed with symbolic conservative stunts like the alleged recent activation of a Tactical Border Force within the state National Guard. If the trends of the recent past are any guide, it wont be long until the rest of the country is hearing once again that Greg Abbott believes its time to start doing something about mental health.
This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

The unanimous jury verdict on Tuesday that has turned Donald Trump from an alleged sexual assaulter into a proven one may create political shock waves if recent history is any guide. As numerous empirical studies have shown, the American public has come to view sexual assault as a form of abusing power that can disqualify a perpetrator from holding public office. Trump may suffer significant political damage from this new majoritarian understanding.

In November 2017, 61 percent of votersincluding 56 percent of men and a nontrivial margin of white men (5043) and white women (5537)said President Trump should be impeached and removed from office if he were proven to have engaged in sexual harassment, according to a Quinnipiac poll. That overall supportthe eye-popping number of 61 percentwas higher than any poll tracking public support for impeachment and removal from office for the scandalous conduct in Trumps first and second impeachments. (See FiveThirtyEights complete collection of surveys for the first and second impeachment.) Whats more, Quinnipiac asked only about sexual harassment, not sexual assault, in the case of Trump. The latter, which is also the core crime in the E. Jean Carroll verdict, would have presumably produced even greater levels of support for removal from office.

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The Quinnipiac poll was not alone.

A December 2017 Public Policy Polling survey found that 53 percent of voters thought Trump should resign because of the allegations of sexual harassment against him, and another Quinnipiac poll in December 2017 found that 50 percent of voters already thought Trump should resign because he had been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by multiple women.

These results are no surprise when taken in context of recent social science studies. Rigorous empirical research shows that Americans generally consider sexual assault incompatible with serving in elected office or positions of public trust (see, e.g., Savani and Collignon, 2023; Stark and Collignon, 2022; Masuoka, Grose & Junn, 2021; Craig and Cossette, 2020). A 2020 study in the journal Political Behavior found that (1) a significant electoral penalty is likely to be assessed against politicians accused of sexual harassment; (2) the size of that penalty (in terms of lost votes and lower favorability)  is concentrated among co-partisans and, to a lesser extent, Independents. That study, like many others, concerned accusations and allegations of misbehavior; the results are likely to be even more pronounced in the event of allegations being provebespecially in a court and especially by a unanimous verdict.

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A number of caveats and qualifications are worth mentioning, however, as we consider the potential damage to Trump.

First, Republicans are less likely to electorally punish their own party candidates who face sexual harassment or sexual assault allegations, according to research findings. For Trump, that may mean less of a political cost in the primary election season than in a general election. That said, Republican women are more likely than Republican men to do so. Whats more, some Republican primary voters may also look over the horizon at how voters in the general election will react to his having been proven to have committed sexual assault and accordingly wish to select a more competitive nominee for their party.

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Second, while there are many cases of Republican and Democratic elected officials being compelled to resign or being electorally defeated following public allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault, there are also counterexamples. One prominent counterexample is Trump himself in the 2016 campaign. What makes Trumps victory even more complicated is that notable percentages of his supporters believed the allegations to be true, as William Saletan documented in 2017.

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That being said, multiple factors seem to distinguish the allegations in Trumps 2016 campaign from the Carroll verdict in 2024, and ultimately constitute bad news for the former president.

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Factor one: There is a difference between a belief that something is true, and proven confirmation by a unanimous jury verdict that it is so. Indeed, this was a jury verdict following a full-blown trial in which Trumps attorneys had the opportunity to challenge the specific allegations. The Carroll case also involved jurors assessment not only of the evidence of her sexual assault, but also of two other witnesses who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them. In other words, the verdict is a reflection of the allegations of three women.

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Factor two: The difference between sexual assault and sexual harassment cuts against Trump. Several (but not all) of the surveys discussed by Saletan in 2017 asked respondents about allegations of inappropriate behavior, unwanted sexual advances, and unwanted advances on different women. The respondents were not asked about allegations of sexual assault, which presumably would have given them greater pause on whether to vote for Trump.

Factor three: There may be a difference in how voters assess Trump on these issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault when comparing him with the alternative candidate for officeHillary Clinton, in the case of the 2016 election. Indeed, that may help explain why some Republicans were willing to vote him into office in 2016, but some of Trumps 2016 voters supported his resigning from office on the basis of the mere allegation of sexual harassment (7 percent in one study, 12 percent in another) and a larger percentage of Republicans (28 percent) supported his impeachment and removal from office if allegations of sexual harassment were proven.

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In deciding whether to vote for him in 2016, the alternative was a Hillary Clinton presidency. In the case of removal from office, the alternative was Mike Pence. If the alternative option helps explain the difference, it could spell a negative fate for Trump in the current presidential primary, in which voters can choose a different Republican.

Factor four: A difference between 2016 and 2024 is the advent of the #MeToo movement following the women who stepped forward in 2017 to report on sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein. That movement has helped shape the public conscience over a short period of time, and demonstrated an ability to limit motivated reasoning and temper partisan biases when individuals assess politicians misconduct (Klar and McCoy, 2021).

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The question, of course, is to what extent any of these voter preferences against the kind of behavior here at issue would translate into electoral outcomes. One need only look at voters overwhelming support for certain gun reformsand the absence of any corresponding legislationto understand the gap between voter preferences and political outcomes. There are many structural impediments to the expression of democratic choices in U.S. elections that go beyond the subject matter of this essay. It is notable, however, that a candidates having engaged in sexual assault has in many instances proven fatal to their holding public office.

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With #MeToo translated into the political arena, many Americans have shown that they are not willing to support a candidate for elected office who has committed sexual assaultwith the understanding that such a severe abuse of power is simply disqualifying for holding a position of public trust. Time will tell if the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault verdict has the effect that a large majority of Americans said they wanted in 2017namely, to deny the presidency to Trump if the allegation that he had engaged in such abominable conduct was proven. It now has been.

More From Just Security:

Not for Self, But for Country? A Crisis for U.S. Counterintelligence

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E. Jean Carroll has said that shes certain that former President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. But the 79-year-old advice columnist does not know the year. It may have been 1995. Or it could have been later. Her friend, the writer Lisa Birnbach, whom she called after the attack, testified that it occurred in the spring of 1996.

On Tuesday morning, the jury arrived at a verdict: The jurors rejected Carrolls claim that she was raped, but decided there was a preponderance of evidence that Trump had committed battery by sexually and physically abusing her and that he had defamed her. Carroll was awarded $5 million.

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Trump and his lawyers had made the question of why Carroll didnt recall the date of the alleged assault a main part of their strategy, arguing that it proved that shes lying. (She has no idea what day, what week, what month, what year, what decade this so-called event supposedly took place, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last October.) Without a concrete date, there was no reason to call Trump or any other witness to the stand, Joe Tacopina, Trumps attorney, said in his closing arguments on Monday. What could I have asked Donald Trump? Where were you on some unknown date, 27 or 28 years ago?  Conservative commentators embraced this logic.

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This set up the jurys decision to become not just a referendum on the 2024 presidential contender but also a sort of referendum on dateless crimes. As it turns out, being unable to recall when a traumaticor even neutralevent occurred is common, several lawyers and forensic investigators told me. But in recent years, technology has largely phased out that litigation obstacle by supplementing victims memories with digital clues. Its much easier to remember a date if you posted a photo of yourself arriving at the scene of the crime that morning or Googled something relevant on your phone right after. Nonetheless, were in a tricky moment for courtroom recollections; post-#Metoo, post-Cosby shifts to statutes of limitations have encouraged people like Carroll to demand justice for crimes from the landline era. But now were all so spoiled by the troves of digital data filling gaps in our timeline-challenged brains that many of us have forgotten that the act of remembering used to be different.

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One of the basic notions Adam Scott Wandt, an attorney and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, learned over the years is that personal testimony makes for the most inaccurate type of evidence. People live through experiences and they get it wrong when they repeat it, he said in a recent interview. They dont do it on purpose, its just that peoples recollections tend to be pretty poor.

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Wandt believes that litigation changed around the time the first iPhone was released in 2007. Thats when Apple and non-Apple users began leaving a larger digital trail. Until then, court cases were heavily reliant on rather unreliable eyewitness testimony. But from 2007 on out, the opportunity to verify dates and facts just kept expanding. Now text messages, emails, digital calendars, social media posts, Ring camera footage, and even pacemaker data can all be used as memory aids. Expecting the average person to produce dates from long ago without supplementation is unrealistic, Wandt believes. (Carroll has said she kept a journal but generally noted only positive developments.)

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This is particularly true when it comes to sexual assault, said Wendy Patrick, a career trial attorney who is a member of the organization End Violence Against Women International. People tend to clearly remember being sexually assaulted decades later. But because its so traumatizing, they often do not remember the events surrounding the incident. Its not usual for people to be unclear when it happened, she said.

The muddiness of temporal memory is a complicating layer to the various efforts to shift statutes of limitations, she said. Last November, New York removed the states statute of limitations for civil sexual assault claims so long as they are filed by Nov. 24, 2023. (Previously it was seven to 20 years, depending on the claim.) Two months earlier, President Biden signed a bill eliminating the federal statute of limitations for those who were sexually abused as minors, an approach mirrored by numerous states, including Kansas, earlier this year. These shifts follow an earlier expansion of statutes of limitations. In 2015 Oregon increased the states statute of limitations from six to 12 years for rape victims. The following year, prompted by the Cosby case, California eliminated its 10-year limit for rape and sex crimes.

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These endeavors are helpful because, particularly if a victim knew their perpetrator before the attack, its not unusual to take a long time to come forward, said Patrick. But the more time that has passed, the less digital backup theyll have. And not being able to remember a date creates complications beyond a veneer of unreliability: For one thing, its difficult to find witnesses or other corroborating evidence.

For another, whether in civil court or criminal court, filing a lawsuit or charging someone typically requires an identifiable date range, partly to allow the accused to prepare a defense. This last item is something that Trump and his lawyers have milked during the recent trial, suggesting that it was part of a scheme to inhibit Trump from providing an alibi.

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Wandt, the attorney from John Jay College, told me that he believes that the Black Mirror moment when we can verify anything with digital data is ahead of us. Matt Edmondson, who used to conduct digital forensics for the Department of Homeland Security and now teaches open-source intelligence classes, said he thinks the optimal verification moment is already in the past. Thats because if hes trying to investigate something from 10 years ago, he has the investigators dream scenario of being able to draw on lots of digital data without much concern about security or privacy. But if the incident occurred within the past two years, were screwed, he said. Lately, Edmondson is typically investigating companies on behalf of a client. But regardless of whom hes working for, he has also found that without digital supplementation, most memories are flawed.

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Of course, establishing a clear date is far from the only obstacle that an old rape case faces. Less than 1 percent of sexual assault complaints are resolved through a jury trial, even in the digital era, according to one study. Often, criminal cases are derailed by other limitations that are true, even with a date. Lacking a witness, for example, prosecutors are often reluctant to move forward with a he said, she said situation. Still, a clear-cut timeline discourages comments like this one: On Monday, Michael Goodwin, a New York Post columnist, told longtime friend of Trump and radio host Mark Simone that he couldnt believe Carroll. Why? Because if you got raped, of course youd remember the date, he said. Though the jurors did not find the events Carroll described to be rape, they signaled that they did not require a date to believe that abuse occurred.

And that could prove pivotal for other victims. As Patrick, the trial attorney, told me shortly after the verdict was announced: Vindication may encourage other victims to come forward even if they cannot remember the exact date with specificity.
The founder of failed crypto exchange FTX Sam Bankman-Fried, who denies stealing from his exchanges customers, said on Monday that prosecutors had acted with disturbing haste in charging him. He asked the judge to throw out 10 of the 13 fraud and bribery counts against him because the government had not adequately explained the crimes. A trial is scheduled for October, and if convicted on all counts, he faces more than 155 years in prison.

CEO of failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange Sam Bankman-Fried in federal court in Manhattan. PHOTO: AP

Bankman-Frieds legal team said in court in Manhattan that the now-defunct FTX exchange was far from the only company that dabbled in cryptocurrencies and collapsed during the 2022 market crash. According to them, the prosecution wants to charge Bankman-Fried in a hurry.

They didnt wait for the case to go through the normal civil and regulatory processes, but the government jumped in with both feet and tried to turn the case into a federal crime, lawyers claim. Bankman-Fried, however, has repeatedly pleaded not guilty, although he has admitted that the stock market managed risks inadequately, reports Reuters. His three close associates pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution.

The legal team also demanded that all documents in their own FTX be redacted, insisting that the prosecution only request information that helps the trial. The FTX debtors have cooperated extensively with the government and are involved in the investigation, analysis and strategy of the governments case to be considered part of the prosecution team,' the failed crypto kings lawyers claim.

But prosecutors say Bankman-Fried defrauded FTX investors and lenders and stole billions of dollars from clients to cover losses at the cryptocurrency-focused hedge fund and allegedly bought more real estate. At the end of March, he was already accused of bribing Chinese officials, to whom he transferred 40 million dollars (36 million euros) in bribes. It is said to be aimed at unfreezing assets related to his cryptocurrency business, he reported STA.

READ MORE Bankman-Fried accused of 40 million bribes in China

Riskily traded with customers money

Bankman-Fried, 31, amassed a fortune of $26 billion (23 billion) during the boom in bitcoin and other digital assets and became an influential businessman before his crypto exchange FTX declared bankruptcy last November. Bankman-Fried resigned at the time, having previously said the company was facing an $8 billion (7 billion) shortfall and would need $4 billion (3.6 billion) to stay afloat. solvent. When the investors realized that something was wrong, they asked for the investment back, there was no money, and the collapse followed.

Bankman-Fried herself was arrested in the Bahamas. PHOTO: AP

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also alleges that in May 2019, Bankman-Fried raised $1.8 billion (1.6 billion) from investors, which he then channeled into Alameda Research, a special venture investment company. cryptocurrency hedge funds. Of course, he did not disclose to the clients that he was taking a risk with their money.

Bankman-Fried was arrested last December in the Bahamas and extradited to the United States. After posting bail of $250 million (227 million euros), he lives in his parents house in California.
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How can a craft business owner attract attention to their handmade goods? Its definitely possible to effectively promote handmade businesses through various marketing strategies, including social media marketing.

Marketing a craft business requires careful planning, but with the right techniques, you can increase your customer base and drive sales. Interested in proven craft business tips, with a particular emphasis on social media marketing? By incorporating the following strategies, you can take your craft business to the next level.

Marketing a Craft Business: 14 Amazing Strategies

Looking for proven marketing tips for your craft business? Well, look no further. Weve compiled 14 amazing strategies that can help you reach more customers, increase sales and build a strong brand.

1. Make a Craft Business Marketing Plan

Crafting a marketing plan is crucial for any successful craft business. For a small business to thrive, its vital to identify not only your target customer but also the unique benefits that differentiate your crafts from the competition.

As you research your competition, be sure to analyze successful marketing strategies. Determine the best marketing channels to reach your target audience and set specific, measurable goals, as well as a budget. Finally, create a timeline and a schedule for executing your marketing plan before continually evaluating and adjusting your strategies as needed to optimize results.

2. Launch Your Own Website

In todays digital age, an innovative and engaging website is crucial for any business, including handmade craft businesses. A business website not only provides a professional online presence, but it also serves as an essential tool for promoting your crafts and driving sales.

By creating an online store, you can reach a wider audience beyond your local community and sell your crafts 24/7. A website also enables you to showcase your craft business, share your story and values and connect with customers through a blog or social media integration. With the right design and optimization, a website can significantly enhance the success of your handmade business.

3. Create a Social Media Presence

Having a strong social media presence is a must for any craft business looking to increase its visibility and connect with customers. Social sites and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are powerful digital marketing tools for sharing your crafts, building your brand and engaging your audience.

By regularly posting high-quality photos and videos of each handmade product and craft, and interacting with followers, while also using hashtags and other social media features, you can expand your reach, attract new customers and foster loyalty among your existing ones.

How can you use some of the top social media platforms to grow your craft business? Keep reading to see how social media strategies can help your handmade business succeed.

Facebook

Facebook is an excellent platform for handmade business owners to market their crafts. With a Facebook business page, you can post high-quality photos and videos of your products, interact with customers through comments and messages, and run targeted ads to reach potential customers.

Instagram

Instagram is a visual platform thats perfect for promoting handmade crafts. By creating an Instagram business profile and posting high-quality photos and videos of your products, you can showcase your work, engage with customers through comments and direct messages, and reach new audiences through hashtags and influencer partnerships.

Twitter

Twitter can be a useful marketing tool for handmade business owners looking to increase their brand awareness and reach new customers. By regularly tweeting about your products, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your craft process and engaging with followers, you can build a loyal following and amplify your online presence. Utilizing relevant hashtags and Twitter chats can also help increase your visibility.

Pinterest

Pinterest is an ideal platform for handmade business owners to showcase their work and increase their reach. By creating boards that highlight your crafts, using relevant keywords in your pins and engaging with other pinners, you can attract a loyal following, increase website traffic and drive sales.

Linkedin

While LinkedIn may not be the first platform that comes to mind for marketing a handmade business, it still can be useful for building connections and increasing visibility. By sharing your crafting story, networking with other professionals and joining relevant LinkedIn groups, you can showcase your skills and connect with potential partners, clients and suppliers.

See Also: How to Pick Colors for Your Business Website

Youtube

Youtube is a great platform for handmade business owners to showcase their creativity, build their brands and engage with customers. By creating video tutorials, sharing your craft process and featuring your products in action, you can increase brand awareness, connect with viewers and drive traffic to your website. Youtube is a powerful marketing tool for any handmade business.

Tik Tok

TikToks popularity has exploded in recent years, making it an ideal social network for handmade business owners to showcase their crafts and reach new customers. By creating fun and engaging short-form videos, using popular hashtags and leveraging influencer partnerships, you can leverage TikTok to build brand awareness, attract a young and engaged audience and increase sales.

4. Open an Etsy shop

Online marketplaces often are the secret to success for modern handmade businesses. Opening an Etsy shop can be a game-changer for handmade business owners looking to expand their reach and increase sales. With millions of active buyers and sellers, Etsy provides a ready-made online marketplace where craft businesses can easily sell their products online.

By creating a visually appealing Etsy store with high-quality photos and detailed product descriptions, businesses can showcase their unique crafts and build loyal customer bases. Etsy also offers various other tools and resources to help sellers optimize their shop, such as analytics, SEO optimization and customer support.

Of course, dont feel like you have to limit your online marketplaces to an Etsy shop or any one platform for that matter. Feel free to set up shop on other handmade platforms, including Amazon Handmade and eBay, among other popular e-commerce websites where you can sell handcrafted goods. After all, the more exposure, the better.

5. Attend Craft Fairs and Local Events

Would you like to showcase your craft business before an audience of shoppers uninterested in mass-produced goods  all in one physical location? Craft fairs provide an excellent opportunity for handmade businesses to showcase their crafts, connect with customers and increase sales within local markets. By attending local craft fairs and other local events, businesses can build brand awareness, gather customer feedback and make valuable connections within their community.

To get the most benefit from attending craft fairs, businesses should create eye-catching booth displays that showcase their crafts and encourage people to take a closer look. They also should prepare promotional materials, such as business cards and brochures, and offer special discounts or giveaways to incentivize purchases.

By establishing a presence at craft fairs and engaging with customers face-to-face, handmade businesses can build trust and credibility with their target audience and ultimately drive more sales.

6. Employ Email Marketing

Email marketing is a highly effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to increase customer engagement and drive sales. By creating a targeted email list and sending regular newsletters or promotions, businesses can stay top-of-mind with their customers and build brand loyalty.

To make the most of email marketing, businesses should personalize their emails, use eye-catching graphics, include clear calls-to-action and segment their lists to target specific audiences. Handmade business owners also should optimize their emails for mobile devices and test their campaigns to ensure maximum effectiveness.

With its high ROI and ability to reach a targeted audience, email marketing is an essential tool for any handmade business looking to increase its online presence and boost sales.

7. Write a Handmade Business Blog

Blogging can be a highly effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to establish their brands, connect with customers and increase their online visibility. By creating blogs that showcase their craft processes, offer tips and insights into the industry and share their brand stories, businesses can establish themselves as thought leaders within their community and build a loyal following.

For blogging success, businesses should optimize their content for SEO, share their blog posts on social media and engage with their readers through comments and other forms of interaction. With its ability to drive more traffic to a website and build a loyal following, a business blog is an essential tool for any handmade business looking to expand its marketing reach.

8. Use Paid Advertising

Paid advertising can be a highly effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to expand their reach, attract new customers and drive sales. By running targeted ads on social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram, businesses can reach highly engaged audiences and promote their products to users who may not have discovered them otherwise.

Plus, by employing Google Ads, businesses can drive traffic to their websites and increase brand visibility on search engines. To get the most bang for their advertising bucks, businesses should carefully target their audiences and create visually compelling Google ads, while continually testing and adjusting their campaigns to optimize results.

9. Obtain Influencer Endorsements for Handmade Items

Influencer endorsements can be a highly effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to increase brand visibility and reach new customers. By partnering with influencers who have a strong following within their niches, businesses can promote their products to highly engaged and relevant audiences.

Influencers can showcase the crafts in use, offer reviews or testimonials and provide valuable exposure to their followers. For best results, businesses should carefully select influencers whose audiences align with their target customers and work with them to establish clear expectations and goals for the collaboration.

10. Donate Handmade Crafts to Charity

Donating handmade products to charities can be a powerful marketing strategy for craft businesses looking to build brand awareness and attract new customers. By donating their products to charities or non-profit organizations, businesses can showcase their values and commitment to social causes while gaining valuable exposure and publicity.

Charitable donations also can lead to positive media coverage and social media mentions, which can help increase brand visibility and attract new customers. To make the most of charitable donations, businesses should carefully select charities that align with their brand values and goals, while considering the potential returns on investment.

11. Partner with Other Craft Businesses

Partnering with other craft businesses can be a highly effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to expand their reach, attract new customers and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs. By partnering with complementary brands, businesses can offer joint promotions, bundle their products and cross-promote to each others audiences.

Brand partnerships can lead to increased visibility, exposure to new customers and potentially increased sales. To make the most of partnerships, businesses should carefully select partners whose audiences align with their target customers and collaborate on a clear and mutually-beneficial promotion.

12. Run Competitions and Giveaways to Attract Potential Customers

Competitions and giveaways can be highly effective strategies for handmade businesses looking to attract new customers, increase engagement and build brand loyalty. By offering prizes that align with their brands, businesses can generate excitement and incentivize customers to engage with their products.

Competitions and giveaways also can help increase brand awareness and social media reach, as participants are likely to share the promotion with their followers. To make the most of competitions and giveaways, businesses should establish clear rules and guidelines, promote competitions through various channels and ensure that the prizes align with their target customers. Some of the most popular and effective prizes are gift baskets featuring an assortment of small businesses handmade goods.

13. Set Up Your Google Business Profile

A complete Google Business profile is a crucial element for a local business seeking to improve its online presence and attract customers in its area. By verifying their business information and optimizing their profiles, local businesses can appear in Google search results and Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find them.

Google Business profiles also can showcase business hours, contact information and customer reviews, increasing brand credibility and customer trust. By leveraging this free tool, local businesses can increase their search engine visibility in their communities and attract new customers within their local areas.

14. Give Business Cards to New Customers

Giving business cards to new customers can be a simple yet effective strategy for handmade businesses looking to increase brand awareness and attract repeat business. By including key information such as the business name, website and contact information, business cards can serve as a tangible reminder of the brand and its products.

Business cards can offer customers more than identifying information. By offering business cards with a personalized note or discount code, businesses can incentivize existing customers to return and make repeat purchases.

For best results, businesses should ensure business card designs are visually appealing and align with their brand identities. By handing out business cards to new customers, handmade businesses can increase their visibility and encourage customer loyalty, leading to increased sales and growth.

Why is marketing important for your craft business?

Marketing is crucial for any craft business looking to increase brand awareness, attract new customers and drive sales. Effective marketing strategies can help businesses reach a wider audience, establish trust and credibility with their target markets and differentiate themselves from competitors. By investing in marketing efforts, handmade businesses ultimately can increase their profitability and achieve long-term success in their industry.

How can you promote your craft business?

Craft businesses can promote their brands through a variety of effective marketing strategies, including social media marketing, email marketing, attending craft fairs, creating websites, paid advertising influencer partnerships and giveaways or competitions. By carefully selecting the right mix of promotional tactics that align with their brand values and target audiences, craft businesses can increase their visibility, build brand loyalty and ultimately drive more sales.

Are craft businesses profitable?

The profitability of craft businesses can vary depending on factors such as the quality and uniqueness of their products, pricing strategies, target markets and marketing efforts. While some handmade businesses might struggle to turn a profit due to the competitive nature of the industry and the cost of materials, others can be highly successful and profitable.

By creating high-quality and unique handmade products that resonate with their target markets and effectively marketing their brands, small businesses can achieve profitability and long-term success.

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Mastercard has announced the next evolution of its Digital Doors program, set to launch on May 4, in celebration of Small Business Month. The initiative aims to provide an expanded suite of innovative tools, resources, and benefits to help small businesses enhance their digital operations and growth. With new partnerships and a Marketing Hub platform, Mastercard is committed to supporting small businesses in their digital marketing journey.

Mastercard research reveals that 47% of small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. have a growth mindset, while 40% are still in the early days of learning about digital marketing capabilities. In response to these findings, Mastercard is launching the Marketing Hub as a new service platform within Digital Doors, which will act as a catalyst for entrepreneurs to grow digitally by offering educational content, exclusive offers, and tools for creating marketing assets.

Rustom Dastoor, EVP of Marketing and Communications at Mastercard North America, said, As small businesses continue to evolve in todays digital age, Mastercard Digital Doors remains an innovative resource to help entrepreneurs enhance their digital marketing capabilities and grow their online presence.

The Mastercard Digital Doors Marketing Hub will provide resources to help small business owners market their businesses, recruit new customers, and create meaningful touchpoints with existing ones. It will include partnerships with Hootsuite, Triple Whale, Vizit, and YieldDay, offering discounts on their services.

Additionally, Mastercards Digital Doors program will give small businesses access to new partner resources and exclusive benefits from Accion Opportunity Fund, FedEx, Lendio, Markaaz, Pye, Stride Health, and Talents ASCEND. These partners offer a range of services, from financial support and shipping discounts to health insurance solutions and talent recruitment.

Mastercard Digital Doors was initially launched in 2020 as an online business resource center during the pandemic, aiming to provide small business owners with the tools and resources they needed to pivot to and sustain a digital business. Today, the program continues to adapt and address the unique needs of small businesses, with existing partners like HSB, Periculus Cyber, SimplyPayMe, and SumUp.

Mastercards latest introduction kicks off a month of educational and celebratory programming for small business owners. Informative webinars on various topics from Mastercard experts are available for sign-ups, and a webinar in partnership with Hello Alice on Black Entrepreneurship on the Rise is open for registration.

Mastercards Digital Doors initiative builds on the companys global commitment to financial inclusion, with a pledge to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

Furthermore, Mastercard has announced an expansion of its Digital Doors partnership with the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to raise awareness of cybersecurity protection for small businesses. As part of the expanded partnership, Mastercard will offer free webinars to educate small businesses on cybersecurity threats and best practices to thrive online.

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The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released a new jobs report, revealing that small business owners continue to face significant challenges in finding workers. A staggering 45% (seasonally adjusted) of all owners have reported job openings they could not fill during the current period, a figure that exceeds the 49-year historical average of 23%. The labor market has become a major issue for small business owners, with 92% of those hiring or attempting to hire reporting few or no qualified applications for their available positions.

NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg expressed concern over the situation, stating, The labor market continues to be a big challenge for small business owners. More owners are raising compensation to compete, but labor quality remains a serious problem for owners.

This sentiment is reflected in the report, which shows that 60% of small business owners attempted to hire in April. However, 29% of these owners encountered few qualified applicants, while 26% received none.

The percentage of small business owners who identify labor quality as their top operating problem has risen to 24%, an increase of one point since March. Meanwhile, labor costs as the most important problem for business owners have dropped by two points to 9%, just four points below the highest reading of 13% in December 2021.

Despite these challenges, small business owners plans to fill open positions remain strong. A seasonally adjusted net 17% are planning to create new jobs within the next three months, up two points from March. However, this figure is still 15 points below the record high reading of 32% in August 2021.

In response to the ongoing labor shortage, a net 40% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners have increased compensation, although this is down two points from March and 10 points below the 49-year record high set in January of the previous year. Additionally, a net 21% plan to raise compensation in the coming three months, down one point from March.

The report also highlights the types of positions small business owners are struggling to fill. Thirty-seven percent of owners have openings for skilled workers, and 19% have openings for unskilled labor. As the labor shortage persists, small business owners must adapt and develop creative strategies to attract and retain qualified workers, which may include offering competitive compensation packages, providing opportunities for professional development, and promoting a positive work environment.

The NFIB Jobs Report underscores the pressing issue of labor shortages and unfilled job openings faced by small business owners across the country. As these challenges persist, it is crucial for small business owners to continue exploring innovative solutions to attract and retain skilled workers, ensuring the sustainability and growth of their businesses in a competitive market.

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LEXINGTON PARK, Md. (May 9, 2023)Precise Systems, Inc. has received a strategic investment by Bluestone Investment Partners, a McLean, Virginia-based private equity firm, to accelerate the growth of its business. Founded in 1990, Precise Systems is a Lexington Park, Maryland-based provider of mission readiness and software development services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force. In addition to its headquarters office adjacent to Naval Air Systems Command Headquarters at Patuxent River, Precise Systems maintains offices at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division in Indiana, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport in Rhode Island, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division in California, and a software development group based in Brentwood, Tennessee. Precise Systems employs over 800 dedicated staff supporting customers at locations in over 30 states across the country.



Coincident with the transaction, former Precise Systems President Scott Pfister has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. As part of the transaction, Mr. Pfister and former Chief Executive Officer, Tom Curtis, will join Precise Systems' board of directors.



"There is a lot of opportunity for growth delivering modernized engineering and program management solutions for our current customers across the Navy and new customers throughout the Department of Defense," said Scott Pfister, Chief Executive Officer of Precise Systems. "Collaborating with an experienced, sector-focused partner like Bluestone will help us accelerate that growth." Prior to his appointment as Precise Systems' CEO, Mr. Pfister served as its President and Chief Operating Officer for nine years, helping to lead the company through a phase of significant growth. Before joining Precise Systems, Mr. Pfister served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps for over 11 years. He was a highly decorated Marine CH-53E Crew Chief with several deployments overseas.



"We are excited to partner with a highly experienced management team led by Scott," commented Bluestone Partner Mike Ivey. "We have been extremely impressed by the team's level of commitment to their customers' missions and we are excited about the opportunity to expand the business and its capabilities through strategic M&A."



Precise Systems was advised in the transaction by Chertoff Capital, LLC.



About Precise Systems



Precise Systems is a professional services company providing advanced engineering, program and project management, acquisition and lifecycle support, and information technology services. Founded in 1990, the Company has provided cutting-edge solutions and support to the Department of Defense since its establishment. Precise Systems understands and provides expert consultation on network and weapons systems programs, maintenance and modernization programs, and sustainment programs.



About Bluestone Investment Partners



Bluestone is a private equity firm investing exclusively in lower middle-market companies in the defense and government services arena. Bluestone's principals have a long and successful track record owning, operating, investing in, and advising companies in the defense and government services sector.
ANNAPOLIS (May 3, 2023)Just a few days after being sworn in as secretary of the Department of Civic and Service Innovation, Paul Monteiro was working Friday to get the service year programpassed by the Maryland General Assembly as the SERVE Act, and a new vision from the governorestablished and operational by this October.



The Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act of 2023its formal namehas been a priority of Democratic Gov. Wes Moore since the start of his term; he created the new department on his first full day in office. But it wasn't until he named Monteiro on April 3just a week shy of the end of the MGA sessionas the head of the department that things could really start.



"The governor's an ambitious guy, and that's part of the appeal of the job, really," Monteiro told Capital News Service. "You don't often see government move this fast. "This is very much: The need is there, the support is there, and the demand is there, so we just have to quickly put these things together."



Creating the union of the need, support and demand is something that Monteiro is looking forward to tackling.



With a deadline looming just five months away, there is no time to waste. The program will be open to recent high school graduates, and will place them in service roles throughout the state as an alternative to attending college or starting a career. Those who participate will not only be paid $15 an hour for their work (with a minimum of 30 hours a week), but will also receive mentorship and job training during their time serving. The first cohort of participants is slated to be 250, but then grow to 500 students the second year of the program, around 1,100 the third year, and peak in the fourth year at 2,000, which will be the number of students in the program for every year thereafter.



"In this early phase, it's going to be standing up the team, hiring a core team of folks at the new agency, in addition to the great folks we've inherited (from the State Service Commission)," Monteiro said of the first steps in creating the program. "Also standing up a website, setting up an application portal for the service year option in Maryland core, standing up office spaceeverything's new."



Though time is of the essence, organizations have already indicated their interest in being a part of the service program.



"I've already been so pleased with the response to the governor's call," Monteiro said. "A number of nonprofits and businesses and public offices in the state have said they want to be a part of this. They want to be a destination for folks serving in the first cohort."



He also said he'd like to ensure that eligible students have a say in how the program is designed, too.



Monteiro said he wants to assure the students have opportunities to provide input on "how do we build this in a way where you and your peers would feel agency, would feel like this is something I can choose my own adventure, I can make my own way?" Monteiro said. "How do we design it so it's something that you don't feel is foisted on you, but is something you get to tap into to bring out and tap into whatever purpose you might have or what might light a spark in you?"



To do this, Monteiro is looking not just to school superintendents, but to elected student leaders and student councils to share their input on what type of program they would like to participate in.



Before his new secretary position, Monteiro served in the US Department of Justice as director of Community Relations Service. He also was national director of AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America, appointed by former President Barack Obama, and before that was an associate director in the Obama White House Office of Public Engagement. Monteiro also served on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, and held a position as an at-large member of the Prince George's County Public Schools Board of Education.



"Paul is a public servant who has spent his life giving back to our communities," said Moore in a statement about the appointment. "Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation as not only someone who knows how to lead, but as someone who knows how to listen. The Department of Service and Civic Innovation will be the home of Maryland's legacy-defining service-year program, and it's going to be the place from which so many best practices in civic innovation will be launched. Paul will be a model for the young people who raise their hands and participate in Maryland's first-in-the-nation service-year program."



The service program will not only be legacy-defining for Maryland as a state, but for Moore himself, who has stressed the importance of service throughout his campaign and tenure in office. The pressure is on for Monteiro, who has to design and create this program, all in a short timespan.



"To me, it's a continuation of the work I was trying to do with the Justice Department, but we're going upstream with this and we're saying listen, we will give pathways for you to discern what it is you want to do," Monteiro said. "We'll get you a mentor, we'll put you in an environment where you'll be developed professionally, get some soft skills and hard skills."



Both AmeriCorps and this new service program deal with the problem of "wasted human talent," according to Monteiro. Targeting those coming out of high school will be very beneficial in addressing where the needs are in a community and how the students can help.



Monteiro also said that having Moore as governor is a real asset in terms of developing the new service program.



"I have a governor and a lot of his senior staff that come out of the service world, so they're going to have ideas, they're going to have suggestions, they're going to have network resources," he said. "What Cabinet secretary wouldn't want the boss, like, cheerleading for the thing? I welcome having input from him and the senior team because he's clearly the chief executive of the state, and he comes with a bunch of experiences."



Monteiro wants accessibility and representation for the new department and program.



"Our real mission is going to be building a corps that looks like this state, and at all points recognizing service is something that has a place for everyone and and working accordingly," he said. "We're just looking forward to building an agency that has a seat at the table for everybody."
The stronger side gets what they want, whether in the 17th or 20th centuries.

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On July 28, 1920, the Supreme Allied Council decided to pass part of the Upper Orava and Spis regions in northern Slovakia to Poland. Thus, in the uncertain time after the end of World War I, the young Czechoslovakia had to yield to its stronger neighbour.

In this way, 25 villages with 22,523 inhabitants became Polish land. The aggressive claims of the northern neighbour included the Upper-Orava village of Jablonka, founded in 1561. For Slovakia, it was established at a late date but for Upper Orava, this date was nothing exceptional, as this area was almost uninhabited until the mid-15th century.

Originally, Jablonka was in the hands of the noble family Platy; but after 1613, it was owned by the Thurzos. Not that the Platys lost interest in it  rather, the Thurzos seized it violently. It seems that in the remote areas of Upper Orava, the right of the strong was true in the 17th century, just as it was in the 20th century.

Jablonka itself developed dynamically as the Thurzo family founded the headqaurters of a salt store there, and after some time it even became the seat of an independent economic borough of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In later centuries, too, the village belonged among those lively, busy and modern. In October 1908, for example, a public pharmacy was established in Jablonka. Such achievements were rare among other Orava villages or towns. Slovak painter Janko Alexy captured what he saw in 1920; today Jablonka has changed beyond recognition. Wooden structures are hard to find, and its character, too, is completely different from other villages of the Slovak region of Orava.

However, at one of the busiest cross-roads, the beautiful Marian  or plague  column from the stonemasonry workshop of the masters from Oravsky Biely Potok stands until today, a reminder of times when Jablonka belonged to the Slovak region of Orava.

This story was first published by The Slovak Spectator on August 21, 2017. We have updated the piece to keep it relevant for today.
If you did not even know Europe Day exists as a holiday each year, it is understandable. We have no great traditions to mark May 9.

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Today, across our continent, citizens are celebrating Europe Day. For Slovaks, this is already the twentieth time we reach this date on the calendar since becoming citizens of the European Union on May 1, 2004. Our country is no longer a new member state. It is time we no longer think just as Slovaks, but also as Europeans.

What does that mean?

It means thinking of Europe not as a distant bureaucracy, but as our home, our neighbourhood. If there are scandals around how money is distributed, we should recognise that as our money and expect people to be held accountable for its management. To think of the European Union as a new mega force threatening to take power away from the local level is to abdicate our responsibility to use our powers to speak, to agitate, to advocate, to vote.

We are not naive. We see the weaknesses that are inherent in any system.

But we also see the unique strengths of todays Europe, and the benefits it has brought to the daily lives of every one of us  benefits that mean we as Slovaks are able to live more healthily, more freely, and in greater prosperity than any generation before us.

We are able to find more meaningful jobs, which enable us to earn, save and invest in the future of our families and communities. When Slovakia joined the EU in 2004, national unemployment was 18.6 percent. Today it is only 6.8 percent. In 20 years, the Slovak Gross Domestic Product per capita has more than doubled from 13,300 to over 30,000. We can shop in Czechia, work in Austria, buy property in Hungary, and travel through Germany more easily than ever.

Compared to previous generations, we are freer to speak our minds, to worship what we want, and, increasingly, to share our love openly. These developments are thanks in part to our place in a Europe without borders, a Europe that unites around shared values.

Its not that we dont still have challenges. War rains down on the homes of our neighbours, leading more than 100,000 of them to seek safety in the land we call home. This crisis has raised serious questions about the security of our energy supply and our food supply. This all comes as we emerge from a pandemic that killed more than 20,000 of our compatriots and forced more than a thousand retail businesses to close across the country.

We have not managed these crises alone. We have done so together with our European partners and friends.

After World War II ravaged our region, institutions were created to address the need for cooperation across Europe. In 2004, Slovakia gained a voice and influence in these institutions. But politicians still come from national interests and have to adapt to an international context. Imagine if politicians started with an international mindset.

Theres now a name for that. Introducing Volt, the first pan-European political party.

Volt Slovensko will participate in the 2024 European elections. It will do so to provide Slovaks a truly European option that approaches international challenges with cross-border solutions. Slovaks have a history of finding common purpose with our sisters and brothers in the region, be it through the formation of Czechoslovakia out of the rubble of World War I, or the creation of the Visegrad group following the fall of Communism. This is a strength to be proud of.

As Slovaks, we need more such cross-border cooperation. We look forward to next years European elections as an opportunity for Slovaks to clearly state how we want Europe to look and function.

If you, like most Slovaks, did not even know Europe Day exists as a holiday each year, it is understandable. We have no great traditions to mark May 9, the way we do to mark January 1, August 29 or December 24, for example. We do not gather with family for feasts, exchange presents, or even take the day off from work.

But today, we invite you to think about Europe. Maybe even to celebrate Europe.

Lucia Klestincova and Rick Zednik are the Co-Presidents of Volt Slovensko.
The Midwest expansion continues for FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective. The brand that began as a consolidation of Kansas City, Missouris Messenger Coffee and The Roasterie has grown once again by acquiring two Minneapolis-based sister companies, Folly Coffee Roasters and Philtera Cold Brewed Coffees.

Announced May 2nd via press release, the two most recent additions to FairWave operate in different spaces in the coffee industry. Started in 2019, Folly is a more traditional micro-roaster and cafe space where as Philtera is primarily a wholesale operation that sells cold brew to cafes and restaurants around Twin Cities area. Philtera already has an established relationship with Folly as well as Spyhouse Coffee, another Minneapolis-based roastery with multiple cafes that has been part of FairWave since 2021.

Joining FairWave allows us to continue in our mission to introduce new people to the world of specialty coffee. With the collective knowledge and expertise at FairWave, well be able to grow Folly and Philtera by doing more of what we love  roasting and delivering delicious coffees, says Rob Bathe, owner and founder of Folly Coffee and co- founder of Philtera Cold Brewed Coffees.

This brings the total number of companies under the FairWave banner to nine, including KCMOs The Filling Station and Ibis Bakery (both part of the Messenger family of brands before the formation of FairWave) as well as Up Coffee Roasters in Minneapolis.

Like with prior acquisitions, Folly and Philtera will continue to operate independently, keeping their own name and branding. Becoming part of FairWave, per Bathe, will give both the companies more access to incredible green coffee globally, increased capabilities, a shared system of best practices across like-minded local coffee brands, and back-of-house business support.

For more information or to see a full list of their brands, visit FairWave Specialty Coffee Collectives official website.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/european-council-confirms-azerbaijani-armenian-leaders-to-meet-in-brussels-on-may-14-1110206478.html

European Council Confirms Azerbaijani, Armenian Leaders to Meet in Brussels on May 14

European Council Confirms Azerbaijani, Armenian Leaders to Meet in Brussels on May 14

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will hold another round of peace talks in Brussels on May 14, the European Council said on Monday.

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The parties will also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the upcoming European Political Community summit in Chisinau, scheduled for June 1, the statement added. "President Michel equally expressed his intention to invite the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France and Germany to meet a second time in the margins of the next EPC summit in Granada in October 2023," the statement read.Earlier in the day, media reported, citing sources, that Pashinyan and Aliyev will resume peace talks on Sunday in Brussels with the participation of Michel in what would be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since their meeting in Munich in February.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/police-arrest-robbers-of-93-churches-in-82-towns-across-spains-north---interior-ministry-1110204621.html

Police Arrest Robbers of 93 Churches in 82 Towns Across Spain's North - Interior Ministry

Police Arrest Robbers of 93 Churches in 82 Towns Across Spain's North - Interior Ministry

Spanish police arrested a couple who robbed 93 churches in 82 towns in northern Spain, the country's interior ministry said on Monday. The perpetrators also reportedly owned various tools that could be used in robberies.

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The robberies targeted money contributed to the churches by worshipers, according to the statement. The first robberies were committed as early as last December in various churches in Cantabria, the ministry said.A house search conducted by the police resulted in the discovery of 140 religious items, including images, cases with oils, small chests with keys to the tabernacles and reliquaries, according to the statement. The police also found coins of small denomination taken from the churches' alms chests and donation boxes, the ministry added.The perpetrators also reportedly owned various tools that could be used in robberies, such as crowbars of different sizes, a hydraulic jack, screwdrivers, pliers, and a night-vision device.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/us-authorities-disrupt-wwii-vets-trip-to-moscow-for-victory-day-celebrations---antonov-1110205398.html

US Authorities Disrupt WWII Vets' Trip to Moscow for Victory Day Celebrations - Antonov

US Authorities Disrupt WWII Vets' Trip to Moscow for Victory Day Celebrations - Antonov

The American authorities have disrupted the planned trip by US WWII veterans' to Russia for participation in the Victory Day celebrations, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Monday.

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Antonov pointed out that the American veterans have been waiting for a trip to Moscow for a long time, hoped to see the Red Square and hug their brothers in arms. "They understand that next year it will be even more difficult," the Ambassador said. "The American authorities, in essence, did not allow the dream of the front-line soldiers to come true, they did not allow new embraces of veterans, now in the center of Moscow."Antonov underscored that this step is insulting not only for the veterans who fought against Nazism, but also for everyone who remembers the sacred feat. The United States and its European allies are commemorating the 78th anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany on May 8. Since the document on Germany's unconditional surrender was signed in 1945 when the new day had already begun in Moscow, Russia and almost all of the former Soviet republics celebrate Victory Day on May 9. Since 1945, a parade of service people and military equipment has been held on the Red Square to honor the memory of Soviet citizens who had died during World War II.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/immortal-regiment-marches-around-the-globe-1110197538.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230508/us-classified-document-leak-suspect-jack-teixeira-to-appear-in-court-thursday---filing-1110207178.html

Suspected Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira to Appear in Court Thursday

Suspected Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira to Appear in Court Thursday

Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman arrested in connection with the leak of classified US military documents, will appear in court for a detention hearing on Thursday, according to a filed notice.

2023-05-08T22:58+0000

2023-05-08T22:58+0000

2023-05-09T02:48+0000

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Teixeria will appear in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Worcester on Thursday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. ET (18:00 GMT) before Magistrate Judge David Hennessy, the notice said. The United States arrested and charged Teixeira last month with unauthorized removal and transmission of national defense information, following the leak of more than 100 classified documents online.Teixeira is being held without bail pending a decision on his detention. Prosecutors are seeking to keep Teixeira behind bars prior to his trial, while the defense team is attempting to get him released with certain conditions, a court document filed late last month said. Teixeira is accused of leaking documents related to the conflict in Ukraine, the United States espionage activities against its partners and other national security matters. The leaks prompted probes by the Justice Department and Pentagon into the source of the sensitive materials, as well as classified document access and handling protocols.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/pentagon-leaks-prove-west-is-fighting-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1109463535.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/joe-biden--the-democrats-a-slow-motion-train-wreck-of-their-own-making-1110209428.html

Joe Biden & The Democrats: Slow-Motion Train Wreck of Their Own Making

Joe Biden & The Democrats: Slow-Motion Train Wreck of Their Own Making

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll places the US presidents approval rating at a record low 36%. In the modern era, no president has been reelected with numbers like these.

2023-05-09T03:10+0000

2023-05-09T03:10+0000

2023-05-09T03:11+0000

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Some 58% of Democrats want their party to nominate someone other than Joe Biden in 2024. Of Democrats.If the election were held today, Donald Trump would beat Joe Biden by four points. Only 32% of voters think Biden has sufficient mental sharpness to do a presidents job.This, as grim is it all is, is the good news. Enjoy, Democrats! Because its downhill from here. The economy is, as usual, the biggest issue; just as the campaign begins this fall, so will a recession, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. Then theres Hunter Bidens pesky laptop, the gift that keeps on giving to the Republicans. Whether Joe proves to be the big guy who gets slices of kickbacks or the $13 million that mysteriously wound up in his bank account in 2017 and 2018 turns out to be a bribe paid by an Uzbek telecom or some other scandal related to the crack-addict, deadbeat-dad son who refuses to shut up, its beginning to smell a lot like whoop-a**.Biden reminds me of the classic Tales from the Darkside episode in which a grandfather is too stubborn to admit hes dead even as chunks of flesh slip off his face. The American people have a clear, loud message for the president, which he refuses to hear: we hired you for one term. Which is kind of what he promised.It isnt, of course, too late to reverse course. Nothing prevents the president from announcing: Well, on second thought, actually Id like to spend more time with my great-great-grandchildren. Who knows? With Joe an officially lame duck, Kamala Harris might step up and impress us with her border czarina gigor her new AI thingie.Could be hes up to some 17-dimensional chess, as suggested by my fellow Centerclip contributor Rina Shah. Shah recently mused, and I think shes on to something, that Biden officially announced in order to clear the field of Democratic competitors and set the stage for him to anoint his chosen successor whether they be Harris or someone less impressively unpopular. Such political bait-and-switch would be a new lowbut dont forget, we are talking about a guy who got 51 former intelligence officers to manipulate a presidential election for him, while risking World War III.Short of these two options, what can an incumbent president who is disliked, disrespected and deemed to be dim, do to dodge defeat?We know what Democrats plan to do: what worked in 2020.Biden will point out hes not Trump. Compare him to the alternative, Biden surrogate Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) says. He wont campaign. Frankly, the best way to run for reelection as president is to be president, Coons argues. Hell avoid debating his Democratic primary challengers. Hell hope Trump goes to prison (as if the legal system could act quickly).But 2024 isnt 2020. The pandemic is over. America is outside again. Americans expect their president to be out there with them.Watch me. Its all I can say - Thats what Biden says whenever a reporter asks whether hes too old for his job. Trouble for him is, we have been watchingfor three yearsand the results are in that Washington Post-ABC News poll. Fair or not, we dont like what we see.Biden and the Democrats cant talk their way out of the widespread perception that the president is past his due date. Cries of ageism are falling on deaf ears, including among the 62% of voters over age 65 who think Biden is too old. Theres one possible solution: stop hidin Biden.Put the president out in front of the White House press corps every single day of the week, fielding unscripted questions, no cheatsheets allowed. Have him do weekly town halls, including in hostile Republican territory. Grant presidential interviews to vicious right-wingers like Sean Hannityand dont forget left-wing progressives. If Biden does all that for months on end and manages to hold his own, he might turn some of us into believers.Bidens staffers and advisers, many of whom worked for Obama, are not stupid people. They know what must be done to save this doomed reelection campaign. Unfortunately, they know they cant do it. Biden isnt up to a tough race.So here the Democrats go, eyes wide-open, standing like idiots on the tracks as the train appears in the distance and slowly draws nearer. Disaster is as avoidable as can be. They can amble off those tracks any time. All they have to do to save themselves is make a move.Right now, theyre paralyzed.(Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, co-hosts the left-vs-right DMZ America podcast with fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis and co-hosts The Final Countdown radio show Mon-Fri 10 am  12 noon ET. You can support Teds hard-hitting political cartoons and columns and see his work first by sponsoring his work on Patreon.)

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/road-to-2024-how-joes-reelection-bid-lies-in-galvanizing-liberal-voting-base-1109963140.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/hunter-should-plead-guilty-before-damaging-joe-bidens-2024-chances-high-flying-dc-lawyer-says-1109960279.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/mariupol-residents-reveal-how-kiev-nazis-turned-sacred-may-9-victory-day-into-massacre-in-2014-1110164374.html

'They Fired at Civilians': Mariupol Residents Recall 2014 Victory Day Massacre

'They Fired at Civilians': Mariupol Residents Recall 2014 Victory Day Massacre

Having illegally seized power in February 2014, the neo-Nazi Kiev regime banned Russian language and intimidated Russia-leaning Ukrainians in Donbass. Mariupol residents have shared with Sputnik how Ukrainian ultra-nationalists and the military killed and persecuted participants of the Victory Day Parade in the city nine years ago.

2023-05-09T11:00+0000

2023-05-09T11:00+0000

2023-05-09T11:08+0000

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On May 9, 2014, the Kiev regime sent nationalists and the heavily armed military to prevent the citizens of the then-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol from holding a Victory Day parade. The move came as part of brazen Russophobic policies pursued by the post-coup Ukrainian authorities and their Western backers following February 2014.On May 9, the peoples of the post-Soviet space are celebrating the USSR's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the historical memory of the war, which claimed the lives of 27 million people from all national groups of the country, has long served as a strong unifying factor for the inhabitants of post-Soviet Republics.Those, who seized power in Kiev in February 2014 have never concealed their resentment for the holiday given that many of them were the ideological heirs of Nazi collaborators Roman Shukhevych and Stepan Bandera, notorious leaders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and its paramilitary wing the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).Mariupol Defenders Took Measures to Protect Veterans"I will not start exactly from May 9, but a little earlier, since we knew that there would be some kind of provocation from the nationalist battalions, the Right Sector*, and we were preparing for their attack," said Viktor.Mariupol residents' concerns were justified: just a week earlier, Ukrainian ultra-nationalists and militias burned alive and bludgeoned to death roughly 50 pro-Russia activists in Odessa's Trade Unions House on May 2, 2014, much in the vein of the WW2-era Banderites.Banderites, a common name for OUN-UPA insurgents, were particularly responsible for the execution of nearly 34,000 Jews in Babi Yar, Kiev, in 1941, and massive ethnic cleansings of Poles in Volhynia and Galicia that claimed the lives of at least 88,700 Polish people, including women, children, and the elderly between 1943 and 1945. Ukrainian nationalists slaughtered Jews, Poles, Russians, Roma people, and other ethnic minorities, dubbing them "subhumans." Banderites would heavily mutilate the bodies of their victims in order to dehumanize them and strike terror.The OUN-UPA are notorious for collaborating with Nazi Germany. Remarkably, some participants of the "Maidan Revolution" in Kiev, dressed in black and camouflage, carried shields with the strange numbers 14/88. According to open sources, 14 is code for "white supremacists," and "88" is the encrypted slogan "Heil Hitler!" ("H" is the eighth letter in the Latin alphabet.) Another favorite symbol of Ukrainian nationalists is the Nazi Wolfsangel insignia, proudly worn by the infamous Azov Battalion* until June 2022, when the terrorist entity was rebranded for PR purposes."Starting in the morning [of May 9], we prepared to guard the column of [World War II] veterans," said Olga. "We had such a task, because the day before we received a message that a provocation was being prepared, the execution of a column of veterans in Mariupol on May 9. This message came from our law enforcement officers. The fact is that people from Kiev arrived a day earlier. And the order was given to arrange a bloody provocation, to shoot a column of veterans () All decisions were made in Kiev. It was from there that the order came to arrange this bloody provocation."Viktor and Olga took their positions at the Mariupol Drama Theater. They were ready to protect veterans who, together with Allied Forces of the US and UK, fought against Nazism during WW2.Victory Day MassacreThe Victory Day parade kicked off with veterans and other civilians marching across the city.However, at some point they heard shooting in the area of the Mariupol Internal Affairs Directorate.Olga recalled that at that moment, her phone started ringing. It was a boy named Slavik who was calling her. He told Olga that the building had been attacked and that there were wounded people inside. "Please, get us out of here!" the boy pleaded.It turned out that earlier in the day, the Right Sector had arrived at the Mariupol Internal Affairs Directorate prior to the Victory Day event. Right Sector nationalists demanded that Mariupol policemen disperse the WW2 veterans' rally. Mariupol policemen refused to do so; eventually, a verbal skirmish between the nationalist militia and law enforcement officers turned into a shootout."When we approached the Mariupol Internal Affairs Directorate, we saw that there was shooting going on," Viktor continued. "Men in black fired at the police department. The civilians wanted to go there, but they opened fire on them. We took positions at the crossroads and did not let people in, so that they would not come under fire."The Right Sector nationalists did not come alone: they were backed by the Ukrainian military and armored vehicles.Olga recalled that people tried to stop tanks and armored vehicles by standing in front of them. They tried to not let them through. All in vain, tanks crushed the civilians. Olga noted that after the battle near the building of the Internal Affairs Directorate was over, tanks and IFVs drove around the city and shot people right on the streets.Meanwhile, the defenders of Mariupol made an attempt to rescue police officers and civilians trapped in the police department building. They managed to get to the backyard of the building, hooked the grate on the window with a cable, pulled it out, put up a ladder, and let those trapped out. There were wounded among them."I had a first aid kit with dressings, because we were getting ready and took with us a hemostatic, and tourniquets, and bandages. I tried to help the wounded," she continued.But there were too many of them. Dead people were lying on the streets. Blood was everywhere. The city's morgues were overwhelmed on that day.2014 Referendum, Oppression, LiberationThe bloodbath did not stop the citizens of Mariupol from holding a referendum on May 11, 2014. Several-kilometer-long queues of Mariupol residents lined up in front of the polling stations. People came to cast their votes in the referendum by answering the question "Do you support the Act of State Independence of the Donetsk People's Republic?""The events of May 2 [in Odessa], and of May 9 in Mariupol had a very strong influence on the events of May 11. The referendum was held in Mariupol. More than 96% of people came and voted for the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic. The [Kiev regime] failed to intimidate and break the people of Mariupol," Olga recalled.In response to the military actions by the illegitimate Kiev regime, the people of Donbass organized armed resistance.The infamous secret torture prison at Mariupol Airport was called "The Library." It was run by the Azov Battalion and "supervised" by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), according to Vasily Prozorov, a former SBU officer. People detained for having links to the DPR or pro-Russian ideas were called "books." After being checked, the prisoners were kept in the refrigerators of the airport restaurant. According to the testimonies of former detainees, Ukrainian nationalists used different torture techniques, including waterboarding, asphyxiation, breaking fingers, etc.Eight years after the Mariupol Victory Day massacre, the city was finally liberated by Donbass and Russian military forces in May 2022.*Right Sector and Azov Battalion are extremist organizations banned in Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230502/journo-i-can-be-jailed-for-treason-in-ukraine-for-telling-truth-about-2014-odessa-massacre-1109983490.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220228/belligerent-rhetoric--ss-style-regalia-who-are-right-sector-and-neo-nazi-azov-1093451807.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/priest-condemns-godless-zelensky-regimes-seizure-of-kiev-pechersk-lavra-during-great-lent--1108925813.html

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How Kiev Nazis Turned Sacred May 9 Victory Day Into Massacre in 2014 How Kiev Nazis Turned Sacred May 9 Victory Day Into Massacre in 2014 2023-05-09T11:00+0000 true PT0M41S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/moscow-high-level-meeting-on-grain-deal-to-be-held-in-istanbul-on-may-10-11-1110215220.html

Moscow: High-Level Meeting on Grain Deal to Be Held in Istanbul on May 10-11

Moscow: High-Level Meeting on Grain Deal to Be Held in Istanbul on May 10-11

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin says that Istanbul will host a meeting in a four-party format dedicated to Grain Deal

2023-05-09T09:08+0000

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2023-05-09T09:29+0000

istanbul grain deal

russia

turkiye

ukraine

istanbul

ukrainian crisis

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We have a high-level meeting in a four-party format in Istanbul tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the diplomat told reporters.The grain deal signed between Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and the United Nations in July 2022 provides for the export of Ukrainian grain, food, and fertilizers through the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding between Moscow and the UN that implies unblocking Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea despite Western sanctions.However, as Russian officials repeatedly stress, these conditions were never fulfilled. Nonetheless, Moscow continued to play fair wishing to help solve the global food crisis. Later it was also revealed that Ukrainian grain exports were shipped to the rich countries, especially EU member-states, while poor regions were ignored.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/nato-airborne-units-arrive-in-estonia-for-swift-response-23-drill-1110220349.html

NATO Airborne Units Arrive in Estonia for Swift Response-23 Drill

NATO Airborne Units Arrive in Estonia for Swift Response-23 Drill

According to Estonian Defense Forces NATO Airborne Troops arrived in Estonia for Swift Response Drills.

2023-05-09T14:13+0000

2023-05-09T14:13+0000

2023-05-09T14:13+0000

military

nato

nato expansion

estonia

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"Almost 1,500 soldiers from Poland, the US, Czech Republic, the UK, Latvia and Estonia are taking part in the drills. Nearly 600 paratroopers from Poland, the UK and the Czech Republic will parachute to Nurmsi airfield as part of a large-scale airborne operation. The active stage of the drills will end in Estonia on May 14," the military said. The troops will stage various airborne operations to practice fast deployment and immediate task performance during the drills, Estonian Staff Commander at the exercise Colonel Viktor Kalnitski said. "For the Estonian Defense Forces' part, it is important for us to perfect comprehensive support of allies reception and to coordinate and arrange various aerial and land operations," Kalnitski said in the statement. Swift Response-23 is comprised of three airborne operations, held by the European and US armed forces in Estonia, Spain and Greece. On Monday, US Air Force command in Europe said that a squadron of tactical stealth fighters F-22 Raptor had been deployed from Poland to Estonia's Amari air base to "deter aggression over Baltic skies."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/finlands-military-spending-soars-to-cold-war-levels-as-it-joins-nato-1109810831.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/natos-enlargement-targets-not-only-moscow-but-ankara-as-well-turkish-media-says-1109155627.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/new-era-of-cooperation-xi-jinping-to-chair-china-central-asia-summit-1110218163.html

'New Era of Cooperation': Xi Jinping to Chair China-Central Asia Summit

'New Era of Cooperation': Xi Jinping to Chair China-Central Asia Summit

Beijing earlier said that the two-day event would be attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan who will discuss development of strategic partnership with their Asian partner.

2023-05-09T12:10+0000

2023-05-09T12:10+0000

2023-05-09T12:10+0000

asia

china

central asia

xi jinping

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cooperation

belt and road initiative

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President Xi Jinping will chair the upcoming China-Central Asia summit to deal with burgeoning ties and a "new era of cooperation", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Webin has announced.He told reported on Monday that the summit, known as the C+C5 gathering, will be the first major diplomatic event that the People's Republic of China hosts this year. Want called the event "the first in-person summit among the heads of state of the six countries over the 31 years since Beijing established diplomatic relations with them."He declined to clarify what precisely will be discussed during the May 18-19 summit but said an "important political document" will be signed that will "draw a new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations."The remarks come after Beijing said that Xis counterparts from the five Central Asian states  Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan  would attend the two-day summit due to open in the northwestern Chinese city of Xian on May 18.This was preceded by media reports that Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is expected to be a major topic on the summits agenda.The statement followed the Chinese Foreign Ministry pledging to deepen his country's economic ties with Central Asia and make it "the pure land of win-win cooperation" instead of "a war zone of geopolitical contest."A Chinese media outlet recalled in this regard that Central Asia has gained increasing significance for Beijing because of the region's rich natural resource deposits and proximity to China's western province of Xinjiang.As for the BRI, also known as "the New Silk Road", it was announced by President Xi in 2013, with Beijing initially vowing to allocate $124 billion for the project. The overall Chinese investments in the BRI could reach $1.3 trillion by 2027, according to the American consultancy Morgan Stanley.The BRI is a series of overland and maritime connectivity and infrastructure programs being developed across the world with the financial backing of China. Nearly 140 countries, including those in Europe, Asia and South America, have signed up for the BRI so far.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220125/xi-jinping-china-to-give-500-million-in-aid-to-central-asian-countries-1092513598.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221118/belt-and-road-initiative-helped-keep-asia-europe-ties-intact-amid-ukraine-crisis-researcher-1104409475.html

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Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg

chinese president xi jinping, c+c5 summit, strategic cooperation, trade volume, china-central asian relations
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/report-us-to-issue-12-billion-long-term-military-aid-package-to-ukraine-on-tuesday-1110209670.html

Report: US to Issue $1.2 Billion Long-Term Military Aid Package to Ukraine on Tuesday

Report: US to Issue $1.2 Billion Long-Term Military Aid Package to Ukraine on Tuesday

The United States is expected to announce a new $1.2 billion long-term military aid package to Ukraine on Tuesday, news agency reported citing US officials.

2023-05-09T03:31+0000

2023-05-09T03:31+0000

2023-05-09T03:27+0000

us

ukraine

russia

joe biden

pentagon

us arms for ukraine

military

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Citing insiders with knowledge of the developments, US media reported Monday that the looming military package is designed to bolster even further Ukraine's air defenses in the conflict with Russia.The package will reportedly include Hawk air defence systems, ammunition for air defence and anti-drone warfare. In addition, the US will fund satellite imagery and various types of training. All will be paid for under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the Biden administration to purchase arms from industry rather than taking them from US stocks.Once the package is announced, US aid to Ukraine will amount to around $37 billion since February 2022, media reports indicated, adding funds will be spent over months or years to ensure Ukraines future security needs..Russia earlier sent a note to NATO because of arms supply to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia.Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to liberate Donbas and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230119/russian-ambassador-to-us-says-moscow-will-destroy-any-western-weapons-in-ukraine-1106479382.html

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us arms for ukraine, how much does us spend for ukraine, ukraine russia us, ukraine security assistance initiative
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/russia-china-trade-up-413-to-7315-billion-1110210543.html

Russia-China Trade Up 41.3% to $73.15 Billion

Russia-China Trade Up 41.3% to $73.15 Billion

BEIJING, May 9 (Sputnik) - Russia-China trade in January-April 2023 significatly grew, China's General Administration of Customs said, while the coutry's economic relations with the US leave much to be desired.

2023-05-09T05:16+0000

2023-05-09T05:16+0000

2023-05-09T09:36+0000

economy

russia

us-russia relations

us-china trade war

china

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During the reporting period, China imported goods to Russia worth $33.686 billion, an increase of 67.2 percent on the same period in 2022; deliveries from Russia to China increased by 24.8 percent to $39.462 billion. Separately, in April, trade between the two countries amounted to $19.228 billion: Russia supplied goods worth $9.606 billion to China; China supplied goods worth $9.621 billion to Russia.However, US-China trade during this period decreased 11.2 percent to $217.924 billion. Chinese exports to the United States went down 14.3 percent year on year to $158.25 billion; deliveries from the US to China dropped 2 percent to $59.673 billion.At the same time Japan-Russia trade dropped by 41 percent in the first quarter of 2023, due to Tokyo's unconstructive position, deputy head of the diplomatic mission Gennady Ovechko said in an interview with Sputnik."[Japan's] business circles are under unprecedented pressure from both local authorities and from abroad. Negative dynamics can also be seen in trade. In 2022, it neared $20 billion [a drop of 8.9 percent]; Japanese exports to Russia significantly fell to $4.67 billion [a drop of 40.5 percent]," Ovechko said.He said imports from Russia grew by 8.8 percent to $15.38 billion.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230507/if-china-ditches-dollar-amid-emerging-new-trade-order-consequences-for-us-could-be-stark--1110163827.html

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russia-china trade, us-china trade, russia-japan trade, economy
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/russian-embassy-in-austria-protests-desecration-of-soviet-military-burial-site-1110216897.html

Russian Embassy in Austria Protests Desecration of Soviet Military Burial Site

Russian Embassy in Austria Protests Desecration of Soviet Military Burial Site

Russian embassy in Vienna will sent a note of protest to Austrian Foreign Affairs Ministry on the act of vandalizing Soviet burial site. Diplomats will inform local authorities on the incident.

2023-05-09T10:42+0000

2023-05-09T10:42+0000

2023-05-09T10:49+0000

world

wwii

history rewriting

vandalism

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The embassy became aware of the desecration of a Soviet military burial in Ebenfurth. Unknown vandals damaged the bas-relief on the monument to the soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation of Austria from Nazism, the embassy wrote on its Telegram channel, adding that the fact that the incident occurred during the time of the World War Two Victory Day is especially cynical. The Russian side plans to inform local authorities about the incident. We will send a note of protest to the Austrian Foreign Ministry demanding that comprehensive measures be taken to establish the circumstances of the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, ensure the inviolability and preservation of the memorial in accordance with the provisions of the State Treaty on the Restoration of Independent and Democratic Austria of May 15, 1955, the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20181205/usa-russia-history-wwii-rewriting-attempts-1070394920.html

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wwii, rewriting history, vandalism
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/russian-military-attacks-places-of-deployment-of-ukrainian-reserves-1110218739.html

Russian Military Attacks Places of Deployment of Ukrainian Reserves

Russian Military Attacks Places of Deployment of Ukrainian Reserves

Russian military has carried out strikes with long-range precision weapons at points of temporary deployment of enemy reserves.

2023-05-09T11:55+0000

2023-05-09T11:55+0000

2023-05-09T11:55+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukrainian crisis

high precision missiles

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"Last night, the Russian armed forces carried out a concentrated strike with sea and air-based long-range precision weapons at points of temporary deployment of enemy reserves, as well as ammunition depots," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also said that over 465 Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries were killed in the Donetsk direction over the past day.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/the-us-blames-russia-for-drone-attack-on-the-kremlin-1110206815.html

The US Blames Russia For Drone Attack on the Kremlin

The US Blames Russia For Drone Attack on the Kremlin

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Brazilian President Lula criticizing the imprisonment of Assange, and Italy urging Italians in Ukraine to leave the country.

2023-05-09T04:45+0000

2023-05-09T04:45+0000

2023-05-09T10:15+0000

the backstory

radio

washington

south dakota

drones

big pharma

ukraine

kremlin

robert kennedy

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The U.S. Blames Russia for Drone Attack on the Kremlin. On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Brazilian President Lula criticizing the imprisonment of Assange, and Italy urging Italians in Ukraine to leave the country.

Mark Sleboda - International Relations and Security Analyst | Ukraine Does Not Tolerate Internal Criticism, Gonzalo Lira Arrested Again, and The West Supports Ukraine Murdering Journalists. Ted Rall - Political Cartoonist, Syndicated Columnist | RFK Jr Says the CIA was Involved in JFK's Murder, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and America's Internal Problems. In the first hour, Lee spoke with Mark Sleboda about journalist Gonzalo Lira arrested in Ukraine, and African governments partnered with Russia. Mark talked about his relationship with Gonzalo Lira and described the reason he may have been arrested for the second time. In the second hour, Lee spoke with Ted Rall about the possibility of violence against Asian Americans, the media portraying Robert F. Kennedy Jr as anti-vaxxer, and Antony Blinken helping Joe Biden become President. Ted described his view on Antony Blinken and how countries can negotiate with Antony Blinken. Ted spoke about media smears against Robert F. Kennedy Jr and how Biden's poll numbers continue to fall.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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the backstory, where is assange now, who attacked kremlin, was cia involved in jfk's murder, gonzalo lira arrested
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/toss-a-bitcoin-to-your-charger-bankman-fried-urges-court-to-drop-several-accusations-1110212505.html

Toss a Bitcoin to Your Charger: Bankman-Fried Urges Court to Drop Several Accusations

Toss a Bitcoin to Your Charger: Bankman-Fried Urges Court to Drop Several Accusations

The alleged mastermind behind epic crypto fraud claims he became a scapegoat.

2023-05-09T11:09+0000

2023-05-09T11:09+0000

2023-05-09T11:09+0000

economy

sam bankman-fried

ftx

crypto currency

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Sam Bankman-Fried, ex-CEO of crypto trader FTX who allegedly masterminded the biggest fraud in crypto-industry, has asked a US court to throw out ten of 13 criminal counts against him. His lawyers have insisted that the now-bankrupt FTX was not the only digital crypto-company facing major troubles amid a market collapse in the fall of 2022. However, prosecutors chose to scapegoat Bankman-Fried in a "rush to judgment" and that federal prosecutors levied a case against him with "troubling" haste."Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes," SBF lawyers said in a statement.Bankman-Fried used to be a rising star of the crypto industry, capitalizing on the Bitcoin boom with a net worth of $26 billion. He even gained some political influence, generously donating to both Democrats and Republicans, violating US political campaign finance laws. The "Golden Age" for Bankman-Fried ended in November 2022 when several newspapers alleged that FTX was a financial bubble, triggering an outbreak of withdrawals and eliminating company values. The media reports drew the attention of US regulators who were quick to dub Bankman-Fried's company as commiting "fraud of epic proportions."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221111/not-your-keys-not-your-coins-ftx-lent-billions-of-customer-funds-in-risky-gambles-1103999265.html

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2023

Sergey Lebedev

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Sergey Lebedev

us, ftx collapce, epic fraud, sam bankman-fried
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/trump-leads-biden-in-new-poll-divisions-brewing-in-eu-julian-assange-writes-to-king-charles-1110206010.html

Trump Leads Biden in New Poll; Divisions Brewing in EU; Julian Assange Writes to King Charles

Trump Leads Biden in New Poll; Divisions Brewing in EU; Julian Assange Writes to King Charles

Divisions are reportedly brewing amongst the stressed European colonies of the US as intense economic pain and de-industrialization expose the betrayal of the empire.

2023-05-09T04:31+0000

2023-05-09T04:31+0000

2023-05-09T10:07+0000

the critical hour

radio

julian assange

european union (eu)

donald trump

robert f. kennedy jr

king charles iii

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Trump Leads Biden in New Poll; Divisions Brewing in EU; Julian Assange Writes King Charles Divisions are reportedly brewing amongst the stressed European colonies of the US as intense economic pain and de-industrialization expose the betrayal of the empire.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. According to Moscow, by promising to "kill Russians" in all parts of the globe Ukraine's intelligence chief has proved that the Kiev regime is organizing terrorist attacks. Also, Russia and China are increasing trade for mutual benefit.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss the 2024 election. Donald Trump is leading President Biden by 7 points in a recent poll. Also, the military is experiencing a recruiting crisis.KJ Noh, writer, teacher, and activist, joins us to discuss China. The US is sending 500 million dollars in weapons to Taiwan. Also, South Korea is a dispensable tool of US hegemony in the new Cold War.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the multipolar world. The disease of British imperialism lives on. Also, divisions are growing in Europe and the Arab League voted to readmit Syria.Laith Marouf, broadcaster, and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. There is unrest in Turkey as elections are near. Also, the EU is canceling a Tel Aviv event.Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Cuba celebrated May Day in defiance of the US blockade. Also, the US police state is attacking the African People's Socialist Party.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. A debt ceiling deal may be in the offing. Also, Biden is facing negative ratings and the banking crisis grows.Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, joins us to discuss the crackdown on free speech. The US government has created a new disinformation office to oversee the maintenance of the official narrative. Also, the UK's public order act is the worst attack on dissent in decades.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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2023

Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg

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the critical hour, how bad is the situation in europe, ukraine terrorist attacks, is trump more popular than biden, russia's trad with china, why does the us support taiwan
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/us-russia-have-to-remember-they-were-allies-can-be-allies-again---veteran-1110212020.html

US, Russia Have to Remember They Were Allies, Can Be Allies Again - Veteran

US, Russia Have to Remember They Were Allies, Can Be Allies Again - Veteran

The 97-year-old retired US Army colonel Frank Cohn says Russia and US must remember they were partners during WWII and can become partners again.

2023-05-09T06:23+0000

2023-05-09T06:23+0000

2023-05-09T06:23+0000

world

russia

us

elbe day

wwii

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"While it is probably a false hope, I am an optimist and I hang onto the time when things looked bright for all of us - back in May 1945. Yes, there was terrible devastation all around us, but the spirit was correct. We were going to go forward and repair the world, we were allies, we were friends," Cohn said. The 97-year-old retired US Army colonel said it is his obligation to remind people about those times when the United States, Russia, along with the United Kingdom and France, were on the same side and fought Nazism. "Now, I go and participate to bring back that moment. It is not an easy thing to do at my age, but I must do it as long as I can, because someone young might catch that simmering glow of a short-lived peaceful world surrounded with friendship and in remembrance, perhaps years far in the future, say with the political power that he or she might have attained: 'We can do this again!'" he said. Cohn, along with three other US World War II veterans - George Arnstein, Dixon Hemphill and Harry Miller - participated in the ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, located just several blocks from the White House. In April 1945, Cohn was one of the US soldiers who was part of the historic meeting with their Soviet allies at the Elbe River in Germany. Cohn emphasized the necessity of keeping the lessons that were learned in World War II, but expressed concern about them slipping away. "On our side, we find upticks in antisemitism and other hate against minorities and even an attempted coup against our democratically elected government," he said. In addition, Cohn pointed out that the Cold War started soon after the world achieved peace in 1945. "The lessons of the Cold War have also been forgotten since we find ourselves in another cold war - and if we are not careful on either side, this could break out into a hot war, which neither side could survive, considering the new weapons presently at our disposal," he said. Cohn noted that the period of friendship between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1945, when the two sides were brothers-in-arms, was very short. "There are probably only a few of us left, on both sides, who have retained that memory," he said. The United States and its European allies are commemorating the 78th anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany on May 8. Since the document on Germany's unconditional surrender was signed in 1945 when the new day had already begun in Moscow, Russia and almost all of the former Soviet republics celebrate Victory Day on May 9.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220425/russian-ambassador-congratulates-wwii-veterans-in-us-with-elbe-day-1095022898.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/pausing-elbe-ceremonies-sad-end-of-event-marking-us-russia-friendship---veteran-1109677167.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20160425/war-commemoration-history-rewrite-1038603873.html

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wwii, elbe day, russia, us
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/us-sanctions-son-of-mexican-drug-kingpin-el-chapo-guzman-1110222590.html

US Sanctions Son of Mexican Drug Kingpin 'El Chapo' Guzman

US Sanctions Son of Mexican Drug Kingpin 'El Chapo' Guzman

The United States sanctioned Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, as part of an effort to disrupt the Sinaloa Cartel's trafficking network of illicit fentanyl

2023-05-09T17:34+0000

2023-05-09T17:34+0000

2023-05-09T17:34+0000

americas

el chapo

us

us treasury

us-mexico border

mexico

cartel

drugs

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Guzman Lopez, according to the Treasury, is responsible for overseeing different aspects of the Sinaloa Cartel's vast drug trafficking network. All four members of Los Chapitos, which includes Guzman Lopez and his three other siblings, already have indictments on US federal drug trafficking charges in one or more jurisdictions in the United States, the release said. The Sinaloa Cartel smuggles multi-tons of illegal drugs into the United States, including fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, the release said.

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el chapo guzman, el chapo's son, son of el chapo, joaquin guzman lopez
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/victory-day-parade-in-red-square-1110198490.html

Moscow Hosts Victory Day Parade on Red Square

Moscow Hosts Victory Day Parade on Red Square

The Victory Day is most respected day in Russia. This day is an immortal symbol of Russian victory in World War II.

2023-05-09T06:52+0000

2023-05-09T06:52+0000

2023-05-09T07:04+0000

russia

wwii

victory day parade

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Sputnik comes to you live from Moscow where the annual World War II Victory Day parade is held. The parade marks the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in the Great Patriotic War. The event is expected to feature roughly 10,000 troops and over 120 different units of weaponry and equipment.The parade will be attended by high-profile foreign guests including the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov who previously visited Rzhev to pay respect to the memorial to the Soviet Soldier and laid flowers.Follow Sputnik's live feed to learn more!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230509/virgin-galactic-plans-to-launch-its-first-commercial-flight-after-2-year-hiatus-1110208977.html

Virgin Galactic Plans to Launch Its First Commercial Flight After 2-Year Hiatus

Virgin Galactic Plans to Launch Its First Commercial Flight After 2-Year Hiatus

Virgin Galactic is set to resume its spaceflights after a hiatus of nearly two years, with the launch of its Unity 25 mission in late May. The company, founded by Richard Branson, plans to begin commercial trips in June.

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The Unity 25 mission will serve as the final assessment of the spaceflight system and astronaut experience before opening for commercial service. The flight will carry four company employees and mark Virgin Galactic's fifth trip into space, reaching an altitude of 50 miles (80 kilometers) above sea level.The crew for the Unity 25 mission will consist of two men and two women, including Beth Moses, who participated in two previous Virgin Galactic flights, along with Jamila Gilbert, Chris Huie, and Luke Mays, who received training as NASA astronauts. The mothership and spaceship will each be piloted by two crew members.It's known that Italian Air Force members will be on board of the first commercial flight, Galactic 01.Virgin Galactic has already sold 800 tickets for future commercial flights, with 600 sold between 2005 and 2014 for prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000, and 200 sold since 2014 for $450,000 each.Virgin Galactic shares soared 24.4% in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the news of the flight date announcement. Branson's company rose to $4.49 apiece in early trading on Monday. By closing, the spike slowed to 11.9% and the price fell to $4.04 per share.Since the first manned suborbital launch, Virgin Galactic has postponed the first commercial launch several times and conducted test flights only. In May 2022, the company postponed the launch of tourist flights to the first quarter of 2023, and then to the second quarter. At the same time, the company posted a loss of $1.5 billion since 2018.In April 2023, Virgin Orbit, another of Branson's space launch companies, filed for bankruptcy in the US due to insufficient funding. Before this, almost all employees were placed on unpaid leave for an indefinite period.Virgin Galactic faces competition in the space tourism industry from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, which also offers suborbital flights and has sent 32 people into space. However, Blue Origin's New Shepard rockets have been grounded since a September 2022 accident during an unmanned flight. The company has expressed its intention to resume flights soon.

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Ronald Mersky's sophomore trotting filly Railee Something continued to strut her strength when again trouncing older competition to this time take the $15,000 featured trotting event at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on Monday -- a day where yet another handle record was set at the young southwest Kentucky oval.

Trainer/driver Roger Cullipher sat off the speed with Railee Something as a three-high battle for command clicked past a :27.1 first quarter. From between horses, Jacked (John MacDonald) emerged on the lead with Simply Swan (Joey Putnam), three wide around the first turn, settling into the pocket ahead of Pilgrims Image (Atlee Bender). Cullipher sat still from fourth with Railee Something as the heat dwindled through a :55.4 half.

Jacked rolled along the backstretch as Pilgrims Image mounted a first-over bid and Railee Something slowly turned through the gears. Pilgrims Image continued to push forward through three-quarters in 1:24 and soon had Railee Something on his back rounding for home. Cullipher kicked the daughter of International Moni off cover into the lane and zipped by to open a 2-3/4 length lead to the end of a 1:53.3 mile with Pilgrims Image left behind in second. Jacked held third and Simply Swan gave chase from fourth.

Railee Something is a homebred for Ronald Mersky. She remains unbeaten from two starts this season while adding an eighth win to her resume of 14 races and depositing another check to bring her lifetime earnings to $216,601. She paid $3.26 to win.

Oak Grove has now set handle records on back-to-back cards and in three of its last four cards of racing. The previous record was set last Monday (May 1) with $358,845 churning through the windows from 12 races. But this Monday, the Oak Grove faithful pushed $419,168 over 12 races.

Live harness racing at Oak Grove resumes Tuesday, May 9 with the race card initially scheduled for this past Sunday, May 7. Inclement weather prompted a rescheduling of Sunday's races, so the Tuesday card will feature third-preliminary action in the Kentucky Sires Stakes for four-year-olds on the pace and on the trot. First post is 3 p.m.

(Oak Grove Racing)
If ever there was a horse who loved London , its safe to say his name is Sea Laird.

The photogenic pacer has now found his way to victory lane in his last seven starts over the half-mile oval thanks to Mondays triumph in the $13,000 Preferred Handicap for horse and gelding pacers.

Sea Laird, who was sent off as the 2-5 favourite, wound up being parked out every step of the mile before digging down deep and posting a 1:55.4 win for driver Tyler Borth and trainer Terry Gallant.

Bugsy Maguire marched to the lead and laid down fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.2, but he couldnt go the distance. It was Sea Laird, who despite spending the entire mile on the rim, who kicked home in :29.2 to win by three-quarters of a length over Ideal Perception in 1:55.4. Cheddar Bay rallied to finish third.

The seven-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Devil Likes It Hot improved his 2023 record to 5-0-1 from 12 starts with the victory. The 27-time winner bumped his overall bankroll to $225,495 for owner Stacey Smith Robinson of South Mountain, Ont.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results  The Raceway at Western Fair District.
The Gering High School Automotive Technology Program celebrated some important milestones Monday. The program garnered a $30,000 donation to a program aimed at helping others in the community, as well as marking the success of its first dual credit student.

A program that helped people with car repairs started earlier this school year got another boost after representatives of Healthy Blue of Nebraska presented a $30,000 donation during a press conference at the GHS Automotive Technology Program building.

Audrey Rocheleau, community relations specialist, explained that Healthy Blue Nebraska had given a similar donation earlier this year to start the program.

They did a really awesome program, she said of the GHS Automotive Technology program to help low-income people. It was one of the first ones in the state.

Through the program, students made small auto repairs or did basic routine maintenance on vehicles for persons who had qualified through an application process at CAPWN.

In a rural area such as that served by Gering, Rocheleau said vehicles are important to people because there isnt a significant transportation system like in urban areas, where buses, taxis and other public transportation are plentiful.

(The students) would help keep these cars going for those people, and they would be able to make it to doctors appointments because some of them were not in good health, or go to buy groceries or get their kids to school, she said, saying that it was a great public service that impacted people.

Were just so grateful that we can be a part of it.

In total, GHS Auto Tech instructor Zzyzx Brown said, students did repairs on 22 vehicles.

Some of these cars had big problems, he said. We were replacing major components. Some cars were in here for a day, some cars were in here for a week.

Among some of the projects included working on power steering pumps and rebuilding front ends to basic repairs such as replacing an alternator.

Weve pretty much almost touched every part of the car, but the transmission.

For the students, Brown said, the program gives them real life experience, while also teaching them about helping people in the community.

Its just so nice to get our hands on these cars, and really work on everything, that way they get a great understanding to how all this works.

He said he looks forward to continuing the program. Student Tim Cook said that for underclassman, its a big achievement for them to get to work on the cars and he agreed that it is a great opportunity for the auto tech students.

In other opportunities highlighted, the Auto Tech Program celebrated the accomplishments of one of its own, Senior Kealan Hawley, who will be Gering High Schools first dual credit graduate recognized during commencement exercises on May 20. Hawley has completed the requirements for his high school diploma, as well as completing the Associate of Applied Science degree in automotive technology at WNCC.

During remarks on Monday, Hawley thanked a number of WNCC and GHS personnel, as well as family members, for helping him to achieve his accomplishment.

Mario Chavez, GHS principal, said, Were so very proud of this young man and the accomplishments and sacrifice that he made to get to this point. Its not very easy even to go to college and get an associates and he did it while he was managing his high school career as well. So, thats a feat.

Chavez said the vision for the dual credit program began four years ago and GHS added 33 courses to its offerings two years ago to its schedules that would encompass college offerings. Its been a great partnership with WNCC, he said. One of the highlights has been the building the diesel pathways program, which he said has had a number of students complete courses in. Hawley was the first to achieve earning his two-year degree.

The programs have had great staff, including counseling staff, and GHS had had a successful course completion rate among its dual credit students. Chavez estimated that it is at 90% over the last two years.

John Marrin, who has served as interim president at WNCC, congratulated Hawley on his accomplishment.

He described Hawley as a great example of a high school student who took advantage of every dual credit opportunity that he had. ... I remember going through college and all I could do was the college work. So, Im impressed (he earned dual credit). Its really incredible, surely a testament to his work ethic.

Marrin praised the teachers and staff at WNCC, including superintendent Nicole Regan. He said he has been impressed by Regans leadership and the environment that has been created for the success of students.

Hawley has been working at Floyds Truck Center, where he plans to pursue a career.

Its been a fun journey, he said. Its been difficult, but its been worth it.
RAMALLAH/GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will remain a Palestinian priority until all of them are released.

Abbas made the remarks during a meeting with the family of Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah movement's central committee member who has been in an Israeli prison for 21 years, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

According to a statement published by WAFA, Abbas told the family members of Barghouti that their efforts continue to free the Fatah leader and all other prisoners and detainees from the Israeli jails and prisons.

Barghouti, a prominent Fatah leader who enjoys wide popularity, was imprisoned in 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of leading the movement and launching attacks against Israel.

Israel detains about 4,900 Palestinians in more than 20 prisons, including 31 female prisoners and 160 children. Over 400 Palestinian prisoners have remained in prisons for more than 20 years, and more than 1,000 are administrative detainees, according to official Palestinian statistics.

Meanwhile, an Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) official denied Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that a prisoner exchange deal between the two sides would soon be completed.

Israeli media reported on Sunday that Netanyahu had informed his cabinet ministers that there were indirect talks with Hamas about a possible prisoner exchange deal without revealing any details.

In 2016, Hamas announced for the first time that it was keeping four Israelis without specifying their fate, while Israel said that two of the four were soldiers who were actually killed, and the two others, one Arab and one Ethiopian, were kept by Hamas.

In 2011, Egypt brokered a prisoners' exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, which included the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in 2006 for releasing 1,028 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. 
The Star-Herald is compiling a list of regular meetings to share with readers.

Some listings will be highlighted, with key agenda items. It may not be a comprehensive list of all meetings, and this listing does not meet requirements for public notices.

Want to see your meeting on this list? Send meeting agendas and other materials to news@starherald.com.

Highlighted Meetings:

Gering City Council meeting, Monday, May 8, 6 p.m., Gering City Hall, 1025 P St., Gering. The Gering City Council will receive the annual City Clerk's report. The council is also scheduled to consider the final plat and annexation of Block 10B in the Midtown Development Addition. The land is located on the northern part of town, east of Tenth Street over toward the end of Crescent Drive, according to planning commission minutes. It contains a single-family home and the applicant is proposing to enlarge the boundary by acquiring property on the north side of the lot.

Mitchell City Council, May 9, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 1280 Center Ave., Mitchell.

Among the items on the Mitchell City Council agenda is the hiring of a new part-time police officer, and a request from the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce for the city to offer a free day during on opening day and the Concert in the Park held in July.

Scottsbluff School Board of Education, May 8, 6 p.m., SHS, 313 E. 27th St.

The board will meet in a work session at 4 p.m. During that meeting, an agenda item noted is a discussion regarding the Splash Arena.

Among the items on the agenda are considerations of calendars for Bear Cub Preschool and the PAWS transitional program. The board will also consider 8 textbooks for purchase to replace current textbooks in AP Language Arts, American Government, calculus, biology and statistics.

Agendas for both meetings are available at www.sbps.net. The regular board meeting is advertised as available via Zoom, however, the work session is not. Zoom: zoom./us/j/97149270455.

Other area meetings:

Mitchell School District Board of Education, May 8, 7:30 p.m., Mitchell High School Media Center.

Scotts Bluff County Ag Society, Monday, May 8, 7 p.m., Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds.

Mitchell Board of Public Works, Monday, May 8, 7 p.m., 1280 Center Ave., Mitchell.

Village of Morrill Board of Trustees, May 9, 7 p.m., Morrill American Legion, 117 Center Ave., Morrill.

City of Scottsbluff Civil Service Commission/Personnel Advisory Board, May 9, 8 a.m., Scottsbluff City Hall, 2525 Circle Drive. Agenda available at Scottsbluff City Hall.

Morrill Public School Board of Education, May 10, 6:30 pm, District Board Road, 508 Jefferson Ave.

Western Nebraska Economic Development Regular Meeting, May 11, 1:15 p.m. In-person, ESU 13, 4125 Ave. I. Contact Jordan Diedrich, TCD, 308-632-2833 or by email, jdiedrich@tcdne.org for more information or agenda.

Terrytown City Council, May 11, 6:30 p.m., Scotts Bluff County Housing Authority, 89A Woodley Park Road.
A Mocksville man was found carrying methamphetamine and cocaine while riding a dirt bike Saturday, said Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell.

Patrick Tyler Wooten, 30, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for sale or use of controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed weapon. A magistrate set bond at $15,000.

Campbell, in a news release, said that on Saturday deputies saw a person riding a dirt bike on West Memorial Highway near Interstate 77 and noticed there were no registration plates or lights on the dirt bike and the operator was not wearing a helmet.

Deputies stopped the dirt bike, which was being operated by Wooten, Campbell said. Wooten told the deputies he had a handgun concealed in his sweater pocket. Deputies found the Smith and Wesson handgun, and while searching for other weapons, they found 1.86 grams of methamphetamine, .11 grams of cocaine and items of drug paraphernalia, Campbell said.
As executive director of Friends of Southwest Virginia, every day I get the distinct privilege to celebrate our regions unique vision and contributions. I enjoy a front row seat as visitors experience the beauty that defines our very special part of the world.

My team and I get to champion important local cultural and heritage initiatives, including promoting travel to Southwest Virginia. Southwest Virginia is made up of 8,600 square miles of beautiful mountain ridges and incredible valley views with two national parks, 11 state parks, and plenty of natural assets to explore.

Southwest Virginia is home to the countrys designated Best Small-Town Food Scene by USA Today, Best Southern Hotel, Best Southern Small Town by Southern Living, several of the countrys Best Adventure Towns by Blue Ridge Outdoors, among the top-ranked museums, music festivals, and outdoor destinations. The accolades for Southwest Virginia communities seem endless, ranking among world-class attractions and accommodations.

Across Southwest Virginias 19 counties, four cities, and 53 towns, there are several teams working to protect and promote the assets that make the region a cherished stop for travelers and visitors alike. Virginia Tourism Corporation has built one of the most recognizable tourism brands in the country (Virginia is for Lovers) and is a valued asset to promoting the Southwest Virginia region. This year, two premiere Southwest Virginia destinations were chosen as covers for the Virginia Travel Guide. As visitors seek to travel throughout the Commonwealth, they have outstanding introductions to see the regions history through the Daniel Boone Blockhouse in Scott County and the beauty of the popular motorcycle route, the Back of the Dragon.

Additionally, our regional partners and our local tourism partners work tirelessly to educate and attract visitors to their respective communities. We are thankful for these staff members and volunteers whose mission is to promote this region for cultural heritage and history, arts and craft, music, and outdoor recreation. Their frontline work in the regions visitor centers is often the first connection to those traveling through Southwest Virginia. Our local tourism officials help recommend and schedule visits to the top dining, shopping, and lodging sites, in addition to top activities, events, and attractions to help promote growth and development among our communities.

The tourism and hospitality industry provides a critical component to Southwest Virginia economic development initiatives and revenue generation. In 2021, visitor spending totaled more than $1.036 billion and generated $49.2 million in local taxes. The tourism industry also supported just under 9,800 jobs last year.

The U.S. Travel Association celebrates the 40th anniversary of National Travel and Tourism Week from May 7-13 and seeks to move Travel Forward. We know Southwest Virginia will be a dynamic partner for promoting our vibrant downtowns and quality assets through connections with partners across the region.

We encourage all our residents who call Southwest Virginia home to join our mission as an advocate for advancing the region and its remarkable assets. Invite your friends and family to visit, share your stories from your favorite locations in the region, and frequent our small and local tourism businesses to make sure they are available for discovery among visitors from all over the world.

Sincerely,

Kim Davis

Executive Director

Friends of Southwest Virginia

Abingdon, Va.
From one governor to another: the nations first elected Black governor, Doug Wilder, says the current tenant of the office he once held, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, needs to hold two top state officials accountable for letting down Virginia college students and the taxpayers who foot much of higher educations costs.

One, Virginia chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer Martin Brown, recently told faculty and staff at Virginia Military Institute that DEI was dead.

The other, Michael Rao, is president of Virginia Commonwealth University, which recently paid $73 million to get out from under a failed plan redevelopment plan for the old Public Safety Building site in downtown Richmond.

Both the issue of Brown and VCU show it is essential that we have leadership that hears and understands and represents the needs of the people, Wilder told a news conference at the state Capitol.

He said Youngkin is ultimately responsible for holding state officials to account.

Calling VCU Health Systems $73 million payment to a developer that threatened to sue when the project was abandoned a waste of public funds, Wilder said it was especially galling that at about the same time, the school was proposing a tuition increase.

How many students were robbed from attending VCU on scholarship? he said.

He said it was also galling that what he called Browns inflammatory remarks on DEI came at VMI, given the schools history of racism and sexism.

Im not talking about 100 years ago, Im not talking about 50 years ago, Im talking about right now at VMI, he said.

He reiterated his call that Youngkin fire Brown.

Youngkin said Monday that Browns comments reflect recent trends, wherein a moment he feels is important has gone off the rails. Youngkin cited what he called a focus on equal outcomes at any cost, and said the point should be to encourage diversity and inclusion.

"I don't think Governor Youngkin has the experience, or the knowledge or the wherewithal to be considered anything close to an expert on diversity," Wilder said Tuesday in response to a question about Youngkin's recent comments that DEI efforts had gone off the rails.

Meanwhile, Wilder said Youngkin needs to press for more transparency about what Wilder alleged was financial mismanagement at VCU.

Dr. Marlon Levy, interim CEO of VCU Health, said the hospital system paid off a third partys loan in order to avoid far greater financial problems down the road, said

Wilder said he was skeptical of VCUs explanation that the payment came from health system operating funds  that is, the money it collects from patients and their insurers.

Wilder, a distinguished professor at VCUs Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has clashed with Rao and the universitys leadership several times in recent years.

Wilder last year sued Rao and three other VCU officials, alleging damages of $5 million for acts that he said damaged his reputation, but he dropped the suit a few months later.

In 2018, he accused Rao and other administrators of ignoring allegations that a VCU dean harassed a female aide to Wilder and in 2019 he filed a complaint accusing Rao and VCU leadership of pervasive and persistent violations relating to racism and sexism.
COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology on Tuesday issued a red warning for fishing boats over strong winds and rough seas in the southeast Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea.

The rough seas are caused by the depression in the southeast Bay of Bengal and will gradually develop into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, the Department of Meteorology said.

Due to this, the wind speeds in the above-mentioned sea areas will be between 50 and 60 kmph, the department said.

At times, winds can increase up to 70 kmph in sea areas, it said, adding that heavy showers or thundershowers can be expected in above sea areas.

The department urged all naval and fishing communities not to venture into the above sea areas until further notice.

The department also urged those who are out at aforementioned seas to return to coasts or move to safer areas immediately. 
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Panarab news websites have reported that the Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad will meet his Turkish counterpart in Moscow, in a first since 2011. In the meantime, Arab countries are calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to curb the captagon trade in exchange for even closer ties, as dozens of Syrian intellectuals have sig a joint statement warning that normalization with Assad will spell political disaster for the region,

Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers to meet in Moscow

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday, officials were quoted as saying by The National.

It will be the first official meeting of the countries foreign ministers since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

The meeting in Moscow will also involve Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Irans Hossein Amirabdollahian, Turkeys Foreign Ministry said.

Now Im going to Moscow from here. We will hold the meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, Iran and Syria in Moscow, Mr Cavusoglu said at an event in southern Antalya province.

Constructive talks held with Russia, Iran and Syria, Turkey says

He said the aim of the meeting was to achieve permanent stability and peace in Syria, to co-operate in the fight against the YPG/PKK that wants to divide Syria and threatens us from there, and to ensure that Syrians in Turkey return to their homes in a voluntary and safe manner.

The PKK group is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Turkey.

I hope our meeting tomorrow will be beneficial, Mr Cavusoglu added.

What drove Syrias return to the Arab League, and what impact will it have?

The Resolution to readmit Syria to the Arab League is still debated in the regional and international media. The Times of Israel published a long report in which it highlighted that Syrias ee-entry into Arab League symbolizes regional realignment, reiterating that peace remains elusive.

The Arab Leagues decision to readmit Syria after 12 years of suspension is seen as a symbolic victory for Damascus, a reflection of the United States diminishing role in the region, and part of a larger realignment among Arab countries. However, the return to the league is not expected to bring immediate reconstruction funds, nor is it likely to lead to the changes that Syrias neighbours want, such as a refugee return agreement and measures to curb drug trafficking.

Although Syrias reintegration indicates a shift in attitudes among Arab governments, it has also been criticized for rewarding President Bashar Assad without obtaining any political concessions in the long-standing conflict. The Arab Leagues statement following Sundays meeting suggested that Syrias further reintegration would depend on moving towards a political solution, reducing drug trafficking, and facilitating the return of refugees.

Despite Syrias readmission to the Arab League after 12 years, a resolution to the countrys 13-year-long civil war is still not in sight, with Syrian President Bashar Assad having made no concessions towards a political deal.

The move is seen as a significant symbolic victory for Damascus, confirming its move out of pariah status and signalling a larger regional realignment as the U.S.s influence wanes. However, analysts say it may not immediately bring the reconstruction dollars Assad is hoping for, and it is also unlikely to bring the changes Syrias neighbors want, such as an agreement on refugee returns and moves to reduce drug trafficking.

While some Syrians in government-held areas hope to see greater trade with the Arab world to offset a crippling economic crisis, U.S. and European sanctions are likely to prevent significant investments in reconstruction in the near future. A statement issued by the Arab League suggested that further reintegration will depend on Syria moving towards a political solution to the conflict, combating drug trafficking, and facilitating the return of refugees, but analysts doubt that Syria will meet these demands.

Arabs want action on drugs trade

At any rate, the Arab countries are calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to curb the captagon trade in exchange for even closer ties following the Arab Leagues decision to readmit Syria after years of suspension.

According to Reuters, while the West continues to shun Assad following years of civil war, Syrias Arab neighbours want him to tackle drug trafficking, which has grown in tandem with the refugee crisis, prompting Saudi Arabia to offer $4 billion in compensation should it stop. However, Mekdad, Syrias foreign minister, has linked the crackdown on captagon with the return of refugees and a lifting of U.S. sanctions.

Arab states have recently restored ties with Syria and welcomed President Bashar al-Assad back into the Arab League after a 12-year absence, Reuters added.

However, they want Assad to take steps to rein in Syrias flourishing drugs trade, particularly the production and smuggling of the amphetamine captagon, which has become a big worry for Arab leaders alongside their concern about Irans foothold in the country.

While denying any role in the trade, Damascus has sought leverage from the issue, stating that progress on curbing captagon production depends on Arab pressure on the United States to ease sanctions. Meanwhile, capturing the trade has become a key demand by Arab states seeking to restore ties with Assad. Pinning down the Captagon trades value is difficult, but it is believed to be worth several billion dollars a year.

Diplomatic sources say it is a key source of funding for the Syrian government, with the United States, the European Union, and Britain accusing the Fourth Division and other Syrian officials of benefiting from the trade. One of captagons most lucrative markets is the Gulf region, where party scenes are flourishing, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Intercepted shipments of the drug are typically headed there.

New foreign policy

The New Arab looked at the new foreign policy of the Saudi Arabia Kingdom. It stated in its report, that the recent decision by the Arab League to readmit Syria is part of a regional effort to consolidate authoritarianism, according to Joseph Daher. For Saudi Arabia, the move is part of a new foreign policy aimed at stability and economic prosperity. A decrease in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Syria had been evident for several years, culminating in a visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Syria last month.

The move also reflects Saudi Arabias evolving foreign policy, as the aggressive approach of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had become too costly and threatened the countrys plans to reform the economy, attract foreign investors, and open the country to tourists.

The return of Syria to the Arab League is part of a wider trend towards authoritarian stability in the Middle East, according to political scientist Joseph Daher. For Saudi Arabia, the restoration of ties with Damascus is part of a new foreign policy that aims to establish stability and economic prosperity, in contrast to its previously aggressive foreign policy. This new approach involves establishing cordial relations with its neighbours, including Iran, Qatar and Turkey, and rehabilitating Damascus. However, this normalization process is primarily in the interests of authoritarian leaders in the region who want to erode progress made by the 2011 uprisings, Daher argued.

Normalization with Assad a political disaster, warn Syrian Intellectuals

Dozens of Syrian and Arab politicians, artists, and intellectuals have signed a joint statement published on Monday, warning that normalization between Arab states and the Syrian regime will spell political disaster for the region and saying that the Syrian regime has nothing to offer except barrel bombs and drugs.

Around 80 prominent figures signed the statement, among them former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, Syrian political author Moudar Debis, former Syrian opposition chief negotiator Mohammed Sabra, former head of the Syrian National Council (SNC), George Sabra, Syrian politician and academic Abdulbaset Sieda and Syrian artist Abdul Hakim Qatifan.

The statements signatories addressed their concerns to the Arab general public, and warned that the intention by many Arab states to restore relations with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad signalled a looming political catastrophe that could have repercussions for all Arabs.

The statement said that the Assad regimes political rehabilitation by Arab countries would not only give the regime a new opportunity to kill Syrians but would usher in a culture of leniency around the killing of Arab civilians in other places too.

The statement continued: This disastrous trend calls into question the credibility of all the Arab development projects, especially those in the Arab Gulf, and undermines faith in the intentions behind them because the projects are focused on liberalization and growth.

It said that normalizing with the Assad regime violated the spirit of regional development Arab countries claimed to uphold, saying that the regime fostered a criminal environment in the region and normalization with it would strengthen [the regimes] ability to continue exporting drugs, terrorism and killing.

The signatories stated that rehabilitating and reintegrating what they called Assads criminal gang back into international politics would be a new stab in the back for ordinary, oppressed Syrians and would send a message to the world that the Arab regimes will always be against the ordinary Arab peoples whenever they think of grasping their dignity and liberating themselves.

The statement added that the Syrian regime possessed nothing but barrel bombs and drugs, so building bridges with it would not mean anything but the export of these to the other Arab countries which would pave the way for the destruction of our cities and the early death of our youth.

Turkeys election, Syrian refugees, and a race to the bottom of xenophobia

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey have been characterized by a worrying increase in xenophobic and discriminatory rhetoric against the countrys 3.5 million Syrian refugees.

According to New Arab, recent opinion polls suggest that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is neck-and-neck with his secularist opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Both candidates have promised mass deportations, with Kilicdaroglu, in particular, focusing on the issue, vowing to deport all Syrian refugees in the country within two years. Syrian refugees have become a scapegoat for Turkeys economic problems, blamed for a host of social ills ranging from sexual harassment to looting following the deadly earthquake which hit Turkey in February. An opinion poll conducted by the Syrians Barometer showed that 88.5% of Turks wanted Syrians to return to their country.

Turkeys presidential and parliamentary elections are stirring fear and concern among the countrys 3.5 million Syrian refugees, who have become a scapegoat for Turkeys economic problems. Both presidential candidates, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, have promised mass deportations of Syrian refugees, with the latter vowing to send them all back to Syria within two years at the latest. The attitudes towards Syrian refugees have hardened over time, with casual racism, denial of employment, housing, and other essentials, and regular violent attacks being reported. The refugees have not been integrated into Turkish society and are seen as a burden and threat.

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey have been marked by a xenophobic discourse against the countrys 3.5 million Syrian refugees, with both the ruling AKP party and opposition parties promising to return them to Syria.

Recent opinion polls show that the secularist challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has a slight lead over the current president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, both candidates have vowed to deport all Syrian refugees from Turkey. Syrians have increasingly become scapegoats for Turkeys economic problems, with the refugees being seen as a drain on the countrys resources and blamed for social ills. The Syrians Barometer survey found that 88.5% of Turks wanted Syrians to return to their country. Meanwhile, the Turkish government has been accused of forcibly deporting Syrians in violation of international law while claiming that thousands have voluntarily returned to Syria.

However, the forced nature of the Turkish authorities deportations and the results of opinion polls among Syrian refugees in Turkey make these figures questionable. According to the 2021 Syrians Barometer survey, only 1.7% of Syrians expressed willingness to return to a safe zone in Syria. Regardless of who wins the election, it is almost certain to lead to more xenophobia and deportations of Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as very likely more violence.

SDF, KRIs CTG arrest ISIS cell in Syrias Deir-ez-Zor

On Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria announced the dismantling of an ISIS sleeper cell in the northern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, eastern Syria, North Press reported.

The SDF Media Center reported that, with the support of the US-led Global Coalition forces and the Sulaymaniyah-based Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the Counter-Terrorism Units (YAT) of the SDF arrested two members of the ISIS sleeper cell during a security operation in the town of al-Suwar in the north of Deir-ez-Zor. The joint forces also confiscated weapons, ammunition, and communication devices in their possession.

According to the center, the suspects had actively participated in killings, assassinations, and smuggling of terrorist militants against military forces and notables of the region. The Coalition had announced on May 4 that their forces advised and assisted the SDF in capturing a cell operator of ISIS in Deir-ez-Zor.

In March 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the US-led Global Coalition, defeated ISIS after fierce battles in the town of Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, putting an end to the so-called caliphate declared by the terrorist ISIS.

After Baghouz, thousands of ISIS fighters were transferred to prisons, while their families were transferred to Hawl and Roj camps in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-held areas.

Syrias Aleppo airport to resume operations on Wednesday

Syrias International Aleppo airport will resume operations on Wednesday morning, the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority said on Tuesday, according to the state news agency SANA.

The airport was shut on May 2nd after being damaged by Israeli airstrikes, SANA said.

Israel has for years been carrying out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehrans influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.
Julani has been working for years to repackage his group as a Syrian national movement to distance it from its origins in Al-Qaeda, according to Athr Press.

Amidst the Arab political movement towards Damascus, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, also known as Al-Nusra Front and its allies, is attempting to establish himself on the Arab scene through various press statements. He has expressed his disapproval of Arab reconciliation with Syria, especially after Syria rejoined the Arab League. Al-Julani is also trying to promote his group as a moderate Syrian national movement that is opposed to the Syrian state and distanced from its roots in Al-Qaeda. Despite this rebranding effort, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham continues to receive financial and military support from some countries.

The American Jamestown Foundations study revealed that Al-Julani has been working for years to repackage his group as a Syrian national movement to distance it from its origins in Al-Qaeda. The study also highlighted the cooperation between Al-Julani and the United States, as well as the continued support of Hayat Tahrir al-Shams efforts for the organizations regional and global strategic goals.

Qatar is one of the countries that continue to support Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and it considers its support for the group as a bargaining chip. Al-Qaeda is present in Doha, promoting Al-Julanis project, and he has a strong relationship with the Al-Jazeera channel, evident in the channels series of interviews with him and electronic seminars in which Sharia scholars and Tahrir al-Shams leading figures participate. Qatar finances a series of construction projects in northern Syria, mostly in the areas under the groups control.

The issue of Hayat Tahrir al-Shams control over Syrian territory is a matter raised in political tracks that bring together Turkey and Russia. The Syrian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory and the implementation of the agreement on the international M4 road were discussed in the recent meeting of the defence ministers of the four countries. This would force Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to withdraw from several villages and towns it controls in western Syria.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Syrian refugee file is a test for the Syrian regime, according to al-Souria Net.

The recent Arab move to restore the Assad regimes seat in the Arab League after a 12-year freeze continues to elicit divergent analyses and interpretations. While some analysts suggest that al-Assads return was conditional on making concessions to Arab countries, others argue that the move represents a victory for al-Assad, who has been imposed on the Arab arena.

In her article published on Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Syrian writer and journalist Samira Al-Masalmeh views the Arab regimes decision to normalize relations with al-Assad as a scandal that reveals a political and moral reckoning for the Arab countries to their citizens. She notes that the regimes return to the Arab League does not suggest that it will take any steps to mitigate concerns about the Captagon file, which poses a significant threat to Arab countries.

Al-Masalmeh also argues that the Syrian regime will remain a bridge between Iran and Lebanon, strengthening Irans hegemony, which is a cause for concern for several Arab countries. Additionally, neighboring countries are waiting for the regime to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, which was emphasized in the statement of the Amman Consultative Meeting.

Muthanna Abdullah, in his article on Arabi 21, suggests that the Syrian refugee file is a test for the Syrian regime, which must provide strong security guarantees for returnees.

According to a source, the Syrian regime considers Syrian refugees to be the popular incubator of terrorism and may not be able to receive them. Writer Samira al-Masalmeh believes that the problem of Syrian refugees will remain unresolved due to the current political, economic, security, and social conditions.

Meanwhile, writer Malik Wannous believes that the Arabs are competing with the Iranians for the Syrian regime, which appears to be highly compatible with the Iranians. The Arab foreign ministers initiative to end the crisis in Syria is progressing quickly and consistent with Resolution 2254.

Regarding undermining the Iranian role in the Arab arena, writer Muthanna Abdullah suggests that the idea of ending Iranian presence in Syria is a fantasy and requires a long wait. He notes that Iranian debts to Syria exceed 50 billion dollars, and a committee was formed to address this issue. During the Iranian presidents recent visit, an agreement was signed to open a new Iranian line of credit, to be invested in the electricity generation sector, among others.

Abdullah concludes with a question about whether, given Iranian hegemony and debt restrictions, the Arab embrace could attract Bashar al-Assad more than the Iranian embrace.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Statement by the White House on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria.

On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175), the President issued Executive Order 13338, in which he declared a national emergency with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria. The national emergency was modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive Order 13608 of May 1, 2012.

The President took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.

The regimes brutality and repression of the Syrian people, who have called for freedom and a representative government, not only endangers the Syrian people themselves but also generates instability throughout the region. The Syrian regimes actions and policies, including with respect to chemical weapons and supporting terrorist organizations, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As a result, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338, which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13399, Executive Order 13460, Executive Order 13573, Executive Order 13582, Executive Order 13606, and Executive Order 13608, must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2023. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria.

In addition, the United States condemns the brutal violence and human rights violations and abuses of the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian enablers. The United States calls on the Assad regime, and its backers, to stop its violent war against its own people, enact a nationwide ceasefire, facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a political settlement in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. The United States will consider changes in policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
Japanese band MAN WITH A MISSION has not seen the US shores for a good four years now. Rumor had it that the wolves would make an appearance once more, and as of today, that is now confirmed. The band will be making their long-awaited return in just two months.

MAN WITH A MISSION, for those uninitiated, is a five-member group of wolves first created by Jimi Hendrix (or so the backstory goes). The group's lineup has stayed constant since their first exposure to the world back in 2010 and includes vocalist Tokyo Tanaka, guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, bassist Kamikaze Boy, DJ Santa Monica, and drummer Spear-Rib. Man With a Mission quickly sprang onto the scene and their brand of rock has spread across the world.

We last saw them in September of 2019 (check out our coverage here) in San Francisco. The band has been busy since then, releasing an album in late 2021 titled "Break and Cross the Walls I," which naturally was followed by "Break and Cross the Walls II" in 2022. Both albums included a bevy of songs used in various movies, TV series, and anime, including INTO THE DEEP (Godzilla vs Kong), Merry-Go-Round (My Hero Academia), Blaze (Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans), and Dark Crow (Vinland Saga).

MAN WITH A MISSION's most recent work has been the opening song for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's third season, Kizuna no Kiseki.

San Francisco again kicks off the tour, this time at August Hall on May 14. This will be followed shortly by shows in Los Angeles, Texas, Illinois, Toronto, New York, and finally, Boston, MA.

Following their stint in the United States, the band heads to Europe for the summer. The world tour resumes on June 11 in the Czech Republic at the Rock for People festival and will include shows in the Netherlands, France, the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Spain's Resurrection Festival marks their last stop on the tour on June 30.

Tickets will go on sale for the US dates on March 17. Links to the tickets are here

5/14 San Francisco, CA - August Hall

5/15 Los Angeles, CA - Regent Theater

5/18 Dallas, TX - House of Blues

5/19 Houston, TX - House of Blues

5/21 Chicago, IL - House of Blues

5/25 Toronto, ON (CA) - Axis Club

5/26 New York, NY - Irving Plaza

5/28 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

6/11 Hradec Kralove, CZ - Rock for People Festival

6/13 Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg

6/14 Paris, FR - La Cigale

6/16 London, UK - O2 Academy Islington

6/18 Manchester, UK - Rebellion

6/21 Glasgow, IE - The Garage

6/25 Berlin, DE - Astra Kulturhaus

6/27 Munich, DE - Backstage

6/30 Viveiro, SP - Resurrection Festival
HIKE CODE GUIDELINES

Easierusually on relatively flat ground (up to 5 miles and/or less than 500 ft. elevation gain)

Moderatelonger and more elevation gain (over 5 miles and/or over 500 ft. elevation gain)

Strenuouslong hikes and/or elevation gain (over 8 miles and/or over 1200 ft. elevation gain)
CASTLE ROCK  Didymus Ink Art Center is part community center for teens and part art business.

Lindsey Thomas traveled from Vancouver to California in recent years before ending up in Cowlitz County. She had sold her own paintings online and at local markets but didnt think about teaching art until she was approached by the Castle Rock fitness center Studio 117 to start giving art lessons.

She quickly realized she had the knack for it.

If I had a place where I could be in the community, sell my art and have classes, that would be excellent. Thats when I saw the For Sale sign in the window here, Thomas said.

The building had been a bar and restaurant called Johnnys and a pet grooming store before the Thomases bought it. A few remnants of the restaurant interior remain: a front counter selling snacks and art supplies where the bar used to be, and glass fridge doors painted over by Lindsey and her daughter Gabriella.

Didymus is a family business with Lindsay, her husband James working on sales and movie curation, and her two adult children Gabriella and Michael helping man the front desk.

The center

The main room is large, colorful open area where a constantly running Kinect game draws people in to play. Farther back is a media area lined with shelves of board games, video games, books and a curated selection of family friendly movies. Many of the movies are on VHS tapes.

The back room has a small stage set up for karaoke and music practice but is otherwise the least polished part of the building. Lindsey Thomas said eventually she wanted to convert it into a kitchen to add cooking to the arts program and a secondary art studio.

The center offers a Teen Time on Monday and Wednesday nights. For $2, kids can work on art projects like painting or decorating the tables, or just hang out playing games.

Families can give their kids regular access to the various activities through a set of $20 monthly passes. Didymus offers separate passes for five different types of arts projects: video games and board games, karaoke and music, painting, Dungeons & Dragons, and movie rentals. People can buy an overall pass for $90 that lets them pick any activities for the month and weekly passes are also available.

The main focus of Didymus is Castle Rocks teenagers, but the center offers events for a wider age range. In May the center will have storytime readings for younger kids and adult events like parents nights and self-defense lessons.

To reflect that open artistic spirit, Lindsay Thomas wants to have three of the buildings outer walls redecorated with murals. The family will design the front; one side wall would be painted by kids and volunteers; and the other side would commemorate the Castle Rock Bloom Team.

Lindsay Thomas hopes to get the murals up by the end of the summer, pending city approval.

We are harnessing that artistic nature that (kids) need desperately, she said. If we dont want to become unfeeling robots, we need to remind kids that theyre unique and creative.
CENTRALIA  Bail is set at $5 million for two teenagers accused of murdering a worker at a Toledo-area Shell station during an attempted robbery on Wednesday.

Court documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday identified the victim as 30-year-old Navjot Singh.

Two of the suspects, identified as Taylor K. Lenihan, 16, and Quinton M. Ramey, 17, both of Redding, California, were charged as adults in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday with one count each of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Crews from the Washington State Patrol crime lab, Lewis County Sheriffs Office and Lewis County Coroners Office respond to a scene at the Shell gas station located along Mulford Road in Toledo while investigating a homicide on Thursday.

Surveillance footage of the Shell station reportedly shows Singh restocking shelves when, at about 8:46 p.m. on Wednesday, two individuals wearing masks and gloves entered the store. One individual was reportedly wearing a light-colored T-shirt and holding a long gun with an extended magazine, while the other was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and holding a bag and flex-cuffs, according to court documents.

The individual holding the gun reportedly pointed the gun at Singh, who is then seen walking toward the cash register.

Singh then reportedly turns his back towards the gunman and starts to struggle over the firearm, according to court documents.

The struggle moved offscreen, but the surveillance camera reportedly captured footage of the individual in the hoodie point(ing) something towards the struggle before both individuals ran out of the store, got into a white Dodge truck with a temporary license plate and camping gear in the bed and then drove off.

A separate camera from the parking lot reportedly showed the truck pull into the parking lot from the west at 8:45 p.m., roll through the parking lot, circle a second time, stop and reverse before the two individuals exit the vehicle and go into the store.

At about 8:49 p.m., Lewis County 911 received a call from a passerby indicating they saw two masked individuals running out of a store in the 100 block of Mulford Road.

The caller also reported the two individuals left in a white, extended-cab Dodge pickup truck and said their actions appeared suspicious, according to the Lewis County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were dispatched at approximately 8:52 p.m.

Court documents identify the first-arriving officer as Lewis County Sheriffs Deputy Andrew G. Scrivner, who got to the scene at about 9:11 p.m.

When he arrived, Scrivner was advised there was a person down, not breathing and he immediately requested aid units and detectives, according to court documents. Scrivner stated he believed Singh had suffered a shotgun wound to the chest.

Medical aid arrived and declared Singh deceased at 9:27 p.m.

Meanwhile, the stores manager contacted 911 dispatch and advised he was en route from Vancouver.

A detective arrived at approximately 10:10 p.m. and documented the scene, including a spent red shotgun casing beside Sighns body.

The detective was able to access the stores security footage once the manager arrived, according to court documents.

Detectives were continuing to process the scene on Thursday, and requested assistance from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab Response Team, according to a news release.
KALAMA  After he refused to resign Monday, the Kalama City Council approved asking the Cowlitz County prosecuting attorney to take the appropriate legal actions to remove councilmember Matthew Merz from his seat because of his felony convictions.

During the special meeting Monday night, the council voted 3-1, with Merz opposed, to request quo warranto action, a civil action that can be filed in county Superior Court against any person who unlawfully holds a public office. Councilmember Wendy Conradi was absent.

Washington state law allows quo warranto action be filed when a public officer has done something that by law justifies a forfeiture of office, including conviction of a felony.

Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder Friday sentenced Merz to community service after being convicted of computer trespass and data theft in March.

Merz, 42, avoided jail time but must serve 160 hours of community service and pay fines, after a jury found Merz illegally accessed councilmember Jon Stanfills email as part of Merzs plan to uncover alleged and unproven misconduct concerning the Kalama Police Department.

At the beginning of the Monday meeting, Mayor Mike Reuter asked Merz if he would step down.

Judge Scudder didnt request that of me, Merz said. He said it was a decision of the people of Kalama, not the Superior Court. I will side with him on that.

Stanfill said it was misleading for Merz to emphasize Scudders statement, when the judge only had jurisdiction over the criminal case, not this civil matter.

Councilmember Steve Kallio asked Merz to reconsider resigning because if the legal action moves forward, the burden of proof will be on Merz, who cant win.

Its just gonna cost more money, one more thing the court will take away, Kallio said. (You) can go on your own or force this procedure.

Merz tried to question City Attorney Frank Randolph about meetings with the prosecuting attorneys office. Randolph declined to discuss the meetings because of attorney-client privilege.

When asked again if he would step down, Merz quoted a classical Greek phrase attributed to King Leonidas of Sparta, If you want my seat molon labe, meaning come and take (them).

About a dozen members of the public attended the special council meeting in person, with more joining online. Four people spoke in favor of the citys request to file the civil action.

Kalama resident Mark Wells said the situation is an embarrassment.

Im glad to see these actions, he said. I hope the city will move forward with recouping financial losses as well.

Resident Rosemary Siipola said Kalama deserves better than what Merz has put us through.

I think about all things we could do with the money that has gone to defend the city, she said. We shouldnt have to defend the city from its own elected official.
CLARK COUNTY  A pack of three feral cats, a mother and two kittens, wandered into The Swamp encampment last year looking for food.

Polly Todd, the self-proclaimed mother of the camp, started to take care of them, putting out water and food.

The feline family stayed at the camp for about three days. Until one morning, Todd woke up and the mother and one of the babies were gone  leaving behind a kitten only a couple of months old.

They probably left him behind because he can be sort of a handful, said Todd with a smile.

She named him Joey.

It took the kitten a little while to warm up to Todd, initially not letting her touch him but occasionally side-sweeping her ankle. Then one day, she could finally pick him up.

We spent a lot of time in front of the fireplace by my tent together, he would curl up in my lap and we would just cuddle, said Todd.

Todd has experienced homelessness off and on for years. Recently, she moved into The Outpost, the citys first Safe Stay Community. Joey is by her side.

He is my baby boy. Hes so loving, and I love taking care of him, she said. Without him, I probably wouldnt have made it out there.

Todds statement rings true for many pet owners. Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. And for people experiencing homelessness, animals can serve as a lifeline.

Pet ownership should not be restricted to someones socioeconomic status. Pet ownership brings so many benefits, not just for the individual, but for the community, said Laura Jean Skiles, community solutions manager for the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

Give everything up for pets

In April, balmy sunbeams blanketed Chance Newbill and Katie Vongthongthip as they watched their dog, Nova Scotia, zoom around the smallish pen designated for animals to play in at Vancouvers second Safe Stay, Hope Village.

The pit bull and husky mix hopped around the small mulch-coated confine before halting in her tracks abruptly, wood pellets skipping off the ground around her paws. The dog stared intensely behind a nearby pallet home, eyes unblinking.

Shes seen some rabbits there before, said Newbill with a huge smile. I dont think she would ever hurt any of them, but shes curious.

For more than five years, Newbill and Vongthongthip called their van home. They bought Nova Scotia from a friend last fall. Now the family of three resides in a pallet shelter home in Hope Village.

The first week after they got her, the then-puppy started to have intense stomach pain. The couple were at odds; this was their first pet.

I was so worried. I didnt have money to pay for anything. I just wanted to take care of her, and it was so scary the thought of her being in pain or losing her because I didnt have the resources, said Vongthongthip. I would give everything up for her.

The couple used their last $40 to pay for a veterinarian check-up.

We would put food in her mouth before our mouths, said Newbill. We would do anything for her. When people first see a homeless person with a dog, they say poor dog but what they dont know is that most owners are doing their best and would give up their last money or water bottle or food for that dog.

Pets, people not siloed

Various agencies across Clark County work to support people experiencing homelessness and their pets. One prominent organization is the Humane Society for Southwest Washington.

A few weeks ago, a man walked into the Humane Society, ready to surrender his dog. He was emotional at the thought of being separated from his pet after seven years of companionship, but he was experiencing financial turmoil, recounted Skiles. But staff at the animal nonprofit were able to offer him a solution. The dog was placed in its safe haven program, temporarily housing animals when owners cannot care for them, such as financial difficulties, or are it they are healing from surgery or had a house fire.

The Humane Society provides services free of charge or at a very minimal price for lower-income people or those experiencing housing instability. The organization hosts Spay and Save every Tuesday and Wednesday, a low-cost service for low-income people. The group and its volunteers also do outreach to various encampments and housing organizations around Vancouver.

We want to create safer, healthier and happier communities. Pets and people do not exist separately. They are not siloed. They exist together. And if we want to help the animals, we have to help the people that love them, said Skiles.

The Humane Society hopes to build a full-service veterinary clinic for the community.

Another critical person doing their part to help the unhoused with their animals is Dr. David Slocum, a retired veterinarian who spends his days reaching out to people experiencing housing instability. Slocum said in his work he can see the strong relationship between pets and unhoused populations.

For a lot of these people, their dog or cat is their main friend in their life that they can depend on. These animals are not abused; they are very well taken care of, he said.

Slocum offers vaccines, flea check-ups and sometimes counseling. Though he cannot do surgery or blood tests outside a clinic, he can refer them to someplace like the Humane Society.

Sometimes people need blood tests, like that one over there, he said, pointing to a black border collie and shepherd mix who was seeking pets from those around her. We arranged her into a clinic for some lab tests. Now shes on medication and dramatically better.

The border collie/shepherd is named Odyssey. And for Martha, the dog with a midnight-black coat is a reason to keep going.

Martha bought Odyssey when the dog was a puppy. In January, Martha had a stroke. She became homeless shortly after being released from the hospital.

She is my everything. She really gives me a reason to live, she said.

Barriers and challenges

Multiple studies show that pets contribute to the emotional well-being of people experiencing homelessness, including better mental health, stability, obtaining sobriety, leaving domestic violence, and avoiding crime.

Ive heard some people in the community say, Why dont they just get rid of their pets? But pets are their families. I think particularly when youre living outside, they may be the only connection you have with anything or anyone. They provide them companionship, a purpose, said Jamie Spinelli, Vancouvers homeless response coordinator.

But a barrier that pets can present on people experiencing homelessness is their ticket to housing. In Clark County, only a select amount of transitional or temporary housing options allow pets due to shelter policies. This can leave many in an impossible situation of choosing shelter or abandoning their animal.

Pets are hugely important to people (outside). Its one of the things that frequently keeps people from accessing things like shelter and even housing, said Spinelli.

Andi Stewart and Will Davis lived in a two-seater truck with their dogs, Tasha and Coma, for four years.

People may steal from each other, but when it comes to pets, they take care of each other and them. Our pets are valued, and if somebody doesnt have something for a pet, they get an abundance of stuff from other people, said Stewart as Tasha, an ombre cream and light tan Chihuahua, sat on her lap, basking in the sun.

Stewart said pets encourage people to keep surviving because they need to care for their animals.

They still have to eat, go to the bathroom, be warm  and so you keep struggling and trying because you know its not fair to them.

Davis said people experiencing homelessness shouldnt necessarily buy an animal because of the extra challenges they present with finding them food and other necessities. But for most, they already had their animals when they became unhoused  like himself and Stewart. He added that having a pet while experiencing homelessness is helpful, because the animal unbiasedly loves their owners  no matter their living situation.

When youre down and bummed, there is nothing (better) than your best friend coming up and cuddling you, said Davis. Because they dont care about where they are. They just notice you.
MANILA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' total external trade in goods recorded a year-on-year decrease of 5.1 percent in March to 17.98 billion U.S. dollars, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.

Of the total external trade in March, 63.7 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods.

The PSA said the deficit of trade in goods amounted to 4.93 billion dollars, with an annual decrease of 7.5 percent.

According to the agency, China was the Philippines' highest supplier of imported goods and also the largest export destination in March. 
A Cowlitz Indian tribal member wrote an episode in the second season of an animated preschool series on Netflix, and another voiced a character who sings about the importance of salmon to the culture.

Cowlitz tribal member Joey Clift has been a contributing producer on Spirit Rangers since season 1, according to a press release from the tribe.

The show explores the adventure and beauty of nature through the eyes of Kodi, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, Chumash and Cowlitz siblings, who help protect the land and spirits of the national park that they call home in California.

This season, Clift wrote the episode Salmon, Where are You?, which also features Cowlitz tribal member and musician Debora Iyall as a voice actor for the Great Cowlitz Samn Spirit character who sings a song about the importance of salmon preservation to the Cowlitz people.

Listening to Debora Iyalls amazing music on Seattle rock radio stations growing up was the first time I ever witnessed Cowlitz representation in mainstream media, said Clift in a press release from the tribe. Working with her and having her guest star in a Spirit Rangers episode I wrote that is a celebration of Cowlitz culture, that people all around the world will be able to watch on Netflix, is a beautiful full circle moment in my life.

The show features the first California Native American showrunner Karissa Valencia and has an all-native writers room.

Its truly heartwarming to see Spirit Rangers back for a second season and continuing to share Cowlitz Indian Tribal teachings with our children, said Cowlitz General Council Chairperson Patty Kinswa-Gaiser in the press release. Appropriate and accurate representation is so important for young and growing minds. We raise our hands to Joey Cliff, Debora Iyall, the Spirit Rangers showrunners, and Netflix for positively showcasing Cowlitz culture with native youth and our next generation of leaders, teachers, healers and advocates.

Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix now. For more information about the show, visit Netflix.com/SpiritRangers.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The European Union needs to speed up work on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, Commission vice president Margrethe Vestager said Monday, as policymakers wrestle with the risks from the emergent technology.

"There is no time to waste" on passing rules to control the use of AI, Vestager told reporters in Berlin.

The European Commission put forward regulatory proposals in early 2021, but progress on the legislation has been slow.

EU member states set out their views on the Commission's ideas at the end of 2022, while MEPs will put the matter to an initial vote in committee in Strasbourg on Thursday.

The Parliament's opinion should be confirmed in a plenary vote in June, before negotiations between the EU's institutions begin in earnest.

"What I think is important is speed. We really need our legislation to get in place," Vestager said.

"I really hope that we can have the first meeting of the political negotiation before summer so that we can end it this year."

The arrival of new AI tools such as ChatGPT has reinvigorated the debate over regulation and spurred a response from governments.

ChatGPT can generate essays, poems and conversations from the briefest of prompts, and has proved itself capable of passing some tough exams.

But it has been dogged by concerns that its abilities could lead to widespread cheating in schools or supercharge disinformation on the web.

The chatbot can only function if it is trained on vast datasets, raising concerns about where its maker OpenAI gets its data and how that information is handled.

Italy temporarily banned the program in March over allegations its data-gathering broke privacy laws, while French and German regulators have opened their own probes.

"When it comes to artificial intelligence like ChatGPT it will also be caught by the (EU's) AI Act," Vestager said.

The proposed legislation is "future proof" because it targets the uses of AI, not the specific technologies behind it, Vestager said.

The EU's draft rules outlaw certain uses such as "generalized surveillance", while companies must authorize themselves for other "high-risk" uses, such as facial recognition.

 2023 AFP
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a, Schematic of the human visual-perception process: visual perception is one of the vital human senses where the brain decodes what the eyes see or sense. The human eye receives more than 80% of information through light. The brain visual-perception process is represented wherein the human eye receives light from an external source. This light is focused on the retina of the eye, which captures an image of the visual stimuli. Nerve cells present in the retina function as photoreceptors that convert light into electrical impulses. These impulses move from the optic nerve to the visual cortex at the back of the human brain. b, A small convolutional neural network (CNN) was designed to demonstrate the device's optical sensing and electrical programming abilities. For that, we extracted images from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)-10 dataset to make a simple binary image recognition, wherein the object dog and automobile were chosen as the classification tasks. The original images consists of three RGB channels of size 32323, wherein each channel, discrete pixels are stored with three light intensities (Red, Green, and Blue). Our device showed the capability to sense blue light. Thus, we only extracted pixels of the blue channel for the recognition task. (c), The confusion matrix of the test results for 764 images in the CIFAR-10 dataset. The yellow-colored diagonal elements in the matrix represent the correctly identified cases. Credit: Kumar, D., Joharji, L., Li, H. et al.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) have led to the rapid expansion of sensory nodes, which can produce an enormous volume of raw analog data that is converted into digital data, and then transmitted to other units to perform computational tasks.

Nevertheless, the conventional von Neumann architecture which consists of discrete devices results in data access and data analysis delays with high power consumption. This can be troublesome for revolutionary applications with stringent delay and power requirements such as autonomous cars and robotics, among others.

In a new paper published in Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists, led by Professor Nazek El-Atab from the Smart Advanced Memory devices and Applications (SAMA) laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering Program of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, and co-workers from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, have developed a single sensing-storage-processing node using a two-terminal solution-processable MoS 2 based metaloxidesemiconductor (MOS) device.

The device embeds a light-sensitive 2D material-based charge-trapping layer that mimics the human visual system. More specifically, the same device is shown to be capable of optical data sensing, storage and processing. The study highlights how advanced technology-based in-memory sensing and computing can improve the response time, area, and energy efficiency, overcoming the delayed data access and hardware redundancy issues in conventional von Neumann architecture.

"When the device is exposed to light, it would directly store the wavelength and intensity of light within it, as opposed to traditional devices where a dedicated photosensor would detect the intensity/wavelength of light, then convert the data into the digital domain using an analog-to-digital converter, and then transfer the data to a separate memory for storage," said the scientists, summarizing the operational principle of their in-memory sensing devices.

"When operated as a traditional memory, the device showed a decent memory window of approximately 2.8 V with an operating voltage of +6/-6 V, high-temperature retention (100C) for 10 years, and excellent endurance (106 cycles) without any deterioration. Interestingly, the device showed a larger shift in the memory window from 2.8 V to more than 6 V when the optical light of different wavelengths was stimulated for 2 s during the program operation. This confirms that the device is able to sense light and to store it directly within the same node," the scientists added.

"The effect of the number and duration of electrical and optical pulses on the memory window suggested that these devices can also mimic the perceptual learning of the human visual system. To confirm this, a convolutional neural network (CNN) was used to measure the device's optical sensing, storing and processing capabilities. The array simulation received optical images transmitted over the blue light wavelength and performed inference computation to process and recognize the images. The results shows that our devices are able to recognize the objects in the images with 91% accuracy," the scientists explained.

"The determined approach is promising for the development of future artificial retina networks for artificial visual perception and in-memory light sensing applications. It should be noted that the demonstrated MOS memory devices use a similar structure as the Nobel Prize-winning charge-coupled devices (CCD) in CCD cameras, which makes this study a significant step towards the development of smart CCD cameras with artificial visual perception capabilities," the scientists said.

More information: Dayanand Kumar et al, Artificial visual perception neural system using a solution-processable MoS2-based in-memory light sensor, Light: Science & Applications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01166-7 Journal information: Light: Science & Applications
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The process of hydrogen production with carbon storage by alkaline thermal treatment of biomass. Credit: the authors

Hydrogen, seen as the "ultimate energy" for the 21st century, boasts benefits such as being clean and renewable as well as storable and versatile. The International Energy Agency predicts that 115 million tons of hydrogen will be required in 2030 to make global carbon dioxide net emissions zero by 2050. This makes green hydrogen a promising avenue to a carbon-free society.

By making use of biomass for hydrogen production we can reduce carbon emissions created by fossil fuels, thus helping to address the worsening energy crisis. The novel alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) technology for hydrogen production involves pyrolysis at atmospheric pressure and low temperature. From the viewpoint of the complete biomass life cycle, ATT has significant potential for "negative carbon emissions" and could substitute some fossil fuels.

In a review published in Carbon Resources Conversion, a team of researchers comprehensively examined the latest progress in ATT of biomass for hydrogen production. "There are many factors that affect the hydrogen production efficiency from ATT of biomass, " explains the study's first author, Guojie Liu, a Ph.D. student at the School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University. "They include alkali, feedstock, catalysts, process parameters, and reactors, among others."

"However, we must first clarify the fundamental role and synergy of alkali and catalysts in the ATT reaction and the conversion mechanism of biomass, and then use that knowledge to guide the development of more effective upgrading strategies and even breakthroughs in larger-scale applications," Liu added.

To address that, the team believes that to maximize hydrogen production efficiency from the ATT reaction, the alkali used should promote the conversion of biomass into small gasifiable intermediates and in-situ carbon storage.

"Furthermore, by overcoming the kinetic limitation of the reformation reaction under low pressure and temperature in the ATT process, hydrogen production efficiency can be enhanced, and the synergy between alkali and metal catalysts can be fully demonstrated," explained Houfang Lu, professor at the same school.

Following the review, four major conclusions were drawn. In order to better understand the transformation of model substances through different alkalis and identify more suitable biomass, further study is needed. To establish a suitable catalyst system based on the intermediate products of the ATT reaction, an analysis must be conducted into the deactivation mechanism of the catalyst, the interaction between the active site and carrier, and the catalytic structure-activity relationship.

Additionally, when weighing the advantages and disadvantages of in-situ and ex-situ reactions, designing reasonable reactors and developing efficient inlet/outlet methods are key to overcoming problems such as coking, limited mass transfer and catalyst regeneration caused by solid-solid reactions. Finally, economic assessment and energy consumption analysis should be conducted.

"We hope that these points will guide forthcoming experiments on hydrogen production via biomass ATT processes to realize the industrialization of this technology," said Lu.

More information: Guojie Liu et al, A green route for hydrogen production from alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) of biomass with carbon storage, Carbon Resources Conversion (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.crcon.2023.04.001

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Screenshot of the Scraft writing tutor system. Credit: Kim & Tan

Generative AI toolsartificial intelligence models that can create images, texts, videos, or other content in short periods of timehave recently become increasingly popular, especially after the public release of ChatGPT. ChatGPT, the popular chatbot by OpenAI, is now being used by countless users worldwide to source information and even produce creative texts or academic essays.

The use of ChatGPT by students is already sparking considerable debate, as it could lead to students being graded on assignments that they did not produce themselves and potentially even dishonestly advancing in classes that they did not study for. A team of researchers at Columbia University recently developed Scraft, a generative AI-based system that can support students' learning, instead of helping them to cheat on their assignments.

This AI-based tool, introduced in a paper pre-published on arXiv, can generate useful grammatical feedback on English writing assignments. Scraft could be particularly helpful for foreign students who are trying to improve their English writing skills, helping them to spot mistakes that they are making often and understand how to fix them.

"We naturally came to this idea as an ESL student who grew up struggling with writing education and as a current ESL writing tutor interacting with other ESL students," Tyler Kim, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Tech Xplore. "We realized that writing feedback is hard, expensive, and [time consuming to] deliver, which prevents students from becoming better writers. This is a serious problem in Korea where English, despite being a second language, is critical for educational and job prospects, as more than half of job postings require English writing proficiency."

Scraft, the generative AI-based system created by the researchers, was designed to offer useful feedback based on the Socratic questioning method. Socratic questioning, named after the Greek philosopher Socrates, is a well-known approach for producing insightful questions that prompt reflection and learning.

"Scraft is an AI writing tutor for English learners that provides real-time, personalized writing feedback and targeted writing exercises that pinpoint the writing weaknesses of individual students," Kim explained. "It uses generative AI to understand writing context, provide actionable feedback, and thought-provoking questions to promote critical thinking that fosters language acquisition."

Kim and his colleagues already produced a working prototype of Scraft and evaluated it in a preliminary student involving 15 university students. These students were asked to use the AI-based tool for two weeks while working on a writing assignment and then share their thoughts and feedback during 15-minute interviews.

The interviewed students said that they had found Scraft very useful and that it helped them to improve their English writing skills. They were particularly pleased with the insightful questions it produced and said that it pin-pointed mistakes or aspects of their writing that they had not been aware of.

"We were able to use generative AI to produce educational feedback, rather than for the most intuitive use-case: text/essay generation," Kim said. "As students, we realized using an AI text generator is basically mindlessly watching AI generate content which doesn't help us become better writers. We wanted to use the same technology in an educational manner that helps us become better writer, instead of just making our writing better."

The researchers are planning to release a public beta version of Scraft in early June 2023 and hope that it will help many English learners worldwide to improve their writing skills. Meanwhile, they will conduct further studies aimed at further evaluating and improving their AI writing tool.

"We are continuing our research in two main directions," Kim added. "Firstly, we wish to explore how users are interacting with AI writing feedback and our tool. Then we plan to test whether AI feedback helps language acquisition and quantifying its results."

More information: Tae Wook Kim and Quan Tan, Repurposing Text-Generating AI into a Thought-Provoking Writing Tutor, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2304.10543 Journal information: arXiv

 2023 Science X Network
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The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen displaying output from ChatGPT, on March 21, 2023, in Boston. European lawmakers have rushed to add language on general artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT as they put the finishing touches on the Western world's first AI rules. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File

The breathtaking development of artificial intelligence has dazzled users by composing music, creating images and writing essays, while also raising fears about its implications. Even European Union officials working on groundbreaking rules to govern the emerging technology were caught off guard by AI's rapid rise.

The 27-nation bloc proposed the Western world's first AI rules two years ago, focusing on reining in risky but narrowly focused applications. General purpose AI systems like chatbots were barely mentioned. Lawmakers working on the AI Act considered whether to include them but weren't sure how, or even if it was necessary.

"Then ChatGPT kind of boom, exploded," said Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament co-leading the measure. "If there was still some that doubted as to whether we need something at all, I think the doubt was quickly vanished."

The release of ChatGPT last year captured the world's attention because of its ability to generate human-like responses based on what it has learned from scanning vast amounts of online materials. With concerns emerging, European lawmakers moved swiftly in recent weeks to add language on general AI systems as they put the finishing touches on the legislation.

The EU's AI Act could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence, with companies and organizations potentially deciding that the sheer size of the bloc's single market would make it easier to comply than develop different products for different regions.

"Europe is the first regional bloc to significantly attempt to regulate AI, which is a huge challenge considering the wide range of systems that the broad term 'AI' can cover," said Sarah Chander, senior policy adviser at digital rights group EDRi.

Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology to ensure that it improves people's lives without threatening their rights or safety. Regulators are concerned about new ethical and societal risks posed by ChatGPT and other general purpose AI systems, which could transform daily life, from jobs and education to copyright and privacy.

The White House recently brought in the heads of tech companies working on AI including Microsoft, Google and ChatGPT creator OpenAI to discuss the risks, while the Federal Trade Commission has warned that it wouldn't hesitate to crack down.

China has issued draft regulations mandating security assessments for any products using generative AI systems like ChatGPT. Britain's competition watchdog has opened a review of the AI market, while Italy briefly banned ChatGPT over a privacy breach.

The EU's sweeping regulationscovering any provider of AI services or productsare expected to be approved by a European Parliament committee Thursday, then head into negotiations between the 27 member countries, Parliament and the EU's executive Commission.

European rules influencing the rest of the worldthe so-called Brussels effectpreviously played out after the EU tightened data privacy and mandated common phone-charging cables, though such efforts have been criticized for stifling innovation.

Attitudes could be different this time. Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have called for a six-month pause to consider the risks.

Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the "Godfather of AI," and fellow AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio voiced their concerns last week about unchecked AI development.

Tudorache said such warnings show the EU's move to start drawing up AI rules in 2021 was "the right call."

Google, which responded to ChatGPT with its own Bard chatbot and is rolling out AI tools, declined to comment. The company has told the EU that "AI is too important not to regulate."

Microsoft, a backer of OpenAI, did not respond to a request for comment. It has welcomed the EU effort as an important step "toward making trustworthy AI the norm in Europe and around the world."

Mira Murati, chief technology officer at OpenAI, said in an interview last month that she believed governments should be involved in regulating AI technology.

Text from the ChatGPT page of the OpenAI website is shown in this photo, in New York, Feb. 2, 2023. European lawmakers have rushed to add language on general artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT as they put the finishing touches on the Western world's first AI rules. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew, File

But asked if some of OpenAI's tools should be classified as posing a higher risk, in the context of proposed European rules, she said it's "very nuanced."

"It kind of depends where you apply the technology," she said, citing as an example a "very high-risk medical use case or legal use case" versus an accounting or advertising application.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman plans stops in Brussels and other European cities this month in a world tour to talk about the technology with users and developers.

Recently added provisions to the EU's AI Act would require "foundation" AI models to disclose copyright material used to train the systems, according to a recent partial draft of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press.

Foundation models, also known as large language models, are a subcategory of general purpose AI that includes systems like ChatGPT. Their algorithms are trained on vast pools of online information, like blog posts, digital books, scientific articles and pop songs.

"You have to make a significant effort to document the copyrighted material that you use in the training of the algorithm," paving the way for artists, writers and other content creators to seek redress, Tudorache said.

Officials drawing up AI regulations have to balance risks that the technology poses with the transformative benefits that it promises.

Big tech companies developing AI systems and European national ministries looking to deploy them "are seeking to limit the reach of regulators," while civil society groups are pushing for more accountability, said EDRi's Chander.

"We want more information as to how these systems are developedthe levels of environmental and economic resources put into thembut also how and where these systems are used so we can effectively challenge them," she said.

Under the EU's risk-based approach, AI uses that threaten people's safety or rights face strict controls.

Remote facial recognition is expected to be banned. So are government "social scoring" systems that judge people based on their behavior. Indiscriminate "scraping" of photos from the internet used for biometric matching and facial recognition is also a no-no.

Predictive policing and emotion recognition technology, aside from therapeutic or medical uses, are also out.

Violations could result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

Even after getting final approval, expected by the end of the year or early 2024 at the latest, the AI Act won't take immediate effect. There will be a grace period for companies and organizations to figure out how to adopt the new rules.

It's possible that industry will push for more time by arguing that the AI Act's final version goes farther than the original proposal, said Frederico Oliveira Da Silva, senior legal officer at European consumer group BEUC.

They could argue that "instead of one and a half to two years, we need two to three," he said.

He noted that ChatGPT only launched six months ago, and it has already thrown up a host of problems and benefits in that time.

If the AI Act doesn't fully take effect for years, "what will happen in these four years?" Da Silva said. "That's really our concern, and that's why we're asking authorities to be on top of it, just to really focus on this technology."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Apple is making its own push into India and last month opened its first two retail stores in the world's most populous country.

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has bought a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru, the key Apple supplier said in a filing Tuesday as it looks to diversify production away from China.

Also known by its official name, Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and a principal assembler of Apple iPhones.

Both companies are seeking to shift manufacturing away from China after strict Covid policies, a bout of industrial unrest and ongoing diplomatic tensions with the United States hurt production.

The 1.2 million-square-meter (13 million-square-foot) acquisition in Devanahalli, near the airport for Bengaluru, was announced in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

It said that subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development was paying three billion rupees ($37 million) for the site, the size of more than 50 Manhattan city blocks.

Another Foxconn unit was acquiring land use rights to a 480,000-square-meter site in Vietnam's Nghe An province, it added.

Karnataka state chief minister Basavaraj S. Bommai said in March that Apple would "soon" manufacture iPhones at a new plant that would create "about 100,000 jobs".

Bloomberg News reported that month that Foxconn was planning to invest $700 million in a new factory in Karnataka.

Foxconn chairman Young Liu visited the state then and also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has urged foreign firms to manufacture goods in the South Asian nation.

Foxconn has manufactured Apple handsets in India since 2019 at its plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The company is expected to break ground on a new facility in Telangana state next week, local media reported.

Two other Taiwanese suppliers, Wistron and Pegatron, also manufacture and assemble Apple devices in India.

'Good growth'

Apple has been making its own push into India and chief executive Tim Cook last month opened its first two retail stores in the world's most populous country.

The California-based firm is betting big on the nation of 1.4 billion peoplehome to the second-highest number of smartphone users in the world, after China.

Navkendar Singh of market intelligence firm International Data Corporation told AFP that Apple had already proved "quite successful" in India, with domestic iPhone sales of 6.7 million last year.

"This is good growth considering that Apple plays at the price range of more than $500 all the time," he added.

The world's biggest company in terms of market value is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in India.

Apple said last September it would manufacture its latest iPhone 14 in India, just weeks after launching the flagship model.

The country last year accounted for seven percent of Apple's iPhone production, according to Bloomberg, lagging behind the United States, China, Japan and other countries.

China, by far the leading producer of Apple products, saw production disrupted by violent protests last November at the country's largest iPhone factory, also owned by Foxconn.

Hundreds of employees protested over conditions and pay at the plant in the central city of Zhengzhou, spurred in part by public frustration over the government's zero-tolerance approach to Covid during the pandemic.

"Having contingency or diversification plans helps so you are not too dependent on one region," Counterpoint Technology Market Research senior analyst Prachir Singh told AFP.

"It's not like the Chinese operations will come down to zero," he added. "It is about building a similar world in India so they have multiple locations to rely on."

 2023 AFP
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Dynamic neural responses of LTC-SNs. (a) an MNIST sample is sequentially fed into the LTC-SNN, pixel-by-pixel along the row-direction. (b) for illustration, we calculated the histograms of the resulting average dt/t values after training for this single sample (c) average responses of neurons in terms of firing rate binned by dt/tm, exp(dt/tad p) values (d) Example of dynamics of inverse time constant dt/tm for four randomly selected neurons during presentation of the sequence. Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-023-00650-4

In a new study in Nature Machine Intelligence, researchers Bojian Yin and Sander Bohte from the HBP partner Dutch National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) demonstrate a significant step towards artificial intelligence that can be used in local devices like smartphones and in VR-like applications, while protecting privacy.

They show how brain-like neurons combined with novel learning methods enable training fast and energy-efficient spiking neural networks on a large scale. Potential applications range from wearable AI to speech recognition and Augmented Reality.

While modern artificial neural networks are the backbone of the current AI revolution, they are only loosely inspired by networks of real, biological neurons such as our brain. The brain however is a much larger network, much more energy-efficient, and can respond ultra-fast when triggered by external events. Spiking neural networks are special types of neural networks that more closely mimic the working of biological neurons: the neurons of our nervous system communicate by exchanging electrical pulses, and they do so only sparingly.

Implemented in chips, called neuromorphic hardware, such spiking neural networks hold the promise of bringing AI programs closer to userson their own devices. These local solutions are good for privacy, robustness and responsiveness. Applications range from speech recognition in toys and appliances, health care monitoring and drone navigation to local surveillance.

Just like standard artificial neural networks, spiking neural networks need to be trained to perform such tasks well. However, the way in which such networks communicate poses serious challenges. "The algorithms needed for this require a lot of computer memory, allowing us to only train small network models mostly for smaller tasks. This holds back many practical AI applications so far," says Sander Bohte of CWI's Machine Learning group. In the Human Brain Project, he works on architectures and learning methods for hierarchical cognitive processing.

Mimicking the learning brain

The learning aspect of these algorithms is a big challenge, and they cannot match the learning ability of our brain. The brain can easily learn immediately from new experiences, by changing connections, or even by making new ones. The brain also needs far fewer examples to learn something and it works more energy-efficiently. "We wanted to develop something closer to the way our brain learns," says Bojian Yin.

Yin explains how this works: if you make a mistake during a driving lesson, you learn from it immediately. You correct your behavior right away and not an hour later. "You learn, as it were, while taking in the new information. We wanted to mimic that by giving each neuron of the neural network a bit of information that is constantly updated. That way, the network learns how the information changes and doesn't have to remember all the previous information. This is the big difference from current networks, which have to work with all the previous changes. The current way of learning requires enormous computing power and thus a lot of memory and energy."

6 million neurons

The new online learning algorithm makes it possible to learn directly from the data, enabling much larger spiking neural networks. Together with researchers from TU Eindhoven and research partner Holst Center, Bohte and Yin demonstrated this in a system designed for recognizing and locating objects. Yin shows a video of a busy street in Amsterdam: the underlying spiking neural network, SPYv4, has been trained in such a way that it can distinguish cyclists, pedestrians and cars and indicate exactly where they are.

"Previously, we could train neural networks with up to 10,000 neurons; now, we can do the same quite easily for networks with more than 6 million neurons," says Bohte. "With this, we can train highly capable spiking neural networks like our SPYv4."

And where does it all lead? With access to such powerful AI solutions based on spiking neural networks, chips are being developed that can run these AI programs at very low power and will ultimately show up in many smart devices, like hearing-aids and augmented or virtual reality glasses.

More information: Bojian Yin, Accurate online training of dynamical spiking neural networks through Forward Propagation Through Time, Nature Machine Intelligence (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-023-00650-4. www.nature.com/articles/s42256-023-00650-4 Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence

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The authors 1998 head-tracking algorithm used skin color to distinguish a face from the background of an image. Credit: John MacCormick, CC BY-ND

In 1998, I unintentionally created a racially biased artificial intelligence algorithm. There are lessons in that story that resonate even more strongly today.

The dangers of bias and errors in AI algorithms are now well known. Why, then, has there been a flurry of blunders by tech companies in recent months, especially in the world of AI chatbots and image generators? Initial versions of ChatGPT produced racist output. The DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion image generators both showed racial bias in the pictures they created.

My own epiphany as a white male computer scientist occurred while teaching a computer science class in 2021. The class had just viewed a video poem by Joy Buolamwini, AI researcher and artist and the self-described poet of code. Her 2019 video poem "AI, Ain't I a Woman?" is a devastating three-minute expose of racial and gender biases in automatic face recognition systemssystems developed by tech companies like Google and Microsoft.

The systems often fail on women of color, incorrectly labeling them as male. Some of the failures are particularly egregious: The hair of Black civil rights leader Ida B. Wells is labeled as a "coonskin cap"; another Black woman is labeled as possessing a "walrus mustache."

Echoing through the years

I had a horrible deja vu moment in that computer science class: I suddenly remembered that I, too, had once created a racially biased algorithm. In 1998, I was a doctoral student. My project involved tracking the movements of a person's head based on input from a video camera. My doctoral adviser had already developed mathematical techniques for accurately following the head in certain situations, but the system needed to be much faster and more robust. Earlier in the 1990s, researchers in other labs had shown that skin-colored areas of an image could be extracted in real time. So we decided to focus on skin color as an additional cue for the tracker.

I used a digital camerastill a rarity at that timeto take a few shots of my own hand and face, and I also snapped the hands and faces of two or three other people who happened to be in the building. It was easy to manually extract some of the skin-colored pixels from these images and construct a statistical model for the skin colors. After some tweaking and debugging, we had a surprisingly robust real-time head-tracking system.

Not long afterward, my adviser asked me to demonstrate the system to some visiting company executives. When they walked into the room, I was instantly flooded with anxiety: the executives were Japanese. In my casual experiment to see if a simple statistical model would work with our prototype, I had collected data from myself and a handful of others who happened to be in the building. But 100% of these subjects had "white" skin; the Japanese executives did not.

Miraculously, the system worked reasonably well on the executives anyway. But I was shocked by the realization that I had created a racially biased system that could have easily failed for other nonwhite people. AI researcher and artist Joy Buolamwinis video poem AI, Aint I a Woman?

Privilege and priorities

How and why do well-educated, well-intentioned scientists produce biased AI systems? Sociological theories of privilege provide one useful lens.

Ten years before I created the head-tracking system, the scholar Peggy McIntosh proposed the idea of an "invisible knapsack" carried around by white people. Inside the knapsack is a treasure trove of privileges such as "I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race," and "I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider."

In the age of AI, that knapsack needs some new items, such as "AI systems won't give poor results because of my race." The invisible knapsack of a white scientist would also need: "I can develop an AI system based on my own appearance, and know it will work well for most of my users."

One suggested remedy for white privilege is to be actively anti-racist. For the 1998 head-tracking system, it might seem obvious that the anti-racist remedy is to treat all skin colors equally. Certainly, we can and should ensure that the system's training data represents the range of all skin colors as equally as possible.

Unfortunately, this does not guarantee that all skin colors observed by the system will be treated equally. The system must classify every possible color as skin or nonskin. Therefore, there exist colors right on the boundary between skin and nonskina region computer scientists call the decision boundary. A person whose skin color crosses over this decision boundary will be classified incorrectly.

Scientists also face a nasty subconscious dilemma when incorporating diversity into machine learning models: Diverse, inclusive models perform worse than narrow models.

A simple analogy can explain this. Imagine you are given a choice between two tasks. Task A is to identify one particular type of treesay, elm trees. Task B is to identify five types of trees: elm, ash, locust, beech and walnut. It's obvious that if you are given a fixed amount of time to practice, you will perform better on Task A than Task B.

In the same way, an algorithm that tracks only white skin will be more accurate than an algorithm that tracks the full range of human skin colors. Even if they are aware of the need for diversity and fairness, scientists can be subconsciously affected by this competing need for accuracy.

This matrix is at the heart of the authors 1998 skin color model. Can you spot the racism? Credit: John MacCormick, CC BY-ND

Hidden in the numbers

My creation of a biased algorithm was thoughtless and potentially offensive. Even more concerning, this incident demonstrates how bias can remain concealed deep within an AI system. To see why, consider a particular set of 12 numbers in a matrix of three rows and four columns. Do they seem racist? The head-tracking algorithm I developed in 1998 is controlled by a matrix like this, which describes the skin color model. But it's impossible to tell from these numbers alone that this is in fact a racist matrix. They are just numbers, determined automatically by a computer program.

The problem of bias hiding in plain sight is much more severe in modern machine-learning systems. Deep neural networkscurrently the most popular and powerful type of AI modeloften have millions of numbers in which bias could be encoded. The biased face recognition systems critiqued in "AI, Ain't I a Woman?" are all deep neural networks.

The good news is that a great deal of progress on AI fairness has already been made, both in academia and in industry. Microsoft, for example, has a research group known as FATE, devoted to Fairness, Accountability, Transparency and Ethics in AI. A leading machine-learning conference, NeurIPS, has detailed ethics guidelines, including an eight-point list of negative social impacts that must be considered by researchers who submit papers.

Who's in the room is who's at the table

On the other hand, even in 2023, fairness can still be the victim of competitive pressures in academia and industry. The flawed Bard and Bing chatbots from Google and Microsoft are recent evidence of this grim reality. The commercial necessity of building market share led to the premature release of these systems.

The systems suffer from exactly the same problems as my 1998 head tracker. Their training data is biased. They are designed by an unrepresentative group. They face the mathematical impossibility of treating all categories equally. They must somehow trade accuracy for fairness. And their biases are hiding behind millions of inscrutable numerical parameters.

So, how far has the AI field really come since it was possible, over 25 years ago, for a doctoral student to design and publish the results of a racially biased algorithm with no apparent oversight or consequences? It's clear that biased AI systems can still be created unintentionally and easily. It's also clear that the bias in these systems can be harmful, hard to detect and even harder to eliminate.

These days it's a cliche to say industry and academia need diverse groups of people "in the room" designing these algorithms. It would be helpful if the field could reach that point. But in reality, with North American computer science doctoral programs graduating only about 23% female, and 3% Black and Latino students, there will continue to be many rooms and many algorithms in which underrepresented groups are not represented at all.

That's why the fundamental lessons of my 1998 head tracker are even more important today: It's easy to make a mistake, it's easy for bias to enter undetected, and everyone in the room is responsible for preventing it.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 8)  The government should make sure funds are still available to buy COVID-19 vaccines despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration that the virus is no longer a global health emergency, an infectious diseases expert said Monday.

I dont think we need to really depend now on donation. Kailangan maglaan talaga ng budget ang government natin in terms of how are we going to incorporate COVID-19 vaccination doon sa regular vaccination program, Dr. Rontgene Solante told CNN Philippines The Source.

[Translation: The government needs to allocate budget in terms of how are we going to incorporate COVID-19 vaccination in the regular vaccination program.]

On May 5, the WHO said the COVID-19 infection is no longer a global health emergency after three years since the coronavirus outbreak in January 2020.

In line with the WHO decision, the Department of Health said it will convene with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to "discuss and reassess policies and other guidelines affected by the [WHO's] declaration.

Despite the COVID-19 alert downgrade, Solante said the disease is still an important health issue since the virus can cause highly transmissible mutations that can drive infections up.

The expert also said countries should continue to equip the health care system, pursue vaccination, and make sure countermeasures are available like antiviral agents and diagnostic tests.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero urged the government to make public funds spent on COVID-19 vaccines.

"If we penalize an ordinary government worker for failing to liquidate his local travel expenses then why should billions in vaccine purchases be exempt from that accountability? he said.

The senator said disclosing the amount "will end the national guessing game as to the amount involved as agencies report different values.

Escudero also said the government cannot forever hide behind non-disclosure agreements (NDA) it signed with vaccine manufacturers.

Officials from the previous and present administration have cited NDAs in their refusal to disclose the prices of COVID-19 shots purchased by the government.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in February said it obtained information on some of the NDAs signed by the government to procure COVID-19 vaccines, including the amount spent for each shot.

Details can be discussed in a public hearing once the vaccine manufacturers allow it, panel chairman Francis Tolentino said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  The Department of Energy on Tuesday said that more yellow alerts  or when power reserves fall below the ideal levels  could be potentially raised throughout May.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra said they already assumed the worst-case scenario with the absence of the Ilijan natural gas plant, which is undergoing retrofitting works following the ceasing of gas supply deliveries from the Malampaya natural gas facility.

"We have potential yellow alerts for the entire month of May. Now the way it was computed is yung worst case scenario na, in-assume na namin na wala yung Ilijan. Tapos lahat ng hindi papasok na mga generators, tanggal na rin sa analysis," she said in a media briefing.

[Translation: We have potential yellow alerts for the entire month of May. The way it was computed is based on the worst-case scenario, assuming that the Ilijian remains inoperative. Then all the generators that will not arrive, they were out of the analysis.]

"If that power plant comes in, mababawasan yung yellow alerts natin for the rest of the year," added Guevarra.

[Translation: If that power plant comes in, yellow alerts will be lessened for the rest of the year.]

The 1,200-megawatt power facility in Batangas, which contributed up to 10% of Luzons net reliable capacity, is expected to resume operations by May 26.

The DOE earlier said 15 yellow alerts could be issued this year due to transmission constraints.

When asked if there could be future red alerts or when power supply in grids is insufficient, Guevara replied: "May possibility pa rin, pero magkakamukha ng nangyari kahapon (There is still a possibility, just like what happened yesterday). Remember, this is the first red alert of the year."

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines on Monday was forced to declare red and yellow alerts over the Luzon and Visayas grids due to plant shutdowns and low power production, but they were lifted later in the day.

The DOE pointed out that the unfinished transmission lines in parts of the country could have cushioned the recent power interruptions.

"Dapat yung [Hermosa-San Jose Transmission Line] nung December pa dapat natapos yun. So, 600 megawatts sana na power na andun sa Bataan area ay dapat naibato dito sa population area, but then sa July pa matatapos yung transmission line na yun," said Guevarra.

[Translation: The Hermosa-San Jose Transmission Line should have been finished by last December. The 600 megawatts power in Bataan area could have been transmitted to the population area, but the transmission line will be done by July.]

Guevarra added that the unfinished Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, which will connect the Mindanao and Visayas power grids, could have transmitted additional power supply to Luzon as Mindanao only utilizes 70% of its power capacity.

"Unfortunate, sana yung delay hanggang before summer sana, but it extended all after summer pa matatapos. That's why we have this situation today," she said.

[Translation: It's very unfortunate because the delay could have only lasted before summer, but the projects will still be done after summer. That's why we have this situation today.]
SANTA FE, N.M.  A New Mexico judge approved a $1.15 million settlement between a medic who worked on the Rust film set and one of several defendants she accused of negligence in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal.

Court records show the partial settlement between Cherlyn Schaefer and prop master Sarah Zachry was approved during a hearing Monday. Schaefer told the judge there's not a day that goes by when she doesn't think about what happened, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

In her civil complaint, Schaefer said she fought desperately in a failed attempt to save the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She said the shock, trauma and emotional distress that followed made it impossible for her to continue working in her field.

Prosecutors dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor and producer last month, citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.

State District Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood had entered a default judgment against Zachry in November after the film worker failed to file responses within court deadlines.

Zachrys current attorney, Nathan Winger, told the court Monday that her previous attorney, William Waggoner, let deadlines pass without her permission, and she intends to seek damages from him to fund her settlement with Schaefer. Waggoner disputes the claim.

Justin Rodriguez, one of several attorneys representing Schaefer, said the settlement is a small portion of what we expect to receive in the future. The remaining defendants include Rust Movie Productions, weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director David Halls, but not Baldwin.

Schaefers complaint claims Zachry and Gutierrez-Reed failed to ensure there were no live rounds in Baldwins weapon. An involuntary manslaughter charge is pending against Gutierrez-Reed, but her attorneys said they fully expect her to be exonerated.
If someone would have told a younger Oliver Hadnot, principal of College Station Middle School, that he would remain at the same school for 20 years, he would not have believed it.

On the administration side, you kind of move around a lot, Hadnot said. I got here, and it just kept getting better and better every year.

In his 20 years as principal of CSMS, Hadnot touched the lives of many, which was evident by the turnout at his retirement party Monday at the CSMS library. Current and former colleagues, members of the College Station school district, family and friends gathered around Hadnot to celebrate his impact and the legacy he has created.

With 39 total years in education, Hadnot said he had one goal before retiring: to leave CSMS better than he found it.

I think weve done that with the staff Ive assembled over the years, Hadnot said. Were happy with the 20, but at some point everybody has to move onto that next chapter in their life.

While he does not know what this next chapter will entail, he does know that he and his wife, Patricia, who is an instructional assistant of the communication, academics and social learning program at Cypress Grove Intermediate School, have made College Station their home and that the community he has built at CSMS will be sincerely missed.

Im going to miss the kids, and Im going to miss my staff, Hadnot said. Its been fun.

His legacy will continue to live on through his commitment to creating a family within the walls of CSMS and beyond.

Beth Bland, eighth grade U.S. History teacher, has taught at CSMS for 24 years and said Hadnot has made an honorable leader throughout the years.

If you were to look over the course of 20 years, theres not much turnover at this school because we love this school, and we love this school because of the way you run this school and the way that you have made a family here at this school, Bland said, not just with the staff but with the kids and with the parents and with the community.

Bland said Hadnot recites the same line, This is the best school in the district, at every faculty meeting as a reminder that his staff does not work for him, but he works for them.

It wasnt about me; its never about me, Hadnot said in response. Its about the people that do the real work.

A humble leader, Hadnot said his job has been to do everything possible to ensure his school community had what they needed to succeed, something Tiersa Hopkins, special education English language arts and reading teacher, said makes him an incredible person to not only work for but to know.

Hopkins served as the parent teacher organization (PTO) president of CSMS from 2004-08 while teaching special education teachers at Texas A&M University. When preparing for student teaching, Hopkins said she would send her best students to learn under Hadnots guidance.

Having retired from teaching last year, Hopkins said she returned to CSMS this school year to fill a vacant special education role, something she said she would only do for Hadnot.

The thing that I love about him and the reason that I didnt even think twice about unretiring is that he hires great people and values them as professionals, Hopkins said as she bragged about Hadnots teacher retention rate.

Hadnot also served as Superintendent Mike Martindales teacher at one point, so Martindale said he was fortunate to have him as a principal in the district down the line.

His experience, his love for his faculty and staff and his students is second to none, Martindale said. Hes the heartbeat of College Station Middle School, and were forever grateful for him and his work and everything hes done for the school district over the years.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA  Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

BBVA has been the subject of several other reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Societe Generale downgraded Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, HSBC upgraded Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued 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 $6.38.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Price Performance

NYSE:BBVA traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $7.02. 1,325,795 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,725,821. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a 1-year low of $3.93 and a 1-year high of $7.93. The stock has a market cap of $44.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.32 and a beta of 1.25. The firms 50-day moving average is $7.20 and its 200-day moving average is $6.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02.

Institutional Trading of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Company Profile

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BBVA. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 21.4% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 733,348 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,173,000 after acquiring an additional 129,165 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 6.9% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 643,708 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,664,000 after acquiring an additional 41,706 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 4.0% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 393,935 shares of the banks stock worth $2,241,000 after buying an additional 15,070 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 32.6% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 35,093 shares of the banks stock worth $196,000 after buying an additional 8,633 shares during the period. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 24.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 18,972 shares of the banks stock worth $108,000 after buying an additional 3,749 shares during the period. 2.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

(Get Rating)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA engages in the traditional banking businesses of retail banking, asset management, private banking, and wholesale banking. It operates through the following segments: Spain, the United States, Mexico, Turkey, South America, and Rest of Eurasia. The Spain segment includes mainly the banking and insurance business that the group carries out in Spain.

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The Chiba Bank, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CHBAY  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $37.38 and last traded at $37.38, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $37.38.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets lowered Chiba Bank from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th.

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Chiba Bank Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $37.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.84.

Chiba Bank Company Profile

The Chiba Bank, Ltd. engages in the business of banking services. The company offers general banking services including deposits, loans, domestic and foreign exchange transactions; and financial services such as leasing, securities brokerage, credit cards and others. It also develops software; and provides business management and staffing services.

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Douglas Emmett (NYSE:DEI  Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

DEI has been the topic of a number of other reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Douglas Emmett from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Douglas Emmett from $17.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered shares of Douglas Emmett from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $16.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $15.78.

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Douglas Emmett Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DEI traded down $0.56 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $11.53. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,464,014 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,610,951. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 2.77 and a current ratio of 2.54. Douglas Emmett has a fifty-two week low of $10.62 and a fifty-two week high of $29.03. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $12.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.87. The company has a market cap of $2.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.61 and a beta of 0.94.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Douglas Emmett

About Douglas Emmett

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DEI. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 400.7% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,467 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,174 shares in the last quarter. Ellevest Inc. increased its position in shares of Douglas Emmett by 103.8% during the first quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 2,981 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 1,518 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in Douglas Emmett by 1,128.4% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,506 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 2,302 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Douglas Emmett in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Douglas Emmett by 24.3% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,294 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the companys stock.

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Douglas Emmett, Inc is a real estate investment trust, engages in the acquisition, development, ownership, and management of real estate properties. It operates through the following segments: Office, and Multifamily. The Office segment comprises rental of office space and other tenant services, including parking and storage space rental.

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Indra Sistemas, S.A. (OTCMKTS:ISMAY  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $7.00 and last traded at $7.00, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.00.

Indra Sistemas Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $2.47 billion, a PE ratio of 17.95 and a beta of 0.96. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $6.40 and a 200-day moving average of $5.49.

Indra Sistemas Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Indra Sistemas SA is a global consulting, technology, innovation, and talent company, which engages providing information technology services. The company offers consulting services & outsourcing of business processes. It also provides solutions & services for the transport & traffic, energy industry, public administration, healthcare, financial services, security & defence and telecom & media sectors.

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Advisors Preferred LLC lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV  Get Rating) by 222.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 75,567 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 52,133 shares during the quarter. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF makes up 2.1% of Advisors Preferred LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Advisors Preferred LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $4,826,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 18.1% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 7,330,858 shares of the companys stock worth $468,442,000 after buying an additional 1,121,408 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 1,885,924 shares of the companys stock worth $120,510,000 after buying an additional 76,923 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 15.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,851,196 shares of the companys stock worth $107,054,000 after buying an additional 250,350 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 78.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,488,254 shares of the companys stock worth $96,314,000 after buying an additional 652,158 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 52.4% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,402,819 shares of the companys stock worth $81,125,000 after buying an additional 482,506 shares during the period.

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Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSEARCA SPLV traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $63.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 356,878 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,699,280. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a fifty-two week low of $55.99 and a fifty-two week high of $67.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.69. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $62.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $62.94.

Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 11,027 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,732,000. Waste Management accounts for approximately 0.7% of Advisors Preferred LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,925,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016,798 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,982,963 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,963,780,000 after acquiring an additional 154,917 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its stake in Waste Management by 21.5% in the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock worth $417,394,000 after acquiring an additional 461,425 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Waste Management by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,887,477 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $299,165,000 after buying an additional 49,711 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,849,470 shares of the business services providers stock worth $296,333,000 after buying an additional 9,298 shares during the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research report on Monday, April 17th. They set a buy rating and a $190.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $180.00 to $186.00 in a research report on Sunday, April 30th. Stifel Nicolaus raised shares of Waste Management from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $171.00 to $177.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, UBS Group cut Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $175.67.

Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management

Waste Management Stock Up 0.5 %

In other Waste Management news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 7,515 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,164,825.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 46,542 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,214,010. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other Waste Management news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 7,515 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,164,825.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 46,542 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,214,010. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 30,743 shares of company stock worth $4,762,320 in the last ninety days. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Shares of WM traded up $0.92 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $169.95. The companys stock had a trading volume of 529,001 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,782,903. The company has a market cap of $69.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The company has a fifty day moving average of $159.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $158.35. Waste Management, Inc. has a twelve month low of $138.89 and a twelve month high of $175.98.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.02. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.33% and a return on equity of 33.23%. The firm had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.29 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.28%.

Waste Management Company Profile

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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.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Senator JV Ejercito said he wants a subpoena to be issued against Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban for missing two consecutive hearings on the sugar smuggling issue.

He is wasting a lot of time of a lot of people, not only the senators, executive secretary [Lucas Bersamin], some officials and stakeholders, he also told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday.

On Monday, Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Francis Tolentino decided to postpone the hearing on the alleged state-sponsored smuggling of sugar due to the absence of some officials from the executive, including Panganiban.

Ejercito expressed disappointment because many government officials, including Bersamin, made an effort to be present during the hearing.

The senator also said they were not informed about the Agriculture officials absence, who is a vital personality in the issue being discussed.

The Blue Ribbon is for public accountability of government officials and it is very important for us to get to the bottom of any scams, scandals, Ejercito emphasized.

Bersamin told senators on Monday that Panganiban is in Washington D.C. until May 13 on an official mission.

Given the absence of many important officials, only the administering of oaths of resource persons present was conducted.
Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 8,799 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $537,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,035,799 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $285,732,000 after acquiring an additional 118,928 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 32.8% in the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 3,494,359 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $214,728,000 after purchasing an additional 862,354 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 87.9% in the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,276,078 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $185,885,000 after purchasing an additional 1,532,100 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 117.2% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 2,424,556 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $148,989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,308,043 shares during the period. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System grew its position in Occidental Petroleum by 16.5% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,879,723 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $115,509,000 after acquiring an additional 265,658 shares during the last quarter. 78.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Occidental Petroleum Price Performance

Shares of OXY stock traded up $0.25 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $59.21. 7,241,531 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,755,021. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $61.25 and a 200 day moving average of $64.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a 52-week low of $54.30 and a 52-week high of $77.13. The company has a market cap of $53.18 billion, a PE ratio of 4.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.78.

Occidental Petroleum Dividend Announcement

Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.61 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.83 by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $8.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.21 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 52.68% and a net margin of 35.87%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 97.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.48 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 5.81 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio is currently 5.82%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired 1,518,001 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $56.70 per share, for a total transaction of $86,070,656.70. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 208,040,405 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,795,890,963.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Over the last quarter, insiders bought 12,371,716 shares of company stock worth $735,557,715. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on OXY shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Occidental Petroleum in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group initiated coverage on Occidental Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a neutral rating and a $68.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen upgraded Occidental Petroleum from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the stock from $63.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Occidental Petroleum from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Occidental Petroleum from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Occidental Petroleum has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.89.

Occidental Petroleum Profile

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Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas.

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Alpha Family Trust purchased a new stake in Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 1,320 shares of the home improvement retailers stock, valued at approximately $263,000.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,374,801 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $1,948,491,000 after acquiring an additional 167,495 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,916,354 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $1,486,770,000 after acquiring an additional 912,518 shares in the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 3,463,854 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $650,546,000 after acquiring an additional 160,651 shares in the last quarter. London Co. of Virginia lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 2,071,408 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $389,031,000 after acquiring an additional 58,983 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 7,952.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,586,400 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $320,754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,566,700 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.62% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Lowes Companies

In other news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total transaction of $1,853,967.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,523,936. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Lowes Companies Price Performance

LOW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Lowes Companies in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $215.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lowes Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of Lowes Companies from $300.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Lowes Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group cut their target price on shares of Lowes Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Lowes Companies has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $223.85.

NYSE:LOW traded up $1.59 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $205.64. The stock had a trading volume of 921,957 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,915,737. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $170.12 and a 1-year high of $223.31. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $200.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $203.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $122.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.38, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.09.

Lowes Companies (NYSE:LOW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.07. Lowes Companies had a net margin of 6.63% and a negative return on equity of 82.30%. The firm had revenue of $22.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.78 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lowes Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 26th will be issued a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 25th. Lowes Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.96%.

Lowes Companies Profile

(Get Rating)

Lowes Cos., Inc engages in the retail sale of home improvement products. The firm offers products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating and property maintenance. It also provides home improvement products in the following categories: appliances, bathroom, building supply, electrical, flooring, hardware, paint, kitchen, plumbing, lighting & fans, outdoor living, windows and doors.

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Alpha Family Trust purchased a new stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 4,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $293,000.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock worth $16,915,357,000 after purchasing an additional 4,994,047 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 61.4% during the 1st 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 during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 141.0% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.1% during the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new stake in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter valued at $169,838,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. StockNews.com raised Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, April 15th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.80.

Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Stock Down 0.7 %

In other news, insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 253,102 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.63, for a total value of $16,104,880.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 184,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,743,743.69. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 253,102 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.63, for a total value of $16,104,880.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 184,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,743,743.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 558,398 shares of company stock worth $35,011,051. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

KO stock traded down $0.47 on Tuesday, hitting $63.45. 4,138,736 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,939,060. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $54.01 and a 12-month high of $66.38. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $61.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market cap of $274.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.54.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share 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 return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.90%. Coca-Colas payout ratio is presently 80.70%.

Coca-Cola Profile

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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.

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AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $2,734.46 and last traded at $2,731.04, with a volume of 38317 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $2,709.54.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AZO. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AutoZone in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of AutoZone from $2,650.00 to $2,850.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on AutoZone from $2,563.00 to $2,899.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Guggenheim upgraded AutoZone from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $2,735.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of AutoZone in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,664.53.

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AutoZone Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $50.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.32, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.68. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2,529.22 and its 200 day moving average price is $2,484.30.

Insiders Place Their Bets

AutoZone ( NYSE:AZO Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported $24.64 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $21.33 by $3.31. The firm had revenue of $3.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.56 billion. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 64.72% and a net margin of 14.32%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $22.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 127.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other AutoZone news, VP William R. Hackney sold 2,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,394.45, for a total transaction of $6,522,481.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other AutoZone news, VP Dennis W. Leriche sold 1,420 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,573.04, for a total transaction of $3,653,716.80. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 379 shares of the companys stock, valued at $975,182.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP William R. Hackney sold 2,724 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,394.45, for a total transaction of $6,522,481.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 36,960 shares of company stock valued at $90,128,092 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.59% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AutoZone

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in AutoZone by 0.7% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,521,550 shares of the companys stock worth $3,259,055,000 after buying an additional 10,791 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in AutoZone by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,204,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,969,654,000 after purchasing an additional 48,141 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 107,977.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 699,260 shares of the companys stock worth $1,724,500,000 after purchasing an additional 698,613 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of AutoZone by 2.6% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 466,179 shares of the companys stock valued at $998,521,000 after buying an additional 11,713 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 241,813.5% during the first quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 304,811 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,000 after buying an additional 304,685 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.12% of the companys stock.

AutoZone Company Profile

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AutoZone, Inc engages in the retail and distribution of automotive replacement parts and accessories. The firm offers ALLDATA, which produces, sells, and maintains diagnostic and repair information software used in the automotive repair industry and E-commerce, which includes direct sales to customers.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Rating) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective lowered by Barclays from C$149.00 to C$127.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Barclayss price target would indicate a potential upside of 8.09% from the companys current price.

Several other analysts have also commented on BMO. CIBC lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$150.00 to C$145.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$154.00 to C$151.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. CSFB reduced their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$150.00 to C$147.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. TD Securities reduced their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$145.00 to C$140.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Fundamental Research set a C$160.30 price target on shares of Bank of Montreal and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of Montreal currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$147.38.

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Bank of Montreal Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of BMO traded down C$0.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching C$117.49. 560,182 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,421,515. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$121.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$126.51. Bank of Montreal has a 52 week low of C$113.47 and a 52 week high of C$138.85. The company has a market cap of C$82.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.85, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.13.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

Bank of Montreal ( TSE:BMO Get Rating ) (NYSE:BMO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The bank reported C$3.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$3.13 by C$0.09. The business had revenue of C$6.47 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 40.56% and a return on equity of 21.06%. Analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 13.3034091 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Rating)

Bank of Montreal engages in the provision of diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, small business lending, cash management, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers.

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Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE:AKR  Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $18.17.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AKR shares. TheStreet raised shares of Acadia Realty Trust from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com raised shares of Acadia Realty Trust from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Acadia Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of AKR stock opened at $13.35 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $13.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.27 billion, a P/E ratio of -31.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.47. Acadia Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $12.28 and a 12 month high of $20.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 1.05.

Acadia Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Acadia Realty Trust

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.39%. Acadia Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -167.44%.

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Acadia Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Acadia Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Acadia Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. US Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Acadia Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Acadia Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $75,000.

About Acadia Realty Trust

(Get Rating)

Acadia Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust, which engages in delivering operating platforms and investment strategy. It operates through the following business segments: Core Portfolio, Funds, and Structured Financing. The Core Portfolio segment consists of retail properties. The Funds segment handles retail real estate.

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Canadian Zinc Co. (TSE:CZN  Get Rating) traded up 9.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$0.12 and last traded at C$0.12. 122,370 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 21% from the average session volume of 154,194 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.11.

Canadian Zinc Stock Up 9.1 %

The businesss fifty day moving average is C$0.12. The stock has a market capitalization of C$43.93 million and a PE ratio of -3.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 867.15, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.67.

About Canadian Zinc

(Get Rating)

Canadian Zinc Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of natural resource properties in Canada. The company's principal project is the Prairie Creek mine, a zinc-lead-silver property located in the Northwest Territories. It also owns a mineral land package in central Newfoundland, which comprises lead, copper, silver, gold, and zinc deposits.

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Efficient Advisors LLC lowered its stake in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM  Get Rating) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,147 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,800 shares during the quarter. Efficient Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $3,492,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of EEM. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the 1st quarter worth $146,000. AMI Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 5.7% in the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,268 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $509,000 after purchasing an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 62.5% in the first quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 65,005 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,935,000 after acquiring an additional 25,000 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 14.5% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 8,965 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $405,000 after buying an additional 1,135 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 892,269 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $40,286,000 after acquiring an additional 76,229 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:EEM traded down $0.27 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $39.14. The stock had a trading volume of 7,476,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 33,309,504. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $33.49 and a 1 year high of $43.23. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $38.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.81.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index).

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Empire (OTCMKTS:EMLAF  Get Rating) and Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Empire and Sendas Distribuidoras revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Empire N/A N/A N/A $2.61 10.20 Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion 0.29 $236.31 million N/A N/A

Sendas Distribuidora has higher revenue and earnings than Empire.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Empire N/A N/A N/A Sendas Distribuidora N/A N/A N/A

Institutional and Insider Ownership

This table compares Empire and Sendas Distribuidoras net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

36.6% of Empire shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Empire pays an annual dividend of $1.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.0%. Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. Empire pays out 40.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Empire and Sendas Distribuidora, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Empire 0 1 2 0 2.67 Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00

Empire currently has a consensus target price of $43.10, suggesting a potential upside of 61.79%. Given Empires stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Empire is more favorable than Sendas Distribuidora.

Summary

Empire beats Sendas Distribuidora on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Empire

(Get Rating)

Empire Co. Ltd. engages in the food retailing and corporate investment activities. It operates through the Food Retailing, and Investments & Other Operations segments. The Food Retailing Segment involves in the distribution of food products in Canada. The Investments & Other Operations segment consist equity accounted interest in Crombie REIT, and Genstar. The company was founded on February 12, 1963 and is headquartered in Stellarton, Canada.

About Sendas Distribuidora

(Get Rating)

Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. As of March 31, 2022, the company operated 216 stores under the Assai banner, as well as 13 distribution centers. It serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. The company sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. Sendas Distribuidora S.A. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd lessened its position in shares of H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB  Get Rating) by 15.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,358 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,865 shares during the period. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltds holdings in H&R Block were worth $1,546,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in shares of H&R Block by 25.0% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 394,642 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,408,000 after buying an additional 78,926 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of H&R Block by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 2,066,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,433,000 after buying an additional 27,763 shares in the last quarter. Premier Fund Managers Ltd acquired a new position in shares of H&R Block in the 4th quarter valued at $3,035,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in shares of H&R Block by 43.9% in the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 60,784 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,219,000 after buying an additional 18,545 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of H&R Block by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 20,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $741,000 after buying an additional 2,180 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.05% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on HRB shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of H&R Block in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and issued a $48.00 target price on shares of H&R Block in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of H&R Block from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th.

H&R Block Price Performance

HRB stock opened at $32.16 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $34.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.81. H&R Block, Inc. has a 12 month low of $23.65 and a 12 month high of $48.76. The company has a market cap of $4.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 0.67.

H&R Block (NYSE:HRB  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The company reported ($1.37) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($1.48) by $0.11. H&R Block had a net margin of 14.57% and a negative return on equity of 337.61%. The firm had revenue of $166.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $151.64 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.02) EPS. H&R Blocks revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that H&R Block, Inc. will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.

H&R Block Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.61%. H&R Blocks payout ratio is currently 40.00%.

About H&R Block

(Get Rating)

H&R Block, Inc engages in the provision of tax preparation and other services. The firm offers assisted income tax return preparation and related services through a system of retail offices operated directly by the company or by franchisees. It also develops and markets DIY income tax preparation software online, as well as through third-party retail stores and direct mail, and provides DIY tax services, including federal and state income tax returns, access to tax tips, advice, and tax-related news, use of calculators for tax planning, and error checking and electronic filing.

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China pursues high-quality population development to support modernization

Xinhua) 08:08, May 09, 2023

Students from the aviation model association of Harbin Institute of Technology launch a model airplane on campus in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on April 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China has sent a clear signal to adapt to the new normal in its demographics in an effort to boost modernization by improving the overall quality of its population.

According to a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs held last week, China is currently experiencing a trend of birthrate decline, population aging, and differentiation in regional population growth.

The latest official data showed that China's population reached 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022, a drop of 850,000 from that at the end of 2021.

"A slight decline in population size and an increasingly aging society are inevitable during the economic and social development," said He Dan, head of the China Population and Development Research Center.

But China's supply of workforce remains rich, given its population of more than 1.4 billion. Besides, the country's working-age population is close to 900 million, and 15 million more join the workforce every year.

At the same time, China's talent dividend, as a result of more education input, is growing. More than 240 million people in China have received higher education. The number of research and development personnel in China ranks top in the world.

To advance Chinese modernization, last week's meeting said China should speed up the development of modern human resources with good quality, sufficient quantity, optimized structure, and reasonable distribution.

Over the past years, education has proved to be an important channel in improving the quality of China's population and has created a growing talent dividend.

According to the meeting, China will take the building of educational power as a strategic project, and comprehensively improve the scientific and cultural literacy, health, intellectual and moral levels of the Chinese people.

Responding to population aging, Lu Ming, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said the country can tap into the experience and wisdom of senior citizens.

Among Chinese seniors aged 60 years and over, around half are between 60 and 69, according to Lu. A lot of them have advantages in knowledge, experience, and skills, and their health is still good, Lu added. They can continue to make contributions to society on a voluntary basis.

While highlighting the work to develop human resources, Hu Zuquan, a researcher with the State Information Center, stressed the need to safeguard population security.

Last week's meeting underscored more efforts to maintain an appropriate birthrate and population size. China will develop inclusive childcare services, reduce the burden on families of child-bearing, child-rearing, and education, and promote the building of a child-bearing-friendly society, according to the meeting.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will be submitting its recommendations on COVID-19 to the Office of the President by Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said in a briefing on Tuesday.

However, the recommendations will have to be confidential for now, said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

"We confirm that we had our IATF meeting yesterday," Vergeire said. "All of the discussions yesterday are confidential and we still cannot disclose because we will be submitting to the Office of the President our recommendations."

The country's top health official also stressed that while the World Health Organization (WHO) already lifted the global health emergency for COVID-19, this does not mean the pandemic is over.

The DOH earlier said the IATF will convene to "discuss and reassess policies and other guidelines affected by the [WHO's] declaration."

The average daily cases in the country so far, according to the DOH, is at 1,400.

"This is around 87% increase from the previous that we have reported," Vergeire said.

"96% of all of these cases are either mild, asymptomatic or moderate cases. Meron lang maliit na porsyento [There's just a small number], around 4%, who are severe and critical," she added.

Hospitals also remain at low risk utilization, according to Vergeire.

However, she reminded the public to still comply with minimum public health standards to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.
Hugo Boss AG (OTCMKTS:BOSSY  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $15.06 and last traded at $15.06, with a volume of 183 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.90.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on BOSSY. Bank of America downgraded shares of Hugo Boss from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a report on Friday, January 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Hugo Boss from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Societe Generale increased their target price on shares of Hugo Boss from 49.00 ($53.85) to 60.00 ($65.93) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Hugo Boss from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $60.63.

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Hugo Boss Price Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $14.01 and its 200 day moving average is $12.43. The firm has a market cap of $5.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.92 and a beta of 1.24.

Hugo Boss Increases Dividend

Hugo Boss Company Profile

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be issued a $0.1335 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 10th. This is a boost from Hugo Bosss previous dividend of $0.10. This represents a yield of 1.53%. Hugo Bosss payout ratio is 13.85%.

(Get Rating)

Hugo Boss AG is a fashion and lifestyle company that offers womens and mens apparel. Its brands include BOSS and HUGO. It also focuses on the development and distribution of fragrances, eyewear, watches, and childrens fashion. The company was founded by Hugo Ferdinand Boss in 1924 and is headquartered in Metzingen, Germany.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Barclays from C$36.00 to C$34.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Barclayss price target would indicate a potential upside of 7.73% from the stocks previous close.

LB has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Cormark lowered their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$45.00 to C$42.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. CSFB upped their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$34.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$39.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$40.36.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada Stock Down 1.7 %

TSE LB traded down C$0.55 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$31.56. 71,967 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 150,696. The stock has a market cap of C$1.37 billion, a PE ratio of 6.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$32.19 and a 200 day moving average price of C$32.92. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 52 week low of C$28.23 and a 52 week high of C$43.32.

About Laurentian Bank of Canada

Laurentian Bank of Canada ( TSE:LB Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported C$1.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.12 by C$0.03. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 8.15% and a net margin of 22.90%. The company had revenue of C$260.07 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$259.00 million. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 4.8914373 earnings per share for the current year.

(Get Rating)

Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients.

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MRC Global (NYSE:MRC  Get Rating) released its earnings results on Monday. The oil and gas company reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.02, Briefing.com reports. MRC Global had a return on equity of 34.84% and a net margin of 2.23%. The company had revenue of $885.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $860.17 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.17 earnings per share. MRC Globals quarterly revenue was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year.

MRC Global Trading Up 1.7 %

NYSE:MRC opened at $9.01 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $753.69 million, a PE ratio of 15.02 and a beta of 2.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. MRC Global has a 52-week low of $7.03 and a 52-week high of $13.90. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.93.

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Insider Transactions at MRC Global

In other news, insider Gillian Anderson sold 5,213 shares of MRC Global stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.50, for a total transaction of $59,949.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 26,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $304,830.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 20.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new stake in MRC Global in the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in MRC Global in the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in MRC Global in the 1st quarter valued at about $96,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in MRC Global in the 1st quarter valued at about $107,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in MRC Global by 603.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 15,024 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $108,000 after buying an additional 12,888 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.14% of the companys stock.

MRC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Susquehanna reduced their target price on MRC Global from $16.00 to $15.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on MRC Global in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on MRC Global from $17.00 to $15.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 17th.

MRC Global Company Profile

(Get Rating)

MRC Global, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the distribution of pipes, valves, fittings, and other infrastructure products and services to the energy, industrial, and gas utility end-markets. It operates through the following geographical segments: U.S., Canada, and International. The company was founded on November 20, 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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1-800-FLOWERS.COM reissued their maintains rating on shares of Shopify (NYSE:SHOP  Get Rating) (TSE:SHOP) in a research report sent to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Shopify from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Shopify from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. National Bankshares boosted their target price on shares of Shopify from $60.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Shopify from $54.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Atlantic Securities cut shares of Shopify from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-two have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.82.

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Shopify Stock Performance

NYSE SHOP traded down $1.12 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $63.26. 11,853,680 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,075,672. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $46.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.82. The company has a current ratio of 6.71, a quick ratio of 6.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.76 billion, a P/E ratio of -41.94 and a beta of 2.04. Shopify has a 52 week low of $23.63 and a 52 week high of $65.13.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Shopify

Shopify ( NYSE:SHOP Get Rating ) (TSE:SHOP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The software maker reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by $0.10. Shopify had a negative net margin of 32.49% and a negative return on equity of 6.02%. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Shopify will post -0.46 EPS for the current year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Shopify by 292.9% during the 1st quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 110 shares of the software makers stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. acquired a new stake in Shopify during the 1st quarter worth $148,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Shopify during the 1st quarter worth $169,000. First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in Shopify by 317.5% during the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 263 shares of the software makers stock worth $177,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Shopify by 508.2% during the 1st quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 298 shares of the software makers stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 56.31% of the companys stock.

Shopify Company Profile

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Shopify, Inc operates a cloud-based commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Its software is used by merchants to run business across all sales channels, including web, tablet and mobile storefronts, social media storefronts, and brick-and-mortar and pop-up shops. The firms platform provides merchants with a single view of business and customers and enables them to manage products and inventory, process orders and payments, build customer relationships and leverage analytics and reporting.

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Sierra Metals Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:SMTS  Get Rating)s share price dropped 5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $0.20 and last traded at $0.20. Approximately 625,400 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 51% from the average daily volume of 413,899 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.21.

Sierra Metals Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $32.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.60 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

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Institutional Trading of Sierra Metals

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SMTS. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Sierra Metals by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,885,301 shares of the companys stock worth $8,125,000 after purchasing an additional 378,500 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Sierra Metals during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Finally, UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of Sierra Metals by 158.3% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 42,705 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 26,172 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.24% of the companys stock.

About Sierra Metals

Sierra Metals Inc, together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the production, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in Peru and Mexico. It primarily focuses on exploration of silver, copper, lead, zinc, and gold deposits. The company's flagship property is the 81.84% owned polymetallic Yauricocha Mine covering an area of 18,778 hectares located in the Yauyos province in Peru.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Terreno Realty (NYSE:TRNO  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Friday morning.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on TRNO. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $71.00 target price on shares of Terreno Realty in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. BTIG Research lifted their target price on shares of Terreno Realty from $74.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have issued 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 $67.56.

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Terreno Realty Trading Down 0.6 %

TRNO stock opened at $61.92 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.16 billion, a PE ratio of 23.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.83. Terreno Realty has a one year low of $50.36 and a one year high of $67.08. The companys 50 day moving average price is $62.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.21.

Terreno Realty Dividend Announcement

Terreno Realty ( NYSE:TRNO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $76.01 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $71.45 million. Terreno Realty had a net margin of 70.11% and a return on equity of 8.83%. As a group, analysts predict that Terreno Realty will post 2.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Terreno Realtys payout ratio is currently 61.30%.

Institutional Trading of Terreno Realty

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. JLP Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Terreno Realty during the 1st quarter valued at $950,000. NewEdge Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Terreno Realty by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 12,397 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $801,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Terreno Realty by 1.8% in the 1st quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 262,861 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $16,980,000 after purchasing an additional 4,525 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado boosted its stake in Terreno Realty by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 743,258 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $48,014,000 after purchasing an additional 4,666 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. bought a new position in Terreno Realty in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Institutional investors own 98.53% of the companys stock.

About Terreno Realty

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Terreno Realty Corp. is a real estate company, which acquires, owns, and manages industrial properties. It invests in several types of industrial real estate, including warehouse/distribution, flex, research and development, and trans-shipment. The company was founded by Michael A. Coke and W. Blake Baird on November 6, 2009 and is headquartered in Bellevue, WA.

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Tesco PLC (LON:TSCO  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Thursday, April 13th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a dividend of GBX 7.05 ($0.09) per share by the retailer on Friday, June 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. This is a positive change from Tescos previous dividend of $3.85. The official announcement can be accessed at this link.

Tesco Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of Tesco stock opened at GBX 282.90 ($3.57) on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 265.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 245.23. Tesco has a 52-week low of GBX 194.35 ($2.45) and a 52-week high of GBX 289 ($3.65). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.29, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market capitalization of 20.71 billion, a PE ratio of 2,830.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.63.

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Insider Transactions at Tesco

In other Tesco news, insider Caroline Silver bought 15,000 shares of Tesco stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 250 ($3.15) per share, with a total value of 37,500 ($47,318.61). Insiders have acquired 15,161 shares of company stock worth $3,791,227 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 2.06% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Tesco Company Profile

TSCO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Tesco to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from GBX 260 ($3.28) to GBX 310 ($3.91) in a research note on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Tesco from GBX 270 ($3.41) to GBX 290 ($3.66) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Tesco currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 312 ($3.94).

(Get Rating)

Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in retailing and retail banking activities. It provides food products through approximately 4,752 stores in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, as well as through online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities.

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Institutional & Family Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Rating) by 0.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 132,128 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 352 shares during the quarter. Wells Fargo & Company comprises about 0.9% of Institutional & Family Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Institutional & Family Asset Management LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $5,456,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in WFC. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 20.9% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 105,621,983 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,248,626,000 after purchasing an additional 18,252,701 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1,478.6% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 8,390,611 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $406,609,000 after purchasing an additional 7,859,100 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter worth approximately $345,861,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 326,822,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,144,788,000 after purchasing an additional 3,920,830 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 5,232.2% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,211,291 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $155,619,000 after purchasing an additional 3,151,066 shares during the last quarter. 72.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:WFC traded down $0.32 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $38.06. 6,448,116 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 23,762,453. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $39.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.24. The firm has a market cap of $142.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. Wells Fargo & Company has a twelve month low of $35.25 and a twelve month high of $48.84.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $20.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.06 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.93% and a return on equity of 10.07%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.88 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 34.38%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WFC has been the topic of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the company from $49.00 to $46.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Barclays lowered their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $49.45.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 34,698 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.27, for a total transaction of $1,605,476.46. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,590 shares in the company, valued at $906,429.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Get Rating)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management.

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WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEARCA:DXJ  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $74.14 and last traded at $74.06, with a volume of 7688 shares. The stock had previously closed at $73.38.

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.38. The company has a market capitalization of $1.71 billion, a PE ratio of 8.60 and a beta of 0.65.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 750.9% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,208,649 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $77,704,000 after acquiring an additional 1,066,605 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 69.2% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 773,726 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $48,303,000 after acquiring an additional 316,382 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 45.6% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 595,429 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $38,280,000 after acquiring an additional 186,393 shares in the last quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new stake in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at $9,467,000. Finally, Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. boosted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 16.2% during the 3rd quarter. Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. now owns 843,413 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $52,541,000 after acquiring an additional 117,877 shares in the last quarter.

About WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that closely correspond to the price and yield performance of the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Index (the Index). The Index is designed to provide exposure to Japanese equity markets while at the same time neutralizing exposure to fluctuations of the Japanese Yen movements relative to the United States dollar.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to hold bilateral meetings with some fellow Southeast Asian leaders on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, including officials of Timor-Leste who will join the regional talks for the first time.

In his pre-departure speech Tuesday, Marcos said he expects to discuss with leaders of Timor-Leste their country's accession to the 10-member regional bloc.

"This is the first time that Timor-Leste will join ASEAN as an observer, and I'm looking forward to a bilateral meeting with the leaders of Timor-Leste so that we can discuss their prospective membership in ASEAN, the president said minutes before boarding his flight to Indonesia, where the May 9 to 11 summit will be held.

In November 2022, the ASEAN agreed "in principle" to admit Timor-Leste to become its 11th member. This came over a decade after the country applied for membership in 2011.

The regional group also granted Timor-Leste an observer status and allowed its participation in all ASEAN meetings.

Marcos also later confirmed he is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam and with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of Laos.

"'Yun palang ang naka-schedule kasi kung titignan niyo 'yung schedule, medyo masikip talaga," he told reporters after his arrival in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

[Translation: Only those have been scheduled so far, because if you look at it, the schedule is pretty tight.]

The president said he and other ASEAN leaders will also exchange views on pressing issues of common concern during the summit, including developments in the disputed South China Sea, the political situation in Myanmar, and rivalries among major powers.

He added that he will see to it that his participation will promote the interest of the Philippines, including efforts towards economic growth, attaining food and energy security, combating transnational crimes, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations.

On May 11, the president will take part in the 15th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.

"In these meetings, we will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region to sustain its thriving economy, the strong partnership between the executive and legislative of ASEAN, the pivotal role of private sector and the youth in advancing growth and shaping the future, as well as the future direction of the ASEAN vision," Marcos said.
A gambling company in the Philippines was the target of a China-aligned threat actor as part of a campaign that has been ongoing since October 2021.

Slovak cybersecurity firm ESET is tracking the series of attacks against Southeast Asian gambling companies under the name Operation ChattyGoblin.

"These attacks use a specific tactic: targeting the victim companies' support agents via chat applications  in particular, the Comm100 and LiveHelp100 apps," ESET said in a report shared with The Hacker News.

The use of a trojanized Comm100 installer to deliver malware was first documented by CrowdStrike in October 2022. The company attributed the supply chain compromise to a threat actor likely with associations to China.

The attack chains leverage the aforementioned chat apps to distribute a C# dropper that, in turn, deploys another C# executable, which ultimately serves as a conduit to drop a Cobalt Strike beacon on hacked workstations.

Also highlighted in ESET's APT Activity Report Q4 2022Q1 2023 are attacks mounted by India-linked threat actors Donot Team and SideWinder against government institutions in South Asia.

Another set of limited attacks has been tied to another Indian APT group called Confucius that's been active since at least 2013 and is believed to share ties with the Patchwork group. The threat actor has in the past used Pegasus-themed lures and other decoy documents to target Pakistan government agencies.

The latest intrusion, per ESET, involved the use of a remote access trojan dubbed Ragnatela that's an upgraded variant of the BADNEWS RAT.

Elsewhere, the cybersecurity company said it detected the Iranian threat actor referred to as OilRig (aka Hazel Sandstorm) deploying a custom implant labeled Mango to an Israeli healthcare company.

It's worth noting that Microsoft recently attributed Storm-0133, an emerging threat cluster affiliated to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), to attacks exclusively targeting Israeli local government agencies and companies serving the defense, lodging, and healthcare sectors.

"The MOIS group used the legitimate yet compromised Israeli website for command-and-control (C2), demonstrating an improvement in operational security, as the technique complicates defenders' efforts, which often leverage geolocation data to identify anomalous network activity," Microsoft noted, further pointing out Storm-0133's reliance on the Mango malware in these intrusions.

ESET also said an unnamed Indian data management services provider was at the receiving end of an attack mounted by the North Korea-backed Lazarus Group in January 2023 using an Accenture-themed social engineering lure.

"The goal of the attackers was to monetize their presence in the company's network, most likely through business email compromise," the company said, calling it a shift from its traditional victimology patterns.

The Lazarus Group, in February 2023, is also said to have breached a defense contractor in Poland via fake job offers to initiate an attack chain that weaponizes a modified version of SumatraPDF to deploy a RAT called ScoringMathTea and a sophisticated downloaded codenamed ImprudentCook.

Rounding off the list is a spear-phishing activity from Russia-aligned APT groups such as Gamaredon, Sandworm, Sednit, The Dukes, and SaintBear, the last of which has been detected employing an updated version of its Elephant malware framework and a novel Go-based backdoor known as ElephantLauncher.

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Other notable APT activity spotted during the time period comprises that of Winter Vivern and YoroTrooper, which ESET said strongly overlaps with a group that it has been tracking under the name SturgeonPhisher since the start of 2022.

Evidence gathered so far points to YoroTrooper being active since at least 2021, with attacks singling out government, energy, and international organizations across Central Asia and Europe.

Public disclosure of its tactics in March 2023 is suspected to have led to a "big drop in activity," raising the possibility that the group is currently retooling its arsenal and altering its modus operandi.

ESET's findings follow Kaspersky's own APT trends report for Q1 2023, which unearthed a previously unknown threat actor christened Trila targeting Lebanese government entities using "homebrewed malware that enables them to remotely execute Windows system commands on infected machines."

The Russian cybersecurity company also called attention to the discovery of a new Lua-based malware strain referred to as DreamLand targeting a government entity in Pakistan, marking one of the rare instances where an APT actor has used the programming language in active attacks.

"The malware is modular and utilizes the Lua scripting language in conjunction with its Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler to execute malicious code that is difficult to detect," Kaspersky researchers said.

"It also features various anti-debugging capabilities and employs Windows APIs through Lua FFI, which utilizes C language bindings to carry out its activities."
The advanced persistent threat (APT) actor known as SideWinder has been accused of deploying a backdoor in attacks directed against Pakistan government organizations as part of a campaign that commenced in late November 2022.

"In this campaign, the SideWinder advanced persistent threat (APT) group used a server-based polymorphism technique to deliver the next stage payload," the BlackBerry Research and Intelligence Team said in a technical report published Monday.

Another campaign discovered by the Canadian cybersecurity company in early March 2023 shows that Turkey has also landed in the crosshairs of the threat actor's collection priorities.

SideWinder has been on the radar since at least 2012 and it's primarily known to target various Southeast Asian entities located across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Suspected to be an Indian state-sponsored group, SideWinder is also tracked under the monikers APT-C-17, APT-Q-39, Hardcore Nationalist (HN2), Rattlesnake, Razor Tiger, and T-APT4.

Typical attack sequences mounted by the actor entail using carefully crafted email lures and DLL side-loading techniques to fly under the radar and deploy malware capable of granting the actors remote access to the targeted systems.

Over the past year, SideWinder has been linked to a cyber attack aimed at Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) as well as an Android malware campaign that leveraged rogue phone cleaner and VPN apps uploaded to the Google Play Store to harvest sensitive information.

The latest infection chain documented by BlackBerry mirrors findings from Chinese cybersecurity firm QiAnXin in December 2022 detailing the use of PNWC lure documents to drop a lightweight .NET-based backdoor (App.dll) that's capable of retrieving and executing next-stage malware from a remote server.

What makes the campaign also stand out is the threat actor's use of server-based polymorphism as a way to potentially sidestep traditional signature-based antivirus (AV) detection and distribute additional payloads by responding with two different versions of an intermediate RTF file.

Specifically, the PNWC document employs a method known as remote template injection to fetch the RTF file such that it harbors the malicious code only if the request originates from a user in the Pakistan IP address range.

"It is important to note that in both instances, only the name of the file 'file.rtf' and the file type are the same; however, the contents, file size and the file hash are different," BlackBerry explained.

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"If the user is not in the Pakistani IP range, the server returns an 8-byte RTF file (file.rtf) that contains a single string: {\rtf1 }. However, if the user is within the Pakistani IP range, the server then returns the RTF payload, which varies between 406 KB  414 KB in size."

The disclosure arrives shortly after Fortinet and Team Cymru revealed a new set of attacks perpetrated by a Pakistan-based threat actor known as SideCopy against Indian defense and military targets.

"The latest SideWinder campaign targeting Turkey overlaps with the most recent developments in geopolitics; specifically, in Turkey's support of Pakistan and the ensuing reaction from India," BlackBerry said.
Signs direct voters at an Omaha polling place in a church basement. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Citizens for Voter ID, which led the ballot initiative last year to add voter ID language to the Nebraska Constitution, released results from a new poll Tuesday aimed at steering a legislative compromise on implementing voter ID farther to the right.

Poll results indicated that a majority of Nebraska voters surveyed wants every voters photo ID checked, including those casting ballots by mail. The survey of 516 of the states likely voters was conducted May 2-4 by WPA Intelligence by cell phone and landline. Citizens for Voter ID paid for the poll. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.3%.

WPA Intelligence, a national firm, does a lot of polling for conservatives, including U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. Ricketts family largely funded the petition drive and ballot measure campaign for Citizens for Voter ID, campaign finance records show.

Pushing for strong implementation

Former State Sen. Dan Hughes took over the group after State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar resigned to focus on passing a bill to implement voter ID. Hughes said in a statement Tuesday, Our citizens want a strong implementation of this concept.

Slama and State Sen. Tom Brewer, who chairs the Government and Military Affairs Committee, have spent weeks negotiating a compromise voter ID bill that follows federal law, election case law and ballot language that 65% of voters approved.

On Friday, Slama told reporters the compromise language would likely allow people to vote using state ID cards, student ID cards and ID cards from nursing homes. She told KETV it would allow a witness to sign and vouch that they saw a voters ID, under penalty of law.

This week, Slama applauded her former organizations push for a conservative voter ID bill. She said Nebraskans spoke loud and clear at the polls in November and in this survey. She thanked the group for ensuring the Legislature follows through with the wishes of our voters.

Questions centered on specifics

Many of the questions in the survey dug deeper into public opinion on the details of a potential compromise amendment, the text of which has not yet been released.

In response to a question, 63% of those surveyed said they support having early voters provide photocopies of their ID if returning a ballot by mail or show their ID at county election offices.

Voting rights advocates, including ACLU Nebraska, have argued that requiring a photocopy would put some voters at an unfair, if not illegal, disadvantage.

The survey indicated a majority of respondents oppose using expired IDs and allowing other items such as utility bills and paychecks as alternative forms of ID. However, based on legal rulings elsewhere, Nebraskans likely will be able to show expired IDs, and people with disabilities will likely be allowed to use other identifying documents, regardless of what state lawmakers want.

Slama and Brewer have said the voter ID bill will set aside money to provide state photo ID cards for those without one. People with a religious reason for not being photographed would be exempted.

The poll also found a majority of those surveyed want the Secretary of States Office to check the citizenship of people voting, a step that happens today when people register to vote. Slama had pushed for additional checks as part of the voter ID bill. Brewer has said he wants to keep the bill focused on the initiative voters approved, on verifying IDs.

Poll timed to spur floor fight?

Political observers suggested the timing of the poll could be an effort to encourage a floor fight over Slamas Legislative Bill 535. Speaker John Arch wants to avoid a floor fight on voter ID because of continuing filibusters.

Limiting voting by mail, which voting rights advocates have said any voter ID measure could do, tends to hurt Democratic turnout more in competitive states because Democrats vote more often by mail. But in Nebraska, rural and remote Republicans might be hurt more. Nebraska has 11 largely rural counties that vote entirely by mail.

An audit of the 2022 election done for the Secretary of States Office found no instances of voter fraud.
(CNN)  Canada decided to expel a Chinese diplomat on Monday, following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, which Beijing has fiercely denied.

"Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei," read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

"I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home."

The news follows weeks of uproar in Canada sparked by revelations, first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper, that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives in China following his criticisms of Beijing's treatment of its Uyghur minorities.

The intelligence service also said that Beijing had tried to sway the outcome of Canada's federal elections in 2019 and 2021.

Chong has repeatedly called for Zhao's expulsion since the Globe report emerged.

Beijing has denied accusations of political interference in Canada. In a statement dated May 5 and posted to the website of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, a spokesperson flatly rejected the possibility "that a consular officer from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto was involved in the so-called intimidation of a Canadian Member of Parliament and his relatives."

"The claim has no factual basis and is totally groundless. We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to it," it said, going on to accuse local media and politicians of seeking to "disrupt the normal exchange and cooperation" between Canada and China.

The allegations have become a growing political problem for the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has said that intelligence services failed to brief him on Chong's alleged targeting.

Chong himself has focused much of his criticism on Trudeau's government, which he says was too slow to act.

Last week, Joly previewed the possibility of retaliatory action against China, but warned that Canada needed to carefully weigh how China might react.
Time is running out to apply for the latest round of Business-to-Business Grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and one group is saying many people across the state do not realize they are even eligible for a portion of the $50 million in grants.

Arts Alliance Illinois is trying to get word out that artists, performers, freelancers and other creative types whose livelihood was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for the grants, but they must hurry to apply  the application period ends May 10.

One thing the organization is stressing to artists: Dont assume you are ineligible for the B2B Arts grants.

There were a lot of people in the creative sector who werent eligible for the prior round of B2B that may see this program is also called B2B and assume they arent eligible for this when it is a totally different program specifically meant for the creative sector, explained Kacie Smith, director of Programs for Arts Alliance Illinois.

Smith said these grants are for everything from independent venues, museums and organizations to individual people who are artists, dancers, performers and more. Applicants must have experienced a loss in revenue of at least $5,000 due to the pandemic. Individual awards range from $5,000 to $250,000.

Theres very broad eligibility for folks who are working within the creative sector, she told The Southern.

She added that many artists may not have applied yet simply because they do not think of themselves as business people, specifically, sole proprietors.

That's not how they identify, they might identify as freelancers or independent artists or independent creative or some of these other terms, she said. One of the things that we're really pushing is if you've never heard the word sole proprietor in your life, you still might be operating as a sole proprietor and you may be eligible for this money.

To help creatives discover eligibility and to help with applications, the organization has set up a help desk, staff with experts on the program and process and who can provided one-on-one assistance. Information on the grant program and the help desk is available online at www.artsalliance.org/creativerecovery.

Smith said the application process in easier than many people would think and there is no cost to apply for the grants. She added that all eligible applicants will receive awards.

This $50 million in relief for the creative sector couldn't come at a more critical time, said Claire Rice, executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois. Weve always said that the arts were the first to close and the last to reopen. The creative community in Illinois has never had this much funding available, and with applications closing May 10, the window for people to access it is tight. Thats why were here: to make sure the arts and culture community not only knows that these funds are available, but also has all the help they need to successfully apply.
COBDEN  Bill Bass of Bass Farms will team up with the University of Illinois Extension to host the first of four twilight meetings at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 15, at his farm.

Illinois Extension Educators Bronwyn Aly, Nathan Johanning and Katie Bell have partnered with local farmers over the past nine years to provide four evening twilight meetings to highlight diverse farming enterprises across Southern Illinois.

The Bass family has a long history in agriculture production, raising fruits and vegetables, livestock, and row crops in Southern Illinois for over 50 years. Operating as a diversified family farm, each production area encompasses about one-third of their total farming enterprise.

With a focus on providing fresh, high-quality produce directly to local consumers, Bass Farms main crops include strawberries, tomatoes, blueberries, blackberries and peppers, all grown on about 30 acres.

Strawberry plasticulture means the strawberry plants grow on plastic, Bass said. Really and truly, the strawberries eat better than anything. Thats why we grow on plastic.

They sell produce at local farmers markets and through their own farm stores. Their farm store is located on U.S. 51, near Cobden, and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

They have a second farm shop in Marion. It is located across from Kentucky Fried Chicken on DeYoung Street.

Bill, his wife Becky, his son Toby, and the grandkids help with the family farm in different capacities.

Even though I grew up in town, I spent a lot of time on my best buddys farm because it seemed like a wonderful place to play, and I feel the same way today about our farm, said Bass.

Bass will share lessons learned in the last 20 years of growing plasticulture strawberries and hydroponic greenhouse tomatoes. He will focus on production practices within his greenhouse structure and the plasticulture strawberry fields, including his experiences with variety selection, fertility and pest management.

Bass will also discuss why they invested in hydroponic greenhouse tomato production and how it has impacted the farms retail marketing strategy.

Anyone interested in learning more about the farms production and marketing in Southern Illinois is encouraged to capitalize on this on-farm learning and networking opportunity.

Bass Farms is located at Cobden School Road and U.S. 51 at Cobden. Participants will meet north of the farm stand at their greenhouse, located at the intersection of U.S. 51 and Cobden School Road.

There is no cost to attend this in-person program, but pre-registration is appreciated. To register online, visit go.illinois.edu/2023twilightseries. To register by phone, call 618-695-2441.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Bronwyn Aly at baly@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

Directions to the farm:

From Carbondale, take new U.S. 51 south. Turn left (east) four miles south of the Makanda water tower, off of new U.S. 51. Participants should see the meeting sign and several high tunnel/greenhouse structures.

From Anna, take new U.S. 51 north from Illinois 146. Travel north for seven miles. Turn right (east) onto Bass Lane. You will see the meeting sign and several high tunnel/greenhouse structures.
CARBONDALE  The SIU Womens Club has awarded scholarships to three Southern Illinois University Carbondale students.

The club has awarded numerous scholarships to women since it formed in 1956, and this year each received a $2,000 award. The winners are Haley Lehane, Truc Prue Hoang and Kendra Halley.

Through the generosity of club members, many scholarships were awarded for over 20 years. After a lapse for a few years, then club president Joyce Guyon led efforts in 1987 to reinstate the scholarships with the creation of the Dorothy Morris Award, now known as the Dorothy Morris Traditional Student Scholarship. Nine years later, the club added a second award, the Joyce Guyon Non-Traditional Student Scholarship. Both are named for former first ladies of the university, and when funding allows, the organization also provides one-time scholarships to outstanding applicants. This year, an Aim High Scholarship was awarded.

Lehane wins Morris Scholarship

Lehane, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, is a junior nursing major with a minor in health care management. She is the treasurer on the executive board of the Student Nurses Association, a campus registered student organization. After completing her bachelors degree, she plans to continue her education by obtaining her masters degree in nursing and eventually become a nurse practitioner. While she hasnt chosen a specialization yet, she prefers fast-paced environments, so she envisions herself working in ICU or an emergency room.

Hoang claims Guyon Scholarship

At the age of 26, Hoang came to the United States from Vietnam with her family. She obtained her associate degree in arts and sciences from a community college in Orange County, California, and then transferred to SIU where she is a radiologic sciences major, with a concentration in radiation therapy. Her major and career choice were influenced by her life experiences. She was a caregiver for her father when he had cancer, so she wants to help others become cancer-free through radiation therapy. Hoang, now of Carbondale, Illinois, is a McNair Scholar, Saluki Ambassador and honors student at SIU.

Aim High Scholarship for Halley

Halley, of Murphysboro, has strong connections to the region as a lifelong resident and mother of two. A dental hygienist for a decade, she wants to help bridge the gap between oral health and systemic health. After completing her dental hygiene bachelors degree, she plans to enhance her education and qualifications and become a physician assistant via SIU.

Decades of helping

The SIU Womens Club, which dates back to 1938, is a social organization for women who have a professional or personal connection to SIU. The group sponsors a variety of special events, trips and interest groups, along with the scholarships.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas  The driver of an SUV that killed eight people when it slammed into a bus stop in Brownsville, Texas has been charged with manslaughter, police said Monday as investigators tried to determine if the crash was intentional.

Authorities believe driver George Alvarez, 34, of Brownsville, lost control after running a red light Sunday morning and plowed into a crowd of Venezuelans outside a migrant center.

Police Chief Chief Felix Sauceda said Alvarez was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officials are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether Alvarez was intoxicated, Sauceda said, adding that there was no motive that he could discuss.

The SUV ran a red light, lost control, flipped on its side and struck 18 people, Sauceda said at a news conference Monday morning. Six people died on the scene and 12 people were critically injured, he said. Officials have said the death toll later rose to eight.

Alvarez tried to flee, but was held down by several people on the scene, he said. His bail was set at $3.6 million.

Victims struck by the vehicle were waiting for the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after spending the night at the overnight shelter, said Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.

Most of the victims were Venezuelan men, shelter director Victor Maldonado said. Brownsville has seen a surge of Venezuelan migrants over the last two weeks for unclear reasons, authorities said. On Thursday, 4,000 of about 6,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody in Texas' Rio Grande Valley were Venezuelan.

Police retrieved a blood sample and sent it to a Texas Department of Public Safety lab to test for intoxicants.

Photos: The scene after SUV hits, kills 8 outside migrant center in Texas
Bamberg musician Warren Peay didnt move into the top five American Idol performers following his appearance on the episode which aired Sunday on ABC.

The 24-year-old Bamberg residents voice and eclectic blend of Southern rock, country and soul music had catapulted him to Hollywood following an impressive American Idol audition on March 19.

His continual rise through the competition landed him among the top 12 performers during the April 30 episode, when he moved on following his performance of The Animals House of the Rising Sun.

He was then bumped into the top eight performers following a performance of the Zac Brown Band's Colder Weather on Monday, May 1.

Idol returned this week on Sunday, when the top eight performers performed and the top 5 contestants were revealed.

During that episode, Peay performed before American Idol judge Luke Bryan, who was joined by guest judges Alanis Morisette and Ed Sheeran. American Idol judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry were in London performing at a concert for newly crowned King Charles III.

Peay performed All I Really Want from Alanis Morisette on Sunday. He also joined artist We Ani for a duet of Ed Sheerans Perfect, but was ultimately unsuccessful in garnering enough votes to make the top five.

He has talked about being grateful for his musical journey, win or lose.

There's so many talented musicians out there, and everyone is just incredible in their own right. I want to show support for them as much as they do for me. I just like to make good music," Peay has said.

Peay is the son of Lisa Peay and Tony Peay of Bamberg. He is a 2017 graduate of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and employed as an appliance technician at Neeley Appliance in Denmark.
COLUMBIA  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has launched a new online tool to make it easier for families to pre-apply for the South Carolina Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition program.

The new online application allows families to create a secure account to upload and update required prescreen documentation, including medical and health data and income eligibility documentation, prior to scheduling their WIC appointment.

The portal helps streamline application, enrollment and recertification processes for families and WIC staff. It also helps processes run smoothly by keeping important information accessible.

DHEC manages the states WIC program, which provides nutrition education and supplemental foods for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under five.

WIC participation in South Carolina has grown from 83,209 in January 2022 to 90,863 in January 2023, said DHECs Bureau of Community Nutrition Services Director Berry Kelly. We hope the accessibility of this application helps increase those numbers, which would allow us to improve access to nutritious foods, breastfeeding support and nutrition education for more South Carolina families.

After applicants are approved for WIC, they receive an eWIC card, similar to a debit card that makes it easy for families to buy WIC foods at South Carolina WIC-authorized stores. WIC participants are also eligible to participate in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program to purchase South Carolina grown fresh fruits and vegetables at approved local farmers' markets and farm stands throughout the state.

WIC currently serves approximately 48.4% of the WIC-eligible population in South Carolina and is open to South Carolina families with a household income at or below 185% of the poverty level or who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Medicaid programs.

All caregivers are encouraged to access WIC, including moms, dads, grandparents caring for grandchildren and foster parents.

To pre-apply or learn more about WIC, visit scdhec.gov/wic.
When Connie Morgan moved to Casper in 2011 with her family, she noticed several gorgeous neon signs: at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters, at movie theaters like the America, Iris and Fox and many other businesses. Many signs were in need of repair.

But Morgan had set aside her glass-bending and neon craft years before to raise two children. She took a part-time job at Bar-D Signs and helped crank out vehicle logos for the police department and oil company truck fleets. But Bar-D also had glass-bending equipment for neon work that was gathering dust.

Morgan had cut her teeth in the neon craft in Detroit (making AutoZone signs) and in Seattle (piles of Starbucks signs). Though it had been a long time since shed bent glass, having access to the equipment was too tempting to resist.

Plus, she said, I got divorced and needed a side hustle to make some more money.

So she picked it back up. She began advertising on Facebook and clients trickled in slowly with requests for neon signs displaying family names, favorite bands and original logos for new small businesses. Her boss at Bar-D Signs wasnt crazy about the side gig, but he appreciated the craft as well, Morgan said. Just about the time COVID struck, a prominent Casper business owner (also a neon client) convinced her to set up her own shop in one of his downtown spaces.

About the same time, downtown Casper was undergoing a resurgence in new businesses and an art-scene boom. Soon Morgan was taking on dozens of clients and even working with artists to make their creations glow.

Today, GloW Neon Lights has a long list of work orders  mostly from Wyoming clients. But orders are beginning to roll in from Colorado, too.

Casper, Morgan said, reignited my career. It brought me back.

GloW Neon Lights has become an integral part of Caspers business and art scene, said Funky Junk District founder and creator Whitney Asay.

Shes bringing this lost art back to life.

Neon in her blood

Morgan grew up in Manhattan, Montana, and at the age of 17 noticed a newspaper ad for a neon art show at the Museum of the Rockies. She borrowed her parents car and drove to Bozeman to take in the exhibit.

I was like, Whoa. I want to learn how to do this, she said.

Unable to find a neon glass-bender willing to take her on as an apprentice, Morgan enrolled in a neon school in San Francisco, then honed her craft in Detroit. Later, in Seattle, she began working with artists commissioning her neon skills for their original designs.

I dont consider myself an artist, Morgan said, adding that neon is more of a craft. Funky Junk Districts Asay disagrees.

Connie is one of the kindest and most determined women that I have ever met, and her work speaks for itself, Asay said.

Bending glass tubes and lighting them with neon and other gasses is a long, complicated process requiring a lot of specialized equipment. Its also a craft thats long been in decline with businesses preferring cheaper, mass-produced signage.

Thats one reason Morgan notices and appreciates neon wherever she goes. There are a lot of old neon gems along Colfax Avenue in Denver, she said, and Nashville, Tennessee, still has a wealth of neon. Morgan photographs most neon signs she sees on her travels  for inspiration and with a sense they might disappear.

Neon, like vinyl records, might be enjoying a bit of a renaissance, though  at least Morgan hopes thats the case. Its difficult to describe, she said, but neon evokes another era when distinction and flare were valued and people relied more on craft and ingenuity.

Its a very difficult process, she said of the neon craft, but its also very gratifying.

Making it glow

One of her favorite, and most difficult, pieces she created was a 4-foot-tall hannya mask for a tattoo shop in Fort Collins, Colorado. Working with the tattoo artists design, she had to determine the lines to highlight with neon. She consulted artist friends about color balance and had to figure out how to combine different colored tubes.

You have to assemble the light tubes just so and figure out how to connect everything, she said. Then there was a magic moment when she lit the entire piece up for the first time. It was the most complicated sign Id ever done, she said. After that I was like, OK, I know what Im doing.

The client loved the piece and told her she didnt charge enough, and they formed a friendship. So I was really stoked.

Her other recent works include a yak ranch logo for YouTube influencer Jeffree Star and the College Inn Bar sign in Douglas. Shes currently in discussions to refurbish a neon sign for Cassies Steakhouse in Cody.

Im adding to my commissions list, she said. I might work kind of slow, but I always get them done.

Morgan sometimes hosts neon workshops, and cautions people that its a difficult craft to get into, she said. Shes often approached to take on apprentices, but doesnt have the capacity right now.

For her next major project, Morgan will curate a neon art show at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper. Neon On The High Desert will feature works from artists from all over the U.S. and Canada. The exhibition will open in September.

Were getting heavy-hitters who have shown at museums and galleries, as well as up-and-coming neon artists, Morgan said. To be able to show your work at an art museum is a really big deal for a neon artist.
After her historic defeat, Wyomings former Rep. Liz Cheney vowed to do whatever it took to ensure that former president Donald Trump would never occupy the oval office again. She hasnt let up on that promise.

On Tuesday, Cheney launched her first television advertisement of the 2024 election cycle in New Hampshire, the first GOP primary state, warning against a second term for Trump and calling him unfit for office.

Donald Trump is the only president in American history who has refused to guarantee the peaceful transfer of power, Cheney begins.

He lost the election and he knew it. He betrayed millions of Americans by telling them the election was stolen. He ignored the rulings of dozens of courts. Rather than accept his defeat, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the capitol.

The advertisement shows video footage of Trump telling a crowd that they would stop the steal, as well as clips of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack of the U.S. Capitol. Aside from her voiceover, Cheney herself doesnt appear in the advertisement.

There has never been a greater dereliction of duty any president, Cheney continues in the advertisement.

Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6 were illegal. He didnt care. And today, he celebrates those who attacked our capitol. Donald Trump has proven he is unfit for office. Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

The advertisement quickly drew the criticism of Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman, Trumps pick to unseat Cheney. Hageman  who was once a Trump critic and an ally of Cheneys  ultimately beat out the former representative by more nearly 40 points in the historical primary election for Wyomings lone House seat last year.

There is one person who Republican voters wish would go away, and its not Donald Trump. Its Liz Cheney, Hageman wrote Tuesday morning on Twitter.

In Wyoming, we rejected the idea that a woman from Virginia could tell us what we should think, and the voters of New Hampshire will do that too. Her personal vendetta against President Trump knows no bounds, and shes proven it once again with this ad. Shes taking the donations shes gotten from Democrats and throwing them away on ineffective TV ads to settle a personal score. She might as well be setting the money on fire, because it wont work, just like all her other attempts to silence President Trump.

Cheney, who took a job as a lecturer at the University of Virginia following her defeat, has previously aired advertisements decrying certain pro-Trump candidates who backed the former presidents election fraud claims. In October, she launched a $500,000 ad campaign taking aim at Arizona GOP candidates and Trump allies Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. Lake and Finchem both lost their races for governor and secretary of state, respectively, by a narrow margin.

Cheney was first voted in as Wyomings lone U.S. representative in 2016, easily winning her primary and general elections that year and garnering wide support again in 2018 and 2020.

But that popularity nosedived when she went against many in her party to condemn Trump for his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, and for his role in the Jan. 6 attack of the U.S. Capitol. In 2021, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to censure the former representative. Last year, the Republican National Committee did the same.

Following her defeat to Hageman, Cheney vowed to ensure that Trump, who is the first former president in the nations history to face criminal charges, would never be president again.

I have said since Jan. 6 that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again anywhere near the Oval Office. And I mean it, she said during her concession speech.

Cheney herself said shortly after her loss that she was contemplating a 2024 presidential bid.

The former representatives saga will soon be available for the public to read in book form. The publisher Little, Brown and Company announced in April that it will publish Cheneys memoir  Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning  in November. The book aims to explain why Cheney stood against her party to denounce Trump and whats at stake in 2024.
U.S. history scores continue to decline while civics scores fell for the first time in more than two decades among U.S. eighth graders, national standardized tests show.

Every four years the National Assessment Governing Board and National Center for Education Statistics use standardized testing to assess the U.S. history and civics learning of eighth graders nationally. Average U.S. history scores dropped by five points in 2022 and civics scores slouched by two points, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data released last week.

The results did not include a state-level breakdown.

Last years results mark the first time that civics scores decreased since standardized testing on the subject began in 1998. U.S. history scores have steadily declined since a 2014 peak, resetting to the same level as the first U.S. history test in 1994.

Only 22% of eighth graders are proficient in civics, which measures students understanding of the U.S. political system, government, democracy and other subjects. That figure was even lower for U.S. history. Just 13% of eighth graders tested proficient or above.

The wake-up calls keep coming. Education leaders and policymakers must create opportunities for students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to catch up and thrive, Beverly Perdue, the chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, said in a May 3 statement. The students who took these tests are in high school today and will soon enter college and the workforce without the knowledge and skills they need to fully participate in civic life and our democracy.

Roughly 15,800 students from 410 public, private, Bureau of Indian Education and Department of Defense schools took the exams between January and March 2022.

Though the results showed declines in average scores, the drops were not even. In U.S. history, scores fell more for low-performing students, while gaps between high- and low-performing students widened across both subjects.

In a survey, those gaps translated to less than a third of lower-performing students who said they could judge if information is accurate and could evaluate different points of view about history. Less than a third of lower-performing students said they believed they could make a difference in their community.

The civics and U.S. history scores reflect similar declines to those seen in math and reading. Historically, eighth grade students are less proficient at civics and U.S. history than other subjects, according to a National Assessment Governing Board press release.

In October, the National Assessment Governing Board and National Center for Education Statistics released spring 2022 test results that showed the most significant drops in math scores for fourth and eighth graders since the national standardized assessments began in 1990. Reading scores also fell for both grades, returning to levels on par with those in the early 2000s.

Wyoming saw its eighth grade math and reading scores sink, which Chad Auer, the former deputy state superintendent of public instruction, attributed to the pandemic. However, the state still remained among the national leaders in education.

Wyoming outperformed the national average in eighth grade math and was in the top 20 in reading, a trend that has held steady in recent testing cycles.
(CNN)  Three Islamic Jihad commanders and multiple family members were among at least a dozen Palestinians killed as Israeli jets and helicopters struck multiple targets in Gaza overnight in what Israel described as an operation targeting "kingpin terrorists."

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 12 people died and 20 were injured in the airstrikes as of 5 a.m. local time on Tuesday as it warned the number of casualties could rise.

"Ambulance crews are still continuing to evacuate victims from the areas targeted by the occupation," the Ministry of Health said, referring to Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it launched pre-dawn airstrikes on Gaza, saying it was a "response to incessant aggression on the part of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization."

IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht called the targets "kingpin terrorists" and insisted that the military "did as much as we could to focus on them."

But he also conceded the IDF was "aware of some collateral," an apparent reference to the wives and children who were also killed alongside those being targeted.

"If there were some tragic deaths, we'll look into it and get back to you," he said in response to reporters' questions.

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad confirmed three of its commanders were killed in the operation along with their wives and children.

The Al Shifa hospital in Gaza said those killed were members of four families plus one other individual. Six of the dead were male, and six female, it said, but did not include ages.

The commanders killed were Jihad Shaker Al-Ghannam, secretary of the Military Council in the al Quds Brigades; Khalil Salah al Bahtini, commander of the Northern Region in the al Quds Brigades; and Tariq Muhammad Ezzedine, one of the leaders of the military wing of the al Quds Brigades in the West Bank, the group said.

Islamic Jihad said Ghannam, 62, was also commander-in-chief of the al Quds Brigades and has been wanted for over 20 years, having survived five previous assassination attempts.

He had worked in Yasser Arafat's Fatah and the Popular Resistance Committees, secular Palestinian militant groups that predate the emergence of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the group said.

The IDF accused Ghannam of coordinating weapons and money transfers between Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the militant group which runs Gaza. It called him one of the most senior members of Islamic Jihad.

Calling the strikes "Operation Shield and Arrow," the IDF said its fighter jets and helicopters hit 10 Islamic Jihad targets, including what it said were "rocket production workshops in Khan Yunis," weapon manufacturing sites, military compounds, a concrete manufacturing site and a military post in southern Gaza.

Video from Gaza showed explosions lighting up the night sky and the rubble from buildings hit by the strikes.

The latest violence came almost a week after Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza exchanged fire following the death of a prominent Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison.

Israel conducted strikes on what it said were targets belonging to Hamas as dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel on May 2.

It followed the death of Palestinian detainee Khader Adnan, an Islamic Jihad former spokesman who became a symbol of Palestinian resistance to Israeli detention policies, in Israeli custody after 87 days of hunger strike.

IDF spokesman Hecht said planning for Tuesday's operation began after the rocket fire from Gaza last week.

The strikes took place overnight Monday because of a convergence of intelligence information, weather and permissions, he said, adding some 40 IDF aircraft were involved in the operation.

Gaza is one of the most densely packed places in the world, an isolated coastal enclave of almost two million people crammed into 140 square miles.

Governed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the territory is largely cut off from the rest of the world by an Israeli blockade of Gaza's land, air and sea dating back to 2007. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border crossing, Rafah.

Israel has placed heavy restrictions on the freedom of civilian movement and controls the importation of basic goods into the narrow coastal strip.

Hecht said he did not know if there would be more follow up strikes.

"We don't know yet where we go. It's still early," he said. "We're ready for as long as it takes. The big question is Hamas. What will they decide to do?"

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Three Islamic Jihad commanders and family members among multiple dead in Israeli strikes on Gaza."
HELENA, Mont.  Two transgender children, their parents and two health care providers filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that a Montana law that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth is unconstitutional.

The ban on puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgical procedures applies only to transgender youth being treated for gender dysphoria, but that same care can be provided to cisgender adolescents for any other purpose, according to the complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Montana and Lambda Legal.

The ban serves no purpose other than to intentionally burden a transgender persons ability to seek necessary care to align their body with their gender identity, the complaint states. It asks a state judge to block enforcement of the law, which is to take effect on Oct. 1.

The new law provides commonsense protections for Montana children  who cant even enter into contracts or buy cigarettes or alcohol  from harmful, life-altering medications and surgeries, said Emily Flower, spokesperson for Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Opposition to the bill by Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr  the first openly transgender female lawmaker to serve in the Montana Legislature  triggered a series of events that eventually led to her being banned from the House floor for the final days of the 2023 session.

The Republican-controlled Montana Legislature passed the bill and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed it late last month. Montana is one of at least 16 states with laws to ban such care, despite protests from the families of transgender youth that the care is essential.

It is mentally and physically painful to feel like you are trapped in the wrong body, Jessica van Garderen, the mother of a 16-year-old transgender daughter, said in a statement. Going through puberty for the wrong sex is like having your body betray you on a daily basis. The only treatment we have found to be effective and give our daughter hope again is hormone therapy.

Taking away this crucial medical care is inhumane and a violation of our rights, van Garderen said.

The complaint argues that the new law interferes with parental rights and is unconstitutional because it violates the plaintiffs right to privacy, their right to seek health care and the right to human dignity.

Supporters of the ban, including bill sponsor Republican Sen. John Fuller, said minors should not be allowed to undergo irreversible, life-changing procedures before they are adults and are old enough to understand the consequences and give legal permission.

Just living as a trans teenager is difficult enough, the last thing me and my peers need is to have our rights taken away, plaintiff Phoebe Cross, a 15-year-old transgender boy, said in a statement. The blatant disrespect for my humanity and existence is deeply unsettling.

Under the new law, health care providers who provide such care could lose their medical licenses for at least a year and be subject to lawsuits for up to 25 years after any treatment was provided.

The bill also prohibits public money, such as Medicaid, from being used to pay for such care.

Federal judges in Alabama and Arkansas have blocked laws that sought to ban gender-affirming care. The Department of Justice joined a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of transgender parents and their children against a similar ban in Tennessee.
OPPOSITION Chief Whip Dr David Lee has called on the Government to state clearly whether citizens have been overcharged at retail fuel pumps for the past seven months.

Lee, the Pointe-a-Pierre MP, was contributing to Wednesdays mid-year budget debate in the Parliament, where he noted that for the last seven months, oil has averaged US$79 dollars per barrel but local fuel prices were based on an oil price of US$90, out of the 2023 budget.
This Mothers Day, say a prayer for Mona Johnitty who lost her only child to criminals almost two years ago, but never stopped being a mother.

Every morning she wakes up, she thinks, prays, and whispers her sons nameRyan.

With her unwavering faith and love for God, she keeps the thought in her heart that Ryan Johnitty, who was an electrical engineer, is at peace with the heavenly angels, and no one can harm him.
Mothers Day, which is being celebrated around the world today, remains one of the best opportunities to honour the matriarch of the family.

Some people have bought flowers, gift baskets, electronics and other items to celebrate mothers today. Others will be preparing their mothers favourite dish to honour her.
PHOENIX  A Tucson Democratic lawmaker is asking for the dismissal of an ethics complaint filed against her by three Republican lawmakers.

Attorneys for Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton said her actions last month to move and hide Bibles in the Arizona House of Representatives lounge was a peaceful protest regarding the separation of church and state. In a formal response Monday, they also said she acted in response to the weaponizing of religion in politics.

Motives aside, her attorneys also pointed out that Stahl Hamilton made a public apology on the House floor.

But Stahl Hamilton is counting on more than that to end the matter.

The ethics complaint accuses her of theft, saying she was controlling the property of someone else  the Arizona House  by hiding it, even if only for a short period of time.

Her lawyers say that the complaint has no merit.

Rep. Stahl Hamiltons actions do not constitute theft as defined by Arizona law, as she has the legal right to use items in the members lounge, they said in their response.

Other arguments

They also brushed aside the argument that Stahl Hamilton violated state and federal laws prohibiting harassment in the workplace and that she created a hostile work environment by requiring her co-workers and staff to unwittingly desecrate their sacred texts by sitting on the Bibles she hid in couch cushions.

Whats wrong with that argument, her lawyers said, is that it is legally impossible for her to create that hostile work environment.

She is neither an employer nor supervisor of legislators, they said. Thus, only House leadership and committee chairpersons can create a hostile work environment.

That leaves a third claim of disorderly behavior.

Yet in filing the complaint, the three GOP lawmakers conceded there is no Arizona court case defining what that means and what it would take to be guilty of that.

Stahl Hamiltons lawyers said that claim allegation fails to state a cognizable claim under House rules.

They have one final argument for the House Ethics Committee.

The committee rules require the signatures on any complaint to be notarized, but that didnt occur here, they said. The three filing the complaint were Reps. Justin Heap of Mesa, David Marshall of Snowflake and Lupe Diaz of Benson.

In hands of Ethics Committee

Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, will now give a copy of the response to the other four members of the panel, two Democrats and two Republicans. They have the option of dismissing the case outright or having a hearing where they can question Stahl Hamilton.

The next step if they hold the hearing would be to decide if there was a violation of House rules and, if so, whether to recommend discipline to the full House. A simple majority of the House could censure Stahl Hamilton; expulsion would take a two-thirds vote.

The complaint resulted from lawmakers noticing Bibles placed in the House lounge repeatedly disappearing. Some were found under chairs and couch cushions; at one point, a Bible was found in the lounge refrigerator.

House leaders approved placing a hidden video camera in the lounge. It captured images of Stahl Hamilton taking the books off of tables and hiding them.

When the video became public, she apologized, saying she was trying to make a playful point about the separation of church and state.

That led to the formal complaint being filed. Heap, Marshall and Diaz said Stahl Hamiltons public statements did not provide sufficient justification or excuse for her conduct.

These public comments came only after the representative was aware that her actions had been caught on camera and the incident became a matter of national concern, they wrote.

Stahl Hamilton filed own complaint

There may be some partisan payback in the complaint.

It was Stahl Hamilton who filed the recent complaint against then-Rep. Liz Harris, a Chandler Republican, over inviting testimony at a legislative hearing alleging that legislators, judges and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were involved in a criminal scheme to rig elections.
These photos of blooming saguaros across Tucson and southern Arizona were submitted by our readers.

Have photos of this year's bloom to share? Send them to eds@tucson.com .
New businesses are planned for a long-vacant parcel of land on Tucsons west side.

One Ten REI Main LLC and SIMI CF LLC leased 2,000 square feet to Thathi Gas LLC for the development of a Chevron gas station on the southwest corner of Speedway and Main Avenue.

An additional parcel will be used to build a Tropical Smoothie Cafe at the same corner.

The appeal is the location, said Jeramy Price, with Volk Co., who represented the landlord.

Its right off the freeway, with lots of traffic and density, he said. Theres a lot of demand for high-traffic pads.

Other local commercial transactions include:

Alliance Exposition Services LLC leased 25,000 square feet at 2861 N. Flowing Wells Road from Keenan Investment Co. Gary Emerson, of GRE Partners LLC, represented the landlord and Kristy Kelley, of Long Realty Commercial, represented the tenant.

Petland leased 4,368 square feet of space at The Shoppes at Orange Grove, 3805 E. River Road. The landlord, Larsen Baker, was represented by its broker Isaac Figueroa.

Roccos Little Chicago Pizza leased 3,600 square feet at Sol Block, on Broadway just east of Tucson Boulevard. The project is being redeveloped by Larsen Baker, who was represented by its broker Isaac Figueroa. Bob Davis, with Tango Commercial, represented the tenant.

Rita Watters Art Gallery & Gift Shop leased 1,800 square feet at Berkshire Village, 8544 E. Broadway Blvd., from JMK Family Properties. Aaron LaPrise, Rob Tomlinson, and Greg Furrier, with Picor, represented the landlord.

Pusch Ridge Behavioral Health LLC leased 1,625 square feet at Green Valley Medical Mall, 1055 N. La Canada Drive, from NWI Green Valley MOB LP. Thomas J. Nieman and Dave Hammack, with Picor, handled the lease.

Havana Smoke Shop leased 1,600 square feet at 2918 E. Grant Road from East Grant Road Property LLC. Andy Seleznov, with Picor, represented both parties.

Pawn First leased 1,082 square feet at Fiesta Mercado Shopping Center, 2960 S. Sixth Ave., from Choi Family Trust. Aaron LaPrise and Dave Hammack, with Picor, handled the transaction
PHOENIX  Gov. Katie Hobbs has given up on her demand to curb a program that allows any parent already sending their child to private or parochial schools to now get the bill picked up by taxpayers.

And that could leave her without the Democratic votes she needs for what Hobbs said is supposed to be a bipartisan budget.

A deal Hobbs negotiated with GOP leaders, unveiled Monday, continues in place the universal vouchers approved last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Doug Ducey, her GOP predecessor. In fact, the $17.8 billion spending plan does not even pause enrollment for what are known as empowerment scholarship accounts.

Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein said thats going to be a hard sell for the Democrats.

We are fighting tooth and nail, the Tempe Democrat told Capitol Media Services on Monday. We are going to the mat for the people of Arizona and not let this fiscally imprudent, downright irresponsible idea go forward.

The key, Epstein said, is investing in public education so all our kids can go to their dream school.

Hobbs brushed aside questions about agreeing to unlimited universal vouchers.

Im not going to negotiate the budget here, she said.

The agreement to leave universal vouchers in place is part of a larger deal that saw the governor get some wins and a few losses.

First created in 2011, vouchers were initially meant for students with special needs that could not be met in public schools.

Over the years, Republican lawmakers and governors have incrementally expanded eligibility to the point where it included foster children, children of military families, youngsters living on reservations and students attending schools rated D or F.

That was not a big deal when students were moving from public schools to private schools, as the vouchers of about $7,000 are roughly equal to state aid.

It was only last year, however, that lawmakers repealed all conditions with no income restrictions.

The biggest effect was that it immediately allowed those parents whose children already were in private schools  and being paid for with private funds  to now get vouchers for tuition, books and tutoring. It also opened the program up to parents who were teaching their children at home.

Hobbs, in her State of the State speech, decried the move, saying the program lacks accountability and will likely bankrupt the state.

She put the cost at $1.5 billion over the next 10 years.

That was backed up days later when her budget proposed to repeal the expanded program, returning it to where it was before 2022. She said that would free up more than $144 million  the amount that at the time was expected to go into the universal voucher program  to instead be put into K-12 schools.

That estimate proved way too low.

Legislative budget staffers said the program needs an immediate $274 million. And thats just to finish this school year, more than twice as much as budgeted to deal with the approximately 42,700 enrolled in the universal voucher plan.

That may just be the beginning.

Legislative budget staffers said the number of students now eligible for the universal vouchers and expected to sign up should reach 62,200 by 2026. That has a price tag approaching $500 million. And thats on top of the $176 million cost of the original program.

Hobbs said Monday that she remains convinced that universal vouchers are a bad idea.

I think that we can agree that the voucher program is a drain on resources that should be directed at public education, she said. But the governor, after acknowledging the deal to keep universal vouchers in place, denied that it was ever her intent to repeal the program  despite the fact that her own budget proposal would have eliminated the additional dollars.

I didnt say were going to end it, Hobbs said.

It is a goal, certainly, she said, which is why she put it in her budget.

But Hobbs, for whom this is the first budget she has proposed as governor, said she knew she would have to negotiate with the Republican-controlled Legislature. More to the point, she acknowledged she wouldnt be able to get everything she wanted.

I knew from Day One in order to get a budget over the finish line it had to be bipartisan, the governor said. We are going to have to give some things up, the Republicans are going to have to give some things up.

Epstein remains unconvinced that keeping universal vouchers in place is a good deal.

We want all our kids to go to their dream school, she said.
Southern Arizona could soon be the place where the rubber meets the road, thanks to a new collaboration between the University of Arizona and Bridgestone Americas Inc.

The university and the tire company are teaming up on a five-year, $70 million effort to scale up production of natural rubber from a hardy desert shrub called guayule.

Officials announced the grant-funded initiative Monday at the UAs Controlled Environment Agriculture Center on Roger Road east of North Campbell Avenue.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is supplying $35 million, and Bridgestone is providing the rest. The money will mostly be used to help farmers transition to growing guayule (pronounced why-YOU-lee) instead of less sustainable, more water-intensive crops such as alfalfa, cotton and wheat.

The perennial plant  native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico, southern New Mexico and southwest Texas  can be grown with a fraction of the water needed for hay or cotton, and it can be harvested every two years without the need to till the soil and replant. That means less erosion and more carbon being stored in the ground instead of floating free in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Once its established, guayule doesnt require pesticides. Natural resins inside the mature plants repel insects on their own.

And since its a desert plant, it can survive interruptions in its water supply caused by drought, irrigation equipment failure or mandatory reductions like those many farmers are facing from the Central Arizona Project and elsewhere on the Colorado River system.

We want to use less water, install irrigation systems to avoid flood irrigation, use less fertilizer and educate the growers, said project lead Kim Ogden, who also heads up the UAs Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. If youre looking at a big-system, life-cycle assessment, this is going to cut down on greenhouse gases.

Single source

Right now, the world gets virtually all of its natural rubber from a single source: the tropical para rubber tree. Roughly 93% of that rubber is produced in Southeast Asia, leaving the global supply vulnerable to everything from crop failures to political instability.

Building up a domestic supply of the material is crucial, said David Dierig, section manager for agricultural operations at Bridgestone.

We cant do without it, he said. The whole economy of the U.S. runs on natural rubber.

Smaller vehicle tires are largely made from petroleum-based synthetics, but the large tires used on tractor-trailers, jetliners and industrial farm equipment are almost entirely made from the more resilient stuff produced in nature, Dierig said. Without it, airplanes cant land and trucks cant deliver goods across the country.

Bridgestone has been working with guayule in Arizona since 2012 and has invested about $100 million so far in developing the plant as a domestic source of natural rubber.

Last year, the company began to expand that effort from a research-and-development project into a real business venture, Dierig said.

Bridgestone already operates a 280-acre guayule farm in Eloy and a pilot processing plant in Mesa.

Company officials plan to break ground next year on an industrial-scale processing facility they want to have ready in time to handle the roughly 25,000 acres worth of guayule Arizona farmers could be growing under contracts with Bridgestone by 2028.

We have the ability and the capability to produce it on a large scale, said Dierig, who received his Ph.D. in genetics from the UA. Eventually, we hope to have plantings of around 100,000 acres, spread out across 15 or 20 facilities across the Southwest.

But domestic production is never likely to replace the natural rubber supply from overseas. At most, Dierig said, guayule can probably satisfy about 20% of Bridgestones overall demand for the natural stuff.

Rubber and glue

Though its primary application is tires, the scruffy-looking bush can also be used in approximately 40,000 other products, including a hypoallergenic latex thats perfect for medical gloves and devices.

The plant has a rubber content of just 5%, so to make large-scale cultivation economically viable, Ogden and company have been working to find uses for the rest of the plant. Guayule resin, for example, can be used to make natural adhesives and bug repellents.

The rest of the plants woody biomass can be added to particle board or turned into biofuel to generate heat and electricity.

Robert Bonnie, USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation, said guayule is a great example of what he called climate-smart agriculture: A sustainable product that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions even while we create economic opportunities for communities in the Southwest.

The grant for guayule is part of a much larger effort by the Biden administration to spur sustainability in agriculture across the country. The USDA initially made about $1 billion available for projects like these, but the agency was quickly overrun with more than 1,000 proposals seeking a combined $20 billion. The grant program has since been expanded to $3 billion, enough to seed more than 140 projects nationwide, Bonnie said.

Did you know? Arizona has played a central role in rubber research for more than 100 years. During World War I, when Americans feared a disruption in the global supply of rubber, three Gilded Age financiers  Bernard Baruch, Joseph Kennedy and J.P. Morgan, owners of the Intercontinental Rubber Co.  founded a farm south of Tucson in 1915 to grow guayule, a desert shrub that contains natural latex. The project in the Sahuarita and Continental areas was abandoned after the war. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands bought the land in 1922 and rented it to cotton farmers. Then during World War II, when fighting in Southeast Asia cut off access to the plantations there, Congress passed the Emergency Rubber Act of 1942, touching off a Manhattan Project of sorts for new sources of rubber. Some 30,000 acres in Arizona alone were planted with guayule to supply the war effort. Retired University of Arizona professor and geneticist Dennis Ray called it one of the most productive scientific endeavors in history. Seeds saved from that wartime program were used again in the mid-1980s to start a guayule research effort at the UA thats still bouncing right along today.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who was on hand for Mondays announcement, called the guayule project an investment in the Sonoran Desert that will help improve both the regions sustainability and its economy by producing green jobs.

Additional participants in the project include regional growers, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Colorado State University and OpenET, a public-private partnership that provides satellite-based data to improve water management.

This is an effort of partnership, said Betsy Cantwell, senior vice president for research and innovation at the university. It doesnt happen without that.

Teaming up with a company like Bridgestone is also key, said Dennis Ray, a retired UA professor and geneticist who is considered one of the worlds leading experts in guayule after roughly 40 years of studying the plant.
A former member of a neo-Nazi group pleaded guilty Monday to fatally shooting his two Florida roommates in 2017, abruptly avoiding the start of a murder trial in which he planned to use the insanity defense, according to court records.

Devon Arthurs, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and will serve a 45-year prison sentence. The plea deal with prosecutors means Arthur will not face a possible life sentence.

"This defendant committed a cold and calculated crime and for that he will spend the majority of his life in prison," said State Attorney Suzy Lopez in a statement. "The victims' families are satisfied with this outcome which allows them to avoid a painful trial while knowing the defendant will have to dwell upon the pain he has caused for the next several decades behind bars."

Arthurs admitted killing the roommates, Andrew Oneschuk, 18, and Jeremy Himmelman, 22, nearly 6 years ago at the Tampa apartment they shared.

Arthurs told police after his arrest that all three were part of a small, mostly online neo-Nazi group called the Atomwaffen Division and that he shot the pair with an assault-style rifle because they ridiculed his conversion to Islam. Atomwaffen is German for "nuclear weapons."

Inside the apartment the men shared, authorities said they found guns, ammunition and bomb-making material, along with a framed picture of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh on a bedroom dresser.

A third roommate and Atomwaffen co-founder, Brandon Russell, was not home when the slayings happened but found the bodies when he returned from duties with the National Guard, investigators said. Russell pleaded guilty in September 2017 to federal charges of possessing illegal firearms and a destructive device, as well as storing explosives illegally.

The bomb-making materials  including the highly explosive substance HMTD, several pounds of ammonium nitrate and homemade fuses  were discovered during the murder investigation. Arthurs told police the group planned terrorist attacks, possibly against nuclear plants.

"I prevented the deaths of a lot of people," Arthurs said in a rambling statement after his arrest. Asked why his roommates would plan such an attack, he responded, "Because they want to build a Fourth Reich."

Russell was sentenced to five years in prison on the weapons and bomb charges.

After his release, he was charged in a new case this year with plotting with a Maryland woman to attack Baltimore's power grid in an attempt to stir racial unrest. Prosecutors said that plan was to target five substations situated in a ring around the majority-Black city. No attack took place.

Russell and his co-defendant, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, both pleaded not guilty in Maryland federal court and are awaiting trial.

As for Arthurs, his case was delayed several times while he received mental treatment after being declared incompetent to stand trial in 2018 and again in 2020. In June 2022, a Hillsborough County judge determined Arthurs had restored his mental capacity sufficiently to stand trial.

"I feel I can be an advocate against extremism," Arthurs said in court on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "I'd like to take this moment to tell the world to stay away from extremist groups.  I'm very sorry for everyone that was involved. I'm very sorry for everything that has happened."
PARIS  French President Emmanuel Macron led the traditional ceremony on Paris' Champs-Elysees Monday, commemorating the day that marked the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.

Flanked by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, Macron laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe monument. A brass band played the Marseillaise.

To limit disruptions amid ongoing opposition to Macron and his contested pension reforms, police banned gatherings around the area of the ceremony in the French capital, and in Lyon where the president traveled later in the day.

In Lyon, several streets were closed to traffic, some parking was prohibited and public transport disrupted.

In Lyon, Macron paid to the French Resistance movement and one of its leaders, Jean Moulin. Macron visited Montluc prison, where Moulin was detained and tortured by the Gestapo.

Unions called for protests in some authorized zones of Lyon, where the sound of clanking pots and pans echoed despite police restrictions.
Terre-Haute Tribune-Star. May 5, 2023.

Editorial: McCormick candidacy illuminates out-of-step super majority politics

Most Hoosiers do not support using taxpayer funds for private and charter school vouchers.

It is happening anyway.

Most Hoosiers do not believe arming teachers is an effective step in protecting Indiana kids in their schools.

This spring, Indiana General Assembly approved firearms training for teachers anyway.

Most Hoosiers think abortion should be legal in some or all cases.

The state legislature approved a near-total ban on the procedure last August.

All of those incongruous policies increase the importance of Thursdays announcement by Jennifer McCormick, Indianas former superintendent of public instruction, that she will pursue the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2024 election season.

Policies adopted by members of Indianas ruling Republican Party, which attained super majority status through politically drawn legislative district borders, are out of step with most of the states residents. Even in this traditionally conservative state, most Hoosiers are not longing to see the extremist governing carried out by the Statehouse leadership. The results of the annual Hoosier Survey by Ball State Universitys Bowen Center for Public Affairs in recent years revealed that 83% of Hoosiers surveyed believe abortion should be legal in at least some cases. Also, just 30% think arming teachers is a very effective tool in protecting school kids. Only 39% backed the use of state funds for private and charter school vouchers.

The Indiana legislature is more politically lopsided than the state, as voting results have generally shown. The General Assembly has devolved into a nanny state approach that it has long whined about on the federal level.

McCormicks candidacy will illuminate that situation and hopefully stir voters to demand less extremism from their elected state officials.

The 53-year-old former New Castle teacher, principal, school district superintendent and Republican state superintendent of public instruction made that point on her campaign announcement stop in Terre Haute on Thursday. She said Hoosiers expressed that sentiment to her during visits to communities this year and last.

Everywhere I visited, one thing is clear  Hoosiers do not recognize the out-of-touch divisiveness that is happening at the Statehouse, McCormick said.

McCormick left the Republican Party in early 2021 after her term as state superintendent ended. By then, she had already earned the ire of the GOP leadership and legislators for challenging the partys continual adoption of untested and expensive reforms that have shown few significant results.

She supports policies most Hoosiers back, but the GOP has resisted, such as universal pre-kindergarten public schooling. McCormick called for affordable healthcare including the freedom for women and families to make their own decisions. She also wants the divisiveness in politics to end.

The latter goal, and really any others she supports, will be long shots. McCormick herself defeated Democratic incumbent superintendent Glenda Ritz, who was circumvented by former Gov. Mike Pences administration. That tussle led the legislature to end Hoosiers ability to elect their own state schools superintendent, shifting that position to one appointed by the governor. Thus, McCormick was the last elected superintendent and experienced heavy-handedness from Statehouse leaders, too.

As governor, she would likely encounter a lopsided state legislature that would thwart any or all of her objectives on principle, and just because it can. So her quest will be uphill at the campaign level and in office, should she win.

Winning is not a foregone conclusion for a Democrat. That party has struggled since the end of terms of Evan Bayh as governor and U.S. senator and Joe Donnelly as U.S. senator. Its 2020 gubernatorial candidate, former health commissioner Woody Myers, drew just 32% of the vote, compared to John Greggs slim loss to Pence (by 2.9%) just eight years earlier.

McCormick could face Republican candidates Sen. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch or Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden in 2024, and another Democrat could enter the field. Whichever candidate wins the governors seat needs to address the concerns McCormicks candidacy will raise, and that is a positive for all of Indiana.

Anderson Herald Bulletin. May 5, 2023.

Editorial: A sneaky move to ban books

State Rep. Ryan Dvorak, a Democrat from South Bend, called it a sneaky move.

He was talking about a conference committees action during a closed-door meeting late in the session to amend House Bill 1447 to include provisions that would make it easier for parents and community members to challenge school library materials they deemed to be obscene or harmful to minors.

The measure approved overwhelmingly by both the House and Senate would require school libraries to publicly post lists of books in their collections, and it would establish a formal grievance process for parents and community members to follow in filing an objection.

I really think this is kind of an example of the wrong way we want to do this policy, Dvorak said during a House Rules Committee hearing. If you want to bring this bill before the House and let us work on it, thats one thing. But shoving this through the backdoor sends an incredibly bad message to the public thats really, legitimately concerned about a lot of aspects of this.

Rep. Martin Carbaugh, a Republican from Fort Wayne, objected to Dvoraks characterization. He noted that versions of the bills language had been the subject of more than eight committee hearings.

I can appreciate the process questions on this but I take a little exception with the sneak comment because this process is pretty open, he said. This is being streamed live.

The law would require school boards to review challenges at their next public meeting, and they would be required to set up an appeals process in the event a challenge was rejected.

Rep. Matt Lehman, a Republican from Berne, said the debate was not about banning ideas.

Its about one thing, he said, and that is the indecency and the obscenity that we already defined in Indiana code, and we say if that is whats entering into the classroom, we need to have more transparency.

Actually, the bill does more than that. It removes educational purposes as a defense for school officials accused of providing harmful material to underage students. The charge is a felony.

Should a school principal really have to risk a jail term for refusing to remove a book from the school library?

During the debate, Rep. Vernon Smith, a Democrat from Gary, said policing a childs reading materials ought to be the job of that childs parents.

Be a good parent, he said. Protect your child, but dont try to determine how to raise another child in another household.

That is really at the heart of this discussion. Parents should have every right to decide what their own children are allowed to read.

What they should not be allowed to do is to take a book from the hands of someone elses child.

Thats what this bill does. Gov. Eric Holcomb never should have signed it. The courts should overturn it.

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. May 5, 2023.

Editorial: Cameras in courtrooms honors democratic values

Effective May 1, judicial officers around the state were allowed to bring news media into their courtrooms to record, photograph and broadcast proceedings with some exceptions, particularly those focused on protecting children. This ends the states prohibition on cameras in the courtroom, and brings sunshine to what some see as having been deliberately cloistered.

This is the culmination of years of work and pilot projects with discussion and evaluation, said Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush. Trial court judges are in the best position to determine how to balance the importance of transparency while protecting the rights of people involved in a court matter.

Then Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willet, in a 2017 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, clearly understood the great effect of cameras in courtrooms.

We inhabit a hyper-partisan age, and theres enormous civic-education upside in We the People seeing their judges tackle fateful issues with thoughtfulness and civility, wrote Willet, now on the Fifth Circuit.

Thoughtfulness. Civility. These are traits of our democratic process that temper us from the baser instincts of our nature. And what better forum to witness who we are as a people than in the justice system? If the access and transparency also produces greater trust and accountability, its a win all around.

END
ALLEN, Texas (AP)  The shooter with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping mall brought eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities said Tuesday.

The Allen police officer who shot and killed 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, ending Saturday's attack, acted heroically and saved countless lives through his quick action, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference. Authorities said the officer is still processing what happened and isnt ready to have his name made public.

If he hadnt have been there, I think wed have had a much more severe situation, Sibley said.

The investigation into Garcia's motive is ongoing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, Sibley said, adding that Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia brought eight guns to the scene, including three that he had on him and five that were still in his vehicle, Sibley said. Garcia obtained all of the weapons legally. President Joe Biden has said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon.

Sibley said it seems Garcia targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people, adding that, "he was very random in the people he killed.

The big question that were dealing with right now is, Whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley said. Well, the big question is, we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

Garcia researched when the mall was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people. Among those killed were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a 20-year-old security guard who was hailed for his bravery in the shooting.

The security guard, Christian LaCour, evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said at the news conference.

An Associated Press review of Garcia's online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of the Dallas' most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad," which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, was asked about the shooter's veteran status.

Hes not a veteran," Ryder told reporters. "Again, as you highlight from the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to federal regulations, this individual in terms of the time of service would not qualify as a veteran.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived with his parents until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they weren't sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didn't immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

Sibley said Tuesday that as far as he knew, Garcia hadn't worked at the Allen mall, but that he wasn't completely sure. He said Garcia hadn't worked in the security business for some time, and that his private security license in Texas had expired.

A woman who lives next door to Garcia's parents' house said she didn't know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying in the runup to the attack.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen is one of the area's most diverse cities. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allen's population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Lolita C. Baldor and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Gene Johnson in Seattle and Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
DALLAS (AP)  The man accused of killing eight people and wounding several others in a mass shooting at a suburban Dallas shopping mall researched when it was busiest and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack.

The posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest the 33-year-old had been planning the attack for weeks before he stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire Saturday. Among the dead were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a security guard.

Garcia's online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

Other posts indicated Garcia had researched when the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, one of the Dallas-areas most diverse suburbs, would be the busiest  Saturday afternoons, the time he carried out the massacre, which ended when police shot and killed him.

The online activity contributed to an emerging picture of the gunman Monday. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they weren't sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didn't immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

A woman who lives next door said she didn't know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of actually becoming law.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen, which is home to about 105,000 people, is among the Dallas-Fort Worth area's diverse suburbs. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allen's population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

Allen also is connected to another of Texas recent mass shootings. Patrick Crusius lived there in 2019 before he posted a racist screed online warning of a Hispanic invasion and drove to El Paso, where he opened fire at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges in February.

Baldor reported from Washington and Johnson from Seattle. Jamie Stengle and Adam Kealoha Causey in Dallas; Michael Balsamo in Washington; Vanessa Alvarez in New York; James Vertuno in Austin; Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island; and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
Farm kids as young as 14 would have a legal way to do what farm kids have been doing anyway since before the Model T if Gov. Kevin Stitt signs legislation sent to him by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday.

House Bill 1962, by Rep. Carl Newton, R-Woodward, creates a Class D farm permit for 14-year-olds living or working on a farm. The permit would allow the teens to drive while going to or from or in connection with any farm job, employment, or other farm-related work.

Also allowed for farm residents only would be driving to and from school over the most direct and accessible route between the licensees residence and school of enrollment.

HB 1962 also allows farm permits to act somewhat like the learner permits issued 15-year-olds, in that holders can drive passenger vehicles anywhere, anytime with a licensed driver in the front seat.

Also the bill allows farm permits issued to drivers at least 16 years old to be converted to regular drivers licenses after six months.

Currently, the state only licenses 14-year-olds to drive motorcycles with 300cc or smaller engines, although state law does allow for a 30-day farm permit under certain circumstances.

Several states, including Arkansas and Kansas, have restricted drivers licenses like the one proposed by HB 1962.

HB 1962 was among a handful of measures sent to the governor by the House on Monday. The House also rejected Senate amendments on about 25 House bills, meaning the two chambers have less than three weeks to come to an agreement through conference committees.

Among the endangered bills is HB 1080, by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, which is intended to break Stitts control of the Veterans Commission.

On Monday, Steagall said the Senate had made unacceptable changes to the bill and that he emphatically rejected the amendments.
The director of a state agency focused on attracting new companies to Oklahoma and growing existing businesses will resign next month.

Oklahoma Department of Commerce Director Brent Kisling will step down after serving in the Stitt administration for more than four years.

In a May 1 resignation letter, the former executive director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance said its time for him to focus on new challenges.

Kisling touted helping to transform the Department of Commerce so that its mission is to produce an environment where businesses can create jobs, rather than relying on government to create jobs. He called the department the most responsive agency in state government and said it runs like a well-oiled machine.

In his resignation letter, Kisling said he was honored to serve Oklahoma citizens and called the past four years a high point in his career.

Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Kisling to the post shortly after taking office in 2019. Now, the states economy is stronger than ever before, Kisling wrote.

Working with our local leaders to guide our states economy through the hardship of a worldwide pandemic and focusing our attention on our legacy companies will always be accomplishments in which I will take pride, Kisling wrote. I wanted to build bridges between the Department of Commerce and our local communities and I believe that bond is stronger now than it has ever been.

Kisling submitted his resignation letter to the governor in an April 28 meeting, said Stitt spokeswoman Kate Vesper.

On April 27, a Senate panel rejected two of Stitts Cabinet appointments amid a dispute over education policy. The Senate Rules Committee unanimously rejected the appointment of Chad Mariska as secretary of commerce and workforce development. Mariska oversaw Department of Commerce operations.

Brent Kisling is a great Oklahoman and the governor appreciates his four years of service to the state, Vesper said. Governor Stitt remains laser focused on making Oklahoma the most business-friendly state in the nation.

Kislings resignation is effective June 8. Stitt will appoint his successor.
OKLAHOMA CITY  A celebrity psychologist and well-known television personality used his star power on Tuesday to advocate for an Oklahoma death row inmate.

Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw headlined a rally at the state Capitol to push for Richard Glossip to be freed from death row.

Glossip was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1997 beating death of his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. He has long maintained his innocence, arguing he was set up by a motel maintenance man.

Glossip's supporters are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will vacate his conviction. But members of the Van Treese family are preparing to ask the high court to allow the execution to proceed.

McGraw, who was born in Oklahoma, said a friend from the Innocence Project, which advocates for people believed to be wrongfully convicted, first brought Glossip's case to his attention.

Dozens of people, including Republican and Democratic state lawmakers, turned out for the rally at the Capitol. Many held signs saying, "Save Richard Glossip."

"For him to spend another day on death row, on its face, is injustice," McGraw said.

Two independent reviews of Glossip's case have raised questions about his conviction and led Attorney General Gentner Drummond to push for the inmate to get a new trial.

Drummond also asked the Supreme Court to block Glossip's execution that was scheduled for May 18, a request the court granted. The state's top prosecutor told justices Glossip's trial was "unfair and unreliable."

DAs share concerns on Oklahoma AG's handling of death penalty case Former Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said Gentner Drummond needs pursue the jurys decision and accused the AG of providing more fodder to attack the death penalty in general.

Glossip's attorneys have argued their client was set up by motel worker Justin Sneed, who they say killed Van Treese during a botched robbery and shifted the blame to avoid getting the death penalty himself.

They say new evidence not presented at trial proves their client's innocence. Both independent reviews have noted some evidence has gone missing or been destroyed.

Members of the Van Treese family said Glossip had his day in court and exhausted his appeals.

The family said it was disappointed the Supreme Court granted a stay in the case. But now they're working with a University of Utah law professor to file an independent brief asking the justices not to overturn Glossip's conviction.

"The number of legislators, TV personalities, and the like, supporting a twice-convicted murderer is highly concerning and frankly disappointing," the family said in a statement. "Because, at the end of the day, according to the law, Richard Glossip is guilty of murder in the first degree."

Dismissing arguments from people who say Glossip has twice been convicted of murder in two separate trials, McGraw said the jury did the right thing with the information that they had at the time. The jury didn't have all the information, McGraw said.

He quoted from a letter written by Drummond, who said it would be a "grave injustice" to execute Glossip when errors in the case have resulted in reasonable doubt surrounding his conviction.

"It's one thing to admit making a mistake," McGraw said. "It's another thing to make it right."

He urged Oklahomans to call Gov. Kevin Stitt and their state legislators on behalf of Glossip.

Robin Sellers of Oklahoma City attended Tuesday's rally after learning about Glossip's case a few years ago. The death penalty opponent said she thinks the inmate deserves a new trial so a jury can see evidence that was not presented at trial decades ago.

"I'm someone who believes a fair trial is essential to the things that undergird our democracy," she said. "I think that where we are now, the Supreme Court's decision to stay the execution affirms that."

Glossip has been on death row for about 25 years. He has had nine execution dates and has been mere hours away from being executed on three different occasions.
Authorities on Phu Quoc, a popular tourist island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, have said they will adopt various solutions to deal with exorbitant prices that have kept tourists away from the city. Tourism in the island city has enjoyed robust growth over the past few years, but tourism service prices there were said to be off the charts lately, compared to other coastal destinations in the country. During the recent five-day public holiday which lasted from April 29 to May 3, the island saw its tourist arrivals declining 11.5 percent year on year, at an estimated 113,000, according to Bui Quoc Thai, director of the provincial tourism department. Thai attributed the decline to pre-holiday soaring airfares for domestic flights to Phu Quoc, as well as a probable increase in COVID-19 cases in some localities that prompted locals to avoid traveling during the holiday. Also, complaints about overpriced tourism services on Phu Quoc began circulating on social media in recent weeks, prompting the provincial tourism authority to dispatch forces to some tourism businesses to check on the issue, Thai added. Commenting on the issue, Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City, said that local authorities are willing to listen to feedback from tourists to make proper changes to bolster the local tourism growth. The Phu Quoc administration will ask relevant agencies to inspect the price listing at local tourism service businesses, Hung said. The city will also report the issue to the upper authority and work with carriers that operate flights to Phu Quoc to revise the airfares appropriately, in a bid to woo more visitors to the island this summer. Meanwhile, Truong Cong Tam, chairman of the Phu Quoc City Professional Tour Guide Association, said that there have been several tourism service providers adopting unfair practices to make a quick profit by overpricing, which affects the overall picture of the tourism in the locality. Tam suggested that local authorities regularly review and supervise tourist services such as dining and transportation on Phu Quoc so that the island could leave tourists with a good impression and attract more visitors. The authorities also need to inspect and work with tourism businesses that offer overpriced services. Violators should be handled strictly to protect the interest of tourists and promote the development of sustainable tourism, Tam added. One of the tourism service providers in Duong Dong Ward, Phu Quoc City, Tran Van Phuoc, a restaurateur|, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that most of the foods on the island such as vegetables and seafood were imported from other localities so they fetched high prices. Besides, restaurants and eateries have to cover costs for renting retail spaces, hiring employees, goods transport and storage services, as well as fulfilling tax obligations. Therefore, they have to take measures to keep their business profitable while still retaining tourists. Phuoc said his restaurant, called Thuan Phat, offers a detailed price list. The restaurant quotes the prices of large-sized blood clams, snails, and abalones at VND250,000-650,000 (US$11-28) per kilogram. Other seafood types such as mantis shrimps, raw squids, and lobsters sell for VND1.1 million ($47), VND950,000 ($41), VND2.5 million ($107) per kilogram, respectively. I feel sad seeing complaints circulating lately on social media against overpriced food at Phu Quoc eateries," Phuoc continued. Most diners here offer detailed price lists. I havent received any feedback from my customers about pricing problems. Meanwhile, some locals said there was a big gap in terms of prices among eateries on Phu Quoc, even though they offer price lists. Another seafood eatery owner in Duong Dong attributed the high prices of food and services to restaurant operators having to give commissions worth up to 20 percent, instead of around 10-15 percent as before, to taxi and service car drivers who take visitors to their venues. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Authorities on Phu Quoc, a popular tourist island off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, have said they will adopt various solutions to deal with exorbitant prices that have kept tourists away from the city.

Tourism in the island city has enjoyed robust growth over the past few years, but tourism service prices there were said to be off the charts lately, compared to other coastal destinations in the country.

During the recent five-day public holiday which lasted from April 29 to May 3, the island saw its tourist arrivals declining 11.5 percent year on year, at an estimated 113,000, according to Bui Quoc Thai, director of the provincial tourism department.

Thai attributed the decline to pre-holiday soaring airfares for domestic flights to Phu Quoc, as well as a probable increase in COVID-19 cases in some localities that prompted locals to avoid traveling during the holiday.

Also, complaints about overpriced tourism services on Phu Quoc began circulating on social media in recent weeks, prompting the provincial tourism authority to dispatch forces to some tourism businesses to check on the issue, Thai added.

Commenting on the issue, Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City, said that local authorities are willing to listen to feedback from tourists to make proper changes to bolster the local tourism growth.

The Phu Quoc administration will ask relevant agencies to inspect the price listing at local tourism service businesses, Hung said.

The city will also report the issue to the upper authority and work with carriers that operate flights to Phu Quoc to revise the airfares appropriately, in a bid to woo more visitors to the island this summer.

Meanwhile, Truong Cong Tam, chairman of the Phu Quoc City Professional Tour Guide Association, said that there have been several tourism service providers adopting unfair practices to make a quick profit by overpricing, which affects the overall picture of the tourism in the locality.

Tam suggested that local authorities regularly review and supervise tourist services such as dining and transportation on Phu Quoc so that the island could leave tourists with a good impression and attract more visitors.

The authorities also need to inspect and work with tourism businesses that offer overpriced services.

Violators should be handled strictly to protect the interest of tourists and promote the development of sustainable tourism, Tam added.

One of the tourism service providers in Duong Dong Ward, Phu Quoc City, Tran Van Phuoc, a restaurateur|, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that most of the foods on the island such as vegetables and seafood were imported from other localities so they fetched high prices.

Besides, restaurants and eateries have to cover costs for renting retail spaces, hiring employees, goods transport and storage services, as well as fulfilling tax obligations.

Therefore, they have to take measures to keep their business profitable while still retaining tourists.

Phuoc said his restaurant, called Thuan Phat, offers a detailed price list.

The restaurant quotes the prices of large-sized blood clams, snails, and abalones at VND250,000-650,000 (US$11-28) per kilogram.

Other seafood types such as mantis shrimps, raw squids, and lobsters sell for VND1.1 million ($47), VND950,000 ($41), VND2.5 million ($107) per kilogram, respectively.

I feel sad seeing complaints circulating lately on social media against overpriced food at Phu Quoc eateries," Phuoc continued.

Most diners here offer detailed price lists.

I havent received any feedback from my customers about pricing problems.

Meanwhile, some locals said there was a big gap in terms of prices among eateries on Phu Quoc, even though they offer price lists.

Another seafood eatery owner in Duong Dong attributed the high prices of food and services to restaurant operators having to give commissions worth up to 20 percent, instead of around 10-15 percent as before, to taxi and service car drivers who take visitors to their venues.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The number of international tourist arrivals on Phu Quoc Island off Vietnams Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is decreasing, leading to a suspension of air services with India and Taiwan. Air service between Phu Quoc Island and Hong Kong was not launched as scheduled on April 27. Currently, Phu Quoc Island only has air connectivity with South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism. To lure more international visitors to Vietnam in general and Phu Quoc Island in particular, the Kien Giang Peoples Committee has proposed that the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries and departments expand the visa waiver program. Popularizing Vietnams tourism among global travelers is needed to beef up the number of international tourist arrivals. The provincial Department of Tourism also proposed adding domestic and international air routes to diversify the tourism source markets and launching more tours for fam trip and press trip groups to Phu Quoc. Data released by the department on Monday indicated that the Mekong Delta province welcomed over 815,230 tourists in April, with 48,190 international holidaymakers, down 28.3 percent month on month. During the five-day holiday lasting from April 29 to May 3, some 265,000 tourists traveled to Kien Giang Province, down 9.4 percent year on year. Phu Quoc Island alone received over 112,000 travelers, falling 11.5 percent against the year-ago period. The provincial department attributed the drop to the off-peak travel season for foreign travelers. In addition, ongoing global economic uncertainties, military conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic discouraged international tourists from touring overseas. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The number of international tourist arrivals on Phu Quoc Island off Vietnams Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is decreasing, leading to a suspension of air services with India and Taiwan.

Air service between Phu Quoc Island and Hong Kong was not launched as scheduled on April 27.

Currently, Phu Quoc Island only has air connectivity with South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism.

To lure more international visitors to Vietnam in general and Phu Quoc Island in particular, the Kien Giang Peoples Committee has proposed that the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries and departments expand the visa waiver program.

Popularizing Vietnams tourism among global travelers is needed to beef up the number of international tourist arrivals.

The provincial Department of Tourism also proposed adding domestic and international air routes to diversify the tourism source markets and launching more tours for fam trip and press trip groups to Phu Quoc.

Data released by the department on Monday indicated that the Mekong Delta province welcomed over 815,230 tourists in April, with 48,190 international holidaymakers, down 28.3 percent month on month.

During the five-day holiday lasting from April 29 to May 3, some 265,000 tourists traveled to Kien Giang Province, down 9.4 percent year on year.

Phu Quoc Island alone received over 112,000 travelers, falling 11.5 percent against the year-ago period.

The provincial department attributed the drop to the off-peak travel season for foreign travelers.

In addition, ongoing global economic uncertainties, military conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic discouraged international tourists from touring overseas.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A court in Hanoi sentenced six Vietnamese nationals who beat their compatriot to death in Japan to imprisonment for a duration of six to seven years on Monday afternoon. Le Manh Thang, a 28-year-old native of northern Phu Tho Province, received a prison term of seven years, the highest sentence among the six Vietnamese individuals, for intentionally causing injuries to others. Do Manh Hung, 31, from Quang Ninh, Le Dinh Tuan, 36, from Quang Tri, Dao Ba Phu, 28, from Hai Duong, Nguyen Huy Binh, 32, from Vinh Phuc, and Nguyen Luong Sang, 29, from Thanh Hoa, were all given six-year jail sentences for their involvement in the same crime. The indictment stated that the six men and some other fellow Vietnamese citizens armed themselves and went to Mikawa Chiryu railway station in Aichi Prefecture, Japan to settle a personal conflict with Nguyen Van D., another Vietnamese, in response to D.s challenge, on March 10, 2018. At the station, D. used a pepper spray against Thangs group and stabbed a sword into one of the group members, who thus fought back and attacked D. with a variety of weapons including knives, hammers, sticks, belts, and even their own limbs. They aimed at D.s legs and back, inflicting multiple wounds on him. Due to the injuries he sustained during the attack, D. had to be rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, but his injuries were too severe and he passed away. Following the fatal beating of D., some of Thangs group members were brought to trial at the Nagoya Local Court in Japan. They were found guilty of charges related to preparing weapons, gathering together, and causing injuries resulting in the death of another person. As a consequence, each was sentenced to a prison term of three years and six months in Japan. Upon learning of D.s death, Thang, Hung, Tuan, Phu, Binh, and Sang fled to Vietnam to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

A court in Hanoi sentenced six Vietnamese nationals who beat their compatriot to death in Japan to imprisonment for a duration of six to seven years on Monday afternoon.

Le Manh Thang, a 28-year-old native of northern Phu Tho Province, received a prison term of seven years, the highest sentence among the six Vietnamese individuals, for intentionally causing injuries to others.

Do Manh Hung, 31, from Quang Ninh, Le Dinh Tuan, 36, from Quang Tri, Dao Ba Phu, 28, from Hai Duong, Nguyen Huy Binh, 32, from Vinh Phuc, and Nguyen Luong Sang, 29, from Thanh Hoa, were all given six-year jail sentences for their involvement in the same crime.

The indictment stated that the six men and some other fellow Vietnamese citizens armed themselves and went to Mikawa Chiryu railway station in Aichi Prefecture, Japan to settle a personal conflict with Nguyen Van D., another Vietnamese, in response to D.s challenge, on March 10, 2018.

At the station, D. used a pepper spray against Thangs group and stabbed a sword into one of the group members, who thus fought back and attacked D. with a variety of weapons including knives, hammers, sticks, belts, and even their own limbs.

They aimed at D.s legs and back, inflicting multiple wounds on him.

Due to the injuries he sustained during the attack, D. had to be rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, but his injuries were too severe and he passed away.

Following the fatal beating of D., some of Thangs group members were brought to trial at the Nagoya Local Court in Japan.

They were found guilty of charges related to preparing weapons, gathering together, and causing injuries resulting in the death of another person.

As a consequence, each was sentenced to a prison term of three years and six months in Japan.

Upon learning of D.s death, Thang, Hung, Tuan, Phu, Binh, and Sang fled to Vietnam to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.

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Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfalls, a landscape area located in the Quay Son River that straddles the Vietnam-China border, is slated for pilot opening in October this year. The waterfalls are specially situated between Vietnams Cao Bang Province and Chinas Guangxi Province. Hoang Xuan Anh, chairman of the Cao Bang administration, at a meeting held last Thursday urged the relevant departments and agencies in the area to complete procedures for the trial opening of the site, the Vietnam News Agency reported. During the pilot operation, visitors from China to the Vietnam side will need to pay an entrance fee of VND70,000 (US$3) per person. The fee includes insurance and excludes other service surcharges. They will travel on electric cars along National Highway 4A to reach locations in the landscape area, including a border checkpoint to the Ban Gioc Waterfall, the foot of the waterfall, the Saigon Ban Gioc Hotel, and Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda. Meanwhile, visitors from Vietnam to the China side will be exempted from the entrance fee during the pilot period. Vietnam has also requested the China side to expand a sightseeing route to the Detian Waterfall for Vietnamese tourists. Each side will use no more than 20 rafts to serve tourists and keep the rafts far away from the feet of the waterfalls. In the upcoming period, Vietnamese agencies will build some facilities and renovate the Ban Gioc Waterfall, in addition to setting up a tourist service zone at the border checkpoint where travel and local specialty farm products will be displayed. They will also set up soft barriers in the area during the pilot operation. The Vietnamese provincial chairman asked relevant bodies to develop new travel products, organize cultural and art performances to service tourists, as well as take measures to ensure public security at the site. The provincial transport department was told to map out a plan regulating traffic flow for large trucks passing by the pilot site. The Ban Gioc Waterfall management board and local authorities have to establish temporary facilities to serve the pilot operation, Anh said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfalls, a landscape area located in the Quay Son River that straddles the Vietnam-China border, is slated for pilot opening in October this year.

The waterfalls are specially situated between Vietnams Cao Bang Province and Chinas Guangxi Province.

Hoang Xuan Anh, chairman of the Cao Bang administration, at a meeting held last Thursday urged the relevant departments and agencies in the area to complete procedures for the trial opening of the site, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

During the pilot operation, visitors from China to the Vietnam side will need to pay an entrance fee of VND70,000 (US$3) per person. The fee includes insurance and excludes other service surcharges.

They will travel on electric cars along National Highway 4A to reach locations in the landscape area, including a border checkpoint to the Ban Gioc Waterfall, the foot of the waterfall, the Saigon Ban Gioc Hotel, and Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda.

Meanwhile, visitors from Vietnam to the China side will be exempted from the entrance fee during the pilot period.

Vietnam has also requested the China side to expand a sightseeing route to the Detian Waterfall for Vietnamese tourists.

Each side will use no more than 20 rafts to serve tourists and keep the rafts far away from the feet of the waterfalls.

In the upcoming period, Vietnamese agencies will build some facilities and renovate the Ban Gioc Waterfall, in addition to setting up a tourist service zone at the border checkpoint where travel and local specialty farm products will be displayed.

They will also set up soft barriers in the area during the pilot operation.

The Vietnamese provincial chairman asked relevant bodies to develop new travel products, organize cultural and art performances to service tourists, as well as take measures to ensure public security at the site.

The provincial transport department was told to map out a plan regulating traffic flow for large trucks passing by the pilot site.

The Ban Gioc Waterfall management board and local authorities have to establish temporary facilities to serve the pilot operation, Anh said.

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Downpours, whirlwinds, and hail damaged and tore the roofs of over 1,000 houses in northern and central Vietnam on Monday, leaving one person in north-central Quang Binh Province and another in neighboring Quang Tri Province missing along with one in Quang Tri dead. The victim in Quang Binh was missing after his ship sank at sea due to strong winds. Meanwhile, the body of a woman in Quang Tri was found at sea at about 1:00 pm on Monday. She and her husband were fishing when their boat capsized. Local authorities are searching for her husband. Whirlwinds also sank and damaged three fishing boats in central Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces. Moreover, nearly 7,600ha of rice and other crops were damaged and 16 heads of cattle died. The northern, central, and Central Highlands regions experienced rains with rainfall ranging between 50 and 90 millimeters on Monday night, according to a report by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. The northern provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, and Cao Bang as well as north-central Nghe An and Quang Binh Provinces also saw strong winds and hail. Some areas reported a high rainfall of over 100 millimeters, including Linh Phu Commune of Chiem Hoa District and Minh Quang Commune of Lam Binh District in northern Tuyen Quang Province with a respective rainfall of 155 and 122 millimeters. Thai Nguyen City in the namesake northern province recorded precipitation of 130 millimeters, Dan Hoa Commune of Quang Binh Provinces Minh Hoa District, 111 millimeters, and Thach Xuan Commune of Ha Tinh Provinces Thach Ha District, 110 millimeters. Rains were forecast to continue in the south-central, Central Highlands, and southern regions on Tuesday with a rainfall of 20-40 millimeters, with some places expected to receive up to 70 millimeters. Such rains may be accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong winds and can cause floods in low-lying areas. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Downpours, whirlwinds, and hail damaged and tore the roofs of over 1,000 houses in northern and central Vietnam on Monday, leaving one person in north-central Quang Binh Province and another in neighboring Quang Tri Province missing along with one in Quang Tri dead.

The victim in Quang Binh was missing after his ship sank at sea due to strong winds.

Meanwhile, the body of a woman in Quang Tri was found at sea at about 1:00 pm on Monday. She and her husband were fishing when their boat capsized.

Local authorities are searching for her husband.

Whirlwinds also sank and damaged three fishing boats in central Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces.

Moreover, nearly 7,600ha of rice and other crops were damaged and 16 heads of cattle died.

The northern, central, and Central Highlands regions experienced rains with rainfall ranging between 50 and 90 millimeters on Monday night, according to a report by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The northern provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, and Cao Bang as well as north-central Nghe An and Quang Binh Provinces also saw strong winds and hail.

Some areas reported a high rainfall of over 100 millimeters, including Linh Phu Commune of Chiem Hoa District and Minh Quang Commune of Lam Binh District in northern Tuyen Quang Province with a respective rainfall of 155 and 122 millimeters.

Thai Nguyen City in the namesake northern province recorded precipitation of 130 millimeters, Dan Hoa Commune of Quang Binh Provinces Minh Hoa District, 111 millimeters, and Thach Xuan Commune of Ha Tinh Provinces Thach Ha District, 110 millimeters.

Rains were forecast to continue in the south-central, Central Highlands, and southern regions on Tuesday with a rainfall of 20-40 millimeters, with some places expected to receive up to 70 millimeters.

Such rains may be accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong winds and can cause floods in low-lying areas.

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Vietnam will require all users of social networks, such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, to verify their identity to limit scams on such platforms. Accounts failing to be verified will be handled, and even blocked, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said at a working session of the lawmaking National Assemblys Judiciary Committee on Monday. The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security have worked out a detailed cooperation plan. After inspectors in localities proposed verifying social media accounts showing signs of violations, the Authority of Information Security will coordinate with the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center and the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information to do the job. There are times they cannot identify social media account holders that violate the laws as those criminals use cross-border apps, Lam said. The issue will be tackled in the coming time once the amended Telecommunications Law is approved. The law regulates that both local and foreign platforms will be managed alike. If the platforms fail to meet the management requirements, they will be banned in Vietnam. Lam affirmed that the Ministry of Information and Communications is able to block users of social media platforms, even foreign ones. However, when the accounts are blocked, evidence of violations will no longer exist, hindering other forces from fighting law violators. Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc. Photo: Gia Han / Tuoi Tre Many criminals have taken advantage of technological advancement to commit scams and the handling of such criminals has not been as effective as expected, said Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc. As a result, policies are needed to support the underprivileged so that they will not fall victim to scams, Ngoc said. As of mid-April, some 1.2 million mobile phone numbers have been blocked as their owners failed to verify their personal information. The Ministry of Public Security will work with banks to verify payment accounts in the coming time, Ngoc informed. We will thus access and limit online scams, Ngoc added. International cooperation enhancement, especially between countries sharing a border, is also important to handle criminals. The ministry will cooperate with the General Department of Vocational Training under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs in bettering the management of laborers working overseas, thus reducing human trafficking through the dispatch of workers to other countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Vietnam will require all users of social networks, such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, to verify their identity to limit scams on such platforms.

Accounts failing to be verified will be handled, and even blocked, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said at a working session of the lawmaking National Assemblys Judiciary Committee on Monday.

The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Public Security have worked out a detailed cooperation plan.

After inspectors in localities proposed verifying social media accounts showing signs of violations, the Authority of Information Security will coordinate with the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center and the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information to do the job.

There are times they cannot identify social media account holders that violate the laws as those criminals use cross-border apps, Lam said.

The issue will be tackled in the coming time once the amended Telecommunications Law is approved. The law regulates that both local and foreign platforms will be managed alike.

If the platforms fail to meet the management requirements, they will be banned in Vietnam.

Lam affirmed that the Ministry of Information and Communications is able to block users of social media platforms, even foreign ones.

However, when the accounts are blocked, evidence of violations will no longer exist, hindering other forces from fighting law violators.

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc. Photo: Gia Han / Tuoi Tre

Many criminals have taken advantage of technological advancement to commit scams and the handling of such criminals has not been as effective as expected, said Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc.

As a result, policies are needed to support the underprivileged so that they will not fall victim to scams, Ngoc said.

As of mid-April, some 1.2 million mobile phone numbers have been blocked as their owners failed to verify their personal information.

The Ministry of Public Security will work with banks to verify payment accounts in the coming time, Ngoc informed.

We will thus access and limit online scams, Ngoc added.

International cooperation enhancement, especially between countries sharing a border, is also important to handle criminals.

The ministry will cooperate with the General Department of Vocational Training under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs in bettering the management of laborers working overseas, thus reducing human trafficking through the dispatch of workers to other countries.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A 31-year-old woman residing in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam noticed her breast was swollen and painful and she was suffering a fever after undergoing breast augmentation with shockwaves at a spa in Hanoi. The Hanoi-based 108 Military Central Hospital on Monday admitted a patient named N. due to painful red abscesses on her left breast. A month ago, after N. found an advertisement about breast augmentation at a spa in Hanoi on social media, she quickly traveled there in the hope of enhancing her breast, N. recounted. The breast augmentation with shockwaves cost VND6 million (US$257.4), she added. The owner of the spa, however, said that high quality shockwaves would be used for my medical operation, so she asked me to pay VND20 million [$858], either after the surgery or in installments," N. said. "The spa staff covered my eyes to perform the surgery." After the breast augmentation, N. experienced chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rash a day later. She was rushed to Bac Thang Long General Hospital in Bac Giang Province for emergency treatment. She returned to the spa to question the problem after being released from the hospital. The owner of the spa told her that she was injected with implants before they put thread into her breast. N. continued to suffer breast pain and skin rashes though the spa already removed the thread and melted the implants. She received treatment at the provinces hospital and used anti-inflammatory drugs for nearly one month, but her health did not improve, so she visited 108 Military Central Hospital for a medical examination. After conducting a thorough medical check-up and tests, doctors found she was infected with staphylococcus aureus, which is a dangerous bacteria causing many clinical diseases in humans. Dr. Luu Phuong Lan from the hospital said that implants of unclear origin caused abscesses or breast lumps after breast augmentation surgery. Many patients suffered severe abscesses after having had strange substances implanted into their breast many times for five, 10 or 20 years," Dr. Lan said. "They must undergo medical operations for treatment and even have their breasts removed." Over the past few months, the hospital has admitted many cases of complications of filler injection. Most of the victims found spas and beauty facilities for breast augmentation from advertisements on social media, Dr. Lan said. She advised women who intend to undergo breast augmentation surgery to carefully garner information about surgical methods and get feedback on spas and surgeons experience and skills to minimize potential risks and complications after the medical operation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

A 31-year-old woman residing in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam noticed her breast was swollen and painful and she was suffering a fever after undergoing breast augmentation with shockwaves at a spa in Hanoi.

The Hanoi-based 108 Military Central Hospital on Monday admitted a patient named N. due to painful red abscesses on her left breast.

A month ago, after N. found an advertisement about breast augmentation at a spa in Hanoi on social media, she quickly traveled there in the hope of enhancing her breast, N. recounted.

The breast augmentation with shockwaves cost VND6 million (US$257.4), she added.

The owner of the spa, however, said that high quality shockwaves would be used for my medical operation, so she asked me to pay VND20 million [$858], either after the surgery or in installments," N. said.

"The spa staff covered my eyes to perform the surgery."

After the breast augmentation, N. experienced chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rash a day later.

She was rushed to Bac Thang Long General Hospital in Bac Giang Province for emergency treatment.

She returned to the spa to question the problem after being released from the hospital. The owner of the spa told her that she was injected with implants before they put thread into her breast.

N. continued to suffer breast pain and skin rashes though the spa already removed the thread and melted the implants.

She received treatment at the provinces hospital and used anti-inflammatory drugs for nearly one month, but her health did not improve, so she visited 108 Military Central Hospital for a medical examination.

After conducting a thorough medical check-up and tests, doctors found she was infected with staphylococcus aureus, which is a dangerous bacteria causing many clinical diseases in humans.

Dr. Luu Phuong Lan from the hospital said that implants of unclear origin caused abscesses or breast lumps after breast augmentation surgery.

Many patients suffered severe abscesses after having had strange substances implanted into their breast many times for five, 10 or 20 years," Dr. Lan said.

"They must undergo medical operations for treatment and even have their breasts removed."

Over the past few months, the hospital has admitted many cases of complications of filler injection.

Most of the victims found spas and beauty facilities for breast augmentation from advertisements on social media, Dr. Lan said.

She advised women who intend to undergo breast augmentation surgery to carefully garner information about surgical methods and get feedback on spas and surgeons experience and skills to minimize potential risks and complications after the medical operation.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
In order to appreciate last nights ratings results, you have to take into context the coding of shows, that allows for short program portions to float to the top of the heap.

Broadly speaking, a long programme can see its show average trend downwards because not every viewer makes it to the end. Or sometimes with season finales, viewers may even just switch on at the end just to see the outcome.

Given this, heres how last night stacked up

Lego Masters finale drew 576,000 metro viewers rising to 598,000 for the moment Scott & Owen were announced as winners.

MasterChef Australia -which stuck with a single number for its second outing- was 557,000.

Sevens broadcast of the Coronation Concert averaged 535,000 rising to 584,000 for its finale segment, double a late change by Nine to replay the event at 9pm (250,000).

7:30 was 459,000 then Australian Story (405,000).

Elsewhere were Media Watch (415,000) and Four Corners (372,000).

Seven network won Monday with 29.6% then Nine 28.5%, 10 17.55, ABC 17.0% and SBS 7.5%.

Seven News was #1 at 1.04m / 996,000 with The Chase very strong at 597,000 / 362,000. Home & Away drew 503,000. 911 was 197,000.

Nine News (839,000 / 818,000) was best for Nine. A Current Affair was 671,000. Hot Seat was 388,000 / 235,000. A midday broadcast of the Coronation Concert drew 155,000.

The Project drew 337,000 / 207,000 for 10. 10 News First was 267,000 / 177,000. Ghosts (154,000) and FBI: Most Wanted (93,000) were next.

ABC News was 615,000. Q+A (201,000) and The Drum (163,000) followed.

On SBS it was SBS World News (131,000 / 144,000), Rise Of The Nazis: The Downfall (94,000), Secrets Of The Tower Of London (88,000), Mastermind (86,000) and Race For The Sky (80,000).

Hey Duggee on ABC Kids led multichannels at 116,000.

Sunrise: 209,000

Today: 198,000

News Breakfast: 92,000 / 47,000

In Total TV numbers last Monday were:

911: Lone Star: 329,000

911: 572,000

Lego Masters: 944,000

Farmer Wants a Wife: 1.189m

Media Watch: 758,000

OzTAM Overnights: Monday 8 May 2023
When the UK Trade Ministers daughter is found dead in Sydney Harbour, detectives delve into the dark secrets of those close to the victim. 8:40pm Wednesday on 10.

Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 1

Travel Guides

The Muppets Mayhem

Accused

Selling Houses Australia
Stephen Merchants The Outlaws has been renewed for a third season by BBC and Amazon Studios.

The comedy thriller series, created by Merchant and Elgin James (Mayans M.C.) follows a group of strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.

With crime boss The Dean behind bars awaiting trial, The Outlaws are moving on with their lives  until one of their own returns with a deadly secret, hurling them back into mortal danger. As a murder manhunt closes in on the gang, can they prove their innocence before The Deans case collapses, and he comes looking for revenge?

The series will see the return of Stephen Merchant, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins, Eleanor Tomlinson, Jessica Gunning, Charles Babalola, Tom Hanson, and Claes Bang.

Stephen Merchant says: After the overwhelming response to the first two series, Im delighted to be bringing back our lovable band of miscreants for more misadventures. Audiences have really taken the characters to their hearts, so I cant wait for them to see what hot water weve thrown them into this time. And Im thrilled well once again be filming in my hometown of Bristol. I expect Ill be welcomed with a ticker-tape parade. It didnt happen on the previous series, but I put that down to Covid.

Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy, BBC, says: We couldnt be happier to have The Outlaws back in our lives. Stephen and the team have delivered a fantastic set of scripts for the third series, and we cant wait to see the incredible cast bring them to life for BBC viewers to enjoy.

The Outlaws (5 x 60) will premiere on Prime Video in Australia & New Zealand,

Filming on series three is now underway in and around Bristol.
A little late from me this month, but here are the May highlights for architectural / design streamer Shelter, including the Australian premiere of Concrete Landscape.

It Starts with a Sketch

(8 x 10 mins) UK 2023 (Available 1 May)

How do the best architectural minds grow the kernel of an idea into finished designs and blueprints? Join some of the best designers in British architecture, as they break down the art of sketching and drawing in the integral stage of design, with It Starts with a Sketch. Directed by Andrew Spicer (Shelter Originals: Follies), this 8-part series uncovers the techniques, styles and personal anecdotes that shape their designs and reveals how rough sketches develop into refined drawings and materialise into shape and form.

My City

(10 x 26 mins) Germany 2015-2022 (Available 8 May)

Renowned for their beauty and history, the famous old cities of Europe face a number of modern problems. Constrained by shape, space and layout; these cities require modern solutions for their current and future residents. Journey with Viennese architect Jakob Dunkl (co-founder of querkraft Architekten) in My City, as he explores key modern and fascinating buildings in major classical European cities, and the incredible urban planning innovations to guide them into the future. Through this 10 part series, Dunkel meets architects, artists, museum directors, urban planners and other city enthusiasts; discussing architecture with luminaries such as Dominique Perrault, Wolf D. Prix, Jan Gehl, Odile Decq, Willem Jan Neutelings and Ben van Berkel.

How do you want to live in the future?

Concrete Landscape: Australian Premiere

(74 mins) Brazil 2022 (Available 15 May)

Concrete Landscape explores the emotional and family connections between celebrated Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza and Brazil, as he discusses the design of the Ibere Camargo Foundation Museum in Porto Alegre. This feature documentary also showcases the Pritzker-prize winners body of famous works; the inspiration and pragmatism behind his unique style; his reflections on the future of Porto Alegres concrete landscape on the edge of the Guaiba River; as well as the Fio de Ariadne (Ariadnes Thread) exhibition at the Ibere Museum.

(Un)usual Manhattan

(80 mins) Poland 2022 (Available 22 May)

How does stubbornness, determination and vision create an architectural icon that encapsulated the defiance of an entire people? (Un)usual Manhattan follows the story of Jadwiga Grabowska-Hawrylak, a visionary architect who designed a stunning concrete estate in 1970s Wrocaw, Poland during the Soviet occupation. With her work now considered an icon of social modernism; this feature documentary takes us on a journey to observe the estates impact after over 50 years of use. Explore the micro world of the estates apartments, corridors, yards, and basements; examining its influence on Polish society and the country itself. The film reflects on how architecture can shape a society and explores the legacy of Grabowska-Hawrylaks work, which continues to inspire the next generation of architects. Through interviews with architects, residents, and experts, the film sheds light on the power of design and the lasting impact of architecture on our lives.

George Nakashima: Conoid Studio

(15 Mins) USA 2022 (Available 29 May)

Trailblazer. Craftsman. Utilitarian.

A true man of many talents, join us for a short but deep dive into the life and work of the late George Nakashima. Through an interview with his daughter Mira, this short film is framed through the design of his most ambitious building  the Conoid Studio  and tells a story of hope and perseverance. An architect, internment camp detainee, chicken farmer, world-renowned furniture maker and founding father of the American craft movement; this short film gives us a glimpse into Nakashimas ability to overcome adversity and find beauty and meaning not only for himself but for generations to come.
The family of the late Barry Humphries has accepted the offer of a State Funeral, to be held in Sydney.

Last week PM Anthony Albanese told UK host Piers Morgan that Humphries would receive a joint state funeral involving New South Wales, Victoria and the Commonwealth.

The final decision lay with Humphries family, who ultimately decided to decline a state service in Melbourne and instead accept an offer in Sydney.

We reached out to Barrys family to discuss the best way to honour the life of this extraordinary Victorian, but the family declined a state service  choosing instead to accept an offer in Sydney, a Victorian Government Spokesperson said.

Through Dame Edna Everage, fictionally hailing from Moonee Ponds, Humphries has been synonymous with Melbourne but also often worked in Sydney and spent the final years of his life residing there.

A date and location has not yet been finalised, but is expected to be held in a theatre.

A private funeral was hosted by his friend, artist Tim Storrier, at his Bowral estate in the NSW Southern Highlands in late April.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald
China has invested billions of dollars to tap natural gas reserves in Central Asia

President Xi Jinping will host a two-day summit with the leaders of five Central Asian nations next week, Beijing said on Monday, as China moves to increase its influence in the region.

Leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are expected to attend the China-Central Asia Summit from May 18 to 19, said China's foreign ministry.

The summit in the historic city of Xi'an on the ancient Silk Road is the first of its kind since the establishment of formal relations 31 years ago, according to the ministry, and will focus on strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.

China, the world's second-largest energy consumer, has invested billions of dollars to tap natural gas reserves in Central Asia.

Rail links connecting China to Europe criss-cross the region and are key to the success of Xi's trillion-dollar global infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that Xi would deliver a keynote speech during the summit, billed as China's first major diplomatic event of the year, and the leaders would jointly sign "important political documents".

"The heads of state will review the development of China-Central Asia relations and exchange views on China-Central Asia cooperation in various fields and on major international and regional issues of common concern," Wang told a regular briefing.

- 'Mutual support' -

Beijing adheres to a policy of "good-neighbourliness and friendship" with regard to Central Asia, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said during a meeting with his regional counterparts in Xi'an last month.

"All parties reiterated... firm mutual support on issues concerning each others' core interests, stern opposition to external interference in internal affairs, and resolute rejection of... force creating chaos and turbulence in Central Asia," according to a Chinese foreign ministry report on the meeting.

Story continues

The republics of Central Asia were part of the Soviet Union and have been dominated by Moscow since the mid-19th century.

But Russia's influence has been increasingly challenged since its invasion of Ukraine, with Beijing courting Moscow's traditional allies in the region.

In 2022, China's exports to Central Asia grew 60 percent year-on-year to $1.4 billion, according to data released by the Chinese ministry of commerce last month.

In September last year, Xi travelled to Kazakhstan on his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Countries, including Kazakhstan, that border China's northwestern region of Xinjiang have remained quiet over accusations of human rights violations by Beijing targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

prw-pfc-je/mtp
Bradford university chancellor's arrest in Pakistan branded 'abduction' (Image: Newsquest)

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested as he appeared in a court in Islamabad, it has been reported.

The politician, who was chancellor of the University of Bradford between 2005 to 2014, was facing charges in multiple corruption cases on Tuesday, according to officials from his party.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, said the 72-year-old was arrested on court premises by agents from the countrys anti-corruption body, the National Accountability Bureau.

Mr Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April last year.

He has claimed the move was illegal and a Western conspiracy and has campaigned against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, demanding early elections.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Imran Khan at Carlton Bolling College

Imran Khan at Carlton Bolling College (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Chaudhry said Mr Khan was dragged out of the court and into a police vehicle.

He said the former premier is now in the custody of the security forces, and denounced the arrest as an abduction.

Pakistans independent GEO TV broadcast images of Mr Khan being pulled by security forces towards an armoured vehicle, which took him away.

Mr Khans party immediately complained to Islamabad High Court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for his arrest.

Officials from the anti-corruption body said Pakistans National Accountability Bureau issued arrest warrants for Mr Khan last week in a separate corruption case, for which he had not obtained bail  something that would protect him from arrest under the countrys laws.

The officials said Mr Khan will appear before an anti-corruption tribunal later on Tuesday.
YUI MOK - Getty Images

While the world's attention was on the UK this weekend for the historic coronation celebrations, there was one member of the royal family in particular who stood out for her sweet style moments: Princess Charlotte.

The young royal joined her parents and older brother George at the coronation concert at Windsor Castle, and for the occasion she wore a dress from one of Kate's favourite labels.

The eight-year-old wore a cream-coloured Self-Portrait dress, with a delicate scalloped collar and contrasting black bow.

Leon Neal - Getty Images

Kate is a big fan of the contemporary London-based label, which is helmed by the Malaysia-born designer Han Chong, and regularly wears Self-Portrait designs for public appearances  from official events to premieres. Most recently, Kate chose a royal-blue dress by the brand that featured a statement crossover neckline, to host a royal pre-coronation reception for overseas guests.

Princess Charlotte, Kate and the rest of the family watched the coronation concert waving Union Jack flags; stars such as Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Paloma Faith took to the stage to put on a show for viewers tuning in around the world, as well as the crowd gathered in the grounds at Windsor Castle. Kate sat next to her daughter wearing a red Alexander McQueen suit and her beloved Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra jewellery.

YUI MOK - Getty Images

Charlotte also took style cues from her mother for the coronation ceremony itself  the mother-and-daughter duo both wore co-ordinating Alexander McQueen outfits for the historic ceremony, complete with matching shimmering leaf tiaras.

Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images

The two show-stopping headpieces were bespoke designs created by Alexander McQueen in partnership with the milliner Jess Collett. Charlotte also wore her hair up in a similar plaited chignon style, with both of them wearing ivory silk crepe dresses for the occasion.

Shop more Self-Portrait childrenswear here

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HA NOI  The National Citizen Joint Stock Commercial Bank (NVB) plans to sell 203 million shares of Bamboo Airways, equivalent to 11 per cent of the airline's current capital.

NVB has just announced a resolution to collect shareholders' written opinions on the sale of 203 million shares of Bamboo Airways, owned by property developer FLC Group.

The above shares are part of the collateral of the loans of FLC at NVB. In addition to this bank, Trinh Van Quyet, former chairman of FLC, and other shareholders also used Bamboo Airways shares as collateral for loans at many other banks such as Sacombank and the Orient Commercial Bank.

Bamboo Airways currently has charter capital of VN18.5 trillion (US$789 million), equivalent to 1.85 billion shares. Thus, the number of shares that NVB holds is equivalent to 11 per cent of the current capital of this airline.

In early April, the Board of Directors of FLC Group also had a resolution approving the policy of transferring shares of Bamboo Airways owned by FLC.

At the recent extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in 2023, the Board of Directors of Bamboo Airways submitted to shareholders a plan for the private placement of ordinary shares to increase charter capital.

Under the plan, Bamboo Airways will increase charter capital through the issuance of shares to restructure loans and issue shares to new investors.

Bamboo Airways will issue 772 million shares at par value of VN7.72 trillion to swap debts into shares according to the agreement between the airline and creditors.

The issue price and expected swap ratio are VN10,000 per share, equivalent to a 1:1 swap ratio, meaning VN10,000 can be swapped for 1 share.

Bamboo Airways also plans to issue 185 million shares to new investors. The Board of Directors was authorised to seek and decide on the criteria for selecting investors and the number of shares to be offered to each investor. The expected issue price for new investors was also VN10,000 per share.

If the above issuance plans had been successful, Bamboo Airways would have collected VN1.85 trillion, at the same time, write off a debt of VN7.72 trillion and increase charter capital by VN9.57 trillion to VN28.07 trillion.

However, after submitting to shareholders, only 43.56 per cent of the voting shares approved the above private placement plan and 56.42 per cent of the voting shares disapproved. Therefore, this option was not passed.

Shareholders discussed and decided that more time was needed to finalise the most feasible capital increase plan for Bamboo Airways. After completion, the capital increase plan will be submitted to the nearest General Meeting of Shareholders for approval.

At the meeting, Bamboo Airways Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Trong said that he would work again with shareholders with a large ownership rate and will submit to shareholders the capital increase plan at the nearest meeting. According to Trong, this plan is aimed at effectively restructuring loans and supplementing business capital for the company.  VNS
HCM CITY  Intellectual property (IP) protection of online exports has become increasingly important for Vietnamese businesses as the country has entered a new stage of cross-border e-commerce, experts said.

A recent report from Amazon Global Selling Vietnam revealed Vietnamese selling partners awareness of brand building and intellectual property protection has gradually improved.

In the past three years, the number of Vietnamese brands enrolled in its brand registry has grown seven times. The duration of Vietnamese selling partners from seller account registration to brand registry enrollment shortened 85 per cent on average, the report said.

In addition, Vietnamese selling partners are paying more attention to global expansion, with 18.6 per cent of Vietnamese selling partners having trademarks in the US, EU, Japan and other regions.

Viet Nam has implemented some fundamental IP initiatives to help increase awareness about the importance of protecting IP rights and streamline IP rights enforcement. With continued investment in strong IP rights, we can harness this positive momentum to stimulate its domestic capacity for innovation, enhance its global competitiveness, and help enterprises as well as the country's economy integrate widely and effectively with the global economy," said Nguyen Van Toan, vice president of Viet Nam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE).

"It is recommended that small and medium-sized companies understand the importance of working together with trade associations and organisations to support efforts to protect IP, stop counterfeiting, as well as improving the capability to enforce rights and obligations under Viet Nam's IP law and international commitments to which Viet Nam is a signatory.

To obtain patent and trademark protection, Toan suggested Vietnamese enterprises use the guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technology when introducing their products or services to the local market and get support from trusted international organisations when bringing their products and services to global markets.

A recent Amazon survey showed that, besides sales growth, global brand building and adoption are among the top key motivations for Vietnamese businesses to engage in cross-border e-commerce.

In recent years, the most successful Amazon selling partners from Viet Nam have invested in brand registration and brand building. They take advantage of Amazons tools and products to understand customer needs, attract and encourage visitors to their online store and product pages, and put effort into having a good image, product content, and brand stories.

Also, according to an internal survey, Vietnamese selling partners showed high satisfaction with Amazons products and services to build their own brand with a 7.5/10 score.

In March 2021, An Phat Holdings successfully registered AnEco trademark in the US. This is a solid stepping stone for the company to strongly develop their made-in-Viet Nam compostable product line.

Lagooco is also one of the first Vietnamese businesses to acquire the "Climate Pledge Friendly" badge on Amazon, making it easier for everyone to discover the brand "Lagooco" and purchase items that fulfill environmental sustainability requirements. After only two weeks on Amazon, three out of four Lagooco cashew products have landed at the top of the ten best-selling new cashew items, indicating the company's early success.

Longevity Sea Grapes realised the importance of investing in improving their branding strategies to protect and strengthen the reputation of made-in-Viet Nam products as well as to make the most of this ever-growing need from global customers. Thus, since June 2020, the company has successfully registered for a trademark in the USA. In the coming years, Longevity Sea Grapes is determined to become not only the leading sea grape brand in the world but also the pride of Viet Nam.  VNS
HCM CITY  Dung Quat oil refinery in the central province of Quang Ngai will be expanded to raise its capacity to 171,000 barrels per day, up from 148,000, with a total investment of US$1.26 billion.

Under a decision by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, the operator of the refinery - Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR) - will provide $503 million from its equity and the remaining from loans.

The company, a subsidiary of state-owned PetroVietnam, will set up and put into operation additional technology workshops for the processing of crude oil with higher sulfur content in accordance with the Euro 5 standard.

The 10.6ha refinery will be expanded by 41ha, and is scheduled to be finished in the first quarter of 2028.

The expansion was approved in 2014 but was postponed by problems related to the design, appraisal, approval process and capital mobilisation.

PetroVietnam and the company had sought permission to adjust the scale, required technology and progress of the expansion.

The capacity target was adjusted down to 171,000 barrels a day from 192,000, and investment was lowered by $540 million to $1.26 billion.

Construction of the country's first refinery located in Dung Quat Economic Zone started in 2005 and it started producing refined oil products for sale in 2010.

It produces 6.5 million tonnes of crude oil products each year, meeting around 35 per cent of Viet Nams total demand.

Viet Nam is currently home to two operational oil refineries. In addition to Dung Quat, the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC located in the northern province of Thanh Hoa is the countrys latest and largest refinery.

The $9 billion refinery is co-owned by state-run PetroVietnam, Kuwait Petroleum Europe B.V. (KPE) and Japans Mitsui Chemical and Idemitsu Kosan Co.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam should make changes to its legal system, speed up administrative reforms, and cut off sub-licences to better facilitate Korean investors, said Hong Sun, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Viet Nam.

He suggested Viet Nam relax policies on work permits, temporary residence, and fire protection permits during a seminar to seek further trade and investment opportunities between Viet Nam and South Korea in Ha Noi on Monday.

The chairman said many Korean businesses operating in Viet Nam, especially those in high-tech, finance and energy sectors, considered increasing their investment capital and making new investments if the country's investment climate remained stable.

Korean businesses needed to pay close attention to legal issues to avoid risk in investment in Viet Nam, he said, adding that these firms should carefully review the contracts, and legal issues and seek legal advice from reputable law offices when they start applying for the licence approvals.

Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre agreed. He said businesses from the two countries needed to pay close attention to legal issues and contracts as a means of protecting each other from risks in transactions.

Loc added that with a large network of experts, economists, arbitrators, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre, the Korean Business Association, and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board would provide them with useful legal advice for their investment activities in the future.

Currently, South Korea is Viet Nam's leading source of foreign investment with a total capital of US$80.5 billion. In the first four months of 2023, South Korea, along with Singapore, Japan, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong accounted for 75.1 per cent of the country's total investment capital.

Besides investment, South Korea also ranks second in terms of cooperation in tourism and labour, and third in trade exchanges with Viet Nam.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly $88 billion last year. South Korea's export turnover to Viet Nam last year totalled $60.98 billion, while it spent $26.72 billion on importing goods from the Southeast Asian nation.

However, Viet Nam's exports to South Korea contracted 7 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion in the first four months of 2023. During the period, Viet Nam's imports from the market hit $16.7 billion, down 26 per cent year-on-year.

Trade experts said the Korean market had an import scale of $731 billion each year, so there remained much potential for Vietnamese enterprises to tap into this lucrative market.  VNS
ONG THAP  The Mekong Delta province of ong Thap is rolling out measures to protect and develop Eastern Sarus Cranes, an endangered bird species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Red List of Threatened Species.

Spotted at Tram Chim National Park in Viet Nam, they are found in India, Australia and some Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

In the past 10 years, in Cambodia and Viet Nam, wild Eastern Sarus Crane populations have declined rapidly from 850 birds in 2010 to just under 160 recorded in 2022. If this declining trend continues, they may soon become extinct.

Deputy Chairman of the ong Thap Province Peoples Committee Nguyen Phuoc Thien said that in recent years, due to impacts of climate change and changes in the ecological environment, the number of the cranes of this species returning to the park has fallen sharply. They even did not arrive in the park in some years. Therefore, the locality is implementing a project to preserve and develop their population.

The restoration and development at Tram Chim National Park are of great significance in the conservation of biodiversity as well as in the cultural and spiritual life of local people. The success of the project is expected to make important contributions to the protection of the Eastern Sarus Cranes of the lower Mekong River region, while proving Viet Nam's commitment and high sense of responsibility in implementing international commiments, he said.

Located in Tam Nong District of the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap, the park boasts a rich biodiversity that turned it into the worlds 2000th Ramsar site in 2012. Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare Tram Chim became a national park in 1998 and then the fourth Ramsar site in Viet Nam.

The parks plentiful green vegetation is inhabited by more than 130 species of higher plants featuring six main types of floristic societies. Water life in the park is also bustling with the presence of over 150 species of freshwater fish, some listed in Viet Nams Red Book like clown feather-back fish, common archerfish and giant barbs, nearly 180 algae species, 26 epifauna species, 350 species of plankton and 34 species of amphibian. Tram Chim is home to 198 bird species, including 16 rare ones.

According to leaders of the park, the project will focus on expanding the sarus crane herd by rearing and releasing them into the wild. In the 2023-33 period, it aims to release 150 sarus cranes, of which 100 individuals are expected to survive.

At the same time, the living environment of the bird will be improved, an organic farming area developed around the park, and environment education and communications strengthened, along with the improvement of livelihood for the local community basing on organic agriculture.

The project has a total cost of about VN92 billion (US$3.92 million).

Recently, the provincial Peoples Committee signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Zoo Association (VZA), the International Crane Foundation (ICF), and the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT) on the conservation of sarus cranes.

Under the MoU, organisations will provide technical support and experience to ong Thap in preserving sarus cranes and chicks.

Richard David Beilfuss, ICF President and CEO, said that the ICF supports the project to protect and develop sarus cranes of ong Thap and will provide best conditions for cooperation among programmes to restore the bird population in ong Thap Province and in Viet Nam, as well as the coordination between Thailand and Viet Nam in the work.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning a number of activities in response to the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22).

A ceremony will be held to mark the day. Other activities will include a workshop on the coordination of actions to implement the Kunming  Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, planting trees and releasing wild animals at the Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan Province, along with painting and photo exhibitions on nature and biodiversity conservation.

They aim to highlight the importance of biodiversity to human life and raise public awareness of conserving and bringing into play biodiversity values to help with the countrys sustainable development.

Viet Nam issued a plan of action on biodiversity in 1995, shortly after it became a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In 2013, the then Prime Minister also approved the national biodiversity strategy by 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection took effect in 2022. To curb biodiversity losses, at the start of last year, the Government also gave the green light to the national biodiversity strategy by 2030, with a vision to 2050.

This strategy encourages non-governmental organisations, enterprises, and people to take part in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. It also looks to facilitate the private sectors engagement in conservation.

It targets that onshore nature reserves will account for 9 per cent of the mainland area; protected coastal and marine areas make up 3  5 per cent of the countrys natural sea area; an additional 15 Ramsar sites, 14 biosphere reserves, and 15 ASEAN heritage parks be recognised; the nationwide forest coverage maintained at 42  43 per cent; and at least 20 per cent of the degraded natural ecosystem area be recovered.

Under the strategy, Viet Nam is striving so that no more wild species will become extinct, the populations of at least 10 endangered species be improved, and at least 100,000 genetic sources be collected and stored.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that in its foreign policy, Viet Nam always attaches importance to ties with Palestine while meeting Palestinian Minister of the Interior Ziad Hab Al-Reeh in Ha Noi on Monday.

At the reception, PM Chinh conveyed the regards of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Mohammad Shtayyeh.

He said since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 35 years ago, Viet Nam and Palestine had seen positive progress in their cooperation in politics-diplomacy, economy, culture, education-training, and national defence-security.

PM Chinh added that going through many wars and understanding the value of peace, Viet Nam always paid attention to and followed the situation in Palestine and shared the difficulties that the Palestinian people had endured after years of conflict.

"Viet Nam's consistent stance is to support justice and peace, dialogue, and peaceful settlement of conflicts," he said.

The PM added that after 36 years of renewal and integration, Viet Nam had obtained many important achievements. The size of its economy reached over US$400 billion, while the value of the national brand hit $431 billion last year.

In the future, he hoped that Viet Nam and Palestine would work closely together to uphold each country's role, position and reputation and support each other within bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks. Firstly, the two countries would organise activities celebrating the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, facilitate the exchange of all-level delegations, and promote cooperation in areas where one side has a demand and the other has strengths, such as Arabian and Vietnamese language training.

The host suggested the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security strengthen cooperation, share information, deal with transnational crimes, ensure the security and safety of representative offices and citizens in each territory, support training and improve the capacity of law enforcement, contributing to deepening bilateral ties in an effective and practical manner.

Minister Ziad Hab Al-Reeh said the potential of bilateral coordination remained huge. He hoped to continue stepping up bilateral ties across the board, including economy and security and vowed to further contribute to bilateral relations, especially in security and Arabic language training.

He informed PM Chinh about the current difficulties faced by Palestine and suggested the international community, including Viet Nam, help Palestine settle disputes and differences through peaceful means.

On regional and global issues, the two sides agreed to support each other at international forums of which they are members, back ASEAN and Viet Nams stance on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, including ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, settling disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday morning left Ha Noi for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, at the invitation of Indonesian President and Chairman of the Summit Joko Widodo.

He is accompanied by high-ranking officials of the NA and ministries.

The 42nd ASEAN Summit is taking place in Labuan Bajo from May 9-11 with the participation of ASEAN member nations leaders. Prime Minister of Timor Leste was invited to attend the summit for the first time as an observer.

Sessions within the summit will focus on the process of building ASEAN Community with the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Dialogue sessions between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Communitys Post-2025 Vision will be also arranged.

The summit is expected to consider and approve many important documents on cooperation in all three pillars: ASEAN political-security community, economy and socio-culture.  VNS
EAST NUSA TENGGARA  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived at Labuan Bajo Airport, Indonesia, on Tuesday afternoon, starting his participation in the activities within the framework of the 42nd ASEAN Summit from May 9-11 in Indonesia.

Besides the plenary sessions and retreats of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, PM Chinh will attend dialogues between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Communitys Post-2025 Vision.

On this occasion, he will have bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and Prime Minister of Timor Leste Taur Matan Ruak.

The PMs participation in the 42nd ASEAN Summit and related activities affirms that Viet Nam makes positive, proactive, and responsible contributions to strengthening ASEAN solidarity and effectively responding to challenges. It also demonstrates Viet Nam's priorities in terms of strategic infrastructure connectivity, digital transformation, green transformation, food security, energy, sub-regional development, and response to climate change, affirming the role, image, and prestige of ASEAN, thereby contributing to the building of the ASEAN Community, and upholding ASEAN's principled stance on international and regional issues.

The activities are an effective implementation of the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress on continuing to promote and improve the efficiency of foreign affairs and international integration and Directive 25 of the Secretariat on strengthening and raising the level of multilateral diplomacy by 2030.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on Tuesday led the Vietnamese delegation to attend different conferences as part of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo in Indonesia.

The conferences were chaired by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Redno Marsudi.

The ministers reviewed all preparations for the 42nd ASEAN Summit, agreeing on the agenda and documents to be submitted to senior leaders.

The ministers also reviewed many important documents, including those with long-term orientations such as the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025, and practical cooperation such as developing an electric vehicle ecosystem and regional payment connection.

The ministers also spent a lot of time discussing priorities and common concerns of ASEAN.

During the ASEAN Ministers of Foreign Affairs conference, the ministers shared their views about international and regional situations.

The ASEAN countries agreed to strengthen ASEAN's values and standards of conduct, thereby ensuring independence and self-reliance, being proactive and flexibly adapting to changes.

Regarding cooperation between ASEAN and partners, the countries considered many proposals applying to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), establishing and upgrading relations with ASEAN.

The ministers agreed that it is necessary to strengthen substantive cooperation, suggest the partners contribute constructively to the ASEAN Community, and jointly respond to common challenges for peace, stability, security and development.

At the 26th ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Conference, the ministers welcomed the positive results of the master plan of the ASEAN Political-Security Community 2025.

ASEAN's standards of conduct are respected, substantive cooperation is promoted in the fields of defence, energy security, food security, maritime security and response to emerging challenges.

ASEAN's principled stance on the South China Sea (called East Sea by Viet Nam) continues to be consolidated, including fully and strictly implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Sharing challenges in the region, the ministers emphasised that ASEAN needed to maintain solidarity, improve its proactiveness and flexibility to adapt to strategic movements, and consolidate its central role in regional security.

Then, at the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council Conference, the ministers assessed the overall progress of implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and the ASEAN integration initiative on narrowing the development gap.

They proposed timely implementation of those plans, creating a solid foundation for ASEAN's cooperation in the next development phase.

On the basis of the senior leadership's direction on Timor Leste's application to join ASEAN, the ministers discussed and completed Timor Lestes roadmap to become an ASEAN member.

This document will create a premise for the preparation and supporting Timor Leste to officially join ASEAN.

Speaking at the conferences, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son assessed the rapid movements in the regional and global strategic environment, which pose both opportunities and challenges for the bloc.

In that context, ASEAN needed to strongly promote its strength of solidarity, unity, and its central role with the support and respect of partners, affirming its mission of maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

Facing the increase of non-traditional security challenges, Son proposed to promote stronger and more effective cooperation in the fields of marine affairs, response to environmental pollution, transnational crime and epidemics.

The Minister expressed his support for Indonesia's initiative to publish the ASEAN annual document on maritime cooperation.

Discussing the international and regional situation, Minister Son reaffirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea, emphasising the sense of responsibility of each country to build the East Sea into a peaceful and safe sea.

Viet Nam, ASEAN and China commit to fully and effectively comply with the DOC.  VNS
LABUAN BAJO  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held meetings with regional leaders on Tuesday following his arrival in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, for the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

In a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, PM Chinh expressed his gratitude for the host countrys warm welcome, adding that Viet Nam always treasured and wished to develop the strategic partnership with Indonesia further.

The two leaders believed that their bilateral ties would contribute to Viet Nam and Indonesia and the regions peace, stability and development.

They also agreed to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, which include the Viet Nam-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation, as well as the 2019-23 action plan for the Viet Nam-Indonesia strategic partnership.

PM Chinh proposed the two countries maintain the trade growth rate, bringing bilateral trade turnover to $15 billion or higher before 2028 in a balanced direction.

He also asked Indonesia to facilitate bringing Vietnamese goods to the Indonesian market, and increase marine cooperation, especially the establishment of a hotline to support fisheries and share information on marine law enforcement.

The two countries also expect to strengthen cooperation in energy transition, digital transformation and infrastructure.

The two leaders affirmed their stances on maintaining solidarity, the ASEANs central role and common stance in the issues related to the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and working towards an early agreement on an effective Code of Conduct (COC) on this area in alignment with international laws, which include the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Meeting his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen on the same day, PM Chinh congratulated Cambodia on the successful opening of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

The two PMs expressed their satisfaction at the effective implementation of the cooperation mechanism, particularly the high-level meeting between the two Parties, the 20th meeting of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, and the 12th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Viet Nam-Cambodia border localities.

They also agreed to effectively implement agreements, promoting connections and supporting independent and self-reliant economies alongside international integration.

The two countries will facilitate investment and business cooperation, especially in border trade, economic development in the border areas, and education and training.

Viet Nam and Cambodia will closely and effectively coordinate for a united, self-reliant and prosperous ASEAN community, the two PMs said.  VNS
HCM CITY  Doctors in HCM City have warned about the heightened risk of child drowning in the city during this season.

Concerns have been raised following the death of a young child.

The three-year-old boy from Ben Luc District in Long An Province fell headfirst into a water bucket just 50cm high.

The child's pupils had dilated, and he lost light reflexes, prompting fears that he may not recover.

It is believed that the boy had been attempting to draw water from the bucket using a water gun when the accident occurred.

The child's relatives administered some initial first aid before transferring him to a local hospital. However, doctors have emphasised the importance of seeking immediate medical attention in such situations to minimise the risk of permanent injury or even death.

Doctors carried out cardiopulmonary resuscitation and transferred the child to Children's Hospital 1, where intravenous fluids, anti-shock, vasopressors, and supportive care for the heart were conducted for three days.

However, the child did not survive.

Earlier, the hospital also received a two-year-old girl in critical condition after falling headfirst into a water bucket and being trapped for five minutes. Fortunately, the girl was saved after being admitted to the hospital.

Dr Nguyen Minh Tien, deputy director of the hospital, said in April, the hospital received several drowning and near-drowning cases, with many in critical condition.

He said this is a very common accident among children, especially in summer.

Common mistakes made by parents when dealing with a child who has swallowed water is spending a lot of time trying to evacuate water from the childs body and warming up the victim, Vietnam News Agency reported, citing local doctors.

Hanging the victim upside down (to evacuate water) is unnecessary and should not be done because, usually, the amount of water entering the lungs is very little.

Many children stop breathing, or their hearts stop, but they do not receive first aid, artificial respiration or chest compressions at the accident site or while being transported to a medical facility.

This causes prolonged oxygen deprivation of the brain and organs, which can lead to death or severe brain sequelae.

It is crucial to perform first aid rescue immediately when the victim is brought out of the water.

To prevent drowning and suffocation accidents, doctors warn parents not to leave young children alone at home, cover all water containers in the house, and not allow children to play alone near ponds, lakes, canals and rivers.

Children should be instructed to swim, and young children shouldnt be allowed in pools unsupervised.

Despite a decline in the number of children drowning over recent years, it remains one of the leading causes of death among young people.

Viet Nam annually records roughly 2,000 drownings on average, the highest in Southeast Asia and eight times higher than developed countries.  VNS
HCM CITY  Italian Navy ship ITS Francesco Morosini is making a port visit in Nha Rong Wharf port in HCM City from May 9-12 to enhance exchanges and cooperation between the Italian Navy and the Viet Nam Peoples Navy.

According to the Italian Embassy, the port call is part of the multipurpose offshore patrol vessels five-month naval campaign in the Asia Pacific.

Morosini will dock in 14 ports in Southeast Asia to strengthen Italys naval diplomacy.

Morosini is the second ship of the Italian Navys Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel class, which represents the cutting-edge of Italian technology in the naval and electronic sector.

The vessel has impressive characteristics, such as 6,000 tonnes of displacement, 143m in length, 17.5m in width, a crew of 137 members and a top speed of 32 knots.

The visit of the vessel is part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Viet Nam.

From May 10-11, there will be a photo exhibition featuring bilateral relations in many fields between the two countries provided by the Italian News Agency (ANSA) and the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA).

The Morosini vessel will also conduct passage exercises (PASSEX) with the Vietnamese Navy during the port call before it leaves on May 12.

PASSEX is undertaken when two naval units belonging to different Navies meet at sea and testing common procedures in an international training environment, thus helping to maintain the naval fleets operational capability and promoting international cooperation.

The public can visit the vessel from 10am to 12pm on May 10-11. They will need to register at hochiminh.commerciale@esteri.it in advance.  VNS
HA NOI  President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Ha Noi on May 9 for Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who is on a visit to Viet Nam in her capacity as Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium.

President Thuong welcomed the Queens visit on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of strategic partnership in agriculture between Viet Nam and Belgium.

He invited King Philippe and the Queen to visit Viet Nam soon to discuss measures to deepen bilateral cooperation in various areas.

Queen Mathilde shared her excitement about her upcoming trip to northern Lao Cai Province to witness the outstanding results of childcare facilities there and Viet Nams achievements in sustainable development. She also hopes to learn about difficulties that Viet Nam is facing in child health care and protection, especially issues related to education, nutrition, and mental health.

The Vietnamese President said for many years, the Vietnamese Party, State, and people had always paid attention to child care, education and protection, with the view of dedicating the best things to children. Along with that, Viet Nam had been fine-tuning its legal system and launching policies related to children such as poverty reduction, new rural development, education, health care and social care. Childcare work had been carried out synchronously from the central to local levels.

He took the occasion to thank Belgium, UNICEF Belgium and Queen Mathilde for their continuous support and cooperation with Viet Nam in child protection and care, donating significant resources to help Viet Nam improve the effectiveness of the effort.

According to him, Viet Nam still faces challenges, such as the growing development gap among regions, and differences in health and nutrition among areas, especially in remote and disadvantaged regions.

The host believed that while visiting projects funded by UNICEF Belgium in Vietnamese localities, Mathilde would have the opportunity to better understand Viet Nams efforts, achievements and difficulties in the field.

Speaking highly of the guests suggestions, he wished that UNICEF Belgium would continue helping Viet Nam fine-tune policies and laws related to children, allocate resources to support Viet Nam, especially in education and health care so that Viet Nam could better care for and educate children in the future. VNA/VNS
VINH LONG  Vinh Long Province wants to expand cooperation with Japan, especially with Niigata Province, said chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Lu Quang Ngoi at a meeting on Monday with a Niigata delegation.

Speaking to the delegation led by Kanai Kenichi, director of the Niigata Department of Labour and Industry, Ngoi noted with pleasure that throughout the 50-year relationship, they have consolidated their cooperation on a multifaceted scale, focusing on economy, finance, and investment.

Located in the centre of the Mekong Delta, Vinh Long has great potential to develop agriculture, seafood processing, aquafarming and tourism. It is the largest sweet-potato farming area and also has an annual output of over one million tonnes of rice.

It also has been drawing investments with a total of five industrial areas and seven industrial clusters.

With 65 per cent of its demographic in the working age, the province promises to supply high quality labour when needed. This year, a projected number of 1,700 labourers from Vinh Long would be sent to work abroad, mainly in Japan.

For Niigata, it is one of the largest granaries in Japan with high-tech agriculture, and it has great demand for labour in agriculture and seafood processing, he said.

With a similar development orientation, Vinh Long wishes to boost cooperation with Niigata in four main fields, including high quality labour training and posting workers to Niigata on short assignments; facilitating financial investments; applying high technology in agricultural production; and organising cultural and tourism activities to strengthen solidarity, Ngoi said.

For his part, Kenichi said that Niigata is the leading locality in rice farming output and has several leading manufacturing industries.

The delegation will conduct surveys to promote their cooperation and connect with Vinh Long Province in multiple fields in the future, he said.  VNS




HCM CITY  Fondation L'Oreal and UNESCO have announced they will receive nominations for outstanding female scientists worldwide in the fields of Life Sciences and Environmental Sciences for the L'Oreal - UNESCO International Prize 2024.

The L'Oreal - UNESCO World Outstanding Female Scientist Award in 2024 will be awarded to five outstanding female scientists.

Each continent will have a representative selected from each of five regions: Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.

Criteria of nominated candidates are; have outstanding achievements recognized by scientists in the industry and from the international scientific community; actively participate in scientific research activities; participate in research in the field of Life Science and Environmental Science.

To nominate Vietnamese candidates, scientists can submit nomination documents at the website: www.forwomeninscience.com/authority/international-award.

Nominations will be accepted until June 28, 2023.

Nominated female scientists will be selected by an International Jury and participate in the Award Ceremony in Paris in June 2024 with a prize of 100,000 Euros each.

The Fondation LOreal and UNESCO have worked together for more than 20 years to help empower more women scientists to achieve scientific excellence and participate equally in solving the great challenges facing humanity.

To date, the program has awarded more than 100 laureates, five of whom have gone on to win Nobel Prizes.

Each year, the L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science programmes also support more than 250 talented young women researchers. Through its 52 regional and national programmes, the Fondation L'Oreal and UNESCO support them at a crucial period in their careers, during their thesis or post-doctoral studies.  VNS
A woman withdraws money at an ATM of Vietcombank in Thanh Nien Street, Ha Noi. The bank's shares soared 3.56 per cent on Monday, contributing the most to the market's rally.  VNS Photo Mai Huong

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, the VN-Index closed 1.26 per cent up at 1,053.44 points, the highest since April 3.

Liquidity increased in both volume and value, reaching 655.5 million shares worth VND10.8 trillion (US$458 million), up respectively 20 per cent and 16 per cent over Fridays levels.

According to market analysts, the liquidity level though did not change substantially but maintaining the threshold of above VND10 trillion compared to the average of VND8-9 trillion two weeks ago was quite positive.

The green dominated the market from the opening minutes and spread to most industry groups. According to data on vietstock.vn, 19 out of 25 stock groups tracked by this website gained value and six lost value.

Securities, banking, other financial services, mining and oil, agriculture, plastics, food and drink, household and utilities all achieved an average growth of more than 1 per cent.

Among the VN30 (which tracks the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity), 26 climbed, two declined and two closed flat. Nine of the top 10 stocks contributing most to the VN-Index were from this group, including Vietcombank (VCB), BIDV (BID), Vinamilk (VNM), Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR), Techcombank (TCB), PV Gas (GAS), Vinhomes (VHM), Masan Group (MSN) and Sacombank (STB).

VCB, which saw a gain of 3.6 per cent and contributed 3.8 points to the VN-Index. BID followed with a gain of 2.9 per cent contributing 1.6 points, while VNM gained 2.3 per cent and contributed 0.8 points.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index increased by 1.5 per cent to end the session at 210.92 points.

Liquidity also grew here with nearly 114 million shares worth VND1.4 trillion being traded, up 54 per cent in volume and 42 per cent in value compared to Fridays figures.

Despite the market gain, analysts at Viet Dragon Securities still cautioned when the VN-Index attempted to regain the green colour and back above 1,040 points, selling force continued to put pressure on the general market's recovery.

Foreign investors remained net sellers on the HCM Citys bourse but their net sell value decreased to just VND13 billion from Fridays level of VND176 billion. However, they remained net buyers in Ha Nois market with another net value of VND760 million.

Bizhub
The ship that carries coal from Cam Pha Port, Quang Ninh Province to South Africa.  VNA/VNS Photo

This is the first time that the group has exported the product to the South African market this year.

Vinacomin is planning to export more than 60,000 tonnes of coal from now to the end of May. The export is expected to help the group increase sales and ensure stable exploitation and delivery of coal from mines in the Cam Pha area, the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Bizhub
The Vietnamese Embassy in Washington DC working in co-ordination with the strategic consulting firm The Asia Group organized a meeting on May 4 with Vietnamese businesses attending the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit.

Those in attendance at the event included Diane Farrell, deputy under secretary for International Trade, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper; representatives of the Department of State, the Department of Energy, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the administrations of a number of states in which Vietnamese enterprises have run investment projects, as well as a number of associations and US enterprises investing in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese delegation to this years summit consists of more than 30 delegates from 20 businesses that have or are intending to invest in the US in different fields and industries, such as electric vehicle and battery manufacturing and assembling, technology, software, interior design, construction, logistics, transportation, food, and packaging.

Some businesses such as VinFast Auto have pledged large investments in the US and have duly contributed to bringing the nation to ninth position in the list of 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region with the largest investment commitments in the US for the period from January, 2013, to December, 2022.

As part of his address, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung emphasized the developments made in mutual relations on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership, while hoping that Vietnamese businesses will find more partners and investment opportunities in the US, thereby further tightening bilateral ties between the two sides.

Farrell pledged that the US Government will strive to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to make the right choices when investing in the US.

Vietnamese businesses shared their business plans in this market, going on to express their hope that both nations government agencies would continue to support their business investment activities in the US.

The same day saw Ambassador Dung and Ambassador Knapper attend a roundtable discussion with US businesses, hosted by The Asia Group.

The US business representative highly appreciated Vietnamese development potential, presented business and investment plans in the nation, and contributed ideas to further boosting Vietnamese development, especially in the fields of energy, aviation, technology, and climate change response.

The 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit is an important annual conference aimed at attracting direct investment in the US. This years event ran from May 1 to May 4 in the state of Maryland, drawing nearly 4,000 attendees along with the presence of economic development organizations (EDOs) from states and territories throughout the US, including more than 1,200 investors from over 70 countries and territories globally.

The US remains the world's largest recipient of direct investment.

Source: VOV
EVN workers perform maintenance on an electrical grid in the Mekong Delta.  VNA/VNS Photo

The impact on the cost of production for industries that use a lot of electricity such as steel, cement and paper may increase by 0.18 per cent, 0.45 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively, said the ministry.

According to EVN, the group supplied electricity to more than 528,000 service providers across the country. On average, each paid around VND5.3 million per month. After the price hike, each is expected to pay an additional VND141,000 monthly.

Likewise, more than 1.8 million goods producers, whose average electricity cost was VND10.6 million, are expected to pay an additional VND307,000 monthly.

On the other hand, according to stock company Mirae Asset, electricity accounts for about 3.5 per cent of the total basket of CPI calculation. Therefore, if electricity increases by 3 per cent, it directly increases CPI by 0.105 per cent, while if it increases by 5 per cent, CPI will increase by 0.175 per cent.

In the short term, a small price hike will not likely have a large impact on major industries as electricity producers often signed long-term contracts with Vietnam Electricity (EVN), with some as long as 25 years.

Distributors also benefit, in general, from price hikes as they can now sell electricity at a higher price than long-term contracts, which were negotiated at lower price points.

According to Mirae Asset, electricity costs account for about 9-10 per cent of the cost of goods sold in steel and chemical production, 14-15 per cent in cement production, except for producers with rotary kilns where electricity costs account for about 9-10 per cent, and 4-5 per cent for paper production.

In the worst-case scenario for producers in which they cannot raise their prices, their profit before tax will decrease by as much as 15 per cent for steel, 13 per cent for cement, 2 per cent for paper and 1 per cent for chemical producers.

However, it's likely producers will raise their prices to lessen the impact on their bottom lines. In that case, consumers will bear part of the increased input cost.

In the long term, a more flexible pricing system will allow greater competition and a more balanced supply and demand relationship in the market.

Nguyen Tien Thoa, president of the Vietnam Valuation Association, said considering how much input cost for electricity production increased by 9.27 per cent from 2021 to 2022, a 3 per cent price hike could be viewed as moderate, and could not make up for the rise in input cost.

Thoa said it was in the public's interest to see electricity price increase gradually, within a determined timeline, to ensure socio-economic stability and the rights and interests of both businesses and consumers.

He said the decision to raise the price right before summer might have a small to moderate impact on consumer's bills, especially for households that consume a lot of electricity. Consumers typically consume twice as much electricity during the summer months, largely due to the constant use of air conditioners.

However, the ideal solution would be to have households economise the use of electricity, which is in line with the government's recommendation to conserve energy and reduce CO2 emissions.

Thoa said a 3 per cent price hike in electricity might result in as much as a 1.099 per cent rise in CPI in the short term and a 1.28 per cent rise in the long term.

However, it also depended on the market's tolerance to increased commodity prices, the effectiveness of the government's price stabilisation efforts and cost-cutting measures taken by goods and services producers.

He stressed the importance for the central government to publicise regularly all information related to electricity prices in a timely manner to prevent businesses from taking advantage of the situation to raise their prices disproportionately.

According to Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman of the Vietnam Consumer Protection Association, electricity is considered a special commodity in the sense that it's often most beneficial to maintain a balance between production and consumption at all times as it's nearly impossible to store electricity at a low cost.

Demand for electricity has been on the rise in recent decades in Viet Nam, and will likely continue in the future. Meanwhile, the resources to keep producing electricity are not unlimited. Therefore, according to Hung, it's a key priority for the government to direct industries and general consumers to conserve and economise the use of electricity.

"While Viet Nam's per capita electricity demand is still low compared to developed countries it has increased every year during the last several decades," he said.

He added that ensuring a stable electricity supply for the country's economy and people would likely be a growing challenge in the near future.

The emphasis should be on industrial sectors as they consume from 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the national output, with household usage accounting for the rest.

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Over the past few days, many Luxembourg news channels have reported on the official visit to Vietnam by Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel from May 3-5, assessing that it will contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relationship in the coming time.

Over the past few days, many Luxembourg news channels have reported on the official visit to Vietnam by Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel from May 3-5, assessing that it will contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relationship in the coming time.

The website of the Luxembourg Government - gouvernement.lu - announced that Prime Minister Bettel's official visit is conducted at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and in response to PM Chinh's visit to Luxembourg in December 2022.

Tageblatt.lu - a daily newspaper in Luxembourg - ran an article saying that Vietnam has become an attractive trade partner globally. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Southeast Asian nation has opened up to the world under reform orientation since late 1980s and has become an important economy not only in the region but also in the world.

According to the article, in terms of foreign policy, Vietnam wants to have friendly relations with all countries, while in terms of foreign relations, Vietnam relies on independence, and supports bilateral partnerships and multilateralism. Due to geopolitical uncertainties in the world, Vietnam is increasingly sought by Western companies as a new partner, including Luxembourg. The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has brought many new opportunities for Luxembourgish businesses that operate in the service and financial sectors. Currently, many Luxembourg enterprises are operating in Vietnam.

The article also highlights positive trade relations between Luxembourg and Vietnam in recent years including bilateral trade reaching more than 160 million euros (about 179 million USD) in 2022, up from 120 million euros in 2020.

In another article published by the newspaper, it is said that during Prime Minister Bettel's visit to Vietnam, the two sides signed many bilateral cooperation agreements, including those on aviation cooperation, the extension of an agreement to avoid double taxation, and cooperation against climate change through green funds. Luxembourg Agency for Development Cooperation (LuxDev) will launch two projects worth 2 million euros in Vietnam. Luxembourg-based airline Cargolux will soon receive a license to fly to Ho Chi Minh City besides Hanoi.

The article quotes Prime Minister Bettel as expressing optimism about the possibility that Luxembourg tourists in the future can enter Vietnam without a visa when the National Assembly of Vietnam considers extending the visa-free policy at its meeting late this month.

Luxembourg's online newspaper virgule.lu has just published an article about the prospect of Vietnamese electric vehicles entering the country's market. The article said Prime Minister Bettel and Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Minister for Tourism Lex Delles visited Vinfast's facility and experienced test driving its electric vehicles.

Other Luxembourg newspapers such as Today.RTL.lu, diegrenzgaenger.lu also reported on Bettels visit to Vietnam./.

Source: Customs News
The above information was stated by Mr. Bui Ngoc Duong - Director of Binh Son Refinery and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR - t he Dung Quat oil refinery ) - at the 15th anniversary of establishing the plant operator on 9/5.

Mr. Duong said that last year alone, BSR produced and sold more than 7 million tons of products, revenue reached nearly 169,000 billion VND, paid over 19,000 billion VND to the state budget, and profit after tax was about 14,700 billion VND, the highest since the beginning of the year. Dung Quat oil refinery put into operation.

This number contributed to 56% of the budget of Quang Ngai province last year, putting the area in the top two of the five key economic regions in the Central region, the 18th out of 63 provinces, and the top 10 with the highest number of domestic revenue of over 20,000 billion VND.

Dung Quat Oil Refinery's budget payment is quite large compared to state-owned corporations.

Last year, the total revenue of 19 state-owned corporations and corporations reached nearly 1.6 million billion dongs, contributing more than 191,780 billion dongs to the state budget, which means, on average, one of these enterprises paid about 10,000 billion dongs to the state budget.

Dung Quat Oil Refinery is Vietnam's first oil refinery, built 26 years ago to ensure energy security and create a driving force for development in Quang Ngai and Central provinces.

The plant has a designed capacity of 6.5 million tons per year, using crude oil as the primary raw material from the Bach Ho field. In the first stage of construction, Vietnam cooperates with Russia. In 2003, Vietross joint venture (Vietnam Russia Refinery Joint Venture Company) was dissolved; Vietnam Oil and Gas Group set up Dung Quat Oil Refinery Investment Project Management Board to manage and implement the project according to regulations of self-investment in Vietnam.

In 2005, the Refinery Project Management Board signed a contract with Tecnip International Contractors Consortium to build the refinery. The project has been in trial operation since 2008. In February 2009, the factory released its first commercial product line. After 15 years, the company has processed more than 94 million tons of crude oil and sold more than 86 million tons of products. Currently, BSR has more than 1,500 highly qualified personnel.

This company manufactures traditional products such as RON A92/95 gasoline, automotive diesel oil, propylene gas and polypropylene resins, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), kerosene, Jet A1 jet fuel, and fuel oil (FO). In addition, BSR has researched and produced many new product types, including Jet A-1K jet fuel and L-62 diesel used for strategic military equipment of the Ministry of Defense.

Dung Quat Oil Refinery is a giant magnet

Mr. Dang Van Minh, Chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee, assessed Dung Quat Economic Zone as the growth nucleus of the province with the heart of Dung Quat Oil Refinery. "This factory has brought Quang Ngai from a poor province whose budget depends on the support of the Central Government to become a province with a large contribution to the budget," Mr. Minh said.

Sharing with Tuoi Tre newspaper, Mr. Minh said that "in Dung Quat Economic Zone, Dung Quat Oil Refinery is a "giant magnet" to attract investment, including many petroleum industry projects, heavy industry, services."

Deputy General Director of Petroleum Corporation Nguyen Manh Hung said that in the coming time, BSR needs to research to optimize the process, diversify products, and adapt to meet the removal of tariff barriers when the Trade Agreements are signed. Free trade (FTA) will take effect in 2024. At the same time, the company needs to successfully implement the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Upgrade and Expansion Project.

Currently, Vietnam has two oil refineries, Dung Quat, and Nghi Son, operating with a total capacity of 14 million tons of petroleum per year, meeting about 70% of domestic petroleum demand, to which Dung Quat Oil Refinery contributes about 35%.

Also read: Vietnam refinery trials Russian Sokol crude oil Read more: PM urges improvement and expansion of Dung Quat Oil Refinery Read more: Dung Quat refinery operates at 110% capacity during Tet Also read: Dung Quat Bay  the sleeping princess of Quang Ngai
Vietnam's businesses need to diversify their products to meet the needs of the Netherlands market to boost exports to this market.Although Vietnam's rubber exports to the Netherlands market increased in both volume and value in the first three months of the year, competitive pressure requires this industry to expedite transformation and market expansion.

According to statistics of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the first three months of 2023, Vietnam's rubber exports to the Netherlands rose by 31.2% in volume and 11.3% in value to 3.03 million tons and US$ 4.38 million in volume year-on-year, respectively

The average export price of rubber to this market decreased by 15.1% to 1,447 USD/ton compared with the same period in 2022, which is mainly natural rubber.

The average export prices of all kinds of rubber to the market in the first three months of 2023 have mostly decreased compared to the same period in the previous year.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in this market, Vietnam's rubber has to compete with the rubber of Thailand and the Ivory Coast. Competition between natural rubber producers and exporters will be fiercer in the price, product quality, commercial reputation and the ability to meet increasingly stringent sustainability standards.

On the other hand, Vietnam's natural rubber exports still heavily depend on China's market and only partially meet the needs of other markets. Therefore, it is not easy to export the product to other major markets such as the United States, Japan, the EU, etc.

Businesses need to diversify products to satisfy the needs of the Netherlands market to promote exports to this market. They also should unify quality management nationwide, apply advanced techniques, restructure products under market requirements, expand investment in deep processing, and gradually form the auxiliary rubber industry, promote the reorganization of the rubber industry under the production value chain, and improve competitiveness in the international market.

Source: Customs News
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Deputy Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on May 7 (local time), as part of her official visit from May 6-8.

The Deputy Amir welcomed the visit by Vice President Xuan, saying that it is an important event on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Xuan expressed her impression on achievements made by Qatar in its National Vision 2030 strategy.

Both sides expressed their wish and determination to further promote friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries for the common benefits of the two peoples.

They agreed to continue consolidating political-diplomatic ties via further facilitating all-level visits, especially those at high level.

On the occasion, Xuan conveyed President Vo Van Thuongs invitation to Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to soon visit Vietnam this year.

Host and guest vowed to hold cultural, sport and art exchanges, especially on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, thus raising mutual understanding between the two peoples.

They will hold investment and trade promotion events, business forums in the near future. To create a breakthrough for trade cooperation, the Vice President proposed that Qatar create favourable conditions for Vietnamese exports of strengths such as farm produce, aquatic products, and processed food to approach distribution channels, major supermarket systems in the country to increase trade turnover and balance two-way trade.

Vietnam also expects to receive Qatars support to build a financial hub and a Halal certification centre to better meet the standards of the Qatari market, Xuan said.

The host affirmed that the State of Qatar prioritises enhancing trade, investment, and agriculture ties with Vietnam. He wished both sides would share exchange experience in areas of strength such as energy, education and training, and agriculture.

They agreed to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation between investment funds and businesses in promising areas such as infrastructure, transportation, ports, and renewable energy.

Vietnam wishes to attract more tourists from Qatar and the Gulf region in the coming time, Xuan said.

The two leaders also discussed specific measures to drive collaboration in other potential fields like high-skilled labour, energy, agriculture, education, green growth, and climate change mitigation.

According to them, thorough preparations for the third session of the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee should be made to step up negotiations and signing of bilateral cooperation agreements, thus completing the legal framework for multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

During a reception for Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, Xuan proposed that as the Chairman of the Subcommittee under the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee, the minister work closely with the Vietnamese side to organise the third session of the Joint Committee as soon as possible to review and strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.

She also suggested that Qatar create favourable conditions for Vietnamese key export items such as farm produce, seafood, and apparel to access the Qatari market. Furthermore, she proposed that Qatar facilitate cooperation between energy enterprises from both countries in the field of natural gas importation, diversify and expand investment, and improve the legal framework for bilateral cooperation./.

Source: Vietnam Plus
Tension continues in Sudan despite truce efforts

08:24, May 09, 2023 By Shuai Anning ( Xinhua

CAIRO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite several ceasefires declared by Sudan's conflicting parties, tensions and some deadly fighting continue to rage in the capital Khartoum and other areas.

According to Xinhua reporter in Khartoum, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Khartoum on Monday when representatives from the two sides are in Saudi Arabia for talks which mediators hope could bring an end to the over three weeks of hostilities that have killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

Sudan's health ministry stopped updating the number of casualties on May 2, when the death toll stood at 550 with 4,926 people injured.

In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing to neighboring countries. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a total of 123,110 refugees have fled to South Sudan, Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic since the conflict erupted in mid-April.

The UN agency projected the number could rise to 860,000 in the next six months.

A Palestinian evacuated from Sudan is welcomed by his relatives at the Rafah Border Crossing in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

CEASEFIRE BREACHED

Several ceasefire agreements were reached and breached by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the past few weeks, according to recent statements or tweets by both sides.

Both sides have sent their envoys to Jeddah for peace talks brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, but both had made it clear that they would only discuss a humanitarian truce, not an end to the conflict.

Tensions had been building up between the Sudanese army and the RSF in recent months before it plunged into a conflict.

The two sides, once allies in toppling former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and ousting the transitional civilian government in 2021, disagreed on the RSF's integration into the army, a key condition of Sudan's political reconciliation process to resume civilian rule.

The two sides were at loggerheads over how the RSF would be integrated into the military and who would have ultimate control over fighters and weapons.

The simmering tension finally broke out into a conflict on April 15, when fighting erupted at a military base south of Khartoum, with each side blaming the other for having initiated the violence.

Since then, the army and the RSF have battled each other with heavy weapons in densely populated areas of the capital and the adjoining cities. The Sudanese army has pounded the RSF bases with airstrikes.

This photo taken on April 15, 2023 shows smoke rising in Khartoum, capital of Sudan. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

In addition to the hundreds of thousands that have been displaced, people who had no choice but to stay in Sudan are suffering from a shortage of basic services.

Residents in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri (Khartoum North) are enduring serious hardships that feature a short supply of bread, water, and electricity.

Several hospitals are out of service due to a shortage of medicines. According to the Sudanese Doctors Union, medical staff is unable to reach hospitals and health facilities have either been destroyed or seized and turned into military barracks.

Additionally, Internet services are hardly accessible to the residents of Khartoum, who are also facing difficulties in communicating through the main telecommunications networks.

MTN Communication Sudan, a telecommunications provider, announced on Friday that it had to suspend all services provided to subscribers in Khartoum because of power outages at its facilities.

Meanwhile, the lack of a humanitarian corridor in Sudan has disrupted the assistance of international organizations. The UN World Food Programme said six of its trucks heading to Darfur had been looted on Wednesday "despite assurances of safety and security," amid the ongoing power struggle.

With no end in sight to the conflict, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned on Friday that there will be 19 million acutely food-insecure people in Sudan in three to six months if the conflict continues.

People evacuated from Sudan arrive at Marka Military Airport in Amman, Jordan, April 24, 2023. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

The UNHCR said the agency and its partners will need 445 million U.S. dollars to support an outflow of refugees from Sudan and asked neighboring countries to keep their borders open to those fleeing the violence. It also requested the suspension of forced returns to Sudan, including those who previously had their asylum claims rejected.

Considering the dire humanitarian situation, the international community has intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.

During a high-level global meeting on April 20, 2023, the United Nations (UN) and regional organizations including the African Union (AU), the Arab League, and Sudan's neighboring countries agreed to exert pressure on the belligerent two sides to silence the guns.

They agreed to support Sudanese stakeholders through a jointly led AU-UN mechanism aimed at coordinating international action to end the violence and the destabilization of Sudan, the region and the continent, according to a press release by the AU.

The Arab League Council issued a resolution on Sunday to form an Arab ministerial contact group to communicate with the Sudanese parties and influential countries, aiming to reach a settlement of the crisis in Sudan.

The contact group will hold communication with the Sudanese parties, influential countries regionally and internationally as well as relevant international organizations, and coordinate with international relief organizations to provide urgent humanitarian and medical support to citizens and displaced persons inside Sudan.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
May 9, 2023

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) announced that todays Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (2023 AGM) has reappointed Abhijit Bhattacharya for a two years term as member of the Board of Management fulfilling the role of CFO, and reappointed Liz Doherty and David Pyott as members of the Supervisory Board. With these reappointments, the composition of the Supervisory Board committees remains unchanged.

Other voting items, such the companys proposed dividend of EUR 0.85 per share over 2022, [1] the proposal to reappoint EY as the companys external auditor for a term of one year starting January 1, 2024, and the proposal to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as the companys new external auditor for a term of four years starting January 1, 2025, as well as a number of recurring items, including the proposal to adopt the companys financial statements, [2] were also approved. Additionally, the AGM approved the advisory voting item on the 2022 Remuneration Report.

Shareholders voted against the discharge of the collective members of the Board of Management. This follows the voting guidance from certain proxy advisors to signal discontent in respect of one former member of the Board of Management.

Following the recent changes made in the Executive Committee, I am pleased that Abhijit is adding a two-years term to his tenure as CFO, thereby ensuring continuity and enabling a smooth succession process in parallel, said Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal Philips. I am also pleased that Liz and David will continue to serve as members of the Supervisory Board and support Philips with their much-valued expertise and counsel.

Mr. Sijbesma continued: We appreciate the support expressed by the shareholders regarding current management and direction of Philips. Under the leadership of its new CEO Roy Jakobs, Philips is fully focused on implementing the plan to create value with sustainable impact for our shareholders and all other stakeholders.

In January 2023, Philips CEO Roy Jakobs and his team presented the companys plan to create value with sustainable impact. Philips is executing to plan on its three priorities to improve execution by enhancing patient safety & quality, strengthening its supply chain reliability, and establishing a simplified, more agile operating model.

Additional information on the composition of the Board of Management, the Executive Committee and the Supervisory Board can be found here . For more information about Philips 2023 AGM, please click on this link .

[1] Further details about the dividend can be found via this link .

[2] Philips 2022 financial statements are included in its 2022 Annual Report that was published on February 21, 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Ben Zwirs

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 615213446

E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com

Derya Guzel

Philips Investor Relations

Tel.: +31 20 59 77055

E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2022 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 74,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .





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Philips AGM 2023




HCMC  Hanoi City has proposed increasing the cost of the Nhon-Hanoi Station urban rail line by VND1.9 trillion and extending the deadline for the completion of the project until 2027.

The higher-than-expected cost is ascribable to foreign exchange rate volatility, adjustments to the workload, and higher compensation, site clearance and legal costs, according to the local authority.

The investment cost of the urban railway is expected to rise from VND32.9 trillion to VND34.8 trillion, up over VND1.9 trillion.

The city authority also proposed adjusting the implementation time of the project from 2009-2022 to 2009-2027, excluding the 24-month warranty. Specifically, the elevated section is slated to be opened to traffic this year, and the entire line will be put into operation in 2027.

The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line comprises an 8.5-kilometer-long elevated section and a four-kilometer underground section.

Work on the project started in 2009 and was expected to be completed in 2015. However, the deadline for the entire project has been extended four times.
HCMC  The first batch of Vietnamese Ri6 durians exported to the United Kingdom (UK) is now available on the shelves of supermarkets there.

The five-ton shipment of Ri6 durians arrived the UK at zero duty thanks to the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK said in a statement.

TT Meridian Ltd, the importer, now offers British consumers with the high-quality specialty of the Mekong Delta, according to the office.

Thai Tran, managing director of TT Meridian Ltd , said the company had plans to bring more tropical fruits from Vietnam to the UK, including mangoes and longans.

A variety of Vietnamese fruits have entered the UK market so far, such as Bac Giang lychees, Tan Lac red-skin pomelos, Yen Thuy pomelos and Cao Phong oranges.

Vietnamese exporters should prioritize effective marketing strategies to bring local agricultural produce to Britons, according to experts.
HCMC  South Korea continued to be the biggest source market for Vietnams tourism sector in April, with over 259,300 South Korean arrivals, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

South Korean tourists made up over a quarter of all international visitors to the country during the period, which totalled 984,140 people, up 10% over March.

In addition, Vietnams foreign visitors mostly came from China, Taiwan, the U.S., Thailand and Japan, which jointly accounted for one-third of the total.

Regional countries such as New Zealand, China and Cambodia were among the markets that saw staggering growth in the number of visitors to Vietnam over March, soaring by 67%, 61% and 56%, respectively.

In April, some 842,840 inbound tourists arrived in Vietnam by air, 130,950 by road and 10,330 by sea.

Between January and March, South Korea took the lead among Vietnams top tourism source markets, making up 30% of the latters foreign arrivals.
A strenuous year ahead in cement, (Photo source kinhtedothi.vn)

The local cement sector is suffering from a record fall in export business and stagnant domestic consumption, following on the downward trend in 2022 and resulting in a sharp fall in both export volume and value.

In April, Vietnam exported 2.4 million tonnes of cement and clinker, counting $109 million in value, equal to 73.5 per cent in volume and 73.3 per cent in value compared to one year ago, according to the General Statistics Office.

Cumulatively in the first four months, the export volume has shed 26.5 per cent on-year, fetching around 10.25 million tonnes, and export value fell 25.8 per cent on-year to $445 million.

Cement export to China was gloomy as the real estate market there has yet to revive. Accordingly, Vietnam just counted nearly $11.4 million from cement export to this market in Q1, down 95 per cent on-year.

Meanwhile, Vietnams second-largest cement market, the Philippines, in mid-April announced temporarily imposing anti-dumping duty on several types of Vietnamese cement products.

Earlier this year, several cement makers in that country filed a lawsuit against Vietnamese cement exporters, arguing that the firms sold cement at dumping prices and caused losses to the Philippines cement sector.

A raft of major cement businesses such as Long Son Cement, Thang Long Cement, Vissai Ninh Binh, Vicem Tam Diep, and Vicem Haiphong are all on the list imposed by the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the export duty on cement products being raised from 5 to 10 per cent from January has put pressure on firms due to soaring production costs and higher tax.

In the context the export price of clinker has yet to rise, it has to bear higher tax, leading to diminished competitiveness in the global market, said Nguyen Quang Cung, chairman of the Vietnam Cement Association.

For the rest of this year, cement firms are forecast to continue facing multiple hardships in both domestic and export market.

A representative of a major cement group based in Ninh Binh told VIR that the companys cement export volume in Q1 was curtailed 30 per cent on-year, and is forecast to continue the shortfall in Q2 due to critically lacking orders against low export price.

The 10 per cent export duty, anti-dumping tariffs, and costs going up mean losses are unavoidable, said the representative.

In the current context of oversupply when domestic cement output exceeds 110 million tonnes and continues to be complemented with new production lines, domestic cement consumption stands at 64-65 million tonnes, and stiff competition persists among cement producers.

Currently, firms are ramping up efforts to pull down their production costs, find new markets, retain traditional partners in the Philippines, and adapt to trade protectionism policies.

At the moment, Vietnams three major cement export markets are the Philippines, the US, and Hong Kong, and major clinker export markets are China, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Total cement and clinker consumption of the cement sector (including export) approximated 20.76 million in Q1, down 19.9 per cent on-year.

In the period, state-owned conglomerate Vicem, which holds 35 per cent of the market share, reported selling about 5.39 million tonnes of products, generating $331.1 million in revenues and $17.78 million to state coffers, all lower compared to last year.

Meanwhile, Vicem Ha Tien, the largest unit in the Vicem system, saw a 14.6 per cent fall in its net revenues and 53.5 per cent drop in accrued profit on-year, just counting $73.5 million in net revenues and $3.3 million in accrued profits in Q1.

This year, domestic cement production output is forecast to surpass 120 million tonnes, while domestic consumption approximates 63-68.5 million tonnes. Exports are not projected to match 2022 figures.

Cement exports under duress from neighbours The removal of a levy on imported cement in the Philippines could encourage Vietnamese exporters to engage in new ventures alongside Thailand.

Action required to halt cement supply-demand slip Cement leaders are calling for a tightening of approvals for new projects in Vietnam due to the current supply-demand imbalance in the sector.
Ideas rendered for precarious renewables position, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock

Stuart E. Jones, president for Regions and Corporate Affairs at Bechtel, visited Vietnam earlier this year with a proposal for a collaboration plan, technical assistance on green hydrogen, carbon sequestration from fossil energy sources, and promotion of inter-regional cooperation in electricity production and transmission of renewable energy in Vietnam.

He said that the American engineering, construction, and project management company has the ideas and the potential to obtain investor funding for Vietnamese businesses.

Nguyen Van Toan, vice president of the Vietnams Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, said that some of the 52 US firms that came to Vietnam at the same time were engaged in the renewable energy area. ExxonMobil, Murphy Oil, General Electric, and Chevron are among the American energy giants that already have a presence in Vietnam.

Additional US investment in renewable energy might increase the quantity and effectiveness of overseas funding for Vietnams net-zero objectives, said Toan.

Throughout the years, Vietnams growth in renewable energy has been astonishing. The nation has become a global leader in attracting and retaining international investment in the energy industry, thanks in part to net-zero pledges made in 2021. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) reports that the total capacity of renewable energy in Vietnam amounts to 54 per cent of the countrys installed capacity, comprising 20.6GW of hydroelectricity.

In the last three years, Vietnam has experienced a strong expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, with over 16.5GW of solar capacity linked to the national grid. With 24.3 per cent of installed capacity and 44 per cent of potential consumption capacity in 2020, around 4GW of onshore and nearshore wind power is operational.

At present, the bulk of renewable power investments in Vietnam have originated from domestic sources, fuelled by attractive feed-in tariffs for a particular time period. Mekong Infrastructure Tracker data indicates that around 60 per cent of renewable energy projects in the country are produced solely by Vietnamese enterprises, while 27 per cent are built by a Vietnamese company together with an overseas partner. Only a handful of projects have been established without a Vietnamese collaborator.

Vietnam, like many other growing nations, has the formidable problem of ensuring an adequate and reliable supply of power at a fair price, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An in March.

With the development of Vietnams economy, the need for energy has skyrocketed. Over the past two decades, the annual growth rate of Vietnams electricity demand has been in the double digits, typically 1.5-1.8 times the GDP growth rate, which was 13 per cent in 2000-2010 and 10.5 per cent in 2011-2019, according to figures from the MoIT.

It is not yet known how precisely the Power Development Plan VIII would outline solar and wind power production, but it is certain that this output has expanded to roughly 26 per cent of Vietnams power structure by 2030 and may climb to 50.6 per cent by 2045. The draft estimates that Vietnam will need about $165.7 billion for energy development over this decade in order to meet this objective.

The topic of how to fund the massive amount of new renewable energy required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is now a hot one. According to the Vietnam Country Climate and Development Report from the World Bank, investments in the clean energy transition might increase from $7-8 billion per year to $15-17 billion per year in the coming years.

Some energy producers believe that these benefits outweigh the disadvantages. rsted, the biggest offshore wind firm in the world, has launched an office in Vietnam in partnership with T&T Group to construct a series of offshore wind power projects in the south-central provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan.

Two further large projects revealed in Binh Thuan demonstrate the province governments interest in wind energy: Enterprize Energy announced its Thang Long wind power project, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners proposed the La Gan wind power project.

In addition, Nexif Energy, a power firm located in Singapore, has formed a partnership to start a project in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.

The energy industry has a direct impact on the economy and incomplete policy is now the greatest obstacle to the growth of renewable energy in Vietnam, according to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

Presently, Electricity of Vietnam and investors have not agreed on the electricity purchase price for transitional renewable energy projects, and offshore wind power is awaiting the implementation of a system.

Potential energy investors clamour for regulation clarity The lack of an answer for feed-in tariffs and generally available infrastructure is slowing down the prospects of mergers and acquisitions in Vietnams renewables arena.

ASEAN needs 29.4 trillion USD for energy transition to renewables Indonesian Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif has said that ASEAN countries need accessible low-carbon technologies and low-interest financing from multiple sources to achieve their net-zero targets.
Parkson Retail Asia Ltd. announced on April 28 that Parkson Vietnam, an indirect subsidiary of the company, had filed an application to the Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City for the commencement of voluntary bankruptcy proceedings. According to the statement, Parkson Vietnam has historically been operating at a loss, with the issue being compounded lately due to the challenging business environment.

Parkson Retail - illustration photo

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 at Parkson Vietnam decided that it will be in the best interests to file the application, it added.

In particular, the announcement cited lack of support from Parkson Vietnams landlord, such as the negligible rental rebate and reduction during lockdown periods which adversely impacted the companys financials. The high land tax imposed by the local government also added to the financial difficulties, claimed Parkson Retail Asia.

After 18 years of operation, Parkson went from 10 retail centres in its heyday to just one operating centre left - the Parkson Saigon Tourist Plaza, located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Parkson Saigon has recently been attracting customers thanks to the presence of Uniqlo and Muji. However, the other floors are often empty. Local Kieu Oanh said she often watches movies at the opposite Vincom Centre Dong Khoi instead of Parkson because the latter does not have enough food and beverage (F&B) courts.

Meanwhile, Bitexco Financial Tower, one of the more iconic buildings of Ho Chi Minh City, has been closed for renovations. At the end of 2022, the quiet Icon68 shopping centre inside the Bitexco Tower was a widely discussed topic, while favourite brands gradually left.

In the past, young people used to visit Bitexco almost every month to watch movies, then go down to the second floor for hotpot. But after the pandemic, cinemas and some fashion brands have gradually left, so there is nothing to entice us to go there now, said 27-year-old Minh Tam.

Icon68 was formerly known as a centre for top brands. Fujifilm based its first Vietnamese shop there, while Samsung set up a creative showcase covering 1,000sq.m.

Bitexco was also home to the first store from cosmetics retailer Watsons, and hotpot restaurant chain Haidilao. The attraction of this shopping centre brought along a series of international fashion brands such as Mango, Pedro, Charles & Keith, Warehouse, Adidas, and Topshop.

However, in the past few years, brands have gradually had more choice. Bitexco has heavy competitors such as Vincom Dong Khoi and Takashimaya (District 1), Cresent Mall (District 7), Van Hanh Mall (District 10), Aeon Mall (Tan Phu), and now Thiso Mall in Thu Duc city. For example, Watsons moved its flagship store to Vincom Dong Khoi.

Even Saigon Skydeck, located on the 49th floor of Bitexco, is facing competition from SkyView at Vincom Landmark 81.

A representative of Bitexco said that the rate of visitors to Saigon Skydecks observatory has almost reached pre-pandemic figures, receiving an average of 1,000 people per day. However, this number of visitors is not saving the building as a whole.

This is not the first time that the retail market in Ho Chi Minh City has seen a popular shopping mall fade away. The sluggish situation of both consumers and tenants causes many shopping centres to find ways to renovate and upgrade.

The latest makeover is Diamond Plaza in District 1. After a year of renovation in both interior and exterior in 2022, many international brands have come here to open their first store in Vietnam, such as the high-end British perfume company Jo Malone, or the Beauty in the Pot restaurant.

This is also the next destination for Chanel, Lilliput, and coffee chain %Arabica. Currently, F&B brands are competing for positions in the terrace area of Diamond Plaza.

Meanwhile, Vincom Center Dong Khoi opposite Parkson Saigon is attracting more customers thanks to its spacious area and the appearance of many cosmetic, fashion, and F&B brands. On average, the centres management said, brands spend up to $135 per sq.m monthly to rent space.

A recent report from Savills said that a few other developers are also planning to renovate and change the tenant structure in 2023, such as Vivo City (District 7), Pandora City (Tan Phu district), and the Lotte Mart chain. This year, new supply from 16 projects will provide a total of 193,000sq.m of leasable space. By 2025, 23 projects will provide over 286,000sq.m of leasable area, of which about 86 per cent will come from non-central business district areas.

According to Le Thi Huyen Trang, head of Research and Consulting at JLL Vietnam, the retail market has not yet reached its full potential. Although Vietnam is projected to be in the top 10 countries with the fastest middle-class growth in the world this decade, and is expected to be the main driver of consumption growth in Asia, the retail per capita is still the lowest in Southeast Asia.

A clear divergence of demand among tenant profiles has been shown. International retailers and F&B brands continue to lead demand with new leasing activities focused on prime malls with high footfall, while domestics retail brands shrunk their leasing sizes or closed inefficient stores to maximise profits, Trang said.

Playgrounds were the main driver of the market with many reopened stores and a new 2,300sq.m Funny Kids playground in Vincom Mega Mall Times City in Hanoi. Meanwhile, furniture, bedding, and electronics contracted their leasing demand due to the growing online consumer base for these product categories, Trang added.

Renovation and customer experience improvement are trends among shopping malls, especially long-standing malls with solid footfall, to compete with the growing online shopper base.

Indochina Plaza Hanois renovation is now in its finishing stage and will welcome high-profile tenants in their new green retail space this summer. Vincom Center Tran Duy Hung and Vincom Center Pham Ngoc Thach have also installed a new rest area for shoppers and a play zone for children instead of small kiosks, Trang said.

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.

Parkson Retail Asia continues narrowing its business in Vietnam Suffering strong losses due to its inappropriate retail concept for the Vietnamese setting, Malaysian retail giant Parkson Retail Asia is looking to dispose of its store in the port city of Haiphong.
Nuts and bolts of new personal data decree, Photo: Shutterstock

The decree would act as the backbone for PDP in Vietnam, with definitions and rules that seem to align with international standards such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation. It covers the rights and obligations of concerned individuals and entities, applicable measures for data protection, requirements for cross-border data transfers, and the powers and duties of the relevant authorities.

The subjects under the governance of Decree 13 include Vietnam-based individuals and entities; and foreign entities which are directly involved in or related to data protection activities in Vietnam. The decree broadly defines data processing acts which include collection, recording, analysis, storage, correction, disclosure, and many other related actions.

Parties that are involved in data processing acts are further classified into four categories. The decree defines those parties as a data controller (individual or entity who decides upon the purposes and manners of personal data processing); a data processor (individual or entity who processes data on behalf of a data controller); a data controlling and processing party (individual or entity which plays the role of both the above); and a third party (individual or entity other than those listed previously).

For the sake of convenience, here we use the generic term concerned entity to collectively denote all four of the aforementioned categories.

Decree 13 places emphasis on the fundamental principles of PDP, which include notable keywords including lawfulness, transparency, accuracy, integrity, and more. These principles appear to closely align with the key principles found in other major data protection regulations.

The decree spells out 11 rights of a data subject, including the right to know and consent, the right to access or erase his/her personal data, and more besides.

When a data subject exercises his/her rights, the decree requires the concerned entity to respond. For example, a concerned entity must provide, rectify, erase, or destroy personal data within 72 hours upon receipt of the data subjects request. Nevertheless, the rights of a data subject could be restricted in accordance with laws. The decree does not clearly explain which laws restrict those rights.

The consent of a data subject is a crucial requirement for all acts of personal data processing, including cross-border transfers. However, Article 17 of Decree 13 provides some exceptions such as in emergency situations for health protection, national security, and compliance with the requests of authorities as provided in a specific law.

Consent is considered valid if it is given voluntarily by and when the data subject is clearly informed of the type of personal data to be processed, the purposes of the processing, the concerned entities, and the data subjects related rights. Notably, the conditions for transferring or sharing personal data with third parties stated in the draft decree are no longer required in Decree 13.

With respect to advertisements, in addition to the general conditions above, the data subjects consent is only valid when he/she understands the content, method, form, and frequency of advertisements. In comparison with the draft decree, the forms of consent under Decree 13 are broader and include writing, voice, consent boxes, and text messages, among others.

According to the decree, there are two types of personal data  basic and sensitive. The list of sensitive data seems broad, ranging from political views and health conditions to bank accounts and deposits. For basic personal data, it requires concerned entities to adopt necessary measures such as installing technical measures and checking network security.

Regrettably, the requirements fall short of details for a concerned entity to apply. For sensitive personal data, a concerned entity is also required to meet the requirements applicable to basic personal data. In addition, the concerned entity is required to set up a special unit or a person who is responsible for PDP, and provide his/her/its contact details with the Department of Cybersecurity and Hi-tech Crime Prevention (DCHCP) under the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS).

For cross-border data transfers, the four prerequisites including the specific data localisation in Vietnam introduced in the draft decree have been removed. Instead, Decree 13 sets out new requirements to prepare and maintain an impact assessment dossier on cross-border personal data transfer; and submit them to the DCHCP within 60 days of the processing of personal data.

The MoPS may order a transferor to stop transferring data offshore when the MoPS discovers that such transfer violates national security, causes the leaking or loss of data of Vietnamese citizens, or when the transferor breaches the requirements above.

Once a year, the MoPS will conduct a regular review of the act of cross-border transfers of a transferor. However, it may conduct unannounced checks when it discovers a law violation of the transferor or an incidence of data leaks or loss.

Decree on Personal Data Protection promulgated The Government on April 17 issued Decree on Personal Data Protection which specifies measures and conditions to ensure the work.

Legislators seek to reinforce protection of personal data The addition of provisions on buying and selling private information is expected to be a robust sanction to protect the personal data of consumers in Vietnam.

Protections to be ramped up via new personal data rules The new Decree No.13/2023/ND-CP on protection of personal data will come into effect on July 1, and will apply to both local and offshore entities engaged in personal data processing. While Decree 13 does reflect most of the comments and views from the business community, there are additional requirements applicable to businesses that process such data. In comparison to the last draft, Decree 13 introduces several new and revised concepts.

Six highlighted points of new decree on personal data protection in Vietnam Vietnam has officially issued a new decree on personal data protection, which shall be become effective in July. Nguyen Thi Thuy Chung, senior partner at ASL Law, explains how the decree could significantly affect the way such data is collected, transferred, stored, and handled in Vietnam.

(*)Nguyen Quoc Vinh - Senior counsel and Tran Tu Xuan Legal assistant, Indochine Counsel
Status of condotel ownership may require further direction - illustration photo

From May 20, Decree No.10/2023/ND-CP, which amends and supplements a number of articles guiding the implementation of the Law on Land, will officially take effect, meaning tourist accommodation built on commercial and service land will be certified for ownership of land-attached construction works.

Decree 10 is considered a good sign for project developers and buyers of condotels, with some experts predicting that the move will remove long-standing problems in the issue of ownership certificates for condotels.

According to Nguyen Van Dinh, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Realtors, the decree is the first step in solving legal bottlenecks for condotels. This is the expectation of thousands of investors who have been participating in the resort and tourism real estate market, Dinh said.

Policymakers and associations have organised many seminars and given recommendations to solve this problem, and now we have the first result. I think that in the coming period, tourism and resort projects will see more benefit for investors, Dinh added.

Vu Hoang Hai, a condotel broker in Danang, added that Decree 10 will be the legal basis for the authorities to guide the procedures for granting so-called pink books for owners and create a push for the market to resume its recovery.

The legal corridor for condotels was also one of the issues that the foreign business community raised at the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) held in March in Hanoi.

Tran Anh Duc, co-head of the Investment and Trade Working Group of the VBF, said that a consistent legal framework will also help attract foreign individuals to buy and own new properties such as condotels, tourist villas, resort villas, bungalows, officetels, and townhouses.

Barriers remain

However, according to experts, there are many obstacles to letting condotel become treated like any other real estate product.

Nguyen Duy Thanh, general director of Global Home Management, said that it is necessary to have a more detailed legal framework with specific regulations on management, exploitation, and operation of both condotels and officetels.

The condotel is closely related to three parties: the owner of the apartment, the investor, and the operation management unit, Thanh said. In the draft laws on real estate, land, and housing, it is necessary to clearly define these so that the legal regulations follow accordingly.

Moreover, Thanh added, condotels which were already issued a pink book should be considered for an extension of land use rights after the first phase of 50 years if that tourist project is in good planning, for another maximum of 50 years.

Vo Hong Thang, deputy director of research and development at DKRA, said that the problem of resort real estate is not only the pink book.

Decree 10 helps to partially solve the problems of resort real estate. However, to completely remove obstacles and promote recovery, it is necessary to have more synchronous solutions, both in terms of legality, credit capital, and the recovery of the tourism industry, said Thang.

Specifically, he added that the government needs detailed guidance for Decree 10 to be effectively applied and implemented.

In addition, the process of granting pink books of this type needs to be more flexible.

There should be specific regulations on business, operation management, and ownership terms for condotel types, Thang explained. Secondly, there should be a legal corridor to protect the interests of owners in the implementation and payment of commitments from developers.

According to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, by the end of 2022, there were more than 83,000 condotel apartments waiting to be issued with pink books. Most of them were built in resort projects in commercial and service land funds with a lifespan of 50-70 years.

In recent years, the condotel segment and businesses investing in this segment have faced many difficulties because of pandemic slowdown. In addition, investors have not yet received expected profit from condotel exploitation. The transfer of condotels is also not easy because of a lack of legal clarity.

A recent report from DKRA Group shows that in the first four months of this year, the country only recorded a few successful transactions of resort villas, and no condotel projects have opened up for sale.

The supply and transactions of condotel apartments segment dropped dramatically due to the general effect of the frozen real estate market, and the apartment type was no longer attractive due to legal risks, the report added.

Therefore, being granted a pink book and allowing legal perfection for condotels will help investors ensure their interests, and can also make the market more transparent. Meanwhile, the liquidity of condotels would be increased to ease the financial burden for their investors, it said.

Le Hoang Chau - Chairman Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association Decree 10 only stipulates the issuance of pink books for condotels, while in fact there are many other types of buildings used for the purpose of accommodation that have been not mentioned. In addition, over the past 10 years, thousands of condotels that were granted pink books by the local authorities have been withdrawn. However, this decree has not yet provided for the forward handling of re-issuance of books in these cases. Therefore, it is necessary to add this condotel to the decree to make it more consistent. Doan Van Binh - Vice president Vietnam Real Estate Association Types of tourism real estate such as condotels, tourist villas, townhouses, farmstays, or officetels have seen interest from many foreign investors, but the legal regulations have not been fully promulgated. Besides the current regulations that foreigners can buy houses in certain projects, it is necessary to allow foreigners to buy non-residential construction works such as apartments, villas, and tourist farms to increase the liquidity of the market. Do Thi Thu Hang - Senior director of Research & Advisory, Savills Hanoi The resort real estate market has been quiet for a long time and the lack of a legal framework is the biggest barrier to creating a recovery momentum for this segment. Therefore, Decree 10 will be the legal basis for competent authorities to guide procedures for granting certificates of ownership of works used for tourist accommodation and construction attached to commercial and service land use purposes. This is also considered a premise for the market, including developers and investors, to understand that the legal orientation of the product is being pushed forward, thereby creating momentum for this segment in the national market.

Taking the right approach to the condotel legislation conundrum The absence of legislation and clarity regarding condotel ownership has been a significant obstacle for property developers and the hospitality sector. In the last 7-10 years, there was a significant amount of investment in condotel products, mainly in resort areas alongside villas and hotels. These multi-segment developments have often been funded by the presale of villas and condotel units.

Necessary steps for legal clarification of condotels There continues to be controversy concerning the need for adding a legal framework for condotels into the recent draft of the Law on Land in Vietnam, which is currently under consultation.

Revised land law may not clear up condotel conditions Although a draft revised Law on Land proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will not include condotels in its remit, experts still suggest the issue needs to be addressed to ensure clarity on differences in terms of business and regular accommodation.

Buyers of condotels, officetels to get ownership certificates Ownership certificates will be granted to buyers of condotels, officetels, resort villas and other properties which are built on commercial and services land and used for accommodation and tourism purposes.
People get COVID-19 vaccines in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo source: AFP/VNA)

Bangkok  Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Public Health Ministry remain concerned about a relapse of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared an end to the public health emergency status for the pandemic worldwide on May 5, the countrys government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said on May 9.



According to Anucha, several countries are still experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks which continue to impact various vulnerable groups.

Thai public is advised to remain cautious and get vaccinated with booster shots to maintain good immunity against infection, he was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying.



The complete eradication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the world, or specific regions, is not currently achievable because the pandemic can be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonotic infection), making it extremely difficult to eliminate the virus's spread in animals and its crossover to humans.



Even though the COVID-19 situation in Thailand and the world has improved, the government is cautious about another COVID outbreak at any time, which could again adversely affect the public, businesses and the nation's economy, Anucha added.

Thailand: over 10,000 to be tested after new COVID-19 outbreak Thai authorities announced on December 20 that the country will begin to test tens of thousands of people for coronavirus and extend curbs on movement, after a record daily surge in coronavirus cases to over 500.
Inpiduals are honoured at the ceremony. (Photo:VNA)

London  The Ladies of All Nations International UK-Vietnam (LOANI VNUK) on May 7 (local time) held a ceremony to honour Vietnamese inpiduals and organisations for their contributions to the community.

Speaking at the event, LOANI VNUK President Hoang Hai Ha said it organised the award ceremony on the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK, with the hope to tighten the relationship and create prosperity and sustainable development to both countries.

She said organisations and inpiduals nominated for the award are inspirational figures, entrepreneurs, young leaders, and young talents operating in the fields from education, health, culture, and art to volunteering, humanitarian activities, and community connectivity.

The Inspiring Global Leader of the Year award was given to Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World - a British charity that supports surgeries for Vietnamese children with congenital maxillofacial malformations, provides professional training for Vietnamese surgeons and sponsors medical equipment and technology for remote medical examination and treatment for Vietnamese hospitals.

The Prestigious Organisation of the Year Award was given to the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in the UK and Northern Ireland - an organisation gathering more than 100 professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers at more than 60 universities in the UK and Ireland.

Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, CEO of An Phu Pearl and Jewelry Company, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award as her company has supported to build bridges and houses, and giving gifts to people in disadvantaged areas in Vietnam. The company also participates in the project to build 200 libraries for schools across Vietnam.

The School of the Year Award was presented to Ark Oval Primary Academy (London) for its contributions to promoting the culture of minority communities, including organising a Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

The Star of the Year Award went to William Nguyen, a 13-year-old boy known as a musical prodigy with many achievements in music and mathematics.

Many other awards were also given to others that have had community support activities such as disaster relief, free medical examination and treatment for the poor, and support for Vietnamese during the pandemic.

LOANI VNUK is a member of London-based global LOANI founded by British African-American Professor Caroline Makaka in 2017. It focuses on activities to raise awareness about equal rights of women and children, mental health, training young leaders, preserving Vietnamese culture, helping children and people elderly in Vietnam, the UK, and Africa.

Potential through the roof for bilateral advancement in UK-Vietnam linkages The United Kingdom and Vietnams relations are at an all-time high, and in that context, we are delighted to be celebrating five decades of diplomatic relations this year. The UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, refreshed in 2020 shortly after I arrived in the post, set the tone for an ever-closer political and economic relationship.
A survey by TopCV, one of the best job-search sites in the country, shows that software engineers are one of the three most searched-for positions, yet also one of the most difficult to recruit for and keep staffed.

A medium-level software engineer might pocket a monthly salary of $1,190, and despite such an attractive offer, the supply of candidates still falls short of demand.

In fact, for the last couple of years, Vietnam has been experiencing an overall shortfall in IT personnel, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Tech Hiring report 2022, foreign investment flow has produced multiple opportunities for the countrys IT labour market, while regional IT firms have dropped anchor in the Vietnamese market and built up their IT teams to develop their products.

According to Tech Hiring report 2022, foreign investment flow has produced multiple opportunities for the countrys IT labour market.

Ngo Thi Ngoc Lan, northern director at Navigos Search of employment platform Navigos Group, noted that the effect of the massive global lay-offs of tech personnel is relatively inconsequential to Vietnam as the major tech firms do not have much of a workforce operating in the country.

Meanwhile, sectors across Vietnam all need quality IT personnel to work on digital transformation plans.

We might think there is a gloomy outlook for the IT sector, but in fact many businesses are building a presence in Vietnam, said Lan.

Shining further light on the issue is Nguyen Xuan Son, country operations manager for Staffing and Outsourcing, ManpowerGroup Vietnam. Son said, "Many businesses and professions in Vietnam are ramping up efforts towards full digital transformation in the post-pandemic era, and in the face of scarce high-quality IT human resources."

According to Nguyen Huu Lem, chairman of TMA Solutions, "Recent lay-offs of IT personnel worldwide is beneficial to Vietnam as the country might acquire quality manpower at lower cost for remote work."

Local firms, however, have to entice IT talent away from a raft of foreign tech giants with a track record in Vietnam, such as Samsung and Bosch.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the countrys demand for IT personnel could grow 13 per cent this year. As it moves into a robust stage of digital technology development, Vietnam's demand for IT workers increases.

However, one negative point is that a high percentage of IT human resource fall below expectations in terms of quality and professional qualification.

This thorny issue needs to be remedied swiftly, if not, the space might be soon filled by foreign IT personnel from India or China.

Chronic shortage in tourism personnel After more than two years of COVID-19, most tourism personnel had switched to other occupations to make a living. Now that tourism has reopened, improving the quality of training for the tourism workforce has become imperative to meet the ever-burgeoning development requirements of the industry.

Personnel citing healthy workplaces over salary issues The need to find a suitable working environment is increasingly becoming a top priority for employees, especially after the pandemic, with workers paying more attention to health issues and changing their perspective on the importance of work.

Higher recruitment demand felt for senior personnel After the large-scale recruitment of unskilled workers, many businesses continue to enter another fierce competition to find suitable candidates for the positions of managers, senior leaders, and experienced employees  and several preferential policies on career advancement and attractive income levels are offered to lure talents.

Changes in top personnel at firms in early 2021 A slew of firms have implemented big changes in their top personnel in the early months of the new year, driven by either shareholder structure transformation or internal requirements.
An overview of the reception. (Photo: VNA)

Vinh Long  The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long wants to expand cooperation with Japanese partners, especially with Niigata prefecture, said Lu Quang Ngoi, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee on May 8.



At a reception for a Niigata delegation led by Kanai Kenichi, director of the prefecture's Department of Labour and Industry, the provincial leader said that Niigata boasts strengths in agriculture, being one of the largest granaries in Japan. The prefecture is also one of the localities with high demand for labour, mainly in the fields of agriculture and seafood processing.

Located in the centre of the Mekong Delta, Vinh Long has great potential for agriculture production, aquatic products processing and tourism development. The province is home to 10,000-12,000ha of sweet potato with a total annual output of about 235,000 tonnes. It also produces nearly 1 million tonnes of unhusked rice a year.

Each year, more than 1,000 labourers in the locality are sent to work in Japan each year, accounting for 85% of the total number of local workers working abroad under fixed term contracts, the official noted.

"Vinh Long province wishes to boost cooperation with Niigata prefecture in some areas including training high quality human resources, sending trained workers to the Japanese locality; trade investment promotion; applying high technology in agricultural production as well as cultural and tourism exchanges to tighten the relations at local level and enhance understanding between the people of the two localities," Ngoi said.

For his part, Kenichi told the host that Niigata is the leading locality in terms of rice cultivation area and output with a total agricultural production value of 225.4 billion JPY (1.6 billion USD). The prefecture also has a number of leading manufacturing industries in the country.

The delegation will conduct more surveys to promote cooperation and exchanges with Vinh Long in many fields in the coming time, he said.

Vinh Long calls for $1.06 billion into 10 key projects Vinh Long Peoples Committee has issued a decision to call for a total of investment VND24.37 trillion ($1.06 billion) into 10 projects.

Taiwanese firms study investment chances in Vinh Long The Vinh Long Peoples Committee on March 4 hosted a business delegation from Taiwan (China), who came to learn about opportunities for investing in the Mekong Delta province.
Elections officials will likely need another week to determine the outcome of Saturdays race for the Waco Independent School District at-large position, which left a razor-thin gap between the candidates.

Three votes separated incumbent Angelo Ochoa and challenger Peaches Henry, but the final result could rest on a batch of at least eight mail-in ballots that have yet to be counted.

Ochoa led Henry by 1,071 to 1,068 votes after ballots were tallied late Saturday. But the last few mail-in ballots wont be counted until the McLennan County Elections Office ballot board meets next Monday, May 15, said Jared Goldsmith, county elections administrator.

The at-large race pitted Ochoa, a financial adviser and former teacher who had held his trustee seat for a year, against Henry, a McLennan Community College English professor and president of the Waco NAACP.

One mail-in ballot arrived Monday, the last day when ballots postmarked on Election Day or earlier can be received. Friday is the deadline to receive military and overseas ballots, with two of four requested ballots yet to arrive at the county office.

Another five mail-in ballots already received may also be counted, depending on whether errors on the carrier envelope are corrected this week by their voters, who have six days after the election to do so.

Goldsmith said such errors commonly include mistakes on the Texas drivers license, Social Security or Texas identification card number that voters must put on the ballot envelope. Members of an early voting ballot board try to contact voters whose mail-in ballots or envelopes have errors or omissions, calling them if possible and emailing or mailing them if not.

A preliminary election reconciliation report issued after the final votes were counted May 6 indicated no provisional ballots cast on Election Day, while 12 mail-in ballots were rejected or marked as pending.

The ballot board will count the mail ballots received by Fridays deadline, and the number could be fewer than eight if the military ballots arent received in time or voters fail to correct their mail-in ballots.

Board members will count the late and corrected email ballots when it meets, with final results released to the city and school bodies that contracted with the county elections office to run their elections.

The Waco ISD board will meet next Tuesday, May 16, to canvass the results for the two school elections. While the result of the at-large seat is still pending, the District 5 race saw Jim Patton the winner with 187 votes to 98 for Abbie Ramirez and 41 for Ashley Stone.

Once the final result in the at-large race is determined and votes canvassed, Ochoa or Henry can call for a recount two days after the canvass. Candidates who ask for a recount must pay for its cost. State law calls for a deposit of $100 per polling location in the election where electronic voting systems are used, $60 per location where paper ballots are used.

Election Day in McLennan County saw 5,162 voters, or 6.1% of registered voters in the areas holding elections, turn out to cast their ballots. The election was the first to use a new paper ballot and scanner system to record votes, and Goldsmith said it seemed to run smoothly.

I think the new equipment was very well received by voters. I think everyone felt it was very easy to use, he said.
WATERLOO  Police have arrested a teen in connection with an early Tuesday shooting that injured another youth.

Waterloo police charged 15-year-old Tyrie Wade with willful injury causing serious injury and felon in possession of a firearm.

Details werent immediately available, but officers were called to a report of gunshots in the area of Baltimore and West Fourth streets around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers found spent shell casings in the area.

While police were at the scene, a 14-year-old arrived at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the leg. Police said his injuries dont appear to be life-threatening.

Photos: Evansdale house fire, May 6, 2023 050623jr-fire-evansdale-1 050623jr-fire-evansdale-2 050623jr-fire-evansdale-4 050623jr-fire-evansdale-3 050623jr-fire-evansdale-5 050623jr-fire-evansdale-6 050623ho-fire-evansdale-b 050623ho-fire-evansdale-a
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for allegedly having sexual contact with a child.

A Black Hawk County jury found Justin Michael Dye, 35, guilty of second-degree sexual abuse and on Monday Judge Melissa Anderson-Seeber sentenced him to the mandatory 25 years behind bars.

Dye has to serve at least 70% of the time before he can be considered for parole, and he will be subject to lifetime parole and must register as a sex offender when he is released.

Before he was sentenced, Dye requested a new trial, arguing the victim gave conflicting information, including when the incident occurred.

I am the victim of a haphazard investigation, Dye said.

Authorities allege Dye had sexual contact with a child at a Waterloo home in August 2022. Police were notified a short time later, and Dye was arrested in October following an investigation.

Trial was in February 2023.

The persistence of anti-Black hate crimes is an American tradition: What more than 30 years of federal data tells us The persistence of anti-Black hate crimes is an American tradition: What more than 30 years of federal data tells us Over 60% of all reported hate crimes are racially motivated At least 1,500 anti-Black hate crimes have been reported every year since 1991 Complete data based on official hate crime reporting is limited There are 3 main reasons why hate crimes go unreported Opportunity for nuanced conversation and data
WATERLOO  One Waterloo elementary school recently held an excellent education celebration.

Students, staff and families marked Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellences 20th anniversary every day last week.

The school is named after former Waterloo teacher, principal and deputy superintendent Walter Cunningham. He worked in the district for three decades and was Iowas first Black high school principal when he started his job at East High School in 1976.

Cunningham died in 2000 at the age of 58. His namesake elementary school opened in the fall of 2002, replacing Grant Elementary.

Principal Neldrekka Whitaker said the school has been innovative since its beginning. It was the first school to implement the former dress code and one of the first to adopt the Leader in Me initiative. At one point, Cunningham was also a year-round school and had gendered classrooms.

Currently, there are around 395 students in the school, which is pre-K through fifth grade. The school is also a majority minority school, with 92% of children being minorities.

Whitaker said the school is different because of the community aspect. She said for the past four years, there has been 100% family participation for student-teacher conferences. Some teachers even do home visits.

Its not quite the same as what they did before, Whitaker said about past and current practices. But we are definitely on the cutting edge of trying things to meet the needs of our kids and get them to achieve at high levels.

Whitaker became principal in the 2018-19 school year. Since shes been the head of the school, she said, the school has gone back to the roots of the traditional values at Cunningham.

Were really honing into the legacy, really looking at the vision, really looking at the innovative component, really going back to being family, she said. (The staff) believe in our kids, they believe in our community and they know theyre making differences.  And we are seeing it work. We are seeing that achievement.

Earlier last week, Whitaker asked a teacher what pride and excellence meant to the school. The teacher could not reply, saying to describe pride and excellence at Cunningham would make them cry. But the teacher noted pride and excellence are about love, being proud of who you are and where you come from and what you can do.

Other staff and teachers reiterated the sentiment.

Kimberly Archie, a special education teacher who has worked at Cunningham for 13 years, said the school is different because of its caring and family aspect, standards, structured environment and high expectations.

Special needs paraeducator Anthony Watson Sr. said the school provides diversity, an old neighborhood school and tradition.

He likes to think of himself as someone students can look up to, noting hes just a big kid at heart.

I can show male diverse kids that its possible  to do something you like, to go through difficulties you went through and be a role model through the start of their lives, he said.

Watson has five children who have attended Cunningham, including two currently enrolled. He also has multiple relatives who work in the school. His second-grade student, Destini, provided her input as well.

Dr. Cunningham made the school so we can all learn, have fun and make new friends, Destini said.

Cunninghams son, Walt Cunningham Jr., visited the school during its anniversary week to talk about his father and his fathers legacy, as well as provide musical insight for a few kids wanting to learn to rap, sing and make beats.

Cunningham Jr., who recently retired as a professor from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, said the pandemic made him reevaluate his priorities. That led him back to Waterloo.

I knew it was time for me to give back to a larger community, he said. Throughout his life hes worked to inspire children to become educated.

Education is the differentiator, he said. You may come from the wrong side of the tracks, you may have an attribute that you perceive as negative. But education can be the equalizer.

After visiting the school, he said it is carrying on his fathers legacy  noting the students are well-mannered, quiet and disciplined, and that the teachers are invested in their work.

We are celebrating 20 years of making a difference in our students lives and community, Principal Whitaker said. That includes celebrating pushing students to high levels, innovation and diversity. Its not like any other building where its like yeah, weve been a building for 20 years. ... We need to celebrate 20 years of being Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence.

Photos: Waterloo West boys soccer vs. Iowa City West, May 5 SOC West vs. ICW 7 SOC West vs. ICW 4 SOC West vs. ICW 1 SOC West vs. ICW 5 SOC West vs. ICW 2 SOC West vs. ICW 6 SOC West vs. ICW 8 SOC West vs. ICW 3

Photos: Waterloo West boys soccer vs. Iowa City West, May 5 SOC West vs. ICW 7 SOC West vs. ICW 4 SOC West vs. ICW 1 SOC West vs. ICW 5 SOC West vs. ICW 2 SOC West vs. ICW 6 SOC West vs. ICW 8 SOC West vs. ICW 3
WATERLOO  Some Waterloo Community Schools voters will see a change in the races they cast ballots for this fall after Board of Education director districts were modified Monday.

The board approved new boundaries for its four director districts. After the 2020 Census, population changed in each of the districts, requiring the board to redraw the lines. The other three seats on the board are elected at-large by all voters across the school district.

Some voters currently in District 3, represented by Jesse Knight, will be moved into District 1, represented by Astor Williams. This will affect residents northeast of Texas Street.

Part of District 2, represented by Sue Flynn, will be extended to just below U.S. Highway 20 near West San Marnan Drive. Those voters are currently represented by District 3.

District 4, represented by Endya Johnson, will take over parts of current District 2 and District 3, northwest of West Fourth Street and just north of West Ridgeway Avenue.

The new boundaries will now be submitted to the Iowa Secretary of State for final review and approval.

The board also approved personnel changes, which included 21 resignations from teachers.

Chief Officer for Human Resources and Equity Anthony Spurgetis said this year there have been about 80 resignations and retirements. He said last year it was around the same amount with 75 to 80 departures.

Spurgetis said the majority of the elementary teaching positions have been filled and there is still need in special education and at the secondary schools. He noted that more teachers will be applying after college students graduate this month.

The board also approved:

A change order totaling $18,929 for the Central Middle School remodeling and Waterloo Career Center expansion project.

The setting of a public hearing for the instructional support levy on May 22.

Photos: Waterloo West boys soccer vs. Iowa City West, May 5 SOC West vs. ICW 7 SOC West vs. ICW 4 SOC West vs. ICW 1 SOC West vs. ICW 5 SOC West vs. ICW 2 SOC West vs. ICW 6 SOC West vs. ICW 8 SOC West vs. ICW 3
TAMA  Three former South Tama County Community School District employees who filed age discrimination lawsuits against the district and former superintendent Jared Smith related to their termination or non-renewal of employment have reached out-of-court settlements totaling $1.17 million, according to documents shared with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle.

Brent Bagnall, the former activities director and assistant principal, received two payments as part of his agreement  one for $214,077.72 and another for $50,000. The law firm representing him, RSH Legal, received a payment of $210,922.28.

Roy Frakes, the former high school principal, received two payments, one for $175,697.46 and another for $50,000. RSH Legal also received $169,302.54 for representing Frakes.

Former food service director Sandy Jantzen received two payments, one in the amount of $119,770.44 and another for $50,000. RSH Legal was paid $130,229.56 for representing her.

All three plaintiffs filed their original suits Dec. 15, 2020, and Bagnalls case was officially dismissed last December, followed by Jantzens in January and Frakes in March. As part of each settlement, none of the ex-employees are eligible to be rehired, and the district in no way admits any violation of federal, state, or local statute or ordinance or common law.

To the contrary, the District expressly denies any such violation, it reads.

All the agreements have been approved by the school board, and the payments are covered through the districts insurance policy. Smith, now superintendent in the Waterloo school district, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Current South Tama Superintendent John Cain issued a statement on behalf of the district.

As a District, we appreciate the opportunity to move forward in our mission to serve students and families, he said.

For Bagnall, Frakes and Jantzen, the settlements represent the end of a painful ordeal that, as each admitted, caused them a great deal of embarrassment.

Frakes, who now works in the Marshalltown school district, had spent 10 years at South Tama before learning that his contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year. He was subsequently replaced by Mark Groteluschen, a former coworker of Smiths from Muscatine.

Jantzen spent 18 years with the district before she faced a similar fate when her contract was not renewed, and a younger replacement, Michelle Kalinay, was hired to take over her role.

Bagnall also worked at South Tama for a decade, and found out in December 2019 that his contract would not be renewed. He was allowed to finish out the school year, working until June 30, 2020, when he was replaced by Anthony Jahr.

All three of the individuals hired to replace the trio were under the age of 40, and Groteluschen and Jahr have since moved on to other jobs.

Shocked is an understatement, Bagnall said. When I had that conversation where (Smith) said I havent decided whether Im gonna keep you or not, its like, where did that come from?

Bagnall said he had never been written up for any disciplinary reason during his tenure, and Frakes and Jantzen both said their lone separate disciplinary incidents had occurred under a previous superintendent.

Little in common other than age

As they noted, Bagnall, Frakes and Jantzen had little in common other than age  they were all 55 or older at the time their contracts were not renewed. Jantzen and Bagnall barely knew each other as they worked in different buildings, but both said they were told they werent good fits for their positions with the district.

Everybody thinks were all together, (but) it really isnt one case. Its three separate cases, Bagnall said. But I think if theres a takeaway I want of my case, its that it wasnt necessary.  We got a settlement. I got a settlement. I would rather be teaching or being a principal at the school. I miss the school. I miss the people that I work with. I miss my students, and the money does not make up for that. I was gonna retire there, and the fact that that was taken away from me. I am angry and hurt, and theres not any amount of money that can replace that.

Heading into the 2019-20 school year, Frakes had mentioned the possibility of retirement but had not formally made a decision, and he spoke of feeling embarrassed but unable to change the outcome once Smith and the board opted not to renew his contract.

After his employment at South Tama came to an end, Frakes spent a month as the assistant manager at a convenience store in Brooklyn before taking a position with Four Oaks Family Connections and then getting back into education with the GMG school district before accepting his current position as a behavior interventionist at Marshalltown. Although hes moved on and stayed involved in education, he still wishes the process would have played out differently.

Me as an administrator, when I was working with a teacher or something like that, you want to consider other factors. Their family (and) other things are involved, and it affects more than just that person, he said. And I dont think any consideration was given to that.

Bagnall said he was never given a concrete reason for his termination, but when he went to file for unemployment, it was reported he had violated school policy and would be ineligible for the benefits. When he appeared at a hearing on the matter, no evidence was presented against him, and he was granted unemployment.

When he filed the lawsuit against the district, he received a new explanation as to why he was fired. The third and final reason he was given, in Bagnalls words, was that he had been accused of racial profiling, a claim he vehemently denies.

That was a bridge that you cant unburn, and so there was no turning back after that, he said. I still havent been given a straight answer.

Jantzen was never given a letter to inform her that her contract wouldnt be renewed, and she said Smith refused to put anything in writing regarding her employment status.

Lawsuit was about protecting our integrity

The trio all were in agreement about hoping district leadership will follow proper policies and procedures and stick to finding out the facts before they make personnel decisions in the future.

In Bagnalls words, the decisions that ultimately led up to the lawsuit and settlement were not an Oh, my bad, but rather a serious misstep that should serve as a lesson for the parties involved.

Everybody thinks we were in it for the money. It has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with protecting our integrity, and, if given the opportunity, Id love to be back at the high school, he said.

He added that he wouldve relished the opportunity to take the case to court and make all the depositions and testimony public.

Thats the only way that people can be accountable, and thats the biggest issue I have is theres no accountability, he said. The district gets to sign a piece of paper saying we didnt do anything wrong, but we paid you $1.1 million or whatever it is  That makes a lot of sense.
Many of us will be familiar with the feeling of becoming off-balance during a jog or toppling to one side during a yoga class. But no matter y
Here's a look at trending topics for today, May 8:

Oppenheimer

A brand new trailer for "Oppenheimer," the upcoming film from director Christopher Nolan, was released Monday by Universal Pictures in anticipation of the feature's July debut.

Set to a dramatic score from Ludwig Goransson, the newly-dropped teaser offers closer looks at the key players of the Manhattan Project, as portrayed by a star-studded cast including Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Leslie Groves Jr. and Tom Conti, who appears briefly as a somber looking Albert Einstein.

"Oppenheimer" centers around the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy), who is credited as the inventor of the atomic bomb. Based on the biographical novel "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," the film follows the physicist as he works alongside a team of government scientists to develop nuclear weapons in the early 1940s.

Read more about the movie here:

Kim Zolciak

Long-time reality star Kim Zolciak has filed for divorce from ex-Atlanta Falcon Kroy Biermann after 11-plus years of marriage.

TMZ, which procured her legal papers, said the separation officially happened April 30. Zolciak, 44, wants primary custody of the children and joint legal custody. She is also seeking spousal support and will start using her maiden name again instead of Zolciak-Biermann.

Zolciak was a breakout star on The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo in 2008, left the show during season five and procured her own spin-off show Dont Be Tardy, which lasted eight seasons until 2010. She made a brief appearance on Housewives again season nine, was a part-time presence season 10, then departed again. Based on a recent trailer, Zolciak will make a small appearance this current 15th season of the show, which returned Sunday.

Get more info here:

Ray Liotta

Goodfellas star Ray Liottas death last year was caused by heart and respiratory ailments, according to a report.

The Newark-born actor died at age 67 of respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema and acute heart failure, TMZ reported Monday, citing documents in the Dominican Republic.

His death was natural, according to local officials, who also said Liotta had the artery condition atherosclerosis.

Liottas death in the Dominican Republic last May occurred while he was there shooting the movie Dangerous Waters.

Read more about it here:

***

Get more on today's trending topics here:

Texas mall shooter

Brownsville
WASHINGTON  An investigation into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents has intensified in recent weeks, with prosecutors summoning a broad range of witnesses before a federal grand jury and zeroing in on questions of whether the former president or others obstructed government efforts to recover the records.

It remains unclear when the investigation led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith might end or whether Trump might face charges over documents found at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate. But as probes in Washington and Atlanta proceed, Republican critics of Trump see an opportunity for intensifying legal woes to take away his frontrunner mantle in the 2024 presidential race in a way that an earlier indictment in New York failed to do.

The ongoing investigations are the ones that have the meat, said Bobbie Kilberg, a longtime Republican donor who has become a vocal Trump critic.

Its very, very serious," she said. "It ought to have a real impact on the American people. And if it doesnt, all I can do is shake my head in bewilderment.

A grand jury in the Mar-a-Lago case has heard testimony over the past few months from numerous Trump associates. Prosecutors have put before the panel a lawyer who helped respond to Justice Department demands for the classified documents last year, and have also been interested in Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage. At least one witness was asked to testify a second time, suggesting prosecutors may be looking to lock in particular testimony they view as useful, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret legal proceedings.

In a message Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Smith of harassing and threatening my people" over the documents investigation, which he called a hoax. His lawyers have similarly sought to pre-emptively attack any indictment, telling the House Intelligence Committee in a letter last month that the Justice Department should be ordered to stand down from the probe.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that the investigations are nothing more than a targeted, politically motivated witch hunt against President Trump designed to prevent him from returning to the White House.

Investigators over the last year have cast a wide net. They've interviewed witnesses about Trumps handling of classified documents as president and about the response to a May 2022 subpoena that demanded the return of classified materials in his possession, people familiar with the matter have said. They've also sought to determine whether Trump took steps to hide any records taken to Mar-a-Lago or showed them to anyone, as part of a continued focus on possible obstruction.

Among the witnesses who recently testified was Matthew Calamari Jr., the director of security at Trump Organization, Trumps company, according to one of the people.

His testimony could be relevant because of prosecutors' subpoena to the Trump Organization last year for surveillance footage from the Palm Beach property. Video reviewed by prosecutors showed a Trump associate moving boxes of documents out of a Mar-a-Lago storage room, prosecutors have said. Other media organizations reported that Calamaris father, also named Matthew Calamari, a Trump organization executive vice president, testified last week too.

A moment that underscored the gravity of the case came in March when Smith's team secured the testimony of Trump lawyer M. Evan Corcoran after convincing a judge in sealed proceedings that Corcoran's legal services had been used in furtherance of a crime.

Corcoran helped draft a letter last June to the Justice Department attesting that Trump's team had conducted a diligent search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in response to the government's subpoena. At that time, the Trump team produced roughly three dozen classified documents, on top of 15 boxes of records returned in January 2022 to the National Archives and Records Administration.

But prosecutors suspected even more classified records remained. They obtained a search warrant last August and seized more than 100 additional documents.

In their letter, Trump's lawyers said that Corcoran expected investigators to return to Mar-a-Lago to go through any boxes of documents that remained, and that he and Trump understood this to be the beginning, not the end, of working cooperatively. Though the letter was addressed to lawmakers, it presumably includes arguments the lawyers would make to try to head off any potential indictment.

Prosecutors on Smith's team have simultaneously pressed forward with a separate probe into efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, winning court orders to question key advisers and aides before the grand jury. Among the witnesses to appear was former Vice President Mike Pence, who two weeks ago spent hours inside the Washington courthouse.

In Georgia, prosecutors in Fulton County are investigating whether Trump or anyone else committed crimes in trying to undo his narrow loss in that state to Democrat Joe Biden.

The investigations are in addition to the March indictment from the Manhattan district attorney arising from hush-money payments during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) Biden, Trump, and Pence: how their classified documents scandals are the same (and different) The basics How this happened What happens next?
Gov. Greg Abbott,

Eight more innocent people were killed in Texas last weekend. This time it was a shopping mall. They were simply going about their day, men, women, children.

A man got out of his car and sprayed them with bullets of such a high caliber and in such rapid succession that a mass killing was inescapable.

You responded that this was an unspeakable tragedy. We tell you that it was not unspeakable, and that the people of Texas need you to speak to it and its cause.

Nothing is conservative about refusing to acknowledge evidence or give voice to the true nature of a problem. The people who are dead today are not dead because a twisted and evil soul walked among them. They are dead because that person was able to obtain a weapon so powerful and with such high capacity that even the bravest and fastest response of law enforcement could not save their lives.

That is what you must speak to if you want to truly lead Texas. You must speak to the terrible imbalance that you and Republican leaders have created between the individual liberty of nearly unrestricted ownership of the most powerful rifles and guns versus the increasing decline in societys ability to function without constant fear of violent death.

Its too bad that, when given the chance to do so Sunday on Fox News, you instead embraced what has become the dodge of the right -- focusing on mental health measures. Those are needed. But in a world where mental health struggles are becoming more common, no nation suffers from mass shootings like the U.S. The lack of commonsense controls on gun sales are the reason.

The people you represent are living in fear. Our public spaces are no longer places we can go without considering the possibility that we may become victims of once-unimaginable violence. Our private spaces are at risk, too. Our schools, churches, shopping malls, big-box stores, airports and funerals are all possible targets. So are homes, backyards and front yards, and highways and city streets. Every place, every gathering.

Parents fear letting their children go to school or go to the mall. Children exchange messages about constant rumors of guns someone might be carrying around them. Their lives are being changed by the presence of fear.

Texans have had it with living under the gun. A February poll from the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Politics Project showed half of Texans want stricter gun laws. That includes 22% of people who strongly identify as Republican. Those numbers are only going to grow as peoples fear about living their daily lives grows.

We recommended your return to office because the people of this state have prospered under the pro-business environment fostered here. People need the opportunity to lift themselves up, and Texas has given them that chance. But what good is prosperity if we cannot have freedom from fear to enjoy it? ...

When we recommended you, we did so with reservations and urged you to recognize that the Second Amendment does not amount to an absolute right to individual ownership of firearms.

Images on social media show the Allen shooter used a high-caliber rifle. Sounds from video of the shooting indicate it fired in rapid succession. While facts still must be confirmed, other images indicate the weapon of choice was a semi-automatic AR-15-style rifle with a high capacity magazine.

How many people might be alive today if that shooter had not been able to obtain that rifle, or that magazine, or the caliber of rounds loaded in it? We dont know whether the shooter obtained the weapon legally or not. It doesnt matter because there are so many guns all around, and they are so loosely controlled, that anyone with intent and money can get one with no trouble at all.

This has to stop. You cannot say this is an unspeakable tragedy and move on. A leader must have the courage to speak. You must look at this horror, at the devastation wrought on these people, and you must summon the will to act to change the laws that have put us in this terrible place.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden and congressional leaders confronted each other on the debt limit impasse Tuesday, ending their meeting with no breakthrough but agreeing to meet again this week to try to avert the looming risk of an unprecedented government default.

Speaking at the White House, Biden described the talks as productive even though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said after the high-stakes Oval Office meeting that he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate.

Lawmakers and their staffs were to continue discussions on the annual federal budget at Bidens encouragement. Biden and the congressional leaders are to meet again Friday.

After the hourlong discussion in the Oval Office, Biden said he was absolutely certain that the country could avert a default, declaring that failure to meet America's obligations is not an option.

Still, time is short. The government is bumping up against its legal limit for borrowing and will not be able to pay all of its bills as soon as June 1 if Congress doesnt agree to raise the debt ceiling. That failure would send the country into default with wide-reaching economic impact at home and around the world.

Republicans came to the White House hoping to negotiate sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for allowing new borrowing to avoid default. Biden, on the other hand, reinforced his opposition to allowing the countrys full faith and credit to be held hostage to negotiations  while affirming his willingness to hold talks on the budget only after default is no longer a threat.

I told congressional leaders that Im prepared to begin a separate discussion about my budget, spending priorities, but not under the threat of default, Biden said.

Outside the White House, McCarthy said, I asked the president this simple question: Does he not believe theres any place we could find savings?"

As the president welcomed McCarthy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, he quipped to reporters, Were going to get started, solve all the worlds problems.

Biden later described the meeting's tone as very measured and low-key, adding, Occasionally there would be a little bit of an assertion that maybe was a little over the top from the speaker.

He especially took issue with McCarthy's branding as a lie the Democrats' assertion that the Republicans' budget restraints would hurt veterans.

Still, Biden added, I trust Kevin will try to do what he says.

There seemed to be at least a bit of daylight between McConnell, who has let his House counterpart take the lead in negotiations and backed him up ahead of the White House meeting, and McCarthy.

The Senate leader said: The United States is not going to default. It never has and it never will." The speaker, though, simply said, Ive done everything in my power to make sure we will not default.

Democrats said there is room to come together on spending cuts as part of the budget process, but quickly jumped on McCarthy's refusal to rule out the possibility of default, with Schumer saying the Republican is greatly endangering America.

To use the risk of default, with all the dangers that has for the American people, as a hostage and say its my way or no way, are mostly my way or no way, is dangerous," Schumer said.

McCarthy said Biden had directed their staffs to continue discussions, and said the leaders themselves would convene again in person Friday at the White House.

While Biden ruled out default, he also all but dismissed trying to unilaterally prevent it. He said he didn't believe invoking the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says the validity of the federal debt shall not be questioned, was a solution to the current impasse.

White House lawyers will pursue the idea further, he added, but "the problem is it would have to be litigated.

Before the White House meeting, both McCarthy and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted it would be simple to avert default  if only the other side capitulated.

The chasm between these opposite postures had fomented uncertainty that is roiling financial markets and threatens to turn into a tidal wave that swamps the countrys economy. Default, officials say, threatens to disrupt Social Security payments to retirees, destabilize global markets and tilt the nation into a potentially debilitating recession.

Last month, House Republicans passed a sweeping bill to slash spending, an opening offer in negotiations. But that legislation has no chance in the Democratic Senate and the White House has threatened to veto it. Republicans hope that bill would achieve $4.5 trillion in deficit savings through cuts in spending, eliminating tax breaks for investing in clean energy, and reversing Bidens plans to reduce the burdens of student loan debt.

Referring to the House bill, McCarthy said, We both said default is not an option  but only one of us took action.

Already looking past the meeting, Biden on Wednesday is to go to Westchester County, New York, where he plans to deliver a speech on how proposed spending cuts approved by House Republicans could hurt teachers, older adults needing food aid and veterans seeking health care.

It's part of a broader campaign by Biden to try to paint the Republican cuts as draconian. Aides believe that message both strengthens his position in talks with the GOP and boosts his nascent 2024 reelection effort. His Wednesday visit will be to a congressional district won by Biden in 2020 but now represented by a Republican, Rep. Mike Lawler.

Because the House Republican bill does not specifically spell out which federal programs would be cut, Democrats have gone on offense warning of steep hits to popular programs. The Democratic-aligned group House Majority Forward announced a $1 million campaign Tuesday amplifying such cuts, while the House Republicans' campaign committee countered with its own effort portraying Democrats as addicted to spending.

McCarthy said his caucus would take steps to increase funding for veterans despite their overall proposal. First of all, cutting the veterans is a lie, he said.

While calling for a clean increase to the debt limit, Biden has said he is open to discussion about how to reduce the federal deficit. His budget plan would trim deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade, mainly through tax increases on the wealthy and changes such as letting the government negotiate over prescription drug prices.

In response to McCarthys demand to claw back some unspent funds from his sweeping COVID-19 relief package, Biden said he would take a hard look at doing so independent of the talks to raise the debt limit.

We dont need it all, but the question is what obligations were there made, commitments made, money not dispersed, etc., Biden said, adding, Its on the table.

Biden added the debt limit should be raised for more than a year, so that we can move things along. The House GOP bill raised the possibility of another showdown over the governments borrowing authority in the heat of a presidential election next year.

While the financial markets have started to show some jitters, the business community has thus far largely avoided backing either side in the showdown and instead called for a deal to be struck.

Securing a bipartisan path forward to raise the debt ceiling could not be more urgent, said Josh Bolten, the head of the Business Roundtable, a group that represents CEOs. The cost of a default, or even the threat of a default, is simply too high.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggested its own priorities for a swift deal Tuesday, saying "there are no two better places to start than permitting reform and an agreement on spending caps.

Biden's refusal to negotiate on the debt limit is informed by his firsthand experience in 2011, when he was Barack Obama's vice president and the administration made painful concessions to Republicans in an effort to avoid default. Biden has told aides it's an experience he refuses to repeat, not just for himself, but for future presidents.
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General of the Army Sergei Shoigu stressed that this historic date is a reminder of the price paid by the world for freedom and independence, and a warning to new generations not to repeat the fatal mistakes of the past.

ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

4 May 2023, No. 250

Moscow

 Comrades soldiers and sailors, sergeants, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers!

 Dear veterans!

 Today, on 9 May, Russia celebrates a national holiday, the Victory Day!

 It is not just a historical date. It is a reminder of the price paid by the world for freedom and independence and a warning to the new generations that the fatal mistakes of the past must not be repeated.

 The Great Patriotic War of 19411945 was a heavy and merciless burden on our people. Every family in Russia remembers and cherishes its heroes: the Red Army soldiers, partisans, home front workers  all those who bravely fought for our future. We shall never forget their self-sacrifice, bravery, and devotion to the Motherland.

 The present generation continues the glorious traditions of the war. In the special military operation, servicemen, volunteers, and citizens called up within mobilisation are effectively carrying out their tasks, honourably fulfilling their sacred duty to protect the national interests of the Russian Federation and fighting the followers of Nazism.

 Dear comrades!

 I congratulate you, your families, relatives, and friends on the national holiday of 9 May!

 I wish you good health, happiness, and great achievements in the name of our Motherland, Russia!

In commemoration of the 78th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 19411945, I hereby ORDER:

 on 9 May 2023 at 10:00 p.m. local time, to perform artillery salutes with the involvement of military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the hero-city Moscow, the hero-cities Volgograd, Kerch, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg (hero-city Leningrad), Sevastopol, Smolensk, Tula, as well as in cities where headquarters of military districts, fleets, combined arms armies, and the Caspian Flotilla are deployed, with thirty blank volleys of artillery pieces and firing of fireworks from salvo installations in accordance with the ammunition and fireworks consumption regulations.

MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

General of the Army S. Shoigu

 @mod_russia_en

WtR
ELLSWORTH  Nick Streble dug into the recesses of his brain to remember the Spanish he had been taught years ago.

As director of operations in the New London plant of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, hes been known to break out a few general phrases to communicate the best he can with Spanish-only-speaking coworkers. But what he could remember of his high school and college classes wasnt enough when he wanted to have a back-and-forth conversation.

His company recognized the challenge and came up with a unique solution.

Typically, companies bring an instructor into the facility to train Spanish-speakers in English. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery will do that as well, but first, administrators decided to train the English speakers to learn conversational Spanish.

A lot of what Im learning is kind of a refresher, Streble said via video conference during a class break. Its bringing back some vocabulary that Ive completely forgotten. Its hard to connect with folks when you cant speak the same language. You can be friendly, but you cant really have a conversation.

Enter Chippewa Valley Technical College Spanish instructor Ben Schrantz, who had been teaching in the high school setting for 15 years and just recently transferred to the college.

This started with a need that originated here in Ellsworth, Schrantz said after teaching the second Spanish class in a series at the creamery in Ellsworth. There are particular places in the creamery where Spanish is spoken by a number of workers. Were tailoring the Spanish to those locations in the creamery.

David Sternisha, a shipping supervisor in Ellsworth, has worked at the creamery for three years and took the opportunity to learn Spanish when it was offered.

Weve been struggling to get enough workers here at the plant, and there was a Spanish-speaking community that was untapped in our town for potential workers, he said. We started hiring Spanish-only speaking individuals, and theres some difficulty with communication.

This class is to expose us to a bit more Spanish and try to speed up the process so everyone can effectively communicate.

The students agree that learning in this manner is more engaging than when they learned in high school.

Youre actually talking with the class, and its everyday topics, Sternisha said. Its learning how to talk about hunting or things we actually might talk about with people on an everyday basis.

Schrantz said the creamery is trying the training as a first step in the process to see what is working well and what could be tweaked to make communication more effective.

Streble said, as an employee, he appreciates the thought that went into this solution.

I believe its important because its helping to alleviate some of the stress on us to find employees, he said. Its a labor pool that we havent really tapped before. This training is a necessary thing, and its a progressive thing to do.
Have you ever seen an American avocet? It looks like a lightly toasted marshmallow, if the marshmallow was a large wading bird; one with spindly legs and a long black beak. How about a white-eyed vireo? Its a tiny songbird who makes perfectly-shaped cup nests in the forks of trees. Have you spotted a king rail? Its a big water bird. In fact, its the largest North American rail.

Those birds have made appearances at Dodge Countys Horicon Marsh. Thousands upon thousands of birds have made appearances at the marsh. Millions have, what with the marsh being on many bird migration routes, and it being the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

Birders from far and wide are invited to the marsh during the Horicon Marsh Bird Clubs annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. It takes place this year from May 12 to May 14.

The 26th year of the event, the Horicon Marsh Bird Festival is designed to connect people of all skill levels to something that they all have in common amongst them: birds.

With so many expert birders leading trips and tours, you are bound to learn something new, said Liz Herzmann, a wildlife educator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center. It is always exciting to bring new people into the birding world.

The birding world at the marsh is a vast one. One day you might find a small wren. The next, a whopping whooping crane. One day you might find a gaggle of Canada geese alighting the sky in V-formation. The next, in the trees, the eastern wood peewee.

Birding gives me a connection to nature, Herzmann said. It gives me fresh air, open space, and to be fully engaged with my own backyard.

Everyones backyard can be Horicon Marsh. The Horicon Marsh Bird Club is excited to give that connection to those in attendance.

The weekend-long event provides family-friendly activities and educational experiences designed to showcase Horicon Marshs role as an important habitat for birds and wildlife.

Highlights of this years festival includes new field trips to Old Marsh Road; night sounds; paddling and birding; live birds of prey; and more.

Herzmann said, I hope that the festival inspires people to not only love birds, but everything else that a bird can bring.

Some of the events during the busy weekend festival include Birding by Bike; Birds and Beers; Screeches, Squawks and Squeals of the Marsh; Ledge Park; Hot Spot Birding; and much more.

Tour guides include, among others, Kelli Bahls, a board member for the Winnebago Audubon Society; Tim Hahn, the breeding bird atlas coordinator for Waukesha and Marinette counties; and John Krapfl, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist.

The Horicon Marsh Bird Club was formed in 1994 for the purpose of studying and sharing with others the rich bird life of the Horicon Marsh and Eastern Wisconsin.

For more information about the event visit www.horiconmarshbirdclub.com.

Warblers come through mid-May, Herzmann said. Its one of my favorite times of year. Many have such beautiful bursts of color you cant take your eyes off them.

If you do take your eyes off them, you might find that toasted marshmallow looking bird the American avocet poking about. Or you might see a red-winged blackbird. Or, an egret. Regardless, you wont egret going to the bird festival.
Weather Alert

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE SIERRA, WESTERN NEVADA, AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA... * An area of low pressure and increased moisture over the region will bring scattered shower and thunderstorm chances to the Sierra, western Nevada, and northeast California this afternoon and evening. TIMING: * Thunderstorms will begin forming in the late morning and early afternoon over Mono, Mineral, Lyon, Douglas, and El Dorado counties south of US 50. Coverage will then increase through the afternoon northward across the Lake Tahoe Basin and much of western Nevada, finally lifting northward into northeast California, northwest Nevada, and the Basin and Range during the evening, diminishing after 11 pm PST. HAZARDS: * The primary hazards from thunderstorms will be frequent cloud-to- ground lightning, gusty winds of 40+ mph, heavy rainfall, and small hail. PREPAREDNESS: * Keep your eyes on the sky today and limit outdoor recreation activities before 10 am PST to be safe. Lightning can strike from up to 10 miles away. When thunder roars, head indoors! See a flash, dash inside!
The Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribal Police say a woman accused of stabbing her sister to death has been arrested by Reno Police.

Police say 29-year-old Jordan Anne-Marie Clairmont turned herself in without incident to Reno Police on Wednesday.

Clairmont now faces charges of criminal homicide, domestic battery, child abuse/neglect and assault with a deadly weapon, in Fallon.

Tribal Police say she stabbed her sister last Wednesday on the reservation.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where she later died.

if you have any information that can help, call dispatch at 775-423-3116.
A group of Republicans on Capitol Hill are throwing their support behind a bill being ushered by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

Heinrich and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., previously introduced the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act, which aims to invest in local conservation efforts for fish and wildlife and their habitats across the nation.

On Monday, the senators announced that theyve been gaining momentum across a diverse collection of lawmakers.

Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, Tom Carper, D-Delaware, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, signed on as co-sponsors with GOP Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., John Boozman, R-Arkansas, Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and Ted Budd, R-N.C., along with independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, of Arizona.

Investing in proactive conservation works well before species ever become imperiled or endangered is something that Republicans and Democrats can agree on, Heinrich and Tillis said in a joint statement.

Heinrich first introduced the bill in 2021.

The bill would fund $1.4 billion in conservation efforts annually, and also provide $97.5 million for similar efforts on tribal lands. The conservation efforts would be guided by congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, according to the senators offices
SANTA FE  With strong winds in the forecast, the U.S. Forest Service this week paused the start of a prescribed burn in northern New Mexico and explained the change in plans  part of a broader effort, the agency said, to boost communication about the use of fire on national forest land.

The delay in carrying out the project follows the devastation inflicted by last years Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which started as two prescribed burns that grew out of control. At 534 square miles, it was the largest wildfire in New Mexicos recorded history.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state lawmakers also enacted an emergency law last month banning prescribed burns during red-flag warnings  the National Weather Service designation for elevated fire risk.

But Zachary Behrens, a Forest Service spokesman, said Monday the decision to hold off on the prescribed burn was driven by weather and field conditions even before a red-flag warning was issued for the area.

The Forest Service, however, is increasing communications and education about prescribed fire following the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which led to a 90-day nationwide pause last year on prescribed burning.

Behrens said the delay for this weeks project follows the new guidelines issued by Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. The new safeguards include same-day certification that conditions are appropriate for a prescribed burn.

The project now on hold was set to begin Sunday and last three to five days south of Tres Piedras in the Carson National Forest, covering about five square miles.

It hasnt been rescheduled yet, and Thursday is the earliest possible day to try again.

The weather was looking very favorable and then it wasnt, so Im hitting the pause button, District Ranger Angie Krall said in a written statement.

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire destroyed 900 homes and structures, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee.

Anger at the federal government is still intense in northern New Mexico cities and counties, where many homes are surrounded by sandbags to guard against the increased risk of flooding.
Smaller portions, fewer fresh vegetables and a greater reliance on canned goods are some of the hard decisions local food banks are making in the fallout of COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, one of the first emergency programs in response to the pandemic, dedicated $19 billion initially to farmers, ranchers and consumers to keep food supply chains moving. It was critical.

Food pantries, eligible for the federal aid, performed a remarkable public service throughout the pandemic, shouldering far more than their share of the responsibility to make food available to all Americans, especially as government offices shuttered and government phone lines were slammed.

The lines at Roadrunner Food Banks site at University Stadium started forming at 3 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2020. Two days before Thanksgiving, Roadrunner helped around 1,500 families, the largest distribution in its history. New Mexicans waited in line for hours again at Expo New Mexico on Dec. 1, 2020, just to get a couple boxes of edibles from Roadrunner in advance of Christmas. Food demand had gone through the roof, said Ari Herring, co-executive director of Rio Grande Food Project.

Now, the federal aid has run out, and donations have dwindled. Those responsible for one of the greatest food mobilization and distribution efforts since the Great Depression are now in need of our help.

National supply shortages and soaring food prices are taking their toll. Roadrunner Food Bank spokeswoman Sonya Warwick says her organization, which serves as one of the states core food banks, has seen a significant decrease in food donations. With less food rescue from farmers, food distributors and manufacturers, grocery stores and even local growers and farms, the result is fewer nutrient-dense foods.

At the same time, the need remains as great as ever as too many New Mexicans  including children  dont know where their next meal is coming from.

First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque is having to purchase more food to meet the demands of its weekly drive-thru/walk-thru distribution days.

And the Rio Grande Food Project has had to provide smaller portions to maintain its thrice-weekly distributions and can still only provide about half of what we used to provide our guests each visit than we could pre-pandemic, said Kayla Strickler, also a co-executive director of Rio Grande Food Project.

Because they deal in such bulk, a single dollar can go a long way for a food bank, especially if its a buck from everyone in a group. What group do you belong to that might be willing to give a few bucks?

And volunteers are always needed. What better public service project for a group of teenagers than a food bank? Roadrunner, which serves central and southern New Mexico, has enough organizing and prep work for an army of volunteers.

Roadrunner is also seeking partnerships with groups to fill in food pantry gaps in the South Valley, the International District and in Lea, Otero and Sandoval counties. Any group interested in partnering with Roadrunner can visit www.rrfb.org/become-a-member.

A lot may be out of our hands, but restocking our food banks  especially with fresh fruit and vegetables  is one thing that is definitely within our grasp. Through a concerted effort we can help food banks perform their essential mission of getting more food on more tables.

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.
Its time for Ringo.

The legendary musician, Ringo Starr, is slated to hit the road in the fall.

The itinerary consists of a stop in Rio Rancho on Sept. 20, at the Rio Rancho Events Center.

Well, I love to play. I love an audience, Starr said in a statement to Pollstar. This is a known fact. I love the audience, they love me. We have fun on tour. Thats what its all about. I dont do this to be miserable. I have a lot of joy. I get a lot of joy and I just love doing it.  and Ill be doing a lot of peace and love in your city soon, May, June, look me up!

According to concert officials, Starr brings his All Starr Band, which includes Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette.

Pre-sale and Official Platinum tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at ticketmaster.com.

Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 12, via ticketmaster.com.

On Aug. 18, 1962, Starr officially joined Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison in what would become one of the most important popular music acts of all time, or as Starr says, the biggest band in the land  as a Beatle.

In 1970, EMI released Starrs first solo album, Sentimental Journey. Starr followed up a year later with Beaucoups Of Blues, a country and western album recorded in Nashville with Pete Drake in just two days. That same year, The Beatles disbanded.

Hes toured with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band for decades. In 2022, Starr completed spring and fall dates around the world.

He released EP3 on Sept. 16.

On Nov. 25, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek 2019 was released on Blu Ray, DVD, CD and a special yellow double vinyl.

In addition, Ringo created 500 life sized Peace and Love sculptures of his iconic hand symbol. These were sold exclusively through Juliens Auctions to benefit the Lotus Foundation.
Angel Lara walked into a West Side bank in November 2021, pretended he had a gun in his jacket and handed a teller a note: Im robbing the bank call the news channels. His standoff with Albuquerque police took an hour, while six bank employees hid in a closet until he was arrested.

Lara was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial on federal attempted armed robbery charges last year and ordered hospitalized for treatment.

But the delay in getting him into a suitable federal medical center was so long, a New Mexico federal judge on Friday dismissed the charges against Lara.

Dismissal is a harsh outcome, and it is not a remedy that the Court considers lightly, U.S. District Judge Matthew L. Garcia wrote in his ruling. But the United States has been afforded time to correct the existing constitutional violation, and the United States has been unable to do so. The only solution that remains is dismissal.

Garcia ruled that Laras pre-hospitalization detention without treatment exceeded the bounds of reasonableness. And on Monday, he refused prosecutors requests to reverse his decision.

However, in dismissing the bank robbery charges, Garcia permitted federal prosecutors to re-file the case if they chose to do so.

And in the latest twist in the case, the U.S. Attorneys Office late Monday submitted a new criminal complaint and asked for Laras arrest. A hearing on the request is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, before a U.S. magistrate judge.

Where Lara was on Monday wasnt clear.

He was supposed to be released Friday evening from an Atlanta federal prison facility, but was still listed as incarcerated there on Monday.

Laras defense attorney Emily P. Carey filed a motion on Sunday that Laras parents had informed her they would be traveling to meet their son in Atlanta near midnight that night so that they can help him return home safely.

Carey didnt reply to a Journal request seeking comment. A spokeswoman from the U.S. Attorneys Office told the Journal on Monday, At this time there is no information to be released.

Garcia noted that other federal courts in the U.S. have dismissed charges against incarcerated defendants who had been waiting up to five months for a bed at a federal competency restoration center.

Defendant has been in a local jail since Nov. 30. 2021, and over eight months have elapsed since the Courts order mandating treatment for Defendant, Garcia wrote in an April 28 order in which he gave the government seven days to admit Lara for treatment.

He dismissed the case when they failed to meet the deadline last Friday.

As it stands, Defendant has been in a local jail without access to treatment of any kind. That constitutes a constitutional violation, Garcia ruled.

Lara was arrested Nov. 30, 2021, for the attempted robbery of a Wells Fargo branch in Albuquerque. Federal authorities said he implied he had a gun in his jacket. He told bank employees he wasnt there to hurt anyone because his parents were in trouble, according to authorities.

Six bank employees and two customers were able to run out of the building, but six tellers were trapped behind the teller station. Once police arrived, those employees ran and hid in a closet.

Lara, 34, was evaluated by a forensic psychologist in New Mexico who concluded he wasnt competent at the time to stand trial. U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs then entered an order Aug. 18, 2022, to send Lara to be hospitalized for no longer than four months to determine whether in the foreseeable future he would attain the capacity to permit the criminal case to proceed.

Federal prosecutors last week filed an emergency motion to halt the release, noting that the federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to admit Lara to the Butner Federal Medical Center in North Carolina on Tuesday  a few days after the judges deadline. Another new facility is also preparing to open in Chicago, alleviating the backlog of inmates, prosecutors informed the judge.

Defendant is on the cusp of receiving much needed treatment  according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in the motion filed Friday. At this writing, he is just a few hundred miles and two business days from his destination.

But the judge wrote that there was no guarantee Lara would be admitted on Tuesday, May 9.

Lara was supposed to be hospitalized on April 18 of this year, except more urgent cases got priority.

Ordering that he jump to the top of the admission list at Butner could end up disrupting the cases of other defendants awaiting treatment, Garcia wrote.

Ultimately the logistical complications of managing so many patients with such limited bed space and staffing mean that at this stage, no promised date can be relied upon, he added. Meanwhile, Laras constitutional injury persists.

Correction: The name of the judge who entered the Aug. 18, 2022 order has been corrected in this version of the story.
Members of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors voted 5-0 Monday in favor of a 1 mill tax increase that will generate $4.3 million a year to be used solely for capital investment in equipment and infrastructure in the districts nearly 100-year-old irrigation system.

The goal of this mill increase is to move us away from being reactive to the next infrastructure break, said Jason Casuga, MRGCD chief engineer. We have had 10 major infrastructure breaks this irrigation season.

The increase will affect all property owners within the Conservancy Districts boundaries, whether they are irrigators or not. It will cost the owner of a property assessed at $200,000 an additional $67 a year.

Money resulting from the increase, combined with grants and loans, would be used to pay for some of the $175 million in priority projects the MRGCD says need to be planned, designed, permitted and built.

Those voting for the mill increase were Vice Chair Karen Dunning and board members Barbara Baca, John Kelly, Glen Duggins and Michael Sandoval.

Board Chair Stephanie Russo Baca and board member Joaquin Baca, citing other commitments, left the meeting prior to the vote.

Only four persons addressed the mill increase during the public comment session. Two voiced support and two expressed opposition.

Troy Richardson of Valencia County, who farms a couple of acres of his own and manages a 650-acre pecan farm, was one of the latter.

I appreciate we need to spend money on infrastructure, he said, But I notice that you did not look for that money any place but my pocket. I would recommend you look for that money other places before you increase my taxes.

Richardson told the Journal that farms are assessed in the millions of dollars, which would mean increases of considerably more than $67.

We are not talking about a house, he said.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesdays airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclaves southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Childrens coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response, he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israels Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihads military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israels chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtinis wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeens two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeens home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gazas main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris, said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned. France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those  in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the groups choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israels existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihads rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesdays airstrikes recalled Israels similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant groups two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia, reprising a familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces.

Putins remarks came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched.

The Russian leader has repeatedly sought to paint his invasion of Ukraine as necessary to defend against a Western threat. Kyiv and its Western allies say they pose no such threat and that Moscows war is meant to deter Western influence in a country that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland.

Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric that harkens back to the earlier war in an effort to rally his citizens and forces  and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this years celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns after several drone attacks have been reported inside Russia.

Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday  the lowest number since 2008. Even the procession in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part. There was no fly-over of military jets, and the event lasted less than the usual hour.

This is weak. There are no tanks, said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscows Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. Were upset, but thats all right; it will be better in the future.

The Kremlins forces deployed in Ukraine are defending a front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), presumably thinning the ranks of troops available for such displays.

This is supposed to be a showpiece for Russian military might. But so much of that military might has already been mauled in Ukraine that Russia has very little to show on its parade in Red Square, said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Londons Chatham House think tank.

As a display of military hardware it was very underwhelming, said Michael Clarke, visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, noting that the T-34, the iconic World War II tank, was the only tank on display. Normally they show off all the really modern stuff, and they didnt have any of those. Nor did they seem to have armored fighting vehicles.  So there was nothing new on display.

Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II  a pillar of the holiday  were canceled in multiple cities.

That seems to be for fear that those people who have lost their relatives in this current war on Ukraine might actually join the processions and show just the scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in its current war, Giles said.

Russian media counted 24 cities that also scrapped military parades  another staple of the celebrations  for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancelations. It wasnt clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin that it called an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied involvement.

There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it.

On a tribune in Red Square, Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland, Putin said.

The guest list was also light amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would head to Moscow as well.

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw them.

In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defense Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they, too, pulled out.

Prigozhins allegations could not be independently verified, and the Russian military has not commented on them.

The threat of departure marked another flare-up in Prigozhins long-running dispute with Russias military brass over credit and tactics in the war.

On Tuesday, he contrasted the pomp of the May 9 celebrations, broadcast across Russia, with the reality on the ground.

Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers; we did not deserve a single bit of this victory. The counteroffensive will be on the ground, not on television, Prigozhin warned, adding that the Russian state is unable to defend the country.

Prigozhin has become known for such inflammatory, headline-grabbing statements, particularly at key moments when attention is focused elsewhere  but issuing them on Victory Day was remarkably bold.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The missiles came hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Von der Leyen urged EU member nations to take measures to prevent countries from helping Russia to circumvent the blocs sanctions. The EU has noticed that certain products that have been banned to undermine Russias war effort are still getting through, she said.

Von der Leyen did not name the countries.

Ukraine is keen to join the EU, but membership is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

Later in the day, Zelenskyy used his nightly address to mark Europe Day, having decreed Monday that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, and join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8.

In the address, he drew parallels between the brutal aggressions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

It is only a matter of time before the current aggressor loses, like the aggressor who lost 78 years ago, before Russian revanchism is crushed by the bravery of our warriors and the joint power of the free world, he said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
NEW YORK (AP)  A jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House.

The verdict was split: Jurors rejected Carrolls claim that she was raped, finding Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. The judgment adds to Trumps legal woes and offers vindication to Carroll, whose allegations had been mocked and dismissed by Trump for years.

She nodded as the verdict was announced in a New York City federal courtroom only three hours after deliberations had begun, then hugged supporters and smiled through tears. As the courtroom cleared, Carroll could be heard laughing and crying.

Jurors also found Trump liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations. Trump did not attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read.

Trump immediately lashed out on his social media site, claiming that he does not know Carroll and referring to the verdict as a disgrace and a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time. He promised to appeal.

Trumps lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, shook hands with Carroll and hugged her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, after the verdict was announced. Outside the courthouse, he told reporters the jurys rejection of the rape claim while finding Trump responsible for sexual abuse was perplexing and strange.

Part of me was obviously very happy that Donald Trump was not branded a rapist, he said.

He defended Trumps absence, citing the trials circus atmosphere. He said having Trump there would be more of a circus.

Tacopina added: What more can you say other than I didnt do it?

In a written statement, Kaplan said the verdict proved nobody is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

Carroll, in her own statement, said she sued Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

It was unclear what, if any, implications the verdict would have on Trumps third presidential bid. Hes in a commanding position among GOP contenders and has faced few political consequences in the wake of previous controversies, ranging from the vulgar Access Hollywood tape to his New York criminal indictment.

His GOP rivals were mostly silent after the verdict, a sign of their reluctance to cross Trump supporters who are critical to winning the presidential nomination. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, one of the few vocal Trump critics in the race, said the verdict was another example of the indefensible behavior of Donald Trump.

Carroll was one of more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment. She went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that the Republican raped her in the dressing room of a posh Manhattan department store.

Trump, 76, denied it, saying he never encountered Carroll at the store and did not know her. He has called her a nut job who invented a fraudulent and false story to sell a memoir.

Carroll, 79, sought unspecified damages, plus a retraction of what she said were Trumps defamatory denials of her claims.

The trial revisited the lightning-rod topic of Trumps conduct toward women.

Carroll gave multiple days of frank, occasionally emotional testimony, buttressed by two friends who testified that she reported the alleged attack to them soon afterward.

Jurors also heard from Jessica Leeds, a former stockbroker who testified that Trump abruptly groped her against her will on an airline flight in the 1970s, and from Natasha Stoynoff, a writer who said Trump forcibly kissed her against her will while she was interviewing him for a 2005 article.

The six-man, three-woman jury also saw the well-known 2005 Access Hollywood hot-mic recording of Trump talking about kissing and grabbing women without asking.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll, Leeds and Stoynoff have done.

The verdict comes as Trump faces an accelerating swirl of legal risks.

Hes fighting a New York criminal case related to hush money payments made to a porn actor. The state attorney general has sued him, his family and his business over alleged financial wrongdoing.

Trump is also contending with investigations into his possible mishandling of classified documents, his actions after the 2020 election and his activities during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump denies wrongdoing in all of those matters.

Carroll, who penned an Elle magazine advice column for 27 years, has also written for magazines and Saturday Night Live. She and Trump were in social circles that overlapped at a 1987 party, where a photo documented them and their then-spouses interacting. Trump has said he doesnt remember it.

According to Carroll, she ended up in a dressing room with Trump after they ran into each other at Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified Thursday evening in spring 1996.

They took an impromptu jaunt to the lingerie department so he could search for a womens gift and soon were teasing each other about trying on a skimpy bodysuit, Carroll testified. To her, it seemed like comedy, something like her 1986 Saturday Night Live sketch in which a man admires himself in a mirror.

But then, she said, Trump slammed the door, pinned her against a wall, planted his mouth on hers, yanked her tights down and raped her as she tried to break away. Carroll said she ultimately pushed him off with her knee and immediately left the store.

I always think back to why I walked in there to get myself in that situation, she testified, her voice breaking, but Im proud to say I did get out.

She never called police or noted it in her diary. Carroll said she kept silent for fear Trump would retaliate, out of shame and because she worried that people would see her as somewhat responsible for being attacked.

The jury awarded Carroll $2 million for Trumps sexual abuse and $20,000 in punitive damages. For defamation, jurors awarded $1 million for Trumps October statement, another $1.7 million for harm to Carrolls reputation and $280,000 in punitive damages.

Tacopina told jurors Carroll invented her claims after hearing about a 2012 Law and Order episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

Carroll cannot produce any objective evidence to back up her claim because it didnt happen, he told jurors. He accused her of advancing a false claim of rape for money, for political reasons and for status.

In questioning Carroll, he sought to cast doubt on her description of fighting off the far heavier Trump without dropping her handbag or ripping her tights, and without anyone around to hear or see them in the lingerie section.

The lawyer pressed her about  by her own account  not screaming, looking for help while fleeing the store or seeking out medical attention, security video or police.

Carroll reproached him.

Im telling you he raped me, whether I screamed or not, she said.

Theres no possibility of Trump being charged with attacking Carroll, as the legal time limit has long since passed.

For similar reasons, she initially filed her civil case as a defamation lawsuit, saying Trumps derogatory denials had subjected her to hatred, shredded her reputation and harmed her career.

Then, starting last fall, New York state gave people a chance to sue over sexual assault allegations that would otherwise be too old. Carroll was one of the first to file.
MT. VERNON, Ill. (AP)  A New Mexico motorist was killed early Tuesday and a state trooper was wounded in an exchange of gunfire along an interstate highway in southern Illinois, police said.

Illinois State Police said a trooper stopped about 3 a.m. along Interstate 64 to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder of eastbound lanes. The officer encountered motorist Brandon L. Griffin, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a female passenger.

After a second state trooper arrived, state police said, an altercation occurred during which gunfire was exchanged between Griffin and a responding officer.

Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 16-year veteran trooper was shot and wounded and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The other trooper and the female passenger were not injured, police said.

The shooting happened near Mt. Vernon, the Jefferson County seat, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis, closing the interstates eastbound lanes for more than three hours.

State police said the agencys internal investigators are handling the case, and no additional details would be released. Once state police complete its investigation the findings and evidence will be submitted to the Jefferson County States Attorneys Office for review, police said.
Theres a new spice in Southern New Mexico  and its not green chile.

Louisiana Pepper Exchange, based in New Orleans, will join Oro LLC, a food processing company, in an expansion into Santa Teresa. Both companies cited transportation advantages as a key reason for choosing the region, according to the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

Oro plans to fill a 20-acre site in the Santa Teresa Gateway Rail Park, while Louisiana Pepper Exchange has purchased a 10-acre site in the Ironhorse Industrial Park.

Recruiting new businesses to the Santa Teresa Border Zone continues to be a priority for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, EDD Secretary Alicia Keyes said in a statement. This region is more important than ever to Americas prosperity as companies look to diversify their supply chains and provide more affordable goods and materials to North American customers and consumers.

Oro plans to open its $19 million facility in 2024, according to a news release, and create 49 jobs with an average salary of $35,710. Construction will start this summer.

Meanwhile, Louisiana Pepper Exchange will hire at least 20 people over the next five years, with the average salary standing at $45,000. The companys 10-acre site will house a 40,000-square-foot processing facility and space for tank farms that can store up to 30 million pounds of pepper mash for sale to customers in the U.S.

As part of their expansion, both companies are also receiving Local Economic Development Act funds. Louisiana Pepper Exchange was awarded $300,000 in LEDA money and Oro will receive $750,000. Dona Ana County will act as the fiscal agent for the LEDA funds.

Additionally, both companies will receive $100,000 from the NM Borderplex Closing Incentive to support their expansion into the area. That incentive is administered by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico and Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, which helped aid in the recruitment of the two companies.

Oro, which has contract growers in Mexico, plans to connect with local farmers in the state. The company largely deals with bulk-ingredient sourcing to processors and packaged veggies for restaurants, food services and retail customers, according to the state.

Louisiana Pepper Exchange, a family-owned business founded in 2010, produces pepper-based ingredients for manufacturers and restaurants. It also sells products at national chains such as Walmart, according to its website.

Like Oro, the company has direct relationships with farmers in Mexico and it plans to explore other opportunities with New Mexico-based chile farmers, according to the state. It is currently working with a hamburger chain on a ghost pepper cheeseburger and has worked with Dunkin Donuts on a peppered donut.

Zach Foster, the chief financial officer for Louisiana Pepper Exchange, cited Santa Teresa as a place that can support its supply chain out of Mexico and called it a natural fit.

Oros leadership sees the expansion into the area in a similar light.

Oro sees Santa Teresa as a logistical gateway that will open our products to more customers across the west, and that means more opportunities for growers and processors in New Mexico, Hugo Ruiz, operations manager for Oro, said in a statement.
Its been five years since energy and tech company Holtec first sought a permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a temporary storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico  the first of its kind in the country.

And now, the proposed facility has overcome a major hurdle to construction, receiving its long-awaited and debated license from the agency on Tuesday.

The facility, between Hobbs and Carlsbad, would store nuclear waste underground on private land provided by economic development group the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance.

But the company now faces a decision over whether to move forward.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham  a vigorous opponent of the storage facility  signed legislation in March designed to block the project.

The new law, Senate Bill 53, prohibits public agencies from granting permits for a nuclear-waste disposal project unless the state consents and other conditions are met.

Pursuing the project, then, might require Holtec to challenge the law.

Patrick OBrien, Holtecs director of government affairs and communications, said the company is still deciding its path forward  if it moves forward with the project at all.

Were still working with our partners and the key stakeholders to understand what our paths are  what our potential options are, OBrien said in interview. Then were going to head forward from that.

There is some precedent for challenging similar state laws, OBrien said, citing a similar debate in Utah that played out in the early 2000s, although that proposed facility was never built.

OBrien said Holtecs lawyers are currently determining whether the New Mexico law can or should be challenged.

But Democratic and environmental leaders in New Mexico made clear Tuesday the project would continue to face opposition.

Its time that our voice be heard and honored, and that this project be shut down, said state Sen. Jeff Steinborn, a Las Cruces Democrat who co-sponsored the state law intended to block the project.

Members of the congressional delegation also slammed the licensing approval.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said its misleading to call the facility temporary while the nation lacks a permanent place to store spent nuclear fuel.

No matter how many times NRC and Holtec use the word interim,' he said in a written statement, it doesnt make it so. And the people left to pay the consequences will be New Mexicans.

Camilla Feibelman, director of the Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club, said the federal government should follow its own law and identify and operate a permanent storage facility before making us the countrys de facto nuclear-waste dump.

OBrien said its the U.S. Department of Energys responsibility to tackle the dilemma of spent nuclear fuel, but hes seen more movement on the issue in the past year in either establishing additional interim repositories or a permanent storage facility.

Whatevers next, supporters of the project celebrated Tuesdays decision as welcome news.

In an interview, Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb described the facility as a safe, effective way to diversify New Mexicos economy and reduce the states reliance on the oil and gas industry. Hobbs and other local governments  all part of the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance, of which Cobb is chairman  would share in the revenue of the nuclear storage project through the real estate agreement, he said.

There are not many economic development projects that a community can get involved in where you know youre going to get a substantial check every year based on the operation of the facility, Cobb said.

The fate of the project, however, could hinge on the legality of the new state law, which prohibits local approvals for nuclear storage.

Supporters of the Holtec project contend the state legislation is preempted by federal law because federal agencies, not the state, are empowered to regulate nuclear safety.

The state law, in turn, is designed to withstand a legal challenge by prohibiting any state or local government approval that would be necessary for construction and operation of the disposal facility  a category of decision-making, supporters say, that goes well beyond nuclear safety.

The measure cleared both chambers of the Legislature over the opposition of Republican lawmakers and a handful of Democrats. Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, signed the bill the same day it won final approval.

The ball is now in Holtecs court. Although the project now has a federal permit, the company will have to decide for itself if it will move forward with the project.

The NRC approved the license application following a technical safety and security review, and environmental impact review.

Cobb, the Hobbs mayor, said he is confident the project is safe. The containers used by Holtec, he said, are so sturdy they can withstand a missile strike.

OBrien also said the fuel is already transported in a stable form.

A lot of people, too often, get their education on nuclear power from The Simpsons, OBrien said. Its not a green liquid. It is a uranium oxide pellet that is stable.

The license would allow the Florida-headquartered company to receive, possess, transfer and store 500 canisters of spent nuclear fuel  a total of 8,680 metric tons of spent fuel  for 40 years. Holtec plans to eventually store up to 10,000 canisters throughout 19 expansions phases, according to the NRC.

The regulatory agency would have to approve a license amendment for each expansion, pending NRC safety and environment reviews.
Netflix Movie

The 'Fifty Shades of Grey' actress has mastered British accent so well that her co-star turned to her for help on set of their movie adaptation of Jane Austen's novel.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Mia McKenna-Bruce claims Dakota Johnson's British accent was so good in "Persuasion" that she even had to ask her how to pronounce words in a "proper" English accent. The up-and-coming actress teamed up with Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding, and Richard E. Grant in Netflix's adaptation of Jane Austen's novel of the same name "Persuasion" last year.

A fresh take on the 19th century classic, the movie follows the story of Anne Elliot played by Dakota and her second chance with Captain Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis) after she was persuaded by her snobby inner circle to break off her engagement to her love as he lacked a title and fortune at the time.

Mia, who plays Anne's younger sister Mary Musgrove, admits she was in awe upon meeting the award winning actress. Speaking at the premiere of coming of age drama, "Kindling", at London's Leicester Square, she exclusively told BANG Showbiz, "Her English accent was amazing, she worked really really hard at it. I was having to go to her and ask 'how do I say this word in a proper English accent?' She was brilliant."

Dakota, 33, was dedicated to the craft as she spent months perfecting her British accent before filming commenced which left Mia star-struck. She added, "Getting to work with Dakota, Richard E Grant, Henry Gold, all of these amazing actors that have been about for a really long time you get to learn to much so really grateful for that as well."

The English rose, who gained prominence through her role as Tee Taylor in "Tracy Beaker Returns", teased her next role in upcoming movie "How to Have Sex". She said, "I have another film coming out soon called 'How to have Sex'."

"It's about girls that go on their first girls holiday and explores consent. It's a conversation starter and stories that need to be told which again like Kindling and how to have sex all things that need to be spoken about. Love being a part of those conversations and opening that up to people."

The "Vampire Academy" actress is hoping to fulfil her acting dream of staring alongside Oscar winning actress Kate Winslet. She said, "My idol and my dream has always been to work with Kate Winslet hopefully one day she's amazing I think she's just such a real person in every way.

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The Goop founder asks her loyal devotees to donate diapers to families in need as she recommends ideal gifts to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gwyneth Paltrow is encouraging fans to donate a month's supply of nappies to needy families. The Goop founder, 50, who shares children Apple, 18, and Moses, 17, with her ex-husband Chris Martin, 46, said they could use her wellness site to make the contribution as she raised awareness of the tax on diapers.

"I wanted to call out one particular addition to this year's guide. Last Mother's Day, we partnered with the national non-profit Baby2Baby and launched a fake diaper to draw attention to the fact that diapers are taxed as luxury goods in 28 states (despite, of course, being a necessity)," she said in a newsletter to her followers alongside her gift guide for mother's day in the US, which falls on May 14.

"This Mother's Day, to continue to support Baby2Baby's work providing diapers to families in need, you can donate a one-month supply of diapers to another family, right on goop. I hope you'll join me in learning more about Baby2Baby and uplifting their critical services."

She added a link to the organisation and the site said, "Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organisation that provides children living in poverty with diapers, formula, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves."

"In the last 12 years, Baby2Baby has distributed over 300 million items to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and underserved schools as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster."

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Rymir Satterthwaite has been trying to reveal the 'truth' that the husband of Beyonce is his biological father and now he's taken the case to the Supreme Court.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - A man claiming to be Jay-Z's illegitimate son launches a lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul. Rymir Satterthwaite has been trying to reveal the "truth" that the husband of Beyonce Knowles is his biological father and now he's taken the case to the Supreme Court.

Daily Mail reports that Rymir filed the motion in an attempt to unseal 2012 court documents in his case against Jay-Z and force the rapper to take a paternity test. Rymir previously filed a lawsuit against Hov, demanding a paternity test.

However, New Jersey Supreme Court denied Satterthwaite's motion as it noted it did not have jurisdiction to grant his request. It was then re-filed by Rymir in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

In an interview with the news outlet, Rymir insinuated that he doesn't want money from Jay-Z as he only wants justice. "This is not going to be over until justice is served. I just want to live my life and, when it is all said and done, I hope that Jay-Z would want to be a part of my life, if that is God's will," the 30-year-old said. "I won't stop fighting for this until I win. And I will win because the law is on our side."

Rymir claimed that Jay-Z slept with his late mom Wanda back in 1992, when he was 22 and she was 16. The romance, however, was short-lived as Wanda was still with Robert Graves, her high school sweetheart who was by Wanda's side when she gave birth in the hospital. That was why he was listed as Rymir's biological father on his birth certificate. In 2010, Robert took a paternity test to prove that he isn't Rymir's biological father.

Jay-Z, however, denied the claims. The "4:44" hitmaker's attorneys said in a statement, "The allegations have been previously reviewed thoroughly by the courts and have been refuted. I am sure that will be the outcome of whatever filings Mr. Satterthwaite may be currently considering."

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Breezy posts a tribute to the 37-year-old rapper, who was featured on his songs 'Stars' and 'Everybody', on Instagram, while Hitmaka dubs his longtime friend's passing 'a tragedy.'

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Chris Brown is mourning the shocking death of his collaborator Young Lo. The rapper/producer was shot and killed outside a Miami nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, May 7, according to CBS.

Upon hearing the devastating news, the "Look at Me Now" hitmaker shared a tribute to Lo via his Instagram Story. He posted an image of the late rapper and wrote, "love you bro. Rest up my brother," with a broken heart emoji.

Chris and Lo worked on songs like "Everybody", "Stars" and "In love with the B***hes". The MakaSound A&R's credits also included collaborations with Drake, Lil Wayne, Ray J and Tyga.

Christian "Hitmaka" Ward, who co-founded MakaSound where Lo workeed in A&R, also remembered his longtime friend. "Lo has been a longtime friend of mine for like 15 years," he told Billboard on Monday. "We go as far back to when Ray J and I were doing 'Sexy Can I' and all these different records."

The Grammy-nominated producer described Lo, "Lo was just a great people person who knew how to put the right people together and had the resources to where maybe a Chris Brown or such-and-such [artist] might be good for a project. Lo was always a great asset to me. He was just great energy. Everybody loved to have Lo around. He was also very selfless, putting a lot of people before himself."

"This is truly a tragedy," Hitmaka continued. "I haven't lost a close friend like that, so this has rocked my world. I'm just dealing with picking up the pieces, helping out his mother, his family and his son. I'm sending super condolences to his family and loved ones. And man, I want to preach to everybody to just stay safe. Tomorrow isn't promised. Tell loved ones that you love them on a daily basis because you just never know."

According to reports, Lo, whose real name was Lowell Grissom, was shot while winding down at Miami's Gala club around 4 A.M. ET on Sunday. He was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Two other persons, both women, were also hit, but they are expected to survive their injuries and make a full recovery. A friend believes that Lo was targeted in the shooting and that the women were just bystanders. So far, no arrest has been made.

Lo, who moved to South Florida from California, reportedly leaves behind a young son.

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TikTok Celebrity

The 'High Low with EmRata' podcast host jokingly reveals that she was on her way to find a new husband at Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in Florida over the weekend.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Emily Ratajkowski attended F1 with a goal. The 31-year-old model jokingly revealed that she was on her way to find a new husband at Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in Florida over the weekend.

In a TikTok post, the "Gone Girl" actress, who dressed casually in a red tube top and khaki cargo pants, was seen dancing and lip-syncing to the app's viral "Beyonce x My Husband x Casa Di Remix" sound. "Picking out a husband at #F1 #Miami," she wrote in the caption.

Fans showed support for Emily as they flooded the comments section with names of the drivers that she should aim for. "Emrata+Lewis Hamilton=OTP," one person commented, suggesting that the Inamorata founder and the Mercedes driver is "One True Pairing." A jealous fan, meanwhile, wrote, "PLEASE DONT TAKE LECLERC HES MINE," referring to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The official Formula 1 account also chimed in, saying, "The lucky chin touch definitely helped fernando to the podium." The account made a reference to Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso who finished in third place on Sunday, May 7.

Some others, on the other hand, mentioned Harry Styles, with whom the "High Low with EmRata" podcast host made out in Tokyo last month. "What abt harry darls," one person questioned. A second joked, "I didn't know Harry was a Race car driver."

"U already had harry i cannot imagine wanting anyone else," someone added. Another noted, "Welp, no more harry."

Harry and Emily made headlines after they were caught locking lips in a viral clip. In a recent interview, the "My Body" author admitted that she "didn't expect" social media to blow up over their smooch session. "It's very bizarre to have certain experiences and then have the whole world know and comment on them," she told Spanish Vogue of the leaked video of their makeout in April.

"The interest there is in that particular area [of my dating life] is very strange. Not that I'm surprised, but it's a tiny slice of my life. Most of my life is focused on my son and my work. But I guess these issues don't inspire the same flashy headlines. The invasion of private aspects is very hard for me," Emily, who shares 2-year-old son Sylvester with estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard, added.

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The 'Luv' rapper makes desperate plea to judge David Herriford to not 'ruin' his life as he appears in a Los Angeles courtroom before the judge issues his ruling on Tuesday, May 9.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Tory Lanez is trying to play the sympathy card with judge ahead of ruling in his motion for a new trial in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case. On Monday, May 8, the Canadian native begged judge David Herriford to spare his life.

According to journalist Meghann Cuniff who tweeted out from the hearing, Lanez appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom with his attorneys, Matthew Barhoma and Jose Baez. He made a desperate plea to the judge, saying, "Please don't ruin my life. I could be your son. I could be your brother," before he was led out in handcuffs.

As for how the hearing went down, Cuniff reported, "The argument was all over the place, but it ended with Barhoma and Baez upset that Judge Herriford said he doesn't need to hear testimony from the defense experts who submitted declarations because their declarations cover it. When Baez was complaining about not being allowed to call witnesses, Judge Herriford told him he knows he doesn't practice law in this jurisdiction, but in this jurisdiction, this is how motions for new trial work."

Lanez's lawyers later spoke with reporters outside the courtroom and said this is only the beginning of a long process. "We're not going to stop until we get him out," Baez stressed.

Judge Herriford is going to issue his ruling on Tuesday, May 9 at 10:30 A.M.

In December 2022, Lanez was found guilty of shooting Stallion in the back of her feet following a verbal altercation after a party at Kylie Jenner's house in July 2020. He was charged with one felony count each of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. He was also convicted of an additional felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

In late March, his attorney filed an appeal, claiming prosecutors tried to dirty him up with "irrelevant evidence." In April, Lanez penned an open letter to L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon, claiming he was "illegally" convicted "of a crime [he] did not commit."

"For 3 years, the prosecution has manipulated a false narrative, that has left me with no choice but to expose, and make aware, the practices, the behind door deals, and the unjust system used to illegally convict me and countless other minorities," he claimed.

The 30-year-old ended the letter with a heartfelt plea for a fair trial. "Mr. Gascon, I come to you today as a wrongfully convicted man, not asking for sympathy, nor compassion, but for you to simply do what is fair and right by the laws of California, and most importantly in the eyes of God," he concluded.

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Recalling her late mother's battle with breast and ovarian cancer, the 'Eternals' actress does not forget to remind women to look after themselves and get a check-up.

May 9, 2023

AceShowbiz - Angelina Jolie has shared a rare throwback photo of her with her late mother. In honor of World Ovarian Cancer Day, the actress portraying Thena on Marvel Cinematic Universe's "Eternals" recalled Marcheline Bertrand's battle with breast and ovarian cancer and raised awareness.

On Monday, May 8, the 47-year-old Hollywood star shared the old photo along with a lengthy message. "Tomorrow would have been my mother's 73rd birthday. She passed away 15 years ago, after a long struggle with breast and ovarian cancer," she kicked off her long caption.

The ex-wife of Brad Pitt went on to write, "In June, I will be a month away from the age when she was diagnosed." Sharing what she herself has done as a prevention measure, she explained, "I have had preventive surgeries to try to lessen chances but I continue to have check ups."

"My mom loved Hendrix. And would always sign her letters Kiss the Sky. It took on new meaning after she passed," Angelina continued. The actress then sent encouragement to those going through a similar experience by saying, "Sending my love to those who have also lost loved ones and strength to those who are fighting at this very moment for their lives and the lives of those they love."

Elsewhere in the same caption, Angelina reminded other women to get a check-up. She noted, "And to other women, please take the time to look after yourself and go for your mammograms and blood tests or ultrasounds, particularly if you have a family history of cancer. For more info, see the link in my bio #WOCD2023 #worldovariancancerday."

Angelina's throwback post came nearly two weeks after she made an appearance at a state dinner at the White House with her eldest son Maddox. On April 26, she attended the event hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to honor South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee. On the occasion, she donned a flowing white gown with a V neckline with a matching blazer.

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Shantanu Deshpande, Founder & CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, disclosed a lesser known, but very interesting dimension of the Visage Lines Personal Care (of BSC and Bombae fame) business, in a LinkedIn post. In addition to two thriving Personal Care brands for men and women, the Company has also been building out a D2C Services arm, on the backbone of its expertise. What started out as an experiment two years back, has been quietly flourishing in the background.

As Deshpandes post reveals, in a very short time, Visage Lines has successfully grown the Durex brands D2C business meaningfully with its end-to-end and holistic services. Encouraged by investor confidence and a proven model, Visage Lines Personal Cares D2C arm  100days.co  has already onboarded a stellar list of clients, and the team has been further strengthened to create more value for companies in 2023  with Maninder Singh, the man who helped set up the Bombay Shaving Company D2C ecosystem at the helm.

Its interesting to note that in challenging times, when many D2C brands are queueing up for stability through acquisition, Visage Lines is reimagining traditional business operations for its own brands and large-legacy players.

Maninder Singh, Head of Business 100days.co., Visage Lines Personal Care, said, Being a consumer products company at heart, serving close to 7 lakh Indians already, we understand the nuances of creating D2C and digital experiences at scale. We are uniquely placed (vs others) to identify problem statements accurately as well as early  deploying talent and technology at relevant intervals in the value chain. Our ongoing success stories, for instance, have been a result of sharp customer cohort-ing, efficient performance marketing, in-house content creation at scale, and a heavy duty CRM network to support; all leading to ever reducing costs of customer acquisition and efficiency of business. In addition to these full stack of services, we already own sizable backend infrastructure to allow customisation at scale. We do it for ourselves. Happy to do it for others too.

Visage Lines was born at that pivotal moment in the India consumption story, when products were being replaced by experiences and offline with online. In many ways, the entire company has been built ground-up with these as first principles. Were more than happy to pass on the expertise we have acquired shaping a robust D2C ecosystem for Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae to large-established businesses, for the benefit of a new generation of Indian consumers and users, said Shantanu Deshpande, Founder and CEO, Bombay Shaving Company, Visage Lines Personal Care.
Restaurants today are facing major problems with online food delivery platforms such as high commission charges, unfair search rankings, manipulated ratings and reviews, and one-sided policies. On the other hand, customers are feeling the heat of overpriced food, delayed deliveries, uncertain hygiene standards, poor food quality, and frustrations due to a lack of customer support.

To combat these challenges, launching today in Mumbai is the WAAYU App with its revolutionary SaaS model that is disrupting the food delivery ecosystem with a galaxy of benefits to both customers and restaurants. WAAYU App is developed by passionate serial tech entrepreneurs Mr. Anirudha Kotgire and Mr. Mandar Lande from Destek HORECA, a leading technology company in Pune with strong support from Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association, Mumbai (AHAR) and many leading associations in the industry. At the announcement today in Mumbai, Kotgire & Lande announced that the experienced entrepreneur, hotelier and actor, Suniel Shetty will be the Brand Ambassador for Waayu App.

WAAYU will revolutionize the way food delivery apps operate to bring efficiency in all aspects. It includes:

Liberating Restaurants from Commission Fees: With the removal of commission fees, restaurants can price their dishes more competitively, passing on the savings to consumers. As a result, customers can enjoy their favorite meals without the burden of inflated prices often associated with traditional delivery services.

Enhanced Flexibility and Control: WAAYU App provides restaurants with enhanced flexibility and control of their online ordering business. Restaurants get the money instantly and directly into their own bank account, with Paytm Google Pay, UPI, Net banking, Debit Cards, Credit Cards, or CoD. Restaurants can now deliver with comfort with multiple delivery options to choose from Grab, Dunzo, or own delivery boys.

Seamless Order workflow: With end-to-end technology integration, from Customer to Kitchen, WAAYU App automates the order workflow, making it easy for restaurants to operate and focus just on the food preparation even during rush hours.

Affordable Dining Options for Customers: Customers are benefiting from the best prices on their favorite food with doorstep delivery. Leading 1000+ restaurants from Mumbai have already joined WAAYU App. These include the likes of Mahesh Lunch Home, Bhagat Tarachand, Banana Leaf, Shiv Sagar, Guru Kripa, Kirti Mahal, Persian Darbar, Ladu Samrat, and many more. Customers now have diverse dining options. Customers can directly connect with the restaurants with a dedicated customer support system.

Building Customer Loyalty: This creates a mutually beneficial relationship, where customers have access to a wide range of dining options, and restaurants can build a loyal customer base, leading to repeat orders and positive word-of-mouth.

Ensuring Sustainability for the Industry: WAAYU App, being industries only zero-commission platform, aims to create a sustainable business model in the online food industry. By prioritizing the needs of restaurants WAAYU App is empowering them with the freedom to operate commission-free and with greater control over online business. Customers benefit from increased affordability and diverse dining options, fair and transparent food delivery services.

Suniel Shetty said, "This association with Anirudha and Mandar is almost like a homecoming for me because I've been in the restaurant business even before I became an actor. My father's legacy of managing Udipi restaurants with the highest standards in service, prices and cleanliness lives on in the digital era with an app like WAAYU. The advent of user-friendly apps and tech-enabled driver networks, coupled with changing hospitality and consumer expectations, has unlocked ready-to-eat food delivery as a major category. Food delivery has become a lifeline for the restaurant industry that is fast growing post the pandemic. Moving forward, it is poised to remain a permanent fixture in the dining landscape and it's with immense pride that I accept being the Brand Ambassador of an app that charges zero commissions in a highly competitive landscape."

Anirudha Kotgire said, "WAAYU App will transform the online food delivery industry by embracing a commission-free model. This will provide restaurants with greater control over their operations and customers with the best price on their favourite food. As an Entrepreneur, Hotelier and actor, Mr. Suniel Shetty brings an excellent understanding of the food industry and its problems from both restaurateurs and customers end. With Mr.Suniel Shetty on board, we shall be able to create great value in online the food delivery business and can take WAAYU App in every corner of India"

Mandar Lande said, "We are working with a plan of onboarding 10,000+ restaurants in the next 3 months from Mumbai, Pune, and Suburbs. Our next step is to take WAAYU in both Metro and Non-Metro cities across India. We aim to disrupt the online and dine in food industry with deep technology to provide quality food from popular restaurants at affordable rates. Zero commission model has always been our unique selling proposition and we would continue to do so. "

If you are a restaurateur register your restaurant on the WAAYU APP now. If you are a customer, download the WAAYU App and start ordering now and the best price is guaranteed.
Zee24 TAAS, one of the leading Marathi news channels of Maharashtra, will be hosting its inaugural edition of Maharashtra Infra Conclave on Tuesday 9th May 2023 in Mumbai. This public forum will witness the participation of Government and Industry leaders, discussing the future roadmap to redefine infrastructure in India through a series of panel discussions during this conclave.

Maharashtras excellent infrastructural facility plays a major role in the growth of its industrial units and promotes the overall development of the economy. Multiple state-level nodal agencies namely, MIDC, MMRDA, MSRDC, PWD, Irrigation, MAHAGENCO, etc, are involved in infrastructure planning and development. Keeping this in view Zee 24 TAAS will conduct a series of panel discussions on current & new infrastructure, benefits of Infra development, Industrialized economy, Infrastructure governance, accelerating development, Maharashtras Infrastructure policy, and emerging technologies for infrastructure management and development Policy implementation among others.

The Zee24 TAAS Maharashtra Infra Conclave will be graced by Chief Guest and Keynote speaker  Shri. Nitin Gadkari (Minister for Road Transport & Highways Government of India) and other dignitaries like Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Minister of Tourism & Skill Development, Maharashtra) & Shri Uday Samant (Minister of Industries, Maharashtra). Panellists will include key policymakers and industry leaders such as Mr. Brijesh Singh IPS, Principal Secretary, CMO, Maharashtra), Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee IAS (CMD, CIDCO) Mr. Pravin Darade, IAS, Principal Secretary, Environment Department among others

Emphasizing on the relevance of the upcoming Infrastructure Conclave, Abhay Ojha, Chief Executive Officer, of Zee Media Corporation Limited, highlighted, We, at Zee Media, acknowledge the fact that infrastructure plays an important role in aiding economic growth, thus contributing to the larger purpose of nation building. We look forward to making the inaugural edition of Zee24 TAAS Maharashtra Infra Conclave a successful one, encouraging policymakers to consider it as one of the prominent platforms of the future.

Dr. Nilesh Khare, Editor, Zee 24 TAAS, further added, Zee 24 TAAS, the first and leading Marathi news channel of Maharashtra, has been successful in becoming the voice of Maharashtra, thus providing the hardcore news to Maharashtrians in their own language. Zee 24 TAAS aims to stand strong and support Maharashtra through this conclave, for the latest developments in several infrastructural projects, from time to time, to attract large investments into the State.

Zee Media Corporation Ltd, one of India's leading media and entertainment companies, has a strong presence in the news and regional entertainment genres, with 13 news channels in seven different languages, reaching more than 528+ million viewers through its linear and digital properties.
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

Bern, 09.05.2023 - Switzerland wants to help make global supply and value chains more secure and so strengthen their resilience. It is adding its name to a joint statement supported by 28 states and associations of states, including the EU, the USA and Germany. The move is in line with the Federal Council's foreign economic strategy.

The resilience of global supply and value chains has been affected by pandemics, wars, natural disasters and other events. In adopting the Joint Statement on Cooperation on Global Supply Chains, Switzerland wants to help make these chains more resilient. Ensuring security of supply with essential goods is also a key element of this cooperation.

At the Supply Chain Ministerial Forum in July 2022, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States took the decision to work together to address such crisis situations. Since then, a number of further countries have joined the original signatories: Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Norway, Panama, Serbia, Uruguay, Israel, and now Switzerland.

Based on the Joint Statement, the signatories will work together to alleviate short-term disruptions and bottlenecks in transport and logistics, as well as address the long-term challenges of supply and value chain resilience in line with regulatory frameworks and the participants' international commitments.

Address for enquiries

EAER Communications

info@gs-wbf.admin.ch

058 462 20 07

Publisher

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

http://www.wbf.admin.ch



Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

http://www.wbf.admin.ch




Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 09.05.2023 - On 9 May, FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu held political consultations in Bern with Kosovo's Deputy Foreign Minister Kreshnik Ahmeti. The meeting focused on bilateral matters, the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Swiss support for the EU normalisation process between the two countries and the implications for the Western Balkans of the war against Ukraine.

The regular political consultations make it possible to deepen the good relations between Switzerland and Kosovo as well as topics of mutual interest.

An important point was the EU normalisation process between Kosovo and Serbia. The FDFA believes that normalising relations between the two countries in the long term is fundamental to stability throughout the region. Ms Leu took advantage of the meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Kreshnik Ahmeti to assess the current situation between Kosovo and Serbia and to emphasise Switzerland's support for the normalisation process. Both sides discussed the current situation in the Western Balkans and Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe, which is supported by Switzerland. State Secretary Leu and Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmeti discussed the next steps in the application process. Switzerland's role as a member in the UN Security Council was also discussed.

Also on the agenda was the Swiss military contingent involved in the international Kosovo Force (KFOR), which has been indispensable for ensuring a peaceful and secure environment in the region on behalf of the UN Security Council since 1999.

Switzerland has been active in Kosovo since 1998, with past work primarily focused on humanitarian assistance. Today, Switzerland largely supports Kosovo in terms of further integration into Europe and, more generally, improving the region's prospects for the future.

Switzerland is investing CHF 86 million in Kosovo over a four-year period as part of a joint programme run by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) attached to the FDFA State Secretariat, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

In terms of civilian peacebuilding, Switzerland seeks to promote a multi-ethnic, tolerant society where diversity is respected. Switzerland plays a key role in dealing with the past (DwP) processes within Kosovo and advocates an inclusive and transformative approach to DwP in political discourse that addresses the concerns of all victim groups.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple, Vemulawada | Image: Agency

I was brought up in Mumbai, but my maternal and paternal families live in Telangana. Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple is our family deity. This time, when I went to meet family members, they insisted on visiting Vemulawada. The temple is always overcrowded, and sometimes it is difficult to get through. But its management is excellent and very considerate. The temple surroundings are also very mesmerizing, with the required arrangements.

That night I had to catch a flight back to Mumbai, and there was a senior citizen with me. Somehow, I reached the PRO office and approached Mr. Upadyaula Chandra Shekhar, a kind person with a human approach. I found him very approachable and calm, so I told him about my difficulties. He generously guided us, and thats how we took darshan in the available time.

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples in Telangana, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the town of Vemulawada, Telangana, India. Historically, the region was the capital of the Vemulawada Chalukyas, who ruled from 750 to 973 CE. The Chalukyas of Vemulawada were an Indian dynasty that ruled in and around present-day Telangana between the 7th and 10th centuries. Their capital was located at Vemulawada, and they were vassals of the Rashtrakutas. The dynastys original capital was at Podana (modern Bodhan), but it was later moved to Vemulawada, probably during the reign of Vinayadityas successor Arikesari.

According to the dynastys imprinting, Arikesari conquered Vengi and Trikalinga; this probably refers to his conquest of the Vengi Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana IV on the orders of his Rashtrakuta overlord Dhruva Dharavarsha.

This temple of Shiva in the form of Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy is very famous in this part of the Telangana region. The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy, who is locally popular as Rajanna, who is adorned on both sides by the idol of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi on the right side, and to the left is the idol of Sri Laxmi Sahitha Siddi Vinayaka. Vemulawada Raja Rajeswara temple is situated 38 km from Karimnagar. This famous temple dedicated to Lord Rajarajeswara Swamy draws pilgrims in large numbers.

You can have a divine bath in a holy tank called Dharma Gundam before proceeding for darshan, and these holy waters are believed to have medicinal properties. Every year at the time of Maha Sivarathri, devotees flock in large numbers to Vemulawada to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. This temple also has a unique offering made by devotees known as Kode Mokku. Kode Mokku is a ritual where the devotee makes the pradakshinam of the temple with a kode (bull), which is the vahanam (Nandi) of Lord Shiva.

Inside is a massive Siva Linga, and on several occasions, it has been open for people to offer abhishekam and poojan. You can also perform Shiva Kalyanam. Shiva Parvati Kalyanam is the marriage ceremony of a divine couple, Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. Shiva Kalyanam is celebrated during Shivaratri. Usually, Shiva Kalyanam is performed on the day after Shivaratri.

Devotees crowd the Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple all year. The holy place has huge significance in various cultures, and it is a custom to donate ones hair at the temple as a form of worship. It is believed that devotees donate their hair here once their wish is fulfilled or to get rid of sins and egos.

The reason behind hair donation is that it is believed that God gives you 10 times more value in the form of money than what the devotees donate in hair at the Rajarajeshwara temple. The goddess is said to bless those who donate their hair. Here, not only men but also women donate their hair after the vow is fulfilled. Even the first hair of a child is given here in the form of Mundan.

Devotees are served food, a shed to rest, and very tasty laddu prasadam to carry. The temple has every facility; you can also perform Tula Bharam here. Tulpurua, or Tula-dana, is an ancient Hindu practice in which a person is weighed against a commodity (such as gold, grain, fruits, or other objects), but here its against jaggery, and the equivalent weight of that is offered as a donation.

Whenever you visit a temple, carry lots of coins with you, as the temple entrance starts with beggars, and there are many to follow you in each corner. Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple has water, food, and resting facilities. A must-see for a spiritual boost.
The suspect in a mass shooting in Ocean Springs, Miss. that left a 19-year-old dead and six others wounded was arrested in Mobile the night of the shooting, Ocean Springs police chief Mark Dunston confirmed to AL.com Tuesday.

Fadarius Davon Williams, 22, is in the Mobile Metro Jail awaiting extradition to Ocean Springs, where he is charged with first-degree murder.

The shooting took place Friday night at a Cinco de Mayo party at The Scratch Kitchen, a restaurant and bar which is also a popular late-night spot on Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs.

Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related, with the deceased -- identified as 19-year-old Chayse Harmon of Moss Point -- the target and the other six victims bystanders struck by gunfire.

None of the six suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Ray Liottas death nearly a year ago came unexpectedly, while he was out of the country filming a movie.

TMZ reports that the actor from New Jersey, who was 67, died from heart and lung issues.

Citing documents from officials in the Dominican Republic, where Liotta was filming the movie Dangerous Waters, the outlet reports that Liottas May 2022 death was attributed to acute heart failure, respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary edema.

Liotta, who reportedly died in his sleep, also suffered from atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in his arteries, TMZ said.

The actor made movie history as mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorseses Goodfellas (1990).

Liotta, who broke out as an actor in the 1986 film Something Wild and played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989), had some roles debut posthumously, with more to come.

Ray Liotta in "Cocaine Bear." He stars in other films yet to be released.Universal Pictures

He starred with Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser in Dennis Lehanes Golden Globe-nominated Apple TV+ limited series Black Bird, released in July. The series is based on the true story of James Jimmy Keene (Egerton), a man in prison who takes an offer from a federal prosecutor to get friendly with an alleged serial killer with the hope that he can get him to confess to murders. Liotta plays Keenes father, James Big Jim Keene.

Liotta also played a drug kingpin villain in the true story-based horror comedy Cocaine Bear, directed by Elizabeth Banks and released in February (the film was dedicated to Liotta).

The actor was honored in February with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Banks and Egerton paid tribute to Liotta at the ceremony, as did the actors daughter, Karsen Liotta, who attended with Liottas fiance, Jacy Nittolo.

Liotta will appear alongside Charlie Day in the film comedy Fools Paradise, directed by Day, which will be released in theaters May 12.

Dangerous Waters, in which Liotta stars with Saffron Burrows, Odeya Rush and Eric Dane, is in post-production.

Another of Liottas posthumous film appearances will be in April 29, 1992, a movie set in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict.
Two students at a Walker County school have been arrested after a gun was found on campus.

The principal at Oakman Middle School on Monday was alerted to a student in possession of a handgun, according to the Walker County Sheriffs Office.

The principal and school resource officer Deputy Greg Warren were able to locate the gun and those suspected of being in possession of the weapon. Authorities said the schools video surveillance system assisted in the investigation.

The students are not being named because of their age.

Authorities said there was no evidence of any threats to the school.
A 57-year-old Alabama woman has been convicted of bilking an elderly assisted-living resident in Etowah County out of more than $10 million.

Lisa Talton Wells Daugherty pleaded guilty Monday to four counts of first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person, which is a Class B felony.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction, and said Daugherty was sentenced to 20 years, with five years to actually serve in prison. She also agreed to relinquish all claims to about $5.5 million that is the subject of pending federal litigation, and to make restitution for the remain balance.

Daugherty worked as a care technician at Oak Landing Assisted Living when the crimes took place against a resident there.

Authorities said Daugherty became power of attorney for the elderly victim. She immediately began transferring funds from the victims accounts to her own, ultimately totaling over $8.5 million.

Daugherty also took control over the victims property, valued at more over $1,5 million.

She then used the victims money to benefit herself by purchasing a home in Etowah County and a beach house, each valued more than $1 million, multiple vehicles valued more than $120,000 and $86,000 in dental implants, among other purchases.

Daugherty will feel the full force of justice after using her position as a caregiver to exploit a vulnerable elderly woman from her life savings, Marshall said. This is an egregious example of financial fraud that continues to happen in our state, and I urge Alabamians to contact my office if they suspect someone is being used for Medicaid fraud or abuse.

The investigation was initiated by Attorney General Marshalls Office after a referral from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama and carried out by the AGs Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The Alabama House has passed a bill that takes a step toward authorizing construction of a new State House, an idea that has been talked about for years.

The bill, SB222, gives control of state-owned property that is now a parking lot behind the State House to the Legislative Council, a panel of 20 legislators. It gives the Legislative Council the authority to contract with the Retirement Systems of Alabama or another entity for construction and maintenance of a new State House.

The RSA has requested proposals from architectural firms to design a State House to replace the one now in use. It was built in 1963 for the state Highway Department. The Legislature has used it for meeting chambers and offices since 1985.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 88-9 with three abstentions. It previously passed the Senate and returns there because of changes made by the House. The Senate could agree with those changes and give the bill final approval. That send it to Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign it into law.

Lawmakers have cited a number of reasons to replace the State House, saying the building was not designed for its current use. A facility assessment conducted by an engineering firm in March 2020 found that the eight-story, 315,000 square foot building needed $51 million in repairs, renovations and replacements over 10 years. Officials have cited the limited space for public access, poor accessibility for people with disabilities, and the flooding and mold problems. Last September, the Legislative Council directed senior staff officials at the Legislature to explore the idea of a new State House and discuss it with the RSA.

Only one lawmaker commented on the new State House before the vote on the bill today. Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said she supported the idea because of what she said is the unhealthy conditions in the current building caused by moisture, mold and mildew.

It is truly time that we get serious about this situation and make this environment a healthy environment, Warren said.

The bill affects other topics besides the State House. It would change the starting date of legislative session in the years following elections from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February.
The Alabama Department of Public Health is pushing for greater awareness of human papillomavirus, a common and preventable disease that can cause cervical cancer, amid efforts to address the cancer in the state.

Alabama currently ranks fifth-worst in the United States for the rate of new cervical cancer cases. Nationally, an average of 7.5 women per 100,000 develop the disease, compared to 9.1 in Alabama. Black women are also more likely than white women to develop cancer.

Physicians and activists throughout the state have been working to combat the disease, which is one of only two cancers that can be prevented by a vaccine.

The mortality of cervical cancer today in Alabama is no different than 1999, said Isabel Scarinci, the vice chair for global and rural health in the UAB department of obstetrics and gynecology. I could not end a professional career with those statistics.

Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama, led by ADPH and partners, is working to vaccinate residents against HPV, promoting cervical cancer screenings among women between the ages of 21 and 65 and appropriate follow-up treatment for women with abnormal screening results.

Most health programs provide free HPV vaccines. Children on Medicaid and other state health programs also should qualify for free vaccinations. The vaccine is recommended for kids between 11-12 years old and protects against the two types of the HPV virus that cause 90% of cervical cancers.

Groups partnering on the initiative include TogetHER for Health, the American Cancer Society, the Rotary Clubs of Birmingham and Lafayette, Quality of Life Health Services Inc, Auburn University and others.

The 40-page plan includes barriers to care, such as a lack of trust in vaccines and the government, misinformation, stigma surrounding HPV and difficulty returning for multiple shots. It also includes potential solutions, such as education and opportunities for HPV vaccination in schools and universities, community-wide education and awareness events and increased awareness information about what services are offered by county health departments.

I just want to remind people that we continue to do HPV vaccinations and our county health departments its amazing how many people of Maine who dont realize that we have a vaccine to prevent cancer. We in this room, take that for granted but many people arent aware of that, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said. We are living in this really strange time right now where vaccine misinformation is running wild vaccines of all kinds are mistrusted by a lot of people, so its very important to continue to communicate the importance of HPV vaccination  particularly vaccination at the right age for young people  so that we can prevent this disease from ever even occurring.

Anna Lisa Weigel, the associate director for cancer center partnerships for the American Cancer Society, said nationally, about 4,300 women are expected to die from cervical cancer in 2023. In Alabama, she said, there will be an estimated 240 new cases of cervical cancer, and 110 deaths this year.

More than half the people in the United States who get cervical cancer have rarely or have never been screened, Weigel said.

Barriers to care and screening can occur in rural areas, where people may have less access to physicians or medical providers.

Education programs, like a six-county program that will wrap up this summer in Alabamas Black Belt, are already showing progress, leaders have said.

The World Health Organization classifies elimination of cervical cancer as:
The assistant principal at James Clemens High School in Madison, accused of punching a student on a school bus in a fight captured on video, has denied the allegations made against him in a lawsuit.

Attorneys for Jason Watts on Monday filed a motion to dismiss.

The defendant denies the allegations that he excessively punished Jane Doe by punching her in the face, the federal court filing said. The denials also extend to the plaintiffs allegation that she was placed in alternative school as retaliation, according to the filing.

The filing appears to include the first public comments from Watts since the Dec. 14, 2022, incident on a bus parked outside the school. Watts attorneys Clay Carr and Mark Boardman of Chelsea argue that the case against their client should be dropped because if those allegations (in the lawsuit) were true, they could establish nothing more than a state law tort, not a violation of the United States Constitution.

Previously, the Madison City school board filed a motion to dismiss the governing body from the lawsuit. The plaintiffs filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss the school board from the lawsuit on Tuesday, which the court immediately accepted.

At a press conference the day after the incident, Madison City Schools Superintendent Ed Nichols said the assistant principal (school officials did not identify Watts by name) was attempting to break up a fight inside the bus near the rear. Nichols said the assistant principal was struck repeatedly in the back of the head and was bitten on his arm through his long-sleeve clothing to the point that blood was drawn. School officials distributed photos of the bite injury at the press conference.

Video apparently filmed by students on the bus appear to show Watts striking a student in the head. Thats the allegation made in the lawsuit filed by an unidentified student through her mother.

Related: Click here and here to see video of the bus altercation.

The motion to dismiss filed Monday does not dwell on the allegations, instead focusing on the legal arguments of why the case should be dismissed.

The motion to dismiss filed by the school board last month said the lawsuit flagrantly misstates the altercation and provided a false version of events.

At the December press conference, Nichols said the buss security video camera captured the incident  which he said lasted about three minutes. The school system declined to release the video. Video captured by students are shorter in duration.

Nichols said the assistant principal felt he was in danger and felt the need to protect himself.

Also named as a defendant in the lawsuit is Brian Clayton, who at the time was the principal at James Clemens and at the front of the bus at the time of the incident, according to the lawsuit. Clayton has since been hired as superintendent of Hartselle City Schools.

Updated today, May 9, 2023, at 5:37 p.m. with Madison City Schools dismissed as defendant.
Authorities say a raid shut down an unlicensed exotic dance club in Morgan County Saturday night.

According to Decatur police, the departments vice and narcotics unit, operating with CID detectives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Alcohol Division Agents, executed a search warrant at Club Levelz in the 100 block of 22nd Ave. N.W.

The location was operating as a night club, promoting exotic dancers, and sales of alcohol. According to police, the club does not have a business license or liquor license, and is located in a designated dry area of Morgan County.

There were numerous individuals at the club, authorities said, three of whom were under the age of 21.

Police said officers also discovered multiple firearms, narcotics, exotic dancers, and illegal alcohol in the club.

Investigators took six people into custody, one for an outstanding felony warrant and the others for various misdemeanor charges.
Democratic National Conference Chair Jaime Harrison said he is concerned about reports from the Alabama Democratic Partys meeting on Saturday, when the party eliminated caucuses representing LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and youth (ages 18 to 35), caucuses that were created with the support of the DNC.

In a tweet on Monday night, Harrison said allegations about the meeting are troubling and that the DNC is looking into them.

The State Democratic Executive Committee on Saturday adopted new bylaws that led to the elimination of the three minority caucuses. The caucuses were set up under bylaws the SDEC adopted in 2019 at the request of and with the support of the DNC.

Those opposed to the changes made at Saturdays meeting also objected to a $50 fee that they said kept some members of the SDEC from voting. And they raised questions about the accuracy of the vote count to approve the new bylaws.

Saturdays meeting marked a continuation of conflict within the SDEC that has been going on at least five years. A group backed by former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones pushed through the 2019 bylaws and elected new leadership over opposition from those backing longtime party leader Joe Reed, head of the Alabama Democratic Conference and the partys Black caucus.

Last year, the SDEC reversed course and elected Huntsville pastor Randy Kelley as party chair with the backing of Reed and the ADC. Reed and his supporters have maintained that the 2019 bylaws diluted the influence of the Black caucus, which supporters of the reforms said was incorrect. Supporters of the 2019 bylaws said the goal was to welcome more underrepresented groups to help build the party, which has been dominated by the Republican Party in Alabama for more than a decade.
A federal judge in North Dakota sentenced a Huntsville man Monday to life in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12.

U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Whitehorse Ducharme, also known as Stanley Ducharme, 51, of Huntsville, received the sentence from Chief Judge Peter D. Welte in U.S. District Court in Fargo, N.D.

Ducharme, who formerly lived in Belcourt, N.D., pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2021.

Prosecutors cited an F.B.I. investigation that found Ducharme engaged in sexual abuse of a Native American child from about 2008 until about 2016.

Investigators said the abuse began when the child was three.

The court reasonably sentenced this individual to life in prison based upon the facts, and that sentence ensures he will never abuse another child, Schneider said in a statement.

This result is a testament to the courage of those who stepped forward to put an end to this abuse. It is also a credit to the professionalism of our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors who helped obtain a measure of justice in this case.
After her husband died last year, she wrote a childrens book on grief. Now shes charged with his murder.

Kouri Richins was arrested on Monday in Utah and is accused in charging documents of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town near Park City.

Prosecutors allege that Richins called authorities in the middle of the night in March 2022 to report that her husband, Eric Richins, was cold to the touch. The mother of three told officers that she had made her husband a mixed vodka drink to celebrate him selling a home and then went to soothe one of their children to sleep in their bedroom. She later returned and upon finding her husband unresponsive, called 911.

A medical examiner later found five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system.

In addition to the murder charge, Richins also faces charges involving the alleged possession of GHB  a narcolepsy drug frequently used in recreational settings, including at dance clubs.

The charges  which are based on officers interactions with Richins that night and the account of an unnamed acquaintance who claims to have sold her the fentanyl  come two months after Richins appeared on local television to promote Are you with me? a picture book she wrote to help children cope after the death of a loved one.

For a segment entitled Good Things Utah, Richins called her husbands death unexpected and described how it sent her and her three boys reeling. For children, she said, grieving was about making sure that their spirit is always alive in your home.

Its  you know  explaining to my kid just because hes not present here with us physically, doesnt mean his presence isnt here with us, she told the anchors, who commended her for being an amazing mother.

Richins attorney, Skye Lazaro, declined to comment on the charges.
For the first time in three years, and five months, a major annexation plan is before the Mobile City Council for consideration.

Unlike the 2019 vote, though, this proposal seems to be headed for passage.

Read more:

Here is what is at stake when the council, during its meeting at 10:30 a.m. today, votes to allow a large number of people within its unincorporated areas west of the citys limits to vote on whether they should be annexed into the city limits.

What is the council voting on?

Four annexation resolutions are added to the council agenda for consideration. The four resolutions, if approved, will establish a special election within an area outside of the citys limits on the question of whether they want to annex into Mobile.

The City Councils vote does not grant annexation. All it does is allow for a special election, which will be administrator by the Mobile County Probates Office, to take place later this year on the issue of annexation.

How many new residents could come into Mobile?

The areas combined are part of Annexation Study Area A. Bringing in all four annexation areas would add 25,806 new residents to the city -- equivalent to bringing in a population that is about the size of the entire city of Trussville near Birmingham, and larger than the entire city of Fairhope.

Whats changed from 2019?

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson speaks in support of an proposal that would have allowed for a special election on whether to annex around 13,000 residents into the city of Mobile. The Mobile City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, against the mayor's plans. A supermajority, or five votes, were needed for passage. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

In 2019, amid concerns over a lack of information about whether annexation would provide a positive revenue stream to the city, the council voted -- along racial lines - to defeat it. The vote was 4-3, with the councils four white members (John Williams, Joel Daves, Gina Gregory and Bess Rich) voting in support of allowing a special election for annexation and the three Black council members (C.J. Small, Fred Richardson, and Levon Manzie) voted against it.

It takes a five-vote supermajority for approval. The council, which typically has seven members, is down to six members after former Councilman Scott Jones resigned. Only one No vote is allowed during todays meeting in order to allow the special elections to occur.

The 2019 proposal called for bringing in approximately 13,000 new residents. Concerns about eroding the citys Black voting age population majority surfaced, and political headaches followed. A campaign mailer was circulated through the citys Black districts warning about the effects of a No vote.

Of the three Black members -- Small, the current council president -- remains. He said last week that he is leaning toward supporting the latest proposal. He cited supportive information for annexation contained within a 139-page study from the PFM Group released last month. The study showed that Mobile would benefit financially through annexing properties west of the city limits. Supporting annexation could also be done without eliminating the citys majority Black voting age population, the study showed.

Small also said his support is based on Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons administrations support of long-neglected projects within his mostly Black council district south and east of downtown Mobile.

The Councils other two Black members -- William Carroll, who replaced the late Council President Levon Manzie; and Councilman Cory Penn, who replaced longtime Councilman Fred Richardson -- have indicated they are supportive of allowing residents to vote for annexation.

Six people are signed up to speak on annexation before the councils scheduled to vote on it today.

Im happy to hear the concerns between now and when we vote on this, Carroll said during last weeks council meeting. Ive had more people call me who look like me who said we need to move this forward. It truly inspired me. Lets pray any decision made by the city of Mobile are for the betterment of all of us.

Could Mobile be the No. 2 largest city in Alabama?

Drone photo of Mobile skyline. Mobile photos 2021. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Yes, depending on whether all of the separate neighborhoods slated for annexation approve it during the special election.

Related content:

Absent any annexation, PFM estimates Mobiles population declining from its current population of 187,041 residents to 179,305 by 2030.

If Area A is approved, the citys population will grow to 212,847. By 2030, with Area As annexation, it is estimated for Mobile to be at 208,527. Mobile, under Area A, would be bigger than Montgomery (200,603 residents) and Birmingham (200,733 residents), but still trail fast-growing Huntsville, which has a population of 215,006.

Annexation supporters also say that boosting Mobiles population above 200,000 residents makes the city eligible for more grant opportunities than if the city was below that 200,000 threshold.

Will Mobile maintain its majority minority voting age population?

Annexation Study Area A. This proposal would annex 25,806 residents into the city of Mobile. The city council will vote on four resolutions Tuesday to authorize a referendum in this area on whether or not the residents want to be annexed. (Graphic courtesy City of Mobile)

Thats debatable. Under Area As plan, the citys voting age population (age 18 and above) would go from 146,022 to 165,701.

The citys current voting age populations demographics, according to the PFM report, is 72,497 Black (49.7%) to 64,782 white (44.4) and Other at 8,743 (6%). Under Area A, the city would annex 19,679 people who can vote, with 5,103 Black (25.9%), 12,533 white (63.7%) and 2,043 Other.

The new voting age demographic distribution would then be 77,600 Black (46.8%), 77,315 white (46.7%), and 10,786 Other (6.5%).

The existence of the Other category had Richardson, the former councilman, concerned during last weeks council meeting. But Penn, who replaced Richardson on the council in District 1 -- the citys largest majority Black district -- argued that there is no way to determine how Hispanic or Asian residents might vote in future city elections.

Will there be another redistricting?

Most likely, yes.

James Barber, the citys chief of staff, said last week that the administration would prepare for the City Council another redistricting map for their consideration if a large annexation plan is voted on and approved.

It would, of course, be up to the council on whether they adopt a new redistricting plan after annexation.

That would likely happen in order to maintain a population balance among the seven council districts. The council finalized a contentious redistricting effort last year that, for the first time in Mobiles history, resulted in a council map with a majority Black districts in a city with a majority Black voters.

If the city adds tens of thousands of new residents, those redistricting efforts would likely be tossed out and the entire process started anew.

How do I watch todays proceedings?

The Mobile City Council meetings are livestreamed: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLrEwf3ewSNmCNm21fVfNg/live

This map includes the Orchard Estates subdivision. This area is surrounded by the city of Mobile on three sides.

This area includes Kings Branch Estates, a subdivision northwest of the city of Mobile. Kings Branch is racially diverse and had been part of the mayor's failed annexation attempt in 2019.

This area includes subdivisions and homes adjacent to the Mobile Regional Airport, which is within city limits.
The Mobile City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow more than 25,000 residents within unincorporated areas west of the citys limits to vote on whether they want to be annexed into the city.

The decision was described by Mayor Sandy Stimpson as historic and one of the most pivotal votes a city council has taken in Mobile. It sets the stage for Mobile to become the second-largest city in Alabama, and to leap Birmingham in population for the first time since the 1900 Census.

We are teed up to move this city forward in a very positive way, Stimpson said.

Councilman Joel Daves called it a once in a generation vote.

It was the triumph of hope over fear, he said. It was the triumph of progress over stagnation and the tirumph of trust over distrust.

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If all the neighborhoods who can vote during the forthcoming special election agree on annexation, Mobile would become the second largest city in Alabama behind only fast-growing Huntsville.

The councils vote supported four related resolutions, each which specified a section west of Mobile that would be targeted for annexation: Kings Branch subdivision north and west of Mobile near Semmes, Orchard Estates subdivision which includes neighborhoods near Schillingers Road North and Howells Ferry Road, the heavily populated Cottage Hills region, and an area near the Mobile Regional Airport.

Annexation Study Area A. This proposal would annex 25,806 residents into the city of Mobile. The city council will vote on four resolutions Tuesday to authorize a referendum in this area on whether or not the residents want to be annexed. (Graphic courtesy City of Mobile)

If voters in all four areas approve annexation, Mobile, which a population of 187,041 residents, will leap Montgomery (200,603 residents) and Birmingham (200,733 residents). Huntsville will remain Alabamas largest city at 215,006.

A special election date has not yet been announced. It will be administered by the Mobile County Probate Office.

The city isnt passing annexation, said Councilwoman Gina Gregory. What are putting out today is a proposal to allow people to vote to become a citizen of Mobile.

The vote is a reversal of a 2019 council decision to shoot down a similar annexation proposal that was anticipated to bring in 13,000 residents. That vote was 4-3 and went along racial lines with the councils four white members supporting it, and the three Black members voting against it. It takes a five-vote supermajority to advance an annexation plan forward for a special election.

Council President C.J. Small, who was one of the No votes in 2019, said the difference this time around was that a third-party firm, PFM Group, conducted a study and released a report last month illustrating revenue growth from annexation. He said a similar effort was missing in 2019.

He also said the city has invested more into his majority-Black district, with improvements to parks and the Boys and Girls Club.

I cannot sit back no longer and let my city lose integrity and keep losing citizens, said Small.

Questions have been raised over whether Mobile will be able to maintain its majority-minority voting age population by annexing areas with a majority white neighborhoods.

If all four areas are annexed under a map called Area A, the citys voting age population (age 18 and above) would go from 146,022 to 165,701.

The citys current voting age populations demographics, according to the PFM report, is 72,497 Black (49.7%) to 64,782 white (44.4) and Other at 8,743 (6%). Under Area A, the city would annex 19,679 people who can vote, with 5,103 Black (25.9%), 12,533 white (63.7%) and 2,043 Other.

The new voting age demographic distribution would then be 77,600 Black (46.8%), 77,315 white (46.7%), and 10,786 Other (6.5%).

Shalela Dowdy, president of Stand Up Mobile a non-profit organization that does work centered around voter engagement in the Black Community within Mobile County, said the current annexation plan will dilute the Black vote. and she called on the city to undergo a racial polarization study. The council initially considered doing a similar study last year, but opted not to proceed with one after council members could find agreement on what constitutes racial polarization.

Dowdy called the proposal black suppression disguised in the rose colored glasses of annexation.

The four proposals does not show a Black majority will still be present, Dowdy said.  We have been moving backward.

Mobil City Council President C.J. Small speaks out in support of an annexation plan during the Mobile City Council's meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Government Plaza in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Small said the concern is with more than three-quarters of the citys voting age population not even participating during municipal elections.

Councilman Cory Penn, who represents the largest Black district of the city, said he believes the current plan will maintain the citys majority minority status. He also said the annexation plan, if it goes forward, will bring in additional revenues to help spur redevelopment and investments into Mobiles inner city.

Penn referred to the PFM study, which suggests that an additional $105 million in revenues will come back to Mobile within the next two years.

That was major to me, said Penn, referring to the study. We have to get more funding. We can do more in our inner city. I think that is important.

Mobile City Councilman William Carroll said annexation is about the future.

Mobile is on a precipice of one of the most golden times weeve ever seen, Carroll said. The only way to do this is move it it forward and be able to grow.
A routine work trip turned into a nightmare when a hotel guest visiting from Texas awoke to a Hilton manager sucking his feet, he told Tennessee news outlets.

Now, the man accused of committing the assault early one morning at the Hilton Nashville Downtown has been arrested. News outlets didnt list attorney information for the man, identified as 52-year-old David Neal.

In response to McClatchy News request for comment, a Hilton spokesperson in an email said the Nashville Downtown property is independently run.

The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority, the Nashville hotel wrote in a statement. We are working closely with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and, as part of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.

The case dates to March 30, when a Texas man said he was visiting the hotel for work. At about 5 a.m., he was sleeping in his locked hotel room when Neal entered without knocking or announcing himself, the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm said in a lawsuit alleging negligence and invasion of privacy.

The guest said he woke up and discovered Neal sucking on his toes in a sexual manner. The guest later realized Neal had been in his room the previous day to fix a problem with a TV, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department told WZTV.

Police believe Neal made a key card to get into the guests room. He reportedly told officers he had gone inside because he smelled smoke, the TV station reported.

When you close your eyes, you feel like youre safe and youre protected and it was a complete violation, the hotel guest told WKRN. I was just so, so shocked.

Officials said Neal was fired from the hotel and arrested on May 5. He was charged with aggravated burglary and assault, police told WSMV and other news outlets.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News requests for additional information on May 8.

2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Donald Trump should be held accountable for sexually attacking an advice columnist in 1996 because even a former president is not above the law, a lawyer for the columnist told a jury Monday in closing arguments in the lawsuit that accuses Trump of rape.

A lawyer for Trump responded by calling the accusers account unbelievable and outrageous.

Once the final arguments were complete, the judge sent the jury home with instructions to return Tuesday to hear about an hour of instructions before beginning deliberations. Jurors will be asked to decide whether Trump committed battery and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll and whether damages should be awarded.

In recapping Carrolls case, attorney Roberta Kaplan showed jurors video clips of Trump from his October deposition and replayed the Access Hollywood video from 2005 in which Trump said into a hot mic that celebrities can grab womens genitals without asking.

Kaplan recalled Trumps comment that stars like him can get away with sexually assaulting women.

Thats who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And thats what he does, Kaplan said. He thinks he can get away with it here.

Kaplan used Trumps words to support Carrolls claims that Trump raped her in early spring 1996 in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store in Manhattan across the street from Trump Tower.

Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina, attacked the allegations as absurd, saying they were an affront to justice and minimized real rape victims.

He agreed with Kaplan that no one is above the law, but he warned that no ones below it either.

Tacopina told jurors they wont have to let her profit to the tune of millions of dollars because they will see that it is impossible to believe the unbelievable.

This is an absolutely outrageous case, he said, arguing that Carroll sued to raise her status and for political reasons.

He said even Carroll had testified that it was an astonishing coincidence that a Law and Order offshoot aired an episode in 2012 in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman.

What is the likelihood of that? Tacopina asked. One in 20 billion? One in 10 billion?

Tacopina said the claims were too absurd to call his client as a witness, noting that Carroll expected jurors to believe Trump would risk everything to attack a woman in a busy department store even though she couldnt remember exactly when the assault happened.

What could I have asked Donald Trump? Where were you on some unknown date, 27 or 28 years ago? he said.

In a rebuttal argument, Carroll attorney Mike Ferrara mocked Trumps decision to skip the trial, saying jurors could use his absence to conclude that Trump committed the attack because Trump never looked you in the eye and denied it.

Kaplan told jurors that it wasnt a he said, she said case but rather one in which jurors should weigh what 11 witnesses, including Carroll, said versus what they heard from Trump in his video deposition.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from the proceedings in federal court. She told jurors that much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case.

In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll.

Kaplan recounted the testimony of two women who say they too were attacked sexually by Trump.

Jessica Leeds, 81, said he grabbed her chest and ran his hand up her skirt on a 1979 airline flight. Natasha Stoynoff said he forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion in 2005 as she worked on a story about his marriage for People magazine.

Trump has insisted in public statements and in the deposition that Carroll made up the claims to boost sales of a 2019 memoir. He has called Carroll mentally sick and a disgrace.

Carroll, 79, who is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, testified for more than two days. Kaplan praised her testimony as credible.

It was consistent, and it was powerful, the lawyer said.

She contrasted that testimony with Trumps deposition, noting that a man who had derided Carroll as not his type was shown a photograph of Carroll from over three decades ago and twice misidentified her as his second wife, Marla Maples.

Carroll, a former cheerleader and Miss Indiana, was exactly Mr. Trumps type, Kaplan said. She is smart. She is funny. She is beautiful. And, most of all, she is courageous.

Carroll said she was leaving the Bergdorf Goodman store through a revolving door in spring 1996 when Trump was entering the store and stopped her to help him shop for a gift for a woman.

Carroll, a former Saturday Night Live writer, said they took escalators to the stores desolate sixth floor, where they teased each other about trying on a piece of see-through lingerie.

She said she entered a dressing room with Trump before the flirting turned violent, with Trump slamming her against a wall, pulling down her tights and raping her. She said she kneed him after an encounter that lasted several minutes and fled the store.

Carroll blames the encounter in part for never having another intimate relationship in her life.

Trumps public comments are the basis of Carrolls defamation claim. Kaplan labeled the comments as lies and said they ruined her clients reputation and forced an end to her 27-year employment as an Elle magazine advance columnist.

Kaplan urged jurors to find in favor of my brave client, E. Jean Carroll, but she put no number on the damages being sought.

Consider the evidence and pick a number you think is right, she said. This lawsuit is not about the money. This lawsuit is about getting her name back.
Mobile saw $56 million in state money prioritized by Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys office stripped out of a supplemental state budget last week, and at least one lawmaker is warning that the states southern region isnt going to roll over and be happy.

The money allocated by Iveys budget office included $25 million to upgrade a coal handling facility administered by the Alabama State Port Authority, and $31 million to serve as the states financial investment into a new $330 million commercial airport under construction at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.

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But the money was removed from a $2.8 billion supplemental educational budget proposal from Iveys office, with Alabama State Senator Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education, saying that a majority of his colleagues did not believe were education related.

It was a consensus, Orr said late last week. You had objectors, for sure, but the general consensus was that non-education items such as the airport and ($25 million for a new waterpark in Montgomery), should come out. So they did.

Alabama State Senator Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said the airport funding needs to happen and he was unsure why a project embraced by Mobile officials was removed outright from the state budget that Iveys office prepared.

South Alabama is not going to take this and roll over and be happy, Albritton told AL.com Monday. Since when did we become purest on money from the ETF? We have ETF money going to prisons and various sundry of activities. But this is what we decided should be taken out?

Ivey, in a statement to AL.com on Friday, defended the inclusion of the projects within the ETF.

Alabama is making record investments that will benefit all Alabamians for many years ahead, and that is something to be proud of, Ivey said. This is, in part, because of wise budgeting in recent years, and we are continuing that by paying down debt and increasing our reserves. The Legislature is also advancing proposals to invest in our students and teachers, bolster public safety and improve healthcare in our state.

She added, My budget proposals included various projects important to local communities in all corners of the state. Investing in communities is investing in education, and with a record, one-time surplus, it is my ultimate hope that these dollars are invested in lasting ways that communities can point to a generation from now. I am pleased that the Legislature has begun to advance their budget proposals, and I look forward to continued work to ensure we collectively produce the best possible budgets for the people who call Alabama home.

Alternative budgets

Albritton, chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, will be in charge of the crafting the states General Fund in the Senate during the remaining 12 days of the legislative session. But he said simply adding the $56 million into that budget will not be easy.

Alabama is one of the few states that operates on two separate state budgets -- the Educational Trust Fund budget, and the states General Fund budget.

Im looking at what to do in the General Fund to make that up, and it would (require) major changes, he said, adding that his preferred option would be to get the Alabama House to reappropriate the Mobile airport and port projects.

It could be added as an amendment in the House, Albritton said. But thats a House matter and I dont know what they will do about that.

State Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is chairman of the committee that will consider the Senates version of the education budget. Garrett could not be reached for comment by AL.com on Monday, but he had previously joined Orr before by publicly challenging the inclusion of the airport and port projects within the supplemental budget.

Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter is likely to support Garretts plans for the ETF supplemental budget, a spokesman said.

Other lawmakers from the Mobile area expressed concerns over how the projects were handled.

I am very disappointed it was taken out but we are working on trying to get it back into some budget, said state Senator Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, referring to the airport funding.

The funding would be used as part of the Mobile Airport Authoritys efforts to completely swap commercial aviation services from Mobile Regional Airport in far west Mobile to Brookley, which is only seven miles south and east of downtown Mobile and within close proximity to Interstate 10.

There is an educational component from this, said Figures, referring to why it could have been included in the ETF budget. Maybe politics came into play. We can say a lot of things are educational in that budget, if you will. I have not given up hope and its not over until its over and we will continue to do all we can do.

Educational project

According to Orr and others, the airport project is an economic development project.

But the airport terminals existence also is connected to a $30 million project that remains within the ETF.

Within the supplemental plan, $30 million was set aside from Coastal Alabama and Bishop State community colleges joint project called the Center for Excellent in Aviation which will be located at Brookley and near the new commercial airports runway.

Craig Pouncey, president of Coastal Alabama Community College, said the project includes adding a large addition to the colleges existing aviation center that was first established in 2001. It also includes another addition for Bishop State Community College to build a facility that will support manufacturing operations at nearby Airbus, among other places. The project has been approved and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Both colleges are getting $15 million each from the state in a rare joint building project. Pouncey said the project, if bids go out this year, could be completed by 2025 or around the same time the new commercial airport is supposed to be completed.

The airport would be a good partner, said Pouncey, referring to the Mobile Airport Authority and the proximity of the new aviation center to the new airport terminal. (Mobile Airport Authority president) Chris Curry is very supportive of what were trying to do and I hate that things got confusing for people.

Curry, in a statement on Friday, said the airport authority will continue to work with Iveys office to convince the Legislature to support the project. The airports overall project is largely being financed through federal funding, but the project also has $30 million dedicated by the city and $15 million from the Mobile County Commission.

The Mobile Airport Authority has clearly demonstrated the positive impact of our project, Curry said. This project will transform the city and will greatly enhance the overall quality of life for our citizens.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson agreed. He said he was hopeful that Ledbetter will be able to work with us to secure funding for this critical project in the House.

He added, (Mobile Airport Authority) has proven that creating a new terminal at the Mobile International Airport will have positive impacts felt far beyond Mobile.
An east Alabama motel owner was arrested after police claim he illegally dumped hundreds of mattresses riddled with bedbugs in a wooded area.

Dharmeshkumar Patel, owner of the Lanett Inn, was charged with five counts of criminal littering, LaFayette Police Chief Investigator Lt. Roderick Brock told WRBL.

Patel reportedly told police investigators he was renovating the motel and tried to dispose of the mattresses but could not find a facility that would take the bug-infested bedding.

He called around to the proper places where you can dispose of them, and they would not take them, so he was aware that the surrounding locations would not take that amount, Brock said.

About 200 bedbug-infested mattresses and box springs were found last week on Chambers County Road 92, prompting the police investigation.

Patel told police he hired a crew to dispose of the mattresses but did not share any names with authorities, Brock said.

The cleanup was estimated to cost $10,000.

Brock said additional arrests may be forthcoming.
Sound overseas Chinese work helps advance national rejuvenation

Xinhua) 08:27, May 09, 2023

Participants pose for a group photo during a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese held by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- On Monday, the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations opened in Beijing. As an important platform that gathers associations of overseas Chinese from around the world, the conference this year is attended by about 500 heads of such associations from over 130 countries and regions.

As the Chinese leadership once noted, for Chinese people, both at home and abroad, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a shared dream. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to closely uniting overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and encouraging them to play an active part in national rejuvenation.

To ensure that work related to overseas Chinese is sound and effective, Chinese authorities have held meetings to enhance overall planning, and also reformed relevant institutions and mechanisms. These measures have enhanced the coordination of departments, enabling work related to overseas Chinese to progress in a systematic and holistic manner.

With an effective work mechanism established, the Chinese government was able to introduce more tangible measures to attract overseas Chinese to participate in China's social and economic development.

For instance, in 2014, the State Council approved the establishment of the 480-square-km China (Shantou) Pilot Zone for Economic and Cultural Cooperation with Overseas Chinese in Shantou, Guangdong Province. After years of development, the zone has become a significant booster of local economic development. In 2020 and 2021, the annual GDP growth rate of the zone stayed above 20 percent.

Over the past decade, central and regional authorities have been constantly upgrading measures to serve overseas Chinese and safeguard their legitimate rights and benefits.

On April 27, two vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy arrived in the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on an emergency evacuation mission. That day, 668 Chinese citizens were evacuated from Sudan, where weeks-long conflicts posed severe safety threats.

"Above all, we are so grateful to our motherland. The motherland is always our strong backing," said Chen Lihui, an evacuee.

Ensuring safety and well-being is only one aspect of China's endeavor to serve overseas Chinese. Over the years, a number of policies have been formulated to streamline the application of visas and long-term or permanent residence for Chinese of foreign nationalities.

In addition, overseas Chinese and their family members can now benefit from a plethora of policies and regulations that ensure their rights to receive education, operate businesses, and receive timely medical attention when in need.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
A family is attempting to raise money for the victim of a November drive-by shooting who recently died of his injuries.

Kobe Kyrie Theard, 9, died last month from health complications. His funeral is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Chapel of Memories in Huntsville.

Theard was wounded in a drive-by shooting on Nov. 5, 2022 on Mount Vernon Road that is still under investigation by Huntsville police.

The shooting left Theard paralyzed from the neck down until his death.

The family is organizing a GoFundMe to pay for funeral expenses.

To know Kobe was to love him, a message on the GoFundMe page reads. He was always so energetic, always smiling and most of all always had some type of ball in his hands thats what he loved the most.

Theards aunt, Angela Simpson, told WAFF that the boy did not deserve to be going out of this world like this!
When the Mobile City Council votes today on whether to take the next step toward a possibly historic annexation, longtime residents might remember the citys last major annexations in 2007 and 2008. Those happened for similar reasons: largely for increasing the citys revenues.

While Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson argues that the 2007 annexation was critical to the citys ongoing financial stability, this time, the approach is markedly different.

The past annexations focused more on economic corridors and less on growing the citys population. This time, Stimpson and his administration have focused on hitting a population number above 200,000, which they say would make the city eligible for larger grants on the state and federal level. Doing so would catapult Mobile from the fourth-largest city in Alabama to the second largest, behind only Huntsville.

As the city gears up for the Mobile City Councils vote on annexation, heres a look back at the annexation in 2007 and 2008.
During the 1988 presidential campaign, then vice-president George H.W. Bush labelled his counterpart Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts in pejorative fashion with the L word, or liberal. To be deemed a liberal during that era to many meant you would be perceived as being outside the mainstream, and one who was indecisive or deemed weak in foreign affairs, especially with the Soviet Union, and not a strong supporter of the military. You were most likely to support strict gun control, be seen as soft on crime, and support abortion, as Dukakis did. So negative was the connotation that most politicians of the era ran away from the moniker, with many describing themselves instead as centrists, as Bill Clinton did in 1992.

In the same fashion, throughout the 20th century in the United States, to be labelled a Socialist would have been political suicide and would virtually automatically preclude such a candidate from winning any national office. That was the case until 2007, when Bernie Sanders won the Senate seat in Vermont as an avowed Socialist. Sanders was not taken all that seriously by the majority in the early years of his service. However, in the democratic primaries of both the 2016 and 2020, it became plain to see that the label Socialist was no longer considered derogatory to many Americans given the strength of his grassroots support. His voter base in both primaries revealed that much of his support were young people, aged 18-30, becoming strong contributors to his success.

Today, some sixteen years after Sanders election to the Senate, we have five members of Congress and over 150 state legislature officeholders nationally who describe their political delineation as that of Democrat-Socialist, which is not a classic political party -- yet. Most contemporary democrats of any stripe do not appear to reflect the democrats of previous generations. Not too many democrats of today are espousing Ask not what your country can do for you, and likely advocate the opposite. But adding the term Socialist to Democrat is not simply a play on words. It is arranged that way to soften the impact of the term Socialist. The reality is, they are Socialists, plain and simple. From the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) website, under the page What is Democratic-Socialism? The first line reads: Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. What tripe does that sound like? Further on it states: We want to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation. One can only wonder what that really means.

Back to the Sanders surprise showing in 2016, and to a lesser extent in 2020. How did that happen? As mentioned, the lions share of his voters were young, 18-30. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan ran for reelection against Sen. Walter Mondale. According to the Roper Center at Cornell, this same age group that voted so strongly for Sanders in democratic primaries thirty-plus years later voted 61% for Reagan in the 18-24 bracket, and 57% in the 25-30 bracket. Those numbers reflect all voters in that age group, Democrat, Republican, and independents. These Baby Boomers voted decisively for the conservative, and were a part of a landslide, as Reagan garnered a full 59% of the electorate that year. It begs the question, what changed? Many Boomers had gone to universities and colleges and earned degrees. Many had seen and were aware of the protests and demonstrations of the 60s and 70s that were front page news as they grew up. Even though radicals were the drivers of the protest scene in that era, they were a minority when it came to the overall population.

So why the vast difference in political leanings 1984 to 2016? I think we can credit Marxist thinkers Antonio Gramsci and Rudi Dutschke, with their quest to undermine Western culture with the Long March Through the Institutions and replace them with Marxist ideals as playing a significant role. The difference was that instead of promoting failed Soviet-style economic Marxism, this new rendition would be Cultural Marxism, that is, a thrust to radically change culture by focusing on the allegedly oppressed classes, while at the same time undermining Americas institutions. By the late 1980s, this plan was in full swing in academia. New York Times writer Felicity Berringer pointed to this in an article The Mainstreaming of Marxism in U.S. Colleges written October 25, 1989. She wrote, As Karl Marxs ideological heirs in Communist nations struggle to transform his political legacy, his intellectual heirs on American campuses have virtually completed their own transformation from brash, beleaguered outsiders to assimilated academic insiders. It could be considered a success story for the students of class struggle, who were once regarded as subversives.

John Ellis, professor at the University of Santa Cruz during this same period wrote in his 2020 book The Breakdown of Higher Education, Radical politics was a rising force on the campuses, and we were trying to draw attention to the dangers in what was happening while there was still some chance of arresting it. But its now clear that we failed to stop the slide, because the political radicals on campus never had any interest in what we had to say. Their purposes were not ours. We were interested in the quality of higher education, but what they cared about was getting control of the campuses so they could use them to promote their political ideology, one so unpopular with the general public that it could not have been advanced in any other way.

The bitter truth is that the Long March worked! It took time, but now we face this massive challenge of how to root it out of our federal, state, and local governments, along with our military, universities, media, school boards, etc. Our young people have been and are being radicalized and propagandized daily. Supporting all this are the Democrats of today, and their DSA allies. They are a united front committed to transforming and gutting America from the inside out. Destroy the middle class, render impotent parental rights, isolate the church as a spewer of hate and intolerance, render ineffective the rule of law, demean the history and the Constitution of these United States. In concert with global elites, the media elite, and the toxic leftist bilge that is constantly oozing from their seats of power, they are doing just that.

Abraham Lincoln spoke of this potential of self-inflicted catastrophe when he said: At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.

Which will it be? Life or death? Whats next for America?

(Quotations for this article derived from the work of Mike Gonzalez and Katharine Gorka of the Heritage Foundation.)

Rich Chiero is a writer and a historian deeply concerned with conditions in the United States and the West in general. He can be reached at: rachiero@gmail.com

Image: Eclusette
Perhaps you have already heard about the latest welfare gimmick from team Biden: the great shift in loan costs from high-risk borrowers to low-risk borrowers. Effective May 1, 2023, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) approved a new schedule of upfront fees to be charged by two of its regulated entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In the table below, which pertains to home mortgage loans, the X axis shows the size of the down payment, with the amount getting smaller as we move from left to right. The Y axis shows the borrowers credit score, with the top representing high credit scores and the bottom representing low scores.

Table by Joe Fried

Everyone fitting into the column to the very far right is a relatively high-risk borrower because of the extremely small down payment. And that is even true for people with good credit scores. It is important to remember that almost anyone who has lots of credit cards, and pays them down on time, will have a good credit score -- even if his or her savings are practically nonexistent.

People with low credit scores, such as those in the bottom four rows of the table, are also relatively high-risk borrowers.

In the Biden Inverse Universe, the high-risk borrowers get the fee reductions (shown in green), and the people with good credit and reasonably large down payments have to pay more (shown in red).

If you think these fee shifts were inadvertent (which is the official line of the FHFA), then consider these recent developments from this agency, which is supposed to be protecting the financial health of Fannie and Freddie:

The FHFA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on April 19, 2023, and it would require Fannie and Freddie to employ various means to better assist underserved communities. Those communities are defined by FHFA in meticulous detail. Just imagine the data collection, administrative, and reporting nightmare that would be produced by dividing the borrowing population into these finely distinguished racial and ethnic subcategories:

Blacks, segmented by specific cities, such as Minneapolis

Latinos, including specific ethnicities like Mexican and Puerto Rican

Asians, segmented as Korean, Nepalese, Filipino, Vietnamese, etc.

Native Hawaiians, including specific ethnicities like Chamorro

Pacific Islanders, segmented by specific ethnicities like Samoan

Tribal land dwellers, including American Indians and Alaska Natives

People with mobility disabilities

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people

Same-sex couples

Household occupants with limited English

It seems that the FHFA is more interested in sociology and ethnic studies than the maintenance of a healthy financial lending system. Lets remember that the express purpose of the FHFA is supposed to be to:

Ensure the regulated entities fulfill their mission by operating in a safe and sound manner to serve as a reliable source of liquidity and funding for the housing finance market...

In October 2022, the FHFA announced its intention to eliminate certain product fees altogether for first time homebuyers who are at or below the median area income level. Does that help Fannie and Freddie to become a reliable source of liquidity and funding?

With regard to HomeReady loans, FHFAs new Selling Guide states: The borrower is no longer required to contribute at least 3% of their own funds when sweat equity is used towards the down payment on a one-unit property. Sweat equity is generally home improvement labor provided by a nonprofit organization -- not by the borrower. Will the new homeowner care about a property into which he puts no personal effort or funds?

Are we repeating the mistakes that led to the Great Recession?

These new policies bring back memories from when I audited mortgage companies several years ago. As a public auditor, I would visit our two or three mortgage company clients at least once per year to perform audits of their financial statements. In the early 1990s their revenues were lackluster, at best. But, as the 1990s advanced, the revenue for each of our clients improved dramatically. Eventually, it became obvious why business was booming: HUD loan approval standards were getting easier and easier to meet, and our mortgage clients had HUDs approval to issue numerous subprime loans.

After the 2007-2008 crisis I wrote a book that is one of the very few that addresses all the causes of the crisis. Our economic woes did not begin in 2002 or 2003 with the big banks, although they were irresponsibly packaging junk loans into securities. The problems started much earlier, with the creation of millions of junk loans. The credit for those loans belongs mostly to our federal government.

On his way out the door, George H. Bush signed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, which required that 30 percent or more of Fannies and Freddies loan purchases be related to affordable housing. That was just a starting point. HUD (the primary regulator of Fannie and Freddie prior to FHFA) was given the authority to set new requirements, and it did so with vigor. By 1996 the standard was 40 percent, and in 1997 it was 42 percent. Eventually, it became 56 percent.

The truly big change, however, was HUDs creation of a document called The National Homeownership Strategy: Partners in the American Dream. That document, created by HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, did not merely apply to Fannie and Freddie. It was a broad plan that pertained to the entire lending industry, both governmental and private. It comprised 100 proposed action items, designed to create up to eight million new homeowners. In reality, this plan was the genesis of subprime loan crisis, which led to the Great Recession. More specifically, it was where America learned:

It is okay to have loans with zero down payments. Those are the loans that make homeowners behave like tenants. As soon as there is a decline in home values, they move out and buy a similar house for less money.

It is okay for nonprofit and local governments to give silent second loans. They are called silent because the primary lender is not told about these secondary loans, which are issued to cover the down payment on the primary mortgage loan. Believe it or not, those acts of mortgage fraud were endorsed in writing by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, a national nonprofit corporation created and funded by the U.S. government. The federal government is still pushing silent second loans.

It is okay to appraise a house without even leaving your car. Those were called, windshield appraisals.

HUDs efforts were not limited to FHA loans for modestly-priced homes, and Fannies and Freddies efforts were not limited to the loans they were legally able to buy. HUD was pushing borrower-friendly lending standards on hundreds of state and local governments and on thousands of national, state, and local organizations in the private and public sector.

On page 89 of a work by Cynthia Koller, you will find this quotation from a mortgage lender. It sums up the mess that took place in the 1990s:

For the most part, [subprime lending] originated with the Clinton Administration. I remember seeing this in the paper all the time, when the government was screaming, we want programs available to more people who cant get a conventional, fixed-rate loan because they dont have the down payment... (emphasis added).

Back in those days, HUD was the main instigator of subprime lending. Now, the FHFA is taking its turn.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA who has performed and reviewed hundreds of certified financial audits. He is the author of the new book, Debunked? An auditor reviews the 2020 election -- and the lessons learned (Republic Book Publishers, 2022). It explains why the certifications of six swing state elections were premature.

Image: Respres
Last year, there was outrage in the Jewish community about a website, the Mapping Project, that sought to link Jewish agencies, synagogues, organizations, etc. by means of Google Maps. It was a one-stop go to website for tracking down Jews.

Using a series of dots and lines in different colors, it not only connects pro-Israel groups but other Jewish institutions, including a high school, a center for people with disabilities, student groups, synagogues, newspapers, Jewish-run charities, and even a center for Jewish arts. -- American Jewish Committee

Of course, the Pro-Palestinian site explained that they wanted to track those groups who supported Zionism.

Welcome to the Mapping Project. We are a multi-generational collective of activists and organizers who wanted to develop a deeper understanding of local institutional support for the colonization of Palestine and harms that we see as linked, such as policing, US imperialism, and displacement/ethnic cleansing. -- The Mapping Project

It harkens back to World War II. With a few clicks of a mouse, one could track down potential targets. Naturally and understandably, Jews were upset and worried.

Ironically, however, Amnesty International -- far from unbiased -- has just released a documentary about the surveillance system that Israeli applies to the contested areas of Judea and Samaria (what the world calls the West Bank), particularly the city of Hebron.

Amnesty International calls this surveillance Automated Apartheid, and the spin they put on the system is one-sided.

The Israelis themselves call their system by variations on the name of wolf.

One of the main revelations in the report is about a new, highly invasive surveillance system known as Red Wolf, which we at Breaking the Silence have recently heard about in testimonies weve received from soldiers who have used this technology. -- Daily Beast

Israel is starting to build a database of every Palestinian in Judea and Samaria. Palestinians can be stopped and be required to have their picture taken by IDF soldiers. These pictures are then entered into a database, where they are processed by Israeli-operated facial recognition software.

The movements, habits, and whereabouts of every Palestinian -- including children -- in the contested areas is now followed and tracked automatically.

Now, I do not have a problem with Jewish sovereignty in the area, though Amnesty International does. Nor do I consider the area occupied, as they do. I know enough history to consider the area part of the Jewish patrimony.

However, even if one supports the Israelis -- as I do -- this technology is still truly frightening and thoroughly totalitarian. Make no mistake about it. It may be necessary, but it is totalitarian.

The Israelis, who are masters of such technology, are in the process of using every Palestinians photograph to track and map every aspect of their daily lives through facial recognition algorithms. The Israelis know who the Palestinians are, where they are, when they are, whom they met, where they eat, and probably when they go to sleep.

Of course, the Israelis say that they are doing it to stop terrorism, and save Jewish lives -- and I have no doubt that such motives are behind this technology. Amnesty International leaves that part out. Israel also claims it helps the Palestinians, as well, since, by automating the surveillance, regular Palestinians can be cleared faster through checkpoints. The system streamlines the search and inspection procedures.

Israeli officials say the proliferation of surveillance tech helps improve movement, access, and daily life for Palestinians across the West Bank and East Jerusalem by, in the words of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, [shrinking] the conflict. -- Foreign Policy

I seriously doubt that Palestinians see it that way, though. They probably object to the whole intrusion.

Anti-Israel activists claim that such technology is exported to the rest of the world. They call it, Exporting the Occupation, or claim We are all Palestinians.

But this technology was never unique to the contested areas of Israel. Los Angeles and New York City have been brimming with cameras for decades. Big Brother has been watching you for some time.

What distinguishes the Israelis is how thoroughly they have this surveillance down to a science.

Even so, while Americans and Westerners are not being forcibly stopped on the street for photographs yet, just wait until you renew your drivers license. A lot of this surveillance is already here, and the rest will soon follow.

Israels tracking system is being compared to Chinas surveillance state, but what everyone forgets is that American Tech Giants sold China the technology.

HOW U.S. TECH GIANTS ARE HELPING TO BUILD CHINAS SURVEILLANCE STATE -- The Intercept (2019)

Is Google any less spooky when it displays an ad for an item you are looking to buy before you type it in the search engine? That has happened to me, more than once.

In defense of the Jewish state, Pro-Israel advocates shoot back:

Arsen Ostrovksy, human rights lawyer and executive director of the International Legal Forum, says that facial recognition software is a fully legal counter-terrorism tool commonly used by liberal democracies. However, Amnesty applies a standard for all and a differential standard for Israel as part of its relentless campaign to delegitimize the Jewish state. -- Compsmag

Mr. Ostrovksy makes a good point, but such technology, even in the service of a good cause, is still worrisome. Social Security numbers were originally promised to track only retirement payments. Now, they are all but a national ID. These things have mission creep.

Israel will certainly not yield on this point. If such surveillance saves Jewish lives, they dont care what the critics say. And, yes, Israel does sell its improved versions of this technology to some rather questionable regimes, if only to defray costs of monitoring the Palestinians.

Despite Ban, Bangladesh Bought Spyware Worth at Least $12 Million From Israeli Firms: Report -- The Wire How Israels Pegasus Spyware Stoked the Surveillance Debate -- CFR

However, whatever damage Israel has done pales in comparison to the U.S. Tech Giants that built Chinas surveillance state.

The surveillance regimen that Israel uses in the contested areas is, at best, a year or two ahead of everybody else, with the exception of China. In America, the state does not have to coerce a photo out of you. People post their photos willingly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. And the government does take note. Google AI algorithms know you better than you know yourself.

Which brings us back to the pro-Palestinian mapping project which recently caused a scandal. Ironically, American Jews are worried about the very same sort of surveillance that the Palestinians are going through right now. The mapping of Jews terrifies them as it should. I myself find that mapping website unnerving, and I am Christian.

Sadly, technology can work both ways. I suppose a Palestinian would laugh at Jewish-American fears as ironic, given how much more thoroughly the Palestinians are tracked -- at this time.

I may not like how the Israelis are tracking everyone in the Palestinian areas of Judea and Samaria, but what other choice do they have? There are no happy solutions.

What I fear is that such technology may soon be used against Jews.

But as awful as all of this is the Jews did not invent this technology.

What is truly scary is how ubiquitous this technology has become. Laptops today are more powerful than the monster desktops of just a few years ago. There are freeware face recognition search engines on the internet. A few determined Arabs could build their own anti-Jewish databases rather quickly -- if they havent already. And given the Jewish tendency to be open about things on the internet and to post their images on Facebook, on Twitter, on YouTube, etc.

It would not take long to map every Jew in Western Civilization.

It is not enough to track the Palestinians, Jews have to make sure they are not being tracked by the Palestinians.

Things are not looking good.

Image: Free SVG
Tucker Carlson's program on the Fox News Channel (FNC) was a very important part of my week. I set my cell phone to alert me that Tucker was about to begin. My husband and I paid close attention to everything Tucker said.

Was this simply a sad case of two geezers idolizing a network star? I don't think so. Tucker's half-whinny giggle sets my teeth on edge, and I disagree with him on all kinds of issues. And yet I watched his program devotedly, not because I'm an uncritical fan, but because, night after night, Tucker demonstrated thatmore than anyone else on cable newshe could be counted on to challenge the traitorous gang that's wrecking America.

For those whose lives have been poisoned by agitprop and lies from the Biden crime family, Tucker is an antidote. More accurately, he was an antidote. Now that he's off the air, I feel very much on my own, carrying the fight forward as best I can, alone, with an awful awareness that a Fox has been guarding our henhouse.

In short, everything has changed. I have adapted to this maddening new Tuckerless world in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few days ago. Fox & Friends used to be my choice for early morning programs. But new rules now control my cable clickers.



Image: Tucker Carlson. YouTube screen grab (edited).

First, no FNC. They don't want Tucker? Then I don't want them. Period.

I like Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade, and I miss their program. But when Fox sacked Tucker, it declared war on conservative viewers, and I'm fighting back. Yes, I know. Creating an infinitesimal dip in the FNC ratings is a pathetic riposte. Still, in the wake of their post-Tucker ratings disaster, the Fox lineup seemed panicky and shrill. Regardless, the bottom line is that an FNC boycott is the only weapon I have.

And so, I turn on Newsmax. I like the Newsmax viewpoint, even though there's a slightly amateur air about their channel, as if their programs were being produced in a neighbor's garage. OK, that's a little harsh.

It's just that the FNC signal seems stronger and brighter than Newsmax, with a better-produced look. And Fox hosts are slicker and showier than their Newsmax competitors, who look and sound younger, more like interns  they're clearly lower on the salary scale. Nevertheless, Newsmax has a scrappy tone and attitude that I find appealing.

But when it comes to a Tucker counterattack, fine points don't matter. Bottom line: No Tucker, no FNC. One of the best things about Newsmax is how it covers the Tucker story every day, in detail. They're even asking viewers to encourage Tucker to come over to Newsmax.

And yet...I find myself struggling to keep my own firm commitments. I like Newsmax, but I also like Mornings with Maria, and the following Varney & Company, on the Fox Business Network. I keep assuring myself that the FBN is not the FNC, but it's a weak excuse. Where is the courage of my convictions?

At noon, a clear choice. On with Newsmax, off with FBN's Neil Cavuto, whom I dislike almost as much as FNC's Bret Baier. Both are Trump-hating RINO retreads. Why, without Tucker, do I find them even more annoying than usual? And why, without Tucker, am I finding Trump himself more annoying? Did I use to rely on Tucker to keep an eye on Trump, and now I'm doing the job myself?

Ultimately, if Trump's enemies can bring down a president and Fox can bring down someone as powerful and persuasive as Tucker Carlson, what chance do the rest of us have?

Fortunately, my cell phone interrupts these useless musings. Yes, I've done it again. Back I go to FBN for another guilty pleasure  Larry Kudlow's afternoon program. I like Larry's plain-spoken, straightforward, and unassuming style. Kudlow helps me believe there is at least one honest adult left in the world, reassurance I used to get from Tucker Carlson.

When it's time for Tucker's old show, my cell phone makes no sound. I do not turn on FNC to see who's replaced him. I don't care. I'm not watching. I'm already thinking about bedtime. Will I be able to get to sleep? What awaits us tomorrow in betrayed and broken America? Will we face another day without uncovering the felons who have corrupted our intelligence agencies, the turncoats who have undermined our economy and culture, and the traitors who have opened our borders to a hostile world?

With Tucker on the job, we at least had a chance to find out. We had a chance to save our country.

Hallie Smith, a pseudonym, is a freelance writer who lives in New York.
An address by Attorney General (later Supreme Court justice) Robert H. Jackson to United States attorneys, April 1, 1940, drew my interest as I anticipate the deposition of attorney Mark Pomerantz, an anti-Trump zealot, before the House Judiciary Committee, this Friday, in connection with the indictment of former president Trump by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg.

I sensed that Pomerantz, by his hostility to Mr. Trump, exemplified the comment, attributed to Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin's notorious secret police chief, who himself was executed: "show me the man, and I'll show you the crime." I then learned that Jackson, as attorney general, cautioned against such abuse of prosecutorial power.

But in locating the source of Jackson's caveat against abuse of prosecutorial power, and reading the text of his address, "The Federal Prosecutor," I realized that the man who was to become a Supreme Court justice had sage advice to be applied by opponents of the Biden administration's perverse handling of political trials.



Justice Jackson.

What follows are excerpts of some length from this important statement, delivered eighty-three years ago, that I believe are relevant to the current prosecutorial climate. The first excerpt warns against personal animosity as the guiding force of prosecutions.

[I]f the prosecutor is obliged to choose his cases, it follows that he can choose his defendants. Therein is the most dangerous power of the prosecutor: that he will pick people that he thinks he should get, rather than pick cases that need to be prosecuted. With the law books filled with a great assortment of crimes, a prosecutor stands a fair chance of finding at least a technical violation of some act on the part of almost anyone. In such a case, it is not a question of discovering the commissions of a crime and then looking for the man who has committed it, it is a question of picking the man and searching the law books, or putting investigators to work, to pin some offense on him. It is in this realm -- in which the prosecution picks some person whom he dislikes or desires to embarrass, or selects some group of unpopular persons and then looks for an offense, that the greatest danger of abuse of prosecuting power lies.

At this point, reading the text of Jackson's April 1, 1940 address, I realized that his words applied to the Jan. 6 defendants, as well as to the hostility toward Mr. Trump, held by Mark Pomerantz. Continuing the text of the Jackson address:

It is here that law enforcement becomes personal, and the real crime becomes that of being unpopular with the predominant or governing group, being attached to the wrong political views, or being personally obnoxious to or in the way of the prosecutor himself. In times of fear or hysteria political, racial, religious, social, and economic groups often for the best of motives, cry for the scalps of individuals because they do not like their views.

At this point Jackson took note of the use of the term "subversive" as the basis for abuse of prosecutorial power.

"Those who are in office are apt to regard as 'subversive' the activities of any of those who would bring about a change of administration." In today's climate, the epithet "subversive" arguably has been transformed into "right-wing extremist"  an epithet hurled by those desperate to retain political power.

Jackson then discussed the need for federal prosecutors to avoid becoming entangled in local politics. Perhaps today, Justice Jackson would counsel local prosecutors to avoid becoming entangled in federal matters, including prosecution of a former president who has a unique federal status pursuant to the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012.

Justice Jackson concluded his address with this advice to his audience of United States attorneys:

[T]he qualities of a good prosecutor are as elusive and as impossible to define as those which make a gentleman, and those who need to be told would not understand it anyway. A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power, and the citizen's safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.

The aforesaid qualities for "good" prosecutors are absent in our era of "progressive" justice that is based on faction, not fairness, and is bereft of "human kindness," as shown by years of pre-trial detention for January defendants, also denied their Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. Indeed, the prosecutorial mindset of Biden/Garland stands as a refutation of Justice Jackson's call that federal prosecutors be guided by fair play and sportsmanship. (Is the very term "sportsmanship" in the vocabulary of Biden and Garland?)

Yet  may the House Judiciary Committee pay close attention to the wisdom of Justice Robert H. Jackson, along with his concept of what true justice is all about, and apply that wisdom and sense of justice as working paper these days, when the Department of Justice seems guided by the memory of the malevolent mindset of one L. Beria.

Photo credit: Public domain.
In a lengthy, heavily promoted live interview on FOX News's Hannity Monday evening, Democrat candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. made the case for his challenge to President Biden. He also made news by restating his recent contention that the CIA was complicit in the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Video of the interview is here.

It was at least the third live interview that Kennedy has given to FOX News since he declared his candidacy on April 19, 2024. Previously, Kennedy appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight on April 19 (video here) and in a lengthy, commercial-free chat with Neal Cavuto on Saturday, April 22 (video here).

The interview with Sean Hannity got off to a cordial start. From the FOX News transcript of the segment provided to this author:

SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Robert Kennedy Jr. joins us now. Great to have you back, sir. How are you? ROBERT KENNEDY JR., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How are you, Sean? It's good to be back. ...

Hannity immediately asked Kennedy "what is the evidence?" to support his recent claim that the CIA was involved in JFK's assassination.

KENNEDY: Well, you know, there's millions of pages of documents  of CIA documents, of transcripts, and recorded conversations from the Cuban embassy in Mexico City from  I mean, it's  to summarize the evidence, as I said in that  in that podcast, there are confessions of people who were directly involved in the plot or involved in the planning of the plot, who were peripheral to the plot. There's a 60-year cover-up. The Warren Commission was run by Allen Dulles who was a head of the CIA that my uncle fired, and then insinuated himself onto the Warren Commission, and essentially ran the Warren Commission and kept this evidence from the Warren commissioners. By the way, when Congress, 10 years later, investigated the crime with much more evidence than the Warren Commission had at its disposal, Congress found that, yeah, it was a plot, it was a conspiracy. There were multiple people involved and most the people in that investigation believe that it was the CIA that was behind it, because the evidence was so overwhelming to them.



Screenshot of RFK Jr. on Hannity. Courtesy of FOX News.

Hannity interjected that the "magic bullet" theory of the JFK assassination "never made any sense" to him.

KENNEDY: Yeah. Well, none of it  none of it made  I mean, Jack Ruby  even when I was a little boy, Sean, I was in the White House. My uncle was, you know, laying at rest in the East Room being waked, I was standing at the main floor the White House with my Aunt Jackie Kennedy and my father and my mother. And President Johnson came in and told us that Lee Harvey Oswald had just been killed by Jack Ruby. And my  and I said to my mom at that point, I turned to her and I said, why did he kill him? Did he love our family? Well, you know, that's a lingering question. What was Jack Ruby doing there? My father, when he investigated Jack Ruby, he found out that Jack Ruby had been deeply involved with Carlos Marcello's mob, with Sam Giancana, and all the people who are  all of those mob leaders, Santo Trafficante, who were Havana casino owners, who had been recruited by the CIA in the Castro murder plot. So, they were all working together in cahoots with the CIA. By the way, the day that my uncle was killed, I also picked up (sic) at Sidwell Friends School and brought home. The first phone call that my father made after J. Edgar Hoover told him that his brother has been shot was to the CIA desk officer in Langley who's only a mile from our house. HANNITY: Yeah. KENNEDY: And my father said to him, did your people do this? His next call was to Harry Ruiz who was one of the Cuban Bay of Pigs leaders who had remained very, very close to our family and to my father. My father asked him the same question. Then, my father called John McCone, who was the head of CIA and asked him to come to the house. McCone came over. And when I came home Sidwell Friends School, my father was walking in the yard with John McCone, and my father was posing the same question to him, was it our people who do this to my brother? It was my father's first instinct that the agency had killed his brother.

Hannity next pivoted the discussion to RFK, Jr.'s campaign.

HANNITY: Do you agree with me that I do not believe Joe Biden is cognitively strong enough to be president? KENNEDY: You know, I don't have enough information about that because I am not seeing Joe Biden. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: I'm not asking you to be a doctor. But when you look at him, does he seem like he's got it together? Come on, be honest. Does he seem like he has it together -- KENNEDY: You know what, I  yeah, I  you know, I have questions. But I  you know, I will leave that to other people. I think of Joe Biden  the reason I'm running is because I don't like what Joe Biden is doing with this country. I don't like the war in Ukraine that we have been  we could've  we should've settled out a long time ago. We're sending $113 billion over there. The entire budget of EPA is $12 billion. The budget of CDC is $12 billion. We have 57 percent of Americans who could [not] put their hand on a thousand dollars if they had an emergency. We have a quarter of Americans who are going to bed hungry. Food stamps last month when we announced  you know, we topped off these huge payments to Ukraine, and at the same time, $300 billion Silicon Valley Bank. We've cut food stamps by 90 percent to 30 million Americans.

On to COVID-19 and vaccines  a subject Kennedy has been out front on as the founder and chairman (he's currently on hiatus) of Children's Health Defense.

HANNITY: One position you've taken has resonated with conservatives and that has to do with COVID vaccines. You take the issue a little bit further in terms of vaccinations in general. I'm not a scientist. I'm not going to debate you on the medical merits of it. But I know on COVID vaccines, they told the American people that if they got that vaccine, they would never get COVID, and they would never transmit COVID. And that turned out to be false. KENNEDY: Yeah. And, Sean, they knew it was false at the  at the time they said it because in May 2020, in fact, I posted on Instagram at the time, and they removed me. In May of 2020, they announced the monkey studies. They had given, you know, the vaccines to the macaque monkeys and then they had exposed them to COVID and there was an equal amount of COVID in the nasal pharynges of the vaccinated and the unvaccinated monkeys. So, their own animal studies were showing that this vaccine had no possible barrier against transmission. And during the Pfizer studies, and both Moderna studies, they never studied whether or not if it was going to block transmission because they already knew from the animal studies it would not, but they went ahead and told the American people something they knew was not true  if you get the vaccine, you won't get COVID, you will not spread COVID to other people. And that simply was deceitful.

Hannity concluded the conversation on an amicable note and appeared to offer Kennedy an open invitation to return.

HANNITY: Well, listen, we love to have you back for a longer discussion, I think your 20 percent in the polls is very respectable. And I think Joe [Biden] is more vulnerable than people think, and I think he should debate you out of fairness. But if he won't debate you, we'll give you airtime as often as you want, okay? KENNEDY: Thank you. HANNITY: All right. Appreciate you being with us.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics and the politics and economics of health care, popular culture, and media for over five decades. His web page with links to his work is http://peter.media. Peter's extensive American Thinker archive: http://tinyurl.com/pcathinker. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka.
Is there a ray of hope for Los Angeles County?

Up until now, Soros-backed district attorney George Gascon, has unleashed criminals onto the county without consequences. There are zero consequences for Gascon, for sure, nor are there any for his elite sponsors, and certainly none for the bad guys. Only the little guys -- civilian and police -- pay for this clown's lawless, leftist agenda as criminals are set free to continue their crime sprees.

But now we see a lawsuit, from the family of a slain El Monte police officer who had been killed by a habitual dirtbag who belonged behind bars and wasn't put there, and it looks strong enough to win:

According to Law.com (subscription, but first article free):

Taylor & Ring sued the County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon and other defendants on May 3 in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Sasha Santana, Jayde Santana and other plaintiffs over the death of their family member Joseph Santana, who was fatally shot while working as a police officer. According to the complaint, Santanas shooter had a previous gun possession felony. The suit pursues claims that defendant Gascon failed to follow a state law regarding repercussions for gun possession felonies, which would have placed Santanas shooter in prison and prevented Santanas death. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. The case is 23STCV09936, Santana v. County of Los Angeles. This suit was surfaced by Law.com Radar, a source for high-speed legal news and litigation updates personalized to your practice. Law.com Radar publishes daily updates on just-filed federal cases like this one. Click here to get started and be first to know about new suits in your region, practice area or client sector.

BearingArms has more here.

Officer Joseph Santana, along with El Monte police Cpl. Michael Paredes (whose family filed a separate suit), were shot and killed in the line of duty by a gang member after being called to investigate a stabbing at a fleabag motel. El Monte is a suburb in the industrial area of Los Angeles County. The gang member, Justin Flores, had one felony after another, including burglary and drug possession, making him subject to California's 1994 three-strikes law. That's a mandatory law put into place by voters to keep habitual criminals off the streets, which permits no prosecutorial discretion. The gang member's possession of a gun as a felon was sufficiently serious to qualify for the third strike in an earlier crime spree, but Gascon intervened to let the dirtbag off the hook, meaning, Flores had his gun and he used it on the officers to kill them.

Also named in the lawsuit was the County probation department, which was also mandated by law to be meeting with this guy, who didn't show up to his appointments. After missing two of them, they had a legal mandate, according to the written suit available on Law.com, to bust and jail the violator. Instead, they did nothing, leaving Flores free to roam the streets and stab and shoot and kill people, which he did.

How, exactly would a jury be able to say 'no;' to a lawsuit like that? Gascon has been operating with impunity all these years, but this lawsuit points to a strong dereliction of duty in violation of established law. What a jury will decide is anyone's guess, but if I were on the jury, it wouldn't be a long trial. This case looks pretty cut and dried and a settlement is very likely.

That won't matter to Gascon who doesn't care if taxpayers are left on the hook for his malfeasance, but the suit also names Gascon personally for the unlawful dereliction of duty. Perhaps that will get his attention.

It's about time the little guys in this Soros-induced legal fiasco struck back.

Image: Screen shot from KTLA 5 video, via YouTube
The MSM say Mauricio Garcia, the perp in the Allen, TX shooting, was a "white" male associated with "neo-Nazi" and "White Supremacist" groups. Different mugshots have been published of persons with that name. The mystery may be solved here. It seems that a website that posts mug shots had several with the name Mauricio Garcia. As valid information about Garcia slowly emerged, thousands of social media posts claimed that two different mugshots were correct. A tweet, a favorite MSM source, showed one of the images, a man with pierced ears and a red T-shirt. Another tweet showed a man with a tattoo on the left side of his neck. However, Doug Sisk of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department said the department has never processed the suspect in the shooting. Sisk said in an email that the individuals in the two mugshots seen online has the same name but a different birthday from the shooter's.

According to the AP Monday evening, "[a]uthorities have not yet publicly released a photo of the shooter." This is yet another example of, like clockwork, the MSM rushing to print a story without all the facts or verifying what it has as correct. But the MSM don't care. They protect themselves if they're ever sued. They use vague weasel words such as "possible" and "purported" and "believed to" and "appeared to" and "according to a source."

But they try to get specific when it comes to naming guns. For example, the WSJ says Garcia used an "AR-15-style rifle."

I also guess this information satisfies the "neo-Nazi" and "white supremacist" labels applied to Garcia because the MSM consider anything right-wing to be associated with "neo-Nazi" and "white supremacist" groups. This source says Garcia posted references to Adolf Hitler, called himself an "incel," and said he had moved toward right-wing ideology. An incel is a (usually male) member of an online subculture of people who define themselves as unable to get a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one. They typically express extreme resentment and hostility toward those who are sexually active.

He also posted thoughts about mass shootings and searched for the busiest times at the Allen Premium Outlets Mall. He shared posts from the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi, white supremacist website. He posted, "If illegal aliens, Antifa, and BlackLivesMatter are allowed to break the law with impunity, why should other Americans respect the law? Why not break the law if you can get away with it as others are allowed to do." He also posted, "We are going to make America white again."

Garcia posted several times that he was "of Hispanic origin" but expressed white supremacy ideology.

It also paints a picture of a mentally sick person.

And just like clockwork, again, the doddering old fool who occupies the bully pulpit weighed in on Sunday with these remarks:

Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. Once again, I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers. I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe. Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables. Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.

Not a word, of course, about Garcia's mental health.

A U.S. defense official said that Garcia was separated from the Army because of a mental health condition after receiving a mental health evaluation. So his mental health issue was known.

Neither is this the first time Biden has ignored the obvious. After the tragic shooting in Louisville last month, he said this:

Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?

But the shooter, Conner Sturgeon, left a note saying "part of his goal was to show how easily a mentally ill person can buy a gun in the US." Again, his mental health issue was known.

And the shooting in Nashville in March. Mental health issue again. But Biden was too busy making a joke about eating chocolate chip ice cream to even address the shooting, much less consider the mental health issue. When he did finally did get serious, he called the shooting "sick" and "a family's worst nightmare." He then, of course, demanded once again that Congress pass a ban on assault weapons. But not one word did he speak about mental health.

So with the MSM rushing to write articles with little or no facts, with them always pushing its "white bad" agenda, and with Biden purposely ignoring the elephant in the room, it's no wonder his and their ratings are in the tank.
This is a great first step in stopping the use of taxpayer funds to provide left-wing propaganda. Fox News reports:

EXCLUSIVE  Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, R., has strong words for critics after he vetoed a bill last week that would have funded operations of the state's PBS station, Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), through 2026, accusing the station of indoctrinating young children. "OETA, to us, is an outdated system. You know, the big, big question is why are we spending taxpayer dollars to prop up or compete with the private sector and run television stations? And then when you go through all of the programing that's happening and the indoctrination and over-sexualization of our children, it's just really problematic, and it doesn't line up with Oklahoma values," Stitt told Fox News Digital.

Needless to say, the governor's citing of homosexual-themed programming will be used by critics to call this a "don't say gay" move:

The governor's office provided examples of OETA content that it considers objectionable, including a segment of "Let's Learn" in which a children's book titled "The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish" is read by someone called Lil Miss Hot Mess.

But the underlying point is that the government should not be competing with the vast array of commercial broadcast options that serve almost every conceivable interest  especially since control of government-funded radio and television has fallen into the hands of a cabal of leftists.

I am so old that I recall that efforts to defund PBS were defeated by cries of "don't kill Big Bird," referring to Sesame Street, a children's program. But the governor anticipates this argument:

Stitt said that if OETA programming is so popular, it could easily be picked up by CBS, NBC, ABC or any other option that doesn't require taxpayer dollars to stay afloat. The Republican governor believes Oklahoma tax dollars would be better off elsewhere.

The origin of federal funding for public television go back to the 1950s and '60s, when Newton Minnow, who just died May 6, was chair of the FCC and denounced television as a "vast wasteland." Broadcast options were limited and mostly went for the lowest common denominator in terms of programming. So public television was seen as an opportunity to elevate broadcast content.

But today there are hundreds of channels on cable, satellite, and streaming, so there is no need. And public broadcasting has become heavily politicized.

It is possible that the Legislature would override the veto. But if not, the stations could go dark.
Last month, Whole Foods shut down a year-old flagship store it had opened in downtown San Francisco. Two weeks later, word broke that Nordstrom, the Seattle-based, high-end retailer that had a major presence in downtown San Francisco was shutting down both its Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores. Today, news broke that T-Mobile is pulling out, too. Its a retail exodus that is obviously bad for San Francisco. Significantly, it turns out that other Bay Area downtowns are imploding, as well.

The Whole Foods store shut down because the crime plaguing it was unsustainable, in terms of profits and worker safety. The same held true for the Nordstrom pullout:

Weve spent more than 35 years serving customers in downtown San Francisco, building relationships with them and investing in the local community, Nordstrom told impacted employees. But as many of you know, the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), owner of the Westfield Mall where one of the Nordstrom stores is closing, slammed the current conditions in the city and said retailers are leaving in droves because of unsafe conditions that have dragged on, despite the company pleading with city officials to take action.

The latest major retailer to join the downtown San Francisco exodus is T-Mobile, which had a 17,000-square-foot store in Union Square, the heart of downtown San Franciscos hotel and real estate district. T-Mobile hasnt said why it decided to close the store, other than a reshapedretail strategy, but its easy to guess that crime played a part.

After all, to stay afloat in San Francisco, a Target store had to put everything behind glass:

This is what a target in San Francisco looks like now. Its on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/Kh3UdjMVB7  THOR the Deplorable  (@ThorDeplorable) May 2, 2023

San Francisco is drowning in crime and filth, thanks to a city determined to give free rein to criminals, the drug addicted, and the homeless (and yes, those are often overlapping classes). None of this was helped by the fact that San Francisco embraced the lockdowns, so workers were sent home, where many discovered the joys of what I call the bunny-slipper commute: No more fighting traffic, riding filthy and dangerous public transportation, or spending your days locked in a vertical sardine can.

San Franciscos office vacancy rate is almost 35% and expected to climband thats the official rate, reflecting unleased property. It does not reflect property that is still under lease but without any workers inside. Last month, a downtown high rise in a formerly premium location sold for 75% off the original asking price. I doubt that building low-income housing in those vacant properties will help much.

Image: San Francisco at peak vacancy in 2021. YouTube screen grab.

A fascinating report from the Bay Area News Group says that its not just San Francisco thats in deep trouble. In fact, all regional downtowns are suffering:

Police data may show otherwise  violent crime has actually fallen in San Francisco in recent years, though property crimes have spiked. And unlike most of the rest of the Bay Area, the citys homeless population dipped slightly in 2022, according to the latest count. Still, theres no doubt that San Franciscos downtown is in crisis. Its not the only one. All three of the Bay Areas largest cities are staring down huge setbacks to their efforts to revitalize urban cores hollowed out by a once-in-a-generation pandemic. Last month, the Oakland As announced the team was decamping for Las Vegas, throwing into flux the citys plans to redevelop Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland. The team is leaving behind a $12 billion proposal for a gleaming waterfront stadium with new housing and retail at the site. In San Jose, Google recently announced it was reassessing the timeline for its sprawling Downtown West project, which city officials hope will add homes, shopping and office space for thousands of workers.

Incidentally, my guess is that crime and homelessness are down in San Francisco because, to mangle Willie Suttons alleged statement about robbing banks, criminals and the homeless go where the money is. Without workers in downtown San Francisco, why bother?

On the one hand, this decline couldnt happen to more deserving cities, all of which self-immolated on a pyre of Black Lives Matter de-policing and decarceration and Fauci-esque lockdowns. On the other hand, as a San Francisco native, and someone who knew the other downtowns, too, I feel sad.

Its like attending the funeral of a once glamorous friend who, because of an addiction to drink, drugs, and bad men, ended up dying on the street with a needle in her arm. Its not just her death thats sad; the loss of her potential is sad, too. Petula Clarks Downtown hit song, which I, as a child, thought was about San Francisco, seems like an elegy, not a promise.
The May 8 Wall Street Journal editorial, "Bill Barr's Warning on Trump," gave an incomplete summary of the former attorney general's appearance before the City Club of Cleveland, May 5 that amounted a distortion of his otherwise devout MAGA views. The editorial did not even mention that Barr's appearance at the City Club was occasioned by his recently published book, One Damn Thing after Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General. (Barr was attorney general for President George H.W. Bush, and later for President Trump.)



C-SPAN video screen grab.

For forty minutes, he chatted with City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop, and then for twenty minutes brushed aside an attempt at a barbed question and agreed with friendly questioners. The last question came from media celebrity Geraldo Rivera.

The proof of the Journal's failure to summarize, accurately, Barr's City Club comments is obvious by watching the video of Barr's appearance and then reading the Wall Street Journal's editorial. Barr's Cleveland interview came the day after Harvard emeritus professor Ruth Wisse's May 4 Wall Street Journal op-ed on the former president, which ended with this recommendation: "Sober Americans will ... defend the Trump record without supporting his candidacy, and deny him re-election while defeating those who did not allow him to govern."

Speaking in Cleveland, Barr effectively endorsed that view  which, however, likely gladdens the heart of those who tried their darnedest to make it impossible for Trump to govern. And yet his presidency brought low employment, a thriving economy, positive accomplishments in the Middle East and vis-a-vis NATO, and, most significantly, despite the obstacles created to impede relations with Russia, Putin did not attack Ukraine on Trump's watch.

Shame on The Wall Street Journal for not listing the positive accomplishments of the Trump administration.

The remarks of Barr that are quoted in the first section of the Journal's May 8 editorial came at the end of the Q&A segment of his City Club of Cleveland chat, from media personality Geraldo Rivera, who asked whether Mr. Trump is fit to be president. But the Journal provided only part of Barr's reply to Rivera: his prediction that Trump would not be able to carry out his policies.

Not quoted by the Journal was Barr's prediction that the former president will not gain re-nomination. That is the balderdash of a NeverTrump  yet Barr, elsewhere in his remarks to the City Club, denied he is a NeverTrump. And although the Journal focused only on Barr's comments critical of the former president, Barr, in the main, spoke in MAGA terms, dismissing Jan. 6 as a "farce"; decrying the media's hypocrisy and partisanship; recognizing that the Democrats have become an extreme left party; denying that Republicans are a threat to democracy; and calling for an anti-crime, not anti-gun, policy.

In response to a barbed question on the January 6 "insurrection," Barr said that the rule of law is really based on the Golden Rule  do unto others as you would have done unto you. He indicated that the rule of law abhors a double-standard  everyone must be treated alike, and he implied that this is not the way of progressive thinking.

Possibly the most bizarre statement in the Journal's May 8 editorial is the assertion that Mr. Trump "triggered a special counsel probe." What would be Barr's position on that incredible comment, particularly given the former attorney general's sharp criticism of the Russiagate hoax, for which no one has yet to be held accountable? The Wall Street Journal should apologize for its skewed recitation of Barr's Cleveland remarks by publishing the full text of his thought and reflections on the op-ed page.

Rather than predicting out of thin air that the former president would be incapable of governing if re-elected, Barr should have forcefully told the City Club of Cleveland that it is the duty of the next Republican Congress to hold accountable all those malcontents who would impede the will of the American people in again electing Donald J. Trump their president.

As he began his conversation with Mr. Moulthrop, the former attorney general remarked that the country needs a return to "civil discourse." And who has made a weapon of uncivil discourse if not the left-wing extremists who would be cheered by Barr's criticism of Donald J. Trump? They would, if they could, shout down his observations on politics, today, with great vehemence.
Watch out: scientists have discovered that oceans affect icebergs. Only deep thinkers could come up with that. I bet the sun, tides, jet streams, and other natural phenomena also affect icebergs, just as they affect everything else.

It's as if icebergs have never melted before this last ten to twenty years of "steady global warming."

Greenland Ice Sheet melting faster than previously thought, scientists say Scientists have determined that in the last 10 to 20 years of steady global warming, the ocean has played an "important role" in the evolution of glaciers, Eric Rignot, professor of system science at the University of California, Irvine, and author of the study, told ABC News

I wonder what caused Greenland to be around the same temperature 1,000 years ago as today.

Here is a hint: it is not humans, cars, CO2, gas stoves, coal, oil, cows farting, or anything else these green pushers seek to outlaw.

Now, what caused Greenland to be so much warmer two million years ago than today? As a betting man, it is a pretty sure bet that the icecaps in Greenland and the arctic were much thinner than today, and somehow the Earth survived.

This section of Greenland is now a polar desert, but the new research shows that wasnt always the case. More than 2 million years ago, the summer and winter average minimum temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees C, respectively, were more than 10 degrees C warmer than present day.

As always, most of the media just regurgitate whatever they are told without asking any questions. It is a shame that they are so willing to destroy the poor and middle class, along with industries that directly and indirectly employ tens of millions and greatly improve our quality and length of life.

They must be proud that they are major participants in keeping underdeveloped countries poor and killing their citizens so much younger than countries that use natural resources.

This article and almost all articles on climate change are meant to indoctrinate, instead of inform, to get people to capitulate to the radical leftist agenda.

Image via Pexels.
The Mauthausen concentration camp, situated about 20 kilometers east of the city of Linz in Upper Austria, was the hub of one of the largest labor camp complexes in the German-controlled part of Europe, with a central camp near the village of Mauthausen, and nearly one hundred other subcamps located throughout Austria and southern Germany. Among these Mauthausen had the most brutal detention conditions. It was classified Grade III, where the most incorrigible political enemies of the Reich were sent to be exterminated, often through exhaustion by grueling forced labor. The SS called Mauthausen Knochenmuhle, or the bone grinder.

The camp was located on the edge of a granite quarry where camp inmates were sent to work. Indeed, the site for the camp was chosen because of the quarrys close proximity to Linz, a city Hitler planned to rebuild with grandiose buildings as envisioned by Albert Speer.

The Stairs of Death at Mauthausen concentration camp, then and now.

Several times throughout the day, prisoners were forced to carry blocks of stone, often weighing as much as 50 kilograms, up the 186 stairs of the so called "Stairs of Death". Often, exhausted prisoners would collapse and drop their load on top of those following, creating a horrific domino effect with prisoners falling onto the next, and so on, all the way down the stairs. The heavy stones would crush their limbs and bodies. People died on these stairs every day.

Sometimes, the SS guards would force the exhausted prisoners to race up the stairs carrying blocks of stone. Those who survived the ordeal would then be placed in a line-up at the edge of a cliff, the SS called "The Parachutists Wall". At gun-point each prisoner would have the option of being shot or pushing the prisoner in front of him off the cliff. Some prisoners, unable to bear the tortures of the camp, would willfully jump off the cliff. Such suicides were frequent.

Today, the "Stairs of Death" form part of the guided tours at the Mauthausen Memorial. The stairs have been redone and straightened so that tourists can easily climb up and down them, but at that time they were tilted and slippery.

From the accounts of Christian Bernadac, a French resistance fighter who was imprisoned at Mauthausen, and later wrote a book titled The 186 Steps,

Those who visit the Mauthausen quarry today, don't see the same thing, for since then, the steps have been redone - a real stairway, cemented, and regular. At that time, they were simply cut with a pick into the clay and rock, held in place by logs, unequal in height and tread, and therefore extremely difficult, not only for climbing but also for the descent. Stones rolled under our wooden-soled sandals, and we were forced to keep moving at a very rapid pace. The work consisted of carrying up a stone of considerable size and weight, along the 186 steps, after which there was still a considerable distance to cover. The man who chose a stone found to be too small was out of luck. And all of this went on at the rate of eight to ten trips per day. The pace was infernal, without a second's rest.

The Mauthausen quarry is now overgrown with trees and bushes. Much of the camp site is also covered by residential areas built after the war. There is a museum now and a visitor center.

Photo credit: Ramon Cutanda Lopez/Flickr

Photo credit: Sonya Brunt/Panoramio

Photo credit: Martin/Flickr

Photo credit: damian entwistle/Flickr

Photo credit: German Federal Archive/Wikimedia

SS officers climbing the "Stairs of Death", April 1941. Photo credit: German Federal Archive/Wikimedia

View of the Wiener Graben quarry and stone "stairs of death" (Todesstiege) at the Mauthausen concentration camp. Photo credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Prisoners at forced labor in the Wiener Graben quarry at the Mauthausen concentration camp. Photo credit: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Photo credit: German Federal Archive/Wikimedia

Photo credit: German Federal Archive/Wikimedia

Sources: Wikipedia / scrapbookpages.com / www.wien.gv.at
For thousands of years, different cultures across continents have successfully preserved bodies of their ancestors. For the Egyptians, mummification was an integral part of the rituals for the dead and an important requirement to living well in the afterlife. In Christian tradition, bodies of saints were preserved and venerated. In modern times, mummification has become essential for studying and teaching anatomy to medical students. Additionally, embalming allows corpses to be transported to far-off locations without decomposing and allows the bodies to be displayed during funeral and memorial ceremonies.

Girolamo Segato.

Various methods have been used to preserve dead bodies. Ancient Egyptian mummies, as well as those found in the arid deserts of Chile and in Iran, were created by removing the internal organs and packing the body in salt to remove moisture. When researchers cut open the mummified body of an infant in Libya, they found the inside packed with different herbs that they believe might have prevented the body from decaying. Many of the techniques used to preserve bodies have been lost. For instance, the body of Lady Dai is so well preserved that surgeons were able to perform an autopsy on the mummy despite it being more than 2,000 years old. Yet, the exact reason why her body was so completely preserved is lost. Which brings us to Girolamo Segatos methods which is also surrounded by thick mystery.

Girolamo Segato was an Italian naturalist and cartographer. He was born in 1792 in the Carthusian monastery of Vedana, in Northern Italy. As a child, he learned basic sciences from a Sospirolo priest, developing a deep interest in natural sciences. After completing his studies under the Sospirolo priest, Segato spent a short time as an accountant in Treviso before returning to secondary schooling in Belluno.

Starting from 1818, Segato took part in several archaeological expeditions to Egypt, where he learnt the techniques of mummification. Upon his return to Florence in 1823, Segato developed a technique similar to mummification, but uniquerather than simply removing water from cadavers, Segato's method resulted in petrifaction of the tissues. Somehow, he had successfully replaced the organic tissue with mineral matter while preserving the original color, shape, texture, and even the cellular structure of the original material.

A perfectly preserved young female breast.

The reputed American surgeon Valentine Mott spoke of Segators work in his book Travels in Europe and the East (1842):

The most novel and piquant treat of all others to me in the beautiful capital of Florence, was my several visits to Signor Sigato, a scientific gentleman to whom I was introduced by my excellent friend and fellow countryman, James Thompson, of New-York, who has been residing with his family many years in Florence. Signor Sigato possessed a wonderful art, unique, and unknown to all the world besides. Incredible, if not marvellous, as it may seem, he had discovered a chemical process by which he could actually petrify, in a very short time, every animal substance, preserving permanently, and with minute accuracy, its form and internal texture, and in a state of such stony hardness that it could be sawed into slabs and elegantly polished! He had in this way formed a museum of various animals, such as frogs, fishes, toads, snakes, and a great variety of parts of the human body in a natural and diseased state. In my presence he threw the human liver, lungs, heart, and other parts thus petrified, about the floor with perfect impunity, and without the least injury being done to them. This extraordinary man must have inherited the magic shield of Perseus, that, with the snaky tresses of the Gorgon Medusas head, enabled him to convert everything he touched into stone.

Realizing the incredible value of his methods for all anatomical and surgical purposes, Mott invited Segator to the United States and demonstrate his work among the surgeons and anatomists of the country, but Segator was reluctant. Mott wrote that Segators demands were too exorbitant to be complied with.

Dejected, Mott returned to the US. Three weeks later, he received a letter informing him that Segator had suffered a sudden and violent inflammation of the lungs and had died shortly after Mott had left Florence. Segato had taken to the grave the secret of his technique, and despite numerous studies and attempts to imitate, his methods remain mysterious.

Segator lies buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. His tombstone reads: Here lies decayed Girolamo Segato from Belluno, who could have been totally petrified if his art had not died with him.

Some of his petrified fossils are now at the Museum of the Department of Anatomy in Florence.

A petrified kidney.

References:

# Lippi and Weber, Between horrid and science. Girolamo Segatos strange anatomy, Journal of Morphological Sciences
If you are tired of composing texts while chatting with friends, the Google Message Magic Compose is here for you. This new artificial intelligence-powered feature can do a lot more than just compose those text messages for you. It can also help you to spice up your chatting experience with family and friends.

Beta testers have already gained access to this feature ahead of its global release. This feature marks a new era in the use of artificial intelligence technology on a day-to-day basis. Over the past few months, netizens have had a taste of various artificial intelligence models.

Now it is time to let artificial intelligence do the chatting for you while you chill and enjoy the conversation. This article will cover all the details regarding this new feature that is coming to the Google Messages app. For Google, this is a new era for chatting and artificial intelligence is already playing a big role.

Details regarding the Google Message Magic Compose feature

Google Message beta testers are already making use of an artificial intelligence text composer feature. From the images sent to the sources of this information, it is clear that the name of this feature is Magic Compose and its function is very simple. Once activated, it helps generate automatic responses for users based on their conversation with the person they wish to reply to.

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To better understand this feature, think a bit about the Gboard (Google keyboard) on your Android device. While typing, the keyboard helps generate the next word for your sentence. It does this by understanding your previous typing pattern and how it feels the sentence should go.

Just like Gboard, the Magic Compose feature will pick a ton of options on what your response to a chat should be. Activating this feature will let users pick the response they feel is best from the list of suggestions. To activate this feature, users will need to head over to the suggestion page under settings and toggle on the Magic Compose slider.

For now, not everyone has access to this feature as it is still in its experimental stage. There is some spice to stand this feature apart from the Smart Reply feature Google Messages already offers. The generated replies with Google Message Magic Compose come in several sections for users to pick from.

There are up to five sections, being chill, excited, lyrical, formal, and short. All sections can be put to use while chatting with friends and acquaintances, but formal is best while talking with a colleague, an employer, an employee, or even a client. The lyrical section stands out as Google picks song lyrics that can best reply to the message sent to the user.

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Surprisingly, this feature is not limited to RCS messaging and can be used over MMS chats. The coming months will shed more light on this Google Message Magic Compose feature that might be rolling out globally. Do you think artificial intelligence has a role to play in chats between family and friends?
Allegations that Apple purposely withheld information on faulty iPhone batteries have led to a potential $2 billion lawsuit in the UK. Consumer advocate Justin Gutmann filed the complaint against Apple, alleging that the company purposefully withheld information concerning the performance of its batteries from users.

The case is based on a similar case in the US when Apple settled for $500 million to end a class-action lawsuit over claims that it had purposefully slowed down older iPhones. In that instance, Apple acknowledged that it had slowed down older iPhones to preserve battery life but asserted that it had done so in the best interests of its users.

However, in the UK case, Gutmanns lawyers claim Apple has surreptitiously installed power management tools on specific iPhone models to conceal their battery issues. Gutmann is now seeking compensation for the millions of UK iPhone customers affected by Apples actions.

Apple could face a $2 billion lawsuit over iPhone batteries issues

In response to allegations, Apple said the lawsuit is baseless, and there was no issue with iPhone batteries. Of course, the company confessed to iPhone battery issues in a few iPhone 6s models that were solved by free battery replacements. Apple also refers to its apology in 2017 and its offer for battery replacements to impacted customers.

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As per the court filing details, Apples lawyer David Wolfson argues that not all batteries could deliver the peak power demanded in all circumstances at all times.

Additionally, Apple argued that the controversial power management tools only reduced the iPhone 6s performance by an average of 10%. The tool introduced in 2017 to manage demands in older iPhone batteries with a low charge level.

According to Gutmanns lawyer Philip Moser, Apple was obligated in 2019 by the UK watchdog to be clearer and more upfront with iPhone users in the country.

The potential $2 billion lawsuit is a serious setback for Apple, which has come under fire recently for its commercial tactics. The business has been charged with engaging in anti-competitive activities, evading taxes, and abusing supply chain workers. It is also unknown how the case will turn up. However, it is evident that the claims have harmed Apples brand.
Its no secret that ever since the launch of ChatGPT and Microsofts efforts to integrate the chatbot into its various services, Google, for the first time in decades, has feared its domination. And although Google has also ramped up its efforts in language processing AI, senior engineer Luke Sernau believes that the open-source community could pose a greater threat to the company.

Sernau argues that the open-source community, which includes researchers not affiliated with tech companies, is making faster discoveries and advancements in AI than Google and OpenAI. Additionally, these open-sourced AI models are not only cheaper but also faster, more adaptable to clients needs, and more adjustable to different environments than AI models from larger companies.

People will not pay for a restricted model when free, unrestricted alternatives are comparable in quality. We should consider where our value add really is. Giant models are slowing us down. In the long run, the best models are the ones which can be iterated upon quickly, recommended Sernau.

Collaboration is key

Sernau concludes that Googles best hope is to collaborate and learn from what others are doing outside the company. While Googles models still have an edge, Sernau argues the gap is quickly closing, and the company wont be able to catch up.

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Open-source models are faster, more customizable, more private, and pound-for-pound more capable. We have no secret sauce. Our best hope is to learn from and collaborate with what others are doing outside Google, said Sernau.

While Senaus remarks are concerning, it is important to note that this is not an official company strategy document, but rather an internal document typical at Google, where there is a culture of information sharing and debate among the engineering and tech community. However, it is clear that Google is facing increasing pressure from competitors such as Microsoft, which has already integrated its Bing AI chatbot into many of its Office products, as well as from the open-source community, which is rapidly catching up.
If you have been on the Bing AI waitlist, Microsoft has good news for you. The Bing AI chatbot is now open to everyone through the Bing browser on Edge.

Bing AI is Microsofts initiative to battle Googles search engine. The chatbot has been quite successful in a very short period of time, and even the godfather of AI called it a serious challenge to Googles core business. Prior to this, users need to stay on a waitlist in order to use the chatbot. However, Microsoft announced that Bing AI is now open for public testing, and users can test it by logging into Bing in the Edge browser or the Bing mobile app.

Microsofts AI chatbot is powered by OpenAIs GPT-4, which is the most powerful language model developed by OpenAI. Besides that, Bing AI will be able to deliver graphs, charts, and formatting in response to a query. Most AI chatbots, including Google Bard, now only deliver text responses.

You can now use Microsoft Bing AI without a waitlist

The Bing Image Creator is also a big part of the companys efforts to battle Google. As per Microsofts announcement, the tool now supports over 100 languages and allows users to search in their native language. Additionally, multi-modal support will be added to Bing Image Creator, allowing users to search the web for related content in a photo.

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Another great addition to Bing AI is the ability to access chat history and export them. Microsoft says users can now return to previous chats in Bing and continue their conversation. You can also move your chats to the Edge sidebar for easier access. Likewise, Bing AI lets you share your conversion to social media or export it to a new platform with a fixed format.

Bing AI is also equipped with improved summarization capabilities. The feature makes consuming longer content easier by breaking down and summarizing PDFs, longer-form websites, etc. This feature seems great for students.

Microsoft wants to incorporate third-party plug-ins into Bing AI and make a transition from a product to a platform. The company says third-party plug-ins let users perform various tasks, like making reservations in a restaurant through OpenTable. The Wolfram|Alpha also delivers answers to complex math and science questions.

Finally, Microsoft brings a sleeker and enhanced user interface to the Edge browser by adding a streamlined look, rounded corners, organized containers, and semi-transparent visual elements.
Over the weekend it was discovered that Google is expanding the support for its Nearby Share feature to Windows PCs on a global scale. The feature was already available to Android users with a Windows desktop or laptop in the US and a few other countries. Having been launched in early April in beta.

Now it looks like more countries from around the world will have access. A recent report from 9To5Google on May 6 points out that Google has added information to the support page for this feature regarding regional availability.

The support page now reads that Nearby Share is available in the US and most countries globally. Its the most countries globally part thats worth paying attention to. As this confirms the feature is now available pretty widely. This includes many countries in Europe and Asia, as well as parts of Africa and South America. Basically, just about any country where Android and Windows devices are available it seems.

Google doesnt appear to give a definitive list, but it does mention that its still not available in Cuba, Iran, Syria, or North Korea. Which are all countries with sanctions.

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Nearby Share gets global expansion

If youve got a Windows PC and an Android device, it might be worth checking this app out. Its main goal is to provide users with convenience. With Nearby Share, you can share files between your Windows PC and Android device wirelessly. This includes images, videos, documents, and more. So long as the two devices are close together as the name suggests.

Since the feature is still in beta theres also a chance that you may run into bugs. Its worth keeping in mind as many assume a release is a release, and therefore should be no bugs at all. This doesnt mean youll run into any bugs of course. But its best to be aware of any that could potentially pop up. You can grab the beta PC app from the button below.

Nearby Share Beta
Ever since HMD Global acquired the rights to the Nokia brand and started launching phones, the fan-favorite brand has had a tough revival, with some phones performing well while others, like the Nokia 9 PureView, being a total flop. Now, Nokia is gearing up to launch two new affordable phones in the US, namely the Nokia C300 and C110, with Verizons prepaid carrier Tracfone.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Tracfone has already set up support pages for both the Nokia C300 and the Nokia C110, indicating that the launch is imminent. In terms of specs, both models will support 5G, with the Nokia C300 being the more advanced of the two.

It features a 4000 mAh battery, a triple camera setup on the back (comprising a 13MP main sensor, 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor), an 8MP selfie shooter, and 32GB of expandable storage.

Additionally, the phone is IP52 water and dust resistant. However, it comes with Android 12 out of the box, which may be a deal-breaker for some users since there is no guarantee of the phone receiving future software updates from Nokia. Furthermore, details on the chipset and display size remain unclear.

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On the other hand, the Nokia C110 is the more budget-friendly option, with a single 13-megapixel camera and a secondary 5-megapixel selfie shooter. The phone has a smaller 3000mAh battery but is also IP52 water and dust resistant, like its bigger brother.

Pricing and availability

While its unclear how much these phones will cost, based on the specifications and reports, the Nokia C300 and Nokia C110 could be the most affordable 5G smartphones available in the US. Therefore, if youre in the market for a budget Android 5G phone, keep an eye out for these new Nokia phones when they eventually become available.
T-Mobile has just announced two big 5G milestones. Firstly, it achieved a US-first uplink carrier aggregation on a live commercial 5G standalone network. Next, it leveraged the technology to record the industrys fastest-ever uplink speed of over 200Mbps using the sub-6GHz spectrum. More precisely, it hit a peak uplink speed of 207Mbps on a sub-6GHz 5G network.

T-Mobile worked with Nokia and Qualcomm to achieve these milestones. It used a test smartphone powered by the latters Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System, while the Finnish brand likely supplied the networking equipment. The company says it initially run this test in the lab before giving it a go on a commercial network. It achieved similar uplink speeds in both scenarios.

Carrier aggregation improves the speed and performance of cellular networks by combining multiple channels or carriers. According to a press release from T-Mobile, this test involved a merger of two 5G channels of the mid-band spectrum  2.5GHz Ultra Capacity 5G and 1900MHz. The result was a record-breaking sub-6GHz 5G uplink speed of 207Mbps.

Thats like taking two separate highways and turning them into a superhighway where traffic can zoom faster than before. Customers with compatible devices will begin taking advantage of uplink 5G carrier aggregation early next year when T-Mobile begins rolling it out, said Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology at T-Mobile. Increased uplink speeds allow greater amounts of data to be transmitted from customer devices at a quicker rate, enhancing applications like video live streaming, calling, gaming, and Extended Reality (XR), the company added.

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T-Mobile sets 5G uplink speed record on a sub-6GHz spectrum

This record-setting uplink speed and the first-ever uplink carrier aggregation on a live commercial 5G standalone (SA) network in the US are just two of many 5G milestones T-Mobile has hit over the years. In 2020, the self-proclaimed Un-carrier launched the worlds first nationwide 5G SA network. It remains the only carrier to have a nationwide 5G SA network in the US to date. In the meantime, it has announced several 5G advancements that improve the customer experience, such as VoNR.

According to the company, it is the largest, fastest, and most awarded 5G network in the US. It covers 326 million people across two million square miles across that nation, which is more than AT&T and Verizon combined. Almost 85 percent (275 million people) of them are covered by its super-fast Ultra Capacity 5G. The company plans to expand its Ultra Capacity coverage to over 300 million people by the end of this year.
(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 9 - Greenpeace Italy and the ReCommon association said Tuesday that they and 12 individual Italian citizens were suing energy giant Eni for its allegedly role in the climate crisis.

Eni rejected the allegations and said it was confident it would win the case.

The plaintiffs said in a statement that the civil lawsuit regarded past and potential future damages resulting from Eni's contribution to climate change, saying the company had been well aware of this for decades but chose to ignore it.

They accuse the oil-and-gas group of practices that breach the Paris Agreement on climate change, which was signed by the Italian government.

The lawsuit also cites Eni's two main shareholders, the Economy and Finance Ministry and State lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A.

"ENI scored record profits in 2022, yet it continues to invest in expanding its fossil fuels business, dismissing climate impacts and ignoring local communities in Italy and around the world who are suffering the consequences of the climate emergency," said Chiara Campione, the Head of the Climate Unit at Greenpeace Italy.

The lawsuit asks a Rome Court to rule on whether Eni has violated the individual plaintiffs' human rights to life, health, and private and family life.

The suit also demands that Eni revise its industrial strategy to reduce emissions by at least 45% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, so that it is in line with what the international scientific community says is needed to keep the average global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"The region where I live, Piedmont, is already suffering the effects of dramatic drought, as the very low level of rainfall recorded this winter show, a problem that is likely to get worse in the future," said Rachele Caravaglios, one of the individual plaintiffs.

"That is why I decided to join this legal action.

"I don't think it's fair that Italy's main energy supplier, of which the State is the largest shareholder, can continue year after year, an investment programme that goes against what the best available climate science recommends, limiting our options to create a sustainable, resilient and equitable future for all".

An Eni spokesperson the company would show in court that the accusations were "groundless" and demonstrate the "correctness" of its activities and of its "transformation and decarbonization strategy".

The spokesperson said this strategy "puts together and balances the essential objectives of sustainability, energy security and competitiveness" for Italy.

The spokesperson also said Eni would evaluate taking legal action to protect its reputation from the "repeated defamatory actions staged by ReCommon". (ANSA).


A forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination of Sheku Bayoh told the inquiry into his death that injuries he sustained could be as a result of weight or pressure being applied to him.

The public inquiry resumed on Tuesday and is hearing evidence from medical experts including the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination in 2015, Dr Kerryanne Shearer.

Mr Bayoh died when he was restrained by six police officers on Hayfield Road in Kirkcaldy on the morning of May 3 2015.

Marking eight years since Mr Bayoh had died, inquiry chairman Lord Bracadale prefaced Tuesdays sitting with a message that members of the public could find the evidence taken to be distressing.

Dr Kerryanne Shearer, the forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination of Sheku Bayoh (Sheku Bayoh Inquiry/PA)

Dr Shearer told the inquiry she incorporated information about the use of handcuffs and restraint into her examination which found Mr Bayoh had around eight small dot haemorrhages in his eyes, consistent with injuries that may have related either to positional asphyxia or being resuscitated.

She also said Mr Bayohs breathing could have been potentially impeded by officers restraining him, without having to put weight on him.

Ms Grahame also asked Dr Shearer if there was anything that would indicate weight or pressure being applied.

There wasnt anything that was categorically indicative, Dr Shearer said.

We looked at the back and there was some subcutaneous haemorrhage under the skin, suggesting blunt force was applied.

I cant categorically say what that blunt force was, but if it is suggested to me, could this be someone pressing down? then yes, it could.

Dr Shearer told the inquiry that immediately after the post-mortem examination, there was no clear cause of death.

This is the cause of death given immediately after the post-mortem with the information I have, that I have deemed from the post-mortem and the external and internal examination.

Family photo of Sheku Bayoh with his children (Bayoh family/PA)

In this case there was no obvious cause of death at the time of the post-mortem, hence why it is unascertained pending investigation.

Dr Shearer said she had conducted investigations throughout the examination that would ultimately lead to the final cause of death.

An initial report, she said, allows the police and crown to move forward with their investigations.

Dr Shearer said she had been under pressure to complete the post-mortem examination as quickly as possible after his death.

She said: I remember at the time when I took the phone call on the Sunday, there was already a lot of media interest and there was a lot of information out there.

There was police involvement so obviously there were questions as well.

I do remember there being a reasonable amount of stress and a reasonable amount of pressure to get the post-mortem done as quickly as possible.

There was pressure I had never felt before (to get post-mortem examination completed as quickly as possible).

Dr Shearer also described a superficial injury Mr Bayoh had sustained to his mouth which could be a sign of blunt force by an object, the ground or his tooth.

The forensic pathologist explained it could also have been as a result of medical intervention such as intubation.

She described there being seven superficial cuts to his mouth and lips.

She said: When you start to see lots of injuries in the mouth, it makes me less inclined to say its because of resuscitation, and more inclined to say its because of blunt force trauma.

Dr Shearer described how these injuries could be sustained by being on the ground and the mouth moving against it which pulls the mouth.

On Monday afternoon, Dr Shearer was asked about pale areas she found in Mr Bayohs liver which she said was normal after someone had been resuscitated.

When asked about possible alcohol levels in the bloodstream of a deceased person, Dr Shearer said it was normal for the body to naturally produce alcohol when it was decomposing.

Dr Shearer will continue her evidence at the inquiry, before Lord Bracadale, on Wednesday.
Updated 9 May 2023 at 9:21 am

UBS said the boss of Credit Suisse will join its board after it closes its rescue takeover of the Swiss banking rival.

It is part of a major leadership reshuffle two months after the Government-led rescue takeover of Credit Suisse in a 3.25 billion US dollar (2.64 billion) deal by UBS.

Ulrich Korner, who joined Credit Suisse as chief executive officer last summer, will now join the UBS group executive board.

Bosses at UBS said they anticipate the deal will legally close in the next few weeks to form a merged banking group.

The company said Mr Korner has knowledge of both organisations and will be responsible for ensuring Credit Suisses operational continuity and supporting the integration process between the two operations.

Sergio P. Ermotti, who recently returned to UBS as chief executive officer, said: This is a pivotal moment for UBS, Credit Suisse and the entire banking industry.

Together we will solidify and represent the Swiss model for finance around the world, one that is capital-light, less reliant on taking risk and anchored by stability and high-touch service.

This transaction will allow us to offer attractive returns to our shareholders and give us capacity to further invest and grow.

The integration of the businesses and legal entities will take time.

But adding Credit Suisse to UBSs highly capital-accretive business model, diversified revenue streams, disciplined risk management and balance sheet for all seasons will benefit our clients, employees, investors, the economies we serve and the wider financial system.

UBS also announced on Tuesday that Todd Tuckner will replace Sarah Youngwood as chief financial officer of UBS.
Mark Drakeford has accused the UK Government of having a deliberate voter suppression agenda after reports people were turned away from ballot boxes in England last week due to new photo identification laws.

The First Minister told Senedd members the Welsh Government would not be introducing ID requirements for local and Senedd elections held in Wales.

Responding to a question during Tuesdays Plenary session, Mr Drakeford said the issue of voter fraud did not exist.

He claimed the Conservative Party was using far-right tactics from the United States to make it more difficult for people who might not support them to turn up and cast their vote.

Mr Drakeford accused the Tories of using the tactics of the far-right in the US (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Conservative member Darren Millar said he was baffled by the Welsh Governments position on the matter.

Voters were required for the first time on Thursday to show photo ID in order to collect their ballot paper.

More than 8,000 council seats in England were being contested across 230 local authorities, while mayors were being selected in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.

The Government has argued the change is required to reduce electoral fraud, but the move has been widely criticised over concerns of potential voter disenfranchisement.

In Wales, voters will now have to show photo ID at polling stations in some elections including Police and Crime Commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, Recall petitions and UK General elections.

However, they will not need to show ID to vote at Senedd elections or local council elections as the powers over those voting systems are devolved.

Mr Drakeford said: The chair of the Electoral Commission himself witnessed people being turned away from polling stations and very concerningly he witnessed those people we rely on to conduct elections suffering abuse from people who felt that they had been unfairly denied their democratic rights.

I have no doubt at all that Act is part of a deliberate voter suppression agenda pursued by the Conservative government.

The way they think they can win elections is to learn the lessons from the far-right in the United States, and that is to make it more difficult for people who might not support them to turn up and cast their vote.

We will not be pursuing that course of action here in Wales. Our policies are designed to make it easier for people to cast their vote, not more difficult, he added.

There wasnt a single prosecution across the whole of the United Kingdom last year for voter fraud. This is a solution in search of a problem, a problem that doesnt exist.

The problem that is being created is that people who wish to participate in the democratic process are being denied that right and we will not collude in that in Wales.

Mr Millar said: This is about the security and integrity of our elections. We know that across the whole of western Europe voter ID is the norm, and in most western democracies it is the norm.

But it seems that you have an issue with it, perhaps because of your own partys record on fraud cases which have happened in Labour areas, such as the Tower Hamlets frauds, the Birmingham frauds as well, back in 2004.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: Its vital we keep our democracy secure, prevent the potential for voter fraud, and bring the rest of the UK in line with Northern Ireland which has had photo identification to vote in elections since 2003.

This follows successful pilots in 2018 and 2019, including in Woking where over 99% of people were able to successfully cast their vote.

Following local elections in May, it is essential that we understand how voter identification has operated in practice. Extensive analysis of the data collected from polls is now being undertaken by the Electoral Commission and the Government, with final reports set to be published later this year.
Edinburgh Zoo has welcomed its first penguin chick of the year  an endangered northern rockhopper.

The tiny bird was the first of the breeding season and arrived on April 26 to proud parents Pinny and Bruce.

There is no name yet for the youngster as these are generally decided when keepers get to know an animal, the zoo said.

Keepers at the zoo, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said they were delighted about the arrival.

Michael Livingstone, senior keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: Northern rockhopper penguins are endangered due to climate change, changes in marine ecosystems and overfishing, so it is really exciting to welcome a new chick.

The first 30 days are critical for their development, so we will be keeping a close eye on the youngster at this sensitive time.

Two northern rockhopper chicks were born at the zoo last year, Sandy and Frankie, and both have settled into the colony well.

Mr Livingstone said: Every visit to Edinburgh Zoo helps care for all our amazing animals, like our penguins, and helps protect threatened species at home in Scotland and around the world.

Edinburgh Zoo is home to three species of penguin: king, gentoo and northern rockhopper.

The RZSS has worked to safeguard the northern rockhopper for many years.
Two trains carrying 170 so-called Eurovision superfans arrived in Liverpool to be welcomed by drummers, drag queens and dancers.

Members of international fan network OGAE received the rapturous greeting at Liverpool Lime Street ahead of the competitions first semi-final on Tuesday.

The trains were operated by Avanti West Coast from London and by London Northwestern Railway from Birmingham.

Two trains carrying 170 so-called Eurovision superfans arrived in Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA)

The train manager for the Avanti West Coast train was Jan Fuller-Green, an OGAE member who attended Eurovision events in Stockholm and Lisbon.

He said: Having travelled around Europe, its amazing to have the competition on our doorstep.

Its such an honour for me to look after the superfans today. Such amazing tales, all united by the love of Eurovision.

British and Ukrainian flags could be seen on the concourse (PA)

Music producer Peter Waterman joined the service at Crewe.

OGAE president Simon Bennett said: We are absolutely thrilled to be partnered with Avanti West Coast and to give our members a chance to travel to Liverpool in style.

(PA Graphics)

The atmosphere in Liverpool is already fantastic but this means our members can get the party started even before they arrive in the city.

Nicola Ryder, commercial partnerships manager at Avanti West Coast, said: Were incredibly proud to play our part in getting this group of dedicated fans to and from Eurovision.

Liverpool always guarantees a friendly welcome and its the home of so many great musicians over the years, making it the perfect venue to host this years event on behalf of the people of Ukraine.

The trains were packed with fans of the music contest (Peter Byrne/PA)

The atmosphere on the journey north was amazing and we have no doubt our guests will have a Eurovision to remember.

Many people visiting Liverpool will be affected by train strikes.

There will be major disruption due to action by Aslef on Friday and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the day of the final on Saturday.
Rishi Sunak would have been removed as chancellor if Boris Johnson had not been forced from office, the ex-prime ministers former director of communications has claimed.

Guto Harri, who served as No 10s director of communications under Mr Johnson, said that Rishi Sunak would likely have been removed from the high-profile chancellor job due to policy clashes with the then-prime minister.

He told LBC that there was a fundamental disagreement of policy between the two of them.

Mr Harri said: The tension between them was building. Boris was desperate to give something to the party, did not want to put up corporation tax. He didnt want to cut taxes. He did want to bring the bread and butter benefits of Brexit to ordinary punters.

Rishi was reluctant to do all of that. So frankly, to cut to the chase, if things hadnt turned out as they did last July, I think over the summer wed have had a reshuffle and Rishi would have been offered a different job, should we say.

Asked if Mr Johnson was preparing to move Mr Sunak from the Chancellor job, he said: Yes. But the chancellor beat him to it in a way and brought the whole show down.

Guto Harri in Downing Street (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mr Sunak was widely blamed by allies of Mr Johnson for his downfall last summer, after dramatically quitting as chancellor. His decision to quit was followed by a flood of ministerial resignations that eventually forced the Prime Minister from No 10.

Mr Harri said it was his view that an imminent return to power for Mr Johnson was unrealistic, but suggested that there was a possibility it could happen after the next general election.

The claim comes after Mr Harri alleged that Mr Johnson confronted the King, essentially squaring up to him for branding the Rwanda asylum policy appalling.

Mr Johnson has disputed his long-standing allys account as inaccurate, with a source saying he deplores any commentary on conversations with royals.

Charles and Mr Johnson discussed the Kings reported criticism of the scheme as they met in Rwandas capital of Kigali at a Commonwealth summit in June.

At the time, Mr Johnson described his discussion with Charles as a good old chinwag that covered a lot of ground.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Harri  who is set to launch a new podcast detailing his time in Downing Street  says that the meeting was less amicable than suggested.

The former BBC journalist wrote: I went in quite hard, he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of a democratically-elected government.

Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, (saying): If you didnt say it we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they havent done that says it all.

Mr Harri also referred to Mr Johnsons alleged reaction to a speech Charles was intending to give on slavery: The PM was appalled. And warned the prince in plain English, I wouldnt talk about slavery or youll end up being forced to sell the Duchy of Cornwall to pay reparations to those whose ancestors built it.

Asked about his comments on LBC, Mr Harri said: They did have a bit of a showdown, but for the reason that the man who is now King criticised what was A, extremely popular government policy, B, very central government policy, and C, on the eve of the two of them going to the very place at the heart of the story, Rwanda.

So it wasnt a fight. Obviously they didnt square up to get in the ring. But Boris, rightly, challenged the unelected royal at the time.

The impression I got is that Prince Charles at the time was squirming, trying to deny hed said this.

If you are the prince, or youre the prime minister, youve got an army of people who can go out there and ring newspaper editors and say this is not true, take it down, and they will if its not true.

So the fact that the story was allowed to stand and could not be denied meant that he had actually described government policy as appalling.

Mr Harri also suggested that Mr Johnson saw partygate investigator Sue Gray as a psycho.

The former No 10 official, who said he did not want to reveal too many details before his podcast launches, was asked how Mr Johnson saw the high-profile civil servant.

Ms Gray has attracted the ire of senior Tories over a planned move to join Sir Keir Starmers top team.

Psycho Sue Gray would be part of it, Mr Harri said. There was a sense that she lacked perspective as to what he had done.

He had respected her a lot, but by the time I got there, I think he was understandably getting suspicious. And by the end, were all extremely suspicious of this woman.

Mr Sunaks official spokesman, asked what the Downing Street incumbent thought of the remarks allegedly made by one of his predecessors, said he had not spoken to the Prime Minister about the reports.

The No 10 official added: The Prime Minister uses appropriate language.
Former prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week to give a speech to show solidarity with the self-governed island in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour from China.

Ms Truss is also expected to meet Taiwanese government officials during the trip.

During her time as prime minister Ms Truss was widely expected to move the UK Government on to a more hawkish footing when it came to dealings with Beijing, wanting to declare China under Communist Party rule a threat to national security.

However, her brief time in Downing Street  cut short to only 44 days after her mini-Budget impact on the markets last year saw confidence in her premiership collapse  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Rishi Sunak chose not to go as far, updating the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is visiting the US this week, has previously said that isolating China would be a sign of weakness.

On Friday, he said that he raised the issue of Taiwan, and broached what is happening in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, during pre-coronation talks with Chinese vice-president Han Zheng.

It came before it was announced that the first UK ministerial visit to Hong Kong since Beijings crackdown on civil rights began in the former British colony is to take place, with investment minister Lord Johnson due to travel there.

In her speech next week, Ms Truss is expected to issue a rallying cry in the face of Chinese and Taiwanese tension.

Engagement with China means discussing areas of deep disagreement & vital co-operation. Today with VP Han Zheng, I made plain the UKs views on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan. We also discussed working together on climate change, economic ties and people-to-people links. pic.twitter.com/AVRAEweeju  James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) May 5, 2023

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.

Ms Truss said: Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

She used a speech in the US last month to accuse western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen met the Chinese leader in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing.

Downing Street, asked what Mr Sunak made of his predecessors decision to visit Taiwan, said it was up to individual MPs where they choose to travel.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Our long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas. And thats underpinned by our shared democratic values.

For our part, the UK Government will continue to engage with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of a peaceful resolution in his meeting with the Chinese vice-president on Friday.

The spokesman also said it was completely appropriate for the Government to send a minister to Hong Kong given it was home to hundreds of businesses who help sustain a thriving 120 billion a year trade and investment relationship with the UK.

He added: It will again be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Chinas clampdown on freedoms and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which are directly hurting Hong Kongs people and the economy.
A port where a barge housing asylum seekers is set to dock has reportedly removed its cruise ship schedule from its website in a bid to deter far-right protests.

The Bibby Stockholm arrived on Tuesday in Falmouth, Cornwall, where the accommodation barge will undergo an assessment and refurbishment.

The vessel, which will house around 500 migrants, is then expected to be moved into position at the Portland of Port in Dorset in the next few weeks.

According to The Times, the Portland Port has looked to deter anti-migrant demonstrations, which are expected in protest at the barges presence, from targeting the arrival of tourists coming into the area on cruise ships.

The newspaper said the south Dorset harbour usually advertises the arrival and departure dates on its website of the 40 or more cruises set to dock at the port during the year.

But The Times said that, after criticism of its plans to allow the Bibby Stockholm to moor in its waters, the ports website has removed the dates.

The media outlet cited a source involved in the planning as saying the dates were taken down because of concerns that far-right activists could organise anti-migrant protests on days when thousands of tourists are due to arrive on cruise ships.

A Portland Port spokesman, when asked about the report, said: All cruise calls are proceeding as normal at Portland Port but arrivals and departures are subject to change, as they are at any port.

Therefore, it is best to contact the cruise line involved for the most up-to-date information.

The Bibby Stockholm barge will undergo refurbishment after its arrival in Cornwall (Matt Keeble/PA)

The barge is part of a series of schemes from the UK Government aimed at moving asylum seekers away from costly hotel accommodation.

The Home Office says asylum seeker hotels cost the British public 6 million a day.

However, the leader of Dorset Council and the countys police and crime commissioner (PCC) have voiced concerns about the ports decision to allow the barge to dock.

PCC David Sidwick last week called for funding talks with Home Secretary Suella Braverman for the extra policing that will be required when the vessel arrives.

It comes after more small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel arrived at Dover, Kent, on bank holiday Monday.

A group of people were pictured on the docks after being rescued by a Border Force vessel.

The Home Office has not yet declared how many arrived on Monday, but Saturday saw 135 people arrive on three detected boats, with a further three carrying 134 across the strait on Sunday.

At least 6,500 migrants have arrived via the unauthorised route this year.
John Allan, the chair of supermarket giant Tesco, has denied allegations of inappropriate touching by two women.

The prominent business leader was president of the crisis-stricken Confederation of British Industry (CBI) business group until 2020, and vice president for a further year.

The Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday morning that Mr Allan  who has been chair of Tesco since 2015  allegedly touched the bottom of a senior member of Tesco staff at the retailers annual general meeting (AGM) last June.

Mr Allan was also accused of allegedly touching the bottom of a member of staff at the CBI during its annual dinner in 2019.

He said the allegations were simply untrue.

The 74-year-old also denied claims in the newspaper that he made inappropriate remarks on those occasions as well as similar, separate comments to female workers at the CBI in 2019 and 2021.

A number of allegations related to Mr Allans tenure at the CBI, where he was previously president and vice president (Jonathan Brady/PA)

It reported that some of the women were offended by the alleged actions and considered them to be sexual harassment.

Mr Allan has denied all but one allegation, making a comment about the appearance of a CBI staffer in 2019, which she said was offensive.

A spokesman for Mr Allan said he was mortified after making the comment and immediately apologised.

The person concerned agreed the matter was closed and no further action was taken, the spokesman said.

Regarding the other claims, they are simply untrue. Even so, Mr Allan requested that Tesco and Fox Williams  who were instructed by the CBI to conduct an investigation following various allegations  investigate them.

Fox Williams decided not to, and Tesco are not aware of and have not received any complaints about Mr Allans conduct either at the 2022 AGM or over the eight years that he has been chairman of Tesco.

A spokeswoman for Tesco said: In relation to John Allans conduct at Tescos 2022 AGM, Tesco has received no complaints or concerns formally or informally, including through our confidential Protector Line service.

At Tesco, we are committed to ensuring all colleagues are respected and feel safe at work.

Tescos people policies apply to all colleagues, and all concerns or complaints raised about conduct are always taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly.

This is a serious allegation, and if anyone has any concerns or information, we would ask them to share those with us through any of our reporting channels including through our confidential protector line, so we can investigate.

John Allans conduct has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco. We note that John strongly denies the allegation in relation to Tescos AGM.

The CBI has been contacted for comment.

The new reports come after the CBI trade body was shaken by previous allegations of widespread sexual harassment over the past two months.

Tony Danker (Jacob King/PA)

The decline of the CBI started in early March when the Guardian published accusations of misconduct against then-director general Tony Danker.

A month later the newspaper published another article saying that more than a dozen women who worked for the CBI had approached it claiming they had been sexually harassed by colleagues. One woman said that she had been raped.

Days later, after outside lawyers had concluded the first part of their report into the CBI, Mr Danker was fired and Rain Newton-Smith was announced as the groups new boss.

Mr Danker later hit out at the CBI, saying he was the fall guy and that his reputation had been totally trashed.

The paper later published a second allegation of rape and a new allegation of stalking against CBI staff.

In response, dozens of the UKs biggest companies, including Tesco, walked away from the organisation.

The CBI decided to suspend all policy and membership activities in response.
Andrew Bridgen is set to become the first Reclaim Party MP  with the move expected to be announced on Wednesday morning.

The North West Leicestershire MP currently sits as an independent after being expelled from the Conservative Party for comparing Covid vaccinations to the Holocaust.

Below is a look at Mr Bridgens new party and what it stands for.

Andrew Bridgen is expected to announce his decision to join the Reclaim Party on Wednesday morning (PA)

 What is the Reclaim Party?

Reclaim was founded in October 2020 by actor Laurence Fox after an appearance on the BBCs Question Time earlier that year, which the actor said resulted in him being cancelled from a 21-year acting career.

According to its website, the party exists to challenge woke orthodoxy and promote freedom of speech, which it views as being under grave peril.

Reclaim has been dubbed the Ukip for culture and is strongly associated with the so-called culture wars.

Mr Fox, who now hosts a show on GB News, has also previously expressed scepticism about the Covid vaccine and opposed lockdowns during the pandemic.

 What are Reclaims policies?

Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox has been an outspoken critic of Covid vaccination programmes (PA)

Reclaims focus is on freedom of speech, which it describes as fundamental to a free society, arguing no opinions should be protected and all public bodies should have a legal obligation to protect free speech.

The partys website also suggests a scepticism of net zero policies, saying they punish the poorest in society and the implications of climate change policies must be openly debated.

Mr Fox has tweeted about a climate hoax.

On social media, Reclaim has been critical of all things considered woke, with Mr Fox referring to a Covid scam, attacking the concept of 15-minute cities, transgender rights and critical race theory.

The party promises to end illegal immigration and stop the scourge of human trafficking, reduce the size of the state, cut taxes and depoliticise national institutions like the police, the Civil Service and the National Trust.

During his campaign to be mayor of London, Mr Fox said he would honour every recipient of the Victoria Cross and George Cross with a plaque on the street they were born.

 Who is backing Reclaim?

According to the Electoral Commission, Reclaim has been heavily funded by Brexit-backing businessman Jeremy Hosking, who has donated more than 2 million to the party.

As well as Mr Fox, other members of the party include Martin Daubney, a former editor of Loaded magazine and Brexit Party MEP who has appeared as a host on GB News.

 How has Reclaim performed in elections?

Reclaim is yet to win an election.

Mr Fox stood for the London mayoralty in 2021 under the Reclaim banner and got 1.9% of the vote, coming sixth and losing his 10,000 deposit.

Mr Daubney contested the 2021 North Shropshire by-election that followed the resignation of Owen Paterson from Parliament but also lost his deposit after polling 375 votes, coming seventh.
Richard Armitage says moving from television into major film productions had been terrifying, and for a long time he had struggled with who I was in that world.

The British actor said starring in Peter Jacksons blockbuster franchise The Hobbit had been quite intimidating and had put him off the fantasy genre.

Armitage became a household name in the UK following roles in BBC dramas including North And South and Spooks.

The British actor told the Radio Times podcast that for a long time he struggled with who I was in that world (Ian West/PA)

He later landed the role of Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit, which he played in all three films alongside Martin Freeman and Sir Ian McKellen.

Speaking to the Radio Times podcast about the jump from small to big screen, he said: Its quite intimidating when you go into a massive machine like that, (especially) when it has such a legacy.

It was terrifying. For a long time, I struggled with who I was in that world.

Youre sitting down for dinner with Peter Jackson and the head of Warner Bros, thinking, I dont belong here.

I just got my head down and got on with the job as best as I could.

He added: Somebody recently said, It must have felt like the world was your oyster.

It never actually did. The oyster is always slowly closing because for every actor on the ascent, youre always going to have to descend.

Armitage added that after two-and-half-years in the role of Thorin,he was now not drawn to fantasy television series.

The actor now stars in Netflix erotic thriller drama Obsession, which sees him play a talented surgeon who has an affair with his sons fiancee.

The full interview with Richard Armitage can be listened to on the Radio Times podcast.
A salmon farming firm has been fined 800,000 after one of its workers was crushed and drowned as he was transferring from a boat to a floating structure.

Clive Hendry, 58, was killed on February 18 2020 at Mowi Scotlands Ardintoul fish farm in Loch Alsh.

Mr Hendry was hit by the boat Beinn na Caillich and a floating structure known as a sea cap, before slipping out of his lifejacket and ending up under water for about 20 seconds.

On Tuesday, the Fife-based company admitted to health and safety breaches at Inverness Sheriff Court, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said, and was fined 800,000. It must also pay a victim surcharge of 60,000.

The floating sea cap structure where Clive Hendry was killed (Crown Office/PA)

Debbie Carroll, the Crown Offices health and safety lead, said: Since this incident, the company has introduced new risk assessments and has put into practice safe systems of work.

Had these been in place at the time, then Mr Hendrys transfer from the Beinn na Caillich to the sea cap would have taken place without incident and he would be alive today.

On the day he died, Mr Hendry, the assistant fish farm manager, was preparing to board the sea cap as part of a touch and go transfer  where the boat would stop when one of its gates lined up with the platforms ladder.

The Beinn na Caillich approached the sea caps starboard side at a speed of about half a knot with its engines in neutral, the Crown Office said.

The vessel would then go into reverse to slow it to a stop, to allow Mr Hendry to step off onto the sea caps ladder.

While the vessel was still moving slowly ahead, Mr Hendry stepped through the gate, putting both hands and his right foot on the rungs of the sea caps ladder, the Crown Office said.

The boats skipper shouted in surprise as he did so and saw the boat hit Mr Hendry in the right side. As the boat was now reversing it also clipped him on the left side, prosecutors said.

A technician on board the sea cap saw Mr Hendry struggling and distressed and having difficulty holding onto the Sea Caps ladder, the Crown Office said, and he attempted to stop him from falling by holding onto his lifejacket and clothing, but the severely injured man slipped out of them into the water.

Mr Hendry was submerged for about 20 seconds and pulled out of the water shortly after, the Crown Office said.

Despite the efforts of colleagues and emergency services he could not be saved.

The investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency found that the company had failed to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment or maintain systems of work for the health and safety of employees when transferring from a vessel to a structure such as the sea cap, the Crown Office said.

And the firm also failed to provide workers with the necessary supervision to ensure lifejackets were properly tightened and secured.

Mr Hendry was left responsible for his own actions in transferring to the sea cap, the Crown Office said, and had not been told what to do, nor what not to do, when they arrived alongside it.

And, the Crown Office said, Mowi had not previously mandated the wearing of restraining straps and left it to the discretion of the wearer.

Since Mr Hendrys death, their use has been made compulsory and a more effective design of lifejacket introduced.

The Beinn na Caillich and other similar vessels have been also modified to allow the wheelhouse windows to open and public address systems installed to allow better communication between the helm and the working deck.

The Crown Office said that unsecured touch and go transfers have been stopped, and that any transfers to or from vessels like the Beinn na Caillich only take place once vessels are secured, and the master of the vessel is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

Life-sized mannequins are also used to add reality to man overboard drills.

The frequency of these drills is recorded by the company to ensure that those on board are familiar with both the drills and equipment available to them.

And, the Crown Office said, risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place for all offshore activities.
Anas Sarwar was confident of a Labour majority ahead of the next general election as he brushed off claims of a coalition U-turn from the SNPs Westminster leader.

The Scottish Labour leader told the PA news agency that the English local election results, which saw significant gains for the party, highlighted the demand for change across the UK.

But initial projections from the local government results have suggested Labour may not win enough seats to gain a majority.

And Mr Sarwar said unseating SNP MPs in Scotland will be key to that victory.

Speaking at Glasgow Airport on Tuesday, Mr Sarwar said: It is absolutely clear that those results demonstrate that we would have a majority Labour government because there werent elections in Scotland, Wales and in London.

If you add those results across local government results that you saw in England, with what we expect to happen in Scotland, Wales but also in London, we can deliver that majority Labour government.

Stephen Flynn said Sir Keir Starmer would U-turn on his refusal to work with the SNP (House of Commons/UK Parliament)

It comes as he rubbished comments from Stephen Flynn who said UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would backtrack on his stance of rejecting a coalition with the SNP in the event of a hung parliament.

Speaking on BBC Scotlands Good Morning Scotland, Mr Flynn said of Sir Keir: He is not going to walk away from becoming prime minister simply to deny many of our asks.

The conditions of a deal with the SNP would include prioritising the cost-of-living in policies and handing Holyrood the powers to hold an independence referendum, he said.

But Mr Sarwar repeated the refusal to work with the party at Westminster. He said: No ifs, no buts, no deals with the SNP.

We are going all out to get rid of this rotten Tory Government, all out to get a majority Labour government, and if we fall short of that, the SNP have a clear choice, they can either choose to welcome a Labour government, or allow a Tory government.

And I dare the SNP to usher in a Tory government and see how Scotland reacts.

He added: We are going all out for a majority Labour government and I believe Scotland will help deliver the seats that helps get that majority Labour government.

Mr Sarwar also accused Mr Flynn of aspiring to be a replica of Douglas Ross after he called for tactical voting at the next general election.

Mr Flynn urged Labour and Liberal Democrat voters to vote SNP to block the Tories, while Scottish Tory leader Mr Ross came under fire for suggesting unionist voters should back the party with the best chance of defeating the SNP.

On the BBC Scotland programme this morning, Mr Flynn also said: This is the same Keir Starmer who quite openly dropped his opposition to Brexit, he dropped his opposition to nationalisation, he dropped his opposition to scrapping tuition fees, and he dropped his opposition at the weekend to repealing anti-protest legislation.

We know that Keir Starmer is desperate to be prime minister. The key thing here is that the Tories have continued to ignore Scotland  will Labour?

Keir Starmer is a man who has broken many of his pledges, not just to the Labour party but to the wider British public in order to try and become prime minister.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said Sir Keir was counting on some kind of backroom coalition or deal to get into Downing Street, adding: Stephen Flynn knows  as voters do  that Labour would cave into SNP demands for Indyref2 if that was the price for getting the keys to Downing Street.
A skateboarder says he is heartbroken after he had to abandon his attempt to break two distance records in one day due to injury, but pleased he has raised awareness and thousands of pounds for mental health charities.

Ryan Swain, from Malton, North Yorkshire, began his attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the furthest distances travelled on a skateboard in 12 hours and 24 hours, at Elvington Airfield, near York, on Monday.

But rain, wind and standing water made the runways treacherous and he eventually had to withdraw after pulling his hamstring.

Mr Swain, 32, said he managed 90 miles, which he thinks is a British record, and his team are also looking into whether he has broken any other records for a conventional skateboard, as the world records he was trying to better were all done on specialist longboards.

Ryan Swain had the backing of Olympic ski-jumper Eddie the Eagle (Paul Swain/PA)

On Tuesday he said: We just got hit with everything and the dream turned into a nightmare  the weather, the adverse conditions.

The first three hours were amazing then this rain hit, making the conditions very wet and very slippery. Then there was two or three millimetres of surface water and 15mph winds.

And then, about six hours in, I felt my hamstring rip.

Mr Swain continued for a few more hours but eventually realised he could do himself some serious long-term damage and took the difficult decision to stop.

I probably did a lot more damage but I didnt want to give up, he said, I wanted to see it through.

Even if I wasnt going to break a world record, I wanted to get as much mileage in as I could.

Ryan Swain had to withdraw after pulling his hamstring (Paul Swain/PA)

I just literally could not give any more. Id given everything that I had in me.

He was aiming to cover 300 miles over the 24-hour period. The record is 261.8 miles, set by Andrew Andras in Florida, in the US, in 2013.

Mr Swain lives with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was determined to use his love of the sport to raise awareness of neurodiversity and mental health disorders.

He said: The main idea was to raise awareness, which it has done massively.

And he said he is determined to try again. At a later date, definitely, Mr Swain said.

Ive got into this thing now and I believe I can definitely do it  no doubt about that.

I was heartbroken and I cried like crazy at the end, just because I wanted it so badly.

But what weve achieved is enormous enough as it is, and Im very thankful to everyone that got involved.

He said: ADHD and neurodivergence are massive parts of my life and if I can give back to anybody else that is enduring them, hoping it resonates and gives out a message that even if youre facing something really difficult theres always a way out of it, youve just got to be able to communicate and talk.

I could have just pretended everything was fine and carried on and ended on doing serious damage to my body and my mental health.

Im happy with what we achieved, weve raised thousands and thousands of pounds for three amazing charities. Im proud of that.

Mr Swain was raising money for Mind, Andys Man Club UK and the Next Steps Mental Health Resources Centre, in Malton.

He said: Obviously Im heartbroken but it wasnt really about me.

For me, the message is more important.

Hopefully this will draw the right attention now to mental health and try and lift that stigma.

Mr Swain said he was overwhelmed by the support he has received, including from Michael Edwards, better known as Olympic ski-jumper Eddie the Eagle, who sent him an encouraging video message.

More details about the challenge and Mr Swains fundraising can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ryanswain24hoursskate.
Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly declined to rule out entering into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats if Labour fails to win a majority at the next general election.

The Labour leader on Tuesday refused to rule out a pact with Sir Ed Daveys party despite emphatically saying he would not team up with the SNP.

Sir Keir has said he believes he is on course to win outright after gaining hundreds of councillors and control of 22 local authorities at last weeks elections.

But the Lib Dems were also resurgent and projections have put Labour as not yet being in the position to form a majority government without progress among voters.

Sir Keir equivocated on whether he would form a pact with the Lib Dems if required to enter Downing Street when repeatedly pressed during a round of broadcast interviews.

He insisted he is going for an outright majority but asked about a deal with Sir Ed, the Labour leader told Sky News: Im not answering hypotheticals but were aiming for a Labour majority and thats what were confident about.

But he said he was absolutely clear there are no terms in which we will do a deal with the SNP.

Sir Keir insisted the reason he would only be definite about the Scottish nationalists was because there is a fundamental difference between his party and the SNP.

I do not believe in the break-up and separation of the United Kingdom, I do not believe that our future will be better if we put a border between Scotland and England, so theres no basis for an agreement, he told Sky.

(PA Graphics)

Meanwhile, former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair warned there can be no complacency over the partys position despite the successes.

He told Bloomberg TV Sir Keir has done a pretty good job pulling the Labour party back from where it was.

But of course you cant be complacent about these things at all, he added.

The Lib Dems did not rule out the possibility of a deal.

A spokesman said: We are totally focused on the issues that really matter to people  the cost-of-living crisis, the failure of this Government to manage our NHS and the filthy sewage water companies are being allowed to pump into our rivers.

The Conservatives are bound to attack Sir Keir on the possibility of relying on another party in government, as David Cameron successfully did with Ed Miliband in 2015.

The former Tory leader warned Labour would form a coalition of chaos with the SNP.

(PA Graphics)

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4s PM programme: If you want to waste peoples time talking about coalitions and not just hypothetical but potentially undesirable scenarios that we think are unlikely to come about ask the Conservatives, theyve had two coalitions in recent years.

So if anyone should be lamenting coalitions of chaos its the party thats led two of them.

Sir Keir insists he is confident that his party is on course for a majority and is particularly buoyed by winning control of councils in the Brexit-backing areas of Dover, Blackpool, Medway, Erewash and Stoke.

On Thursday, the Tories lost 957 councillors and control of 48 authorities under Rishi Sunaks leadership, but the next general election is not expected until 2024.

With results in from all 230 councils that were up for grabs, Labour gained 643 seats, the Lib Dems 415 and the Greens 200.

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans takes a selfie with Lisa Nandy, Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Keir spoke to his 22 colleagues who will be newly running councils across England.

He told them they have been given a mandate to deal with the cost of living that will act as a blueprint for their party in power.

With some joining virtually and others in person at Labours headquarters in central London, Sir Keir said: Now weve got this far  its a big big step in the right direction  now its a duty to deliver.

Youve been elected in with a mandate to deal with the cost of living, our duty now is to deliver on that.

He urged the councillors to make a cost of living plan for their area, adding: Lets create a blueprint for Labour in power.

People are crying out for change and we can now start delivering that change.
Sir Keir Starmer will U-turn on his refusal to work with the SNP following the general election, the partys Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said.

The Labour leader has repeatedly ruled out working with the SNP if Labour do not achieve a majority government.

However, as projections following the local elections in England suggested Labour could struggle to gain an overall majority at Westminster, Mr Flynn said his party can hold the balance of power.

(PA Graphics)

It follows an appeal from the SNP to Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters to lend their votes to the nationalist party to lock out the Tories.

Speaking on BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland programme on Tuesday, Mr Flynn said Labour would have to give Holyrood independence referendum powers and put the cost-of-living crisis front and centre of policy in order to be propped up by the SNP.

He said: Im actually quite excited about where we are at the moment because what we see is a big shift away from the Conservatives in England, but its a shift that is not going to deliver a majority government for Labour at Westminster and that very much brings us into play because it affords us the opportunity, the very real opportunity, of holding the balance of power at Westminster.

We would be very clear in terms of our asks. We would want the cost of living to be put front and centre of the policy prospectus of any UK government.

We would want to see the damage that has been caused by Brexit rolled back, not just to boost our economy but to boost our public services as well.

And of course, we would be very, very keen to see a UK government, particularly a UK Labour government, deliver the powers to Holyrood to hold an independence referendum.

And while Sir Keir rejected calls to work with the SNP, Mr Flynn said the Labour leader had a track record of changing his mind.

He told the programme: This is the same Keir Starmer who quite openly dropped his opposition to Brexit, he dropped his opposition to nationalisation, he dropped his opposition to scrapping tuition fees, and he dropped his opposition at the weekend to repealing anti-protest legislation.

We know that Keir Starmer is desperate to be prime minister. The key thing here is that the Tories have continued to ignore Scotland  will Labour?

Keir Starmer is a man who has broken many of his pledges, not just to the Labour party but to the wider British public in order to try and become prime minister.

He is not going to walk away from becoming prime minister simply to deny many of our asks.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said Sir Keir was counting on some kind of backroom coalition or deal to get into Downing Street, adding: Stephen Flynn knows  as voters do  that Labour would cave into SNP demands for indyref2 if that was the price for getting the keys to Downing Street.
Broadcaster Stephen Fry and artist Tracey Emin are among dozens of public figures and conservationists urging the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to prevent a grossly opportunistic development of a major London railway station.

In a letter published in The Times, they called on Mr Gove to intervene in proposals by developer Sellar to build offices, shops and a hotel above Liverpool Street station.

Other signatories include comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who is president of the Victorian Society, and representatives of other heritage groups.

The station is used for mainline train connections to destinations across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Elizabeth line and London Underground services.

Sellar says its proposals involve more than 1.5 billion of private investment, including 450 million to double the size of the station concourse and add more lifts and escalators.

The station suffers from significant overcrowding as well as poor pedestrian accessibility and connectivity, according to the company.

The plan would involve partly rebuilding the neighbouring Grade II listed Andaz hotel, which opened as the Great Eastern hotel in 1884.

Additions to the hotel made in the 1980s would be removed, while Victoria features will be restored and made more accessible.

Network Rail, which owns the station, and transport company MTR are partnering with Sellar in developing the project.

In their letter, opponents to the plans wrote: The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities must call in the planning application for Liverpool Street Station and its terminus hotel.

To plonk 15 storeys of insensitively-designed tower directly on top of the Grade II listed former Great Eastern hotel, thus partially demolishing the listed station and overwhelming the Victorian train sheds, is grossly opportunistic and wrong.

The claim that a cantilevered building directly on top of a heritage asset somehow preserves that asset is nonsense, and sets a dangerous precedent.

A Sellar spokesman said: Our proposals aim to deliver the vital upgrades needed at Liverpool Street station to address significant overcrowding and access issues, while protecting and celebrating its remaining Victorian elements.

We would hope that Mr Gove or anyone involved in the decision-making process would assess our proposals in full, and balance the impact of building over and removing less than half of a 1980s concourse roof against the 450 million of privately funded public benefits delivered at no cost to the taxpayer.

Our proposals allow Network Rail to invest in other much-needed infrastructure improvements elsewhere in the country while transforming Liverpool Street station into the accessible, future-fit transport hub that the City of London, as a global centre of business and tourism, deserves.

In October last year, Network Rail group property director Robin Dobson said the plans would deliver a world-class transport interchange alongside new workspace with a new 24/7 leisure district at its heart.

A campaign to preserve the station against development was first launched in the 1970s by Sir John Betjeman, then poet laureate.
Actor Stephen Tompkinson has told a court it would be career suicide for him to do something as outrageous as assault someone.

The 57-year-old DCI Banks star is accused of punching a man to the ground who was drunkenly making noise outside his home in the early hours of May 30 2021.

Newcastle Crown Court has heard Tompkinson came out of his house at around 5.30am, wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown, to challenge Mr Poole and his friend Andrew Hall, who were both heavily intoxicated.

On Tuesday Tompkinson told the court he did not punch Mr Poole and was not responsible for the double skull fracture he sustained when his head hit the pavement.

He said he put his hand out to stop Mr Poole coming towards him and made contact with his face but that it wasnt enough to knock a sober man off his feet.

Jurors were told Tompkinson had gone to drama school in 1984 and his acting career included sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey and the series Ballykissangel.

Tompkinson arrives at Newcastle Crown Court (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Tompkinson said he had had acting work taken away since being charged with grievous bodily harm, and that while the legal proceedings are hanging over him, any association with me is put on hold.

Im not trying to compare my situation with the injury Karl suffered  they dont compare, he told the court.

Asked by his barrister Nicholas Lumley KC if he had anything to gain by assaulting Mr Poole, Tompkinson said: Absolutely not. Any member of the public is potentially a member of your audience and you have to treat them with respect at all times.

After we got 15 million viewers for Ballykissangel my father, who was alive at the time, said: You have been invited into peoples living rooms and you must always treat them with respect, and I always try to.

It would be career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone.

Tompkinson said at the time of the alleged assault he was living in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, with his partner and her seven-year-old son.

Jurors heard he had woken up early that morning, heard strange noises and saw two heavily intoxicated men drinking at the bottom of his driveway, one of whom (Mr Poole) was just wearing underpants.

Tompkinson said he watched the pair attempt to stand up and fall several times, while drinking from a bottle of Jagermeister.

I was very worried (the bottle) would break, that particular area of the driveway was where the seven-year-old liked to practise on the skateboard.

I thought the best way out of this scenario for everyone was to call the police. They looked like they needed assistance to get home.

It seemed to me they were the very definition of drunk and disorderly  they were making a lot of noise and they could barely stand up.

Tompkinson told the court he called 999 and was waiting to be connected to the police when he went outside and told the men: Come on lads, look at the state of you, look at the time, theres people asleep in the house, you cant be doing this.

Asked if he was angry, Tompkinson said: I think there was a bit of angriness in there, it was a horrible sight and I certainly didnt want the rest of the household to be greeted by them when they woke up.

These werent boys, they were encroaching on middle aged men who shouldnt get into a state where they cant stand.

Tompkinson said he told the men he had called the police, and one of them replied: Call who you f***ing like, Im a social worker.

He told jurors: I was absolutely dazzled by that. I repeated verbatim Im a social worker because it hardly seemed like conduct becoming of one.

Tompkinson denies inflicting grievous bodily harm (Owen Humphreys/PA)

That seemed to resonate with Karl, who span. His eyes suddenly came into focus, very directly into my eyes. He said: I dont give a f*** who you are.

It was like, from the moment they started swearing and the moment I could see Karls eyes coming into focus, the whole atmosphere changed very quickly.

I wasnt expecting any trouble and then when it suddenly did turn, or their attitudes changed, then it was a very frightening situation.

Tompkinson said the men got to their feet, unsteadily, and started to move towards him.

He told the court he put his hands on Mr Hall and guided him to the ground, then saw Mr Poole coming towards him.

I didnt want to hurt him, I wanted to stop him to change his mind about coming towards me and further onto my property.

Tompkinson said as he went to make a stop motion, his hand connected with the left side of Mr Pooles face and that he went to the floor because of his unsteadiness.

The court was told Tompkinson still had his phone in his hand after calling 999.

Asked if it would have been possible for him to have made a fist, he said: Not without breaking my fingers or risking some solid metal going into Karls face.

Asked in cross-examination why he did not tell police at the scene about the confrontation, Tompkinson said: Ive been involved in enough police procedurals to know there are initial interviews, then there are another set of interviews. I was waiting to get the chance to fully explain.

Comedian and writer Andy Hamilton and actors Nichola McAuliffe and Dean Bone appeared in court as character witnesses for Tompkinson, while character statements included one from his Wild At Heart co-star Hayley Mills.

Ms Mills said that Tompkinson played a vet in the series and worked with every sort of animal, all of which responded to the calm way he dealt with them.

Mr Hamilton, who worked with Tompkinson on Drop The Dead Donkey, told the court he had never seen him lose his temper.

Mr Hamilton said: I cant remember ever hearing him raise his voice. I have never seen him get abusive or aggressive with anyone. Thats just not him.

The trial continues.
Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 have announced they will be disbanding after a final album and world tour.

The band, known for hit songs including In Too Deep and Fatlip, said they would be forever grateful to their fans and were excited for the future.

The band formed in Ontario, Canada, in 1996, and have released seven albums with various line-ups.

In a statement posted on social media on Monday, Sum 41 confirmed that their eighth album, Heaven and Hell, would be their last.

The band said it was hard to articulate the love and respect they had for their fans.

Being in Sum 41 since 1996 brought us some of the best moments of our lives, the statement read.

We are forever grateful to our fans both old and new, who have supported us in every way. It is hard to articulate the love and respect we have for all of you and we wanted you to hear this from us first.

Sum 41 will be disbanding.

The statement added: We will still be finishing all of our current upcoming tour dates this year, and were looking forward to releasing our final album Heaven :x: Hell, along with a final worldwide headlining tour to celebrate.

Thank you for the last 27 years of Sum 41.
Britains most senior police officer has defended the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters and hit out at ill-informed commentary amid fierce criticism of the action taken.

Writing for the Evening Standard, Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said it was unfortunate that the demonstrators were unable to join fellow activists on Saturday following their detention.

The six were the first arrests to be made under the sweeping Public Order Act, under suspicion of going equipped to lock-on  a measure protesters use to make it harder for police to move them.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers, which came into force last week, saying it was right for officers to have the power to tackle serious disruption.

Sir Mark wrote in the Standard: While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protesters, I support the officers actions in this unique fast-moving operational context.

The six campaigners from Republic were arrested early on Saturday morning and detained for 16 hours.

They were released without charge after police conceded it could not be proved whether the protesters intended to lock-on.

Republics chief executive Graham Smith, who was among those arrested, is considering legal action against the Met after officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode.

He said three rather embarrassed officers apologised to him at his home in Reading, Berkshire, before handing back the straps for the placards they arrested him over.

I said for the record I wont accept the apology. We have a lot of questions to answer and we will be taking action, he told the PA news agency.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Southampton: Of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

What the Government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to peoples lives.

I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers.

In total, 64 people were arrested over the weekend, of which 52 were over police concerns that the coronation may be disrupted.

Sir Mark said it was frustrating the force could not share more information about some of the arrests while investigations continue.

He said: I can report that we found people in possession of possible lock-on devices and people that appeared to be purporting to be stewards of the event in possession of plastic bottles containing white paint, which we believe were specifically to be used to criminally disrupt the procession and resulted in arrests for going equipped to commit criminal damage.

Much of the ill-informed commentary on the day is wholly inaccurate  for example, protest was not banned.

I want to be absolutely clear  our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked for further information about why the Republic supporters were arrested, as well as volunteers for Westminster City Council charity Night Star which hands out rape alarms.

The leader of the council has requested an apology from the Met after all three Night Star volunteers were released without charge.

Cllr Aicha Less, deputy leader and cabinet member for Communities and Public Protection, said: We have met with the Metropolitan Police to discuss the arrest of our Night Stars, about which we have been deeply concerned.

We are pleased to confirm that all three of our volunteers, who provide such a valuable service to the community, have been released without charge and will not face any further action.

In addition, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Adam Hug, has also written to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police today, setting out the reasons for our concerns about the handling of this matter. He has also requested an apology is made to the three volunteers.

We continue to offer our Night Stars our full support and are also mindful about the potential impact of this matter on our night safety work, much of which is reliant upon members of the public giving up their free time. Thats why we will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police to keep the city safe and to learn from this unfortunate incident.

Former Greater Manchester Police chief Sir Peter Fahy said the Public Order Act used to detain the protesters was very poorly defined and far too broad.

Senior Tory MP David Davis called the legislation too crude and urged the Commons Home Affairs Committee to investigate.

Sir Peter told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We see the consequences of that particularly for the poor police officers who have got to try and make sense of the legislation that was passed only a few days ago.

This could affect all sorts of different protests in your local community, when youre unhappy about HS2 or a housing development or whatever, this legislation could be used against you, and the police would be under pressure.

Mr Davis, a former Brexit secretary, said the arrests show the legislation is too crude, too poorly defined.

The police and the Home Office have to get straight exactly how they protect our democratic rights at the same time as protecting the day for thousands of people, he told Today.

The whole law is defined really very broadly. Its also true for the stop-and-search powers as well. There are a whole series of elements of law which are just too broadly defined.

Downing Street was clear that it thinks the new powers are appropriate and in line with what the public want.

It wouldnt be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

He said that the Home Office had business as usual conversations with the Met ahead of the policing operation, after Republic demanded to know whether officers were acting at the behest of politicians.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman attended a number of meetings with the Metropolitan Police ahead of the coronation, the PA news agency has been told.

A Whitehall source characterised them as routine updates on the forces expectations and preparations for the operation, stressing the police remain operationally independent.
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death in Dagenham on Friday.

Metropolitan Police confirmed the 15-year-old, from Colchester, was arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate violent disorder offence after 18-year-old Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu, known as Jordan, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station.

Officers were called at 11.47pm following reports of men armed with machetes close to the station.

#APPEAL | Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses following the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old man close to #Dagenham Heathway tube station on Friday night Read more here: https://t.co/w6YtRWUIds  Barking & Dagenham MPS (@MPSBarkDag) May 8, 2023

Police and paramedics from London Ambulance Service attended the scene where a man was found with stab injuries  and despite efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.

A post-mortem on Sunday found Mr Kukabus cause of death was a single stab wound to the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector James Shirley, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: My thoughts remain with the young mans family and friends. Dedicated detectives have been working around the clock since this tragic incident as we strive to identify and apprehend those responsible for killing Jordan.

Our investigation is making significant progress, including the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in the early hours May 9. Local people have provided us with information, which together with forensic inquiries and analysis of CCTV is enabling us to build a picture of what happened on Friday night.

I am grateful to everyone who has provided information. There will be other people with information that would assist our investigation and I urge them to come forward and share what they know or any relevant footage.

This can be done anonymously through Crimestoppers should anyone prefer not to speak with police.

A 20-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder has since been released with no further action, but has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and is currently on bail.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 8711/05 May.
Updated 9 May 2023 at 2:18 pm

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a schoolboy was stabbed to death in east London.

Rennell Charles, 16, a pupil at Kelmscott School in Walthamstow, was stabbed to death close to the school in front of fellow pupils on Friday.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with his murder on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said.

He will appear at Stratford Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Headteacher Sam Jones said the attack marked the darkest of days for the school community.

A Kelmscott student was tragically killed in a senseless knife attack, he said.

Kelmscott is a large and tight-knit family and this loss will be felt for a long time to come.
A mother has issued an emotional plea to tackle knife crime as her 14-year-old sons killer was locked up for life, saying: It can be anyones child.

Jermaine Cools was fatally stabbed with a machete in Croydon, south London, on November 18 2021.

The unarmed child was the youngest fatality involving knife crime in the capital that year.

His 16-year-old killer, Marques Walker, had a history of carrying deadly weapons and had been on bail for carrying a Zombie knife six weeks before.

Showing a lack of remorse, he wrote about the murder in rap lyrics saying: Even if that youth was a civilian I would still rewind and chef up (stab) his back.

Jermaine Cools (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Walker, now aged 17, pleaded guilty to murder, possessing a knife and causing grievous bodily harm to a fellow inmate while in youth detention after the killing.

On Tuesday, Walker became the first youth to be sentenced on television as he was detained for life at the Old Bailey with a minimum term of 19 years.

Judge Sarah Munro KC, who was briefly interrupted by angry shouting from the public gallery, said: This is yet another case of the senseless murder of a young teenager committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom.

She said Walker stabbed Jermaine mercilessly and the victim must have been terrified and in agony.

A knife seized by Metropolitan Police in Croydon (Met Police/PA)

Jermaines mother Lorraine Dudek described the failure to deal with Walkers knife-carrying habit as a missed opportunity.

She said: Had it been addressed earlier he would not have had the opportunity to go out to kill.

Young males get caught with a knife, the knife gets confiscated. Within an hour they get another one from Snapchat or social media.

Stop and search has its place and its very, very good for removing weapons but the follow-up has to be there.

When Jermaine got stopped and searched I was happy about it. Some parents complain about their children being stopped and searched  that could be the deterrent that stops them.

Ms Dudek told how the family had witnessed victim blaming as people struggled to accept that boys with no gang connection could be stabbed for no reason.

But she said: People dont realise it can just be anyones child.

The court heard how Walker, from Bromley, Kent, was caught on CCTV footage calmly walking towards Jermaine and drawing a machete from his coat.

Jermaine either fell or was pushed to the ground before the youth ran towards him and repeatedly lunged at him with the blade.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said: It is clear that Jermaine Cools did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was unarmed, he was on the floor, and he was totally vulnerable.

He was stabbed a total of seven times by Marques Walker in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity.

Jermaine, who had previously confided in his parents that he was worried about knife crime, was driven by a passer-by to the Mayday Hospital where he died from a wound to the chest.

Police identified the defendant from CCTV footage but he went to ground, sleeping on the sofas of friends for nearly six weeks.

On December 27 2021, he was found at an address hiding behind a bed and initially gave a false name to officers.

A knife seized by police at a school (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The court was told the defendant had previously been caught carrying three large knives.

A Rambo-style blade was seized at his school and at the time of the murder he was on bail for possessing a Zombie knife six weeks earlier.

Jermaines parents described their son as a beautiful child and a bright light in the world who was just interested in music and cars.

Ms Dudek said: He had become aware that knife crime is massive. A lot of teenagers live with the threat of knife crime.

It was at the forefront of his mind. He became aware of the fact Croydon has the highest amount of knife crime in London  thats where his mind was in.

Ms Dudek suggested that tackling knife crime started at home and said she had always told Jermaine never to carry a blade.

She said: For me, Jermaine was the closest person to me, he was the best child ever.

We do not live any more. We just exist. When they took his life, they took ours. We just exist now. We exist in pain.

Ms Dudek thanked the people who came to her sons aid, saying: Im very grateful to them because without them my son would have died in the street.

She added: All these gang members. All his friends and family that protected him have my sons blood on their hands. I will never forgive the defendant.

Jermaines father Julius Cools said: I just feel I have not got justice yet. Everyone that was involved should get justice.

Referring to Walker, he said: Your devilish actions that night took Jermaine from us. You stabbed him so many times, if it was one or two wounds maybe Jermaine would have survived but you kept stabbing him.

I want justice for my son. The one that pushed my son, pushed him down for someone to stab him, should get the same justice.

Superintendent Richard Vandenbergh, of Scotland Yard, said: It was a horrific event that should never have happened. He was the very youngest that year to have lost their life to knife crime.

Jermaines family have spoken out about knife crime and I hope that their courage in speaking out may stop some other family losing a child to this evil crime.

This youth was able to obtain knife after knife. Anyone seeing the pictures of those weapons police seized from him in the months leading up to the killing of Jermaine should be concerned that weapons like this seem so readily available to young men.
Three water company bosses have decided to give up their bonuses this year following public anger over sewage pollution in Britains rivers.

Chief executives Nicola Shaw of Yorkshire Water, Sarah Bentley of Thames Water and Susan Davy of South West Water have declined to accept bonuses this year.

Ms Shaw said she understands the strength of feeling on river pollution and decided to refuse what would have been her first bonus since arriving at the company in May 2022.

Annual reports show she could have received between 600,000 and 800,000 if the company met its performance targets for the year. Last year the company paid out 878,000 in bonuses to directors.

Ms Shaw said: I understand the strength of feeling about the issues linked to river health which is why Ive decided that this year I wont be accepting a bonus.

This is the right thing to do and Im committed to improving Yorkshire Waters performance.

Our turnaround plan is already under way: our Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) has improved to a 3* company, we are tunnelling a huge new sewer for Ilkley, and weve started an additional 180 million programme of work to improve our storm overflows in the region.

Alongside this, were building plans for our biggest environmental programme since privatisation.

Last year Ms Bentley received 496,000 while Ms Davy took 522,000.

Thames Waters chief financial officer, Alastair Cochran, will also skip his bonus for 2022-23. He received 298,000 last year.

Emma Clancy, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: We welcome this move by Sarah Bentley and Alastair Cochran at Thames Water.

Our recent research, Bridging the Gap, shows that bonuses add to peoples current frustration with the water industry and they would like much more openness and transparency on this issue.

This announcement shows that peoples concerns are being listened to.

A House of Lords committee said in March that water bosses should not receive bonuses while their companies are missing targets and polluting the environment.

It said a slurry of under-investment, insufficient government strategy, and inadequate co-ordination has meant water is not being treated with the care and importance it deserves.

The committee also said the regulator, Ofwat, has failed to ensure companies invest enough money into infrastructure.

The Government has said it is forcing water companies to invest 56 million in updating its infrastructure, much of which is decades old.

Dr Harvey Wood, director of the Clean Rivers Trust, said it is not able to accommodate the extra demand placed on the sewage system by a larger population and that only a nationwide overhaul will alleviate the pressure.

He said: Its a huge problem that this country has got to adjust to. Sewers that are discharging are having to take far more sewage as the house building continues and the system cant cope.

Theres a huge need in rural and semi-rural areas for an increase in sewer size. The sewer system generally in this country is shot.
The leader of a universities union has agreed to pay substantial damages to a firefighter over tweets he claims falsely portrayed him as a misogynist, a pervert and a liar, the High Court has been told.

Paul Embery, a trade union activist, launched a libel claim against Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), over her response to him highlighting the anti-social behaviour of a group of train passengers on Twitter.

At a hearing in London on Tuesday, Judge Jaron Lewis was told that Mr Embery was prepared to let the matter rest after Dr Grady agreed to pay damages, legal costs and not to repeat her allegations.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr Embery claimed he would receive just under 10,000 in damages, with Dr Grady having to pay over 12,000 in costs.

 The general secretary of the University and College Union (@ucu), Dr Jo Grady, has agreed to pay me substantial damages and costs after publishing a serious libel about me. All damages will be donated to groups campaigning to defend women's sex-based rights. My statement.  pic.twitter.com/9pb3u5Z5xB  Paul Embery (@PaulEmbery) May 9, 2023

Tom Double, representing Mr Embery, told the court that the firefighter had been travelling with his children from London to Norwich in August 2022 where a group of women sitting directly behind them were consuming alcohol and behaving in a loud and obnoxious manner.

One woman in particular was repeatedly using sexually explicit profanities. Mr Embery considered it unacceptable that passengers, including his own children, should be subjected to this behaviour, so eventually he intervened and politely asked the women to refrain from swearing, Mr Double said.

His request was met with hostility and abuse and, despite a train guard intervening, their loutish behaviour continued, which included Mr Embery being warned he would be knocked out and being threatened with a beer bottle, the court heard.

Mr Embery filmed the group on his phone, and tweeted a photo of them to train operator Greater Anglia in the hope it would take action against the women.

The tweet went viral and was seen by over a million people, Mr Double said.

Over the next two days, Dr Grady published tweets, with one saying: Grow up Paul and take a day off bullying women and pretending to be outraged for clicks. Its pathetic at any age, but especially yours.

She also tweeted: Its creepy to record young women on the train, share that video, and lie about them on social media for clout.

Mr Double claimed the tweets from the highly influential figure had accused Mr Embery of being a serial harasser of women and lying about the incident in question.

The lawyer said they were retweeted and liked thousands of times causing immeasurable harm to the firefighters reputation.

They portrayed him as a misogynist, a pervert and a liar, when all he was doing was seeking to defend himself, his children and fellow passengers from rowdy and threatening behaviour on public transport, Mr Double said.

They contained wild and reckless allegations; all entirely without foundation.

Mr Embery has always been a vocal public supporter of womens rights and deplores all bullying and violence towards women and girls.

Mr Double said Dr Gradys allegations caused considerable distress, adding that Mr Embery had given an honest account of the train incident, did not share the video on social media and had been solely motivated to report anti-social behaviour.

His tweet highlighted a very real problem that ordinary, decent passengers face every day on public transport, the court heard.

Dr Grady refused to apologise and withdraw her allegations after Mr Embery wrote to her, the judge was told, with the firefighter subsequently pursuing legal action.

Dr Grady has now agreed to pay Mr Embery substantial damages and legal costs. She has additionally undertaken not to repeat the allegations or similar allegations, Mr Double said.

After the short hearing, Mr Embery told reporters that he would donate all his damages to charities campaigning to defend womens sex-based rights and defend the integrity of womens sports.
A woman has died in hospital after she was shot while police engaged in a stand-off with a man in Kent.

Armed police and a trained negotiator were scrambled to a terraced house in Priory Road, Dartford, at 12.40pm on Saturday afternoon following reports of a disturbance.

The woman, aged 36, was taken to a London hospital suffering from shots from a handgun  where Kent Police say she died on Monday evening.

Police officers at the scene in Priory Road, Dartford, Kent (Joseph Draper/PA Media)

A man, aged 29, was also taken to hospital with a firearms injury and remains in a critical condition.

A force spokesman said: An investigation into a firearms incident at a property in Dartford is now being treated as murder after the victim died in hospital.

Officers, along with a trained police negotiator, attended and attempted to engage with a man inside the address.

Firearms officers also attended and whilst they were at the scene, a 36-year-old woman suffered injuries believed to have been caused by a handgun and she was taken to a London hospital.

The victim died from her injuries shortly before the evening of May 8.

The man, aged 29, was also taken to hospital with a firearms injury and he remains in a critical condition.

He is being treated as the suspect and an investigation is being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Witnesses described how police cordoned off the road and ordered people to stay inside their homes, before officers broke through the front door.

After an hour-long stand-off, pandemonium broke out and neighbours heard what they described as sounding like two rounds of gunshots.

One woman, who wished not to be named, described the scene as chilling.

Kent Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because police were at the scene at the time of the injuries.

No police weapons were discharged.

An IOPC spokesperson said: On Saturday we were notified by Kent Police about a firearms incident in Dartford, where a woman and a man sustained serious injuries.

We have now been advised that sadly the woman involved has died.

Today we received a mandatory referral from Kent Police regarding this incident, which we are assessing to determine whether any further action is required from us.
A man has appeared in court accused of fatally stabbing a woman in the neck with a makeshift blade in an unprovoked stranger attack.

Mohamed Nur, 33, allegedly set upon Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, 31, from behind with a sharp weapon in broad daylight.

On Tuesday, Nur appeared at the Old Bailey charged with her murder, injuring three other members of the public two days before and having offensive weapons made from scissor blades and broken mirror glass.

Prosecutor Julian Evans said Ms Dogbey died from stab injuries as a result of a completely unprovoked attack on her.

He told the court: There is no suggestion she and the defendant were known to one another.

Ms Dogbey had been walking alone on Stockwell Park Walk in Brixton after going into central London to do some shopping on May 1.

She was attacked from behind by a man wearing all dark clothing and died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination identified the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.

Two days before, on April 29, Nur allegedly attacked two women and a man in quick succession in Brixton at about 11.30pm.

It is alleged that all three were set upon without warning, without provocation and apparently at random.

They were said to have suffered cuts to the face or cheek.

Nur was arrested after being stopped by police on Brixton High Street allegedly in possession of a weapon fashioned from a piece of broken mirror.

He was charged with Ms Dogbeys murder, three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on April 29 and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon relating to a bladed article made from scissors on May 1 and glass on May 2.

Nur, who was living in a hostel in Vauxhall, south London, spoke only to confirm his identity in the dock of the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Members of Ms Dogbeys family appeared tearful as they sat in the well of the court for the preliminary hearing.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a plea hearing for July 25 and a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey from April 29 2024.

Nur was remanded into custody.
The royal family will return to official engagements on Tuesday following the coronation weekend of ceremony and celebration.

The King is among the working royals who will go back to business as usual, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The duchess will visit Morden College in Blackheath, London, of which she is a patron on Tuesday, while the duke will attend a dinner at Stonehage Fleming at St Jamess Square for his patron charity, the Duke of Edinburghs International Award Foundation.

As the coronation festivities came to a close on Monday night, the King and Queen pledged to rededicate their lives to service as Charles called the nations support throughout the historic celebrations the greatest possible coronation gift.

In his special coronation message, Charles said: We thank you, each and every one.

Traditional official portraits marking the crowning of Charles III and Queen Camilla were released to round off the monarchys landmark occasion.

Among them, the King was captured in his full regalia  wearing the Imperial State Crown, holding the Orb and Sceptre with Cross, and dressed in his regal purple tunic and Robe of Estate, seated on a Throne Chair in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.

Camilla was pictured alongside the King, and also in a solo portrait, wearing Queen Marys Crown, with the train of her lengthy embroidered Robe of Estate spread in front of her.

The working royal family  the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Edinburghs, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Kent, the Gloucesters and Princess Alexandra  were also photographed stood with the King and Queen in the images by Hugo Burnand.

King Charles III in his official coronation portrait (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/PA)

The Duke of York  who stepped down from being a working royal after his controversial Newsnight documentary  was missing from the family group of royals in the official coronation portraits released so far.

Andrew, who was at the coronation in his Order of the Garter robes, paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case last year.

The Duke of Sussex was also missing, no longer being a working royal, and having headed back to California shortly after the coronation ceremony.

The King, signing his words Charles R, said he and Camilla gave our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion.

The now-crowned monarch used his coronation message to issue an affirmation for the rest of his reign, saying he and Camilla would now rededicate our lives to royal service.

He added: To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift, as we now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.

The official coronation portrait of the Queen (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/PA)

The King also paid tribute to the countless people who have given their time and dedication to ensuring that the celebrations in London, Windsor and further afield were as happy, safe and enjoyable as possible.

Earlier on Monday, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children helped out at a Scout Hut in Slough as part of the national volunteering drive to mark the coronation.

While the King and Queen had a quiet day away from the public eye after Sunday evenings Coronation Concert, other royals joined in the Big Help Out.

Edward and Sophie helped at a puppy class for trainee Guide Dogs in Reading, while the Princess Royal attended a County Civic Service recognising local volunteers in Gloucester Cathedral.

The Princess of Wales, watched by the Prince of Wales, tries archery while joining volunteers to help renovate and improve the third Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out (Daniel Leal/PA)

Edward confessed the royal family was concerned Miss Piggy would gate-crash the royal box during the Windsor Castle musical extravaganza, after Kermit the Frog turned up and danced in front of the dukes seat.

Everybody in the Royal Box was nervous when Miss Piggy would turn up, he said.

There was an empty seat just behind me and we didnt know who it was for.

We suddenly thought it could be her and once we started that rumour, everyone around us was very nervous.
(Photo : Allison Dinner / AFP) (ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republicans are set to vote on a new border security package on the same day when the Title 42 policy will end in an attempt to address the border crisis.

House Republicans set to vote on border security package as Title 42 nears end

Lawmakers will vote on the HR 2 bill on Thursday, the same day that the Trump-era policy expires

Authorities plan to address the migrant crisis by codifying some programs under the Title 42 policy

House Republicans are set to vote on a border security package as Title 42 is nearing its end in an attempt to address the so-called migrant crisis that has hounded the southern border.

Lawmakers will vote on Thursday, which falls on the same day as the end of the policy that has allowed the United States to quickly expel certain migrants from entering the country. The bill is HR 2 and would codify some of the border programs that Title 42 enacted under former President Donald Trump.

Border Security Package

These will include the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which requires all migrants to stay in Mexico as they go through the asylum process at the border. Furthermore, HR 2 would allocate more resources to security at the southern border, restart the border wall construction, deploy more border personnel, and bolster border technology, as per CNN.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that the GOP already has the necessary votes to pass the legislation in the chamber. This was despite internal party concerns regarding how strict some policies in the bill should be.

The Republican lawmaker's comments came after weeks of intra-party negotiations that culminated in softening some provisions in the HR 2 bill to get support from some GOP members. These include Texas Reps. Chip Roy and Tony Gonzalez, and several moderate Republicans.

Despite gaining enough support to pass the Republican-led House, the bill is not expected to pass through the Democrat-led Senate. Furthermore, the vote timing coincided with the end of the Title 42 policy.

Read Also: Texas Shooting Update: Suspect is a Neo-Nazi Sympathizer

Title 42 Nears End

The Trump-era policy first came into effect three years ago and has since faced widespread criticism from immigrant advocates and some Democratic lawmakers. According to BBC, they believed that it failed to prevent many asylum seekers from coming into the country.

On the other hand, Republican lawmakers have argued that Title 42 should remain in place to prevent illegal border crossings. The situation has fueled an increasingly tense and politicized immigration debate before the 2024 elections.

After Title 42 expires, border officials will have to resort to the usual laws they have used to handle illegal border crossings. These usually take longer, and the prolonged administrative processing is expected to lead to migrants staying in holding facilities longer.

After those facilities reach their maximum capacity, the situation makes it more likely for people to suffer inhumane conditions when they crowd together under bridges and outside designated shelters.

The biggest challenge for officials in the days and weeks following the end of Title 42 is managing the high numbers of migrants in a safe and orderly way. United States President Joe Biden's administration has already rolled out new policies to curb illegal crossings at the border, said the New York Times.

Related Article: US Congress Contemplates New Regulations for Tech Industry

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The Weeknd discusses reshooting the first season of his show, The Idol, in W magazine. (Photo: Tyler Mitchell)

Abel "the Weeknd" Tesfaye is talking about the behind-the-scenes of his controversial series, The Idol.

He and co-star Lily-Rose Depp are featured on two covers for W magazine's the Pop issue to promote the HBO show, which is finally out on June 4. In the interview, he talks about the challenges of completely reshooting the first season of the show, which sees him as a Svengali named Tedros to Depp's pop superstar Jocelyn, with the show's co-creator and director Sam Levinson weighing in. What they didn't directly address is Rolling Stone's March expose, claiming the show had "gone wildly, disgustingly off the rails" as he and co-creator Levinson, who is also behind Euphoria, made a show depicting "torture porn."

"Film and TV is a new creative muscle for me," Tesfaye told W. "I don't release my music until I think it is great. Why would this be any different? ... I realized that I need to know that I've made the best version of whatever I'm making. It was a challenge to redo The Idol, and, in truth, I sacrificed my health and home to make it work. So, let's say it comes out and it's f***ing horrible. I still know I did my absolute best. From what I've seen, the show is great. Everything is a risk: When you've done the best you can, I would call that a happy ending."

Of the swirl around the show, which will screen at the Cannes Film Festival this month, he added, "I like when all the odds are against me. I've always been an underdog  in the beginning, the music business was not easy. I had to fight to get to the top of the mountain."

The Weeknd on the cover of W magazine. (Photo: Tyler Mitchell)

Levinson talked about Tesfaye's initial pitch for the show, which he and his producing partner, Reza Fahim, came up with.

"He said something that I'll always remember: 'If I wanted to start a cult, I could,'" Levinson said. "What he meant is that his fans were so loyal and devoted that they would follow him anywhere. That was the germ of the idea for The Idol: what happens when a pop star falls for the wrong guy and no one speaks up."

According to the article, Levinson was so excited by the idea he immediately wrote an outline of the show and week later penned a script. HBO OKed the six-episode project, but because Levinson was working on Euphoria's second season, they had a different team, under director Amy Seimetz, direct and work on The Idol. But, once complete, they didn't like what the saw. (According to Rolling Stone, Seimetz's version was "about a troubled starlet falling victim to a predatory industry figure and fighting to reclaim her own agency." In Levinson's imagining, it was a degrading love story that multiple crew members found offensive with it being called it a "rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show" which sees Depp's character come "back for more because it makes her music better.")

After seeing the initial version of The Idol, Tesfaye had Levinson to his house to discuss what to do.

"Quitting the show wasn't an option for Abel or me: It was a dream that we had together, and we had to see it through," Levinson told W. "If we were going to reshoot from the beginning, I knew it had to be for less money. Sitting in Abel's house, looking around at the 40,000 square feet, I said, 'It's stunning here you can't buy production design like this. What if we shoot it here?' Abel put down his drink and said, 'Do you have insurance?' I said yes. And he said, 'I'm OK with it.'"

For the reshoot, Tesfaye's mansion was converted so that bedrooms became greenrooms. He moved out completely.

"I had to stay in character. So I took my dog and we lived in another house," Tesfaye said. "My home belonged to the show; it was a hub of activity. We were trying to blur the line between fiction and reality. We had cameras going all the time."

Speaking of his controversial character, Tesfaye is only quoted as saying, "Who doesn't want to play a villain?"

Depp also spoke about her character undergoing a transformation, but it largely talked about coloring her hair blonde. She explained, "As a blonde, Jocelyn could be good; she could be evil. You never know. I grew up watching older films, especially French films. Women like Brigitte Bardot have beauty mixed with an 'I don't give a f***' energy. I wanted that feeling for Jocelyn."

Lily Rose-Depp on the cover of W magazine. (Photo: Tyler Mitchell)

Depp said of her character's relationship, "Like all my favorite on-screen couples, Jocelyn and Tedros complemented each other in the most dangerous way. They had that push-and-pull connection."

Tesfaye also spoke a lot about the mental impact of playing two personas: the character from this series as well as being Grammy winner the Weeknd.

"I had to take off the Weeknd outfit, put on Tedros's wig, shoot with Jocelyn, then go back to being The Weeknd," for a scene they shot last September at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium in front of an arena filled with 70,000 people there to see him perform as the Weeknd, he said. "After the concert, I lost my voice. No voice came out at all. Thats never happened before. My theory is that I forgot how to sing because I was playing Tedros, a character who doesn't know how to sing. I may be looking too deeply into this, but it was terrifying. As The Weeknd, I've never skipped a concert. I've performed with the flu. I'll die on that stage. But there was something very complicated going on with my mind at that moment."

And that led him on what he called a "cathartic path" in which he had "to rest and reflect and think about The Weeknd and Tedros and all that had happened with the show." He said it's led him to seriously think about saying goodbye to his musical personal that he adopted over a decade ago.

"It's getting to a place and a time where I'm getting ready to close The Weeknd chapter," he said. "Ill still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I'm definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn."

He said the album he's "working on now is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd. This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I've said everything I can say."

The Idol stirred controversy in March after Rolling Stone's story. Soon after, fans got a glimpse at Levinson's revamped version when a trailer for the erotic drama was released with its premiere date:
Joanna Gaines traded her signature denim style for a formal gown this past April! The Fixer Upper star attended a State Dinner with President Biden in Washington, DC, with her husband, Chip, on April 26, 2023.

The dinner was especially momentous, as it was in celebration of Americas 70-year alliance with South Korea.

What an honor it was to be a part of tonights State Dinner to celebrate the 70 year alliance between the United States of America and my mother's home country of South Korea, Joanna wrote on Instagram. Coming off the heels of our incredible trip to Seoul, this evening was another reminder of just how proud I am to be a Korean American

For the special occasion, Jo wore a black asymmetrical one-shoulder gown paired with a coordinating black clutch. By her side, Chip looked dapper in a black tux. Understandably, fans couldnt help but gush over the couple. Amazing! You both look sharp, one fan wrote. One for the memory books, Im sure, another fan exclaimed. Congratulations on being able to honor South Korea and America's relationship. Im sure your mother and mother-in-law as well as all your parents are so proud. I would be boasting with joy that I made it to an event like that, someone else said.

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As special as it was to attend the event, the moment she found out she was invited was particularly memorable.

My mother found out that we were going  I mean, she cried immediately, Joanna revealed on TODAY while chatting with hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie. She was like, 'I would have never thought that my daughter would meet the Korean president,' So it was such an honor. It was such a dream, for sure.

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Twenty-six years after immigrating to Los Angeles from Kishine, Moldova as a Jewish refugee, I returned to my birthplace for the first time in search of a wedding dress. It was a journey that started before I was born and in some ways, one that didn't end when I landed back home in L.A.



When my mother got married in Soviet-era Moldova in 1989, she wore a dress that was made in the U.S.a wedding gift from my fathers distant cousins in Philadelphia. It was incredibly unusual for a time when only a few clothing manufacturers were permitted to sell to the insular Soviet Union, and most womens wedding dresses bore the same designs as their peers. In my mothers telling, hordes of women outside city hall begged to buy the dress off her back as she and my father headed to their reception. She ended up selling her dress and veil two days after her wedding, to a woman who hadnt even tried them on.

My mothers wedding dress was a white, long-sleeved, lacy number with a train that resembled merengue. It featured shoulder pads and beaded flowers, which my mother wore with a complementary pearl drop necklace and bejeweled veil clip. She carried a bouquet of red roses that, even in the sepia-toned photos, popped against the white of her dress. She was 20 years old. My father, 23, was clad in a tuxedo my maternal grandmother had borrowed from a member of the Symphony Orchestra of Moldova.

ruth madievsky

Two years earlier, my parents had met at the university where my mother was studying pharmacy and my father medicine. After a year of dating, my mother boldly asked when my father was planning on proposing. Her clear-eyed confidence at 19 was unimaginable when I was her age. Though I was 19 when I started dating my now-husband, I was nowhere near ready to plan the rest of my life. We got engaged eight years in, just after my 27th birthday. After taking me to lunch and a photography exhibit, Adam proposed at my favorite LA indie bookstore, Skylight Books, beneath the Ficus tree that blooms in the center of the store.

We opted for a two-year engagement, partly because Adam was starting graduate school, and partly because the choices in front of us were overwhelming. We could get married in a synagogue, or on a campground with a functional Ferris wheel, or at an aquarium between walls of rainbow fish. I could wear a white dress or a magenta patent leather romper. These arent hypotheticals, but actual considerations I made. Meanwhile, my parents choiceslike those of most Soviet citizens except the very wealthywere functionally limited to getting married at a restaurant or a family home. The run-down local synagogue, which my family didnt feel safe attending while living under state-sanctioned antisemitism, wasnt even a consideration. My parents opted for a popular hotel restaurant with a security guard (who conveniently disappeared when a band of local troublemakers burst into the reception demanding a cut of their wedding presents).

Despite the abundance of choices in front of me, I didnt love any of the American wedding dresses I tried on. There was the smoke gray gown with flower appliques that made my boobs look amazing, but the fact that it was constantly advertised on social media made it feel like a McDress. There was the tight Grecian gown that weighed a million pounds, and the gossamer white-and-silver one that barely concealed my nipples. My mother and I flitted from boutique to boutique, sipping champagne as their staff stuffed me into one tastefully revealing outfit after another. All of them were beautiful, and none of them were right.

An American wedding that pays tribute to my roots

My wedding was shaping up to be pretty nontraditional from a post-Soviet perspective. Our venue was a family-owned farm, where guests could feed alpacasa far cry from the banquet halls dripping in white roses and crystal chandeliers at the recent family weddings Id attended. We would not be serving beef stroganoff or Olivier salad. Our band would not be playing Russophone hits (sorry, Alla Pugacheva and J.Lo). I wasnt sad about how American-leaning our choices were per se, but I didnt want my ethnic background to be erased either. Id walked this tightrope of identity countless times by then, but it never got easier.

I grew up mostly in Los Angeles from the time I was two, straddling two distinct cultures. The life we left behind was discussed with a blend of bitterness and nostalgia. The Soviet Union was a terrible place to be a Jew; god, was the fruit delicious. Our community had one anothers backs; the only way to get by was through an economy of bribes. We spoke Russian, but we werent Russian. We lived in Moldova, but we werent Moldovan, because Jews were excluded from belonging to national identities. I grew up with no word for what I was and no discrete place to call home.

When I had the opportunity to return to Moldova with my parents for the first time in 2019, I became fixated on finding my wedding dress there. I hoped that reenacting the inverse of my mothers experience by wearing a gown from Moldova when shed worn one from America could help weave together the disparate parts of my identity.

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We spent five days visiting my parents childhood friends and old haunts. The restaurant where my parents got married was long abandoned. Loose wires hung from the ceiling, the floor a mess of weeds and shattered cement. We spent time at my parents medical school, our exhausted-looking former apartment complex, the grim Jewish cemetery where my ancestors are buried. The jungle-dense weeds and cracked headstonessome of which were neglected and weather-worn to the point of unreadabilitymade our family lore about survival under state-sanctioned antisemitism and Soviet terror more real than a dress ever could. It felt like everyone buried there had been forgotten, though my parents assured me that they paid a groundskeeper to tidy our ancestors graves every month. By the time we went shopping the next day, the idea that a wedding dress could bind the shards between the life my family left behind and the one I largely enjoyed in the U.S. felt laughable.

Finding the dress carried an outsized weight

There was gravitas to visiting the three bridal boutiques that the daughter of my mothers childhood best friend picked out. My family had left; her family had stayed. We were three daughters of Moldova, but my mother and I were semi-helpless tourists in the place wed once called home. When I slipped on a gauzy white dress embroidered with small velvet polka dots, its bodice a deep vee, I knew Id found the one. But it wasnt the euphoric moment Id expected. Finding my wedding dress in the city where I was born, surrounded by the ghosts of the life wed left behind, was bittersweet and highly charged.

Thirty years earlier, my father had to serve in the Soviet Army to earn one of the coveted medical school spots open to Jews. Thirty years before that, my great-grandfather was murdered as an enemy of the state. Twenty years before that, my late grandfathers wife fled Moldova at the start of World War II and nearly died in a bombing. Ill never forget the way she described watching her family cow blow up. She was 3 years old. The extremity of details like this has haunted me long after returning to the U.S. My wedding dress could never just be a wedding dress with these stories woven into its fabric.

Shop Now All-Night Pharmacy: A Novel $24.30 amazon.com

Beyond the acquisition of my wedding dress, the trip inspired much of my forthcoming debut novel, All-Night Pharmacy. Its a coming-of-age narrative about a young woman reckoning with intergenerational trauma and her nascent queerness, with the help of an allegedly psychic Jewish refugee from Moldova. Its also about fraught family dynamics, addiction, and learning how to claim ourselves. Partly set in Moldova, the novel became a container for the family stories that I feared would otherwise be lost.

Between the pandemic ravaging Moldova and the instability of the region due to Russias genocidal war in Ukraine, I dont know when Ill be able to safely visit my birthplace again. Several people I spent time with there have fled, and my late grandfathers wife has died of COVID-19. Scholar Svetlana Boyms definition of nostalgia as longing for a home that does not exist or has never existed feels truer than ever.

I doubt this longing will ever cease, but Ive made a home in its dull ache. There is no resolving the in-between-ness of being diasporic. Connecting with other immigrants and learning that Im not alone in that feeling has been deeply healing, as has writing about the diasporic experience, both in my novel and elsewhere. Ive stopped looking for a slick descriptor of my identity. Post-Soviet American Jew is where Ive landed for now. And I no longer expect physical objects like a wedding dress to glue me back together. Why should I? Im not broken.



Originally from Moldova, Ruth Madievsky lives in Los Angeles, where she is a chapbook reader for Gold Line Press and a pharmacist. Her debut novel All-Night Pharmacy comes out in July. This essay is part of a series highlighting the Good Housekeeping Book Club  you can join the conversation and check out more of our favorite book recommendations.

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Eurovision is back! The 67th edition of the European song competition is currently underway in England.

Last year, Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra took home first prize, which means Ukraine should've been the host for this year's edition. However, due to the ongoing Russian invasion, the runner up, the United Kingdom, is hosting the competition in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine.

For the first time, U.S. viewers can vote in the competitionAmerican viewers will be counted in the "Rest of the World" category. (More info on Eurovision's website.)

Courtesy of Peacock

How to watch Eurovision from the U.S.:

Eurovision's semi-finals and grand final will stream in the U.S. on Peacock. Per the streamer, "The Eurovision Song Contest began as a technical experiment in television broadcasting: the live, simultaneous, transnational broadcast that Europe has now been watching for nearly 70 years was in the late 1950s a marvel. Over the years the format has evolved into the week-long, boundary pushing, technologically innovative, multi show spectacular we enjoy today."

Johnny Weir, former Olympic ice skater, will host Peacock's Eurovision telecast for the final.

Here's the schedule:

First Semi-Final: Tuesday, May 9, at 3 p.m. eastern / 12 noon pacific

Second Semi-Final: Thursday, May 11, at 9 p.m. at 3 p.m. eastern / 12 noon pacific

The Grand Final: Saturday, May 13, 2022, at 3 p.m. eastern / 12 noon pacific

Peacock plans begin at $4.99/month.

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A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.

Posts reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers include photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

The profile allegedly belongs to Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old who was fatally shot by police after he fired an AR-style rifle at the outlet mall, killing eight and injuring seven others.

Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed or suggested a motive behind the mass shooting. A federal law enforcement bulletin notes that the FBIs review and triage of the subjects social media accounts revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.

The profile did not have any followers or appear to have any engagement from other users.

One image on the ok.ru profile includes a picture of his hand which appears to be the same tattoo that belonged to the gunman. Another photo receipt from January has the name Mauricio and a phone number that appears to match one that belongs to Garcia.

Photos on the profile also include dumped-out boxes of ammunition, posted at the same time with images outside the mall. The profile had appeared to telegraph preparations for violence for years; a photo of a written diary entry in a spiral-bound notebook from 2019 details a dream about racist violence.

In what appears to be a final post, the user claims that a psychologist would not be able to fix him. A link to a YouTube video posted by the same person on the day of the shooting shows Garcia removing a Scream mask and asking, Not quite what you were expecting, huh?

During the attack, he was reportedly wearing a patch reading RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad  a flak jacket with the patch appears on the ok.ru profile.

Post from April 21st pic.twitter.com/ToWKclPplk  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

This catchphrase has emerged in recent years as both a far-right brand and rallying cry popular with the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group. Its also often associated with memes and T-shirts praising Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and his extrajudicial killing of political enemies by throwing them from helicopters.

Dissidents, particularly leftists, socialists, and supporters of the previous government, were dropped to their death from helicopters by Pinochets regime, West Points Combating Terrorism Center notes in its research of the Right Wing Death Squad meme. Today, the reference often features an image of a helicopter and is often accompanied by slogans such as Right Wing Death Squad, Free Helicopter Rides, and other iterations.

The phrases are emblazoned on T-shirts and stickers; several members of the Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding the January 6 attack have been photographed with similar patches or T-shirts reading Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong.

Jeremy Bertino, center left, is pictured with an RWDS patch in 2020. (EPA)

Members of the Proud Boys are photographed with RWDS on their hats in 2020. (AP)

RWDS has appeared at neo-Nazi gatherings, far-right protests and other events attracting Proud Boys members and other fascist groups within the years after the 2016 election.

The phrase was scrawled on shields during the so-called Unite the Right rally white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. At the time, Facebook removed several racist groups from the platform, including one called Right Wing Death Squad.

In 2019, federal investigators uncovered an alleged plot involving an active-duty US Marine to kill minorities, drug users and members of the Democratic National Committee in a group chat called Right Wing Death Squad.

Allen is among one of the most diverse suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to roughly 105,000 people.

Many of the posts allegedly written by Garcia also discuss or reference his Hispanic heritage, underscoring the ways in which white supremacism, fascism and violent extremist ideologies often escape rigid racial or ethnic lines.

Virulent antisemite and white nationalist Nick Fuentes has a half-Mexican father, and Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol attack, is Afro-Cuban.

Nazi propaganda website The Daily Stormer also began publishing in Spanish in 2017 in an effort to seize on Latin American audiences. The ok.ru profile mentions the website and its founder Andrew Anglin.

I think I even read in the news Hispanics could be the new white supremist [sic], one of the ok.ru post reads. Just the other day this black dude told me the line is blurring. He cant tell the difference anymore. Someone would look white but their [sic] actually Hispanic.

In photographs of his spiral-bound diary entries, he also said he wore an Its OK to be White shirt and that he is Hispanic whether he likes it or not.

A Dallas-area home connected to Mauricio Garcia, who killed eight people at a mall in Allen, Texas on 6 May. (AP)

Garcia was heavily armed and armoured when he began firing indiscriminately with an AR-style rifle at the Allen Premium Outlets shopping centre on 6 May.

Among the eight victims are a three-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl, according to the Allen Police Department.

An Allen police officer who was already at the scene for an unrelated incident fatally shot him.

There have been more than 200 mass shootings, including 21 mass murders, so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

White supremacists are behind the highest number of extremism-related murders in most years, according to an analysis from the Anti-Defamation League. Last year, 21 of 25 extremism-linked murders were committed by white supremacists  but all the extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds, the report found.
Just one day after the most recent mass shooting in the United States -- this time at an outdoor mall in Allen, Texas -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed the incident on mental health issues as he's done with previous mass shootings in the state.

Abbott, a Republican, said addressing mental health -- not tightening gun laws -- can prevent shootings such as the one on Saturday, in which eight people were killed and seven injured before the suspect was fatally shot by police, Abbott said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday."

Law enforcement sources told ABC News the alleged gunman was in the U.S. Army in 2008 but was "removed due to mental health concerns." Investigators have found he also may have gravitated toward right-wing extremist ideology, including neo-Nazi sympathies, the sources told ABC News.

MORE: 'I knew she was gone': Witness describes aftermath

"What we've seen across the United States over the past year or two  is an increased number of shootings in both red states and blue states," Abbott said on Sunday. "We've seen an increased number of shootings in states with easy gun laws as well as states with very strict gun laws."

This is not the first time Abbot has blamed a growing prevalence of people with mental health issues on mass shootings. In May 2022, he also said it was behind the Uvalde elementary school shooting that left 21 people dead.

PHOTO: Jane and her comfort dog Triton help build a memorial to those killed at the Allen Premium Outlets mall after the mass shooting occurred, May 8, 2023 in Allen, Texas. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Here's what Texas has -- and hasn't -- done when it comes to addressing mental health in the state.

Texas ranks last in the U.S. when it comes to access to mental health care, including a lack of mental health services, a high number of those uninsured, and being unable to see a mental health professional due to costs, according to a recent report from nonprofit Mental Health America.

It's not just adults suffering, but adolescents as well. The report found 60% of youth with major depression did not receive mental health treatment.

Additionally, last year, Abbott announced nearly $500 million would be moved from state agencies to support the deployment of the National Guard to the southern border as well as to support border operations.

Of that amount, $210.7 million was from Texas Health & Human Services, which oversees public mental health programs. It's unclear if funding was cut from mental health programs:

MORE: Texas shooting witness describes 'massive trauma' as he helped victims

That's not to say nothing has been done in Texas to address mental health. In June 2022, in response to the Uvalde shooting, Abbott ordered that $5.8 million be allocated to expand the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine statewide and that $4.7 million be allocated to the Health and Human Services Commission to increase multisystemic therapy, a program for juveniles with serious criminal offenses, across the state.

However, the National Mental Health Alliance of Texas is working to get Republican offices to support HB 4713, providing insurance coverage for coordinated specialty care for people under age 26 experiencing a first episode of psychosis, meaning delusions and hallucinations.

Recently an amendment was introduced by state Rep. Jeff Leach, whose district includes Allen -- where the shooting took place -- that makes it optional for insurance companies to cover this care.

PHOTO: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds a news conference in Austin, Texas, May 8, 2023. (Eric Gay/AP)

Greg Hansch, executive director of NMHA of Texas, expressed his disappointment at the amendment passing in a statement to ABC News.

Not voting "to ensure that insurance pays for the gold standard in treatment for young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis, they are leaving significant mental health legislation on the table that could help in preventing further tragedies," he said. "This all happened today, two days after the shooting."

Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, told ABC News in a statement that the governor "has always worked diligently to fully fund and expand mental health programs and services for Texans."

"Throughout his time in office, Governor Abbott has worked closely with the Texas Legislature to appropriate over $25 billion to address mental and behavioral health issues and pass a variety of bills expanding access to mental health services, including creating a matching grant program to assist local communities in addressing any un-met local mental health needs," the statement read. "Governor Abbott also made addressing statewide mental health needs an emergency item during the 86th legislative session, passing and signing a bill creating the Child Mental Health Consortium and the Child Psychiatric Access Network. Those mental health assessment and treatment programs are already available in more than 3,500 schools, and we're working to ensure these programs reach every school in Texas."

Abbott blames Texas mall shooting on mental health, but what has been done to address it? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A man holds up a sign during a Reparations Task Force meeting in Oakland in 2022. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Californias Reparations Task Force approved its final report last weekend, recommending a public apology to Black Californians, dozens of policy reforms and monetary payments.

The Task Force was created in 2020, following the death of George Floyd, to document the harm of slavery, propose restorative measures and educate the public.

America needs to know how enormous the harm is. Thats not been done before, Donald Tamaki, a task force member and lawyer, told Yahoo News.

Tamaki is one of the panels nine members, five of whom were appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and said the committee retained economists to calculate the harm, which in theory equates to roughly $1.2 million per person, according to a recent report by the New York Times.

The extent of the harm, it's terrible, it is enormous. It is astronomical, Tamaki said.

While the task force released an estimated amount for compensation, it did not recommend that the state pay a specific amount; instead, the monetary calculation provides guidance for the enormous economic extent and impact, Tamaki said. I think people have sort of an idea that reparations [are] merely a check in the mail. Well, it does involve compensation. But it does involve all of the others fixing the systems and the culture that created this in the first place.

In addition, the panel recommended dozens of proposals, including changes to providing equity in health care, education, policing, legal systems, and incarceration, as well as reforming historically redlined communities in the state.

The cost is too high

Task Force members listen to public comments during a meeting in Oakland in 2022. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Experts stress that compensation is not enough. It's so deep and pervasive, it has to be followed by institutional changes and changes in the culture, Tamaki said, referring to the impact of slavery and racial discrimination.

But reparations remain an unpopular concept in the U.S., with more than 60% of Americans opposing repayment to descendants of enslaved people, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center Survey.

For those who think the cost is too high, consider the ongoing price paid for these injustices by all people who call the U.S. home, also paid in the currency of shorter, sicker lives. Its time to make a down payment on a healthier future, Mary Travis Bassett, a public health professor at Harvard University, told Yahoo News.

Last year, the task force submitted a 500-page report, which outlined the harm of 246 years of slavery, 90 years of Jim Crow and racial terror and decades more of continuing discrimination  resulting in todays outcomes  which are at once shocking but sadly, not surprising, Tamaki said.

The Golden State has over 2 million Californians that identify as Black or African American, but some experts say reparations would be a complicated process at the state level.

Even for California, the $1.2 million compensation amount does not fit into the current state budget. $1.2 million per person times approximately 2 million eligible recipients comes to $2.4 trillion. The state's annual budget is approximately $300 billion, economist William Darity Jr., professor of public policy at Duke University, told Yahoo News.

National reparations bill sits in limbo

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaks at a press conference on reparations legislation on Capitol Hill in 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Instead of relying on state budgets to provide reparations, Darity said it must be a federal project. Darity served as a pro bono consultant to the Department of Justices team that supported the task force and said the states ultimately cant foot the bill.

Elimination of the nation's racial wealth gap is approximately $14 trillion and that's a minimum estimate. And only the federal government has the capacity to do that without dramatically raising tax burdens across the country, Darity explained. The total budgets for all the state and municipal governments in the United States come to less than $5 trillion.

But on the federal level, members of Congress have struggled for decades to create a commission to study and develop reparations under House Resolution 40, a bill proposed by the late Democratic Rep. John Conyers, in 1989.

Just last year, national lawmakers demanded that Biden sign an executive order to set up the commission for HR 40, but there has been little to no progress.

HR 40 is 38 years on the books waiting for someone to say yes. Today, we ask with no apologies for an executive order to be in place, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said during a two-day conference on reparations in Evanston, Ill. last year. I want for once an acceptance of the history of the journey that African Americans have taken to be an accepted reality in America.

Evanston is known as the first community to distribute reparations to Black residents. The Chicago suburb has given out roughly $400,000 in reparations.

I am glad to see California is following in the footsteps of my hometown of Evanston, Illinois. But we must do more. It is past time for Congress to pass H.R. 40, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, whose district includes parts of Evanston and Chicago, told Yahoo News in a statement. If we as an entire country do not acknowledge that these problems still exist, and if we do not take the necessary steps to address them, we will fail not only all Americans, but also our democracy,

While Tamaki agrees that the issue of reparations is national, he also acknowledges that progress is slow.

Congress has not shown the will even to study reparations, let alone do anything about it, Tamaki said. The [report], however, says that whatever California does should not be taken to be a substitute for what is the responsibility of the federal government.

State-level reparations draw equity concerns

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on May 2. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Yet some experts say individual states providing reparations could lead to an equity issue. In the administration of reparations programs, when you rely upon individual states and municipalities to set up the programs, everybody's will be different, Darity said. In fact, there's going to be municipalities and states that don't do anything.

But the task forces proposals are not set in stone. Next, they are headed to the majority-Democratic state legislature and then eventually Newsoms desk.

They can do whatever they want with that report. They could ignore it altogether, Darity said. They could increase the amount, they could decrease the amount or they could offer the same amount. I think there [are] a lot of people who have a sense of optimism about what the state assembly will do.

If enacted, this plan would go a long way toward addressing long-standing racial inequities in the state. The effects of slavery are still being felt to this day. The wealth gap between Black and white Americans persists and systemic racism continues to seep into all aspects of our lives, Schakowsky said.

On June 29, the Task Force will present its final report to the legislature.

We call upon the California legislature to consider, balance and make a long-standing commitment to implement these proposals now and in the years to come. The harm was centuries in the making, so the repair needs to be long in the implementation, Tamaki said.
A federal grand jury indicted a university professor living in West Sacramento who is accused of possessing child pornography after he was snared in an undercover FBI investigation, prosecutors said.

Rodger Githens, 45, has been charged with receiving and distributing images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento.

Githens is an associate professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton; his expertise and research focus on human resources development.

He was arrested on April 19, and the grand jury indicted him on Thursday. Githens remained in custody Monday at the Fresno County Jail. Githens appeared for his arraignment Thursday in federal court. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return to court July 12 for further proceedings in his case.

Federal prosecutors said Githens in late March was using an online profile called Tall laid back and initiated contact with an account on the Grindr app used by an undercover FBI agent. Githens allegedly encouraged the undercover FBI agent to create an account on the Telegram app, because it was considered more secure.

Githens several times discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the undercover agent and a supposed 7-year-old niece for sexual purposes, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The FBI, with help from the West Sacramento Police Department, served a search warrant at Githens home on April 19, confiscating multiple electronic devices.

Prosecutors said investigators discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens phone, including several in which he exchanged and commented on videos of young children being sexually abused.

University of the Pacific officials told KCRA 3 last month that Githens was immediately placed on indefinite administrative leave. UOP officials also said that while there was no indication of illegal acts on campus or involving university property, the university was launching an independent review by an external investigator.

If convicted, Githens could face five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and parole for the rest of his life, prosecutors said.
President Biden: Who says he's too old to run again? (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The cry is heard that America has become a "gerontocracy." That's supposed to be bad, it's argued, because our superannuated political leadership is out of touch with the electorate and blocking younger and (theoretically) more vigorous and intellectually vibrant leaders from taking their hour upon the stage.

Earlier this year, CNN called President Biden's age a "hot topic." Leaving aside that news organizations such as CNN have helped make it a hot topic, the real question is whether it's anything more than that. The answer is no.

For decades and decades we've lived in a society that has devalued what it means to be older....The main message should be 'don't get distracted by age, when age doesn't tell you something meaningful about someone.'

Tracey Gendron, gerontologist

"Leaning into this language about a 'gerontocracy' is a distraction technique," says Tracey Gendron, chair of the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of the 2022 book "Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It."

"It's just the latest thing that's keeping us from looking at things that are more important, like race, gender, education," Gendron told me. "All these things don't accurately reflect the demographic makeup of the country. So why are we singling out age among all these things?"

The gerontocracy critique also threatens to deprive us of our most experienced leaders. Rather than remove poor performers from their sinecures, the current fixation on age could remove from our political and economic structures men and women who have spent decades learning about the world and offering the wisdom born of long professional experience.

The U.S. State Department, for example, requires its professional foreign service staff to retire at 65, "when they are at the height of their wisdom and knowledge," publishing executive and author Michael Clinton observed recently, a rule he attributed to "toxic ageism." Some corporations require their top officers to retire at 60 or 65, while most are still willing to make a professional contribution.

In her book, Gendron makes a distinction between ageism and "ableism." The first is stereotyping that can be applied to people of any age, young or old  the grousing by employers about "lazy" millennials and Gen Z's being unwilling to work is ageism just as much as intimations that the chief characteristic of seniors is senility.

The second stereotype is focused on the notion that as we grow older, we lose physical and mental capacity to the point where we may not be able to function in society without assistance. Putting ageism and ableism together yields the hand-wringing about gerontocracy among our political omphaloskeptics.

Claims that a political gerontocracy is somehow undermining American democracy  the theme of so much political navel-gazing  simply don't hold water. They depend on the notion that as we grow older, our political outlooks coalesce into something at odds with the public interest. Where's the evidence for that?

It's widely noted that Biden and his likeliest presidential challenger, Donald Trump, would be the oldest president if either wins election in 2024. Biden would be 82 on inauguration day 2025 and Trump nearly 80. Does that tell us anything about how their administration would unfold? Obviously not.

Biden would almost certainly run on his record of creating remarkably inclusive and progressive White House policies and overseeing an economy of job growth and economic expansion in the wake of the pandemic; Trump, judging from his most recent speeches, would continue to flog personal grievances based on his groundless claims of fraud in his 2020 loss.

As for the notion that advanced age robs us of physical capacity and mental acuity, that may be arguable as a demographic average, but ignores what Gendron observes is the increasing individuation as we age.

"Early in life, you have markers that tell you approximately at what age someone's going to start to talk or someone's going to walk," she says. "We don't have that in later life. There really isn't a guidepost to say, 'At this age, something's going to happen.' At older ages, we become more individual and less like other people."

Certainly both Biden and Trump have lost a few steps since they were in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Doesn't everybody? (Disclosure: I'm a member of the baby boom generation. If you feel the need to know more than that, my actual age is in the public record.)

Some of our political leaders have notched their most outstanding achievement at an age decades later than when conventional wisdom holds that they should have retired.

The questions raised about the physical and mental capacity of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), 89, didn't apply to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who compiled what might be the most successful record in House history by shepherding the Affordable Care Act through Congress in 2010 at 70 and Biden's progressive policies to enactment after the age of 80.

Texas safeguards the 2nd Amendment.



Today, Constitutional carry goes into effect.



Texans who legally own a gun are now allowed to carry it in public. No license or training is needed. pic.twitter.com/2LiOBmSV1k  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 2, 2021

As for whether older politicians are out of step with the younger members of the American electorate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn't seem to have much trouble connecting with youthful voters when he ran for president in the run-up to the 2016 election, at age 75.

Nor are there signs that the liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has lost the youth vote because of her age, 73. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) seemed to have little trouble getting reelected in the last election, when they were, respectively, 80 and 89.

Nor is it necessarily true that older political leaders invariably hang on to their seats as if with what Orwell called prehensile behinds. Earlier this year, the top three Democratic Party leaders in the House  Pelosi; Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, 83; and James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, 82  announced their retirements at the end of their current terms, opening the path for new leaders such as current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, 52.

Quite plainly, the best guides to politicians' adequacy are their words and actual performance in office. Few reach the highest echelons of American politics without leaving a record to be examined.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor, recently took a swipe at Biden's age, remarking that he would be unlikely to live to the end of his next term.

Does that tell you anything about what she has to offer as an alternative? No; for that you'd have to delve into her positions on gun control (after a deadly school shooting in Nashville, she called for more metal detectors at schoolhouse doors but not more gun legislation) or abortion rights (she's against them).

Who shows more mental acuity? Joe Biden, who occasionally stumbles over his words (apparently an artifact of his youthful stuttering)? Or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who recently called for a "national divorce," i.e., secession by red states, at the age of 48?

Does the age of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott explain his boasting about signing a 2021 law allowing almost any Texan to carry a gun in public  "No license or training is needed," he bragged in a tweet. Abbott was 63 at the time, a relative spring chicken. How has that worked out for his Texas constituents?

Concern-trolling about the advanced age of government leaders hasn't always been a path to political success. Franklin D. Roosevelt cited a "hardening of the judicial arteries" in announcing his 1937 scheme to pack the Supreme Court, which involved shifting the politics of the court to the left by trying to force justices to retire when they reached the age of 70, or adding a justice to the court for every sitting justice who refused.

By June that year, he told listeners of a fireside chat promoting the plan, five of the nine justices would be older than 75  a standard that irked the oldest justice, the liberal eagle Louis D. Brandeis, who was 80. FDR's plan collapsed after it provoked widespread opposition, the most significant political failure of the New Deal.

Whether making an issue of politicians' age will have weight with the voting public is open to question. For one thing, the nation as a whole is moving up in years. By 2060, the population 65 or older will number 94.7 million, according to the Census Bureau; that would be a nearly 70% increase over the number in 2020. That segment will have grown from 17% of the population to 23%.

It's widely remarked that older cohorts vote at much higher rates than their younger compatriots, though that doesn't mean that their individual political leanings necessarily skew in any particular direction.

Why are they more committed to participating in the franchise? It may be that their life experience has shown them how much is stake in every election; it's certainly easier to convince them of the importance of programs such as Social Security than to deliver the same message to people for whom collecting benefits may be many decades in the future.

The only conclusion one can draw about age is that it's a very unreliable indicator of an individual's intellect, energy or ability. The proper reaction to anyone who tries to tell you that our gerontocracy is a political problem is to ask what more relevant truth they're trying to conceal.

"For decades and decades we've lived in a society that has devalued what it means to be older," Gendron says. "For me, the main message is, 'Don't get distracted by age, when age doesn't tell you something meaningful about someone.'"

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The US Army dismissed the Texas mall shooting suspect in 2018 over mental health issues.

Two senior law enforcement officials said Sunday that the suspect who killed at least eight people and wounded six others at a Dallas-area outlet mall was a 33-year-old suspected neo-Nazi sympathizer.

On Sunday, Allen police identified the gunman as Mauricio Garcia. Garcia was slain by a police officer who occurred to be at Allen Premium Outlets, approximately 25 miles north of Dallas, on Saturday, according to police.

Texas Mall Shooter Was Terminated in US Army

President Joe Biden stated that the gunman, who resided in Dallas, was equipped with an AR-15-style assault weapon. A senior law enforcement official said he was armed with a handgun. Per NBC News, additional weapons and ammunition were discovered in his car. Garcia was wearing an insignia on his chest that contained the letters "RWDS" at the time of the massacre.

One of the senior law enforcement officials added that authorities believe the letters stood for "right-wing death squad," a term used in online spaces associated with the far right.

According to two senior law enforcement officials, a preliminary assessment of what is believed to be the shooter's social media accounts reveals hundreds of posts with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi and white supremacist content.

Officials emphasized that the investigation continues. The preliminary investigation revealed that none of the shooter's social media posts were appreciated or shared by other users.

Two senior law enforcement officials stated that police and the Texas Rangers, along with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are investigating the shooting as a case of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism.

Officials believe the gunman acted alone, one of them stated. Investigators are conducting interviews with his family and associates. It was the second deadliest mass shooting in the United States in 2018 and the second in Texas within a week.

Fox News has learned that Mauricio Garcia served in the US Army for three months. Heather J. Hagan, US Army Public Affairs spokesperson, told Fox News, "Mauricio Garcia joined the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entrance training."

In addition, an Army official told Fox News that Garcia was discharged under Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-17, "Other designated physical or mental conditions," in its 2005 edition. Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey declined to address inquiries from media entities regarding Garcia's ideology, stating, "We actually don't have much."

As investigators are still scouring through the alleged shooter's background, Texas Governor Greg Abbott avoided providing specifics when questioned on Fox News on Monday about allegations that Garcia may have been affiliated with white supremacist ideology.

The Allen Police Department reported that Medical City McKinney was treating four patients as of Sunday morning, one in fair condition and three in critical condition. One patient was transferred to Medical City Plano, a Level I Trauma Center, and their condition is presently listed as "fair."

One patient has been transferred to the Medical City Children's Hospital and is currently in satisfactory condition. According to investigators, another patient was treated at a different local facility.

Read Also: Russia Rains Missiles on Ukraine Ahead of Victory Day Holiday; Kremlin Fears Domestic Security Threat

Mauricio Garcia Suffered Mental Health Issues

Garcia was discharged from the US Army due to mental health issues. The 33-year-old security officer served in the Army in 2008 before being "removed due to mental health concerns," according to law enforcement sources who spoke to ABC 30.

It was not immediately obvious what these concerns were, what Garcia's function was before his dismissal, or when he was fired. According to the Texas Online Private Security database, Garcia completed multiple firearms proficiency courses in 2015 and 2018 as part of his security officer duties and his Army training.

Garcia was permitted to operate as a commissioned security officer in the state from April 2016 to April 2020, and he had three employers before his license expiration. He did not work at the Texas shopping center where he unleashed carnage last week.

The police believe the gunman was an "incel" or an "involuntary celibate," according to an internal correspondence circulating within the Texas law enforcement community.

"Incel" refers to a person, typically a young male, who cannot find a romantic or sexual partner and expresses hostility toward those who can do so.

Officials have not released the names of the deceased; however, relatives of mall security officer Christian LaCour have confirmed he was killed in the incident. According to family members, the engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda was shot and killed while shopping with a companion.

Related Article: Texas Mall Shooting Update: Authorities Identify Shooter Suspected to be Neo-Nazi Symphatizer

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After the latest mass shooting in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said funding for mental health services is the key to preventing future tragedies from occurring.

On Saturday, eight people were killed during an afternoon of weekend shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets. Seven more people were wounded. The motive and mental health history of the shooter, who was killed by a police officer, is not known, although reports say he might have white supremacist and neo-Nazi views.

The tragedy, which comes less than a year after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, has prompted Abbott and other lawmakers to tout mental health treatment as the best response to mass shootings.

There has been a dramatic increase in the amount of anger and violence that is taking place in America and what Texas is doing in a big time way, Abbott said on Fox News Sunday. We are working to address that anger and violence by going to its root cause, which is addressing the mental health problems behind it.

But two researchers who have extensively studied gun violence, including mass shootings, said focusing on mental health and mental health alone would not end mass shootings in Texas or throughout the U.S.

Gun violence and mental illness are two really different public health problems, said Jeffrey Swanson, a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine. Fix mental health, which we hear all the time from people like Gov. Abbott and others after a horrific mass casualty shooting, is a great slogan for a different public health problem.

In 1990, Swanson published research that gathered data from 10,000 people, and asked them about their violent behaviors, their psychiatric diagnoses, and other demographic and risk factors. The study found that people with serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, are somewhat more likely to commit violent acts than people who are not mentally ill, but the large majority are not violent toward others.

If we could completely eliminate serious mental illness as a risk factor, Swanson said, the prevalence of violent acts toward other people would decrease by less than 4% in the U.S.

Adam Lankford, a professor of criminology at the University of Alabama, said mental health should be a part of the conversation when it comes to mass violence, but that it shouldnt be the only part.

If you say its mental health, its mental health, its mental health, and youre the governor of Texas, I would say, Well, why are you allowing people with significant mental health problems to legally purchase firearms? Lankford said. And not just firearms, but essentially military grade weapons?

Both Lankford and Swanson pointed to so-called red flag laws as an important area for further research in the effort to decrease future mass shootings. Red flag laws typically allow family, friends, or other individuals to petition a court to temporarily take away firearms from people who might be a risk to themselves or others.

Texas does not have a red flag law.

On Sunday, Abbott told viewers across the nation that the Texas Legislature was preparing to commit an additional $3 billion to mental health initiatives. Senate Bill 30, an appropriations bill, includes $2.3 billion to increase capacity at state mental health hospitals. The legislation also allocates $33.6 million for a behavioral health campus in Uvalde. That bill is currently in a committee made up of House and Senate lawmakers to negotiate on the legislation.

In 2020, the most recent year for which death data is available, 309 Tarrant County residents died by a firearm, according to death certificate data. Of those 309 deaths, more than half died by suicide. According to the most common definition, a mass shooting involved four or more people who have died in a public place. Per that definition, no people died from mass shootings in Tarrant County in 2020.
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

A feral cat that lived at Disneyland and inspired a secret cocktail at Magic Key Terrace has died, according to local news reports.

Nutmeg, an orange cat that was part of the permanent group of felines allowed to live at the park in exchange for their pest-killing proclivities, was frequently seen at Disney California Adventure, according to Disneyland News Today.

The cats have attracted a cult following, with more than 110,000 followers on Instagram.

The allegiance between theme park and feline visitors may go back to the days of Walt Disney, who, some say, first discovered scores of cats in Sleeping Beauty Castle and refused to have them killed.

At night, the cats venture out. An estimated 200 cats prowled through Disneyland and neighboring California Adventure Park in 2010.

Instead of evicting the cats, Disneylands animal wranglers worked to control the feline population by spaying and neutering the adult cats and finding homes for all kittens born in the resort. The cats ate at permanent feeding stations installed throughout the two parks.

Disneyland representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how many cats currently reside in the park and what their accommodations are.

In Nutmeg's memory, guests can still enjoy the secret beverage named in the feline's honor at Magic Key Terrace.

The cocktail is made with dark rum, half and half and raspberry flavoring, and features cinnamon and nutmeg on top, according to the Disney food blog. It costs $16.

Times staff writers Emily Foxhall and Hugo Martin contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Emilio Estevez is getting ready to re-release his 2010 film, "The Way," which he originally directed and co-starred in alongside his dad, Martin Sheen.

Although the film will be exactly the same, Estevez says there's one big difference that fans should take note of, and that's the way his father is credited in the film.

Pitbull, Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Sophia Grace Brownlee, Rosie McClelland And Kris Allen On

During a May 9 chat with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY's fourth hour, Estevez said Sheen decided to use his birth name, Ramon Gerard Estevez, instead of his stage name, so he could pay homage to his Hispanic roots and his late father, Francisco.

He explained that Sheen always regretted changing his name to get ahead in Hollywood.

"Back in the day in 1958, he changed his name from Ramon Estevez to Martin Sheen because, at the time, there was a lot of prejudice against people with the Hispanic name," Estevez shared.

"Years later, in 1967, my grandfather, Francisco, to whom I dedicate the movie to, came to see him on Broadway when he was doing, 'The Subject Was Roses,'" Estevez explained. "He stood outside of the theater and looked up at the marquee, and my dad saw him shake his head in disappointment, and so he never got over that.

"And so I think when it was time for me to sort of start making those moves and start getting out and doing auditions, he said, 'Man, if I had one thing to do over, it was that I never would have changed my name.'"

Emilio Estevez on the TODAY show (Nathan Congleton)

Estevez noted his dad never changed his name legally  just for the big screen.

Estevez said his father opted to use his birth name, as a way to rewrite his wrongs, rather than the one his fans know him for as an on-screen credit in the re-release of "The Way."

So, as executive producer, it says: Ramon Gerard Estevez."

"Oh, my gosh! I bet your grandfather somewhere is smiling," Jenna said.

In "The Way," Sheen played a father who heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son (Estevez) who died while traveling Spain's Camino de Santiago. As a way to get closer to his son, he decides to make the journey himself with his son's ashes in tow.

Estevez plans on re-releasing the film nationwide in select theaters on May 16.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Searchers looking for two overdue hikers at Denali National Park reported finding ski tracks, an empty tent and boot prints leading into an avalanche.

The two climbers were last heard from at 5 a.m. Friday, May 5, Denali National Park rangers said in a news release.

When Eli Michel, 34 of Columbia City, Indiana, and Nafiun Awal, 32 of Seattle, Washington, failed to check in again, friends notified rangers Sunday, May 7, the release said.

The two planned to climb the west ridge route on the Mooses Tooth, a 10,300-foot peak in the parks Ruth Gorge, rangers said.

An initial search of the area found the teams unattended tent, as well as ski tracks heading to the base of the route, the release said.

Searchers also found a cache of skis where the climbers had switched to crampons and spotted boot prints leading into a slab avalanche, rangers said. No other tracks were seen.

A search on Monday, May 8, was expected to focus on an area of crevasses, the release said.

Denali National Park and Preserve, established in 1917, covers 6.1 million acres including Mount Denali, formerly Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

Man jumps in river to save drowning brother and doesnt resurface, Wisconsin cops say

19-year-old hiker vanishes in Glacier National Park, rangers say. Search is underway

Avid hiker vanishes after being dropped off at Joshua Tree campground. Search is on
FILE - Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., walks through a Senate corridor at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 14, 2023. Feinstein is returning to Washington after a more than two month absence led to calls from within her own party for the oldest member of Congress to resign. The California Democrat announced in early March that she had been hospitalized in San Francisco and was being treated for a case of shingles. The 89-year-old senator planned to be back in Washington in March but never appeared as her recovery took longer than expected. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office disclosed Tuesday that she is returning to Washington following an absence of more than two months in which the oldest member of Congress faced calls from within her own party to resign.

The 89-year-old California Democrat announced in early March that she had been hospitalized in San Francisco and was being treated for a case of shingles. But an expected return later that month never happened.

Few details emerged on Feinstein's condition, and some Democrats openly complained that her lengthy absence was compromising the Democratic agenda in the Senate, including slowing the push to confirm President Joe Biden's judicial nominees. Some in the House urged her to step down.

Earlier this month, Feinstein said in a statement that there has been no slowdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed Feinstein's return in a statement and said he was pleased my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

Feinstein's office said she was traveling and expected to be in Washington Tuesday evening. It wasn't immediately clear when she would appear in the Senate for evening votes.

Feinstein, who took office in 1992, announced earlier this year she would not seek reelection in 2024. The senator has faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory and has appeared increasingly frail, though she has defended her effectiveness.

Last month, facing pressure over her extended absence, Feinstein made the unusual request to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee. At the time, she said her recovery had been delayed because of complications and provided no date for her return. Republicans in the closely divided chamber rejected the request, saying Democrats only wanted a stand-in to push through Biden's most partisan judicial nominations.

California Rep. Ro Khanna, a progressive, was the first to call for Feinstein to resign, saying in mid-April: This is a moment of crisis for womens rights and voting rights. Its unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights.

The politically moderate Feinstein has long had strained relations with the Democratic Party's left wing. A handful of other progressives have also called for her resignation.

But leading national Democrats remained largely silent about her absence. The White House has expressed support for the long-serving senator and wished her a speedy recovery.

Given her age and health problems, Feinstein is likely to face continued questions about her ability to serve.

If Feinstein decides to step down during her term, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy, potentially reordering the highly competitive race to succeed her. Newsom said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside.

The leading candidates include Democratic U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff.

Lee is Black, and becoming the incumbent could be a decisive advantage in the contest, but its not known if Newsom would consider Lee, given that she is already running for the seat. Porter and Schiff are white.

Feinstein has had a groundbreaking political career and shattered gender barriers from San Franciscos City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill.

She was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milks body.

In the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committees top Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights to environmental protection.
Last Easter, Jill and Matt Hartle were looking forward to their dream coming true: the birth of their first baby.

We were so excited to learn that we were expecting our first baby and little girl that we would name Ivy Grace Hartle, Jill Hartle said. This is what weve always dreamed of.

But after learning that their baby had a rare heart defect and would die soon after birth, Jill Hartle, who identifies as conservative, said the state of South Carolina turned its back on them.

This state made our excruciating decision (to terminate pregnancy) that much more stressful because not only could MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) not care for us, but we would also have to travel and figure out all the logistics and financial pieces on our own. Once we made this tough decision, we had to wait two additional agonizing weeks to receive out-of-state care because that was the first available appointment. We traveled to Washington, D.C. to terminate our pregnancy on Monday, Sept. 12, when my child went to be free and in heaven.

Jill Hartle shared her story on Tuesday with a panel of House lawmakers, who by a 3-2 vote advanced S. 474, a bill that would block abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around the sixth week of pregnancy, when most women dont know theyre pregnant, critics say.

Dr. Sharai Amaya, a Greenwood obstetrician and gynecologist with 18 years of experience, on Tuesday testified abortion care is not health care for either the mother or the fetus.

I know beyond any reasonable doubt that a human fetus is indeed a living human being, Amaya said. It has often been my experience to witness a woman begin to cry when she sees the babys heartbeat for the first time. This is no reaction to a clump of cells or a tumor. The woman cries because they can see clearly the life inside of them.

The full House Judiciary Committee also passed the measure Tuesday afternoon, sending the bill to the floor.

House judiciary subcommittee holds a hearing on a heartbeat abortion bill on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

Also known as the fetal heartbeat bill, the proposal would provide limited exceptions for abortions, including in cases of rape or incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, in medical emergencies or in light of a fatal fetal anomaly.

Since last fall, following the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision striking down Roe v. Wade, ongoing debates have ensued in the State House over how restrictive an abortion ban should be. Last month, the Senate rejected a near-total abortion ban backed by the House.

Jill Hartle, who said Tuesday that shes always been a proud South Carolinian conservative until last year, said a mother shouldnt be subjected to having a baby thatll require extensive life-long medical care.

If I were to have delivered and opted for comfort care, Ivy would have known nothing but high doses of narcotics and excruciating pain until she passed, she said.

The extra stress that this state has caused me, has caused so much mental trauma I will deal with for the rest of my life, all because my state decided that placing judgment moral high ground was more important than giving us and our doctors the compassion to do what we knew was best, Jill continued.

Representative Heather Bauer, D-Richland, listens to a House judiciary subcommittee hearing on a heartbeat abortion bill on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

House Majority Leader Davey Hiott told The State last week that any floor debate over the six-week ban bill would likely occur Thursday, the final day of the legislative session, which ends at 5 p.m. However, given the Legislature has no sine die resolution, outlining what lawmakers can debate after session ends, lawmakers could decide to debate the bill if and when the governor calls them back.

State Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, offered a summary of the proposed House amendments that he said would clarify and strengthen exceptions within the bill.

The (House) amendment includes guidance ... by listing conditions that are presumed to endanger the life or health of the mother, for example, molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, severe preeclampsia, abruptio placenta, miscarriage, uterine rupture and more, he said.

Additionally, McCravy said, The Senate version would have eliminated the requirement to get a court order for a minor to get an abortion for 12 weeks. This (House) amendment restores current law of judicial bypass that requires a court order for a minor, to receive an abortion.

House amendments to the bill, however, will likely set up another fight with the Senate, which has to approve the changes before the measure becomes law.

I think if they (the House) change one thing in there, as much as a semicolon, that were not going to accept it. The women arent, and I hope the other people who stood with us wont accept it too, state Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, one of five women in the Senate, all who voted against the near-total ban last month, said last week.

Should both chambers agree on the bills final version, itll head to Gov. Henry McMaster, who said Monday he thinks its (the six-week proposal) a good bill.

Well, I think (S. 474) is just about the same thing as the heartbeat bill with a little bit of change, McMaster said. I thought that was a reasonable approach that passed the House and the Senate, (that) the court upended. This was a little different, I understand to meet those objections, but I think that was a reasonable compromise that was acceptable to most of the people in the state.

Still, critics of S. 437 say the measure continues to defy a January state Supreme Court decision that said the states six-week law at the time was an unconstitutional violation of a persons right to privacy.

Kathleen McDaniel, an attorney who represented Planned Parenthood before the state Supreme Court in its recent ruling, said Tuesday that while the bill has some technical differences compared to last years version, it maintains an element already ruled unconstitutional by the court.

The concept of banning abortion at six weeks is exactly the same whether you add exceptions, whether you narrow down that limitation or not, McDaniel said. So, no matter how you slice it and dice it and try to add additional revisions ... if the six week ban remains the centerpiece of the bill, it will remain unconstitutional.

Jill Hartle asked lawmakers Tuesday not to make reproductive rights a political issue, but rather a humanity issue, a distinction, she said, some lawmakers fail to realize.

If these bans continue to be placed, this is the uttermost breach of privacy any government could impose, Jill Hartle said. The Republican Party that I used to align with wanted less government, but these bills are total control. Why?

Reporter Joseph Bustos contributed to this report.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Matt Hartles name.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker shared her support of a bill that would raise the minimum age required to buy certain firearms in a statement on Twitter Monday.

Parker, a Republican, said the deaths of eight people in a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday prompted her statement for support of House Bill 2744, which got approval for presentation to the Texas House on Monday. If made into law, the bill would raise the minimum age for Texas to buy certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Members of the House Commitee on Community Safety voted to send the bill to the full Texas House of Representatives Monday, with the support of all Democrats and two Republicans, Rep. Sam Harless of Spring and Justin Holland, of Rockwall, according to the Texas Tribune.

We have a crisis, Parker wrote in the tweet. Yes, mental health is a part of the solution, but we cant afford to just stand still waiting for longer-term investments to save our lives. We need immediate action.

HB 2744, which the Texas House Committee on Community Safety voted to send to the main Texas House of Representatives on Monday, would raise the age required for Texans to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Parker cited the deaths of a couple and their son as a reason for her support in the tweets.

Kyu Song Cho, 37, Cindy Cho, 35, and their 3-year-old son James Cho were all killed, according to a verified GoFundMe organized to help the family. Their 6-year-old son, William Cho, was shot and has since been released from the ICU. He celebrated his birthday four days prior.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, the GoFundMe organizer wrote in the fundraisers description. Cindy, Kyu and 3-year-old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning.

Today, I read the heartbreaking story about the Cho family. Only six-year-old William survived the Allen mall mass shooting. He lost his entire family  his parents and three-year-old brother. (1/5)  Mayor Mattie Parker (@MayorMattie) May 8, 2023

Five other people were killed, including two elementary school children from Sachse, 11-year-old Daniela Mendoza, who was in the fourth grade, and 8-year-old Sofia Mendoza, who was in the second grade.

Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students, read a letter sent to school parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.

Parker said that even though the proposed bill would not have prevented the 33-year-old gunman who committed the mass shooting from purchasing a gun, she still thinks its a step in the right direction.

HB 2744 could save lives, Parker wrote. It deserves debate from our leaders in the Texas legislature. To William, and the many other families and neighbors grieving today  we love you, and Im so deeply sorry.
Former FTX Chief Executive Bankman-Fried at the Manhattan federal court in New York City

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sam Bankman-Fried, who has long denied stealing from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday said prosecutors charged him with "troubling" haste and asked a U.S. judge to throw out 10 of the 13 criminal counts against him.

In a filing in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said now-bankrupt FTX was far from the only cryptocurrency company to collapse during a broad market crash in 2022, and that prosecutors hastily charged their client in a "rush to judgment."

"Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the Government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former billionaire, rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to accumulate an estimated net worth of $26 billion, and became an influential political and philanthropic donor before FTX declared bankruptcy in November.

He has pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

The exchange imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried misled FTX investors and lenders, and stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses at Alameda, buy real estate, and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme. They have also charged him with bribing Chinese officials.

Ahead of a scheduled Oct. 2 trial, his lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to order prosecutors to turn over any documents in FTX's possession that could helpful the defense, arguing prosecutors were only asking the company for information that helps its case.

"The FTX Debtors have worked so extensively with the Government, and are so enmeshed in the investigation, analysis, and strategy of the Government's case, that they must be considered part of the 'prosecution team'," his lawyers wrote.

Representatives of FTX's current leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment.

Prosecutors have until May 29 to respond to Bankman-Fried's dismissal request, and Kaplan will hear arguments on June 15.

EXTRADITION

Bankman-Fried has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations.

Three onetime close associates - former Alameda co-chief executive Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh - have all pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

In pleading guilty, Singh admitted to making political donations in his own name that were funded in part by transfers from Alameda.

But Bankman-Fried's lawyers said on Monday that the donations made by Singh, referred to as CC-1 in prosecutors' charging documents against their client, did not actually violate election laws.

"The campaign finance allegations reveal, yet again, the consequences of the Government's rush to indict Mr. Bankman-Fried," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried has largely been confined to his parents' home since his December arrest in the Bahamas, where he had lived and where FTX was based. He was extradited to the United States just over a week after his arrest.

His parents, who live in Palo Alto, California, are Stanford University law professors and co-signed his $250 million bond.

In their court papers on Monday, his lawyers said the campaign finance charge should be dismissed because it was not included on the surrender warrant signed by the Bahamas' foreign affairs minister ahead of Bankman-Fried's extradition, and that other charges including the bribery accusation were improperly brought after he was extradited.
A vigil on Monday to honor the life of Jordan Neely, who was killed after being held in a chokehold by another passenger on a New York City subway train. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Jordan Neely, a young Black man who was killed on a New York City subway train after being deemed a threat, grappled with both homelessness and mental health crises. Advocates say the criminalization of homelessness, and the publics negative perception of people who experience living on the streets, may have acted as a precursor to his death.

A disproportionate share of the homeless population is Black, and then you tie that into having a mental health problem, that's another layer, Steve Berg, chief policy officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, told Yahoo News.

In 2022, the Department of Housing and Urban Development counted around 582,500 people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., with about 37% identifying as Black. According to SMI Adviser, a network of clinics that provides support for people with serious mental illness, 20% to 25% of the U.S. homeless population suffers from serious mental health issues.

Having a mental illness is often a cause of homelessness, and the experience of being homeless makes it worse, Berg explained. So there are a lot of people who are trying to cope with that situation of not having a place to live. One of the things that makes it hard is that youre always in danger. And this was an example of the kind of danger that people are in.

Jordan Neelys death

Neely is held in a chokehold by a fellow subway passenger on May 1. (Juan Alberto Vazquez/via Reuters)

The 30-year-old Neely died on May 1 from compression of [the] neck after a confrontation with subway passenger Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old ex-Marine. Passengers told police that Neely had been acting in a hostile and erratic manner, throwing garbage at commuters, screaming for food and something to drink.

Juan Alberto Vazquez, a witness who recorded the incident on video, said Neely screamed, Im tired already. I dont care if I go to jail and get locked up. Im ready to die.

Penny then placed Neely in a chokehold for a reported 15 minutes, while two other men pinned him down by his arms and legs.

Police took Penny into custody for questioning after the incident, but he was released without charges. The citys medical examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide, and the Manhattan district attorney's office said the killing remains under investigation.

A history of systematic failures

Neely in New York's Times Square in 2009 before going to see the Michael Jackson movie "This Is It." (Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

According to his aunt Carolyn Neely, Jordan had spiraled into a complete mess at the age of 14 in 2007 after his mother, Christie, was reportedly strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and then discarded on a highwayby her boyfriend.

It had a big impact on him, Carolyn Neely, who described herself as his closest relative, told the New York Post. He developed depression and it grew and became more serious. He was schizophrenic, PTSD. Doctors knew his condition and he needed to be treated for that. His aunt believes the system just failed him after unsuccessful attempts to get judges and doctors to assist her nephew in getting the treatment he needed.

Neely was placed in a foster home, but eventually aged out of the system and became homeless in New York City. As a means of survival, he became a staple on subway platforms and trains as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He also racked up dozens of charges for crimes like assault, indecent exposure and drugs.

In a place like New York City, it is illegal to be homeless, Krys Cerisier, the homeless union organizer at VOCAL-NY, an advocacy group for low-income people, told Yahoo News. If youre outside, thats loitering. Youre not supposed to be on the train. Its really easy to get picked up by the police if youre in the streets constantly as a Black man in New York.

New York Mayor Eric Adams has drawn sharp criticism for how Neelys case has been handled.

People who are dealing with mental health illness should get the help they need and not live on the train, Adams said of the Neely incident during a May 4 press conference. I'm going to continue to push on that.

The former cop and state lawmaker has proposed to take on the citys population of an estimated 75,000 experiencing homelessness and the issue of public safety, saying homelessness is a cancerous sore. In 2022, he rolled out a treatment plan to bar people who are homeless from the subway and for people deemed to be in psychiatric crisis to be involuntarily hospitalized by law enforcement and emergency medical workers.

Advocates like Cerisier have also called out systematic overlappings and gaping holes that leave people vulnerable to homelessness, such as broken foster care systems, a lack of government funding, landlord discrimination in the states emergency housing voucher system and understaffed Department of Homeless Services workers who face an insurmountable workload to secure housing and resources for people who need them.

A lot of the safety net systems and institutions in New York City like the foster care system, the shelter system, the incarceration system, are meant to rehabilitate but are set up for failure, Cerisier said. But you have people who are in these shelters for years on end. Kids leave foster care with no place to live a lot of the time. So by the time we see Jordan Neely on that train, that's after years of failure to gain access to resources.

Cerisier called out Adams and the city of New York for criminalizing homelessness and defunding social programs to provide resources to people experiencing housing and mental health crises. She said Neely could have avoided a mental breakdown had he had consistent access to basic needs, housing and mental health resources.

Neely was yelling about not having food, water, shelter, Cerisier said. That is not a mental health crisis. That is the symptoms and effect of having a massive population of people who do not have access to housing that they will end up in all of our public spaces because there's nowhere else to go.

These are very clear systematic failures that can be reflected on the way New York chooses to spread resources, she explained. That's why all of our social safety nets have been cut but the police have been funded. As a direct result, you're going to have more homeless people on the train and less resources to them.

Public perception of homeless people with mental health crises

Demonstrators marching to New York City's Washington Square Park on May 5. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

According to research by Invisible People, in 2020 around half of Americans said they were scared around homeless people, and about 47% believed people experiencing homelessness will cause crime in their neighborhoods, even though unsheltered homeless people are more likely to be crime victims.

In 2021, Invisible People found that 91% to 95% of Americans continued to support positive policy solutions like permanent supportive housing, overnight shelters, outreach services and expanded mental health services. But support dropped to 59% and 55%, respectively, for homeless housing or homeless shelters in their own neighborhoods.

Penny addressed Neelys history of mental illness in a statement issued through his lawyers.

Mr. Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness. When Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

Neelys family also released a statement, rebuking Pennys lack of apology or regret, framing it as a character assassination  in an effort to convince us Jordans life was worthless.

The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordans neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing. In the last paragraph, Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown indifference for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference.
A judge on Wednesday denied a request by the North Idaho College Board of Trustees to reconsider an order forcing the college to reinstate its president.

Kootenai County District Court Judge Cynthia Meyer upheld her March 3 preliminary injunction requiring the college to keep Nick Swayne as president for the remainder of a lawsuit he filed against the board. Swayne said he was placed on administrative leave without cause in December.

Far-right candidates backed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee gained a majority on the board last year, and that majority suspended Swayne while Art Macomber  a losing candidate in the Republican primary race for Idaho attorney general last year  initiated an investigation into the terms of his contract and the circumstances of his hiring.

If the court was not clear in its preliminary injunction motion issued on March 3, 2023, let it be clear now, Meyer wrote in her decision last week. This was an attempted de facto termination of Dr. Swayne and it was not done in good faith. This protracted investigation into the formation of the contract with Dr. Swayne  whether the investigation involves potential missteps of others or even the current concern with the legality of the four-trustee vote to terminate the president  is a pretext for getting Dr. Swayne out of the way. It is a sham.

Macombers investigation lasted more than four months and resulted in a report alleging open meeting violations by former board members.

In response, the board last month voted to undo the June 2022 decision to hire Swayne to fix the open meetings violations alleged by Macomber.

Swayne, however, remains in his role as acting president.

After the board nullified Swaynes contract, Swaynes attorney filed a motion for contempt. A hearing is scheduled for June 2.

Meyer wrote that even if an open meeting violation occurred during the formation of Swaynes contract, any effort to nullify his employment agreement is time-barred under Idaho law.

The intended conclusion of Macombers investigation was evident from the beginning, Meyer said. Thus, the board had 14 days to act after recognizing the supposed open meeting violation on Dec. 8.

It is unfathomable, Meyer wrote, why it would take months for the college attorney to determine whether, in his view, there was an open meeting law violation in the June 2022 time frame regarding the selection of college president. It took days for the same attorney to determine there was an Open Meeting Law violation at the December 2022 board meeting when Dr. Swayne was first put on administrative leave.

The board fixed the December violation later that month by voting a second time in public to place Swayne on leave.

Meyer wrote that Swayne likely will prevail on the merits of his lawsuit.

After Meyer ordered in March for Swayne to be reinstated, the board placed the previous interim president, Greg South, on paid administrative leave.

A new majority took control of the board in the November elections. The previous majority supported Swayne.
China arrested a ChatGPT user who allegedly used the viral generative AI chatbot to write fake news, the police in Northern China say.

It is the first-ever publicly known arrest by the Chinese authorities, which targeted a person who produced fake news using AI.

China Arrests ChatGPT AI User for Writing Fake News

As per Gizmodo, the Gansu province police revealed that they arrested a man over allegedly fabricating fake news using the chatbot by the Microsoft-backed OpenAI, ChatGPT.

The ChatGPT user, which the Chinese authorities only identified as "Hong," allegedly produced multiple stories spreading misinformation about a train accident last April.

The police accuse Hong of "using artificial intelligence technology to concoct false and untrue information," noting that the fake news had various versions spread across different blog posts.

The arrested man reportedly published the stories on Baijihao, a blogging social media service, which the Chinese search giant Baidu owns, according to Futurism. The authorities point out that a total of 20 accounts posted misleading content on the platform.

Gizmodo notes in the same report that several fake news articles shared on Baijihao trended online, generating roughly 15,000 clicks. The authorities further revealed that the suspect allegedly runs a business, which operates several blogs.

The alleged fake content follows a story of a train accident, which took the lives of nine passengers. The police say it was not true at all. And as such, Hong could face between five years to 10 years of imprisonment over "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" since the citation also covers spreading misinformation on the internet. The authorities in China included spreading rumors and fake news online to the ordinance a decade ago or in 2013.

Read Also: ChatGPT AI is Back in Italy After Suspension: Here's What's New

China Cyberspace Administration's New Law Restricting AI Use

The Cyberspace Administration of China recently debuted a new law, primarily regulating content created or edited by generative AI. It requires such material to include an explicit label. On top of that, the rule requires it to have the source listed as well.

The new Chinese law, The Administrative Provision on Deep Synthesis for Internet Information Service, took effect last January.

Interestingly, China outright banned AI services like ChatGPT in the country last April. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is impossible to access the AI chatbot. Coin Telegraph reports that Chinese users could easily get their hands on VPN services to start chatting with the viral platform.

With that said, the police alleged the suspect of using ChatGPT AI to produce multiple fake news stories to spread misinformation across the internet.

Related Article: ChatGPT AI Shares Possible Doomsday Scenarios Amid Humanity Threat Concerns

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
E. Jean Carroll leaves Manhattan Federal Court in New York City on Monday, as her civil rape and defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump goes into deliberations. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

NEW YORK CITY  A jury in a civil trial held in lower Manhattan found that former President Donald Trump sexually abused the writer E. Jean Carroll in a dressing room in a Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s, and defamed her after she went public about the incident in 2019, in that he denied that the incident had occurred.

But the jury, which was made up of six men and three women, also found that Carroll did not prove that Trump raped Carroll. The mixed decision, which was unanimous, took the jury less than three hours to reach, and awarded Carroll a total of $5 million in damages.

Carroll sued Trump under the Adult Survivors Act, a New York state law passed late last year, which gave adult victims of sexual assault and abuse one year to bring lawsuits against their alleged perpetrators regardless of when the alleged abuse took place.

Trump responded to the verdict with an all-caps post on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing: I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS. THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE - A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!

Yahoo News was in the courtroom throughout the trial. Here are some key moments that led to Tuesdays decision.

1. Carrolls three days of testimony

During the first three days of the trial, E. Jean Carroll described in painstaking and, at times graphic detail, her recollection of the alleged assault, and pushed back on attempts by Trumps attorneys to undermine her credibility.

Carroll, now 79, recalled running into Trump at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s and agreeing to help him shop for a gift for a woman. They engaged in flirtatious banter as they explored various sections of the store, Carroll said. But what began as a light-hearted, very joshing encounter quickly turned absolutely dark when, according to Carroll, Trump led her into a dressing room in the lingerie department and shut the door behind him.

Carroll, occasionally choking back tears, told the jury that Trump shoved her against the wall so hard my head banged, pulled down her tights and shoved his fingers inside her vagina, then his penis.

During cross examination, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina sought to poke holes in Carrolls testimony, zeroing in on the fact that she could not recall the exact date of the alleged assault, and questioning why she did not scream for help during the alleged attack.

You cant beat up on me for not screaming, Carroll pushed back, arguing that one of the reasons many women dont come forward about sexual assault is because they are often asked why they didnt scream.

Im telling you, he raped me whether I screamed or not, she declared. I dont need an excuse for not screaming.

2. Two other women testify under oath about alleged assaults by Trump

Among the witnesses Carrolls attorneys called to testify were two other women who claim that Trump assaulted them in a similar manner.

The first woman, Jessica Leeds, testified that Trump kissed and groped her without her consent during a flight to New York in 1979. The second woman, former People Magazine reporter Natasha Stoynoff, told jurors that she was interviewing Trump and his wife, Melania, at their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2005, when Trump led her into an empty room and forcefully kissed her.

Both women described how they were motivated to speak publicly about their alleged attacks during Trumps first presidential campaign in 2016 and, specifically, after the release of the now-infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump was caught on a hot mic talking about how he likes to kiss and grope beautiful women without waiting for them to consent.

Carrolls attorneys pointed to the testimony given by Leeds and Stoynoff, as well as Trumps own words on the "Access Hollywood" tape, as evidence of a pattern of behavior engaged in by Trump, who has been accused by more than 20 women of inappropriate sexual conduct.

3. Trumps taped deposition testimony

Trump declined to appear at the trial in person, but the jury nevertheless heard from the former president in clips of a taped deposition that he provided to Carrolls lawyers last fall.

In his deposition, Trump repeated his claim that he didnt know Carroll and that the alleged encounter at Bergdorfs never happened. He also reiterated his assertion that Carroll is not my type, arguing that he had the right to be insulting given the accusation of rape, before telling Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan, You wouldnt be a choice of mine either, if Im being honest. I hope youre not offended.

However, when presented with a photograph from the mid-1990s of himself, his wife at the time, Ivana, and Carroll and her then-husband, Trump mistakenly identified Carroll as his former wife Marla Maples, whom he married after divorcing Ivana.

During closing arguments on Monday, Kaplan reminded the jury of this mixup, citing it as proof that Carroll was "exactly his type."

In the clips of Trumps deposition testimony that were played in court, the former president was also asked about his comments on the Access Hollywood tape, in which he is heard saying of beautiful women: I just start kissing them, its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p***y.

While Trump repeated his previous assertion that his words were locker room talk, he also didnt deny that they were true.

Historically, thats true with stars, Trump told Kaplan during the deposition. If you look over the last million years, thats whats been largely true of the stars  unfortunately or fortunately.

Asked whether he considers himself to be a star, Trump replied, I think I can say that, yeah.

4. Trump declined to testify

After hearing testimony from 11 witnesses for the plaintiffs side, attorneys for Trump rested their case last week without calling a single witness, including Trump himself, to testify in his defense.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to Carrolls lawyer, even gave Trump the opportunity to change his mind and file a motion to request to testify over the weekend, but no such motion was filed by the Sunday deadline set by the judge.

Throughout the trial, Kaplan repeatedly admonished Trumps attorneys and sustained a variety of objections from the other side during their cross examination of witnesses, prompting Trumps team to request a mistrial, which was denied.

5. Trump lawyers closing argument

Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina used his closing argument on Monday to argue that the case against the former president was outrageous and motivated by money and politics, and that Carrolls allegations were unbelievable and an affront to justice that minimized the experience of real rape victims.

Tacopina described Carrolls account of the alleged encounter with Trump as "completely made up," and suggested that it had been inspired by a 2012 episode of "Law & Order." The episode concerned a rape in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room, and the lawyers noted that under oath, Carroll even described the television storyline as an astonishing coincidence.

On rebuttal, Carrolls attorneys said her testimony about the Law & Order episode was taken out of context, and argued that if she had in fact been lying, her story would probably have had fewer gaps and inconsistencies.

While Carrolls attorneys emphasized the fact that Trump didnt even bother to show up here in person, Tacopina argued that Carrolls claims were too ridiculous for him to call Trump to testify about them in court.

What could I have asked Donald Trump? Tacopina said. Where were you on some unknown date, 27 or 28 years ago?
Updated May 9, 2023 at 1:05 AM

A Kansas teacher was arrested Monday after being accused of child sex crimes.

Russell Thomas, 61, of Herington was arrested on suspicion of three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and misdemeanor battery, according to a news release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

He was booked into the Dickinson County Jail.

Thomas was previously arrested on April 12 by authorities after he was accused of intimidating a witness in a felony investigation, according to a previous KBI news release.

This crime is alleged to have occurred on April 7, the previous KBI news release said.

KBI communications director Melissa Underwood said the two arrests are connected.

Agents arrested Thomas in April for aggravated intimidation of a witness connected to the investigation, Underwood said in Mondays news release.

The April 12 news release said Thomas was a teacher in the Herington school district.
North Carolina is one of the best states in the country for small businesses like mine, but the General Assembly is threatening that reputation with House Bill 346. On its surface, the bill (otherwise known as the Reorganization & Economic Development Act) appears to have little impact on us, but a deeper inspection exposes the real danger HB 346 poses for small businesses healthcare costs across the state.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is our states largest insurance company, and 4.3 million people rely on the company for coverage. Among those millions of North Carolinians are small business owners and their employees, who, according to the N.C. Insurance Commissioner would suffer higher healthcare costs if the General Assembly passes HB 346 and allows Blue Cross NC to restructure without any safeguards to protect the policyholders and the taxpayers of North Carolina.

Valerie Benton Smith

Small businesses are the heart of North Carolina, and owners do everything in their power to take care of our employees. Yet the health care situation for small businesses is bleak. Over 70% of small businesses in our state cannot afford to offer health insurance, because of the costs. Additionally, 80% of small business owners have seen the costs of insurance rise, and nearly half of them say that not being able to offer health insurance coverage makes them less competitive in hiring.

To protect our bottom line, we must often make difficult choices such as raising prices to recoup costs or raising employee contributions to health insurance. High health care costs also stop many small business owners from hiring more employees or expanding their business.

We believe that any effective legislation should hold Blue Cross to three key obligations:

 Ensure small businesses and policyholders are not harmed by rising premiums due to the proposed legislation;

 Preserve accessibility and affordability of healthcare in North Carolina;

 Most importantly, protect the public interest in any major conversion or disposition of Blue Cross assets by placing 100% of its fair market value in a charitable trust to serve the health care needs of North Carolinians.

We do not believe there has been an adequate examination of the proposed legislation to ensure it meets these three criteria. Since there are billions of dollars at stake, it is vital to make sure that we protect both citizens and policyholders before any bill passes.

We strongly recommend that the legislature should defer action on H346 and its companion bill, Senate Bill 296, until a legislative study commission has examined the legislation fully, there are public hearings, and ensured that it protects the interests of the people of North Carolina.

At a time when many small business owners are considering no longer offering health insurance to employees because of the costs, the General Assembly should be taking every step to keep health insurance costs in check, not passing legislation that could see costs rise across the board.

A whopping 86% of small business owners say theyre concerned about health care costs and want our state leaders to act, for the economic small business engine that drives our rural and urban communities, and not for Blue Cross NC.

Valerie Benton Smith is Regional President for the Greater North Carolina Black Chamber of Commerce.
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In the last five weeks, roughly 60 witnesses have made their way to the Ada County Courthouse and testified in the criminal trial against Lori Vallow Daybell. The 49-year-old mother and her husband, Chad Daybell, were charged with the first-degree murders of two of her children.

Prosecutors have alleged Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell also conspired to murder her 7-year-old son, Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow, 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, and Chad Daybells then-wife, Tammy Daybell.

To be convicted of the first-degree murder charges of JJ and Tylee, the 18-person jury  which will be whittled down to 12 jurors  will need to conclude that Vallow Daybell killed, encouraged or commanded someone else to kill Vallow Daybells children.

Chad Daybell is also charged with first-degree murder in Tammy Daybells death by asphyxiation.

Lori Vallow Daybells case spans 3 states, 4 deaths. Here are the key people involved

Vallow Daybells trial at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise began in early April. A trial date hasnt been set for Chad Daybell, but his trial could occur in June 2024.

Authorities said they believe Vallow Daybells brother Alex Cox also conspired to murder JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell, according to the indictment filed by prosecution teams from Madison and Fremont counties.

Cox died of natural causes in 2019. Vallow Daybell also faces a felony charge for allegedly conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, with her brother.

Check back for live updates.

2:30 p.m.  Closing arguments scheduled for Thursday

The defense will not be presenting any evidence, and Vallow Daybell will not be testifying.

We dont believe the state has proven its case, Vallow Daybells attorney Jim Archibald said.

Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce specifically asked Vallow Daybell if she understood that she had the right to testify and was choosing not to.

Vallow Daybell quietly responded, Yes.

The attorneys for the defense and prosecution, along with Boyce, are expected to work on instructions for the jury Wednesday. Closing arguments are expected to start Thursday morning.

1:40 p.m.  Prosecution done with its portion of the trial

The prosecution has rested, which means they have no more witnesses to call and its now the defenses turn.

The defense made a motion for a judgment of acquittal  which is typically requested by the defense at the end of the prosecutions side of the case or at the end of the case.

Archibald asked Boyce to review the evidence and decide whether there is enough evidence to hand the case over to the jury.

The request is under advisement as the defense requested to speak with Vallow Daybell for roughly 15 to 20 minutes to discuss their portion of the case.

11 a.m.  90 texts and calls between Daybells, brother and friend

Nicholas Edwards, an investigator with the Idahos attorney generals office, testified late Tuesday morning about timelines hed created around the attempted shooting of Tammy Daybell and her death.

Edwards said Cox, and his soon-to-be-wife Zulema Pastenes, along with the Daybells called and texted each other 90 times around Oct. 9  the day that someone attempted to shoot Tammy Daybell.

He also noted that Vallow Daybell and Pastenes were performing a casting on Tammy Daybell on the same night.

Vallow Daybell participated in castings with several people, including two of her former friends  Pastenes and Melanie Gibb  during which they would cast out certain people who had dark spirits.

Gibb during her testimony said that if individuals were properly cast out, theyd die, and Pastenes said a dark spirit could be kept out by binding or burning the body.

When asked by the defense, Edwards said he couldnt speak to what the texts or calls said, but that based on his training and experience, he said he believed they were talking about the attempted shooting.

Edwards also said the number of calls stood out to him because there were significantly more than on an average day.

He also presented a timeline of texts and calls involving Cox, Pastenes and the Daybells on Oct. 18, 2019  the night before Tammy Daybell was killed.

It also showed that Tammy Daybell was active on her phone until about 11:30 p.m. that night. Edwards said Cox was at a Latter-day Saints church roughly 2.5 miles from Chad and Tammy Daybells home.

At around 11:35 p.m., Chad Daybell sent two texts to Vallow Daybell, and then Cox left the church parking lot, according to the timeline presented by Edwards.

Cox then called Vallow Daybell at 12:09 p.m. and Chad sent her a text later.

Tammy was killed in the early hours of Oct. 19, 2019, and her death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.

9 a.m.  Chad Daybell texted Vallow Daybell a romance novel

The prosecution recalled FBI Analyst Nicole Heideman on Tuesday morning. Heideman previously testified about the Daybells Gmail accounts and reviewed their search histories.

Heideman said during her testimony Tuesday that she also reviewed Vallow Daybells iCloud account and spoke about a series of text messages between Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell.

Chad Daybell  who authored various books about the end times  sent Vallow Daybell several text messages with sections of a romance story about two people named James and Elena.

Heideman said the story reflected the Daybells real life and pointed to specific details that mirrored their relationship, including similar dates that both Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell and the characters visited Latter-day Saints temples. Former FBI Special Agent Doug Hart during his testimony Monday said Chad Daybell referred to himself as James in various text messages.

The entire story hasnt been published by the prosecution, but East Idaho News previously obtained the text messages.

I love you Elena, what wonderful chemistry we have, Chad Daybell texted Vallow Daybell, according to text messages presented by Heideman on Tuesday.

I love you more, thats so hot. I just need you now more than ever, Vallow Daybell texted back to Chad Daybell.
Days before the end of the Kansas legislative session, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly stood on the third floor of the statehouse, flanked by a dozen Kansas teachers, and affirmed an unwavering support for public education.

I will not sign a bill that cuts funding for schools, she said.

The issue is fully funding our schools and not diverting our public funds to private schools, she added.

Kellys position will soon be tested.

Kelly must decide by May 18 whether to sign or veto a bill that fully funds Kansas K-12 schools but ignores her request for enhanced special education funding and expands a tax credit scholarship program for private schools. Public education advocates  key allies of Kellys since her first term  are calling for her to veto the policy and call a special session on school funding.

What we would wish for would be a clean funding bill that complies with the Gannon school finance decision that adds some significant special education funding, said Leah Fliter, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards.

But requiring Kansas lawmakers to return to Topeka and take another shot at education funding does not guarantee a desirable result for Kelly or her allies. And it grants the GOP-controlled Legislature a fresh opportunity to pursue other policies Kelly will oppose.

This is a lose-lose situation and it really comes down to how much is she willing to lose, said Alexandra Middlewood, a political science professor at Wichita State University.

Possible special session

Kansas lawmakers formally completed their work for the year last month, forfeiting their opportunities to override any final vetoes from Kelly.

The one exception is K-12 funding. The state has a constitutional obligation to fully fund public schools. If Kelly rejects the Legislatures proposal, she will be obligated to call a special session to bring the body back to Topeka to either override her or try again.

Kelly, however, cannot limit the Legislatures work once they are back.

The school funding bill lawmakers passed included an expansion of eligibility for the existing tax credit scholarship program for private schools. It also adjusts the formula for calculating how many students are in a district and receive funding. The change allows schools to use their current year enrollment or their previous year enrollment.

A lot of the districts who are going to lose either get a lower amount or actual end up negative its just that they didnt know that was coming, Fliter said. Theyve already been budgeting and signing contracts based on what current law is and so theyre left kind of, they feel like, holding the bag.

Current law doesnt allow schools to use their current year enrollment to calculate population but allows them to pick the highest number of students from the previous three years.

For three straight years Kansas Republicans have separated the education budget from the broader government budget and tied policy changes to the funding.

In 2021 and 2022 Kelly approved those policy changes, accepting an open enrollment policy and moderate expansion of the tax credit scholarship in exchange for full funding.

Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican who chairs the House K-12 Budget Committee, said lawmakers would be quick to seek an override if they are brought back for a special session.

It needs constitutional funding regardless of what small items may be included in the policy; the number one thing has been achieved and the Legislature has spoken, she said.

Despite repeated pleas for increased special education funding  the state hasnt reached its statutory requirement for funding since at least 2011  Williams said she would remain reluctant to infuse those funds this year.

Williams has pushed for a deeper study of the special education funding rather than throw money at an issue that there is an emotional outcry for.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, voted against the funding bill on Kellys desk. But she said a special session was unlikely to fix the issues with the bill.

If it could just be education thats one thing but honestly I dont know that it gets any better, Sykes said. They dont have the appetite to put more money in schools and they want to divert those funds to private schools.

Instead, Skyes said, a special session would be an opportunity for GOP leaders to take another shot at sending a flat tax bill to Kelly or new legislation restricting the rights of transgender Kansans.

Untapped veto power?

Middlewood, the political science professor, said accepting the bill would likely upset Kellys most ardent supporters but it wouldnt harm her or her party in the long run.

However, Kelly could also open up a legal argument if she attempts to use her line-item veto power on the tax credit scholarship expansion and other policy components of the funding bill she opposes.

That doesnt help us get money and the funding for special education but it helps in terms of the negative things in it, Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, said.

A line-item veto could easily result in a court battle between Kelly and the Legislature over the power of the governor.

The Kansas Constitution grants Kelly the power to veto individual lines of appropriations bills. In recent memory, no governor has attempted to use the line-item veto power on any bill other than the primary budget bill.

Stephen McAllister, a constitutional law professor at the University of Kansas and former Kansas solicitor general, said in an email last month that he believes that power extends to the education budget.

But Williams, the Augusta Republican, said the Legislature considers the bill to be a policy bill and therefore not subject to line item vetoes. Kelly attempting a line-item veto, Williams said, would violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

It would not be acting in good faith, she said.
A week after a road rage incident that ended in a fatal shootout with Jasper County police, officials say the South Carolina mans death may have been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Calaab Heath Kirby, 33, of Union, was pronounced dead at 8 a.m. May 1 on Brooks Willis Drive, according to Jasper County Coroner Willie P. Aiken III. The investigation had closed Exit 8 off I-95 for most of a day.

The case is pending further investigation, but Aiken is investigating Kirbys death as a suicide. The position and angle of the mans multiple gunshot wounds indicate self-inflicted gunshots, he said, adding that several wounds could have resulted from a single bullet.

An autopsy was performed May 3, Aiken said.

One Sheriffs Office deputy and three Hardeeville officers involved in the shootout were put on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.

Hardeeville and Jasper County police called on SLED to investigate, which is standard practice to prevent bias after officer-involved shootings, said Chief Jeff Crosby of the Jasper County Sheriffs Office.

Kirby was a disabled veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, according to his obituary.

Hardeeville officers received a 911 call around 4:15 a.m. May 1 about a road rage incident in which an armed and aggressive driver shot another vehicle multiple times on U.S. 278, according to a May 2 press release from SLED. Police do not know how the disagreement began.

Locating the suspects car at a nearby gas station, police chased the driver, who was later identified as Kirby, onto Brooks Willis Drive, where his car struck a barricade and stopped, Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward said. From there, officers exchanged gunfire with the man.

Woodward, Crosby and SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich would not say how many rounds were fired by officers. Woodward would not specify whether police or Kirby fired the first shot.

Police do not know why Kirby was in Hardeeville that morning, but Woodward said the man was traveling upstate back to Union when the road rage incident unfolded.

Two Hardeeville officers exchanged gunfire with Kirby, Woodward said. A third officer on the scene was a supervisor.

Woodward and Crosby would not name the officers who have been placed on leave.

Woodward offered his condolences to Kirbys family.

Were all heartbroken about it, he said.

The May 1 incident is the first officer-involved shooting in 2023 for the Hardeeville Police Department and Jasper County Sheriffs Office. Neither department had an officer-involved shooting in 2022, according to SLED.
Foreign filmmaker learns about traditional Chinese culture in ancient town

Xinhua) 08:43, May 09, 2023

This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows a roadside store in Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Chen Qingbing)

CHONGQING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Adam Mahmood's story in search of "Ren," a traditional Chinese philosophy of benevolence advocated by ancient Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius, begins in the hustle and bustle of Chongqing, a southwestern Chinese metropolis.

Mahmood was one of the dozens of foreign filmmakers who participated in a documentary-making activity held by Southwest University recently. The activity aims to help young directors experience the charm of China's excellent traditional culture. What Mahmood focused on during the trip to Chongqing is "Ren," a key idea in the thoughts of Confucius.

"Prior to this journey, I have learned a little about the Chinese traditional culture of 'Ren,'" said Mahmood, the 23-year-old British national.

After taking a few hours by bus, Mahmood and his film shooting partner arrived at their final destination -- Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District of Chongqing Municipality. Tucked away in deep mountains, the town bears a history of over 300 years.

After a spring rain, birds were chirping on the local centuries-old trees while the tree leaves fell gently onto roofs of nearby old residential buildings and covered part of the stone walkways. Following the streams winding through the sleepy town, Mahmood and his partner curiously observed the surroundings with mud on their pants and shoes.

"I believe the residents here were more able to show me the culture of Pianyan than the architecture of the old town," said Mahmood as he began his visits to local residents.

Pianyan is known for its intangible cultural heritage, Tangmen Caizha, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The old craft mainly integrates handcrafts, traditional calligraphy, and paintings as well as engraving arts.

Tangmen Caizha's artworks are all structured with bamboo strips. Local craftsmen paste paper on the structures, draw vivid colors and then attach various kinds of adornments on them. The finished products were used for dragon or lion dances and parades on important festive occasions in ancient times.

Tang Qiantai, 80, is a fourth-generation inheritor of the old craft. The senior master now volunteers to teach children in order to better preserve and revive the craft.

Thanks to Tang's efforts, the Tangmen Caizha has drawn more attention over recent years, becoming a major magnet for visitors to the ancient town. During the first seven months of 2022, over 520,000 tourists were received by the Jindaoxia scenic area, which includes the ancient town, up 85 percent year on year.

Deeply touched by Tang's spirit, Mahmood speaks highly of Tang and deems the master's efforts as a vivid image of "Ren" culture. The filmmaker even experienced the handcraft making and dragon dance himself, trying to comprehend the essence of "Ren."

Apparently, the foreigner underestimated the great difficulties of grasping the craft. "My arms ached from long hours of holding the dragon's head in the blazing sun. And I realized that dragon dance was not easy even for a young man like myself," said Mahmood.

After days of practicing the performance, Mahmood had his debut show on a sunny day, dancing with the local dragon dance team for the residents. Rounds of applause that burst from the audience spoke volumes about the success of their performance.

Mahmood recorded the whole process through his lens. The finished film was named "The Dance of 'Ren'" by him, as he began to realize the rich connotation of traditional Chinese culture and philosophy.

"The spirit of 'Ren' is not only a human trait, but also a culture that has been precipitated by thousands of years of history," said the man. "It's not only the insistence on heritage in Master Tang, but also the spirit of selflessness and dedication of Tang and friendliness of all the people in the town."

This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows a street in Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Chen Qingbing)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs new bill limiting Chinese land ownership and banning the use of TikTok at schools despite criticism from some groups.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs new bill limiting Chinese land ownership, and TikTok use at schools

Several Chinese groups have criticized the bill, arguing that it would lead to discrimination

The bill would bar affected parties and individuals from purchasing farmland and property within 10 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure facility

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new bill that limits Chinese land ownership in the United States and the use of TikTok at schools despite criticism from some Asian groups who have argued that it would lead to discrimination.

The final bill would prevent the foreign countries listed under its policy and their officers from purchasing farmland and property within 10 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure facility.

Florida's New Land Ownership Bill

Furthermore, DeSantis' new bill would not allow anyone connected with the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to buy real estate in Florida. As per USA Today, it would also bar anyone considered "domiciled" in China and not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident.

In a statement during a Monday press conference, DeSantis said that the bill's passing marks the moment that Florida was "really leading the nation in terms of what we're doing to stop the influence of the Chinese Communist Party."

Furthermore, lawmakers added an exception to the bill for non-tourist Visa holders. This is so long as they buy one real estate property that is not within five miles of one of these aforementioned installations and is not larger than two acres.

DeSantis added that they made the bill to ensure that agricultural land is not compromised by CCP influence. He said that it ensures that the Chinese government or any foreign adversary will not compromise seaports, airports, power plants, telecom systems, and other critical infrastructure.

The law also prohibits specific applications that are "created, maintained, or owned by a foreign principal" and are engaged in activities that create cybersecurity threats. According to the South China Morning Post, this would most likely include TikTok, as lawmakers are still discussing a potential ban on the Chinese-owned app.

Read Also: US Congress Contemplates New Regulations for Tech Industry

Banning TikTok at Schools

The new bill would prevent school students from accessing the affected apps using their devices through a school or government network. This is similar to a ban enforced at the University of Texas at Austin in January.

On Tuesday, the school said that it had blocked TikTok's access on its systems permanently and prohibited students' devices from using the app while they are on the university's wired or wireless networks. This comes as other states have also imposed various restrictions on the Chinese-owned app.

The bill is known as SB 264 and, before its passing, had bipartisan support from state legislators as they echoed concerns over national security. The final vote for the bill in the House was 95-17, and in the Senate was 31-8.

During an interview last year, DeSantis talked about residential real estate ownership by Chinese entities, calling the issue a "huge problem" for the United States, said Yahoo News.

Related Article: Title 42 Ending: Republicans Set To Vote on Border Security Package

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
People at a senior living community in Lakewood gather for a clinic on vaccinations. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Medicare Advantage, which funnels government healthcare benefits through privately run, managed-care insurers, has grown so fast that within months its expected to be the dominant form of coverage for seniors.

That's largely because the plans, most of them HMOs, offer lower out-of-pocket costs, plus added benefits not covered by original Medicare, such as dental, vision and prescription drugs. Some Advantage plans even throw in gym memberships.

The one thing that Medicare Advantage has not done is curb the governments healthcare spending, even though that was a big selling point in Washington when it was approved in the mid-1990s as Medicare Part C.

Today Medicare spends considerably more for an Advantage member than it does for a comparable enrollee in original Medicare Parts A and B.

As a result, a program born out of a desire to deliver better care and more choices for seniors while reducing government costs is instead generating hefty income for private health insurers and keeping Medicare on a path to insolvency by decades end.

The status quo will continue to put untenable pressure on Medicare financing, said David Lipschutz, associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy in Washington.

He said the Biden administration has done more than others to address issues related to excessive Medicare Advantage payments and aggressive marketing schemes, but most analysts say theyre likely to have little effect.

Medicares budget woes have been building for years, and the current battle over the nations debt ceiling may put renewed focus on restraining the skyrocketing costs for entitlement programs. Federal expenditures for Medicare in all forms are likely to reach $1 trillion this year, second only to Social Security as Washingtons most costly element in the so-called safety net.

But Medicare and Social Security are politically so explosive that almost no one in Washington is willing to talk about the issues publicly, let alone propose spending cuts that will draw the ire of millions of older voters. Biden has promised to keep both programs off-limits to Republicans seeking to slash government spending as part of the debt-ceiling talks.

There are also health spending pressures that neither side can do much about. The number of seniors is growing as the U.S. population ages. They are living longer and seeking more expensive medical care to help them lead better and more productive lives.

Against that challenging backdrop, the shift to Medicare Advantage represents a profound change with far-reaching consequences. It already counts as members nearly half of all 65 million people who are 65 and over and eligible for Medicare. More than 3.3 million Californians have Medicare Advantage.

Today Medicare looks more like a marketplace of private plans than a national public health program, said Tricia Neuman, Medicare policy expert at KFF, the San Francisco nonprofit healthcare research organization. She said it's not clear whether Medicare Advantage is delivering better long-term health outcomes.

When it was introduced more than two decades ago, Medicare Advantage had been devised as a money-saving plan. Traditional Medicare pays doctors and hospitals a fee for each service they render, but with Medicare Advantage, private health plans  most operating as health maintenance organizations  are paid a set amount per patient per month, regardless of how many, or how few, medical services are used.

Like other managed care plans, participants typically select primary physicians from a network of providers, and must obtain referrals to visit specialists.

That fixed amount covers everything a doctor or other provider does for a patient. Its called capitation, and the idea was to encourage medical providers to be more efficient.

Initially, capitation rates for Medicare Advantage were set at 95% of the average cost of an enrollee in original Medicare.

But later, officials added a so-called risk-adjustment process. Not wanting to incentivize insurers to go after only healthier people, Medicare created a complex payment formula that factored in local demographics, health plan quality ratings and the medical status of enrollees. In general, the sicker the member, the bigger the capitation.

That worked almost too well. Advantage plans enrolled a lot of sicker people, including many lower-income beneficiaries.

And they began writing down every medical condition in a member, often too aggressively and sometimes inappropriately upcoding to boost the capitation amount.

Over the years some of the largest Medicare Advantage plans have been accused of deliberately making patients look sicker than they really are, for example recording diagnoses of patients who had not been seen in weeks or adding medical conditions after cursory assessments and incomplete tests.

What's more, health plans also figured out what they needed to do to get high quality ratings for bonus payouts. Last year 90% received four or five stars.

The overall result: Today Medicare is spending 6% more for an Advantage member than it would have if that person had been in original Medicare, according to MedPac, the nonpartisan legislative agency that advises lawmakers on Medicare financing. Some analysts estimate the difference is even greater.

MedPac, in a March report to Congress, blamed it on a flawed payment system, saying the policies undermine the goal of plans competing to improve quality and reduce healthcare costs.

Under Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans earlier this year that it would start auditing Advantage plans to recover overpayments, but experts doubt they'll recoup much.

Health insurers dont seem particularly worried. Andrew Witty, head of UnitedHealth Group, the No. 1 provider of Medicare Advantage health plans with 7.5 million enrollees, said in April that he expects that business to grow strongly for years to come. Humana, the second-largest Advantage insurer, recently announced that it was withdrawing from the commercial employer group market to focus on Medicare.

Wall Street analysts who follow for-profit healthcare finances say that for every dollar of Medicare Advantage payment, insurers on average spend about 85 cents for medical expenses and an additional 10% for operational overhead such as salaries, leaving about 5% for net profit. While that is slightly less than the commercial health insurance market, what makes Medicare Advantage so desirable for insurers is that it brings in a lot more dollars per enrollee, reflecting their age and greater medical utilization.

According to KFFs analysis, the amount of Medicare Advantage premium, or payments from Medicare, left after accounting for medical claims was $1,730 per enrollee in 2021  more than double the gross margin for someone in a group employer or individual plan.

Moreover, with still millions more baby boomers aging into Medicare, that population is growing at multiples of the under-65 commercial market. No surprise then that more than 180 insurers and organizations are currently offering Advantage plans, said Gretchen Jacobson, the Medicare expert at the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation promoting better healthcare.

Medicare specialists and health economists tend to be wary of Medicare Advantage, partly because so many seniors have jumped into these plans without knowing all the limitations and caveats. Enrollment has surged along with a bombardment of television ads, some confusing and misleading, which Medicare officials are now starting to go after.

Consumer advocates also warn that HMOs in their heyday in the 1980s and 90s often cut costs by making it difficult for patients to access specialists and denying medically necessary care.

Last year, government investigators said that their study found that 13% of denials by Medicare Advantage health plans would have been approved under original Medicare. In recent months, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, two of the largest Medicare Advantage health plans, announced that they would reduce their prior authorizations for certain procedures.

Still theres been no widespread consumer backlash with Medicare Advantage as HMOs saw in earlier decades. And surveys have shown that Advantage plans overall enjoy a high level of member satisfaction, comparable to original Medicare.

A big reason is the added coverage for vision and dental care, both of which have become very expensive and both of which involve medical problems that loom even larger among seniors.

Also, more and more doctors have given up individual private practice and joined large medical groups that include hospitals and other facilities. So while original Medicare beneficiaries have greater choice  in theory they can go to any doctor or hospital  Advantage plans in some areas give members access to the highest-rated providers in their networks.

George Halvorson, the retired chief executive of Kaiser Permanente, says he recently had a surgical procedure on his skull, a craniotomy, at the renowned Mayo Clinic. Because he was a member of the Minnesota Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan, he said, all of it was covered. Traditional Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for 20% of the charges, although those who can afford it buy supplemental insurance (Medigap) to cover the gap.

Halvorson argued that Medicare Advantages popularity comes down largely to good results. He said, for example, that Medicare Advantage has sharply reduced the number of expensive amputations by preventing foot ulcers. More generally, studies have shown a higher percentage of people in Medicare Advantage use preventative healthcare services than those in original Medicare.

Still, after a review of more than 60 studies on the subject, KFF analysts said they found "few big differences" between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare on a variety of measures.

Theres some evidence that hospital readmissions may be lower with Medicare Advantage, but research also shows people in traditional Medicare tend to have better access to top-rated hospitals for services like cancer treatment and to the highest quality skilled nursing facilities.

Regardless, practically everyone sees Medicare Advantage enrollment growing.

Theres no stopping it, said Bonnie Burns, a longtime Medicare specialist at California Health Advocates, a nonprofit counseling and advocacy group.

Theres a revolution going on," she said. "And I dont think its clear where all this is going to wind up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Federal agents fanned out on the streets of El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, seeking out migrants who have been gathering at shelters and churches in the southern border town hoping to be able to stay in the United States ahead of the expiration of a Trump-era border-control policy that goes away at the end of the day Thursday.

The enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security came as a new surge of migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and elsewhere rush to the U.S.-Mexico border and Customs and Border Protections insistence that no one will be allowed through a U.S. port of entry without an appointment via its new CBP One app.

Despite such assertions, migrants have continue to surge to the border, hoping to beat Thursdays deadline and tougher immigration enforcement that could bar re-entry or a chance to apply for asylum for five years.

There are media reports in Mexico that there might be around 600,000 migrants heading to the border, July Rodriguez, the director of Support for Venezuelan Migrants, told the Miami Herald in an interview from Mexico City.

This is a big crisis. No one knows what is going to happen the day after the end of Title 42, she said. This is getting out of hand.

In recent days, advocates working with migrants from Venezuela and Haiti have tried to do outreach, warning them that the border isnt open and they face expulsions from the United States. But many of their efforts have fallen on deaf ears.

Rodriguez said there are currently waves of migrants headed to the U.S. from Colombia as well as from Chiapas, a Mexican state that borders Guatemala. Most of those migrants are concentrated near the border town of Tapachula and are trying to obtain from Mexicos National Migration Institute the 45-day migration status that would allow them to travel toward Ciudad Juarez. That would bring them across the border from El Paso.

But they are not all in Chiapas, Rodriguez said. There is also a large number of them already walking or riding toward the border.

After three years, Title 42, the public-health authority invoked by the Trump administration at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to quickly expel migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, will go away  along with other coronavirus public-health emergency rules.

The pending end of the controversial border policy has led to fears that border towns in both Mexico and the U.S. will be overwhelmed as migrants become convinced that the border is now open.

Already, migrants who have made their way into Juarez are camping or lining up in informal areas hoping to cross into the U.S. ahead of the expiration, which is set to bring tougher enforcement laws.

As we have said repeatedly, individuals who do not have a lawful basis to remain will be removed, Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said about migrants gathered on the U.S. side. Individuals should not listen to the lies of smugglers and instead use lawful pathways to protection.

The U.S. recently dispatched 1,500 active-duty troops to the border to join 2,500 National Guards already there.

Rodriguez, who heads the nongovernmental organization focused on helping Venezuelans, said migrants are desperate to reach the U.S. border.

They are suffering a great deal of anxiety, despite our efforts to explain to them the different alternatives they can find in Mexico to ask for asylum or to ask for a CBP One appointment so they dont run risks at the border, where they can be kidnapped or robbed or become extortion victims. They are saying, I am not going to stay here. Ill get to the United States,  Rodriguez said.

There are a lot of rumors that people are being able to get into the United States and they believe that people are lying when they say that the border is closed, she added. And there is very little we can do about that. We can do no more than to try to keep informing them of what the real situation is.

In addition to the migrants in Mexico, Rodriguez said her organization has been informed that there is a large wave headed toward the border in Colombia, and that the Darien Gap  the jungle between Colombia and Panama where many migrants have lost their lives trying to cross  is full.

A large number of them set out a few weeks back with the idea of getting to the border by May 11 and crossing the border, she said. Others believe that the end of Title 42 will actually open the border and that they will be able to enter the following day. So we are seeing that El Darien is full of people and this has been the case for many weeks now. And most of those that were there when the rush began are already here in Mexico. They all think they will be able to cross.

The Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Republican governors and lawmakers, has insisted that it is prepared for the end of Title 42. Theyve announced several new policies that they say are aimed at curbing the flow of migration at the border.

We do expect to see an increase in migrants arriving at the border, a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. But we do believe over time that these programs that expand legal pathways, that increase consequences for irregular migration, will have a sustainable and longstanding impact on our flows.

The administration plans to open regional processing centers, initially in Guatemala and Colombia, in partnership with international organizations to prescreen individuals eligibility for a lawful pathway to the U.S.  a centerpiece of the administrations post-Title 42 plan, a second administration official said.

The administration also announced that CBP One will be expanded to allow for more appointments, to about 1,000 each day, and to provide additional time to complete requests and prioritize migrants who have been waiting the longest.

We do expect the initial, early days to include an increase in migration, the second official said, noting that over 4,000 personnel  including 1,000 law enforcement officers, 1,500 military personnel, and a record number of private contractors  have been deployed to the border to assist with the surge. We have been preparing for this for over two years now.

In a statement, CBP said that scheduling an appointment in CBP One provides a safe, orderly, and humane process for noncitizens to access ports of entry rather than attempting to enter the United States irregularly.

Asylum seekers who try to enter the U.S. without permission will face expedited removal and a re-entry ban, immigration officials have warned. In some cases, they will be deported to their home country, and in others back to Mexico, under an agreement with the Mexican government.

Deportations and a ban on re-entering the U.S. will apply to those who attempt to cross either by land at the U.S.-Mexico border or by sea through the Florida Straits or Puerto Ricos Mona Passage. Such migrants will be processed under whats known as Title 8, which bars re-entry into the U.S. for at least five years.

U.S. officials argue that such smuggling ventures are risky and put migrants lives at risk. They said they plan to expand legal pathways into the U.S. such as employment-based visa and family reunification, particular for Cubans and Haitians.

In January, the administration launched a two-year humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. Already provided to Venezuelan nationals, the program allows individuals from the four countries to legally fly to the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor and a valid passport.

Immigration advocates have said that while Title 42 should go away, it should not be replaced with policies that discourage or ban people from seeking asylum at the U.S. border or relies on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and surveillance.

Title 42 should never have been implemented in the first place, and the Biden administrations continuation of the policy for over two years has been shameful, said Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network. Now that it is finally ending this week, we are again making it clear: The administration must end Title 42 without relying on immigration detention and surveillance and restore access to our borders so people can seek safety and opportunity with dignity and respect.
The Republican-controlled Missouri House on Tuesday passed legislation that would make it harder for Missouri voters to approve amendments to the state constitution.

The constitutional amendment, which passed by a vote of 107-55, would increase the number of votes required for a constitutional amendment to pass on the ballot  from more than 50% to at least 57%. Under the plan, several amendments recently passed by voters, including last years measure to legalize recreational marijuana, which received 53% support statewide, would have failed.

It comes as abortion rights groups are pushing to restore abortion access at the ballot box after the procedure was almost entirely banned in Missouri last year.

I just hope the constitution is something sacred, said state Rep. Mike Henderson, a Bonne Terre Republican who sponsored the legislation. Missouris right now is an ever-growing document.

The proposal, which was the result of negotiations between the two chambers of the General Assembly, now heads to the Senate with four days left in the legislative session. If passed by both chambers, it would have to be approved by voters in the November 2024 election unless Missouri Gov. Mike Parson calls an earlier special election.

Under the new plan, both chambers of the General Assembly, which have strong GOP supermajorities, would also need 57% of the vote to place an amendment on the ballot. Lawmakers would be barred from changing voter-approved laws for at least three years unless they get 57% approval from both chambers.

The proposal is part of an onslaught of GOP-led bills filed this year that would raise the threshold for voters to pass citizen-led ballot measures, called initiative petitions. It comes after Missouri voters approved several liberal-leaning policies through changes to the constitution  many of which would not have passed under the proposed legislation.

Ballot initiatives since 2018 have led Missouri voters to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana, overturn a right-to-work law  which would have prevented unions from requiring employees to pay union dues  and expand eligibility for Medicaid.

I think this is very anti-voter, state Rep. Robert Sauls, an Independence Democrat, said Tuesday. I dont think this is what the people want.

The new version of the legislation strips a first-in-the-nation provision passed by the Senate last month that would have required a majority of the states eight congressional districts to amend the constitution.

Legal experts and some lawmakers had argued that the congressional district requirement would have violated the U.S. Constitution and given rural residents more power. Henderson said Tuesday that negotiators agreed to strip the provision after meeting with a number of attorneys about whether it was constitutional.

Republicans have made whittling away at the initiative petition process a major priority this year, arguing that the Missouri Constitution has been too easy to change. Some have compared the document to a thick book, inundated with policies that belong in state law, not the constitution.

State Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican, pushed back on arguments that the plan would restrict peoples voting power. He touted the provisions that place voting limits on the legislature.

The constitution, when done well, limits the authority of the government and thats what this does, he said Tuesday.

While Republicans say its been too easy to change the state constitution, data provided to The Star earlier this year shows that voters have approved only 40.6% of the 69 citizen-driven initiative petitions placed on the ballot between 1910 and 2022.

A coalition of Missouri conservatives have also pushed back against the proposal, saying it infringes on voters freedom to place checks on the legislature.

Republicans in the Senate should stand up for conservative values and filibuster the motion, said Carl Bearden, a Republican who served as speaker pro tem in the Missouri House from 2005 to 2007. Bearden called on lawmakers to block this government power grab now and forever.

Defenders of the current ballot measure process have framed the legislation as an attack on democracy. They say it takes away voters ability to directly participate in the democratic process.

House Democrats also criticized the deceptive ballot language that would be placed in front of voters, saying that Republicans were using confusing ballot candy to get voters to agree to take away their voting power.

The proposed ballot initiative would ask Missourians to Allow only U.S. citizens to vote on ballot measures, despite the fact that Missouri law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens.

When they show up at the ballot, people are going to be misled, state Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said Tuesday. Theres an old saying that if you put icing on dog poop, you dont have a birthday cake. You just have dog poop with icing on it.
For two weeks, the little girl did not wake up. Three more passed until she spoke.

Before she was rushed to the hospital on Jan. 15, 2022, 4-year-old Bella Hopkins spent several hours bleeding, critically hurt, on her bed. To family who saw her taken into the emergency room, it looked like her small head had been stomped on.

Her mother, Mackenzie Hopkins, 24, was found dead that night, submerged in the bathtub. She had been beaten severely, and bloody boot prints marked the floors of her newly rented Kansas City home.

In the 15 months since then, the Hopkins family has come to learn many of the haunting details behind the brutal attack. But, many questions linger  including ones that, for Shannon Hopkins, bring a mix of anger and sadness.

Why did two Kansas City police officers who responded to Mackenzie Hopkins home on a 911 call stop at her door and leave without going inside?

Was it after police left, and the alleged killer returned to the house, that he brutally attacked Bella?

Could the officers who first responded have saved the mothers life and prevented the child from being injured?

Twelve hours before the mother and daughter were found, a 911 call from Mackenzie Hopkins cellphone brought the police to the house. But they left, giving the alleged killer, 31-year-old Jose Escalante-Corchado, the freedom to go back inside  an act authorities say was captured on surveillance video.

The Hopkins family says detectives told them the officers who responded to the 911 call could not enter the house because of a policy that came after the conviction of Eric DeValkenaere, a white Kansas City police detective found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man.

Police officials have publicly denied that any changes in practice or policy were made in response to the DeValkenaere case, in which the former officer was faulted for going onto private property without probable cause.

But they have not offered another explanation for the officers failure to find Mackenzie and Bella Hopkins until 12 hours after the 911 call was made.

Officer Donna Drake, a Kansas City Police Department spokeswoman, declined to answer The Stars questions concerning the actions of officers that day, saying the department could not discuss the case as it has been referred to Jackson County prosecutors.

Outside of probable cause statements filed in Jackson County court, Drake said the only publicly available record is an incident report generated after Mackenzie Hopkins was found dead and the homicide investigation was opened. The one-page document contains a two-sentence narrative, and makes no mention of the discovery of the injured child.

Many other records, including the final autopsy report and the recording of the 911 call made on the morning of her death, remain closed under state law.

Mackenzie Mickey Hopkins, 24, is pictured with her daughter, Bella. After they were attacked in their home, Bella spent weeks in intensive care. Hopkins did not survive.

Meanwhile, the strongest defense of the two officers has come from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who told The Star she did not believe they made mistakes when they left Mackenzie Hopkins home. While she declined to discuss details of the criminal case, Baker said the officers did not appear to depart from normal police procedure in the actions they took that morning.

Still, Baker called it cruel that the Hopkins family was given bad information that has further caused the family pain. She said nothing has changed about the law or KCPD policies and training since DeValkenaere was convicted.

For his part, Shannon Hopkins is thankful that Bella, his granddaughter, is still with him. She is a happy-go-lucky 5-year-old.

Still, she carries a physical reminder of the attack she survived: a large scar across her forehead where surgeons replaced a piece of her skull.

The family wonders what trials she will face without Mackenzie Hopkins  fondly remembered as Mickey  to be there as the dedicated and loving single mother she was.

She talks about her mom, but never in a sad way, Shannon Hopkins said of his granddaughter. Thankfully, I dont think she has a memory, or at least going to the counseling she went through afterwards, and just in conversations with her grandmother and I, and other family members. She really doesnt have a recollection of the incident.

For the Hopkins family, the grief of losing Mackenzie Hopkins to a sudden act of violence is still compounded by what-ifs. They have never heard a convincing explanation for what police officers did that day after the 911 call and why. And those are answers Shannon Hopkins believes his family deserves to have.

Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department, is seen in a file photo. She declined to answer questions about how officers responded to Mackenzie Hopkins 911 call.

From what Ive been told, they stood less than three physical feet from my daughter, my dying daughter, or my dead daughter, he said.

He wonders, too, what conversations were had outside her door when the officers decided to leave.

Well never know what that was. But I think that it needs to happen. We need to know, he added.

It certainly would have helped me to know why those two people didnt go in to save my daughter who called them to come.

The police department declined to make Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves available for an interview to discuss the case.

The five members of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, including Mayor Quinton Lucas and four members appointed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, did not respond to The Stars request for comment.

Kansas City Council members Ryana Parks-Shaw and Lee Barnes Jr.., who represent the district where the crime occurred, also did not respond to The Stars request for comment.

A 911 call and a struggle

Surveillance cameras near Hopkins house in the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue showed a white pickup truck with a Kansas license plate pass by her house at 5 a.m.

Forty-six minutes later a man with dark-colored clothes, alleged to be Escalante-Corchado, who was romantically involved with her friend, walks up to Hopkins home and disappears from view into the back yard.

Fifteen minutes later, at 6:01 a.m., the 911 call was placed from Mackenzie Hopkins cellphone. On other end of the line, a call taker could hear the sound of a disturbance and people fighting. The Hopkins family was later told there were sounds of a struggle, and that whoever dialed 911  presumably Mackenzie Hopkins  did not terminate the call.

One minute after that phone call, the alleged killer is seen on surveillance cameras running from the residence. He heads south on Wabash and east on 74th Street.

Police have never outlined the precise actions of the officers who responded to the call that morning, including what time they arrived, how much time was spent there, and what they did. The only confirmation that two police officers did so much as stop at the house and knock on the door has come from the Hopkins family and the Jackson County Prosecutors Office.

A photograph of the 7300 block of Wabash Avenue in Kansas City. On Jan. 15, 2022, Mackenzie Hopkins had recently moved in on the block when she was killed in her home.

During that window, Escalante-Corchado  wearing a blue COVID-19 mask over his face  parked the white truck he was driving outside of a gas station convenience store at 70th and Prospect and walked inside.

At 6:27 a.m., his white truck was seen following two police cars that were traveling north on Prospect past Gregory Boulevard  heading in the opposite direction of Mackenzie Hopkins home.

At 6:48 a.m., Escalante-Corchado allegedly ran back toward the house and went around the back, according to court documents. He walked out two hours later and headed south on Wabash.

Over the time Escalante-Corchado allegedly spent in the house that day, he is accused of beating Mackenzie Hopkins with aid of a dangerous instrument. Drag marks were observed by Kansas City police crime scene investigators, and within pools of blood were sole prints stamped with the word Ariat, a cowboy boot brand.

He allegedly attempted to murder 4-year-old Bella  who Shannon Hopkins says may have been able to recognize him because she played with his daughter, who is around the same age.

Plans had been made with Mackenzie and Bella Hopkins that day to be with family. Mackenzie Hopkins often stayed up late  on the last night she spoke to friends and family she was watching movies with her daughter.

So, there was not a great concern when she did not answer the phone that morning.

But by the afternoon, worry started to grow. Shannon Hopkins and his youngest daughter, Hazel, decided to make the 20-mile drive from their Shawnee townhome to check on them.

As they were driving, Shannon Hopkins was overcome with the fear that something horrible had happened. He thought perhaps there had been a gas leak in the house.

Whatever the case, he did not want to open that door alone. He called the police.

That evening, at 5:49 p.m., a second set of officers was dispatched to Mackenzie Hopkins house. After arriving there, a detective wrote in court documents, the officers noticed what appeared to be blood leading up to the front steps. The officers were on the block when family arrived.

Officers asked Shannon Hopkins if he could open the door. He walked up the staircase, the key in hand, and pushed. Already unlocked, it opened.

It was nighttime by then, and the house was dark. He took a step inside to flip a light switch. Thats when the flashlights of police illuminated the blood-covered floor. His younger daughter, still standing behind the screen door, screamed.

The officers drew firearms, pulled Shannon Hopkins out, and went in.

I thank God every day that I called the police, Shannon Hopkins said. Because I cant imagine having walked farther into the house and finding Mickey in that state, and Bella. So, I was thankful for that small, small grace.

Mackenzie Hopkins is pictured with her daughter, Bella. Family members say Bella does not demonstrate that she remembers the January 2022 attack but still talks about her mother.

On Jan. 16, 2022, the day after that door was opened, police arrested Escalante-Corchado after serving a search warrant at his Kansas City, Kansas, home. They were led to him as a suspect after Escalante-Corchados girlfriend told detectives she had used her friend Mackenzie Hopkins as an alibi the night before she was killed, and that he had been out all night long.

As the family continued to hope and pray that young Bella Hopkins would survive, they were met by police detectives and told the man responsible had been caught.

Shannon Hopkins was impressed by the quick work of Kansas City police to solve the case. But then the family learned about the early-morning 911 call.

At first, he said, he believed the detectives had misspoken, and they were referring to the call he made 12 hours later that evening asking police to come meet him at his daughters home. Then, his daughter-in-law asked: So, she called 911?

And they said, Yes, Shannon Hopkins recalled. And thats when it occurred to me that they werent talking about my call.

The family was alarmed and extremely upset, Shannon Hopkins said. They wanted to know why Mackenzie Hopkins did not get help that morning. And they heard a puzzling explanation that never sat right.

The DeValkenaere explanation

Detectives told the Hopkins family about the DeValkenaere case, saying his conviction in the killing of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb in Kansas City months earlier had imposed new restrictions on what police officers could do in emergency situations.

They told us at that time it was a policy change, Shannon Hopkins said. We were told later by the D.A. that there was no policy change.

Family members were not the only ones who heard a similar explanation from police.

Sarah Erikson, a friend of Mackenzie Hopkins, said she too called a homicide detective seeking answers for her and on behalf of other concerned friends. During a brief call, Erikson told The Star, she raised the subject of the 911 call.

The detective, she said, explained in an irritated but airy tone how a fellow officer just got his entire life ruined because he went in the back of somebodys yard and shot the (homeowner), and said the police cant help anybody anymore.

And I was just like, Are you kidding me? Erikson said. I was so baffled by how angry he was. I mean, he was blaming the law on their inaction. And I just thought that was the biggest excuse Ive ever heard in my life.

Eric DeValkenaere is pictured in a file photo from his 2021 trial for manslaughter. Family of Mackenzie Hopkins said police told them the case was the reason why two officers did not go inside her home after she called 911.

In 2020, DeValkenaere, a plainclothes detective with the Violent Offenders Squad, responded to a police helicopters report of a traffic incident. With his partner, DeValkenaere ran into the backyard where Lamb was backing his pickup truck into the garage at his home near 41st Street and College Boulevard.

Within seconds of arriving, DeValkenaere shot and killed him.

DeValkenaere maintained he shot Lamb in defense of his partner after seeing Lamb with a gun. Jackson County prosecutors charged him criminally, saying at trial that Lamb was unarmed and the gun had been planted along with other evidence.

DeValkenaere was convicted in November 2022 following a bench trial overseen by Jackson County Judge Dale Youngs. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, and sentenced to six years in prison.

In finding him guilty, Youngs relied in part on protections outlined under the U.S. Constitutions Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unlawful searches and seizures. Youngs found DeValkenaere and his partner did not have probable cause to be on Lambs property when he was shot and killed.

Fifteen months ago, when news reports, including The Stars, first surfaced calling into question whether the DeValkenaere verdict had resulted in any changes in police procedure or policy, the official word from the Kansas City Police Department was that no changes had been made.

But in another case, which originated in the Metro Patrol, the same station that polices the neighborhood where Mackenzie Hopkins lived, the so-called DeValkenaere policy was referenced by a police captain in a voicemail left for a resident who publicly complained on social media that police officers had failed to investigate a break-in at his neighbors residence.

In the voicemail, a copy of which was obtained by The Star, the captain referenced a policy named for DeValkenaere specifically that he did not agree with but was something you citizens need to know. He said officers were limited in how thoroughly they could investigate crimes to the extent that  absent a search warrant  they could only go inside a residence in extreme circumstances, such as someone screaming for help inside.

Prosecutor Baker has publicly taken issue with that statement, saying the police captain profoundly misstates the law.

During a recent interview with The Star, Baker said she does not understand why that information would be disseminated. She has likewise been left to opine what would have motivated police to tell the Hopkins family that convicting a police detective had some impact on their ability to respond to an emergency.

It makes you wonder if theres a willful ignorance happening here for some kind of a political view of the Fourth Amendment, Baker said. I dont know. Thats where Im stuck opining, because this is not difficult. KCPDs policies have not changed. KCPDs trainings have not changed.

She takes issue with the incorrect interpretation that the DeValkenaere verdict had any effect on the law, and the fact that a crime victims family was given bad information that has caused further suffering.

Mr. DeValkenaere was convicted in a court of law with rules of evidence, and one of the ways he was convicted was based on KCPDs policies and trainings on the Fourth Amendment, Baker said. Those things havent changed. Not before DeValkenaere was convicted, and not after he was convicted.

So, thats where there appears to be just this willful ignorance of the law, she added. And when it touches on victims, victims receiving bad information on that, that I want to speak out about. Because its cruel. Its cruel. And I want people to kind of get their heads on straight here. Weve got serious work to do. Solving homicides and successfully trying those homicides before a court of law.

Kansas City police are seen in a 2020 file photo. The Kansas City Police Department has denied claims that it changed policy after a detective was convicted of shooting and killing a man at his home.

Lauren Bonds, a civil rights attorney and executive director of the National Police Accountability Project based in Kansas City, Kansas, said there isnt any basis for the idea that the DeValkenaere verdict mandated a policy change because of a shift in the law. But she said decisions may have been made to limit liability of police officers in response.

She also thought a department-wide change resulting from a very specific set of facts in the DeValkneaere case  something that differed greatly from the Hopkins situation  would be odd.

It would be unusual to do a wholesale blanket requirement that police respond more slowly or dont engage in situations that are so factually different from the case where this verdict was issued, Bonds said.

Meanwhile, Bonds agreed with the assessment made by Baker last year that some police officers may have reacted emotionally to the DeValkenaere verdict. She spoke of trends seen in Minneapolis, for example, after the killing of George Floyd, where a wave of police officers began collecting disability.

We hear a lot from police advocates who are opposing accountability bills: Police officers are going to be too afraid to do their job if you enact (legislation) where we can be held civilly liable or criminally liable in these situations.

Thats a threat that weve heard across the country, Bonds said.

In the case of the Mackenzie Hopkins 911 call, Bonds said there are very few legal requirements for how police actively respond to an emergency and little to hold them accountable for failing to act.

Generally, she said, they are not liable unless they create a danger that causes injury or a person is harmed by their actions or negligence after being taken into custody.

So if they show up and say, This isnt a situation where I feel like we can do anything  or something thats just kind of like a non-response once they show up, thats usually not going to be a situation where theres legal liability.

A mom, a nurse, a woman with drive

The middle of three children, Mackenzie Hopkins grew up around Wichita before moving with her family to suburban Kansas City for her senior year of high school.

She hated the local school system and got her GED that summer before going on to college for her associates degree.

Shannon Hopkins acknowledges most parents have a lavender screen when it comes to their own children. But he can say of his that theyre all good kids.

Shannon Hopkins, left, and Mackenzie Hopkins, right, smile for a selfie photograph.

I was a bad kid. I was always in trouble when I was a teenager. I just never got paid back, I guess. Which is always what you expect as a parent that youre gonna reap what you sow, he said with a chuckle. But my kids are just salt of the earth. I just dont know how else to put it.

They did not always see eye to eye on everything. Dinner table conversations with his daughter would sometimes gravitate toward policing in the U.S. He thought the cops got a bad rap in many cases  she often disagreed.

We didnt agree on most politics, Shannon Hopkins said. And that certainly was something that we battled over more than once.

Ive had a struggle with that mindset, I guess, over the last year because it has been slammed down in front of this family that quite possibly some of the things that I believed were not true. And certainly didnt play out that early morning.

The fact that I spent so many years defending a group of people that, when we truly needed them, let us down, is a source of guilt that I carry with me now.

Outside of her home life, Mackenzie Hopkins made fast friends where she went, those close to her told The Star. She cared deeply for others  a trait that extended to her chosen profession.

She was already working as a certified nursing assistant in North Kansas City Hospital, and was taking college courses to become a registered nurse.

Mackenzie Hopkins was working as a certified nursing assistant in North Kansas City hospital and was taking college courses to become a registered nurse. A friend admired her drive for self-improvement.

In adulthood, she and the father of her daughter, Hector, split up but remained close. She spent about a year living at home with her parents when she decided to find a place for her and Bella Hopkins to call their own.

Erikson, who considered Mackenzie Hopkins her best friend, knew her as Kenzie. They first met around the fall of 2019 while they were both working at the Hy-Vee in Raytown. Both took interest in the medical field.

An average outing, where Bella Hopkins would often tag along, was a walk around the River Market or the Parkville Nature Sanctuary. Mackenzie Hopkins loved to be outdoors. She and Erikson had talked about taking out-of-state trips to Colorado and Texas.

She just was always so motivated to not only be a better person, but be a better mom, to be a better worker. She was always chasing being able to elevate and make more money so she could give Bella anything that she needed or desired, Erikson said.

I just cant emphasize enough how much drive she had, while taking care of a toddler, she added. I mean, she was just always going, going, going. Working on being better.

Two weeks before she was killed, Shannon Hopkins helped move his daughter into the new house at 73rd and Wabash. It was there, he said, that he briefly met Escalante-Corchado. They never spoke, but Shannon Hopkins said he was there to help her move her things in, too.

His daughter was close with Escalante-Corchados girlfriend, he said  so much so that she had a key. And on Jan. 14, the night before Mackenzie Hopkins died, the girlfriend told Escalante-Corchado she was going out to see Mackenzie Hopkins  something she later told police was a fake alibi.

From what Shannon Hopkins has gathered from authorities since, the morning that Escalante-Corchado came to his daughters house he was looking for his girlfriend and obviously didnt find her there.

And then my daughter and granddaughter took the brunt of his anger, he said.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Escalante-Corchado with first-degree murder. He is also charged with first-degree assault, accused of attempting to kill Bella Hopkins.

The 31-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Among the legal filings in the case was one where his defense attorney contended Esclante-Corchados mental fitness was in question, saying he hears voices that arent real and suffers from periodic blackouts.

His attorney did not reply to The Stars request for comment for this story. His trial is scheduled to begin in October.

Miracle of the family

After she was rescued from her home in critical condition, Bella Hopkins was rushed into surgery.

She spent weeks in the intensive care unit before she was cleared to leave the hospital in February 2022.

Her recovery earned her a title as the miracle of the family. Videos, captured by family and friends, documented the progress she made  from stumbling as she tried to walk again, to running through the house with her nasal feeding tube trailing behind her, paying no mind to the helmet on her head.

Along with physical and occupational therapy, she continues to go through counseling. The family does too.

Over Easter weekend, they gathered in memory of what would have been Mackenzie Hopkins 26th birthday. Shannon Hopkins said part of that included talking about how they deal with the pain and, sometimes, guilt that comes whenever they are reminded of what happened to them.

For Bella, they realize many of these feelings wont strike until she is older. And they want her to be prepared for that.

I think now, because shes a child, she sees things in childlike ways. So were just sort of putting things in motion so she has a constant backdrop for ways to address those immediately and not always in hindsight, Shannon Hopkins said.

When she visits her grandparents, the 5-year-old girl brightens their days. Every time shes there, Shannon Hopkins said, its never enough.

As he thinks about the questions they all still have  about what is, and what could have been  Shannon Hopkins considers the possibility the case will go to trial and the trauma of having to relive those moments again.

We pray every day that hes going to plead for life without parole, and that we wont have to sit through hearing evidence that we dont want to hear nor see, he said.

I dont know if my wife or anybody in the family will be able to sit through that, he added. But Im hoping that Ill be strong enough if we have to.

The Stars Anna Spoerre and Glenn E. Rice contributed to this report.
A former nurse was caught stealing narcotics while working as a nursing student at two separate hospitals in the Boston area, federal prosecutors said.

At one hospital, the woman was found injecting herself with stolen fentanyl in the facilitys bathroom, according to court documents. She was stationed at the hospitals post-anesthesia care unit at the time, court documents say.

Another hospital hired her after she applied without disclosing the 2018 incident and without mentioning that the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing was investigating her over it, according to prosecutors.

Now, on May 8, a judge has sentenced the woman, 33, of St. Petersburg, Florida, to five years of probation for diverting opioids, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts announced in a news release.

She will spend the first year of probation in home detention, officials said.

McClatchy News contacted attorney Raymond Sayeg Jr., who represented the woman in the case, for comment on May 8 and didnt immediately receive a response.

Her sentencing came after prosecutors recommended a six-month prison sentence or six months of home confinement instead, according to a sentencing memo.

Sayeg had argued against a prison sentence for his client, citing her lack of a criminal record and no prior history involving stealing or using opioids, a sentencing memo he submitted on her behalf says.

He wrote that his client was self-medicating her own anxiety and depression  particularly during the early COVID-19 pandemic  and her actions didnt involve harming others or selling or distributing substances for profit or other gain.

More on the case

The case dates to 2018, when the woman was working as a Student Nurse Anesthetist after receiving her nursing license in 2017, according to the governments sentencing memo.

On Aug. 23, 2018, she was found injecting herself with fentanyl in the post-care anesthesia unit bathroom, the sentencing memo says.

Fentanyl is about 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and is used to treat patients with severe pain. It can be highly addictive, and illegal use of the drug has been linked to the rise in overdose deaths in the U.S., according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

During an investigation, a search of the bathroom and the womans hospital locker revealed an empty fentanyl syringe, containers of the prescription opioid sufentanil, the opioid hydromorphone, morphine and alcohol swabs, according to the sentencing memo.

Afterward, the woman was hired at a second Boston-area hospital where she was first stationed in the cardiac catheterization lab, prosecutors said.

Fentanyl stolen from patients infusion bag

When the pandemic began in March 2020, the woman was transferred to a medical intensive care unit where several patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, according to prosecutors.

Many of these COVID-19 patients received fentanyl through an IV infusion bag as a sedative, the sentencing memo says.

On May 24, 2020, the woman stole a patients infusion bag with fentanyl inside as they were being treated with the narcotic, according to prosecutors.

The same day, she took a Narcan kit out of the hospitals locked drug cabinet, the sentencing memo says. Narcan is used to treat opioid overdoses.

In 2020, the woman was also caught stealing hydromorphone syringes from the hospitals drug cabinet, prosecutors said.

The woman was fired when her wrongful conduct was discovered, according to the sentencing memo submitted by Sayeg.

The stress of the mandatory placement in the intensive care unit due to the COVID pandemic (and closure of the cath lab) proved too much for her and in 2020 she diverted medication for personal use to cope with stress and anxiety, Sayeg wrote.

He added that using opioids made her feel functional and helped her with panic attacks, the sentencing memo says.

After she was caught stealing opioids in 2020, she permanently forfeited her nursing license, according to the sentencing memo.

The woman pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge in October 2022, the release said.

Nurse stole painkillers for hospital patients and swapped in saline, feds say

Nurse practitioner prescribed pills to have sex with women, promote TV show, feds say

Paramedic on ambulance shift injects himself with fentanyl meant for patients, feds say

Nurse caught stealing fentanyl from critical care patients IV bag in hospital, feds say
With a pair of top candidates absent, three GOP candidates for governor of Kentucky dug into the issues in another live televised debate on Monday night at Transylvania University.

This time turned out to be less combative than last. The debate, hosted by Lexington TV station WKYT, took a shorter format approach that offered fewer opportunities for candidates to banter.

Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles, conservative activist Eric Deters and auditor Mike Harmon all weighed in on taxation, abortion, LGBTQ issues, education and more. Attorney General Daniel Cameron and former ambassador Kelly Craft  who polled first and second, respectively, in a recent survey  declined invitations to attend.

At the last GOP candidate debate held last week, a feud between Cameron and Craft got fiery and Deters often stoked the flames.

Harmon said he was a little disappointed that Craft and Cameron chose not to attend the debate.

A group of politically invested Transylvania students expressed some disappointment in Craft and Camerons no-shows, but said they werent surprised.

I think its because Cameron is content with the (former president Donald) Trump endorsement, said Tate Ohmer, a senior who was previously president of Kentucky College Democrats. Hes hoping that takes him over the finish line, and hes concerned that every time he sticks his neck out in the debate he can only do damage.

Craft discusses transgender agenda

Instead of attending the debate, Craft opted to host a tele-town hall at the same time Monday evening. During the hour-long call, a host read questions that were reportedly submitted by callers; other listeners did not hear the voices of the participants who submitted the questions.

Craft used the time to focus on her signature issues: combating woke ideologies in schools, beating the opioid epidemic and bashing Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

One question asked Craft how shed combat the transgender agenda in classrooms. Craft touted the record of her lieutenant governor running mate, State Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. Wise sponsored Senate Bill 150 in the 2023 General Assembly; it started as a bill that would not require teachers to use a transgender or nonbinary students pronouns but morphed into an omnibus anti-trans bill that also banned gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Under a Craft-Wise administration, we will not have transgenders in our school system, Craft said, before pivoting to talk about library materials available in public schools.

You just cant imagine whats out there, but under a Craft-Wise administration we will not have transgender, Craft said, before abruptly pivoting again. I traveled with Riley Gaines. If you hear her story, you will understand. Women compete with women in sports. We have girls are girls and boys are boys. And were going to keep it that way.

Gaines is the former University of Kentucky swimmer who has become a right-wing darling for speaking out about having to compete against trans swimmer Lia Thomas.

The Herald-Leader reached out to the Craft campaign to clarify what the candidate means by not having transgenders in our school system. The newspaper received a response Tuesday morning.

Of course Kelly was referring to the woke ideologies being pushed in our schools, a campaign spokesperson said. She has been advocating for the best for all children this entire campaign.

Crafts comments about trans issues in schools came just days after she seemingly compared transgender people to horses.

I thought about this today, Oaks day, weve got all the fillies racing, Craft said in an interview with NewsRadio 840 WHAS Friday. Can you imagine after  Riley Gaines has been traveling around the state with me, shes a close friend  an you imagine if those fillies looked over in that race here shortly, coming up  and saw a male horse running next to them. Three-year-old fillies that have done nothing but training for this moment, how do you think they would feel?

The Kentucky Oaks is a race at Churchill Downs held every Friday before the Kentucky Derby. The race is for fillies  female horses.

On the issues

Bryant found some daylight on taxing and spending between the three candidates who made it to Transylvania on Monday night.

Deters said he wanted to cut income taxes at a faster pace than the current GOP-led state legislature has put in place. Quarles and Harmon shared the sentiment that they wanted to erase the income tax, but didnt call for any change to the current plan.

Asking the candidates what they would recommend the legislature do with the states historic budget surplus, answers varied.

Quarles recommended one-time injections into the states pension obligations, and to protect and extend benefits to all state employees. Deters suggested that more money should be given to victims of recent natural disasters in Eastern and Western Kentucky. Harmon said that the surplus should be given back to taxpayers somehow.

All candidates were in agreement that public school teachers should be directly awarded a raise.

When asked about whether or not they would support an initiative to give localities more options for taxation, all three expressed openness to the idea as a lifeline for cities and counties.

On abortion, none of the three candidates on stage said they would make any changes to Kentuckys trigger ban on abortion. After the debate, however, Deters said that he supports exceptions for victims of rape or incest before 15 weeks of pregnancy. Quarles has said before that hes open to further discussion on the ban after a supreme court challenge to the law is ruled upon.

All candidates said they supported the provisions of Senate Bill 150, which some have characterized as one of the most anti-trans bills passed passed by any state legislature.

Ysa Leon, a junior who uses they/them pronouns, said they asked candidates post-debate why transgender issues were such a major talking point for conservatives and was disappointed to hear some candidates express only privately that they wanted to focus on other issues.

They just used their buzzwords (during the debate), and they wont do that face-to-face, Leon said.
If you travel through Fort Lauderdale, chances are youve zipped through the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. But over the past two years, the tunnel zone has been a headache zone.

Constant construction has been a nuisance to drivers who want to get across the New River to and from the Las Olas and downtown areas.

KNOW MORE: South Floridas two underwater tunnels

Now, the tunnel area will be a nuisance a bit longer. This week, the completion date was pushed back from December to early 2024.

The Fort Lauderdale tunnel is one of two underwater tunnels in South Florida  the PortMiami tunnel from the MacArthur Causeway to Dodge Island is the other. The namesake of the Fort Lauderdale tunnel, which opened in 1960, was the founding editor of the Broward edition of the Miami Herald, Henry E. Kinney, who advocated for a tunnel to replace an old bridge across the New River.

Heres what to know about the tunnel construction project:

A rendering of what the top of the Kinney Tunnel will look like.

Whats happening to Fort Lauderdale tunnel?

The $28.4 million rehab project will upgrade structural, mechanical, electrical and safety components, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The state also is resurfacing a section of Federal Highway, U.S. 1.

But its not just under-the-surface improvements. The project also includes a pedestrian plaza on top of the tunnel. The plaza includes fountains, seating, artificial turf and landscaping, art, and a new intersection at Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast Sixth Avenue.

Why is the tunnel project delayed?

Weather delays and material shortages across the state slowed the projects timeline, the Florida Department of Transportation says.

Like much of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Kinney tunnel flooded during the unprecedented rainfall and flooding in April. The tunnel, which has been closed occasionally during construction, also was shut down during the height of the floods so that crews could safely implement remediation efforts.

.Henry Kinney Tunnel in Fort Lauderdale.

What should I know before driving through the tunnel?

During this phase of construction, southbound U.S. 1 is diverted to the northbound tunnel chamber, where one lane in each direction is being maintained, FDOT says. That traffic pattern will swap during the summer, with northbound U.S. 1 diverted to the southbound tunnel chamber.

The tunnel should fully open to traffic by late 2023, depending on weather and any surprises, , according to FDOT.

Caught in a closing? Here are possible detours

If traveling southbound on U.S. 1: Head to Broward Boulevard, Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast Seventh Street

Possible detours if the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel in Downtown Fort Lauderdale is closed.

Traveling northbound on U.S. 1: Head to Southeast Seventh Street, Southeast Third Avenue and Broward Boulevard
The Defense Department on Tuesday officially renamed Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos, honoring the nations first Hispanic four-star general, who served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The U.S. Army held a ceremony at the base in central Texas to commemorate the official change, part of an effort to rename nine bases in the country that honor Confederate generals.

Until the renaming, Fort Hood honored John Bell Hood, a Confederate general.

Fort Cavazos honors the service and legacy of Richard E. Cavazos, who was born in Texas to Mexican-American parents and eventually rose to become a commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command.

Undersecretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo called Cavazos a legendary soldier and said he wanted to recognize his impact on the military.

Todays change is a fitting one, Camarillo said. General Cavazos displayed his talent, his bravery, his valor and innovation multiple times in a highly decorated career.

Cavazos enlisted with the U.S. Army directly after high school in 1951 and served in the Korean War, where he became a platoon leader and earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest medal for valor.

He earned another Distinguished Service Cross medal in Vietnam and in 1982 became the first Hispanic general to put on four stars. He retired in 1984 and passed away in 2017.

Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe said the Army was proud to be renaming Fort Hood as Fort Cavazos in recognition of an outstanding American hero, a veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars and the first Hispanic to reach the rank of four-star general in our Army.

General Cavazos combat proven leadership, his moral character and his loyalty to his Soldiers and their families made him the fearless yet respected and influential leader that he was during the time he served, and beyond, Bernabe said in a statement. We are ready and excited to be part of such a momentous part of history, while we honor a leader who we all admire.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cleared the Pentagon to rename nine U.S. bases last year after a commission referred replacements to the department.

The commission was set up after historic racial justice protests in 2020 renewed attention on the glorification of Confederate generals in the military and across American institutions.

The Pentagons effort to reassign the bases launched in January with a deadline for the beginning of 2024.

The Defense Department expects to meet the deadline.

Fort Pickett in Virginia was renamed Fort Barfoot in March. Last month, Fort Rucker, Ala., was renamed to Fort Novosel, and Fort Lee in Virginia was renamed to Fort Gregg-Adams.

Fort Benning, Ga., will be renamed Fort Moore later this week, while Fort Bragg, N.C., will be renamed Fort Liberty on June 2.

Fort A.P. Hill, Va.; Fort Polk, La.; and Fort Gordon, Ga.; do not have official dates yet for their renaming, according to Military.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Photo : Bakr ALKASEM / AFP) (BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images)

A leaked United States intelligence document suggested that Iran hid weapons inside earthquake aid convoys heading to Syria that were meant for proxy groups targeting American military personnel.

Iran allegedly smuggled weapons inside earthquake aid convoys heading to Syria

The munitions were heading toward proxy groups who are believed to be responsible for repeatedly targeting US military personnel

The reports of the alleged cover-ups follow a leaked US intelligence report

Iran allegedly hid and smuggled weapons inside earthquake aid convoys heading to Syria to supply proxy groups in their attacks against United States military personnel.

Two sources familiar with US intelligence and an Israeli defense official suggested that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (IRGC), and more specifically, its Quds Force used humanitarian aid shipments as a cover to transport arms and ammunition to Syria.

Iran's Alleged Hidden Weapons Transport to Syria

The humanitarian aid convoys followed a devastating earthquake in the region in February that caused tens of thousands of casualties. Intelligence officials believe that the munitions were heading for Iranian proxy groups stationed in Syria responsible for repeated strikes against American military personnel in the area as part of the anti-ISIS coalition.

In a statement, the Israeli defense official noted that the humanitarian assistance of Iran that was meant for Syria was taken advantage of to move weapons capabilities into the region. Reports followed a leaked US intelligence document, as per MSN.

United States President Joe Biden previously ordered several airstrikes against Iran-backed militia groups in Syria. One of the most recent attacks was conducted in March, involving an American contractor killed and five US service members injured. The incident came after a suspected Iranian drone targeted a coalition military base.

Following the devastating February earthquake in Syria, foreign aid quickly poured into the region. The magnitude 7.8 tremor, which killed over 50,000 people, was considered one of the strongest in the region in more than a century.

The situation comes as the United States worked on bolstering its military forces stationed in the Middle East after a series of attacks on American troops deployed in Syria. The attacks were attributed to Iranian-affiliated militias, said the Pentagon in March.

Read Also: 2 'Quran Burners' Executed for Blasphemy in Iran

Attacking American Military Personnel

In response to that attack, the United States conducted precision airstrikes on facilities that were known to be associated with Iran's IRGC. According to CNN, it involved a squadron of A-10 attack aircraft deployed several weeks ahead of their schedule.

The United States also ordered a carrier strike group to maintain its position in the region to support U.S. forces in Central Command. The American military has approximately 900 troops stationed in Syria. However, these forces are spread over multiple bases in the country's northeastern part.

The leaked US document suggested that a Quds Force officer directed an Iraqi militia group on Feb. 13 to "embed weapons within legitimate earthquake aid." The assessment also implicated the "PMC chief of staff."

This was an apparent reference to a senior official with Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Fadak Al-Mohammedawi. However, the PMC denied the claims that its affiliates had used humanitarian aid convoys to transport weapons to Syria, said the Washington Post.

Related Article: Renewed Evacuations from Zaporizhzhia Raise Concerns Over Safety

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A new restaurant specializing in slurpable ramen, Ramen Bar Kazoku, has opened at StoneCrest at Piper Glen with a chef/owner at the helm who has brought decades of NYC food industry experience to Charlotte.

Nestled between Dish it Out and Jersey Mikes at StoneCrest at the shopping center, Ramen Bar Kazoku will serve traditional-style Japanese ramen and steamed buns, along with sake, cocktails and draft beer.

Owner Hans Susanto has been working in New York City restaurants since he came to the U.S from Indonesia in 1998. He owned Asian fusion and Japanese restaurants there until moving to Charlotte about three years ago.

Hans Susanto owns Ramen Bar Kazoku.

The weather is nice over here  I dont like snow anymore, Susanto told CharlotteFive, noting that he thinks the people are more friendly and laid back in Charlotte.

Soon after moving, his cravings for ramen kicked in. But he couldnt find a restaurant ramen in the Queen City that really has the identity of a true ramen, he said. And the idea for Ramen Bar Kazoku was born.

In New York, weve been eating ramen a lot the last 10 years  I saw a lot of growth in ramen. Almost every corner of the city had a ramen restaurant, Susanto said.

READ NEXT: Wheres the best bacon, egg & cheese in Charlotte? We asked  and our readers answered.

Opening Ramen Bar Kazoku

Kazoku means family in Japanese, and you can feel that in Susantos restaurant. He opened Ramen Bar Kazoku on April 24 with his wife, Jessica, pitching in and his parents hard at work in the kitchen.

Ramen is preparation, preparation, preparation, Susanto said. Right now, its a very limited menu.

Everything is made from scratch, with an eye toward balancing the flavors of the broth, the noodles and the toppings. Our broth is made from the bone. Our oil  we prepare everything, he said.

Kazoku White ramen.

When the restaurant grows to full capacity, the ramen options will include:

Kazoku White, a classic tonkotsu with a creamy pork bone broth, pork belly, seasoned bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms, sesame seed, bean sprouts and scallions ($16)

Kazoku Black, a classic tonkotsu with everything in the white version, plus a smoky garlic flavor ($16)

Kazoku Miso, with chicken broth, miso, pork belly, spicy ground chicken, woodear mushrooms, sesame seeds, dried chillis, beans prouts and scallions ($16)

Kazoku Shoyu, with chicken broth, soy, pork belly, seasoned bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, narutomaki (fish cake), bean sprouts and scallions ($16).

Keto-friendly shirataki noodles are available to swap in for $2 more, and you can pile on extra toppings, too.

Kazoku Karaage at Ramen bar Kazoku.

To pair with the ramen, a lineup of appetizers will include edamame and gyoza, along with :

Kazoku Karaage, marinated Japanese fried chicken, served with spicy mayo ($8)

Ikageso Karaage, Japanese fried squid leg ($8)

Purple Potato Fries with matcha mayo ($8)

Takoyaki, fried octopus balls with sweet soy sauce, mayo, furikake and bonito flakes ($9).

Our family loves ramen, Susanto said. Our concentration is on educating people in Charlotte that this is the true ramen.

Ramen Bar Kazoku is family owned and operated.

Location: 7828 Rea Rd #B, Charlotte, NC 28277

Menu

Cuisine: Japanese, ramen

Instagram: @ramenbarkazoku
A Louisville hunter stands accused of bringing a severed deer head that tested positive for a deadly disease into Kentucky and is now being sued over it, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.

The state agency said in a news release it had filed a civil lawsuit against Nicholas Behringer, 47, of Louisville. Behringer could not be immediately reached for comment Monday afternoon.

The agency said the hunter illegally imported the deer head from Wisconsin and paid a $50 fine plus court costs in Shelby County District Court Jan. 3. Behringer, the agency stated, admitted to the violation, specifically state regulation 301 KAR 2:095. The head later tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

According to the agency, this is the first time it has sued a hunter accused of importing a diseased deer carcass into the state. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says no deer or elk in the state has ever tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease fatal in animals.

Over the past two decades, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has tested more than 40,000 deer and elk in Kentucky for CWD as part of its efforts to prevent the spread and introduction of this disease into the commonwealth, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Rich Storm stated in the news release published Monday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been no cases of chronic wasting disease reported in humans. Still, some studies suggest its harmful to certain primates, like monkeys, that eat infected meat or come into contact with the brain or body fluids of positive deer or elk.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife alleges the severed deer head came from Wisconsin, which documented its first case of the disease more than 20 years ago. It still contained the animals lymph nodes, spinal column and brain tissue, which are places the disease can occur, the agency said. It is legal for hunters to bring de-boned meat, antlers, cleaned skull caps and the hides of deer from other states, but these high-risk tissues must be removed.

Agency personnel later incinerated the head to safely dispose of it. At this time, theres no risk to Kentuckys deer and elk population as the head was frozen when it was inspected and the deers carcass was not disposed of in the state, the agency said.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife lodged a complaint against Behringer April 26 in Franklin County District Court seeking $1,900 in damages. The agency stated the hunter checked his 8-point buck in accordance with Wisconsins regulations.

He then brought the infected deer head into Kentucky to be taxidermied, the agency alleges.

Conservation officers followed up on information it received about the deer head and discovered it still contained high-risk tissues.

According to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, chronic wasting disease can be introduced into the environment if it comes into contact with infected tissues, such as discarding the tissues on or in the soil.

After it was first observed in a mule deer at a Colorado research facility in 1967, chronic wasting disease has since spread to 30 states and four Canadian provinces. It is fatal in white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, caribou and moose.

The disease has been documented in every surrounding state except Indiana, Wildlife Division Director Ben Robinson said in the agencys news release, so we want to keep it from spreading to Kentuckys deer and elk herds.
Gov. Bill Lee responds to questions during a news conference Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Lee held the news conference to talk about gun control legislation and an executive order to require information for background checks on gun purchases to be updated more rapidly. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced that he would call lawmakers back to the state's Capitol on Aug. 21 for a special session after the Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control.

The announcement comes weeks after six people  including three young children  were killed in a Nashville school shooting. The tragedy sparked Lee, a Republican, to urge the General Assembly to pass legislation that would keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others. But instead, GOP leaders moved to quickly adjourn rather than take up the governor's request in the remaining days of an already chaotic session.

Within hours of the Legislature adjourning, Lee announced he would call a special session to take up the topic. However, outside of a date being selected, Lee's Monday announcement didn't include information on what specific proposals lawmakers will take up.

There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, well continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health," Lee said in a statement, which did not include any reference to the Covenant school shooting or mention of firearms.

Lee has mounted a campaign for temporary mental health orders of protection" and has maintained that it is not a so-called red flag law, which he has described as a toxic political label.

To date, 19 states have red flag laws on the books  with many lawmakers enacting them after tragedies. Notably, Florida did so after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 students. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the 19-year-old gunmans threatening statements.

In allowing courts to issue what are known as extreme risk protection orders, the laws are intended to temporarily remove guns  usually for up to a year  from people showing signs of potentially violent behavior. In many cases, family members or law enforcement must petition a court for an order.

Under Lee's proposal, law enforcement would first determine if a person is a threat, then a hearing with the person in question would be held, generally within three to five days. A judge would rule whether they should indeed have their weapons taken away temporarily. If so, the person would have to surrender their guns and ammunition to a third party within two days and any handgun carry license would be suspended within three business days. The actions would last up to 180 days at a time.

Enough Republicans joined gun lobby groups in opposition to keep Lees proposal from coming to a vote in the waning days of the recent legislative session. It's unclear if lawmakers will be asked to advance this same proposal during the upcoming special session.

Without mentioning gun policy, a spokesperson for House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Monday that the Republican plans on meeting with people on a wide array of issues and policies and is awaiting word on what proposals the governor will include in the special session.

Meanwhile, some advocates for gun control reforms have argued that Lees proposed measure doesnt go far enough.
Deputies responding to a 911 call discovered a scene of carnage along a gravel road in North Carolina: three bodies and a fourth person seriously wounded.

At least two of the victims were teenagers, according to an update from the Columbus County Sheriffs Office.

It happened around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at a rural home just north of Whiteville, the sheriffs office said in a news release. Whiteville is about 115 miles south of Raleigh.

Columbus County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to 129 Elizabeth Street ... in reference to a gunshot wound, the sheriffs office said.

Four individuals were shot, three are deceased, including the suspect. The surviving individual was airlifted to the hospital in New Hanover County to be treated for the injuries.

Two of the victims were identified as Tylek Rashad Bellamy, 19, and Nikolus Maurice Bellamy, 20, and both lived at the home, officials said.

The wounded person was identified as Javion Delton Evans, 19, and he lives at a home on South Thompson Street in Whiteville, officials said. Evans remained hospitalized May 9. His condition has not been released.

Investigators have not released the name of the suspect who died or provided details of a motive.

Zillow.com reports the site is a three-bedroom home of about 1,600 square feet. The neighborhood of gravel roads is north of the intersection of U.S. 74 and U.S. 701 Bypass.

9 hospitalized after homes deck collapses in North Carolina mountains, rescuers say

Call about gunfire leads deputies to active moonshine still at home, NC sheriff says

Car plows through airport terminal as driver flees officers on tarmac, NC police say
Tiger Woods and his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss his former girlfriend Erica Hermans lawsuit against him on Monday, marking the latest step in their complicated separation.

Woods and his attorneys claimed in the filing obtained by Yahoo Sports that Herman both willingly agreed to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and she agreed to settle their dispute through private arbitration  something she is now trying to do publicly.

Ms. Hermans response evinces a lack of understanding of the procedures to be followed at the upcoming hearing  As the record plainly demonstrates, Mr. Woods has insisted at every opportunity that [Ms.] Herman is bound by the arbitration provisions of the NDA and has sought to enforce his rights thereunder, the filing stated.

Woods and Herman dated for almost six years, and she frequently attended major events with him and his children. The pair split in October.

Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend, Erica Herman, is suing him after their breakup last fall  which she claims he did through a "scheme." (Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile/Getty Images)

Herman, in a court filing last week obtained by Yahoo Sports, revealed several details about their relationship. Woods, she said, decided to pursue a sexual relationship with his employee, then  according to him  forced her to sign an NDA about it or else be fired from her job. And, when he became disgruntled with their sexual relationship, he tricked her into leaving her home, locked her out, took her cash, pets and personal possessions, and tried to strong-arm her into signing a different NDA.

Woods ended the relationship through a scheme, Herman said. She claims she was told to pack a bag for a trip to the Bahamas, but when they arrived at the airport, Woods boarded the plane without her and referred Herman to his lawyer.

"Then, Mr. Woodss California lawyer, out of the blue, told her that she was not going anywhere, would never see Mr. Woods again, had been locked out of the house, and could not return," Herman's court filing states. "She would not even be able to see the children or her pets again."

Woods team, however, claims that Herman was simply invited to live in Woods home while they were dating. Once that relationship had ended, Herman was advised that she was no longer welcome there.

The filing from Woods team on Monday included emails between Herman and Woods chief financial officer Chris Hubman regarding the initial NDA in 2017, in which Herman was told her employment by The Woods Jupiter and your personal relationship with TW are two separate items. Herman had asked Hubman what would happen if the two split down the road, and that she doesn't "have any problems with what's in the document because I wouldn't go public or use anything I know to hurt him or the kids."

After their breakup last fall, Herman filed a lawsuit against the trust that Woods controls in which she is seeking $30 million in damages. She claims in that lawsuit that she has an oral tenancy agreement to remain in the home for up to five years after their breakup. Herman also said that the trust misappropriated $40,000 in cash that belonged to her, and that it also made scurrilous and defamatory allegations about how she obtained that money in the first place.

Herman filed a second lawsuit in March against Woods asking to be released from the NDA. In that suit, Herman suggested allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment, but did publicly offer details on those charges. Those allegations could void an NDA under federal rules.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, where Woods attorneys will officially ask a judge to end the lawsuit against him.

Woods is currently sidelined indefinitely from competing after undergoing surgery on his ankle last month. He withdrew from the Masters on the final day of competition just before the surgery.
A longtime respected career diplomat, who first entered Haitis foreign service in 1982 as an assistant commercial attache at Haitis embassy in Washington, has been tapped by the government to represent the countrys interests in the United States as its top diplomat.

Louis Harold Joseph has been named acting charge daffaires at the Haiti embassy in the United States. He is expected to arrive at the post later this week after saying his goodbyes in The Bahamas, where he was in charge of Haitis embassy.

Because Haiti currently has no elected officials, including a president or parliament, Joseph cannot be named ambassador, a title he previously held both at the embassy in Washington and The Bahamas during his career. He has also headed the Haiti mission in Japan.

In his new role, Joseph replaces Bochitt Edmond, Haitis former ambassador to the U.S., who was abruptly recalled back to Port-au-Prince and then fired  at the request of the U.S. State Department after being implicated in a money-laundering scheme and clandestine passport-production operation inside the Haitian embassy.

Edmond has strongly denied the allegations, which also implicated his sister, Betyna Edmond, and several other employees, including the head of the consular section, Gelorme Juste. All are expected to face wider scrutiny as Haitis anti-corruption unit and government auditors carry out separate investigations in the coming weeks.

A Haitian government inquiry in August 2021 accused Bocchit Edmond of profiting from the unsanctioned scheme, which involved embassy staffers producing passports for Haitians living outside the United States and charging bribes to expedite them. The scheme was first discovered by U.S. federal agents when U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized documents and $50,000 cash addressed to Justes Washington-area home.

Joseph, who is originally from Cap-Haitien and is an economist by training, is no stranger to working in Washington  or being tapped to clean up diplomatic scandals on behalf of Haitian governments. Through his lengthy career, he has held at least five different positions inside the Haiti embassy in Washington including serving as charge daffaires between 1997-2002 and as ambassador between September 2010 and November 2011 under President Rene Preval.

Given the circumstances, Harold is the most appropriate person to assume the transition: The least political and the most knowledgeable Haitian diplomat regarding the U.S., said Fritz Longchamp, a former chief of staff for Preval who once served as Haitis foreign minister.

Joseph has the skills and the integrity for the job, Longchamp said.

Prior to becoming Haitis ambassador to the U.S. nine months after the devastating Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake, Joseph served eight years as ambassador to The Bahamas, during which time he also was resident dean of the diplomatic corps from 2007-10. In The Bahamas, Joseph had to navigate thorny relations between Haiti and one of one of its closest Caribbean neighbors as the archipelago struggled to combat illegal migration from Haiti.

He also was ambassador when The Bahamas hosted a meeting between then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and Caribbean Community leaders as they tried to mediate the political crisis that eventually led to the 2004 ouster of Aristide.

Last year, Joseph was once more called upon by Haitian authorities to provide assistance with Haitian-Bahamian relations when at least 17 Florida-bound Haitians died in a July migrant-boat smuggling operation off the coast of Nassau, and the local Haitian government representative fumbled the response, further angering Bahamian government officials.

As Haitis top representative in Washington, Joseph will not only have to lead clean up efforts inside the embassy, where many others are expected to be dismissed or transferred over the passport scandal, but work with the foreign ministry to convey the Ariel Henry governments position. Internationally, the government is facing increased pressure to broaden a political agreement and to hold elections. At home, Haitians are demanding relief from violent gangs, deepening hunger and a collapsing economy.

On Monday, four additional armored vehicles purchased by the government from a supplier in Canada were flown to Port-au-Prince aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 as part of a mission requested by the U.S. State Department Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, a spokesperson with U.S. Southern Command confirmed.

In a separate statement, following last months U.N. Security Council meeting in which Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for international forces to be deployed to help the Haitian police, the Council showed no signs that outside help was coming. Instead, members expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation, and called on Haitis political actors to come together and find away out of the crisis.
Seven shootings over the weekend, including a massacre at a Dallas-area outlet mall, brought the total number of mass shootings in the U.S. this year over 200, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

This year, according to GVAs tracker, there have been 202 incidents in which four or more people  other than the attacker  were shot.

In the past two years, the U.S. crossed 200 mass shootings in mid-May and, in 2020 and 2019, didnt reach 200 until mid-to-late June. Between 2016 and 2018, the country passed 200 mass shootings in late July.

The GVA tracker logged three shooting incidents Saturday, including the incident at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, where a gunman killed eight people and injured seven others before being fatally shot by police. One person was killed in a mass shooting in California and another in Ohio, and several others were injured in both states that same day.

Another four mass shooting incidents were recorded Sunday, killing five people total and injuring a dozen others in California, Missouri, New Jersey and Maryland.

The Texas shooting Saturday was the second-deadliest shooting this year, after the shooting in Monterey Park, Calif., where 11 people were killed. President Biden has decried the recent spate of shootings and urged Congress to act on gun control.

Last year, the GVA tracker recorded 647 total mass shootings in the U.S., for a total of 20,200 willful, malicious or accidental gun-related deaths and nearly 40,000 injuries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Fort Worth City Council will decide Tuesday whether a veteran housing project can go forward as neighbors raise concerns about its impact on the Rosemont neighborhood south of downtown.

The American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, a San Antonio-based nonprofit, wants to convert a church at 4041 Ryan Ave. into 20 units of affordable housing for veterans.

The project is designed for those transitioning out of military service, but can also be used by veterans looking for housing while they go to school or reservists coming back from active deployment, said Steven Gonzalez, a representative for the nonprofit.

The units will all be one bedroom and will be priced at around $400 to $500 per month, Gonzalez said, adding the development could open as early as October if it gets council approval.

The project received push back from some residents concerned about communication with the developers and its potential impact on gentrification.

The first time people in the neighborhood heard about the project was when the city put up a notice about a proposed zoning change, said Calin Huezo, the newly elected president of Las Familias de Rosemont neighborhood association.

Huezo accused the previous president, Fernando Peralta, of not doing enough to inform the neighborhood.

Peralta said he told the neighborhood organizations board and its active members about a week before an April 12 hearing before the citys zoning commission.

He also invited the nonprofit to speak at the Hemphill Corridor Development Task Force meeting April 27 and the neighborhood association meeting on May 4.

While Peralta, a staff sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard, said he was personally in support of the project, the neighborhood association itself never took an official position, because it was never voted on at an official meeting.

Peralta was voted out of office during a May 4 neighborhood association meeting.

Neighbors are also opposed because of the kind of zoning the nonprofit requested, Huezo said. The high-density zoning classification would allow the American GI Forum to build nearly 60 units on the 1.9-acre property, which Huezo said would impact traffic and change the character of mostly single family home neighborhood.

There is no guarantee the American GI Forum wont turn around and sell it to an apartment developer sometime in the future, he said.

Gonzalez responded his group is trying to leave room to possibly build more units in the future.

Gentrification is a huge fear with residents like Loretta Snoke-Huezo. She said Rosemont doesnt want to become the next Linwood or Rock Island. Both used to be mostly working class neighborhoods before residents got pushed out by development, she said.

The median household income in Rosemont is $42,122, and the poverty rate is 26.4%, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Snoke-Huezo acknowledged the charitable nature of the project, but argued it would do little to benefit residents living in and around the neighborhood.

Developers always come under the guise of charity, she said.
The death of Jordan Neely demands a thorough investigation, according to a statement from President Joe Bidens administration, speaking publicly for the first time on the killing of the 30-year-old homeless New Yorker who was placed in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway train last week.

In widely shared video footage, a man identified as 24-year-old Daniel Penny is seen restraining Neely on the floor of an F train while his arm is wrapped around Neelys neck for several minutes.

The New York medical examiners office declared Neelys death a homicide due to the compression against his neck. No charges have been filed, and the New York City Police Department and Manhattan district attorneys office are investigating.

Jordan Neelys killing was tragic and deeply disturbing, White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement shared withThe Independent on 9 May.

Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We firmly believe that the events surrounding his death demand a thorough investigation, the statement added.

The White House statement is the first to address Neelys death on 1 May.

When he walked into the F train on 1 May, Neely was complaining of hunger and thirst, according to journalist Juan Alberto Vasquez, who watched the incident and filmed Mr Penny pinning Neely to the ground in a chokehold for several minutes.

Mr Vasquez reported that Neely was yelling that he was tired, didnt care whether he went to prison, and was ready to die, then threw a jacket to the ground. He began filming after Mr Penny grabbed Neely from behind and brought him to the floor of the traincar.

Neelys death has sparked debates, protests and vigils across New York and on the citys subway platforms, as demonstrators, advocacy organisations, and city, state and federal officials point to the failure of a system meant to support people like Neely.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed in a statement to The Independent last week that senior, experienced prosecutors are investigating Neelys death.

This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neelys life, press secretary Douglas Cohen said. As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the [medical examiners] report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.

Additional reporting by Andrew Feinberg in Washington DC
Last weekend, the activist organization Justice for Wyandotte held a rally requesting that the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department release body camera footage from the night two weeks ago when an officer shot and killed 25-year-old Amareeya Henderson during a traffic stop.

His girlfriend was in the car with him, and his mother was on FaceTime with the couple when the shooting happened. Both said he did not have a weapon and have told The Star about how he was a beloved member of their family who was trying to earn some extra cash delivering Doordash orders that night.

Kansas City, Missouri police are investigating the shooting because of an agreement between the two departments and have not released details about the incident.

While the family has put in a records request to view the video, it may be a while before they are able to see it. And even after that, it may never be released to the public.

Thats because Kansas has one of the strictest laws related to police body camera footage in the country.

What are Kansas laws around body camera footage?

To understand the rules around releasing body camera footage, you have to know a bit about how Kansas handles public records, which is all detailed in a law called the Kansas Open Records Act.

According to the law, public agencies in Kansas are not required to disclose anything that is considered a criminal investigation record. As of 2016, that includes all footage from police body and vehicle cameras.

This means that law enforcement agencies in Kansas, by law, do not need to release body camera footage to the public, but they can choose to do so at their own discretion.

Anyone can make a records request to ask a police department to release body camera footage, but the department can deny requests based on this law.

In Kansas City, Kansas, you can submit a request through the NextRequest portal.

The KCKPD policy is that the chief can decide to voluntarily release body camera video if there is a compelling reason, such as an overall benefit to the safety or education of the public.

Does the law ever require a body camera video to be released?

It says that a district court can order a police department to release body camera footage under certain circumstances. A district judge needs to decide that the video is in the public interest, wouldnt interfere with ongoing investigations, wouldnt endanger anyones life and that it meets a few other qualifying conditions.

A 2021 court decision opened up the possibility for body camera video footage to be released in the public interest under the open records law, according to Max Kautsch, an attorney in Kansas and the president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government.

In that case, a district judge ruled in favor of The Wichita Eagle after the paper requested body camera footage from the Wichita Police Department for two incidents related to possible police misconduct.

The district judge said the videos were connected to the core of public confidence in law enforcement, and thus most definitely in the publics interest. He ordered them to be released after the investigations into the incidents were complete.

Kautsch said that even with this decision, the law is still ambiguous enough that it can be interpreted differently in different situations by different judges.

What does the law say about who can request to see a video?

Even if a judge doesnt order a video to be released, some select people who are most closely connected to an incident captured on a police body camera may request to listen to the audio from or view the video.

Those individuals include:

The person who is the subject of the recording

The parent or legal guardian of a person under 18 who is the subject of the recording

The attorney for the subject of the recording

The heir at law, an executor or an administrator of a decedent, if the person who is the subject of the recording has died

Police departments are required by the law to let an individual who fits into one of those categories listen to the audio or view the video if they request to, but they can charge a fee.

KCKPD requires individuals to make those requests in writing. Then someone from the department will schedule a time for the person to listen to or view the video in person at City Hall in the company of a police officer, according to the departments policy.

Granting this kind of request for a select individual to listen to or view the video is not the same as the department publicly releasing the video.

What have families experiences been with requesting body cam footage?

Nikki Richardson, president of Justice for Wyandotte, said its taken some families years to get access to footage from police body cameras, referencing specifically the families of residents in the metro killed during police shootings such as Tyrea Pryor, killed in Kansas City in 2022, Malcolm Johnson, killed in Kansas City in 2021 or John Albers, killed in Overland Park in 2018.

There needs to be reform in the open records request act in reference to officer involved shootings, even though families are submitting requests [for footage], they are getting denied, Richardson said.

What else do we know about Amareeya Hendersons case?

In a statement released during the protest on Saturday, the family said they are outraged that Amareeyas life was taken through unjustified violence... If there is nothing to hide, release the footage to the public!

Earlier this week, his family retained a lawyer. They have submitted an open records request and dont have any more comments on that at this time.

The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the shooting as an outside agency from the Missouri side of the state line, and that investigation is ongoing.

If you want to refresh yourself on what we know about what happened to Henderson, we recapped it here.

The Stars Mattie Gellman, Natalie Wallington, Anna Spoere and Laura Bauer contributed reporting.
A doctor "ripped" a baby's head off during childbirth in Brazil as his father watched along, the child's dad told the police.

The shocking events reportedly happened last May 1 at a hospital in Brazil. Now, the investigators are looking into the startling allegations of the child's family against the doctor.

Doctor 'Rips' Baby's Head Off During Childbirth

According to The New York Post, a doctor in Brazil allegedly pulled off a baby's head during childbirth at the Hospital das Clinicas da UFMG, which sits on the Santa Efigenia of Belo Horizonte.

The 33-year-old mother of the baby, Ranielly Coelho Santos, went to the hospital last April 28 for her upcoming childbirth. The doctor, an obstetrician, reportedly asked the father of her infant to join them to observe her labor.

The child's father told the Brazil police that the doctor tried putting pressure on Santos' belly. From there, the doctor reportedly attempted to get the baby's body as quickly as possible. However, the dad observing the childbirth recalled that the doctor had "ripped off the child's head" while doing so.

Mirror UK reports that the father narrates that he still saw this baby's eyes blinking and mouth moving, suggesting that she was still alive then. It is worth noting that the identity of the doctor remains undisclosed.

The devastating death of the baby has been the talk of the town since the family filed a complaint to the authorities, alleging that the doctor had pulled off their child's head. The family disclosed to the police that staff at the hospital assured them that the medical facility would pay for the burial expenses of their demise child.

Read Also: Jo Joo-bin of 'Doctor Bang' Sentenced to a Total of 45 Years in Prison

Parents Say They Were Asked to Sign a Waiver

But there is a catch: they say the compensation requires them to sign a waiver. It allegedly states that they agree that the child's body "has already been examined" and "the autopsy had already been performed at the hospital." The paperwork also tells them that "the body would not be forwarded to the Legal Medical Institute (ILM)."

The family lawyer, Jennifer Valente, says the parents did not sign the waiver, per Daily Mail Online UK. Besides refusing to sign the waiver, the family filed a complaint to the local police in Brazil.

The hospital responded to the incident in a statement to a local news outlet, saying they "deeply regretted" the incident. And with that, the medical institution assures that they will do their best to investigate the tragic childbirth as they wait for the autopsy report.

Related Article: Naked Intruder Who Broke Inside a Girl's Bedroom Shot Dead By Doctor Father

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The monument toi Andrey Vlasov in Nanuet, N.Y. (Colin Campbell/Yahoo News)

NANUET, N.Y.  On Tuesday, Russia celebrated Victory Day, the annual national holiday that marks the Soviet Unions triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. With the war in Ukraine now in its second year and Russia condemned by much of the world for its unprovoked invasion of a much smaller and less powerful neighbor, the moral and military triumph against Adolf Hitler can seem far away.

And then there is the lonely memorial to the renowned Soviet lieutenant general Andrey Vlasov, an obelisk at the edge of a graveyard in a monastery in Nanuet, New York. Vlasov was an actual Nazi collaborationist, of the very kind Russia now claims to be battling in Ukraine.

The Vlasov monument is one of several remaining monuments to Nazis and Nazi collaborators in the United States. It stands, improbably, at the edge of one of the largest communities of observant Jews outside of Israel  and is a tragically apt symbol for the Soviet excesses that produced modern Russia.

The faltering war effort has caused the Kremlin to lash out in blame, looking for fifth columnists responsible for the bungled invasion. Vlasov is once again a hated figure in the land he betrayed, says Russia expert Jade McGlynn, a development she says reflects how Moscows political rhetoric and historical falsehoods have unraveled as its soldiers are driven back on the battlefield.

The man

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1943: World War II. Soviet General Andrey Vlasov during manoeuvres of Russian volunteers' training, 1943. (Roger Viollet via Getty Images)

Vlasov could have been one of the great Soviet generals of World War II, one of those whom Soviet youths would come to know by a single name: Zhukov, Chuikov, Rokossovsky.

Instead, he was executed by hanging in Moscow on Aug. 1, 1946. It was an ignominious end to what had been a stellar career.

The son of peasant farmers, Vlasov first distinguished himself while fighting for the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. Later, he was sent on a military mission to China, which allowed him to escape the murderous purges Stalin unleashed against the Red Armys officer corps in 1937.

Vlasov returned to the Soviet Union in 1939, after Germany had invaded Poland and appeared poised for an attack on the USSR. When that attack finally took place in 1941, Vlasov fought in the failed effort to defend Kyiv from the Nazi advance, as well as the successful effort to keep Hitler from taking Moscow. He was subsequently dispatched to help break the Nazi siege of Leningrad but failed to do so and was captured in July of 1942.

The Russian Liberation Army

1941: Red Army troops storming an apartment block amidst the ruins of war-torn Stalingrad during World War II. (Georgi Zelma/Slava Katamidze Collection/Getty Images)

Stalins inability to initially contain the advancing Nazi war machine convinced Vlasov that the Soviet system was rotten to the core. Taken by his captors to Germany, he began to conceive of a Russian army that would fight for the Third Reich in the name of a post-Bolshevik Russia.

In 1943, Vlasov published the Smolensk Proclamation, in which he declared that Bolshevism was the enemy of the Russian people. His aim was to recruit other Russians now in Germanythe Nazis had taken hundreds of thousands of Red Army soldiers prisoner in the first two years of the war to unite against the Soviet Union.

But after the shattering victory at Stalingrad, the Red Army began to believe that victory was possible. Germany, which had boasted the worlds most formidable military at the start of the war, suddenly seemed vulnerable. Even if its weaponry was less sophisticated and its troops poorly prepared, the sheer size of Russias forces could overwhelm the enemy  a reality that holds 80 years later, as the war in Ukraine grinds on and the patience of Kyivs partners in the West begins to wear thin.

Vlasovs life in Germany was far from lavish. My underpants are completely worn out, he complained at one point, according to one historian. Apparently, the Germans had only given him one pair.

Vlasov wanted to from a Russian anti-Soviet force, but Hitler was reluctant, fearing latent sympathies with Moscow. But by late 1944, he had few other options. Vlasov finally prevailed on Heinrich Himmler, the brutal SS chief. Himmler in turn managed to convince the increasingly desperate Hitler.

And so, in September 1944, the Russian Liberation Army was born.

Its life would be short. Vlasovs division fought only once for the Nazis, in February 1945, in a futile attempt to stop the Soviet push across the Oder River and into the heart of the Third Reich.

After being beaten back by Soviet forces, the Russian Liberation Army retreated to Prague. In yet another reversal of loyalties, Vlasov hoped to help anti-Nazi forces and eventually surrender to the United States.

Here, again, Vlasov was unlucky. He surrendered to the United States, but the Americans turned him over to the Soviets. Vlasov was taken to Moscow, where he was imprisoned and ultimately executed.

Russian military leaders remain fond of such vivid reminders of what traitors face. Last year, a deserter of the Wagner Group militia was executed with a sledgehammer, which the outfits leader Evgeny Prigozhin has taken to wielding as a symbol.

The monument

The text of the monument at the Novo-Diveevo Russian Orthodox Convent in Nanuet, N.Y. (Colin Campbell/Yahoo News)

The Novo-Diveevo Convent sits in a grove of trees about a 45 minute drive north of New York City. Across the way is a shopping mall; the orange signage of a Lowes Home Improvement outlet is visible from the convents driveway. But within the compound, trees block out the surrounding noise, while the ever-present Orthodox iconography  the slanted cross, the Cyrillic letteringevoke the birch forests outside of Moscow or Leningrad.

The Vlasov monument is about 20 feet tall and topped by a golden cross. An image of Vlasov  bespectacled, his face drawn  is embossed on one side. On another, a sword rises along the monument's length, pointing towards the gray winter sky.

In dedication to the participants of the liberation movement of the peoples of Russia falling in the fight for freedom, 1941-1945, a dedication says.

The monument went up in the 1960s, likely erected by Russians who had fled to the United States during the Bolshevik revolution and had remained hostile to the Soviet Union, including after the war.

A nun emerged from one of the convents several cottages to talk to Yahoo News.

We were pleased to put it up, she said of the monument, speaking in deliberate, classical Russian. She defended Vlasov in general terms. What happened yesterday  who knows? He did a lot, didnt he?

She is similarly ambivalent about the war in Ukraine, as are the parishioners of the church that sits on the monasterys grounds. Some are against the war, she says, but others still support Putin and see him as something of a victim.

Poor Putin, the parishioners say.

Reckonings

Crews prepare to remove one of the country's largest remaining monuments to the Confederacy, a towering statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue, September 8, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Steve Helber/Getty Images)

Monuments to Confederate generals, racist political leaders and other objectionable figures have been coming down across the United States in recent years. There still stand a surprising number of monuments to Nazi collaborators across the United States, many of them erected by Orthodox or Catholic parishes that have sometimes overlooked the Nazi collaboration of national heroes from countries like Poland and Lithuania.

In Ukraine, the recent rehabilitation of nationalist leader Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with the Germans during World War 2, appears to have been the basis of the Kremlins claims about the rise of Nazism there.

Meanwhile, the U.S. essentially adopted some of Nazi Germanys most prominent scientists, many of whom became celebrated pioneers in the American space program. Their wartime abuses were overlooked, and some of them are still honored by institutions like Harvard and Stanford.

Vlasov was more obscure and more complex. Few local Nanuet officials appear to know who he was, or that he is honored at Novo-Diveevo.

This is the first time Im even being made aware of that and have not heard anyone in the county talking about it, Rockland County commissioner Beth Cefalu told Yahoo News. She said that the Vlasov monument was wholly within the convents jurisdiction and seemed satisfied to leave the matters there.

In heavily Jewish towns like Munsie and Ramapo, antisemitism has been sharply on the rise  as it has been across the United States. To some, there are echoes of Weimar Germany in todays political divisions and culture-war battles.

Vlasovs own attitudes about Jews were difficult to divine. At the very least, it did not seem to occur to him that by fighting for the Third Reich, he was helping to prolong the Holocaust.

Today, of course, the Soviet Union is a historical memory. But in many ways, the brutality and incompetence that Vlasov so passionately denounced continue to haunt the Kremlin.
It's unusual for Emma Cooper, a nurse who cares for women after they've given birth, to be proud of the work she does every day.

"To have a patient sitting in front of me crying because they feel that they haven't been taught how to feed their baby is so upsetting," Cooper, of Portland, Maine, said.

The explanation for the lapse in guidance is simple: "None of us had time." Cooper and her nursing colleagues at Maine Medical Center have so many patients that they are unable to focus appropriately on any single one, she said.

Nurses nationwide are overworked, overloaded with patients and, quite frankly, over it all. There are not enough nurses in the workforce to ease the problem.

And it's younger nurses, like Cooper, 27, who are sounding the alarm.

"Imagine trying your hardest every day at work, and you're barely scratching the surface of usefulness," Cooper said. "Then you get in your car and cry."

Physically and emotionally drained

Cooper's frustrations mirror the findings of a survey published last week of more than 18,200 registered nurses. The survey from AMN Healthcare, a health care staffing agency, was riddled with evidence of a stressed out, burned out nursing population.

"Our survey data illustrates the growing dissatisfaction and wellbeing struggles among nurses  and the workforce challenges that this is escalating," Landry Seedig, AMN Healthcare's chief operating officer, said in an email to NBC News.

The findings show a recent drop in job satisfaction that had remained over 80% for a decade. In 2023, 71% of survey respondents said they were satisfied with their nursing career.

Younger nurses were much less satisfied with their careers and jobs compared to older generations, and were least likely to recommend the job to others. Just 42% of Gen Zers and 43% of millennials said they would encourage their peers to pursue nursing as a career, compared with 62% of baby boomers.

But signs of dissatisfaction were apparent in the majority of nurses surveyed.

More than three-quarters said they felt emotionally drained, up from 62% in 2021. And 70% of respondents in 2023 said they worried that their job is hazardous to their health, compared with 51% during the height of the pandemic in 2021.

The latest survey also showed that more than half of surveyed nurses felt unappreciated and often felt like quitting.

Among the biggest issues, nurses say, is the large number of patients they must care for each day.

Spencer Paddyaker, 28, is an emergency room nurse in the Dallas area. A typical shift has him caring for at least six patients at once.

Each of those patients may need help at the same time. One needs assistance getting to the bathroom. Another is having chest pain and is frightened about what it means. Another patient has questions about the medications they've been prescribed.

"All these things, piece by piece, are fine. It's when they start to happen all at once that it becomes cumbersome," Paddyaker said. "While you're addressing the person who is very sick or demands your attention immediately, your other patients start to feel a little blown off and neglected."

Emma Cooper addressed the Maine legislature (National Nurses United)

Last week, Cooper urged the Legislature in her home state of Maine to pass a bill that would set minimum requirements for nurse-to-patient ratios. Cooper is involved with National Nurses United, a union that represents registered nurses.

The state does not have a law limiting the number of patients each nurse can care for during each shift. Only California has passed a law mandating a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio.

"We need more nurses at the bedside," Cooper said. "My patients deserve better."

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, a 26-year nursing veteran and president of American Nurses Association, remembers "working 12 hour shifts and not going to the bathroom or getting anything to drink."

"That should have never been accepted as normal," she said, adding that she is proud of this generation "for not putting up with what I put up with."

"They're holding us accountable for an environment that we allowed to happen for a very long time," Kennedy said.

Bernadette Melnyk, dean of the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University, said that "nurses have a huge long history of taking great care of everybody else, but they often don't prioritize their own self care."

"We've got a population of about 5 million nurses that overall isn't so healthy," she said.

'Nurses didn't get a break'

Job satisfaction among nurses was higher during the height of the pandemic than it is now. In 2021, 48% of nurses said they were "extremely satisfied" with their job, compared to 33% in 2023, the AMN Healthcare survey showed.

"As Covid patients started to decrease, we started to get people coming back to the hospital who held off their medical treatments" during the pandemic, Kennedy said. "Now they're even sicker than they would have normally been. Nurses didn't get a break."

Nearly 9 in 10 nurses said the nursing shortage is worse than it was five years ago, the survey found. Nearly all respondents  94%  said there is a severe or moderate shortage of nurses in their area.

National Nurses United balks at the idea of a true shortage.

"There is only a shortage of nurses willing to work in environments that risk their licenses and the safety of their patients," the Union wrote in a media statement.

In January, thousands of nurses in New York City went on strike, demanding in part an increase in staffing to ease a shortage that's being felt nationwide.

Cooper, who is part of a union, said that while she has the deepest admiration for her health care co-workers, she and her peers deserve time and flexibility to focus on their patients.

She has advice for other nurses frustrated by their workload.

"Stand up, use your voice," Cooper said. "You know how to be an advocate already; you do it everyday for your patients. It's time for you to do it for yourself."

Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
The New York state judge presiding over the criminal hush money case against Donald Trump issued an order Monday restricting the former president from posting about some evidence in the case on social media.

Judge Juan Merchan largely sided with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg by limiting what Trump can publicly disclose about new evidence from the prosecution before the case goes to trial.

The order says that "any materials and information provided by the People to the Defense in accordance with their discovery obligations ... shall be used solely for the purposes of preparing a defense in this matter."

Merchan's order said anyone with access to the evidence being turned over to Trump's team by state prosecutors shall not copy, disseminate or disclose the material to third parties, including social media platforms, without prior approval from the court."

It also singles out Trump, saying he is allowed to review sensitive "Limited Dissemination Materials" from prosecutors only in the presence of his lawyers and "shall not be permitted to copy, photograph, transcribe, or otherwise independently possess the Limited Dissemination Materials."

In addition, the order restricts Trump from reviewing "forensic images of witness cell phones," although his lawyers can show him "approved portions" of the images after they get permission from the judge.

Trumps lawyers and the DAs office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

The ruling largely tracks with the DAs office request for a protective order, which Trump's attorneys had complained was extremely restrictive.

Prosecutors had argued they needed safeguards that will protect the integrity of the materials, saying the risk that Trump would use them inappropriately is substantial.

Donald J. Trump has a longstanding and perhaps singular history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, trial jurors, grand jurors, judges, and others involved in legal proceedings against him, putting those individuals and their families at considerable safety risk, the DA's office argued in a court filing last month.

Prosecutors had stressed they were not seeking a gag order against Trump, a 2024 presidential candidate  they just wanted to make sure he did not misuse their evidence.

Defendant has a constitutional right to speak publicly about this case, and the People do not seek to infringe upon that right, their filing said.

Trump's lawyers argued in a filing last week that the DA's proposed order would do exactly that.

The Peoples Proposed Protective Order infringes upon President Trumps First Amendment right to freely discuss his own character and qualifications for federal office and the First Amendment rights of the American people to hear President Trumps side of the story, it said.

Merchan said in Monday's order that prosecutors had shown "good cause" for their request.

Trump was charged last month with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and another woman toward the end of his 2016 presidential campaign to prevent them from speaking about their allegations of affairs with him. He has pleaded not guilty and has said he did not have an extramarital affair.

Trump has maintained Bragg and the judge are biased against him, and his lawyers filed paperwork last week seeking to have the case transferred to federal court. The request is pending.
A woman was stranded in the Australian bush for five days with only a bottle of wine and sweets to live on.

Lillian Ip set off on what was meant to be a short trip on Sunday, travelling through dense bush to the town of Bright in Victoria.

But the 48 year-oldhit a dead-end after taking a wrong turn, and her vehicle became stuck in the mud.

Ms Ip waves to police flying over the bush (Victoria Police)

Ms Ip, a non-drinker, only had a bottle of wine in the car which she was planning to give as a present to her mother. To eat, she had some lollipops and a few other snacks, police said.

Victoria Police said loved ones raised the alarm after Ms Ip failed to make her daily call to check in with loved ones on 30 April.

After five nights stranded, she was discovered by emergency services on Friday as they flew overhead as part of a search. Footage taken from a helicopter shows Ms Ip waving her arms and trying to get the attention of rescuers.

She was found around 37 miles away from the nearest town and due to health issues she was unable to walk far so stayed with her car, Victoria police said.

Ms Ip (left) and her mother embrace after the daughters ordeal (9News Melbourne)

She only had a few snacks and sweets to eat, and no water. As she lost hope of being found alive, she wrote a letter to her family saying she loved them.

The first thing coming in my mind, I was thinking water and a cigarette, Ms Ip told 9News Australia. Thank god the policewoman had a cigarette.

I thought I was going to die there. My whole body shut down on Friday, she said, adding that she was about to give up.

She told Australias Herald Sun that her letter read: If you dont find me by this time I could be dead by frozen cold. I love you all. Dont cry for me.

Officers found the woman nearly 40 miles from civilisation (Victoria Police)

Ms Ip was taken to hospital for observation and to be treated for dehydration but has since returned home to Melbourne.

Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey said: The only liquid Lillian, who doesnt drink, had with her was a bottle of wine she had bought as a gift for her mother so that got her through.

The 48 year-old said she thought she would die in the bush (9News Melbourne)

She used great common sense to stay with her car and not wander off into bushland, which assisted in police being able to find her.

Lillian was found a good 60km away from the nearest town and due to health issues she was unable to try and walk for help so stayed with her car, he said.

She used great common sense to stay with her car and not wander off into bushland, which assisted in police being able to find her.

Officers could see her car through the trees (Victoria Police)

She was only planning a short-day trip so had only taken a couple of snacks and lollies with her but no water.

While she couldnt move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight give her some warmth.

After being lost in the bush for five days, she was extremely relieved and grateful to see us and we were just as happy to see her.


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Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned after an investigation committee recommended his dismissal due to sexual misconduct allegations involving a 19-year-old staffer.

Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned on Monday, two days after an investigation committee determined he violated multiple rules by providing alcohol to and engaging in sexual relations with a 19-year-old staff member.

Slaton, a Republican in his second term representing Royse City, a suburb northeast of Dallas, rapidly earned a reputation as a conservative explosive thrower within the legislature.

Texas House Rep. Bryan Slaton Resigns

He introduced or backed legislation to prohibit transvestite performances and oppose transgender rights. His resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott did not address the findings against him.

Slaton wrote that it was an honor to represent his friends, neighbors, and the wonderful people and communities of House District 2. Monday at the Capitol, Slaton did not appear for work and was absent from the House floor, USA Today reported.

His resignation comes one day before the Texas House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a recommendation from the chamber's General Investigating Committee to expel Slaton.

The committee published a 16-page report on Saturday that determined Slaton had sexual relations with the young employee in his Austin residence on March 31 or April 1. According to the report, because Slaton had primary responsibility for the assistant, she "could not provide valid consent."

Per Washington Examiner, Slaton attempted to avoid being expelled by the Texas House by resigning on Monday. He confronted the possibility of being removed from the legislative body for the first time since 1927. The Texas House Freedom Caucus, a conservative organization typically aligned with Slaton, issued a statement demanding his resignation.

"The factual report from the House General Investigations Committee regarding Rep. Bryan Slaton is appalling. The abhorrent behavior described in the report requires clear and strong action. He should resign. If he does not, we will vote to expel him Tuesday," it tweeted.

The factual report from the House General Investigations Committee regarding Rep. Bryan Slaton is appalling. The abhorrent behavior described in the report requires clear and strong action. He should resign. If he does not, we will vote to expel him Tuesday. #txlege  Texas Freedom Caucus (@TxFreedomCaucus) May 7, 2023

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Slaton Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Last month, Slaton's attorney Patrick Short stated that the claims made by three female employees between 19 and 21 were "outrageous" and "false."

Slaton's attorneys attempted to have the complaints dismissed because his actions transpired at his domicile in Austin and not at work. Citing a state court ruling, the committee stated that its duty in investigating the allegations was to "question whether sufficient facts exist from which to infer a connection between the sexual conduct and the work environment," and it concluded that such a connection existed.

The aide testified that Slaton showed her a "threatening" email from an anonymous sender who claimed to know that he had slept with a staffer. As per NBC News, she reported becoming "extremely fearful" of losing her job.

According to the report, she stated that Slaton told her that "everything would be all right" and that "everyone involved must remain silent."

In addition, the committee discovered that another representative had called Slaton to inquire whether he had intimate relations with a staff member, which Slaton confirmed. The representative said that the next day he told Slaton to resign, at which point Slaton inquired whether the phone call could remain "between us."

The committee stated that Slaton had not expressed regret. The Texas Freedom Caucus, whose members were typically allies of Slaton, called his behavior "abhorrent" over the weekend, as pressure for his resignation began to increase.

Related Article: Texas Mall Shooting Suspect Planned Attack for Weeks, Suspended in Army Over Mental Health Issues

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Elbit Systems UK has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide, maintain and operate the Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer system (GMST) for the Boxer armoured vehicles and Challenger 3 tanks under the British Armys Project Vulcan. The initial phase of delivery of Elbit Systems UKs systems will support early arrivals of the British Armys new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle: the Boxer.

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The simulators will be networked to allow soldiers to train simultaneously in different formations, vehicles and locations (Picture source: Elbit Systems UK)

The programme will include high-fidelity driver trainers and cabins for turret and armament variants backed up by a full digital, training management system.

Elbit Systems UKs open architecture and common digital systems support the delivery of an agile, interchangeable platform capability. The simulators will be networked to allow soldiers to train simultaneously in different formations, vehicles and locations. It can also be adapted to meet the training needs of all future armoured vehicles for the Army.

The contract will directly create and sustain jobs across a number of sites in the UK, within existing Elbit Systems UK facilities, a UK supply chain and on Army locations. This adds to recent investments made in staff and facilities to support the continued delivery of a number of high-tech programmes for the Armed Forces. This also demonstrates our ongoing support to the Land Industrial Strategy which focuses on ensuring the Army receives the capabilities it requires and also drives opportunity for UK industry and the economy.

Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK said: Elbit Systems UK is delighted to have been selected to provide the British Army with such an important project. The training of armoured vehicle crews is paramount to their operational effectiveness and safety, and we take great pride in the trust the UK MoD has placed in us to deliver this contract. Elbit Systems innovative training capabilities are already deployed extensively across the globe. We pride ourselves on being able to use our extensive British footprint and supply chain to adapt Elbit Systems global solutions for the specific needs of the UK Armed Forces. Through our focus on spiral development and open architecture, we will continue to develop advanced capabilities to support the UK and our Allies in the years ahead.

Defense News May 2023
Today's headlines: Israeli attack on Gaza results in 12 deaths; In Uzbekistan, the current president could stay in office another 14 years;. Vietnam wants social media users to verify their identity; Asean diplomatic convoy hit in Myanmar.

JAPAN

The House of Representatives today approved an amendment to the immigration law that would allow authorities to deport people who repeatedly apply for refugee status. For the government, the amendment aims to avoid detention in immigration centres, while migrant support groups argue that it violates human rights. The bill - which will now go to the House of Councillors - also provides for a refugee-like status to be granted to those who do not meet all the criteria but are fleeing war and conflict.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

An Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip killed at least 12 Palestinians, including three leaders of the Islamic Jihad group, who were killed along with women and children. At least 20 people were injured. The Israeli army reported hitting 10 sites used to manufacture weapons and six military facilities of the group. A Gaza military response against Israel is now feared.

MYANMAR

On Sunday, a diplomatic convoy carrying officials from the Indonesian and Singaporean embassies on their way to deliver humanitarian aid to displaced people from Asean was attacked in Taunggyi municipality, Shan State. It is not known which armed group carried out the attack in the context of the civil war ravaging Myanmar. A summit is to be held in Indonesia this week at which the Burma crisis will be discussed.

VIETNAM

Vietnam wants users of Facebook, YouTube and TikTok to certify their identity in order to conduct a 'comprehensive' investigation into the political content circulated on TikTok and combat human trafficking and other crimes. This was announced by the authorities of the Ministry of Information in two different communiques: at the moment, the government plans to link the phone number to the identity of people, but it is not yet clear how.

RUSSIA - MOLDOVA

The representative in Moscow of Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist Moldovan republic, Leonid Manakov, presented a request to Russia to increase the presence of peacekeepers, which currently number 450, whereas according to the 1997 agreements there should be more than 3,000, to avoid manoeuvres by the government in Chisinau.

UZBEKISTAN

After the approval through referendum of 128 constitutional amendments, President Mirziyoyev set 9 July as the date for early presidential elections in Uzbekistan, which will reset his term of office to zero and put him back in the highest office for the next 14 years. The last election was last October, which he won with over 80% of the vote.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm of Sweden in London, United Kingdom.

Mr. Sullivan reiterated the United States' strong support for Sweden joining NATO as soon as possible.

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Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Landerholm reviewed the security situation in Europe, including their commitment to continue supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression.

They also discussed ways to further cooperation on shared global challenges.

READ MORE: Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Shooting in Allen, Texas

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Some 32 million pilgrims are expected in Rome from all over the world. The meeting dedicated to families will be held in the spring, the youth meeting on 28 July-3 August, in November a special moment will be devoted to socially excluded people. "Pilgrims of hope" is the motto of the event, which will coincide with the celebrations for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, held a press conference today in the Vatican during which he presented the calendar, the official hymn and other initiatives associated with the Jubilee 2025: aims reached and projects.

Over 12 months, various meetings will be held for different groups of faithful who will be able to be true "pilgrims of hope" in today's world, from families and young people to artists and prisoners.

The press conference provided an opportunity to look at the preparations underway for this event that began in AD 1300, which at intervals of 25 years marks the life of the Catholic Church, enabling pilgrims to travel to her centre in order to immerse themselves in Gods mercy through the indulgence of sins.

According to Archbishop Fisichella, some 32 million pilgrims are expected in Rome for the year-long event that will start in December 2024 with the opening of the Holy Door.

Pope Francis will announce the Jubilees first and last day in the Bull of Indiction, which is traditionally promulgated on the solemnity of the Ascension of the previous year, that is, 9 May 2024.

To help the preparations, the calendar of events that will bring together the largest ever number of pilgrims was announced today. It includes the Jubilee days for the sick (5-6 April), families (30 May-1 June), catechists (26-28 September), missionaries (18-19 October).

The Jubilee days for the worlds youth will be held on 28 July-August 3. Before that, young people will meet in Lisbon this summer with the pope for World Youth Day (WYD).

Finally, on 15 and 16 November, two jubilee days will focus on all socially excluded people.

In addition to the calendar, the Jubilees website was presented today, which will be active as of tomorrow with information on the meaning and acts associated with the Jubilee.

Starting in September, the website will provide booking procedures for events and pilgrimage to the Holy Door.

The Jubilees hymn has Pilgrims of hope" for motto. It was written by theologian Pierangelo Sequeri, and set to music by Italian Francesco Meneghello after a competition involving participants from 38 countries.

Archbishop Fisichella also spoke about the commissions working on the preparation of the Jubilee. The Ecumenical Commission will not only provide support for interfaith dialogue on the great topic of hope, but will also take part in the organisation of the celebrations for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which falls precisely in 2025.

This is a highly significant anniversary for all Christians because the first Christological Council took place in Nicaea, the pro-prefect said.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations opens today until Thursday. Indonesian President Jokowi proposes a " forum for dialogue " to end violence in Myanmar (ex-Burma), which "harms innocent people". Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats fired upon in Shan State are unharmed.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  The 42nd summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) opened today in Labuan Bajo, a seaside resort in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) centred on the Myanmar crisis, the regions economy and future plans for cooperation and development,

Famous for the Komodo dragon (lizard), the exotic venue appreciated by locals and foreigners, will see leaders meet several times between today until Thursday. The meet comes at a time of great turmoil in the region, starting with the violence triggered by the 2021 military coup in Myanmar.

The first of the eight meetings saw foreign ministers discuss the further development of the ASEAN community, the strengthening of their partnership, and a mutual consensus in many areas in which cooperation is already active.

The theme of this summit, ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth, focuses on economic growth and partnership, in principle for everyone.

Seven scheduled meetings will be chaired by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi in a statement, a sign of the importance given to the event by the host country.

The sessions will be devoted to ASEAN Youth, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV), summit retreat, 15th Summit of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).

The summit location is under tight security to deter any terrorist threats or unrest during the event, noted Admiral Yudo Margono, Commander of Indonesias Armed Forces and Police Chief Listyo Sigit.

Some 9,428 agents have been deployed to protect more than 1,500 foreign participants, plus the many Indonesians present.

With respect to security, Indonesia has closely followed recent events in Myanmar where a convoy of foreign diplomats delivering ASEAN humanitarian aid came under fire in Shan State, in the south of the country, Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Although no one was killed or wounded, a worried Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed hope that violence would end soon in Myanmar.

"Stop using force, he said. You have to stop the violence because it only harms innocent people. Let's create a forum for dialogue to end violence in Myanmar.

Some non-partisan groups are present at the ASEAN summit.
by Melani Manel Perera

Sri Lankas poverty doubled as a result of its ongoing economic crisis. In its latest country update, the international financial body calls for structural reforms; in the meantime, the cost of basic items continues to rise.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Sri Lanka has lost half a million jobs in industry and services. With the rising cost of living, this has doubled the national poverty level to 25 per cent, this according to the World Banks latest report titled, Sri Lanka Development Update 2022.

One of the consequences has been the growth in regional disparities. While poverty jumped to 15 per cent in urban areas, it skyrocketed to 52 per cent in rural areas.

Several factors in the past five years explain this development, most notably a restrictive trade regime, a poor investment climate, and a careless monetary policy, not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic.

After its credit rating was downgraded, Sri Lanka lost access to international financial markets in 2020. As a result, its official reserves fell from US$ 7.6 billion in 2019 to less than US$ 500 million in December 2022.

Against this background, the World Bank has insisted on debt restructuring and growth-enhancing structural reforms, but these must be accompanied by measures to combat poverty.

For Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, The current crisis is not a temporary liquidity shock that can be resolved by external financing support from outside. Instead, the crisis provides a unique opportunity to implement deep and permanent structural reforms that may be difficult in normal circumstances. Sri Lanka can use this opportunity to build a strong and resilient economy.

In the meantime, the situation in rural areas is likely to get worse, especially for people living on plantation estates.

Wheat flour used to make roti,[*] which they (plantation workers) eat the most, has gone up by another 10 rupees, said Anthony Jesudasan, director of the organisation Voice of Plantation People, speaking to AsiaNews.

The price of sugar also increased by 25 rupees. Many plantation workers, who quenched their hunger only by eating a roti and drinking a cup of tea, continue to suffer from malnutrition and will suffer from poverty more, he added.

[*] Roti (also know as chapati) is a round flatbread typical of South Asia.
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EV

ICE

While ditching Android Auto and CarPlay has already sparked a major controversy in the automotive world , General Motors' decision seems set in stone. Despite the carmaker's ambitions to make it happen as fast as possible, the plan will undoubtedly face more roadblocks and customer opposition before it's widely adopted across the entirerange.Mike Abbott, a former Apple employee who left the iPhone maker earlier this year, has decided to join General Motors and help the company as it's stepping away from CarPlay.Abbott was the head of iCloud software for five years before leaving the company back in March. He will join General Motors as the executive vice president of software.The American carmaker explained that Abbott will lead a team whose focus will be "the development of vehicle and enterprise software technologies and solutions," while also contributing to the company's software strategy. He will also be involved in the delivery of digital services and features to retail and commercial customers.Without a doubt, a former Apple employee paving the way for a future without Apple is rather unusual, especially considering General Motors' replacement is powered by Google Beginning in 2024, GM will begin the gradual transition to Android Automotive. Google's car operating system doesnt require a mobile phone to run and is installed at the hardware level in every vehicle. Thanks to the deep integration of Google services, Android Automotive offers advanced capabilities, such as voice command support for adjusting the climate control system. Google Maps can automatically add charging stops to a route when the battery level drops below a certain threshold.Critics and customers alike see GM's strategy as a major step towards a subscription-based model that would eventually turn the infotainment system into a money-making machine. GM executives have already defended this plan on multiple occasions, but Nick Festa, director of digital business at the American carmaker, recently admitted that eventually, an Android Automotive-powered infotainment system could help generate revenue That's not going to happen in the short term, the company promises, as Android Automotive will be available free of charge for eight years after the vehicle's purchase. The transition to a world without CarPlay will kick off next year and then will gradually expand to all EVs in GM's lineup.The firm says only electric vehicles will switch to Android Automotive, whilemodels will stick with Android Auto and CarPlay for a little longer. However, GM's long-term strategy includes a full transition from ICE to zero-emission models by 2035, so all vehicles would drop support for mobile phone projection sooner or later.
Director Christopher Wray has named Kurt Ronnow as the special agent in charge of the Counterintelligence Division at the Washington Field Office. Mr. Ronnow most recently served as a deputy assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ronnow joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002 and was assigned to the Salem Resident Agency, a satellite of the Portland Field Office in Oregon. During his time in Salem, Mr. Ronnow worked primarily on a case related to Eurasian organized crime and foreign intelligence. He also served on the SWAT team.

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In 2012, Mr. Ronnow traveled to Islamabad to serve as assistant legal attache. He also worked out of the FBI's office in Karachi, Pakistan. He returned to the U.S. in 2014 as a supervisory special agent in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters and served as the program manager of the Philadelphia Field Office's international terrorism program.

Mr. Ronnow also helped establish the Syria-Iraq Task Force to disrupt extremists who wanted to travel to the area. He later supervised the start-up of an interagency operation that targeted foreign fighters drawn to the foreign terrorist organization ISIL. In 2014, Mr. Ronnow became the first FBI senior advisor to the U.S. military's Special Operations Command Central in Doha, Qatar. In 2015, Mr. Ronnow became the first chief of the Extraterritorial Hostage Unit at FBI Headquarters and then served as a senior leader in the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell.

In 2017, Mr. Ronnow transferred to the Tacoma Resident Agency under the Seattle Field Office as a field supervisor. In 2018, he transferred to the Washington Field Office as the assistant special agent in charge of an intelligence branch.

Mr. Ronnow was promoted in 2020 to section chief of the Surveillance and Aviation Section in the Critical Incident Response Group at Headquarters. In 2021, he was named deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at Headquarters, over the Russia/Global Branch.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Ronnow was an attorney. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and business administration from George Fox College in Oregon, and a law degree from Willamette University, also in Oregon.

READ MORE: Virginia Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Ordering Cell Phones on Behalf of Her Non-Profit Employer and Reselling Them for Cash

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SUV

EV

Photo: Fisker

What is the point of this?

Fisker, as a carmaker, has been hitting several important milestones lately. First, they began the manufacturing process for the Ocean with the help of Magna Steyr in Austria back in November of 2022, and earlier this month, the firstwas delivered to a customer in Denmark. At the end of last year, Fisker claimed to have had some 63,000 preorders for the 2022 OceanAnyway, lets talk about the new Force E special off-road edition/package - you can buy it prepped like that straight from the factory , or you can have the package retrofitted on all-wheel-drive Ocean Extreme and Ultra variants, which is an excellent option to have.This vehicle is going to be a beast, said company chairman and CEO, Henrik Fisker. We have pulled out all the stops on this one. I think its exciting to enter the segment. And for those who love to go offroad and enjoy nature, what better way than with zero emissions?Thats not just PR talk either, because these Force E models will bring a heck of a lot to the table, starting with a substantial bump in ground clearance and ramp angles, 33-inch all-terrain tires fitted to 20-inch reinforced wheels, new dampers, plus an estimated 550 horsepower.Other highlights for the Force E special edition include a full-length titanium underbody plate to protect the battery, structurally mounted front and rear skid plates, and an optional interior package consisting of rubber floor coverings, extra grab handles, and tie-downs. Last but not least, a bespoke lightweight roof basket.The Force E package is currently under development at the companys Magic Works specialty division in England, with SVP of Engineering David King (rally driver in the 1980s and 1990s) in charge of the project.Fair question, but the answer is rather obvious. Carmakers are constantly looking to broaden the market appeal of their EVs , seeing as how these types of vehicles are the future and cars that sip gasoline or diesel fuel are, for lack of a better term, obsolete.So, with 550 horsepower at its disposal and all the ground clearance youll ever need short of climbing over giant boulders, the Fisker Ocean Force E should prove quite formidable from a performance and endurance standpoint. By the way, the AWD dual-motor drivetrain can rocket the Ocean to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds  this may not be the case with Force E spec models, but surely, they wont be THAT much slower.
EV

The new strategy is pretty much the end of CarPlay and Android Auto in General Motors vehicles. The first model to give up on this feature is the 2024 Blazer, with the rest of the zero-emission launches to follow in its footsteps moving forward.Vehicles with internal combustion engines would continue to support Android Auto and CarPlay, but given General Motors' plans to go all-in on EVs by 2035, the days of these platforms are already numbered.The announcement sparked massive controversy in the automotive world, especially as most carmakers sided with customers and promised to continue offering Android Auto and CarPlay in their vehicles. Buyers worldwide threatened to look elsewhere if General Motors sticks with its plans.Since then, the American car giant used every little occasion to defend its infotainment strategy. While Android Automotive would allow the company to still offer Android Auto and CarPlay alongside other integrated capabilities, GM's strategy of giving up on mobile phone projection looks set in stone.Many believe the switch to Android Automotive is part of the company's strategy of turning subscriptions into a major cash cow in the long term. GM says it won't charge customers in the first eight years after the vehicle purchase, suggesting that eventually, drivers would still have to pay for certain infotainment capabilities.Nick Festa, GM's director of digital business, explains in an interview that giving up on Android Auto and CarPlay is not at all about subscriptions but about the company's desire to improve the digital experience for customers. Sure enough, this sounds like typical PR language, but Android Automotive does offer more advanced capabilities than Android Auto and CarPlay.Drivers get access to new features thanks to the integration of Google services. Google Maps can track the existing battery charge and suggest charging stops when needed. Google Assistant can also control more vehicle settings, including the air conditioning system.However, Festa admits that "this system may help pull in revenue at some point," more or less confirming that a subscription-based approach is coming.In the meantime, General Motors seems to be all alone in its struggle to leave Android Auto and CarPlay behind. Several other carmakers, including Ford, Toyota, and Honda, confirmed their future models would still offer mobile phone projection despite some specific vehicles also adopting more advanced systems like Android Automotive.Other carmakers, such as BMW, plan to use a different approach, adopting Android Automotive without Google services . This way, they would retain full control over the infotainment system without giving in to Google and providing the search company with access to vehicle data.
How CarPlay works

Photo: Softpedia

The USB-C iPhone

Photo: Softpedia

Future iPhone connectivity options

While it might all look like the hell freezes over for diehard Apple fanboys, the iPhone switching to USB-C will finally happen thanks to pressure from the European Union.The EU recently passed new regulations that require companies selling smartphones on the continent to equip their devices with a universal USB-C port. This way, the EU says, the fight against e-waste would be more effective, while customers will be able to charge more devices with the same cable.For Apple, the switch to USB-C isn't going to be easy, especially because of the company's commitment to Made for iPhone accessories. The Lightning connector available on the iPhone powers a whole range of iPhone accessories, and now that the device is moving to USB-C, all these products would have to make the same transition as well.Many users seem to be concerned about the switch to USB-C from a driving perspective as well, as iPhones are in charge of powering the CarPlay experience in millions of vehicles Before anything else, it's important to know there are two versions of CarPlay currently available in cars out there. On the one hand, the wired version requires a cable connection between the iPhone and the media receiver in the cabin. On the other hand, some models come with wireless CarPlay , meaning that users can run the likes of Google Maps and YouTube Music on the dashboard without even pulling the phone from their pocket.At the moment, a wired CarPlay connection uses either a USB-C to Lightning or a USB-A to Lightning cable, depending on the car model you own.New-generation vehicles come with USB-C, whereas the majority of older models are fitted with USB-A. If you have a hard time making a difference between the two, USB-A is the traditional USB port used for everything from mice and keyboards to flash drives and printers.As such, your car uses either a USB-A or USB-C port, while the iPhone comes with Apples proprietary Lightning connector.When the new-generation iPhone comes out later this year, it will sport a USB-C port instead of Lightning. In other words, the only thing thats going to be different in your car is the smartphone port.For a wired connection, youll need a cable that has either USB-A or USB-C (depending on your car) on one end and USB-C on the other. A Lightning cable would no longer be supported.High-speed USB-A to USB-C cables are already available, including from the likes of Samsung , so if your car comes with a traditional USB port, you can set up CarPlay immediately.If the vehicle is fitted with USB-C, you can use the cable bundled with the iPhone 15. Apple will almost certainly offer a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box  the current iPhone models ship with a USB-C to Lightning cable, as Apples wall chargers also come with USB-C.If you want to continue using the existing Lightning cable, youll need an adapter to convert the proprietary connector to USB-C. However, youd better stay away from them, as most come from generic Chinese manufacturers, and despite costing just a couple of bucks, they could produce all kinds of connectivity problems. Most are rather flimsy, so dont be too surprised if CarPlay stops working in the middle of the drive.If your car comes with wireless CarPlay, the transition to USB-C wont produce any change for you.People familiar with the matter previously said Apple considered a portless iPhone that used wireless connections for everything from charging to CarPlay. This device is allegedly still on the table, especially as Apple plans to build an unhackable smartphone  the existing exploits rely on cable connections to the iPhone, and by switching to wireless, Apple would make its devices harder to break into.Once a portless iPhone launches, wireless CarPlay becomes the only option. Sure enough, not all cars come with support for the wired mode, but third-party adapters can help migrate to a wireless connection. In other words, even if Apple eventually embraces this crazy idea and switches to a portless iPhone (with the rest of the industry then expected to follow in its footsteps as well), you can still use CarPlay regardless of the vehicle model.Apple has so far remained tight-lipped regarding the debut of a portless iPhone At the end of the day, no matter the changes that Apple eventually sticks with, you can continue running CarPlay without any hacks on your side. Everything will take place on the iPhone, so in the worst-case scenario, youll need an adapter to migrate from wired to wireless. For a USB-C iPhone, you only need a new cable.
EV

It's a tough week forstartups as they report their first-quarter financial results. Once a promising company, Lucid Motors seems to be struggling for its life, with all the financials missing expectations. Last year, Elon Musk predicted that Lucid might be heading toward bankruptcy, and the numbers presented by Lucid on Tuesday sure look like its days are numbered. Despite the upbeat tone of the presentation, even Lucid executives had to admit that the company would only survive the following year.Lucid Motors faces a dramatic 2023 as sales have plummeted and the startup is burning through money. The company was forced to cut the production forecast to "more than 10,000" units this year, down from an initial estimate of 10,000-14,000 EVs. However, the way things look now, investors are more worried about demand than production. With only 1,406 EVs delivered in the quarter, the company is far from reaching its 10,000-unit target for 2023. The worst part is that Lucid has more than $1 billion in inventory.At the end of 2022, Lucid reported over 28,000 reservations, dropping faster than the sales numbers. In the first quarter of 2023, Lucid stopped reporting the number of reservations, which only means the numbers look really bad. Undoubtedly, many holders have canceled their reservations. Lucid Motors only sells the Air sedan with an average selling price above $100,000. Although the most affordable version starts at $87,400, it is not yet available to order. This makes the Air a tough sell, especially considering Tesla's massive price cuts for the competing Model S.According to Lucid's earnings report, the company recorded $149.4 million in revenue versus the $209 million expected by investors. Lucid's net loss widened to $780 million from $605 million the year before. The cash and cash equivalents dropped to $900 million from the previous $1.74 billion in Q4 2022. Lucid also has $2 billion in short-term investments, with the total liquidity estimated at $4.1 billion. Lucid's CFO, Sherry House, said this should be enough to fund the operations into the second quarter of 2024.People thought that Saudi PIF investing in Lucid guaranteed the EV startup a solid foundation. Still, Lucid's lackluster results make people question how long PIF would keep its stake in Lucid. The Saudis sold their 5% stake in Tesla in 2018, just before the company started making profits, and instead bought Lucid shares. They must be devastated that they now have a giant money pit instead of tens of billions of gains.
Exactly one month ago, Jeff Bezos took delivery of his brand-new megayacht , the occasionally-controversial and record-breaking sail-assisted Oceanco build he named Koru, which he commissioned in 2018 after falling in love with the shipyard's Black Pearl. Koru completed the first round of sea trials in February this year and headed out on its maiden journey towards Gibraltar right after delivery to owner.It is now undergoing sailing sea trials, according to the latest reports and videos shot off the coast of Palma de Mallorca, where it's been joined by the shadow vessel Abeona, the superyacht that will carry all the toys for Koru guests and additional crew. Because Bezos opted for a sail-assisted yacht that is shaped like a classic three-masted schooner, there was no room on deck for the toys that any vessel requires for longer transports, whether inflatables for guests' use or tenders for more practical resupply runs or other exploration machines.As such, a toy carrier was needed, and it comes in the shape of the 246-foot (75-meter) Abeona from Damen Yachting. It's a proper superyacht, relegated to shadow duties but perfectly capable of catering to 45 people in total, with all the luxury amenities expected of a superyacht.That said, Koru was on its own on the first days of sailing sea trials, as shown in the video below. This marks the first time this gigantic 417-foot (127-meter) vessel is seen with all its sails unfurled  and it makes for quite a breathtaking sight. Koru is huge even without a point of reference, but it's also well-proportioned and elegant, with its classic black steel hull and white superstructure, and sky-high masts.Each mast is 230 feet (70 meters) high, with furlers that weigh around 900 kg each and serve one of the largest sail areas ever done in yachting, according to one trade publication . Koru is the largest vessel built in the Netherlands and the world's largest sail-assisted yacht; its scale alone called for several innovations and many naval firsts.It came at a reported cost of $500 million, not including whatever Bezos paid for Abeona, and came close to causing public protests in the city of Rotterdam, when Oceanco asked for permission to temporarily dismantle a historic bridge so it could take it out with the masts on.Controversy aside, Koru is a beauty  one that is well on its way to becoming a legend in the private naval sector.
Photo: Hulu

Photo: Instagram / Kylie Jenner

Until recently, that was reality for Stephen Prince, a millionaire businessman from Georgia, U.S., at least five times a year, when he'd fly out for business or pleasure, either alone or in the company of like-minded, similarly well-heeled friends. Prince is a millionaire, but he would have you know he's unlike most millionaires out there in the sense that he's been spending his time (and money) trying to improve things for the rest of us.Prince is the co-founder and co-chair of a group called Patriotic Millionaires, whose name is, or should be, self-explanatory: they're wealthy individuals from all walks of life striving to erase some of the social and financial inequality in the United States. One way they hope to achieve that is by lobbying for higher taxes for the rich, as Prince explains in the video interview included at the bottom of the page  an older one, but still relevant today.Prince is back in the news today after he's decided to sell off his final aircraft, a twelve-seat Cessna 650 he owns alone, and which he's been flying at least five times a year to go hunting in Nebraska or vacationing in the Caribbean. Any other decision of the kind from any other millionaire would have barely registered; after all, millionaires and billionaires trade multi-million toys on the regular, usually for upgrades. But Prince's stands out because he says he's doing it for the greater good.In other words, Prince says that he's decided to ditch private jet ownership because he's finally clear on the impact it has on the environment and the economy. Private jet ownership and chartering have boomed over recent years, fueled by the grounding of commercial flights in 2020 and the rise of the new generation of the nouveaux riches, the influencers and insta-celebrities of the moment who have turned private flying into the trendiest flex.Flying private is a flex, Prince agrees. It's also the nicest way you can spoil yourself and, as he explains for one media outlet , quite the addictive habit you can pick up when you're rich. No one shouldn't board a private jet if they're not mentally prepared to become addicted to this kind of lifestyle.So, what gives? All things considered, it sounds almost like Prince is either pulling some sort of farce/online experiment or shamelessly lying. Call it a come-to-Jesus moment, belated as it is: Prince has been doing his research, and he now knows that private jet flying is the number one cause of environmental pollution. His Cessna 650, for example, burns an average of 241 gallons of fuel per hour, and Prince is convinced no amount of carbon offsetting will erase the CO2 the jet has been releasing into the atmosphere so he could go on vacations."I get on my plane and I'll spew ten times as much carbon into the atmosphere as I do when I get on a first-class flight on Delta or American Airlines," he says. "It's just unconscionable  it's incredibly selfish."He doesn't expect his wealthy peers to ground their aircraft, too, Prince adds in a separate interview , but they should at least be taxed extra for the privilege. Himself, he's decided to switch to first class whenever possible and to hitch a ride with any one of these peers when he doesn't have a direct connection to where he needs to be. Assuming they'd still do him a favor after all this, of course.Jokes aside, Prince does have a point, and the fact that he's willing to be the one to walk the walk as well, instead of just talking the talk, shows that there might be light at the end of the tunnel, still. Various non-profits and government bodies worldwide have been ringing the alarm on the high carbon footprint of the aviation industry for years, and louder still recently, as private aviation boomed. Any one of the world's richest people has a carbon footprint dozens of times higher than the average individual, and it's from private flying only. Carbon offsetting , which billionaire Bill Gates swears by, is one way of reducing the impact of private flying on the planet. But common sense should tell us that it's far better to simply not pollute or to pollute less than to do it shamelessly and then plant a bunch of trees thinking they can magically reverse the damage overnight. Prince is just one of the few millionaires who seems to get it, and he's willing to part with his private jet to set an example.
A former Lamborghini test driver's dream come true

Photo: Cizeta Automobili

One of the most outrageous supercars of the 1990s

Photo: Cizeta Automobili

When a V8, V10, or V12 is just too maintsteam

Photo: Cizeta Automobili

ECU

A transversely-mounted monster

Photo: Cizeta Automobili

It wasn't the first V16 engine to reach production

Photo: Cizeta Automobili

The 70s and 80s were two exciting decades that gave us some of the most iconic supercars ever built, like the Lamborghini Countach and Diablo or the Ferrari F40 and its successor, the Formula 1-engined F50 But, if you're like me and have a soft spot for automotive oddities, one of the most memorable supercars produced back then was the Cizeta V16T Sure, it was never as famous as the Italian legends mentioned above. However, it went down in automotive history as the first (and only) supercar powered by a V16 engine mounted sideways behind the passenger compartment.Born in 1939, Claudio Zampolli grew up in Modena, Italy, the supercar capital of the world. As a kid, he used to build his own toy cars, which led him to pursue a career in the automotive industry. After earning an engineering degree in Switzerland and spending some time running a repair shop, he returned home to Italy, joining newcomers Lamborghini Though he wanted to be part of the engineering department, Zampolli's skills behind the wheel earned him a test driver job. He spent nearly a decade working under Bob Wallace on the Miura project, then, in the early 1970s, he was sent to the US to oversee the manufacturer's dealership network.Unfortunately, the energy crisis that led to the extinction of muscle cars also killed Lamborghini's US dealerships. Nevertheless, Zampolli chose to stay in California , where he opened a repair shop for Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other Italian supercars. For the next decade, Zampolli's shop became the place where wealthy supercar owners  including Hollywood's finest  went to get their rides serviced or upgraded.But the Italian never gave up on his biggest dream: building his own supercar. Thanks to his connections in California, Zampolli made his dream come true in 1988 when he founded Cizeta Automobili and began developing the V16T with a team of former Lamborghini colleagues.Contrary to popular belief, the Cizeta V16T, unveiled in late-1988, was not a modified Diablo but a distinctly bespoke supercar. It was built around a custom Chromoly steel tube chassis that only shared a few components with existing Lamborghini models, such as the Brembo braking system.The bodywork was designed by Marcello Gandini  the man behind the Miura and Countach  who Lamborghini had dismissed after creating the first Diablo prototype. For the V16T, Gandini opted for a similar design, which is why the Cizeta looked much like the Diablo, particularly when viewed from the front.Styling aside, what made the V16T the most outrageous supercar of its era was the mid-mounted V16 engine.Claudio Zampolli wanted his car to stand out from the rest, so he instructed lead engineer Oliviero Pedrazzi to design a spectacular engine Pedrazzi figured out that a V16 would work wonders for the car's publicity, but with limited funds to build one from scratch, they decided to fuse two existing V8s borrowed from the Lamborghini Urraco The engineer designed a custom all-aluminum block that housed two crankshafts geared into a single output shaft. The cranks, conrods, and pistons were similar to those found in the Lamborghini V8 but were slightly reengineered for higher strength.On top of the block, Pedrazzi used two separate cylinder heads, both sourced from Lamborghini. Unlike other bespoke components, the heads were identical to those used for the Urraco V8. Each featured four valves per cylinder, and two overhead cams, which meant that the V16 had 64 valves and four cams. It also used two Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection systems to feed the 32 inlet valves, but a singlecontrolled the firing order.Despite its sixteen cylinders, the engine was relatively compact, displacing just 6.0 liters. To put it into perspective, virtually all of the big blocks that made muscle cars legendary during the sixties and seventies had displacements that exceeded 7.0 liters.Since it featured two cranks, the most effective way to harness the power and maintain good weight balance was to devise a unique gearing system in the middle of the block. It featured a small but sturdy output shaft linked to a ZF S5-42 five-speed manual transaxle gearbox.With the entire powertrain forming a T shape (hence the T in the car's name), the engine was mounted transversely onto the chassis, making it the first and only production V16 unit placed in this position.Capable of revving up to 8,500 rpm, the Cizeta V16 was rated at 540 hp and 400 lb-ft (540 Nm). Those figures are not particularly impressive today, but back in 1991, when production of the V16T commenced, it was one of the world's most powerful naturally aspirated engines.It helped the supercar accelerate to 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill in 4 seconds and reach an impressive top speed of 204 mph (328 kph).Unfortunately for Zampolli, his Cizeta V16T never became commercially successful. While many wealthy enthusiasts showed interest after the unveiling of the initial prototype in 1988, by the time production began, global financial turmoil meant that few were willing to spend big bucks on a supercar that didn't don Ferrari or Lamborghini badges.Ultimately, Cizeta sold around ten examples during the initial production run that ended in 1995. According to multiple sources, three or four additional V16Ts were completed from 1995 to 2003, including a unique spyder-bodied unit.While the supercar failed to become an automotive legend, its outrageous engine earned a place in the history books as the only transversely mounted V16 and the last sixteen-cylinder to enter production.However, it was not the first. That distinction goes to the Cadillac V16, which was developed in the second part of the 1920s, hitting the market in 1930 with the ultra-luxurious Cadillac Sixteen . In modern times, several other carmakers experimented with this configuration, but only Cizeta's epic unit made it into production.In the YouTube video below by ispeedonthe405, you see Zampolli revving up the engine as Sony engineers record its hair-rasing sound for the Gran Turismo 5 video game.
Tesla Lithium Groundbreaking Ceremony https://t.co/0MCiZvQLHl  Tesla (@Tesla) May 8, 2023

Last September, rumors surfaced about Tesla's plans to build its first lithium refinery in the US to benefit from the IRA incentives. Months later, Tesla marked the territory at Corpus Christi in South Texas and started recruiting personnel. According to filings discovered back then , Tesla will run a battery-grade lithium hydroxide refining facility to process, refine and manufacture materials needed for its battery production. Tesla wants to invest $375 million in the lithium refinery, with 250 jobs during construction and 165 when it's up and running. The refinery will process enough battery materials to manufacture 50 GWh of batteries. This is enough for one million electric vehicles, making it one of the largest lithium refineries in the world. The construction will finish next year, with commercial production planned for 2025. The refinery will use a new technology that prioritizes the elimination of sodium sulfate, a challenging refinery byproduct.Instead, the facility will have a combination of sand and calcium carbonate as a byproduct. This is a viable additive for construction materials. In time, Tesla's Corpus Christi facility will process other intermediate lithium feedstocks, including those from recycled batteries and manufacturing scrap. However interesting all these details are, nobody watching the groundbreaking ceremony saw anything beyond the Cybertruck that Musk descended from and the "cyber-shovels" used during the ceremony.The shovels may have been the show's real star, arriving at the scene attached to a dope rack on the Cybertruck. This opened a discussion about Cybertruck's accessory ecosystem. The rack was unanimously praised, blending perfectly into Cybertruck's design. Drew Baglino, present at the ceremony, explained that the rack and the shovels were custom-made for the ceremony. Baglino confirmed previous rumors that Tesla is working on several Cybertruck accessories.During the 2022 Investor Day, we learned that Tesla has an in-house team developing the Cybertruck accessory ecosystem . The electric pickup features a 48-volt electrical system, which means everything electrical will not work on it. Tesla must jumpstart the accessory market until third-party suppliers take over. Still, we haven't seen any Cybertruck accessory appearing in the real world.The groundbreaking ceremony was the first time we could see accessories designed and produced by Tesla for the Cybertruck. Most probably, neither the rack nor the cyber-shovels will make it into production. However, considering the feedback, this would be a mistake. Elon Musk confirmed the Cybertruck has "lots of mounting points" to allow third-party accessories to attach to the Cybertruck.
Back in 2019, British luxury carmaker Aston Martin announced a collab with Scottish whisky distillery Bowmore. About a year later we got news of a limited edition of the then-new Aston Martin DBX meant to honor the partnership. Fast-forward to 2022 and something called the ARC-52 came to light.Ever since striking the deal the two companies announced they would strive to give the world "an exclusive series of outstanding products and experiences," and that, of course, goes far beyond the cars Aston Martin makes.With that in mind, we'll remind you the ARC-52 is in fact a whisky bottle  or, if you like the official term, a decanter. It was assembled after a design by Aston Martin's people and it is, for all intents and purposes, the weirdest-shaped whisky bottle you've ever seen.3D printed and and clay-modeled, the ARC-52 is filled with a wonderful Bowmore substance  a 52-year-old vintage whisky that probably tastes divine.Back when it was introduced, the decanter and its contents were estimated to cost $75,000. But that was money to be paid for the standard, production version of the thing, as now a special iteration of it will make the sum look like pennies.What you're looking at is described as a "one-off collectors item." Its your usual ARC-52 in terms of shape, if there ever was such a thing, but made with inspiration from "the traditional Japanese metalworking technique of Mokume Gane."Over in the land of the Rising Sun the technique is used to create objects in a mixed metal and wood appearance. The several layers of laminate used for such creations come together to reveal a visible pattern that looks like wood grain.These patterns can be incredibly diverse, depending on the techniques used, and in the case of this special ARC-52 it kind of looks like some sort of rock surface, or a mountain peak if you want to get really creative.That's visible on the carbon fiber top of the bottle, and we're told the pattern is supposed to remind one of the black rocks that can be found in Loch Indaal, the place where the Bowmore Distillery headquarters are located. For true whisky connoisseurs, the top should look like the interior of the charred cask where the whisky inside the bottle was aged.Such a special technique of making the bottle got those behind it confident it's worth more than just $75,000. The decanter is scheduled to be auctioned off on May 26 by Sotheby's in London, and beliefs are it will fetch at least $175,000, or even as high as $275,000 if the right crowd is in the house.
EV

The unveiling date of the Volvo EX30 will also coincide with the opening of the order books in selected markets that the automaker has yet to detail. Pricing, availability, and other details will be announced in due course. In the meantime, though, we can briefly talk about the design of the car, which was partially previewed in a short teaser video accompanying the announcement.To absolutely no one's surprise, it will look similar to some of the brand's bigger high-riders, with a familiar overall shape featuring lots of sharp lines and the occasional curves here and there. The clip embedded at the bottom of this story partially reveals a futuristic lighting signature up front and the company's typical vertical taillights mounted on each side of the tailgate at the rear.Chances are it will sport recycled materials in the cabin, as these have become the norm for most zero-emission crossovers (and not only) these days, further emphasizing their green nature . The cockpit has yet to open up to the camera. Still, we expect it to host a generously sized infotainment system in the middle of the dashboard, with lesser models probably getting smaller screens and the usual digital dials behind the steering wheel.Speaking to certain outlets late last year, CEO Jim Rowan said that it will offer "top safety equipment," something expected from a modern-day ride that bears the signature of Volvo. The head honcho also spoke of "high quality" materials, "a fantastic ride," and a "decent range." Nothing is known officially about the construction, but it could be based on the same platform underpinning the smart #1 that has a similar footprint, namely Geelys SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture). It is understood to launch with different battery packs, and production will take place in China.Due to its small size, which will place it under the slightly larger XC40 in Volvo's crossover family, the upcoming EX30 will be the auto marque's most affordable electric vehicle. Thus, it will target a younger audience, or that's the plan anyway, as Volvo hopes to attract new buyers to the brand. The EX30 will represent another step into the inevitable electric future of Volvo, as the plan is to go-only worldwide by the end of the decade. We will learn everything there is to know about it when it premieres in less than a month from today.
The Kansas police were shocked by their recent encounter with a suspect dressed as a can of Bud Light, who could be driving under the influence (DUI), during the Cinco de Mayo festivities.

Amid the widespread backlash involving Bud Light after a partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, an unnamed man used it as a costume.

Kansas Police Pull Over Man Dressed in Bud Light Can Costume

The Sheriff's office took to Facebook to share one of the weird encounters of their deputies, as per the Daily Mail Online UK. The office of the Sheriff of Franklin County narrated the incident in a Facebook post detailing the odd encounter with law enforcement. The post says their deputies "were surprised that the driver was wearing a beer can costume."

It all started when their deputies pulled over a vehicle with a possibly intoxicated person behind the wheel. The car that they apprehended was traveling northbound on Interstate 35. Upon locating the vehicle with a drunk driving suspect, they were shocked to see that the driver was uniquely dressed as a Bud Light beer can.

The FB post includes a photo taken by the dashcam of the Kansas Sheriff's office, showcasing the Bud Light can costume, which closely resembles the real deal, during the traffic stop.

In the post, the Kansas police confirmed that they arrested the suspect wearing the beer can costume, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Since then, the authorities have already transported the unnamed man to the Franklin County Jail.

But despite that, the Sheriff's office still reminds everyone that suspects such as the beer can man are "innocent until proven guilty."

As of writing, Facebook gained some traction online with nearly 400 shares. Some commenters find the encounter pretty funny. One user, Tanner Abbott, quipped if it was "considered an open container?"

Read Also: Bud Light Gives Free Beer to Wholesalers Amid Dylan Mulvaney Backlash

Franklin County Sheriff Explains the Facebook Post

The Kansas City Star reports that the Franklin County Sheriff, Jeff Richards, explained why they posted their recent traffic stop on Facebook. He says their encounter with the suspect dressed in a Bud Light can be "significant enough."

Richards further adds that although they typically see weird encounters from time to time, he says that the recent incident beats all of them. For him, the man dressed as a beer can is "toward the top for sure."

The alcoholic beer brand, Bud Light, has been facing widespread backlash from right-wingers or conservatives weeks after partnering with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Anti-trans folks have called out the beverage maker, triggering a boycott campaign, which has since significantly plummeted the sales of Anheuser-Busch, the parent firm of Bud Light.

Related Article: Donald Trump Speaks Up on Bud Light - Dylan Mulvaney Controversy After Weeks of Silence

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9 May 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The political elite of Armenia claims that Turkiye is an obstacle in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. One of such claims was included in the statement made by Armenian expert Armen Petrosyan to the Russian press. He noted that supposedly Turkiye supports Azerbaijan in pursuing an aggressive policy against Armenia, and this is precisely why the normalization of relations between the two countries has remained frozen.

However, the Armenian authorities have always expressed that they are an extremely interested party in the opening of air and land borders with Turkiye, and most importantly, they understand that all this can be considered acceptable for Turkiye after the normalization of Baku-Yerevan relations. While everything is clear in the middle, the Armenian side continues its chaotic policy.

According to British journalist and political analyst Neil Watson, Armenia itself is looking for excuses to delay the negotiations. In his comment for Azernews, the expert called Armenia a liar, describing Azerbaijan as aggressive.

First of all, I think that it should be emphasised that Azerbaijan is not pursuing an aggressive policy against Armenia. It has made no claims on the territory currently comprising contemporary Armenia, although much of that was originally Azerbaijani. It has only sought to regain control over the 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory that was under illegal Armenian control for nearly 30 years. Furthermore, the rights of the Armenian-speaking Azerbaijani citizens in the liberated territories are being protected in law, he said.

Watson clarified the claim of Armenians about Turkiye in the matter, emphasising that it is more related to historical facts.

One of the central reasons why Armenian politicians regard Azerbaijans alliance with Turkiye as problematic is, of course, historic. They regard the Republic of Turkiye as being the successor to the Ottoman Empire who allegedly committed the so-called Armenian genocide of 1915. Armenias sense of victimhood is central to its national identity and the wilful self-delusion that pervades Armenian national psychology. In the warped Armenian perspective, who regard Azerbaijanis as Turks, occupation of Azerbaijani territory was some reparation for the alleged genocide. Furthermore, Armenia is one of the closest allies of Russia. The Soviet Union always feared collaboration and unification between the Turkic nations and did its utmost to move populations around to negate any possibility of this, including the relocation of Armenians to their current territory. Erdogan is striving to increase collaboration between the Turkic nations, overlayed by some degree of religiosity as part of the Turkic culture. The greatest fear of Armenia and maternal Russia is that the Turkic nations will combine their resources and armed forces, the British journalist opined.

In addition, Neil Watson said that Pashinyan needs Turkiye to get rid of Russia's influence. He added that whether the Armenian Prime Minister wants it or not, he will be forced to restore relations with Azerbaijan first and then with Turkiye.

In my understanding, Pashinyan himself understands completely that normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkiye is obligatory for his country to survive in the post-war situation. He also realises that it is the only way in which Armenia itself will, finally, achieve some degree of independence away from Russia, particularly as his reflects his own stance. However, the issue is placating the Armenian electorate, fellow politicians and the Armenian diaspora. Pashinyan does not want to provoke unrest and revolution in his country and to totally lose the support of Russia, Iran and the Armenian diaspora. So he has to be seen to be putting up some resistance to Turkic unification even though, ultimately, normalisation of relations with his two neighbours is necessary.

The British political analyst also said that Armenia is watching the elections in Turkey with great interest. In addition, Neil Watson noted that the ruling party will win the elections.

I am of the view that it is more than likely that the incumbent government will win in Turkiye. Obviously Turkiye was the staunchest supporter of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh Conflict, alongside Israel, and I feel that this will help Pashinyan make the argument to his electorate, diaspora and supportive countries that a peace treaty has to be signed. There will be a trepidatious normalisation of economic relations between Armenia and its two Turkic neighbours and this will lead to a normalisation process that will take place over many years. I feel that Russia, although against peace in the South Caucasus, will back down as its challenges emanating from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict predominate, he added.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 May 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Vafa Guliyeva

Washington Examiner has published an article by Michael Rubin headlined Qatar should help free Armenian prisoners of war".

The article underlines that Azerbaijan held several hundred Armenian POWs, only some of whom they released in accordance with Bakus ceasefire obligations.

Russia, the United States, and the European Parliament have all officially demanded Azerbaijan release the POWs.

Providing an insight into the fact whether Azerbaijan released prisoners of war or not, it should be pointed out that there are none of them left in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government returned all of them in exchange of mine maps which were fake, not the real ones. Armenia handed over fake maps to Azerbaijan demonstrating its real nature of fascism which was not a surprise for Azerbaijan.

The remaining are not prisoners of war as they were detained in a post-war period. They belong to a sabotage group who committed provocations and terrorist acts in the Karabakh area following the 44-day Patriotic War, which was resulted in a glorious victory of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also in his remarks has reiterated that the captives are members of terror groups and they would be held accountable before the law for their crimes.

Armenia tried a lot to make Azerbaijan release those terrorists by appealing to its European and Western patrons. Having failed in its attempts, Armenia turned to Qatar searching for mercy and compassion. But Armenia forgets that Qatar has very important ties and cooperation with Turkiye, the country which enjoys brotherly and friendly relations with Azerbaijan.

Turkiyes cooperation with Qatar in economy, security, diplomacy, culture, tourism and education has turned into a real brotherhood and the two Muslim countries have overcome several challenges in the past few years thanks to this cooperation.

With the establishment of the Turkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee in 2014, relations became stronger and more than 80 cooperation agreements were signed in various fields.

The Central Bank of Turkiye (CBRT) and Qatar Central Bank (QCB) signed a Swap Agreement on 17 August 2018 over Turkish lira and Qatari Riyal and concluded with an overall limit of 3 billion USD. Core objective of the agreement is to facilitate bilateral trade in respective local currencies and support financial stability of the two countries.

Qatar and Turkiye have a deep and carefully collaborated strategic relationship.

So, Armenias vain efforts will yield no results. It has to find another shoulder to cry on.

Wandering from country to country, Armenias Prime Minister desperately pays visit to Europe, which is followed by another one to Russia or U.S. Perhaps, its high time for the Armenian government to change its foreign policy-aggressor policy against the territorial integrity of other country - and be involved in the regional projects for the development and prosperity of its country and welfare of its people. This is the only way for a poor country which has no prospects for development, no resources, and no respect on international scene to survive and advance its people.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 May 2023 13:37 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijans wine export to China increased drastically, Azernews reports, citing the Adviser on economic and commercial issues of the Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan Ma Chi telling to local media.

He noted that within the framework of the signed cooperation agreement on the export of wine from Azerbaijan to China, products worth $20m were ordered last month.

He noted that this cooperation covers five years and can be prolonged. In addition, he reminded the Azerbaijani commercial houses in China and invited Azerbaijani businessmen to participate in the exhibition that will be held in Shanghai this year.

We should note that the alcoholic and non-alcoholic export of Azerbaijan increased over 6 times and amounted to $13.4m in January-March 2023.

China and Azerbaijan cooperate in many fields. China ranked in fourth place in Azerbaijani non-oil and gas export in 2020. The trade turnover between the two countries totaled over $2bn in 2022.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
9 May 2023 10:51 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A memorial carpet "Heydar Aliyev-100" has been presented at Azerkhalcha OJSC showroom in Icherisheher.

According to Azernews, the main purpose of the event was to honor the blessed memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev through carpet art, which he appreciated and paid great attention to.

The project was implemented by Azerkhalcha OJSC jointly with Jan Azerbaijan LLC and presented on the Carpet Weaver's Day.

The event was attended by state and public figures, representatives of culture and science, creative intelligentsia and youth.

Speaking at the event, chairman of Azerkhalcha Board of Directors, Honored Art Worker Emin Mammadov noted that in 2016, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on the establishment of the Carpet Weaver's Day.

According to the decree, this professional holiday is annually celebrated in the country on May 5

"Carpet weavers celebrate their professional holiday on a significant date - on the eve of the birthday of the national leader, founder of the modern Azerbaijani state Heydar Aliyev, who has always paid great attention to national culture and heritage and supported the creative pursuits of cultural and art workers. On Carpet Weaver's Day, Azerkhalcha employees visited the Alley of Honor, laid flowers at the grave of the great leader Heydar Aliyev and honored his blessed memory. The ancient art of carpet weaving has always been in the spotlight and highly appreciated by the great leader Heydar Aliyev. Therefore, on this day we presented our new project in memory of him", said Mammadov.

A great role in the development of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and folk applied art belongs to Heydar Aliyev, on whose initiative large funds were allocated in the early 70s to replenish the museum's funds and purchase masterpieces of Azerbaijani carpet art.

In 1972, the grand opening of the museum exposition took place at Juma Mosque with the participation of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

"And after the return to power of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the early 90s, a great revival took place in the carpet art, as well as in other areas of culture. The first and second international symposia themed "Oriental carpet art" and "Azerbaijan Carpet Art" were also associated with Heydar Aliyev. Carpet weavers with great respect honor the blessed memory of the great leader Heydar Aliyev, thanks to whose activities the heritage of national carpet art is passed down from generation to generation, known all over the world," he added.

Azerkhalcha OJSC is making great strides towards the promotion and development of carpet art, enabling creative individuals to embody their ideas, thoughts and their world in it. Thus, the institution establishes extensive cooperation links with young artists, designers and carpet weavers.

The author of the idea of the carpet, Honored Art Worker Tahir Imanov noted that his love for carpet art originated in his childhood, when he lived in Shusha, in the house of his grandfather, , a prominent composer and conductor , People's Artist of Azerbaijan Suleyman Alasgarov.

"Eminent cultural and art figures always came to visit us in Shusha. One day, our guest was a famous ornamental artist, carpet weaver, art historian, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Latif Karimov. When I was child, his stories about carpets and his love for this ancient art form appeared before my eyes like a feature film. Years passed, but this love for carpet art forever settled in our hearts - mine and my brother Jabir, who a few years ago implemented a project dedicated to this art. And in the Year of Heydar Aliyev, the year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as a person who was lucky enough to communicate with him during the times of KVN team "Parni iz Baku", I decided to do my bit and I had the idea to create a carpet with a map of Azerbaijan in honor of the significant event," said Tahir Imanov.

He expressed his gratitude to the chairman of Azerkhalcha Board of Directors, Honored Art Worker Emin Mammadov for supporting the idea and implementing the project.

The creative team of Azerkhalcha OJSC and the weavers of the studios located in the regions played a huge role in the creation of the memorial carpet "Heydar Aliyev-100". A total of 100 copies of this exclusive 100x100 wool carpet were woven.

The carpet reflects a map indicating the types of carpets characteristic of the Azerbaijani regions, lines from Samed Vurgun's poem "Azerbaijan", which the national leader Heydar Aliyev liked to recite, his quote "I have been always proud and I am proud today of being an Azerbaijani" as well as a 3D signature.

The carpet will be available for purchase from the moment of its presentation, and this series will no longer be produced.

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9 May 2023 12:12 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

SHE (Smart, Happy, Equal) Congress, one of the largest women's leadership events in the region, will be held on May 17, 2023 at the JW Marriott Absheron Baku.

Since its launch in 2017, the mission of SHE Congress has been to support women in their personal and professional development, as well as to promote gender equality in all areas of life. By providing a platform for networking, learning and sharing experiences, SHE Congress has become a leading force in the field of women's leadership in Azerbaijan and the region, Azernews reports.

With its targeted systemic support for women's empowerment and women's leadership, SHE Congress makes a significant contribution to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals #5 - gender equality - and other SDGs, helping to make the world a more just and sustainable place.

This year's Congress is dedicated to the theme "OWN YOUR LIFE". An intensive program designed to motivate women to realize their full potential includes presentations by outstanding speakers from different industries and from different countries, panel discussions and, most importantly, networking with each other. The SHE Congress is always about ideas, tools and resources that help women educate, grow their businesses, advance their careers and find their personal balance.

The founder of SHE Congress, entrepreneur Tatyana Mikayilova notes: "The women's leadership development programs that I have been involved in for more than 11 years carry the main idea that a woman should have the right to choose. Regarding any area. It was Azerbaijan that became the first country in the Muslim world that gave women the right to vote in 1917. Women's full participation in all areas of life is not only a matter of social justice, it is a necessary condition for economic growth and sustainable development of the country and region.The purpose of the SHE Congress is to show women the opportunities that education provides throughout life and investment in personal growth and development.

SHE Congress is proud to partner with organizations that support the development of women's leadership. Thanks to them, participation in the event is free of charge, which makes it possible to make knowledge more accessible. A long-term partner of SHE Congress KOBIA (Small and Medium Business Development Agency under the Ministry of Economy) clearly demonstrates the importance of women's entrepreneurship for the economy. Platinum partner Yelo Bank is showing support from the financial sector, as is Mastercard. Azercell has programs to support girls and women, and for SHE, cooperation with them is a great synergy of efforts. The partners of the event Braun and Bosch are international leaders in the field of programs aimed at supporting gender equality, for them the partnership with SHE ongress is an expression of support for women in Azerbaijan and the entire region, Femmes Digitales help a large number of women find themselves in the technology industries and the exact sciences, and Crimson Education with a deep understanding spread the idea of the importance and value of education at any stage of life.

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9 May 2023 18:22 (UTC+04:00)

A concert program was presented on May 9 in Jidir Duzu (Plain) as part of the Kharibulbul International Music Festival organized in Shusha city, Azernews reports.

In the concert program, interesting performances were presented by the creative collectives of the countries included in TURKSOY, the Turkic-speaking countries and peoples of the region. Within the concert, the artists presented the musical culture of the countries and regions they represent to the audience.

In addition to Azerbaijan, performances of music groups and performers from Turkiye and Turkmenistan Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Authority of the Republic of Moldova (Gagauz Territory), Uzbekistan, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan of Uzbekistan, and Altai, Khakassia, Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan, Tiwa Republics of the Russian Federation,, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were welcomed with interest in the concert.

In the end, the soloists of the Turkic-speaking countries performed the Karabakh composition together.

"Kharibulbul" International Music Festival organized by the Haydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture will continue until May 11. There will be concert programs, exhibitions and various presentations within the framework of the festival.

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9 May 2023 09:15 (UTC+04:00)

Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania, member of the Board of Directors of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, head of e Institute for Advanced Study of Levantine Culture and Civilization in Bucharest was awarded with the Friend of Azerbaijan golden order.

Emil Nasirli, editor-in-chief of the international magazine My Azerbaijan and corresponding member of the International Academy of Sciences presented the award to Emil Constantinescu at the ceremony held in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, Azernews reports.

Having noted that Friend of Azerbaijan golden order was awarded to Emil Constantinescu for his special contribution to development of friendship, political, economic and cultural relations between Azerbaijan Romania, Emin Nasirli mentioned in his speech that Romania always stands by Azerbaijan and supports its independence.

Editor-in-Chief Emil Nasirli presented the book Heydar Aliyev. 100 Moments of Lives" by Emil Constantinescu, which was published within the framework of the international project "Propaganda of National Leader Heydar Aliyev's legacy"

Emil Nasirli said that Romania, whose partnership relations with Azerbaijan are developing on a constantly ascending pathway, is one of the distinguished countries of Europe. This is also confirmed by the fact that this country, thanks to its consistent and goal-oriented policy, has become one of the most important voice holders in prestigious organizations such as the European Union and NATO. Throughout history, many generations of Romanians have fought for freedom, independence, solidarity, and actions such as securing national dignity. The economy of friendly Romania is multi-dimensional.

Here there are broad development prospects of separate infrastructure areas, energy sector including renewable energy segment, as well as agriculture, automobile, aerospace, bio-industry and other fields of economy. Surely, this perspective is based on traditions and economic potential that have been settled throughout many years. Creative work, literacy economy is strongly promoted in the country.

Then, the editor-in-chief Emil Nasirli declared that there was a high-level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Romania and added that bilateral cooperation in the economic field was also developing successfully. Various equipment and devices, their spare parts, electric motors and equipment, wires, ferrous metal products, furniture and parts of furniture, wood sawdust plates, medicines were imported from Romania to Azerbaijan. Our republic exported crude oil, unprocessed aluminum alloys, gas oils, jet kerosene fuel, chemical products and drugs to friendly countries.

Europe's special attitude towards Azerbaijan as a South Caucasian country is related to the fact that Azerbaijan, like other regional projects, successfully implemented the TAP project, the last segment of the Southern Gas Corridor; it has again become a reliable energy partner for the European Union. Last year, Azerbaijan and the European Union signed a strategic partnership memorandum on natural gas in Baku, and this means that gas exports to Europe are increasing rapidly, and our country continuously makes great contributions to energy security, Emil Nasirli said.

At the meeting, the existence of strategic partnership relations between the two countries and the importance of high-level mutual visits and meetings were emphasized. It was reported that close cooperation between the relevant institutions of both countries were being implemented.

A wide range of views were exchanged about the visits of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Romania, the visits of the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis to Azerbaijan, the issues serving mutual interests, the discussion of important regional projects, and the creation of a favorable opportunity for reviewing new pages of cooperation.

Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania in his turn expressed his gratitude to the Editorial Board and staff of the international magazine My Azerbaijan and highly appreciated the work done by the Azerbaijan side to strengthen the relations and cooperation between the two countries.

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9 May 2023 13:15 (UTC+04:00)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued a statement on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazism in World War II, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

The statement says:

"Today marks 78 years since the historic victory over Nazism in the World War II, one of the most devastating wars in world history. On this significant day - Victory Day, we honor the blessed memory of all those who fought against the threat of Nazism with deep respect and reverence, who put the existence of mankind under serious threat, including our heroic compatriots who showed courage and selflessness during the war years."

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According to statistics reported to the FBI by March 1, 2023, 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2022. Of these, 60 officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 58 officers died in accidents. Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks were released on May 8 in the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) portion of the FBI's Law Enforcement Data Explorer (a subset of the Crime Data Explorer).

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Felonious Deaths

Sixty officers were feloniously killed in 2022, a decrease of 17.8% when compared to the 73 officers who were killed as a result of criminal acts in 2021. The 60 felonious deaths occurred in 28 states and the District of Columbia.

The five- and 10-year comparisons show an increase of three felonious deaths when compared with the 2018 figure (57 officers) and an increase of 33 deaths when compared with 2013 data (27 officers).

Officer Profiles. The average age of the officers who were feloniously killed was 39 years old. The victim officers had served in law enforcement for an average of seven years at the time of the fatal incidents.

Circumstances Encountered by Victim Officer Upon Arrival at Scene of Incident. Of the 60 officers feloniously killed:

Six officers were killed in unprovoked attacks.

12 officers died as a result of investigative/enforcement activities.

12 officers were ambushed (entrapment/premeditation).

Four officers encountered/assisted an emotionally disturbed person.

Four officers were involved in pursuits.

Six officers responded to disorders/disturbances.

Six officers were involved in tactical situations.

One officer was involved in arrest situation.

Three officers responded to crimes in progress.

Three officers were assisting other law enforcement officers.

Two were serving/attempting to serve a court order (eviction notice, subpoena, etc.).

One officer was providing/deploying equipment (flares, traffic cones, etc.).

Weapons. Offenders used firearms to kill 49 of the 60 victim officers. Three officers were killed with vehicles used as weapons. Eight officers were killed by the offender's use of personal weapons (hand, fists, feet, etc.).

Suspects. Law enforcement agencies identified 51 alleged assailants in connection with the felonious line-of-duty deaths.

10 of the assailants had prior criminal arrests.

Two of the offenders were under judicial supervision at the times of the felonious incidents.

Accidental Deaths

Fifty-eight law enforcement officers were killed accidentally while performing their duties in 2022, an increase of 2 when compared with the 56 officers accidentally killed in 2021. The majority (35 officers) were killed in motor vehicle crashes.

Officer Profile. The average age of officers who were accidentally killed was 39 years old; the average number of years the victim officers had served in law enforcement was 11.

Circumstances. The 58 officers accidentally killed died in a variety of scenarios:

35 died as a result of motor vehicle crashes.

13 were pedestrian officers struck by vehicles.

Six officers were in an aircraft crash.

Two officers were killed in a fall.

Two died as a result of a firearm-related incident.

Use of seatbelts. Of the 31 officers killed in motor vehicle crashes (not including ATVs and motorcycles), six were wearing seatbelts. Data about seatbelt usage was not reported for 25 of the officers.

Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, Part 1, 2022.

Release schedule. The May 8 release provides three categories of data. These categories include data and statistics concerning officers feloniously and accidentally killed, and statistics about federal officers killed and/or assaulted. The remaining portions of the information, which present data reported to the FBI concerning law enforcement officers assaulted in the line of duty in 2022, will be released in the fall.

LEOKA 2022 data is available exclusively on the FBI's Law Enforcement Data Explorer (a subset of the Crime Data Explorer).

Resources

The UCR Program's primary objective is to generate reliable information for use in law enforcement administration, operation...

On this episode of Inside the FBI, learn how the FBI's Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted...

READ MORE: Virginia Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Ordering Cell Phones on Behalf of Her Non-Profit Employer and Reselling Them for Cash

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9 May 2023 14:19 (UTC+04:00)

The next tasks were successfully accomplished during the "Anatolian Eagle - 2023" International Flight-Tactical Exercises, held in Konya, Republic of Turkiye, Azernews reports.

After the general briefing, Azerbaijani pilots clarified on the map the activities to be performed.

On the next day of the exercises, a simulation of the task on entering an imaginary enemys airspace, using the capabilities of modern satellite navigation systems, detecting and destroying small mobile and stationary ground targets camouflaged in mountainous areas was carried out.

Methods of evading the imaginary enemy's air defense means by performing complex combat maneuvers at medium altitude were also worked out.

The assigned tasks were successfully fulfilled by the military pilots.

As part of the mutual exchange of experience, Azerbaijani pilots share the combat experience, gained during the 44-day Patriotic War, with military pilots of other participating countries, and also benefit from their experience.

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9 May 2023 14:42 (UTC+04:00)

On May 9, on the occasion of the Victory over fascism in World War II, a group of military personnel visited Hazi Aslanov's grave and laid flowers at his monument, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry.

The memory of all Azerbaijanis, died in the war, was honored.

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9 May 2023 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

The Ataturk Street sign has been unveiled in Shusha.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the event, Azernews reports.

Special Representative of the President in Shusha district Aydin Karimov informed the president of the restoration and reconstruction works to be carried out in the street, as well as public catering facilities to be created here.

The street is 714 meters in length and 11 meters in width.

President Ilham Aliyev unveiled the Ataturk Street sign.

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9 May 2023 17:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

World War II is considered the bloodiest war in human history. This war, devoured more than 50 million souls, however made thousands of heroes who fought against fascism. One of them is a son of Azerbaijan, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General Hazi Aslanov. If he lived now he would have turned to his 123.

Hazi Ahad oglu Aslanov was born on January 22, 1910 in Garmatuk settlement of Lankaran district. He received his primary education in the city secondary school No. 1. Hazi, who lost his father at the age of 13, worked as a laborer in a brick factory, then was sent to the Transcaucasia military training school. He studied at Baku and Leningrad military schools in 1924-30. In 1929, he entered the Leningrad Cavalry School. After two years of study, he was appointed a platoon commander in the III Bessarabian Cavalry Division named after Kotovsky.

When World War II began, Hazi Aslanov was serving in the Lviv region of Ukraine. On the night of June 23, 1941, Hazi Aslanov's battalion entered into an unequal battle with German armored troops. He writes of his story:

"On the night of June 23, 1941, the German air force attacked. They started dropping bombs. When it was dawn, we were in an unequal fight."

Hazi Aslanov, who crossed the war path from Stalingrad to the Baltic coast, was wounded on January 24, 1945, outside the battlefield near Priyekule (Liepay district) in Latvia, near the commanders' battle observation post, surrounded by about 15 high-ranking officers, by the fire of an anti-aircraft device mysteriously opened from afar. Only 23 hours he survived, a plane was sent to take him to Moscow for treatment, but Hazi Aslanov succumbed to dath on the way.

Azerbaijan's exceptional role in the 5-year bloody war

Azerbaijan's contribution to the defeat of fascism is a story of sacrifice and heroism.

The sacrifices made by Azerbaijan during World War II were significant and should never be forgotten.

However, before understanding Azerbaijan's role in this struggle, we must first know what fascism was and why it was such a threat. Fascism is a political ideology that emphasizes authoritarianism, nationalism, and the suppression of individual freedoms. It was a plague over humanity that swept across Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, fueled by the economic and political instability of the time.

Fascism was characterized by the rise of dictators such as Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Francisco Franco in Spain. These leaders sought to create empires through military conquest and the suppression of minority groups, leading to the deaths of millions of people during World War II. It was a dark chapter in human history, and the defeat of fascism was crucial to the preservation of democracy and individual freedoms.

How Azerbaijan was a driving force in the big battle

Azerbaijan's role in World War II is often overlooked, but it was an undeniable player in the defeat of fascism. At the time, Azerbaijan was a part of the Soviet Union, and its oil reserves were essential to the Soviet war effort, providing fuel for tanks, planes, and other military equipment. Besides that, the country provided soldiers, weapons, and resources to the Soviet Union, which played a tremendous role in turning the tide of the war.

In addition to its military contributions, the small country in the massive empire served as a refuge for civilians fleeing the war. The country gave a hug to refugees from across the Soviet Union, providing them with food, shelter, and medical care. Azerbaijan's contribution to the war effort was a testament to its resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Over 300,000 of 600,000 Azerbaijanis who differed with their courage were killed in the WW2 which was a big figure in that time taking into account the number of population. Only in the Battle of Stalingrad 100,000 Azerbaijanis were killed. In Stalingrad the Azerbaijani soldiers were instrumental in halting the Nazi advance and changing the fate of the war.

Thus, Azerbaijan's contribution to the defeat of fascism extended beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. The country played a significant role in the liberation of Europe, with its soldiers fighting alongside Allied forces to defeat the Nazis. Azerbaijani soldiers fought in battles in Poland, Germany, and other parts of Europe, contributing to the ultimate defeat of fascism.

Our contribution to the liberation of Europe was a testament to its determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

In a nutshell, in this big struggle against the fascism the country had a significant impact on the world which undeniable. The defeat of fascism ensured that future generations would live in a world free from tyranny and oppression. Azerbaijan's sacrifice and heroism played a pivotal role in achieving this goal and should never be forgotten.

Furthermore, it gave impetus to the development of the former Soviet Union. The country's oil reserves were essential to the Union's post-war economic recovery.

It is worth to remind the history of WWII because of many efforts made by manpower and resources of our country. The struggle against fascism taught us many valuable lessons. It taught us the importance of democracy, individual freedoms, and the value of human life, and most importantly, it taught us that tyranny and oppression can be defeated through sacrifice and heroism.

Moreover, Azerbaijan's involvement in the struggle against the fascism was of great paradigm in terms of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The country faced significant challenges during World War II but remained steadfast in its commitment to defeating fascism.

In conclusion, we must remember and honor Azerbaijan's war heroes and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and heroism are included in history books and many other publications. We must also ensure that future generations are aware of Azerbaijan's role in defeating fascism and the sacrifices made by its soldiers and civilians.

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9 May 2023 17:01 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of the Mehmandarovs Estate Complex after the renovation work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Shusha.

The President and the First Lady were informed of the works done in the complex.

The Mehmandarovs Estate Complex was built by Mehmandarov family representatives back in the 18th century. The complex includes a big residential building, small residential building, family mosque and a spring. The renovation has begun since October 2021.

A museum was set up in the complex after its renovation. The exposition themed Karabakh Aristocrats House has over 150 ancient items put on display.

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9 May 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp has stopped sales and deliveries of its Yaris Ativ in Thailand, senior officials said on Monday, after its affiliate Daihatsu rigged part of the door in side-collision safety tests, Azernews reports with reference to Reuters.

The problem may have occurred due to pressure on Daihatsu to shorten the development time of the Ativ, Masahiko Maeda, Toyota's CEO for the Asia region, said at a press conference in Bangkok. The vehicles customers were currently using were safe, he added.

Toyota was working with the Thai government to resume sales of the model, which has been produced in Toyota's Gateway plant in Chachoengsao province, and further investigation was underway.

"If development had been carried out under appropriate conditions, this kind of problem would of course not have happened," Maeda said.

"I think the fact that it still happened, means there was some kind of pressure at the development site," he said, adding that the vehicle's relatively large size may have posed a challenge to Daihatsu, which specialises in the production of small cars.

Toyota and Daihatsu disclosed last month they were investigating how part of the door in side-collision safety tests carried out for some 88,000 small cars had been changed for the purpose of side-on crash safety testing.

Daihatsu has said that some 76,000 of those vehicles were Yaris Ativs mainly bound for Thailand, Mexico and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said he had visited the Gateway plant for the first time in a decade to assure workers, also saying he had come to the Southeast Asian nation because he loved it.

Toyoda has a personal attachment to Thailand, calling it his "home away from home" at an event to celebrate Toyota's 60th anniversary of operations in the country late last year.

He has said that late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the only global leader who expressed his confidence in the company after a string of massive recalls prompted U.S. investigations and forced him to testify before Congress in 2010.

Toyota President Koji Sato, who took over the top job from Toyoda on April 1, was not at the press conference.

For Daihatsu, which became a wholly owned Toyota subsidiary in 2016 when Toyoda was president, Southeast Asia is an important market, with production facilities in Indonesia and Malaysia.
9 May 2023 18:55 (UTC+04:00)

NASA plans to launch a new SpaceX resupply mission to the International Space Station in early June, according to the agency, Azernews reports citing Xinhua.

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch on the company's Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than June 3, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Dragon will deliver new science investigations, food, supplies, and equipment for the international crew, including the next pair of International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays, according to NASA.

These solar panels, which roll out using stored kinetic energy, will expand the energy-production capabilities of the space station, according to NASA.

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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

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Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 98F. Winds SSE at less than 5 mph, becoming W and increasing to 10 to 20 mph..

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Bakersfield, CA (93308)

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Sunny to partly cloudy. High 99F. Winds SSE at less than 5 mph, becoming W and increasing to 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
(Photo : MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Explosions rocked Gaza early Tuesday morning as Israeli forces assassinated three prominent members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

Israeli aircraft and helicopters struck multiple targets in Gaza, killing at least a dozen individuals, including three Islamic Jihad commanders.

As of 5 a.m. local time, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported at least 12 deaths and 20 injuries due to the airstrikes and warned that the number of casualties could rise.

Islamic Jihad Leaders Killed in Israeli Airstrikes

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it launched predawn airstrikes on Gaza, citing "continued aggression by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization" as the reason.

The IDF dubbed the operation 'Operation Shield and Arrow' and stated that its fighter jets and helicopters struck ten Islamic Jihad targets, including "rocket production workshops in Khan Yunis," weapon manufacturing sites, military compounds, a concrete manufacturing site, and a military post in southern Gaza.

Explosions illuminating the night sky were captured on video from the coastal enclave, along with the debris of structures destroyed by the strikes. According to CNN, the Palestinian militant organization Islamic Jihad reported that three of its commanders were slain alongside their spouses and children during the operation.

Jihad Shaker Al-Ghannam, secretary of the Military Council in the al Quds Brigades, Khalil Salah al Bahtini, commander of the Northern Region in the al Quds Brigades, and Tariq Muhammad Ezzedine, one of the leaders of the al Quds Brigades' military wing in the West Bank, were among the commanders killed, according to the group.

Witnesses said an explosion struck the upper floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a home in the southern city of Rafah.

Per Times of Israel, just after 2 a.m., the IDF began striking targets in the Gaza Strip in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise assault on the group's senior leaders. According to witnesses, the upper floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a home in the southern city of Rafah.

In the subsequent hours, dozens of attacks were reported across the Gaza Strip, hurling fireballs into the sky as the army targeted terrorist training sites. At 4:45 a.m., Islamic Jihad had yet to respond, most likely due to Israel's ability to surprise the group. However, the coming hours were expected to be marked by intense volleys against Israeli cities.

The IDF's Home Front Command issued directives for residents of Gaza-adjacent areas to remain in or near blast shelters. It ordered local authorities to open public shelters and proclaimed that it would block access to roads close to the enclave.

It also ordered the cancellation of classes in areas surrounding Gaza as far as Lachish and Beersheba. In addition, outdoor gatherings were prohibited, putting a pall on the minor Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'omer, which occurs on Tuesdays and typically involves children participating in outdoor activities.

The train service between Ashkelon and Netivot was suspended, and the Israel-Gaza border crossings were closed. In anticipation of an escalating conflict spanning at least several days, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized the army to call up reserves as necessary.

The explosions occurred days after Gazan terrorists commanded by Islamic Jihad launched nearly 30 missiles at Israel in retaliation for the death of an alleged senior member of the group who was on hunger strike in an Israeli prison. During the conflict on May 2, several rockets struck Sderot, injuring three employees and damaging residences and vehicles.

Read Also: Russia Rains Missiles on Ukraine Ahead of Victory Day Holiday; Kremlin Fears Domestic Security Threat

Khader Adnan's Death

Last week, Israeli missiles bombarded the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to projectiles launched at Israeli territory after the death of well-known Palestinian hunger striker Khader Adnan in an Israeli prison.

Adnan, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad-affiliated activist, perished after nearly three months on hunger strike. According to the Palestinian Prisoner's Society, Adnan had refused to consume for 87 days in protest of his wrongful detention.

In apprehension of Palestinian missiles being launched in response to Tuesday's air attacks, Israel's military instructed residents of communities within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Gaza to remain close to designated bomb shelters.

COGAT, an Israeli defense ministry unit coordinating civil affairs with Palestinian authorities, has closed two crossings with Gaza to the entry and departure of persons and goods until further notice, as per Al Jazeera.

Related Article: Israel Sparks Fury from EU After Demolition of Palestinian Primary School

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West winds will become sustained around 10 mph by noon, with frequent gust between 15 and 20 mph continuing through 5pm Wednesday.



Passing severe storms could be capable of producing winds gust as high as 55 -65 mph.

Rain is possible between 4pm and 10pm , with less 1/4 of an inch expected.



The greatest chance of rain is currently forecasted to occur between 6pm and 8pm

Thunderstorms are also possible between 4pm and 10pm , with the greatest chance occurring between 6pm and 8pm .

, with the greatest chance occurring between . High winds, frequent lightening and the possibility of hail will be the greatest threat associated with these passing storms.

We encourage everyone to continue to monitor local media outlets for additional updates, as well as any watches and / or warnings that may be issued.

Good Morning Everyone,Our office continues to monitoring the potential for severe weather later this afternoon. This morning's update from the National Weather Service includes an increasing threat of high winds as well as a more precise timeline. Those changes have been underlined below.Forecast Details for Beaufort County.Please see the email below and attached briefing from the National Weather Service (NWS) for more information.As always, thank you all for what you do to keep Beaufort County informed, prepared and safe.Chris NewkirkDeputy DirectorBeaufort County Emergency Services1420 Highland DrWashington, NC 27889Office: (252)940-6511Cell: (252) 378-5352Good morning,The potential for severe weather is still on the table for all of Eastern North Carolina later today through this evening.The primary risk continues to be damaging wind gusts as high as 55-65 mph and frequent lightning. Winds of this magnitude will be capable of more than just tree damage. The tornado risk is very low.The main window for severe weather is from 3pm - 10pm, developing from north to south.Please see the attached one-pager for additional information. As always, please let us know if you have any questions!Sincerely,Roger MartinNOAA - National Weather ServiceNewport/Morehead City, NC Weather Forecast Office533 Roberts RdNewport, NC 28570
New York City schools have just joined a growing national trend in education to return to teaching reading through a phonics- based curriculum, something that had worked fine for many years until largely junked twenty years ago and replaced with a sight-reading strategy that has failed schoolchildren.

New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks called the teaching methods for reading over the last twenty years "fundamentally flawed" and said that it was the school systems fault that children could not read. "This is the beginning of a massive turnaround" he declared.

https://www.breitbart.com/education/2023/05/09/new-york-city-change-fundamentally-flawed-method-teaching-reading-schools/

The education establishment and the major textbook / curriculum companies have pushed failed new education strategies over the last few decades that have dumbed down students in our schools. The "New Math" was a horrendous failute from the 1960s, reflected more recently in the flailing "Common Core" math of today. Phonics worked for years to teach reading, and the new strategies have been failures for two decades yet largely remained in place.

All of which raises the question; what reading strategy is being taught in Beaufort County Schools? Is it tainted with Common Core as well?
David Wall/Getty Images

The case dates back to 2016, when Beaumont police recovered the skull of Rebecca Sue Meyers in a field near the Lower Neches Valley canal in Southeast Texas. DNA confirmed her remains on October 5, 2017.

While a significant amount of time has passed since her disappearance; this is what police know. Her name is Rebecca Sue Meyers and she was also known as Becky Burroughs. She was born on August 4, 1967, and her last issued driver's license was in Austin in 2005. Her last known whereabouts was on August 31, 2009, near the Jefferson County Correctional Facility on US Hwy 69 between Beaumont and Nederland.
Jason Koerner/Getty Images

I was very pleased and shocked by Fox New's firing of Tucker Carlson. Not that he didn't richly deserve being fired for his irresponsible rhetoric and lies, but because his show was a cash cow for Fox. Fox has seldom let truth and integrity get in the way of making a buck, and perhaps the real reason Carlson was fired is that he was stupid or arrogant enough to document his lies. Those lies were used in the lawsuit brought by Dominion, which eventually cost Fox almost $800 million.

I understand that freedom of the press is essential in a democracy, but it was gratifying to see a news company held liable for spreading unsubstantiated lies to attract viewers. Perhaps this will send a message to some of Carlson's ilk at Fox and nationally syndicated and local radio personalities that there are personal consequences to knowingly broadcasting lies.
Shenandoah National Park is one of Americas best uses of land: The 200,000 acres of natural beauty is a wonderful respite from daily life in nearby Washington, DC. Though its only 75 miles from the nations capital, it feels like a different world. And depending on your route to the park, you can stop by others all together in different worlds.

If youve never camped in the park, you should absolutely camp in the park. If youve never stayed in a cabin in the park, you should absolutely book a cabin ASAP and spend a night living like its the first part of the last century. If you have spent a night both of these ways, you probably already know you dont need to punish your spinal column any more. Get a room outside the park.

A relatively close spot that isnt a run-of-the-mill Hilton is The Blue Door Kitchen & Inn. The Flint Hill Inn only offers four rooms, giving it a cute, bed-and breakfast feel with a high-end presentation. If you dont want to leave the grounds, fine  their restaurant is much better than anything youre going to find in the park.

Where to shop

There are dozens of antique stores and stores that bill themselves as antique stores but are not actually antique stores, and more in line with what Joanna Gaines might buy to furnish a fixer-upper (lots of distressed American flags on pieces of wood and shiplap). Some of these spots have some gems. But if you care more about taking home something rather than sharing a photo on social, head to the Strasburg Emporium. The place is a massive haystack, and its your job to find the needle. Some of it is awful; some of it is great. Its a real flea market/antique store space  indeed, an emporium. From large furniture pieces to 100-year-old jewelry, its all under one roof. It may take a few hours to find your treasure, but isnt that the point of getting out of DC? If its too overwhelming, weve had some success at the extremely close Vilnis & Co. Antiques.

Where to see big ships and enter big caves

Did you know the Smithsonian is not actually one museum that occasionally comes to life when Ben Stiller is working? Of course you did. And of course you know the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the National Mall has a sister museum in Chantilly, Virginia, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. And like all Smithsonian institutions, this one also has free admission (but a $15 parking fee). If you need to see some pretty large spaceships before scaling some pretty large mountains, visit this museum, which features the Space Shuttle Discovery, a Blackbird SR-71 and a Concorde in two large hangars. Its big.

If you prefer to admire the majesty of caves rather than the far reaches of space, how about stopping by the Luray Caverns? If youre not sure where the Luray Caverns are, theyre in Luray, Virgina. If you forget, youll see hundreds (not really, but itll feel like it) of billboards letting you know where to stop off to see the Luray Caverns.

The 35-Mile Virginia Creeper Trail Is a Secret Foodie Paradise Here are five places to detour when hitting the picturesque Creeper Trail

Where to enjoy Virginia libations

Heres the part where we remind you not to drink and drive. Dont do that. Moving on

Were in the golden age of local brewing. Across this great country, there are men with beards making way-too-hoppy IPAs for your future brewery visit. While we cant speak to the beardiness of Bald Top Brewing, we can attest to the brewery space and atmosphere. Its the kind of place you can enjoy with your significant other and/or the entire family.

Theres no shortage of Virginia wineries, specifically in the Shenandoah Valley. Weve had good experiences at Early Mountain, Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery and The Winery at La Grange. Get a tasting flight. And if none of these wineries are on your route to the park (the park has multiple entrance points that will dramatically alter your route), stop by one of the dozens of wineries youll see pop up in your Google Maps directions to the park. And get a flight. Its easier to walk away from a small taste if you hate it.

We had a very good experience at Copper Fox Distillery, specifically on the tour (flights and tours are the way to go when youre driving). It was good enough to buy a bottle for home consumption, and what more do you need from a distillery?

Where to stock up

If youre going to Shenandoah to camp, you should stop for provisions rather than attempt to go out for dinner. Fine dining and pitching a tent arent usually done in the same evening. We like the experience at Yoders Country Market in Madison, Virgina, because in addition to having what you need  theyre a bulk store thats environmentally friendly, and all of their breads and pastries are made by Mennonite bakers  they have a petting zoo, which you absolutely do not need but can be a fun reminder that you are definitely no longer in DC. The National Zoo is in DC, which is the closest thing youre going to get to a petting zoo and is absolutely not a petting zoo.

Screw it, the traffic is too bad

Did you make the mistake of leaving DC to get to Shenandoah on a Friday between 3 and 6 p.m.? Did your 90-minute drive turn into a three-hour slog? Turn around, go home and just visit Great Falls Park tomorrow. It may not be as large as Shenandoah, but its only 15 miles away and also features some breathtaking scenery. Think of it as Shenandoah lite.

This article was featured in the InsideHook DC newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Beltway.

The post Road-Tripping From DC to Shenandoah National Park: The Best Stops Along the Way appeared first on InsideHook.
North Dakota governor Doug Burgum signs a bill ignoring transgender pronouns and restricting bathroom use, turning it into a law that takes effect immediately.

The newly signed law allows public school teachers and government employees to misgender transgenders.

North Dakota Passes Law Ignoring Transgender Pronouns

The Republican governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum, has approved the new law, according to NBC News. His office says it lets teachers and government workers ignore gender pronouns. The North Dakota law lets teachers and government employees misgender their transgender students and co-workers.

The new law, which takes effect immediately, also requires public school teachers to inform parents or legal guardians of students if they start identifying themselves as transgender.

The Hill reports that the law passed the North Dakota legislature, which GOP representatives control, last April. Although the governor signed the measure, the bill received a staggering majority vote, making it veto-proof. In other words, it will most likely turn into law even without the approval of the Republican governor.

Despite that, Burgum strongly supports the bill. In a recent statement, the Republican politician says the newly-signed law protects free speech.

He argues that it "largely codifies existing practices while reaffirming the First Amendment right to free speech." On top of that, the North Dakota governor claims that the new measure also helps balance the rights of parents, teachers, and students.

Read Also: Kansas Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill: Republicans Override State Governor

New Law Restricts Bathroom Use

Besides the rules that allow teachers and government employees to ignore gender pronouns, the new legislation also restricts the bathroom use of transgenders. The North Dakota law prohibits transgender students from entering restrooms based on gender identity. The new measure also bars them from using locker rooms of their choice.

Burgum previously vetoed a similar bill last March over "concerning language." This time, he assures his constituents that the new version no longer has this issue.

The Republican governor vetoed Senate Bill 2231 since it prohibits teachers and government workers from recognizing the gender identity of students and co-workers. Burgum states that the rule might attract lawsuits against the state of North Dakota. Above and beyond that, he says that it would also push public school teachers to be a "pronoun police."

The new version now only allows teachers and government employees to ignore gender identities rather than prohibiting them. The state has already passed eight laws that primarily focus on targeting the right of LGBTQIA people in North Dakota, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed.

Last month, North Dakota joined other states in banning gender-affirming medical care for transgenders under 18. The Guardian notes that 45 states have already passed a similar measure.

Related Article: South Dakota Girl Found Dead in U-Haul Zip-Tied and Beaten to Death

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
CNBC has released its 11th annual "Disruptor 50" list, honoring private companies chasing major opportunities and growing despite market challenges. At least 35 of the honorees are valued at over $1 billion.

Four healthcare-focused companies were honored on the list of 2023's 50 top disruptors.

Read more about CNBC's methodology here.

Healthcare-industry disruptors of 2023:

Alto Pharmacy: Alto Pharmacy updates the prescription process with a digital platform, making it easier, faster and cheaper for patients. It began with the purchase of a small pharmacy in San Francisco, and now reaches 41 million people in 12 metropolitan areas.

Spring Health: Spring Health focuses on a data-driven approach to mental healthcare, providing mental health services for employers and health plans based on what works for each individual patient. Spring Health serves over 800 companies, including Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase.

Maven Clinic: Maven Clinic is the largest women's and family health platform, offering healthcare support for pregnant women. Maven is also looking into adding reproductive health benefits and travel budgets for women seeking abortions out of state. Investors include CVS Health and Intermountain Health's venture capital fund.

Cityblock Health: Cityblock aims to provide healthcare to marginalized populations, including low-income and elderly Americans. Its technology-focused approach allows engagement with marginalized populations, with a focus on preventive care. By 2030 it aims to serve 10 million Americans with primary care, mental healthcare and social services.
Healthcare is constantly evolving, and technology is at the forefront of driving those changes.

Robert Villare, MD, a vascular surgeon at the Veterans Health Administration in Lebanon, Pa., connected with Becker's to discuss what private practice could look like in 10 years.

Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Dr. Robert Villare: Many physicians, like they are now, will be employed by some system. I don't see private practice as viable for much longer.

Care is moving into the patients' home. I think we're going to see more of a home-based healthcare setting, kind of like the "homespital," rather than the hospital, is the way I like to think about it. It's going to be technology-driven. Could private practices do it? Yeah, but I don't see them with all the technology that's needed to sit there and do it privately. [They] might, but I think we're going to have wearables and sensors in our clothing, shoes, watches and phones that are going to be able to detect lots of physiologic parameters. There's a wireless blood pressure cuff now that you don't even have to blow up. There's so much new technology coming out, like the blood sugar measurements underneath your skin.

So that's why I think [care is] going to move away from private practice, unfortunately. It's also going to be driven by payments, and I don't think physicians or nurse practitioners will be able to support themselves in a private practice setting; it would be very difficult. That's why I think there won't be any [private practices] like we know it today.
The University of California Irvine Health is constructing a $1.3 billion medical campus that could bring thousands of new jobs to the community, the Orange County Business Journal reported May 8.

Health system leaders are calling the project the nation's first all-electric hospital. The 13.5-acre complex will include a 45,000-square-foot central utility plant, which will use solar panels to fuel the buildings: a five-story center for advanced care, a five-story cancer center and ambulatory care building, and a seven-story hospital.

Between construction and healthcare needs, the project could create 2,500 new jobs.

The complex is expected to wrap in 32 months and is "moving along nicely," Chad Lefteris, the health system's CEO, told the Journal.
A smart toilet seat that measures people's vital signs has received FDA clearance.

The Heart Seat from Casana got approved to detect heart rate and oxygen levels. The company says it plans to launch its first product by the end of 2023 and pursue systolic and diastolic blood pressure monitoring in future filings.

"As medicine moves from the physician's office into the home, accurate home monitoring of medical parameters is increasingly important," said George Bakris, MD, director of the Comprehensive Hypertension Center at University of Chicago Medicine and a Casana adviser, in a May 1 news release. "FDA approval is a critical validation step for the Heart Seat."
Weirton (W.Va.) Medical Center is spending $65 million to upgrade its EHR system to a Cerner one, WTOV9 reported May 9.

The hospital, which began installing the system in January, will use Cerner's CommunityWorks system, one that specializes in the needs of community and critical access hospitals.

"This $65M investment in a new electronic health information system is one of the largest community investments WMC has ever made," Cristen Nopwaskey, CIO of Weirton Medical Center, told the publication. "Much of healthcare is driven off an electronic platform, so we view this upgrade as crucial to moving into the next phase of community health development."

The hospital said it expects the new system to be up and running by late fall.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has eliminated the positions of 131 employees and cut about two dozen other jobs at related Cedars-Sinai facilities, a spokesperson confirmed via a statement shared with Becker's.

The Los Angeles-based organization said reductions represent less than 1 percent of the workforce and apply to management and non-management roles primarily in non-patient care jobs. Affected workers include pharmacy technicians, administrative support staff, patient service representatives and management employees, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"We appreciate that these changes are difficult and painful, and we have taken every step possible to avoid them," Cedars-Sinai said. "We must never lose sight of the impact on each affected individual who has committed their talent and time to make Cedars-Sinai a stronger and better organization. Treating everyone who works at Cedars-Sinai with dignity and respect are central elements of our values."

The reductions are a result of various challenges, including a growing gap between revenue and expenses due to underpayments from government insurance programs and increased care costs, among other factors, Cedars-Sinai said.

"We have met this challenge head-on, redesigning how we approach our work, developing new care models and identifying other efficiencies," the organization said. "Still, we must take additional steps to reduce our costs while protecting our highest priority  delivering excellent, compassionate care to those who need us."

Moving forward, Cedars-Sinai said its journey "will be defined by the ability to recognize and successfully adapt to the evolving financial landscape. In every decision, we will put the needs of our patients first."



The layoffs at Cedars-Sinai come as healthcare leaders in California have warned about the financial challenges facing hospitals in the state and called for financial relief from the state legislature. State lawmakers recently approved a $150 million loan program for distressed nonprofit and public hospitals.
Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss., has followed four other hospitals in leaving the Mississippi Hospital Association over leadership concerns, according to the Magnolia Tribune.

In a May 8 letter, Forrest General President and CEO R. Andy Woodard told MHA that his hospital would be terminating its membership "in light of recent events, and after careful thought and consideration," effective immediately.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Ocean Springs-based Singing River Health System and George Regional Health System in Lucedale have also decided to exit the state hospital association.

The news comes on the heels of a $250,000 donation to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley and a $100,000 to Republican incumbent Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, according to the Magnolia Tribune. The donations were made by Friends of Mississippi Hospitals  a political action committee associated with MHA.

Mr. Presley has expressed a desire to expand Medicaid, according to Mississippi Today. MHA's president said that stance  at least in part  contributed to the hospital group's large donation, the Magnolia Tribune reported.

All hospitals cited leadership concerns in their termination letters to MHA, but did not expressly mention the donations made by its PAC.

In a May 2 interview, MHA President Tim Moore told Becker's that no leadership changes are planned at MHA and that the situation comes down to "a difference of opinion."

Four of the state's 10 largest hospitals have now withdrawn from MHA, according to SuperTalk Mississippi Media, and more could follow suit.
Primary care physicians see vast numbers of patients each year and offer significant market expansion opportunities, one of the key reasons why big payers, tech companies and other corporate giants are ramping up acquisitions of physician groups, The New York Times reported May 8.

But there also is an added financial incentive tied to the growing privatization of Medicare, with more than half of CMS' 60 million beneficiaries signing up for commercial payer policies under the Medicare Advantage program, according to the report. Medicare Advantage plans receive more than $420 billion in payments a year.

In addition, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis published May 1 found that Medicare Advantage enrollment surpassed traditional Medicare for the first time in the program's history. Medicare Advantage enrollment reached 30.19 million members in January, compared to traditional Medicare's 29.63 million members.

"That's the big pot of money everyone is aiming at," Erin Fuse Brown, director of the Center for Law, Health & Society at Atlanta-based Georgia State University, told The Times. "It's a one-stop shop for all your healthcare dollars."

Several recent multi-billion dollar deals have seen more primary care physicians join large corporate entities including UnitedHealth Group's Optum, CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Amazon:

Optum acquired several physician groups in the last year and now employs or is affiliated with more than 70,000 physicians  more than any organization in the country. It has also spent a combined $13.2 billion to acquire Change Healthcare, a healthcare data and analytics company, and LHC Group, a home health business.





CVS Health acquired Signify Health for $7.8 billion in May 2022  outbidding UnitedHealth Group and Amazon, among others  and adding more than 10,000 clinicians to its network. This month, it completed its $10.6 billion acquisition of Oak Street Health, which added more than 170 medical centers across 21 states.





Amazon has also been making healthcare strides. In February, it acquired One Medical  virtual and in-person primary care company  for $3.9 billion. The deal gives Amazon access to more than 200 physician offices and about 815,000 One Medical members.





VillageMD, which is majority owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance, completed its estimated $8.9 billion acquisition of Summit Health-CityMD in January. The deal combines Village Practice Management with Summit Health, the parent company of CityMD urgent-care centers, and adds more than 2,800 providers to its network. Payer Cigna has also invested in the combined company and will serve as a minority owner in VillageMD.

The primary care market, now flooded with competitors, is expected to become a significant healthcare battleground, but some leaders on Capitol Hill have called for the Federal Trade Commission to dive deeper into these deals for potential antitrust violations.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told regulators in March that she fears "the acquisition of thousands of independent providers by a few massive healthcare mega-conglomerates could reduce competition on a local or national basis, hurting patients and increasing healthcare costs."
A group of CEOs and other leaders from hospitals and health systems are warning that nonprofit hospitals are "in trouble" if bills in Minnesota related to nurse staffing levels and healthcare costs become law.

In an opinion piece published May 8 by the Star Tribune, the leaders cite challenges facing Minnesota hospitals and health systems, including financial strain and a workforce shortage. They argue that several bills on the verge of passing the state legislature will worsen the situation.

"If these bills pass as they are written, Minnesota's nonprofit hospitals are in trouble," CEOs wrote. "This is not hyperbole. These proposals would negatively impact hospital care including mandating new committees to determine the day-to-day management of our hospitals, handing decision making authority for care delivery to external lawyers, fixing prices for hospital care, and limiting flexibility for healthcare partnerships."

They also argue that the bills will increase costs and hinder people's ability to access high-quality healthcare.

The hospital and health system leaders urge lawmakers to focus on other efforts, including expanding the nursing education loan forgiveness program and investing in education efforts that support the future healthcare workforce pipeline.

At issue is the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, which would require hospitals to form hospital nurse staffing committees to set staffing levels. The state would evaluate each hospital's compliance with its own staffing plan.

Another bill at issue establishes the Health Care Affordability Board to address high healthcare costs. The board would monitor costs and set targets to limit costs, according to an article posted on the Minnesota House of Representatives website.

On May 5, the Minnesota Reformer reported that Mayo Clinic  whose CEO, Gianrico Farrugia, MD, was among the authors of the Star Tribune op-ed  is considering pulling billions in investments from Minnesota over the two bills.

Amy Williams, MD, chair of the Midwest Clinical Practice Committee for Mayo Clinic, previously shared the following statement with Becker's: "At the heart of this is legislation we believe will negatively impact access to care and our ability to transform healthcare to support our staff and meet the evolving needs of our patients. Like any responsible organization, we must evaluate the legislative and regulatory environment in the places we operate. Mayo has been working to address these concerns for months and is committed to transparently sharing the impacts of these policy decisions. We will continue working with leaders on a bill that is in the best interests of patients, the state and Mayo Clinic."

The Minnesota Nurses Association, which supports the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, criticized the Rochester, Minn.-based health system for its stance.

Nurses say Mayo is using "anti-worker tactics" and that understaffing is putting patient care at risk, according to a union news release.

"I just feel like Mayo is holding our patients and the people of Minnesota hostage, holding the nurses hostage," said MNA President Mary Turner, RN, according to ABC affiliate WDIO. "And to have it now come to this point, that Mayo can just use their corporate power and money and influence."

Minnesota Sen. Carla Nelson also recently spoke out about the issue.

"[Mayo Clinic] is the gold standard of healthcare and it would be truly unfortunate if information from this legislative session, bills passed that would deter and diminish Mayo's continued growth in the area," she said, according to CBS affiliate KIMT.

Ms. Nelson also said she supports a nurse licensure compact to allow for more nurses to be hired, instead of government oversight to limit nurse-to-patient ratios, according to the TV station.

The current Minnesota legislative session runs through May 22.






On May 4, members of the California Nurses Association approved a new contract at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif.

The deal covers more than 200 nurses, according to a news release from the union.

"With our new contract, St. Rose nurses can improve our advocacy to address staffing concerns," Dianne Kubota, RN, said in the release. "We also won affordable healthcare for our families and ourselves."

Under the contract, nurses will see a 20.75 percent wage increase over four years, a spokesperson for the CNA told Becker's.

The union said the contract also includes workplace violence prevention improvements and improved healthcare benefits.

"St. Rose is pleased to have reached an agreement with the California Nurses Association on a new contract with its dedicated nursing staff," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's in a statement. "Like many hospitals across the state of California, St. Rose is facing challenging times, and it is working with all stakeholders, including various federal, state, county and local elected officials to address the challenges facing healthcare today."

The new contract runs through Dec. 31, 2025.
Hospital ship evacuates sailors in maritime search and rescue exercise

China Military Online) 09:08, May 09, 2023

A hospital ship attached to a naval service ship group under the PLA Southern Theater Command docks alongside a simulated war-damaged vessel to evacuate the simulated injured sailors during a maritime search and rescue exercise in late April, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wu Huanqing)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(Photo : GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin went to Red Square where long lines of soldiers met him as the scaled-back Victory Day celebrations started.

On Tuesday, troops parade through Red Square, and President Vladimir Putin will praise his war in Ukraine. However, Russia's Victory Day celebrations will highlight its vulnerability and military frailty rather than its strength.

The nation's annual commemoration of the defeat of Nazi Germany occurs nearly 15 months into its bloody invasion of its neighbor and just days after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin and the public escalation of a bitter feud between its top leaders ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Russia Marks Scaled-Back Victory Day

Even though Kyiv has denied involvement in the enigmatic incident and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin appears to have retracted his threat to withdraw from a key battle, Putin's Russia will observe the holiest day of the year in a growing cloud of uncertainty.

Per NBC News, the high-profile conflict over the seizure of Bakhmut exemplifies the absence of any symbolic victory from a costly winter offensive. In addition, a spate of explosives has struck strategic targets deep within Russia and several prominent pro-war figures in recent months, fueling a growing sense of disquiet regarding the safety of Russian-controlled territory, from the capital to Crimea.

It has prompted authorities in some regions to scale back or cancel military parades that would ordinarily attract massive audiences. Red Square was closed to the public for two weeks before the event, ostensibly to protect the high-profile event in the capital's center from any security threats.

Moscow has also outlawed the use of civilian drones, and ride-sharing services are prohibited in the city center due to what the Kremlin claims was an assassination attempt on Putin by Ukrainian agents.

Read Also: Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Killed 12, Including 3 Islamic Jihad Commanders

Vladimir Putin's Victory Day Speech

President Vladimir Putin told Russians on the anniversary of the country's victory over Nazi Germany that the world is at a pivotal juncture and that they are engaged in a patriotic struggle for the survival of their country.

According to Reuters, Putin delivered a 10-minute speech on the Red Square in which he reiterated familiar messages he had delivered numerous times during Russia's nearly 15-month conflict in Ukraine.

According to him, "Western globalist elites" promote Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people have become "hostages of a state revolution" and Western ambitions. He did not address Russia's challenges as its forces prepared for an anticipated significant Ukrainian counteroffensive, nor did he delineate a path to victory.

The speech, followed by a massive military parade on Red Square, occurred in response to a spate of strikes inside Russia this month, including an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin citadel less than a week ago. Per Washington Post via MSN, many mass events were suspended due to security concerns due to last week's Kremlin drone attack and an impending Ukrainian counteroffensive.

This is the first public event that Putin attended since Moscow's shocking accusation last week that Ukraine sent two drones flying toward the Kremlin fortress in what Russian officials termed an "assassination attempt" on their leader - a claim that political and military experts widely discredit.

Even before the drones exploded by what is supposed to be one of the most secure buildings in the country, regional officials were apprehensive about holding large public events during the Ukraine conflict, which Russians increasingly feel at home after a series of unexplained fires and explosions.

At least 20 cities across Russia canceled their Victory Day parades, citing a desire not to "provoke the adversary with large amounts of equipment and military personnel" or a fear that returning Russian soldiers might perceive the sound of pyrotechnics "in a completely different manner."

Related Article: Russia Rains Missiles on Ukraine Ahead of Victory Day Holiday; Kremlin Fears Domestic Security Threat

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Members of the California Nurses Association are set to strike May 11 at PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.

The union represents about 600 registered nurses at the hospital, according to a news release from the CNA. PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, which became part of Whittier, Calif.-based PIH Health in December 2019, is a 408-bed facility, according to its website.

Union members say they are "protesting management's proposals to eliminate health and safety protections and their refusal to address the hospital's severe staffing crisis."

They are calling on Good Samaritan to agree to a contract that supports safe, quality patient care at the hospital.

Becker's reached out to Good Samaritan and will update this article if a comment is received.
Pittsburgh-based UPMC's chief technology officer, Chris Carmody, told Technical.ly on May 8 that the health system has been using artificial intelligence for a number of years and is currently proceeding cautiously with the technology.

Abridge, an AI-powered app that records conversations between patients and clinicians, was spun out of UPMC Enterprises, the system's innovation and venture capital arm.

Mr. Carmody said the health system is looking to use AI as a tool that can sort data and answer patient questions through chatbots.

"As we proceed, we do it very cautiously," Mr. Carmody told Technical.ly. "We make sure that our health plan members and our patients' data, their privacy and their data, is secure. And we test and validate any way we will use these types of technologies as we move forward. And that's how we've always done things at UPMC."
A former home health nurse in Michigan has been sentenced to 30 to 75 years in prison in the death of a 3-year-old patient, ABC affiliate WBND reported.

Judith Sobol, 42, was sentenced May 8 in Berrien County, Mich. In February, a jury found Ms. Sobol guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 3-year-old Ophelia Mazure, who died while the former nurse was under the influence of meth.

According to trial testimony, Ms. Sobol was working an overnight shift at the Mazures' home in June when the patient's mother woke up to alarms from medical equipment and found her child with the trachea tube disconnected and Ms. Sobol incoherent. She later told police she was under the influence when she reported for her shift.

The Michigan Board of Nursing revoked Ms. Sobol's license in early February.
A former nurse at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Janesville, Wis., has pleaded guilty to tampering with vials of fentanyl while working at the facility in 2021, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin said May 8.

According to a plea agreement, Dawn Drum, RN, replaced vials of fentanyl with saline and put them back into the hospital's automated medication dispensing system, making the tampered vials available for use on other patients. An audit of transactions in the medication dispensing system indicated Ms. Drum had "an excessive pattern of fentanyl overrides and wastes when compared to other employees in 2021."

Ms. Drum refused a drug test and resigned from her position when hospital management confronted her over the matter, according to the attorney's office. The plea agreement recommends the court impose an 18-month sentence and a $30,000 fine for Ms. Drum. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
The University of Houston College of Nursing said it will use a $20 million gift it received to help replenish the workforce in that area.

Announced in connection with National Nurses Week, the gift, donated by alumnus Andy Gessner and his wife, will be used to "strengthen nursing education and research, fund scholarships and fellowships for students and ultimately increase the number of highly educated nurses in the workforce," according to a May 8 article on the university's website.

Additionally, the college will be renamed the Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing in recognition of the contribution.

Three endowed professorships will be created with the gift, with the hope they will attract educators who specialize in healthcare innovation. Other endowments will be established to increase opportunities for education and clinical learning, scholarships, graduate school fellowships and adjunct faculty support.

The Texas Department of State Health services said it expects the nursing shortage in the state to go from its current level of 29,000 to more than 57,000 by 2032, according to the article.
An Oregon dermatologist diagnosed the world's smallest skin cancer spot.

Alexander Witkowski, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University's medical school, diagnosed the cancer spot on a patient in 2021, according to a news release from the university. The spot was 0.65 millimeters in diameter  about the size of a needle tip. Testing confirmed the spot was melanoma and the patient had it surgically removed in August 2021.

On May 1, 2023, Guinness World Records recognized Dr. Witkowski and his team for discovering the smallest known skin cancer spot. Previously, the smallest diagnosed spot, which was not recognized by Guinness, was 0.9 millimeters in diameter, according to The Washington Post.
The death of a 73-year-old man in 2022 is just one of two major incidents that prompted a federal investigation into the University of Kansas Health System, according to a May 2 report from NBC affiliate KSHB.

According to documents CMS shared with Becker's, actions taken by medical staff during the two incidents under investigation were found to cause "Immediate Jeopardy conditions" which led to it "placing the health and safety of all patients at risk." The Kansas City CMS office notified the hospital of the findings April 10, 2023, according to the documents.

The man who died in the care of the health system checked into the emergency department on Sept. 12, 2022, requesting care and reporting a bad cough. He was placed in a wheelchair and taken to a waiting room prior to examination. Nearly an hour and a half later, video footage obtained by CMS showed him unresponsive and shortly after he was declared deceased.

"The medical record does not contain evidence that the hospital provided an appropriate [medical screening examination] prior to this time," the CMS documents state.

The documents also detail that another patient who had a high risk pregnancy checked in to the hospital on Aug. 2, 2022, requesting emergency care, but the staff reportedly "failed to stabilize [the] patient within its capability and capacity" and then discharged the individual, who was still destabilized, less than two hours thereafter. She was not only denied care at the University of Kansas Hospital, but also at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Mo.

CMS told Becker's it launched its investigation after receiving reports that the hospital may have violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. It outlined the deficiencies and outlined both steps and timeline, which the health system needed to take action on in order to rectify the situation.

The University of Kansas Hospital and the facility in Joplin, Mo.  which it also investigated after the incident with the patient who was denied care  "have taken steps towards coming into compliance," a spokesperson from CMS told Becker's. "CMS is continuing to work closely with them to ensure that they do so."

However, the spokesperson noted that the case is not considered closed and only when the University of Kansas Hospital achieves compliance verified by CMS will it be determined closed.

"Hospitals must achieve compliance to continue participation in Medicare," the CMS spokesperson said. "Failure to comply with the requirements can be grounds for termination for participation in Medicare."

At this time CMS noted that no further enforcement measures are being taken toward the University of Kansas Health System.

Becker's reached out multiple times for comment from the health system but received no response. This story will be updated should more information become available.
A rare fungal outbreak at a Michigan paper mill has infected more than 100 people, and health officials are still searching for the source of the fungus.

As of May 5, health officials confirmed 115 cases of blastomycosis among workers, visitors and contractors at the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill in the state's Upper Peninsula. Fourteen people have required hospitalization and one has died.

"Although the number of cases has increased by [six] over the past week, this does not necessarily indicate that Blastomyces exposures are ongoing," health officials said May 5, noting that the incubation time for blastomycosis can be 21 to 90 days.

The rare fungal infection is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, a fungus found in soil and decaying wood. People contract the infection by breathing in spores from the air.

The paper mill at the center of the outbreak resumed operations May 8 after shutting down for 25 days to undergo a deep cleaning, according to NBC affiliate WOOD.

"(Following the cleaning), no blastomyces spores have been found within the mill. The health and safety of our employees and contractors remains our top priority and we are focused on ensuring a safe return to the mill," Billerud, the company that owns the plant, told WOOD. "We continue to work closely with and follow the recommendations of local, state and federal health experts as they continue to investigate this dynamic situation."
American workers aren't as productive as they used to be. In fact, they're the least productive they've been since 1948, Fortune reported May 5.

The publication refers to recent research from EY-Parthenon, the global strategy consulting arm of Ernst & Young. The firm found that the U.S. has had five consecutive quarters of year-over-year productivity declines  a new occurrence in a data set stretching back 75 years.

Productivity dropped 2.7 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to last year. Hours spent working grew 3 percent while quarter-over-quarter output rose disproportionately, at 0.2 percent, according to the report.

Multiple factors have contributed to this trend, Gregory Daco, EY-Parthenon's chief economist, told Fortune. Pandemic-induced increases in turnover are making it difficult for organizations to train and retain an experienced workforce. Remote work could also be hampering productivity.

As a result, more bosses could make back-to-office pushes, Mr. Daco predicts. It's already happening in some spaces, including healthcare; President Joe Biden recently directed federal agencies to bring employees under the same roof amid scrutiny of HHS' work-from-home productivity.



"We'll probably see more weight towards three to four days in the office, rather than one or two, if the labor market slows," Mr. Daco told Fortune.
While one spine surgeon says the industry is evolving due to increased knowledge and technology advancements, another sees a lack in innovation.

Four leaders in the spine and orthopedic industries recently spoke with Becker's about the one word they would use to describe their outlooks on the spine and orthopedic surgery industries.

Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.

Dean Chou, MD. Chief of the Division of Spine Surgery, Spine Fellowship Director, Co-Site Chief of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and Co-Director of Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (New York City): The word is: Evolving. Spine surgery is continually getting better. Focus on quality, outcomes and safety are coming to the forefront. More surgeons and patients are becoming aware of the right indications for surgery and of the best treatment options as research and data show which surgeries work best and which do not work so well. Overall, the field is evolving for the better because of increased dissemination of knowledge, integration of technology safeguards, and focus on outcomes and quality.

Kevin Fleming. Vice President of the Orthopedic Institute at AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, Fla.): When I think about the future outlook of ortho/spine markets, the one word that comes to mind is transformation. Health systems today are challenged to deliver high-value clinical care by a variety of stakeholders and competitors. This industry transformation is accelerated by patient and payers, private equity and entrepreneurial disruptors, and the emergence of innovative technologies and care settings. Orthopedic/spine care is rapidly transforming around us, and we have an exciting opportunity to lead through these dynamic challenges.

Konstantinos Margetis, MD, PhD. Director of Complex Spine Surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, Director of Spine at Mount Sinai-Union Square, and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine (New York City): I would say "unadventurous." We mainly see incremental improvements in existing concepts, but not many exciting innovations. I think there is increased hesitancy to push for more ambitious concepts that come with higher business risk.

Kim Mikes, BSN, RN. CEO of Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Newport Beach, Calif.): Evolving. In the world of spine and orthopedics, there are innovative technologies and techniques that drastically impact patient care, such as the use of robotics, surgical navigation and surgically implanted "smart" devices. These are some of the most exciting developments in orthopedic medical treatments. The technology allows our doctors to be even more precise in the surgical process, yielding better patient outcomes. Robotic technology helps great surgeons to become even better.

Our spine physicians follow a "conservative-first approach," which is ideal to ensure our patients get the best care. They are not in a rush to do surgery but first utilize noninvasive treatments that can help their patients, such as injections and physical therapy.

When surgery is necessary, outpatient surgery and the kinds of procedures that can be done in that setting is reshaping healthcare delivery. Now, many patients undergo an orthopedic procedure in the morning and return home by the afternoon. That happens every single day at HOI, thanks to innovative procedures we developed to improve the delivery of patient care.

All of these trends in the orthopedic industry ensure our patients can get back to doing what they love faster.
New exhumations will commence after autopsies on bodies discovered in mass graves connected to a religious cult in Kenya showed missing organs, sparking suspicions of coerced extraction.

'Shakahola Forest Massacre'

Last month, near the town of Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast, mass graves came to light in an area that has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre." The discovery shocked the very pious Christian-majority nation.

Most of the dead are thought to be members of the community of self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who is suspected by authorities of ordering his followers to starve to death so that they may "meet Jesus."

According to the chief government pathologist, Dr. Johansen Oduor, a number of victims, including children, were strangled, assaulted, and smothered after they were accused of being responsible for a string of murders.

Some of the bodies, as per court records filed earlier this week, had their organs removed. Police are saying that those accused were involved in the forced harvesting of body parts.

The Guardian reported that in an affidavit presented to a Nairobi court, head inspector Martin Munene said, "Postmortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed."

He did not elaborate on the alleged organ trafficking, but he did say that it was thought to have been well-coordinated that involved several participants.

Cult Deaths

According to Munene, a prominent televangelist named Ezekiel Odero was detained last month in connection with the same issue but released on bond just last week. Odero is accused of receiving "huge cash transactions" from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at Mackenzie's bidding.

The Nairobi court has ordered the government to freeze over 20 of Odero's bank accounts for 30 days.

Kenya's interior minister Kithure Kindiki said on Tuesday, May 9, that 112 people had been verified dead after he arrived in Malindi to oversee the restart of exhumations, which had been halted last week due to inclement weather.

Kindiki said that search and rescue operations were underway for those believed to be hiding in the woods and thickets.

Read Also: Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Killed 12, Including 3 Islamic Jihad Commanders

Taxi Driver Turned Pastor

Due to his history of radicalism and run-ins with the authorities, the self-styled pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie has been the subject of speculation.

After police responded to a tip and first approached Shakahola forest, where 30 mass graves have since been discovered there, the former cab driver handed himself in on April 14.

Mackenzie, who established the Good News International church in 2003, is being held by authorities who want to keep him in custody for another 90 days until they finish their investigations.

Yusuf Shikanda, a senior principal magistrate, has promised a decision on the petition by Wednesday, May 10.

Read Also: Iran Allegedly Smuggled Weapons Used To Strike US Military Inside Earthquake Aid Convoys Heading to Syria

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Not for EU labels part of Windsor Framework to apply to whole of UK

Government plans for milk, butter, meat, fish and vegetables to be labelled not for EU across the whole of the UK, and not just in Northern Ireland need much more clarity, a leading trade body has said.

Glyn Roberts of Retail NI said many members have concerns about how the changes could impact on both wholesalers and stores.

The new labelling rules, which are part of Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework deal with the EU, are due to come into force for Northern Ireland this October, and in the rest of the UK from October next year.

Under the Windsor Framework, British food moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland is to go through a green lane, sparing goods from having to undergo EU standards checks when crossing the Irish Sea  as long as they have the not for EU label.

This is designed to reassure Brussels that such foodstuffs are less likely to be moved from Northern Ireland to the EU member state across the border. Goods moving on to the Republic of Ireland or the rest of the EU will have to undergo increased checks in a red lane.

However, while Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with an EU land border, its been reported that the not for EU label will be used right across the UK, as a concession to Brussels by the Prime Minister.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the labelling move will ensure proportionate and necessary means of ensuring goods moving in the green lane will only be sold to consumers in Northern Ireland, and the Government will support businesses through the changes.

Mr Roberts said Retail NI's members have concerns around the labelling changes.

We need clarity on how these labelling changes will impact both food producers and in-store retailers, especially because there will also need to be labels on aisles and shelves under the plans, he said.

This could particularly impact small retailers who don't have as much space. The deadline will be here soon enough and we haven't really had any guidance from the Government about this.

While our members our broadly in support of the Windsor Framework deal, the labelling issue is one major action point that we need clarity on. It needs to be clear for both businesses and consumers, not just for us here in Northern Ireland, but in the rest of the UK also.

DUP peer Nigel Dodds described the plans as nonsense, as they would mean that the labels would appear in the likes of Liverpool and Leeds, as well as Northern Ireland.

This is a massive added cost and inconvenience on all British producers. These stickers have to go on every single individual pre-packaged food item, he told the Daily Telegraph.

Lord Dodds warned that the move would also affect British businesses exporting food to the EU and mean extra costs.

Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said: These labelling requirements are an outworking from the Windsor Framework, and provide for much easier flow of agri-food from GB to NI. They are an improvement from the situation under the original protocol.

Under Brexit, there are no perfect solutions, and a series of compromises and trade-offs are necessary. It is a bit rich to now see the DUP now demanding the labelling measure only applies to Northern Ireland, given their other rhetoric.
Ryanair has ordered 300 Boeing 737-MAX-10 aircraft for delivery between 2027 to 2033, subject to shareholder approval

Ryanair is investing $40bn (32bn) in 300 Boeing aircraft, in the largest order ever placed by an Irish company for US manufactured goods.

Announcement of its ambitious expansion plans come one month after its return to Belfast International Airport, flying on 16 new routes.

The budget airline has secured the deal to facilitate its major expansion plans, which include adding 10,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers over the next decade.

The order, which is subject to shareholder approval at Ryanairs AGM on September 14, is expected to be funded largely from internal cashflow.

Weve a very strong balance sheet and boy are we going to need it in the next couple of years as we pay for these babies, said chief executive Michael OLeary, speaking this afternoon during a virtual press conference announcing the deal.

With these aircraft, we will be able to offer lower fares in Europe, he said. Were very pleased the Ryanair/Boeing partnership continues to knock seven bells out of our Airbus competitors in Europe.

Ryanair is targeting an 80% increase in traffic over the next decade to an annual 300m passengers by 2034, a 30% share of the European market.

The airline had pulled out of Belfast International Airport in 2021, citing an uncompetitive trading environment with Air Passenger Duty (APD) adding 13 to each flight.

But it returned after the UK Government halved APD on domestic flights in and out of Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

From last month, it started operating more than 140 flights a week to 16 routes including Budapest, Cardiff, Mallorca, Valencia, Alicante, Faro, Barcelona-Girona, Malaga, Manchester, Milan-Bergamo, Stansted, Paris Beauvais, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gdansk and Krakow.

A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport said: Ryanairs hugely successful and welcome return to Belfast International Airport in April 2023 brought with it 16 new routes, all of which are now live, with the airport now offering a greater choice of destinations for passengers.

The new Boeing 737-MAX-10 aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2027 to 2033.

These new, fuel efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21% more seats, burn 20% less fuel and are 50% quieter than our B737-NGs, said Mr OLeary.

This order, coupled with our remaining Gamechanger deliveries, will create 10,000 new jobs for highly paid aviation professionals over the next decade, and these jobs will be located across all of Europes main economies where Ryanair is currently the number one or number two airline.

In addition to delivering significant revenue and traffic growth across Europe, we expect these new, larger, more efficient, greener, aircraft to drive further unit cost savings, which will be passed on to passengers in lower air fares.

The extra seats, lower fuel burn and more competitive aircraft pricing supported by our strong balance sheet, will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and competitor EU airlines for many years to come, making the Boeing MAX-10 the ideal growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our people and our shareholders.

Boeings new aircraft have 228 seats, representing a 21% increase on the B737NG models.

It said 50% of the deliveries would replace older B737NGs, boosting its sustainability credentials as well as widening Ryanairs unit-cost advantage over EU competitor airlines.
FP McCann, based in Magherafelt, has received 3.39m to make energy efficiency improvements to the crushing and concrete manufacturing process at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea

FP McCann and Natural World Products have received a share of nearly 4m in government funding to become more energy efficient and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The Department of Business, Energy and Industry said the support would help them clean up manufacturing processes.

Concrete firm FP McCann was given 3.39m to make energy efficiency improvements to the crushing and concrete manufacturing process at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea.

Natural World Products, a Dunmurry-based producer of peat-free composts and soil conditioners, received nearly 300,00 for fuel-switching projects. It will replace diesel-powered plant equipment with electricity-powered equivalents.

The support is through the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to help future-proof industries in the move to cut emissions.

Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker said: Congratulations to FP McCann and Natural World Products for securing this funding.
Hundreds of expectant parents are to receive a new baby bundle in the coming days as part of a pilot programme.

The scheme, which is a first of its kind in Ireland, will see the Little Baby Bundle filled with a range of useful items.

Each bundle will have a wide range of items, including thermometers, reusable nappies, a baby sling, bibs, a play mat, as well as books, a poem, and information for new parents.

The value of the items in the bundle is set at around 300 (262), and the scheme will cost roughly 200,000.

The initiative is inspired by a similar scheme in Finland, where expectant mothers have since the 1930s received a baby box that includes baby clothes, sheets and toys, with the box itself doubling as a cot.

Three hundred families from the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, and 150 families attending Waterford University Hospital were invited to take part in the pilot.

The bundle will be delivered to the homes of participating parents at a time of their choosing.

Parents participating in the pilot initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the baby bundle and its contents, which will inform the development of proposals for wider national rollout.

Baby bundles. Photo: Gov.ie

The pilot has been launched by the Department of Children which said it acknowledges this very significant and special moment for parents.

Minister for Children Roderic OGorman said: We have seen how well this scheme works in other jurisdictions, and through this pilot, we can get a real sense from parents of how well the scheme works. Our hope is that the bundles will be a welcome gift from the State for the new arrivals, full of the kind of practical items that parents need in those first few weeks and months."

A baby box scheme has also been rolled out in Scotland in recent years, where around 52,000 boxes a year are now distributed to expectant parents. In 2021, an independent report into the functioning of the scheme asked Scottish ministers to consider providing a reduced version of the box for parents who are wealthy or already have children, in order to avoid waste.
Medic also displayed attitude of entitlement in emails to council staff

A Belfast-born doctor who repeatedly lied in three job applications fired off a chain of ugly emails when he failed to get an interview, it has emerged.
Thousands of people in Germany, Britain, and Switzerland were vying for around 4,500 free tickets to Hong Kong from Cathay Pacific Airways, which was part of a government campaign to boost tourism in the city.

Cathay Pacific's website showed heavy traffic as over 65,000 users at one point tried to win a free round-trip, economy-class ticket to the city and back to Britain, as reported by South China Morning Post.

The promotion is part of a 700,000-ticket lucky draw handled by local airlines under the Hello Hong Kong campaign. HK aims to lure over 1.5 million visitors after three years following the global pandemic.

The Latest Round of Ticket Giveaways

In the latest round of ticket giveaways, Britain, Germany, and Switzerland residents had to sign up for free Cathay membership on the website and answer three quiz questions correctly. Every member can only submit one entry and should be 18 years or older.

Winners will be notified by email on June 5. The airline also said that the tickets would be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis from May 9 to May 15 or until tickets had been handed out.

Britain residents were offered over 3,000 economy-class return tickets, while those from Switzerland and Germany received 380 and 900, respectively.

UK residents can depart from London Heathrow or Manchester airports, while those from Germany and Switzerland can choose Frankfurt and Zurich airports.

The round-trip tickets are valid for six months, and the winners will be responsible for paying for tax, surcharges, and any rebooking fees.

Read also: 'Batman' Burger: McDonald's Hong Kong's New Treat Rivals Burger King's Black Burger

Boosting HK's Tourism

This campaign is aimed at boosting tourism in Hong Kong by encouraging travelers from these three countries to visit and explore the city.

(Photo: by DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)) A food service company loads meals in a Cathay Pacific plane at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on January 11, 2023

By offering free round-trip tickets, the campaign hopes to attract more tourists and promote Hong Kong as a top travel destination. The campaign also allows the winners to choose their preferred departure airports, making it convenient for them to plan their trip. However, it is important to note that the winners are responsible for paying taxes, surcharges, and any rebooking fees, which may add to the overall cost of the trip.

Hong Kong has always been a popular travel destination for people from around the world. With its vibrant culture, stunning skyline, and delicious food options, it is no wonder that tourists flock to this bustling city year after year.

However, with recent events affecting tourism in Hong Kong - such as political unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic - initiatives like these are crucial in promoting tourism and encouraging visitors to explore all that Hong Kong has to offer.

Aside from offering free round-trip tickets, the campaign also aims to showcase some of Hong Kong's most iconic landmarks, such as Victoria Peak or The Big Buddha on Lantau Island. Visitors can indulge themselves in local markets selling souvenirs or taste authentic Cantonese cuisine served at Michelin-star restaurants across different districts.

By attracting more travelers through campaigns like this one, businesses within the hospitality industry will benefit greatly by generating higher revenue which could help boost their economy post-COVID times while providing employment opportunities for locals.

Initiatives aimed at boosting tourism have significant benefits not only for those who get an opportunity to visit new places but also for communities whose economies rely heavily on tourist activity. This campaign serves both purposes effectively by enticing individuals from three major countries to visit Hongkong; let's hope we see many happy winners exploring everything wonderful about HK soon!

Related article: Hong Kong Protester Beaten Up at Chinese Consulate in UK; Calls To Investigate Incident Spark to What Appears as Democracy Demonstration

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Rogue trader given conditional discharge and ordered to pay victim 2,750 by Belfast Magistrates' Court. Pic by Liam McBurney.

A tradesman who carried out exceptionally poor quality building work has been given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay 2,750 in compensation to his victim.

Barney Doherty (23), of Longlands Avenue, Newtownabbey, trading as Drives and Patios, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Belfast Magistrates Court.

The case was brought by the Department for the Economys Trading Standards Service (TSS) after Mr Doherty failed to carry out work to a professional standard of skill and care and failed to provide key documentation  including the consumers cancellation rights  as is required by law.

It happened after the self-employed trader was contacted by the customer who had seen an advert for Drives and Patios on Facebook Marketplace.

Mr Doherty called to the womans home in Belfast in August 2021 and agreed to lay paving stones at the front and rear of her property for a fee of 2,500.

Work began the next day and payments were made as the work progressed.

But in early September 2021 the rogue trader demanded additional payments for work which the homeowner says she never asked to be done.

It included the roof being cleaned and the front boundary wall being repointed.

The victim ended up paying 3,350 to Mr Doherty, who was accompanied by a team of workmen.

She subsequently lodged a complaint with the TSS which carried out an investigation.

The quality of work carried out was deemed to be of a poor standard by a chartered building surveyor, who carried out an expert assessment.

They found that some drainage outlets had been paved over and described the repointing exercise as being of exceptionally poor quality.

The report estimated the cost of remedial work to be 2,150 (plus VAT).

Alison Gilchrist of the TSS said: This is another example of a trader carrying out poor quality and overpriced work, leaving his victim with a huge bill to get the job completed properly.

"At a time of rising prices and increased cost of living, its hugely important for consumers to have confidence in local tradespeople and to expect good quality and professional services.

"TSS remains committed to investigating those traders that take advantage of consumers and do not comply with the law.

The watchdog has offered the following advice for consumers seeking a reputable tradesperson:

 Ask your neighbours, family or other tradespeople for personal recommendations of builders who have worked for them and carried out a good job.

 Speak to previous customers for references and view the work, where possible

 Check that they are a member of a trade body with an arbitration scheme

 Get everything in writing and agree a price

 Never pay up front and never pay cash

 Get at least three quotes

 Always say no to doorstep sellers and be wary of online advertisements.

 Always get a detailed written quotation/contract and agree a price

Anyone who believes they have been similarly affected is advised to contact Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.
A Co Armagh father of five was jailed for nine months today for sexual offences committed against two young girls.

James Patrick Shortt was found guilty by a jury earlier this year on four counts of indecent assault which he carried out between March 1997 and April 2008.

After serving his nine-month sentence, the 40-year-old will spend an additional 12 months on supervised licence and will be on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Newry Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that, despite the jurys guilty verdicts, Shortt continues to maintain his innocence.

This, coupled with the seriousness of the offences and the impact his behaviour has had on his two victims, are what Judge Mark Reel said warranted a prison sentence.

During the trial, the jury heard that the first complainant was aged between six and seven when she was abused by Shortt on three occasions.

These offences, one of which was carried out in a barn, occurred between March 22, 1997, and March 22, 1999.

Shortt, from Dungormley Estate in Newtownhamilton, targeted his second victim on a date between April 2, 2004, and April 2, 2008.

She recalled being abused by Shortt in the bedroom of a property in Co Armagh when she was aged between eight and 11.

During todays sentencing, Judge Reel said he had read statements made by both complainants.

He said: They set out, in great detail, the suffering the abuse has caused them as they made their way through life, and the recurring nature of the difficulties they have had.

Regarding Shortt, Judge Reel said he had taken into consideration a complete lack of sexual offending since 2008 and his stable family background.

After the jail term was imposed, Shortt was led from the dock and into custody by prison staff.
A former solicitor who admitted stealing more than 70,000 from the estate of a dead woman to keep his firm afloat was today spared jail due to being seriously ill.

Judge Gordon Kerr KC said Co Down man Paul Downeys year-long fraud deserved a prison sentence, as it represented a gross breach of professional trust, but there was medical evidence the 66-year-old was now suffering from advanced-stage leukaemia.

He said it was clear Downey, who appeared at Newry Crown Court by video-link from a hospital ward, has an extremely poor prognosis and will never have a quality of life.

Judge Kerr added that Downey did not personally benefit from his fraud and has medical needs which could not be facilitated in prison.

As a result of that, I consider it is appropriate for the court to exercise a degree of mercy, said Judge Kerr as he imposed a 27-month sentence which he suspended for three years.

Downey, from Mount Royal in Banbridge, entered guilty pleas last January to charges of fraud by abuse of position and false accounting on dates between July 2013 and June 2014.

Downey admitted abusing his position of trust in order to defraud the executors of the will of Catherine Hayes by writing two cheques to himself totalling 28,000 and to steal credit in the sum of 73,844.

The former solicitor entered a guilty plea to false accounting in that he destroyed, defaced, concealed or falsified a cheque stub, by falsely stating that the payee was John Hayes.

Following the admissions, 12 other charges of fraud, theft and false accounting were left on the books.

In addition to the suspended jail sentence, confiscation proceedings have been adjourned to September.

Summarising the case during his sentencing remarks today, Judge Kerr said the defendant was the principal partner in the Paul L Downey firm in Banbridge, but that a routine compliance audit by the Law Society in June 2014 found that clients money had been mishandled, with funds being improperly withdrawn and used to fund the running of the practice.

The audit led to a full investigation by a chartered accountant which highlighted a number of improper postings designed to cover what had been going on.

The main client account from which money had been taken was the estate of Ms Hayes, who, knowing she was dying with cancer, had used Downeys firm to make a will.

Judge Kerr said there was evidence that Ms Hayes was upset at making the will, because she knew she was going to die, and in it she had made special provisions for a relative who had Downs syndrome.

Investigations by the accountant and a local law firm who took over the running of Downeys firm discovered that no funds were ever received by the aforementioned relative and, while two cheque stubs amounting to 28,000 were written out to her brother John Hayes, he never received any money either.

Paul Downey had falsified the stubs and written the cheques out to himself.

Sadly, Mr Hayes has since died too, but he was understood to be disappointed and angry at Downeys dishonesty, quoted as saying he couldnt believe what he had done.

According to the surviving sister, his final year was destroyed by the shock of all his and the anger he felt at the defendant, who had been held in high esteem by the people of Banbridge.

Interviewed about the fraud, Downey admitted using the funds to keep the practice afloat and claimed he intended to pay it back once cash flow had improved.

Judge Kerr said it was no surprise that Downey had a clear criminal record and a good work record, but when it came to a gross breach of professional standards, personal mitigation held little weight.

In my view, one of the most important factors is the potential for public loss of trust for solicitors acting in a professional capacity, said the judge, adding that clearly, the custodial threshold has been met.

Judge Kerr said, however, that Downeys extreme poor health is the nub of the case because, while prison authorities can often provide and facilitate medical treatment for a prisoner, Downeys condition has reached a stage where he is requiring more and more time in hospital and constantly requires more treatment for his condition.

It was for that reason, said the judge, that he was taking the exceptional step of suspending the prison sentence.

While he warned the seriously ill fraudster that if he reoffended he would have to serve the sentence, the judge concluded: I do not foresee that being a realistic possibility.
A man who was allegedly body-slammed outside a McDonalds restaurant has cleared the first stage in a High Court battle to have the bouncer involved face criminal charges.

Gary Devlin was granted leave to seek a judicial review of the decision not to prosecute anyone over the incident in Belfast city centre.

Mr Devlin was apparently knocked unconscious in November 2020 during an altercation filmed and widely shared on social media.

The 31-year-old is the son of Gerard Devlin, who was stabbed to death in a feud-related murder at the familys home at Whitecliff Parade, west Belfast in February 2006.

Following a police investigation into the incident at McDonalds, the Public Prosecution Service decided not to bring charges against anyone involved.

That determination was upheld last year after a review of the evidential test for prosecution.

In court today, lawyers for Mr Devlin argued that the PPS decision was unlawful and unreasonable.

They claim footage of the incident shows the security guards actions went well beyond reasonable and proportionate.

Part of the case involved citing a national newspaper headline which alleged: McDonalds bouncer body slams customer to the ground leaving him knocked out.

Any suggestion the security guard acted in self-defence should be for a court to decide, it was contended.

Judicial review proceedings have also been brought over the reasons provided for the decision reached.

The PPS has stressed that a public prosecutor carefully considered all evidence contained in a police report on two individuals in connection with the incident at the fast-food restaurant.

The test for prosecuting anyone involved was deemed not to have been met - a determination upheld following a review in line with its processes.

Ruling on the initial stage of the challenge, senior judges said they were satisfied that Mr Devlin had established an arguable case.

Lord Justice Horner said: We have looked at the CCTV coverage and consider, from what we have seen, it is arguable that (the security guards) conduct in the circumstances crossed the line on what constitutes self-defence.

He confirmed that the case is to proceed to a full judicial review hearing on a date to be fixed later this year. Outside court Mr Devlins solicitor, Brian Archer, said: Im relieved that the High Court has agreed there is an arguable case for prosecuting the individual who allegedly caused the injuries to my client.
A soldier from Northern Ireland has been dismissed from the Army for groping a female colleagues bottom at the after-party of a St Patricks Day parade attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Really drunk Lance Corporal Shane Ritchie cupped the womans bottom after sliding his hand down her back as he squeezed past her to go for a cigarette.

As he was sentenced for the sexual assault, a judge told him the harassment of women in the Armed Forces must stop.

LCpl Ritchies trial heard that, in what was the Irish Guards first regimental day celebration since the pandemic, the 25-year-old was slurring his words before grabbing the complainants behind.

Earlier in the day, the regiment had welcomed the royal couple  then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  as guests of honour for a traditional ceremony where Kate had presented sprigs of shamrock to members of the battalion on parade.

After the celebrations at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in March last year, LCpl Ritchies creeping hand grabbed the bottom of his fellow soldier.

LCpl Ritchie, a father of two from Belfast, denied the charge, claiming that only his shoulder brushed her and, if there had been contact, it was accidental and therefore not sexual.

However, he was convicted at the end of a two-day trial and has now been dismissed from the forces and handed a two-year service community order.

Sentencing LCpl Ritchie, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England told him his behaviour was inexcusable.

She added: Not everybody [in this regiment] welcomed the widening of combat roles to females.

She had suffered harassment, but you were not part of it.

She went to the St Patricks Day parade to fit in. Unfortunately, she suffered more harassment from you.

This is not the first time female service personnel have been made to feel unwelcome. Such behaviour must stop. Females should be treated with the same respect.

This was unsolicited, drunken sexual conduct.

During the two-day trial, prosecutor Captain Daniel Lawlor opened the case saying: On March 17 last year, the complainant attended a St Patricks Day function at a bar at Mons Barracks.

At the bar, she was introduced to [the defendant].

The complainant will tell the court that, as she was standing, she felt someone touching her from behind  down her shoulder, on her back and down.

The two had a verbal interaction and she confronted him for grabbing her bottom.

Giving evidence, the female soldier, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had been introduced to LCpl Ritchie at the St Patricks Day celebration.

She said: He was really drunk. He looked like he couldnt really stand up properly, couldnt really focus his eyes on anything, and when he spoke he slurred his words.

After I shook his hand, he said, Ive got a missus, but I wasnt interested so I left.

She told the court she returned to some nearby sofas in the room to talk to a friend when she felt the sexual assault take place.

I felt someone come behind me and put a hand on my shoulder, slide their creeping hand down my back and then I felt them cup my bum, she said.

As soon as I felt that, I turned to the side and saw it was [LCpl Ritchie] and just pushed him away.

I said something like, Get the f*** off me. Dont you dare touch me.

It felt really deliberate. I could feel the pressure. It was a firm touch, a grab.

The court heard the complainant left the bar with a friend and immediately reported the incident to her chain of command, having texted the Regimental Sergeant Major personally and asked to see him the following week.

When it was put to her that not everyone in the Irish Guards  which has only accepted women in full-time combat roles since 2018  was not particularly enlightened or welcoming to women, she agreed.

Such were these attitudes, she told the court she was unhappy in her unit and considered it a hostile environment in which to work.

The court heard she had been told by a different colleague that the Army is a mans world.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said: My mental health suffered after the incident. I battled with suicidal thoughts.

I feel like the whole regiment turned its back on me.

In mitigation, defence barrister Matthew Bolt said: LCpl Ritchies life is destroyed.

Hes lost his job, his career and his good name.

This could be characterised as a moment of madness.

He has two young children and a long-term partner... He has now secured an apprenticeship as a sprayer.

Ritchie was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
Pancreatic cancer rates soar by 86% in Northern Ireland, new audit reveals. (Alamy/PA)

The number of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland has soared by 86% over the past decade.

A new audit has revealed there were 283 confirmed cases in 2020 compare to 152 in 2001.

The majority of patients were diagnosed after attending emergency departments with advanced stage four symptoms.

Regional director of the Royal College of Surgeons Prof Mark Taylor is calling for "enhanced" services to combat the increasing number of cases.

"We can see on the ground how pancreatic cancer referrals are increasing and we must strengthen services in our response," he told BBC News NI.

"It is concerning that the most common route to diagnosis was via emergency admissions and the majority of patients presented with advanced cancer where the cancer has spread to a distant site."

The pancreatic cancer surgeon warned cases are likely to rise again and blamed "increasing age, obesity and diabetes" as contributory factors.

The audit  funded by local pancreatic cancer charity NIPANC in partnership with Queens University Belfast and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust  marks the first report into pancreatic cancer services in the UK since the pandemic.

It shows that 94% of patients show symptoms at the diagnosis stage with more than half of cases detected through emergency admission and at an advanced stage.

During 2019-2020 access to essential PET-CT was low at 17%, with patients waiting on average 44 days for a scan

Patients who had curative oncology as their first treatment waited an average of 72 days in 2019 and 79 days in 2020

Just 1% of patients were enrolled in clinical trials

Prof Taylor said the report reveals an average of between 270 and 280 people have been diagnosed in each of the past five years amid a global 55% rise in cases.

He said 38% higher incidents occur within the most deprived communities here as he urged GPs and the public to be aware of the key signs of the disease dubbed the silent killer.

Patients normally report with jaundice after overlooking more subtle symptoms early on.

They include; unexplained weight loss, development of unexplained diabetes, unresolved upper abdominal pain and upper back pain.
Very few tears would have been shed in parts of the UK if the 1984 IRA Brighton bombing killed Margaret Thatcher, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has claimed.

The attack on the Grand Hotel during the Conservative Party conference killed MP Sir Anthony Berry, along with party chairman Eric Taylor, and the wives of three Tory MPs  Lady Jeanne Shattock, Lady Muriel Maclean and Roberta Wakeham.

However, Mrs Thatcher was uninjured.

On an episode of the Rest is Politics podcast, presented by Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Mr Adams said: There would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher in republican Ireland, or in many villages in Wales and working-class Scotland and England.

Margaret Thatcher

Asked if he would have been happy if she had died, Mr Adams replied: Happiness or happy is not a term I would use. The fact is, there was a war.

Margaret Thatcher was notorious, not just for her presiding over the deaths of the hunger strikers which could have been easily resolved, by very simple improvements in the prison regime. But also because she was up front, and she was being the Iron Lady, and she was masquerading as being somebody who was indomitable, and so on.

But, its done, its over, its gone. All of that was in the past.

Former soldier and Tory MP Rory Stewart challenged Mr Adams about his remarks, to which he replied: I never went to war.

You came to me, you know. You came in, in khaki, and tanks. I think including the deaths of British soldiers and RUC officers  all those deaths are to be regretted. Its a regrettable part of our history. And clearly for civilians, for them to be killed, it doesnt matter if it was an accident or not. Thats even more regrettable, and thankfully were now out of all that, and we need to learn the lessons of it.

Following the announcement of the death of Mrs Thatcher in 2013, Mr Adams claimed she did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister.

Working-class communities were devastated in Britain because of her policies, he said.
Michelle ONeill says next weeks local government election is a chance for voters to "re-endorse" the outcome of the Assembly poll.

She was speaking as Sinn Fein launched its manifesto at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry on Tuesday.

The 16-page document includes a pledge to set a date for a referendum on unity.

Other key promises include promoting power-sharing and partnership in local government, supporting small local businesses, strengthening workers' rights to protect against low pay and improving active travel infrastructure including across the border.

Sinn Fein is running 162 candidates which marks the highest number in a local election.

In 2019 the party won 105 seats making it the second largest party in local government.

Ms ONeill, the partys vice president and First Minister designate, said the council election allows voters to send a message against the DUP's Stormont boycott.

Last year it became the biggest political party at Stormont, however it has been unable to govern because the DUP has refused to re-enter the power-sharing executive in protest against the post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.

"I think that for us, this election is an opportunity for people to re-endorse the position which they voted for last May, for the executive to work, for politics to work, for us all to be around the executive table together," she said.

"So I think people will, and certainly my experience on the ground, engaging with people going door-to-door in the community, speaking to the local business community, they know this is where we all should be.

"So for me, this election is a huge opportunity again, for the public to re-endorse positive leadership, someone who's determined to try for a better future, someone who's going to fight back against Tory austerity, someone who's going to work and make politics work."

At the launch, Ms ONeill also said attending the King's coronation was "the right thing to do", adding that differing political aspirations should be respected.

"I believe that if we're going to build a better society, and look towards the future, and a better future for our children and our grandchildren, then we have to have the confidence in ourselves and who we are, and to respect our differences, she said.

"And we all have equally legitimate political aspirations and outlooks, and that's OK. But let's be comfortable enough to be respectful of each other. Let's be comfortable enough to build that better future.

"And let's keep our eyes on the next 25 years, and we've just celebrated 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, and what's been achieved is amazing, despite all the political ups and downs, what's been achieved is amazing.

"And I'm focused on the future, and we've talked about change and the changing political landscape, and where we want things to go in the future - let's make sure that everybody feels comfortable, and feels valued and is treated equally in our society, because then we'd have the recipe for something better for everybody."

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that Ms O'Neill's representation of the party at the coronation was a show of respect for unionists.

"I just wanted to say very clearly that Michelle's attendance, Sinn Fein's attendance at the coronation, was a mark of recognition and respect for our unionist citizens, for British people who are British now in a partitioned Ireland, and who will be British in the United Ireland, and it's an explicit recognition of that," she said.

She added: "We all live here together, for goodness's sake, when there is an act of, of respect, kindness, inclusion, let's take that. That's what I think we should do for each other."

Ms McDonald said the council election marks a time for hope, for positivity and for optimism.

"Real change is happening before our eyes, she said.

"A generation moving forward to build a new and better future for all. A new Ireland, a United Ireland delivering for every person, for every family, for every community.

Read more Suzanne Breen casts her verdict on this years Party Election Broadcasts

Ms McDonald said people want to see politics that works by providing the best health service, childcare, education and strong local services.

"They want economic opportunities realised so that our young people can have a good future, she added.

They want the Executive working, they want government for all and they want Michelle O Neill to lead the Executive as First Minister working for all, delivering for all, she continued.

We are now 12 months on from the Assembly election with the DUP continuing to block a new Executive being formed while Tory austerity is devastating public services and progress is stalled.

This puts an even greater importance on the council election on May 18."

Ms McDonald called on the Irish and UK governments to work to "navigate and manage" a border poll which requires "clarity" around a potential date.

"We shouldn't be waiting for a date, we should be having those conversations now," she said.
Comparing policing of protests at the Kings coronation to Russia is an insult to those being oppressed by Vladimir Putin, a Home Office minister has said.

Chris Philp made the remarks following a wave of criticism from opposition MPs about the Metropolitan Polices treatment of anti-monarchy protesters at the weekend.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee is expected to examine the policing of the event, including the use of the Public Order Act to arrest members of the group Republic.

MPs heard 64 people were arrested including six campaigners from Republic, which had liaised with the Met to organise a coronation day protest in Trafalgar Square, who were released without charge 16 hours later.

SNP MP Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) said Mr Philp had a real brass neck to say the police are operationally independent after the Government introduced the draconian Public Order Act 2023, which gave forces greater powers to combat guerrilla protest tactics.

Ms Oswald told the Commons: Human Rights Watch has said that what we saw was something youd expect to see in Moscow, not London.

I wonder if he would agree with me that given only reportedly 6% of those who were arrested for protesting against the coronation were actually charged with anything at all that this new legislation is absolutely nothing but an advert for how to impede peoples right to protest?

Mr Philp replied: I must say, with great respect, I think that is nonsense.

And comparing the policing at the coronation with Putins Moscow or Putins Russia where opposition figures are incarcerated, people like Alexei Navalny in prison suffering the most appalling and inhumane treatment, I think its frankly a bit of an insult to the appalling treatment they are suffering to in any way compare what is happening there to the policing of the coronation.

I dont think it is at all respectful to those being oppressed in Russia at all.

In terms of peaceful protest, hundreds of people did peacefully protest against the monarch. It was a tiny minority but they did protest. The police only made those 64 arrests in total where they had reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence had been committed or was in preparation.

Mr Philp said those people unhappy with their arrest can make a complaint and seek redress.

Dame Diana Johnson, who is the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North (David Woolfall/UK Parliament)   David Woolfall/UK Parliament

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson earlier said the Home Affairs Committee, which she chairs, will no doubt want to look at the policing of protests at the coronation, adding: In particular the specific provisions in the Public Order Act brought in just last week and used to arrest members of Republic.

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis acknowledged the coronation was a difficult time for the Met and a difficult task to achieve.

He added: That being said, within one week of the Public Order Bill entering the law and in its first serious use, we end up with the head of the Met having to apologise to people who are wrongfully arrested.

Conservative MPs defended the polices handling of the event, with former minister Michael Ellis saying they did an excellent job in very difficult circumstances.

James Daly, Conservative MP for Bury North, said: It is reassuring that, for once, the Metropolitan Police acted on the side of the hard-working public who want to have the opportunity to enjoy events rather than being the victims of left-wing protest groups.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) claimed morale among police officers is at rock bottom when apologies are issued for them following instructions, saying: Im getting pretty fed up actually with the police apologising all the time.

I can say that ordinary police officers doing a decent job, as they did on Saturday, find their morale is at rock bottom when theyre given the instruction we will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebrations  which came from the Met Police on May 3  and then finding someone is apologising for them doing just that.

Several MPs raised concerns over reports of a journalist being detained by police at the coronation given that protections for journalistic freedom are included in the Public Order Act.

Mr Philp acknowledged the protections, adding: There is a complaints process and if an individual or others feel they werent fairly or properly treated, they do have a complaints process they can go through  but Parliament has made its view clear.
Campaigners at a march calling for the UK to remain in the EU (Andrew Milligan/PA)   Andrew Milligan

The SNP would undo Brexit as far as possible if the next general election results in a hung parliament, the party has said.

Analysis of Englands local authority election results indicates Labour could fall short of a majority in the Commons when the UK next goes to the polls.

SNP EU accession spokesman Alyn Smyth said his party would demand the UK has a close relationship with EU, in negotiations with a minority Labour government.

He said ahead of seeking to row back on Brexit, the SNPs key demands for the relationship between the UK and the EU would be to secure single market membership and restore free movement.

The SNP is one of the only major parties to support rejoining the EU, as Labour has ruled out any Brexit reversal and the Liberal Democrats have dropped calls for a rerun of the EU referendum.

Mr Smith said: Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK  costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis  and theres been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.

While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.

With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe.

Alyn Smith said Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland (Jane Barlow/PA)   Jane Barlow

He added: The SNP would also push for the UK to rejoin Erasmus and Horizon Europe, and defend the European Court of Justice, while ensuring Scotland has the power to escape Brexit entirely with independence.

At the next election, voting SNP is the only way to beat the Tories in Scotland  and a strong team of SNP MPs can get the best deal for Scotland, including powers over an independence referendum, a close relationship with Europe and making the cost of living crisis a key priority.

The vast majority of Scots believe the UK Government is handling Brexit badly, according the latest YouGov poll on May 1 which found 84% of Scots and 67% of people across the UK think this.

Only 9% of Scots and 22% of people across the UK told pollsters they believe the UK Government is handling Brexit well.

Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: This is a desperate bid for relevance from an out of touch and scandal-hit party.

Yet again the SNP is trying to talk up the Tories because they are terrified of a Labour government.

Only Labour can fix the mess the Tories have made of Brexit and build a stronger trading relationship with Europe.

At the next election we will be focused on booting the Tories out of Downing Street and delivering the change our country desperately needs.

Labour will not do any deals with the SNP under any circumstances and it is Tory fantasy politics to pretend otherwise.
LinkedIn, a Microsoft-owned social network aimed at business professionals, said on Monday, May 8, that it would lay off 716 employees and discontinue its China-focused job application due to waning demand.

LinkedIn monetizes itself via a combination of advertising revenue and paid memberships from sales and recruitment professionals.

Current Round of Layoff

This year, LinkedIn will lay off staff along with other large technology businesses, including its parent, as a result of the deteriorating global economic outlook.

In a report by Layoffs.fyi, more than 270,000 tech jobs throughout the world have been eliminated in the previous six months.

The New York Times reported that LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky explained the layoffs in a letter to staff members, citing slowing revenue growth and shifts in consumer preferences. He said that the company's recent decision to eliminate positions in the sales, operations, and support departments was made to streamline the company's operations and to reduce layers so that decisions could be made more quickly.

Roslansky said that the company was increasing its use of suppliers because "the market and customer demand are fluctuating more" and that doing so would help it better serve to develop and grow markets.

In his letter, Roslansky also said that the adjustments would lead to the addition of 250 jobs. A LinkedIn representative added that people laid off might apply for the open positions.

Initiative to Leave China

Following its decision to mostly exit from China in 2021, citing a "challenging" climate, LinkedIn also said it would be discontinuing the streamlined jobs app it provides in the nation. And now, according to a Reuters report, LinkedIn stated that the only surviving China app, InCareers, will be discontinued on August 9.

"Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision to discontinue the service," the company informed the users.

The LinkedIn representative confirmed that the company would maintain an office in China to continue assisting Chinese businesses with the international recruitment and development of their staff.

Read Also: Elon Musk: Twitter To 'Purge' Inactive Accounts To Free Up Usernames

Layoffs in Tech Sector

Most recent layoffs in the tech industry have been at major corporations, with Amazon being the largest of its kind in the company's history, with 27,000 employees affected.

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has cut off 21,000 employees, while Alphabet has laid off 12,000.

According to Layoffs.fyi, 5,000 tech positions had already been terminated in May before LinkedIn's statement.

Microsoft, which paid almost $26 billion for LinkedIn in 2016, has announced 10,000 layoffs and written down $1.2 billion due to the layoffs over the last several months.

Read Also: Warren Buffet Warns Against AI Development, Likens it to Nuclear Atomic Bomb Invention

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Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians who were killed in Israeli airstrikes, during their funeral in Gaza City, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The airstrikes killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group and 10 other people, including two of the commanders wives, several of their children and others nearby. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)   Fatima Shbair

Israel has carried out a series of targeted air strikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group and at least 12 civilians, Palestinian health officials said.

Two of the commanders wives, several of their children and other bystanders were among the dead, and the attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of heavy fighting.

The air strikes hit the top floor of an apartment building, a house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah.

Palestinians inspect damage to their building following Israeli air strikes at an apartment of an Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza, in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)   Adel Hana

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded and some were in serious or critical condition.

Israel said it targeted several militant training sites as well before the air strikes halted at daybreak.

After a lull, the Israeli military said warplanes struck militants carrying anti-tank guided missiles in the enclaves southern city of Khan Younis later on Tuesday. The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that two people were killed.

At midday, tens of thousands of people took part in two funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers through the streets in a mass procession in Gaza City. Childrens coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare and Palestinian militant groups have previously retaliated with heavy barrages of rocket fire.

In anticipation of renewed rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.

The Israeli military said it killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted air strikes (Fatima Shbair/AP)   Fatima Shbair

Israels Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and major roads in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings.

The military said the three targeted men had been responsible for recent rocket fire towards Israel.

It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihads military council.

Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gazas ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said those killed in the early morning strikes included four women and four children, including Bahtinis wife and four-year-old daughter and Izzeldeens two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza.

The strike on Bahtinis home killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said. The assault on Izzeldeens home killed an entire family living upstairs: Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist with Russian citizenship, his wife and his 19-year-old son Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist, the group reported.

Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians who were killed in Israeli air strikes (Fatima Shbair/AP)   Fatima Shbair

The Israeli air strikes drew condemnation from Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, Jordans foreign ministry and the Egyptian government, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israels chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He expressed regret over the civilian casualties but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas alongside civilians.

Tor Wennesland, the UN envoy to the Middle East, said he was deeply alarmed and condemned the civilian deaths, calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint.

Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of its choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in exile, warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings, adding: Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israels existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons.

In recent years, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks. Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets last week after one of its members in the West Bank died from a hunger strike while in Israeli custody.

A fire burns in an apartment of an Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza, following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)   Adel Hana

The Israeli military responded with air strikes and the exchange of fire ended with a ceasefire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar.

As soon as the rockets were fired last week, I, together with the minister of defence, ordered preparations for an operation to defeat the terrorist leaders, Israels Prime Minister Netanyahu said after a security briefing.

Our principle is sharp and clear: whoever hurts us, we will hurt them, and with overwhelming force.

Islamic Jihad says it coordinates its responses with Hamas as part of the so-called the Joint Operation Room, a Hamas-influenced umbrella of militant groups in Gaza. Islamic Jihad is closer to Iran than Hamas.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would be likely to trigger an even heavier Israeli response.

Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war in which more than 250 Palestinians were killed and Israel toppled homes and high-rise buildings in the coastal enclave. Thirteen people in Israel were also killed.

Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, told municipal leaders in southern Israel that we must be prepared for every eventuality, including a prolonged campaign and widening ranges of fire, his office said.
A woman signs a cross as a child looks on at a makeshift memorial by the mall where several people were killed in Saturdays mass shooting, Monday, May 8, 2023, in Allen, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)   Tony Gutierrez

A gunman with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping centre took eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities have said.

The Allen police officer who shot and killed 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, ending Saturdays attack, acted heroically and saved countless lives through his quick action, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference.

He said the officer is still processing what happened and is not ready to have his name made public.

Visitors stand in silence at a makeshift memorial (Tony Gutierrez/AP)   Tony Gutierrez

If he hadnt have been there, I think wed have had a much more severe situation, Mr Sibley said.

The investigation into Garcias motive is continuing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, Mr Sibley said, adding that Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia took eight guns to the scene, including three on him and five still in his vehicle, Mr Sibley added.

The big question that were dealing with right now is, Whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley said. Well, the big question is, we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles north of central Dallas.

Garcia researched when the shopping centre was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people. Among those killed were two primary school-age sisters, a couple and their three-year-old son, and a security guard.

A makeshift memorial by the shopping centre in Allen (Tony Gutierrez/AP)   Tony Gutierrez

An Associated Press review of Garcias online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia, who was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and had apparently been working as a security guard, according to neighbours and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the US.

The Associated Press independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of Dallass most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official.

The official said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

People work on constructing crosses at the scene (Tony Gutierrez/AP)   Tony Gutierrez

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, US Army spokeswoman Heather J Hagan said.

According to an Army official he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterised discharge, which is common for recruits who do not make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defence official. That type of discharge  which is not dishonourable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbours said they thought he worked as a security guard but they were not sure where.

A woman who lives next door said she did not know her neighbours well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests on Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of becoming law.
There is a very clear difference in policy between the UUP and the DUP when it comes to the post-Brexit arrangements   Liam McBurney / PA
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the West for initiating what he called a "real war" against Russia on the 78th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany on Tuesday.

During the Victory Day ceremony held at Red Square in central Moscow. Vladimir Putin drew parallels between the Soviet victory in 1945 and the Russia-Ukraine War, which he referred to as a "cult of Nazism."

Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russian servicemen and military families from the "special military operation" in Ukraine were present at the ceremony alongside WWII veterans and called on them to safeguard the country's security and statehood, according to NPR.

Due to the ongoing conflict Russia-Ukraine War, the Victory Day ceremony, which typically resembles the grand military parades of the Soviet era, was downsized.

Just before the ceremony, Russia launched a series of airstrikes in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials claiming to have taken down 23 out of 25 missiles.

Read Also: Kenya Cult Autopsies Show Missing Organs, Authorities Say

US Announces New Security Package For Ukraine

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Tuesday a new security assistance package to aid Ukraine's air defense and artillery ammunition needs. The security package, which is valued at up to $1.2 billion, falls under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), The Guardian reported.

The DoD emphasized that the package demonstrates the United States continued commitment to meeting Ukraine's most pressing requirements by providing critical near-term capabilities, including air defense systems and munitions, while also enhancing the capacity of Ukraine's armed forces to safeguard its territory and deter Russian aggression in the long run.

The package covers additional air defense systems and munitions, tools for integrating western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems, ammunition for countering unmanned aerial systems, 155mm artillery rounds, commercial satellite imagery services, and support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

While Ukrainian officials have not yet made an official announcement about the beginning of the counteroffensive, a spate of recent explosions targeting fuel depots, power transmission lines, cargo trains, and military buildings in annexed Crimea and western Russia suggests that it is already in progress, as per a report from Al Jazeera.

Related Article: Victory Day in Russia: Celebrations Begin in Moscow Despite Mounting Pressure

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Updated at 7:20 p.m. ET on 2023-05-09

The news media environment in the Pacific island states is experiencing some major turbulence, with a government of a key country trying to legislate the national press as competition grows between superpowers to court journalists in the region.

Papua New Guinea, which is scheduled to host U.S. President Joe Biden on May 22, is currently the center of attention.

Draft media legislation unveiled there on Feb. 6 has elements of Chinas controlled media system, as opposed to the liberal media model which has been the norm both in PNG and across the Pacific. If the law passes as expected, the PNG media will come under government regulation for the first time in the countrys history.

Autocratic-minded national governments and leaders were once considered the major threat to media independence in the Pacific, but the situation has become complicated by the intensifying geopolitical contest in the region, with China on one side, and the United States and Australia on the other.

Research published by the Australian National Universitys Department of Pacific Affairs in 2020 indicates that media are one of the core avenues of competition in the Pacific between Australia and China.

Likewise, another report, Beijings Global Media Influence 2022 by Freedom House, suggests that Pacific island states could be part of Chinas greater media strategy.

It is then perhaps no coincidence that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) launch of the 2023 edition of the World Press Freedom Index last week. He called on governments to ensure media safety and protect journalists ability to do their jobs without fear.

In terms of its proposed media law, PNG is following in the footsteps of Fiji, the first country in the region to bring the national media under government regulation through its 2010 Media Industry Development Act. The law was in place for nearly 13 years before it was repealed by the new government elected in December 2022.

The trend of legislating the national media in Fiji and PNG taking hold in other Pacific island countries is alarming some observers because historically, media practice in the region has been based on the western liberal watchdog model, which emphasizes the importance of holding governments to account. This is premised on the separation of powers principle whereby an independent media is seen as a cornerstone of democracy, and allowed to operate with minimum government control.

The respective models dumped by Fiji and proposed by PNG have parallels with Chinas controlled media system, with comparatively stronger government regulation and little tolerance for government criticism. There is some pressure to report news and information that the government deems beneficial to the nation.

Media regulation is usually considered an internal affair, and it is unclear whether the proposed PNG media law is on Bidens agenda. But any attempts to capture or commandeer the news media, whether by foreign elements or national governments, is cause for concern, not just because of the impact on media independence, but also due to the potentially negative effect on democratic norms in society as a whole.

There is ample evidence of this from Fiji: In the 2020 Freedom House Freedom in the World Report, Fiji managed only a partly free ranking, despite elections in 2014 and 2018, partly because of its restrictive press laws. There is a clear correlation between the 2022 Freedom House report on the decline of democracy in Fiji and the 2022 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index finding that Fiji is the worst place in the Pacific for journalists.

While Fiji has repealed its media act, its imprint, though, can still be felt in the region.

According to an Australian National University Discussion Paper published in 2017, besides Fiji and PNG, news media in two other Melanesian countries, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, also faced increased government hostility, including threats of stronger legislation.

In the report, the governments of all four countries expressed a preference for a developmental, nation-building journalistic approach, which is closer to the Chinese communist media model than the liberal watchdog model.

Reporters targeted

In some instances, anti-media sentiments are actually playing out in the field, with cases of crackdowns against reporters critical of China, or of national governments.

In October 2019, Australian 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlet and his crew were deported from Kiribati while investigating the countrys switch from Taiwan to China. Likewise, the Vanuatu Daily Post news director, Dan McGarry, was temporarily barred from the country for his October 2019 report on the arrest of six Chinese nationals in Vanuatu by Chinese and Vanuatu police.

And in November 2018, PNG journalist Scott Waide was sacked by the state-owned media company EMTV for criticizing the PNG Governments purchase of 40 luxury Maseratis for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.

While being followed by a government vehicle in the Kiribati capital Tarawa, Bartlet wondered whether thats the Kiribati government or whether somebody from [the] government operating under Chinese instruction. Its a very, very strange thing to happen in a place like this, he added.

For his part, McGarry stated that he had observed a trend among some Pacific leaders of emulating behavior that they had noticed elsewhere, whereas Waide stated that Pacific governments were taking lessons from China when dealing with their critics. Im not saying Chinas directly telling them what to do, but people watch, people learn, he said.

Claims of major China efforts to influence the Pacific mediascape are repeated in the latest Australian Strategic Institute report released this year, titled: Seeking to undermine democracy and partnerships: How the CCP is influencing the Pacific islands information environment. The report alleges that China is engaging in coordinated information operations in Pacific island countries designed to influence political elites, public discourse and political sentiment regarding existing partnerships with Western democracies.

In this regard, the significance of Bidens PNG visit cannot be overstated. It follows U.S. special envoy Joseph Yuns recent comments that Washington was playing catch-up after years of neglect saw China make huge inroads into the region.

Not only is Biden the first sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea, he is scheduled to meet no less than 18 Pacific leaders during the stopover. Such a high-profile visit is likely to receive lavish local and international coverage.

Among other things, it shows that despite its smallness, and for all its weaknesses, the Pacific media sector has a high strategic value in the information warfare pertaining to the geopolitical contest in the region.

Shailendra Bahadur Singh is an associate professor and head of the journalism program at The University of the South Pacific in Fiji. He has written widely on Pacific media, politics and development. The views in this article are his own and do not reflect the position of The University of the South Pacific or BenarNews.
An Indonesian Special Air Force personnel stands guard outside the Komodo International Airport ahead of the ASEAN Summit being held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, May 9, 2023.

As Southeast Asian leaders gather at a scenic spot in Indonesia this week, they face a daunting challenge to resolve the crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup has unleashed a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and ethnic minorities.

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met Tuesday to hammer out the agenda for the leaders summit scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Labuan Bajo, a fishing town on Flores island in eastern Indonesia.

Retno Marsudi, the foreign minister of 2023 ASEAN chair Indonesia, said the bloc was instrumental to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

We cannot imagine what will happen in this region if we dont have ASEAN, she said after the meeting. But we cannot be complacent. This achievement should be an asset to build a stronger ASEAN, a more relevant ASEAN.

The summits main topics include the implementation of ASEANs five-point peace plan for Myanmar and the blocs outlook on the Indo-Pacific region, which has become a theater of rivalry between China and the United States.

ASEAN member Myanmar, which will not be represented at the summit after being barred from sending political representatives, has been in turmoil since the military overthrew an elected government in February 2021.

The junta has cracked down on mass protests, killed more than 3,000 people and arrested thousands more, according to human rights groups.

The United Nations said more than 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Myanmar because of the violence.

Civilian deaths are growing amid a jump in airstrikes by the military junta, whose ground forces have faced stiff resistance from rebels and ordinary citizens who have taken up arms, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.

The military has killed at least 452 civilians in southern Shan and Kayah states in the 26 months since the coup, rebel groups told RFA, a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch accused the Burmese military of committing a war crime by using a powerful weapon that killed more than 160 people, including children, in an attack on an opposition building in the Sagaing region on April 11.

HRW said it reviewed photos and videos of the victims and the site, and concluded that the initial strike was conducted with a large, air-dropped enhanced-blast type munition, which is often called thermobaric or a vapor-cloud explosive.

The Myanmar militarys use of a weapon designed to cause maximum deaths on an area crowded with civilians shows flagrant disregard for human life, said Elaine Pearson, HRW Asia director. Foreign governments need to cut off the juntas funding, arms and jet fuel to deter further atrocities.

The attack targeted a gathering of about 300 residents from Kantbalu township who were opening an opposition-controlled administrative office. The military claimed it was aiming at members of an anti-junta militia and that the casualties were caused by explosions of stored explosives and landmines.

Quiet diplomacy strategy has not worked

ASEAN has been under pressure to take a more active role in resolving the crisis in Myanmar that is seen as threatening regional stability and security.

In April 2021, ASEAN leaders held a special summit on Myanmar and issued a five-point consensus. It included calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, a special envoy to facilitate mediation and humanitarian assistance.

The consensus has not been implemented because of the juntas lack of cooperation and continued repression.

The junta also rejected calls for dialogue with the National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow government formed by ousted lawmakers and anti-coup activists.

Retno said last week that she had met with stakeholders from Myanmar and other countries that have leverage over the junta as part of what she described as non-megaphone diplomacy.

But rights activists and some observers accused ASEAN of being too lenient with the junta.

ASEANs quiet diplomacy strategy has not worked. We do not see any reduction of violence there, but rather more civilians have been killed in air strikes, Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN), said in an online discussion last week.

Sidharto Suryodipuro, director general of ASEAN cooperation at Indonesias foreign ministry, defended the lack of publicity, saying some issues were too sensitive to be revealed to the public.

If everything is opened up, there will be no successful negotiations, he said last week.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo (right) talks with East Timor Prime Minister Jose Maria de Vasconcelos (known as Taur Matan Ruak) during their meeting ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, May 9, 2023. [Akbar Nugroho Gumay/pool via Reuters]

On Monday, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo condemned an attack on a diplomatic convoy delivering humanitarian relief to displaced people in Myanmar the previous day. The convoy included members of the ASEAN disaster management agency and diplomats from Indonesia and Singapore.

Jokowi said the attack would not deter Indonesia and ASEAN from helping Myanmar restore democracy and peace.

Stop the violence because it will only hurt civilians and benefit no one. Let us sit together and start a dialogue, the president said.

This weeks ASEAN summit is also expected to address other issues such as the South China Sea disputes and maritime security as well as the promotion of human rights and democracy in the region.

Indonesia expects the summit to conclude with initiatives on human trafficking, migrant workers, fisheries, health, rural development, electric vehicles and payment connectivity.

Officials also hope the summit will showcase Labuan Bajo as a premium tourism destination. The town is known for its natural beauty and proximity to Komodo National Park, home to the endangered Komodo dragons.

Tria Dianti in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Uniforms and safety helmets are seen at a Lynas Advanced Materials Plant in Gebeng, Pahang, Malaysia, July 23, 2019.

Malaysias government announced Monday that it gave rare earth miner Lynas at least six more months to ensure that its processing activities in the country are free of radiation, saying the minerals are critical for a variety of global high-tech industries.

With the extension, the company that extracts rare earth ore from Australia and sends it for processing at its Malaysian facility, can keep bringing in raw material that contains natural radioactive materials until years end, said Chang Lih Kang, minister of science and technology.

Taking into account the impact of this decision on the global rare earth supply chain, I have agreed to extend the operation period of the cracking and leaching (C&L) plant until Dec.31, 2023, he said in a statement about the part of the facility in Pahang state that was originally scheduled to be shut on July 1.

Therefore, effective Jan. 1, 2024  Lynas is no longer allowed to import raw materials containing natural radioactive substances to Malaysia, the minister added.

Chang had earlier said that since 2012, Lynas had produced about 1.08 million metric tons of radioactive waste in Malaysia. This amount was expected to reach 1.2 million metric tons by July.

In February, although the government had not allowed the cracking and leaching part of the plant to operate beyond July 1, the Pahang facility itself was given a fresh three-year license.

On Monday, responding to the extension for the cracking and leaching plant, Lynas said it would continue to seek a legal review.

Malaysia offers legal avenues for the review of the license conditions, it said in a statement.

Lynas has made significant investments in its Malaysian facility and will seek review through these processes in respect of the conditions to ensure that Lynas is treated fairly and equitably as a Foreign Direct Investor and as a significant employer and contributor to the Malaysian economy.

Lynas last month announced that it was considering either a temporary shutdown of its operations in Malaysia or a significant reduction in production if the license conditions that forbid the import and processing of a chemical called lanthanide concentrate were enforced after July 1.

Lynas Malaysian plant had broken Chinas near-monopoly on processing elements vital for defense and aerospace industries. China controls 80% of rare earth production. Lynas is the worlds largest rare-earth producer outside of China.

Rare earths  17 minerals such as cerium, lanthanum and neodymium  are used in electronics and objects such as jet-fighter engines, Tomahawk cruise missiles and space-based satellites. smart phones.

With tensions running high between Washington and Beijing, the supply of rare earths to the United States and its allies is seen as critical.

But one Malaysian environmentalist group. Save Malaysia, expressed disappointment that Lynas cracking and leaching facility was granted an extension.

Though we, Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas noted with regret that considerable considerations have been granted to Lynas to extend its operation till the end of this year, we hope there will be no further extension after that date, the groups chairman, Tan Bun Teet, said in a statement on Monday.

At the same time, we hope the ministry and Atomic Energy Licensing Board will monitor closely the radioactive wastes that would be generated during this extended period and have them managed effectively and safely.

The group also urged the ministry to ensure that Lynas fulfills its commitment to ship out waste residue if it fails to identify a suitable site for a permanent disposal facility.
Stacks of cash allegedly embezzled from the Wat Pa Dhammakiri in Nakhon Ratchasima province are on display at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, May 6, 2023.

Seven Buddhist monks and two others have been detained on charges linked to the alleged embezzlement of about 300 million baht (U.S. $8.9 million) since 2020 from a temple in Nakhon Ratchasima province, east of Bangkok, police said.

The main suspect, a monk identified as Khom Abhivaro, who was in charge of finances at the temple, Wat Pa Dhammakiri, was arrested and disrobed on Friday over the alleged misappropriation of funds.

Police Lt. Gen. Jirapop Phuridej said investigators discovered that Khom, who was the temples deputy chief abbot, hid 70 million baht in his sisters bank account and 51 million baht in a suitcase.

He and his abbot pleaded guilty to the police investigators, Jirapop said, adding that the abbot has been identified as Wuthima, who was also arrested on Friday with one other person.

[I]f they were truly innocent, they would have naturally put the money in the temples bank

accounts.

Khoms sister, Juthathip Phulobdiwachoruphan, allegedly was involved in the scheme so the money could be transferred to her bank account.

On Tuesday, the Central Investigation Bureau arrested six other people  five monks and a driver  on suspicion they had roles in the embezzlement.

Significantly, we investigated  and found more gold bars valued at 19 million to 20 million baht (up to $590,000) in cash buried at the hill behind the temple, Jirapop said.

The probe began at the request of the National Office of Buddhism. Thai media reported that the office had received tips that two monks had been embezzling donations from their temple.

The Central Criminal Court ordered arrest warrants for Khom, his sister and Wuthima on charges linked to misappropriation of funds. The three appeared in court on Monday where they were denied bail on concerns they could be flight risks or could tamper with evidence, according to officials.
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With the daily lodging cost for asylum seekers in the UK over $7.5 million, a massive three-story houseboat arrived on Tuesday, May 9, to lodge at least 500 individuals.

The Bibby Stockholm was towed to Falmouth, Cornwall, where it will undergo refurbishment before continuing to its final destination in Dorset.

Earlier this month, the UK government revealed that it had rented a barge for 18 months in order to host 500 single adult males who would have unrestricted access to the area, which is a popular destination for tourists.

New Approach to House Migrants

On its website, the huge barge advertises itself as offering "luxury living," with Wi-Fi available everywhere and facilities including a complete gym with weights, cross trainers, and treadmills, as well as a gaming area with pool tables. Medical attention and round-the-clock security are also provided for passengers.

It has 222 rooms with private bathrooms, a gym, pool tables, and food service. Yet, it will be modified to hold up to 506 asylum seekers, who will likely have to share rooms with bunk beds and private bathrooms.

In a report by The Telegraph, people staying aboard the barge may leave at any time, but authorities will check up on them via phone if they do not come back to the vessel overnight. Those who are absent for longer than seven days, or 14 calendar days during a six-month period, are at risk of being terminated.

When full, it will cost around $31,500 per day, or about $63 per day per migrant, which is less than a third of the cost of housing them in hotels, as remarked by The Telegraph.

More than 45,000 migrants entered the UK over the English Channel last year. The government estimates that it costs at least $7.5 million per day to house them in hotels, according to the New York Post.

To save money for the British government and to prevent the UK from becoming a magnet for asylum shoppers in Europe, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has previously called for new approaches to housing migrants.

Also Read: UK PM's Conservative Party Faces Difficult Road to Recovery Following Steep Losses in Local Elections

Concerns Among Legislators

Members of Parliament (MPs) for Dorset, meanwhile, have said that they are contemplating legal action to halt the "inappropriate" proposal to put the migrants in a popular tourist spot that hosts cruise ships.

"What are the conditions going to be like in a barge with 506 young men from all over the world - some possibly disturbed mentally - couped up in a quasi-prison?" Conservative Richard Drax posed the question.

Dorset Council expressed strong opposition to the plans, citing concerns about the suitability of Portland Port in this context.

Portland Port Mayor Pete Roper, where the barge will be docked in the final days, has expressed growing concern for the women left on the island.

Also Read: Illegal Migrants Commit Crimes 'Very Quickly' After Arriving in UK, Suella Braverman Claims

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Girls on the Run Vermont is serving over 1,800 third through eighth grade participants statewide. The Vermont council hosts two culminating 5K events, one held at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex on June 3 and one at Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park in Manchester on June 10. Both events are powered by about 150 local volunteers  visit gotrvt.org to register.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
NORTH ADAMS  The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has opted not to put a homeless shelter on campus.

In a letter emailed to the MCLA community on Tuesday, College President James Birge announced that the college would not go forward with the plan after extensive consideration.

Since late last year, the college has been discussing an offer to take part in a state-run program that would relocate homeless families to the Berkshire Towers dormitory, which is currently vacant.

Birge said that he has heard both positive and critical feedback since announcing the possibility of the deal, which couldve landed the college $2.6 million a year.

I have decided to halt discussions about possibly using Berkshire Towers as a temporary shelter for families, Birge wrote in the letter. I deeply admire and respect Governor Healys approach and regret that some people made incorrect assumptions related to the college and the use of Berkshire Towers for a long-term lease. Differing and conflicting opinions and thoughts often arise when controversial societal issues are on the table.

While he supports the states initiative to find housing for families, Birge expressed concerns with the length of the long-term lease and ongoing operational questions and concerns.

It is my hope that the consideration of this proposal, although not implemented, will motivate a broader and comprehensive dialogue regarding family housing in the Berkshires, Birge added.

Birge did not have time for an interview Tuesday afternoon, college spokesperson Bernadette Alden told The Eagle.

We are disappointed in this outcome, Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey, said in an emailed statement to The Eagle. With our shelter system at capacity due to increasing arrivals to the state and increasing housing costs, we all need communities to play a role in helping to meet our states housing needs.

Our administration will continue to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to this crisis to ensure we can connect families with shelter and meet our obligations under state law, Hand added.

The proposed shelter had become a polarizing topic in the Berkshires second-largest community. While some students and residents who live near campus supported the idea, others questioned the prolonged lack of transparency from MCLA.

There were also concerns about the impact it would have on enrollment and whether the city had the infrastructure to support dozens of new families. Critics included Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who on Tuesday praised Birges decision to halt the plan.

North Adams was not prepared for the shelter, she said. While I always want to try to help families, she said, I think this is the best move at this time for the city and also MCLA  to think about working together to build enrollment and build community.

Macksey hopes the discussion can move toward how resources for the North Adams community can be increased.

She added that there seemed to be a disconnect between the state and the college, as she spoke to Birge about the project on May 1 and hed yet to make a decision, but she got the impression from the state that it was moving forward.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development and MCLA began discussing housing homeless families on the schools campus last November. The lease of the dorm would have likely started this summer.

The plan had called for the dorm to house up to 50 families, some from Western Massachusetts and some who are new to the country.

The lease was expected to be for 18 months.

Northampton-based mental health and human service agency ServiceNet, which was tapped to run the facility at MCLA, did not return a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Community Development could also not be reached for comment.

State Rep. John Barrett, D-North Adams, who like Macksey has also been a vocal critic of the plan, said he appreciated that Birge listening to the community.

It was a great threat to our city moving forward, if this project had gone ahead, he said. Its great news for the college, and great news for the city too.

Barrett said North Adams is already the third-poorest city in the state.

If we were burdened by something we could not handle, it would cause irreparable harm to the community and, in turn, the college, he said.
PITTSFIELD  A Dalton man has been charged with second-offense drunken driving after he crashed head-on into another car early Sunday morning, seriously injuring another motorist.

Cameron Taylor-Boland, 28, was ordered to be held without bail pending a pretrial hearing scheduled next month.

He is accused of being drunk about 5 a.m. Sunday when, while driving eastbound his Chevrolet Silverado near 1050 Dalton Ave., he entered the westbound lane and struck a Toyota Camry, said Assistant District Attorney Aleah Fisher.

Both Taylor-Boland and the driver of the Camry, 85-year-old John Cicchetti, were taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

At the hospital, doctors found that the Cicchetti, also of Dalton, had suffered serious internal injuries, Fisher said. He has since stabilized, but remained in critical condition on Monday.

Fisher said Taylor-Boland has cooperated with police investigating the crash.

From his hospital bed about 6:45 a.m., Taylor-Boland told Sgt. Marc Maddalena that he had left work at a local restaurant about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, according to a police report.

He said he went to a friends house in Dalton, then to another friends house in Hinsdale, where he stayed for the rest of the night and drank.

Taylor-Boland said he drank too much and blacked out, and doesnt remember what happened after he left his friends house or have a recollection of the crash, according to the report. He expressed concern for Cicchetti and asked police to update him on his medical condition.

Taylor-Boland was arrested on charges of second-offense OUI causing serious bodily injury and a marked lanes violation. After posting bail, he appeared in Central Berkshire District Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The probation department said by allegedly driving drunk again, Taylor-Boland violated conditions imposed in connection with his first drunken driving case, which was continued without a finding earlier this year.

That case also involved a car crash, Fisher said.

This is now two OUIs in a very short period of time, she said.

The probation department asked Judge Janine Simonian to order Taylor-Boland held in jail until a hearing can be held about the alleged probation violation.

That hearing was scheduled for June 2. Simonian agreed to that request, noting the similarities between the two cases.

Now we have a before us another ... motor vehicle crash where the victim is clinging to life at the hospital right now, Simonian said.

The judge also agreed to the prosecutors request to set bail for charges connected to Sunday mornings crash at $1,000 cash.

Taylor-Boland, through defense lawyer William Barry, had asked for change to post bail and check into an addiction treatment facility. Barry said the previous OUI was Taylor-Bolands first criminal case.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
WEST STOCKBRIDGE  What if two candidates run for a Select Board seat and theres no winner?

Thats what happened Monday when Town Clerk Ronni Barrett emerged from the Town Hall polling site shortly after 7 p.m. to tell waiting candidates and a few residents eagerly awaiting the results

Its a tie!

Current Chairwoman Kathleen Keresey and challenger Jon Piasecki each tallied 202 votes, leaving both candidates startled and everyone bewildered. Ill have to check with the higher-ups in the state, Barrett said. There was a write-in vote, for Humpty-Dumpty, she added.

Im speechless, said Keresey, declining further comment at Town Hall. On Tuesday morning she told The Eagle she has contacted KP Law in Boston, the town counsel, for further guidance.

I dont know what to say, Piasecki said. Its unbelievable. I never saw this coming, its totally unexpected. He also reached out to town counsel and the state attorney-generals office on Tuesday.

Selectman Andy Potter, who was not on the ballot, said: Ive never seen anything like it. It means the town is exactly split.

As a resident observed, You cant make this stuff up.

The next step, according to state law, would be a recount paid for by the state, involving tallies by hand of the electronic ballots.

Recounts can be requested by either or both candidates through the town clerk.

If the recount yields another tie, its unclear what would be done next. Also up in the air was the question of how the Select Board would function pending the outcome of a recount that could be several weeks away.

Turnout was 33 percent  406 voters out of 1,218 registered in the town cast ballots.

It appeared to be the only tie in recent memory for a Berkshire County municipal election. In 2002, a special election for a vacant seat on the Stockbridge Select Board yielded a 194-194 tie between William F. French and George Shippey, according to Eagle archives.

In other election results, a ballot question to make the town clerk an appointed position yielded 158 in favor, 152 against. A second ballot question to make the tax collector appointed resulted in 167 yes votes, and 143 no votes.
GREAT BARRINGTON  At the Hilltown Pork butchery in Canaan, New York, near the West Stockbridge town line, workers can only process so much beef, pork, lamb and goat meat.

There isnt enough space or staffing for all that is produced by Hilltowns 220 farms  30 to 40 of which are in Berkshire County  and the pace of operations is wearing out equipment that can easily run up to $30,000 to replace.

There are no meat processors in the Berkshires, so farmers bring their animals to various butcheries in the region and beyond.

Theres not enough of us to take care of the demand thats out there, said Ben Beckwith, Hilltowns vice president, owner and general manager. He said hes seen this demand rise over the last 15 years, and a spike that began during the pandemic as residents developed new buying habits to avoid grocery stores. People want to know where their food is coming from a lot more than in the past.

Enter Berkshire Agricultural Ventures with a solution.

The nonprofit last month received a $630,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The grant comes through the USDA Rural Development Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program. Combined with $210,000 in donations from the community, the nonprofit will establish an $840,000 revolving loan fund intended to help meat processors in the Berkshire-Taconic foodshed absorb more deliveries from farms.

It also allows the nonprofit to expand assistance through its Local Meat Processing Support Program  offering free technical help, loans, grant-writing and other support.

Berkshire Agricultural Ventures mission is to keep local food agriculture in the Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut region viable and thriving.

We want to try to mitigate the bottleneck that exists, said Jake Levin, manager of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures meat processing support program. Part of the problem is that [farms] are sending all their animals [for processing] at the same time.

Thats because the prime time for slaughter is late summer and fall when animals are fattened up after eating rich forage, explained Levin, himself a butcher and charcuterie expert. Thats when flavor will be the best.

Both ends of the business are fraught. There arent enough processors, a high cost operation Levin said. And staffing problems have added to the trouble. Farmers have to drive sometimes long distances to deliver animals and return again to pick up the butchered meat.

Theres always a backlog.

They have to schedule processing a year ahead, Levin said, in some cases before the animal has even gestated.

Berkshire farmers told The Eagle in 2021 that the great challenge of raising meat animals is finding a processor.

The low-interest loans will help. The money will be available for purchases and renovations that include expansion of cutting rooms, building new coolers or smokehouses, Levin said.

It could help pay for a refrigerated truck or an automated sausage stuffer.

While the loans will only be available initially to meat processors, when repaid, the money can be loaned out again more broadly to others in that food production chain.

In terms of the long-term picture, this is a huge game changer, Levin said.

Beckwith, of Hilltown Pork, said he had just been talking to his wife about applying for a loan  Hilltown needs to expand two work rooms, buy a new walk-in cooler and two machines that will run around $30,000 each, including a cryovac food sealer machine.

Very expensive things, Beckwith said, for very small businesses like ourselves.
PITTSFIELD  When King Charles III is hidden by panels of fabric and anointed with holy oil, we are meant to believe that we are attendants to a miracle.

Without the sound of George Frideric Handels immortal Zadok the Priest, we would scarcely believe it. But when the insistent arpeggios give way to that ecstatic eruption of unified voices, we may well accept that anything could be happening behind those heavy screens.

The musical trappings of religion and royalty have long coexisted to support their mythmaking. Kings and queens, popes and emperors have long engaged composers in the expensive, collaborative pursuit of fabrication. Without royal and sacred commissions, there is no Handel, no Bach, no Mozart.

With the dozen new works commissioned for Charles coronation (and already an album), the trappings have changed, but the mission is constant: create, and awe us.

A monarch, or course, is a sticky commodity. Charles wealth and power are built on a millennium of violent subjugation and exploitation of people at home and across the world, a pain felt particularly lastingly by communities of color.

Simultaneously, one recognizes the value and historical imperative of royal commissions for new work, and the immense cost therein. If bloodstained Windsor wealth continues to exist, then making new art is among the more worthwhile places to spend it.

And what art it was.

The kings music

From the off, royal harpist Alis Huws reinvented her instrument for Tros y Garreg (Crossing the Stone), a new arrangement by Sir Karl Jenkins of a Welsh folk song.

The tightest, highest-pitched strings became bold and crisp as she plucked lyrical droplets of notes against the weeping rainfall of violins and her harps lower register. The deep, swaying dirge of the folk song became its ancient rock, on which Huws and the spectating Jenkins could ponder the new sounds slowly eroding it.

Changing, never constant ever, still I find thee, dear old stone, read the lyrics, according to a BBC translation. One need not wonder at the reason for its inclusion in this coronation of change amid the immutable.

Bryn Terfel lights up Ozawa Hall LENOX >> A song recital by Bryn Terfel isn't just a concert. It's an event.

Saturday was a very Welsh day for the former Prince of Wales. Sir Bryn Terfel, the Caernarfonshire-born bass-baritone (who has appeared at Tanglewood), sang a Welsh invocation, Kyrie eleison by countryman Paul Mealor. It began dark and brooding as a gnarled forest, rising to warmth and sheen on Terfels electric voice.

Soprano Pretty Yende, the first African-born soloist at a British coronation, sang Sacred Fire, a new work by Sarah Class. An uninspired, paint-by-numbers piece, Yende nonetheless lent it the favor of her powerful voice, ensorcelling in low and quiet warbling, bewitching at its exultant high.

Indeed, not all the new work is destined to become classic: The organ commission Voices of the World by Iain Farrington was a total disaster, a pity given it righteously aimed to incorporate traditional melodies from the Commonwealth, per Classic FM.

Perhaps these melodies would have been better served in the instruments of their countries and peoples, instead of the clamoring arrhythmia of an enormous pipe organ shrunk somehow to that of a seaside music hall. Not for nothing, relegating the enormous commonwealth (a group of former British colonies) to a medley was the bare least that could be done.

The meeting of worlds

Where the new wove with the old was where the coronations music was most successful. Yende later sang offerings from Handel, and baritone Roderick Williams, another opera veteran, was crisp and regally confident as he offered advice from the Book of Kings set to a George VI-vintage tune.

This sort of music, work seeing its second  or, as Zadok, 10th  coronation, reminds us of the particular otherworldliness of this gold and these jewels and those impossibly high ceilings that mean to bring the heavens indoors.

Roxanna Panufniks new Sanctus fit perfectly within this deliberately ethereal plane. Its progressions were almost alien, its vocal modulations superhuman. Holy, holy, holy, sings the choir in Latin then English, that string of words from Isaiah so special that, when their Hebrew counterparts arise in the Jewish faith, one actually rises to ones tip-toes.

This is the god-king that monarchs once were and now, in dissonant turns, shun yet try to play at. This is the sublime of holy oil and symbolic swords that has taken on no thin patina of Pythonesque absurdity.

This is the complete opposite of the ridiculous notion  bandied about by those who defend the gluttonous monarchy  that to survive modernity, the king must be more like us.

Rubbish. This is the music meant to transubstantiate in our ears like so much wine and so many wafers  to transfigure man to king before our senses when we know, of course, he hasnt changed at all.

None of this majesty can be humanized; its far too wondrous for that.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders, including top Republicans, in the Oval Office to discuss the impending default crisis, although expectations for progress are low.

Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have little time to act, making this meeting a significant step forward. The White House has thus far refused to negotiate the debt ceiling itself, but both sides agree that a resolution is necessary to avoid a catastrophic economic disaster, per NBC News.

According to a White House aide, the president is determined to emphasize the importance of resolving the US debt limit and preventing default during the meeting

Tuesday's meeting between the POTUS and Congressional leaders marks the first time since February that President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet to discuss the issue of debt and spending, according to ABC News.

The past few months have been filled with ongoing negotiations, with President Joe Biden and Democrats pushing for a debt ceiling increase without any conditions attached, while Kevin McCarthy and Republicans insist on spending cuts and other budget changes.

Despite both sides publicly expressing a desire to avoid default, recent comments show they are still far apart in resolving.

Read Also: Putin Accuses West of Waging "Real War" Against Russia

US Congress Will Determine The Outcome

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refrained from setting expectations for Tuesday's meeting, describing it as a "conversation" between the US government leaders.

Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young reiterated that it is Congress' responsibility to prevent a US government default and that nothing is preventing them from taking action to do so.

The US reached the debt ceiling set by Congress in January, prompting the Treasury Department to take extraordinary measures to keep the government functioning. However, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently warned that the US government could default as early as June 1 if Congress does not address the debt limit, according to CNN.

According to Moody's Analytics, a breach of the debt limit may have disastrous repercussions, including missed Social Security payments, missed payments to veterans and government workers, and huge losses to American investors' capital.

Related Article: Burger King To Shut 400 US Store

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CNMs are integrated into wider healthcare systems, working in office and hospital settings, birth centers, as well as caring for women and families choosing homebirth. CNMs work collaboratively with physician colleagues to provide the highest quality care.
Today

Sunny. High 87F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar publishes a list of nonprofit and community events Tuesdays and Fridays. Please check with your club or organization to be certain of meetings, outings and classes, as they may be canceled due to bad weather or COVID-19. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com. (Deadline is noon Sundays for Tuesday's paper and noon Wednesday for Friday's paper.)

Police Memorial Ceremony: 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the north end of Robinson Quad outside Ferris State University's David L Eisler Center, 805 Campus Drive, Big Rapids.

100+ Women Who Care of Mecosta County: 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at Antlers Fireside Grill, 10107 Buchanan Road, Canadian Lakes. Find out what 100+ Women Who Care is about at this informational meeting.

Mum-Bees Spring Market: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Mum-Bees Honey Farm, 22537 Monroe Road, Morley. Features local crafters, beekeeping equipment and an Q&A with Bob Mumby at noon.

Camp 911: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 at the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety building, 435 N. Michigan Ave. Hands-on learning program is designed to prepare senior adults for various emergencies. For more information or to register call 231-796-4848.

Big Rapids High School Commencement: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Big Rapids High School, 21175 15 Mile Road, Big Rapids.

Mom 2 Mom Sale: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at ResLife Church of Big Rapids, 14734 215th Ave., Big Rapids. Cost: $1 door fee benefits Angels of Action.

Spring Craft and Vendor Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Royal View Assisted Living, 9100 Buchanan, Mecosta. Features local artists, craftsmen, galleries, and more.

Baldwin Blessing of the Bikes: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Baldwin Municipal Airport, 7038 S. M-37, Baldwin. Blessing is at 1 p.m. Cost: $5, available at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 895 Michigan Ave., Baldwin; the Duane E. Dewey AmVets Post 1988, 1959 W. 24th St., Baldwin; and at the gate Sunday morning.

ONGOING PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES

Big Rapids Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays (May 3-Oct. 27) and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays (May 23-Sept. 26) in the city hall parking lot, 226 N. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids.

Mecosta County Historical Museum: New summer hours, 1-3 p.m. Saturdays at 129 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. For more information or to schedule a private tour, call 520-334-0123, 231-796-4662, or 231-867-3311.

Mecosta County Genealogical Society: New summer hours, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. Open for the public to research genealogy or the history of Mecosta County and surrounding areas. Volunteers needed to help with sorting and indexing. Call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555 for more information.

Reed City Heritage Museum: Open from 1-4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday at 138 W. Slosson Ave., Reed City. Free Admission. Groups are welcome.

Mecosta County Sheriff Posse: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for more members. For more info call 231-250-9241.

Morley Community Center: 151 7th St., Morley. For more information, visit morleycenter.org/events or call 231-856-4496.

Cardio Drumming: 1-2 p.m. Sundays

Pickleball: 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Open Gym: 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays.

Garage Sales: Every other Friday and Saturday (Feb. 17-18, March 3-4, etc.).

Blood Drive: 1-7 p.m. second Monday of odd numbered months

Community Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Third Avenue United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The community lunch program has re-opened.This is a free meal service, although donations are appreciated. For more information call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779.

ARTWORKS CLASSES, EXHIBITS

106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org

Lecture on Roman Landscapes: At noon Friday, May 19. Dr. Rachel Foulk will examine how the Tomb of Patron, a first-century B.C. tomb in Rome, utilizes landscape to defy the darkness of death.

After School Art: 3:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays, for ages 7-13. Drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first serve basis, but we highly recommend calling our gift shop to pre-register: 231-796-2420. Registration will only be accepted for the current weeks class beginning Monday of that week. For more information, visit artworksinbigrapids.org/after-school-art.

Open Pottery: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $10 per session, $60 for an eight-session punch card. (Additional firing fees apply. Clay may be purchased in bulk for $20 per 25 lbs.) Call 231-796-2420 to schedule your session.

Exhibit  Landscape and Culture: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday in Artworks' Alley Gallery.

Exhibit  Landscape Painting: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, April 11-June 30, in Artworks' Batdorff Gallery. Featuring work by Anthony Cairo, Katie Mester, James Roberts (JR), and Tom Tomasek.
The focus of this year's Shine Programme is "access to health and nutrition" through technology led innovations and financial solutions for low-income communities

Swiss Re Global Business Solutions India (Swiss Re GBS India) and the Swiss Re Foundation have launched their sixth Shine Programme to support the next-generation of social innovators in India.

The focus of this years programme is "access to health and nutrition". Social entrepreneurs with financially viable solutions that address this social challenge are encouraged to apply. The programme supports the Swiss Re Foundations aim to make basic healthcare accessible to at least more than 1 million people by 2024.

Shortlisted contenders will be interviewed by Swiss Re experts. In Phase 1, the winner will receive the Shine Social Innovator Award, which includes an initial grant of Rs 5,00,000. In phase 2, the winner will team up with Swiss Re employees for an accredited Action Learning Programme.

The team will define problem areas for the business, engage with target communities, design and test solution prototypes and develop a viable business plan. Additionally, they will have the chance to pitch the plan to a panel of experts to earn an additional grant of Rs 1,500,000

Applications are now open for social innovators across the country until 28 May 2023.
Michael Cohen filed a motion asking a federal court to dismiss Donald Trump's $500 million lawsuit against him, arguing that it was an improper attempt to intimidate witnesses.

This was after Trump was charged for making hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in New York. Notably, the prosecution plans to use Cohen as its star witness.

Unethical Effort to Silence a Key Witness

In Cohen's petition, it was asserted that Trump had sued Cohen for vengeance since he had waited years to file suit until he was charged by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg last month.

According to The Guardian, the hush money issue is specifically referenced in Trump's complaint against Cohen. There, Cohen is accused of disseminating false information about Trump and breaking contractual commitments via his public remarks.

Cohen's attorneys said in a 35-page document submitted to a federal court in Florida that the lawsuit was "yet another brazen and indeed unlawful attempt to intimidate and silence a key witness against Mr. Trump."

They added, "Mr. Trump's campaign of retaliation should be shut down."

Since the lawsuit was not an effort to directly influence Cohen's testimony, and since Cohen is unlikely to alter course, his claim that Trump was engaged in witness tampering against him may encounter difficulties under New York state law. However, Trump has a history of filing frivolous lawsuits against those he views as political opponents.

Meanwhile, a source close to Trump said that the lawsuit against Cohen was something he had intended to do for weeks. This was even before Cohen testified against him before the Manhattan grand jury and made appearances on cable news to talk about the hush money issue.

See Also: Why Is Donald Trump Suing Ex-Lawyer Michael Cohen?

Request for Case Dismissal

Disloyal, Cohen's tell-all book about the hush money scam, was released in 2018; therefore, most of the breach of fiduciary responsibility accusations were time-barred and must be dismissed, as stated by Cohen's attorneys.

Claims that Cohen broke other agreements should also be dismissed, the statement said, since they did not detail any explicit violations of the confidentiality agreement. Apparently, it was invalid because of its ambiguity.

Moreover, Cohen's attorneys contended that Trump's assertions of Cohen engaging in unjust enrichment by releasing Trump's private data should be rejected because Trump failed to establish an actual claim. This is confusing since Trump has said both that the disclosures are true and that they are not.

The Hush Money Scandal

Multiple sources close to Trump have said that for months, Trump has blamed Cohen for his legal issues with the Manhattan district attorney's office. He even implied on Fox News that Cohen had been attempting to ingratiate himself to him by orchestrating hush money payments to Daniels.

The issue revolves around a disputed $130,000 payment made by Trump to Daniels through Cohen in the latter days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors alleged fraud in accounting when Trump compensated Cohen with $35,000 checks from his own funds to pay legal fees.

See Also: Donald Trump Speaks Up on Bud Light - Dylan Mulvaney Controversy After Weeks of Silence

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Africa's Travel Indaba, which takes place from 7-11 May at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, celebrated its official trade opening on Tuesday, 9 May.

Source: Supplied

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille opened the show saying that the 2023 Africas Travel Indaba, at near the pre-pandemic scale, demonstrates that South Africa can host world-class safe events as Africans.

This year, at Africa Travel Indaba, we are working hard to exceed pre-Covid attendance numbers and have an estimated 6,000 people attending from all over South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.

This years Indaba sees more than 350 tourism products being showcased, 1,000 buyers from across the tourism ecosystem and just under 1,000 exhibitors. Attendees include destination marketing bodies, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, and 10 African Tourism Boards and 21 African countries represented.

Competition and collaboration

Minister de Lille said that competition is often considered the lifeblood of destination marketing and tourism. However, it is important to note that competition should always be balanced with collaboration.

While healthy competition can drive growth and innovation, says Minister de Lille, unhealthy competition can lead to a race to the bottom, with businesses and destinations undercutting each other on price and quality.

Therefore, as the tourism industry, let us foster a culture of healthy competition, where businesses and destinations are encouraged to compete on quality and innovation. Let us remember that long-term success in the industry depends not only on competing but also on recognising the value of collaboration and partnerships, she said.

And so, each player in the value chain has a unique role to play, and by working together, we can create seamless and memorable travel experiences for visitors - that is the spirit of Africas Travel Indaba.

Supporting tourism enterprises

As part of its Market Access Support Programme (MASP), the Department of Tourism is supporting 123 local small inbound tourism enterprises to showcase their products and services during this years show.

The total value of support approved for the 123 enterprises amounts to R11.7m," says Minister de Lille. This investment will enable small businesses to display their unique products and services, expand their networks, and foster partnerships that will drive the growth and sustainability of the tourism industry in South Africa.

Addressing buyers present, de Lille said that its critical in promoting Africa as a premier travel destination. To all the African product owners, thank you for your contribution in creating a cohesive and thriving tourism sector that benefits communities and promotes faster economic growth.

Whether you are an accommodation establishment owner, an airline partner, a travel agency, a tour operator or any other tourism product and experience  this is a call to you.

Africas tourism sector performance

South Africa has seen encouraging growth in its tourist arrival numbers between January and December 2022 where it reached nearly 5.8million with over 4 million of those arrivals from African countries. This represents an overall inbound increase of 152.6% for South Africa compared to January to December 2021.

The future looks bright. We have, as a collective, weathered the Covid-19 hurricane and it should only propel us to exceed our targets, said Minister de Lille.

After stronger than expected recovery in 2022, this year could see international tourist arrivals to South Africa return to pre-pandemic levels in Europe and the Middle East. These numbers demonstrate the immense potential of tourism in Africa, not only as a revenue generator but also as a job creator and a catalyst for faster economic growth, she adds.

Challenges to overcome

In addition to collaboration across the value chain, there are other areas where the sector needs to work together to unlock the full potential of the African tourism sector.

One of these is the visa regime in all African countries, says de Lille.

We must have a harmonised visa regime across the continent to make it easier for visitors to move from one country to another. We must also simplify the e-visa application process and reduce visa costs to make Africa a more attractive destination for both Africans and international travellers, said Minister de Lille.

In this regard, says De Lille, South Africa has visa waivers for several African countries for a specified period and up to a maximum of 90 days, including SADC countries such as Tanzania, Namibia. Angola, Mozambique. Mauritius, Malawi and Botswana.

We have also rolled out the e-visa system to several countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo and we are expanding the e-visa system to an additional 20 countries.

Strengthening airlift capacity

On the global stage, Africa is the strongest performer currently with international air connectivity in Africa, said Minister de Lille, However, this growth has been uneven, with some African regions and countries having better airlift connectivity than others.

I am looking forward to working with various partners in reducing the high cost of air travel in Africa as we know that this deters visitors and thereby limit tourism growth.

Despite some challenges, there are some positive developments in the African aviation sector. For example, some African airlines are expanding their fleets and increasing their routes to meet the growing demand for air travel.

The African Union (AU) has also launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which aims to liberalise air transport on the continent and promote greater competition and connectivity.

Sustainable tourism

De Lille also emphasised the importance of prioritising sustainable tourism practices that addresses climate change, protects our environment and cultural heritage while promoting economic development.

One of the key projects the Department of Tourism in South Africa must help businesses mitigate climate change and adapt to energy constraints is the Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP).

The programme encourages and incentivises private sector tourism enterprises to move towards the installation of solutions for the sustainable management and usage of electricity and water resources through installation of solar system and water saving technologies.

The GTIP also ensures an uninterrupted visitor experience for tourists, reduce operational input cost and facilitates increased competitiveness and operational sustainability in the tourism sector.

Apart from providing funding to 130 tourism businesses under this programme, the Department of Tourism also invested R98.5m to retrofit 8 state owned tourist attractions.

Combined savings for all eight sites is estimated to be under R40m by the end of the 2022/23 financial year.

We must invest in sustainable tourism to protect communities natural resources, cultural heritage, and social fabric while creating economic opportunities. Again, collaboration and partnerships between African countries and the public and private sectors will be critical in achieving this objective.

We must also prioritise innovation and technology, which can help us develop and promote our tourism offerings more effectively and efficiently, Minister De Lille added.

Promoting the African tourism sector

De Lille said that business need to ensure that the benefits of tourism are distributed equitably and that all members of our communities can access the opportunities created by the sector.

At the very least, that is what the future generation of African children expect and deserve. Through concrete actions, not just words, we are here as Africans, at Africas Travel Indaba to work to reposition ourselves in the minds of international travellers.

Our top-notch hospitality, favourable weather, and unique wildlife are just a few examples of what makes Africa an attractive tourism destination.

On a domestic front, said Minister de Lille, South Africa must keep the countrys domestic sectors going.

Countries with a strong domestic tourism sector are generally better equipped to withstand fluctuations in international demand as has been witnessed with the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. For us in South Africa, growing our countrys tourism sector is a key aspect of the countrys Tourism Sector Recovery Plan and aims to ignite economic growth and create jobs.

Shot Left Travel Week

Minister de Lille invited all South African tourism companies to be part of this years Shot Left Travel week by providing discounted travel deals to South Africans.

By offering discounts of up to 50% off during the week starting from 4 to 10 September, we will be encouraging South Africans to travel our beautiful, vibrant and diverse country.

South African Tourism will promote all Shot Left Travel Week deals on various marketing platform. Register on deals.southafrica.net by no later than end of August 2023.
Business owner Abdulqadir Shaik of Instyle Linen took the top spot at the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster Business Accelerator's fourth Dragons' Den event, and walked off with a R20,000 cash prize.

Source: Supplied

Runners-up Mahlatsi Mashile from Reapso SA received the Most Promising or Innovative Business award, and Bawinile Nzimande from Bidywood Design took home the Industry Gamechanger award. The event was held recently at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal.

Facilitating market access

The main objective of the Clothing and Textile Cluster Business Accelerator is to connect leading retailers in the sector with their future suppliers. Selected SMEs from KZN's clothing and textile sector were presented with an opportunity to pitch their business to retailers including Mr Price Sport, Miladys, Mr Price, Pepkor Speciality and Woolworths, which are looking for garment manufacturing specialists as well as unique sustainability offerings incorporating innovative packaging, logistics and raw materials into their value propositions to customers.

Beyond recognition for the three winners, Kyle Ballard, head of KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster, says that the accelerator will also provide growth opportunities for many of the other SMME finalists as well. He explains that the finalists that unlock mutually beneficial commercial opportunities with the retailers will be given access to development support that will help to take their businesses to the next level.

High-potential SMMEs will have the opportunity to receive hands-on mentorship from industry experts in addition to gaining access to valuable procurement opportunities with leading retailers such as Mr Price Sport, Mr Price Apparel, Pepkor Speciality, Woolworths and TFG.

According to the Business Accelerator, this event not only provides developmental opportunities for small businesses but also benefits large retailers by facilitating market access to new ideas.

Supporting localisation

Ravesha Govender, the programme manager of the economic development unit at eThekwini Municipality, says that the regional clothing and textile sector is bursting with talented entrepreneurs and small companies with great business concepts. She adds, however, that they often lack access to commercial opportunities, a key challenge that the Business Accelerator aims to solve.

Leading enterprises in the sector are eager to identify and partner with high-potential local suppliers. The annual Business Accelerator plays a critical role in bringing these two groups together and this year, I was particularly impressed by the pitches and have no doubt that the industry giants were too, she says.

Ballard adds, The connections made by the Business Accelerator have been invaluable for the growth of the regional sector and are critical in driving localisation and enabling meaningful transformation. The Business Accelerator's success continues to attract the leading retailers in the clothing and textiles sector including Mr Price Sport, Mr Price, Pepkor Speciality, Woolworths and TFG.

These retailers are committed to increasing local procurement opportunities and are eager to find and develop their future suppliers through their active involvement in the Business Accelerator.
Effie South Africa is expanding its dialogue series in 2023 with four thought-provoking panels focusing on marketing effectiveness. Led by individuals drawn from the C-Suite in the sector, the Effie dialogues aim to facilitate industry debate in an engaging platform while sharing impactful insights on themes related to marketing and performance.

In 2022, Effie South Africa launched the first dialogue series with C-Level CMO/CFO and CMO/CTO power couple dialogues focusing on collaboration across business units, approaches and lessons learned.

According to the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) CEO, Mathe Okaba, "Effie champions the practice and practitioners of marketing effectiveness through education, awards, ever-evolving thought leadership initiatives, and first-class insights into marketing strategies that produce results. This dialogue series is designed specifically to deliver on the Effie mission, and we look forward to an engaging and insightful series of events.

Effie South Africa will partner with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) to bring the series to life. The dialogue series kicks off at 5:30pm on Thursday, 25 May 2023 at GIBS Illovo, with the Creativity Panel' moderated by Pete Case, CEO and creative chairman, Ogilvy South Africa.

Anwar Jappie, chair of Effie South Africa, added, "Marketing effectiveness requires collaboration across business units, and the leadership team should model this behaviour so it can be replicated across the organisation. Our focus is on sharing learnings and best practice in relation to marketing effectiveness. In 2023, our four dialogue sessions will focus on key areas impacting on business growth as a result of the marketing function, and each dialogue will be anchored by multiple leading voices within the industry. Moderating and keeping the conversation flowing will be the responsibility of various members of the Effie South Africa committee."

By bringing together industry leaders to discuss and share insights on marketing effectiveness, the Effie South Africa dialogue series is playing a vital role in driving the future success of the marketing industry. Details of the Effie dialogue series are as follows:

May - Creativity: Creative and Effective Marketing - moderated by Pete Case, Ogilvy South Africa July - Procurement: Is Efficiency working against the growth mindset - moderated by Karabo Songo, ACA Chair August - Technology: Technology as an enabler to marketing effectiveness - moderated by Anwar Jappie, Google September - CMO/CFO: Navigating uncertainty together - moderated by Zayd Abrahams, Tiger Brands

The Effie Awards South Africa, hosted by the ACA and sponsored by Nedbank, recognise marketing communication that is not only creative but, most importantly, effective. The awards are now in proud partnership with the Nedbank IMC Conference, Africa's foremost integrated marketing conference. Winners of the 2023 Effie Awards will be announced on 15 September 2023.

"Marketing effectiveness is a key focus for the industry, and the Effie South Africa dialogue series provides an engaging platform to facilitate industry-level conversations. We're excited to see the series expand in 2023 and look forward to the insights and knowledge-sharing that will come from these thought-provoking panels," concludes Okaba.

Join the conversation using the hashtags #EffieAwardsSA, #MarketingUpClose, and #NedbankIMC2023. For more information on the 2023 Effie Awards, visit www.effieawards.co.za.
Global businesses are increasingly investing in the resources needed take action on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, both in the workplace and the ownership of business assets. Equal representation and a focus on real diversity and inclusion has become essential for the implementation of sustainable business practices.

Image source: Jopwell from Pexels

In South Africa, a significant legal step towards addressing equality has come in the form of the newly enacted Employment Equity Amendment Act 2020 (EEA Act), signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 12 April 2023. The EEA Act amends the Employment Equity Act 1998, with the effective date of operation yet to be proclaimed but anticipated to be around September 2023. The amendments include numerous changes to the legislation governing workplace transformation and will impose stricter compliance measures on designated employers  those businesses with more than 50 employees.

Amendments to the EEA Act

A significant change in the EEA Act is the introduction of sector and sub-sector targets for economic sectors and geographical regions, requiring employers in these sectors to meet specific transformation goals. This is a departure from the previous approach that allowed employers to set their own targets in their employment equity plans. The sectoral targets will be published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of Employment and Labour after consultation with the affected sectors. Employers must align the numerical targets in their employment equity plans with the applicable sectoral targets set by the Minister. The Act requires designated employers to comply with these sectoral targets and assess and report against them.

The definition of designated employers has also been narrowed in the EEA Act, now excluding small businesses with less than fifty employees, regardless of their annual financial turnover. These employers are not subject to the affirmative action provisions in the EEA, including the duties to submit equity plans or reports. All other employers with more than 50 employees are still mandated to draft, implement, and monitor a five-year employment equity plan, indicating their progress towards achieving targets by year five. These targets must be aligned with the sectoral targets that will be set by the Minister. Employers are also required to monitor their progress against sectoral targets every year as part of the compliance process.

Additionally, companies seeking to do business with the state must obtain a certificate from the Department of Employment and Labour confirming compliance with the Act and its objectives, as well as adherence to the national minimum wage. The Department of Employment and Labour has also committed to an increase in the number of inspectors that will enforce compliance with the implementation of the EEA Act's objectives.

The EEA Act and the B-BBEE Act

Since the EEA Act will give the Minister the power to establish sectoral targets and will oblige designated employers to prepare employment equity plans that demonstrate their plan to achieve the sectoral targets over a five-year period, it will be essential for designated employers to align their plans to achieve the targets for employment of black people under the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) codes of good practice with their employment equity plans. The B-BBEE Act targets a narrower group of employees than the EE Act, but both acts share similar objectives in that they seek to advance greater equity and diversity in the workplace. Therefore, it ought not to be challenging for employers to align their employment equity plans with their B-BBEE employment targets.

While both Acts have been criticised for imposing onerous compliance measures on already struggling businesses in South Africa, fostering diversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace has been proven to be good business practice. According to Forbes, inclusive teams make better decisions up to 87% of the time, teams that follow an inclusive process make decisions two times faster with half of the meetings, and decisions made and executed by diverse teams deliver 60% better results.

Statistics from Gartner are similar: workers in highly diverse and inclusive organisations result in a 26% increase in team collaboration and an 18% increase in team commitment. Further, Baker McKenzie's research has shown that 51% of diversity leaders globally identify recruiting diverse talent as a priority, but recruitment initiatives alone are not enough to balance the workforce population, and 45% of organisations are also prioritising the retention of underrepresented groups.

Generally speaking, investors are well prepared for employment equity and B-BBEE requirements when investing in South Africa. In fact, equal representation in the workforce is seen as a positive by investors who prioritise sustainability.
Cape Town and the Western Cape have experienced an unprecedented cruise tourism season, with a significant proportion of visitors coming from high-spending markets like the USA, Germany, and the UK. The season commenced in October 2022 and concluded in May 2023, attracting a total of 145,000 cruise passengers and 42,000 crew members to the region's shores.

Source: stokpic via Pixabay

In total, the 2022/2023 season welcomed 75 ships with 41 turnaround visits - this is double the number of ship calls when compared to the last complete season in 2019/2020, which saw 39 ship visits with an estimated 42,000 arriving passengers.

With the Cruise Cape Town initiative, which is powered by Wesgro, dedicated to developing itinerary offerings to entice more international cruise partners, the Cape Town Cruise Terminal enjoyed the arrival of five new ships to the port this season. Adding to the many firsts celebrated by the local industry, the port also saw three ships conduct a turnaround visit on the same day for the very first time, and did so successfully on five separate occasions this season.

Turnaround visits are particularly attractive to the destination, as they arrive at a port at the end of one cruise and prepare for the start of another. During the turnaround, the ship undergoes a complete cleaning and restocking process  creating an opportunity for local products to be onboarded onto the ship, further contributing to the destinations economy.

Disembarking passengers traditionally take post-cruise tours, with new passengers seizing the opportunity to explore the destination pre-boarding the ship.

"The success of the past Cape Town cruise season speaks to the untapped potential held by this lucrative tourism sector, significantly boosting visitor numbers to the destination. The Cruise Cape Town initiative is currently conducting a comprehensive Economic Impact Study, which is expected to be finalised in the coming months. We are confident the results will demonstrate the significant economic impact and job creation potential of the sector.

Together with our partners, we look forward to continuing to support the cruise industry," comments Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO and the official spokesperson for Cruise Cape Town.

Western Cape grows as popular tourism destination

David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, says: "The return of a full cruise season to the city has been a remarkable success, testament to the hard work all of the role-players involved in Cruise Cape Town. Its been exciting to welcome back local and international cruise including the iconic world cruises such as the Queen Mary 2, highlighting the value of our destination to the choice of global traveller experiences.

"The Waterfront, as the operator of the terminal, continues to invest in an improved traveller experience at the terminal to surpass the regular as well as new generation of vacationers to the city."

Western Cape Minister for finance and economic opportunities, Mireille Wenger, says: "The confirmation that the 2022/2023 cruise tourism season reached record highs is fantastic news and is yet another indicator that tourism is truly back in the Western Cape. Cruise tourism contributes significantly to our economy and the knock-on effect of cruise ships, not only through passenger spend but across the whole value chain, cannot be understated.

"Going forward I look forward to working with all stakeholders to attract even more cruise ships to the province so we can help this sector contribute even more to our economy and to create many more jobs for our residents."

Alderman James Vos, the City of Cape Towns mayoral committee member for economic growth concludes: "These figures are proof that the Mother City is becoming a major player in the cruise travel market and shows the value of the Cruise Cape Town initiative of which the City is a proud partner.

"Every passenger, crew member, and ship that hits our shores is a boon to our local economy and helps the City to fulfil its mission of creating a tourism-related job in every household in the metro."
The second edition of AuthenticA Series Lab, beginning in September 2023, is open for submissions and closes on 14 June.

Image supplied. (left to right) AuthenticA Series Lab 2022 participant Tony Sebastian Ukpo, Penny Christodoulou Storyboard Collective, mentor Mehret Mandefro, story consultant Selina Ukwuoma, 2022 participant Chantel Clark, 2022 participant Jessica Leanne Hagan, 2022participant Angela Wanjiku Wamai and programme director Elias Ribeiro

The AuthenticA Series Lab is a programme designed for African episodic screenwriters to support the development of their series scripts by the Realness Institute, in partnership with the Storyboard Collective, and with the support of Series Mania Forum, the French Embassy in South Africa, and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).

It is one of six programmes from the Realness Institute designed, with partners, to grow the African film industry by seeking out new ideas and supporting these in their development process. AuthenticA was designed in collaboration with the StoryBoard Collective.

A monthly stipend, travel, and accommodation costs are covered by AuthenticA. The six-month programme comprises a stimulating combination of online and in-person sessions in a variety of locations from 19 September 2023 to 30 March 2024.

Once again, story expert, Selina Ukwuoma and creative producer Mehret Mandefro, co-founder and director of development and partnerships at Realness, will mentor the cohort through their creative process.

They will participate in online mentorships and sessions over six months as well as attend in-person residencies in South Africas at the Coot Club, and the StoryBoard House in Switzerland, culminating with their pitches at the Series Mania Forum 2024 in France.

Participants will work towards completing a concept story pitch deck and a pilot script. The rights of the developed work will remain with each writer.

Pogramme for African episodic screenwriters

The AuthenticA Series Lab is a programme designed for African episodic screenwriters to support the development of their series scripts.

It is one of six programmes from the Realness Institute designed, with partners, to grow the African film industry by seeking out new ideas and supporting these in their development process. AuthenticA was designed in collaboration with the StoryBoard Collective.

Mandefro says, Providing African writers the time, space, and support to create brave episodic stories gives them what they need to build new worlds and circulate perspectives that widen what global audiences understand about Africa - from Africans.

The Lab is offered to four African screenwriters from African countries and the Diaspora working in any genre.

The aim is to give episodic screenwriters an indispensable opportunity to bolster their craft, enhance their skills and highlight genuine, up-to-date viewpoints about the continent that frequently receives inaccurate and inauthentic representation.

Mandefro adds, The relationships and community they build with their peers, along the way, is also part of the curatorial magic we hope to replicate.

Opportunity to immerse yourself

This programme is the dream  to have enough time to immerse oneself in the development of a series one is passionate about, among like-minded peers, without having to worry about keeping a roof over your head, enthuses Ukwuoma.

This year follows a highly successful first edition, with positive industry feedback and investor deals being negotiated.

The first cohort of writers grabbed that opportunity and really made an impact at Series Mania, adds Ukwuoma.

"The first edition was a great success. We sense a great desire for creation in many African countries, adds Laurence Herszberg, general director of Series Mania. Series Mania wants to be the gateway for those projects to the industry, as we know that there is a strong interest from the international professionals.

Talented scriptwriters voicing African stories

StoryBoard is convinced of the power TV series have in shaping new shared narratives, as well as bringing culturally and geographically diverse people together, says David Rimer, founder of The StoryBoard Collective, a Geneva-based philanthropic organisation that supports the development and impact outreach of transformative stories.

Our first edition confirmed the interest international funders have in talented scriptwriters voicing African stories that showcase authentic and unapologetic cultural perspectives, explains Rimer.

AuthenticA 2022 alumnus Jessica Hagan speaks of her experience in the programme. AuthenticaA Series Lab was truly an invaluable experience with support, masterclasses, and sessions where we were able to work as a group and get feedback.

I felt supported all the way, especially on pitch day when I was more confident to pitch the project to producers and development executives.

My TV series is now in development with a massive UK-based global production company who are passionate about premium content from around the world, including Africa. Ive also made friends for life with my cohort; were constantly checking in on one another

Information on the criteria and the application process can be found here.
A New York court has barred former President Donald Trump from publishing evidence from his hush-money lawsuit on social media.

The Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Juan Merchan granted a protective order, requested by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which restricts Donald Trump from publicly disclosing any news on social media platforms such as Truth Social, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, or YouTube without prior approval from the court, according to UPI.

The order also prohibits Trump's team from copying, disseminating, or disclosing sensitive materials to third parties. Additionally, prosecutors have called for Trump to only review "Limited Dissemination Materials" from prosecutors in the presence of his lawyers, without the ability to independently possess or share them.

Read Also: 2 'Quran Burners' Executed for Blasphemy in Iran

The court order on Donald Trump comes as state prosecutors were preparing to turn over new evidence in the case to the defense.

The ex-POTUS will not be permitted to view "forensic images of witness cellphones," according to Judge Merchan's order, per NDTV. However, his lawyers can show him "approved portions" of the evidence after receiving approval from the court.

Integrity of Evidence Must Be Preserved

Both Donald Trump's attorneys and the Manhattan District Attorney's office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The DA's request for a protective order was granted by the judge, with prosecutors arguing that they needed "safeguards that will protect the integrity of the materials," according to NBC News.

The Republican politician is charged with 34 felonies related to the falsification of records in a hush-money conspiracy involving payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Donald Trump faces multiple legal obstacles as he pursues reelection to the White House in the upcoming 2024 US presidential election.

Related Article: Texas Lawmaker Faces Expulsion Due To Inappropriate Relationship with Teen Aide

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A London University has been criticised for removing the word woman from its maternity policy and declaring that maternity, as well as the menopause, applies to all genders.

The University of the Arts London (UAL) implemented the wording in its policies a year ago, but the move has attracted attention since the institution began virtue signalling about it on social media and its own website.

Happy #InternationalWomensDay!



At UAL we are taking action to tackle typically gendered issues in society   University of the Arts London (@UAL) March 8, 2023

University of the Arts London Vice Chancellor James Purnell wrote in a LinkedIn post in October 2022, At UAL, we are introducing equal parental leave. Every new parent will be entitled to six months at full pay, adding It is fair to every kind of parent, of whatever gender or sex, or sexual orientation, whether adopting or not.

In a further press release, the University noted that its maternity and menopause policies apply irrespective of gender, sexual orientation or how people become parents.

The policy itself states, we wish to affirm in our use of language in this letter that not all pregnant people are women and thereby acknowledge trans, non-binary, gender-queer and gender fluid pregnant people and parents.

In updated menopause policies, the university notes that it may also be experienced by colleagues who do not identify as female.

UAL recognizes that menopause may also be experienced by colleagues who do not identify as female, so this guidance and support content is intended to support anyone experiencing menopause, regardless of their gender identity, the university asserts.

For every ounce of hormonal suffering, bleeding, pain, severe illness during pregnancies, emergency c-sections to save me and my babies lives, peri-menopausal symptoms that I have gone through as a womanyou mean to tell me that you are now just offering up the same  SIJK (@irwosina) May 4, 2023

2to someone because they say they are a woman? Enough is enough. We women need to fight back for the rights that universities like this are giving away so frivolously.  SIJK (@irwosina) May 4, 2023

Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis charged that UAL has abandoned basic biology.

It is disturbing that a university does not understand the basics of biology I hope [it] will stop this pathetic woke nonsense, Gullis commented.

Toby Young, the director of the think tank Free Speech Union, told the Daily Mail that the university has become so pickled in woke gobbledegook its becoming a bit of a joke. I hope it can correct course before it goes bankrupt.

Young added that Nearly all these institutions are publicly funded, yet all the polling indicates the public are overwhelmingly opposed to this nonsense.

Nearly all these institutions are publicly funded, yet all the polling indicates the public are overwhelmingly opposed to this nonsense. University accused of 'woke gobbledegook' after cutting the word 'woman' from maternity leave policy | Daily Mail https://t.co/83alBkwyol  Toby Young (@toadmeister) May 4, 2023

As we have previously highlighted, Britains National Health Service has also been accused of erasing women, after it removed all references to women from an online advice section about the menopause, and altered its guidance pages on ovarian cancer, removing instances of the word women in a move they claimed was intended to be more inclusive toward trans, non-binary and intersex people.

Additionally, a Freedom of Information Act request revealed last year that just 29 of the 124 NHS hospitals in England with maternity units still exclusively use the words woman or mother to refer to pregnancy, while all the others include terms such as birthing people or pregnant people.

The NHS was previously accused of over-diagnosing sex change treatment for children over fears of being branded transphobic, and has since appeared to change track, warning that gender confusion in kids may be a transient phase, particularly for pre-pubertal children.

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Economist Michael Hudson joins Ben Norton to discuss the collapse of four US banks in two months, giant JP Morgan Chase taking over First Republic Bank, and how government regulators are in bed with the bankers.

Transcript here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/...

Check out our previous analysis on the crash of Silicon Valley Bank: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/...
The media finally found a case of transracialism they can accept.



From The Washington Post:

Why non-White people might advocate white supremacy



Analysis by Philip Bump

National columnist

May 8, 2023 at 2:48 p.m. EDT



Police have identified the man who shot and killed at least eight people at an outlet mall in Allen, Tex., over the weekend as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia.



Garcia was killed at the scene, meaning that efforts to determine the motivation for his actions are slower to emerge. On Sunday, The Washington Post reported that, among other possible motivations, authorities were examining whether Garcia was motivated by white-supremacist or neo-Nazi beliefs. Social media posts linked to Garcia reinforce this idea.



For many people, this idea triggered an immediate negative reaction: How could someone with the name Mauricio Garcia  a Hispanic name  be a white supremacist? In some quarters, that The Post was offering such a possibility was somehow demonstrative of this newspapers purported interest in elevating unsupported racial claims.



[...] Hispanic Americans often find themselves at the blurry edges of Whiteness. How Hispanic Americans are considered by others is often centered on skin color but also context: where and how that consideration is taking place. But self-identification is also complex. Pew Research Center found that Hispanic identity fades over time in the United States, for example.



In writing my book, I also came across a 2008 paper from Tanya Golash-Boza and William Darity that pointed to a useful experiment undertaken in 1989. Hispanic participants in the survey were asked to identify their race: White, Black or something else. At the same time, the person conducting the survey recorded their own observations about the respondents skin color.



The result, as seen in this chart from the book, was that even among the darkest-skinned respondents, identification as White was more common than identification as Black.

Hispanics can identify as white supremacists, men/boys can identify as women/girls and vice versa but Rachel Dolezal can't identify as black?



Can anyone explain to me how that works, exactly?



Though the manifesto from transgender Nashville Christian school shooter mass shooter Audrey Hale is being hidden from the public by police, Mauricio Garcia's alleged OK.RU profile was apparently immediately leaked to the New York Times and (selectively) shared with the public by leftist Bellingcat writer Aric Toler.





Took a while, but I found the Odnoklassniki profile of the Allen. TX shooter described in this NYT article:https://t.co/tAfRK9YbfH pic.twitter.com/gwTq8XxyxH  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023



Garcia allegedly shared a post praising transgender school shooter Audrey Hale just three weeks ago:





Flashback to @IwriteOK's 2019 Bellingcat article on how mass shootings have been "gamified", with the Allen shooter talking about a "decent kill score" in Nashville.https://t.co/arQCcxRtt6 pic.twitter.com/0xDEcGsn9l  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

He was trying to be the Zodiac Killer I guess pic.twitter.com/yxWcECgj7D  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023



I guess we're supposed to believe he was radicalized by Tim Pool (lol).





The Allen shooter was apparently a @timcast fan pic.twitter.com/2VM7qfSo7I  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

Christ, just noticed this -- he was at the mall where he did the attack 3 weeks prior. He was monitoring the peak visiting times on Google. pic.twitter.com/xFEbEsYeW9  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

Boxes upon boxes of ammunition that he apparently received a few weeks before the shooting. These photos were posted at the same time as pictures he took at the Allen Mall. pic.twitter.com/BiBLxCo9i7  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

I wonder if the Allen, TX was a white supremacist? If only there was a post that he made himself where we could find out, in context of him being Latino himself. pic.twitter.com/o1zLjlF0Pv  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023

Probably done posting in this thread, but in summary:

The Allen shooter was obviously a white supremacist / neo-Nazi. He was basically announcing that he was going to do a mass shooting for months beforehand, and planned his target weeks in advance.  Aric Toler (@AricToler) May 8, 2023



Michael Tracey had a different take on Garcia's profile:





Based on the shooter's posts, his primary interest seems to be heavy metal type music -- sprinkled in with assorted Nazi stuff, including a Hitler cartoon icon he appears especially proud of. No manifesto-style articulations of belief, but still very screwed up and depressing pic.twitter.com/oorJAB1wlV  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 8, 2023

Still unclear if being a "white supremacist" would mean that he believes in his own innate inferiority as a brown-skinned Hispanic guy, but he does repost stuff from right-wing online trolling culture, so what's the difference I guess. The profile screams "mentally unraveling"  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 8, 2023

Looking at a clearly unwell, barely intelligible, rapidly deteriorating person primarily through the lens of some political ideology, as though it should be obvious that's the primary driver of their behavior, is just stupid. And yes, this would apply regardless of ideology  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) May 9, 2023



Fox News reported Monday that Garcia was kicked out of the US army after just three months in 2008 for what the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 517 defined as, "Other designated physical or mental conditions."



"Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training," Heather J. Hagan, U.S. Army Public Affairs spokesperson, told Fox News.



"He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterization of discharge for any soldier," Hagan said.



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I posted an important article last week detailing how King Charles III is the leader of the global Sustainable Development movement being implemented through United Nations Agenda 2030 with help from the World Economic Forum. I noted in that article his near religious fervor in supporting the so-called green agenda, complete with its insane plan for total decarbonization that, if successful, would lead to mass starvation and depopulation of the planet. Taken to its extreme, this is a form of earth worship, I reported.

And lets not forget what took place at last years United Nations COP 27 Climate Conference in Egypt, when blatant pagan earth worship was on full display.

For more on this, see my Oct. 25 article in which climate activist Dennis Meadows clearly explains in a video that the climate crisis can never be solved without drastic population reduction.

Now comes this bombshell from the U.K. tabloid The Sun, which reports that witches and pagans from across the United Kingdom gathered to cast spells in support of King Charles during a special coronation ritual ceremony.

The spells involved lighting blue, red and white candles, burning incense, scattering rose petals and giving magical gifts to each other on Coronation Day.

The witches began casting spells several days ahead of the May 6 coronation of King Charles.

Julie Aspinall, a 58-year-old self-described pagan, witch and the main organizer of the event, spoke in depth with The Sun.

She said the witches coronation ritual took place at the Festival of Witches and Pagans, being held in Coventry over the coronation weekend.

More than 2,000 people were expected to attend the festival, which featured a range of workshops from wand-making and spell-casting to crystal skull healing. A series of night rituals were also planned, according to the official website description of the event, which stated:

We have been tasked by the Great Mother to teach the ways of the witch and pagan to those that need it. We work hard to develop young curious minds, draw out and nurture natural talents.

The event was organized by Aspinall and her coven, the Coven of Gaia. She told The Sun that King Charles has always been very supportive of the pagan community.

In her interview with The Sun, Aspinall stated:

We know King Charles is the head of the Church of England but to us hes very Pagan in his beliefs too. His invitation featured the Green Man and lots of other Pagan symbolism.

(See royal coronation invitation below with Green Man at the bottom.)

His mother the Queen was adopted as a druid in Wales when she was young, Aspinall told The Sun. The royal family has always been supportive of Pagan beliefs. King Charles is very much into saving the family, saving the trees, nature  and thats how we live so we wanted to include him in the ceremony.

The Coven of Gaias special coronation ritual took place on Sunday, May 7, and involved the witches and pagans gathering in a circle and chanting their allegiance to Charles.

This all lines up with the excellent report posted May 7 by journalist Naomi Wolf to her Substack titled: Weird things about King Charles Coronation: As symbols are twisted, is Britain being de-consecrated?
A senior European Union (EU) official encouraged the bloc's 27 members on Tuesday, May 9, to adopt trade measures against countries that aid Russia in avoiding sanctions. This prompted China to threaten retaliation if it were to be targeted.

Combating Sanctions Evasion

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the measures should be included in a new round of sanctions on Russia, AP News Reported. This matter is currently being discussed by the member countries during her visit to Kyiv.

"We recently see a growth of highly unusual trade flows through the European Union and certain third countries. These goods then end up in Russia," von der Leyen remarked, standing next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She did not specify which nations she was worried about, but EU officials have long voiced alarm about specific shipments passing via China and Iran.

Von der Leyen told reporters that if EU products move to third countries and subsequently to Russia, they might recommend sanctions to member states.

Sanctions need the unanimous approval of all 27 members. In recent months, von der Leyen's commission has been the one to propose what disciplinary action to take, leaving it up to the member nations to hash out their disagreements, which may take weeks at a time.

This system will be used with extreme caution as a last option, after a thorough risk assessment and with the blessing of EU member states. "There should be no doubt that we work against sanctions circumvention," she said.

Threat From China

China's foreign minister warned that if the EU took action against Chinese enterprises operating legally in Russia, Beijing would retaliate.

During a press conference after his meeting with his German colleague in Berlin, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang emphasized that his country's laws prohibit the shipment of weapons to conflict zones. He also stressed that exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Russian firms not be hampered, ABC News reported.

"We are strictly against some countries using their own domestic laws, their long arm jurisdiction, to impose one-sided sanctions against China. In such a case, we would also react strongly to this and defend the legitimate interests of our country and our companies," Qin said, according to an official interpreter.

Also Read: Putin Accuses West of Waging "Real War" Against Russia at Victory Day Ceremony

No Exception

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's foreign minister, emphasized that any penalties would target individual firms rather than governments for supplying key components to Russian armaments manufacturers, particularly so-called dual-use commodities.

She told reporters in Berlin that this is not directed at any specific country but rather in particular at these sanctioned goods. But it is expected that all countries, including China, will exert appropriate pressure on their companies.

Since President Putin sent his soldiers to Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has sanctioned Russia ten times. Many financial institutions, businesses, and markets have felt the effects, as has the very vulnerable energy industry. More than 1,000 officials have had their assets frozen or been prohibited from leaving the country.

Also Read: Victory Day in Russia: Celebrations Begin in Moscow Despite Mounting Pressure

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Doris Santoro with UMF President Joseph McDonnell. Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/

As a philosopher of education... and as someone who has studied the sources of teacher satisfaction for nearly twenty years, it is a special honor to be recognized by an institution so integral to teacher education in the state of Maine, said Santoro, who also received an honorary degree at the ceremony.

Before embarking on the next phase of their lives, she urged the new graduates to look back and bring to mind one teacher or professor who made it possible for you to be sitting here today. Perhaps it was the second-grade teacher who realized you were having reading difficulties, the middle school physical education teacher who taught you something about belonging, the high school math teacher who conveyed the elegance of equations. Perhaps it was a professor here at UMF who helped you find balance and academic purpose during the upheavals caused by the pandemic, said Santoro.

She paid special tribute to her high school English and journalism teacher, Mr. McCrobie, who pushed her to take herself seriously. He held me accountable, and his good work made a difference that neither he nor I could totally anticipate at the time, said Santoro, whose research explores the moral and ethical sources of teacher dissatisfaction and resistance.
U.S. a total hypocrite when it comes to safeguarding cybersecurity

09:10, May 09, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

Some secret military documents of the United States leaked on social networking sites recently showed how the United States has been eavesdropping on the secretary-general of the United Nations as well as the Republic of Korea, Israel, Ukraine and other countries.

These leaks once again prove that the United States is the world's largest "empire of hackers" that's been spying on people around the world in every way possible. The so-called Clean Network and what the United States calls technology that reflects democratic values and interests are extremely hypocritical.

The leaked documents, numbering more than 100 pages, involve nearly every corner of the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

An American media outlet called them "a rare window on the inner workings of American espionage." They revealed how the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited agents or eavesdropped on the closed-door conversations of world leaders.

These documents explain that the United States is still engaged in massive cyber attacks and theft of secrets around the world, which seriously harms other countries' sovereignty and the privacy of global internet users, and severely contravenes international law and basic norms governing international relations.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States is the origin of cyber warfare, the biggest spreader of advanced cyber weapons and the biggest global cyber thief.

The Black Chamber following World War I, the Project SHAMROCK after World War II and the Echelon during the Cold War period were all ironclad proofs of U.S. spying activities across the world.

The United States has been acting more arbitrarily with regard to global surveillance over the recent years.

According to the 2013 disclosure by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, Washington had been spying on the cell phone communications of as many as 35 world leaders and collecting almost 5 billion cell phone records around the world each day.

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation revealed in 2021 that Denmark's secret service helped the United States spy on leaders of Germany, France, Norway and other U.S. allies in Europe.

The WikiLeaks, PRISM, Dirtbox, Irritant Horn, Bvp47 and Swiss encryption machines manipulated by the CIA all exposed that the United States has long been engaged in indiscriminate eavesdropping on the world.

"Do not expect a global surveillance superpower to act with honor or respect. There is only one rule: there are no rules," said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States only values its own hegemony and private interests, rather than its allies.

Former CIA official Philip Giraldi once said that "They should not have been surprised to know that. The United States spies on all its allies. When I was in the CIA working in Europe, we spied on the Germans. We spied on the Italians. We spied on the Spaniards. We spied on the British. We spied on everybody."

The U.S. side claimed that the leak of these classified documents this time did not undermine trust and confidence with its partners, but the international community is clear that the United States was trying to conceal its lack of confidence, and the allies of the United States know that the country is not reliable at all.

New York City-based multinational financial and business news website Business Insider noted that it's not a secret that U.S. intelligence organizations spy on both U.S. allies and enemies.

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said the leak this time discredited the White House and was a huge blow to the relations between the United States and its allies.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States is a total hypocrite when it comes to safeguarding cybersecurity.

China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance recently issued a report revealing the typical cyber attacks launched by the United States over the recent years and their negative impacts.

According to the report, the ransomware WannaCry that affected most countries and caused the most severe losses across the world in 2017 was the result of leaked cyber weapons from the U.S. National Security Agency. Ironically, in 2021, the United States put on an act by launching a so-called International Counter-Ransomware Initiative with dozens of countries.

The United States asked nine international internet giants, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google and Apple to cooperate with the U.S. government to secretly monitor information. It has been citing digital security as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies without providing any evidence, and even coerced its allies who were also victims of U.S. espionage to join the gang.

Besides, the United States also launched projects aiming to intrude, divide and suppress foreign cybersecurity vendors and force them to dance to the tune of the United States.

Facts have proved that the United States, which claims to work for a "Clean Network," is not clean at all. It says it aims to develop "technology that reflects democratic values and interests," but is only breaching the bottom line of morality.

What the United States really wants are a network and technologies that enable it to steal secrets, attack other countries and maintain its hegemony.

Safeguarding cybersecurity is a shared responsibility of the international community. The United States claims itself to be a defender of freedom and democracy, yet it has been the champion of hacking by using cutting-edge technology. The United States says it's important to protect information security, yet it has placed information security traps worldwide. The country should stop its hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices, and give a responsible account to the international community.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that the United States, along with its allies, has disrupted a wide-ranging cyberespionage campaign conducted by Russia's federal intelligence service (FSB) for nearly two decades.

The operation targeted at least 50 countries, including NATO allies, through a global network of malware-infected computers, Bloomberg reported. The operation involved disabling the malicious software, known as Snake, on compromised computers using an FBI-developed tool called PERSEUS.

In response, intelligence and cybersecurity agencies from allied governments have issued a joint advisory with technical information to help cybersecurity professionals detect and remediate the malware on their networks.

The cyberespionage program's key targets were government systems and journalists, as well as "other targets of interest to the Russian Federation," according to the DOJ.

Despite victims' efforts to remediate the compromise, the malware program typically goes undetected by the user and remains on the device, per Fox News.

Read Also: EU Targets Nations That Aid Russia in Dodging Sanctions

Elite Russian Hackers

According to cybersecurity company Mandiant, which is a unit of Google Cloud, the FBI has attributed the implant of the Snake espionage malware to Turla, an elite Russian hacking unit.

Turla had also capitalized on the efforts of other intelligence services, as shown in 2018 when it hacked into the network of an undisclosed Middle Eastern nation using a program developed in Iran, per CNN.

The elite hacker group's reputation as one of the Kremlin's top hacking teams has motivated private researchers and journalists to hunt down its members.

A 2022 investigation by German public broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk traced some Turla operations to a company in Ryazan, Russia, which is connected to the FSB, about 120 miles southeast of Moscow. The US and its allies' advisory confirmed that Turla conducts its daily hacking operations at an FSB facility in Ryazan.

Related Article: Putin Accuses West of Waging "Real War" Against Russia

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Canada has been pushing social media platforms to pay for the content of Canadian publishers through a bill called C-18. However, Meta believes that they are not required to nor is it fair, restating that they would rather take down news links than pay.

Meta Isn't Changing Its Mind

The social media giant has already made its stance known regarding Canada's Online News Act or C-18, and it has once again made clear that the company would rather block news than pay for the news content it shows on the platforms Instagram and Facebook.

The bill will force online platforms to pay news publishers when their news articles are posted on the sites, which could cost the companies hundreds of millions of dollars in the process every year, and of course, they aren't very happy about it.

The legislation is already going through the process of being approved. It has passed though House of Commons and is already being considered in the Senate's Committee on Transport and Communication, as mentioned in Gizmodo.

Nick Clegg, the President of Global Affairs at Meta expressed his disagreement on the matter, saying that the Online News Act is based on a "fundamentally flawed premise," saying that Meta does not benefit from its users sharing links of news content on the platforms.

On the other hand, publishers gain from it since news shared on social media means that the articles will get more traffic. Clegg stated that people don't come to social media for the news but for the "ups and downs of life" and the things that "intereet them and entertain them."

Since Canada isn't backing down on its insistence that companies like Meta should pay outlets when their news are shared on the platform, Meta insists on its initial reaction to the Act, which is to block news in Canada.

According to Meta, Facebook Feed has provided registered news publishers 1.9 billion clicks in just 12 months. The company states that it was "free marketing" that would otherwise cost around $230 million, and it has helped them gain subscribers and reach audiences.

The tech giant compared the situation to asking email providers to pay postal service because people no longer send letters, or car companies stealing from the horse and cart industry. With that being said, Meta stated that news outlets have to adapt to the current times.

Read Also: Facebook May Ban News Sharing in Canada if Online News Act is Passed

The Online News Act Goal

Canada believes that online platforms should share fair revenue to news outlets and provide for collective bargaining. For publishers to be eligible, they have to be a designated Qualified Canadian journalism organization (QCJO) under the Income Tax Act.

If not, then have need to have at least two regularly employed journalists from Canada and operates in the country. The news content should also be written, edited, and designed in Canada, and the news content should focus on matters of general interest.

The considered content is not limited to written news. Other formats include audio and audiovisual news, as mentioned in Canada's website.

Related: Senate Group Presents Updated Kids Online Safety Act
Focus Ireland will today launch a campaign to require Local Authorities to take the Best Interests of the Child into account when working with families who present as homeless.

The campaign comes at a time when there are almost 3,500 children in emergency accommodation.

The director of advocacy with Focus Ireland Mike Allen told RTE radios Morning Ireland that Local Authority staff nationwide were working extremely hard to deal with this crisis, but they needed more direction, training, and support.

At the end of March 2023, there were 3,472 children in emergency accommodation. This shows a shocking increase of 662 children since March last year. That is the equivalent of 28 classrooms of national schoolchildren (and their families) all becoming homeless in the last year.

Focus Ireland is calling for the reintroduction and passing into law of the Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017, a piece of private members legislation introduced into the Dail in 2017 by Deputy Jan OSullivan. The Bill aimed to amend the 1988 Housing Act so that local authorities would be required to consider the 'best interests of the child' in their decision making when a family presented as homeless.

Advertisement Experiencing homelessness is a dreadful thing for anybody, man, woman or child, but particularly for children.

Everybody knows that homelessness is a dreadful thing. Experiencing homelessness is a dreadful thing for anybody, man, woman or child, but particularly for children. It's an appalling experience. First of all, there's the trauma of losing your home where you think you're comfortable, where you feel safe, where your toys are, your friends are, your all of your relationships.

The loss of their home is traumatic in the first place. Then emergency accommodation may be a long way from your school and there may be no place for doing homework. You cant invite your friends around. You lose all that sort of social contact.

And still, despite the fact that we've been in a homeless crisis affecting families for almost ten years now, there's an awful lot of stigma involved in it for the children. And children are ashamed to say they're homeless to their friends. And their parents are still ashamed of something that is not their fault at all. And that shame and that stigma can lead to even deeper social isolation and problems.

Mr Allen said that the level of response to the crisis by the country had been slapdash.

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We've always treated the family homeless crisis as the thing that's a flash in the pan, that is going to go away and we have never put in place proper structures, procedures to make sure that we reduce the impact of the harm. Obviously, there should be no homelessness, there should be no children homeless.

"We've got to get more housing. We've got to get people out of homelessness. But while we have children who are homeless, we should be doing a much, much better job at protecting them from the harm that that causes."

Under the legislation, which the campaign is calling to be enacted, local authorities would be required to follow a simple test, said Mr Allen.

At present local authorities were saying to families seeking help, go back to your brother or your sister or a friend and stay with them and sleep on their sofa for the next while until you can sort yourself out.

But no checks were being made to see if that was in the best interest of the child, he warned.

Mr Allen said that the legislation would not solve all the problems but its great advantage was its simplicity and its clarity.

It could be done quickly and we could spend another five years doing some really elaborate piece of legislation and getting it through the Dail, he said.

On the issue of housing, he said that Ireland was behaving worse than it did when the country was poorer.
Attending the coronation of Britain's King Charles was the right thing to do, the Sinn Fein vice president has said.

Michelle ONeill attended the coronation ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey on Saturday alongside other party leaders from the North, including DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

Ms ONeills presence at the coronation was seen as another demonstration of the markedly improved relations between the republican movement and the royal family since the peace process.

Having attended todays Coronation service at Westminster Abbey, it was a pleasure to come together with our President Michael D Higgins. Working in common cause we value the importance of advancing reconciliation, and good relations between Britain and Ireland. pic.twitter.com/HjJHHNzmC9  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) May 6, 2023

At the partys 2023 local election manifesto launch in Newry, Co Down, on Tuesday, Ms ONeill said differing political aspirations should be respected.

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I attended the coronation event, because I believe that that was the right thing to do, she said.

I believe that if were going to build a better society, and look towards the future, and a better future for our children and our grandchildren, then we have to have the confidence in ourselves and who we are, and to respect our differences.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill and party leader Mary Lou McDonald at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry, during the launch of the partys local government elections manifesto. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

And we all have equally legitimate political aspirations and outlooks, and thats OK. But lets be comfortable enough to be respectful of each other. Lets be comfortable enough to build that better future.

And lets keep our eyes on the next 25 years, and weve just celebrated 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, and whats been achieved is amazing, despite all the political ups and downs, whats been achieved is amazing.

And Im focused on the future, and weve talked about change and the changing political landscape, and where we want things to go in the future  lets make sure that everybody feels comfortable, and feels valued and is treated equally in our society, because then wed have the recipe for something better for everybody.

Sinn Fein is standing a record number of candidates across the North, giving people the opportunity to endorse positive and progressive leadership.



Today we launched our manifesto, which sets out a vision for a brighter, better future, and how we can work together to deliver pic.twitter.com/8abMxZNtNu Advertisement  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) May 9, 2023

Entertainment James Nesbitt: All NI political parties attending... Read More

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that Ms ONeills representation of the party at the coronation was a show of respect for unionists.

I just wanted to say very clearly that Michelles attendance, Sinn Feins attendance at the coronation, was a mark of recognition and respect for our Unionist citizens, for British people who are British now in a partitioned Ireland, and who will be British in the United Ireland, and its an explicit recognition of that, she said.

She added: We all live here together, for goodnesss sake, when there is an act of, of respect, kindness, inclusion, lets take that. Thats what I think we should do for each other.
The prescribing of high quantities of drugs to patients with a drug addiction by a family doctor was reckless and off the charts, as well as increasing the risk that such drugs could be sold on the black market, a medical inquiry has heard.

Dr Patricia Black has been accused of professional misconduct and poor professional performance over allegations that she inappropriately prescribed benzodiazepines and other drugs to three patients in the Tallaght area several years ago.

Dr Black, of Castletown, Co Laois, faced a total of 20 allegations at the inquiry relating to the prescribing of drugs to the three unidentified patients with a drug addiction.

The GP also faced a separate accusation of failing to comply with an undertaking she had given the Irish Medical Council (IMC) in 2018 not to prescribe controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines, to patients.

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The inquiry before the IMCs fitness-to-practise committee heard evidence that Dr Black had prescribed such drugs on eight occasions between May 22nd and November 2nd, 2018.

Dr Black did not attend the three-day hearing of the IMCs inquiry which concluded on Tuesday.

Ten other allegations relating to the failure to keep medical records and the failure to refer patients to a specialist substance misuse practitioner were withdrawn.

The GP, who qualified as a doctor in Ireland in 1991, had worked at a number of practices in the Dublin area up to 2018, including at a surgery on Knockmore Avenue in Tallaght and the Aylesbury Clinic in Old Bawn, and more recently at the Hope Medical Centre with clinics based in Mountrath and Castletown in Co Laois.

'Reckless'

The inquiry heard concerns about Dr Blacks prescribing were raised with the IMC by two community pharmacies.

An expert witness, Dr Nick Flynn, told the inquiry that some of the prescribing levels of benzodiazepines by Dr Black were reckless and off the charts.

Dr Flynn, an expert in substance abuse and GP with the MyCorkGP practice in Cork city, said it was important for doctors to limit the amount of benzodiazepines prescribed to patients with a drug addiction.

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While benzodiazepines were most effective for treating individuals with anxiety, Dr Flynn said they could be dangerously addictive while also having potential side-effects, such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said individual tablets also had a street value, which meant some patients could sell them on the black market.

Dr Flynn said the GP should have questioned why medical card holders were going to see her privately when they could just attend their own doctor free of charge.

He said the significant quantities of benzodiazepines prescribed to an individual known as Patient A increased the risk that he might overdose and die.

He told counsel for the IMC, Neasa Bird BL, that such a level of drugs could also result in the patient becoming intoxicated with the consequent risk of physical harm.

Dr Flynn said individual allegations made about Dr Blacks prescribing represented serious failings which he considered amounted to poor professional performance.

Cumulatively, however, he said they constituted professional misconduct because of the risk the GPs prescribing posed to both individual patients and public health.

He told the inquiry that the maximum recommended number of 5mg tablets of benzodiazepine that should be prescribed in a month, except in exceptional circumstances, was 168.

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However, Dr Flynn said Patient A had been prescribed 275 tablets by Dr Black on one occasion and was prescribed another 290 tablets 18 days later.

It is very dangerous prescribing, and it is prescribing that is putting the patients health significantly at risk. If its been diverted to the black market, it is a significant public health risk, he added.

Other prescriptions

Dr Flynn pointed out that the patient was also in receipt of the same drugs from his own GP because Dr Black had failed to check with the clinic or the HSEs Primary Care Reimbursement Service if he was continuing to receive prescriptions from other sources.

Another individual known as Patient B was prescribed four times the recommended daily limit, said Dr Flynn.

He noted that Patient B was also receiving the same drug from his own GP in Tallaght.

Dr Flynn said the failure of Dr Black to check with the other GP undermined that doctors treatment of Patient B who was prescribing medicine in good faith..

Patients who are vulnerable and suffering from an addiction will take advantage of weaknesses in the system, said Dr Flynn.

The witness said it was remarkable that Dr Black had prescribed the exact same large quantity of benzodiazepine to Patient B and another individual known as Patient H on the same date in September 2017.

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It represents a pattern of prescribing that is reckless and indefensible, he remarked.

If proven, Dr Flynn said Dr Blacks failure to comply with the undertaking she had given the IMC not to prescribe certain controlled drugs also amounted to professional misconduct.

He agreed with Ms Bird that a breach of the undertaking represented conduct which could be considered disgraceful and dishonourable and which fell seriously short of the standards expected of doctors.

In December 2018, Dr Black was suspended from practising as a family doctor by order of the High Court due to patient safety concern arising from her alleged prescription practices and the breach of her undertaking to the IMC.

Ireland Dublin GP accused of misconduct over alleged unaut... Read More

In a closing submission, Ms Bird said Dr Black had informed the IMC in 2018 that she was only trying to help patients but had admitted that she had given patients doses that were colossally high which she could not stand over as a doctor.

Dr Black had told the IMC that she was anchored to solutions and not anchored to problems with patients who were just looking for a bit of kindness and compassion.

However, the FTP committee was informed that Dr Black had made no formal admissions to the allegations.

The committee chairperson, Ronan Quirke, said its findings and any recommendations on sanction would be notified to the IMC in due course.
Gerry Adams has said "very few tears" would have been shed if the Brighton bombing killed Margaret Thatcher.

The IRA attack on the Conservative Party conference in 1984 killed five people. They included an MP, the party chairman and three wives of Tory MPs.

Thirty-one others were injured, while the former British prime minister escaped uninjured.

The former Sinn Fein president was asked by The Rest is Politics podcast if he would have been happy if Mrs Thatcher died that day.

Mr Adams said: Happiness or happy is not a term I would use. The fact is, there was a war. Margaret Thatcher was notorious, not just for her presiding over the deaths of the hunger strikers, which could have been easily resolved, by very simple improvements in the prison regime.

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"She was up front, and she was being the 'Iron Lady' and she was masquerading as somebody who was indomitable and so on and so forth. So, there would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher or in republican Ireland or in many villages in Wales... or in working class neighbourhoods in Scotland or in England itself."

The Rest Is Politics is presented by author Alastair Campbell and former Conservative politician Rory Stewart.

When Mr Stewart, who was previously a soldier in the British Army, challenged Mr Adams, he replied: I never went to war. You came to me, you know. You came in, in khaki and tanks. I think including the deaths of British soldiers and RUC officers, all those deaths are to be regretted.

Its a regrettable part of our history... and, clearly for civilians, for them to be killed, it doesnt matter if it was an accident or not. Thats even more regrettable, and thankfully were now out of all that... and we need to learn the lessons of it.
LinkedIn is joining the list of companies that laid off its employees.

The Microsoft-owned social media network for business professionals recently announced it is laying off more than 700 of its employees to help streamline the company's operations and cut costs.

LinkedIn is one of the latest companies to lay off employees to offset the deficit caused by the ongoing recession and economic uncertainties.

LinkedIn LayOffs Details

LinkedIn mentioned in its announcement it is laying off 716 employees, or almost 4% of its workforce, to streamline its operations as demand wavers and remove layers to help make quicker decisions.

"With the market and customer demand fluctuating more, and to serve emerging and growth markets more effectively, we are expanding the use of vendors," company CEO Ryan Roslansky said in a letter to employees.

He also mentioned that the layoffs would affect its sales, operations, and support teams and that doing so would create 250 new jobs that the affected employees could apply for if they wish.

According to CNBC TV 18, the company previously had 20,000 employees working for it as it grew quarter-by-quarter in 2022, but the weakening global economic outlook and recession have forced it to join the list of companies that had to lay off its employees to stay profitable.

For those unaware, LinkedIn generates most, if not all, of its revenue through ad sales and by charging for subscriptions to recruiting and sales professionals who wish to use the platform to find and hire potential employees, per Reuters.

Read More: Google to Upgrade Its Search Engine with AI to Compete with ChatGPT

Aside from the layoffs in the company, LinkedIn also decided to retire its local jobs app in China, called InCareers, by Aug. 9 due to fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate.

Interestingly, LinkedIn decided to mostly withdraw from China due to a "challenging environment," but chose to maintain InCareers, albeit in a slimmed-down version.

Despite InCareers' sunsetting, LinkedIn will retain a presence in China to help companies hire and train employees outside the country, per a company spokesperson.

The BBC mentioned that LinkedIn was the only major Western social-media platform operating in China since 2014, the year it first launched. At the time, the company agreed to satisfy what the Chinese government required of it to operate there.

Tech Industry Layoffs

LinkedIn is the latest tech company to lay off its employees, though the number of employees it has to let go pales in comparison to the other companies that did so too.

Tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta implemented layoffs that affected more than 270,000 jobs, per Layoffs.fyi, which has been tracking the fallout since it started.

For instance, job hunting site Indeed previously announced it is laying off more than 15% of its workforce to reduce its monthly spending, with it hinting that it could implement more cost-cutting measures in the immediate future.

Indeed's CEO, Chris Hyams stated that the layoffs were focused on "minimizing redundant roles and 'inefficiency,'" per Gizmodo.

Related Article: Indeed Job Searching Platform Lays Off Around 2,000 People
Irish Eurovision act Wild Youth will battle to secure a place in the grand final on Tuesday night.

The Dublin band will perform their song We Are One during the first of the contests two semi-finals at the Liverpool Arena.

Ireland has participated in Eurovision more than 50 times and has a record seven wins, but has failed to qualify for the final since Ryan OShaughnessy entered with his song Together in 2018.

Wild Youth frontman Conor ODonohoe has promised a big and bold performance to try to make it in 2023.

Wild Youth attend the National Lotterys Big Eurovision Welcome Party ahead of the live shows (Peter Byrne/PA)

The band are scheduled to perform sixth in the running order, after Portugal and before Croatia.

Fifteen acts will perform in semi-final one with the top 10 progressing to the final.

But they face tough competition with previous winner Loreen representing Sweden and fan favourite Kaarija representing Finland also in that round.

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The band was selected to represent Ireland during a contest on RTEs The Late Late Show, beating other contestants including former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon and his band Public Image Ltd.

The band later became embroiled in a Twitter row with JK Rowling, after cutting ties with creative director Ian Banham when previous tweets, including one about a transgender woman, came to light.

The 20 qualifying acts from semi-final one and two will join the big five  the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, along with last years winners Ukraine to compete for the winning spot.

The 67th Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Liverpool after the UK was chosen to host it on behalf of war-torn Ukraine  marking the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years.

The competition kicked off in earnest on Sunday when the 37 competing acts took to a turquoise carpet welcome ceremony.

Mae Muller, 25, will compete for the UK with her track I Wrote A Song, which features tongue-in-cheek lyrics about a cheating ex-boyfriend and a propulsive dance beat.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has brought a proposal to Cabinet on establishing a State Investment Fund to help cover the cost of major future expenditures.

The plan follows record corporation tax receipts last year, which represented 27.5 per cent (22.6 billion) of Revenue's total takings for 2022.

In 2023, the Department of Finance expects this figure to rise even higher to 24.3 billion, half of which will be "windfall in nature and cannot be relied upon in the future," Mr McGrath said in April.

The plan would see corporation tax receipts invested in the hope the fund's value will increase over time.

The money could potentially be used to fund State pensions in the future, covering the shortfalls which will be caused by the country's ageing population.

The State's over-reliance on corporation tax receipts has been of concern to officials due to the tax's uncertain nature. Corporation tax, which is charged on the profits of companies registered in the State, is considered volatile, particularly given that such a large proportion of the receipts come from a small number of multinational companies, such as Apple, Microsoft and Google.

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Mr McGrath previously warned that the State must "avoid the mistake of building up permanent expenditure and taxation commitments on the back of receipts that could prove to be temporary", reiterating that money raised though corporation tax would not be used to fund capital projects.

A similar scheme was undertaken in Norway in 1990, when the Norwegian government chose to invest surplus revenue from the country's oil and gas industry. The fund is now worth over 14.6 trillion Norwegian Krones (1.2 trillion).

As is the case with Norway's fund, it is likely the proposed Irish fund would be limited in the types of investments it could make, for example based on ethical grounds, while the use of the funds generated would likely be limited also.

Criticism

The plan has been criticised by TDs from opposition parties, who have said the bumper tax receipts should be used to meet the immediate needs of the State, such as increasing the housing stock or expanding capacity in the health system.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett argued the Government should invest the money in emergency accommodation and affordable housing.

"The idea that the Government would consider putting billions of euro into a piggy bank when there are children who have nowhere to sleep, who are sleeping in cars, are being sent to hostels mile away from where they go to school, where they're being traumatised by the fact that they and their families are being made homeless, it just makes no sense."

However, Mr McGrath is adamant that investing the money is they best approach in the long-term, claiming it is a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the nation's finances safer".
A mobster who directed a 20-strong member gang thanked gardai for arresting him and had felt suicidal over his drug-debts, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Sligo native Barry Young (38) pleaded guilty in March to directing the activities of the gang, which had an international character but operated in the Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway areas where it was involved in drug-dealing, intimidation and money laundering.

The court heard that drug seizures linked to the gang totalled over 628,000, while Young himself had 40,000 in ready cash despite his only stated income being social welfare payments.

'Head the balls'

Young also dispatched enforcers that he described as "head-the-balls" and "Dirty Harrys" to collect on drug debts, today's sentencing hearing was told.

At the three-judge court on Tuesday, Detective Garda Inspector Ray Mulderrig told Fiona Murphy SC, for the State, that Young was arrested by detectives from Sligo at Dublin Airport on January 11th of this year on his way to Spain in a bid to escape his life of crime and drug-debts.

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Det Insp Mulderrig told Ms Murphy that gardai seized Young's phone and discovered thousands of messages, images, videos and calls relating to Young's criminal activities in running the Sligo-based gang.

Det Insp Mulderrig said Young had 81 previous convictions at the time of his arrest and had been twice sentenced for drug-dealing, with the last conviction for that offence coming in 2006 when he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Ms Murphy said that gardai examined the phone which was found to contain thousands of "local, national and international" interactions used for directing the criminal gang in relation to the sale and supply of drugs through Young's "known associates".

The barrister said the phone revealed a group of "at least" 20 members who operated in a "controlled, hierarchical command structure with directed sub-cells who then directed their own subordinates through a chain of command directed by Barry Young who was ultimately informed of the results".

Ms Murphy said phone activity revealed messages about drug-seizures, drug-debt enforcement, intimidation, cash lodgements and movements, and the collection and distribution of drugs.

Phones

The court heard the investigation revealed a high level of communication regarding drug-debt enforcement and the names and addresses of debtors. Det Insp Mulderrig said that while violence and threats were used, violence was the option "least preferred by Barry Young".

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The detective said that investigations of five phones associated with Young led to the arrest of 16 people, six of whom are before the courts, with three of those facing charges of organised crime involvement and money laundering directly attributed to the gang.

Det Insp Mulderrig said four of Young's accounts were frozen which had a cumulative balance of over 40K, despite Young's only stated source of income being social welfare payments.

The detective said that in October 2019, a seizure of 2kg of cannabis from a UK associate of Young's took place in Ballina, Co Mayo. The associate was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on foot of the seizure. Ms Murphy said this caused Young to embark on a path of "panic, fear, agitation and anger" in a "damage-limitation" exercise.

The two kilos of cannabis were valued by gardai at 40K and Det Insp Mulderrig said that mobile evidence revealed that Young made two calls to the associate two days before the seizure and had sent messages to another associate to deliver "two Spanish", referring to the cannabis.

Another associate of Young's caught with 100K of cannabis and 18K in cash in January 2020 had a phone number attributed to Young in his phone saved under "Boss".

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A third associate, who was caught with 328K worth of cannabis and had a "huge" drug-debt of his own, was used as a courier for cash and drug deliveries in Sligo, Leitrim and Dublin, said Ms Murphy.

After Young's January 2022 arrest in Dublin Airport, searches in the Sligo area found 36,360 in cash, 145,250 worth of cannabis, 11K worth of cocaine and 4,500 worth of valium and diazepam linked to the gang.

Vehicle recovery business

Phone data also revealed that drug-debt enforcement involved Young sending individuals to private homes to commit criminal damage and demand money in Sligo and Galway. Young described the debt collectors in messages as "head-the-balls", "Dirty Harrys", "Russian fellas", "mental" and "crazy" dispatched to "fix" debts owed.

A search of Young's home by Sligo gardai saw the seizure of banking and vehicle documents, along with business papers for a vehicle recovery business called 'BY Recovery', though garda investigations found that no facility or yard for the business existed.

Det Insp Mulderrig said Young was moving money through the business' account to a Spanish account held in Young's name in February and April 2019. The transfers totalling 35K were made ahead of his planned departure from Ireland.

Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Michael Bowman SC, for Young, that his client had been "cordial, mannerly and pleasant" in his interactions with gardai.

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Mr Bowman said his client came from a decent, working class family in Sligo and that Young developed a "significant drug difficulty" that led to his drug-debt issues.

Mr Bowman said Young had been under "enormous pressure" to pay his debts and had been looking for "a way out of the life he made for himself", adding that Young was preparing to move out of Ireland when arrested.

Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Mr Bowman that there had been a legitimate threat to Young's life due to his debts and that his client's mental health had suffered as a result.

Depression

Mr Bowman said Young had become depressed and suffered anxiety over his debts and his situation that led him to go to counselling where he admitted he had sought to "end it all".

The barrister said the "enormous" pressure on his client to pay monies back to those above him caused Young to "seek a way out and he sought to take his own life".

Mr Bowman said Young did not display any "over-trappings of wealth" associated with criminal activity and said his client rented a "nondescript" residence without "fancy clothes, jewellery or foreign holidays".

The barrister said Young had engaged in counselling and drug and alcohol addiction services before his arrest as far back as 2018 due to the "parasitic nature of the drug trade".

Ireland Doctor's prescribing levels to drug addicts was 'o... Read More

Mr Bowman said his client described the day of his arrest as a "happy day" and that Young had thanked gardai for catching him because "every day he was trying to find peace with what he has done".

Mr Bowman said Young had been a "big fish in a small pond" but was answerable to "layers upon layers" of individuals operating above him.

Father-of-two Young, with a previous address at Geldof Drive, Cranmore, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty at the non-jury court that he, between October 4th, 2019 and January 15th, 2022, both dates inclusive, directed the activities of a criminal organisation both within and outside the State, contrary to Section 71 A of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as inserted by Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to July 31st for the offence, which carries a maximum of life imprisonment.
A consultant surgeon has brought a High Court challenge against the HSE's decisions to place him on what he claims is enforced sick leave and its refusal to allow him to return to work.

The action has been brought by Dr Pawan Rajpal, who is a colorectal surgeon who has been employed at Cavan General Hospital for almost 25 years. He also works at Monaghan General Hospital and Connolly Hospital in Dublin.

The court heard that in August 2022 Dr Rajpal was informed he was the subject of a complaint from another staff member and faced being suspended.

Dr Rajpal strongly denies any wrongdoing and says the allegations relate to an alleged encounter outside of working hours and away from HSE property.

He claims no formal decision was ever taken by the HSE to suspend him, and he has not been properly informed by the HSE of the full details of the allegation against him.

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Arising out of the allegation against him, Dr Rajpal took sick leave for a two-week period due to work-related stress. In mid-September, he obtained a certificate from his GP stating he was ready to return to work.

However, he claims the HSE has failed to allow him to return to his duties.

He claims the HSE has unlawfully and in breach of his contract of employment insisted he cannot return to work unless he is reviewed by an occupational health therapist of the HSE's choice.

He claims this falls outside a stipulated process for referrals to occupational health professionals which expressly says an employee does not have to undergo any form of assessment and can refuse to attend.

He also claims no proper procedures that would allow the HSE restrict his ability to work have been followed.

'Enforced' sick leave

The HSE's position, he claims, amounts to placing him on enforced sick leave and is in effect a suspension, and is in breach of his contractual rights.

Dr Rajpal claims that prior to these incidents, he had voiced his opposition to what he claims are the HSE's attempts to bring about changes he says would downgrade facilities at Cavan Hospital.

He further claims that being out of work has damaged his reputation and his ability to earn a living. Since September, he has been working at other hospitals, the court heard.

He claims that the HSE's actions and alleged failures to provide him with adequate reasons for its decision are in breach of the rules of natural justice and a failure to comply with fair procedures.

Ireland Young man who threatened to burn down house over d... Read More

Represented by Patrick McCann SC, with David Lennon Bl, Dr Rajpal has brought judicial review proceedings against the HSE in which he seeks various orders and declarations from the court, including an order terminating his sick leave and that he be immediately reinstated to his role.

He also seeks various declarations, including that the refusal to allow him to return to work is in breach of his contractual entitlements, and that any decision to suspend him be terminated. He further seeks an award of damages against the HSE.

The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who granted Dr Rajpal permission, on an ex-parte basis, to bring his challenge against the HSE.

The case will come back before the court next month.
A young man with no previous convictions threatened to burn down the family home of someone he claimed owed a drug debt of 500, a court has heard.

Jake Emmet (20), of Glen Hostel, Gardiner St, Dublin 1, went to the man's home and told his mother he would come back to the family home and torch the house.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making unwarranted demands with menace at a house on May 16th, 2022, at Seabury Heights, Malahide, Co Dublin.

The incident at the front door of the family home was recorded on a doorbell camera. The footage, which was played in court, shows Emmet telling the woman her son owed money for green and a little bit of cocaine.

The woman told Emmet she was shocked, to which Emmet replied that her son got drugs off me Da.

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The court heard Emmet's father was a career criminal who was serving a prison sentence and who had walked out on Emmet and his mother when the accused was a child.

At one point, the woman tells Emmet this is ridiculous and Emmet agrees, saying I know, adding: I've had to come all the way out here.

Emmet told the woman twice that he would burn the house, which he said he was told to say by his father.

Before leaving, Emmet told the woman he would come back by 6pm and torch the house and later asked her what time do you want me to come back at?

He left saying he would be back up at six or seven before saying bye.

Emmet returned around 3pm, and the woman told him her son had since told her that Emmet had added a tax to the debt he owed. Emmet disagreed and told her that's how much he owes.

The woman's husband then told Emmet he was being recorded and Emmet replied ring the guards, is it and then left.

Garda Joe Robinson told Judge Martina Baxter that Emmet was easily identified because he had given the woman his first name and later gave her his mobile number.

Ireland Judge labels businessman 'delusional' for accusing... Read More

Gda Robinson agreed with Miceal OConnor BL, defending, that at one stage, Emmet apologised to the woman. Counsel claimed his client had a total lack of understanding at the time of the trauma he was causing.

He said Emmet has since shown insight into his actions and wished to apologise to the victim. Counsel said his client had a problem with cocaine use, which had escalated and caused him to become homeless.

Counsel said Emmet has since admitted it was not his father who had put him up to the offending, but it was more serious people he was hanging around.

Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to July 25th.
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force fighting in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday said he had been told he and his men would be regarded as traitors if they abandoned their positions in the city of Bakhmut.

But Yevgeny Prigozhin said for the second time in a matter of days that his forces would leave Bakhmut if they did not receive the ammunition they needed to press the battle.

He delivered his latest tirade in a profanity-laced audio message which coincided with Russia marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two with its traditional parade on Moscow's Red Square.

"A combat order came yesterday which clearly stated that if we leave our positions (in Bakhmut), it will be regarded as treason against the motherland. That was the message to us," Prigozhin said.

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"(But) if there is no ammunition, then we will leave our positions and be the ones asking who is really betraying the Motherland. Apparently, the one (betraying the Motherland) is the person who signed it (the order to supply too little ammunition."

He said his forces would stay in Bakhmut and keep insisting they get their ammo "for a few more days".

Prigozhin has previously accused the defence ministry of deliberately starving his forces of ammunition. The ministry has said it is working to ensure all battlefield units have what they need.

Late on Monday, Prigozhin said there were signs the ammunition problem was being solved but on Tuesday he said the size of the shipment had been slashed.

"They've given us only 10% of what we asked for. We've been deceived," he said.

'Fish rots from the head'

Prigozhin, who has been locked in a long-running feud with the defence ministry, has made a series of emotional statements in recent days, announcing that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut because of the ammunition problem before saying they would stay, and then again suggesting they might leave.

He made cryptic but crude comments about those in overall charge of Russia's war on Ukraine on Tuesday, referring ambiguously to a "grandfather" figure who was under the mistaken impression that everything was going well with Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

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"What will the country do, our children, grandchildren who are the future of Russia, and how can we win this war if - by chance, and I'm just speculating here - it turns out that this grandfather is a complete ****head?," he asked.

Prigozhin has previously poured scorn on Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, but has avoided all personal criticism of president Vladimir Putin.

Disinformation

Analysts have said his erratic behaviour looks like an attempt to try to deflect blame for a lack of swift success - the battle for Bakhmut is in its 10th month - and to spread disinformation.

In a dig at the defence ministry, Prighozin - who says his men have taken control of 95 per cent of Bakhmut - alleged that some regular troops had fled their positions nearby leaving Wagner's flank temporarily uncovered, a problem he said his men had to remedy.

"It is not a problem about the soldiers. The problem is to do with the people who manage them and give them tasks. The fish rots from the head," he said, calling the orders being given by what he called a narrow clique "criminal" and "traitorous".

Reuters could not independently verify his assertion about the alleged incident involving the abandoned flank.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his countrys Victory Day parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday that a real war has been unleashed against Russia by the Wests untamed ambitions, shortly after the Kremlins forces rained cruise missiles on Ukrainian targets.

Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point, the leader said at the capitals annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.

Since Russia invaded its neighbour more than 14 months ago, Mr Putin has repeatedly framed the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict with the West.





The Kremlins official narrative of the war has painted a picture of an existential conflict with the West, which in Moscows view is merely using Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia, rewrite its history and crush its traditional values. That version of events has dominated Russian state media coverage of the war.

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In his speech, Mr Putin insisted that the Wests untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity are to blame for the conflict.

He welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade, and concluded his speech: To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To victory!

Earlier, Russia unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles on Ukraine, hours before the start of the Moscow parade, which this year is taking place amid tight security measures.

The Kremlins forces launched 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that air defence had successfully destroyed 23 of them.



Moscows annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War are taking place amid tight security measures (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

In a Telegram post, the air force said eight Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from carriers in the Black Sea towards the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The barrage came as Moscow and other cities hosted military parades and other festivities marking Victory Day, Russias biggest secular holiday which this year has been significantly overshadowed by the war in Ukraine.

At least 21 Russian cities cancelled May 9 military parades  the staple of celebrations across Russia  for the first time in years.

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The Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in the Second World War  another pillar of the holiday  have also been cancelled in dozens of cities.

Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns; however some speculated that the real reason behind the cancellations was the fear that Russians might take portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine, illustrating the scale of Russias losses in the drawn-out conflict.



Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, centre, watches the Victory Day military parade in Moscows Red Square (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP)

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw.

In a video published on Telegram, Mr Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defence Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they also pulled out.

Moscow was expected to project a show of force during its flagship parade in Red Square, with top-notch military equipment rumbling through it and leaders of ex-Soviet nations standing beside Mr Putin.

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Initially, only one of them  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov  was expected to attend, but at the last minute on Monday officials confirmed that leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were heading to Moscow as well.

The pared-down celebrations come after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. The Kremlin billed it as an attempt on Mr Putins life; Ukraine denied involvement.
Andrew Bridgen MP is set to join Laurence Foxs Reclaim Party following his expulsion from the Conservative Party after comparing Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust.

The MP for North West Leicestershire is expected to be announced as the first representative of Mr Foxs party in the House of Commons at a press conference on Wednesday, the PA news agency understands.

Mr Bridgen was stripped of the Tory party whip in January after making the vaccines comparison to the Nazi genocide in the Second World War, claiming coronavirus jabs were the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.

After an investigation, it was decided to expel him from the governing party last month.

It was understood that the Conservative disciplinary panel found against him for the vaccines claim.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak condemned the comments as utterly unacceptable.

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A regular vaccines critic, Mr Bridgen accused the Tories of kicking him out under false pretences and had stated his intention to run against the party at the next election, as he hit out at corruption, collusion and cover-ups.

Earlier this year, Mr Bridgen was handed a five-day suspension for breaking the MPs code of conduct banning lobbying.

He was found to have committed a series of breaches including an unacceptable attack upon the integrity of then-standards commissioner Kathryn Stone.
China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian politician and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it firmly opposes.

It said Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China reserves the right to take further actions in response.

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.



Justin Trudeaus government is expelling a Chinese diplomat who was allegedly involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition politician and his relatives in Hong Kong (Mary Altaffer/AP)

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Earlier on Tuesday, Canada said Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canadas spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition politician and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively torn up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press.

China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora, particularly those from minority groups.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It was not immediately clear if he was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Mr Zhao persona non grata and that Canada would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, she said.

Canadas spy service indicated that, in 2021, opposition Conservative politician Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after he criticised Beijings human rights record. Canadas spy agency has not released details publicly.

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Mr Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uighur ethnic group in Chinas Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political re-education camps.

China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centres is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies towards Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Mr Chong said Mr Zhaos expulsion should have happened years ago.

I hope that this makes it clear not just to the Peoples Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil, he said.



Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press conference in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Mr Zhaos expulsion was based on rumours of the so-called China interference hyped up by some politicians and media.

This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, the statement said.

It added that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side.

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China never interferes in other countries internal affairs, it said.

In recent years, China has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Party-controlled Chinese state media posted in the US and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare.

In 2020, China ordered the closure of the US Consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a centre of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Mr Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Mr Trudeau has appointed former governor-general David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder, at the behest of US authorities who accused her of fraud.

Many countries labelled Chinas action hostage politics, while China accused Ottawa of arbitrary detention.

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The pair, who were accused of vague national security crimes, were released hours after Ms Mengs lawyers ended the nearly three-year feud embroiling Ottawa, Beijing and Washington with a deal under which she accepted responsibility for misrepresenting the companys business dealings in Iran.
Posts on a Russian social network suggest a man who opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping centre, killing eight people and wounding seven others, had planned the attack for weeks.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, researched when the site in Allen was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack on Saturday, which ended with police killing him.

Among the dead were two primary school-age sisters, a couple and their three-year-old son, and a security guard.

Garcias online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

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The front entrance of a home connected to suspected gunman Mauricio Garcia (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

The online activity has contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the US Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and had apparently been working as a security guard, according to neighbours and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the US.

The Associated Press independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of Dallass most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official.

The official said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

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Protesters gather at the Texas State Capitol in Austin to demand stricter gun controls (Eric Gay/AP)

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, US Army spokeswoman Heather J Hagan said.

According to an Army official he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterised discharge, which is common for recruits who do not make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defence official. That type of discharge  which is not dishonourable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbours said they thought he worked as a security guard but they were not sure where.

A woman who lives next door said she did not know her neighbours well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests on Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of becoming law.
The issue with users using AI to create fake content has been getting worse. It can prove to be dangerous especially when the intentions of the creator are malicious. Such is the case in an incident in China, where a man is arrested for using ChatGPT to generate fake news.

Using ChatGPT to Generate Fake News

A man from China allegedly used OpenAI technology to create fake news claiming that a local train accident caused the death of nine people. Upon the generation of the disinformation, the suspect named "Hong" posted the article on several accounts.

The fake article was spotted by the cyber division of the country police bureau, and by then, the news had already been clicked over 15,000 times. It was posted by more than 20 accounts on a blog platform called Baijiahao, which is run by the China-based search engine, Baidu.

The authorities from the northwestern Gansu province stated that the man had been detained for the offense, saying that he used artificial intelligence technology to "concoct false and untrue information," as mentioned in Gadgets 360.

The detention follows law enforcement tracing where the article originated, leading them to the company that was owned by the suspect, Hong. The police searched the suspect's home after around ten days as well as his computer before detaining him.

Hong confessed that he had bypassed Baijiahao's duplication check function to be able to publish the article on many accounts. To avoid redundancy, he reportedly used trending social stories from the country and added them to generate fake stories with the same premise.

The suspect may be charged for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," which will result in a five-year sentence, although depending on the severity of the offense, the sentence can go as high as ten years and be charged with more penalties.

That's besides the possible consequences that come with the violation of China's provisions that aim to regulate the use of "deepfake" technology. The policy has been effective since January 2023, which may cost Hong to get more years on top of the first mentioned potential charge.

Read Also: Elon Musk Has Built His Own AI Company and Potential OpenAI Rival, X.AI Corp

Misuse of AI

The misuse of AI has been increasing since 2012. Statistics from an AIAAIC database state that incidents related to the misuse of AI have increased 26-fold since then up to 2021, and that's not including the undocumented and unreported incidents in the earlier years.

As mentioned in The Decoder, it can be evidence of the growing popularity of artificial intelligence and its uses in the real world, as well as the users' awareness of its potential ways to be ethically misused.

One of the biggest concerns right now for AI is the use of deepfake technology, where people can create fake media content by substituting the face or the voice of an individual. Although some are innocent like "Balenciaga Pope," some might have more malicious intentions.

AI is also being used in surveillance such as facial recognition. Intel, for instance, is developing software that can determine the mood of a person based on their face. Students can be labeled as bored, distracted, or confused during a videoconferencing class.

Related: ChatGPT to Make a Comeback in Italy if OpenAI will Comply with Data Privacy Requirements
Israel has carried out a series of targeted air strikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group and at least 12 civilians, Palestinian health officials said.

Two of the commanders wives, several of their children and other bystanders were among the dead, and the attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of heavy fighting.

The air strikes hit the top floor of an apartment building, a house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah.



Palestinians inspect damage to their building following Israeli air strikes at an apartment of an Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza, in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded and some were in serious or critical condition.

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Israel said it targeted several militant training sites as well before the air strikes halted at daybreak.

After a lull, the Israeli military said warplanes struck militants carrying anti-tank guided missiles in the enclaves southern city of Khan Younis later on Tuesday. The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that two people were killed.

At midday, tens of thousands of people took part in two funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers through the streets in a mass procession in Gaza City. Childrens coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare and Palestinian militant groups have previously retaliated with heavy barrages of rocket fire.

In anticipation of renewed rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.



The Israeli military said it killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted air strikes (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Israels Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and major roads in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings.

The military said the three targeted men had been responsible for recent rocket fire towards Israel.

It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihads military council.

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Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gazas ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said those killed in the early morning strikes included four women and four children, including Bahtinis wife and four-year-old daughter and Izzeldeens two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza.

The strike on Bahtinis home killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said. The assault on Izzeldeens home killed an entire family living upstairs: Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist with Russian citizenship, his wife and his 19-year-old son Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist, the group reported.



Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians who were killed in Israeli air strikes (Fatima Shbair/AP)

The Israeli air strikes drew condemnation from Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, Jordans foreign ministry and the Egyptian government, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israels chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He expressed regret over the civilian casualties but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas alongside civilians.

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Tor Wennesland, the UN envoy to the Middle East, said he was deeply alarmed and condemned the civilian deaths, calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint.

Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of its choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in exile, warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings, adding: Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israels existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons.

In recent years, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks. Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets last week after one of its members in the West Bank died from a hunger strike while in Israeli custody.



A fire burns in an apartment of an Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza, following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP)

The Israeli military responded with air strikes and the exchange of fire ended with a ceasefire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar.

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As soon as the rockets were fired last week, I, together with the minister of defence, ordered preparations for an operation to defeat the terrorist leaders, Israels Prime Minister Netanyahu said after a security briefing.

Our principle is sharp and clear: whoever hurts us, we will hurt them, and with overwhelming force.

Islamic Jihad says it coordinates its responses with Hamas as part of the so-called the Joint Operation Room, a Hamas-influenced umbrella of militant groups in Gaza. Islamic Jihad is closer to Iran than Hamas.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would be likely to trigger an even heavier Israeli response.

Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war in which more than 250 Palestinians were killed and Israel toppled homes and high-rise buildings in the coastal enclave. Thirteen people in Israel were also killed.

Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, told municipal leaders in southern Israel that we must be prepared for every eventuality, including a prolonged campaign and widening ranges of fire, his office said.
Boris Johnson confronted Britain's King Charles, essentially squaring up to him for branding the Rwanda asylum policy appalling, it has been alleged.

Guto Harri, who served as No 10s director of communications under the former UK prime minister, claimed Mr Johnson told him he went in quite hard on the then-prince.

Mr Johnson disputed his long-standing allys account as inaccurate, with a source saying he deplores any commentary on conversations with royals.

Charles and Mr Johnson discussed the kings reported criticism of the scheme as they met in Rwandas capital of Kigali at a Commonwealth summit in June.

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson departs following the coronation of the king (Phil Noble/PA)

At the time, Mr Johnson described his discussion with Charles as a good old chinwag that covered a lot of ground.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Harri says that the meeting was less amicable than suggested.

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The former BBC journalist wrote: I went in quite hard, he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of a democratically elected government.

Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, (saying): If you didnt say it we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they havent done that says it all.

Along with other former UK prime ministers, Mr Johnsons attended the kings coronation at the weekend.

Mr Harri claimed Charles and Mr Johnson had struggled to get on for years after the politician was late for a meeting while London mayor, but that Rwanda was the final straw.

Relations never fully recovered and Charles will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 before he ascended to the throne, he added.

Mr Johnson brought Mr Harri into No 10 after a clearout of aides over the partygate scandal, bringing back his former City Hall communications adviser into his inner circle.

A source close to Mr Johnson said: Boris Johnson does not recognise this account and it is inaccurate. It does not accurately reflect any conversation

We would never comment on these matters and Mr Johnson deplores any attempt to do so.
Actor Jonathan Majors has been confronted with a revised domestic violence charge stemming from a womans allegations that the Marvel star twisted her arm, struck her head and shoved her into a vehicle in New York City.

Majors, appearing by video, did not enter a plea to the misdemeanour assault charge and said little else at the arraignment, which lasted three minutes.

Prosecutors say the charge was rewritten to reflect the perspective of Majors 30-year-old accuser, rather than the police officer whose account was used in the original version  an indication she is cooperating with authorities.

Majors, 33, still faces other misdemeanour charges in connection with his March 25 arrest in Manhattans Chelsea neighbourhood, some of which are punishable by up to a year in jail.

His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, says Majors is innocent and criticised prosecutors after Tuesdays hearing for pursuing what she called a witch hunt against the actor.

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Ms Chaudhry said she had provided the Manhattan district attorneys office with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed. She added that the woman assaulted Majors.

Instead of dismissing the allegations in the face of the womans clear lies, the DA has adjusted the charges to match the womans new lies, Ms Chaudhry said.

Majors had been a fast-rising Hollywood star with major roles in recent hits like Creed III and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, but after his arrest, the US Army pulled TV commercials narrated by Majors, saying it was deeply concerned by the allegations.

His face was beamed on to a flat-screen monitor in front of the judges bench in Manhattans domestic violence courtroom on Tuesday. The room was crowded with reporters straining to catch a glimpse of the celebrity while around them non-famous New Yorkers waited for their cases to be called.

Jonathan Majors (Ian West/PA)

Virtual appearances are an occasional accommodation in the court, but Judge Rachel Pauley warned that Majors must show up in person at a follow-up hearing on June 13 or face a possible warrant for his arrest.

At that hearing, the judge said, she will decide on a motion challenging the case that Majors lawyers have filed under seal.

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The actor must also continue to abide by a protection order barring any contact with his accuser, Judge Pauley said.

According to the revised assault charge, Majors accuser alleges that he pulled her finger, twisted her right arm behind her back, struck and cut her right ear, and pushed her into a vehicle, causing her to fall backwards.

The woman, who was not named in court papers, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to her head and neck, police said.

Ms Chaudhry accused police and prosecutors of racial bias against Majors, who is black. She said a white police officer confronted the actor and taunted him when he tried showing the officer injuries that he said the woman caused.
Former UK prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week to give a speech to show solidarity with the self-governed island in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour from China.

Ms Truss is also expected to meet Taiwanese government officials during the trip.

During her time as British prime minister Ms Truss was widely expected to move the UK government on to a more hawkish footing when it came to dealings with Beijing, wanting to declare China under Communist Party rule a threat to national security.

However, her brief time in Downing Street  cut short to only 44 days after her mini-Budget impact on the markets last year saw confidence in her premiership collapse  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

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Instead, her successor Rishi Sunak chose not to go as far, updating the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, who is visiting the US this week, has previously said that isolating China would be a sign of weakness.

On Friday, he said that he raised the issue of Taiwan, and broached what is happening in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, during pre-coronation talks with Chinese vice-president Han Zheng.

It came before it was announced that the first UK ministerial visit to Hong Kong since Beijings crackdown on civil rights began in the former British colony is to take place, with investment minister Lord Johnson due to travel there.

In her speech next week, Ms Truss is expected to issue a rallying cry in the face of Chinese and Taiwanese tension.

Engagement with China means discussing areas of deep disagreement & vital co-operation.



Today with VP Han Zheng, I made plain the UKs views on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.



We also discussed working together on climate change, economic ties and people-to-people links. pic.twitter.com/AVRAEweeju  James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) May 5, 2023

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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.

Ms Truss said: Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

She used a speech in the US last month to accuse western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen met the Chinese leader in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing.

Downing Street, asked what Mr Sunak made of his predecessors decision to visit Taiwan, said it was up to individual MPs where they choose to travel.

The prime ministers official spokesman said: Our long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas. And thats underpinned by our shared democratic values.

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For our part, the UK Government will continue to engage with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of a peaceful resolution in his meeting with the Chinese vice-president on Friday.

The spokesman also said it was completely appropriate for the Government to send a minister to Hong Kong given it was home to hundreds of businesses who help sustain a thriving 120 billion a year trade and investment relationship with the UK.

He added: It will again be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Chinas clampdown on freedoms and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which are directly hurting Hong Kongs people and the economy.
The UK's Information Commissioners Office (ICO) will not be taking any enforcement action against Lancashire Police over its disclosure of missing mother Nicola Bulleys personal information, the force has said.

In an update issued on Tuesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) also said its investigation into an officers contact with Ms Bulley prior to her disappearance identified two areas of learning.

The force came under heavy criticism after the 45-year-olds body was pulled from the River Wyre in Lancashire on February 19th, more than three weeks after she was last seen on January 27th.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has today announced details of an independent review into the response to Nicola Bulley going missing.



For our full statement: https://t.co/1mXOGZ7TpD



Comments are turned off on this post due to the ongoing Coronial Process. https://t.co/StrKJizeNJ Advertisement  Lancashire Police (@LancsPolice) May 9, 2023

British MPs and campaign groups voiced their disapproval after police elected to put elements of her private life into the public domain during the search  including her struggles with alcohol and perimenopause.

But the force said the ICO had concluded its investigation and informed police it would not be taking any enforcement action.

Conservative police and crime commissioner for the county, Andrew Snowden, said the independent review being conducted by the College of Policing into the forces handling of the case was under way  with findings and recommendations due to be published in the autumn.

Announcing their conclusions on Tuesday, ICOs deputy commissioner of regulatory policy Emily Keaney said: This was an important piece of work around a high-profile case.

We wanted to reassure the public that there are rules in place to protect how personal information is used and shared, and we wanted to be clear that while police can disclose information to protect the public and investigate crime, they would need to be able to demonstrate such disclosure was necessary and proportionate.

Flowers, and ribbons on a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire where Nicola Bulleys body was found (PA)

Ms Keaney added: We have now spoken with Lancashire Police to better understand the steps they took before releasing information.

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We heard in those conversations the challenging nature of considering whether and how to share personal information during fast-paced, important cases.

Based on our conversations with Lancashire Police, we dont consider this case requires enforcement action.

Well be able to provide further details around this decision following the inquest into Nicola Bulleys death.

Following the IOPCs decision not to take action against an officer who had contact with Ms Bulley before her disappearance, Lancashire Police said they attended her address in support of an ambulance deployment.

Assistance Chief Constable Sam Mackenzie said: The IOPC investigators focused on the actions of one officer and have now completed their investigation and found no misconduct or wrongdoing.

Ms Bulley went missing while walking her dog in St Michaels on Wyre after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school (Family handout/PA)

Whilst we do have some procedural learning it is important to note that our attendance was in support of an ambulance deployment and that the officer dealt with Nicola with compassion and empathy, putting her care at the forefront of his decision-making on that day.

In a statement, the IOPC said two areas of learning identified for the police officer related to recording information on police systems and the activation of body-worn video.

The watchdog said: Our investigation, which concluded on April 4th, focused on the actions and decisions of the police officer who attended Ms Bulleys address as part of a multi-agency team.

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The team comprised of a police officer and health professionals who were responding to a concern for her wellbeing, and the IOPC investigation examined whether the police response was in accordance with policy, guidance and training.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson (right) of Lancashire Police with Detective Chief Superintendent Pauline Stables speaking at a press conference after the body found in the River Wrye was identified as the missing mother-of-two (Owen Humphreys/PA)

After a careful review and analysis of all the evidence, we identified two areas of learning for Lancashire Constabulary in respect of updating its guidance documents for multi-agency vehicles, to ensure all police officers working in this role understand what is expected of them, as well as the provision of guidance for officers more widely when dealing with similar situations.

We also identified two areas of learning for the officer, which relate to recording information on police systems and activation of body-worn video.

Mr Snowden said the College of Policings review will have three areas of focus  the operational response to the high-risk missing person investigation, press engagement and decision-making surrounding disclosure of sensitive personal information.

The reviews terms of reference suggests the aspects of the operation that will be scrutinised
Comparing policing of protests at the coronation of Britain's King Charles to Russia is an insult to those being oppressed by Vladimir Putin, a British minister has said.

Chris Philp made the remarks following a wave of criticism from opposition lawmakers about the polices treatment of anti-monarchy protesters in London at the weekend.

The UK parliament's home affairs committee is expected to examine the policing of the event, including the use of the Public Order Act to arrest members of the group Republic.

MPs heard 64 people were arrested including six campaigners from Republic, which had liaised with London police to organise a coronation day protest in Trafalgar Square, who were released without charge 16 hours later.

SNP MP Kirsten Oswald said Mr Philp had a real brass neck to say the police are operationally independent after the British government introduced the draconian Public Order Act 2023, which gave forces greater powers to combat guerrilla protest tactics.

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Ms Oswald told the Commons: Human Rights Watch has said that what we saw was something youd expect to see in Moscow, not London.

I wonder if he would agree with me that given only reportedly 6% of those who were arrested for protesting against the coronation were actually charged with anything at all that this new legislation is absolutely nothing but an advert for how to impede peoples right to protest?

Mr Philp replied: I must say, with great respect, I think that is nonsense.

And comparing the policing at the coronation with Putins Moscow or Putins Russia where opposition figures are incarcerated, people like Alexei Navalny in prison suffering the most appalling and inhumane treatment, I think its frankly a bit of an insult to the appalling treatment they are suffering to in any way compare what is happening there to the policing of the coronation.

I dont think it is at all respectful to those being oppressed in Russia at all.

In terms of peaceful protest, hundreds of people did peacefully protest against the monarch. It was a tiny minority but they did protest. The police only made those 64 arrests in total where they had reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence had been committed or was in preparation.

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Mr Philp said those people unhappy with their arrest can make a complaint and seek redress.

Dame Diana Johnson, who is the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North. Photo: David Woolfall/UK Parliament.

Labour MP Diana Johnson earlier said the Home Affairs Committee, which she chairs, will no doubt want to look at the policing of protests at the coronation, adding: In particular the specific provisions in the Public Order Act brought in just last week and used to arrest members of Republic.

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis acknowledged the coronation was a difficult time for the police and a difficult task to achieve.

He added: That being said, within one week of the Public Order Bill entering the law and in its first serious use, we end up with the head of the Met having to apologise to people who are wrongfully arrested.

Conservative MPs defended the polices handling of the event, with former minister Michael Ellis saying they did an excellent job in very difficult circumstances.

James Daly said: It is reassuring that, for once, the Metropolitan Police acted on the side of the hard-working public who want to have the opportunity to enjoy events rather than being the victims of left-wing protest groups.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant claimed morale among police officers is at rock bottom when apologies are issued for them following instructions, saying: Im getting pretty fed up actually with the police apologising all the time.

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Ireland Attending coronation was right thing to do, says... Read More

I can say that ordinary police officers doing a decent job, as they did on Saturday, find their morale is at rock bottom when theyre given the instruction we will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebrations  which came from the Met Police on May 3rd  and then finding someone is apologising for them doing just that.

Several MPs raised concerns over reports of a journalist being detained by police at the coronation given that protections for journalistic freedom are included in the Public Order Act.

Mr Philp acknowledged the protections, adding: There is a complaints process and if an individual or others feel they werent fairly or properly treated, they do have a complaints process they can go through  but parliament has made its view clear.
A gunman with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping centre took eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities have said.

The Allen police officer who shot and killed 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, ending Saturdays attack, acted heroically and saved countless lives through his quick action, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference.

He said the officer is still processing what happened and is not ready to have his name made public.



Visitors stand in silence at a makeshift memorial (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

If he hadnt have been there, I think wed have had a much more severe situation, Mr Sibley said.

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The investigation into Garcias motive is continuing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, Mr Sibley said, adding that Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia took eight guns to the scene, including three on him and five still in his vehicle, Mr Sibley added.

The big question that were dealing with right now is, Whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley said. Well, the big question is, we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles north of central Dallas.

Garcia researched when the shopping centre was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people. Among those killed were two primary school-age sisters, a couple and their three-year-old son, and a security guard.



A makeshift memorial by the shopping centre in Allen (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

An Associated Press review of Garcias online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

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The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia, who was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and had apparently been working as a security guard, according to neighbours and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the US.

The Associated Press independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of Dallass most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official.

The official said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.



People work on constructing crosses at the scene (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

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Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, US Army spokeswoman Heather J Hagan said.

According to an Army official he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterised discharge, which is common for recruits who do not make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defence official. That type of discharge  which is not dishonourable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbours said they thought he worked as a security guard but they were not sure where.

A woman who lives next door said she did not know her neighbours well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests on Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of becoming law.
Rishi Sunak has flown by helicopter to Southampton and back to London, in the latest short trip the British Prime Minister has made by air rather than by car or train.

Downing Street said taking the aircraft to visit a pharmacy on the south coast on Tuesday was justifiable as it made the most effective use of his busy schedule.

Mr Sunak told receptionists at Weston Lane Surgery he would be going on to visit his family in Southampton, the city where he grew up.

The train from Waterloo to Southampton Central takes a little over an hour and a quarter, with an off-peak return costing around 53.

The British prime ministers official spokesman confirmed Mr Sunak travelled by helicopter and that the trip was funded by the taxpayer.

As you know, his transport will vary depending on his time, where hes going to make best use of both his time and an interest of the taxpayer, the official said.

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Obviously theres a lot of pressure on his time and he wants to make the most effective use of that time, so sometimes being able to get to and from places quickly is the best use of his time.

Two Range Rovers were seen picking Mr Sunak up after he got his blood pressure checked while promoting his policy of allowing pharmacists to prescribe medications for seven common ailments in a bid to free up GP appointments.

He has in the past been accused by Labour of jetting around the country on taxpayers money like an A-list celeb for taking planes around England.

The Prime Ministers environmental credentials were also questioned as he took flights from London to Blackpool and onwards to Darlington in January.

World Liz Truss to visit Taiwan to show solidarity in... Read More

Liberal Democrat climate change and transport spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse said: Being the Prime Minister is not an excuse to use a private helicopter whenever you want.

No politician should be above using public transport to get around the country  especially for a journey that would take little more than an hour.

Rishi Sunak has seemingly abandoned the Governments environmental responsibilities while throwing taxpayer money away so he can travel in luxury. This is just another example of him being wildly out of touch with the British people.
A jury in New York City is set to begin its deliberations in a civil trial over advice columnist E Jean Carrolls claims that Donald Trump raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996.

US District Judge Lewis A Kaplan will read instructions on the law to the nine-person jury for about an hour before jurors begin discussing the civil claims of battery and defamation.

If they believe Ms Carroll, jurors can award compensatory and punitive damages.

Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Ms Carroll or knew her.

Donald Trump has insisted he never sexually assaulted E Jean Carroll or knew here (Evan Vucci/AP)

The former US presidents lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told the jury in closing arguments on Monday that Ms Carrolls story is too far-fetched to be believed.

He said she made it up to fuel sales of a 2019 memoir in which she first publicly revealed her claims and to disparage Trump for political reasons.

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Ms Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, cited excerpts from Trumps October deposition and his notorious comments on a 2005 Access Hollywood video in which he said celebrities can grab women between the legs without asking.

She urged jurors to believe her client.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Ms Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from court during the two weeks of the trial.

She added that much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case.

In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E Jean Carroll.

Ms Carroll, 79, testified that she had a chance encounter with Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower.

E Jean Carroll claims Donald Trump raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996 (Seth Wenig/AP)

She said it was a light-hearted interaction in which they teased each other about trying on a piece of lingerie before Trump became violent inside a fitting room.

Mr Tacopina told jurors there was no reason to call Trump as a witness when Ms Carroll cannot even recall when their encounter happened.

He told the jury Ms Carroll made up her claims after hearing about a 2012 Law And Order episode in which a woman is raped in the fitting room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

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They modelled their secret scheme on an episode of one of the most popular shows on television, he said of Ms Carroll.

Two of the columnists friends testified that she told them about the encounter with Trump shortly after it happened, many years before the Law And Order episode was broadcast.
A large installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine blocked the path of Russias ambassador to Poland as he sought to place a wreath at a Warsaw memorial to Soviet soldiers on Russias Victory Day holiday.

The installation included hundreds of fluttering blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and crosses serving as symbolic grave markers for Ukrainians killed by Russians during the full-scale war launched by Moscow last year.

A pool of fake blood below the crosses underlined the stark message of the protest, which was created by Euromaidan-Warszawa, a citizens initiative that supports Ukraine.



Activists set up an installation representing Russian atrocities against Ukraine, in Warsaw, Poland (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Organiser Viktoria Pogrebniak said the installation, set up for the day at the entrance to the Red Army memorial site, was meant to fight back against Russian propaganda, and show the real picture to the world,

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We are bombed, we are killed, we are raped, she said. We are killed just because we are Ukrainians.

She said the ambassador and other Russian diplomats would have to walk over the symbolic corpses of Ukrainians or will need to go through the bushes if they wanted to reach the memorial.

With his path blocked, Ambassador Sergey Andreev instead left a wreath of red carnations in front of the hundreds of Ukrainian flags as loudspeakers blasted the sounds of bombs and air sirens.



Russias Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreyev, right, wanted to lay a wreath on Victory Day but his path was blocked by a large installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine (AP)

The installation also included large mock-ups of bombed buildings and the names of Ukrainian cities where Russia has carried out atrocities against Ukrainians: Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Bakhmut.

The protesters surrounded Mr Andreev and his entourage and yelled Ruscists  an insult that combines the words Russians and fascists.

Mr Andreev, who was doused with a red liquid at the same place on Victory Day last year, vowed to return later in the day.



Some Poles left flowers at the memorial to the Red Army soldiers, triggering the anger of protesters who denounced them as provocateurs (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

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Some Poles arrived during the morning and made their way across the symbolic cemetery or through the bushes to reach the Red Army memorial to leave flowers.

That triggered the anger of the protesters who denounced them as provocateurs serving the Kremlins interests.

They are traitors to Poland, shouted one activist, Katarzyna Augustynek.

She seized a bouquet of white carnations left by a woman and threw it to the ground, triggering an angry exchange with the other woman.

The Red Army soldiers died in the fight against Nazi Germany during the Second World War. But many Poles also remember how they carried out rapes and other crimes, and they resent the decades of Soviet control that came next for their nation.

Poland threw off Moscow-backed communism in 1989 and today is a strong ally of Ukraine.

Poland is supplying weapons to Kyiv and giving refuge to many Ukrainians, and there are very few who actually support Moscow.
JTBC comedy series "Doctor Cha" revolves around a housewife-turned-doctor Cha Jung-sook. Courtesy of JTBC



By Lee Gyu-lee



JTBC comedy series "Doctor Cha" is enjoying a drastic rise in popularity, landing in Netflix's official weekly top 10 charts for non-English series.



The series, which kicked off with a 4.9 viewership rating on April 15, has been seeing a steady surge every week, hitting its highest rating with its latest episode on Sunday at 16.2 percent. The episode scored the highest rating out of all cable channels during the same time slot.



The female-centric drama, which also streams on Netflix, made it into the top 10 daily streaming chart in 17 different countries, including Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, according to the streaming service analytic platform, FlixPatrol. Yesterday it topped the chart in four countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia.



"The journey of a housewife of 20 years, Cha Jung-sook, through medical residency, is offering a cathartic experience and made itself relatable to those with patriarchy culture in Asian regions," the series' production company, STUDIO&NEW, said in the release.





A scene from the series "Doctor Cha" / Courtesy of JTBC
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has issued his first detailed legal defence since prosecutors accused him of fraud, seeking to dismiss several of the charges and claiming that the high-powered law firm representing FTX in its bankruptcy has been doing the US governments bidding.

In court filings late on Monday, lawyers for Bankman-Fried said FTX and its lawyers at the firm Sullivan & Cromwell had become de facto agents of federal prosecutors building the criminal case against him and might be withholding crucial evidence.

FTXs legal advisors went to the government to accuse Mr Bankman-Fried behind his back without knowing the full facts, and ultimately forced him to step down as CEO, the lawyers wrote.

Sam Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the collapse of FTX. Credit: Bloomberg

For months, Sullivan & Cromwell has funnelled documents and other evidence to the prosecution, the filings say. Bankman-Frieds lawyers claimed that prosecutors had been seeking only the most incriminating documents, even though FTX might also be sitting on material that could help the defence.
A swath of new leases have been signed in Sydneys west as leading companies look to locate closer to workers and take advantage of the new amenities being offered in the booming region.

The latest signings are by global groups Samsung and Yatsal Distributors. They have inked deals at the new Aware Super-owned industrial precinct at Aeria in South West Sydney. Aeria is the home of Bankstown Airport and the newly delivered Altitude industrial estate has an end value of $700 million.

Owned by Aware Super, managed by Aeria Management Group, and developed in partnership with Altis Property Partners, Altitude is a premium-grade logistics gateway with direct access to the M5 motorway, Sydney CBD, Port Botany and the new Western Sydney Airport.

Samsung and Yatsal have signed new leases at Altitude industrial estate in south-west Sydney.

Samsung SDS has committed to a 26,041-square-metre warehouse on a five-year lease. Yatsal Distributors has signed up to 18,445 square metres across a seven-year lease at Altitude.
Prominent Australian cancer researcher Professor Mark Smyth was a bully who used his reputation, status and power to intimidate, avoiding proper scrutiny of his scientific methods and investigation of his behaviour, according to an external review.

But the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute missed several opportunities to rein him in, the review found, with whistleblowers having to leave and complain elsewhere before action was taken in 2020.

Professor Mark Smyth and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

The Brisbane-based institute yesterday released edited excerpts of the review by former Federal Court judge Bruce Lander KC, which followed an independent investigation into Smyths numerous code of conduct breaches.

The Lander review found QIMR Berghofer hired Smyth in 2013, when there were already doubts about his methods, yet failed to do character checks. He had a personal relationship at QIMR and some of his sceptics believed he had been cleared of any wrong-doing - or found to be at fault and hired anyway.
Peters cites a 2020 Italian study that followed about 900 people split between tobacco smokers, e-cigarette users (vapers) and those who did both. Over six years, about 10 per cent of the study group had some kind of smoking-related health event, such as a heart attack or lung problems. There was no evidence of harm reduction for those who had swapped from cigarettes to vaping. In six years, we have not even seen 1 per cent of the supposed 95 per cent reduction, Peters says. So whens it going to kick in? The lack of long-term data Respiratory disease researcher Professor Brian Oliver says his team, from UTS and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, were among the first to flag the dangers of vaping in Australia in 2020. They scrutinised advice offered by obstetricians in the UK and Europe that urged women who smoked to swap to vaping during pregnancy.

Oliver and his team exposed pregnant mice to vapor from e-cigarettes for six weeks before mating, through gestation and lactation. The offspring were born with chronic lung inflammation, the kidneys are not very good, the livers not very good, there are neurological complications associated with vaping during pregnancy, Oliver says. E-cigarettes were no longer seen as being something safe to be used during pregnancy. Oliver says not everyone accepts animal research, but about 20 other groups around the world have conducted similar studies, and every groups found a detrimental effect of e-cigarette use during pregnancy.

If you add all of that information together, I think its highly likely youd see very similar effects in humans. Oliver says it is necessary for researchers to use animal and cellular studies in lieu of long-term health data from people who vape. Bright colours and flavoured nicotine, like mint, strawberry and mango, have attracted young users. Credit: AAP If somebody smokes it may take 20 or 30 years for disease to manifest. So with electronic cigarettes, you couldnt do a simple clinical study and watch people for six months and then work out whether theyre good or bad. Youd have to watch them almost for a lifetime. Peters agrees. We should rely on our advanced molecular science and genetic studies to predict these things and act on predictions, rather than  as in the 1950s [with smoking]  wait for people to be dying from a range of cancers.

A recent systematic review of 400 global studies into vaping was published in The Medical Journal of Australia in March. The review found there was conclusive evidence that linked vaping to poisoning, risk of seizures and lung injury, and substantial evidence that vaping can cause non-smokers to become addicted to nicotine  all effects that emerge in the short term. As for long-term impacts on cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental and reproductive health? The evidence on the effect of vaping was insufficient or unavailable, the review found. Does vaping help smokers quit? The review, led by epidemiologist Professor Emily Banks AM, also found there was limited evidence that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking.

But Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, director of the Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research at the University of Queensland, begs to differ. He believes that tabloid headlines have led to a heavy-handed approach to vaping regulation and that the government should make sure smokers can easily access vapes. Hall cites a Cochrane Review  regarded as the gold standard of evidence  that found e-cigarettes work better than nicotine gum and patches in helping people quit. But many people who quit smoking by using e-cigarettes continue to vape. In one study, 886 people were randomly assigned either e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement products (i.e. patches and gum) in their efforts to quit smoking. Eighteen per cent of the vapers quit smoking after a year compared with 9.9 per cent of the other group. But 80 per cent of the e-cigarette users who quit smoking were still vaping after 52 weeks, while only 9 per cent of the quitters in the other group were still using nicotine replacement treatments.
The future of small Catholic schools could be at risk as four inner-city Catholic primary schools face potential closure due to tiny student numbers.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools has confirmed the review, saying all schools with fewer than 150 students were assessed for enrolment prospects, financial and education performance, and whether enrolled families were open to attending alternative schools.

Becky McDonagh and her son Harry. Harry attends St Josephs, one of four Catholic schools that might close. Credit: Simon Schluter

More than 175 Victorian Catholic schools have fewer than 150 enrolments, raising concerns more campuses  particularly in established inner suburbs and low-growth country towns  will close in the coming years.

The four primary schools now under review are St Bridgets in Balwyn North; St Johns in Clifton Hill; St Mary Magdalens in Chadstone; and St Josephs in Black Rock, which had a combined 309 students last year.
A 42-year-old man who police believe shot and killed a Craigieburn man in Melbournes west on Sunday has been released after handing himself in. Investigators say they are close to finding two other men who fled the scene.

Emergency services found a man with a gunshot wound to his upper body inside a stolen BMW on Vaucluse Boulevard, Taylors Hill, at 11.30pm on Sunday. Paramedics treated the man, but he died at the scene.

Police say the BMW had been chasing a white Mitsubishi sedan when the Mitsubishi crashed into bollards separating Grange Terrace and Johnston Way.

They allege a man got out of the Mitsubishi armed with a long-arm firearm and confronted the two men inside the BMW before firing a shot into the front windscreen of the car, killing the passenger.
The City of Monash last week became the latest Victorian council to cancel an LGBTIQ+ event under the weight of a barrage of abuse, vilification and threats of violence.

The council will no longer be running a drag story-time event planned for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex discrimination and Transphobia on May 17.

This is the latest chapter in a worrying trend, imported from the United States and disrupting at least 15 Victorian councils in recent months, of far-right groups intimidating local LGBTIQ+ communities. While the safety of local communities should always be paramount, giving in to the demands of extremists has clearly only emboldened them further.

Councils have been put in a difficult position and need greater support to address these threats. There needs to be a co-ordinated effort across state government, councils and law enforcement, working with local communities to stop hate in its tracks.
London: The Metropolitan Police has expressed regret over its arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the Kings coronation, after deciding that no charges would be brought against them.

The territorial police force responsible for law enforcement in Greater London said on Monday evening (UK time) that the activists from Republic, a group that campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, would not face charges after they were detained under controversial new anti-protest powers rushed into law ahead of the coronation.

Police arrest protesters near the Kings procession on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images

The group, including Republic chief executive Graham Smith, was detained on Saturday morning ahead of the historic coronation procession through London while unloading placards from a van close to the procession route.

The arrests were said to have been made despite a series of meetings and agreements between Republic and Scotland Yard relating to the protest, which was to take place at the point where Whitehall meets The Mall.
Ottawa: Chinas Foreign Ministry will expel a Canadian diplomat in response to Ottawas decision to order one of Beijings envoys to leave the country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government expelled a Chinese diplomat on Monday, a move that was sure to prompt economic or diplomatic backlash from President Xi Jinping.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Beijing in 2017. Credit: AP

The envoy, Zhao Wei, was named in a Globe and Mail report last week that cited a leaked Canadian intelligence document. The newspaper reported the document, dated July 2021, revealed the diplomat was looking into penalising Conservative Party MP Michael Chong over his hard-line positions on the Beijing government, including its treatment of Uyghur Muslims, punishment that could entail sanctioning Chongs relatives in Hong Kong.

Zhao has been ordered to leave the country, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.
ICYMI, Sandros Evelyne Chetrite, the brands founder and artistic director, has joined forces with French artist and designer Louis Barthelemy, to create an exclusive capsule collection.

Sandro x Louis Barthelemy is a womenswear collection built on their mutual desire to celebrate Morocco. From embroidered Kasbah bags to silk scarves and printed shirts, the series whisks us into a universe where traditional craftsmanship is preserved in modern silhouettes. One of the highlights is the bucket bag, which is crafted together with the Doum for Women cooperative, one that empowers women in rural communities of Morocco.

Ahead, we caught up with the fashion duo on the inspiration behind the line, their experience working with the womens collective, and a quick itinerary of what to do in Marrakech.

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How did the collaboration come about, and how has it developed into the capsule collection we see today?

Evelyne: I was born and raised in Morocco. This country is dear to my heart, and I always want to celebrate its craftsmanship, art of living, light, and vibrations. I have seen Louis work many times before and found that his colourful and poetic way of portraying Morocco resonated with my vision. My instincts guide my creative choices, and I knew there was something we could do together. I didnt want a literal presentation of Morocco, but rather something more subtle, discreet, but still joyful.

Louis: When Evelyne and I first met in Paris, we had a fruitful and inspiring conversation. She told me about her childhood in Rabat, the Moroccan capital and her move to France. She kept the memories of her country of origin through a generous, enveloping and sophisticated art of living, which I am familiar with since I chose to settle there. This collection celebrates our respective attachment to Morocco and its magnificent craftsmanship, which has been woven into the countrys dynamism and identity.

The collection is alive with beautiful prints and colourswhat is the main inspiration behind it?

E: It is all about celebrating Morocco. It brings me back to my childhood and many happy memories, such as the time when my grandfather worked as a shirt tailor. Handmade goods are valued in Morocco, whether they are baskets, ceramics, or textiles, and I am particularly fond of them. I also wanted to create a collection that explored Moroccos silhouette from an angle other than mine.

L: I was inspired by the pictorial universe of Moroccan figurative artist Mohamed Ben Ali LRbati when designing the silk scarf. He became well-known for his unique and distinctive painting style, characterised by vibrant colours, intricate details, and complex compositions that often incorporate traditional Moroccan architecture, geometric patterns, and graphic borders. Its a colourful nod to a Moroccan artist whose work I particularly love that can be found in the joyful designs decorating an optimistic wardrobe.

Could you sum up the collection in three words?

E & L: Optimistic, festive and responsible.

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For the bucket bag, you partnered with Doum for Women a womens basketry cooperative based in Marrakech. Tell us about the experience.

E: Working with these golden hands was an emotional experience for me because this cooperative allows rural Moroccan women to be independent and autonomous. To me, we must defend their freedom to work because this organisation protects ancestral craft heritage, especially basketry.

L: I have been experimenting with Doum for Women for a year now, and I love spending days in the workshop with these craftswomen, observing how they work. When Sandro approached me, I tried to be the link between the womens cooperative and the ready-to-wear brand, and I feel the merger of the two entities was a real success.

Which piece from the collection is your favourite, and why?

E: It is difficult to choose only one, but I think the shirtthe long-sleeved shirt. While the shapes are masculine, the colours and materials are ultra-feminine. At Sandro, we love mixing genres and contrasting silhouettes.

L: I would say the bucket bag in natural straw and leather with the printed pouch. I love this item because it engages with the Marrakech-based Doum for Women cooperative, which aims to preserve traditions in modern ways and share Moroccan crafts with the rest of the world. This is also a means for these women to be empowered and financially independent.

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Since the collection is all about celebrating Moroccan culture, what is it about this nation that fascinates you the most?

E: Everything in Morocco inspires me: the colours, the vibrations, the light, the warmth of the heart.

L: I am fascinated by the intricate and colourful geometric patterns used in Moroccan architecture, textiles, and ceramics, which are a captivating fusion of Islamic, African, and Mediterranean influences. I love its timelessness and modernity!

What should one do in Marrakech if given only a day to spend there?

E: Enjoy the Jardin Majorelle, stroll around the souk, and discover local craftsmen. Then, have the best mint tea ever at a local coffee shop before sleeping in a unique Riad in the medina.

L: Visit the Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent museum in the morning, then jump in a horse carriage and eat lunch at +61, followed by a stop at Galerie 127 to see a photography exhibition. Afterwards, head to Jemaa el-Fnaa for freshly squeezed orange juice and take a walk around the bustling souks for handicrafts. In the evening, enjoy an aperitif on the terrace of Dar Yacout, before enjoying a magical dinner on the patio. Lastly, sleep the night away at La Mamounia or Riad Mena & Beyond in the medina.

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Billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Tuesday said it will prepay USD 130 million of debt as it looks to boost investor confidence post being targeted by a US short-seller.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, the ports company of the Adani Group, had last month floated a tender to buy back as much as USD 130 million of its July 2024 bonds and similar amounts in each of the next four as it looked to regain investor confidence by showing that its liquidity position is comfortable.

In a stock exchange filing, APSEZ said an aggregae principal amount of USD 412.7 million was validly tendered.

"Since the principal amount of notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the early tender date (of May 8) exceeded the maximum acceptance amount of USD 130 million in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes, the company will accept such notes for purchase subject to the proration factor of 34.2649 per cent," it said.

Shares of Adani group companies pummelled after Hindenburg Research in a January 24 report accused it of accounting fraud and improper use of offshore tax havens for stock manipulation.

The group has denied all allegations.

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APSEZ said the buyback programme for its 3.375 per cent 2024 maturity dollar-denominated bonds closed on May 8.

"The purpose of the tender offer is to partly prepay the company's near-term debt maturities and to convey the comfortable liquidity position," it had said in a statement last month.

The company had engaged Barclays Bank, DBS Bank, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, First Abu Dhabi Bank, PJSC, MUFG Securities Asia Singapore Branch, SMBC Nikko Securities (Hong Kong) and Standard Chartered Bank to serve as dealer managers for the offer.

In addition to the principal amount, the company will pay accrued interest, in respect of any notes purchased in the tender offer from, and including, the last interest payment date.






This, however, is not Foxconns only plant in India as the company has manufactured Apple handsets in India from its Tamil Nadu plant since 2019. Two other Taiwanese electronics manufacturers Wistron and Pegatron also manufacture and assemble Apple devices in India. Foxconn chairman Young Liu said in a statement that the objective of his Karnataka visit in the same month was to deepen partnerships and seek cooperation in new areas such as semiconductor development and electric vehicles. Not only this, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated in March that the worlds largest company by market value would soon manufacture iPhones at a new plant in the state and create around 100,000 jobs.

Another Apple supplier Jabil Inc has started manufacturing components of Apple AirPods in India, as per a Bloomberg report.

Looking at the business in India, we did set a quarterly record, grew very strong, double digits year-over-year. So, it was quite a good quarter for us, taking a step back, India is an incredibly exciting market. Its a major focus for us, Apple CEO Tim Cook said during an earning call last week.



During his India visit, Tim Cook met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and committed to growth and investment in the country.

Also Read Apple opens its first official store in Mumbai; what we know so far Apple supplier Foxconn to start construction of its Karnataka plant in May Asus ROG Phone 6 series phones arrive in India, available at Vijay Sales Asus launches ROG Phone 7 series gaming smartphones: Price, specs, and more Apple BKC Mumbai store previewed ahead of April 18 opening: See pictures Delhi HC dismisses govt plea accusing Reliance Industries of siphoning gas Go First Saga: Lessors seek to deregister 9 more planes of the airline Select Microsoft users to get peak into AI 'game changer' for office work Edtech giant Byju's in process of raising $1 bn amid funding winter Covid vaccine maker Novavax plans to cut 25% jobs to slash expenses

In a bid to diversify production away from China, Apple partner and Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn on Monday acquired 1.2 million square metre or 13 million square foot land in the Devanahalli area near the Bengaluru airport in Karnataka, reported Focus Taiwan, the national news agency of the Republic of China.Foxconn subsidiary Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development paid $37 million for the site, the news agency AFP reported citing the companys statement with the London Stock Exchange (LSE).India accounts for 7 per cent of Apple's iPhone output, therefore the company is trying to increase its manufacturing presence here. Due to Covid-related restrictions and China's tense relations with the US, both firms are looking for a production location outside of China.
Novavax is cutting about a quarter of its workforce as the COVID-19 vaccine maker seeks to slash expenses while dealing with uncertain future revenue.

The company said on Tuesday that it expects to trim next year's costs for research and development as well as selling, general and administrative expenses by about 40% to 50 per cent compared to 2022.

The company had 1,992 full-time employees as of February 21, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The job cuts announced on Tuesday would equate to 498 employees.

Novavax's protein-based vaccine debuted long after alternatives from companies like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson had reached the market. Only about 88,458 doses of the Novavax vaccine have been administered in the United States, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

That compares to more than 400 million doses of market leader Pfizer's two-shot original vaccine and updated booster.

The COVID-19 vaccine is Novavax's lone commercial product. It is updating that vaccine for this fall and also developing a flu shot and a coronavirus-flu shot combination.

Also Read Covid-19: Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine gets govt nod as booster shot Bharat Biotech gets nasal vaccine nod for use as mix-match booster With the flu season here, should you ask for an influenza vaccine? First Indian intranasal Covid-19 vaccine to be launched on Jan 26 JD.com announces pay cuts of 10-20% for managers amid China slowdown Nazara Technologies Q4 results: Net profit rises 18% to Rs 2.6 crore Mankind Pharma jumps 32% on stock market debut due to strong demand Westlife Development net profit grows 30.3% to Rs 20.3 cr in March quarter General Motors hires former Apple executive to run new software unit Amara Raja launches gigafactory in Telangana to produce lithium ion battery

The company said in February that it estimates that it has enough cash to fund operations for the next year, but substantial doubt exists regarding our ability to continue as a going concern due to uncertainty over factors like 2023 revenue.

Vaccine makers expect sales to slow this year, particularly in the first half, as they switch from supplying the US government to selling their shots commercially. They forecast some improvement in the fall, when people will start seeking updated booster shots.

In the first quarter, Novavax Inc. total revenue sank to USD 81 million from USD 704 million in last year's quarter.

The company swung to a net loss of USD 294 million from net income of USD 203 million. That equated to a loss of USD 3.41 per share.

Analysts expected a loss of USD 3.46 per share on USD 87.6 million in revenue, according to FactSet.

Novavax, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has been around since 1987. The company said in its SEC filing that its expenses have exceeded revenues since then. The company's accumulated deficit as of December 31 was USD 4.3 billion.

Shares of Novavax climbed 21 per cent in early-morning trading.


A Singapore-based three-member tribunal for international arbitration had also announced its decision in favour of the Reliance-led consortium on July 24, 2018. Judge Anup Jairam Bhambhani today upheld the decision and said that the case calls for "no interference". The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed Centre's petition accusing Reliance Industries and its partners of committing an "insidious fraud" and "unjust enrichment of over $1.729 billion" by siphoning gas from deposits they had no right to exploit, a report by The Economic Times (ET) said.



The consortium includes UK-based BP Plc and Canada's Niko Resources. The Singapore tribunal said that the production sharing contract (PSC) does not prohibit the contractor from producing gas, irrespective of its source, as long as the production was out of the contract area. It said that the consortium was not liable to pay any dues. Moreover, it had also asked the Centre to pay the consortium $8.3 million as the cost of arbitration.



Later the same year, ONGC approached the Delhi High Court, complaining that RIL was producing gas from its blocks. In 2014, the Centre asked RIL to pay $1.47 billion for disgorgement of unjust enrichment by draining and selling the gas from two ONGC blocks that border RIL's block. It said that RIL was not entitled to produce gas from those blocks as it had not asked the Centre's permission for it.


The airline, widely known as Go First, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines for the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neo planes. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will give an order on Go Airlines (India) Ltd's insolvency case on Wednesday, according to a notice on the tribunal's website on Tuesday.



This comes a day after leasing companies Sky High XCV Leasing Company, ACG Aircraft Leasing, SFV Aircraft Holdings and others submitted requests to the regulator to take back at least 13 planes, according to the notices. More lessors of India's Go First asked the country's aviation regulator on Tuesday to de-register at least three aircraft of the cash-strapped company which filed for bankruptcy last week, according to notices on the regulator's website.



"The problem with Go Air is that their flights are run on engines of Pratt & Whitney which is facing management issues since after COVID-19...So (engine) manufacturing is not happening at the pace that it should," Singh said on Monday. Deputy Aviation Minister V.K. Singh told news agency ANI that the government has previously held talks with U.S.-based Pratt & Whitney to resolve the issue at the airline, which until recently was India's fourth-largest by passengers flown.

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By Shivam Patel and Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India is unlikely to bail out Go Airlines (India) Ltd unless a solution is found to supplying it with engines, a minister said.

The low-cost carrier filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines for the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neos.

The airline, widely known as Go First, which has been flying for nearly two decades, is the first major Indian airline to collapse since 2019, when Jet Airways went under.

India's Deputy Aviation Minister V.K. Singh told news agency ANI that the government has previously held talks with U.S.-based Pratt & Whitney to resolve the issue at the airline, which until recently was India's fourth-largest by passengers flown.

"The problem with Go Air is that their flights are run on engines of Pratt & Whitney which is facing management issues since after COVID-19...So (engine) manufacturing is not happening at the pace that it should," Singh said on Monday.

Also Read Go First saga: The engine dispute at the heart of bankruptcy filing Go First inducts 55th A320 neo; to receive engines from P&W soon IndiGo, Go First face P&W engine headwinds; over 50 planes on ground How secret talks in London led to Air India's gigantic plane order Jet airways revival hits new snag as banks push back on funding Air India pilots get more time to accept revised compensation structure Vaishnaw to meet top tech execs to invite investments in chips, laptops Mukesh Ambani's RIL has stock analysts most bullish in seven years Adani Ports to pay $130 mn of debt early, $413 mn debt tendered for payment Now lessors seek deregistration of additional 13 Go First planes

Pratt & Whitney, part of Raytheon Technologies, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the minister's remarks outside of business hours. It has previously told an arbitrator that the airline's claim of defective engines causing its demise was "astounding" and without evidence.

"What can be done about a bailout? Where will Pratt & Whitney get (engines)? (A) bailout can only happen when something can be done about this," Singh said in response to a question about the possibility of a government rescue.

The government is moving to protect passengers first with the aviation regulator issuing a notice to Go First late on Monday to stop selling new tickets.

Go First, whose market share has fallen to 7.8% at the end of March, from 8.8% in 2022, has also been asked to make cash refunds to passengers for cancelled flights, a government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The government is not thinking about a bail out as of now".

Go First's fate underscores fierce competition in a sector dominated by IndiGo and the announced merger of Air India and Vistara, even though India's growing industry has bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic and hit record passenger levels.

On Monday Go First called on India's company law tribunal to urgently grant its request for bankruptcy protection, as more lessors sought to repossess planes.

(Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Alexander Smith)


In doing so, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani upheld the international arbitration award of July 24, 2018, in favour of the RIL-led consortium. The consortium includes UK-based BP Plc and Niko Resources of Canada. The Delhi High Court (HC) on Tuesday dismissed the Centres petition accusing Reliance Industries (RIL) and its partners of draining gas from their deposits and making a profit off it.



The HC observed that when an arbitral award is challenged, it may interfere only if the award is induced or affected by fraud or is in contravention of the fundamental policy of law, or if it is in conflict with the most basic notions of morality and justice. This court is not persuaded to hold that the conclusions drawn by the arbitral tribunal are such that no reasonable person would reach. Suffice to say that the view taken by the arbitral tribunal is most certainly a possible view, which calls for no interference, the order read.



The government had contended that RIL was guilty of fraud and unjust enrichment of over $1.5 billion. In the opinion of this court, firstly, the aforesaid inferences are factual conclusions arrived at by the arbitral tribunal, which cannot be second-guessed by this court in the exercise of its powers under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (grounds to challenge the arbitral award). Secondly, in the opinion of this court, the factual conclusions are perfectly rational, coherent, and logical, especially considering what was composed in the production sharing contract (PSC) was a purely commercial transaction entered into by two contracting parties, the order read.

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The dispute between the government and RIL arose when Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on July 22, 2013, wrote to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) saying that the gas pools of the Reliance block and the ONGC blocks appeared to be connected with possible migration of gas between the two blocks. It is contended that the migrated gas alone was valued at about $1.5 billion as on June 30, 2016, the order noted.



This led ONGC to file a writ petition before Delhi HC in which the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), DGH, and RIL were also made parties. RIL, which is the contractor of KG-DWN-98/3 block in the Krishna-Godavari Basin off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, was accused of making a profit by draining and selling the gas that migrated from adjacent ONGC blocks.



D&M said on November 19, 2015, that the integrated analyses indicated connectivity and continuity of the reservoirs across the blocks operated by ONGC and RIL. The petition was disposed of by the court by directing MoPNG to consider the report produced by the expert agency by the name of DeGolyer & MacNaughton (D&M)  a petroleum consulting company based in Dallas, Texas. The agency was to undertake an independent third-party study to verify the claimed continuity and migration of gas from the ONGC blocks to the Reliance block.

The ministry also appointed a one-man committee of Justice A P Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi HC, on December 15, 2015, to consider the D&M report of 2015 and to recommend a future course of action in light of the findings contained in the report. The ministry also appointed a one-man committee of Justice A P Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi HC, on December 15, 2015, to consider the D&M report of 2015 and to recommend a future course of action in light of the findings contained in the report.


Over the next two days, Vaishnaw plans to meet more executives from Intel, Micron, Western Digital, Applied Materials, HP, Analog Devices, Lam Research and AMD, among others. He is also participating in a round table hosted by SEMI, a global association representing the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain. In a major outreach to US companies, especially in the semiconductor space, IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has met the top executives of global US companies in San Francisco at the start of his three-day visit to the country. He also met Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the Mountain View headquarters on Tuesday. Good discussion on India Stack and Make in India, Vaishnaw said in a tweet after his meeting with Pichai.



The meetings have been very fruitful and the message was clear there is no doubt that India is the next big destination for everyone in semiconductors to invest in, Vaishnaw told Business Standard over the phone. The Indian consulate in San Francisco is arranging another round table with the minister and Indian CEOs. Vaishnaw will also visit Stanford university for a discussion. The agenda of Vaishnaw's meetings is to persuade American semiconductor and OSAT/ATMP companies to invest in, and set up, manufacturing plants in India. The idea is to interest them in taking advantage of the incentives offered under the semiconductor scheme for chip making and allay any concerns they may have about government policy.



Experts point out that the cost of putting up fab plants in Asia are far lower than in the US or Europe  an edge that India also offers. It is noteworthy that by 2030, the globe will require over 1 million additional professionals to power the growth of the semiconductor industry and India can provide a substantial portion of that talent. They acknowledged that we have taken the right direction by first focusing on the building of the ecosystem for a fab plant to sustain itself, he added.

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The meetings will take place in New York and Washington from May 15-18. Among the 40-odd companies that have been invited are Amazon, Microsoft, Accenture, VMware, Equinox, Iron Mountain, Palo Alto, Yahoo, Intel, and Meta. The outreach by Vaishnaw will be followed by meetings of the US-India Cooperation on Information and Communications Technologies, organised jointly by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the US government, with the participation of the ICEA and Nasscom.



Senior officials from the ministry will participate, led by secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma, top officials from Nasscom and ICEA. The sessions will include showcasing the opportunities that India represents for American companies in the IT and ESDM space; an overview of the telecom sector and Indias 5G and 6G roadmap; data privacy and cross border data flows; growth opportunities in electronics manufacturing; and ICT supply chain diversity.



Sources say the government is in the final stages of clearing a $1-billion investment by Micron to set up a OSAT plant and providing a conditional clearance to Foxconn-Vedanta to set up its chip plant here. The $10 billion semiconductor scheme under which the government will provide financial incentives of up to 50 per cent of the cost of a project has attracted global players.







Tech Shift Many Taiwanese companies in OSAT have raised these issues and want more engagement with the Indian government as their clients have asked them to follow a China plus and Taiwan plus policy and set up an alternative Asian hub. However, some global giants have expressed concern about the stability of Indian policy and how this could affect multi-billion dollar investments.

One-to-one meetings held between Vaishnaw and global semiconductor players in San Francisco  Communications ministry also holding a three-day forum in New York and Washington; over 40 electronics and IT firms invited One-to-one meetings held between Vaishnaw and global semiconductor players in San Francisco

 Idea is to provide forums for US firms to understand Indias policy and the incentives it is offering for high-tech production, hardware, telecom, and IT








North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow's celebration of its Victory Day holiday, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.







In the message sent on the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Kim said Russia would "smash all challenges and threats by hostile forces," the North's Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language dispatch.







Kim added Moscow has taken on a "sacred struggle to realize international justice" against the "arbitrary practices of the imperialists."







The remarks were seen as signaling Pyongyang's support of Russia in its war with Ukraine.







The North has been strengthening its close ties with Russia despite international condemnation toward Moscow over the Ukrainian war. The North has denied allegations of having provided arms to Moscow for use in the conflict.







North Korean arms exports are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions over the country's nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)




Several other parties have also expressed interest in the airport slots, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are confidential. New carrier Akasa Air is among them, one of the people said.

Indias biggest conglomerate and largest airline are in talks to take Airbus SE planes from Go First after the carrier filed for insolvency protection and was ordered to stop selling tickets. Tata group and IndiGo are holding separate negotiations with Go Firsts lessors, as well as discussing landing and parking slots with airport operators, including in New Delhi and Mumbai, according to sources. Go Firsts lessors are seeking to repossess 36 aircraft, filings with the aviation regulator show.



To reduce the inconvenience to the passengers, we had already stopped taking bookings, before the DGCA issued the notice, Go First said on Tuesday, adding that the airline is taking all possible measures to reduce passenger inconvenience. Cash-strapped Go First on Tuesday said it would respond to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)s show cause notice in due course and is taking all possible measures to reduce inconvenience to the passengers.



Go Firsts biggest lessors include Sky High XCV Leasing, ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland and SMBC Aviation Capital. The clamour for Go Firsts assets may complicate its bid to restructure debt and restart operations. Indias aviation regulator told the carrier to stop selling tickets on Monday, reminiscent of when fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallyas Kingfisher Airlines was ordered to do the same about a decade ago. It never flew again. A decision is due in two weeks on whether Go First can keep its operating license.

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Pratt, a unit of Raytheon Technologies, has previously said the Go First matter is being considered by law courts. Founded in 2005 by magnate Nusli Wadia, Go First has said Pratt & Whitney engines on its A320neo aircraft deteriorated faster than expected and prematurely stopped working. The airline said it had to change more than 500 Pratt GTF engines between 2016 and February 2023, forcing planes out of service and leading to losses of $1.3 billion.


The Centre has been wooing multinational corporations through the production-linked incentive scheme and the semiconductor scheme, both of which provide incentives to companies. In a bid to woo big tech companies to invest in India in areas like laptops and semiconductor chips, communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will meet top executives of tech and semiconductor companies in the US, including HP, Dell, Intel and Google, among others.



In April, Apple became the first brand to cross the $5-billion export mark from India, at a time when it is seeking to reduce its dependence on China. India's Rs 76,000-crore semiconductor PLI scheme allows for uniform fiscal support of 50 per cent of project cost for semiconductor fabs across technology nodes and display manufacturing.



The $30.8 billion Micron is one of the world's largest players in memory and storage technologies, with 11 manufacturing sites across the US, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and China. Headed by Sanjay Mehrotra, who is of Indian origin and studied at BITS Pilani, Micron has been scouting around the globe for more than a year for a place to set up a semiconductor packaging facility. Earlier, Business Standard reported that the Centre is close to approving a proposal by Micron Technology to set up an assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) facility in the country involving an investment of about $1 billion. The world's fifth largest semiconductor company, based in Idaho, USA, will use the facility to process some of its own wafers manufactured across the globe.
India is pressing the European Union for a mutual recognition agreement for its carbon certificates and exempt MSMEs in certain sectors to insulate the domestic industry from the burden of the EU's carbon tax, which would kick in from October this year, a government official said.

The EU is introducing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from October 1 this year. CBAM would translate into a 20-35 per cent tax on select imports into the EU starting January 1, 2026.

From October, domestic companies from seven carbon-intensive sectors -- including steel, cement, fertiliser, aluminium and hydrocarbon products -- would have to seek compliance certificates from the EU authorities to comply with the CBAM norms.

Under the mutual recognition agreement, India has asked the EU to give recognition to its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), which is under preparation by the power ministry.

Acceptability of CCTS by the EU would help Indian companies to reduce additional burden in the form of carbon taxes on exports of these products.

"India is dealing with the issue both at bilateral and multilateral levels. Bilaterally, we are asking the EU to have a mutual recognition agreement with us, and make a carve-out for MSMEs and if possible for the country as has been done in the case of some other countries," the official said.

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All these issues came up for discussion during a meeting of top officials of different ministries, including finance, commerce, power, mines and steel, and industry leaders from the steel sector on Tuesday, they said.

The meeting was chaired by commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal.

In the meeting, the industry was suggested to be ready for this carbon tax and take steps to deal with it.

According to a report from the economic think tank GTRI, from October 1, India's iron, steel and aluminium exports to European Union countries will face extra scrutiny under the mechanism.

From January 1, 2026, the EU will start collecting carbon tax on each consignment of steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen and electricity.

In 2022, India's 27 per cent exports of iron, steel and aluminium products worth USD 8.2 billion went to the EU.

At the multilateral level, India and certain other countries have flagged their concerns to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on CBAM. India submitted a paper on the subject to the WTO in February.

"In today's meeting, the government told the industry about what is happening on the issue at the domestic level. The industry also has certain tasks and that includes having an MRA with the EU," the official said.

India is likely to raise these issues in the forthcoming meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels on May 15-16. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw would participate in the TTC.

Though the 27-member European Union (EU) is claiming CBAM to be a part of their climate action efforts, countries like India are of the view that it is a trade-related measure.

Domestic companies from different sectors, such as steel, are taking steps like setting up a captive solar power plant and following climate-friendly manufacturing processes to reduce carbon emissions. The government is also taking steps like afforestation and promotion of the use of renewable energy.

"We are engaging both at bilateral and multi-lateral level with the EU so that our industry is not hurt," another official said.

India and the European Union in February announced the setting up of a new Trade and Technology Council (TTC) that is expected to facilitate the exchange of critical technologies relating to an array of domains, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and cybersecurity.

The TTC pact with India is the European Union's second such technology partnership after the first one with the US that was firmed up in June 2021.




All interested candidates who have registered for the Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (AP EAMCET) can check and download their AP EAMCET hall ticket 2023 from the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.



Earlier, the syllabus for AP EAMCET included Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, whereas the AP EAPCET Agriculture and Pharmacy include Botany, Zoology, Physics and Chemistry subject.



The AP EAMCET three-hour exam will be held in two shifts - the morning shift from 9 AM to 12 PM and the afternoon from 3 PM to 6 PM. How to download AP EAMCET hall ticket 2023? Candidates appearing for the examination can download AP EAMCET hall ticket 2023 in the below-mentioned steps: Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University (JNTU) Anantapur will release the AP EAMCET hall ticket 2023 today, i.e., May 9, on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education.All interested candidates who have registered for the Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (AP EAMCET) can check and download their AP EAMCET hall ticket 2023 from the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.Earlier, the syllabus for AP EAMCET included Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, whereas the AP EAPCET Agriculture and Pharmacy include Botany, Zoology, Physics and Chemistry subject.The AP EAMCET three-hour exam will be held in two shifts - the morning shift from 9 AM to 12 PM and the afternoon from 3 PM to 6 PM.



Step 2: Click on the "AP EAMCET or AP EAPCET 2023" hall ticket link.

Step 3: On the login page, enter your credentials and click on submit button.

Step 4: Once you enter all the details successfully, the AP EAMCET 2023 hall ticket will appear in front of your screen.

Step 5: You can download and take a printout of the hall ticket for future reference. When will the AP EAMCET 2023 exam be conducted? The AP EAMCET 2023 exam will be conducted in two phases - the engineering phase from May 15 to May 19, 2023. The agriculture/Pharmacy phase will be held on May 22 and 23, 2023. Step 1: Visit the official website of APSCHE: cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.Step 2: Click on the "AP EAMCET or AP EAPCET 2023" hall ticket link.Step 3: On the login page, enter your credentials and click on submit button.Step 4: Once you enter all the details successfully, the AP EAMCET 2023 hall ticket will appear in front of your screen.Step 5: You can download and take a printout of the hall ticket for future reference.

Is there any negative marking in AP EAMCET?

How many questions are there in the AP EAMCET question paper? There are 160 questions in the AP EAMCET engineering question paper comprising 80 questions in Mathematics, 40 in Physics, and 40 in chemistry. The AP EAPCET pharmacy and agriculture question paper, has 160 questions in total, comprising 80 questions in Biology (Botany-40, Zoology-40), 40 in Physics, and 40 in Chemistry.



Candidates need to check the exam syllabus and pattern of the examination. Once the hall ticket is released, read all the exam guidelines correctly to avoid uncertainties. There is no negative marking in the AP EAMCET 2023 exam. No marks will be deducted for wrong or unattempted questions.


Here is a look at the key politicians in this election: As the voting date nears for the Karnataka Assembly elections, there is a lot at stake for some prominent players across the three principal political parties  the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the regional Janata Dal (Secular).

Bharatiya Janata Party

Basavaraj Bommai



From the outset, Bommai did not enjoy the confidence of state-level leaders because he was seen as an outsider, having joined the BJP only in 2008 from the Janata Dal (United), heading a government that owed its existence to party hoppers from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) or JDS, who were rewarded with plum ministerial posts. The incumbent chief minister has been under pressure from the moment he was chosen to replace party stalwart, former chief minister and fellow Lingayat leader BS Yediyurappa.

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However, months before the elections, the Bommai government decided to increase quotas in educational institutions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from 15 per cent and 3 per cent to 17 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. The proposal is pending with the Centre as accepting it would breach the 50 per cent quota ceiling set by the Supreme Court. The Opposition parties cornered the Bommai government multiple times over allegations of corruption. Notably, the BJP has not committed to retaining Bommai as the CM if it wins.



BS Yediyurappa The government also scrapped the 4 per cent quota for minorities and redistributed it to the dominant communities of Lingayats and Vokkaligas, who will now be eligible for 7 per cent and 6 per cent of reservations, respectively. This move has been put on hold after it was challenged in the apex court.



Yediyurappa is busy ensuring the victory of his younger son BY Vijayendra, who the BJP has fielded from Shikaripura, the seat previously occupied by his father. The 80-year-old former chief minister has blown hot and cold this election, not shying away from publicly expressing his displeasure over certain decisions taken by the party.



In fact, resentment has built up against Yediyurappa for that second stint and how it was achieved, with the defection of 17 MLAs from the then-ruling Congress-JDS combine. It was during that defection crisis that allegations of horse-trading and monetary inducements offered to MLAs to switch sides cropped up  there were even some audio leaks of the negotiations, including some involving Yediyurappa himself, which he did not deny. Differences have cropped up between Yediyurappa and other party leaders, especially at the state level, over his demand that the party accord Vijayendra the same respect it has given him. Many local leaders have been uneasy with the continued clout Yediyurappa enjoys in the party, even forcing the national leadership to overlook its 75-year retirement rule when he became CM for three days in 2018 and for a year in 2019. Party leaders also say that it was at his insistence that the BJP ignored that rule again this time, fielding 75-year-old GH Thippareddy from the Chitradurga seat.



BL Santhosh Besides, the party has identified him as the primary hurdle to its bid to reorient towards a hard Hindutva line, with his steadfast insistence on Lingayat support and refusal to follow some of the more polarising policies that Bommai willingly endorsed  Yediyurappa stated at a public meeting last month that he had personally never discriminated against Muslims, a veiled reference to the reservation rejig.



He has been credited as the architect of the BJP's strategy to bring in generational change in the state, easing out many senior leaders. In all, the party replaced 23 incumbent MLAs and two others who passed away before the polls. This was done to offset any possible sentiment of anti-incumbency against the BJP. Perhaps no leader from Karnataka has more at stake in this election than the BJP's national general secretary (organisation).



The Congress has portrayed this transition strategy, including replacing Yediyurappa as CM, as an attempt to sideline the Lingayats, the dominant community in northern Karnataka, in favour of a caste-agnostic Hindutva approach. However, Santhosh has stuck by the strategy, arguing about the potential long-term benefits of such a move. However, this decision has not gone down well with many incumbents, most famously with former CM and Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar, who decided to contest the polls on a Congress ticket and criticised Santhosh, a Brahmin, for showing a lack of respect. Some others, too, have switched parties, and a few are contesting as Independents.

Indian National Congress

Mallikarjun Kharge



To his credit, Kharge, a grassroots Dalit leader with vast electoral experience, already appears to have changed the Congress campaign's focus to the state level as opposed to the 2018 election, which insiders say the then-incumbent Congress lost despite providing a stable, welfarist government in part because it converted a state election into a semi-final ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, pitting Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In many ways, this is a seminal battle for Kharge, recently elected the All India Congress Committee president. A lot rides on his ability to deliver a decisive electoral victory in his home turf Karnataka, ahead of the big state battles in the north later this year and the Lok Sabha elections next year.



Siddaramaiah This is also a battle for prestige for Kharge, who was undefeated for nearly four decades till the 2019 LS polls when he lost in the Gulbarga seat to a former Congress leader who moved to the BJP. Kharge is looking to reclaim lost ground in his district apart from helping his son Priyank win the Chittapur seat in the district. Unsurprisingly, there have also been calls to name him the state's first Dalit CM if the party gets a majority.



Siddaramaiah, 75, already has the record of presenting the highest number of Budgets in the state at 13 and enjoys goodwill for having delivered the only stable administration in almost two decades. The former chief minister, only the second person to complete a full five-year term in the top office in the state, is chasing a record in this election as he hopes to become the first CM to complete two full terms in Karnataka. He is also looking to better Devraj Urs' record of having been CM for a total of 8 years.



Siddaramaiah, a leader from the Kuruba caste that is classified among Other Backward Classes, faces a formidable challenge in the perceived displeasure of the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga castes, who are wary of a challenge to their hold over the state  15 of the 23 CMs in the state's history have hailed from the two communities. He has had to keep his ambition in check, at least in public, as the Congress has decided against projecting him as the CM choice and has insisted that if it wins, it will let the legislative party elect the leader.

DK Shivakumar

Often called a strongman, the Vokkaliga leader is looking to stake a claim to become a dominant force in the party's state unit and the CM in the process.



Shivakumar, though, is not considered the biggest leader of his caste; that title goes to the former prime minister HD Deve Gowda. This has been used against Shivakumar within the Congress party to show that he does not command the absolute loyalty of any community. Shivakumar has never hidden his ambition, and the party has turned to him whenever it has faced a crisis. For instance, he was not just charged with safeguarding its local MLAs in the aftermath of the hung verdict in 2018 but was also tasked with "protecting" 44 MLAs from Gujarat in 2017 ahead of a Rajya Sabha poll to ensure the victory of Ahmed Patel.

Janata Dal (Secular)

HD Kumaraswamy



Since that 1999 split to the Gowda redoubt of southern Karnataka, the party has maintained a steady showing over the years, with its vote share relatively stable at around 20 per cent and seat share in the last two elections at about 40. Two-time CM Kumaraswamy has appeared upbeat about his chances in this election. He has pointed to history to argue that the two decisive verdicts in the last 25 years  in 1999 and 2013  resulted from a split in the Congress's principal opponents in those respective opponents  the Janata Dal in 1999 and the BJP in 2013.

But the challenge for Kumaraswamy could be as internal as external this time. Before the election, the Gowda family had a major blowout with elder brother HD Revanna insisting that the party field his wife in the Hassan seat, which is the family's home district, and Kumaraswamy insisting on picking a diligent party worker. This does not mean the first family's influence has diminished. Apart from Revanna and Kumaraswamy, there is the latter's son Nikhil, whose defeat in the Mandya seat in the 2019 LS polls was one of the shocking results of that poll in which the BJP won 26 of the 28 seats on offer.


During elections in Karnataka, all political parties are usually seen running to mutts. Mutts are religious institutions like the Deras in Punjab and have a large following. These mutts can also sway a big chunk of votes in the upcoming state assembly elections, shows the report.

The citizens of the Southern state of Karnataka will line up in queues on Wednesday to cast their votes for the assembly elections. Ahead of the elections, all three major political parties - Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular) intensified their attacks on each other and announced freebies (free gas cylinders, affordable housing, and food grains) to woo the voters.


Madhya Pradesh has also announced that the movie will be made tax-free in the state. The controversy around the movie "The Kerala Story" has been making it to the headlines almost daily. On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh government announced they would make the film tax-free in the state. Earlier in the day, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that he and his cabinet colleagues and family would watch the film, adding that he was not promoting the controversial movie.



What is the controversy around "The Kerala Story"? On the other hand, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee banned the movie as it is "likely to cause breach of peace". There have also been protests against the movie's release in several other states, including Kerala and Tamil Nadu.



The movie's trailer earlier claimed that approximately 32,000 women in Kerala were converted to Islam, and many were taken to ISIS-ruled Syria when the terror group was at the peak of its power. Directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the movie centres around forced religious conversion. The film stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani and was released on May 5.

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However, the line "heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories of 32,000 females in Kerala..." was changed to "true stories of three young girls from Kerala." "If we look at the issue, the number of 32,000 is what we have stated and we are staying by it," Shah had told PTI.



BJP leaders, on the other hand, have supported the movie. BJP national president JP Nadda said that there is a new type of terrorism without ammunition, adding that the film exposes "poisonous terrorism". Several leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said the movie was a "gross exaggeration". Vijayan termed the film as "propaganda". Tharoor even tweeted an offer of Rs 1 crore to anyone who could prove that 32,000 women were forced to convert to Islam.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned the movie in his recent speech in Karnataka and said that the movie is "trying to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society, especially in a state like Kerala which is a beautiful land of hardworking, talented and intellectual people." Anurag Thakur said those opposing "The Kerala Story" are supporters of the proscribed PFI and terror outfit ISIS.



What is the judiciary's stance on the movie? Actress Adah Sharma took to Twitter and wrote, "And for the few still calling #TheKeralaStory a propaganda film, saying these incidents do not exist even after watching testimonials of several Indian victims, my humble request, Google two words ISIS and Brides...maybe an account of white girls narrated to you might make you feel that our Indian movie is real."



A bench of Justices N Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas noted the submission made by the producers that they do not intend to retain an "offending teaser" which contained a statement that "32,000 women" from Kerala were converted and joined a terrorist organisation. Last week, Kerala High Court refused to stay the film's release and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. The judgement came after the trailer was toned down.



Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition challenging the film board's certification granted to the movie, saying courts must be very careful while staying exhibition of films. Justice Nagaresh, who dictated the order, said that going through the trailers of the movie, "We find that the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole."



The Kerala Story box office collections The top court observed producers have invested money in the film and actors have dedicated their labour, and it is for the market to decide if the movie is not up to the mark.


India's national pension scheme offers "exceedingly good" returns of 9-12%, compared to most benchmarks, a top official at the pension fund regulator said on Tuesday. By Ira Dugal and Aftab Ahmed



Following this, the federal government set up a committee to review the country's pension system. The National Pension Scheme, adopted in 2004, has recently come under criticism for inadequate returns, leading to a few state governments reverting to an earlier pension plan considered fiscally unviable.



The pension scheme in which central government employees are registered has returned 9.4% since inception while the one for state government employees has returned 9.2%, Mohanty said. "The equity scheme, since inception, has given an annual return of close to 12%," Deepak Mohanty, chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday. Mohanty is a member of the review committee.

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States that have decided to move back to a so-called old pension scheme include Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. "Compared with a market benchmark or the 10-year government bond, they've performed well," Mohanty added.



Economists warned that the return to a scheme with assured returns could hurt India's attempts to improve government finances and reduce debt. The old pension scheme offered assured returns to pensioners without any contribution from the employees, which made it fiscally unsustainable for the government. In contrast, the new pension plan requires the employee and the employer, including the government, to make contributions during their working life in return for a pension after retirement.



While the debate over the need for assured pension returns has been sparked mostly by government employees, the PFRDA is debating introducing a voluntary assured return product for private sector employees. While declining to comment on the committee's deliberations, Mohanty said that the PFRDA's assessment suggests that with contributions made to the national pension scheme over 30 years, a government employee can receive a pension equivalent to 50% of the last drawn salary.



(Reporting by Ira Dugal; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil) "If you bring in an implicit guarantee, it has a cost," Mohanty said. The introduction of such a product would also require pension funds to hold more capital, he said. "We've been discussing it and have made significant progress..but I cannot put a timeline."
Members of Air India's two pilot unions held a joint meeting on Tuesday to discuss the airline's revised compensation structure, and a large section of them remained firm on their stance of not signing the new contracts, according to a source.

The airline has given more time till the end of this week for pilots to decide on signing the new contracts. The initial deadline for accepting the revised compensation structure ended on April 30.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) held a joint virtual meeting of their members to discuss the new service terms as well as the future course of action.

On April 17, the Tata Group-owned carrier came out with a revised compensation package and new service terms and conditions for pilots and cabin crew of Air India, Air India Express and AIX Connect.

The two unions had rejected the new service terms, saying they were unilateral, draconian and anti-labour.

"At the meeting on Tuesday, largely the view was that pilots should not sign the new service contract as certain provisions in the new contract remain questionable," the source privy to the discussions at the meeting said.

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The meeting, which lasted for around two hours, also deliberated upon the additional window that Air India has provided for the pilots to reconsider their decision, the source added.

The decision to provide more time to pilots who are yet to sign the new contracts also comes days after Air India organised a town hall meeting with many pilots to discuss their concerns, another source said earlier on Tuesday.

There was no comment from Air India on extending the deadline.

"During the meeting, on the issue of extension of the window, the pilots were of the view that by bringing up the recruitment drive and participation of Go First pilots in the drive, the management was trying to create a fear psychosis among them," the source added.

The unions also claim that a little over 50 per cent of the pilots, including from Air India, Air India Express and AIX Connect, have accepted the new contract. These pilots include freshly recruited pilots as well as trainee contract and management pilots. Some pilots of the unions have also signed the new contract, according to a second source.

Together, the three airlines have around 2,600-2,700 pilots, the source added.

On April 28, Air India chief Campbell Wilson said that a majority of pilots have accepted the new compensation package offered last week.

ICPA represents pilots operating the narrow-body Airbus fleet while IPG has pilots who fly wide-body Boeing aircraft.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the state's Director General of Police (DGP) to tighten security arrangements in jail and while gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari is produced in court.

The court also stated that the media should be banned from interviewing the undertrial prisoner.

The direction assumes significance in light of the killing of jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, in full media glare, while being brought for a medical check-up in Prayagraj.

The court said: "It was not averse to the media taking interviews of undertrial prisoners. But in view of the recent incident of the murder of undertrial prisoners by criminals disguised as media personnel, this restriction has to be imposed in the interest of the safety of the prisoner, which is being heard by the Supreme Court."

The order was issued by the division bench of Justices K.J. Thakar and Shiv Shankar Prasad on a plea filed by Ansari's wife Afsan.

--IANS

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amita/ksk/
President Yoon Suk Yeol poses with U.S. President Joe Biden on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., ahead of a state dinner, April 26. AP-Yonhap



Gov't tasked with breaking ice with China



By Lee Hyo-jin



Prosecutor-turned-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who had no foreign policy experience until his inauguration in May 2022, went through a tough first year as South Korea faced mounting challenges on the global stage.



The Yoon administration was tasked with dealing with heightening nuclear tensions with North Korea, intensifying power struggles between the United States and China, as well as geopolitical consequences stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.



In particular, the increasingly confrontational U.S.-China relationship has forced South Korea to walk a tightrope between Beijing, its largest trade partner, and Washington, a long-standing ally since the 1950-53 Korean War.



Unlike his predecessor Moon Jae-in, who pursued strategic ambiguity between the two nations, Yoon quickly chose a clear path: pivoting away from Beijing and tilting toward Washington.



Such an approach has helped South Korea strengthen its defense posture against Pyongyang's evolving nuclear threats, according to analysts. But at the same time, it has invited pushbacks from Beijing, a looming concern that the Yoon government should be more wary of.



"Yoon helped re-pivot Seoul's foreign policy centered around the U.S. alliance. This was a critical step, particularly in light of North Korea's expanding nuclear and missile capabilities and Kim Jong-un's intransigence vis-a-vis denuclearization," Soo Kim, policy practice area lead at LMI Consulting and former CIA analyst, told The Korea Times in an email interview.



Kim went on to say that close relations with the U.S., as well as Japan, are integral for South Korea in maintaining the cohesiveness of the three countries' shared values in democracy and adherence to the international order.



Robert Manning, a distinguished senior fellow of the Stimson Center, echoed the sentiment, saying, "Yoon's foreign policy appears to be designed to deepen South Korea's integration and enlarge its global role in the U.S.-led rules-based order emphasizing a congruence of values."



He positively assessed Yoon's push for reconciliation with Japan, which has opened a path for enhancing trilateral intelligence and security cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.



One of Yoon's key policy priorities during his first year in office was mending years-long strained ties with Tokyo. And he succeeded in doing so, with the two nations agreeing to move forward from historical grievances.



Regarding this, Oh Joon, former South Korean ambassador to the United Nations, said, "Normalization of bilateral ties with Japan was necessary step to deal with the growing threats from North Korea by strengthening three-way military cooperation with Japan and the U.S. However, it should be reminded that even such a rationale is not likely to supersede the long-standing public resentment in Korea over the historical disputes with Japan."





President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit at a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, in this November 2022 photo. Yonhap



China's looming shadow









Experts pointed out that Yoon's pro-U.S. policies come at the price of awkward relations with Beijing.



South Korea experienced friction with China following the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in 2017, a U.S. anti-missile defense system designed to counter threats posed by North Korean ballistic missiles.



"Yoon has promised to take a more principled position vis-a-vis the U.S. and China, which is probably easier said than done," Oh said, expressing concerns that Seoul does not have much leverage in dealing with Beijing other than substantial economic interdependence.



"Sooner or later, the Yoon government should consider making a gesture to China to break the ice, so that Beijing, which must also worry about the strained ties with Seoul, can be more forthcoming," he added.



Kim also viewed that "China's looming shadow" is a concern for Seoul that needs to be addressed not only from a unilateral perspective, but conjointly with its alliance with Washington.





North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, alongside his daughter Ju-ae, inspects a new type of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Pyongyang International Airport in this Nov. 18, 2022 photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
The Assam government on Tuesday signed MoUs worth over Rs 8,200 crore with private companies to establish mega industrial projects in various parts of the state.

This will lead to the creation of more than 6,000 jobs, with more such mega projects in the offing, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Our flourishing economy takes yet another stride on the eve of State Govt's 2 anniversary. These efforts will bring investment worth Rs 8,200 cr and create 6,100 jobs. Many more in pipeline. Thank you all for reposing faith in Assam's growth story, Sarma wrote on Twitter.

Speaking at a programme here to mark the signing of the MoUs, Sarma said the government is in talks with more investors and big breakthroughs can be expected soon.

We are looking for a big industrial summit in later part of 2024. We are waiting for some big breakthroughs. Talks are already on (with prospective investors), Sarma said as his government is set to complete two years in office.

He said MoUs worth Rs 8,201 crore were signed on Tuesday for investments in sectors ranging from FMCG, cement, glass and electric vehicles.

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The chief minister maintained that the state government's provision for developing customised policies to facilitate investments over Rs 100 has been instrumental in attracting industry leaders over the last two years.

Investments below Rs 100 are covered under a laid-down industrial investment policy, the chief minister added.

Claiming that MoUs for projects worth about Rs 14,000 crore have been signed, including the ones on the occasion, in recent times, the chief minister said that support from the Central government, private investors and people has made it possible.

We have to thank the people of Assam for creating an atmosphere friendly for investment. There are no agitations, no turmoil. Since the Assam Agitation that started in 1979, it is for the first time that in last two years there has been no bandh in the state, the chief minister said.

Highlighting the financial and industrial achievements of the state in recent times, Sarma claimed that the average GDP growth of the state in the last five years has been 13 per cent, in spite of COVID-19 affecting economic activities.

Our GST collection, tax collection, royalty all are going in the right direction. In 2021-22, we were able to achieve more than Rs one lakh crore in public expenditure and the amount has only risen in the last fiscal, he added.

The chief minister said the government is also working closely with research institutes and encouraging a start-up ecosystem.

He also spoke on the investments being done in different sectors, including hospitality, solar power production, industrial infrastructure development, ethanol production, tea industry, oil sector, piped gas supply project, health, horticulture and human resource development.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred till July 11 the hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the case of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

A bench of justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed the issuance of notices to the convicts, who remained unserved even now.

The bench also directed the publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served notices, including one whose house was found by the local police to be locked and his phone was switched off.

It directed that the next date of hearing of the matter - July 11 - shall also be published in the notices to be carried in the newspapers.

"We are adopting this process so that time is not wasted on the next date of hearing of the matter and the matter could proceed," the bench said.

On July 11, a new bench is likely to hear the matter as Justice Joseph who is heading the bench is set to superannuate on June 16, with May 19 being his last working day.

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The Supreme Court will go on summer vacation from May 20 till July 2.

On May 2, the top court deferred the hearing after some of the counsel for the convicts raised objections about not being served notices on the pleas.

The top court had then observed, "It is obvious, rather more than obvious, that you all (convicts) do not want the hearing to be conducted by this bench."



The Centre and the Gujarat government had told the court that they are not claiming any privilege and not filing any plea for a review of the court's March 27 order, asking for the production of the original records with regard to the remission granted to the convicts.

The Gujarat government had raised preliminary objections with regard to the petitions filed in the matter other than the one by Bano, saying it will have wide ramifications as every now and then, third parties will approach courts in criminal cases.

On April 18, the top court questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered, and wondered if there was any application of mind.

Asking for the reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned the parole granted to them during their incarceration period. "It(remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime," it had said.

The Centre and the Gujarat government had then told the court that they might file a plea seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission.

On March 27, terming Bilkis Bano's gang rape and the murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots a "horrendous" act, the apex court had asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the 11 convicts.

It had sought the responses of the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on the plea filed by Bano, who has challenged the remission of the sentences.

All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.

PILs were filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of the Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts.

Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang raped while fleeing from the riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among seven family members killed in the riots.
The Patna High Court on Tuesday rejected the Bihar government's plea, seeking early hearing of its interim stay on caste-based survey in the state.

The court said the hearing will take place on July 3, the date fixed earlier, and the stay will remain in effect till then.

It had on May 4 put a stay on the caste-based survey in its interim order, while hearing a batch of petitions. The division bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Madhuresh Prasad had fixed July 3 as the next date of hearing.

Later, an interlocutory application was filed in the high court on behalf of the Bihar government, urging for an early hearing in the matter.

In its May 4 order, the court had termed the caste-based survey as virtually a census by another name, and "prima facie unconstitutional" as it "impinges on the legislative powers of Parliament".

"The state government has no right to conduct such a caste census in Bihar, the court said.

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The bench had held that the Bihar government's "intention to share data of a caste survey with various political parties in the state assembly raises a larger question of the infringement of the fundamental right to privacy of the people in general".

There is also the question of data integrity and security, which has to be more elaborately addressed by the state, it said.
The Central Advisory Council constituted under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act on Tuesday discussed issues like legacy stalled projects and uniformity in rules framed by states and Union territories under the provisions of the Act.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri chaired the CAC (Central Advisory Council) meeting where participants were informed that 32 states/UTs have set up real estate regulatory authorities.

It was informed that Ladakh, Meghalaya and Sikkim are yet to establish any such authority, while six states/UTs (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry) are yet to establish permanent regulatory authorities.

The CAC also discussed the issue of legacy stalled real estate projects.

HUA secretary Manoj Joshi asked members to submit their suggestions to the committee chaired by G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant. The panel was set up to examine all issues related to legacy stalled projects and suggest ways to complete these projects in a time-bound manner.

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Long association On Monday, a MiG-21 jet crashed into a house in a village in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district. While the pilot bailed out, three women on the ground were killed. The incident is yet another reminder of the poor safety record of an aircraft that has been involved in more than 400 crashes in six decades since its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1963. The MiG-21 has long earned the dubious sobriquet of the flying coffin even as the IAF plans to phase out the jets. Here is a look at its chequered history in India.



The Sino-Indian War of 1962 and growing tension with Pakistan had compelled India to scale up its military capacity. In its deal with the Soviet Union, India was offered full transfer of technology and rights for local assembly as the MiG-21 became the IAFs first supersonic fighter jet. Indias longest-serving fighter jet, the MiG-21 was designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design bureau in the former Soviet Union and made its maiden flight in 1955. The supersonic jet fighter has been flown in nearly 60 countries. India is the largest operator of the MiG-21, and has introduced more than 1,200 jet fighters since 1963.



At present, the IAF has three MiG-21 squadrons and a total of around 50 aircraft. Last year, the IAF finalised a plan to phase out the remaining MiG-21 fighter squadrons in three years as part of the air forces modernisation drive. Due to limited induction and training, the MiG-21 had a restricted role in the India-Pakistan War of 1965. But positive feedback from IAF pilots resulted in India placing more orders for MiG-21 and investments in building its infrastructure and training programmes.

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Killer jet

The MiG-21 has a notorious history of accidents. According to reports, the lives of more than 200 pilots and 50 civilians have been lost in these incidents. The aircraft has been plagued by safety concerns, with maintenance and quality of replacement parts viewed as mitigating factors. The first of these incidents was reported in 1963. More than half of 840 aircraft built between 1966 and 1984 were also lost to accidents.



Because of its tainted record, the aircraft has been dubbed the flying coffin and the widow-maker. On Monday, three civilians were killed while the pilot parachuted out with minor injuries. Last year, two pilots on board a twin-seater MiG-21 were killed when the aircraft crashed. This accident, too, was in Rajasthan. A year earlier in 2021, there were five crashes involving the MiG-21 in which three pilots were killed.



What happens next The 2006 movie Rang De Basanti also made a popular culture reference to MiG-21, featuring an accident and pilots death and hinting at a corrupt system.



Danvir Singh, a military veteran and defence expert, points out that the Russians had designed the MiG-21 in order to intercept American surveillance aircraft. They are basically manned missiles; their wingspan is narrow, and landing and take-off speeds are very high, says the retired colonel. We had no intermediate trainers initially, so our pilots had to jump into a supersonic aircraft. A majority of the accidents earlier happened because of lack of training. Theyre still happening because of high speed, low manoeuvrability, and an old platform the maintenance of which has been a big issue. Following the incident in Rajasthan, as per protocol a court of inquiry has been constituted. Inquiries are done to ascertain where the fault lies in case of an accident  whether it is over mechanical failure, maintenance issues, weather-related causes or the pilots error.

Owing to the track record of the MiG-21, he wonders why it has taken the government so long to plan its phase-out (by 2025). It should have been replaced 20 years ago, it is long overdue, he says, adding that a bureaucratic system has only contributed to the belated action and the IAF was unable to impress upon the political masters the urgency to replace this aircraft.
Earlier, soon after its trailer was released, the film was lambasted by the Kerala government, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called it a propaganda film and said the alienation of the Muslims depicted in it should be viewed in the context of Sangh Parivars efforts to gain political advantage in Kerala.

Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen, the film tells the story of a group of women from Kerala who converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on a petition seeking the inclusion of QR codes on all medications, food items and cosmetics so that their information can be transformed from text to speech for those who are visually impaired.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the non-governmental organisation, The Kapila & Nirmal Hingorani Foundation, and Delhi University professors, Smriti Singh and Shobhan Singh - both visually impaired.

The court asked the authorities to file their response to the PIL and posted the matter for next hearing on August 16.

The petitioners have argued that visually impaired people struggle to identify medicinal products and access all pertinent product information and these difficulties were exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

The plea stated that the continued lack of effective access to medications, food, cosmetics and other consumer products constitutes a denial of the rights under Article 21 as well as their statutory rights under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

"In order to secure effective access to medicines, food, cosmetics and other consumer products, it has become imperative and expedient to affix Quick Response (QR) Codes in a proper manner and containing the requisite information so that a smartphone with accessibility feature could then scan the QR Code with its stored data or information about the particular product, and decode it to convert the text to speech format of the application," it said.

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The PIL added: "Employing QR Codes in the manner and form detailed in the petition would increase the efficacy of medical care for visually impaired patients by reducing medication errors, incorrect dosages, unintended drug interactions and side effects. In addition, QR Codes could also help to choose the language of the instruction and/or allow text to voice in regional languages using Google translator or similar tools."

In addition, petitioners said that carrying out these measures will make it easier for patients who are blind or have other language barriers to take their medications on time each day.

It was submitted that using QR Codes would have several social, economic and environmental advantages in addition to the significant medical advantages.

Additionally, the use of QR Codes on pharmaceutical products could aid in the fight against the growing problem of fake and subpar drugs, which not only pose a serious threat to public health but also cost reputable pharmaceutical companies money and destroy their brand.

--IANS

spr/khz/uk/
PRI GEN LGL NAT .NEWDELHI LGD26 DL-HC-RIOTS-KHALID SAIFI Delhi riots: HC asks accused Khalid Saifi to respond to police plea on phone recovery from him in jail New Delhi, May 9 (PIT) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked 'United Against Hate' founder Khalid Saifi, in custody in a UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, to respond to city police's claim that he was found with a mobile phone in jail. Special public prosecutor Amit Prasad told a bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul that an application has been filed in Saifi's pending bail plea in the matter to bring on record facts pertaining to his "conduct". Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Saifi, said the mobile phone was seized from the barrack where the accused is lodged along with others, and the device does not belong to him. She said a response has also been sent to the jail authorities on the issue. She contended the application was filed to "prejudice the rights of the accused" in light of the Supreme Court's recent order upholding the high court verdict granting bail to co-accused Devangana Kalita and others in the same case. "This is how they (jail authorities) are trying to fix me. It is not my phone. This (incident) is from August 2022," she said. "Issue notice. Let reply be filed in a week. List after 10 days," said the bench, also comprising Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, which had reserved its verdict on Saifi's bail plea in January. Prosecutor Prasad also said the accused recently sought interim release from the trial court to attend the last rites of his deceased uncle. However, upon verification, the information pertaining to the dates of the ceremonies was found to be false. John said there was a "communication gap" and and the application was withdrawn subsequently. The senior lawyer also informed the bench that the top court has clarified the accused can seek bail in the present case on the ground of parity with co-accused Kalita and others. The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing till May 18 on the bail plea by student activist Sharjeel Imam in the matter. Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and several others, including Umar Khalid, have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots in North-East Delhi which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence had erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Senior lawyer for Saifi had earlier asserted the case against him was not based on evidence but frightening and alarming phrases by the police. His counsel had asserted that Saifi cannot be kept in indefinite incarceration. She has said the whole FIR was set up on the opinion of two-three men sitting in the special cell office. She has asserted that Saifi has not committed any violence but he was a victim of custodial violence. Delhi Police has opposed Saifi's bail plea, saying its case against him was not a figment of imagination and it was clear from the WhatsApp messages exchanged between the accused persons that the protests against CAA and NRC had to be followed by chakka jam and violence. Police has refuted Saifi's claim that he had no connection with co-accused Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, saying the same was not borne from the material on record and his discharge in another riots case does not take us to a logical end to say that there was no evidence". On October 18, 2022, the court had refused to grant bail to Umar Khalid in the same case, saying he was in constant touch with other co-accused and allegations against him were prima facie true.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a joint press conference after their talks at the presidential office in Seoul, May 7. Yonhap



The United States welcomes the summit held over the weekend between Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and will continue to work with both allies to promote peace and prosperity in the region, a state department spokesperson said Monday.



Yoon and Kishida met in Seoul on Sunday (Korea time), the first day of the Japanese leader's two-day trip to Korea. Kishida is the first Japanese prime minister to visit Seoul solely for a bilateral summit in 12 years.



"What I will say is that we welcomed the news from this past week that the Japan-ROK summit took place, and we commend Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon for their leadership," state department deputy spokesperson said when asked about Korea-Japan relations, referring to Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.



The Yoon-Kishida summit came amid a thaw in Seoul-Tokyo relations following Seoul's decision to set up a private fund to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.



Yoon had also traveled to Tokyo in March to hold a bilateral summit with Kishida, marking the first such trip by a Korean head of state to Japan in 12 years.



"This is an important new chapter and a new beginning for our alliance partners and an example of real leadership," Patel told the press briefing.









"This produced new momentum between like-minded countries that respect rule of law and are equally committed and share our commitment to advancing peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and we will continue to work with, through the alliance with the ROK and Japan and other partners to advance these interests. as well," he added.





Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the state department, is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington in this captured image, May 8. Yonhap
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer and discussed with her the situation in the neighbouring country.

"Glad to receive Dr Noeleen Heyzer, UNSG's Special Envoy on Myanmar. Appreciate her perspectives and support her efforts," Jaishankar tweeted.

Myanmar has been witnessing widespread protests demanding restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021.

Myanmar's military has been using airstrikes targeting its opponents and those carrying out armed struggle against the ruling regime.

Last month, India called for cessation of violence by all sides in Myanmar, days after the Myanmarese military junta resorted to airstrikes in the country's Sagaing region that killed over 100 people.

Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640-kilometre-long border with a number of northeastern states, including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.

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Ninety immovable assets, luxury vehicles, jewellery and cash worth over Rs 51 crore belonging to Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs Devender Yadav, Chandradev Prasad Rai and PCC treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal among others have been attached in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal coal levy in the state, the ED said on Tuesday.

The properties frozen also belong to IAS officer Ranu Sahu, coal trader and prime accused in the case-- Suryakant Tiwari-- apart from state Congress spokesperson R P Singh and local party leader Vinod Tiwari.

Sahu was questioned by the ED few months back when she was officiating as the Raigad district collector.

The properties have been provisionally attached under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency said in a statement. They are worth a total Rs 51.40 crore.

The federal probe agency claimed that it has "established direct evidence of financial linkages of the above persons with Suryakant Tiwari."



"Assets created by layering of the proceeds of crime or equivalent assets have been identified for attachment proceedings under PMLA," the agency said.

The latest action comes days after the ED arrested Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar's elder brother Anwar Dhebar in an alleged liquor syndicate case worth Rs 2,000 crore in the state.

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Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday called the ED an "agent" of the Bharatiya Janata Party and dubbed the agency's claim of unearthing an alleged liquor scam in the state as false and baseless.

As the Assembly polls were nearing in the state, the "disappointed" BJP was trying to defame the Congress government using the ED, he claimed.

The agency had earlier attached assets of IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and powerful state service bureaucrat Saumya Chaurasia worth a total Rs 170 crore in this case. The total value of attachment now stands at Rs 221.5 crore.

The investigation relates to allegations of "a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen", the agency had earlier said.

Nine people, including Chaurasia, Suryakant Tiwari, his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari and Chhattisgarh-cadre IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi, have been arrested till now in the case by the ED. They are in judicial custody at present.

The money laundering case stems from an Income Tax department complaint that was registered following raids by the taxman in June, 2022.

The agency has called Suryakant Tiwari as the "main henchman" at the ground-level who deployed his employees in various regions to extort money from coal transporters and industrialists and his team was physically coordinating with lower level government functionaries and coal transporters and representatives of user companies.

"Since his employees were spread across the state, they maintained WhatsApp groups, excel sheets of each coal delivery order and the extorted amounts and shared them with Suryakant Tiwari, who in turn maintained detailed hand written diaries of the incoming bribe amounts and their utilisation for purchase of benami lands, payment of bribes, payments for political expenditure etc."



"This kind of systemic extortion was not possible without the knowledge and active participation of the state machinery," the ED had said.

The agency has filed two charge sheets and has claimed to have "established proceeds of crime worth Rs 540 crore in this extortion racket.
The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to ascertain the factual position, after a petition claimed violation of environmental norms by the public works department (PWD) in carrying out some constructions at the Delhi chief minister's official residence and properties adjacent to it.

The NGT was hearing a petition alleging permanent and semi-permanent constructions were raised and more than 20 trees cut in the course of developing 6, Flag Staff Road (CM's residence) and 45-47 Rajpur Road (properties adjoining it).

In view of thesignificance of the requirement of compliance for cutting trees and providing green belt as a condition for constructions in the congested and polluted city of Delhi, we consider it necessary to ascertain the factual position by constituting a joint committee, a bench of chairperson Justice A K Goel said.

The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, constituted the committee comprising the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Environment & Forest) of Delhi along with a nominee of Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) and District Magistrate of North Delhi.

Meeting of the committee may be held within one week and report may be furnished within three weeks from todayThe committee will be free to interact with any other department or authority and undertake a visit to the site and it may meet online or offline as may be found viable, the bench said.

The NGT said in case of violations, the committee could take remedial action in coordination with the statutory authorities in accordance with law.

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The matter has been posted for further proceedings on May 31.

According to the petition, the constructions were made illegally, without the approval of the DUAC and in contravention of the commission's observation about increasing the green area.

Section 12 of the DUAC Act provides that without the approval of DUAC, approval for development proposal could not be granted by the concerned Municipal Corporation. Thus, construction was raised illegally, ignoring the observations of DUAC for increasing the green area which is a violation of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, requiring valid approval for construction, the petition said.

It also claimed the permission for cutting trees was taken by manipulation and circumvention of a Delhi government's order of February 2009.

Instead of disclosing that 28 trees were to be cut for which permission of higher authority was required, permissions were taken in instalments of less than 10 trees, the petition said.

Also, a condition for grant of permission for cutting the trees required the planting of 280 saplings but only 83 saplings were planted, the petition alleged.

Such cutting is illegal for which accountability of the person responsible should be fixed as per law, it said.

The petition came at a time when the BJP has accused the city's AAP government of having splurged Rs 45 crore on renovating and refurbishing the official residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at 6, Flag Staff Road.
The Centre has cautioned media houses against promoting electronic cigarettes at events hosted by them.

The communication to media houses, digital publishers and OTT platforms came after the health ministry flagged an instance where electronic cigarettes were apparently promoted at a business summit held in the city recently.

"Such an action was in violation of Section 4 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019 which prohibits advertisements that directly or indirectly promote the use of electronic cigarettes," said the communication from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

"The Print, Electronic and Digital Media entities are accordingly advised to ensure that the aforementioned statute is not contravened either by way of advertisement or any promotion or other campaigns," it said.

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The Indian Institute of Insolvency Professionals of ICAI (IIIPI) has constituted a committee to recommend measures to prepare the IBC ecosystem for the next phase of growth.

"After over six years since inception of IBC, there is a need to consider futuristic challenges and recommend to IBBI and other authorities, changes required in the ecosystem and for preparing IIIPI and insolvency professionals to support these," IIIPI Chairman, Ashok Haldai said.

IIIPI has constituted a board-level committee of its directors to recommend measures for preparing the IBC ecosystem for the next phase of growth by envisioning future changes and imperative requirements, according to a release on Tuesday.

Haldai welcomed IBBI's initiative to seek public comments on changes needed in regulations under IBC 2016.

IIIPI, promoted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), is the largest Insolvency Professional Agency (IPA) and frontline regulator under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

It works under the aegis of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

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Japan's lower house of Parliament on Tuesday passed a contentious bill to amend an immigration law allowing authorities to deport foreign nationals who apply for refugee status multiple times.

The controversial revision of the immigration law has been heavily criticised by organisations established to support asylum seekers, reports Xinhua news agency.

Such entities believe that should the bill pass parliament's upper chamber and become enacted into law, it could lead to individuals being repatriated to their home countries where they face persecution.

The Japanese government believes the current system, which does not allow for foreign nationals to be deported while their application for refugee status is being processed, may be being abused.

It believes that foreign nationals have been applying for refugee status multiple times in the knowledge that while the status of their application is pending, they cannot be deported from Japan.

The envisioned amendment to the law, set to be debated in the upper chamber of Japan's bicameral parliament, will bring an end to the extended detention in immigration facilities for potential refugees, including foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas and have not complied with deportation orders.

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Under the amended law, when applying for refugee status for the third time or later, those who fail the process for not being able to show why their status as a refugee should be granted will be repatriated by the Japanese government.

The amended law would, however, grant quasi-refugee status to individuals from conflict-affected regions, allowing them to stay in Japan even if they do not qualify for full refugee status.

Refugee status was given to a record 202 people in Japan in 2022.

But this was out of 3,772 applicants, with Japan falling far behind some European countries and the US who take in tens of thousands of refugees annually.

--IANS

ksk/
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has played a crucial role in furthering India's cultural and trade relations with all the South Asian countries.

The Union Minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating various development projects of the Land Ports Authority of India, responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in the country.

"The Land Ports Authority is not only an organization that accelerates the economy of India, but it is also the ambassador of India's message of friendship. It is a very big institution to take forward our cultural relations, and trade relations with all the countries of South Asia, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new speed, direction, and dimensions since 2016," Shah said.

Shah went on to add that India's border security policy is clear.

"We want strong infrastructure in the border areas. The facilities of welfare schemes have reached the villages in the border areas like the rest of the country and we are also working towards improving the connectivity of the villages," he said.

Highlighting the culture and languages shared by India and Bangladesh, he said that no one can snap the ties, developed between both countries.

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"No one can break the relations between Bangladesh and India. Both nations are living on the basis of the same culture for thousands of years. India has always played a friendly crucial role in the history of Bangladesh since its birth," Shah said, adding that India's Border Security Force (BSF) has also made a very golden contribution to the freedom struggle of Bangladesh.

During the Home Minister's address, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Union MoS for Home Affairs Nishith Pramanik, Union MoS Shantanu Thakur, LPAI chief Aditya Mishra, other senior delegates were present.

Amit Shah's day-long visit to West Bengal came on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Remembering him as 'Kaviguru', Shah said, "Today is the birth anniversary of Kaviguru Ravindranath Thakur. Kaviguru is the only person in the whole world who has got the privilege of writing the national anthem of two countries. He penned the national anthnem of Bangladesh along with that of India."

Earlier in the day, he visited the ancestral house of Tagore in Kolkata and offered floral tributes at the Thakurbari Jorasanko area this morning.

Before leaving for West Bengal on Monday night to attend Tagore's birth anniversary celebration, Shah had also said that the bard's soulful literature remains an ethereal voice that will continue to inspire generations with his benevolence.
Several members of the Meitei community are stuck in the violence-hit Churachandpur district of Manipur, its fellow members here said on Tuesday.

People's Alliance for Peace and Progress Manipur and Delhi Manipuri Society, organisations working for Meiteis, held a press conference in the national capital on Tuesday.

The organisations representing the predominant ethnic group of the northeast state said out of more than 5,000 Meitei Hindus in Sanamahi of Churachandpur, only 500 have been evacuated.

"The rest are under hostage of armed Kuki civilians supported by Kuki militants," the groups said in a statement.

"Every house in the Meitei's settlement area, established in 250 AD during the reign of Khoyum Tompok, has been burned down by well armed Kuki civilians and militants. The Meiteis have become homeless refugees in their own ancestral land and taking refuge at the DC office of Churachandpur District headquarters," they said.

"Their lives are at stake. Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons hiding in trenches and bunkers are preventing the entry of Indian military forces to evacuate the Meiteis. In other words, none of them have been evacuated so far," they said.

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Bhagat Oinam, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a Meitei community member claimed that the violence is a reaction to attempts by the government to counter illegal poppy cultivation that is taking place in the reserved forest areas.

"Our Kuki brothers and sisters are being manipulated by the drug mafia. We don't endorse violence, peace must prevail," he said.

Robina, an eyewitness from Churachandpur district, said there were 200-300 houses of Meities in her village which have all been destroyed.

"Not a single house has been left....There are 12 villages in the district, you can imagine the situation," she said.

Robina said she was evacuated by the forces, but added that the administration was lacking in its response.

"Nobody was there to help us when it was happening," she added.

The Meitei groups demanded restoration of normalcy and peace in Manipur, and immediate evacuation of all stranded people starting with Churachandpur.

They also sought rehabilitation and return of refugees to their original places and urged the government to prevent the taking over of abandoned houses or lands in both hills and valley by the dominant communities



They also urged the state government to continue the War on Drugs, along with the support of the Union Government.

On April 27, a mob vandalised and set on fire the venue in New Lamka town where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to address a function. The mob also partially torched a newly set up open gym which Singh, an ethnic Meitei, was slated to inaugurate the following day.

On May 3, violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

CM Singh had on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burnt in the ethnic violence that rocked the northeastern state for the past few days.

The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
Union Power Minister RK Singh on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for Powergrid's substation in Bihar to expand capacity, an official statement said.

"The augmentation of the 220/132 kV Ara sub-station will increase the total transformation capacity of the sub-station to 560 MVA. The scheme would facilitate meeting the demand for electricity for the next 10 years in Ara (Bihar). Uninterrupted power supply will lead to the industrial and commercial development of the area and also improve power availability in Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtas districts," Powergrid said in a statement.

Powergrid Chairman and Managing Director K Sreekant and Director Personnel VK Singh were also present during the event.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited is India's largest electric power transmission utility.

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Manipur registered 119 cases of rioting in 2016, shows an analysis of data from the central governments National Crime Records Bureau. The number fell to 60 in 2021, the latest year for which data is available. This is not just because of the pandemic: riot cases had dropped to 69 even by 2019. To be sure, riots are not unique to the state. Goa in the west had a similar number of riot cases registered (117) in 2016. But data shows rioting and terrorism cases in northeastern states have declined in recent years. Manipur is battling unrest after logging a decline in violence since 2016, when on average there was a riot in the state almost every three days.







There were 1,899 cases of rioting registered during 2016 in the eight northeast states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Assam once accounted for more than eight out of every 10 riot cases registered in the region, but the numbers have now halved. Cases fell from 1,671 in 2016 to 780 in 2021 (see chart 1). The violence last week began in Manipur over the issue of reservations for the majority Meitei community. The Manipur High Court last month asked the state government to consider granting them scheduled tribe status. Reservations would provide the community a larger fixed share in state-run educational institutions, government jobs and elected seats. Other tribal groups have protested the move. As many as 60 people have died in the riots and around 20,000 people have been evacuated to shelters.





The South Asia Terrorism Portal has recorded terrorism incidents in the region in all states excluding Sikkim. There has been a significant decline in terrorism incidents in the last ten years. The number of such cases declined from 1,769 in 2012 to 639 in 2019. There were 331 instances as of 2022. Manipur has seen terrorism incidents drop from 860 in 2012 to 250 in 2019 and 165 in 2022 (see chart 2).

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Violence in Manipur affected the districts of Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi over the past one week, said Rajeev Singh, director general of Indian Chamber of Commerce. He said more than 700 vehicles coming from Assam were stranded on the Imphal-Dimapur highway (NH-2) and Imphal-Jiribam highway (NH-39), which connects Manipur with the rest of the country via Nagaland.



The economic activity has gone down by one-third of normal business. As the government has allowed the trade of the essential commodities, there is high business activity at medical shops , LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) stations and gas stations, he said. Singh said the formal trade was worth Rs 25 crore a day. The state government is likely to lose Rs 2-2.5 crore a day due to the disturbance caused by the violence, according to Singh.

Work at the Moreh Integrated Check Post, through which international trade between India and Myanmar takes place, came to a standstill during the violence, he said.



Insurgency and terrorism cases have declined in the region.
Wooden memorial plaques for Korean victims are placed near a nursing facility for Korean atomic bomb survivors in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this July 19, 2018 photo. Korean atomic bomb survivors have welcomed President Yoon Suk Yeol's plan to visit the memorial monument for Koreans at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later this month. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Victims' representatives plan to visit Hiroshima during G7 summit



By Jung Min-ho



In a symbolic move for peace and harmony, the leaders of Korea and Japan  Yoon Suk Yeol and Fumio Kishida  said at Sunday's summit that they will visit later this month a memorial monument in Hiroshima established to remember Korean atomic bomb victims .





This August 2018 photo shows a memorial monument for Korean atomic bomb victims at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan. Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho

Yoon and Kishida's joint plan for the Japanese host city of the upcoming G7 summit (May 19 to 21) has been welcomed by the Koreans whose lives changed forever on Aug. 6, 1945, when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima.



Speaking to The Korea Times Tuesday, Shim Jin-tae, head of the victims' association in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, expressed his gratitude.



"It took 78 years for a Korean president to acknowledge our existence on a public occasion. It's late, but better than never. I appreciate him doing so," Shim, who was two years old on that tragic day, said. "This should be the beginning of their joint effort to remove the destructive weapon from the world entirely. I hope the two countries will work closely together for that important cause."



More than 30,000 ethnic Koreans were believed to be killed by the bomb in Hiroshima while working at munitions factories and other facilities. At these sites, many were forced to work for the Japanese military when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule.



Hapcheon, a county where most of the Korean victims were from, remains as a place symbolizing their suffering, which has long been ignored by the governments of Japan, the U.S. and their own country.





This August 2018 photo shows the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan. The building was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 to call for a nuclear-free world and world peace. Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho
The Supreme Court Tuesday voiced displeasure over political statements being made about withdrawal of four per cent quota for Muslims in poll bound Karnataka, after it was told Union Home Minister Amit Shah was making public statements about the hugely contentious issue at the hustings.

Terming as "inappropriate" the political statements about the matter which is sub-judice, the apex court asserted "Some sanctity needs to be maintained".

The withdrawal of four per cent reservation for Muslims and its reallocation between the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities just before the assembly elections has become a hot button issue in the southern state.

"When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained," a bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners who have challenged the scrapping of the Muslim quota by the state's BJP government, said, "Every day the home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn the four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?"



Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, said he is not aware of any such remarks being made. He, however, contended those criticising religion-based quota are not wrong.

"Solicitor General making a statement in the court is not a problem but someone saying anything on a sub-judice matter outside the court is not appropriate. In 1971, a West Bengal political leader was hauled up for contempt for holding a press conference defending a rationing order which was pending before the court," Justice Joseph said.

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"We understand and respect the sentiment of the court," said Mehta but added as a counsel, "I am saying that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional".

Justice Nagarathna also expressed displeasure over statements being made outside the court on the quota issue.

The arguments turned bitter when Dave said statements proudly claiming credit for the withdrawal of Muslim quota were being made every day. An agitated Mehta urged the court to restrain the senior lawyer from making such statements without a context.

"This is the Supreme Court bench and don't let it be turned into a fish market. This court has to restrain him (Dave) from making such statements. What they (Dave and others) are saying is without any context. They need to show what is the context, what is the content, and tenor of the statements. Let them file an application to this effect, we will file our reply," he said.

Dave told the court he will file an application and bring it on record what kind of statements are being made.

Mehta said without any application nobody would know what statement has been attributed to him (the Union home minister).

"Please see this statement. The Union home minister said that four per cent reservation for Muslims was unconstitutional and BJP removed it. This amounts to contempt of court," an angry Dave told the court.

As decibels rose, Justice Joseph asked Dave to not shout or make political statements in the court.

"We will not allow this court to become a political forum. We are not party to it. We cannot allow the issue to be politicised in this manner. We will adjourn the matter," the bench asserted.

At this juncture, a lawyer appearing for the petitioners told the bench that the BJP has stated in its election manifesto it will do away with four per cent Muslim reservation if voted to power.

The enforcement of the government order on scrapping of the Muslim quota has been kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court.

Replying to the submission, Mehta insisted there is nothing wrong in such a manifesto and, in fact, every political party should include in their manifesto the promise that they will abolish religion-based reservation.

Advocate Ravi Kumar Varma, appearing for Central Muslim Association, made a prayer to restrain the press from publishing such speeches, a contention Mehta opposed, saying media cannot be censored like this.

After heated arguments, the court deferred the hearing till July 25.

Earlier in the day, Mehta and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing for the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, said they needed some accommodation from the hearing as they have to participate in a constitution bench matter on same-sex marriage.

Mehta assured the court that the interim order it had passed keeping in abeyance till May 9, the eve of the polling, the state government's order of scrapping the Muslim quota will continue.

Dave insisted the implementation of the government's order be deferred till further orders to which the court agreed.

On April 26, the Karnataka government had told the top court it has taken a "conscious decision" to not continue with Muslim reservation on the sole basis of religion as it is unconstitutional.

The petitioners have challenged two orders of the state government taken at the fag end of its term, drawing criticism that it was trying to shore up its dwindling electoral prospects.

The BJP government had on March 24 decided to abolish the four per cent reservation for Muslims under 2-B category. The four per cent surplus quota was split into two equals halves and distributed among Vokkaligas in 2-C category and Lingayats in 2-D category.

Muslims who were eligible for reservation were categorised under the economically weaker sections.

The state government's decision has pushed the overall reservation limit to around 57 per cent now.
Delhi's Saket court on Tuesday framed murder charges against Aftab Amin Poonawala for killing Shraddha Walkar and causing the disappearance of evidence.

Meanwhile, the accused has denied the charges and claimed a trial in the matter.

Shraddha Walkar was allegedly murdered by Aftab in the Mehrauli area on May 18, 2022. Her body parts were thrown into the jungle of the Chhatarpur Pahadi area in the national capital and was arrested in November 2022.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Manisha Khurana Kakkar framed the charges under Sections 302 and 201 IPC for murder and disappearance of evidence.

The court said that there is sufficient material and prima facie a case is made out against the accused.

"Do you plead guilty or claim trial," the court asked to which Poonawala said, "I don't plead guilty and will face the trial."

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Thereafter the court listed the matter trial and recording of prosecution evidence on June 1.

Advocate Akshay Bhandari had argued that the accused can't be charged together for the main offence of murder and of the destruction of evidence. These two charges can be framed in alternate. This fact should be considered while framing of charge.

He also argued on the basis of the judgement of the superior court that the accused can't be sentenced for the main offence and offence of destruction of evidence.

The accused can't be charged for both offences together as it would prejudice his right, the counsel argued.

Advocate Seema Kushwaha had moved an application on behalf of Vikas Walkar, father of Shraddha for releasing the bones of the deceased.

He has also sought early exhibit of the bones so that the bones can be released to him to perform the last rites within one year of death. Delhi police will file a reply on the next date.

The owner of the property where the offence was committed had also approached the court seeking de-sealing of the said premises.

On April 3, the court took on record of the copy of the judgement filed by the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad and Madhukar Pandey.

SPP Amit Prasad had submitted that there is a clear judgement that the charge under section 201 of IPC can be framed against the person who destroys the evidence to shield the main offender as well against the person who committed the main offence.

On the earlier date, the counsel for accused Aftab had argued that the charges of murder and disappearance of evidence can't be framed jointly. These charges can be framed alternatively.

Advocate Akshay Bhandari had argued that either Aftab can be charged with murder or for making the evidence disappear. The accused cannot be charged for murder and disappearance of evidence under Sections 302 and 201 of IPC together, the counsel argued. It can be framed alternatively.

Advocate Bhandari had argued that merely saying that "I (Aftab) am guilty of murder" is not sufficient. They have statements of eyewitnesses only. The Prosecution has to show the manner in which the crime was committed.

SPP Amit Prasad rebutted that the joint charges can be framed under section 201 for disappearing the evidence.

He had also submitted that the relied upon a chain of evidence, statement of witnesses, a record of past events and circumstances, forensic evidence, manner of offence etc were submitted before the court.

Delhi Police concluded its arguments on a charge of murder and the disappearance of evidence against the accused.
Asking India to pursue a more strategic trade policy with China, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, said New Delhi should stop feeding the dragon if you cannot tame it and it is biting back.

Tsering, who is on a three-day visit to Shimla and would call on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu besides visiting Tibetan colonies, called for transatlantic cooperation to check China.

You are feeding the dragon every day and then saying it is biting back. Stop feeding the dragon if you are not able to tame it and it is biting back, he told reporters while replying to queries, adding India's trade policy has to be more strategic rather than just buying more from China and selling less to it.

According to official data released by China in January, the trade between India and China touched an all-time high of USD 135.98 billion in 2022 while New Delhi's trade deficit with Beijing crossed for the first time a USD 100 billion mark despite frosty bilateral relations.

Tsering, who is the head (Sikyong) of the Dharamshala-based Tibetan government-in-exile, said the US alone can't contain China and transatlantic cooperation is needed to check the dragon.

"The United States has realised it in the past 20 years and taken a strong position while Europe is waking up from slumber after Russia attacked Ukraine," he said.

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We are a buffer between the two most populous nations and can be a bridge in the future also if the Sino-Tibet disputes are resolved. We have to approach China for a negotiated settlement but for this China has to raise the trust level with its neighbours, he said.

The Tibetan leader said he would be approaching the European countries to apprise them of the situation.

"India has more than the 3600-km non-porous border with Tibet but there is no man-to-man, culture-to-culture contacts and trade on the border which is very sad in the 21st century.

"There should be more understanding, more cooperation and more stability, and to bring stability, China has to upscale the trust level," he added.
The Telangana government on Tuesday launched State Robotics Framework, a first of its kind policy in India, aimed at creating a sustainable robotics ecosystem and to position the state as a leader in the field of robotics.

The Framework is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the state's vision for the development of the robotics ecosystem in the state and contributing to the growth of the industry in the country, an official release said.

The framework was developed by the Emerging Technologies Wing of the ITE&C Department of Telangana in collaboration with the All India Robotics Association and inputs from academia, industry



experts and stakeholders.

The framework focuses on leveraging robotics technology to drive growth and development across four key domains agriculture, healthcare, industrial automation and consumer robotics.

The state will set up a Robo park equipped with testing facilities, co-working options, and co-production/manufacturing options either at sites owned by the state or in partnership with the industry, academia, and incubators, at competitive rates.

Besides, the state will establish a world-class robotics accelerator to provide startups with the necessary incubation, infrastructure, authorization support, market insights, investor connect, and



mentorship support, the release said.

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Launching the framework, K T Rama Rao, Minister for IT and Industries, said as Telangana continues to strive towards technological advancements and development, the state is committed to embracing new technologies and promoting innovation across sectors, ensuring a better tomorrow for all.

I'm confident that the four key focus domains and five key pillars in the framework will nurture and promote a vibrant and sustainable robotics industry in Telangana, the Minister said.

On the occasion, the state also signed MoUs with five organizations, including academic institutions, industry associations, and incubators.

In addition, Telangana is planning to organize a Global Robotics Summit to showcase its growing robotics ecosystem and attract investments from across the world.

To fulfill its vision, the state shall set up a separate body called the Telangana Robotics Innovation Center (TRIC) which shall be responsible for the implementation of this framework and will be the nodal



point to implement the Key Pillars of the Framework, the release added.
The Uttar Pradesh government will make "The Kerala Story" tax-free in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes days after the Madhya Pradesh government said it will give tax-free status to the film in the state.

"'The Kerala Story' to be made tax free in Uttar Pradesh," Adityanath said from his official Twitter handle.

According to Director Information Shishir, the UP chief minister will attend a special screening of the film in Lucknow on Friday.

"'The Kerala Story' will be made tax free in UP. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will watch the special screening of the movie with his cabinet on May 12 in Lucknow," he said.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, "The Kerala Story" depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, has kicked up a political storm.

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On the day of the film's release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film "The Kerala Story" in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence.

Multiplexes across Tamil Nadu cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response.

On Sunday during an election rally, Deputy Chief Minister of UP Brajesh Pathak said if there is a proposal, the state government would make "The Kerala Story" tax-free.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced tax-free status to the film in the state.

UP BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra on Saturday organised the screening of the controversial film for about 100 college girls in the city. The BJP leader booked a theatre and said the movie should be shown to young women to prevent them from 'love jihad'.

'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

Mishra had said the movie is based on true events and shows how gullible girls are manipulated and then converted.

"The Kerala Story", starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on Friday and was initially portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly missing from Kerala. It is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Sunshine Pictures.

According to the CPI(M) and the Congress in Kerala, the film falsely claims that 32,000 women got converted and radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. The filmmakers later changed the figure in the film's trailer.

Last week, the Kerala High Court also refused to stay the release of the film and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole.


The report said that the latest data from the excise department suggests a 12 per cent increase in liquor sales when compared to FY22, the report said. Indians consumed around 400 million cases of liquor in the financial year 2023, The Economic Times (ET) reported. One case of liquor means 12 bottles of alcohol. An increase in demand was registered for all the popular types of alcohol, including whisky, brandy, rum, gin and vodka. The demand was especially high for premium products.



The fundamentals are very strong, and consumer confidence is high in terms of demographics, the expert said. He added that we are very ambitious for India in the short and mid-long term. An industry expert was quoted in the report as saying that we have been increasing prices to the highest level compared with the recent past in India. Registering sales growth in such conditions indicate strong demand.



After whisky, brandy stood second and accounted for 21 per cent of total liquor sales. On the other hand, rum had a share of 12 per cent in alcohol sales. Whisky continued to register the biggest numbers, accounting for around 75 per cent of overall spirits demand. It also registered an impressive growth of 11.4 per cent despite a high base.

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The report said that around 12 states, including Rajasthan, Kerala, and some states in South India, have allowed price hikes enabling liquor companies to mitigate financial pressure. Telangana is among the biggest liquor consumers, and it emerged as an outlier in the trend by slashing prices. The price cut is expected to further bolster the demand. Citing data from the excise department, the report added, although on a small base, vodka and gin sales jumped 29 and 61 per cent, respectively.

While price rises are helping liquor companies, they also impact liquor sales on a mass level. Additionally, the market is seeing increased competition in the premium segment. Liquor companies are also struggling to offset the increase in the price of raw materials such as extra neutral alcohol, glass, and packaging material, the ET report said.
Strife-torn Manipur is limping back to normalcy even as the Army and central paramilitary forces continued their vigil in the sensitive areas, while the authorities relaxed curfew in four districts, including the most volatile Churachandpur district, for four hours on Tuesday morning.

Mobile internet service will continue to remain suspended till May 13.

Relaxation in curfew was extended in the violence-ravaged districts of Manipur for the fourth day on Tuesday, citing an improved situation with the deployment of Army and central forces along with state forces in all the vulnerable and mixed-populated areas.

On the advice of the state authority, the district administrations relaxed curfew in four districts -- Imphal West, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Churachandpur -- for four hours on Tuesday to enable people to procure essentials.

A senior official said that subsequent relaxations of curfew shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.

Deployment of Army, central paramilitary forces will continue, mobile internet suspension will remain in place, and total public curfew under Section 144 of CrPC, 1973, prohibiting movement of any person outside his/her home, will remain imposed in several districts.

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The widespread violent clashes and arson broke out across Manipur during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3 called by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

The ATSUM had called the rally in 10 hill districts, inhabited by the tribals, to oppose the recent Manipur High Court order, which asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry regarding the demand to include the majority and predominantly Hindu Meitei community in the ST list.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah, who is monitoring the situation in Manipur since last week, has said the situation in Manipur is under control though curfew will remain in force in the violence-hit northeastern state.

The Manipur government would consult all the stakeholders before taking a decision on the matter of ST status for the Meitei community, Shah told a television channel, as he appealed to the people to maintain peace.

There is no need for any individual or group to be fearful as the government is serious about dealing with the situation effectively, he said.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had said on Monday evening that at least 60 people, including women, have been killed and 231 people injured while 1,700 houses have been burnt in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3.

He also announced that a high-level inquiry would be conducted to fix responsibility on persons and groups who instigated the violence and government servants who didn't meet their responsibilities.

So far, 35,655 persons, including 1,593 students, have been moved to safer locations, Singh told the media.

He said the miscreants have snatched 1,041 arms and 7,460 pieces of ammunition from the security forces and so far, of which 214 arms and 4,273 pieces of ammunition have been recovered.

--IANS

sc/arm
Haryana native Sewak Ram, pursuing BTech at a leading engineering college in Imphal, heaved a sigh of relief after landing in Delhi from violence-hit Manipur on Tuesday.

"We felt scared, but the campus of our college made us feel safe. We had food and water. But, being confined inside the campus for about five days reminded us about the Covid-induced lockdown," Ram said.

He hugged his college mate at the airport here before they parted on way to their homes.

Ram and a few other students from Haryana, all pursuing BTech degree at Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Manipur, reached the national capital on Tuesday evening after being evacuated from the northeastern state which has been rocked by ethnic violence since May 3.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burnt in the violence that sparked concerns among family members of students from various states studying in that state.

Some of the evacuees, all in their early 20s, PTI spoke to at the Delhi airport said the Harayana government "made arrangements for their safe return" after students and parents reached out to it, in the wake of the violence.

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"Situation is difficult in villages and inner areas, but Imphal city is safer. Police provided us everything," Ram told PTI.

He said many students of IIIT-Manipur hailing from other states have also been evacuated by their respective state governments.

More than 140 students from Bihar were on Tuesday brought back from Manipur. Scenes of rejoicing were witnessed at Patna airport as they returned safely to their home state.

According to an official, a special flight commissioned by the Nitish Kumar government carried 142 students from Bihar, besides another 21 from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.

In Delhi, while some evacuees made their way to their homes in Haryana by themselves, harried parents of some had come to the airport to take them home, after waiting anxiously for the flight from Imphal to land.

Panipat native Lakshya, a first-year student of BTech, went home accompanied by his parents.

"He has not eaten anything since morning. But I am just happy that my child is back," Lakshya's mother said, as they wheeled their way out of the airport.

Lakshya said in the last several days situation was "not good" and "I am glad we are out of that situation".

Arvind Pathak of Gurugram was also among the evacuees who reached Delhi along with his fellow students of the engineering college.

"Earlier, situation in Manipur was quite bad, now it is a bit better. We were all together in the campus, so we didn't feel much fear. Our teachers also comforted us," he said.

The situation across violence-hit Manipur is improving, with no fresh reports of any untoward incident, while curfew has been relaxed in all the 11 districts where it was clamped, officials said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said more than 300 students from the state, who were stranded in violence-hit Manipur, were brought back in the last few days.

Sangma also said his government had on Monday arranged for a special flight on the Imphal-Shillong route to evacuate students stuck in the trouble-torn state.

Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The clashes took place between the tribals living in the Manipur hills and the majority Meitei community residing in the Imphal Valley. Over 23,000 people have been rescued and sheltered in military garrisons and relief camps.
With about goods and services tax (GST) evasion amounting to about Rs 2,250 crore by some players in the general insurance industry, a major union in the sector has urged the government and the regulator to cancel licences of such entities.

"We demand the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) take a proactive action in this regard," Trilok Singh, General Secretary, General Insurance Employees' All India Association (GIEAIA) told IANS.

"The evasion of GST by some private players is maligning the entire industry. If the private players are not evading the statutory dues, will they pay the policyholders claims promptly is the question that begs an answer," he added.

The IRDAI conspicuously silent on the issue of huge GST evasion by the private general insurance players.

IRDAI officials do inspect the books of accounts of the insurers and yhe question is how did they miss this huge GST evasion.

Simply put, the insurers had paid their intermediaries over and above what they were to pay legally. The amount has been accounted under various heads on which GST falls due.

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According to an industry official, if the books of entries are reversed for the insurers and taxes paid, then they may have to bring in fresh capital to meet the solvency norms.

The Working Committee of the GIEAIA at their meeting held in Pune recently has demanded the Centre, the Department of Financial Services, and the IRDAI should take strict prompt action against the tax evaders.

It has demanded the IRDAI/government to impose huge penalties or even cancel their licences for not paying the GST and Income Tax.

The evasion of tax running into thousands of crore of rupees has raised the questions on the integrity of such insurers which are maligning and defaming the whole sector, the GIEAIA said.

The GIEAIA Working Committee has also urged the government amongst others to refer the proposed amendments to insurance laws to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance for a meaningful and constructive discussion.

--IANS

vj/vd
Also Read Mankind Pharma IPO to open next week: Check price band, GMP, other details Mankind Pharma IPO opens today: Check GMP, price band, other details here Mankind Pharma IPO subscribed 8% so far on Day 1; GMP down 30% in 10 days Sensex, Nifty end flat after choppy day; Indiabulls RE sinks 20%, Zomato 6% Is Mankind Pharma IPO worth a subscription? Here's what brokerages suggest New phase of capex cycle to start soon, say analysts. Top stocks to bet on Mahanagar Gas hits 52-week high; soars 7% on margin improvement in Q4 Kansai Nerolac surges 10% on healthy Q4 earnings; recommends 1:2 bonus Kansai Nerolac, Canara Bank, Mankind Pharma among top stocks to watch today Sensex, Nifty end flat after choppy day; Indiabulls RE sinks 20%, Zomato 6%

Mankind Pharma (Mankind) made a strong debut on the bourses on Tuesday, with its shares getting listed at Rs 1,300 -- a solid 20 per cent listing premium over its issue price of Rs 1,080.Post listing, the stock of the pharmaceutical company hit a high of Rs 1,327 on the NSE in the intra-day trade. At 10:01 am, Mankind shares were quoting at Rs 1,320, 22 per cent higher against its issue price. Around 14 million equity shares have cumulatively changed hands on the NSE and BSE so far.Analysts maintain a bullish view on the stock and suggest investors to remain invested from a long-term perspective."Our recommendation for the IPO was to subscribe and we advise investors to hold the stock for the long term. However, investors who applied for listing gains may either choose to exit or hold it with a stop loss at the issue price," said Santosh Meena, Head of Research, Swastika Investmart.Global brokerage Macquarie too has initiated coverage on the stock with an 'outperform' rating and a target price of Rs 1,400 apiece. The company, the brokerage said, appears to be well positioned to double its profit after tax from Rs 1,300 crore in FY23e to Rs 2,800 crore by FY26."Continued sales outperformance to the India market, focus on chronic therapies and improved salesforce productivity are growth drivers. The growth potential in the chronic segment would likely drive meaningful margin expansion from 22 per cent in FY23e to 28 per cent by FY26 ," it said in a note.In terms of valuations, at the target price (Rs 1,400) Macquarie has valued the stock at 25x, which implies a 20 per cent discount to its MNC peers as these have an option to launch patented products from their global portfolios.While the target multiple is at a 25 per cent premium to its domestic peers, which it believes, is justified as Mankind derives most of its revenue (98 per cent) from domestic pharma business versus an average of 50 per cent for domestic peers. Mankind's return ratios are additionally far superior to domestic peers, the brokerage said. Mankind is the fourth largest player in the domestic market with a presence across therapy areas like anti-infectives, cardiac, gastro, respiratory and also in consumer healthcare segments like condoms, acne preparations, emergency contraceptives, pregnancy tests among others.The IPO had seen strong demand from institutional investors even as the retail quota had remained undersubscribed. The institutional investor portion of the IPO was subscribed nearly 50 times, the high net worth individual (HNI) quota had garnered 3.8 times subscription, while the retail investor portion was subscribed just 92 per cent.The company sells the Manforce brand of condoms, which has a 30 per cent market share, while its pregnancy test kit Prega News commands 80 per cent of the market.Mankind benefits from its strong foothold in domestic branded formulations with emphasis on affordable product offerings. At the upper price band, it is valued at 32.5x P/E on annualised FY23E EPS of Rs 33.2.Analysts at ICICI Securities had assigned 'SUBSCRIBE' rating to the issue on the back of opportunities from its newer acquired products and its plan to backward integrate in its power brands, structural preference for domestic branded formulations among broader healthcare themes.Mankind derives a significant portion of revenue from operations from a limited number of markets. Revenue from Indian markets amounted to 96.79 per cent in nine months ended Dec 31, 2022.Antique Stock Broking, meanwhile, believes Mankind's goal of increasing penetration in metro and tier 1 cities will be a challenging task, the company has taken right steps in the direction by creating dedicated divisions for tapping the right doctors for Rx."We also dont see a meaningful drift in margins on account of higher expenditure for gaining market share in metro cities. With likely improvement in business mix towards chronic segment we expect RoCEs and EBITDA Margins to remain healthy in coming years," the brokerage had said in an IPO note.
Summit set to boost links with Central Asia

09:22, May 09, 2023 By XU WEI ( Chinadaily.com.cn

The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit, to be chaired by President Xi Jinping, will further elevate ties between China and the five Central Asian countries, bring economic and trade cooperation to a higher level and deliver more tangible benefits to the people, officials and analysts said.

Xi will chair the summit on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Monday.

The summit will bring together President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, she said.

The gathering, one of the major diplomatic events to be hosted by China this year, will be a significant milestone in the history of ties between the two sides, Wang Wenbin, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a news briefing on Monday.

Xi will deliver an important speech at the summit, and the six heads of state will exchange views on the development of the China-Central Asia mechanism, cooperation in various sectors and major international and regional issues of common concern, he said.

Key political documents will also be signed during the summit, he said. "It is our belief that under the joint efforts from various sides, the summit will draw up a new blueprint for China-Central Asia relations and usher in a new era for cooperation."

Total trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries reached a record $70 billion last year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Li Yongquan, head of the China Society for Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said China has always respected the five Central Asian countries' sovereignty, independence and their right to choose development paths suited to their own national conditions.

"China has always seen Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, while the stability and development of the region is directly related to China's own development," Li said.

Last year, Xi chaired a virtual summit in Beijing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Central Asian countries, during which he announced a plan to provide grant assistance of $500 million to the countries to support livelihood programs.

Xi also made Kazakhstan the destination of his first foreign trip since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, paying a state visit to the nation in September.

Going forward, the building of an even closer community with a shared future between China and Central Asia will give fresh impetus to bilateral ties and contribute to the region's security, stability and development, said Li from the China Society for Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies.

Zhao Huirong, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that the elevation of the multilateral mechanism between China and the five countries indicated a new level of emphasis placed on the relationship.

"A summit between heads of state will help build a strong pillar for the building of a community with a shared future between the two sides and lead the way for the future growth of ties," she said.

Central Asia is the place where Xi proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt, the forerunner of the Belt and Road Initiative. The region has also played pivotal roles in the BRI going global, Zhao added.

"The five nations are active participants and beneficiaries from the BRI, and we have reasons to believe that the summit will help scale up pragmatic cooperation and enable the region to continue leading the way for BRI cooperation," she said.

China and the five countries agreed during a foreign ministers' meeting last year to establish the China-Central Asia Summit mechanism, with the six countries to hold biennial summits starting this year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida receive questions from reporters during a joint press conference at the presidential office in Seoul, May 7. Yonhap



Korea will thoroughly prepare for an upcoming inspection of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, calling it a "very meaningful" step to allay safety concerns over Tokyo's water discharge plan.



According to the ministry, a team of Korean experts plans to inspect the crippled plant from May 23-24 amid mounting worries over Tokyo's plan to release the stored contaminated water into the ocean in the near future.



"(We) believe it is very meaningful to send a group consisting of Korean experts independently to conduct an on-site inspection at the Fukushima plant, separately from the IAEA, to dispel our people's concerns," Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson for the ministry, said during a regular press briefing.



The government will "thoroughly prepare" for the dispatch, including forming the team of experts, he added.



Seoul and Tokyo are in the process of arranging a working-level meeting later this week to discuss details over the inspection. The entirety of the trip could span about four days when including travel.



On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to allow Korean experts to inspect the Fukushima plant during a summit meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol, a move seen as a goodwill gesture by Japan amid warming relations between the two countries. (Yonhap)




The visit of Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, to Canada in May 2023, for the sixth India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) is well-timed and will further add to this momentum. The MDTI focuses on strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties and enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors, from food to green energy, critical minerals, and defence. The India-Canada trade and economic relationship has seen significant momentum, after both countries decided to relaunch the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations last year.



India and Canada have a history of a longstanding bilateral relationship based on shared commonalities between the two nations, such as the commitment to democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law, along with strong people-to-people ties. In recent years, the bilateral economic ties have grown significantly as well. Bilateral trade in goods and services was around $10 billion in 2019-20. India is Canadas 11th largest export market and 12th largest trading partner. Indias total merchandise trade with Canada was $6.62 billion in 2021-22. In the same year, India registered a merchandise trade surplus of $0.51 billion. Bilateral trade of services between Canada and India increased almost 3.5 times between 2011 and 2020 (from $1.57 billion in 2011 to $5.50 billion in 2020). Canadas imports from India reached to $1.78 billion in 2020, from $0.86 billion in 2010. During his visit, Minister Piyush Goyal is holding several meetings with CEOs of Canadian and Indian companies to promote B2B engagement. Goyal and his counterpart, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business, and Economic Development, Mary Ng, will review the progress of the India-Canada CEPA negotiations, with a possibility for an interim agreement or EPTA (Early Progress Trade Agreement). Since the negotiations were launched in 2022, seven rounds of negotiations have been completed as of date.



The cumulative FDI equity inflows from Canada, between April 2000  December 2022, was $3,184.52 million. Canada ranks 19th among the source countries for investment into India, with a percentage share of only 0.51%. The top five sectors that attracted FDI equity inflows from Canada includes services sector (44.28%), drugs and pharmaceuticals (8.71%), trading (7.14%), computer software and hardware (6.94%) and food processing (2.64%). There is scope for India to attract FDI from Canada in manufacturing, finance and insurance services, transportation and warehousing, information and cultural industries and in the technology sector. Canadian Pension Funds and other major firms have pledged portfolio investments of over Canadian Dollar 55 billion in India in sectors such as infrastructure, highways, airports, clean energy, education, logistics, real estate, banking, hospitality and warehousing. Canadian companies are increasingly viewing India as an attractive destination for investments, and the visit provides an opportunity to showcase India, highlight initiatives like the Production-Linked-Incentive (PLI) scheme, and build B2B connect. Attracting more investment from Canada will unleash further trade and collaborations. One of the largest immigrant groups in Canada are people of Indian origin. The 22 Indian-origin Members of Parliament (in the total strength of 338) in the House of Commons of Canada, is an example of the soft power of the Indian diaspora in the country. Since 2018, India has also been the largest source country for international students in Canada. In the past few years, Canadas imports of services such as transport services, travel services, telecommunication services, professional services (legal, accounting, architectural, engineering) from India have increased manifold. In 2020, India ranked among the top ten import destinations of Canada in computer services (rank was 2nd), telecommunication (3rd), audio-visual services (4th) and travel services (7th). These may be some of the sectors, apart from professional/business services, where B2B collaborations can be explored during the visit of Indian Minister. Canada faces manpower shortages in sectors like IT and ITeS, healthcare, engineering, and education services, and the Indian workforce can help to mitigate the shortages. The removal of barriers to the mobility of skilled workers and professionals can be an area for discussion.

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The visit also provides opportunities for regulatory cooperation to ease some of the barriers related to the recognition of standards and processes, across a wide range of food and non-food products, including organic goods. Easing such non-tariff issues through regulatory cooperation can help to increase our exports. Canada allows multiple entry visa for professionals but does not currently offer an e-visa option for Indian nationals, which can be discussed. As Canada encourages and supports mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) in professional services, regulators in both countries can work together to facilitate mutual recognition of education and qualification standards. Lastly, the role of Canada as a key member of the USMCA Free Trade Area (erstwhile NAFTA Free Trade Area), cannot be underestimated. Many Indian companies and service providers have been catering to the USA market from Canada. There are thus opportunities for Indian and Canadian firms to jointly cater to third-party markets, and the visit sets the platform for such collaborations and partnerships. Given that there is potential for India to enhance exports of agri-food products, Goyal is inaugurating the Indian Pavilion at SIAL CANADA-2023, the largest food innovation trade show in North America. SIAL CANADA-2023 has a participation of more than 1000 national and international exhibitors from 50 countries, providing opportunities for Indian exporters to connect to Canadian importers.

The author is Professor, ICRIER




Patnaik stressed that he didnt discuss politics with Kumar, his former ministerial colleague, but their old ties, including their time together in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, currently busy meeting Opposition leaders to unify for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, called on his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar On Tuesday.



That Patnaik will stay equidistant from both the BJP and Congress was conveyed to his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee as well when she called on the Odisha CM on March 23, days after a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Kolkata. After their hour-long luncheon meeting, Patnaik said: No discussion was held on any alliance today. I am delighted that Nitish ji came to Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and colleagues ever since we served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet.



It is unlikely Patnaik would attend any meeting that might require sharing the stage with the Congress. A BJD source said Patnaik considers the Congress, not the BJP, his partys principal rival in the state. The Congress can match the BJD as it has a pan-Odisha footprint while the BJP is struggling to expand beyond the 63 of the 126 assemblies and nine of the 21 Lok Sabha seats it contested as part of its alliance with the BJD, he said. Moreover, a triangular fight is to the BJDs advantage. Kumar spoke of his old relationship with Patnaik and his legendary father Biju Patnaik. We did not hold any political discussion. We have good relations, and there is no need to discuss politics, Kumar, scheduled to meet Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar later this week, said. There is also an Opposition leaders meeting in the works.

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But, the BJD has also displayed its soft spot for its former ally by supporting key legislations in Parliament, including triple talaq and turning Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory. The BJD assisted Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in getting elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2019 unopposed after PM Narendra Modi called Patnaik. In July 2022, Modi consulted Patnaik before the BJP announced Droupadi Murmu, who hails from Odisha, as its presidential candidate. Patnaik campaigned for Murmus election, reaching out to the Odisha Congress to support her candidature. Incidentally, the BJP leadership of the 1990s played a vital role in the emergence of Patnaik, Kumar and Banerjee, in their respective states and on the national political scene. In 1998, Patnaik and Kumar debuted in the Union cabinet, inducted into the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led council of ministers. Banerjee was part of Vajpayees Cabinet, along with Patnaik and Kumar, after the 1999 Lok Sabha polls. Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has flirted with both the BJP and Congress since 2015, Patnaiks Biju Janata Dal (BJD) severed ties with the saffron party in the aftermath of the Kandhamal riots in 2008 after a decade-long alliance.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader NV Subhash on Monday said that Priyanka Gandhi's announcements in the 'Youth Declaration' in Telangana are yet to be implemented in the Congress-ruled states and dubbed them as "fake" assurances ahead of the state assembly polls later this year.

This comes after Priyanka Gandhi, who visited Telangana and addressed a gathering at Saroornagar grounds in Hyderabad on Monday, unveiled a five-point 'Youth Declaration' of the Congress party aiming to allure the youths ahead of the State Assembly elections.

The five points Priyanka mentioned include One government job to the kin of those who died for Telangana, a Rs 25,000 pension to their families, filling up of around 2 lakh vacant jobs in government, Rs 4,000 of monthly allowance to all those unemployed, more skill development centres, universities, and clearance of fee reimbursement arrears, and free EV scooters to girls in education.

Responding to the announcements, the BJP spokesperson and the grandson of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao said, "All India Congress Committee General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi had visited here and then gave so many declarations, especially the Youth Declaration. The Telangana BJP feels that it is a fake declaration, which cannot be implemented."

He alleged that schemes, akin to these have not even been fulfilled in the Congress-ruled States like Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

"When the elections took place in Rajasthan, many unemployed youths were looking for Priyanka Gandhi because she gave same kind of youth declaration. But as the elections got over and the party rose to power, but the jobs were not given," he told ANI.

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"Many enraged people, especially the youths from Rajasthan, wanted to meet Priyanka Gandhi, but she refused to meet them because the declaration she gave was fake," the BJP leader added.

Subhash claimed that the same thing will happen in Telangana.

"The declaration is only to deceive the people, especially the youth, as Congress is not coming to power in the southern states of Telangana and Karnataka," he said.

The BJP leader said that the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Congress are in the same boat as in the upcoming elections, the BJP will come to power.

"The people who get elected in the Congress party ticket are switching loyalties to the BRS. The same thing will happen in the future also. So just to curtail and control the BJP's growing popularity in Telangana, she has come and is indirectly supporting the BRS party," he added.
China has announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat in retaliation for Ottawa's ordering a Chinese consular official to leave over alleged threats he made against a Canadian lawmaker and his family.

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canada's unscrupulous move, which it said it firmly opposes.

It said the Canadian diplomat based in the business hub of Shanghai has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China reserves the right to take further actions in response.

Canada earlier on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada's spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

A senior government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country.

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The breathtaking development of artificial intelligence has dazzled users by composing music, creating images and writing essays, while also raising fears about its implications. Even European Union officials working on groundbreaking rules to govern the emerging technology were caught off guard by AI's rapid rise.

The 27-nation bloc proposed the Western world's first AI rules two years ago, focusing on reining in risky but narrowly focused applications. General purpose AI systems like chatbots were barely mentioned. Lawmakers working on the AI Act considered whether to include them but weren't sure how, or even if it was necessary.

Then ChatGPT kind of boom, exploded, said Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament co-leading the measure. If there was still some that doubted as to whether we need something at all, I think the doubt was quickly vanished.

The release of ChatGPT last year captured the world's attention because of its ability to generate human-like responses based on what it has learned from scanning vast amounts of online materials. With concerns emerging, European lawmakers moved swiftly in recent weeks to add language on general AI systems as they put the finishing touches on the legislation.

The EU's AI Act could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence, with companies and organizations potentially deciding that the sheer size of the bloc's single market would make it easier to comply than develop different products for different regions.

Europe is the first regional bloc to significantly attempt to regulate AI, which is a huge challenge considering the wide range of systems that the broad term AI' can cover, said Sarah Chander, senior policy adviser at digital rights group EDRi.

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Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology to ensure that it improves people's lives without threatening their rights or safety. Regulators are concerned about new ethical and societal risks posed by ChatGPT and other general purpose AI systems, which could transform daily life, from jobs and education to copyright and privacy.

The White House recently brought in the heads of tech companies working on AI including Microsoft, Google and ChatGPT creator OpenAI to discuss the risks, while the Federal Trade Commission has warned that it wouldn't hesitate to crack down.

China has issued draft regulations mandating security assessments for any products using generative AI systems like ChatGPT. Britain's competition watchdog has opened a review of the AI market, while Italy briefly banned ChatGPT over a privacy breach.

The EU's sweeping regulations covering any provider of AI services or products are expected to be approved by a European Parliament committee Thursday, then head into negotiations between the 27 member countries, Parliament and the EU's executive Commission.

European rules influencing the rest of the world the so-called Brussels effect previously played out after the EU tightened data privacy and mandated common phone-charging cables, though such efforts have been criticized for stifling innovation.

Attitudes could be different this time. Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have called for a six-month pause to consider the risks.

Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the Godfather of AI," and fellow AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio voiced their concerns last week about unchecked AI development.

Tudorache said such warnings show the EU's move to start drawing up AI rules in 2021 was the right call.

Google, which responded to ChatGPT with its own Bard chatbot and is rolling out AI tools, declined to comment. The company has told the EU that AI is too important not to regulate."



Microsoft, a backer of OpenAI, did not respond to a request for comment. It has welcomed the EU effort as an important step toward making trustworthy AI the norm in Europe and around the world.

Mira Murati, chief technology officer at OpenAI, said in an interview last month that she believed governments should be involved in regulating AI technology.

But asked if some of OpenAI's tools should be classified as posing a higher risk, in the context of proposed European rules, she said it's very nuanced."



It kind of depends where you apply the technology, she said, citing as an example a very high-risk medical use case or legal use case versus an accounting or advertising application.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman plans stops in Brussels and other European cities this month in a world tour to talk about the technology with users and developers.

Recently added provisions to the EU's AI Act would require foundation AI models to disclose copyright material used to train the systems, according to a recent partial draft of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press.

Foundation models, also known as large language models, are a subcategory of general purpose AI that includes systems like ChatGPT. Their algorithms are trained on vast pools of online information, like blog posts, digital books, scientific articles and pop songs.

You have to make a significant effort to document the copyrighted material that you use in the training of the algorithm, paving the way for artists, writers and other content creators to seek redress, Tudorache said.

Officials drawing up AI regulations have to balance risks that the technology poses with the transformative benefits that it promises.

Big tech companies developing AI systems and European national ministries looking to deploy them are seeking to limit the reach of regulators, while civil society groups are pushing for more accountability, said EDRi's Chander.

We want more information as to how these systems are developed the levels of environmental and economic resources put into them but also how and where these systems are used so we can effectively challenge them, she said.

Under the EU's risk-based approach, AI uses that threaten people's safety or rights face strict controls.

Remote facial recognition is expected to be banned. So are government social scoring systems that judge people based on their behavior. Indiscriminate scraping of photos from the internet used for biometric matching and facial recognition is also a no-no.

Predictive policing and emotion recognition technology, aside from therapeutic or medical uses, are also out.

Violations could result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

Even after getting final approval, expected by the end of the year or early 2024 at the latest, the AI Act won't take immediate effect. There will be a grace period for companies and organizations to figure out how to adopt the new rules.

It's possible that industry will push for more time by arguing that the AI Act's final version goes farther than the original proposal, said Frederico Oliveira Da Silva, senior legal officer at European consumer group BEUC.

They could argue that instead of one and a half to two years, we need two to three," he said.

He noted that ChatGPT only launched six months ago, and it has already thrown up a host of problems and benefits in that time.

If the AI Act doesn't fully take effect for years, what will happen in these four years? Da Silva said. "That's really our concern, and that's why we're asking authorities to be on top of it, just to really focus on this technology.
As part of what was described as a joint effort to return to normality and provide financial assistance to the self-employed members of the public and small and medium-sized business owners affected by the Corona crisis, Israel's Enforcement and Collection Authority launched a special operation in April 2022 to regulate business fines related to the Corona crisis, the obligation of a business owner not to admit or provide service to those not wearing a mask, operating a business not in accordance with the Covid guidelines, and more.

As part of the operation, which lasted for a year until the beginning of May 2023, 730 applications were submitted by various debtors in about 3,000 penalty cases. Most of the debtors made payment arrangements and complied with them. About 30 of the debtors finished paying their debt and the cases were closed as part of the operation.
The leader of a major anti-abortion group aligned herself Monday with former President Donald Trump on the issue, just weeks after raising questions about his commitment to restricting access to the procedure.

Calling her meeting Monday with Trump "terrific," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, said in a statement that he "reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.

The characterization of the meeting which Dannenfelser's group said happened at Trump's Florida home marked a turnaround from more than two weeks ago. Then, Dannenfelser called Trump's contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.

Dannenfelser's group has said it would not support any White House candidate who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban. Her statement about Monday's meeting with the leading GOP contender didn't mention any discussion of proposed confines for a federal ban, aside from Trump's opposition to late-term procedures, which he has long opposed.

Trump has referred to himself as the most pro-life president in American history, as his three nominations of conservative judges to the Supreme Court paved the way for the reversal of Roe v Wade, which had legalized abortion nationwide for nearly 50 years.

But in the early months of his 2024 bid, Trump has often sidestepped the issue of abortion, even as Republicans across the country celebrate the Supreme Court decision stripping federal constitutional rights to the practice.

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On Monday, Dannenfelser repeated a description she's previously used, calling Trump's term in office the most consequential in American history for the pro-life cause. Despite the credit Trump received for his judicial nominations, he was criticized after last year's elections for saying that Republicans' underperformance was due to abortion foes' opposition to exceptions for women who became pregnant by rape or incest or whose life was at risk.

Trump's campaign didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the meeting, which Dannenfelser also said included Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina one of Trump's top congressional allies along with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Christian conservative ally of Trump's.

All the candidates running in the Republican presidential primary or moving toward a bid have supported state bans on abortion. Most have been much more cautious about staking a position on a nationwide ban, though entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has said he believes it's an issue for the states, not the federal government.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who has launched a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to enter the race later this month, has said he would support a federal law to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last month signed a state abortion ban that, if upheld by the courts, would ban the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, or before many women know they are pregnant. It will take effect only if the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives, upholds Florida's current 15-week ban, which is part of an ongoing legal challenge.

The Florida ban would be one of the toughest in the U.S. But DeSantis has not made clear his position on whether such restrictions should be imposed across the country.

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and one-time United Nations ambassador, has called abortion a personal issue that should be left to the states, though she has left open the possibility of a federal ban. Last month, in a speech at SBA's headquarters, Haley said she saw a federal role in the debate but stopped short of endorsing a national ban.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who as governor signed a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, has said he would sign a federal ban but stopped short of saying what timelines he would support as president.

Trump's stance has provided an opening on the right for potential rivals like former Vice President Mike Pence, an evangelical Christian with long-held anti-abortion views. Pence's advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has pushed for Congress to pass legislation including a national abortion ban beginning around six weeks.
The Biden administration is working on new regulations that would require airlines to compensate passengers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline's control.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would announce the start of the rulemaking process Monday.

The rulemaking pledge continues a push by the Democratic administration to require airlines to improve customer service, and it comes just weeks before the start of the peak summer travel season.

The aim of the rules would be, for the first time, to require airlines to pay compensation beyond a ticket refund and to cover expenses that consumers incur, including rebooking on another flight, if the airline causes a cancellation or significant delay.

When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill, Buttigieg said in a statement.

Airline-caused cancellations include flights scrubbed for mechanical issues with the plane or lack of a crew.

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Airlines for America, which represents the biggest carriers, said in a statement that airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights. The trade group said more than half of cancellations in 2022 and 2023 have been caused by extreme weather or air traffic control outages.

Carriers have taken responsibility for challenges within their control and continue working diligently to improve operational reliability, including hiring more workers and reducing their schedules, the group said.

After the pandemic hit, airlines paid tens of thousands of workers to quit or retire early, but they have added about 118,000 workers since November 2020 and now have 5% more employees than before the pandemic, according to Transportation Department figures.

There is no certainty if or when the Transportation Department might publish final rules around new compensation for travelers. The rule-making process can take months or years.

Currently, when an airline cancels a flight for any reason, consumers can demand a refund of the unused part of their ticket and certain extras that they might have paid to the airline, such as fees for checking a bag or getting a seat assignment. Airlines often try to persuade consumers to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund.

After widespread flight disruptions last summer, the Transportation Department posted an online dashboard that was designed to pressure the airlines to improve customer service. The site lets consumers check each airline's policy on refunds and compensation when flights are cancelled or delayed.

Each of the 10 largest US airlines quickly promised to provide cash or vouchers for meals when a cancellation forces passengers to wait at least three hours for another flight. Nine of the 10 all but Frontier Airlines also promised to pay for accommodations for passengers stranded overnight.

Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. The Transportation and Justice departments are investigating whether Southwest scheduled more flights than it realistically could handle.

The Transportation Department says it is working with the airlines to reduce cancellations and delays this summer, when air travel could exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic records.

A report last month from the congressional Government Accountability Office blamed airlines for a surge in cancellations as air travel began to recover in 2021 and early 2022. The Federal Aviation Administration has also created disruptions due to technology outages and staffing shortages. The FAA recently encouraged airlines to reduce flights to and from major New York airports this summer because it doesn't have enough air traffic controllers at a key facility.
US House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul has threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress over his panel's investigation into the US exit from Afghanistan, CNN reported.

The letter comes after McCaul subpoenaed Blinken in March for a dissent cable written by US diplomats in Kabul criticizing the Biden administration's plans to withdraw troops in 2021.

Michael McCaul said the information the US State Department has released is "insufficient." He further said that the department is "now in violation of its legal obligation to produce these documents and must do so immediately," CNN cited the letter.

McCaul said that he has given Blinken a third deadline of May 11 to comply voluntarily or he will move forward with contempt proceedings. In August 2021, the United States withdrew the last of its troops from Afghanistan.

"House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday regarding the department's failure to comply with the committee's subpoena compelling it to produce of the July 13, 2021 Dissent Channel cable regarding Afghanistan and the department's official response to it, as well as the insufficiency of the department's summaries of these documents and its April 27 briefing on them," US Foreign Affairs Committee in the press release said.

It further said, "Chairman McCaul threatened to hold Secretary Blinken in contempt of Congress and/or initiate a civil enforcement process if the department fails to produce the subpoenaed documents," US Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said in the press release.

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According to the press release, McCaul wrote, "The Department is now in violation of its legal obligation to produce these documents and must do so immediately." He further stated, "As noted above, should the Department fail to comply with its legal obligation, the Committee is prepared to take the necessary steps to enforce its subpoena, including holding you in contempt of Congress and/or initiating a civil enforcement proceeding."

Meanwhile, the US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel on Monday (local time) said that the information provided by the US State Department is "sufficient."

"I don't have anything additional to add, Matt, but I will reiterate what we shared this morning, which is that it's unfortunate that after being provided a classified briefing and being provided a written summary of the contents of the dissent channel cable as well as the department's response, that the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues to pursue this," Vedant Patel said when asked about McCaul's statement in the press briefing.

"Our viewpoint is that the materials and briefings that we've offered and provided have sufficiently met the mark when it comes to the committee's legitimate oversight request," he added.

He further stated that the US State Department continues to engage with Congress and the committee when it comes to correspondence and things of that nature. He stressed on the importance of the dissent channel cable and the integrity which it holds here in the State Department. He further said, "We will continue to do what we can and what we need to protect it."

McCaul considers the dissent cable as a crucial document for his committee's investigation, according to CNN report. However, Antony Blinken has told the panel that he opposes sharing the full document due to concerns it could have a dangerous impact on diplomats' use of the channel, which he stressed is a confidential way for them to share concerns with top State Department officials.




By Jon Dunbar







Way back in mid-2021, the Dumpies began contacting people in Korea, trying to set up a tour for October that year. Not surprisingly, it didn't happen. But now, almost two years later, the Oregon-based American punk band is finally coming to Korea.







"I want to play in every country on the planet," Mark Janchar, guitarist, told The Korea Times.







"If we aren't scheming something up or have a tour on the books life gets stale and our bad habits get the worst of us," bassist Tim Janchar added.







"Korea has been on the list for a while and the scene here seems small, but solid AF," added vocalist Joel Midden. "We have passed through once or twice on other tours and talked about tying it in as part of another tour, but always decided it deserves its own. This time around the stars aligned and the time has come."







The stars aligned specifically when they were in South Africa, where the band toured in February and March 2020, just before the pandemic shut down international touring. We Did This Records, the organizers of that tour, connected the band with a South African friend living in Korea, who helped them figure out how to tour Korea.







"Most of our tours have been set up through friends and contacts we have made via tour and the global punk scene," Joel said. "It's a lot more interconnected than some people realize."







The band has already toured Asia a few times, as well as Latin America and Africa, and touring parts of the world where the punk scene is underrepresented seems to be a core mission of the band.







"There's so much to learn from other countries and people that are different from you," Mark said. "We try to go to places that aren't similar to where we're from because those differences are what makes life beautiful."







Surprisingly, however, the Dumpies have never toured Europe or Canada.







"Most of us have played in Europe a bunch in other bands and we just want to experience new places and scenes," Joel said. "Most of the time when we play places that have a less established music industry, the shows are way more fun and people are way less jaded and more excited."







"U.S. and Western European culture is boring and superficial," Tim added.







The band is known for its energetic, garagey songs averaging only about a minute in length. The songs are always fun and easy to get into, even with titles like "

" and "

."







"Both of those songs are about being unapologetically queer and loving yourself," Joel said.







"Who doesn't love a good ass?" added Jessica deJesus, the band's half-Korean drummer.







While recommending this band not be taken seriously, they paused for a moment to acknowledge the band's racial, sexual and gender diversity.







"It's always better to have a group of people in any context reflect how the planet is, which is a mix of race, gender, and sexuality," Mark said.







"Because gender is performative, and bands made up of all straight white dudes are boring AF," Joel added.







The bandmates also had a diversity of opinions on their band's name.







"I think the name is a reference to being ugly, or 'dumpy' in U.S. slang," Mark said.







"I don't know," Jessica said. "I just work here."







"Tim came up with it," Joel said. "It's supposed to be the name for a person who was just broken up with. Like not the Dumper, but the Dumpie. But everyone thinks it's a poop reference."







"It's not about poop!" Tim insisted. "Does anyone ever say that about the Growlers? When we were in South Africa, they told us a dumpie is a little 6oz beer. But it's like being down in the dumps, or my life is a dump or being a loser. Maybe cause it's similar to The Frumpies or The Grumpies  both amazing bands BTW."





The Dumpies will be

, starting with a show at Cheonhoji Skate Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, organized by

selling skateboards, kendama and craft beer.







They're back in Seoul on Friday and Saturday for shows at Strange Fruit and Club FF, and then it's off to Busan on Sunday for a show at Club Realize.







"I know that the scene is small, but all of the bands I've heard are tight AF and it seems like folks go hard in Korea," Joel said.







Visit

for more about the band or follow them on

or

.


Chinese exports grew 8.5 per cent in April, showing more unexpected strength despite weakening global demand, customs data showed Tuesday.

Exports grew to USD 295.4 billion compared with a year earlier, although at a slower pace, building on momentum seen in the March data when exports rose 14.8 per cent.

In the first four months of the year, exports edged up 2.5 per cent over the same period of 2022 to USD 1,117 billion, the General Administration of Customs of China reported. Total imports contracted 7.3 per cent to USD 822 billion.

Despite that, forecasters say exports should weaken this year.

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Pakistan's Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the failure to sign a staff-level agreement between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan could lead to the country's increased reliance on China, which the US and other Western powers "must take into account", media reports said.

When questioned about the government's approach to the budget in the event of a failure to reach a deal with the IMF, the minister said that the US and other Western powers should bear in mind that Pakistan's dependence on China would intensify, Dawn reported.

The minister also noted that there is a trend of gradually shifting international oil transactions from the US dollar to other currencies, particularly the Chinese yuan, the report said.

Khan said that while Pakistan had met all the technical requirements, there was still a possibility that the staff-level agreement might not be reached due to geopolitical factors, adding that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would be better suited to provide clarity on the matter.

The minister said that in the event the country is unable to complete the staff-level agreement, Pakistan will fulfil all its financial commitments with the assistance of China or other friendly nations, and that the country will still strive to present the best possible budget given the circumstances, for the benefit of the people, Dawn reported.

When asked whether Pakistan is likely to default, as predicted by experts in the Western countries, the minister responded by noting that these experts have been predicting Pakistan's default for over a year now.

Also Read Sale of petroleum products halves in Pakistan, high inflation to blame T20 World Cup 2022, Pakistan's road to final: Fortune favours the brave Ex-Pak Prez Zardari rules out possibility of contesting elections with PDM Pak's Election Commission plans to oust Imran Khan as chairman of PTI party Decision on next Pakistan Army chief being made in London: Imran Khan Imran Khan faces over 120 cases of treason, blasphemy across Pakistan Former Pak PM Imran Khan arrested from outside Islamabad Court, says party Pakistan, China to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, stress on fighting terrorism Lanka court puts restraining order on celebration of Gotabaya's fall China officials expels Canadian diplomat in retaliation to Ottawa's orders

However, he emphasised that Pakistan had not delayed a single payment, and after weathering difficult times, the country is slowly but surely moving towards financial stability, Dawn reported.

--IANS

san/arm
Google will give around $100 million to The New York Times over three years as part of a broad deal to use its content on some of its platforms, the media reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Alphabet company will use the NYT content on Google News Showcase and some other platforms.

The NYT in February this year announced an expansion of its agreement with Google.

It "described as an expanded agreement that included content distribution and subscriptions, as well as using Google tools for marketing and ad-product experimentation."

The NYT and Google did not immediately comment on the WSJ report.

The deal covers distribution, subscriptions, marketing and ad products.

Also Read NYT loses Twitter Blue badge, Koo founder invites it to join platform New York Times loses gold tick on Twitter; Musk calls its feed 'diarrhea' NYT running smear campaign against India: Union minister Anurag Thakur Google Bard: What we know so far about generative AI chatbot in the works Google's move to make app makers use its new billing system faces backlash Global climate diplomacy: World is focusing on wrong climate scoreboard Dependence on China could increase if IMF deal fails: Pakistan Minister Imran Khan faces over 120 cases of treason, blasphemy across Pakistan Former Pak PM Imran Khan arrested from outside Islamabad Court, says party Pakistan, China to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, stress on fighting terrorism

In late 2020, an online news experience called Google News Showcase was launched. This platform helps participating publishers share their expertise and editorial voice through an enhanced storytelling experience.

The platform is also a global content licensing programme. Google pays participating publishers to curate quality journalism for an improved online news experience that benefits readers and publishers.

To help readers discover new content, Google News Showcase offers no-charge access to select paywalled articles on a participating publisher's site that would otherwise only be available to subscribers.

--IANS

na/uk/
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who was arrested by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday, is facing 121 cases across the country, including for committing treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism.

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari.
A Sri Lankan court on Tuesday accepted a request by the police to curb the commemoration of the events which led to the resignation of the bankrupt government of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa a year ago.

On May 9 last year, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office.

Last year, thousands of demonstrators protested across Sri Lanka seeking the resignation of President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda, as the Sri Lankan government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines, and electricity supply.

Police on Tuesday said the Colombo Fort magistrate has issued a restraining order on commemoration of the protest preventing them from entering key installations such as the president's house, presidential secretariat, finance ministry, and the prime minister's official residence.

The restraining order was issued by the Fort Magistrate's Court on Tuesday based on a request made by the Colpetty Police.

Sri Lanka today marks one year since the countrywide unrest that broke out on May 9, 2022.

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The unrest broke out after Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters attacked anti-government protesters at the Galle Face Green in Colombo.

Some of the government politicians were accused of attacking the protesters who urged for the resignation of Gotabaya for his bungling which led to the island's bankruptcy for the first time since 1948.

In March, Sri Lanka received USD 330 million as the first tranche of the IMF bailout programme after hectic parleys. This will pave the way for the debt-ridden country to achieve better "fiscal discipline" and "improved governance."



Mahinda resigned on May 9 hours after some of his supporters attacked peaceful protesters who had been camped out in front of government offices. Dozens of people were injured. Retaliatory attacks on government ministers' homes were reported across the country.

Nearly 100 government parliamentarians suffered arson attacks on property throughout the island nation.

Three days later, the current president Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the prime minister who soon began tackling the economic crisis.

People suffered in the economic crisis with long queues for essentials which were in short supply, fuel, and over ten-hour power cuts.

Two months later, an even bigger protest led to the resignation of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Under the Sri Lankan Constitution, if both the president and prime minister resign, the Speaker of Parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days. Wickremesinghe later succeeded Gotabaya for the balance term of the presidency which runs until September of 2024.
Microsoft-owned LinkedIn has laid off 716 employees, as the company makes changes to its Global Business Organisation (GBO).

The company's CEO Ryan Roslansky said in an email to employees that the move was aimed at streamlining the company's operations.

"As we guide LinkedIn through this rapidly changing landscape, we are making changes to our Global Business Organization (GBO) and our China strategy that will result in a reduction of roles for 716 employees," he wrote late on Monday.

"If your role is directly impacted by this decision, you will receive a calendar invitation within the next hour for a meeting with a leader from your team and a representative from our GTO," he added.

He admitted that while the platform is making meaningful progress creating economic opportunities for its members and customers and experiencing record engagement on the platform, "we're also seeing shifts in customer behaviour and slower revenue growth".

"In an evolving market, we must continuously have the conviction to adapt our strategy in order to make our vision a reality," said the CEO.

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LinkedIn saw record engagement in the March quarter as more than 930 million members globally now turn to the professional social network to connect, learn, sell and get hired.

The LinkedIn revenue increased 8 per cent in the March quarter for the tech giant. In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for more than $26 billion.

The company was also in the process of discontinuing product and engineering teams in China and the downsizing of corporate, sales, and marketing functions.

Roslansky said that they will focus China strategy on assisting companies operating in China to hire, market and train abroad.

"As we plan for FY24, we're expecting the macro environment to remain challenging. We're adapting as we have done this year and will continue to operate with the ambition we need to deliver on our vision and the pragmatism required to run the business well," said the CEO.

--IANS

na/ksk/
Russia enacted a major security clampdown before Tuesday's annual commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, curbing the use of drones and ride-sharing services in its largest cities even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg amid its 14-month war with Ukraine.

At least 21 Russian cities cancelled May 9 military parades the staple of Victory Day celebrations across Russia for the first time in years, Russian media said.

Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancellations. It wasn't clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia which hasn't witnessed the carnage endured by Ukraine during the invasion was rattled by ambiguous official reports that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down.

Media and local officials have blamed other sporadic drone attacks, especially targeting oil depots near the two countries' border, on the Ukrainian military. Kyiv officials decline to comment on such claims.

The fears of a possible Ukrainian attack appeared real, even though parades will go ahead in Russia's largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. But the use of drones has been banned in both cities before Victory Day.

Also Read Jet airways revival hits new snag as banks push back on funding Jet Airways revival hits new snag as more employees quit amid uncertainty Poland to seek US help with WWII compensation from Germany: Dy FM Mularczyk Jet Airways posts Rs 308 cr Q2 net loss, expenses rise to Rs 321 cr Grounded Jet Airways' cabin crew association moves NCLT for liquidation Biden admin to propose new rules for airline cancellations, delays in US US set to end Covid-19 as a public health emergency from Thursday Prez Joe Biden wants airlines to pay passengers in US for lengthy delays Pakistan among world's worst performers in internet access: Report Follower count may drop: Musk as Twitter decides to purge inactive accounts

In St. Petersburg, often referred to as "Venice of the north for its network of rivers and canals, using jet skis in certain parts of the city is prohibited through Wednesday. In the Russian capital, car-sharing services have been temporarily barred from the city center drivers won't be able to start or finish rides there amid preparations for the traditional Red Square parade.

Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this year's Moscow parade Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, who arrived Monday and met with Putin for talks. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went amid Putin's broad diplomatic isolation over the war. The Kremlin at the time said it hadn't invited any because it wasn't a round-number anniversary.

But on Monday officials announced that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon would be joining Putin and Zhaparov at the festivities, along with Armenia's prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and Kazakhstan's leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Late Monday, Belarusian media said that country's president, Alexander Lukashenko, had arrived in Moscow to attend the parade. His presence is significant because Russia bases troops and arms being used in Ukraine in Belarus, and Putin said in March that tactical nuclear weapons would be placed there.

Pashinyan and Tokayev were surprising choices for the guest list as they have in the past diverged from Putin's line. Kazakhstan and Armenia, though Russian allies, haven't publicly supported the war in Ukraine.

In fact, Tokayev has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone several times throughout the invasion.

Tokayev also told Putin last summer that Kazakhstan wouldn't recognise the Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

Armenia is a member of the Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organisation, but Pashinyan snubbed Moscow earlier this year by refusing to host the alliance's military drills.

May 9 is normally a bank holiday in Ukraine, too, but not this year, because of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he had sent a draft bill to parliament proposing a Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II on May 8, and a Day of Europe on May 9, further distancing Kyiv from Moscow.

Zelenskyy equated Russia's goals in Ukraine to those of the Nazis. Unfortunately, evil has returned, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Although now it is another aggressor, the goal is the same enslavement or destruction.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to travel to Kyiv on Tuesday to mark Europe Day together with Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russia's latest nighttime assault, as attacks across Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces killed four civilians, officials said Monday.

Five people in the capital were injured by falling drone debris, according to Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Air raid alarms sounded for more than three hours during the night.

Drone wreckage struck a two-story apartment building in Kyiv's western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post.

Russia has faced economic sanctions and limits on its supply chains because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow has routinely turned to Iranian Shahed drones to bolster its firepower.

Russian shelling of 127 targets across northern, southern and eastern parts of Ukraine killed three civilians, the Ukrainian defense ministry said. Russian long-range bombers launched up to eight cruise missiles at Ukraine's southern Odesa region, authorities said. One person was killed and three others were wounded.

Some of the Soviet-era cruise missiles fired against the Odesa region self-destructed or fell into the sea before reaching their targets, according to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat.

Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities have begun evacuating residents of Tokmak, a town in the front-line southern Zaporizhzhia region, toward the Black Sea coast, Ukraine's General Staff said.

Those working for Kremlin-appointed local authorities, as well as children and educational workers, are being relocated to Berdyansk, a Russian-occupied seaside city about 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the southeast, it said.

On Friday, the Russian-appointed governor of the partially-occupied Zaporizhzhia region ordered the evacuation of civilians from 18 settlements there, including Enerhodar, which neighbors the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Speculation has been mounting for months about the timing and focus of Ukraine's expected spring offensive, with some analysts saying Kyiv might try to strike south into Zaporizhzhia in order to split Russian forces and cut Moscow's land link to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.
President Joe Biden called for a "fair deal" for Hollywood's striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the the upcoming streaming series "American Born Chinese" to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Biden made his first public comments on the strike, which hits the one-week mark Tuesday, in remarks ahead of the pilot's screening. He was joined by an overflow crowd of hundreds of community leaders, elected officials and cast members and producers from the show in the East Room and the State Dining Room.

"Nights like these are a reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with the dignity, respect and the value they deserve," Biden said. "I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible."



He added: "This is an iconic, meaningful American industry. And we need the writers and all the workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us."



American Born Chinese is an adaptation of a graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, and stars Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. It will premiere on Disney+ May 24.

Biden used his brief remarks onstage to outline his administration's efforts to highlight the accomplishments of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and to speak out against prejudice and violence targeting them.

"Hate can have no safe harbour in America," Biden said. "Silence is complicity and we will not remain silent".

Quan, who introduced Biden, reflected on his journey from arriving in the US as an eight-year-old refugee from Vietnam to making his first visit to the White House months after winning an Oscar.

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I do not take this moment lightly, because I know this building is a monument to a country that opened its arms to me, he said.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, left, talks with Gen. James C. McConville, the U.S. Army's chief of staff, at the JCS headquarters in Seoul, in this photo released by the JCS, May 9. Yonhap



South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum met with the visiting U.S. Army chief in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation against growing North Korean nuclear and missile threats, his office said.



The meeting between Kim and Gen. James C. McConville, the U.S. Army's chief of staff, came after President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, adopted the Washington Declaration  entailing joint efforts to sharpen the credibility of America's extended deterrence  at their White House summit last month.



Kim stressed that maintaining the robust bilateral alliance and the allies' combined defense posture is "crucial" in order to militarily support a set of initiatives included in the Washington Declaration, according to the JCS.



Among the initiatives were a plan to create the Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues and the U.S.' plan to enhance the "regular visibility" of America's strategic assets, including a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, to the Korean Peninsula.



McConville pledged to endeavor to ensure that U.S. Army assets can be deployed to the peninsula in a "timely" manner for the defense of South Korea, the JCS said in a press release.



"The Republic of Korea is the U.S.' strongest ally, and close cooperation is critical to maintain regional peace and stability," he was quoted as saying.



The two sides agreed to enhance the ability to execute the U.S.' extended deterrence "and more," while maintaining the alliance's readiness against enemy threats in order to realize an "alliance in action."



Extended deterrence refers to the U.S.' commitment to mobilizing the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally. (Yonhap)


Rep. Kim Nam-kuk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea walks past reporters at the National Assembly, May 9. Newsis



A lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) apologized Tuesday over suspicions surrounding his once-massive cryptocurrency holdings but claimed once again that no irregularities were involved in the transactions.



Rep. Kim Nam-kuk has been under intense media and public scrutiny following revelations he had owned around 800,000 Wemix coins last year, worth about 6 billion won ($4.5 million) at that time, a massive amount that does not fit the frugal image of the first-term lawmaker.



Suspicions have since arisen over such issues as where the money came from and whether he used insider information. Kim has sought to dispel such suspicions, disclosing some information on his transactions and claiming that no irregular means were used for his investment.



Still, criticism has not died down, and some from Kim's own party also joined in criticizing him, saying that he was busy making such investments behind the scenes at a time when ordinary people struggled to make ends meet.






Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Nam-kuk heads to his office at the National Assembly, May 9. Yonhap



The state financial crime watchdog, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), had detected suspected irregularities last year involving opposition lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk's cryptocurrency trading and handed over related data to the prosecution, officials said Tuesday.



Kim of the Democratic Party of Korea recently came under intense media scrutiny after it was revealed he had owned around 800,000 Wemix coins in his digital wallet under the radar between January and February last year, worth about 6 billion won ($4.5 million) in total at that time.



He reportedly withdrew all the coins from the digital wallet before the enforcement in March last year of the Travel Rule that requires virtual asset brokers or market operators to report the identities of sellers and buyers to the financial authorities for trading worth 1 million won or more.



Prosecutors earlier said they had sought a search warrant last year to look into how Kim came to possess such a large amount of undisclosed cryptocurrency assets after receiving information on Kim's coin trading from the FIU. The warrant request was later rejected by the court.






CAMEROUN :: 39th COMIFER Session: MINT calls for rapid execution of railway programmes. :: CAMEROON

The 39th Session of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Railway Infrastructures (COMIFER) has been held today May 05, 2023, under the lead and supervision of the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena NGALLE BIBEHE.

Committee participants notably: Minister Delegate to the Minister of Transport, Secretary General, Inspector General, Deputy General Managers in charge of Operations and Passengers Transport- CAMRAIL, Director of Railway Transport, amongst other Committee members, examined salient issues at heart of the revamp of the railway sector. These issues include: renovation of railway infrastructures, acquisition of train wagons and extension of the national railway network.

Coming out of the Session, Minister Jean Ernest Massena NGALLE BIBEHE prescribed rapid execution of the last phase of the five-year Railway Investment Programme Phase One (PQ1), which involves the upgrade of the telecom artery between Douala and Ngaoundere. He equally insisted on the need to finalise the update of the five-year Railway Investment Programme Phase Two (PQ2) in preparation, as well as the project management attached to it.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 10:33AM

Photo: Google

Googles Pixel Tablet is expected to debut at Google I/O this May 10, but its features may have already been revealed by a deleted Amazon Japan listing. The 11-inch Android tablet will reportedly have Googles Tensor G2 chip, 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, and an LCD with USI 2.0 stylus support, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, and 500 nits of brightness.

It will also supposedly have two eight-megapixel cameras, quad speakers, three microphones, a USB-C port, and Wi-Fi 6 support. The tablet will come with a wireless dock that doubles as a speaker and a smart display. And it is expected to be available in four colours. The price is estimated to be around USD 600 - USD 700 (approx. CAD 816 - CAD 952), depending on the region and storage capacity.

Source
By Jun Ji-hye



Jeju Island is pushing to enact an ordinance banning owners of establishments  mainly restaurants or cafes  from designating their businesses as child-free zones.





gettyimagesbank

The resort island will become the first jurisdiction in the country to have such an ordinance, if a bill to enact it is passed at the plenary session of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council scheduled for May 19.



The ordinance, if passed, will be applied on the island only. But the move is grabbing the nation's attention, as there have been strong arguments for and against the need to designate child-free zones following the emergence of such zones in recent years due to noisy, disruptive children becoming the bane of many restaurants and cafes.



Supporters for such zones place importance on the rights of people to not be disturbed, while objectors claim the zones infringe on the human rights of children.



Song Chang-kwon, a provincial council member from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea who submitted the bill, sided with the objectors, saying the zones discriminate against children.



"Jeju Island has many tourist spots visited by families, but also has many child-free zones compared to other cities or provinces across the country," Song said. "It is not right to block access of children at a time when we need to create a child-friendly island to attract more family tourists."



The bill defines child-free zones as businesses that restrict access for children or parents with children, without reasonable justification.



The bill stipulates that the governor of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province should prevent discrimination and human rights violations, and make attempts to create a healthy social environment for children to grow up in.



To that end, according to the bill, the governor should advise owners of establishments not to designate their businesses as no-kids zones and work to adjust their perceptions of children.





A no-kids zone notice is posted in the window of an Ediya Coffee branch in this 2022 photo. Korea Times file
Seoul Metropolitan Government, through "Seoul Vision 2030 Fund," has begun searching for startups so that those with high potential can be subsidized by the city's new mega-fund. Gettyimagesbank





By Ko Dong-hwan







In 2019 the Seoul Metropolitan Government pooled a huge four year-investment fund for the city's promising startups. As a follow-up, the authority has now launched a mega-funding project to support prospective firms amid the harsh financial conditions right now.







The Economic Policy Office under the city government announced Monday they started pooling money for the "Seoul Vision 2030 Fund" with the goal of securing 5 trillion won ($3.8 billion). To be allocated over the next four years, starting this year, the fund will subsidize the startups in six different categories, including open-innovation, transformation to complete digitalization, development of cultural contents and 'Seoul bio fund' for firms in the digital healthcare industry.







The city government's latest funding project for local startups represents the authority's "sustainable support" for fledgling companies with promising futures in the competitive global market, according to the Economic and Policy Office. The previous funding project from 2019 to 2022, the authority said, rather "laid out a foundation" for the firms to enter the global market in the beginning stage of their businesses.







The massive funding project  the largest in size among the country's municipal governments, according to the city government  has different schedules and goals for each of the six stages. The projected funding goals include 1.4 trillion won for "open-innovation, or scale-up" fund for high-potential firms possessing patented technologies, 250 billion won for companies with goals of resolving public problems but that have insufficient funding, 1 trillion won for a "digital transformation" fund, and 1 trillion won for firms with experience or technologies that have been forced to shut down.







The city government, with 350 billion won from the city coffer, plans to build up the 5 trillion won budget with government funds and private investment funds.







"With the latest funding, Seoul startups in future-bright industries such as AI, bio, fintech and creative contents will be invested in by the city government more aggressively," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, Monday.







"Seoul Startup Hub Scale-up Center, our city government's brand-new agency, has also opened to speed up this kind of large-scale government investment. These efforts are to support our city's promising startups so that they can overcome the ongoing global economic downturns, get subsidized and build themselves up to the point of ushering the city into new industries we can feed on for the next centuries."







The latest funding project has been motivated by its predecessor, the Seoul Future Innovation Growth Fund, which has proven successful. It collected a total investment of 3.4 trillion won from 60 fund cooperatives, a figure surpassing the project's original goal of 1.2 trillion by 283 percent.







Invested in by 470 firms, the startups that benefited from the 2019-22 funding project have produced a total net growth by 1.28 trillion won and created more than 8,200 new jobs. The funding pool also helped the companies pick up momentum despite challenges stemming from COVID-19, the Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the difficult global financial conditions.







With the Seoul Future Innovation Growth Fund, Startup Genome, a global assessment agency for startup environments, ranked Seoul 10th among 280 cities in the world in June 2022. The city ranked first in Asia under the category of "government subsidy."







Companies interested in the Seoul Vision 2030 Fund can file an application starting Monday. Those passing the first round will undergo final in-person interviews in June.







The Seoul Metropolitan Government's latest funding project follows the slashing of investments in the country's startups from late last year. This year's first quarter saw venture investment funds in the city drop by more than 60 percent compared to the previous year.


Today, May 9, the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) revealed the results of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) or Class 12 final exam. Students can check the Meghalaya Board Class 12th results on the official website.

Approximately 30,000 pupils took the Class 12 MBOSE Exams, which were held from March 1 to March 28, 2023. Now, the Meghalaya Board is preparing to issue the results, as well as the exam booklets for the yearly figures.

How to Check the Result?

Step 1: Go to the MBOSE website, megresults.nic.inormbose.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click the "Meghalaya Board Class 12th Result 2023" link.

Step 3: Select the appropriate stream.

Step 4: A new login screen displays, prompting you to input your MBOSE Class 12 Roll Number and Captcha Code.

Step 5: Enter your Roll Number and Captcha Code, then press the Submit Button.

Step 6: The Meghalaya 12th result 2023 appears on the screen.

Step 7: Download and take a printout for future use

MBOSE HSSLC 2023: Check the result via SMS

For Science: MBOSE12SROLLNUMBER send to 56263

For Commerce: MBOSE12CROLLNUMBER send to 56263

For Arts: MBOSE12AROLLNUMBER send to 56263

Details mentioned in MBOSE 12th Result 2023
Remember that issue surrounding the Nissan Kicks aircon system ? The one that Nissan said they found a fix for and that it doesnt affect u...
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a joint press conference after their talks at the presidential office in Seoul, May 7. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating stands at 37.5 percent ahead of this week's first anniversary of his inauguration, a Yonhap News Agency-Yonhap News TV joint survey showed Tuesday.



The survey also showed the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) would win 32 percent and 30 percent of the vote, respectively, if next year's parliamentary elections were to take place tomorrow.



Seven out of 10 people also said they are worried about South Korea's security, the survey showed, amid a series of North Korean missile launches, and tensions with Russia over Ukraine and with China over the cross-strait issue.



Yonhap News Agency and Yonhap News TV jointly commissioned the survey to gauge public sentiment ahead of Yoon's first anniversary in office, which falls on Wednesday. The survey was conducted Saturday and Sunday by Metrix on 1,000 adults aged 18 or older.



According to the poll, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance was 37.5 percent, while the negative assessment came to 60 percent.



The poll showed 63.4 percent of respondents in their 60s and 57.3 percent living in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province gave positive feedback on Yoon's performance.



In contrast, 75.1 and 74.7 percent of respondents in their 30s and 40s, respectively, gave a negative assessment, the poll showed.



Defense and diplomacy were the factors most cited by respondents in giving positive assessments of Yoon's performance, followed by science, health care, culture and the economy, the poll showed.






Kenyan clinker imports set for additional tax

09 May 2023

Kenyan producers of clinker are being boosted with the proposal to introduce a new tax as the State moves in to protect local industry. The export and investment promotion levy is a new tax that the William Ruto administration is seeking to impose on imported goods that can be made in Kenya to boost the local manufacturing industry.

The Kenyan state government has, through the Finance Bill 2023, proposed the export and investment promotion levy rate on imported clinker at the rate of 10 per cent of the customs value. The levy, if the Parliament passes it, will be in addition to a 10 per cent duty on clinker imports, making them expensive and less attractive compared to those produced locally.

This (tax) will reduce imports and save the country foreign exchange spent on buying clinker from external markets, said Narendra Raval, chairman of the Devki Group that owns Simba Cement and National Cement.

The tax levels the playing field because high electricity costs make locally produced clinker more expensive by between five to 10 per cent, Mr Raval added.

Imports of clinker had already dropped 38.4 per cent to 656,499t last year, reports the Business Daily. The value of the imports meanwhile fell 24 per cent to KES5bn (US$36.6m) in the same period. The majority of Kenyan cement manufacturers import clinker mainly from Egypt.

Several cement manufacturers have disclosed plans to set up clinker plants in the coming years. Simba Cement is nearing completion of building its clinker plant in West Pokot County. The facility is set to be completed by August.

Five players, including Savannah Clinker and Simba Cement, are expected to put up individual clinker investments worth US$1bn (KES136bn).

Published under
Irish Cement named as one of biggest polluters

09 May 2023

Irish Cement Ltd (part of CRH) has been named among Irelands biggest climate polluters, according to a report in the Irish Independent. The cement producer joins other household brands, such as Ryanair and Pfizer, with the latest records showing that a group of just 100 factories, power plants and airlines emitted around 25Mt of CO 2 in Ireland in 2022.

Irish Cement currently runs the 2.8Mta integrated Platin cement plant and the 1.2Mta integrated Limerick works.

Published under
President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, speaks during a luncheon meeting with reporters covering him at the presidential office in Seoul, in this photo released by his office, May 2. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol marks his first year in office on Wednesday amid positive assessments of his foreign policy achievements but with little to show in terms of political skill, according to experts.



Yoon's efforts to rebuild ties with the United States and Japan have won him praise, as a stronger relationship with both countries could lead to more effective deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threats and widen the space for cooperation against global supply chain risks.



In particular, Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted the Washington Declaration during their summit last month, agreeing to launch a Nuclear Consultative Group and regularly deploy U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula to increase the credibility of the U.S. "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea.



Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to mobilizing all of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its ally.



With Japan, Yoon took bold steps to mend relations badly frayed over historical disputes by offering to compensate Korean victims of wartime forced labor without contributions from Japanese firms.



The decision led to the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries' leaders after a 12-year hiatus and produced agreements to fully normalize a military intelligence-sharing pact and restore each other as trusted trading partners.



"The best thing he did was to restore the deteriorated South Korea-U.S. alliance," said Kim Hyeong-jun, chair professor at Pai Chai University.



"The U.S.-China hegemonic war and war between Russia and Ukraine have triggered a new Cold War, and we have no choice but to strengthen South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation in order to survive. There can be no compromise on questions of the nation's survival," he said.



Park Sang-byeong, a political commentator, however, accused Yoon of choosing "bias" over "balance" in South Korea's relations with its neighbors, referring to criticism that his close alignment with Washington and Tokyo has driven a wedge between Seoul and China, as well as between Seoul and Russia.



"What can we gain from being pro-U.S. or pro-Japan? We'll pay a severe price for abandoning balance," Park said.



On the domestic front, Yoon faced a hostile National Assembly controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and frequent backlashes over his push to reform the labor, pension and education sectors.





President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, shakes hands with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, while attending a ceremony to mark the 63rd anniversary of the April 19, 1960, pro-democracy uprising by students at the April 19th National Cemetery in Seoul, April 19. Yonhap
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President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



President blames previous administration for social problems



By Nam Hyun-woo



President Yoon Suk Yeol praised his diplomatic and security policies, Tuesday, for bringing "the biggest changes" to South Korea during his first year in office.



"As I recall this time a year ago when I took office as the president, there had been no area that had undergone as significant changes as foreign affairs and national security," Yoon said during a Cabinet meeting, a day before the one-year anniversary of his presidency.



The Cabinet meeting speech was televised across the country as Yoon reviewed his achievements in the past year as the president. Instead, he is not likely to hold a press conference on the occasion of the first anniversary, sources at the presidential office said.



While trumpeting his foreign-affairs-related activities as the top achievement of the past year, he listed the reinforced alliance between South Korea and the United States, improved South Korea-Japan relations, trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, and foreign investments that were promised during his overseas trips as noticeable outcomes of his diplomatic and national security policies.



Referring to his latest summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday, Yoon said "things that were unimaginable until recently are happening between South Korea and Japan."



"Until I visited Japan in March, it took 12 years for the two countries to resume the regular visit of their leaders, but it took less than two months for the two countries' leaders to make reciprocal visits," Yoon said, saying the two countries can overcome challenges they face and open new future if they engage each other with sincerity.



Regarding the Seoul-Washington alliance, Yoon said the alliance was rebuilt during his presidency. He noted the Washington Declaration, which was agreed between Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit last month, showed "an unprecedented level of defense promise including nuclear weapons."



"South Korea's national security, which relied only on North Korea's goodwill, is taking a new shape," Yoon said. "Through joint planning and joint execution on the operation of U.S. nuclear assets, South Korea is now able to reinforce the extended deterrence," Yoon added.



The president said the upcoming South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit on the occasion of a Group of Seven summit next week is a chance to "consolidate the coalition for regional peace through the trilateral security cooperation."



He also said his efforts to draw investments into South Korea resulted in favorable outcomes, citing 26 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) worth 40 trillion won ($30.28 billion) signed with Saudi Arabian counterparts and the United Arab Emirates' promise to invest $30 billion in South Korean industries.



"Through domestic investment of such large-scale oil money, we expect to provide significant support for our promising startups, ventures and small businesses," he said. "Going forward, I will focus on the economy at the center of diplomacy, and we will work hard to expand our product exports and attract investments from advanced global firms."



On the domestic front, Yoon blamed the previous Moon Jae-in government for recent social problems including home rental frauds, crypto speculation, financial crimes and drug crimes.



"The previous government's anti-market and abnormal real estate policies have caused housing market chaos and become breeding grounds for home rental frauds," Yoon said. "The weakening of the monitoring system for financial market misconduct, symbolized by the dismantling of the joint investigation team for financial and securities crimes, has allowed for the rampant occurrence of virtual asset crimes and financial investment fraud."



As part of an attempt to reform the country's prosecution, the Moon administration disbanded the joint investigation team at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in January 2020. But the team is set to be revived following Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon's promise.



Regarding the recent increase in drug crimes, Yoon also blamed the previous government's policy of weakening the prosecution and legislative obstructions by the majority-holding main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.




Who is unhappy about Syria's return to the Arab League?

09:33, May 09, 2023 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

The Arab League on Sunday agreed to reinstate Syria's membership, which is another exhilarating news to the Middle East recently. This is the latest progress after the emergence of a reconciliation wave caused by the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It marks the beginning of a correct path toward a political solution to the Syrian crisis - "continue direct dialogue with the Syrian government in order to reach a comprehensive solution." In this sense, Syria's return to the Arab League after a 12-year suspension symbolizes a new height of solidarity and self-development among Arab countries, and brings more confidence in peace to the Middle East which was viewed as a "powder keg" of the world. We sincerely feel happy for Syria and the Arab League.

Many analyses hold that there are two major reasons for Syria's return to the Arab League: First, the big earthquake that struck the Turkey-Syria border region in early February has accelerated Arab countries' steps to restore diplomatic relations with Syria; second, Saudi Arabia and Iran who were opposed each other in the Syrian crisis have achieved historic reconciliation under China's mediation, providing direct impetus for the Arab League's decision. Last month, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue visited Syria and had an in-depth exchange of views with Syria on seeking a political settlement of the Syrian issue and facilitating Syria's return to the Arab League. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed congratulations on Syria's return to the Arab League on Monday, noting that as a sincere friend of Syria and other Arab states, China welcomes and supports Arab solidarity and will continue to work relentlessly to that end. China's attitude also represents the general position of the international community.

Over the past 12 years, Syria has experienced heartbreaking hardships. In 2011, the Syrian crisis erupted amid the "Arab Spring." At that time, the Arab League suspended Syria's membership under the pressure from the West. Subsequent military and political intervention by external forces has further worsened the situation in Syria, resulting in catastrophic consequences that continue to this day. During this period, countries in the Middle East have suffered from war, social division, and frequent conflicts, making their desire for unity, peace, and development stronger than ever before. The Syrian Foreign Ministry emphasized "dialogue, mutual respect, and the common interests of Arab countries" in its latest statement, which reflects the common desire of regional countries.

From any point of view, Syria's return to the Arab League is a happy matter, but there are exceptions. The US and Britain openly expressed "criticism" and claimed that Syria "should not be readmitted." Bloomberg reported that Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of isolation "in defiance of US;" The Wall Street Journal claimed that US influence is waning in the Middle East. It appears that Washington seems to have an overwhelming reluctance and non-acceptance of the independence and autonomy shown in the Middle East. Of course, it will feel uncomfortable. The tragic stories that have occurred in Syria and the Middle East in recent years are largely due to Washington's Middle East policy of "playing one side against the other." In its eyes, the desperate plight of ordinary families and their lack of sufficient food are just dust on the boots of the US military and not worth mentioning.

But the fact once again proves that when the shadow cast by Washington becomes smaller, the dawn of peace becomes bigger. Arab countries have not lost anything due to their independent foreign policies, but have achieved dialogue, reconciliation, and won respect. Egyptian Foreign Minister Samer Shoukry said on Sunday that "The different stages of the Syrian crisis proved that it has no military solution, and that there is no victor nor defeated in this conflict." This can be seen as a subtle response to Washington's past practices of stirring up regional conflicts and abusing military forces. This view is becoming increasingly common in today's international community. Some American media sourly said that the Arab League's decision to readmit Syria represents a rejection of US interests in the Middle East as Arab countries forge policies independent of Western concerns. But they really got it wrong this time. It is not that Middle Eastern countries are "independent of the West," but rather the fact that the West is isolating itself from the entire international community.

Not long ago, on the 12th anniversary of the Syria war, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "renewed energy" to be channeled into peace efforts. Syria's return to the Arab League is a good start for a political solution to the crisis, but there are still many obstacles ahead. For instance, the US' illegal unilateral sanctions on Syria have created many hindrances for further cooperation in the region. We firmly support united and strong Arab countries, and also hope to work with the international community to bring the sunshine of peace and the hope of development to every corner of the world, especially in places shrouded by the shadow of hegemony.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)


By Sean O'Malley



South Korea is politically polarized. There is no doubt about that. A recent poll by Kookmin Research Group and Ace Research put President Yoon Suk Yeol's support at 36.7 percent overall, with 76.9 percent approval among supporters of the governing People Power Party (PPP) and a disapproval rating of 91.9 percent among supporters of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The political polarization has been criticized heavily in the press and by the public but little seems to change. So, as President Yoon wrapped up his recent state visit to the United States and summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, there was much debate as to the visit's success.



President Yoon was the first Korean president to enjoy a state visit in 12 years, the sixth Korean president to speak to a joint session of the U.S. Congress and the first incumbent Korean president to speak at Harvard University. He was also the first Korean president to receive a briefing at the Pentagon and the first foreign head of state to visit the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), famous for advancing the Internet, GPS and many other technical marvels we take for granted today.



Yet, the ink was barely dry on the new Washington Declaration and the Leaders' Joint Statement in Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Alliance, when DPK leader Lee Jae-myung decried that the new declaration harms South Korea's national interest by provoking China and Russia. The Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi piled on claiming the United States had made unfair demands and that "President Yoon has only nodded to whatever the U.S. said." Such reactions show the depth of polarization between the country's political parties, but it is noteworthy for another reason as well.



As a middle power, South Korea does not have the luxury of such deep political division regarding its foreign and security policies. South Korea's foreign policy is at an inflection point. The country is a powerhouse in semiconductors and other advanced technologies, but it is so at a time when economic security concerns are rising for all states. As such, policies like "onshoring" or "reshoring" (making products domestically) and "nearshoring" or "friendshoring" (making products close to home or in aligned states) threaten to shake the foundations of South Korea's economic growth and security (e.g., its reliance on manufacturing for export).



Due to its geopolitical position, lack of resources and the transaction costs of having a non-reserve currency, South Korea has three general options in the global rush to secure supply chains and critical resources: 1) align closer to the United States; 2) align closer to China; or 3) align closer to neither China nor the United States, and rely on its own diplomacy and strength to bolster its position against current onshoring trends. Each is fraught with its own dangers and shortcomings.



Former President Moon Jae-in chose to follow a variation of option three above. He chose strategic ambiguity between the great powers with a thrust for inter-Korean peace and a dose of anti-Japanese sentiment. He found no domestic political consensus in trying to placate Beijing and Pyongyang and oversaw the incredible change of fortune in Korea's trade with China.



President Yoon is trying a variation of option one. His vision of South Korea as a "global pivotal state" depends on strengthened relations with the United States and Japan, while calling for a mature and dignified relationship with China. The opposition parties' reactions to his state visit in the United States indicate the president has found no domestic political consensus either.



In November 1969, U.S. President Richard Nixon called for support from "the great silent majority" of his fellow Americans. Nixon was looking for clarification from the American people on whether they believed his policies in the Vietnam War were right. To paraphrase a Nixon administration official, the silent majority is a large and normally undemonstrative cross-section of a country that refrains from articulating opinions on pressing political questions.



Following the speech, the president's national approval rating jumped 31 points resulting in overconfidence from the president and his decision to expand the war to Cambodia. Although the president had misinterpreted the results, the silent majority had spoken.



As the two largest political parties in South Korea have shown no willingness or desire to find political consensus on the pressing foreign policy issues of today, it is time for the great silent majority of the Korean people to make their voices heard on which foreign policy direction they desire from their leaders. This is not an easy choice. As a middle power, South Korea has little room for error. Nonetheless, consensus must be found and if found, at least Koreans will know they chose their course in history together.





Sean O'Malley (seanmo@dongseo.ac.kr) is a tenured professor of international studies at Dongseo University, where he teaches classes on U.S.-Korea Relations, the European Union and regionalism.




Richard David Dillard, 29, passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023, in a Augusta, Ga. hospital. David is now at peace, and the addiction he suffered for many years is over. He was born in Cleveland on Sept. 30, 1993. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, was an avid guitar player and Tennessee Vols fan, but most of all enjoyed spending time with his family.David is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, David Caldwell; paternal grandfather, Richard Dillard; two uncles, Rick Dillard and Kenney Goodwin; and stepmother, Lisa Dillard.David leaves behind to cherish his memory, his mother, Ronda Dillard; father, Randy Dillard; three sisters, Renee Dillard, Randi Michelle (Chase) and Layla Dillard; maternal grandmother, Charlotte Goodwin; paternal grandmother, Nancy Long (Ed); special bonus mom, Susan Melton; several special nieces and nephews; numerous other extended family members; and a host of special friends.The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, May 9, from 5-7 p.m., in the Cleveland chapel of Companion Funeral Home at 2415 Georgetown Road in Cleveland. A service celebrating his life will conclude the visitation time at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, with the Reverend Scotty Lyles officiating.Share a memory of David and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com.Companion Funeral Home is honored to assist his family with these arrangements.
State Rep. Greg Vital of District 29 told members of the Pachyderm Club on Monday that the shooters manifesto is the Covenant School shooting will eventually be released.

However, he said officials are slow to give in to the inevitable because he said it is a dangerous collection of records that details vulnerabilities of many area schools.

He also guessed that the information in the manifesto is embarrassing to certain state officials.

Rep. Vital praised the Assemblys approval three weeks ago of Tennessees $56.2 billion budget, required by the state Constitution to be balanced.

He said the budget provides almost $46 million in tax cuts for small and medium businesses that will foster growth in Tennessee and attract more businesses to the state.

When asked by an audience member, Rep. Vital confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris did travel to Nashville to meet with the Tennessee Three legislators and did not meet with representatives of the Covenant School or school families, which he said was tragic. Two of the three legislators were expelled from state office by the House for breaking House rules and later reinstated by their local city commissions.

Rep. Vital was appointed vice-chair of the House Transportation Committee in January. He also serves as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Commerce Committee

TRANSPORTATION

Rep. Vital said the Transportation Modernization Act designates $3 billion for transportation, or $750 million locally, plus another $300 million through Hamilton County matching funds.

Transportation is an issue we deal with every day, he said.

He said the new budget allows the state to negotiate contracts and shift debt risk to private contractors more freely, which will speed up state project lead times from the current 12 to 15 years. He said 70-year-old bridges are on the list of $26 billion in deferred highway maintenance.

We cant wait that long anymore, he said.

The states choice lanes collaboration with private companies, he said, will magnify the countys road network and relieve 30 to 40 percent of the traffic, at no cost to taxpayers, he said.

Lets give this a try as an adjunct to some of the things that were doing, he said.

VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

Rep. Vital said the budgets $1 billion in vocational and technical education spending will complement the states recent investments in information technology, solar power, artificial intelligence and automotive companies that have opened in or relocated to Tennessee. He said comparable certificate programs will extend benefits past high school to adults as well.

Rep. Vital said he ran for office to protect Tennessees disappearing farmland and preserve the open spaces that contribute so much to Tennessees desirability.

Already, he said, Tennessee cant rely on farmers who once knew how to repair diesel engines. Those mechanics make $100,000 a year but theyre too scarce and Tennessee will have to train their own, he said.

Tennessee is also committed to provide career paths for nurses, he said.

UNIONS

Rep. Vital praised the Employee Free Choice and Privacy Act, which gives employees anonymity during unionization of their company. He said companies cant provide names, addresses or email addresses to union organizers, which protects employees from intimidation, he said, and also ensures that certain types of employees will be included in the process.

Thats a great start, he said. They should be able to vote in secret.

THREE TAX-FREE MONTHS

Tennessee can look forward to three months of tax-free food purchases in August, September and October, up from one tax-free month last year.

EXTENDING BROADBAND THE LAST MILE

Rep. Vital said the Assembly is committed to expanding broadband service the last mile, as electricity was expanded to the last rural areas in the 1930s, even though it doesnt make financial sense. Locally thats northern Hamilton County, on both sides of the river, he said.

VOUCHERS

They're not delivering a product that any of us would accept in our businesses, Rep. Vital said of the local school system.

The legislature voted to approve a private school voucher program that will include Hamilton County for the first time.

The program provides up to $8,500 for families making less than $75,000 a year, among other restrictions, he said.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

Independent school bus drivers can now pay the countys municipal rate of $5 for their bus tags, instead of $250. These drivers transport public school students.

Something simple, but Ive never had so many thank yous, he said.

STATE PARKS

Rep. Vital said that Tennessees four new state parks, including North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park, and designating Maury Countys Duck River a Class II scenic waterway, protecting it from encroachment of a waste complex, will add to Tennesseans quality of life for decades to come.

Rep. Vital said he plans to run for office again next year.

Nobody expects the kind of confusion we had this year, but its an honor, said Rep. Vital, who washed windows as a teenager and now raises buffalo.
The Public Education Foundation (PEF) on Monday announced funding for 34 more VW eLabs. Half of the labs will be added in public schools in Chattanooga and the surrounding region while the other half will be developed around Herndon, Va. The new labs will include a focus on environmental remediation efforts.

The expansion will be the largest ever to the multi-year initiative that has grown from a single lab at STEM School Chattanooga in 2016 to what is now the largest network of registered Fab Labs in the world.

We are delighted to be able to provide access for thousands more students with the opportunity to learn and innovate in these labs, said Dr. Dan Challener, president of Public Education Foundation. The continued partnership with Hamilton County Schools and Volkswagen allows us to expand support for the growing network of extraordinary teachers and principals who play a pivotal role in preparing students for college and career success.

In 2017, PEF received a $1 million seed investment from Volkswagen Group of America and the State of Tennessee to develop the VW eLab initiative in partnership with Hamilton County Schools. Over the past six years, leaders from Volkswagen, PEF, and HCS have worked together to grow the investment.

The expansion announced Monday is possible thanks to a $5.3 million distribution from a cy pres fund created by the resolution of certain civil litigation matters. The funds will not only underwrite the installation of 34 labs but will also support teachers and administrators as they create innovative learning opportunities that leverage the technology in the labs to empower students to thrive in the modern workforce. The learning model focuses on equipping students with the technical competencies and environmental awareness that are in high demand across the state along with STEM essential skills like critical thinking, resourcefulness, and agility that are critical to success in todays job market.

We are grateful to PEF and their partners for collaborating with us to bring the innovative opportunity of eLabs to more Hamilton County schools, said HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. We have seen our students empowered to put their learning into action, growing content knowledge along with valuable skills and habits to help them thrive in school and beyond. The continued growth of the VW eLab network helps our students grow as solutions-oriented, community-involved learners. We are excited to continue to increase this impact by expanding eLabs to more schools and more students.

Building the workforce of tomorrow starts with investing boldly in our students, which is exactly what Volkswagen continues to do through its partnership with Hamilton County Schools and PEF, said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. Expanding the footprint of VW eLabs in our public school system will give more students opportunities to develop valuable workforce skills and explore their own creativity with the latest digital tools.

VW eLabs are digital fabrication labs that provide access to high-tech equipment in a highly innovative learning environment. Students use the technology to seamlessly transition from bits, digital information and designs, to its, physical objects created by, or interacting with digital technologies. The technology allows students as young as kindergarten to create real solutions to real problems. This empowers teachers to facilitate learning that is modeled after the real-life skills that are in high demand across the region, state, and country, it was stated.

Our region has a rich history of collaborative innovation, and these labs bring that spirit to students as early as kindergarten, said Michael Stone, vice president of Innovative Learning at PEF. The teachers and technology in VW eLabs give students opportunities to put their learning into action and this expansion represents a continuation of our region growing as a hub of innovation.
A person on Oak Street told police they found a firearm. It was examined by police and determined to be a toy.

* * *

A woman on Hughes Avenue called police and said someone in the Village of Alton Park pointed a gun towards her. As she was speaking with the call takers, she became upset and hung up. When police called her back, she said she would handle it herself. Dispatch checked the phone number and identified who the phone belonged to, but it is unknown if it was her on the phone. Police tried to find her but were unsuccessful.

* * *

A man on Brainerd Road told police the window to his shop was broken. He didnt have any suspect information, but said there is a homeless man he would like to have trespassed. Police spoke with the man and trespassed him from the location.

* * *

Police responded to a burglar alarm at 1790 Hamill Road. Officers checked the doors and found an unsecured door on the front side of the building. Police checked the business and didnt find any suspicious activity. Police waited for a responsible party to come and secure the door.

* * *

Police saw a woman on Maple Hills Way yelling on the sidewalk in the rain. The woman asked police for a ride to Carver Recreation Center.

* * *

An officer was called to Speedway at 2245 Hickory Valley Road where a silver Honda Civic was stopped at a gas pump at 3 a.m. As the officer approached the car, the driver started the engine and attempted to drive forward. The officer was able to get the driver to stop and get out of the car. He provided his passport and the officer didnt smell or see any alcohol in plain view inside the vehicle and it appeared he was just sleeping inside the car.

* * *

A man staying at Super 8 at 8934 Lee Hwy. told police he parked his truck in the parking lot and he had items stolen from it while he slept in the motel. He believes his vehicle was locked, however there were no signs of forced entry. He said his ID, two credit cards, his log book, and his temporary license plate were stolen. He had turned off his credit cards and didnt know if they were used.

* * *

Two people on Graysville Road were in a disagreement over some tools and compensation for hours worked. They were unable to come to an agreement and left without an incident.

* * *

An employee of Center Med Spa at 320 E. Main St. said a woman had services done by the spa and her credit card was declined when attempting to pay the $899 bill. The customer said she would return and pay the bill in 30 minutes and left. The employee said she attempted to call the customer several times but got a voicemail that was not set up. The employee waited 3.5 hours and then called police. Police spoke with the customer and she said she was in the process of calling the business in order to pay her bill. Police stayed until the bill was paid.

* * *

Police checked on a suspicious silver 4-Runner sitting in the parking lot of the vet hospital at 3201 Broad St. at 3:25 a.m. There were two women in the car and police asked why they were there so early. One of the women said they were waiting for the hospital to open so that her cat could have surgery.
Sara Marc, an August 2022 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate, had a decision to make.Ms. Marc, who graduated from Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in 2018, was recently accepted into the Teaching Assistant Program in Francean initiative coordinated through the Cultural Services division of the French Embassy in the United States.Just days after learning that news, she found out she had also been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to France.It was a tough decision; I had two different placements and I had to decide, said Ms.Marc, who majored in French at UTCreceiving a bachelors degree in modern and classical languages and literatures with minors in education and political science.While Ms. Marc gets to list Fulbright on her resume, the opportunities TAPIF has to offer, including help with your masters and programs where you can go back to France, were too attractive to pass up.Both options are prestigious and I was going to have the same experience working as a teaching assistant, but I decided to go where I wanted to be," she said.This fall, Ms. Marc is headed to Bordeaux, France, to be a teaching assistant and U.S. cultural ambassador as part of the TAPIF program. She has been placed in the Academie de Bordeaux at the secondary school level (middle and/or high school).Her time as a UTC student included a study abroad semester in Lyon, France, in 2021 and being selected as a Gilman Scholar to Francea scholarship she had to decline due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.Ms. Marc said her long-term goals include earning a masters degree and working as a French teacher. The TAPIF opportunity will allow her to bring back curriculum education ideas for introducing foreign languages in all schools as early as kindergarten.Teaching abroad is going to help me learn a little bit more about the foreign language curriculum, she said, and how teaching English to early kids and younger kids, how it works and how I could bring that back to the United States.
This National Travel and Tourism Week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell and Sevier County tourism leaders announced new milestones on Tuesday in Pigeon Forge, including a record $27.5 billion in travel spending in 2022, according to preliminary data from U.S. Travel and Tourism Economics. Among the top 25 states, Tennessee is the fastest-growing state in travel spending since 2018 and has risen from 14th to 11th in the nation for travel spending.

Tourism is a top driver of economic growth and job creation across our state, giving Tennesseans even greater opportunities to thrive, said Governor Lee. As we celebrate another record year for tourism in Tennessee, were committed to ensuring that our state remains a top destination for travel.

The leisure and hospitality industry plays an essential role in Tennessees economy and employs over 352,000 Tennesseans. While good for the industry, the news also benefits the entire state. As the states 2nd leading industry, tourism is a significant source of tax revenue for Tennessee contributing $1.8 billion in state sales tax collections in 2022.

Tennessees tourism, leisure and hospitality industry is leading the nation, and we are grateful to our hardworking industry for making these historic new milestones possible, said Commissioner Ezell, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Visitors come for our incredible scenic beauty, dining and world-class attractions, and keep coming back for our unmatched hospitality. Theres nowhere better to live, work and play than Tennessee.

This news comes during National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the industry which spotlights the essential role travel plays in economic growth and innovation. Visitors are invited to stop in any of Tennessees 16 Welcome Centers this week to get a taste of area destinations.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Tennessee reached a record $27.5 billion in visitor spending in 2022, marking a $3 billion increase (+14%) over 2021, according to U.S. Travel.

Travel spending propelled Tennessee to 11 th in the nation for travel spending in 2021 and 2022, up from its previous record of 14 in 2020. (Preliminary rankings released April 2023 by U.S. Travel).

in the nation for travel spending in 2021 and 2022, up from its previous record of 14 in 2020. (Preliminary rankings released April 2023 by U.S. Travel). The industry contributed $1.8 billion in actual state sales tax collections in 2022.

New county-level data is expected in August.
After completing its third relief mission in March, volunteers from Rescue 82 will be traveling back to war-torn areas of Ukraine for the organizations fourth relief mission later this month.

Pastor Bruce Howland will be joining Rescue 82 for the first time. Mr. Howland is an Air Force veteran who currently serves as senior pastor at Kimball Baptist Church in Kimball, Tn.

During the March Mission, the six-man team delivered food and supplies to several villages outside the city of Mykolaiv. The team also delivered 120 gift bags for a childrens hospital, evacuee shelter, and recreation center in the city of Kryvyi Rih. By the conclusion of their third mission, Rescue 82 had delivered food and other humanitarian aid to hundreds of people in villages heavily damaged by the ongoing war.

During their time in Ukraine, the team members noted how the Ukrainian churches are working tirelessly to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are suffering.

Founded by Chattanooga Police Sergeant Jeremiah Cook, Rescue 82 is a Chattanooga-based Christian non-profit committed to providing efficient solutions to complex problems in austere environments. Mr. Cook said, Thank you for your prayers for our safety. It was very common to hear explosions in the distance as our mission took us within one mile of Russian-occupied territory.

Rescue 82 is currently collecting donations to source and distribute humanitarian aid inside Ukraine. While in the country, Rescue 82 also maintains the capacity to evacuate refugees and internally displaced persons away from the crisis zones. Those interested can learn more at rescue82.org.




The Salvation Army of Chattanooga is now accepting registrations for summer camp at Camp Paradise Valley in Burkesville, Kentucky. Families can sign up children ages 7-17 for a week of fun, adventure and learning in the great outdoors. Registration is also open for The Salvation Armys East Lake day camp.

We believe that summer camp can be a transformative experience for children, and we are excited to offer this opportunity to the youth in our community, said Captain Mark Love of the Chattanooga Area Command. At Camp Paradise Valley, children have the chance to disconnect from technology, explore the outdoors, and develop important life skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership. Its an experience that can have a lasting impact on their lives, and we are honored to provide it thanks to the support of our donors and volunteers.

Camp Paradise Valley

Camp Paradise Valley spans over 400 acres on the shores of Dale Hollow Lake, straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee state line. It provides children the opportunity to swim, hike, canoe and participate in a variety of other outdoor activities. They will also have the chance to make new friends, learn valuable life skills and grow in their faith. The Salvation Armys experienced staff and counselors are dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where all children can thrive. Registration is available athttps://www.adminicamp.com/. The camp is open June 26-30 for ages 7-12 and July 10-13 for ages 13-17.

East Lake Summer Camp

In Chattanooga, The Salvation Armys East Lake summer day camp will run from June 5 to August 4, every Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The day camp is open to children ages 7-17. The camp offers a reading program, devotional, arts and crafts, physical education, swimming, field trips, breakfast, lunch and snacks. The cost is $25 per child for the summer and $5 for each additional child from the same family.

Summer Camp Job Openings

The Salvation Army is hiring camp staff for the summer including counselors, lifeguards, housekeepers and maintenance positions. They are seeking enthusiastic and dedicated individuals between the ages of 15 and 23 to join the team at Camp Paradise Valley. Camp staffers gain valuable leadership experience, work with children and make a difference in the lives of others. The Salvation Army offers competitive pay and provides room and board for the duration of the summer program (June-July). Those interested in applying should visit https://bit.ly/3Lc1hAN.

Call for Donations

The Salvation Army depends on donations from the community to provide summer camp experiences to local children. It costs on average $500 to send one child to camp for a week, but every donation helps, no matter how much. Contributions help ensure that children in the Chattanooga community have the opportunity to experience the joys of summer camp, build lifelong memories and develop important life skills. To make a donation, please visit https://bit.ly/40OpOSe.


Seoul and Beijing must calm down and return to normalcy



South Korea and China are now exchanging harsh, undiplomatic words.



The bilateral relationship has gone from bad to worse since President Yoon Suk Yeol took office a year ago.



Their aggravating ties are not surprising. The conservative South Korean leader made clear his preference for America in the G2 battle for global hegemony. The other reason was North Korea's escalation of nuclear threats and China's apparent disregard for it.



Astonishing was the quite undiplomatic  almost irrational  responses from the Chinese government and state media to Yoon's slightly-too-frank statements on China and Taiwan.



Late last month, Yoon expressed his opposition to a potential "change of status quo by force" while commenting on China-Taiwan relations. That was passable by international standards. However, Yoon's comparison of the cross-strait relationship to inter-Korean relations lacked finesse because he seemed to forget to reaffirm the "One China" principle.



Global Times, Beijing's English-language mouthpiece, editorialized these comments as "unwise" and "shortsighted." Anyway, it is a media outlet that is free to say what it wants in an opinion piece. But it went a little too far by saying Yoon was "currying favor" with the U.S. Even more discourteous diplomatically was Foreign Minister Qin Gang, reiterating, "Those who play with fire on Taiwan will burn themselves to death."



This is an utterance that has given up the minimum dignity a nation's top diplomat should show. The phrase has become like a cliche since Chinese President Xi Jinping first used it against the U.S. a while ago. The time has long passed for China to stop using such undiplomatic words, not least because it aims to be a "new superpower." Qin's reply was even more problematic as the ministerial-level official directed it at a foreign chief executive. No wonder it led to the mutual summons of ambassadors.



China's discourtesy toward Korean leaders was not new. An ex-foreign minister, Wang Yi, caused a stir years ago as he seemed to pull former President Moon Jae-in by the sleeve. Also, many South Koreans do not forget Moon had to "eat several meals alone" during his 2017 visit to China. Moon's successor seems set not to let Beijing repeat these. Add to these some Chinese netizens' unduly nationalistic acts, sinicizing all things Korean, ranging from kimchi to hanbok, and Beijing will know why 80 percent of young Koreans prefer America, and even Japan, to China.



These internet warriors may have been influenced by "wolf warriors" in diplomacy, including Wang and Qin. After all, it was Beijing that has long attempted to erase the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom, which once occupied Manchuria, from its history book and reduce it to an old Chinese state. A good relationship is hard to expect without the due respect of neighbors.



Instead of quarreling over who provoked whom first, the two countries should calm down and restore a clear-headed approach. Yoon should not have blurted out his discontentment with Beijing in a luncheon with journalists. He must address China "diplomatically."



That said, China must also ponder why bilateral ties have hit a nadir. It must wonder why even North Korean leaders allegedly expressed hope that U.S. troops remain on this peninsula after the eventual reunification of the Koreas. Korea is neither the vassal state of China centuries ago nor the small country that despises its giant but poorer neighbor as recently as a few decades ago. Korea wants to deal with China equally and be treated in kind.



There are still Koreans who call for Seoul to take a more balanced stance between Washington and Beijing, braving criticism for siding with a socialist state (this is dangerous in strongly anti-communist Korea) or being mired in millennia-old flunkeyism.



China must begin to make efforts now to win the hearts of Koreans if it wants to compete with America on an equal footing globally. It will be too late when young Koreans with Sinophobia become the establishment here.


Lithium-air batteries, also known as lithium-oxygen batteries, are candidates for the next generation of high-energy electricity storage devices. Their theoretical energy storage capacity is ten times that of conventional lithium-ion batteries of the same weight, but they are not yet chemically stable enough to provide a reliable solution. Now a newly launched collaborative research project in which a team from the University of Oldenburg, Germany, led by chemist Professor Dr. Gunther Wittstock is participating is testing a new concept to extend the life of these battery cells.

The project, entitled "Alternative materials and components for aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries: chemistry and stability of inactive components  AMaLiS 2.0", is led by IOLITEC Ionic Liquids Technologies, a company based in Heilbronn, Germany. The MEET (Munster Electrochemical Energy Technology) Battery Research Center at the University of Munster and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen are also taking part. The project will receive around 1.1 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research over a three-year period.

Lithium-air batteries basically work in the same way as conventional battery types, but in this type of battery the reaction of lithium ions with oxygen from the air at the positive electrode is used to generate electricity. The big advantage is that lithium-air batteries can store almost as much energy per kilogram as fossil fuels. This means that they have a similar specific energy to today's batteries but weigh much less, which makes them attractive for use in electric cars as well as in stationary energy storage. "However, before we get that far there are still a number of technical problems to be solved," Wittstock underlines. One of these challenges is the lack of electrolyte that are chemically stable at both the positive and the negative electrode. These conductive fluids or solids are located in the area between the two electrodes.

Oxygen from the air is reduced in lithium-air batteries

In lithium-air batteries, one of the electrodes is made of metallic lithium while the other  called the gas diffusion electrode  consists of a porous porous network and conducting material where oxygen (O2) from the air is reduced in an oxidation-reduction reaction. When the battery is discharging, positively charged lithium ions move across the electrolyte from one electrode to the gas diffusion electrode, where they combine with oxygen and electrons from an external electrical circuit to form lithium oxide. This generates an electric current which can be used to provide energy for electrical devices. During charging, lithium and oxygen separate once more and the ions and electrons travel in the opposite direction.

To increase the stability of the lithium-air battery, the project team aims to design a membrane that separates the positive electrode from the negative electrode, thus allowing different electrolytes to be used on either side. "This would significantly expand the options for electrolytes," says IOLITEC's project coordinator Dr Thomas Schubert. The scientists plan to test a separator with a special coating on each side that protects both the lithium electrode and the gas diffusion electrode.

The Oldenburg team led by Wittstock is using various methods, including surface spectroscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), to investigate the processes on the surfaces of the separator and electrodes. IOLITEC is developing the separating layer together with a team from MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Munster which is headed by Verena Kupers. "We are testing different coatings that are specifically adapted to the challenges posed by each type of electrode," Kupers explains.

The MEET team also carries out test measurements. At the Fraunhofer IFAM, a team led by Dr Daniela Fenske is developing a new type of gas diffusion electrode made of nanostructured titanium carbide. "It will be combined with a special membrane that prevents parasitic air components such as carbon dioxide or water vapour from entering the cell," Fenske explains. The researchers' end goal is to develop a prototype that proves that a stable, rechargeable system is achievable. For this, the construction of a flat cell with a surface area of 25 square centimetres is planned.
Attorney Bryan Shade, who accused Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Tina Glory Jordan of making unethical claims of adverse possession, commented in that vein after the Cherokee Phoenix published its Q&A with the candidates for District 3.
Just a few nights ago, this 26-year-old guy went out to dinner with a few of his friends. They decided to eat at a pretty nice restaurant, but apparently, the food wasnt the only thing that garnered his attention.

As soon as he sat down with his friends, he detailed how their waitress who was a woman in her early twenties immediately caught his eye.

What really stood out was the waitress sense of style, as well as her cuteness.

Her outfit was really unique, and it just seemed to suit her perfectly, he recalled.

Then, throughout their entire meal, he thought the woman was very attentive and friendly. So, he really could not help but be drawn to her.

Thats why, after some time passed, he decided to just shoot his shot. More specifically, he thought it would be a good idea to simply compliment the woman on her outfit.

Hey, I just wanted to say that you look really cute tonight, and your outfit is amazing. It suits you so well, he told her.

According to him, the waitress took his compliment really well, too, and proceeded to smile and thank him.

So, after he and his friends finished up their dinner, he decided to just write his phone number on the bill to leave for the waitress. He figured it wouldnt be a big deal and thought the waitress might opt to reach out to him if she was interested in getting to know each other better or even going out on a date.

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If youve ever lost a loved one or know someone who has, youve probably heard of the five stages of grief. But do you know the woman who came up with that revolutionary theory?

Her name was Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She was a Swiss-American psychiatrist whose words and theories continue to help us understand the challenges of grief.

Elisabeth was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1926. Elisabeth was first introduced to the realities of death when she was hospitalized for pneumonia at the age of 5 and witnessed her roommate die peacefully. It was an experience that taught her death was an inevitable part of life.

When Elisabeth was only 13, she worked as a laboratory assistant for refugees during World War II. At 16, she left home against her fathers wishes to become a doctor and began working as a doctors apprentice.

She volunteered in hospitals and gained a lot of medical experience. Elisabeth learned how powerful compassion was during this time.

When World War II ended, Elisabeth continued to volunteer and help others through rebuilding and relief work projects. In 1946, she visited the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland, which greatly impacted her career and her lifes purpose.

Elisabeth returned to Switzerland to study medicine at the University of Zurich and graduated in 1957. There, she met her husband, fellow medical student Emanuel Robert Ross.

After graduation, Elisabeth moved to New York the following year and began her psychiatric residency at the Manhattan State Hospital. There, Elisabeth started creating treatment plans for terminally ill patients, which proved to be highly effective.

In addition, she began noticing how neglected mentally ill and terminally ill patients were in hospitals and catered directly to those patients.

In 1964, Elisabeth became an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicagos Pritzker School of Medicine. She started teaching students about the psychological treatment of terminally ill patients and wanted to work towards changing the care approaches for these patients.

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Unsplash/Stefan Kunze

To authorize the disaffiliation of 33 churches from the United Methodist Church (UMC), Rio Texas Conference delegates met in San Antonio on Saturday for a special session. This decision occurs as the denomination loses thousands of congregations across the country due to internal strife over LGBTQ ministry and participation over a period of years.

In the article in Buffalo News, Rio Texas Conference Bishop Robert Schnase said that several churches felt the need to sever ties with The United Methodist Church. Despite not wanting anyone to leave, he said he hopes for the best for them, guided by God.

Rio Texas Conference Approves Departure of 33 Churches from United Methodist Church

When a small majority in 2019 supported opposing same-sex marriages and LGBTQ clergy members, the division within the denomination widened. According to Dallas News, conservative congregations all around the country are attempting to disaffiliate because they feel that this decision is not being upheld. However, several churches dispute that their acceptance of LGBTQ people caused their leave and instead blame a variety of difficulties with the larger denomination, from theological disagreements to financial issues.

For the 33 departing congregations, the special session vote at the University of Texas at San Antonio represents the conclusion of a protracted process that included a six-month reflection period and permission from the Conference's board of trustees. The Rio Texas Conference, which is a component of the South Central Jurisdiction of the UMC, includes cities including San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi as well as South and portions of West and Central Texas.|

On June 8, the meeting, which formerly included 350 churches, will meet in Corpus Christi for its usual annual meeting, during which it is anticipated that more congregations may seek disaffiliation. The UMC is permitting communities to leave while keeping their properties and assets under a 2019 decision known as Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline, provided that specific actions are performed before the end of 2023.

Also Read: 192 Churches in North Carolina Asks Separation from United Methodist Church, Request to Retain Church Buildings

UMC Faces Uncertain Future Amid Growing Division and Church Disaffiliations

The future of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is in doubt due to growing divides over LGBTQ inclusiveness that have led thousands of parishes to sever their ties to the denomination. According to the story shared in Gazette Extra, the General Conference, an assembly of UMC representatives from around the world that takes place every four years, had a special session in St. Louis in 2019 to discuss this divisive subject. A mere 53% of voters supported the position against same-sex unions and the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy, widening the gap even further.

Due to the pandemic, the upcoming General Conference, which was initially planned for 2020, has been repeatedly postponed. The new date for the gathering is 2024. This meeting is eagerly awaited because it is believed that the continuing controversy over LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages will once again take center stage.

The number of congregations leaving the UMC has increased in the interim, with Texas seeing the most significant number of exits nationwide. In March, the North Texas Conference approved the de-affiliation of 41 local churches, and in December, two other regional conferences in Texas lost over half of their parishes. In Texas alone, close to 600 churches have cut ties with the UMC overall.

Approximately 2,500 congregations nationwide, or 8% of the UMC's total, have so far renounced their affiliation. The future course of the UMC and potential solutions to the current issues are still up in the air as the denomination moves closer to the 2024 General Conference.

Related Article:Multiple Florida Churches Sever Connections with United Methodist Church Over LGBTQ+ Clergy Ordination
Pexels/Georg

The coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla resembles a fairy tale with its jewels and horse-drawn carriages. It is also a revered and uncommon religious ceremony among Anglicans. Hymns, Psalms, a reading from the gospel, Communion, and a sermon by the Most Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, are all part of the two-hour service at Westminster Abbey in London.

As King, Charles becomes the Church of England's ultimate governor and the faith's defender. The Most Rev. Geoffrey Fisher, a former archbishop, stressed the spiritual nature of the event, calling it a "sacred sacrament."

King Charles' Coronation Showcases Christian Heritage and Inclusivity

According to Arkansas Online, the spiritual component of the new service is still present even though it will be shorter than prior ones. A Bible will be given to the ruler as a constant reminder of the authority of the law and gospel of God in governing the lives and governments of Christian kings.

Author of "The Shortest History of the Crown," Stephen Bates, claimed that Anglican parishes of all sizes are making a significant effort for King Charles' coronation. The Church of England's position at the center of British society is reaffirmed by this historic event. The celebrations, though, won't just be for Anglicans.

Catholic clerics are welcomed for the first time since the Reformation. The liturgy will include blessings from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Westminster archbishop of the Catholic church. According to Archbishop Welby, the church Charles heads would work to "foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely."

Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities all join in the festivities. A Shabbat morning service and coronation ceremony are being held by the Jewish community of Islington. At the Croydon Baitus Subhan Mosque, a Hindu celebration and a halal coronation lunch are planned.

According to another source, The Telegraph said that blessings were distributed among several religious leaders at the most recent coronation of King Charles, showing respect for all religions without undermining the service's firmly Christian foundation. The King referred to religious leaders as "neighbors in faith," underlining their shared commitment to advancing society.

The coronation reflected the exceptional ability of the British monarchy to adapt to the needs of the age while keeping its historical meaning by combining both old customs and modern sensibilities. With the head of state acting as its guardian, the measures are intended to use the country's Christian legacy to regulate and resolve a multifaith society.

The late Queen established "holy hospitality," and now her eldest son is reshaping her legacy in a way that is welcoming and respectful of all religions. This strategy is a spiritual evolution of the Commonwealth.

Also Read: Pope Offers Fragments of Christ's Cross for King Charles' Coronation Ceremony

Coronation Needs to Acknowledge Parliament's Role in Monarchy's Legitimacy

The recent crowning of King Charles emphasised diversity and religious leaders, but it paid little attention to Parliament's role in upholding the monarchy's legitimacy. In the article shared in MSN, the formal acknowledgement of both Houses of Parliament needed to be more conspicuously lacking, as well as the respect shown by peers at previous coronations.

The monarchy may seem like a more appealing option at a time when politicians' reputations are at a low ebb, but both institutions must work in harmony. History has proven that a hostile Parliament could endanger the monarchy. A healthy partnership between these two crucial institutions depends on acknowledging and incorporating the function of Parliament in the coronation.

Related Article:King Charles III's Coronation on May 6 Prepares A Special Prayer, Holy Oil By Church of England


By Ahn Ho-young



President Yoon Suk Yeol's and his wife's recent state visit to the United States was a huge success. The visit took place in the year commemorating the 70th anniversary of the alliance between Korea and the U.S.



David Ignatius of the Washington Post, one of the most influential commentators today, applauded the 70 years as "an epic success." The substance of the visit was as impressive as Ignatius' characterization of the 70 years.



The Washington Declaration will prove to be a strong milestone to effectively deter North Korean nuclear provocations and eventually lead to the denuclearization of North Korea. Yoon's itinerary included many activities to further strengthen Korea-U.S. cooperation on science and technology, meeting with scientists and entrepreneurs both in D.C. and Boston, visiting the Goddard Space Center, establishing a science and technology-focused group between NSC's in both countries, and signing almost 50 MOUs. Strengthened cooperation in science and technology holds a key to continued prosperity for the Korean economy. It also has strong implications for Korea's national security down the road.



On top of all of these activities and agreements, President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress received President Yoon and his wife in genuine friendship. As a longtime observer of Washington, I could feel it in my bones. These are all welcome developments. On the other hand, I hear some observers in Seoul raise questions about what the strengthened relations with the U.S. imply for Korea's relations with China and Russia. Wouldn't it alienate China and Russia, undermine economic cooperation with them and further drive them away from cooperating on North Korea's provocations?



These are important questions. In order to answer these questions, I think we must keep in mind two interrelated points. First, we must move away from the illusion that we can continue to benefit from strategic ambiguity. Some people in Korea still believe that we don't have to take a stand on defending liberal democracy, continue to straddle the fence and cooperate with the U.S. for national security and get maximum economic benefits from China and Russia.



We tried it for many years, only to find that it does not work. The ambiguity led to losing credibility with the U.S. That eventually led to losing credibility with China as well. China came to find that, irrespective of ambiguity on the facade, Korea in the end had to side with the U.S. Korea's decision on the deployment of THAAD in Korea was a good example. China responded with a series of ferocious retaliations, maybe made more so because of its disappointment with Korea's ambiguity.



Some observers in Seoul ask why Korea cannot straddle the fence, when important actors in the Global South benefit from that strategy. Korea cannot, because we are faced with a different geopolitical and geo-economic reality. Think about Korea's security. Strengthening the extended deterrence of the U.S., as was done through the Washington Declaration, is sine qua non to deal with North Korea's unbridled development of nuclear weapons and missiles as well as other security threats we face in Northeast Asia today.



The most reliable option for Korea in this increasingly divided world is to work with like-minded countries to defend liberal democracy. Korea must continue to emphasize the importance of the rule of law, including wartime humanitarian law and the prohibition of the use of force for a change in the status quo. When the rule of law recedes, it will be replaced by the rule of power, jeopardizing Korea's national security and economic prosperity.



Second, moving away from strategic ambiguity need not inhibit Korea's cooperation with China and Russia. During my time as Ambassador to the U.S., 2013-17, I kept on reminding my U.S. colleagues why Korea had to cooperate with China and Russia to the extent that the cooperation does not conflict with the Korea-U.S. alliance and the values underlying the alliance.



Reconciling Korea's stand for democracy while maintaining commercial and other ties with China and Russia becomes increasingly complicated in today's world. However, we have to remember that this is a difficulty faced by other liberal democracies as well.



Chancellor Scholz, while declaring a firm stand against autocracies through his speech on Zeitenwende  made immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine  took a huge delegation of German businessmen to China in November 2022. President Macron of France organized a similar visit to China in April 2023.



Even the U.S. takes a similar position. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen recently spoke at Johns Hopkins University. She said that the United States will safeguard its national security, even if it comes at an economic cost to its relationship with China. However, she also said that the decoupling of bilateral economies would be disastrous for both countries and the world.



Korea is not alone in finding itself in a narrow place between strengthening relations with liberal democracies and maintaining commercial and other ties with China and Russia. The dilemma arises from the changes in the international system. We have to understand the changes and base our foreign, security and economic policy on that basis.



Ahn Ho-young (hyahn78@mofa.or.kr) is chair professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University. He has also served as Korean ambassador to the U.S. and vice foreign minister.


Pixabay/Use at your Ease

There has been a rise in the number of cases of gun violence in Birmingham. As a result, St. Mary's Catholic Church advocates for a different approach to end the violence. Every six weeks, they hold prayers in various churches throughout their nation.

Prayer to Stop Violence

According to ABC News, Deacon Walter Henderson asserted that the power of prayer could transform any circumstance. These prayer meetings started in 2022, but increased gun violence caused a greater demand for them. Deacon Henderson stated that he and the people in his church would rely on their faith to end the senseless deaths.

As mentioned, this crime has progressed to the point where pulling out a pistol and opening fire is the standard response. And it is something that has absolutely no place in this world. "We believe in Jesus. We believe in his saving grace, and we believe in the power of prayer," Deacon added. The local authorities and the church have partnered to emphasize the significance of maintaining a unified front.

According to Sheriff Mark Pettway of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, their first concern is disarming the situation. "Let's love one another, get along with one another, and solve our conflict in other ways other than using violence," he noted. Moreover, Chief Scott Thurmond of the Birmingham Police Department expresses his hope that the partnership will increase trust between citizens and the police. This is one of the ways they try to deepen their bond and share information with the authorities to solve these crimes and keep their town safer.

Also Read: Pastor John Lindell of James River Church Claims That 'Prayer Re-Grew A Woman's Amputated Toes'

Gun Violence in Birmingham

Based on an article from WVTM13, many people in the community are reflecting on the past year, and one of the things they are thinking about is how the violence in Magic City continues to affect them. The number of shootings and other acts of gun violence in the city only keeps rising.

The law enforcement agency has successfully seized over 1,800 firearms from individuals who were either in the process of committing a crime or illegally possessing the gun. Charles Kessler III, a local mental health counselor, spends each day working with clients dealing with the trauma of gun violence. As a result, he is left with concerns about different methods to fix the escalating prevalence of this crime in their neighborhood.

The Birmingham Police Department is relying on a new program called Conflict Resolution, run by the city of Birmingham. It is a program that seeks to support preventative actions that are taken to address violent crime in their community. They are also planning to create a scheme allowing them to install private cameras in neighborhoods to assist with crime prevention.

On the other hand, a recent report from WBRC stated that There have been over 20 homicides in Birmingham so far in 2019, with three taking place since the Mar. 26 alone, indicating an increase in the city's rate of violent crime. Caleb Whitt, a senior at Jackson Olin High School who was 17 years old, was one of the victims in this incident.

Since the beginning of last year, more than a dozen children and adolescents, including Whitt, have been shot and killed in the city. It serves as yet another reminder to parents that they should keep tabs on their children and pay attention to the company that their children possess. Accordingly, data shows that 15 children under 18 have been killed due to gun violence in Birmingham since January 2022. St. Mary's Catholic Church is doing a different way to help stop gun violence in Birmingham. Know more about the crimes that are taking place in their country.

Related Article: St. Illtuds Church Holds Overnight Prayer for 'Unity, Strength, Peace, Hope'
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Church leaders and human activists joined together to honor the legacy of the Late Bishop John Joseph. He became well-known for his advocacy work on human rights, dignity, and religious diversity.

25th Death Anniversary of Bishop John Joseph

On Wednesday, May 3, Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore asserted at a memorial seminar that they would never celebrate the last accomplishment of Bishop John Joseph. He reportedly holds a position comparable to that of the Church's canonized saints and martyrs. However, they promote respect for human dignity, fundamental rights, and various faith traditions.

UCA News reported that on May 6, 1998, Bishop Joseph, the first priest from Pakistan's Punjab state and the first ethnic Punjabi prelate, ended his life as a form of demonstration against Pakistan's broad blasphemy law. This law imposes death on anyone accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

After a Christian, Ayub Masih, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the founder of Islam, the man who committed suicide by shooting himself did so in front of the Sahiwal sessions court in Faisalabad, one of the wealthiest cities in Pakistan. As mentioned, the conviction of Masih was reversed, and he was set free by the Supreme Court in 2002. Campaigners held a vigil in front of the Sahiwal court to show their respect for Joseph's actions.

Despite this, many Christians in the area continue to disagree with the suicide. Father Emmanuel Asi, founder-director of Maktaba-e-Anaveem Pakistan, said that it is essential not to see the bishop's final deed in an empty situation but instead in the context of his lifelong fight for civil and human rights. They reportedly honor him as a martyr because he laid down his life for the people he shepherded. The historical event is commemorated annually to delve more into the questions surrounding its mystique and significance, which ought to develop into a movement.

Also Read:$50 Million Shrine Built to Honor First Martyr Declared by Catholic Church

Remembering Bishop John Joseph

In addition to being a human rights activist, he was a Catholic Bishop and considered himself the Bishop of everyone. Because his fight for social justice and equal rights for Christians was so important, people of all religions and denominations greatly admired and supported him, Catholic Herald reported.

Since he was mindful of the challenging times ahead for the Christian minority and was convinced that peaceful coexistence could be achieved via conversation between faiths, he enjoyed widespread renown among Muslims. This earned him a reputation for championing interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance. On the other hand, time has demonstrated that this could not have been accomplished without him.

People are empowered and motivated by the martyrdom of Bishop Joseph to live their lives in the same manner as he did, to lay down their lives in times of hardship like a good shepherd does for his flock, and to follow in his footsteps. He was under the impression that by making the sacrifice, the Pakistani government and governments from other countries would take notice, and the potential danger to the future of his group would be mitigated. Yet, the violence and abuse directed toward Christians has only increased.

According to The Conversation, blasphemy is a crime that can result in the death penalty in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, and Saudi Arabia. Italy, which does not have a majority Muslim population, has among the most stringent blasphemy laws in the world, with a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

People who renounce their faith in Islam may face legal repercussions in around half of the world's 49 countries with a majority Muslim population because these countries have supplementary laws that outlaw apostasy. Countries with a mainly Muslim population all have apostasy laws on the books. Blasphemy and apostasy are frequently accused together in legal proceedings.

Related Article: United States Mints 2024 American Women Quarters Program to Honor Rev. Pauli Murray
Pixabay/Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida

Due to issues with their insurance providers, the Central Presbyterian Church requires millions of dollars to complete their project, which has been undergoing repair for the past two years. Nevertheless, the church completed the costs associated with church restorations.

Challenges in Restoring Central Presbyterian Church

Church repairs in Queen Square in Galt cost more than $2.5 million due to the church's insurance carrier's decision to cancel its coverage because of the considerable water damage and decay to the roof and the stone exterior. Peter Goudy, a member of the congregation, told CTV News, "It had to be done," If the situation had gotten any worse, there was a possibility that it might have collapsed. The project started in April 2020, when teams fought against the social estrangement and limits in the supply chain brought on by the pandemic.

According to the technical support committee chair, Horst Wohlgemut, workers restored three stained glass windows and fixed and repaired the water-logged roof. They resurfaced the grout along the stone exterior of the building. "We did not cut any corners. We hired a consultant that did the work for us. The church wanted to stay downtown because, first of all, they valued the heritage building. Secondly, we felt our mission was to serve downtown Cambridge," he noted.

Moreover, the church claims that one of the restored windows is over a century old. Miles Lauzon, who visited the church with the neighborhood Probus Club, remarked that he was impressed by the group's ability to maintain the building's original personality.

On the other hand, the Central Presbyterian Church in Cambridge, Ontario, is a place of worship and community in the middle of the city. They have faith in the good news and believe they must spread it verbally and physically. It is their job to communicate the good news and hope to have a positive impact on the people in their neighborhood and on people all around the world.

Ministries geared toward children and adolescents instruct the young in their care to be self-assured, steadfast in their faith, optimistic, and compassionate. People and families are given support and strengthened through their adult ministries. The congregation looks out for one another through an internal ministry called Central Cares, which contributes to the growth of their feeling of community and family. Also, people are reaching out to their communities and beyond to provide tangible support using the church's Outreach and Mission initiatives.

Also Read: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Churchs Reconstruction Currently Costs $85 Million

Celebration of the Church

Horst Wohlgemut stated that in 2017 the community discovered that the oldest section of the church roof was leaking, which resulted in the insurance company canceling coverage for the structure. Three options were available: relocate to a new building and sell, remain in the failing structure, or restore the landmark, The Record reported.

As mentioned, the historic tower, which features stained-glass windows and a Gothic architectural style, was the subject of a vote that determined whether or not it should be renovated and recognized. Wohlgemut asserted, "We are part of the city's history, and we want to continue to be part of the city's history."

Accordingly, on Saturday, May 6, the church would commemorate the completion of the renovation by ringing its bells. An open house would also be held at the landmark church at 7 Queen's Square, located at the Main Street bridge. It would feature guided tours, live music, access to the bell tower, and historic memorabilia displays. In addition, on Sunday, May 7, a Thanksgiving service would be held at the 143-year-old structure, complete with a reception following the service and unique musical performances.

Related Article: Faithful Asks Support to Raise $6 to $7 Million for Restoration of Grace Reform Church, Former Spiritual Home of President Teddy Roosevelt
Pix4Free/Nick Youngson

Six Libyan individuals, some of whom belong to marginalized ethnic groups, are on death row after being accused of evangelizing and converting to Christianity. Activists contend that these laws are used more frequently in the nation to stifle civil society and human rights organizations.

The people detained by security personnel in March have been accused of violating Article 207 of the penal code, which criminalizes attempts to "alter fundamental constitutional principles" or overthrow the government.

Six Libyans Converting to Christianity Amidst Increased Suppression Face Death Penalty

According to The Guardian, a U.S. citizen was also detained last month. Still, it was freed and is presumed to have departed Libya, according to the Internal Security Agency (ISA), which said that the arrests were made to "stop an organized gang action aiming to solicit and make people leave Islam."

When the ISA posted videos of the detainees' confessions online, their families learned of their arrests. One of the captives' attorneys claimed that person was tortured into enunciating their Christian beliefs. Humanists International draws attention to the fact that religious principles dominate Libyan law. The freedom to profess one's religion is protected under an interim constitution, although it has been suspended due to ongoing political unrest.

Noura Eljerbi, a human rights activist driven into exile after receiving death threats for her work, claims that there has been an upsurge in applying Article 207 against members of civil society and international organizations in Libya. She explains that the community does not welcome conversations concerning religious freedom since there is a lack of tolerance for such topics.

The ISA detained seven activists for alleged atheism last year. Two of them were released, but the others are still being held. While some Libyan human rights defenders have been murdered or forced to flee the country, others have worked covertly to protect themselves. The circumstance brings to light the difficulties activists in Libya confront and the rising intolerance for religion and free speech.

Another source, Press TV, reported that the Libyan Internal Security Agency held a U.S. citizen for allegedly encouraging others to become Christians. The arrest came after a similar detention of another American, Jeff Wilson, in Tripoli. The American, connected to the missionary group "Assemblies of God," was accused of working with his wife to "seduce the sons of our Muslim people." Additionally, two Libyans were detained for converting to Christianity and confessing that foreigners had persuaded them.

In Libya, Islam predominates, but there are also a few scattered Christian settlements. Some Libyans assert that missionaries are distributing Christian literature while operating under the guise of aid organizations.

Also Read: Nigeria Terrorist Killed Another 33 Christians

Human Rights Watch Calls for Changes to Libyan Penal Law and Abolition of Death Penalty

The Libyan penal law prohibits blasphemy and grants the death sentence for any statement of ideas or beliefs that aim to topple the state's political, social, or economic order. According to the article in The New Arab, Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged redefining criminal activities to exclude the peaceful exercise of the right to express opinions, gather, and form associations in April.

In addition, HRW urged Libyan lawmakers and authorities to abolish the death penalty as a sanction for founding or participating in criminal organizations. According to HRW's Hanan Salah, Libyan authorities should maintain civic space by upholding the right to freedom of association rather than stifling it under the guise of enforcing rules.

Related Article:Nigeria Witnesses Tragic Loss of 50,000 Christians in 14-Year Religious Conflict
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Authorities are looking into a gunshot on Sunday outside Vista's Iglesia Ni Cristo church that included a deputy and injured a 77-year-old man. At about noon, an incident of a gunman entering a church has been reported to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department and after ten minutes, the deputies have arrived in the scene.

Deputy-Involved Shooting Leaves One Injured; Suspect Expected to Survive

According to the article in ABC 10 News, the individual was allegedly threatening to harm himself inside the church while some of the congregation was still present. After leaving the church with a gun, the man approached law enforcement officers in the parking lot while disobeying their orders to lay down his firearm. Acting Lieutenant John Dungan of the San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit claims that a deputy then fired, injuring the victim in the legs.

Deputies swiftly wrapped the man's leg in a tourniquet, providing vital first treatment until paramedics could arrive, according to witnesses and officials at the site. The injured suspect was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors anticipate he will fully recover from his wounds. Thankfully, no other people were hurt during the shooting.

Concerning the continuing case investigation, the SDPD has taken the initiative. The deputy who used his weapon in the incident has been with the department for around three years, according to a press release from the department. Working out of the Vista substation, he is currently a patrol deputy.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Vista homeowner James McCoy was smoking outside his apartment. In a direct statement, McCoy recalled hearing the cops coming from the opposite side of the street and going outside to look around.

According to another source, NBC San Diego said that as he heard a single gunshot, McCoy remembered the tense moment when deputies ordered the suspect to "Put it down, Put it down. I think he said it three times." Residents of Vista, a city in North County renowned for its tranquillity, temperate weather, and lovely rolling hills, found this occurrence to be especially upsetting.

Law officers reacted quickly to the gunshot incident, which injured one suspect. McCoy praised the sheriff's staff for its timely response and excellent communication. The commands of the deputies could be heard around 75 yards away.

Also Read:Church of Christ To Give a Helping Hand, Volunteered To Host Classes for Covenant School Following Mass Shooting

Other Lastest Cases Involving Shooting Incidents

In another news involving a shooting incident that is shared in CBS News, according to a law enforcement source, Mauricio Garcia, the gunman who opened fire on a Texas mall on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring seven more, is being looked into for any connections to domestic violent extremist ideology. The shooter was fully equipped wearing armor and also carrying an assault rifle.

Garcia's social media and online profiles are being examined by investigators to see if he was associated with any violent radicals. They are also looking into Garcia's potential connections to prison gangs and cartel members. Garcia was wearing a patch that read "RWDS," which stands for "Right Wing Death Squad," an organization considered a right-wing neo-Nazi outfit. Garcia was from Dallas, according to the authorities, and a police officer murdered him.

Related Article:Transgender People and Christians in Nashville: The Current Situation After School Shooting
I had some major lies Carl Lentz reveals in teaser for FX docuseries

Addressing his scandalous exit from Hillsong Church publicly for the first time since his firing in November 2020 from Hillsong Church NYC over a sex and leadership scandal, disgraced celebrity pastor Carl Lentz says he had some major lies in his life.

Speaking in a just over two-minute teaser released by FX Networks for the new docuseries set to premiere this month called The Secrets of Hillsong, Lentz delivers two other lines in the clip including The truth doesnt go anywhere just because you cover it up, and, You do not want to be in this chair. I cannot stress it enough.

The docuseries, which will premiere on FX on May 19 at 10 p.m. ET with two episodes, followed by two more episodes on May 26, comes months after it was rumored that Lentz and his wife, Laura, were intent on getting paid for their story and had been shopping an exclusive interview.

It was unclear Thursday if the producers of the docuseries  Scout Productions, Vanity Fair Studios or FX  paid for the Lentzes for their appearance.

In September 2022, after spending nearly two years out of the limelight, Laura Lentz said her husband had humbled himself, taken responsibility and was getting ready to tell his story.

Yep, it has been challenging and hell yeah, its taken a LOT of work the past 22 months (but whos counting) to make our marriage what it has become, & we will never stop working on ourselves, for this marriage and for our kids! I know there are many that dont or would never do what I chose to do, and thats ok, its not for everyone!!, she wrote on Instagram.

I look forward to sharing our story, how I came to that conclusion, and I think its going to help a lot of people, she added. I am so proud of my husband & for the responsibility hes taken! Mostly Im grateful for a man who humbled himself & didnt try to defend himself, he has kept quiet publicly and he has remained focused on the one thing that matters most  our family!

Lentz, who was one of Hillsong Churchs most highly paid staffers, recently joined Transformation Church led by Pastor Michael Todd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a strategist.

He was fired from his post at Hillsong NYC in November 2020 over leadership issues and moral failures, including being unfaithful to his wife. Details from an internal investigation shared with The Christian Post in 2022 that was conducted on behalf of Hillsong Church by the New York City law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP, would later report the extent of Lentzs failures.

As he wooed celebrities to the Manhattan church he started in 2010 to help elevate the global Hillsong Church brand founded by Brian Houston, some former staff and volunteers alleged that he manipulated them and caused them to suffer mental illness.

The teaser, which currently has 90,000 views on YouTube, has triggered a variety of reactions from the Christian community, including YouTube creator Brylan Riggs. Riggs said he wasnt convinced by the teaser that Lentz has been restored to the faith.

I find it kind of ironic that Carl Lentz is coming back onto the scene the same way he went out. Wanting to be in the limelight. Theres been zero information regarding what kind of healing or restoration Carl Lentz has been through, he said.

Theres been no indication of that whatsoever. Zero. And in fact, if you look at his Instagram page, there is no indication of any type of biblical growth or any type of restoration in the faith or anything like that.

He argued that if Lentz had made the decision to live his life like a Hollywood celebrity and stepped away from ministry, the docuseries would not be an issue, but he pointed to his recent comeback at Transformation Church.

He wouldnt owe an explanation if he just went out and joined Hollywood or joined some worldly organization or whatever, Riggs said. But thats not what happened.
Man delivers 2 pipe bomb type devices to church after leaders ask him to stop attending

Four months after leaders of MarketPlace Church in Hickory, North Carolina, asked him to stop attending their services because he was scaring other churchgoers with his erratic behavior, Joshua Wayne Hawley was arrested by police on Sunday after he delivered two pipe bomb type devices to the church meant for the pastor and treasurer.

A statement released by the Hickory Police Department on Monday said that at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the church after Hawley, 37, delivered the devices and fled the scene.

With help from the FBI and the Gastonia Police Bomb Squad, the devices were rendered safe. Officials then got an arrest warrant for Hawley and he was taken into custody. He has since been charged with Possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction with possible additional charges pending.

The Christian Post reached out to MarketPlace Church for comment on Tuesday but was told that the Rev. Mark E. Myers could not immediately respond.

In a search warrant cited by The News Herald, however, Myers revealed that he had known Hawley for 15 years and that he had been attending the church for a while. The pastor told police he believed Hawley is dangerous and has mental health issues even though there was no official diagnosis cited in the search warrant.

Myers revealed that when Hawley was asked to stop attending the church, he had been showing up for services dressed like a military police officer armed with open-carrying guns, knives and body cameras.

The pastor said on Sunday he was told that Hawley declared on Facebook that he was returning to the church and at about 10 a.m. he showed up in the churchs parking lot in what he suspects was a manic state.

The treasurer of the church told police that when he encountered Hawley in the parking lot, he observed his manic state as well.

He followed Hawley back to his vehicle after he told him that he had something for the pastor. Hawley gave him a pipe bomb device which he placed in the trunk of his car instead of taking it inside the church.

The treasurer further noted that he and Hawley went back to the church after that as he tried to distract the 37-year-old old. According to The New Herald, Hawley later went back to his car and retrieved another pipe bomb device from his vehicle that was wrapped in a pair of pants.

Hawley reportedly asked the security guards for the pastors vehicle before giving them the device and warning them to tell the pastor to be careful with it to ensure it wouldnt blow up in his face. He then left the church and church leaders called the police.

A relative of Hawley told the publication on condition of anonymity that she believes the devices were smoke bombs and she thinks he only gave them to church officials because he thought they would like them.

Hickory Police also confirmed with WBTV that Hawley shot a dog in 2021 at a Caldwell County store after it "charged and lunged aggressively" at him.
12-year-old sent home for wearing 'there are only 2 genders' T-shirt confronts school board

A video of a middle school student denouncing his school for punishing him for wearing a T-shirt declaring that there are only two genders has gone viral as the childs family considers legal action against the school district.

The Twitter account LibsofTikTok posted a video of Liam Morrison, a 12-year-old student at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, addressing his school committee last week. As of Monday afternoon, the video has received 3.9 million views. The video, taken from a school committee meeting on April 13, shows the student explaining that he never thought that the shirt I wore to school on March 21 would lead me to speak with you today.

A 12-year-old in @MiddleboroughPS was allegedly sent home from school and told hes making people feel unsafe for wearing a shirt that said there are only 2 genders.



Watch him destroy the school board ???? pic.twitter.com/hCBO5wXIgh  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 30, 2023

On that Tuesday morning, I was taken out of gym class to sit down with two adults for what turned out to be a very uncomfortable talk. I was told that people were complaining about the words on my shirt, that my shirt was making some students feel unsafe, he recalled.

They told me that I wasnt in trouble but it sure felt like I was, added Morrison, recounting that school officials said he must remove his shirt before he could return to class.

When I nicely told them that I didnt want to do that, they called my father, he said. Morrison noted that his shirt contained five simple words proclaiming there are only two genders.

Morrison insisted that the words on his shirt amounted to nothing harmful, nothing threatening, just a statement I believe to be a fact.

I have been told that my shirt was targeting a protected class, he continued. Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights? I dont complain when I see pride flags and diversity posters hung throughout the school. Do you know why? Because others have a right to their beliefs just as I do.

Morrison said he received no pushback from his classmates or teachers due to the shirt: Several kids told me that they supported my actions and that they wanted [a shirt] too.

I was told that the shirt was a disruption of learning. No one got up and stormed out of class, no one burst into tears. Im sure I would have noticed if they had.

Morrison outlined examples of actions he witnesses on a daily basis that constitute disruption of learning, including kids acting out in class. He lamented that nothing is done to address disruptive behavior.

Why do the rules apply to one yet not another? I feel like these adults were telling me that it wasnt OK for me to have an opposing view. Their arguments are weak, in my opinion, he asserted.

After maintaining that he didnt go to school that day to hurt feelings or cause trouble, Morrison summarized what he learned from his experience: I learned that a lot of other students share my view; I learned that adults dont always do the right thing or make the right decisions.

Morrison concluded by expressing confidence that wearing a shirt with those five words was well within his First Amendment rights. He shared his hope that the school committee will speak up for the rest of us so we can express ourselves without being pulled out of class, predicting that next time it may not only be me because there might be more students that decide to speak out.

The Christian Post reached out to Middleborough Public Schools for comment. A response was not received by press time.

An April 27 letter compiled by Massachusetts Family Institute Staff Attorney Samuel Whiting elaborated on Morrisons experience, identifying the adults who confronted him about the shirt as Acting Principal Heather Tucker and an unnamed school counselor.

Whiting said the student missed the rest of his classes that day and his education because his father and stepmother were forced to pick him up when he declined to remove his shirt.

The letter recounted a conversation between Morrisons father and Middleborough Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons, where the school district leader pointed to the shirt as a violation of the schools dress code, which declares clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery that target groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other classification.

In addition to accusing the school district of violating Morrisons free speech rights, Whiting described the dress code policy pertaining to hate speech as unconstitutional. He cited banners, flags and curricula at the school as evidence of its position on gender ideology and that it was unconstitutionally picking and choosing speech that it favors and disfavors by allowing speech that supports gender identity ideology, but forbidding speech that opposes it.

The letter, written on behalf of Morrison and his father and stepmother, concluded by warning the school district that it could find itself subject to legal action if it opts to interfere with the students ability to wear the shirt again.
Christian convert beaten, strangled by Muslim intruders: 'I refused to renounce Jesus as the Son of God'

NAIROBI, Kenya  A former Islamic teacher remains hospitalized after Muslim extremists in eastern Uganda beat him unconscious for converting to Christianity, sources said.

Shaquru Ndifuna, 33, was receiving treatment for blood loss at a medical clinic in Iganga town in the district of the same name, area Christians said.

A former Islamic teacher at Noor Islamic Institute in Mayuge District, Ndifuna is a resident of Kaliro Town Council, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Iganga town. He put his faith in Christ in January at an open-air evangelistic event in Namutumba, 39 kilometers from Iganga town.

Word of his conversion spread, a cleric at the Noor Islamic Mosque began monitoring his movements, and in April three Islamic leaders visited him at his home, said an area Christian unnamed for security reasons.

They questioned me about my absence as a teacher at Noor Mosque, Ndifuna told Morning Star News. I tried to explain to them about my other commitments elsewhere. One of them mentioned about me having become a Christian, but I did not respond. Afterwards the three Muslim leaders left.

At 7:30 p.m. on May 2, four Muslims intruded into his house, he said.

They forcefully entered into the house, shouting about me having blasphemed the Islamic religion and trying to force me to confess that Jesus is not the Son of God, and that Allah is the only God to be worshiped and Muhammad is His prophet, Ndifuna said. I refused to renounce Jesus as the Son of God. They started beating me up.

His wife and three children hid in a bedroom, and his wife telephoned a family friend, saying that the assailants were beating him unconscious and that he had lost a lot of blood, the source said.

The attackers have left, I think they thought my husband is dead  they did not touch his phone nor any property, his wife told the friend, according to the source.

The friend drove to their home, took Ndifuna to a nearby medicine shop for first aid and later transferred him to the clinic in Iganga, the source said.

Please take care of my children, I am not sure whether I will survive, Ndifuna told Morning Star News at the hospital. The Muslims who injured me were trying to force me to return to Islam, but I refused.

Ndifuna suffered a deep cut on the right side of the forehead, a fracture in his right hand and a neck injury as the assailants tried to strangle him, the source said. His vision has been affected, and he has difficulty breathing.

He cant swallow solid food, the source said. He is using a drip of intravenous fluids with a little juice for his survival.

The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
How do you measure spiritual maturity?

We live in a world where it seems as though everyone is claiming to be a Christian, but no one wants to take on the responsibility of what it means to follow Jesus. Not very often do we see Christian morals and standards take center-stage in our world today, which is uncanny if the majority of people still consider themselves Christians. In fact, a research study from Arizona Christian University discovered that a full 58% of self-proclaimed Christians disregard the Holy Spirit as a real person.

So how can we know in this upside-down world who really is following Jesus Christ?

It is the fruit of the Spirit in our lives that is the evidence of godly character and spiritual maturity. And while spiritual gifts can be given instantaneously, bearing spiritual fruit takes time.

Paul was able to declare, For I have learned in whatever state I am to be content, because he had learned contentment in life's less-than-desirable circumstances. In that statement, he confirms that contentment is a learned virtue and must be developed. It is the same with all godly virtues and characteristics.

One of the ways that God builds up our faith in Him is through the trials that we experience. Sometimes, these trials are Gods way of pruning us so we will bear more fruit. Other times they purify us and make us more Christlike.

It all comes down to how we respond to the trial. Our response determines our entire spiritual future. Respond with doubt, give up, or do things by our own effort, and we only get deeper into trouble.

Trials are often personal, and we must hear from God to discern how He wants to use them in our lives, but what about the trials of this crazy, upside-down world? What do we do when we face persecution?

There have always been attempts to cancel Christianity, but in America, our freedoms are under greater assault than ever. We hear of Christian ministries having their credit card processing capacity blocked just because they oppose abortion or the gay agenda. Christian bakers have been prosecuted for not designing cakes for gay weddings. The list goes on. It seems that more trials will come for just believing the Bible and trying to live for Jesus. Perhaps thats why its so easy to say that one is a Christian until actual hardships arise that require a boldness which can only be produced by the power of the Holy Spirit.

No one likes to struggle and endure hardship. Did you wake up this morning and ask God to send a massive problem your way? Of course, not; they come when least expected. Remember what the apostle Paul said of his sufferings:

Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I suffered shipwreck; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; in weariness and painfulness, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. Beside the external things, the care of all the churches pressures me daily. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I am not distressed? (2 Cor. 11:24-29).

Paul didnt wake up one day and ask for any of those challenges, and you likely wont either. When you go through a trial or struggle, what are your options? You can give up on your faith walk and stop honoring Jesus. But where is that going to get you? Right back where you started: miserable. Or you can press on in faith, knowing the Lord is with you. Jesus promised that He would never leave you, ever. Trust the One who is trustworthy.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, right, shakes hands with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, after signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on cooperation on future mobility and transport at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



Korea and Saudi Arabia signed two initial agreements on Tuesday for future mobility and roads, the transport ministry said, in the latest move to boost cooperation between the two countries.



The memorandums of understanding call for cooperation in the future of mobility and innovation in the transport and logistic services sectors as well as in the field of roads, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.



The move came as Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong met with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, at the second South Korea-Saudi Arabia Mobility and Innovation Road Show in Seoul.



"In the road show, Korean companies will promote their advanced and innovative technologies when it comes to infrastructure construction, mobility solutions, smart cities and smart ports," Won said.



On Monday, Korea's Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho held talks with his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed Al-jadaan, in Seoul and asked Riyadh to help Korean companies participate in Saudi Arabia's Neom smart city project.



Neom is Saudi Arabia's $500 billion project to build an automated, sustainable city, operated by robots and powered by solar energy, in the kingdom's northwest province of Tabuk. Saudi Arabia has been pushing for the Vision 2030 blueprint, which centers on easing the kingdom's reliance on oil and fostering other growth engines.



South Korean builders and engineering companies achieved an accumulated $156.5 billion worth of construction projects in the Middle Eastern country as of March this year. (Yonhap)


Ben Shapiro raises concerns about medias coverage of Texas, Nashville Christian school shootings 'It makes you doubt the narrative in this case', conservative podcaster says

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has some questions about the mainstream medias response to the suspected gunman in the Texas outlet mall shooting compared to its coverage of a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville earlier this year.

On his podcast Monday, Shapiro asked how within hours of Saturdays shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets, located about 20 miles north of Dallas, media outlets like The Associated Press were able to identify the gunmans alleged white supremacist ideology while they remain seemingly disinterested in why a trans-identified woman killed six people  including three children  at the Covenant School, a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the same time, Shapiro added, mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal were suggesting the gunman  later identified by authorities as 33-year-old Hispanic male Mauricio Garcia  was a neo-Nazi who might have had a possible link with white supremacy on their respective sites.

On Monday, Shapiro put out this tweet: Within hours of the Allen, TX mass shooting, the media were able to uncover suspected white supremacist motivations. Weeks later, they can't figure out the motivation behind the Nashville Christian school shooting.

Within hours of the Allen, TX mass shooting, the media were able to uncover suspected white supremacist motivations. Weeks later, they can't figure out the motivation behind the Nashville Christian school shooting.  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) May 8, 2023

By Monday afternoon, The Washington Post had changed its neo-Nazi headline to Investigators examine Texas gunmans white-supremacist views after 8 killed, while the Wall Street Journal headline was unchanged.

In questioning those claims, Shapiro pointed out the suspects Hispanic surname as well as his parents lack of fluency in English.

This is a person with a very, very Hispanic name and his parents are obviously Hispanic. They required a translator in order to answer questions from the cops, Shapiro said. "It makes you doubt the narrative in this case because theyve been so slow in coming out with other narratives.

Shapiro, who is the host of the Ben Shapiro Show as well as editor emeritus of The Daily Wire, went on to contrast the medias response to the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and, more recently, the tragedy in Nashville.

We are still supposed to believe its a giant mystery why a woman who identified as a trans man went and murdered a bunch of Christian schoolchildren in Nashville. This is all supposed to be a mystery, he said. We still dont have a manifesto from this person. We dont know supposedly why this person did what she did when its perfectly obvious to everyone why she did what she did.

But were supposed to pretend its a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

NBC News also ran a similar headline  alleging the Texas mall shooter shared extremist beliefs against Jews, women and racial minorities  but acknowledged on its site that investigators have not announced any ideological basis for the shooting.

So far, evidence that investigators have gathered suggests the shooter subscribed to a "mish-mash" of ideologies, the story added.

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey declined to comment Sunday evening on details about Garcia, telling the AP, we actually dont have a lot.

Unidentified officials who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity said the investigation  which is still in its early stages  was focused on Garcias social media activity, including what the AP reported as white supremacist and neo-Nazi views.

Shapiros comments echoed a similar response from the mainstream media to The Covenant School in March, which saw some of the nations leading news outlets  including the Post, the Journal and The New York Times  initially avoid referring to The Covenant School as a Christian school after a heavily-armed woman  who was later identified as trans  forced her way into the school and killed six people, including three young children.

The shooter, later identified as Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville, was a former student at the school and self-identified as trans, according to Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake.

Immediately following the shooting, several national newspapers declined to identify the school as Christian: The New York Times wrote, Heavily armed assailant kills 6 at school in Nashville; The Post ran the headline 6 slain in shooting at Nashville school; the Chicago Tribune wrote 6 dead in shooting at Nashville school; and the Journal ran its headline as Six Shot Dead in Nashville Elementary School.

Other outlets like NBC News avoided using the word trans or transgender in their headlines to describe the suspect.
Biden admin. investigating Loudoun County Public Schools' response to alleged sexual assaults

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools following accusations that the district failed to address reports of two sexual assaults to avoid controversy over a transgender bathroom policy.

The investigation was spurred by a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights by America First Legal Foundation (AFLF) in January. The letter raised concerns about the districts handling of two separate claims of sexual assault carried out by the same male student in 2021.

During the first assault, which occurred at Stone Bridge High School on May 28, 2021, a male student who identified as trans wore a skirt and assaulted a girl inside the girls' restroom. The male student was subsequently transferred to Broad Run High School, where he sexually assaulted another girl on Oct. 6, 2021.

According to AFLFs letter, the school district did not properly respond to the claims of sexual assault as required by Title IX. The federal civil rights law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and under the law, schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to address sexual harassment and sexual violence.

We are pleased that the Department of Education takes this issue seriously and hope that it conducts a thorough investigation into what appears to be a continuing systemic failure of Loudoun County Public Schools to follow its obligations mandated by Title IX, AFLF Senior Advisor Ian Prior told The Christian Post in a Monday statement.

Citing multiple reports on the assaults, AFLF emphasized in its letter that the district did not launch an investigation into the first sexual assault until five months after the incident. By this time, the assailant had committed an assault at another high school.

LCPS claimed that they could not conduct a Title IX investigation until law enforcement had completed its investigation, but that both ignores clear Title IX guidelines and the fact that LCPS was aware that law enforcement had completed its investigation and that the student had been formally charged, the letter reads.

In response to an inquiry from CP, a spokesperson for LCPS confirmed Monday that the district had received the notification of a complaint from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

The staff and administration of LCPS remain committed to making student safety and welfare the Divisions highest priority, the spokesperson wrote. As this investigation relates to matters concerning student privacy, we will not comment further at this time.

The U.S. Department of Education did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

As CP previously reported in December, a special grand jury indicted former LCPS Superintendent Scott Ziegler and the school system's public information officer Wayde Byard following an investigation that found the district lied to parents about the alleged sexual assaults.

The indictment came after the Loudoun County School Board voted to fire Ziegler following the grand jury reports conclusion that district leaders were "looking out for their own best interests" in their responses to the sexual assaults.

Both assaults occurred as the district as the school district considered implementing a transgender bathroom policy that would allow students to enter opposite-sex bathrooms. The board ultimately approved Policy 8040 in August 2021, three months after the first sexual assault.

During a June 2021 school board meeting, Ziegler told parents concerned about the policy that "we don't have any records of assaults occurring in our restrooms." The grand jury wrote in the report that the superintendents statement was a "bald-faced lie."

The grand jury report also criticized the lack of transparency, highlighting how staff at LCSB learned of the assaults through public reporting instead the superintendents office.

According to the report, the second sexual assault could have been prevented, but LCPS' "lack of curiosity and adherence to operating in silos" allowed the assault to occur.
Fired Loudoun County Schools head indicted after grand jury finds district mishandled sexual assaults

A special grand jury indicted Loudoun County Public Schools' ousted superintendent and its public information officer following an investigation into whether the district lied to parents about a sexual assault to quell controversies amid its quest to enact a transgender bathroom policy.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Monday that a Loudoun County judge ordered the unsealing of four indictments issued by the special grand jury against former Superintendent Scott Ziegler. The jury also indicted the school system's public information officer Wayde Byard.

Ziegler is facing "one count of misdemeanor false publication," "one count of misdemeanor prohibited conduct" and "one count of misdemeanor penalizing an employee for a court appearance." Byard was indicted on one count of felony perjury.

"The Office of the Attorney General will be prosecuting these cases and has no further comment on this matter," the statement reads.

In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, Loudoun County Public Schools directed the outlet to its Monday statement, saying it placed Byard on leave without pay following the indictment. Ziegler was fired last week.

"While LCPS will await any additional updates from the Special Grand Jury, LCPS plans to address the recommendations of the Special Grand Jury in the School Board's December 13, 2022 work session," the school district's statement reads.

"The Board will consider policy-related and process improvements to implement to further ensure the safety and care of all LCPS staff and students and restore trust within our community."

As The Christian Post reported, the Loudoun County school board voted last week to fire Ziegler shortly after a grand jury released a report accusing the district leaders of "looking out for their own best interests" in response to sexual assaults committed by the same student.

The unanimous decision to fire Ziegler came during a closed session. The former superintendent will still be paid his $323,000 salary and receive compensation because he was technically fired without cause.

The first sexual assault occurred on May 28, 2021, at Stone Bridge High School, where the male assailant, who reportedly wore a skirt, assaulted a girl inside a girls' restroom stall. The student was later transferred to another high school in the district, Broad Run High School, committing another sexual assault on Oct. 6.

According to the grand jury, the incident on Oct. 6, 2021, could have been prevented, but LCPS's "lack of curiosity and adherence to operating in silos" allowed the assault to occur.

The grand jury's report attributed the lack of action leading up to the second sexual assault to "a culture of fear" within the district where "anybody speaking up or daring to step out of place faces some sort of reprimand."

During a June 2021 school board meeting, parents expressed concern about Policy 8040, a since-enacted proposal to allow trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their preferred gender identity. When asked during the meeting, Ziegler informed parents that "we don't have any records of assaults occurring in our restrooms."

However, Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman asserted in a Nov. 10 letter to the superintendent that Ziegler had prior knowledge of the assaults before the meeting.

"[D]espite a public statement at a School Board meeting on June 22, 2021, denying any knowledge of sexual assaults in any LCPS bathrooms, you sent an email on May 28, 2021, to members of the School Board advising them of the incident  thus invalidating your public statement," Chapman wrote.

The grand jury agreed with Chapman in its report, calling Ziegler's claims during the June meeting a "bald-faced lie." The report also called out the school board and district's "lack of cooperation" throughout the grand jury's investigation.

In a statement to CP last week regarding the grand jury's report, Loudoun County Public Schools prematurely commented that the district is "pleased" the report found "no evidence of criminal conduct on the part of anyone within LCPS." The district also condemned Attorney General Miyares, a Republican who took office this year, accusing him of pursuing the investigation for "political gain."

The spokesperson for the district did disclose that the report's criticisms against LCPS employees are "quite serious," and the next school board meeting would involve a reflection on the report's recommendations and "take action as determined by the full Board."
India: Christians beaten to death in wave of violence; Evangelical group issues call for peace

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An Evangelical group in India is calling for peace after 58 Christians were killed, dozens of churches were burned and tens of thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes due to ethnic violence in Manipur, a state in Northeast India that is home to more than 2.5 million people.

The violence has been attributed to ongoing conflicts between the predominantly Hindu Meitei ethnic community and Christians.

Evangelical Fellowship of India General Secretary, the Rev. Vijayesh Lal, said in a statement shared with The Christian Post that the organization is deeply saddened and concerned by the recent events that are unfolding in Manipur.

We call for peace and an end to the violence and unrest in the region that has caused such devastating consequences and immense suffering to the people, Lal added. We urge the government to take immediate measures to restore peace and ensure the safety and security to all of its citizens.

Lal added: As a Christian body, representing evangelicals in India, we stand for the values of love, peace, and justice. We believe that every human being is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The recent incidents of violence go against these values and have caused great harm to the people of Manipur.

We call upon all parties involved to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution of the issues. We urge the people of Manipur to avoid forces that instigate division and cause polarization. We also appeal to the state and the union government to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to address the underlying causes of the conflict.

Lal concluded by praying for Gods comfort and healing for those who have been affected by the violence.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India provided The Christian Post with harrowing details about the torture Christians in the Indian state have been subjected to.

On Friday, the Undersecretary of the Agriculture and Veterinary Department at the Manipur Secretariat, identified as Mrs. Gouzavung, was pulled out from her car by Meitei mobs who attacked her car and killed her son, identified as Mr. Goulalsang.

A list of churches provided to CP includes more than three dozen places of worship in Manipur that have been ransacked, attacked and burned down as a result of the violence. The destroyed churches extend across multiple denominations and include Catholic churches in Paite Veng, Canchipur and the Tribal Colony, Evangelical Baptist Convention Churches in Game village, Paite Veng, Lamphel, Langol and the Tribal Colony, as well as Salvation Army Churches in Chairel and Kuakeithel.

The Indian publication Scroll reported that the violence first erupted in the state on May 3 after thousands participated in a protest march organized by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur to oppose the demands of the majority Meitei community to be included in the Scheduled Tribe category.

An article compiled by Scroll illustrates how these demands stem from a desire by the Meiteis to prevent infiltration of the urban areas by tribal groups. As a result of the attacks, nearly 10,000 Army troops have been deployed to the Indian state.

An image shared with CP reveals crowded conditions at a shelter that has absorbed those displaced as a result of the violence in Manipur. Scroll estimated that over 13,000 people have been shifted to safe shelters set up by the Army and the state government while many others have fled to neighboring states of Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Indian news outlet measured the death toll from the violence thus far at 58.

The violence in India comes less than a year after the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a congressionally mandated watchdog group tasked with recommending to the U.S. State Department countries to include on a list of state actors characterized as Countries of Particular Concern for tolerating or engaging in severe violations of religious freedom, criticized the Biden administration for failing to designate India as a CPC.

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF contended that the Indian government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, promoted Hindu nationalist policies resulting in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. The charity group Aid to the Church in Need identified 710 instances of anti-Christian violence in India between January 2021 and June 2022.

The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations previously told CP that as attacks on Christians have increased, the Indian justice system has often failed to defend the rights of persecuted Christians and other minority religions.
Christians flee into forest after Hindu mobs vandalize their homes, churches for refusing to re-convert

More than 600 Christian tribals remained displaced on Christmas Day in Indias Chhattisgarh state, a week after radical Hindu nationalists launched a spate of attacks on them in 20 villages, vandalizing their homes, churches and properties for refusing to re-convert to Hinduism.

The attacks took place last Sunday in 20 villages in the districts of Narayanpur and Kondagaon as Christians gathered for worship, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said.

The attackers used bamboo sticks to attack Christians and looted and destroyed their homes and desecrated three churches, ICC continued. Several people were severely injured and hospitalized, while others fled to the jungle or to nearby police stations, it added.

The attacks were reported in the villages of Borpal, Modenga, Palna, Gohda, Aamasara, Modenga, Kongera, Mainpur, Kibai Balenga, Puswal, Kokdi, Kulhad, Khargaon and Shantinagar, among others.

Small kids and women with their families were sitting in open places in biting cold, with no food or water, warming their hands with their breath, a witness was quoted as saying.

Christians reported the attacks to authorities but police allegedly told them to fend for themselves.

Some of the displaced Christians are being kept in community halls and a stadium in the region.

Attacks against tribal Christians have increased since radical Hindu groups launched a campaign in 2020 to stop the countrys tribal, or indigenous, people from converting to Christianity. These groups have been demanding that the government ban those who convert from receiving education and employment opportunities.

Most tribals do not identify as Hindus; they have diverse religious practices and many worship nature. However, the governments Census deems them to be Hindu.

Christian persecution has skyrocketed in India since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP (Bharatiya Janta Party) took power in 2014, ICC President Jeff King said. With the goal to set up India as a Hindu nation, they have passed laws and enforced policies targeting Christians. The attacks this week are the result of this overarching hostility toward followers of Christ. It has created an increasingly dangerous climate for Indian believers.

In September 2020, tribal villagers vandalized 16 houses belonging to Christians from the same tribe in three separate attacks in Chhattisgarh, forcing most of the Christian women in those villages to flee into jungles for safety at the time.

Christians make up only 2.3% of Indias population, and Hindus comprise about 80%.

The watchdog group Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, reports that Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences.

Hindu extremists believe that all Indians should be Hindus and that the country should be rid of Christianity and Islam, an Open Doors fact sheet on India explains. They use extensive violence to achieve this goal, particularly targeting Christians from a Hindu background. Christians are accused of following a foreign faith and blamed for bad luck in their communities.

ICC quoted a local Christian leaders as saying that the large-scale violent attacks in Chhattisgarh brought back traumatic memories of the violence in Orissa states Kandhamal district, which is also a tribal-majority district.

The leader was referring to August 2008 when radical Hindu nationalists killed at least 39 Christians and destroyed 3,906 homes. These incidents have shocked the entire Christian community in the state, and the sad thing is that the people in authority did not bother to help.
Trans student charged with assaulting classmates in girls' bathroom was enrolled as a girl

An Oklahoma high school revealed that a trans-identified student charged with assaulting two female classmates in the women's restroom was enrolled in school as a girl, and administrators were unaware of the student's male biological sex.

In response to a Friday inquiry from The Christian Post, the office of Superintendent Angela Grunewald said that Edmond Memorial High School planned to release a video to parents Friday afternoon providing further context about the incident that has made the headlines.

Susan Parks-Schlepp, a spokesperson for Edmond Public Schools, said administrators from the school investigated an injury involving three students in the women's restroom on Oct. 26.

"During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that one of the students involved in the fight is transgender and was using the women's restroom in violation of state law and district policy #5540, which requires students to use restrooms according to the sex on their birth certificate," she wrote in a Friday statement.

The spokesperson noted that the student had only begun attending the school days before the incident, and administrators were not aware of the student's "birth gender." She also shared that the student had been enrolled as a female and that the family did not provide a birth certificate at the time of enrollment but promised that documentation was forthcoming.

"Those involved in the fight have received consequences in accordance with both district policy #5540 and state law (Senate Bill 615)," Parks-Schlepp stated. "The student no longer attends Edmond Memorial High School."

As the feminist website Reduxx reported Monday, a police report dated Oct. 26 reveals that a trans-identified student received a juvenile sentence after injuring two female classmates. The trans-identified student reportedly initiated a fight with the girls in the women's restroom.

Police arrived at the school at approximately 8 a.m. in response to a call that a fight had broken out at the school. The responding officer noted that one of the female students, whose name was redacted from the report due to her age, had "several red areas" on her face and swelling on both of her eyes.

The girl claimed that the trans-identified student, identified by the letter A in the report, approached her in the women's restroom while she was talking to her friends. She said that A tried to speak with her, but she ignored him, which reportedly made A angry. A then allegedly asked the student if she "wanted to fight."

A allegedly hit the female student in the face, and the girl said in a statement to police that she was not strong enough to fight back due to the force of the blow. The girl said that A pulled her hair, forcing her to the ground, and began repeatedly kicking and punching her face.

Another female student was reportedly punched twice in the face by A after she tried to stop the assault.

The report described the female who tried to intervene as having injuries to her "eye, face, and head with a possible concussion." Two other witnesses corroborated the victim's story, stating that A struck the first girl, who did not fight back.

In a statement to the police, the trans-identified student said he tried to talk with the first victim to "pay her back" for clothes he had stolen from her. According to the police report, A's parents arrived to pick him up after the assault, and the parent claimed that A assaulted the girl for teasing him about identifying as the opposite sex.

A's parents claim that the victim made "cyberbullying posts" about their child on social media. The police asked the posts be removed to help resolve the conflict. After the assault, A reportedly posted something negative online about the girl who intervened in the fight, but her parents declined to press charges, citing the ones already being pursued.

A was charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct, as Reduxx reported.

The charges against the student come as there has been much attention on altercations in school bathrooms in light of policies being enacted by school districts across the country to allow trans-identified students to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity.

As The Christian Post reported, an incident occurred last year at the Loudoun County Public School District in Virginia. A trans-identified male student sexually assaulted two female students at two separate schools in the district.

The first incident, in May 2021, took place at Stone Bridge High School. The assailant reportedly wore a skirt at the time. The student was transferred to Broad Run High School, where he sexually assaulted another female student on Oct. 6.

According to a special grand jury report released earlier this month, the incident on Oct. 6, 2021, could have been prevented, but LCPS's "lack of curiosity and adherence to operating in silos" allowed the assault to occur.

The report also claimed that the administrators were "looking out for their own interests," noting the lack of action to prevent the assaults or notify parents after they occurred. At the time, the Loudoun County School Board was considering a policy that has since been enacted to allow trans students access to bathrooms based on their gender identity.

Earlier this week, a Loudoun County judge ordered the unsealing of four indictments issued by the special grand jury against former Superintendent Scott Ziegler. The jury also indicted the school system's public information officer Wayde Byard.

The school board voted to fire Ziegler last week due to the district leader's response to the sexual assaults.

During a June 2021 school board meeting, the former superintendent told parents, "we don't have any records of assaults occurring in our restrooms." Ziegler made the statement in response to parents who expressed concern about the proposed policy to allow trans-identified students to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity.

Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman accused the former superintendent of lying in a Nov. 10 letter, noting that Ziegler sent an email to school board members about the May assault, "invalidating" his public statement.
The American Revolution is nothing like the French Revolution

I am a self-confessed bibliophile. I always prefer reading an old-fashioned hard print copy of a book to its online version. One advantage of this strong preference is that it is much easier to browse through old, familiar volumes.

As I was doing this the other day, I came across Niall Fergusons influential Civilization: The West and the Rest (2011). Ferguson, a former Harvard Professor and Hoover Institution fellow, caused quite a stir with the publication of this volume.

As I was flipping through the heavily annotated and underscored pages, one particular quote jumped off the page. It was a statement from scholars at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences which Ferguson quoted in the volume:

We were asked to look into what accounted for the preeminence of the West all over the world. At first we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past 20 years we have realized the heart of your culture is your religion, Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to Democratic politics. We dont have any doubt about this.

Isnt it ironic that while many people in America and the rest of Western civilization are attempting to minimize or erase the influence of Christianity, the atheist social scientists from Communist China have come to understand that it is impossible to understand America and Western Civilization without the transcendent values of the Christian faith?

If we abandon these values, we shatter the foundation of who we are, who we have been, and who we hope to be. That would be civilizational suicide.

The irony presented by Americas chief international civilizational competitors brightest scholars identifying Christianity as our unique civilizational strength and advantage is stark.

As I pondered the Chinese scholars observations, I have been reminded of the basic and seminal differences between the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which is in many ways the ancestral progenitor of the Chinese Communist Revolution.

While some have mistakenly perceived the American and French Revolutions as similar in nature, they could not be more dissimilar.

The French Revolution in a shockingly short time led to a horrendous and bloody reign of terror and a Napoleonic dictatorship that became the model for modern totalitarian regimes. In contrast, the American Revolution led to the longest-sustained democracy in the history of the world  America.

The essential and defining difference between the two revolutions can be identified in their foundational statements. The American Revolution declared to the world, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with these unalienable Rights.

Anyone who watched King Charles III's coronation ceremony last weekend could not have failed to observe the overtly Christian nature of that ceremony. The civilization that produced that coronation ceremony, produced the colonists who created the American Revolution.

In contrast, the French Revolution asserted the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, based purely on the assertion of those rights, as opposed to the American Revolutions basing them on the Creator and natural law.

When our American founders declared their independence from Great Britain, they asserted their firm belief in such moral political convictions as all human beings having life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as rights from God.

They then appealed to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of their intentions with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. One Declaration signatory, Samuel Adams, said, We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come. When they issued their Declaration of Independence, they never intended to declare their independence from God.

Conversely, that is exactly what the French Revolution did  declare their independence from God. They wanted to jettison Christianity and go all the way back to the pre-Christian roots of European civilization  back to Greco-Roman paganism. They dressed up a French actress as the goddess of reason, placed her on the altar of Notre Dame Cathedral, and worshipped her.

Napoleon had himself crowned Emperor instead of King, harkening back to Greco-Roman times, and the French Empire gowns (which resembled Roman togas) became the fashion of the day.

The Judeo-Christian roots of the American Revolution had the foundation that protected human rights instead of sacrificing them to the glory of the secular state.

Thank God our forefathers were American, not French, and they worshipped the one true God rather than themselves.
The healthcare swamp: Inept FDA is playing with babies' health

We used to think regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were looking out for us, the people. Was it all an illusion? Each time the curtain is pulled back and society catches a glimpse of the bureaucrats throwing levers of misdirection and distraction and corporate interests putting the needs of the few above the needs of the many, we have a deeper sense of being scammed.

Nowhere is the shame greater than in the war against children, specifically babies. Our problems in health care can no longer be framed as Democrats versus Republicans. Its now the Health Care Swamp versus the rest of us. That Swamp  filled with captured regulators and the jumbo corporations that profit when our children are vulnerable or sick.

Babies reliant on formula for their survival, either because breastfeeding has not been possible or effective, or because theyre adopted, are some of the most heartbreaking victims of regulatory incompetence. You may not realize that the critical shortage of baby formula that made headlines two years ago is still in effect. Initially, the news covered reasonable complaints of parents, and Facebook support groups like Baby Formula Search and Swap: Parents Helping Parents cropped up, but these grassroots workarounds are no substitute for a regulatory enterprise doing its job.

The shortage was created when the FDA closed the Abbott Nutrition food processing plant in Michigan after two babies died from allegedly consuming baby formula from the plant. Reports said the bacteria responsible for their deaths did not match bacteria found in the product-contact areas in the Sturgis plant. This came after two routine FDA reviews concluded that the site was operationally safe. Abbott is responsible for 40% of the U.S. baby food market, so why was the FDA unconscionably slow in helping the plant reopen?

Despite the agony of families scavenging shelves for baby formula in the past two years, no one at the FDA will even be fired for this regulatory failure. If the FDA-induced starvation of Americas babies isnt enough reason to reevaluate the entire agencys future, I dont know what would be.

FDA ineptitude is one thing. Outright corruption and corporate capture at the expense of our children is quite another. No doubt parents were relieved when their babies reached the age to start weaning off the scarce formula. Little did they know, however, that the baby cereals commonly used during this developmental stage, are poisoned with toxic heavy metals and FDA has known about it for decades  and done nothing. Lead, cadmium, and inorganic arsenic are known neurotoxins that slow and stunt the development of children to the point of lowering intelligence and diminishing later career achievement. Bloomberg Law lab-tested baby cereals a few months ago and found they contained unacceptable levels of these poisons. According to Bloombergs tests, rice cereals account for 55% of infants and toddlers exposure to arsenic.

Another report from two years ago done at the behest of Congress revealed FDA permits these baby food products to contain 91 times the amount of arsenic allowed in bottled water, along with 177 times the lead, 69 times the cadmium, and five times the mercury.

Bloomberg reports that one family with a son who developed autism is suing Gerber, Earths Best Organic, Sprout, Plum, Beech-Nut, Happy Baby, and Walmart. A California judge looked at the evidence regarding neurodevelopmental impacts in small children from such toxins and ruled the scientific evidence of damage was sufficient for a jury trial starting this May.

Regulations protecting babies from such exposures need to be commensurate with the risk, and then they must be rigorously enforced, no matter how inconvenient that might be for the regulated food manufacturers. American regulators have been looking the other way for too long. The FDA claims the foot-dragging is because of fears that manufacturers might find it difficult or expensive to get the lethal contaminants out of their products.

Were talking about neurotoxins in baby food, the kind that can damage a baby for life. Imagine regulators telling Ford and GM their cars dont need to have working brakes because it might be hard or expensive and could be a burden on those jumbo corporations. Most would agree that not having a car is preferable to driving one that is unable to stop. Likewise, any parent would much rather have no baby cereal available in the stores than one that is poisoning their precious infant.

The FDA is supposed to protect us, the people, from rapacious corporations cutting corners and taking advantage of the most vulnerable. Instead, the FDA is protecting giant food and drug companies from us.

The FDA needs to call off the war on Americas babies and do its job. In the meantime, parents would be wise to prioritize breastfeeding whenever possible, explore making their own baby formula, and weaning their babies onto foods that they blend up in their own kitchens. The government doesnt have our backs.
Will King Charles III follow in his mother's footsteps?

When Queen Elizabeth II was a mere 21 years of age, she vowed:



I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone, unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow. And God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.



It was a promise she made and kept. She was a strong Christian who, in the words of her people, never put a foot wrong. Towards the end of her life, she told many people that she looked forward to the day when she could lay her crown at her Saviors feet. On September 8, 2022, she went home to be with her Lord.

But what about her son and heir, King Charles III, whose coronation was celebrated this past Saturday, May 6th? Does he share that deep and abiding Christian faith?



King Charles, attempting to be many things to many people, leaves this in question. In his first speech as king, he committed himself to many cultures, many faiths with a responsibility to the Church of England  in which my faith is so deeply rooted, yet he comes up short in proclaiming his own, personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Later in that same speech, he said with unswerving devotion, I solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation. Again, he comes close to professing faith but does not actually confess to it. He goes on to say that he will serve his people, no matter what their background or faith. While this is admirable, where does King Charles stand?

When asked later last year about his own faith, he claimed to be a committed Anglican, but also stated that he would defend other faiths. And so we move on to the upcoming coronation. This event is being held in Westminster Abbey and is meant to be an Anglican service. Charles, on the other hand, has decided to include people of various faiths in this event. While his intentions may be well-placed, the point seems to be missed. A Baptist preacher, for example, would probably not invite a Muslim, Hindu, or other religious leader to deliver the message on a Sunday morning. Why, then, would they be included in such an important Anglican service?

A more appropriate approach might be to have a special ecumenical service outside of the coronation, to show respect for other faiths which are practiced in the United Kingdom, rather than to place them into a service that has always represented the Christian faith.

Charles believes in showing respect to individuals who have no faith whatsoever, yet this seems to fall short of the Great Commission, where we are told to share the Gospel with everyone. Charles referred to the sense of the sacred in all that surrounds us in a BBC Radio 4 broadcast in January 2000, which seems to indicate a viewpoint that is not distinctly Christian in nature.

King Charles does exemplify many aspects of the Christian life, however. For example, he has forgiven his son, Prince Harry, inviting the prodigal son to attend his coronation. He has demonstrated forgiveness 70 times 7, as this wayward prince has proclaimed the most negative viewpoints on his entire family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Catherine, and their children. King Charles has gone out of his way to help Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, only to have them ridicule him to a worldwide audience. His desire to reconcile has been so deep that King Charles has appeared to the worldwide audience as a weak king, rather than being seen as a man of faith.

In another way, King Charles honored his mother and father by complimenting them for being loving, as he spoke in his first speech to the nation, following her death. While studies have shown that his parents were frequently distant and apparently unloving, King Charles does not speak against them.

However, it could be argued that his behavior with Camilla Parker-Bowles from the time they were young, until their eventual marriage in April 2005, was anything but Christian. When they were both married to others, they had a decades-long love affair that eventually destroyed both their marriages and negatively impacted their children. Neither Charles nor Camilla (who was Catholic at the time) are shining examples of the Christian faith during those dark decades. For the past 17 years, however, they have been devoted to one another; the English people have, for the most part, forgiven them and moved on. While forgiveness is a wonderful thing, the British people have been subjected to a massive PR campaign designed to sell Queen Camilla to the public. Indeed, it has seemed through the past several months that King Charles is more eager to have Camilla crowned Queen than to focus on own his role in the coronation.

There is one deeply disturbing thought: Charles is asking people to pledge their allegiance to him. The oath goes like this: I, (insert full name) do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So, help me God. Queen Elizabeth gave her oath, with her hand on the Bible, to serve her people. This is the first time a monarch has wanted his people to swear their allegiance to him. As for his heirs and successors, right now, that would be, in part Prince William and Prince Harry.



Scary food for thought. God save the king, because the UK might just need it.
Archbishop of Canterbury serves at homeless charity for the Big Help Out

The Archbishop of Canterbury joined thousands of others in volunteering during The Big Help Out on Monday, despite a busy weekend crowning the King.

The Archbishop spent the Bank Holiday serving meals at homeless charity, Catching Lives, in Canterbury, along with his wife, Caroline Welby.

Welby is a patron of the charity, which supports people affecting by homelessness across Canterbury and East Kent.

It was a busy weekend for the Archbishop after conducting the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.

On Sunday, the Archbishop and his wife hosted 400 young people at a post-coronation lunch at his official residence, Lambeth Palace.

It was one of many Big Lunches held on Sunday across the UK in celebration of the King's coronation.

The Big Help Out was part of the coronation weekend celebrations, tying in with the theme of service at the King's coronation.

The day aimed to raise awareness of volunteering across the UK and give people a chance to try it out for themselves in their local communities.

A Lambeth Palace spokesperson said, "We are delighted with the enthusiasm and support for King Charles III and Queen Camilla's Coronation  at Westminster Abbey, up and down the country and around the world  as we marked this historic moment in our national life. We give thanks for a beautiful service that was both sacred and solemn, joyful and inspiring, and suffused with the love of God.

"For the Church, it was a moment to reflect on the commitment that the King and Queen have made to serve God and the people. It was also an opportunity to thank all those who devote their lives others, and recommit ourselves to loving service in our communities and beyond.

"The Coronation service was both traditional and contemporary, and we are grateful for the participation of people across generations and from many backgrounds and faith communities, to reflect who we are as a wonderfully diverse nation.

"The Archbishops and Bishops have loved spending the coronation weekend with their local communities and congregations through the Big Lunch and the Big Help Out, both events inspired by the themes of unity and Christ's call to loving service that shaped Saturday's coronation."
President Yoon Suk Yeol listens to an official from Doosan Enerbility at the company's nuclear reactor factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this June 22, 2022 photo. Yonhap



Gov't still has long way to go before bearing fruitful results



By Lee Kyung-min



Since his inauguration, President Yoon Suk Yeol has made attempts to restore market-oriented growth and root out what he calls the "deviant behaviors" of some labor unions, under a drive to revitalize an economy scarred by the COVID-19 pandemic and other external economic shocks.



One of his drives that has been hailed was a greater use of nuclear energy and fostering the industry, which has been long demonized under a nuclear phase-out drive railroaded by his predecessor Moon Jae-in.



Others include expanded tax credits for key growth driver industries, including semiconductors, related parts and equipment manufacturers, as well as lowering corporate, property and capital gains taxes.



The president sought to fortify fiscal soundness, a shift from expansionary policies during the pandemic years.



However, the conservative administration has yet to outline the specifics of pension, education and labor reforms, the three areas Yoon promised to reform which will determine the long-term sustainability of the rapidly aging country, economic analysts say.



They also say Yoon's business-friendly push and his moderate success should not completely overshadow calls to strengthen education and the social safety net, without which the country's chronic low-growth issue will not be able to find a breakthrough.





President Yoon Suk Yeol is on a guided tour of Samsung Display, accompanied by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, April 4. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon



Restoring nuclear energy ecosystem



"It is all about consistency now," said Lee Jong-ho, a senior researcher at the Nuclear Research Institute for Future Technology Policy associated with Seoul National University.



The nuclear power expert said Yoon's energy policy drive provides much-needed growth momentum for the local nuclear energy industry seeking to expand overseas.



"The reoriented energy policy will help local players contribute to strengthening the country's energy sovereignty and competitiveness in the global market, provided that the government follows through on the investment commitments," said the former head of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power's technology and engineering division.



Underpinning the rosy outlook is the government support for the nuclear power industry set to be expanded to over 2 trillion won ($1.51 billion) this year, up from 1 trillion won last year.









Reinforced research and development (R&D), financing and government guarantee programs will help the stagnant industry players, almost all of which nearly perished under the previous Moon administration, according to Lee.



The Yoon administration is also set to resume the suspended use of nuclear energy and stalled construction of new nuclear plants, coupled with plans to export about 10 Korea-developed APR-1400 reactors during his single, five-year term.



The primary examples include the commercial operation of Shin Hanul unit 1 at the Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, in December. The operation came five years after construction was halted under the previous administration. The stalled construction of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 will resume in 2024.



The reactor is expected to help reduce the country's dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the chief culprit in the spike of energy prices and the country's trade deficit. Korea has few natural resources and imports over 93 percent of its fuel sources for energy needs.





Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, second from left, and President Yoon Suk Yeol, third from left, at a tour of a Kia Motors' manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, April 11. Courtesy of presidential office
Christians among over 50 killed, 23,000 fleeing ethnic violence in northeast India

(CP) In Manipur, a state in northeastern India, violence has erupted claiming the lives of 58 individuals, many of whom were Christians, and resulting in the destruction or burning of at least 50 churches. The local Christian community has accused the Hindu nationalist government of supporting the attackers.

Beginning last Wednesday, the violence was reported in several areas in the state, but mostly in the Imphal Valley and Churachandpur. The Christian victims have identified the predominantly Hindu Meitei ethnic community as the attackers.

The Meiteis have experienced longstanding tensions with Christians, who are mostly from tribal communities, over land ownership and affirmative action policies.

At least 58 people have died in the ongoing violence, according to the Indian media outlet Scroll.in. It's not known how many of those killed are Christians, but reports coming from Manipur suggest the majority of them could be Christian.

As the suspension of telecommunication services in Manipur continues, determining the full scope of the damage suffered by the Christian community remains challenging. Nonetheless, after military personnel were sent to the impacted regions and police received shoot-on-sight orders on May 4, the intensity and frequency of the attacks diminished by late evening.

Close to 10,000 troops from the Army and Assam Rifles have been stationed in Manipur, according to media reports, which also say over 13,000 individuals have been relocated to secure shelters established by the Army and state government.

Numerous others have sought refuge in neighboring states such as Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland, where Christians are in the majority.

Unverified reports say Christians were attacked in 27 villages. Until Thursday, Christians were being assaulted in the presence of state police and commandos, as mobs continued to roam the streets.

Tensions persisted, as of early Sunday. Nine out of the 16 districts in the state were under curfew, and internet services across the state remained suspended.

According to media reports, members of the Meitei community have also been attacked.

A public interest litigation petition was filed before the Supreme Court Saturday, alleging that the attacks on tribal communities in Manipur were supported by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power both in the state and at the national level, Bar and Bench reported.

The PIL claimed that 30 tribal people had been killed and 132 were injured, but no formal complaint had been registered by the police in relation to any of the incidents.

The petitioner called for a Special Investigation Team to be constituted, headed by Harekrishna Deka, former Director General of Police of Assam, and monitored by Chief Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei, former Chairman of the Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission, in order to prosecute the accused.

The Meiteis mainly reside in the Imphal Valley, whereas Christians, originating from different tribal communities, dwell in the neighboring hills. Despite Hindus and Christians each constituting about 42% of the state's populace, the Meiteis have maintained dominance in both political and economic spheres.

The BJP secured a victory in the 2017 state election, after which Chief Minister N. Biren Singh redefined the majority of tribal settlements as reserved forests, essentially branding them as illegal immigrants. The tribals live in resource-rich forests.

Singh also reportedly ordered the demolition of churches in Imphal, claiming they were illegally constructed on government-owned land.

The Meitei community has been seeking legal recognition as a tribal group, which would grant them increased power through access to affirmative action and legal protections.

Last month, the state's highest court instructed the government to consider the Meiteis' demands, causing anxiety among the tribal communities. The violence broke out last Wednesday when a tribal student group staged a protest against the Meiteis' demand for legal tribal group recognition.

 The Christian Post
He lived in the now: the legacy of Si Newhouse

Christies will present 16 masterpieces from the collection of S.I. Newhouse, the third in a series of historic sales from the legendary Conde Nast co-owner who built one of the greatest art collections of the 20th century

Si Newhouse Jr. was passionate and driven in his collecting. The late Conde Nast co-owner was willing to go to any length for a painting he truly loved. In 1988, he had his sights set on False Start (1959) by Jasper Johns, one of his favourite artists. He acquired the work for $17 million. The price was the highest paid at auction for an artwork by a living artist at the time, signalling Newhouses commitment to the highest-level of contemporary art. Thirty years later, the record would again be broken with the sale of another work from his own unrivalled collection. Just as Johnss use of language and abstraction in False Start broke boundaries in painting, Jeff Koonss iconic Rabbit ushered in a new era of contemporary sculpture upon its debut in 1986. Cast in an edition of three plus an artists proof, the stainless-steel balloon bunny holding a carrot melds Minimalist sheen with a seductive, inscrutable playfulness. By 2019, all but one in the edition resided in major museums. The Rabbit from Mr. Newhouses collection, the last in private hands, made a sensation that year, when it sold for $91,075,000 at Christies New York, making it the most expensive work by a living artist to be sold at auction. The record-breaking Koons was presented alongside 11 other major works from the Newhouse collection, including Paul Cezannes Bouilloire et fruits. The sale realised a grand total of $216,287,500.

On 11 May, Christies is proud to present 16 groundbreaking works in Masterpieces from the S.I. Newhouse Collection, a standalone evening auction during the 20th and 21st Century sale week in New York. This will mark the exciting third chapter of the media magnates famed art collection at Christies, which began with the sale of Francis Bacons incomparable portrait Study of Henrietta Moraes Laughing in 2018. Shaping the culture with fearless instincts As the long-time chairman of the media empire that included The New Yorker, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest and many other leading publications, Mr. Newhouse was a hugely influential figure in American cultural life. Guided by his renowned taste, he became one of the greatest art collectors of the 20th century. His collection of modern and contemporary masterworks remains, as the curator Mark Rosenthal told Christies in 2019, one of the most sought-after groupings of art in private hands. He was mythical, says Tobias Meyer, advisor to the Newhouse family. He had the reputation of being very determined, and he inspired others to be determined in their collecting as well. He showed them how to be passionate, which also made many people want to own his paintings.

Mr. Newhouse became the publisher of Vogue in 1964 after his father purchased Conde Nast publications in 1959. By 1975, he was chairman of the media conglomerate. In the 60s, he first became interested in colour field painting via Alexander Lieberman, then Editorial Director of Conde Nast, who introduced him to Barnett Newman. Through his friendship with the celebrated Abstract Expressionist painter, Mr. Newhouse learned about art at its source, engaging directly with the practitioners who were pushing the form forward. He filled his duplex penthouse on East 73rd Street with works by Newman, as well as Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland and Mark Rothko, hanging massive canvases cheek-by-jowl in stunning arrays. Driven by intellectual curiosity Mr. Newhouse loved the hunt, and he developed a knack for identifying pivotal works that uniquely reveal an artist at the height of their powers. He would make up his mind incredibly quickly, says Meyer. If he made the decision to buy something, nobody outbid him. In the 1990s after living in a townhouse with ample room for large-scale works of art since 1969, Mr. Newhouse and his wife, Victoria, moved to the apartment on Beekman Place, which led to the sale of some of his largest pieces, which he replaced with more intimate works by the same artists. At this time, Mr. Newhouse also expanded into collecting the earlier masters of modernism, including Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh.

I think Sis biggest joy was to stay current. As a publisher, its essential to be alert, to live in the present and not dwell in the past. And that informed his collecting, which was always evolving and looking forward Tobias Meyer

In the apartment Jeff Koonss Rabbit stood facing Pablo Picassos Pregnant Woman (1950). The two sculptures share a similar scale and burgeoning, rounded forms, forging an unexpected connection between the master of modernism and that of Post-Pop. Such juxtapositions were natural to Mr. Newhouse, who displayed his collection in striking configurations that brought layered art historical through-lines into relief. All layers of his collecting could co-exist, with individual works competing for interest, or challenging for the approbation of holding up. Si knew that the act of installation was imbued with the possibility of reinvigoration and discovery, Mark Rosenthal reflects.

For example, Roy Lichtensteins Rouen Cathedral, Set IV (1969) hung in the sightline of Cezannes Bouilloire et fruits, reifying the bridge between Impressionism and Pop art. Works that defined their artists Beyond his record-setting acquisition of False Start in 1988, Mr. Newhouse was an enthusiastic collector of other works by Jasper Johns, three exquisite examples of which will be offered in May. Among them, the seminal 1971 painting Decoy combines reproductions of Johnss early bronzes with the gestural brushwork of his Maps series and his signature stencilled lettering in one of the most complex paintings of the artists long career. Picassos painting of Lee Miller L'Arlesienne (Lee Miller) from 1937 represents the most intricate portrait he painted of the American photographer. The canvas depicts Miller in Arlesienne costume  a tribute to Van Gogh  rendered in colourful, striated patterns. Miller was discovered as a model by Conde Nast himself, who put her on the cover of Vogue in 1927.

Another painting from the collection that showcases Mr. Newhouses singular taste is a daring 1940s black-and-white painting by Willem de Kooning. Exhibited in de Koonings first solo exhibition, Orestes (1947) is arguably one of the most important early paintings by the artist to remain in private hands. It finds de Kooning abandoning the last vestiges of figuration and embracing abstraction, coating the canvas with bold forms in painterly swaths of black. In addition to his love of AbEx, Mr. Newhouse had much affection for contemporary British figurative painting, especially the works of Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. This Mays auction will offer a Chardin-inspired scene by Freud, as well as an exquisite self-portrait by Bacon. Painted in 1969 using the intimate format that became a signature of the artist, the canvas shows an unusually contented Bacon, rendered with distinct tenderness and soft strokes. In Newhouses Beekman Place apartment, the Bacon self-portrait hung together with Study of Henrietta Moraes Laughing, overlooking the East River.

Whether Freuds homage to Chardin or Picassos to Van Gogh, Mr. Newhouse was drawn to works embedded with rich art historical lineages. Rouen Cathedral, Set IV is no exception. The epic three-part painting finds Roy Lichtenstein interrogating Monets famous series, translating Impressionism into comic Ben-Day dots in one of the most perceptive compositions of his career. A legacy of unmatched taste This latest selection from the Newhouse collection also includes career-defining works by Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Arshile Gorky, Brice Marden, Lee Bontecou and George Condo. Works of Newhouse pedigree bear the provenance of an exceptional tastemaker, one who, much like the artists he knew and loved, was a maverick with an eye toward the vanguard of artistic expression. I think Sis biggest joy was to stay current, says Meyer. As a publisher, its essential to be alert, to live in the present and not dwell in the past. And that informed his collecting, which was always evolving and looking forward. Highlights from Masterpieces from the S.I. Newhouse Collection will embark on a global tour, opening at Christies London in February.
Ryanair said Tuesday it agreed to buy 150 Boeing 737 Max planes with an option for 150 more, marking the biggest aircraft purchase in the Irish airline's history and a boost for Boeing.

At Boeing's list prices, the deal would be worth more than $40 billion if Ryanair exercises all the options, but airlines routinely get deep discounts. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary said the planes will replace some of the airline's older Boeing jets and provide room for growth. The airline expects to receive the planes between 2027 and 2033.

The low-cost carrier selected the largest version of the Max, which will be outfitted with 228 seats.

Boeing is benefitting from a boom in airplane orders, as air travel around the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arlington, Virginia-based company has struggled, however, with production issues affecting the Max and a larger plane, the 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing announced last month that deliveries of a significant number of new Max jets will be delayed while the company and supplier Spirit AeroSystems fix incorrect fittings between the fuselage and tail sections, a problem that was discovered to date back to 2019.

The announcement Tuesday amounts to a vote of confidence from one of Boeings best customers  and one that has bluntly expressed its displeasure with the aircraft maker in the past.

Last year, OLeary went on an expletive-laced rant to complain about Boeings slow pace of aircraft deliveries and an inability to settle terms for an aircraft order. He said on a call with analysts in May 2022 that Boeing management is running around like headless chickens."

On Tuesday, O'Leary said that the companies revived their stalled negotiations about two months ago. Ryanair agreed to pay more than it wanted  and more per seat than its last Boeing order  but it was time for the companies to kiss and make up," he said.

We had a bit of a bust-up a year ago over pricing, and we had to move somewhat to get this deal done today, he said during a news conference at Boeing headquarters.

O'Leary said the planes will help Ryanair grow to 300 million passengers a year by 2034, nearly double the current number, and with planes that are more fuel-efficient than its current fleet.

U.S. regulators have not yet approved the plane that Ryanair ordered, the 737 Max 10. Boeing CEO David Calhoun said the company hopes to win certification by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2024  three years ahead of Ryanair's first expected delivery.

Boeing has received other large orders, including for the Max 10, recently from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Air India.

Separately, Boeing reported that through April  and not counting the Ryanair deal  it has taken net orders for 69 planes this year. European rival Airbus said it booked 144 net orders in the same period.

Shares of Boeing closed up more than 2% Tuesday.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden called for a fair deal for Hollywood's striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the the upcoming streaming series American Born Chinese to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Biden made his first public comments on the strike, which hits the one-week mark Tuesday, in remarks ahead of the pilot's screening. He was joined by an overflow crowd of hundreds of community leaders, elected officials and cast members and producers from the show in the East Room and the State Dining Room.

Nights like these are a reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with the dignity, respect and the value they deserve, Biden said. I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.

He added: This is an iconic, meaningful American industry. And we need the writers and all the workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us."

American Born Chinese is an adaptation of a graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, and stars Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. It will premiere on Disney+ May 24.

Biden used his brief remarks onstage to outline his administration's efforts to highlight the accomplishments of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and to speak out against prejudice and violence targeting them.

Hate can have no safe harbor in America," Biden said. "Silence is complicity and we will not remain silent

Quan, who introduced Biden, reflected on his journey from arriving in the U.S. as an 8-year-old refugee from Vietnam to making his first visit to the White House months after winning an Oscar.

I do not take this moment lightly, because I know this building is a monument to a country that opened its arms to me, he said.
GENEVA (AP)  Christies is auctioning a staggering 700 pieces of jewelry from the collection of the late Heidi Horten, an Austrian heiress whose German husband built a retail empire starting in the 1930s  in part from department stores and other assets sold by desperate Jews as they fled Nazi Germany.

The auction house says the sale from one of the greatest jewelry collections is expected to reap some $150 million. Proceeds are to benefit her Vienna art museum, welfare for children, and medical research. Christies  as criticism of the auction grew  said it planned to chip in some of its profits from the sale to Holocaust education.

The sale has already begun online, but also takes place in-person in two parts on Wednesday and Friday at a ritzy Geneva hotel. Theres a record-setting ruby ring that Heidi Horten bought for $30 million in 2015. A dazzling diamond necklace could fetch $15 million or more. And the auction house says the sale features more Bulgari jewels than ever assembled for a single auction.

But the auction has been steeped in controversy: The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los Angeles-based Jewish human rights group, demanded that Christies withdraw the sale, insisting that billions in riches that were amassed by Hortens husband  Helmut Horten  were the sum of profits from Nazi Aryanization of Jewish department stores under Nazi Germany.

Helmut Horten's story was complicated, said Peter Hoeres, a historian at the University of Wurzburg, in Germany. He was commissioned by Heidi Horten to write an extensive study looking into her husband's business empire.

The report lays out the creeping, and eventually overbearing, squeeze put on Jewish-owned businesses. Tens of thousands of Jewish-owned retail stores were aryanized  values were depressed by boycott measures, propaganda attacks, and other pressures from the authorities in the 1930s. Many Jews got no compensation; some received hidden payments, while most buyers  possibly like Horten  profited from persecution measures.

Earlier this month, the Simon Wiesenthal Center called for the withdrawal of the auction  which has now already begun online  saying Horten helped build his business empire by buying at a cut price the department store where he worked as Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 from its Jewish owners, Strauss and Lauter, who fled to the U.S.

Starting in 1933, the Strauss and Lauter families, owners of the Alsberg department store in Duisburg, suffered from boycott calls, and other harassment, according to the report. Their customers were also subjected to intimidation.

Horten was not an ideological person, but neither did he resist Nazi laws, Hoeres said. Testimonies indicated Helmut Horten had tried to help some Jews, and he even mocked Nazi leaders at times, but he also fired some Jewish employees to abide by Nazi race laws. He joined the Nazi party in 1937, and was expelled seven years later  even getting arrested for a short time.

We were in 27 archives in Europe, and we read thousands of pages of sources, and I think we in the end (discovered) ... there is not a saint and not a devil, but there is Horten who ... benefited from the circumstances of the tyranny of the Nazis, Hoeres said in an interview. You cant say Horten was part of the resistance against the dictatorship.

Hoeres study said Hortens personal fortunes swelled during the war years. It excerpted a document in English  attributed to the Control Commission for Germany under the postwar British authorities  which called Horten a scoundrel of the worst type and a thoroughly depraved character who should be brought to justice.

After the defeat of the Nazis in 1945, Horten was interned by the British for two years and lost a lot of his holdings. But in 1948, after being released, he leveraged loans to create what would become the fourth-largest department store chain in Germany  riding in part on the brand name established during the Nazi period.

The businessman amassed a far greater fortune than he had built before or during the war, said Hoeres, who has no connection to Christies.

Mr. Hortens business activities during the Second World War are well-documented, and that is something that Christies carefully considered when pitching for this collection, said Max Fawcett, head of the jewelry department at Christies Geneva. We took on this collection in the understanding that 100% of the final sale proceeds will go to philanthropic causes.

We cannot erase history -- but hopefully the money from this sale will go to do good in the future, Fawcett added.

The jewelry was not purchased from Jews, but the riches that paid for it had their roots in the Nazi era. Christies said the jewelry was all bought starting in the early 1970s  more than a quarter-century after the end of the war  up through last year, when Heidi Horten died. Her husband died in 1987. Christies noted that he had purchased Jewish businesses sold under duress.

The Christies catalog for the auction focuses entirely on Mrs. Horten: in one photo, she is shown smiling as she holds a baby chimpanzee in her arms. Initially, it made no reference to her husband or the origins of his wealth.

Among standout pieces in the auction - which features sapphires, emeralds, pearls, diamonds and much more  is the 90-carat Briolette of India diamond, the centerpiece of a necklace adorned with smaller diamonds, which has a pre-sale estimate of $10 million to $15 million. The nearly 26-carat Sunrise Ruby also goes under the hammer: It fetched a record $30 million when Heidi Horten bought it at a Geneva auction eight years ago.

Hortens billions used to build this collection were also the sum of profits from Nazi Aryanization of Jewish department stores, wrote Shimon Samuels, the Centers director for international relations in a letter to Christies CEO Guillaume Cerutti.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Instincts about the strategic significance of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol led a team of Associated Press journalists there just as Russians were about to lay siege. It proved to be a fateful decision.

For nearly three weeks last year, Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka and Vasilisa Stepanenko were the only journalists in Mariupol, serving as the world's eyes and ears amid the horrors of the Russian onslaught.

Together they helped expose the extent of the suffering Ukrainians endured, served as a counterweight to Russian disinformation and contributed to the opening of a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol. They also had to elude capture by Kremlin forces that were hunting for the team.

On Monday, Pulitzer Prize judges cited the work of the three Ukrainian journalists, along with Paris-based Lori Hinnant, in giving The Associated Press the prestigious award for public service.

Seven AP photographers, including Maloletka, also won a breaking news Pulitzer for their coverage of the war, including in Mariupol. The AP was also a finalist for a third award for work in Ukraine, this time for photography focused on the war's impact on the elderly.

This is how the AP should work, Chernov said Monday from Ukraine during a staff celebration of the prizes. This is how we function. All of these people supporting one another and in the end producing work that is supposed to change the world for the better or at least not make it worse.

While the awards are meaningful, it's important to recognize all the suffering and loss at the heart of what the journalists chronicled, said Julie Pace, AP's senior vice president and executive editor.

The reporting, particularly heartbreaking images of civilian bomb victims, had a clear impact. Mariupol officials later credited their work with pressuring Russians to allow an evacuation route, saving thousands of civilian lives.

Their resourceful work, called courageous by the Pulitzer committee, included sneaking out a tiny file of images taken by a Ukrainian medic that was hidden in a tampon.

At one point during the siege, as the noose tightened on them, Chernov and his colleagues were reporting from a hospital treating war wounded. They were given scrubs to wear as camouflage. A group of soldiers burst in and profanely demanded to know where the reporters were.

They wore blue armbands that indicated they were Ukrainian. But were they actually Russians in disguise?

Chernov took a chance, stepped forward and identified himself.

The soldiers were indeed Ukrainian. They loaded the journalists in a car, and they escaped the city, passing through 15 Russian checkpoints.

It's not an overstatement to say the work was a true public service  telling the world of the war's human toll, dispelling Russian disinformation as well as opening the humanitarian corridor, Pace said.

It was ambitious from the very beginning because it had to be, because the stakes were so high for us, for AP, for the team in Mariupol and for the people of the city," Hinnant said Monday on a staff Zoom call. "We thought then that lives would depend on it, and that turned out to be true.

The AP team that won the prize for breaking news photography in Ukraine included Maloletka, his second Pulitzer of the day. Other winners were Bernat Armangue, Emilio Morenatti, Felipe Dana, Nariman El-Mofty, Rodrigo Abd and Vadim Ghirda.

Eight photographers  Maloletka, Armangue, Morenatti, El-Mofty, Girda, David Goldman, Natacha Pisarenko and Petros Giannakouris  were Pulitzer finalists in feature photography for their package on the elderly in Ukraine. Two journalists, Eranga Jayawardena and Rafiq Maqbool, were finalists in breaking news photography for their work covering protests over the economic collapse in Sri Lanka.

To be there is probably more important and more critical than ever," said J. David Ake, APs director of photography. "You cant make the moment that captures the world if youre not there, and being there is often dirty and difficult and dangerous.
Its Teacher Appreciation Week, and I wanted to reflect on my years as a teacher and who inspired me to get here. While I started as a middle school English teacher in 1966 in the Chicago suburbs, not all of my time was in the classroom. Only in the past 15 years have I returned to a classroom environment and its great to be back.

Throughout my high school years, before I ever became a middle school teacher, I was inspired by several teachers who motivated me to be the best student I could ever be. They always had high expectations and sometimes it was a reach for me to meet those expectations as an average student, but they knew I could become the best possible student. In those days, there was no teacher appreciation week, but everyday with those teachers was an opportunity to just appreciate being part of their classes.

I attended Sullivan, a north side Chicago high school, which drew from excellent area elementary schools, and our college-bound rate in the 60s was between 75 percent and 80 percent. But in the early 60s, the suburbs were exploding and a lot of my friends families chose to move away from our urban environment to give their kids a better education.

My parents chose not to join many other families who took the road to the suburbs. They believed I was getting a quality education. And today I still feel the same way, when I see some of the challenges our students face, especially in reading and math.

Of all my high school teachers, Ms. Reiter, my English and drama teacher, was truly the one who made me feel like I could accomplish anything and she encouraged me to pursue a degree in English so I could teach. She helped me build my self-esteem and confidence as a student and the way she taught gave me the drive to teach. Her classroom was alive all the time and I developed a real love of theater also.

Four years later, when I moved from observing the student teaching classes I would work with for nine weeks, to taking over the reins, I was totally petrified. But my student teaching supervisor, a phenomenal junior high school teacher (we didnt have middle schools in those days in most Chicago suburbs) assured me that as long as I was enthusiastic and prepared and organized, among other teaching tools, things would be fine. And I mostly was all right.

My only major weakness as Phyllis, my teacher/supervisor shared with me at the end of student teaching, was that I had spent too much observing time becoming a buddy to the students. I will never forget her comments as I began my teaching journey. You are going to be an amazing second year teacher. Because you got too close to the students and were too vulnerable at times, discipline wasnt your strong suit. I cant order you to control a classroom, but youll figure it out."

She was so right. At the end of my first year as a junior high school English teacher, I was ready to ride off into the sunset. I had discipline problems with virtually every class and barely managed to complete the curriculum.

By the time I returned to school in the fall, I had turned myself inside out, grown a tough but caring veneer and was determined to be the teacher Phyllis said I could be. I never forgot her words and checked back with her often over the course of my career. She made me the teacher I ultimately became.

I taught in my district in Mount Prospect, Illinois for five years before I entered the unknown world of business and public relations. I was practically moved to tears on my last day when so many current and former students stopped in to tell me how much they had learned and enjoyed the class.

Years later, some of those students still kept in touch and some had gone into the profession. That made me feel really good and very much appreciated.

In 2005, when my freelance contract work had ended, I applied and became a substitute in the Fairfield school system. I spent five great years in our middle and high schools, getting to know colleagues and students. And some teachers specifically requested me, because they felt comfortable that I could handle their classes and could teach some material also.

I had some excellent experiences, especially at the high school level. On one occasion, I ended up in a home economics class, cutting fabric for a group of eighth graders who were making quilts. Since my wife and I are both quilters, I felt right at home. The teacher requested me several times.

After three years as manager of public relations and marketing for the Fairfield Museum and History Center, I joined Bridge Academy, a charter school in Bridgeport's East End.

As a building sub and paraprofessional, working a lot with our special needs population.

I was determined to get my Connecticut certification and eventually teach English. I took Praxis 1 and 2 and after reaching a great person in the registrars office at Northern Illinois University, my alma mater, who helped me with credentials, I finally convinced the Connecticut Department of Education to accept my Illinois credentials. In 1966 there was no formal certification and no computers to verify that. One was simply given a certificate to teach after passing student teaching.

I was finally certified to teach grades 712 about five years ago and I keep renewing my certification every two years. More recently, I passed the special education praxis exam, but I still have the Pearson Reading test to pass and I hope to take the test this summer.

These days, I also teach during the summer in the Upward Bound program for urban high schoolers who are college bound. I love the program and have been truly inspired by our administrators, Carylanne and Emma.

As I end my 10th year at Bridge, and enjoy this Teacher Appreciation Week, I love the students with whom Im working as a reading specialist and just appreciate the opportunity to continue teaching. Our team is among the most talented and wonderful teachers and support staff an educator could ask for.

They have inspired me over and over to be the best teacher I can be.

I will always be grateful to Ms. Reiter and other teachers who inspired me to want to be a teacher. This profession continues to give me countless rewards and great students to teach. I only hope Ill be able to teach at least a few more years since I have no interest in retiring.
A Texas high school was recently visited by some unexpected and unruly guests. Six catches and releases took place over a span of three days at McCallum High School in Austin after a group of raccoons infiltrated the campus, startling students and causing zoological chaos. One of the furry creatures even fell through a ceiling during class, according to a report from NBC affiliate KXAN.

"It was scared, it was running around and everything," Morgan Eye, a journalism student, told KXAN about the raccoon that landed near a student. "What if it bit her? What if it had rabies?"

This isn't the first time the school has faced issues with such invaders, according to Noah Braun, a sophomore who captured in great detail how three raccoons were spotted in the school in less than an hour and eventually caught in an article featured in the school's paper last month. "There are articles you can find from the '90s, from the early 2000sand even the 2010stalking about this," Braun wrote, noting that incidents with trash pandas have since increased. Last year, KXAN reported on a raccoon found in the same school.

In recent weeks, a dead raccoon was also discovered within the school's walls, Braun reported. "It was rotting," Braun wrote. "Its corpse was rotting and it was spreading its smell everywhere."

Students shared footage on social media of the furry creatures roaming the halls of the school, scampering away when approached by students. Under a post shared by journalism students, some joked about the problem while others expressed real concern. "Can we change our mascot to raccoons," questioned one student. "How has the school not been sued yet," asked another.

In a statement, Austin ISD said it is working on addressing the issue in a "humane and effective manner," adding its pest control department and a professional wildlife removal specialist have started exclusion work to prevent the animals from entering the building and have set humane traps for any other raccoons they might be unaware of.

"We understand that having raccoons on school grounds can be worrying for parents, and we take this matter seriously," the statement read. "The team will safely remove the raccoons from the school grounds and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the problem is fully resolved."
It might have happened to you a few times in past years: You received an email or mail notice inviting you to join a class-action lawsuit, or notifying you that youve been automatically included. But being part of such a lawsuit might be intimidating, especially if you need to opt in, and would mean surrendering the option to sue individually.

In most cases, theres little downside to joining these lawsuits, which combine many legal claims  often thousands  into one claim against a single defendant, reducing fees for each claimant and potentially earning a much larger payout.

And there have been many opportunities to do so. Following a series of large opioid settlements, 2022 had the most billion-dollar class-action settlements in U.S. history apart from the tobacco settlements decades ago, according to a report from the national law firm Duane Morris. The stakes are high for class-action lawsuits at this level, as they set standards for corporate responsibility in areas such as data privacy, employee discrimination, securities fraud and civil rights.

But in cases where you suffered significant harm, suing individually could secure a bigger payout.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN (OR NOT OPT OUT)

In many cases, class-action lawsuits offer such a minor payout to each victim that participation is a matter of principle, not reward. But even if you receive only $10 to $20 as compensation, joining a collective lawsuit can help other customers or employees get justice, and may deter a company from harmful practices in the future.

Its really a trial by proxy, says attorney Russell T. Abney, who defends victims of dangerous drugs and defective medical devices at the law firm Watts Guerra. The beauty of the class action, he says, is that it adds up individual cases to a number thats high enough to go up against a large company.

In most cases, Abney says, plaintiffs of class-action lawsuits pay legal fees on contingency, which means they dont pay anything unless they win the case. Lawyers taking on these lawsuits will usually receive payment as a percentage of the settlement won from the company.

If youre part of the class of a lawsuit  that is, if you were affected by the certain event or purchase described  youll often be automatically included in the lawsuit. And for certain cases, such as those relating to wage violations or defective products , you may have to opt in.

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES DONT ALWAYS GET A LARGER PAYOUT

If you feel strongly about the outcome of a class-action lawsuit, you can also participate as a class representative, sometimes called a lead plaintiff. In some cases, becoming a class representative could lead to a bigger payout  but that isnt always the case.

Even though the class representative is the cases headline, That person isnt necessarily going to get any kind of windfall, says Jennifer A. Riley, a partner at Duane Morris and vice chair of the firms workplace class-action group. She notes that some courts in some jurisdictions would be able to grant a service award to plaintiffs representing the case, which are often between $2,500 and $7,500 , but other courts have found these awards inappropriate. And its difficult to discern upfront whether such a service award would be granted.

Class-action lawsuits can also take anywhere from a few months to several years, which can be an excessive commitment for many. The Exxon Valdez oil spill, for example, took 17 years to reach a class-action settlement.

WHEN TO OPT OUT (OR NOT JOIN)

If you plan to make a case of your own, it makes sense to opt out of, or not participate in, a class-action lawsuit.

If you have your own lawsuit, the value of your claim might be much, much higher as an individual than it would have been as a class member, says Gerald L. Maatman Jr., a partner at Duane Morris and the chair of the law firms workplace class-action group. Youre trying to decide, If I opt out, am I going to do that much better than Id do in a class action? And in certain circumstances, an individual would do better. Theyd get the money quicker, and theyd get more money.

One example: Following the credit-scoring company Equifaxs data breach in 2017, which compromised the personal data of 147 million people, The New York Times reported that some people took Equifax to small claims courts, winning much larger sums than those who received class-action payouts.

Small claims courts  which handle claims under a few thousand dollars to $15,000, depending on your state  generally charge a small fee t o file, making them a relatively low-cost way to seek damages. Typically, plaintiffs represent themselves in these cases, bypassing costly attorney fees.

If youre considering a larger lawsuit, though, expenses are much higher. Consulting a lawyer can help you determine whether you have a strong case and how it might unfold.

___________________________

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. The content is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Dalia Ramirez is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: dramirez@nerdwallet.com. Claire Tsosie, an assigning editor at NerdWallet, contributed reporting to this article.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: Did You Request Free Monitoring in the Equifax Settlement? Check Your Email https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-equifax-data-breach-consumer-guide

Duane Morris: Class Action Review 2023 https://www.paperturn-view.com/?pid=Mjk296527&v=4

New York Times: How a Few People Took Equifax to Small Claims Court Over Its Data Breach and Won https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/business/equifax-hack-small-claims-court.html
A woman said she got into bulk cash smuggling because she was in severe debt, according to an arrest affidavit.

Sandra Patricia Barbosa-Ortiz was arrested and charged with attempt to transport currency with the intent to evade currency reporting.

Barbosa-Ortiz arrived at the outbound lane of the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge on April 30 driving a Chevrolet Tracker displaying Mexican license plates. During an outbound inspection, she gave a negative declaration for more than $10,000.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspected the vehicle and discovered money in a vacuum-sealed bag behind a non-factory trapdoor in the center console of the vehicle. CBP officers said they seized $19,500.

Homeland Security Investigation special agents responded to take over the case. In a post-arrest interview, Barbosa-Ortiz stated she had been recruited in Mexico to travel to Houston and conduct some type of illicit activity, states the affidavit.

Barbosa-Ortiz assumed the illicit activity involved narcotics or cash, and knew it would be concealed in her vehicle prior to returning to Mexico. Once in Houston, she was instructed to go to a particular hotel and leave the keys in the vehicle.

Barbosa-Ortiz was then instructed to drive back to Mexico the following day. She added she was to receive $1,000 plus spending money as payment for the smuggling attempt.

Barbosa-Ortiz stated this was her second attempt at this type of smuggling activity for the same recruiter in Mexico. Barbosa-Ortiz stated she acted out of necessity as she had fallen into severe debt, states the affidavit.




Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Chairman Koo Ja-yeol, center, poses with Kansai Economic Federation Executive Director Kakumoto Keiji, left, and Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Miyabe Yoshiyuki, during a luncheon meeting in Osaka, Japan, Tuesday. Courtesy of KITA
From aboard a seaplane in 2016, Josh Marano looked down over the Dry Tortugas and saw something strange. Underneath the clear waters of the coastal Florida national park was a series of dots arranged in an orderly L-shape. The pattern didn't look natural, he thought.

He put aside the hunch until years later. Finally, in August, Marano assembled a small research team to dive to the site and investigate what he'd seen. The dots turned out to be old building foundations that stood on a now-submerged island. Near them was a slab of sandstone, covered in seaweed and inscribed with gothic lettering: "John Greer" and "Nov. 5. 1861."

Marano had discovered a Civil War-era tombstone, buried in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Key West. With it came a mystery: Who was Greer, and how did he die?

"It was surreal," Marano said. "It's the equivalent of finding a bell on a shipwreck with the name on it. It's just something that you absolutely never hear of in underwater archaeology."

The National Park Service announced the discovery on May 1 after Marano and his team completed additional research about Greer and his burial site. They determined through historical records that Greer, a civilian laborer, was buried on the submerged island near the Dry Tortugas' landmark fortress, Fort Jefferson. The island once housed a quarantine hospital and a cemetery that probably still contains the remains of dozens of American service members.

On a group of islands known for snorkeling, shipwrecks and military history, Greer's headstone is a link to the overshadowed stories of workers - both employed and enslaved - who built Fort Jefferson and once called the Dry Tortugas home, Marano said.

"It kind of opens the door to a lesser-documented history that we're hoping to highlight," Marano said.

Sunken treasures are essential to the mythos of the Dry Tortugas. The string of islands was a hub of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the seabed is strewn with shipwrecks from treasure fleets.

But there was no gold or silver to plunder when Marano and a small team of researchers dived into the park's waters in August to investigate his observation from years earlier. What they found instead harked back to a subsequent chapter in the Dry Tortugas' history, when the U.S. military built a strong presence on the islands to better defend the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1846, construction began on a sprawling brick fortress, Fort Jefferson, that remains today as the national park's landmark attraction. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson became a prison that most famously housed Samuel Mudd, a doctor convicted of conspiracy in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Other structures were built on the islands surrounding Fort Jefferson to complement the growing population on the Tortugas, according to the National Park Service. Before beginning their dive, Marano and his team determined through historical records that his observation corresponded with the location of a submerged island that once contained a hospital.

Marano's team first found pylons jutting out from the sand, just beneath the water's surface. They were about to swim away from the site when Devon Fogarty, an archaeology student on Marano's team, spotted a slab of sandstone nearby. Marano cut away several strands of seaweed growing from the rock and revealed the lettering underneath. The team was shocked.

"We had no idea, like there was no inkling," Fogarty said. "We knew that there are cemeteries out there, that there are grave plots, but we didn't expect anything to be preserved."

Sand islands in the Dry Tortugas can grow, shrink and shift in location as they're buffeted by the elements, Marano said. But the complete submerging of an island is rarer. The island's disappearance was accelerated by climate change and major storms that have swept through the region, the National Park Service said.

Marano's team determined that Greer's grave was part of a cemetery on the island for service members stationed at Fort Jefferson and for civilians. But they didn't want to announce news of the discovery before learning more about Greer and his life, Marano said. So he and Fogarty embarked on a new hunt: an arduous search through reams of archived records to find Greer's name and any hint of the person he was.

They struck out at several archives in Florida. In November, Fogarty traveled to the National Archives in Washington to try again. There, she finally made a breakthrough: Greer was listed as a White laborer in 1857 who'd built scaffolding during the fort's construction. That hinted at the hardships that could have led to his death, Fogarty said. She theorized - based on the fact that Greer did not appear in hospital records - that he could have died in a sudden accident while on the job.

"He was working in a very dangerous occupation, building very unsafe scaffolding to take up all those construction materials," Fogarty said.

Marano and Fogarty were unsuccessful in attempts to find descendants of Greer, they said, though they hope news of the discovery will encourage any relatives of people who'd lived on the islands to share any personal records from the period.

The team plans to continue research on the submerged island, which is now recognized as a federally protected archaeological site, Marano said. Questions remain about the nature of Greer's death, the lives of those buried with him and the numerous enslaved laborers who also helped build Fort Jefferson.

Marano and Fogarty hope to answer them. They see it as a reversal of sorts for the history of a fort named after Thomas Jefferson.

"We want to be able to establish that we can put the extra effort into remembering regular people," Fogarty said.
ALLEN, Texas - The gunman who killed eight people at an outlet mall in suburban Dallas posted photographs of the shopping center three weeks before the attack on a social media account where he fantasized about race wars and the collapse of society.

The social media posts, the last of which went online Saturday shortly before he stormed into the shopping mall, included violent, hateful references that included singling out Asians with slurs. Mauricio Garcia, 33, also used his account on Odnoklassniki, a Russian social media platform, to reference "the noble war," a phrase that many white supremacists use to describe their belief in an impending race war.

On Monday, as Texans grieved over the state's second mass killing in a little more than a week, authorities largely avoided discussing a possible motive for Garcia's rampage. But details of his background continued to trickle out, including news that he briefly received military training but was discharged from the U.S. Army over a mental health condition after three months of service.

Heather J. Hagan, an Army spokesperson, said Garcia joined the Army in June 2008 but was "terminated" three months later, failing to complete his initial training.

Photo for The Washington Post by Jeffrey McWhorter

Garcia was separated for an unspecified mental health issue, according to another Army official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of personnel records.

Texas officials have offered few details about what might have prompted Garcia to launch his attack, which lasted until he was confronted by a police officer who shot and killed him. The shooting, the country's 22nd mass killing so far this year, horrified the diverse, affluent communities that make up the northern suburbs of Dallas. The killings are also reigniting debate over whether Texas gun laws are stringent enough.

The victims include an engineer from India, a 20-year-old mall security guard, three out of four family members, and two elementary-school-age sisters.

At the Texas Capitol in Austin, the shooting reverberated in the legislature as a House committee voted to advance a bill raising the minimum age to buy certain types of firearms to 21, up from 18. But the legislation is expected to face an uphill battle on the House floor and in the state Senate.

In Washington, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated calls for Congress to consider stricter gun laws nationwide.

"Schools, shopping malls, churches, movie theaters, grocery stores, temples, places that are part of our everyday lives - that are essential to our everyday lives - day after day are coming under attack from weapons of war," she said.

Garcia walked up to Allen Premium Outlets in Allen carrying multiple weapons and had five additional guns in a vehicle in the mall's parking lot, people familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post.

Authorities said seven people ranging in age from 5 to 61 were also wounded in the attack. Medical City Healthcare, a network of Dallas-area hospitals, said Monday that it was still treating six of those wounded, including three who were in critical condition.

Authorities have not released a motive for Garcia's rampage, but they are investigating his suspected links to white supremacists and neo-Nazi beliefs. Garcia arrived at the mall wearing a tactical vest with a patch that read "RWDS," which stands for Right Wing Death Squad. The phrase is popular with extremist groups including neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and authorities are trying to determine whether Garcia carried out a hate crime.

On Monday, the Allen Police Department declined to answer additional questions about the investigations, referring calls to the Texas Department of Public Safety. A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to his social media posts, Garcia appeared to have staked out the mall using Google to determine the busiest times.

Garcia's social media account was first reported by the New York Times and expanded upon in a thread on Twitter by Aric Toler of the open-source investigation group Bellingcat. Toler noted that Garcia used the forum for diary-style entries and might have picked that platform "because it has virtually zero content moderation."

The last post on Garcia's account, dated Saturday, resembled a suicide note and included more than 500 words of violent, hateful fantasies, self-aggrandizement and pop-culture references. Older entries expressed admiration for other mass killers and described a dark worldview that included apocalyptic "accelerationist" ideology, which is associated with calls for a violent collapse of society.

Other posts on the account showed off tattoos, including a swastika and other Nazi symbols.

Although Army officials declined to specify why Garcia had been discharged, administrative separations like the one he received are meant to quickly force out recruits who can't perform military duties as a result of various physical or behavioral conditions. They are not typically punishments and would not show up on background checks. Recruits who leave the service before they finish training don't receive military or veterans benefits.

Authorities released the names of the adults killed but only the ages of the children who died. Some of their identities have been confirmed by family members, friends and others.

They include three members of the Cho family of Dallas: Kyu Song Cho, Cindy Cho and their 3-year-old son. A GoFundMe page said their 3-year-old was named James, while their 6-year-old son, William, was injured but was out of intensive care.

Elementary students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza were at the mall with their mom, Wylie Independent School District officials said. The girls were fatally shot; their mother, Ilda, remained in critical condition Monday.

Daniela, a fourth-grader, and Sofia, a second-grader, were "rays of sunshine," Cox Elementary School principal Krista Wilson said in a message to parents. She called them "the kindest, most thoughtful students."

Aishwarya Thatikonda, the engineer, who lived in McKinney, Texas, was days from her 27th birthday, her boss said. She had come to the United States from India about five years ago in pursuit of opportunities in engineering, said Ashok Kolla, a volunteer for the Indian American nonprofit Telugu Association of North America who was representing the family.

Thousands of miles away in India, her parents grew concerned when they couldn't reach her Saturday. Kolla drove from hospital to hospital over the weekend, then to the shooting scene, then finally to the medical examiner's office, where, after seven hours of waiting, he learned that Thatikonda was among the dead.

"All of us had hoped she was somewhere in the hospital," Kolla said. On Monday, he was sorting through the logistics of having her remains sent home to India, trying to help her devastated parents and brother. He said the killing had sent shock waves through the Indian community, which has had little experience with the mass shootings that haunt America.

"This girl had a long way to go, being a brilliant and well-educated kid," Kolla said. "She had a long way to go."

Christian LaCour, the security guard, "was tragically killed while protecting the customers and employees of the Allen Premium Outlets," his employer, Allied Universal, said in a statement. A relative described the 20-year-old as "more amazing than anyone would ever truly know," declining to comment further. Also killed was Elio Cumana-Rivas of Dallas, who was 32, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Allen shooting occurred a little more than a week after a gunman, armed with an AR-15-style weapon, shot and killed five of his neighbors in Cleveland, Texas. The family had asked the man, who was arrested after an extensive manhunt, to stop firing his weapon so they could sleep.

The back-to-back mass killings - taking place about a year after 19 students and two teachers were shot to death in a school in Uvalde, Texas - have increased the pressure on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and GOP lawmakers to address gun violence. But with Texas's biannual legislative session scheduled to conclude in late May, supporters of tougher rules face a steep hurdle to persuade the Republican-controlled legislature to take action.

The committee vote Monday occurred after relatives of the Uvalde victims packed into the state House and urged lawmakers to raise the minimum age to buy certain types of firearms to 21, up from 18.

After the vote to send the measure to the House floor, some relatives cheered while others sobbed.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who represents the Uvalde area, celebrated with the Uvalde family members at lunch after the bill made it out of committee. Gutierrez said the committee vote, which included support from two Republicans, was the most significant progress on gun legislation that he's seen in his 16 years in Austin.

But he said he and other Democratic lawmakers are tempering their optimism, knowing that the legislation still faces an uphill slog on the House floor and in the Senate.

"Hope springs eternal," Gutierrez said. "As I told the families, there never has been a bill in my time that has been a pro-gun-safety bill that has even had a hearing in committee. This happened because of these families' efforts."

- - -

Craig reported from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Allam, Horton and Shammas reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Houston, and Razzan Nakhlawi, Samuel Oakford, Marisa Iati, Anumita Kaur and Nick Parker in Washington contributed to this report.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

John MacCormick, Dickinson College

(THE CONVERSATION) In 1998, I unintentionally created a racially biased artificial intelligence algorithm. There are lessons in that story that resonate even more strongly today.

The dangers of bias and errors in AI algorithms are now well known. Why, then, has there been a flurry of blunders by tech companies in recent months, especially in the world of AI chatbots and image generators? Initial versions of ChatGPT produced racist output. The DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion image generators both showed racial bias in the pictures they created.

My own epiphany as a white male computer scientist occurred while teaching a computer science class in 2021. The class had just viewed a video poem by Joy Buolamwini, AI researcher and artist and the self-described poet of code. Her 2019 video poem AI, Aint I a Woman? is a devastating three-minute expose of racial and gender biases in automatic face recognition systems  systems developed by tech companies like Google and Microsoft.

The systems often fail on women of color, incorrectly labeling them as male. Some of the failures are particularly egregious: The hair of Black civil rights leader Ida B. Wells is labeled as a coonskin cap; another Black woman is labeled as possessing a walrus mustache.

Echoing through the years

I had a horrible deja vu moment in that computer science class: I suddenly remembered that I, too, had once created a racially biased algorithm. In 1998, I was a doctoral student. My project involved tracking the movements of a persons head based on input from a video camera. My doctoral adviser had already developed mathematical techniques for accurately following the head in certain situations, but the system needed to be much faster and more robust. Earlier in the 1990s, researchers in other labs had shown that skin-colored areas of an image could be extracted in real time. So we decided to focus on skin color as an additional cue for the tracker.

I used a digital camera  still a rarity at that time  to take a few shots of my own hand and face, and I also snapped the hands and faces of two or three other people who happened to be in the building. It was easy to manually extract some of the skin-colored pixels from these images and construct a statistical model for the skin colors. After some tweaking and debugging, we had a surprisingly robust real-time head-tracking system.

Not long afterward, my adviser asked me to demonstrate the system to some visiting company executives. When they walked into the room, I was instantly flooded with anxiety: the executives were Japanese. In my casual experiment to see if a simple statistical model would work with our prototype, I had collected data from myself and a handful of others who happened to be in the building. But 100% of these subjects had white skin; the Japanese executives did not.

Miraculously, the system worked reasonably well on the executives anyway. But I was shocked by the realization that I had created a racially biased system that could have easily failed for other nonwhite people.

Privilege and priorities

How and why do well-educated, well-intentioned scientists produce biased AI systems? Sociological theories of privilege provide one useful lens.

Ten years before I created the head-tracking system, the scholar Peggy McIntosh proposed the idea of an invisible knapsack carried around by white people. Inside the knapsack is a treasure trove of privileges such as I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race, and I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.

In the age of AI, that knapsack needs some new items, such as AI systems wont give poor results because of my race. The invisible knapsack of a white scientist would also need: I can develop an AI system based on my own appearance, and know it will work well for most of my users.

One suggested remedy for white privilege is to be actively anti-racist. For the 1998 head-tracking system, it might seem obvious that the anti-racist remedy is to treat all skin colors equally. Certainly, we can and should ensure that the systems training data represents the range of all skin colors as equally as possible.

Unfortunately, this does not guarantee that all skin colors observed by the system will be treated equally. The system must classify every possible color as skin or nonskin. Therefore, there exist colors right on the boundary between skin and nonskin  a region computer scientists call the decision boundary. A person whose skin color crosses over this decision boundary will be classified incorrectly.

Scientists also face a nasty subconscious dilemma when incorporating diversity into machine learning models: Diverse, inclusive models perform worse than narrow models.

A simple analogy can explain this. Imagine you are given a choice between two tasks. Task A is to identify one particular type of tree  say, elm trees. Task B is to identify five types of trees: elm, ash, locust, beech and walnut. Its obvious that if you are given a fixed amount of time to practice, you will perform better on Task A than Task B.

In the same way, an algorithm that tracks only white skin will be more accurate than an algorithm that tracks the full range of human skin colors. Even if they are aware of the need for diversity and fairness, scientists can be subconsciously affected by this competing need for accuracy.

Hidden in the numbers

My creation of a biased algorithm was thoughtless and potentially offensive. Even more concerning, this incident demonstrates how bias can remain concealed deep within an AI system. To see why, consider a particular set of 12 numbers in a matrix of three rows and four columns. Do they seem racist? The head-tracking algorithm I developed in 1998 is controlled by a matrix like this, which describes the skin color model. But its impossible to tell from these numbers alone that this is in fact a racist matrix. They are just numbers, determined automatically by a computer program.

The problem of bias hiding in plain sight is much more severe in modern machine-learning systems. Deep neural networks  currently the most popular and powerful type of AI model  often have millions of numbers in which bias could be encoded. The biased face recognition systems critiqued in AI, Aint I a Woman? are all deep neural networks.

The good news is that a great deal of progress on AI fairness has already been made, both in academia and in industry. Microsoft, for example, has a research group known as FATE, devoted to Fairness, Accountability, Transparency and Ethics in AI. A leading machine-learning conference, NeurIPS, has detailed ethics guidelines, including an eight-point list of negative social impacts that must be considered by researchers who submit papers.

Whos in the room is whos at the table

On the other hand, even in 2023, fairness can still be the victim of competitive pressures in academia and industry. The flawed Bard and Bing chatbots from Google and Microsoft are recent evidence of this grim reality. The commercial necessity of building market share led to the premature release of these systems.

The systems suffer from exactly the same problems as my 1998 head tracker. Their training data is biased. They are designed by an unrepresentative group. They face the mathematical impossibility of treating all categories equally. They must somehow trade accuracy for fairness. And their biases are hiding behind millions of inscrutable numerical parameters.

So, how far has the AI field really come since it was possible, over 25 years ago, for a doctoral student to design and publish the results of a racially biased algorithm with no apparent oversight or consequences? Its clear that biased AI systems can still be created unintentionally and easily. Its also clear that the bias in these systems can be harmful, hard to detect and even harder to eliminate.

These days its a cliche to say industry and academia need diverse groups of people in the room designing these algorithms. It would be helpful if the field could reach that point. But in reality, with North American computer science doctoral programs graduating only about 23% female, and 3% Black and Latino students, there will continue to be many rooms and many algorithms in which underrepresented groups are not represented at all.

Thats why the fundamental lessons of my 1998 head tracker are even more important today: Its easy to make a mistake, its easy for bias to enter undetected, and everyone in the room is responsible for preventing it.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/i-unintentionally-created-a-biased-ai-algorithm-25-years-ago-tech-companies-are-still-making-the-same-mistake-203734.
NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP)  An Indianapolis man convicted of abducting and severely beating a woman in 2018 and dumping her in a ditch where she was found the next day has been sentenced to 38 years in prison.

A Henry County judge sentenced Christopher Thomas Williams, 39, after a jury convicted him in March of attempted murder, criminal confinement, intimidation, theft and criminal mischief.
The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office is once again asking the public for help regarding the Easter Sunday murder of a Houston man, specifically asking his friends to honor him by sharing this information.

Javoris Potier, 30, was fatally shot April 9 during a dance event at the Laday Rodeo Arena in Cheek, located in the southwest part of the county, according to a news release.

A 37-year-old Beaumont man was also shot and taken to a local hospital. That mans condition is unknown. Capt. Crystal Holmes with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said in an email that the investigation regarding the Beaumont man who was shot is still open. Holmes also said Potier was part of several regional social organizations that were at the event.

Witnesses have provided information and visual accounts of what happened, but Holmes could not give additional details. There was also reportedly a large group of people during the event when the shootings happened, but people on the scene werent cooperating at the time, according to the release.

RELATED: Suspect in 2022 Orange murder captured in Louisiana

"All leads will be investigated, and no detail is too small," the release said, later adding that Potier's friends should honor him "with their loyalty" by coming forward with information.

Anyone with information, photos or video from the shooting can contact Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-8477, online at 833TIPS.com or through Crime Stoppers mobile P3 app. One can also contact Captain Trish Molfino at 409-835-8411 or at Trish.Molfino@jeffcotx.us.

Detectives in the release said Potier's friends in Houston, Pearland, Galveston and Galveston Bay areas of Texas City, League City, Hitchcock and Lamarque are of particular interest to investigators.

"Detectives are determined to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion with the arrest of the person or persons responsible for Javoris Potiers death, and to provide he and his family and friends with the justice they so rightfully deserve," the release said.
Former congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has vowed to do everything she can to keep Donald Trump from returning to the White House, launched a television ad Tuesday warning viewers that the former president "is a risk America can never take again."

The ad is running on CNN before and during a high-profile town hall scheduled Wednesday night on CNN featuring Trump - now a 2024 candidate - taking questions from voters in New Hampshire.

The 60-second spot, which Cheney narrates but in which she does not appear, is funded by her political action committee. It recounts Trump losing the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden and lying to his followers about the results. Then, Cheney says, "he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol" on Jan. 6, 2021.

"Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6th were illegal," Cheney says, as images of the Capitol being overrun are shown. "He didn't care, and today he celebrates those who attacked our Capitol. Donald Trump has proven he is unfit for office."

The ad shows footage of the pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol, attacking members of law enforcement and searching the building for Vice President Mike Pence.

Cheney's narration echoes her assessments as the vice chairwoman of the now-disbanded House select committee that investigated the attack.

Wednesday night's town hall at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., will be Trump's first appearance since the 2016 campaign on CNN, a network he frequently disparages.

"They made me a deal I couldn't refuse!!!" Trump said in a post Tuesday on Truth Social, his social media platform. "Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me. Let's see what happens?"

"CNN This Morning" anchor Kaitlan Collins is moderating the event, which CNN says will feature questions from New Hampshire Republicans and undeclared voters who plan to vote in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

Cheney, who was ousted from House Republican leadership for her opposition to Trump, lost her GOP primary in Wyoming last year to Harriet M. Hageman, a Trump-backed candidate who went on to win the seat in the general election.

Cheney has not ruled out a Republican White House bid next year.
Angela Piazza/Associated Press

On Monday Governor Greg Abbott and billionaire Elon Musk met to celebrate the early stages of construction of a new lithium refining facility in Robstown, Texasan installation both believe will aid in greater U.S. autonomy in domestic battery construction and the proliferation of electric vehicles.

The $375 million facility near Corpus Christi will serve as a hub for the refining lithium for use in lithium ion batteries capable of powering electric cars and other advanced devices, according to a report by the Houston Chronicle's Andrea Leinfelder. The refinery is aimed at addressing what the Tesla CEO characterized as a bottleneck keeping U.S. automakers from competing in the growing economy of non-gas-powered vehicles. Almost all lithium processing occurs outside the U.S., with 44 percent of global refinement occurring in China, according to a Wall Street Journal report from February.
Galveston Independent School District officials voted Monday night to oust Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson after a closed-door special board meeting discussing the superintendent's performance, employment status, and contract.

GISD School Board's decision comes after Gibson sparked controversy for allegedly calling women "worker bees" and said they work in the background to help men look good during a groundbreaking ceremony for GISD's Ball High School in late April.

"The ladies are the worker bees," Gibson said, according to a Galveston County Daily News transcript. "They are going to get it done behind the scenes and keep pushing and taking care of the details. Is that right, men? They do their best to make us look good, even though we don't give them much to work with. But we need a man to push this through."

Gibson later attempted to deny his statements but was debunked after Galveston County Daily News posted an audio recording of his remarks. In the aftermath, Gibson apologized before the Monday meeting, but the damage was already done.

According to Houston news station KHOU 11, attendees at the Monday night meeting were both critical and sympathetic to Gibson.

"I know that this was not his intention," Ball High School senior Bailey Gonzalez said. While some school district parents said they were upset by Gibson's comments. "Misogyny is not the policy of this district," GISD parent Nicole Obert said.

Still, GISD Board President Anthony Brown said Gibson's apology wasn't enough to save his job.

It's a resignation agreement. An expression was made by Dr. Gibson of trying to bring closure to this. We were all together. It's very difficult to do, Brown said after the meeting. I didnt expect to go into that meeting and get that done, but we went into that with our lawyer, our board rolled up their sleeves, and at the end of the night, we had an agreement."

The school board accepted Gibson's resignation in a unanimous vote Tuesday morning. His official last day is June 30. He will be paid until the end of June and receive a $70,000 severance package. According to GISD officials, Gibson will work from home as a retiring superintendent. Gibson started his superintendent position with GISD in 2021.

GISD's Executive Director of Secondary Education, Matthew Neighbors, will be interim superintendent while the district searches for Gibson's replacement.

"The Board of Trustees expresses its appreciation to Dr. Gibson for his efforts while serving as Superintendent," GISD officials said Tuesday morning. "Dr. Gibson thanks the present and past Board of Trustees for providing him with the opportunity to serve in the Galveston Independent School District. A school district is measured by the commitment of the Board, staff, and community to its children and their achievement...The Board extends its best wishes to Dr. Gibson in his future endeavors."
UPDATE: Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda identified the driver as George Alvarez, 34, at a press conference Monday morning, May 8. Alvarez was charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently being held on a $3.6 million bond.

Sauceda confirmed Alvarez was apprehended by witnesses at the scene, but couldn't confirm claims that the driver yelled anti-immigrant obscenities. Police are waiting on a toxicology report for Alvarez and couldn't say if he intentionally drove into the crowd of people waiting at the bus stop Sunday morning, May 7.

It was confirmed that several of the victims were from Venezuela and they are working with the Venezuelan government to contact families, Sauceda said. All of the victims were male.

Sauceda said Alvarez hasn't been cooperative with the investigation and charges could change.

Original story follows below.

The driver of a Range Rover is currently in police custody after he ran over and killed pedestrians at a bus stop in front of a Brownsville immigrant shelter Sunday, May 7. Little is still known about why the driver allegedly sped into a crowd of people at a bus stop, but new reports say the driver was allegedly shouting obscenities from his vehicle before running over the people.

Here's what we know so far.

Eight dead

Reports surfaced Sunday afternoon about a Range Rover plowing into a group of people waiting for a bus in front of the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center around 8:30 a.m. The shelter provides aid to immigrants and people who are houseless. The director of the immigrant center told reporters that the SUV drove up the curb, flipped on its roof and continued moving for about 200 feet, hitting people along the way.

Witnesses then detained the driver before he could run away. The initial death toll was seven but an eighth person later died from their injuries, the New York Times reported. At least 10 other people were taken to the hospital for treatment, some of the severe.

The driver

Brownsville police identified the driver as, George Alvarez, 34. He has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and the FBI has also been called to assist with the investigation as to whether the crash was intentional, ABC News reported.

The man was last reported to be in the hospital under 24-hour guard watch. The Brownsville Police Department announced it will held a press conference Monday morning, May 8, to provide more information.

One of the surviving victims hit by the vehicle, a man from Venezuela, told local news site MyRGV.com Sunday that he heard the man allegedly yell obscenities that were "critical of immigrants." Another man from Caracas told the New York Times the man yelled the anti-immigrant obscenities as he tried to flee. The police have not confirmed whether the driver yelled obscenities.

The victims

The identities or ages of the eight dead haven't been released as of Monday morning, but Brownsville police told ABC News that some of the people hit by the man Sunday were immigrants that are "under the care of border patrol." On Sunday night, the Ozanam Center held a memorial and rosary for the victims.

Governor sends National Guard to the border

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not issued a statement on the crash, but Monday morning he held a press conference in Austin ahead of the end of Title 42, which allows for U.S. to expel immigrants during a public health emergency and was enacted during Donald Trump's presidency. Abbott said at the press conference that he will send 200 members of the Texas National Guard to the border to expel immigrants.

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement the deadly incident comes after Texas politicians have escalated "anti-immigrant sentiment" ahead of Title 42 ending.

Abbott was recently under fire after he called the victims of the Cleveland, Texas mass shooting "illegal immigrants."
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LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP)  Alarm over Myanmars still-unfolding deadly civil strife, including an armed attack on an aid convoy, and Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea are expected to challenge Southeast Asian leaders' commitments to non-interference and consensus decision-making as they meet in Indonesia this week.

Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened Tuesday in the resort town of Labuan Bajo to finalize the agenda ahead of the two-day summit of the 10-nation blocs heads of state.

The United States and China are not part of the twice-yearly summit, but their escalating rivalry looms large over the high-profile Asian gathering. Beijing has warned that U.S. efforts to strengthen security alliances and intensify combat-readiness drills with Asian allies would endanger regional stability.

Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN has avoided getting entangled in major-power competition as a bloc. But its diverse members are often involved in partnerships and disputes with superpowers. They range from authoritarian Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which are closely aligned with Beijing, to liberal democracies like the Philippines, which is Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia and recently allowed an expansion of American military presence in the country, to Chinas outrage.

The other members  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have heavy economic and security engagements with both the U.S. and China.

ASEAN wants to remain open, to cooperate with anyone, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, this years ASEAN chair. We also dont want ASEAN to be anyones proxy.

Bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and deciding by consensus have held the unwieldy club of autocrats, monarchs and democracies together for decades. But that approach has also prevented it from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders.

ASEAN's principles have been tested since Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. It's become one of the bloc's gravest crises since its establishment.

Military airstrikes in April killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an apparent war crime."

Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta said ASEANs inability to persuasively and rapidly address a potential political conflagration like the Myanmar crisis should prompt it to take a second look at its founding principles.

ASEAN can no longer hide under the principles of non-interference and consensus, she told the AP. All of that can work in a non-urgent situation that does not require speed and immediate decision-making to control a crisis.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmars eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

Indonesia had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment but it was very unfortunate that in the middle of the trip there was a shootout, Widodo said Monday.

This will not deter ASEAN and Indonesia from calling for an end to the violence, Widodo told reporters Monday, renewing his call for dialogue among contending parties in Myanmar. Nobody wins in this situation.

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmars military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmars military since assuming the rotating role as ASEAN's leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is taking a non-megaphone diplomacy approach to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmars top general in 2021.

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmars top general to their summits after 2020, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmars military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the blocs non-interference policy.

"To put it mildly, the organization is now facing nothing short of an existential crisis, said Richard Heydarian, a lecturer on international affairs at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Even regional diplomats who were involved in ASEAN work before have been either guardedly optimistic about the bloc or harshly critical. When asked by The Associated Press to give one word that best describes the blocs current status, one Southeast Asian diplomat replied, Progressing. Another said, Opprobrium.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of clearance to comment publicly on the issue.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders at the summit, they plan to condemn the reported deadly airstrike by the Myanmar military and add that all forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians.

They plan to reissue a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements that does not name China.

"Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

At a closed-door session of the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to raise a Feb. 6 encounter in which a Chinese coast guard ship used a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded at least two crewmembers on a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal, a Filipino official told the AP on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Early this year, Marcos granted American forces access to four more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact. Beijing was infuriated by that agreement, which it feared would provide American forces staging grounds to intervene in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

___

Associated Press journalists Andi Jatmiko and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report.




Jin Air, the budget carrier unit of Korean Air, said Tuesday it shifted to a net profit in the first quarter from a year earlier on improved travel demand amid eased COVID-19 virus curbs.







Jin Air swung to a net profit of 60 billion won ($45 million) in the three months ended in March from a net loss of 31 billion won during the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.







Resumed flights on existing international routes to Southeast Asia and Japan, and new routes to Okinawa, Sapporo and Nha Trang helped the company make a turnaround in the first quarter, it said.







The low-cost carrier also shifted to an operating profit of 84.9 billion won in the March quarter from an operating loss of 46.4 billion won a year ago. Sales more than quintupled to 352.5 billion won from 67.5 billion won.







The company said it will focus on further diversifying routes and securing its workforce amid a global economic slowdown in the coming quarters. (Yonhap)


TORONTO (AP)  The Canadian government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canadas spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

A senior government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. It's wasn't immediately clear if he's left yet.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei persona non grata.

We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, she wrote.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.

Canada's spy service indicated that in 2021 opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijings human rights record. Canadas spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Chinas Xinjiang province.

It became public after a Globe and Mail report last week. Chong said he learned about it from that report, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied knowing about it earlier.

This should have happened years ago, Chong said Monday.

I hope that this makes it clear not just to the Peoples Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil.

On Monday, Chinas embassy in Ottawa issued a statement that accused Canada of breaching international law and acting based on anti-Chinese sentiment. It said the move has sabotaged relations between China and Canada and promised unspecified retaliatory measures.

China has previously insisted it does not interfere in other countries internal affairs, but says it will respond to what it calls provocations.

The Canadian government took its time to decide whether to proceed, with both Joly and Trudeau warning about backlash from Beijing.

Last week, Joly said that Beijing could threaten the safety of Canadians and the prosperity of the country in retaliation for any expulsion, but Joly now says that is worth that risk.

This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play, she wrote.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former governor general David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indianas top elections official traveled last week to Europe two days after final votes were cast in the first election under his supervision to speak at a right-wing political conference in Hungary.

Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales office said his trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary on Thursday and Friday didnt disrupt any election-related actions by the office. Democrats, however, accused Morales of skipping out on his official responsibilities following Indiana's city and town primaries to join fringe figures at the event in Budapest.

Hungarys populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban opened CPAC Hungary with a speech centered around battling what he frequently described as woke culture, and delved into hot-button cultural topics such as transgender and LGBTQ+ rights, migration and the content of education for children.

In a photo posted Thursday to Orbans official Twitter account, Orban is surrounded by more than a dozen U.S. conservative political figures attending the conference. Only unsuccessful 2022 GOP Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake stood between Morales and Orban in the photo.

Lake was among the most vocal 2022 Republican candidates promoting former President Donald Trumps election lies, which she made the centerpiece of her campaign. Morales, who took office in January, had called Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election a scam before dialing back that description ahead of winning election last November.

Morales declined an interview request through office spokeswoman Lindsey Eaton, who called his travel to the conference personal activities not paid for by taxpayer funds.

The role of a public official such as the Secretary of State includes interacting with and learning from diverse communities and constituencies, as well as sharing information about our state, Eaton said in a statement. The subject of Secretary Moraless speech was to share his personal American Dream story, his passion for our state and country, and the importance of strengthening ties with countries around the world.

Morales frequently highlights his life story of immigrating from Guatemala as a teenager with his parents and sisters to Indiana without knowing English, then going to college and enlisting in the military before becoming a U.S. citizen. He was speaking Friday during a CPAC session titled Make Kids Not War, according to the conference website.

Morales office didnt announce the trip ahead of time and he did not include it among his frequent social media posts until after the state Democratic Party criticized him on Monday. His posts described the trip as this past weekend even though the conference was held Thursday and Friday.

Indiana held municipal primary elections less than a week ago, military ballots are still arriving, and several races were incredibly close, yet Indianas top election official decided to jet off to a political conference in Eastern Europe for a photo op with Viktor Orban, state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl said. Working Hoosiers deserve elected officials that represent the best in Indiana, stick around and do their job during critical times.

Eaton said the secretary of states involvement in city and town primary elections across Indiana was less than during statewide general elections.

Though the municipal primary election was essentially, successfully completed by Wednesday, the Secretary, his experienced office staff, and staff at the Indiana Election Division provided uninterrupted assistance to local election administrators throughout the week, Eaton said.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan, the United States and South Korea are negotiating an agreement on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches, as cooperation among the three nations becomes increasingly important amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North, Japans chief government spokesperson said Tuesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there has been no agreement yet, but I understand that defense authorities are vigorously proceeding to set up an arrangement."

The security environment surrounding Japan and South Korea is becoming more severe and more complex, and coordination between the two countries as well as trilaterally with the United States has become increasingly important, Matsuno said.

Japan and South Korea are both key U.S. allies and their cooperation is key to Washingtons security strategy in the Indo-Pacific as tensions grow with China, North Korea and Russia.

Japan and South Korea have been separately linked to data from U.S. radar systems but not directly to each other due to difficult relations strained by disputes over history, most recently over South Korean court rulings in 2018 ordering Japanese companies to compensate Korean workers for wartime abuses including forced labor. Leaders of the three countries agreed last November to speed up information sharing on North Korean ballistic missile launches.

Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported earlier Tuesday that Japan and South Korea are nearing agreement on connecting their radars via a U.S. system to share real-time North Korean missile warning information, which would help strengthen Japanese missile defense capabilities.

The Yomiuri said the three countries are expected to reach an agreement in early June on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense ministers conference being held in Singapore. Japanese and South Korean defense ministers will hold bilateral talks during the conference, the Yomiuri said.

Ties between Japan and South Korea have rapidly thawed in recent months, largely because of their shared sense of urgency over escalating regional security threats.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols conservative government announced in March a domestically contentious plan to use local corporate funds to compensate Korean victims of forced labor without demanding contributions from Japan. Yoon then visited Tokyo and agreed with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to overcome their disputes over history to deal with more pressing concerns, prompting a resumption of defense, trade and other talks.

Kishida visited Seoul this week, where he avoided making a new, direct apology over Japans 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula but sympathized with Korean victims over their ordeals in an apparent effort to maintain the momentum for improving ties.

Kishida said he and Yoon will pay respects at a memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima during this month's summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, where Yoon has been invited as a guest. Tokyo will allow South Korean experts to inspect preparations at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant for the release of treated but still slightly radioactive wastewater, which many Koreans oppose, Kishida said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  An effort by a Republican faction in Ohio to make it harder to change the state constitution faces a critical juncture Wednesday, with action needed in the politically fractured Ohio House where the undertaking has so far stalled.

Wednesday is the last day to get the job done if lawmakers mean to put a related ballot measure before voters on Aug. 8, according to the timeline determined by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the states elections chief. However, a bill creating that election fizzled last week in a House committee and another panel agreed Tuesday to remove that date from the resolution, another convoluted twist to an already complicated debate.

I think there are a lot of ifs on this question, right? Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens told reporters after the committee vote. It should be a lively conversation.

The Ohio back-and-forth comes amid similar Republican efforts to restrict direct democracy in Missouri, North Dakota and Mississippi, according to Fairness Project, a Washington-based group that pushes ballot measures across the U.S.

In Ohio, a pressure campaign of intense lobbying and attack ads is being led by the anti-abortion Ohio Right to Life, while opposition from high-profile Ohio political figures and public outcry escalate.

Potentially at stake are the future of abortion access in the state, as well as the legality of marijuana, the minimum wage, reform of Ohio's political map-making system and possibly limits on future vaccine mandates. All are subjects of burgeoning constitutional amendment campaigns.

The resolution up for a House vote Wednesday would send a proposal to the ballot requiring 60% of the Ohio electorate to pass all future constitutional changes. Passage of the proposal, ironically, would require merely the same 50%-plus-one simple majority that has been in place since 1912.

Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 20 weeks gestation because a court has blocked a near-ban on the procedure while a lawsuit unfolds. Abortion rights groups are working to put forward a ballot measure in November that would permanently enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.

Certain GOP lawmakers had been working to set a special election in August where voters could choose to curtail their own rights to bypass lawmakers on that and other subjects. Its backers argue publicly that the supermajority requirement will prevent deep-pocketed interest groups from targeting Ohio's founding document, but documents and other evidence have made clear that the push is aimed at tanking the abortion measure. AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of over 90,000 midterm election voters across the country, found 59% of Ohio voters say abortion should generally be legal.

So excruciating, convoluted and time-consuming has been the fight over the issue that it's begun to exhaust the state's ruling Republicans. GOP Gov. Mike DeWine even pledged to sign a bill creating an August election, despite acknowledging it's inconsistent with provisions of an election bill he just signed in January  if lawmakers would just get it to his desk.

This just needs to move forward and be over with," he recently told reporters, so we can be more focused on the state.

Every day seems to bring another round of gamesmanship so complex that even those well versed in legislative rules are challenged to keep up. Can a chair really participate in an effort to defy his own committee? (Answer: The chair got the boot.) How many House votes are actually needed to send the 60% question to voters, given one lawmaker has died since the last election and another left for a new job? (Answer: Depends who you ask.)

Another example was a proposal to cut $20 million in funding for local election boards from legislation setting the August special election. For arcane procedural reasons, stripping the funding would have simplified the bill's trip to the House floor  though it also might have left already stressed local election offices without money to pay for the extra election. After days of behind-the-scenes wrangling, two committee hearings were canceled and the bill died.

Stephens now says that legislation was not even needed. Both the House and Senate resolutions advancing the 60% question to the ballot had the Aug. 8 election embedded in their wording. Tuesday's change would send the issue to the next regularly scheduled election. Such lawmaker-initiated ballot issues bypass the governor and go straight to the ballot.

Some of the state's most powerful anti-abortion and pro-gun rights groups  including Ohio Right to Life and the Buckeye Firearms Association  have tried to push the two measures through by linking the complicated web of related votes to their election-season scorecards. That means voting no on either measure threatens a Republican lawmaker's important pro-life and pro-gun voting records. Gun groups are involved because they fear a future constitutional amendment on gun control.

Besides that effort, the newly formed Save Our Constitution PAC is running attack ads against Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens and allied GOP lawmakers who have balked at one or both elements of the plan. The political action committee received $1.1 million from billionaire Richard Uihlein, a GOP megadonor from Illinois, an heir to the Schlitz Brewing Co. fortune and the PAC's only donor so far, The Columbus Dispatch reported. News of the donation raised eyebrows among opponents of the 60% measure, because a key argument among its proponents has been to keep out-of-state special interests from accessing Ohio's founding document.

The campaign against raising the constitutional amendment threshold has grown to include every living ex-governor of Ohio, five Republican and Democratic former state attorneys general and the Ohio Libertarian Party. A large bipartisan coalition of grassroots voting rights, labor, police, faith, civil rights and community organizations staged a protest last week, featuring hundreds of protesters marching around the Statehouse. They plan to return Wednesday.

LaRose, the highest-profile supporter of the supermajority threshold and a potential 2024 U.S. Senate candidate, says Wednesday is the deadline for legislative action. That's once state legal and constitutional requirements are applied to the envisioned August 8 election date, his spokesperson said.

Even Republican Senate President Matt Huffman, who also supports raising the threshold and spearheaded the August election idea, said last week that he cannot predict the House. I really don't know what's going to happen, he told reporters.
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LONDON (AP)  An anti-monarchy group says it plans to take legal action against Londons Metropolitan Police after several of its members were arrested as they prepared to protest the coronation of King Charles III.

Civil liberties groups are accusing the police, and Britains Conservative government, of stifling the right to protest with new powers to clamp down on peaceful but disruptive demonstrations.

The police force expressed regret late Monday that the activists were prevented from protesting, but defended its handling of the coronation, which drew hundreds of thousands of people into the streets of London  hundreds of protesters among them.

Police arrested 64 people around Saturday's coronation, most for allegedly planning to disrupt the ceremonies. Four have been charged, while most were released on bail. Six members of anti-monarchist group Republic were let go and told they would not face any charges.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith said three senior police officers came to his house and apologized in person for the arrest that saw him held in custody for 16 hours.

I said for the record I wont accept the apology," Smith said, adding that the group "will be taking action.

The U.K.'s recently passed Public Order Act, introduced in response to civil disobedience by environmental groups, allows police to search demonstrators for items including locks and glue and imposes penalties of up to 12 months in prison for protesters who block roads or interfere with national infrastructure.

Police said the Republic members had items that could be used to lock on to infrastructure. Republic said the items were ties for their placards and police acknowledged its investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event.

We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route, police said.

London police chief Mark Rowley defended his officers' actions.

Much of the ill-informed commentary on the day is wholly inaccurate. For example, protest was not banned," Rowley wrote in the Evening Standard newspaper. I want to be absolutely clear: our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality. Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real.

The Conservative government also defended the way police handled the protests.

This was the context: a once-in-a-generation national moment, facing specific intelligence threats about multiple, well-organized plots to disrupt it," Policing Minister Chris Philp said.

We had specific intelligence that people planned to disrupt the coronation by creating a stampede of horses and covering the ceremonial procession in paint, he said.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a member of the opposition Labour Party, requested further clarity from the force. He said the right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy.

Conservative lawmaker David Davis said the new powers of arrest were too broad.

No one wants a day ruined, but the right to put up placards is virtually absolute in British democracy, he told the BBC on Tuesday.

The Metropolitan Police force was already under intense pressure after a series of scandals involving its treatment of women and minorities. Confidence in the force plummeted after a serving officer raped and killed a young woman in London in 2020.

An independent review commissioned after the murder of marketing executive Sarah Everard said the force was riddled with racism, misogyny and homophobia. This year, another officer pleaded guilty to 48 rapes and dozens of other serious crimes committed over a 17-year period. ___

Follow APs coverage of King Charles III at https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii
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WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Protesters and a large installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine blocked the path of Russia's ambassador to Poland as he sought Tuesday to place a wreath at a Warsaw memorial to Soviet soldiers on Russia's Victory Day holiday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized Poland over the incident, saying the Warsaw government was informed in advance of the ambassador's plan to visit the Red Army cemetery and memorial site, and did not act to ensure that he could pay his respects at the memorial.

The ministry said in a statement that the incident demonstrates the duplicity of Warsaws policy in assessing the events of World War II and trying to forget about the role of our nation in saving European countries enslaved by Nazi Germany. It added that the incident will not remain without a proper reaction.

The installation in Warsaw included hundreds of fluttering blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and crosses serving as symbolic grave markers for Ukrainians killed by Russians during the full-scale war launched by Moscow last year.

A pool of fake blood below the crosses underlined the stark message of the protest, which was put up by Euromaidan-Warszawa, a citizens' initiative that supports Ukraine.

Organizer Viktoria Pogrebniak said the installation, set up for the day at the entrance to the Red Army memorial site, was meant to fight back against Russian propaganda, and show the real picture to the world.

We are bombed, we are killed, we are raped, Pogrebniak said. We are killed just because we are Ukrainians.

She said the ambassador and other Russian diplomats would have to walk over the symbolic corpses of Ukrainians "or will need to go through the bushes, if they wanted to reach the memorial.

With his path blocked, Ambassador Sergey Andreev instead left a wreath of red carnations in front of the hundreds of Ukrainian flags as loudspeakers blasted the sounds of bombs and air sirens.

The installation also included large mock-ups of bombed buildings and the names of Ukrainian cities where Russia has carried out atrocities against Ukrainians: Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Bakhmut.

The protesters surrounded Andreev and his entourage and yelled Ruscists, an insult that combines the words Russians and fascists."

Andreev was doused with a red liquid at the same place on Victory Day last year.

Some Poles also showed up through the morning and did make their way across the symbolic cemetery or through the bushes to reach the Red Army memorial to leave flowers. That triggered the anger of the protesters who denounced them as provocateurs serving the Kremlin's interests.

They are traitors to Poland, shouted one activist, Katarzyna Augustynek. She seized a bouquet of white carnations left by a woman and threw it to the ground, triggering an angry exchange with the other woman.

The Red Army soldiers died in the Allied fight to defeat Nazi Germany during World War II. But many Poles also remember how they carried out rapes and other crimes, and they resent the decades of Soviet control that came next for their nation.

Poland threw off Moscow-backed communism in 1989 and today is a strong ally of Ukraine. Poland is supplying weapons to Kyiv and giving refuge to many Ukrainians, and there are very few who actually support Moscow.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States and Britain voiced dissatisfaction Tuesday with the weekend decision by the Arab League to re-instate Syria as a member.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said they opposed the move. But they also allowed it was up to the Arab League to determine its membership.

At the same time they said their countries would not normalized relations with Syrian President Bashar Assads government unless it accepts and complies with a U.N. plan to restore peace to the country after a brutal 13-year civil war.

We do not believe that Syria merits re-admission to the Arab League, Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference with Cleverly at the State Department.

Its a point we have made to all of our regional partners, but they have to make their own decisions, Blinken said. "Our position is clear: We are not going to be in the business of normalizing relations with Assad and with that regime.

Cleverly said the British government agreed with the U.S. stance.

This is an occasion where the U.S. and the U.K. share very, very similar views, he said. The U.K. is very uncomfortable with the re-admission of Syria in the Arab League, but as Secretary Blinken said, ultimately it is a decision for the membership of the Arab League."

The point that I have made is that there needs to be conditionality if they choose to take this course of action, he said. It needs to be conditional on some fundamental changes from Damascus and the Assad regime.

Blinken and Cleverly said any solution to the crisis in Syria must be based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which was adopted in 2015 and lays out steps, including a permanent cease-fire, humanitarian assistance and progress toward free and fair elections, measures the Arab League also backs.

"I think the Arab perspective as articulated through the Arab League is that they believe they can pursue these objectives through more direct engagement, Blinken said. We may have a different perspective when it comes to that, but the objectives that we have I think are the same.

Both men said it was critical for Syria to never again become a haven for the Islamic State group, which occupied large portions of the country and neighboring Iraq before being largely driven out.

Syria was reinstated in the 22-nation Arab League on Sunday after a 12-year suspension. It was a symbolic victory for Assad, who can join the groups May 19 summit, though Western sanctions will continue to block reconstruction funds to the war-battered country.
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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand police said they have found the body of a high school student in a cave after a school group got into trouble when floodwaters hit.

A group of 15 students and two adults had set out Tuesday morning on a trip to the Abbey Caves in Whangarei as part of an outdoor education class, authorities said. The others made it out safely.

The death has raised questions about why school officials chose to go ahead with the trip even after forecasters had warned that heavy rain was approaching.

The district council website cautions people to check weather forecast as caves can be prone to flash flooding. The site says the cave system features dramatic limestone outcrops, sink holes and three significant caves.

We acknowledge this event has been very distressing for the school and wider community, and that there are a number of questions the public will have, Police Superintendent Tony Hill said in a statement. "At the moment, polices focus is on supporting those affected."

Hill said the body was recovered late Tuesday.

Whangarei Boys High School Principal Karen Gilbert-Smith wrote on Facebook that the event was hugely upsetting for all those involved.

In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united as a WBHS community and provide support where required, the principal wrote.

Further south, the heavy rainfall and flooding Tuesday prompted authorities in Auckland to declare a state of emergency. The declaration remained in place Wednesday morning as the weather eased.

Fire and emergency crews said they responded to more than 200 calls on Tuesday, most of them in Auckland. Many were for floodwaters entering buildings, but they had also responded to landslides, falling trees and trapped cars. Some train and bus services were canceled, and authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Severe weather has plagued the North Island this year. In January, four people were killed when floodwaters hit Auckland. In February, 11 people died when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a difficult time for the region.

He said Tuesday he'd yet to find out all the details on what had happened to the student.

I do want to express my deep concern there and my absolute support for the school community," Hipkins said.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  The Bolivian general who captured Argentine-Cuban guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara has been buried, and the ceremony was shunned by Bolivias leftist national government in a gesture that has angered his relatives.

Retired Gen. Gary Prado Salmon, a hero to some compatriots and a pariah to others, died Saturday at 84 from renal complications.

He had been declared a national hero in 1967, but also was accused in 2009 of involvement in a coup attempt against then-President Evo Morales. The Bolivian Army did not bury Pardo with any honors for Sunday's ceremony, though he did receive tributes from city and regional officials.

No authority from President Luis Arce's government issued any statement on Prados death, nor did any military officials. No active members of the military participated in the wake nor funeral and there were no active duty officers flanking Prados coffin, as is the norm for deceased members of the service  all of which has upset Prados family.

My husband will not be honored. The commanders violate the rules to please the government, Maria del Carmen Morales, Prados widow, told the local El Deber newspaper.

Prados son, Gary Prado Arauz, said a request by the Union of Retired Military Personnel that honors be rendered had been denied. Its a shame, he told journalists at his father's wake.

The government of Luis Arce, like his predecessor (Morales), sympathizes with Che Guevara, so they wont honor Gary Prado. Thats why theyve chosen silence, said Paul Coca, a political science professor at the Franz Tamayo University. The Armed Forces, for their part, wont do anything that could bother or disturb the government.

In addition, Prado was an activist in the Revolutionary Left Movement of former president Jaime Paz, who is a declared political enemy of the Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party of Arce and Morales, Coca said.

Prado did receive tributes from local authorities in Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the county where he lived. The government of the Santa Cruz region laid Prado in state and friends and family members as well as retired military officers celebrated a Mass in the citys cathedral before he was buried.

Prado was a captain on October 8, 1967 when he commanded the patrol that captured the legendary guerrilla fighter in the Bolivian jungle.

In his book How I Captured Che and in subsequent interviews, Prado stated he was not responsible for Guevaras execution, which was ordered by higher-ranking officers. I had nothing to do with it. I was looking for the other guerrilla fighters. When I returned to the camp, they had already executed him, he said.

Later in life, Prado was Bolivia's ambassador to Great Britain in the early 1990s and to Mexico in 2000-2002. It was during his posting in Mexico that Mexican writer and filmmaker Alberto Hijar threw a glass of wine in his face, shouting, To the health of Che, murderer.

The government substantially distanced itself from Prado during the tenure of Morales, a leftist president in office from 2006 to 2019, who is a recognized admirer of the Cuban revolution and a friend of late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Prado served 11 years of home detention after he was accused of alleged terrorism as part of a supposed coup plot against Morales in 2009. Morales is the current leader of the MAS.

While Prado was in the opposition, he was admired by supporters for his backing of the leaders of Santa Cruz, the countrys economic engine that has long been at odds with politicians in La Paz.

Former center-right President Carlos Mesa, who was in office 2003-2005, sent a message of condolence. I am deeply saddened by the death of General Gary Prado, an honorable military man and a good person. A protagonist of a historic and fundamental event in our history, the capture of Ernesto Che Guevara, he tweeted.

Guevaras guerrillas fought in the Bolivian jungle for nine months between 1966 and 1967.

Guevara, an Argentine who later became a Cuban citizen, was buried alongside other guerrilla fighters in Valle Grande, near where he was captured. The whereabouts of his remains were kept secret until they were recovered and moved to Santa Clara, Cuba in 1997.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to participate in the Intergovernmental Leaders Forum in Ottawa, Ontario, May 8. AP-Yonhap



Ottawa said Monday it would expel a Chinese diplomat accused of having sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing, plunging the two nations into a new diplomatic row.



Foreign Minister Melanie Joly declared the diplomat "persona non grata" and said Canada would "not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs."



"We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," she said, adding that foreign diplomats in Canada "have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home."



The move aggravated already strained Sino-Canadian relations, with China saying Canada had "sabotaged" relations between the two nations.



"The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side," a statement from the Chinese embassy in Canada said, calling on Ottawa to "step back from the brink."



Beijing said it had filed an official protest over breaches of international law and diplomatic norms, and accused Canada of "deliberately undermining relations" with its second-largest trading partner.



According to a source familiar with the matter, Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto at the heart of the affair, has been asked to leave Canada within five days.



His expulsion followed an outcry led by parliamentarian Michael Chong over allegations revealed by local media that China's intelligence agency had planned to target Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions for voting in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing's conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide.



This was "almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC (People's Republic of China) positions," the Globe and Mail newspaper last week cited a Canadian Security Intelligence Service document as saying.



'Gamble'



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced growing pressure to take a hard line with Beijing following revelations in recent months that it sought to sway Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections.



The latest allegations were used by his critics to further accuse him of inertia in the face of foreign meddling.



"There was a real political risk for the Trudeau government in this affair, which is taking a gamble by showing its muscles in this way," said Genevieve Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa.



Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense since Canada's arrest in 2018 of a top Huawei executive and the detention of two Canadian nationals in China in apparent retaliation.



All three have been released, but Beijing has continued to blast Ottawa for aligning with Washington's China policy while Canadian officials have regularly accused China of interference.



After China's ambassador was summoned last week over the latest interference allegations, Beijing on Friday slammed what it called "groundless slander and defamation" by Canada.



The Chinese foreign ministry insisted the scandal had been "hyped up by some Canadian politicians and media."



On Monday, Chong told reporters in Ottawa: "It shouldn't have taken the targeting of a member of Parliament to make this (expulsion) decision."



"We have known for years that the PRC is using its accredited diplomats here in Canada to target Canadians and their families," he said.



He said Canada has become "a playground for foreign interference," including the harassment of diaspora communities.



Roromme Chantal, a China expert at the School of Advanced Public Studies in Moncton, told AFP that Canada should expect retaliation to take the form of "the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat if not several diplomats."



Beijing, he said, "could also take economic reprisals, as a way of sending a message to other countries that are talking about interference." (AFP)


BERLIN (AP)  The number of politically motivated crimes reported in Germany rose by 7% last year, the country's top security official said Tuesday.

Overall, Germany registered 58,961 politically motivated crimes last year, most of which were for offenses such as damage to property, insults or incitement to hatred, holding illegal gatherings or displaying Nazi symbols. However, 4,043 were classed as violent crimes  an increase of 4%, the minister said.

There was a significant rise in crimes that could not be assigned to the traditional motivations of right-wing or left-wing ideology, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.

A significant proportion of these diffuse offenses  which rose by 13% to 24,080 cases  were in connection with coronavirus restrictions or protests related to the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the rising cost of living, Faeser told reporters in Berlin.

The minister stressed that the biggest threat to German society is still far-right extremism, of which 23,493 cases were recorded. She said that 41% of all victims of politically motivated violent crimes were injured by far-right extremists.

Holger Muench, the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office, said that even among the diffuse crimes, around two-thirds of the perpetrators were more likely to reject the country's authorities and express far-right ideology when questioned.

The number of hate crimes rose by 10% to 11,520 cases  with three out of four hate crimes motivated by far-right ideology.

Crimes against refugees rose by 9% overall, but violent crimes against refugees were up by 22%.

Crimes committed by the so-called Reichsbuerger, or Reich Citizens, movement also increased sharply by 39.7% to 1,865 cases, among them a coup attempt that was foiled by the authorities in December. The movement rejects the postwar partition of Germany and the democratic states that followed, arguing that the prewar Reich still exists.

The overall number of antisemitic crimes went down by 12.75%, the minister said.

An association of counseling centers for victims of right-wing, racist and antisemitic violence, the VBRG, told reporters at a separate press conference Tuesday that the rise of racist attacks in Germany has created an atmosphere of fear among members of minority groups such as immigrants, refugees, Jews and the LGBTQI community.

As an example they pointed to an incident that took place on the weekend in the east German state of Brandenburg which is bordering the German capital, where a group of high school students from Berlin  many of them with immigrant roots  were attacked by local youths. The Berlin high school students, who were staying at a youth camp in Heidesee in the Dahme-Spreewald county, felt so threatened that they had to leave the camp overnight with police protection.

Faeser, the German interior minister, condemned the incident as horrible.

It is especially painful that those who were attacked were the ones who had to leave, Faeser said.

Robert Kusche from the VBRG said the real numbers of attacks in Germany are likely much higher as many crimes dont even get registered because victims dont come forward to report attacks.
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls' room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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PARIS (AP)  French international news agency Agence France-Presse says its Ukraine video coordinator was killed Tuesday during a rocket attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Arman Soldin, 32, was with a team of AFP journalists traveling with Ukrainian soldiers when the group came under fire with Grad rockets, the agency said. The rest of the AFP team was uninjured.

The late afternoon attack took place in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, a town near Bakhmut, the agency said. Russian forces have been trying to capture the city for nine months, making Bakhmut the focus of the war's longest battle.

His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine," said AFP chairman Fabrice Fries.

Soldin was born in Sarajevo, now the capital of Bosnia, and a French citizen, according to AFP. He arrived in Ukraine to cover the war the day after the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and had traveled regularly to the front lines in recent months.

AFP said it was devastated at Soldin's death and all of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.

In May 2022, French journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, who was working in Ukraine for BFM-TV, was killed near Severodonetsk in the east.

At least 10 media workers have been killed while covering the war in Ukraine, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

RSF Director Christophe Deloire praised the daily courage of those covering the war and called Soldin's death a tragedy of all those who defend the independence and reliability of information.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a speech Tuesday night in Washington, expressed condolences to Soldin's family and loved ones.

Countless journalists are working to expose and report on the truth in extremely dangerous settings," Blinken said. Today, we were devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine.
CAIRO (AP)  The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has risen to 604 people, including civilians, the U.N. health agency said on Tuesday. The new figures come as representatives of the warring parties are holding talks in Saudi Arabia.

More than 5,100 people were also wounded in connection with the fighting, World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. On Monday, the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said that the fatalities had reached 487.

The conflict started on April 15, after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields and displaced nearly 700,000 people on top of the 3.7 million who had already been internally displaced within the country before the conflict began, according to the U.N. migration agency.

On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that talks between delegations of both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in the coastal city of Jeddah.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths proposed a declaration of commitments to representatives of the rival Sudanese forces to guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at U.N. headquarters Tuesday.

He said Griffiths made the proposal in Jeddah and is encouraged that there were consultations on the declaration, so that was a step forward.

The talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by the kingdom and the United States in hopes of ending the fighting. Meanwhile, Burhan accused the RSF of using residential neighborhoods as their military bases and civilians as human shields.

In an interview late Monday with an Egyptian TV channel, Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya, he insisted they must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached.

If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations, he said. We wont go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens.

The RSF has not responded to Burhan's statement.

Also on Tuesday, the U.N. special envoy for the Horn of Africa said the conflict is profoundly affecting Sudan's relations with neighboring South Sudan.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh told the U.N. Security Council that the unstable situation has the potential for more than 200,000 South Sudanese refugees hosted by the Sudan returning home prematurely to a country where two-thirds of the population already needs humanitarian assistance.

South Sudan is facing violent clashes and increasing disillusionment and frustration as it struggles to implement the most challenging provisions of a fragile 2018 power-sharing agreement, according to the U.N.

Before the conflict in Sudan erupted, Tetteh said, relations between Sudan and South Sudan were stable and there were regular meetings between officials of both countries, including at the highest level.

But she said the conflict in the Sudan is putting the incremental progress achieved by the two countries in addressing their outstanding bilateral issues in jeopardy.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southwestern Fayette County in south central Texas...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 542 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 3 inches of rain have

fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 3 inches are possible in

the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,

urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Muldoon, Floy and O'Quinn.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of west central Texas, including the following

county, Taylor.

* WHEN...Until 745 PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 545 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms just south of Merkel. Minor flooding is ongoing

or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Up to 2.25

inches of rain have fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.75 inches are expected

over the area. This additional rain will result in minor

flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

Merkel, Camp Butman and Shep.

- This includes the following highways...

Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 272 and 275..

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT

FOR CENTRAL FAYETTE COUNTY...

At 546 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Muldoon, or 9

miles southwest of La Grange, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

La Grange, Muldoon, Swiss Alp, Ammannsville, O'Quinn, Mullins Prairie

and Rutersville.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading

killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to

be struck by lightning.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Kimble,

southeastern Menard and west central Mason Counties through 630 PM

CDT...

At 545 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Saline, moving northwest at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Long Mountain, London, Saline, Streeter, Hext, Yates Crossing, The

Intersection Of Highway 29 And Ranch Road 1222, The Intersection Of

Us-83 And Ranch Road 1773, Erna, Us-377 Near The Kimble-

Menard County Line and The Intersection Of Us-83 And Highway 29.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3077 9985 3099 9968 3080 9933 3054 9953

TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 117DEG 7KT 3079 9955

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

613 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central

Caldwell, southeastern Travis and northwestern Bastrop Counties

through 700 PM CDT...

At 613 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Mustang Ridge, or 11 miles northeast of Lockhart, moving north at 15

mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Austin, Austin Bergstrom Int Airport, Rollingwood, Mustang Ridge,

Niederwald, Cedar Creek, Wyldwood, Hornsby Bend, Webberville,

Creedmoor, Garfield, Rockne, Maha, Del Valle, Pilot Knob, Cedar

Hills, McKinney Falls State Park, Lytton Springs, St John Colony and

Mendoza.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 2997 9740 2995 9770 3002 9772 3003 9771

3003 9772 3029 9779 3028 9733

TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 174DEG 13KT 3003 9761

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

The National Weather Service in League City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Colorado County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 614 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Weimar, or

near Schulenburg, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Columbus, Weimar and Rock Island.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

827 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT

FOR NORTHWESTERN BURNET COUNTY...

At 827 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Victor, or

9 miles north of Burnet, moving west at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Burnet, Lake Victor, Inks Lake State Park and Sunnylane.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 915 PM CDT.

* At 826 PM CDT, a line of severe thunderstorms was located from

south of Glen Cove to Coleman to Echo moving, moving southeast at

25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Valera around 835 PM CDT.

Santa Anna around 900 PM CDT.

Trickham around 915 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Mozelle,

Whon, Fisk, Echo, Shields and Hords Creek Reservoir.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southwestern Uvalde County in south central Texas...

Northwestern Zavala County in south central Texas...

* Until 245 AM CDT.

* At 1146 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are

possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,

urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

La Pryor, Washer and Uvalde Estates.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the

dangers of flooding.

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM CDT TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of Deep South Texas, including the following

county, Hidalgo.

* WHEN...Until 1245 AM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 1146 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain

has fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are expected

over the area. This additional rain will result in minor

flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

San Juan, Alamo, Donna, South Alamo, North Alamo Elementary

School, A.p. Solis Middle School, Donna Public Library, Donna

Police Department, North Alamo, Donna City Hall, Austin

Middle School, Donna High School, Scissors, San Juan City

Hall, Carman Elementary School, San Juan Public Library,

Mayfield Park, San Juan Municipal Court, Muniz and San Juan

Middle School.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, May 10, 2023

_____

FLOOD WARNING

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Flood Warning

National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX

412 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023

...The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi TX has issued a

Flood Warning for the following rivers in Texas...

Guadalupe River Near Bloomington affecting Victoria, Calhoun and

Refugio Counties.

For the Guadalupe River...including Victoria, Bloomington...Minor

flooding is forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/crp.

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING UNTIL FURTHER

NOTICE...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Guadalupe River Near Bloomington.

* WHEN...From Thursday evening until further notice.

* IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Moderate lowland flooding occurs, with the

river reaching well into the flood plain. Any oil tank batteries,

pump jacks, and secondary roads near the river may be flooded.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 3:00 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 14.7 feet.

- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage

Thursday evening and continue rising to a crest of 22.6 feet

Saturday morning.

- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Below are the latest river stages and stage forecasts:

Fld Observed Forecasts (4 pm)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Guadalupe River

Bloomington 20.0 14.7 Tue 3 pm 16.9 19.6 22.0 22.6 22.4

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT

FOR CENTRAL DUVAL COUNTY...

At 416 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 12 miles northwest

of Benavides, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include...

Benavides.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 14, 2023

_____

FLOOD WARNING

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Flood Warning

National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX

419 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023

...The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi TX has issued a

Flood Warning for the following rivers in Texas...

Guadalupe River At Victoria affecting Victoria County.

For the Guadalupe River...including Victoria, Bloomington...Minor

flooding is forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/crp.

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT TO EARLY SUNDAY

AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Guadalupe River At Victoria.

* WHEN...From late Thursday night to early Sunday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Minor lowland flooding occurs. Water

begins to flow over River Road. Fox's Bend in Riverside Park is

inaccessible, and the Riverside Boat Ramp parking area is affected

by flood waters.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 3:15 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 6.5 feet.

- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage

early Friday morning to a crest of 23.9 feet early Saturday

morning. It will then fall below flood stage late Saturday

evening.

- Flood stage is 21.0 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Below are the latest river stages and stage forecasts:

Fld Observed Forecasts (4 pm)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Guadalupe River

Victoria 21.0 6.5 Tue 3 pm 14.2 19.7 23.4 22.7 16.8

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Migrants gather between the primary and secondary border fences in San Diego as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19-era restrictions known as Title 42, that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico May 8. Reuters-Yonhap



Under a set of white tents at the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, dozens of Venezuelan men waited. Some sat on curbs and others leaned on metal barricades. When the gates eventually opened, the long line of men filed slowly up the pedestrian pathway to the bridge and across the Rio Grande River to Mexico.



In the past few weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have been facilitating these expulsions three times a day as roughly 30,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela , have entered the U.S. in this region since mid-April. That's compared with 1,700 migrants Border Patrol agents encountered in the first two weeks of April.



In the other end of the state, in El Paso, officials are dealing with another surge of migrants and worry that thousands more are waiting to cross.



All this comes as the U.S. is preparing for the end of a policy linked to the coronavirus pandemic that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants, and it spotlights concerns about whether the end of the immigration limits under Title 42 of a 1944 public health law will mean even more migrants trying to cross the southern border.



"We've been preparing for quite some time and we are ready. What we are expecting is indeed a surge. And what we are doing is planning for different levels of a surge," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last week during a visit to southern Texas. But he also stressed that the situation at the border is "extremely challenging."



He spoke from a location in Brownsville where U.S. officials had set up a tent and facilities like portable bathrooms for migrants. He said it's difficult to identify the cause of the recent Venezuelan surge but said the U.S. is working with Mexico to address it and predicted change "very shortly."



Many of those crossing the border are entering through Brownsville just north of the Mexican border town of Matamoros. The city was rocked by another crisis Sunday when an SUV plowed into people waiting at a bus stop across from the city's migrant shelter. Eight people, mostly men from Venezuela, died.



Ricardo Marquez, a 30-year-old Venezuelan man, arrived at a shelter in McAllen after crossing the border with his wife and 5-month-old child in Brownsville. They left Venezuela because his daughter needs surgery.



"I was confronted with the decision to either stay there or risk it all for my daughter," he said. They had crossed the Rio Grande after spending a month in Matamoros trying to get an appointment through an app the U.S. uses to schedule appointments for people without documents to come to the border and seek entry.





Migrants gather between primary and secondary border fences in San Diego as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19 restrictions that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020 near San Diego, California, U.S., May 8. Reuters-Yonhap
WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX

637 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern

Montgomery and northeastern Harris Counties through 700 PM CDT...

At 636 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

northeastern Bush Intercontinental Airport, or over Humble, moving

southeast at around 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Humble, Galena Park, Tomball, Jacinto City, Jersey Village, Near

Northside Houston, Aldine, Northside / Northline, Kingwood, Greater

Greenspoint, Spring, Greater Fifth Ward, northeastern Greater

Heights, The Woodlands, Bush Intercontinental Airport, Eastex /

Jensen Area, Northshore, Willowbrook, Hunterwood and Clinton Park

Tri-Community.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Locally heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may

lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through

flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement

agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service

office in League City.

LAT...LON 2997 9572 3012 9563 3010 9508 2973 9523

TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 289DEG 26KT 2999 9531

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has

been cancelled.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LAKE CHARLES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Hardin County in southeastern Texas...

South Central Jasper County in southeastern Texas...

North Central Jefferson County in southeastern Texas...

Northwestern Orange County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 1015 PM CDT.

* At 710 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms continue to

produce heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 7 inches

of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches

are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is likely already

occurring. Rises on bayous and creeks in the area are likely

through the evening with additional flooding possible along these

areas.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban

areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as

other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Beaumont, Lumberton, Silsbee, Kountze, Wildwood, Saratoga,

Evadale, Thicket, Bevil Oaks, Pine Forest, Lakeview, Honey Island,

Village Mills, Caney Head, Weiss Bluff and Votaw.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the

dangers of flooding.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of south central Texas, including the following

county, Burnet.

* WHEN...Until 1015 PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 710 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Up to 2 inches of rain have

fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are expected over

the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

Briggs.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law

enforcement and request they pass this information to the National

Weather Service when you can do so safely.

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northeastern Schleicher County in west central Texas...

Southeastern Tom Green County in west central Texas...

* Until 800 PM CDT.

* At 709 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles northwest

of Adams, or 14 miles southeast of Christoval, moving north at 10

mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

northeastern Schleicher and southeastern Tom Green Counties,

including the following locations... Adams.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a

Northeastern Burnet County in south central Texas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 711 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Briggs, or 13

miles south of Copperas Cove, moving northwest at 5 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

* Locations impacted include...

Briggs and Watson.

Large hail, damaging winds, and continuous cloud to ground lightning

are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is

one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder,

you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LAKE CHARLES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Lake Charles LA

507 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern

Cameron, southwestern Calcasieu Parishes in southwestern Louisiana

and east central Orange Counties through 545 PM CDT...

At 507 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7

miles north of Sabine National Wildlife, moving north at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...

Orange, West Orange, Vinton, Toomey, Carlyss and Hackberry.

This includes the following highways...

Interstate 10 in Texas near mile marker 880.

Interstate 10 in Louisiana between mile markers 1 and 9.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3006 9376 3012 9372 3013 9370 3019 9356

3014 9335 2995 9347 2992 9368

TIME...MOT...LOC 2207Z 171DEG 11KT 3001 9359

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Brown County in west central Texas...

* Until 945 PM CDT.

* At 849 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake

Brownwood State Park, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Early around 910 PM CDT.

Brownwood around 915 PM CDT.

Camp Bowie around 920 PM CDT.

Zephyr around 930 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Indian

Creek, Owens and Thrifty.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of

a building.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Brown County in west central Texas...

East Central Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 1245 AM CDT.

* At 939 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible

in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,

urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Brownwood, Early, Bangs, Blanket, Camp Bowie, Lake Brownwood State

Park, Lake Brownwood, Lake Brownwood Near Thrifty, Byrds, Zephyr,

Grosvenor, Brookesmith, Owens and Thrifty.

This includes the following Low Water Crossings...

Good Shephard at 11th, Austin Street at Avenue G, Belle Plain at

Romines, Cordell at Anderson, Gifford at Beaver, Indian Creek at

9th, 4th Street at Wood, Magnolia at Belmeade, Willis at Belmeade

and Austin Street at Avenue J.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southern Brown County in west central Texas...

Northern San Saba County in west central Texas...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 942 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Brookesmith,

moving southeast at 10 mph. Strong winds will move south into

northern San Saba county ahead of the storms to Richland Springs

around 1015 PM CDT.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to

mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Camp Bowie around 950 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include

Harkeyville, Spring Creek, Us-190 Near The Mcculloch-

San Saba County Line, Locker, Hall and Indian Creek.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern McCulloch County in west central Texas...

East central Menard County in west central Texas...

Northwestern Mason County in west central Texas...

* Until 1145 PM CDT.

* At 1050 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Calf Creek,

moving south at 5 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Calf Creek around 1100 PM CDT.

Camp Air around 1140 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include The

Intersection Of Highway 29 And Ranch Road 1222 and The Intersection

Of Us-190 And Ranch Road 1311.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern and central

McMullen County through 1115 PM CDT...

At 1050 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7

miles northwest of Tilden, moving northeast at 15 mph. Another

strong thunderstorm was located 7 miles south of Tilden, moving

northeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Tilden and Cross.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 2863 9842 2823 9851 2825 9880 2864 9878

2864 9851

TIME...MOT...LOC 0350Z 204DEG 12KT 2851 9866

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Shreveport LA

233 PM CDT Tue May 9 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern

Nacogdoches, Angelina, southern San Augustine and southwestern Sabine

Counties through 330 PM CDT...

At 232 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Colmesneil, moving northwest at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Lufkin, Diboll, Huntington, Pineland, Etoile, Burke, Zavalla,

Broaddus, McElroy, Shawnee, Homer and Dolan.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3110 9465 3109 9467 3110 9474 3115 9485

3125 9487 3147 9432 3117 9370 3116 9391

3114 9404 3111 9406 3103 9447

TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 148DEG 20KT 3092 9434

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH

WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 10% OR LESS, 20FT

WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR THE

GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW

MEXICO...

* AFFECTED AREA...Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains,

Chaves Plains, Eddy Plains, Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000

Feet and Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

* TIMING...Wednesday afternoon and evening.

* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent.

* RFTI...7 or extreme.

* IMPACTS...Avoid the use of open flames or any activities that

may generate sparks. Accidental ignitions will have the

potential to grow quickly into dangerous wind-driven wildfires.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions

are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible

Red Flag Warnings.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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French President Emmanuel Macron leaves after delivering his speech at the WWII Monluc prison in Lyon, May 8. AP-Yonhap



French President Emmanuel Macron will make his first state visit to Germany in July, the two countries said on Monday, amid persistent tensions on issues ranging from energy policy to China.



Macron will visit Germany from July 2 to 4 at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier "to honor the close friendship of the two countries in the 60th year of the Elysee Treaty" on bilateral relations.



It will be the first state visit by a French president in 23 years, Steinmeier's office said.



Macron will visit "several regions of Germany" in order to "underline the unique ties between our states, our citizens and particularly German and French youth".



"This special event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the decades-old friendship of the two countries," Berlin said, "as well as the close personal ties" between Steinmeier and Macron.



German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Paris this week to prepare the visit, meeting her French counterpart on Tuesday and joining a cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, Macron's office said.



Macron will travel to Potsdam outside Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 6 to prepare for a series of forthcoming events including the conference for a new global financial pact and an European Union summit in late June and a NATO summit in July.



The French presidency also announced a meeting of the two governments in the autumn to foster "ever closer cooperation between the two countries".



The stepped-up diplomacy comes amid friction on a range of issues key to both governments.



Germany's phase-out of nuclear power as France steps up the construction of reactors has proved contentious in recent months, as has a reform of the EU's stability and growth pact and major defense acquisition programs.



Meanwhile Macron sparked controversy last month after a visit to China by saying that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing, or get caught up in any escalation over Taiwan.



German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius criticized Macron's remarks as "unfortunate", adding: "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States."



Beijing announced early on Monday that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang would visit Germany, France and Norway this week, as China pushes to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict. (AFP)


Hong Kong: Govt aids bay area HA patients

The Health Bureau will launch a pilot scheme tomorrow to allow eligible Hong Kong citizens residing in the Greater Bay Area to receive subsidised consultations at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH).

Under the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority (HA) in the bay area, eligible patients will need to pay a consultation fee of RMB100 for each consultation received at the HKU-SZH designated outpatient clinic.

The remaining medical fee will be covered by the experimental scheme, subject to a subsidy cap of RMB2,000, which is valid until March 31 next year.

In November 2020, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government launched a special support scheme to take care of HA patients who were unable to travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland as usual due to the compulsory quarantine measures implemented during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The support scheme commissioned the HKU-SZH to provide subsidised follow-up consultations for patients residing in the bay area with scheduled appointments for follow-up consultations at the authoritys designated specialist outpatient clinics or general outpatient clinics.

This special support scheme ends today. Taking reference from the experience gained and aiming to offer convenience to Hong Kong citizens who pursue development or live and reside on the Mainland, the Hong Kong SAR Government will launch the pilot scheme tomorrow, so that eligible patients may continue to receive subsidised consultations at the HKU-SZH.

The services scope under the scheme will be the same as that of the special support scheme, covering major HA specialist outpatient clinics or general outpatient clinics services.

The extent of service will include anaesthesiology, cardiothoracic surgery, clinical oncology, ear, nose and throat, eye, gynaecology, internal medicine, neurosurgery, obstetrics, orthopaedics and traumatology, paediatrics, and surgery.

Episodic illnesses, inpatient or day inpatient, as well as accident and emergency department services are not included.

Eligible patients who wish to join the pilot scheme may make a request to the HKU-SZH.

For details about the pilot plan, visit the HA's website or the HKU-SZH's website. For enquiries, call the authority at 2300 7070 or the HKU-SZH at (+86) 0755-86913101.

The bureau said that the trial project will help the Hong Kong SAR Government to further analyse and assess the habits of Hong Kong citizens in seeking medical care on the Mainland.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to study how the healthcare needs of Hong Kong citizens living on the Mainland, particularly those residing in the bay area, can be addressed in a more effective manner.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Role of overseas Chinese stressed in promoting global peace, development

Global Times) 09:35, May 09, 2023

Overseas Chinese welcome the arrival of China's naval hospital ship Peace Ark at the port of Bridgetown, Barbados, Nov 27, 2015. China's naval hospital ship Peace Ark arrived in Bridgetown for a seven-day medical service and goodwill visit. Photo: Xinhua

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, on Monday met with representatives to the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi expressed a warm welcome to the representatives and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese around the world, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the meeting, according to Xinhua.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday, Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, expressed the hope that overseas Chinese will work together to act on the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, actively promote world peace, global development and win-win cooperation, and advance friendship and exchanges between China and other countries, Xinhua reported.

Dedicated to the integration of China and the rest of the world to build a global community of shared future, the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations was attended by nearly 500 leading members of overseas Chinese associations from more than 130 countries and regions, according to Xinhua.

Overseas Chinese include Chinese nationals living overseas and Chinese people who have acquired foreign nationalities, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

Due to their allegiance to dual cultures and politics, they are natural bond between China and the world and can play a vital role in helping the country promote the construction of a global community of shared future amid a turbulent world, as they are one of the groups who desire friendship between China and the rest of the world the most, Wang explained.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government has attached great importance to giving full play to the role of overseas Chinese, developing friendly relations between China and the countries and regions where overseas Chinese live, and promoting world peace, expert noted.

Xi has repeatedly referred to overseas Chinese as the witnesses and promoters of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the rest of the world. He hoped that overseas Chinese would become enthusiastic disseminators of Chinese culture, active promoters of exchanges and mutual learning between the culture of the Chinese nation and the cultures of other countries and regions in the world, and non-governmental envoys who would make good contacts between people overseas and the Chinese people. These important expositions are exactly the affirmation and expectations of overseas Chinese in promoting the construction of a global community with shared future, experts stressed.

The CPC Central Committee in 2021 published a revised set of regulations on united front work, including a new chapter on united front work and overseas Chinese.

The new chapter stated that one main task of the work regarding overseas Chinese is to guide overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their families to become devoted to promoting friendly cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and foreign people and to promote the construction of a global community of shared future.

It is in this new chapter that the CPC directly connects overseas Chinese and the promotion of the construction of a global community of shared future in its documents. This is also a new demonstration of the CPC's emphasis on overseas Chinese-related affairs, according to experts

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
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The May issue cover story focuses on the results of our annual CRM Survey. This year, expert analysis looks at how the right data, used in the right way can paint a vivid portrait of your charity's supporters.

The in-depth interview this month is with Shofa Miah, founder of Ashoks Vision International, which is a youth-led mental health and wellbeing charity based in Newham, London. She recounts the struggles of registering her community project with the Charity Commission and the barriers to funding she encountered as a multi-ethnic grassroots group.

Other features include a case study on National Brain Appeals 7m capital campaign, and Heal charity's unique fundraising strategy to help rewild Britain.

Fundraising Magazine is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk .
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP)  Fire crews battled wildfires threatening communities in western Canada on Sunday as cooler temperatures and a bit of rain brought some relief, but officials warned the reprieve came only in some areas.

Officials in Alberta said there were 108 active fires in the province and the number of evacuees grew to about 29,000, up from approximately 24,000 Saturday, when a provincewide state of emergency was declared.

Two out-of-control wildfires in neighboring British Columbia also caused some people to leave their homes, and officials warned that they expected high winds to cause the blazes to grow bigger in the next few days.

Provinicial officials in Alberta said the weather forecast was favorable for the next few days, with small amounts of rain and overcast conditions. But they cautioned that hot and dry conditions were predicted to return within a few days.

People have called this season certainly unprecedented in recent memory because we have so many fires so spread out, Christie Tucker with Alberta Wildfire said at a briefing. Its been an unusual year.

Colin Blair, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, said accurate damage reports were not yet available because conditions made it difficult to assess the situation. There were of buildings destroyed in the town of Fox Lake, including 20 homes, a police station and a store.

In northeastern British Columbia, officials urged residents to evacuate the areas around two out-of-control wildfires near the Alberta border, saying there were reports of some people staying behind.

This is impeding the response and putting their lives and the lives of firefighters at risk, said Leonard Hiebert, chairman of the Peace River Regional District.

A third fire in British Columbia was burning out of control 700 kilometers (430 miles) to the south, in the Teare Creek region, and some residents near the village of McBride were evacuated.

Top photo: In this photo provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service, a burned section of forest in the area near Edson, Alberta, smolders, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Government of Alberta Fire Service/The Canadian Press via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Sedgwick Acquires Appraisal Service

Sedgwick, the global benefits, risk management and claims management firm, has acquired Appraisal Service of Mississippi Inc., an auto and property valuation firm.

The move further expands Sedgwicks presence in auto and property claims, the company said in a news release.

ASM was founded in 1988 and now provides appraisal services in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee. The firm has expertise in automobiles, farm equipment, heavy equipment, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and tractor-trailers.

Sedgwick had previously contracted with ASM, so the acquisition is considered a good fit, Sedgwick officials said.

Davies Acquires Assets of Ortac Underwriting

Davies, a London-based claims administrator that has been expanding into North America, had signed an agreement to acquire the insurance management services portfolio of Ortac Underwriting Agency.

Ortac will join Davies existing captive-management operations, within Davies Global Solutions business, the company said in a press release.

Ortacs insurance management division will rebrand to Davies and will be operated by the Captive Management division, which is led by President Nick Frost. The division provides technical solutions to captive owners in the United States, Latin America, Canada, Asia, Guernsey, Australasia, and the United Kindgom.

Ortac CEO Richard Tee will continue to lead the team, reporting directly to Frost. Ortac insurance management employees will continue in their roles within Davies, the company said.

Engle Martin Acquires EIMC

Engle Martin, an independent loss adjustment provider and subsidiary of BW Forsyth Partners Corp., has acquired EIMC, an ocean marine risk management, claims investigation and subrogation services provider.

The acquisition of the Jersey City, New Jersey-based EIMC expands Engle Martins global footprint and diversifies its service portfolio, the company said in a press release. EIMCs leadership team will remain in place and continue to oversee operations, the company said.

EIMC has 15 office locations in the United States and United Kingdom. The organization serves as the Lloyds agent for multiple US locations, Engle Martin said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The reinvented shopping area at West 150th Street and Lorain Avenue in Clevelands West Park neighborhood is about to expand once again.

The ALDI store at 14651 Lorain is just about ready to open. The parking lot is ready and the finishing touches are being applied to the store. Watch for the grand opening signs to show up any time.

ALDI is one of the countrys fastest-growing retailers, according to its website. The new store will join four others on the west side: 1600 W. 117th St., Lakewood; 21329 Center Ridge Road, Fairview Park; 3586 Steelyard Drive, Cleveland; and 5170 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn and nearly 2,000 stores in 36 states. It is a full grocery story with a focus on saving people money on the food and products they want, according to the website. Most of the products in the store are exclusive to ALDI.

The new grocery store joins Big Lots, Ross Dress for Less, Burlington and Starbucks which opened just to the west on the site of the former Kmart store.

Rotary honors student achievements: Winners of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky Rivers annual Four-Way Speech Contest and the music and visual arts competitions were honored at a gala event at the Beck Center in Lakewood on April 17.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River, the contest showcases the talents of students attending Lakewood, Lutheran West, Magnificat, Rocky River, and St. Edward high schools.

Speech contest first place winner was Edie Barcelona, who represented the club at the Rotary district 6630 competition on April 22. Her speech was entitled, Dance: The Art of Discrimination.

Also honored were Ari Frischauf, second place, who used mens figure skating to present a speech on gender and biology; Zoe Pace, third place, who spoke about The Pink Tax; and Hutch Reed, honorable mention, whose speech highlighted the state of drug laws within the United States. All students are from Lakewood High School. Their teacher is Amy Garritano.

Speeches must be of original content and be based on The Four-Way Test of Rotary which asks, Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And, will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood has been a partner of Rotary for this event, serving as the liaison to educators at the high schools and providing the venue and judges for various phases of the competitions.

This is the 78th year for the clubs speech competition, and the 26th year that Beck Center has collaborated with the Rotary Club for these student competitions.

Music contest first place winner was last years second place winner from Lakewood High School, Sophie Craciun, performing Oboe Sonata, Mvt 3 by Saint Saens. Second place was Jill King, cello, Lakewood High School, performing, Cello Concerto in A Minor by Saint Saens. Third place was last years honorable mention winner, Morgan Way, piano, Rocky River High School, with Prelude in G Minor by Rachmaninoff; Honorable mention was awarded to Max Lucic, vocalist from Rocky River High School, who performed Nina by Giovanni Pergolesi.

Visual arts winners were Shea Alexander, In the Weeds, watercolor and ink, Rocky River, first place; Zach Payne, Turquoise Trees, clay, St. Edward High School, second place; and Amanda Haas, 50 Shades of Bugs, metals, jewelry, Magnificat High School, third place.

Honorable mentions went to Yasmin Mayich, Sinking Null, digital procreate, Rocky River High School; Alexis Miles, Dragon Eye, prismacolor, Lutheran West High School; and Clare Morrissey, My Messy Bedroom, pen and ink, Lakewood High School.

More than 140 art pieces of various styles and media were submitted. A jury of visual arts educators selected outstanding works that met the contest requirements. From this gallery, the judges chose the award winners. The exhibition was viewable in the Jean Bulicek Galleria.

In recognition of their achievements, all winners received a cash prize from Rotary, made possible by the Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Foundation.

Condolences: Longtime Sun News readers might remember Dennis Seeds, who spent three decades with the newspaper chain as a reporter, photographer, editor and technical guru helping the papers navigate the change from print only to digital. He had a knack for figuring out technical things and carved a niche for himself as the go-to guy for solving computer-related issues at Sun. After leaving Sun, he worked for trade publications and co-authored five books.

Seeds, 71, a Bay Village resident, died April 27 after a short illness. He and his wife Sue, who would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 29, lived in Lakewood for most of their marriage. They raised their two sons, Jeremy and Jonathan, in Lakewood and were active at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, where a memorial service took place on May 6.

He was remembered fondly by his wife, sons and brother Dale Seeds during the service.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Dennis beginning in the mid-1970s for most of his time with Sun.

My deepest sympathy to Sue, Jeremy, his wife Jennifer, Jonathan, his wife Meredith, granddaughters Lola and Ruby, his brother Dale and wife Laurel, extended family and all his many friends, co-workers. There were many remembrances and stories shared at the reception following the memorial service.

On stage: Rini Gauntner and Steve DeJohn, longtime Lakewood residents, are busy rehearsing a musical that will be presented at the Rocky River Senior Center later this month.

Gauntner is playing Gloria Swanson and DeJohn is portraying Walter Beery in the production of Standing Ovation, which tells the story of a group of old performers from the 1940s who are making a comeback in the Palace Theater in Peoria, Indiana. Sources say the show is filled with laughs.

Admission is free, but call the Rocky River Senior Center at 440-333-6660 to make reservations. Performances are at 7 p.m. May 24 and 1:30 p.m. May 28-29.

Shredding event: AARP Ohio, the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Scam Squad will offer a community shredding event 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 13 in the Cleveland Muni Parking Lot, 1503 South Marginal Road, Cleveland.

Reserve a spot at the free shredding event by registering at events.aarp.org/Xrnaak.

Documents will be shredded free onsite. Up to five household bags or boxes will be accepted.

Pet blessing: West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church will have its annual Outdoor Animal Blessing 10 a.m. to noon on May 13 in the church courtyard, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River.

People are invited to bring their pets to an outdoor, walk-through blessing on the church grounds. There will be a station for pets to receive a special blessing from the Rev. Anthony Makar, a treat station, a photo station, a place to remember pets who were loved and lost, music and more.

Donations will be accepted for City Dogs, a local animal charity.

Pets coming for the event must be leashed or in a carrier.

In case of rain, the event will be canceled.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the Sun Post Herald.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- At the conclusion of last months Sunday worship services, Bob Day stepped out from behind one of the giant pillars at the front of the Church of the Saviour -- and into retirement.

Day has served as the church organist since 1986, perched between the pulpit and the choir, although he filled in on many occasions before that. He has already been asked to return for some future encore performances.

Thats one of the main reasons the congregation presented him with a new pair of organ shoes at his April 30 retirement celebration -- a topic that came up during the brief Friars Club-style roast segment of the sendoff.

After 37 years as its lunch pail organist, Day said hes looking forward to just sitting in the pews and listening to someone else play the preludes, postludes, hymns and choir anthems for a change.

After all these years, it will be nice to have some weekends off, Day added.

A Lyndhurst native, the Brush High School graduate basically grew up in the classic Gothic-style church on Lee Road. He was baptized there in 1952.

He remembers the 1963 New Years Eve fire that was contained in the Bethel Room, and when the Great Hall was still just a parking lot.

Bob likes to say hes older than dirt, Church of the Saviour Lead Pastor Andy Call noted. I like to say he came with the granite.

Day gave the church a lot of credit in the pursuit of his lifelong musical vocation, which also included a 30-year teaching career, starting at Woosters Triway High School in 1975.

He taught there for 11 years after majoring in music education at Otterbein University, then earning a masters degree in organ performance from The Ohio State University.

I may have been born with musical inklings, but there is no doubt it was nurtured right here, Day said at the retirement luncheon.

From Wooster, he started making the trip back up to Church of the Saviour as needed, at least until 1986, when his predecessor, Dick Hobart, retired after 32 years.

Day took the job, as well as one with Willoughby South High School teaching in the music department, and moved to Shaker Heights, where he still lives. He retired from teaching in 2005.

The nearly 70-year timespan for only two organ players is surpassed only by the 1928 Austin pipe organ that dates back to the construction of the church itself.

Although extensively refurbished in recent years, Call said the organ can still be temperamental, noting that Day is very adept at playing around the notes that no longer work.

And when they have a difference of opinion on whether a song should end on a major or a minor note -- for Day it comes down to happy or sad, respectively -- Call generally knows how its going to play out.

I get that somewhat playful but defiant stare, Call said. Bob knows theres not a thing in the world I can do about it, because when it comes down to making music and worship, hes louder -- the organ always wins.

The dispute also continued over what Call contends are the oldest religious artifacts in the church.

Some of us have speculated that Bob is only retiring to avoid buying a new pair of organ shoes, Call said.

Day maintains they are actually his second pair and probably at least 20 years old, adding that he himself wasnt sure if they would make it through April.

Toward the end of the tribute, church music director David Gilson attempted to settle the matter by bringing out a shoebox.

We want you to still play the organ, and we figured you deserve a third pair, Gilson said.

Day-O

The congregation may have also set a record with the collection taken up for Days retirement. Call said only that it would be enough for a couple of trips to Cleveland Guardians spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., for Day and his partner, Scott Wormell, and maybe even their golden retriever, Baxter.

Thats about the only regular vacation Day has taken in recent decades, dating back to the late 1990s when spring training was in Winter Haven, Fla.

It was really easy then -- you could slip away for a long weekend, Day recalled.

While he knew there was some sort of reception planned for his retirement, Day said afterward that he had no idea of the extent of planning that went into it.

Then I saw some of the people at the lunch and started thinking, Whats going on here? Day recalled.

The list included former chancel choir member Steve DiLauro, who also sang bass in the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. He made the trip back to Cleveland Heights from Strongsville.

And during one of the musical interludes, DiLauro broke out in his own rendition of Harry Belafontes Banana Boat (Day-O).

In this version, it was Day-O ... Bob Day-O! which proved to be another memorable moment for the guest of honor.

Mixed blessing

Day also spoke about some of the changes hes seen at Church of the Saviour over the years, from adding a great big wing on the south end of the building to a praise band to live streaming Sunday worship during the pandemic.

COVID cut attendance, so we got the live stream equipment so people could watch from home, Day said.

He described it as both a a blessing and a curse, in that its really good for the people who physically cant make it to church, but also provides a built-in excuse for the otherwise able-bodied not to go in person.

Our attendance is good now, but it still has not come back to what it was before, Day said. And our choir is back to 15 or 20 people.

Having decided to retire last summer, Day made the formal announcement in February.

It is our loss and your gain, Call said. But its also with profound and heartfelt thanks for all the music, all the stories, all the laughter and all the time you have given us.

Read more from the Sun Press.
AKRON, Ohio  A Summit County judge sentenced an Akron man Monday to seven years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a 23-year-old woman in 2021.

Kenny Clinton, 37, had pleaded guilty in February to aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, and failure to stop after an accident, all felonies, according to Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh.

Police say that on Oct. 24, 2021, officers pulled over a BMW for a traffic violation at Cole Avenue and Marcy Street just after midnight. As officers approached the car, it sped off. The officers tried to pursue the BMW but quickly lost sight of it, police say.

The BMW crashed just minutes later on the 1200 block of Andrus Street, according to police. The vehicle was traveling at high speeds north on Andrus when it first struck a construction dumpster, then hit a car parked on the side of the street.

Keera Bradley, who was a passenger in the BMW, was pronounced dead at the scene, police say. The driver had left the scene before police arrived. Police say Clinton Jr. later tried to report the BMW as stolen.

Clinton Jr., 35, was found in a home on the 500 block of Stanton Avenue in South Akron in December 2021, according to Akron police. He was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
AKRON, Ohio  A 40-year-old man is hospitalized in critical condition after he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles early Saturday morning in the Merriman Valley neighborhood, police say.

It is one of two shootings reported from the weekend currently being investigated by police.

Police say officers were called to the 1200 block of Weathervane Lane just before 1 a.m. Saturday after shots were reported. A short time later, the wounded victim walked into Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Health in Bath Township.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The worldwide shortage of Chartreuse  an herbal French liqueur used in cocktails like The Last Word  is affecting Northeast Ohio cocktail enthusiasts.

The shortage follows an announcement by its maker -- Carthusian monks  that theyre cutting production on the herb-infused liqueur so they can focus more on prayer life. According to the Wall Street Journal, the religious order recently announced, The monks are limiting production to protect their monastic life.

The story goes that these French monks have been making Chartreuse for more than 400 years, with a secret recipe that took 150 years to unravel and refine. Only two monks today know the recipe for 130 botanicals  from citrus rind to thyme -- that flavor the fluorescent green liqueur. A sweeter yellow version, colored with saffron, is also available. In the beginning, it was purported to be a health elixir. In volume, it can certainly make one feel better.

Despite increasing demand, the monks are not planning to address the market. Theyre setting and keeping static production goals.

Personally, I really like that the monks are sticking to their beliefs and lifestyle, says Joseph Fredrickson, owner of Society Lounge on E. 4th Street in downtown Cleveland. Its a bummer but opens up the opportunity for people to seek out alternatives and other companies to push harder to come up with quality substitutes.

I do love Chartreuse, but we will survive, he says. Of all the items we have lost due to Ohio not knowing its need for craft bars; I can at least respect the reason Chartreuse has run short.

A monk checks the level of barrels of Chartreuse in 2011 in Voiron. The liqueur is named after the Monks' Grande Chartreuse monastery, located in the Chartreuse Mountains near Grenoble, French Alps. Chartreuse gives its name to the color chartreuse. It is one of the handful of liquors that continues to age and improve in the bottle.AFP via Getty Images

While it strives for all-local products, The Hangar bar at City Goods on W. 28th Street, uses some Chartreuse to produce traditional and classic cocktails. It will miss the French, green magic. Losing it makes it difficult to make some traditional drinks, says owner Sam Friedman. We want to be able to make those things for people.

As the last drops are consumed, hes searching for a substitute with herbal and bitter qualities. He wishes local distilleries could make a similar product.

Stefan Was, owner of Porco Lounge and Tiki Bar, on W. 25th St. in the Ohio City neighborhood, calls Chartreuse the bartenders duct tape for its versatility.

In 2001, it was gaining prominence in the cocktail industry, he says. It surprises you in a pleasant way. When you cant put your finger on a tasting note, it keeps the conversation going on a little longer.

For the uninitiated, he says, I would approach it like absinthe, its a lot sweeter than traditional absinthe, but similar notes and construction. At this point probably best enjoyed on its own. The luxury of using it as a modifier may be over.

The bars at Doug Katzs zhug in Cleveland Heights and amba in Cleveland have already adapted. We actually switched away from using Chartreuse in our cocktails at both Zhug and Amba either taking a drink off the menu or reformulating it to replace Chartreuse due to availability issues, says Phoebe Connell, director of operations for the restaurants.

A few random bottles may still be on retail shelves. They retail for $60-plus.

Paris Wolfe is a life and culture reporter for Cleveland.com. She has a special interest in food, dining, cocktails and spirits. You can reach her with news and story ideas at pwolfe@cleveland.com. Heres a directory of her latest posts. Follow her on Instagram @pariswolfe.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation from U.S. Rep. Max Miller that instructs the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research on weather and climate prediction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Millers Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act would set up a process where NOAA researchers could use the Energy Departments high performance computers for its weather prediction efforts.

It was approved by a 356-50 margin. Its the first bill of Millers to get a House of Representatives vote.

Miller introduced the legislation in his capacity as chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committees environmental subcommittee, with the subcommittees top Democrat, Deborah Ross of North Carolina.

In a Tuesday interview before pitching the bill on the House of Representatives floor, the Rocky River Republican said his proposal could save countless lives by making it easier to predict weather events so affected individuals can take precautions.

Miller said the Science committee unanimously approved his legislation. He hopes the U.S. Senate will eventually approve it and President Biden will sign it.

Its common sense to make sure that we can improve our weather data systems to predict these storms before they happen, said Miller.

A statement Miller delivered at a subcommittee hearing noted that in a single year, there were 18 separate billion-dollar weather events in the United States that took the lives of 474 people and cost a total of $165 billion in damage to infrastructure, homes and businesses,

In fact, a typical year in the United States sees 26,000 thunder storms, 5000 floods and 1300 tornadoes, Miller continued. Thats more extreme weather events than any other country... Weather information directly saves lives and protects entire communities like the ones I represent in northern Ohio, from economic devastation. 

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
The Tories have received a trouncing at the recent local elections in Britain. Yet there is no enthusiasm for Starmers Labour, which will be unable to solve any of the crises facing workers and youth. The ground is being prepared for a social explosion.

For most people the May elections were a non-event. The clear winner, once again, were those who didnt bother to vote. By staying at home, millions of people symbolically held up two fingers to what was being offered.

The elections saw 8,000 seats on 230 local councils contested across England.

With many of the results now in, the Tories have experienced a trouncing, and could end up losing 1,000 seats. The Tory MP for Plymouth said it had been a terrible night for them.

Im afraid its been a terrible night in Plymouth as we lost every seat we stood in. We lost some outstanding friends and colleagues who have given decades of service to Plymouth.



Take it on the chin, learn and go again tomorrow. Its going to be a fight but I like a fight. pic.twitter.com/pVSztWygre  Rt Hon Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) May 5, 2023

The BBCs projected share of the vote puts Labour on 35%, the Tories on 26%, the Lib Dems on 20% and others on 19%.

Tories on the ropes

Rishi Sunak has failed to turn things around after the disastrous performance of the Johnson and Truss governments / Image: Socialist Appeal

Being a rough test of public opinion, these elections confirm how hated the Tories are. Rishi Sunak has failed to turn things around after the disastrous performance of the Johnson and Truss governments.

The Tories were clearly on the ropes with early gains for Labour in Plymouth and Stoke-on-Trent, part of the red wall lost in 2019.

Labour took Swindon, North East Derbyshire, Dover, Broxtowe, high Peak, and Medway. They also succeeded in winning the position of mayor in Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile the Tories lost control of a string of councils, including Brentwood, Tamworth, East Lindsey in Lincolnshire, and North West Leicestershire.

Labours campaign manager said the party was on course for a majority Labour government, which could be possible on these results. The Lib Dems and Greens also picked up support, mainly from the Tories.

With turnout at rock bottom, the common refrain has been: They are all the same. This was the feeling of many people, knowing that whoever is elected nothing seems to change. If fact things get worse or cost more, or both.

One of the big obstacles is that voters have so little hope that they see no point in voting or switching, explained one Labour supporter.

Disillusioned

Even in former Brexit voting areas, there is utter disillusionment with the Tories. After going through Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Rishi Sunak, in quick succession, the Tories have run out of road.

I voted for Boris Johnson because I wanted Brexit  but the Tories wont get my vote any more, said Chris Hughes, a retired lorry driver in Skegness. He wants a clean sweep at Westminster, but had little faith in Starmer.

The oven-ready deal has simply vanished from the menu, as has levelling up.

What about the 350mn a week for the NHS? said another. The NHS is struggling more than ever.

Those who thought it was going to make a difference are thoroughly disillusioned with the lot. The mood is flatter than a pancake.

During the election campaign, Tory candidates had their hopes raised when one said, people arent slamming the door in our faces  thats an improvement.

However, as Philippa Humhrey, a 34 year old kitchen assistant, who is frustrated by the lack of activities for children and the long waiting list at pharmacies and GP surgeries, said: Theyre a pack of selfish bastards.

People havent got a pot to piss in, added another. I used to like them, but their disregard for the common person is embarrassing.

No enthusiasm

There is about as much enthusiasm for Labour as a plate of stale porridge / Image: fair use

While national opinion polls have narrowed compared to the catastrophe of Truss, Labours support is greater than in the dying days of Boris Johnson. Labour is averaging 16 points ahead nationally.

But that indicates hatred for the Tories rather than positive support for Sir Keir Starmer. There is about as much enthusiasm for Labour as a plate of stale porridge.

In the runup to these elections, Starmers Labour has launched a charm offensive, not towards the working class, but to business and private equity bosses. Starmer wants everyone to know that Labour is now a pro-business party.

Together with Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, Starmer has met more than 1,000 business leaders in the last three years.

In their trip to Davos, the billionaires club, they met senior executives from Wall Streets biggest investment banks including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley.

This sums up their approach. They are well and truly in the pockets of big business.

Starmer will benefit from the anger towards the Tories, and is likely to be thrust into power next year. But in power they will act little differently from the Tories. They are wedded to capitalism and will bend the knee to the rich and privileged.

While today, there is anger at the cuts in local services, especially in Labour councils, these councils have sought to blame the Tories. With a Labour government, they will not be able to use this spurious argument. This will mean anger directed against Labour locally and nationally.

Rising anger

No wonder young people in particular are alienated by this crisis-ridden system and its political defenders.

Even the former Tory minister, Lord David Willetts, explained that the problem of young people is related to the failure to deliver the classic promise of modern capitalism  that economic advance should mean that each generation is better off than the one before.

Precisely! Capitalism has failed. Rather than advance, the system is in terminal decline, wracked with crisis at every level.

What is striking about these local elections is the complete apathy of a growing layer of workers and youth. More and more are becoming alienated from the traditional parties, which are seen as little more than props to the establishment.

On top of this is a deep-seated anger as the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer. While workers are told by the Bank of England to accept wage cuts, the billionaire class is amassing obscene wealth and power.

The High Pay Centre and TUC research estimates that median FTSE 100 chief executive pay in 2021 was 109 times that of the medium full-time worker. This was up from 79 times in 2020, and 107 times in 2019.

Prepare for revolution

Socialist Appeal believes all the parties that try to patch-up capitalism will be found wanting / Image: Socialist Appeal

For the majority, this election has been, at best, a sideshow. The real problems facing working people, such as the cost-of-living crisis, have not been answered.

More and more, people are looking for real change from the miseries they face. But all they are offered is more of the same.

This angry mood developing in society is preparing social explosions. Only a fundamental change, a revolutionary change, can resolve things. That is why we believe all the parties that try to patch-up capitalism will be found wanting.

The road ahead is one of deepening crisis and falling living standards. It is only a matter of time before workers and youth will seek a new way out. We have to build the forces, the forces of Marxism, that can offer this escape from the miseries of capitalism.

This election has solved nothing. We must prepare for the revolutionary events that are coming.
Investors should be wary of bearish strategists who opt for a macro view and instead focus on individual companies, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday.

"You always hear about missing the forest for the trees, but when you're picking stocks, it's just as important not to miss the trees for the forest," Cramer said.

In a market where idiosyncratic performers are plentiful, following one-size-fits-all macro advice can leave investors confused, Cramer says. That's why it's crucial that investors focus on the details of each company instead.

Cramer pointed to outsize performers in myriad industries that would have been written off by those same bearish strategists.

Investors might expect that industrial and homebuilding stocks would be suffering given the continued rate hikes, Cramer said. But industrial names like General Electric or Cummins have done extremely well, as have housing stalwarts like KB Home and Lennar , Cramer said.

It's a similar story with health names like Abbott Laboratories and Medtronic , Cramer continued. Consumer names like Campbell Soup and PepsiCo "all look great right now" as well, Cramer said, to say nothing of big-cap tech names like Nvidia and Meta .

"Individually, you can make a case for any of these groups," Cramer said, "but collectively, the mosaic doesn't seem to make any sense." That's why it's so crucial to get deeply familiar with a company before making an investment in it, and why investors can't rely on broader macro strategists to make assessments about individual stocks, he said.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how companies operate and that could have major implications for Microsoft 's cloud business, according to Bernstein. As Microsoft launches new offerings and more users adopt the cloud, Bernstein expects the company's cloud revenue to more than double. Currently, AI offerings touch about 42% of the company's revenue, Bernstein said. An "up-sell opportunity" and expansion within in its suite of AI features known as Copilot should also contribute to Microsoft's extensive cloud-revenue growth. "While it is early to size the economic impact of AI on Microsoft's business, the green shoots are becoming visible as Microsoft launches a family of capabilities called Copilot," analyst Mark Moerdler said in a note Tuesday. "The Copilot name, we believe, implies that these AI-enabled offerings will be more than a valuable assistant  they will be critical to operations going forward, in much the same manner as the copilot is critical to flying a large airplane." MSFT YTD mountain Microsoft shares in 2023 Microsoft this year has stood at the forefront of the AI war with its multibillion-dollar bet on ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, facing off against competitors such as Alphabet , which launched its own conversational chatbot to bet on the frenzy. A bet on AI, and growth stocks in general, has boosted the stock 28% in 2023. Along with its investment in ChatGPT, Microsoft rolled out AI capabilities for its Bing search engine earlier this year. CEO Satya Nadella called AI-powered search the biggest development for the company since the cloud in an interview with CNBC earlier this year. "This deep embedding of AI within most of Microsoft's offerings is going to give Microsoft a distinct competitive advantage at a time when many competitors are cutting back on spending in response to slowing IT spending," Moerdler wrote. How Microsoft can monetize AI Bernstein expects Microsoft to charge for AI where it adds "meaningful capabilities," forecasting the company could implement a 66% price increase for Copilot capabilities. He called AI the "next leg of growth" able to generate double-digits and surpass investor time horizons. Looking ahead, Moerdler sees two potential ways for Microsoft to monetize AI. He expects the company to charge directly for Copilot in areas where it remains a market leader and sees smaller growth opportunities. In markets with "green field," or share-taking opportunities, the company will leverage AI technology, Moerdler said. Copilot is where the company should see the "largest near-term impact not just from a user perspective but also revenue generation opportunity (longer term Azure AI will be a much bigger revenue generator)," he wrote. "In fact, we would argue that Copilot is more of a threat to the existing search industry than Bing search." Near-term, these AI capabilities will, and may already, be affecting gross margins, but those pressures should subside as the company monetizes AI and its efficiency improves. AI is already expected to account for 1% year-over-year growth in Microsoft's Azure business next quarter, and it could become 10% of the segment's growth and revenue over time, Bernstein estimates. A 50% to 70% increase in price for Copilot and a 50% to 80% adoption over time could generate $9.5 billion to $21.2 billion for Microsoft, the firm forecasts. Bing Chat, while smaller than Microsoft's other offerings, should boost revenue in the billions between mid-single to low-teen digits within a year, Bernstein projects. Broadly speaking, Moerdler expects AI advancements in Microsoft's cloud services unit to reshape the industry  and new announcements have likely only just begun. "While it is too early to model the full impact of this transformation on Microsoft's financials, the revenue opportunities being created are very large and the upside for revenue, earnings, and [free cash flow] will be substantial," he said.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
There is more AI in a Tesla than in a U.S. military vehicle and better computer vision in a Snapchat app than in a Department of Defense system, Anduril often notes. The absence of a crisis in the aftermath of the Cold War made for complacency.

Anduril Industries operates in an increasingly complex security environment, where science and technology innovation are needed for the U.S. military to keep an edge. Just $34 billion of the $857 billion U.S. national security budget last year went to innovation funding, and McKinsey & Company predicts only slight increases for high-tech defense spending.

Throughout 2022, defense technology specialist Anduril Industries supplied drones, artificial intelligence software and training to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Providing resources for the war effort was a boost for the defense contracting startup that set out to make the U.S. military more high tech .

With a recent round of venture financing directed toward cutting-edge autonomous militaristic products, Anduril Industries stands to help fill this gap and scale it up.

Its name coming from the broken sword in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Anduril was started in 2017 by billionaire Oculus Rift designer Palmer Luckey, a former Oculus colleague, and three former employees from software and data analytics firm Palantir Technologies, a specialist in defense, intelligence systems and homeland security.

Last year, Anduril secured a $1.5 billion investment at a valuation of $8.48 billion, bringing its total funding to $2.3 billion. Its investors include long-time company backer Valor Equity Partners, along with Silicon Valley firms Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and angel investor Elad Gil.

The startup has shown its rate of innovation can be at the pace of techie startups, unlike defense contractor historically. It went from sketches to prototype to a contract with U.S. Special Operations Command and a $1 billion program with the Department of Defense in just 31 months.

To power its products, Anduril leverages AI, machine learning and computer vision in core software operating system Lattice. Last year, it launched Mobile Sentry, which uses AI to track objects in the air and on the ground, and also introduced computing platform Menace, geared for secure command control and communications. Additionally, drone developer Altius was acquired in 2021.

Building on that acquisition, last year Anduril Industries partnered with the U.S. Special Operations Command on a 10-year, $967 million contract to provide systems for shooting down drones. Anduril also joined forces in 2022 with American Rheinmetall Vehicles to design a new combat vehicle for the U.S. Army, equipped with customized command and control software.

Anduril also bought startup Dive Technologies, a maker of underwater vehicles, to expand its suite of autonomous vehicles. That deal subsequently led it to set up an entity in Australia to design, develop and manufacture three unmanned subs for the Royal Australian Navy.
Cleveland-based KeyCorp yields 8.5%. Dallas-based Comerica pays 7.9%. Atlanta's Truist Financial 7.2%. And the list of regional banks with sky-high dividends goes on and on. So investors might be forgiven for wondering how safe those dividends are, especially after PacWest Bancorp on Friday slashed its quarterly payout to a nominal penny a share, down from $0.25. But Goldman Sachs is out Tuesday with a note from analysts led by Ryan Nash saying that although regional banks as a group yield 6.5%  the most since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009  not to worry. At least not immediately. "Our analysis suggests there is no immediate need to cut their dividend; however, if the environment gets worse (macro or regulatory) banks may choose to preserve capital and cut their dividend in lieu of needing to take greater steps to strengthen their capital ratios," Goldman said. Examining bank dividends and bank capital "suggests companies should be able to maintain their current payout: Dividend payouts totaled ~40% of EPS in 1Q23 and are expected to remain around those levels for the remainder of 2023 (~39%) and 2024 (~41%) by consensus," Goldman said. Much of Goldman's optimism stems from the fact that there are few other demands on banks' earnings, or the amount of capital they hold. Loan demand, for example is limited. "Given that the dividend is the main use of capital at this point, even if we were to see a 40-50% stress to EPS (from higher credit costs, as an example), banks would still be able to cover their dividend. KEY (~53%) and TFC (46%) screen as having the highest payouts," as a percentage of earnings in 2023, the investment bank said. Capital One (~24), M & T Bank (~29%) and Zions Bancorp (30%) have among the lowest payout ratios.
Barbara Corcoran doesn't want to hear your startup pitches outside of ABC's "Shark Tank."

It's not because her friends and strangers on the street have unrealistic business ideas, Corcoran recently told Barstool's "Chicks in the Office" podcast. Rather, it's because only one in every 10 of her "Shark Tank" investments actually earns a profit, she said.

"I've invested in 150 businesses, and I've made money on about 10%," Corcoran said, adding with a laugh: "The minute someone's opening their mouth, I feel like I've got a 90% chance of losing another $100,000 here. Do I really want to listen?"

Because of the high-risk nature of investing, the 74-year-old said she only pulls out her wallet for a select few "Shark Tank" pitches. She's seldom impressed by products and services, but can be wooed by the business owners themselves, she added.

"The No. 1 trait I'm looking for [is] ambition," Corcoran said. "Someone who envisions where they're going, and I fall for it when they tell me they're going there."

She's not the only "Shark Tank" investor who feels that way. Some of Mark Cuban's investment offers on the show are more about helping promising entrepreneurs than making money off the deals, he wrote on Twitter last year.

"I'm good with that with my 'Shark Tank' companies," Cuban wrote. "I don't do the show to get the best investments. And I don't always invest because I think I'll make money. Sometimes my deals are purely to help someone or send a message."

Corcoran has a lower self-estimated success rate than Cuban: One in four of Cuban's deals "have done really well or crushed it," he told he told a Denver ABC affiliate last year.

Still, Corcoran said her "buy the entrepreneur" strategy works well for startups, which often need to redo their entire business model in their early days.

If her instincts are accurate about the people running the business, the deal will eventually succeed financially, she said. If her instincts are off, and she misses out on investing in someone who goes on to be successful, she doesn't have regrets, she added.

"I'm not the type of person that cries about that kind of stuff," she said. "It's such a waste of time. I'd rather look forward and find somebody else."

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank."

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QINGDAO, CHINA - MAY 06: Aerial view of illuminated Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal at dusk on May 6, 2023 in Qingdao, Shandong Province of China.

China's exports grew 8.5% in April in U.S. dollar terms, marking a second-straight month of growth, while imports fell 7.9% compared with a year ago.

Economists polled by Reuters estimated exports would rise 8% in April, while imports were forecast to remain unchanged. In March, imports declined 1.4% year-on-year while exports saw a surprise jump of 14.8%, government data showed.

China's trade surplus grew to $90.21 billion in April, up from the surplus of $88.2 billion in March.

Softer trade data in April is likely to reflect "residual seasonality" after this year's Lunar New Year, economists at Goldman Sachs said in a Monday note.

Goldman Sachs economists expected to see "the dissipation of this seasonal bias to slow export growth in April," they wrote in a note earlier this month previewing China's trade data.

Recent economic data released from the world's second-largest economy showed that China's service sector remained a bright spot despite disappointing factory data.

The National Bureau of Statistics' manufacturing purchasing manager's index reading missed expectations and fell into contraction territory with a reading of 49.2 in April from March's reading of 51.9.

"China is past the fastest stage of its reopening," Goldman Sachs economists wrote in a separate Friday note. It reiterated its forecast for China's economy to see full-year growth of 6% in 2023.

"Recent meetings with clients in the mainland suggest gradually fading pessimism on near-term growth, but some concern around deflationary pressures, though in our view this is not a major risk for 2023-24," they wrote.
Chinese authorities have carried out an investigation into consulting firm Capvision Partners, state media CCTV reported on Monday. CCTV said that investigations by Chinese national security authorities had found that overseas institutions have used domestic consulting firms to steal state secrets and intelligence on areas key to China.



Chinese authorities have carried out an investigation into consulting firm Capvision Partners, state media CCTV reported on Monday, in a warning to other advisory firms as the country tightens its national security laws.

Capvision, which runs the country's largest expert network group and has offices in eight cities around the world including Shanghai and New York, was singled out in a series of news reports including a 15 minute segment by state broadcaster CCTV.

CCTV said that investigations by Chinese national security authorities had found that overseas institutions have used domestic consulting firms to steal state secrets and intelligence on areas key to China.

"According to the findings...Capvision accepted a large number of consulting projects from overseas companies on industries sensitive to China, and some of these firms had close ties with foreign governments, military and intelligence agencies," CCTV said during its show, which interviewed staff and consultants hired by Capvision and showed police visiting one of the company's mainland offices.

Capvision said in a statement posted to its WeChat account shortly after the CCTV broadcast that it would resolutely abide by China's national security rules and take the lead in ensuring the consulting industry was compliant.

Calls by Reuters to its offices in Suzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong went unanswered after business hours.

CCTV did not say whether authorities levelled any punishment against Capvision but that the national security agency had dealt with the company "in accordance with regulations."
This photo illustration shows the ChatGPT logo at an office in Washington, DC, on March 15, 2023.

Chinese police arrested a man they allege used ChatGPT to create a fake news article about a train crash, in what appears to be the first case of enforcement action being taken in China under an unprecedented law related to artificial intelligence.

The case highlights Chinese authorities' push to regulate and control uses of AI as the technology gets more advanced.

Police in Gansu province in northwest China detained a man, surnamed Hong, who they said allegedly fabricated a news story regarding a train crash that caused nine deaths.

The authorities found that more than 20 accounts had posted this article on a blogging platform owned by Chinese search giant Baidu and they'd garnered more than 15,000 views.

Hong allegedly used ChatGPT to create slightly different versions of the fake news article to pass duplication checks on the Baidu-owned platform.

ChatGPT, created by U.S. firm OpenAI, is an example of an chatbot based on generative AI technology, which allows software to generate responses based on user prompts and questions. For example, users can ask ChatGPT to come up with a story based on specific instructions.
Generative AI is all over the news these days, but Cohere is taking a slightly different tack.

Rather than offering the service to the public a la ChatGPT from this year's top disruptor OpenAI, the startup focuses on enterprise customers. The company's platform lets developers and businesses of all sizes  even those without expertise in machine learning  integrate AI features like copywriting, search, conversational AI, summarization or content moderation in their company's mobile app or service platform.

"We want to build that toolkit that's accessible to any dev," co-founder and CEO Aidan Gomez told CNBC last June.

Gomez, along with co-founder Nick Frosst, came from Google Brain, an exploratory deep learning artificial intelligence team that's now part of Google Research. While at Alphabet 's Google, Gomez and other researchers helped to develop a new method of natural language processing  transformers  that enable systems to grasp a word's context more accurately.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in the Roosevelt Room after holding debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Democratic congressional leaders at the White House in Washington, May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

WASHINGTON  Top congressional leaders left a high-stakes meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday showing few signs they had moved closer to resolving a debt ceiling impasse and removing the looming threat of a default. The officials plan to meet again Friday as Washington scrambles to lift the debt ceiling with less than a month before the federal government is set to run out of money. Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Speaking after the meeting, Biden told reporters the leaders' staffs agreed to continue meeting beginning Tuesday night and daily through Friday. "Everyone in the meeting understood the risk of default," Biden said. "I made clear during our meeting that default is not an option." McCarthy told reporters he did not see "any new movement" in negotiating positions over the debt limit during the meeting. "Everybody in this meeting reiterated the positions they were at," before the meeting, McCarthy said outside the White House. "I asked [Biden] numerous times if there were places we could find savings," in the federal budget, said McCarthy. "He wouldn't give me any."

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), talks to reporters following debt limit talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders at the White House in Washington, May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

Every leader present except for McCarthy agreed to remove the threat of default when asked by Biden, according to Democratic leaders at the meeting. "We explicitly asked Speaker McCarthy, 'Would he take default off the table?' He refused," said Schumer. "Instead of him giving us a plan to remove default he gave us a plan to take default hostage. And that is a shame, because it makes things more complicated." Biden said "I don't know" what McCarthy thinks. "I think he knows better," the president said. "I think he knows that default would be disastrous and I think he knows what he's passed could not possibly pass anywhere in the Congress  it's dead on arrival." Asked about the mood in the room, Biden said three of the four leaders were sensible throughout the discussions. "The tenor of the meeting was with three of the four participants very measured and low key. Occasionally there would be a little bit of an assertion that maybe was a little over the top from the speaker," Biden said. Schumer called on McCarthy to negotiate proposed spending cuts through the usual budgetary process without threatening default. "There are large differences between the parties. If you look at what President Biden had proposed and you look at what Speaker McCarthy has proposed, they're very, very different," Schumer said. "We can try to come together on those in a budget and appropriations process but to use the risk of default, with all the dangers that has to the American people, as a hostage and say it's my way or no way, or mostly my way or no way, is dangerous." McConnell joined McCarthy outside the White House, where he reiterated that Congress would not allow the country to default on its debt. "The United States has never defaulted on its debt and it never will," said McConnell. Still, "there must be an agreement ... and the sooner the president and the speaker can reach an agreement the sooner we can solve the problem." Jeffries, speaking to reporters after the meeting, framed House Republicans as the only group that would not rule out the prospect of a first-ever default on U.S. debt. "House Democrats have taken default off the table; Senate Democrats have taken default off the table; Senate Republicans, as just indicated by Leader McConnell, have taken default off the table; President Biden from the very beginning took default off the table," Jeffries said. "There's one group in Washington, D.C., extreme MAGA Republicans, who have indicated they are willing to take us down a path of default. That is reckless, irresponsible and extreme."

U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talk to reporters following debt limit talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders at the White House in Washington, May 9, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
An inverted image of the U.S. Capitol is reflected in puddle on the East Front on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images

The White House and Republicans in Congress are mired in a standoff over the debt limit. Failure to raise or suspend it could result in the first-ever U.S. default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the U.S. could run out of money to pay its obligations as soon as June 1 if Congress doesn't address the matter. With neither side looking likely to budge, here's what you need to know about the situation.

What is the debt ceiling?

It is the maximum amount of money Congress allows the federal government to borrow to cover its bills. Because the government typically spends more money than it collects in taxes, it must take out debt to pay its expenses. Unlike a credit card, though, the expenses were already approved by Congress, so the debt ceiling does not pertain to new spending. The mechanism was created during World War I in an effort to simplify borrowing. Prior to 1917, Congress needed to approve additional debt for each new spending measure it passed. Until recently, it has been a rather routine process. Congress has lifted the debt limit 78 times since 1960. The debt ceiling was last raised in December 2021 by $2.5 trillion, capping the limit at $31.381 trillion. If Congress does not agree to lift the debt ceiling, the government will not have money to pay its bills and will default on its debt. The Treasury Department has already begun to take extraordinary measures to continue to fund the government, but Yellen said she expects funding to entirely deplete in early June.

What happens if the U.S. defaults?

Defaulting on sovereign debt would wreak havoc on the economy and roil markets around the world. A default on Treasury bonds could throw the U.S. economy into a tailspin. The last time Congressional Republicans threatened a default in 2011, Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time ever to AA+ from AAA. If the U.S. were to default, gross domestic product would drop 4% and more than 7 million workers would lose their jobs, Moody's Analytics recently projected. Even a brief default would lead to the loss of 2 million jobs, according to the data. In that scenario, U.S. bond ratings would be classified as "restricted default," according to Fitch Ratings, and Treasurys would have a D rating until the U.S. could once again borrow. The Brookings Institution noted a default could lead to $750 billion in higher federal borrowing costs over the next decade. What's more, a default would shake the U.S. position on the world stage. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Intelligence Committee last week that Russia and China will take advantage of the U.S. potentially defaulting on its debt. Haines warned the two nations would attempt to highlight "the chaos within the United States, that we're not capable of functioning as a democracy."

What about government programs?

Were the U.S. to default, it would mean a pause on tens of billions of dollars in payments. The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates in the first half of June, $50 billion in Social Security benefits are set to be dispersed, $20 billion in Medicaid provider payments, $12 billion in veterans' benefits, $6 billion in federal salaries and $1 billion in SNAP benefits. In an interview Monday with CNBC, Yellen demurred when asked how payments would be prioritized. "There are no good options; every option is a bad option," Yellen said. "I really don't want to get into discussing them and ranking them because as every Treasury secretary has known, the only option that really leaves our economy and our financial system in good shape is raising the debt ceiling and making clear that Congress stands behind the basic principle that America pays its bills."

What is the Republican position?

Republicans are concerned about the increasing national debt, which has grown from less than $1 trillion in the 1980s to more than $30 trillion today. They are refusing to lift the debt ceiling unless it is paired with spending cuts. House Republicans passed the Limit, Save and Grow Act last month outlining the areas they want to pare back. The bill would impose sweeping cuts to federal discretionary spending, impose new work requirements for welfare recipients and expand mining and fossil fuels production, all in exchange for raising the debt limit for about a year.

What is the White House's position?

The White House has remained steadfast that it is Congress's responsibility to raise the debt ceiling without conditions, as was done three times under the Trump administration. President Joe Biden has repeatedly called on House Republicans to pass a clean debt ceiling increase and have a separate conversation about spending cuts in the budget. The president has pleaded with lawmakers to engage in "normal arguments" instead of ultimatums. "As I've said all along, we can debate where to cut, how much to spend, how to finally overhaul the tax system to where everybody has to pay their fair share or continue the route their on, but not under the threat of default," Biden said Friday. "Let's remove the threat of default. Let's have normal arguments. That's why we have a budget process to debate in the open so you all can see it."
As the president of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a member on the Business Cycle Dating Committee, James Poterba helps determine when a recession officially starts and ends. Why is that important? What do those dates tell us?

When the NBER was founded in 1920, its economists mainly studied workers' income, businesses and capital, said Poterba, who is also an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, noticing that things didn't stay good or bad for too long  they were always changing  the bureau soon turned its attention to the cycles of the economy, as well.

Although there was less economic data available a century ago, "it was understood by anyone observing the economy that there were times when economic activity happened faster and more slowly, and when there was more or less going on," Poterba said.

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The economists at the NBER wanted to know if these fluctuations were inevitable. And so they set out to understand why they occurred.

To ascertain the factors that precipitated a downturn, they'd have to find a precise way to pin when exactly the economy began to contract. Today, NBER's Business Cycle Dating Committee, a private organization of academics based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is considered an authority on the timeline of recessions.

With Federal Reserve economists predicting that the economy will enter a slump later this year, I spoke with Poterba about his research on recessions. While NBER doesn't make any forecasts, he still had lots of interesting things to say about our downturn worries. (Our interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Annie Nova: What is the main purpose of dating a recession's start and finish?

James Poterba: So that, as we look back as students of economic fluctuation, we can try to understand what caused particular increases and decreases in the level of economic activity.

AN: How does this information help us as a society?

JP: It ultimately helps to design policy going forward. It enables us to look back and say, for example, what are the consequences of interest rate increases? What is the chance that an increase of interest rates is associated, sometime afterwards, with a period of declining economic activity? Or, if you see a large run-up in oil prices, does that typically lead to a recession?
Swedish real estate group SBB was 19.3% lower in late afternoon trade after the company said it would suspend dividend payments.

S&P Global cut its long-term credit rating for the firm, which has struggled with the rise in interest rates and fall in Swedish house prices.

Shares of German health care firm Fresenius were up 8.7% following its first-quarter earnings report, which showed a fall in operating profit but a less severe decline than forecast.

Other top risers included Italy's Banco BPM , which on Monday hiked its annual profit target, and British retailers Marks & Spencer , after the British Retail Consortium said U.K. retail sales increased 5.1% in April.

Sportswear-seller JD Sports rose 1.2% on reports it is in talks over an acquisition of France's Groupe Courir for 520 million euros ($572 million).

 Jenni Reid
While many of the challenges that resulted in supply chain snags over the past two years have started to wane, the logistics industry continues to operate at less than maximum efficiency.

In warehouses across the world, where the increased demand for fast delivery and fulfillment has exacerbated labor challenges, it's estimated that more than 80% of warehouses across the world have no automation, despite a global push to introduce more robots.

This is the sector that Exotec is looking to disrupt, with its Skypod automated storage and retrieval system utilizing robots that can help warehouse employees work faster, more efficiently and safer.
Henrik Fisker stands with the Fisker Ocean electric vehicle after it was unveiled at the Manhattan Beach Pier ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobilityLA on November 16, 2021 in Manhattan Beach, California.

Electric vehicle startup Fisker on Tuesday reported a wider first-quarter loss than expected and cut its production guidance for the full year, both of which it blamed on last-minute snags as it begins production of its Ocean SUV.

But CEO Henrik Fisker told CNBC that the company expects regulatory approval to begin deliveries of the Ocean in the U.S. before the end of May. The company began delivering vehicles to customers in Europe last week.

Fisker's shares fell sharply after the report and ended the day down about 7%.

Here are the key numbers from Fisker's first-quarter earnings report, together with consensus Wall Street estimates as reported by Refinitiv:

Loss per share: 38 cents, versus a loss of 30 cents expected.

38 cents, versus a loss of 30 cents expected. Revenue: About $198,000, versus $14.4 million expected.

Fisker's net loss for the quarter was $120.6 million, or 38 cents per share, a wider-than-expected number that the company attributed to higher research and development expenses that it's not expecting to repeat. A year ago, Fisker reported a net loss of $122.1 million, or 41 cents a share, with no revenue.

Fisker had $652.5 million in cash remaining as of March 31, down from $736.5 million at the end of 2022. The company raised about $47 million via direct stock sales during the quarter, it said.

Fisker said it had about 65,000 reservations for the Ocean as of May 8, roughly the same number it had when it reported its fourth-quarter results in February. It has more than 6,000 reservations for its upcoming second model, a lower-cost EV called the Pear that will be built by Foxconn at the former Lordstown Motors plant in Ohio starting in 2025.

Fisker now expects its manufacturing partner, Magna International , to build 32,000 to 36,000 Oceans at its Austrian contract-manufacturing plant this year, down from 42,400 in its earlier guidance.

It said it expects to build 1,400 to 1,700 vehicles in the second quarter, assuming its suppliers ramp up as expected. After that, it expects to quickly increase production in the third quarter to a run rate of about 6,000 vehicles per month for the rest of 2023.

"We are ready to go full speed on production next week," Henrik Fisker told CNBC's Phil LeBeau on Tuesday. "[By the] end of this month, we are already going to produce 55 cars a day."
"About half of all the trucks you see on the highway are only half-full," Oren Zaslansky, founder and CEO of Flock Freight, told CNBC last May . Not only are these half-full shipments expensive, but they're heavily adding to the industry's carbon footprint. In a recent survey of 200 transportation and logistics professionals, Flock Freight found that only 55% of shippers filled their trucks to capacity in 2022.

Focused on making the freight industry more efficient and sustainable, Flock Freight takes a tech-first approach, using cloud computing and machine learning, to analyze the flow of shipments and reduce empty space in trucks.

Transportation is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions . An ongoing trucker shortage has an already constrained supply chain running at far less than maximum efficiency. These are the big issues that keep Flock Freight running.

Flock Freight is also notable for being the freight industry's first certified B Corporation, which its founder told CNBC was no easy task  it was at first rejected for certification based on the fact that it operates in the carbon-intensive freight space. But its technology to manage shared truckloads and cut carbon emissions by as much as 40% eventually led to approval.

The company helps connects carriers and shippers, in particular in what's known as the less-than-truckload (LTL) market where shippers do not require a full trailer for their loads. By using cloud computing insights to combine multiple shipments moving along the same route into one truckload  think carpooling  Flock Freight can cut emissions. But even with more efficient shipments, Flock Freight can't make shipping carbon-neutral without also offering to buy and sell carbon offsets on behalf of clients.

The company's focus on climate-friendly freight has gotten through to people in high places. The World Economic Forum invited the company to join its Global Innovators Community and advise on projects. But even as the pandemic-driven supply chain issues and trucker shortage shined a light on startups in the logistics space, Flock Freight, similar to other 2023 CNBC Disruptors Flexport and Convoy, is facing the need to run leaner. It too went through a series of recent layoffs, though Zaslansky recently told industry publisher FreightWaves in response to reports of the job cuts, "Flock is in the best financial health we've ever been in after seeing record highs in margin and acquisition in Q1."
The logo for Goldman Sachs is seen on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, November 17, 2021.

Goldman Sachs Group agreed to pay $215 million to settle a class action alleging widespread bias against women in pay and promotions, ending one of the highest-profile lawsuits claiming unequal treatment of women on Wall Street.

The settlement disclosed on Monday covers about 2,887 current and former female vice presidents and associates who worked in investment banking, investment management and securities. Goldman denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

The resolution averts a trial that was scheduled to begin in June in the nearly 13-year-old case.

"Everybody is feeling very and proud of this settlement - we worked so extremely hard to get here," said Anne Shaver, a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein representing the plaintiffs. "It will inspire other people to step up."

The average payout could be about $47,000 after deducting legal fees and costs, and court approval is required.

"Goldman Sachs is proud of its long record of promoting and advancing women and remains committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace," said Jacqueline Arthur, its head of human resources.
Representative George Santos, a Republican from New York, arrives for a vote at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Scandal-plagued Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., has been criminally charged by the Department of Justice, NBC News reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The nature of the federal charges against the freshman congressman, who has admitted to lying about his background, was not immediately known. Santos is set to appear in a Long Island, New York, federal court Wednesday, sources told NBC.

Santos' lawyer and spokesperson did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment. A spokeswoman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.

News of the charges came just weeks after Santos announced his 2024 reelection campaign.

Santos has been under scrutiny for several scandals that have defined his brief time in Congress.

Before being sworn into office, Santos admitted that he had lied about his education credentials and his work experience. He denied committing any crimes. But he is reportedly under multiple investigations as authorities at numerous levels of government probe his campaign finances and other topics.

Rep. Mike Lawler, a fellow GOP freshman from New York, gave NBC a one-word reaction to the reported charges against Santos: "Resign."

Lawler is the latest Republican to call for Santos' resignation. But Santos has so far rebuffed his critics, saying only the voters of his district should decide whether he stays in Congress or not. Some polls have found that voters in Santos' district view him overwhelmingly unfavorably across party lines.
Bosses and employees in America don't seem to be getting along particularly well these days. From CEOs delivering attention-grabbing rants in all-staff meetings to the Hollywood writers' strike, it's easy to feel like 2023 is the year of breakdowns in communication between leaders and their colleagues. "We're in a crisis of trust in leadership," Sandra Sucher, a Harvard Business School professor who studies layoffs and trust, tells CNBC Make It. "Leaders of all kinds ... are failing some of the basic expectations that people have for how they should be treated." But some experts say the problem is years in the making  particularly the past two years, as many U.S. workers started requesting better treatment from employers in return for their time and energy. That tension might be finally exploding as some companies attempt to course-correct their mid-pandemic decisions, Sucher says. Businesses that over-hired are conducting layoffs. Managers who allowed employees to work from home are demanding people return to the office. "The past two years revealed the leaders who are truly focused on the well-being of their workers, versus the ones who are focused on the bottom line," says Anthony Klotz, an associate professor of management at University College of London who coined the term "Great Resignation." There's a simple way to tell the difference between those two types of bosses, experts and CEOs alike say: Pay attention to how they communicate.

Good bosses proactively tell the truth

For Tiffany Kelly, the key to effective communication is simple. "People want you to ... be as transparent as you can. Be emotional, speak from your gut. People just don't want to be led astray or lied to," says Kelly, 28, the CEO and founder of fitness content startup Curastory. Since Kelly launched Curastory in 2021, she's built a 25-person remote team and closed a $5 million seed extension fundraising round. In that time, she's learned that her workplace is happier and more productive when her employees demand transparency from her.

Tiffany Kelly, CEO and founder of fitness content startup Curastory. Courtesy of Tiffany Kelly

She tells a story of one of her earliest employees, who began to have doubts about the company's direction after talking with a group of ex-staffers. When the employee confronted Kelly, she decided to show him "the full picture," she says  from key data points to her rationale for various business decisions. Kelly got emotional during the conversation, which helped the two of them bond, she says: "He respected that." She's now transparent about company data and decisions with her entire staff, she adds. Of course, transparency can be a double-edged sword. Office furniture company MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen went viral last month for telling her employees how she really felt  that they should "leave Pity City" and focus on their work instead of whether they'll get a bonus this year. Owen has reportedly apologized since: "I feel terrible that my rallying cry seemed insensitive," she wrote in an all-staff email, according to CNN. There's no such thing as a "one size fits all" way of talking to people, Kelly says  rather, whether you're a junior-level employee or the CEO, meet people where they are. Showing her full emotional range to her one employee might not have worked with someone else, she notes. "People communicate differently," says Kelly.

Effective leaders listen before speaking

Leon Ford suggests a second tip for leaders: Talk less, listen more. Ford, 29, is a founder and chair of The Hear Foundation, a police reform nonprofit in Pittsburgh. The foundation's 40-person board ranges from activists and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement to supporters of the Blue Lives Matter movement, including actual police officers. The group doesn't always see eye to eye, and it's Ford's job to direct conflicting interests into meaningful and actionable policy suggestions, he says. "It's frustrating when someone has a perspective about someone else's issue that they don't fully understand, and they just speak from their personal lived experience without leaning into the lived experiences of other people," says Ford.

The past two years revealed the leaders who are truly focused on the well-being of their workers, versus the ones who are focused on the bottom line. Anthony Klotz Associate professor of management, University College of London
In light of a pessimistic quarterly report from Paramount, Bill Baruch, president of Blue Line Futures said he'll keep an eye out on Disney 's earnings Wednesday after the bell. Baruch said he sees the media giant reporting a decline in year-over-year earnings and revenue growth. "So that's already being baked into the cake," Baruch said Tuesday. "Ultimately, subscriber growth rebounding is going to be the key thing," referring to the company's streaming platform Disney+. He noted Disney+ lost 2.4 million subscribers last quarter after losing a subscription deal in India. However, he said Disney is now expected to bring back 2.2 million subscribers for Disney+, 716,000 subscribers for ESPN and about 300,000 Hulu subscribers. "Bringing those subscribers back will get them on pace for getting about 10 million subscribers in the current year and that's going to be crucial," he said. "Not only that, [but also] how much is the revenue per subscriber, which is expected to pick up from about $3.93 to $4.36." Baruch admitted the mood in the streaming sector has been negative after Paramount Global missed on earnings and cut its dividends more than 75%. He notes Paramount's struggles are a sign of how the streaming space has become more compact. "Ultimately, it's going to trickle into consolidation. Disney and Netflix are going to be the beneficiaries of that consolidation," Baruch said. He added he is keeping an eye out for if Disney offers guidance as to if it will raise or reestablish its dividend later in 2023. The investor said he favors Disney shares as long as they remain at least above $90. Disney shares have popped more than 18% in 2023 and were above $100 on Tuesday. See the video above for Baruch's perspectives on investing in Disney ahead of its earnings report Wednesday after the bell.
HSBC has agreed to buy out its China fund management joint venture partner, two people familiar with the matter said, as the Asia-focused bank pushes ahead with expansion in the world's second-largest economy.

HSBC, which currently owns a 49% stake in HSBC Jintrust Fund Management, has signed an agreement with Shanxi Trust under which the Chinese state-owned company will sell its 51% holding in the joint venture to the bank, said the sources.

The transfer is, however, subject to a public auction of the shares and regulatory review and approval, said the sources, who declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to media.

If approved, Europe's biggest bank by assets, which makes the bulk of its revenue and profit in Asia, will expand its presence in the $3.8 trillion fund management market in China.

A spokesperson for HSBC in Hong Kong declined to comment. Representatives for Shanghai-headquartered HSBC Jintrust and Shanxi Trust did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was not immediately clear how much HSBC will pay Shanxi Trust to wholly own HSBC Jintrust, which, according to the joint venture's website, had $7.7 billion in funds under management as of end-March.

HSBC's move to boost its stake in the fund venture is the lender's latest to expand its presence in China.
Sam Bankman-Fried, who has long denied stealing from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday said prosecutors charged him with "troubling" haste and asked a U.S. judge to throw out 10 of the 13 criminal counts against him.

In a filing in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said now-bankrupt FTX was far from the only cryptocurrency company to collapse during a broad market crash in 2022, and that prosecutors hastily charged their client in a "rush to judgment."

"Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the Government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former billionaire, rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to accumulate an estimated net worth of $26 billion, and became an influential political and philanthropic donor before FTX declared bankruptcy in November.

He has pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

The exchange imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried misled FTX investors and lenders, and stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses at Alameda, buy real estate, and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme. They have also charged him with bribing Chinese officials.
Jefferies says specialty plumbing and appliances distributor Ferguson plc is a high-quality business "poised to take [market] share." The firm upgraded Ferguson to buy from hold. Its new price target of $181 implies shares rallying 28% from Monday's close. "FERG is uniquely positioned to service compared to smaller competitors due to its scale & breadth of products," analyst Philip Ng wrote in a Tuesday note. "FERG should be resilient in a downturn, driven by its pricing power, high variable cost structure and capital light model. FERG's pricing power & limited exposure to commodity products drive stable gross margins through the cycle." The analyst added, while Ferguson holds a top-five position across all product categories, it holds less than 25% share in any market, meaning there is significant opportunity to "roll up the industry." Ng also thinks Ferguson can beat competitors by differentiating itself on service, technology and value-add capabilities, rather than price. He added a "re-rate opportunity" is expected following the divestiture of the company's European business and primary listing move to the New York Stock Exchange. "The stock has seen technical pressure due to its removal (13% outflow) from European indices & JEF Index strategy team sees the inclusion of the Russell 1000 (potentially in June) and S & P500 translating to 20-25% inflow in purchases," wrote Ng. "With the stock trading at a 25% discount to its peers with a comparable return profile, we see the valuation spread narrowing from the US index inclusion & increased US based investor interest & coverage. We believe FERG is due for a catch up trade, and see [long-term] investors gravitating to quality names like FERG as sentiment on housing improves." Shares have jumped almost 11% in 2023. They are also up 24.3% over the past 12 months. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Fertility care is expensive and inaccessible to many. Besides the price  the average cost of a round of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, is $12,000 to $17,0000  swaths of the country don't have fertility clinics. Kindbody is looking to change that.

As with many startup founders whose big idea was born of personal experience, Kindbody founder Gina Bartasi was frustrated by the lack of transparency and clarity when going through fertility treatment herself. She went on to found two fertility startups. The first was FertilityAuthority, a content platform that was acquired by Kleiner Perkins and TPG; then Progyny , a fertility benefits platform for employers that went public in 2019, and is a former CNBC Disruptor company.

Since getting off the ground in late 2018, Kindbody has grown quickly. It now has a network of 31 clinics across the country offering services such as egg freezing, genetic testing, IVF, donor and surrogacy services and adoption. The company works with large employers that want to incorporate fertility care in their benefits offerings. It added 42 employers to its roster last year, including Walmart, for a total of 112 companies.
E-commerce is set for a boom, according to Morgan Stanley, which predicts that the industry will be worth $5 trillion by 2027. That's an increase of 8% at a compound annual growth rate from $3.4 trillion in 2022, the bank said in a recent report. "We largely saw a focus on profitability over growth emerge through 2022," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. "We see a more rational investment and customer acquisition stance supporting our case around marketplace monetization and profitable growth potential." Morgan Stanley picked stocks to play the boom, choosing them based on their "outsized growth potential," market leadership and "attractive" trading multiples relative to history, among other factors. It named eight overweight-rated stocks in the report, three of which are the bank's top picks. They are Amazon , Alibaba and Argentinian company MercadoLibre . Here's what the bank said about each stock. Amazon Morgan Stanley noted that although Amazon has around 37% of the U.S. e-commerce market, it has captured only 9% of U.S. retail sales. That indicates it has room to grow as consumers continue to shift to online shopping, according to the bank. "When it comes to core consumer offerings (depth of inventory, guaranteed speed of shipping, incremental offerings beyond eCommerce) and overall volume of business, Amazon continues to lead peers," it wrote. The bank is optimistic about the company's cloud business AWS, predicting it will grow around 19% year on year in 2024. "Amazon's high-margin businesses continue to allow Amazon to drive greater profitability while still continuing to invest," the bank's analysts wrote, adding that cloud adoption is reaching an "inflection point." It gave Amazon a price target of $150, implying 42% upside from Friday's closing price of $105.66. Alibaba The market has underappreciated Alibaba's "leverage to a consumption recovery" in China, Morgan Stanley said. "Valuation remains attractive. At current levels, we think the stock underrepresents the value of cloud, other business segments and investments," the analysts added. "Strong cash flow-generating capabilities and continued share buyback could also provide downside support." The bank added that the e-commerce giant is a key beneficiary of the country's easing regulations. "For the past 1-2 years, Alibaba has been in focus, so we think it could outperform other Chinese Internet stocks as the [regulatory] environment eases," the bank said. It gave Alibaba a price target of $150, implying 80% upside from Friday's closing price of $83.22. MercadoLibre Morgan Stanley said it sees MercadoLibre as a "share gainer" in a region that still has a "multiyear eCommerce penetration opportunity." It said MercadoLibre is the leading marketplace in Latin America, and predicts the firm's regionwide share will grow by 2 percentage points to 31%, supported by its logistics investments and benefits of scale. "MELI is a LatAm eCommerce and fintech leader. We see the company well positioned to capture the secular growth opportunities on both fronts," the bank said, adding that the firm can profit from an expansion of services such as adverstising and logistics. It gave MercadoLibre a price target of $1,770, or 42% potential upside.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
A health worker prepares a dose of the Novavax vaccine as the Dutch Health Service Organization starts with the Novavax vaccination program on March 21, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Novavax 's stock jumped around 30% on Tuesday after the biotech company unveiled promising new vaccine data and a broad cost-cutting push that includes major layoffs.

The announcements are a sign of hope for investors after last quarter, when the company raised doubts about its ability to stay in business and decided not to provide full-year guidance.

Novavax's stock closed Tuesday at $9.52. The company's share price is down more than 7% so far this year, giving it a market value of nearly $821 million.

Novavax is now betting on its cost controls and new vaccines to help it stay afloat, forecasting 2023 sales of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion, according to its first-quarter earnings report.

The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based company said its combination vaccine targeting Covid and the flu produced a strong immune response against the viruses and was well tolerated in a phase two trial. Novavax shared similar trial results on its stand-alone flu vaccine and new high-dose Covid shot.

The company's Covid vaccine is its only commercially available product after 35 years in business.
Renters in the U.K. will be able to borrow up to 100% of the value of a property in a new mortgage scheme introduced by Skipton Building Society.

LONDON  Renters in the U.K. will be able to borrow up to 100% of the value of a property without a guarantor or deposit in a new mortgage plan introduced by Skipton Building Society.

A building society is a British financial institution that provides banking services for, and is owned by, its members. The new mortgage product, aimed at first-time buyers who are currently renting, has a fixed rate of 5.49% for five years, over a maximum term of 35 years.

The average five-year rate was 5% in March, according to the Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report, across all loan-to-value ratios. Buyers typically get a 5.33% mortgage rate on 95% LTVs, according to the report, but the majority of buyers opt for a lower rate.

A number of banks, including NatWest, Santander and Nationwide, introduced 95% mortgages in April and May 2021 after the British government announced a new mortgage guarantee program encouraging high loan-to-value lending to enable more first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder post-pandemic.

The new Skipton deal is widely reported to be the first time a mortgage lender has offered 100% mortgage products since 2008, when some building societies offered rates of up to 125%. Many of the products were then pulled from the market as the country fell into financial crisis.

In a press release, Skipton said it would ensure monthly mortgage payments for each applicant are not more than the average of their last six months' worth of rental costs.

The offer is only available to first-time buyers, and is subject to affordability and applicants' credit scores, as well as a good track record of rental payments over at least 12 months.

Skipton has described the move as "a lifeline to tenants ... to help them break out of their trapped rental cycles and onto the property ladder for the first time."

Charlotte Harrison, CEO of home financing at Skipton, said people being unable to get onto the property ladder is "having a massive impact on the fabric of our society."

"We recognise there's a clear gap in the market for people who have a strong history of making rental payments over a period of time so can evidence affordability of a mortgage," Harrison said in a press release.

According to research carried out by Skipton, 35% of renters are struggling to save due to increased rental costs.
This earnings season, there was a lot of chatter about reshoring. For UBS, Eaton stands out as the winner of the trend. Government incentives and supply chain security are among the reasons corporate America is jumping on board the booming reshoring trend , which means returning operations to companies' original country. Reshoring mentions were up 104% year over year during the latest round of earnings reports, Bank of America wrote in a note Monday. Eaton was among those touting its plans. "They have the broadest set of touchpoints throughout the reshoring process," UBS analyst Chris Snyder said. "These are providing tailwinds from many different approaches." ETN YTD mountain Eaton's year-to-date performance The power management company benefits from increased construction of manufacturing facilities and connecting them to the grid, Snyder said. It also makes electrical components for the automated machinery that goes into the facilities, he added. Eaton, which UBS has also named a top pick for 2023, reported an earnings and revenue beat earlier this month, and said it's participating in an unprecedented number of what it calls "mega projects." Since 2021, $600 billion in such projects, each one at least $1 billion in size, have been announced in just the U.S. and Canada  at least three times the historical run rate. "These projects are certainly in various stages of design, planning or construction," CEO Craig Arnold said on the earnings conference call. "These secular trends are translating into specific projects and they haven't slowed down. There's billions more in the planning stages, which will certainly sustain our growth for years to come." The U.S. reshoring projects announced so far should drive 3% to 6% market growth for the nation's electrical market over the next five to seven years, essentially doubling its previous growth, Snyder calculated. "The projects coming through are just so significant and the tailwinds are just very durable," he said. Some of those projects will take longer to construct, hence the five- to seven-year growth timeline. "ETN has said only about 25% of the post 2021 mega-trends have broken ground, which signals the high majority of orders and nearly all of the revenue opportunity from reshoring is still in front of the company," he said. Snyder's price target of $205 implies nearly 21% upside from Monday's close. His other plays on the reshoring theme are Keysight Technologies , which provides electronic design and test solutions; TE Connectivity ; and Amphenol . The latter two also have exposure to automation and electric vehicles. "A heightened focus on supply chain resiliency & U.S. reshoring is a positive for automation demand as replacing higher cost labor should increase ROI on automation investment," Snyder wrote in a note last week. Since part of the shift toward reshoring came amid supply chain turbulence during the Covid-19 pandemic, it makes sense if global geopolitics improve, it may be somewhat of a headwind, he said. Yet it doesn't dampen his enthusiasm for the trend. "The government policies here in the U.S. are providing support and companies are starting to call that out as being a driver," Snyder said. Technology, like artificial intelligence, is also helping support the trend, he said. "The momentum will remain firm," Snyder predicted.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
As the SVB crisis unfolded quickly in early March, Conrad tapped existing investor Greenoaks Capital Partners and, within just three days, was able to obtain a $500 million Series E round.

Raising a financing round seemed the best option. It didn't take long for the serial entrepreneur, who had previously led HR software platform Zenefits (a SEC crackdown at Zenefits led Conrad to resign in 2016 and later pay a fine to settle accusations), to put a rescue plan into action at his new startup Rippling.

When Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in March, San Francisco-based HR tech service Rippling scrambled to find a way to help its customers . After fronting $130 million of the company's own funds to clients to distribute payroll for 50,000 customers, CEO Parker Conrad had to find a way to get hold of the $545 million of its customers' money still locked up with banking partner SVB.

The large, fast financing from top-tier firms in such an unusual circumstance showed the clout of this San Francisco-based startup, which handles payroll services for many tech companies. Conrad has noted that the company recovered its funds from SVB  and shifted banking to JPMorgan Chase. He added that the company has $1 billion in cash.

Growing at triple-digit rates, Rippling has looked to grow in the HR software market with an all-in-one service wrapping in payroll, corporate cards, expense management, benefits administration and bill pay. This broader market offering distinguishes the business from many payroll-only software tools. Its comprehensive spend management service was rolled out in 2022.

The company's technology relies on a centralized, integrated platform of handling administrative tasks rather than piecemeal functions from various third-party vendors. Moreover, Rippling provides this service globally in a single system. This makes for less busy work, one place where employee data is entered and one unified record.

A formula for its success is hiring founders  several of them Y Combinator alumni  who can own products and lead teams.

Rippling is seeking to disrupt legacy global payroll providers such as ADP and Oracle as well as SaaS vendors that specialize in a HR service.

The enterprise software maker works with startups and large companies based in the U.S., U.K, and Canada, and can handle a distributed workforce globally  an increasing need as remote work has taken hold. Rippling opened offices in New York, Beijing and Bangaluru last year.

Recent investors include Bedrock and Kleiner Perkins, with Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator, where the company's first product version in 2017 was developed, invested in earlier rounds.

Looking toward an IPO, last year Rippling hired Adam Swiecicki as CFO from 2023 No. 2 Disruptor company Brex, and is building out the finance team. Additionally, Albert Strasheim was hired as CTO from customer data platform Twilio to lead engineering and scale the company's underlying tech platform.
Demand for individuals with specialized tech talent isn't limited to the tech sector, says Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority. Jimmyfam | E+ | Getty Images

Singapore hasn't been spared the layoffs that have hit the global tech industry since 2022. Online marketplace Carousell cut 10% of its total headcount last December, and Shopee told The Straits Times it started a third round of layoffs last November. But despite the downsizing, Singapore is still investing heavily in tech skills. Efforts at hiring and cultivating tech talent  in both the country's tech and non-tech sectors  continue to be robust. Singapore banks OCBC, DBS and UOB have each developed programs that train technology staff and prepare students to enter the tech industry. OCBC, for its part, announced in 2022 plans to hire 1,500 tech employees over the next three years. And STLogistics announced last year it would invest 1.7 million Singapore dollars ($1.2 million) to encourage employees to pick up digital skills like software robotics. Singaporean telecommunications company M1 launched a program to equip undergraduate students with skills like cloud infrastructure support, it said on its website. Demand for those skills isn't going away anytime soon  in the tech sector and beyond.

Strong demand for tech jobs

Tech jobs have become increasingly popular in recent years. In 2022, nearly seven in 10 of all vacancies in information and communications were new positions, which a report by the Ministry of Manpower showed was the highest level across all sectors for the third consecutive year. Across job vacancies, technology talent like software developers and applications managers continued to be highly sought after, the report added. That level of demand is expected to remain as the economy digitalizes, said Terence Chia, cluster director at Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). "This has been a consequence of tech companies anchoring and growing their higher-value tech development and corporate functions here," he said.

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On top of that, demand for individuals in "specialized tech areas" such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity isn't limited to the tech sector, Chia told CNBC. Such tech workers are needed across multiple industries such as finance, manufacturing, logistics and professional services, he said.

Tech 'powers all the big banks'

In finance, technology is the engine that "powers all the big banks," said Donald MacDonald, OCBC head of group data. "We want everyone in the bank to  at least have foundational data literacy," he said. OCBC designed a program that equips employees with basic data skills and teaches them how data can be used in their jobs, he said. According to MacDonald, the bank uses data to understand its customer profiles and personalize each customer's experience. Data also plays a part in reducing risk  OCBC scans every transaction to detect scams and uses algorithms to figure out "who to lend to and  how much to lend," he said. Another data analysis program trains employees in divisions like finance and risk management, MacDonald said. It has trained about 400 employees to use advanced data analysis skills like Python, which MacDonald said will help them "move beyond" using Excel and other simple tools. "I see Singapore establishing [itself] as a kind of regional hub for A.I. and deep tech," MacDonald said.

Specialized tech skills
In an age when nearly everything  from personal photos to financial information and legal records  is online or in a cloud, cybersecurity is table stakes for every business.

But cybersecurity companies approach organizational defense from different angles, with some going after the server and others focusing on the user end. Snyk is going to the source by integrating security into existing workflows of software developers, helping them build more secure applications and counter increasingly sophisticated attacks. The company says its customers can develop applications faster while maintaining security visibility and control.

Snyk counts Manulife, Bosch, Intuit and Shutterstock among its customers. It also partnered with Google Cloud to help developers understand the risk of open source dependencies with the launch of Google Cloud's Open Source Software service.
Katwise and Mason Brown bought the home in Kingston, New York in June 2009.

In 2009, Kat O'Sullivan, who goes by Katwise, 46, and Mason Brown, 43, were living in an artist loft with roommates in Brooklyn, New York City, when they got an idea. "We were always under the threat of eviction and having to move further away from the city center and I just did the math and realized that the price of a mortgage was half the cost of rent," Katwise, a patchwork artist, tells CNBC Make It. The two sat down together and drew a circle around New York City on a map and started looking for where they could buy land for a farm. It's an idea Katwise says was pretty naive at the time. "I had absolutely no clue how much it was. I just thought anything was going to be better than continuing to pay rent and living with so many different personalities to make sure we had a roof over our heads," she says.

The 180-year-old farmhouse originally sat on 40 acres of land. The couple initially bought 16 acres, but was eventually able to buy the entire property back. Katwise

Katwise and Brown started their search that April. Two months and 25 viewings later, they saw a 180-year-old farmhouse on 16 acres of land in Kingston, New York. They knew they wanted to buy it. What struck the couple about the house the most was that the property owner was still living there and had been for 60 years. "She was sitting inside the house when we saw it and emitted this beautiful glow that made me feel like the house was a treasure and it was an opportunity to grab the baton from her and look after it because I could tell she was ready to pass it on," Katwise said. The couple didn't have enough money to buy the house outright, so they applied to several government programs and received funding, which included a $30,000 grant. But after an inspection, the organization behind that grant concluded that the house should be torn down instead of fixed up, so they pulled their funding. The same day the couple lost their grant, Katwise's former Etsy shop where she sold patchwork sweaters went viral. The money from sales allowed the couple to move forward with their purchase of the farm. In June, their $224,000 offer was accepted. The couple received a $8,000 tax credit that first-time home buyers were eligible for because of the financial crisis in 2008.

The couple has been renovating the farmhouse for over 10 years

Katwise found all of the items for her 1950s inspired kitchen secondhand. Katwise

Katwise says they didn't realize at the time just how much work their new home would need. Nothing in the house had changed since the 1950s. The couple had to redo nearly everything from the foundation and septic system to the roof. Katwise says they've put at least $224,000 into redoing every single aspect of the farmhouse  a little over the same amount they paid for the property. "Honestly, I try not to add it up because it is a bit staggering to contemplate. I am just grateful that, thanks to the pandemic, the property values have gone up so much that we are mercifully not underwater," she added. The way the couple has things set up, the home has four bedrooms, one full bath, and one-half bath. Katwise and Brown each have their own rooms for work, an additional room for photo shoots and yoga, and a living room with a fireplace. The property also has several outbuildings. When Katwise and Brown first bought the house, it came with 16 acres of land, but the original size of the property was 40 acres. The original owner had to sell parcels of land off over the years. Over time, Katwise and Brown were able to buy the other 24 acres, which brought the property back to its original size. One thing Katwise says she wouldn't be able to live without is a rail trail that runs alongside their land. A rail trail is a multi-use public path that's created from former railroad corridors. "It's just one of the coolest features that I did not appreciate for a long time," she added. "It's a long, beautiful, special trail that is just the greatest gift."

Katwise and Brown hired people to help with their renovation along the way and did a lot of it themselves too. Katwise

Katwise and Brown put all of their money into just buying the property. After the closing, they had about $5,000 in their bank account. The couple had no budget for the many changes and upgrades the house would need. They decided to do the renovation in pieces, which Katwise now says she would advise others against. "Knowing what we know now about home repairs, I'd tell them to get their money in order and do everything all at once properly," she said. "I didn't quite understand how it would become our lives and I would be talking about home repairs for the last 10 years," she says. "A lot of people look at our renovation and just see the work, but what they don't see is how much sewing I've had to do to be able to afford it," Katwise said. "I call it the house that sweaters built because it is one and the same with my business."

'Everything I touch turns into a rainbow'

In addition to the main house, the property also has a pond and rail trail. Katwise

When it came time to decorate their new home, Katwise knew the direction she'd be going in  she's always been a colorful person who loves psychedelic art. "Everything I touch turns into a rainbow, so I just assumed my house would do, too," she says. The couple took inspiration from Katwise's love of color and the many items the two have collected over years of traveling alone and together. "By the time we had a home, we had a big collection of treasures from all around the world that we are able to keep the house like a gallery to display it," Katwise said. "It's like a museum."

Katwise said she always knew her home was going to resemble a rainbow. Katwise

A point of pride for Katwise is that nothing in their home is brand new; it's either a souvenir from their travels, purchased from a thrift store, or found on Craigslist. Although Katwise thinks they will never be done renovating the house, she says the most important lesson she's learned over the last decade is to enjoy her home instead of looking at it as a never-ending project. "It's very easy to look at it as a thing I want it to be in the future and not appreciate what it is now," Katwise says. "I'm trying harder to just appreciate how lucky we are and how beautiful it is."

Nothing in the couple's home is new. It was decorated with items they've collected over the years. Katwise
A Thai protester with a sign calling for equal workers' rights and a fair election at a Labor Day rally in Bangkok in 2023. Experts widely agree that pro-democracy groups are expected to perform strongly in light of deep-seated discontent with the current military-affiliated administration. Lauren DeCicca | Getty Images

Thailand is preparing itself for a general election this month, and bread-and-butter issues  such as minimum wage, farm subsidies and welfare  will be top of voters' minds. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic  though tourism has revived and unemployment is below 1%, the country faces a slew of problems. Energy and electricity bills are high; the number of employers is still below pre-pandemic levels; household debt levels are rising at an alarming pace; and annual per-capita income growth has been falling since 2018. That's why most political parties are focusing their campaigns on giveaways like subsidies and tax exemptions  populist pledges that economists fear will derail the nation's fiscal balance. Contenders can be divided into two categories: parties that support the pro-military establishment and a pro-democracy camp of opposition factions. In the former group are the newly minted, conservative United Thai Nation Party, helmed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha; the Democrat Party (Thailand's oldest conservative faction); and the military-backed ruling Palang Pracharath Party. The second group consists of the social democratic Pheu Thai, led by former leader Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra; the progressive Move Forward Party; and Bhumjaithai, a pro-democracy but also a pro-monarchy outfit.

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Experts widely agree that pro-democracy groups are expected to perform strongly in light of deep-seated discontent with the current military-affiliated administration. Ultimately, whoever wins will still need to be endorsed by the monarchy-military alliance, which activists say darkens the prospect of a free and fair election. Despite his weak standing, Prayut's return as prime minister cannot be ruled out, Syetarn Hansakul, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC. "He can count on the support from the senate vote (250 in total) and the support of other allied parties," she said. "If Prayut proceeds to be confirmed as prime minister by the new parliament, without the democratic mandate but with the help of the appointed senate, that could lead to a return of street protests." "Thailand's election outcome remains very fluid, and could turn out differently from the opinion polls, in our view," DBS economists said in a recent report. "There could be delays in forming the new government due to the prolonged time needed to agree on a coalition, hindering policymaking," they warned.

Freebies galore

Parties are promising various handouts to appeal to voters. United Thai Nation wants to raise farm subsidies and increase monthly allowance for state welfare cardholders and the elderly. Pheu Thai aims to boost minimum wage to 600 baht ($17.60) per day (from the current highest level of 354 baht), triple farmers' income by 2027 and offer a one-time handout of 10,000 baht in digital money. Move Forward wants to increase daily minimum wage to 450 baht a day and expand welfare benefits. And Bhumjaithai seeks a three-year debt moratorium for farmers, free solar panels and free life insurance for those aged over 60. Few details have been provided about funding, worrying economists who say those policies would weigh on already stretched public finances after significant fiscal support during the pandemic. Public debt has exceeded 60% of gross domestic product since the 2022 fiscal year and is expected to tick up in 2023, Coface warned in a report. A recent analysis by New Delhi think tank Observer Research Foundation described populist pledges as "a temporary band-aid solution that will provide limited respite to the debt-ridden citizens without incentivizing them to become self-reliant." The comment refers to household debt, which stood at 86.8% of GDP as of late 2022. Given the tight fiscal room, DBS expects it will be "difficult" for the newly elected government to fully fulfill its promises. Moreover, any post-election demonstrations are likely to further hurt economic activity and investor confidence.

Other hot-button issues

Under Prayut's reign, protests erupted from 2020 through 2021 amid calls for reforms to the monarchy, particularly the country's infamous lese-majeste law. Only the Move Forward party has campaigned on changing the defamation law, while Pheu Thai previously said it will consider discussing it in Parliament. Realistically, though, unless Move Forward ends up leading the government  an unlikely scenario to political observers  laws related to the monarchy aren't expected to be on the new prime minister's agenda. The recent protests resurfaced issues of social justice and income disparities  a topic that the new government can't ignore, said the EIU's Hansakul. The next leader will be called upon "to create a fairer playing field that allows small and medium-sized businesses to compete better, to expand social safety nets for the public, to improve the quality of the education and enable the labor force to meet the challenges of a more technological-driven world," she said.

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Persephone Kavallines

It's a strange time to be a venture-backed private startup. The exits are blocked. The last Disruptor 50 company to go public was Gojek, which debuted on the Indonesia Stock Exchange more than a year ago. The last Disruptor 50 IPO in the U.S. market, Nubank , happened on December 9, 2021. Venture capital funding has slowed  VC activity dropped in all stages and sectors in the first quarter of 2023, according to PitchBook's Venture Monitor. And valuations have collapsed  PitchBook says the median pre-money valuation in Q1 2023 is less than half what it was in the first quarter of 2022. Silicon Valley Bank, once the beating heart of the venture capital community, beats no more. The kind of phrases that were rare in the "grow at all costs," "move fast and break things" environment of the last decade are now common themes. Disruptor 50 companies now tell us they are "operating to be more lean," "narrowing focus," and "prioritizing profitability over growth," as they manage inflation and the prospect of a recession along with the tighter venture capital environment.

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On the other hand, we may be on the cusp of a true new era  the age of AI. This year's No. 1 Disruptor has, in just six months, gone from being a Silicon Valley laboratory to  depending on whom you talk to  sparking a revolution that will change every aspect of human life, or bring about the demise of all humanity. At stunning speed. Innovation does not stop. In fact, crises, we have found, often serve as the breeding ground for disruptive innovations, as consumers and enterprises look for ways to leverage technology to be more efficient, or to solve new problems. The 2023 Disruptors are identifying these new market opportunities and delivering solutions across a multitude of sectors.
UBS on Tuesday announced that Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner will join the executive board of the new joint entity once its emergency purchase of the stricken bank completes.

The Swiss giant said the legal close of the acquisition is expected within the next few weeks, and the combined entity will operate as a "consolidated banking group."

The Credit Suisse brand will operate independently for the "foreseeable future" as UBS integrates the business in a "phased approach," the bank said in a statement.

Swiss authorities brokered the controversial emergency rescue of Credit Suisse by UBS for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.37 billion) over the course of a weekend in March, as a crisis of confidence among depositors and shareholders threatened to topple the 167-year-old institution.

UBS confirmed that it will initially manage the two separate companies upon the closure of the deal, with each institution continuing to operate its own subsidiaries and branches while the UBS board of directors and executive board will hold overall responsibility for the consolidated group.

Koerner, who took over the ailing Credit Suisse in July 2022 and immediately launched a massive strategic overhaul aimed at reversing the bank's chronic loss-making and risk management failures, will join the board, UBS confirmed.
High-level summit to witness China, Central Asia ties reach new level

Global Times) 09:58, May 09, 2023

The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit -- the first of its kind, scheduled to be held in Xi'an next week, will witness ties between China and the five Central Asian countries elevated to a new high. Fruitful, comprehensive results are expected to be realized in multiple areas, be it political, economic and security, as participating countries are expected to reach new consensus of cooperation amid new challenges and risks in the region, said observers.

The China-Central Asia Summit will be held on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the summit, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Monday.

At China's invitation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will be attending the summit, Hua said.

Hua also announced that at the invitation of President Xi, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will pay a state visit to China respectively from May 16 to 20.

The China-Central Asia Summit is the first major diplomatic event to be held in China this year, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a Monday briefing. Being the first offline summit between leaders of the six countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago, Wang said the summit is of milestone significance to China's ties with the five Central Asian nations.

During the summit, President Xi will give an important speech; and leaders are set to exchange views on major international and regional issues, said Wang. He also noted that important political documents will be signed.

The spokesperson said China is willing to join hands with Central Asian countries, using the presidents' visit to further expand cooperation, and push forward ties, as well as contributing to world peace and prosperity.

The highest-level summit between China and those Central Asian countries indicates that the comprehensive strategic partnerships China established with all five Central Asian countries have reached a new high; and that those countries share a new consensus on development amid new challenges and risks in the region, Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Yang noted that the summit carries special significance as previous cooperation between China and Central Asian countries was either bilateral; or under multilateral frameworks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), while this summit focuses only on cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

China shares a special bond with Central Asian countries. For his first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic, President Xi paid a state visit to Uzbekistan in September 2022 and attended the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. Moreover, this year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative proposed by Xi during his visit to Kazakhstan in 2013.

More room for cooperation

Last month, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang chaired the fourth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xi'an. The meeting yielded a consensus as they agreed to adhere to solidarity and mutual assistance, and enhance mutual support; adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and expand security cooperation.

Issues dominating the summit will be wide-ranging, including political, economic, security and people-to-people exchange, Zhao Huirong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. She noted economic cooperation will be one of the key issues at the summit. "Pushing for more collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative will be important  Both sides may also discuss agreements on energy, agriculture, green economy and so forth."

Trade between China and the five Central Asian countries reached $70.2 billion last year, a historic high, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said last month. In 2022, China's imports of agricultural, energy and mineral products from these countries jumped over 50 percent, while its exports of mechanical and electronic products to them increased by 42 percent.

China and Central Asia have kept close collaboration on security for years. Experts predicted cooperation on security will be another focus at the summit because of new risks and challenges in the region. One of these security challenges include the risks the US' hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan poses for regional countries.

Zhao said that to promote regional security and improve global security governance, China has launched various beneficiary initiatives, such as the Global Security Initiative; and has been playing an active role in multilateral mechanism to assuage risks and bring peace.

Last week, Qin Gang attended the fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers'?Dialogue in Islamabad, Pakistan. The three countries have pledged to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counter-terrorism.

Following the US pulling out from Afghanistan, outside forces that interfere with Central Asia's affairs have decreased, which makes the room for cooperation between China and those countries much bigger, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times. Zhu said Central Asian countries' willingness in cooperating with China has also grown stronger in recent years, not only because both sides maintain strong momentum in collaborating on energy, infrastructure and other areas, but because these countries share similar stance on many major international issues.

Working together, not competing

China's cooperation with Central Asian nations has been growing stronger to adapt to the current changes. But some Western media cannot stop smearing China's role in the region, claiming that it competes with Russia's influence in the region.

Yang said the reports are "absurd and harbor evil intention." Such claims disrespect Central Asian countries' diplomatic wisdom, as they are sovereign countries and have the right to cooperate with whoever can bring them concrete benefits, said the expert.

When meeting with Qin Gang in Xi'an in April, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said that the strategic partnership with China remains one of the priorities of Kazakhstan's foreign policy. Nurtleu highlighted the need for joint efforts to implement the agreements reached at the highest level to expand multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and investment, the Astana Times reported.

Li Yongquan, director of the Eurasian Social Development Research at the Development Research Center of the State Council, told the Global Times that "For 30 years, Central Asia has been situated in a complicated geopolitical atmosphere. One of the reasons why regional countries can thrive despite the multiple unstable factors is because China and Russia have cooperated on maintaining safety and stability in the region. China and Russia have a shared interest on this issue," said Li.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Russian soldiers march during a rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 7, 2023.

All eyes are on Russia's Victory Day parade on Tuesday, an annual event marking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Moscow usually uses the high-profile event in Moscow to show off its military hardware, parading massive missile launchers, battle tanks and troops through Red Square as Russian President Vladimir Putin and military generals look on.

This year is expected to be a smaller affair, however, with the ongoing war in Ukraine involving much of Russia's military personnel and hardware. Security concerns are also high on the Kremlin's watchlist this year, particularly after a recent alleged drone attack on the Kremlin. Victory Day parades have been canceled in a number of places in Russia.

Russia has launched a wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities Kyiv, Odesa and Kherson in the last few days and Kyiv was targeted with more strikes overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is intensifying its attacks out of frustration that several Ukrainian cities have not fallen to Russian troops and the Kremlin needs to "sell" results to its society.
Before starting Vanta, Christina Cacioppo was a product manager at Dropbox where she learned what goes into securing data. Vanta gives smaller companies the ability to compete with large companies when it comes to security standards. Its trust management platform gives companies a holistic view of risk, adding contextual data and the ability to remediate and track issues.

Vanta simplifies and centralizes security program management for over 5,000 companies, including Autodesk, Gusto, Modern Treasury and Quora, by providing full visibility into an organization's cyber vulnerabilities .

While a slowdown in enterprise spending and fears of a recession have spurred big cuts in the tech industry, forecasts from IT consulting firms and Wall Street analysts do anticipate cybersecurity as being more insulated, though not immune. Cybersecurity CEOs have conceded that the "blank check" world for IT budgets has changed.

But Vanta, which has offices in Dublin, New York, San Francisco and Sydney, doubled its customer base in 2022. Gartner estimates that security and risk management spending will rise by about 11.3% to $188.3 billion in 2023.

It also helps that the company prides itself on running a lean operation, and that founder Cacioppo is famously frugal. Earlier this year, she invited Kevin Kelly of venture capital firm Sequoia Capital's partner fund Sequoia Heritage, to talk about how its portfolio companies make it through downturns.

Last year, Vanta raised $150 million in funding from leading investors Sequoia, Craft Ventures and Y Combinator, in addition to security industry pioneer CrowdStrike , in what is its biggest round to date. It also made its first acquisition earlier this year, buying Trustpage for an undisclosed amount to help scale its platform.
Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on Apple after reviewing the company's recent 10-Q quarterly filing report. "Balance sheet inventory increase reflects component pre-purchases, which we believe can help support stronger gross margins over the next few quarters." Atlantic Equities downgrades Shopify to neutral from overweight Atlantic Equities downgraded the stock mainly on valuation. "Although we see upside to Street estimates and continue to view Shopify as a best-in-class product executor with strong long-term growth prospects, the stock's 22x gross profit multiple is back to pre-pandemic levels, despite us modelling mid-20s gross profit growth in the near term, half the 2019 level." JPMorgan Chase initiates Alkami as overweight JPMorgan Chase said the regional banking software company has strong fundamentals. " Alkami provides white label banking solutions to US-based credit unions and small to midsize regional banks, allowing them to compete with more technologically advanced and well-resourced competitors." Read more about this call here . Bernstein reiterates Alphabet as outperform Bernstein said it's bullish heading into the internet giant's developer conference Wednesday. "This year, Google has a lot more on the line than whether the new Pixel smartphone is foldable or not. With a PR war going on around Generative AI, it's Google's turn to show the world, and more importantly the developers, what it has been working on." Bernstein reiterates Microsoft as outperform Bernstein said AI is going "everywhere and in everything" Microsoft does. "AI at Microsoft is far more than Bing Chat  it is becoming core technology everywhere and in everything Microsoft does." Wells Fargo reiterates S & P Global as overweight Wells Fargo said the financial information and analytics company has "robust capital return capabilities." " SPGI's post-IHS merger profile provides balanced end mkt exposure (inc some torque to eventual issuance rebound), strong synergy opportunities, robust capital return capabilities and potential further portfolio options." Redburn reiterates Spotify as buy Redburn said Spotify is a key AI beneficiary. "Furthermore, we see Spotify as a winner of the AI disruption and are encouraged by the feedback on negotiations with the labels. We update our forecasts and raise our fair value to a range of $150-185. We remain Buyers." Guggenheim upgrades Shoals to buy from neutral Guggenheim said in its upgrade of the solar company the outlook looks "conservative." "Key Message: We are upgrading SHLS from Neutral to Buy and establishing a price target of $30. The company's outlook for the remainder of the year looks conservative to us." Read more about this call here. Jefferies upgrades Ferguson to buy from hold Jefferies said in its upgrade of the building and residential construction products company that it's poised for a re-rate. "We see the discount FERG trades to its peers narrowing, catalyzed by a US index inclusion & increased US based investor interest & coverage." Read more about this call here. BMO downgrades Skyworks to market perform from outperform BMO said it sees too much uncertainty for the chipmaker. "As a rule of thumb, we are loath to changing ratings after the fact. The exception to that is when we either cannot add it all up, if we see a structural issue emerging, or if we see a multi-quarter headwind. In this case we see some combination of the above. Thus, we would rather stay on the sidelines and are lowering our rating on shares of SWKS to a Market Perform from an Outperform." Read more about this call here. Bank of America upgrades Trex to buy from neutral Bank of America said the wood decking and railing materials company is resilient. "Our upgrade reflects Trex's: 1) resilient sell-through trends, 2) rapid gross margin rebound, and 3) long-term material conversion opportunity. Following a challenging 2022 for composite decking, we believe the industry is poised to recover in 2023." Goldman Sachs reiterates PayPal as buy Goldman Sachs said it sees further earnings upside after the company's earnings report Monday. " PayPal continues to demonstrate strong opex management with opex to decline 10% yoy in 2023 and decline again in 2024, though this has been at least partly offset by the transition toward lower margin unbranded volumes." Raymond James reiterates Palantir as strong buy Raymond James said it's standing by its strong buy rating on shares of the AI beneficiary. "Enthusiasm around PLTR' s new AI Platform (AIP) which we view as a solution that commercializes large language models and leverages the underlying tech to provide transformational value to customers." Evercore ISI upgrades Ingersoll Rand to outperform from in line Evercore called the air and gas manufacturer a "fine" company. "Long IR (upgrade to Outperform/Buy)/Short ITW: In this 'high rent district' of our coverage area (high valuation multiple), these are two fine companies. However, we can get faster, maybe even more reliable, sales and earnings growth at IR less expensively than ITW." UBS reiterates Walmart as buy UBS said it's standing by its buy rating on the stock heading into earnings May 18. " WMT likely maintained its momentum and gained further share in 1Q." Wells Fargo reiterates Home Depot and Lowe's as overweight Wells Fargo said it's standing by shares of the home improvement retailers but is concerned about a negative risk and reward heading into earnings later this month. "We see neutral to negative risk/reward into HD / LOW EPS. Sentiment is weak, checks are squishy, & trends likely slowed via uncooperative weather & muted demand. Credit Suisse downgrades PayPal to neutral from outperform Credit Suisse said it's too "challenging" to recommend shares right now. "Given the prospects for continued transaction margin pressures throughout 2023 (partly mix driven), PayPal's vertical skew (discretionary) in an uncertain macro backdrop, a pending management transition, and increasing competitive pressures (longer term), we find it challenging to recommend the shares at this time. Piper Sandler reiterates JPMorgan, Fifth Third and US Bancorp as overweight Piper said there are several "ways to play" the chaotic banking environment. "While we suspect this could be a long slog for the group, we still think there are opportunities in high-quality names  some at steep discounts. We discuss here three of our favorite large-cap bank names through which to navigate the current uncertainty. We reiterate our OW ratings on FITB, JPM, and USB. "

The Microsoft logo is seen at the Microsoft store in New York City. Mike Segar | Reuters

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street:

Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight
From left, Wiz employees Yaniv Shaked, Idan Gazit, Adi Leist Sharon, Guy Rozendorn, George Pisha, Eyal Wiener in Israel in March 2021. Wiz

Over the past year, the tech landscape has been dominated by stories of downsizing due to rising interest rates, inflation and concerns about economic tumult. Even in growth areas like the cloud, businesses are reeling in spending. Don't tell that to Wiz. The cybersecurity software vendor said in August that it reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue after selling its product for just a year and a half. Nine months later, the revenue figure reached $200 million. Wiz's technology spots vulnerabilities hiding in the public clouds that so many companies are using as they offload their data storage and computing requirements to Amazon , Microsoft and Google . The accelerated shift to cloud computing has boosted adoption of security software that can identify the spots where hackers can wage attacks. Far from conducting layoffs, the 700-person startup announced in February a $300 million funding round at a $10 billion valuation. Its client list now includes Chipotle , Colgate-Palmolive , Morgan Stanley and Snowflake . "For us, it's still an unlimited market," Assaf Rappaport, Wiz's co-founder and CEO, told CNBC in an interview. "The opportunity is still huge, so we can still grow in triple digits a year, and even in a downturn and potential recession." Wiz's defiant growth propelled the three-year-old company onto CNBC's 2023 Disruptor 50 list, where it ranked fifth, the highest among the five cybersecurity names that made this year's list. The others are Vanta at No. 17, Arctic Wolf at No. 22, Orca Security at No. 24 and Snyk at No. 40.

Wiz, which has offices in Israel, New York and Denver, is playing into a long-term trend in technology. Over the past decade, giant enterprises such as Goldman Sachs and Walmart have become more willing to push critical data and workloads to the cloud. So have large government entities like the Central Intelligence Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. What started off as a playground for startups has become the status quo for IT departments. The transition accelerated during the pandemic as companies had to quickly adapt to remote work. Older security companies such as Palo Alto Networks and Rapid7 have widened their portfolios to specialize in securing the cloud. But it's not just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Even Wiz's competitors are having to reckon with a more spendthrift customer base. In February, Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas informed analysts on a conference call that corporate executives have been finding it harder to free up money for security projects and that deals were taking longer to close.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he continues to ask Indonesia for a commutation or pardon for convicted drug mule and prisoner Mary Jane Veloso.

"Ganoon pa rin (It's still the same). We haven't really stopped," Marcos said when asked if he would raise Veloso's case in meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

"The impasse is that we continue to ask for a commutation or even a pardon or extradition back to the Philippines. That is constantly there," he added.

Marcos also said the Indonesian government continues to insist that Veloso's sentence "is the law."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo asked Indonesia to grant executive clemency to Veloso in September 2022.

Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking after being caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin in Yogyakarta in 2010. She was meted the death penalty in the same year.

"They've already given us postponement [of Velosos execution], but that doesn't mean it's done. I always, at least, bring it up na baka sakali, baka sakali magbago (just in case their decision changes)," Marcos said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10)  The tensions in the Taiwan Strait will be an "unavoidable" topic at the upcoming 42nd ASEAN Summit, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.

"Parang inevitable, eh. Unavoidable yung subject matter na yun dahil pare-pareho na mga miyembro ng ASEAN. Siyempre, it is a grave concern to all the member-states of ASEAN," Marcos said when asked if the Taiwan issue would be tackled during the biannual meeting.

[Translation: It seems inevitable. The subject matter is unavoidable because they are all members of ASEAN. Of course, it is a grave concern to all the ASEAN member-states.]

"So it's considering that we also agree on the concept of ASEAN centrality when it comes to regional concerns that will be one of the most important subjects that we'll bring up," he added.

The chief executive also said a lot has changed since the last ASEAN Summit and the member-states may need to "really calibrate" the plans.

In his recent trip to the United States, Marcos with and US President Joe Biden maintained the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Tensions brew between the US and China over Taiwans independence as Beijing insists that Taiwan is part of its territory.

RELATED: What's at stake for PH in US-China tensions over Taiwan

"There's no way around it. That will inevitably be a part of the conversation that we'll be having tomorrow and the day after," Marcos said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10)  As tensions brew between global superpowers United States and China over Taiwans independence, the Philippines finds itself in a crucial position with its neutral and independent foreign policy.

As the stronger ties between the US and the Philippines appear to have alarmed China, the Southeast Asian nation is now under the spotlight with geopolitical decisions seen to drastically impact tensions.

Since the Philippines is a longtime ally of the US and a country economically boosted by Chinese investors, it is critical to pinpoint where the Southeast Asian nation stands and what is at stake if armed conflict erupts due to the Taiwan issue.

PH, US and China

In April, China launched military drills around Taiwan after the latters President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a visit to the United States where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers.

Beijing said the drills were "a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu condemned Beijings actions and warned that they seem to be trying to get ready to launch a war against Taiwan.

While the US has updated its fact sheet on Taiwan to reinstate that it is not supporting Taiwan independence, Washington appears to be backing Taiwanthe reason why many also see the stronger US-Philippine relations as part of Washingtons preparations for the rising tensions in the Asian region.

To show their stronger ties, Amercan and Filipino officials released a joint statement on security issues. The US has reaffirmed its commitment to stand with the Philippines against any form of intimidation and coercion in the South China Sea, such as the rising incidents of Chinese Coast Guard vessels spotted near Ayungin Shoal.

Washington and Manila also showed that they are preparing Philippine troops to transition from protecting national interest through internal security to external and territorial defense.

This was seen in the largest Balikatan exercises recently held in the Philippines and the setting up of four new sites for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US. The new EDCA sites are in locations seen to boost the defense near the Taiwan Strait and West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that encompasses the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

RELATED: Marcos seeks 'even stronger' ties with US as he leaves for official visit

Beijing saw these moves as threats to the regions stability.

China warned that an expanded military cooperation with the US will only endanger regional peace and stability, "drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development."

The East Asian giant also expressed grave concern and strong disapproval of the joint statement of Philippine and US officials, and reiterated its position that the UN tribunals ruling favoring Philippine claims in the South China Sea is illegal, null and void.

Foreign policy expert: China using OFWs in Taiwan as hostages

In a statement, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian also claimed the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the Taiwan issue.

In a forum, the Chinese envoy urged the Philippines to oppose Taiwan independence and slammed statements lamenting the safety of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan following repeated warnings against Philippine-US military enhancement.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, foreign policy expert Renato de Castro denounced the Chinese envoys statement, saying China is using OFWs in Taiwan as hostages for the Philippines to side with its stance on Taiwan.

It seems that China is treating us like a province, telling us these things," he said. "Were sovereign. Why should China treat us this way?

De Castro also said setting up new EDCA sites and enhancing military capabilities are decisions made by an independent and sovereign country such as the Philippines.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the terms of use of the EDCA sites are still up for discussion. But President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. already said his administration will not allow the new EDCA sites to be used for offensive operations, insisting that these are set up as a buffer for immediate response when natural disasters hit the typhoon-prone regions.

Marcos also said he did not receive any request from the US for possible deployment of Filipino troops to assist in combat operations should the tensions between China and Taiwan escalated into war.

If tensions over Taiwan do escalate into war, officials and foreign security experts believe the Philippines has no way out and it will be involved in the conflict.

Whats at stake

Philippine envoy to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the country needs to boost its defense capabilities together with Washington as Manila may not be able to avoid being dragged into the Taiwan conflict.

We are geographically situated where we are, how many miles away from Taiwan, and there is a conflict going on in our territorial waters right now so weve discussed it on many occasions with our friends and partners in Washington DC, he said.

Whatever happens in our area, we will all be affected," he added. "There is no going around it. This is something that we have to be ready for and, hopefully, it will never happen."

The Philippines geographically lies in an arc south of Taiwan. US bases in the Philippines would be critical launch and resupply points as the countrys northernmost island of Itbayat is less than 100 miles from Taiwan.

Moreover, the Philippines will be obliged to take war refugees from Taiwan. The safety, repatriation, and relocation of OFWs in Taiwan are also big concerns.

WATCH: DND: PH may tap EDCA sites to evacuate Filipinos in Taiwan.

Security analyst Chester Cabalza also noted that Chinese investors have entered the Philippines like a Trojan Horse and became active and large pillars in the local economy of some EDCA sites.

RELATED: Marcos on PH-China relations: Disengagement not an option

Cabalza told CNN Philippines that local leaders are scared of the possibility of investors pulling out as this will affect local economic movement drastically. But he also reminded that local leaders should be sensible of the framework and structure of national security as it is a collective effort to advance the Philippines national interest.

The security expert also noted that it is still possible for the country to maintain its friend to all, enemy to none policy.

We are still siding with that neutrality policy since we know that China and the US are two competing superpowers in our backyard," he said. "And we have both relations with Beijing and Washington and we should continue with that."

The reason why we are fortifying our naval, aerial and terrestrial bases in the northern Philippines is because of the changing geopolitical situation that we are seeing, he added.

But for De Castro, he believes the Chinese have a timetable when they are setting up conditions around Taiwan and they will only act upon their military capabilities when the conditions are right.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang on Tuesday ordered a probe into the alleged involvement of bureau personnel and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the sale and use of illegal drugs inside the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga City.

The order came after Aharayam Jaidi, wife of a PDL, tested positive for drug use.

Catapang said Jaidi was arrested while trying to smuggle in 2.7 grams of suspected shabu worth 18,000 that was stashed inside her bra and underwear while visiting her husband.

"Jaidi was turned over to the Zamboanga Police Station for investigation and appropriate filing of the case," Catapang added.

The BuCor chief also said four PDLs were caught by their cell leader having a pot session on May 5 at around 7:30 p.m.

"This prompted the SRPPF officials to subject the eight PDLs who shared the same cell to a drug test and seven, including the husband of Jaidi, were found to be positive for drug use," he added.

Catapang said visitation at the SRPPF was suspended on May 6 to give way to the investigation.
Cebu (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Two people have accused six policemen from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) of kidnapping and torture during a supposed operation in Minglanilla, Cebu last March 26.

30-year-old Randolph Restauro from Talisay City said he was with his live-in partner Gemalen Elorde when policemen on board a motorcycle allegedly blocked their path and forced them inside a van.

In the vehicle, they were blindfolded with masking tape, but Elorde said she was able to get a glimpse of some of their abductors faces.

Restauro claimed they were brought to the PDEG Special Operations Unit (PDEG-SOU) headquarters in Camp Sergio Osmena in Cebu City where he was repeatedly hit by hard objects, mauled, and tied upside down. He said after several hours of torture, they were later released near a convenience store in Minglanilla.

Restauro said it all started when he was playing around with a friend with a mobile messaging platform, where he posted cropped photos of shabu and joked that he wanted to sell the supposed drugs.

It was not clear how the PDEG got hold of the photos.

At the camp, the victims said they were being forced to produce the supposed illegal drugs which the policemen believed were in Restauro's possession.

Police in the region said the six officers were already relieved from their posts pending an investigation.

Although its office is inside Camp Sergio Osmena Sr., PDEG-SOU is not under the jurisdiction of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) filed administrative and criminal complaints against the policemen at the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas on May 5.

This story will be updated.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  There is a move to declare the Verde Island Passage (VIP), dubbed the "Amazon of the oceans," as a protected area.

The governors of five provinces, namely, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon  areas that surround the VIP  and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are pushing for the declaration.

"This highest level of protection for what is touted as the center of the world's marine biodiversity will keep VIP as a sanctuary to thousands of marine species and off limits to business activities that will threaten its pristine ecosystem," Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said Tuesday.

The VIP, which is part of the Coral Triangle, is home to over 1,700 fish species, more than 300 coral species, and thousands of other marine organisms, according to the Protect VIP coalition.

The DENR said the marine corridor provides livelihood and other benefits to over two million people.

Loyzaga said there have been a number of proposed development projects in the VIP since early 2020, "such as submarine cable/pipe laying and jetty construction."

"With this, there is a need to study what possible regulations may be imposed to ensure that there is a balance between development and conservation," she said.

The joint call to declare the VIP as a protected area was agreed upon during a meeting among Loyzaga, Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. They also discussed the threat of the oil spill from the MT Princess Empress which sank off Oriental Mindoro in late February.

The Philippine Coast Guard earlier reported that the oil slick reached Verde Island last March 20, but later said there were no more traces of the sheen on the island and its vicinity waters.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  The Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the country will continue despite the World Health Organization's lifting of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) status on the disease.

Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country's own declaration of a Public Health Emergency, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2020, is still in place.

However, if this will also be lifted soon, manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines, including bivalent vaccines, are encouraged to start applying for their Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"(If the PHE is lifted in the country) mawawala na po 'yong authority ng FDA to issue out this EUA (Emergency Use Authorization). Kahit po 'yong mga donasyon na darating sa ating bansa kailangan with CPR na," Vergeire said.

[Translation: If the PHE is lifted in the country, the authority of the FDA to issue this EUA will be dismissed. Even vaccines that will be donated will need to have a CPR.]

"Ito lang ay kailangang pag-aralang maigi at siyempre ma-facilitate at magtulung-tulungan tayo so that we can do this once the public health emergency has been lifted in our country."

[Translation: This will need to be studied carefully and of course, be facilitated and we need to work together so we can do this once the public health emergency has been lifted in our country.]

Currently, the use of COVID-19 vaccines is under an EUA from the FDA, in line with the public health emergency as stated in Executive Order No. 121.

With a CPR from the FDA, vaccines may be available for purchase in the private market. Despite this, the national government may still subsidize a portion of the cost of vaccines if needed by the vulnerable sectors, according to Vergeire.

In response to the call of Sen. Chiz Escudero to lift the secrecy on funds spent on vaccine procurement, Vergeire explained that confidentiality was part of the deals with vaccine manufacturers when the vaccines were procured.

"These confidentiality agreements are part of the conditions of manufacturers once we enter into agreements with them," she said.

"Though syempre, kapag CPR na ito mababago ang landscape. Mababago na 'yong mga conditionalities dapat ng mga manufacturers since it is already registered and we can already pursue negotiation even without the confidentiality agreement," Vergeire added.

[Translation: Once they have a CPR, the landscape will change. Conditionalities with manufacturers will be different since it is already registered and we can already pursue negotiation even without the confidentiality agreement.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, principal sponsor and author of the Universal Health Care law, on Tuesday said he wants to amend the measure to adjust the timing of the increases in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) premium contributions.

Im proposing an amendment to adjust the premium contributions. There will be a hike every year but we will now go back to pre-pandemic level, he told CNN Philippines The Source.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of workers and employers, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decided to suspend the increase in insurance contributions this year.

This was the second time a hike was suspended following former President Rodrigo Dutertes decision to do so in 2021.

Instead of the supposed 5% increase in 2024, the rate will return to 3%, Ejercito noted.

This was the rate in 2020 when the first hike took effect under the UHC.

The senator said his proposed amendments will make the increase in contributions more affordable for those covered by PhilHealth.

The hike will also be gradual with a 0.5% annual increase, he added.

Ejercito said contributions from overseas Filipino workers will also increase. He said stakeholders were already consulted regarding the proposal.

If the increases take effect next year, the senator said there will also be increases in the coverage of PhilHealth per illness.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Senator JV Ejercito questioned the decision of the local government unit to relocate the monuments of three heroes to less prominent areas in San Juan.

They should have a lot of explaining to do, he said during a briefing Monday.

Ejercito also said the statues of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Jose Rizal served as landmarks, were sources of pride, and symbols of heroism at Pinaglabanan Street.

In a series of tweets last week, Ejercito shared photos of the rubbles where the statues originally stood.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source on Monday, Ejercito said the local government unit decided to relocate the statues inside a shrine and that this was approved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

Pinaglabanan is a sacred ground so we really wanted to highlight that. In other countries, landmarks, they really give prominence to their heroism and every time people will pass they will feel some sort of pride, he pointed out.

Ejercito also made an appeal to Mayor Francis Zamora to stop politicking, noting that the three monuments were unveiled during the former's term as San Juan mayor.

"These are national monuments. And symbols of our heroism sana naman 'wag nang idamay (do not get them involved anymore),"

San Juan defends relocation

The city government of San Juan said the transfer of monuments to the Pinaglabanan Shrine itself would allow the public to view the monuments all at once and pay their proper respects to the heroes of the Battle of Pinaglabanan.

With the relocation of the monuments of Rizal, Bonifacio, and Jacinto to the Pinaglabanan Shrine, visitors can now witness and better appreciate a trio of Eduardo Castrillos masterpieces, which when combined with the Castrillo 'Spirit of Pinaglabanan' sculpture at the inner portion of the Pinaglabanan Shrine, creates a remarkable ensemble of four Castrillo sculptures, it said.

It said safety concerns also prompted the relocation, after several car accidents were reported in the intersections where the monuments were previously located.

According to the city government, the NHCP approved the transfer in September 2021. The relocation is also backed by two city ordinances approved by the city council, including minority councilors.

It added that restoration experts of the NHCP are responsible for preserving the monuments.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  A maritime law expert is hopeful that China will seriously rethink its actions in the West Philippine Sea following the recent pronouncements of the United States and the Philippines to forge stronger security ties.

"Magiging concerned ang China kasi makikita nila na hindi lang tayo maliit na bansa kundi bansang may malalaking kaibigan," said Jay Batongbacal, Director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, in a public briefing.

[Translation: China will become more concerned because they will now look at the Philippines not just a small country but a country with powerful allies and friends]

Last week, United States President Joe Biden reaffirmed to President Bongbong Marcos Washinton's "ironclad alliance commitments to the Philippines."

Biden went on by saying that "an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty."

Both the Philippines and the US also released a bilateral defense guideline to further define the security partnership between Manila and Washington.

"We will always have your back, in the South China Sea or elsewhere in the region," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Marcos during the latter's visit to Pentagon.

"Let me say once again that our mutual defense treaty applies to armed attacks on our armed forces, Coast Guard vessels, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea," added Austin.

For Batongbacal, these statements would hopefully be enough for China to always reconsider its actions in the West Philippine Sea.

"Tahimik tayo for last few years pero kailangan na nila seryosohin tayo pagdating sa usapin sa West Philippine SeaSigurado patuloy nila tayong susubukan pero dahil malakas na ang mensahe na meron tayong kaibigan, magbabago na sila ng attitude towards sa atin," added Batongbacal.

[Translation: We have been quiet in the last few years but now they will have to take us seriously on issues over the West Philippine Sea. I am sure that they will continue to challenge us but since the message is clear now that we have a strong ally, Beijing's attitude towards us might change]

'Meddling' in South China Sea

The Chinese Foreign Ministry was quick to point out that while countries are allowed to do bilateral agreements, it should not be at the expense of other countries.

China adds it will continue to oppose 'meddling' in the South China Sea issue especially for countries outside of the region.

"With the concerted efforts of regional countries, the situation in the South China Sea has maintained overall stability. The US-Philippines defense guidelines is a bilateral arrangement. China firmly opposes any country's move to meddle in the South China Sea issue to harm China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests by citing the guidelines," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning.

"I would like to stress that the South China Sea is the shared home for countries in the region, not a hunting ground for forces outside the region. When regional countries are committed to mutual trust, solidarity, cooperation and properly handling differences, they have in their hand the key to peace and stability in the South China Sea," the Chinese official added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill raising the cash gift for Filipino centenarians who reach 101 years old from 100,000 to 1 million.

House Bill 7535, which was approved with 257 votes, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016 that entitles all Filipinos who reach 100 years old and above to a 100,000 cash gift.

Former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo told a House panel last year that there were 662 Filipino centenarians in the country.

The proposed measure also proposes granting 25,000 to Filipinos who reach the age of 80 and 85 (octogenarians), and 90 and 95 (nonagenarians).

All recipients of the cash gift will receive a letter of felicitation from the president of the Philippines.

The National Commission of Senior Citizens will be tasked to implement the measure if it becomes a law.

The bill will now be transmitted to the Senate for further discussion before it is submitted to the chief executive for his approval.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  The Japanese Embassy on Tuesday said no official discussions have been made with the Philippines and the United States yet regarding possible joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Japan made the clarification when asked by CNN Philippines on its possible participation in the Philippine-US joint patrols which, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez, could possibly start in the third quarter of 2023.

"There is no specific plan or discussion of 'joint patrols,' but Japan and the Philippines have been closely working together to reinforce Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and maritime law enforcement for the stability of the South China Sea," the embassy said in a statement.

Japan said it is willing to take part in trilateral dialogues with the Philippines and the US, especially on defense policies.

"Japan is committed to further enhancement of defense exchanges through trilateral dialogues like the Japan-Philippines-US Trilateral Defense Policy Dialogue, and participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in Philippines-US joint exercises," the embassy said.

In the joint statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden last week, both leaders expressed the importance of working with regional partners.

"They look forward to establishing trilateral modes of cooperation among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, as well as the Philippines, Australia, and the United States," the statement read.

Australia has yet to issue its statement on possible joint patrols or any progress on the trilateral cooperation with Manila and Washington.

PH-US joint patrols to start in third quarter? US embassy says talks still ongoing

The US Embassy neither confirmed nor denied the possible resumption of PH-US joint patrols in the third quarter of this year but emphasized that talks about combined maritime exercises are still ongoing.

"Our conversations on combined maritime activities with the Philippines are continuing, and our planners are working hard on specific issues such as timing, assets, and logistics," US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay told CNN Philippines.

"The goal of any combined maritime activities would be to support the Philippines exercising its lawful sovereign maritime rights under international law," he added.

Expert: Joint patrols 'risky,' need to be transparent to avoid miscalculations, provocations

For international relations experts and president of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies (PSISS) Rommel Banlaoi, the joint patrols between the Philippines and the US could be risky if the scope of the activities are not transparent.

"It will be taken negatively by other parties, especially if it will be conducted in the South China Sea or in the West Philippine Sea. So, it will raise the risk of possible misunderstanding and it can also raise another tension in the South China Sea, but it depends on how the Philippines and the United States will be transparent in the conduct of that during patrols," Banlaoi told CNN Philippines.

Banlaoi also urged Manila and Washington to make sure that maritime patrols would not run contrary to the draft of the South China Sea Code of Conduct which limits the conduct of such activities.

"Doing patrols shall also be consistent with the ongoing negotiations on the code of conduct in the South China Sea," Banlaoi added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  A high-ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has played down the supposed drug ties of some policemen during an inquiry on alleged abuses of law enforcers at the House of Representatives.

PNP Directorial Staff chief Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria on Tuesday told the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that the police force has internal mechanisms to investigate police officers, and that complaints against cops are not ignored.

"The PNP is not sitting on our butts letting these things happen to the detriment of the reputation of the PNP organization," he said during the hearing.

"We ourselves are trying to police our organization," he also said. "The only thing is the organization is so big, its 228,000-strong."

Dubria was responding to Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop's remarks on the seeming prevalence of crimes involving policemen.

Acop, a former police officer, sought a congressional inquiry on the illegal drug busts conducted by policemen in Antipolo last year.

"How can we eliminate illegal drugs in this country when your people are the ones committing crimes?" Acop remarked. "Law enforcers become law breakers."

But Dubria argued that only 1% of the police force can be considered "misfits."

"For policemen involved in drug charges, there are about 179 personnel charged, which is, comparing it to 229,000 personnel of the PNP, it is less than 1% of the PNP who are misfits," he pointed out.

Dubria added that erring policemen can be held to account through the National Police Commission.

Other government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights can also investigate allegations of wrongdoing against cops, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Undeclared and imported used clothes or "ukay-ukay" worth more than 268,000 were seized at the Port of Matnog, Sorsogon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Tuesday.

In an incident report, the PCG said the truck carrying 50 undeclared boxes was en route to Davao City from Matnog, Sorsogon.

It said the driver and two cargo helpers are under the coast guard sub-station Matnog's custody for investigation, while the seized items are under assessment.

Senator Raffy Tulfo earlier filed Senate Bill 1778 seeking to legalize and regulate "ukay-ukay" or imported second-hand garment as it has become part of Filipino culture and generated jobs.

Tulfo said the bill is an offshoot of the failure of the Bureau of Customs to control the influx of "ukay-ukay."

He said small-time sellers are obliged to pay taxes while the importers are not paying duties.

READ: Senator pushes for legalization of 'ukay-ukay'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9)  Embattled Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. is in Timor-Leste and has applied for a protection visa with the intent of asylum, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

According to a letter by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo dated May 8, Teves is in the capital of Dili.

But Remulla said there is no valid reason for Teves to seek asylum.

"Theres this special provision in law for that if you want to seek asylum. Usually, its for political purposes. But we dont see any political reason for him to seek asylum in Timor-Leste," he said. "Its really for not wanting to face the consequences of certain actions by which hes being held to account for."

Moreover, the letter stated that the DOJ took "concrete steps" to designate Teves as a terrorist under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Teves was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the murder of the late Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

He flew to the US late February for medical treatment, but the travel authority issued to him by the House of Representatives expired on March 9. The chamber suspended him for his continued absence.
CABINET has lifted all remaining Covid-19 containment measures including restrictions at ports of entry, mandatory wearing of face masks but vaccination activities will continue.

The lifting of restrictions comes in the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) statement last week that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Zimbabwe like the rest of the world was affected by the pandemic, but its management of the crisis was hailed across the world as one of the best Covid-19 management cases.

Despite the economic drawbacks occasioned by the pandemic on world economies, Government commendably managed to forge ahead with its economic development strategies towards Vision 2030 as espoused by President Mnangagwa.

Improvement of the countrys health sector towards the attainment of best international practices was accelerated as the nation trained its focus on confronting the novel virus, while massive infrastructure development projects continued, mines re-opened and the re-engagement drive was intensified among other programmes.

Speaking after yesterdays Cabinet meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had directed that vaccination activities in all provinces should continue, with support from the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

The mandatory wearing of face masks will be lifted as the country adopts the strategy on the long-term management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All border measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 be lifted with immediate effect and tourists should no longer be required to produce Covid-19 vaccination certificates at ports of entry or at tourist resorts around the country, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga updated Cabinet that the Covid-19 recovery rate was 98 percent with cases still being recorded across the country though the pandemic is now under control.

Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa said response mechanisms are still in place to confront the Cholera outbreak with five deaths having been recorded in the country from 722 cases with 669 recoveries.

Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that the cholera risk assessment which should guide the application of the Oral Cholera Vaccination has been completed across all the 10 provinces.

Active surveillance of points of entry and exit is continuing as part of a multi-sectoral approach in response to the cholera outbreak.

Government is availing funds in order to bolster the countrys response, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said the Government and the Arab Republic of Egypt have formed a partnership aimed at enhancing bilateral co-operation and maximising shared benefits in the pharmaceuticals, biological products, and medical devices sectors.

This partnership will be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) and the Egypt Drugs Authority (EDA) that builds upon the strong historical and friendly relations between the two countries.

This landmark event represents a significant step towards strengthening the regulatory frameworks of both Zimbabwe and Egypt in the pharmaceuticals sector.

A delegation from Egypt Drug Authority will be in the country from 10 to 12 May, 2023 for the MoU signing ceremony.

This partnership will not only enhance the safety and efficacy of medicines in both countries but also promote the development of the pharmaceutical industry and create opportunities for investment and trade, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She also said VP Chiwenga, in his capacity as Minister of Health and Child Care, reported to Cabinet on progress made as at day 50 in the implementation of priority projects for the 1st 100-Day Cycle of 2023.

In order to ensure that primary health care clinics have adequate water supplies, the drilling of boreholes was completed at Neta, Gwarava, Matedzi and Mposi Clinics in Mberegwa District, Midlands Province, and at Twin Tops and Manyewe clinics in Mhondoro District, Mashonaland West Province.

The Ministry managed to install solar power at seven Primary Health Care Clinics, namely: Bazha Mission Hospital in Matobo District; and Simangani, Mwembe, Songwa and Chisoma Clinics in Hwange District, all in Matabeleland North Province; Nyabondo Clinic in Mangwe and Madlambudzi Clinic in Bulilima District, in Matabeleland South Province.

To improve access to health facilities and promote health and well-being, the construction of the Cowdray Park Health Centre was completed, with equipment installed, while Mataga Clinic in Mberengwa District has reached 80 percent completion.

The construction of an incinerator at Chivi District Hospital was completed, while that at Gokwe South District Hospital is at 90 percent completion, with fencing being the only outstanding work.

The installation of an oxygen reticulation system with a bulk storage tank at Chipinge District Hospital was completed and is now functional, said Minister Mutsvangwa. Herald
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Bailey Stover is a multimedia journalist with The Missourian. She is pursuing a double major in Journalism and Spanish and a double minor in Public Health and Sociology at the University of Missouri. She can be reached by email at bascnh@mail.missouri.edu.

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The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Core business centers in large and small cities throughout the US are suffering the effects of hybrid- and remote-work policies, which has led to a 20% to 40% reduction in office space use, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

The switch to primarily remote work at the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020 left downtowns largely empty. Since then, commercial areas have seen a slow, but steady, return to the office, with average office occupancy hitting 50% of pre-pandemic levels this past March, according to commercial real estate services firm CBRE Group.

But that's enough to offset sizeable drops in the value of office space, and the need to re-think what an "office" now is. In San Francisco, for example, an office building worth $300 million before the pandemic could now be worth just $60 million, an 80% loss in value. Nearly 30% of downtown office space is vacant, according to CBRE.

New York City saw a 45% decline in office values in 2020, and over the next two years those values declined 39%, representing a $453 billion loss in overall office real estate value, according to a September study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

And even in smaller, less-dense commercial areas, the problem persists. In Durham, NC, the headquarters of health information technology firm IQVIA lies empty, a victim of hybrid and remote work policies. The IQVIA building rests in the Research Triangle created by Raleigh, Durham and the town of Chapel Hill, NC. The Triangle currently has 4.4 million square feet of vacant office space, or a record high 8.3% of overall market inventory.

With the shift to hybrid and remote work expected to stay, the future of the traditional downtown office  and what that means for workers  is decidedly hazy.

We have seen broad-based adoption of hybrid work throughout the pandemic, and we expect to see persistence going forward, said Phil Kirschner, an associate partner in McKinsey & Co.s real estate and people and organizational performance practices. We dont see this as the kind of thing that gets clawed back in the context of a loosening of the labor market if a recession hits.

Some reports have blamed the office vacancies on high-profile layoffs during the past year, especially among technology companies. However, the labor market remains tight.

The COVID pandemic, Kirschner said, served as an unintentional experiment that revealed a host of uncomfortable truths, namely that employees always preferred remote work and at-home knowledge workers were just as, if not more, productive. Another realization: working in the office, by default, was less great for some people than others.

Shutterstock

Not everyone, for example, had the same level of inclusion and equality in an office setting; that allowed working from home to become a great equalizer.

Diverse populations of almost any measure  whether skin color, sexual orientation, physical disability  are affected by in-office requirements, and theres a higher desire for workplace flexibility either when taking a job or the likelihood to leave a job if youre not offered it, Kirschner said.

So, anyone who wants to combat an empty office with a mandate is running a very real risk of telling certain populations [something] they dont want to hear. And these are populations you dont want to upset, he added.

Google One of Google's "campfire" room layouts that enable a more interactive remote meeting because monitors are placed where eveyone has the same view and it is at eye level.

Micah Remley, CEO of workplace management software maker Robin Powered, said companies face a communication quandry they must address. Some companies are forcing employees back to the office, even going so far as threatening pay cuts. This is not the way to do it, he said. Employers are going to need to be clear on what hybrid work means in their organization  and theyll need employees to buy into that.

"You cant flip a switch and go from a fully remote culture to the expectation that workers are going to be in five days a week. It creates a combustible culture.

Widespread adoption of hybrid work created a structural shift in the office market, reducing demand for space and propelling the overall vacancy rate to a 30-year high of 17.3% in the last three months of 2022, according to an April report by CBRE titled Hardest Hit Office Buildings Share Common Characteristics.

CBREs findings were echoed by Kastle Systems, a provider of fob security key technology for 2,600 buildings in 47 states. Average daily office attendance has hovered around 50% of pre-Covid rates since the beginning of 2023, according to Kastle Systems.

With many employers setting new hybrid policies, that daily rate fluctuates with Tuesdays and Wednesdays having attendance well above the average rate and Fridays falling well below, Kastle CMO Jake Heinz wrote in an email reply to Computerworld. The overall weekly average shows office occupancy attendance rates have pretty steadily increased over the last year, rather than decreased and that behavior holds true across the metro markets we serve.

Strikingly, just 10% of US office buildings account for 80% of the vacancy created since 2020  and account for only 17% of total office square footage, according to CBRE. (It calls those structures the hardest hit buildings (HHBs).)

Downtown buildings had a far higher percentage of HHBs (41%) compared to office buildings nationally (29%). One in every seven downtown office building qualified as an HHB, compared to one in 12 suburban buildings, according to CBRE. The Northeast and Pacific coastal markets had a higher percentage of HHBs and a slower return to office rate than Southwest and Midwest markets.

Building age was not a significant factor in hard-hit areas, according to CBRE, but crime rates are. The buildings with high vacancy rates were in downtowns with high crime and often in areas lacking restaurants and retail stores.

Even with more companies pushing workers to return to the office, the first quarter of this year saw 16.5 million sq. ft. of negative net absorption -- the weakest quarter for office demand in two years -- due to recession fears and hybrid work arrangements, according to CBRE.

(Negative net absorption refers to more commercial space being vacated and placed on the market than leased. It indicates net demand for commercial space has decreased in the space market relative to supply.)

Even pre-pandemic, office space was overprovisioned and underutilized, according to Ryan Luby, an associate partner at the McKinsey Global Institute think tank. Studies by Luby and the Institute showed as much as 30% to 40% of office space went unused because companies leased more than what they needed, hoping theyd grow into it or misjudging just how many employees actually came into the office. Any study that anyone like me ran of a company of any size usually surprised the boss with just how empty the office was on a daily basis, Luby said.

Some building owners simply 'handing the keys back to banks'

CBRE estimates that if nothing is done to remove, revive or repurpose existing buildings hit by the hybrid work trend, the long-term US structural vacancy rate would rise from 12% now to 14.5%, creating an additional 103 million sq. ft. of vacant space, a CBRE blog said.

The most modern office buildings were somewhat buffered against the vacancy trend due to a flight to quality, but the impact on the devaluation of lower quality office space will have repercussions for building owners, banks, the leasing tenant, and even taxpayers if government bailouts are needed.

Shutterstock

In a situation where everything falls to the owner, and thats happened with Blackstone and a couple of others, theyve just handed the building keys over to the banks and said Its worth 30% less. Im not going to be able to fill this, Luby said. Part of whats changed over the past six months is weve gained clarity and conviction that flexibility and hybridity is here to stay. And it takes that conviction before you start to have knock-on effects in commercial real estate markets.

"Until you have conviction that were not returning to the office like we had pre-COVD, you can market to pre-pandemic valuations. Once thats internalized from a price perspective, thats when you start to see stress and transformation.

In particular, Class B, Class C and even lower-end Class A grade buildings will see the biggest valuation declines in the current market; those who lease or buy now want top-notch AAA buildings, or those with the latest amenities, technologies and locations.

A flight to building brand recognition

Buildings enjoying the highest occupancy rates, according to McKinsey, are those with the best amenities  and that means more than just a good cafeteria and comfortable office spaces. Employers want buildings with the latest technology to enable a permanent hybrid work force and ease of movement and space flexibility when employees enter the office.

The bar for office space has been set much higher because it must effectively compete not only with the home, but every other place a worker can use to perform work, including coffee shops and restaurants.

What used to be a nice office location...is not enough, Luby said. You have to take an active role in the community, the flexibility, the technology and the user experience of this building to attract the tenants who, in turn, attract the employee.

For example, building security now takes a backseat to enabling employees to move around freely using a fob or key card and without losing Wi-Fi connectivity. And if the in-office meeting experience is worse than what an employee gets from home or the local cafe, why go into the office?

Robin Powereds Remley agreed with Luby, saying employers are downsizing their physical footprints by removing excess furniture and investing more in technology. Zooms impressive Q4 numbers are indicative of this trend, Remley said. (Zooms revenue was up 66% year-over-year in Q4, 2022)

Companies are also creating comfortable breakout areas to foster collaboration rather than a slew of desks people won't use, Remley said. This is in addition to approaches like hot desking and activity-based working (ABW), which takes hot desking a step further by creating multiple different types of workspaces geared towards different activities.

The rise of 'Brandlords'

AAA-class office buildings also need to build brand recognition, according to McKinsey & Co. For example, McKinseys New York City headquarters are located in the World Trade Center complex.

I take it for granted that almost anyone in the city knows that Silverstein is the developer. But I can nearly guarantee you that we could stop people in the building all day long and ask them whos building this is, and they wouldnt know, Luby said.

Brandlords, as Luby calls them, create office buildings distinguished by quality and that look and feel alike regardless of location. Desirable building brands would offer not just the ability to expand and contract shared meeting and event spaces, but a dynamic digital layer throughout the building, Luby said.

If a New York tenant travels to a building in Chicago for work, they should experience the same amenities. I want to form some type of brand loyalty with the landlord  not just if Im an employer and I may have offices with the same landlord in three cities, but that I, as a walking occupant, recognize it as a Silverstein building and think, Oh, I like this building, Luby said.

Even in New York City, which now has an oversupply of office space, developers could build 10 more AAA-class, brand-name buildings and theyd fill up. People would pay top dollar for them, Luby said. Its the buildings on the margin that are going to be harder to sustain.
Singapore Customs arrests two men with 4,150 cigarette cartons, evading nearly half-a-million dollars in duties and taxes

Singapore Customs has released information about two Singaporean men, aged 19 and 26, who were caught with 4,150 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The duties and taxes they tried to dodge amounted to nearly half-a-million Singapore dollars, or SGD444,216, to be precise.

The two men were arrested and their vans were seized. Picture courtesy: Singapore Customs

Details of the arrest, which took place a few days ago, have been given in a Singapore government media release.

The cigarette bust came under Singapore Customs stepped-up drive to deter tax evasion.

The two were caught when Singapore Customs officers spotted, near Tuas Bay Close, a man opening the side compartment of a van containing some bulky black objects. The officers checked the van and uncovered 2,072 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The first arrest was followed by a second, when another man approached the van.

These bulky black objects first raised Customs officers' suspicion. Picture courtesy: Singapore Customs

Investigations revealed that the first man was allegedly engaged by the second man to collect the van at Tuas Bay Close to deliver the duty-unpaid cigarettes, said the media release.

A follow-up operation led to a second van at Tuas Avenue 2, and the Singapore Customs officers found another haul of 2,078 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Both the vans and all the cartons were seized. The total duty and GST evaded amounted to about SGD407,530 and SGD36,686 respectively. Investigations are ongoing, said the release.

Cigarette cartons hidden in black plastic. Picture courtesy: Singapore Customs

In its media release, the Singapore government issued some warnings: Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are also liable to be forfeited.

One of the two seized vans. Picture courtesy: Singapore Customs

Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg to report these illegal activities.
Its not all plain sailing for the AI darling of the moment -- ChatGPT. On March 31st, 2023, the Italian data protection authority (Garante), announced that it had imposed a temporary limitation on the processing of personal data by Open AI LLC, the creator of the popular AI-powered conversational tool. The notice was issued in response to several infringements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Garante Vs Open AI's showpiece

Garante found that ChatGPT's services lacked transparency and failed to provide appropriate legal bases for processing, while also identifying inaccuracies in their data processing.

In addition, ChatGPT did not implement an age verification system for users, including minors.

For IT contractors and other ContractorUK readers, these findings from the data watchdog underscore the importance of companies that collect and process personal data being accountable for their actions, and ensuring they comply with relevant data protection laws and regulations, writes Maude Lindfelt of digital law firm Gerrish Legal.

Consequently, Garante imposed a temporary ban on Open AI's processing of personal data in Italy, which implies that the company will be prohibited from collecting or using any personal data from Italian users until the identified issues have been remedied. This not just represents a bit of non-plain sailing for ChatGPT, but its also far from the admiration that the tool has been accustomed to of late.

Will Garante's ruling on Open AI's data-handling have wider implications?

The question of whether other countries like the UK will follow Italy's decision to ban ChatGPT is currently uncertain.

Some countries in Europe, such as Ireland, have expressed an interest in investigating the basis for the Italian ban, while others have suggested that a ban on AI systems may not be the solution.

In response to the situation, the European Data Protection Board has developed a taskforce dedicated to investigating ChatGPT. The aim of the taskforce is to improve collaboration among data protection authorities and share information about potential enforcement actions.

How Italys neighbours have reacted to its data watchdog mauling ChatGPT

Germany's data protection commissioner has indicated that Germany could follow Italy's footsteps in blocking ChatGPT due to data security concerns. This suggests that other countries may take similar actions if they believe that ChatGPT violates their data protection regulations.

Similarly, the Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) has also initiated an investigation into OpenAI for a possible breach of data protection regulations.

The AEPD advocates for the development and implementation of innovative technologies, including AI, while ensuring compliance with current legislation. Thus, if ChatGPT proves to violate data protection standards, Spain may follow Italy's lead and restrict it as well.

Meanwhile, the European Commission executive vice president, Margrethe Vestager, has taken to Twitter to state that the EU will regulate the uses of AI rather than the technology itself. Likewise, France's digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot has argued that it would make more sense to regulate and master new technologies, rather than try to ban them altogether.

The UK -- never a fan of the ban

The response in the UK to Italys data watchdog mauling ChatGPT has centred on developing guidelines for the ethical use of AI rather than outright bans.

The UK government has also invested significantly in developing its AI sector, and so it is unlikely that it would seek to restrict the use of a major AI tool like ChatGPT without compelling evidence of harm. That being said, the regulatory landscape around AI is rapidly evolving, and it is always possible that new developments or incidents could prompt changes in policy.

ChatGPT in a commercial environment

As OpenAI faces increasing scrutiny from European regulators, compliance with data protection regulations will be crucial for companies operating in the EU.

This incident with ChatGPT serves as a reminder that companies cannot ignore regulatory compliance if they want to operate in the EU. The Italian DPA gave the company behind ChatGPT 20 days to address the data protection issues or pay a fine of up to 20 million or 4% of annual revenues. It remains to be seen whether other countries will take similar actions against ChatGPT or other AI chatbots, but this incident underscores the importance of data protection compliance for companies developing and deploying AI systems in Europe.

Are UK IT contractors obligated to disclose the use of ChatGPT or similar AI in their work?

In April 2021, the UK government took a step towards increased transparency and ethical usage of AI by releasing proposed regulations for organisations using the developing technology.

The guidelines suggest that companies using AI should be upfront about their use of the technology and should clearly communicate to stakeholders when and how AI is being used. While these guidelines are not legally binding, they indicate a promising direction for the responsible use of AI in the UK.

Industry associations and professional organisations have also been taking action towards ethical use of AI. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has published a Code of Practice for the ethical use of AI, which includes a section on transparency and disclosure. The Code recommends that organisations using AI should be open about the data and algorithms used in their systems and should clearly communicate how the technology is being used to stakeholders.

Although there is no current legal requirement for UK IT contractors to declare their use of AI tools, the guidance, and recommendations around ethical use of AI are growing. Transparency and communication around AI use are becoming increasingly important, and it is possible that future regulations or guidelines may require more explicit disclosures of AI use in certain contexts.

The future (needs you)

The UK government's white paper on AI regulation, published on March 29th 2023, supports this trend towards enhancing transparency and communication around AI use, promoting responsible innovation, and increasing public trust in the technology. As AI becomes more integrated into society, it is vital to ensure that it is utilised in an ethical and responsible manner, and the UK is making progress towards this objective. Although it is hard to imagine them not doing so, the nation will need its IT contractors to get behind this technology and sign-up to this objective, if the UKs progress is to continue rather than be potentially slowed down or thrown off track by regulatory rulings.
Not everyone can write a best-selling novel or a box office success, but even the lowliest of us can interpret our favorite pieces of pop culture in baffling new ways. Usually, this just means disturbing fan fiction, but, as we've shown you before, fans all hopped up on Red Bull and insomnia will rewrite stories in such batshit brilliant ways that you can never look at the original in the same light again.

5 Willy Wonka Is Secretly George Weasley From Harry Potter Warner Bros. This theory is so seemingly random, yet so full of parallels, that we almost believe that J.K. Rowling slipped in these connections on purpose. It goes way beyond that "they're both wacky characters who can sort of do magic." Willy Wonka's backstory is purposely vague because there's really no adequate way to explain how one eccentric man acquired all the money and know-how to build and run his incredible chocolate factory. And that's not even mentioning the Oompa Loompas and the insane, body-altering effects of Wonka's candy. How can science even explain that? Well, according to one anonymous theory on TVTropes, it's magic -- specifically, it's the magic of Harry Potter troublemaker George Weasley. Warner Bros. Hagrid: "You're a candyman, Weasley." Advertisement



The theory goes that, after the events of Harry Potter, George used wizard time-travel technology (that is, the Time-Turner, a device that is used once and never mentioned again) to go back and start a new life under a new identity. And don't give us any guff about all the Time-Turners being destroyed, Harry Potter nerds -- we both know that at least one is floating around the black market, assuming J.K. Rowling hasn't already retconned a few back in. Why It's Not That Crazy: Before George's brother Fred died (uh, spoiler?), the twins opened a successful toy and candy shop called Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. Warner Bros. Because Fred insisted that alliteration was important. Advertisement



One of their most popular items was the Skiving Snackbox, candy that would give you a temporary nosebleed or vomiting fit so you could get out of class. In other words, the Weasleys had mastered magic that lets candy physically alter a human being. Like, say, this: Warner Bros. Advertisement

Aside from their candy-making capabilities, there's also their physical similarities. They're both redheads with a showman's sense of fashion. Warner Bros. Who wore it better? Advertisement



And then, there's this little aside Wonka makes to Mike Teavee: Warner Bros. "I said, 'IS THAT BLUEBERRY KID DEAD?!'"



Maybe Wonka's just being snarky ... or maybe it's a reference to the fact that George lost an ear battling Death Eaters. He may have been able to alter one of his Extendable Ears to serve as a prosthetic, but he couldn't repair all the actual hearing damage. Advertisement



Then, there are the Oompa Loompas, who are basically slaves who work for chocolate. In Wonka's relatively realistic world, they make no sense, and he dodges the question of their origins. But, in George's magical world, such creatures are commonplace. Hell, little orange men who work their hearts out for no reward are basically creepier house-elves. A resourceful wizard such as George could certainly rustle up a few magical followers. Advertisement Now, here's where it gets both oddly convincing and extremely sad. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is such a weird film that you probably just took this in stride, but wasn't it creepy that everything in Wonka's office was chopped in half for no apparent reason? Well, maybe that's because George only considers himself half a man without his twin. Warner Bros. "It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal! GOOD DAY, READER!" Advertisement Wonka's motivations look heartbreaking now. He's not just searching for an heir to his business -- he's looking to replace his dead brother. That's why he hates every kid except Charlie -- they're rich, stupid, and cruel, three qualities that members of the Weasley family don't share. The only reason Wonka doesn't show up at the Battle Of Hogwarts with an army of Oompa Loompas to "Avada Kedavra" Voldemort in the dick is because he found peace in his relationship with Charlie. We'll consider that happy and not creepy. Advertisement

4 The Joker Is Tyler Durden Warner Bros. Advertisement Part of what made Heath Ledger's Joker so effective was his mystery. We still don't know a damn thing about where he came from or what his motivations were. All we can say for sure is that he had facial scars, a tremendous knowledge of demolitions, and the ability to build an army out of people who weren't concerned if their boss burned their paychecks. But, wait, we just described someone else you know: Fight Club's Tyler Durden. Josh Campana Sr. of Moviepilot proposes that after Fight Club's narrator shot himself in the face, he ended up spending some time in Arkham Asylum. While in that less than therapeutic environment, his second personality re-emerged, but in a much more ominous form. Why It's Not That Crazy: It's never explicitly stated that the majority of Fight Club is set in Wilmington, Delaware, but that's where the zip code on Tyler's business card places it. And the location of Gotham City, according to most maps of the DC Universe, is pretty darn close to Delaware. Advertisement Advertisement



And while Fight Club ends on a happy note, there's no way the narrator isn't going to super jail for committing a massive act of terrorism that almost certainly killed a bunch of people. And where but Arkham would you stick such a dangerous psychopath? That also gives us a simple explanation for the Joker's scars. 20th Century Fox

Way more gangster than "Daddy did it." Both Tyler and the Joker recruit weak-minded, aimless people into a pseudo-cult that commits incredibly precise criminal operations. They both have a penchant for "mischief." It's not hard to imagine the Joker splicing frames of porn into kids' movies on his day off, right? And then, there's the Joker-esque smiley face that Tyler fire-paints on the side of a skyscraper. 20th Century Fox Although that station is apparently run by the Fantastic Four, so maybe he's a Marvel villain. Advertisement



That's why the Joker can shrug off vicious beatings from Batman despite being a scrawny little mofo -- he used to get punched in the face by big, angry men every night. Hell, this even accounts for the look of Jared Leto's new Joker in Suicide Squad. In Fight Club, Leto played Tyler's protege, and the two were so close that it made Tyler's other personality jealous to the point where Leto's character was beaten so badly ... 20th Century Fox "How bath ith iht?" Advertisement



... that he became disfigured and probably needed some surgery and freaky steel teeth. And those go perfectly with the brain trauma that inspired him to copy his idol's second persona. Warner Bros. "Who's laughing now? Me! Because of all my 'HA' tattoos! Get it?? Yeah, you get it ... " Advertisement

The only difference is motivation -- Tyler hates consumerism, while the Joker wants to prove that, deep down, everyone is as crazy as he is. But, it's not hard to imagine that, after some time in Arkham, Tyler's beliefs went down an even darker path. Tyler wanted the world to reject capitalism by wiping out America's credit card debt. The Joker just went a step further by burning actual money. Warner Bros. Try playing "Where Is My Mind?" over this.



3 The Home Alone Kid Grew Up To Become Saw's The Jigsaw Killer Lionsgate Films Advertisement Advertisement Saw's The Jigsaw Killer has murky motivations -- we're told his cancer diagnosis spurred him to action, but you don't see grandma ripping people's faces open with bear traps because she regrets never seeing Paris. We have to wonder if he got an early start ... possibly while protecting his family home from a pair of murderous yet inept burglars with a series of fiendish traps. Grantland's Jason Concepcion conceived the idea that Kevin McCallister, with all his Rube Goldberg machines, repressed anger issues and parental neglect, eventually became emotionally twisted, and, upon learning that he was dying, built complex traps to test and punish people he deemed unappreciative of their lives. You know, kind of like he was already doing in Home Alone. 20th Century Fox "I want to play a game." Advertisement



Why It's Not That Crazy: Young Kevin is supposed to be cute and likable, but he's a lonely, isolated child who is either ignored or bullied by his family. He hears the voice of his furnace, Son Of Sam style. And he fantasizes with morbid glee that his elderly neighbor is a serial killer. With the exception of torturing small animals, Kevin ticks all the warning sign boxes. Hell, in Home Alone, Kevin didn't go to the police like a normal child, even though he knew the Wet Bandits were coming back. He wanted to punish them like the filthy animals they are. Lionsgate Films Merry Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement



Then, there's the traps. The ones Kevin and Jigsaw use are sometimes nearly identical (taking into consideration the fact that the adult Jigsaw creates much more vicious ones). Both like making people in bare feet walk on glass or expose themselves to fire, and, in Saw II, there's a furnace trap inspired by the furnace that haunted Kevin's childhood. Both Kevin and Jigsaw have an obsession with video recordings and use avatars to communicate with outsiders (Jigsaw's puppet, Kevin's cowboy movie). There's even a physical similarity, as Jigsaw looks like an older Kevin right down to the eye color, skin tone, jaw line, and "I'm picturing you suffering unfathomably" expression. Lionsgate Films Advertisement



The traps Kevin set for the Wet Bandits were rigged up in a single night. Imagine what he could do after decades of resentment and months of planning. As for why he changed his name to John Kramer, well, maybe his family left him alone once too often.

2 E.T. Is A Sith Lord Universal Pictures Advertisement E.T. is the charming story of an alien who looks like your grandfather's swollen testicle arriving on a hostile alien planet and refusing to wear pants while hanging out with a small child. But, at least he was harmless, right? Yeah, except for the little fact that he was a goddamn Sith Lord. Advertisement Why It's Not That Crazy: We know members of E.T.'s species exist in the Star Wars universe because we see them in the Galactic Senate during Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, assuming you can bring yourself to watch it again and have enough money in the scotch budget. Disney/Lucasfilm Really, guys? You couldn't have at least worn ties?



When E.T. sees a kid in a Yoda Halloween costume he gets excited, as if he recognizes Yoda from, say, the Senate (as to why a kid would be wearing a Yoda costume if Yoda was a real creature from another galaxy, we'll get to that in the next entry). Universal Pictures "Size matters not against my mortal enemy!" Advertisement



We also know that he has powers suspiciously similar to those displayed by Force users -- such as levitation ... Universal Pictures "NOW THIS IS PODRACING BIKE RIDING." Advertisement

... and healing. Universal Pictures

But, E.T. also demonstrates one power that goes way beyond what a goody two-shoes Jedi can do -- he brings a flower back from the dead and later revives himself. Jedi can only kind of make like Casper and haunt their students, but Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith told us that at least one Sith mastered death. Advertisement So, E.T. is from the Star Wars universe and demonstrates a power that only the Sith have, making our conclusion foregone. He must be an extremely powerful Sith, too, albeit one that's severely weakened by his time on Earth. You can leave it to yourself to determine what he was doing on our planet, but E.T. has a very different tone when you consider that, rather than helping a kindly lost spacefarer home, Elliot was actually helping a Sith Lord get back to murdering the galaxy.

But, none of that really matters, nor does anything else in our lives, considering that ... Advertisement Advertisement
We often like telling you about terrible ways people have died, and well get back to that soon, maybe as soon as an hour from now. Not everyone dies so miserably, however. You might live long, and you might die painlessly. And maybe, if youre truly lucky, youll die in the midst of pure happiness, which means your consciousness will be locked in that blissful state for eternity.

You might die during sex, which wont be very pleasant for your partner at all, but it means youll have a smile on your face (and may have something else on your face as well). More than a few famous and powerful people scored themselves this fate. People like...
I think that most people, at some point in their life, have been terrified that they might, without knowing it, be overwhelmingly stinky. It may be poor time management coupled with a particularly moist workout or a realization that the bottom of their shoe has noticeably increased in dog-shit content, but its not a great feeling. On the other hand, some people apparently are perfectly happy to ooze out an eye-watering aroma willy-nilly and let everybody elses nose worry about it.

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Here are five people who famously stunk to high heaven
In todays increasingly hostile environment, every enterprise, be they big or small, should be concerned about cybersecurity and have access to protection from hackers, scammers, phishers, and all the rest of the host of bad actors who seem to be sprouting up around the world.

Yet time and again, we see small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) left out in the cold, an unaddressed market segment that finds real protection either too expensive or far too complex to adopt. Thus, cybersecurity becomes an afterthought or add when we can kind of service that leaves SMBs far more vulnerable than the corporate giants  just reading the news every day shows even they arent immune to ransomware, intrusions, and data theft.

It might be tempting to think that its too late at this point for an enterprise with limited resources to start investing in cybersecurity  after all, if the bug guys still get hit, whats the point in trying to catch up?

If you havent already, start thinking about security now

Actually, there are plenty of reasons to start thinking about cybersecurity right now. The advice from industry and government to SMBs is united in this regard and aligns with the Chinese proverb: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is today.

At the recent RSA Conference, I had the occasion to speak with Candid Wuest, vice president of cyber protection and research at Acronis, about cybersecurity for the SMB and how a resource-strapped entity should be looking to protect themselves. He spoke pragmatically about the situation small companies find themselves in and suggested the following low-cost, high-return fundamental strategies (along with the basic rubric of dont defer, get the car moving, and revise as you are able):

Maintain visibility into your network  if an SMB has one, then it is incumbent upon administrators to know every item touching the network.

Implement multifactor authentication (MFA) everywhere possible.

Ensure all network access is role-based  no one who doesnt need to see a system should be able to touch it (again, with access granted through MFA).

Verify where your data is coming from

This sound advice was echoed by Utimaco CTO Nils Gerhardt, who availed himself to be interviewed during the same RSA Conference. SMBs must start somewhere, and the first step is to implement multifactor authentication everywhere, Gerhardt said. From the point of view of a Europe-headquartered entity, he further recommended that companies put in place the ability to verify the provenance of their data.

Thats just smart practice for any business, and why many countries are looking to keep tabs on where data comes from, regulate what data should be protected, and in some cases determine how it should be treated. Small business operators should be aware that regulatory regimes are also for their protection, not just the big guys  regimes such as GDPR and the European Data Act (EDA), which details data ownership and gives individuals and businesses more control over their data through a reinforced data portability right, copying or transferring data easily from across different services, where the data are generated through smart objects, machines, and devices.

Theres more government help available for SMBs than might be immediately apparent. Recent United States and United Kingdom government efforts are timely and readily available to address shortcomings and bring resources to the table for the SMB.

US help for small and medium-sized businesses

The United States has created a Small Business Cybersecurity Community of Interest (COI) within the rubric of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). The NCCoE, established in 2012, provides businesses with practical information on securing their information technology. At the inaugural community of interest event in March 2023, US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves commented that: This initiative will help to make sure that NISTs guidance is both meaningful and practical for smaller companies and other organizations to put into use. Beyond benefiting the NCCoE and its participants, this new community of interest promises to improve the return on all of NISTs investments in cybersecurity research, standards, guidelines, and practices.

The NIST COI initiative is designed to get SMBs into the mix and to bring to the forefront resources so they may become cybersecurity aware and hardened. Couple this with the plethora of resources provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and every SMB has a healthy slate of resources to advance their knowledge considerably. Topics addressed by CISA for the SMBs include securing supply chains and assessing vendors and vendor security posture.

UK help for small and medium-sized businesses

The UKs National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) offers its own cyber action plan, which includes a free assessment for small organizations. The online assessment normally takes between three-to-five minutes to complete. The assessment walks the user through a basic cyber hygiene survey. The results are analyzed immediately, and the user is given a personalized action plan that the business can do right now to heighten its cybersecurity posture as their takeaway.

Lindy Cameron, NCSC CEO, noted that while small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, we know that cybercriminals continue to view them as targets. Thats why the NCSC has created the Cyber Action Plan and Check Your Cyber Security to help them boost their online defenses in a matter of minutes. I strongly encourage all small businesses to use these tools today to keep the cybercriminals out and their operations on track.

Other governments offering cyber help for SMBs

The US and UK are not alone in providing sound advice and resources for smaller enterprises. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has a small-business information portal as well as offering Cybersecure Canada, a cybersecurity certification program for small and medium-sized organizations. Australia also has guidelines for its SMB owners.

SMBs who avail themselves of advice from industry professionals such as Gerhard and Wuest and research the resources available to them from national and local governments will find that they are able to achieve a modicum of cybersecurity at little or no cost. Then, as advised, continually assess their situation, and as able to close those gaps which carry the highest risk. The important message is that these resources are out there to get you started, but you might have to do a little digging to find them. Its absolutely worth the effort.
Global cybersecurity concerns are returning to pandemic levels as 68% of CISOs from 16 countries said they fear a cyberattack in the next 12 months, according to a Proofpoint survey.

With the disruption of the pandemic now largely behind us, the return to normal operations may imply that CISOs can breathe easier, but the opposite is true, said Lucia Milica Stacy, Global Resident CISO of Proofpoint. Compared with last year, CISOs are feeling less prepared to cope with cyberattacks and more at risk, indicating a reversal to the early days of the pandemic.

An elevated threat landscape, data protection challenges, impacted cybersecurity budgets, CISO burnout, and personal liability concerns all played a role in CISOs feeling more at risk of an attack and less prepared this year, Stacy said.

The report surveyed 100 CISOs each from 16 nations including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil.

Cybersecurity concerns back to pandemic highs

Several observations in the report hinted at a brief period of relief followed by a quick return to pandemic-level anxiety. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they feel at risk of experiencing a material cyberattack in the next 12 months, compared to 48% last year and 64% in 2021.

Additionally, 61% believe their organization is unprepared to cope with a targeted cyberattack, compared to 50% last year and 66% in 2021.

Having conquered the unprecedented challenges of protecting hybrid work environments during the pandemic, security leaders felt a sense of calm. Although attack volumes did not abate, CISOs had a brief period of reprieve as they felt their organizations were less at risk, Stacy said.

The report also noted a strong willingness to pay ransoms, with 62% of CISOs saying they are ready to pay to restore systems and prevent data release if attacked by ransomware in the next 12 months. This perhaps has to do with 61% of them having cybersecurity insurance in place for various types of attacks.

Profitability at insurance companies offering cyber insurance has already taken a hit due to the raft of ransomware-related payouts in recent years, said Michael Sampson, senior analyst at Osterman Research. We have already seen cases where premiums have doubled for half the coverage. It has been becoming more and more expensive to secure cyber insurance. Some are even likely to withdraw completely from offering coverage, given the negative trends.

When asked about which attacks they perceive to be the biggest cybersecurity threats, a third of the survey respondents (33%) chose email fraud to be the most concerning, followed by insider threats (30%), cloud account compromise (29%), and DDoS attacks (29%).

CISOs also reported that their jobs are getting increasingly unsustainable, as they feel security pressures mounting. Sixty-one percent of them feel unreasonable job expectations, against last years 49%. While 62% are concerned about personal liability, 60% say they have experienced burnout in the past 12 months.

People risks take prominence, cybersecurity leaders say

Eighty-two percent of the security leaders reporting a material loss of sensitive data said employees leaving the organization contributed to the loss. Overall, 63% reported such losses in the last 12 months. Just 60% of CISOs believed they have adequate controls to protect their data.

Nearly all cybersecurity incidents can be traced to human involvement. Successful attacks almost always involve some user action enabling an attack to stick, and as such incidents continue CISOs will increasingly view protecting and educating their people as a top priority within their organizations, Stacy said.

Sixty percent of the responding CISOs view human error as their organizations biggest cybersecurity vulnerability, as opposed to 56% and 58% in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Also, only 61% of CISOs are confident that their employees understand their role in protecting the organization. These consistent numbers over the years hint at a clear alignment in terms of people risks.

Phishing remains a key initial vector for attacks and inadequate phishing security technology makes it easier for humans to click through malicious messages and allow access to system or data, Osterman's Sampson said. Poor training approaches is also an issue - such as when organizations rely on outdated attack intel (several months old), ineffective training and assessment methods, and operate training as a check-box activity, not an enablement one.

Supply chain remains a top priority as 64% of CISOs say they have adequate controls in place to mitigate supply chain risks.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  There were no corrections officers assigned specifically to watch the housing unit of a Philadelphia prison when two inmates escaped Sunday night, and no armed perimeter guards were on duty as the men broke through the prison's fence, a correctional officers union official told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Days later, authorities are still searching for the two men  including one who is facing charges in four murders. The men were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center.

The city's prison department is so understaffed that they have not had the armed perimeter guards on duty during that specific nighttime shift for eight or nine months, said David Robinson, president of the public service employees unions District 33 Council that represents the correctional officers.

When the prison is fully staffed, two corrections officers would be assigned to each housing unit. But with recent staffing shortages, the prison has regularly only had one officer assigned to housing units. When other officers don't report to work, or the prison reaches critically low staffing levels, one officer might be assigned to monitor multiple units, Robinson said. That's what happened the night the men escaped, he said.

Ive been talking about the staffing and safety issues for years and seemingly being ignored. I've been saying how something is going to happen, and now that something has happened, so are you listening now? Robinson said. Of course I'm not saying that the commissioner took a key and let them out, but vital posts were cut that could have prevented this.

In a statement late Tuesday, the executive staff of the department categorically denied claims that the executive office had closed posts due to a staffing shortage and that those closures enabled the escape.

Philadelphia Prisons Department Commissioner Blanche Carney said during a news conference Monday night that headcounts conducted at 11 p.m. on Sunday, 3 a.m. on Monday, and 7 a.m. on Monday reportedly showed that all prisoners were accounted for, and prison staff did not become aware of the escaped inmates until about 3 p.m. Monday. Prison officials said there was an ongoing investigation reviewing staffing assignments and security tapes.

Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped from the center, one of several prison facilities clustered together along State Road, around 8:30 p.m. Sunday by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said.

We have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed," Carney said Monday. "That yard should have been secured, and the fence not breached.

Mayor Jim Kenney said that they want to find out exactly what happened. Clearly the system screwed up and people didn't do what what they're supposed to do," he said.

City officials said they were investigating what protocols were not followed and how the counts did not turn up the missing inmates until the next day.

But Robinson and others, including former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart and prison monitors have all complained about the worsening staffing levels and the potential dangerous situations that come along with it. The department is a little more than 800 officers down, which is about 40% below the city-approved deployment plan to safely cover the jails that house about 4,300 men and women.

Those vacancies put a huge stress on the officers present and on the day-to-day function of the jails, said Noah Barth, the prison monitoring director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, an independent organization that monitors conditions in jails and prisons across the state and advocates for humane conditions for incarcerated people.

Barth said he didn't have access to the staffing logbooks, but said monitors for the society had previously reported issues with reported falsifications in the recreation logbooks and in laundry logs. Multiple incarcerated people in different units described being forced to sign the recreational time logbooks and then were not given that time out of their cell. Those prisoners described guards saying their phone privileges would be taken away if they complained.

Most of the reports from the society and accompanying recommendations have been met with denials or skepticism from department leaders, Barth said.

And the staffing shortages mean new officers are working extended overtime shifts.

Literally yesterday, I had a cadet call me. He just graduated last month, and he said to me, I dont want to quit, but I don't want to die either,' Robinson said. And I want to say hang in there, but I can't tell him stay if he feels he isn't safe.

Robinson said the council issued a no confidence vote on Commissioner Carney on May 2, and it was a unanimous vote from membership.

Philadelphia police said Hurst was arrested in March 2021. He's accused of shooting and killing a man on Christmas Eve 2020, said Frank Vanore, Philadelphia police deputy commissioner of investigations. The other three shootings happened in March 2021.

He's a very dangerous individual from what we know, and we are looking for the public's help to get him back, Vanore said at the news conference.

Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges, Carney said. The inmates were housed in the same unit, but different cells, she said.

Robinson questioned why an inmate facing charges in four murders wasn't being housed at the Curran-Fromhold Corrections Center, which has a concrete wall rather than a fence.
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ALLEN, Texas (AP)  The shooter with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping mall brought eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities said Tuesday.

The Allen police officer who shot and killed 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, ending Saturday's attack, acted heroically and saved countless lives through his quick action, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference. Authorities said the officer is still processing what happened and isnt ready to have his name made public.

If he hadnt have been there, I think wed have had a much more severe situation, Sibley said.

The investigation into Garcia's motive is ongoing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, Sibley said, adding that Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia brought eight guns to the scene, including three that he had on him and five that were still in his vehicle, Sibley said. Garcia obtained all of the weapons legally. President Joe Biden has said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon.

Sibley said it seems Garcia targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people, adding that, "he was very random in the people he killed.

The big question that were dealing with right now is, Whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley said. Well, the big question is, we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

Garcia researched when the mall was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people. Among those killed were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a 20-year-old security guard who was hailed for his bravery in the shooting.

The security guard, Christian LaCour, evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said at the news conference.

An Associated Press review of Garcia's online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of the Dallas' most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad," which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, was asked about the shooter's veteran status.

Hes not a veteran," Ryder told reporters. "Again, as you highlight from the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to federal regulations, this individual in terms of the time of service would not qualify as a veteran.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived with his parents until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they weren't sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didn't immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

Sibley said Tuesday that as far as he knew, Garcia hadn't worked at the Allen mall, but that he wasn't completely sure. He said Garcia hadn't worked in the security business for some time, and that his private security license in Texas had expired.

A woman who lives next door to Garcia's parents' house said she didn't know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying in the runup to the attack.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen is one of the area's most diverse cities. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allen's population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

___

Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Lolita C. Baldor and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Gene Johnson in Seattle and Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin's bipartisan elections commission must disregard its earlier ruling unanimously rejecting a complaint against fake presidential electors who attempted to cast the state's ballots for former President Donald Trump when it rehears the case, a judge ruled Tuesday.

A Republican commissioner who considered the original complaint must not take part in the reconsideration because he was one of the 10 fake electors, Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington ruled. That commissioner, Robert Spindell, as well as the state elections commission agreed in court filings before the judge ruled that he should never have participated.

Fake electors met in Wisconsin and other battleground states that Trump lost in 2020, attempting to cast ballots for the former president even though he lost. Republicans who participated in Wisconsin said they were trying to preserve Trump's legal standing in case courts overturned his defeat.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission and Spindell denied the filer of the complaint due process, Remington ruled.

Remington made clear in his order that the commission must decide the complaint giving no deference to or consideration of its previous decision.

The remaining commission members charged with considering the complaint are three Democrats and two Republicans. Two other commissioners who voted last year to reject the original complaint  one Republican and one Democrat  are no longer on the commission.

The rehearing will take place in a closed meeting and it's unclear when the commission's decision will be made public. Commission spokesperson Riley Vetterkind had no immediate comment on the judge's ruling or next steps.

Madison-based liberal law firm Law Forward filed a complaint with the commission in 2021 alleging that Republicans illegally posed as Wisconsin electors in an attempt to convince the U.S. Congress to declare Trump won the state in 2020, even though he lost to President Joe Biden by about 21,000 votes.

To emphasize, Wisconsin voters chose none of these persons to serve as presidential elector  on the contrary, each had been named to serve as the potential electors for a losing candidate, Remington wrote in his ruling.

The complaint asked the elections commission to investigate the fake electors actions and declare that they broke the law.

The commission voted unanimously last year in a closed meeting to reject the complaint, saying Republicans who attempted to cast the states 10 electoral college votes for Trump did not break any election laws.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice concluded that Republicans were legitimately trying to preserve Trumps legal standing as courts were deciding if he or Biden won the election. That is the same argument that Trump allies and the fake electors from Wisconsin have made, including in testimony to the Jan. 6 committee.

Law Forward and Madison law firm Stafford Rosenbaum sued the commission and Spindell on behalf of Paul Sickel, executive director of the Service Employees International Unions Wisconsin State Council. Sickel also brought the original complaint to the elections commission.

Law Forward attorney Scott Thompson heralded the judge's ruling, calling it a victory for protecting our democracy.

A key participant in the fake electors scheme manipulated his position of power to serve as judge and jury of his own behavior," Thompson said. This was unconstitutional, and the order today confirmed it.

The same attorneys have another pending lawsuit seeking $2.4 million in damages from the fake electors and Trump attorneys Kenneth Chesebro and Jim Troupis.
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Gather around, young ones. Silence your iPhones and Samsungs. We're here to learn about the Before Times, when the hottest tech device was nicknamed CrackBerry.

The gripping and hugely enjoyable "BlackBerry" is about the famous  and later infamous  Research in Motion gadget that helped trigger the global smartphone era as we know it, before sliding into obsolescence.

The BlackBerry may seem quaint now in the days of sleek water resistant 5G phones with face ID, but it was the first mobile device with a pager, cellphone and email capability all in one thing. No idea? Ask your parents.

BlackBerry tells the standard rise and fall of a tech startup that blows up, naturally leading to insider infighting  think Silicon Valley and The Social Network  but there's a twist here: The main money guy, while very shouty, is not the sleazy, bad guy you might expect.

Director and co-writer Matt Johnson recounts a breathless decade or so starting in 1996, when Research in Motion was just an office filled with tech geeks in Canada. Johnson also stars as Doug Fregin, a headband-wearing, movie-quoting uber-geek, an amalgam of a few Research in Motion people.

Smart as the geeks were, they weren't modern businessmen. Research in Motion  led by a nervous but good-intentioned engineer Mike Lazaridis (an excellent Jay Baruchel)  had the idea of a computer inside a phone using a free wireless signal but was in debt and out of its depth, with no prototype.

Enter Jim Balsillie (a superbly menacing Glenn Howerton) who snaps his Harvard-educated towel at the geeks, canceling movie nights and slamming their noses to the grindstones. He screams things like: You need to sell a million BlackBerries before Q3!

Balsillie manages BlackBerry through shark-infested waters  like an attempted takeover by PalmPilot and network collapses  but his plan to backdate stock options to hire top engineers dog the company, and you can feel Apple breathing down the company's neck.

Audiences will get that terrible sinking feeling when they see Research in Motion employees watch one of Steve Jobs' early presentations at Apple, offering the-then mind-blowing idea of a phone with no external keyboard while BlackBerry was armed... with a trackpad.

The film is adapted from Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoffs Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry. It is said to be a fictionalization inspired by real people and real events.

The second half of BlackBerry is heartbreaking  the loss of geek culture, the loss of principles and the loss of friendships. It's the Icarus story, except instead of wings they had autocomplete while typing with your thumbs.

The funniest bits of the movie are when the geeks are king, like NASA engineers on Apollo 9 gathering around a table figuring out data puzzles or soldering together hardware and writing code. The filmmakers use clips of Star Trek and Inspector Gadget to show what they were doing was futuristic. (Your parents will agree.)

Johnson makes the film even more enjoyable as the soundtrack moves from Joy Division, the Strokes and Moby to MC Hammer and The White Stripes. There are also small but great acting turns by Saul Rubinek, Cary Elwes and Michael Ironside.

Johnson's nicely plotted and sympathetic eye is in every frame, and he sets the tone early on in the first image from 1996: It's a car driven by the BlackBerry co-creators and it is passing a horse.

BlackBerry, an IFC Films release that is in theaters Friday, is rated R for "language throughout." Running time: 119 minutes. Three stars out of four. ___ MPAA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. ___ Online: https://www.blackberrymovie.com

___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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BRANFORD  Rustic cutting boards textured with tree rings from a retired Milford cop. Shadow boxes with crystal flowers that a Hartford corrections officer makes in her spare time. Soy wax candles with scents like Caramel Macchiato and Apple & Maple Bourbon crafted by a husband and wife out of Colchester who are both full-time social workers.

I look around this space and everythings got a story, said Jonathan Hunt, owner of Grey Goat Farmtique, a retail cafe and bar featuring work from area artisans as well as locally-sourced food and drinks.

The business, which is located on North Branford Road and Route 1 in the building that formerly housed the iconic bar Libbys Excuse Room, will be opening on May 17.

Theres a story behind the candles, for example.

Hunt, 42, said he met the social workers, Shawna and Zach, at a trade show in Shelton three years before.

It was a hotel conference room, and we were stationed next to each other, and we got to talking and comparing stories, he said, amid the displays of metal and woodwork, locally made art pieces, and dried flowers in the mellow light.

At the trade show, Hunt was displaying hand-crafted bead bracelets. Hed been working as an operations officer for a mental health company when the virus hit, marooning him at home, he said.

The walls were closing in so I got into making bracelets, he said. At first it was a creative outlet but then it started taking off at trade shows.

That was in fall 2020 when the world was cautiously opening.

I was doing these shows and I was meeting all kinds of cool people with full-time jobs in corporate America and they were all following their passion every weekend, he said. And it just came to me how there could be a place to go see these cool products, learn about their amazing stories, and just hang out.

How he found the Libbys Excuse Room property  once I saw it, it just screamed to me it was that place, he said 

has a story behind it too.

I knew it was available for a number of years, but I always thought theres no way I can afford it, he recalled. At the time, he had an offer in and was tentatively accepted for a building in East Haven.

That fell through, he said, as his dachshund mix Graham let out a yelp. And here we are.

A week after the closing, on Dec. 20, 2021, Hunt was in the building late, cleaning up. A piece of paper drifted onto the floor.

I picked it up and it was the In Memoriam pamphlet of Libby (Liberato Libby Biaggio Riccio), and the date on it was Dec. 20, 2017, exactly three years before, he said. So I kind of felt it was like a passing of the torch.

Since then, hes learned more about Libby and his wife Vicci, who died in April 2017.

They lived upstairs, and from what the customers have told me, Libby would be behind the bar, and Vicci would cook whatever she felt like cooking upstairs, meatballs was a common theme, he said. There was a pool table, a jukebox loaded with songs from the 60s, a dartboard, and a disc bowling machine.

He definitely left a legacy, Hunt said. The first winter I was here, we had a big snowstorm. I was out of town, and I was dreading coming back that morning because I was figuring it was going to take me all day to plow the driveway.

Much to his astonishment, the whole driveway was plowed, he said. Months later, I found out it was the guy who owns Townline Garage just down the road. He stopped by one day and we were talking and he said Oh yeah, I plowed your driveway.

For him to do that, not knowing me, not knowing who the new owner was, but because it was what he did for Libby, that sense of community, that told me this is the perfect place for what Im trying to do, he said.

Make your way around the space and there are more stories which Hunt shares through bios in front of the items. Theres the corrections officer Shaunda who found the healing powers of rose quartz to combat the negativity that surrounded her each day; Hunt met her at a buyers event in Essex.

The retired woodworking cop? Thats Mike Harrington. He used to work with Hunts brother in asset protection at Home Depot. Hunt brought him on as a vendor at a holiday pop-up event in New Haven.

Theres Jacquie Conine, who makes functional pottery like aqua-green soap pumps and left the workforce as a nurse to join the art-force, as her bio reads. And The Drunk Alpacas Stefania Halverson and Jessica Oen, who make snacks, the majority of which, Hunt said, are beer-infused with local breweries.

They also do a really good bourbon pecan pie that they make with Litchfield distillery bourbon, said Hunt; he met them at a show. Theyve become friends.

Thats the plan, he said, to keep food and drink local. Ill probably have five feature drinks made with a sangria from local wine, and a cocktail from a local distillery.

Once he gets a liquor license, theyll be served from the original bar, or at least the bones of it, behind which Libby tended to his customers over the decades. For the most part, Hunt said, I tried to keep the footprint untouched.

Prospective vendors can find forms online at Grey Goats website. Hunt encourages local makers to apply.

Its never a never with me, he said. Were going to rotate quarterly with showcases of different items, and well have outdoor events where theyll be invited to sell.

The mission is to support as many local artists as I can, he said. So youre not just buying a candle, youre helping support two social workers with young children. Youre supporting peoples dreams.
BRIDGEPORT  City Battalion Fire Chief Scott Boris had just discovered the bodies of three dogs in a burning shed when he said he was confronted by the angry home owner, David Valle.

He was loud, angry and pretty aggressive. He said he was going to put a bullet into every one of our heads unless we left his yard, Boris testified Tuesday. Normally people like us, because we are just trying to put out a fire ... I had never seen anything like this.

Boris was the first witness called to the stand by Assistant States Attorney Justina Moore as Valle's trial opened before Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Reid and a six-member jury.

Valle, 41, is charged with five counts of animal cruelty, interfering with police, tampering with evidence, reckless burning and threatening.

He is accused of burning two adult dogs and a puppy in his backyard shed and mistreating two other dogs found alive at the Wayne Street home on Dec. 1, 2020.

Boris testified that firefighters were dispatched to the Wayne Street home about 7:30 p.m. for a smoke condition. When he got there Boris said heavy smoke was coming to a backyard cinder block shed. He said flames were coming through the sheds roof, threatening the nearby home.

But as they were extinguishing the fire, Boris said an unidentified man came out of the home and told them to leave, that the shed was being used as a smoker to cook a deer.

But I knew this definitely wasnt a smoker, Boris continued. There was trash and a mattress in the shed but no wood.

While he was standing in front of the home a short time later, Boris said a car came to a screeching half in front of him and Valle jumped out.

He was grabbing our hose trying to pull it away. It was very strange. Mr. Valle and the other man at the house were so aggressive, it raised red flags, Boris said.

Boris said he was so alarmed at Valles actions he called for police.

For the first time in my career as a firefighter I told police I wanted to file a complaint, he said.

Police Sgt. Ron Jersey testified he arrived at the Wayne Street home shortly after the call came in that firefighters needed assistance. He said he followed the hose lines to the backyard shed that was still smoldering. Inside the shed he said he saw the burned remains of dogs.

Asked for his opinion on Valles demeanor at the scene Jersey said, My sense is that there was something he didnt want us to discover.

What was that? Moore asked.

Three dogs being burned, Jersey replied.

Testimony is to continue Wednesday morning.
BRIDGEPORT  A former prosecutor has returned from overseas deployment to lead his old office at the Golden Hill Street courthouse.

Craig P. Nowak, who left his position to do tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the National Guard, returned to the courthouse on Friday, this time as supervisor of the prosecutors office.

The 53-year-old Nowak replaces Ann Lawlor, who was recently tapped to be a Superior Court judge by Gov. Ned Lamont.

Im happy to be back here in a supervisors role, said Nowak as he took his place behind his desk in the 135-year-old courthouse. Im excited to serve the people of the Fairfield Judicial District.

Nowak returned to the courthouse on the very day 23 years ago that he first started there as a deputy assistant states attorney.

Lying on a shelf next to his desk were several framed medals, including a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding lawyer and leader in Craig Nowak to train our substantial number of new prosecutors, said States Attorney Joseph T. Corradino. He brings vast experience, sound judgement and a steady hand to an office where 60 percent of the attorneys have been appointed in the past two years. He is just the person to form these talented young people into outstanding professionals.

In 2004 Nowak went to Iraq during the Iraq War as a member of the National Guard engineering unit.

While there he was involved in helping the Iraqi people set up a public works infrastructure including starting garbage pickup.

In 2009 Nowak was sent to Afghanistan. He thought he was going to be doing the same thing in Afghanistan that he had done in Iraq until he was approached by U.S. State Department officials, who had heard he was a prosecutor.

He said the judicial system was breaking down in Laghmam Province. Because of a lack of coordination between the police, the prosecutor and the judges people arrested for crimes were often being let go or convicted of crimes without being allowed to put on a defense.

"One day I got this call that the local police had made a big heroin bust. As a prosecutor in Bridgeport, I got used to seeing large amounts of drugs that were seized by police but that was nothing like this," he said.

"There were more than a dozen 50-pound sacks filled with heroin in the police department parking lot. There was heroin on the sidewalk, heroin everywhere and you had to be careful not to ingest any."

Nowak said prosecutors were pouring heroin out of the sacks and weighing it on small manual scales.

"They needed to get an estimate of the street value of all the heroin so I called my office in Bridgeport and talked to one of the other prosecutors, " he continued. "We estimated it was worth more than $8 million."

In 2011, Nowak returned to Stratford, where as a lieutenant colonel he was given command of the 192nd Multifunctional Engineer Battalion.

He led his troops in responding to Hurricane Irene, Winter Storm Alfred, Superstorm Sandy and Winter Storm Nemo.

Nowak retired from the National Guard in May 2021, after 32 years with the state rank of brigadier general.

From 2012 to 2015, Nowak also handled post-conviction litigation for the Fairfield Judicial District including cases brought by Russell and Adrian Peeler regarding their convictions for the murder of a 9-year-old boy and his mother in Bridgeport in 1999.

In 2018, Nowak was assigned to the New Haven Judicial District where he served as a prosecutor for both criminal trials and post-conviction proceedings.
Connecticut lawmaker Quentin "Q" Williams was drunk when he was killed by a wrong-way driver in January after leaving Gov. Ned Lamont's inaugural ball, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas announced to the closed-door Democratic caucus that Williams' blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit of 0.08 when he was killed early on Jan. 5.

What we shared with the caucus was that we expected a toxicology report to be released today or tomorrow and to be accessible to the public, and we just wanted to let them know about that, Rojas said in a brief interview on the House floor.

However, the Connecticut State Police's legal department told Hearst Connecticut Media Group on Tuesday that the report may take up to one month to be released. The head of the legal department for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the state police, said the accident investigation report and toxicology results were completed, but could not immediately be released.

A portion of the accident investigation report obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday showed Kimede Mustafaj, a 27-year-old Manchester woman identified by state police as the wrong-way driver who also died in the crash, had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit. The report also showed Mustafaj had Delta-9 THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in her system when the crash occurred.

Rojas said he and Ritter expect the report will also indicate Williams' blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit.

"Obviously, its not something you want to read on Twitter or Facebook, and so we had a chance as a family, is what we call ourselves, to talk about it," Ritter said.

He described Williams as an "incredible person" and said the revelation would not sully the caucus' perception of him.

"I dont think anybody wants to revisit that night or second-guess anybody," Ritter said. "I think we all want to preserve the legacy and the things that he fought for, and thats kind of where I think the caucus is right now.

"I think we all feel the same level of sadness today that we felt in January," he added.

Williams, a 39-year-old Middletown Democrat who had just been sworn in to a third term, was traveling home from Lamonts inaugural ball in Hartford when the crash occurred near Exit 18 of Route 9 in Cromwell.

On Tuesday, state officials said Williams' toxicology results don't overshadow the fact that he was the victim of a wrong-way driver.

It certainly resurrects the whole incident all over again, which is sad and tragic and should not diminish the good work that he did when he was in the chamber, said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford.

And I think for all of us in the state of Connecticut, we should just make sure were taking care of each other and trying to prevent these tragedies by making sure that people are not driving while intoxicated. We all make bad choices at any given point in life, but it seems as if theres so much more permanency to those bad choices because there are so many higher risks out there."

Williams was a popular figure in his hometown of Middletown where he previously served as city treasurer and commissioner of Planning and Zoning. He was also the director of advocacy and policy for Excellence Community Schools, a charter school program in Stamford.

One day after the crash, hundreds attended a vigil for him on Middletowns South Green.

Family, friends and colleagues said Williams had "truly dedicated his life to public services, was "an amazing human being" and one of our shining stars.

His death was also described as a "great loss to our state.

Williams was known for his buoyant personality, being a champion for justice and equality and someone who had a big heart and boisterous laugh.
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BRIDGEPORT  Mario Testa will be able to keep a close eye on the transformation as a private developer tears down his namesake restaurant and catering hall for a controversial 177-unit apartment complex.

Bridgeport's long-time Democratic Party chairman, who used to claim an apartment above his recently shuttered North End establishment, Testo's, as his voting address, has purchased a condominium a short distance away so he can legally remain in the thick of city politics.

According to municipal land records, Testa in late December paid $250,000 for a unit in the Inwood condominium complex at 3200 Park Avenue, which is a few blocks from his shuttered business at 1775 Madison Ave. and also close to his pizzeria, just over the border at 1023 Brooklawn Avenue in Fairfield.

And in late February Testa, who did not return a request for comment Monday, declared Inwood as his new voting address per the Bridgeport Registrars of Voters.

Testo's, a popular area eatery and the hub of Democratic Party politics in Connecticut's largest city, closed after last New Year's Eve. Co-owners Testa and his nephew, Ralph Giacobbe, sold it to developer Amit Lakhotia to build a 177-unit apartment complex with underground parking. That $3.5 million deal was announced last November but only closed April 3.

Since then, neighborhood elected officials, activists and residents were shocked to learn that Lakhotia's project, designed by local contractor John Guedes several months before Lokhotia bought Testo's, would not require a public hearing before the zoning commission.

In fact, their only chance of stopping it may have come and gone a decade ago. In 2013 Testa, despite some opposition, managed to secure a zoning change that allowed for the apartment complex to be built.

Then in late 2021 Guedes, on behalf of Testa and Giacobe, drafted and submitted plans for the 177 units to City Hall's building and zoning offices before new zoning rules took effect Jan. 1, 2022 that would have reduced the apartment structure's four-story height.

And Guedes and city officials last week said that since the plans met those pre-2022 zoning regulations, they required a basic sign-off by zoning staff with no involvement of the zoning commission or a public hearing. That zoning approval was granted in early 2022.

Now, with Lakhotia the official property owner, Guedes is aiming to demolish Testo's and break ground in the coming weeks. This has alarmed critics who noticed some recent activity on the site and who all along thought the public would eventually have a say on such a large project to, if not stop it, at least reduce the size.

Meanwhile, when he sold Testo's, Testa also lost his voting address, raising questions about his future running Bridgeport's Democrats and having a significant amount of influence over Mayor Joe Ganim's administration. Testa had for years claimed an apartment over the catering facility as his primary residence, even though he also owns a home on Bridge Road in Monroe by Lake Zoar.

Testa has never responded to requests for comment about the sale of his restaurant, but in December some friends and allies of his insisted he would relocate his residence within Bridgeport to remain a voter here and Democratic Party chief.

"He told me directly he's looking for an apartment to rent," Thomas McCarthy, a former City Council president, had said at the time. "I believe he has every intention of staying, at least past the (2023) mayoral election."

Besides claiming Inwood as his new residence, Testa, according to the tax collector's office, also has two cars, a 2014 Mercedes and a 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood, registered in Bridgeport. He pays taxes to Monroe on a 1989 BMW.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced that he would call lawmakers back to the state's Capitol on Aug. 21 for a special session after the Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control.

The announcement comes weeks after six people  including three young children  were killed in a Nashville school shooting. The tragedy sparked Lee, a Republican, to urge the General Assembly to pass legislation that would keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others. But instead, GOP leaders moved to quickly adjourn rather than take up the governor's request in the remaining days of an already chaotic session.

Within hours of the Legislature adjourning, Lee announced he would call a special session to take up the topic. However, outside of a date being selected, Lee's Monday announcement didn't include information on what specific proposals lawmakers will take up.

There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, well continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health," Lee said in a statement, which did not include any reference to the Covenant school shooting or mention of firearms.

Lee has mounted a campaign for temporary mental health orders of protection" and has maintained that it is not a so-called red flag law, which he has described as a toxic political label.

To date, 19 states have red flag laws on the books  with many lawmakers enacting them after tragedies. Notably, Florida did so after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 students. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the 19-year-old gunmans threatening statements.

In allowing courts to issue what are known as extreme risk protection orders, the laws are intended to temporarily remove guns  usually for up to a year  from people showing signs of potentially violent behavior. In many cases, family members or law enforcement must petition a court for an order.

Under Lee's proposal, law enforcement would first determine if a person is a threat, then a hearing with the person in question would be held, generally within three to five days. A judge would rule whether they should indeed have their weapons taken away temporarily. If so, the person would have to surrender their guns and ammunition to a third party within two days and any handgun carry license would be suspended within three business days. The actions would last up to 180 days at a time.

Enough Republicans joined gun lobby groups in opposition to keep Lees proposal from coming to a vote in the waning days of the recent legislative session. It's unclear if lawmakers will be asked to advance this same proposal during the upcoming special session.

Without mentioning gun policy, a spokesperson for House Speaker Cameron Sexton said Monday that the Republican plans on meeting with people on a wide array of issues and policies and is awaiting word on what proposals the governor will include in the special session.

Meanwhile, some advocates for gun control reforms have argued that Lees proposed measure doesnt go far enough.
BERLIN (AP)  A highway collision between a long-distance Polish bus and a truck injured dozens of people in eastern Germany, officials in Poland and Germany said.

The crash happened Tuesday on the A 12 highway between the Brandenburg state towns of Storkow and Fredersdorf.
We have previously chronicled how Connecticuts economic development momentum, public spirit and business climate are all improving. Nonetheless, Connecticut is still the second highest-taxed population in the nation.

One year ago, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a budget which included the largest tax cut in Connecticut history, and this legislative session, Lamont proposed the first income tax cut since the states introduction of income tax in 1991. But there is another simple way to dramatically lower Connecticuts taxes and improve Connecticuts fiscal standing and business climate. If Connecticut had even average annual investment performance from its underwhelming pension funds, our tax burden would dramatically decrease.

While the legislature battles over thousands of dollars or even millions on needed expenditures, billions of dollars were lost on terrible investments  investment errors that 49 other states somehow avoided. Connecticuts previous treasurers provided this state, consistently, with one of the single worst investment track records of all 50 states, as our Yale research team found through an original, comparative 50-state analysis of state pension fund investment performance.

With $40 billion in assets  largely the pooled retirement savings of the states hardworking teachers, firefighters and public employees  if Connecticuts investments had yielded just the median returns of all 50 states, the past five years, we would have had $5 billion more and be able to cut taxes by 50 percent instead of 0.5 percent. Connecticut would have reaped a whopping $27 billion more over the last decade  practically enough to fully fund Connecticuts pension obligations while simultaneously dramatically reducing taxes.

Lamont will have already steered roughly $8 billion from the states budgetary surpluses to plug the hole by the end of this year, including $4.1 billion last year alone  as supplemental contributions on top of the $3 billion plus in annual, mandatory payments.

This is not the consequence of political partisanship, union voices, reckless spending or government bloat  the causes normally attributed to the states chronically underfunded pension obligations. Prudent efficient public administration is great, but this is a different problem incompetent investment for decades.

Our study found that across all 50 states, investment performance has nothing to do with divisive red herrings such as political party, ideology, state size or geography. Red states and blue states, Sun Belt and Rust Belt, big states and small states, vary on the quality of their performance independent of labels. For example, the 10 best states over the past decade include Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, Arkansas, Oregon, Massachusetts, Ohio, Colorado and West Virginia.

Connecticuts underperformance is also not based upon support for local Connecticut-based asset managers or minority owned/led asset managers, as we just have among the worst performing asset managers regardless of how they are classified.

Rather than using larger, more well-known fund managers as other states do, there are cases where we are invested in funds where Connecticut is the single largest client  sometimes substantively the only client, all while Connecticut pays high fees, with some obscure asset managers individually earning more than the entire states cabinet combined.

We would recommend five basic steps based on our comparative 50-state analysis.

Careful and accountable asset manager selection  picking top-tier asset managers and dropping worst performers

Like all state pension funds, virtually all of Connecticuts assets are farmed out to external investment managers who then direct investments on behalf of Connecticuts firefighters, teachers and public employees. Needless to say, we should focus on top-tier, blue-chip funds with proven track records of success  and conversely, we should terminate relationships to the worst asset managers.

Change the asset mix

Connecticut has made some poor and costly decisions over the past decade  many of which are now smartly being unwound by current leadership. Connecticuts public equities (stocks) portfolio was massively overweight emerging markets and underweight U.S. equities  meaning Connecticut largely missed out on the strong bull market of U.S. stocks over the last decade.

Consider shifting into more low-cost index funds

Unfortunately, Connecticuts highly compensated professional asset managers got dramatically worse returns for the states teachers, firefighters and public employees than if these individuals had just invested their savings themselves. As we found, over the last decade, a generic 60/40 portfolio (meaning 60 percent stocks, 40 percent bonds) outperformed Connecticuts by over 1 percent annually. The compound interest on $40 billion is a powerful force, amounting to more than an extra $4 billion. A generic 70/30 would have done even better, outperforming Connecticut by 2.5 percent annually over the last decade.

Increase the transparency of performance

While the treasurers office commendably posts aggregate performance to its website on a monthly basis, releasing semi-annual manager-by-manager breakdowns of performance would help fortify accountability and transparency.

Furthermore, while some may say the asset management fees we have been paying for terrible performance are, at least, average for the 50 states; actually no  it is not the case as these manager fees must be calculated to the assets which are actually managed and not on the entire $40 billion fund which includes index funds or investments with no management fees. While taking strides in the right direction, they postings are detailed impenetrably dense info packets. As Louis Brandeis said, sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Enhance the talent recruitment into the treasurers team

While we have had the same treasurer for 20 of the past 25 years, access to top-tier talent is a strong focus for new Treasurer Erick Russell who is also simultaneously dealing with external calls to reduce headcount or funding for his office. Connecticut recently churned through eight chief investment officers and four interim CIOs. By contrast, all the top 10 performing states have long-tenured CIOs  but there seems to be zero correlation between CIO salary and investment performance.

It is past time that we fix Connecticuts solvable investment woes. As Benjamin Franklin advised in his 1758 essay entitled The Way to Wealth, An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. We need some investment managers who know what they are doing or at least who can provide us with average if not top performance.
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY

Flood Advisory

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

428 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of south central Texas, including the following

county, Fayette.

* WHEN...Until 730 PM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Water over roadways.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 428 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Up to 3 inches of rain have

fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches are expected over

the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

La Grange, Fayetteville, Rabbs Prairie, Plum, Mullins

Prairie, Rutersville, Ammannsville, Swiss Alp, O'Quinn,

Holman, Warda, West Point, Winchester, Ellinger and Kirtley.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana...

Southwestern Calcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana...

Eastern Orange County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 429 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from near Forest Heights to West Orange to near Bridge

City, moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Orange, Bridge City, West Orange, Vinton, Sabine National Wildlife,

Pinehurst, Toomey, Orangefield and Hackberry.

This includes the following highways...

Interstate 10 in Texas between mile markers 880 and 870.

Interstate 10 in Louisiana between mile markers 1 and 12.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground

lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately.

Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can

hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CAMERON...

SOUTHWESTERN CALCASIEU PARISHES IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND EASTERN

ORANGE COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.

Therefore, the warning has been allowed to expire. However small

hail, gusty winds and heavy rain are still possible with this

thunderstorm.

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Photo: Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images

MrBeast is creating a MrBeast Neighborhood. As the New York Post reports, Jimmy Donaldson, the YouTuber who has made $54 million off weird stunts, has been methodically purchasing every house connected to a cul-de-sac outside of his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. He bought his own $320,000 four-bedroom in 2018 and has since collected four more in on- and off-market sales totaling more than a million dollars. A former neighbor who sold his house to Donaldson told the Post that the homes will be occupied by the Beast universe  friends, families, and employees.

According to a profile in Rolling Stone, Donaldsons company has 60 full-time employees and is building three production hubs in Greenville, in hopes of turning his hometown into a magnet for content creators in digital media. (And nothing draws people in more than a cul-de-sac.)

There is, however, one holdout house, which the former neighbor said was likely due to the fact that the familys kids were still in school. Maybe they can drop out and get jobs at MrBeast LLC instead.
Young Chinese keen on featured outbound tours

People's Daily Online) 09:59, May 09, 2023

Young people in China have shown increasing enthusiasm for featured outbound tours, with data suggesting coastal regions, high-quality group tours, customized tours, and individual tours, as well as novel tourism products and services gaining in popularity.

Chinese tourists interact with Maasai performers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

According to a recent report on the first batch of young Chinese tourists who have traveled abroad since the country resumed outbound group tours in February, post-90s young Chinese accounted for more than 57 percent of them, and nearly half spent an average of more than 10,000 yuan ($1,446) per person on outbound tours.

Southeast Asian countries were the first stop of most young Chinese tourists, with Thailand being one of the most popular destinations since China resumed outbound group tours, said the report released by Mafengwo, a Chinese travel services and social networking platform.

The opening of the China-Laos Railway has further expanded transportation options for outbound tourists, making Luang Prabang in Laos among the most searched overseas destinations on Mafengwo, the report said.

Young Chinese tourists favor coastal regions, and island vacations became the first choice of many young tourists during this year's May Day holiday, the report said, noting that tourist destinations with a mature tourism industry, including Phuket and Pattaya in Thailand, Bali island in Indonesia, Singapore, and Maldives, enjoying great popularity.

In terms of the choice of tourism products, nearly 70 percent of outbound Chinese tourists aged between 18 and 40 chose group tours, according to a travel agency.

Young tourists pay more attention to the quality of their tours, according to the travel agency, which disclosed that besides regular group tours, young people also like customized tours during which they can travel with their family.

Individual tours have also become more popular among young tourists in China. Latest data from Chinese online travel agency Ctrip showed that young tourists booked more outbound individual tours than group tours during the first months of the year. Popular destinations included China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

To attract more young tourists, Chinese online travel service provider Tuniu.com has rolled out tourism products featuring novel experience activities, according to a company executive.

Tours in New Zealand have a tight itinerary and include rich experience activities, such as a hike along glaciers in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, a helicopter ride over the glaciers, and stargazing at night, the executive said.

New experience activities targeting young tourists have also been added to tours of Dubai, such as off-roading in desert dunes, a visit to the Museum of the Future, which is known for its rich futuristic sci-tech elements, and a ride on the world's fastest roller coaster in Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the executive said.

The key to attracting young tourists is novel, niche, and personalized tourism experiences, noted an executive in charge of Mafengwo's brand specializing in travel strategy.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
A branch of the Ko-Kwel Wellness Center has opened up in Eugene to provide medical healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

The Ko-Kwel Wellness Center, whose flagship location is in Coos Bay, is a healthcare facility that serves specifically American Indians and Alaskan Natives of the 574 federally recognized tribes.

The main purpose of the Ko-Kwel Wellness Center is to provide medical healthcare to members of tribes that are unable to receive healthcare at standard hospitals and medical facilities.

We noticed that there were a lot of tribal members that were unable to make it to Coos Bay, and that was the driving force, Jason Younker, Chief of the Coquille Indian Tribe and UO Assistant VP and Advisor on Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations, said. We knew that lots of American Indians and Alaska Natives needed to travel far to take advantage of Indian health services, which are federally funded.

According to Younker, their main reason for opening a branch of the Ko-Kwel Center in Eugene was its large American Indian and Alaska Native population. The Ko-Kwel Wellness Centers second largest tribal member population is in Lane County, and it has five county service districts in and around Lane County that provide ease for members living in Lane County that do not have to travel to Coos Bay.

Another population served by the Eugene Ko-Kwel Center are UO students who are members of American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes.

There are native students at the University of Oregon that now have a place to go where the insurance that they carry with them from their home tribes is available locally, Younker said. The Ko-Kwel responded to the need not only for tribal members but for many tribal students that we consider visitors or guests.

According to Younker, one of the biggest benefits and services of the Ko-Kwel Wellness Center is that any citizen of a federally-recognized tribe that walks into their doors will never leave with a bill. All of their services are absolutely free to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal members.

At other universities, this is not the case for students that belong to other tribes that dont provide healthcare at their schools location, Younker said.

According to Younker, his own daughter, who attends the University of Alabama, was not able to receive healthcare, as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribe in Alabama does not provide medical assistance to tribal members outside of their own tribe.

We want to make sure that everyone knows that that kind of service is available to any tribes that send their precious students to the University, Younker said of the new Eugene location.

Affordability has been one of the main issues for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal members, and, according to Younker, there are historical traumas that are passed down from generations that dont exist with other populations.

Mental health services, depression, diabetes and all of the sorts are genetically passed down and related to historical traumas, Younker said. We want to be very understanding of other tribes and we know that healthcare isnt anything you can measure in a way that will cover everybody, but we want to try and reach the populations that we can serve.
Opinion: The expectation of internships promotes a competitive, discouraging environment on college campuses.

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College students often find themselves overwhelmed with balancing their studies and social life. Class at 8 a.m., club meeting at 11 a.m., finish an essay at the library and hang out with friends at 7 p.m. But theres one universal thing that keeps us up at night: internships.

The pressure really starts to kick in junior and senior year. Upperclassmen are asked the same old questions: Are you building your resume? What are your plans after graduation? Youre aware employers look for applicants with work experience, right? Yes, we are well aware.

Admittedly, the expectation of work experience comes with good reason. In a recent study, graduates with an internship on their resume were 14% more likely to get an interview. And it doesnt stop there. A Conversation article wrote, Students who had an internship have 15% lower unemployment, 6% higher wages five years after graduation, and final year grades that are 3.4% higher than those who did not have an internship.

Sydney Greene, a senior at the University of Oregon, recently joined the student publication Flux Magazine. As most students do when graduation approaches, she wanted to build her resume.

Time was biting me in the butt and I figured I needed something to put on my resume. Flux seemed interesting, but I applied mainly because I didnt have anything under my belt journalism-related, Greene said.

Unfortunately, not all college students are able to secure an internship. In a survey of 1,060 students from schools in Wisconsin, Maryland and South Carolina, 64% of students said they had hoped to take an internship, but could not.

This was due to numerous reasons. Students end up post-grad without valuable experience on account of five main obstacles: already working a paid job, too many classes, scarce opportunities, being unpaid/poorly paid or lack of transportation.

Even with this being a common occurrence, universities advertise internships as mandatory in being successful.

I put part of the pressure on myself, but its also professors telling us how important internships are. I think its kind of heavy, Greene said.

I, too, had an internal battle with this expectation. All throughout my sophomore year, my journalism courses scheduled presentations focused on career-building. Advisors talked about building connections and resumes. Students gloated about the numerous publications they were a part of.

Instead of feeling encouraged, I felt extremely behind. I ended up taking their advice; I wanted to get more involved and apply to different publications on campus. Yet I always received the same response: Were looking for applicants with more experience. Build up your resume and apply again.

How am I supposed to gain experience if no publication will hire me?

I eventually got my foot in the door, as I now write for the Daily Emerald. But the unrealistic expectation that a college student must achieve an insane resume to be successful is degrading.

Other UO students struggle with finding internship opportunities. In a small lecture, I asked my peers if anyone had any work experience. No one raised their hand. This was a predominantly junior/senior class, mind you.

When I would finally get to graduate college, I thought it was going to be super rewarding. It is, but theres a lot of stress that comes with it. Youre graduating into the freshmen year of the rest of your life, Greene said.

Attending college and figuring out a career path is competitive as it is. But the pressure of building the perfect resume thatll catch every employers eye promotes isolation. One will be successful, with or without experience.

The most reassuring career advice I received was from a fellow student: Not getting an internship isnt the end of the world.
Crude Oil, WTI, API, OPEC+, US Dollar, Gold, China Trade - Talking Points

Crude oil is claiming a recovery from a volatile run lower last week

APAC equities appear lacklustre with underwhelming Chinese economic data

Many asset classes have been relatively quiet ahead of US CPI . Will WTI rally?

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

WTI crude oil steadied again today just below US$ 73 bbl after recovering from last weeks sell-off that saw it trade at its lowest level since late 2021.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) will release its weekly statistical bulletin later today, ahead of the monthly OPEC+ oil market report that is due to be released on Thursday

Between those reports, US CPI on Wednesday remains the focus for the broader market.

Spot gold continues to trade above US$ 2,025 an ounce as markets recalibrate after last weeks hike by the Fed.

Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade Oil Get My Guide

Treasury yields have eased a touch so far today after adding 7 or 8 basis points across the curve yesterday. The US Dollar is little moved with currency markets in slumber mode.

Wall Street finished barely moved despite lingering concerns around the debt ceiling and regional banking concerns.

APAC equity markets are mixed with Australian, Hong Kong, Korean and New Zealand indices slightly lower while Japan and mainland China have notched some gains.

Chinas trade balance came in much stronger than forecast at US$ 90.2 billion for April rather than the US$ 71.25 billion anticipated.

The devil in the detail reveals that exports were slightly stronger, but imports slumped, raising concerns about the prospects of a recovery for the worlds second-largest economy.

China also announced a crackdown on foreign companies that it alleges have been spying.

It is shaping up to be a quiet day on the data front, but the Australian Federal Government budget will be delivered, where a surplus is anticipated for the first time in 15 years.

The full economic calendar can be viewed here.

WTI CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WTI overcame breakpoint resistance in the 72.25  72.45 area overnight and that zone might now provide support.

Further support might be at the previous lows of 66.82, 66.12, 64.36, 63.64 and 62.43.

On the topside, the nearby breakpoint at 73.93 may offer support ahead of a series of simple moving averages (SMA) in the 75.54  76.63 area. If those SMAs are vanquished, it could indicate that bearish momentum might be retreating.

Chart created in TradingView

--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter
One of the first things I ever did while working for Boris Johnson when he was London Mayor was to escort him to Clarence House to meet the man who has just been crowned King.

Back then, Boris had no armed detail nor driver, so we took the Tube. It was fast, direct, cheap and set an early pattern that he would be both accessible to the people who elected him and aware of the state of the services he ran for them.

He was mobbed on the escalator  and neither he nor I realised we had stepped on a train heading east rather than west. When we did, it was too late to get to the Palace on time. We sprinted from the station to the security gate, and were still sweaty and panting as we were admitted. Prince Charles, as he was then, was unimpressed.

Last June, by which time Boris had become Prime Minister, that tense relationship took a dramatic turn for the worse. This newspaper revealed that the future King was highly critical of a core policy of Boris's government: the plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. The then-Prince of Wales described the scheme as 'appalling'.

The timing was impeccable. Both men were about to fly to the Rwandan capital Kigali for a Commonwealth Heads of Government summit. The Press, understandably, was febrile.

Guto Harri is the former communication director of No 10. Pictured: Mr Harri at the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's book launch in 2014

As Director of Communications at No 10, I did my best to calm things down. But on the flight over, the Prime Minister could not resist a dig at critics of the Rwanda plan, calling them 'condescending'.

He didn't name the Prince, but he didn't need to. The papers spelt it out. Broadcasters also tried to get him to spell it out, but were disappointed. 'They wanted you to use the C-word,' I told him.

'What, 'Charles'?' Boris replied.

'No, 'condescending'.'

'Both!' added a Government colleague.

By the time the two men met, officials were anxious on both sides.

We could not stop cameras from capturing the encounter  but no one could hear the two men's conversation. This lasted about 15 minutes and the pictures gave no hint of any serious discord. Boris briefed that the two had 'a good old chinwag' and 'covered a lot of ground'. What had actually happened, however, was rather less amicable.

'I went in quite hard,' he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the Prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of the democratically elected government.

Charles had been caught out. Though he tried to play down his criticisms of the policy, Boris pointed out the obvious. 'If you didn't say it,' he told him, 'we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they haven't done that says it all.'

Mr Harri said that 'Prince Charles, as he was then, was unimpressed' when Mr Johnson had turned up late and sweaty to Clarence House while he was still London Mayor

Hoping to move on, the Prime Minister sought to compare notes on the speeches they were due to deliver at the summit. Boris was planning an upbeat tribute to the success of so many Commonwealth countries in growing their economies and consolidating their democracies, heralding the potential benefits for them and the UK in a post-Brexit world.

In stark contrast, the Prince was about to argue for a 'deeper understanding of slavery's enduring impact'. It was, he believed, 'a conversation whose time has come'.

The PM was appalled. And he warned the Prince in plain English: 'I wouldn't talk about slavery or you'll end up being forced to sell the Duchy of Cornwall to pay reparations to those whose ancestors built it.'

Relations never fully recovered  and our new King will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 by the time he ascended to the throne. I'm sharing this, and so much more, in a series of podcasts released this Thursday, because I believe the public deserve to know.

Journalists do their best to understand what's going on at the heart of government, in royal palaces, company boardrooms and the HQs of the organisations that shape our world. But the dice is loaded against them. It's hard to know what's truly going on unless you're there. Yet when you are there, you can't share it.

GUTO HARRI: As Director of Communications at No 10, I did my best to calm things down. But on the flight over, the Prime Minister could not resist a dig at critics of the Rwanda plan, calling them 'condescending'

I knew I had to cross a line when I left my journalistic career, having spent 18 years at the BBC, to go and work for Boris Johnson at City Hall in 2008.

And I understood from the start that being on the other side of the door was a huge privilege, which is why I've never revealed much of what happened until now.

Governing effectively requires a tight team in a circle of trust. If this is breached, you can't operate. That, by the way, was one of the worst problems in No 10 last year: a total breakdown of trust and discipline.

Almost everything was leaked. Some supposedly loyal lieutenants of the Prime Minister were almost verbally incontinent, sharing whatever they could with anyone who'd listen.

On one occasion, when I was addressing the crack troops known as 'special advisers', my phone was vibrating in my back pocket as a journalist teased me that she was getting an almost verbatim and contemporaneous account of my comments.

So I thought long and hard about sharing what I witnessed at the heart of government for the new podcast. One major consideration is that the team I was part of no longer exists.

The man I worked for is writing his own memoirs. Others in the room have clearly contributed to various books now doing the rounds. But my main motive is to try to bring some insight and perspective to a critical period in British politics that most of the media covered through a distorted and often hysterical lens. I did my best at the time to correct inaccuracies, challenge sweeping assumptions and shift a narrative that was stubbornly attached to just one toxic tale, 'Partygate': the claims of lockdown-busting events, some alcohol-fuelled, at No 10 during the pandemic. But this a hard job. Former advisers were on a shameless and relentless mission to bring down Boris and they found strange and willing bedfellows in parts of the Press and TV news.

GUTO HARRI: As Director of Communications at No 10, I did my best to calm things down. But on the flight over, the Prime Minister could not resist a dig at critics of the Rwanda plan, calling them 'condescending'

There is so much more to say about that extraordinary period than who may or may not have been drinking at work. Some of the core assumptions around 'Partygate' were wide of the mark. One serious journalist asked me, when he was clearly well-oiled himself, if Boris had been 'p*****' for his entire premiership. Ludicrous.

I thought about writing a book. It gives you space, which allows proper context. You can quote anonymously and hide behind comments attributed to others. But I spent most of my decades in journalism as a broadcaster. I like to animate a story and bring it alive. I always preferred radio to television: it's more intimate, generally more intelligent and  when needed  more immediate.

Podcasts take this further still, which may explain their popularity. The latest figures suggest about 400million people listen around the world, and they now have a choice of more than two million shows.

At their best, podcasts bring energy, freshness and a spontaneous sincerity to storytelling.

The team has combined my reflections from that period with a huge trawl of historical material. This not only takes the listener back in time but reminds them how they felt, too, during that turbulent era.

Reliving it all has been strange, traumatic and cathartic. But my overriding ambition has been to take you behind that door and give you a better picture of what went on.

This, I hope, will allow you to come to your own considered judgment on one of the most interesting and impactful politicians in British history, at the helm  as the title of the series suggests  in unprecedented times.
Here is a simple fact about Donald Trump. There is never a knock-out blow. Not even now that he has been found to have sexually abused E Jean Carroll and is liable to pay her more than $5million in damages.

A finding that would destroy most political careers may not lead to any sudden change in Donald Trump's political fortunes.

His keenest backers will simply believe him when he says it's all made up. Those in the party who are less keen, but see no hope of anyone else being the candidate, will stick with him.

The fact that the rape allegation was not proven might help with this latter group. They will be thinking this is a civil case  the burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial. And that the events were also many years ago.

They have held their collective noses before with The Donald: they will almost certainly decide to do it again.

Here is a simple fact about Donald Trump. There is never a knock-out blow

Trump has been found to have sexually abused E Jean Carroll and is liable to pay her more than $5million in damages

Justin Webb (pictured): 'He is dangerous when attacked, when cornered. He seems to like it, thrives on it'

Meanwhile, the man himself is already roaring defiance: 'THE VERDICT IS A DISGRACE', was his predictable response in capitals on his social media channel.

He is dangerous when attacked, when cornered. He seems to like it, thrives on it. As I write, he has a so-called 'town hall' meeting  a live TV event  with CNN planned later this evening and I expect him to turn up and to fight back.

But here is his problem. Even if this court has not delivered a knock-out blow, it has done some damage. Republicans want to win the next election against a president they regard as useless and doddering. They have turned back to Trump in recent weeks because he has been looking increasingly strong. He was gaining momentum again.

This verdict stops that momentum. It raises a simple question in the minds of the Republican Party he has so successfully hijacked.

Do we feel lucky? Or, to put it another way, do we think that the wider electorate  floating voters in the few key states where the presidential election of 2024 will be won  will be put off by the steadily growing rap sheet that Donald Trump brings with him

They will be asking themselves whether it might be time to bail. Not this minute. The primary campaign that the eventual candidate must win does not get under way until next year.

But when that campaign starts, this court finding could well come back to haunt Trump. People will not ask whether he is a nice guy. They already know the answer. But they will ask whether he is a winner.

And the suggestion that Trump is a loser with the wider American electorate is one that already haunts the Republican Party.

Remember that, for all his bombast and staggering durability, he has also taken part in some pretty momentous defeats.

It was Donald Trump who lost the election of 2020. And although some of his die-hard supporters still think the result was rigged, many Republicans at the top of the party are perfectly well aware of what actually happened.

Trump had already lost his party a good deal of ground in the 2018 midterm elections. And in the most recent midterms, in 2022, the candidates he backed often faltered. He may well have cost his party control of the Senate.

There is an anti-Trump story to be told within the party  if any Republican dares to tell it.

This is the challenge to the other candidates now. The biggest of them, the governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, is going to come under increasing pressure himself: to put up or to shut up.

DeSantis has gone off the boil in recent weeks. He has not formally declared that he is in the race against Trump.

When the former president was hauled to New York to face fraud charges, DeSantis tried to have it both ways, revelling in Trump's embarrassment but at the same time suggesting the trial itself was a Democratic Party fix.

That tightrope-walking is going to have to end. It is getting DeSantis and the other non-Trump candidates nowhere, making Trump look strong and them look weak.

If he wants to be president, Ron DeSantis is going to have to make the case to Republicans that Donald Trump is history. He is going to have to come out and say that Trump is a loser.

And if he and others do so it is entirely possible that the floodgates open and Trump is, politically speaking, swept away.

Of course, Trump would not go quietly. Which is why DeSantis and others need a series of big sticks to beat him with. They will have to keep doing it and this will take some fortitude.

But they have plenty of sticks in their hands now. And a very big one has just been delivered by this court decision. Beating Donald Trump has become easier with the sexual assault finding.

Donald Trump is still standing. And among Republicans desperate for a 2024 winner, there are more questions, more worries  but also a rising hope that they can finally say goodbye to the maelstrom of the years when The Donald dominated their party.

Justin Webb is the former BBC North America Editor and a presenter on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
In 1994, 750 women came together in a south London park to run 5km and raise a total of 48,000 for Cancer Research UK.

And from such humble beginnings Race for Life  Cancer Research UKs biggest annual fundraiser - was born, with the event raising a massive 940m in the 30 years since it began.

At the start line in York will be 22-year-old twins Mark and Tom Burke who'll be running their second Race for Life.

Inspired to take part after losing their dad, Mark Snr, to lung cancer in January 2021, the first time they took to the course, they raised a mighty 23,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Inspired to take part after losing their dad, Mark Snr, to lung cancer in January 2021, the first time they took to the course, they raised a mighty 23,000 for Cancer Research UK

'He was a great person, very strong and outgoing,' remembers Mark. 'And although he sadly passed away, his illness brought us closer as a family.'

When he died, his sons  both joiners from Selby, North Yorkshire  decided to raise money to help other people. They settled on Race for Life after their elder sister Maxine saw an advert.

'We thought it's important to do and rewarding too,' says Mark.

But that didnt mean the two jokers  who admit theyre not natural athletes - couldnt have fun while they trained. And the result was a series of hilarious skits posted on social media.

'Were quite chunky boys,' admits Mark. 'So we made running and biking videos  we had a tandem where the wheels kept popping off and people found that quite funny.'

Come July theyll be taking part in Yorks Race for Life once again. And if they can do it, they say, anyone can!

Soon the videos went viral, all helping add to the glorious total the boys raised.

But when they eventually had to complete the Race for Life, the incredible atmosphere helped them over the line.

'Its like one big family,' says Tom. 'All pushing each other through. Its wonderful. You feel the love from everyone.'

'I was quite excited to get on with it,' says his brother. 'Everyone was in good spirits and having a great time. Everyone there was your friend and everyone was rocking the pink t-shirts  even the guys.'

Come July theyll be taking part in Yorks Race for Life once again. And if they can do it, they say, anyone can.

'You dont have to run,' says Mark. 'Taking part is what counts. We arent very fit but we made it round. Go for it!'

New treatments make a HUGE difference Chanelle Bradshaw, 34, has been taking part in Race for Life at Abington Park, Northampton, for the past 11 years, ever since her mum Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer, which has sadly now become terminal. Chanelle Bradshaw, 34, has been taking part in Race for Life for the past 11 years, ever since her mum Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer She says: 'I love Race for Life  its one of the reasons I keep going back. Everyones in the same boat and cheering each other on. Its a feeling you cant explain unless youve been there. 'I went into it blindly when mum was diagnosed but, with every year, Ive learned more about the difference the money makes and how important funds are. 'Mums treatment has changed so much in ten years. Back then, shed have to go into hospital on a drip for chemotherapy, now she takes a tablet at home. It means such a lot and has made a massive difference to her. Chanelle says: 'Even if you cant take part, go and cheer people on  you dont realise the impact youll have on runners.' 'Mum and my 18-month-old daughter Freya will be cheering me on when I run later this year. The Pretty Muddy obstacle course is my favourite  you know youre going to soaked and covered in mud but its brilliant, everyone is laughing and you just dont care. 'Finishing an event is an adrenaline rush and you go home on a high realising youve made a difference, that youve helped and youve done something good. 'Even if you cant take part, go and cheer people on  you dont realise the impact youll have on runners.' Click HERE to find your nearest Race for Life and to sign up now.

'I Raced for Life with a knee replacement  just go for it!'

Former nurse Dinny Hinds, 75, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2005 and needed surgery and radium treatment. She first took part in Race for Life in 2019 and is hoping to join in again this year at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham.

Former nurse Dinny Hinds, 75, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2005. She first took part in Race for Life in 2019 and is hoping to join again this year at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

She says: 'I first took part because I wanted to show my appreciation and help raise funds to expand the treatments available as well as make people aware of it. And because I just like Race for Life.

'I raised 200 in 2019 by walking the course  and not very fast either! I couldnt run as Id had a knee replacement. My main goal was crossing the finish line. When I did, I was exhausted and happy  it was a great achievement.

Dinny says: 'Since 2019, my husband Leslie has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and my brother Anthony with bowel cancer, so I take part for them too now.'

'When youve been diagnosed with cancer, you dont think of others as having had it, only yourself, so to see so many people and listen to their stories was unbelievable.

'Its gratifying to know I can help in some way because by raising money more research can be done.

'Since 2019, my husband Leslie has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and my brother Anthony with bowel cancer, so I take part for them too now.

'If anyone is thinking about Race for Life, Id say go for it. It made me feel so good.'

Research that's helped double survival since the early 1970s! Events include 3km, 5km and 10km races as well as the Pretty Muddy obstacle course 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes*. Every time you donate or raise money for Cancer Research UK, you'll be helping more and more people survive this disease. Thats because theyre at the heart of vital work thats seen cancer survival double in the UK in the past 50 years. Cancer Research UK supports studies in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer carried out by over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Its helped two in four people survive their cancer for at least ten years  and its hoped to be three in four by 2034. And it wouldnt be possible without their supporters and Race for Life. Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part raising over 940 million for life-saving research. Events include 3km, 5km and 10km races as well as the Pretty Muddy obstacle course  which needs little explanation except to say youll end up so muddy, you should bring a change of clothes. Children aged 5-12 can also join in with the Pretty Muddy Kids obstacle course. So who will you Race for? Enter now at raceforlife.org Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part raising over 940 million for life-saving research

*Ahmad AS, Ormiston-Smith N, Sasieni PD. Trends in the lifetime risk of developing cancer in Great Britain: Comparison of risk for those born in 1930 to 1960. British Journal of Cancer 2015.
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A celebrity makeup artist has revealed how she prepped Kendall Jenner's skin for glowing beautiful makeup ahead of the Met Gala using a surprisingly affordable serum.

Makeup artist to the stars, including Hayley Bieber and Jenifer Lopez, Mary Phillips took to Instagram to share how she used the L'Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum Revitalift Filler to prep Kendall's skin before makeup - and it's only 16.60 on Amazon.

L'Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum Revitalift Filler, 30ml Prepping your skin is the key to flawless makeup application. Case point: Mary Phillips took to Instagram to share that she had used this under 20 serum to prep Kendal Jenner's skin ahead of the Met Gala 2023. The popular serum contains 1.5 per cent pure hyaluronic acid made up of three different types. One of the three types is micro-epidemic, which is 50 times smaller than standard hyaluronic acid. As it is so much smaller, it can penetrate deeper through the skin's surface, plumping out wrinkles and lines from within while giving an extra boost of hydration for a glowing complexion. Shop

Celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips used the budget-friendly L'Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum Revitalift Filler to prep Kendall's skin before applying makeup ahead of the Met Gala

We, as makeup wearers know, plump, hydrated skin can make foundation glide on much more smoothly and can help skin look healthy. Hyaluronic acid is a bit of a buzz term these (you've probably seen loads of influencers talk about it) and for a good reason - it's hydrating.

This particular serum from L'Oreal Paris contains 1.5 per cent pure hyaluronic acid made up of three different types that together work to re-plump skin in just one hour, according to the brand.

This L'Oreal Paris serum contains 1.5 per cent pure hyaluronic acid made up of three different types that together work to re-plump skin in just one hour, according to the brand

First, macro-hyaluronic acid works to hydrate and smooth, micro-hyaluronic acid to plump. Then there's the small but oh-so-mighty micro-epidemic, which penetrates deeper through the skin's surface.

After Covid, we're all naturally a bit weary of anything that sounds like 'epidemic', but this micro-epidermic is a very effective type of hyaluronic acid. A huge 50 times smaller than standard hyaluronic acid, it can penetrate deeper through the skin's surface and plump out wrinkles from within.

What's more, you can feel rest assured that the chaps who know what's what when it comes to skincare have approved of it. That's because it's been 'validated in partnership with an advisory panel of dermatologists'.

The L'Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum Revitalift Filler has racked up over 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Some have noted the amazing difference it has made in reducing wrinkles, while others commented on how effective it is compared to more expensive serums.

Micro-epidermic is a huge 50 times smaller than standard hyaluronic acid, which means it can penetrate deeper through the skin's surface

'Amazing,' wrote one happy customer. 'Love this product! In only a few days it reduced the appearance of fine lines around my eyes, forehead and cheeks. Ive now been using it for around six weeks and cannot believe the results!'

'The best,' a second agreed. 'I tried many hyaluronic acids and to be honest, this one is the best, even compared to super expensive ones.'

A third penned: 'I bought this after seeing an ad on TV, and to be honest wasn't expecting huge results but I'm so glad I did! Seen a difference within a few days and now, after nearly 4 weeks, my skin looks pretty darn good.'

So, if you'd to take a leaf out of a top makeup artist's book and get a dewy base for makeup, then shop the L'Oreal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum Revitalift Filler for 16.60 on Amazon.
Debate has raged for years over the real reason for the label on the Imperial Leather bar of soap.

The sticker is known for remaining secure even after weeks of use as the bar slowly wears away- with many fans joking they wish they had a 'relationship as strong'.

But now it's been revealed that the scratchy metallic label is actually a stand to stop the bar sticking to the soap dish.

One person took to Twitter to say: 'If the relationship isn't as strong as that sticker on Imperial Leather soap I don't want it.

Another quipped: 'I want my love to feel like what Imperial Leather has with that sticker, bond unbreakable.'

Debate has raged for years over the real reason for the label on the Imperial Leather bar of soap as fans joke they wish they had a 'relationship as strong'

While someone else gushed: 'Whatever you're going through, may you have the strength to endure triumphantly and unscathed to the very end, like this imperial leather sticker.'

Another confused person wrote: 'How does the sticker stay on Imperial Leather bars of soap right to the end?'

To which someone replied: 'I believe you're supposed to have it in your soap dish/on the sink with label side down. Stops soap getting a 'soggy bottom''.

It's clear the debate has raged for years after one fascinated person took to Reddit in 2019 and said it 'amazed' them how it managed to stay in place for so long.

'You have no idea how many times I've sat in the bath and stared at this sticker in amazement that it sticks to the soap 'till the very end, Please enlighten me,' they asked.

However he was hit with a mind-blowing revelation about its real purpose.

A commenter explained that the sticker is meant to be used as a mini soap stand, and that the bar should be placed with the label facing down.

The sticker is known for remaining secure even after weeks of use as the bar slowly wears away- with many fans joking they wish they had a 'relationship as strong'

Many discussed how nostalgic the soap was for them, reminiscing about seeing it in their grandparents' bathrooms, whereas others were determined to uncover the truth.

'I don't know what glue they use, but I was always told that the sticker is meant to substitute for a soap stand, and should always be downwards,' revealed one.

'Well ****** me with a bar of soap! That makes perfect sense, I've been an imperial guy for years and never thought of that so I just went and 'flipped my soap' and it works, thanks!' one amazed reader responded.

Some suggested that the label itself was magnetic and helped it to stick.

'Older bathrooms used to sometimes have a chrome thing mysteriously fixed to the wall over the bath.

'It was magnetic and I think the the metal label on the soap stuck to it, thus removing the need for a gooey soap dish. Seemed like a good idea at the time,' said another.

Others were equally intrigued by the reason for the sticker as it was suggested that the main reason for it was to create a stand for the bar

Imperial Leather confirmed to MailOnline that apart from brand identity the 'sticker on the top is for a long lasting bar and preventing mushiness'.

The brand explained: 'Besides the brand identity, the sticker on the top is for a long lasting bar and preventing mushiness.

'When the soap is used, the sticker will make and keep the top surface, where the sticker is on, concave.

'After use, the soap is supposed to be upside down. The concave surface will help water run out from the bar and minimise the touching surface on a soap tray.'

Imperial Leather was initially a scent first created in 1798 by Royal London perfumery Bayley's of Bond Street, which was visited by Russian nobleman Count Olaf, who requested they create a fragrance reminiscent of the distinct aroma of the Russian Courts.

It was named 'Eau de Cologne Imperiale Russe', and became his favourite fragrance.

Cussons & Sons eventually took over Bayley's of Bond Street, which included the acquisitions of original fragrances, in 1930 they launched their first Imperial Leather soap based on the scent.
As the world watched Prince Harry's highly anticipated arrival at King Charles' Coronation this weekend, they may have missed the glamorous attendee sat behind him.

But Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, granddaughter of Princess Margaret, made her own statement at the historic event, bringing a splash of pink to the grey exterior of Westminster Abbey.

The 20-year-old student stunned in a bold pink outfit by Beatrice Ferrant, featuring a striking textured skirt and a voluminous jacket with a decorated neckline.

She also opted for a stunning pair of sling-back netted high heels, decorated with bows to complement her outfit.

She finished off her look with a blush pink feather headband by Stephen Jones and delicate triangular gem earrings.

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones was elegant in blush pink as she attended the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday

She stunned in a bold skirt and jacket by Beatrice Ferrant with a Stephen Jones feather headband

Margarita was sat alongside her brother, Charles, Viscount Linley, and her father, David, Earl of Snowdon, who was Princess Margaret's eldest child.

Her cousin Samuel Chatto, 26, was also snapped in attendance at the Abbey, alongside his father, Daniel Chatto and his mother, Lady Sarah Chatto - who shared a close relationship with the late Queen.

The young royal is often seen at the most important royal events, and was seated behind Zara and Mike Tindall at the Queen's funeral in September last year.

She is not unfamiliar with appearing in the spotlight at such events and served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, aged eight.

Lady Margarita wore a bespoke, faux fur coat designed by Michael Kors, that conjured up memories of her grandmother, Princess Margaret, pictured at a 1951 film premiere, a stones throw away in Leicester Square

In advance of her 21st birthday on May 14, a glowing Margarita appeared on the cover of Tatler in a showstopping couture gown with a billowing skirt and statement sleeves.

Her late grandfather was renowned portrait photographer Antony, Earl of Snowdon, who was married to Princess Margaret from 1960 to 1978.

Margarita's father married Serena, Countess of Snowdon, in 1993 and the pair had two children.

David and Serena announced that they would be getting divorced in 2020 with a spokesman saying the pair had 'amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end'.

After finishing prep school, Margarita started at boarding school St Marys Ascot but left for Tudor Hall to study A Levels in photography, history of art and jewellery design.

The young royal was seated behind Prince Harry, whose attendance at the Coronation was highly anticipated

Margarita was pictured alongside her brother Charles, her father, David, his sister Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto

Her chic outfit choice brought a splash of pink to the grey exterior of Westminster Abbey

She joined a host of royals who stood as King Charles III processed through Westminster Abbey at his Coronation

She studied at Oxford Brookes, swapping between courses in photography and events management, before moving to Paris where she lives with two flatmates and studies jewellery and photography.

As well as studying at the Haute Ecole de Joaillerie, she spends time with her friends and can be spotted at Parisian second-hand shops.

She told Tatler: 'I love fashion. I have always had an interest in it and I love experimenting with styles.'

Her stylish streak was on full display when Lady Margarita made a glamorous appearance at at Tatler's Little Black Book party in London last year.

She is pictured alongside her brother at the late Queen's funeral in September last year

Lady Margarita (centre) served as a bridesmaid for the Prince and Princess of Wales when she was eight years old

She paid an uncanny tribute to her grandmother, turning up to The Windmill cocktail bar in Soho in a silver sequin mini dress and stunning white faux fur coat.

The bespoke Michael Kors creation seems to have been based on a piece of outwear worn by Princess Margaret to the premiere of Captain Horatio Hornblower in 1951 when she wore a V-neck, long-sleeved dress embellished with pink sequins under a fur coat.

Her full name, Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones is a tribute to Princess Margaret, as well as the Queen Mother, although Margarita never met either of them.
Prince Harry's ghostwriter has opened up about living with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex while he was working on Spare.

J. R. Moehringer, 58, from San Francisco, moved into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's guesthouse in the grounds of their Montecito mansion for a time during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, the father-of-two opened up about Meghan's thoughtful gestures and how Prince Harry charmed his young daughter with his movie knowledge in a personal essay in the New Yorker.

The author explained how he first got to know the Duke of Sussex, 38, over Zoom calls during various lockdowns in 2020.

However as restrictions eased, the author and his wife and children travelled out to California to meet with the royal couple in person.

J. R. Moehringer (pictured in December 2021), 58, from San Francisco, moved into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's guesthouse for a time while working on Spare

Recalling his first visit, the author said his daughter was charmed by Prince Harry's knowledge of the 2016 Disney movie Moana.

He explained: 'Harry won the heart of my daughter, Gracie, with his vast Moana scholarship.

'His favorite scene, he told her, is when Heihei, the silly chicken, finds himself lost at sea.'

Following this trip, J.R. then flew out to California again - which is when he stayed in the couple's guest house.

During his visit, the author noted how the Duchess of Sussex enjoys exploring the 13,600sq ft estate with the couple's eldest child Archie, four.

He added: 'Harry put me up in his guesthouse, where Meghan and Archie would visit me on their afternoon walks.'

The author says his attentive hostess could tell that he was struggling being away from home for long periods of time.

'Meghan, knowing I was missing my family, was forever bringing trays of food and sweets,' the writer said.

The author described how Meghan (pictured in October 2019) and her four-year-old son Archie would visit him in the guesthouse every afternoon

The author said his daughter was charmed by Prince Harry's knowledge of the 2016 Disney movie Moana. Pictured, the Duke of Sussex and his son Archie

What's more, J.R. also revealed that Meghan had sent his two children some toys after the book was finished.

When he wasn't staying with Prince Harry, the author claims the two were 'texting around the clock' as they worked on the book.

Elsewhere in the essay, J.R. reveals that he became 'exasperated' with Prince Harry and even shouted at him during the writing process.

He explains that the dispute came as they discussed an incident in which the Duke of Sussex was captured by pretend terrorists during military exercises.

After recounting how his faux-captors hurled insults at him, Prince Harry was adamant that they include his comeback - even though J.R. felt it was 'somewhat inane'.

In January, the publishers revealed a record 400,000 hardback, e-book and audio format copies were sold on the first day of Spare's release.

The book includes claims that the Prince of Wales physically attacked him and teased him about his panic attacks, and that the King put his own interests above Harry's and was jealous of the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales.

Larry Finlay, managing director of Transworld Penguin Random House, said: 'We always knew this book would fly but it is exceeding even our most bullish expectations.

'As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those starring the other Harry (Potter).'
READ MORE: Queen Maxima of The Netherlands is radiant in a yellow floral dress

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands stepped out in the rain under an umbrella during a royal visit to Wadden Islands.

The royal, 51, looked elegant in a chic pink suit during day one of the two-day regional visit with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 56.

Maxima donned a pale pink blouse under her tailored suit which she paired with a stylish cream Burberry trench coat.

Her blonde locks were swept back with a matching headband, and she accessorised with drop earrings.

The royal couple visited the Museum Kaap Skil, sheep farm De Waddell and a beach pavilion at Den Hoorn, where they spoke to volunteers from Texel Plastic Free on Texel.

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands stepped out in the rain under an umbrella during a royal visit to Wadden Islands on Tuesday

They also spoke to Texel entrepreneurs on the sheep farm about future-proof and climate-adaptive entrepreneurship and development.

King Willem-Alexander looked smart in a navy suit which he paired with a blue tie and white shirt.

It comes after Maxima stunned as she welcomed Kenya's president William Ruto and the First Lady Rachel Ruto to Noordeinde Palace in The Hague yesterday.

She looked elegant as she greeted the Kenyan officials at the palace alongside her husband, King Willem-Alexander.

The Queen donned a floral patterned mustard maxi dress with an asymmetrical hem and puffy sleeves.

The dress - which ties at the waist - was decorated with brown patterns and she accessorised her look with mocha coloured beaded earrings.

She sported some stylish brown leather heeled boots to complete her outfit.

The Queen's blonde locks were swept back with a matching headband and she accessorised with drop earrings

The royal, 51, looked elegant in a chic pink suit during day one of the two-day regional visit with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 56

The royal couple visited the Museum Kaap Skil, sheep farm De Waddell and a beach pavilion at Den Hoorn where they spoke to volunteers from Texel Plastic Free on Texel

The royal pair also spoke to Texel entrepreneurs on the sheep farm about future-proof and climate-adaptive entrepreneurship and development

Maxima donned the pale pink ensemble which she paired with a stylish cream Burberry trench coat

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima appeared in great spirits as they were given a tour of De Waddel sheep farm

The dress - which ties at the waist - was decorated with brown patterns and she accessorised her look with mocha coloured beaded earrings.

She sported some stylish brown leather heeled boots to complete her outfit.

She paired the look with nude coloured heels and a cream clutch bag.

The King looked dapper a black blazer with pinstripe trousers, polished shoes and a grey waistcoat and tie.

In 2018, the royal couple last visited the UK in 2018 - when Maxima greeted the late Queen with a friendly peck on the cheek.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also paid a state visit to Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in March 1958.
She added that she would be making the dress into clutches for her bridal party

An influencer and bride-to-be has sparked fierce outrage after revealing she was going to cut up her mother's vintage wedding gown and turn it into clutches for her bridesmaids.

Emily Mariko, 31, from California, frequently documents her day-to-day routine, sharing glimpses into her life with her 12.6 million followers.

The social media mogul first garnered success after sharing her salmon bowl recipe with viewers and has since been giving fans a sneak peek into her personal life.

Most recently, the bride-to-be caused quite a stir on social media as she said she was going to 'ruin' her mom's wedding dress that was passed down to her to make handbags for her bridal party, prompting viewers to slam her.

Emily Mariko, 31, from California, has sparked fierce outrage after revealing she was going to cut up her mother's vintage wedding gown and turn into clutches for her bridesmaids

The social media mogul first garnered success after sharing her salmon bowl recipe with viewers and has since been giving fans a sneak peek into her personal life

Most recently, the bride-to-be caused quite the stir on social media as she said she was going to 'ruin' her mom's wedding dress

In a viral video, which amassed over 2.2 million views, Emily - who is married to software engineer Matt Rickard - revealed her plans for her mom's 'traditional Japanese' wedding gown.

Poll Would YOU cut the vintage wedding gown? Yes No Would YOU cut the vintage wedding gown? Yes 74 votes

No 388 votes Now share your opinion





'My mom got married in the '80s and her wedding dress is made out of traditional Japanese Kimono fabric, and I'm having her dress re-purposed into clutches for myself, my mom, my grandma, and my entire bridal party,' Emily explained.

She went on to reveal that she was going to bring her mother's gown along at her dress fitting and have her tailor repurpose the number into handbags.

Emily then showcased the stunning long-sleeved gown, which featured embroidered details, and delicate beading.

The dress also came complete with shoulder pads, and buttons across the sleeves and back.

She then showed viewers what the dress looked like. The influencer twirled around in the gown as she gushed over how 'elegant' and 'beautiful' it was.

'Aw, I love it. It's so elegant. I love it so much, I feel really beautiful in it,' she said as she posed up a storm in the vintage number.

And while Emily may have been ready to snip the dress into pieces, viewers were horrified by the idea of cutting the gown.

Emily - who is married to software engineer Matt Rickard - revealed her plans for her mom's 'traditional Japanese' wedding gown

Emily showcased the stunning long-sleeved gown, which featured embroidered details, and delicate beading

She then showed viewers what the dress looked like on. The influencer twirled around in the gown as she gushed over how 'elegant' and 'beautiful' it was

Many of her followers begged her to not destroy the dress, branding her decision 'pure evil.'

One person said: 'No. Dont make purses no one will use. So sad!'

'Clutches? What an insult to the dress man. Such a shame,' one person said.

Another user added: 'Ah yes, let me give parts of my mom's wedding dress to people I may not be friends with in 30 years.'

'Why would you give your moms dress to your bridesmaids? It has no sentimental meaning to them. They will probably get rid of it,' wrote another user.

Someone else commented: 'I could understand if the dress was ugly. But its gorgeous! Tailor it for a reception dress. Not a clutch.'

Many of her followers begged her not destroy the dress, branding her decision 'pure evil'

'I think you will regret this,' said another user.

'We are begging you to get that tailored for you!! It looked so lovely on you please,' someone else said.

'You should not butcher the dress, said another user.

One person said: 'It feels wrong for you to cut it up.'

Emily and Matt have kept their relationship private and off social media for the most part and got engaged in 2021, and have yet to announce a wedding date.
A clinical psychologist who has been living in a throuple - with her wife and another woman - for nearly two years says she's surprised by the positive support their relationship has received.

Dr Nicole LePera, a clinical psychologist from Philadelphia, told broadcaster Annie Macmanus about the moment her co-worker, Jenna Weakland, first confessed that she had feelings for both LePera and her wife Lolly.

Appearing on the DJ's Changes podcast, in which she also discussed how her self-healing circle - based on holistic psychology - has won her 6.6million Instagram fans, she said she was 'terrified' when Weakland first admitted her feelings in 2021.

LePera, aka @the.holistic.psychologist, said her now partner was 'shaking and quivering' during the conversation: 'Jenna sat us both down, at separate times, and said she was having romantic feelings for both of us.'

@the.holistic.psychologist, right, pictured with her life partners, far left, wife Lolly, and centre, Jenna Weakland told Changes podcast host Annie Macmanus that 'coming out' as a throuple was terrifying but that there's been more positive support than negative

None of the women had been in a non-monogamous relationship before and LePera had been with her wife for around seven years previously.

She told Macmanus polyamory hadn't crossed her mind before, saying: 'Never once had we talked about it, never once had I even really heard much about, you know, a more plural, or multiple type relationship.'

This week, Weakland shared a photo of herself and Lolly in London, advocating how positive their relationship is, telling her Instagram followers: 'There are so many perks to having a life partnership with more than one human.

'More than a throuple, we are a family, best friends a team. I love building life with you angels.'

Speaking on Annie Macmanus' podcast Changes, Dr Lepera said she had initially thought her now partner was about to leave the business - but instead confessed her romantic feelings

Dr LePera told the podcast that she had never considered a polyamorous relationship before meeting Jenna Weakland, having been in a monogamous marriage with her wife prior to 2021

The holistic psychologist has 6.6million fans on Instagram thanks to her work in helping people heal from trauma

In August 2022, LePera officially revealed her relationship status had changed, sharing a photo of herself and her two partners on Instagram, saying: 'I am in a throuple. A three-person committed relationship.'

She has continued to educate on how her new relationship has changed her, saying: 'Its expanded me spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Its been raw. Terrifying.

LePera continued: 'Filled with joy. Filled with tears. Filled with laughs. Filled with so much humbling learning about myself and what it is to be in authentic relationship.'

The psychologist has been married once previously - describing it to her fans as a 'whirlwind' and saying she was 'wrapped in co-dependency conditioning' and the relationship faltered.

Her work on healing one's inner self and understanding why emotional intimacy is important has seen her amass a huge global following.
Queen Camilla's niece joked about her 'five seconds of fame' as she was spotted on the live broadcast during the Coronation.

Ayesha Shand, 28, shared a snap of herself sitting in Westminster Abbey watching the coronation of King Charles.

Sharing the snap with her 3,260 followers, Camilla - who is Associate Director at an art gallery - said: 'Five seconds of fame and serious attitude.'

Followers rushed to the comments to say they also spotted her during the live broadcast of the ceremony, with one writing 'Saw you on the screen and screamed lol', while another said: 'I thought I had spotted you.'

Ayseha is the daughter of 75-year-old Camilla's late brother Mark Shand, who died in 2014 aged 62. Her mother is his ex-wife Clio Goldsmith.

In January it was reported that she's dating businessman Luigi Ambrosi after the pair rang in the New Year together in Uruguay.

Queen Camilla's niece Ayesha Shand joked about her 'five seconds of fame' as she was spotted on the live broadcast during the Coronation. She was seated alongside Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles

According to a friend of the pair, Ayesha and Luigi - who works for his Italian family's dairy business in America - make 'a great match'.

The beauty looked sophisticated in a satin olive green blazer and matching skirt for the Coronation last Saturday.

She completed her ensemble with a multicolored Fendi handbag and blue suede stilettos at the ceremony, and also attended the Coronation concert in Windsor the following night.

It comes after Ayesha revealed her royal aunt helped her cope with the loss of her father, previously saying 'she has been incredible in being there for me and maintaining my father's legacy'.

Camilla, and her husband King Charles, 74, became joint presidents of Mark's charity Elephant Family, after his death from an accidental fall in 2014.

The charity's aim is to preserve the Indian elephant by helping them to live in harmony with India's rapidly-growing population, and by opening up 'elephant corridors' for the animals to move along without disturbing villagers.

Speaking in 2021, Ayesha, who works alongside Princess Eugenie at the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in Mayfair, said: '[Camilla] is amazing  she's so involved with the charity.

The beauty looked sophisticated in a satin olive green blazer and matching skirt for the service last Saturday

She completed her ensemble with a multicolored Fendi handbag and blue suede stilettos

Many rushed to the comments to say they also saw her during the live broadcast of the ceremony

'She has been incredible in being there for me, not only personally but also in maintaining my father's legacy and being there for him.

'I couldn't be more grateful. It does help with the grieving process. All of these things keep his memory alive, which is so important.'

Discussing her brother's death in a piece for The Times, Camilla described how, on the day she learnt of his passing, the morning had started normally 'and all seemed well until the shrill ring of the telephone broke the magic'.

She wrote: 'An anguished voice on the other end told me that something terrible had happened to my brother; my indestructible brother, Mark. Surely nothing could have happened to him?

'He was in New York raising money for his beloved elephants, but an unfamiliar pavement had claimed his all-too-short life following a hugely successful auction for 'The Elephant Family', a charity he co-founded in 2002.

Ayesha (right) and the daughter of the royal's late brother Mark. She is said to be enjoying a romance with Luigi Ambrosi (left)

Mark Shand (left) pictured with his daughter Ayesha as they attended the Faberge Big Egg Hunt Champagne Countdown party in London in 2012

'My charismatic and sometimes infuriating brother, who had survived tsunamis, shipwrecks, poisoned arrows and even the fearsome Komodo dragons, was no longer with us.'

At the time, Camilla was said to be 'utterly devastated' by the news, as she had been extremely close to her only brother.

A statement released by Clarence House regarding Mark's death said: 'It is with deep sadness that we have to confirm that The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, Mark Shand, has today passed away.

'Mr Shand died in hospital as a result of a serious head injury which he sustained during a fall last night. The Duchess, The Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss.

'Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist whose incredible work through the Elephant Family and beyond remained his focus right up until his death.'

Ayesha previously spoke to Tatler about continuing on her father's legacy with his charity work.

Queen Camilla's late brother Mark Shand dedicated his life to saving wildlife, co-founding the Elephant Family in 2002

She said: 'When he passed away I became much more involved because I wanted to continue his legacy - all the work he did was so important and I wanted to make sure that was continued.

'I wanted to make sure that there was a family element. For me, it was just really nice to be a part of it, and to contribute to the more creative projects and the fundraising elements, and when it is appropriate, be a spokesperson for it.'

Ayesha has followed in her fathers altruistic footsteps by starting her own charitable venture to help those in need.

In 2020 she teamed up with her cousin, artist Alice Irwin  the daughter of Mark and Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot and businessman Simon  to set up a new initiative called My Dear New Friend which involved children writing to the elderly in self-isolation.

Ayesha (far left) attended the Royal Rickshaw Reception and Auction at Lancaster House in 2015 alongside Camilla and Charles (right)

Ayesha has teamed up with her cousin, artist Alice Irwin (left) to set up the initiative. She is pictured with her brother Ben Elliot

'It all started when lockdown began and I was trying to get my two children to do something,' Alice, 42, tells me from her house in Wiltshire. 'When I contacted my local care home and asked if there were residents they could write to, they very sadly told me that they were unable to do that because of data protection.

'Then I realised that if the children addressed it to My Dear New Friend, there's nothing that would stop us writing. The children wrote and I got a call from the care home saying it had brought unbridled joy.

'At this time, where we're all slightly fearing people, I think to make a new friend through this, and across generations, is wonderful. And so simple. Just for the price of a stamp!'

'I started helping with the Instagram side of it,' she explains. 'Then I started contacting some friends and telling them about the initiative. They all thought it was such an amazing idea.'

Alice hoped schools would get involved by encouraging pupils to take part  something they could easily do from home.

'And children do so much online that it's nice for them to do something different,' added Alice.

'When you first write, you address it to My Dear New Friend and include a covering letter which you can find on our Instagram page. Data protection drops after that when somebody writes back. We forget what a joy writing and receiving a letter can bring us.'
Jenna Bush Hager has taken a trip down memory lane while paying tribute to her husband, Henry Hager, on his 45th birthday.

The Today host, 41, shared throwback photos from early on in their relationship on her Instagram Stories Tuesday, a day before their milestone 15th wedding anniversary.

'Happy 45 to my HH! 20 years of loving you!' she captioned a snapshot of herself sitting on Henry's lap, barefoot and wearing a white summer dress.

Bush Hager is smiling for the camera while her foot rests near a glass of red wine that is on the ground. Henry is dressed in a green gingham shirt and has his arm sweetly wrapped around her waist.

Jenna Bush Hager, 41, paid tribute to her husband, Henry Hager, on Instagram Tuesday in celebration of his 45th birthday

She shared throwback photos from early on in their relationship, including a snapshot of them on vacation together in their 20s

The next image Bush Hager shared was an old vacation picture that was taken when they were in their 20s.

In the snapshot, she is gazing at Henry, who is looking straight ahead at the camera. She is wearing a black tank top over her swimsuit, and he has on a short-sleeve button-down shirt.

Henry also has a can of Presidente beer in front of him, which is fitting considering his father-in-law is former President George W. Bush.

'Remember when we were babes?' she asked.

'And dressed in costume?' she captioned the following shot, which shows her dressed as Frida Kahlo and Henry decked out in a black suit and glasses.

In the final image, she is wearing a cat nose paired with a black blazer, navy slip dress, and ankle booties. Henry is sitting next to her, looking away from the camera, in a blazer, button, down, and jeans.

'Costume (s!) Love you for many reasons. (1 is you'll never see this!),' Bush Hager concluded Henry's birthday tribute.

Bush Hager met Henry when he was working on her father's 2004 presidential campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one.

Another photo shows her dressed as Frida Kahlo and Henry decked out in a black suit and glasses at what appears to be a costume party

In the final image, she is wearing a cat nose while sitting next to her husband

She admitted on the Today show a few years ago that she asked him to marry her after just three months of dating  but he turned her down because she was too young.

'After three months of dating  I might've had a Christmas cocktail  and we were dancing, and I said, "This is it, I know it, let's just get married, what are we waiting for?"' she recalled.

'My sister was like, "Whoa, whoa,' she said of her twin Barbara Bush's reaction.

Bush Hager's co-host Hoda Kotb couldn't resist asking how Henry responded to her impromptu proposal.

'He smiled, and he was like, "I'm crazy about you, but you're young,"' she said.

More recently, Bush Hager admitted that she gave Henry a 'manipulative ultimatum' to propose that led to her being humiliated on a Valentine's Day date.

The Today star dished about the awkward moment on the morning show earlier this year, explaining that she tried to get her husband to stop her from traveling to Latin America as a UNICEF intern in 2006.

'When we were dating, I was leaving Washington D.C., and I kind of  in a dramatic fashion you may or may not recognize  said, "If you dont want me to leave for Latin America, we need to get engaged,"' Bush Hager said. 'It was a manipulative ultimatum. Real manipulative.'

The former teacher admitted that she laid it on thick, telling Henry that 'there are very handsome men over there' as she not-so-slyly nudged him toward proposing.

Bush Hager met Henry (pictured in 2006) when he was working on her father's 2004 presidential campaign, and she almost instantly knew he was the one

The Hagers tied the knot Bush family's Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas, on May 10, 2008. Henry's 45th birthday fell one day before their 15th wedding anniversary

The couple shares three children together, Mila, ten, Poppy, seven, and Hal, three

'He was like, "I'm not going to ask you to marry me,"' she recalled.

Bush Hager started to think he had a change of heart when he took her to Asia Nora, a 'fancy' restaurant in Washington, D.C., around Valentine's Day.

She explained that the restaurant was known for making custom fortune cookies, but Henry had called too late to put in his order.

'They brought two glasses of champagne at the end of the meal and tied around one was the fortune, which they got wrong,' she said. 'It was supposed to say something like, "Go, and when you come back, I'll be here." But all it said was, "Don't go"  with champagne.

'Henry is not a champagne fella, so I was like, "Yes! I will marry you." And his face dropped. He could have cried.'

To add insult to injury, another couple witnessed the confusion and called The Washington Post, which led to the newspaper publishing the embarrassing story.

'And so, in The Washington Post, there was an article that was like, "On a date night Jenna thought she was getting engaged but turns out no she wasn't." Restaurant eaters heard her say, "I nearly [beeped] my pants"  it said the word "soiled,"' she continued.

'So, Henry found that article from The Washington Post, called The Washington Post, got the article, and framed it for Valentine's Day so that we could always remember the humiliation that comes with love.'

Henry ended up proposing in 2007, and his mother, Maggie, told The Washington Post that he had asked then-President George W. Bush for permission to marry his daughter.

However, the former first daughter admitted that some of her family members weren't sure he would ever pop the question.

'Barbara kept telling my mom  'cause I would call and be kind of grumpy. She'd be like, "I don't think he's going to do it. Nope, he's going to back out. There's no way it's happening,"' she told Kotb.

The Hagers tied the knot Bush family's Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas, on May 10, 2008, and they are now parents to three children, Mila, ten, Poppy, seven, and Hal, three.
Princess Eugenie has hailed the Coronation Concert on Sunday evening as a 'beautiful way to honour the King's life of service' in a touching Instagram post.

The mother-of-one, 33, posted photos on Instagram of herself and her older sister Princess Beatrice, 34, attending the Big Lunch at Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire on Sunday and said they 'had so much fun' at the event. She also shared a sweet snap of herself with her sister and mother, the Duchess of York, and one with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Eugenie, who is expecting her second child this summer, said: 'It was amazing to see so many people celebrating and we are very grateful to have spent some time with children, fluffy puppies and so many well-wishers for The King and Queen.'

As she praised the Concert at Windsor Castle that evening, which saw acts including Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie perform, she revealed the highlight for her was the 'big whale' featured, as she is a passionate advocate for saving the oceans.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's daughters attended the Coronation concert with their parents on Sunday evening - after the Duchess of York had been snubbed from the coronation invitation list.

Princess Eugenie shared behind-the-scenes photos of before the Coronation concert on Instagram as she praised the event as a 'beautiful' way to honour the King. Pictured with Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson

Also joining the royals was Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi - while Eugenie's son August, two, and Beatrice's daughter Sienna, 18 months, missed out because they were too young.

Writing on Instagram and posting professional photos of herself and Beatrice at the Big Lunch in Buckinghamshire, Eugenie spoke about how they had enjoyed the event, before praising the coronation concert in the evening.

She wrote: 'What a beautiful way to honour The King's life of service. Of course my favourite part was seeing the big whale lit up in the sky.'

In personal photos taken later in the day, Eugenie beamed with Beatrice and Fergie in one snap where they basked in the late afternoon sunshine.

Eugenie, 33, who is expecting her second baby this summer, also posted a photo of herself with her husband Jack Brooksbank

Prince Andrew's daughter Eugenie also shared professionally-taken photos of herself with her sister Beatrice, 34, at the Big Lunch in Chalfont St Giles

Eugenie also made mention of the whale which lit up the sky at the Coronation concert, as a keen campaigner for cleaning up the oceans

Another photo showed Eugenie, who had worn a white dress with black detailing, smiling next to Jack who was smart in a dark suit and yellow tie.

On Saturday, as the sisters attended King Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey, Eugenie had a sweet reunion with her cousin Prince Harry, 38, with whom she shares a close relationship.

Lip reader Jacqui Press revealed that Harry, whose fleeting visit to the UK lasted for 28 hours before he jetted back to California, marvelled over Eugenie's baby bump upon arriving at Westminster Abbey.

According to Jacqui, he gestured towards her and said: 'Look at th bump!'

He then sat down next to Eugenie and her wine-merchant husband, and was captured on camera having a long chat with Jack while they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Jacqui interpreted that Harry said to Jack: 'Thats funny, mmm interesting'.

To an unknown question from Mr Brooksbank, Prince Harry said: 'About quarter to 4?'

Mr Brooksbank then replied: 'Oh really, when?' to which the Duke responded: 'I think tomorrow...'

At the time it was unclear what Harry was referring to, although minutes after the ceremony ended the Duke was spotted getting in a cab outside Westminster Abbey before arriving at Heathrow Airport less than an hour later.

The following day royals including Beatrice and Eugenie were out in force celebrating King Charles's Coronation, with the sisters arriving in Buckinghamshire for an event.

Matt Eyre, a father who attended, shared his photos of the princesses with MailOnline, as they posed for photos with his children who have special needs.

Mr Eyre sld FEMAIL they 'were amazing' with his children Bobbi-May, 11, and Bertie, nine - who both looked thrilled to meet the royals.
Jacob Tremblay has defended the highly-realistic depiction of Flounder in the new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid after critics claimed the 'skinny' and 'depressed' CGI fish looks like he was 'put on Ozempic.'

The 16-year-old actor, who voices the beloved character, opened up about the cartoon's transformation while attending the world premiere of the Disney film in Los Angeles on Monday night.

'I was shown the design when I went in for the audition and I saw the movie last night and, I have to say that I think it really, really worked,' he told People. 'I think that they were geniuses and they knew exactly what they were doing.'

When new character posters were released last month in anticipation of the adaptation's premiere on May 26, many people thought the creators went too far in their portrayal of Ariel's animal friends.

Jacob Tremblay, 16, has defended the highly-realistic depiction of Flounder in the new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid

The cartoon fish has gone from being chubby-cheeked with bright yellow and blue gills in the 1989 animated film to slim, sallow, and sad in the adaptation, according to critics

Fans of The Little Mermaid slammed the depiction of Flounder after Disney released new character posters

Most of the backlash has been aimed at Flounder, who looks almost nothing like the adorably plump character in the 1989 animated film.

The cartoon fish has gone from being chubby-cheeked with bright yellow and blue gills to slim, sallow, and sad, according to critics.

However, despite the controversy, Tremblay believes the creators nailed Flounder's new look in the upcoming film.

'I think it works out perfectly. I think it matches everything. So if it was different, I don't think it would really work,' he added.

Twitter users have been sharing side-by-side photos of the original Flounder and the CGI version while voicing their outrage over his hyper-realistic makeover.

'Maybe Im being out of line here, but I was expecting The Little Mermaid characters to be idk CUTE,' one person griped. 'Live action animation doesnt have to be expressionless. At least give our boy Flounder his chubby cheeks back!!!!!'

'Why does Flounder look like a depressed 40-year-old chain smoker with three kids and a mortgage he can't pay,' another asked.

'NOT MY FLOUNDER GETTING THE STEVE BUSCEMI TREATMENT. Y'ALL I'M CRYIN,' someone else tweeted.

Tremblay, who voices Flounder in the adaptation, told People that the character's new look 'works out perfectly' in the film

Tremblay shared his thoughts on Flounder's CGI makeover while attending the world premiere of The Little Mermaid in Los Angeles on Monday night

The highly-anticipated movie stars 23-year-old actress Halle Bailey as Ariel

The Southlake Department of Public Safety (DPS) declared the new depiction 'a crime,' adding, 'We're just trying to find out which one.'

A number of people referenced the updated Flounder's slender appearance, accusing him of being on the trendy weight-loss drug Ozempic and going under the knife to get buccal fat removal.

'Not they put Flounder on Ozempic! Why he so skinny??? This fish look like Steve Buscemi,' one person tweeted.

'They put Flounder on Ozempic too,' someone else added. 'Nobody is safe.'

'Flounder got the buccal fat removal surgery omg,' another responded.

Others argued that the new Flounder looks more like a flounder, which is to be expected for a live-action remake.

'Everyone wants a photorealistic live-action Little Mermaid until it comes time to reckon with what a true flounder looks like,' one Twitter user pointed out.

'I really dont mind it tbh,' someone else admitted. 'This IS the fish Flounder was based on lol.'

Twitter users have been calling out Flounder's new CGI makeover, saying he looks 'skinny' and 'depressed.' Some even claimed he looks like actor Steve Buscemi

'I like the new Flounder,' another shared. 'I like how he looks sad, like hes barely keeping it together. I hope he drives Ariel crazy with irritating, self-deprecating comments. Little toxic guy.'

The complaints about Flounder's appearance follow the racist backlash over Halle Bailey playing Ariel in the highly-anticipated adaptation.

The hateful comments first started when the actress announced her casting in 2019 and rolled through to the release of the official trailer last month.

'As a Black person, you just expect it and its not really a shock anymore,' Bailey told The Face earlier this year. 'I know people are like, "Its not about race."

'But now that Im her  People dont understand that when youre Black theres this whole other community. Its so important for us to see ourselves.'

Some Twitter users referenced the mistreatment of Bailey while bashing the new Flounder, insisting that this is the portrayal people should have been concerned about.

'I cant believe there are still people pressed about a POC Ariel when THIS is the real problem,' one person tweeted.

The Little Mermaid remake has received mixed reviews from critics following its world premiere, but it is expected to make a big splash when it debuts over the U.S.'s Memorial Day weekend.

Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden donned royal blue to attend a concert in Stockholm this evening.

The heir to the Swedish throne, 45, sported a jewel-blue satin t-shirt paired with a full white skirt with a blue and green floral print as she beamed on arrival at the Concert Hall.

She paired the outfit with blue suede pumps in a matching shade and carried a clutch bag as she posed for photos with the venue's artistic director, Stefan Forsberg.

Victoria had her hair pinned back into a sleek updo and wore delicate pearl earrings. She opted for a touch of blusher and a light sweeping of eyeshadow.

The royal attended the Concert Hall to watch a performance from the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra - and her outfit contained a subtle tribute to war-torn Ukraine.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 45, was regal in blue as she arrived at Stockholm's Concert Hall this evening

A close-up shot of the Princess's t-shirt showed she was wearing two badges - one representing the flag of Sweden and the other representing the flag of Ukraine.

The Crown Princess opted for another jewel tone as she arrived in Westminster on Saturday for the Coronation of King Charles.

As she walked into Westminster Abbey with her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, she opted for another sapphire outfit as she sported a midi dress and matching pillbox hat.

On her feet she opted for the same suede pair of blue pumps, while she wore a string of pearls around her neck.

The royal, who is the heir to the Swedish throne, paired her satin blue t-shirt with a full skirt with blue floral print and blue suede pumps

Crown Princess Victoria beamed as she waved for the cameras ahead of the performance by the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra

The royal opted for almost exactly the same shade she wore to King Charles's Coronation on Saturday afternoon

The Swedish royal family recently marked their own celebration as they gathered together to celebrate the King's 77th birthday.

And, much like with the British royals, one young member of the family stole the show during their balcony appearance at the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Victoria's son Oscar, seven, 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.

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.
Their Majesties, who were officially crowned on Saturday, appeared on BBC One

The newly-crowned King and Queen made a surprise appearance on the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final in a little cameo on BBC One.

Royal fans were delighted to see King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, appearing in a pre-recorded video as the semi-finals kicked off in Liverpool this evening.

The royals featured in the opening credits, in a Welcome to Liverpool film which follows a young boy from the north-west city who learns his hometown is hosting the 2023 Contest.

Their Majesties made the cameo on the first night of the semi-finals as they are pictured overseeing the preparations for the event, just weeks after they attended the M&S Bank Arena to officially open the stage for this year's competition.

Also featured in the opening sequence is the late Paul O'Grady, who suddenly passed away last month at the age of 67.

The newly-crowned King and Queen, who have had a hugely busy weekend since their Coronation ceremony on Saturday, perhaps understandably could not make the event in person this evening.

However it is likely they will be watching at home, as the King revealed to UK entry Mae Muller, 25, he'd be 'egging her on' from home.

As he stood beside Queen Camilla following their official opening of the Eurovision stage where this year's contest will be held on May 13, he wished her good luck.

Camilla, 65, added: no nul points! - a reference to her wish that Mae would not repeat some of the UK's Eurovision flops over the last few years.

A royal cameo! The newly-crowned King and Queen Consort made a surprise appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Semi-final opening sequence

The royal couple, 74 and 75, visited the M&S Bank Arena last month where they officially opened the Eurovision stage

Elsewhere, the monarch met with Scott Mills, Hannah Waddingham and Rylan Clark, who will be hosting this year's contest which is being held in the UK on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, which won the 2022 competition.

Chatting with Mae, who will be singing I Wrote A Song, Charles told her: Good luck, well be watching with great interest, egging you on.

Thank you! she giggled. No pressure. No nul points this year. No nul points, Camilla agreed.

As King Charles and Queen Camilla made their surprise appearance in Liverpool this evening (albeit virtually), other members of the family represented the monarchy back in London as they hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla chatted to the UK's entry to Eurovision 2023 Mae Muller (left) on a visit to the M&S Bank Arena yesterday where they officially opened the stage for this year's contest

The King and the Queen Consort (pictured with Eurovision hopeful Mae Muller) unveiled the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and toured the arena in Liverpool today

The Prince and Princess of Wales joined with the Duke and Duchess if Edinburgh to host the special Coronation garden party which invited 500 Coronation Champions from around the UK to celebrate with them in a recognition of their extraordinary volunteering efforts.

As Princess Kate, 41, and Duchess Sophie, 58, arrived at the event in summery blue frocks which they had both worn previously to Royal Ascot, and Prince William, 40, and Prince Edward, wore top hats and tails, the foursome looked picture-perfect and well coordinated.

Mother-of-three Kate wore an Elie Saab dress and hat combo, which is a repeat of an outfit she once wore to Royal Ascot, accessorised with dazzling diamond and blue topaz 'Lola' earrings from Kiki McDonough and a clutch. Meanwhile her hair was styled in a sleek, intricate updo while her hat contained another floral headpiece - harking back to her show-stopping Coronation look.

At her side was Duchess Sophie who also opted for a blue dress - and had also previously worn the outfit at Royal Ascot. With both Prince William and Prince Edward in top hats and tails, the foursome looked sleek and co-ordinated.

The united foursome hosted the party amid reports King Charles wants to reform the monarchy to a 'slimmed-down' operation as royal experts claims his official Coronation portraits showed 'the people who the King can depend on'.

As Kate said hello to Ms Grandison, she took the 93-year-old's hand and smiled while they chatted

Prince William meets Dame Elizabeth Watts, 93, who revealed she camped out for three nights to see Queen Elizabeth on the day of her coronation

As Kate began greeting the 500 champions and thanked them for their hard work, she looked regal in the dress and hat combo, which was a slightly more jazzed-up look from her appearance at the Slough Big Help Out on Bank Holiday Monday.

Meanwhile Sophie stunned in a deeper shade of blue with a frilled midi-dress with a full skirt and looked just as regal alongside Prince Edward and the rest of the family.

Yesterday royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam told MailOnline that King Charles had likely chosen very carefully how his coronation portraits were staged, with a very important position for Princess Anne - who was also present at today's garden party.

Mr Fitzwilliams said: 'This one is a strong forceful portrait of a monarch who knows his own mind and is very experienced.'

He added the Princess Royal's proximity to the King in the group portrait 'is no accident', adding the fact she is 'experienced and hard-working' will have been noticed by Charles.

Noting the family shot included only four people under the age of 70, Mr Fitzwilliams said this will be a 'challenge' for the King in the future, who will need to decide 'how slimmed down he wants the monarchy to be'.

As Kate and William walked down the steps outside the Palace and into the garden this afternoon, the Princess of Wales beamed at her husband, who appeared to be drawing her attention to something.

And as they met with guests who had been invited to the event as Coronation Champions, they heard some wonderful stories.

Dame Elizabeth Watts, who was dressed to the nines in a green maxi dress with a wild print, told the Prince of Wales, 41, she had slept on the street for three nights in order to catch a glimpse of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth before her Coronation ceremony in June 1953.

Dame Elizabeth joined another 93-year-old guest, Aldith Grandison, at the garden party, who shared a cheeky joke with the Princess of Wales as they celebrated the volunteering efforts of the 500 volunteers invited to the event.

As the Prince of Wales shook Dame Elizabeth's hand, she revealed she had been alive for three coronations - King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and King Charles III, to which William responded: 'Three coronations, that's amazing!'

The 93-year-old then revealed: 'Your grandmother's - I slept on the pavement for three nights and it poured with rain... it was wonderful.'

As she recalled where she had been the moment William's great-grandfather King George VI was crowned, she said, 'I had the measles' at which point William burst into laughter.

He asked: 'Did you still go?' to which the royal fan replied: 'Oh yes, yes.'

Elsewhere the Princess of Wales chatted to Ms Grandison, who attended the party with her daughter Jay Cee La Bouche, and asked the 93-year-old guest if she had any good jokes.

Kate admitted: 'I'm terrible with jokes!' as the guest playfully replied she was the 'strict one' - which caused the Princess to burst into laughter.

The mother-of-three joked: 'How can you tell that?!'
Queen Letizia of Spain looked absolutely radiant in a chic white suit as she carried out a solo engagement in Croatia this evening.

The Spanish royal, 50, stepped out at the Presidential Palace in Zagreb to attend a welcome dinner ahead of a Congress on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity.

Mother-of-two Letizia dazzled in the bright white suit which had structured shoulders and a chic cut as she met with officials at the event.

Her hair was slicked back into a low bun in a rare updo as the Spanish Queen often allows her brunette locks to hang down her shoulders.

She opted for sparkling diamond and pearl dangling earrings to accessorise the look as she posed for photos with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic and his wife Sanja.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 50, stunned in a bright white suit as she arrived in Zagreb this evening for a solo engagement

Letizia's all-white suit was a far cry from the colourful array of outfits she wore in London last week to attend King Charles's Coronation.

The Spanish Queen was elegant all-pink look as she arrived Westminster Abbey with King Felipe to watch the big event on Saturday.

The Queen of Spain wore a pencil skirt and a top with a ruffled peplum, which featured an embroidered neckline along with buttons down its centre.

The mother-of-two kept her locks in a neat bun and topped it off with a chic wide-brimmed hat. She accented the style with matching pink shoes and a clutch purse.

The Queen of Spain shook hands with Zoran Milanovic and his wife Sanja as she arrived at the welcome dinner ahead of the Congress on Prevention of Childhood Obesity

The Spanish Queen posed for a photo with the Croatian President and his wife as she arrived at the Presidential Palace

Letizia, 50, dazzled in the chic white suit as she put her arm around Sanja Milanovic

The previous night, as the royal couple attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, the Spanish queen opted for a lime green satin number from Victoria Beckham, costing 850.

Dressed to impress, Letizia, who was also joined at the reception by other foreign royals, including Princess Charlene of Monaco, oozed elegance in the midi dress, teamed with navy heels and a black clutch.

The frock featured a gathered front, tulip sleeve detail and a slight V-neck at the back, according to the British designer's website.

'Softy shaped around the waist to fit and flatter, and with a gently flared skirt, it exudes a modern refinement,' the description added.
An intimates brand is becoming a must-have for women after shoppers revealed they felt they'd 'found their underwear soulmate' the moment they tried them on.

Nat'v is an Australian-owned brand which is quickly becoming known as the most comfortable underwear ever.

Founder Sandy Ronalds, 38, revealed more than 600,000 pieces have been sold since she launched her business in 2019.

With 2023 looking to be the company's biggest year yet because more women are learning about the brand.

Nat'v is an Australian label with eco-friendly and ethical vegan underwear which is designed for everyday use.

Shoppers have gone into a 'frenzy' over a sustainable underwear brand that promises fabric so light you feel like you're wearing nothing

Some people claim it feels like 'you are wearing nothing' and thousands of others have dubbed it the 'essential addition' to your underwear wardrove.

'I really feel like I've found my underwear soulmate,' one customer said after trying the briefs.

While others admitted they could never go back to their old buys.

'I've slowly but surely started replacing all my underwear with Nat'v products and they've exceeded all my expectations.'

Nat'v is an Australian brand with eco-friendly and ethical vegan underwear which is designed for everyday use

Nat'v was founded to actively combat brands who produce high volumes of waste and stocks sizes 6-20.

Retailing from $20, shoppers can purchase panties, bras, bodysuits, and maternity wear in a variety of colours.

'These are really my new favourites, they're perfect for working out and going to the club,' a shopper wrote.

The company's founder was particularly concerned about the state of the fashion industry when she created the brand.

'It occurred to me that fashion and apparel are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to unethical and unsustainable practices,' she told FEMAIL.

Founder Sandy Ronalds [pictured], 38, was particularly concerned about the state of the fashion industry when she created the brand

Ronalds has previous experience in marketing and business development that helped her spearhead sustainable change.

'So much fashion is fast fashion - which is a massive problem. But most of us wear undies most days, and I'd say underwear is the one category of clothing you really don't want to be buying second hand.'

'The penny immediately dropped and the seed was planted. I was going to build an underwear and basics brand that asks the question; 'is this better for people and planet?' at every step of the way.'

Shoppers have been particularly raving about the long-lasting and high-quality aspects of Nat'v's range.

'Our customers have become such fans of our products,' Ronalds elaborated. 'We get a lot of feedback that theyve found their forever undies which feels pretty awesome to hear!'

Shoppers have been particularly raving about the long-lasting and high-quality aspects of Nat'v's range

Thousands all around Australia cannot get enough of Nat'v's popular underwear sets.

'I have been searching for these forever,' a woman wrote. 'No panty line, so easy, so comfortable, pack like a dream, wash like a dream. Can't praise enough!'

'These undies are to die for. The g-string doesn't ride up your bum in pain, it looks amazing, and they have a variety of colours. They make me want to do the washing as I never want to go without wearing them!' said another.

A third added: 'They're so super surprisingly soft, they move to my grooves really easily, don't chafe or cause any discomfort after shaving.'
The US government will study whether 'safe infection sites' for drug users can prevent overdoses, despite critics warning America is getting soft on drugs.

More than $5million will be given to New York University and Brown University to study two sites in NYC and Providence, Rhode Island.

Around 1,000 current drug users will be enrolled with the aim of studying the sites' cost and potential savings for healthcare and criminal justice systems.

Volunteers will be given the tools they need to inject drugs like fentanyl and heroin, including clean needles, and will be supervised by medical experts.

Safe injection sites  which offer drug paraphernalia to users no questions asked  first began cropping up across the US during Covid, but have been criticized for not offering counseling or challenging addicts.

The federal government will invest $5million over the next four years to study safe drug injection sites in New York and Rhode Island. Pictured: Homeless people in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, use drugs openly on the street

New York City's rollout of safe drug injection sites has been slammed. Some argue the advertising for the site promotes drug use (pictured), while residents who live near the sites complain the local area has deteriorated

One now-infamous poster advertising 'safe' drug use in NYC read: ''Don't be ashamed you are using, be empowered that you are using safely.'

A record 107,000 Americans died from an overdose that year, with a majority of those deaths having been caused by fentanyl.

The Biden Administration, which this grant was given under, has been accused of surrendering to the deadly drug, refusing to implement policies that would prevent it from coming over the southern border and instead investing in programs to limit its impact.

'There is a lot of discussion about overdose prevention centers, but ultimately, we need data to see if they are working or not, and what impact they may have on the community,' said Dr Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is funding the new research.

Proponents of safe injection sites argue these sites allow for drug users to safely take the substance they are hooked on without fear of overdose, or contracting a disease such as HIV from using a shared needle.

The drugs are provided for free too, which could potentially reduce criminal activity some addicts will resort to in order to get enough money to afford the drugs.

There are two officially sanctioned sites in New York City - In Washington Heights and East Harlem - both of which opened in 2021. Both facilities are operated by nonprofit group OnPoint NYC.

The East Harlem site is located on Lexington Ave and 126th St, and many social media users on TikTok and Instagram have referred to the nearby subway station, Lexington and 125th, as a 'zombieland' in the year since it opened.

The area was already well known as a site where the trade of drugs and other illicit material thrived, but local residents complain the situation has gotten worse.

David D'Alessio, who has lived near 126th St and Lexington for a decade, told The City: 'I have witnessed things I've never seen before. Including brazenly open dealing, people defecating (in broad daylight), users with needles openly using injection drugs  and even a man receiving oral sex between parked cars.'

Rhode Island, which will be home to a site in NIDA's study, authorized its program that same year. The Brown University site will be the state's first.

Legislatures in California and Vermont passed bills to allow safe injection sites, though they were vetoed by Gov Gavin Newsom and Gov Phil Scott respectively.

Pennsylvanian legislators have voted to ban the sites.

Internationally, there are nearly 200 sites operated in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Holland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.

Critics argue that giving addicts drugs without any stipulation just leaves them wallowing in their addiction.

Many also fear opening these sites will attract addicts and homeless people to the neighborhood, deteriorating conditions for locals.

While there are a limited number of drug injection sites in the US, there are many 'harm reduction' programs in major cities already assisting addicts.

Deaths caused by fentanyl in the US surged in the 2010s. At the start of the decade, 2,666 Americans died of a fentanyl overdose. This figure shot up to 19,413 by 2016. Covid made the situation worse, with a record 72,484 deaths recorded in 2021

In cities such as Portland, Philadelphia and San Francisco, non-profits offer users the anti-overdose medication Narcan and materials like pipes and straws they can use to smoke with.

In many of these cases, users are addicted to the highly addictive  and deadly  synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Fentanyl has torn through the US in recent years. The drug killed a record 75,000 Americans in 2021  rising five-fold from the 19,000 deaths it was responsible for five years earlier in 2016.

Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, one of the most commonly used pain-reliever in the world.

It takes just a small dose of fentanyl to cause an overdose. Just two milligrams - the equivalent of five grains of salt - is enough to cause death.

Because it is cut into other popular drugs, many people who die of overdoses do not know they are taking fentanyl.
Scientists are urging doctors to suggest lifestyle changes instead of medication

10million antidepressant drugs were given for long-term pain over 12 months

Millions of antidepressants are being dished out for chronic pain each year despite little evidence they work, a major scientific review has found.

An investigation into medications to manage long-term pain found that the harms of many of the commonly recommended drugs are poorly researched.

Yet around 10million prescriptions for drugs including amitriptyline and fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac, were dished out in the last 12 months for long-term pain management.

Scientists said there was a 'shocking' lack of evidence around the long-term effects of taking antidepressants, leaving hundreds of thousands of people at significant risk of harm.

Scientists have told doctors they should be focusing on more 'holistic' therapies, including lifestyle changes

They urged doctors to prioritise medications for which there is some evidence of effectiveness and to focus on more 'holistic' therapies  such as lifestyle changes.

With around one in three people suffering from chronic pain, antidepressant use is increasing as doctors seek to alleviate symptoms without using potentially addictive opioids.

Other medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are now deemed both ineffective and potentially damaging, leaving GPs with limited options.

The two-year Cochrane study was the largest ever assessment of antidepressants recommended by leading bodies including the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The 'gold standard' review looked at 176 studies involving almost 30,000 people and 89 treatment types ranging from various types of antidepressants to psychological therapies and physiotherapy.

Despite commonly being prescribed for six months, the Cochrane review found the average trial length was just 10 weeks.

It found there was 'insufficient evidence' to determine either how effective or harmful most antidepressants are, with scientists particularly concerned over the lack of research into long-term use.

Duloxetine was consistently the highest-scoring for relieving pain and found to be equally effective for fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain conditions, which are eligible for the drugs under NICE guidelines.

Milnacipran was also effective at reducing pain, but scientists were less confident in the research as there were fewer studies involving substantially fewer people.

Medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are now deemed both ineffective and potentially damaging, leaving GPs with limited options

Dr Gavin Stewart, of Newcastle University and co-author of the review, said it was 'shocking' that current evidence was being used as a basis for prescribing and called on the watchdog to update guidelines to reflect the new scientific evidence.

He said: 'This evidence base for chronic pain is pretty shocking if you think about the societal costs of this - it's off the scale.

'The fact that we pay so little attention to it is absolutely shocking.

'We are calling on governing health bodies NICE and the FDA to update their guidelines to reflect the new scientific evidence, and on funders to stop supporting small and flawed trials.'

Amitriptyline is one of the three most commonly prescribed antidepressants for pain management worldwide, with researchers suggesting it is the 'go-to' drug for GPs as it is cheap  costing around 69p a dose.

What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression symptoms. There are around 30 different types that can be prescribed. The NHS says that most people who have moderate or severe depression notice improvement when they take antidepressants. But it notes that this isn't the case for everyone. Side effects vary between different people and antidepressants but can include nausea, headaches, a dry mouth and problems having sex. Antidepressants aren't addictive but patients may have withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking them suddenly or miss a dose. These can include an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, dizziness and vivid dreams. Advertisement

In the last 12 months, around 10million prescriptions were given to patients in England at the 10mg dose recommended for pain.

By comparison, 5million prescriptions were given at the higher doses recommended for depression.

Some 3.5million prescriptions were dispensed in England for duloxetine but only come in one dose for all conditions, despite lower doses being found to be just as effective.

Lead author Professor Tamar Pincus from the University of Southampton said antidepressant use was a 'global public health concern'.

She said: 'Chronic pain is a problem for millions who are prescribed antidepressants without sufficient scientific proof they help, nor an understanding of the long-term impact on health.

'Our review found no reliable evidence for the long-term efficacy of any antidepressant, and no reliable evidence for their safety for chronic pain at any point.

'Though we did find that duloxetine provided short-term pain relief for patients we studied, we remain concerned about its possible long-term harm due to the gaps in current evidence.'

With 30 years in pain research, she suggested there is growing evidence 'living better in a really holistic way -increasing physical activity, reducing stress, lifestyle changes' offers the greatest benefits.

She added: 'Although it looks like you need to invest a lot for that to happen, it really pays off in dividends in terms of reduction in health care seeking afterwards. And it hits on the head so many chronic disorders, not just pain, if you can create these changes.'

Drugs watchdog NICE said there were no plans to change guidelines based on the review, noting that its guidelines state GPs should only 'consider' offering antidepressants.

It said the 2021 guidelines recommends antidepressants, including duloxetine, can be considered for people aged 18 years and over to manage chronic primary pain 'after a full discussion of the benefits and harms'.

They said the evidence shows these medicines may help with quality of life, pain, sleep and psychological distress, even in the absence of a diagnosis of depression.

The spokesman said: 'The committee considered that these could be beneficial to some patients and clinicians should be able to choose from the range of therapies based on the individual's need, background and acceptance of adverse events.

'NICE has conducted a careful and comprehensive review of the recent Cochrane publication findings and we have concluded that there is insufficient new evidence since 2021 to warrant an update to the recommendations on antidepressant use in our chronic pain guideline at this stage.'
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will now be required to regulate jet fuel contaminants in drinking water, a federal court ruled.

A unanimous decision by the three-judge panel at a Washington DC circuit court sided with environmental groups who argued that the agency failed to set limits on perchlorate in drinking water, a chemical used in military weapons since the 1940s.

The chemical is most commonly found near or on military bases or contracting facilities that use it, where it can leech into the groundwater and contaminate the water that people drink.

When exposed to high amounts, perchlorate can severely hamper thyroid function, which imperils a whole host of bodily functions such as metabolism, digestion, and brain development.

The court ruling reverses a decision by the EPA under the Trump administration not to regulate the chemical contaminant despite findings that came years earlier pointing to the health risks attached to it.

Perchlorate is a chemical that can occur naturally and is manufactured for use in rocket fuel, flares, fireworks, fertilizer and explosives. Commonly found near military bases, perchlorate can disrupt the thyroid and delay fetal brain development

The decision out of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, led by Judge David B. Sentelle, reversed a 2020 move by the EPA to rescind an Obama-era finding that a safety standard should be set, adding that the EPA does not have the authority to rescind such a finding.

Despite stating in 2011 that the harmful chemical should be regulated by law under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA failed to follow through on that determination and still has not done so under the Trump or Biden administrations.

Judge Sentelle said: The EPA has no inherent authority. It only has the authority given it by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

EPAs obligation then is to consider and apply the "best available, peer-reviewed science," including any new developments, to set the substance of the regulationsnot to reevaluate whether to regulate.

The unanimous decision from the three-judge panel puts an end to the years and fraught back and forth between the EPA and environmental groups. The ruling fell in one such group's favor, the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Erik D. Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health at Natural Resources Defense Council said of the Tuesday decision: The court ruled that EPA must regulate perchlorate-contaminated drinking water because the agency had found that it poses a health risk to millions of Americans.

After more than a decade of delay and litigation, EPA now must issue a drinking water standard for this widespread and dangerous contaminant. Its about time.

The chemical is a fairly common contaminant in the US. The Environmental Working Group, a watchdog organization that tracks chemical pollutants in consumer goods, has found evidence of perchlorate lurking in 379 water utilities serving roughly 12 million people.

Dr Olga Naidenko, EWGs vice president for science investigations said: This is an important step toward protecting the health and well-being of Americans, since perchlorate has been linked to a range of serious health problems.

By requiring the EPA to use its authority to limit perchlorate levels in tap water, the court has ruled the agency must put public health over the interests of the defense industry.

During the Trump administration, the EPA opted to vacate the earlier regulation after concluding that perchlorate did not meet the criteria for regulation because it did not appear in drinking water with a frequency and at levels of public health concern.

The Trump-era announcement was met with anger from environmental groups including the plaintiff in this latest case, the Natural Resources Defense Council.

High doses of perchlorate can decrease thyroid hormone production by inhibiting the uptake of iodide by the thyroid, which has a role in regulating a whole host of bodily functions such as metabolism.

Changes in thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy can have a lasting negative impact because the thyroid governs fetal brain development.
A government scheme that subsidises replacing gas boilers with electric heat pumps could run out of cash by 2024 - years ahead of schedule.

The Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers vouchers worth up to 6,000 for each home fitting a heat pump - devices that help cut energy bills.

Getting an air source heat pump fitted - the cheapest option - averages 13,000, meaning government discounts have been vital to get homeowners interested.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been slow to take off, with heat pump installations currently a third behind government targets.

Not all hot air: Analysis of Government data has found that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme could run out of vouchers as demand for heat pumps increases

But that is now changing, thanks to new cut-price heat pumps being offered by energy firms British Gas and Octopus.

These cheap pumps seem to be convincing more and more households to take the plunge and replace their old gas boilers.

Government figures show heat pump installations rising by 10 per cent every month since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme launched in May 2022, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit pressure group.

That comes after trade body the Energy and Utilities Alliance argued last month that the scheme was failing to deliver for many people living in energy inefficient homes.

If this rise continues at the same pace, around 150,000 heat pumps would be installed by year three of the scheme, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says.

How do heat pumps work? There are two kinds of heat pump. Air source heat pumps convert air from outside to water which heats your home via radiators or underfloor heating. Ground source heat pumps transfer heat from the ground outside to heat your home. Of the two, ground source air pumps are the most expensive to install and require more outside space.

If the demand for heat pumps grows at its current pace, government vouchers would run out by next year, the body added.

The Government has promised to put more money into the scheme - but not until 2025.

Still, a government spokesman said the scheme would not run out of cash.

A Department of Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: 'We are completely confident vouchers will be available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for everyone who wants a heat pump.

'The scheme will be extended for 2025 with new, additional funding in each year until 2028.

'Heat pumps are a proven, scalable option for decarbonising heat and were making heat pumps a more attractive option by working to lower the price of them.'

Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: 'It's still relatively early days for the scheme, but if demand continues to grow as it has, government will need to choose between boosting the scheme so that it reaches its full potential, or not  which could leave us more dependent on gas imports.'

Why are heat pump installations rising?

The average cost of installing an air source heat pump under the scheme is 13,000, according to the Energy and Utilities Alliance.

The Government subsidy is capped at 5,000 for an air source heat pump, meaning a homeowner has to typically find 8,000 for installation.

But in the UK, Octopus Energy and British Gas have recently announced that they will reduce the costs of fully installed heat pumps, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, to as low as 2,500 and 2,999 respectively - a huge saving.

In addition, after pressure from the heating industry the government launched a heat pump advertising campaign this year, which could further boost uptake.

Are heat pumps really suitable for any property?

A new government report says 'there is no property type or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump', from 'Victorian mid-terraces to pre-WWII semis and a 1960s block of flats'.

But some people who have had heat pumps fitted complain that they do not heat their homes to a comfortable temperature.

Many require expensive upgrade work, such as new radiators and insulation, to get the most out of their new heat pump.

Mike Foster, chief executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, argues some homes are just not suitable for heat pumps.

He said: 'For example, four to five million modern homes have microbore piping to move heat between the boiler and radiators. This does not work effectively with a heat pump.'

During government heat pump trials, 93 per cent of homes needed new radiators and 81 per cent needed a new hot water tank.

Have you had a heat pump fitted by British Gas or Octopus Energy? Email: helen.kirrane@thisismoney.co.uk
A good pair of shoes can last you a lifetime. But, too often, we simply throw out footwear with worn soles, holes or snapped heels and replace them with a new pair.

To repair tired shoes is relatively simple and can be done with equipment that costs just a few pounds  saving hundreds if you restore many well-loved pairs, rather than simply buying new ones. Or, for expert help, a cobbler can really be worth the money.

Antony Frith, at family cobbler Shoe Healer in Doncaster, South Yorks, has worked in the industry for 40 years and picked up the skills from his father and great uncle, who began repairing shoes just after World War II.

He says: Resoling shoes is like putting a fresh set of tyres on your car to keep it running in top condition for years to come.

If the shoe fits: Toby Walne visited family cobbler Antony Frith to learn how to repair his favourite old leather boots

Repairs tend to cost around 45. You can also look for the Society of Master Shoe Repairers logo as a quality mark offering a high standard of work.

Antony says: If you have a much-loved or expensive pair of shoes that you want to be able to wear for years to come, using an experienced cobbler may be a wise investment.

Initially, you should try out a DIY fix only on a cheaper pair  in case it goes wrong.

Here, in five easy steps, Antony shows me how to spruce up my favourite pair of old leather boots (it wont work on trainers or shoes with fabric-uppers).

1. Find a new pair of soles

You can pick up a pair of rubber soles from around 5 or leather soles from 20 from a cobbler, hardware store or online at marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, or internet retailers such as eCobbler and Shoe Repair Supplies Direct.

2. Remove the old ones

I use a decent pair of pliers to pull off the old rubber sole and heel. These cost around 10.

You need a strong grip to separate the sole from the upper and a workbench vice can help, if you have one.

Strip down: You need a strong grip to separate the sole from the upper and a workbench vice can help, if you have one

Put the footwear into a shoe tree with a cloth around it to protect the leather.

Alternatively, you could buy a traditional repair cobblers anvil to hold the shoe in place.

These are available from online retailers such as the craftwork marketplace Etsy, and will cost you around 16.

3. Get sanding in preparation

Next, I sand down the exposed underside of the shoe, as well as the side of the new sole to which it will be stuck.

Preparation: Toby sands down the underside of his boot to prepare the surface for the new sole

Both sides need to be rough so the adhesive will stick, says Antony. A 5 pack of 40 grit rough sandpaper should do the job.

4. Use glue for sticking power

Use a polyurethane-based glue specifically designed for shoe repairs, such as 7.95 Klebfest or Everbuild Stick2, from 5.95.

Rub the glue sparingly on to both the bottom of the old shoe and the new sole and heel, using a sponge scouring pad.

Make sure the entire surface is covered and leave it for about 20 minutes to allow the glue to become tacky.

Get stuck in: Use a polyurethane-based glue specifically designed for shoe repairs, such as 7.95 Klebfest or Everbuild Stick2, from 5.95

You must use the glue carefully, Antony warns me. If you miss a bit, you could later get bubbling.

I have to press the sole or the heel down firmly and evenly on to the shoe.

To keep in place, you could wrap elastic bands tightly around the footwear.

Leave the glue to dry for at least 12 hours. Cobblers use an activator hot grill to speed up the drying time.

5. Trim edges for perfect fit

If the new sole or heel is wider than the shoe, you can trim it back so that it will sit plush with the old shoe rim. A 10 craft knife will give a clean finish.

Sole man: Toby uses a traditional repair cobblers anvil to hold the shoe in place. These are available from online retailers and will cost you around 16

I then use sandpaper to smooth down the rough edges and finish off with a good polish and a new pair of laces.

Finally, my favourite old boots look as good as new!

> Read our Make Do & Mend on how to repair your old petrol lawnmower

Finished article: Toby's boots are almost unrecognisable from the tired-looking old pair he brought in
'More in the hopper': GSK chief exec Emma Walmsley

The boss of pharma giant GSK has confirmed the group is hunting for more acquisitions as it looks to boost its pipeline of new drugs.

On a call discussing the FTSE 100 firms first quarter results, chief executive Emma Walmsley said the company had more in the hopper as it scoped out new takeover targets.

The comments followed a swoop by the pharma firm earlier this month on Bellus Health in a deal that valued the Canadian drugmaker at 1.6billion.

It was the largest takeover since GSK spun out its consumer health arm Haleon last summer as part of a strategy by Walmsley to focus on new and profitable medicines to treat cancer and other illnesses, after years of criticism about the companys performance.

The takeover of Bellus also followed the purchase last year of cancer drug maker Sierra Oncology and vaccine maker Affinivax for 1.5billion and 2.7billion respectively.

We are absolutely delighted with the deals we have announced in the last couple of months, we do intend to do more, the chief executive said.

There is more in the hopper, but obviously we cannot share details on that.
Ryanair has confirmed plans to order 300 new Boeing 737 Max-10 aircraft in a deal understood to be worth over 32billion.

The delivery of the aircraft between 2027 and 2033 will enable the airline to create over 10,000 jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers and double its passenger capacity, Ryanair said.

Last year Ryanair broke off talks with Boeing and issued a barrage of criticism over pricing and delays in the arrival of previously ordered jets.

Ambitions: Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said the deal will help it double passenger numbers

Each new Max aircraft being snapped up by Ryanair will have 228 seats, which is about 21 per cent more than the Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, which half of the deliveries are expected to replace.

Ryanair expects annual passenger numbers to increase from 168million in the year to the end of March to 300million by March 2034.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary flew to Washington to celebrate the deal with a long-time supplier but continued to needle Boeing over jet prices, while acknowledging that Ryanair had been forced to pay more per seat than in previous deals.

'In our view it will never be cheap enough and in Boeing's view it is always far too cheap,' O'Leary told a news conference on the deal.

The transaction is subject to shareholder approval at Ryanairs annual general meeting on 14 September. Precise details of the financials of the proposed deal were not disclosed.

The airline said it was the biggest order by an Irish company for goods manufactured in the US.

OLeary, said: 'Ryanair is pleased to sign this record aircraft order for up to 300 Max-10s with our aircraft partner Boeing.

'These new fuel-efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21 per cent more seats, burn 20 per cent less fuel and are 50 per cent quieter than our B737-NGs.

'Committed': The boss of Boeing said he was committed to delivering for Ryanair

'This order, coupled with our remaining Gamechanger deliveries, will create 10,000 new jobs for highly paid aviation professionals over the next decade, and these jobs will be located across all of Europes main economies where Ryanair is currently the number one or number two airline.'

He added: 'In addition to delivering significant revenue and traffic growth across Europe, we expect these new, larger, more efficient, greener aircraft to drive further unit cost savings, which will be passed on to passengers in lower air fares.

'The extra seats, lower fuel burn and more competitive aircraft pricing supported by our strong balance sheet, will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and competitor EU airlines for many years to come, making the Boeing Max-10 the ideal growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our people and our shareholders.'

Boeing president and chief executive Dave Calhoun, said: 'The Boeing-Ryanair partnership is one of the most productive in commercial aviation history, enabling both companies to succeed and expand affordable travel to hundreds of millions of people.

'Nearly a quarter century after our companies signed our first direct airplane purchase, this landmark deal will further strengthen our partnership.

'We are committed to delivering for Ryanair and helping Europes largest airline group achieve its goals by offering its customers the lowest fares in Europe.'

Boeing is benefitting from a boom in orders, as air travel around the world recovers from the pandemic. The US-based group has, however, struggled with production issues affecting the Max and a larger plane, the 787 Dreamliner.

Last month, Boeing said the delivery of a 'significant' number of new Max jets would be delayed while the group and its supplier, SpiritAeroSystems, fixed incorrect fitting between the fuselage and tail sections; a problem that was discovered to date back to 2019.

In January, Boeing told a US court it was not guilty of concealing information about flight control systems on its 737 Max aircraft, which led to two crashes, killing 346 people.

Boeing 737 Max aircraft were cleared to fly again in the US in 2020 and in the UK and EU in 2021, after being grounded in 2019 following the crashes.
We are looking at houses to buy and have come across a wide variety of floor plans, some of which seem to be a bit ambitious to put it politely.

For example, three houses that we have looked at recently all did things differently: one listed the garage and loft space out separately and did not include them in the full square footage, another ambitiously included both in the square footage, while the other one showed room measurements but no overall square footage.

We also saw one property with odd shaped rooms, where again an ambitious-looking floor plan used 'max' measurements, despite the maximum width parts of the rooms being almost unusable.

Be careful: Some estate agents may try to enhance the total floor area by including areas which should be excluded.

Meanwhile, an estate agent tried to justify a home's cost to us based on it being a 200 square metre five-bedroom house, despite two of the supposed bedrooms being box rooms and a room downstairs that had been sub-divided to create two separate rooms that were both only 2.5 metres wide but 5.5 metres long.

Are there any rules on how estate agents measure, draw up and declare things on floor plans? And what would property experts recommend when looking for a well proportioned home? Via email.

Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: A floor plan is perhaps one of the most crucial things to look at before going to view a property.

It can give you an idea of how big a property is, its layout, its limitations and its potential. It's all very good having a nice looking room, but if it is an unusable shape or size there's going to be a problem.

While wide-angled photographs may be put a tempting gloss on the body of a home, floor plans reveal the skeleton within.

And photos can be deceiving, often making properties look bigger and brighter than they really are. The floor plan should give a better sense of the reality.

However, as our reader has noticed, this may not always be the case. Many floor plans are presented differently.

Most estate agents will use a specialist floor plan firm to measure up a property and produce the plan in much the same way they will hire a professional photographer.

To help provide some expert advice on the matter, we spoke to Henry Pryor, a professional buying agent, Michael Zucker of north London estate agency Jeremy Leaf & Co, Sam Gould, a sales director at Chesterons and Carl Howard, group chief executive of of Andrews estate agents.

Floor plans must not misrepresent property Estate agents must comply with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The guidance on property sales states that a breach of these regulations occurs if a business gives misleading information to a customer where it results or is likely to result in them making a purchase off the back of it. An estate agent's misleading floor plan could impact the buyer's decision to buy the property. It is the estate agent's responsibility to ensure all floor plans contain accurate measurements and are approved by the vendor. The agent's disclaimer does not cover a substantial error in the measurements of the agent's floor plan and the agent's responsibilities are not diminished if a third party is involved.

Do some agents present floor plans differently?

Henry Pryor replies: Estate agents use floor plans as part of the marketing, so they usually make the best of whatever the plan looks like.

They usually contract the work to a floor plan company who have different ways of measuring rooms and totalling up areas.

Almost all firms include all rooms but some won't include garages, attics or corridors in the total floor area. They quote a net floor area.

Michael Zucker adds: Estate agents are not always consistent when it comes to measuring houses, sometimes going into a narrow deep recess or corridor area which gives a misleading impression of the size of a room.

Some agents may try to enhance the total floor area by including areas which should be excluded.

This is because the rules for accuracy and consistency are not clear, other than that descriptions should not be misleading.

How should agents draw up floor plans?

Sam Gould replies: A property's floor plan should be created by an independent third party and follow the strict guidelines of the Rics Code of Measuring Practice.

Purchasers should be able to verify what is included in the total square feet. For example outhouses, sheds, garages.

It should also show if there is any reduced height space or eaves where a person would be unable to stand.

Henry Pryor says buyers should not rely on floorplans. 'I have seen two agents floor plans for a house I was buying that contradicted one another so commissioned my own which was different again.'

Should buyers rely on floor plans?

Henry Pryor replies: A floor plan is helpful but not definitive. It's part of the marketing material and should never be relied upon for legal purposes or for planning building work.

A floor plan can be very helpful for a buye,r so they can see odd-shaped rooms or plan their furniture having been to the property.

Some people prefer room dimensions. Some like total floor areas. If there is a rule about how a building should be measured then no one has ever told an estate agent!

Use them for identification purposes only. I have seen two agents' floor plans for a house I was buying that contradicted one another so commissioned my own which was different again.

Sam Gould adds: Prospective buyers have the right to question floor plans produced by the estate agent or seller and engage an impartial company to produce a new one.

Whilst this would be at the buyer's expense, the result will not only give peace of mind but could present an important tool in price negotiations, should the outcome differ from previous floor plans.

How can a floor plan help buyers?

Michael Zucker replies: It is important that purchasers look at the floor plan to assess whether the layout of rooms and balance of bedrooms to living accommodation suits their needs.

Many houses are top heavy, with too many bedrooms and limited living area, or bottom heavy with a large extended ground floor area and small original bedrooms.

The overall floor area provided on most estate agents' plans provides an initial guide to comparing different properties but sometimes those with a smaller overall floor area may be more practical in their layout and have less wasted space.

When looking at floor plans, look at the potential to improve the layout or to extend. Some houses have a generous landing area making it easy to extend the staircase to convert the loft, whereas others may require major alterations or even loss of part of an existing first-floor bedroom to do so.

Nothing compares to an actual inspection of the property when you will be able to ascertain the aspect of each room, the views, overlooking, orientation, potential to alter the property and to see whether neighbouring properties have been extended.

Two rooms of identical shape and size on a plan may appear completely different on site depending on ceiling height and the size and positions of doors and windows.

It is important that purchasers look at the floor plan to assess whether the layout of rooms and balance of bedrooms to living accommodation suits their needs.

Sam Gould adds: When looking at any floor plan, we also advise clients to consider future plans and discuss what work could be undertaken to improve the property's layout.

Some buyers might want to take down a wall or build an extension; even if these plans aren't imminent, it is crucial for a buyer to know the property's full potential before finalising any sales agreement.

Is it wise to lose a bedroom to make a better space?

Michael Zucker replies: UK buyers have traditionally been overly fixated on the number of bedrooms with less regard for overall floor area.

Four-bedroom houses sometimes sell for more than those with three bedrooms even though the latter have a larger total floor area.

This is slowly changing, partly in response to more people working from home and flexible family arrangements, which mean homeowners are now more likely to buy houses which suit their needs.

We find many prefer to live in a house with three well-proportioned bedrooms rather than four smaller, less useable, bedrooms.

However, they may have been wary of making alterations which involve loss of a bedroom to create a better layout or an additional bathroom because they have been told the value of their house may be compromised, even though they have no intention of moving for several years.

We would advise: adapt your house to suit your needs rather than the assumed needs of some hypothetical purchaser far into the future who will probably radically change the house anyway.
Traveller was wearing a blouse with no zip or buttons

A female traveller is slamming Sydney Airport after security confused her blouse with a jacket and demanded she remove it.

Yumi Lee, who is from Blacktown in Sydney's west, was heading to Malaysia in January for a holiday.

While passing through Sydney Airport's International Terminal, Ms Lee was stopped by a male security guard and ordered to take off her jacket.

Ms Lee was wearing a collared pullover blouse that had no buttons and no zip - a design that would not be mistaken for a jacket.

Yumi Lee was stopped by a male security guard during the screening process at Sydney Airport's T1 international terminal and ordered to remove her jacket despite not even wearing one (stock image)

'I was stunned because I was wearing a blouse. I told him so, and he shouted 'take off your jacket' multiple times,' Ms Lee told The Sydney Morning Herald.

'He then shouted at me, 'I can stop you from getting to your plane'... I was shaking. To be asked to remove my blouse was completely unthinkable.

'Everyone who saw the blouse said there was no way that it could be mistaken for a jacket.'

Ms Lee explained it was only until she showed the security guard part of her blouse that he stopped demanding she removes it.

The frustrated traveller lodged a complaint with Sydney Airport, who then passed the grievance to its security contractor - Certis Security Australia.

Sydney Airport has received a number of complaints from female travellers over their treatment by male security at the domestic and international terminals in the past 12 months.

A female airline executive, who spoke anonymously with the Sydney Morning Herald, said she observed Sydney Airport security staff treating women differently than their male counterparts.

The airline employee explained men walk through body scanners wearing their suits, jackets and jumpers while women are ordered to remove clothing.

She added if her aviation security ID card was not displayed, security staff would force her to remove her shoes, Apple Watch and strip down to a singlet or camisole.

'The incidents have been slowly increasing. But mostly the issue is the way the Sydney staff behave; how they shout orders at you, don't say please, and don't give instruction, leaving passengers confused,' the airline employee said.

Ms Lee said she was wearing a blouse which had no zips or buttons and would never be confused for a jacket (stock image)

The executive claims she attempted to lodge several complaints about her treatment, requesting to speak with the screening supervisor but was denied on the spot.

The Department of Home Affairs advisers travellers who have a negative experience during their security screening process and want to lodge a complaint to request to speak to the on-duty screening supervisor.

Travellers can also lodge a complaint directly with the relevant airport or screening authority - in this case, Sydney Airport.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sydney Airport and Certis Security Australia for comment.
It was perhaps the greatest discovery of lost treasure in history.

On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter found the resting place of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, complete with more than 5,000 priceless artefacts.

But the expedition in Egypt's Valley of the Kings might not have taken place at all, if Carter's financial backer had pressed on with his threat to cut off the archaeologist's funding.

Carter's address book, which is set to be sold for 5,000 later this month, reveals the address of the Earl of Carnarvon, who lived at the famous Highclere Castle, where hit TV series Downton Abbey was filmed.

The Earl threatened to pull his funding when he became frustrated with Carter's lack of progress in the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, after the First World War put a halt to excavations.

Fortunately, in 1922 he agreed to provide the money for Carter to hunt for one final year, a decision that led to the Egyptologist's discovery of treasures including a solid gold coffin, Tutankhamun's mask, thrones, furniture, food and wine.

Howard Carter (right) is seen with his financial backer, the 5th Earl Carnarvon, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. The Earl threatened to withdraw his financial backing for the archaeologist before he found Tutankhamun's tomb

The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in November 1922 made headlines around the world. More than 5,000 items were found inside, including a solid gold coffin, face mask, thrones, furniture, food and wine. Pictured: A colourised image of Howard Carter examining the pharaoh's coffin

Carter's book, which lists around 200 addresses of his diverse array of high-society contacts, will be sold at London's Rare Book Fair later this month by rare bookseller York Modern Books.

Carter and George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, met in 1907 and the aristocrat agreed to fund his explorations.

The pair ended up working together for the next 17 years.

Although their early years together were successful, the First World War put a pause on their work that was not lifted until 1917.

When the searches resumed, Carter did not come close to finding anything despite intensive excavations, prompting the Earl to consider withdrawing his funding.

But after Carter did find the tomb, the Earl was there to pose triumphantly outside it with his expert and his daughter Evelyn.

Evelyn's address is also among those listed in Carter's book.

She claimed to have rejected Carter's romantic advances, later telling her daughter that 'at first I was in awe of him, later I was rather frightened of him.'

Carter's address book, which is set to be sold for 5,000 later this month, reveals the address of the Earl of Carnarvon, who lived at the famous Highclere Castle, where hit TV series Downton Abbey was filmed

Carter's book, which lists around 200 addresses of his diverse array of high-society contacts, will be sold at London's Rare Book Fair later this month by rare bookseller York Modern Books

Carter initially viewed Tutankhamun's tomb through a small hole made in masonry after two days of digging through a rubble-filled passage.

Holding up a candle, he looked inside and gave what became a famous response to Carnarvon's impatient question: 'Can you see anything?'

'Yes,' he said. 'Wonderful things.'

The tomb - which included four rooms - was filled with royal treasures, including a dagger made a from meteorite. They had lain untouched for more than 3,000 years.

The tomb also contained three coffins nestled within one another, the innermost of which contained the Boy King's body.

Shortly after it was discovered, both the inner and middle caskets were transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, while the outer gilded coffin was left behind.

Tragically, the Earl passed away in April 1923 after he was bitten by a mosquito and developed sepsis.

His death led to headlines that proclaimed 'The Curse of Tutankhamun'.

Fifty years after Carter's discovery, many of the treasures inside Tutankhamun's tomb were displayed at a now-famous exhibition at the British Museum in London.

Howard Carter watches as the gilded roof of one of the shrines inside Tutankhamun's tomb is raised by workers

iew of northern wall of the tomb Antechamber showing life-size statues of Tutankhamun, apparently guarding the sealed doorway leading to the pharaoh's burial chamber

Howard Carter is seen examining the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun inside his tomb, which was more than 20ft underground

The seal on the doors of the second shrine of the sepulcre of King Tutankhamen. The seal was found intact

Carter (right) is seen with the Earl of Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn at the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamen

The exhibition, which was opened by the Queen, had originally been set to last for three months, but ended up being open for six due to its enormous popularity.

Around 4,400 visited on its first day, with more than 30,000 coming in the first week.

On its first day, hundreds of people queued for more than 14 hours overnight to get inside the museum.

On the exhibition's last day, in September, there were still thousands frantically trying to get a final glimpse of Tutankhamun's treasures - but an employee with a loudhailer had to tell them: 'I am very sorry, it is the last day, so they are going to put him to sleep now for another 3,000 years.'

Earl of Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn Herbert are seen in January 1923 boarding a cross-channel boat at Dover en-route for the Valley of the Kings

British patron of archaeological exploration George Herbert, Fifth Earl of Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn stand near to the entrance to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen

Fifty years after Carter's discovery, many of the treasures inside Tutankhamun's tomb were displayed at a now-famous exhibition at the British Museum in London. Above: Queen Elizabeth II opening the exhibition

Around 4,400 visited on its first day, with more than 30,000 coming in the first week. Above: The queue to get into the exhibition

Records revealed by MailOnline last year showed how Carter was staying with the Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere when the 1921 Census was taken.

His age was listed as 47, his marital status 'single' and his occupation made no mention of his real profession.

Instead, Herbert bizarrely referred to him as 'artist (painter)'.

The record also showed how the Earl, his wife Almina and Evelyn were attended to by 14 servants.

After the clearance of Tutankhamun's tomb was completed in 1932, Carter retired from excavation work and died seven years later.

London's Rare Book Fair is being held at the Saatchi Gallery from May 19-21.
The heartbroken grandmother of a British teenager found dead with head wounds in a forest in Thailand says she believes he was lured into the woods to his death.

Her comments came as haunting CCTV emerged showing the last sighting of her grandson Woramet Ben Taota, 16, who went for a motorcycle ride with his girlfriend Yam, also 16, in his hometown of Lampang on Saturday.

Dual national Taota borrowed his mother's blue scooter and was seen riding with a girl on the back before he was found dead the next day in Lampang province on May 7. His body was later found in a grove, with injuries resembling blunt force.

His devastated British father Steven Graham, 60, a businessman who runs a thatched property insurance firm, is travelling to Thailand to speak to detectives there, who say they are now searching for a second girlfriend amid fears for her safety following the arrest of a 44-year-old male suspect.

Meanwhile, Ben's grandmother Lilian Graham has told MailOnline she believes he was persuaded to go to the forest where he was murdered.

The heartbroken grandmother of a British teenager found dead with head wounds in a forest in Thailand says she believes he was lured into the woods to his death. Her comments come as haunting CCTV emerged showing the last sighting of Woramet Ben Taota, 16 (pictured)

The footage (pictured) shows that Ben had a girl police said he was 'romantically involved with' Suraphltchaya Khamsa, 16, riding pillion with him at around 4.25 pm as they visited her grandfather

Dual national Taota (pictured) borrowed his mother's blue scooter and was seen riding with a girl on the back before he was found dead the next day in Lampang province on May 7. His body was later found in a grove, with injuries resembling blunt force

The footage shows how Ben had a girl police said he was 'romantically involved with' Suraphltchaya Khamsa, 16, riding pillion with him at around 4.25pm as they visited her grandfather. They dropped off another girl, also seen on the bike, then rode away together at 7.18pm local time in darkness.

Ben's first girlfriend, Yam, has now been found and she is safe. Police have ruled her out of the case.

However, there are fears for his second girlfriend Suraphltchaya following the arrest of suspect Chaiwat Boongarin, 44, who had known the pair 'for several years'.

Police Major General Mongkol Sampawapol, commander of Lampang Provincial Police, said officers are still searching for Suraphltchaya as she was 'the last person to see Ben' before he was killed.

Speaking from the family home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Mrs Graham said: 'Ben was with a girl and they went to the forest to meet a man. But something must have happened. And the man killed Ben. They don't know what has happened to the girl.'

Mrs Graham added: 'It's been a real shock. We are all devastated. Ben's father Steve is going to Thailand tonight.

'I wanted to go out there with him to support him. But he wouldn't let me. He said the flight was too long and it would be too upsetting.'

Mrs Graham told how Ben was born following a long-distance romance between her son Steve and the boy's mother, who is known as Ooy.

She said: 'Steve met Ben's mum Ooy when he was in Thailand on holiday with friends. She became pregnant and Steve went back many times.

'I went out to visit them as well. I really love it out there. But they lived too far apart and sadly their relationship didn't work out. But Steve and me really loved Ben. He was really special. A real character.'

Police Major General Sampawapol said : 'Suraphltchaya's nickname was Ping Pong. She also had a close romantic relationship with the deceased. She is still missing and we are actively searching for her. She was the last person to see Ben.

'A suspect has been apprehended who had known the victim for a long time. He denies having any involvement in the death. However, we believe he is involved and it is connected to drug dealing in the area.'

Police said the suspect had been released from prison around eight months ago following previous convictions for sex crimes.

They claimed that Chaiwat was seen riding his black Honda Wave motorcycle without a license plate on May 6 at around 9pm and parked it at his relative's house with a young woman they believe is Ben's girlfriend, Suraphltchaya. The motorcycle was found by officers this morning, May 9, behind a cow shed close to the home.

Sampawapol added: 'The suspect told his relative that he wanted to leave his motorcycle at their house.

'He told them that he was looking for a rental house for his mistress. He then left the house with another motorcycle and returned the next morning.

'After that, he rode the black Honda Wave and left it near the hut before officers found it on May 9.

'We are still searching for the young woman and believe that she is still safe.'

Woramet Ben Taota, 16, is believed to have been brutally murdered and dumped in a forest in Thailand as police searched for his missing girlfriend

Dual national Woramet Ben Taota, 16, went for a motorcycle ride with the girl named Yam, 16, (pictured) in Lampang province on May 6, but neither of them returned to their homes

Woramet Ben Taota's devastated father Steven Graham (left), 60, a businessman who runs a thatched property insurance firm, is travelling to Thailand to speak to detectives there

Officers had reported that the teenager's phone and cash were missing from his shoulder bag, and suggested he might have been robbed.

They believe he was killed elsewhere and left in the woods as there were no signs of struggle.

Thai media reported that Ben's body was found by a garbage collector who was at work on Sunday morning.

Police Colonel Sittisak Singtongla, superintendent of the Mae Tha Police, said: 'The station received a notification at 10.15am that a deceased person was found in the undergrowth.'

Investigative teams from Mae Tha Police Station and Lampang provincial investigation team, along with forensics officers, forensic medicine doctors and staff from Tanna Krua Forest Rescue attended the scene.

Thai media reported that the teenager was found with his back against a tree wearing a black long sleeve T-shirt and jeans.

Police said that the body has been taken to hospital for an autopsy.

'We are currently tracking down individuals close to the victim, including his female companion. She is a key figure in this case since she is the last person to see him alive.'

Ben's mother, Ooy Taota, told police that her son had said goodbye to her on Saturday evening and said he was 'going to work with friends' but he did not give any more details to her.

With the news of his death, friends took to Facebook to leave tributes for Taota.

The parents of the missing girl were said to have 'pleaded' with the media to help find their daughter.

The police said they are not ruling out any motives, attributing the killing to a possible love affair, a personal conflict, or a work dispute.

Police Colonel Sittisak added: 'We have not yet finalised the issue.

'It is still unclear whether it was a robbery, because the phone and cash of the deceased were not found, but we still cannot rule out other issues.'
You can call the Rape Crisis sex abuse hotline on: 0808 500 2222

You can call the Rape Crisis sex abuse hotline on: 0808 500 2222

Friend of Harris' daughter, abused from 13, has spoken out through therapist

Sex abuse victims speak out in new ITVX doc Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight

A new ITVX documentary has unearthed disturbing footage of Rolf Harris joking with Jimmy Savile about leaving a little girl 'safely in his arms'.

The popular TV hosts - who, unbeknownst to audiences, were both prolific sex offenders - were filmed together in an episode of Savile's BBC series Jim'll Fix It in 1976.

The clip shows Savile reading a letter submitted by a little girl named Lynn, requesting to watch Harris as creates one of his famous paintings.

The young girl is then seen on stage with the pair as Savile jokingly asks Harris if he may 'leave her in your charge?'

Harris pipes back: 'Safely leave her in my capable hands here...'

Popular TV hosts Jimmy Savile (left) and Rolf Harris (right) were both prolific sex offenders. They were filmed together in an episode of Savile's BBC series Jim'll Fix It in 1976

Harris was later found to have committed a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend over 16 years, among other sex offences

Once the drawing is complete, Savile rejoins the pair on stage as Harris tells his co-host: 'She is anxious to run away.'

Savile then jokes that he has 'got fast hold of her', while Harris adds: 'You stay here and enjoy it, girl.'

Australian-born Harris was a family favourite in the UK for decades before he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London's Southwark Crown Court in June 2014 - which included a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend over 16 years.

The victim has given permission for the impact of her abuse to be told through her psychotherapist Chip Somers in new ITV series Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight which documents the rise and fall of the TV host, entertainer and artist.

It was revealed last year that Harris can no longer talk or eat and requires around the clock care after being diagnosed with neck cancer.

Neighbours and friends said the convicted sex offender had become 'gravely sick' after his release from prison in 2017.

Disgraced paedophile Rolf Harris (pictured) warned his daughter's friend who he was abusing to 'tread carefully' - as his victims speak out in a new ITVX documentary

Rolf Harris (centre) arrives at Southwark Crown Court accompanied by daughter Bindi (left) and niece Jenny (right) on June 25, 2014 in London

Harris now lives a reclusive life in the village of Bray, Berkshire with his wife Alwen Hughes, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

READ MORE: Rolf Harris sued by woman who claims he molested her at an Australian adventure camp in 1982 when she was ten Advertisement

He is also being sued by an alleged victim who claims sexually assaulted her at an Australian adventure camp when she was ten years old.

The alleged victim claimed Harris, 92, molested her while she was at a school holiday camp in Melbourne in 1982.

Now, another woman has claimed she was sexually assaulted by the disgraced children's entertainer when she was aged 10 and in foster care.

The two-part documentary will hear how the woman went to Mr Somers in the late 1990s for help with an alcohol problem before it 'became apparent that there was a huge secret that she was holding on to'.

Mr Somers explains: 'She told me she had been sexually abused by Rolf Harris from the age of 13, and this went on for a number of years.

'Her choice was to not say anything about it, but it caused her a lot of trauma and was instrumental in causing her to misuse alcohol as a way of anaesthetising that trauma... a momentary respite from having to carry that burden all the time.'

As her relationship with Harris became more intimate, Mr Somers says Harris was clear in his message to her: 'She is also quite clearly told, "This is something that you cannot talk about. Do not tell anybody about this. This is our little secret. I am a powerful person, I have money, so tread carefully".'

The psychotherapist added: 'She was having to carry this incredible secret, this incredible burden, this incredible sense of guilt and disgust and hatred of what is happening to her.

'Trauma thrives in darkness and Rolf Harris made quite sure that she was shrouded in darkness.'

The programme will also feature alleged victims Suzi Dent and Karen Gardner, who waived their right to anonymity.

In the first episode of the two-part series, Australian make-up artist Ms Dent alleges Harris sexually assaulted her when she was 23 and working on a programme he appeared on in 1985.

Ms Gardner alleges she was assaulted three times in plain sight in the space of 35 minutes at the age of 16 when she was carrying Harris's bag on the set of Star Games in Cambridge in 1978.

Ms Gardner says: 'He said to me, "You're irresistible". I was 16. He was 48. He was 10 years older than my dad.'

Rolf Harris (pictured performing in the early 1970s) was a much-loved entertainer in Australia and the UK until his arrest in 2013

Australian make-up artist Suzi Dent (pictured) alleges Harris sexually assaulted her when she was 23 and working on a programme he appeared on in 1985

Harris was acquitted of assaulting Ms Gardner after the jury could not reach a verdict at two trials, and Ms Dent's allegations of assault were not tried in court because they occurred outside the UK.

Harris, now 93, was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at London's Southwark Crown Court in June 2014.

These included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend over 16 years.

Following his conviction, Harris was stripped of his CBE - which he received after painting the Queen's 80th birthday portrait.

In May 2017 he was formally cleared of four unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied.

Later the same year, one of the 12 indecent assault convictions was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight will air on ITVX from May 18.

You can call the Rape Crisis sex abuse hotline on: 0808 500 2222
When streaming services first arrived, they promised to rid us of irritating ad breaks.

So why are viewers noticing an uptick in commercials during their favorite shows?

Frustrated Amazon Prime customers have taken to social media in their droves to complain about having to sit through commercials - despite forking out monthly fees for the service.

'Why am I paying for Amazon prime if when I put a film on they slap 300 metaverse adverts in it?' wrote one user on Twitter.

An Amazon Prime membership - which includes free shipping on the retail site - is currently priced at $14.99 per month but a video-only plan is just $8.99.

Frustrated Amazon Prime viewers have complained they are still having to sit through commercials - despite paying $8.99 for the service

The increase in adverts was sparked by the firm's merger with IMDB TV - which was renamed to Freevee - and Twitch, a livestreaming service originally known for its gaming content.

Both Freevee and Twitch are free to watch and paid for through commercials in the same vein as traditional TV.

Now Prime integrates Freevee content into its homepage - meaning the commercials appear on both platforms.

On top of that Prime - which features more than 20,000 movies and 2,000 television shows - also hosts content from other networks, some of which include commercials.

Again, these adverts continue to appear on shows when they are added to Prime's gallery.

But Amazon Prime is not the only offender. A host of other major streaming services including Netflix and HBO Max now offer plans which include adverts.

Typically these plans are cheaper.

Netflix offers a standard plan with adverts for $6.99 a month.

A basic membership without commercials is then $9.99, a 'standard' plan is $15.49 while a 'premium' plan costs viewers $19.99.

Similarly HBO Max charges customers $9.99 a month for a plan with adverts while its one without is $15.99.

Paramount's ad plan is $4.99 but its commercial-free plans start at $9.99.

Disney+ and Hulu offer a combined membership to both of their platforms with adverts for $9.99.

Access to ESPN as well - with adverts - is $12.99. Its ad-free plan is $19.99.

It comes as streaming services grapple with financial losses across the board.

A host of streaming services now offer cut-price subscriptions with advertising breaks

Last week it emerged Paramount Global missed its first-quarter revenue estimates as its subscription base stalled.

Shares of the New York company fell six per cent in trading.

And Netflix has suffered a volatile few years which has seen its stock plummet by as much as 47 percent at times.

In the last quarter of 2022, the streaming giant saw its subscription base grow by a paltry 4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The stall in membership has in part been sparked by a clampdown on account sharing this year.

According to Netflix's rules, people who do not live in the same household cannot stream from the same account.

While this was always a rule, the streaming giant is bringing in a new device verification feature which makes viewers prove where they are viewing from.

It will then charge for 'sub-accounts' - though the cost varies between countries.

The scheme has been rolled out in Chile where it charges sub-account holders $2.99 a month.

But in Canada the fee is $7.99 per member - the equivalent of $5.95 in US dollars.

The crackdown has yet to be implemented in the US after roll-out in Spain and Canada prompted a drop in its subscriptions.

As a result Netflix delayed bringing in the new rules to the US from the first quarter of the year to the second.

It means account sharing is expected to be banned in the next three months - though no official date has been given.
A Burger King manager facing redundancy has slammed the fast-food giant's multi million pound chairman after he blamed lazy franchisees for a string of closures.

The boss at a Minnesota store - one of hundreds being axed by the restaurant chain - insisted 'we're busting our a**** off' as he hit back at accusations some were not pulling their weight.

Up to 400 outlets will be shuttered across the country this year as the iconic burger chain culls underperforming stores in a bid to keep pace with its rivals.

Last week, Patrick Doyle, chairman of Burger King's parent company Restaurant Brands International, implied those who face the chop only have themselves to blame.

'There will always be a minority [of franchisees] who aren't dedicated, enthusiastic operators', he said. 'We'll work with them to leave the system and move on to do something else.

Patrick Doyle was appointed chairman of Burger King's parent company Restaurant Brands International last year, having been CEO of Domino's from 2010 to 2018

Burger King said it expects to close up to 400 stores by the end of the year as it bids to keep pace with its rivals by culling underperforming outlets

'There simply is no room for franchisees who are not willing or able to work hard to operate restaurants that are better than the system average over the long term.'

But the Minnesota store manager - who did not give his name - said he 'didn't agree' with Doyle's assessment.

'I don't know about the businesses that aren't trying, but we certainly are,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Our business, we're busting our a**** off every day. I feel like we're doing a good job.'

Worryingly, he appeared oblivious to the fact that his store was on a list released by one franchisee as facing closure.

'I have no clue. I've never heard about this,' he said.

Doyle, 59, who was CEO of Domino's from 2010 to 2018, was lured out of retirement by the burger chain last year as it attempted to transform its business.

As chairman, he won't receive a salary, but he was paid $117million in stock and option awards, according to Restaurant Business Online.

The home of the Whopper has already said it expects to close a record number of stores in 2023, with 124 already shut in the year to March.

Two of its franchisees, representing more than 140 locations, have gone bust: Meridian Restaurants and Toms King.

Burger King announced a $400million revamp in September last year aimed at making its products more 'premium', giving its marketing and menu a much-needed overhaul

The brand plans to modernize and freshen up thousands of restaurants as part of its revamp

Another, EYM King, announced it was closing 26 restaurants in Michigan, with 424 employees set to lose their jobs.

One analyst told DailyMail.com last month that the chain could enter a 'death spiral' if it failed to turn its fortunes around.

But in its first quarter results, the company reported that despite store closures, its comparable sales rose 8.7 percent.

The brand will be hoping that its $400 million 'Reclaim the Flame' turnaround plan may be starting to work.

The plan, launched in September 2022, aims to accelerate sales growth, drive franchisee profitability, revive run-down restaurants and streamline overly complicated menus and operations.
A senior BBC employee was allegedly banned from the King's Coronation after the monarch spotted him 'trying to record one of the secret parts of the ceremony' during rehearsals.

King Charles III is said to have seen the cameraman out of the corner of his eye on Friday secretly filming the walkthrough for the sacred anointing.

Security then intervened and removed the cameraman, who was suspended from duty throughout the weekend, The Sun reports.

The man had wandered from his officially assigned spot and was seen loitering near the four-panelled screen - behind which the sacred anointment takes place - with his mobile phone out.

Courtiers looked on in bemusement as the man was frogmarched from the premises.

King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury

An anointing screen is erected for King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey

The BBC's on-site manager is then said to have torn up the man's accreditation on the spot.

Calling it a 'humiliating' gaffe for the broadcaster, a source said: 'Charles spotted the cameraman trying to film him during the run-through for the most sensitive part of the ceremony.

'The BBC guy was looking shifty as he lurked in view of the screens holding his mobile phone. He had no business being there whatsoever. He had an accredited spot in the Abbey.

'It is highly irregular for any journalist to leave their set position in such circumstances. And its deeply concerning to think he would be trying to film precious moments deliberately hidden from public view.'

The anointing of the sovereign is the most sacred part of the coronation ceremony. Indeed, it is so sacred that it is hidden from public view.

As was the case with his mother's Coronation in 1953, the King's anointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury was also concealed from onlookers.

The King (centre) removes his outer robe before his anointment behind the screen

The anointing is the most sacred part of the coronation ceremony, and takes place before the investiture and crowning

At a ceremony in Jerusalem in March 2023, the anointing oil used for the coronation was consecrated by the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III,

The holy oil was blended from olives which were freshly picked alongside the grave of Prince Philip's mother in Jerusalem, where she is buried on the Mount of Olives.

To ensure the utmost privacy during this sacred occurrence, a screen was used during the Kin's Coronation to ensure the anointing is appropriately respected.

Depicting a tree with 56 leaves representing the Commonwealth nations, the hand-sewn design on the front of the screen bears the Kings cypher at the base of the trunk showing the sovereign as a servant of the family of nations.

Another source described the potential breach of privacy as 'horrendous' and added it was a 'stressful, anxious time for everyone concerned'.

Buckingham Palace and the BBC have been approached for comment.
President Biden will sit down with congressional leaders on Tuesday, going toe-to-toe with Speaker Kevin McCarthy over the debt ceiling in their first talks on the matter in over three months.

The meeting of the two leaders, together with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, will take place at 4 p.m. after the markets close.

Both sides are entrenched as ever in their opposing demands over the nation's borrowing limit - even as the Treasury Department says there could be just three weeks before the nation runs out of funds to pay its bills.

McCarthy, with the weight of House and Senate Republicans behind him, insists there will be no clean debt ceiling bill that passes through Congress. However, Democrats just as staunchly insist there must be a 'clean' lift of the nation's borrowing limit without any spending cuts.

When the federal government can't borrow any more money and the nation's bills pile up hire than its tax receipts, the U.S. could plunge into a catastrophic default - potentially triggering a recession and soaring unemployment. The Treasury Department has said this could occur as soon as June 1.

Here's what both sides are demanding ahead of the crucial White House meeting on Tuesday afternoon:

White House holding cards close to its chest, still demanding unrealistic clean debt ceiling raise as past administrations secured from Congress

Biden insists he will not negotiate over raising the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit.

While he has stood his ground, the White House has publicly attacked the Republicans with various allegations over the impact their proposed debt plans will have on Americans' lives.

President Biden will sit down with congressional leaders on Tuesday, going toe-to-toe with Speaker Kevin McCarthy over the debt ceiling in their first talks on the matter in over three months

In a memo Monday, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said the GOP plan would make the fentanyl crisis at the border worse.

He also said talks over budget cuts should be a separate conversation to be held after the debt ceiling is raised. The separate appropriations conversation on budget cuts would have a later deadline of September.

'The two are totally unrelated,' Biden said on Friday. 'They're two separate issues, two. Let's get it straight.'

Describing the upcoming meeting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: 'I wouldn't call it debt ceiling negotiations. I would call it a conversation between the four leaders and the president.'

'They have to do their job. They have to pass a clean debt ceiling,' she said of Congress, noting the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times since 1960.

Biden had long insisted he would not speak to McCarthy until Republicans had released a budget in writing.

After the House passed a party-line debt ceiling bill at the end of last month and the Treasury revealed the nation could run out of funds sooner than expected - on June 1 - the president called up the 'Big Four' congressional leaders to set up a meeting.

McCarthy, with the weight of House and Senate Republicans behind him, insists there will be no clean debt ceiling bill that passes through Congress

Republicans demand White House outline spending cuts it can accept

After heavy political wrangling, House GOP leadership passed its Limit Save Grow Act - legislation that lifts the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for $4.5 trillion in spending cuts over time.

The package passed on a party line vote on April 26 and is dead on arrival in the Senate, but Republicans are demanding Democrats spell out what it is they don't like in the bill to see where both sides can meet in the middle.

'If you don't like something in it, if you have ideas of your own, our speaker is more than willing, I'm sure, to listen to those,' House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said last week.

Their proposal includes a wide-ranging host of priorities-- it would rescind unspent Covid-19 funds, and undo some Biden priorities - banning student loan forgiveness and getting rid of some green tax credits, instituting stricter work requirements for social programs. Republicans also want to include their sprawling energy package, the House-passed H.R. 1, and the regulation-cutting REINS Act.

After the usually amenable Republicans from farmland districts threatened to vote no over the bill's provisions that removed ethanol subsidies, those tax credits were added back in.

Work requirements for benefits like SNAP and TANF were also tightened after conservative hardliners wanted them to start sooner - now they will start in 2024 rather than 2025.

Republicans in the Senate have vowed to back McCarthy's position that the borrowing cap won't be lifted if without spending cuts.

A group of 43 GOP senators, led by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, over the weekend threatened to block a deal on the debt ceiling that wasn't attached to 'substantive' budget cuts.

The group is large enough to filibuster a clean debt ceiling bill in the Senate - meaning such legislation would fail in both chambers of Congress.

Democrats insist clean, long-term debt limit raise is the only way to go

As Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen said Monday that if no agreement is made Biden will have a 'variety of different options, but there are no good options.'

'Every option is a bad option, and i really don't want to get into discussing them and ranking them,' she said on CNBC.

White House officials are reportedly eyeing whether they can invoke the 14th Amendment.

A rarely-used provision within the amendment states: 'The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.'

Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries will be in the White House for the crunch talks

But that option is politically and economically risky, advisers believe.

Schumer tamped down that idea last Tuesday. 'The way to go is a clean debt ceiling,' he said.

On Monday the National Association of Government Employees sued to get Yellen and Biden to stop them from complying with the debt limit. They argued the debt ceiling is unconstitutional on its face because it forces the president not to carry out spending already approved by Congress.

'This litigation is both an effort to protect our members from illegal furloughs and to correct an unconstitutional statute that frequently creates uncertainty and anxiety for millions of Americans,' NAGE National President David J. Holway said in a statement.

Another idea being toyed with is a short-term extension of the debt limit. Some Senate Republicans have tossed out the idea of raising the debt limit for 30 days to give both sides more time on budget talks, but the majority of the GOP conference said it was too soon to talk about a short-term extension.

'Well, I don't think the responsible thing to do is to kick the can down the road,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on NBC Sunday, echoing similar comments Schumer made last week.
An Iowa woman claims the rubber on the bottom of her shoes may have saved her life after she was injured by a nearby lightning strike which caused her legs to 'feel like noodles.'

Amber Congleton, 20, had just gotten out of her car in Cedar Rapids when she fell to the ground and lost her hearing following a lightning strike in a parking lot.

Congleton told the Des Moines Register that a cart corral roughly two feet away from her had been hit and the impact was so strong it knocked her down.

The woman said her doctors were shocked by her survival considering her proximity to the strike and speculated that her rubber Birkenstocks may have helped.

The woman is still dealing with injuries from the strike but says she feels lucky to be alive after the run-in with death.

Amber Congleton claims the rubber on the bottom of her shoes may have saved her life after she was injured by a nearby lightning strike which caused her legs to 'feel like noodles'

Amber Congleton, 20, had just gotten out of her car in Cedar Rapids when she fell to the ground and lost her hearing following a lightning strike in a parking lot

The woman said her doctors were shocked by her survival considering her proximity to the strike and speculated that her rubber Birkenstocks may have helped

The incident happened during severe thunderstorms that moved into the Cedar Rapids area on Sunday.

'It was a bananas situation, I just got out of my car and within 10 seconds it hit and I honestly had no idea for a minute what happened,' Congleton said.

According to the report from the Des Moines Register, after the lightning struck the woman fell to the ground screaming in pain.

She told the outlet she saw people rushing over to help her but the situation was heightened by the fear of never being able to walk or stand again.

'As soon as it hit the cart thing I lost my hearing and sort of just fell to the floor screaming for help because my legs felt like noodles,' Congleton said.

The woman was rushed to the hospital and she said her tests came back well.

It was there the doctors told her their theory that her rubber-soled shoes may have been her saving grace.

She now says she is recovering and able to walk again, but has to routinely check the blood flow in her legs.

The woman also said she will need to get her eyes and ears checked.

All in all, however, she is grateful and is 'overly blessed' by her outcome and the number of people who rushed in to help.

'I had so many random people just run over to me and help, it was sweet,' she said.

'I got my hearing back after like two minutes, but my legs I couldn't move for quite some time  then I wiggled my toes and so on. It was definitely really scary,' she continued.

'It was a bananas situation, I just got out of my car and within 10 seconds it hit and I honestly had no idea for a minute what happened,' Congleton said

All in all, however, she is grateful and is 'overly blessed' by her outcome and the number of people who rushed in to help

At the hospital, the doctors told her their theory that her rubber soled shoes may have been her saving grace from the lighning strike

A lightning flash typically contains around 300 million volts of energy

The National Weather Service states that while rubber is an insulator, it is only effective 'to a certain point' due to the power of lightning.

A lightning flash typically contains around 300 million volts of energy.

Additionally, a return stroke of lightning can reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit; the surface of the sun is around 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

'Your " (or less) of rubber will make no difference,' NWS says in response to the question of whether or not rubber shoes protect against lightning.
Birmingham Airport had average 30m flight delays in 2022 - the worst in the UK

Birmingham airport was the country's worst for flight delays for a second year running, figures show.

Departures from the West Midlands airport were half an hour behind schedule on average last year, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data.

This was more than twice as long as the previous year, when it was also ranked last for punctuality.

Doncaster Sheffield  which closed in November  and Manchester airports had the joint second poorest punctuality records last year, with an average delay of 29 minutes.

They were followed by Luton (28 minutes), Gatwick (27) and Bristol (26) airports.

UK airports flight punctuality rankings for 2022: Birmingham Airport has the longest delays of 30 minutes on average

An easyJet passenger aeroplane pictured arriving at Birmingham Airport

East Midlands Airport had the best performance, with an average delay of 13 minutes.

The average across all airports was 23 minutes.

The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures. Cancelled flights were not included.

When flights are significantly delayed, airlines are required under consumer laws to provide passengers with assistance, which can include refreshments, a means of communication and accommodation if required.

If the cause of disruption is under an airline's control, passengers are also due compensation of up to 520 depending on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight.

May and June were the worst months for flight reliability in 2022 as the aviation sector failed to recruit and train enough staff to cope with a surge in demand for holidays.

Some 10.3million passengers travelled through Birmingham airport last year, making it the seventh busiest in the UK.

In addition to flight delays, many departing passengers were forced to spend several hours in long queues for check-in and security.

Around 50 airlines operate at the airport, such as Ryanair, Jet2.com, Tui Airways, Air France and Emirates.

A Birmingham airport spokesman said: 'The start of 2022 was devastated by Covid.

'After travel restrictions were lifted, the aviation industry fought hard to recover.

'This year, the first since 2020 not impacted by Covid, our airport is running smoothly with customers set to equal or exceed pre-pandemic numbers.

'Customers using Birmingham airport this summer can expect changes to walking routes as we build our 40 million new security hall, set to be ready for June 2024.'

East Midlands Airport (pictured) had the best performance with an average delay of 13 minutes

Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: 'Your choice of airport shouldn't make or break your trip, but for too many travellers last year that was sadly their experience.

'A repeat of last year's chaos cannot be allowed to stand again, and airports and airlines must ensure they're working together to ensure they can deliver their summer schedules as promised, while the Government must urgently grant the CAA the powers it needs to hold the industry to account.

'With at least some level of disruption sadly probable as we head into another busy travel season, airports' delay records are something some travellers may well want to take into consideration, even if that involves travelling slightly further from home.'

CAA head of consumer Anna Bowles said: 'Our data tells us that too many passengers faced disappointing levels of delays across UK airports last year.

'It is important consumers experience a high-quality service from both airlines and airports this year.

'We expect airlines to proactively provide passengers with information about their rights when flights are disrupted.'
The newly finished probe stems from multiple internal complaints filed last month against Texas's Slaton that detailed an encounter at his Austin apartment

A married GOP rep resigned after an investigation determined he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old woman on his staff.

The newly finished investigation stems from multiple internal complaints filed last month against Texas's Bryan Slaton - one of which claimed the 45-year-old Royse City rep had a sordid sexual encounter with the intern at his Austin apartment.

The complaints were filed by a 21-year-old legislative intern and two 19-year-old aides, one of whom claimed she was summoned to Slaton's condo in early April after 10pm.

Her account, obtained by the Texas Tribune, claimed Slaton then plied her with alcohol to the point where she felt dizzy and had double vision - hindering her judgment before a then-unspecified sexual encounter.

An internal investigation that finished Saturday, however, found Slaton and the young staffer, identified only by the pseudonym Sophie A., had sex, and that the staffer took the emergency contraceptive Plan B after being ordered to keep quiet by the now resigned rep.

Married GOP rep Bryan Slaton - seen here with his wife of five years Sharmen and their young son - has resigned after an investigation determined he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old woman on his staff, after plying her with alcoholic drinks in April

The five-person bipartisan committee that probed the complaints put pressure on Slaton to resign Saturday, through a scathing statement from Rep. Andrew Murr - and a 16-page report that laid bare his predatory behavior

A sprawling report, prepared by Judge Catherine Evans and other experts retained by the state, detailed at great length how Slaton multiple times invited young subordinates to his apartment near the Capitol before singling out Sophie A.

As her friends became concerned about obvious advances from Slaton over the course of several months, the 19-year-old legislative intern eventually confided to them about the incident in April, where she was fed rum and coke and slept at Slaton's condo.

The report resultantly found the aide 'could not effectively consent to intercourse and could not indicate whether it was welcome or unwelcome.'

The Lone Star State's five-person bipartisan committee that probed the complaints revealed the fruits of their internal investigation Saturday, in the form of a 16-page report and a statement from Rep. Andrew Murr, the investigation committees chair.

Standing before members of the House, Murr laid bare Slaton's predatory behavior, before recommending he be the first state rep expelled from the body since 1927.

'The committee, upon receiving allegations made by the three separate complainants in early April, promptly retained the services of former Judge Catherine Evans to conduct an independent investigation into the matter,' Murr said.

'Judge Evans conducted this detailed investigation quickly and professionally, interviewing all complainants and cooperating witnesses and assembling documents and other evidence.'

After roughly three weeks of investigation, Murr said Evans submitted her report to the committee - and it was enough for the committee of three Republicans and two Democrats to unanimously vote that some form of workplace misconduct had occurred.

The group then ordered a due process hearing between themselves and Slaton Thursday, during which the married Republican retained legal counsel.

Following the hearing, the committee prepared an in-depth report from the findings and facts presented by Judge Evans investigation, which a visibly emotional Murr said was 'undisputed, and supported by independent and credible evidence.'

Shortly before the legislative meeting on Saturday, the committee unanimously adopted the committee's report, which Murr said 'contains findings of fact and conclusions of law  as well as an unprecedented recommendation for discipline.

'To summarize the committee report,' Murr said, 'we find that Committee member Slaton has engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate.'

Murr, evidently disturbed by the relaxations in the independent investigation, added: 'That behavior was induced by alcohol that representative Slaton provided to that 19-year-old subordinate.'

The Republican further claimed that 'Rep. Slaton then acted systematically to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses and obstruct the investigation into the matter,' before recommending Slaton's immediate dismissal.

'This committee unanimously recommends that the House disciplines representative Slaton by expelling him from a member of this body.

'The expulsion of a fellow member is a level of punishment that we dont take lightly,' Murr added, 'but to protect the integrity of and dignity of this legislative body, and to provide accountability to everyone who works and services this building.

'The terms duty and trust, and integrity, and institutional acceptance to the people, have utmost importance in our recommendation for expulsion.

'Out of respect for the process, and those involved, this statement will serve as our committees only public comment on the matter.'

Pressure had been mounting on the married Royse City Republican - whose wife already nearly divorced him a year ago, according to court documents - ahead of a planned vote to oust him on Tuesday

On Monday, the day before a planned vote to oust him from office, Slaton sent a resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott - in which he did not reference the allegations, instead saying he looked forward to spending more time with his young family

'This is to inform the people of my legislative district, the governor of the state of Texas, and the House of Representatives, that I hereby resign my position as a member of the legislature effective immediately,' the letter begins. 'It has been an honor to represent my friends, neighbors and the great people and community of House District 2'

At that point, pressure mounted on Royse City Republican, who last month denied the then surfacing affair allegation, and has been wed to his wife Sharmen for more than five years.

The pair have a young son, and previously filed for divorce in April 2022. However, the couple agreed to cease the divorce in November.

On Monday, the day before a planned vote to oust him from office, Slaton sent a resignation letter to Gov. Greg Abbott - and attempted to save face by not referencing the allegations against him.

Instead, he told the governor that he looked forward to spending more time with his family.

'This is to inform the people of my legislative district, the governor of the state of Texas, and the House of Representatives, that I hereby resign my position as a member of the legislature effective immediately,' the letter begins.

'It has been an honor to represent my friends, neighbors and the great people and community of House District 2.

'They voted overwhelmingly to send me to the Capitol a their representative in two elections, and I worked daily to meet their expectations.

'My decision today is to ensure that their expectations will continue to be met by a new representative who will also work hard on their behalf,' Slaton continued.

'I am grateful to my many colleagues in the House who fought with me to improve life for all Texans, and to those who, even when we could not agree.

'I look forward to spending more time with my young family, and will continue to find ways to serve my community and all citizens across our great state.'

Slaton has not yet issued a public statement on his resignation, which came on Monday afternoon. He was not among those on the House floor earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Slaton's resignation does not necessarily save him from a historic ousting from office, according to Murr.

In a post to Facebook, the junior Republican said he still plans to call up the resolution that he drafted Saturday.

'Though Representative Slaton has submitted his resignation from office, under Texas law he is considered to be an officer of this state until a successor is elected and takes the oath of office to represent Texas House District 2.' Murr wrote.

Slaton has yet to respond.
Two teen boys have been rushed from their school to hospital after experiencing severe reactions to a vape.

The students from east Melbourne's Whitefriars College used the vape on Friday before being taken to nearby Box Hill Hospital after suffering the adverse reactions at separate points throughout the day.

Two separate ambulances were called after the first boy fell ill at about 9am, and the other at about 12:50pm.

They both recovered after being monitored overnight and were discharged on Saturday morning.

The independent Catholic school's principal Mark Murphy emailed parents and guardians the following day to say the incident had been reported to Victoria Police and was being investigated.

Two students from an east Melbourne Catholic school, Whitefriars College (pictured), have been hospitalised after suffering a severe reaction to a vape on Friday

'Both students were provided with first aid by a health care centre team and other college staff,' Mr Murphy's email reads.

'They were also assessed and taken to hospital by paramedics from Ambulance Victoria.

'Fortunately, both students have since recovered and have been discharged from hospital.'

Mr Murphy claimed the school had implemented measures to help curb the use of vapes by students, including educational measures and 'environmental sensors' in student amenities.

'We ensure that our young men have a clear understanding of the law in Victoria as it relates to vaping,' he wrote,

'As a school community we need to continue to work in partnership to educate our young men and we encourage all families to engage in conversations with their sons about the dangers of the use of these types of products and to keep them safe.'

The Herald Sun reports that the vape could have been laced with synthetic cannabis.

The two boys were taken to nearby Box Hill Hospital where they were discharged the following day after making a recovery (stock image)

The incident comes a week after Health Minister, Mark Butler, announced sweeping changes to the sale and use of vapes.

The strict laws will mean Aussies can only purchase vapes in plain packaging with a prescription at pharmacies - not convenience stores, service stations or any other shops.

'I am determined to stamp out this public health menace because that's what I think it genuinely is,' Mr Butler said on Q&A last week.

'It was not sold as a recreational product targeted at our kids but that's what it has become.

'This is a deliberate strategy by the tobacco industry to create a new generation of nicotine addicts and far from being a pathway out of cigarettes, which is what it was promoted to us as, it has become a pathway into cigarettes for young people.'

Single use and flavoured vapes will be banned from sale across the nation, while the importation of such vapes will also be outlawed.

It is estimated that over a million Australians regularly use vapes, with one in four 18 to 24-year-olds and one in six high school students having tried e-cigarettes.
While the Albanese government's federal budget prioritises relief for low income earners, the wealthy are set to benefit the most due to tax cuts.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who has comprehensively broken down the support that will be provided for Aussies amidst the cost-of-living crisis, will hand down the budget in Parliament on Tuesday.

At the core of the government's plans is more than $14.6 billion in cost-of-living relief for Australians over a period of four years.

This includes an electricity relief handout that will save households up to $500 in energy bill costs. This handout will favour aged pensioners and welfare recipients.

But the stage three tax cuts, which will be enforced next year, means high-income earners will see the biggest savings over the coming years.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured), who will hand down the budget on Tuesday, has remained adamant the government will not make changes to the stage three tax cuts

The stage three cuts scrap the 37 per cent marginal tax bracket and lowers the 32.5 per cent tax rate to 30 per cent for all individuals earning between $45,000 and $200,000.

A new top marginal tax rate of 45 per cent would apply for those earning more than $200,000.

This means those earning more than $200,000 doing their tax returns for the 2024-25 financial year will get back $9,075 compared with 2023-24.

Someone earning $80,000, a level shy of Australia's average full-time salary of $92,030, would get back just $875.

The cuts are estimated to cost the budget about $20billion a year from mid-2024, according to the Gratton Report. This increases to $31billion by 2030.

Over a period of ten years, the stage three cuts will cost the country about $254 billion.

This means wealthy Australians will secure the most relief over the next four years thanks to the cuts - even with the government's cost-of-living measures at the centre of the budget.

The previous Coalition government, with Labor's support in Opposition, introduced sweeping Stage Three tax changes in 2019 during an election year, shortly before the pandemic. A new 30 per cent rate would apply for those earning $45,000 to $200,000 (stock image)

The stage three cuts were introduced by the former Morrison government back in 2019 in a bid to stimulate the economy and fix bracket creep.

It passed with Labor's support despite the party initially having reservations about the cuts.

Anthony Albanese promised in the lead up to last year's federal election to make no changes to the cuts if he was elected.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has remained adamant that the government still had no intentions to make changes to the legislation.

'The tax cuts are in the budget because our position hasn't changed and they were legislated some time ago,' he told the ABC last Sunday.

He also said earlier in the month: 'Our position on stage 3 tax cuts hasn't changed and it's important to remember that they don't come in for more than a year now.'

'Our focus in this Budget is to work through all of the pressures in our economy in a methodical and responsible way. That means a decent cost-of-living package focused on the most vulnerable, delivered in the most responsible way.'

The stage three tax cuts will come into effect in July, 2024.
A Sydney escort has been charged after the body of a construction manager was discovered in a unit stairwell where it had laid for up to 19 hours.

Celia Bean, 39, has been charged with manslaughter over the death of Paul Browne, 33, who allegedly died of a drug overdose on October 8, 2021.

Police allege Mr Browne died after consuming heroin and methamphetamine that Ms Bean and her friend, Shayne Johnson, had organised to be supplied to him.

The 33-year-old's body was discovered in the stairwell of Ms Bean's apartment block in Zetland, in the city's inner-south, by another resident.

Police believe his body could have been lying there for up to 19 hours.

Sydney escort Celia Bean, 39, has been charged with manslaughter over the death of construction site manager Paul Browne who allegedly died of a drug overdose

Paul Browne, 33, was found dead on October 8, 2021 at an apartment complex on Dalmeny Ave at Rosebery in inner-Sydney

Johnson, 45, has also been charged with manslaughter, with police alleging he and Ms Bean had contributed to Mr Browne's death.

Police have accused the pair of gross criminal negligence after they failed to call an ambulance when the tradie overdosed on the drugs they had supplied.

They were arrested last December and remain before the courts.

A forensic pathologist previously told Parramatta Local Court that Mr Browne may have survived if medical assistance had been provided earlier.

In a text message exchange between Ms Bean and Mr Johnson, police allege the pair tried to distance themselves from the incident and claimed not to be responsible for Mr Browne's death.

Ms Bean (pictured) has been behind behind bars on remand since her arrest in December

A forensic pathologist previously told Parramatta Local Court that Mr Browne (pictured) may have survived if medical assistance had been provided earlier

The tradie is believed to have driven to Ms Bean's apartment block from his home in the neighbouring suburb of Rosebery on October 7.

Mr Browne's mate Isaac Parry said in November, 2021 that he's '100 per cent sure' the tradie was partying - a euphemism for shared drug use - with Ms Bean rather than using her sexual services.

'I honestly don't think he was there to pay for sex,' Mr Parry told Daily Mail Australia in an exclusive interview.

'He would have been partying with an escort as friends.

'He was a good looking boy.'

Detective Inspector Phil Hallinan previously said the alleged victim's family were 'devastated' and that he had been a 'fantastic family member'.

Paul Browne's friends flocked to social media to pay tribute to the construction worker (pictured right with a friend)
An Australian couple have revealed they were forced to spend over $19,000 to get home after a mistake from Qantas left them stranded in the Netherlands.

Andrew and Meagan Lewis, from Sydney, said they had a 'horrible experience' while attempting to come home from their trip to Europe in February.

The couple had booked business class flights to and from Europe using Qantas Frequent Flyer points around 12 months before they set off for the Netherlands.

However, on midnight the day before they were to fly home, they were told that one of their return flights was delayed.

They were assured that the problem would be resolved, and an email fixing the problem would be sent the following day.

That email never arrived and, after a last-gasp call that saw him being passed around, Mr Andrews was eventually told the couple would not be able to make their flight because of the delay.

To make matters worse, the only available replacement flight was more than $19,000 - and was not eligible for a refund from Qantas.

The couple had booked business class flights to and from Europe using Qantas Frequent Flyer points around 12 months before they set off for the Netherlands

'It was an all-round horrible experience,' Mr Lewis told news.com.au.

'They advised us we could pay for a flight via Frankfurt [in a few days time]. So we'd have to get a train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt and then it was going to be with Emirates from Frankfurt to Dubai to Sydney for a total cost of just over $19,000 for the two of us.

'We felt we had no other option because we had work obligations to get home to.

'We were away quite a time so we were forced to pay the money to them over the phone.'

To make matters worse, he had to pay two nights additional accommodation in Amsterdam, two train tickets and an additional night's accommodation in Frankfurt, costing an extra $1,600.

The couple also discovered that their frequent flyer points were not refunded to his account as promised.

It took numerous phone calls over several weeks to get this situation rectified.

Qantas eventually offered Mr Lewis an apology and refund on the money he paid to get back home

Mr Lewis also explained how he was a Qantas gold member for about a decade or so before the pandemic.

'All that loyalty, building up points, building up status credits, I was treated like I was nobody to them,' he said.

Qantas eventually offered Mr Lewis an apology and refund on the money he paid to get back home - three months after his ordeal.

'The re-accommodation of customers after a cancellation or schedule change is always the responsibility of the airline operating the flight.

'Once we became aware that Mr Lewiss Japan Airlines flight had been delayed and that he required a new flight, we should have contacted Japan Airlines to resolve the booking.

'We apologise to Mr Lewis for this experience.'
A man who sent a parcel bomb to a law enforcement agency building that killed a police officer and injured a lawyer has died in prison.

Domenic Perre, 66, passed away at Royal Adelaide Hospital on Monday night less than a year after he was found guilty for carrying out the deadly blast that unfolded in March 1994.

Perre had sent a parcel bomb to the National Crime Authority on Waymouth Street in Adelaide, South Australia.

A man who sent a parcel bomb to a law enforcement agency building that killed a police officer and injured a lawyer has died in prison (pictured, Domenic Perre)

Perre had sent a parcel bomb to the National Crime Authority on Waymouth Street in Adelaide, South Australia (pictured)

The explosion killed Detective Geoffrey Bowen and seriously injured lawyer Peter Wallis.

Detective sergeant Bowen died from horrific injuries, including the loss of his left arm, while Mr Wallis lost an eye and suffered severe burns.

Perre had sent the parcel to the office as he sought revenge for detective sergeant Bowen's investigation into the Perre family's drug business.

Perre was first charged with murder soon after the bombing but the case against him was dropped six months later because of a lack of evidence.

He was arrested again in 2018 after a joint investigation, lasting more than two years, by a number of state and federal authorities including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Prosecutors argued the bombing was a personal attack on Sgt Bowen.

They said Perre's hostility towards him had grown because of their interactions following the seizure of a multi-million dollar cannabis crop in the Northern Territory in August 1993.

Perre elected not to give evidence but his defence team said the investigation into the bombing was plagued by tunnel vision.

Lead counsel Gilbert Aitken told the court that in the eyes of SA detectives only Perre had the motive to make and send the bomb.

Perre pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sgt Bowen and the attempted murder of Mr Wallis but was found guilty by Justice Kevin Nicholson in June 2022.

The explosion killed Detective Geoffrey Bowen (pictured) and seriously injured lawyer Peter Wallis

'Your conduct was brutish. That is totally devoid of any human sensibility,' the judge said.

'Your conduct was motivated by matters that do you no credit.

'It was not just premeditated but intricately devised and planned over a lengthy period of time and was executed in cold blood.'

Justice Nicholson said Perre 'intended to kill anyone who happened to open' the parcel.

'These matters, considered as a whole, establish beyond reasonable doubt that Domenic Perre constructed and posted the NCA bomb and caused the death of Mr Bowen and the injuries to Mr Wallis,' he said.

'On my assessment of the circumstances, I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Perre must have intended to kill anyone who happened to open the postpak whether or not Mr Bowen, and anyone else who happened to be with that person at the time of the detonation.'

Perre was handed a life sentence for the horrific attack and had been held at Yatala Prison.

He was then transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital in mid April before he suffered a heart attack on Monday.

The NCA was a law enforcement agency set up in 1984 before it was closed in December 2002.
A police boss has warned vigilantes who are descending onto the homes of alleged criminals trying to take the law into their own hands that someone will end up killed.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has urged those fed up with crime in their neighbourhoods to leave it to police to handle.

On Sunday a mob of more than 100 people turned up at the doorsteps of alleged thugs in Rockhampton, in the state's central-east.

The group, led by kickboxer turned One Nation candidate Torin O'Brien, were targeting the homes of alleged thieves following a spate of recent break-ins in the area.

Mr O'Brien had got the addresses of the alleged criminals off social media but Ms Carroll warned the information was 'pure speculation'.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has urged those fed up with crime in their neighbourhoods to leave it to police to handle

'What we have is a group of people going to people's houses for this issue, and the information is wrong,' she said on Monday.

'So be careful. What we'll end up with is a death. We've seen that before.

'What you see on social media is not evidence and the people feeding this don't have the skills or the knowledge or the information that police have in doing their jobs.'

The commissioner pleaded with residents to bring the matter to police, and not rely on social media to try and bring someone to justice.

'This is what we do  talk to us about this,' she said.

'It's incredibly important that you do because we've seen a lot of stuff on social media and a lot of people just putting information out there that  is not correct and it's extraordinarily dangerous.'

Police had arrived at the home where Mr O'Brien's group was within minutes.

On Sunday a mob of more than 100 people turned up at the doorsteps of alleged thugs in Rockhampton, in the state's central-east

'If you looked at the amount of police that were there yesterday (in Rockhampton), they would be better off spending time investigating that themselves and working in the community,' Ms Carroll said.

Mr O'Brien said his own sister allegedly had her home broken into.

'There's clearly been zero leadership surrounding this crime wave of gross little ferals,' the gym owner had posted online urging people to support the demonstration.

'The town is angry and the police are worried good, maybe they can feel our fear and will do more, but we all know it's the government and court system letting us down.

'However, if one guy on Facebook can find literally all the info from their entire crew the police can stand side by side and demand change from the top. Stop being so gutless and take a stand WITH US.'

Members of the mob confronted the officers, with some shouting 'you won't do your job properly', while others knocked on the doors of alleged thugs.

By 4pm on Sunday, Mr O'Brien told everyone to go home and said he'd meet with police to discuss the issue in the coming days.

Mr O'Brien organised the group to visit the homes of alleged thugs

But some people refused to leave, demanding immediate action.

This led to the arrival of more police, with dogs, with more than a dozen officers and eight police vehicles at the tense scene.

Police issued a 'move on' direction, effective immediately and lasting for 12 hours.

The remaining 18 protestors left at that point, rather than facing getting arrested for ignoring the direction.

In order to get the addresses of alleged offenders, Mr O'Brien had offered a $5000 reward for anyone to give up names on social media.

But Mr O'Brien denies that he and the group are violent vigilantes, insisting they are just law abiding citizens who won't put up with the surging rate of crime any longer.

In another vigilante incident in March, a Housing Commission property where a 13-year-old was allegedly tortured by three teens in Tewantin, west of Noosa, was burnt down.

Jennifer Board, 22, was killed in an alleged vigilante car chase in February, 2021.

She'd been riding her motorbike when a man allegedly chasing a stolen car ran into her.
The mother of a kidnapped woman who was left brain-damaged after falling out of a van said her daughter has been able to stand for the first time since the horror attack.

Angel Lynn, 21, suffered catastrophic brain injuries when she fell out of a moving van head-first at 60mph on the A6 after being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in September 2020.

Her parents Nikki, 48, and Patrick Lynn, 53, were told their daughter would not survive.

But Angel has defined the odds and can now stand and she has started to swallow.

Nikki, who runs a cleaning business, told he Sun: 'She is communicating more and more.

Angel Lynn, 21, suffered catastrophic brain injuries when she fell out of a moving van head-first at 60mph

Her mother Nikki Lynn (pictured last year with Angel), said in September that doctors warned her that Angel had sustained fatal injuries but she is slowly recovering and undergoing rehabilitative treatments

'I know it won't change things but I'm hoping one day she will speak and tell me what happened.

'I do think she was pushed because of the injuries she suffered, the force with which she hit the ground.'

Angel, from Loughborough, is recovering and undergoing rehabilitative treatment after Chay Bowskill, her ex-boyfriend, left her paralysed and unable to eat, walk or talk by herself.

Heartbreaking pictures of Angel Lynn after she was left brain damaged from falling out of van while escaping her boyfriend are shown in new TV documentary Advertisement

Nearing the end of their relationship, Bowskill became increasingly threatening and Angel began to withdraw before attempting to leave him.

In September last year, Angel's mother said she was warned her daughter's injuries were fatal but she was starting to regain movement on her left side and relearn how to swallow.

Angels fight for survival has astonished doctors at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, where she was given the last rites three times.

Her family hope that soon she might be able to recount what happened in the run-up to Bowskill kidnapping her.

CCTV caught the moment Angel was forced into a van by Bowskill and his accomplice Rocco Sansome, in Rothley, Leicestershire, in September 2020 after an argument.

She then fell out of the vehicle, which was driven by Sansome, as it travelled at 60mph, before she was found by horrified members of the public.

Angel Lynn (front left) pictured on a day out with her family in August 2022

Angel requires round-the-clock care after she suffered catastrophic injuries

CCTV caught the moment she was forced into a van by Bowskill (pictured) and his accomplice Rocco Sansome in September 2020 after an argument

CCTV caught the moment Angel was forced into a van by Bowskill and his accomplice Rocco Sansome, in Rothley, Leicestershire, in September 2020 after an argument

In January 2022, Bowskill was handed a seven-and-a-half-year sentence after being found guilty of kidnap, coercive and controlling behaviour, and perverting the course of justice, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

His sentence was then nearly doubled after senior judges at the Court of Appeal concluded his original term for the kidnap was not long enough and handed him four-and-a-half more years.

Sansome received 21 months. Bowkill's sentence was later increased to 12 years, although Sansome's was not changed.

Bowskill, of Syston, Leicestershire, was also convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and perverting the course of justice.

He was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm after it became unclear how Angel had left the van.

Angel was attending college and working part-time as a cleaner when she met Bowskill through a mutual friend around a year before the incident.

Her mother said Bowskill admitted in court that the last thing he said to her daughter before she plunged from the van was: 'I f***ing hate you, bitch.'

Nikki and Patrick, who run a cleaning business, are also parents to Reannon, 31, Lewis, 29, Lester, 27, Kelsie, 12, and ten-year-old Jimmy.
A Los Angeles-based tech executive who vanished two years ago has been found dead, police in Santa Monica confirmed on Monday.

Beau Mann, 39 was last seen at around 2pm on November 30, 2021, on camera at a 7-Eleven near the offices of Sober Grid, a digital health app he founded to help those struggling with addiction.

Mann then got in an Uber, and while inside the vehicle he texted 911.

He was dropped off in Santa Monica and never seen again.

On Monday, Santa Monica police confirmed that human remains found in an abandoned apartment building were those of Mann. His cause of death remains unclear.

Beau Mann, 39, vanished on November 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. On Monday, police in Santa Monica confirmed that remains found on April 25 were those of Mann

Mann (right) is pictured with his fiance Jason Abate

His fiance Jason Abate wrote on Facebook: 'I can't move even a inch without seeing you because everything has a memory of us and I can't breath.

'You're not just 'remains' found I can't stand one more time I hear about your 'remains'. Please stop saying remains, just stop saying dental records.

'Please don't let anyone cut your beautiful soul that was bigger than life down to just remains.'

Born in Post, Texas, Mann's parents split up when he was young, and he grew up traveling between his father's house in Texas and his mother's in Massachusetts.

He had spent Thanksgiving 2021 with family in Texas, and had just returned to Los Angeles, seemingly in good spirits.

Abate said he last spoke to him on the night before he vanished.

Mann's company, based in Boston, said in a statement that he was a 'light'.

'After an experience in his early years with drugs and addiction, he turned his focus and passion towards helping others,' the firm said.

'In 2015, he created the first digital app to house a 24/7, online, worldwide community for people in recovery.'

Sober Grid has 'saved thousands of lives' and will continue to 'save thousands more,' according to the company.

The abandoned apartment building, on the 2900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, was less than a mile from where Mann was dropped off, leading Facebook sleuths on the page Find Beau Mann asking why it was not thoroughly searched.

Mann's remains were found in the courtyard of this abandoned apartment complex on the 2900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard

The abandoned building complex is reportedly home to homeless people

Mann (left) and Abate are pictured celebrating Christmas

Mann founded the health app Sober Grid in 2015, after struggling with addiction himself

One posted a video of the dilapidated, boarded-up complex, saying it had become a slum where drug users and homeless people congregated.

Abate, who lives in Michigan, raised the alarm when Mann suddenly stopped replying to his calls and messages.

He said it was not unusual for the busy tech executive to go a day or so without replying, but when time passed, he became alarmed.

Abate called the LAPD, who met Mann's assistant at his apartment to do a wellness check.

The assistant filed a missing persons' report on December 4, 2021.
A private school-educated escort with a science degree has been charged over the death of a tradesman whose body was found in the stairwell of a Sydney apartment building.

Celia Bean, 39, has been charged with manslaughter over the death of former reality TV contestant Paul Browne more than a year after his body was discovered in October 2021.

Sydney escort Celia Bean, 39, was a promising University of Sydney student long before facing charges of manslaughter

Before she became an escort, Bean was a horse-loving student at the exclusive Frensham School in the NSW Southern Highlands, an all-girls school that costs $35,000-a-year.

'To the greatest times I've known and to my darling teddy who I'll never see again... I love you', Bean shared on her Facebook account in 2019 alongside a photo of her childhood horse.

After finishing school, Bean attended the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2005. She also started a postgraduate diploma in education at the nearby University of Technology Sydney.

On her LinkedIn account, Ms Bean said while she has an 'extensive knowledge of administrative environments' she is working toward a career in neuroscience to 'put my degree to use'.

Celia Bean (pictured) in May 2004 at a Frensham equestrian dressage event - the private school she attended in the Southern Highlands

In the decade following her graduation, she was worked as a corporate receptionist, in a supermarket and more recently as a 'temp' worker, rather than in an scientific roles.

Paul Browne (pitcured) body was found in a Sydney stairwell in 2021

Strike Force Bernacchi was established to investigate Mr Browne's death with Detective Inspector Phil Hallinan saying the alleged victim's family was 'devastated'.

Police claim the 33-year-old, a much-loved construction manager, died of a drug overdose after consuming heroin and methamphetamine, which they allege Bean and her friend Shayne Johnson had organised to be supplied to him.

The tradie is alleged to have driven to Ms Bean's apartment block from his home in the neighbouring suburb on October 7 2021.

More than 19 hours later, his body was discovered in a stairwell, police say.

A fresh-faced Celia at a racing event before her life changed

Bean and Johnson - also known as 'Teece' - were arrested before Christmas and remain before the courts.

The pair have been been refused bail and are next due to face Downing Centre Local Court on May 25.

A forensic pathologist previously told Parramatta Local Court that Mr Browne may have survived if medical assistance had been provided earlier.

In a text message exchange between Bean and Johnson, police allege the pair tried to distance themselves from the incident and claimed not to be responsible for Mr Browne's death.

The revelation comes as footage of emerged of Mr Browne auditioning for the singing show X-Factor in 2011, showing the construction worker in high spirits and having a laugh as he performed a ballad by Robbie Williams.

When his audition was called 'terrible' by all four judges, the young man said it was likely because 'my mouth is a little dry' and 'the song wasn't in my key'.
An art and design school principal who said she was sacked by Instagram while on holiday in Europe is no longer pursuing almost $900,000 in compensation from her former employer.

Karen Webster had claimed she was dismissed by LCI Melbourne for taking paid annual leave during 'the most important term of the year' after being told to apply for time off.

She was suing her former employer in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, seeking $786,051 in lost earnings and $100,000 for humiliation, distress and hurt.

The matter was listed for directions on Tuesday but a note on the court file stated the proceedings had been dismissed by consent with no order as to costs.

An art school principal who said she was sacked via an Instagram message while on holiday in Europe is no longer seeking almost $900,000 in compensation. Karen Webster (above) claimed she was dismissed by LCI Melbourne for taking paid annual leave after being told to apply for time off

Ms Webster, who had been earning about $270,000 a year, has held senior academic positions at universities including RMIT and was previously director of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Before her teaching career, Ms Webster was a designer for more than a decade and in 2012 was inducted into the Victorian capital's Fashion Hall of Fame.

Ms Webster began as dean and principal of LCI Melbourne in Collingwood in 2019 under a five-year contract and in June 2022 was told she had amassed an excess of annual leave entitlements.

LCI Melbourne's chief financial officer Robin Jain allegedly told Ms Webster the unused leave was a financial liability for the business and asked her to use some up.

Ms Webster said she applied in August to take leave between January 16 and February 17 this year, according to documents seen by Daily Mail Australia.

In her claim she had stated that request was approved by Professor Warren Bebbington, the chair of LCI Melbourne's board of directors.

Ms Webster headed off on holiday and from January 19 to February 7 her Instagram account was filled with glorious pictures of her travels to Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Paris.

Ms Webster alleged LCI Melbourne's director Claude Marchand contacted her via a direct message on Instagram on February 7 to inform her she was being sacked. 'You are not working at RMIT,' Mr Marchand allegedly wrote. 'You are working for a family business'

The St Kilda woman alleged LCI Melbourne's director Claude Marchand, who was also named as a respondent, contacted her via a direct message on Instagram on February 7.

Mr Marchand allegedly told Ms Webster she had taken her leave while she was needed at the academy and he had been instructed to terminate her employment.

LCI Melbourne's first academic term this year started on February 13 and runs until June 5, according to its website.

'You are not working at RMIT,' Mr Marchand allegedly wrote. 'You are working for a family business.

'Why pay that salary if you are in Europe while our teachers and students are deputing the most important term of the year?

'Wow. Big misunderstanding between us about role and responsibilities of a Dean and Principal.

'I gave instructions to cut accesses an deal with termination effective today (aka date I realized). We'll deal with that when you are back in Australia.'

Later the same day Ms Webster received written notification she had been terminated with immediate effect, court documents state.

Professor Bebbington sent an email to LCI Melbourne's board of directors on February 7 which according to Ms Webster's claim read in part: 'I write to advise that our parent company LCI Education Network has deemed the employment of Karen Webster as our Dean and Principal in Melbourne has come to an end, with immediate effect.'

'As such, we need to give effect to this decision. She will be paid her entitlements under the termination provisions of her contract.'

Karen Webster said her application for leave from January 16 to February 17 this year was approved by her bosses. From January 19 to February her Instagram account was filled with pictures of her travels in Paris, Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice (above)

LCI Melbourne is part of the the global LCI Education Network and was previously called the Australian Academy of Design.

It is a subsidiary of College Lassalle International, a company registered in Canada with campuses in Barcelona, Indonesia, Morocco, Vancouver and Montreal.

Mr Marchand is chief executive officer of College Lasalle International and the LCI Education Network, which according to its website employs 2,000 staff to teach more than 20,000 students worldwide.

Ms Webster claimed LCI Melbourne's conduct breached the Fair Work Act and she had been seeking compensation and a pecuniary penalty rather than reinstatement.

She said termination of her employment was an unlawful adverse action after she exercised her workplace right to take annual leave the school had agreed upon.

Her claim included the loss of an opportunity to sign a new five-year contract and the loss of an entitlement to shares.

Ms Webster was represented by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, the workplace law and compensation specialists, who declined to comment. LCI Melbourne has been contacted for comment.
The reopening of two immigration detention centres has been delayed by at least six months in a fresh blow to Suella Braverman's borders crackdown.

Mothballed facilities in Hampshire and Oxfordshire were due to be brought back into use by this summer.

But they will not now be ready until early next year at the earliest, sources said.

The delay casts doubt on the Government's plan to 'detain and swiftly remove' Channel migrants under new measures in the Illegal Migration Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

There are just 2,500 existing beds in Britain's immigration detention centres, which means the system will not be able to keep pace with the number of small boat arrivals.

The delays come as another blow to Home Secretary Suella Braverman's borders crackdown

More than 6,500 small boat migrants have reached the UK this year so far

Among last year's 45,700 total, 8,600 reached UK shores during August alone and the highest daily total was almost 1,300.

Government tenders to run disused centres Campfield House, near Oxford, and Haslar, at Gosport, Hampshire, closed in January.

Under the 450million, six-year contracts the centres were both due to be up and running by August. They will hold an extra 1,000 detainees in total.

The Bill is due to face strong opposition in the House of Lords in the coming weeks but ministers still hope it will gain Royal Assent by the time Parliament's summer recess begins in July.

Once its measures are in place, 'irregular' migrants such as small boat arrivals will be detained rather than placed in controversial and costly hotel accommodation.

But the Home Office will need a major expansion of detention capacity if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to remove Channel migrants is to be met.

Prisons cannot be used because they are already full, with inmates being kept in police station cells under an emergency scheme.

Sources said the reopening of the two additional detention centres is now delayed until early next year. Reasons for the hold-up are not known.

However, ministers are hoping the threat of detention and removal  to Rwanda or another safe country  will deter migrants from crossing the Channel in the first place.

So far this year, 6,549 small boat migrants have reached the UK, 15 per cent down on the 7,752 who had arrived by the same point last year.

Plans to reopen the two detention centres have been delayed until early next year (Pictured: Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire)

Ministers are hoping their tough approach will deter migrants from coming to UK shores (Pictured: Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire)

It is too early to say whether the Government's tough policies have already begun deterring migrants or whether the decline in numbers is down to the weather.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Immigration removal-centre capacity will not cause delays to the passage of the Illegal Migration Bill.

'The Bill will enable us to remove people as quickly as possible, meaning they will be in detention for a shorter amount of time.

'We are also working to build these new sites as a priority, while looking at finding alternative solutions to further increase detention capacity.'

Meanwhile, new protections for free speech are in doubt as human rights reforms face the scrapheap.

Former justice secretary Dominic Raab's Bill of Rights, published last year, would have ditched Labour's Human Rights Act and made free speech a 'trump card' over other competing rights.

But his successor Alex Chalk is 'looking carefully' at the Bill, with scrapping it the most likely option, sources told The Times.

The Bill was designed to block the creation of European-style privacy laws by unelected judges through the back door.

However, in September Liz Truss' government shelved the legislation and said it was 'unlikely to progress in its current form'.

It was resurrected when Mr Raab returned to Rishi Sunak's Cabinet, but is now in doubt again after he was forced to resign in the wake of a bullying inquiry.

A Government source told the Times: 'Dom's departure sounded the death knell for the Bill of Rights. It won't be coming back, or at least not in any form that resembles the current Bill.'

Another Government source described the legislation as a 'complete mess'.
A group of students have launched legal action after they discovered the university major they studied for wasn't accredited.

At least 18 students are part of a class action against James Cook University in far north Queensland over a financial advising major.

The financial advising major was launched in 2019 but has been accredited for less than a year, with students saying this left them unable to get a job in the heavily-regulated finance industry.

One shattered student was offered a job when he finished the course, but then lost it because the major wasn't officially recognised at the time while other classmates missed out on 'significant' employment opportunities.

Aspiring financial planner Sam Boon thought he found his dream course when he came across a promotional video for the course and immediately switched majors.

It wasn't until the final months of his degree three years later that he realised he may not graduate with the accreditations promised as a financial advisor.

Former students Blade Stark (left) and Sam Boon (right) have launched legal action against James Cook University

'I'd just spent three years of study with no real opportunity at the end of it to become a financial advisor,' Mr Boon told A Current Affair.

'I was quite distressed, annoyed, disheartened and sort of questioning what I was going to to do and how am I going to get through this.'

Mr Boon enrolled in the course after seeing a video ad online promising it to be fully accredited for those 'interested in a career in financial advising, financial planning, investment services or in stock brokering'.

'It was something I was passionate about. I did like finance and I like numbers and I like helping people,' he said.

'I jumped at the opportunity and went straight into it.'

Blade Stark also switched courses because he thought the new degree was a perfect fit.

Even when he found out within weeks of finishing that his major wasn't accredited, he had faith that JCU would rectify and sort the issue before he graduated.

'JCU is the be-all and end-all of universities up here, so I trusted JCU was going to provide the degree and give everything that was needed to give me a stepping stone to becoming a financial advisor,' Mr Stark said.

Blade Stark (pictured with several former classmates) got a job but then lost it because his major wasn't accredited at the time

Mr Stark had a job lined up which he then lost because the major wasn't officially recognised.

'I ultimately lost my job because of this accreditation issue with JCU,' he said.

'I've got a couple of mates that started studying around the same time as me and now, they're a year-and-a half ahead,' he said.

Another former student Lachlan Keevers says he was studying a double major in law and business in 2018 when he was approached by JCU to switch to the new course.

'They released a video in every business class encouraging us to drop everything and come and do it,' he told The Guardian.

'Frustrating doesn't begin to describe the experience. There's enough stress that goes with studying. I sat there every day not knowing if my degree would be worth anything.'

Mr Boon launched legal action after sending 15 emails demanding answers from the university but received no response, or even an apology.

The course was finally accredited in July 2022 but took a further three months for he and his classmates to get their qualifications backdated.

He insists the class action isn't about the money.

'(It's) for distress, disappointment, the loss of income, the opportunity to increase my salary,' Mr Boon said.

'I spent two and a bit years basically not being able to start my professional year, which was needed to be a financial advisor.'

Students enrolled in JCU's commerce degree majoring in financial advising after an ad in 2019 (pictured) promised the new course would be accredited

Solicitor Duke Myrteza from Australian Law Partners, who's representing students involved in the class action says he's never seen a situation like it in his 30 years as a lawyer.

'Some have missed out on significant job opportunities,' Mr Myrteza told the program.

'Others have suffered enormous mental anguish from them having to flail around trying to find a solution to the problem created by the university.'

The course has been accredited since July last year, according to the university.

'At that time, students who were enrolled in the course were provided with a seamless transition to the newly accredited program, while graduated students received an accredited degree,' JCU said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

'The university offered all affected graduates the opportunity to obtain additional and higher qualifications at JCU's expense.

'JCU arranged for students to participate in a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning with Deakin University. JCU met the tuition fees for students who took up this option.

'Students have been offered further financial and emotional support, which some have accepted.

The major has been accredited since July last year, according to James Cook University

'JCU was in regular contact with affected students and graduates throughout the accreditation process, providing them with updates on the matter.

'Where JCU is in discussions with students, or the matter is before the courts, we cannot comment further about the matter.'

The university was forced to slash 130 jobs in 2022 after Australian student enrolments declined by 25 per cent within five years.
Sen. John Fetterman said that depression 'nearly ruined me' and he avoided a potentially 'tragic' outcome by checking into Walter Reed, in his latest comments about seeking inpatient treatment for the disease.

The Pennsylvania Democrat sat down for an interview with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough last week, which aired in full Monday night, and was asked if there was a 'triggering event' that convinced him to seek help.

'I'll never forget the decision where I'm like, if I don't do something to claim my life, this could be tragic,' the 53-year-old lawmaker said. 'I was skeptical,' he added of seeking treatment.

Like in other interviews, Fetterman said that his depression became a problem after his 2022 Senate campaign wrapped up. In a local interview Tuesday with Pittsburgh's KDKA he used the word 'vicious' to describe the battle against Republican TV personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz.

But with Scarborough, Fetterman also talked about adjusting to life in Washington and lashed out about the online hatred his family has received since he became a national political figure.

'Then another thing that was very punishing at that time, too, is that there was this social media blowtorch unleashed on my family,' he said. 'Unleash whatever you want on me, but on my family - I can't imagine anybody that would think it would be funny to make fun of children or whatever.'

Sen. John Fetterman said that depression 'nearly ruined me' and he avoided a potentially 'tragic' outcome by checking into Walter Reed, in his latest comments about seeking inpatient treatment for the disease

Fetterman with wife Gisele and the couple's three kids. Fetterman went after the 'social media blowtorch unleashed on my family' as he became a national political figure

Fetterman's wife Gisele became targeted by the political right as she became one of his primary surrogates during the campaign after he suffered a stroke.

'Our family and I went through this grueling campaign and now you've won and now, what's wrong with us? Is it not enough for us?' Fetterman described to Scarborough. 'You know, why do you feel this way?'

'And I tried to explain to them, no, it's different,' he said of conversations with his family. 'Winning doesn't mean that it still didn't hurt still.'

He told Scarborough, 'That's what's so insidious about depression. You might win and it still feels like you lose.'

'I laid there, I laid there and watched this hurt my own children. Because they were confused. Because they thought just because you won, why aren't you - you should be happy,' he recalled.

Scarborough asked Fetterman if he looked to leaders like President Abraham Lincoln or British Prime Minister Winston Churchill - who struggled from depression - but fought through it to become historical figures.

'I would say there's almost like a nobility to it. Our suffering. There's nobility to that,' Fetterman commented. 'So maybe sometimes it toughens you up for whatever. It didn't toughen me up, in fact it nearly ruined me,' he revealed.

'And I know it put my family through a lot of pain,' the lawmaker said.

In an interview with KDKA Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Fetterman said his 'vicious' 2022 Senate campaign against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz (pictured) led to his mental health declining and eventual hospital stay

Fetterman's (right) stroke left him with auditory processing issues and he continued to be assisted by closed captioning technology during his sit-down Thursday with Scarborough (left)

He said the 'catalyst' for his recovery came from his children writing him inspirational notes and, in turn, him wanting to get better for his children.

'And it became kind of like that's what sparked my idea that it's like there's a whole big reason to get better,' Fetterman said. 'Me putting my kids through the scaring of losing me or what's wrong really was the single biggest motivation to take it on.'

He said he felt 'ashamed' that his 8-year-old son had to be the one to enthusiastically cheer him.

'I was the guy that should have been cheering for them on and encouraging them. No it was the children that were doing all that. And they didn't hold it against me. They let their love come through,' Fetterman said, noting that he had a 'lot of support.'

In a previous clip that aired Friday, Fetterman said he's 'begging' other men who are struggling with mental health issues to seek help.

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Scarborough pointed to figures that showed men are less likely to seek treatment when suffering from depression and anxiety, adding, 'If you need help, get help, don't be too proud.'

'I couldn't agree more,' the Pennsylvania Democrat said. 'I would beg - this isn't a matter of who's tough or who's not. I would just beg men, you're not too macho. It's no big deal. The only person you're really going to hurt more than anyone else is actually your family.'

Fetterman stayed in the Senate race after suffering a stroke just days before Pennsylvania's Democratic primary last spring.

It kept him off the campaign trail for most of the summer.

He returned to doing public events through the fall - though was slowed down by the after-effects of his stroke, which had created auditory processing issues.

He described hearing voices like the adults on the Peanuts cartoons.

When talking to Scarborough, he was still assisted by closed captioning technology, in order to understand what the MSNBC host was saying.

Due to the stroke, Fetterman's speech was still sometimes halting.

Scarborough asked the Pennsylvania Democrat what the Biden administration and Congress could do to improve mental healthcare in the U.S.

Fetterman noted, 'it's all of our challenges.'

'And we should have it because there might be a time when you're going to need the kind of programming like me to turn your life around,' he said.

'It's not a Democratic issue, this isn't a Republican issue, this is not hard right, hard left, this was jsut a human issue,' the senator added. 'I'm begging people get help if you can - and it works. Just like I refused to believe I could be made better.'

Previewing the full interview on Friday morning, Scarborough said, 'He's determined to stay, he's determine to fight through this.'

He also noted that Fetterman got the most emotional about 'the love he felt from from Democrats and Republicans alike.'

'It's the first thing that he talked about,' Scarborough said.

Fetterman was discharged from Walter Reed at the end of March.

He returned to work in the Capitol when Congress came back from a two-week Easter recess in April.
An Australian-born conservative commentator has told a high-profile US talk show that the feelings of trans' people are 'superseding' those of biological women.

Sydney Watson, who was raised in Melbourne, appeared on the high-rating Dr Phil show that aired in mid April as part of a panel discussion on the topic 'Are women being erased?'.

Dr Watson, who has a YouTube channel dedicated to her commentary that has nearly 900,000 subscribers, did not hold back while addressing the trans representatives who were taking part.

'What we always seem to fixate on is the trans experience and that's how it feels for us biological women,' Dr Watson said.

'We are always focusing on the trans feel or how the non-binary people feel we get left out of the conversation oftentimes and it is very frustrating for us because there are very unique issues that affect us in a way you will never understand.'

Australian-raised conservative commentator made a strong speech about biological women being 'superseded' by the feelings of trans people on US talk show Dr Phil

Dr Watson went to say that she wasn't saying the experience of trans' people is invalid 'or that we should relegate you to the back of the bus'.

'We live in a world that will always be different by the fact that we are biological women, we are different' Dr Watson argued.

'You know what's upsetting for us to be told that our very existence is superseded by the feelings of others. That is how we feel and it is very, very, very frustrating.'

However, she stressed that women could embrace trans people and their issues.

'I couldn't imagine how stressful and painful it must be to be trans because you are always fighting against the biology that you have and the nature you want to have,' Dr Watson said.

'That has to be very challenging.'

Trans activist Chandi Moore also appeared on the Dr Phil show, which asked if women are being 'erased'

Kent State Associate Professor in Communications twice interrupted Dr Watson and the host, former clinical psychologist and Oprah Winfrey show alumni Dr Phil McGraw, tried to interject once but she gave them both short shrift.

In posting the clip of her contribution on Twitter Dr Watson commented: 'I mean everything I said on Dr Phil - but I especially meant it when I wouldn't let the leftist to my side interrupt me.'

On her YouTube channel Dr Watson, 29, reflected on her appearance in a video posted on May 1.

While saying the producers and most of the staff were 'lovely' Dr Watson described the overall experience as a 'sh*t show' and 'completely infuriating'.

Dr Watson was raised in Melbourne but now lives in the US where she has a dedicated YouTube channel with nearly 900,000 subscribers

Dr Watson said the large size of the panel that had about a dozen people taking part was not conducive to good discussion and also lamented the episode got bogged down in debate about gendered language debate or as she called it 'gender muck'.

She said that while trans people are 'advertised as a particularly vulnerable and misaligned minority' their voices always seem to dominate any discussion of sex and gender.

'The fact that I was sitting on a panel with other women desperately trying to provide adequate justification for my experiences as a female and why those experiences are unique and deserving of recognition tells you everything you need to know about the power imbalance here,' she argued.

Despite her annoyances with the show Dr Watson said she would go back on Dr Phil if invited.

'I wish that I had done a lot more talking during this episode,' she said.

'These conversations almost force us to beg to be validated as our actual sex and that is so sad its like a biological struggle session.'

After being raised in Melbourne by her Australian father and American mother Dr Watson moved to the US in 2019 to pursue a career as a political pundit and lives in Texas.
A baby girl has been found dead at a Queensland home, sparking an investigation.

Emergency services were called to a block of apartments on Peerless Avenue at Mermaid Beach, a coastal suburb on the Gold Coast, on Tuesday morning.

Police and paramedics were parked outside the Bela by Mosaic building with forensic officers entering the block with empty evidence bags.

The age of the baby is unknown.

Emergency services rushed to a home in Mermaid Beach, a coastal suburb on the Gold Coast, at about 8am on Tuesday morning (pictured is police and paramedics at the scene)

Several marked and unmarked police cars remain parked outside the unit building.

'Police are investigating the sudden death of an infant at Mermaid Beach this morning,' a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

'Just after 8am, police were called to a residence after a young girl was located deceased.

'A crime scene has been declared while investigations into the cause of death are undertaken.'
The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines said having King Charles III as the head of state is 'absurd'.

Ralph Gonsalves said he wanted to see his country severed from the monarchy within his lifetime and do away with 'the absurdity'.

The 76-year-old said he would also welcome an apology from the UK state for past injustices relating to slavery.

He told BBC Radio 4's the World At One programme: 'It's something that I'm hoping to see consummated, the severing of the umbilical cord between our country and the British monarch.

'King Charles knows that, he and I have discussed that in very amicable ways, but Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will remain in the Commonwealth.

King Charles III poses during an audience with the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, and Mrs Eloise Gonsalves, at Balmoral Castle on October 1, 2022

Ralph Gonsalves said he wanted to see his country severed from the monarchy within his lifetime

'The King is understanding of the impulses of former colonial peoples to cut the links.'

Mr Gonsalves is the second Caribbean leader to call for an end to links with the monarchy since King Charles' Coronation.

Terrance Drew, of St Kitts and Nevis Labour party who won a snap election in August, claimed his country is 'not totally free' while King Charles is its head of state, signalling the eastern Caribbean county could be the next to become a republic.

He told the BBC a public consultation on whether the Commonwealth realm nation should become a republic will start during his leadership.

Dr Drew has also called on the monarchy to apologise for its historic links to the slave trade, according to the BBC.

Buckingham Palace said King Charles III takes slavery 'profoundly seriously', amid his support for a landmark study into historical links between the monarchy and slavery.

St Kitts and Nevis prime minister Dr Drew was among world leaders who posed in a group photograph with Charles after attending a Commonwealth reception at Marlborough House in London on Friday, ahead of the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.

Commonwealth leaders from Kiribati, Nigeria, St Kitts and Nevis, Togo, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda, Malawi, Antigua and Barbados, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Guyana, Lesotho, Fiji, Zambia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and Gabon met at a reception ahead of the King's Coronation

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Terrance Drew was among the Commonwealth leaders who met King Charles at a reception on May 5 ahead of his Coronation

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrence Drew

King Charles is sovereign of 14 Commonwealth realms in addition to the UK, while the Commonwealth as a whole is a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, almost all of which were formerly under British rule.

READ MORE: Majority of British public think Charles should not apologise for slavery, new poll shows Advertisement

Ahead of the Coronation, representatives from 12 Commonwealth countries joined forces to call on Charles to acknowledge and apologise for the impacts and ongoing legacy from British 'genocide and colonisation'.

It comes amid a republican push across the Commonwealth, with Barbados becoming a republic in 2021 when it replaced the late Queen with a president as its head of state.

There has since been speculation that other countries, such as Jamaica, could follow suit.

Last year, Jamaica said that it plans to pursue independence, and in February Australia decided to remove the British monarch from the last of its banknotes, although an image of Charles is expected to feature on coins.

Ahead of the Coronation, a poll suggested that nearly half of the King's realms, including Canada and Australia, would vote to become republics if a referendum was held tomorrow.

Research by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft found that of the 14 overseas countries where he is head of state, six - Australia, Canada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Solomon Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda  would vote to ditch the monarchy.

Research by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft reveals the true scale of the challenge Charles faces abroad

It found that of the 14 overseas countries where he is head of state, six  Australia, Canada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Solomon Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda  would vote to ditch the monarchy

Last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said that he personally favours his country - which is self-governing but sees Charles retaining a largely ceremonial role as head of state and King - becoming a republic.

In early April, Charles expressed his support for the first time for research into the historical links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade.

Buckingham Palace said the royal household will help with the academic project by offering access to the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives.

The research is expected to analyse previous rulers' involvement with slave-trading companies, including the Royal African Company and its deputy governor, Edward Colston, whose statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour by anti-racism protesters.

Charles's support for the academic work, carried out by the University of Manchester with Historic Royal Palaces, was welcomed by researchers and campaigners.

But others voiced fears it could open the door to the Royal Family and the Government facing demands to pay compensation, or reparations, for their role in the slave trade and colonialism.

Speaking in the St Kitts and Nevis capital Basseterre, Dr Drew told the BBC that the research was a 'step in the right direction'.

'I think that acknowledging that... something wrong was done, acknowledging it and apologising for it, is a step in the right direction,' he reportedly said.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously.'

They cited a speech by Charles to Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda last year, when he said: 'I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact.'

The spokesperson added: 'That learning process has continued with vigour and determination since His Majesty's Accession.

'As one part of it, the Royal Household is supporting Historic Royal Palaces' independent research project that is exploring, among other issues, the links between the British Monarchy and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries.'

On the references to republics, the spokesperson added: 'His Majesty has long acknowledged the discussion about constitutional arrangements with the royal family.

Princess Anne insisted today that the monarchy is in safe hands with King Charles after sitting down for a rare interview ahead of her brother's Coronation

In his Rwanda speech, Charles said: 'I want to say clearly, as I have said before, that each member's constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide.

'The benefit of long life brings me the experience that arrangements such as these can change, calmly and without rancour.'

Last week, the late Queen's only daughter Princess Anne, 72, distanced the Windsors from the slave trade amid calls for Britain and the royals to pay compensation.

When asked about what her brother meant about 'support', she said: 'It's not really a subject of conversation that I would even go down. I have a historical perspective which is slightly different, maybe more realistic.'

'The historical perspective [is] it just goes back a lot further. And the modern contexts are very different. Slavery hasn't gone away.'

The future role of the monarchy in the realms came under renewed scrutiny following the death of the Queen and controversies surrounding royal trips to Caribbean countries by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh last year.

Prince William and Princess Kate's royal trip in March 2022 to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas was criticised over allegedly 'tone deaf' images, which critics claimed were reminiscent of colonial days.

The controversial photos showed the couple, then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, shaking hands with Kingston crowds behind a mesh wire fence, and standing in the back of a Land Rover.

Belize locals also claimed they were not consulted about a royal engagement, and the couple were met with calls for slavery reparations from the monarchy in Jamaica.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie also faced calls for reparations during their tour of Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2022.
Joe Biden was self-deprecating Monday evening after being introduced by Academy Award winning actor Ke Huy Quan during a special White House showing of the first episode of American Born Chinese.

During an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month event at the White House, Biden said he can't sing, dance or 'do much of anything.'

Notably, when Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a State Dinner at the White House last month, he did not join the world leader in singing American Pie in front of the crowd.

Attendees in the East Room on Monday evening were shown an exclusive first-look at the new Disney+ comedy series American Born Chinese, which premiers later in May.

President Joe Biden said he can't 'act worth a damn,' sing, dance or 'do much of anything' at a White House event for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Biden was following-up introduction remarks made by Academy Award winning actor Ke Huy Quan

The president spoke after Quan got emotional talking about this being his first-ever visit to the White House.

'You know, I thought it would take me a very, very long time before I got emotional again,' the Everything Everywhere All At Once star said in reference to his tear-jerker Academy Award winner speech.

'But as I was entering the White House to the east entrance, and as I was walking up those steps, with that orchestra playing this beautiful music, I couldn't help but tear up, because I was telling myself I'm going to the White House, I'm going to the White House.'

'I've never been here before,' the Vietnamese-born actor said to massive cheers. 'And you know, now this is the way to go to the White House.'

He concluded enthusiastically: 'And I never thought I would get a chance to say this but now it is my distinct pleasure to introduce the President of the United States.'

Quan appeared to get choked up and have tears in his eyes during his remarks mentioning how this is his first time visiting the White House. 'You know, I thought it would take me a very, very long time before I got emotional again,' the Everything Everywhere All At Once star said

Biden followed-up with a dry joke.

'My name is Joe Biden,' the president down-played, but received a roaring laugh.

'I've never won an Academy Award. I can't act worth a damn. I can't sing, can't dance. Can't do much of anything,' he said.

The last bit made the crowd give a sympathetic 'aww' to Biden before he said: 'And it's good to be with all of you.'

'Good evening everyone,' Biden said Monday as Quan watched on. 'So this is the largest Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage celebration ever held in the White House.'

The president joked with Quan about how they both were big in the 1980s and got a revival in their career even though everyone 'counted us out.'
The Duke of Sussex slipped in and out of Buckingham Palace after the Coronation without seeing senior members of the Royal Family during his visit to Britain, it was claimed last night.

The report claimed Prince Harry spent less than half an hour at the Palace after the Westminster Abbey service, before travelling to Heathrow Airport to return to the United States on Saturday.

Photos show how the Prince left Westminster Abbey at 1.15pm and entered a black BMW.

He was then spotted exiting the A4 at 1.50pm and at the entrance to Heathrow at 2pm.

The Prince's dash to the airport makes timings tight for any pit-stop at Buckingham Palace, which the report in the Telegraph said was for 'logistical reasons', to take a moment out of the public eye after the two-hour ceremony.

The Duke of Sussex's journey from Westminster Abbey to Heathrow Airport on Saturday

Saturday, 10.45am: Prince Harry looks on during his father's Coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. He was relegated to the third row, behind many other senior royals

Saturday, 1.15pm: The Duke of Sussex gets into a car and leaves Westminster Abbey following the Coronation service

Saturday, 1.50pm: Harry's car is given a police escort as it travels along the A4 towards Heathrow after leaving the Abbey

Former Royal Protection Officer Ken Wharfe told MailOnline today that there was 'logistically, just no way' the Duke could have stopped off at the Palace.

'From the West End to Heathrow, you're looking at about 35 minutes under police escort, that's the quickest you're ever going to do it,' he said.

'My own view is I can't see any point in him going to the Palace, there'd be nobody there to receive him anyway and all his family were there at the Abbey for the Coronation.

'I think it's highly unlikely he stopped off. I can't see any reason for it.

'It sounds ridiculous but the only possible reason would be to stop off if he needed the toilet or felt unwell.'

Mr Wharf also added that it would be 'impossible' for Harry to have entered and left the Palace without being seen, particularly with so many people in central London on the day.

It comes after the King expressed 'regret' over Harry's absence and toasted 'those that weren't there' during the Royal Family's celebratory lunch.

The Duke was back in California on Sunday morning and therefore did not join the Royal Family for official Coronation portraits and was not at the Coronation Concert.

Saturday, 2pm: Prince Harry is seen arriving at the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport having departed the Coronation service

Sunday 3am: Prince Harry gets in a Range Rover at LAX airport in California after landing back in the United States for his son's birthday

Sources told the Telegraph, Prince Harry's lack of contact was 'practical' and he was eager to return to his wife and children in the United States while the rest of the family were busy with the Coronation procession.

It is the first time Prince Harry is thought to have been at the Palace since the Queen's funeral last September.

He was in Britain earlier this year to attend court cases but is not known to have seen King Charles III or Prince William.

He was seated in the third row for his father and stepmother's crowning in Westminster Abbey - two rows behind his brother Prince William.

It is understood Prince Harry stuck to the dress code instructed for the ceremony, wearing a dark morning suit and tie, his Afghanistan and Jubilee medals pinned to his suit jacket, and a Royal Victorian Order star and neck decoration.

During the Royal Family's lunch, King Charles III raised a glass to his three grandchildren Prince George  who also served as a Page of Honour  Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who were among the stars of the show and carried out their public appearances with aplomb.

But he made a point of also toasting 'those that weren't there' and wished his other grandson a very happy birthday 'wherever he was'.

'It was apparently a very sweet moment,' a source told MailOnline.

Meanwhile, a royal expert said last night that King Charles III's first official portrait following the Coronation shows him as a 'monarch who knows his own mind', surrounded by 'the people he can depend on'.

Monday saw the sovereign's opening set of Royal photos unveiling the King's new 'slimmed down' monarchy, with his 'hard-working and respected' sister, Princess Anne and loving wife Queen Camilla firmly by his side.

Prince Harry did not join the Royal Family for official Coronation portraits and was not at the Coronation Concert on Sunday

Prince Harry flew back to his wife Meghan (pictured), who had remained at their home in the US to celebrate the 4th birthday of their son Archie on Saturday

Meghan Markle was dressed in an all-black athletic ensemble, along with a khaki jacket, which she tied around her waist during the outdoor excursion

And to mark his reign as head of state, the 74-year-old sovereign was unveiled in a striking new solo portrait to commemorate his historic crowning.

'This one is a strong forceful portrait of a monarch who knows his own mind and is very experienced,' royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline last night.

It comes as Harry's wife Meghan was spotted hiking near their 11mmillion Montecito mansion just hours after the Coronation service.

The Duchess of Sussex was joined on the fresh-air outing by her friends, Markus Anderson and Heather Dorak, in California on Sunday after celebrating her son Archie's birthday on Saturday.

It was the first time she had been seen in public since her father-in-law's coronation on Saturday.

Meghan was noticeably absent from the regal festivities in the UK this weekend, as she remained in the U.S. to celebrate her son Archie's 'lowkey' birthday at their Montecito home.

Sources claim Meghan decided to have the celebrations at the couple's home, because 'she felt it would be inauthentic to do anything else'.

Archie had a 'private celebration' with a lemon cake which was baked by the Duchess of Sussex using fruit from their garden, a source close to the couple said.

Archie's grandmother Doria Ragland is thought to have attended the youngster's birthday party, as well as Meghan's close friend, make-up mogul Victoria Jackson, 65.

When asked if any of the party guests included celebrity neighbours such as Oprah Winfrey, a source said: 'Some of their friends are celebrities, so yes, that's likely. It will be a small, intimate gathering.'

Her estranged father Thomas Markle, 78, told the MoS he believed 'it was for the best' that the Duchess stayed at home. 'There are too many disagreements between Meghan, Harry and the Royals,' he added.

Meghan, 41, was joined on the fresh-air outing by her friends, Markus Anderson and Heather Dorak, in California on Sunday

Meanwhile, the King was back to work today as he broke ground on a 58million research facility that will aim to develop net-zero flight technology.

The monarch's first engagement following his coronation at the weekend saw him pay an hour-long visit to the Whittle Laboratory at Cambridge University.

The research centre, founded 50 years ago, is developing a brand new lab that will bring together the world's top aviation and energy experts to achieve emissions-free flights as soon as possible.

It is a fitting first engagement for the King, who is a fervent environmentalist but can no longer speak out on such issues following his ascension to the throne.

As the coronation festivities came to a close last night, the King and Queen pledged to rededicate their lives to service as Charles called the nation's support throughout the historic celebrations 'the greatest possible coronation gift'.

Elsewhere, the Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Morden College in Blackheath, London, of which she is a patron, while the duke will attend a dinner at Stonehage Fleming at St James's Square for his patron charity, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on reports of the Duke's visit.
The Mormon mom accused of poisoning her husband last year was promoting the kids' bereavement book she wrote after he died as recently as a month ago.

Kouri Richins, 33, is accused of murdering her husband Eric, 40, in their home in Kamas, a town near Park City, Utah, last March.

Police believe she gave him a lethal dose of fentanyl disguised in a Moscow Mule cocktail.

In the weeks and months before, she'd tried to make herself the sole beneficiary of his life insurance policy. He had changed his will and power of attorney to give his sister full control, and was even worried that his wife was trying to kill him, according to a police search warrant.

Kouri remains in the custody of Summit County Sheriff's Deputies awaiting her next court appearance. Just last month, she appeared on a local TV station to promote her $14.99 book, Are You With Me?'

Kouri Richins, 33, is accused of murdering her husband Eric, 40, in their home in Kamas , a town near Park City, Utah, last March. She is shown promoting her book, Are You With Me, last month

Kouri Richins (left) was arrested on Monday in Utah and is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins (right), with fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town near Park City

Video of that appearance shows her referring to her husband's death as a 'shock', and talking wistfully about how she was guiding their three sons through grief.

'My husband passed away unexpectedly last year. March 4 was a one year anniversary for us, He was 39.

'It completely took us all by shock,' she said.

'We have three little boys, ten, nine and six, and my kids and I kind of wrote this book on the different emotions and grieving processes that we've experienced in the last year.'

She said she was motivated to write the book after searching Amazon and Barnes and Noble and finding 'nothing' to help them 'cope'.

'I went on Amazon and Barnes and Noble to try to find something to help us cope at night, nights are the hardest. I just wanted some story to read to my kids at night and I couldn't find anything that suited them, so I was like "let's just write one."'

Following his death, Richins wrote 'Are you with me?' - a picture book she wrote to help children cope after the death of a loved one

Kouri says she wrote the book last year to help the couple's three kids deal with their grief

The $14.99 book is still available on Amazon and is dedicated to Eric Richins

Richins had told police she had performed CPR on Eric after finding him unresponsive in their home, but fire crew and medics who responded to the scene said this was unlikely as there was blood coming from his mouth.

Her arrest comes just two months after that of Mormon dentist Jim Craig, who is suspected of poisoning his wife to death in Colorado.

In the years before his death, Eric told his family he feared his wife was trying to kill him. There were two occasions when Eric became violently ill after having drinks or dinner with his wife.

One of Eric's two sisters told police he had called her three years ago from Greece where he and Richins were on vacation together. He claimed Richins had given him a drink that made him violently ill and said he believed she had tried to kill him.

In January 2022, she changed Eric's joint life insurance policy, which he shared with his business partner Cody Wright, so that she was the only beneficiary, a warrant states.

When the insurance company told the partners, who own the business C&E Stone Masonry, of the change, they were able to change it back.

After finding out that Richins had tried to change his life insurance policy, Eric changed the beneficiary of his will and his power of attorney to his sister without telling his wife because he was scared she might 'kill him for the money', a warrant states.

Police say Kouri asked a friend to buy the drugs for her, paying $900 for the first batch and another $900 after Valentine's Day.

She is said to have asked for the 'Michael Jackson stuff' - then been given fentanyl.

While she told police she did not use her phone on the night of her husband's death, police say records show she was texting with someone back and forth.

Those messages were later deleted, they said.

Richins was taken into custody in Summit County yesterday. She is now being held behind bars.

A medical examiner said they found five times the lethal dose of fentanyl - a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine - in Eric's system after he died on March 4 last year. Pictured: Richins and Eric with one of their sons

Eric's family told investigators shortly after he died they suspected Richins had killed the father-of-three. Pictured: Kouri and Eric Richens with their three children

'God certainly perfected the mold when Eric was born': Obituary for Mormon husband and father 'poisoned by his wife' 'Eric Eugene Richins made his last extravagant and largely unexpected gesture on March 4, 2022, signing off on a life, in his own words, lived to the fullest and with few regrets. 'God certainly perfected the mold when Eric was born to Gene and Linda (Carter) Richins on May 13, 1982 in Bountiful, UT. Erics world revolved around his family, his love for hunting, the family cattle ranch, and his insane drive as a successful entrepreneur. 'Being born into the Richins Legacy shaped Erics formative years and resulted in a lifetime of hard work, dedication, and fierce loyalty. Being the eldest was a dubious task, but he was up for the challenge and led and loved his sisters fiercely. At an early age, Eric learned the joys of keeping horses and cows around. He spent countless hours helping his dad work the ranch, hauling hay, feeding the animals, and mending fences. He loved his family unconditionally, and was a devoted son, brother, and uncle. 'Eric was a family man, who always strove to be the absolute best father and husband. He was an attentive and loving father to his three sons Carter (9), Ashton (7), and Weston (5), and a devoted husband to the love of his life, and wife of nine years, Kouri (Darden) Richins. Eric did absolutely everything in his power to provide his family with every possible opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun. 'Growing up Eric was a serious athlete and loved all sports, whether it was watching them or playing them. He was involved in cross country, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He was also the coach or assistant coach on all his boys teams. He spent countless hours coaching and teaching the boys to play aggressive and give it their all! Eric truly cared about every single child he coached and wanted the absolute best for all of them. 'Eric was an avid outdoorsman and dedicated hunter. He was an excellent archer and marksman, and had multiple trophy animals from all around the world including Africa, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. 'There was never a dull moment when you were around Eric. Whether it be him showing up to a family dinner with no socks or sleeves on his shirt because he had to make an emergency bathroom stop along the way or his calling to tell you he rolled the four-wheeler for the umpteenth time, is stuck, and needs you to come get him. 'Eric loved to have fun and was always the life of the party. He owned almost every motorized toy possible, from four-wheelers and side-by-sides, to trucks and snow mobiles. Because of this, he of course holds the Richins family record for most rolls and collisions of motorized vehicles, as well as most stitches received from a single incident 200 on his face to be exact. 'Eric was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-day Saints. He served a two-year mission in Mexico City where he learned to speak Spanish fluently. He received a bachelors degree from the University of Utah in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. Together, Erics mission and his education truly shaped his business acumen. He had the perfect combination of business sense and foresight. He built a very successful masonry business from the ground up and helped many friends do the same. He had a special ability to build close relationships with everyone he worked with which really allowed his business to thrive. Eric loved every aspect of his job but most of all he loved the people he worked for and those he worked with. 'Eric faithfully supported organizations that he truly believed in. He never was one that wanted recognition or accolades; he did most things anonymously and without recognition. Eric was a true champion of all people. It did not matter if you were an employee, family, friend, or the next random person walking down the street. If you needed anything, you could count on him. He truly cared about each person he met. He was always trying to help people find better situations in work and in life. Eric made sure to set time aside to do what he loved most and made sure that everyone around him did the same. 'Eric loved fully, laughed loudly, and lived life with reckless abandon. He enjoyed great adventures to far off places, but also cherished the small and finer things in life like his Under Armour sweat suits and spending time with his family and friends. No obstacle was too great for Rico, he simply viewed each one as a challenge. No peaks were too high and the next adventure was always just around the next bend. 'Words cant describe the loneliness and loss that is felt in every heart that was lucky enough to know him. We all need to learn from Erics example and be sure to make the time to have fun and do what we love. Thank you Rico, for being such an inspiration and role model for us all. We love you Eric, with all our hearts and more. 'Eric is preceded in death by his amazing mother, Linda (Carter) Richins. His paternal grandparents, H. Lamont and Althea (Ferguson) Richins; his maternal grandfather, Charles Carter. 'He is survived by his three incredible sons, Carter, Ashton, and Weston; his wife, Kouri (Darden); His father Eugene F.; and his sisters, Katie (Clint) Benson and Amy (William) Richins, his nieces Madalin and Lillian Benson, and his maternal grandmother, Joan Carter. His is also survived by a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who all loved and adored him.' Advertisement

But a month later, court documents show that on Valentine's Day last year, Eric suffered an allergic reaction following a meal with Richins. He could not breathe and passed out after using an EpiPen and taking Benadryl.

Court documents say Richins had bought $900 worth of fentanyl pills from an acquaintance before the Valentine's Day meal and two weeks later she asked for $900 more. Days later, Eric died of an overdose.

Following Eric's death, Richins had claimed he had an addiction to pain medicine in high school but there was no substance abuse issues since.

But friends and family told police said they hadn't any idea of Eric being addicted to any form of medicine, and officers did not find any pain killers in the family home.

Kouri Richins was arrested on Monday in Utah and is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl at their home in Kamas

In addition to the murder charge, Richins also faces charges involving the alleged possession of GHB - a narcolepsy drug frequently used in recreational settings, including at dance clubs.

The charges are based on officers' interactions with Richins that night and the account of an 'unnamed acquaintance' who claims to have sold her the fentanyl.

Two months ago, Richins promoted her children's book on local TV and told a segment called 'Good Things Utah' that she had written it to help her three boys deal with the grief of losing their father.

She called her husband's death unexpected and described how it sent her and her three boys reeling.

For children, Richins said, grieving was about 'making sure that their spirit is always alive in your home.'

'It's - you know - explaining to my kid just because he's not present here with us physically, doesn't mean his presence isn't here with us,' she told the anchors, who commended her for being an amazing mother.

Richins' attorney, Skye Lazaro, declined to comment on the charges.
Since the siblings don't own property, they did not qualify for two of three of the repayment options - to use the money on mortgage payments or home repairs

A pair of Chicago siblings are set to receive $25,000 in reparations cash - as part of the first effort from an American city to make financial amends with its black residents.

Evanston residents Kenneth Wideman, 77, and Shelia Wideman, 75, are poised to collect the sums in the coming weeks - two years after their names were randomly selected along with 16 others out of a Bingo cage as part of the fledgling program.

However, while others received their reparations in a timely manner, the Widemans were somewhat left in the lurch - due to program architects' decision to forgo direct payouts in lieu of grants to address diminished black homeownership.

Since the siblings do not own any property, they did not qualify for two of three of the repayment options - to use the $25,000 either on mortgage payments, or home repairs.

The third option was a down payment for a new home - a choice the siblings flouted in favor of cash. For months, they besieged members of the committee and city to reconsider their stipulations, leading them to toss them this month.

Now Evanston has voted to allow the siblings to get cash payments of $25,000, making them the first in the US to receive direct money.

Scroll down for video:

For months, Evanston resident Kenneth Wideman (seen here during a recent reparations committee meeting) besieged the city to reconsider stipulations that barred cash payouts, leading them to ditch them this month

Those calls, made by an emotional Kenneth as he clutched a cane he needs to walk, apparently swayed the relatively new reparations committee, leading them to decide to dish out the first cash reparations in the history of the US

'I do not have any property; my sister doesnt have any property, and we were on the list,' elder brother Kenneth said earlier this year during a public comment portion of an Evanston reparations meeting.

'I came here this morning to ask the committee, the people thats in charge, if possible, that you can make some changes or help my sister and I to get something out of the reparations before we are eliminated,' the disabled veteran explained.

Days earlier, he had learned the reparations grants that he and sister were awarded were set to expire in March.

He went on to point out a flaw in the largely experimental program - which comes as other similar councils in states like California consider their own reparation policies and how to dish out the payments.

Clad in a Vietnam veteran cap, Wideman explained how he was happy in his one-bedroom rental in the city's downtown neighborhood - where repairs are not his responsibility - and did not want to be forced to buy a home just to get his reparations.

'Everybody maybe has gotten their money, maybe,' he told the committee of the 14 other repayments.

'We have not received anything since we don't have any property, and I just want some kind of possibly, reparations, in some kind of form that will help my sister and I out.'

Those calls, made by an emotional Kenneth as he clutched a cane he needs to walk, apparently swayed the relatively new reparations committee - formed back in 2019 - leading them to decide to dish out the first cash reparations in the history of the US.

The group, comprised of both residents and members of the city council, has now carved out a fourth option for the more than 650 black residents in Evanston whose reparations applications could be picked in the next batch of repayments.

That option allows residents to elect for cash instead of grants - a decision Kenneth celebrated in an interview with the Chicago Tribune published on Monday, as he and his sister, who also walks with a cane, are now set to rake in the cash.

Thanks to Kenneth and his sister, the group, comprised of both residents and members of the city council, has now carved out a fourth option for the more than 650 black residents in Evanston whose reparations applications could be picked in the next batch of repayments

The largely experimental program and its presiding committee comes as other similar councils in states like California consider their own reparation policies - and have pondered how to dish out the payments

Speaking to the paper not far from her brother's second-floor apartment, Shelia said she was thankful the city reconsidered their initial policies, adding that she hopes it will spread to others still waiting for their chance to collect.

'Maybe they could somehow get ahead in life, do something that they might want to do in life,' Shelia explained. 'And maybe theyll forget about what happened and move forward.'

As for Kenneth, he's glad that he does not have to part ways with his spacious one-bedroom apartment roughly ten miles from Chicago, where the responsibility of maintaining the place falls on his landlord.

'This is the way I like it,' the 77-year-old - who lives two blocks from Shelia and frequently drives her to the doctor - explained. 'Just a home being a home. Its very enjoyable.'

More importantly, he said if a problem arises with the place's water heater of if his front drive needs shoveling, all he has to do is call building staff - so he can 'see them do the work.'

First approved in March of 2021, the program provides for grants of up to $25,000 for Black residents. However, in the time since, only 650 residents have applied - lass than five percent of the roughly 12,500 black residents living in the satellite city.

Still, 650 repayments of $25,000 is no small task for any city - and committee members elected to circumvent this issue by randomly plucking balls out of a lottery-style machine back in January.

Printed with on each of the balls was a number corresponding with a person confirmed by the city to be an 'ancestor'  a black resident of Evanston between 1919 and 1969.

The method drew some criticism at the time due to its lack of tact, but was praised by several residents who have hope at being selected next time around.

Wideman - who like his sister rents and does not own - explained how he was happy in his one-bedroom rental in the city's downtown neighborhood - where repairs are not his responsibility. He and his sister had argued they did not want to be forced to buy a home just to get the cash

However, the date of the next drawing remains unclear - as well as if committee members will again use Bingo cage when coming to their decision.

As for the siblings, they have yet to receive the cash - and are unsure of how they will spend it when it inevitably comes.

'I have an idea, maybe, what I would love but I dont want to say because I dont have  my hands are empty right now,' Shelia said

Kenneth said he's still mulling the possibilities, but would like to put some in the bank his grandchildren, and use the rest for rent or furniture.
A couple living off welfare payments while raising a daughter has attracted criticism while detailing their struggles to stay afloat - with questions raised over why neither has worked full-time in five years.

Jennifer Searson and Mark Goodrick live in Queensland's Sunshine Coast with their 15-year-old daughter.

Ms Searson, a lab technician who is certified in education support and business administration, is on a carer's payment for her daughter who has autism.

The maximum basic rate fortnightly for a carer's payment is $971.50 according to Services Australia.

Mr Goodrick, a qualified chef, works casually at a service station and earns about $1,300 a fortnight.

On top of that he gets $250 from Centrelink, bringing his fortnightly pay to nearly $1,600.

Mr Goodrick appeared to admit he preferred working casually in order to receive Centrelink payments.

'So what do I do? Do I do the right thing to not be a supposed dole-bludger and work five days a week for $850, or do I work the hours I'm working and get that little bit of a top up?' Mr Goodrick told the ABC's 7:30 program.

'I don't actually have the energy to say ''hey I'm off to work for 60 hours a week'', so we had to make a decision but that's not supported, you're seen as someone who's bludging or taking advantage of the system.'

The couple spoke of their struggles to get food on the table and argued income support payments should be increased for Australians.

But many viewers took issue with the fact the couple are taking taxpayers' money when they have two cars, their daughter appears to attend a private school, they spend about $350 a week on groceries and seem to have no plans on securing full-time work.

'We are poor and we are on low income,' Mr Goodrick said.

Neither he nor his wife have worked full-time since moving from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast in 2018, which they did in search of a more affordable life.

'There has been a proliferation of calling people on income support payments, particularly JobSeeker, dole bludgers,' Ms Searson said.

'Anyone can end up in this situation.'

Mr Goodrick said he and his wife were both 'hardworking', but due to their age, many businesses aren't looking to hire them.

Ms Searson said she has applied online to work a part-time role at Big W three times this year but hasn't heard back.

Jennifer Searson and Mark Goodrick live in Queensland's Sunshine Coast with their 15-year-old daughter. They recently featured on the ABC's 7.30 program to discuss living on Centrelink

The segment was shared to the program's Twitter account and was flooded with comments from many who questioned if the couple were an accurate portrayal of struggling Aussies.

'These people are not doing it nearly as tough as many people I know. Sure, they're battlers, but many single parent families exist, so in times of financial challenge such as this, the father could opt for the temporary sacrifice of full time work with a long commute,' one person said.

'I saw this and I thought this family seem to be doing ok actually. Is this what welfare looks like?' another questioned.

'$350 a week food for three people seems excessive!' said another.

'There are plenty of people on Jobseeker who are in terribly desperate situations, bordering on poverty, that you could have featured in this story This family are not in that situation. Perplexing as to why you chose them,' one tweet read.

The couple said fellow Australians looked at those on Centrelink payments as 'dole bludgers'

'This is not genuine need. This is two people of working age making a decision to limit how much they work and seeking taxpayer funds to supplement their lifestyle choices. You don't get to refuse to work full time just because you get the difference from the public purse,' another viewer wrote.

'Two cars. Choosing not to work. An insult to people who are really struggling on JobSeeker,' someone said.

The ABC has been contacted for comment.

The couple wrote in an opinion piece for The Guardian last year that 'survival is a daily challenge'.

Many viewers took issue with the fact the couple have two cars, their daughter appears to attend a private Christian school, they spend about $350 a week on groceries and seem to have no plans on securing full-time work

'We despair that the poverty that we have already lived in and a poverty mentality will scar our child,' they said.

They detailed the struggle of trying to find discounted fruit and vegetables at the supermarket or bread to make their daughter a sandwich to have at school.

'My mental health suffers when my mind is consumed with making these daily essential survival decisions. How can I be expected to write job applications and paint myself in a positive light to potential employers?' the piece read.

The couple said their physical health has suffered as a result, with dental check-ups not affordable in their budget.

'Despite the rhetoric, no one deliberately makes a 'lifestyle choice' to live on JobSeeker. It only takes one unexpected circumstance to end up in my shoes,' they said.
Protests against the killing of homeless schizophrenic Jordan Neely on the New York City subway turned violent Monday night, with a demonstrator pictured being restrained by police with blood pouring down his face.

Neely, 30, was killed on May 1 when, while ranting and throwing garbage at subway passengers, he was put into a chokehold by a 24-year-old former Marine, Daniel Penny.

Neely's death was ruled a homicide last week, and the Neely family is calling for Penny to be prosecuted. The Manhattan district attorney is weighing whether to press charges.

On Monday, demonstrators calling for justice for Neely took to the streets once again, rallying near the Broadway-Lafayette station in lower Manhattan where Neely was killed.

A protester calling for justice for Jordan Neely is seen on Monday evening being wrestled to the floor by NYPD

The demonstrator had blood pouring down his head from a wound on his forehead

The protester is seen being escorted away from the scene by members of the NYPD Monday

A well-known photographer, Stephanie Keith, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Reuters and Getty, was detained.

One protester was seen being wrestled to the ground with blood pouring from a wound on his head.

Several more were pushed to the floor - one shirtless man had a police officer kneeling on his chest.

The NYPD is yet to confirm how many arrests were made, when asked by DailyMail.com.

Others marched with their fists aloft, waving the black liberation flag and wearing t-shirts that read: 'F*** the mayor'.

Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer, who like Neely is black, has called for restraint, urging protesters to give the Manhattan DA's office time to investigate fully.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman representing part of New York City, has called Neely's death a 'public execution', angering the mayor.

On Monday, it emerged that numerous panicked bystanders called 911 as Penny grappled with Neely.

Stephanie Keith, a well-known NYC photographer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, on Reuters and Getty, was arrested on Monday

Keith was taking photos at the protest when NYPD stopped her

The photographer is seen being escorted away by NYPD

A shirtless man is seen being restrained by officers

Multiple police officers restrained the man amid the protests in lower Manhattan

One person holds up a shirt showing Neely's face. He was well known in the city as a Michael Jackson impersonator

Police are seen wrestling with a protester on Monday night

The protester is seen being knocked to the ground and restrained

An activist, their face covered, holds a candle while confronting police Monday night

Protesters carrying the black liberation flag send a message to Eric Adams, who has urged the city to wait for a full investigation before demanding Daniel Penny be prosecuted

The New York Police Department received its first call reporting a fight on the F train at 2:25pm on May 1, with another report coming in a minute later.

At 2:27 pm two more calls were received - one telling of 'threats' being made on the train and the other describing a rider 'armed with a knife or gun.'

A call reporting an assault in progress was placed at 2:29pm, and at 2:30pm, a second call reporting somebody making threats on the F train was made.

According to Fox News, those calls were merely a 'summary' of the many calls placed to police during the altercation between Neely and Penny.

The NYPD told DailyMail.com they 'responded to multiple 911 calls' as the incident played out at the Broadway-Lafayette Street station.

NYPD officers on attempt to revive Jordan Neely as he lies on the floor of an F train on May 1

Officers outside the F train while the body of Neely is prepared to be moved to a hospital

Police said they arrived on the scene by 2:30pm and began administering CPR on Neely, who had gone limp in Penny's grip by then.

The New York Fire Department was called for assistance at 2:39pm, and they arrived less than 10 minutes later at 2:46pm.

Neely was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

A medical examination revealed he died from compression of the neck.

It remains unclear whether Neely died on the subway, or finally succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

It also remains unclear exactly what time Penny first put Neely in a chokehold or how long he held him.

Some witnesses have reported Penny had his arm around Neely's neck for up to 15 minutes before he lost consciousness, according to NBC New York.

Neely, 30, was homeless, schizophrenic and 'self-medicating with K2' - a potent synthetic cannabis - before his death, according to members of his family.

Penny, 24, was detained and questioned by police after the incident but was released on the grounds that he had been acting in self-defense.

Penny's lawyers released a statement defending his actions, saying that he 'could not have foreseen [Neely's] untimely death,' and noted Neely's long criminal record, which includes two incidents of randomly punching strangers on the subway.

A grand jury is expected to be impaneled this week to decide whether to press charge.

After being warned that Neely could die, Penny (left) and the other man who helped restrain him (right) continued to restrain him for several more seconds. He jumped up when Neely became unresponsive

Daniel Penny grapples with Jordan Neely on the floor of the F train on May 1

The protesters blocked an incoming Q train at the station Saturday. They are wanted for criminal trespassing over the protest

Protestors on the tracks at a subway station on the Upper East Side in New York City on Saturday

In their statement, Penny's attorneys said he was trying to protect others from a mentally unstable and unpredictable stranger.

'Earlier this week Daniel Penny was involved in a tragic incident on the NYC Subway, which ended in the death of Jordan Neely.

'We would first like to express, on behalf of Daniel Penny, our condolences to those close to Mr Neely,' the press release began.

'Mr Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness. When Mr Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived. Daniel never intended to harm Mr. Neely.'

'For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference.

'We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.'

Neely's family were not impressed with Penny's statement and said he belonged in prison.

'Daniel Penny's press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret,' they said.

'It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believes he was entitled to take Jordan's life.

'He knew nothing about Jordan's history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan's neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing.

'His actions on the train and now his words show why he needs to be in prison.'

They also begged Mayor Eric Adams to make contact with them.

'The family wants you to know that Jordan matters,' they said.

'You seem to think others are more important than him. You cannot "assist" someone with a chokehold.'
A man who goes by the nickname Harry Potter has been extradited to the US to face trial for drugging, kidnapping and robbing two US soldiers in Colombia.

Jeffersson Arango Castellanos, 35, first appeared in a Miami court on Friday for kidnapping and assaulting the US Army soldiers, who were stationed in Bogota in March 2020.

An affidavit submitted to a federal court by an FBI agent suggests Arango confessed in an interview in December 2020 to drugging and robbing the men, identified only as EL and LG.

The two soldiers were out at a bar when they were drugged with benzodiazepines, a class of psychoactive drugs often used as a tranquilizer, and later robbed of money, credit and debit cards, ID cards, four phones, a watch, a gold chain, belts and their jackets.

A man who goes by the name Harry Potter has been extradited to the US to face trial for drugging, kidnaping and robbing two US soldiers in Colombia

Jeffersson Arango Castellanos (pictured), 35, appeared in a Miami court on Friday and stands accused of drugging two US Army soldiers in March 2020

Surveillance video shows the moment one of the two soldiers was dragged by Arango, limp and seemingly intoxicated, from the passenger seat of a car and left by the side of the road in the early hours of the morning.

Castellanos and two others are accused of scheming to repeatedly drug victims at bars in Bogota by spiking their drinks. Colombian news site NotiCentro1 reported that the gang went by the name 'Los Tomaseros' and that Arango often posed as 'Harry Potter'.

Their eventual arrest came not long after a woman, Alexandra Anaya, 33, died from an overdose of a drug believed to have been administered by the group. Anaya was the sister of a former Colombian prosecutor.

Arango and the two others could face a maximum of life in prison if they are convicted, though it is not clear whether the other two were also extradited to the US.

A federal defender for Arango, Eric Cohen, filed a document to the court on Monday indicating his client would invoke his right to remain silent 'with respect to any and all questioning or interrogation'.

On March 5, 2020, the two soldiers were seen on surveillance cameras just after 11pm entering the Colombian Pub in Bogota's Zone T - a popular spot for bars and clubs.

According to the FBI agent's affidavit, at around the same time, Arango and a female accomplice named in court documents as Kenny Julieth Uribe, 33, were both seen entering the bar.

At around 1am one of the two soldiers was seen dancing with a woman in the bar, but half an hour later, when he went to approach that same woman, Arango placed his arm around him and directed him towards the back of the pub.

Soon after 2am the soldier was seen stumbling out of the pub, at which point Arango, who was wearing a red polo shirt with a white collar, blue ripped jeans, and bright white sneakers followed him onto the street.

A few minutes later Arango returned to the bar alone, this time wearing a brown leather jacket, according to the court documents.

The soldiers were next seen at 2.35am walking down the street with both Arango and Uribe. Uribe had her arm around the waist of one of the soldiers and he had his arm on her shoulder as he struggled to maintain his balance, the affidavit says.

Around ten minutes later, Uribe and the two soldiers were seen getting into a Renault car via the rear driver-side door. Arango meanwhile approached a street vendor before returning to the car and getting in the front passenger door before it drove off.

On March 5, 2020, the two soldiers were seen on surveillance cameras just after 11pm entering the Colombian Pub in Bogota's Zone T, a popular spot for bars and clubs

Arango (pictured) was seen in surveillance footage putting his arm around one of the soldiers in the bar before walking with the both along the street in the early hours of March 6, 2020

Kenny Julieth Uribe, 33, was an accomplice to Arango on the night the soldiers were drugged, according to an affidavit submitted by an FBI agent

Then, in the early hours of March 6, surveillance showed Arango and Uribe going to various ATM machines and using credit and debit cards to withdraw cash.

He and Uribe were later seen at around 7.30am using one of the soldier's American Express credit cards to pay for a drink and another item at a cafe in a shopping mall.

After identifying Arango using surveillance cameras trained on a particular ATM machine, Colombian police started tapping his phone.

Through listening to a series of calls made between Arango, Uribe and a third alleged conspirator, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, the police concluded that the group had been scheming to routinely drug and rob people attending bars in Bogota.

In one call Arango could be heard saying he was 'living on the minimum' because COVID-19 had meant many bars had closed and he no longer had anyone to steal from.

According to the affidavit, during another conversation, Arango and Silva discussed how they were concerned because the bars were still closed. Therefore they planned to look for bars that might be operating behind closed doors.

In another conversation, Arango told a woman that he carries out 'tomaseas' - according to court documents, the term is Colombian slang for drugging people's drinks.

After a months-long investigation in which Colombian police tracked down the Renault used on the night the soldiers were kidnapped, Arango and Uribe were arrested in December 2020.

Yuddith Alexandra Anaya Pacheco (pictured), 33, died after being drugged in November 2020. She was the sister of a former Colombian prosecutor

An FBI agent that submitted an affidavit to the court said he interviewed Arango in Bogota (pictured) in December 2020 and that he admitted to robbing the soldiers

An FBI agent interviewed Arango in Bogota in Spanish. During the interview he admitted to drugging and robbing the two soldiers.

He told the agent that on that night Silva had been driving the Renault and that Arango and Uribe went to the pub to look for victims. He told the agent they would select victims based on how they dressed and acted.

Arango said that on the night in question, March 6, 2020, he met one of the soldiers in the bathroom while snorting cocaine and that the soldier asked if he could have some.

Arango told the FBI agent the pair snorted cocaine in the bathroom together, but according to court documents, there was no cocaine found in that soldier's system the next day.

He said later on in the night he put the drug Zolpidem into both the soldier's drinks and that he would top up the amounts depending on how they appeared to be reacting.

Arango said that after the soldiers were sufficiently intoxicated they were taken back to a hotel, EI Encanto in the Santa Fe area of Bogota, where he says both soldiers were taking cocaine.

The FBI agent submitted to the court in 2021 that he believed the claims that the soldiers were taking cocaine was false and intended only to incriminate them.

Arango then said he was able to get one of the soldier's card PIN by telling them they had to pay for something. He then handed him a cell phone, pretending it was a credit card machine, and encouraged him to enter his pin number.

He then said in the early hours of March 6 he dropped the two soldiers off on the side of the road at different locations.

Surveillance video shared by the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia shows a man stopping a car and pulling out one of the soldiers, and dumping his body on the street.

Court documents do not show that Uribe or Silva have been extradited.
Sam Bankman-Fried, who has long denied stealing from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, has asked a judge to throw out criminal charges against him over the now-bankrupt FTX's collapse.

In a Monday filing in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said many cryptocurrency exchanges collapsed during a broad market crash in 2022, and that prosecutors hastily charged their client in a 'rush to judgment.'

'Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the Government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes,' his lawyers wrote.

Out of the criminal charges against him, the three he is not contesting are: conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former billionaire, has largely been confined to his parents' home since his December arrest in the Bahamas, where he had lived and where FTX was based.

He was extradited to the United States just over a week after his arrest.

FTX co-founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, 31, filed motions to dismiss most charges against him in connection with the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency platform. Pictured, March 30, 2023

Bankman-Fried is expected to go to trial in October after entering a not guilty plea to fraud and campaign-finance law charges several months ago

FTX imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars in FTX customer funds to plug losses at Alameda, buy real estate, and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme. They have also charged him with bribing Chinese officials.

Prosecutors have until May 29 to respond to Bankman-Fried's dismissal request, and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan will hear arguments on June 15.

Bankman-Fried rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to an estimated net worth of $26.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine but his fortune largely evaporated when FTX collapsed in November.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

He has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations.

Onetime close associates, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, left, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, right, have both pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors

Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison also pleaded guilty last year to charges pertaining to her role at the company. Shetoo is cooperating with investigators

Three onetime close associates - former Alameda co-chief executive Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh - have all pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Bannkman-Fried's trial is set for October 2 after entering a not guilty plea to fraud and campaign-finance law charges in March.

That same month it was revealed how Bankman-Fried secretly transferred $2.2billion from FTX to his personal account and $1billion to five members of his inner circle before the cryptocurrency exchange collapsed, according to bankruptcy court filings.

His parents, who live in Palo Alto, California, are Stanford University law professors and co-signed his $250 million bond.

Bankman-Fried has limited access to technology, after prosecutors warned he might tamper with witnesses.
A woman who helped cover up the violent death of a teenager, telling concerned neighbours it was a 'family dispute', will remain free on bail as she awaits her fate later this year.

Stacey Pale, 37, previously pleaded guilty to being accessory after the fact to grievous bodily harm following the alleged murder of western Sydney teen Jason Galleghan.

The 16-year-old was allegedly lured to a Doonside home before being set upon by a gang of juveniles and adults on August 4, 2021, following the alleged theft of a pair of Apple AirPods.

Much of the attack, which was described by a Supreme Court judge as 'cruelty of the highest order', was broadcast online.

Police claim one video garnered more than 170,000 views.

37-year-old Stacy Pale (above) will walk free on bail while awaiting a verdict on her future after pleading guilty to covering up facts regarding the violent death of a teenager

Pale is believed to have been in a relationship at the time with Richard Sione, 32, who police allege was one of the first to set upon Jason and has been charged with murder.

She is not accused of being involved in the attack itself and claimed to have been outside during the ordeal.

But, when asked by neighbours who heard screaming, the 37-year-old dismissed their concern.

'It's just a family dispute,' Pale replied. When asked again, she repeated: 'Nothing, just a family issue.'

Kayla Dawson, who police allege lured Jason to his death, offered a similar explanation.

The gang of juveniles, Dawson, and co-accused Harley Bartolo then left Galleghan, who was savagely beaten, alone in the house.

When they returned, Pale told police she had met Dawson at Doonside train station while buying cigarettes and had been at the property to do laundry. She was nearby when Dawson told police 'two African men' were responsible for the attack.

Ms Pale told neighbours the sounds of 16-year-old Jason Gallagher's (above) brutal beating was a 'family dispute' and later told police 'African men' were guilty and not her acquaintances

Appearing at Parramatta District Court, Pale's lawyers asked for her matter to be adjourned as they sought to compile further psychological reports.

The matter will reappear before the same court on August 1.

Cousins Thomas Pakau, 19, and Rebyll Oakiri, 25, have also pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact to grievous bodily harm.

Agreed police facts reveal that the pair had also remained outside the premises during the attack.

Oakiri told police he had wanted to call officers after the attack but was dissuaded by Pale.

The pair will reappear before the Penrith Local Court later this month.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has voiced his fears about the speed of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development - but does not think work on the new technology should be paused.

Gates said he believes AI is a game-changing technology, describing it as 'pretty fundamental' noting how its implications for the future are vast.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI fired the starting pistol on a technological arms race in November, when it made AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT available to the public.

It soon became the fastest-growing app in history, reaching 100 million monthly users in two months.

'We're all scared a bad guy could grab it,' Gates said in an interview with ABC News, but he said the development of such tech should continue.

Bill Gates said he doesn't believe AI falling into the wrong hands is a major concern, and has argued against pausing AI development out of fear

Last month, Twitter CEO Elon Musk joined thousands in signing an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of systems more powerful than OpenAI's recently-launched GPT-4.

Signatories included Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque, researchers at Alphabet-owned DeepMind, and fellow AI pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Stuart Russell.

Gates disagrees with the idea of pausing the development. 'If you just pause the good guys, and you don't pause everyone else, you're probably hurting yourself,' he explained.

Gates decided to voice some of his concerns regarding the rapid advance of the technology and the negative consequences if it were to be used with by bad actors.

Perhaps worryingly, the billionaire noted that governments were behind the curve when it comes to understanding the technology.

Neither are regulators are up to speed about the fast-developing tech or are prepared to make big decisions about its future, Gates suggested.

He acknowledged that AI continues to surprise with its capabilities while also highlighting its limitations. He believes that AI has the potential to bring about significant changes across various industries.

'We're often surprised how good it is. Sometimes we're surprised at what it can't do right. It's early days, but revolutionary,' Gates said.

Ultimately, he believes the positives of AI outweigh the negatives.

'The field, more than any field I know, is actually putting in a lot of the smart people into, OK, what comes next and how do we make sure that's beneficial,' Gates said.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI fired the starting pistol on a technological arms race in November, when it made AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT available to the public

Despite the risks, Gates noted that the AI field attracts brilliant minds focused on ensuring its use for good

'I see that AI, used properly, is providing a lot of benefits that I wouldn't want to throw away.

'In health and education, used properly, it will be fantastic,' Gates said. 'That's a big deal. Improving education, you know, making sure students who are not in private schools or even suburban schools, that they have this way of getting great feedback. You know, I'm excited.'

Gates praised OpenAI's ChatGPT software and believed the significant improvements were made in the latest update from GPT-3 to GPT-4.

Despite the risks, Gates noted that the AI field attracts brilliant minds focused on ensuring its use for good.

Last week, Geoffrey Hinton, 75, who is credited as the 'godfather' of artificial intelligence warned that 'scary' chatbots like the popular ChatGPT could soon be smarter than humans

Last week, Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as one of the 'godfathers of AI', and who recently announced he had quit Alphabet after a decade at the firm, saying he wanted to speak out on the risks of the technology without it affecting his former employer.

Hinton's work is considered essential to the development of contemporary AI systems.

In 1986, he co-authored the seminal paper 'Learning representations by back-propagating errors', a milestone in the development of the neural networks undergirding AI technology. In 2018, he was awarded the Turing Award in recognition of his research breakthroughs.

But he is now among a growing number of tech leaders publicly espousing concern about the possible threat posed by AI if machines were to achieve greater intelligence than humans and take control of the planet.

There is a great AI divide in Silicon Valley. Brilliant minds are split about the progress of the systems - some say it will improve humanity and others fear the technology will destroy it

Hinton suggested that Artificial intelligence could pose a 'more urgent' threat to humanity than climate change.

'I wouldn't like to devalue climate change. I wouldn't like to say, 'You shouldn't worry about climate change.' That's a huge risk too,' Hinton said. 'But I think this might end up being more urgent.'

He added: 'With climate change, it's very easy to recommend what you should do: you just stop burning carbon. If you do that, eventually things will be okay. For this it's not at all clear what you should do.'

Hinton said chatbots can already hold more general knowledge than a human brain.

He added that it was only a matter of time before AI also eclipses us regarding reasoning.

At this point, he said, 'bad actors' such as Russian President Vladimir Putin could use AI for 'bad things' by programming robots to 'get more power.'

ChatGPT is evidence of how fast the technology is growing.

In just a few months, it has passed the bar exam with a higher score than 90 percent of humans who have taken it, and it achieved 60 percent accuracy on the US Medical Licensing Exam.
A jury in New York City is set to begin deliberations today over claims that Donald Trump raped advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996.

Carroll is suing Trump over claims he attacked her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the spring of 1996 and then defamed her by denying it happened in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform.

Carroll's lawyer told the Manhattan court yesterday that Trump's own words - in which he said 'stars like him can get away with sexually assaulting women' - confirm that he raped the journalist because he thought he could get away with it.

In her closing argument to the jury, attorney Roberta Kaplan showed jurors video clips of Trump from his October deposition and replayed the notorious 'Access Hollywood' video from 2005 in which Trump said into a hot mic that celebrities can 'grab' women's genitals without asking.

'That's who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And thats what he does,' Kaplan said. 'He thinks he can get away with it here.'

And today, the nine-person jury will begin the discussing the civil claims of battery and defamation.

E. Jean Carroll (pictured outside Manhattan Federal court on Tuesday) is suing Trump over claims he attacked her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the spring of 1996 and then defamed her by denying it happened in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform

E. Jean Carroll (pictured outside Manhattan Federal court on Tuesday) is suing Trump over claims he attacked her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the spring of 1996 and then defamed her by denying it happened in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform

In her closing argument to the jury, attorney Roberta Kaplan showed jurors video clips of Trump from his October deposition (pictured)

If they believe Carroll, jurors can award compensatory and punitive damages. Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Carroll or knew her.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carroll's story is too far fetched to be believed.

He said she made it up to fuel sales of a 2019 memoir where she first publicly revealed her claims and to disparage Trump for political reasons.

Carroll's attorney recalled Trump's comment that 'stars like him can get away with sexually assaulting women.'

In his October deposition, Trump defended his lewd comments in the infamous Access Hollywood tape and said they were 'true' in a taped deposition taken by rape accuser E. Jean Carroll's lawyers.

The former president said that when he claimed he could grab women 'by the p***y' in a 2005 exchange with host Billy Bush that it was 'true of [all] stars.'

'That's who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And thats what he does,' Kaplan told the jurors in her closing argument. 'He thinks he can get away with it here.'

Kaplan used Trump's words to support Carroll's claims that Trump raped her in early spring 1996 in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store in Manhattan across the street from Trump Tower.

She urged jurors to believe her client.

Kaplan told jurors that it wasn't a 'he said, she said' case but rather one in which jurors should weigh what 11 witnesses, including Carroll, said versus what they heard from Trump in his video deposition.

'He didn't even bother to show up here in person,' Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from court during the two weeks of trial. She said much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements 'actually supports our side of the case.'

'In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself,' she said. 'He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll.'

Kaplan recounted the testimony of two women who say they too were attacked sexually by Trump.

Jurors listens to Judge Lewis Kaplan who is presiding over the case of former Elle magazine advice columnist E. Jean Carroll's civil rape trial in New York on May 9, 2023

Jessica Leeds, 81, said he grabbed her chest and ran his hand up her skirt on a 1979 airline flight. Natasha Stoynoff said he forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion in 2005 as she worked on a story about his marriage for People magazine.

Trump has insisted in public statements and in the deposition that Carroll made up the claims to boost sales of a 2019 memoir. He has called Carroll 'mentally sick' and a 'disgrace.'

Carroll, 79, who is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, testified that she had a chance encounter with Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower.

She said it was a lighthearted interaction in which they teased each other about trying on a piece of lingerie before Trump became violent inside a dressing room.

Kaplan praised her testimony as 'credible.' 'It was consistent, and it was powerful,' the lawyer said.

She contrasted that testimony with Trump's deposition, noting that a man who had derided Carroll as not his 'type' was shown a photograph of Carroll from over three decades ago and twice misidentified her as his second wife, Marla Maples.

Donald Trump in 1987 with his first wife, Ivana, rape accuser E. Jean Carroll and Carroll's then-husband

'Carroll, a former cheerleader and Miss Indiana, was exactly Mr. Trumps type,' Kaplan said. 'She is smart. She is funny. She is beautiful. And, most of all, she is courageous.'

Carroll said she was leaving the Bergdorf Goodman store through a revolving door in spring 1996 when Trump was entering the store and stopped her to help him shop for a gift for a woman.

Carroll, a former 'Saturday Night Live' writer, said they took escalators to the store's desolate sixth floor, where they teased each other about trying on a piece of see-through lingerie.

She said she entered a dressing room with Trump before the flirting turned violent, with Trump slamming her against a wall, pulling down her tights and raping her. She said she kneed him after an encounter that lasted several minutes and fled the store.

Carroll blames the encounter in part for never having another intimate relationship in her life.

Trump's public comments are the basis of Carrolls defamation claim. Kaplan labeled the comments as lies and said they ruined her client's reputation and forced an end to her 27-year employment as an Elle magazine advance columnist.

Kaplan urged jurors to find in favor of 'my brave client, E. Jean Carroll,' but she put no number on the damages being sought.

'Consider the evidence and pick a number you think is right,' she said. 'This lawsuit is not about the money. This lawsuit is about getting her name back.'

Tacopina told jurors there was no reason to call Trump as a witness when Carroll can't even recall when her encounter with Trump happened.

He told the jury Carroll made up her claims after hearing about a 2012 'Law and Order' episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

'They modeled their secret scheme on an episode of one of the most popular shows on television,' he said of Carroll.

Two of Carroll's friends testified that she told them about the encounter with Trump shortly after it happened, many years before the 'Law and Order' episode aired.
He explained that coal and mining was behind the surplus

Senator Matt Canavan has flaunted a lump of coal in Parliament to illustrate why he believes the resources industry is the reason for the government's budget surplus.

The Nationals senator walked through the corridors of Parliament House holding the hunk of fossil fuel while he was interviewed by the media on Tuesday.

The stunt was reminiscent of when Scott Morrison paraded a lump of coal in the chamber in 2017.

Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) carried a lump of coal around Parliament House on Tuesday

Senator Canavan used the spotlight to explain that the Albanese government only recorded a budget surplus because of coal and mining.

'It's budget day today, and I've got the budget surplus in my hand,' he said while holding up the lump of coal.

'This budget surplus is all on the back of our mining industry and coal, and the record coal prices we've got.'

He questioned whether Treasurer Jim Chalmers would acknowledge workers in the mining sector when he handed down the budget on Tuesday night.

'The test for the treasurer tonight is though will he thank the coal industry, will he thank the men and women who work hard in that mining sector for the budget surplus he is apparently going to deliver tonight.'

He added that the surplus was 'only about the resources industry' and predicted that the budget would 'go back to a deficit' once the Labor Party 'ramps up spending'.

The Nationals Senator made similar comments when he appeared on Sky News Australia later in the day.

'I've brought in the budget surplus,' he told presenter Tom Connell while holding up the chunk of fossil fuel.

'It's delivering a lot of money, it's the only reason we're getting a surplus.'

The Nationals Senator (pictured with the member for Hinkler, Keith Pitt) paraded the chunk of fossil fuel to explain why coal is behind the Albanese government's budget surplus

The stunt mirrored the time former Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) famously presented a lump of coal in the chamber back in 2017

When asked about the stunt, Senator Canavan told Daily Mail Australia: 'Australia's budget surplus is built on the back of coal. I am trying to remind Australians about why we can afford nice things like schools, roads and cost of living relief.

'Why would we shut an industry down when there is so much demand for our high quality coal that it is delivering a surplus for us?'

The antic mirrored the time former Prime Minister Scott Morrison famously brought a lump of coal into the chamber during parliamentary question time back in 2017.

Mr Morrison used the chunk as a prop to argue against the phasing out of coal, which he explained was critical to the resources sector and 'keeping the lights on' for households and businesses.

'This is coal,' the then-treasurer said teasingly, brandishing the lump provided by the Minerals Council of Australia.

'Don't be afraid, don't be scared, it won't hurt you.'

'It's coal. It was dug up by men and women who work and live in the electorates to those who sit opposite.'
O'Neill said more emphasis should be on traditional elements of the military

The retired Navy SEAL who claimed to have killed Osama bin Laden has criticized a Navy recruitment strategy involving an active service drag queen ambassador.

Rob O'Neill, 47, said the US military 'needs to be ferocious, not fabulous,' during Varney & Co. on the Fox Business Network on Monday.

The Navy is facing a recruitment crisis and is expected to fall 8,000 people short of its goals for the year.

In an attempt to rectify the issue, it launched a campaign in November with a drag queen influencer Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, who in non-binary and goes by the stage name Harpy Daniels.

Kelley said last week in response to the negative attention they have drawn over the campaign: 'Haters only hate when you are winning.'

The retired Navy SEAL who claimed to have killed Osama bin Laden has criticized a Navy recruitment strategy involving an active service drag queen ambassador

Rob O'Neill, 47, said that the US military 'needs to be ferocious, not fabulous'

Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, who goes by the stage name Harpy Daniels, has caused a stir by posting drag videos to TikTok

'This is not going to boost recruitment, this is going to do the opposite,' said O'Neill when asked if he thought the Navy's digital ambassador scheme would be effective.

'We don't join the military to express ourselves,' O'Neill added.

'All we have in common is that we're all afraid, that we get our heads shaved, then we're part of a team, and our job as a military is alliance, solidarity, forward defense and deterrence. And a deterrent is a way you avoid conflict by projecting strength.'

Kelley was tasked with highlighting their journey from performing on board beginning in 2018 and growing to become an 'advocate' for those who 'were oppressed for years in the service.'

The program ran from October 2022 to March 2023 and was designed to 'explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates' for military recruitment.

O'Neill said during an appearance on Monday night that emphasis should be placed on more traditional aspects of the military.

'I'm all about freedom, you do what you want behind closed doors, you're on your own time, but we need to have submarines with nuclear capability, aircraft carriers, men and women who fly jets and the best infantry in the world, which is the United States Marine Corps,' he said.

'I talk to thousands of people personally a week, and we have really good young men and women out there that still want to join,' O'Neill added.

'I always tell them, if you can do anything, get accepted to the academy and fly something because that's still cool. I don't care who you are.'

While the campaign was active, Kelley (pictured) was one of five digital ambassadors. Kelley has a large following on TikTok where they have been sharing videos of drag performances on-board Navy ships for years

A Navy spokesman told DailyMail.com the digital ambassador program was a pilot that ended in March 2023.

In response, O'Neill said: 'They should be: Get up in the morning, get your workout in, go to the range, learn your tactics, rehearse them, and then go back to the range. And now they're just putting all this useless stuff out.'

In a TikTok video released last week by the Harpy Daniels account, Kelley displayed a tweet responding to their content in which conservative podcaster Graham Allen wrote: 'This is not the same military I served under... Our enemies LAUGH at us.'

The video showed supportive comments that read 'LGBTQ+ people can serve' and 'LOUD & PROUD.'

'Haters only hate when you are winning,' Kelley wrote in the caption to the TikTok post.

'LGBTQ+ people never could serve open because of DADT [Don't Ask, Don't Tell]. Now that we can, you can see who the Homphobic [sic] and Transphobic people are.'

While the campaign was active, Kelley was one of five digital ambassadors. Kelley has a large following on TikTok where they have been sharing videos of drag performances onboard Navy ships for years.

In a post on the weekend, they thanked their followers and asked them to also support the four other ambassadors.

'Also give that same respect and support to the other four outstanding sailors that also did the Navy digital ambassador pilot,' they said.

'In the Navy any one has the ability to lead and make a difference no matter the rank, race, gender, sexual orientation, or background. We all fight for the same mission and goals to be a stronger and better Navy,' Kelley wrote in the caption.
A mother-of-three has shared how she remains strong after a shock diagnosis revealed her three children all suffer from a rare and terminal childhood disease.

Renee Staska's three children are unlikely to reach adulthood after they were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C.

Eight-year-old Hudson, six-year-old Holly and four-year-old Austin suffer from childhood dementia which at this stage has no cure or treatment.

Niemann-Pick disease type C is one of 70 conditions that can trigger childhood dementia, and only occurs when both parents have a genetic abnormality.

Ms Staska, a single mother from South Australia, says her children will develop as normal up until a certain age before they sadly start to regress.

'They start to lose memories, body functions, the ability to walk, talk, the ability to eat, eventually until there's nothing left to lose,' she told A Current Affair.

Renee Staska, a single mother from South Australia, says her three children will likely not make it to adulthood after they were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C

Her eldest son Hudson is already having problems with his reading and writing while his younger sister Saskia battles her own frustrations.

'She breaks her own heart because she can't keep up sometimes and she can't, you know, she tries so hard to understand why it's not working for her,' she said.

The children received their diagnosis when little Austin, who was only eight-months-old at the time, was found to have an enlarged liver and spleen.

Doctors investigated and discovered the little boy had the rare disease. His older brother and sister had a 25 per cent chance of sharing his diagnosis.

After weeks of worry, Ms Staska said she took Hudson and Saskia for blood tests.

The life-changing results were handed to her in an envelope.

'I was given it on a piece of paper. They sort of said, look, this is what it is. It's terminal. There's no treatment, there's no cure,' she recalled.

'I cried and I cried and very soon we were introduced to palliative care, which I wasn't even aware was a thing for children.

'Most children with Niemann-Pick type C don't live to see their 20th birthday.'

Eight-year-old Hudson, six-year-old Holly and four-year-old Austin suffer from childhood dementia which sadly has no treatment or cure (the family is pictured)

Ms Staska is focused on making memories with her children, knowing that soon they will start to forget their special moments.

It's estimated there are 2,300 children suffering childhood dementia in Australia with a staggering 75 per cent unlikely to reach their 18th birthday.

Around one in 2,800 babies globally are born with a condition that causes childhood dementia. The death rate can be compared to children diagnosed with cancer.

Ms Staska is committed to staying strong for her three kids.

'I'm still their mum. I have to get up, I have to keep going,' she said.

'They fuel me to get up every day and fight another day and they have to go through so much, I have to be strong for them so I can be strong.'
A pair of New York University grad students were fatally shot over the weekend during a trip with classmates to Puerto Rico after they were caught in the middle of a gunfire outside a bar in San Juan.

The shooting happened 3:50 am Saturday on Loiza Street, and left innocent bystanders Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, dead at the hands of a now-incarcerated female suspect.

The San Juan Police Department had been searching for the still-unidentified woman, who is seen raising a gun in footage filmed by a bystander just before she let off the fatal shots - after what cops said was a dispute with the club's security guard.

Police asked for the public's help in identifying the shooter at a press conference later that day, while providing the names and nationalities of both of the deceased.

Both hailed from Peru but were pursuing MBAs at the Big Apple university's Stern School of Business. NYU released a heartfelt statement mourning the young men, who, according to classmates, had embarked on the holiday after finishing finals.

Scroll down for video:

Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, were fatally shot by a woman in front of a club in San Juan Saturday - with cops later saying the MBA students were caught in the crossfire of an unrelated dispute involving the woman and the bar's bouncer

The San Juan Police Department had been searching for the unidentified woman, who is seen here in blue in video filmed by a bystander just before she let off a hail of bullets

'They were kindhearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,' classmate Nick Mica told ABC7 Monday, as San Juan cops reported the suspect seen in footage had been arrested, and is set to appear in court Tuesday.

Fellow graduate student Connie Luc added: 'They were bystanders and unfortunately this tragic event happened to them.

'They didn't want it, they didn't see it - they just finished finals and they went on a holiday.'

NYU, meanwhile, responded to the deaths by canceling all social events for MBA candidates until further notice, while issuing its own statement.

'NYU grieves today with the family, loved ones, and friends of these students, whose lives ended tragically, suddenly, and far too early,' the school said, writing that staffers were 'brokenhearted and shocked' by the incident.

'The University has been in touch with the remaining group members to offer them support and aid,' the statement continued, before adding that none of the others present were injured.

'NYU has also reached out to the families of the slain students to provide whatever assistance we can and to express the sympathies of the University community,' the school said.

'In addition, our counseling service will make resources available to students in the MBA program, the Stern School community, and especially to the close peers and friends of the slain students.'

Classmates at the university's prestigious business school have since set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims' families back home in Peru.

The woman seen in the footage has yet to be named, despite being apprehended as of Tuesday

'They were kindhearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,' classmate Nick Mica told ABC7 Monday, as San Juan cops reported the suspect seen in footage had been arrested, and is set to appear in court Tuesday

Classmates added that the two had been celebrating one of their fellow students' birthdays when they were gunned down. The nightclub - seen here- is called Emoji, and is set on Loiza Street

NYU, meanwhile, responded to the deaths by canceling all social events for MBA candidates until further notice, while issuing their own statement

Within two days, the page has already raised $44,100 - more than half of its $80,000 end goal.

The description for the page created by Stern Student Government reads: 'The Stern community is devastated by the loss [of] our dear classmates, Franco and Sergio.

'They were such rays of light in our community, constantly bringing laughter, smiles and joy to all of us,' it added.

'We express our profound sympathies for their families and want to offer assistance how we can.'

Classmates added the two were celebrating one of their fellow students' birthdays when they were gunned down. The business was Emoji on Loiza Street.

Mica also said how his friends' deaths may affect him and others during what is for many the final stretch of classes.

'Losing someone is tough, but especially your classmates in a timeframe when you need to be focused on school work, it is tough to keep your mind the right place.'

The suspect has yet to be named.
Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay out $215mn to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit after some 2,800 female staff accused the company of paying women less.

A joint statement from the company and the plaintiffs, shared first by Bloomberg today, agrees a pay-out 13 years after the first claimants came forward in 2010 and won the right to lead the class-action lawsuit in 2018.

The funds will be shared out among the staff who participated in the lawsuit, mainly in the investment banking and securities divisions - and with about a third of proceeds expected to go towards legal fees, according to the Financial Times.

The plaintiffs, former employees of the bank, accused Goldman of company-wide policies which ensured better pay and promotion opportunities for men, and giving women weaker performance reviews that impeded their career growth.

As part of the settlement, the firm will also hire independent experts to review practices in performance evaluation and the gender pay gap, the statement said.

Workers cross the street at Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York on 15 June 2022. Some 2,800 former employees stand to benefit from a settlement with the bank, revealed today

The lawsuit was among the highest-profile cases targeting Wall Street's alleged unequal treatment of women in litigation against many banks that stretches back decades.

The settlement covers about 2,800 female associates and vice presidents employed in the investment banking, investment management and securities divisions of Goldman Sachs, according to the statement.

Jacqueline Arthur, Goldman Sachs' global head of human capital management, said: 'After more than a decade of vigorous litigation, both parties have agreed to resolve this matter.

'We will continue to focus on our people, our clients, and our business.'

Adam Klein, a lawyer representing the former employees, said the agreement 'offers meaningful relief to our clients'.

Kelly Dermody, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said they believed the settlement provided 'substantial, certain recoveries for all class members and advances gender equity at Goldman.'

Former employees including Cristina Chen-Oster and former associate Shanna Orlich first sued the investment bank in 2010.

Chen-Oster filed a discrimination complaint back in July 2005 and sued in 2010.

Goldman had fought to send some of the cases brought against them to arbitration.

Last year, the bank was reported to have 'paid more than $12mn in a secret settlement to bury' the claims of a 'sexist culture'.

In an internal complaint, and according to Bloomberg, CEO David Solomon was accused of bragging to colleagues about receiving sex acts shortly after he took over in 2018.

Sources claim that it stood out because it was considered so out of character for Solomon, 60, to make that kind of comment. The bank denied the accusation.

Goldman Sachs CEO David M Solomon speaks during Pivot MIA in Florida on 15 February 2022

Goldman agreed to pay $215mn, which will be shared out between former employees

Reuters reported last week that talks were ongoing to settle, around a month before the case was due to go to trial.

Insider sources correctly anticipated the outcome could be in the region of $200mn.

The bank previously denied wrongdoing.

As of 2022, 29% of Goldman's partners were women.
Students at the University of Florida are being invited to study horror in literature and film through a racial lens, with the professor asking how works such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are about 'racial identity and oppression'.

The course is provided as part of the African American Studies program.

Entitled 'Black Horror, White Terror', it is taught by Professor Julia Mollenthiel, whose dissertation was on the same theme. Mollenthiel is also writing a book on the subject.

Students are asked to read Frankenstein, as well as Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue, according to The College Fix website. They will discuss how the works have 'affected racialized discourses.'

The course explores 'the relationship between horror and Black literary modes and traditions focusing on key moments that depict fears of Blackness and/or the terror associated with being Black in America,' according to a spring 2023 syllabus.

Frankenstein, seen in the 1931 film classic, is accused by a Florida professor of being a character which 'parallels the racial stereotypes of the age'

Professor Julia Mollenthiel teaches the course exploring racism in the horror genre

Students will also read an essay entitled 'The Power and Horror of Whiteness,' which argues that Poe was 'haunted' by black people based on his fiction writings, The College Fix notes.

They will study 'the Marxist and the feminist location' of Frankenstein, as seen 'in the social and psychological context of the times'.

Students will consider claims that Shelley's famous monster 'parallels the racial stereotypes of the age.'

The course also examines how black authors have 'used the horror aesthetic as a means of countering white constructions of Blackness in the horror/Gothic genre.'

The syllabus emphasizes: 'No lesson is intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel a particular feeling, perception, viewpoint, or belief.'

The Fix speculates the disclaimer was added to avoid issues in the state which has positioned itself as an 'anti-woke' nirvana.

Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, declared that the state was 'where woke goes to die'.

Mollenthiel has not commented on the course.
Thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain are battering the country while Devon has been hit by an aggressive hailstorm.

The Met office issued a yellow weather warning, which will stay in place until 10pm this evening and spans much of southern England, East Anglia and parts of the Midlands.

The Met Office said 'heavy showers and thunderstorms [are] likely to cause some disruption to travel'.

It added there could be damage to property caused by flooding.

Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said: 'What we see today is some heavy showery rain moving eastward across southern areas that UK.'

A freak thunderstorm brings rain and hail down on cars in Doddiscombsleigh, Devon

Rain will clear in the east this morning, bringing spells of sunshine, but the skies will remain rather dull in the far northeast, the Met Office predicts. Heavy showers will develop across the south and west throughout the day, bringing a threat of slow moving hail and thunder

'Some of these showers can be quite heavy in nature and and come with associated hail and thunder and lightning for a time as well.'

He explained that some parts of the yellow warning area could see 40 millimetres of rain over a three-hour period.

'Some places could see 20 millimetres of rain within an hour, and some places could also see in excess of 40 millimetres over a three-hour period,' he said, with bad weather set to continue 'for much of the week'.

'On Wednesday, we've got low pressure approaching the north-west of Scotland, which is going to introduce some more wet weather, particularly in the west of Scotland and Northern Ireland for a time.'

On Thursday widespread showers could again be quite heavy.

It comes after Britons battled heatwaves in one of the hottest summers on record last year when temperatures rose above 40C.

Heavy rain and showers persist today, after turbulent weather put a damper on King Charles's Coronation celebrations over the weekend.

Pockets of cloud are likely to linger across England for much of the night, with the clearest of conditions in Scotland and Wales. There will be moderate winds in the southwest, gentle elsewhere.

The UK will see another bright start tomorrow with some sunshine as widespread showers will develop. It is forecast to be a wet afternoon on Wednesday, with some thundery showers on the east coast of England.

The driest of conditions will be in Scotland, though it is set to be a cloudy afternoon for all.

Things are looking up towards the weekend as Friday and Saturday will see fewer showers and pleasant temperatures of 20 to 21C.

'In any sunshine this week it will actually feel quite warm,' the Met Office told MailOnline.

They added that forecasts for the rest of May look 'fairly changeable', with 'further spells and unsettled weather' anticipated.

It comes after heavy showers dampened King Charles's Coronation weekend, with royal fans camping out and waiting in queues to witness the event being drenched by downpours.
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Russia sent out just one aged tank for its Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square today as Vladimir Putin's depleted military continues to suffer losses in Ukraine.

In his speech, watched by scores of uniformed soldiers, military officials and leaders of former Soviet nations, Putin claimed that Russia wants peace while accusing the 'western elite' of waging a 'real war' against his invading troops. It came just hours after another barrage of cruise missiles hit several sites across Ukraine.

'Civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland,' he said in a reference to his ongoing invasion that the Kremlin portrays as being a proxy conflict with the West.

With snipers watching the crowd closely, he welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade, and framed his on-going illegal invasion as being akin to the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany in the Second World War, which came to an end 78 years ago - a false narrative that has nevertheless resonated at home.

'To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To Victory!' Putin concluded in his speech.

As the Russian President's address came to a close, cheers rang out across Red Square, with a gun salute and the Russian national anthem, though with a much slimmed down show of military hardware - and no aviation.

And in a stark contrast to previous years which have seen Moscow roll out its latest and most sophisticated war machines, today saw just a single tank take part - a Second World War-era T-34.

Vladimir Putin is seen addressing his country's Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square today. In his speech, he claimed that Russia wants peace while accusing the 'western elite' of waging a real war against his forces in Ukraine

The parade saw a much slimmed down show of military hardware - and no aviation - when compared to previous years. Only one tank took part - a Second World War-era T-34 (pictured)

Today's Victory Parade was a stark contrast to previous editions of the event, which saw far more pieces of military hardware on display. In the 2015 Victory Day parade (pictured) Russian T-14 Armata tanks, which have a remote-controlled gun turret and reinforced capsule for the crew, are shown off in central Moscow

Pictured: Snipers are seen watching over the Victory Day parade in Moscow today as Putin delivered his annual speech. Moscow has been on high-alert after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down

Pictured: Russian president Vladimir Putin waves as he leads the Victory Day parade through Moscow's Red Square, May 9

In a major coup for the Kremlin, at least six post-Soviet leaders including the prime minister of Armenia and the president of Kazakhstan travelled to attend the military parade that fetes the Soviet victory in 1945.

Pictures from Moscow showed Putin arriving and shaking hands with military officials, before delivering his speech. Hundreds of uniformed soldiers then began their parade, marching through Moscow's famous square.

Dozens of military vehicles - including armoured personnel carriers, trucks and intercontinental ballistic missile launchers - also rolled through the city. Observers noted, however, that few Russian tanks were on display. The only model that appeared in the parade was the T-34, which was used in the Second World War.

As such, the parade looked more modest than usual: There were no military aircraft flying over Red Square, and fewer pieces of military equipment were displayed. For the first time in years, the parade ended in under an hour.

The pared-down celebrations come after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. The Kremlin billed it as an attempt at Putin's life; Ukraine denied involvement.

Only some 8,000 troops marched in Red Square this year - the lowest number since 2008. Even the parade in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part.

Russia also enacted a major security clampdown for the commemorations. Authorities curbed the use of drones and ride-sharing services in Moscow and even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg.

State television showed Putin stood next to World War II veterans as he delivered his 10-minute speech, in which he repeated familiar messages he has delivered many times in the nearly 15 months of Russia's war in Ukraine.

'We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security,' he said, despite Ukraine shaping up for another counteroffensive having pushed Russia back east last year.

To troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were at the Parade, he said: 'There is nothing more important now than your combat effort. The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you.'

Putin insisted that the West's 'untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity' are to blame for the conflict. He claimed 'Western globalist elites' were sowing Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people had become 'hostages to a state coup' and to the ambitions of the West.

Despite ordering his troops across the border in February last year and repeatedly attacking civilian centres in Ukraine, Putin claimed he wants peace.

'We want to see our future peaceful and stable. We believe that any ideology of supremacy is not acceptable to us. However, the western elite and globalists are insisting on their exceptional character,' he said.

'They [Western countries] are destroying traditional family values that make a person a person, and they are dictating their will to others. Their rule to others. In essence, this is a system of robbing others, and a system of violence,' he added.

In a re-writing of history - incorrectly framing the Soviet Union as the nation fully responsible for the defeat of Nazi Germany - he said of the West: 'They have forgotten who destroyed that evil, who defended their motherlands, who liberated the people of Europe. We see that in a number of countries.'

Despite this, Putin said the memory of World War Two was sacred and paid tribute to those who fought against Nazis, including the armies of the United States and Britain, and also to China's fight against the Japanese.

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has promoted a patriotic cult around the 1945 Soviet victory over the Nazis, used to stoke patriotism and boost his standing as the heir of Soviet power.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945 - two months before the Western Allied troops entered the German capital.

Along with the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the crushing of Nazi Germany is Russia's most revered military triumph, though both catastrophic invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its Western borders. It claims its invasion of Ukraine is in part to protect these.

Kremlin officials specifically cite the expansion of NATO, which recently welcoming Finland into the alliance. European nations point to Russia's aggression as the reason why countries want to join.

Putin did not address the challenges facing Russia as its forces prepare for the expected major counter-offensive by Ukraine, or outline any path to victory, as he continues to take heavy losses.

Pictured: Russian soldiers march during Tuesday's Victory Day parade through Moscow's Red Square

Pictured: Hundreds of Russian servicemen march through Moscow's Red Square on May 9 after Putin's Victory Day address

Pictured: Russian servicemen march in downtown during the country's Victory Day parade marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, 78 years ago

Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9

Pictured: Vladimir Putin speaks in front of St. Basil's Cathedral in central Moscow on Tuesday

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu drives an Aurus cabriolet during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

People watch Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems and other armoured vehicles driving along a street before a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Dozens of Russian service members take part in a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Pictured: Dozens of Russian servicemen gather in Moscow's Red Square for today's parade

Pictured: Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9

Pictured: Putin is seen on a big screen in Red Square as he delivers his speech during the May 9 Victory Day parade

Pictured: Members of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) are seen marching through Red Square in Moscow, May 9

Pictured: Members of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) are seen marching through Red Square in Moscow, May 9

Pictured: Hundreds of armed Russian servicemen are seen marching through Moscow's Red Square on May 9

Pictured: Armed soldiers are seen taking part in Tuesday's Victory Day parade after Putin delivered his speech

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, May 9

Pictured: Hundreds of soldiers are seen taking part in the parade on Tuesday, May 9

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Russian service members march in columns before a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9

Pictured: Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems drive in front of the Kremlin in Moscow, May 9, after the parade

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to President Vladimir Putin during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, arrives for the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (centre) attends a Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow, May 9

Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdymukhamedov attends the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attends a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Pictured: Moscow's Patriarch Kirill (centre), Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Russia Valery Zorkin (right) and Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (left, wearing sunglasses)

Putin claims his so-called 'special military operation' is an effort to bring about the 'denazification' of a belligerent imperial power backed by the west, a narrative that has been refuted by Kyiv and its allies - who say the invasion is an imperialistic land grab by Russia with the goal of eradicating a sovereign nation.

Putin and other Kremlin officials had hoped to have captured Kyiv and overthrown its government ahead of last year's Victory Day parade. But Ukraine's defences repelled the Russian assault on the capital in the first month, forcing Russian into an embarrassing retreat in a massive blow to Putin.

One year on, and after 14 months of fighting in Ukraine, Russia still has little to show for its military campaign.

Putin's troops have failed to take control of the eastern town of Bakhmut, his military leadership is riven by conflict and Kyiv is again preparing to go on the offensive.

What's more, in the run-up to the sabre-rattling festivities, Russia has witnessed numerous incidents, including explosions derailing trains, fires, a drone attack on the Kremlin and a bombing attack that wounded a fiercely pro-Kremlin writer, Zakhar Prilepin.

For the first time since the Second World War, a sense of vulnerability has been felt in Moscow.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen cities and towns - near the Ukraine border, but also in more distant Russian regions - have cancelled plans to stage their own military parades over security concerns.

Russian media have counted 24 Russian cities that cancelled May 9 military parades - the staple of celebrations across Russia - for the first time in years.

The Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II - another pillar of the holiday - have also been canceled in multiple cities.

Regional officials blamed unspecified 'security concerns.' Some speculated, however, that the reason behind cancelling Immortal Regiment marches was the fact that Russians might bring portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine to those processions, illustrating the scale of Russia's losses in the drawn-out conflict.

Moscow sought to project a show of force during its flagship parade on Red Square, with top-notch military equipment rumbling through it and leaders of ex-Soviet nations standing beside President Vladimir Putin.

Ahead of the parade, Political analyst Arkady Dubnov said that 'for the first time in many years' Putin will be surrounded at a Victory Day parade by a number of post-Soviet leaders.

'Despite the serious weakening of its global positions after February 24, 2022, Russia remains to a certain extent the metropolis of a former empire whose actions have to be taken into account,' Dubnov said.

The leaders of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Putin's closest ally - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko - are all in attendance.

Tuesday also saw Russia unleash a barrage of cruise missiles on Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, hours before the start of the parade.

The Kremlin's forces launched 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that air defence had successfully destroyed 23 of them.

In a Telegram post, the air force said eight Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

'As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed,' Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Tuesday's attacks - the fifth in May - came a day after Russia launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.

'(They) try to kill as many civilians as possible - on this day,' Popko said.

He said that according to preliminary information there were no casualties in the attack that was carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.

Falling debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv, Kyiv's Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on his Telegram messaging channel, adding there were no casualties or much damage.

In the often-targeted Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kyiv debris was found on a road.

'Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future!' Popko said.

Pictured: Military officials and other spectators are seen in Moscow's Red Square, watching the Victory Day parade

Pictured: People record videos on their phones as military vehicles drive down a road outside Moscow's Kremlin, May 9

Pictured: Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems drive past the Kremlin wall on Tuesday

Pictured: Russian all-terrain armoured vehicles drive past the Kremlin wall after today's Victory Day parade

Pictured: Russian soldiers take part in their country's Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday, May 9

Pictured: Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow

People take part in the celebrations of Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Vladivostok, Russia May

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers drive in downtown of Moscow, May 9

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers drive after a Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow

Russian servicemen arrive to participate in the Victory Day military parade, to be held at Red Square, in central Moscow on May 9

Russian servicemen arrive to participate in the Victory Day military parade, to be held at Red Square, in central Moscow on May 9

A Russian National guard (Rosgvardia) serviceman stands guard at an embankment of the Moskva river opposite the Kremlin prior to the Victory Day military parade, to be held at Red Square, in central Moscow on May 9

Ahead of the parade, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the mercenary group Wagner, issued a series of blistering, profanity-laced videos, blaming Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for withholding ammunition amid talk of infighting and rivalries.

His statement appeared to row back from comments hours earlier that initial data showed they had begun to get it.

But Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces have spent months trying to capture the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, added that he did not want to 'spoil' Russia's big Victory Day parade set for 0700 GMT, and would reveal more details afterwards.

'The people who were supposed to fulfil the (shipment) orders have so far, over the past day, not fulfilled them,' Prigozhin said in a video post on the messaging app Telegram.

The Institute for the Study of War has pointed to 'chain of command problems' for the Russian army in Ukraine that cast doubt on Moscow's ability to 'coordinate a coherent theatre-wide defensive campaign'.

Russia and other ex-soviet states celebrate Victory Day on May 9, while most other European countries mark the date on May 8, due to the time difference when Nazi Germany signed to surrender in 1945.

Western nations that celebrate Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) do so to mark the end of all combat actions in the Second World War, which was officially specified as 23:01 Central European Time, which was already May 9 in Eastern Europe.

By contrast, Ukraine commemorated the end of World War II together with Europe on Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing that Russian forces would be defeated just as Nazi Germany was beaten in 1945.

The Ukrainian leader said the Kremlin was responsible for 'aggression and annexation, occupation and deportation', as well as 'mass murder and torture'.

SAINT PETERSBURG: A single tank was also seen rolling through Russia's second city in smaller Victory Day celebrations

Pictured: Russian war veterans are seen leaving Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday after the end of the Victory Day parade

A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives past the US embassy after a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to soldiers as he is driven along Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9

Russian military vehicles drive in downtown of Moscow, Russia, May 9

Zelensky said he had submitted a bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on May 8. For years the anniversary was marked on May 9, as it was in Russia and other ex-Soviet countries.

Ukraine will also mark a separate Europe Day on May 9, which promotes peace and unity on the continent, he said.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the celebration of peace and unity, in a symbolic retort to Moscow's Victory Day parade.

The president of the European Commission travelled on an overnight train from Poland to see President Volodymyr Zelensky and work on Ukraine's quest for eventual EU membership, a reporter on the train said.
A fed up traveller has called out his fellow Australians for their unruly behaviour in Bali after seeing them 'get smashed' and 'swear like troopers' at a pool bar.

Tourist Tom Ash posted his gripe to the Bali Bogans social media on Monday which went viral with travellers agreeing Aussies need to 'clean up their act'.

It comes after a 23-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast was jailed in Indonesia after an alleged drunken and violent rampage off the west coast of Sumatra last month.

'We love Bali. Unfortunately there are a small minority of Aussies who continue to behave badly,' Mr Ash said in the post.

'[They] get smashed at the pool bar and swearing like troopers. Doesn't create a relaxing atmosphere. In future we'll pick places more carefully.'

A fed up traveller has called out his fellow Australians for their unruly behaviour in Bali after seeing them 'get smashed' and 'swear like troopers' at a pool bar (pictured, a man dancing in front of a taxi in Kuta, Bali)

Fellow travellers on the online group agreed with the irate tourist.

'100 per cent. This is what happened at [our hotel] at Christmas - disgusting behaviour,' one person said.

'The saddest part is we know they were from OZ. Clean your act up guys and gals and show some respect.'

Another wrote: 'I stayed at [one hotel] and there were six people in the pool for over seven hours and didn't leave once to go to the toilet - luckily I was going home that night.'

A third added: 'Yes we get out of Aus land for that reason lol.'

'It makes me embarrassed to be Australian,' a fourth said.

Tourist Tom Ash posted his gripe to the Bali Bogans social media on Monday which went viral with travellers agreeing Aussies need to 'clean up their act' (Bali stock image)

But one commenter disagreed and said Australians are the 'best travellers'.

'I find us Aussies ... [are] always helping people at other airports find gates, giving someone a lighter, travel tips in general.'

Mr Ash admitted Australians have one thing going for them.

'I've noticed Aussies are the most polite nationality at the breakfast buffet, so it's not all bad.'
A rescue mission for a high school student swept away by floodwater has been suspended for the night in severe weather and will resume at first light on Wednesday.

The year 11 student went missing during a school caving trip to Abbey Caves, 160km north of Auckland, where the group was caught up in a 'severe weather event'.

'One of our students is currently missing after encountering the weather event. Search and rescue are currently searching for the young person,' Whangarei Boys' High School said in a statement.

The north of New Zealand's North Island was struck by thunderstorms on Tuesday, leading to flash flooding and the Auckland mayor declaring a state of local emergency.

Further north, near Whangarei, the emergency services were called at 10.35am to Abbey Caves, where the excursion group was in difficulty.

A rescue mission for a high school student reportedly swept away by floodwater has been suspended for the night and will resume at first light on Wednesday. Abbey Caves in NZ, where the boy went missing, is pictured

Local media reported that two supervisors and 13 year 11 students were trapped in a cave. Most of them were later able to get out.

'A group of people have since made it out safely, however, one student is currently unaccounted for,' Northland Police said.

'We have Police Search and Rescue and USAR crews responding to the area.'

In a statement published on the school's Facebook page, principal Karen Gilbert-Smith confirmed what happened.

'An event has occurred today that I want to inform you about, an event that is hugely upsetting for all concerned,' she wrote.

'A year 11 Outdoor Education class attended Abbey Caves this morning on a caving trip and encountered a severe weather event.

'One of our students is currently missing after encountering the weather event.'

She said those who got out were assessed by paramedics and then returned to the school where got 'further medical assessment' and were reunited with their families.

'In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united as a WBHS community and provide support where required,' the principal said.

She added that the school would be open as normal on Wednesday after being cut short on Tuesday.

'My thoughts and aroha are with all concerned, especially the whanau (family) of the young person who is missing.'

On social media, a woman saying she is the aunt of the missing boy asked for support.

'Whanau, I need prayers. My nephew is lost in Abbey Caves!' she wrote on a group named Friends of Whangarei Stake.

'My heart is absolutely broken hearing this,' a woman called Bronwyn Hanley replied.

'Both of my daughters have caved in Abbey Caves on Year 11 school trips and know how tight and dangerous these are.'

The year 11 student went missing during a school caving trip to Abbey Caves, 162km north of Auckland, where the group was caught up in a 'severe weather event'. New Zealand emergency services vehicles are pictured

She said one of her daughters' trips took place in the rain and warned 'the water levels can rise pretty quickly'. 'Praying for the boy and his family and for a rescue soon,' she added.

The local council's website says 'only experienced cavers' should enter the underground caves, 'as there are risks from rapidly rising water and roof falls'.

Whangarei got 60milimetres of rain in the three hours to midday and MetService issued a rare red warning  used only for the most destructive weather events  due to the severe storms passing.

The transport agency reported significant delays on Auckland motorways due to flooding and accidents across the region. Many ferry and train services were suspended and motorists urged to delay any non-essential travel.
A giant barge that will house 500 migrants has docked in Cornwall - with ministers promising more vessels in the future.

The Bibby Stockholm has arrived in Falmouth for renovations ahead of going into service next month.

It was towed from Italy and will now undergo safety checks as well as being refitted to increase the onboard capacity as it currently only has space for 200 people.

The vessel will be moved into position off Dorset in the middle of June, and used for single adult male asylum seekers.

Confirming the plan last month, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said it will help trim the 6million-a-day cost of housing Channel migrants in hotels.

The Bibby Stockholm has arrived in Falmouth for renovations ahead of going into service next month

An aerial view of the barge being accompanied by tug boats into Falmouth

The barge was towed from Italy and will now undergo safety checks as well as being refitted to increase the onboard capacity as it currently only has space for 200 people

He also claimed it would help 'prevent the UK becoming a magnet for asylum shoppers in Europe'.

The Home Office said it was in discussion with other ports and further barges would be announced 'in due course'.

The Bibby Stockholm barge will provide 'basic and functional accommodation' as well as healthcare and catering facilities when it is berthed at Portland in Dorset, according to the Home Office.

The Port of Portland is also set to welcome more than 40 cruise ships over the course of the year, and usually advertises arrival and departure dates on its website to help residents and local businesses plan for busy periods.

READ MORE: Two detention centres are delayed by at least six months Advertisement

But it has now removed the dates, with a source telling The Times that bosses feared far-Right activists would arrange protests when there were large numbers of tourists in the area to maximise their impact.

A Portland Port spokesman, when asked about the report, said: 'All cruise calls are proceeding as normal at Portland Port but arrivals and departures are subject to change, as they are at any port.

'Therefore, it is best to contact the cruise line involved for the most up-to-date information.'

There will also be round-the-clock security on board to 'minimise the disruption to local communities'.

However, the Government is facing stiff local opposition to positioning the Bibby Stockholm at a popular beauty spot.

This is despite suggestions that local councils could be paid up to 3,500 per migrant to accept barges in their ports.

There has also been a backlash from charities and human rights campaigners who say the accommodation is not fit for people fleeing war.

The barge includes a gym, games room and bar. It also has 'delicious, nutritious food' in its restaurant and Wi-Fi throughout the ship.

The barge is seen being pulled into Falmouth after arriving from Genoa in Italy

It will now undergo safety checks as well as being refitted to increase the onboard capacity as it currently only has space for 200 people

The ship will later be taken to Dorset to house asylum seekers

The vessel will be moved into position off Dorset in the middle of June. Pictured, the boat arriving in Falmouth

An aerial view of the barge, which is spread over three storeys and will house around 500 migrants

The barge, operated by Liverpool-based Bibby Marine features a games room and bar

The barge offers 'delicious, nutritious food' in its restaurant and Wi-Fi throughout the ship

The vessel will house up to 506 people in 222 en-suite bedrooms who will be free to come and go while their asylum claims are processed

The barge, operated by Liverpool-based Bibby Marine, will house up to 506 people in 222 en-suite bedrooms.

Rishi Sunak has said the barge would save taxpayers' money.

'We are spending, as a country, 6million a day housing illegal asylum seekers in hotels  that can't be right,' the Prime Minister said.

It comes as the reopening of two immigration detention centres has been delayed by at least six months in a fresh blow to Suella Braverman's borders crackdown.

Mothballed facilities in Hampshire and Oxfordshire were due to be brought back into use by this summer.

But they will not now be ready until early next year at the earliest, sources said.

The delay casts doubt on the Government's plan to 'detain and swiftly remove' Channel migrants under new measures in the Illegal Migration Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

There are just 2,500 existing beds in Britain's immigration detention centres, which means the system will not be able to keep pace with the number of small boat arrivals.

Among last year's 45,700 total, 8,600 reached UK shores during August alone and the highest daily total was almost 1,300.

Single adult males will be housed on the barge while their asylum claims are processed

A gym inside the barge, which is owned by Liverpool based company Bibby Marine

It will be the first time asylum seekers in the UK have been housed on an accommodation barge  which is normally used for maritime or offshore workers

The Bibby Stockholm will offer 'basic and functional accommodation, healthcare provision, catering facilities and 24/7 security

Government tenders to run disused centres Campfield House, near Oxford, and Haslar, at Gosport, Hampshire, closed in January.

Under the 450million, six-year contracts the centres were both due to be up and running by August. They will hold an extra 1,000 detainees in total.

The Bill is due to face strong opposition in the House of Lords in the coming weeks but ministers still hope it will gain Royal Assent by the time Parliament's summer recess begins in July.

Once its measures are in place, 'irregular' migrants such as small boat arrivals will be detained rather than placed in controversial and costly hotel accommodation.

But the Home Office will need a major expansion of detention capacity if Mr Sunak's pledge to remove Channel migrants is to be met.

Prisons cannot be used because they are already full, with inmates being kept in police station cells under an emergency scheme.

Sources said the reopening of the two additional detention centres is now delayed until early next year. Reasons for the hold-up are not known.

However, ministers are hoping the threat of detention and removal  to Rwanda or another safe country  will deter migrants from crossing the Channel in the first place.

On Saturday and Sunday the Home Office recorded 269 migrant arrivals into the UK. Pictured are a group of people thought to be migrants in Dover on Sunday morning

Plans to reopen the two detention centres have been delayed until early next year (Pictured: Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire)

So far this year, 6,549 small boat migrants have reached the UK, 15 per cent down on the 7,752 who had arrived by the same point last year.

It is too early to say whether the Government's tough policies have already begun deterring migrants or whether the decline in numbers is down to the weather.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Immigration removal-centre capacity will not cause delays to the passage of the Illegal Migration Bill.

'The Bill will enable us to remove people as quickly as possible, meaning they will be in detention for a shorter amount of time.

'We are also working to build these new sites as a priority, while looking at finding alternative solutions to further increase detention capacity.'

Meanwhile, new protections for free speech are in doubt as human rights reforms face the scrapheap.

Former justice secretary Dominic Raab's Bill of Rights, published last year, would have ditched Labour's Human Rights Act and made free speech a 'trump card' over other competing rights.

Ministers are hoping their tough approach will deter migrants from coming to UK shores (Pictured: Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire)

But his successor Alex Chalk is 'looking carefully' at the Bill, with scrapping it the most likely option, sources told The Times.

The Bill was designed to block the creation of European-style privacy laws by unelected judges through the back door.

However, in September Liz Truss' government shelved the legislation and said it was 'unlikely to progress in its current form'.

It was resurrected when Mr Raab returned to Mr Sunak's Cabinet, but is now in doubt again after he was forced to resign in the wake of a bullying inquiry.

A Government source told The Times: 'Dom's departure sounded the death knell for the Bill of Rights. It won't be coming back, or at least not in any form that resembles the current Bill.'

Another Government source described the legislation as a 'complete mess'.
Keir Starmer will warn his shadow cabinet the 'hardest part lies ahead' today after local election results showed he has not yet sealed the deal with voters.

Labour scored significant wins in the town hall polls last week, but analysis suggests the party still faces falling short of an overall majority at Westminster.

After the long coronation weekend, Sir Keir will gather his top team later urging them to demonstrate they can be a 'big reforming government'.

But the SNP has already been boasting that it will hold the balance of power if the next general election brings a hung Parliament, vowing to 'undo Brexit' and force a Scottish independence referendum.

The Lib Dems have also been indicating that they will push for proportional representation if Sir Keir needs to rely on other parties to prop him up in No10.

Keir Starmer will warn his shadow cabinet the 'hardest part lies ahead' today after local election results showed he has not yet sealed the deal with voters

The SNP (Humza Yousaf pictured left) and Lib Dems (Ed Davey pictured right) could hold the balance of power in a hung Parliament

Closely-watched projections have found that Labour would have 298 MPs if Thursday's results were replicated at a general election

Labour gained 635 councillors across England in last week's polls as the Conservatives lost 960 seats under Rishi Sunak's leadership - worse than most Tories had feared.

The Opposition was encouraged by winning control of councils in the Brexit-backing areas of Dover, Blackpool, Medway, Erewash, and Stoke.

But the national vote share gave Sir Keir's supporters pause for thought and Mr Sunak some grounds for hope.

The Tories were on 29 per cent, the worst in a significant ballot event since 2013.

Labour was up five points on 2019 on 36 per cent - but that was only a marginal improvement on a year ago.

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if Thursday's results were replicated at a general election.

That would be up 95 on the standings from 2019 - but still around 30 short of an outright majority.

Meanwhile, the Tories are on track to plunge 127 seats to just 238.

The estimates were based on the 4.2million ballots cast for councillors, and come with the caveat that behaviour is often different in Westminster polls.

Addressing his shadow cabinet today, Sir Keir is expected to say: 'The fact that Labour won in all parts of the country was a sign of the strides we have made. People who turned away from us during the Corbyn years and the Brexit years are coming back.

'But there is understandably a lot of scepticism about politics out there and now we need to go from reassurance to hope. We need to show that we will be a big reforming government bringing hope of a better life for working people.'

Sir Keir will tell his team to focus on the NHS rather than 'woke' issues, after getting into trouble over questions such as whether women can have penises.

Labour is considering putting higher taxes on foreign buyers of UK homes as the party seeks to pressure the Government on the housing crisis.

The 2 per cent surcharge on stamp duty for overseas buyers could be increased, as well as banning them from purchasing more than 50 per cent of homes in a development.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn dismissed Sir Keir's insistence that he would not bow to pressure on policies.

'I'm actually quite excited about where we are at the moment because what we see is a big shift away from the Conservatives in England, but it's a shift that is not going to deliver a majority government for Labour at Westminster and that very much brings us into play because it affords us the opportunity, the very real opportunity, of holding the balance of power at Westminster,' he said in a round of interviews this morning.

'We would be very clear in terms of our asks. We would want the cost of living to be put front and centre of the policy prospectus of any UK government.

'We would want to see the damage that has been caused by Brexit rolled back, not just to boost our economy but to boost our public services as well.

'And of course, we would be very, very keen to see a UK government, particularly a UK Labour government, deliver the powers to Holyrood to hold an independence referendum.'

SNP Europe spokesman Alyn Smith said: 'Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK - costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis  and there's been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.

'While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.'

The MP added: 'With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe.'

Rishi Sunak (pictured taking part in the Big Help Out campaign yesterday) is facing Tory disquiet after dismal local elections last week

Sir Keir will also speak to the 22 new Labour council leaders today, with the local Labour politicians set to pledge to deliver emergency cost of living action plans within 100 days of taking control.

The Labour leader said he was proud of last week's success, adding that he was 'delighted to be immediately working with our new council leaders to create emergency cost of living action plans, and review local housing plans'.

'We'll act now, to ease people's pockets, and support their aspirations.

'Our new leaders will review their inheritance and pull every lever possible to relieve the intolerable burden that this government has placed on working people.'
Chocolate fans think the supermarket's treat looks similar to Cadbury's Freddo

Aldi has been accused of producing a 'practically identical' chocolate bar to Cadbury's Freddo with their Deeno the dinosaur treat.

Chocolate fans have noted the bar, which costs 17.5p when bought in a multi-pack, shares several similarities with its Cadbury counterpart.

The cheap chocolate treat has a purple wrapper which features a green character, red lettering and a blue background.

The chocolate bar's brand 'Dairyfine' is also written in a similar golden colour font as 'Cadbury' is on a Freddo.

The bars are the same size, both weighing 18g, but a ten-pack of Deenos costs 1.75, while a five pack of Dairy Milk Freddos is 1.

Aldi and Cadbury's have been contacted for a comment.

Aldi has been accused of producing a 'practically identical' chocolate bar to Cadbury's Freddo with their Deeno the dinosaur treat

The bars are the same size, both weighing 18g, but a ten-pack of Deenos costs 1.75, while a five pack of Dairy Milk Freddos is 1

Online, shoppers reacted positively to the new chocolate treat despite the apparent similarity to Freddos.

Louise Pittam wrote: 'I LOVE Aldi dupes they are brilliant'.

While Yasmin Argent said: 'And again we ask ourselves; how do they get away with it? The new advert with the caterpillars made me laugh so much - the literal audacity.'

Mother Clare Bailey was happy to see the bars at her local Aldi, she wrote: 'My daughter loves these. Bought them last week and a nice little treat.

'Also a good party bag filler too.'

Meanwhile Vicky Johnston said: 'I bought these. They are nice but they don't taste the same as Freddos.'

Aldi previously went to battle with Marks & Spencer over claims of copying its Colin the caterpillar cake with their own Cuthbert the Caterpillar.

Lawyers had been brought in on the intellectual property claim, which even made it to the High Court last year.

But last year both supermarkets confirmed an agreement was struck to resolve the conflict.

Chocolate fans were quick to say they noticed similarities between Deeno and Freddo

Aldi previously had legal troubles surrounding their Cuthbert The Caterpillar cake (pictured)

Marks & Spencer settled an intellectual property claim with the German discounter Aldi after it accused them of copying the design of its famous Colin the Caterpillar cake (pictured) for their rival Cuthbert

Details of the 'confidential' deal have not been revealed, but Cuthbert has reappeared on shelves in a slightly altered form.

M&S has three trademarks relating to Colin, which the retailer believes means Colin has acquired and retains an enhanced distinctive character and reputation.

Nevertheless, the M&S original has spawned a range of imitators since its launch, such as Sainsbury's Wiggles, Tesco's Curly, Morris by Morrisons, the Co-op's Charlie, Cecil by Waitrose and Asda's Clyde.

At the time an M&S spokesman said: 'The objective of the claim was to protect the IP (intellectual property) in our Colin the Caterpillar cake and we are very pleased with the outcome.'

Meanwhile, Aldi said that Cuthbert was now 'free' following the dispute.
A grieving husband has told how he drove past the scene of a fatal road smash not realising that the victim was his wife.

Bolaji Onifade, 43, was heading to work on October 25, 2021, when he noticed police and ambulance workers tending to a pedestrian who had been hit by a wealthy businessman's son driving a 200,000 Mercedes G-Wagon at speeds of up to 91mph.

He only learnt that the casualty was his wife Ibizugbe, 38, when he arrived at his IT firm in Salford, Greater Manchester, 20 minutes later.

Mohammed Chowdhury, 22, from Chadderton near Oldham, was driving the four litre G63 vehicle - which can reach 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds - when he hit receptionist Mrs Onifade. Just moments before the crash he had been chatting on his mobile phone.

At Manchester Crown Court Chowdhury was jailed for five years and six months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for eight years and nine months.

He had previous convictions for driving without insurance and having a non-compliant number plate, and in both instances he provided the police with his brother's details. He passed his driving test in November 2018 but attended a speed awareness course in 2021.

Receptionist Ibizugbe Onifade, 38, was crossing the road at the time of the impact and died from multiple injuries

Mohammed Chowdhury, 22, has been jailed for five years and six months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving

Chowdhury, whose family runs a successful textile company, had been racing down a busy and well lit dual carriageway in Manchester at 80mph overtaking and undertaking other drivers as he saw fit.

The speed of his driving was so great that it reportedly caused a fellow road users' car to 'shake as he drove past.'

Mrs Onifade was crossing the road at the time of the impact and died from multiple injuries.

In a statement Mrs Onifade's husband, known as BJ, said: 'That day changed my life forever. When I heard the news, I felt like I had come to the end of the world. What will I do without my wife?

'She was a lively and friendly person. We met each other at Salford University and got married later on. We had been trying for a baby and were considering IVF before COVID set us back.

'She would have been a wonderful mother. People should not be able to drive such high-powered cars when they are so young. If he had been driving sensibly, I would still have my wife.'

He added: 'We went shopping in the morning and took our little nephew out with us. Then I took her to work, but before leaving I told her, you haven't said goodbye to the little one. I offered to pick her up from work later but she said she would take a bus home as she was doing overtime.

'I was on night shift so went to work later. When I was driving along Ashton New Road, I noticed flashing police lights from across the road and thought there must have been an incident. Something told me to call my wife, but she didn't pick up. I got my cousin, to try and call her, but she also didn't pick up.'

Bolaji Onifade (above) has told how he drove past the scene of a fatal road smash not realising the victim was his wife Ibizugbe (pictured)

Mr Onifade said when he heard the news 'I felt like I had come to the end of the world'

Mr Onifade then said he received a call from his wife's employer saying there has been an incident and the police were going to attend his address.

The 43-year-old also said: 'We had been together for 10 years. She had studied quantitative business at Salford University and got her masters at a university in Nigeria. We enjoyed each other's company, dong normal things all couples like to do. Going to church and socialising with friends. She also loved watching films. She has four sisters, two brothers and a mother back in Nigeria. I just pray that they are ok.'

Prosecuting, Brian Berlyne described the moments after Chowdhury struck Mrs Onifade.

'Chowdhury immediately stopped and phoned the ambulance, which arrived a short time after. The victim died later in the night from the multiple injuries sustained from the collision.

Although it was never fully confirmed the speed at which he was driving at the time, a police reconstruction of the incident measured his speed before the collision to be between 79 and 91 mph.. He did immediately slow down when he saw the victim and was estimated to have been at between 40-50mph at that point.

'After being arrested at the scene, the defendant's phone was seized. Analysis found that he had received no less than six calls between 8:51 and 8:57. The last call was taken at 8:57 and lasted for 2 minutes. At 9:00 he also used his phone to call the police.

'In interview, he denied driving dangerously and gave no account of his actions.'

The 43-year-old added: 'People should not be able to drive such high-powered cars when they are so young'

Mr and Mrs Onifade had been together for 10 years and met at Salford University

In mitigation, Mohammed Nawaz, said: 'He acquired an interest in cars at a young age, and by 14 he was spending more time fixing up care than he was spending at school. His family own a successful textile business that he worked for briefly. Their success allowed him to have access to fast and high-powered vehicles. '

But sentencing Judge Timothy Clayson told Chowdhury: 'It is clear that you have a tendency for sensation seeking and risk taking behaviour. This was a built-up area where pedestrians were likely to be present and crossing the road. You made no consideration of that fact. You were distracted and driving at a grossly excessive speed in a built-up area- and this resulted in disastrous consequences.'
Broadcasting legend John Roland, who served as a news anchor for Fox 5 in New York City for three decades, has died aged 81.

Roland anchored the 10pm newscast on the New York channel for nearly 30 years after starting at Fox 5 as a political reporter and weekend anchor in 1969.

He became the nightly news anchor for the station in 1979 where he covered historical events such as the 9/11 terror attacks before his retirement in 2004.

Roland became a trusted newsman for millions of people across the decades, and was known for 'his frank delivery and his compassion for New Yorkers who were living through the violent times in the city in the 1970s,' Fox 5 said.

Those who worked with Roland, including his co-anchor Rosanna Scotto from the 1990s, said he was an inspiration.

Broadcasting legend John Roland, who served as an anchor for Fox 5 in New York City (pictured) for three decades, has died aged 81

John Roland during Fox 5 Hosts a Party Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the 10 P.M. News Show at Fresco II On The Go in New York City in 2007

'Sitting next to John was always a learning lesson,' Scotto said. 'He took pride in his writing and his down-to-earth communicating. It was never more evident than anchoring next to him during the 9/11 attacks.'

Jerry Cipriano, Former Senior News Editor of CBS News, tweeted: 'R.I.P. John Roland, longtime anchor of The 10 O'Clock News on Channel 5 in New York.

'I will always be grateful to him for sharing with a young, aspiring TV news writer a simple mantra: write the way people talk. Thank you, John.'

The journalist, originally from Pittsburgh, began his broadcasting career in the 1960s, working for NBC News in Los Angeles where he covered high-profile events such as the Robert F. Kennedy assassination before joining Fox 5 for the rest of his career.

Roland was also known to make the news. In May 1983, Roland and his friend were having a late-night dinner at the former Racing Club, a restaurant in New York City's East side, when three armed men entered the eatery and attempted to rob customers.

Roland wrestled with one of the robbers and shot him in the leg before managing to disarm him. The other two robbers attacked the news anchor, hitting him over the head with a gun that left Roland needing 32 stitches.

The police arrested the three robbers and their getaway driver as they attempted to flee from the scene. Roland's heroic attempts to stop the robbers made the front page of every local newspaper that week.

Those who worked with Roland, including his co-anchor Rosanna Scotto (pictured together during a newscast) from the 1990s, said he was an inspiration

Roland became the nightly news anchor for the station in 1979 where he covered historical events such as the 9/11 terror attacks before his retirement in 2004

John Roland and Rosanna Scotto during Fox 5 Celebrates The 4th Anniversary Of The 10 PM News in 2007 in New York City

During his time at Fox 5, formerly WNYW-TV, Roland got into an on-air argument with Joyce Bruce, a mentally ill homeless woman and was later suspended. Roland personally apologised to Bruce and went back on air after the brief suspension.

In September 2002, Roland almost died at work after suffering from diverticulitis, a gastrointestinal disease, and was rushed to hospital.

He underwent 18 blood transfusions and doctors removed part of his colon in a surgery that saved his life. Roland recovered and returned to work to the station in the October.

The broadcaster spent his final years living with his wife Zayda in their Florida home.
King Charles's Coronation on Saturday came nearly 86 years after the crowning of his grandparents.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned inside Westminster Abbey on May 12, 1937, five months after the monarch's Edward VIII had abdicated so he could marry divorcee Wallis Simpson.

The Royal Family - including an 11-year-old Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret - later waved to crowds on Buckingham Palace's balcony, just as the King did at the weekend.

Eight years later, the royals returned to the balcony, this time with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as the country celebrated VE day, on May 8, 1945.

George's crowning came exactly 869 years after Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, enjoyed her own coronation at the Abbey, which back then had been standing for less than a decade.

This Friday also marks the 808th anniversary of the ultimatum that English barons delivered to the hated King John. Thirty-four days later, he signed the Magna Carta, which set out the rights of freeborn English subjects.

Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth - May 12, 1937

George VI was crowned by Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Gordon Lang on May 12, 1937

King George VI was crowned on the same day that his brother's coronation had been planned.

Alongside his wife Queen Elizabeth, he had stepped up to become the monarch despite his shyness and a stammer that afflicted him for his whole life.

Unlike his daughter's Coronation in 1953, the ceremony for George VI inside Westminster Abbey was not televised, although the procession was shown on TV and the service itself was filmed for posterity.

After the royal couple returned to Buckingham Palace, they appeared on the balcony with daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose

Whilst the King was successfully anointed and crowned, there were slight mishaps.

The elderly Dean of Westminster, who died later that year, fell down steps as he was carrying St Edward's Crown.

The Dean then put the regalia in the wrong order on the high altar and twice handed the wrong sceptre to the wrong peer.

The King was crowned by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, who was widely thought to have helped to push Edward VIII to abdicate.

The churchman's reputation had suffered a blow after making a radio broadcast criticising Edward following his abdication

The procession route back to Buckingham Palace was more than six miles along, with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to get a glimpse of the King and Queen.

The televisation of the procession - at a time when very few people had TV sets - marked Britain's first major outside broadcast.

After the royal couple returned to Buckingham Palace, they appeared on the famous balcony with their daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth pose in their Coronation robes with daughters Princess Elizabeth (centre) and Princess Margaret

Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Gordon Lang presides over the coronation of King George VI in Westminster Abbey in May 1937

The Daily Mail's coverage of King George VI's Coronation, which it described as 'glorious'. A a young Princess Elizabeth can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony with her sister Princess Margaret Rose

VE Day - May 8, 1945

On May 8, 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the Royal Family as the country jubilantly celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany.

He beamed in his trademark three-piece suit as King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret waved to crowds.

Although Japan was yet to surrender, the Second World War - for Britain at least - was finally drawing to a close.

Churchill warned the country in a radio broadcast that whilst there could be a 'brief period of rejoicing', Britons could not forget the 'toils and efforts that lie ahead'.

On May 8, 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the Royal Family as the country jubilantly celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany

A huge, joyous crowd are seen massed outside the gates of Buckingham Palace on May 8, 1945, as the country celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany

Whitehall in Westminster is seen packed with Britons as they celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany

Other royal anniversaries this week Jack Cade's Rebellion against King Henry VI begins - May 8, 1450 Treaty of Windsor between Portugal and England is ratified at Windsor - May 9, 1386 King William III declares war on France - May 9, 1689 Australia's new parliament house in Canberra is opened by Queen Elizabeth II - May 9, 1988 John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article severely criticizing King George III - May 10, 1768 Advertisement

King George also gave a speech from the bomb-scarred Palace in which he thanked the nation.

His speech began: 'Today we give thanks to Almighty God for a great deliverance.

'Speaking from our Empire's oldest capital city, war-battered but never for one moment daunted or dismayed  speaking from London, I ask you to join with me in that act of thanksgiving.

'Germany, the enemy who drove all Europe into war, has been finally overcome. In the Far East we have yet to deal with the Japanese, a determined and cruel foe.

'To this we shall turn with the utmost resolve and with all our resources.

'But at this hour, when the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and homes in these islands, we may at last make one pause for thanksgiving and then turn our thoughts to the tasks all over the world which peace in Europe brings with it.'

The King finished his speech with a stirring call for a 'lasting peace', adding: 'In the hour of danger we humbly committed our cause into the Hand of God, and He has been our Strength and Shield.

'Let us thank Him for His mercies, and in this hour of Victory commit ourselves and our new task to the guidance of that same strong Hand.'

In the evening on May 8, 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, was given permission by her father to leave the Palace and celebrate with her future subjects.

She and her sister joined the crowds of ordinary Britons to celebrate Britain's victory.

The pair were joined by their first cousin Margaret Rhodes and Jean Woodroffe, Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting.

Churchill is seen standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with King George, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret

King George also gave a speech from the bomb-scarred Palace in which he thanked the nation

King George and Queen Elizabeth are seen standing amid bomb damage at Buckingham Palace in 1940

The group also included Lord Porchester, later to become the Queens racing manager, and Peter Townsend, the King's equerry who would later cause a scandal by having an affair with Princess Margaret.

Parliament declares Charles Stuart to be King Charles II - May 8, 1660

King Charles II was the surviving son of Charles I, who was executed in 1649 after his defeat in the English Civil War.

After his father's death, the younger Charles had fled England and sought refuge for the next nine years in Europe.

Back home, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector as the monarchy was abolished.

Parliament invited the exiled Charles II to become king on May 8, 1660, 11 years after his father Charles I had been executed

But, two years after the death of Cromwell in 1658, Parliament resolved to allow Charles to return to Britain to become the King.

Their message to the exiled Charles reached him at Breda in the Netherlands on May 8, 1660.

He then set out for England and arrived in Dover on May 25th before reaching London four days later, when his reign officially began.

He was then crowned at Westminster Abbey the following year, on April 23, 1661.

English barons deliver ultimatum to King John, leading to signing of Magna Carta - May 12, 1215

On May 12, 1215, English barons presented the reviled King John with an ultimatum, demanding that he recognise their rights as Englishmen.

The King had no alternative but to agree and, 34 days later, at Runnymede meadow on the banks of the River Thames, he signed the document that came to be known as Magna Carta.

The defining text, parts of which remain on the statue book, set out the rights of English subjects, including that they could not be imprisoned illegally or denied swift justice.

It also defined the freedom of the English church and the ancient liberties of the City of London.

Magna Carta went on to heavily influence the Constitution of the United States of America.

On May 12, 1215, English barons presented the reviled King John with an ultimatum, demanding that he recognise their rights as Englishmen. The King had no alternative but to agree and, 34 days later, at Runnymede meadow on the banks of the River Thames, he signed the document that came to be known as Magna Carta

A surviving copy of the Magna Carta is seen on display at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire

Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, is crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey - May 11, 1068

On May 11, 1068, Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Her coronation came 22 years after William, the Duke of Normandy, had defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Westminster Abbey, which had been built on the orders of Edward the Confessor, was completed little more than five years before William's invasion.

Matilda was the first queen to have a separate coronation at the Abbey.

She spent most the remainder of her life back in Normandy after being crowned.

The Queen, who had married William in around 1051, died in around 1083, four years before her husband.
The abductor of Cleo Smith was jailed for more than 10 years

Cleo Smith's kidnapper is reportedly appealing the length of his jail term.

Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, was last month jailed for more than 10 years after pleading guilty to the abduction of four-year-old Cleo from her family's tent at a remote campsite on October 16.

She was missing for 18 days before finally being found by police, alone in a room at Kelly's Carnarvon home, in the early hours of November 3 as Kelly was arrested nearby.

But The West Australian has reported Kelly's legal team have now lodged an appeal over the lengthy sentence handed down to him after he admitted forcibly detaining a child under the age of 16 in January 2022.

Cleo Smith was found after 18 agonizing days for her mother Ellie Smith with her rescue making news around the world (pictured together after her rescue)

Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, was last month jailed for more than 10 years but his lawyers are appealing the sentence length

Court documents obtained by the newspaper show his lawyers are appealing on multiple grounds including disputing the extent to which Kelly's methamphetamine use contributed to the crime.

'The learned sentencing judge erred in finding that the applicant's use of methamphetamine had a significant and casual role in the offending,' the appeal documents state.

'The learned sentencing judge failed to give appropriate weight to the applicant's childhood disadvantage and trauma.'

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that it would not be appealing the sentence seeking an increase saying it was not 'inadequate'.

The dramatic rescue of Cleo was captured by an officer's body-worn camera and was beamed around the world.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the strength of the evidence against Kelly had likely influenced his early guilty plea.

'For me as commissioner, this is No.1 - this is the greatest story in Western Australian policing history,' he told reporters.

'The police investigation was meticulous ... the information that we had and the evidence we put together was exceptional.'

Police launched a major investigation after Cleo's mother awoke to find the girl missing from the family's tent at the Blowholes campsite, north of Carnarvon.

More than 100 officers were assigned to the task force with investigators processing thousands of calls to Crime Stoppers.

Surveillance footage was sought from motels and children's clothing stores within a 1000km radius of the campsite and forensic officers sifted through more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins.

The bubbly four-year-old was found alone in a room in Kelly's house only a few minutes from her parents home

Cleo's mother Ellie Smith departs the District Court of WA in Perth after Kelly's sentencing

The state government meanwhile offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo's whereabouts.

Mr Blanch declined to reveal what had led officers to Kelly's home, saying there hadn't been a 'smoking gun' that led to his arrest.

'There's not a single reason why you solve a case like this,' he said.

'We use data overlays, automatic number plate recognition, telecommunications, eye witnesses.

'Good hard police work, boots on the ground, all of those things contributed to us finding Cleo.'

'He committed a heinous crime, a parent's worst nightmare,' he said.

'As a father, that's something I never could forgive.'
Astonishing video footage appears to capture the moment an F-16 American fighter jet crashed into a ball of flames near the Osan air base in South Korea last week.

The pilot was seen to successfully eject from the aircraft and taken to a local medical facility in stable condition shortly after the crash on Saturday 6 May.

Col. Henry R. Jeffress, III, 8th Fighter Wing commander, gave a statement but did not provide details about how or why the F-16 had crashed during a routine daytime training exercise.

He said: 'While we don't have any additional information yet, we are relieved the pilot safely ejected and there were no other injuries.'

The SBS News footage shows the plane hurtling down toward the ground at a sharp angle

The camera captures part of the large explosion as the jet makes contact with the ground

In the statement on Saturday, Jeffress added that 'the US Air Force will stand up an independent Safety Investigation Board to review all data and evidence related to [Saturday's] incident and use that information to determine its cause and prescribe any corrective safety measures to ensure the safety of the F-16 fleet.'

A video, purported by SBS News to be footage of the crash, shows an F-16 swooping down and making sudden contact with the ground.

A large ball of orange flames shoots up from the site of the accident.

The pilot's parachute then becomes visible in the left-hand side of the shot.

A Pacific Air Forces spokesman told Air & Space Forces Magazine the command could neither confirm nor deny the authenticity of the video.

More than 4,600 F-16s have been built since production was approved in 1976.

Depending on the variant and buyer, the F-16 can cost as much as $80mn.

The news follows the signing of the Washington Declaration, an agreement signed at the end of April after months of discussions.

On top of joint training exercises, the agreement will see nuclear-armed submarines sent to dock in South Korea for the first time in 40 years to combat an increase in perceived aggression from the militant North.

In return for the US's safeguard, South Korea pledged not to pursue its own nuclear program.

The United States and North Korea join only the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan and India in having nuclear weapons.

A Biden official said it was clear that there are no plans to return tactical 'or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean peninsula'.

The agreement will also see the deployment of US assets including bombers and aircraft carriers more regularly to the region.

The plane appears to explode in a huge ball of flames on the right side of the shot

Orange flames shoot up from the site of the crash as the plane appears to explode on impact

Officials confirmed the pilot had successfully ejected from the plane with a parachute

Osan Air Base is a United States Air Force base is the city of Pyeongtaek, South Korea. it is one of two major USAF bases in South Korea, including Kunsan Air Base.

It is home to the Seventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing and other tenant units.

The base was built in 1951, during the Korean War, and has remained a significant outpost in the United States' commitments to South Korea.

In the late 50s, Eisenhower made Osan the main base of operations for Matador cruise missiles armed with a nuclear warhead.

The missiles were relocated in 1962, but Osan remained an important site for training the local air force through the Vietnam War, reduced after the withdrawal of US forces from South Vietnam by 1973.

In the late 1980s, the base developed new infrastructure to accommodate the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The US and South Korea have since negotiated a number of agreements to transform the use of the base to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday, April 27, 2023, a day after announcing the Washington Declaration

Pictured: an armed F-16 takes off on a mission for the Portuguese Air Force on 7 March in Beja

In the past year, North Korea has steadily grown its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia have repeatedly blocked US-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests.

The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month.

The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North's efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.
While Treasurer Jim Chalmers was the centre of attention on Tuesday night as he delivered the Federal Budget, his wife Laura, 39, is also a very formidable figure.

The Treasurer completed a PhD in political science before working in state politics in Queensland, then becoming a federal MP in 2013 and Treasurer in 2022.

Mrs Chalmers (nee Anderson) worked as a press secretary for former prime minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong before moving back to her first love, journalism.

Her very successful career led to her becoming the national editor-in-chief for News Corp's Saturday Weekend Magazines in November 2021, just after returning from maternity leave.

She showed her ambition for titles when she took up the took, saying 'We know there is an audience for premium, long-form journalism and that is what these magazines will do.

Jim Chalmers gets a hug from his daughter Annabel while her mum Laura watches on

Annabel player with her mum, Laura Chalmers, while her brother Leo checks his watch

Jim Chalmers (right) votes with wife Laura in his seat of Rankin on Federal Election day, in Brisbane, Saturday, May 21, 2022

Laura Chalmers (pictured) has three children with Treasurer Jim Chalmers

'Tell the biggest stories in their state using a pool of award-winning writers from across the company.'

Ms Chalmers had been successful in journalism even earlier, though, working as the state political reporter for her hometown Adelaide's Advertiser newspaper from January 2003 to May 2006.

She then spent almost three years in Canberra as the Advertiser's federal political reporter before working for Ms Wong and, later, Ms Gillard.

Her political career came to an abrupt end in July 2013 when Kevin Rudd deposed Ms Gillard in an internal Labor stoush and replaced her as prime minister.

She and Dr Chalmers had married in March 2013 just two days after a previous Labor leadership spill - by Simon Crean - which Ms Gillard has survived.

The then PM attended the wedding, where she and then Treasurer Wayne Swan were given a specially set-aside room to form a new ministry.

The seating plan at the reception had to be changed at the last minute to keep warring Labor operatives apart - placing Julia Gillard beside Dr Chalmers' mother Carol.

He later played down the disruption, saying 'From our point of view, it wasn't that unusual, to be honest.'

Since that exciting start to married life, the couple has had three children, Jack, two, Annabel, five, and Leo, seven.

Jim Chalmers' wife Laura and kids Leo and Annabel are pictured listening to him deliver the 2023/2024 Federal Budget in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Laura (left) and Jim Chalmers arrive to vote with their three children in the seat of Rankin in Brisbane, Saturday, May 21, 2022

During the 2019 election campaign Annabel was hospitalised with a bone infection three weeks out from polling day.

Laura and Carol stayed with her in the hospital during the day while her dad took over at night, often then going straight to the airport for the first flight to Canberra.

After her political career was derailed by Mr Rudd replacing her boss, Ms Chalmers returned to journalism with The Courier-Mail in Brisbane, working her way up to her current high-flying role.

The old saying goes that behind every great man is a great woman, but in the Chalmers' case it's probably more accurate to say they stand side by side.
Tourism boom during May Day holiday mirrors China's transport strength

10:46, May 09, 2023 By Li Xinping, Han Xin ( People's Daily

"Traveling" became a buzzword during the just-concluded May Day holiday.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Transport, Chinese people made over 270 million trips nationwide via railways, highways, waterways and civil aviation during the five-day holiday, with a daily average of over 54 million trips, an increase of 162.9 percent over the same period last year.

Photo taken on April 30, 2023 shows bullet trains in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Xu Congjun)

The significant rise mirrored the vitality of the Chinese economy and the remarkable capability of China's transport network.

"The train leaves Zhengzhou in the morning and arrives in Chongqing at noon," said Liu Chen, who was taking a family trip from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan province to southwest China's Chongqing municipality by the G3421 train on May 2.

The high-speed railway from Zhengzhou to Chongqing was put into use on June 20 last year. It takes only some four hours to complete the entire trip between the two cities, about 13 hours faster than normal-speed trains.

A number of new lines, train stations and airports started operation before this May Day holiday. The comprehensive multidimensional transport network has made travel even more convenient.

Soon after a plane landed at the Taxkorgan Khunjerab Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, passengers filed out of the plane and started snapping photos.

In the past, it took nearly eight hours to go to Tashkurgan from Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang. Since a flight was launched by China Southern Airlines at the end of 2022, the trip has been shortened by 3/4.

During the May Day holiday, cruise ships along the Yangtze River received an enormous number of tourists. Ninety-five percent of them were occupied.

Photo taken on May 3, 2023 shows passengers at the Nanjing Railway Station, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Su Yang)

"Cruise ships of the Sinotrans Changhang Group are expected to receive 60,000 passengers along the Yangtze River during the holiday, a new record in history," said Yuan Baofeng, head of the market operation department of the company.

Road trips were also popular. Gu Yue, a tourist from east China's Anhui province, was quite excited about his trip. During the trip, Gu drove all the way east for two hours along the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway and then got off the expressway and onto rural roads, enjoying the beauty of mountains and countryside along the way.

"I didn't expect that there would be charging stations for electric cars along rural roads," he told People's Daily, adding that this has made the trip more convenient.

China has made steady progress in the construction of transport infrastructure over recent years. Both the size and coverage of the country's multidimensional transport network have been on a constant rise.

As of the end of 2022, the network had grown to cover a total mileage of more than 6 million kilometers, with 128,000 kilometers of inland waterways, and the number of certified civil airports reached 254. Nearly all qualified townships and administrative villages are connected to hardened roads and bus services.

China today is home to the world's largest high-speed railway network and expressway network, as well as world-class port clusters.

Technologies have also made transport more efficient and intelligent.

Photo taken on April 30, 2023 shows cruise ships in Yichang, central China's Hubei province. (People's Daily Online/Zheng Kun)

For instance, passengers can complete security checks, customs clearance and boarding procedures by "face scanning" with their ID cards, and they can also track their checked luggage in real time on mobile applications.

"All I need is an ID card. Tracking the luggage is as easy as tracking express delivery parcels. The intelligent airport is awesome," said Wang Xiao, a passenger flying from the Beijing Daxing International Airport to Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province.

The Beijing Daxing International Airport saw a daily average of 120,000 passenger trips during the May Day holiday, 30,000 more than those in the Spring Festival travel rush this year, said Li Ziwei, a manager with the airport.

According to Li, despite a surge in the number of passenger trips, no serious delays or long passenger queues were observed at the airport thanks to its intelligent operating system.

During the May Day holiday, over 11,000 trains were riding and 16,000 flights were flying across the nation on a daily basis. Besides, more than 50 million passenger vehicles were running on roads every day. This demonstrated the country's strong capability of transportation coordination.

In the dispatching center of China Railway Shanghai Group, a big screen was showing the passenger flow of more than 740 train stations and the operational status of trains on over 13,000 kilometers of railways nationwide.

Bian Guiqing, chief on duty of the dispatching center, told People's Daily that 168 temporary passenger trains were added to meet tourists' demand. According to Bian, it took as short as two hours to open a new temporary line since obtaining the demand of tourists.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Single parents will now be entitled to $922,10 a fortnight until their child turns 14 - rather than being cut off at eight.

The new measure, which will cost $1.9 billion, will also allow for parents to no longer have to transfer to JobSeeker when their youngest child turns eight.

The updated plan will come into effect from September 20 of this year provided it passes parliament.

Under the new policy, single parents who are currently on JobSeeker will receive an additional $176.90 per fortnight.

There are 57,000 single parents - 90 per cent of whom are women - who will benefit from the single parent boost.

The decision has been widely tipped in the past few weeks and was described as an opportunity for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make up for a Gillard government move which pushed single parents off the payment when their child turned eight.

The PM has admitted that 'the sole parent payment is an area where we made a mistake' in previous governments.

Single parents will now be entitled to financial support through the Parenting Payment (Single) until their child is 14 (file picture)

Mr Albanese said: 'Many single parents - overwhelmingly women - face difficulty balancing caring responsibilities and work.

'Those difficulties do not end when their child turns eight.'

'By age 14, children have typically settled into high school and need less parental supervision, and single parents are in a much stronger position to take on paid work,' Mr Albanese said.

The single parent payment will now cut off at 14 rather than eight (above is Anthony Albanese with his mum, who raised him by herself

Historically, the single parents payment was for singles with children aged up to 16.

But former prime minister John Howard, supported later by Julia Gillard, slashed the age to eight in an attempt to encourage parents back into the workforce.

Two advisory bodies urged the government to extend the payment and the eligibility criteria.

It is understood mutual obligation requirements will still remain in place to continue to encourage parents to return to the workforce.
An expert said police were forced to 'react straight away' during the incident

A row over whether armed Metropolitan Police officers used 'appropriate' force when they shot dead two dogs and Tasered their owner has broken out, while one expert said they had to make an instant decision.

Shocking videos posted on social media by horrified witnesses show a group of cops following a man with two barking dogs on short leads along a canal in Limehouse, east London, on Sunday.

Officers were seen in a heated row with the man as he continued to hold on to his dogs and attempt to calm them down.

The situation quickly became escalated with one of the black dogs being shot dead, while the screaming owner was then Tasered and pinned to the ground. The second dog was subsequently shot dead as screaming witnesses looked down at the scene from balconies of surrounding flat blocks.

The row over appropriate use of force comes as an expert said police were called to reports of a dog attack and that they were forced to 'react straight away' when one of the 'dangerous' animals went towards officers.

A row over 'disproportionate use of force' has broken out after armed Met cops shot dead two dogs and Tasered their owner in Limehouse, east London, on Sunday

Policing commentator Graham Wettone told Sky News he has spoken to dog handlers who were 'equally unhappy' at how the events unfolded

The London police force defended its actions explaining that the officers had 'a duty to act where necessary before any further injury was caused'. The Met professional standards unit is investigating the incident.

Policing commentator Graham Wettone told Sky News he has spoken to dog handlers who were 'equally unhappy' at how the events unfolded.

Though he pointed out the officers were called to reports of dogs being out of control and attacking a woman.

He said: 'They've got one of the dogs under control who's then escaped that dog catcher, and then is going towards the back of officers who are dealing with the owner.

'At that point you've got to react straight away. I'm sure the officers didn't want to act the way they did, it looks really distressing.'

While the woman didn't need hospital treatment, Mr Wettone pointed out that officers wouldn't have known that at the time.

A makeshift memorial has since appeared for the two 'out of control dogs' that were shot dead.

A bunch of flowers in a red bow and a handwritten sign have since been left against a wall at the scene. The sign reads: 'In memory of two beloved dogs who were tragically shot by the Metropolitan Police on May 7th '23'.

Online a petition has been started following the police's decision to shoot the two dogs dead

Footage posted online showed the moment the group of Met police officers approached the man and the two dogs, before shooting dead the animals and Tasering the man

One woman, filming from a window on the opposite side of the canal, can be heard repeatedly saying 'oh my god' before shouting 'are you okay' to the man after gunshots were fired.

Somebody who filmed the scene said: 'This stopped me in my tracks and is very upsetting.

'There had to be a way of containing these the dogs instead of shooting them.'

The chaotic scene saw groups of people head out to their balconies and rooftops to see what was causing the commotion.

The Met said they were forced to act swiftly because 'the aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern'.

Officers had been called to the scene following reports of a woman being attacked by the dog on Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets.

The force has defended its actions explaining that the officers had 'a duty to act where necessary before any further injury was caused'

The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards will review the circumstances of the incident

The dogs were said to be 'of considerable concern' and posed a 'significant threat to' officers who attended the scene.

In a statement, the Met said: 'Police were called just after 5pm on Sunday May 7 to a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, E14.

'Officers attended the location where the aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them.

'A man was arrested in connection with the incident for having a dog dangerously out of control and assault offences. He has been taken into police custody.

'A Taser was discharged by police.'

'No person was taken to hospital.'

The statement continued: 'No person was taken to hospital.

'This is never an easy decision for any officer to take, but police have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused.

'The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards will review the circumstances of the incident.'
Liz Truss is risking the wrath of China by visiting Taiwan next week, it was revealed today.

The former PM will give a speech and meet senior members of the Taiwanese government.

Ms Truss said Taiwan is a 'beacon of freedom and democracy' and she wanted to show 'solidarity' amid repeated threats from China to take the island by force.

Beijing has long insisted that 'official contacts' with the self-governing republic must cease.

Last November there was a furious reaction when the UK sent then-trade minister Greg Hands to Taiwan for talks.

Liz Truss is risking the wrath of China by visiting Taiwan next week, it was revealed today

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to annex the island by force.

Beijing has sought to isolate the island diplomatically, imposing visa bans and other forms of retaliation against foreign officials and governments that have reached out in the past.

The island is excluded from the United Nations at China's insistence.

However, it has drawn increasing backing from major nations, including Japan, Australia, the US and Canada, and across Europe.

Announcing her plans this morning, Ms Truss - now a Tory backbencher - said: 'Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.

'I'm looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.'

The high-profile trip will increase Tory pressure on Rishi Sunak to take a tough line against China.

Asked what Mr Sunak made of his predecessor's decision to visit Taiwan, Downing Street said it was up to individual MPs where they choose to travel.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'Our long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

'We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas. And that's underpinned by our shared democratic values.

'For our part, the UK Government will continue to engage with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of a peaceful resolution in his meeting with the Chinese vice-president on Friday.'

The spokesman also said it was 'completely appropriate' for the Government to send a minister to Hong Kong given it was 'home to hundreds of businesses who help sustain a thriving 120 billion a year trade and investment relationship with the UK'.

He added: 'It will again be an opportunity to raise our concerns about China's clampdown on freedoms and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which are directly hurting Hong Kong's people and the economy.'

Beijing responded to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last year by firing missiles over Taiwan into the Western Pacific and positioning aircraft and ships nearby.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned China last month that invading Taiwan would destroy world trade.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to annex the island by force. Pictured, president Xi Jinping

'Britain's longstanding position is that we want to see a peaceful settlement of the differences across the Strait,' the Foreign Secretary said in his Mansion House speech.

'A war across the Strait would not only be a human tragedy, it would destroy world trade worth 2.6trillion dollars, according to the Nikkei Asia.

'No country could shield itself from the repercussions.

'Distance would offer no protection from this catastrophic blow to the global economy  and indeed to China most of all.

'I shudder to contemplate the human and financial ruin that would follow. So it is essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo.'
A mother whose baby had its head ripped off during childbirth 'can't sleep' as she wakes up 'thinking that she is hearing a scream', her sister has revealed.

Ranielly Santos, 34, went into labor at Hospital das Clinicas da UFMG, in the Santa Efigenia neighbourhood of Belo Horizonte in Brazil, when a doctor reportedly climbed onto her stomach and pulled her baby's head off.

Ms Santos, and her husband Victor da Silva who was watching on during the birth on May 1, say that the girl was alive when she started to emerge.

Ms Santos launched a complaint with the police two days after the failed delivery of her child. Police say they are now investigating the case over possible manslaughter.

But the hospital has since claimed that the infant girl would have died anyway due to a lung defect. The family denies having ever received this information from the hospital.

Victor da Silva (left) and his wife, Ranielly Santos (right) launched the complaint with police two days after the failed delivery of her child

Ms Santos (pictured), and her husband who was watching on during the birth earlier this month on May 1, say that the girl was alive when she started to emerge

Ms Santos' sister Aryane Santos, 32, detailed the horrific events to Otempo: 'Mentally, I don't even have the words to describe it. My sister only knows how to cry. She can't sleep.

'When she succeeds, she wakes up with a start, thinking that she is hearing a scream.

'My sister's breast is oozing milk. When she leaves, she cries, she says it's the girl wanting to be breastfed.

'Also, she is very swollen, with water coming out of her pores. He can barely walk because of the 60 stitches. Her breast gives milk, and this is very sad, it is a trigger, 'continues the sister. 'We are researching ways to dry the milk so that it hurts less.'

The hospital has since claimed that the baby would not have survived anyway as she had 'lung malformation, incompatible with life'. But the two parents say they never revived this information from the labor unit.

Management of the hospital unit said the child's birth was premature at 30 weeks and claimed the mother had a worsening clinical condition with 'increased blood pressure and generalised edema'.

'Due to the severity of the maternal condition and fetal inviability [inability of the fetus to survive outside the womb], the medical staff opted for induction of childbirth', the management said, as reported by Otempo.

The hospital management reaffirmed that 'the team made every effort to guarantee the life of the pregnant woman and that it is committed to clarifying all the facts with transparency and agility'.

A doctor is being investigated after reportedly pulling a baby's head off during childbirth at the Hospital das Clinicas da UFMG (pictured) in Brazil as a horrified father watched on

Ranielly Santos, the baby's mother, launched a complaint with the police two days after the failed delivery of her child. Pictured: Santa Efigenia neighbourhood of Belo Horizonte

According to the record, Ms Santos said she was originally admitted to the hospital prematurely as she had high blood pressure. Because of this, she was admitted to the health unit, where she opted for induced childbirth.

During the birth, the obstetrician, who has not been named, reportedly called the girl's father to observe the procedure closely.

The father, who was watching the birth of his baby alongside Ms Santos' mother, says that he even saw his daughter blinking and moving her mouth, which he said was proof the girl was alive and well.

However, in a tragic turn of events, according to the family's report to the police, the doctor climbed onto the mother's belly as she attempted to pull the girl out, and 'ripped off the child's head'.

The police report also says that the family, from Ribeirao das Neves, a municipality on the outskirts of Belo Horizonte, received an apology from the doctor for what happened during the delivery of the baby.

They say they were later approached by a social worker at the hospital who said that the facility would bear all the costs for the baby's burial.

But the offer was understood to only be valid if they agreed to sign documents stating that 'the autopsy had already been performed at the hospital', that 'the child's body had already been examined' and that 'the body would not be forwarded to the Legal Medical Institute (IML)' for further analysis.

The parents refused to sign the paperwork and later filed a complaint with the police, with the baby's remains then being examined at the IML, according to the family's lawyer Jennifer Valente.

The hospital previously told Itatiaia that it 'deeply regretted' the case and said they would 'make every effort to investigate the facts' while awaiting the autopsy report.
She is facing a misconduct panel next week for 'failing to catch Wayne Couzens'

A female Metropolitan Police officer who set up an OnlyFans account called 'Officer Naughty' is facing a disciplinary over claims she failed to investigate indecent exposures by killer cop Wayne Couzens.

Sam Lee, who was a Constable based in the South Area Command Unit, is accused of 'failing to undertake the correct investigative enquiries' in March 2021 after Couzens had exposed himself to staff at McDonald's.

He flashed takeaway staff twice, in February 2021, but despite police working out his name they did not link the sex crimes to him in time. Days later he used his warrant card to trick Sarah Everard into his car before kidnapping, raping and murdering her.

Lee stands accused at a seven-day misconduct hearing due to start on May 15 of also 'subsequently provided a misleading account of her actions when questioned about them'.

PC Sam Lee has posted a number of raunchy pictures to her Instagram account

Miss Lee, pictured in uniform, was suspended from her duties last week after allegedly bringing the force into disrepute

'It is alleged that in doing so the following Standards of Professional Behaviour have been breached: Duties and Responsibilities; Honesty and Integrity.'

Lee, who has posted a number of raunchy and half-naked pictures to her Instagram account, styles herself as 'Good Girl Gone Bad'.

The Instagram page also links to her OnlyFans account, which currently has 97 posts and the bio 'INKED British Cop EDITION'.

The Instagram page also links to her OnlyFans account, which currently has 97 posts and the bio 'INKED British Cop EDITION'

Wayne Couzens was a serving Met officer when he kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard

Miss Helena was 'given advice regarding her online safety and security' after provoking fury from her colleagues when she posted a glamorous video displaying her tongue stud while in uniform in October 2020.

In the video, she was seen smiling and striking different poses, including one where she displayed a tongue stud, even though officers are not allowed to wear them on duty.

Despite the advice, she had gone on to regularly post erotic pictures in lingerie and other racy outfits.

But she was snared by her superiors who discovered her OnlyFans account, which allows users to pay money to subscribe and see her posts.

She was suspended from her duties after allegedly bringing the force into disrepute. She subsequently quit her role.
A British Army soldier has been dismissed from the forces for groping a female colleague's bottom at the after-party of a St Patrick's Day parade attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Lance Corporal Shane Ritchie, 26, was described as being 'really drunk' when he cupped the woman's bottom after sliding his hand down her back as he squeezed past her to go for a cigarette.

The father-of-two from Belfast was also handed a two year service community order following a two day trial. A judge told him after he was sentenced that the harassment of women in the armed forces 'must stop.'

Giving evidence, the female soldier - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said her mental health has since 'suffered' and she feels like 'the whole regiment turned its back on me'.

In what was the Irish Guards' first regimental day celebration since the pandemic, LCpl Ritchie was reported as 'slurring his words' before grabbing her behind, a trial heard.

Lance Corporal Shane Ritchie, 26, pictured outside Bulford Military Court Centre

Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured attending the 1st Battalion Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks when they were known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Earlier in the day, the regiment had welcomed Prince William and Kate Middleton - then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - as guests of honour for a traditional ceremony where Kate had presented sprigs of shamrock to members of the battalion on parade.

After the celebrations at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in March last year, LCpl Ritchie's 'creeping' hand grabbed the bottom of his fellow soldier.

The 25-year-old denied the charge, claiming that only his shoulder 'brushed' her and if there had been contact it was accidental and therefore not sexual.

Discussing the moment she was introduced to LCpl Ritchie at the St Patrick's Day celebration, the female soldier she said: 'He was really drunk. He looked like he couldn't really stand up properly, couldn't really focus his eyes on anything and when he spoke, he slurred his words.

'After I shook his hand, he said "I've got a missus" but I wasn't interested, so I left.'

She told the court she returned to some nearby sofas in the room to talk to a friend when she felt the sexual assault take place.

'I felt someone come behind me and put a hand on my shoulder, slide their hand creeping down my back and then I felt them cup my bum,' she said.

'As soon as I felt that, I turned to the side and saw it was [LCpl Ritchie] and just pushed him away. I said something like "Get the f*** off me, don't you dare touch me'.

'It felt really deliberate, I could feel the pressure. It was a firm touch - a grab.'

LCpl Ritchie has been dismissed from the forces and handed a two year service community order

The court heard she left the bar with a friend and immediately reported the incident to her chain of command - having texted the Regimental Sergeant Major personally and asked to see him the next week.

When it was put to her that 'not everyone' in the Irish Guards - which has only accepted women in full time combat roles since 2018 - was 'not particularly enlightened or welcoming' to women, she agreed.

She told the court she was 'unhappy' in her unit and considered it a 'hostile' environment to work.

She also told the court had been told by a different colleague that the Army is a mans world.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: 'My mental health suffered after the incident.'

Sentencing LCpl Ritchie, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England told him his behaviour was 'inexcusable'.

'She went to the St Patrick's Day parade to fit in, unfortunately, she suffered more harassment from you,' she said.

'This is not the first time female service personnel have been made to feel unwelcome. Such behaviour must stop, females should be treated with the same respect. This was unsolicited, drunken sexual conduct.'

In mitigation, defence barrister Matthew Bolt said: 'LCpl Ritchie's life is destroyed. He's lost his job, his career and his good name. This could be characterised as a moment of madness.

'He has two young children and a long-term partner... he has now secured an apprenticeship as a sprayer.'

Ritchie was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
The EU has held out an olive branch to rebuild the frayed relationship with Britain in the wake of Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

In a joint letter the UK representatives of the bloc and its 27 nation states say that both are 'valuable partners' and they should build on the success of the Windsor Framework.

It comes after years of animosity between the two sides during fraught Brexit disagreements, especially under Mr Sunak's predecessor Boris Johnson.

Writing in the Guardian, the group of ambassadors led by EU representative Pedro Serrano also highlight the UK's leading role in helping Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion.

'One could say that, after Brexit, the EU and the UK have rediscovered each other, and the strong ties that unite them, in their defence of Ukraine and of peace in Europe,' they wrote.

In a joint letter the UK representatives of the bloc and its 27 nation states say that both are 'valuable partners' and they should build on the success of the Windsor Framework agreed by Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen in February (pictured)

Writing in the Guardian, the group of ambassadors led by EU representative Pedro Serrano (pictured meeting Charles III) also highlight the UK's leading role in helping Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion.

Relations between the two sides have warmed under Mr Sunak. His immediate predecessor, Liz Truss, had made headlines when she questioned whether France's Emmanuel Macron was 'friend or foe' during her leadership campaign last summer.

But Mr Sunak put on a united front with Ursula von der Leyen in February when they unveiled the Windsor Framework. And the two sides have been at pains to tone down the antagonistic approach of old.

In their article the EU ambassadors highlight the 'pragmatic and constructive approach' taken by ministers including Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

'For the EU, a main goal has been to find joint solutions to the challenges Brexit has created for the Good Friday agreement,' they wrote.

'Continued work with the UK has succeeded, in the spirit of that landmark agreement, to find collective and, at times, imaginative solutions listening to, and respecting, all communities in Northern Ireland.

'Rediscovery of common interests and concerns have led to the Windsor framework and to a much welcome and necessary regain in trust in EU-UK relations. The task ahead is therefore to build on this reengagement.

'It is to our mutual advantage that we have solid relations between our societies, our business and academic communities, and the need to ensure they continue engaging with and enriching each other in a mutually profitable and respectful manner. A strong UK and a strong EU are valuable partners.'

It came as the SNP warned it would 'undo Brexit as far as possible' if the next general election results in a hung parliament.

Analysis of England's local authority election results indicates Labour could fall short of a majority in the Commons when the UK next goes to the polls.

SNP EU accession spokesman Alyn Smyth said his party would demand the UK has a close relationship with EU, in negotiations with a minority Labour government.

He said ahead of seeking to row back on Brexit, the SNP's key demands for the relationship between the UK and the EU would be to secure single market membership and restore free movement.

The SNP is one of the only major parties to support rejoining the EU, as Labour has ruled out any Brexit reversal and the Liberal Democrats have dropped calls for a rerun of the EU referendum.

The vast majority of Scots believe the UK Government is handling Brexit badly, according the latest YouGov poll on May 1 which found 84 per cent of Scots and 67 per cent of people across the UK think this.

But Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: 'This is a desperate bid for relevance from an out of touch and scandal-hit party.

'Yet again the SNP is trying to talk up the Tories because they are terrified of a Labour government.

'Only Labour can fix the mess the Tories have made of Brexit and build a stronger trading relationship with Europe.

'At the next election we will be focused on booting the Tories out of Downing Street and delivering the change our country desperately needs.

'Labour will not do any deals with the SNP under any circumstances and it is Tory fantasy politics to pretend otherwise.'
An 'out of control' TikTok influencer livestreamed her arrest for drinking behind the wheel of her car outside an Asda before racially abusing a Polish police officer who detained her in a booze-fuelled slur.

Abusive Priya Sahi, who goes by Queen Bee on the social media site, was found inebriated in her Audi parked outside one of the supermarket's stores in Swindon in October last year.

The influencer, 29, was removed from the car and handcuffed before shouting: 'I've got no keys in my ignition, no keys in my ignition. I'm allowed to park up and drink. I'm not driving, so what are you arresting me for?' Her TikTok livestream broadcast the entire arrest to her 100,000 followers.

Video shows Sahi telling PC Marcin Kozak, who originally joined Wiltshire Police in 2018 as the force's first Polish community support officer, that she did not understand him.

In custody, she went on to tell the officer 'learn English you European whatever you are', a court heard. Sahi, of Swindon, Wiltshire, was further arrested for a public order offence.

At Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday, the TikTok star pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated Section 4A Public Order Act charge. Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant has a previous conviction for racially aggravated assault dating back to 2015.

Influencer Priya Sahi told a Polish police officer to 'learn English' as she was arrested for drinking in her car outside of a supermarket

Sahi is famous for sharing her sometimes controversial views with her audience in regular live streams - speaking a mix of both English and Punjabi

The 29-year-old was found inebriated in an Audi outside Asda , resulting in her arrest for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle

In a victim personal statement, PC Kozak said that following Sahi's continuous jibes about this nationality and accent he 'did not even feel human at this point'.

He added: 'I'm a serving officer and Polish national. It took hard work and courage to become a police officer, I had to prove I speak good enough English and pass tests; I work to exactly the same criteria as my British colleagues. Almost every day I'm subject to some sort of derogatory comment.'

The court heard how Sahi was convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath in relation to this incident. She appeared in court the following day after being remanded in custody overnight.

In a completely separate incident, she was arrested on suspicion of drink driving - but again failed to provide. She later admitted the charge. As a result, Sahi is currently serving two concurrent driving disqualifications and has accrued hundreds of pounds worth of fines.

Sahi, of Swindon, Wiltshire, told officers 'I want my TikTok running' before the stream ended

The court heard how Sahi was convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath in relation to this incident

Defence solicitor Sandeep Kaushal said his client offers an apology to PC Kozak. He said that she feels 'embarrassed' by what she said and hopes her apology can be passed on.

He told the bench that Sahi was going through a 'traumatic time' and was in a 'frustrated state' explaining her thoughts live on TikTok as police officers surrounded her car.

When they arrested her she 'spiralled completely out of control', Mr Kaushal added.

He said she is a single mother to her three-year-old son and is medicated for post-natal depression and anxiety.

Sahi has a previous conviction for racially-aggravated assault dating back to 2015

Due to her limited means, the magistrates imposed a fine of 80. She must also pay 85 costs and a 32 surcharge.

Queen Bee has hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes on the popular social media platform TikTok.

She's famous for sharing her sometimes controversial views with her audience in regular live streams - speaking a mix of both English and Punjabi.

Many of her videos feature her dancing whilst wearing salwar suits, whilst in others she wears skimpy outfits.
Actor Stephen Tompkinson did not tell police about his alleged altercation with a drunk man because his experience on police dramas made him think 'he'd get a chance later to give a full explanation', a court heard today.

The DCI Banks star is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole by punching him. The 57-year-old said his career had been 'put on hold' as a result of the court case.

Today, Tompkinson told jurors he spoke to police on his phone moments after the altercation but made no mention of Mr Poole being motionless on the floor or how he fell.

He said he knew from his experience of police dramas that he would get the chance later to give a full explanation of events.

The actor went back inside his house 'to take stock of the situation' but returned again after hearing Mr Poole's friend Andrew Hall say 'you've killed him.'

Stephen Tompkinson is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court - where he is pictured today - accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole

Mr Poole was pictured outside Newcastle Crown Court last week as the case got underway

In a detailed account of an alleged violent altercation at the end of his driveway, Tompkinson told Newcastle Crown Court 'it was a very frightening situation' and he felt 'threatened and shaken' by the behaviour of two strangers at 5.30am.

Tompkinson said the habit of not making hard contact has been 'in bred' during a long career on stage and screen and that only his palm made contact with Mr Poole and not with any force.

The actor told the court as Mr Poole moved towards him 'I didn't want to hurt him, I wanted to stop him'.

'My right arm came over my shoulder and it contacted the left hand side of Karl's face with an open palm,' he continued.

'I didn't apply any excessive force that would have caused any sober person to fall over.'

But moments later, Mr Poole had fallen to the floor. Tompkinson said he held his mobile phone in his left hand throughout and there was 'no punch at all'.

He added: 'I am not responsible for Karl Poole's double skull fracture. He went off due to his own instability. He fell in a completely different direction.'

Tompkinson said his thought towards Mr Poole was 'change your mind about coming towards me and further into my property' and he used his open palm against his face to stop him.

The 57-year-old is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Poole - who jurors were told was dressed in just his underpants after swimming in the North Sea - on May 30, 2021. Pictured as DCI Banks

Tompkinson told the jury he found Mr Poole to be 'snoring very loudly' on the ground and believed he had 'given in to his stupor' as he was 'passed out in a very very deep sleep.'

Police arrested Tompkinson later in the day after speaking to a neighbour who had seen the incident from her bedroom window and claimed he had punched Mr Poole to the ground.

The actor said the six hours sat in the police station was 'a very new experience for me.'

Tompkinson told the court that during his long career as an actor he had worked in many 'stressful situations' but had never assaulted anyone.

He told the court he got his big break of a seven-month contract with the BBC after winning a top student award when finishing drama school in 1987.

His first big hit was in the TV comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey and the TV series Ballykissangel was watched by 15 million viewers, he said.

Other hits included Wild at Heart and DCI Banks and he also starred in the film Brassed Off.

He told the court he had lost work as a result of the case and needed to work to earn a living.

Tompkinson recalled advice given by his late father when Ballykissangel made him a household name to 'show respect' as he had effectively been invited into people's living rooms.

'It would be career suicide to do something as outrageous as assault someone especially as there are mobile phones and doorbell cameras everywhere. You have great responsibility when outside work to keep up a good impression.'

Comedian and writer Andy Hamilton and actors Nichola McAuliffe and Dean Bone appeared in court as character witnesses for Tompkinson, while character statements included one from his Wild At Heart co-star Hayley Mills.

Ms Mills said that Tompkinson played a vet in the series and worked with 'every sort of animal, all of which responded to the calm way he dealt with them'.

Mr Hamilton, who worked with Tompkinson on Drop The Dead Donkey, told the court he had 'never seen him lose his temper'.

Mr Hamilton said: 'I can't remember ever hearing him raise his voice. I have never seen him get abusive or aggressive with anyone. That's just not him.'

The trial continues.
Sydneysiders sick of overcrowding will flee Australia's biggest city in droves, shock Budget figures show - as 1.5million new migrants move to Australia over the next five years.

Treasury figures revealed for the first time in the Budget show 124,100 people are expected to leave NSW for other states between now and July 2027.

They will be relocating to Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

At the same time, Australia is now predicted to take in 1.495million new migrants over five years, including a record 400,000 in 2022-23 and 315,000 in 2023-24.

Australia's population is still tipped to swell from 26.5million to 28.172milion in five years, despite Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil last month declaring: 'I'm not someone who advocates for a big Australia in this conversation.'

Sydneysiders sick of overcrowding will flee Australia's biggest city in droves, shock Budget figures show - as 1.5million new migrants move to Australia over the next five years

The national population growth pace of 1.7 per cent during this upcoming financial year will be among the highest in the developed world.

Australia's population set to surge AUSTRALIA 1,495,000 new migrants between 2022-23 and 2026-27 NSW 434,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 124,100 people left for interstate VICTORIA 534,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 8,400 moved there from interstate QUEENSLAND 341,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 114,900 moved there from interstate SOUTH AUSTRALIA 78,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 13,000 left for interstate WESTERN AUSTRALIA 183,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 8,000 moved there from interstate TASMANIA 29,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 6,300 moved there from interstate AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 39,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 3,500 moved there from interstate NORTHERN TERRITORY 16,000 new residents between 2022-23 and 2026-27 as 4,400 left for interstate Advertisement

Population growth will have consequences  with unemployment already at a 48-year low of 3.5 per cent and bosses struggling to recruit staff.

From the next financial year, Australia's net overseas migration level  based on permanent and long-term arrivals minus departures  is predicted to settle back to 260,000 every year.

NSW is expected to see its population surge by 434,000 from 8.3million in 2022-23 to 8.734million in 2026-27, based mainly on foreign arrivals.

As a big influx of new skilled migrants and international students moved in, 30,100 people were expected to leave the state for another part of Australia during this financial year, adding up to 124,100 interstate departures over five years.

Sydney's median house price of $1.25million is already the second most expensive in the world, after Hong Kong when compared with incomes, CoreLogic and Demographia data shows.

Queensland by comparison was expected to see 114,900 move to the Sunshine State from other parts of Australia between 2022-23 and 2026-27. Brisbane's mid-point house price of $781,881 is much more affordable than Sydney or Melbourne.

The Sunshine State's population was predicted to grow by 341,000 in five years, from 5.441million to 5.782million.

Victoria's population was tipped to surge by 534,000 from 6.78million to 7.314million in a state where Melbourne houses typically cost $907,220.

Australia's second most populated state was expected to see 2,000 leave in 2022-23 for another state, but growth in every other year meant 8,400 new residents would come from interstate by 2026-27.

Mining-rich Western Australia's population was predicted to grow by 183,000 over five years to 3.030million, from 2.847million, with just 8,000 of that from interstate migration in a state where Perth's median house price is $599,240.

South Australia, however, was expected to see 13,000 residents leave by 2026-27 for another state. Adelaide has a mid-point house price of $697,909.

At the same time, Australia is now predicted to take in 1.495million new migrants over five years, including a record 400,000 in 2022-23 and 315,000 in 2023-24 (pictured is Sydney airport)

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his department are expecting Australia's population to surpass 28million by 2027

The population was still forecast to grow by 78,000 over five years to 1.927million from 1.849million, based on overseas migration.

Tasmania's population was tipped to grow by 29,000 by 2026-27 to 607,000 from 578,000, as 3,500 moved from interstate in the island state where Hobart houses cost $692,341.

The Australian Capital Territory, covering Canberra where houses typically cost $946,463, was expected to see its population grow by 39,000 over five years, to 505,000 from 466,000, as 3,500 people moved from interstate.

The Northern Territory's population was expected to grow by just 16,000, to 270,000 from 254,000, as 4,400 people moved interstate over five years despite Darwin having the most affordable house price of $573,534.

Australia's population surpassed the 25million milestone in 2018 - 24 years earlier than forecast in Treasury's 2002 Intergenerational Report.

It last year passed the 26million level, after the population in 2020 shrunk for the first time since 1916, during World War I, as a result of the pandemic border closure.

Sydney was Australia's most populated city in June 2022, with 5,297,089 compared with 5,031,195 for Melbourne, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.
The winners and losers of the government's second budget in under a year have been revealed as Labor stresses it must prioritise vulnerable Australians in its bid to balance the books.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget would be back in the black for the first time in 15 years with a short-lived but slim surplus of about $4bn this financial year.

But with deficits predicted over the next four years and millions of Australians struggling with the rising cost of living, Dr Chalmers handed down a budget that tinkers around the edges despite the government claiming it will build 'stronger foundations for a better future'.

Here's what you need to know.

WINNERS

Medicare

Nearly 12 million Australians have been promised more free visits to the doctor under a boost to Medicare designed to convince general practitioners to bulk bill their patients. The increased incentives will be paid to GPs who bulk bill children under 16, pensioners and other concession card holders.

GPs will be able to claim the higher incentives for face-to-face consultations more than six minutes in length as well as certain telehealth consultations.

Welfare recipients

More than 1.1m Australians will have their welfare payments boosted by $40 per fortnight from September 20, should parliament agree to the measure.

Despite speculation an increase would only apply to those aged 55 and over, the raised base rate will be applied to people receiving Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment (partnered), ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension (Youth) and Special Benefit.

However, this falls short of the advice of the government's economic equality task force that had recommended Jobseeker raise to 90 per cent of the aged pension.

Australians aged 55 and over

Nearly 12 million Australians have been promised more free visits to the doctor under a boost to Medicare designed to convince general practitioners to bulk bill their patients

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget would be back in the black for the first time in 15 years with a short-lived but slim surplus of about $4bn this financial year

More than 52,000 Australians aged 55 and over will benefit from the extension of the eligibility of a higher rate in the Jobseeker payment.

From September those who have been on the welfare payment for nine or more continuous months will receive an extra $90 per fortnight. This was previously only offered to those aged 60 and over.

Single parents with kids aged 14 and under

From September, about 57,000 single parents will receive an extra $176.90 per fortnight.

After a decade of internal regret over a decision to slash welfare assistance for single parents, Labor has lifted the age cut-off from eight to 14.

Previously, nearly a quarter of a million parents  mostly women  received the payment and were forced onto the lower Jobseeker rate when their child turned eight.

However, the move falls short of the advice of the government's economic equality task force that had recommended the age return to the original cut-off of 16.

After a decade of internal regret over a decision to slash welfare assistance for single parents, Labor has lifted the age cut-off from eight to 14

Previously, nearly a quarter of a million parents  mostly women  received the payment and were forced onto the lower Jobseeker rate when their child turned eight

Bill payers

A rebadged $1.5bn package, part of a deal between the states and Commonwealth last December to bring energy prices down, will flow to more than five million eligible households and one million eligible small businesses.

Relief will be applied directly to power bills as credits rather than cash in the bank to eligible people on the pension, seniors card holders, recipients of the family tax benefit A and B. But the amount you will receive will depend on what state you live in.

Small businesses with a turnover of up to $50m will be eligible for a $20,000 tax break if they invest in energy efficiency upgrades.

Renters but only some

The budget has forecast rents will pick up as the rental market tightens over the year. More than 1.1 million households receiving the maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance are set to benefit when the government beefs-up the rate to 15 per cent.

Patients

Around six million Aussies with chronic health conditions will be able to buy two months worth of medicine for the price of a single script. The government says concession card holders may save up to $43.80 and general patients up to $180 per year, per medicine. The $1.2bn in savings will be reinvested in community pharmacies.

Homebuyers

First-home buyers will be able to team up with siblings and friends to cobble together a deposit under changes to the government's scheme.

Australians who have not owned a property for at least 10 years, permanent residents, and single legal guardians of children will get access to the scheme for the first time.

High income earners

People earning more than $120,000 will be pleased by the decision not to wind back, or tinker with, the Morrison government-era stage 3 tax cuts. Labor has been under pressure to rein in the cuts that are set to cost $20bn a year when they come into effect in 2024.

Homebuyers

First-home buyers will be able to team up with siblings and friends to cobble together a deposit under changes to the government's scheme.

Australians who have not owned a property for at least 10 years, permanent residents, and single legal guardians of children will get access to the scheme for the first time.

First-home buyers will be able to team up with siblings and friends to cobble together a deposit under changes to the government's scheme

High income earners

People earning more than $120,000 will be pleased by the decision not to wind back, or tinker with, the Morrison government-era stage 3 tax cuts. Labor has been under pressure to rein in the cuts that are set to cost $20bn a year when they come into effect in 2024.

Defence workers

In a bid to slow down the retention crisis in the Australian Defence Force, a $50,000 bonus will be offered to soldiers, sailors and aviators who re-enlist for another three years.

Skilled migrants

The temporary skilled migration income threshold will be lifted from the current rate of $53,900 to $70,000, reflecting the level it would have reached if it had been indexed to wages a decade ago.

For many who don't have a child, aren't on a welfare payment and are over the age of 16, they will miss out on the so-called 'centrepieces' of Labor's budget

LOSERS

Low and middle income earners

A Morrison government-era low and middle income tax offset (LMITO or sometimes affectionately known as 'the lamington') was not revived after being axed in the October budget. It was always designed to be temporary and replaced by the stage 2 tax cuts, but Aussies will still notice when they're not given the break worth up to $1500 come tax time.

Middle Australia

For many who don't have a child, aren't on a welfare payment and are over the age of 16, they will miss out on the so-called 'centrepieces' of Labor's budget. They are ineligible for the energy bill relief, won't benefit from the GP incentives and won't receive any increase to rent assistance.

Renters

The budget papers acknowledge the increased pressure on renters, but other than an increase in payments for the most vulnerable, renters can't expect a handout. The government says that other measures to boost the supply of housing, such as their build to rent scheme, will help boost the supply of housing.

Gas producers

Big oil and gas producers will have their tax deductions capped and face tougher tax compliance measures as part of a budget crackdown estimated by the Treasury to raise $2.4bn over four years. The biggest revenue raiser out of the 16 technical petroleum resources rental tax (PRRT) changes will be limiting annual deductions for expenditure at 90 per cent of the project's income each year from July 2023.

Vapers

A surge in young people vaping has led to the government spending $750m to combat recreational vaping. Measures include a ban on all single use and disposable vapes, a ban on the sale of vapes in convenience stores and other retail settings, targeting the black market, increasing minimum quality standards, and requiring pharmaceutical-like packaging.

A surge in young people vaping has led to the government spending $750m to combat the recreational habit

A Morrison-era Covid stimulus measure was due to expire on June 30 and in its place is a new write off program for businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10m

Tradies

A Morrison-era Covid stimulus measure that allowed small businesses with a turnover of under $5bn to write off assets of an unlimited rate.

The measure was due to expire on June 30 and in its place is a new write off program for businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10m. It means that small businesses will be able to immediately write off eligible assets of less than $20,000. However, business owners will be able to deduct the cost of multiple eligible assets across the year. It's understood this returns the write off measure back to pre-pandemic levels.

National Disability Insurance Scheme

Announced at the last meeting of the national cabinet, the state and federal governments have agreed to cut the growth rate of the scheme from 14 per cent to 8 per cent. A package worth $732m was included in the budget over the next four years to fund staff increases and reforms required to tame costs.

Defence

More than 30 projects have been either gutted, delayed or scrapped in a bid to save $7.8bn. That funding will be reprioritised as part of a $19bn reinvestment (fully offset from Defence's current budget) to help fund the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review.

Ukraine

A winner in the October budget, the government hasn't put aside any new money in aid to send to Ukraine. Instead, the budget papers say the $189.6m over two years will be met by Defence's existing budget and 'funding already provided for by the government'.
Smokers will have to pay as much as $10 more for a pack of cigarettes thanks to a massive tobacco tax increase introduced as part of the Federal Budget.

Tobacco products will face a 15 per cent tax hike - with five per cent added every year for the next three years from September 1.

By 2026, a packet of cigarettes will cost around $49 - up $10 from the current price.

Smokers will have to pay as much as $10 more for a pack of cigarettes thanks to a massive tobacco tax increase introduced as part of the Federal Budget (file picture)

The move - which also affects rolling tobacco - will bring in an extra $3.3 billion over the next four years as the federal government.

Recreational vaping will also be banned as the government seeks to prevent the next generation of nicotine addicts.

This follows a $234 million boost in the Budget for tougher regulation of e-cigarettes, including new controls on their importation and packaging.

The government will work with the states and territories to shut down the sale of vapes in retail and convenience stores and make it easier to get a prescription for therapeutic use.

To tackle the growing black market, the government will increase the product standards for vapes, including by restricting flavours and colours.

It will require pharmaceutical-like packaging, a reduction in the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes and a ban on single-use vapes.

Health Minister Mark Butler revealed the scale of the public health issue, with children under the age of four reported to Victoria's poisons hotline after they used a vape.

Recreational vaping will also be banned as the government seeks to prevent the next generation of nicotine addicts (file picture)

'This is a product targeted at our kids, sold alongside lollies and chocolate bars,' he said.

'Vaping has become the number one behavioural issue in high schools, and it's becoming widespread in primary schools. This must end.'

Mr Butler said the hard-won gains in public health relating to the reduction in smoking could be undone by a 'new threat'.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the coalition would support measures to reduce vaping rates.

'There is a significant problem in our country, it needs to be addressed,' he said in Sydney.

'I don't want to see vaping as a gateway into smoking and I want to see us prioritise the health particularly of young people, so we will support sensible measures, but we haven't seen anything yet from the government by way of detail.'

Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson also backed the move.

'We know the new young generation of Australians are being hooked on vapes and this is a great initiative,' he said.

Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Dr Erin Lalor said most people vaping in Australia were using unregulated products, with no idea what was in them.

'Some people who vape, including young people, may be unknowingly consuming nicotine and have formed a dependence,' she said.

A $63 million public health campaign will be launched to discourage Australians from taking up vaping and to encourage them to quit.

Support programs helping Australians quit the habit will be bolstered by a $30 million investment, with education in smoking and nicotine cessation among health practitioners to be strengthened.

The government will commit a further $140 million for a program helping Indigenous people stop smoking, which will be expanded to include vaping.

Nationals senator Ross Cadell said the government should admit prohibition had led to a booming black market in vapes.

'Regulation and control is the answer. Labor's announcement is the wrong diagnosis for a serious illness,' the NSW senator said.
Russian troops 'ran as fast as they could' as they fled their positions on the frontline in Ukraine, the head of the Wagner mercenary group has claimed in his latest rant targeting the Kremlin's military chiefs.

Yevgeny Prigozhin - until now a close ally of Vladimir Putin - savaged the tactics of Russia's war commanders and compared Moscow's forces with a fish that was rotting from the head.

And he even threatened to ignore Moscow's warning that he and his men would face treason charges if they abandoned their frontline positions - blaming Russia's defence ministry for failing to supply them with ammunition.

In his latest seething rant - just a week after publishing a grisly video with his slain men piled behind him in the background - Prigozhin vowed to leave unless he received a replenishment of supplies.

Prigozhin's latest video came as Vladimir Putin presided over a vast Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square where he continued to spurt claims that Russia wanted peace and accused the 'western elite' of waging a 'real war' against his forces in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin savaged the tactics of the Kremlin war commanders and compared Moscow's forces with a fish that was rotting from the head

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to President Vladimir Putin during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow today

Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during a Victory Day military parade on Red Square today

Ukrainian soldier of the Aidar battalion fires artillery in the direction of Bakhmut in Donetsk oblast, 4 April 2023

In his astonishing broadside, Prigozhin accused the regular army forces - under defence minister Sergei Shoigu - of turning and fleeing from Ukrainian forces, leaving the frontline exposed.

Prigozhin, who has grown increasingly comfortable challenging 70-year-old Putin's authority, said: 'Yesterday we received a military order which stated several important moments.

READ MORE: Wagner chief threatens to pull out of Bakhmut Advertisement

'First, if we leave our positions this would be seen as state treason.'

But he made clear: 'If there will be no ammunition, we will leave. And we will ask the question who is the traitor to the motherland here'

He has repeatedly demanded more ammunition from the defence ministry yet despite promises it has not arrived.

It is the second time in several days he has threatened to pull his ragtag army of mercenaries and convicts out of Bakhmut - even though they have been far more successful than Putin's regular force in the war against Ukraine.

He rescinded an original plan to pull out tomorrow [10 May] when promised more ammunition, but now says no ammunition has been received - only a threat to charge deserters with state treason.

'Today one of the Ministry of Defence's detachments ran away from one of the flanks,' said a raging Prigozhin. They abandoned their positions.

'All of them ran away, and they bared the frontline nearly 2 kilometres [1.25 miles], 500 metres [1,640ft] deep.'

Prigozhin, a catering billionaire who branched out into running both pro-Putin propaganda and a pro-Kremlin private military force, added: 'It was good we just about managed to provide cover.'

In his latest seething rant, Prigozhin vowed his forces would leave unless promised a replenishment of military supplies

Prigozhin has repeatedly demanded more ammunition from the defence ministry yet despite promises it has not arrived

'If there will be no ammunition, we will leave. And we will ask the question who is the traitor to the motherland here,' Prigozhin said

Prigozhin accused the regular army forces - under defence minister Sergei Shoigu - of turning and fleeing from Ukrainian forces. Pictured: General Valery Gerasimov, left, Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu (right)

In last week's video, Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner private mercenary army, pointed to piles of dead mercenaries as he rages against the Russian defence minister

Prigozhin then turned to blasting the defence ministry. The 61-year-old said on video: 'We have a Ministry of Intrigues instead of the Ministry of Defence.

'This is why our army is fleeing. They are fleeing because brigade number 72 have lost the area of the front about 3 square kilometres [1.15 square miles] in size with the loss of 500 men.

'This was a strategic area for the strong. And they simply ran away.

'This is not the problem of soldiers, but of those who manage them and set their tasks.

'A fish rots from its head, and if decision-making is done through the ****, soldiers leave because there is no point to die in vain.'

The regular army soldiers 'ran as fast as they could', alleged Prigozhin in comments which could see him jailed under Putin's draconian laws forbidding criticisms of the military.

He asked: 'And how many hundreds of men [were] killed in this land for it to be liberated.'

Prigozhin echoes the feelings of other military figures who question why a huge parade was allowed today when the frontline is failing to gain ground .

His blast comes as Ukraine is widely expected to start its long-expected Spring counter offensive.
The chairman of Tesco has been accused of sexual harassment, including touching two women's bottoms.

John Allan allegedly touched a Tesco employee at the supermarket giant's annual general meeting last year.

The 74-year-old is also accused of 'grabbing' a woman at the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual dinner in May 2019 when he was its president.

Today, Mr Allan vehemently denied the claims in the Guardian, calling them 'simply untrue', while Tesco said it had not received any complaints.

The businessman was CBI president from 2018 and 2020, and then served as vice president until 2021.

John Allan allegedly touched a Tesco employee at the supermarket giant's annual general meeting last year

The lobby group is currently embroiled in a major sexual misconduct scandal.

In addition to the claims about touching two women's bottoms, Mr Allan is also accused of making inappropriate remarks to two CBI staff in 2019 and 2021, the Guardian reported.

He denied all but one of the claims in the article, which concerned his comments on a CBI worker's appearance in 2019.

A spokesman for Mr Allan said: 'Mr Allan was mortified after making the comment in 2019 and he immediately apologised.

'The person concerned agreed the matter was closed and no further action was taken. Regarding the other claims, they are simply untrue.'

A spokesman for Tesco said: 'In relation to John Allan's conduct at Tesco's 2022 AGM, Tesco has received no complaints or concerns formally or informally, including through our confidential Protector Line service.

'At Tesco, we are committed to ensuring all colleagues are respected and feel safe at work. Tesco's people policies apply to all colleagues, and all concerns or complaints raised about conduct are always taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly.

'This is a serious allegation, and if anyone has any concerns or information, we would ask them to share those with us through any of our reporting channels including through our confidential Protector Line, so we can investigate.'

The 74-year-old is also accused of 'grabbing' a woman at the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual dinner in May 2019 when he was its president. He's pictured with former PM Boris Johnson at a CBI conference that same year

The supermarket said that Mr Allan's conduct 'has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco'.

It comes weeks after Tesco joined other major firms in leaving the CBI in the wake of allegations of rape and harassment at its events.

The group, which claims to represent 190,000 businesses and met regularly with Government ministers, has been rocked by recent scandals including two alleged rapes and claims of harassment, drug use and misconduct, which have all been passed to police.

It said it wanted to focus urgently on 'cultural reform' and to 'address our failings'.

City insiders questioned if it could survive as major firms publicly distanced themselves from the previously influential group, including many of Britain's best known companies.

A spokesman for Tesco said: 'In relation to John Allan's conduct at Tesco's 2022 AGM, Tesco has received no complaints or concerns formally or informally'

In addition to Tesco, car firms Ford, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover all quit, along with John Lewis, Mastercard and Virgin Media O2, accountancy firm EY, several major insurers and Energy UK, which represents some of Britain's biggest energy firms.

Other major employers including Asda, the BBC, BT, Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever, M&S, ITV, AstraZeneca, GSK, Meta, National Grid, Rolls-Royce, Shell and Unilever suspended or paused their activity with the group.

Several firms issued statements which spoke of the serious and troubling nature of the rape and sexual misconduct allegations, but also criticised the CBI's own handling of the crisis.

Mr Allan has been chair of Barratt Developments, since 2014, in addition to his role at Tesco.

He has also been a non-executive director of Royal Mail and National Grid.


A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a schoolboy was stabbed to death in east London.

Renell Charles, 16, was knifed on his way home from Kelmscott School in Walthamstow on Friday.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reason, was charged with his murder yesterday, the Metropolitan Police said. He is due to appear at Stratford Magistrates' Court today.

Headteacher Sam Jones said the attack marked the 'darkest of days' for the school community.

'A Kelmscott student was tragically killed in a senseless knife attack,' he said.

Renell Charles, 16, was stabbed to death close to Kelmscott School in Walthamstow in front of fellow pupils on Friday

Police were called at on Friday afternoon to reports of a stabbing at Markhouse Road

'Kelmscott is a large and tight-knit family and this loss will be felt for a long time to come.'

Emergency services rushed to Markhouse Road, Walthamstow, at around 4pm on Friday where Charles was found. Despite their efforts, the 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

A post-mortem examination took place on Saturday and found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest. His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

In an appeal to the public, DCI Rogers said: 'This is a fast moving investigation and we are aware that this brutal attack took place near a school, and was witnessed by many bystanders and young people.

Police close the road and cordon off the crime scene

'My thoughts are with them as they come to terms with seeing such an act of violence unfold and I would ask anyone with footage or images to do the right thing and send them into my team of detectives.

'If you wish to submit images or footage anonymously, please share via Crimestoppers, or you can contact the Major Incident Room where one of my team will be able to take your call. You can also share the images via the Public Portal.

'We also know that there was heavy traffic on Markhouse Road at that time of day and we think there is a strong chance some people will have dash cam footage.

'Please review what you have and send anything that may assist the investigation without delay. A young boy has lost his life and evidence such as this can contribute to securing justice for his family and friends.'
King Charles was straight into the thick of the action on his first day back at work after his Coronation as he rushed to the aid of a dignitary who got her heel stuck in the mud at a ground-breaking event.

The newly-crowned monarch had just put his spade down at the site of a new high-tech laboratory in Cambridge when one of Dame Polly Courtice's shoes sank into the grass, leaving her momentarily stranded.

She was still trying to remove it when the King spotted her predicament and went over to support her while she freed herself, to the delight of the crowd who laughed and applauded.

Afterwards, Dame Polly - emeritus director of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership - said the grass had been 'very soft', adding: 'He was very kind. My shoe got stuck in the ground and he gallantly supported me.'

Moments earlier, Charles had jokingly complained that the turf had already been loosened for him as he dug out a patch with a spade at the spot where the new Whittle Laboratory, which specialises in aerospace and energy, will be built.

The King gave a speech and forced a spade into the ground on the site of the 58m research facility, as planned, but the task of helping Dame Polly Courtice - emeritus director of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership - whose shoe became trapped in the grass, was perhaps not in the script

King Charles raises a shovel in the air after breaking ground at the Whittle Laboratory's new research facility

Clearly in a jovial mood, Charles jokingly complained that he had been looking forward to doing 'a little gardening' when he found the turf had already been loosened for him and triumphantly lifted the spade above his head to applause and laughter

Despite the rigour of the historic weekend, which saw the 74-year-old crowned in Westminster Abbey before dancing at the concert in his honour at Windsor Castle the following day, he said: 'Don't tell me it's already been done?

'It's very unfair. I was rather looking forward to doing a bit of gardening.'

After digging up the clod of earth, Charles waved the spade aloft triumphantly before pushing it into the ground.

He then turned around and noticed Dame Polly's predicament and went over to help her.

Afterwards, he walked to a stage to unveil a plaque and spoke of his 'enormous admiration' for the lab and the 'critical' role of the aviation sector.

He told 170 invited guests, including Energy Secretary Grant Shapps: 'I can't tell you what a joy it is to be here, my third visit. I think you'll probably be getting fed up of me by now.'

The new 58million facility, which will stand alongside the existing lab, will be a leading global centre for 'disruptive innovation' in net zero aviation and energy.

It is at the heart of an international collaboration including Nasa, MIT, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

The project aims to halve the current six to eight years it takes to develop technologies that will make the industries more sustainable.

The King toured the facility, opened in 1973 by jet engine inventor Sir Frank Whittle, before taking part in a round table discussion with academics - which overran as he discussed the impact it should have by adopting a 'Formula 1' mentality where the move from theory to practical applications is dramatically shortened.

He arrived by car and was afterwards understood to be heading towards Sandringham, his Norfolk estate, where he and the Camilla will recharge their batteries after the weekend of celebrations.

They are expected to stay there for the rest of the week and possibly early next week.

During the Coronation, whose theme was 'Called to Serve', Charles pledged: 'I come not to be served but to serve.'

He and wife Camilla also then pledged in a written statement to rededicate their lives to service as Charles expressed gratitude for the nation's support throughout the historic celebrations, and as the weekend of festivities drew to a close he issued a written message, saying: 'We thank you, each and every one.'

King Charles III arrives for a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge to break ground on the new laboratory

King Charles III is welcomed by (left to right) Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Dr Bharatkumar Khetani, as he arrives for a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge

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In a speech at the site this afternoon, Charles said: 'What Rob Miller [director and professor of aerothermal technology] is doing here, with the Whittle and his remarkable team  of course, the key exercise of all this is to keep the team being and expanding and not lose all these remarkable people who have the innovative capacity and the engineering skills to help lead what we need so badly and so urgently in order to save this planet from increasing catastrophe.

'And of course, the aviation sector is critical in all this, as are many other sectors.

'But the more we can do, the faster we can do it, with the kind of systems you have here at the Whittle to accelerate the research and development, is so important and encouraging.

'And if I may say so, finally, the great thing is to be working with other countries, transatlantic partnerships, and indeed I hope others who will be part of this real and exciting effort to transform and revolutionise the way we can travel in the future.

'So, I just wanted to offer my warmest congratulations to all those here and particularly as an old graduate of Cambridge University, albeit an arts one!

'I am full of admiration for the incredible activities which go on here in engineering and so many other fields.

'This country's greatest strength lies in innovatory skills. The most difficult part is making sure we help to develop those skills and the ingenuity to real product development.'

Charles visited Whittle back in 2020, when the-then Prince said: 'The need to de-carbonise flight must remain at the top of the agenda.

'While many are calling for net zero flights by 2050, I would like to challenge you all to think about halving that time frame to 2035.' He visited again last March.

But in his first speech following his mother's death last year, Charles vowed to uphold the constitutional obligation of British monarchs to stay above the political fray, as the late Queen did.

'It will no longer be possible to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I cared so deeply, but I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others,' he said.

In a 2018 documentary to mark his 70th birthday, the then-Prince Charles also said he would change his behaviour when he became king.

'The idea, somehow, that I'm going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two - the two situations - are completely different,' he said.

King Charles III during a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge to break ground on the new laboratory

Charles donned a grey checkered suit, light blue shirt and patterned tie during his tour of the Whittle lab on Tuesday

King Charles III with Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman (second from left) and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps (far left), during the visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge

The monarch's first engagement following his coronation at the weekend saw him pay an hour-long visit to the Whittle Laboratory at Cambridge University (the King pictured arriving on Tuesday)

Charles shakes hands with onlookers after breaking ground on the new Whittle lab

Charles chats with academics at the site of Whittle Lab's new research facility on Tuesday

King Charles III shares a laugh during a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge to break ground on the new laboratory

His Majesty took a short tour of the Whittle facility on Tuesday morning, which included demonstrations of the key technologies and methods that will be enabled by the new lab.

He was joined by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps and science minister George Freeman.

Charles donned a grey checkered suit, light blue shirt and patterned tie during his whistle-stop tour.

The King appeared in a jubilant mood as he raised his shovel in the air after breaking ground on the new site before shaking hands with onlooking academics.

The main goal of the new lab is to halve the time it takes to develop key technologies for wider commercial use.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'Today, it typically takes six to eight years to develop a new technology to the point where it can be considered for commercial deployment in the aerospace and energy sectors.

'Recent trials in the Whittle laboratory have shown this timeframe can be accelerated by breaking down silos that exist between academia and industry.

'Supporting this work, the new laboratory will play host to the National Centre for Propulsion and Power, built around a fast feedback innovation model, pioneered by Formula One.'

After the demonstrations, Charles attended a 'collaborative roundtable' of Government and aviation representatives which discussed how to make the industry more sustainable.

Charles then broke ground on the new laboratory while being watched by 100 members of Whittle staff, University students and professors, before unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion.

The Whittle Laboratory is an aerospace and energy research centre based at the University of Cambridge.

It was opened in 1973 by Sir Frank Whittle who founded the company that invented the jet engine while still an undergraduate at Cambridge. The lab has worked with the likes of Rolls-Royce, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Siemens.

The King has visited the lab twice in previous years, when he enjoyed more freedom to speak out on climate change issues.

In August 2021, he made one of his most powerful interventions ever when he told Britain's business leaders that they must do more or the planet is 'done for'.

King Charles delivers some words during a visit to the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge on Tuesday

King Charles III arrives for a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge to break ground on the new laboratory, meet with academics, aviation leaders and tour the facility

Charles performs a walkabout with academics and researchers before leaving

Faculty and students wave at the King as he leaves the Whittle Laboratory following his official visit on Tuesday

Moment Charles breaks ground on the new Whittle lab at Cambridge University

King Charles got back to work today as he broke ground on a 58million research facility that will aim to develop net-zero flight technology (Pictured: Charles at the Whittle Lab on Tuesday)

King Charles III arrives for a visit to the Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge on Tuesday

Drawing emotionally on his family connections to wildfire-racked Greece, the then-prince issued a robust challenge to big business to join his crusade for action 'before it's finally too late'.

The then-heir to the throne said humanity's 'only hope' is for business chiefs to join world leaders in an 'epic battle' to avert 'climate catastrophe'.

He urged leading companies to sign up to his 'Terra Carta', a charter that committed them to putting sustainability at the heart of all their business activities.

It comes after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva revealed just this past weekend that Charles had personally asked him to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Lula and the British monarch met at Buckingham Palace in London last Friday evening, on the eve of the king's coronation.

'The first thing the king said to me was that I should take care of the Amazon,' Lula told a press conference in London.

'I replied: 'I need help',' said the Brazilian leader, whose country is home to 60 percent of the world's largest tropical rainforest, a vital carbon sink.

On Friday, after a meeting between Lula and Rishi Sunak, Britain pledged to contribute 80million ($101 million) to the Amazon Fund, created in 2008 to preserve the rainforest.
The latest round of SATs are set to begin for school years 2 and 6, with pupils preparing for the tests across the UK.

The key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests, which are often referred to as SATs, test pupils' proficiency in core aspects of learning.

So, when are SATs in 2023? What purpose do SATs serve? When will results be released?

Read on below for everything you need to know about the upcoming SATs.

SAT testing for pupils in Year 6 will begin on Tuesday, 9 May 2023, and will see them tested on core skills in English and Mathematics (File image)

When are SATs in 2023?

SATs for Year 6 pupils begin on Tuesday, 9 May 2023, as pupils are tested on core skills across English and Mathematics. The testing will come to an end on Friday, 12 May 2023.

Here is a breakdown of which tests are being held and when they will take place:

Tuesday 9 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling

Wednesday 10 May: English reading

Thursday 11 May: Mathematics, two papers including arithmetic

Friday 12 May: Mathematics, one further paper

Tests for pupils in Year 2, who are at the end of Key Stage 1, will be held in the month of May 2023.

When do 2023 SATs results come out?

Schools will receive test results on Tuesday, 11 July 2023.

The government websites states: 'Before the end of the summer term, your childs school will send you a report which will include test results and teacher assessment judgements.

'This should provide you with a good sense of the standard at which your child is working in each subject.

'The school will report your childs test results as a scaled score for each subject. This is created from the number of marks your child scores in a particular test.

'If your child is working below the overall standard of the key stage, or they have special educational needs, reporting will be different, and you should speak to your childs teacher for more information.'

Also on the government website are downloadable leaflets which provide parents with useful information regarding SAT results.

What are the purpose of 2023 SATs?

SATs are designed to ensure that pupils are on track to meet key stage targets. Seeing the test results will give teachers an indicator of pupils' progress in the core subjects of English and Mathematics.

Before the end of the summer term, which marks the end of the 2022-23 academic year, parents will be sent a report by their child's school which will include test results and teacher assessment judgements.

This should help to provide parents with a better understanding of the standard at which your child is working in each subject.

Year 2 pupils, who are at the end of Key Stage 1, will be tested during the month of May 2023 (File image)

Schools will report pupils' test results on a scaled score for each subject. This is created from the number of marks your child scores in a particular test.

A scaled score below 100 means that your child may need more support to help them reach the expected standard.

A scaled score of 100 or more means that your child is working at, or above, the expected standard for the key stage.

The assessments are used to measure school performance and ensure that individual pupils are being given the academic support they require as they move into secondary school.
King Charles' vision of a slimmed-down monarchy could leave the Royal Family's day-to-day responsibilities 'impossible to fulfil', experts have warned.

A new portrait released to celebrate the King's Coronation on Monday provided a glimpse into the future of the Royal Family, with Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal stood proudly either side of Charles.

The King, 74, is known to be in favour of a smaller and cheaper monarchy, but the image also highlighted the difficulties this may bring, with all but four working royals now aged over 70.

There are already concerns there may be too much pressure on the Prince and Princess of Wales to take on the bulk of engagements as the ageing pool of working royals continues to shrink. Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are have stepped back from public duties and were not included in the Royal portrait yesterday.

Royal author Phil Dampier today said there is a shortage of working royals for at least the next decade, with any further cuts leaving them unable to fulfil daily duties.

Left to right: The Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, the Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Harry pictured outside Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of King Charles on Saturday

Prince Andrew (pictured outside Westminster Abbey) was also missing from the royal portrait after stepping back from public duties

He told MailOnline: 'We have got a slimmed down monarchy by default because Harry and Meghan have left and Andrew is in disgrace. But there is now a real problem with most of the working royals being over seventy.

'It leaves just William and Kate and Edward and Sophie until their children get older. So for the next decade there is a shortage of man and woman power.

'You could bring in the likes of Beatrice and Eugenie to do more, but Charles has always been against that, and they are associated with their parents.

'We are going to have to accept that the days of having 1,600 patronages like the Queen and Prince Philip are probably over.'

Mr Dampier also said the idea of long-distance overseas royal tours may not be overly welcomed by Queen Camilla.

He added: 'Charles is very fit for his age but Im not sure the Queen is looking forward to gruelling overseas tours to the likes of Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.

'She doesnt like flying or the heat so its going to be hard for her at 75.

As Princess Anne said a couple of weeks ago on Canadian TV the monarchy already looks pretty slimmed down, so lets stop any talk of cutting it further. Otherwise the day to day work of the institution will simply be impossible to fulfil.'

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also noted the 'challenge' for the King in the future and said he will need to decide 'how slimmed down he wants the monarchy to be'.

He said the group portrait of the working royals signified 'the people who the King can depend on', adding: 'The absentees, everyone knows the reasons for that'.

To mark his reign as head of state, the King also unveiled a striking new solo portrait to commemorate his historic crowning.

Mr Fitzwilliam said Princess Anne's proximity to the King in the portrait 'is no accident', adding the fact she is 'experienced and hard-working' will have been noticed by Charles.

He added Queen Camilla looked 'more relaxed and comfortable' wearing the crown in her solo portrait than she did in Westminster Abbey, during the coronation ceremony that was watched by millions world wide.

An individual portrait of the King has also been released, showing Charles holding the Orb and Sceptre with Cross

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured in full regalia in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace

Queen Camilla has also been pictured in an individual portrait wearing Queen Mary's crown and her embroidered Robe of Estate

Prince Harry and the Duke of York were not included within the portrait as they are no longer working royals

Buckingham Palace has released a Coronation message by King Charles III, in which he gave his 'heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion'

In the portrait of the working royals, the King is pictured in full regalia, wearing the Imperial State Crown along with his regal purple tunic and Robe of Estate.

He is stood alongside Camilla, who is wearing Queen Mary's Crown, with the train of her lengthy embroidered Robe of Estate spread in front of her.

To their immediate left are the Prince and Princess of Wales, who wore her Alexandra McQueen dress and leaf embroidery headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen. On the other side of Charles was his sister the Princess Royal in military dress.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are also pictured either side of Princess Alexandra - the late Queen Elizabeth's cousin. The Duke of Kent and the Gloucesters are also included in the image by Hugo Burnand.

Meanwhile, King Charles yesterday hailed the outpouring of celebration for his Coronation as 'the greatest possible gift' as he expressed his 'heartfelt thanks' to the nation for making it 'such a special occasion'.

The King and Queen pledged to rededicate their lives to service as Charles expressed gratitude for the nation's support throughout the historic celebrations, and as the weekend of festivities draw to a close he issued a written message, saying: 'We thank you, each and every one.'

He said: 'As the Coronation weekend draws to a close, my wife and I just wanted to share our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday. It has emerged that Charles toasted Archie on his birthday in a informal lunch afterwards

'We pay particular tribute to the countless people who have given their time and dedication to ensuring that the celebrations in London, Windsor and further afield were as happy, safe and enjoyable as possible.'

He added: 'To those who joined in the celebrations - whether at home, at street parties and lunches, or by volunteering in communities - we thank you, each and every one.

'To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift, as we now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.

The official portraits show King Charles III and Queen Camilla in all their majesty in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, and surrounded by their fellow 'working royals'.

The King and Queen can be seen both separately and together, both the very picture of calm dignity despite the strain of the weekend.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Prince Andrew, were nowhere to be seen.

Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in March 2020, and have since given tell-all interviews about their alleged treatment. Harry attended the Coronation on Saturday, but flew back to California shortly after the ceremony.

Prince Harry also released his bombshell memoir Spare, revealing intimate details of the Royal Family's private life, following the Queen's death.

The Duke of York, who played no formal role in the Coronation but attended in his Order of the Garter robes, sat in the same row as Harry during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.

Andrew stepped down from public life after his Newsnight interview in November 2019 and the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
A lawyer who injected his own blood into supermarket food at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose using hypodermic needles has been detained in a mental hospital, a judge has ruled.

Leoaai Elghareeb, 38, wandered into three stores on Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, carrying a bucketful of hypodermic needles on 25 August 2021.

The solicitor jabbed products including an apple, bacon, buttermilk and Chicken Tikka fillets.

He also threw a syringe at a doctor but luckily it bounced off her causing no injuries.

The three supermarkets - Sainsburys Local, Tesco Express and Little Waitrose - had to throw away all their products as a precaution, causing nearly 500,000 in losses.

Leoaai Elghareeb, 38, has been detained in a mental hospital after he injected food with his blood at a series of supermarkets in a 500,000 rampage

The Lebanese lawyer denied three counts of contaminating goods and two counts of assault and a jury formally found him not guilty by reason of insanity last May.

Elghareeb had previously worked at some of Londons most prestigious Magic Circle law firms before he began to abuse crystal meth, Isleworth Crown Court had heard.

Elghareeb, dressed in a grey t-shirt, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared in court via video-link.

Judge Alistair Hammerton told Elghareeb: The food contaminated offences concerns you contaminating food through the injection of a syringe, each were clearly visible, and you made no effort to disguise your actions.

Whilst the three stores suffered substantial financial loss it is fortunate no physical harmed occurred and there is no evidence that serious physical harm was a likely consequence of your actions.

The judge made the order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act but without any restriction.

This means Elghareeb is put into hospital for treatment, but he can appeal to the courts if he disagrees with this sentence and your Responsible Clinician, the hospital managers or tribunal can discharge you from this section.

The hospital can also only give you treatment without your permission for up to 3 months.

The lawyer is shown on CCTV picking up a food product before allegedly injecting it inside a Sainsbury's Local

He wandered into three stores on Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, carrying a bucketful of hypodermic needles in August 2021

This is opposed to the stricter section 41 of the Mental Health Act which means you can only be discharged from hospital if the Secretary of State for Justice agrees.

The judge said Elghareeb will continue to receive psychiatric treatment at St Bernards Hospital, Southall.

Prosecutor Diana Wilson earlier told the court Elghareeb walked along Fulham Palace Road with his bucket of syringes filled with his blood.

Along the way he also threw some of the syringes at people inside and outside the store including hitting a passer-by on the street.

As he was confronted, because of his actions, by a succession of store personnel inside the supermarkets he assaulted one of them by pushing him, in addition to throwing verbal insults at those around him.

Elghareeb then pushed security guard Bilal Ansari in the chest shouting: You are all vile people and Sainsburys is vile.

He did the same in Tesco, injecting food and throwing syringes, forcing staff to close the store immediately.

Shortly before he was arrested, he walked past a Tapas bar called Avanti and threw a plant pot through the open door, narrowly missing a waiter.

He jabbed products including an apple, bacon, buttermilk and Chicken Tikka fillets

The three supermarkets found a total of 21 syringes during a thorough search and deep-clean before they were able to reopen.

The court heard Elghareeb was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had heard voices commanding him to do things by controlling parts of his body.

Elghareeb even claimed one of the voices to have been that of former Prime Minster Boris Johnson.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Nicholas Larsen said that Elghareebs mental state had not changed significantly since last year.

Kyria Argyropoulos, defending, said: The present case was one where Mr Elghareeb was very much making a cry for help, trying to get himself noticed by the police which he succeeded in doing.

His progress was described as "heart-warming" by Dr Larsen, and it is perhaps encouraging how much better he had presented himself both outwardly and to the experts due to his continuing treatment at the hospital.

Everything we heard today suggests there is a very good and considered safety net surrounding whatever happens to Mr Elghareeb in the future.

Elghareeb, of Crabtree Lane, Fulham, had denied three counts of contaminating goods and two counts of assault.
Bruce Lehrmann's barrister says he was told by a senior police officer that he believed the former political staffer was not guilty, an inquiry has been told.

Defence barrister Steven Whybrow SC made the claim in a statement tendered to an inquiry into the criminal justice system's handling of the high-profile case.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting his former colleague Ms Higgins before the trial was aborted due to jury misconduct.

Mr Lehrmann has continually denied the allegation and the DPP declined to pursue a second trial due to concerns over Ms Higgins' mental health and dropped the charges.

Mr Whybrow said Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman told him that if the jury returned a guilty verdict, he would resign.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) alleged she was raped in the defence minister's office Parliament House in 2019

'On 25 October 2022, DI Boorman sent me a message asking if I could have a chat over a coffee, which I agreed to do,' Mr Whybrow said in his signed statement.

'When I saw him, he appeared to me to be anxious and agitated and concerned we not be seen speaking together in direct line of sight of the (Director of Public Prosecutions).

'... DI Boorman indicated to me that he was quite distressed about this prosecution and considered that Mr Lehrmann was innocent.

'He made several other comments along these lines and I recall he said words to the effect 'if the jury comes back with a guilty verdict, I'm resigning'.'

Mr Whybrow said he had 'never before had a conversation with a police officer who had indicated that they were going to resign because they had been ordered to prosecute someone they considered was innocent.'

Mr Whybrow also said in his statement that Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC had referred to Inspector Boorman and another senior officer, Detective Superintendent Scott Moller, as 'boofheads'.

Mr Whybrow said the comments were made by Mr Drumgold during the trial as they were discussing whether they would be required to give evidence.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting his former colleague Ms Higgins before the trial was aborted due to jury misconduct

'Mr Drumgold SC approached me and, in the context of a discussion as to what evidence might be led from DI Boorman or DS Moller, said words to the following effect: 'Any opinion by those boofheads about the strength of this case is not admissible'.' Mr Whybrow said.

Mr Drumgold is the first witness to appear before the inquiry and has spent the last two days in the witness box.

The ACT's top prosecutor told the inquiry that documents which could have been 'crushing' to Ms Higgins were not deliberately withheld from Mr Lehrmann's defence because of his concerns over them.

Mr Drumgold was on Tuesday questioned by counsel assisting the inquiry, Erin Longbottom KC, why he made a submission that an investigative review document fell under legal professional privilege and should not be provided to the defence.

'Clearly error, clearly error,' Mr Drumgold said, saying he mistakenly believed it was contained within the brief of evidence.

The investigative review documents contained criticism of Ms Higgins by police, the inquiry was told.

Mr Drumgold was asked by Ms Longbottom whether he felt 'frustration' that the documents had been produced in response to a subpoena.

'I don't recall feeling frustration at it,' Mr Drumgold said.

Barrister Mark Tedeschi and ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold (right) arrive the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) in Canberra

'It's clear that the document showed a strong bias as a discrete document.'

When pressed on whether he was concerned about it being given to the defence, Mr Drumgold said he was concerned it could be harmful to Ms Higgins.

'Well, I didn't think it should fall into (the defence's) hands because essentially it says a senior police officer through a stereotype, bias analysis has drawn particular conclusions about a complainant,' Mr Drumgold said.

'I mean it's potentially terribly harmful to a complainant if that document finds its way into a court.'

Mr Drumgold said he was concerned it could be 'crushing' to Ms Higgins.

'Well, I had some concerns this would be crushing to the complainant,' Mr Drumgold told the inquiry.

When asked if his opinion about the 'crushing' nature of the documents formed part of his opposition to its disclosure, he said: 'I don't think so. I mean it features nowhere in my submissions, my thought processes were in my submissions.'

Mr Lehrmann is not expected to provide evidence to the inquiry.
Global CEO of Anheuser-Busch Michel Doukeris blamed 'misinformation and disinformation' for the online backlash

Competitors Yuengling and Miller Light rose more than 12 percent each, with Coors Light rising 10.9 percent

Sales of Anheuser-Busch products have dropped in the month since Bud Light went ahead with the disastrous campaign with with trans 'influencer' Dylan Mulvaney.

Beer Business Daily commented that 'it's not pretty' for America's flagship brand and its parent company Anheuser-Busch after revealing the numbers for beer sales across April.

Anheuser-Busch volumes were down more than 12 percent last month, with Bud Light falling a staggering 21.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Mulvaney seemed unconcerned as they stepped out in LA wearing pigtails.

Initially, Bud Light was the only brand under the brewing conglomerate's umbrella to be affected by the controversy, but the new numbers have revealed that several other products' sales have also dipped.

Budweiser has been struck by the knock-on effect, with sales dipping 11.5 percent.

Two more Anheuser-Busch brands were also feeling the result of the backlash, with Busch dropping 5.3 percent and Natural dropping 6 percent.

Competitors of the Belgian-owned beer giant both saw their volume rise  with Molson Coors, which produces Coors Light, jumping 7.6 percent and Constellation, the company behind Corona, spiking 3.8 percent.

The news came as Mulvaney, 26, stepped out wearing a light blue dress with her hair styled in pigtails

Yuengling took the tumbling sales of Bud Light in their stride, rising up 14.7 percent, while Miller Light had a spike of 12.8 percent, Coors Light rose 10.9 percent, and Coors Banquet 20.5 percent.

In dollars, Anheuser-Busch has dropped 6.1 percent, while Molson Coors was up 13.8 percent and Constellation up 8.7 percent.

Bud Light was down 17.2 percent, Busch was up 1.3 percent and Natural was down 0.2 percent, while Budweiser also fell 6.7 percent.

Competitor Coors Light was up 17.3 percent, Miller Lite up 19.1 percent, Yuengling was up 20.1 percent with Coors Banquet up 27.9 percent and Miller Genuine Draft up 7.3 percent.

The news came as Mulvaney, 26, stepped out wearing a light blue dress with her hair styled in pigtails.

She also donned a cozy teddy-style coat and matching bag as she strolled in Hollywood Hills, LA, on Tuesday.

Mulvaney herself has not officially responded to the backlash, despite posting a video to say that she hopes to be 'less controversial' in another life.

The news of plummeting sales comes after Global CEO of Anheuser-Busch Michel Doukeris blamed 'misinformation and disinformation' that was spread online for making people believe cans with Mulvaney's face were being rolled out for sale across the US.

Despite their attempts to disavow the connection, the video Mulvaney posted of herself drinking Bud Light at the start of April 2023 used the hashtag #budlightpartner

She fiddled with sunglasses as she strolled in sandals and what appeared to be a goose or swan tote bag

He addressed the mass backlash over working with trans influencer Mulvaney, 26, for the first time in an earnings call with investors last week.

He added that the company is 'providing direct financial support' to the frontline workers impacted by the boycott.

Doukeris told the Financial Times over the weekend: 'People often talk about this topic in social media like noise.

'You have one fact and every person puts an opinion behind the fact. And then the opinions start to be replicated fast on each and every comment.

'By the time that 10 or 20 people put a comment out there, the reality is no longer what the fact is, but is more (about) what the comments were.'

The global CEO added: 'We never intended to make it for general production and sale for the public...it was one post. It was not an advertisement.'

But as the rumor that it was a campaign spread, he said, there were videos of billboards showing the Dylan Mulvaney can digitally and '10 million people [were] watching and commenting.'

Mulvaney herself has not officially responded to the backlash, despite posting a video to say that she hopes to be 'less controversial' in another life

A letter previously claimed that the can which was gifted to Mulvaney was the brainchild of an outside agency

He addressed the mass backlash over working with trans influencer Mulvaney, 26, for the first time in an earnings call with investors last week

'That had nothing to do with Bud Light, it was just like pure social media creation,' he said.

Investors were also told by Doukeris that Bud Light will triple its marketing spend this summer in a bid to woo customers back to the tarnished brand.

The disastrous marketing bid has seen sales for the American flagship beer plummet, despite Anheuser-Busch reporting first-quarter earnings of $1.65billion.

Doukeris said: 'We need to clarify the facts that this was one camp, one influencer, one post and not a campaign.

'We will continue to learn, meet the moment in time, all be stronger and we work tirelessly to do what we do best: Bring people together over a beer and creating a future of more cheers.'

Doukeris' comments came as a letter was sent to retailers, bars and restaurants by Grey Eagle  which distributes Anheuser-Busch products around St Louis.

It read: 'Anheuser-Busch did not intend to create controversy or make a political statement.

Michel Doukeris addressed the mass backlash over working with trans influencer Mulvaney, 26, for the first time in an earnings call with investors on Thursday

Mulvany posted the content to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking she didn't know what sport she was promoting

Anheuser-Busch put two of their most senior members of the marketing team behind the campaign on leave. Pictured: Alissa Heinerscheid

A Chicago gay bar, 2Bears Tavern Group, announced Thursday they will no longer serve Bud Light. Pictured: 2Bears Tavern on Argyle street

'In reality, the Bud Light can posted by a social media influencer that sparked all the conversation was provided by an outside agency without Anheuser-Busch management awareness or approval.

'Since that time, the lack of oversight and control over marketing decisions has been addressed and a new VP of Bud Light marketing has been announced.'

Bud Light's VP of marketing, Alissa Heinerscheid, took a leave of absence while the VP for Mainstream Brand, Daniel Blake, stepped down some days after.

Their sudden departure appears premature in light of the recent comments, which also claim there was no 'management awareness' of the now-infamous campaign.

The specifics of how the can fiasco erupted remain under wraps. The latest letter claims the Mulvaney can was the brainchild of an outside agency.

It is the first time the brewing giant has addressed the backlash in detail, after they were hit with a major dip in Bud Light sales following the paid partnership.

The defiant rebuttal against the 'unofficial' campaign comes as Anheuser-Bush reported first-quarter earnings of $1.65billion, which topped Wall Street expectations.

Daniel Blake, who is the vice president for Anheuser-Busch's mainstream brands has stepped back from his job, after controversy about Bud Light's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney

The brewer posted revenue of $14.21 billion in the period, which also beat forecasts, with the shares rising 6 percent since the beginning of the year and 12 percent in 12 months.

It's unclear if the boycott had any impact on these figures, and whether a larger impact on the firm's finances will be visible for the second quarter of the financial year if the controversy and boycotts rumble on.

Despite the company's attempts to disavow the connection, the video Mulvaney, 26, posted of herself drinking Bud Light at the start of April 2023 used the hashtag #budlightpartner.

Todd Allen, most recently the global vice president of Budweiser, has been announced as the new vice president of marketing for Bud Light  after Heinerscheid and Blake took a leave of absence.

Mulvany posted the content to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking she didn't know what sport she was promoting.

It's unclear how much Mulvaney was paid to promote the drink, with gay bars and LGBT beer drinkers now joining conservatives in deserting Bud Light.

During a podcast appearance last month, days before the Mulvaney partnership was announced, Heinerscheid said Bud Light was on the wane when she took the helm last summer, but planned to right the ship in the coming months

Locals in Marietta, Georgia, where Travis Tritt is from, have been switching from their usual drink of Bud Light to Coors Light, according to bartenders  who say the impact was 'immediate'

Unlike right-wingers who say Mulvaney should never have been chosen as a face of the campaign, LGBT supporters say Bud Light acted shoddily by throwing her to the wolves as controversy reached a fever-pitch.

Gay bars in Chicago have pledged not to sell Bud Light in the wake of Doukeris' statements walking back Anheuser-Busch's involvement with Mulvaney.

The bar with four locations throughout the Windy City, 2Bears Tavern Group, denounced Anheuser-Busch after the company 'abandoned' their support of Mulvaney.

It went on to refer to Doukeris' response as 'cruel' and 'hateful' while insisting the beer company simply fed into 'anti-trans' criticism.

In a statement they said: 'Anheuser-Busch's decision to drop its support of Mulvaney in response to ignorant and hateful objections by some of its customers shows how little Anheuser-Busch cares about the LGBTQIA+ community, and in particular transgender people, who have been under unrelenting attack in this country.

'CEO Brendan Whitworth's excuse that Anheuser-Busch 'never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people' was tantamount to saying that the rights and safety of transgender people are topics worthy of debate.'

The group will also discontinue other Anheuser-Busch brands, including Busch Light and Goose Island 312, it said.
A landlord said they're struggling to 'maintain their sanity' after a tenant began underpaying rent by a single cent every week.

The frustrated landlord shared a plea for help online on Monday to ask how other landlords would handle the 'infuriating' tenant of their three-bedroom home.

They claim their tenant owes $1,200 in rent every week but only pays $1,199.99, Yahoo News reports.

'I am seeking your advice on how to deal with a tenant who is obviously having a laugh at my expense,' they wrote on the Landlords and Investors of Australia Facebook group.

'I rent direct to him (the tenant) and there have not been any major issues in the past.

'We are three months into a 12-month lease. He has started to deliberately underpay rent by one cent each week.

'I know it's deliberate because he used to pay the full amount.'

An Aussie landlord asked for help with a difficult tenant on the Landlords and Investors of Australia Facebook group on Monday (pictured, the landlord's post)

The landlord claims their tenant owes $1,200 in rent every week but only pays $1,199.99 (pictured, apartments for rent in Sydney)

The anonymous landlord said they tried emailing the tenant about the missing funds but received a snarky reply detailing repairs needed in the property.

'Thanks for your email regarding the late rent. I've checked my transaction history and you can actually see $1,199.9 has been transferred,' the tenant wrote.

Poll Is the landlord right to complain? Yes - He's being underpaid No - It's only one cent! Is the landlord right to complain? Yes - He's being underpaid 200 votes

No - It's only one cent! 72 votes Now share your opinion





'I applied the rules on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website... which clearly state that the amount is rounded to the $1,200 due and as such I consider the rent to be paid on time and in full.

'I request that you do not contact me about this again.

'On another note, I wish to draw the following repairs to your attention: the laundry cupboard door is squeaky, the kitchen cold tap is too high pressure, the air conditioner duct in the second bedroom rattles.'

While it's not clear if the tenant's rent has been divided into weekly payments for a larger sum, the ACCC rule they cited claims businesses (in this case landlords) cannot round-up costs.

The tenant claims under this rule they only need to pay $1,199.99 instead of the landlord's requested $1,200.

The landlord declared they will 'obviously' not be renewing the tenant's lease when it runs out next February.

The tenant responded to the landlord's concerns in a snarky email (above) that detailed repairs needed in the property

The post was widely shared across social media with many people left fuming at the tenant's 'petty' behaviour while others called the landlord a 'sook'.

'This person is taking the piss!! It goes both ways!!! If we want fair landlords we have to be fair to them!' one person wrote.

'It's so petty, and I'm so here for it. Is there anything sweeter than landlord tears?,' another said.

'Omg, as someone who works with accounts and reconciling, this is actually infuriating. Creates so much more work than needed. Especially given it seems the tenant is being unreasonable petty,' a third commenter said.

'In this rental crisis it pays to be nice and not a d**k . Imagine losing a rental over less than a buck,' another wrote.

A fifth commented: 'They are having a sook because the tenant underpaid them by one cent for a few weeks. I can't stop laughing.'
Rishi Sunak today ruled out a rethink of new protest laws after the Metropolitan Police apologised over the arrests of six anti-monarchists ahead of the Coronation.

The Prime Minister defended fresh powers the Government has handed officers under the Public Order Act to deal with demonstrations.

Mr Sunak insisted it was 'right' that ministers had given police greater abilities to 'tackle serious disruption', despite some Tory calls for a review of the legislation.

The PM was quizzed about the new police powers following a furious row over the Met Police's handling of Saturday's historic Coronation ceremony.

Scotland Yard, which has been hit by a string of scandals in recent years, was heavily criticised for detaining demonstrators in the hours before the Westminster Abbey event.

But Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, while describing the arrests as 'unfortunate', today stressed his support for the arresting officers' actions.

He also hit out at 'ill-informed commentary' about how his force had dealt with the Coronation.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, who oversees the capital's police force, has demanded a review of the weekend's events and written to Sir Mark with a series of questions for him to answer.

Rishi Sunak defended fresh powers the Government has handed officers under the Public Order Act in order to deal with demonstrations

The PM was quizzed about the new police powers following a furious row over Scotland Yard's handling of Saturday's historic Coronation ceremony

The Met Police said their officers had stopped a group of people unloading items from a vehicle close to Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning

Graham Smith, the chief executive of the Republic campaign group, revealed a chief inspector and two other officers had personally apologised to him following the incident

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley dscribed the arrests as 'unfortunate' but stressed his support for his officers' actions

Tory ex-Cabinet minister David Davis has reiterated his criticism of the Public Order Act after Saturday's arrests

Scotland Yard last night expressed 'regret' that a group of six people were arrested under the expanded police powers at 6.40am on Saturday.

All six have now had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken, the Met Police said.

Graham Smith, the chief executive of the Republic campaign group, revealed a chief inspector and two other officers had personally apologised to him following the incident.

The Met Police admitted one of the group had been liaising with Scotland Yard about a protest ahead of the Coronation, but suggested this information was not known by the arresting officers.

Tory ex-Cabinet minister David Davis has reiterated his criticism of the Public Order Act in the wake of Saturday's arrests and claimed the new police powers are 'too broadly defined'.

But, on a visit to a doctors' surgery in Southampton this morning, Mr Sunak declined to commit to a review of the legislation.

'First thing to say about the weekend is an enormous thank you to everyone involved in making sure that everything went off so smoothly and was so successful,' the PM said.

'Lots of people worked incredibly hard, including the police, to make sure that that happened and I'm very grateful to all of them.

'With regard to protest, of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

'What the Government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to people's lives.

'I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers.'

Asked if nothing about the Republic arrests made him feel uncomfortable, the PM told broadcasters police are 'rightly, operationally independent of Government'.

'They make the decisions on the ground in the way they see fit,' Mr Sunak added.

'It wouldn't be right for me to interfere with their operational decisions but it is right for the Government to give the police the powers to tackle serious disruption.'

Downing Street said it 'wouldn't be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example'.

'We do still stand by these powers which we think are in line with what the public want and what we believe are appropriate,' the PM's official spokesman said.

'I think the public has been alarmed by the chaos caused by highly disruptive protesters over the last few years and the legislation was brought in to balance the fundamental rights of protesters with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of serious disruption to their daily lives.'

Mr Smith has condemned Saturday's 'disgraceful episode' and revealed he is considering taking legal action against the Met Police.

'I also expect a full inquiry into why they repeatedly lied to us and who authorised the arrests,' he said last night.

In an article for the Evening Standard newspaper, Sir Mark said Scotland Yard was 'proud' to have ensured the 'safety and security' of the Coronation.

He said Saturday's event came amid 'the most challenging, fast-moving and complex policing picture we have ever encountered for a national celebration'.

'Protest is an important right in any democracy, but it is limited and has to be carefully balanced alongside consideration for the rights of others so they too can go about their normal business  in this case participating in a once-in-a-generation event,' Sir Mark added.

'While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers actions in this unique, fast-moving operational context.'

In an attack on 'ill-informed' and 'wholly inaccurate' commentary, Sir Mark stressed that 'protest was not banned' during the Coronation.

'I want to be absolutely clear - our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality,' he said.

'Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real.'

Sir Mark pointed to intelligence Scotland Yard received that protesters were 'intent on using rape alarms and loud hailers... which would have caused distress to military horses', as well as plans for people to 'extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route'.

He added that officers had 'worked around the clock to try to identify the full criminal network, establish the detail of their plans, and make arrests'.

Sir Mark also noted how crowds 'applauded and cheered' as Met Police officers made arrests along The Mall just prior to the Coronation procession.

In a letter to Sir Mark, the London mayor demanded a review and 'lessons learned' report on Scotland Yard's policing of the weekend.

Mr Khan listed six questions for the Met Police to answer, adding: 'The issues I have raised in this letter are of public interest and so Londoners will expect that the outcomes of any review undertaken will be made public.'

In a statement issued last night, Scotland Yard said their officers had stopped a group of people unloading items from a vehicle close to Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning.

They claimed a search of the vehicle had uncovered items which the officers 'had reasonable grounds to believe could be used as lock on devices'.

'Taking into account the information they had, and the overall concern regarding security, six people were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for locking on, contrary to Section 2 Public Order Act 2023,' the statement added.

'One man was also arrested for possession of a knife/pointed article.

'It was not clear at the time that at least one of the group stopped had been engaging with police Protest Liaison Team officers ahead of the event.

'The Protest Liaison Team were not the arresting officers nor were they present in St Martins Lane at the time of the arrest.

'The investigation team have now fully examined the items seized and reviewed the full circumstances of the arrest.

'Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event.

'This evening all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken.

'We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route.'

Under the Public Order Act 2023, which passed into law just days before the Coronation, a new offence of 'locking on' during demonstrations was created.

It followed recent disruptive protests by environmental groups such as Just Stop Oil, whose members have been known to chain or tie themselves to things as a means of demonstrating.
The heartbroken fathers of three teenage girls who took their own lives at a 'chaotic and unsafe' NHS mental health hospital say they will fight for justice for their daughters.

Christie Harnett, 17, Nadia Sharif, 17, and Emily Moore, 18 - took their own lives during an eight-month period in 2019 following treatment at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Their grieving parents have said they want hospital leaders and staff to be held to account.

Christie's father Michael described the day he got the devastating phone call in June 2019 as a 'blur'.

'We knew it was bad, but obviously we just didn't know,' he told the Sun. 'It was something that shouldn't have happened. You're in a place like that - that's meant to be safe.'

Christie Harnett had been held under the Mental Health Act 11 times and spent 556 days in three years detained in hospital

Emily Moore died in Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham in February 2020 after receiving treatment at West Lane

Nadia Sharif took her life in West Lane in August 2019. During her three years of care by mental health services she was subject to ten different placements and there was a 'consistent and insufficient recognition of risk', a report found

'All of the girls would have had 21sts. They should still be here.'

The father said nothing would bring his daughter back but urged for a public inquiry.

Emilys father David said they promised they would fight for justice as Nadia's father Hakeel added that things need to change.

The Sun published a journal entry written by Emily, with a list of things staff had allegedly said to her.

These included 'you were fine 10 minutes ago' and I've got a cold, I can't be bothered to fight you Emily'.

The grieving fathers have spoken out after a damning independent investigation revealed in March that staff allowed young patients at the failing mental health hospital to self-harm and access suicide websites amid 'chaotic' conditions on the wards.

Too few and inadequately trained staff, as well as a lack of leadership, meant the child and adolescent mental health wards often seemed 'unsafe' to staff and patients.

A policy of 'least restrictive practice' meant young patients with complex problems were largely left to their own devices, skipping education lessons to lounge around and surf harmful websites on the internet.

The report revealed the young patients were 'allowed to decide whether they attended lessons and were not always stopped from bringing inappropriate high-risk and potentially lethal items onto the wards'.

Emilys father David said they promised they would fight for justice

The CQC eventually closed the hospital down in August 2019. It was reopened as Acklam Road Hospital and run by a different trust

Rules and boundaries were lacking and the report commented that 'every parent who spoke to us was unhappy with treatment of their young person at West Lane'.

'Young people would be in their pyjamas all day watching daytime TV and staying up at night on the internet or watching films.

'This meant that young people had unmanaged access to their smartphones, and so they could access inappropriate websites, such as those for self-harming, share pictures of other patients who had self-harmed and spend hours on the internet at night.'

Access to social media was a main issue that was 'poorly handled and caused mistrust and concern', the report found.

Staff said they were 'told not to intervene in incidents of self-harm until the situation became life-threatening'.

The report by Manchester-based Niche Health and Social Care Consulting, stated: 'The reality of this was that children and young people would be allowed to cause harm to themselves before staff stepped in. Patients felt that they had to be alert to others self-harming and did not trust staff to keep them safe.'

The report, which made 12 detailed recommendations, also criticised the industry watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC), stating its scrutiny of West Lane 'lacked rigour'. The CQC eventually closed the hospital down in August 2019. It was reopened as Acklam Road Hospital and run by a different trust.

Christie Harnett took her own life at West Lane in June 2019. She had been held under the Mental Health Act 11 times and spent 556 days in three years detained in hospital.

Lack of appropriate beds meant during her treatment she was often placed in hotels or accommodation by social services, leading to an escalation in self-harm behaviour, the report said. In total 51 problems with her care were identified.

Nadia Sharif took her life in West Lane in August 2019. During her three years of care by mental health services she was subject to ten different placements and there was a 'consistent and insufficient recognition of risk', the report found.

In total 46 problems were identified with her care across various agencies.

Emily Moore died in Lanchester Road Hospital in Durham in February 2020 after receiving treatment at West Lane. There were 200 self-harming incidents in her final 12 months.

The report said her family were 'increasingly concerned' the ward at West Lane was 'unable to keep her safe'. Investigators found 14 problems in her care, eight of which related to West Lane.

Commenting on the report, David Jennings, chair of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, previously said: 'We would like to reiterate how deeply sorry we are for the events that contributed to the deaths of Christie, Nadia and Emily.'

He said: 'This report covers a period of time where it was abundantly clear there were shortfalls in both care and leadership.' Significant changes have since been implemented, he said.

Margaret Kitching, the Chief Nurse for NHS England, North East and Yorkshire, said the report 'raises extremely significant concerns' and that patients 'hadn't received the care they deserve'.

MailOnline has contacted the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust for further comment.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Samaritans for free and completely anonymously on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.
A female Christian charity worker was stabbed in the neck with a makeshift blade in an unprovoked attack by a stranger near Brixton's O2 venue as she walked home from shopping, a court has heard.

Mohamed Nur, 33, is accused of murdering Johanita Kossiwa Dogbey, 31, allegedly stabbing her from behind on Monday, May 1.

The suspect today appeared at the Old Bailey charged with her murder and injuring three other members of the public two days earlier.

Prosecutor Julian Evans said Ms Dogbey died from stab injuries 'as a result of a completely unprovoked attack on her'. He told the court: 'There is no suggestion she and the defendant were known to one another.'

Johanita Dogbey, 31, was killed while walking alone on Stockwell Park Walk in Brixton

The Christian charity worker was attacked from behind by a man wearing all dark clothing

Ms Dogbey had been walking alone on Stockwell Park Walk in Brixton after going into central London to do some shopping.

She was attacked from behind by a man wearing all dark clothing and died at the scene. A post-mortem examination identified the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.

Two days before, on April 29, Nur allegedly attacked two women and a man in quick succession in Brixton at about 11.30pm. It is alleged that all three were set upon 'without warning, without provocation and apparently at random'. They were said to have suffered cuts to the face or cheek.

Nur was arrested after being stopped by police on Brixton High Street allegedly in possession of a weapon fashioned from a piece of broken mirror.

Police pictured at the scene of the stabbing on Stockwell Park Walk

He was charged with Ms Dogbey's murder, three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on April 29 and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon relating to a bladed article made from scissors on May 1 and glass on May 2.

Nur, who was living in a hostel in Vauxhall, south London, spoke only to confirm his identity in the dock of the Old Bailey.

Members of Ms Dogbey's family appeared tearful as they sat in the well of the court for the preliminary hearing.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a plea hearing for July 25 and a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey from April 29, 2024. Nur was remanded into custody.
Bill Gates said he does not think work on the new technology should be paused

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could make scams harder to spot because 'bad actors' would use the technology to trick people about their identities.

Wozniak said AI content must be clearly labelled and regulation was needed for the sector, as he warned of the dangers of the technology.

'AI is so intelligent it's open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are,' Wozniak, who founded Apple with Steve Jobs, told the BBC.

He warned that bad actors will become even more convincing because programmes like ChatGPT can create messages which 'sound so intelligent'.

Wozniak's warning came after Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he does not think work on the new technology should be paused.

There is a great AI divide in Silicon Valley. Brilliant minds are split about the progress of the systems - some say it will improve humanity and others fear the technology will destroy it

Wozniak (pictured) said AI content must be clearly labelled and regulation was needed for the sector, as he warned of the dangers of the technology

Gates said he believes AI is a game-changing technology, describing it as 'pretty fundamental' noting how its implications for the future are vast.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI fired the starting pistol on a technological arms race in November, when it made AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT available to the public.

It soon became the fastest-growing app in history, reaching 100 million monthly users in two months.

'We're all scared a bad guy could grab it,' Gates said in an interview with ABC News, but he said the development of such tech should continue.

Wozniak has also said he fears the technology could be harnessed by 'bad actors'.

He joined thousands - including Twitter CEO Elon Musk - in writing an open letter which called for a six month pause in AI development to consider the risks of the technology.

Wozniak believes that anything generated by Artificial Intelligence that is then posted to the public, should be the responsibility of those who publish it. He said: 'A human really has to take responsibility for what is generated by AI.'

The computing pioneer said regulation must hold big tech firms who 'feel they can kind of get away with anything' to account.

But he voiced concern that even the regulators might not get it right. 'I think the forces that drive for money usually win out, which is sort of sad.'

Bill Gates said he doesn't believe AI falling into the wrong hands is a major concern, and has argued against pausing AI development out of fear

Gates disagrees with the idea of pausing the development. 'If you just pause the good guys, and you don't pause everyone else, you're probably hurting yourself,' he explained.

Gates decided to voice some of his concerns regarding the rapid advance of the technology and the negative consequences if it were to be used with by bad actors.

Perhaps worryingly, the billionaire noted that governments were behind the curve when it comes to understanding the technology.

Neither are regulators are up to speed about the fast-developing tech or are prepared to make big decisions about its future, Gates suggested.

He acknowledged that AI continues to surprise with its capabilities while also highlighting its limitations. He believes that AI has the potential to bring about significant changes across various industries.

'We're often surprised how good it is. Sometimes we're surprised at what it can't do right. It's early days, but revolutionary,' Gates said.

Ultimately, he believes the positives of AI outweigh the negatives.

'The field, more than any field I know, is actually putting in a lot of the smart people into, OK, what comes next and how do we make sure that's beneficial,' Gates said.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI fired the starting pistol on a technological arms race in November, when it made AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT available to the public

Despite the risks, Gates noted that the AI field attracts brilliant minds focused on ensuring its use for good

'I see that AI, used properly, is providing a lot of benefits that I wouldn't want to throw away.

'In health and education, used properly, it will be fantastic,' Gates said. 'That's a big deal. Improving education, you know, making sure students who are in private schools or even suburban schools, that they have this way of getting great feedback. You know, I'm excited.'

Gates praised OpenAI's ChatGPT software and believed the significant improvements were made in the latest update from GPT-3 to GPT-4.

Despite the risks, Gates noted that the AI field attracts brilliant minds focused on ensuring its use for good.

Last week, Geoffrey Hinton, 75, who is credited as the 'godfather' of artificial intelligence warned that 'scary' chatbots like the popular ChatGPT could soon be smarter than humans

Last week, Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as one of the 'godfathers of AI', and who recently announced he had quit Alphabet after a decade at the firm, saying he wanted to speak out on the risks of the technology without it affecting his former employer.

Hinton's work is considered essential to the development of contemporary AI systems.

In 1986, he co-authored the seminal paper 'Learning representations by back-propagating errors', a milestone in the development of the neural networks undergirding AI technology. In 2018, he was awarded the Turing Award in recognition of his research breakthroughs.

But he is now among a growing number of tech leaders publicly espousing concern about the possible threat posed by AI if machines were to achieve greater intelligence than humans and take control of the planet.

Hinton suggested that Artificial intelligence could pose a 'more urgent' threat to humanity than climate change.

'I wouldn't like to devalue climate change. I wouldn't like to say, 'You shouldn't worry about climate change.' That's a huge risk too,' Hinton said. 'But I think this might end up being more urgent.'

He added: 'With climate change, it's very easy to recommend what you should do: you just stop burning carbon. If you do that, eventually things will be okay. For this it's not at all clear what you should do.'

Hinton said chatbots can already hold more general knowledge than a human brain.

He added that it was only a matter of time before AI also eclipses us regarding reasoning.

At this point, he said, 'bad actors' such as Russian President Vladimir Putin could use AI for 'bad things' by programming robots to 'get more power.'

ChatGPT is evidence of how fast the technology is growing.

In just a few months, it has passed the bar exam with a higher score than 90 percent of humans who have taken it, and it achieved 60 percent accuracy on the US Medical Licensing Exam.
Ricardo Barbaro has pleaded not guilty to killing her

Weeks before Ellie Price was found dead inside her Melbourne apartment, she demanded $100,000 from a friend and threatened to falsely report him for rape if he didn't pay up, a jury has heard.

Mark Gray, who had financially supported Ms Price and her family, told the Supreme Court he believed Ms Price planned to give her accused killer, her on-off boyfriend Ricardo Barbaro, some of that money.

'I assume that the boyfriend will be needing it and no doubt she will give it to him,' he said in a text read to court on Tuesday.

Ms Price told him she needed the money to open a salon, but Mr Gray told others, including her mother, he thought this was a 'joke' in text messages.

Mr Gray said he thought Ms Price's demand for $100,000 represented 'quite an extraordinary change in behaviour'.

Prosecutors allege Ellie Price (pictured) was fatally stabbed by Barbaro in the early hours of April 29

Ricardo Barbaro (pictured, arriving at the Supreme Court of Victoria), 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder

He paid Ms Price $25,000 and said he planned to try and get more money to pay her and Barbaro again in September.

Barbaro, 36, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is facing a jury trial over the death of Ms Price, 26, whose body was found by police in her South Melbourne apartment on May 4, 2020.

Prosecutors allege she was fatally stabbed by Barbaro in the early hours of April 29 before he went on the run.

Mr Gray, who owns and operates brothels in Melbourne and Sydney, met Ms Price in 2017 at Melbourne strip club The Men's Gallery, where she worked as an exotic dancer.

He helped find accommodation for Ms Price and her young son, writing references and paying more than $150,000 over about three years towards her rent, which included luxury CBD apartments.

Barbaro's barrister Rishi Nathwani referred to Mr Gray as Ms Price's 'sugar daddy' as he had spent thousands of dollars supporting Ms Price and members of her family, but Mr Gray denied this.

Barbaro's barrister Rishi Nathwani referred to Mark Gray (pictured, fleeing the media outside court on Tuesday) as Ms Price's 'sugar daddy'

'I'm not a sugar daddy ... Anyone who comes to this courtroom will tell you the same,' Mr Gray said.

After giving evidence, Mr Gray, disguised with an umbrella and sunglasses, was escorted out of the court via a side door by a security guard to avoid media.

He will return to the witness stand on Wednesday, when Barbaro's trial continues.

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A husband accused of killing his wife, stuffing her body into a suitcase and dumping it in a river has appeared at the Old Bailey.

Aminan Rahman, 45, is charged with murdering 24-year-old Suma Begum, who was reported missing on Sunday, April 30.

It is alleged that Rahman killed his wife at his home in Orchard Place in Tower Hamlets, east London on April 28.

The Crown allege that early on April 30, he removed her body in a large suitcase and pushed it into the River Lea.

Searches for Ms Begum's body are ongoing, the court was told.

24-year-old Suma was reported missing from an address in Orchard Place on Sunday April 30

It is alleged that Rahman killed his wife at his home in Orchard Place in Tower Hamlets (pictured), east London on April 28

The Crown allege that early on April 30, he removed Ms Begum's body in a large suitcase and pushed it into the River Lea (stock image)

The River Lea originates in Bedfordshire and is the easternmost major tributary of the Thames in London.

On Tuesday, Rahman appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing.

He was assisted by a Bengali interpreter and spoke only to confirm his identity.

Judge Nigel Lickley KC set a plea hearing for July 25 and remanded the defendant in custody.
A British holidaymaker who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Majorca had married his Scots bride only two weeks before the tragedy, local media claimed today.

Jaime Carsi, 40, and his wife Mary Somerville, 39, were found in each other's arms in bed at a holiday home on the island on Saturday, a report said.

Respected island newspaper Ultima Hora said they had been married only 15 days ago, meaning the couple were likely on their honeymoon.

It was reported that they were due to go out on a boat-trip with friends on Saturday. When friends were unable to reach them, they contacted police who discovered Mr Carsi dead and his partner unconscious.

An autopsy carried out yesterday concluded Jaime had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Jaime Carsi, 40, was found dead on Saturday at a house in Majorca by emergency responders

Jaime's partner Mary Somerville, 39, was rushed to hospital and is fighting for her life

The couple are understood to have jetted from their home in Edinburgh to spend time together at the rural property in Cala Mesquida in the north-east of the island.

Mary, a former Lloyds bank worker who taught yoga and meditation through a volunteer-based NGO her partner was also heavily involved in, remains in a 'serious condition' in an intensive care unit at Manacor Hospital in Majorca.

Patti Montella, a friend of the couple, described Jaime as a 'magnificent soul' in an emotional social media post.

She wrote alongside a photo of her with Jaime and Mary: 'Jaime Carsi came into my life and took up residence in my heart, so many years ago, in London.

'His smile and spirit are pure love. And when he married our precious Edinburgh girl, sweet Mary, it was a match made in heaven.

'You left us waaaay too soon my little one. What a prince you are, such a magnificent soul.'

Another friend, who worked alongside Jaime at the NGO they were involved in, added: 'Thank you so much for all the good memories and also being my partner in crime teaching Art of Living courses and running the meditation centre.'

Initial local reports pointed to the cause being a faulty gas-powered fridge.

Well-placed sources said they were investigating the possibility deadly carbon monoxide gas had been seeping out all night while the couple slept in the main bedroom before the alarm was raised and they were discovered following an anguished call from a relative of Jaime's.

Jaime described himself online as being from Madrid although he is believed to have moved to the UK as a child with his parents when they emigrated for work reasons and relocated to Edinburgh around six years ago when he got a job as an investment risk analyst at Baillie Gifford after several years in London.

Police in Majorca have said very little about Saturday's tragedy, other than to confirm it remains under investigation.

An investigating magistrate has been tasked with coordinating the probe.

Manacor hospital on the island of Majorca

Cala Mesquida is a holiday location famed for its clear skies, blue waters and sandy beaches

The latest tragedy occurred less than five months after a similar drama claimed the lives of a British couple at their expat home in Majorca.

Michael Rowan, 62, and his 56-year-old partner Sharon Price were found lifeless at their country property near the picturesque town of Selva, around an hour's drive from Cala Mesquida, on December 19 last year after their worried UK-based son got someone to go round and check on them.

A subsequent post-mortem confirmed they died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the farmhouse they had moved to the previous year.

Their bodies lay undiscovered for two days.

Local reports at the time linked the intoxications to a leak in a wood burning stove through loose-fitting pipework that meant poisonous fumes entered the room where it was installed.

The motor of a portable generator said to have been kept inside the property, despite recommendations appliances of this kind should be kept outside, is also believed to have produced the odourless and colourless gas blamed for the couple's deaths.

The nearest town to Cala Mesquida, famed for its beautiful sandy beach and popular with Germans and British, is Capdepera which is about five miles away.

The house where the latest gas leak tragedy occurred has been described as a rural property.

Unconfirmed local reports say it is owned by the dead man's father.

Art of Living, which Jaime and Mary have been involved in for years from their base in Edinburgh, was founded by Indian yoga guru and spiritual leader Ravi Shankar.

It describes itself on its UK website as an organisation set up in 1981 to help people relieve stress and anxiety through tools including breathing techniques, social initiatives, meditation and yoga.

It operates as a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organisation in more than 150 countries around the world.
Hundreds of students have been evacuated from a building at the University of Cardiff following a 'chemical spill' in a laboratory.

Dozens of firefighters and paramedics have rushed to the scene to check on a 'small number' of students following the incident at around 11.20am.

The spill is understood to have been contained, but the university's Main Building and its surrounding roads remain closed.

University chiefs say they do not know the identity of the chemical spills, but hazardous material specialists are on site.

Meanwhile, South Wales Police has urged people to avoid the area as officers continue to deal with the incident.

Hundreds of students have been evacuated from a building at the University of Cardiff following a chemical leak in a laboratory

A number of emergency service vehicles pictured in attendance at the University of Cardiff's main building

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it received reports of an incident on Park Place in Cardiff, with multiple crews in attendance, alongside emergency service colleagues.

Students and staff have revealed they were told to leave their belongings inside the building as the alarms rang out - and cannot yet get back inside as emergency workers investigate.

Sam Proctor, 20, said: 'I have an essay due in a day and a half and I can't write it because my laptop is inside. They're also not telling us a timeline of when we can get our things.'

Chemistry student Oscar Hulm added: 'We were on the other side of the building, but the chemical spill was in Natural Sciences.'

Another chemistry student Theodore Tadros said: 'Fire alarms went off and we left very prompt - it was very ordered. People won't be able to go back in to get their stuff until tomorrow probably.

'Some people have left their keys indoors but there's been talks about letting people in later on to grab them. But it's all up in the air at the moment.'

A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: 'We were called to an incident at Cardiff University at 11:20am this morning. We have deployed a rapid response vehicle, two emergency ambulances and are being supported by the Hazardous Area Rescue Team. This incident is currently ongoing.'

The road running between Museum Place and Cathays Terrace has also been shut off by emergency services

A spokesperson for the University of Cardiff has said a small number of students have been checked by paramedics

A Cardiff University spokesperson said: 'We do not currently know the identity of the chemical spilled.

'Incidents like these on our campus are very rare but when they do occur, we always act immediately to ensure staff and student safety. We have no further detail to add at this time.'
Convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes wants people to call her 'Liz' after abandoning her deep voice and techy turtlenecks following the fall of her company, Theranos.

The disgraced CEO, 39, has spoken out in a bid to rehabilitate her image, following a last-minute appeal that's meant she's avoided starting her more-than 11-year prison sentence for conning investors in the science and tech world out of millions.

In interviews and TED Talks from when Holmes was at the top of her game, talking to the world's media about her 'revolutionary' scientific discovery, she spoke in a deep, terse tone.

But in the May 7 profile by the New York Times, Holmes claimed she built a persona that was not 'authentic' when trying to promote Theranos and become heralded as an innovator.

She said she is not actually the kind of person that would wear black turtlenecks, red lipstick and use an authoritative voice.

Instead, Holmes now portrayed herself as a loving mother-of-two who wears a 'bucket hat and sunglasses' and enjoys walks around the San Diego Zoo.

Elizabeth Holmes, pictured left in her heyday in 2014, spoke with a terse, deep voice. But now she wants to go by Liz after being found guilty of fraud. She's pictured right in court in 2022

In the feature, the NYT reporter who spent time with Holmes said: 'In case youre wondering, Ms. Holmes speaks in a soft, slightly low, but totally unremarkable voice, no hint of the throaty contralto she used while running her defunct blood-testing start-up Theranos.'

And she said that even her partner Billy Evans admits that the voice was 'real weird.'

Holmes said that ex-Theranos COO Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani forced her to adopt the black turtleneck, red lipstick persona. She said: 'He always told me I needed to "kill Elizabeth" so I could become a good entrepreneur.'

His lawyers have denied the claims.

Detailing how 'down to earth' she supposedly is, Holmes shared how she and Evans, were sleeping in campgrounds and at Walmart parking lots for half the year in 2019.

She also told how she spent some of the past year volunteering at a rape crisis center in an attempt to portray herself in a more relatable light whilst defending her actions while promoting her future as a health-tech innovator.

Federal court documents submitted by Holmes ahead of her sentencing showed the conwoman and Evans enjoying their trip, which appears to span much of the lower 48 states.

Speaking of Theranos, Holmes acknowledged she made numerous mistakes due to her lack of knowledge and understanding at the time.

But the New York Times is now being slammed online for its favorable portrayal of the mother-of-two who scammed people out of millions of dollars as she promoted a blood testing service that never actually worked.

In interviews from her heyday, Elizabeth Holmes spoke with a deep voice - which she now admits was put on

Holmes looked comfy and casual wearing an all-black designer Alo sweat suit, sandals, and an oversized straw hat. She carried her newborn in her arms, covering her with a swaddling blanket

Barefoot Elizabeth Holmes enjoys her last few days of freedom in San Diego, CA, with her boyfriend Billy Evans and children William and Invicta

Elizabeth Holmes sits in court to be sentenced on her convictions for defrauding investors in the blood testing startup at the federal courthouse in San Jose, California, November 18, 2022

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes on November 18, 2022 in San Jose, California

Holmes said when District Judge Edward J. Davilla set a date for her criminal fraud trial in 2019, she and Evans spent six months traveling around the United States in an RV while prosecutors worked to convict her.

'Even though that period was a crisis, and Theranos was my life and like my child, I gave everything I had to it,' she said.

Once it was gone, though, 'I also became free.'

And, speaking of her relationship with Evans, Holmes said, 'Finding your person in the middle of all of this and experiencing that love when you're going through hell is the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced.'

She was named as one of Forbes' 400 in 2014

She had previously claimed her former partner and ex-Theranos COO Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani physically and emotionally abused her, and disclosed that she had been a victim of sexual assault during her time at Stanford University.

Those experiences, she said, prompted her to start volunteering at a rape crisis hotline.

Holmes also acknowledged in the interviews that she made 'so many mistakes,' claiming 'there was so much I didn't know and understand, and I feel like when you do it wrong, it's like you really internalize it in a deep way.

Still, she said, the company could have changed the health care industry for good if it had actually worked as she thought.

Her so-called Edison machine had promised to be able to test a tiny amount of blood in minutes to detect dozens of medical issues.

Banking on this promise, pharmacy giant Walgreens decided to partner with Theranos to offer in-store blood collection centers.

By 2014 the company was said to be worth $9 billion and Forbes ranked Holmes as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world.

But the following year the exhaustive investigation by WSJ, it was claimed Theranos's system provided false reports and revealed the company had been using commercially available machines from other companies for most of its testing.

Lawsuits started flooding in and Theranos collapsed in scandal, eventually shuttering in 2018. Holmes was then convicted in January 2022 on four counts of fraud and conspiracy.

'We would've seen through our vision,' she insists and reveals she is even working on new inventions.

The Times describes Holmes view as 'idealistic delusion'.

'I still dream about being able to contribute in that space,' Holmes said. 'I still feel the same calling to it as I always did and I still think the need is there.'

Holmes has been accused of getting pregnant in order to get a lighter sentence and avoid prison time.
Alex Murdaugh blamed his dogs for causing his housekeeper to fall down the stairs, a damning recording has revealed - despite now sensationally claiming he lied about how she died.

Audio of the disgraced legal scion's 2018 interview with investigators was released Monday by Gloria Satterfield's lawyers who say his latest claim is 'pure greed and self-preservation.'

Murdaugh says in the recording: 'Gloria indicated the dogs caused her to fall ... What I'm assuming happened is when Gloria pulled up, the dogs were rushing her.'

The 54-year-old, who stole the $4m insurance payout owed to Satterfield's sons, last week for the first time claimed he was lying about the 67-year-old's fall at his sprawling hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina.

The Satterfields' lawyers say Murdaugh is inventing this new narrative so that he can avoid paying the Nautilus insurance company which is suing him over the theft.

Alex Murdaugh sits with his legal team as jury selection continues before his trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023

Gloria Satterfield was previously said to have died after falling at the Murdaugh home in 2018. She was the family's housekeeper and nanny for 25 years

Attorney Eric Bland, who recouped $7.5m owed to the Satterfields, said that even if Murdaugh's latest claim were believed, the money paid out to her sons is not in jeopardy because it had not come from Nautilus but other liable parties.

Bland's firm on Monday released the 13-minute recording from 2018 in which Murdaugh told investigators he rushed home to find Satterfield sitting up in a pool of blood at the bottom of the porch stairs.

At the time, the Murdaughs had Bubba, a yellow Lab, Bourbon, a chocolate Lab; Blue, a Labradoodle; and Sassy, a German shorthaired pointer.

Murdaugh stated that Bourbon was a rambunctious one-year-old who would get riled up around the other dogs.

'The problem is, and why we sent Bourbon to obedience school, as I told you earlier, she's so hyper. All the dogs get stirred up and compete to get petted and to get attention,' he said.

The company shelled out millions to Satterfield's sons when Murdaugh encouraged them to sue him in the wake of their mother's death, assuring them that he would admit liability.

He did so to pocket the money himself, recommending that the brothers use the services of attorney Corey Fleming without telling them Fleming was his best friend and co-conspirator in what has been described as a 'depraved' plot to cheat them out of the guaranteed pay day, the court documents allege.

When Nautilus settled the case, Murdaugh concealed it from Tony and Brian Satterfield and took the lion's share of the money intended for them. Fleming took $600,000 in legal fees.

Now, having stuck to the story that secured a multimillion dollar pay-out five years ago, Murdaugh has changed his tune.

In court documents filed May 1, Murdaugh states: 'No dogs were involved in the fall of Gloria Satterfield on February 2, 2018. After Ms Satterfield's death, [he] invented Ms Satterfield's purported statement that dogs caused her to fall to force his insurers to make a settlement payment.'

Bland said that this new claim by Murdaugh did not threaten the money which his firm has secured for the Satterfield sons because it came from other liable parties.

Speaking on the Cup of Justice podcast Monday, the attorney said the 'Satterfields never recovered a dime from Nautilus insurance company.'

The stairs where Satterfield died in a photo submitted by her family's lawyers Monday along with a recording of Murdaugh speaking to investigators after her fall

Murdaugh told Satterfield's sons (Bryan, left, and Tony, right) at her February 2018 funeral that he would get insurance settlements for her death and take care of them, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons

'All of the money we recovered is from other sources from PMPED (Murdaugh's firm) from Palmetto State Bank, from Bank of America, from Corey Fleming, from Chad Westendorf (of Palmetto State Bank), from Moss, Kuhn & Fleming (Fleming's firm),' Bland explained.

He said that the banks owed money because they failed to show due diligence regarding Murdaugh's fraudulent dealings and that the law firms of Murdaugh and Fleming had a duty to supervise their practices.

Bland has previously stated that the Satterfield sons accept the original story that their mother was knocked over by the dogs, despite widespread speculation that her death was suspicious.

He said Monday that Murdaugh's wife Maggie and son Paul - who he would later brutally murder - told police and 911 that the dogs caused the fall.

'They came out of the house when they heard the commotion and they saw the dogs who were running loose and were wild all around Gloria at the bottom of the stairs,' Bland said.

He said Murdaugh's new claim that he was lying was simply 'Alex trying to get back at the Satterfields or his attorney trying to get back at Ronnie (Richter) and me.' Richter is Bland's law partner.

Murdaugh with his wife Maggie, and son Paul. He murdered them both in 2021 at the family's property

Referring to Murdaugh's attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, who represented him in his double murder trial earlier this year, Bland slammed them for continuing to back the killer.

'It's rich that Dick and Jim are doing this. It's a disgrace. There's no depths that those two lawyers won't go to at this time for Alex and we're gonna throw it right back in their face', Bland said.

Murdaugh is currently locked up in McCormick Correctional Institution on the South Carolina-Georgia border.

He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in March after a jury found him guilty of murdering Maggie, 52, and his younger son Paul, 22, at their home in Moselle in June, 2021.

He gunned the pair down as his life spiraled out of control after he embezzled millions from his family law firm and became hooked on painkillers.
The hero cop who took down the neo Nazi shooter at the Allen Premium Outlet mall just north of Dallas on Saturday 'sprinted towards the high power rifle fire as everyone else ran away,' his lawyer said in a statement.

The unidentified officer is a member of the Allen Police Department. He was at the mall on an unrelated call when he heard Mauricio Martinez Garcia's gunfire.

'He's a brave servant with a gentle heart and embodies the best the law enforcement profession has to offer. He's doing well and would appreciate privacy as he continues to process this life-altering tragedy,' a statement from lawyer Zach Horn read.

Audio taken from the officer's desperate 911 call reveals how he begged for his colleagues to join him on the scene, radioing: 'I need everybody I got.'

At that point, Garcia, 33, had already shot 12 people and was armed with around 60 rounds of ammunition. The shooter, who sported white supremacist tattoos and espoused racist statements online, killed eight people and wounded several others, three critically.

The gunman, dressed in SWAT gear with a semi-automatic rile at his side, is seen laying dead at the Allen mall

About two minutes after first calling for backup, the cop said: 'I got him down.' Minutes later, another voice is heard on the radio saying: 'We got victims. I need an ambulance.'

Another first responder to the scene was a former police officer, Steven Spainhouer, who told NBC Dallas-Forth Worth that he went to the mall after his son, who works at the H&M location there, called to tell him about the attack.

Spainhouer said that he administered CPR to a dying man and comforted a boy who was covered in his mother's blood.

'I'm feeling it. I'm feeling it. Really, really hard right now. It is not easy. So hug your kids. Hug your kids when you go home,' Spainhouer told the station.

In April, the crazed killer researched when the mall was busiest and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack.

Garcia's online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport.

Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitler's paramilitary forces.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The first shots were fired outside H&M before the gunman was killed by an unnamed Allen officer at a burger shop a few stores away

The shooting happened at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, a small suburb north of Dallas, and saw at least eight people killed

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read 'RWDS,' an acronym for the phrase 'Right Wing Death Squad,' popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an 'uncharacterized' discharge, which is common for recruits who don't make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues.

That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they werent sure where.

The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didnt immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

Cops and FBI agents raided the home as neighbors said the suspect wore hoodies often and kept himself

Police and FBI at the house of the dead suspect who opened fire at the mall

A woman who lives next door said she didnt know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Allen, which is home to about 105,000 people, is among the Dallas-Fort Worth areas diverse suburbs.

The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allens population is about 19 percent Asian, 10 percent Black and 11 percent Hispanic.

In recent years, Texas has witnessed some of the most deadly mass shootings in America. Many believe it's due to the state's loosened gun laws which have come into effect in the past few years.

In September 2021, a 'constitutional carry' law came into effect, allowing most Texas who legally own a firearm to carry it openly in public without obtaining a permit or training.

At the time, Gov. Greg Abbott declared that the law 'instilled freedom in the Lone Star State.'

Just eight months after the pro-gun law was passed, Uvalde, Texas experienced one of the bloodiest school shootings in US history at Robb Elementary School. A total of 19 children were killed, along with two teachers, by gunman Salvador Ramos.

The gunman, 18, wrote 'LOL,' an acronym for 'laugh out loud,' on a whiteboard using the blood of his innocent victims.

For years in Texas, Republicans have waved aside efforts to tighten gun laws after mass shootings, and even expanded gun rights after the 2019 attack on a Walmart in El Paso.
Democratic presidential primary candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doubled down on his belief that the CIA was involved in the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy.

RFK Jr., who recently announced his campaign for president, told Fox News host Sean Hannity that that narrative surrounding his uncle's assassination has been a '60-year cover-up.'

He told Hannity on Monday that there is strong evidence connecting the Central Intelligence Agency to the assassination of JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963.

'There's millions of pages of documents; CIA documents, of transcripts, of recorded conversations from the Cuban embassy in Mexico City - it's hard to summarize the evidence,' he said.

RFK Jr. recently announced his candidacy for president. He is running as a Democrat against incumbent Joe Biden

On Sunday, he told New York City radio host John Catsimatidis that he believes 'it's beyond a reasonable doubt at this point' that the CIA was involved.

RFK Jr. also gestured to the leaders of the Warren Commission - the commission established to investigate the assassination of JFK. One of the leaders of the commission was ex-CIA Director Allen Dulles, who notably, had been fired by JFK.

'[Dulles] insinuated himself onto the Warren Commission and essentially ran the Warren Commission and kept this evidence from the Warren Commissioners. Either way, when Congress, 10 years later, investigated the crime with much more evidence than the Warren Commission had at its disposal,' said Kennedy.

'Congress found that, yeah, it was a plot. It was a conspiracy [and] there were multiple people involved. And most of the people in that investigation believe that it was the CIA that was behind it - because the evidence was overwhelming to them.'

The now-presidential candidate recalled being in the White House East Room with family as his uncle's body lay in wake, when President Lyndon Johnson walked into the room to inform them that Jack Ruby had killed Oswald.

Kennedy said his father - then the attorney general - had investigated Ruby and uncovered alleged mob ties, including to a mob leader he claimed was 'recruited by the CIA in the [Fidel] Castro murder plot.'

'So they were all working together in cahoots with the CIA,' he said.

He also claimed that on the afternoon JFK was assassinated, his father called a CIA desk officer at the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia to ask: 'Did your people do this?'

'It was my father's first instinct that the agency had killed his brother,' he said.

The CIA has repeatedly denied having any involvement in the assassination of JFK. John McCone, CIA director when Kennedy was killed, testified to a House committee that Oswald was not a CIA agent and had never communicated with the agency - a claim that was corroborated by the CIA's file on the shooter.

Since joining the fray, he has amassed a 20 percent share of the vote, while Biden struggles to drum up enthusiasm for his second term announcement

As he kicks off the campaign tour, RFK Jr. has been discussing, among other things, the persistent theory that the CIA was involved in his uncle's assassination in 1963

President John F. Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas in 1963. A persistent conspiracy theory is that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in his killing

Kennedy has also floated the theory that the CIA may have been involved in the killing on his own father, Robert F. Kennedy, who was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles while campaigning for president in 1968.

RFK Jr. said evidence of CIA involvement in his father's death is 'very convincing, but is circumstantial.'

Since Kennedy announced his presidential bid as a Democratic candidate last month, he has amassed a 20 percent share of the vote in recent polls, as incumbent president Joe Biden's campaign gets off to a rocky start.

Kennedy refused to openly speculate on Biden's mental fitness for office, but told Hannity that he jumped in the race because he is displeased with what Biden is 'doing with this country.'

He pointed specifically to the president's handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he said should have been settled long ago.

The amount of American dollars that have been sent to Ukraine since the conflict began last year currently tops $130billion, a figure Kennedy pointed out far exceeds the budgets of many of the US' alphabet agencies combined.

The candidate suggested that some of that money be spent stateside instead, citing the fact that 57 percent of Americans cannot afford a sudden $1,000 hardship expense.

Kennedy has also attracted a niche crowd of followers among conservatives for his vociferous COVID-19 vaccine skepticism, as well as his support for keeping biological males out of women's sports.
It comes as a host of advertisers who had avoided his controversial hour slot are set to return to the network

In newly released text messages, Carlson and fellow Fox News anchor Bret Baier exchanged their concerns over the network calling Arizona early during the 2020 election

Former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson said he wanted to leave the company over their coverage of the 2020 Presidential Election.

In new text messages seen by The Daily Beast, Carlson and fellow Fox News anchor Bret Baier exchanged their worries that Fox could be 'destroyed' by their early but accurate call of Arizona going to Joe Biden.

Carlson allegedly said: 'Ive got four more years here. Im stuck with Fox. Got to do whatever I can to keep our numbers up and our viewers happy.'

Text messages a month later show him complaining about Trump's election-fraud lies, saying: 'It's so sad. He's going to break some s***. He already is. Wish I knew where to run. But I'll die here.'

Carlson speaks at the 2017 Business Insider Ignition conference in New York

Newly released text messages show how Tucker had wanted to leave the network following the 2020 Presidential Election

It comes as advertising firms who previously shunned the 8pm slot on Fox News due to the firebrand presenter look set to return to the network.

Since Carlson's exit last month, Fox News said that they had over 40 new advertisers move into the hour since they launched Fox News Tonight.

Jeff Collins, executive vice president of ad sales at the media giant, said: 'We have seen new advertisers come in, and new demand.

'We have had over 40 new advertisers come into the hour since we launched the new program.'

The text messages have been unearthed as part of a defamation case filed by Dominion voting systems against Fox News.

The voting machine company had filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit against the network for 'giving life' to a 'manufactured storyline' about voter fraud after the 2020 election.

Dominion's lawyers uncovered texts in which Fox hosts and journalists seemed to acknowledge that the fraud claims were not true or farfetched, but gave them airtime anyway.

Carlson left his Fox News show on April 23, with no official reason given for why the company let their most-watched anchor go.

Pictured: Carlson and his wife Susan Andrews pictured for the first time after his dismissal since parting ways with Fox

He told a DailyMail.com reporter that 'retirement is going great so far' outside his home in Boca Grande, Florida

Prior to his dismissal, Carlson had been the biggest host on the network

The decision was made six days after Fox settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million.

Since then, a slew of rumors pertaining to his dismissal have emerged. They span from claims over Carlson's texts that emerged in the wake of the lawsuit, which included him claiming he hated Trump.

It has also since emerged that Carlson sent a text message the day after the January 6 storming of the Capitol - which the board of Fox News learnt about on the eve of their defamation trial.

The pivotal role played by the January 7, 2021, text message was originally reported by The New York Times.

In the text to one of his producers, Carlson recalls seeing a mob of three white men attacking an 'Antifa kid' and wanting the victim to be killed.

Tucker Carlson is seen on April 26 - two days after his firing - in a video posted to Twitter. In the video, Carlson claimed he had been silenced by the powers that be

He said: 'A group of Trump guys surrounded an Antifa kid and started pounding the living s*** out of him.

'It was three against one, at least. Jumping a guy like that is dishonorable obviously. It's not how white men fight.

'Yet suddenly I found myself rooting for the mob against the man, hoping they'd hit him harder, kill him. I really wanted them to hurt the kid. I could taste it.

'Then somewhere deep in my brain, an alarm went off: this isn't good for me. I'm becoming something I don't want to be. The Antifa creep is a human being.

'Much as I despise what he says and does, much as I'm sure I'd hate him personally if I knew him, I shouldn't gloat over his suffering.

'I should be bothered by it. I should remember that somewhere somebody probably loves this kid, and would be crushed if he was killed.

'If I don't care about those things, if I reduce people to their politics, how am I better than he is?'

When asked for comment, Fox News pointed to letters sent to Dominion last week calling for an investigation as to how these texts messages had been leaked to the media.
DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ALTERCATION?

DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ALTERCATION? Email tips@dailymail.com or katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk

Police have launched a probe after a transgender worker at Starbucks was filmed accusing a customer of being transphobic before allegedly assaulting the person filming.

The clash broke out at a branch near the ferry terminal of Southampton, Hampshire, on Sunday, April 30.

Footage shows the worker, who has not been identified, arguing with a woman by the till before approaching the person filming and knocking their phone out their hand.

In a statement, Hampshire Police told MailOnline: 'We received a report of an assault at Starbucks in Beresford House, Town Quay in Southampton on Sunday 30 April.

'It is alleged that a staff member became verbally abusive towards a customer within the premises, before assaulting a member of the public who was filming the incident.

A transgender woman has been sacked by Starbucks after footage showed her berating a female customer and allegedly assaulting a man who filmed the incident

Footage shows the transgender woman approaching the person filming after the row before knocking their phone out their hand

'No injuries were reported.'

They added: 'Our investigation into this matter remains ongoing at this time.'

The person recording the incident said the woman apparently said something 'transphobic' to upset the employee, who angrily refuses to serve her.

The 56-second clip shows the female customer saying: 'You're rude, don't ever call me transphobic, ever. You do not know me.'

In response, the transgender woman says: 'You're calling me a man, you're being transphobic, Karen. Now get out.'

'Karen' is a derisive insult imported from the US, taking aim at white, middle-aged women. Feminists have criticised it as a misogynistic term.

The conversation heats up, as the woman insists, 'do not call me transphobic'.

The transgender employee then claps in the woman's face and denies her request for a refund, adding: 'You are transphobic, now get out.'

The incident took place at this Starbucks branch near the ferry terminal in Southampton

The employee appears to notice a man using his smartphone filming the encounter

Repeatedly, the woman is told to 'get out' and that she is 'trespassing', before the employee appears to notice a man using his smartphone filming the encounter.

Without warning, the employee comes forward and lunges for the phone, demanding the man hand it over.

The footage has since prompted a huge transgender debate on social media, with many sympathising with the woman in the clip while other copy in Starbucks' Twitter handle to demand answers.

Australian women's activist Sall Grover shared the clip on Twitter, and wrote: 'When women see men who think theyre women in female spaces, they often get themselves out as quickly as possible.

The footage has since prompted a huge transgender debate on social media

Australian women's activist Sall Grover shared the clip on Twitter, and wrote: 'When women see men who think they're women in female spaces, they often get themselves out as quickly as possible'

Transsexual performer Buck Angel added: 'Haha they are crumbling fast! Wingnuts are exposing themselves.'

Debra Gordon posted: 'This person should be fired! They are there to serve customers - not abuse them'

Annabelle Bond wrote: 'Stop enabling this behaviour. No employee should treat a customer like that'

Balena Bros branded the employee's behaviour 'unacceptable'

The footage prompted heavy criticism on social media, with many users copying in Starbucks' Twitter handle and demanding answers

Activist Kellie-Jay Keen, who was recently mobbed by trans rights campaigners in New Zealand, also shared the clip. She said: 'Which branch is this? We should all go'

'[They] say nothing because we all know how men react when we say something they dont like.'

Activist Oli London also shared the video and tweeted: 'Is this an acceptable way for staff to behave Starbucks UK?'

Debra Gordon posted: 'This person should be fired! They are there to serve customers - not abuse them.'

Annabelle Bond wrote: 'Stop enabling this behaviour. No employee should treat a customer like that.'

Transsexual performer Buck Angel added: 'Haha they are crumbling fast! Wingnuts are exposing themselves.'

Others branded the employee's behaviour 'entitlement' and 'unacceptable'.

Activist Kellie-Jay Keen, who was recently mobbed by trans rights campaigners in New Zealand, also shared the clip. She said: 'Which branch is this? We should all go'

A Starbucks spokesman said: 'The licensee has confirmed that the partner (employee) no longer works at the company. Starbucks has no tolerance for behaviour of this kind and we are very sorry for the experience that this customer had.'
The first member of Congress of Palestinian descent is under fire for helping host an event marking the 'catastrophe' of the creation of the Jewish State of Israel 75 years ago.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a far-left so-called progressive 'Squad' member, wrote in a tweet on May 1 that '75 years later, the Nakba continues to this day.' Nakba refers to the creation of the establishment of a Jewish majority state in what was once Palestine. It alleges that the act was a form of 'ethnic cleansing.'

May 15, 2023 marks the 75th year of Israel's re-establishment  and Rep. Tlaib is hosting at the Capitol an event on Wednesday, May 10 marking the anniversary to 'educate' Congress and 'uplift the experiences of Palestinians who underwent the Nakba.'

'Rashida Tlaib, who has repeatedly used antisemitic tropes, is hosting an event to attack Israel with groups that defend terrorism and support the antisemitic BDS movement,' Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted on Monday evening.

Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib is hosting an anti-Israel event to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Jewish State

Nakba, which Tlaib has invoked, refers to the 'catastrophe' of the creation of Israel and refers to the establishment of the country in what was once Palestine as a form of 'ethnic cleansing'

She added: 'This is outrageous. We condemn this completely. Republicans stand with Israel!'

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) is a Palestinian-led initiative aimed at promoting public boycotts as well as companies' divestments and government economic sanctions against Israel.

Tlaib is aligned with the so-called 'Squad,' which includes other anti-Israel members of Congress  like Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been widely criticized for sharing anti-semitic conspiracies and repeating anti-Jewish tropes.

As pro-Israel groups are celebrating this week the 75-year anniversary of the establishment of the Jewish State, pro-Palestinians and groups against Israel's formation are protesting.

'May 15th marks 75 years since the beginning of the Nakba, which means 'catastrophe,' reads the description for Tlaib's event Nakba 75 & the Palestinian People.

'Seventy-five years ago, Zionist militias and the new Israeli military violently expelled approximately three-quarters of all Palestinians from their homes and homeland in what became the state of Israel,' the event description adds.

'To uplift the experiences of Palestinians who underwent the Nakba, and educate Members of Congress and their staff about this history and the ongoing Nakba to which Israel continues to subject Palestinians, we've partnered together to host this congressional and community educational event, to be followed immediately afterward by dinner.'

Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, is the featured guest for the event in the auditorium of the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, which is organized by nine different pro-Palestine groups.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) slammed Tlaib for her comment against the Israel State.

'For 75 years, anti-Israel voices have tried to rewrite history and deny the Jewish state's right to exist,' the group wrote on its Twitter this month. 'These dangerous lies have only led to pain and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians.'

'Build a better future, Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Stop the lies, stop the hate, work for peace,' it adds.

Tlaib criticized House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month for claiming Israel was 'conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that we are all equal.'

'Speaker McCarthy wants to rewrite history but the apartheid state of Israel was born out of violence and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,' Tlaib wrote in a May 1 tweet. '75 years later, the Nakba continues to this day.'

The tweet was later given a context box, which was a result of the new 'community rating system' on Twitter.

Tlaib is aligned with the far-left 'squad', which includes Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has come under fire for sharing anti-semitic tropes

Context was added to the tweet to note that Israel was born out of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181, and adds that the 'ethnic cleansing' referred to by the Michigan congresswoman affected both Jewish and Arab communities when five Arab states that opposed the creation of Israel initiated war.

Founder and CEO of Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI) Dumisani Washington lauded: 'As a result of Twitter's new community rating system, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's lies and distortions about Israel were exposed.'

'This is indeed a new day.'

Tlaib authored a resolution last year, which was backed by other members of the 'squad,' demanding the U.S. 'commemorate the Nakba through official recognition and remembrance.'
US voters are split over whether President Joe Biden should publicly acknowledge his granddaughter, bringing his son Hunter's four-year-old lovechild into the fold of America's First Family, a poll shows.

Conservatives, parents, Republicans, and religious Americans say the president should go public about Navy Joan Roberts  the granddaughter he and his wayward son have never met.

But the US public is divided over the sensitive issue. Many others, including Democrats, liberals, and those without children, call it a 'private family matter' that the Bidens must manage for themselves.

The TIPP Poll of nearly 1,500 Americans was carried out after Hunter's court appearance this month in Independence County, Arkansas, over how much child support the First Son should pay.

A Tipp Poll of 1,480 US adults found that Americans were split over whether the president should go public about his seventh granddaughter, Navy Joan Roberts

PICTURED: Lunden Roberts and daughter Navy. Navy Joan is the daughter of Hunter Biden and granddaughter of President Joe Biden

Hunter, 53, wants to reduce his monthly $20,000 payments to Navy Joan's mother Lunden Roberts, 32, claiming he is poorer now than when the deal was struck and that he can no longer afford such hefty sums.

Both parents will sit for depositions in June ahead of a July trial to reach a new arrangement.

For some Americans, this is the right time for President Biden to acknowledge the existence of the biological granddaughter he has never met and never mentions, despite fawning over his other grandkids.

The survey shows that half of Americans believe this is a 'family matter,' while 40 percent say the president should come clean about the lovechild in Alabama. Another 10 percent say they're not sure.

Poll Should Joe Biden publically acknowledge his granddaughter, Navy Joan? Yes No Not sure Should Joe Biden publically acknowledge his granddaughter, Navy Joan? Yes 446 votes

No 22 votes

Not sure 9 votes Now share your opinion





But attitudes are partisan. Nearly two thirds of conservatives say Biden should acknowledge the child's bloodline. So do half of the country's protestants, as well as those who are parents themselves.

Conversely, liberals by wide margins say it's a family issue for the Bidens. Democrats, the non-religious, and people without any children were more inclined to say it's a private matter.

Have your say by voting in our poll.

President Biden often talks adoringly of his 'six grandchildren' and brings them along for events and speeches  but critics say he omits all mention of his seventh grandchild, Navy Joan.

The cherubic, blonde-haired girl was born in August 2018, but remained a secret until Roberts sued Hunter for child support in her native Arkansas 10 months later.

She is the fourth of Hunter's five children, but neither he, nor his parents Joe and Jill Biden, have ever met the child or publicly acknowledged her existence.

She gets none of the perks, nor the round-the-clock Secret Service protection, enjoyed by the rest of the Biden brood.

The long-running paternity suit between the president's son and Roberts seemed to have been resolved in 2019 when a DNA test proved Hunter had fathered Navy Joan and agreed to a reported $2.5 million settlement.

Conservatives and Republicans are more likely to say the president should go public about Navy Joan Roberts

Americans are torn over whether Navy Joan Roberts should be identified as an official member of the First Family

But the recovering drug addict reopened the case in September by claiming he had suffered 'a substantial material change' in his income and couldn't afford the payments.

Roberts refused to budge and raised the stakes by petitioning the court to officially rename her daughter Navy Joan Biden to 'benefit from carrying the Biden Family name.'

Hunter called that move 'political warfare.'

Roberts also served the First Son with a discovery request covering everything from his shady business dealings in Ukraine and China to the names of the mystery art lovers who paid huge sums for his amateur abstract paintings.

After Hunter blew through multiple deadlines to turn over those documents, Judge Holly Meyer ordered him to appear at Independence County Circuit Court in person for the May 1 contempt hearing.

At the hearing, Roberts accused the Biden scion of hiding assets and posing as a 'destitute' artist in the latest court filing. She says he has plenty of cash to make child support payments.

The feisty single mom, who studied crime scene investigation at George Washington University, noted that he can afford to pay a team of super lawyers up to $855 each per hour across his various lawsuits and congressional probes.

Roberts has retained Garrett Ziegler  a former Trump administration staffer and longtime Hunter nemesis who produced a 644-page analysis on the contents of his notorious abandoned laptop  as an expert witness.

In his own filings, Hunter has opposed Navy Joan becoming a Biden, insisting he wants a 'peaceful existence' for her, free of the political scrutiny associated with his family dynasty.

Hunter fathered a son he named Beau after his late brother with his new wife Melissa Cohen just 17 months after Navy was born.

Neither Hunter, left, nor his father, President Joe Biden, center, have ever met the child or publicly acknowledged her existence

Among religious Americans, Protestants and Catholics are more keen on the Bidens acknowledging the existence of Navy Joan

Navy Joan gets none of the perks, nor the round-the-clock Secret Service protection, enjoyed by the rest of the Biden brood.

It was initially reported that Hunter met Roberts while she worked as a stripper at a DC club that Hunter frequented.

But texts retrieved from his abandoned laptop proved that she was in fact on the payroll at Rosemont Seneca, Hunter's Washington, DC investment firm.

Hunter has never seen Navy Joan and could not pick her out of a photo lineup, according to court filings.

She and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie.

Hunter claimed in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, that he went on such a 'rampage' in the wake of his 2017 divorce from Kathleen Buhle that he couldn't remember the names of the women he bedded.

'It's why I would later challenge in court the woman from Arkansas who had a baby in 2018 and claimed the child was mine  I had no recollection of our encounter. That's how little connection I had with anyone,' he wrote.
A woman who senselessly killed her best friend as part of a teenage murder plot that captivated the nation a decade ago has been denied parole.

Rachel Shoaf, 26, will now remain in prison for the murder of her best friend, 16-year-old Skylar Neese, in 2012.

Skylar's parents, Dave and Mary Neese, testified at today's parole hearing, which was the first time they had come face-to-face with one of their daughter's killers in over a decade.

Teens Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy lured Skylar Neese from her home in West Virginia in July 2012 and drove around and smoked marijuana. When they reached the woods in Pennsylvania Eddy and Shoaf stabbed her to death and dumped her body along the road.

Both teenagers comforted Skylar's parents and played the part of grieving friends when Neese was reported missing, before Shoaf finally admitted to the brutal murder in early 2013.

On May 1, 2013, Shoaf, then 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 10 years.

Rachel Shoaf can be seen smiling in the latest photo taken at the Lakin Correctional Center

Shoady has been denied parole for the murder of 16-year-old Skylar Neese in 2012

Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal and senseless murder in May 2013

Today, she appeared via video link at the hearing attended by Skylar's family.

Dave and Mary Neese wore purple to the hearing, which was Skylar's favorite color.

According to WBOY 12 News, when asked what she would say to the family, Shoaf said in a statement: 'I cant express how sorry I am for what I have done and for the pain I have caused.

'I loved her. I know what we did was terrible and theres no words to describe the pain that we caused and I know there is nothing I can say or do.

'I just pray for them all the time and pray for peace in their heart. I would trade places with Skylar so she could be with her loved ones.

'I just want them to know how deeply sorry I am.'

Shoaf also allegedly said: 'Ive made a terrible, terrible mistake that I cant change, but Im not a bad person because I made one bad choice.'

In a prepared statement obtained by the outlet, Skylar's father Dave gave reasons why he believed the killer should not be granted parole.

'Because of that malicious monster, my child never got a limo for her prom. Instead, she got a ride in a coroners vehicle. Also, there was no sparkling gown for Skylar, just a body bag. She will never have a certificate of graduation, only a death certificate,' he said.

'This narcissistic, first-degree, cold-blooded killer is not sorry for the brutal murder of my only child. Its my belief that she is proud she murdered my daughter in cold blood. The day after she plunged kitchen knives into my child, this devil was seen on a friends boat, smiling and posing for photographs.'

He said that Shoaf had chosen the day of July 6 as she wanted to kill Skylar before she went to church camp.

'Just another task to mark off of her list, like standing over my child saying Die, b****! as my baby girl took her last breath, because the evil butcher didnt want to be her friend,' he continued.

Dave and Mary Neese hold up a photo of their daughter months before Shoaf admitted to the killing

This photo was allegedly taken just a day after the murder showing Rachel (right) looking carefree at the beach

He said: 'I wasnt there to defend my baby girl from this diabolical killer on July 6, 2012, but Im here today to do everything within my power to make sure she stays behind bars.

'This inmate has proven that she is both evil and mentally unstable. No one can fix that kind of madness. I believe if she is paroled, she will kill again. Murder is a game to this inmate.

'This person has proved to be a narcissist and is a dangerous person who has no remorse in the least. This inmate has destroyed so many lives when she murdered Skylar.'

He added: 'If released, no parent can close their eyes at night without fear that their own child could possibly be the next victim.'

He asked the parole board why Shoaf should be granted a second chance at life when Skylar was denied one, and said he wanted to make the world without Skylar 'as safe as possible from predators like this one.'

Dave finished the statement by saying: 'I ask that you deny parole for this diabolical butcher and allow Skylars mother and I the knowledge that her killer will not be granted the reality of adulthood that out daughter was never allowed to experience.'

Before the hearing, over 33,000 people signed an online petition with hopes that Shoaf will remain behind bars.

Shoaf, 26, is currently incarcerated at the Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County.

Eddy was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years.

Prosecutors said the pair planned to kill their friend, but at the time of Shoaf's confession, a motive for the brutal murder was not revealed.

Shoaf allegedly told police the girls no longer wanted to be friends with Skylar, and prosecutors said it was due to a deteriorating friendship and fears that Skylar would divulge secrets.

Speaking at the hearing today, Shoaf said that she and Eddy were in a relationship and feared consequences if they were exposed, WBOY 12 News reported.

'After things became known with the relationship, there was tension between us,' Shoaf said. It was hostile and violent, in our teenage minds we didnt know how to handle the conflict and we just wanted it to stop.'

In the early hours of July 6, the pair picked up Skylar from her apartment in Star City, before smoking marijuana and driving toward Pennsylvania.

Shoaf allegedly also blamed her actions on being under the influence of the drug.

Killers Rachel Shoaf (left) and Sheila Eddy (center) with their friend, and later victim Skylar Neese (right) in a Facebook photo

Sheila Eddy was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend in March 2014

Shoaf and Eddy hid kitchen knives under their clothes and on the count of three, began to stab Skylar repeatedly.

The pair planned to bury the body, bringing a shovel with them, but authorities said they were not strong enough to break the ground and so they dragged her body away from the road and covered her in debris.

Shoaf and Eddy then returned home and played the part of distraught friends, crying and grieving with Skylar's parents.

Shoaf tweeted: 'Where @ highastheSky?' - the name Skylar used on Twitter, and both teenagers continued to post chilling messages on social media in the months following the murder.

Skylar's father, Dave, said how the pair helped the family distribute missing person flyers, and Eddy asked to come over and sit on the missing girl's bed.

Skylar's aunt Carol Michaud said in 2013: 'She came and acted as if she knew nothing. She pretended and stayed with us and comforted us and swore she had no idea what was going. To come to this day and admit she did just shows how evil she can be.'

The place where the teenagers left Skylar's body in Pennsylvania is now a memorial

Sheila Eddy (left) and Rachel Shoaf (right) smile in mugshots from 2019. The pair lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese from her home in July 2012 and stabbed her to death. After confessing to the murder, Shoaf said it was because they didn't like Neese anymore

In January 2013, Shoaf finally cracked and told investigators what had happened and where to find the body.

The site is now a memorial to Skylar, with photos and mementos of her life.

When she was sentenced, Shoaf asked the court for its forgiveness.

'Shes not sorry - shes sorry she got caught,' said Dave Neese in response to her apology. 'Thats the only thing shes sorry for.'

At the time, he said she would fight to make sure she wasn't granted parole.

When Eddy was sentenced in February 2014, Dave Neese, addressed the court, saying he was 'speaking on behalf of my daughter because she cant be here'.

Eddy refused to address the court other than to say guilty. Neese's father later said he found her silence 'unacceptable'.

Since her death, Skylar's parents spearheaded Skylar's Law, which would require Amber Alerts to be issued in West Virginia for all missing children.

According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Shoaf's projected release date is April 30, 2028.
Most non-white Chicago residents see a shooting by the time they turn 40, and many have themselves been shot, says a 'disturbing' 25-year study of violence in one of America's gun crime hotspots.

Researchers found that firearm shootings are so common in the Illinois city of 2.7 million people that 56 percent of blacks and Hispanics are caught up in one before their 40th birthday.

A staggering 7 percent of them have taken a bullet themselves, said the 11-page University of Cambridge study, which was published in JAMA Network Open on Tuesday.

The study's lead author, the criminologist Dr Charles Lanfear, said it was 'startling and disturbing' how black Chicagoans experienced gun violence far more often than whites.

More than half of Chicago's blacks and Hispanics witness a shooting before they reach 40, compared to only a quarter of white residents

Chicago residents hug in the street after another weekend of gun violence in the Windy City, which saw off-duty police officer Areanah Preston shot and killed on Saturday after working a night shift

Only a quarter of whites see a shooting before they reach middle age.

'We expected levels of exposure to gun violence to be high, but not this high,' said Dr Lanfear.

'Our findings are frankly startling and disturbing.'

Black residents have it worse than all other Chicagoans, he added.

They live in 'a very different social context, with far higher risks of seeing and becoming victims of gun violence in the streets near their homes lasting into middle age,' he said.

The research comes after another bloody weekend in Chicago, where off-duty police officer Areanah Preston, 24, was shot and killed steps from her mother's doorstep on Saturday morning after finishing a night patrol, officers said.

In the first three months of 2023, Chicago's murder rate of 4.2 per 100,000 residents made it one of America's deadliest cities  worse than New York and Los Angeles, says a recent WalletHub study.

Young black men have long been more likely than others to die on streets and corners run by Chicago's drug gangs.

But a spike in homicides from COVID-19 and race protests after the murder of George Floyd renewed focus on the issue.

Chicago's mayor-elect Brandon Johnson has vowed to be 'smart' and 'tough' in fighting crime in the nation's third-largest city once he's sworn in on May 15, replacing incumbent Lori Lightfoot.

On her way out, Lightfoot said Democrat mayors need to 'speak the truth' about violent crime in America's cities.

Officers work the scene where a fellow cop was shot and killed along with a suspect who was seriously wounded in the Gage Park neighborhood of Chicago in March

Chicago has for decades had a problem with gun killings, but rates started picking up again during the pandemic

Areanah Preston, 24, was killed on her front lawn as she was returning home from work in Avalon Park, Chicago

With rates of some crimes rising in Chicago, public safety became a top issue in the election she lost earlier this year.

For the study, Dr Lanfear's team used data from 2,418 boys and girls born in the early 1980s through to the mid-1990s, collected by Harvard University's Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods.

It found that half the city's men and women residents had seen a shooting by the age of 40.

The average age to see your first shooting in the Windy City is 14.

White residents are more likely to see this outside of their own neighborhoods.

But for Hispanics, and in particular blacks, deadly violence is closer to home, often taking place on their doorstep.

The researchers said the ever-present threat of gun violence takes a 'cumulative physiological toll' on its residents, who suffer from worse health and job prospects compared to other Americans.

'The long-term stress of exposure to firearm violence can contribute to everything from lower test scores for schoolkids to diminished life expectancy through heart disease,' said Dr Lanfear.

Chicago, like many other major cities, has struggled to tackle the root causes of gun violence: poverty, unemployment, racism, and the large number of boys being raised in broken homes.

Conservatives focus on supporting the police and maintaining law and order.

Liberals in the Democratic stronghold call for a more comprehensive answers involving education, mental health and even reparations for black residents.
Republican lawmakers are slamming the decision by President Biden's National Institutes of Health (NIH) to renew its taxpayer-funded grant to EcoHealth Alliance to research bat coronaviruses, calling it 'absolutely reckless.'

British zoologist Peter Daszak's EcoHealth Alliance, the non-profit at the center of the COVID-19 lab leak theory, will resume the research after former President Donald Trump suspended the grant in April 2020.

The grant was terminated under the Trump administration after it was revealed NIH funneled U.S. taxpayer dollars through EcoHealth to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducts risky gain-of-function research - the intentional alteration of viruses to make them more infectious or deadly. The Wuhan lab is where the COVID-19 virus likely originated from, according to U.S. intelligence assessments.

Now, three years later, the Biden administration is renewing the NIH grant, which means EcoHealth will get $2.3 million in taxpayer dollars over the next four years to work on 'bat-origin coronaviruses,' sparking outrage from members of Congress.

Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that found multiple serious violations by EcoHealth of the contractual terms and conditions of the NIH grant, slammed the 'absolutely reckless' decision.

'It's absolutely reckless that the NIH has renewed a grant for EcoHealth Alliance given their negligence and the breach of their contract with the NIH on the coronavirus research done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology,' said Griffith in a statement to DailyMail.com Tuesday.

He said that now that it is widely understood COVID likely came out of a lab incident in Wuhan, it's clear that EcoHealth has 'not been contrite' about their failures and have refused to cooperate with Congress.

'Until they can demonstrate a willingness to work with Congress to resolve outstanding questions and fulfill all of the terms of their federal contracts, paid for with American taxpayer dollars, all funding should remain suspended, and no new contracts should be awarded,' Griffith continued.

A report put out by House Republican lawmakers on the Intelligence Committee last December revealed that there are 'indications' the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had a lab incident tied to China's biological weapons program that led to COVID-19 being 'spilled over' to the general public

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told DailyMail.com Tuesday that the renewal of the grant fails the 'COVID smell test'

A report put out by House Republican lawmakers on the Intelligence Committee last December revealed that there are 'indications' the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had a lab incident tied to China's biological weapons program that led to COVID-19 being 'spilled over' to the general public.

In addition, FBI Director Chris Wray confirmed in March that COVID-19 'most likely' came from a Chinese lab.

'The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan,' Wray told Fox News in an interview with Bret Baier. 'Here you are talking about a potential leak from a Chinese government-controlled lab.'

The Department of Energy also believes the pandemic has man-made origins, according to recent reports.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told DailyMail.com Tuesday that the renewal of the NIH grant fails the 'COVID smell test.'

'Giving another penny to EcoHealth to conduct studies on coronaviruses doesn't pass the COVID smell test,' she said.

'Ecohealth has already betrayed the trust of American taxpayers by funneling funds to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology for risky experiments on bat coronaviruses that may have unleashed the COVID-19 pandemic on the world. Americans deserve accountability, which is why it's past time to defund EcoHealth.'

Ernst introduced a bill in 2021 that would ensure grant accountability and keep money from getting in the hands of the WIV.

James Comer, R-Ky., who chairs the House Oversight Committee told DailyMail.com it's 'bat crazy' that the administration renewed the grant.

'It's bat crazy that the U.S. National Institutes of Health is resuming a suspended grant and allowing EcoHealth Alliance access to taxpayer dollars to conduct research on bat coronaviruses,' he said.

'EcoHealth Alliance funneled taxpayer dollars to the Wuhan lab to conduct mad scientist research on bat coronaviruses that may have started the pandemic. EcoHealth shouldn't receive another dime from the U.S. government until we fully investigate what happened at the Wuhan lab.'

EcoHealth Alliance President Daszak defended the grant's renewal, telling DailyMail.com the funding would be used purely for lab work and to analyze samples that were already collected and sequences at the WIV and other institutes worldwide.

Daszak has also denied that the WIV performed gain-of-function research using EcoHealth funds.

As part of the grant renewal terms, EcoHealth has agreed not to subcontract work to China, collect new virus samples from the wild or carry out 'gain of function' research.

Medical staff treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province in 2020

Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, slammed the 'absolutely reckless' decision by NIH

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has previously blasted NIH for 'lying' about gain-of-function research and its connection to Wuhan and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which supports research at NIH, had repeatedly denied that the government agency funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan.

However, NIH has since admitted that research 'supported by the NIH in Wuhan did create viruses that gained function or gained in lethality,' Paul pointed to in an op-ed.

Senior Vice President Justin Goodman of the White Coat Waste Project also echoed calls to defund the grant immediately.

'The batty taxpayer-funded grant that bankrolled EcoHealth Alliance's dangerous animal experiments in Wuhan that probably prompted the pandemic should be de-funded, not re-funded,' Goodman said.

He detailed the work of his organization to 'first expose' and end EcoHealth's collaboration with the Wuhan lab in 2020.

Goodman referenced a recent federal audit revealing how EcoHealth 'misspent tax dollars.'

He says there is more work to be done in order to hold the 'reckless, rogue lab contractor' accountable.
A union boss has agreed to pay 'substantial damages' to a firefighter over tweets he claims falsely portrayed him as 'a misogynist, a pervert and a liar', the High Court has been told.

Paul Embery launched a libel claim against Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), after the pair clashed on Twitter last year.

Mr Embery, who was travelling on a train from London to Norwich with his children, publicly called out a group of women for alleged anti-social behaviour, which he claims involved drunken threats and the use of 'sexually explicit profanities'.

The tweet 'went viral' and was seen by over a million people, including Dr Grady who accused him of being 'creepy' and 'bullying women'. Her responses were shared several times and caused 'immeasurable harm' to his reputation, the court heard.

It was revealed today that Dr Grady has agreed to pay damages, legal costs and not to repeat her allegations. Mr Embery claims he will receive just under 10,000, all of which will be donated to groups campaigning to defend women's sex-based rights.

Paul Embery (pictured) launched a libel claim against Dr Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), after the pair clashed on Twitter last year

It was revealed today that Jo Grady (pictured) has agreed to pay damages, legal costs and not to repeat her allegations

The firefighter and trade union activist had been travelling with his children from London to Norwich in August 2022 where 'a group of women sitting directly behind them were consuming alcohol and behaving in a loud and obnoxious manner'.

Tom Double, representing Mr Embery, told the court: 'One woman in particular was repeatedly using sexually explicit profanities.

'Mr Embery considered it unacceptable that passengers, including his own children, should be subjected to this behaviour, so eventually he intervened and politely asked the women to refrain from swearing.'

His request was met with 'hostility and abuse' and, despite a train guard intervening, their 'loutish' behaviour continued, which included Mr Embery being warned he would be 'knocked out' and being threatened with a beer bottle, the court heard.

Mr Embery filmed the group on his phone, and tweeted a photo of them to train operator Greater Anglia in the hope it would 'take action' against the women.

Over the next two days, Dr Grady published tweets, with one saying: 'Grow up Paul and take a day off bullying women and pretending to be outraged for clicks. It's pathetic at any age, but especially yours.'

She also tweeted: 'It's creepy to record young women on the train, share that video, and lie about them on social media for clout.'

Mr Double claimed the tweets from the 'highly influential figure' had accused Mr Embery of 'being a serial harasser of women and lying about the incident in question'.

Paul Embery posted on Twitter: 'Woman (right) on train from London to Norwich. Drunk out of her head. Shouting and swearing in front of children'

The lawyer said they were retweeted and 'liked' thousands of times causing 'immeasurable harm' to the firefighter's reputation.

'They portrayed him as a misogynist, a pervert and a liar, when all he was doing was seeking to defend himself, his children and fellow passengers from rowdy and threatening behaviour on public transport,' Mr Double said.

'They contained wild and reckless allegations; all entirely without foundation.

'Mr Embery has always been a vocal public supporter of women's rights and deplores all bullying and violence towards women and girls.'

Mr Double said Dr Grady's allegations caused 'considerable distress', adding that Mr Embery had given an 'honest' account of the train incident, did not share the video on social media and had been solely motivated to report anti-social behaviour.

'His tweet highlighted a very real problem that ordinary, decent passengers face every day on public transport,' the court heard.

Dr Grady refused to apologise and withdraw her allegations after Mr Embery wrote to her, the judge was told, with the firefighter subsequently pursuing legal action.

He then launched a fundraising campaign on crowdjustice.com. It took him just eight days to raise the 24,000 needed to sue Dr Grady, The Mirror reported.

Mr Embery posted the results on Twitter after he claims he was falsely portrayed

At a hearing in London today, Judge Jaron Lewis was told that Mr Embery was 'prepared to let the matter rest' after Dr Grady agreed to pay damages, legal costs and not to repeat her allegations.

'Dr Grady has now agreed to pay Mr Embery substantial damages and legal costs. She has additionally undertaken not to repeat the allegations or similar allegations,' Mr Double said.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr Embery claimed he would receive just under 10,000 in damages, with Dr Grady having to pay over 12,000 in costs.

He also told reporters that he would donate 'every penny' of his damages to charities and 'publish full details of the donations when they are made'.
Two Philadelphia prisoners, including a teenager accused of four murders, brazenly escaped prison by cutting a hole in a fence on Sunday around 8:30 pm but authorities did not become aware of the break out until Monday afternoon.

A manhunt is now underway for Nasir Grant, 24, and Ameen Hurst, 18. Grant is in prison on drug and gun charges while Hurst, who goes by the moniker Demon Time, is accused of four murders, the first occurring in 2020. He was referred to as a 'very dangerous individual' by one law enforcement official.

'Clearly the system screwed up and people didn't do what they were supposed to do,' Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney told the media on Monday evening.

'I'm really angry about it. There is no reason for this. And if everybody followed through and do what they are supposed to do, we wouldn't have this problem,' the mayor added.

The two men were being held at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center. They were not cellmates. There are reports that a stabbing that was intended as a distraction occurred around the time of the escape.

Nasir Grant, 24, is awaiting trial on conspiracy drug and weapons charges. Ameen Grant, 18, who goes by the moniker Demon Time, is accused of killing four people between December 2020 and March 2021

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his anger at the escape and said that a full investigation into what happened will take place

Among the murders that Hurst is accused of is the shooting death of Rodney Hargrove in 2021. He was killed on prison grounds just after he was released from the jail in a case of mistaken identity. His family have launched a lawsuit against the city as a result of his death.

In a press conference on Monday, Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said that the US Marshals and the Philadelphia Police Department are searching for the two men.

'We have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed,' Carney said. 'That yard should have been secured, and the fence not breached.'

During the conference, deputy commissioner Frank Vanore said that Hurst was a 'very dangerous individual,' reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hurst was arrested in March 2021. He's accused of shooting and killing an aspiring comedian named Dyewou Nyshawn Scruggs on Christmas Eve 2020, said Vanore. The other three shootings happened in March 2021, among his alleged victims was 16-year-old Tamir Brown.

Former deputy warden for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons told the Inquirer that it must have taken at least three body counts before they realized that Grant and Hurst absconded.

The two men escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, shown here, by cutting a hole in a fence

Headcounts conducted at 11 p.m. Sunday, 3 a.m. Monday, and 7 a.m. Monday reportedly showed that all prisoners were accounted for, said Carney said.

According to the Inquirer, last week the prison officer's union voted no confidence in Carney, citing a staffing crisis as the main reason for the distrust.

Officials said that the state's Department of Corrections will do a security assessment of all prisons in the city. This is the first escape from the Philadelphia prison system since 2010.

'As part of our investigation, I have reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to conduct a facility vulnerability assessment and security assessment as soon as possible that will help in our investigation to see any of our vulnerable points,' Carney said.

Rodney Hargove's family is accusing the city's prison system of 'gross negligence, outrageous conduct and reckless misconduct' and indifference towards the safety of prisoners 'despite all the known dangers in defendants nighttime release policies and lack of proper security,' reported the Inquirer in 2021.

'My baby wasnt no trouble. He had little bumps, he made immature decisions, but he wasnt no troubled kid. The little things that he did didnt deserve the death sentence,' this father told the newspaper.

Following news of Hurst's escape, a Hargrove family lawyer said: 'The Hargrove family prays that no one is injured or further harmed now that Mr. Hurst is no longer in custody and sincerely hopes that he is apprehended quickly.'

A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Grant and Hurst being recaptured.

Grant is described as a Black male standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 160 pounds. Hurst is described as a Black male standing 6-feet and weighing 140 pounds.

If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS or 911.

The Philadelphia escape comes a month after four men escaped a prison in Hinds County, Mississippi. All four were apprehended or found dead.
A rebelling Nashville-area teenager stole a school bus and tried to run over a person at a service station moments before police say they could break into the bus and tase him.

The unidentified 14-year-old took the bus from Kipp College Prep in an Antioch neighborhood and went on a joy ride in West Nashville on Saturday around 4pm.

He made his way to a gas station where he collided with a diesel fuel pump and attempted to run over a pedestrian, according to Metro Nashville Police Department.

It's unclear when police started chasing the teenager but he then went on to strike another car while on the I-40 west.

Eventually, officers were able to slow down the bus, break the windows and user a taser on the teenager. It's clear how the teenager got the keys to the bus.

He was booked in juvenile detention.

A rebelling Nashville teenage stole a school bus and tried to run over a person at a service station on Saturday around 4pm

He stole the bus from Kipp College Prep in Antioch (above) but it is unclear how he got the keys

Officers were traveling at a speed up to 65mph to stop the bus and used a spike strip to slow the bus down near exit 192.

'The teen evidently saw the spike strip, slowed the bus, and attempted to turn around in the middle of the west bound lanes,' police said.

But, the teen's getaway attempt was too slow and gave officers the opportunity to break into bus and capture him.

He was taken into custody and charged with evading arrest, vehicle theft, reckless driving, aggravated assault, leaving the scene of a crash, driving without a license and failure to report a crash.

The name of the teen has not been released.
A woman held hostage in her own home on Coronation Day has died in hospital after she is believed to have suffered a gunshot wound.

Detectives have launched a murder probe after the armed standoff at the house in Dartford, Kent on Saturday.

The 29-year-old suspected gunman is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot himself.

Neighbours reported hearing gunshots after police officers and a trained negotiator stormed the terraced house on the day of King Charles III's Coronation following reports of a 'disturbance'.

Locals claimed 'pandemonium' broke out after an hour-long standoff - before up to 10 gunshots were heard.

Priory Road in Dartford, Kent, remains on police lockdown with cordons and a crime scene

The property in Dartford where neighbours reported hearing gunshots

Some said the woman had been 'held hostage' by a man at the rear of the property, with one local woman describing the scene as 'chilling'.

She added: 'I was in the house and my husband and two girls were out - they couldn't get back home. I went out and was told, "Get back - you must stay indoors". I went to the garden where I could see more.'

Around an hour after police entered the property, the witness said she heard gunshots before seeing a person carried out on a stretcher.

'It was pandemonium', she said. 'I heard five gunshots - a pause and then another five.'

The female victim suffered gunshot wounds believed to have been caused by a handgun and was rushed to a hospital in London, where she sadly died on Monday evening. Her assailant was also taken to a London hospital with a 'firearms injury' and remains in a critical condition - though it has been reported that no police weapons were discharged during the incident.

A spokesperson for Kent police said: 'An investigation into a firearms incident at a property in Dartford is now being treated as murder after the victim died in hospital.

Police are now treating the woman's death in Dartford, Kent, as a murder

The woman's home remained cordoned off in the days following her death, and forensics teams have been seen entering the property

'Kent Police was called at 12.40 pm on Saturday 6 May 2023, to a report of a disturbance at a property in Priory Road.

'Officers, along with a trained police negotiator, attended and attempted to engage with a man inside the address. Firearms officers also attended and whilst they were at the scene, a 36-year-old woman suffered injuries believed to have been caused by a handgun and she was taken to a London hospital.

'The victim died from her injuries shortly before the evening of Monday 8 May.

'The man, aged 29, was also taken to hospital with a firearms injury and he remains in a critical condition. He is being treated as the suspect and an investigation is being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.'

The woman's home remained cordoned off in the days following her death, and forensics teams have been seen entering the property.

Kent Police has now referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for further investigations.

A spokesman for the IOPC said: 'We have received a referral from Kent Police and we are assessing the available information to decide whether any further action is required.'
A family of five narrowly escaped being slammed into by a freight train as shocking video shows the mother and daughter running for their lives just seconds before the crash.

A video, posted to Facebook by Cody Atchley, shows a mother and daughter running hand-in-hand away from the tracks in Forney, Texas, on Tuesday, as a Union Pacific train barreled across the intersection.

The father was also seen running away from the tracks, and Atchley told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that there were five people - three children believed to be under 12 - that evacuated the car, but no one was injured.

The mother and daughter was seen crossing the tracks just seconds before the freight train plowed into the burgundy vehicle with a deafening smack. The car did a nearly-180-degree spin across the tracks before landing off the side of the road.

Atchley told DailyMail.com that the driver of the vehicle had pulled onto the tracks while waiting for a red light rather than 'waiting behind [the] track.'

'The arms came down for train to pass [and] was on top of the SUV,' he said. 'They couldnt get out because of vehicle...Close seconds before [the] train hit them they jumped out and grab the kids from back seats.'

A mother and daughter narrowly escaped being slammed into by a freight train as shocking video shows them running for their lives just seconds before the crash in Forney, Texas. A man was also seen running away from the tracks, but it is unclear if he was in the car with the mother and daughter

The group of three was seen crossing the tracks just seconds before the freight train plowed into the burgundy vehicle with a deafening smack. The car did a nearly-180-degree spin across the tracks before landing off the side of the road. Atchley told DailyMail.com that the driver of the vehicle had pulled onto the tracks while waiting for a red light rather than 'waiting behind [the] track'

Forney, Texas, isn't the only place where residents are faced with dangerous train situations, as a small town in Indiana has left schoolchildren climbing over stopped trains that could move at any second to get to school.

In a video posted online, a girl in a bright red giant was caught squirming her way under a train car in Hammond. Despite her bright outer garment, she was hardly visible under the loaming train car.

It took her more than 10 seconds to safely crawl over the rail lines.

Norfolk Southern trains have frequently blocked crossings in Hammond, causing schoolchildren to dangerously risk their lives.

Lamira Samson, of Hammond, has been dealing with the train troubles for years and is often faced with the decision of keeping her son, Jeremiah Johnson, 8, home from school or help him climb up the side of the Norfolk Southern train slip between the cars.

Hess Elementary School is just four blocks from the train tracks, but it is often one of the hardest destinations to get to. Not wanting her son to miss picture day or another day of class, the mother listened to the hum of the train's engine. When she didn't find one, she helped her son climb onto the train's platform and squeeze between the cars to the other side as fast as she could.

A little girl in a bright red coat dangerously crawls under a Norfolk Southern train to get across the tracks to get to school in Hammond, Indiana - where trains are frequently stopped for hours, leaving residents to traverse a difficult situation

A little boy climbs up onto a train on his way to school. The superintendent for the town's school district, as well as the Mayor, have tried to various tactics - including asking Norfolk for their schedule - to help alleviate the issue, but they're met with pushback each time

Samson and Johnson aren't the only ones to have this daily nuisance, as dozen of students have been seen making the dangerous move. Dressed in their Frozen and Space Jam backpacks and puffy winter coats, children are frequently seen squeezing themselves through.

'I dont want to get crushed,' an unidentified eighth grader told ProPublica after she stood nervously watching the train for 10 minutes. The girl had seen many trains begin to move without warning and she warned she'd be crushed.

Industry experts told the outlet trains typically stop for hours due to crew maxing out their hours or rail switching practices.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the video footage was 'shocking' and said 'more' needs to be done.

'Nobody can look at a video with a child having to climb over or under a railroad car to get to school and think that everything is okay.'

Indiana State Representative Carolyn Jackson said it took 'my breath away.'

'I hope that they will do something about it and we wont have to wait until a parent has to bury their child,' she told ProPublica.

Indiana is in the top five states with the most complaints about blocked rail crossings. Texas tops the list, followed by Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee.

The Federal Railroad Administration has documented more than 30,000 complaints - nearly 1,000 of them are about trains blocking crossings for a day.
Glenn Greenwald's politician husband David Miranda has died aged 37 after a nine-month intensive care battle following a gastrointestinal infection.

Greenwald posted a heartbreaking tribute Tuesday morning announcing Miranda's death, alongside photos with their two sons, aged 13 and 15. The journalist and lawyer called him 'the most dedicated and loving parent. He taught me how to be a father.'

Miranda, who served in Brazil's congress between 2019 and 2022, was remembered by the country's President Lula as a 'young man with an extraordinary trajectory'.

Greenwald, 56, tweeted: 'It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the passing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow. His death, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He died in full peace, surrounded by our children and family and friends.'

Miranda was admitted to the ICU at Clinica Sao Vicente in Rio with severe abdominal pain in August. The cause of death was pancreatitis and a gastrointestinal infection that progressed to septicemia, his doctors told local press.

Miranda attending a protest in Brazil. He was named by by TIME in their Next Generation's Leaders section in 2019

Miranda and Greenwald pose with their two boys. In his tribute, Greenwald said: 'But by far David's biggest dream, what gave him the greatest pride and purpose, was being a father. He was the most dedicated and loving parent. He taught me how to be a father. And our truly exceptional boys - with their own difficult start to live - is his greatest legacy'

Greenwald's tribute to his husband was posted on Twitter this morning. The couple lived in Rio with their two adopted sons, and 25 rescue dogs

Miranda was born in Rio in 1985 and grew up in the mostly black favela of Jacarezinho, notorious for its violence, poverty and drug dealing. His mother died when he was just five years old and he moved in with his aunt.

He left home at 13 and dropped out of school because he wanted 'to get to know the world', working shining shoes and cleaning buildings for six years.

Miranda said his life changed one day in 2005 when he was playing volleyball on Ipanema beach and knocked over an American tourist's drink.

That tourist was Greenwald and the pair quickly fell in love, moving in together five days later.

'We've been together constantly since,' Miranda told Time magazine in 2019.

In a New York Times profile of the couple that year, Greenwald remembered: 'I was not at all the type that ever fell in love with someone at first sight. But the passion, David's intensity, it was like two asteroids colliding.'

It was Greenwald who introduced Miranda to politics in 2013 when the pair worked alongside a team at The Guardian newspaper to publish Edward Snowden's bombshell evidence of mass surveillance by the US government.

When he returned to Brazil, Miranda started getting involved in local politics and then in 2016 became the first ever gay man elected to Rio's city council.

A member of the Socialism and Liberty Party, Miranda is credited with passing progressive reforms including allowing transgender people to use their preferred name on government documents.

In February, 2019, he won a seat in congress and later emerged as an outspoken critic of then-President Jair Bolsonaro, a self-proclaimed 'proud homophobe'.

'We are the antithesis of Bolsonaro,' Miranda said after Bolsonaro romped to victory in July, 2019. He said he and Greenwald are 'everything they hate.'

Greenwald said in his tribute: 'David's life was extraordinary in all ways. His mother died when he was 5, leaving him an orphan in Jacarezinho. But a beautiful and compassionate neighbor, Dona Eliane, took him in despite 4 children of her own and deep poverty, became his mom, gave him a chance for a life.

Greenwald, Miranda, their two sons and the family's dog

Greenwald shared touching pictures of the pair together before his tragic illness took hold. Miranda was admitted to the ICU at Clinica Sao Vicente in Rio with severe abdominal pain in August, 2022. The cause of death was pancreatitis and a gastrointestinal infection that progressed to septicemia, his doctors told local press

Miranda and Greenwald pose for a selfie with fans

Greenwald, 56, posted a heartbreaking tribute Tuesday morning announcing Miranda's death, alongside photos of the pair together with their two sons

Miranda (pictured with Greenwald and Edward Snowden) first got involved in politics in 2013 when he worked with Greenwald and a team at The Guardian newspaper to publish Edward Snowden's bombshell evidence of mass surveillance by the US government

'That gave David the chance to live his full potential in a society that often suffocates it. He was key to the Snowden story, became the first gay man elected to Rio's City Council, then federal Congress at 32. He inspired so many with his biography, passion, and force of life.

'Because of how David's grew up, there were always many assumptions made by those who didn't know him. Anyone who did will tell you there was nobody with a stronger will or life force. He was proud that he was named by TIME our Next Generation's Leaders.

'But by far David's biggest dream, what gave him the greatest pride and purpose, was being a father. He was the most dedicated and loving parent. He taught me how to be a father. And our truly exceptional boys - with their own difficult start to live - is his greatest legacy.

'When David arrived at the hospital last August 6, I was told there's was little chance he'd survive the week. I heard the same 3 times since. He refused, in classic David style. The last 4 months gave our family the most beautiful moments together.

Miranda in 2016 became the first ever gay man elected to Rio's city council

A member of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), Miranda is credited with passing progressive reforms including allowing transgender people to use their preferred name on government documents

Greenwald, 56, and Miranda share two sons, aged 13 and 15

Miranda with the two boys he and Greenwald adopted

Miranda and Greenwald met on Ipanema beach in 2005 and soon fell in love

Miranda became a congressman in 2019 and was credited with standing up to self-proclaimed 'proud homophone' Jair Bolsonaro

Miranda earned a reputation as a fearless young firebrand left-wing politician

'David was singular: the strongest, most passionate, most compassionate man I've known. Nobody had a bad word for him. I can't describe the loss and pain. I'll do my best to honor his legacy: our children and our NGOs. And I know so many will celebrate him and his impact.'

Many Brazilians have since offered their condolences, including the country's first lady, Rosangela Lula da Silva, who said Miranda left a legacy 'of struggle and love'.

The president of Lula's Worker's party (PT), Gleisi Hoffmann, tweeted: 'He had a vivacity which brought joy to politics.'

One of Brazil's most celebrated rappers, Emicida, tweeted: 'Today Brazil has lost a courageous young man who, in fighting for his dreams, ended up unshackling the dreams of many others too.'

Leftist lawmaker, Guilherme Boulos, remembered Miranda as a powerful voice for the LGBT cause. 'He will be greatly missed,' tweeted Boulos, a fellow member of the Socialism and Liberty party.
This is the shocking moment a cannabis-smoking child killer stabbed an unarmed boy with a machete outside a chicken shop before going on the run for six weeks.

In a 'ferocious' attack, Marques Walker, 17, stabbed Jermaine Cools, 14, seven times as he lay defenceless on the ground outside a chicken shop in Croydon, London, on November 18, 2021.

Walker pleaded guilty to Jermaine's murder and possessing a knife earlier this year, and was jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years this afternoon.

He had been on bail for carrying a Zombie knife six weeks before the murder and had a previous conviction for bringing a Rambo-styled weapon to school.

Sentencing him today, Judge Sarah Munro KC said: 'This is yet another case involving the senseless murder of a teenager committed for reasons that no mature adult can fathom.'

This is the shocking moment a cannabis-smoking child killer (pictured) stabbed an unarmed boy with a machete outside a chicken shop before running away

The brutal murder of a 14-year-old boy (right, red arrow) by Marques Walker, 17, (left, blue arrow) was caught on film on November 18, 2021

Marques Walker, 17, has been jailed for a minimum of 19 years for stabbing Jermaine Cools, 14, to death outside a chicken shop in Croydon, London, in 2021

Jermaine was stabbed seven times as he lay on the ground. At the age of 14 he was the youngest victim of fatal knife crime in 2021

Walker's sentencing was the first to be shown on television in England and Wales.

Jermaine was one of five teenagers who were fatally stabbed in Croydon in 2021 and the youngest of 27 victims of knife crime in London to die that year.

Walker also stamped on a boy's head while in custody in Feltham Young Offenders' Institution on July 1, 2022, leaving him in a life-threatening condition.

He pleaded guilty to murder, possession of the murder weapon and to grievous bodily harm with intent against an inmate.

In rap lyrics found by a prison officer at Feltham the killer wrote: 'Man love to say that I shanked a civ [non-gang member] but you can't name one civ that I shanked.'

'Even if that dude was a civ I'd still rewind and stab up his back.

'I had young stardog rolling on the ground but then I had to duck from police, I left him deceased.

'We had mumsy grieving, I left mandem screeching, I had mandem looking at his wounds like s***, I think I'm bleeding.'

The court heard that 'stardog' referred to the street where Jermaine's older brother lived.

Judge Munro KC, who was briefly interrupted by angry shouting from the public gallery, said Walker stabbed Jermaine 'mercilessly' and the victim 'must have been terrified and in agony'.

The court also heard that Walker was under the influence of cannabis, which the Judge noted he was 'dependent'.

Walker was seen stabbing the child repeatedly with a machete in the 'ferocious' attack

The victim was helped into a car and driven to Croydon Hospital, where he died of his injuries

The perpetrator was seen fleeing the scene of the stabbing, still carrying the machete

In footage released by police, he was seen running down the street past a London bus with the weapon

He was caught again on CCTV as he sprinted past a bush with the blade still in his hand

Moments later, another camera caught him on film, clearly showing the machete-wielding killer

In a victim impact statement, Jermaine's mother Lorraine Dudek said they have had to 'endure a rap song made and posted online by [Walker's] fellow gang members, goading and taunting us about Jermaine's murder'.

She said: 'I will never forgive the defendant for taking my baby away from me, robbing me of the opportunity to watch him turn from a boy into a man and ruining our family's lives.'

Ahead of his sentencing, a joint application was made by the The Daily Mail, PA news agency, The Times and The Sun newspapers to lift a court order banning Walker from being identified.

A separate bid was made for permission to film Walker's sentence and broadcast the footage on news channels and online.

Jermaine's parents Lorraine Dudek and Julius Cools were supportive of the sentencing being broadcast

After he was stabbed and was bleeding heavily, a member of the public approached Jermaine and helped him into a car and drove him to Croydon Hospital, where he later died

Jermaine's parents Lorraine Dudek and Julius Cools attended the legal hearing by video link on Wednesday to discuss reporting of their son's case.

Walker's lawyer attended court and the media was represented by a barrister.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said: 'There is a very strong argument in this case in support of the lifting of reporting restrictions and once it is deemed in the public interest for reporting restrictions to be lifted the hearing may be recorded for broadcast unless there is a reason not to. We bear in mind the defendant would not be filmed.'

She argued that in the circumstances of the case the widest reporting would act as a 'very powerful deterrent' and that Jermaine's parents were 'fully supportive of the widest possible reporting'.

Judge Munro KC lifted the legal restriction on naming Walker and agreed to allow his sentence to be filmed despite his young age.

In her ruling, she said: 'Jermaine was the youngest victim of fatal knife crime in 2021.

'The defendant was 16 at the date of the murder. He is 17 now and will be 18 in four months' time. The reporting restriction would, in any event, lapse upon his attaining 18.

'In this highly fact-specific case I have no hesitation in concluding that the restriction should be lifted and I hereby revoke the S45 order.

'In all the circumstances of this case the welfare of this defendant does not outweigh the public interest in open justice and a reporting restriction is no longer necessary.'

Outlining her reasons, she said: 'The serious nature and increasing prevalence of knife crime, knife-related homicide and violent crime; the consequent need for deterrence; the promotion of public confidence that the criminal justice system is addressing the problem; and the proximity of the defendant's 18th birthday all outweigh any minimal impact upon the welfare of defendant.'

She added: 'Having decided to revoke the reporting restriction, I will also grant the application for the sentence to be filmed and televised.'

Jermaine was fatally injured in London Road, near West Croydon railway station, following a fight involving a number of people on November 18, 2021.

Police have previously said that at 6.41pm, a member of the public reported the incident outside a chicken shop.

Walker was caught on chilling CCTV calmly walking towards the fight and drawing a large knife from his coat.

Jermaine appeared to fall over and the youth ran towards him while he was on the ground.

A post-mortem examination found Jermaine had suffered seven stab wounds to his body, with the fatal wound to his chest piercing a lung. Pictured: The scene after the attack

Walker was seen to repeatedly lunge at Jermaine with the knife while his victim was frantically trying to avoid being stabbed.

Jermaine received multiple stab wounds and the defendant ran off from the scene with the knife.

A member of the public approached Jermaine, who was bleeding heavily, and helped him into a car and drove him to Croydon Hospital, where he later died.

A post-mortem examination found he had suffered seven stab wounds to his body, with the fatal wound to his chest piercing a lung.

A murder investigation began and the defendant was quickly identified from CCTV.

However, he had left his home and police hunted for him for nearly six weeks.

Police who attended the address to arrest another person who was living there found Walker hiding behind a bed on December 27, 2021.

Walker gave a false name, was wearing a hospital bracelet with that name on it and had a bandage on his head.

He finally gave his real name and he was arrested for murder whilst in a police car on the way to the police station.

At the station he refused to answer any questions but was charged with Jermaine's murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

In July last year, Judge Munro made legal history when she became the first judge to be broadcast as she sentenced a defendant for manslaughter at the Old Bailey following the change in the law.
The heartbroken mother of missing teenager Siri Reddy, discovered her daughter's body at the bottom of a cliff after using a cell phone tracking app.

Now, police are trying to figure out how the teen ended up 12 miles from her school, dead at the bottom of the cliff.

Reddy, 16, was found by her mother after she failed to show up for pickup time at the private Keystone School school in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday.

Police were called and began investigating, while Reddy's distressed mother made her way to her daughter's cell phone location.

Her mother found Reddy's body at the bottom of a cliff in the area around Heroes Stadium and Thousand Oaks by a former rock quarry, 12 miles from her campus.

William Handmaker, the school's headmaster, described Miss Reddy as an 'award-winning' student who will be 'deeply missed.'

Reddy was found dead along a cliff in San Antonio near Heroes Stadium, but police don't know why she was there

It is not yet known why Reddy was at the cliff near the Heroes Stadium, 12 miles from her school

San Antonio Police Department said the student appeared to have fallen and died of her injuries, though it was not known why she was in the area.

Emergency responders tried life-saving measures on the high schooler, but she could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at the scene.

William Handmaker, the school's headmaster, described Miss Reddy as an 'award-winning' student who will be 'deeply missed.'

'We are greatly saddened that one of our students, Siri Reddy (a junior) passed away yesterday' Handmaker said in a statement shared with DailyMail.com.

'Our heartfelt sympathies are with her family, friends, and every member of the Keystone School community.'

Locals are seen gathered near the site of Siri's death in San Antonio, Texas

Emergency responders tried life-saving measures on the high schooler, but she could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at the scene

Describing Siri and her contribution to school he said: 'She was a member of the National Honor Society, an award-winning member of the school's Science Fair team, a member of the Upper School robotics team, and contributed to The Keynote.

'Last year, she sang "Vedrai Carino" by Mozart at Music Fest at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, and she sang in the cast of the Upper School musical "Grease,"' he added.

'She will be deeply missed.'

Counselors will be made available to students and staff members on campus, and all members of the school community have been encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement if necessary.

Police said the circumstances surrounding Siri's death are still under investigation.
Fast food giant Wendy's is preparing to roll out an AI chatbot to take orders at its drive-thrus.

The chain will debut its new chatbot, powered by a natural language software developed by Google, at a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio starting this June.

It has been trained by Google engineers to understand the various ways people order off the menus, including the different slang terms customers use for Wendy's items, and is supposed to be 'very conversational.'

The idea, executives say, is to streamline the ordering process and prevent long lines in the drive-thru lanes that could deter customers.

It is unclear how much the new tech cost the company, but CEO Todd Penegor has said the AI will not replace jobs and only assist the employees already working in the drive-thrus.

Yet an expert in AI technology says it could replace 80 percent of human jobs in the 'next few years.'

Wendy's is planning to roll out a new AI chatbot to take orders at its drive-thrus starting at a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in June

It has been trained by Google engineers to understand the various ways people order off the menus

The new technology that will be deployed at the Columbus Wendy's uses Google's large language model, or LLM  a large algorithmic software tool loaded with words, phrases and popular expressions in different dialects and accents.

It is designed to mimic and recognize the syntax and semantics of human speech, and generate natural-language responses, images or computer codes, according to the Wall Street Journal. It will also be able to answer many of the company's frequently asked questions.

Executives say the customized language model Wendy's designed in partnership with Google includes unique terms, phrases and acronyms customers use when ordering its burgers, fries and other items  like 'JBC' for a junior bacon cheeseburger or 'biggie bags' for combos of burgers, chicken nuggets and sodas.

The company's milkshakes are also called Frosties, though customers may not always use the branded term.

'You may think driving by and speaking into a drive-thru is an easy problem for AI, but it's actually one of the hardest,' said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.

He noted that the AI must also be capable of eliminating background noise from a car, like music or children in the backseat, in order to focus on the person ordering.

And it has to be able to adjust when customers change their mind halfway through an order.

'It's a very complicated technical problem,' Kurian said.

The new technology will take the orders and hand off the information to line cooks

The prepared meals will then be relayed to the pickup window and handed off to a driver

Under Wendy's plans for the software, once the chatbot takes an order, it will appear on a screen for line cooks to process, then the prepared meals will be relayed to the pickup window and handed off to a driver by an employee.

Penegor said it will not replace employees, but will instead help workers in the drive-thrus do their jobs by handling many of the manual tasks involved in taking drive-thru orders.

Wendy's CEO Todd Penegor has said the technology will not replace human workers

At the same time, the chatbot is designed to upsell customers, offering larger sizes or specials.

The goal, Penegor told the Post, is to get more customers through the drive-thru in the shortest amount of time, enabling the company to make more sales quicker.

As much as 80 percent of Wendy's food orders are made on the drive-thru line, he noted, up from about 30 percent before the pandemic.

'Wendy's introduced the first modern pick-up window in the industry more than 50 years ago, and we're thrilled to continue our work with Google Cloud to bring a new wave of innovation to the drive-thru experience,' Penegor said in a statement.

'Google Cloud's generative AI technology creates a huge opportunity for us to deliver a truly differentiated, faster and frictionless experience for our customers, and allows our employees to continue focusing on making great food and building relationships with fans that keep them coming back time and again.'

Wendy's Chief Information Officer Kevin Vasconi has also said that test runs of the AI have proven successful.

'It's at least as good as our best customer service representative, and it's probably on average better,' he said.

Ben Goertzel, a US-Brazilian tech boss, has warned that the new technology can take as many as 80 percent of human jobs over the next few years

The move comes as experts in the developing technology warn of the dangers of using artificial intelligence.

Thousands of tech leaders, including Elon Musk and the late Stephen Hawking, have even signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on AI development.

They argue that companies are taking part in a 'dangerous race' by advancing the technology so quickly, and it poses a 'profound risk to society and humanity'.

Ben Goertzel, a US-Brazilian tech boss, has also warned that the new technology can take as many as 80 percent of human jobs over the next few years.

'Pretty much every job involving paperwork should be automatable,' he said, at the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro last week.

In March, a study revealed the 20 occupations most at risk of being made redundant thanks to AI, with call center operator at number one.

The following eight are all teachers of different disciplines, including languages, history, law and religion.

The study's authors wrote: 'The effect of AI on work will likely be multi-faceted.

'In some cases, AI may substitute for work previously done by humans, and in other cases, AI may complement work done by humans.'
Ryanair has ordered 300 new Boeing 737 Max aircraft in a deal that will create 10,000 jobs and could mean lower air fares.

The move - which involves firm orders for 150 of the planes and options for another 150 - is worth more than $40billion dollars (32billion).

The delivery of the aircraft between 2027 and 2033 will allow the airline to create more than 10,000 jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers, Ryanair said.

Each plane will have 228 seats, some 21% more than the Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, which half of the deliveries are expected to replace.

Ryanair expects annual passenger numbers to rise from 168 million in the year to the end of March to 300 million by March 2034.

Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary says he hopes the new fleet will usher in lower prices

The transaction is subject to shareholder approval at Ryanair's annual general meeting on September 14.

The airline said it is the largest order by an Irish company for goods manufactured in the US.

Ryanair group chief executive Michael O'Leary said: 'Ryanair is pleased to sign this record aircraft order for up to 300 Max-10s with our aircraft partner Boeing.

'These new fuel-efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21% more seats, burn 20% less fuel and are 50% quieter than our B737-NGs.

'This order, coupled with our remaining Gamechanger deliveries, will create 10,000 new jobs for highly paid aviation professionals over the next decade, and these jobs will be located across all of Europe's main economies where Ryanair is currently the number one or number two airline.

'In addition to delivering significant revenue and traffic growth across Europe, we expect these new, larger, more efficient, greener aircraft to drive further unit cost savings, which will be passed on to passengers in lower air fares.

'The extra seats, lower fuel burn and more competitive aircraft pricing supported by our strong balance sheet, will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and competitor EU airlines for many years to come, making the Boeing Max-10 the ideal growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our people and our shareholders.

Ryanair aircraft already fly to popular destinations, including Europe, Israel and Egypt

At a press conference, he said Ryanair had 'no interest' in the transatlantic market, but the new Max 10 aircraft will help it grow its short-haul operations.

He added: 'We're looking at expanding our operations outside of Europe.

'We're growing strongly in neighbouring countries to Europe: Morocco, Israel, Jordan, we're looking at Egypt.

'I think the biggest prize we're looking at is Ukraine.

'We were the largest airline in Ukraine when the Russians invaded last year.

'We intend to be the first airline back in there when hopefully the Ukrainians have successfully repelled the Russian invasion.

'We will go back in there within two weeks of it being declared safe by the European authorities.'

Boeing president and chief executive Dave Calhoun said: 'The Boeing-Ryanair partnership is one of the most productive in commercial aviation history, enabling both companies to succeed and expand affordable travel to hundreds of millions of people.

'Nearly a quarter century after our companies signed our first direct airplane purchase, this landmark deal will further strengthen our partnership.

'We are committed to delivering for Ryanair and helping Europe's largest airline group achieve its goals by offering its customers the lowest fares in Europe.'
Former President Donald Trump has even more legal troubles coming down the pipeline after a New York jury decided Tuesday in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll, finding the ex-president liable of sexual abuse, battery and defamation - to the tune of $5 million.

Carroll's case was a civil case, and while the jury voted in her favor they also said they didn't believe she was raped, knocking the liability down to sexual assault.

In other unrelated cases, Trump could be criminally charged.

And he was already charged in late March in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

Here's a breakdown of the barrage of legal troubles the former president is facing:

Former President Donald Trump (left) has even more legal troubles coming down the pipeline after a New York jury decided Tuesday in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll (right), finding the ex-president liable of sexual abuse, battery and defamation

The Stormy Daniels hush-money case: Trump makes history by being the first former president to ever be indicted of a crime

On March 30, Trump made history and became the first former president to ever be indicted.

He returned to New York on April 4 for his day in court - with both pro and anti-Trump demonstrators surrounding the courthouse.

Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to the Stormy Daniels hush-money scheme in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.

He pleaded not guilty at the New York Criminal Court, as the 16-page indictment was unsealed. Additionally, a 13-page statement of facts was released by the Manhattan district attorney's office.

It said that between August of 2015 to December of 2017, Trump 'orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the Defendant's electoral prospects.'

The alleged crimes included writing monthly checks to his former lawyer Michael Cohen throughout 2017 as part of a 'retainer agreement,' with prosecutors saying that there was no such retainer agreement and those payments were actually to pay Cohen back the $130,000 given to Daniels to keep her quiet about her 2006 tryst with Trump ahead of Election Day 2016.

Trump has denied the affair.

Since the initial indictment, Trump's legal team has tried to move the case out of state court to federal court, in hopes that the jury pool would include more conservative jurors from New York's suburbs.

Additionally, on Monday Judge Juan Manuel Merchan ruled that Trump wasn't allowed to post any evidence or other materials from the discovery process onto social media sites.

The former president also isn't allowed to look at evidence without his lawyers present, Merchan ruled.

January 6th: Pence testifies before the federal grand jury and DOJ says Trump can be sued for his role in the Capitol attack

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice's investigation into Trump's role in pushing false election fraud claims and the January 6 Capitol attack plugs on under the portfolio of Special Counsel Jack Smith.

In late April, Vice President Mike Pence testified in front of the federal grand jury assembled to hear evidence from the probe.

Pence had resisted - claiming privilege as the president of the Senate - and a judge acknowledged some of those claims, but green-lit the testimony to go forward.

Trump's legal team had also tried to stop Pence's testimony, but didn't succeed.

That setback comes after the Justice Department said in March that Trump can be sued by injured Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers over January 6, in a federal court case testing Trump's legal vulnerability for his speech before the riot.

The Justice Department told a Washington federal appeals court in a legal filing that it should allow the lawsuits to move forward, rejecting Trump's argument that he is immune from the claims.

In December, before Republicans took control of the House, the House-based January 6th Committee referred Trump to the Department of Justice to pursue at least three criminal charges, including inciting an insurrection.

The recommended charges for Trump concerned four criminal statutes: obstructing an official proceeding, making false statements, defrauding the U.S. and inciting an insurrection.

It's unclear if more charges are on the table for Trump.

In a series of high-profile hearings last year on the aftermath of the 2020 election, which Trump falsely claims he won, the committee made its case that Trump was pressuring Pence to throw the election results back to the states in an attempt to overturn the election results.

Pence did not testify to the Congressional committee, but a number of other top Trump officials did - including Pence's chief of staff Marc Short, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, former Attorney General Bill Barr and Roger Stone.

Trump addressed his supporters on the Ellipse - the area right outside the White House - on the morning of January 6th.

Later that day a mob of his supporters marched to the Capitol and broke into the building to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's win in the Electoral College.

The documents Trump took from the White House to Mar-a-Lago when he left office

The Justice Department - also under Special Counsel Jack Smith - is conducting a criminal investigation into Trump for retaining government records, including some marked as classified, after leaving office in January 2021.

The FBI seized 11,000 documents from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in a court-approved August 8 search, including about 100 marked as classified.

Some were designated top secret, the highest level of classified information.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is overseeing a criminal investigation into classified materials Trump removed from the White House after leaving office in January 2021

The department began its investigation after the National Archives, the U.S. agency responsible for preserving government records, tried to get Trump to return missing government property and received 15 boxes with classified documents mixed in.

Trump has accused the Justice Department of engaging in a partisan witch hunt and claims the documents he took were part of his personal records and were declassified when he left office.

Both Pence and Biden are also being probed for having classified documents amid the materials they brought home after leaving office.

Georgia's criminal probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election

Trump is facing a criminal probe in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the election.

A special grand jury was selected last May to consider evidence in a Georgia prosecutor's inquiry into Trump's alleged efforts to influence that state's 2020 election result.

The investigation focuses in part on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021. Trump asked Raffensperger to 'find' the votes needed to overturn Trump's election loss.

Additionally, last July, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' office revealed that the 16 individuals who posed as fake Electoral College electors were targets of her investigation.

Last week, the news broke that at least eight of those electors had agreed to immunity deals.

It will be Willis' decision - and not that of the grand jury - on whether to charge Trump with crimes.

Legal experts said Trump may have violated at least three Georgia criminal election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties.

Trump could argue he was engaging in constitutionally protected free speech.

A California federal judge said in October in a separate lawsuit that Trump had knowingly made false voter fraud claims in a Georgia election lawsuit, according to emails the judge reviewed. It is not immediately clear what ramifications Trump could face from the ruling.

New York Attorney General Letitia James' $250million civil suit claiming Trump inflated property values to mislead banks and investors

New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a civil lawsuit filed in February that her office uncovered more than 200 examples of misleading asset valuations by Trump and the Trump Organization between 2011 and 2021.

James accused Trump of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to satisfy loan terms and get better insurance coverage.

Mar-a-Lago was valued as high as $739 million when it should have been closed to $75 million, the 200-page lawsuit against the Trump Organization claims.

Trump withdrew his own countersuit against James in January after a judge accused him of using the courts to seek revenge.

Trump and his lawyers were ordered to pay almost $1 million by a judge in Florida for suing Hillary Clinton and others over his claims that the 2016 election was rigged.

James is seeking to permanently bar Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump from running companies in New York state, and to prevent them and his company from buying new properties and taking out new loans in the state for five years.

James is also seeking to have the defendants disgorge around $250 million that she described as obtained through fraud.

After James announced the lawsuit, Trump in a social media post called the action 'Another Witch Hunt.'

A lawyer for Trump called the lawsuit's claims 'meritless.'

James said her probe also uncovered evidence of criminal wrongdoing, which she referred to federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service for investigation.

Trump appeared back in New York for a deposition last month as part of the case.

New York criminal probe into Trump Organization's 'tax-free perks' to top executives

The Trump Organization is on trial in New York on criminal tax fraud charges.

The Manhattan district attorney's office last year accused the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp. of giving executives tax-free perks such as rent-free apartments, school tuition feeds and leased luxury cars.

Its former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, also named as a defendant in the James lawsuit, has pleaded guilty and is required to testify against the company as part of his agreement with prosecutors.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, has also been investigating whether Trump misled lenders and others about asset valuations.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the probe politically motivated.
The View's Ana Navarro shocked her fellow panelists and viewers after she said that being Hispanic or black does not make you 'immune to white supremacy.'

Nicaraguan-American Navarro, 51, was referencing Mauricio Garcia - whose bloody massacre killed eight people, including children, when he opened gunfire at a mall in Allen, Texas, over the weekend.

The co-host made the point that the head of the Proud Boys, a far-right neo-fascist organization, is also Hispanic - so it should not be surprising that the Texas gunman may have also followed such extremists ideologies.

Your race does not make you immune from being racist, radicalized, or from being evil, Navarro claimed.

Her comments were met with shock from her fellow panelists.

Nicaraguan-American Ana Navarro, 51, told The View that your race does not make you immune from being racist, radicalized, or from being evil. She was referencing Mauricio Garcia - whose bloody massacre killed eight people, including children, when he opened gunfire at a mall in Allen, Texas, over the weekend

DailyMail.com verified a picture of Garcia uploaded to an account on a Russian social media that shows him next to a Hooters waitress in a Texas branch. It was uploaded alongside the caption: 'Me at the Twin Peaks in Frisco on Preston Road. Now that's a girl who knows how to make a guy smile. How to drive a guy crazy.'

Navarro said on The View: 'We all have to remember that the head of the Proud Boys. His name is Enrique Tarrio.

'The Proud Boys is a White Nationalist group. Look, being Hispanic or being Black does not, or being anything does not make you immune from being racist, from being radicalized, from being a White supremacist, from being evil, from being homicidal.

'And we are seeing it over and over again. There are people who, they don't see themselves as what they are.'

Co-host Sunny Hostin added that the Texas shooter's ethnicity was bizarre: 'But this shooter who happened to be Hispanic and Latino, which is bizarre to me, had a White supremacy moniker on him.

'So Christopher Wray, these are not my words, so people dont start with the "Im a race baiter c**p." Christopher Wray said that the biggest threat to our democracy is White supremacy and domestic terrorism. He testified before Congress.'

Viewers have also been left confused by Navarro's comment.

Vernon Jones, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001, said: 'Liberals are stumbling over themselves. The Texas mail shooter was Hispanic. Left wing Ana Navarro is calling the Hispanic shooter a White Supremacist. If hes one shes one too.'

But others snapped back: '"White Supremacy" is simply the belief that White people are superior. That's it.

'There have always been non-White people who believe this. That being said, I suggest waiting for more info before making definitive conclusions of his motives before making claims either way.'

Posts also show a series of shirtless pictures with white power tattoos on his body, including SS Lightning Bolts and a swastika

After the show, Navarro defended her words on Twitter: 'WHERE IS THE LIE? The former leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, convicted last week of seditious conspiracy, is Afro-Latino.

'Having Hispanic blood or Black blood does not mean you cannot fancy yourself a white-nationalist, and spread hate.'

Garcia, 33, was named as the gunman. But a social media account linked to him was littered with photos of Nazis, guns and ammunition as well as extremist rants about Jews, women and racial minorities, according to Bellingcat researcher Aric Toler.

In the weeks before he committed the senseless mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets near Dallas, more than two dozen photos of the shopping center and surrounding area were uploaded to an account on the OK.RU platform, including screenshots of Google location information tracking peak visiting times.

Both Toler and NBC said the account, on Russian site OK.RU, belonged to Garcia, who was shot and killed at the scene.

DailyMail.com verified a picture of Garcia uploaded to the account that shows him next to a waitress at a Texas Twin Peaks.

Another post appears to show the receipt for the guns and ammunition he bought in 2020, which he ultimately used to carry out the shootings.

The account also links to other sites, including one of a YouTube account with a video that allegedly shows Garcia removing a 'Scream' mask before asking in a modulated voice: 'Not quite what you were expecting, huh?'

The video was uploaded before the shooting, but was scheduled to be published afterwards, according to Toler.

Pictured for left to right: Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Brooke Shields, and Ana Navarro are seen on an episode of The View in March 2023

Daniela Mendoza, 10, and her eight-year-old sister Sofia (pictured left) were among eight people shot and killed at the Allen outlet mall in Texas on Saturday. Cindy, 35, Kyu, 37, and James Cho, 3, (pictured right) were all shot dead following the rampage in Allen, Texas, on Saturday. Their eldest son, William survived the incident

Christian LaCour, 20, (pictured right) who worked as a security guard at the mall, was the first victim of the mass shooting to be identified yesterday. Aishwarya Thatikonda (pictured left), who is originally from Hyderabad, India, was identified as one of the nine killed in the massacre - including the shooter - by a family representative today

The OK.RU account carries posts referencing extremist online forums and content from white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes, an anti-Semitic white nationalist.

The Texas mall gunman scoped out the scene of his crime to track when it would be busiest three weeks before he shot dead eight people in a senseless bloodbath, it has been reported.

Other photos include a bulletproof vest that appears to match the one described by witnesses to the shooting, which is emblazoned with an acronym for 'Right Wing Death Squad' - a popular meme among far-right extremist groups.

Korean family Cindy Cho, 35, her husband Kyu, 37, and son James, 3, were all shot dead following the rampage in Allen, Texas.

Two sisters Daniela Mendoza, 10, and eight-year-old Sofia were also victims in the massacre.

Engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27, and Christian LaCour, 20, who worked as a security guard at the mall, were also killed in the massacre.

The final victim's name was confirmed as Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, from Dallas.
The company was previously fined $1.5 million after at least 102 children were found working at its plants

The shocking pictures surfaced through a Department of Labor investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Incorporated

Shocking new pictures have emerged of schoolchildren working at a slaughterhouse in Nebraska.

The children, recruited to clean the facility, were among at least 102 that worked for Packers Sanitation Services Incorporated (PSSI), which has been fined $1.5 million.

Dressed in hard hats, goggles and safety uniforms that are clearly oversized, the children were tasked with using scalding hot water and dangerous chemicals to clean a plant in Grand Island.

They were reported in a 60 Minutes documentary two months after PSSI was fined.

Some of the underage workers, who used 'dangerous powered equipment' suffered 'caustic chemical burns'. PSSI was sued by the Department of Labor in November and later settled after initially pledging to 'vigorously defend' itself.

Federal investigators discovered children working in hazardous conditions. Pictured: A Packers employee working in the ground beef room of the JBS plant in Grand Island, Nebraska

Government investigators found children working in dangerous conditions. Pictured: A Packers employee using a hose to clean processing equipment at the JBS plant in Grand Island, Nebraska

A child labor watchdog previously slammed as paltry the $1.5 million fine against the slaughterhouse cleaning firm that was found to have illegally worked 102 minors at 13 hazardous plants from Minnesota to Texas.

Some of the children worked in plants owned by JBS, the world's largest meat-processing company. Workers from PSSI go into the Grand Island plant between 11pm and 7am to carry out deep cleaning.

Reid Maki, coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition at the National Consumers League, said the penalty imposed on Wisconsin-based Packers Sanitation Services was too small to deter future abusers.

The sanitation company illegally worked youths aged 13-17 in abattoirs across the US. Some endured chemical burns from powerful detergents and had to clean dangerous carcass-cleaving machines in overnight shifts.

Labor Department investigator Shannon Rebolledo said some of the children working at the Grand Island plant were also students at the Walnut Middle School.

She told 60 Minutes: 'It seemed to be known within the community that minors either are or were working overnight shifts.

'They told us about children that were falling asleep in class, um, that had burns, chemical burns. They were concerned for the safety of the kids. They were concerned that they weren't able to stay awake and do their job, which is learning in school.'

The children's tasks included washing bloody floors and hazardous machinery with razor-sharp blades.

She said: 'That there were minors employed across the country between the ages of 13 and 17 working the overnight shift.'

A Packers promotional image of staff at work. Investigators said employees, including children, handle powerful cleaning products that leave them with 'caustic chemical burns'

A Packers employee cleaning with limited visibility at the JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota

'There is no way this was just a mistake, a clerical error, a handful of rouge individuals getting through. This was the standard operating procedure.

'We were able to identify and confirm 102 minors at 13 different plants in eight different states.'

She said the true number of child workers was 'likely much higher'.

The $1.5 million fine amounted to less than half of a percent of Packers' $460 million annual revenue.

The Labor Department (DOL) said in February that Packers had been fined at the end of an investigation that began last August. The fine amounts to $15,138 for each child hired illegally  the maximum civil penalty that could be imposed.

'The child labor violations in this case were systemic and reached across eight states, and clearly indicate a corporate-wide failure by Packers Sanitation Services at all levels,' said DOL administrator Jessica Looman.

'These children should never have been employed in meat-packing plants and this can only happen when employers do not take responsibility to prevent child labor violations from occurring in the first place,' added Looman.

Investigators initially found 31 children working night shifts for Packers at Turkey Valley Farms in Marshall, Minnesota, and plants owned by multi-billion dollar food giant JBS in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota.

A JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota, where labor officials say children were illegally employed to clean equipment in overnight shifts

JBS is behind such supermarket brands as Certified Angus Beef, Pilgrim's, Swift, 1855, Country Pride, Clear River Farms, Moyer and Savoro and many others

The probe quickly expanded to other plants serviced by Packers, as investigators fanned out across Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas.

At a Cargill's plant in Dodge City, Kansas, they found 26 youngsters employed, in one of the largest recorded violations.

Packers said following the fine that the company had a 'zero-tolerance policy' for hiring minors and that none of those identified in the investigation worked for the firm today.

'As soon as we became aware of the DOL's allegations, we conducted multiple additional audits of our employee base, and hired a third-party law firm to review and help further strengthen our policies in this area,' said a statement.

'We have also conducted multiple additional trainings for hiring managers, including on spotting identity theft.'

Packers has some 17,000 staff at more than 700 sites nationwide.
The girl had been playing hide and seek with her friends when she was shot

A homeowner has been arrested for allegedly shooting his 14-year-old neighbor in the back of her head after the girl ran from his home where she had been playing hide and seek.

David V. Doyle, 58, told police he had seen 'shadows outside his home' on Sunday morning and had gone inside his property on Jimmy Doyle Road in Starks, Louisiana, to get his firearm.

Doyle claimed he went back outside and saw a group of people running away from his property and so he began shooting them and unknowingly shot the 14-year-old girl.

Deputies at the scene said they found the girl, who had been playing hide and seek with her friends, with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. She was rushed to a hospital where she is being treated for non-life threatening injuries and her family say she is recovering well.

The incident happened on Jimmy Doyle Road, a dead-end road with only three residents: Doyle, the victim's family and another relative of the victim's family, reports 7 KPLC News.

David V. Doyle (pictured), 58, told police he had seen 'shadows outside his home' on Sunday morning and had gone inside his property on Jimmy Doyle Road in Starks, Louisiana, to get his firearm

The incident happened on Jimmy Doyle Road, a dead-end road with only three residents: Doyle, the victim's family and another relative of the victim's family

LOUISIANA 'STAND YOUR GROUND' LAWS Louisiana is one of about 30 states which has a 'stand your ground' law. The law means that residents can use deadly force 'to prevent unlawful entry' or 'compel an unlawful intruder to leave' a home, place of business or vehicle. According to the law, residents must be facing an 'imminent danger' of losing their life or being attacked before shooting trespassers on the property. The law states a homeowner can use violence against a person who was in the process of forcibly entering their property - or had entered the dwelling already. Advertisement

Doyle was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center where he was charged with aggravated battery; four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and the illegal discharge of a firearm, police said. His bond is still pending.

Louisiana has a 'stand your ground' law which means that locals can use deadly force 'to prevent unlawful entry' or 'compel an unlawful intruder to leave' a home, place of business or vehicle. It's not clear if Doyle's case falls under this remit.

The state is one of about 30 states in America that has the 'stand your ground' law and there have been a number of cases where people have been shot for standing on a person's property.

Last month, 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis was fatally shot after the car she was in drove into the wrong driveway in New York state.

Kaylin and three friends were headed to a home in upstate New York when they accidentally entered Kevin Monahan's driveway in Hebron.

Monahan, 65, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, fired two shots from his porch at the car, one of which struck Gillis who was still in the vehicle.

The man has been charged with second-degree murder.

And last month, a teenager was shot in the head by a white homeowner after he mistakenly rang his doorbell.

Last month, 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis (pictured) was fatally shot after the car she was in drove into the wrong driveway in New York state

Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot twice through glass at the front of the house in Kansas City, just a block away from the property his twin brothers were waiting to be picked up from.

He reportedly pulled into the driveway of the home at 10pm on April 13, rang the doorbell, and was immediately shot in the head by the homeowner Andrew Lester, 84.

Yarl was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but is now recovering at home.

Lester handed himself in on Tuesday after Clay County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that he would be charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action  which could see him face the rest of his life behind bars.

Ralph Yarl, 16, (pictured in hospital) was shot twice through glass at the front of the house in Kansas City , just a block away from the property his twin brothers were waiting to be picked up from
The Met Police commissioner has said his officers had to target a 'criminal network' aiming to disrupt the coronation, with people posing as stewards caught with bottles of paint they intended to throw at the parade.

Sir Mark Rowley said police received 'serious and reliable' intelligence that activists planned to use rape alarms and loud hailers to disrupt the event, 'extensively vandalise monuments' and 'throw paint at the procession'.

Writing in the Evening Standard, Sir Mark said that officers were so concerned about the risks that the Home Secretary and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were briefed on Friday night.

He said that suspects were found with bottles of white paint and that there was intelligence to suggest that some may use rape alarms or loud hailers during the coronation procession.

Volunteers for charity Night Star, that hands out rape alarms to women on their way home from nights out, were arrested in the early hours of Saturday in Soho in central London.

Sir Mark Rowley said police received 'serious and reliable' intelligence that activists planned to use rape alarms and loud hailers to disrupt the coronation

Six campaigners for the group Republic, which had liaised with the Met to organise a coronation day protest in Trafalgar Square, were also arrested early on Saturday on suspicion of going equipped to lock-on, but were released 16 hours later without charge.

Sir Mark described the arrests as 'unfortunate', but blasted 'ill-informed commentary' about how police had behaved.

He wrote: 'We do everything we can to respect protest.

'Protest is an important right in any democracy, but it is limited and has to be carefully balanced alongside consideration for the rights of others so they too can go about their normal business - in this case participating in a once in a generation event.

'Parliament has created laws requiring police to act to bring this careful balance.

'By Friday evening, only 12 hours from the coronation, we had become extremely concerned by a rapidly developing intelligence picture suggesting the coronation could suffer.

'This included people intent on using rape alarms and loud hailers as part of their protest which would have caused distress to military horses.

'We also had intelligence that people intended to extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route.'

Police arrest protesters near the coronation route on Saturday. The ceremony went off with no disruptions

There were concerns among military personnel that loud noises could unsettle horses and cause multiple injuries, he said.

'The threat was so concerning that on Friday the Home Secretary and mayor were given late night briefings as plans were being put in place,' Sir Mark continued.

'Clearly, this would not only have been unlawful, but also extremely dangerous. Officers worked around the clock to try to identify the full criminal network, establish the detail of their plans, and make arrests.'

In total 64 people were arrested over the weekend, 52 over concerns that the coronation may be disrupted.

Sir Mark insisted that there was no ban on protest on the day, with hundreds of demonstrators left undisturbed.

He said: 'I can report that we found people in possession of possible lock-on devices and people that appeared to be purporting to be stewards of the event in possession of plastic bottles containing white paint which we believe were specifically to be used to criminally disrupt the procession and resulted in arrests for going equipped to commit criminal damage.

'Much of the ill-informed commentary on the day is wholly inaccurate - for example protest was not banned. I want to be absolutely clear - our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality.

'Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real. Fifty-three individuals have been bailed and most of the following investigations will be lengthy as we work towards criminal charges.'

A police officer watches members of the anti-monarchy group Republic protesting on the day of the Coronation

The six were the first arrests to be made under the sweeping Public Order Act, under suspicion of going equipped to 'lock-on' - a measure protesters use to make it harder for police to move them.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers, which came into force last week, saying it was right for officers to have the power to tackle 'serious disruption'.

The six campaigners from Republic were arrested early on Saturday morning and detained for 16 hours.

They were released without charge after police conceded it could not be proved whether the protesters intended to lock-on.

Republic's chief executive Graham Smith, who was among those arrested, is considering legal action against the Met after officers personally apologised to him over what he called a 'disgraceful episode'.

He said three 'rather embarrassed' officers apologised to him at his home in Reading, Berkshire, before handing back the straps for the placards they arrested him over.

'I said for the record I won't accept the apology. We have a lot of questions to answer and we will be taking action,' he said.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Southampton: 'Of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

'What the Government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to people's lives.

'I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers.'

Militant protesters planned to throw paint at the coronation procession, Sir Mark said today

Concerns were raised at the highest level of Government in April that the stunt could lead to serious injuries or even deaths if spooked horses bolt into the crowds lining the route

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked for further information about why the Republic supporters were arrested, as well as volunteers for charity Night Star which hands out rape alarms.

Former Greater Manchester Police chief Sir Peter Fahy said the Public Order Act used to detain the protesters was 'very poorly defined and far too broad'.

Senior Tory MP David Davis called the legislation 'too crude' and urged the Commons Home Affairs Committee to investigate.

Sir Peter told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We see the consequences of that particularly for the poor police officers who have got to try and make sense of the legislation that was passed only a few days ago.

'This could affect all sorts of different protests in your local community, when you're unhappy about HS2 or a housing development or whatever, this legislation could be used against you, and the police would be under pressure.'

Mr Davis, a former Brexit secretary, said the arrests show the legislation is 'too crude, too poorly defined'.

'The police and the Home Office have to get straight exactly how they protect our democratic rights at the same time as protecting the day for thousands of people,' he told Today.

'The whole law is defined really very broadly. It's also true for the stop-and-search powers as well. There are a whole series of elements of law which are just too broadly defined.'

Downing Street was clear that it thinks the new powers are 'appropriate' and 'in line with what the public want'.

'It wouldn't be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

He said that the Home Office had 'business as usual' conversations with the Met ahead of the policing operation, after Republic demanded to know whether officers were acting at the behest of politicians.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman attended a number of meetings with the Metropolitan Police ahead of the coronation.

A Whitehall source characterised them as routine updates on the force's expectations and preparations for the operation, stressing the police remain operationally independent.
A gang of 16 money launderers and people-traffickers sneaked 42million in cash out of the UK to Dubai as part of a massive global operation to hide drug-dealing profits.

The crew were discovered to be smuggling migrants into Britain and millions of pounds out of the country, believed to be profits from selling class A drugs and the cash taken from refugees.

The gang made hundreds of trips to the UAE between 2017 and 2019, including 58 trips to Dubai in 2017 alone.

Around 1.5million was seized from the crook's cronies leaving the UK but flight analysis and cash declarations in Dubai suggested the group successfully transported far more, police said.

Pinky Kapur (left), Amarjeet Alabadis (middle) and Louise Smith (right) were the only women among the gang of 16 who sneaked 42million in cash out of the UK to Dubai.

Gang ringleader Charan Singh (left), 44, and Valjeet Singh (right), 34, were found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property - known as money laundering. Valjeet Singh was also found guilty on four counts of removing criminal property.

Around 1.5 million was seized from the crook's cronies leaving the UK but flight analysis and cash declarations in Dubai suggested the group successfully transported far more, according to police.

The same gang tried to smuggle 17 migrants - including five children and a pregnant woman - into the UK in 2019 hidden in the back of a van carrying tyres.

Dutch police intercepted the van before it could reach a ferry at the Hook of Holland, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

After weeks of surveillance officers pounced on the defendants to carry out dawn raids across west London, including gang ringleader Charan Singh, 44, from Hounslow.

NCA investigators proved Singh, formally a resident of the UAE, paid for flights to Dubai for other gang members to carry cash.

During the first trial at Croydon Crown Court, six people, including Singh, were found guilty of money laundering offences.

Two of that six were also found guilty of facilitating illegal immigration, another defendant only received an immigration charge.

Midway through the second trial six defendants changed their plea to guilty for the money laundering offences, leading to reporting restrictions being lifted on Friday (May 5).

A further two gang members pleaded guilty before trial, according to the NCA.

Jackdar Kapoor (left) and Diljan Singh Malhotra (right), 47. Singh Malhotra was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Joe Round (left) and Jasbeer Malhotra (right).

Manmon Kapur (left), Jaginder Singh Kapoor (middle) and Mircea Denes (right). Mr Denes was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law in his absence having absconded.

Chris Hill, NCA senior investigating officer, said today: 'This has been a long and complex investigation into an organised crime group involved in money laundering on a commercial scale and organised immigration crime.

'Over a two-year period, working together with partners in the UK and abroad, NCA investigators were able to uncover the evidence to secure these convictions.

'This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to protect the public and target the criminal networks involved in both people smuggling and money laundering.

'We will continue to use the full range of tactics at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle them.'

Along with seven other defendants, Singh was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property - known as money laundering.

Sundar Vengadassalam, 48, (left) and Swander Singh Dhal (right), 37 were both found guilty of removing criminal property. Mr Singh Dhal was also found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Jasbir Singh Kapoor (left), 35, and Jasbir Singh Dhal, 32, (right) were both found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property.

Valjeet Singh, 34, from Hounslow, was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property, four counts of removing criminal property, but not guilty of two separate counts of removing criminal property.

Swander Singh Dhal, 37, Hounslow, was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property, and conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law, but he was cleared of a separate count of conspiring to remove criminal property.

Jasbir Singh Kapoor, 35, Hayes, west London, was found guilty of two counts conspiring to remove criminal property, but not guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Jasbir Singh Dhal, 32, from Southall, west London, was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property.

Diljan Singh Malhotra, 47, from Uxbridge, west London, was cleared of two counts of conspiring to remove criminal property, but found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

Mircea Denes, 45, previously of Northolt was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law in his absence having absconded.

Sundar Vengadassalm, 48, from Southall, was found guilty of removing criminal property, but cleared of five separate counts of removing criminal property.

All 16 defendants are due to be sentenced at the same court from September this year.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly refused to rule out doing a post-election deal with the Liberal Democrats to take power.

The Opposition leader was repeatedly asked in a series of broadcast interviews whether he would make a pact with Sir Ed Davey's party if he fails to win an outright majority.

But while he categorically ruled out working with the SNP - which will demand a new Scottish independence vote as the price of support - he was more circumspect about working with a party that was propping up a Tory-led coalition just eight years ago.

Sir Keir has said he believes he is on course to win outright after gaining hundreds of councillors and control of 22 local authorities in last week's local elections.

But the Lib Dems were also resurgent and projections have put Labour as not yet being in the position to form a majority government on its own.

Any link-up is likely to prove controversial, with the Lib Dems likely to demand changes to the voting system.

Asked about a deal with Sir Ed, the Labour leader told Sky News: 'I'm not answering hypotheticals but we're aiming for a Labour majority and that's what we're confident about.'

But he said he was 'absolutely clear there are no terms in which we will do a deal with the SNP'.

It came as former Labour leader Sir Tony Blair warned him not to be 'complacent' about his prospects of becoming PM.

Labour scored significant wins in the town hall polls last week, but the former premier cautioned that the leader should not 'take anything for granted'.

The newly elected leader of Plymouth council, Tudor Evans took a selfie photograph with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner before a meeting of 22 new local council leaders at Labour HQ today

Asked about a deal with Sir Ed (right), the Labour leader told Sky News: 'I'm not answering hypotheticals but we're aiming for a Labour majority and that's what we're confident about.' But he said he was 'absolutely clear there are no terms in which we will do a deal with the SNP', whose leader Humza Yousaf is pictured left

Labour scored significant wins in the town hall polls last week, but Tony Blair told Bloomberg News that the leader should not 'take anything for granted'

Closely-watched projections have found that Labour would have 298 MPs if Thursday's results were replicated at a general election

The comments from the New Labour architect came as Sir Keir gathers his shadow cabinet to urge them to demonstrate they can be a 'big reforming government'.

The SNP has already been boasting that it will hold the balance of power if there is a hung Parliament, vowing to 'undo Brexit' and force a Scottish independence referendum.

The Lib Dems have also been indicating that they will push for proportional representation if Sir Keir needs to rely on other parties to prop him up in No10.

Sir Tony told Bloomberg News that Sir Keir needed to recognise that 'you can't be complacent about these things at all'.

'The local election results were pretty good really, very bad for the Conservatives, but you don't take anything for granted. And I'm sure he won't,' Sir Tony said.

'What you will find I think over the next few months is that the Labour Party sets out more of a detailed policy stall for government.'

Asked whether Sir Keir was the heir to New Labour, Sir Tony said things had moved on, but added: 'Is he essentially trying to fight from the centre and construct a modern agenda? Yeah I think he's trying to do that.'

Labour gained 635 councillors across England in last week's polls as the Conservatives lost 960 seats under Rishi Sunak's leadership - worse than most Tories had feared.

The Opposition was encouraged by winning control of councils in the Brexit-backing areas of Dover, Blackpool, Medway, Erewash, and Stoke.

But the national vote share gave Sir Keir's supporters pause for thought and Mr Sunak some grounds for hope.

The Tories were on 29 per cent, the worst in a significant ballot event since 2013.

Labour was up five points on 2019 on 36 per cent - but that was only a marginal improvement on a year ago.

Closely-watched projections by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher found that Labour would have 298 MPs if Thursday's results were replicated at a general election.

That would be up 95 on the standings from 2019 - but still around 30 short of an outright majority.

Meanwhile, the Tories are on track to plunge 127 seats to just 238.

The estimates were based on the 4.2million ballots cast for councillors, and come with the caveat that behaviour is often different in Westminster polls.

Addressing his shadow cabinet today, Sir Keir is expected to say: 'The fact that Labour won in all parts of the country was a sign of the strides we have made. People who turned away from us during the Corbyn years and the Brexit years are coming back.

'But there is understandably a lot of scepticism about politics out there and now we need to go from reassurance to hope. We need to show that we will be a big reforming government bringing hope of a better life for working people.'

Sir Keir will tell his team to focus on the NHS rather than 'woke' issues, after getting into trouble over questions such as whether women can have penises.

The Labour leader also spoke to newly-elected Labour councillors, saying they have been given a 'mandate to deal with the cost of living'.

Addressing a gathering of 22 council leaders at the party's HQ in central London, he said the British public was 'crying out for change'.

Labour is considering putting higher taxes on foreign buyers of UK homes as the party seeks to pressure the Government on the housing crisis.

The 2 per cent surcharge on stamp duty for overseas buyers could be increased, as well as banning them from purchasing more than 50 per cent of homes in a development.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn dismissed Sir Keir's insistence that he would not bow to pressure on policies.

'I'm actually quite excited about where we are at the moment because what we see is a big shift away from the Conservatives in England, but it's a shift that is not going to deliver a majority government for Labour at Westminster and that very much brings us into play because it affords us the opportunity, the very real opportunity, of holding the balance of power at Westminster,' he said in a round of interviews this morning.

'We would be very clear in terms of our asks. We would want the cost of living to be put front and centre of the policy prospectus of any UK government.

'We would want to see the damage that has been caused by Brexit rolled back, not just to boost our economy but to boost our public services as well.

'And of course, we would be very, very keen to see a UK government, particularly a UK Labour government, deliver the powers to Holyrood to hold an independence referendum.'

SNP Europe spokesman Alyn Smith said: 'Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK - costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis  and there's been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.

'While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.'

The MP added: 'With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe.'
Complaints against airlines in the United States have skyrocketed nearly 500 percent since 2019, with Southwest leading the pack for the most griped about airline, new data showed.

In just three years complaints rose from 9,551 in 2019 to 47,591 in 2022 - a 498 percent increase that left the past two decades' numbers in the dust.

Of those nearly 50,000 complaints made in 2022, 7,087 were made against Southwest Airlines. The next most complained about airline was American Airlines with 3,017, then United with 2,211.

Frontier Airlines followed with 1,896 complaints, then Spirit with 1,521, JetBlue at 1,506, and Delta with 1,482.

The data was compiled by the Department of Air Travel and the US Public Interest Research Group, which found that the prevailing complaints against the airlines stemmed from lost baggage, scheduling problems, or passengers who were bumped from their reservations.

The initial spike in complaints came at the outside of the pandemic, when they surged from 9,551 in 2019 to 35,873 in 2020.

Complaints eased into 2021, dropping to 20,365. But they then more than doubled in the next year to a recent high of 47,591 in 2022.

The last significant surge took place over twenty years ago when complaints rose from 6,394 in 1997 to 20,564 in 2000 before settling at about 8,000 to 10,000 per year over the following decade.

Across the 17 largest airlines, there was about an 80 percent surge in complaints in 2022 from 2021 on a complaint-per-100,000 passengers scale. In 2021 the rate was about 3.1 per 100,000, and a year later it was 5.6 per 100,000.

Frontier, Spirit, and JetBlue had the most complaints per 100,000 passengers, according to the data, the third year in a row they held those spots.

Of the largest airlines - American, United, Delta, and Southwest, comprise about 80 percent of all travel - United had the best rate of complaints per 100,000 passengers

SkyWest, Horizon, and Mesa airlines had the best rate of complaints per 100,000 passengers of the airlines surveyed.

'Air travel is just a mess right now,' Deirdre Cummings of MASSPIRG Education Fund said, according to the Boston Globe.

'Airlines often post unrealistic schedules, they cancel flights, and they drag their feet with refunds,' she added. 'Airlines and online ticket agents just don't face enough consequences when they abuse customers.'

Southwest Airlines had more complaints against it than any other airline in 2022

Scheduling problems like delays and connections account for most complaints

About 45 of all complaints made against US airlines stemmed from scheduling problems like cancelled flights, missed connecting flights, and delays, according to the data.

Republic had the highest cancellation percentage at 4.7 percent, while Hawaiian was the lowest with 1 percent. Delta had the lowest rate of cancellation out of the top four airlines.

The worst airline for arriving on time was Allegiant, with just 63.4 percent of flights arriving on schedule, then JetBlue at 64.6 percent, and Frontier with 66.1 percent.

Problems with scheduling have been so prevalent that in February the Transportation Department said it was opening an investigation into a number of US airlines 'to ensure that they are not engaging in unrealistic scheduling of flights,' according to the Boston Globe.

Refund complaints were the next most prevalent category, accounting for about 25 percent. American was the worst for providing refunds, followed by United Airlines, and then Frontier.

American Airlines was the worst for baggage complaints, followed by Alaska, and JetBlue.

Bumping - which occurs when an airline overbooks a plane with the hopes that some passengers won't show up, but everybody shows up and somebody must be removed from the flight - was also a gripe among travelers.

Frontier was the worst for bumping, with a rate of about 2.66 passengers out of 10,000 being affected in 2022. That number was four times higher than the next worst offender, Envoy Air.

Delta did not bump a single passenger in 2022, the data showed.

It comes after Biden announced a new initiative that if put into use would require travelers be reimbursed for hotels, meals, taxis and flight change costs when airlines delay or cancel their flights.

Airlines would also be responsible for reimbursing the original cost of the flight if it is canceled.
A Brazilian hospital has initiated an internal investigation into members of its staff that participated in the tragic delivery of a baby girl who had her head ripped off by one of the doctors.

The Minas Gerais Civil Police also announced that investigators will probe 'whether there was a medical error or negligence' behind the May 1 emergency procedure that took place at the Hospital das Clinicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte.

Ranielly Santos, 34, went into induced labor when the doctor performing the emergency C-section delivery jumped on top of her body and decapitated Emanuelly da Silva's head as she was coming out of the womb.

'At the time of the incident, the fetus was 30 weeks pregnant, and the Fetal Medicine team had previously found malformations, including severe pulmonary malformations,' the hospital administration said in a statement Monday.

The hospital said Santos was hospitalized as a result of high blood pressure and the accumulation of fluid in her entire body.

'Due to the seriousness of the maternal condition and fetal inviability, the medical staff opted for induction of labor,' Hospital das Clinicas indicated.

Victor da Silva (left) and his wife, Ranielly Santos (right), are seeking justice from Hospital das Clinicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, after a doctor jumped on top of her and accidentally decapitated her newborn daughter during a C-section delivery on May 1. The hospital announced Monday that a probe was initiated

Administrators at Hospital da Clinicas is looking into the May 1 C-section delivery that ended with a newborn's head being ripped off by one of the doctors

'The Hospital das Clinicas of (the Federal University of Minas Gerais) reaffirms that the team made every effort to guarantee the life of the pregnant woman and that it is committed to clarifying all the facts with transparency and agility. The hospital unit sympathizes with the family in this time of mourning and remains at the entire disposal of the family and the authorities.'

The body of Emanuelly da Silva was transferred to the Minas Gerais Civil Police's Legal Medical Institute for an autopsy.

Family lawyer Jennifer Valente said that results are expected to be released at the end of this week, Brazilian news outlet G1 reported.

Santos' family came forward with news of the shocking incident Sunday as they sought answers from the hospital and justice from authorities.

Ranielly Santos says doctors at Hospital das Clinicas treated her like 'an animal' during the delivery of her daughter, Emanuelly da Silva, which ended with the newborn's head being 'ripped off' by one of the doctors

Santos, who has a 9-year-old daughter, told news outlet R7 that she was 'treated like an animal' by the same staff who tried to prevent her mother from removing a cover that was placed over her newborn before discovering that her neck had at least 60 stitches.

'My mother saw the whole procedure,' she said. 'She opened the outfit, but they tried to stop my mother from opening the outfit, that's when we saw that her neck was sewn, full of marks.'

The family told police that a hospital social worker approached them several hours following the baby's death and said that the facility would cover the funeral costs.

The parents alleged the hospital wanted them to sign a document that indicated an autopsy had been done. In addition, the document showed their daughter's body had been checked and that it was not going to me sent to the Civil Police's medical examiner.

Her husband, Victor da Silva, remembers looking at his daughter as she blinked her eyes before the doctor jumped on top of Santos' body and then decapitated the baby's head.

'By the time they pulled her, out she blinked, she was moving,' he said. 'Her little heart, before leaving, was beating.'

Da Silva said the doctors were pulling the child's head and instructed Santos to push.

'But she had no more strength,' he said. 'At the last moment they did that, a bunch of people came on top of her, held, held me. (They placed) a general anesthesia on her, she fainted, the child left (died), she was already fainting.'
A husband who was accused of drowning his wife in a lake attended her inquest today after a murder charge against him was dropped by prosecutors.

Andrius Vengalis, 46, was charged with the murder of Egle Vengaliene, 35, after he was allegedly seen 'pumping up and down' on her lifeless body in a lake.

He was in custody for nine months before a not guilty charge was recorded by a judge at Ipswich Crown Court in January last year after prosecutors offered no evidence against him.

Suffolk Coroner's Court heard today how Ms Vengaliene appeared cold and soaking wet when she knocked on the window of a nursing home and asked for help two hours before her body was found.

The Lithuanian-born mother-of-five allegedly fled after staff asked her if she wanted police to be called, telling them: 'No, no police. Will be big trouble'.

Andrius Vengalis and Egle Vengaliene pictured together

Vengalis pictured today (left) at Suffolk Coroners Court in Ipswich where he attended the inquest into the death of his wife

Ms Vengaliene allegedly fled after staff asked her if she wanted police to be called

Ms Vengaliene was allegedly spotted by her husband less than two hours later in a lake next to the nursing home, surrounded by woodland at Brandon Country Park, Suffolk.

He claimed that he jumped into the water to try and pull her out of the water and resuscitate her, only to later be charged with her murder.

Ipswich Crown Court heard last year that post mortems could not determine whether Ms Vengaliene was unlawfully killed, took her own life or died accidentally.

Vengalis who had denied his wife's murder was allowed to walk free after nine months in custody when the charge was dropped.

Suffolk Senior Coroner Nigel Parsley said Ms Vengaliene was seen walking into the woods in the darkness at around 3.30am on April 9, 2021, by a Royal Mail delivery driver.

Care workers on a night shift at the Brandon Park Care Home heard her tapping on the window at 5.15am, wearing only a T shirt and fashionably ripped designer jeans with no coat and no shoes on.

Mr Parsley added: 'She mouthed the words, 'Help me', but due to covid restrictions she was not allowed in the home.'

The coroner said a member of the public later saw 'a male pumping up and down in the water' of the lake beside the care home.

Suffolk Senior Coroner Nigel Parsley said Ms Vengaliene was seen walking into the woods in the darkness at around 3.30am on April 9, 2021

He added: 'As he came closer, he thought he saw a man performing CPR. The member of the public helped the man recover her from the water.'

Heather Bird who was a care worker at the home at the time, told the hearing that she and other staff heard 'a tap on the window'.

She added: 'I pulled the curtains across and saw a woman wave. She had a smile on her face and her arms around her as if she was cold. I could see she was wet and had no shoes. She didn't look distressed, just really cold. It was very odd.'

Ms Bird said she and other staff opened a rear door, and asked if she was OK, and she appeared to say: 'Help'. The care worker said she could not let her in to the home, but could call police.

But she added: 'As soon as the police were mentioned, she became agitated, and: 'No, no police. Will be big trouble'.

'I explained it was too late as we were already on the phone. She suddenly turned and ran off fast.'

Polish care worker Przemyslaw Liway said in a statement that Ms Vengaliene had been shivering when he saw her at the door.

He added: 'It was a cold night. I said, 'Do you live here?'. She said she had no home. She seemed distressed by the tone of her voice. She said, 'I am in trouble. I am in trouble' or words to that effect.'

Police at Brandon country Park, Suffolk, after Egle Vengaliene was found drowned in a lake

Sgt Rowan Saunders went to the care home as a result of the 999 call and spent 25 minutes at the scene, but saw no sign of Ms Vengaliene. He said he tasked Ministry of Defence police from a nearby base to search for the distressed woman on local roads while he walked around the 20m wide lake and looked in the woods for her.

Sgt Saunders said he believed that the woman he was looking for was either having 'some form of mental health episode' or was possibly 'a victim of a domestic incident'.

Mr Vengalis who lived in Brandon with his wife attended the inquest with another man and listened to proceedings with the help of an interpreter.

Dr Sengupta Baisakhi, a GP at the Forest Surgery in Brandon, said there were 'no mental health issues apparent' in Ms Vengaliene's medical records.

Her family said in a statement after her death: 'She was loving, caring and devoted to her family, radiating optimism, cheerfulness and positive energy and believing in her family's bright future.'

The inquest which is expected to last for up to nine days continues tomorrow.
Bill Maher and Dr. Phil McGraw got into a heated exchange after the longtime TV psychologist refused to concede that former President Donald Trump was worse than President Joe Biden.

On Sunday's episode of Maher's 'Club Random' podcast, Dr. Phil, whose long-running talk show will come to an end later this year, told the host that his future endeavors will involve tackling 'concerns' that face the nation, which he believes is 'headed for a cliff.'

Maher asked him why he feels the country is heading off a cliff, to which McGraw responded: 'Well, it depends on what category you want to talk about. And look  I stayed non-political because I think there's idiocy on both sides  Im not a big fan of our president or the last one, but I respect the office of the president.'

Maher immediately took issue with McGraw's apparent conflation of the two world leaders. He questioned how he could refer to both of them 'in the same breath.'

Dr. Phil McGraw, whose storied career as a TV doctor will come to an end this year, refused to concede to Bill Maher that Donald Trump was a worse president that Joe Biden

'One of them is much more of a threat to the republic that would be the 45th, would you not agree?' Maher asked. 'C'mon, a threat to the republic Joe Biden? No.

'Joe Biden is a return to normalcy yet a Democrat who is, yes, too much ensorcelled by his fringe left. He will not ever tell them to sit down and shut up. But I will take that bargain, [as] much as I don't like it, and it's bitter, I will take that bargain over Trump. Come on.'

McGraw answered diplomatically: 'Well, I'm concerned about both sides. And I'm particularly concerned about this woke agenda that's being pushed,' attempting to change the subject.

The pair went on to broadly find themselves on the same page about culture war issues, but Maher then attempted to redirect the conversation to the comparison between the presidents.

'Trump - you gotta, like, be on the page that he's worse than Joe Biden. He's very different than Joe Biden. Come on, doc,' said Maher.

'It's not politics that determine the outcome of society, it's culture,' replied the TV doctor.

'I don't care about politics. You go back to the beginning  Democrats and Republicans have been in control about 50-50. They've had control of the House and Senate while they were in control of the presidency about 50-50, they've had it not in control 50-50. And look where we are. They both come up about the same place. I don't care about that. I care about our culture,' he said.

Finally Maher conceded: 'Okay, I'm disappointed that I can't get you to just out and say that Trump is a completely different animal than the politics on the left and the right that we both agree is very lacking on both sides.'

'He is a completely different element and much more dangerous. I mean, we're talking about some sort of unnatural predator that was introduced into this wild which was a jungle in the first place. But this is a different element.

'Nobody else has ever tried to not concede an election in this country, tried to overturn an election we all - even the people in his own party - understood was lost. That is a rubicon that we have crossed. That makes him completely unique, a unicorn if a unicorn was a big fat a**hat. If I can't have your faith on that, it's very hard for me to understand where you're coming from on any issue,' concluded Maher.

'That's a copout. What difference does it make?' protested Dr. Phil. 'A: he's not in power now. B: he's probably not gonna be,' he said referring to Trump.

The pair engaged in the semi-heated discussion during Sunday's episode of Maher's podcast 'Club Random'

While Maher made his opinion that Donald Trump is the significantly more dangerous of the two men clear, Dr. Phil refused to concede to that term

Maher then closed the conversation by saying that in friendship, political differences are natural and must be accepted and essentially shelved.

'One thing you have to have in a friendship, and I hope we're friends now for a long time, is the ability to air your differences and then just move on,' he said.

'You're Dr. Phil, you know, you're legendary for being a guy who like fixes other people's problems, a wise elder, and you are, but I'm just not where you are and never will be on this Trump thing and you know where I am. And that's okay.'
The woman accused by a transgender Starbucks worker of being 'transphobic' says the whole row stemmed from her using the word 'lady' to describe a member of staff without realising that they did not 'identify as a woman'.

Vanessa Thomas, 55, was seen on camera being screamed at by the trans store manager near the ferry terminal of Southampton, Hampshire.

Mrs Thomas revealed to family and friends that she had tried to pay for her coffee using cash but was informed by a Starbucks worker that this would not be possible.

A trans branch manager then interrupted and said she could only pay using a card with Mrs Thomas hitting back: 'I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to the lady behind the counter,' sparking the furious row.

The Starbucks employee has since been sacked. and now police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident.

A relative told MailOnline: 'The Starbucks trans employee became very angry and told Vanessa that the person behind the counter doesn't identify as a lady. And then it all kicked off and she was accused of being transphobic.

'The whole incident has left Vanessa very upset and distraught and she's currently on holiday recovering.'

Vanessa Thomas (pictured) was seen on camera being screamed at by a trans Starbucks store manager at the branch near the ferry terminal of Southampton, Hampshire

The incident is believed to have been recorded by Ms Thomas's partner Mark Andrews, 60, who posted it on social media

The 55-year-old, who lives in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, says the staff member 'threw her belongings into the air' as she was physically removed from the cafe.

The incident is believed to have been recorded by Ms Thomas's partner Mark Andrews, 60, who posted it on social media.

READ MORE: Police launch probe after trans Starbucks worker was filmed aggressively accusing customer of being transphobic then 'assaulting' person filming the incident Advertisement

Responding to the video, Ms Thomas posted that it did not capture the full gravity of what took place.

She writes: 'The shop had cameras so I had to be cool, it was so much worse, he snatched my bag and through (sic) it up in the air over the counter and he picked me up and through (sic) me out then slammed the door and smashed the glass in it,' followed by two laughing emojis.

Ms Thomas adds: 'He then put his coat on and done a runner, I have reported it with the police and Starbucks, he was out of order.'

In another post she writes: 'I was in complete shock, I have reported it to Starbucks and the police.'

A family friend told MailOnline that the altercation started after Ms Thomas was told by a Starbucks employee serving her that they did not accept cash payments.

The friend added: 'Vanessa just said 'Oh, another company not accepting cash payments.' A transgender Starbucks employee then confronted her and said she had to pay card.

'Vanessa told her: 'I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to the lady behind the counter.' The Starbucks employee became very angry and told Vanessa that the person behind the counter doesn't identify as a lady. And then it all kicked off and she was accused of being transphobic.'

The friend revealed that Ms Thomas has been left 'distraught' and 'shocked' by the incident and has gone away on holiday to recuperate.

A transgender woman was sacked by Starbucks after footage showed her berating Ms Thomas and allegedly assaulting her partner who filmed the incident

Footage shows the transgender woman approaching the man filming after the row before knocking his phone out his hand

During the angry confrontation, footage shows Ms Thomas defending herself and stating: 'You're rude, don't ever call me transphobic, ever. You do not know me.'

In response, the transgender Starbucks employee says: 'You're calling me a man, you're being transphobic, Karen. Now get out.'

'Karen' is a derisive insult imported from the US, taking aim at white, middle-aged women. Feminists have criticised it as a misogynistic term.

The conversation heats up, as Ms Thomas insists, 'do not call me transphobic'.

The transgender employee then claps in Ms Thomas's face and denies her request for a refund, adding: 'You are transphobic, now get out.'

Repeatedly, Ms Thomas is told to 'get out' and that she is 'trespassing', before the employee appears to notice a man using his smartphone filming the encounter.

A relative told MailOnline: 'The Starbucks trans employee became very angry and told Vanessa that the person behind the counter doesn't identify as a lady. And then it all kicked off and she was accused of being transphobic'

Without warning, the employee comes forward and lunges for the phone, demanding the man hand it over while appearing to assault him.

In a post, Mr Andrews reveals that he filmed the altercation and that it was witnessed by seven other people.

He writes: 'The situation happened so quick and what happened off camera was horrific! The world we live in eh!'

He adds: 'I must be getting old as I feel the world we live in now is a snow flake infested one-have an option, be what you want to be BUT don't ram it down my throat-live & let live! And buy coffee with cash!! I hope that Starbucks deal with this individual and the police deal with it?'

The footage prompted heavy criticism on social media, with many users copying in Starbucks' Twitter handle and demanding answers.

Australian women's activist Sall Grover shared the clip on Twitter and wrote: 'When women see men who think they're women in female spaces, they often get themselves out as quickly as possible.

The relative added: 'The whole incident has left Vanessa very upset and distraught and she's currently on holiday recovering'

Activist Oli London also shared the video and tweeted: 'Is this an acceptable way for staff to behave Starbucks UK?'

Debra Gordon posted: 'This person should be fired! They are there to serve customers - not abuse them.'

Annabelle Bond wrote: 'Stop enabling this behaviour. No employee should treat a customer like that.'

Transsexual performer Buck Angel added: 'Haha they are crumbling fast! Wingnuts are exposing themselves.'

Others branded the employee's behaviour 'entitlement' and 'unacceptable'.
An Asda delivery driver who flew back from his son's wedding weekend in Greece to attend the King's Coronation said it was 'absolutely worth it' - and found himself sat near Lionel Richie and Ant and Dec.

Geoff Norris, from the branch in Wisbech, found himself in a predicament after receiving an invitation of a lifetime - to attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey.

But Geoff soon realised the coronation date clashed with another key occasion  a family trip to Greece where he would be best man at his 29-year-old son Anthony's wedding to fiancee Laura.

Geoff, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2020 for his work during the pandemic, said: 'When I received the invitation from the Cabinet Office I felt very, very proud and very, very honoured.

'I obviously accepted straight away, but the panic set in as soon as I realised I was going to be out of the country, but I had to be at both occasions.

Asda home delivery driver Geoff Norris found himself in a predicament after receiving an invitation of a lifetime

Geoff said attending the coronation was 'one of the most humbling experiences'

'I couldn't miss this opportunity to be at the Coronation of King Charles III and I certainly couldn't miss my son's wedding.'

The family were set to fly to Kos early May for a holiday around the wedding on May 10.

Luckily with the help of a friend, who is a pilot, he managed to sort out flights that worked perfectly so he didn't miss either event.

'How humbling it was. It was one of the most humbling experiences - and how fortunate I was,' he told The Telegraph, speaking about the coronation.

'We were sat in there, this is a public ceremony, there's tens of thousands of people stood out in the rain hour after hour and we were lucky to be where we were. It was surreal.'

'We were sat right at the entrance, so everyone came past us. I had Lionel Richie to my left and Ant and Dec to my right,' he added.

During the pandemic, Geoff arranged for his team to deliver food and essentials and to look after vulnerable and elderly people in his community, and even organised a surprise 90th birthday treat for an elderly customer who was self-isolating on her own on her big day.

He also got his wife, Vanessa, and daughter, Anna, involved and they also helped with the orders.
Arizona's Gov. Katie Hobbs is not satisfied with Joe Biden's handling of the migrant crisis at the southern border, and specifically the president's decision to end Title 42 without other fail-safes in place.

The Democrat said at a press conference Monday that Biden has not given an 'adequate response' to her letters outline action needed in her border state before the end of the pandemic-era expulsion policy on Thursday.

She also said that she expects the situation at the border to only get 'worse' if nothing is done to help once Title 42 is done.

There are only two more days until even more chaos is expected to ensue at the southern border, with an estimated spike to 13,000 crossings per day  up from the current average of 7,700.

Hobbs said in her press conference that she sent letters to Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas detailing action she, as a border state leader, feels must be taken ahead of Title 42 expiring on May 11.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said during a press conference Monday that President Joe Biden has not given an 'adequate response' to letters detailing concerns over Title 42 ending with no replacement policy lined up

'As of today, we have not received an adequate response,' Hobbs told reporters as she stood alongside state and border community leaders.

She added: 'We will continue to relentlessly pressure the federal government until we truly get the resources we need to manage the expected influx.'

The governor doesn't think that the state is prepared to handle the anticipated influx of migrants alone.

'While we are prepared to take state action in any way we can, we cannot manage this influx alone,' Hobbs said.

'Without much more robust action from the federal government, the current situation will only get worse.'

Numbers are already surging at the border, with 26,382 migrant encounters just in 72 hours over the weekend, according to Customs and Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz. This means the average went up by 1,000 per day just in the days leading up to the end of Title 42.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls confirmed that Arizona is already seeing a surge in crossings in border communities.

'This is not stopping any time soon and it's troubling,' he said at the press conference with Hobbs.

Biden and Mayorkas assure that the administration has been preparing for the end of the pandemic policy. The president tried twice to end the policy last May and again in December  but was stopped by court challenges.

Come May 11, immigration authorities will no longer be using Title 42 to expel migrants without hearing their asylum claims. It is the same day the the three-year-long public health emergency declaration will end.

Thousands of migrants are already lining up at the southern border waiting to cross into the U.S. from Mexico once Title 42 is lifted on Thursday. Pictured: An aerial view of migrants waiting at the border fence on May 8 and hoping to make asylum claims on May 11

Many local leaders in border states have lamented Biden's inaction to address the crisis, with many claiming there has been no communication with the administration regarding the end of Title 42

Title 42 was first enacted in March 2020 under then-President Donald Trump as a way to quell illegal immigration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arizona Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema also has her doubts about Title 42 ending and how the administration is handling migration.

She told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday that Biden and his team have not been in communication with local officials about expected surges or how the federal government plans to transport migrants so as to not overwhelm border states.

In an effort to preemptively mitigate the crisis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday deployed to the border hundreds of National Guard, including members of his state's elite Tactical Border Force.

President Biden also sent 1,500 active duty troops to the border earlier this month.
Jonathan Majors could go to jail for a year after his charge was upgraded to third-degree assault - as his steadfast attorney slammed the District Attorney for allegedly 'fixing the case' to match the accuser's 'new lies.'

The Creed III actor, 33, was accused of assaulting and strangling his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in New York City in March. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment. But that charge has now been 'adjusted,' his lawyer said.

He attended a court hearing via Zoom on Tuesday morning in regards to the status of his assault case - and it was here that a superseding complaint with a charge of third-degree assault was announced, reports Deadline.

This could see Majors be sent behind bars for up to a year if found guilty. He has previously denied all wrongdoing.

The Creed III actor, 33, was accused of assaulting and strangling his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in New York City in March. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment . But that charge has now been 'adjusted,' his lawyer said

Majors' now ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari said in a criminal complaint that the scuffle left her with a laceration behind her ear and an injured right hand. The charge against Majors has now been upgraded to third-degree assault

Judge Rachel S. Pauley also discussed a motion filed by Majors defense team that the prosecution has until May 23 to respond.

He will have to appear in court on June 13, otherwise he may be arrested, the judge said.

Pauley told the actor on Tuesday morning: 'I obviously dont want that to happen, so just stay in touch with your attorney.'

Following the hearing his attorney, Priya Chaudhry published a statement, slamming Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for 'fixing' the case in favor of the accuser.

She said that despite the alleged evidence that exonerates Majors, the case is continuing and the DA has changed the charge to fit the woman's 'new lies.'

Chaudhry said: 'We have provided the District Attorney with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed.

Majors recently appeared in the Rocky sequel Creed III, release last month and currently in theaters

'We did this with the explicit promise from the DA that they would not fix their case and change it as we proved the woman is lying.

'Yet this false case continues, the womans claimed location shifts, and her story morphs. This is a witch hunt against Jonathan Majors, driven by baseless claims.

'Instead of dismissing the allegations in the face of the woman's clear lies, the DA has adjusted the charges to match the woman's new lies. To be clear, there are no new charges against Mr. Majors.'

The attorney claimed that the defense have even more evidence that supposedly shows Majors' innocence - but they are apprehensive to release it because they believe the DA may tell the woman and change her story.

She also claimed that a white officer, who Majors went to when he was allegedly assaulted by the woman, dismissed his injuries and 'taunted him.'

The attorney called the case a 'glaring double standard' and said it highlights the 'racial bias that permeates the justice system.'

Chaudhry added: 'Now, we have obtained even more video evidence of his innocence, but we are hesitant to share it, for fear the DA will tip the woman off to change her story again.

'The criminal justice system is saturated with explicit and implicit bias.

'When Mr. Majors showed a white police officer the injuries the woman caused him, the white officer got in Mr. Majors' face and taunted him, saying that if the officer were to slap Mr. Majors, the officer wouldn't break his finger.

'None of the white officers present investigated the assault of Mr. Majors. Worse, the District Attorney has not indicated any intention to pursue charges against the woman, or even investigate the truth.

'This glaring double standard between the treatment of Jonathan Majors, a Black man weighing 200 lbs, and his accuser, highlights the racial bias that permeates the criminal justice system.'

Majors previously claimed that witness testimony and video evidence will prove his innocence amid allegations he's facing of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend.

Only stills, several of the images come from security footage from Loosies Nightclub between 1:55 am and 3:06 am on March 25 - shortly after Majors is said to have assaulted Jabbari during a cab ride to his Chelsea apartment

The texts that were sent from Majors' girlfriend to the Creed III actor Jonathan Majors after the alleged incident. The defense released the texts in a bid to prove his innocence last month

Chaudhry said that a driver for the beleaguered actor witnessed the altercation between the Lompoc, California-born entertainer and his ex-girlfriend at around 1 a.m. on the day of the incident.

The driver witnessed the woman assault the actor while she was trying to steal his phone, Chaudhry said.

The attorney said that the driver will testify that they never witnessed the Marvel actor lay a hand on his ex-girlfriend 'in any way at any time, or even [raise] his voice' in their dispute.

The driver will also testify to seeing the woman 'hitting, scratching and attacking' Majors, who asked to pull the car over to exit after his ex got physical with him, Chaudhry said.

Majors' lawyer said that they have evidence to show that the woman's claims that her finger was broken and ear was lacerated was 'complete lie,' pointing out video footage of the woman going to a nightclub in the wake of the altercation.

Chaudhry said that hours of video footage depict the woman drinking at the club in the wake of the incident, which conflicts with her claims that she suffered the aforementioned injuries at the hands of the actor.

The woman also sent the actor text messages accusing him of cheating on her and threatening to kill herself, Chaudhry said in legal docs.

Chaudhry said that in footage from the nightclub, the woman was seen frequently using her right hand, which she said the actor injured in the incident.

The attorney said in legal docs that the woman was seen styling her hair, rummaging through her purse, sifting through credit cards, and holding her phone and a champagne glass, proving her fitness amid the alleged injury to her hand.

In the court docs, Majors' legal team said that his ex-girlfriend was also seen taking shots and sipping champagne with friends, not appearing to be nursing any injuries.
Actor Stephen Tompkinson is 'good under pressure' and 'never loses his temper', a comedy writer told his GBH trial today.

The DCI Banks star is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole by punching him. The 57-year-old said his career had been 'put on hold' as a result of the court case.

Character references from Tompkinsons colleagues were given to the jury.

Comic Andy Hamilton, a writer on Drop the Dead Donkey comedy series which launched his career, appeared in person.

He said: That show was a real pressure cooker as we had very tight deadlines because we put a lot of topical jokes into the script.

Stephen was always the calmest member of the production. We did a whole series when he was ill suffering the after effects of malaria which was quite debilitating.

Comic Andy Hamilton, a writer on Drop the Dead Donkey comedy series, supported Tompkinson

Stephen Tompkinson is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court - where he is pictured today - accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Karl Poole

So he had every justification in getting hot under the collar but he was very cool headed, very composed, very calm.

I have never see him lose his temper, I cannot remember him being aggressive with anyone.

I have seen him be the peacemaker when people have been upset and have seen him step in to calm things down.

He added: Stephen works pretty much permanently and one of the reasons for that is that people know he is good under pressure.

Earlier today, Tompkinson told jurors he spoke to police on his phone moments after the altercation but made no mention of Mr Poole being motionless on the floor or how he fell.

He said he knew from his experience of police dramas that he would get the chance later to give a full explanation of events.

The actor went back inside his house 'to take stock of the situation' but returned again after hearing Mr Poole's friend Andrew Hall say 'you've killed him.'

Mr Poole was pictured outside Newcastle Crown Court last week as the case got underway

The 57-year-old is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Poole - who jurors were told was dressed in just his underpants after swimming in the North Sea - on May 30, 2021. Pictured as DCI Banks

In a detailed account of an alleged violent altercation at the end of his driveway, Tompkinson told Newcastle Crown Court 'it was a very frightening situation' and he felt 'threatened and shaken' by the behaviour of two strangers at 5.30am.

Tompkinson said the habit of not making hard contact has been 'in bred' during a long career on stage and screen and that only his palm made contact with Mr Poole and not with any force.

The actor told the court as Mr Poole moved towards him 'I didn't want to hurt him, I wanted to stop him'.

'My right arm came over my shoulder and it contacted the left hand side of Karl's face with an open palm,' he continued.

'I didn't apply any excessive force that would have caused any sober person to fall over.'

But moments later, Mr Poole had fallen to the floor. Tompkinson said he held his mobile phone in his left hand throughout and there was 'no punch at all'.

He added: 'I am not responsible for Karl Poole's double skull fracture. He went off due to his own instability. He fell in a completely different direction.'

Tompkinson said his thought towards Mr Poole was 'change your mind about coming towards me and further into my property' and he used his open palm against his face to stop him.

Tompkinson told the jury he found Mr Poole to be 'snoring very loudly' on the ground and believed he had 'given in to his stupor' as he was 'passed out in a very very deep sleep.'

Police arrested Tompkinson later in the day after speaking to a neighbour who had seen the incident from her bedroom window and claimed he had punched Mr Poole to the ground.

The actor said the six hours sat in the police station was 'a very new experience for me.'

Tompkinson told the court that during his long career as an actor he had worked in many 'stressful situations' but had never assaulted anyone.

He told the court he got his big break of a seven-month contract with the BBC after winning a top student award when finishing drama school in 1987.

His first big hit was in the TV comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey and the TV series Ballykissangel was watched by 15 million viewers, he said.

Other hits included Wild at Heart and DCI Banks and he also starred in the film Brassed Off.

He told the court he had lost work as a result of the case and needed to work to earn a living.

Tompkinson recalled advice given by his late father when Ballykissangel made him a household name to 'show respect' as he had effectively been invited into people's living rooms.

The trial continues. Tompkinson denies GBH.
July 11, 2019: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona. Police initially rule that Alex acted in self defense but reopen the case months later after the children are reported missing.

August, 2019: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho, close to where her future husband Chad Daybell lives with his wife Tammy.

September 8, 2019: Tylee is seen alive for the last time during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, JJ and Alex. In the following weeks Lori tells people that her daughter is studying at Brigham Young University's Idaho campus.

September 23, 2019: The last time JJ is seen at his school in Rexburg. Lori emails the school the following day claiming she is moving the family to California for a new job.

October 2, 2019: Brandon Boudreaux, the ex-husband of Lori's niece Melani Pawlowski, is targeted in a drive-by shooting in Arizona. Police identify the vehicle carrying the shooter as a Jeep registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's late husband.

October 19, 2019: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. An obituary states that she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Chad declines an autopsy and her death is listed as due to natural causes.

October 25, 2019: A friend of Tylee receives a vague 'miss you' text from her phone but says that it didn't sound like the teen.

November 5, 2019: Lori and Chad tie the knot on a beach in Kauai. Receipts indicate that Lori purchased her own wedding ring from Amazon nearly three weeks prior to Tammy's death.

November 26, 2019: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ. Lori and Chad claim he is in Arizona with relatives and ask their friend, Melanie Gibb, to lie and say she took the boy there for Thanksgiving. Police soon learn that no one has seen JJ or Tylee, since September.

November 27, 2019: Police execute a search warrant related to the children at Lori's home and discover that she and Chad have fled Idaho.

December 11, 2019: Tammy's body is exhumed from a Utah cemetery and her death is reclassified as suspicious.

December 12, 2019: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, is found dead in a bathroom in his Arizona home. Months later an autopsy determines that he died of natural causes while he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system.

December 21, 2019: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance could be linked to Tammy's death and asking the public for information.

December 24, 2019: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'.

December 30, 2019: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them.

January 3, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem and remove 43 items, including tech devices and journals. They also comb over sections of the snow-covered yard with rakes and metal detectors.

January 26, 2020: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve them with two search warrants in Kauai. Lori is also served with a court order to produce the children to authorities in Idaho in five days. The couple are approached by the media while officers serve the documents and refuse to say anything about the children.

January 30, 2020: Lori misses the court deadline to produce the children to Idaho authorities.

February 20, 2020: Lori is arrested in Kauai and charged with two felony counts for desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, and one misdemeanor count each for resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime, and contempt of court.

March 5, 2020: Lori is extradited to Idaho, where she is held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail.

March 17, 2020: Lori professes her innocence in a statement through her attorney as two other members of her defense team quit and the judge removes himself from the case.

March 24, 2020: Court documents filed in the divorce of Lori's niece Melani and her husband Brandon Boudreaux allege that Lori told people she believed her children were zombies before they disappeared.

April 9, 2020: Authorities reveal they are investigating Lori and Chad for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with Tammy's death.

June 9, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem for the second time and discover human remains in the backyard. Chad is taken into police custody and charged with destruction or concealment of evidence.

May 25, 2021: Lori and Chad are charged with first degree murder in the deaths of the children. Chad is also charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Tammy.

May 27, 2021: Lori is deemed incompetent to stand trial on the murder charges in Idaho.

August 5, 2021: Prosecution announces it will seek the death penalty for Chad.

April 11, 2022: Lori is restored competency. Criminal proceedings against her in Idaho are ordered to continue.

April 14, 2022: Lori is taken to the Madison County Jail in Rexburg, Idaho, by Fremont County Sheriff officers.

April 10, 2023: Lori Vallow goes on trial for the murders of JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16.
McClure was caught in a second avalanche trying to save Ryan and was dropped 1,600 feet at 50mph

Ryan was swept up in the first avalanche, but the pro-skier was able to get on top of the snow and came away uninjured, although ski-less

A professional skier got caught in an avalanche in Colorado and his ski partner got seriously injured while trying to save him when a second snow slide dropped him 1,600 feet at 50mph.

Ryan McClure and Connor Ryan had never skied together before when they hit the 'dreamy' King Solomon slope in San Juans, Colorado, on April 28.

Although they knew inches of fresh snowfall had fallen on the mountain the night before their big debut, they never expected to be swept up in two avalanches that nearly took McClure's life.

'We'd been assessing the snowpack on the way up, but the conditions that I found were just very different from what I had expected,' professional skier Ryan told Denver 7.

It was Ryan that got caught in the first avalanche, but fortunately for the athlete, he was able to get above the snow and was not seriously injured.

In videos posted to his Instagram, viewers can hear a distressed Ryan grunting through the fall and blistering white snow circulates around his black skies. There are moments where only white snow can be seen in the video before the professional manages to get on top of the snow and the beautiful Colorado mountains come into view.

Connor Ryan was traversing the King Solomon slope with Ryan McClure on April 28 when he was swept up in an avalanche (pictured)

Ryan was uninjured but left ski-less, which causes McClure to have to come down and rescue him

As he manages to get a seated position on the snow, Ryan's heavy breaths can be heard as he stabilizes himself on the slopes as the end of the avalanche slides the mountainside.

'Holy f**k,' Ryan can be heard saying as he can be seen ski-less on the slope.

McClure then traversed the dangerous slope to help his friend, who couldn't get down the mountain with his just shoes.

'I made a small ski cut, trying to test the reactivity and the slope, it didn't budge,' McClure told Denver 7. He slowly began to move down the mountain, but seconds later: 'I kind of looked up above me, and the whole thing started moving. And it very quickly got out of hand.'

Ryan heard one of their ski partners say over the radio: 'Avalanche, avalanche, avalanche,' but by the time he called it, McClure had already been swallowed up and according to his smartwatch, had dropped 1,600 feet going 50mph.

Ryan McClure (right) and Connor Ryan (left) had never skied together before when they hit the 'dreamy' King Solomon slope in San Juans, Colorado, on April 28

This had lead McClure to have to traverse the dangerous slope to help his friend, who couldn't get down the mountain with his just shoes. However, McClure was caught in a second avalanche, which dropped him 1,600 feet at 50mph

When he landed, his femur was sticking out of his body and Ryan had to put his leg in a tourniquet and he was life-flighted to the hospital, where he underwent three surgeries

'I remember specifically being airborne for a long enough time to go: "Wow, I'm still in the air,"' he told Denver 7.

Unlike Ryan, McClure did not escape unscathed and his femur was broken and sticking out of his body.

'I was buried about to my chest here. The only thing I could see was my femur sticking out of my leg,' he told the local outlet.

The second avalanche was seen going much further down the mountain that Ryan had dropped.

This time Ryan had to carefully traverse down the slope to McClure, who was badly injured. Once he reached his ski partner, he had to put McClure's leg in a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, which the injured man said was the 'worst thing I have ever felt in my entire life.'

The second avalanche brought McClure (left) much further down the mountain that Ryan (right) had dropped

McClure has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home

Despite his excellent rendering of the tourniquet, Ryan was worried McClure would 'die in his arms.'

'We sat there and just embraced,' McClure recalled to Denver 7. 'I've never felt closer to a person.'

Ryan and McClure eventually called for help and used a GPS and satellite communicator to alert Silverton Medical Rescue to their exact location.

McClure was life-flighted to the hospital, where he would undergo three surgeries on his leg for his 'compounded distal femur fracture with a complete rupture of the quadricep tendon and patellar tendon.'

It could take him up to six months before he can start walking again, doctors said. He has since been released from the hospital to recover from home.

Despite his life-threatening injury, McClure is ready to hit the slopes again with Ryan in the future.

'[I look forward to] getting back on the slopes, Connor and I,' he told Denver 7. 'And actually going on a ski tour that doesn't involve a flight for life helicopter.'

His girlfriend has started to a GoFundMe to help McClure during his recovery, as he cannot work during his recovery.

'We need support with medical bills from three invasive surgeries, two Flight for Life transports, living in Denver while Ryan initially recovers, living expenses (like rent) while Ryan is unable to work in recovery, driving an hour from Silverton to the nearest doctor in Durango for ongoing care and more,' Lindsey Halvorson wrote.

They are donating 10 percent of the proceeds to Silverton Medical Rescue, as 'Ryan would not have made it out of there without [their] heroic efforts.'

The GoFundMe has raised more than $15,000 of its $25,000 goal.
Police were aware of plots to disrupt the Coronation by using rape alarms to cause a stampede of military horses and to douse troops in paint, MPs were told today.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, this afternoon outlined the 'specific intelligence threats' facing the Metropolitan Police ahead of Saturday's historic event.

There were 'multiple well-organised plots' to disrupt the 'once-in-a-generation national moment', Mr Philp told the House of Commons.

He praised the police for their efforts amid a furious row over the arrests of a group of six anti-monarchists - who police have now admitted were not among those planning to disrupt the Coronation - under new public order laws.

Labour MPs fumed at the 'draconian' legislation, which officially passed into law just days before the Coronation, that was used to detain the protesters.

But a Tory backbencher told the Commons he was 'fed up with the police apologising all the time' after Scotland Yard expressed their 'regret' over the arrests.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, this afternoon outlined the 'specific intelligence threats' facing the Metropolitan Police ahead of Saturday's historic event

Police were aware of plots to disrupt the Coronation by using rape alarms to cause a stampede of military horses and to douse troops in paint, MPs were told

Labour's Clive Lewis blasted 'draconian' legislation used to arrest anti-monarchists - while Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant expressed his frustration with police 'apologising all the time'

Answering an urgent question in the House of Commons over the policing of the Coronation, Mr Philp refused to 'get into the details' of the arrests of the six anti-monarchists.

But he stressed the police must have 'reasonably believed there were grounds' to detain the group at the point the arrests were made.

The Home Office minister also attempted to provide some context to the policing operation as King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey.

'Let's be clear. At the weekend, officers had to make difficult judgments in fast time in a highly pressured situation against a threatening intelligence picture,' Mr Philp said.

'I thank the police for doing that, for delivering a successful Coronation and for enabling safe, peaceful protests.'

He also told MPs that the police had received intelligence reports of 'more than one plot to cause severe disruption by placing activated rape alarms in the path of horses to induce a stampede'.

There was also 'a separate plot to douse participants in the procession with paint,' Mr Philp added.

'This was the context: a once-in-a-generation national moment facing specific intelligence threats about multiple well-organised plots to disrupt it.'

The policing minister faced calls to review the Public Order Act 2023 - which received Royal Assent at the beginning of this month and under which the six anti-monarchists were controversially arrested in the hours before the Coronation ceremony.

Tory ex-Cabinet minister David Davis said: 'Within one week of the Public Order Bill entering the law and in its first serious use, we end up with the head of the Met having to apologise to people who are wrongfully arrested.

'In the event that, let's say, the Home Affairs Select Committee reviews this matter and comes back with recommendations as to how we change guidelines and maybe laws, will the Home Office take it on board?'

Labour MP Clive Lewis claimed the 'draconian' legislation had been 'rushed through' Parliament before being handed to a 'failing institution' such as the Met Police.

'This piece of legislation is doing exactly what it says on the tin: it's stopping peaceful protest,' he added.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss, the party's home affairs spokesperson, quoted Graham Smith - the chief executive of the Republic anti-monarchy group and who was among those arrested - as saying the right to protest peacefully in the UK 'no longer exists'.

But Mr Philp said it was 'entirely inaccurate to say the right to protest does not exist'.

'Hundreds and hundreds of people did peacefully and lawfully protest on Coronation day,' he told MPs.

'They did so unmolested and unimpeded, which I think goes to show this idea that the right to protest doesn't exist is absolute nonsense.'

Mr Smith has revealed how a chief inspector and two other officers had personally apologised to him following his arrest early on Saturday.

But Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant blasted police leaders for apologising for the actions of their officers.

'I'm getting pretty fed up actually with the police apologising all the time,' he told MPs.

'I can say that ordinary police officers doing a decent job, as they did on Saturday, find their morale is at rock bottom when they're given the instruction "we will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebrations"  which came from the Met Police on May 3  and then finding someone is apologising for them doing just that.'

Earlier today, Rishi Sunak ruled out a rethink of the Public Order Act as he defended fresh powers the Government has handed police to deal with demonstrations.

On a visit to a doctors' surgery in Southampton this morning, the Prime Minister declined to commit to a review of the legislation.

'First thing to say about the weekend is an enormous thank you to everyone involved in making sure that everything went off so smoothly and was so successful,' Mr Sunak said.

'Lots of people worked incredibly hard, including the police, to make sure that that happened and I'm very grateful to all of them.

'With regard to protest, of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

'What the Government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to people's lives.

'I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers.'

Asked if nothing about the Republic arrests made him feel uncomfortable, the PM told broadcasters police are 'rightly, operationally independent of Government'.

'They make the decisions on the ground in the way they see fit,' Mr Sunak added.

'It wouldn't be right for me to interfere with their operational decisions but it is right for the Government to give the police the powers to tackle serious disruption.'

Downing Street said it 'wouldn't be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example'.

'We do still stand by these powers which we think are in line with what the public want and what we believe are appropriate,' the PM's official spokesman said.

'I think the public has been alarmed by the chaos caused by highly disruptive protesters over the last few years and the legislation was brought in to balance the fundamental rights of protesters with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of serious disruption to their daily lives.'

Mr Smith has condemned Saturday's 'disgraceful episode' and revealed he is considering taking legal action against the Met Police.

'I also expect a full inquiry into why they repeatedly lied to us and who authorised the arrests,' he said last night.

Rishi Sunak defended fresh powers the Government has handed officers under the Public Order Act in order to deal with demonstrations

The PM was quizzed about the new police powers following a furious row over Scotland Yard's handling of Saturday's historic Coronation ceremony

The Met Police said their officers had stopped a group of people unloading items from a vehicle close to Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning

Graham Smith, the chief executive of the Republic campaign group, revealed a chief inspector and two other officers had personally apologised to him following the incident

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley dscribed the arrests as 'unfortunate' but stressed his support for his officers' actions

In an article for the Evening Standard newspaper, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Scotland Yard was 'proud' to have ensured the 'safety and security' of the Coronation.

He said Saturday's event came amid 'the most challenging, fast-moving and complex policing picture we have ever encountered for a national celebration'.

'Protest is an important right in any democracy, but it is limited and has to be carefully balanced alongside consideration for the rights of others so they too can go about their normal business  in this case participating in a once-in-a-generation event,' Sir Mark added.

'While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers' actions in this unique, fast-moving operational context.'

In an attack on 'ill-informed' and 'wholly inaccurate' commentary, Sir Mark stressed that 'protest was not banned' during the Coronation.

'I want to be absolutely clear - our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality,' he said.

'Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real.'

Sir Mark pointed to intelligence Scotland Yard received that protesters were 'intent on using rape alarms and loud hailers... which would have caused distress to military horses', as well as plans for people to 'extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route'.

He added that officers had 'worked around the clock to try to identify the full criminal network, establish the detail of their plans, and make arrests'.

Sir Mark also noted how crowds 'applauded and cheered' as Met Police officers made arrests along The Mall just prior to the Coronation procession.

But, in a letter to Sir Mark, London mayor Sadiq Khan demanded a review and 'lessons learned' report on Scotland Yard's policing of the weekend.

Mr Khan listed six questions for the Met Police to answer, adding: 'The issues I have raised in this letter are of public interest and so Londoners will expect that the outcomes of any review undertaken will be made public.'

Scotland Yard last night expressed 'regret' that a group of six people were arrested under the Public Order Act at 6.40am on Saturday.

All six have now had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken, the Met Police said.

They admitted one of the group had been liaising with Scotland Yard about a protest ahead of the Coronation, but suggested this information was not known by the arresting officers.

In a statement issued last night, the force said their officers had stopped a group of people unloading items from a vehicle close to Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning.

They claimed a search of the vehicle had uncovered items which the officers 'had reasonable grounds to believe could be used as lock on devices'.

'Taking into account the information they had, and the overall concern regarding security, six people were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for locking on, contrary to Section 2 Public Order Act 2023,' the statement added.

'One man was also arrested for possession of a knife/pointed article.

'It was not clear at the time that at least one of the group stopped had been engaging with police Protest Liaison Team officers ahead of the event.

'The Protest Liaison Team were not the arresting officers nor were they present in St Martin's Lane at the time of the arrest.

'The investigation team have now fully examined the items seized and reviewed the full circumstances of the arrest.

'Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event.

'This evening all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken.

'We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route.'

Under the Public Order Act 2023, which passed into law just days before the Coronation, a new offence of 'locking on' during demonstrations was created.

It followed recent disruptive protests by environmental groups such as Just Stop Oil, whose members have been known to chain or tie themselves to things as a means of demonstrating.
The city of Phoenix will begin clearing the city's largest homeless encampment in the wake of a court ruling after neighbors brought a lawsuit against the local government.

The homeless camp, known as The Zone, is located steps from the state Capitol building and the Arizona Diamondbacks' stadium. The city's Democratic Mayor Kate Gallego said in April that she agreed with the demolition of the camp 'in spirit.'

While in March, Arizona's liberal Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would ban people setting up tents in public spaces.

The lawsuit could be used to help other city's attempts to remove homeless camps, reports CNN. While advocates for the homeless told the network that the lawsuit merely moves the problem rather then solving anything.

Office of Homeless Solutions director Nette Reed told CNN that officials will have to 'move fast' in order to find housing for those being displaced, including booking hotel rooms and using vacant buildings as shelters.

This week, officials in Phoenix will begin clearing the city's largest homeless encampment known as The Zone

In March, local business owners sued the city saying that they were contributing to a 'public nuisance' in allowing the camp to operate

One woman interviewed by CNN said that she would not be moving to a city-run facility because of her drug use

Last month, the city's Democratic Mayor Kate Gallego said that she agreed 'in spirit' that the camp should be moved

As many as 2,000 people call The Zone home, the number of homeless in Phoenix has risen from 700 to over 3,000 in less than ten years

Phoenix's Democratic Mayor Kate Gallego has been in office since 2019, during which time the city's homeless population has exploded

It's estimated that around 2,000 people call The Zone home. AZ Central reports that many who live there are drug users and/or battling serious mental illness.

One resident of The Zone, Shina Sepulveda, told the New York Times that living in the area is not 'a life. It's an existence.'

The CEO of homeless charity Community Bridges said that their organization will be providing shelter space and hotel rooms for the displaced.

The process of removing the encampment will be done block-by-block. When people are removed, they will not be allowed to return or they could face a criminal charge.

In an April interview with KSAT, Mayor Gallego said that her office was still seeking solutions to the homeless problem.

'Weve been working with my colleagues to bring seven new investments online that will help take people out of the zone and put them into a better housing situation. These include partnerships with nonprofits like the Salvation Army, UMom and CBI that are in every part of Phoenix,' the mayor said.

A couple who sued the city, seeking to have the camp moved, Joe and Debbie Faillace, said that the regularly found feces and drug paraphernalia outside of the sandwich shop that they have operated in the area for 30 years.

'Theres just a complete lawlessness, and its getting worse. We want our neighborhood back. We want to feel safe,' Debbie told the network. The number of homeless people in Phoenix has risen from 771 in 2014 to 3.096 in 2022.

An advocate told CNN that she was worried that others could follow the Phoenix lawsuit.

'We know that the only way to actually address this issue and homelessness is affordable housing and the services that people want and need in order to get housing,' National Alliance to End Homelessness CEO Ann Oliva said.

Another resident, Rayann Denny, told CNN that she would not be moving to city-run shelter because of her drug use.

'I just try to keep myself high so I don't have to deal with the pain,' the 37-year-old said.

Denny said that she became homeless after her husband died and she couldn't pay the bills.

The demolishing of the camp will begin on Wednesday and will be done block by block

Those forced to move on will not be permitted to return to the area

A pedestrian walks by The Zone in June 2021. During the summer months, temperatures regularly soar well past 110 degrees

Nadeen Bender stands outside her tent at a homeless encampment

Austin Davis, Lina Ali and Mackenzie Zollner carry goods for distribution to the homeless in The Zone

According to the lawsuit, the city should have no tents within public property and biohazards that include drugs, trash and human waste should be picked up

While another, Stefanie Powell, said that she doesn't know where she and her boyfriend will wind up.

'I dont want to wind up having to walk the streets again. Its hard because nobody wants to see the problem. Nobody wants to acknowledge the problem. They just want it to away,' Powell told CNN.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ruled in March that Phoenix is maintaining a 'public nuisance' and city officials must show evidence at a July 10 hearing that they're cleaning the area.

The business owners cited an increase in crime, drug usage in public, biohazards and break-ins.

According to the lawsuit, the city should have no tents within public property and biohazards that include drugs, trash and human waste should be picked up.

Attorneys for the business owners said Phoenix has allowed homeless people to set up permanent tent encampments on public sidewalks and decreased enforcement of loitering, drunken and disorderly conduct and drug use among other things.

Kristin Couturier, a city spokesperson, said officials were reviewing the court ruling.

'We remain committed to address the needs of all residents and property owners,' Couturier said in a statement Monday.

'We continue to work with local and regional partners to address the complex issues surrounding those experiencing homelessness and to connect people in need with safe, indoor spaces and resources to help end their homelessness.'
Former president Donald Trump leads would-be candidate Ron DeSantis by 41 percentage points, according to a bombshell new poll of Republican voters.

The survey by the Morning Consult firm found that 60% of GOP loyalists will vote for the real estate mogul in a primary runoff for the presidential nomination.

But just 19% say that they plan to back the 44-year-old former congressman who has been hit by a series of stinging attacks by Trump and his allies.

The findings show that Trump's standing with Republicans appears to be unaffected by the lawsuits he is facing or his bogus claims that the 2020 election was a fix.

A jury in New York is expected to announce a verdict soon in a civil lawsuit brought by a journalist who claims Trump raped her in a department store in 1996.

The former commander-in-chief is set to appear on CNN, a network he repeatedly clashed with, on Wednesday night for a 'town hall-style' debate in New Hampshire.

Former President Donald Trump has lambasted the Florida governor over his sagging poll numbers, branding him 'Ron Desanctimonious'

The numbers will also pile pressure on DeSantis, the current Governor of Florida, to formally announce his intention to run for the White House.

He has been on a presidential campaign in all but name in recent months, even making foreign trips to the UK, Japan and Israel.

Allies close to the Navy veteran say that he will declare within the first two weeks of June, either in his home town of Dunedin in Florida or a key battleground state.

A similar survey, conducted by RealClearPolitics from April 11 through May 3, showed Trump leading DeSantis 52.2% to 23.1%, a nearly 30 percentage point advantage.

The pair were the clear frontrunners in the Morning Consult poll of nearly 3,500 Republican voters with Mike Pence and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy next up with 5 percent each.

Ramaswamy has officially entered the race, but Pence has not yet said whether hell run.

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, sits up on just 3%.

Governor DeSantis has come under fire in recent weeks from critics after he signed a series of hardline laws on abortion and the death penalty in an apparent bid to fire up the GOP base.

He also been locked in a so-called 'war on woke' with Disney after the animation and theme park giant slammed his 'Don't Say Gay' legislation.

The fight began last year after the firm publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.

DeSantis is facing a legal challenge in the courts after he created an oversight board for the Disney World governing district that is made up of members that he appointed.

While DeSantis has risen in the national GOP ranks due to his pandemic response in Florida, the governor has recently been sliding in 2024 presidential polling.

He even obtained an early bump that saw him even beating out Trump on occasion.

The winner of any Republican primary would almost certainly go up against incumbent Joe Biden, raising the prospect of a 2020 rematch with Trump.

Only no-hopers Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, and self-help author Marianne Williamson have declared an intention to stand in the Democratic primaries.
Serial killer Levi Bellfield has been questioned by police over the murder of a student 24 years ago.

Metropolitan Police officers reportedly visited Bellfield at HMP Frankland in Durham, where he is serving a life sentence for the murder of teenager Milly Dowler.

Bellfield, 54, is said to have given details of the final moments of Vietnam-born Elizabeth Chau, 19, who went missing in April 1999.

The killer is serving two whole-life terms for the murder of 13-year-old Milly, as well as Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has been questioned by police over the murder of a student 24 years ago

A source told the Daily Mirror: 'Police are taking his confession seriously. Elizabeth's family have always wanted answers - it's the least they deserve.'

Bellfield has allegedly given details of Elizabeth's final moments and offered to show detectives where he buried her.

When she disappeared, Bellfield was living in West London not far from where she was last seen.

She went missing as she walked home from Thames Valley University after handing in an assignment.

A final CCTV sighting shows her walking past Ealing police station at 6pm on April 16, 1999. She was around a mile from her home.

Bellfield, 54, is said to have given details of the final moments of Vietnam-born Elizabeth Chau, 19, who went missing in April 1999

A statement given by Bellfield to police via his solicitor Theresa Clark is said to include how he killed her and also an admission of attempts to commit five other murders.

He also claimed to have carried out the notorious Chillenden murders, in which Dr Lin Russell and her daughters were attacked as they walked along a country lane in Kent in July 1996.

The family were tied up, blindfolded and then beaten with a claw hammer. Daughter Josie, who was aged just nine, survived but suffered severe head injuries.

Drug addict Michael Stone was jailed for the crime but continues to deny involvement.

His initial conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1998 but he was convicted for a second time in 2001.

In 2017 his legal team claimed they had seen evidence of a 'full confession' by Bellfield. He denied it at the time.

Scotland Year launched an appeal for information on Elizabeth disappearance in 2012, 13 years after her disappearance, offering a 15,000 reward.

In March this year, 54-year-old Bellfield got engaged to a regular female visitor at HMP Frankland.

Her sister, Bich, (pictured left at a press conference with her mother Lam-Pheng on 16 April 1999) has never given up hope of being reunited with her sibling. She previously said: 'We want Liz to know that we love her and miss her very much'

Bellfield has allegedly given details of Elizabeth's final moments and offered to show detectives where he buried her

News of his proposed nuptials with the woman, who is in her 40s, sparked outrage when they were revealed last year and the then Justice Secretary Dominic Raab vowed action to stop it happening.

Milly was kidnapped and murdered in March 2002 at the age of 13. She was walking home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, when she was abducted by Bellfield.

Her body was found six months later.

Marsha was beaten to death near her home in Hampton, Richmond, in February 2003, whilst French student Amelie, 22, was killed on Twickenham Green in south-west London in 2004.
A notorious cowboy builder who preyed on elderly and vulnerable victims was jailed for five years after admitting to a series of frauds.

Lee Slocombe, 40, took almost 150,000 from customers but left their homes in ruins and some customers in severe financial difficulties.

Slocombe was jailed for 43 months in 2015 and last month an investigation by MailOnline discovered he had changed his name to carry on trading.

The serial fraudster used Facebook to advertise his building firm in Swansea, South Wales, and most of his victims were retired and over 70.

He would quote his customers a low price for work but would badger them for more money claiming he had found faults with their properties.

Lee Slocombe, 40, took almost 150,000 from customers but left their homes in ruins and some customers in severe financial difficulties

Among his victims were PC James Gardner, 32, and Sheri Hall, 24, who hired the builder to undertake some minor work at their new home in Aberbeeg, Blaenau Gwent

Slocombe was jailed for 43 months in 2015 and last month an investigation by MailOnline discovered he had changed his name to carry on trading

In one case he quoted a woman 1,100 but she ended up paying 22,675 and had to take out a second mortgage to pay him.

When Trading Standards officers confronted Slocombe he gave them a false name and address.

Prosecutor Lee Reynolds told how Robert and Christine Lyons hired the builder to carry out repairs to their roof but left their property in a complete mess after charging them 67,517.

He said: 'The stress on Mr Lyons was incalculable and affected his mental health.

'The couple were left in sheer panic and lost control - Slocombe was aware of their financial situation but said he had problems in his personal life.

'He said his son was in hospital having operations and made numerous excuses to do with the weather and workers.

'An expert who examined his work said it was carried out by someone with no tangible expertise and the work was unnecessary and unjustified'.

Swansea Crown Court heard the expert estimated between 12,000 - 15,000 to put the substandard and aborted work right and the Lyons' property had devalued as a result of Slocombe's botched handy work.

Paul and Maureen Douglas, both in their seventies, were quoted 2,000 to have their roof repaired but ended up paying 5,250 for a job which was left unsafe and had to be replaced.

In one case he quoted a woman 1,100 but she ended up paying 22,675 and had to take out a second mortgage to pay him

When Trading Standards officers confronted Slocombe he gave them a false name and address

An expert said the workmanship was 'truly appalling' and carried out by someone with low technical skill

Prosecutor Lee Reynolds told how Robert and Christine Lyons hired the builder to carry out repairs to their roof but left their property in a complete mess after charging them 67,517

The prosecution, brought by Swansea Trading Standards, listed eight victims who paid Slocombe a total of 147,490.05 while he was trading under the name Kamlee Builders Ltd

An expert said the workmanship was 'truly appalling' and carried out by someone with low technical skill.

The prosecution, brought by Swansea Trading Standards, listed eight victims who paid Slocombe a total of 147,490.05 while he was trading under the name Kamlee Builders Ltd.

Mr Reynolds said Slocombe's offences were aggravated because they were sophisticated, planned, his previous history and the serious effect on a large number of victims.

Slocombe admitted participating in a fraudulent business between July 2018 and September 2020.

An application by the prosecution for a Criminal Behaviour Order was not contested by Slocombe's barrister.

Judge Catherine Richards jailed Slocombe for five years and five months saying he had deliberately targeted elderly victims leaving some of them in financial difficulties and with mental health problems.

In 2015 Newport Crown Court heard how Slocombe started work on properties only to ask his victims for more cash to get the job done.

He would fail to return, leaving homes like building sites with his customers so broke they were unable to bring in reputable contractors to finish the job.

Slocombe, from Swansea featured on the Channel 5 programme, Cowboy Builders which told the story of his deception.

But months after being freed from prison he was able to set up two separate building firms praying on more unsuspecting customers.

He was hired by Tomoz Krol, 39, and his wife Marta, 37, to build a garage extension with two bedrooms and an en-suite above at their 300,000 semi in Fairwater, Cardiff.

But two years later the couple and their two children were still living on a dangerous building site.

They discovered the builder they hired using the name of Lee Lewis was Lee Slocombe and Mr Krol said he 'nearly had an heart attack when he found out the true identity of his builder.

When MailOnline contacted Slocombe he claimed he was 'squeaky clean' before later admitting he was due at Swansea Crown Court for the charges he was locked up for today.
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell exchanged toe-curling, erotic text messages just weeks before her two children vanished in 2019, the cult mom's trial heard Tuesday.

Nicole Heideman, a tactical specialist with the FBI, took the stand to testify about text messages detailing a love story between 'James and Elena' - which the State claims are Daybell and Vallow - that were found on the cult mom's iCloud account.

In one text from Daybell to Vallow, he gushes about their sex life, writing: 'Elena's magic hand has gripped the storm. Barely able to breathe as intense waves wash over them.'

The prosecution is seeking to show that the couple's relationship was the driving force in the plot to kill Vallow's husband Charles, and her children JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16, who went missing in 2019 and whose bodies were found in Daybell's backyard in 2020. They married in Hawaii two weeks after Daybell's then-wife Tammy was suffocated to death.

Last week, FBI Agent Doug Hart testified that the pair had also engaged in toe-curling sexting sessions about showering together and 'naked activities' during their affair which started shortly after they met at a doomsday conference in late 2018.

Lori Vallow (pictured after her arrest in 2020) and Chad Daybell exchanged toe-curling, erotic texts messages just weeks before her two children vanished, it was revealed on Tuesday

Chad Daybell enters the courtroom during his preliminary hearing in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Monday, August 3, 2020. He is being tried separately

Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake argued in court on Tuesday that the story of James and Elena resembles the story of Daybell and Vallow and asked Heideman to delve into the specifics of the detailed intimate interactions.

On August 9, 2019, Vallow texted Daybell, whom she called 'Bubby.'

'That is pretty incredible. Fire emoji. Fire emoji. Fire emoji. Fire emoji. The fire is definitely burning. I miss you way too much. You have to stop or I might explode.'

Another text read: 'The intensity of each encounter in my mind. One greater than the last. Fire emoji. Fire emoji. Especially this last one. I've never loved you more. It just keeps growing.'

Daybell responds: 'I completely agree. We were definitely in new territory in your bedroom.'

'Elena's magic hand has gripped the storm,' he continued. 'Barely able to breathe as intense waves wash over them.'

Vallow replies: 'Yes she did!'

Chad then texted: 'I love you Elena. What a wonderful chemistry we share. Fire emoji. Fire emoji.'

'I love you more. That's so hot. I need you now more than ever. Heart emoji. Heart emoji,' Vallow responds.

Daybell writes: 'You are amazing. Please save that segment. I want to read it with you naked and relive it all.'

Texts continue to describing their intertwined bodies, breathing heavily and spending intimate time together.

Heideman also testifies about the similarities of the story to Daybell and Vallow's story.

'In the James and Elena story, it beings on Oct. 26 and there are multiple images on Oct. 26 of Chad and Lori at a conference in St. George, Utah. Chad Daybell was a speaker at the conference.'

Jurors and the court were shown a photo of Daybell surrounded by Vallow and other women at the conference.

The story continues with James Googling Elena, which Heideman says is consistent with Daybell Googling Vallow.

'In the story, James authored a story. Chad also authored a story,' Heideman added.

She also testified that James stayed at Elena's house during the conference, while in real life, Daybell stayed at Vallow's house during the conference.

When Blake asked Heideman if there were similarities between Elena in the story and Vallow in real life in regard to travel, it was revealed that Elena traveled to James' hometown in the story, while Vallow traveled to Idaho Falls.

In the story, James traveled to Arizona to do a podcast with Elena and her friends. in real life, Daybell traveled in January 2019 to Arizona the same month 'along the lines of Chad Daybell participates in a podcast about his life experiences with Lori,' Heideman said.

The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother

Tylee, 16, and JJ, seven, are shown with their uncle, Alex Cox, in what is believed to be the final photo of them, taken during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019

Vallow and Daybell are accused of killing his wife Tammy (left) in October, 2019. Vallow is further accused of plotting the death of her estranged husband Charles who was shot by her brother in Arizona in July of that year. She is facing a separate trial over his killing.

The trial continued Tuesday with Attorney General Investigator Nicholas Edwards taking the stand.

The two children and Daybell's previous wife Tammy were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, the State says.

Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy's death, and that Vallow kept collecting and spending the children's social security and benefits after they died.

Testimony began on April 10 and jurors have since heard from friends and relatives of Vallow, who claimed she and Daybell believed her two children were 'zombies' before they disappeared.

Vallow denies two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of conspiracy in the deaths of her two children and Tammy Daybell.

She further denies grand theft for allegedly collecting government benefits on behalf of her children after they were killed.
Authorities are searching for other individuals who may have been involved in the shooting as well

Authorities have arrested the woman who allegedly opened fire and shot dead two NYU students outside a club in Puerto Rico.

Marangelys Claudio turned herself in to police in the municipality of Caguas on Monday.

The 31-year-old was seen on video surrounded by two men who were trying to calm her down after she got kicked out of the same club before she raised her gun in the air before she discharged it.

The gunfire struck Peruvian nationals Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino, 28.

Marangelys Claudio is escorted to a police station in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on Monday following Saturday's shooting in San Juan that left dead two innocent NYU students

Innocent bystander Franco Medina, 29, a student at the NYU Stern School of Business, died Saturday after being shot in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, also died as a result of the unrelated dispute, which was caught on camera

The MBA students originally had planned with other classmates to travel to Orlando to celebrate a birthday, but flew to the Caribbean island Friday because it was more economical, outlets in the U.S. commonwealth reported.

The group was standing in front of the Emo-Y Bar and Lounge in San Juan waiting for their Uber ride when they were shot.

Claudio hired a lawyer who contacted authorities in San Juan to make arrangements for her to turn herself over in Caguas.

Police said she had been kicked out of the Emo-Y Bar and Lounge before she retaliated by firing her weapon.

She is facing multiple charges which include illegal possession of a firearm and opening fire in a public area.

Marangelys Claudio turned herself in to authorities to Puerto Rico on Monday for her alleged role in the deaths of two Peruvian students from NYU's Stern School of Business

Marangelys Claudio (right) is facing multiple charges after she fired a weapon in public near a San Juan, Puerto Rico, nightclub and killed two students from NYU on Saturday

Police commissioner Antonio Lopez said there was an active search for other individuals who may have been involved in the shooting.

'This is a case that interests the entire country, all of Puerto Rico. We are interested in clarifying it and we are heading towards that,' Lopez said.

Palomino's family has been making arrangement to fly his body back to Peru.

Classmates at the NYU Stern School of Business arranged a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Palomino and Medina families back home in Peru.

Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia reported that San Juan cops had slapped the Emo-Y Bar and Lounge with a $2,000 fine for operating a bar without a permit.

The business was fined on three occasions for the same violation. The previous fines have yet to been paid.

San Juan municipal spokesperson Michelle Cob told the outlet that Emo-Y Bar and Lounge has had a liquor license since 2018 and a permit to hold live music events. However, it was not permitted to run the business as a bar.

'The Municipality of San Juan is taking legal action against the business and a legal recourse will be filed,' Cob said.
The Texas border city is bracing for a massive influx of migrants after that

First came the warning that the authorities were planning a 'targeted operation' sweeping migrants off the streets of El Paso, Texas.

Then came the leaflets, dropped at dawn around the Sacred Heart Church, urging the undocumented to walk about the corner and hand themselves in at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices.

And then came the police, in masks and sunglasses, escorting sanitation workers through the streets as they dumped discarded trash bags, blankets and flattened cardboard boxes into a slow moving garbage trucks.

A few hours later, it was Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers checking papers.

As many as 2,000 recently arrived migrants have been camping close to the sanctuary of Sacred Heart Church.

On Tuesday, police moved into an area of El Paso, Texas, where migrants have congregated. They escorted sanitation teams cleaning up the streets ahead of a fresh surge

Illegal migrants line up at the El Paso Service Processing Center in downtown El Paso TX. An ICE operation has been launched to try to clear the city's streets

'We come morning and evening,' said a police officer as he helped keep the garbage truck moving through a throng of bystanders.

'What happens when Title 42 is lifted? I guess we find out on Friday.'

Hours later, a squad of burly ICE officers moved through the streets. Anyone without documents was told they must register or face detention later.

El Paso's shelters are already full. Two vacant schools are being readied for an expected surge when Title 42  a Trump-era pandemic restriction that meant most migrants were sent straight back without even being allowed to apply for asylum expires at midnight on Thursday night.

And a new Customs and Border Patrol processing center is being built just out of town. Its 150,000 square feet of warehouse-like building it can handle about 1000 people.

Federal officials say they are preparing for the number of migrants reaching the border to more than double, from about 6000 a day to 13,000.

Hundreds of migrants have already made their way right up to the border wall in Ciudad Juarez, a stone's throw from El Paso. Tens of thousands more are reported to be ready and waiting for Friday.

For now, those that have already made the crossing are camped around the Sacred Heart Church. They stretch blankets between railings and garbage cans to provide shelter from the scorching sun.

Flattened cardboard boxes serve as beds.

As many as 2000 people have camped around the Sacred Heart Church. Sanitation teams mount clean-up operations in the morning and evening to remove garbage

Recent arrivals rescue their belongings before they are thrown into a garbage truck

Authorities are gradually trying to clear the streets of El Paso ahead of a fresh expected influx when Title 42 ends at midnight on Thursday night

Those who arrived through the border wall without being processed by officers camp inside the railings of the church itself, safe in its sanctuary from arrest.

Father Rafael Garcia said the church's 130-bed shelter was full.

'We don't have more space,' he said. 'We just have the gymnasium and that's it.'

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security kicked off a plan to begin clearing space from the city's streets.

It began with a very public announcement that it was launching a 'targeted operation' in El Paso.

The press release was greeted with fury from the Border Patrol Union, whish said it should not have been publicized. 'This entire operation is a sad joke,' it said.

But soon after, officials were seen dropping leaflets for migrants around the church, advising anyone who had evaded CBP officers as they entered the country to register.

Father Rafael Garcia of the Sacred Heart Church, said its 130-bed shelter was full. 'We don't have more space,' he said. 'We just have the gymnasium and that's it.'

Thousands of migrants are gathered in and around the Mexican city of Juarez which sits opposite the border to the US city of El Paso in Texas

El Paso is already used to handling thousands of migrants. Toilets are lined up outside the Sacred Heart Church which has a shelter for new arrivals

Leaflets were distributed on Tuesday morning urging people who crossed the border illegally to turn themselves in for processing so that they can access El Paso's shelters

'All those who need to apply for shelter from the city and county of El Paso or religious organizations must have been processed by CBP officers,' they said in Spanish.

'If you have not done so, you should deliver to the nearest Border Patrol station.'

It took a few hours for the impact to be seen, but by lunchtime there was a line of about 70 people at the ICE station.

'We are waiting to be given a document,' said Dalia Pinango, 47, from Venezuela. 'It will start our immigration process.'

She and her husband spent three months making the journey north, stopping for weeks at a time in Panama and Mexico to earn cash to complete their travel.

They arrived at the border wall at about 2am. They said they found an open gate and simply strolled through. There was no one to hand themselves into.

Dalia Pinango, 47, and Ender Acosta, 27, arrived recently from Venezuela. They said they simply walked through an open gate to reach U.S. soil. On Tuesday, they lined up for papers

Undocumented arrivals were told to register at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement station. The line was 70-deep on Tuesday afternoon

But without registering an asylum claim (they say they were fleeing the brutal regime of Nicola Maduro) they had to stick close to the Sacred Heart, where they knew they could not be detained and deported.

Their plan is to travel to Chicago once they have their paperwork. But not everyone comes out with paperwork. It is also an ICE detention facility.

'It's cleared out a lot of people,' said a bystander who watched police escort about 20 people at a time into the CBP station. 'Makes you wonder why they did not do this weeks ago.'

Fr. Garcia said no-one's final destination was El Paso. Instead, it was a bottleneck, a city trying to process thousands of people and get them on their way before they could overwhelm local services.

'People are asking for asylum to the United States not to El Paso,' he said 'There has to be some sort of system so it doesn't all fall on the local community.'

Will the system survive when Title 42 is lifted?

'Nobody knows,' he said.
Los Angeles officials say that civilians should help handle traffic enforcement and violations after a three-year commission found that police are better suited elsewhere.

A new report from the city transportation department that has yet to be released indicates that officers should leave traffic duties to the people, despite a rising number of road death and injuries.

The drafted document, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, comes three years after the Los Angeles City Council proposed stripping the police of traffic incidents.

The idea has been shunned by those who point to the staggering number of deaths - 312 in 2022 - a 29 percent increase from 2020.

'As a city, we get an F grade for our traffic, for the amount of traffic violations and our ability to curb serious fatalities and injuries,' Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone, told the LA Times.

Los Angeles officials say that civilians should help handle traffic enforcement and violations after a three-year commission found that police should take a step back

The idea has been shunned by those who point to the staggering number of deaths - 312 in 2022 - a 29 percent increase from 2020

Some advocates say that the traffic problems - particularly in low-income neighborhoods - show that there should be more police presence.

'I understand that we've got a housing crisis, I don't disagree that we're prioritizing that. But we [also] have a public health traffic violence crisis,' Kevitt said.

On the opposite side, some say that over-policing the areas has historically led to deadly consequences for marginalized groups.

Among the recommendations made by the new proposal is investing in 'self-enforcing infrastructure,' the report from the LA Times indicates.

This would include ideas such as narrower streets, dedicated bike lanes and more pedestrian crosswalks.

The logic behind this idea is that these proposals typically slow down traffic on busy streets and decrease the likelihood of fatalities.

Similar ideas were proposed in 2015 when then-Mayor Eric Garcetti brought forth the Vision Zero Initiative, a plan to end traffic deaths in Los Angeles.

At the time he argued the ideas would reduce the need for police enforcement in 'high-injury network corridors, low-income communities, and communities of color.'

'I understand that we've got a housing crisis, I don't disagree that we're prioritizing that. But we [also] have a public health traffic violence crisis,' Kevitt said

Police Chief Michel Moore said that 'finding alternatives to a police response [to certain incidents] is something that the department is very much interested in'

Other proposals include using civilians to enforce 'safety related traffic violations like speeding.

The report specifically mentions other cities that currently use similar methods such as Berkeley, Oakland, and Philadelphia.

Also to be considered is the idea of 'means-based' fee models.

This could include vouchers to repair broken taillights.

The proposal argues that these measures 'advance traffic safety objectives and do not perpetuate enforcement disparities.'

The solution ideas are endless, much like the problems which include 'chronic' running of stop signs and red lights to the shocking rise in sideshows and street takeovers.

One crash in the Windsor Hills area of Los Angeles made major headlines in 2022 when an ICU nurse sped through a busy intersection and killed six people.

Another concern is the growing number of road rage incidents.

In February, a father, grandfather, and special needs worker was shot and killed by another driver in an act of aggressive driving, reports indicate.

Earlier this year, a serial road rage Tesla driver was arrested after being filmed exiting his car with a pipe and bashing another car.

Just hours earlier police said he had attacked another car.

One crash in the Windsor Hills area of Los Angeles made major headlines in 2022 when an ICU nurse sped through a busy intersection and killed six people

Skid marks are seen on the ground at the intersection as investigators tried to work out what had happened in the August Woodland Hills crash

According to Los Angeles Police Department data, the 312 people who died in traffic in 2022 marked a five percent increase over 2021, and a shocking 29 percent increase from 2020.

In 2022, 159 people were killed in collisions involving pedestrians and 20 people died in collisions with bicyclists.

Those numbers were up from 2021 by 19 percent and 11 percent respectively.

LAPD officials said having certain duties given to public 'officers' would be welcomed.

Police Chief Michel Moore said that 'finding alternatives to a police response [to certain incidents] is something that the department is very much interested in.'

'If DOT [Los Angeles Department of Transportation] were to pick that work up, I think we'd welcome it,' he continued.

At this time, it is believed that the state vehicle code permits such duties being handled over to civilian workers.

The report, however, argues there are 'plausible legal arguments that the vehicle code does not limit the Citys discretion in this area,' meaning the plan could go up in smoke.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday he would oppose extending the debt limit to the end of the fiscal year on September 30 to give him and the president more time to hash out budget negotiations.

'Just get this done now,' the speaker told reporters ahead of his afternoon meeting with President Biden. 'He's got to stop ignoring problems. And why continue to kick the can down the road? Let's solve it now.'

The speaker said a debt deal would need to be worked out by next week in order to be voted on by early June.

The pair will sit down with congressional leaders at 4 p.m., going toe-to-toe over the debt ceiling for the first time in over three months.

'I hope it's different than it's been for the last 97 days,' McCarthy said. 'On February 1st I went to see the president and sat down with him saying we should work on the debt ceiling so we wouldn't get to this point. Unfortunately it's taken him 97 days to finally come back.'

The speaker said he did not have high hopes for the meeting. 'I had a much higher expectation 97 days agothen he told me one thing and did another.'

Both sides are entrenched as ever in their opposing demands over the nation's borrowing limit - even as the Treasury Department says there could be just three weeks before the nation runs out of funds to pay its bills.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday during the daily press briefing that the president's plan is not to support a short-term extension of the debt ceiling - putting more emphasis on the importance of the afternoon meeting of the 'Big Four.'

"A short-term extension is not our plan, either. That is not our plan," she said, adding that it is Congress who must act to prevent a default.

"This is a manmade crisis that the speaker is leading. Can get this done." "We want to make sure that we move the threat of default," she added. "This is not negotiable."

'Just get this done now,' the speaker told reporters ahead of his afternoon meeting with President Biden

McCarthy, with the weight of House and Senate Republicans behind him, insists there should be a debt ceiling bill that passes through Congress without budget cuts. Democrats just as staunchly insist there must be a 'clean' lift of the nation's borrowing limit without any spending cuts.

The deadline to hash out a budget for fiscal year 2024 is not until September 30, but McCarthy insists he will use raising the debt limit as leverage to guarantee spending cuts are included in that budget.

When the federal government can't borrow any more money and the nation's bills pile up hire than its tax receipts, the U.S. could plunge into a catastrophic default - potentially triggering a recession and soaring unemployment. The Treasury Department has said this could occur as soon as June 1.

Here's what both sides are demanding ahead of the crucial White House meeting on Tuesday afternoon:

White House holding cards close to its chest, still demanding unrealistic clean debt ceiling raise as past administrations secured from Congress

Biden has not wavered in his insistence he will not negotiate over raising the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit.

While he has stood his ground, the White House has publicly attacked the Republicans with various allegations over the impact their proposed debt plans will have on Americans' lives.

President Biden will sit down with congressional leaders on Tuesday, going toe-to-toe with Speaker Kevin McCarthy over the debt ceiling in their first talks on the matter in over three months

In a memo Monday, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said the GOP plan would make the fentanyl crisis at the border worse.

He also said talks over budget cuts should be a separate conversation to be held after the debt ceiling is raised. The separate appropriations conversation on budget cuts would have a later deadline of September.

'The two are totally unrelated,' Biden said on Friday. 'They're two separate issues, two. Let's get it straight.'

Describing the upcoming meeting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: 'I wouldn't call it debt ceiling negotiations. I would call it a conversation between the four leaders and the president.'

'They have to do their job. They have to pass a clean debt ceiling,' she said of Congress, noting the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times since 1960.

Biden had long insisted he would not speak to McCarthy until Republicans had released a budget in writing.

After the House passed a party-line debt ceiling bill at the end of last month and the Treasury revealed the nation could run out of funds sooner than expected - on June 1 - the president called up the 'Big Four' congressional leaders to set up a meeting.

McCarthy, with the weight of House and Senate Republicans behind him, insists there will be no clean debt ceiling bill that passes through Congress

Republicans demand White House outline spending cuts it can accept

After heavy political wrangling, House GOP leadership passed its Limit Save Grow Act - legislation that lifts the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for $4.5 trillion in spending cuts over time.

The package passed on a party line vote on April 26 and is dead on arrival in the Senate, but Republicans are demanding Democrats spell out what it is they don't like in the bill to see where both sides can meet in the middle.

'If you don't like something in it, if you have ideas of your own, our speaker is more than willing, I'm sure, to listen to those,' House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said last week.

Their proposal includes a wide-ranging host of priorities-- it would rescind unspent Covid-19 funds, and undo some Biden priorities - banning student loan forgiveness and getting rid of some green tax credits, instituting stricter work requirements for social programs. Republicans also want to include their sprawling energy package, the House-passed H.R. 1, and the regulation-cutting REINS Act.

After the usually amenable Republicans from farmland districts threatened to vote no over the bill's provisions that removed ethanol subsidies, those tax credits were added back in.

Work requirements for benefits like SNAP and TANF were also tightened after conservative hardliners wanted them to start sooner - now they will start in 2024 rather than 2025.

Republicans in the Senate have vowed to back McCarthy's position that the borrowing cap won't be lifted if without spending cuts.

A group of 43 GOP senators, led by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, over the weekend threatened to block a deal on the debt ceiling that wasn't attached to 'substantive' budget cuts.

The group is large enough to filibuster a clean debt ceiling bill in the Senate - meaning such legislation would fail in both chambers of Congress.

Democrats insist clean, long-term debt limit raise is the only way to go

As Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen said Monday that if no agreement is made Biden will have a 'variety of different options, but there are no good options.'

'Every option is a bad option, and i really don't want to get into discussing them and ranking them,' she said on CNBC.

White House officials are reportedly eyeing whether they can invoke the 14th Amendment.

A rarely-used provision within the amendment states: 'The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.'

Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries will be in the White House for the crunch talks

But that option is politically and economically risky, advisers believe.

Schumer tamped down that idea last Tuesday. 'The way to go is a clean debt ceiling,' he said.

On Monday the National Association of Government Employees sued to get Yellen and Biden to stop them from complying with the debt limit. They argued the debt ceiling is unconstitutional on its face because it forces the president not to carry out spending already approved by Congress.

'This litigation is both an effort to protect our members from illegal furloughs and to correct an unconstitutional statute that frequently creates uncertainty and anxiety for millions of Americans,' NAGE National President David J. Holway said in a statement.

Another idea being toyed with is a short-term extension of the debt limit. Some Senate Republicans have tossed out the idea of raising the debt limit for 30 days to give both sides more time on budget talks, but the majority of the GOP conference said it was too soon to talk about a short-term extension.

'Well, I don't think the responsible thing to do is to kick the can down the road,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on NBC Sunday, echoing similar comments Schumer made last week.
Atkinson's son Gabryel had passed away last year after suffering from a rare chromosome disorder

Liz Atkinson, from Burlington, Iowa, had been travelling around Florida with her son and partner when she lost a toy containing her late son's ashes

A mom has shared a desperate appeal to find a lost stuffed elephant which holds her late son's ashes.

Liz Atkinson, from Burlington, Iowa, had been on a trip with her family to Florida when she posted about the lost elephant on Facebook, in a plea to find the toy.

She said that a small bag of her son Gabryel's ashes were inside a pouch on the back of the soft toy, known as Bruce.

Atkinsons's son Gabryel had suffered from a rare chromosome disorder and was given the elephant while he was in intensive care.

Pictured: Gabryel and his cuddly elephant Bruce, who has gone missing

His mom Liz launched a frantic appeal on Facebook to have the toy returned to him

He passed away in April last year just a few days before his 8th birthday and his family had gone to Disney, in Florida, along with their other son Sebastyn.

Writing on Facebook, Atkinson wrote: 'I feel sick, struggling to sleep. Im desperate.

'He slept with it every night and since his passing my husband and I have had it in our bed with us.

'It was at every surgery/procedure (over 50) and hospitalization (too many to count) with him.

'If youve found Bruce or saw him around any of these locations, please PM me!!! I need him back.'

Atkinson explained how they had been staying at the Beachside Resort in Cocoa Beach, Florida, last month for two days and the elephant had joined them on a parasailing trip.

She said that after that 'the trip gets hazy due to emotions and grief' and wrote that she couldn't remember seeing the elephant after that.

Pictured: Liz Atkinson and her son Gabryel before he passed away

Pictured: Dad Ande Atkinson with Gabryel

The family then went to Disney Springs and stayed at the Palazzo in Kissimmee, Florida, then the Disney's Art of Animation until April 30.

She continued: 'Once we got home [on] May 1 I searched everywhere. Every bag. Hes gone.

Ive called each of the places listed above and filled out a lost and found form on Disneys page. No one has found him.

Since sharing her plea she has learned that cameras at the marina in Cocoa Beach show her son carrying the toy into the family's vehicle.

Atkinson is asking people to share her post to spread the word and anyone with information is urged to contact her.
uch to the disgust of her staff who have labelled her a 'massive hypocrite

Her television network made no secret of being anti-Monarchist and even screened a programme that suggested the royal family should be 'set on fire.'

But that didn't stop Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon from attending the Coronation - and then boasting about it on social media - much to the disgust of her staff at the broadcaster who have labelled her a 'massive hypocrite.'

Just days before the event, the channel screened a show by comedian Frankie Boyle who said that 'it's time to say goodbye to the Monarchy.'

He also he painted the royals as a greedy, misogynist, racist, power hungry institution which left viewers furious.

However, on Sunday Ms Mahon, 49, who earns almost 1 million per year from the channel, posted a picture of herself inside Westminster Abbey, wearing a red, sleeveless designer dress on LinkedIn.

Channel 4 Chief Executive Alex Mahon attended the Coronation and then boasting about it on social media - much to the disgust of her staff at the broadcaster who have labelled her a 'massive hypocrite'

Her television network made no secret of being anti-Monarchist and even screened a programme that suggested the royal family should be 'set on fire'

Just days before the event, the channel screened a show by comedian Frankie Boyle who said that 'it's time to say goodbye to the Monarchy'

Ms Mahon, who is also on the board of fashion label Chanel, also shared a screenshot of the BBC website where she was pictured.

Alongside the snaps, she wrote: 'The Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday was a joy to be part of.

'As you might expect there was a lot of advance worry about security, snacks, seating, phone battery and toilets as we lined up on Lambeth Bridge to go through at 7.30am in the grey drizzle.

'But then, sitting there in the Abbey, part of a ceremony dating back over 1,000 years and the morning morphed into something incredibly special.

'The music, the tradition, the glittering jewels, the puzzling gauntlet... at points the orthodoxy was overwhelming. And it really felt like something that could only occur in Great Britain.'

Ms Mahon defended her decision to attend despite the organisation's anti-royal stance, citing freedom of speech.

She admitted some of her colleagues 'expressed surprise' that Channel 4 would be invited given their show, Windsors and their documentary, Andrew: The Problem Prince.

However, she failed to mention Mr Boyle's programme - which was the most controversial of all.

One Channel 4 staff member told the Daily Mail: 'This is classic Alex, it feels like she is a massive hypocrite here. She preaches one thing and does the other.'
A father accused of murdering his two-week-old baby daughter has been found not guilty by a jury.

Darin Harvey, of Wardle, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was accused of shaking his baby daughter Felicity-May Harvey on January 8, 2021.

The 26-year-old denied the offence.

The baby girls' death took place at the home he shared with his fiancee in nearby Heywood, Greater Manchester.

After days of deliberations the jury found Mr Harvey not guilty of murder, or of manslaughter. During the two-week trial at Bolton Crown Court prosecutors alleged that Felicity had suffered 'catastrophic' injuries after being shaken with an 'abusive level of force'.

Felicity-May Harvey, who was born with a cleft palate, died in January 2021 just two weeks old. Her father has gone on trial accused of her murder

The prosecution, led by Tim Storrie KC, pointed to 'inconsistent' accounts Mr Harvey first gave to the police following his arrest in January 2021, compared to what he said to the jury at the trial.

The prosecution said he went to see Felicity soon after his fiancee, Heather Connolly, had left the property just after 2pm, shaking her after going to feed her.

However, Mr Harvey consistently denied this, saying he was in the toilet until just before 2.30pm.

He added that he went into the bedroom around 2.28pm, picked up Felicity, who was born with a cleft lip and palette, with 'no concerns' before looking at her and noticing she was 'blue' with her eyes rolling in her head.

Soon after this he called Ms Connolly, who was 'luckily' outside the house at the time, before they called the emergency services with the baby rushed to hospital.

Felicity would tragically die three days later on January 11 at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

In evidence, Mr Harvey said it was the 'God's honest truth' that he did not kill his daughter.

Defending Mr Harvey, James Mulholland KC asked him questions about the events of January 8, as the defendant said 'the world stopped at that moment' he noticed something was wrong with Felicity.

Flowers were laid at the scene in Heywood where newborn Felicity-May Harvey died in January 2021

Police outside the home in Heywood, Greater Manchester, in January 2021 following Felicity-May's death

Mr Harvey added: 'I wanted to help police and tell them everything I could. They wouldn't accept anything I was saying. I was scared and petrified, I was being bombarded with questions... the pressure was immense, I had no choice but to give them answers.

'The pressure and the way they were making me feel I was just talking and talking and just spoke when I didn't know an answer, I wasn't lying, I just didn't remember.' Mr Mulholland asked the defendant if he shook Felicity-May.

'Hand on my heart, no,' he replied.

In cross-examination Mr Harvey told the jury: 'I didn't shake her, I will say that until I've gone blue, I will put that on my gravestone. They (police) took advantage of a broken man. I'm telling you I did not shake her. I don't know how many times I have to say this.

'All I could think about was my baby... my heart was ripped into pieces, which the police couldn't care less about in those interviews. I was not trying to con the police at all, I wanted to help but they were practically torturing me.'

Mr Harvey would also go on to accuse the baby's mother, Ms Connolly, of causing Felicity the fatal injuries.

He said: 'She knew what she had done. She knew she fed her, she told two people she had fed her and something [has] gone wrong... she panicked and shook her. There's no other explanation - that's what happened.'

After nearly a week of deliberations the jury was given directions by judge Robert Bright KC that they could make a majority verdict, returning a few hours later.

Gasps of relief could be heard from the public gallery as the jury foreman delivered the not guilty verdicts.
A Texas school district is facing intense scrutiny after a six-year-old girl was allegedly forced to perform a sex act on another child while being filmed on an iPad.

The first grade student, six, was allegedly pulled under a table in her classroom and performed the act on another child while a third recorded on April 19 at South Elementary School in Plainview, Texas.

She hit the boy with a poetry book in a bid to stop him, but it went on 'until they let her go,' her older cousin Heather Gonzales claimed.

The little girl sat next to her attackers for the rest of the week before she told her family what had happened - despite the school finding out two days later, her relatives say.

The elementary school teacher, who was in the classroom at the time, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Child Protection Services are also probing the incident.

Gonzales said the family only realized something was wrong when her behavior changed - and have blamed Plainview ISD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez for not doing enough in the aftermath.

Heather Gonzales (pictured), who is the older cousin of the female victim, said that the family only realized something was wrong when her behavior changed. She claims that her cousin was forced to sit next to her alleged abusers for a week after the fact

On Friday, over 200 people protested over the district's handling of the alleged abuse

She revealed on KCBD: 'She's in distress, she's like "my stomach hurts. I just want to lay down."

South Elementary Principal Jennifer Hughey (pictured). People are calling for her to be fired

'You can tell something's wrong with her. So, they said "what's going on? What happened?"'

It was then that the little girl claimed a boy had exposed himself to her while they were in the lunch line. But that was just the beginning of the ordeal, Gonzales said.

The first grader told her family that a student pulled her under a desk and forced her to perform a sex act on him during class a week earlier.

This occurred while a teacher was in the classroom at the time, Gonzales said. The district say the abuse happened 'away from full view of the teacher.'

As the abuse was occurring, another student pulled out a school iPad and recorded the alleged sex act on it.

The video was found a day later by teachers, after they caught students re-watching the abuse on the device. The iPad had a password on it, so was taken to IT to be unlocked, which was when they found the 'inappropriate content.'

The abuse allegedly occurred at South Elementary School in Plainview, Texas

Plainview ISD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez said: 'We hope to find a direction with them forward. Definitely for the young people and how we can help them heal and move forward'

Protesters called for South Elementary Principal Jennifer Hughey and Superintendent H.T. Sanchez (pictured) to be fired

The video allegedly showed the little girl fighting back. Gonzales revealed that her cousin was hitting the boy with her poetry book to get him to stop.

She said: 'She said she was hitting him with the poetry book.'

When asked at what point the abuse ended, Gonzales said: 'She said, "until they let me go."'

Despite teachers and the district knowing about the situation, Gonzales said her little cousin was forced to sit next to the alleged abuser for another week. She sat on a table full of boys in the classroom.

Gonzales added: 'So, you mean to tell me abuse has been happening for a week and a half and these kids are still at the same desk.

'My cousin is still at a desk with all boys, having to see her abusers every day.'

Raquel Medina, the victim's aunt, added: 'I believe strongly that [the school] should be held accountable.

'Were fighting for justice. If it were their child, theyd want the same thing.'

She told EverythingLubbock.com: 'People are taking sides and its not about sides, its about the wellbeing of the kids. I think as a parent, we should want the same for every kid. My kid is safe, your kid is safe  they should be safe together.'

According to a statement, the district informed the parents who were directly involved, but one family was told three days later because they allegedly could not be reached.

Plainview ISD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez said: 'We hope to find a direction with them forward. Definitely for the young people and how we can help them heal and move forward.'

On Friday, over 200 people protested over the district's handling of the abuse. Many came with placards with messages reading: 'We will not be silenced.'

Protesters claimed the district should have been more transparent from the moment that the video was discovered on the school iPad.

They also called for South Elementary Principal Jennifer Hughey and Superintendent H.T. Sanchez to be fired.

Meanwhile, the victim's family still have not seen the video - as the district claims there is nothing to see.
A mentally ill Albanian woman who slashed a seven-year-old girl's throat had been given refugee status despite the Home Office being told she'd admitted lying about being trafficked on at least three occasions, an inquest heard today.

Eltiona Skana, 33, was initially refused asylum after smuggling herself into Britain in the back of a lorry.

But for reasons which have never previously been revealed, after lodging an appeal she was told she was being allowed to stay.

Tragically, just three months later, in a crime which shocked the nation, the paranoid schizophrenia sufferer launched a deadly attack on little Emily Jones as she rode her scooter through the park.

Her parents have said their daughter would still be alive if her killer hadn't been granted asylum.

Eltiona Skana, 33, (pictured) was initially refused asylum after smuggling herself into Britain in the back of a lorry. After lodging an appeal she was told she was being allowed to stay

Three months later, in a crime which shocked the nation, the paranoid schizophrenia sufferer launched a deadly attack on little Emily Jones, seven, (pictured) as she rode her scooter through the park

They have demanded that the inquest probing her senseless killing in Bolton, Greater Manchester on Mother's Day in 2020 'vigorously' examines how Skana was allowed to stay.

Today it heard how while Skana was seeking asylum, she told police, hospital staff and a psychiatrist that she had made up her account of being a victim of sexual exploitation to boost her chances of winning refugee status.

But senior asylum case worker Samuel Price said the 'weight' that was attached to Skana's admissions was limited because of her mental health problems.

Her asylum claim was refused in June 2018  however the Home Office later dropped its opposition to her appeal after concluding the original decision had been 'fundamentally wrong'.

While it abandoned the case in January 2019, Skana wasn't informed she had been given refugee status until December  just three months before she attacked Emily at random on March 22, 2020.

Police (pictured at the scene) were called to Queen's Park in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on March 22, following reports that a child had been stabbed

As Emily Jones (pictured) passed on her scooter, Skana - who suffers from severe paranoid schizophrenia - quickly rose and grabbed the youngster, fatally cutting her across the neck with a craft knife she had bought earlier in the day

The hearing was told that after being arrested for attacking her mother with an iron in February 2017, Skana told police she had lied about being trafficked in order 'to remain in the UK' and wanted to go back to Albania.

Mr Price confirmed that her confession was 'considered' as part of her asylum application, but was disregarded as it came just before she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

He said the Home Office dropped its opposition to Skana's appeal after accepting it would not be safe for a victim of trafficking to be sent back to Albania.

Timothy Brennand, senior coroner for Greater Manchester West, asked whether the actual credibility of her trafficking claim was taken into account this time.

'There was no consideration given to that,' Mr Price replied.

He said asylum rules meant only issues covered by a refusal letter could be addressed in an appeal.

Lawyer Sefton Kwasnik, representing Emily's father Mark, highlighted how medical notes from 2015 showed Skana said her trafficking claim was 'a lie to come to England'.

Also that year she told a psychiatrist she had 'lied to the Home Office to gain entry to this country,' he added.

Asked whether he accepted this information 'ought to have been and probably was' available when her asylum claim was first considered, Mr Price answered: 'Yes I would agree with that.'

Richard O'Brien, representing the Home Office, suggested Skana's medical notes suggested she later 'recanted' her claim to have lied.

Earlier Dr Pavan Chahl, an independent psychiatrist who reviewed Skana's care, said it was clear that while 'unwell', Skana posed a risk to others.

But he stressed it would not have possible to detain her indefinitely, and that it was the responsibility of her community medical team to assess whether she was at risk of relapse.

The inquest was told Skana claimed to have been sexually exploited in Kuwait in 2012, smuggling herself into Britain in 2014.

Her trial heard her mental state was only assessed once in the three months before the killing, and searches of her flat revealed she hadn't been taking her anti-psychotic medication.

Earlier in the day she had bought a pack of craft knives from a pound shop earlier that day, with witnesses describing her 'rambling' about the Home Office and claiming Emily had 'tried to kill me'.

Skana is now serving a life sentence in a secure mental hospital after her guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution.

The hearing continues.
Ashley Baustert, Brooks' mother, spoke about the last text she received from her daughter, and the moment she knew something bad had happened to her

Ashley Baustert, the mother of the LSU student who died in January after allegedly being raped, revealed the last text she received from her teenager before her tragic passing.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Baustert said that late on Saturday night, January 14, she sent her daughter, Madison Brooks, a text that read: 'I'll see you tomorrow.'

The two were planning to meet the next morning to finish moving Brooks into her dorm for the start of her sophomore semester at LSU.

Brooks, who was at Reggie's Bar, sent a text back to her mother at 11.38pm that said, 'I love you!!!' and included a picture of her with one of her mother's sorority sister's sons.

About three-and-a-half hours later, Brooks was hit by a car and lay dying in the middle of a busy Baton Rouge, Louisiana parkway as rain poured onto the pavement.

First responders rushed the teenager to a local hospital, but she could not be saved.

Madi Brooks died January 15 in Louisiana after being struck by a car at 3am on a busy parkway after a night of drinking with her friends at a local college haunt

Her mother Ashley Baustert said that the 'pure-hearted adventure-seeker would make sure that she 'lived every day to the fullest'

Initially, investigators believed the 19-year-old died in a tragic, but not criminal car accident. But her mother said, 'I immediately knew that foul play was involved.'

'I know something was wrong. I know something terrible happened,' said Baustert. 'Based on the circumstances of how she was hit, where she was, the time and her being alone.'

The driver who hit Brooks remained on the scene with the dying girl and immediately called 911, according to police. Two Good Samaritans pulled over and tried to help save Brooks before medical personnel arrived.

Baustert booked it to the local hospital, which is about 90-minutes away in Louisiana. Brooks' father rushed in from Florida and other family members rushed to the local hospital.

The teenager's parents reached her in time to say their goodbyes 'while she was still breathing,' according to her mother.

'We found out that she's not going to make it, so my first and only priority was spending the last few moments that she had with her,' Baustert said.

Baustert's mother, Brooks' grandmother, said her focus once she got to the hospital, was keeping her daughter from falling apart.

'Police were at the hospital when we go there. Cops were outside the door. I wasn't thinking about anything. I was concerned about keeping her stable,' Bauster's mother, Mandy LeBlanc, said.

LeBlanc and her son, Baustert's brother, eventually made their way to Reggie's Bar following the tragedy, where they were to retrieve Brooks' cellphone, which she had left behind.

Baustert said that her daughter's phone being left behind was a major red flag and indicator that something bad had happened.

The Times Square billboard commemorating Madi Brooks and promoting the Madison Brooks Foundation, which was founded to help those in financial need

Two of the four men who were with Madi Brooks prior to her passing have been charged with various sexual crimes, the other two are awaiting indictments from grand juries

Madi Brooks (center) with her mother, two brothers and father

'We were like there's no way Madi put herself at three in the morning on the parkway in that neighborhood without her phone,' Baustert said. 'Like no one would do that.'

Reggie's Bar was located in Tigerland, a hot part of town for LSU students that has become a crime-ridden section of Baton Rouge.

After Brooks' phone was retrieved, her mother's suspicions were confirmed and the case turned into a criminal investigation.

Sometime between Brooks' 11.38pm text to her mother and the 3am crash that killed her, police said the young woman was allegedly raped by four men whom she met at the bar.

Desmond Carter, 17, Casen Carver, 18, Everett Lee, 28, and Kaivon Washington, 18, were all arrested in connection with the alleged rape.

After the alleged attack, some of the men pushed Brooks out of the car and onto the side of Burbank Highway, a busy, four-lane parkway several miles from the bar, it is alleged in criminal complaints.

At the time of her death, Brooks had an alcohol levels of .319 percent, which is nearly quadruple the legal limit to drive. Authorities believe Brooks stumbled into the street where she was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

Madi Brooks' mom, Ashley Baustert, stands in front of the Times Square billboard commemorating her daughter and promoting the nonprofit established after her passing

Madison Brooks posing for photos with her friends at the Reggie's college bar in East Baton Rouge

At present, Carter and Carver have indicted by grand juries on charges of first- and third-degree rape charges. Carter, who is 17, will be tried as an adult.

Washington and Lee are still waiting to e indicted, and have respectively been booked on charges of third-degree rape and principle to third-degree rape. Washington has also been arrested in connection with two prior rapes.

Each incremental step toward justice - including the indictments of two of the suspects on upgraded charges and the shutdown of Reggie's Bar - are 'moments to be thankful for,' according to Baustert.
Bryan Kohberger has demanded the State turn over DNA evidence and arrest video that his defense claims could prove the innocence of the accused quadruple killer.

Kohberger's legal team filed a motion to compel discovery in the Latah County Court last Thursday. It reiterates previous requests made on February 3 and March 24.

It seeks all body and dash cam footage from officers involved in his arrest in Pennsylvania; all audio or video evidence from his time in jail, including police interrogations; lab reports from the forensic evidence seized at his parents' home and his Hyundai Elantra; and the training records for officers involved in the case.

Criminal justice major Kohberger, 28, is accused of stabbing to death students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13.

His latest legal filing comes after it was revealed that police found traces of blood and a secret storage locker at his apartment in Pullman, Washington - a 15-minute drive from where the alleged murders took place.

Kohberger's apartment was searched hours after he was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania on December 30

Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (second from left) Xana Kernodle (second from right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - were knifed to death on November 13 in the quiet, college town of Moscow

Kohberger's apartment in Pullman, Washington, was combed by police for evidence into the ongoing investigation

Kohberger, who denies the killings, is being held without bail and a preliminary trial hearing has been set for June 26.

In the most recent filing, Kohberger's public defender, Anne Taylor, says that despite two previous requests, prosecutors have yet to turn over a tranche of evidence in the case which she argues could be 'exculpatory.'

The filing requests include:

1. All body cam and dash cam footage from officers involved in the search and arrest of Bryan Kohberger in Pennsylvania.

2. All lab testing, including photographs and color diagrams and bench notes including, but not limited to: Copies of lab reports detailing the forensic evidence collection and analysis of items recovered at Bryan Kohberger's parents' home, trash cans and other receptacles, and Bryan Kohberger's Hyundai Elantra.

2. a. All lab testing, including photographs and color diagrams and bench notes including, but not limited to: ISP and FBI Forensic Lab reports including, but not limited to, Lab reports 11 and 25.

3. All notes recordings from all Officers from Moscow Police Department.

4. All police reports, audio/video evidence, and any recorded statements related to Bryan Kohberger's arrest and incarceration in Pennsylvania.

5. All reports, notes, recordings and photos.

6. Training records of (specific officers).

The judge has yet to respond to the motion. The defense wants a 10-minute hearing on the matter before the trial's preliminary hearing slated for the end of June.

Documents show that police swabbed dozens of areas at Kohberger's Pullman apartment and had two test positive for traces of blood.

The university where he worked was only a little over eight miles from the murder scene

Pictured: (L-R) Dylan Mortenson, Xana Kernodle, Bethany Funke, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen

Officers also found a lock and key which matched a storage container and requested a search warrant to access the container.

It is not clear if anything was found in the locker, but officers state that they believe Kohberger used it to store items after the murders of the four University of Idaho students.

One of the items which tested positive for blood was a pillow, which had a large stain on one side, and was taken away for further testing.

The other was a mattress cover which was on his bed, which had multiple stains on it and was also taken for further testing following testing positive for blood.

It is unclear if the blood belonged to any of the victims or Kohberger himself, and whether the items were simply collected by officers for further investigation.

A previous affidavit confirmed that the two items had stains on them consistent with blood, but the new documents show that they tested positive for it.

Police also seized several hair strands, including one suspected animal hair, a black glove and a computer tower.

Investigators, who raided the property back in December, also picked up receipts from Walmart and two Marshall's receipts, as well as collecting the contents of his vacuum cleaner.

Court documents show that eight strands of hair were recovered from the apartment, as well as a 'possible' animal hair.

They also recovered a Fire TV stick during their search. All the items are now being stored at the Washington State University Police department.

Authorities reportedly said they wanted to see if any hair had been 'transferred' onto Kohberger and then back to his apartment  including that of Kaylee Goncalves' dog Murphy.

Murphy was found alive in Kaylee's room by investigators who were called to the scene, and has now been returned to her ex-boyfriend.

Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder and one of burglary.
An activist investor was arrested at a shareholder meeting after slamming Bill Gates' 'woke' philanthropy and meetings with Jeffrey Epstein.

Peter Flaherty, chairman of conservative NGO the National Legal and Policy Center, was cut off by Warren Buffet while speaking in favor of a proposal to have the business mogul removed as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.

Flaherty condemned Buffet's funding of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before highlighting links between the Microsoft founder and Epstein.

The shareholder had his mic cut halfway through his allotted three-minute time slot before being arrested and dragged out of the venue.

Flaherty, who has regularly confronted bosses of America's largest corporations, later decried his unprecedented arrest and said Buffet had 'no right to silence me'.

Peter Flaherty was arrested at a shareholder meeting after slamming Bill Gates' 'woke' philanthropy and meetings with Jeffrey Epstein

A police mugshot taken of Flaherty taken after he was arrested by Omaha Police for refusing to comply with a request to leave by the owner of the venue

'I was treated like any other criminal, fingerprinted, handcuffed,' Flaherty said. 'I've always been courteous with decorum at the annual shareholder meetings. I didn't raise my voice. I was not disruptive.'

Flaherty, 66, from Arlington, Virginia, was listed as an attendee at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting on Saturday, where Buffet is chairman and CEO.

He had been speaking as the sponsor of a proposal to have a separate chair and CEO.

The investor argued that doing so would mean Berkshire 'would be less identified with Mr Buffet's personal political activities'.

Flaherty said Buffet had 'donated tens of billions to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation', adding: 'If "woke" culture is a disease, then philanthropy is the virus. The Gates Foundation bankrolls the teaching of Critical Race Theory around the country, including that math is inherently racist.

'The Gates Foundation offers a Gender Identity Toolbox which asserts that gender is the result of 'socially and culturally constructed ideas.

'This is a lie. Gender is not a cultural construct. It is a genetic and biological fact.'

At this point, he appeared to be interrupted by Berkshire official Cathy Woollums, but Flaherty insisted he would not be 'censored' and appealed to Buffet that he be allowed to continue.

Buffet agreed but reminded him of his three-minute limitation.

Flaherty replied 'of course', before continuing: 'We know how much Bill Gates cares about children. He met and traveled with Jeffrey Epstein many times after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes.'

Gates met with Epstein several times after the latter had been accused of sexual abusing minors. Gates later said these meetings were for philanthropy but admitted they were a mistake. Pictured left to right: Jes Staley, Larry Summers, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates and Boris Nikolic

Buffet (right) has donated tens of billions of pounds to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The high-powered pair have been close friends for more than 30 years

This sparked boos and whistles from the audience and seconds later Buffet cut him off, at one point telling Flaherty: 'You crossed the boundary.'

Video footage shows the shareholder being grabbed by the arm and dragged from the venue by a police officer.

Arrest documents show Flaherty was charged with refusing to comply with a request to leave. He was released on a $250 bond and is expected back in court on May 22.

'I apparently touched the third rail of billionaire politics when I mentioned Jeffrey Epstein's name,' Flaherty told The Daily Signal. 'I've been involved in shareholder activism for 19 years, and I have never before had my mic cut and I was never before arrested.'

Flaherty's motion to remove Buffett as chair later failed by a wide margin, Bloomberg reported.

In 2008, after Epstein was accused of sexually abusing female minors in Florida, he reached a deal with federal prosecutors.

But from 2011, Gates met with Epstein on numerous occasions - including at least three times at the sex trafficker's Manhattan townhouse, according to The New York Times.

Epstein had served jail time for soliciting prostitution from a minor and was required to register as a sex offender before he first met the Microsoft founder.

The $51billion Gates Foundation has championed the well-being of young girls.

Gates has admitted dining with Epstein for philanthropic reasons, describing those meetings as a 'mistake'.

Melinda French Gates cited her now-ex-husband's meetings with Epstein, whom she called 'abhorrent,' while telling CBS last year about the various factors that led to her divorce from Bill Gates.
Gov. Greg Abbott revealed in the early hours of Tuesday morning that Texas authorities are using razor wire to close gaps in border barriers where large numbers of migrants are crossing.

The Texas governor said in a tweet along with a video of the new wiring that there is 'more to come' as the fencing is erected to stop migrants from illegally crossing the border before pandemic-era policy Title 42 ends on Thursday.

Border crossings are already spiking in the days leading up to the end of Title 42 with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehending more than 26,000 migrants in just 72 hours.

The last three days saw an average of 8,794 migrant apprehensions per day, according to figures released by CBP Chief Raul Ortiz.

This is aN unprecedented figure that is only expected to grow in coming days with Title 42 set to expire on Thursday.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted a video in the early hours of Tuesday morning showing where authorities put in place razor write to stop migrants from flowing over a popular crossing point

To stop the flow, Abbott deployed the elite Tactical Border Force on Monday to help secure the border.

The new razor wire fencing is also meant to help quell the surge.

'This is one thing Texas is doing to secure the border,' Abbott wrote in a tweet with a video of the wiring. 'This is the area near Brownsville where migrants were crossing in large numbers a few days ago. We now have it wired shut.

'Other areas will surface for crossing,' he admitted. 'We will wire them shut also.'

Currently, the average number of migrants crossing the southern border each day is 7,700. But the Biden administration estimates that the number could increase to 13,000 every day once Title 42 expires. Other external estimates have put that number even higher.

Human smugglers are encouraging migrants to head for the border.

They claim the end of Title 42 will make it easier to cross  even though the Biden administration wants to enact tough rules to speed up deportations and ban re-entry for illegal crossers for up to five years.

Abbott's tweet came just hours after he made his first public remarks regarding the border crisis since eight people were killed when George Alvarez, 34, plowed his SUV on Sunday through a group of people outside Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center, a migrant facility.

Alvarez was arrested and charged with eight counts of manslaughter.

Abbott admitted that the placement of the barrier would only cause migrants intending to illegally cross the border to find other gaps. 'Other areas will surface for crossing,' Abbott admitted. 'We will wire them shut also'

Customs and Border Protection apprehended 26,382 migrants over the weekend - an unprecedented average of 8,794 per day

The health-related immigration policy Title 42 was first enacted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 by then-President Donald Trump. Title 42 allowed immigration and border authorities to immediately expel migrants without hearing their asylum claims during the declared health emergency.

In preparation for massive surges at the border come Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed on Monday the newly formed Tactical Border Force along with the National Guard already in place. In addition, 1,500 active-duty troops were deployed last week by President Joe Biden and are expected to be on the border to assist law enforcement by May 10.

Chief Ortiz revealed in a tweet Monday that in the last 72 hours CBP has been able to identify 7,399 'gotaways' and seize 329 pounds of various drugs, including fentanyl, meth and heroin.

He also noted that they apprehended one felon, one gang member and three sex offenders over the weekend.

The elite Texas National Guard's Tactical Border Force is deploying Monday in preparation for Title 42 to end on Thursday as the state with the most miles of southern border braces for 13,000 migrant crossings per day once the pandemic-era policy expires.

Meanwhile, images emerged with thousands of migrants lining up on the southern side of the U.S.-Mexico border, waiting in anticipation for Title 42 to end on May 11.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying the newly formed Texas Tactical Border Force Monday to help manage 'hot spots' at the southern border with the impending end of Title 42

As Title 42 is set to expire Thursday, May 11, migrants are lining up at the southern border to immediately cross into the U.S. once the policy is no longer in use. Pictured: Hundreds of migrants arrived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Sunday, May 7 to cross the border into El Paso, Texas

'The Biden administration has been a disaster, they ripped apart policies that led to lowest illegal border crossings in decades,' Abbott told Fox & Friends on Monday morning.

He went on: 'We are deploying today a new Texas Tactical Border Force made up of elite National Guard who are trained for one thing, and that is to identify areas where illegal immigrants are trying to cross the border and fill that gap and repel them to deny them access to enter into the United States.'

'They can do it one of several ways  physically turn back those who are trying to come over illegally, and they are building immediate wire border barriers that prevent people from coming across the border,' the Texas governor continued. 'And you saw early iteration of this when you saw long lines of people in El Paso in 24 hours.'

Abbott insists that a border barrier needs to be completed to 'immediately' stop in-flow of migrants.

Title 42 was first passed in 1944 and was enacted by then-President Donald Trump in 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The policy allows immigration and border officials to immediately expel migrants without hearing their asylum claims during a public health emergency. Specifically, the original law intends to stop entry of those able to bypass health screenings by crossing illegally.

Some reports indicate that there are between 700,000 and 1 million migrants that could cross in the days following the end of the pandemic-era expulsion policy.

Abbott noted Monday morning that his state is pressing onward to 'very quickly build as many barriers as possible to turn back as many people as possible.'

Texas National Guard soldiers have already been manning the border for the last few years, but the military presence will now be even more prominent as it's all-hands-on-deck for the end of Title 42.

Gov. Abbott shakes the hands of members of the Texas National Guard on Monday, May 8 in Austin, Texas as they prepare to deploy to the southern border to provide assistance with the end of Title 42 in just three days

Thousands of migrants have made the dangerous trek to the U.S. southern border over the last several years by hopping onto moving trains

'We are deploying today a new Texas Tactical Border Force made up of elite National Guard who are trained for one thing, and that is to identify areas where illegal immigrants are trying to cross the border and fill that gap and repel them to deny them access to enter into the United States,' Abbott told Fox & Friends on Monday morning

Illegal immigration and unlawful border crossings have reached an all-time high under the leadership of President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

'So as you all, and everybody knows, what Mayorkas has said  he said the border is closed,' Abbott said of his talks with the DHS head.

'So, yeah, I've talked to Mayorkas a couple of times. And every time I've talked to him, he continues to have his head in the sand. He's either lying or really doesn't know what's going on, because the border is not closed.'

He added: 'They're doing nothing to stop it and all of the policies that the Biden administration tried to put in place are just going to entice more people to come across the border.'

Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who also represents a border state in Arizona, said Sunday that she has nearly no communication with Mayorkas.

Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday that Biden has not had an 'adequate' response to the border crisis and will only make the situation 'worse' by ending Title 42 without proposing an alternative program to take its place.
A veteran Chicago prosecutor has quit with a blistering letter over soaring crime in the Democrat city which has left his five-year-old son hearing regular gunfire.

Jason Poje, formerly of Cook County State Attorney's Office, warned that the Windy City was 'on a course to disaster' after a series of failed woke policies.

He slammed bond reform which means dangerous crooks are released onto the streets, shorter parole periods, soft sentences for repeat offenders and the unnecessary prosecution of cops.

The latest figures show that crime has rocketed by 58 percent since Mayor Lori Lightfoot took over the blood-soaked city. Murder is up 11 percent, robbery has spiked by a third and vehicle theft has surged 237 percent since 2019.

'Many years ago my family found a nice quiet corner of the suburbs. Now my son, who is only five, hears gunfire while playing at our neighborhood park, and a drug dealer is open-air selling behind my house (the second one in two years),' Poje wrote in the letter obtained by The Chicago Contrarian.

The latest figures show that crime has rocketed by 58 percent since Mayor Lori Lightfoot took over the blood-soaked city. Murder is up 11 percent, robbery has spiked by a third and vehicle theft has surged 237 percent since 2019

The most recent crime figures show that in the year to date overall crime is up by 43 percent. While murder is down 14 percent in the year to date, it has increased by 11 percent since Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office in 2019

'I will not raise my son here. I am fortunate enough to have the means to escape, so my entire family is leaving the State of Illinois. I grew up here, my family and friends are here, and yet my own employer has turned it into a place from which I am no longer proud to be, and in which my son is not safe.'

Poje outlined a series of 'so-called reforms' backed by Lightfoot and Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker which he said had inevitably led to more crime.

Lightfoot, Chicago's first black woman and openly gay mayor, failed to win re-election in March - making her the city's first one-term mayor in four decades. She is due to step down on May 15.

Poje wrote: 'The worst part is that the agency for whom I work has backed literally every policy change that has the predictable, and predicted, outcome of more crime and more people getting hurt.

'Bond reform designed to make sure no one stays in jail while their cases are pending with no safety net to handle more criminals on the streets, shorter parole periods, lower sentences for repeat offenders, the malicious and unnecessary prosecution of law enforcement officers, the overuse of diversion programs, intentionally not pursuing prosecutions for crimes lawfully on the books after being passed by our legislature and signed by a governor, all of the so-called reforms have had a direct negative impact, with consequences that will last for a generation.'

The excoriating letter did not name his former boss, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, but referred to the 'stupid State's Attorney policies.'

Poje, who served residents of the county for 20 years, was described by one former colleague as 'one of the hardest working men I have ever worked with.'

He expressed regret that he was unable to continue working with his colleagues who were 'in the trenches' but said the safety of his family had to come first.

'If it were just me to consider, I'd stick it out. I've been through enough stupid State's Attorney policies before. But this Office's complete failure to even think for a moment before rushing into one popular political agenda after another has put my family directly in harm's way,' he wrote.

Chicago police work the scene following a police involved shooting in the 3800 block of W. Flournoy on Saturday, April 15, 2023, in Chicago

The excoriating letter did not name his former boss, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx (pictured), by name but referred to the 'stupid State's Attorney policies.'

Poje said that it was a fundamental principle of the criminal justice system that 'both sides vigorously defend their positions' to create a balance between protecting rights and maintaining law and order.

'Once we start doing too much of the defense's job, once we pull our punches, once we decide it's worth risking citizens' lives to have a little social experiment, that balance is lost,' he said.

'The unavoidable consequences are what we are witnessing in real time, an increase in crime of all kinds, businesses and families pulling up the stakes, and the bodies piling up; the whole time with a State's Attorney who insists there is nothing to see here, and if there is, it must be someone else's fault.'

Poje, who is now working at a law firm in Madison, Wisconsin, signed off the letter by wishing his former colleagues well.

'To everyone in the trenches in the State's Attorney's Office and in law enforcement, my one regret is that I cannot be at your side anymore as you continue to fight to good fight. I do not envy the task you have before you, but you have my utmost respect for carrying on. I hope one day you are successful at returning some kind of common sense and security to our communities,' he wrote.

His exit comes less than a year after another Cook County prosecutor, Jim Murphy, resigned in protest at Foxx's leadership.

'I wish I could stay,' he wrote in July 2022. 'However, I can no longer work for this Administration. I have zero confidence in leadership.'
A passenger on a Caribbean cruise has been arrested after a hidden camera with video of dozens of people, including children, was discovered in a public restroom, officials said.

Jeremy Froias was arrested last Wednesday in Puerto Rico and charged with video voyeurism and attempted possession of child exploitation material, according to court documents.

Froias boarded Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in Miami on April 29 for a seven-day cruise that was set to land at Sint Maarten, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas before returning to Miami this past Saturday.

A day after the voyage began while the ship was in international waters, Froias allegedly put a hidden Wi-Fi camera in a public restroom on the ship's top deck between a surfing simulator and a bar, officials said. A day after that, a passenger spotted the camera and alerted the ship's crew.

It is believed more than 150 passengers - including 40 children - were recorded using the bathroom and changing in and out of swimsuits.

The camera was discovered onboard the Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

The camera set up that was discovered hidden in the aft deck bathroom of the cruise ship

Staff uncovered the camera shortly after it was reported by the passenger, with an FBI agent noting it had 'several hours' worth of .mp4 video files,' in a criminal complaint.

The footage on the card allegedly began with images of Froias installing the camera in the bathroom, and even adjusting its angle so that it better recorded the bathroom's toilet.

Scores of passengers were then filmed coming and going, with numerous - including children as young as four years old - being recorded naked as they changed clothing, according to court documents.

After being confronted by security staff, Froias allegedly admitted to having placed the camera in the bathroom.

Investigators are now reaching out to passengers to try to identify potential victims.

'The FBI believes he primarily targeted cruise ship passengers between the timeframe of April 30 and May 1, 2023, who may have used the public bathroom on the aft of The Harmony's top deck between the 'Flow Rider' surfing simulator and a bar. Passengers using this bathroom may have been video recorded by Froias,' the FBI wrote in an announcement.

Froias and the camera were eventually turned over to the FBI in Puerto Rico.

The bureau noted it is required to inform victims if they can be identified.

The camera was hidden in a space above the bathroom door, an investigation found

The camera was angled for an optimal view of the bathroom's toilet, and captured 150 guests

The bathroom where the camera was placed (left) was near a pool in the back of the boat

Froias was released on Monday under the custodial watch of his wife after posting a $25,000 bond, according to CNN.

He was ordered not to have any unsupervised contact with minors - including his own children - and is not allowed to use the internet. His passport was also surrendered, records showed.

An attorney for Froias told CNN his client 'has not been formally indicted. Therefore, I have no comments at this time.'

Royal Carribean told DailyMail.com that it immediately notified authorities when the camera was discovered.

'The matter was immediately reported to local and federal law enforcement and the guest involved was removed from the ship by authorities for further investigation. As this is an active case, we are unable to share any more details at this time,' the line said.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is returning to the Senate this week after being absent since mid-February amid a growing number of calls for her to resign due to holding up Democrats' efforts to confirm liberal judicial judges.

Feinstein on Tuesday got on a chartered private plane back to Washington, D.C., from California, Feinstein's spokesman Adam Russell confirmed to DailyMail.com.

Feinstein, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has missed nearly 100 votes over the last several months. Her absence on the powerful committee has also held up President Biden's judicial nominations as Republicans refuse to give the nominees a majority vote to get confirmed.

Her age and frailty have been the subject of Washington rumor and calls for her to step down have accelerated during her months-long absence as she recovers from shingles.

New York progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that it was time for the 89-year-old Democratic senator to retire, amid her lengthy absence from Congress.

AOC is the latest member of Feinstein's own party to call for her to go, and she shrugged off complaints that such messages were sexist.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, has been absent from the Senate since March and is facing calls for her to step down amid complaints that judges cannot be appointed

Feinstein was hospitalized for shingles in February, but has not returned to the Senate to vote since she was released last month

'I think criticisms of that stance as 'anti-feminist' are a farce,' she wrote on the new social media platform Bluesky.

Former President Barack Obama's speechwriter Jon Lovett has also called on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign due to her prolonged absence.

'Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate,' Lovett said on his 'Pod Save America' podcast last month.

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley has also called on Feinstein to resign.

'What's incredible is how the Washington establishment continues to cover for those who likely lack the mental acuity to do their job,' she wrote in a Fox News op-ed last week.

She called Feinstein a 'trailblazer who's made an indelible mark in public service,' but also a woman who is 'in significant mental and physical decline.'

'She's missed months of votes and clearly can no longer do her job. I agree with several congressional Democrats who say Feinstein should resign immediately and let someone else who is able to do the job take over,' Haley added.

Feinstein was first elected to the senate in 1992. She is pictured as the Mayor of San Francisco in 1978

Feinstein, 89, slammed critics urging her to resign, insisting that her absence from Capitol Hill was not the reason for a slowdown in judicial appointments.

'While the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced eight strong nominees during my absence, I'm disappointed that Republicans on the committee are blocking a few from moving forward,' she said.

'I'm confident that when I return to the Senate, we will be able to move the remaining qualified nominees out of committee quickly and to the Senate floor for a vote.'

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cheered Feinstein's return to the Senate, saying Tuesday: 'I'm glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, it's clear she's back where she wants to be.'

Feinstein has already announced her retirement in 2024 and California Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee have already announced their intentions to replace her in the Senate.
Officers say that Garcia targeted the 'location' of the mall rather than the individuals

He was able to purchase all of the firearms legally and brought three to the scene on his person and five more in the car

Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed his eight victims in just four minutes according to law enforcement

A gunman who opened fire at a Texas mall had 'neo-Nazi' ideologues and murdered eight people in four minutes.

Authorities confirmed that Mauricio Garcia, 33, had legally purchased eight firearms before the incident and carried three on his person and five more in his vehicle to the shopping center in Allen.

Texas Department of Public Health and Safety Regional Director Hank Sibley said in a press conference that Garcia did not have any criminal history.

He confirmed that law enforcement is looking into if any of the firearms were used in criminality but said nothing has yet been flagged up on their systems.

Officers say that Garcia targeted the 'location' of the mall rather than the individuals, with Sibley adding: 'He was very random in the people he killed'.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot dead eight of his victims in just four minutes before he was then killed by a police officer

Authorities confirmed that Garcia had legally purchased eight firearms before the incident and carried three on his person and five more in his vehicle to the shopping center

However law enforcement was unable to confirm the motive of the shooting, adding that they did not find a manifesto left behind by the shooter.

During the press conference they confirmed that Garcia did not make it through basic Army training in 2008 because of a mental health issue.

The FBI is continuing to comb through his electronic devices and social media, as well as monitoring a profile on the OK.RU platform.

Sibley said: 'The big question is why? What was the motive? At this point we don't know. That's what the investigation is trying to find out.

'He had neo-Nazi ideations, he had patches, he had tattoos, even his signature.

'To me it looked like he targeted the location rather than a specific group of people.'

City of Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said that the name of a brave officer who rushed to the scene and killed Garcia will not be released because of the ongoing investigation.

He added that victim of the shooting, Christian LaCour, 20, managed to escort one person to safety before being killed.

Authorities confirmed that Mauricio Garcia, 33, had legally purchased eight firearms before the incident and carried three on his person and five more in his vehicle to the shopping center in Allen

Law enforcement was unable to confirm the motive of the shooting, adding that they did not find a manifesto left behind by the shooter

Christian LaCour, 20, (pictured) who worked as a security guard at the mall managed to escort one person to safety before being killed

The account on the site OK.RU is also littered with pictures of guns and ammunition

The mall is expected to reopen shortly with stores opening based on what the management of each store decides.

Sibley added that the response to the mall shooting as 'stellar', and praised the police officer who killed the gunman after requesting backup.

They believe that the entire incident after shots were fired happened in a matter of minutes, with officers neutralizing the threat.

Authorities said it was 'too early to say' if the murders were an 'act of domestic terrorism', and wanted to inspect his social media before commenting further.

Garcia was approved for a security license in Texas, but it had expired at the time of the massacre and he had not been working as a security guard for some time.

It comes after his account posted photos of nazis, guns and ammunition as well as extremist rants about Jews, women and racial minorities, according to Bellingcat researcher Aric Toler.

Posts also show a series of shirtless pictures with white power tattoos on Garcia's body, including SS Lightning Bolts and a swastika. Cops confirmed that his signature also had a Nazi influence but did not elaborate further

The account was littered with Nazi posts. The following four photos were all uploaded with the caption: 'My kind of people'

In the weeks before he committed the senseless mass shooting at Allen Premium Outlets near Dallas, more than two dozen photos of the shopping center and surrounding area were uploaded to an account on the OK.RU platform that appears to belong to Garcia

DailyMail.com verified a picture of Garcia uploaded to the account that shows him next to a waitress at a Hooters in Texas Twin Peaks.

Just three weeks before he carried out the mass shooting, he uploaded more than a dozen photos of the shopping center and surrounding area, including screenshots of Google location information tracking peak visiting times.

Both Toler and NBC said the account, on Russian site OK.RU, belonged to Garcia, who was shot and killed at the scene.

Another post appears to show the receipt for the guns and ammunition he bought in 2020, which he ultimately used to carry out the shootings.

He also refers to extremist online forums such as 4chan and content from white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes, an antisemitic white nationalist

Garcia appears to have also posted about his mental health, and in the final one he lamented about what his family would say, before adding that no psychologist would have been able to fix him.

He was briefly enrolled in the Army in 2008 and previously worked as a security guard but his license expired in 2020.

Posts also included Google location information which monitors peak times at the center

Garcia was briefly enrolled in the Army in 2008 and previously worked as a security guard but his license expired in 2020

Dashcam footage showed the moment a gunman opened fire and killed multiple civilians - as cops are reportedly on the hunt for a second gunman believed to have aided in the assault

Cindy, 35, Kyu, 37, and James Cho, 3, (pictured) were all shot dead following the rampage in Allen, Texas, on Saturday. Their eldest son, William (bottom left) survived the incident

Another post also praised Nashville shooter Audrey Hale, who killed six people  including three children  when she opened fire at a private Christian school.

Other photos include a bulletproof vest that appears to match the one described by witnesses to the shooting, which is emblazoned with an acronym for 'Right Wing Death Squad' - a popular meme among far-right extremist groups.

Posts also show a series of shirtless pictures with white power tattoos on his body, including SS Lightning Bolts and a swastika.

Police still have not confirmed the motive for the shooting, nor if they have recovered a manifesto from the shooter.

But the OK.RU account makes is plastered with neo-Nazi ideology and rants against women and Jews.

It also posts extensively about Hitler, 'superior races' and about wanting to escape life, while raving about mass killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

The final post on OK.RU included the lyrics of a heavy metal song titled 'You've dug your grave now lie in it.'

The account didn't explicitly state what was being planned, but twisted posts frequently refer to violence.

William (left) had celebrated his sixth birthday just four days before the tragedy and was also rushed to hospital with severe injuries

Daniela Mendoza, 10, and her eight-year-old sister Sofia (right) were among eight people shot and killed at the Allen outlet mall in Texas on Saturday

The Korean Consulate in Dallas confirmed to DailyMail.com that the family had passed away in the shooting, adding that they were trying to contact relatives not in the area. Pictured: The couple with their eldest as a baby

His massacre has left a six-year-old boy orphaned, after he killed his parents and younger brother in the mall massacre.

Dentist Cindy Cho, 35, her husband Kyu, 37, and son James, 3, were all shot dead following the rampage in Allen, Texas, on Saturday.

The Korean couple's eldest son William had celebrated his sixth birthday just four days before the tragedy and was also rushed to hospital with severe injuries.

Family members have now confirmed that the schoolboy has been moved from ICU, and it is thought that he is one of the youngest injured in the attack.

A GoFundMe for the family has raised over $1.2million and described their 'deep mourning.'

They said: 'An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left eight victims dead.

'After being released from the ICU, their six-year-old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.'

Dental colleagues of Cindy paid tribute to her as 'one of the kindest, happiest, most genuine people.'

Aishwarya Thatikonda (pictured), who is originally from Hyderabad, India, was identified as one of the nine killed in the massacre - including the shooter - by a family representative today

Shoppers leave as law enforcement officers respond to the mass shooting in the Dallas area's Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday

The Korean Consulate in Dallas confirmed to DailyMail.com that the family had passed away in the shooting, adding that they were trying to contact relatives not in the area.

Family members told the South Korean consulate in Dallas that the victims are U.S. citizens, according to Myoung Joon Kim, head of the Consulate in Dallas.

He said: 'The Korean consulate joins the people of the Dallas-Fort Worth area to express our deepest condolences for the victims and their family members.

'We pray for the victims and their family members for their healing and recovery.'

It comes after a Superintendent confirmed that two elementary school pupils were shot and killed in the tragedy.

Fourth-grader Daniela Mendoza and second-grader Sofia Mendoza were both shot dead and their mother, Ilda, remains in a critical condition.

Both attended Cox elementary school, with Wylie ISD Superintendent David Vinson saying in an email: 'We love your babies, we love them so much. Our love for our kiddos and each other will get us through this.

'Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.'

Authorities confirmed the identity of the final victim on Monday as Elios Cumana-Rivas, 32, from Dallas.

The front entrance of a home connected to suspected mall gunman, Mauricio Garcia

Engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27, and Christian LaCour, 20, who worked as a security guard at the mall, were also killed in the massacre.

Thatikonda, originally from Hyderabad, India, had been shopping for her upcoming birthday when she was one of the nine shot dead - including the shooter.

She moved to Dallas two years ago to work as a Project Engineer at Perfect General Contractors, was shopping with her friend at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday morning when gunman Mauricio Garcia opened fire.

'She was very friendly and very loving,' a family representative told WFAA, adding that Thatikonda's friend was injured in the shooting and is currently stable in the hospital.

LaCour was the first victim of the mass shooting to be identified yesterday, with his grandmother Sandra Montgomery describing him as a 'beautiful soul'.

'My beautiful grandson, Christian LaCour, was the security guard killed in the shooting at Allen, Texas. He was such a beautiful soul,' she wrote.

In another tribute post shared Sunday, one person who is friends with LaCour's family said he was a 'very sweet gentleman.'

Kellie Smith said she considered herself lucky to have 'watched this sweet young boy turn into a very sweet gentleman,' the woman wrote on Facebook.

'Their will forever be a void. Please uplift his family in prayer as they navigate this unimaginable time of their lives. Christian you will always remain close to us because we will keep you in our hearts until we see you in Heaven,' Smith wrote.

LaCour was the first of eight victims to be identified publicly and the identification came a full day after the shooting took place.

Children were among the eight killed during the rampage, where more than 100 rounds were fired. Seven were pronounced at the scene and two at the hospital.
Are you the parents? We'd love to hear your story. Email tips@dailymail.com

Britain's first three-parent baby has been born using a groundbreaking IVF procedure.

In the biggest leap forward since IVF itself, the technique, called mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT), protects children from a group of mitochondrial disorders, including muscular dystrophy, which can cause poor growth, muscle weakness, learning disabilities and early death.

These illnesses are inherited through faults in the mother's mitochondria - the tiny 'engine rooms' which power the cells.

The MDT procedure allows women to swap their diseased mitochondria for the healthy mitochondria taken from the egg of a second woman.

The first 'three-parent babies' have been born using the technique, it was revealed in a Freedom of Information response provided to the Guardian by the UK's fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

British scientists devised the new IVF technique, in which the child has genetic material from three people, but does not inherit any of the donors characteristics. Opponents include the Church of England

History in the making: Dr John Zhang in a Mexican hospital with the world's only confirmed three-parent baby after its birth in 2016

The science behind the extraordinary three-parent baby technique The extraordinary technique is considered the biggest advance in fertility medicine since IVF itself. It was developed to allow families plagued by devastating mitochondrial conditions to have healthy babies. Hereditary defects found in the DNA in mitochondria  the batteries that power all cells  can be passed down from mother to baby and lead to a range of devastating and often life-shortening diseases. Using genetic material from three people  sperm from the father, an egg from the mother and a donor egg from another woman  the procedure creates embryos that are virtually free of these genetic errors. Creating a three-parent baby, known as mitochondrial donation, is initially similar to standard IVF  an egg from the mother is fertilised with sperm from the father in the laboratory. But at the very earliest stage of its development, before it has even started to divide and reproduce, scientists remove the fertilised egg's nucleus. It gets inserted into a donor egg, which has also been fertilised by the father's sperm but which has had its nucleus removed. The faulty mitochondria left behind in the mother's original egg is then discarded. The donor egg now contains the genetic material from the mother and the father but is surrounded by new, healthy mitochondria from the donor. This is then implanted into the mother's womb to grow Up to 0.2 per cent of the baby's resulting DNA will have come from the donor  a tiny fragment and not enough to affect individual characteristics such as eye or hair colour. The world's first confirmed three-parent baby was born to Jordanian parents in Mexico in 2016, with the help of Dr John Zhang, a New York-based endocrinologist. The family has never been identified and the child would now be five. Some argue the procedure meddles with nature, dubbing it 'Frankenscience' that creates designer babies. Advertisement

While the babies will technically have two mothers, the second 'mother' in each case will have no real genetic link to the child, contributing only 0.1 per cent of her DNA.

Critics have previously expressed fears the successful use of the technique could pave the way for 'designer' babies.

But supporters say mitochondrial donation is a lifeline for up to 3,000 women in danger of passing on potentially deadly diseases.

The HFEA confirmed that a small number of babies have now been born in the UK after MDT.

It has not provided an exact number, but said the number was 'less than five' as of April.

The families involved have not been identified, but the first three-parent babies could have been born to two mums who knew each other, with eligible women understood to have asked friends to be egg donors.

Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Educational Trust (PET), a charity which campaigns to help people affected by genetic conditions and infertility, said: 'The first baby born by a new technique is always big news but a cautious reaction is particularly appropriate in this case.

'For the time being, the HFEA only gives permission for mitochondrial donation to be used on a case-by-case basis.

'This is sensible, as it is still early days for this technology, and it needs to be monitored closely and carefully.'

Britain became the first country in the world to legalise three-parent babies under licence in 2015.

The Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life clinic was then given the green light to perform the procedure by the HFEA in 2017, in what was hailed as a 'momentous day'.

Three-parent babies, using slightly varying methods, have already been born in countries including Mexico and Ukraine.

Controversially, it has been used abroad not only to prevent mitochondrial diseases being passed on, but as a method claimed to help an infertile woman conceive by using a second woman's DNA.

British experts have said there is no evidence suggesting mitochondrial donation could work for this purpose.

The technique, used in this country to prevent mitochondrial disease only, removes the nucleus from the mother's egg and puts it in an emptied-out egg donated by another woman.

But it is not without risk, and some experts are concerned moving the genetic material from one egg to another could affect the way in which the genes are expressed.

Britain's first three-parent baby has been born using a groundbreaking IVF procedure

Disrupting the activity of genes might produce a child at increased risk of later health problems, such as cancer or diabetes.'

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, said: 'Mitochondrial donation treatment offers families with severe inherited mitochondrial illness the possibility of a healthy child.

'The UK was the first country in the world to allow mitochondrial donation treatment within a regulatory environment.

'The HFEA oversee a robust framework which ensures that mitochondrial donation is provided in a safe and ethical manner.

'All applications for treatment are assessed on an individual basis against the tests set out in the law and only after independent advice from experts.

'These are still early days for mitochondrial donation treatment and the HFEA continues to review clinical and scientific developments.'
Former President Donald Trump issued an angry post minutes after a New York jury found he committed sexual abuse and defamed E. Jean Carroll  claiming he had 'no idea' who the woman who brought on his rape trial is.

Trump once again termed the entire matter a 'hoax,' after a jury of six men and three women found he was liable for committing sexual abuse, battery, and also defamed Carroll.

The jury found Trump should pay her $5 million in damages, following a trial filled with damaging moments.

'I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS,' Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social web site. 'THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE - A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!'

'I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS,' former President Donald Trump wrote after the verdict

His blast came about 30 minutes after the jury failed to find that he raped Carroll, but found he was liable for sexual abuse, battery, and defamation.

Carroll told the jury that Trump attacked her inside a Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1995 or 1996, in a version of events the jury at least partly believed even as Trump was quoted as calling it a hoax.

Trump's statement that he didn't know the identity of Carroll came after he failed to properly identify her in a photo in what may have been a key moment of the trial.

During his videotaped deposition, Carroll lawyer Roberta Kramer had Trump look at a black and white image to identify members of the group, which included himself.

When asked to identify a woman in the photo, Trump responded: 'That's Marla, that's my wife.'

It was only with the help of his lawyer, Alina Habba, that Trump figured out it was in fact Carroll.

'I don't even know who the woman. Let's see, I don't know who  it's Marla,' said Trump.

Trump posted about the case about 30 minutes after jurors reached a verdict the found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, and determined he should pay Carroll $5 million

Former President Trump complained about the trial after the verdict

Looks familiar: Trump said he had 'no idea' who accuser E. Jean Carroll was, on a day a jury found him liable for sexual abuse, battery and defamation, and said he should pay her $5 million

During one awkward moment of his videotaped deposition, Trump failed to identify Carroll in an image, then confused her with his former wife Marla Maples. (Former wife Ivana Trump is pictured at the right)

'I hear we're doing very well in New York,' former President Donald Trump said when asked last week why he was visiting Ireland rather than attending his trial in New York. He later said he was cutting short his trip to 'confront' Carroll, but failed to take the stand in his own defense

'In New York, you can't get a fair trial,' said Trump lawyer Joseph Tacopina

That prompted Roberta Kaplan to interject: 'You're saying Marla's in this photo?

'That's Marla, yeah. That's, that's my wife.'

Trump has said previously he didn't know who Carroll is, a defense he connected to his belief Carroll was bringing false charges against him.

But the exchange undermined the certainty of Trump's memory recalling the era  while also undercutting his claim that his accuser wasn't 'my type.'

Kaplan later told him: 'I take it the three women you've married are all your type?'

'Yeah,' Trump responded.

Trump's furious post came several hours after another angry missive that he blasted out even before the jury reached its verdict.

'Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me,' Trump wrote.

'In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press. I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!'

Trump's statement about not being allowed to speak or defend himself wasn't accurate. The judge hearing the case, Lewis A. Kaplan, gave the defense the opportunity to put Trump on the stand.

After Trump told reporters in Ireland last week he was cutting short his trip to come home and 'confront' Carroll, the judge gave his legal team additional time to bring witnesses in the event Trump wanted to take the stand.

In the end, his lawyers allowed the jury to get its chief impressions of Trump through his videotaped deposition, where he had tense confrontations with Carroll's lawyer, and from the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape where he spoke about grabbing women 'by the p****' when 'you're a star.'

Lawyer Jonathan Turley, who appeared as a Republican witness during Trump's second Senate impeachment trial, told Fox News Tuesday that Trump's failure to appear  and Carroll's lawyer's ability to draw a negative inference from it in civil court  as a potentially critical moment in the trial.

Trump posted again about the verdict later Tuesday afternoon, shortly before 5 pm.

'VERY UNFAIR TRIAL!' Trump wrote.

That post was nearly simultaneous with his lawyer Joe Tacopina addressing reporters following the verdict.

Tacopina in part blamed the New York jury pool. 'In New York, you can't get a fair trial,' said Tacopina, who has tried multiple high profile cases in the city, in a state where he is a member of the bar.

FULL STATEMENT FROM TRUMP CAMPAIGN 'The Democratic Party's never-ending witch-hunt of President Trump hit a new low today. In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nation's justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics. We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage. Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States. The continued abuse of our great Constitution for political ends is disgusting and cannot be tolerated. Our nation is in serious trouble when claims lacking any evidence or proof or eyewitnesses can invade our courts to score political points. Sadly, for the enemies of American freedom and democracy, President Trump will never stop fighting for the American people, no matter what the radical Democrats dream up next. This case will be appealed, and we will ultimately win.' Advertisement

New York City voted overwhelmingly for Joe Biden over Trump in 2020, although lawyers on both sides in the case went through a lengthy voir dire process in order to select a jury panel consisting of people who said they could follow instructions and apply the law without bias.

Even as he said you couldn't get a fair trial in New York, Tacopina stressed that 'they found him not liable for rape'  in this case elevating the jury for failing to find his client committed the most serious offense.

Trump's campaign issued a lengthier statement, casting aside the $5 million award and calling the case 'bogus' and echoing Trump's language calling it a 'witch hunt.'

The statement claimed the jurisdiction was 'controlled' by the Democratic Party, at a time when Trump is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

'The Democratic Party's never-ending witch-hunt of President Trump hit a new low today. In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nation's justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics. We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage.

'Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States,' according to Trump's campaign.

'The continued abuse of our great Constitution for political ends is disgusting and cannot be tolerated. Our nation is in serious trouble when claims lacking any evidence or proof or eyewitnesses can invade our courts to score political points.

'Sadly, for the enemies of American freedom and democracy, President Trump will never stop fighting for the American people, no matter what the radical Democrats dream up next. This case will be appealed, and we will ultimately win.'

'No one is above the law, not even a former President of the United States,' said Carroll lawyer Roberta Kaplan.

'We are so thrilled that the jury agreed, rendering a unanimous verdict in favor of E. Jean Carroll in just two and a half hours. For far too long, survivors of sexual assault faced a wall of doubt and intimidation. We hope and believe today's verdict will be an important step in tearing that wall down. E. Jean Carroll has never wavered in her strength, courage, and determination to seek justice. Donald Trump, on the other hand, failed to even show up in court. This is a victory not only for E. Jean Carroll, but for democracy itself, and for all survivors everywhere.'

Carroll, who walked by a stand of microphones outside the courthouse, also issued a statement.

'I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed,' she said.

'I would like to express my deep and lasting gratitude to all those who have stood by me from the start, especially my incredible and fearless legal team, led by Robbie Kaplan, who never, ever backed down in pursuit of truth and justice.'
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One of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's sons has been sanctioned in connection with his siblings' Los Chapitos network and the organization's trafficking of illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs' into the United States.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez allegedly works hand-in-hand with his three brothers, Ivan Guzman Salazar, Jesus Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez and is tasked with keeping a close eye on many of the Los Chapitos dealings, the United States Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement Tuesday.

A powerful faction of their father's Sinaloa Cartel, the group is said to have risen to power after the notorious kingpin was arrested in Mexico in 2016 and then extradited to the United States in 2017. A federal New York court found him guilty in February 2019 and sentenced him to life in prison in July 2019.

The Department of Treasury indicated that Joaquin Guzman Lopez manages the Los Chapitos network's 'super labs,' which are supplied by the Ludim Zamudio Lerna and Luis Zamudio Lerman, siblings who are both based out of Sinaloa.

The sanctions require all property in the control of U.S. citizens to be blocked and reported. It also prevents people from any dealings with those sanctioned.

'Today's action continues to disrupt key nodes of the global illicit fentanyl enterprise, including the producers, suppliers, and transporters,' said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. 'Treasury, in close coordination with the Government of Mexico and U.S. law enforcement, will continue to leverage our authorities to isolate and disrupt Los Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel's operations at every juncture.'

Joaquin Guzman Lopez was sanctioned by the United States Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Tuesday for his dealings with Los Chapitos, a network operated by him and his three brothers that controls half of the Sinaloa Cartel

Following his extradition to the United States in 2017, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's four sons rose to power to control half of the Sinaloa Cartel

Joaquin Guzman Lopez was indicted for the first time in 2018 when the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia slapped him with federal drug trafficking charges. He has also been indicted in several superseding indictments in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 14.

The United States Department of State is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.

There are also $10 million rewards being offered for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction of Ivan Guzman Salazar and Jesus Guzman Salazar.

Meanwhile, Ovidio Guzman Lopez is locked in a Mexico City prison fighting to avoid his extradition to the United States.

United States Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned Raymundo Perez, who is allegedly the head of a network that supplies the Sinaloa Cartel with precursor chemicals that are necessary to produce drugs.

The U.S. Department of State is offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, one of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's four sons who operate half of the Sinaloa Cartel under the Los Chapitos network

Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar (pictured) is one of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's three sons who are wanted by the U.S.

Also sanctioned was Saul Paez, a cousin of Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, who is responsible for reportedly coordinating shipments of drugs.

The federal agency also included Mario Ogazon among those who were sanctioned and accuse him of buying precursor chemicals from Ludim Zamudio Lerma. He allegedly is involved with the operations of the cartel's labs.

The feds also sanctioned Sumilab, S.A., de C.V., a chemical and lab equipment based in Sinaloa, that provides and ships precursor chemicals 'for and to Sinaloa Cartel members and associates.'

A second business, identified as real estate company Urbanization, Real Estate and Construction Works, S.A. de C.V., was also sanctioned.

According to the DEA, Los Chapitos provide fentanyl to 27 cities across the United States

U.S. prosecutors allege that Los Chapitos receive precursor chemicals to produce fentanyl from China and then manufacture it at clandestine labs in Mexico before smuggling it to the United States

The firm is 'being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly' of Mario Ogazon.

The sanctions were handed down after Los Chapitos released a letter to Mexican news network Milenio and declared that they 'are not the head of the Sinaloa Cartel nor are we interested in being.'

In the missive, the siblings stated that 'what does exist is a countless number of small and large groups that have their base of operations in the state or are made up of people from Sinaloa and operate in other parts of the country or even in other parts of the world.'

In addition, Los Chapitos slammed the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the April 14 press conference where agency administrator Anne Milgram released details of charges against the Sinaloa Cartel and accused Los Chapitos of being at the forefront of the organization's 'most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world.'

The indictment accused Los Chapitos of flooding the streets of the United States with fentanyl over the last eight years, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

According to the DEA, Los Chapitos provide fentanyl to 27 cities across the United States.

'The fame of our name reached an unsuspected position. We have never worked with fentanyl,' the letter read. 'However, in Sinaloa there are many who work it. That is why there are seizures, which have a first and last name, [investigations].

'It's easy to know who really owns all those seizures. We have never knowingly established relationships with people who traffic fentanyl. We want to make the following clear: Ivan will never say or say 'we will flood the streets of the United States with fentanyl.'
Lori Vallow grinned from the defense table in the Boise, Idaho courthouse on Tuesday as her attorneys rested their case without calling a single witness.

'We don't believe the state has proved its case so the defense will rest,' defense attorney Jim Archibald said after a private meeting with Vallow, 49.

The prosecution also rested its case just a short time earlier today after four weeks of harrowing testimony that revealed salacious texts between the 'Doomsday mom' and her cult leader husband Chad Daybell, as well as insight into their alleged deranged plan to kill her children, who prosecutors say the pair believed were possessed by 'dark' spirits and referred to them as 'zombies.'

Closing arguments will be Thursday, which gives the attorneys time on Wednesday to draft instructions for the jury. Deliberations will then begin and the highly-anticipated verdict could come as soon as this week.

Judge Steven Boyce ruled this morning that the court will stream the verdict live to the public following months of a ban on cameras in the courtroom, a decision made to give Vallow a fair trial.

Vallow and Daybell, 54, are accused of killing her two children JJ, 7, and Tylee, 16, in September 2019, and Daybell's then-wife Tammy the same month. They married in Hawaii just two weeks later.

Lori Vallow grinned from the defense table in the Boise, Idaho courthouse on Tuesday as her attorneys rested their case without calling a single witness

Tylee, 16, and JJ, seven, are shown with their uncle, Alex Cox, in what is believed to be the final photo of them, taken during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park on September 8, 2019

The State rested its case earlier on Tuesday just after they asked for an amendment to the charges against Vallow, citing a clerical error in the indictment, which had remained that way for the past two years.

The change from grand theft with intent to deprive to grand theft by deception was approved by Judge Boyce, but he pointed out that the request is 'sort of unbelievable' because of how many prosecutors have worked on the case.

'It's disappointing that the court has to consider this at this point in the proceedings,' he said.

Before resting, the prosecution had one last chance to prove their case with testimony as they presented two final witnesses at the packed courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

Nicole Heideman, a tactical specialist with the FBI, testified about text messages detailing a love story between 'James and Elena' - which the State claims are Daybell and Vallow - that were found on the cult mom's iCloud account.

In one text from Daybell to Vallow, he gushes about their sex life, writing: 'Elena's magic hand has gripped the storm. Barely able to breathe as intense waves wash over them.'

The prosecution is seeking to show that the couple's relationship was the driving force in the plot to kill her children, who went missing in 2019 and whose bodies were found in Daybell's backyard in 2020.

Chad Daybell enters the courtroom during his preliminary hearing in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Monday, August 3, 2020. He is being tried separately

The children's bodies were discovered in shallow graves on Daybell's property on June 9, 2020 - nine months after they vanished

'There appeared to be some planning of missions and planning of their life together as a couple,' Heideman said.

The two children and Daybell's previous wife Tammy were all killed because they stood in the way of the couple's relationship, the State says.

Prosecutors say the couple planned to use life insurance money from Tammy's death, and that Vallow kept collecting and spending the children's social security and benefits after they died.

Last week, FBI Agent Doug Hart testified that the pair had also engaged in toe-curling sexting sessions about showering together and 'naked activities' during their affair which started shortly after they met at a doomsday conference in late 2018. He continued his testimony on Monday and Tuesday.

Nicholas Edwards, the lead investigator for the Idaho Attorney General's Office, was the final witness to testify for the State.

He said on that on October 3, 2019, Daybell texted Vallow: 'Good night angel Lilii. So excited to go on our date (with a fire emoji).'

The next day he sent her a text saying: 'Dreaming of caressing you in your bed. I adore you.'

On October 5, he urged his then-wife Tammy to visit her family in Utah.

Edwards also revealed that on October 2019, the day Tammy reported she had been shot at outside her home, there were 90 calls and text messages between Daybell, Vallow, her brother Alex Cox and Cox's future wife Zulema Pastenes.

He drove home the point this number of calls was significantly more than other days.

Chad and Tammy Daybell pictured before she was murdered in October, 2019

The key individuals in Lori Vallow's tangled family tree, including her five husbands, two dead children and killer brother

Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated by a judge. He will be tried separately next year

On that same night, Vallow and Pastenes had met to do a 'casting' on Tammy - which refers to an act of getting rid of a demonic spirit from someone who is possessed, according to previous witnesses.

Vallow, Daybell, Cox and Pastenes also exchanged calls and texts on October 18, the night before Tammy Daybell suffocated to death at her home.

At that time, Daybell and Vallow, who was in Hawaii, exchanged a slew of romantic and sexual texts, as they declared they missed each other just hours after Tammy's death.

The State says Vallow wanted 'money, power, sex' and that she also used 'those things to get what she wanted.' Vallow, who faces life in prison if convicted, denies the charges against her. Daybell is being tried separately.

Testimony began on April 10 and jurors have since heard from friends and relatives of Vallow, who claimed she and Daybell believed her two children were 'zombies' before they disappeared.

Vallow denies two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of conspiracy in the deaths of her two children and Tammy Daybell.

She further denies grand theft for allegedly collecting government benefits on behalf of her children after they were killed.
Skylar Neese's father, Dave, said he wished he was able to look his daughter's murderer 'in the eye and tell her exactly what I thought of her' as she was denied parole today.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com Dave Neese said he hoped Rachel Shoaf will remain behind bars where 'she belongs' for the rest of her sentence, after a parole board on Tuesday rejected her efforts for early release.

'My feelings towards her will never change,' Dave Neese said moments after the Zoom parole hearing. 'This girl made her mark on me and my family by taking away our only daughter. She meant to do what she did.'

Teens Shelia Eddy and Shoaf lured Skylar Neese from her home in West Virginia in July 2012. They drove to the woods in Pennsylvania, and Eddy and Shoaf stabbed Skylar to death and dumped her body along the road.

Both teenagers comforted Skylar's parents and played the part of grieving friends when Neese was reported missing, before Shoaf finally admitted to the senseless murder in early 2013.

In May of that year, Shoaf, then 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 10 years.

That possibility was rejected today.

Skylar's father, Dave, pictured with his wife, Mary, and their daughter when she was a child said he wished he was able to look his daughter's murderer 'in the eye and tell her exactly what I thought of her'

Rachel Shoaf was denied parole today after being sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2013

Dave and Mary Neese hold up a photo of their missing daughter months before Shoaf admitted to the killing

The hearing was held on Zoom and wasn't open to the public. Dave Neese spoke from a conference room, while Shoaf spoke from her West Virginia woman's prison. After the hearing, Neese said he was disappointed he was not able to see his daughter's murderer face-to-face a decade after she was ordered to prison.

'I wanted to look her in the eye and tell her exactly what I thought of her but I didn't get that chance. But she heard it,' he said.

He said he believed 'justice spoke for itself today.'

'The parole board saw through her lies. It didn't take them a long time to deliberate and come back with an answer,' he continued.

Skylar's parents wore purple to the hearing - which was their daughter's favorite color - and quickly posted on social media the board's decision.

'Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy are both where they belong,' Dave Neese said. 'And hopefully they will stay there. Today there was a little bit of justice served.'

Shoaf, 26, appeared via video link at the hearing, which was also attended by Skylar's mother, Mary.

Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal and senseless murder in May 2013

Sheila Eddy (left) and Rachel Shoaf (right) smile in mugshots from 2019. The pair lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese from her home in July 2012 and stabbed her to death. After confessing to the murder, Shoaf said it was because they didn't like Neese anymore

According to WBOY 12 News, when asked what she would say to the family, Shoaf said in a statement: 'I cant express how sorry I am for what I have done and for the pain I have caused.

'I loved her. I know what we did was terrible and theres no words to describe the pain that we caused and I know there is nothing I can say or do.

'I just pray for them all the time and pray for peace in their heart. I would trade places with Skylar so she could be with her loved ones.

'I just want them to know how deeply sorry I am.'

Shoaf also allegedly said: 'Ive made a terrible, terrible mistake that I cant change, but Im not a bad person because I made one bad choice.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Neese said he believed it was all 'an act.'

'She's an actress. That's what she does, she acts. That's all it was today, it was an act. She knew what she was doing,' he said.

'She at one point called it an accident. An accident is when you bump into somebody. An accident is not planning something over the year and then carrying it out.'

Prosecutors said Shoaf and Eddy plotted to kill their friend, but at the time of Shoaf's confession, a motive for the brutal murder was not revealed.

Shoaf allegedly told police the girls no longer wanted to be friends with Skylar, and prosecutors said it was due to a deteriorating friendship and fears that Skylar would divulge secrets.

Speaking at the hearing today, Shoaf reportedly said that she and Eddy were in a relationship and feared consequences if they were exposed.

'After things became known with the relationship, there was tension between us,' Shoaf said. It was hostile and violent, in our teenage minds we didnt know how to handle the conflict and we just wanted it to stop.'

Neese said he was 'furious' when he heard Shoaf trying to 'blame Skylar.'

'She said she was afraid Skylar would tell that they were in a lesbian relationship. Skylar could care less. She had gay friends, it didn't bother her a bit,' he said.

'For those girls to do what they did, you have to be insane. You don't want people like that walking around the streets,' he added.

Neese said he felt 'justice spoke for itself today' after the hearing, where was able to testify a decade on from his daughter's murder

This photo was allegedly taken just a day after the murder showing Rachel (right) looking carefree at the beach

Killers Rachel Shoaf (left) and Sheila Eddy (center) with their friend, and later victim Skylar Neese (right) in a Facebook photo

In a prepared statement obtained by WBOY 12 News, Neese told the hearing why he believed Shoaf should not be granted parole.

'This narcissistic, first-degree, cold-blooded killer is not sorry for the brutal murder of my only child. Its my belief that she is proud she murdered my daughter in cold blood. The day after she plunged kitchen knives into my child, this devil was seen on a friends boat, smiling and posing for photographs,' he said.

He said that Shoaf had chosen the day of July 6 as she wanted to kill Skylar before she went to church camp.

'Just another task to mark off of her list, like standing over my child saying Die, b****! as my baby girl took her last breath, because the evil butcher didnt want to be her friend,' he continued.

Before the hearing, over 33,000 people signed an online petition with hopes that Shoaf will remain behind bars.

Shoaf is currently incarcerated at the Lakin Correctional Center in Mason County.

Eddy was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years.

In the early hours of July 6, the pair picked up Skylar from her apartment in Star City, before smoking marijuana and driving toward Pennsylvania.

Shoaf allegedly also blamed her actions on being under the influence of the drug.

Shoaf and Eddy hid kitchen knives under their clothes and on the count of three, began to stab Skylar repeatedly.

The pair planned to bury the body, bringing a shovel with them, but authorities said they were not strong enough to break the ground and so they dragged her body away from the road and covered her in debris.

Shoaf and Eddy then returned home and played the part of distraught friends, crying and grieving with Skylar's parents.

Shoaf tweeted: 'Where @ highastheSky?' - the name Skylar used on Twitter, and both teenagers continued to post chilling messages on social media in the months following the murder.

Sheila Eddy, pictured in court in 2014, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder

The place where the teenagers left Skylar's body in Pennsylvania is now a memorial

Skylar's father, Dave, said how the pair helped the family distribute missing person flyers, and Eddy asked to come over and sit on the missing girl's bed.

Skylar's aunt Carol Michaud said in 2013: 'She came and acted as if she knew nothing. She pretended and stayed with us and comforted us and swore she had no idea what was going. To come to this day and admit she did just shows how evil she can be.'

In January 2013, Shoaf finally cracked and told investigators what had happened and where to find the body.

The site is now a memorial to Skylar, with photos and mementos of her life.

According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Shoaf's projected release date is April 30, 2028.

Since her death, Skylar's parents spearheaded a push to create Skylar's Law, which would require Amber Alerts to be issued in West Virginia for all missing children.
CNN is being urged to cancel its Wednesday evening town hall meeting with Donald Trump after he was found liable for sexually assaulting author E. Jean Carroll.

The former president is scheduled to be at New Hampshire's St. Anselm College for a forum with voters moderated by CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

But numerous commentators took to Twitter to demand the network cancel the event.

'Is @CNN still going to do a town hall with the sexual predator twice impeached insurrectionist former president @realDonaldTrump? Im not watching it. I think its absurd for a major news network to normalize Trump,' wrote Alexander S. Vindman, the former Trump White House staffer who testified in Trump's first impeachment hearing.

'Will @CNN proceed with the Town Hall in NH tomorrow night with Trump given the verdict against him? One more reason Trump shouldnt be given a platform by CNN or others like its 2016 again. #2024PresidentialElection #NHPolitics,' wrote Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh.

As of Tuesday evening, the event was still on. 'No programming changes at this point,' a CNN spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

There are calls for CNN to cancel its Wednesday town hall with Donald Trump to be moderated by CNN's Kaitlan Collins (above)

The invited town hall participants are those who expect to vote in a Republican primary next year.

It's Trumps first appearance for a CNN interview since before he was elected president in 2016.

Even before Tuesday's verdict, both sides of the political aisle questioned the event: Democrats asked if Trump should be given the airtime, while Republicans wonder if CNN - which Trump long criticized as 'fake news' - can be fair to the former president.

The questions about the appropriateness of giving Trump airtime grew after the verdict in the Carroll case.

Author Michael Marshall Smith tweeted 'CNN *has* to cancel its Town Hall with Trump tomorrow. You CANNOT give legitimacy to him any longer. None of us can. Even the GOP.'

And author Don Winslow noted 'I cannot believe you would follow what happened in a New York City courtroom today with a town hall for Donald Trump tomorrow. CANCEL IT.'

A New York jury on Tuesday found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in damages. Jurors rejected Carroll's claim she was raped, but found Trump liable for sexual abuse and for defaming Carroll after she made her allegations public.

Jurors debated about three hours before coming to their verdict.

Trump chose not to attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read.

Donald Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting author E. Jean Carroll and ordered to pay her $5 million in damages

But he responded in an angry post on his Truth Social platform.

'I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS,' Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social web site. 'THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE - A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!'

And his campaign said in a statement: 'Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States.'

Carroll told the jury Trump attacked her inside a Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1995 or 1996, in a version of events the jury at least partly believed even as Trump was quoted as calling it a hoax.

Trump's statement that he didn't know the identity of Carroll came after he failed to properly identify her in a photo in what may have been a key moment of the trial.

During his videotaped deposition, Carroll lawyer Roberta Kramer had Trump look at a black and white image to identify the group, which included himself.

When asked to identify a woman in the photo, Trump responded: 'That's Marla, that's my wife.'

It was only with the help of his lawyer, Alina Habba, that Trump figured out it is in fact Carroll.

'I don't even know who the woman. Let's see, I don't know who  it's Marla,' said Trump.

Carroll bowed her head as the verdict in the battery allegation was read out. As the defamation verdict was read she bowed it again, nodding in agreement. Afterwards she stood up and shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina.

Carroll left court beaming from ear to ear without making a statement to the media, but was heard saying to the crowd, 'We're very happy.'

Writer E. Jean Carroll leaves a Manhattan court house after a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing he

Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct or assault by more than two dozen women, but this has so far been the only case to end up before a jury, casting another shadow over Trump's 2024 Presidential campaign

Carroll, 79, sued for battery under the Adult Survivors Act, a law passed in New York that allowed a one year window for sexual assault claims normally outside of the statute of limitations.

Her claim for defamation was based on statements made by Trump, 76, when he was President in which he called her a liar.
Several other fast-food chai ns are struggling to stay afloat amid a poor economic outlook

Over 100 stores owned by Summit Restaurant Holdings could be set to close

A major Hardees franchisee has filed for bankruptcy after 39 of its 108 restaurants across America have been forced to close.

Amid inflating food and labor costs and a pandemic-fueled loss in foot traffic, a fleet of Hardees restaurants owned by Summit Restaurant Holdings could be set to shutter amid the company's plummeting bottom line.

At its height, the business controlled 145 Hardees locations across the nation, but it has joined a growing number of firms to hit turbulent financial times.

Summit, which is owned by fast-food franchise Carls Jr. parent company CKE Restaurants, is now seeking a buyer to try and keep its remaining 108 restaurants afloat.

The affected locations are spread across America, with Summit's Hardees stores found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming and Montana.

Summit Restaurant Holdings, which owns over 100 Hardee's stores nationwide, pointed to rising transport, food, and labor costs for its demise

Faced with a dim economic outlook, the Hardee's franchisee has already shuttered 39 of its restaurants as a desperate cost-cutting measure.

The move failed to save the doomed locations, however, and Summit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week.

According to documents filed with the Colorado Bankruptcy Court, the business has assets in the region of $1 million and $10 million, and debts between $10 million and $50 million.

The business reportedly blamed rising transport, food, and labor costs for its demise, alongside mounting rent for its numerous stores.

Hardee's owns 1664 locations across America, according to its website, and those not owned by Summit are not affected by the bankruptcy filing.

The company will reportedly use the bankruptcy period to find its new buyer, and it insists its remaining stores will remain open 'as usual'.

In a statement following the bankruptcy filing, CKE Restaurants told DailyMail.com: '(The) goal is to maintain the maximum number of stores continuing to operate, backed by a capital structure that is sustainable and poised for long-term growth and success, and we are working with all parties to achieve that goal.

'Hardees is focused on its core customer and the products they crave, as well as investing in the physical infrastructure of restaurants, to grow traffic and sales.

'Hardees is strengthening the brand position, supporting GMs and crews through menu streamlining, digital marketing and working to improve the financial health of our operators.

'Fiscal year 2024 remains on track with an exciting opportunity for growth.'

CKE Restaurant Holdings said it is strategizing a return to 'long term growth and success'. Pictured: CKE Restaurant Holdings CEO Ned Lyerly

The struggling Hardee's locations are not alone in their decline, with several other major fast-food brands also introducing ominous cost-cutting measures.

Last year, Subway reported that it closed more than 500 locations, leading its longtime owners to explore a landmark $10 billion sale.

And this month, rival chain Burger King estimated it will close up to 400 stores by the end of the year, which came as two of its franchisees declared bankruptcy.

Numerous fast-food brands, including Hardees, Wendy's and Carl Jrs, are also rolling out an AI-like chatbot to take orders at its drive-thrus to try and keep pace with their profitable rivals.
Transforming neglected space beneath Chongqing's famous bridges

Xinhua) 11:19, May 09, 2023

This photo taken on April 14, 2023 shows newly built intelligent work-out facilities in Jiulongpo District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Jiale)

CHONGQING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Many bridges of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality are a popular topic for photography on TikTok. They are shown illuminated at night or bearing trains amid clouds of dreamy mist, winning numerous thumbs-ups from netizens.

Now lovers of the famous structures have more to celebrate, thanks to a citywide campaign to improve the spaces beneath them, as well as the miles of riverbank that run through the city.

Also known as the "Bridge Capital of China," Chongqing boasts over 10,000 bridges of all kinds. However, the areas beneath them are often neglected, either planted with bushes or used as parking lots. In many cases, the space is simply unused.

In Jiulongpo District, the Egongyan Bridge strides across the Yangtze River. Under the bridge now sits the newly-built Jiulongtan Square, where locals can experience intelligent work-out facilities powered by solar energy or take a leisurely stroll along the riverside walkways.

According to the municipal commission of housing and urban-rural development, the Jiulongtan project stretches 2.2 km along the river, spanning a total area of 504,000 square meters. It is part of the city's broader effort to renovate and upgrade the urban planning of areas along the rivers.

"It may be difficult to imagine, but several years ago, there was only a dilapidated wharf under the bridge," said Wu Feng, a resident living nearby. "It was full of weeds and the road was too rugged for us to walk on."

Now, the desolate space has been turned into a popular, leafy spot allowing locals to get close to nature. Plant varieties from the Three Gorges Reservoir area have been planted by the water's edge, transforming the barren land while aiding soil consolidation and ecological restoration.

"Taking into account Chongqing's riverside terrain with its various changes in level, we have built waterside walkways along the embankment, as well as paths for fitness lovers, giving them easy access to the Yangtze River," said Kang Yi, executive manager of the project.

Meanwhile, the revamping of the under-bridge spaces is making good use of the city's rich industrial culture.

For years, the space beneath Egongyan Bridge featured over 50 abandoned air-raid shelters carved into the rock walls. Now, 21 of the air-raid shelters have been transformed into eight exhibition halls on various themes, including folk culture and a former defense industrial base in Jiulongpo District.

On the Jiubin Road overpass in Jiulongpo, artists have created naked-eye 3D paintings, featuring items of naval and air equipment against a backdrop of blue sky and clouds. The impact is enhanced at night by projected images simulating the rise and fall of waves.

Meanwhile, docked alongside the overpass is a decommissioned warship. As an extension of the nearby museum cluster, the warship is intended to boost patriotism education among visitors, said the commission.

In the future, Chongqing plans to see a total of 23 renovation projects along its 109 km of riverbank, with some of them already completed. They will not only transform the spaces beneath the city's famous bridges, but contribute to greening efforts and upgrading infrastructure, the commission added.

This photo taken on April 14, 2023 shows a part of Jiulongtan Square in Jiulongpo District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Jiale)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Horrific bodycam footage showed the moment a Florida officer was shot in the throat while attempting to gun down an armed reckless driver in a hospital parking lot.

Jeffrey Alan Martin, 38, was identified as the suspect behind the wheel of a white Chevy Impala at the Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville, and he died after being hit by a hail of bullets on April 18 around 9.30pm.

Martin was killed after he wreaked havoc in the hospital parking lot and pleaded for officers to shoot him moments before shooting the officer, identified as Taylor Smith, according to W-JAX Jacksonville.

The footage released from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department comes with a 'viewer discretion is advised' before showing the moment the injured officer cried, 'I've been shot.'

Police recovered a handgun from Martin's car, along with an AK-47 and three loaded magazines.

The footage released from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department comes with a 'viewer discretion is advised' before showing the moment the injured officer cried, 'I've been shot.' The officer can be seen in the corner on his knees

Martin was circling the Baptist Medical Center South parking lot when he started to wreak havoc around 9.30pm. He eventually was gunned down after shooting the officer

Martin was initially reported after he was suspiciously seen in the parking lot lingering around hospital security.

He had been circling the parking lot in his car when he was noticed by an off-duty officer working at the hospital. Several officers were called to the scene.

Bodycam footage from the first officer showed the cop getting out of his patrol car and approaching Martin, who seemingly rolled his window down.

The officer ordered Martin to get out of the car, but instead, the suspect shouted, 'Shoot it' while holding a handgun. Martin then drove up to the officer's car and shot through the passenger window before speeding off. No one was injured.

Other officers arrived in the parking lot and tried to maneuver Martin off to the side, but failed.

The suspect then rammed into the front of another patrol car and came to a full stop as officers blocked him on all sides with their patrol cars.

Police recovered a handgun from Martin's car, along with an AK-47 and three loaded magazines

The fully loaded magazines were found in the trunk of Martin's white Chevy Impala

Damage to a patrol car can be seen. Police said the suspect rammed into several officers while speeding through the parking lot

Five officers quickly surrounded Martin within arm's length of his wrecked car. Officers could heard shouting at Martin to get out of the car, to which he screamed, 'No!'

Police held their fire as Smith inched closer to Martin's passenger door. Within seconds, Martin fired his handgun and Smith returned several rounds, leading to other officers following his lead.

'I've been shot,' Smith shouted as another officer attempted to remove him from the line of fire.

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene and his handgun was recovered from under his thigh.

Smith was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

An independent investigation into the shooting is underway and the State's Attorney Office will decide if the officer's actions were lawful. The department will review any policy violations.

Authorities warned that investigations can take up to a year to complete.

Investigators have not said the current duty status of the officers involved in the incident.
A whopping $150m in unclaimed funds is lying in Western Australian government coffers, including a deceased estate worth almost $1m.

The amount of lost or forgotten money held by the state's Register of Unclaimed Money has more than doubled in the last five years.

More than one million records are now on its books with the figure marking a 122 per cent increase from $67.5m in 2018.

The largest single sum is a North Perth deceased estate worth $915,703 which has been unclaimed for almost three decades.

Australians are urged to check with the state government register to see if they're entitled to any unclaimed funds (stock image of tradies)

A $803,626 deceased estate in Osborne Park also remains unclaimed since 2014, along with a $705,878 trust fund of someone whose last known location was in China in 2019, The West Australian reported.

There is also $289,877 in unclaimed corporate dividends owned by a company in Wisconsin, USA.

Dividends make up almost one third of the unclaimed funds.

Also sitting idle are millions in unclaimed refunds on driver and vehicle licences ($12m), utility bill over-payments ($7.3m), education tuition and deposits, rental bonds and payments to deceased estates beneficiaries.

The funds remain unclaimed because recipients have moved house, changed their name or may have misplaced a cheque.

Around $1.4m has been returned to almost 2,000 rightful owners so far in the 2022-23 financial year.

The amount of unclaimed funds lying in WA government coffers has doubled in the last five years to a staggering $150m

'We urge everyone to check the WA Register of Unclaimed Money for their entitlements,' a WA government spokesperson said.

'We are keen to get this money back in the pockets of Western Australians.'

WA businesses and government agencies must hand over unclaimed funds and details of the recipients to the state treasury after six years.

The register is updated annually and records are held indefinitely until funds are successfully claimed.

You can search the register at unclaimedmonies.treasury.wa.gov.au.
Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with the European Union to speed up its delivery of ammunition  which is falling behind its promises.

The EU has pledged a million artillery shells in the next year but member states cannot agree on mechanisms to achieve this ambitious objective.

Yesterday Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, received a stiff reminder from Mr Zelensky of the EUs need to do more and talk less.

She visited Kyiv for critical talks as Ukraine prepares to launch a counter-offensive against Russian troops occupying the eastern Donbas region.

The thrust, which is intended to pierce Russias defences and separate its forces, is hugely reliant on Western support  hence the presidents concerns over the contribution of the EU.

Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded with the European Union to speed up its delivery of ammunition  which is falling behind its promises

Yesterday Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, received a stiff reminder from Mr Zelensky of the EUs need to do more and talk less

A Ukrainian woman standing in front of a burning home after being shelled in the city of Irpin, outside Kyiv, on March 4, 2022

By contrast, the UK spent 2.3billion providing military aid in 2022 and has committed the same level of support for 2023.

European politicians still appear to be dragging their feet and the EU parliament is not scheduled to discuss its military production bill until May 31.

At a press conference yesterday in Kyiv, just hours after Russian missiles targeted the capital city, Mr Zelensky said: We discussed a key issue, the speed of procurement and the delivery of these munitions. These are needed on the battlefield now.

A concern, according to EU officials, is that member states are unaware of the amounts of ammunition they each hold.

The EUs military aid legislation has been created after ministers decided to come up with measures to boost defence manufacturing capacity. Yet in a preliminary vote yesterday, 59 MEPs voted against the bill and 31 abstained.

President Zelensky also attacked restrictions imposed by some EU nations on Ukrainian grain exports.

He said: All restrictions on our exports are completely unacceptable right now. They only reinforce the abilities of the aggressor.

Agency reports on the discussions between Mr Zelensky and Ms von der Leyen added that he called the blockade of grain severe, even cruel and disappointing.

His foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has also slammed the EU over the issue. For Ukraine, the cost of inaction is measured in human lives, he has said.

Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have previously objected to Ukrainian grain imports without restrictions.
GOP megadonor Harlan Crow has lashed out at Democrat lawmakers for demanding he hand over records of gifts given to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

The Republican property magnate insists he will not surrender receipts for the lavish vacations that he bankrolled for his long-time friend.

He claimed that it was a mere ruse by Thomas's political opponents to discredit him and a conservative member of the court who has long been reviled by liberals.

Crow called Thomas a dear friend, and got to know him after he joined the Supreme Court. Crow is a Dallas-based real estate magnate

His lawyer Michael D. Bopp said Senator Ron Wyden, the chair of the Senate finance committee, is 'attempting to tarnish the reputation of a sitting Supreme Court Justice and his friend of many years, Mr. Crow' .

'We have serious concerns about the scope of and authority for this inquiry,' he wrote.

'Given the letters timing and focus, this inquiry appears to be a component of a broader campaign against Justice Thomas and, now, Mr. Crow, rather than an investigation that furthers a valid legislative purpose,' Bopp added.

Wyden, who represents Oregon in the U.S. Senate, had asked the 74-year-old Dallas businessman for details on the hospitality he gave to Thomas over the past two decades.

He said that the Texan was 'stonewalling' and vowed to take legal action to force him to comply.

'The bottom line is that nobody can expect to get away with waving off Finance Committee oversight, no matter how wealthy or well-connected they may be,' he said.

Clarence Thomas has faced increased scrutiny in recent weeks after it emerged that he had failed to declare hospitality.

He had been aboard the billionaires superyacht to Indonesia, New Zealand and Greece and made free use of his private jet.

The 74-year-old also took vacations at Crow's countryside lodge in Adirondack Park, New York.

The retreat offers opportunities for boat rides and fishing, and features exotic furnishings

Thomas was a regular at his friend's New York estate

Billionaire Harlan Crow helped foot the tuition bill for a relative of Clarence Thomas. This included help for the $6,000 per month Randolph-Macon Academy in Virginia

Crow also paid the pricey private school tuition of a great-nephew of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, which the judge failed to declare.

A July 2009 bank statement showed that Crow's business had paid a $6,000 monthly bill for a boarding school attended by Mark Martin.

Thomas had legal custody of the teenager at the time.



Last month, he released a rare statement noting that he and his wife had been friends 'for over twenty-five years.'

'As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them,' Thomas wrote.

He said he had followed the advice of others in deciding what required disclosure and that Crow himself did not have business before the court.

The real estate mogul has made more than $10 million in donations to Republican political groups.

He also stumped up half a million dollars to a conservative lobbying group founded by Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife has drawn her own criticism for supporting Donald Trump's attempt to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss.
A US Army sergeant convicted of murdering a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally started sentencing proceedings Tuesday - asking for 10 years in a Travis County court.

A somewhat unkept Daniel Perry, 35, wore a striped jail uniform for the punishment phase of his trial - sporting a newly grown beard after going clean shaven during his conviction last month.

Citing his lack of criminal history and psychological issues such as complex post-traumatic stress disorder, lawyers for the disgraced sergeant asked he only spend a decade in state prison.

State District Judge Clifford Brown heard the argument, and said he would reconvene court at 10 am Wednesday. Perry faces between 5 and 99 years for killing Garrett Foster, 28, at an Austin race rally, following the murder of George Floyd.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, has been pushing to pardon Perry - whom prosecutors revealed during discovery made a stream of racist and inflammatory social media posts and sent texts about killing protesters before the shooting.

Sgt. Daniel Perry, 35, enters the 147th District Courtroom for his sentencing Tuesday. Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of Air Force veteran Garrett Foster, 28, an armed protester during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Texas

Perry killed Garrett Foster, 28, during BLM protests in 2020. Pictured: Foster with his fiancer Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair, who was seen in court Saturday for Perry's sentencing

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested the expedited pardon process less than 24 hours after the conviction. Governors in Texas cannot unilaterally issue pardons

Prosecutors on Saturday however asked Perry be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison, citing documents that laid bare the Army vet's comments about killing BLM protesters shortly before the shooting.

'It is official I am a racist because I do not agree with people acting like animals at the zoo,' were among some of the statements introduced by prosecutors Tuesday to show that Perry did not kill Foster, who was armed, in self-defense.

The post was published to Perry's Facebook a month before the fatal encounter on July 25, 2020, when Perry ran a red light and drove his vehicle into a crowd that included Foster.

Moonlighting for Uber while stationed in nearby Fort Hood, Perry fatally shot Foster with a handgun through the window of his car, after the white protester motioned for him to lower it - while toting an assault-style rifle.

Perry claimed his actions constituted self-defense - a sentiment seemingly lost on the 12-person Austin jury who viewed the litany of racist text messages and social media posts made and sent by the sergeant - unsealed for the first time Tuesday.

'I might go to Dallas to shoot looters,' Perry wrote in May 2020 - days after Floyd was killed on the streets of Minneapolis by a white police officer May 25, 2020.

Foster, whose quadruple amputee fiancee was in court Tuesday, was legally carrying an AK-47 rifle as he participated in the July 25, 2020 demonstration against the Floyd killing and other injustices.

Whitney Mitchell, Foster's would-be wife, testified through tears how her life had changed since his death - citing Foster had been her sole caretaker for the past 11 years.

'It's hard every day that I'm there. It's hard to sleep in my bed because he's not there,' she said.

'He was my main caregiver for 11 years and I've had friends who have been taking care of me and have to learn how to do all that stuff that Garrett was doing.

'It's hard because I had to get comfortable being vulnerable.'

Perry claimed his actions constituted self-defense - a sentiment seemingly lost on the 12-person Austin jury who viewed the litany of racist text messages and social media posts made and sent by the sergeant - unsealed for the first time Tuesday

Whitney Mitchell, the fiancee of Garrett Foster, cries after testifying in Perry's sentencing hearing. She's a quadruple amputees, and Foster had been her caretaker for the past 11 years. 'It's hard every day that I'm there. It's hard to sleep in my bed because he's not there,' she said

Garrett Foster is seen at the driver's window of Perry's car, which the soldier was driving for Uber. The barrel of Foster's rifle is pointed towards the ground, while his right arm is high with his hand seemingly placed on the grip of the weapon. His weapon and Perry's were both legally-obtained

Sgt. Daniel Perry was stationed at Fort Hood and driving Uber at night to earn extra cash

Amid the emotional testimony, prosecutors attempted to paint Perry as a racist who drove 70 miles from Forth Worth to Austin looking for trouble, claiming that he could have driven away form the encounter without shooting.

Perry's attorney, Douglas O'Connell, objected, saying some of the statements were taken out of context, and that Perry has a right to free speech.

Some of the messages and memes Perry shared were 'disgusting,' but others were simply 'dark humor' and 'barracks humor,' O'Connell said.

O'Connell asked the judge to take into account Perry's military service - he served for more than a decade - and sentence him to no more than 10 years.

Forensic psychologist Greg Hupp testified that he believed Perry has post-traumatic stress disorder from his deployment to Afghanistan - as well as bullying he experienced as a child. He also claimed the soldier may have autism.

While overseas, Perry did not see combat but was near a soldier who shot themself in the head, he further revealed.

Perry's mother, Rachel Perry, was the last person to testify Tuesday afternoon. She claimed that her son was ostracized as a child because of a speech impediment, and that he was an observant Jew.

Perry's conviction prompted outrage from prominent conservatives including former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who called the shooting an act of self-defense and criticized Abbott for not coming on his show.

Abbott, a former judge who has not ruled out a 2024 presidential run, tweeted the next day that 'Texas has one of the strongest `Stand Your Ground laws' and that he looked forward to signing a pardon once a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles hits his desk.

The board, which is stacked with Abbott appointees, has already begun what legal experts say is a highly unusual and immediate review of the case on the governor's orders.

The governor has not said publicly how he came to his conclusion. It is not clear when the parole board will reach a decision on Perrys case.

Perry is assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, but has been classified as in 'civilian confinement' and is pending separation from the military, Army spokesman Bryce Dubee said.

Perry was stationed at Fort Hood, about 70 miles north of Austin, when the shooting happened. He had just dropped off a ride-share customer and had turned onto a street filled with protesters.

Perry said he was trying to get past the crowd blocking the street when Foster pointed a rifle at him. Witnesses testified that they did not see Foster raise his weapon, and prosecutors argued Perry could have driven away without shooting.

Judge Clifford Brown speaks with the defense and prosecution Tuesday. Prosecutors attempted to paint Perry as a racist who drove 70 miles from Forth Worth to Austin looking for trouble, saying he could have driven away without shooting

Brown heard both arguments, with the defense citing Texas's strict sel-defense laws, and said he would reconvene court at 10 am Wednesday

Materials showing Perry's racist text messages and social media posts were displayed on screen during Perry's sentencing, as he now faces 99 years for the murder

Perry was stationed at Fort Hood, about 70 miles north of Austin, when the shooting happened. He had just dropped off a ride-share customer and had turned onto a street filled with protesters

Perry would have leaned into his military training when surprised or in a stressful situation, said Hupp, the psychologist.

'He turned and then looked up and there was a crowd and very quickly what he perceived what was a weapon I dont see there was intention,' Hupp said.

Mitchell, meanwhile, hugged friends and cried after hearing the verdict, The Austin-American Statesman reported.

Perry was driving his ride share vehicle through downtown Austin on July 25, 2020, and found himself in the midst of a BLM protest.

The city, and much of the nation, was at the time roiled by demonstrations following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

Defense lawyers maintain that Foster raised his AK-47 at Perry, and that Perry fired in self-defense.

Witnesses have said during the trial that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry.

In video streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters begin screaming and scattering.

The state argued Perry sped into the crowd, but that was disputed by the defense's expert witnesses who used science and data to track the speed of his car. The expert testified he was slowing down when his car entered the demonstration.

O'Connell, defending Perry, said prosecutors wanted the jury 'to believe (Perry) had this evil plan when he turned right.'

'The protesters didn't know anything about Perry when they attacked the car and boxed it in,' he said.

'And Daniel had no choice, and that could have happened to anyone.'

O'Connell argued that Foster was dressed for battle at the protest, including wearing a neoprene vest under his T-shirt and carrying an AK-47, a club and a knife.

Perry was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops.

'Garrett Foster is dressed for war,' O'Connell said.

'Daniel Perry is dressed for the beach.'

The court rejected a motion to grant Perry a new trial after he was found guilty last month, with his sentence expected to be handed down Wednesday.

The state argued Perry sped into the crowd, but that was disputed by the defense's expert witnesses who used science and data to track the speed of his car. The expert testified he was slowing down when his car entered the demonstration. He is seen in court last month
Fabulist Republican Rep. George Santos has been hit with federal criminal charges, according to a bombshell new report.

Federal prosecutors have now filed criminal charges against the Long Island lawmaker who has admitted lying about his past and fabricating resume, CNN reported.

He is expected to be arrested and then appear in court on Wednesday, although the nature of the charges are unclear as they have been filed under seal.

The charges are filed New York's Eastern District.

Prosecutors in New York and Washington have been looking into a variety of false statements he made during his campaign for Congress in 2022.

Among a litany of lies, he has been accused of breaking campaign finance laws, stealing money meant for a dying Iraq War veteran's dog and being behind a credit card fraud.

It is a crime to make false statements on a federal financial disclosure form.

Republican Rep. George Santos is now facing federal criminal charges, according to a bombshell new report. He is pictured on Capitol Hill on April 26

Democrats and some Republican colleagues have called for him to resign, but he has refused and instead announced his run for reelection in 2024. The move came after Santos filed a new campaign financial disclosure report listing a new treasurer.

Santos' longtime treasurer resigned in late January. The campaign finance reports that Nancy Marks oversaw were already the subject of a Federal Elections Commission complaint.

Santos loaned $700,000 to his congressional campaign, despite questions about his sources of income.

His latest report shows more refunds to donors this year than money coming in.

Investigators for the Securities and Exchange Commission have interviewed sources familiar with Santos' work for Harbor City Capital, which is accused of running a Ponzi scheme.

He was charged in 2017 with writing bad checks relating to a pet adoption event. But the charges ultimately got expunged after Santos said his checkbook had been stolen.

Santos has admitted to fabricating some of his background, but has rejected the claims that could amount to criminal charges.

Santos voluntarily came forward to say he would not seek to serve on congressional committees after his pending appointment held the prospect of posing a political problem.

Despite his role as a lightning rod and opposition even within New York Republican circles, Santos provided critical support to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy when he was scrounging for votes to secure the post.

Among a litany of lies, he has been accused of breaking campaign finance laws, stealing money meant for a dying Iraq War veteran's dog and being behind a credit card fraud

Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district.

His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage.

Santos flipped the New York seat red and is on track to make history by being sworn in as the first openly gay Republican member of Congress.

The New York Times originally broke the story of Santos' resume embellishments on December 19. They reported that there was no evidence Santos had ever worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs and did not attend Baruch College.

Some of the lies he has been caught in so far include:

Santos says he is of Ukrainian Jewish descent

In one interview, Santos said his family name on his mother's side was the historically Jewish name 'Zabrovsky.'

'My grandfather was born in Kyiv and left in the late 20s and migrated to Belgium where he met my grandmother and then started a family,' Santos told Fox Digital in February. 'We don't carry the Ukrainian last name, for a lot of people who are descendants of World War II refuges or survivors of the Holocaust, a lot of names or paperwork were changed in the name of survival.'

George Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district. His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage

Reports indicate that there have been no successful efforts to find any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree according to the Forward.

Santos said in a separate interview in 2020 that he was raised by 'a white Caucasian mother, an immigrant from Belgium. But Santos' mother, Fatima Devolder, was born in Brazil, according to her obituary in 2016.

Additionally, newly resurfaced tweets show that Santos, who is Brazilian-American, claimed in July 2020 on Twitter that he was biracial, meaning 'Caucasian and black.'

Santos' claims his mother died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Santos wrote in a July 2021 tweet that he was 'blocking' an account with the handle '9/11 was a victimless crime' because his mother was a victim of the terrorist attack.

He wrote, '9/11 claimed my mother's life so I'm blocking so I don't ever have to read this again,' after the user responded to a tweet from Santos regarding immigration.

An obituary for Santos' mother, however, states that she died in December 2016, which is more than 15 years after the attack took place.

He also confirmed the real date in a December 2021 tweet where he said: 'December 23rd this year marks 5 years I lost my best friend and mentor. Mom you will live forever in my heart.'

Santos' campaign website said his mother 'survived the tragic events of September 11th' in the South Tower office of the World Trade Center and died 'a few years later when she lost her battle to cancer.'

A New York Times report had described Santos' mother as a 'domestic worker' or 'housekeeper.'

His campaign website described his mother as a top executive.

'George's work ethic comes from his mother, who came from nothing, but worked her way up to be the first female executive at a major financial institution,' the website states.

The congressman-elect said in a 2021 tweet that, '9/11 claimed my mother's life,' however Fatima Devolder died in 2016 of cancer and it's unclear if it was 9/11-related. It's also unclear if she was an executive or a housekeeper

Santos said he attended a prestigious New York prep school

The Representative-elect said that he attended Horace Mann School  an elite private school in the Brox where tuition costs $59,800 per year.

'He began Horace Mann preparatory school in the Bronx, however, did not graduate from Horace Mann due to financial difficulties for his family,' read a 2019 biography during his first campaign for Congress, which Santos lost.

'He obtained a GED during his senior year,' it added.

The school said, according to CNN, that he never attended.

'We've searched the records and there is no evidence that George Santos (or any alias) attended Horace Mann,' spokesperson for Horace Mann Prep School Ed Adler said.

CNN reported late Wednesday that the New York Republican never attended Horace Mann School (pictured), an elite private school in the Bronx

Former call center worker Santos' resume includes time at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup

Santos said that he worked on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup but now says he used a 'poor choice of words' when describing his relationship with the two firms.

The incoming congressman worked at a DISH Satellite call center from October 2011 to July 2012.

He also worked for LinkBridge, where, in an attempt to justify his lie, Santos said that he did business with Goldman and Citi and made 'capital introductions' between clients and investors.

Santos said he 'never worked directly' for either firm.

George Santos (right) poses with his then fiance at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve

Santos' claim his family-owned real estate portfolio of 10+ properties

Santos posted on Twitter in February 2021 that 'my family and I' had not received any rent on 13 properties allegedly owned by him.

A review property taxes owed or paid for in New York state shows no evidence of ownership.

He claimed to have a brain tumor

On March 30, 2020, at the start of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic, an interview with Santos was published on YouTube titled 'George Santos: A Corona Story.' The video has since been set to private

In the video, according to Newsweek, Santos tells two men, one wearing a 'Guns and Freedom' hat and the other seated by a 'Don't Tread on Me' flag, that he had 'battled a brain tumor.'

Discussing his health Santos said: 'I have an immunodeficiency and I also have acute chronic bronchitis. I also battled a brain tumor a couple of years ago and I had radiation done which really lowers your immunity in general.'

Claimed that he lost four employees in Pulse nightclub massacre

During an interview with WNYC, Santos alleged that four 'people that work for me' were killed during the June 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 dead.

No connection has yet to be establish between any of the victims and Santos.

Said he was the founder of a charitable foundation

Santos said he founded a tax-exempt animal rights group, Friends of Pets United, which rescued more than 2,500 cats and dogs.

But no records relating to the group's charitable status could be found by the IRS, nor could either the New York or New Jersey attorney general's offices uncover documentation confirming Friends of Pets United had been registered as a charity.

Public records, however, show that Santos was previously married to a woman named Uadla Vieira, a native of Brazil, until 2019

In 2016, he claimed $2,250 was stolen in a mugging on his way to pay rent - but cops have no record of the incident

Santos claimed that in 2016 he was mugged on his way to pay his apartment rent in Queens.

In a sworn statement battling eviction, he said $2,250 was stolen. According to Gothamist, he wrote: 'I have been mugged at approx 1:15 p.m. on 01/15/16 on Queens Boro Plaza, as I was on my way to pay the lawyer.

'I have gone to the checks cash location located on 31st and 23rd Ave in Astoria to request a stop payment.

'I am unable to provide a police report today as I was requested to go back Tuesday to pick it up.'

The NYPD, however, have no record of the incident, the outlet reported.

Santos eventually moved out of the apartment as a result of the case and paid the rest of what he owed in rent.
DeSantis on Tuesday said he would back the extension of the border wall

Pressure is mounting on the border as a Trump-era policy will end on Thursday

Florida has decided which companies it will use to bus migrants to Dem cities

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has selected multiple transportation companies to organize the relocation of more migrants to Democratic-led cities in the north.

The move, first reported by CNN, is the latest development in his plans to once again move migrants from Florida to Democratic enclaves elsewhere in the country.

In September, he flew four dozen migrants from Texas to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard, causing an uproar among his Democrat opponents.

The selection of companies that the state will use to coordinate the scheme comes just a week after the Florida legislature authorized $12 million for the cause.

The Biden administration also sent 1,500 troops to the southern border to deal with a potential influx of migrants as a Covid-era border restriction, known as Title 42, will expire on Thursday.

Title 42 allowed federal agents to rapidly expel migrants at the border over Covid-19 public health concerns.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has selected multiple transportation companies to organize the relocation of more migrants to Democratic enclaves elsewhere in the country

In September, he flew four dozen migrants from Texas to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. Pictured are Venezuelan migrants outside St. Andrew's Church in Edgartown, Massachusetts, in September

Florida Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Alecia Collins confirmed to CNN on Tuesday the state had 'selected multiple vendors based on their capabilities to carry out the program'.

DailyMail.com wrote to Collins for specific information regarding which types of companies have been chosen and at what cost, but did not immediately receive a reply.

On Tuesday, at an unrelated press conference, DeSantis was asked about the border crisis and said he would back the construction of a wall and the use of military force to curtail migration.

'I've always supported the walls,' he said, adding that he thought the borders are too long to effectively monitor any other way.

'The cartels will direct people to where there's no surveillance,' he said. 'So you have to have that. I think it's important.'

On Monday Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador attacked how DeSantis was passing immigration policy.

'Why does [DeSantis] have to take advantage of people's pain, of migrants' pain, of people's need, for political gain,' Obrador said during a press conference.

DeSantis is not the only Republican coordinating efforts to move migrants elsewhere, which the Biden administration has branded 'political stunts'.

'We're using the tools that we have in front of us to deal with this issue,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

'Republican officials want to do something else  they want to campaign on this issue, they want to do political stunts, that's what we're seeing from the Governor of Texas.'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey have also indicated they plan to bus migrants to New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C.

Abbott published a video to Twitter on Tuesday in which National Guard soldiers were seen arriving in Texas as he announced the deployment of a new Texas Tactical Border Force to the Texas-Mexico border.

DeSantis made the controversial move in September 2022 to transport 48 migrants from Texas to the liberal Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard

The passage of S.B. 1718 last week allocated $12 million for DeSantis' administration to transport migrants from outside the state to Democratic areas  just as he did when flying migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard last year.

Legislators also agreed to roll back a 2014 measure that allowed undocumented immigrants to be admitted to the Florida Bar.

Democrats in Florida have already criticized DeSantis' plans, saying the ongoing crisis shouldn't excuse the governor's push to fly migrants out of Florida to other areas of the country.

Florida Democratic Rep. Susan Valdes, from Tampa, says that the bill 'demonized marginalized people.'

'Immigrants are people just like us except they did not have the fortune to be in the United States,' said Valdes, whose parents immigrated from Cuba.

Democrats have already threatened to challenge the law in court, with some calling measures in the legislation racist.
A former sorority sister to one of the four students killed last November has told how the campus of the University of Idaho was a terrifying place to be in the weeks following the murders.

Natalia Zieroth-Chaumont, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, who was a sister to Kaylee Goncalves, is speaking out six months after the horrifying incidents took place which saw the four students brutally stabbed to death in their beds at a home close to campus.

Zieroth-Chaumont knew Goncalves well after being in the same sorority. But in order to cope with the devastating murders she was forced to learnt to set aside her personal feelings.

As a senior and a residential advisor in a freshman dorm, she felt she had to try and convey a sense of calm and help other first-year students through the shock of the tragedy.

Despite an increased security presence on campus for the remainder of this school year, she said she came to the realization that danger can lurk anywhere.

'Even super safe places still have their dangers. It definitely opened people's eyes to real life,' Zieroth-Chaumont told the Idaho Press.

Natalia Zieroth-Chaumont, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, who was a sister to Kaylee Goncalves, is speaking out six months after the murders took place

Maddie Mogen (top) Kaylee Goncalves (second from left) Xana Kernodle (second from right) and Ethan Chapin (center) - all students at the University of Idaho - were stabbed to death on November 13 in the quiet, college town of Moscow, Idaho

Both Kaylee Goncalves, who was murdered, and Natalia Zieroth-Chaumont were sisters of the Alpha Phi sorority

Pictured: (L-R) Dylan Mortenson, Xana Kernodle, Bethany Funke, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen

The university where Kohberger worked was only eight miles from the murder scene

Many students, including Zieroth-Chaumont, were faced with the difficult decision of whether to return to campus, with some choosing not to come back after the Thanksgiving break.

'There were a lot of girls that didn't come back after Thanksgiving,' Zieroth-Chaumont said.

Such a choice was unavailable to her because her role as a residential adviser prevented her from being able to attend classes remotely.

One student compared the murders to Covid making a resurgence in how if affected life on campus.

'I like to say that we've really had two COVIDs, in a way,' said Matty Murphy.

Other students on campus say the mood changed significantly following the suspect's arrest some 47 days after killings and 12 days before classes started for the spring semester.

'Classes started off in a much better position. There is no doubt that the arrest greatly helped reassure people,' Idaho student Paul Gillespie said.

Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen were all murdered in the home they rented in during the early morning hours of November 13, 2022.

Police were alerted when a 911 call reported an unconscious person and the lifeless bodies of the four students on the second and third floors of the home.

All the victims had been stabbed multiple times with some showing signs of having fought back against their attacker.

Two other roommates who were present and living in the home at the time survived.

Zieroth-Chaumont said the incident opened people's eyes to the realities of life

Zieroth-Chaumont said many students had to face the difficult decision of whether to return to campus, with some choosing not to come back after the Thanksgiving break

Slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves is shown with members of her Alpha Phi sorority in a tribute video posted by the group

Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21,and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were found dead at their student apartment in the shadow of the University campus

Kohberger's apartment was searched hours after he was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania on December 30

Kohberger's apartment in Pullman, Washington, was combed by police for evidence into the ongoing investigation - pictured in January of this year

In late December 2022, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology student from nearby Washington State University, was arrested and charged with felony burglary and four counts of first-degree murder for the violent stabbings.

Kohberger, 29, allegedly remained on campus in the weeks following the murders before driving across the country to Pennsylvania with his father.

A preliminary hearing in Latah County court is scheduled for June which will determine if the case will proceed to trial.

University of Idaho is planning to honor the murdered students posthumously at this week's graduation ceremonies.
New York City is scrambling to get ready for an expected surge in migrant arrivals, with city officials considering housing people in the Flatiron Building, tents in Central Park or hangars at JFK airport.

With the pandemic-era migration control Title 42 expiring on Thursday, large crowds of migrants are congregating on the U.S.-Mexico border preparing to cross.

New York City has already received 61,000 migrants this year, and is currently housing more than 37,000 in city-operated or city-funded shelter facilities.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, said the facilities will cost the city an estimated $4.2 billion in 2023 and 2024 alone.

On Sunday evening his chief of staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, told the heads of city agencies they had until 5pm on Monday to come up with ideas for spaces to house more migrants.

Eric Adams is pictured at a food bank on Saturday. His administration is bracing for an expected influx of migrants when Title 42 expires on Thursday

A bus carrying the migrants from Texas arrives at the Port Authority bus station of New York on May 3

The iconic Flatiron Building in Manhattan is among those suggested as possible migrant shelters. Its owner quickly said that was not possible, as the building is undergoing renovations and has been gutted

The facilities needed to be 10,000 square feet minimum; contain 'no known health hazards' and have running water, according to an email obtained by The New York Times.

'With more asylum-seekers arriving daily, this influx has pushed our shelter system to a breaking point and we need to create emergency temporary sites,' she wrote, according to The New York Post.

'We ask that city agencies conduct an internal review of any properties or spaces in your portfolio that may be available to be repurposed to house asylum-seekers as temporary shelter spaces.

'If there is current programming please include programming that is.'

Options proposed included the Flatiron Building, tents in Central Park, Prospect Park or Flushing Meadows, hangars at JFK airport and the grounds of Aqueduct Racetrack.

Tents to house migrants could be put in Central Park under a proposal made on Monday

Migrants could be housed in an aircraft hangar at JFK airport, some suggested

Another idea was housing migrants in tents at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens

On Monday morning, city officials asked leaders of the New York real estate lobby for assistance.

The officials want landlords to consider allowing empty buildings to be used to temporarily house migrants.

'I think they and different owners are going to take a look at that,' said Jim Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, which represents nearly every major landlord in New York City.

But he warned: 'It's not easy to do.'

One of the owners of the Flatiron Building, Jeff Gural, said it was impossible to turn the now-empty site into a shelter.

'There's no bathrooms, there's no heat, the building's been gutted,' he told The New York Times.

City officials are also enquiring about using state and federal buildings such as armories and military bases.

Officials have long considered ways to adapt the now-disused Kings Park Psychiatric Center in Long Island.

They have talked about shutting down city streets to accommodate tents and commissioning cruise ships - an idea said to be popular among Adams's team.

On Friday, Adams announced they were voluntarily sending migrants north to Rockland County and Orange County - a proposal that was immediately met with a strong backlash from local officials.

Fabien Levy, a spokesman for the mayor, reiterated Adams's plea for the Biden administration to do more to help.

'This weekend alone, we received hundreds of asylum seekers every day, and with Title 42 set to be lifted this week, we expect more to arrive in our city daily,' he said.

'We are considering a multitude of options, but, as we've been saying for a year, we desperately need federal and state support to manage this crisis.'
A San Diego man whose livestream captured two U.S. Navy ships nearly colliding in the local harbor has been ordered by the military branch to take the cameras down.

Barry Bahrami says he was told by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and National Park Service that he cannot have a live stream because it shows military activity in the area.

The man told one local San Diego outlet that his group has been filming for a decade, but was only ordered after the near-miss incident was captured.

'We were there for 10 years and then to suddenly make up a reason to take them down, that's just bologna I don't think anyone believes that,' Bahrami told FOX 5.

'Now we have government censorship simply out of spite because we showed something they didn't like,' Bahrami said.

A San Diego man whose livestream captured two U.S. Navy ships nearly colliding in the local harbor has been ordered by the military branch to take the cameras down

Barry Bahrami says he was told by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and National Park Service that he cannot have a livestream because it shows military activity in the area

Bahrami runs a group called San Diego Web Cam which provides live stream feeds across the San Diego area.

In November, one of Bahrami's cameras caught two Navy ships in the San Diego Bay nearly colliding in an incident of 'Warship Chicken.'

After the video gained online attention, the National Park Service reached out to him on the Navy's request, instructing him to take the cameras down.

The cameras were positioned at the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma.

While the government organizations are claiming they simply do not want him filming any potential military activity, Bahrami is raising questions.

He is asking why his cameras were taken down after a decade in the area and calling the order an act of 'censorship.'

A legal analyst who spoke with FOX 5 San Diego said the case is peculiar because of the length of time the cameras were up and the public interest.

'One thing that is distinguishable about this web cam company is that they were very careful not to film anything that might cause privacy issues,' Wendy Patrick said.

In November, one of Bahrami's camera caught two Navy ships in the San Diego Bay nearly colliding in an incident of 'Warship Chicken'

'We were there for 10 years and then to suddenly make up a reason to take them down, that's just bologna I don't think anyone believes that,' Bahrami told FOX 5

A legal analyst who spoke with FOX 5 San Diego said the case is peculiar because of the length of time the cameras were up and the public interest.

'One thing that is distinguishable about this web cam company is that they were very careful not to film anything that might cause privacy issues,' Wendy Patrick said.

'It's also fueling the argument on why they want to know exactly why this request was made to take these cameras down,' Patrick continued.

The cameras were ordered to be taken down just days after the incident was caught on video and public interest has only spiked.

The man says his cameras are not a threat and are just there to connect San Diego residents to their city.

The legal analyst agreed but noted their location as a potential issue.

'The cameras are taken down on private property and the footage is something that has a lot of views people are very interested in,' Patrick said.

'There are people that relied on those webcams to watch loved ones coming and going,' she continued.

While speaking with the San Diego outlet, the camera owner said he plans to put up two new cameras to replace the ones taken down.

He also said he is developing an app that will allow anyone to set up a webcam in the city.

'There are people that relied on those webcams to watch loved ones coming and going,' said legal analyst Wendy Patrick

In a statement to DailyMail.com, NCIS officials responded, saying:

'NCIS recently expressed force protection concerns to the National Park Service related to the privately owned webcams.

'We look forward to continuing close coordination with NPS.

'The private webcams and YouTube channel provided 24-hour webcam monitoring of vessels and equities located aboard Naval Air Station North Island, including aircraft hangars and flight lines, Naval Base Point Loma submarine assets, and the tracking of military personnel working aboard Naval Base Coronado.'
On Friday morning, after the scale of the Tory rout in the local polls became clear, Sir Keir Starmer cockily claimed that Labour was on course to win an overall majority at the next general election.

Yesterday, his braggadocio came back to haunt him. With it sinking in that his party had failed to secure the decisive breakthrough they'd need to seize Downing Street, the burgundy-faced blowhard ate humble pie.

Seven times Labour's leader was asked during a TV interview whether he would do a grubby backroom deal with the duplicitous Liberal Democrats if he didn't triumph outright. Seven times he refused to answer.

Last year, he insisted earnestly that he had 'ruled out a coalition with anyone'. Sir Flip-Flop has struck again.

Does anyone seriously believe that a man so obsessed with getting to No 10 that he has broken nearly every political pledge he's ever made would pass up any opportunity to grab the keys? He simply can't be trusted.

Last year, Keir Starmer insisted earnestly that he had 'ruled out a coalition with anyone'. Sir Flip-Flop has struck again

Refusing to rule out a pact with the Lib Dems in the event of a hung parliament shows he is not only unconvinced he can triumph. It also graphically illustrates the disdain in which he holds the electorate.

When people mark their 'X', they should be confident in knowing precisely what they are voting for  ranging from rolling back Brexit to gender self-ID, open borders and much else.

If the Lib Dems end up holding the balance of power at Westminster, Sir Ed Davey's chief requirement for sustaining Labour in office would be another divisive EU referendum  a concession that Remainer-in-chief Sir Keir could happily agree to, even if it meant going against the explicit wishes of the majority of voters.

It would also risk the introduction of a proportional representation voting system, an act of constitutional vandalism designed to keep the Left  and their pernicious ideological obsessions  in power for ever.

Sir Keir likes nothing more than to lecture others about the importance of honesty and integrity in public life. But when it comes to transparency about leading a coalition of chaos, he is a master of evasion.

A vision for Britain

Rishi Sunak is lucky that his principal political opponent is an obvious and stuffy dud to whom the public hasn't warmed.

But to give the Tories a fighting chance of clinging on to power at the election, the Prime Minister must do two things.

First, start delivering on the laudable five pledges he made on the economy, the NHS and tackling small boats. And secondly, set out a grander vision for Britain.

Rishi Sunak should heed Margaret Thatcher's words before her 1979 triumph: 'We want to be elected so we can do better, not because we couldn't possibly do worse'

His promise last night to stand up against 'woke' attempts to undermine women's rights and denigrate this country's proud history is an excellent next step. After all, Sir Keir struggles to even define a woman.

Mr Sunak should heed Margaret Thatcher's words before her 1979 triumph: 'We want to be elected so we can do better, not because we couldn't possibly do worse.'

Housing nightmare

Having the opportunity to buy a decent home is a linchpin of free-market capitalism. The Tories' failure to increase housing stock sufficiently betrays a whole generation's aspirations.

Of course, no one wants to concrete over green fields. And curbing excessive immigration, too, would reduce housing need. But surrendering to older Nimby activists and reducing property development means prices will remain far beyond the reach of many, pushing younger voters into Labour's arms.

Mrs Thatcher knew that you can't expect people without capital, or the hope of acquiring it, to be capitalists. Mr Sunak must show he understands this lesson.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that he believed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was still being held hostage by 'extreme' members of his party, which is partially responsible for the ongoing debt ceiling stalemate.

The president, who delivered remarks from the Roosevelt Room after his meeting with the four top Congressional leaders, said 'default is not an option,' and told reporters that using the 14th Amendment to lift the debt ceiling was something he'd been considering.

Biden additionally agreed to look at COVID funding as an area in the budget where he'd accept cuts - one of the proposals McCarthy floated after his White House meeting Tuesday afternoon.

'I trust Kevin will try to do what he says,' Biden said when asked if he trusted McCarthy. 'I don't know how much leeway Kevin McCarthy thinks he has, when in fact - and I'm not being a wise guy when I say this - it took 15 votes for him to acquire the speakership.'

'And apparently he had to make some serious concessions to get it from the most extreme elements of his party,' Biden continued. 'I just don't know.'

President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that he believed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was still being held hostage by 'extreme' members of his party, which is partially responsible for the ongoing debt ceiling stalemate

The 14th Amendment says 'the validity of the public debt, authorized by lawshall not be questioned.'

Some legal scholars argue this gives the Treasury Department the ability to keep borrowing money past the current $31.4 trillion debt limit that requires congressional approval to raise or lift.

The controversial idea builds on Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, arguing it would be unconstitutional for the U.S to fail to make payments even if the debt limit isn't raised, which would effectively challenge the debt limit on legal grounds.

While McCarthy left the meeting saying there wasn't 'any new movement' that came out of the discussion despite there being less than three weeks before the U.S. defaults on $3.1 trillion in debt, Biden topped his remarks by saying that he felt like the gathering had been a 'productive meeting.'

White House and the staffs of McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would continue the conversation starting Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

And then Biden and the four Congressional leaders would meet again on Friday, they agreed.

The White House had previously demanded a 'clean' debt ceiling bill, divorced from any talk about budget cuts.

Outside the White House, McCarthy said the government should claw back COVID dollars to create a savings for the American taxpayer.

Biden said he'd have to take a look, but saw opportunity there.

'The answer is I'd take a hard look at it. Because there's still - we don't need it all but the question is what obligations were there made, commitments made, money not dispersed, etc.,' Biden answered. 'I'll have to take a hard look at it.'

'It's on the table,' the president added.

Biden also indicated he had been mulling using the 14th Amendment to unilaterally raise the debt limit - but suggested he would test the legal theory surrounding it at a later date.

'I have been considering the 14th Amendment,' he told reporters. 'But the problem is it would have to be litigated and in the meantime, without an extension, it would still end up in the same place.'

'I'll be very blunt with you, we get by this I'm thinking about taking a look at, months down the road, just to see what the courts would say whether or not it does work,' the president added.

Biden was also asked about the mood of the meeting.

He indicated all participants were well-behaved, except McCarthy.

'The tenor of the meeting was - with three of the four participants very measured and low key - occassionally there would be a little bit of an assertion that was maybe a little over the top from the speaker,' Biden said.

McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke at a press gaggle following the meeting

Democratic leadership appeared after the Republicans were through including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (right)

The speaker said he pressed Biden 'numerous times' on whether he would agree to any budget cuts or if there were any areas for agreement, but Biden didn't have any specific proposals.

The speaker's bill that passed the House at the end of last month lifts the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for $4.5 trillion in spending cuts over time.

'I was very clear with the president, we have now just two weeks to go. If Chuck Schumer could pass something - we'd go to conference right away - but I don't think Chuck Schumer could pass anything, they haven't dealt with it.'

The Senate hasn't picked it up, as it will not pass.

'I don't want to play politics with this, I think it's too important,' McCarthy added.

He confirmed that the use of the 14th Amendment was not brought up during discussions.

Democrats say they will only vote for a limit increase that is 'clean' and doesn't contain spending cuts

The speaker (right) said he pressed Biden 'numerous times' on whether he would agree to any budget cuts or if there were any areas for agreement, but Biden didn't have any specific proposals

McConnell said 'The United States is not going to default, it never has and it never will. However, elections have consequences and we now have divided government.'

'So there must be an agreement. And the sooner the president and the speaker can reach an agreement, the sooner we can solve the problem.'

Schumer said the leaders still have 'legitimate differences,' but is hopeful that there are 'some places we can agree.'

Jeffries and Schumer said that McCarthy refused to take default 'off the table,' which they called 'reckless.'

'Instead of giving us a plan to remove default, he gave us a plan to take default hostage, and that is a shame,' said Schumer.

Ahead of the meeting, Biden quipped that the group would 'solve all the world's problems.'

'I'm sure that my colleagues and I will be saying things to you after this is all over ... We're not going to be taking any questions now. We're going to get started, we're going to solve all the world's problems,' the president said.

'I'm sure that my colleagues and I will be saying things to you after this is all over ... We're not going to be taking any questions now. We're going to get started, we're going to solve all the world's problems,' the president quipped at the start of the sit-down

The four congressional leaders are meeting for the first time to discuss raising the debt limit

In photographs McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell can be seen in the Oval Office seated on couches opposite their Democratic counterparts - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries while Biden sits in a chair at the head of the discussion.

Before leaving the Capitol McCarthy he would oppose extending the debt limit to the end of the fiscal year on September 30 to give him and the president more time to hash out budget negotiations.

'Just get this done now,' the speaker told reporters ahead of his highly anticipated meeting. 'He's got to stop ignoring problems. And why continue to kick the can down the road? Let's solve it now.'

The speaker said a debt deal would need to be worked out by next week in order to be voted on by early June.

The meeting began after 4 p.m. - when markets close - and marks the first time Biden and McCarthy have gone toe-to-toe on the debt ceiling in over three months.

'I hope it's different than it's been for the last 97 days,' McCarthy said. 'On February 1st I went to see the president and sat down with him saying we should work on the debt ceiling so we wouldn't get to this point. Unfortunately it's taken him 97 days to finally come back.'

The speaker said he did not have high hopes for the meeting. 'I had a much higher expectation 97 days agothen he told me one thing and did another.'

Both sides are entrenched as ever in their opposing demands over the nation's borrowing limit - even as the Treasury Department says there could be just three weeks before the nation runs out of funds to pay its bills.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday during the daily press briefing that the president's plan is not to support a short-term extension of the debt ceiling - putting more emphasis on the importance of the afternoon meeting of the 'Big Four.'

'A short-term extension is not our plan, either. That is not our plan,' she said, adding that it is Congress who must act to prevent a default.

'This is a manmade crisis that the speaker is leading. Can get this done.' 'We want to make sure that we move the threat of default,' she added. 'This is not negotiable.'

'Just get this done now,' the speaker told reporters ahead of his afternoon meeting with President Biden

The deadline to hash out a budget for fiscal year 2024 is not until September 30, but McCarthy insists he will use raising the debt limit as leverage to guarantee spending cuts are included in that budget.

When the federal government can't borrow any more money and the nation's bills pile up hire than its tax receipts, the U .S. could plunge into a catastrophic default - potentially triggering a recession and soaring unemployment. The Treasury Department has said this could occur as soon as June 1.
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MailOnline's live coverage of all things royal after the weekend-long festivities commemorating the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla:
Boris Johnson left the future King Charles 'squirming' in a face-to-face confrontation after the royal criticised his government's flagship immigration policy, a former No10 spin chief said today.

The former PM had a heated 15-minute exchange at a Commonwealth summit in Rwanda with the then Prince of Wales after the Mail revealed he had branded the 120m scheme 'appalling'.

Guto Harri, who was Mr Johnson's director of communications at the time, has revealed his boss had 'squared up' to the prince, who was crowned Charles III at the weekend.

Speaking to LBC today Mr Harri, who is launching a podcast defending Mr Johnson's record in power, said the row 'wasn't a fight' but they had exchanged some strong words.

'This is a popular policy whether you like it or not, and it is not really for a future king to criticise it,' he told the broadcaster.

'The impression I got was that Prince Charles at the time was squirming, trying to deny he had said this

The former PM had a heated 15-minute exchange at a Commonwealth summit in Rwanda with the Prince of Wales in the summer of 2022 after the Mail revealed he had branded the 120m scheme 'appalling'.

Guto Harri, who was Mr Johnson's director of communications at the time, has revealed his boss had 'squared up' to the prince, who was crowned Charles III at the weekend.

'Most of us have just got to take it on the chin. If you are the prince or you are the PM you have an army of people who can go out there and ring newspaper editors and say ''this is not true, take it down'', and they will if it is not true. The fact that the story was allowed to stand and could not be denied meant that he had actually described government policy as appalling.'

He added: 'It wasn't a fight, obviously they didn't square up to get in the ring. But Boris, rightly, challenged the unelected royal at the time, what was it for him to go calling a key government policy ''appalling''?'

At the time, No 10 denied there had been a row, with Mr Johnson saying only that the two men had had a 'good old chinwag'. And last night, friends of Mr Johnson said he did not recognise the account and that it was 'inaccurate'.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment today.

The bombshell reveltation comes from former No 10 communication director Guto Harri, who made the claim on a new Global Player podcast Unprecedented. Pictured: Mr Johnson and Guto Harri in 2014 at the former PM's book launch

In a bombshell revelation in a new podcast called Unprecedented, for Global Player, Mr Harri says the then PM told him he 'went in quite hard' against the future King over his decision to wade into the highly sensitive political matter.

He also reveals that Mr Johnson warned Charles against making a speech expressing regret over slavery, telling him it could open up demands for reparations.

The warning was ignored and the speech went ahead.

Writing in the Mail today, the former BBC journalist reveals that the meeting between the then PM and future King at last year's Commonwealth Heads of Government summit was 'less amicable' than it was painted at the time. 'Boris briefed that the two had 'a good old chinwag' and had 'covered a lot of ground',' he writes.

'What actually happened was less amicable. 'I went in quite hard', he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of a democratically elected government.

'Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, [saying]: 'If you didn't say it we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they haven't done that says it all'.'

Mr Harri suggests the two men had struggled to get on for years, with Charles never forgiving Mr Johnson for being late for a meeting when he was London mayor.

He says the bust-up in Rwanda was the final straw, adding: 'Relations never fully recovered and Charles will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 before he ascended to the throne.'

The revelations threaten to reopen controversy about the extent to which the new King will interfere with politics. As Prince of Wales, Charles was accused of meddling in government affairs  such as with his 'black spider' letters to ministers and other officials, which were eventually made public under Freedom of Information laws.

Mr Harri suggests the two men had struggled to get on for years, with Charles never forgiving Mr Johnson for being late for a meeting when he was London mayor. Pictured: Then Prince Charles shakes hand with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Rwanda 2022

Mr Harri also revealed that Mr Johnson warned Charles against making a speech expressing regret over slavery, telling him it could open up demands for reparations

Five years ago, he pledged to stop interfering when he became monarch. When asked if he planned to reign as King in the same interventionist way, he replied: 'I'm not that stupid. I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So, of course, I understand entirely how that should operate.'

His intervention on Rwanda last year infuriated ministers, coming at a time when the Government was facing fierce criticism from Labour and human rights lawyers. Clarence House did not dispute that Charles had criticised the plan in private.

Ministers insist the plan to send Channel migrants to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed is the only way to break the business model of the criminal gangs who profit from the trade in human misery.

But the policy has not yet come into force, following legal action and an intervention by the European Court of Human Rights.

Last night, sources close to Mr Johnson said: 'This account is simply inaccurate and does not reflect the conversation that took place. Boris Johnson has had nothing to do with this podcast, had no knowledge of it and deplores any attempt to report such conversations in public.'

Friends of Mr Johnson added that he deeply disapproved of the leaking of conversations with the heir to the throne and would never do so himself. Buckingham Palace declined to comment last night. But a royal source said the King was 'extremely mindful' of his new constitutional role.

Global Player's new political memoir podcast series, Unprecedented, gives an exclusive first-hand account of Mr Harri's time as director of communications in Downing Street. Each episode is available exclusively on Global Player every Thursday and on other platforms every Friday.
A humble caravan perched on a clifftop plot overlooking a surfer's paradise called Hell's Mouth in Wales has gone up for sale for 150,000.

The 'surf's up for sale' caravan sits on half-an-acre of land with 'heavenly' views across the sandy shore that lies below.

The site has been owned by a family of surfers for 30 years but they have now decided to sell up on the Llyn Peninsula on the Welsh coast.

It sits above Hell's Mouth beach at Porth Neigwl which has been hailed as the best surfing spot in North Wales.

The caravan is perched on a clifftop plot overlooking Hell's Mouth beach which has been hailed as the best surfing spot in North Wales

The 150.000 property offers 'heavenly' views over the bay to Cilan Headland to the south easterly direction and Mynydd Rhiw to the south westerley direction

It has been owned by a family of surfers for 30 years but they have now decided to sell up

The site is located in Porth Neigwl on the Llyn Peninsula along the north Welsh coast

Estate agents Beresford Adams said there is permission for siting one static caravan on the site next to the coast path.

They said: 'The site is located in approximately 0.5 acre connecting the road and the cliff top, with access (with care) down the clay cliffs to the beach and sea.

'The views are truly heavenly over the bay to Cilan Headland to the south easterly direction and Mynydd Rhiw to the south westerley direction.

'The property has been in the same family ownership for nearly 30 years, the family being surfing enthusiasts with Porth Neigwl being known as a premier surfing bay with stunning waves when the winds are light offshore.

'The owner regards the sand reef below Siop Penrallt as the quietest and one of the best longboard surfing spots in southern Britain.

'The beach is outstanding, the walks second to none and the coastal and peninsula landscape a joy to behold.'

The caravan is located on 0.5 acres of land connecting the road and the cliff top, with access down the clay cliffs to the beach and sea

A caravan has been situated on the land for over 60 years and the current caravan has been there since 2011

It has no occupancy restrictions and can be used for holiday purposes throughout the year

No services are connected to the site and a private sewerage system would need to be installed within its boundaries

The owner says a caravan has been situated on the land for over 60 years and the current caravan has been there since 2011.

Cyngor Gwynedd council granted a Certificate of Lawful Use or development for the retention of a static caravan in July last year.

The estate agents added: 'The consent for a caravan on an individual parcel of land is considered unique in this particular area as it has no occupancy restrictions and can be used for holiday purposes throughout the year.

'There are no services connected to the site, interested parties need to make their own enquiries in this regard.

'A private sewerage system would need to be installed within the boundaries of the site.'
A canny business pivot can be crucial to a company's survival.

But some of the world's most famous tech companies switched strategies so dramatically that you'd barely recognize their past lives.

In today's economic climate, the conventional wisdom is that 90 percent of all start-ups fail.

So it's probably a for the best that Nokia switched from toilet paper to telecommunications and that Samsung traded dried fish for consumer electronics.

Test your knowledge below:

Samsung started here in 1938 as Samsung Sanghoe, a grocery trading company that sold dried fish, noodles and vegetables in Daegu, South Korea

Samsung: from dried fish to smartphones

Samsung started its life as Samsung Sanghoe, a grocery trading store that sold dried fish, noodles and vegetables in Daegu, South Korean in 1938.

After World War II, Samsung's owner Lee Byung-chul moved the company into manufacturing, first opening a sugar refinery and then founding a clothing company in 1954.

Before it became known as a challenger to Apple and Sony, Samsung was famous for owning the largest woolen mill ever built in Korea at that time.

But it wasn't until 1970 that Samsung began to make a name for itself with consumer tech products: first black-and-white televisions, then color TVs, calculators and even air conditioners.

Lee made another unusual gamble in 1983: opening a semiconductor plant to supply chips to US and Japanese tech firms.

Apple's young iconoclastic co-founder, Steve Jobs, was among the first to visit the plantthe beginning of a beautiful friendship that only soured once Samsung emerged as one of Apple's direct competitors.

In 2011, Apple accused Samsung of lifting designs for both the iPhone and iPad, suing their former chipmakers for $2.5 billion over alleged patent infringement.

Samsung ultimately was ordered to pay just under $600 million.

To put that in perspective, Samsung's market cap today is $326.2 billion USD or about $10.9 pounds of Korean dried anchovies ($29.99 per Lb.) on Amazon.

Nokia: from Finnish-made toilet paper to telecommunications

Well over a century before the company became synonymous with its indestructible brick of a cell phone, Nokia began as a wood pulp mill.

Its paper goods, including Nokia toilet paper, were a signature product of the brand.

Established in 1865 near the Tammerkoski Rapids in southwestern Finland by mining engineer Fredrik Idestam, Nokia got its name from the Nokianvirta river along which Idestam established his second mill in 1871.

Established in 1865 near the Tammerkoski Rapids in southwestern Finland, Nokia began as a wood pulp mill. Its paper goods, including Nokia toilet paper, were a signature product of the brand

By the middle of the 20th century, Nokia's expansion had led to mergers with Finnish Rubber Works, which manufactured Nokia wellington boots and tires, and Finnish Cable Works, which laid the groundwork for Nokia's telecommunications cable and electronics business.

The company was a true pioneer in mobile phone technology, introducing the Mobira Senator car phone in 1982 and the Mobira Talkman portable car phone in 1984.

These days, following a botched, billion-dollar attempt by Microsoft to acquire Nokia's mobile phone business, the Finnish firm has pivoted back sharply to telecom infrastructure. It's partnered to build 5G wireless radio base stations in Japan and is now preparing to expand its businesses off-world.

In 2020, Nokia signed a $14.1 million deal with NASA to erect the first-ever 4G mobile network on the moon.

Sega: from slot machines for military bases to a racing hedgehog

Sega began as a legalized gambling racket. Founded as Service Games, Hawaii in 1946, the company distributed slot machines and other coin-operated devices to US military bases across Hawaii in the postwar Pacific.

Decades before it was trashing its video game competitor Nintendo in rude '90s ads, Sega was crowding out its Chicago slot machine competitor, Mills Novelty Co., by purchasing Mills' own High Top machines and refurbishing them as the Sega Bell.

Sega Bells were sold across the Pacific by Service Games in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Before Sonic, Sega was Service Games, Hawaii, distributing coin-op slot machines across the Pacific theater to military bases after WWII

Into the 1950s, as Mills struggled to expand into the overseas markets that Sega had already dominated with their own machines, Mill's advertisements would warn customers about their 'imitation and rebuilt machines from Japan and elsewhere.'

Sega's transition from slot machines to coin-operated video arcade games and then home consoles seems inevitable now, but the firm still had to continue out hustling its competitors.

It released a clone of Atari's Pong, called Pong-Tron in 1973. And in 1980, it opened a rival to Atari founder Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese family pizza arcade franchise, which they called P.J. Pizzazz.

Not quite as memorable as Sonic the Hedgehog, but quick thinking nonetheless.

Flickr: from online role-playing games to photo sharing

The photo-sharing site Flickr was launched by the Vancouver-based company Ludicorp in 2004 based on tools that they had originally created for what they'd hoped would be a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG).

Ludicorp's MMORPG, Game Neverending, proved to be less feasible than revolutionizing photo-sharing for the millennial era of digital cameras.

Photo-sharing site Flickr was launched by the Vancouver-based company Ludicorp in 2004 based on tools that they had originally created for Game Neverending, a scrapped massively multiplayer online roleplaying game

'It turned out the fun was in the photo sharing,' Ludicorp co-founder Caterina Fake told USA Today in 2006.

Fake believes that many of the site's most winning features, designed to share fun images from the roleplaying game's activities, never would have come into existence had the team made a premeditated attempt at producing a general interest photo-sharing app.

'Had we sat down and said, "Let's start a photo application," we would have failed,' Fake says. 'We would have done all this research and done all the wrong things.'

Sony: from a wooden rice-cooker to an electronics empire

The first invention ever made by Sony, under its original name the Tokyo Telecommunications Research Institute, was an electric wooden rice cooker prototyped in 1945.

The company's founder, Masaru Ibuka, had built the device in the wake of Japan's defeat in World War II, hoping to create a product that utilized the nation's new electrical grid.

But the appliance, a crude network of aluminum electrodes affixed to the bottom of a wooden tub, struggled to produce reliable or tasty rice. Faced with a unregulated and inconsistent electricity, plus wide variations in rice strains, the cooker often yielded overcooked mush or an unwelcome, undercooked crunch.

Thankfully, Ibuka had his first worldwide hit was in 1957, a pocket sized transistor radio, dubbed the TR-63.

Sony's first ever invention was an electric wooden rice cooker prototyped in 1945. Although never put on the market, the failed rice cooker sits at the Sony Archives in Tokyo, a museum dedicated to Sonys history

Music and high-tech audio electronics soon became the soul of Ibuka's company. The following year, the Tokyo Telecommunications Research Institute rebranded as Sony Corporation: it's new name was the combination of the Latin word for sound, 'sonus,' and 'sonny,' then a fairly common slang term for young man.

According to Sony's own corporate history, the combination is 'supposed to represent a very small group of young people who have the energy and passion towards unlimited creations and innovative ideas.'

Exactly the kind of people, in other words, who would enjoy making games for the Sony's PlayStation consoles today.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to replace 80 per cent of human jobs 'in the next few years', one expert has claimed.

But Ben Goertzel, a US-Brazilian tech boss, doesn't see it as a negative because it will allow people to 'find better things to do with their life than work for a living'.

'Pretty much every job involving paperwork should be automatable,' he said, at the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro last week.

His words come after thousands of tech leaders, including Elon Musk and the late Stephen Hawking signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on AI development.

They argued that companies are taking part in a 'dangerous race' by advancing the technology so quickly, and it poses a 'profound risk to society and humanity'.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to replace 80 per cent of human jobs 'in the next few years', one expert has claimed (stock image)

Tech boss Ben Goertzel (pictured) doesn't see AI taking over jobs as a negative because it will allow people to 'find better things to do with their life than work for a living'

Mr Goertzel, 56, acknowledged that social issues will crop up when 'AIs are obsoleting one human job after another', but he doesn't know how to solve them.

WHAT IS CHATGPT? ChatGPT is a large language model that has been trained on a massive amount of text data, allowing it to generate eerily human-like text in response to a given prompt OpenAI says its ChatGPT model has been trained using a machine learning technique called Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). This can simulate dialogue, answer follow-up questions, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests. It responds to text prompts from users and can be asked to write essays, lyrics for songs, stories, marketing pitches, scripts, complaint letters and even poetry. Advertisement

In March, a study revealed the 20 occupations most at risk of being made redundant thanks to AI, with call centre operator at number one.

The following eight are all teachers of different disciplines, including languages, history, law and religion.

The study's authors wrote: 'The effect of AI on work will likely be multi-faceted.

'In some cases, AI may substitute for work previously done by humans, and in other cases, AI may complement work done by humans.'

Last week, Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's former chief scientific advisor, warned that AI could have as big an impact on careers as the Industrial Revolution.

The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, has also invested in 1X, a company that makes humanoid robots designed to do human jobs.

Discussions around AI have largely been sparked by ChatGPT, a powerful chatbot that was released for free in December.

It is a large language model - an AI system that has been trained on huge amounts of text data to generate human-like responses to given prompts.

ChatGPT opened the eyes of the public to just how powerful the technology has become in recent years.

It was quickly utilised to pass exams, deliver a sermon, write software, prepare legal documents and give relationship advice - to name just a few of its functions.

Some have chosen to embrace it as part of their working life, and have admitted to using it to work multiple full-time jobs.

Plus, it is not just the general public who have been shaken by ChatGPT, as experts believe that its success 'rushed' Google into releasing its own AI chatbot, Bard.

Speculation started when Bard got a question wrong in a promotional video  wiped off 100 billion from its firm's value.

Moreover, just last week, the 'godfather' of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, sensationally quit his job at Google and said he regrets his life's work.

He said he feared that the technology could prompt the proliferation of misinformation and replace people in the workforce.

The tech genius admitted that he had to tell himself excuses like 'if I didn't build it, someone else would have' to prevent himself from being overwhelmed by guilt.

Mr Goertzel is also pessimistic about the intentions of the large tech companies developing AI products.

He said: 'The companies funding most of the AI research don't care about doing good things. They care about maximising shareholder value.'

But others, like Bill Gates and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, hail AI as the 'most important' innovation of our time, saying it could solve climate change, cure cancer and enhance productivity.

Will a robot take YOUR job? Study reveals the careers at highest risk of being replaced by AI - READ MORE HERE A study from Princeton University in New Jersey, USA has revealed the 20 occupations most at risk of being made redundant thanks to AI Advertisement

Mr Goertzel is the founder and chief executive of SingularityNET, a research group working on 'Artificial General Intelligence' (AGI), an AI with human cognitive abilities.

He disagrees with the other tech tycoons who are advocating to pause the development of AI because its intelligence is exceeding that of humans.

The mathematician and cognitive scientist said: 'These are very interesting AI systems, but they're not capable of becoming like human level general intelligences, because they can't do complex multi-stage reasoning, like you need to do science.

'They can't invent wild new things outside the scope of their training data.

'If we want machines to really be as smart as people and to be as agile in dealing with the unknown, then they need to be able to take big leaps beyond their training and programming.

'And we're not there yet. But I think there's reason to believe we're years rather than decades from getting there.'

Some are concerned that the widespread adoption of early-stage AI tools could perpetrate misinformation, as it will become harder to know when information, images and videos are real.

Many realistic, AI-generated images have gone viral recently, like Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket to a snap of Donald Trump being arrested in New York City.

But Mr Goertzel says it would be 'very weird' to use this as a reason to halt developments into the technology.

'Why haven't we banned the internet?' he said.

'The internet does exactly this. It gives you way more information at your fingertips. And it spreads bulls**t and misinformation.'

'I think we should have a free society. And just like the internet shouldn't be banned, we shouldn't ban this.'

Ultimately, Ben Goertzel believes that as long as the intentions behind AI are good, it will work towards a better society. Pictured: Mr Goertzel with AI-powered robot Desdemona

Ultimately, the leading AI guru believes that as long as the intentions behind the technology are good, it will work towards a better society.

AI-powered robots are already in development that can act as security guards, hospital cleaners and even take over the job of staff in care homes.

Experts say that we will spend almost 40 per cent of time less on household chores by 2033, as so much of them will be automated.

Mr Goertzel said: 'In the US, a lot of elderly people are sitting lonely in old folks' homes.

'They're not bad in terms of physical condition - you have medical care and food and big-screen TV - but they're bad in terms of emotional and social support.

'So if you inject humanoid robots into it, that will answer your questions, listen to your stories, help you place a call with your kids or order something online, then you're improving people's lives.

'Once you get to an AGI, they'll be even better companions.

'In that case, you're not eliminating human jobs. Because basically, there's not enough people who want to do nursing and nursing assistant jobs.

'I think education will also be an amazing market for humanoid robots, as well as domestic help.'
British skygazers could be treated to a spectacular natural light display tonight and throughout the rest of this week in the form of the Northern Lights.

The phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis, could be visible as far south as North Wales and the Midlands, according to the Met Office.

An aurora is created by disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere due to a flow of particles from the sun and is usually centred around the Earth's magnetic poles.

But auroras are mostly seen in high-latitude regions such as Arctic and Antarctic, so a glimpse in the UK is a treat for stargazers and can result in some stunning photos.

The Met Office said the display this week stems from a coronal mass ejection (CME)  a massive expulsion of plasma from the Sun's corona, its outermost layer.

British skygazers could be treated to a spectacular natural light display tonight and throughout the rest of this week in the form of the Northern Lights. The phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis, could be visible as far south as North Wales and the Midlands. This photo was taken in the early hours of March 24, 2023 from the church car park at the village of Great Brington in Northamptonshire

This expulsion left the sun on Sunday and has travelled at hundreds of miles per second to hit the Earth's magnetosphere and cause the aurora.

Aurora: A stunning natural display The Northern and Southern Lights are natural light spectacles triggered in our atmosphere that are also known as the 'auroras'. There are two types of aurora: Aurora Borealis ('dawn of the north') and aurora australis ('dawn of the south'). The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles, sometimes referred to as a solar storm, are deflected by Earth's magnetic field, but during stronger storms they enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles such as hydrogen and helium. These collisions emit light. Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement

A Met Office animation shows the auroral oval  the ring-like range of auroral activity that determines the range of the Northern Lights.

It suggests the aurora will be visible on Wednesday and Thursday nights too, in case anyone misses the opportunity tonight.

'In the most likely scenario aurora would become visible where skies are clear to Scotland as well as the north of England and Northern Ireland,' the Met Office said in a statement.

'There is a slight chance that the auroral oval could move further south to allow views from North Wales and the Midlands given clear views of the northern horizon.'

In the Earth's north, the Northern Lights are officially known as the aurora borealis, while in the south, the event is called aurora australis.

In the southern hemisphere, there will be 'significant enhancements' to the auroral oval, but not until late Wednesday or early Thursday.

'In the most likely scenario aurora would become visible to the far south of New Zealand and Tasmania,' the Met Office said.

'There is a slight chance that the auroral oval could move further north to allow views from the south of mainland Australia and South Island of New Zealand given clear viewing conditions of the southern horizon.'

In a new NOAA animation, the brightness and location of the aurora is shown as a green oval centered on Earth's magnetic pole

Auroras occur when charged particles (electrons and protons) collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. Those collisions produce tiny flashes that fill the sky with colourful light. Photo taken late March 23, 2023 shows the northern lights appearing around the Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, Finland

Pictured in the early hours of March 23 this year are the northern lights over Stonehenge in Wiltshire

Photo shows the Northern Lights in Titchwell in Norfolk in the early hours of March 23, 2023

The aurora borealis glow on the horizon at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast, March 15, 2023

In the US, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) claims that the aurora at both poles this week will be 'minor', with the possibility of seeing it under 50 per cent.

READ MORE: Stunning photos show Northern Lights over UK Pictured is the aurora on the Scottish coast near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire Advertisement

In a new NOAA animation, the brightness and location of the aurora is shown as a green oval centered on Earth's magnetic pole.

The green ovals turn red when the aurora is forecasted to be more intense, which is when people further away from the poles have the better chance of seeing them.

When a CME hurtles towards Earth, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into our planet's atmosphere.

There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere, resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky, known as auroras.

Oxygen gives off green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple.

Generally, the further north you are, the better the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights.

According to the British Geological Survey, you might see the aurora in the far north of Scotland every few months, but less often if you travel further south.

People in the best position are those in Northern Canada and Russia, Greenland, Iceland and other parts of Scandinavia.

Aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise but is not visible during daylight hours.

The aurora has fascinated and even frightened Earthlings for centuries, but the science behind it has not always been understood. Earth has an invisible forcefield, the magnetosphere, that protects us from dangerous charged particles from the sun. While it shelters us, it also creates the impressive natural phenomena

An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is seen in the sky in the early morning hours of Monday, April 24, 2023, near Washtucna, Washington

The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, illuminates the sky as seen from a passenger plane flying to Europe as it passes the southern coast of Greenland, April 28, 2023

Photographer Shazz Hooper captured this amazing show of the Northern Lights above Knowlton Church, a Norman church near Wimborne, Dorset

'For many people, the aurora is a beautiful nighttime phenomenon that is worth traveling to arctic regions just to observe,' the NOAA says.

'It is the only way for most people to actually experience space weather.'

Earth-based observatories allow experts to detect CMEs and other solar activity as it happens and forecast when aurora will occur.

One potential problem of such solar outbursts is disruption to our magnetic field creates solar storms that can affect satellites in orbit, navigation systems, terrestrial power grids and data and communication networks.

'Information on the CME's entire path opens the door to understanding why any given characteristic of the CME near the sun might lead to a given effect near Earth,' NASA says.

'Each additional piece of the puzzle helps us better understand just what causes these giant eruptions -- and whether or not any particular CME could pose a hazard to astronauts as well as technology in space and on the ground.'
With just 480,600 thought to remain in the wild, the northern rockhopper penguin is one of the world's most endangered penguin subspecies.

But fresh hopes have been raised, following the birth of a penguin chick at Edinburgh Zoo.

The tiny bird was the first of the breeding season and arrived on April 26 to proud parents Pinny and Bruce.

There is no name yet for the youngster as these are generally decided when keepers get to know an animal, the zoo said.

Keepers at the zoo, run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said they were delighted about the arrival.

With just 480,600 thought to remain in the wild, the northern rockhopper penguin is one of the world's most endangered penguin subspecies. But fresh hopes have been raised for the species, following the birth of a penguin chick at Edinburgh Zoo

Northern Rockhopper Penguin Scientific Name: Eudyptes moseleyi Population: 480,600 IUCN Status: Endangered Trend: Decreasing Habitat: Breeds on islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; spends rest of time at sea Advertisement

Michael Livingstone, senior keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: 'Northern rockhopper penguins are endangered due to climate change, changes in marine ecosystems and overfishing, so it is really exciting to welcome a new chick.

'The first 30 days are critical for their development, so we will be keeping a close eye on the youngster at this sensitive time.'

Two northern rockhopper chicks were born at the zoo last year, Sandy and Frankie, and both have settled into the colony well.

Mr Livingstone said: 'Every visit to Edinburgh Zoo helps care for all our amazing animals, like our penguins, and helps protect threatened species at home in Scotland and around the world.'

Northern rockhoppers are classified as 'Endangered' owing to very rapid population decreases over the last 30 years, combined with a limited distributional range and increasing land and sea-based threats, according to BirdLife International.

'Precise reasons for the declines are poorly understood, but changes in the marine environment, including increasing sea temperatures and reduction or displacement of prey, diseases, and oil pollution are among the suspected causes,' it explained.

Edinburgh Zoo is home to three species of penguin: king, gentoo and northern rockhopper.

Northern rockhoppers are classified as 'Endangered' owing to very rapid population decreases over the last 30 years, combined with a limited distributional range and increasing land and sea-based threats, according to BirdLife International

The RZSS has worked to safeguard the northern rockhopper for many years.

The news comes shortly after the birth of not just one, but two critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs at Chester Zoo.

The adorable cubs were born on January 7, and have been bonding with their parents, Kasarna and Dash, ever since.

'The birth of two more healthy Sumatran tiger cubs is a vital step in the long-term efforts to protect these incredible animals,' said Dave Hall, Carnivore Team Manager at Chester Zoo.

'One day, the pair will hopefully go on to make a vital contribution to the endangered species breeding programme, which is now playing a critical role in preventing these majestic animals from becoming extinct.'
Vodafone is implementing a huge change that will leave millions of Britons unable to use the internet on their smartphone.

The telco has announced it will switch off its 3G network in the UK from next month, following nearly two decades of service.

It said the switch off will allow 3G radio frequencies to be used for 'faster and more efficient' 4G and 5G services, which the majority of its customers now use.

But it means Vodafone customers with old 3G smartphones that don't support 4G or 5G  such as the iPhone 5 or older  will have to buy a new device.

Here's how to see if you'll be affected by the change.

Vodafone's decision to switch off 3G means its customers with old phones that don't support 4G or 5G - such as the iPhone 5 (pictured) or older - will have to buy a new device

The first 3G voice call in the UK was made in April 2001 by Vodafone, although its 3G mobile data network wasn't launched until 2005.

Vodafone turns off 3G: Affected phones - iPhone 5 and earlier - Samsung Galaxy S4 and earlier - Nokia C2-01 If you are unsure whether your older model phone is 3G, contact your service provider. Note: Some models support 2G, which is being kept until 2033. This page is useful for Vodafone customers to check their individual phone model. Advertisement

Switching off 3G will allow Vodafone to become more energy efficient and focus on its 4G and 5G networks, which offer 'more reliable connectivity', the company said in a statement.

'Our focus remains to continue to build the UK's most reliable mobile network and to continue to do this, we need to ensure our technologies are fit for purpose,' said Andrea Dona, Vodafone's UK network director.

'Now is the time to say goodbye to 3G and focus on the current benefits and future possibilities of our 4G and 5G networks.'

Dona said 3G use has already 'dropped significantly' because most of Vodafone's customers now use the 4G network, while newer phones use 5G.

The fifth-generation wireless standard provides faster connectivity and more bandwidth, meaning higher download speeds for internet users, and more capacity and connectivity for billions of devices.

A Vodafone spokesperson told MailOnline it couldn't disclose how many of its customers are currently using 3G.

However, less than four per cent of customer data is used on Vodafone's 3G network, down from more than 30 per cent in 2016.

According to recent research by Uswitch.com, seven per cent of 2,000 UK adults Brits  potentially equating to several millions of people  say it is the only network they can access.

Vodafone will phase out 3G in 2023, but this means many users of feature phones will have to upgrade to modern devices (stock image)

By retiring 3G, Vodafone will be able to repurpose 3G bandwidth, meaning that its 4G and 5G networks will get a speed and capacity boost, so customers will be able to enjoy a better connection

Vodafone already ran 'successful' switch-off pilots across Plymouth and Basingstoke in February this year, but now it's revealed this is being expanded nationwide from next month.

READ MORE: Three will switch off its 3G network by end of 2024 Three will switch off 3G as customer usage shifts to 4G and 5G (file photo) Advertisement

The national shutdown will happen in phases throughout 2023, starting in June with Hull, Oxford and Greater London before progressing across the south, while the remainder of the UK will follow later in the year.

Vodafone's 2G network, which currently covers over 99 per cent of the UK population, will remain in place for calls and texts, but customers wont be able to access data with it.

If customers haven't made the switch to 4G or 5G by 2023 and they have a 3G phone, it'll switch over to Vodafone's 2G network.

Vodafone is retaining 2G because it is a 'truly universal technology', according to a spokesperson, although telcos have agreed with the UK government to phase out 2G by 2033.

4G and 5G will get a coverage and speed boost from the repurposing of 3G spectrum, according to Vodafone.

A move away from 3G will also reduce the firm's environmental impact, as modern 5G networks are more than 10 times as energy efficient as old 3G equipment.

The retirement of Vodafone's 3G network is also 'an important part' of its aim to reach net zero for its UK operation by 2027.

Net zero  a proposition bandied about by many companies as a way of touting their eco credentials  refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas a firm produces and the amount that it removes from the atmosphere.

The first 3G voice call in the UK was made in April 2001 by Vodafone, although its 3G mobile data network was launched until 2005. Pictured, a Vodafone store in Bristol, 2003

Sending a terabyte of data across the 5G network uses seven per cent of the energy used to send the same amount of data across the 3G network, according to Vodafone experts.

The carrier has already switched off 3G in Germany and Italy, while its Australian 3G shut-down will happen this December.

Vodafone UK said last year that it would be switching off 3G, so it's already given customers more than a year's notice to give them time to switch to a new handset.

Vodafone is also running a dedicated help page on its website to make sure customers with 3G phones aren't going to be left behind.

It follows the same decisions announced by Three a year ago and by EE in July 2021, which will be switching off 3G by end of 2024.

The only one of the 'big four' British telcos yet to announce it's retiring 3G now is O2.
Ancient humans migrated to the Americas 26,000 years ago - 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, suggests a new study.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced evidence Tuesday that the first migrants traveled from the northern coastal region of China.

It was once believed that ancient Siberians, who crossed over a land bridge in the Bering Strait linking modern Russia and Alaska, were the sole ancestors of Native Americans.

The team traced a female lineage by analyzing mitochondrial DNA - passed from mothers to their offspring - finding links of East Asian Paleolithic-age populations to founding populations in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and California.

This work also led to uncovering of another migrant event 19,500 years ago, which saw a rapid increase in populations due to the improved climate.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced evidence Tuesday that the first migrants traveled from the northern coastal region of China. The lineage, known as D4h, was used in the research, allowing the team to trace maternal ancestry

First author Dr Yu-Chun Li, a molecular anthropologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, said: 'The Asian ancestry of Native Americans is more complicated than previously indicated.

'In addition to previously described ancestral sources in Siberia, Australo-Melanesia, and Southeast Asia, we show that northern coastal China also contributed to the gene pool of Native Americans.'

The lineage, known as D4h, was used in the research, allowing the team to trace maternal ancestry over the course of 10 years.

They combed through 100,000 modern and 15,000 ancient DNA samples across Eurasia, eventually landing on 216 contemporary and 39 ancient individuals from the ancient lineage.

By analyzing the mutations that had accrued over time, looking at the samples' geographic locations and using carbon dating, they were able to reconstruct the D4h's origins and expansion history.

The discovery helps explain archeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan and the Americas.

The results revealed two migration events.

The second migration occurred during the melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. Increasing human populations during this period might have triggered migrations

The team traced a female lineage by analyzing mitochondrial DNA - passed from mothers to their offspring - finding links of East Asian Paleolithic-age populations to founding populations in Chile (pictured), Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and California

READ MORE: New theory suggests migrants crossed Bering Sea in paddle boats Scientists from the US and Italy suggest there was a shifting archipelago that stretched almost 900 miles in the Bering Sea that acted as 'stepping stones' for maritime travelers. Advertisement

The first was between 19,500 and 26,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheet coverage was at its greatest and climate conditions in northern China were likely inhospitable.

The second occurred during the melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago.

Increasing human populations during this period might have triggered migrations.

It was during this second migration that the scientists found a surprising genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people, particularly the indigenous Ainu.

In the melting period, a subgroup branched out from northern coastal China to Japan, contributing to the Japanese people, the study said, a finding that chimes with archeological similarities between ancient people in the Americas, China and Japan.

Li said a strength of the study was the number of samples they discovered, and complementary evidence from Y chromosomal DNA showing male ancestors of Native Americans lived in northern China at the same time as the female ancestors, made them confident of their findings.

'However, we don't know in which specific place in northern coastal China this expansion occurred and what specific events promoted these migrations,' he said.

'More evidence, especially ancient genomes, are needed to answer these questions.'
A control panel inside the office - from an old locomotive - controls its movement

Most workers commute to the office  but one worker in the U.S commutes in his office.

These pictures show an incredible wheeled home studio mounted on 110ft- (33.5m) long railroad tracks that can be moved between the owner's house and a forest nearby  to give him the feeling of 'commuting'.

The cartoonishly imaginative set-up in Washington State was created by Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects, who in coming up with the design 'talked about the importance of leaving the main house and having a commute as part of the experience'.

From there, they dreamt up the idea of deploying the homeowner 'out into the forest', wondering: 'How cool would it be to take his office and put it on tracks?'

Inspiration for the wacky two-storey office also came from railroad track remnants found in the grounds of the house during excavation work, with the short section of extra-wide 15ft- (4.5m) gauge track that the studio sits on formed from repurposed Great Northern Railway track.

This two-storey studio in Washington State has been mounted onto railroad tracks between a house and a forest

The cartoonishly imaginative set-up was created by Seattle-based Olson Kundig Architects

The short section of 15ft- (4.5m) gauge track that the studio sits on is formed from repurposed Great Northern Railway track

The office was created for Lou Maxon, who runs his 'Maxon' branding agency from his home just outside the small city of Carnation.

Lou can propel his studio backwards and forwards for his 'commute' using an adapted control panel inside it that was formerly installed in a locomotive made by late 20th-century railway firm Burlington Northern.

And a stabilising bar on the track 'informed by Japanese high-speed railways prevents the tower from tipping during an earthquake'.

The office has been designed to resemble a traditional railway wagon with accommodation for the crew called a caboose, with further individual design elements also paying homage to the world of railways.

The bright yellow studio door matches the original paint colour of the striping on Great Northern trains, while plywood was chosen as interior wall cladding due to its widespread use in railcars.

A control panel in the office space is used to propel the studio backwards and forwards

The control panel was formerly installed in a locomotive made by late 20th-century railway firm Burlington Northern

The office was created for Lou Maxon, who runs his 'Maxon' branding agency from his home just outside the small city of Carnation

The office has been designed to resemble a traditional railway wagon with accommodation for the crew called a caboose

The lower level serves as the main working space, with a built-in desk and shelves for storage and display.

The upper level is accessible via a steel ladder, with a small dumbwaiter to transport heavy or bulky items.

'Envisioned as a calmer zone for creative exploration and restoration, this level functions much like a cupola on a train's caboose, a high vantage point to look out across the landscape,' the designers say.

Seeing the studio for the first time after construction, I was blown away,' the designers say

Sharing his thoughts on the design, Lou says: 'I remember a teacher yelling at me in elementary school and saying, "Get your head out of the clouds." In the studio, like a caboose, the downstairs is the working area, and the upstairs is sort of big picture, more in the clouds.

'Now every day when I'm there, I'm thinking, "This is perfect." I'm literally living in the clouds.'

Olson Kundig Architects' Tom Kundig weighs in: 'When we started designing a studio for Lou, we talked about the importance of leaving the main house and having a commute as part of the experience.

Plywood was chosen as interior wall cladding due to its widespread use in railcars

'How cool would it be to take his office and put it on tracks?' the designers said when brainstorming ideas for the project

Inside, the lower level (left) is the main working space, with a built-in desk and numerous shelves for storage and display. The upper level (right) is accessible via a steel ladder, with a small dumbwaiter to transport heavy or bulky items

'I said, somewhat jokingly, "Could we deploy Lou out into the forest? How cool would it be to take his office and put it on tracks?" It started as an offhand comment, but we quickly realized we all wanted to figure out how to make it happen.'

He continues: 'Seeing the studio for the first time after construction, I was blown away. It's a beautiful object, beautifully fabricated, but moving it along the track is another experience entirely.'

Though this was a bespoke project for the client, Kundig says that he 'could envision creating something similar in the future, once it was responsive to a specific client need or desire'.
The disgraced Chrisley Knows Best matriarch was charged with bank fraud, tax evasion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and conspiring to defraud IRS

Julie, 50, is serving a seven-year jail sentence in Lexington, Kentucky, while her husband Todd, 54, is serving 12 years in Pensacola, Florida

Julie Chrisley has been 'broken down' by her brief time behind bars - and now bitterly 'regrets' the extreme lengths she went to for fame and money, blaming herself for allowing her husband Todd to 'push her into' a tax fraud scheme that ultimately saw them both sentenced to lengthy stints in prison.

According to a source close to the 50-year-old, mother-of-three Julie is 'not doing well at all' in prison, with the insider adding that the former reality TV star has been consumed by remorse over the role she played in the $30 million crime, for which she is now serving seven years at FCM Lexington.

'She has broken down. She is not doing well at all,' the source shared. 'She cannot fathom how she will spend years being locked up and feels that she let her family down.'

The insider added that Julie - who is on month four of her lengthy sentence - is now telling friends that she is furious with herself for allowing her husband Todd, 54, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to convince her that they would 'never go to jail' for the scheme.

'Todd assured her that they would not go to jail and now Julie regrets what she did in the name of fame,' they continued, adding that the ex-reality matriarch is losing all hope that the pair will manage to pull off a successful appeal.

Julie Chrisley has 'broken down' behind bars while serving her seven-year prison sentence - and is overcome with regret for allowing her husband Todd to 'push her into' his fraud scheme

The 50-year-old (seen in 2018) 'cannot fathom how she will spend years being locked up,' a source close to Julie revealed, adding that she is devastated at 'letting her family down'

Julie began her seven-year prison sentence at FMC Lexington on January 17 (seen arriving) - while her husband Todd is serving 12 years at the Federal Prison Camp in Florida

'She is losing faith that they will get this overturned and she is so sad. It is heart breaking,' the source shared.

A spokesperson for the Chrisleys did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week, Julie's daughter Savannah shared some insight into her mother's prison struggles on her podcast, explaining that the matriarch was 'scared' but that she was keeping herself busy by 'taking classes'.

Todd and Julie are also the parents of son Chase, 26, and Grayson, 16, while Todd also shares daughter Lindsie, 33, and son Kyle, 31, with his ex-wife Teresa Terry.

In 2016, Todd and Julie gained custody of their son Kyle's daughter Chloe, 10, with his ex Angela Johnson.

The custody was handed to Savannah when her parents entered prison - something that has left the 25-year-old struggling to cope, the insider added.

'Savannah is just not coping well with trying to be a mom to Chloe and her brother Grayson,' they shared.

Savannah - who was kicked off a Southwest flight for 'unruly' behavior recently - talked about Julie's situation in great depth on her latest Unlocked podcast.

According to the insider, Julie (seen with her husband on their show) 'is not doing well at all' in prison - and is terrified that the couple's planned appeal will not go their way

The couple's daughter Savannah, 25, opened up about her mother's prison struggles in a podcast episode last week, admitting that Julie is 'scared' but is keeping busy with 'classes'

She said that Julie sent her home from one prison visit with '30 to 40 days worth of letters,' adding that was 'like her daily diary'.

'It was a lot to read, it was tough to see the accounts of her day and just things that she's scared of or nervous about or just all the thoughts that go through her mind,' Savannah explained.

Savannah has visited both Todd and Julie since their January surrender and said that her mom is has been 'taking classes' to pass the time.

'Shes just staying busy. You know, like, shes trying to do anything and everything, take classes - everything known to man that she can do, she does.'

Savannah also added that she thinks her mom was trying to 'shield' her kids 'from a lot of things' regarding their legal issues so as to protect them.

She told her listeners: 'It's hard, it is extremely...' when discussing her newfound role as a caregiver to her underage brother and niece.

'I'm helping to raise my 10-year-old sister and 16-year-old brother, and I'm trying to date,' Savannah joked.

'And I'm like, "What do you do with them?"' she admitted. 'The 16-year-old, he drives and all that, but the 10-year-old I'm like, "You gotta maybe come have dinner with me."'

On a January 5 episode of Julie and Todd's former podcast, Chrisley Confessions, Julie seemed hopeful when discussing her impending prison stay.

'I think it puts things into perspective for me because we all think our hard is the hardest thing,' she said.

'Shes just staying busy. You know, like, shes trying to do anything and everything, take classes,' Savannah said of her mother (seen in January before she began her sentence)

'Todd assured her that they would not go to jail and now Julie regrets what she did in the name of fame,' a source added to DailyMail.com (Todd seen in June 2022 before sentencing)

'It has been such a source of strength for me because I have not typically been a crier and this whole experience has truly taken me to my knees.

'There is that possibility of my husband I being separated. But there's a difference between my husband and I being separated for a period of time and having to say goodbye forever.'

Todd and Julie were found guilty on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion and submitting false documents to banks to take out loans, reportedly worth more than $30 million, to finance their opulent lifestyle.

They were indicted in 2019. After a lengthy trial, they were convicted on ten counts of fraud in June 2022. They were convicted in June 2022 by a 10 person jury.

They received their sentences in November 2022 - and quickly watched their reality TV empire crumble as a result.

Their television show, Chrisley Knows Best, as well as the spinoff, Growing Up Chrisley, was yanked off the air by USA network. For many years, the show served as a platform to boast about their exuberant lifestyle.

While going through the proceedings, Todd said, 'In a year we probably spend $300,000 a year, probably more, on clothing. I approve every piece of clothing that our children wear.'

Todd was ordered to serve 12 years in prison, and Julie to serve seven, with both also sentenced to 16 months of probation upon their release.
Mila Jovovich adopted an upscale casual look as she arrived the Four Season hotel in Los Angeles Monday, along with an interesting new hair style.

The Resident Evil star, who was seen with a bob hair style enjoying breakfast with her daughter in February, showcased her toned legs in a pair of navy blue shorts and red and black polka dot pumps.

The action star paired the shorts with a loose fitting navy and white striped T-shirt and a camel jacket.

She showcased her flawless complexion wearing natural looking makeup with a touch of red lipstick.

Her dark hair was styled in an unusual way.

New do: Mila Jovovich debuted her unusual new hair style as she arrived at the Four Season hotel in Los Angeles Monday, wearing navy blue shorts, a navy and white striped shirt and red and black polka dot pumps

The looked revealed short spikes in the in the front.

It was followed with sections cropped so closely, part of the Scream Award winner's scalp was visible.

Longer, wavy strands were styled in a sort of pony tail in the back.

Mila explained the new do sharing a couple of post-haircut photos on Instagram Thursday.

'BLAAAH!! Felt I needed a change and had some clippers on hand,' she wrote.

The Hellboy star then adopted a philosophical attitude.

'Anyway, it grows back. Love it or hate it, its done and now well see what it grows into.'

Famous pal Alyssa Milano gave her approval for the new style and asked for help creating a new look for herself.

'Come do mine! Bring the clippers!'

The Ukrainian-born actress has recently wrapped work two action packed films and prepping for another.

She has completed production on the futuristic Breathe.

The plot focuses on mother and daughter living on a planet with a scare air supply who meet two strangers looking for an oxygenated haven.

Sam Worthington, Common and Jennifer Hudson are costarring in the high action thriller.

Closely cropped: The looked revealed short spikes in the in the front. It was followed with sections cropped so closely, part of the Scream Award winner's scalp was visible. Longer, wavy strands were styled in a sort of pony tail in the back

Change: Mila explained the new do sharing a couple of post-haircut photos on Instagram Thursday. 'BLAAAH!! Felt I needed a change and had some clippers on hand,' she wrote.

Attitude: The Hellboy star then adopted a philosophical attitude. 'Anyway, it grows back. Love it or hate it, its done and now well see what it grows into'

Mila will star as a sorceress named Gray Alys who is in search of a magical power that allows a person to turn into a werewolf in the fantasy film In The Lost Lands.

Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista costars in the action adventure co-written by Game of Thrones creator George RR Martin.

The action hero's next project Hummingbird is currently listed as being in pre-production.

Mila will star as a black ops assassin who questions her job after being given a questionable assignment.
Gordon Ramsay has been called out for his 'filthy' Australian Wagyu burger recipe after he shared a video of him making the dish on Instagram this week.

The British celebrity chef was slammed for using a 'heart attack inducing' amount of butter in the dish.

Gordon, 56, was roasted for using butter not only to fry onions, but also to grill the fatty meat and toast the bread.

'Do we really need 5 kilos of butter?' one person commented on the video.

'I don't think you used enough butter,' another sarcastically wrote while a third said: 'Do we need that amount of butter??'

Gordon Ramsay (pictured) has been slammed for using a 'ridiculous' ingredient in his Aussie Wagyu burger recipe

'So much butter...I know fat means flavour but this is for me an overkill of butter,' one person wrote.

'Just had a heart attack watching that,' another person joked. 'Possibly the filthiest thing I've seen,' one commented.

To make his Australian Wagyu burger, Gordon started by frying onion using oil and butter.

He then put salt and pepper on his meat patty before cooking it in butter.

The British celebrity chef shared a video to Instagram on Monday, showing fans how to make the popular burger. But many followers slammed Gordon, 56, for using butter to fry the onions, grill the meat and toast the bread

How to make Gordon Ramsay's 'filthy' burger recipe 1. Fry onion using oil and butter 2. Season the meat patty with salt and pepper before cooking it in butter and oil in a fry pan 3. Pour boiling water over chopped cucumber and chilli in a seperate bowl 4. Brown the burger buns in a fry pan using butter 5. Return meat patty to the fry pan and top with onion and cheese to melt 6. Build burger by placing lettuce, cucumber/ chilli mix and patty on bun. Then top with fried egg and sauce Advertisement

Gordon also poured boiling water over chopped cucumber and chilli in a seperate bowl.

He then placed more butter into his fry pan before browning the burger buns.

The celebrity chef eventually assembled his burger, adding cheese, a fried egg and lettuce.

To make his Australian Wagyu burger, Gordon started by frying the onion using oil and butter. He then put salt and pepper on his meat patty before cooking it in butter
Fans of a popular Australian fitness influencer have been shocked to find out how old she really is.

Christie Swadling, a YouTuber who filed for bankruptcy in December, shared a TikTok video of her latest hair transformation - ditching her statement blonde locks to a short brunette look with bangs.

Christie posted a before clip of herself with heavy makeup and her blonde hair in a high ponytail, before a photo of her latest makeover.

'When you finally discover blonde hair and heavy makeup isn't for you,' she wrote alongside the video.

The Instagram model then added in her caption: 'Only took 26 years xx.'

@christieswadlingg Only took 26 years xx @The New Black Industries @Jadore Hair Supplies  original sound - christieswadling

Christie's age surprised several fans who took to the comments after they initially thought she was older.

'Theres no way you are 26,' one follower wrote.

'You're not 26,' another commented, to which Christie replied, 'Yes lol.'

'Something's off,' a fan said as another later added, 'I thought u were 39.'

Fans of Australian fitness influencer Christie Swadling (pictured) have been shocked to find out how old she really is.

'When you finally discover blonde hair and heavy makeup isn't for you,' she wrote alongside the video, while adding in the caption: 'Only took 26 years xx'

Christie is in fact 26 years old, as stated on her bankrupcty filing.

Documents leaked online in February showed the YouTuber was in financial strife, even though she projects a lavish lifestyle on social media.

It was revealed that Swadling was bankrupt after an anonymous user on the Tattle Life forums paid $15 to obtain the paperwork on her bankruptcy filing.

Christie's age suprised several fans who took to the comments after they inititally thought she was older

The Instagram model listed her job as an 'advertising and marketing professional' in the publicly available document filed on December 29.

The status of her bankruptcy is 'undischarged', which means she will still need to pay back particular debts.

It also means she will not be able to borrow again from financial institutions without the disclosure of her bankruptcy.

The release of the debtor's petition did not specify the outstanding debts.

It was revealed in February that Swadling was bankrupt after an anonymous user on the Tattle Life forums paid $15 to obtain the paperwork on her bankruptcy filing (pictured here)

The document was published on Tattle Life after a user decided to pay the $15 clerical fee to settle the speculation about the mystery bankruptcy once and for all.

'Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Best $15 spent,' they wrote.

'Public register states she has been bankrupt since December 29. She probably got approval to leave for Bali but chances of her travelling again are slim to none.'

There is no minimum amount owed for an individual to claim bankruptcy.

According to the Australian Financial Securities Authority, a creditor must be seeking $10,000 or more to apply to make you bankrupt.
I'm A Celeb South Africa's latest evictee Andy Whyment has made a shocking claim about fellow campmate Janice Dickinson.

The Corrie actor, 42, said that the American Supermodel, 68, constantly 'insulted' hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly during her time on the show.

Following his pre-recorded exit airing he revealed to The Sun: 'When Ant and Dec came in early doors she was talking about what they were wearing and saying 'you look terrible' and it's like, these are the hosts of the show'.

'These are massive stars in the UK and you're just blatantly abusing them on national television.

Before adding: 'I know Janice is a really, really famous person whereas I'm just Kirk from Corrie, but manners cost nothing.'

Raging: I'm A Celeb South Africa's latest evictee Andy Whyment has made a shocking claim about fellow campmate Janice Dickinson

Speaking out: The Corrie actor, 42, said that the American Supermodel, 68, constantly 'insulted' hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly

Shock: Following his pre-recorded exit airing he said : 'When Ant and Dec came in early doors she was talking about what they were wearing and saying 'you look terrible' and it's like, these are the hosts of the show'.

MailOnline have contacted Janice's reps for comment.

It comes after viewers were left fuming after Andy and Georgia Toffolo were not brought back to camp following Janice's departure.

During Monday night's episode, viewers saw former Made In Chelsea star Georgia, 28, and Coronation Street actor, 42, sent home after losing out in the head-to-head battle with Myleene Klass and Jordan Banjo.

Elsewhere in the instalment of the ITV reality show, it was announced Janice had left the camp after sustaining a nasty injury when she fell as she got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo.

And fans of the series were left unimpressed with the decision not to bring back Georgia or Andy after Janice's exit which occurred while the programme was being pre-recorded in September last year.

Taking to Twitter, many insisted one of the pair should have returned, while others questioned whether Janice chose to leave for other reasons after her fall was not shown on television.

One person wrote: 'Since Janice went out early, Toff shouldve been brought back in.'

While someone else commented: 'One should come back to replace Janice. Toff is pure golden.'

Throwback: During her first stint on the show Janice appeared enamored by the hosts (pictured in 2007)

Unimpressed: It comes after viewers were left fuming after Georgia Toffolo and Andy were not brought back to camp following Janice departure on Monday

End of the road: Viewers saw former Made In Chelsea star Georgia, 28, named as one of the stars eliminated

No more: She was joined by Coronation Street actor Andy, who was sent home after losing out in the head-to-head battle with Myleene Klass and Jordan Banjo

'Feel like cause two were meant to leave because Janice is away they should have brought Toff or Andy back,' wrote another person.

Someone else posted: 'Janice should have just done the trial Toff has gone for no reason.'

While another viewer wrote: 'Gutted that @andywhyment81 and Toff went home. They had already done a Survival Trial, it wasn't fair they had to do another one! It should've been Paul and Janice that left! Andy and Toff should still be in! Gonna miss them both @imacelebrity @antanddec.'

'Should have been Janice and Paul. Andy and Toff come back,' posted someone else.

Janice Dickinson was forced to quit I'm A Celebrity ... South Africa after falling over on her way to the dunny.

She left camp to seek medical attention and it was decided she would not return.

Demands: Taking to Twitter, many insisted one of the pair should have returned to the show which was filmed in September last year

During Monday's episode, former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan was seen reading out a note to let the campmates know of Janice's departure.

However, footage of Janice's fall was not shown, leading some fans of the show to take to social media to question if Janice had actually left simply because she did not want to continue with the show.

One person tweeted: 'Hummm could this have been intentional??! She did not look like she was loving it!', while someone else exclaimed: 'Fall my foot!'

Someone else wrote: 'She probably did it on purpose,' while another person posted: 'She couldn't be bothered anymore is the truth of it.'

'She didn't fall, just an excuse to leave,' wrote someone else.

Someone else remarked: '"Fall" yeah okay. Because we ARE that stupid to believe that.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

Janice Dickinson was forced to quit 'I'm A Celebrity ... South Africa' after falling over on her way to the dunny.

News: During Monday's episode, former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan (pictured) was seen reading out a note to let the campmates know of Janice's departure

Surprised: While Janice's fellow campmates were sad to hear of her departure, footage of Janice's fall was not shown (Carol Vorderman pictured as the news was delivered)

The former model has since opened up about the 'freak accident' in the middle of the night which forced her off the ITV reality show - which was recorded last year - revealing she tripped over in the dark and landed face-first.

She was stretchered off and taken by ambulance to hospital to treat her injuries and she wasn't allowed to return to camp.

Janice told The Sun newspaper's TV Mag: 'In the middle of one night I woke up because I had to go to the dunny [toilet] ... The campfire had gone out and it was as dark as it could be. So I thought: "Right, Ill make it to the dunny from memory."

'I walked a couple of steps and tripped, flying flat on my face  hair all over my forehead, my nose was bloody and my whole chin was gashed open. Blood was gushing from all these areas, and there was dirt and stones embedded in my face from the fall.'

She was rescued by campmates Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell who got her back to the main camp and called for a medic.

Janice went on: '[The doctor] said: "Oh my! We have to take her to the medical hut" so they could wash away the blood, stones and dirt in case infection set in.

Truth? The absence of Janice's accident on the programme led some fans of the show to question if Janice had actually left simply because she did not want to continue with the show

'They gave me pain relief, put me on a stretcher and four men galloped me out along the road in the middle of the night in the cold air, two feet above the ground.

'We reached an ambulance and the paramedics put a compress on my forehead and my chin. It was bad. I was in this tiny hospital in the middle of nowhere and they called my husband [Robert Gerner], who was in South Africa, to bring him to the hospital.'

At the hospital, the doctors cleaned up her cuts and scrapes and gave her more painkillers.

However, Janice was unable to rejoin the rest of her campmates and her time in the show came to an end.

I'm A Celebrity... South Africa continues on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Tuesday.
Sunrise host Natalie Barr has been hailed for her incredible style after wearing a 'Met Gala-worthy' gown to Sydney's prestigious Gold Dinner on Thursday.

The acclaimed journalist, 55, wowed fans when she slipped into a black evening dress by the late Carla Zampatti.

The frock featured a sweetheart neckline and hugged her sensational figure, and she accessorised with jewellery from Fairfax and Roberts.

Nat wore her trademark brunette tresses down and opted for a matte makeup look.

The look sent the Channel Seven's stars celebrity pals and fans into a frenzy, with many comparing the outfit to one seen on the Met Gala red carpet.

Sunrise star Nat Barr, 55, has been praised as looking like she could 'go to the MET Gala' by fans after she donned an elegant Carla Zampatti gown for the Gold Dinner on Thursday. Pictured

'Wowee,' Sylvia Jeffreys wrote, sharing a number of flame emojis. 'Looking amazing,' Angela Cox added.

'You could be attending the MET Gala in that killer dress Nat,' yet another enthusiastic fan added.

Nat has gained a huge following since anchoring Sunrise. The notoriously private star often shares her wardrobe and makeup secrets.

Natalie recently revealed her skincare regime, including how she protects her face from the daily ravages of television makeup.

Natalie shared a rare video of herself completely makeup free while documenting her last week off in January, left. She is pictured on the red carpet in October last year

'I'm always asked about my skincare, especially how I take off all my TV makeup after work,' Natalie captioned a video shared to Instagram.

'Well for the past 5 years I've used a brand called @dermaviduals. (I've just become an official ambassador for them).

'My skincare regime all starts with a really simple cleanser,' the breakfast television host continued.

'With a combination of their DMS Cleansing Milk & Gel, the @dermaviduals cleansing range supports your skin and is powered with all these pure, active ingredients that gently nourish your skin. They mix it up to suit you,' she explained.

'I'm always asked about my skincare, especially how I take off all my TV makeup after work,' Natalie captioned a video shared to Instagram recently

Natalie added in the video that the worst thing about working in breakfast TV is 'wear and tear on your face and hair. Lots of makeup.'

She added that she has a 'travel kit' that she takes on assignments that includes a mini version of her favourite moisturiser.

Natalie previously told Yahoo! Lifestyle that she's the 'fittest [she's] ever been' after embracing a 'back to basics' approach to her health.

'I exercise regularly, eat well most of the time, cut out sugar and make sure I get enough sleep,' she said.

Natalie revealed her weekly fitness routine consisted of Pilates, Xtend Barre classes, walking and running.

Natalie revealed her weekly fitness routine consisted of Pilates, Xtend Barre classes, walking and running

The newsreader also regularly uses a green algae face mask by Australasian skincare brand Dermaviduals.

Natalie explained that she prefers Dermaviduals because their products don't contain 'nasty chemical stuff'.

She replaced Samantha Armytage as Sunrise's co-anchor in March 2021, stepping in alongside David 'Kochie' Koch.

Prior to her promotion, she was the show's longtime newsreader.
Pierce Brosnan and wife Keely Shaye Smith took to social media on Saturday to celebrate the college graduation of their youngest son, Dylan, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Brosnan, 69 and Smith, 59  who attended the Met Gala last week  have been wed for more than 21 years and are parents to sons Dylan, 26, and Paris, 22.

In a series of shots from the event, the Mrs. Doubtfire actor was clad in an aegean blue suit with a white button-up shirt and sunglasses.

Smith donned an off white coat over a lacy pink dress and wore sunglasses with her brown locks down.

Dads and grads: Pierce Brosnan, 69, and wife Keely Shaye Smith, 59, took to social media on Saturday to celebrate the college graduation of their youngest son, Dylan, 22, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles

Smith and her son wore Hawaiian leis at the graduation ceremony, as he was in a black cap and gown.

The GoldenEye actor captioned a shot of himself, his wife and Paris, 'Dearest Paris, Heartfelt congratulations on your graduation from Loyola Marymount University School of Film & Television.'

The James Bond actor advised his youngest child, 'Go into the world with a brave heart and create stories that will make the world a better place.'

Smith told Paris she and the Remington Steele alum are 'beyond proud of' him and his 'incredible passion and talent.

'Go forth and do good things. A man becomes what he dreams dream well.'

Paris shared shots from the ceremony on his Instagram, captioning the post, 'The graduate.'

Paris's older brother Dylan in 2020 graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, and is a musician and model.

Paris earlier this month showcased his art in an exhibition titled The Company We Keep at the Robina Benson Design House in Los Angeles.

Both proud parents had kind and supportive messages for their son on the celebratory day

Smith and her son wore Hawaiian leis at the graduation ceremony, as he was in a black cap and gown

Paris posed alongside friends and fellow grads as the ceremony in Los Angeles

Robina Benson, Kipton Cronkite, Paris and Pierce were snapped May 4 at an art exhibition in LA

Paris's work was in a showcase of paintings by fellow artists Alexandria Hilfiger and Nikki Haskell, and curated by art advisor Kipton Cronkite.

'Each of the works provoke the viewer to recall childhood memories, feelings of nostalgia, and purity through their human experience,' the design house said in a statement.

Both Pierce and Keely were at the gathering, as well as other notable names such as model Dree Hemingway, actress Jacqueline Bisset and Candy Spelling.

The art exhibition is slated to run through May 25.
Bindi Irwin has offered fans an update on her decade-long battle with endometriosis, reassuring them she is doing well after undergoing surgery.

The conservationist, 24, hosted a Q&A on Instagram this week and was asked by her followers about her struggle with the debilitating condition.

She was happy to report that after a long, hard road she was finally getting better.

'It has been a very long journey and a lot of challenges to get to this point. I'm very thankful to be on the other side of the excision surgery. I can officially say I'm finally feeling better,' she said.

Bindi went on to say she had been living in constant pain for years, and it wasn't until her daughter Grace Warrior was born in 2021 that she began looking for answers.

Bindi Irwin has offered fans an update on her decade-long battle with endometriosis, reassuring them she is doing well after undergoing surgery

'What was really hard was Grace not knowing what was wrong with her mum and not knowing what was wrong with me either,' she wrote.

The Crikey! It's the Irwins star added that she was also diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, which meant she struggled to eat meals.

Endometriosis is an often painful condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus also grows outside the uterus.

The conservationist, 24, hosted a Q&A on Instagram this week and was asked by her followers about her struggle with the debilitating condition. She was happy to report that after a long, hard road she was finally getting better

There are a wide variety of symptoms: pain can affect areas ranging from the abdomen and lower back to the pelvis and vagina.

Other symptoms include painful sexual intercourse, abnormal menstruation, nausea, bloating, and pain with bowel movements.

Back in March, Bindi received an outpouring of support after she opened up about her horrific decade-long battle with the condition.

Bindi said she had been living in constant pain for years, and it wasn't until her daughter Grace Warrior was born in 2021 that she began looking for answers. (Pictured: Bindi with her husband Chandler Powell and their daughter Grace)

Her family, friends, fans and fellow celebrities all sent their well-wishes as she recovered from surgery in New York City.

Bindi posted a photo on Instagram of herself in hospital after the procedure, which was performed by endometriosis specialist Dr Tamer Seckin from the Seckin Endometriosis Center at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Dr Seckin removed a total of thirty-seven lesions and a 'chocolate cyst' - a term for a cyst filled with menstrual blood.

Bindi's brother Robert, 19, shared a heartfelt message to his older sister on Instagram, saying he was so proud of her.
Channel Seven has confirmed a new season of Farmer Wants A Wife is in the works as this year's series comes to an end.

The dating show's official Instagram page posted a casting call on Monday for single farmers looking for a partner.

'Single Farmers. It's your turn to fall in love!' it read.

'If you're ready to find your soulmate, apply now.'

In the caption, they wrote: 'CALLING ALL SINGLE FARMERS. Its your turn to fall in love on the most successful dating show in Australia. Apply now for #FarmerAU 2024 (link in bio).'

Channel Seven has revealed a new season of Farmer Wants A Wife is in the works, as this year's season comes to an end

Farmer Wants a Wife has been a major ratings blockbuster for Seven.

The long-running dating show scored a massive national average audience of 1.01million viewers, according to new TV ratings system VOZ.

It comes as the farmers of this year's season chose their final two ladies following several romantic 24-hour dates on Sunday night's episode.

At the last farewell dinner, Farmer Brad chose Clare and Morgan, Farmer Brenton selected Rachel and Sophie, Farmer David chose Emily and Lorelei, and Farmer Matt picked Annabelle and Olivia.

The dating show's official Instagram page posted a casting call on Monday for single farmers looking for a partner

FWAW has been revealed as a major ratings blockbuster for Seven. The long-running dating show scored a massive national average audience of 1.01million viewers. Pictured: Host Samantha Armytage and this year's famers

Samantha Armytage took over as host for this season of FWAW, replacing Natalie Gruzlewski - who still appears on the show in a diminished role.

Within the first 15 minutes of the show, Natalie, 46, was only featured in several frames, where she interviewed past couples, while Samantha was heavily featured as she introduced the new contestants.

Sam joined the dating show as a 'guest host' last year, but her minor role has now been expanded while Natalie is 'scaling back' her duties.

Samantha Armytage (pictured) took over as host for this season of FWAW, replacing Natalie Gruzlewski

Natalie will present her own segment called 'Nat's Getaway' during the 2023 season, with Sam 'front and centre' as the face of the franchise.

An insider told New Idea recently that Sam had successfully won over network executives by transferring her presenting skills to the reality TV realm.

'She is now in a place to get just about anything she wants from hereon in,' they said.

They added Sam was an ambitious woman who was already considering further opportunities with Seven after switching from breakfast show Sunrise to FWAW.

'Sam has plans afoot. She's cleverly stayed on the network's radar knowing if she landed and nailed a lead role like in FWAW then doors would open.'

Farmer Wants A Wife continues 7.30pm Tuesday on Channel 7 and 7plus
An Australian influencer has been called out for posting a photo on social media of her young son posing shirtless in low-slung pants for a fashion campaign.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews was accused by her own followers of being ignorant to the dangers of online predators, who are known to exploit innocent images of children and distribute them on the dark web.

The Byron Bay-based mother of three, 27, shared the image of her four-year-old son Mars to promote a cap being sold by her clothing label Robey.

After the picture was labelled 'exploitative', Matthews responded to her critics on Tuesday morning in a furious Instagram video.

She maintained there was 'nothing wrong' with the photo and dismissed her haters as 'overly-sensitive'.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews, 27, shared this image of her son Mars, four, to promote a cap from her clothing label Robey. She was accused of being ignorant to the dangers of online predators, who are known to exploit innocent images of children and distribute them on the dark web

Matthews also said the shot was not 'staged' so her son's pants were deliberately low-hanging, adding that Mars spends most of his time shirtless anyway.

'Firstly that shot is not staged at all. We literally went to my friends' banana farm and that is how he was wearing his outfit that day, no shirt as per usual, and we shot some shots with him in the hat,' she said.

'I'd also like to say that if you are sexualising that image of him, I think you actually need to have a look at the bigger picture of what your issue is and maybe you have become so overly sensitive.

'The lines are blurred between what is wrong and right. There is nothing wrong with that image.'

After the photo was labelled 'exploitative', Matthews (pictured) responded to her critics on Tuesday morning in a furious Instagram video

Matthews also hit back at accusations she was putting her children in danger by posting photos of them on social media.

'I am very aware there are predators online that collect images of kids, but I am a lot more concerned about when my child has a phone than an image like that being put on the internet,' she said.

'I feel like I am doing everything I can to protect my kids and I don't feel putting an image like that on the internet is putting him in danger. If I did, I wouldn't do so. That is my choice as his mum to make.'

Matthews went on to say she was a 'victim [of] sexual assault at a very young age' and so is 'vigilant of where I put my children and the decisions I make'.

'You are entitled to your personal opinion, but please keep it to yourself,' she added.

'I will be removing that image and I am sorry if it has triggered something in you.'

The controversy erupted on Monday when Matthews posted a gallery of photos on Instagram of Mars modelling a cap from her Robey collection.

One of the images showed the preschooler shirtless in a pair of low-slung pants.

Worried fans were quick to criticise the post as 'disgusting' and 'exploitative' after it was picked by watchdog accounts Dutch Minty, Influencer Updates AU and Influencer Tea & Gossip.

'Everything about this is wrong... Very wrong. That second photo is highly disturbing! Anyone who thinks this is okay is twisted,' one person commented.

'Why the hell is [his] pants so low? This is so disgusting!' another said.
Model Ellie Gonsalves came forward on Monday to deny speculation she was the anonymous influencer who trashed her own wedding venue.

A blind gossip item did the rounds last week alleging an Aussie social media identity was kicked out of their wedding venue, along with their guests, due to rowdy and abusive behaviour.

When Ellie was asked during an Instagram Q&A if she was the bride at the centre of the alleged incident, she denied anything like that happened at her recent nuptials on the Gold Coast.

She added that she would never 'tolerate' that 'kind of behaviour'.

'No that definitely wasn't us. Firstly, I have a lot of respect for everyone I ever work with/surround myself with, and secondly, my friends would never do that to me either,' she told her followers.

Model Ellie Gonsalves (pictured) came forward on Monday to deny speculation she was the anonymous influencer who trashed her own wedding venue

'It's sad to hear anybody, let alone someone with a social media following, would disrespect a person's business like that. It's not something I would ever do or the kind of behaviour I would tolerate from my guests.'

Dutch Minty, the watchdog account that originally reported the blind gossip item, also confirmed Ellie was not the influencer who trashed her own wedding.

'I can 100 per cent confirm the submission was not about Ellie. The influencer's wedding in question happened in early 2022,' the admin said.

While Ellie was not booted from her wedding venue for poor behaviour, she did cause a stir last Saturday when she received backlash for wearing a 'naked' dress.

A rumour did the rounds last week that an Aussie social media identity was kicked out of their wedding venue, along with their guests, due to rowdy and abusive behaviour. When Ellie was asked during an Instagram Q&A if she was the bride at the centre of the alleged incident, she denied anything like that happened at her recent nuptials on the Gold Coast

Ellie spared no expense for her luxurious wedding to Ross Scutts in March, as she donned three different white gowns for her big day.

Her main dress for the ceremony featured long sleeves, an illusion neckline and a dramatic train.

However, it was her third dress that received a wave of negative comments, with many fans saying it was inappropriate for a wedding.

'No that definitely wasn't us... It's not something I would ever do or the kind of behaviour I would tolerate from my guests,' she told her Instagram followers

Ellie posted a video of herself walking out to her bridal party in the barely there dress, and captioned it: 'My husband's face when he saw me in this dress reveal at our wedding.'

She paired the corset-style 'naked' wedding dress with a pair of silver strappy heels.

Some of her followers said the revealing mini-dress was more akin to lingerie, as it featured see-through tulle and a daringly high thigh split.
Sydney public relations queen Roxy Jacenko has denied she has separated from her husband of 11 years Oliver Curtis.

Rumours of trouble in their marriage - which famously survived an affair Jacenko had in 2017 while Curtis was serving time for insider trading - have been circulating in the eastern suburbs ever since Curtis moved to Singapore for a new job.

Before he flew overseas, the couple was already living apart with Curtis working for a cryptocurrency start-up in Tasmania while his wife stayed behind in Sydney with their two children, 11-year-old Pixie and eight-year-old Hunter.

The split whispers intensified last week when the Sweaty Betty PR founder announced she was selling the family's Vaucluse trophy home for $14million.

But Jacenko, 43, and Curtis, 37, shut down the speculation on Sunday, telling Daily Mail Australia in a joint statement they were very much still together.

Sydney public relations queen Roxy Jacenko has denied she has separated from her husband of 11 years Oliver Curtis

'Where do people come up with such stuff? They are obsessed with that narrative,' said the couple, who tied the knot in a lavish harbourside wedding in 2012.

Days before clearing up the rumours surrounding her marriage, the PR maven had announced the 'Jacenko-Curtises' were 'on the move' by selling their Vaucluse home.

The couple purchased the swanky home for $6.5million in 2018, and they're looking to more than double that with a price guide of $14million.

They extensively renovated the pad, adding a gym, hair salon, kids' playroom, and a specially made storage area for Jacenko's $1million collection of Hermes Birkin bags.

The split whispers intensified last week when the Sweaty Betty PR founder announced she was selling the family's Vaucluse trophy home (seen here) for $14million

The home also features a stunning marble kitchen, a fully stocked cellar, an extraordinary master bedroom, and swimming pool.

Jacenko and Curtis also have a home in Tasmania, where he has been based for work for the last few years with his cousin Tim Rosenfield.

'How do you and your husband manage living in different states?' one fan previously asked Jacenko during an Instagram Q&A.

'It's probably why he still likes me,' she responded.

'He is doing very well with work so I am happy. I've got lots on, as do the kids, so it works. At least now the borders have opened he can come back on Fridays. Prior [to that] he was in Tassie full-time.'

'Where do people come up with such stuff? They are obsessed with that narrative,' said the couple, who tied the knot in a lavish harbourside wedding in 2012

The latest rumours come after Jacenko wound down several of her businesses, the most notable being her PR agency Sweaty Betty, which she founded nearly two decades ago.

In addition to closing her flagship public relations firm, she sold her candle business XRJCelebrations and scaled back the toy store Pixie's Pix.

She still operates the influencer talent agency Ministry of Talent.

The latest rumours come after Jacenko wound down several of her businesses, the most notable being her PR agency Sweaty Betty, which she founded nearly two decades ago

Jacenko and Curtis have weathered various storms in their marriage over the years.

In 2016, Jacenko was diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks after her husband was jailed for insider trading.

Curtis was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison but was released after 12 months on a good behaviour bond.

Jacenko and Curtis (pictured with their children Pixie and Hunter) have weathered various storms in their marriage over the years

In 2017, while Curtis was behind bars at Cooma Correctional Centre, Jacenko had an affair with her ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal.

She later said the affair 'wasn't her fault' because Gazal, a millionaire property developer she had previously dated in the late 2000s, 'chased her' at a time when she was vulnerable.

The relationship was exposed in late April 2017 when Daily Mail Australia published images of them passionately kissing at Gazal's Sydney apartment.

At the time of the tryst, Curtis' release date was just eight weeks away.

In 2016, Jacenko was diagnosed with breast cancer just three weeks after her husband was jailed for insider trading

In 2017, while Curtis was behind bars at Cooma Correctional Centre, Jacenko had an affair with her ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal (pictured)

Curtis learned about his wife's infidelity while he was still in prison.

Sources later claimed he decided to forgive Jacenko for her indiscretion if she forgave him for the past criminal behaviour that led to his conviction.

Last year, as they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary, Curtis shared a tribute to his wife and said he was glad they stayed together despite the 'odds being against them'.

'Ten years married to this crazy girl... never a dull moment,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Odds were against us but I'm betting we will get to the half century at least. Love you to the moon and back. Happy anniversary,' he added.
Pedro Pascal was spotted out and about in West Hollywood, California on Monday, one day after he snagged three MTV Movie & TV Awards.

The 48-year-old star  who recently endearingly talked about his anxiety  was dressed casually in a white Rolling Stones tour T-shirt.

The ChileanAmerican actor added black shorts as he stepped out with tousled hair and a graying beard.

Pedro was approached by a female fan dressed in burgundy biker shorts and a black T-shirt.

The award-winning entertainer smiled for a selfie with the fan as she excitedly flashed a peace sign.

On the move: Pedro Pascal was spotted out and about in West Hollywood, California on Monday, one day after he snagged three MTV Movie & TV Awards

Supporter: Pedro was approached by a female fan dressed in burgundy biker shorts and a black T-shirt

Pascal added multicolor striped socks to his look, finishing with sleek beige sneakers with gummy soles and a forest green accent color.

The actor, who was born in Santiago, Chile, wore eyeglasses at some points during his outing and gulped a green juice.

It comes after his hit show The Last of Us won three major awards at MTV's stripped down awards show.

Pedro, who plays Joel in the series, delivered a trio of speeches to collect his golden popcorn trophies, the first of which saw him win big for Best Hero.

Getting emotional during his remarks, Pascal praised 'young people' as the 'real heroes' and said they 'deserve real heroes.'

'I want to say thank you, MTV Movie & TV Awards,' he began. 'I am a child of MTV, I grew up on MTV. This means the absolute world to me.

'I wish we could all be together so I could look into your eyes and tell you that all the young people in the world are my heroes and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.'

The Mandalorian star continued: 'You deserve a world that serves your interests, you deserve to be healthy, you deserve to be safe, you deserve for your individual rights to be fought for and protected.'

His look: The 48-year-old star was dressed casually in a white Rolling Stones tour T-shirt

Accolades: His hit show The Last of Us won three major awards at MTV's stripped down awards show

Concluding his remarks, Pascal said, 'You deserve real heroes in this world because you are real heroes to me.'

Pedro soon returned to the telecast in another pre-recorded video message when The Last of Us won Best Show.

'Thank you MTV Movie & TV Awards,' he started. 'I am accepting these golden popcorns on behalf of show creators Craig Mazin, and Neil Druckmann, and our entire amazing cast and crew from the U.S. and from Canada, who worked tirelessly and passionately to make this show.

'They made it a family experience, one of the best experiences of my life.'

Referencing the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, he added: 'We are all thanking HBO and Naughty Dog, and standing in solidarity with the WGA that is fighting very hard for fair wages.

'We thank you, we love you. I'm going to take these [golden popcorns] to bed with me.'

Pedro returned once more to accept the award for Best Duo, winning with his Last of Us co-star Bella Ramsey.

Pascal's celebrity pals also expressed excitement for his wins as they chatted in a group text.

Natasha Lyonne, Katherine Waterston, and playwright Jeremy O. Harris were among others in the friends' thread.

After he won, Harris wrote, 'This is huge to me. My dream,' while Lyonne said, 'Congratulations pedro!!'

Acceptance: Pedro, who plays Joel in the series, delivered a trio of speeches to collect his golden popcorn trophies, the first of which saw him win big for Best Hero

Tweet: Pascal's celebrity pals also expressed excitement for his wins as they chatted in a group text

Katherine chimed in with, 'Pedro! Congratulations!' and Pascal replied with a photo of himself posing with the gongs in a backyard space.

'Awwwwwwwwwwww come on no big deal,' he wrote to his buddies.

Jeremy took to Twitter to share a screenshot of the exchange along with an added message.

'Ive now been nominated for 3 Tony Awards but Pedro Pascal just climbed my Everest. Do you have one too @nlyonne? These are more important than Oscars,' he tweeted.
Ever since his niece Grace Warrior was welcomed into the world, Robert Irwin has been relishing in being an uncle.

And the wildlife warrior, 19, excitedly shared a sweet photo with the tiny tot, two, on his shoulders last week.

Robert and Grace both brandished wide smiles as the budding photographer snapped the mirror selfie.

'Uncle life,' Robert captioned the photo.

Grace's mother Bindi was first to comment, writing: 'The best!'

Robert Irwin shared an adorable mirror selfie with his niece Grace Warrior, two, last week

It comes just weeks after Robert flew interstate to Western Australia to continue his romance with new girlfriend Rorie Buckey.

Robert was seen packing on the PDA with Rorie, 18, as they reunited at Perth Airport on April 6. Rorie is the niece of late Hollywood star, Health Ledger.

The couple was last pictured together in December during Robert's birthday celebrations at Australia Zoo.

They were seen in the crowd during a live crocodile feeding show, with Robert's protective mother Terri awkwardly sat between them.

Grace's mother Bindi was first to comment, writing: 'The best!'

Terri, 58, had apparently been keeping a close eye on the couple to make sure they 'kept things PG', New Idea reported at the time.

'Terri is really happy for Robert, and she likes Rorie, but she's urging him to take it slow for both their sakes,' a source said.

'Terri knows all too well what it's like to be in a relationship in the public eye. She wants to make sure they're ready.'

Robert and Rorie were first spotted together on a romantic beachside date in Queensland on November 18. The pair have plenty in common

Robert and Rorie were first spotted together on a romantic beachside date in Queensland on November 18.

The couple have plenty in common; both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member.

Rorie's uncle Heath Ledger was at the peak of his Hollywood career when he was found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose.

Robert's father Steve Irwin, known around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died aged 44 on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray.
Sydney nightclub boss and playboy Julian Tobias appears to have a new addition to his succession of glamorous partners, after linking with OnlyFans model and TikTok star Paris Ow-Yang.

The 44-year-old nightclub proprietor, who runs popular Sydney Harbour venue The Island and Potts Point disco Sussudio, has been sighted around town recently with Ow-Yang - a stunning 21-year-old Bondi 'content creator'.

Neither wanted to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia but friends say the new couple have been 'close friends' for several months but have recently taken the relationship to the next level, with Ow-Yang a regular visitor to Tobias' $5.5million Bondi penthouse.

Sydney playboy Julian Tobias has gone 'Instagram official' with Only Fans model Paris Ow-Yang

Paris, who goes by 'PP' on social media, has racked up 123,000 followers on Instagram

The pair are believed to be holidaying together in California with Ow-Yang posting a handful of teaser snaps of her new beau while Tobias has also dropped relationship hints across his Instagram stories.

Tobias, who opened his first Sydney bar in 2009, has established a reputation for dating a succession of stunning, high-profile women over the years.

Tobias' most significant relationship to date was Charlotte Coquelin with whom he said to be engaged to for five years before the French model packed her bags and moved back to Paris in 2021.

Prior to that, he made headlines in 2014 when he began dating Canadian actress and Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev, before moving on with American Instagram megastar Alexis Ren in 2016.

Paris Ow-Yang (R) is a social fixture in Sydney and often seen partying in the Eastern suburbs

Paris pictured here at Tobias' $5.5million Bondi penthouse which he bought in 2022

Tobias had a brief fling with Instagram superstar Alexis Ren (R) in 2016

Meanwhile, the one-time Cleo Bachelor of the Year was recently embroiled in a violent incident at a Potts Point bar which resulted in hospital treatment.

Kings Cross police allege Tobias was assaulted by prominent Sydney interior designer Joshua Clapp in the early hours of April 7.

Clapp was charged with two counts of common assault and given conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 3.

Clapp later pled guilty to two counts of common assault and was sentenced to a 12-month community order.

The magistrate also imposed a two-year apprehended violence order which prevent him going within 50 metres of Tobias including where he lives, works or socialises.

The one-time Cleo Bachelor of the Year was recently embroiled in a violent incident at a Potts Point bar

Ow-Yang has posted a handful of teaser snaps of her new beau while Tobias has also dropped relationship hints

Ow-Yang's 'adults only' OnlyFans page which attracts thousands of subscribers

Tobias has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.

The nightclub boss is understood to be holidaying in the US with Ow-Yang and Barrio Chino owner Peter Lew and is expected to return to Australia in coming weeks to complete the addition of a Mexican-style cantina on Darlinghurst Road to his growing hospitality empire.

Ow-Yang, meanwhile, is a significant presence on OnlyFans, attracting 40,000 views per post on the subscription adults-only content site.

She also boasts a huge following in TikTok and Instagram.
Eurovision Calling: Jason And Chelcees Ultimate Guide ****

Andrew: The Problem Prince **

Prepare to feel 13 per cent better. According to social scientists at Imperial College London, nations that take part in Eurovision enjoy a measurable mood boost for days afterwards, even if they come last.

For the UK this year, 13 per cent sounds like a serious underestimate. With a week-long build-up to the song contest on Saturday, climaxing in the mega-budget celebration in Liverpool, we ought to be walking on sunshine.

Compound that with national euphoria in the wake of the Coronation and Britain might very soon be the happiest country in the world.

Eurovision spirit is reaching parts and people usually oblivious to the joys of the event. Comedian Jason Manford admitted, in Eurovision Calling: Jason And Chelcees Ultimate Guide (BBC1), that before chancing to switch on the show last year, hed never even heard Sam Ryders entry Space Man.

But he has succumbed to the addictive optimism of the competition now. By the end of the hour, he was on stage in a gay pub in Manchester, belting out Conchita Wursts Rise Like A Phoenix, the winning anthem from 2014.

Comedian Jason Manford admitted, in Eurovision Calling: Jason And Chelcees Ultimate Guide (BBC1), that before chancing to switch on the show last year, hed never even heard Sam Ryders entry Space Man

Eurovision gives everyone a licence to be camp for a night. Sequins and feather boas are not compulsory but, if they make you feel 13 per cent better, why not? You might suppose it started with Abba, and the neon jumpsuits Anni-Frid and Agnetha wore for Waterloo in 1974.

But a clip unearthed by Jason and co-presenter Chelcee Grimes, of the UKs 1968 entry Congratulations, suggests the real godfather of glam was Cliff Richard. Our eternal bachelor boy wore a suit with a ruffled shirtfront that was worthy of Austin Powers.

This year, were represented by Mae Muller, with a cynically formulaic number called I Wrote A Song. Jason chatted with her over a pot of tea, though he avoided asking the Corbynista songster any tricky questions, such as, You posted on Twitter that you hate this country  dont you think its hypocritical to represent us at Eurovision?

Mae has previously said that its crucial she does the competition, because, a lot of young women follow me and its important that they can see they can have a voice.

Sadly, she doesnt have much of a voice herself  its thin and slightly nasal, not the sort of soaring, theatrical sound that traditionally does well at Eurovision. This years winner is more likely to be Swedens Loreen, who triumphed in 2012 with Euphoria.

But even she might struggle against Ukraines entry, Heart Of Steel by Torchii. Public support could well mean that Ukraine matches Ireland, Israel, Luxembourg and Spain, by winning two years on the trot.

We can be sure of one thing. In the Kremlin, no one will dare to sport sequins and feather boas.

Emily Maitlis didnt go that far in celebrating her Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew, which ended his career as a working royal. But there was a strong note of gloating about the second part of Andrew: The Problem Prince (Ch4).

Pictured: Emily Maitlis who appears in a new Channel 4 documentary about her BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew

Blurred reconstructions showed Emily arriving at Buckingham Palace, clutching a shoulder bag with a change of clothes and her notes. The brand logo on the bag was Sweaty Betty  a sarky reference to the princes claim that an overdose of adrenaline during the Falklands War left him unable to sweat.

Remarkably, she said hed already told her about his perspiration deficit during conversations before the interview.

After filming was done, he invited her to join him for a film. Thursdays are cinema nights at the palace, apparently. Emily made her excuses and left.
Blac Chyna flashed a big smile as she showed off her natural curves in an eye-catching ensemble while enjoying a shopping trip to Rolex and Louis Vuitton in Santa Monica on Monday.

The born again media star, who recently reversed her plastic surgery and got a doctorate degree after finding God, will soon ring in her 35th birthday later this week on Thursday May 11.

The mother of two opted for stylish comfort for the daytime outing and slipped into a pair of high-waisted, blue tie-dyed leggings that perfectly molded to her curvy frame.

She additionally flashed a glimpse of her toned midriff wearing a plain, white cropped top with a scalloped hem.

For a pop of color, the TV personality, who has gone back to her birth name Angela Renee White, threw on a hot pink, bolero sweater to layer her ensemble for the day.

Shopping day: Blac Chyna, 34, flashed a big smile as she showed off her natural curves in a fitted ensemble while enjoying a shopping trip in Santa Monica on Monday

She threw on a vibrant, pink fuzzy hat that covered her locks for an additional stylish flare to her look.

Blac Chyna slipped into a pair of white and pink, Reebok sneakers that were tightly secured with laces and coincided with the color scheme of her outfit.

The beauty, who recently removed silicone injections as well as getting a breast reduction, threw on a pair of large, gold-rimmed sunglasses to protect her eyes as she strolled under the bright California sunshine.

Instead of carrying a heavy purse or handbag, the star simply held a black, mini drawstring bag, along with her smartphone and keys in her right hand.

As she made her way towards an awaiting, sleek black vehicle that was parked next to a curb, the Rob & Chyna star held a big smile on her face while flashing a peace sign with her fingers.

The media personality stopped by the beachside city to treat herself to a bit of shopping before celebrating her 35th birthday later this week on May 11.

In March, the mother of two revealed on Instagram that she had been baptized last year in May on her 34th birthday and shared a video of the life-changing moment to her 17 million fans and followers.

'I got baptized on 5-11-22 .. I was watching the video again and wanted to show you this because if you look closely at my mouth you can hear the spirits leaving my body. God is Good,' she penned in the caption to the post.

Stylish comfort: The mother of two slipped into a pair of high-waisted, blue tie-dyed leggings that perfectly molded to her curvy frame along with a hot pink sweater and matching fuzzy hat

Upcoming celebration: Later this week on Thursday May 11, the mother of two will officially ring in her 35th birthday

Following the baptism, the star has made major changes and milestones in her life, and most recently, received her Doctorate of Liberate Arts from Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College last month in April.

She also made the decision to step away from plastic surgery and has taken steps to remove work that she had previously done, such as silicone implants, fillers, and also breast implants.

In late March, she also took steps to remove 'demonic' ink on her hip, which she called the 'Baphomet tattoo.'

In a post uploaded at the time, Blac Chyna wrote, 'Thank you God, for saving me. Removing this Baphomet tattoo. Im sending all this energy back to the owner.'

She then took time to explain the negative meaning behind the tattoo, revealing that the ink's origin was from 'Demonology.'

The star also added that the 'goals' of the figure was to, 'Create and spread chaos, Abuse and torment his victims, CRIMES, Malefic, Conspiracy, Spiritual corruption, Brainwashing.'

Fans of Blac Chyna jumped to the comment section to support the star on her journey back to God, with one writing, 'This is amazing. Congratulations on your journey. God bless you.'

Another penned, 'i think this is the first time ive ever seen a celebrity PUBLICLY turn back to god this strongly. Proud.'

Finding religion: In March, the mother of two revealed on Instagram that she had been baptized last year in May on her 34th birthday and shared a video of the life-changing moment

Special milestone: Following the baptism, the star has made major changes and most recently, received her Doctorate of Liberate Arts from Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College last month in April

Ditching plastic surgery: She also made the decision to step away from plastic surgery and remove work that she had previously done, such as silicone implants, fillers, and also breast implants

Blac Chyna also stopped posting on her OnlyFans account, which had made her millions pf dollars in the past.

Last month in April, while celebrating the Easter holiday, she stunned in a figure-hugging, strapless white and red gown as she posed for an assortment of photos outdoors near a large cross.

She uploaded a variety of posts with quotes from the Bible written out in the caption, such as, '"Watch, stand fast in faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13.'

The music artist has also been putting her main focus on raising her two children, son King Cairo, 10, whom she shares with ex, Tyga, and daughter Dream, six, whom she shares with ex-fiance, Rob Kardashian.

The star opened up to DailyMail.com in March about her healthy co-parenting relationship with Rob and Tyga, whose real name is Michael.

Importance of family: The music artist has also been putting her main focus on raising her two children, son King Cairo, 10, whom she shares with ex, Tyga, and daughter Dream, six, whom she shares with ex-fiance, Rob Kardashian

Positive: Last month in April, while celebrating the Easter holiday, she stunned in a figure-hugging, strapless white and red gown as she posed for an assortment of photos outdoors near a large cross

'With Robert and Michael, it's never been like no bad blood or anything negative,' she explained. 'It was just two different people in two different paths. And one day, those paths collided and that's how we got the babies.'

'But moving forward in 2023, it's all positive vibes with co-parenting. Everythings calm, therell be no more situations.'

In regards to what is in store in the future, the beauty told Forbes also in March that she wanted to work on a number of different projects, including, 'Music, television, film,' and 'business ventures.'

The star, who now goes by her real name Angela, stated that it was 'definitely not the end of Blac Chyna. I think now what's more is the separation of it.'
Selena Gomez's organ donor and former friend Francia Raisa was seen out and about in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 34-year-old actress  who was recently spotted walking her dog  flashed her toned tummy in a cropped white tank top.

The How I Met Your Father actress added a pair of high-waisted light wash jeans and cream-colored sneakers.

Francia was all smiles as she moved through LA's Studio City neighborhood joyfully.

It comes after she said she has been bullied by Selena's fans, particular one who said they hope someone would 'rip out her other kidney' after she avoided answering questions about the Only Murders In The Building star.

Out and about: Selena Gomez's organ donor and former friend Francia Raisa was seen out and about in Los Angeles on Monday

Raisa donned a long, chunky cream cardigan as she moved about, letting it drape off her arms.

Her lengthy ginger-toned hair was styled in a side part and flirty waves that cascaded over her chest.

She wore a nameplate necklace and tucked frameless sunglasses into the low, square neckline of her top.

The beauty looked great in a full face of makeup that warmed her visage with soft, pink tones.

Raisa claimed Selena's fans have been bullying her online amid the former friends' private fallout.

'The [comments] are pretty bad. I think the one that probably hurt the most was, "I hope someone goes up your p**** and rips out your other kidney, you f***ing wh***,"' the LA native told a Backgrid cameraman that she also spoke with on April 30.

'In no way, shape, or form does anyone condone bullying, especially Selena.

'She literally has a whole non-profit [called Rare Impact Fund] dedicated to mental health. And I believe Rare Beauty just even had an event for mental health,' she explained.

Casual look: The 34-year-old actress flashed her toned tummy in a cropped white tank top

What's going on: On Monday, How I Met Your Father star Francia (L, pictured July 27) claimed one of Selena Gomez's (R) fans said they hoped someone would 'rip out her other kidney' after she avoided talking about Selena in an interview

'So the fact that now I'm being bullied as I am is messing with me mentally. It's just to me, it's not what anyone wants for someone, and she's literally out there saying please stop. So I don't understand why this is happening.'

Francia continued: 'I'm doing best to not listen, to breathe. I'm very happy, I'm living my life. I'm sending love to everyone. I understand. I've been a hardcore fan of people growing up myself. I totally, totally, totally get it. But, you know, it's not nice. So I would say - not just with me - but for anyone, please stop.'

A week earlier Raisa (born Almendarez) smiled and deflected Backgrid's questions about Selena by instead discussing the weather, being from the San Fernando Valley, the Lakers, and avocado trees.

When asked if she regretted donating one of her kidneys to Gomez - who's now in remission from the autoimmune disorder Lupus - in 2017, the flame-haired Latina replied: 'I would definitely speak to someone again about organ donation and the process and stuff.'

'The other day at the movies I was with my friend Lily and someone came up to me and said, "Hey my friend is the one that you spoke to a few years back about the kidney donation and she's really grateful,"' Francia said.

'For all of that, it's worth it.'

The 34-year-old LA native told a Backgrid cameraman she spoke with on April 30: I think the one that probably hurt the most was, "I hope someone goes up your p**** and rips out your other kidney, you f***ing wh***"'

Raisa hasn't been pictured with the 30-year-old 'Texican' pop star since her July 27 TikTok where they pondered different variations of the 'He's a 10, but...' trend.

The Grown-ish actress has also wiped all existence of Selena from her Instagram account, and she no longer follows her, despite them once being close enough to get matching tattoos.

In March Gomez  who still follows Francia on social media  declared that she 'will never, ever, ever be more in debt to a person than Francia.'

'The idea of someone not even second-guessing to be a donor was unbelievably overwhelming,' the Only Murders in the Building producer-star said on the Apple TV+ series Dear...
Patti Newton has opened up about life without her beloved husband Bert, after he died in October 2021 from health complications at the age of 83.

The 78-year-old said she will never date again as the late TV star is 'irreplaceable'.

Patti, who was married to Bert for 47 years, added she doesn't believe in the old saying that 'time will heal all wounds' and thinks it 'gets worse' with grief.

'When you've had the best, why would you want second best,' she said during an interview on 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show on Tuesday.

'He was it for me, I fell in love at a very young age and I've never looked at anyone else and never kissed anyone else. He wasn't my first kiss and after I fell in love with him, that was it.'

Patti Newton appeared on 2DAY FM's Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show on Tuesday and revealed that she will never date again after losing husband Bert as they had an irreplaceable love

Speaking about her grief, she added: 'It's very difficult and people say, time will heal, but I don't, I think it's getting worse rather than getting better.'

'And because I'm so loved by my family and because I have grandchildren around me all the time and we only live around the corner so I see them a lot. I suppose that's taken a bit of the sadness away.'

'But they say things like, I've got a seven year old grandchild Monty who is divine and he will say, ''quick Nan, come over here, poppy is here, look it's the moon. And he's keeping an eye on you nan.'' So I, a lot of people don't believe in those things but we do, we see a yellow butterfly and ''say poppy is here.''

Patti, who was married to Bert for 47 years, also said that she doesn't believe in the old saying that 'time will heal' all wounds, as she thinks it 'gets worse' with grief

Back in January, she told New Idea the couple would have 'World War' fights during the course of their almost 50-year marriage.

'I don't ever say our marriage was a perfect one and we didn't have blues, because we did,' Patti said.

'We had World Wars, but we were good together, and we did have a lot of laughs and a lot of fun through life and made a lot of hard decisions together.'

'I don't ever say our marriage was a perfect one and we didn't have blues, because we did. We had World Wars, but we were good together,' Patti previously told New Idea about their marriage

Patti laid her husband to rest in November 2021.

He had been receiving palliative care at a clinic in Melbourne at the time of his death.

He was hospitalised in March that year and underwent surgery on his leg in May. He needed surgery after his toe became infected before Christmas.

The infection was 'linked to his diabetes' and was threatening his life, with doctors telling him the surgery was a 'life or death decision'.

Doctors told Bert that if he kept the leg then he would have just 'months to live' rather than years if he chose to amputate.
Adult film star Angela White could soon turn her back on the porn industry after appearing in more than 900 hardcore scenes.

After several high-profile TV and podcast appearances, White seems to be angling for a career in mainstream media or academia.

She hinted at her future career path last week when she spoke at a conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Angela posed for a photo on Instagram on Friday next to social sciences and media studies professor Constance Penley.

'Academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she wrote in the caption.

Porn star Angela White spoke at a conference last week at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is pictured with social sciences and media studies professor Constance Penley

During the college lecture, Angela spoke to film studies students about her career.

Not only does Angela have an extensive body of work in adult cinema, but she also holds a degree in gender studies from the prestigious University of Melbourne.

The performer, who popularised the sex position 'The Angela', took part in a question and answer session with students after her speech.

'This is my third time as a guest speaker at this film studies class that approaches pornography as worthy of serious inquiry as a genre and as popular culture,' she said after the lecture.

After several high-profile TV and podcast appearances, White seems to be angling for a career in mainstream media or academia

Angela thanked the students for their 'well-informed, thought-provoking questions' about her 'career as a performer and director' as well as her academic research.

'While it has been a number of years since my research dissertation was published in The Routledge Companion to Media, Sex, and Sexuality, academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she added.

The university visit comes after the 37-year-old insisted she wouldn't be retiring from porn anytime soon.

Despite fans begging her to give her body a rest following reports of on-set injuries, Angela said she was doing just fine and in fact 'loves' her physically taxing job.

The university visit comes after the 37-year-old, who popularised the sex position 'The Angela', insisted she wouldn't be retiring from porn anytime soon

She spoke about her workload after one of her fans, who goes by the username DionYoung255, asked her on Instagram to 'consider taking a break for once'.

'After doing over 900 scenes, isn't it time to consider taking a break for once?' they commented on one of her posts.

However, the three-time winner of the AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year was having none of it.

'Do a job you love and never work a day in your life,' Angela responded.

But DionYoung255 wasn't alone in expressing concern, with more fans saying Angela risks long-term health issues if she continues with her punishing work schedule.

Despite fans begging her to give her body a rest following reports of on-set injuries, Angela said recently she was doing just fine and in fact 'loves' her physically taxing job

'I don't know, Angela. That's a brutal way to treat your body for years on end. At some point you pay a price,' one said.

'I think you should find a nice guy, enjoy a relationship for once. Haven't you at least earned that?

'I think you have earned some downtime and a romantic dinner with some guy you connect with. But it's your body, so go ahead and keep going, if that's what you want to do.'

It comes after Angela was forced to throw cold water over rumours she 'almost died' while filming an intense sex scene with fellow porn star Keiran Lee.

It comes after Angela was forced to throw cold water over rumours she 'almost died' while filming an intense sex scene with fellow porn star Keiran Lee

Keiran, 39, recently made headlines when he claimed Angela was rushed to hospital with a burst appendix after they filmed an hour-long sex scene in 2013.

Speaking on the Only Stans podcast with Glenny Balls, Angela said reports of the incident had been 'blown way out of proportion'.

'My appendix actually did not burst, but it is true I had appendicitis and did have to have emergency surgery to have it removed,' she clarified.

Prolonged appendicitis can lead to the appendix rupturing, also known as a 'burst appendix'.

While Keiran was under the impression his large manhood was the cause of her injury, Angela insisted her condition was 'likely a pure coincidence'.

'There is no medical evidence to suggest his giant d**k was pummeling my organs,' she said.
Imogen Anthony flaunted her incredible figure on Tuesday when she donned a racy lingerie set during her honeymoon to Thailand with her mystery husband.

The model and influencer, 32, posted a steamy photoshoot of herself in the underwear to Instagram, working all her best angles in the outdoors as she showed off the strappy white set.

With sheer material covering her modesty, the barely-there set featured tantalising straps and a garter belt which stretched down around her slim pins.

'ATM its either The Hills theme "Unwritten" stuck in my head or "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit,' she captioned the saucy post.

It comes after she drew backlash for her petty response to Kyle's extravagant wedding to new wife Tegan Kynaston.

Imogen Anthony, 32, (pictured) flaunted her incredible figure on Tuesday when she donned a racy lingerie set during her honeymoon to Thailand with her mystery husband

Imogen, who dated Kyle for eight years until 2019, told her haters 'I'm not your f**king punching bag' and urged critics to think before they speak.

She expressed her frustration on Instagram last Wednesday, warning she would no longer tolerate her kindness and understanding being taken for granted.

'No more. If you keep assuming you know a situation that I guarantee you have no idea about, then the culling will begin,' she wrote.

The model and influencer posted the steamy photoshoot to Instagram, working all her best angles in the outdoors as she showed off the strappy white set

With sheer material covering the more X-rated areas, the barely-there frock featured tantalising straps and a garter belt which stretched down around her slim pins

'I don't care for follower numbers. I care for genuine people who see things below surface level and don't have a basic mindset.'

Her comments came after an unidentified troll sent her a private message apologising for having been rude to her previously.

'I am so incredibly sorry I was rude to you on your post... I am just so very sorry for being a troll. If you knew me, I am just not that person on at all,' they said.

It comes after she drew backlash for her petty response to Kyle's extravagant wedding to new wife Tegan Kynaston

Imogen, who dated Kyle for eight years until 2019, told her haters 'I'm not your f**king punching bag' and urged critics to think before they speak

Imogen had reignited her long-running feud with Tegan last Monday by sharing a video on Instagram of herself sipping on a cocktail with her new partner in the background, alongside a lengthy caption in which she spoke of not 'settling' for a bad relationship.

'You'll never know heaven 'till you've been to hell,' she wrote.

'Please don't assume you know anything when it's taken this long to overcome. People are exactly what you think they are, conniving, vindictive and manipulative.'

Imogen went on to emphasise the importance of living life on her own terms, before saying she harbours no hard feelings towards anyone.
Jeremy Piven heavily hinted that Mark Wahlberg is the crucial part of making an Entourage reboot a reality.

The 57-year-old actor  who starred in the original hit HBO series, with Wahlberg serving as executive producer  was asked by TMZ photographer whether Wahlberg, 51, had the power to make a call and get the show going again.

'If Mark and his team were really behind it, that would be some nice momentum,' Piven responded, adding that it was just a matter of Wahlberg 'stepping up.'

He then teased the Fear star for his notoriously busy schedule: 'Listen, Mark wakes up, he gets about 11 minutes of sleep. He wakes up and he prays, he crushes the weights, he never stops.'

'So, when he comes up for air, a little crack of time, just make that call to HBO and everybody wins,' Piven, who played Ari Gold in the series, added.

Ready for a reboot: Jeremy Piven, 57, hinted that Mark Wahlberg, 51, is the crucial part of making an Entourage reboot a reality; (L) Piven pictured in 2023, (R) Wahlberg pictured 2023

When he was asked what his pitch to the star would be, he said, 'I think Mark knows. Mark's been around. He knows the reach of that show. We really connect with people.'

'I see them because I'm performing on stages. So I see I real time that people really miss it,' Piven, who recently spoke out on the sexual allegations leveled against him in 2017 and 2018, said.

'I think Mark knows that as well. 'Cause he hears it and he feels it. So it's just a matter of him stepping up,' he said of the Hollywood veteran.

When the photographer chimed in to say that the show could be lucrative for Wahlberg, Piven said, 'Yes. I think Mark likes money, and here it comes if he likes it, if he wants it.'

'We'll do all the heavy lifting... and we love and celebrate him,' he added.

Wahlberg started his journey as an executive producer with Entourage, which was loosely based on his own road to fame.

The show  which won six Emmys and a Golden Globe  ran from 2004 until 2011, and concluded with a movie in 2015.

Piven's statement comes after Mark recently revealed he would support an Entourage reboot during an interview with Page Six.

Stepping up: 'If Mark and his team were really behind it, that would be some nice momentum,' Piven told TMZ, adding that it was just a matter of Wahlberg 'stepping up'; Adrian Grenier, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Piven, and Kevin Dillon Entourage pictured in a still from Entourage

Everybody wins: 'Just make that call to HBO and everybody wins'; Piven, who played Ari Gold in the series, added; seen in 2023

Based on his life: The Hollywood veteran started his journey as an executive producer with the HBO hit series, which was loosely based on his own road to fame; seen in 2023

'I dont know if thats going to happen but I would definitely support it,' he said.

'I was always sad to see the show end,' he went on, adding that he wasn't sure if there were any serious conversations about about a reboot.

The Ted actor also praised the stars of the show Adrian Grenier (Vincent Chase), Kevin Connolly (Eric 'E' Murphy), Jerry Ferrara (Turtle) Kevin Dillon (Jonny 'Drama' Chase), and Piven.

'They did an amazing job,' he stated.

Wahlberg also recalled how he flew the guys to Vegas at the time to make sure they had the right chemistry.

'Before we shot the pilot, I brought all the guys to Vegas It was a bit of a chemistry thing, getting ready to come and cut loose.'

As for what he envisions the show's reboot might look like, he stated it would probably be close to his own life.

'It would look like an older group of guys probably doing things more like me, going to church and you know hopefully having families and getting up early and working out.

He added that the reboot 'might not be as exciting as when they were running the night clubs and running all around Vegas.'

Creator: The shows creator, Doug Ellin, 55, echoed Piven's statement in 2021, saying he needed Wahlberg to get behind a reboot project; seen in 2015

Throwback: The show ran from 2004 until 2011, and concluded with a movie in 2015; Grenier, Piven, and Connolly pictured in a still

Talks of reboot started after the shows creator, Doug Ellin, shared that he is shopping a new show with some of the original cast members.

'We got a new show with a lot of them. Soon I hope #rambleon, Ellin, 55, tweeted.

He added that he pitched a show idea and 'thought we had a deal with a big production company but I dont think that is going to happen.'

In 2021 Ellin told TMZ he needed Wahlberg to get behind a reboot project.

'Adrian Grenier said hes in, big news  I got all of them. So, yeah, I wouldnt do it without the five, and [executive producer] Mark Wahlberg just needs to call HBO and make it happen, and all will be good.'
Melissa McCarthy beamed in a royal blue Taller Marmo gown on Monday evening at the Little Mermaid world premiere in Los Angeles.

The 52-year-old longtime actress  who recently talked about moving to Australia  was accompanied by her husband Ben Falcone, 49, and their daughter Georgette, 13. The couple's eldest daughter Vivian, 16, sat the night out.

The Bridesmaids star, who plays Ursula in the upcoming live-action film, stole attention in her ocean-inspired look.

The Illinois native's dress featured a keyhole cutout at the chest, as well as a fringed scarf, sleeves and hemline.

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the highly-anticipated movie, which is set to hit theaters on May 26.

Family night out: Melissa McCarthy beamed in a royal blue gown on Monday evening at the Little Mermaid world premiere in Los Angeles; she was joined by husband Ben Falcone and their daughter Georgette

My mini me: The star enjoyed a rare night out in the spotlight with her youngest daughter

Melissa's frock featured pronounced ruffled sleeves and she added a pair of Lillian Shalom opera gloves.

She accessorized with statement-making silver-toned rings worn over them as she walked the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre.

Her standout look was finished with a pair of coordinating satin heels with a stone-covered brooch on the front.

The Mike and Molly actress wore her light brown, shoulder-length, highlighted locks in a side part and tight waves.

McCarthy stepped out for the star-studded affair in a face of flattering, matte makeup.

One week ago she took to Instagram to hype up the new flick, sharing a promotional image that showed her in character.

Engaging her 11.8 million followers, she wrote, 'One month until I get to share this fever dream with everyone!!'

She joked about Ursula's ultra-thin, ultra-arched eyebrows in the photo as she added, 'Eyebrows inspired by Missy McCarthy circa 1988 !!!'

Stunner: The Bridesmaids star, who plays Ursula in the upcoming live-action film, stole attention in her ocean-inspired look

Standing out: She wore a dress with puffy sleeves, lustrous blue gloves and plenty of fringe

Costars: Javier Bardem, who plays Ariel's father King Triton opposite McCarthy, was classically handsome in a tailored suit

While strolling the step-and-repeat in Hollywood, the star posed with Javier Bardem, who plays Ariel's father King Triton in the movie.

The 54-year-old actor looked handsome in a deep navy blue suit, which he teamed with a button-up black shirt and shiny black dress shoes.

In a cover story for Ebony, Halle revealed that playing Ariel '...is all a part of God's plan for me.'

Halle has been a star since she was a teenager, performing as one half of the R&B singing group Chloe x Halle with sister Chloe Bailey.

Landing the role of Ariel has allowed her to spread her wings and explore her individuality.

'It was the first thing I did by myself, independently,' Halle revealed to the outlet. 'I had to move across the world. Suddenly I was in London, and I was by myself. It really forced me to grow up.

'The whole filming experience was insane. It was the most intense, excruciatingly beautiful experience of my life. I mean, physically, mentally  all of the above,' the actress admitted.

'But once I got through it, I was like, wow. [I was] really impressed with myself, because I'd never done something like that before.'

Fashionista: The Illinois native's dress featured a keyhole cutout at the chest, as well as a fringed scarf, sleeves, and hemline

Coming soon: Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the highly-anticipated movie, which is set to hit theatres on May 26

Iconic songs from the movie's soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the forthcoming remake of the Disney film.

Composer Alan Menken told Vanity Fair: 'There are some lyric changes in Kiss the Girl because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel].'

The Little Mermaid is expected to make a big splash when it debuts in theaters over the Memorial Day weekend.

Current projections show the live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic pulling in $110 million over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline.
Dannii Minogue has defended her 1995 nude Playboy photo shoot and admits even her 12-year-old son Ethan and his school friends have most likely seen the racy pictures.

The international pop star, 51, posed in the X-rated magazine over 25 years ago to pay off her debts.

She said she doesn't regret doing the saucy shoot and describes it as a 'complete feminist move'.

'It was personally empowering to me. I still stand by those photos. I still think it's awesome,' she told The Guardian.

'My son's 12, he and his friends are all on their phones, they'll be Googling, pictures will come up  but I still absolutely 100% stand by that as a complete feminist move.'

Dannii Minogue has defended her 1995 nude Playboy photo shoot and admitted even her 12-year-old son Ethan and his school friends have most likely seen the racy pictures

She went on to say she doesn't care what people have to say about it, and will always stand by her decision to strip down to her birthday suit and pose for the pictures.

'My body, my choice, my space. I controlled everything about the photos, the shoot, everything. And it just made me feel powerful,' she said.

The Aussie musician, who shares her son with her ex-partner Kris Smith, participated in the nude photoshoot when she was 'broke'.

The international pop star, 51, posed in the X-rated magazine over 25 years ago to pay off her debts

Struggling to make ends meet after her second album flopped and her fame from Young Talent Time had dwindled, Playboy made Dannii an offer she couldn't refuse.

Back in 2009, Dannii spoke in depth about the shoot - saying she turned to Playboy because she did not want to ask her famous sister Kylie Minogue for help.

'Kylie knew why I was doing it. I could have asked her for the money, but it wasn't in my nature,' she said.

She continued: 'I never wanted to admit the trouble I was in. I should have been looking at my finances.'
OnlyFans star Mikaela Testa has been slammed online after she told her Instagram followers on Monday that the best thing about America are its guns.

The Aussie influencer, 23, hosted a Q&A with fans and posted a photo of herself holding a pistol at a gun range after being asked what her fave thing about America was.

Mikaela's post comes just two days after the US had its sixth mass shooting this year, in which a 33-year-old man shot dead eight people at a mall in Allen, Texas.

Celebrity watchdog account InfluencerUpdatesAU quickly shared the post and fans were immediately whipped into a frenzy over Testa's controversial stance.

'Schools are literally being shot up weekly because of their stupid obsession with guns and she wants to promote them,' one fan sniped.

OnlyFans star Mikaela Testa (pictured) has been slammed online after she told her Instagram followers on Monday that the best thing about America are its guns

'She is so out of touch with reality,' another fan wrote.

Meanwhile, Mikaela herself clappred back at critics and claimed her post was taken out of context.

'How is it controversial? I love the shooting ranges and Vegas. Why would I ever be talking about gun violence?' she wrote.

The Aussie influencer, 23, hosted a Q&A with fans and posted a photo of her holding a pistol at a gun range after being asked what her fave thing about America was

Earlier this month, the model revealed how she and her friends wear fake engagement rings to drive away unwanted attention from men in bars.

Testa said she and her girl gang donned the jewellery while holidaying in Bali recently because too many men kept approaching them.

Taking to her TikTok account with 2.3 million followers, Testa, from Perth, said: 'Me and my friends get so harassed by men whenever we go out to a bar, a nightclub, anything'.

'Schools are literally being shot up weekly because of their stupid obsession with guns and she wants to promote them,' one fan sniped

Mikaela clapped back at critics and claimed her post was taken out of context

'So we bought fake engagement rings, just so that we can hold up hands and say... f**k off,' Testa said.

'And because men respect other men way more, if you're engaged to another man, they're just gonna leave you alone no drama.'

The video garnered more than 85,000 likes in just over a day, with hundreds congratulating her on the idea.

Mikaela reportedly earns more than $162,000 per month selling X-rated images and videos on the adults-only subscription platform OnlyFans.
There have been rumors swirling around actress Dianna Agron and her possibly-romantic relationship with Taylor Siwft, though now Agron is finally shutting them down.

Fans first speculated that Agron, 37, and Swift, 33, were romantically involved when Agron was mentioned on the liner notes for Swift's song 22 from her 2012 album Red.

During a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone, Agron opened up about the rumors of romantic speculation.

When asked if she was the inspiration for 22, Agron said, 'Me? Oh, if only! That's more because of a friendship than being the inspiration for the song. But I would not be the person to ask about that. I cannot claim that!'

She was also asked about rumors that she was in a romantic relationship with the songstress, responding, 'That is so interesting.'

Shutting down: There have been rumors swirling around actress Dianna Agron and her possibly-romantic relationship with Taylor Siwft, though now Agron is finally shutting them down

No romance: She was also asked about rumors that she was in a romantic relationship with the songstress, responding, 'That is so interesting'

The 22 liner notes included a few other of Swift's female friends, such as Selena Gomez, Ashley Avignone and Claire Kislinger.

Both Swift and Agron were friends around the time Red was released in 2012, with them both sharing photos from Shirley MacLaine's 78th birthday party, where they both dressed up in costume.

They also shared photos from Agron's own circus-themed birthday bash, which Swift said was, 'the most magical night.'

A few years later, Swift gave Agron a shout-out at the 2014 American Music Awards, when she received the Dick Clark Award for Excellence.

However, in recent years, Agron and Swift have not been seen together, though the actress did not comment further on her friendship with Swift.

She did open up about her breakthrough role as Quinn Fabray in the hit Fox musical series Glee.

The actress only had a few guest-starring TV roles and small movie roles to her credit when she landed the role on Glee.

'If I see footage of myself from that period, I see my youth and I see the heart and community and family we had with each other,' she said of her time on Glee.

'It's emotional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and career-affirming. That experience opened up so many doors, and I'm so grateful that that's how I learned everything,' she said.

Friends: The 22 liner notes included a few other of Swift's female friends, such as Selena Gomez, Ashley Avignone and Claire Kislinger

Friends: Both Swift and Agron were friends around the time Red was released in 2012, with them both sharing photos from Shirley MacLaine's 78th birthday party, where they both dressed up in costume.

Shout-out: A few years later, Swift gave Agron a shout-out at the 2014 American Music Awards, when she received the Dick Clark Award for Excellence

Role: She did open up about her breakthrough role as Quinn Fabray in the hit Fox musical series Glee

Big screen: After Glee went off the air in 2015 after six seasons, Agron started focusing her work primarily on the big screen

After Glee went off the air in 2015 after six seasons, Agron started focusing her work primarily on the big screen.

She has starred in films such as Tumbledown, The Crash, Novitiate, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Headlock, Berlin, I Love You, Shiva Baby and The Laureate.

Agron most recently started in Acidman, which is currently available on Amazon Prime Video, and the podcast series Narcissa.

The actress can currently be seen in Clock, which debuted on the Hulu streaming service in late April, and she's currently filming the Netflix series The Chosen One.
A doctor says that a photo actor Chris Pratt posted of his pinky toe on social media shows symptoms of a toe fungus.

The Minnesota native, 43, posted the photo to Instagram on Tuesday, jokingly captioning the image, 'Met Gala Look,' after last week's fashion extravaganza in New York City.

The post from Super Mario Bros. Movie star was reviewed by Dr. Brad Schaeffer of the TLC series My Feet Are Killing Me, who told TMZ that the actor is likely dealing with a fungus, and should get examined by a doctor or podiatrist.

'Chris Pratt has an interesting case of tinea unguium and I know that sounds crazy but at the end of the day, it's just straight-up toenail fungus,' Schaeffer said.

He added that the issue was 'not too severe,' 'not life-threatening,' and could be 'taken care of pretty easy and quick.'

The latest: A doctor says that a photo actor Chris Pratt posted of his pinky toe on social media shows symptoms of a toe fungus. Pictured last week in NYC

Schaeffer added: 'What he needs to is get it checked out by people like me. podiatrists.'

The Guardians Of The Galaxy leading man took received a number of varied responses in the comment thread from fans of the Marvel franchise.

'Spoiler alert - Starlord's toenail dies in Vol 3.,' one fan wrote, referencing the actor's character in the film, while another asked, 'Is this Groot?'

One fan remarked, 'You make way too much money to be walking round like this.'

The Minnesota native, 43, posted the photo to Instagram on Tuesday, jokingly captioning the image, 'Met Gala Look' after last week's fashion extravaganza in New York City

The post from Super Mario Bros. Movie star was reviewed by Dr. Brad Schaeffer of the TLC series My Feet Are Killing Me

Celebs who chimed in on the post - which had more than 409,000 likes - included Pratt's mother-in-law Maria Shriver, who asked, 'What is this?'

Pratt's former Parks and Recreation costar Adam Scott, wrote, 'GORGEOUS' with emojis of sparkles and starry faces.

The Mayo Clinic says that 'nail fungus is a common infection of the nail,' which 'begins as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail.

'As the fungal infection goes deeper, the nail may discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge.'

The clinic said that it can 'affect several nails' and return after treatment.
Sonia Kruger ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out wearing a bright red power suit to a star-studded business luncheon on Tuesday.

The television presenter, 57, who has been a prominent figure in the media industry for two decades, was all smiles as she arrived at Terrace on the Domain.

Showing her youthful appearance for the Mercedes-Benz Sydney Women in Business lunch, she was the epitome of modern chic in a black and red ensemble.

With a black tank top tucked into high waisted red slacks beneath a matching red jacket, The Voice Australia star rocked a monochrome look.

She elevated it with matching, designer accessories, including black open-toed pumps and a black and gold handbag slung over her shoulder.

Sonia Kruger, 57, (pictured) ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out wearing a bright red power suit to a star-studded business luncheon on Tuesday

Slicking her golden tresses back into a trendy, loose ponytail, she clasped a gold chain around her neck and several gold bangles around her wrist.

The actor and dancer then flaunted her age-defying beauty with a lovely nude lip and smoky eyes which highlighted her long lashes.

It comes after Sonia revealed that she nearly fainted on stage while filming a recent episode of the latest season of Channel Seven's The Voice Australia.

The television presenter was all smiles as she arrived at Terrace on the Domain

Showing her youthful appearance for the Mercedes-Benz Sydney Women in Business lunch, she was the epitome of modern chic in a black and red ensemble

Which a black tank top tucked into high waisted red slacks beneath a matching red jacket, The Voice Australia star rocked a monochrome look

The host of the singing competition made the shock admission during an interview with The Morning Show's Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

I cant give away too much,' Sonia said of the incident during the intimate chat.

'But there was a moment where I was a little bit overcome about something that happened,' she continued.

'And I was having a little bit of a freak out on stage, I actually thought I was going to faint if Im honest...and thats never happened to me before.

She elevated the look with matching, designer accessories including black open-toed pumps and a black and gold handbag slung over her shoulder
Former Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has revealed she was in talks to shoot a scene for Canadian porn giant Brazzers.

The career opportunity came up after she found success on OnlyFans following her appearance on MAFS season seven in 2020.

'I have had opportunities to go to the U.S. to film with Brazzers and to film with international pornographic companies, which I'm going to be doing at the end of this year,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle on Monday.

Hayley didn't provide further details about the proposed agreement.

The brunette bombshell recently revealed she had made a whopping $1.3million since first starting her OnlyFans account.



Former Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon (pictured) has revealed she was in talks to shoot a scene for Canadian porn giant Brazzers

'I've bought a house, I own my car,' she said of how she was spending the money.

'The most important thing to me out of this is like, the financial gain has been incredible, but being able to help those around me that supported me for the majority of my life has been the best thing out of it,' she added.

'So to help my old man, to help everyone, it's really nice to give back. And that's what I've liked the most out of it.'

'I have had opportunities to go to the US to film with Brazzers and to film with international pornographic companies, which I'm going to be doing at the end of this year,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle

Speaking during Yahoo's All-Star MAFS Reunion recently, Hayley shared the monumental impact the show has had on her life.

'It's completely changed my life,' Hayley proudly stated.

'Although I did go through a bit of s**t, I've just bought my first house at 36 and my life has changed tremendously.'

'I've been able to help my family, I've been able to invest money into my parents' businesses when they were struggling and different things.

The 36-year-old brunette, who appeared on the seventh season of MAFS, has had a radical career shift since participating in the popular TV series

'I'm actually living my best f**king life, and I f**king love it, and I wouldn't swap it for the world.'

Hayley recently revealed that she is quitting escorting so she can start a family.

'There are plenty of women that do what I do as well as holding the fort within their families, but for me I'm looking forward to re-inventing myself in preparation to becoming a mother so that first step is to physically stop seeing clients,' Hayley told The Wash.

'I'm at the point where I know if I don't have children in the next few years that ship will sail,' she said.

'So through the help of donor-ship and IVF this is a process that I will more than likely do this year and raise a child by myself.'
Beverly D'Angelo opened up about her longtime relationship with actor Al Pacino in an Instagram post Monday.

The 71-year-old actress said she decided to share details about her relationship with Scarface actor, 83, after her 'dm box got filled up with questions' on the topic.

'My story with Al began 27 years ago, two artists meeting, falling in love,' said D'Angelo, who is mother to 22-year-old twins Olivia Pacino and Anton James Pacino with the Oscar-winning actor.

D'Angelo, who played Ellen Griswold in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise, said that they 'lived together for seven years, had two children' and eventually 'broke up.'

Despite their split, she wrote, they 'continued steadily on [their] journey as co parents- and came to share [their] lives with a deeper kind of intimacy, honesty and acceptance than a "traditional" relationship would have allowed.'

The latest: Beverly D'Angelo, 71, opened up about her longtime relationship with actor Al Pacino, 83, in an Instagram post Monday

D'Angelo, who played Ellen Griswold in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise, said that they 'lived together for seven years, had two children' and eventually 'broke up'

Beverly's children Anton James Pacino and Olivia Pacino at a film premiere with her last November

D'Angelo said that she and Pacino bonded through their mutual passion of their craft.

'Weve always been linked on the creative level - our conversations about acting, the search/need for expression - thats a conversation that started in 96 and continues to this day,' she said.

D'Angelo, who has been seen on the CBS series True Lies, called her relationship with the Dog Day Afternoon actor 'unique' and 'encompassing a wide breadth/depth of experiences and emotions, through thick and thin, a true friendship.'

She added, 'There are infinite layers in every intimate relationship - and for me, Instagram isnt the place to go into detail really.. but I wanna make sure you know I see and hear you, so this vid is a little bare bones primer in response to your questions.'

She added that most importantly she received the approval of her children before posting their images and story to social media.

D'Angelo opened up in the clip about her start with the House of Gucci actor, saying, 'I lived with Al for seven years and we have two children; in 1996, we were on the same plane going from Los Angeles to New York.

'He was seated in front of me, he said come up and sit beside me and by the time the plane landed, it was on.'

She said that the following year, 'He looked me in the eye and said, "I want you to be the mother of my children."'

She continued, 'Although I'd avoided that role my while life, I was deeply in love and I was 100 percent in.'

She said that they completed a round of in vitro fertilization in 1997, and 'with a lot of effort and the miracles of modern science,' they welcomed their twins in 2001.

D'Angelo said that she and Pacino bonded through their mutual passion of their craft of acting

The actress said she decided to share details about her relationship with Scarface actor after her 'dm box got filled up with questions' on the topic

D'Angelo shared a slideshow of family shots of the twins in their younger years

The actress also shared more recent snaps of their modern family

D'Angelo shared a slideshow of family shots of the twins in their younger years.

She said that eventually, things 'got complicated' and their 'split was finalized in 2004.'

She added, 'The power of our love for our children was the basis for resolving any conflicts and creating a new history as co-parents, leading individual lives separately but always intertwined as a family.'

She wrapped up in saying that she and the Any Given Sunday star continue to share 'a unique and profound friendship between two artists that endures to this day - through thick and thin, 27 years now of doing it our way - and there you have it.'
Tom 'Scandoval' Sandoval seemingly dissed his fling partner Raquel Leviss on Monday night in New York City during his cover band performance at the Gramercy Theatre.

The Vanderpump Rules pariah, 39  who recently paraded around shirtless  got cheeky with the lyrics to Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne and made a few messy alterations.

In a clip obtained by Page Six, Sandoval sang about being over Raquel, 28, and into the mother of his BFF and business partner, Tom Schwartz.

Performing with his band The Most Extras, Schwartz sang: 'Schwartzys mom has got it going on. Shes all I want and I waited for so long. Schwartzy, cant you see that Raquel is not for me...'

The stunt elicited cheers and laughter from the audience, who also reportedly showered the wannabe rocker with insults like 'screw you' and chanted his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madixs name at certain points.

Not singing her praises: Tom 'Scandoval' Sandoval, 39, dissed his fling partner Raquel Leviss on Monday night in New York City during his cover band performance at the Gramercy Theatre

Messy: The Vanderpump Rules pariah got cheeky with the lyrics to Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne and made a few messy alterations

Smooth moves: In a clip obtained by Page Six, Sandoval sang about being over Raquel, 28, and into the mother of his BFF and business partner, Tom Schwartz

And Tom had a celebrity guest in attendance on Monday night, as SNL star Chloe Fineman came out to see him perform.

Fineman posted a group shot on her Instagram Story along with some footage of Sandoval giving it his all on stage.

Sandoval was certainly dressed to the nines in a black suit with electric lightning bolts on his lapels.

But this not-so-subtle touch was sending mixed signals as it could be seen as a sign that Tom is still carrying a symbolic torch for Leviss, since the pair infamously wore lightning bolt necklaces during their bombshell affair.

Amid the fallout from 'Scandoval,' Leviss checked herself into a mental health facility in Arizona.

When TMZ asked Tom about Raquel last month, the reality star became visibly testy and said: 'I'm gonna just tell you, Raquel is in a mental facility - no visitors, OK? No visitors, no family, no phone, no nothing.'

He continued: 'She's there, whether she decides to tell you where that is after the fact, that's where Raquel is.'

In response to the suggestion that Scandoval  the controversy that erupted when Sandoval who was caught cheating on his girlfriends of nine years, Ariana Madix, 37, with Leviss  is over, Sandoval said, 'Let's hope.'

So extra: Performing with his band The Most Extras, Schwartz sang, 'Schwartzys mom has got it going on. Shes all I want and I waited for so long. Schwartzy, cant you see that Raquel is not for me...'

Getting a reaction: The stunt elicited cheers and laughter from the audience, who also reportedly showered the wannabe rocker with insults like 'screw you' and chanted his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madixs name at certain points

Looking good: Sandoval was certainly dressed to the nines in a black suit with electric lightning bolts on his lapels

Hit by lightning: The not-so-subtle lightning bolts were sending mixed signals as they could be seen as a sign that Tom is still carrying a symbolic torch for Leviss, since the pair infamously wore lightning bolt necklaces during their bombshell affair

Famous fans: Tom had a celebrity guest in attendance on Monday night, as SNL star Chloe Fineman came out to see him perform

Rockstar: Fineman posted a group shot on her Instagram Story along with some footage of Sandoval giving it his all on stage

Tom's chat with TMZ came after he spent some time of his own in Arizona  staying at a luxury resort instead of a mental health facility.

But the bar owner couldn't stay out of trouble as he soon blasted Miraval Resorts & Spas for suggesting that he would be checking in to one of their Arizona locations.

Meanwhile, Madix appears to be embodying the age-old adage that success is the best revenge.

The actress has already moved on with a new man and recently stole the spotlight at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.
It's been a year since Farmer Will and Jess Cova found love on Farmer Wants a Wife, and it seems their relationship is stronger than ever.

Jess took to Instagram on Monday to celebrate Will's birthday, by sharing a series of adorable photos of the couple.

In one image, the couple were all smiles as they held cocktails.

In another black and white image, the couple were seen sharing a kiss beside a river with a bridge lit up in the background.

'Happy birthday to the best person in my life,' she wrote beside the gallery of images.

Farmer Wants a Wife star Jess Cova, 26, celebrated her boyfriend Will Simpson's birthday on Monday by sharing a series of adorable photos of the couple. Both pictured together

In another black and white image, the couple were seen sharing a kiss beside a river with a bridge lit up in the background

'Thank you for everything you do for me and our fur babies. You make life easy darling. Here's to forever and getting wrinkly together. I love you,' she continued.

It seems that Will was equally touched by Jess's sweet words, as he took to the comments to thank her.

'Thank you for the kind words @jessicaacova Love you xx,' he wrote.

Jess also shared a glimpse into the birthday tribute she had planned for Will last year, but was unable to share because the show had not yet aired.

'The next story is what I wanted to upload last year for your birthday but couldn't because FWAW had not aired yet and I was living my secret life in Victoria,' Jess explained on her Instagram stories.

Jess also shared a glimpse into the birthday tribute she had planned for Will last year, but was unable to share because the show had not yet aired

'Waiting so patiently to share with the world that you were my sexy boyfriend.'

Back in October, Jess admitted that she was upset after she was falsely portrayed as not wanting to move to the country to live with farmer Will.

Jess insisted that wasn't true, and that several key scenes highlighting their developing relationship were not shown.

Back in October, Jess admitted that she was upset after she was falsely portrayed as not wanting to move to the country to live with farmer Will

According to Jess, an in-depth discussion between her and Will, 26, about relocating to his farm did not air, and neither did a scene of them talking about Will going to Italy to visit Jess' grandmother.

'Sadly, they did not show much of it. I think that's how editing goes, for how they want to portray their storylines,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

She also referred to the sneaky reality TV editing trick known as 'frankenbiting', a technique in which various audio snippets are mashed together in post-production to form a new sentence.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has revealed she was left traumatised by her visit to Turkey after the devastating earthquake and thought about adopting a little girl she met.

The former Love Island star, 28, who is of Turkish origin and lived in Istanbul for two years, visited the country in March after the earthquake that killed over 59,000 people.

Ekin-Su said she met several children during the trip, including some who clung to her and began calling her 'mum'.

One young girl begged the star to take her back to the UK with her after she lost her mother in the earthquake.

Ekin-Su said: 'I would love to take her. It was traumatising - the whole experience. But once you bring one home you want to help them all. I really just want to raise awareness. We don't know how lucky we are to be in the UK.'

Heartbreaking: Ekin-Su Culculoglu has revealed she was left traumatised by her visit to Turkey after the devastating earthquake and thought about adopting a little girl she met

Harrowing: The former Love Island star, 28, who is of Turkish origin and lived in Istanbul for two years, visited the country in March after the earthquake that killed over 59,000 people

Emotional: Ekin-Su said she met several children during the trip, including some who clung to her and began calling her 'mum'

The actress also opened up about the traumatic events the young girl experienced during the earthquake.

She said: 'She doesn't remember much of the actual event. It was 4am and all of a sudden it was black, everything was shaking, the walls were coming down and she was screaming, 'mum, mum, mum' and she doesn't remember anything else.

'I think she has a little brother as well and that's all it is, she just wants mum. Anyone who gives her love, she attaches herself and cannot let go.

'I think she was about four, very young.'

The star also revealed her family in Turkey live in fear of another earthquake and some of them have been sleeping outside since the disaster.

She said: 'They always live their life with fear about what's going to happen next, are we going to be here, are we going to be dead. That's what their worry is everyday.

'My dad's side of the family, they've been sleeping outside everyday. They're too scared to go back inside.'

Ekin-Su was born in Islington, London, to Turkish parents Sezer and Zekai and lived in Istanbul while starring on Turkish television shows, before moving back to the UK.

Tragedy: One young girl begged the star to take her back to the UK with her after she lost her mother in the earthquake

Ekin-Su said: 'I would love to take her. It was traumatising - the whole experience. But once you bring one home you want to help them all'

History: Ekin-Su was born in Islington, London, to Turkish parents Sezer and Zekai and lived in Istanbul while starring on Turkish television shows, before moving back to the UK

Her parents relocated to the UK and she also has a younger brother Arda.

The earthquake was the second strongest ever recorded in the history of the country with a death toll of over 59,000.

It comes after the reality star praised her boyfriend Davide for offering her emotional support following the earthquake.

Speaking to Women's Health magazine, she said: 'Davide has been great supporting me emotionally. I was with him when we heard and I just couldn't comprehend the devastation.

'I've been keeping up with the news since it struck... I hope to visit the affected area with The Red Cross as soon as it's safe.'
The Little Mermaid remake has received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday.

A live-action reproduction of the 1989 animation, Disney's latest film is expected to make a big splash when it debuts over the U.S.'s Memorial Day weekend.

Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline.

And while some experts claimed it was close to being 'the best live action Disney movie' while praising Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel, others insisted it 'can't' escape its animated legacy.

Felicia Wade from DiscussingFilm wrote on Twitter, '#TheLittleMermaid makes it pretty close to being the best live action Disney movie, however it still struggles in the villain department.

Divided: The Little Mermaid remake has received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday (Halle Bailey pictured as Ariel)

Iconic: A live-action reproduction of the 1989 animation, Disney's latest film is expected to make a big splash when it debuts over the U.S.'s Memorial Day weekend

'Halle Bailey IS Ariel and I had literal chills throughout her performance. This is a little mermaid retelling like youve never seen before.'

Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes agreed, 'Disneys #TheLittleMermaid is definitely one of the better live-action adaptions.

'Halle Bailey pours incredible emotion into Ariel and I got chills watching her, while Melissa McCarthys Ursula and Daveed Diggs Sebastian steal scenes all day.'

Zoe Rose Bryant, writer at Loud And Clear Reviews, penned, '#TheLittleMermaid is a live-action remake that retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love, and its elevated even further by a note-perfect star-making performance from Halle Bailey - she was born to be on the big screen, & shes why this new take is worth watching.'

But Kirsten Acuna from Insider wasn't so impressed, tweeting: '#TheLittleMermaid is filled with a few great performances from Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, but it's a mostly paint-by-numbers remake that's isn't as good as the animated masterpiece.'

Simon Thompson, who writes for publications including Forbes and Variety, said, 'Endearing but uneven, #TheLittleMermaid doesnt deliver the magic of the animated classic but there are plenty of creative touches from Rob Marshall to float the audiences boats.

'Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are great. Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina provide solid comic relief.'

Courtney Howard, of Variety The AV Club and Fresh Fiction concluded, '#TheLittleMermaid: Charming, but incredibly spotty. Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy & Javier Bardem put their heart & souls into a film that cant escape its animated legacy.

Wow! Current projections show the blockbuster pulling in $110 million (87m) over its four day opening weekend, according to Deadline

Yay: Some experts claimed it was close to being 'the best live action Disney movie' while praising Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel

Oh dear: Others insisted it 'can't' escape its animated legacy (Melissa McCarthy pictured as Ursula)

'Best when it leans into campy bonkers, yet limits its fantasy elements for no reason.'

The film stars Halle as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and is directed by Rob Marshall.

According to the official synopsis, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel  the youngest of King Triton's many daughters.

The 'bright and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure'  who longs to 'find out more about the world beyond the sea'  makes a trip to the surface and meets Prince Eric.

'Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land,' the summary read.

Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film.

Composer Alan Menken told Vanity Fair last month: 'There are some lyric changes in Kiss the Girl because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel].

The lyrics to the original song - which encourage Prince Eric to kiss Ariel before it's too late and without asking for her consent - include the chorus lines: 'Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know you do. Possible she wants you too. There is one way to ask her. It don't take a word. Not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl.'

Her take: Felicia Wade wrote on Twitter, '#TheLittleMermaid makes it pretty close to being the best live action Disney movie, however it still struggles in the villain department'

Menken added: 'We have some revisions in Poor Unfortunate Souls regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldnt speak out of turn.

'Even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice.'

In the original song, Ursula sings: 'The men up there don't like a lot of blabber. They think a girl who gossips is a bore!

'Yet on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word

'And after all dear, what is idle babble for? Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation. True gentlemen avoid it when they can

'But they dote and swoon and fawn. On a lady who's withdrawn It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man.'

The lyrics for the songs on the 1989 soundtrack were written by the late Howard Ashman and composed by Menken.

Menken has joined producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to write new music for the remake and rework the original songs.
Vicky Pattison showed off her incredible figure in a series of sizzling bikini snaps on Tuesday after posing up a storm poolside in Dubai.

The former Geordie Shore star, 35, looked sensational in a shimmery purple two-piece as she dipped her toes in the water.

The number featured a bandeau top and high rise bottoms, which she teamed with black sunglasses.

In another snap, Vicky posed in front of the incredible skyline views of Dubai while wearing a black triangle bikini.

The reality TV personality lounged on the edge of an infinity pool as she stretched out her incredible frame.

Wow! Vicky Pattison showed off her incredible figure in a series of sizzling bikini snaps on Tuesday after posing up a storm poolside in Dubai

Gorgeous: The former Geordie Shore star, 35, looked sensational in a black two-piece as she perched on the edge of an infinity pool in front of the Dubai skyline

Celebration: The star also posed alongside her friends as she celebrated a pal's hen do

In another racy snap, Vicky threw on a chic black swimsuit and stuck her leg out as she posed alongside dancers at a beach club.

Clearly enjoying the nightlife, Vicky also posed with a cocktail in hand as she sat down to enjoy some sushi.

She also gave fans a sneak peek of her night out, where she could be seen wearing a Hulk glove and a matching green cocktail.

The star also posed alongside her friends as she celebrated a pal's hen do.

Vicky opened up about her body image struggles, admitting she was feeling insecure about her figure ahead of flying to Dubai.

The TV star said she was also recovering from her egg retrieval procedure after deciding to freeze her eggs, which has left her feeling 'bloated and inflamed'.

Vicky wrote on Instagram: 'This thought process is not one I'm proud of but it is super hard to escape a lifetime of being conditioned into believing you are only attractive if you're a specific size or shape.

'The human body is pretty amazing... isn't it?? Over the last two weeks my little body has been pumped full of hormones, manipulated into creating 10 eggs, nine of which were mature and ready for the next stages!

'It has literally created life- Potentially nine times over! It has done far more than I ever expected it to in such a small space of time- it's incredible really.

'And you know the craziest thing?? Is that even after all I've put it through, all it's done for me... I'm mad at it.'

Fun! In another racy snap, Vicky threw on a chic black swimsuit and stuck her leg out as she posed alongside dancers at a beach club

Beauty: Clearly enjoying the nightlife, the reality TV personality posed with a cocktail in hand as she sat down to enjoy some sushi

Good spirits: She also gave fans a sneak peek of her night out, where she could be seen wearing a Hulk glove and a matching green cocktail

Vicky continued: 'I should be celebrating everything that my body has given me and instead I am worrying about what I'm going to look like in a bikini in Dubai next week. And please don't think how vapid and superficial that is, is wasted on me.

'This thought process is not one I'm proud of but it is super hard to escape a lifetime of being conditioned into believing you are only attractive if you're a specific size or shape.

'I know I'm a huge advocate for loving the skin you're in... even if it's not your usual skin. So this may seem a little bit hypocritical.

'But with the recent changes to my body being so sudden, I haven't even had a chance to get my head around them just yet. But I promise I will.

'My giant sore and swollen boobs, my bloated little tummy and my saggy little boy butt are testament to what my little body has given me - which is a chance at future happiness and I need to be beyond grateful to it.

'Not speaking negatively about it and wishing it was something else. But sometimes those intrusive little thoughts sneak in, don't they?

'But you know, once I get out of my head and into the moment in Dubai I reckon that I'll stop worrying that my bod isn't itty bitty or perfectly sculpted and just have fun with my mates!

'Because they don't care that I'm not a size 6 or have perky little boobs- they love me for me, and I should really start doing the same. So I suppose that this is just a friendly reminder, to myself and anyone else that needs to hear it- bodies change.

'Our bodies are constantly changing- and whether they're bigger or smaller, squishy or skinny they are all deserving of love and celebration. And some cocktails in the sun once in a while.'

Vicky underwent the egg retrieval procedure last month, and shared a number of photographs from the hospital as she admitted her recovery from the medical procedure had been more 'painful' and 'difficult' than expected.

Retrieval is part of the egg freezing process and is an ultrasound-guided procedure which usually takes 2030 minutes, putting the patient under aesthetic.

Vicky recently explained that she doesn't feel ready to have a child with her fiance Ercan Ramadan, 29, and believes by freezing both her embryos and her eggs it 'relieves herself of the pressure'.

Opening up: It comes after Vicky spoke candidly on her body image struggles as she admitted to feeling insecure about her figure as she recovers from her egg retrieval procedure

'The last few days have been challenging': Vicky detailed her 'painful' recovery from egg retrieval as she gave fans an update on the freezing process last month

Support: The reality star's fiance Ercan Ramadan was on hand to help her through the recovery

'I was just freezing my eggs before but freezing embryos has a better success rate so I am doing both,' she told New! Magazine.

'I'm 35, but I don't want a child right now. I'm not ready. No one's ready, Ercan and I have been dating four years and he's 29. The last thing I want to do is force him into a situation where he's not confident or not ready and then he becomes resentful.'

Vicky adds due to her struggle to find the perfect wedding venue with the 'wow factor', they may find they end up having a baby before getting married.

'The wedding process has been more challenging than I anticipated. We may not marry first, it might be the year after that as I don't have to be married to have a baby. Everything will happen when it should.'
Bride and Prejudice Australia star Dannii Erskine, who was previously reported dead, may still be alive.

Erskine's death was announced in early May by a person claiming to be her sister Dee, following a horrific car crash in North Melbourne that was said to have taken place on April 28.

Erskine, known for her participation in the controversial 2019 wedding series, was reportedly T-boned by another driver while returning home from a shopping trip

Dee told the So Dramatic podcast at the time that Dannii's skull had been crushed upon impact with her vehicle airbag, ultimately leading to her tragic death.

However, recent claims suggest Erskine could still be alive, and a statement by Victoria Police raises further questions about the alleged car accident.

In a jaw-dropping turn of events, former Bride and Prejudice Australia star Dannii Erskine (pictured) may still be alive, after it was reported she died in a car crash

Erskine's alleged death was announced in early May by a person claiming to be her sister Dee, following a horrific car crash in North Melbourne on April 28. Pictured: Dannii and her Bride and Prejudice Australia fiance Denton Ansley

An anonymous source revealed to 7NEWS.com.au that Dannii is, in fact, still alive.

Victoria Police said they could not comment on individuals due to privacy laws, but confirmed there were no fatal or life-threatening collisions recorded in the North Melbourne area within the past month.

Adding to the perplexing situation, the Coroner's Court of Victoria stated they had no record of Dannii Erskine's death.

Dannii's family also shared this tribute post on her Instagram page

In an interview with So Dramatic, Dannii's ex-partner Denton Ansley recalled a similar incident from the previous year, where people received a mass message from Erskine's account claiming she had passed away.

However, she later said her account was hacked and that she was alive.

Ansley also claimed that friends had received a message with details of a funeral service on May 16 in the Mornington Peninsula, VIC.

Upon contacting the funeral company, they discovered there was no funeral scheduled for that date under Dannii's name.

Erskine's Instagram account, which was deleted shortly after her supposed death, has been reactivated.

All posts related to her death have been removed, but the 'rest in peace' memorial picture remains as the account's profile picture.

Dannii was a participant on Seven's Bride and Prejudice in 2019 with her then-fiance, a man named Denton.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Dannii Erskine for comment.
She has garnered millions of social media followers thanks to her enviable curves.

And Demi Rose set pulces racing once more as she showcased her incredible figure in a series of sizzling snaps she shared on Tuesday.

The model, 28, is currently soaking up the sun in Mexico and looked on cloud nine as she posed topless at an idyllic villa in a multi-coloured bikini.

The skimpy two-piece featured a fruit print while Demi also wore a giant golden Chanel hat while unwinding by the pool.

Displaying her famous figure in the sultry shots, Demi wore her tresses in loose waves as she enjoyed a glass of prosecco.

Beauty: Demi Rose set pulces racing once more as she showcased her incredible figure in a series of sizzling snaps she shared on Tuesday

Holiday: The model, 28, is currently soaking up the sun in Mexico and looked on cloud nine as she relaxed at an idyllic villa in a multi-coloured bikini

Alongside the post, the star wrote: 'Mexico content begins now'

It comes after Dmi left little to the imagination as she slipped into a brown bikini with matching bottoms and acorset detail on Monday.

The figure-hugging garment highlighted Demi's toned midriff while she also sported a shearling cowboy hat.

Striking a pose in the California desert, the influencer let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders.

Accentuating her natural beauty with a light palette of makeup, Demi looked on cloud nine as she enjoyed her final days in California before heading to Mexico.

Despite her seemingly boundless confidence, Demi has previously faced adversity after becoming victim to bullies in her younger years.

She has been modelling for over a decade and credits her career for being a 'blessing' after being subjected to cruelty during her school time.

Speaking to Radio 1 Newsbeat, Demi previously revealed: 'I always wanted to get into modelling and when I eventually got there I classed it as a blessing because I grew up being bullied and didn't have many friends at all.'

In 2019, both of Demi's parents died, just seven months apart and the star said going into lockdown straight after their deaths was 'a time of reflection. Having to deal with my parents' house and selling their stuff - it was a really sad place for me...

'I wanted to go and travel but I had three months in London, which was a lot of facing what I had been through and was a time of reflection.'

Her latest shoot comes after she was seen teasing her OnlyFans page to her Instagram followers, after signing up to the X-rated content-sharing platform.

Demi told fans she was ditching her profile's subscription fee for a limited period.

Stunning: It comes after Dmi left little to the imagination as she slipped into a brown bikini with matching bottoms and acorset detail on Monday

Sultry: The figure-hugging garment highlighted Demi's toned midriff while she also sported a shearling cowboy hat

Sizzling: Striking a pose in the California desert, the influencer let her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders

Wow: Demi looked on cloud nine as she enjoyed her final days in California before heading to Mexico

OnlyFans is an online platform, known for its X-rated content, that allows public figure to charge fans a fee to their profile, where they often shares pictures and videos deemed too provocative for other social media sites.

Demi previously charged fans for access to her content - with costs ranging from $22.22 (16) a month or $119.99 (around 86) for six months.

She's not the only famous face who uses the platform, with celebrities including Bella Thorne, Cardi B and Danniella Westbrook signing up to the service.
Robert De Niro announced this week that he recently welcomed a baby.

The Godfather actor was asked by a reporter from ET Canada what it was like to be a father of six children.

That is when he said he did not have six, but rather seven children, then shared that he recently welcomed a new child into his life. He did not share the name of the baby or the gender.

'I just had a baby,' he said.

The 79-year-old Oscar-winning actor did not reveal the identity of his baby's mother, but he was last linked to martial arts instructor Tiffany Chen. They were photographed holding hands in July 2022 and in March of this year she appeared pregnant when leaving Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California.

His rep confirmed to DailyMail.com that De Niro did not make a mistake and that he does indeed have seven children.

New kid in his life: Robert De Niro shocked fans on Monday when he announced that he recently welcomed a baby. The Godfather actor was asked by a reporter from ET Canada what it was like to be a father of six children. That is when he said he did not have six, but rather seven children. Seen on May 6 in Chicago

His lady love: Robert seen with martial arts trainer Tiffany in July 2022 in Formentera, Spain

Baby on board: On March 22, Tiffany was seen with what looked like a baby bump as she left Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California with Robert. They had just enjoyed an Italian dinner with Harvey Keitel and Billy Crystal

The interview took place this week when he was promoting his new film About My Father.

On March 22, Tiffany was seen with what looked like a baby bump as she left Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California with Robert.

They had just enjoyed an Italian dinner with Harvey Keitel and Billy Crystal.

ET Canada asked Robert this week about being a dad and he shared that he believes 'in being loving with [his] kids,' but did say you have 'to be stern about stuff.'

He continued, 'I mean, there's no way around it with kids. I don't like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that. But, [sometimes] you just have no choice.

'And any parent, I think, would say the same thing. You always want to do the right thing by the children and give them the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can't.'

The interviewer then said, 'I know you have six kids,' and Robert added, 'Seven, actually.'

He then dropped his bombshell: 'I just had a baby.'

He split from his wife of 20 years, Grace Hightower, in 2018.

His eldest daughter: Robert has two kids: Drena, 51 (pictured with Robert in 2022), and Raphael, 46 with his ex wife Diahnne Abbott

Family: (L-R) Diahnne Abbott, Drena and Robert in 1977 in NYC

His eldest son: Here he is seen with Raphael De Niro in New York in 2013

With Julian: Julian is seen far left with John David Washington, Danielle Brooks, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert in November 2022 in New York City

The twins: Twin boys Aaron and Julian that Robert had with Toukie; seen in New York in 1998

His son Elliot: De Niro with his son Elliot, who is now 24, in 2011 in France

His girl: De Niro with daughter Helen Grace out for ice cream with their puppies in New York in April 2019

Robert has two kids: Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46 with his ex wife Diahnne Abbott.

And he has two more children with Grace: Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11.

He is also a dad to twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with former girlfriend, Toukie Smith.

His divorce from Hightower has been highly contentious.

The ex-spouses have been locked in a battle since December 2018.

In April, a judge ruled that his ex-wife, 66, should receive $1 million annually and that the couple will split the proceeds after selling their $20 million home.

Robert and Grace were married in 1997, split in 1999, then got back together, renewed their vows in 2004 before he filed for divorce in 2018.

Initially the pair fought over custody of their child but now the arguments are over money and property.

Hightower's average monthly spend was $215,000 a month on credit cards and $160,000 in cash. De Niro's attorney, Caroline Krauss, claims the financial strain means the actor is running out of money.

His lady love: De Niro and girlfriend Diahnne Abbott circa 1977 in New York City

Another romance: De Niro and Toukie Smith circa 1990 in New York City

His last wife: De Niro and Grace Hightower in New York City in May 2017

She said the coronavirus pandemic led to a drying up of work projects for the Hollywood star.

Months earlier, De Niro earned $5million for acting in Martin Scorsese's hit gangster flick, The Irishman. He also received 'tens of millions of dollars' through a federal coronavirus relief program.

Hightower claims that De Niro is worth $500million, but his attorney Caroline Krauss says that his estranged wife's extravagant lifestyle is making things worse.

'Grace and I have two beautiful children together. We are entering a period of transition in our relationship which is a difficult but constructive process. I honor Grace as a wonderful mother and ask for privacy and respect from all as we proceed to develop our roles as partners in parenting,' he said in 2018.

Five months ago De Niro had a scare in New York City when he was woken by a serial burglar allegedly trying to swipe presents from under his Christmas tree. The Raging Bull actor broke his silence after Shanice Aviles, 30, was arrested at his $69,000-per-month rented townhouse in the Upper East Side of New York City.

De Niro ran downstairs in his bathrobe as officers arrested the suspect, but it understood there was no direct confrontation between him and Aviles.

When asked by New York Post reporters outside his home after the incident how he was coping, he replied: 'Im good.' He added he was 'OK' as he left the property, where eight bags of takeaway from Japanese restaurant Nobu  co-founded by the actor  were later seen arriving, along with a delivery from the Dominique Ansel Bakery.

De Niros daughter Helen that he shares with ex-wife Hightower was also at home sleeping in another bedroom when the break-in occurred.
Miriam Maroglyes has revealed she was rushed to A&E following a health scare over the weekend.

The Harry Potter star, 81, told how she was taken to The Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London with a chest infection on Saturday.

The comedian, who played Professor Sprout in the fantasy franchise, shared a photo of herself taken in her hospital bed as she informed fans about her condition.

She wrote: 'Thanks to my precious friends who thought of me on Tavi Day. I did survive and I am still in The Royal Brompton Hospital certainly till Sunday.

'I am growing energy but it's still not quite me. I am putting this so you know how grateful I am for lovely messages.

Health scare: Miriam Maroglyes has revealed she was rushed to A&E following a health scare over the weekend

Ill: The Harry Potter star, 81, told how she was taken to The Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London with a chest infection on Saturday

'Slowly I'll get back to The Chase and then Italy, Oz filming in WA and return for 22 city books tour on Sept 7. Loving hugs. MM'.

Miriam had been hoping to be sent home on Sunday but sadly took to Facebook again with another health update.

She wrote: 'I spoke too soon. Can't come home yet. I have a chest infection. Probably tomorrow but at least I'm resting. Love to all. Thank you for your lovely messages.'

Finally on Tuesday, Miriam revealed she was being let home as she thanked all her fans for their well wishes.

She wrote: 'Beloved chums. After a s*** yesterday I am going home later today.

'Heartfelt thanks to all my wonderful friends who sent messages and to the very fine doctors and nurses at the RBHT who put up with me.'

Miriam was inundated with messages from fans as she confirmed she was on the mend.

One user wrote: 'You look remarkably perky and smiley which is good to see. Get well soooon,' while another wrote: 'Speedy recovery'.

Updates: The comedian, who played Professor Sprout in the fantasy franchise, shared a photo of herself taken in her hospital bed as she informed fans about her condition

Beloved role: The actress played Professor Sprout (pictured) in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released in 2002 and 2011s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Homeward bound: Finally on Tuesday, Miriam revealed she was being let home as she thanked all her fans for their well wishes

Reaction: Miriam was inundated with messages from fans as she confirmed she was on the mend

A third fan said: 'Glad you are getting time to rest even if you are being made do it. Much love, rest well.'

A fourth said: 'Take it easy Miriam, you need some chicken soup! Big hugs'.

Along with her role in Harry Potter, Miriam is also known for starring in The Age of Innocence and the TV series Call The Midwife and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

She is married to Australian historian Heather Sutherland, who keeps out of the public eye.
Miami Vice alum Don Johnson made a rare comment about his relationship with his eldest daughter Dakota Johnson while attending the Manhattan premiere of his new movie Book Club: The Next Chapter on Monday.

'We don't get involved in each other's worlds, we're father and daughter,' the 73-year-old Emmy nominee told People.

'She's a professional I'm a professional.'

As for what advice his 33-year-old daughter would have for him, Don joked: 'I don't know what she'd give me advice about at this point, but probably, "Go away, Dad!"'

Dakota is Johnson's only child from his two marriages (1976 and 1989-1996) to Oscar nominee Melanie Griffith, whom he scandalously began dating when he was 23 and she was 15.

Father-of-five: Miami Vice alum Don Johnson made a rare comment about his relationship with his eldest daughter Dakota Johnson while attending the Manhattan premiere of his new movie Book Club: The Next Chapter on Monday

The 73-year-old Emmy nominee (pictured in 2019) told People: 'We don't get involved in each other's worlds, we're father and daughter. She's a professional I'm a professional'

Back in 2021, the A Little White Lie actor said he'd have a 'talk' with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin if he ever proposed to his famous daughter.

'If she's happy, I will be happy and he's a lovely guy,' Don told Fox 5's Good Day New York.

'And if she decides to get married, I would imagine that there would be grandchildren not too far after that. I'd be pretty excited about that part.'

The 46-year-old Englishman is already father to two children - daughter Apple, 18; and son Moses, 17 - from his decade-long marriage to Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow, whom he consciously uncoupled from in 2016.

Johnson's eldest child is his 40-year-old son Jesse Johnson from his five-year romance with Andy Warhol muse Patti D'Arbanville, which ended in 1986.

The Golden Globe winner also has three children - son Jasper Breckenridge, turning 21 next month; son Deacon James, 17; and daughter Atherton Grace, 23 - from his 24-year marriage to former Montessori nursery school teacher Kelley Phleger.

As for what advice his 33-year-old daughter (R, pictured in 2016) would have for him, Don joked: 'I don't know what she'd give me advice about at this point, but probably, "Go away, Dad!"'

That wouldn't fly now! Dakota is Johnson's only child from his two marriages (1976 and 1989-1996) to Oscar nominee Melanie Griffith (R, pictured in 2015), whom he scandalously began dating when he was 23 and she was 15

'If she's happy, I will be happy and he's a lovely guy!' Back in 2021, the A Little White Lie actor said he'd have a 'talk' with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (L, pictured June 2) if he ever proposed to his famous daughter

Don told Fox 5's Good Day New York: 'And if she decides to get married, I would imagine that there would be grandchildren not too far after that. I'd be pretty excited about that part'

Eldest: Johnson's eldest child is his 40-year-old son Jesse Johnson (R, pictured in 2019) from his five-year romance with Andy Warhol muse Patti D'Arbanville, which ended in 1986

2019 family portrait: The Golden Globe winner also has three children - son Jasper Breckenridge, turning 21 next month; son Deacon James, 17; and daughter Atherton Grace, 23 - from his 24-year marriage to former Montessori nursery school teacher Kelley Phleger (2-L)

Don (pictured Monday) told People: 'I love being with my kids and I have a lot of them, so I kind of just make the rounds. I'm a very simple guy, I like to walk, I like nature and all of that stuff, and I love hanging out with my beautiful wife'

Hitting US/UK theaters this Friday! Johnson will next reprise his role as hotel mogul Vivian's (Jane Fonda) fiance - retired music promoter Arthur - in Bill Holderman's Book Club: The Next Chapter

Bride-to-be! The Italian-set comedy sequel - which holds a 63% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes - also features Diane Keaton (L), Candice Bergen (2-R), Mary Steenburgen (R), Andy Garcia, and Craig T. Nelson

'I love being with my kids and I have a lot of them, so I kind of just make the rounds,' Don told People.

'I'm a very simple guy, I like to walk, I like nature and all of that stuff, and I love hanging out with my beautiful wife.'

Johnson will next reprise his role as hotel mogul Vivian's (Jane Fonda) fiance - retired music promoter Arthur - in Bill Holderman's Book Club: The Next Chapter, which hits US/UK theaters this Friday.

The Italian-set comedy sequel - which holds a 63% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes - also features Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, and Craig T. Nelson.
Amber Heard enjoyed an early morning run in Madrid, following her move to Spain's central capital after her widely-publicized defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp.

While working up a sweat as she went for a stroll down a paved pathway on Friday, the 37-year-old actress wore a white tank top, a charcoal grey fanny pack around her trim waist, black leggings, a pair of matching sneakers and Apple Watch.

She shielded her blue eyes from the sun with a visor and opted to pull back her wavy blonde tresses in a high ponytail.

During her vigorous workout, the Aquaman star showed off her natural beauty as she stepped out without makeup.

The Aquaman star, who welcomed her daughter Oonagh Paige via surrogate in 2021, also sported a pair of black wireless headphones.

Working up a sweat: Amber Heard enjoyed an early morning run in Madrid, following her move to Spain's central capital after her widely-publicized defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp

Her latest sighting comes after DailyMail.com confirmed on Thursday that the Texas native has 'quit Hollywood and quietly relocated to Spain' with her little girl, two.

'Shes bilingual in Spanish and is happy there, raising her daughter away from all the noise,' a friend of the performer revealed.

The insider continued: 'I dont think she is in any hurry to return to work or to Hollywood, but she will probably come back when the time is right for the right project.

The Aquaman actress sold her home in Yucca Valley, California, in July last year for $1.1million (nearly double what she paid for it).

Then, in October, she was photographed on a beach in Majorca with her girlfriend Eve Barlow. At the time, she was rumoured to be living in a rented house on the island.

But Im told she has now moved permanently to a new home outside Madrid with Oonagh, who is two.

Heard hasnt worked since filming Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom in 2021, and a modestly budgeted thriller, In The Fire, last spring. (The Aquaman film comes out, finally, at the end of this year.) Its not known whether Heard is still with Eve Barlow, who has remained in Los Angeles and is working as a writer.

At Christmas, Barlow appeared to suggest they had split when she posted an essay on Substack saying that she was searching for optimism at the end of a life-altering year.

Sporty: While working up a sweat as she went for a stroll down a paved pathway on Friday, the 37-year-old actress wore a white tank top, a charcoal grey fanny pack around her trim waist, black leggings, a pair of matching sneakers and Apple Watch

Jogging: She shielded her blue eyes from the sun with a visor and opted to pull back her wavy blonde tresses in a high ponytail

She added: Today I was reminded of a beautiful passage from a Khalil Gibran poem about why strength has to be renourished and revitalized in ourselves, often alone.

In July of 2021, Heard announced on Instagram that she had become a mother.

The actress wrote a lengthy message in her post's caption where she revealed that her daughter, whose father has not been publicly revealed, had arrived that April.

She also also expressed her thoughts about parenthood in the statement, which partially read: 'I hope we arrive at a point in which it's normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib.'

Heard's daughter was born a year before the Depp v. Heard case, which was centered on allegations of defamation that were made by both the actress and her 59-year-old former husband.

Motherhood: In July of 2021, Heard announced the birth of her daughter Oonagh Paige via surrogate in 2021

''I hope we arrive at a point in which it's normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib,' she wrote, at the time

Better times: Heard's daughter was born a year before the Depp v. Heard case, which was centered on allegations of defamation that were made by both the actress and her 59-year-old former husband; pictured in 2015 with her ex

The pair were married from 2015 until 2017, and the Pineapple Express actress alleged that the Pirates Of The Caribbean star had been physically abusive over the course of their marriage, which he denied.

Heard also had an op-ed published by The Washington Post in 2018, in which she outlined how she felt as if speaking out about the alleged abuse she suffered during her marriage negatively affected her career.

The actress went on to file suit against News Group Newspapers for printing various allegations about his marriage through The Sun in 2020, although he ultimately lost his case.

Depp went on to sue his former wife for defamation regarding the op-ed in 2019, and she followed suit before their trial began in July of last year.

It was ultimately found that the Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas star had been defamed by his ex, while a single statement that was made by his former lawyer Adam Waldman regarding the actress was also found to have been defamatory.

While both parties made appeals regarding the judgements, they dropped them and settled the case in December of last year, when it was decided that the actor would receive $1 million from his former spouse's insurance company.

Heard subsequently released a statement regarding the settlement and expressed via BBC that she had 'lost faith in the American legal system.'
Damian Lewis and his girlfriend Alison Mosshart looked loved-up as they posed together at the premiere of Book Club: The Next Chapter afterparty in NYC on Monday night.

The actor, 52, dressed in a smart casual ensemble while cosying up to the pretty musician, 44, at the event held at Tavern On the Green.

The Band Of Brothers star Damian wore a khaki jacket, black shirt and navy trousers teamed with black shoes.

Meanwhile The Kills frontwoman showed off her sense of style in a black and green jumper which she wore with a floral shirt underneath.

She wore her blonde tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a glowing makeup look.

Cosy: Damian Lewis and his girlfriend Alison Mosshart looked loved-up as they posed together at the premiere of Book Club: The Next Chapter afterparty in NYC on Monday night

Ensemble: The Band Of Brothers star Damian wore a khaki jacket, black shirt and navy trousers teamed with black shoes

They looked happier than ever as they cuddled up to each other at the star-studded event.

Damian married actress Helen McCrory in July 2007. The couple share a daughter, Manon and son, Gulliver.

Helen passed away from cancer in April 2021, aged 52.

Damian is thought to have begun dating Alison at some point last year, after meeting through mutual friends while in London.

They had grown increasingly fond of one another, Mosshart's mother Vivian, 76, told MailOnline last year.

Speaking exclusively from her home in Florida, she said: 'I don't know how much flak I'm going to get for all of this but of course we are excited for her.

'They have mutual friends. I don't know exactly how they met but I'm fine with it. If she's happy, we are happy. I'm yet to meet him but certainly I'd like to.'

The pair were first photographed together in July at a swanky fundraising party for London's National Gallery.

A fellow passenger, who spotted the pair travelling to the event by train, told The Mail on Sunday that the two looked '100 per cent romantically involved  like they were on a hot date'.

It comes following the news that Damien is forging a new career path as a musician as he releases his debut single with an album to follow in the summer.

Moving: Following his wife Helen McCrory's death, Damian revealed how she had urged him to find love again, telling him and their son and daughter that she wanted 'Daddy to have lots of girlfriends' (pictured together in 2019)

The actor reportedly signed a record deal with Decca Records after a bidding war for the rights to release his debut album Mission Creep.

Damian has written a series of 'deeply personal' songs for the album which comes nearly two years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory .

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'It encompasses many life experiences, and won't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what some of those are.'

His debut single is called Down On The Bowery, with his fans speculating that it serves as an ode to his girlfriend, fellow musician Alison.
Michelle Keegan cut a casual figure as she stepped out to film her Netflix drama Fool Me Once in Cheshire on Tuesday.

The actress, 35, was seen wearing a black leather jacket with large sheepskin lapels and cuffs.

She wore a pair of black leggings and opted for a pair of comfortable white trainers for her outing.

Screen star Michelle carried a large black bag packed full of belongings for her day.

She wore minimal make-up, showing off her natural beauty as she walked towards a waiting car.

On set: Michelle Keegan, 35, cut a casual figure in a leather jacket as she stepped out to film her Netflix drama Fool Me Once in Cheshire on Tuesday

In style: The actress was seen wearing a black leather jacket with large sheepskin lapels and cuffs

Keeping it casual: She wore a pair of black leggings and opted for a pair of comfortable white trainers for her outing

Michelle, who is best known for her roles in Coronation Street and Brassic, has reportedly signed a six-figure deal to star Fool Me Once which is based on one of Harlan Coben's books.

Seven of Harlan's hit books have already been adapted into Netflix series, including psychological thriller The Stranger, which garnered huge popularity on the platform.

In Fool Me Once, Michelle takes on the role of former special ops pilot Maya, who gets a shock after returning from the war.

According to a book synopsis, Maya goes through a trauma when her husband Joe is brutally murdered, but two weeks later, she has to deal with a mystery when she sees her infant daughter playing with Joe on her baby monitor.

Speaking of Michelle's reported new role, a TV source told The Sun: 'This is a huge role for Michelle. Harlan's dramas are some of the most streamed on Netflix and people watch around the world.'

A release date for the series is yet to be confirmed but it is expected to be available for streaming from late this year or early next.

It comes after Michelle said she found it was 'quite scary' going to Australia alone to film Ten Pound Poms.

The ex soap star 'absolutely loved' working Down Under to make the BBC drama about the immigration boom to the country in the post-World War II period, but she was initially apprehensive about heading to Australia without her television personality husband, Mark Wright, 36.

Ten Pound Poms premieres May 14, available only on Stan.

Ready for the day: Screen star Michelle carried a large black bag packed full of belongings for her day

Natural beauty: She wore minimal make-up, showing off her natural beauty as she walked towards a waiting car

Big money? Michelle has reportedly signed a six-figure deal to star Fool Me Once which is based on one of Harlan Coben's books

Michelle - who plays nurse Kate Thorne in the show - said: 'I absolutely loved filming in Australia. I mean, when I first got there the weather wasnt great, Im not going to lie, but as a country I really enjoyed it.

'In fact, in a way my journey to Australia has parallels with Kates. It was my first time too and I didnt know what to expect, I came on my own which was quite scary, but its been such an incredible experience.'

Michelle admitted it was 'really challenging' to play her character Kate's 'turmoil' at times.

She said: 'My character Kate is a nurse who has left the UK to go to Australia for a very different reason from the rest of the characters.

'She has an emotional connection to the country and we find out as the show progresses what her intentions are and why she has gone there.

Long distance: It comes after Michelle opened up about spending months away from home and husband Mark Wright, 36, as she filmed new series Ten Pound Poms in Australia (pictured in the BBC and Stan show)

'Kates storyline is definitely very emotionally led. You see her go through a lot of turmoil in Ten Pound Poms. Its been really challenging for me, and Ive loved every minute.'

Michelle admitted a period drama has been on her bucket list for a long time.

She added: 'Obviously, the series is set in the 50s, so its a totally different era and its the first time Ive appeared in a period drama, but its something I have always wanted to do.'

The series will premiere Sunday May 14 at 9pm on BBC One.
Kim Kardashian, 42, and her daughter North West, nine, had some fun before North headed off to school.

The mom and daughter duo took part in the Now You Tryna Pull Up To My Crib I Think You Gotta Go trend on TikTok.

They did a sassy dance with both giving off plenty of attitude in the fun clip.

North was dressed in her school uniform featuring a blue plaid skirt, white shirt and white hoodie.

The Skims founder - who attended the Lakers playoff game - was in her pajamas - a long-sleeved black top and pants combo.

Dancing: Kim Kardashian, 42, and her daughter North West, 9, had some fun before North headed off to school

School day: North was dressed in her school uniform featuring a plaid skirt, white shirt and white hoodie

The post was captioned: 'It was so fun doing this.'

'I like school' was superimposed over the video.

Kim's makeup was minimal and her hair was pulled up into a bun on the top of her head.

North wore her hair in a sleek ponytail.

The newest video on Kim and North's TikTok page comes three days after North led her mom and aunts Khloe Kardashian, 38, and Kylie Jenner, 25, in a dance train.

The family members grooved to Kendrick Lamar's Money Trees while pretending to walk by leaning back and forth to the beat of the song.

Last week, North attended the Met Gala with her famous mom - sort of.

As she is too young to attend the event, the daughter of Kanye West watched her mom walk the red carpet from the car.

Pajamas: The Skims founder was in her pajamas - a long-sleeved black top and pants combo

Trend: The mom and daughter duo took part in the Now You Tryna Pull Up To My Crib I Think You Gotta Go trend on TikTok

Dance it out: As usual, Kim had the comments turned off on the adorable video

The Met Gala put an age restriction in place in 2018, requiring that attendees be at least 18 years old, the Hollywood Reporter revealed.

Prior to that year, children such as Willow Smith had been invited to the star-studded event.

It was also reported that exceptions could be made for guests accompanied by their parents.

Although North did not get to spend time on the Met Gala's red carpet, she wore a vintage Chanel jacket and a pair of slightly distressed blue jeans while leaving the Ritz-Carlton with her mom prior to the event.
Resplendent in her colourful outfit put together especially for Saturday, Sylvia Rook might possibly be Britain's biggest Eurovision fan.

Sporting a strappy Union Jack dress and Ukrainian-themed feathered fascinator and scarf, local government officer Sylvia will be one of the most suitably-dressed as she attends her 12th final in Liverpool.

Sylvia, 58, has admitted Eurovision is 'an addiction' which has taken her all over Europe and cost many thousands of pounds.

Her first contest was in Latvia in 2003, where Britain's representative, Gemini, infamously scored 'nul points'.

In more recent years, Sylvia has travelled to Dusseldorf, Baku, Malmo, Copenhagen, Vienna, Stockholm, Kyiv, Lisbon and Tel Aviv, as well as Turin, last year.

Sylvia Rook, 58, (left) is preparing to go to the Eurovision finals in Liverpool this weekend

Fellow superfan Fiona Guest, 62 , (left) accompanies Sylvia Rook to the Eurovision finals

READ MORE: Scouse commentator is selected as an alternative narrator for the Eurovision final in Liverpool after a seven-week search by the BBC's local radio station Advertisement

Joining her clocking up the air miles is her old friend Fiona Guest, who she met at the University of London in the 1980s and now lives in New Zealand but still refuses to miss out.

Fiona, 62, who has accompanied Sylvia to all the contests except the one in Kyiv in 2017, is donning an identical Ukrainian fascinator  but will be wearing a made-to-order dress created from an Australian flag.

'There's a rivalry between New Zealand and Australia but it's the nearest country taking part that's local to me,' she explained.

Slyvia's trusty Union Jack dress has accompanied her to many events, having been bought for the Copenhagen contest in 2014, while the fascinator was specially purchased for this year's contest online.

Speaking before the first semi-final today, Sylvia  who is attending all three televised live shows  said: 'It's important to remember why this event is being held in Liverpool this year.

'Having been at the contest in Kyiv in 2017, it's been heart-breaking to see what's been happening over there.'

The pair admit getting tickets this year was 'the most difficult it's ever been', despite trying to buy tickets using nine phones and computers between them when they first went on sale.

Sylvia, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, failed and Fiona only secured one ticket  but luck was on their side as they later managed to secure tickets to the two semi-finals and the final through the fans' ballot.

Sylvia (front centre) with other Eurovision fans for the grand final in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2017

Sylvia (second right) in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the Eurovision 2012 final

Explaining their dedication to Eurovision, Sylvia said: 'It's not just the shows, it's the atmosphere and the people  we've met so many new friends.

'We've also been to some places we'd never have visited, like Baku (capital of Azerbaijan, which hosted in 2012).'

Fiona added: 'For me, because of the distance involved I make it a long holiday around Europe.'

Sylvia said she has been a fan since she was a girl and remembers 'dancing around the kitchen with my mum' in the 1970s.

Sylvia (front centre) at the Eurovision final in Vienna, Austria, in 2015

Sylvia at the Eurovision song contest finals in Malmo, Sweden, in 2013

Of her travels, she said Baku  where she wore a Union Jack dress and red, white and blue fascinator  was the 'best time'.

'Walking across the main square, all the locals kept stopping us, we were like A-list celebs.

'I'm not nerdy, I just love it...live music is wonderful.'

Fiona, an IT trainer who moved to New Zealand in 2016, describes friendships formed with fellow fans as like having a 'second family'.

Despite the cost, she says attending each year is 'non-negotiable'.
Hours after attending the premiere of her new film Book Club: The Next Chapter, two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda was up early on Tuesday morning to pre-tape an episode of The View at ABC Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

The 85-year-old Hollywood legend - who relies on stylist Cristina Ehrlich - re-wore the same exact purple Max Mara pantsuit she donned for the premiere of 80 for Brady at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles back on January 31.

But rather than silver Sarah Flint heels, Jane - whose glam was taken care of by hairstylist Jonathan Hanousek and make-up artist David De Leon - paired her power suit with sensible, flat black loafers and a matching purse.

Fonda was joined by her castmate - Oscar winner Diane Keaton - who showcased her kooky yet conservative sense of style in a black bowler cap and a chic b&w plaid coat over a black turtleneck and pants.

The eccentric 77-year-old - who styles herself - pulled several faces as she arrived to ABC Studios wearing glasses and black high-heeled booties with her hat and coat in hand.

Peace! Hours after attending the premiere of her new film Book Club: The Next Chapter, two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda was up early on Tuesday morning to pre-tape an episode of The View at ABC Studios in Midtown Manhattan

So nice she wore it twice! The 85-year-old Hollywood legend - who relies on stylist Cristina Ehrlich - re-wore the same exact purple Max Mara pantsuit she donned for the premiere of 80 for Brady at Regency Village Theatre in LA back on January 31 (pictured)

Also joining Diane and the fitness tycoon was their co-star - Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen - wearing a pink-patterned wrap maxi-dress and white boots selected by stylist Amanda Lim.

Hairstylist David Stanwell coiffed the 70-year-old wife of Ted Danson's brunette fringed locks and make-up artist Natasha Smee brought out her brown eyes with false lashes and pink blush.

Missing from the squad was the ladies' castmate - Oscar nominee Candice Bergen - who did accompany them to AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Monday for the Book Club: The Next Chapter premiere.

In the Italian-set comedy sequel - hitting US/UK theaters this Friday - Jane gets to be the bride-to-be as her character, hotel mogul Vivian, prepares to wed retired music promoter, Arthur (Don Johnson).

And Diane, Candice, and Mary reprised their respective roles as Diane, Sharon, and Carol in Bill Holderman's Book Club: The Next Chapter, which currently holds a dismal 63% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sensible flats: But rather than silver Sarah Flint heels, Jane - whose glam was taken care of by hairstylist Jonathan Hanousek and make-up artist David De Leon - paired her power suit with black loafers and a matching purse

No flashing of flesh! Fonda was joined by her castmate - Oscar winner Diane Keaton - who showcased her kooky yet conservative sense of style in a black bowler cap and a chic b&w plaid coat over a black turtleneck and pants

Startled by photographers? The eccentric 77-year-old - who styles herself - pulled several faces as she arrived to ABC Studios wearing glasses and black high-heeled booties with her hat and coat in hand

Lovely: Also joining Diane and the fitness tycoon was their co-star - Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen - wearing a pink-patterned wrap maxi-dress and white boots selected by stylist Amanda Lim

Ready for her close-up! Hairstylist David Stanwell coiffed the 70-year-old wife of Ted Danson's brunette fringed locks and make-up artist Natasha Smee brought out her brown eyes with false lashes and pink blush

Here comes trouble! Missing from the squad was the ladies' castmate - Oscar nominee Candice Bergen (2-R) - who did accompany them to AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Monday for the Book Club: The Next Chapter premiere

Hitting US/UK theaters this Friday! In the Italian-set comedy sequel, Jane gets to be the bride-to-be as her character, hotel mogul Vivian, prepares to wed retired music promoter, Arthur (Don Johnson)

'We drank a lot and ate a lot and sang a lot': Diane, Candice, and Mary reprised their respective roles as Diane, Sharon, and Carol in Bill Holderman's Book Club: The Next Chapter, which currently holds a dismal 63% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes

'We drank a lot and ate a lot and sang a lot,' Fonda told TODAY of the shoot on Monday.

'[Mary] wrote the closing song and we all sing it!'

When asked if there'd be a three-quel, the twice-divorced grandmother-of-two coyly said 'maybe' before Bergen blurted out a possible setting for it: 'Burning Man!'

The Murphy Brown alum was referring to the drug-fueled arts and music festival, which takes place in the temporary Black Rock City in northwestern Nevada every September.
Geordie Shore has reportedly axed filming for their summer series as an illness has swept the cast.

Stars of the MTV reality show had all been flown out to Cyprus to shoot the next instalment but it has been claimed many became too unwell to film.

It has been reported that some stars were so poorly that they have now returned to the UK as production was abandoned.

A source told The Sun: 'It was horrific - everyone got ill and couldn't film.

'It ripped through the cast so in the end, bosses had to end filming early and everyone went home.'

Oh no: Geordie Shore has reportedly axed filming for their summer series as an illness has swept the cast

Sad times: Stars of the MTV reality show had all been flown out to Cyprus to shoot the next instalment but it has been claimed many became too unwell to film

MTV have been approached for comment by MailOnline.

It comes after it was reported back in February that Geordie Shore has been AXED after 12 years on screens.

The MTV reality show - which followed the lives of partying stars such as Vicky Pattison and Charlotte Crosby in Newcastle - was pulled amid plummeting ratings, The Sun claimed at the time.

The series started in 2011 and has produced hosts of celebrities and influencers including Marnie Simpson, Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei.

A source told the publication of the axing: 'MTV chiefs have decided the time has come to call it a day on Geordie Shore.

'The already commissioned series, which is the show's 24th, will go ahead with filming kicking off this weekend and the reunion will go ahead as planned later this summer.

'But once those have been filmed MTV have decided to rest the series and will not be commissioning any more. Think of it as resting the format rather than cancelling it out right.'

Iconic: The series started in 2011 and has produced hosts of stars and influencers including Marnie Simpson , Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei (pictured in 2019)

Bye: It comes after back in February Geordie Shore was reportedly been AXED after 12 years on screens (pictured in 2011: front row L-R Charlotte, Vicky Pattison, Holly and Sophie; back row L-R Jay Gardner, Gaz Beadle and James Tindle)

The insider added that while it has been one of the most successful runs of all time it hasn't been the same for a few years so bosses thought it would be the right time.

The publication reported that while at the height of its success more than one million people viewed each episode - it is now said to be at around 100,000 viewers.

An official MTV spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Geordie Shore has not been cancelled and continues to be one of MTV's biggest shows. We can't wait for fans to see what we have in store next season'.

The 24th series will go ahead and so will a second reunion series this summer.

Last April MTV announced that it was producing a first Geordie Shore reunion series that aired in September 2022.

OG cast members including Charlotte, Holly and Sophie returned to screens together, 11 years after the reality show first aired in 2011.

Original Geordie Shore paved the way for the success of its American equivalent, Jersey Shore, and follows a group of young adults from Newcastle as they move into a house together.

The reunion series included a group holiday, a long-awaited wedding and a party in the Geordie Shore house.

The new series was dubbed the 'ultimate Geordie throwback' as original cast members as well as Marnie - who joined the show in 2013 - made it their mission to organise the reunion.

Charlotte said of the news at the time: 'I always said I would be up for taking part in a reunion show and made no secret that Geordie Shore holds a special place in my heart.

'I'm very excited to reconnect and reminisce with my favourite people and life-long friends.'

The reality star originally left the show in 2016 after announcing her departure on Twitter.

After the success of that reunion series it was reported there will be another this summer that will still go ahead.

One of the main stars who didn't return for the reunion was Vicky Pattison.

She recently said her time on Geordie Shore made her feel 'like I probably wasn't good for anything'.

The reality star, 35, shot to fame on the MTV series, but has made an effort to distance herself from the show ever since.

Speaking at an event for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) at Portcullis House in London last month, she said she had 'zero faith' in herself to succeed.

She told the PA news agency: 'Nobody would have anticipated that a little girl from Wallsend would be in the place that I am now less than me, I had zero faith in myself.

'And my time spent on Geordie Shore just completely reinforced the idea that I probably wasn't good for anything and I'm really lucky that I've managed to parlay that time spent in reality TV into something with longevity, into using my platform for good, into having a voice and speaking for the people that need you to speak for them.

'So I would have never envisaged in my wildest dreams that I'd be here.'

She added: 'It's very important, if anybody has a platform, to use it for something. Otherwise, what are you f****** famous for?'

Vicky also said: 'I'm really lucky to have a big platform, I can't say I'm going to influence government, Jesus Christ, who do I think I am, but there is people within Nacoa and their ambassadors who do have that sort of power.

Popular: Last April MTV announced that it was producing a Geordie Shore reunion series that aired in September 2022 (Charlotte Crosby pictured)

Tough: One of the main stars who didn't return for the reunion was Vicky Pattison. She recently said her time on Geordie Shore made her feel 'like I probably wasn't good for anything'

'So I feel super honoured to be affiliated with people who are really campaigning for change and I'm going to do so in any way I can.'

Previously, Vicky has been very open about her father's battle with alcoholism, and her own, revealing her fear that she would fall into the same trap.

She was known for binge drinking and wild nights on Geordie Shore, and has shared that looking back she is 'mortified' and was 'never a nice drunk'.

Vicky also recalled contemplating suicide during her stint on the show, with the humiliation overtaking.
Eurovision viewers were in tears as they watched the late Paul O'Grady make a surprise cameo in the opening credits of the semi-final.

Paul, who shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country's best-loved presenters and DJs, tragically passed away in March aged 67.

But the TV favourite was remembered on Tuesday night as he appeared with his beloved dog in a Welcome to Liverpool film which followed a young boy from the north-west city who learned his hometown is hosting the 2023 Contest.

Paul starred in the video alongside Paul Hollywood, Ukranian Strictly dancer Nikita Kuzmin and King Charles and the Queen Consort.

Viewers watching at home became emotional when they saw Paul on their TV screens once more, smiling broadly whilst he mopped the floor with his pooch in the other arm.

'I'm crying!': Eurovision viewers were in tears as they watched the late Paul O'Grady make a surprise cameo in the opening credits of the semi-final

Loved: Paul, who shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country's best-loved presenters and DJs, tragically passed away in March aged 67

One wrote: 'A gorgeous little nod to the great and utterly fabulous Paul O'Grady in the opening titles to Eurovision.'

'So lovely to see Paul O'Grady in that opening and what an opening trailer that was. Amazing to see the King and Queen in it too and of course Ukraine the key part of it all,' another fan added.

'Seeing Paul O'Grady was very touching,' a different viewer chimed, while others said they were 'sobbing already'.

'Paul O'Grady and kids in tracksuits holding hands. Sobbing already,' one wrote.

'Paul O'Grady in the opening sequence I'm crying', added another viewer.

The Eurovision semi-finals will take place across two days and feature an array of performances, including from Eurovision legends and Ukrainian and British stars.

For the first time in the UK's Eurovision Song Contest history, both semi-finals are being presented live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Radio DJs Scott Mills and Rylan will bring UK audiences their colourful commentary, while Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham host the semi-final at the M&S Bank Arena. Five acts will be sent home at the end of the show.

Crying: Viewers watching at home became emotional when they saw Paul on their TV screens once more, smiling broadly whilst he mopped the floor with his pooch in the other arm

Special: But the TV favourite was remembered on Tuesday night as he appeared with his beloved dog in a segment celebrating Liverpool, where this year's competition is taking place

Talent: Bake Off's Paul Hollywood, who was born in Cheshire, iced a cake

Poignant: Ukranian dancer Nikita Kuzmin, who is a favourite on Strictly, also appeared in the opening credits

Hosts: Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham hosted the semi- final at the M&S Bank Arena

Performance: Norway's Alessandra performs Queen of Kings during The Eurovision Song Contest

There is also a special commentary team on BBC Radio Merseyside, which will include Claire Sweeney and the winner of The Voice of Eurovision talent search, which is currently underway to discover new Liverpudlian talent.

This year's Eurovision Grand Final has the Royal seal of approval. During a visit to the venue, the Liverpool Arena, the King told the UK entrant Mae Muller that he would be 'watching with great interest' and 'egging her on'. 'Thank you. No pressure,' she joked.

At last year's contest, held in Italy, the UK fielded its strongest entry for years with Sam Ryder's Space Man, but no one begrudged the Ukrainians their victory with Kalush Orchestra's ebullient Stefania.

For the grand final commentary on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Graham and comedian Mel Giedroyc will take turns in the commentary box to bring those watching at home their unique and expert views on the 2023 acts.
Jennifer Lawrence looked fresh-faced as she headed to a yoga class on Monday in New York City.

The 32-year-old got her nails done before heading to her workout in black Adidas leggings and a black tank top.

The Hunger Games star wore shearling booties on her feet and a light blue ball cap from the brand Clyde.

She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail and a jacket tied around her hips.

The Silver Linings Playbook actress carried a black crossbody bag and a water bottle.

Sweat it out: Jennifer Lawrence looked fresh faced as she headed to a yoga class on Monday in New York City

The Don't Look Up star had a pair of black sunglasses on her face and two beaded necklaces around her neck.

In an interview with Stephen Colbert, the mom of one said she found some of the days she was filming annoying.

The 2021 film was shot shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted. The film also stars Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Jonah Hill and Meryl Streep.

'It was the most annoying day of my life, I'll tell you that,' she told Colbert of the scene she shot with Leo and Timothee.

'They drove me crazy that day. I don't know what it was,' she said.

'Timothee was just excited to be out of the house, I think it was his first scene. And Leo had picked the song that was playing in the car and was just like, "You know, this song is about blah, blah, blah." I just remember being in absolute misery that day. It was hell,' she said.

Mark Rylance also starred in the film and she told Colbert, 'He's brilliant. Leo and Meryl were in a tizzy about him arriving.'

She added: 'And that's amazing to be working with an actor that scares Meryl.'

Yoga time: The 32-year-old got her nails done before heading to her workout in black leggings and a black tank top

Casual day: The Don't Look Up star had a pair of black sunglasses on her face and two beaded necklaces around her neck

Jennifer also mentioned that it was great to work with Timothee, saying, 'He's such a talented actor.'

'But I'm 31 and I'm fatter than Timothee Chalamet. That was harrowing,' she explained.

Jennifer can next be seen in No Hard Feelings in which she plays a ride share driver desperate for cash who responds to a Craigslist ad from a couple seeking someone to date their painfully awkward teenage son.

The film also stars Andrew Barth, Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti. It hits theaters on June 23.
Alesha Dixon sent Eurovision fans wild as she harked back to her Mis-Teeq days by performing a rap about the competition.

Hosting from M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, the Britain's Got Talent judge, 44, was branded an 'icon' by viewers - who were equally impressed by the sign language interpreter who kept up with her.

Alesha hosted the first semi-final alongside Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham, which will see five acts sent home at the end of the show.

The songstress looked incredible in red bow crop top which teased a glimpse of her toned stomach and voluminous hot pink trousers.

As the host rapped while presenting a segment, viewers took to Twitter to comment on the surprise performance.

She's back! Alesha Dixon sent Eurovision fans wild as she harked back to her Mis-Teeq days by performing a rap about the competition

Rap: Hosting from M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, the Britain's Got Talent judge, 44, was branded an 'icon' by viewers - who were equally impressed by the sign language interpreter

'Alesha Dixon is rapping really quickly and Woman 3 is keeping up with every word. She's an icon,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Honestly the first semifinal has been on for 30 minutes and its already iconic and so gorgeously done. Hannah Waddingham speaking French: sexy Alesha Dixon rapping: iconic Paul OGrady in the intro: sobbing.'

While a third viewer chimed: 'Oh, Alesha's still got it. I'd forgotten her rapping in Mis-Teeq.'

'Alesha Dixon rapping is peak Eurovision craziness,' said another. 'Im so confused why is Alesha Dixon rapping', typed a different fan.

Elsewhere in the show, viewers were in tears as they watched the late Paul O'Grady make a surprise cameo in the opening credits of the semi-final.

Paul, who shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country's best-loved presenters and DJs, tragically passed away in March aged 67.

But the TV favourite was remembered when he appeared with his beloved dog in a segment celebrating Liverpool, where this year's competition is taking place.

Paul starred in the video alongside Paul Hollywood, Ukranian Strictly dancer Nikita Kuzmin and King Charles and the Queen Consort.

Impressed: As the host rapped while presenting a segment, viewers took to Twitter to comment on the surprise performance

Hosts: Alesha hosted the first semi-final alongside Julia Sanina and Hannah Waddingham, which will see five acts sent home at the end of the show

'I'm crying!': Elsewhere in the show, viewers were in tears as they watched the late Paul O'Grady make a surprise cameo in the opening credits of the semi-final

Loved: Paul, who shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country's best-loved presenters and DJs, tragically passed away in March aged 67

Viewers watching at home became emotional when they saw Paul on their TV screens once more, smiling broadly whilst he mopped the floor with his pooch in the other arm.

One wrote: 'A gorgeous little nod to the great and utterly fabulous Paul O'Grady in the opening titles to Eurovision.'

'So lovely to see Paul O'Grady in that opening and what an opening trailer that was. Amazing to see the King and Queen in it too and of course Ukraine the key part of it all,' another fan added.

'Seeing Paul O'Grady was very touching,' a different viewer chimed, while others said they were 'sobbing already'.

'Paul O'Grady and kids in tracksuits holding hands. Sobbing already,' one wrote.

'Paul O'Grady in the opening sequence I'm crying', added another viewer.

The Eurovision semi-finals will take place across two days and feature an array of performances, including from Eurovision legends and Ukrainian and British stars.

For the first time in the UK's Eurovision Song Contest history, both semi-finals are being presented live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Radio DJs Scott Mills and Rylan will bring UK audiences their colourful commentary, while Alesha, Julia and Hannah host.

Crying: Viewers watching at home became emotional when they saw Paul on their TV screens once more, smiling broadly whilst he mopped the floor with his pooch in the other arm

Special: But the TV favourite was remembered on Tuesday night as he appeared with his beloved dog in a segment celebrating Liverpool, where this year's competition is taking place

Talent: Bake Off's Paul Hollywood, who was born in Cheshire, iced a cake

Poignant: Ukranian dancer Nikita Kuzmin, who is a favourite on Strictly, also appeared in the opening credits

Performance: Norway's Alessandra performs Queen of Kings during The Eurovision Song Contest

There is also a special commentary team on BBC Radio Merseyside, which will include Claire Sweeney and the winner of The Voice of Eurovision talent search, which is currently underway to discover new Liverpudlian talent.

This year's Eurovision Grand Final has the Royal seal of approval. During a visit to the venue, the Liverpool Arena, the King told the UK entrant Mae Muller that he would be 'watching with great interest' and 'egging her on'. 'Thank you. No pressure,' she joked.

At last year's contest, held in Italy, the UK fielded its strongest entry for years with Sam Ryder's Space Man, but no one begrudged the Ukrainians their victory with Kalush Orchestra's ebullient Stefania.

For the grand final commentary on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, Graham and comedian Mel Giedroyc will take turns in the commentary box to bring those watching at home their unique and expert views on the 2023 acts.
Jackie 'O' Henderson is finally back in the dating game, almost five years after she announced her split from ex-husband Lee in 2018.

The radio presenter, 48, revealed on Wednesday she had joined dating app Hinge.

She told her co-host Kyle Sandilands she had spent the previous night chatting to 'three or four' different men she'd matched with.

While her KIIS FM colleagues were thrilled for her, one confession by the usually strait-laced Jackie left Kyle shocked.

When Kyle warned her about 'f**k boys', Jackie said he didn't need to worry because she wasn't necessarily looking for a 'long-term relationship or anything like that'.

Radio presenter Jackie 'O' Henderson is finally back in the dating game, almost five years after she announced her split from ex-husband Lee in 2018

'What a slutty thing to say! That's terrible. What's happened to her?' gasped Kyle.

Jackie replied: 'I'm not like, "Oh, my God, I must find the one." No. I just want to have a little bit of fun and go on a few dates.'

Despite being open to a casual fling, she stressed she would not 'go down on a guy' on the first date. She also has not sent any nudes.

Jackie went on to reveal she was open to dating a younger man, and had set her age range on Hinge from 35 to 55.

Newsreader Brooklyn Ross suggested 35 was a little old, and she could be missing out on a lot of 'young, single' men who like older women.

She revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday she had spent the previous night chatting to 'three or four' different men she'd matched with on dating app Hinge

When Kyle Sandilands (left) warned her about 'f**k boys', Jackie (right) said he didn't need to worry because she wasn't necessarily looking for a 'long-term relationship or anything like that.' 'What a slutty thing to say! That's terrible. What's happened to her?' gasped Kyle

Meanwhile, her experience on Hinge hasn't been without its hurdles, as some of the men she matched with did not believe she was the real Jackie O.

Jackie's return to the dating scene comes after she lost an impressive 18kg with WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers.

With her confidence at an all-time high, she said on Wednesday she had decided to wear a midriff-baring top for the first time since her twenties.

Jackie's return to the dating scene comes after she lost an impressive 18kg with WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers. (She is pictured here before and after her weight loss)

She has also changed up her style in recent months, swapping her usual daggy outfits for glamorous ensembles and hair extensions

She has also changed up her style in recent months, swapping her usual daggy outfits for glamorous ensembles and hair extensions.

Jackie was married to British photographer Lee Henderson from 2003 to 2018. The former couple share custody of 12-year-old daughter Kitty.

Before meeting Lee, she was briefly married to 'Ugly Phil' O'Neil in the late '90s.
He confirmed his split from his longtime partner Carrie Bickmore in January.

But Chris Walker isn't letting the heartbreak get him down and is committed to getting in the best shape of his life.

In a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, the TV producer flaunted his bulging muscles as he completed a workout at the gym.

Chris showed off his muscular arms in a grey singlet as he repeatedly pulled a kettlebell towards his chest.

He also wore grey shorts, comfortable black sneakers and a cap for the intense workout.

Carrie Bickmore's ex Chris Walker flaunted his jacked revenge body at the gym after their split - as rumours swirl she's dating her co-host Tommy Little

Carrie announced her split from Chris in January this year via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children, Ollie, 15, Evie, seven, and Adelaide, four.

She had been in a relationship with him for 11 years.

'It's with immense sadness that Chris and I have decided to separate,' she said.

'While this is a tough time, our focus is on parenting, loving and supporting our three children Ollie, Evie and Addie with everything that we've got.

'They are doing great. We won't be making any further comment.'

Carrie announced her split from Chris in January this year via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children, Ollie, 15, Evie, seven, and Adelaide, four

Recent reports claim Carrie, 42, has now grown close to her Hit FM co-host Tommy Little, 38, who is also single following his break-up with girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021.

Tommy rushed to the mother-of-three's side in January when she confirmed her split from Chris, leading insiders to speculate their friendship could evolve into something more.

In recent months Tommy has shared several gushing tributes to Carrie on Instagram, and in one post called her the 'best in the business' who 'lifts up everyone around her and makes them look good'.

Ahead of her last day on The Project last November, Tommy also treated the blonde bombshell to a private helicopter ride across Melbourne.

He is often seen close to her at glitzy events, including the 2022 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) last October, where he didn't leave her side even as guests got up from their tables and mingled with others.

The duo are regularly seen posing for cosy selfies on social media, which has prompted curious fans to question whether romance is on the cards.

'You guys make a lovely couple,' one recently commented on a photo of the pair.

Recent reports claim Carrie, 42, has grown close to her Hit FM co-host Tommy Little, 38, who is also single following his break-up with girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021

'Get a room already, you two,' another said.

It's not hard to see why fans are hoping for love to blossom, as Tommy and Carrie are already known for their electric chemistry.

Their professional relationship began in 2016 when Tommy joined Carrie on the panel of The Project.

A year later, the pair began co-hosting Hit Network's Melbourne drive show in 2017, and immediately gained a cult following thanks to their entertaining and organic banter.
Forbidden Fruits podcaster Julia Fox showcased her eccentric sense of style on her way to a 'very important meeting' at Universal Pictures in Universal City on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Uncut Gems alum looked surprisingly rested despite catching a red-eye flight from JFK to LAX on Monday night in order to make her meeting by 'noon.'

Julia slipped her slim 5ft7in frame into $68 Jaded London 'All Tied Up Wrap Around Corset Tie Top' under a brown blazer, black ultra-mini-skirt, and cute peep-toe heel wedges selected by stylist Briana Andalore.

Fox also rocked pencil-thin brows, a glossy brown pout, bizarre sunglasses, and a single earring made from a chrome BIC lighter.

And for all the bells and whistles - the Italian-born, Manhattan-raised provocateur did absolutely nothing to style her long natural brunette locks.

Werrrk! Forbidden Fruits podcaster Julia Fox showcased her eccentric sense of style on her way to a 'very important meeting' at Universal Pictures in Universal City on Tuesday

Universal Pictures was the studio behind Madonna's self-directed biopic starring Julia Garner, which has either been scrapped completely or simply postponed until the conclusion of her sold-out 81-date The Celebration Tour.

The 64-year-old Queen of Pop famously met with Julia in January 2022 to discuss the prospect of her portraying her longtime gal pal Debi Mazar.

Fox could also be at Universal to discuss optioning her 336-page 'masterpiece' memoir Down the Drain, which Simon & Schuster will publish on October 10.

Other projects the ex-flame of Kanye 'Ye' West has been circling for the past few years is Tony Kaye's crime comedy The Trainer and the Carrie White biopic Upper Cut.

On May 2, The Real Deal revealed that Julia and her best friend since age 15 - photographer-model Richie Shazam - pooled their funds together to purchase a $2.9M brownstone in Harlem, but it might just be a business acquisition.

The 4,700-square-foot pre-war Neoclassical Revival townhouse is located in the heart of the Mount Morris Park Historic District and it features four stories, seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a 1,200-square-foot cellar.

Slept on plane? The 33-year-old Uncut Gems alum looked surprisingly rested despite catching a red-eye flight from JFK to LAX on Monday night in order to make her meeting by 'noon'

All tied up! Julia slipped her slim 5ft7in frame into $68 Jaded London 'All Tied Up Wrap Around Corset Tie Top' under a brown blazer, black ultra-mini-skirt, and cute peep-toe heel wedges selected by stylist Briana Andalore

Spark it up! Fox also rocked pencil-thin brows, a glossy brown pout, bizarre sunglasses, and a single earring made from a chrome BIC lighter

Blown out: And for all the bells and whistles - the Italian-born, Manhattan-raised provocateur did absolutely nothing to style her long natural brunette locks

'B**** we're Madonna!' Universal Pictures was the studio behind Madonna's (L, pictured May 1) self-directed biopic starring Julia Garner (R), which has either been scrapped completely or simply postponed until the conclusion of her sold-out 81-date The Celebration Tour

'Went to dinner with Julia to talk about my movie': The 64-year-old Queen of Pop met with Julia in January 2022 to discuss the prospect of her portraying her longtime gal pal Debi Mazar

Movie deal? Fox could also be at Universal to discuss optioning her 336-page 'masterpiece' memoir Down the Drain, which Simon & Schuster will publish on October 10

Business acquisition? On May 2, The Real Deal revealed that the ex-flame of Kanye 'Ye' West and her best friend since age 15 - photographer-model Richie Shazam (R, pictured March 19) - just pooled their funds together to purchase a $2.9M brownstone in Harlem

Nice digs! The 4,700-square-foot pre-war Neoclassical Revival townhouse is located in the heart of the Mount Morris Park Historic District and it features four stories, seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a 1,200-square-foot cellar

Fox - who resides in an 'underwhelming' NoHo apartment - is mother to two-year-old son Valentino from her three-year marriage to Brooklyn private pilot Peter Artemiev, which ended in 2020.

The former dominatrix paid her brother Christopher Fox's $450K bail to get him out of Rikers Island jail before he was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on April 25 for drugs and 3D-printing ghost guns in his apartment.

The troubled 30-year-old - who faces up over 100 years in prison if guilty on all counts - is scheduled to return to court on June 21.
Karl Stefanovic has shared a wild story from one of his memorable assignments for the Today show.

Speaking on Nova FM's Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel on Monday, the 48-year-old revealed how he was completely out of it on a flight to England after taking sleeping pills with alcohol.

He was on his way to the UK with his friend and Nine colleague Ben Fordham to cover a royal wedding.

Karl said he woke up groggy at London's Heathrow Airport only to be told he was so zonked during the flight that he had sucked Ben's toes.

'I was on a flight and just had Stilnox to get to sleep and a couple of beers,' he said.

Karl Stefanovic has shared a wild story from one of his memorable assignments for the Today show. Speaking on Nova FM's Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel on Monday, the 48-year-old revealed how he was completely out of it on a flight to England after taking sleeping pills with alcohol

'And when I got to London, Ben told me I had sucked his toes during the flight. I don't remember it because I was preparing for a royal wedding,' he added.

After Nova FM shared a clip of Karl's interview on Instagram, listeners said it was so utterly bizarre they refused to believe it actually happened.

'I hope he's joking,' one fan said.

Back in April, Karl stunned his viewers when he had a 'midlife crisis' live on air.

The breakfast TV star pretended to get upset when his co-host Sarah Abo introduced a segment on 'keeping fit and healthy in your golden years'.

He was on his way to the UK with his friend and Nine colleague Ben Fordham (pictured) to cover a royal wedding . Karl said he woke up groggy at London's Heathrow Airport only to be told he was so zonked during the flight that he had sucked Ben's toes

Karl insisted 'fifty is the new forty', telling Sarah: 'It's not golden over fifties, it's just in your fifties. Fifty is the new forty!'

'It's not "golden". Golden is eighty and above!' he scoffed.

Sarah, 37, brutally told Karl to have his 'midlife crisis' off-air.

After Nova FM shared a clip of Karl's interview on Instagram, listeners said it was so utterly bizarre they refused to believe it actually happened

Two women who were waiting to be interviewed for the segment then assured him: 'Sixty is the new forty!'

Karl has been married to shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough since 2018 and they are parents of three-year-old daughter Harper.

The Nine star also has three older children with his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn: sons Jackson, 22, and River, 15, and daughter Willow, 16.
Mamma Mia 3 is in the works and the stage show's producer thinks Meryl Streep could be persuaded to star in it, if the script is right.

Producer Judy Craymer 65, who created the stage show and produced the two subsequent films, told Deadline the new script 'in its earliest stages.'

The Tony nominee revealed she has figured a way to include Streep's character Donna, who had died several years before the plot of the sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

The four-time Oscar winner, 73, is starring in season three of Only Murders in the Building, set to debut in August.

Mamma Mia!: A plan to make Mamma Mia! 3 is in the works and the show's producer thinks Meryl Streep could be persuaded to star in it, if the script is right. Producer Judy Craymer said she has figured out a way to include Meryl's Donna, who died before the plot of sequel

'There is a story there, and I do think Meryl should come back  and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna,' Craymer maintained.

'I dont want to over-egg it, but I know theres a trilogy there.'

So far the Mamma Mia! stage shows, movies and albums have grossed more than $4 billion.

In a 2020 interview with Collider, Amanda Seyfried, 37, said she would be on board to another go round.

'Every single person in that movie would say "yes" in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other. That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia? So yeah, I wish there was a Mamma Mia 3.'

The Critics Choice Award winner did point out one problem for the musical. 'I don't think there are enough ABBA songs to make a third movie. Because we'd have to use Super Trooper again and we'd have to use Mamma Mia again and have to use them in a different way.'

The stage musical and first film focused on Seyfried's Sophie, who was planning to marry Dominic Cooper's Sky.

However, the young bride did not want to walk down the aisle without her father present, and wrote to the three men, played by Pierce Brosnan, 69, Colin Firth, 62 and Stellan Skarsgard, 71, who could potentially be her dad after discovering their names in Donna's diary.

Early stages: Producer Judy Craymer 65, who created the stage show and produced the two subsequent films, told Deadline the new script 'in its earliest stages,' revealing ''I dont want to over-egg it, but I know theres a trilogy there'

On board: Amanda Seyfried, 37, who starred as Sophie in both films is on board. 'Every single person in that movie would say "yes" in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other'

Christine Baranski, 71, and Julie Walters, 73, starred as Donna's ride or die friends, Tanya and Rosie.

Here We Go Again took place a few years later and reunited the characters who had come to celebrate the grand opening of the refurbished hotel, which had always been Donna's dream.

Streep appeared in a sweet number with Seyfried in that film.

Donna's origin story was told in flashback's will Downton Abbey star Lily James portraying the young Donna.

Wedding bells: The stage musical and first film focused on Seyfried's Sophie, who was planning to marry Dominic Cooper's Sky

Daddy issue: However, the young bride did not want to walk down the aisle without her father present, and wrote to the three men, played by Pierce Brosnan, 69, Colin Firth, 62 and Stellan Skarsgard, 71, who could potentially be her dad after discovering their names in Donna's diary

Here We Go Again took place a few years later and reunited the characters who had come to celebrate the grand opening of the refurbished hotel, which had always been Donna's dream. Streep appeared in a sweet number with Seyfried in that film

Origin story: Donna's origin story was told in flashback's will Downton Abbey star Lily James portraying the young Donna

Cher put in a small appearance in Here We Go Again and Sophie's estranged grandmother.

Craymer is doing her part to make sure Mamma Mia! stays near and dear to the hearts of theatergoers.

She has created a talent show, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream, for ITV in the UK.

The competition is set on an idyllic Greek island and will audition future stars who hope to sing, dance and act their way to Broadway and beyond.
Lila Moss cut a casual figure as she enjoyed a low-key stroll in NYC with pals on Monday before heading for lunch.

The model, 20, went makeup free for the outing where she wore a stylish pair of grey and white pinstriped trousers.

She went braless in a white t-shirt and lifted it up to make it cropped, revealing her toned abs.

Lila completed her look with a pair of white Adidas trainers, while shielding her eyes from the sun with stylish shades.

The daughter of Kate Moss accessorised with dainty gold jewellery and styled her blonde locks straight.

Fun day out: Lila Moss cut a casual figure as she enjoyed a low-key stroll in NYC with pals on Monday before heading for lunch

Stunning: The model, 20, went makeup free for the outing where she wore a stylish pair of grey and white pinstriped trousers

It comes after she stunned in a quirky fluffy frock that featured a sheer panel to showcase her tiny waist as she posed on the red carpet at the Met Gala with famous mum Kate, 49.

The ensemble featured a voluminous skirt and plunging top, the blonde beauty wore her locks slicked back and accessorised with statement earrings.

Lila was joined by her mother Kate at the event held at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sunday evening.

The supermodel oozed sophistication in a pink lingerie inspired gown, which hugged every inch of her svelte figure.

The satin frock boasted a plunging neckline and lace trim which the catwalk queen teamed with a flowing sheer cape.

Kate, who shares her daughter with ex Jefferson Hac k, accentuated her features with a radiant palette of make-up and lashings of mascara by Charlotte Tilbury while opting to wear her blonde hair loose.

She completed the look with a diamond necklace and matching bracelet, while adding height to her frame with heels.

The biggest night in fashion took place on Monday night with a slew of the industry's most notable stars walking the red carpet to showcase their glamorous and daring looks.

The 2023 Met Gala returned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City , with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Paris Hilton attending the fundraising event.

Since 1948, stars have ascended the majestic staircase into a very exclusive party where no selfies are allowed.

In keeping with tradition, the event was held on the first Monday of May and the annual extravaganza kicked off at 6:30PM EST on May 1.

The ball's theme was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The late German designer was Chanel's long-time creative director. He passed at age 85 in 2019.

His beloved cat, Choupette, was even invited to the festivities.

Beauty: She went braless in a white t-shirt and lifted it up to make it cropped, revealing her toned abs

Happy: Lila and her pal appeared in great spirits as they walked hand-in-hand down the street

Casual: Lila completed her look with a pair of white Adidas trainers, while shielding her eyes from the sun with stylish shades

The decision to honor Karl sparked controversy given the many offensive remarks he has made over the years, from slamming the #MeToo movement to opposing same-sex marriage.

'I'm against it for a very simple reason: In the 60s they all said we had the right to the difference. And now, suddenly, they want a bourgeois life,' he told Vice of same-sex marriage.

'It's difficult to imagineone of the papas at work and the other at home with the baby. How would that be for the baby? I don't know. I see more lesbians married with babies than I see boys married with babies. And I also believe more in the relationship between mother and child than in that between father and child.'

While he ultimately showed his support for same-sex marriage at his spring 2013 Chanel haute couture show, he still said he was 'less keen' on same-sex couples adopting children, according to AP.

Along with the Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, who runs and hosts the annual event, the 2023 MET Gala was co-hosted by Penelope Cruz, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel and also Roger Federer.

While the show may be known for its glitzy and over-the-top red carpet - with details of what occurs inside often remaining mysterious - at its heart, it is a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

Last year, the 2022 MET Gala alone raised a grand total of $17.4 million, reported Billboard .

This year the price of admission was raised from $30,000 to $50,000, according to Page Six . But even if you have the funds, that doesn't guarantee you entry into the party.

Every guest has to be invited, and a waiting list exists for the coveted golden ticket.

And status matters, according to The New York Times , meaning the hottest stars are a shoo in for an invite.

Heiress Paris was among the biggest names to attend the event, in what marked her first ever Met Gala.

However it didn't go off without a hitch, as her grand Met Gala entrance was blocked by angry climate change protestors who laid in front of her vehicle.

But the small disruption didn't stop the billionaire from arriving on the red carpet and stunning an off-the-shoulder leather dress.

The best dressed of the night included Met vet Kim, who wowed in an incredible pearl dress, as she seemingly revisiting her Playboy look from 2007 by accident.

Kim wore custom Schiaparelli, covered in 50,000 pearls that were hand-strung and draped onto her body.

The mother of four revealed that she wanted pearls because 'what is more Karl' than 'iconic Chanel pearls,' she said during her interview on Vogue.com's livestream.

Stunning: It comes after Lila stunned in a quirky fluffy frock that featured a sheer panel to showcase her tiny waist as she posed on the Met Gala red carpet

Twins: Lila was joined by her mother Kate at the event held at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Sunday evening.

Pregnant Rihanna, Gisele and Emily Ratajkowski also honored Karl in their statement gowns as they brought their A-game to the red carpet.

Meanwhile, Blake Lively, a frequent attendee, announced she would not be attending the party this year. 'I will be watching,' she said, according to People .

As for Wintour's role in the bash, Vogue's editor-in-chief organizes the party and oversees the guest list and even the menu.

She has served as the Met Gala's chairwoman since 1994 and continues to serve look after look at every event.
Birla Estates on Monday said it has acquired a 28.6-acre land in Bengaluru to develop a housing project with an estimated sales potential of Rs 3,000 crore.

In a regulatory filing, Century Textiles and Industries Ltd said its arm Birla Estates Pvt Ltd has purchased the 28.6-acre prime land parcel in the fast-developing micro-market of Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru.

The company, however, did not disclose the deal value. Birla Estates is the real estate arm of the Aditya Birla Group.

"The proposed project is estimated to have a revenue potential of about Rs 3,000 crore," the filing said.

The development will essentially comprise residential housing along with convenience retail options.

KT Jithendran, MD and CEO of Birla Estates, said, "We believe that this region has immense potential to become the next IT hub, and our Grade-A residential complex will serve as a haven for modern professionals in the area".

Real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield said in a statement that it facilitated the deal.

Shalin Raina, Managing Director - Residential Services at Cushman & Wakefield, said, "The area of Sarjapur is emerging as the next big IT centre of Bengaluru. It's phenomenal connectivity to various prominent corridors makes it a promising residential destination for the large population of IT professionals, who comprise a big part of the new generation of homebuyers."

Birla Estates, a 100 per cent wholly-owned subsidiary of Century Textiles and Industries Ltd, develops premium residential housing in key markets. The company is developing land parcels both through outright purchases and asset-light joint ventures, apart from developing its own land parcels.

Last month, Birla Estates bought a 5.76-acre land in Pune to develop a housing project worth Rs 2,500 crore as part of its expansion plan. It also acquired a prime land parcel in South Mumbai to develop a luxury housing project with an estimated revenue potential of Rs 600 crore.
Travel portal MakeMyTrip on Monday said it has collaborated with Microsoft to use Generative AI to make travel planning accessible by introducing voice-assisted booking in Indian languages.

The new, in-platform tech stack powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services, will converse with the user to offer personalised travel recommendations based on their preferences, curate holiday packages based on variable inputs like occasion, budget, activity preferences, time of travel, among others, and even help book these holiday packages, MakeMyTrip said in a statement.

"We have pioneered offerings at the intersection of e-commerce, travel and technology, and are proud to introduce a feature that breaks down the barriers of language, literacy, inability to navigate complex app environments, physical impairments, etc.
Nations across the globe, and particularly in Asia, need to diversify their strategies to address the numerous challenges they face

Sharing a common strategic vision and a combined approach to ensure mutual economic prosperity through a multi-layered and multilateral strategy is going to dominate the world order in the coming days. What is required is to develop a fresh perspective for a more mature reliance on international cooperation between nations to enunciate a new strategy of retaliation, threatening a severe response to any attempt to destabilise the world order. There are areas where strong relations can generate development funds for integrated education, medicine, science, technology and biotechnology and strategic planning dealing with threats by various nations across the globe.

The new opportunities such as the Presidency of G 20, Quad Group and Chair of Interpol and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) provide a great opportunity for India to have an in-depth analysis and systematic examination of the myriad problems of International Relations and make a sincere effort to find solutions and fill the gap in the existing realms of strategic strategies. There is bound to be a serious concern over the need to change the existing  and also evolve a new  strategic approach. The heads of the States of the Quad Group  India, Australia, Japan and the US  recently held a meeting to counter the Chinese threat and to ensure a free and secure Indo-Pacific.

Analysts are of the view that it will provide the much-needed impetus to work out a new security roadmap in dealing with the most obnoxious forms of modern terrorism. It is a welcome development as it would provide a platform for multi-layered security cooperation to deal with various other issues like funding terrorist activities, policing cooperation and dealing with cyber threats through enhancing technological innovation and tightening border and maritime security information-gathering exercises.

International cooperation through such platforms may further provide help in tracing the roots of the problems. It is already getting clear that nations across the globe and more so in Asia need to diversify their strategies to counter the numerous challenges they face. Our strategic policies should be able to adapt to the challenging environment as well as efficiently implement recommendations. Since today threats are more severe and enemies more organised than ever before, new concepts of safety and security should be followed. These are changing times and many changes have occurred in international relations recently.

A modern, vigilant and assertive military, intelligence, police and paramilitary network should replace the old one. Many important suggestions and recommendations of various committees are out of tune with existing circumstances. The old mindset and predilections of powerful syndicates within the system havent changed as desired. There are concerns about the need for a new consensus in strategic planning in the backdrop of sponsored terrorism from across the border.

Nevertheless, there have been constant efforts at the various summits that would further boost and cement the ties between nations giving a push to the environment for stabilizing economic growth strategic security, prosperity, stability and combating sudden challenges arising due to climate change. Foreign relations operate with the help of an efficient diplomatic system and diplomacy is all about the right gestures and cooperation and coordination in times of crisis. The Prime Ministers of Belgium and Spain and the French President appreciating Indias efforts to combat the pandemic can only lead to further cooperation. There is, however, no lack of unanimity concerning nuclear energy, sustainable development and environmental issues. The increasing support and agreement concerning limiting climate change issues and opening up gateways for renewable energy and development in technological knowhow along with channelizing the sources of power generation and creating a mechanism to withstand any sudden threat posed by Chinas BRI (Belt and Road Initiatives) augur well for peace and prosperity of all member countries. During the last few years, there have been closer ties with Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, them being the biggest importers from India while Germany, France and Belgium are the largest exporters of goods. Further negotiations may lead to the creation of a strategic mechanism to provide a shield against terrorism, international crime, drug dealing, smuggling and cyber threat unleashed by non-state actors. This may also accelerate maritime-friendly ties and bolster security around the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific areas which have lately become areas of concern. The Prime Minister's call for coming together and close cooperation in fighting international threats including cybercrimes, poaching, corruption, and international terrorism exhibits the need to develop international strategies for the establishment of an extremely capable international intelligence system in close cooperation to ensure such threats can be encountered at early stages.

Though the contiguity of Indo-US relations in the field of nuclear energy and modernisation of military and intelligence is highly desired, India will have to work carefully to protect its national interests. The key here is freedom of expression with emphasis on non-hierarchical and egalitarian ways of structuring social relationships, and in a manner that is consistent with our inherited core values.

The world order has already transformed from Cold War Era Bipolar into Unipolar and now with multipolar centres of power. The voice of those nations once not so prominent due to international politicking now become extremely vital for IR. This is a time of essence and high time we realised that in changing the paradigm of international politics all nations need to chip in their best to make it a much better place to live in.

(Author, a recipient of the Bharat Gaurav award is a professor and an expert on strategic affairs. Views expressed are personal)
The BJP has been in power in Karnataka only for three and a half years, yet it laid the foundation for a fast-paced economic growth

The people in Karnataka have to make a choice for owning their destiny on May 10. This is a task ordained on the electorate by the next generation. Karnataka is on a trajectory to attain a $1 trillion economic scale in the next few years. Indias ambition to become the fourth largest economy shortly is incumbent on the Karnataka growth engine. This sets up the May Assembly election in Karnataka as an abundant responsibility for the electorate to make their decisions carefully and wisely.

The choice before the electorate is clear. They have to choose between economic growth and the politics of freebies. The resources of Karnataka can keep running the growth engine of Karnataka for the collective well-being and prosperity of the people and future generations. Or, the resources of Karnataka be locked into financing freebies to bind the state to limitations and derail the growth engine.

This contest between the economic models of inclusive growth which caters to all the cross sections of society and politics of freebies, which feeds on povertarianism, is being watched out with keen interest by all. Karnataka is among the progressive states of India. Karnataka is also a state where the youngsters find fulfilment of their dreams. Karnataka is the startup capital of India.

The Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) grew from $311 million in 2019 to $1.34 billion in 2020-21. Between 2019-20 and 2021-22, Karnatakas share in total FDI inflows into the top 5 states remarkably increased from 22.43 per cent in 2019-20 to 49.40 per cent in 2021-22. The state has maintained its pole position even in 2022-23.

Karnataka is growing with a GSDP of double digits. Also, it is estimated that Karnataka can accelerate its growth to a GSDP of $500 billion by 2026 and a GSDP of $1 trillion by 2030. Karnataka can very well become 10 per cent of the national economy soon.

Karnatakas per capita income has also been rising fast. In the last decade, the state witnessed a record increase of 208.86 per cent while the national average growth was 136.87 per cent. Karnatakas per capita GSDP is Rs3.32 lakhs.

The extraordinary economic growth of Karnataka has touched the lives of all. The resources of Karnataka are being spent on the expansion of small and micro irrigation facilities, as well as in scaling up the access to potable drinking water in households, including in the rural parts of the state. The Vidyanidhi scheme of the state government is covering children of farmers, landless labourers, weavers, and poor women in the scholarship programme so they access quality education and write their own destinies.

In FY2022, the total exports of Karnataka stood at $25.87 billion in which petroleum products, iron and steel, and organic chemicals remained the key contributors. Karnataka proved its mettle during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the state fulfilled its all global commitments in the supply chains. There was zero disruption in the global supply chains even during the national lockdown from Karnataka.

This must be borne in mind that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Karnataka only for three and a half years. Much of the time of the incumbent BJP government overlapped with the pandemic. Yet, the BJP government laid the foundation for fast-paced economic growth.

On the lines of NlTlAayog, the Karnataka government 2022 restructured the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission (KSPPC) as the State Institute for Transformation of Karnataka (SITK), which is chaired by Chief Minister BasavrajBommai. The think tank is principally tasked to remove the regional imbalances in development indicators.

The state government has been incentivizing the setting up of industries and industrial clusters all across Karnataka by leveraging its land pool and the affidavit-based investment clearance system.

The other objectives of SITK include attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 and India@2047 goals and realising the vision of Nava Karnataka, thereby contributing to the vision of New India as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The state government has shown the ease of undertaking structural reforms. Karnataka 2021 unveiled the e-Sahamathi platform, a consent-driven system that gives citizens complete control over choosing what personal data to share with private companies, upholding the Right to Privacy.

The Karnataka governments good governance leveraged technology to ensure the safety of citizens, especially women, children, and senior citizens. The state government decided to spend Rs. 667 crores for various projects under the Nirbhaya fund for installing more than 16,000 state-of-the-art CCTV cameras in GIS-mapped sensitive locations, along with safety lights and panic buttons. Moreover, 4,100 cameras have been installed across Bengaluru as per Karnataka state budget 2023.3 Furthermore, the state government has also installed CCTV cameras in all district and taluk level hospitals, including ICU wards, for the safety of citizens.

More than 68 per cent of the workforce in Karnataka is employed in the agricultural sector. Also, 64.50 per cent of the entire territory is under agriculture, and the state is ranked fifth in India for the largest area dedicated to horticulture. It ranks fifth in the production of vegetable crops and third in the production of fruit crops. Karnataka is the biggest producer of medicinal crops, tropical fruits, aromatic plants, and spices. It is the second-largest milk producer. Karnataka also is the second-largest producer of grapes in the country.

Much of the groundwork to make Karnataka integral to the global supply chains has been laid by the BJP government in the last 42 months. Karnatakas rapid expansion in its economy can also be gauged from the fact that the state has taken the second slot in the GST collections behind Maharashtra.

India by 2047, when the country would commemorate 100 years of Independence, aims to be at least a $30 trillion economy and take the rightful place of the third biggest economy. When that stage comes, the gains of status will touch the lives of all and lift an extraordinary chunk of the population to a state of prosperity.

But a few questions beg answers. Can India and Karnataka in particular seize the opportunity to knock at the doors by entertaining the regressive politics of freebies of Congress? Is it even responsible on the part of Congress to indulge in politics of freebies, which the grand old party is copying from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)? What vision has Congress brought before the electorate of Karnataka to take the state to the coveted goal of a $1 trillion economy by 2030?

The people of Karnataka are enterprising and aspirational. They, like their counterparts in Gujarat and Haryana, would prefer that they have enough income from gainful activities that they could pay their own electricity bills. The youth of Karnataka will be emotionally hurt if the state government offers them Rs 3000 per month and stay idle. The youth of Karnataka are launching startups. They are busy designing satellites. They know that a government that is visionary will provide opportunities.

Karnataka was the first to tap hydropower in Asia. Karnataka is Indias top green energy producer. Karnataka is the land of innovation. Karnataka is a global village for research and development. Karnataka will thus bless the politics of development.

(Author is a political analyst)
Three women died on Monday when the wreckage of a Mig-21 fighter jet fell on their home in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. The pilot of the ill-fated aircraft managed to eject and suffered minor injuries. The IAF has ordered the mandatory court of inquiry to ascertain the causes of the mishap.

Giving details in New Delhi, IAF officials said a MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed at about 9.45 am. The aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh. Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometre North East of Suratgarh base.

The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh district, unfortunately, leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regretted the loss of lives and offered its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Recounting the incident, a local said he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Within seconds, a plane crashed into the house of Ratti Ram, killing his wife and two other women  Leela Devi and Banto Kaur  the news agency PTI quoted him as saying. The villagers tried to douse the flames with the help of water and sand before the police and fire brigade reached the spot, an official said.

Police said a rescue operation has been launched in the area where the aircraft had crashed.

The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of the village, said Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner.

The IAF has planned to phase out all remaining squadrons of MiG-21s by 2025. Last year in September, the No. 51 squadron (a squadron has 18 to 20 jets) based in Srinagar was number plated, which in IAF parlance means that the squadron was retired from service.

The squadron became a household name when one of its pilots wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded Vir Chakra, shot down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, 2019.

The aerial battle took place a day after IAF bombed a terror facility in Pakistans Balakot. Three remaining squadrons will follow suit over the next three years.

The Russian made MiG-21s were inducted into the IAF in 1963 and till now nearly 400 mishaps have taken place involving this aircraft. Around 200 pilots have been killed in these crashes.

In fact, the planes acquired the dubious nickname of Flying Coffin due to its alarming safety record. The IAF has over the years been phasing out MiG-21 which at one point of time numbered 874 and formed the mainstay of the countrys air defence.

The planes were upgraded from time to time to ensure operational readiness and fill the gap arising out of delays in procurement of the latest jets.

The phase out plan in the last some years has seen the front-line SU-30s replacing the MiG-21s. With the induction of nearly 100 indigenously designed and manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), the IAF will ensure full readiness in the next few years.

On the accident record of the MiG, sources said more of these jets were involved in accidents as compared to other fighter jets as they form the bulk of the IAF fighter fleet. Incidentally, Russia and erstwhile Soviet Union stopped flying the MiG-21s besides Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Faced with depleting fighter jet squadron fleet strength, the IAF now plans to manufacture multi-role aircraft within the country with foreign collaboration. At least 114 jets are planned to be manufactured here under the strategic partnership policy. The proposed cost of the deal is more than 15 billion dollars.

The US, Russia, France and Sweden are likely to pitch for the deal with their F-16 and F-18, MiG-25, Rafales and Gripen jets respectively.
Rejecting BJPs charge on Congress former president Sonia Gandhis Karnataka sovereignty remark as fakery and falsehood, the Congress accused the BJP of denigrating the States swabhimaan.

The desperation of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP is glaring as they seek to clutch at straws for want of a narrative in Karnataka. We reject the fakery and falsehood being perpetuated by PM as he refuses to answer a single question on why BJP is denigrating the swabhimaan of Karnataka, said Congress general secretary in-charge of the State Randeep Surjewala.

The Congress leader said, The PM should answer on the 40 per cent commission BJP Sarkar. Excuses cannot be the refuge of BJP in this election.

Surjewala also asked, Why are GST dues of Karnataka worth over `8,000 crore not being released by Modi Government? Why has reference to Lord Basavanna, Kovempu, Kanaka Das omitted or partially removed from text books?
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his public meetings accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of advocating for separating Karnataka from India over her use of the term sovereignty for Karnataka, the BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Sonia, her partys derecognition and an FIR against the former Congress chief.

The Congress had tweeted, CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnatakas reputation, sovereignty or integrity.

A BJP delegation headed by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in Delhi over the issue.

When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. India is a sovereign country and the State of Karnataka is a proud part in it. Till today no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the nation. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India. This statement is divisive in nature. It is aimed at dividing the citizens and creating a rift between people of different States, reads the complaint.

Karnataka is not different from India. This is a shocking statement leading to igniting divisive sentiments and to create disharmony in the society, added the BJPs complaint.

Karnataka is a very important member State in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member State of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous and pernicious consequences, the party said.

Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh, who was part of the delegation, besides BJP MP Anil Baluni and leader Om Pathak, cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised.

Modi had on Sunday alleged that the disease of the tukde-tukde gang (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress top level.

The BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission in Bengaluru as well and requested it to issue direction for registration of an FIR against her over the use of the word sovereignty.

Describing the Congress tweet quoting Sonia as shocking and unacceptable, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said the former Congress chief had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent action against her for making such a statement.

Karandlaje, convener of the BJP Election Management Committee, also requested the EC to issue directions to register an FIR against her and take exemplary punitive action.

This is an insult to freedom fighters from Karnataka, who fought for Indias independence. It is an insult to crores of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness, said the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
As West Bengal on Monday became the first State to ban the screening of film The Kerala Story in the State, the BJP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees TMC indulged in war of words.

Slamming Mamata for the order to ban the film, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said it was beyond his understanding why the TMC chiefs sympathies were with terror organisations and not with the innocent girls from Kerala. Thakur watched the film at a cinema hall in Delhi.

The films producer Vipul Shah said they will take legal action against the ban imposed by the TMC Government.

To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the CM has directed an immediate ban on screening of The Kerala Story. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban, the West Bengal Government official told PTI.

Earlier in the day, Mamata alleged at a news conference that The Kashmir Files was made to humiliate one section of the society whereas The Kerala Story was a distorted movie aimed at defaming the southern State.

On Sunday, President of Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association M Subramaniam, popularly known as Tiruppur Subramaniam, said a few multiplexes that had screened the film in the state have decided to withdraw it.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State(IS). The film, which was released on May 5, has kicked up a political storm.

If thats what she has done, then we will again take legal action. Whatever is possible under the provisions of the law, we will fight that, Vipul Shah told a press conference in Mumbai when asked to comment on the ban in the TMC-ruled state.

If a State Government or a private person will try to stop the film, then we will try every legal route possible. Shah called The Kerala Story a film on a serious social subject and requested the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure a smooth and fair release of the movie. In Tamil Nadu, one individual has threatened and forced the Government to stop the release, he said without naming anyone.

Shah said the film has become of national importance now. Our PM has spoken about this film. Other important political parties have talked about the film and have presented this subject as something of national importance. There are some people who have supported and some have opposed. Now no one can ignore it on the national level, which is a huge achievement for us, he added. Minister Thakur said the film exposed the sinister nexus of religious conversions. Mamata has done injustice to the sisters and daughters of West Bengal by banning the film. She should tell whether she is standing with those who promote terrorist ideology or is standing against it, Thakur, who is the Information and Broadcasting Minister, told reporters.

It is beyond understanding why their sympathies are with terrorist organisations and not with these innocent girls of Kerala who were victims of terrorism. Today the whole country wants to ask her why she has so much problem with a film focused on terrorism, the senior BJP leader said.

BJPs I-T department head Amit Malviya slammed Chief Minister Banerjee for the ban, saying the decision is unfortunate as the movie gives a real account of victims who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as cannon fodder for the terrorist organisation IS.

Who is Mamata trying to please with this ban? Does she think Muslims of Bengal relate more to the IS than the Indian Constitution? Shame on her regressive politics. The West Bengal BJP unit said the ban was a blatant attempt to scuttle free speech and appease a section of the minority community to serve its political interests. The TMC dubbed the allegations against the party as baseless and accused the BJP of trying to create a communal narrative across the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The State Government has already said this film aims to create division in the society. As the BJP has nothing to project in terms of development ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they are trying to create a communal narrative, TMC MP Santanu Sen claimed.

The Tamil Nadu BJP unit alleged that the ruling DMK has taken The Kerala Story off the screens in the state in a systematic fashion, and blamed the Stalin government for abuse of power to hide the truth.

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi said those who want to ban The Kerala Story are as wrong as those who didnt want Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha to be released.

In a tweet, Azmi said no one but the Central Board of Film Certification has the right to decide whether or not a film should be released.

The Indian Film & Television Directors Association also condemned the ban in West Bengal, saying its against the freedom of expression of a filmmaker.
Five cheetahs  three females and two males  will be released from the acclimatisation camps into free-ranging conditions in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) before the onset of the monsoon in June, the Union Environment Ministry said on Monday.

It also said the cheetahs will be allowed to move out of KNP and will not necessarily be recaptured unless they venture into areas where they are in significant danger. All the predators are fitted with satellite collars. Animals are generally not released into the wild during the monsoon season as harsh weather conditions make it difficult for them to find food and shelter and adapt to their new environment.

So far, four of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia have been released from the fenced acclimatisation camps into free-ranging conditions in KNP.

Five more cheetahs (three females and two males) will be released from the acclimatisation camps into free-roaming conditions in KNP before the onset of the monsoon rains in June, the Ministry said in a statement.

The decision was taken after a team of experts reviewed the current status of the Project Cheetah on the directions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

The team comprising Adrian Tordiffe, Veterinary Wildlife Specialist, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Vincent van der Merwe, Manager, Cheetah Metapopulation Project, South Africa; Qamar Qureshi, Lead Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, and Amit Mallick, Inspector General of Forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority, visited KNP on April 30.

They said all the cheetahs were in good physical condition, making kills at regular intervals and displaying natural behaviours.

Cheetahs were chosen for release based on their behavioural characteristics and approachability by the monitoring teams.

The rest of the cheetahs will remain in the acclimatisation camps for the duration of the monsoon season.

Certain internal gates will be left open to allow these cheetahs to utilise more space and for interactions between specific males and females to take place, the Ministry said.

The situation will be reviewed after the monsoon season and further releases into KNP or surrounding areas will be done in a planned manner as per the Cheetah Conservation Action Plan to establish meta population, it said.

Qureshi said a majority of the five cheetahs are those brought from South Africa and that India would like to release all the cheetahs into the wild as soon as possible.

We can conduct another review before the monsoon and release more cheetahs if theres a window to do so, he said.

We are going for staggered release of cheetahs because we want them to settle down and claim their territory, the WII official said.

Of the four cheetahs that have already been released into free-ranging conditions, two (Gaurav and Shaurya) have stayed within the park and have not shown any interest in exploring the landscape beyond the borders of the park, according to the ministry statement.

A female cheetah named Aasha has made two exploratory excursions to the east of KNP beyond the buffer zone but has remained within the broader Kuno landscape and has not ventured into human-dominated areas.

Another male (Pawan) explored areas well beyond the boundaries of the park on two occasions, venturing into farmland near the border with Uttar Pradesh during his second excursion. He was darted by the veterinary team and returned to an acclimatisation camp in KNP.

The Ministry said movements of cheetahs, like other large carnivores, are known to range widely during the initial few months after being reintroduced into unfamiliar open systems.

These movements are unpredictable and depend on many factors. After several months, the cheetahs should establish their own communication networks and settle down in relatively fixed home ranges.

It is important that individual cheetahs do not become totally isolated from the reintroduced group during this phase as they will then not participate in breeding and will thus be genetically isolated, it said.

Their degree of isolation will be assessed once they settle down and appropriate action will be taken to enhance their connectivity to the group.

Several wildlife experts have said that Project Cheetah overestimated the carrying capacity of KNP, and linked it to the incidents of Pawan straying out of the national park.

The expert team said it is impossible to determine the precise carrying capacity of cheetahs in KNP until they have properly established their home ranges and that the home ranges of cheetahs can overlap substantially depending on the prey density and several other factors.

While many have made predictions about the anticipated carrying capacity of cheetahs in KNP based on other ecosystems in Namibia and east Africa, the actual number of animals that the reserve can accommodate can only be assessed after the animals are released and have established home ranges, it said.

Cheetah home-range sizes and population densities vary tremendously for different cheetah populations in Africa and for obvious reasons, we do not have useful spatial ecology data for cheetahs in India yet, the Ministry said.

According to the cheetah reintroduction plan, Kuno holds the potential to sustain up to 21 cheetahs based on its existing prey base.

With restoration, protection and management, the number can go up to 40 individuals.

Qureshi asserted that Kuno can handle 21 cheetahs and there is no second thought on that.

Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines - five females and three males - from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year.

In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18.

One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment in March. Another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa died on April 13.

On the death of the two cheetahs, the ministry said chronic renal failure is a common problem in captive cheetahs and many other captive felid species, but is not infectious and cannot be transmitted from one animal to another.

An initial examination revealed Uday had most likely died of terminal cardio-pulmonary failure.

Failure of the heart and lungs is common in the terminal stages of many conditions and does not provide much information about the underlying cause of the problem, it said.
Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's wife Seema Sisodia is said to be suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). One of the most challenging things about the disease is that it looks very different in each patient. It is an unpredictable neurodegenerative disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord. In India, the actual prevalence is yet to be known as it is not much talked about and awareness is too little. Yet, it is estimated that 20 out of 1 lakh people are affected, doctors tell The Health Pioneer. They said as the medicines are quite costly, these should be brought under the essential medicine list to ease the financial burden on the patients.

For the last few days, Sunita Verma (30) had been complaining of vision problems. She thought she needed a lens. Her doctor found that her eyes and her brain were not in sync. She was suggested for further investigations. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed that there were lesions in her brain that led to her diagnosed MS. She has optic neuritis (irreversible optic nerve damage) as a result of MS, said her doctor.

Sunita was lucky that her doctor was alert enough to diagnose her disease that helped her start treatment early.

But many are not lucky like Sunita.

In fact, the invisible MS is the worst case. In such cases, the patients report the symptoms to doctors, and yet, the disease remains untraced. Some symptoms are very normal like fatigue and depression and doctors may think that the patient is exaggerating. That makes the disease difficult to trace, say the neurologists.

Also, in many cases, MS is diagnosed late as people are not much aware about this disease. A survey conducted by an MS associated organization revealed that some of the patients got afflicted with the MS as early as 19 years of age, but officially diagnosed at 21. Another said, Oh I started to have my suspicions when I was about 28. Doctors told me I just had to stress less and it would all calm down. It just escalated more for each year so I Got my MS diagnosis in august 2019.

Yet another said treatment started when he attained 32. In hindsight symptoms from late teens/ early 20s. Number of lesions on MRI correlated with this. Too busy with work / life to get seen. Until my leg stopped working and I couldnt get up the stairs.

MS can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes, causing physical, emotional and financial drain on the patients.

Dr Sunil K Narayan, Neurologist from JIPMER, Pondicherry said that the symptoms are different from patient to patient across a lifetime but can include weakness, numbness, vision problems, tremors and even paralysis. There's no cure for MS. It can afflict at any age but usually occurs around 20 and 40 years of age, considered to be the most productive period of any persons life.

MS damages the myelin sheath, or protective covering, that surrounds nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, making it the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Most important investigation tool is MRI, added Dr RK Dhamija, Neurologist and Director of the Delhi-based IHBAS.

He stressed on the need for increasing awareness of MS so that diagnose is made early and disability is prevented.

More than 2.8 million people of all ages around the world are living with MS. However, thankfully, more cases of MS are now being diagnoised throughout the country, said Dr Dhamija.

Most people with MS experience periods of new symptoms or relapses followed by quiet periods of disease remission. These relapses can take days or weeks to develop and the remission periods can last for months or even years.

MS itself is not the cause of death because MS is not fatal. Rather, the symptoms caused by the progression of MS can lead to other conditions that are ultimately fatal. Pneumonia, infections, and falls are common causes of death directly connected to MS symptoms, said Dr SM Katrak, Neurologist, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.

There are very few studies done and no information is available on the MS cases in the rural population. However, increased awareness about the condition among patients and several new therapies that have come up can make treatment cost effective and efficient.

MS is affecting the urban population majorly. But this disease is important due to various reasons as it typically involves young individuals; however, it also occurs in kids and adolescents. Females are more affected compared to males, said Prof MV Padma Srivastava, Head of Department, Neurology and Chief of Neurosciences Centre, AIIMS Delhi.

If people face such conditions at an early age, their quality of life gets affected as they struggle to do even basic chores of daily routine. In this disease, people lose vision suddenly; lose balance and suffer weakness in one hand. Though they recover after the first attack generally, the disease relapses and attacks continue to occur due to which the patient does not recover and they even land onto a wheelchair.

Studies suggest that genetic risk factors increase the risk of developing MS, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. Environmental factors, such as low Vitamin D and cigarette smoking have also been shown to increase the risk of MS, she added.

The doctors said that several new immunomodulator based therapies have come up over the past few years.

These drugs can stave off multiple sclerosis attacks and slow down the disease, they said,

"The patient can now take medicines orally. Earlier, there were only injections given to patients on a frequent basis which were very expensive, but now there are medicines like teriflunomide (active metabolite of leflunomide) and bimethylflumorate which can be taken once a day and is much easier for patients."

But they agreed that the cost of some of the most effective medicines  which have undergone frequent price hikes over the years  can put added stress on the patients who find it difficult to bear as they are already struggling with the disease in the prime years of their life.

Added Dr Sunil K Narayan, Theres no cure. But disease modifying therapies are available through prohibitively costly and they need to be made available for long periods by bringing under essential drug list and by supply through public health care facilities as routinely available medications.

Dr (Prof) Rohit Bhatia at the Department of Neurology, AIIMS Delhi shared that MS doesnt require any surgical treatment and can be cured through drugs and medicines. In fact, AIIMS Delhi has started an MS related registry.

Dr Bhatia said, This is Indias first National Registry on MS and related demyelinating disorders. We have formed a collaborative team in twenty-seven centres for the registry. The AIIMS, Delhi has Indias first dedicated center for treatment of multiple sclerosis too since 2019.

Our motive is that the disease should be diagnosed early and people get instant treatment so that they can live a good life. We aim to spread awareness so that people know about the disease and timely treatment. We have diagnoses and medicines to treat the disease. If patients come at the right time MS can be controlled.

Signs and symptoms of MS can vary widely but may include:

Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or your legs and trunk

Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte sign)

Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait

Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement

Prolonged double vision

Blurry vision

Slurred speech

Fatigue

Dizziness

Tingling or pain in parts of your body

Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function

New treatments

Several MS patients in the state of Tamil Nadu have been on Tysabri (natalizumab), which costs around USD1,152 per dose. While some patients are enrolled in the Chief Ministers Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and get free medicines, others are on a weekly drug called Rebidoss (interferon beta 1a), which costs USD81 per dose. Avonex (interferon beta-1a) costs USD102 per dose. The cost of MS treatment varies from USD 4,064 per year to USD270,954 per year.

AIIMS, Delhi had conducted a meta-analysis on the efficacy of the medicine and concluded that azathioprine is better than other US FDA approved medicines in the market for MS. Other medicines such as Interferons, prescribed by most doctors, cost $4,067 per year, azathioprine costs only $136 annually.

Azathioprine, sold under the brand name Imuran among several others, is a generic medicine and now available in the market.

Another treatment, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or bone marrow transplant, allows clinicians to gain an upper hand in managing dreaded diseases like leukaemia and lymphoma along with MS.

In April 2018, Natco Pharma launched a generic version of teriflunomide tablets used for the treatment of relapsing and remitting forms of MS in India.

Teriflunomide is sold by Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) under the brand name of Aubagio in the US market, Natco Pharma said. The generic product is priced much lower than other alternate options. In August 2018, Sanofi's specialty care global business unit Sanofi Genzyme launched its MS treatment drug Aubagio in India.

Dr Anuradha HK, from Aster CMI Hospital said many of these medicines are a boon since they cost half of what earlier medications cost, and also help improve the patients condition and protect them from relapses. "Earlier, many would stop the medication midway due to the high cost. By taking affordable medicines they can get better sooner," she told a newspaper.

GLOBAL SCENARIO

Multiple studies are ongoing globally, including trials at the Tisch MS Research Center of New York, a trial in the United Kingdom and others. While mesenchymal stem cells offer exciting potential, other researchers are working on converting skin cells into myelin-repairing stem cells. These skin cells are easily obtained and have no potential for being rejected as they come from the persons own body.
About 4300 legislators from all over the country have been invited to the National Legislators' Conference, which will begin on June 15 in Mumbai, and will hold three days of in-depth discussion on various topics related to parliamentary affairs.

Madhya Pradesh Vidhansabha Speaker Girish Gautam gave this information during a press conference in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly auditorium. Senior MLA PC Sharma, Krishna Gaur, Principal Secretary Vidhan Sabha AP Singh and senior office bearers of Pune based prestigious institute MIT-SOG Rahul V Karad were also present on the occasion.

Assembly Speaker Gautam, who played an important role in this event to be organized at the state-of-the-art Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, said that so far consent of about 1800 MLAs has been received to participate in this program organized from June 15 to June 17. About 100 MLAs of Madhya Pradesh are included in this.

He said that this type of event is being organized for the first time in the country and efforts are also being made to connect the MLAs emotionally.

Gautam said that in the first general election held in the country in the year 1952, the number of voters was around 17 crore and out of them more than 10 crore voted. At present, despite better literacy and various awareness programs, the voting percentage remains around 65 to 70 percent on an average. He said that definitely not increasing the polling percentage relatively is a matter of contemplation and there is a possibility of deep discussion on this issue during the conference.

Gautam, who had earlier visited Mumbai regarding preparations for this event, said that various sessions will be held during the conference and subjects related to parliamentary work will also be decided for them. He told that a better innovation has been made in Madhya Pradesh Vidhansabha to give opportunity to ask questions only to first time MLAs and women MLAs during Question Hour on a particular day. This will also be told during this conference.

Gautam said that there can be differences between leaders in politics, but there should not be differences of opinion. On the basis of this basic mantra, the MLAs participating in the conference will be able to express their experiences and views openly. He said that preparations for the conference are being done on a wide scale.

In response to a question, Gautam said that he was in favor of providing adequate staff to the legislators in view of the prevailing conditions and this issue should also be discussed during this conference. Sharing his experience related to his recent visit to the North Eastern states, he said that the MLAs there believe in working in unison for the development of their region and the state. He has liked this very much.
The administration is trying to fill up the gap of doctors with the DMFT fund, so that everyone can get medical facilities from the hospital. Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribag Nancy Sahay along with DDC Prerna Dixit inspected different wards of SBMCH and issued directions to the superintendent of hospital.

The Deputy Commissioner made a sudden visit to the campus of the SBMCH (Sheikh Bikhari Medical College and Hospital) and started the inspection of different wards of the hospital. She asked for the duty roster of the doctors and checked that the doctors are available on duty according to the duty roster.

She found that there were so many doctors, who were not available on duty. She instructed the superintendent of the hospital to ask the doctors why they are not available on duty. The DC inspected the medicine ward, OPD, skin ward, EN&T ward, Pathology, dental, blood bank, new burn care unit and children wards.

She directed the superintendent of the hospital to prepare the list of equipment, which are useful in the general treatment of the patients. She further said that the district administration is always ready to render every service for better treatment of patients.

The DC further said that the administration is trying to fill the gap of doctors from DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust) fund. The first list of doctors has been published.

She further said that the hospital management should concentrate on the children's ward. She said that maximum child patients are coming from remote village areas, so they must be cared for on priority basis.

She advised that the hospital management must provide special training to the nurses, who are working in the childrens ward. She also emphasised on the security of the ward. Two or three security guards must be there in the wards.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department and refuted the charge of a liquor scam in state to the tune of Rs 2,000 crores.

He asserted that revenue earned by liquor sales during his tenure had been hiked to a huge amount.

Baghel also charged that the Central agencies were acting as a political tool of the BJP and were busy denting the image of the Congress government ahead of assembly polls.

The central agencies are falsely implicating Congress leaders and state officials and are unable to say what they found in the probe," Baghel said.

Regarding fresh raids of ED regarding the alleged liquor scam, the Chief Minister said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its annual reports has given a clean chit to Chhattisgarh's liquor policy and the allegation of a huge scam was a propaganda at the BJP's behest.

The Congress government had not changed the liquor policy of the erstwhile BJP government. The charge of liquor scam is thus false and is a well-planned conspiracy to defame the Congress government ahead of assembly elections."

The revenue earned by the state from sale of liquor in 2017-18 was Rs 3,900 crores which has considerably increased to Rs 6,000 crores. This itself proves that any charges of scams were false and politically motivated, he said. Baghel alleged that federal officials tortured Congress leaders and state officials and compelled to sign documents.
BJP, Jamshedpur unit staged a protest rally in front of DC office, condemning the recent arrests of party leaders including Abhay Singh in connection with a communal violence incident at Kadma. The rally was attended by hundreds of BJP supporters, who demanded the immediate release of their leaders and criticized the state government for its handling of the situation.

The arrests were made following a violent clash between two communities at Kadma Shastrinagar. The BJP leaders, including Abhay Singh, were accused of inciting violence and disturbing communal harmony.

Speaking at the dharna, BJP leaders accused the state government of targeting their party, and demanded a fair investigation into the incident. They also alleged that the police had acted unfairly, and that innocent party workers were being falsely implicated in the case.

In response to the protest, the police defended its actions, stating that the arrests were made in accordance with the law and that no innocent person would be falsely implicated.

The situation remains tense, with the BJP and the state government at loggerheads over the issue. While the BJP has vowed to continue its protests until its demands are met.

The saffron party also launched a scathing attack on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress state government, accusing them of misgovernance and failure to deliver on their promises.

State president Deepak Prakash criticized the government's handling of various issues, including the law and order. He alleged that the JMM and Congress were more interested in pursuing their political agenda than in serving the people of Jharkhand.

The BJP leaders also highlighted what they called the "dismal performance" of the government in various sectors, including industry and healthcare. They pointed to the rising unemployment rate, declining industrial output, and poor implementation of welfare schemes as evidence of the government's incompetence.

The BJP, which is the main opposition party in the state, has been vocal in its criticism of the government, with party leaders accusing the JMM and Congress of pursuing divisive policies and neglecting the interests of the people. They have vowed to continue their attack until the government addresses their concerns and delivers on its promises.

The situation remains tense, with the BJP and the state government locked in a bitter political battle. While the government has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, the opposition remains determined to hold it accountable for what they see as a lack of progress and development in the state.

Senior leaders Jamshedpur MP Bidhyut Baran Mahto, Dineshanand Goswami addressed the party workers. Chandrashekhar Mishra, metropolitan in-charge Subodh Singh Guddu, Vinod Singh, Jatashankar Pandey, Devendra Singh, Vikas Singh, Nirbhay Singh, Bhupendra Singh, Rakesh Singh, Subodh Jha, Bharat Singh were present on the occasion.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday that if a Ram devotee from Ayodhya won in this festival of democracy, it would leave a positive impression; however, if those who fired shots at Ram devotees won, it would send a very negative message.

Addressing a rally organised in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party's mayoral candidate Girish Pati Tripathi at Maniramdas Cantonment, the chief minister said, Ayodhya is ours, and we also have a collective responsibility towards it. We will take Ayodhya to the pinnacle of development. A strong board must be formed for overall development because Ayodhya is under the spotlight of the nation and the world.

The chief minister went on to say that when a strong board was constituted, development proceeded quickly. Today, India is seen differently around the world. The world now looks to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi at the time of global crisis. In such a situation, we have to associate ourselves with the changing India, he said.

The chief minister stated that in six years, UP has been successful in changing perception about it. He added that in six years, if he had gone somewhere, he would not have had a positive impression of saints of UP but in todays world, UP was being respected everywhere, and the saints were getting respect.

The chief minister continued by saying, We have all continuously participated in the Deepotsav programme since 2017. The prime ministers presence in the previous year elevated Deepotsav to new heights. Deepotsav takes us toward Tretayug. This year, Ram Navami alone saw 35 lakh pilgrims arrive in Ayodhya. More than one crore devotees will arrive when the grand temple of Lord Shri Ram is finished in January.

The chief minister said that since Ayodhya was the capital of Suryavanshi, we are going to turn it into a solar city. Earlier, we formed a municipal corporation in Ayodhya so that it could be developed as a smart and safe city. Then the name of the district and commissionerate was changed. Now the international airport is being built. You will now be able to travel anywhere in the nation or the entire world from Ayodhya. After this election, the work of the survey will start.

He added: We are going to start waterways from Ayodhya. Now, large ships are arriving in Kashi. No less water is present in Saryu than in Ganga. It is only necessary to channelise the river's water. This is being worked on, and as a result, tourism and other opportunities will grow.
Congress MLA Arif Masood here on Monday demanded to reduce the Haj pilgrimage fare within two days or he would resign from the membership of Haj Committee. He alleged that the government committed a big fraud with the Hajis by increasing the fares.

While talking to media persons, Masood said that only a few days are left for the Haj flight to start, but the Central Haj Committee has increased the fare for the Haj pilgrims, rather there is a difference of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

Bhopal MLA and Madhya Pradesh State Haj Committee member Arif Masood has not only expressed displeasure over the arbitrary fare hike for Haj pilgrims, but has also requested the Central Haj Committee Chairman and Union Minister for Minorities to withdraw the hiked fare, saying that the government has cheated the Haj Pilgrims a lot by not informing them about the increased amount at the time of filling the form.

Masood further said that the assembly elections are going on in Karnataka and to woo the voters, the fare for Haj pilgrims going from Bengaluru has been kept the lowest in the country. On the other hand, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish is engaged in uniting the opposition, so Modi has paid the rent for the maximum number of Hajis there. Pilgrims going from Bengaluru will have to spend Rs 303921 per person, while pilgrims going for Haj from Gaya in Bihar will have to spend Rs 400366 lakh.

Similarly, the pilgrims going for Haj from Bhopal will have to pay Rs 3,72,815 while the pilgrims going for Haj from Mumbai will have to pay Rs 3,4,843 only. The difference of Rs 68,000 between Bhopal and Mumbai travel shows how the government wants to benefit its favorite airline companies in the name of Haj pilgrims.

Talking to reporters further, Bhopal MLA Arif Masood said that the order issued by the Central Haj Committee regarding the fare of Haj pilgrims is a conspiracy with the pilgrims of the country, when Union Minister Smriti Irani, in the UPA government, took the cylinder for an increase of Rs 5. She used to come on the streets, but today an increased amount is being collected from the Hajis related to her department, why is she keeping silent on this issue?

There was a difference of about Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 when going on Haj pilgrimage from Mumbai, but now the difference has increased to more than Rs 68000. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is from Madhya Pradesh, even after this he did not cut the fare of Hajis of Madhya Pradesh. It seems that he has nothing to do with the people of Madhya Pradesh.

Hajis going on Haj are being looted by increasing the fare. Today, I have written a letter to the Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, Abdulla Kutty, informing that if the order of increased fare for Haj pilgrims is not withdrawn within two days, I will resign from the membership of the State Haj Committee and I advise that the government is not listening to you, so you should also resign, he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre here and said it is a testament to the courage and dedication of all those who served in the force and a reminder of their invaluable contributions in protecting the nation.



He further said this initiative will help in preserving the rich heritage of the IAF and also inspire the youth to join the armed forces. The centre has been set up under a memorandum of understanding between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the IAF which was signed last year.



Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher were present on the occasion.



On this occasion, Defence Minister Singh sat in the MiG-21 aircraft on display at the centre. He also sat in a flying simulator. The centre is spread over 17,000 square feet. Its exhibits will be a source of inspiration for future generations and will showcase the indomitable spirit of the Indian Air Force, officials said.



Later, the defence minister tweeted the countrys first IAF Heritage Centre has been dedicated to the nation. This Centre depicts IAFs role in various wars, including in 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war, and the Balakot air strike through murals and memorabilia. This Centre will be a big attraction not only for the people of Chandigarh but also for the people living in other states, he stated.



The minister also unveiled a plaque for the centre for cyber operation and security (CenCOPS).



Speaking to reporters later, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said on the opening of the heritage centre, It is a proud moment for us. I am sure it will draw a lot of youths to join the IAF once they visit this, he said. Divided into various sections, the heritage centre has several attractions such as aircraft models, aero engines and weapons, including Gryazev-Shipunov twin-barrelled guns.



The centre also showcases augmented reality, hologram, virtual reality, and electro-mechanical enclosures, interactive kiosks highlighting various facets of the IAF, the officials said. There are also flying simulators at the centre which will give flight experience to visitors.



The attractions of the heritage centre also include five vintage aircraft and SAM-III Pechora missiles. A Hindustan Piston Trainer-32 primary flying trainer aircraft has been on display at the centre. Its period of operation in the Indian Air Force was from 1977 till 2009. A MiG 21 single-seat fighter has also been positioned. Besides, Air Force Kanpur 1 which was made by Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958, has been positioned. A GNAT aircraft (Sabre Slayer) 1971 fame is also on the display.
The Delhi Government has sent a proposal for introducing premium buses on Delhi roads through private aggregators for Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's approval. Announcing this on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the proposal for plying premium buses has been sent to Lieutenant Governor for his approval.

Once the LG approves this scheme, the government will table it for public feedback for one month. This initiative aims to encourage people who completely rely on cars to shift towards the public transport network. Following the LG's approval, we will share the policy online for seeking public feedback, the chief minister said at a press conference. He said he hoped the scheme will be approved.

Kejriwal said the buses, which will be equipped with CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi, GPS, panic buttons and will be air conditioned, will encourage the middle and upper middle classes to use public transport. People will be able to book their seats online or through an application, he said. Furthermore, CNG buses will not be more than three years old, and each bus will have at least 12 seats.

Moreover, the Delhi Government will only allow aggregators to ply electric buses after January 1, 2024. Aggregators will also be allowed to chart bus routes on their own, but they must provide complete information to the government, he said.

The policy stipulates that no bus older than three years will be used by aggregators. Buses purchased after January 1, 2024 will be electric. The seats in the buses will be booked through an app, he said. The booking prices for these buses will be higher than those of DTC tickets and in accordance with the market. Hence, there will be no provision for free travel for women, he added.

Kejriwal said there is a large number of cars and scooters on Delhi roads. Delhi is the capital of our country and our public transport should be world class and at par with foreign cities. If we want to get people to use public transport, we should make public transport safe, comfortable and punctual, he said. The biggest revolution was when Delhi Metro started and people started using it, he said. This reduced the number of vehicles reduced on roads, he said. But the metro has also become crowded and people have started using private vehicles again. There are cluster buses and DTC buses but they are restricted to the lower middle class, the chief minister said.

We will invite public feedback on the scheme and if we get some good suggestions, we will incorporate it into the scheme and then it will be implemented in Delhi. I firmly believe that such a scheme will greatly benefit public transport in not just Delhi but throughout the country, he said.

Kejriwal also informed the media that this scheme has been finalised and the file will be sent to the LG Office today. As the protocol mandates here in Delhi, we will be sending this file to the LG Office today. It is upto the LG to decide if he wants the citizens of Delhi to have this service, or whether he wants to send the file to the President's Office. But since it is a public welfare scheme, I hope that the LG will give his approval to the scheme, he said.
Senior officers of the ITBP and the Tamil Nadu Police that are deployed in Tihar Jail met the Delhi Prisons Director General Sanjay Beniwal on Monday to discuss ways to address security concerns in the wake of the brutal killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside the prison premises last week, officials said.

The meetings come after Beniwal wrote to the heads of the security agencies whose personnel are deployed at the Tihar, one of the largest prisons in Asia, as part of security arrangements.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Indo-Tibetan Border Police Bhanwar Singh met DG Prisons today. The two senior officials discussed various issues including security concerns in Tihar, a jail official said. H M Jayaram, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Tamil Nadu Police, also met the DG Prisons to discuss the matter, he said.

After meeting the senior officials, Beniwal said that the Tamil Nadu DGP had sent the ADGP to assess and see what improvements are needed at the Tihar Jail. He added that the meeting was very nice. When asked about the steps being taken, At every step dos and dont's are being reviewed. We will take lessons from our mistakes and will take steps to strengthen security.

We reviewed the security and I would say it's a work in progress. It's an ongoing process and I feel we will improve by learning from mistakes, Beniwal said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, called on the voters to make those who made people struggle for a drop of water, struggle for votes.

The parties which believe in dynastic politics created obstacles in the way of development as they have nothing to do with development. They looted funds meant for the welfare schemes for the poor. On the other hand, the double-engine government of the Bharatiya Janata Party is solving the drinking water problem once and for all, Chief Minister Yogi said.

Addressing a public meeting in Mirzapur to seek support for Bharatiya Janata Party candidates in urban local bodies elections, Chief Minister Yogi said that the construction of a grand corridor was going on in the abode of Maa Vindhyavasini. He added that this Dham was connected with a waterway and the construction of a jetty had already been completed. Yogi said that the waterway would enhance the income of farmers as their produce would reach both domestic and international markets easily.

Chief Minister Yogi said that the facility of a medical college was also being provided. He said the youth would not have to go outside for higher education as Vindhyavasini University was under construction in Mirzapur.

Today India is being recognised as a global leader. Whenever there is a global crisis, the world looks towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a solution, he said.

Emphasising that the double-engine government of the BJP was providing benefits of welfare schemes to all without any discrimination, the chief minister said that the government was now going to give free cooking gas cylinders to the needy also on the occasion of Holi and Diwali.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the excise policy case is a desperate attempt by the BJP to malign an honest party like the AAP. Kejriwal also took to Twitter and said the whole liquor scam is false.

Kejriwal said that BJP is saying Kejriwal is next on the list, this means BJP is controlling ED-CBI. He further said that BJP is threatened by the honesty of AAP, and that's why they are resorting to such tactics.

His remarks came two days after a Delhi court granted bail to two accused in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. Alleging that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has fabricated the entire liquor scam plot and then instructed the ED-CBI to make up false evidence against the AAP, the chief minister said that Delhi Liquor Scam allegations nothing more than BJPs conspiracy against AAP.

A conspiracy to malign the party's image and betray the people's trust was carried out under the guise of the 'Delhi Liquor Scam', he said, adding that the BJP had claimed that the South Lobby paid a bribe of Rs 100 crore to AAP members but it has failed to prove it. The CBI-ED have also accepted in the court that out of Rs 100 crore, they do not have any evidence of this scam.

The CBI-ED had alleged that a person named Rajesh Joshi translocated Rs 30 crore from the South Lobby and handed it over to the AAP leadership in Delhi. The only 'proof' they have is that someone had stated to them that Joshi gave Rs 30 crore to AAP, he added.

Dismissing charges of of any liquor scam , Kejriwal said that the accusations were entirely false, and the party has always maintained its integrity. The Aam Aadmi Party is known for its commitment to honesty, and its leadership has earned the trust of the entire country, he said.
China urges Switzerland to stick to one-China principle

(People's Daily App) 13:39, May 09, 2023

China on Monday criticized Switzerland for its statements and actions with regard to Taiwan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to the Swiss National Council voting to deepen political and economic exchanges with the Taiwan legislature.

"The Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests," Wang said. "There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China."

The one-China principle was a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations, he said.

"It is a part of the post-World War II world order and not allowed to be arbitrarily distorted and interpreted," the spokesperson said.

Switzerland was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China and forge diplomatic relations.

"The one-China principle is the most fundamental political basis for China-Switzerland diplomatic ties and the smooth development of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields in over 70 years," Wang said. "China urges Switzerland to keep its political commitment of sticking to one-China principle, stop releasing wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, stop conniving and supporting any 'Taiwan independence' acts and maintain a sound momentum of China-Switzerland relations."

(Produced by Xie Runjia and Sun Hang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Taking stern action against the gang-rape of a teenage girl on a boat in Chitrakoot district, the local administration is likely to demolish the houses of the accused.

The victim, belonging to Madhya Pradesh, was boating in the Mandakini river with her lover when the accused overpowered them and later raped the girl one by one.

A senior official confirmed that the sub-divisional magistrate, tehsildar, chief medical officer and local officers held a meeting in the nagar panchayat in Chitrakoot on Monday to complete the legal process against the accused.

Soon a bulldozer will be run at the house of the rapists in the presence of the officials, sources confirmed.

According to reports, a 16-year-old girl of a village in Baraundha police station area of Madhya Pradesh had come to visit Chitrakoot along with Manoj Yadav (21) of Sohana village in Banda district late Friday evening. Till late night both were boating in the river. Meanwhile, Santosh Kushwaha of Kevatra, a boatman, contacted his companions and two boats came near them. Manoj, the lover on the boat, was in an objectionable position with the girl. Seeing him, other boatmen also came on the same boat and later taking advantage of the situation they raped the girl one by one and threatened Manoj with dire consequences. The girl was brutalised till around 3 in the night.

After this, the boatmen brought the girl and her lover to the shore and threatened them and made them run away. Both later reached the police station and informed the cops about the incident.

The cops immediately swung into action and accused Santosh Kushwaha (20), Vinod Nishad (23), Pankaj Joshi (18) of Chauglia Sitapur, Ramgopal Nishad (23), Mohit Nishad (23) of Katra Gudar were arrested.

As the incident instilled fear amongst other visitors to the holy city, the local administration decided to take stern action against the accused by demolishing their houses so that no such incident was repeated in future.

Meanwhile, the body of a missing seven-year-old girl with her eyes gouged out and injury marks on her private parts was found in a field in Kannauj, police said on Monday.

The minor had gone missing from a wedding function three days ago and her body was found in a naked condition in a field in Talgram area on Sunday evening.

The family members of the girl have alleged rape before the murder, police said.

Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh said that four teams had been constituted to arrest those involved in the crime.

The body of the girl was sent for autopsy.

According to reports, the marriage of the niece of a driver of a woman leader in Bharatiya Janata Party took place in his native village in Talgram last Thursday evening. When everyone was busy enjoying the occasion, his seven-year-old daughter disappeared under mysterious circumstances at 11 pm. The relatives launched a search for her and after their efforts went in vain, they filed a missing complaint with the local police.

On Sunday evening, the girl's body was found lying in a maize field, 500 metres away from the village. There were scratches on the body. Her both eyes were gouged out and deep injury wounds were also found on her private part. The senior police officers along with a forensic team inspected the site and launched a hunt for the accused.

The cops were also taking help of video recording of the function made with the help of a drone.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that our government wants the MSME industry to be promoted in the state. Our government is currently giving a 25 per cent subsidy to entrepreneurs to promote industrial units, if Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce has any good plan for the betterment of the industry, then our government will work to increase the subsidy for MSME entrepreneurs from 35 to 40 per cent. This time, along with the entrepreneurs of the country, entrepreneurs from abroad have also got an opportunity to participate in the India International Mega Trade Fair. Such events are a better effort to increase the industry in the state.

The Chief Minister was addressing people at the closing ceremony of the "14th India International Mega Trade Fair '' organized under the aegis of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and GS Marketing at Morhabadi ground today as the chief guest.

The CM said that our government has done the work of formulating an excellent industrial policy. Today many big and small corporate houses have expressed their desire to invest here. Recently, a large corporate sector has laid the foundation stone for setting up an industrial unit in Jamshedpur. The Chief Minister said that the state government will stand with the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce in every possible way regarding industrial investment in the state.

The Chief Minister said that Jharkhand is such a state where before and after independence, Jharkhand has been supported by industrial units, be it Tata, Birla or coal companies, be it industrial houses of different types. HEC, which brought revolution in the field of industry in the country, is also established in Jharkhand. The country's first fertilizer factory was also set up in Jharkhand. But, in the journey of hundreds of years, where Jharkhand should have stood in the field of industrialization is not visible today. But, our government is continuously taking steps for industrial investment in the state.

The CM said that our state has all the capabilities to promote industry. Still, Jharkhand is included in the category of backward states in the country. Whereas, there are many states in the country which do not have that much resources, but today they are among the leading states. The Chief Minister also said that Jharkhand has natural beauty as well as mineral wealth and hardworking people, yet why we have lagged behind in terms of industrialization as compared to other states; it is a matter of concern. The Chief Minister said that we all have to make joint efforts to give a better direction to this state in the coming times and make it one of the leading states of the country. The Chief Minister said that Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce should also do positive work in the field of agriculture.

On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, many ambitious schemes have been brought to promote industrialization in the state. The state government thinks that every class and community should get the benefit of the schemes of the government. He said that I have full faith that in the coming times, the state government and the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce will work with commitment for the development of the state by making excellent coordination. On this occasion, a live portrait picture of the Chief Minister was lovingly presented. Chief Minister Hemant Soren also toured the stalls in the trade fair.

On this occasion, Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Kumar Choubey, President of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce Kishor Mantri and all the members and a large number of entrepreneurs were present.
Jantar Mantar on Monday witnessed dramatic scenes this morning as a group of farmers broke through barricades to join the wrestlers' protest over sexual harassment allegations against the national wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and BJP MP, even as Delhi Police denied any untoward incident at the site. Visuals from the spot showed farmers crossing over and removing barricades put up by the police near the wrestlers' protest site. Purported videos showed farmers climbing the barricades and even dragging and pushing some of them away in a bid to enter the protest venue.

Hours later, the police barricades, which were damaged during the hustle, were welded together and placed at the site as part of a precautionary measure to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said some farmers were in a hurry to reach the dharna site. The barricades were removed to escort the farmers into the site and the meeting was being held peacefully, he added. A group of farmers were escorted to Jantar Mantar. At entry barricades they were in a hurry to reach the dharna site and some of them climbed the barricades which fell down and were removed by them. Policemen kept the barricades aside to facilitate their entry, the DCP said in a tweet.

The protestors have reached the dharna site and the meeting is going on peacefully, he added. Police insisted that there was no clash with the protesters and that the cops at the site were facilitating the protesters and ensuring a peaceful gathering.

All are requested not to believe in fake news. The protestors at Jantar Mantar are being facilitated. Entry is being regulated through DFMD to ensure safety. Please remain peaceful and abide by the law, a tweet by Delhi Police's official Twitter handle said. Farmers in large numbers reached the site to express their solidarity with the protesting wrestlers. Demanding justice for female wrestlers, the farmers, carrying their union flags, raised anti-Modi slogans. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also joined the protesters and addressed them.

Taking to Twitter, she shared pictures from the protest site and demanded justice for the wresters. In solidarity with our women wrestlers. Justice needs to be served, the GoI should stop shielding the accused, she tweeted. In a statement, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said thousands of farmers gathered at Bangla Sahib Gurudwara around 11 am and marched on foot towards Jantar Mantar. Farmer leaders said they stand united with the wrestlers and that they will work under the leadership of protesting wrestlers.

Today they will have to fight to save the honour of the daughters of this nation as well as their agriculture at the same time, the leaders said. A case under the POCSO Act has been registered against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Yet he has not been called by Delhi Police for questioning. He is being shielded by BJP leaders. These female wrestlers are our daughters and we will fight for their honour, a farmer leader said.
The Haryana government Monday said it has made arrangements to evacuate 16 students of the state stranded in the violence-hit Manipur. Following instructions from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, officials have commenced efforts to bring back the students to Haryana at the earliest.



Khattar has assured all possible cooperation from the state government and apart from these 16 students, if information is received about any other student, they will also be brought back safely.

According to information received so far, five students of Haryana are pursuing education at NIT-Manipur, eight at IIIT-Manipur, and three at NSU-Manipur, the government said, adding, it is considering flying these students to Delhi via Kolkata.

State government making elaborate arrangements to bring back students safely from violence-hit areas of Manipur Chief Minister taking stock of situation, says every possible help will be given by state government. As per information, so far, 16 students are in various institutions in Manipur.

An official spokesperson said that the officials of the Chief Minister's Office are in constant touch with the concerned officials in Manipur and are taking updates of every situation. The Chief Secretary of Manipur has informed that all the students of Haryana are safe and every facility is being provided to them.
Lohardaga District Police Force has arrested three rebels of banned extremist organization PLFI with two country made pistols and six live cartridges. SDPO Vashishtha Narayan Singh said that among the arrested Naxalites, Kaushal Kumar Yadav is a resident of Balsokra, Chanho Ranchi in Ranchi district. Deepak Yadav is a resident of Lohardaga's Kairo police station area and Kushal Yadav is a resident of Serum, Balumath police station area of Latehar. The age of all three is between 19 and 23 years, along with the mobiles were snatched from the labourers working during the canal construction in Kairo Bhandra Seaman and posters were also displayed threatening to stop the work if levy is not received.

The SDPO said that all the three rebels work for Krishna Yadav, the mastermind of PLFI. On April 8, he was involved in many incidents including throwing bombs, playing posters, setting machines on fire and spreading terror in stone mines of Makandu in Kuru police station area. They had carried out the incident of assault and snatching of mobiles from the labourers in Kairo police station area, in view of the increasing activities of PLFI, the police had increased surveillance and patrolling. On the night of May 7 at around 1:30 pm, Deepak was stopped on suspicion. On checking them, a pistol and cartridges were recovered from him. On the spot of these two, their associate Kushal Yadav was arrested from Latehar police station area, DSP Abhiyan Deepak Kumar Pandey, SDPO Vashishtha Narayan Singh, Kudu police station in-charge Vishwajit Kumar Singh, Sub-Inspector Technical Branch in-charge Abhinav Kumar, Prem in the campaign to arrest Naxalites. Prakash and SAT police personnel were involved.




): The Haryana cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Monday accepted the Haryana Backward Classes Commission's report on the proportion of reservations for Backward Classes in municipalities. The commission headed by former Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Justice Darshan Singh, reviewed the assessment of the political backwardness of the Backward Classes. In the assessment, the commission found that the Backward Classes (Block A) category are not adequately represented in the political setup. Now, the office of councillor in every Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Municipal Committee will be reserved for Backward Classes (A). The commission had stated that as per the direction of the apex court, the reservation shall not exceed the aggregate of 50 percent of the total seats reserved in favour of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (A) taken together in a particular urban local body or municipality.
Acting on the inputs of the intelligence agencies, the sleuths of Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) arrested seven Rohingyas, including four women, from Kanpur Nagar for entering India illegally from Bangladesh.

An Indian broker who allegedly facilitated their illegal entry was also nabbed, an official statement issued here by Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.

Acting on a tip-off that some persons have entered India from the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura with fake Indian documents, the ATS team arrested seven Rohingya, including four women, and one Indian broker from Jhakarkati bus stop in Kanpur on Saturday, the statement said.

An FIR has been lodged against the arrested Rohingyas under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act (knowingly using a forged passport for entering into India or remaining therein without the authority of law).

The broker involved in the racket revealed before the ATS that they used to bring Rohingyas from Myanmar to Bangladesh and make arrangements for their stay in Rohingya camps. Later, they used to bring them to India from West Bengal, Assam and Tripura borders.

From the Tripura border, these Rohingya were brought to Guwahati by rail and then sent to West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, Punjab and Jammu Kashmir, where their fake documents were prepared, the ATS said.

These Rohingya were supported by their relatives, who had managed to stay in India, the STF said, adding a detailed probe was on in the matter.

Earlier also, UP ATS arrested several Rohingyas who brought Bangladesh residents in India and later managed forged identity documents which helped them establish themselves as Indian nationals. Later they also helped them to get overseas employment by managing Indian passports.
Following the intervention by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and notice by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Punjab Government on Monday constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the complaint regarding alleged sexual misconduct by victim against the Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak.



The SIT, to be headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Border Range-Amritsar, Narinder Bhargav, will probe the complaint filed by a Gurdaspur-based victim to the national SC panel alleging sexual misconduct over the years by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kataruchak, besides the threat to life from him.



Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dayama Harish Kumar Omprakash and Pathankot SSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh are the other members of the SIT.



As per the orders issued by the Punjab Polices Bureau of Investigation (BoI) director, the SIT has also been directed to provide security to the victim-complainant.



In response to the notice issued by the national SC panel to the Punjab DGP on May 5, the NCSC has been informed about the formation of the SIT in the form of an interim reply.



SIT shall render complete assistance and support to the Commission in investigation or inquiry into the matter, read the order, the copy of which has also been sent to the NCSC and the office of Punjab Governor.



The order stated that the SIT shall get in touch with the victim-complainant for further necessary action in the matter.



The alleged sexual abuse victim, on May 5, submitted a complaint with the panel accusing Punjabs Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak of first befriending him and then sexually exploiting him on the promise of a government job on becoming an MLA.



Taking serious note, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) issued notice to Punjab Government, through the Chief Secretary as well as the DGP, asking the officials concerned to submit an action taken report immediately. The Commission had also asked the officials to provide security to the victim.



The victim, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, in his complaint to the NCSC had submitted, Kataruchak had approached me by sending a friend request on Facebook in 2013-14 and when he accepted it, Kataruchak allegedly started making advances. Since he was an influential person, he had promised me a government job due to which I remained mum. I was too young at that time to understand anything. But, his sexual excesses continued till 2021. However, he met me for the last time on Diwali in 2021 and he neither provided me with a job nor he met me after that.



The issue was first raised by the Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who had on May 1, submitted a complaint with two highly objectionable videos to the Governor seeking its forensic verification. The Governor had then handed over the complaint and the videos to the Chandigarh DGP to get its forensic examination done.



Governor Purohit had, on May 6, forwarded the forensic report of the purported objectionable video of the Cabinet Minister, which cleared that the video was not morphed, to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for further action against Kataruchak.



At the same time, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had backed his Minister, asserting that he had not received any such videos. At the same time, he lashed out at the Opposition, especially Khaira, BJPs Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and SADs Bikram Majithia, for making baseless allegations just for the sake of speaking against the Government.



Sirsa, last week, had tweeted a part of the video, in which the alleged victim claimed that he was on the run now fearing the Minister would harm him or his family.



Coming on camera, the victim, who identified him as Pathankot-resident, had claimed that it was he who was shown in the video that was handed over to the Governor by Congress leader Khaira. In the video, he had also alleged that he had been subjected to sexual misconduct by Kataruchak when I was very young  from 2013 to 2014, which continued till 2021.



Giving details, he had alleged that Kataruchak had approached him by sending a friend request on the social networking website, Facebook, in 2013-14. When he accepted it, Kataruchak allegedly started making advances towards him, and later asked to have a relationship with him.



I was too young at that time to understand anythingLater, Kataruchak called me to GurdaspurI refused saying that I dont have enough money. He promised me that he will give me money once I come to meet him at GurdaspurHe picked me from the bus stand and took me to his office for his sexual excesses, said the man in the video.



The victim also added that he met Kataruchak for the last time on Diwali in 2021. He then promised me a government job stating that he would become an MLA soon. After that he did not meet me and asked me not to approach him, the victim alleged.
Debutante author Soma Bose is a creative writer and visual storyteller. Her affinity for storytelling inspires her to find stories behind the most mundane aspects of life. This talent has led to her website SomTales.com, where she weaves thought-provoking tales around photographs.

Soma has extended her flair for storytelling into the world of films as well. She has written scripts that have been appreciated by acclaimed filmmakers and luminaries like Shyam Benegal and Shonali Bose. Whether it is in films or literature, Soma tirelessly seeks new ways of conjuring powerful emotions through novel ideas.

Soma Bose's first book, titled "Frenny and Other Women You Have Met" explores subtle and intricate emotions, hoping that her readers appreciate women's lives and contributions in all their richly varied forms. The motivation to write such human-centric stories comes from Soma's experience of growing up in the coal-mining town of Dhanbad in Jharkhand, India.

"Frenny and Other Women You Have Met", author Soma Bose's debut book, was launched at a program at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi recently. Eminent actors Mita Vasishth and Swastika Mukherjee unveiled the book at the program attended by eminent persons of the capital.

Expressing their delight both the actors echoed their excitement about the book and opined that the women characters portrayed in the book were very real and readers would easily relate them.

"Frenny and Other Women You Have Met" talks about the 5 different characters located in different parts of the world and their experiences.

Frenny Sucharita, rich and charming, is an award-winning writer and philanthropist. Her son and husband are her emotional mainstays. She has everything and yet she misses something. This missing link is aggravated when Sucharita's son moves out to university. At about the same time, she runs into Frenny, an aged woman who works at a tiny, old stationery shop. The two strike an unlikely friendship.

The story explores these two characters through their conversations, revelling in the richness that each brings to the other's life. Set in Shimla and New York, this story explores the vicissitudes of obsessive maternal love. After her husband leaves their family, Mrinalini brings up her son, Rohan, by herself with the help of her supportive mother-in-law. He grows up not just into a supportive Mrinalini son, but also as Mrinalini's emotional anchor and her most precious possession. Unable to rationalize the mother-son bond, Mrinalini does not realize when her love for her songrows into an unremitting obsession.

Shreyasi

In Calcutta, newly-married Shreyasi takes music lessons from a much-older David Sir. The lessons end soon but their bond endures through the ups and downs of life. When David Sir loses his music to dementia, he can only remember one name: Shreyasi. The role of teacher and student is reversed as Shreyasi helps him regain his lost melodies.

Amiran

The story is about a Kashmiri shawl that is lovingly embroidered by Amiran, for her grand-daughter Sarah. As the shawls near its completion, it is sold off to a tourist by Sarah's father Rashid for a hefty sum. Amiran and Sarah are extremely saddened by this. The entire story is narrated by the shawl, as it changes hands several times, to finally re in the hands of Sarah, while she gets married.

Ananya

Ananya is in a loveless marriage. She spends the largest part of her life fulfilling marital responsibilities. Life seems like a sacrifice until she meets Alok, Blessed w supportive children and an understanding mother-in-law, Ananya faces no grea obstacles to getting out of her marriage and starting a new life with the man she loves. However, even before she can make her choice, life takes an unexpected turn, making her reconsider all her plans.
The by-election to Suar Tanda assembly constituency in Rampur district will be the third consecutive challenge to the political clout of Mohammad Azam Khan, the Muslim mascot of Samajwadi Party in Rampur district.

The campaign for the Suar Tanda and Chhanbey assembly seat in Sonbhadra ended on Monday evening and polling will be held on May 10.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has accorded top priority to the by-election in Suar Tanda as it is yet another opportunity for the ruling party to show that Azam Khans family is politically finished in their citadel of Rampur.

Earlier in June 2022, the BJP had won the by-election to Rampur Lok Sabha seat, which was caused by the resignation of SP MP Azam Khan. He resigned after winning from Rampur assembly seat in March 2022 UP assembly election. In December 2022, the BJP won the by-election to Rampur assembly as its candidate, Akash Saxena, defeated his nearest SP rival Asim Raza by over 33,000 votes.

By-election to Suar Tanda is yet another opportunity for the BJP to hit at the political roots of the Azam Khan family. Suar Tanda assembly seat became vacant after Azam Khans son Abdullah Azam Khan was disqualified for the second time from the same seat in February after he was sentenced to two years in a 15-year-old case.

Abdullah Azam Khan, and his father were convicted by a local court in Moradabad district for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code in a matter pertaining to a dharna on a state highway in January 2008.

While the SP generally relied on Azam Khan and his family to win Suar Tanda  Abdullah had won the last two elections in 2017 and 2022  this time, the SP has fielded grassroots leader Anuradha Chauhan (42) who is also an advocate. Chauhan, a first-time candidate from outside Azam Khans circle in Rampur, was earlier with the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has not fielded a candidate in the bypoll. Chauhan was an independent zila panchayat member after quitting the BSP. She joined the SP in 2015. Before that, she had been a gram pradhan as well.

There were some doubts over whether Azam Khan would extend his support to Chauhan after he refused the SPs offer to field someone from his family. But since then, he has clarified those doubts by holding a public meeting on Saturday evening in Suar to seek votes for the party candidate. With Azam Khan in her camp, Chauhan is expected to give a tough fight to her rival Shafiq Ahmed Ansari of the BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal).

Ansari belongs to the backward Pasmanda Muslim community and was with the SP before he joined the Apna Dal (S) led by Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel a few months ago. Like the BSP, the Congress too has not fielded a candidate for the Suar bypoll.

Though the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is contesting the seat on the symbol of Apna Dal (S), the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Suar is conquered. A BJP leader in Rampur said, They (SP) only have one seat left with them in Rampur, while Suar is currently vacant. People have stopped voting in the name of Azam Khan.

Of the five Vidhan Sabha seats in Rampur, three are with the BJP, including Rampur. Only Chamraua is with the SP.

The candidate may be of Apna Dal (S) but the whole organisation of the BJP is behind Ansari in this poll. Every worker will fight for Ansari and ensure he wins, said a BJP leader.

Anupriya Patel, BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and minister JPS Rathore have campaigned for Ansari.

In the 2022 elections, Abdullah had won the seat by 61,103 votes, defeating Apna Dals erstwhile nawab Haidar Ali Khan alias Hamza Mian. Abdullah managed to get 59.19 per cent votes polled in a constituency having a Muslim majority.
Slamming the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for not addressing the miserable hygiene and sanitary conditions that he had flagged at the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant almost two months ago, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said major penalty proceedings are required to be initiated against all the officers named in the report submitted by the DJB.

The role of other officers must be re-examined to ascertain any negligence on their part and action be taken, he said, asking the DJB to furnish an action taken report (ATR) within 15 days. Meanwhile, Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj condemned L-Gs move and termed it as politically motivated. He said that Delhi LG's office for interfering with the functioning of the DJB despite it being out of his jurisdiction. According to a note issued by the LG Office, the DJB submitted a report to the chief secretary on April 6 without addressing the issue of water quality being supplied from the Wazirabad and Chandrawal Water Treatment Plants. The L-G said that despite his clear direction to expedite de-silting/ cleaning of the pondage area at Wazirabad Barrage, the timelines drawn not only reflectlack of urgency, it also does not fix accountably upon those concerned. There is also no mention about the plans for upgradation of the WTP, which was desired to be taken on priority, he said. In a fresh note to the chief secretary, the LG said: It is again emphasised that providing potable drinking water of adequate standard to the citizens of Delhi is the foremost responsibility of the DJB, which should never be compromised. Any dereliction in this regard should be immediately identified and exemplary action initiated against the erring officers/officials.

However, from the conclusions, suggestions and actions proposed in the instant report, it is discerned that my concerns have not received the expected response. The reasoning adduced in respect of the grave lapses observed during my inspection are unacceptable, he said.

After his visit, Saxena wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressing deep distress on the state of the Wazirabad water treatment plant (WTP) and feeder pondage area at Wazirabad Barrage, that feeds the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs, following a visit earlier this week.

Seeking the CMs urgent intervention, the L-G said the miserable hygiene and sanitary conditions at Wazirabad WTP, which supplies drinking water to large parts of the city, has an impact on its quality. Delhi gets around 40 per cent raw water from the Yamuna through Haryana and the rest from the Ganga from Uttar Pradesh, and Bhakra Nangal from Punjab.

The Wazirabad Barrage on the Yamuna in north Delhi is the primary holding area where raw water is lifted for Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants. In the note, the L-G said that however, despite the urgency of the issue that involved threat to health and lives of lakhs of people dependent on water supply from the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs, the Action Taken Report by the DJB has been found to be extremely shoddy and perfunctory, and does not even address the basic issues apart from not fixing responsibility and taking action against the guilty officials.

The L-G has accordingly written in his note to the Chief Secretary, It is again emphasized that providing potable drinking water of adequate standard to the Citizens of Delhi is the foremost responsibility of DJB, which should never be compromised. Any dereliction in this regard should be immediately identified and exemplary action initiated against the erring officers/officials. However, from the conclusions/ suggestions/ actions proposed in the instant report, it is discerned that my concerns have not received the expected response.

The reasoning adduced in respect of the grave lapses observed during my inspection are unacceptable to say the very least. As per the statement issued by the Water Minister, the LG is well aware of the fact that DJB is grappling with artificial shortage of funds created for some officers.

The problem has persisted for many months since officials of the finance department have been asking for voluminous information back and forth. DJB has not even received complete funds allocated by the government for the year 2021-22 due to never ending R&D being done by Principal Secretary finance from September 2022 at the cost of public service.This conduct has been brought to the knowledge of LG by Legislative Assembly Committees, senior officials of the department in meetings as well through public forums.

It is hard to believe how Principal Secretary Finance is sitting over the budget which is duly approved by Cabinet and Legislative Assembly for welfare schemes of Delhi government, the statement reads.

The Water Minister has highlighted how the LG is riding on boats with the media to take credit for the work of cleaning Yamuna initiated by the elected government but never interested in resolving issues under his jurisdiction, be it law and order, inefficiencies of DDA or Services matters.
Making a strong pitch for the return of the BJP government in Karnataka a day before the Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the affection he has received in the state over the last few days has been unparalleled, and it has strengthened the resolve to make it number one across all sectors.

He also sought their blessings in the mission to make the state the numbe one in the country.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us," he said on Twitter.

In an appeal to "brothers and sisters" of the State, he sought their blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one state in the country, Modi said.

"My appeal is for the bright future of Karnataka. It is for the bright future of your family, especially the younger generations", said the Prime Minister, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows in the State ahead of the polls.

Stating that the people have always showered him with love and affection, he said it feels like a divine blessing to me. "Ee Baariya Nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara' (This time's decision: Majority BJP government) - this call of the people of Karnataka is still echoing in my ears."

In our 'Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal', we Indians have aimed to make our beloved country a developed nation, and Karnataka is keen to lead the movement to realise this vision, Modi said.

India is the world's fifth-largest economy, our next aim is to reach the top three. This is possible only when Karnataka rapidly grows to become a USD one trillion economy. "You have witnessed the work of the 'Double Engine' BJP government over the last 3.5 years. Our decisive, focused and futuristic policies are imparting momentum to the growth of Karnataka's economy", the Prime Minister said.

Despite the COVID pandemic, he said, Karnataka has received over Rs 99,000 crore annually as foreign investment under the BJP government. It was just around Rs 30,000 crore under the previous government. This shows the BJP's commitment to Karnataka's progress and to a bright future for the youth.

"We want to make Karnataka the number 1 in investment, industry and innovation. We want to make Karnataka the number 1 in education, employment and entrepreneurship", Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the government is working to empower the farmers with a 'Beej Se Bazaar Tak' vision. Through new irrigation projects, expansion of storage facilities. Increasing ethanol blending, usage of nano urea and modern technology such as drones, the BJP is committed to making Karnataka the number one in agriculture.

The decisions taken by the 'double engine' government to boost connectivity, 'Ease of Living' and 'Ease of Doing Business' have built a strong foundation for Karnataka to become India's number one state, Modi further said.

The cultural heritage of Karnataka has always inspired the nation as well as him personally. Jagajyothi Basaveshwara, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, Shri Kanakadasa, Onake Obavva - this land has given us many such greats. Guided by their legacy, the BJP is working to build a modern Karnataka that would make them proud, he added.

The BJP government, the Prime Minister said, would continue to work to create next-gen urban infrastructure across Karnataka, modernise transport, raise the quality of life in rural and urban areas, and create new opportunities for women and youth.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve when we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us. I seek your blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the Number 1 state in the country," the Prime Minister said.

My appeal is for the bright future of Karnataka, it is for the bright future of your family, especially the younger generations, he added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's speech in Dholpur reflects that his leader is Vasundhara Raje and not Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Pilot said in a no holds barred attack against his party colleague on Tuesday.

The Congress leader also categorically denied Gehlot's charges during his speech on Sunday that the MLAs who rebelled against him in 2020 had taken money from the BJP and they should return the money to Amit Shah.

Pilot, Gehlot's former deputy, also announced a 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' from Ajmer to Jaipur on May 11 to raise issues of corruption.

After listening to the chief minister's speech in Dholpur, it seems the CM's leader is not Sonia Gandhi, his leader is Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Pilot told reporters.

Addressing a programme in Dholpur on Sunday, Gehlot claimed that he survived the 2020 revolt by some Congress MLAs because BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support a conspiracy to topple an elected government through money power.

Pilot also said it is wrong to make allegations against own (Congress) leaders.

it is condemnable. I categorically deny false and baseless allegations, he said.
Ten Indian nationals, including three women, have been arrested here for allegedly acquiring Nepali citizenship cards illegally by producing fake documents, police said.

A Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office team apprehended the Indian nationals, all hailing from Bihar, from various parts of Kathmandu on Saturday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravindra Regmi said.

Of those arrested, seven were males, while three were females. The Kathmandu Valley Police Office revealed their identities at a press conference at its office on Sunday.

The Indian nationals were found to have obtained the Nepali citizenship certificates on different dates from the district administration offices of Rupandehi, Bara and Parsa districts by producing fake documents, Regmi said.

Police said those arrested have lived in Nepal for a long time, some since as far back as 2006, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

The arrests took place after a three-month-long investigation, and those apprehended were engaged in the business of making sweets and ran sweet shops in Nepal, MyRepublica newspaper quoted the police as saying. The Indian nationals have been identified as Bharat Prasad Gupta, 55; Rahul Gupta, 30; Gyanmati Devi Gupta, 50; Gopal Gupta, 39; Ram Sundar Gupta, 44; Ram Prabesh Gupta, 43; Bharat Gupta, 46; Snehalata Gupta, 42; Mindevi Gupta, 49, and Rajesh Kumar Gupta, 52, all of them are from Bihar and currently reside in different parts of the Kathmandu Valley.
Chinas Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu told Pakistans naval chief Amjad Khan Niazi on Monday that the two all-weather friends should seek new areas of military cooperation and jointly safeguard their security interests and region.

Li said the relations between the militaries of the two countries are an important part of China-Pakistan relations, and cooperation between the two sides in various fields, including the two navies, has achieved good results.

Li said the militaries of the two countries should expand exchanges in new areas, create new cooperation highlights, and work together to safeguard the security interests of both countries and the region, a defence ministry statement here said. Observers say Sino-Pakistan military cooperation in recent years focussed more on the navy as China gradually stepped up its naval presence in Indias backyard, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea where it is developing Pakistans Gwadar port.

Besides acquiring four modern naval frigates from China, Pakistan will also be getting eight Chinese submarines as part of the efforts to modernisation, Admiral Niazi told the Chinese media during his visit earlier.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qing Gang on Monday met with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns during which he sharply criticised Washingtons policy towards Beijing, specifically on Taiwan, but at the same called for stabilising the ties between the two countries, saying that it is a top priority.

Qins meeting with Burns, his first ever since he took over as Foreign Minister after serving as Chinas envoy to Washington, has set off speculation that the two countries are on the verge of restarting their active dialogue that stalled since February this year after the US shot a Chinese spy balloon. Following the balloon incident, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken put off his visit to Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing on Monday that the meeting is a normal diplomatic arrangement. In his meeting with Burns, Qin said a series of erroneous words and deeds by the US has undermined the hard-won positive momentum of the bilateral ties, disrupted the planned dialogue and cooperation agenda, and chilled bilateral relations again.

He urged the US to deeply reflect and work with China to get the ties back on track. The top priority is to stabilise China-US relations, avoid a downward spiral and prevent accidents from occurring between China and the US. This should be the basic consensus between the two countries and is also the bottom line that must be upheld when dealing with state-to-state relations, especially ties between two major countries, Qin added.

The US must stop undermining Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests, correctly handle the Taiwan question in particular, refrain from hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop supporting or conniving with the Taiwan independence separatist forces, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China claims Taiwan as part of its mainland and has stepped up military actions around the self-governing island as the US has increased its contacts with Taipei, since the visit of then-US Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August last year.

On the spy balloon incident, Qin said, accidental incidents in bilateral relations should be dealt with in a calm, professional and pragmatic manner to avoid further shocks to China-US relations.

In a brief post on Twitter, Burns said he and Qin discussed challenges in the US-China relationship and the necessity of stabilising ties and expanding high-level communication.

Qins meeting with Burns followed the US envoys comments last week that Washington is ready to talk to China.

Our view is we need better channels between the two governments and deeper channels, and we are ready to talk, Burns said at an event at the Stimson Centre, which he attended virtually. Weve never been shy of talking, and we hope the Chinese will meet us halfway on this, he was quoted as saying by CNN.

After Pelosis visit to Taiwan, China cut off talks with Washington on major issues, from climate change to military relations and the spy balloon incident further exasperated their ties.

Burns told the Stimson Centre event that the US has been calling on China to open all of the channels suspended following Pelosis Taiwan trip. He reiterated Blinkens

visit to China would be rescheduled when conditions are appropriate.
Pakistans Supreme Court on Monday resumed the hearing on the pleas challenging the newly enacted law aimed at clipping the powers of the chief justice. The bill, titled the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, was aimed at depriving the office of the CJP of powers to take suo motu notice in an individual capacity.

The draft law was initially passed by both houses of Parliament in March and sent to President Arif Alvi for his assent. However, the president sent it back, saying that the proposed law travelled beyond the competence of Parliament. The bill was subsequently adopted by a joint session of Parliament on April 10  albeit with some amendments.

The top court  while hearing three petitions challenging the then-bill  in an anticipatory injunction on April 13, barred the government from enforcing the draft law, saying the move would prevent the imminent apprehended danger that is irreparable as soon as it became an act of parliament. An eight-member larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial is hearing the pleas on Monday.

At the outset of Mondays hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that a plea had been filed for the formation of a full court to hear the case. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also filed a petition for the formation of a full court, he said.

Justice Ahsan noted that the governments plea had not yet been fixed for hearing. He then asked the AGP whether the documents sought by the court at the previous hearing had been submitted, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Awan replied that he expected to receive the record of parliamentary proceedings by tomorrow and had also contacted the National Assembly Speaker in the matter. The judiciarys independence is a fundamental element of the Constitution, the AGP added. He said that the law in question had set out the procedure for constituting benches as well as dealing with appeals.
Pakistan and Afghanistans Taliban-appointed government have agreed to boost trade and lower tensions along their border amid a surge in militant attacks on security forces, officials said Monday.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Afghanistans Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, struck the deal Sunday in Islamabad, according to Pakistans Foreign Ministry. The agreement is designed to improve bilateral trade, combat terrorism and boost bilateral ties.

Earlier, Bhutto Zardari and Muttaqi also held talks with Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang, a departure from recent years when such dialogue had been on hold, according to analysts, who say China is expanding its influence in the region. China also has played a role in the resumption of Saudi-Iran diplomatic ties.

In Pakistan, Beijing is bankrolling the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC  a sprawling package that includes such projects as road and power plant construction and boosting agriculture production.

The package is considered a lifeline for this impoverished Islamic nation, which is currently facing one of its worst economic crises amid stalled talks on a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. CPEC, also known as the One Road Project, is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a global endeavor aimed at reconstituting the ancient Silk Road and linking China to all corners of Asia.

Qin arrived in Islamabad on Friday and met with President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Bhutto Zardari and Pakistans powerful army chief, Gen. Asim Munir. During these meetings, he was assured that Pakistan will boost security for all Chinese nationals who are working on multi-billion dollar projects in cash-strapped Pakistan.

China has been demanding more security from Pakistan for its nationals residing and working in the Islamic country since 2021, when a suicide bomber killed nine Chinese and four Pakistanis in an attack in Pakistans volatile northwest.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Bhutto Zardari and Muttaqi on Sunday held a candid and in-depth exchange on key issues of mutual concern, including peace and security, as well as trade and connectivity. The two sides reaffirmed their desire to pursue continuous and practical engagement, it said.

According to the Afghan embassy, Muttaqi and his delegation met with Bhutto Zardari and other officials. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, Afghan-Pak political, economic, and transit relations as well as challenges of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan have been discussed, it said on Twitter early Monday.

Pakistans military said Muttaqi also met with Munir, the army chief, to discuss issues of mutual interest including aspects related to regional security, border management, and formalization of bilateral security mechanisms for improvement in the current security environment.

Munir sought enhanced cooperation to effectively tackle the common challenges of terrorism and extremism, the statement added.

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have featured ups and down in the past year.

In February, the two sides shut the main Afghan-Pakistan border crossing at Torkham, stranding people and trucks carrying food and essential items. After a Pakistani delegation traveled to Kabul for talks on the crisis, the border was reopened after a week and Muttaqis visit to Islamabad was planned.

Afghanistans Taliban have been shunned by most of the international community for harsh and restrictive measures they have imposed since seizing power in August 2021, when US and NATO troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war. The Afghan Taliban has banned girls from education beyond the sixth grade and barred women from most jobs and public life.

Pakistan has lately expressed concern over a surge of deadly attacks across the country by the Pakistani Taliban  an independent militant group that is allied with and sheltered by the Afghan Taliban.

Islamabad has demanded from the Taliban in Kabul that they do more to rein in anti-Pakistani groups such as the Pakistani Taliban  also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP  which have stepped up attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent months.
Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE:LYG  Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a note issued to investors on Sunday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.69) to GBX 58 ($0.73) in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Barclays raised shares of Lloyds Banking Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 61 ($0.77) to GBX 56 ($0.71) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 58 ($0.73) to GBX 60 ($0.76) in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 70 ($0.88) to GBX 69 ($0.87) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lloyds Banking Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $57.29.

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Lloyds Banking Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LYG opened at $2.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.47. Lloyds Banking Group has a 1-year low of $1.70 and a 1-year high of $2.63. The company has a market capitalization of $38.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.28. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $2.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.30.

Institutional Trading of Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group ( NYSE:LYG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.03. Lloyds Banking Group had a net margin of 21.31% and a return on equity of 11.52%. The business had revenue of $14.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.68 billion. Research analysts expect that Lloyds Banking Group will post 0.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LYG. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Great Diamond Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Waldron Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. acquired a new stake in Lloyds Banking Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Lloyds Banking Group by 380.7% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 14,026 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 11,108 shares during the period. 2.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Lloyds Banking Group

(Get Rating)

Lloyds Banking Group Plc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, Commercial Banking, Insurance and Wealth, and Other. The Retail segment offers broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance and unsecured consumer lending to personal, and small business customers.

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Shares of Mogo Inc. (TSE:MOGO  Get Rating) were up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$1.08 and last traded at C$1.07. Approximately 17,065 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 95,138 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.05.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on MOGO. Raymond James dropped their price objective on Mogo from C$2.25 to C$1.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Eight Capital lifted their price objective on Mogo from C$2.25 to C$3.00 in a research note on Friday, March 24th.

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Mogo Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.89 and a 200 day moving average price of C$0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.49, a current ratio of 4.41 and a quick ratio of 3.99. The firm has a market cap of C$80.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.45 and a beta of 3.66.

About Mogo

Mogo Inc operates as a financial technology company in Canada and internationally. The company provides digital solutions to the consumers to get in control of their financial health. It offers Mogo app to access a digital spending account with Mogo Visa Platinum Prepaid Card; MogoCrypto that enables the buying and selling of bitcoin; MogoProtect, a free ID fraud protection and monthly credit score monitoring; MogoMortgage, a digital mortgage experience; and MogoMoney that provides access to personal loans.

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Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BFH  Get Rating) major shareholder Turtle Creek Asset Management acquired 150,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $25.17 per share, for a total transaction of $3,775,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 4,495,972 shares in the company, valued at approximately $113,163,615.24. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Turtle Creek Asset Management also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, May 4th, Turtle Creek Asset Management acquired 33,711 shares of Bread Financial stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $23.72 per share, for a total transaction of $799,624.92.

Bread Financial Stock Performance

BFH traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $25.14. The stock had a trading volume of 759,163 shares, compared to its average volume of 907,912. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $30.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.63. Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. has a 1 year low of $23.19 and a 1 year high of $55.87. The stock has a market cap of $1.26 billion, a PE ratio of 2.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.12 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Bread Financial Announces Dividend

Bread Financial ( NYSE:BFH Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $9.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.11 by $1.97. Bread Financial had a return on equity of 19.35% and a net margin of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.21 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 40.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. will post 11.24 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Bread Financials payout ratio is presently 8.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BFH has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $64.00 price objective on shares of Bread Financial in a research note on Friday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Bread Financial from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Bread Financial from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $35.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Bread Financial from $39.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.88.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ellevest Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bread Financial by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 702 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Bread Financial by 42.2% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bread Financial by 63.1% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 848 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 328 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Bread Financial by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 12,762 shares of the companys stock valued at $481,000 after acquiring an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Bread Financial by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 14,445 shares of the companys stock valued at $438,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.62% of the companys stock.

Bread Financial Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bread Financial Holdings, Inc engages in the provision of payment, lending, and saving solutions. The firm also offers private label and co-brand credit cards and buy now, pay later products such as installment loans and split-pay offerings. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Columbus, OH.

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Village Farms International, Inc. (TSE:VFF  Get Rating) shares rose 0.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$8.48 and last traded at C$8.12. Approximately 4,316,496 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 701% from the average daily volume of 539,085 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$8.05.

Village Farms International Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of C$715.51 million and a P/E ratio of -116.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.58, a current ratio of 3.11 and a quick ratio of 1.94. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$8.12.

About Village Farms International

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Village Farms International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers in North America. It operates through three segments: Produce Business, Energy Business, and Cannabis and Hemp Business. The company also owns and operates a 7.0 megawatt power plant that generates and sells electricity to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority; and produces and supplies cannabis products.

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Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH  Get Rating) is scheduled to release its earnings data before the market opens on Wednesday, May 10th. Analysts expect Vishay Intertechnology to post earnings of $0.57 per share for the quarter. Vishay Intertechnology has set its Q1 2023 guidance at EPS.Persons that wish to register for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The semiconductor company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.78 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $855.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $882.63 million. Vishay Intertechnology had a net margin of 12.26% and a return on equity of 23.89%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.62 EPS. On average, analysts expect Vishay Intertechnology to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Vishay Intertechnology Stock Performance

Shares of Vishay Intertechnology stock opened at $21.50 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.92, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.21 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $21.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.79. Vishay Intertechnology has a 12 month low of $16.73 and a 12 month high of $24.48.

Vishay Intertechnology Dividend Announcement

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.86%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 16th. Vishay Intertechnologys dividend payout ratio is currently 13.42%.

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Vishay Intertechnology in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Chairman Marc Zandman sold 23,834 shares of Vishay Intertechnology stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.06, for a total value of $501,944.04. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 35,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $748,725.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 8.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vishay Intertechnology

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Centiva Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of Vishay Intertechnology during the 4th quarter valued at about $298,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vishay Intertechnology during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $280,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC bought a new position in shares of Vishay Intertechnology during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $264,000. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Vishay Intertechnology during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $255,000. Finally, United Services Automobile Association bought a new position in shares of Vishay Intertechnology during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $253,000. 84.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vishay Intertechnology Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of discrete semiconductors and passive components. It operates through the following segments: MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor), Diodes, Optoelectronic Components, Resistors, Inductors, and Capacitors. The MOSFET segment offers semiconductors which function as solid state switches to control power.

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Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new stake in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm purchased 11,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $597,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 1.4% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,898,719 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,227,000 after purchasing an additional 39,511 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 2.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,942,203 shares of the companys stock worth $98,644,000 after acquiring an additional 39,325 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 1.0% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,040,776 shares of the companys stock worth $72,459,000 after acquiring an additional 10,201 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 4.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 547,934 shares of the companys stock worth $27,830,000 after acquiring an additional 21,860 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. by 8.2% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 402,331 shares of the companys stock worth $28,010,000 after acquiring an additional 30,509 shares during the last quarter. 68.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE RGR traded down $0.14 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $53.51. 26,963 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 116,095. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has a 1-year low of $49.50 and a 1-year high of $69.90. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $56.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $947.66 million, a PE ratio of 13.18 and a beta of 0.51.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.97 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $149.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $138.80 million. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. had a net margin of 12.52% and a return on equity of 20.35%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.70 EPS.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.s dividend payout ratio is presently 41.28%.

About Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

(Get Rating)

Sturm, Ruger & Co, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of firearms to domestic customers. It operates through the Firearms and Castings segments. The Firearms segment manufactures and sells rifles, pistols, and revolvers principally to a number of federally-licensed, independent wholesale distributors primarily located in the United States.

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Alaska Permanent Fund Corp increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) by 9.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 233,390 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,552 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corps holdings in Pfizer were worth $11,959,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. RB Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 6.7% in the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 5,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $282,000 after buying an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.1% in the first quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 36,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,868,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. United Bank lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 46,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,416,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 136.3% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 36,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,903,000 after purchasing an additional 21,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 6.4% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,337,418 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $69,238,000 after purchasing an additional 79,887 shares in the last quarter. 67.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In related news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc bought 1,811,594 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $2.76 per share, with a total value of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of Pfizer stock traded down $0.18 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $38.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,832,057 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,436,527. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $40.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $44.94. The firm has a market cap of $217.25 billion, a PE ratio of 7.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.02 and a 52 week 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 (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 38.46%. The business had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.62 earnings per share. Pfizers revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.26%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is 32.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. SVB Leerink lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 10th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.20.

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.

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Alpha Family Trust acquired a new stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 3,875 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $323,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCHW. Phocas Financial Corp. purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Selway Asset Management purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 73.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of SCHW stock traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $47.75. 6,620,645 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 22,290,000. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $56.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The stock has a market cap of $85.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.01, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.88.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.36% and a net margin of 34.82%. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.77 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 27.32%.

Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,984 shares in the company, valued at $533,844.48. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, President Richard A. Wurster bought 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $54.39 per share, for a total transaction of $108,780.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the president now directly owns 101,391 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,514,656.49. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was bought at an average price of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,706,960 and have sold 217,308 shares worth $17,467,482. 6.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group cut their target price on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their target price for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $53.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.21.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Rating) (NYSE:CM) had its price target dropped by equities researchers at Barclays from C$65.00 to C$56.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Barclayss price objective suggests a potential upside of 1.38% from the stocks current price.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. National Bankshares lifted their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$62.00 to C$64.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. CSFB lifted their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$64.00 to C$65.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Fundamental Research set a C$73.83 target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. TD Securities lifted their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$59.00 to C$62.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$70.00 to C$69.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$66.91.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce stock traded down C$0.39 during trading on Tuesday, reaching C$55.24. The stock had a trading volume of 1,044,627 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,610,874. The company has a market capitalization of C$50.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.88, a P/E/G ratio of 27.22 and a beta of 1.04. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$57.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$59.13. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52 week low of C$53.58 and a 52 week high of C$71.10.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( TSE:CM Get Rating ) (NYSE:CM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The company reported C$1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$1.66 by C$0.28. The company had revenue of C$5.93 billion for the quarter. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 9.89% and a net margin of 22.77%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.7389706 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Victor George Dodig bought 34,850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$57.65 per share, for a total transaction of C$2,009,102.50. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Ero Copper (TSE:ERO  Get Rating) had its price target lifted by equities researchers at CIBC from C$23.50 to C$27.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBCs price target suggests a potential downside of 0.11% from the companys current price.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Ero Copper from C$25.00 to C$26.00 in a report on Tuesday. Barclays lifted their target price on Ero Copper from C$22.00 to C$25.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Ero Copper from C$30.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. National Bankshares lifted their target price on Ero Copper from C$24.50 to C$25.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Cormark lifted their target price on Ero Copper from C$25.00 to C$26.50 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$26.55.

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Ero Copper Price Performance

Ero Copper stock traded down C$0.67 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching C$27.03. 220,449 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 278,091. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$24.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$20.73. Ero Copper has a 12 month low of C$10.54 and a 12 month high of C$28.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.13, a current ratio of 3.04 and a quick ratio of 1.43. The firm has a market cap of C$2.49 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a PEG ratio of -0.72 and a beta of 2.12.

Ero Copper Company Profile

Ero Copper ( TSE:ERO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 7th. The company reported C$0.33 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.41 by C($0.08). Ero Copper had a return on equity of 21.98% and a net margin of 23.88%. The company had revenue of C$158.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$167.50 million. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Ero Copper will post 2.0197947 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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Ero Copper Corp., a base metals mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mining projects in Brazil. It engages in the production and sale of copper concentrate from the MCSA Mining Complex located within the CuraAA Valley, northeastern Bahia state, as well as gold and silver byproducts.

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Cohen Lawrence B bought a new stake in shares of Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 22,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,614,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Brunswick by 179.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 1,085,451 shares of the companys stock worth $71,043,000 after acquiring an additional 696,744 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in Brunswick by 20.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,662,239 shares of the companys stock worth $239,693,000 after acquiring an additional 622,720 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management raised its holdings in Brunswick by 370.3% in the 3rd quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 391,407 shares of the companys stock worth $25,618,000 after acquiring an additional 308,189 shares during the last quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its holdings in Brunswick by 37.1% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 1,058,388 shares of the companys stock worth $69,271,000 after acquiring an additional 286,428 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new position in Brunswick in the 1st quarter worth approximately $17,428,000. 93.01% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Brunswick Price Performance

Shares of BC traded down $1.57 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $81.11. 144,412 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 569,664. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Brunswick Co. has a 52-week low of $61.89 and a 52-week high of $93.15. The companys 50-day moving average price is $82.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.74. The company has a market cap of $5.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.82 and a beta of 1.53.

Brunswick Announces Dividend

Brunswick ( NYSE:BC Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.21. Brunswick had a net margin of 8.97% and a return on equity of 36.65%. The company had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.71 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.53 EPS. Brunswicks revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Brunswick Co. will post 10.37 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Brunswicks payout ratio is currently 19.28%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Brunswick news, VP Christopher F. Dekker sold 7,353 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.29, for a total value of $649,196.37. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 41,455 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,660,061.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO David M. Foulkes sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.40, for a total transaction of $1,058,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 241,957 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,695,299.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Christopher F. Dekker sold 7,353 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.29, for a total transaction of $649,196.37. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 41,455 shares in the company, valued at $3,660,061.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 26,390 shares of company stock worth $2,239,672 in the last 90 days. 0.74% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BC. MKM Partners boosted their price objective on shares of Brunswick from $91.00 to $105.00 in a report on Friday, February 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $110.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Brunswick from $105.00 to $94.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Brunswick from $100.00 to $94.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Brunswick in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Brunswick presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $102.25.

Brunswick Profile

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Brunswick Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of recreational marine products, including marine engines, boats, and parts and accessories for those products. It operates through the following segments: Propulsion, Parts and Accessories, Boat, and Corporate/Other. The Propulsion segment manufactures a full range of outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines, as well as propulsion-related controls, propellers, and rigging parts and accessories.

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General Electric (LON:GEC  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 105 ($1.32) and last traded at GBX 105 ($1.32), with a volume of 122 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 105 ($1.32).

General Electric Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of 1.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.48, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.20. The businesss fifty day moving average price is GBX 101.42 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 102.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 92.45, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

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General Electric Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Investors of record on Monday, March 6th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.08%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 6th. General Electrics payout ratio is currently 441.38%.

About General Electric

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Get Rating) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 366,042 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 22,304 shares during the quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV owned approximately 0.14% of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF worth $78,420,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IWF. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,665 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 644 shares during the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,109,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the first quarter valued at about $33,422,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of IWF traded down $0.57 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $246.97. The stock had a trading volume of 494,592 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,546,751. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $202.05 and a 52-week high of $258.84. The businesss fifty day moving average is $238.77 and its 200 day moving average is $229.65. The firm has a market cap of $63.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Kuehne + Nagel International AG (OTCMKTS:KHNGY  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Saturday, May 6th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a dividend of 1.9891 per share on Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.29%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. This is a positive change from Kuehne + Nagel Internationals previous dividend of $1.31.

Kuehne + Nagel International Stock Performance

Shares of KHNGY opened at $61.54 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $57.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $51.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market capitalization of $37.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.07 and a beta of 0.91. Kuehne + Nagel International has a 52-week low of $39.39 and a 52-week high of $61.54.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group downgraded Kuehne + Nagel International from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Kuehne + Nagel International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Stifel Nicolaus cut Kuehne + Nagel International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Kuehne + Nagel International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, BNP Paribas cut Kuehne + Nagel International from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $280.00.

Kuehne + Nagel International Company Profile

Kuhne + Nagel International AG engages in the provision of logistic services. It operates through the following segments: Sea Logistics, Air Logistics, Road Logistics, and Contract Logistics. The company was founded by August Kuehne and Friedrich Nagel in 1890 and is headquartered in Schindellegi, Switzerland.

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PowerSchool (NYSE:PWSC  Get Rating) had its price objective cut by Piper Sandler from $28.00 to $27.00 in a research report report published on Friday, The Fly reports.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on PWSC. Credit Suisse Group reissued an outperform rating and set a $27.00 price target on shares of PowerSchool in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised PowerSchool from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $20.00 to $24.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on PowerSchool from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. UBS Group upped their price objective on PowerSchool from $19.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Raymond James raised PowerSchool from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $22.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, March 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, PowerSchool has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $26.00.

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PowerSchool Trading Up 2.0 %

PWSC stock opened at $16.82 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $3.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -120.13 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $19.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.02. PowerSchool has a one year low of $10.60 and a one year high of $26.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Insider Activity

PowerSchool ( NYSE:PWSC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $161.07 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $162.80 million. PowerSchool had a negative net margin of 3.20% and a positive return on equity of 7.41%. Equities analysts anticipate that PowerSchool will post 0.55 EPS for the current year.

In other news, insider Marcy Daniel sold 4,085 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.38, for a total transaction of $79,167.30. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 308,016 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,969,350.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Corp Onex sold 4,295,739 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.16, for a total transaction of $86,602,098.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 71,118,123 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,433,741,359.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Marcy Daniel sold 4,085 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.38, for a total value of $79,167.30. Following the sale, the insider now owns 308,016 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,969,350.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 4,460,092 shares of company stock worth $89,807,514. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of PowerSchool

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PWSC. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in shares of PowerSchool by 866.7% during the 3rd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,189,698 shares of the companys stock worth $19,856,000 after buying an additional 1,066,626 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC increased its holdings in PowerSchool by 115.4% in the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 1,638,133 shares of the companys stock worth $27,341,000 after purchasing an additional 877,727 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in PowerSchool by 174.0% in the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 1,335,947 shares of the companys stock worth $22,297,000 after purchasing an additional 848,383 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD acquired a new position in PowerSchool in the 4th quarter worth about $17,345,000. Finally, Rheos Capital Works Inc. increased its holdings in PowerSchool by 290.1% in the 1st quarter. Rheos Capital Works Inc. now owns 1,005,300 shares of the companys stock worth $19,925,000 after purchasing an additional 747,600 shares in the last quarter. 61.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About PowerSchool

(Get Rating)

PowerSchool Holdings, Inc provides cloud-based software to the K-12 education market. Its solution is embedded in school workflows and is used on daily basis by educators, students, administrators, and parents in schools and districts representing approximately 45 million students worldwide. Its cloud-based technology platform helps schools and districts manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resource, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, college and career readiness, assessments, and analytics.

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Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltd reduced its stake in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 48,151 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 665 shares during the quarter. Travelers Companies comprises about 1.4% of Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Te Ahumairangi Investment Management Ltds holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $9,028,000 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 the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Travelers Companies by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,877,932 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,351,699,000 after buying an additional 61,656 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,195,030 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $489,535,000 after purchasing an additional 73,104 shares during the period. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 1,869,119 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $286,349,000 after purchasing an additional 80,922 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,411,106 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $257,853,000 after purchasing an additional 31,165 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 1,245,182 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $190,762,000 after purchasing an additional 78,473 shares during the period. 81.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total transaction of $2,061,436.08. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,361 shares in the company, valued at $3,092,688.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO Alan D. Schnitzer sold 150,829 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.53, for a total transaction of $28,435,791.37. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 196,914 shares in the company, valued at $37,124,196.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total transaction of $2,061,436.08. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,361 shares in the company, valued at $3,092,688.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 228,051 shares of company stock worth $42,423,406. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Travelers Companies Trading Up 1.2 %

NYSE TRV traded up $2.25 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $184.82. The company had a trading volume of 430,711 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,467,625. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $174.70 and a 200 day moving average of $182.08. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $149.65 and a 1-year high of $194.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.60.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.64 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $9.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.98 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.41% and a return on equity of 13.41%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.22 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Travelers Companies announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 19th that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the insurance provider to buy up to 12.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Travelers Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.16%. This is a positive change from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 31.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on TRV. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $182.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $181.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $191.73.

About Travelers Companies

(Get Rating)

The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds.

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Utah Retirement Systems grew its holdings in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 193,072 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,800 shares during the period. Utah Retirement Systems holdings in Southern were worth $13,787,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Founders Financial Alliance LLC grew its holdings in shares of Southern by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Founders Financial Alliance LLC now owns 4,951 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $354,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the period. Liberty One Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Southern by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 359,857 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,697,000 after buying an additional 21,253 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Southern by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 247,933 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $17,705,000 after buying an additional 4,181 shares during the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Southern by 27.3% during the 4th quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 24,353 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,739,000 after buying an additional 5,220 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. grew its holdings in Southern by 22.7% during the 4th quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. now owns 3,285 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 607 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.78% of the companys stock.

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Southern Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE SO traded up $0.06 on Tuesday, hitting $74.63. 1,652,980 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,169,922. The Southern Company has a 52-week low of $58.85 and a 52-week high of $80.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The company has a market capitalization of $81.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.05, a P/E/G ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 0.51. The companys 50-day moving average price is $69.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.39.

Southern Increases Dividend

Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The firm had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.97 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.75%. Southerns payout ratio is currently 87.74%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on SO shares. Mizuho upgraded Southern from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $72.00 to $77.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on Southern from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.14.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Southern 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 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $85,381.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,512 shares in the company, valued at $1,832,299.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,134 shares of company stock valued at $502,179 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Southern Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi.

Further Reading

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The Madhya Pradesh ATS detained around 10 others for their suspected links to the Hizb-Ut-Tahrir in Bhopal and Chhindwara. (Representative Image)

Hyderabad: In a coordinated operation on Tuesday, the Central Intelligence Bureau, the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), and the state police's Counter Intelligence Cell arrested five people from various locations in Hyderabad who are allegedly connected to the terrorist organisation Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HuT).

The Madhya Pradesh ATS detained around 10 others for their suspected links to the Hizb-Ut-Tahrir in Bhopal and Chhindwara.

Police identified two of the five arrested in Hyderabad as Mohammed Saleem alias Saurabh Raj Vaidhya, a native of Bhopal who is working as a head of department (HoD) of pharmaceutical biotechnology at a private college, and Abdur Rahman alias Devi Prasad Panda, a Odisha native working as a cloud service engineer in the city. Both are Golconda residents.

Mohammed Abbas Ali alias Baska Venu Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Hafeez Babanagar, Shaik Junaid, a dentist from Golconda, and Mohammed Hameed, a daily wage earner from Jagathgirigutta, were the others who were arrested.

Another suspect, Mohammed Salman, a daily wage earner from Shamirpet, is absconding, according to officials involved in the investigation. "Two air gun pistols, pellets, jihadi literature, and other incriminating material were seized from Saleem's possession," the investigating officers stated.

Inquiries revealed that Saleem relocated to Hyderabad in the second part of 2022 and began working for an educational institution. The accused was into radicalising activity and attempting to spread the terror outfits beliefs and recruit members to their group.

Mohammad Waseem is suspected of being a prominent member of the group. He works for a non-governmental organisation and is the son of a well-known social campaigner for Bhopal gas victims.

The accused were successful in radicalising Ali, Junaid, Hameed and Salman and bringing them into their fold. Further, they would convene at Saleem's house on a regular basis to discuss plans for spreading their beliefs. Saleem and Rahman maintained a low profile at their respective workplaces. The five accused have been shifted to Bhopal for further investigation.

According to sources, the MP ATS police seized Jihadi literature, electronic devices, and other material from the detained persons. Last year, several people were arrested from Bhopal for their alleged links with the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and jihadi literature and electronic devices seized from them.

The three-month-long operation has resulted in zeroing on these alleged HuT activists before picking them, sources said. HuT was founded in Jerusalem in 1952 and has its footprints in 50 countries. The organisation was said to be more dangerous than ISIS.
File photo of former chief secretary Somesh Kumar. (Photo:@TelanganaCS)

Hyderabad: Former chief secretary Somesh Kumar was appointed chief adviser to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for three years. The CM had issued orders in this regard on Tuesday, according Somesh Kumar the rank of a Cabinet minister.

Kumars appointment comes a day after he accompanied Rao to the ground-breaking ceremony of the Heritage Tower being constructed by Hare Krishna Movement in Narsingi. He was also seen on the dais at a political meeting that Rao held in Maharashtra recently.

Kumar holds the distinction of being the Telangana state's longest serving chief secretary, having been appointed on December 31, 2019, and continuing in the post until January 10, when the Centre's department of personnel and training (DoPT) relieved him from the Telangana cadre and directed him to join the Andhra Pradesh cadre by January 12.

This followed the Telangana High Court on January 10 quashed a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order that had transferred Kumar to the Telangana cadre after he was originally assigned to the AP cadre following the state bifurcation in 2014.

Kumar, known as the CM's 'blue-eyed boy' in bureaucratic circles, held the plum posts of Chief Commissioner of Land Affairs, revenue secretary, head of excise and commercial taxes departments, Real Estate Regulatory Authority chairperson, and Chief Secretary till his unceremonious exit.

As directed by the DoPT, Somesh reported to the AP government on January 12 and met AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the states Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy. He did not join any post in Andhra Pradesh, and returned to Hyderabad on the same day.

After a month of waiting, Kumar applied for voluntary retirement on February 15 and had not been seen in public since then.

On April 24, he accompanied the Chief Minister to a BRS public meeting in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, fuelling speculation that he would soon land a nominated post in the Telangana government. The CM heaped praises on Somesh Kumar during the public meeting, saying that his contribution as CS in reforming the revenue department, digitising land records, and making land transactions online in a hassle-free and transparent manner through the Dharani portal were invaluable.
Parents receive their children on their arrival from strife-torn Manipur at Shamshabad airport by a state government-arranged flight. (R. Pavan/DC)

HYDERABAD: After five days of anxiety and sleepless nights as a result of largescale riots in Manipur, 72 people, mostly students and civilians from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who had been stranded in the violence-stricken state, returned to the city amid cheers and cries of joy from their loved ones at 2.45 pm.

Another 34 are likely to arrive in Hyderabad by Monday evening via Kolkata.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad was packed with parents who had been waiting for their children to return since Sunday night. They Telugu states' natives were flown back home on a special aircraft (6E 3165) that the government had arranged.

According to police, the state and AP governments worked with the Union ministry of civil aviation to arrange for two more flights for those still in Manipur, one destined for the Shamshabad airport and the other for Kolkata.

Over 50 government cars, 30 cabs sponsored by the state government, 14 TSRTC buses and 15 APSRTC buses carried students from the airport to their destinations.

The returneees thanked the state governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for standing by them. Manipur is home to various national institutions, including the National Institute of Technology (NIT) and the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), as well as medical colleges.

"There were over 100 students in our hostel; it was the worst nightmare with gunshots, bombing, and power outages; it was like a war zone. I panicked because we had no access to the internet after the riots began," said P. Spoorthy, a mechanical engineering student at NIT Imphal.

"I had sent Spoorthy to Manipur for a better future," her father, M. Ellaiah, a Suryapet native, said. "I never dreamed she would face such a nightmarish time." He said the state government provided all the amenities, and the police kept the family updated.

K. Sai Kiran, a BTech third year student at NIT-Imphal, stated, "There was complete darkness, there was no drinking water or food, we couldn't step out for fear of anything happening at any time. It was terrible. The sounds of machine gun fire and bombs shook our rooms,"

"The worst part was that we had no idea what was going on and couldn't find a way out until rescue teams from the Manipur police, Army and social workers arrived and took us to a safe home," said Sai Kiran, a Pargi mandal resident.

Vinay Chander, Sai Kiran's father, said the family had been monitoring the news on television to understand the situation in Manipur. "We were constantly attempting to coordinate with Sai and the college administration, but we were unable to do so due to a network outage," he said and thanked the state government as well as the police for coordinating with the Manipur police in rescuing their children.

Srinivas Naik, a resident of Chandanagar, Cyberabad, said he had sent his son B. Sandeep Naik to the now-riot-torn state a year ago to study B.Tech because the fees and accommodation were more affordable. "I thank Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao, DGP Anjani Kumar, and police officials who worked tirelessly to return stranded children to their home states," he added.

DIG (CID) Mahesh Bhagwat thanked the state police as well as officials from the AP, CISF, Army, Special Branch, airport police, DGP, and additional DGPs, for their efforts in rescuing the students. Minister Ch Malla Reddy reached the RGIA to receive the students. "I am glad our children are back. They have reached safely. We asked the students to trust us and stay brave," he said.
After a high-voltage campaign, it is now time for the mega battle of ballots in Karnataka, with the state all set to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

With the stakes being high in this election, the major political parties in contention - the BJP, Congress and JD(S) - and their candidates have made a strong pitch seeking to boost their prospects at the hustings.

The voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm. A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

Also Read: In midnight chase, Kalaburagi DC nabs two BJP workers distributing money to voters

Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender. As many as 11,71,558 are young voters, while 5,71,281 are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and 12,15,920 are aged above 80.

While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx and retain its southern citadel, the Congress is seeking to wrest power to give the party much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Also what needs to be watched out for, is whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular), will emerge as a "kingmaker" by holding the key for government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.

Check latest updates on Karnataka elections

"A government with full majority" seemed to be the favourite slogan for the leaders of all the political parties during campaigning, as they stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government in the state, unlike what happened after the 2018 polls.

A total of 75,603 Ballot Units (BU), 70,300 Control Units (CU) and 76,202 voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) are slated to be used during voting.

According to poll officials, elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state for the smooth conduct of elections and forces have been deployed from neighbouring states.

'Critical Polling Stations' are covered by one or more of the measures like Micro Observers, Webcasting and CCTVs to keep a watch on the polling process as force multipliers.
With Karnataka going to polls on Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has called upon the states electorate, particularly the young and the urban voters, to take inspiration from 103-year-old Mahadeva Mahalinga Mali and take part in the festival of democracy by exercising their franchise.

Mali had recently cast his vote from his home at Chikkodi in Belagavi. Kumar had called up Mali and thanked him for participating in the state assembly elections.

The Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday urged the young and the urban electors in the Information Technology capital of the country to take inspiration from Mali and other elderly voters and to participate actively in the festival of democracy, defeating the prevalent trend of urban apathy in the state.

Also Read | Congress seeks EC action against PM Modi for his appeals to Karnataka voters during 'silence period'

The EC deliberately scheduled the polling for the assembly elections in Karnataka on a Wednesday (May 10) so that the reluctant urban voters could not take advantage of the voting-day holiday by clubbing it with weekend breaks and going out on a tour instead of turning up to exercise their franchise.

Urban apathy towards voting is one of the major challenges the EC has identified in Karnataka. The overall turnout in the state assembly polls went up from 71.83 per cent in 2013 to 72.44 per cent in 2018. It, however, went down from 55.04 per cent to 51.98 per cent in BBMP (South), from 56.58 per cent to 53.47 per cent in BBMP (North), from 57.71 per cent to 55.18 per cent in BBMP (Central) and from 62.03 per cent to 57 per cent in Bengaluru Urban, which together has 28 assembly constituencies with 88 per cent of the total 8615 polling stations located in urban areas.

Kumar on Tuesday appealed to over 5.3 crore electors, especially the 11.71 lakh first-time electors, in the state to participate enthusiastically in the polling in the 224 assembly constituencies in the state.

He thanked over 76,000 senior citizens (aged over 80) and 18,800 differently-abled people in the state, who cast votes using the home voting facility provided by the EC.

There are over 5.3 crore registered electors in the state with almost equal male ( ~ 2.66 crore) and female electors (~ 2.63 crore). Over 5.71 lakh differently-abled electors, 12.15 lakh 80+ senior citizens and 16,000+ centenarian voters are registered in the state, the EC stated on Tuesday.

The Chief Electoral Officer and the District Election Officer have been instructed to provide all facilitation will be provided across more than 58000 polling booths set up across 224 assembly constituencies, said the CEC.

Specifically, he said, 996 booths will be managed by women, 239 booths by the differently abled people and 286 by the youths while 737 will be theme based and ethnic polling stations. Basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchair, electricity, volunteers, shades, help desks and parking facilities have been provided at all the polling stations, added the CEC.
Writing for a new season of The Handmaid's Tale and a coming Game of Thrones prequel was halted as a nearly week-long strike by thousands of film and television writers rippled across Hollywood on Monday.

The writers of Emmy-winning Hulu drama The Handmaid's Tale had penned some early episodes for a new season ahead of filming that was supposed to start in late summer, said co-executive producer and writer Yahlin Chang.

Writing of the dystopian drama stopped when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) called a strike last week, Chang told Reuters on Monday.

A representative for Hulu declined to comment.

Read | 'Stranger Things' ultimate season faces delays due to writers' strike

Also on Monday, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin said in a blog post that the writers' room for prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight was "closed for the duration of the strike."

The WGA began a work stoppage on May 2 after failing to reach a new labor agreement with higher pay from Hollywood studios such as Netflix Inc and Walt Disney Co. The studios have said they made a "generous" offer to boost compensation.

Late-night talk shows immediately went dark, and some TV series and movies have followed. The final season of Netflix hit Stranger Things was paused. Marvel movie Blade, starring Mahershala Ali, shut down just before filming was set to start.

The Hedge Knight was touted by Warner Bros executives last month as one of the marquee shows in development for Max, the new name for what had been HBO Max.

The series is set 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, a time when the Targaryen line holds the Iron Throne, and focuses on a young knight and his squire.

Warner Bros has not announced a release date for The Hedge Knight.

The second season of House of the Dragon, another Game of Thrones prequel, began filming in April, Martin said, and will continue in London and Wales. All eight episodes already were written and revised, he said.

Martin also expressed his "unequivocal support" for the WGA.

It is unclear how long the strike will last. No new talks have been scheduled between the Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group negotiating on behalf of studios.

"Maybe the AMPTP members will come to their senses tomorrow and offer some meaningful concessions, and the whole thing can be wrapped up next week," Martin said. "I would not bet the ranch on that, however ... I have never seen the Guild so united as it is now."
Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine on Tuesday as Russia celebrated the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, with Ukraine's air defences destroying 23 of 25 missiles fired, chiefly at the capital Kyiv, officials said.

The attack - the fifth in May - came a day after Russia launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.

Military officials said there were no casualties in Tuesday's attack and not much damage.

"As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed," Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv's city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Also Read: Russia marks Victory Day under shadow of Ukraine setbacks

Russia celebrates Victory Day on Tuesday, one of its most important public holidays when thousands of people will line the streets of Moscow's Red Square to watch a military parade, set for 0700 GMT, and listen a speech by President Vladimir Putin.

"Overnight into the 'sacred' May 9, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine," Ukraine's air force said on its Telegram messaging app.

Popko said Russian forces were trying "to kill as many civilians as possible on this day".

Popko said Tuesday's attack was carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.

Falling debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv, Kyiv's Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on his Telegram messaging channel, adding there were no casualties nor much damage.

In the often-targeted Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kyiv debris was found on a road.

"Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future!" Popko said.
Sachin Pilot on Tuesday renewed the leadership battle in the Rajasthan Congress by targeting his bete noir Ashok Gehlot, saying it appears that the Chief Minister appears to consider BJPs Vasundhara Raje as his leader and not Sonia Gandhi.

Setting stage for another round of confrontation with Gehlot a month after his fast demanding action against Raje, Pilot also announced a five day Ajmer to Jaipur 125 km 'Jan Sangharsh Padayatra', days after the Chief Minister recalled the 2020 rebellion and claimed that if not for Raje, his government would not have survived.

The renewal of the battle comes a month after he sat on a one-day hunger strike in Jaipur on April 11 demanding immediate probe into corruption allegations against Raje. This time he has added question paper leaks to his agenda for the padayatra, while insisting that his protest is not against any particular person but on issues.

The latest trigger was Gehlot's speech in Dholpur where he said he survived the 2020 revolt by some Congress MLAs led by Pilot because Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support the "conspiracy" to topple his government. Raje described Gehlot's "praise" as "big conspiracy" and "lies".

Also Read  'Gehlot's statement a conspiracy...': Vasundhara Raje hits back

Asked about Pilots statement and whether the party is contemplating any action, senior Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi told a press conference, what stand we take, what we do, what we say will be decided today or tomorrow and you will know. Twenty-four hours is not a long time.

Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, Pilot said, "after listening to the Chief Minister's speech in Dholpur, it seems the Chief Minister's leader is not Sonia Gandhi but his leader is Vasundhara Raje Scindia."

Pilot also claimed that he now understands why Gehlot did not order a probe against Raje who is facing allegations of graft while asking the Chief Minister to clarify what he meant by his contradictory comments.

He said on one side, Gehlot is talking about the BJP trying to unseat him and on the other, he is saying Raje saved his government and that the Chief Minister should clear the confusion.

The 45-year-old leader, who is eyeing the Chief Minister's post, went on to say, "I have written letters demanding a probe into Raje's corruption for the past one and half years. Gehlot and I had held press conferences (when we were in Opposition). Why is there no probe? Now I understand why the investigation is not happening. I wrote letters and then held a fast on April 11. It is now clear why there was no probe and why there will be no probe."

Emphasising that Gehlot's accusation against own party MLAs and leaders was unfortunate, he said he and some MLAs had gone to Delhi demanding leadership change in 2020 but after discussions with the central leadership, a roadmap for action was decided.

"After that, we have not created any indiscipline. I was called many names (by Gehlot) like Corona, traitor, useless etc. I did not respond...Congress MLAs are defamed while BJP leaders are praised. I cannot comprehend this," he said.

He said the leaders against whom Gehlot is levelling allegations have over 30 years of political life and he found it wrong.
Stoking a controversy, Union Minister Satya Pal Singh Baghel claimed that "tolerant Muslims can be counted on fingers" and it too "was a tactic to lead a public life wearing a mask" as it leads to vice-president, governor or vice-chancellor posts.

But the real face of such "so-called intellectuals" from the community gets revealed after they complete their term in office or retire, he alleged.

The Union minister of state for law and justice made the comments on Monday while addressing the Dev Rishi Narad Patrakar Samman Samaroh -- an event organised by the RSS' media wing Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra to present awards to journalists.

"Tolerant Muslims can be counted on fingers. I think their number is not even in the thousands. And, that too is a tactic to live in public life wearing the mask as the route leads to the house of vice president, governor or vice chancellor," Baghel said.

Also Read: Muslims realising Trinamools NRC provocation, says BJP-Bengal chief

"But when they retire, they give real statements. When they leave the chair, they give a statement which shows their reality," he added.

The Union minister's remarks came after Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, in his speech at the event, said that India must fight Islamic fundamentalism but the "tolerant Muslims should be taken along".

Referring to Mughal emperor Akbar's efforts to foster Hindu-Muslim unity during his rule, Mahurkar claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji had seen him in a "positive light". "Akbar tried his best to achieve Hindu-Muslim unity," he said.

Dismissing the remarks, Baghel, however, termed Akbar's efforts mere "tactics" and alleged that the Mughal emperor's marriage with Jodha Bai was part of his "political strategy".

"It did not come from his heart. Otherwise, the massacre of Chittorgarh would not have happened," he said, adding "Look at the Mughal period the deeds of Aurangzeb. Sometimes, I wonder how did we survive."

Baghel said India's bad days began in 1192 AD when Muhammad Ghori defeated Rajput King Prithviraj Chouhan.

Baghel also raised the issue of religious conversion to allege that the number of people who have been converted to another religion through "gande-tabeez" (amulets) is larger than those under the swords.

"Be it Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz Saheb, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, or Saleem Chisti Still today, people from our community go there in large numbers seeking children, jobs, tickets (to contest election), ministerial berth, elevation from a minister of state to a cabinet minister," he added.

The minister said members of the minority community feel that since they were "rulers" for such a long period, how could they become "subjects".

"The solution to the problem lies in providing good quality education. It can give some solution to the problem one day.

"If they study in a madrassa, they will learn Urdu, Arabic and Persian. All literature is good but with such study, they will become Pesh-Imam. And if they study physics and chemistry, they will become Abdul Kalam," Baghel added.
Continuing its crackdown on separatists and militants, the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday conducted raids at 16 locations across Jammu and Kashmir in the premises of cadres and hybrid militants and overground workers linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of banned Pak-backed terror outfits.

The raids, in the terror conspiracy case, were continuing till late in the evening. They were spread across locations in Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir, as well as in Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts of Jammu, said an NIA spokesman, in a statement.

He said probe agency has been investigating the activities of newly floated terrorist groups, such as "The Resistance Front (TRF)", "United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (UL J&K)", "Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH)", Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and others.

Also Read | G20 meeting: Home Secy, IB chief visit Kashmir, review security

These outfits are affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, the statement said. Tuesdays raids were part of NIAs investigations into the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of these new terror outfits.

These cadres and workers have been found involved in collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, cash, drugs and small weapons, as well as in spreading activities relating to terror, violence and subversion in J&K. Investigations have further revealed that Pak-based operatives were using drones to deliver weapons, bombs, drugs etc. to their operatives and cadres in the Kashmir valley, it said.

Earlier on May 2 the NIA had conducted raids at 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the seizure of incriminating material and digital devices, in the terror conspiracy case it had registered suo motu on June 21 last year.

The case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU) related to the hatching of a conspiracy, both physical and cyber space, and plans by the proscribed terrorist organisations to unleash violent terrorist attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms. The plans are part of a larger conspiracy by these terrorist outfits to commit acts of terror and violence, in association with local youth/overground workers, to disturb peace and communal disharmony in J&K, the NIA statement added.
Actor Rakhi Sawant's brother has been arrested in an old cheque bouncing case in Mumbai after a warrant was issued against him by a local court, police said on Tuesday.

Rakesh Sawant was arrested on Sunday. He was produced before the metropolitan magistrate court in Andheri which remanded him to judicial custody till May 22, a police officer said.

Also Read | Singer Mika Singh moves HC to quash 2006 case for forcibly kissing Rakhi Sawant

A complaint of cheque bouncing was lodged against Rakesh Sawant by a businessman in 2020, following which he was arrested by the police. He was later released on conditional bail on assurance that he will return the money of the complainant, but he failed to do so, the officer added.

''Rakesh Anand Sawant is arrested after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by Andheri metropolitan magistrate's court. He was produced before the court which remanded him to judicial custody,'' he said.
Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $5.31 and traded as high as $5.45. Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. shares last traded at $5.43, with a volume of 2,984 shares.

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. Trading Up 1.5 %

The firms fifty day moving average is $5.26 and its 200-day moving average is $5.31. The firm has a market cap of $460.33 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.25 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 0.32.

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Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. (NYSE:CPAC  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The construction company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $137.22 million for the quarter. Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. had a net margin of 8.45% and a return on equity of 13.95%. Equities analysts anticipate that Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. will post 0.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.

Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A. ( NYSE:CPAC Get Rating ) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 12,464 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $59,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.42% of the companys stock.

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Cementos Pacasmayo SAA engages in the production and market of cement, quicklime, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete products, and construction materials. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete, and Blocks; Construction Supplies; Quicklime; and Other. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Lima, Peru.

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Shares of Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX  Get Rating) have earned an average recommendation of Hold from the nine analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $16.75.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on TROX shares. Credit Suisse Group restated an underperform rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of Tronox in a report on Thursday, February 16th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Tronox in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Tronox from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Tronox from $18.00 to $17.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd.

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Insider Activity

In other news, SVP John Srivisal sold 40,026 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.52, for a total transaction of $621,203.52. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 115,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,785,591.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Timothy C. Carlson sold 32,163 shares of Tronox stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.52, for a total value of $499,169.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 358,106 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,557,805.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP John Srivisal sold 40,026 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.52, for a total transaction of $621,203.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 115,051 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,785,591.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 195,487 shares of company stock valued at $3,032,725 over the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tronox

Tronox Price Performance

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Mendota Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Tronox in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in Tronox in the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Tronox by 1,757.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,898 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 2,742 shares during the last quarter. Gyon Technologies Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Tronox in the 4th quarter valued at $66,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Tronox by 54.0% during the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 5,596 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,000 after buying an additional 1,962 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.30% of the companys stock.

TROX stock opened at $12.68 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $13.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.38. The company has a market capitalization of $1.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.96, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 2.21. Tronox has a 52-week low of $11.09 and a 52-week high of $19.91.

Tronox (NYSE:TROX  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.03. Tronox had a net margin of 15.77% and a return on equity of 10.12%. The firm had revenue of $708.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $683.96 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.60 EPS. The companys revenue was down 26.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Tronox will post 1.42 EPS for the current year.

Tronox Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.94%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Tronoxs payout ratio is currently 15.63%.

About Tronox

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Tronox Holdings Plc engages in the mining and inorganic chemical business. Its products include Titanium Dioxide Mineral Sands. The firm also mines and processes titanium ore, zircon and other minerals, and manufactures titanium dioxide pigments. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Stamford, CT.

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The Derry Anti War Coalition is holding s short vigil in solidarity with the local Sudanese community.

The event is taking place today (Tuesday, May 9) at 6:30pm at the War Memorial in the Diamond.

Convenor of the Derry Anti War Coalition, Davy McAuley explained: "Our local Sudanese community may be small but it is important and they deserve our full solidarity in these terrible times.

"The news from Sudan of constant violence and war must be devastating for them. It's hard to comprehend the pain they are going through as they wait for news of loved ones'."

Mr McAuley said there were "parallels between the situation in Sudan and the historic situation in Ireland".

He added: "Sudan is a former British Colony. It only gained it's independence in 1956. The flag then may have changed but the colonial power structures stayed in place. We know all about the legacy of British Imperialism in Ireland.

"Today Sudan is again at the centre of global political manoeuvres - China, Russia, France, USA and Britain are all playing a part in arming and funding the conflict.

"Sudan is rich in mineral resources. As always the ordinary people suffer when great powers clash.

"The Derry Anti War Coalition stands with the people of Sudan and our Sudanese friends and neighbours."
Key frontline services will be cut across education, the economy and health.

This was Derry Chambers depressing assessment of the 2023-24 NI Budget delivered recently by British Secretary of State Chris Haton-Harris.

Chamber Chief Executive Anna Doherty said the outworkings of the budget were becoming clear.

She added: It is obvious that the consequences will be felt by all communities, businesses, and families across Northern Ireland. Key frontline services will be cut across education, the economy, health, and more. This is a crisis which will not just affect businesses but communities, schools, households, and workers.

Cuts are being made to our further education colleges, which provide a crucial and skilled pipeline of talent to our local businesses, while vital business support and start-up schemes are also likely to be damaged.

The public sector is also a very important and prominent buyer of local goods and services. Small, independent, and local businesses rely heavily on this supply chain and any funding cuts will have a negative knock-on effect on these firms.

Now is the time for proper political leadership. We need an Executive and Assembly back as soon as possible. While locally elected ministers will not solve this crisis overnight, it is right that they are taking the decisions which affect our country. We would once again urge parties here to do all that they can to restore power-sharing as soon as possible, said Anna Doherty.

Further, SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson Mark H Durkan expressed serious concerns cuts to the Department for Infrastructures (DfI) 2023-24 budget allocation could impact on public safety.

The department was already facing severe budget challenges and took steps including a one-off decision to use Translinks reserves to help maintain public transport services during the last financial year.

The recent allocation will see DfI face a 14% cut in resource budget.

Mr Durkan said: It is patently clear that existing budget pressures within the department are impacting frontline services.

Nowhere are those pressures more evident than on our road network; from the struggle to properly grit routes last winter to the growing numbers of potholes across the region.

In January this year I attended a briefing with the Permanent Secretary, where officials detailed their worst case scenarios should the budget fail to meet their 100 million deficit.

Sadly, the bleak picture painted four months ago has now come to bear with the very real possibility that streetlights will be turned off, the lifeline that is community transport will end, gritting services will be scrapped this winter and road maintenance will be reduced to emergency only in an effort to save costs. That is just a snippet of what this budget will mean in real terms for the public.

Mr Durkan said the Department for Infrastructure had laid out in no uncertain terms its budget allocation would leave it unable to properly maintain its assets and deliver frontline services.

He added: I have serious concerns that these cuts could compromise public safety on our roads.

The SDLP will be meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the weeks ahead to raise our concerns and will endeavour to find a way forward to mitigate against the worst impacts of these drastic cuts.
Derrys Bloody Sunday Trust has joined the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine.

Speaking to Derry Now, Maeve Mc Laughlin, Director of the Bloody Sunday Trust explained: Derry has a long history of solidarity with the cause of Palestine and a proud tradition of facing injustice wherever it is.

Given our lessons and learnings around justice, rights and equality we felt that these experiences should be harnessed to tackle injustice wherever it exists, and nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in the cause of Palestine.

There is no possible justification for a system built around the institutionalised and prolonged racist oppression of millions of people.

Apartheid had no place in our world when it was practised in South Africa, and it has no place now in Palestine.

The Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign, which is made up of eighteen civil society organisations, trade unions and academic experts, is committed to working collaboratively to end Israeli apartheid against Palestinians.

It was launched in November 2022 in Dublin by Independent Senator Frances Black, a long-time campaigner for Palestinian rights.

According to Maeve Mc Laughlin, the Bloody Sunday Trust was honoured to have taken its place within the Campaign, which has called on Ireland and the international community to publicly recognise that the State of Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people, and to take concrete measures to end this crime against humanity.

She added: Through shared actions, campaigns and advocacy initiatives the group has pledged to engage members of the Irish public and political representatives on the situation Palestinians are being forced to endure, and to build political support for effective measures by Ireland and the international community to condemn Israels actions and to end the crime of apartheid against Palestinians.

Ms McLaughlin said the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday had been themed under the banner of One World One Struggle.

Those states who choose to make excuses for Israel will find themselves on the wrong side of history when this injustice is properly recognised and condemned by all, she said. May sees the 75th anniversary of the Nakba. [However] by shifting the historical centrality of the narrative away from the Nakba, Israel and its apologists have tried to erase the most significant and traumatic event in Palestinian history from the historical record.

They have worked to erase the memory of the ethnic cleansing of over 530 Palestinian towns and villages, and the expulsion of over 750,000 Palestinians. They want to make the descendants of those who were expelled invisible even though they now number in millions.

The Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry will mark this Nakba day with a series of events on May 15. These will include the raising of the Palestinian flag on Free Derry Corner and a message of support and solidarity from the Bloody Sunday families in the morning.

There will also be a series of film screenings in the Museum of Free Derry during the afternoon, and at 7pm on May 15 This is Radio Free Derry Calling, an evening of support and solidarity in the Museum of Free Derry, with more messages of support from prominent supporters, music, poetry, refreshments and raffles. The evening will also include a special message from Dr Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative.

Further details will be released through Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry social media and usual media outlets. All amounts raised that day, together with the days takings from the Museum of Free Derry will be donated to the Palestinian National Initiative as part of the Bloody Sunday Trusts partnership with the Initiative.
2023 sees the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe), the violent expulsion of up to 1,000,000 Palestinians from their homes by Zionist forces between 1947 and 1949 during the establishment of the apartheid state of Israel.

Nakba Day is marked on May 15 every year.

The Bloody Sunday Trust has planned a day-long series of events to mark this 75th anniversary. The programme is as follows:

Monday, May 15, 2023:

10.00am: A Palestinian Flag will be raised on Free Derry Corner. During the flag raising ceremony a message of support from the Bloody Sunday families will be delivered.

1.00pm: Film screening in the Museum of Free Derry.

7.00pm  9.00pm: This is Radio Free Derry Calling, an evening of solidarity and support in the Museum of Free Derry.

This event will include messages of support from the Bloody Sunday families and the Mayor of Derry, Cllr Sandra Duffy. There will also be an update from the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and an update and message of support from Senator Frances Black, Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine.

Following this there will be a reading of poems on Palestine by Paul Laughlin and Anne Crilly, in Irish, Arabic and English.

In addition, messages from Palestine will be delivered by Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative and a young Palestinian.

Music will be provided by Marty Healy. There will also be refreshments and a fundraising raffle during the event.

Entry is by donation. All monies raised, together with the days takings in the Museum of Free Derry, will be donated to the Palestinian National Initiative.
The Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign is holding a rally to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nakba described as "he catastrophe that seen the violent removal of nearly 1 million Palestinians".

The rally will begin at NOON (12pm), on Saturday, May 13, at Free Derry Wall.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the Noon Rally was to honour the late Joe Mulheron.

"Joe was a passionate supporter of Palestinian liberation. We send our sincere condolences and love to Joe's family and friends.

"Out of respect for Joe, we have decided to change the start time for Saturday's march and rally marking the 75 anniversary of the Nakba to Noon. This will allow those planning to attend Joe's funeral at 1.30pm to do so. Rest in Power Joe Mulheron."

Catherine Hutton, chairperson for the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: "This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, which led to the creation of the Israeli Apartheid state.

"Palestinians living within the Israeli state are second class citizens and Israel's occupation of the rest of historic Palestine only becomes more vicious by the day.

"Israel's new government is extremely racist and right wing, even by Israeli standards. They now openly promote illegal settlements and back violent pogroms by settlers. "Despite this, the complicity of the US, EU and British and Irish governments with Israeli Apartheid continues.

"However, Palestine solidarity across the world continues to grow and the movement to boycott Apartheid Israel continues to achieve victories.

"Palestinians continue to campaign for an end to Apartheid and for the right of all Palestinians to return.

"On Saturday May 13 there will be a global day of solidarity with Palestinians to mark the Nakba. The Derry rally will begin at NOON at Free Derry Wall.

"We encourage all supporters of the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice to join us."
A total of nine projects who will provide much needed support to communities across the Derry area have received funding through the latest allocation by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

The funding aims to support some of the most vulnerable communities in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties and the latest package of 4,884,800 / 4,322,833 will provide support to 25 projects across the IFIs four programmes, all aimed at delivering tailored support to communities who need it.

The funding allocation comes at an important juncture in peace and reconciliation across the island of Ireland, with local communities dealing with a range of challenges that are impacting community relations and prosperity.

Six projects were allocated funding under the IFIs Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP):

1. 164,833 to HURT targeting 15 young people in the Moor and Waterside areas of Derry City who are not in employment, education, or training. The project aims to enable young people to gain new skills and knowledge to boost their employability, as well as build their confidence and self-esteem.

2. 157,278 to Maghera Cross-Community Link for the 21-month cross-community Link Youth Achievement Programme, engaging with 15 at risk young people from the Mid Ulster area to help develop their personal development skills and improve employability through training and placement opportunities.

3. 187,395 to Roe Valley Residents Association for the 21-month Building Brighter Futures project, working with 15 hard-to-reach young people who have been identified at risk of involvement in paramilitary behaviour or sectarianism and are facing a range of issues in their lives. The project aims to provide skills development, training, and employability support.

4. 183,875 to St Columbs Park Reconciliation Trust for 21 months to deliver the IgnYte project, providing 15 vulnerable young people in Derry/Londonderry City with support, learning, skills, work placements and direction to help build their confidence and help them reach their full potential.

5. An allocation of 352,189 will go to Catalyst to deliver their cross-community Innovation for All project, engaging with 30 at risk young people in Belfast and Derry aimed at reducing barriers to employment and provide Level 4 Advanced Personal Development, Training and Employability Support Programme.

6. 171,427/193,713 to Creggan Enterprises Limited for the 21 month Lifehack project, to engage with disenfranchised young people from hard to reach groups in Creggan, Brandywell, Bogside and surrounding areas in Derry, providing skills, personal development and employability training

A further three projects receieved funding through the IFIs Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP):

7. AGD Gweedore and Waterside Theatre Project will receive 79,450 under the IFIs Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) which will support a 16 month Cross-Border Creative Arts Programme in County Donegal and the Waterside of Derry. The project has been designed to support community dialogue across a range of themes which connect Unionist and Nationalist communities, through history, language, and cultural heritage.

8. Rathmullan The Way Forward CLG and Enterprise Causeway Limited will use 242,006, allocated to deliver an 18-month cross-border Coasts, Hills, and Glens  Connecting Communities project in Rathmullan in County Donegal and Coleraine in County Derry. The project is focused on Community Innovation and aims to connect groups, committees, and their representatives in meaningful ways to enable joint working on community needs, issues, and challenges.

9. Northwest Cultural Partnership will partner with Inishowen Development Partnership to deliver a cross-border Cultural Collaboration Programme across the Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council areas. The project will provide creative opportunities to develop effective and meaningful relations across border communities allowing participants from both sides of the border to engage and become empowered. The local project received 130,000 through the IFIs Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP)

IFI Chair Paddy Harte said: Unfortunately, we have seen the threat of paramilitary recruitment and antisocial behaviour persist in many communities. In the last year, the IFIs programmes have included specialised interventions to divert young people away from the threat of paramilitary recruitment. In 2022, 23,033 participants took part in accredited training, education, and capacity building programmes, delivered by IFI funded projects.

Projects funded across our four core programmes have been working hard to support local communities who are struggling. The cost-of-living crisis has put a significant financial burden on people, add to that a general lack of investment in some communities and ongoing tensions relating to the recent Windsor Framework and ongoing political instability, and you can see why this support is so vital.

This latest round of funding further demonstrates the wide range of support offered by IFI funded projects, tailored to specific needs of a particular community. From engaging at risk young people, to delivering conflict transformation initiatives, delivering important employment, and training opportunities to working in hard-to-reach areas struggling with paramilitary and coercive control.

The Peace Impact Programme (PIP) will receive 591,876 / 523,784 across two separate projects, delivering work through sensitive interventions in communities that have not previously, or have only partially, participated in peace building and reconciliation activities.

3,166,102 / 2,801,860 has been allocated to 16 projects within the Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP), supporting some of the most at-risk young people in society, developing their personal and professional skills with an aim to improving their future prospects.

The Peace Barriers Programme (PBP) which has been operating since 2012 will receive 357,388 / 316,273 funding across two projects who will work towards facilitating and supporting communities living on or near an interface to consider and engage on the potential removal of peace walls.

The newest of the IFIs four programmes - Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP), set up in 2022 focuses on building resilience and empowering communities to develop strong cross-border partnerships. A total of five projects will share 769,434 / 680,916 funding.

The IFI Chair added: In this important year, as we reflect on the achievements and challenges which the IFI has faced since the signing of the Good Friday/ Belfast Agreement in 1998, we must also consider how we ensure that the next twenty-five years sees those communities which the IFI supports fully realise the dividends of the Peace Process.

It is important to acknowledge the ongoing support from our international donors who recognise the importance of the work of the IFI and the incredible commitment of the funded groups and the individuals leading them. Their interventions and engagement in some of our most hard to reach communities shows just how important local leadership is.

The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. It currently supports a total of 47 projects in Northern Ireland and 19 in the southern border counties.
The local elections in Northern Ireland are a chance for people to re-endorse the outcome of last Mays Assembly election, Sinn Feins vice president has said.

Michelle ONeill was speaking at the partys manifesto launch for the 2023 local elections at the Canal Court hotel in Newry.

The elections for 11 councils across Northern Ireland will take place on Thursday May 18.

Ms ONeill is entitled to the position of First Minister as the Stormont leader of Sinn Fein, who were the largest party at the last Assembly election.

Sinn Feins Local Council Election Manifesto was launched today in Newry. Show your support for a party that is committed to working for all. On Thursday 18th May, Votail Sinn Fein. Read it here: https://t.co/Z9O6035Zmw pic.twitter.com/EkjGFK6Q2Z  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) May 9, 2023

She has not taken up office as First Minister as the Assembly is currently not operational due to the DUPs ongoing protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Ms ONeill said the council vote is a chance for people to endorse positive leadership.

I think that for us, this election is an opportunity for people to re-endorse the position which they voted for last May, for the executive to work, for politics to work, for us all to be around the executive table together, she said.

So I think people will, and certainly my experience on the ground, engaging with people going door to door in the community, speaking to the local business community, they know this is where we all should be.

So for me, this election is a huge opportunity again, for the public to re-endorse positive leadership, someone whos determined to try for a better future, someone whos going to fight back against Tory austerity, someone whos going to work and make politics work.

Sinn Fein have 105 elected councillors, just behind the DUPs 122.

There are 462 seats being contested at this years election and Sinn Fein are fielding 162 candidates, the partys highest number to date.

Sinn Fein will be hoping to become the largest party in local government, replicating their success at last Mays assembly election when they became the largest party at Stormont for the first time.

The partys manifesto includes making councils living wage employers, as well as constitutional goals, including securing a date for a unity referendum from the Irish and British governments.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said the DUPs failure to form an executive was a failure to reflect the outcome of the most recent assembly election.

Obviously the election stands in and of itself as an important moment in electing councillors for local government, she said.

But yes, I think it is true to say that out on the ground, the big conversation still is, when will the democratic outcome of the last election be finally respected?

And people naturally say to us all of the time, that the failure by the DUP to establish an executive with everybody else, to work with everybody else, represents a failure on their part, to respect the views of the democratic outcome of that election.

So I think what you will see and certainly what were hearing, and I think we can all confirm this, is a demand and a huge appetite amongst the public for the DUP to do the right thing, and people are very clear about what the right thing is  the right thing is the executive working, the right thing is government for all, and the right thing is for Michelle ONeill to now meet that executive as First Minister, and to work in partnership with everybody.

This election is an opportunity to endorse positive leadership. To show your support for Sinn Feins commitment to a politics that delivers for all, and to elect hard working Sinn Fein councillors who will prioritise the issues that matter to you. On May 18th, vote Sinn Fein. pic.twitter.com/rwXzJvMPIT  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) April 18, 2023

Ms McDonald added that she was optimistic that the executive would be restored and the DUP would have to respond to the wishes of the electorate.

The democratic process, the function of it, is to allow the people to be in charge and at the driving wheel, and I think those that wish to find an excuse not to work together, not to share power, will I think always find that excuse, she said.

But I am, and we are, much more optimistic and hopeful that reason will prevail, and that good judgment, quite frankly, will prevail, and the needs and wishes of people in communities across the board will prevail.

And so anybody who is concerned about that, irrespective of your political stripe, will understand that we cannot stagger on indefinitely, with no government and with no executive.

Thats not a viable or realistic proposition. So theres the challenge for the DUP to respond to the clear wishes of society to have orderly, progressive leadership that delivers for everyone.
Cosquin in Derry will be treated to colour, culture and cuisine with a family fun day organised by the North West Migrants Forum.

An impressive programme of events has been organised for Celebrate Family  Connect Communities on May 14.

At the heart of the project is an opportunity for locals to meet their neighbours, learn about different cultures and most importantly to have fun.

Looking forward to the family day out, Lilian Seenoi Barr, Director of Programmes at the North West Migrants Forum, said it was going to be a "wonderful afternoon packed with exciting and fun events".

She added: We want to bring families from minoritised communities and Coshquin families together so everyone can mix, get to know each other and their children can play together.

That is why we are calling it Celebrate Family  Connect Communities. It is about bringing minoritised people and their families together with families in Coshquin, to introduce them and to give them an opportunity to meet up and have fun.

"The day will offer a chance to sample a variety of traditional foods while enjoying music and dance from around the world. There will also be jewellery making while for the younger ones there will be face painting and a bouncy castle.

!Coshquin has been waiting over two decades for a play park and despite planning being approved almost three years ago, little progress has been made."

Local resident Lisa Doherty said with so few community facilities available, the upcoming fun day was all the more important in terms of bringing people together.

Its great news and we need more of these sorts of events around here, Ms Doherty said.

There is nothing for the young people down here and because our children are small they are confined to this little cul-de-sac. There is so little for them to do and an event like this, it brings neighbours closer together and it helps people to get to know each other.

Its something to look forward to and ideally something like this would be happening every three months or so.

Pixie Boodhram and her family live nearby.

Pixie, who is originally from South Africa, said: Things like this never happen here. We get the odd parade at Christmas or Easter but that is about the height of it.

There is no park here so something like is so important for the children but also for us adults in that we can meet up and chat and get to know each other better.

Given Coshquins close proximity to the border, the day will also offer a chance for those from minoritised communities to learn where Northern Ireland meets the Republic of Ireland. The North West Migrants Forum continues to drive its Common Travel Area campaign which highlights how not everyone living, working and studying on the island of Ireland enjoys freedom of movement.

Ms Seenoi Barr added: We are really looking forward to bringing people together and seeing them enjoy themselves on what should be a lovely day for the Coshquin area.

Celebrate Family  Connect Communities takes place on May 14 from 2pm to 4.30pm. It is open to everyone and keep an eye on the North West Migrants Forums social media platforms for more information and updates.
Lithium, the metal that is used in batteries within your electronic gadgets to vehicles (EVs) has been discovered in India (again). The new reserve has been found in Rajasthan and is reportedly so huge that it could fulfil 80% of our lithium demand. Sounds amazing, right? Here are the discovery details and what that means for you and me.

Lithium in Rajasthan: What you need to know

A lithium reserve has been spotted in Degana, Rajasthan, as per the state government. What makes this interesting is the size of this reserve. It is reportedly way bigger than the mine in Raesi, Jammu and Kashmir, which was traced back in February. According to the Geological Survey of India (GIS), the Raesi Reserve has about 5.9 million tonnes of lithium.

The new discovery has been made particularly around Renvat Hill in Degana. Per GIS, this one has more in store and could feed 80 percent of the countrys lithium demand.

Why this Lithium discovery in Rajasthan matters to us? How it could impact the tech industry?

Lithium is a lightweight and soft metal. Its ionized form is capable of converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Due to this property, Lithium-ion is used in rechargeable batteries in mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and a lot more.

Since they are efficient (more energy density than alkaline batteries) and easy to charge, recharge, and dispose of, they are the go-to solution for energy storage and are more eco-friendly than fossil fuels.

Due to these benefits, their global demand is ever-increasing. This includes India which imports Lithium mostly from China, Vietnam and Japan.

However, with these newly found reserves, our country could finally reduce its reliance on foreign markets for lithium. Thereby saving foreign exchange and bolstering our energy security.

Our indigenous battery manufacturing could see a surge and tech brands could source from the local market itself.

Well, at least thats what we hope to see.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
iQOO brought to India the Neo 7 5G which is actually a rebranded version of the Neo 7 SE available in China. Now, iQOO is all set to launch another series of phones- the Neo 8 Series but only in China at the moment.

But thats not all, as leaks have revealed that iQOO is all set to launch its first tablet: the iQOO Pad. Both the smartphone series and the Pad have been rumoured to be launched on the same date which is expected to be May 23, 2023, as leaks suggest.

Here are the features that have been revealed about iQOOs new phone series and the tablet.

Leaked features of the iQOO Neo 8 series

The company hasn't revealed any details of the device nor the launch date, but there are leaks which suggest what we can expect from this series of phones.

The iQOO Neo 8 Pro is expected to feature a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC, which was launched a couple of days back. The Neo 8 Pro is expected to be the flagship phone, whereas the Neo 8 5G will have the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC.

The phone was also spotted on the 3C certification website which suggests that the phone will sport a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and 2160Hz PWM Dimming. Talking about the camera it is a triple lens camera, but details about only the primary lens is available: 50MP 1/1.5-inch with optical image stabilisation (OIS) support. The phone will mostly be packed with a 5000mAh battery and 120W fast charging support as the leaks suggest.

These were all the revelations from the leaks about the new Neo 8 series which is yet to be launched and also the tablet. These were leaks so we cant really rely on them completely, unless the company confirms them.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
Motorola Envision series of TVs just launched in India and it starts at 9,999 for a 32-inch HD-ready model. At this price and with these display specs, Sansui also has a TV. Lets see their differences to know which one should you buy.

Motorola Envision 32 TV vs Sansui 32 TV

1. Both TVs come with a 32-inch 1366x768 resolution LCD (DLED) panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and 178-degree field of view.

On the bottom bezel, both TVs have their respective branding. They both come with a set of inverted V-shaped tabletop stands.

As for audio, they both are equipped with a 2x 20W speaker setup. However, Sansui also offers Dolby Audio enhancement. Motorola advertises 7 picture and 7 sound modes.

2. Internally, they both are powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor. Motorola pairs this with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. While the storage is the same on the Sansui TV, its 2023 model brings 1.5GB of RAM.

The difference is in the software offered. Motorola ships its TV with Android 11 TV OS while the Sansui TV uses the newer Google TV UI. Both TV remotes come with hotkeys for popular OTT apps.

3. The Motorola TV has got 2 HDMI, 2 USB ports, 2.4GHz WiFi, RF, mini AV, optical and LAN.

Sansui brings 2.4GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, 3 HDMI (ARC), 2 USB, 1x Optical Audio Output, RF Antenna Input, 1x AV input, and Ethernet.

Motorola Envision 32 vs Sansui 32 TV: Price and Availability

The 32-inch Sansui TV is available at 9,999 (2020 model) on Flipkart and if you want the latest offering, you can check out the 2023 model on Croma at 11,990.

Meanwhile, the Motorola Envision TVs 32-inch model retails for 9,999 on Flipkart. The company has also released the 43-inch FHD model at 19,999, the 43-inch 4K model at 21,999 and finally, the 55-inch 4K model at 31,999.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
There's a new smartwatch coming to the market every now and then. Apple and Samsung have their annual smartwatch launch lined up for the year. But now as per leaks and tips, Pixel will also have an annual smartwatch launch. It is expected that Google will launch the Pixel Watch 2 along with Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in the last quarter of 2023.

According to the launch pattern of past Pixel devices, Google tends to launch their flagship of the year around October, so it can be expected that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro along with Pixel Watch 2 will be launched in October 2023.

More details of the Google Pixel Watch 2 aren't revealed through the leak yet, but some information has been gathered. Let's have a look at some of the revealed specifications of the upcoming Google smartwatch.

Google Pixel Watch 2 specifications revealed so far

If early leaks are anything to go by, then the Pixel Watch 2 might not have a complete new design change, it might be just a tad bit different (if at all). It is expected to have a larger display and smaller bezels. Also if the design remains the same, it means that users of the predecessor can keep using the previous watch's band.

As far as the Pixel Watch 2s internals go, the Snapdragon W5+ with a 4nm manufacturing process can be used. This would allow the Pixel Watchs successor to last longer after charging up. It is also expected that the Watch might come in different sizes, but nothing has been compared as of yet.

Google I/O takes place in a day, where the much hyped Google Pixel 7a and Google Pixel Fold are going to be launched. But it's also expected that Google will come up with a teaser of other devices, one of which will be the Pixel Watch 2.

Except for these nothing much has been revealed. Also, whatever reveals have happened may not actually end up in the final version of the Pixel Watch 2 due to be released later in the year.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
The combined skill set of the writer and the director to sink into the thought processes and the consequent behaviours of the rural society in the far corners of the Kurunegala District is astonishing.

by Helasingha Bandara

In comparison with many other Singhalese teledramas that exploit mundane and constantly hackneyed themes, Kunchanada is in a different league.





The teledrama trumpeting of elephants (Kunchanada), presumably set in 70s Galgamuwa, portrays one of the most pertinent and contemporary issues, of human-elephant conflict that leaves both the man and the beast devastated, in a remarkable cinematic fashion.





Trumpeting elephant, elephant mother and her calfs. [ Illustrations: istockphoto.com]





The teledrama draws attention of the viewer to the issue from diverse angles justifying the actions of both humans and elephants, in a bizarrely similar manner to that of Bertolt Brechts Mother Courage in which the writer points out that there is good and evil in both war and peace. In war people become destitute but there is order in everything whereas in peace people are relatively happy, yet there is no order in anything but chaos. The writer of Kunchanada looks at the issue from a similar perspective to justify actions of both the human and the animal as both parties struggle to survive in a hostile environment. Most strikingly, the message conveyed is that in a failing country nothing proper can be expected other than disorder, chaos, anarchy, turmoil, misrule, and lawlessness. Human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka is no exception. Whilst some of the African countries that are considered to be poor and underdeveloped have found authentic and effective solutions to their human-elephant confrontation, Sri Lanka has enjoyed a deep slumber for decades regarding this massive issue that needs absolute attention. Kunchanada may wake the sleeping jackals at least to howl a bit louder.





The innovative plot uses villagers who are fascinatingly similar to the actual people who lived and worked in the area to tell their side of the story about marauding elephants, whilst, through a wildlife officer, the story from the elephants perspective is told. Out of the ordinary, Christy Shelton Fernando, the creator of the teledrama introduces a researcher to the drama to be a neutral personality to weigh the pros and cons of the human-elephant conflict. Although he has not yet taken the viewer through unexpected twists and turns, there is plenty of drama in Kunchanada to keep the viewer hooked.





The combined skill set of the writer and the director to sink into the thought processes and the consequent behaviours of the rural society in the far corners of the Kurunegala District is astonishing. The outstanding ability of the crew to recreate the village setting, and the cameramans skill to capture a visually striking panorama are eye-catching.





The mesmerising transformation of Sriyani Amarasena from the image of a calm, quiet and chaste love idol of the 70s silver screen to an ageing, vociferous, and typically rural woman to portray a breath-taking villain in a teledrama, presumably set in the same 70s, is electrifying and unparalleled.





The capabilities of the actor who plays Wasanthas fiancee is unmissable. Her portrayal of the justifiable annoyance, frustration and perhaps anger towards her fiance who is stupidly ignorant of the surroundings, not to notice the devastating effect his association with the researcher has on his relationship, is compelling and noteworthy.





Through this creation, Christi Shelton Fernando, the former Mathematics teacher has once again shown that it was not a fluke that he won the award for the best screenplay for Dadayama in his twenties. Kunchanada is a breath of fresh air. It is more than worth watching.





Helasingha Bandara is a regular contributor for Sri Lanka Guardian
JPMorgan Chase acquires majority stake in failed First Republic Bank

American multinational financial services company JPMorgan Chase has acquired a substantial stake in failed First Republic Bank after regulators took control of the lender. Under the deal signed with the regulators JPMorgan Chase & Co has taken over a majority of the assets and assumed the deposits and certain other liabilities of First Republic Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

JPMorgan Chase also offered full protection to all deposits - insured and uninsured - bringing its financial strength, capabilities and capital to support the US banking system and First Republic.

First Republic Banks assets include approximately $173 billion of loans and approximately $30 billion of securities. The bank has approximately $92 billion of deposits, including $30 billion of large bank deposits, which will be repaid post-close or eliminated in consolidation, as per the deal.

Regulators took control of First Republic Bank after rescue efforts to repair the damage from bad investments and the run on deposits that had shaken up the smaller lender. JPMorgan Chase & Co. will now purchase First Republic Bank.

Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said the decision to acquire the failed First Republic Bank followed an invitation by the government and others to step in. Our financial strength, capabilities and business model allowed us to develop a bid to execute the transaction in a way to minimise costs to the Deposit Insurance Fund, he said, adding, This acquisition modestly benefits our company overall, it is accretive to shareholders, it helps further advance our wealth strategy, and it is complementary to our existing franchise.

The transaction followed the FDICs competitive bidding process. Under the deal, FDIC will provide loss share agreements covering acquired single-family residential mortgage loans and commercial loans, as well as $50 billion of five-year, fixed-rate term financing.

A statement issued by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, JPMorgan would "assume all deposits, including all uninsured deposits, and substantially all assets" of First Republic.

The California regulator had named the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp as the San Francisco-based bank's receiver. Deposits are federally insured by the FDIC subject to applicable limits, the DFPI said in its statement.

JPMorgan Chase said it is not assuming First Republics corporate debt or preferred stock.

First Republic branches remained open from Monday, 1 May, and clients continued to receive uninterrupted service, including digital and mobile banking services.

Under the transaction, JPMorgan Chase expects to recognise an upfront, one-time, post-tax gain of approximately $2.6 billion, which excludes approximately $2.0 billion of post-tax restructuring costs anticipated over the next 18 months.

JPMorgan Chase said it will keep First Republic Bank very well capitalised with a CET1 ratio consistent with its 1Q 24 target of 13.5 per cent and maintain healthy liquidity buffers

The transaction is expected to be modestly EPS accretive and generate more than $500 million of incremental net income per year, not including the approximately $2.6 billion one-time post-tax gain or approximately $2.0 billion of post-tax restructuring costs expected over the course of 2023 and 2024.

The acquired First Republic businesses will be overseen by JPMorgan Chases Consumer and Community Banking (CCB) Co-CEOs, Marianne Lake and Jennifer Piepszak.

First Republic has built a strong reputation for serving clients with integrity and exceptional service, said Lake and Piepszak. We look forward to welcoming First Republic employees. As always, we are committed to treating employees with respect, care and transparency.

First Republic Bank, a commercial bank and provider of wealth management services headquartered in San Francisco, California, catered to high-net-worth individuals and operated 93 offices in 11 states, primarily in New York, California, Massachusetts, and Florida.

US-based financial services giant JPMorgan Chase & Co, with operations worldwide, had $3.7 trillion in assets and $303 billion in equity capital as of 31 March 2023. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
Trai asks telecom companies to implement AI spam filters

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked telecom companies to stop sending promotional calls on 10-digit mobile numbers, in order to combat unwanted communication calls and messages from unknown numbers.

The move is a significant step by Trai to protect consumers in India from fraud and harassment by spammers and fraudsters who often use the facility to cheat people out of their money. There is an urgent need to combat the increasing cases of spam and the nuisance caused by such calls and messages to mobile phone users.

The government has asked telcos to implement a Call ID feature that will help customers identify the caller by showing their photo and name on the mobile phone screen.

Beginning 1 May, all telecom companies, including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, have to use AI spam filters for their call and SMS services. The filters will help identify and block fake and promotional calls and messages from various sources,

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio among others, are reported to have agreed to implement AI filters to block unwanted calls and SMS clips.

While Airtel has confirmed this in an official statement and Jio has said it would implement the service soon, telecom companies are reportedly reluctant to implement the facility due to their own reasons, possibly including financial losses.

The new facility is besides the excising facility of DND (Do Not Disturb) that allows a mobile phone user to permanently block spam calls. A phone user can activate DND on his/her mobile number. Trai has a special service called the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), which was earlier known as the National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC). It helps people stop spam calls.

The National Consumer Preference Register ensures that DND activation only stops unwanted third-party commercial calls and not SMS alerts from your bank, online portals and services, or personal calls from others. To activate DND on the mobile number, one has to follow these steps:

Collect the list of categories with their codes from the telecom service provider, which may include those related to banking, hospitality, real estate, education, health, etc.

Choose the code for the category that you want to block and reply to the message. You will get a confirmation message from your service provider that your request has been received. Wait for 24 hours for the DND service to start working.

This, however, is a difficult to follow service as there is no separation of spam calls or fraud attempts> The new rules are a significant step towards protecting consumers from spam calls and messages and ease communication problems.
Representatives of several European countries seeking to create momentum for peatlands restoration, conservation and sustainable management met in Dublin yesterday (May 8).

The Development Meeting brought together policy makers, experts and high-profile speakers to discuss the tremendous efforts being carried out for peatlands across European countries.

Groups including the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, among others, discussed the next steps for the European Peatlands Initiative (EPI), which aims to drive bog restoration across Europe.

The meeting marks a significant milestone for the EPI as it transitions from the exploratory phase to the preparatory phase.

It's hoped the initiative will be sharped and defined over the next year before launch in 2024.

Participants at the meeting also visited a blanket bog restoration project in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, 60 hectares of which were re-wetted to increase storage levels by 50-90 litres.

This public-private project collaboration is one of the first of its kind in Ireland for water restoration and the protection of biodiversity.



Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, said, "I firmly believe that collaboration and dedication are key to advancing peatland conservation and restoration. The Dublin meeting is poised to become a pivotal milestone for the European Peatlands Initiative, marking the beginning of a transformative and inspiring new chapter in our shared commitment to a sustainable future."

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett, said, "It's important for us to drive peatland conservation and preservation, as a shared effort with governments across Europe. The meeting in Dublin will serve as an important turning point for the European Peatlands Initiative as we move into the next phase of its creation.
Councillor Tomas Sharkey has expressed his concern at the delay from An Bord Pleanala (ABP) in a decision regarding the CPO process on the N53 Rassan to Hackballscross scheme.

Cllr Sharkey has been pushing for progress on the upgrade for the N53 which has been in planning for some time now but at the moment is being delayed pending a decision from ABP on the Oral Hearing it held regarding the CPO process on 10 January.

The Dundalk South councillor raised the matter most recently at the Dundalk Municipal District May meeting. In a reply subsequently sent to Cllr Sharkey on the matter, Louth County Council (LCC) said:

"The Oral Hearing was held by An Bord Pleanala (ABP) regarding the CPO process on the 10th of January. LCC still awaits the outcome of this hearing from ABP. The inspectors report has been completed and is currently awaiting the Board decision.

"In order to progress a decision on the CPO, LCC have written to ABP stressing that the route has an high accident rate, the funding commitments from TII, anxious of landowners and LCC to have a decision on the CPO order. In the mean time the design team continues to engage with the landowners, their agents and other stakeholders.

"A technical acceptance report has been prepared for structures and submission to TII. Ground Investigations tender and archaeological test trenching package is currently being prepared for field work and testing."

Commenting on the delays to the scheme, Cllr Sharkey said, "This stretch of the Castleblayney Road is the last piece of the jigsaw to upgrade a dangerous and busy road from Dundalk to the Armagh border. I have been raising this matter since 2003 and am anxious that we complete the final phase.

"A number of residents and landowners made observations on the proposed route. It then went to an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanala. That hearing was in January 2023 but the board has not issued its decision yet.

"This delay puts the project in danger. Council staff and elected members have worked hard to ensure Transport Infrastructure Ireland keeps the project in its spending plans. But a delay in the decision means costs may have to be revised.

"I hope that An Bord Pleanala issues their decision quickly so we can all see this important project finished. In the meantime, we have a job to do to ensure authorities in the north reciprocate our work in the southern end of the road. The N53 travels through county Armagh on its way to Monaghan. That part of the road now needs to be placed high on the agenda for politicians in Stormont."
World Ocean Day is celebrated annually on 8 June and, with less than one month to go, Irish environmental charity Clean Coasts are asking volunteers in Louth to sign up to request a free clean-up kit and take action on the day.

In June 2023, Clean Coasts will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since 2003, Clean Coasts has been working with communities to help protect and care for Irelands waterways, coastline, seas, ocean and marine life.

For the past 20 years, Clean Coasts has been working to create tangible and immediate improvements to Irelands coastal environment, involving thousands of volunteers removing large quantities of marine litter from our coastline each year.

For this reason, the programme are looking forward to marking this milestone by doing something to protect the Irish coast and celebrating the amazing groups and volunteers around Ireland for the work they do all year round.

For 2023, the focus of World Ocean Day will be on the 30x30 campaign meaning that for us to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilize our climate, its crucial that 30% of our planets lands, waters, and ocean are protected by the year 2030.

Marine litter has become a global problem for humans and marine life alike. For the past 20 years, Clean Coasts has been working with communities to tackle this issue.

Making sure litter is collected and disposed of properly at the source is vital for a cleaner ocean and a greener world for all of us to enjoy. Communities in County Louth have demonstrated their desire to be part of the solution by taking part in several beach cleaning calls to action.

Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager, speaking of the event said, "Happy 20th Birthday to the Clean Coasts community! Let's celebrate by working together to protect our coastlines and waterways.

"The Clean Coasts network has over 2000 groups working across Ireland to clean up Ireland coastline, beaches and waterways. Join us in our clean-up efforts and let's continue to make a positive impact and celebrate the incredible natural environment Irish has to offer."

The charity is asking everybody around Ireland to join their birthday celebrations and make a difference for our marine environment and wildlife. To request a kit, visit www.cleancoasts.org.

More about the initiative and events will be announced later this month.
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"China threat" narrative needed to feed insatiable U.S. military-industrial complex: SCMP

Xinhua) 13:42, May 09, 2023

HONG KONG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States needs the "China threat" narrative to feed its insatiable military-industrial complex, according to an opinion piece recently published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Without an "enemy," no taxpayer would fork out an average 1,087 U.S. dollars for Pentagon contractors over 270 dollars for their children's subpar education, the article said on Sunday.

Citing the latest study "Where your 2022 tax dollars went" released by the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, the article said, "the average American taxpayer sent 1,087 U.S. dollars of their hard-earned money to Pentagon contractors in 2022, equivalent to 21 days of work."

"That's four times the amount they paid -- 270 dollars -- for public education covering kindergarten to the last year of high school at grade 12," it added.

Domestic gun violence, educational failure, drug addiction, the mental health crisis, widespread homelessness, the extreme wealth gap, crime and a militarized police regime, all have complex interrelated causes, but government budgetary neglect is surely a big contributing factor, noted the article.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Recent Russian air strikes against Ukrainian cities using Iranian Shahed-136s resulted in one of the UAVs having engine trouble and landing intact. This enabled Ukrainian and foreign investigators to scrutinize the construction of the Shahed-136. Most of these that run into engine problems crash and explode. This one had been given contaminated fuel that caused the UAV to gradually descend and hit the ground without enough impact to set off the warhead contact fuze.

Obtaining an intact aircraft allowed for a more thorough inspection to be done. The MD-550 engine was built in Iran and it was confirmed that this was indeed an illegal copy of the German L-550 engine. Iran had obtained one of these engines in 2006 and used it in several UAVs, including Shahed-136. The L-550 entered production in the 1980s and was a popular engine for ultralight aircraft and UAVs. Legal copies of the L-550 cost about $15,000 each. That means a Shahed-136 costs about twice the original estimate of $20,000 each. A Shahed-136 weighs 200 kg (440 pounds) and is armed with a warhead containing 30 to 50 kg, most of it explosives. Thats not a lot because most cruise missiles carry warheads weighing half a ton (500 kg) or more. The Shahed-136 warhead will damage, not destroy, most structures it hits. Shahed-136 is launched using a rocket motor that gets it into the air and then detaches and falls away.

Iran provides several different warheads, including an anti-tank version. Navigation is via GPS or a remote operator that can be up to 150 kilometers away from the Shahed-136. Top speed is 185 kilometers an hour but using a lower cruising speed range can be over a thousand kilometers. Shahed-136 is reactively slow for a cruise missile and normally flies low and is loud. You can hear it coming and Ukraine developed a cell phone app that allowed people to point their phone at a Shahed-136 and automatically transmit the UAV location to a central command center that was tracking aerial attacks and alerting anti-aircraft units, especially those that used heavy machine-guns, to shoot down the Shahed-136s. Without the element of surprise, Shahed-136 is a very ineffective weapon.

In late 2022 Ukraine accused Iran of supplying Russia with 1,700 Shahed-136s for use as cruise missiles, especially during covert surprise attacks. Ukrainian air defenses have improved to the point where most of the Shahed-136s Russia launches against them are shot down. In one case all the Shahed-136s launched were shot down. This attack was made at night to hit Ukrainian urban electrical distribution systems. Officially, Iran says it is not supplying Russia with Shahed-136s but they continue to be used to the present.
Iran recently revealed that it had built and put three more of its Fateh-class submarines into the water and was installing equipment to make them fully operational. This comes four years after the first Fateh entered service. Since then the Iranians have been using the first Fateh a lot and finding and fixing problems. The three new ones will have far fewer problems. The Fateh class boats are 48 meters (157 feet) and displace 527 tons on the surface. Maximum depth is 250 meters. Max speeds are 20 kilometers an hour on the surface and 26 kilometers submerged. The crew of 21 can remain at sea for five weeks before food and other supplies are exhausted. Max range is 6,700 kilometers, most of it spent underwater moving at 15 kilometers an hour using a snorkel to dispel diesel fumes and bring in fresh air. Fateh has a full assortment of sonar and radar as well as a computerized fire control system. The radar is mounted on one the masts, along with the periscope and a communications mast. Weapons consist of four to six torpedoes launched from four standards (533mm) torpedo tubes. Fateh may also be able to operate the Jask-2 anti-ship missile via a torpedo tube. This has been seen in use and Iran may have concluded that the anti-ship missile was less effective than a torpedo. Iran also claims that Fateh performance in general is superior to that of Western submarines. Western navies report that there has been no evidence of this.

When first revealed in 2019 Iran described the 660 ton Fateh as a new type of submarine. Iran described this sub as capable of remaining submerged up to 200 meters (650 feet) for up to five weeks, apparently using a periscope type snorkel (a pipe type device to bring in air and expel diesel engine fumes) and fire locally built Hoveizeh cruise missiles. These had a claimed range of 1,300 kilometers were able to reach Israel). Hoveizeh was designed to be fired from a truck but Iran falsely claimed it had developed a version that can be expelled from a torpedo tube, get to the surface and get into the air. No evidence of that capability has ever been demonstrated and this is another one of those Iranian weapons that has not yet entered service.

Iran boasted that Fateh construction began in 2008 and the sub was built using Iranian resources and required 4.2 million man hours to assemble 420,000 components. The accuracy of all these details is dubious, based on past press releases for locally made weapons. However, Iran has been building small submarines for two decades and some have been detected in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, never far from their bases. Iran has been able to use a lot of foreign submarine technology for some time. Fateh was real and did work. Considering the poor reliability and performance of locally made warships, the capabilities of Fateh and its weapons are probably more aspirational than actual.

In 2010 Iran announced that it had put four more mini-submarines into service, for a total of eleven built over the previous five years. Since 2000 Iran has, apparently with technical help from North Korea, been building mini-submarines for operations along its coasts, and throughout the Persian Gulf. The first two entered service around 2005. The Iranians said they would use the mini-subs to lay mines or launch underwater commando attacks. While the North Koreans provided some technical assistance, the Iranian sub was a local design, smaller than most North Korean mini-subs, which is a reflection of the more turbulent seas found off the Korean coast.

The first Iranian mini subs appear to have been based on the North Korean M100D, a 76 ton, 19 meter (58 foot) long boat that has a crew of four and can carry eight divers and their equipment, or several naval mines, or a torpedo. The North Koreans got the idea for the M100D when they bought the plans for a 25 ton Yugoslav mini-sub in the 1980s. Only four of those Yugoslav minis were built, apparently as experiments to develop a larger North Korean design. There are believed to be over 30 M100Ds, in addition to 23 of the 115 ton Iranian variation, called the Ghadir. These have two torpedo tubes and a crew of 18.

Building subs like this are not high tech and Iran is not the only amateur going at it. Back in 2010 a drug gang in Ecuador was caught building a 30 meter (98 feet) long submarine on the bank of a jungle river. This boat was three meters in diameter and capable of submerging to about 30 meters. The locally built boat had a periscope, conning tower and was air-conditioned. It was captured where it was being assembled, and a nearby camp, for the builders, appeared to house about fifty people. This was the first such sub to be completed, but not the first to be built. Nearly a decade earlier, Russian naval architects and engineers were discovered among those designing and building a similar, but larger, boat. However, that effort did not last, as the Russian designs were too complex and expensive. It was found easier to build semi-submersible craft. But more and more of these are being caught at sea. The 2010 sub was not military grade. It could travel submerged, but not dive deep. It was built using the same fiberglass material used for the semi-submersible craft, but was larger, and had berths for six crew. There was space for about ten tons of cocaine. It probably cost several million dollars to build and was weeks away from completion and sea trials. The drug sub was similar to the small subs being built since the 1970s for offshore oil operations and underwater tourism.

North Korea has developed several mini-sub designs, most of them available to anyone with the cash to pay. Until Fateh, the largest was the 250 ton Sang-O, which is actually a coastal sub modified for special operations. There is a crew of 19, plus either six scuba swimmer commandos or a dozen men who can go ashore in an inflatable boat. Some Sang-Os have two or four torpedo tubes. Over thirty were built, and one was captured by South Korea when it ran aground in 1996. North Korea is believed to have fitted some of the Song-Os and M100Ds with acoustic tiles, to make them more difficult to detect by sonar. This technology was popular with the Russians, and that's where the North Koreans were believed to have got the technology.

The most novel North Korean design is a submersible speedboat. This 13 meters (40 foot) boat looks like a speedboat, displaces ten tons and can carry up to eight people. It only submerges to a depth of about 4 meters. Using a snorkel apparatus, the boat could move underwater. In 1998, a South Korean destroyer sank one of these. A follow-on class displaced only five tons, and could carry six people (including one or two to run the boat). At least eight of these were believed built and construction continues in South America.

Iran also has had some Russian built Kilo class subs. This is a 30 year old design that first entered service in 1982. So far, 70 have been built, 60 are still in service and more are under construction. It may be an old design, but it is mature and has been updated with modern electronics and quieting technology (makes it more difficult to detect underwater.) Iran received three of these boats in the 1990s. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes and a crew of 52. They can travel about 700 kilometers underwater at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Top speed underwater is 32 kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes.) Kilos can stay at sea 45 days at a time. It can travel at periscope depth (using a snorkel) for 12,000 kilometers at 12 kilometers an hour. The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. The Iranian Kilos are not used a lot because sanctions have made it difficult to obtain spare parts, but using locally made substitutes Iran has kept these three boats operational. Iran has announced plans to build Kilo type subs but no such activity has been detected. For the last five years, Iran has been working on the 1,200 ton Besat but it is unclear when this sub will be completed. The Fateh may be an intermediate step in attempting a larger boat like Besat that is similar to the Kilo.
A CORK couple will be laid to rest together this afternoon after passing away from separate illnesses on the same day.

Mary Dennehy from Corrin in Fermoy passed away from cancer last Saturday night, just hours after her husband Ted (High Street, Cork city) succumbed to a respiratory condition.

They will be buried in Kilcrumper new cemetery Fermoy this afternoon.

The couple lived out their final days at St Patricks Community Hospital Fermoy where they had both agreed to look after each other.

Their daughter Mary Rose said she is so grateful to the centre following initial concerns that her mother and father might have to be cared for apart.

77-year-old Ted had been in Cork University Hospital for three months and Mary was in Marymount Hospice for six weeks before they could both access long-term care together.

They spent the last six months of their lives sharing the same room at Fermoy Community Hospital.

Ted passed away at 1am on Saturday morning while Mary, who was soon to turn 75, died that night at 10.05pm. It brought to an end a love story that might have been straight out of a Hollywood film.

Their daughter Mary Rose explained how Mary and former tiling contractor Ted first met.

Dad was driving around in a convertible with his best friend Tommy Brady on the way to Mitchelstown when he spotted mum and her friend thumbing a lift to the same dance, she told The Echo.

That was the start of their love story. Mum was 15 and dad was 17. They were married in 1970 and went on to have an amazing life together. They had four children-Annette, myself (Mary Rose), Helen and Tim.

"Mum and dad also had five grandchildren and were happy to know they had another one on the way who was due on their wedding anniversary. They were married 53 years and had never spent a day apart.

Family was extremely important to the couple up to their dying day.

As each of us girls got married we all had to agree to a 'prenup' that we would all come home for Christmas dinner. Luckily, we all have such amazing and understanding husbands. We also have fantastic memories.

"Mum and dad were blessed to have grandchildren and they found great enjoyment with them.

"Unfortunately in recent years illness took over. However, this did not diminish the love they had for each other. While their health needs were complex we are fortunate they had the last six months of their lives together at Fermoy Community Hospital.

Mary and Ted Dennehy on their wedding day. The couple died last Saturday from separate illnesses on the same day.

She opened up about the joy they brought to peoples lives.

Dancing was a huge part of their life and they especially loved going to the shows in the Gleneagle.

"In recent weeks mums health took a turn for the worst and that was the start of their journey together. We hope they are now both pain-free and dancing at the crossroads with the showbands.

Staff of the hospital already miss the couple dearly.

Fermoy Community Hospital were able to take them in and they were in the same room together. The staff were like a second family-so much so that we asked them if we can continue to call in.

"They were saying that they hadnt had a couple for so long so they are really going to miss them. Mum would get her hair done with their hairdresser who came in every week and they enjoyed the activities.

She cast her mind back to the day they entered St Patricks Community Hospital Fermoy.

Mum didnt think she was sick so we asked her if she would go in there to look after our dad. We then asked dad if he would go in there to look after mum until she went on her journey.

Mary Rose recalled a conversation she had with her father shortly before his death.

I told him that I heard he wanted to go on a journey and that was when he told me 'I want to go with Mary'. I said that he had suffered enough and if he wanted to go on his journey he could. I told him that mum was very comfortable and we would be there with her. They were each others worlds."

Mary Rose expressed her gratitude to Fermoy Community Hospital adding:

We will be forever grateful to them because they allowed us to be a family and to enjoy our time together.

Mary and Ted are also survived by their grandchildren- Jack, Ruth, Conor, Cian and Diarmuid.
CAMDEN Fort Meagher will be brought back under the control of the Carrigaline Municipal District, Cork County Council CEO Tim Lucey has told councillors.

The discussion at yesterdays full council meeting was initiated by Fianna Fail councillor Audrey Buckley after a motion to suspend standing orders was agreed to address concerns that the attraction may not reopen for the summer season.

Mr Lucey said more clarity on the future of Camden Fort Meagher will be provided at next Mondays Southern Committee meeting.

He said unsafe operational practices there and some structural unsafe practices were uncovered at the fort.

That resulted in the closure of the facility around autumn of last year, he explained.

There were very significant issues to be addressed. They are being worked through, Mr Lucey said.

He said the council is also trying to source staff for the fort.

We need to resolve staffing issues as it does need a manager for the summer period. We are also in the process of trying to recruit seasonal staff with a view to trying to get the place open.

"It is extremely difficult to get staff. The volunteer structure remains key to operating the fort, but it needs to operate under a management structure with defined purposes, hours, and procedures, he said.

Downtime was far from unproductive. There was significant works done inside the place. We are going to bring the operation of the centre back under the MD directorate [in Carrigaline] as well, he said.

Ms Buckley called for better communication.

I am very frustrated for the volunteers at Fort Camden. It is the jewel in Cork Harbour. A feasibility health and safety study has been done and I totally understand nobody can be allowed in until that was furnished.

"We would just like to know what is happening. I cant see it opening this summer because the volunteers havent been communicated with. People are very upset. Going into the future we need better communication.

There is huge frustration locally, said her party colleague Seamus McGrath.

Fort Camden has been a big success. Huge credit to Cork County Council for getting behind it many years ago. We as public representatives are getting it in the neck. This is a huge facility locally. We dont know where we stand for the coming weeks and months. We need clarity on this situation.

Independent councillor Marcia DAlton said councillors need to be told so they in turn can keep the public informed.

We have had no report on Camden since we spoke about that matter in the chamber a year ago and more, she said.
Cork City Fire Brigade have been commended for their pawsome river rescue following their rescuing of a dog from the river Lee.

The small terrier found herself in trouble late Sunday night, May 7, as it fell into the water near Camden Quay.

Passers-by alerted the emergency services when the dogs cries could be heard coming from the river.

Cork City Brigade were quick to respond to concerns from the public and swiftly set about to retrieve the distressed animal.

Cork City Fire Brigade were swiftly on the scene following concerns from passers-by.

Members of the rescue team lowered a fireman on a stretcher down into the water from the quay above and successfully hoisted the small dog to safety.

The Cork City Fire Brigade took to social media to share the news of their successful canine rescue, saying:

Another Pawsome river rescue was performed last night. Swift water rescue teams entered the river to help a very cold and scared dog whose cries had been heard by a passer-by. She is currently on her way to making a full recovery.

Members of the fire service hoisted the small dog to safety.

This most recent rescue by the fire service is among a string of successful missions to retrieve endangered animals in Cork.

Last November, Cork City Fire Brigade came to the rescue of a dog caught in a housefire is now on the mend after being resuscitated with a special Pet Oxygen Mask.

Max, was rescued from a home in Dillons Cross where it was believed that a house fire was caused by a charging electric scooter.

The small terrier who was rescued from the Lee and Max the labrador are just a few of the furry friends getting a new LEASH on life thanks to the team at Cork City Fire Brigade.
A man pretended to be taking his Cork-based child on a visit to Dublin Zoo instead abducted the boy and brought him back to Poland without the mothers knowledge or consent.

Judge Catherine Staines imposed a two-year sentence on the boys father with the last 18 months suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge said the accused had to serve some period in custody. The 40-year-old cannot be named as it would lead to identification of the child and this is legally protected in a case such as this.

The childs mother said in her victim impact statement: I was in shock. I could not believe it. My heart went to pieces. I felt like I was dying every day.

I still have fear and worry he will do this again. Since I got him back (after more than four months) I have not let him out of my sight. He is glued to me.

"If I was putting out rubbish at dinnertime he would get up from the table and follow me. School is the only place he would go without me.

She said her son was too young to understand how it happened and was left wondering how his mother let it happen even though she had nothing to do with her ex-partners actions.

Defence barrister, Emmet Boyle, said: He thought unilaterally  without consulting with the mum.

He added that the defendant believed that his child would get better treatment in Poland for a condition which he has.

Sergeant Kieran Crowley testified that on an access day for the father  where the mother was told he was bringing their son to Dublin Zoo  the defendant flew with the child to Poland without any permission.

The woman had to engage a Polish solicitor and go to court in Poland so that she could bring her child back to Ireland.

In an effort to frustrate her search, the womans ex-partner had moved the child from his parents home in Poland and taken the child to a location some five hours drive away.

Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to abducting his son.

The boys mother spent more than four months trying to get him back after the accused brought the child to Poland.

The charge stated that he was responsible for the removal of his son from the care of his mother without her consent.

He admitted he did at Dublin Airport on August 28 2021 take a child under the age 16 out of the country in defiance of a court order without the consent of the parent to whom custody was granted by the court  an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act.

He was arrested on April 16, after he stepped off a flight from Poland.

The only access the defendant had was for six hours each Sunday and two hours for each of two evenings during the week or additionally with the mothers consent.

It was only after a legal battle that the woman got her child back.
RENEWED calls for Ballincollig Fire Station to be reopened and crewed with full-time staff have been heard at a meeting of Cork City Council.

Ballincollig Fire Station has been closed since late 2021 as efforts to recruit for a retained fire service have been unsuccessful.

SIPTU members employed as firefighters in Cork City commenced limited industrial action over a fortnight ago in a bid to see the station reopened, with members claiming that a lack of resources is "endangering members and public safety".

At a council meeting on Monday evening, the Sinn Fein councillors tabled a motion urging the council to recognise that its recruitment campaigns for retained firefighters have not been successful.

The motion called for the reopening of Ballincollig Fire Station without delay, using full-time firefighters, while maintaining current crewing.

Speaking at the meeting, Ballincollig-based Sinn Fein councillor Eolan Ryng commended the work of the city firefighters, some of whom were present in the public gallery while the council meeting went on.

Nationally, Mr Ryng said, there is a crisis in the retained fire service.

60% of people in the retained fire service have indicated that they want to leave in the near future.

If thats the situation nationally, many of which are rural areas, that presents I think some of the difficulty we see with the recruitment of a retained service, he continued.

Fianna Fail councillor Colm Kelleher also renewed his calls for Ballincollig Fire Station to be crewed with full-time firefighters.

The dogs on the street unfortunately at this time know that the retained model in an urban area is just not viable, the Ballincollig native said.

Meanwhile Solidarity councillor Fiona Ryan, in her last contribution as a city councillor lambasted what she described as council managements continued bullishness and stubbornness when approaching the city firefighters.

Its time for the executive to back down and accept that their plan has failed, she continued.

The councils assistant chief executive Brian Geaney told the meeting that council management has requested the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to get involved in the dispute.

The WRC has invited both parties to talks. Management has accepted and we would hope that SIPTU would also accept, he continued.

A spokesperson for SIPTU told The Echo last week that the union was ready, willing and able to engage but, as advised to the council both verbally and in writing, we require sight of the proposal that is being referred colloquially as Plan B before we engage with the WRC.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Following recent laws proposed by the European Commision in November 2022, fast food company McDonalds is lobbying strongly against the legislation, which targets reductions in packaging waste.

In an open letter published in April, McDonalds  along with other companies and trade associations, including Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin and Yum!  addressed the EU, asking for a halt to the proposed packaging and packaging waste regulation.

Over the past year, McDonalds has helped fund three studies to argue against the packaging waste reduction targets, although the company has stated that it does support the European Green Deal. The studies have been criticized for a lack of transparency from not sharing data or methodology that resulted in the studies conclusions.

The publication uses unclear data and assumptions to undermine the role of reusable packaging, Marco Musso, a policy officer at the European Environmental Bureau, told DeSmog. Its a bit disturbing that its then presented as unquestionable science.

The company and other industry groups have said that turning to reusable packaging will require more water and energy to wash and dry the food packaging. McDonalds also said packaging is essential for quick and efficient service to customers on its No Silver Bullet website, one of two sites the company has set up to lobby against the packaging waste laws. In addition to the studies and websites, McDonalds has paid for multiple sponsored articles to share its position.

According to Jean-Pierre Schweitzer, the deputy policy manager for circular economy at the European Environmental Bureau, the proposed legislation is one of the most lobbied on file that the EU Parliament has seen, as reported by DeSmog.

While McDonalds and other opponents said in the open letter that moving to entirely reusable packaging by 2030 would increase greenhouse gas emissions for dine-in restaurants by about 50% or up to 177%, and up to 260% for takeaway restaurants, other studies have found the opposite to be true.

The European Commission noted that the proposal could decrease greenhouse gas emissions from 66 million metric tons to 43 million metric tons by 2030. A recent study based in the U.S. found that reusable containers can reduce energy demand, global warming potential, water consumption, waste and even costs.

The packaging waste legislation targets a single-use packaging ban for restaurants and cafes by 2030 and sets a goal for a 10% switch to reusables for takeout food and a 20% switch for to-go beverages. Without changes, the European Commission predicted that packaging waste will increase from 180 kg per person in Europe to 215 kg per person by 2030.
West Oakland and the East Bay just after sunset on July 10, 2022. The I-880 freeway can be seen looping around the West Oakland area before winding toward the Port of Oakland. Maansi Srivastava / The Washington Post / Getty Images

In keeping with mid-20th century segregationist federal guidance, West Oakland, California officials in the 1940s deliberately put the most polluting industries and biggest highways in Black neighborhoods  saddling them with cancer, asthma, and other health impacts. In white neighborhoods, diesel-powered trucks were banned from operating, as planners chose to divide Black communities with highways instead.

The intentional planning of these uses  was historically racist, Oakland Planning Commission member Jonathan Fearn told the Washington Post. The planning profession has to reconcile that because they have been complicit in this whole issue, not only in Oakland, but in cities all across the country.

The California Air Resources Board has taken steps to lessen the pollution burden faced by these communities through encouraging electric trucks powered by renewable energy, and electric equipment at busy ports, but health officials say the substantial buildup of pollution will continue to take a toll for decades.

All my kids have allergies and asthma, myself too, Margaret Gordon told the Post, while showing them the layer of dark gray pollution blanketing her West Oakland home. It aint dust. Its diesel particulates. And at her age, its hard to keep clean. Im not getting on too many ladders at 75 years old. I know better than that. Nonetheless, her age isnt keeping her from cleaning up everyones air. As the co-founder of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Gordons work since 2003 has created a block-by-block pollution monitoring for California officials enforcing a 2017 law aimed at exactly this issue. I aint got but 15 more years myself, Gordon told the Post. If they cant do it in 15 more years, I dont know what to tell them.

For a Deeper Dive:

Washington Post

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University of Arkansas wins 74th USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest





Nine US universities recently participated in the 74th USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, held at Louisiana State University in the United States.

The University of Arkansas won the high team overall category and Texas A&M University took second place.

The contest is made possible by a grant from Mountaire Corp. in honor of Ted Cameron, founder of Mountaire. It is part of the USPOULTRY Foundation's comprehensive student outreach programme, established to enhance young people's interest in the poultry industry and encourage student enrollment in poultry science and related studies.

In addition to the Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, the USPOULTRY Foundation sponsors the annual College Student Career Program, International Student Program and National FFA Career Development Event at the International Poultry Expo (IPE), as well as co-sponsors the PhD and Vet Student Career Fair during IPE, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

Other youth outreach sponsorship includes the National FFA Convention, National 4-H poultry and egg activities, and high school, technical school and elementary school outreach programmes. The Foundation also funds student recruiting efforts at colleges and universities from coast-to-coast.

- USPOULTRY




Bird flu outbreak causes sharp drop in Philippines' egg output, according to producers

Egg producers in the Philippines confirmed in late-April that their production has dropped by 20% due to the culling of at least 10 million chicken layers amid the bird flu outbreak.

Based on the Department of Agriculture (DA)'s estimate, the entire population of chicken layers is at 45 million, but industry estimates peg it at around 60 million.

"If a total 10 million were culled, that's big," Gregorio San Diego, who chairs both the United Broiler Raisers Association and the Philippine Egg Board, told The STAR.

However, that's not just the problem of the local industry. San Diego said there is a flooding of eggs in the market due to the abrupt decline in Filipinos' daily consumption.

"We have so many stocks of eggs in the farms because of low demand for eggs as consumers don't buy (as much as before), because of limited budgets," he said.

San Diego also criticised the DA for its failure to act on the approval of the avian flu vaccine.

"The DA has yet to act on the vaccine against avian flu. We are already in crisis and yet, it is still slow acting on the needs of the industry," he said.

San Diego noted that big companies were forced to smuggle the vaccine amid fears of the virus spreading further in the country. He cited how neighboring countries are already using vaccines against bird flu, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

"We have been urging the DA to act. Our fear is if the virus further mutates, it will be very difficult for the industry to recover," he said.

- Philstar




Less chances of LSD entering Australia, according to epidemiology company

The risk of a serious livestock disease making its way to Australia is lower than authorities first expected.

No updated modelling on the risk of a foot and mouth disease (FMD) incursion has been released Lumpy skin disease (LSD) was detected in Indonesia in early 2022, putting Australia's cattle industry on high alert.

Still, it was estimated an outbreak of the disease would cost Australia $7.4 billion in its first year, from lost trading opportunities.

Despite the disease's spread throughout Indonesia, including on the popular tourist island of Bali, new modelling from epidemiology company Ausvet shows a reduced likelihood of an LSD incursion in Australia.

"An incursion appears to be much less likely than we previously thought," Ausvet director, Dr. Brendan Cowled, told an industry webinar.

In its research, Dr. Cowled said Ausvet found it was unlikely for lumpy skin disease to spread to Australia via a single insect.

"Most of the research around the world shows that you need 30 to 50 insects to land on one single animal and bite that animal about the same time to start infection going," Dr. Cowled said.

Modelling showed the risk of an LSD outbreak in Australia ranged between one in every five years, to one in every 14,652 years, depending on the amount of insects required for successful transmission.

"It shows it's not a very high likelihood of an outbreak if it takes quite a few insects to start an outbreak," Dr. Cowled said. "These insects have got to blow across in one little mob, all the way from Indonesia, they've got to land on one animal to start an infection."

Dr. Cowled said the team expected the "truth" would be "an outbreak every few hundred years or every few thousand years".

However, he noted the confidence intervals of the modelling was not high, with many questions left to be answered by science.

"There's quite a bit of uncertainty in our estimates," he said. "That's because each one of those steps in that risk assessment path has some uncertainty where further science is required to refine this estimate."

- ABC News




New feed mill standard a huge leap for Aquaculture Stewardship Council, says official

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council's (ASC) new feed mill standard represents a big step for the organisation, according to ASC Feed Standard Senior Coordinator Alexandra Warrington.

The standard was published a year and a half ago and became effective in January. Certification bodies are now beginning the accreditation process and will commence audits later this year, Warrington told SeafoodSource at the 2023 Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain.

"We're taking all of the same rigor to the ASC assurance and now applying it down at the feed mill level," Warrington said.

After nearly eight years of development, the standard has legal, social and environmental components and provides transparency to the mills' practices, Warrington noted.

"It's not an easy standard, but it's taking those key risks and saying we want to prevent the worst of the worst in the supply chain," Warrington added.

ASC will be investigating all feed ingredients processed by the mills and assessing them against key risk factors common in the marketplace.

"We've listened to the industry," Warrington remarked. "With this new standard, we offer more flexibility with sourcing certified materials."

As a part of the new certification, ASC is offering a three-year window for mills to make improvements to their processes.

"We recognise that a fishery takes time to go through its journey," Warrington said. "If you're starting at a fishery improvement project, then you're progressing hopefully to MarinTrust, then the end goal is Marine Stewardship Council certification."

ASC aims to see its first feed mill certified later in 2023.

- SeafoodSource




Purdue University's animal disease lab gets more funding from Indiana, US

A new two-year appropriations budget adopted by the General Assembly of Indiana, the United States, on April 28 contains good news for the Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), the university's College of Veterinary Medicine said.

A key priority for the laboratory was to make the case for increased state funding to support its mission of helping Indiana veterinarians, animal health officials, livestock producers and animal owners in protecting the health of the animal population by providing prompt, accurate and reliable diagnoses of animal diseases, including those that may affect the human population.

The ADDL is an individual line item in the state budget. The latest two-year state budget increases the laboratory's annual appropriation to US$5 million per fiscal year, which represents an increase of US$1,288,439 per fiscal year. The ADDL also was included in the budget for Purdue capital projects and capital appropriations, to the tune of US$5 million for laboratory upgrades.

Other specific line items in the state budget related to Purdue that received increases in annual appropriations include County Agricultural Extension Educators (funding raised to US$8 million per fiscal year) and Agricultural Research and Extension  Crossroads (funding raised to US$9 million per fiscal year).

Overall, the state budget provides a 4% increase in operating funding for Purdue for fiscal year 2024 and a 6% increase for FY 2025  the most significant infusion of new dollars in operating appropriations that higher education in the state has received in many years.



- Purdue University
On Friday, May 5, 2023, Team wob-racing proudly presented the WR17, its new racecar for the Formula Student 2023 Season, during an event at Hammerstein Park in Wesendorf, Germany.

Analog Devices is supporting the first roll-out of Team wob-racings latest Formula Student racecar, the WR17.

As a platinum sponsor of the student team, ADI continues to support the future of engineering talent in the automotive industry. The racecar utilizes a wide range of ADIs technology within the electric vehicle powertrain, including within the inverter assembly and battery management system. With ADIs broad portfolio of cutting-edge technology, it was a natural progression for Team wob-racing to approach ADI for sponsorship of the team for their 2023 season, alongside other automotive ecosystem players such as Vector and Bertrandt.

Founded 20 years ago by students of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering at the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Team wob-racing is one of the oldest Formula Student racing teams in Germany. In 2011, the project pivoted to designing electric vehicles. The latest concept, the WR17, is the teams most optimized design thus far. It is capable of accelerating to 100km/h within 2.2 seconds. Effective energy management is a critical capability for electric vehicles to achieve better performance and longer range, and ADI continues to lead that charge through its innovations in automotive electrification technology.

The future engineers made one of the biggest innovations in the team's history with their new in-house developed inverters. Alongside the battery management system, the inverters are another important component of the racecar, which uses many ADI parts. To complete the development, the team was able to use an axle test rig from their sponsor Bertrandt to evaluate the best possible electronic control of the system.
MBABANE  Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) Lt. General Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo met with the PM yesterday, where they discussed, among other issues, the silencing of the guns.

Lt. General Shikongo is also the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force. He is currently in the country to evaluate and monitor the countrys performance with regard to the implementation of agreed The Internationa Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and SARPCCO resolutions and decisions. Deputy Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said Lt General Shikongo met the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Dlamini, at Cabinet Offices yesterday.

Agreement

Among other things discussed was the Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and other Related Materials taken in August 2020, which SADC member States were encouraged to sign and the upcoming national elections. Lt. General Shikongo reported that only five SADC member States had since signed the Agreement Amending the Protocol, with Namibia currently in the process of signing. He also encouraged the Kingdom of Eswatini to continue observing the Africa Amnesty Month in September each year, which has been declared as a month in which individuals and groups who surrender their illegally owned weapons/arms will not be subjected to disclosure, humiliation, arrest, or prosecution in sync with the Africa Amnesty Month and Article (b) of the SADC Protocol.

Mdluli said also discussed was the implementation of the Integrated Strategy to prevent and combat transnational organised crimes in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region as well as its implementation plan.Lt. General Shikongo applauded Eswatini for doing well in meeting INTERPOL standards, noting that there was room for improvement though. The PM, on the other hand, welcomed the SARPCCO chairperson to the Kingdom of Eswatini. He also appreciated the role played by SARPCCO in the coordination of cross-border issues within the police service. He further reiterated the importance of silencing the guns as per calls by the SADC Summit. The prime minister assured the visiting SARPCCO chairperson of a safe and secure stay in the country and noted how emaSwati were recognising the role played by police officers in the country.
MBABANE  I wont stop looking for him until I drink his blood.

These words were supposedly uttered by Wandile Matsebula (31), a Library Assistant, who is also alleged to be member of the notorious 28 gang. He is said to have directed them to Sebenele Malinga (37), a Fidelity Security Supervisor. Malinga narrated in court how he was hacked by Matsebula. The matter was at the Mbabane National Court before Court President Two Minutes Shongwe. Matsebula appeared in court after he was arrested and charged for attempting to hack Malinga.

Complainant

According to the complainant, Matsebula wanted to kill him because he once tried to apprehend him after allegedly stealing a T-shirt at Mr Price, worth E200. He said, since then, the accused person had made his life miserable. He alleged before court that he was once attacked by the accused person from his rented flat. Sengaba yinyamatane yaMatsebula mine (Im Matsebulas prey now). He told one of my colleagues that the 28 gang had sworn that they wont give him rest unless he made sure that I was dead. I have decided to relocate from where I was residing for my safety, alleged Malinga.

The complainant then alleged that due to the accused persons failure to kill him, some of his gang members had stabbed him (accused) in his thighs as punishment. He once attacked me in my house at around 11pm. Watsi kumele ingati yami agcine ayikhotsile noma ayinatsile (he said eventually, he must lick or drink my blood), lamented Malinga. On the day of the incident, Malinga told the court that he was patrolling, at work and took a break in front of Jet Stores. He said he then saw the accused carrying a bush knife, running towards him. He said he then ran for his life. I ran into Footgear Store. The shop managers had to close the shop on that day as Matsebula was intent on killing me.

Relief

Wangigeja ngalocelemba. He said namuhla ngikufuna ufile (today I want you dead).I hid inside the job for hours, said the complainant. The guard said he got relief after a police officer, whose surname was Mbhamali, passed by, resulting in the accused person running away. He then alleged that the accused person wanted to commit the theft without disturbance. I rushed to the police station to report the matter since it was the third time Matsebula attacked me. He had previously punched me in the face. He always comes looking for me every day between 4 and 5pm, he said. The court was left shocked when Malinga alleged that the accused person had also threatened him even within the court premises, telling him that he wanted him dead. Matsebula first denied attacking the complainant with a bush knife when he was questioned by the court president.

Beating

Malinga is lying that I attacked him with a bush knife. It is true that I once punched him in the face for lying against me. He even called me a thief. However, I am sorry for beating him up, he said. Matsebula told the court that it was not true that he made a living by stealing goods from shops around Mbabane. He said he had been a library assistant in Mbabane since 2016. He went further to deny being associated with any gangsterism group known as 28. Meanwhile, the court decided to get CCTV footage from Footgear since the accused denied that he was in possession of a bush knife on the day. The accused then pleaded with the court to give him one last chance of giving his side of the story. It is true that I attacked the complainant with a bush knife and I have kept it a home, he said. Such admission infuriated Shongwe who said Malinga had wasted the courts time. This is a court and not the place where you can do as you please. You denied everything when I asked about the bush knife. Why did you waste courts time? asked the Court President.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

HAIRSPRAY Los Angeles Run Review

There is no other way to say it than Hairspray, now at the Dolby Theater thru May 21st is a Showstopper, a musical extravaganza, and a sight to see.

Hairspray follows a 1960s Tracy Turnblad stuck in a limiting paradigm of social, political, racial, and sexual repression searching for a way to break through those norms in search of greater personal expressions through music and dance.

From curtain-up, the vocals that fill the auditorium rock the house and the tintinnabulation of every instrument vibrates with excitement. Having seen the Broadway run more than a decade ago, and the John Travolta film vehicle several times, this production elevates the emotional impact of teen angst set against racism, sexism, homophobia, and the struggles of economic warfare with distinct differences. It seems like these issues are even more prominent today than when Hairspray debuted.

The delivery of Hairspray is astonishing. Excellence has been applied to every detail. Audiences are drawn in, kept there and never want to leave, even for a moment is a testament to the relevance of this musical journey.

Without exception, every performer is among the best I've seen all year.

The orchestrations are phenomenal, and something that rarely gets any recognition in any theatrical review but warrants recognition here are the sound and lighting design. The way the experience sucks you in from the very first drum beat and holds you on the edge of your seat for the more than two hours of fist pumping, out-loud singing along with every song is a cohesive endeavor achieved by masterful theatrical engineering.

I'd like to say this is not a whitewash review, but in all honesty, I'm hard pressed to find a single flaw in this production. The fact it speaks to so many social issues, while creating one of the most enjoyable nights of theater in all of 2023 is a compliment to the entire company. The score contains more than one showstopper and at its finale with "You Can't Stop The Beat", I as an audience member found myself wanting still more.

The original Broadway choreographer Jerry Mitchell made a radiant appearance glowing with elation at the success of the premier. He even gave kudos to Mark Shaiman Thomas Mehan for their Tony nom for Some Like It Hot now on Broadway which brought an uproar from the house.

But perhaps the most inspiring aspect of this musical is just that  the choreography is not only show stopping, but quite mindboggling. The combination of so many different styles of dance and movement being integrated all at once reminded me of the Ringling Bros. Circus.

Look over here. Now look over there. Now look way over there, and now back over here. It was dizzying taking it all in from such a diverse cast in such an iconic venue like the Dolby theater left a packed house drenched in joy and satisfaction.

It was evident on the faces of every cast member and musician that the pleasure was all theirs.

Hairspray is a sensation and one of Broadway's true jewels. Go see Hairspray, or you will regret missing it.

Hairspray runs at the Dolby Theater through May 21 with tickets starting at $30.

Michael J. Herman is Interim Editor In Chief and Critic At Large for Luxury-Media Group. Find more of his bylines at Substack.com.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has restarted safety inspections of all commercial vehicles coming from Mexico, targeting at least one port of entry in Brownsville and causing eight- to 24-hour delays for truckers trying to cross the border.

The inspections started Tuesday and will continue for an undetermined amount of time, Ericka Miller, a DPS spokesperson, said in an email last week. The inspections are happening at the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates that connects Brownsville with Matamoros, according to DPS.

Miller didnt respond to a question about what prompted troopers to inspect all cargo.

A different DPS spokesperson on Thursday told the Monitor newspaper in McAllen that troopers are also inspecting cargo at the Free Trade International Bridge at Los Indios.

BLOCKING TRADE: International trade halted at Texas border crossing as truckers protest Greg Abbotts new inspections

Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state troopers to inspect every commercial truck coming from the four Mexican states that border Texas in what he described as an effort to stop illegal drugs and migrants from being smuggled into Texas.

Over eight days in April, troopers inspected more than 4,100 vehicles. They didnt find any drugs, weapons or other contraband, but they took 850 vehicles off the road for various equipment violations and cited at least 345 drivers for things such as underinflated tires, broken turn signals and oil leaks.

Miguel Roberts/Associated Press

The inspections ended when Abbott signed agreements with the governors of the Mexican border states that they would increase security measures to prevent the smuggling of drugs and migrants. But three of the four governors said they would simply continue security measures they already had put in place before Abbott ordered the state inspections.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents routinely  and randomly  inspect commercial cargo coming from Mexico for illegal drugs and people being smuggled as soon as truckers cross the international bridges.

The latest inspections drew a new round of criticism from the Mexican government, Texas lawmakers and businesses who called them a waste of time that is costing both countries a lot of money.

Mexican Consul General Pablo Marentes in Austin said in an interview that his country's government is calling on Abbott to let trade flow to normal times. The Mexican government estimates that in 2021, there was $688 billion worth of trade between Texas and Mexico and that 300,000 Texas jobs are dependent on trade with Mexico.

NOTHING FOUND: What did Greg Abbotts border inspections turn up? Oil leaks, flat tires and zero drugs

The efficient flow of cross-border commerce is critical to our nations economic stability, and additional, uncoordinated inspections will significantly impact local supply chains in Texas and across the United States, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, wrote Thursday in a letter to Abbott.

Dennis E. Nixon, CEO of the International Bank of Commerce in Laredo, also sent a letter to Abbott, telling the governor that he understands the need for policies to reduce illegal activity at the border but arguing that the inspections will only hurt the state economy and cause more chaos than order.

This plan is incredibly flawed because Mexican governors do not control the border  the cartels do, Nixon wrote. Using tough-guy tactics against the governors in Mexico is just going to further contribute to the crisis on the border. Please remember  actions always create equal and opposite reactions.
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Our Lady of the Lake University is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit over a data breach that let hackers access the personal information of tens of thousands of individuals last year.

The action was filed last month by Ana Vasquez, a Texas resident who applied for admission to the university in 2019 but never enrolled. She filed the complaint on behalf of herself and others similarly situated.

Total damages sought are more than $1 million, though each of the plaintiffs individual damages are less than $75,000.

The private Catholic university issued a public notice of the data breach March 31  a week after the San Antonio Express-News first reported it.

BREACH NOTICE: Our Lady of the Lake University says it notified victims of data breach; wont disclose other info

Nearly 42,000 individuals were affected, according to a posting on the Maine attorney generals website.

That includes 27,568 Texas residents, according to a notice on the Texas attorney generals data breach security reports website. Hacked information included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, passport numbers, credit and debit card information and medical data.

A spokeswoman said the university cannot comment on pending litigation. It has yet to answer the lawsuit, filed April 21 in state District Court in San Antonio.

The suit alleges the university on San Antonios West Side failed to protect individuals personally identifiable information and failed to even encrypt or redact this highly sensitive information.

The data was compromised because of Our Lady of the Lakes negligent and/or careless acts and omissions and its utter failure to protect students sensitive data, the complaint adds.

Citing Boerne-based IT consulting firm BetterCyber Consulting Group LLC and Breachsense, an Ohio-based data breach monitoring platform, the Express-News reported last month that the ransomware group AvosLocker claimed that it had hacked into the universitys network. AvosLocker has been linked to various online attacks at colleges, most recently at Bluefield University in Virginia.

Our Lady of the Lake said in its March 31 notice that it found unauthorized access to its network about Aug. 30 and immediately launched an investigation in consultation with outside cybersecurity professionals to examine the breach and analyze compromised information. It didnt say how hackers gained access to the network.

The university said its investigation, which ended March 3, found that a limited amount of personal information was removed from its network.

To date, we are not aware of any reports of identity fraud or improper use of any information as a direct result of this incident, it said in the notification.

But Vasquez, the plaintiff, says she suffered injury  including about $295 in fraudulent charges to her credit card last month, invasion of her privacy and loss of time related to mitigating the risk of identity theft.

The lawsuit raises the possibility that Vasquezs and other victims information was sold on the so-called dark web. Personal information can be sold at prices ranging from $40 to $200, while access to entire company data breaches can sell for as much as $4,500, the suit adds.

The lawsuit also questions why it took the university more than six months to give notice of the breach after it was detected. It also criticizes Our Lady of the Lakes offer of 12 months of identity monitoring to those affected  given that victims of data breaches commonly face multiple years of ongoing identity theft and medical and financial fraud.

The lawsuit seeks to have the university take steps to protect those affected, including requiring it to engage independent security auditors and internal security personnel to conduct testing, including simulation attacks, and audits of its systems on a periodic basis and to correct any problems detected.

A lawyer for Vasquez didnt respond to a request for comment. Her causes of action include negligence, breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment.
If youre not shaken by the ongoing violence in the United States of Anxiety, you should be.

Look no further than the horrific events of this weekend alone.

In Brownsville, a man drove his vehicle into a group of people, mostly Venezuelans, near a shelter. Police are looking into the cause of the crash. Investigators are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether the driver, George Alvarez, 34, of Brownsville, was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Police said late Monday they have not ruled out the possibility that he intentionally crashed into the migrants.

In north Texas, another mass shooting targeted an outlet mall a few weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of the Uvalde shootings that left 19 schoolchildren and two teachers dead.

The mall shootings killed eight people and injured seven. A police officer killed the shooter, Mauricio Garcia, 33.

Related: Driver accused of killing 8 migrants with an SUV in Brownsville has a long criminal record

Garcia reportedly held white supremacist and neo-Nazi beliefs. He also had guns, lots of them, and wore a patch that said RWDS for Right Wing Death Squad.

Its a phrase used by right-wing extremists, neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

Theres no understanding the interwoven sins of racism and violence that has been bred in this North American country between Canada and Mexico.

But it has become so ordinary, these events meld into the background of new reports and more new reports.

A former police officer whose son worked at the mall said the scene looked like nothing hed ever seen while serving in the U.S. Army.

He told CNN he saw a girl on the ground, felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side, and she had no face.

That kind of shock should last long enough for constituents to demand that Congress act on common-sense gun restrictions.

So far, such gruesomeness has spurred nothing in Congress. It is numb.

Yet the needle seemed to twitch Monday.

In what was described as a surprise move, a Texas House panel advanced a bill raising the age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles. If successful, the bar will inch up from 18 to 21.

It was likely a response to pleas from Uvalde parents, not for themselves, but for children of other Texas parents.

But its still Texas, where a governor decries the needs of the mentally ill and offers thoughts and prayers after each mass shooting. Then he decries attacks on the Second Amendment but continues to support permitless open-carry laws while failing to adequately champion funding for the states mental health needs.

Violent images have had no effect, leaving people in other countries to wonder: Why is it allowed to continue?

Why are assault-style weapons a U.S. obsession? Why did they become tools of hate and anger and the toys of sick, insecure, bigoted men?

Guns arent the only weapons they use. When not handy, perpetrators turn cars, like planes, into killing machines. They kill people quickly, too.

It should be difficult to look past each violent act; to ignore yet another killing spree that no 911 call can respond to effectively, that no good guy with a gun can prevent or stop from becoming massive casualties.

Over the weekend in New York, a young Black man was killed by a white man who used a choke hold on him.

The Black man had been homeless and described as having mental illness.

The white man felt threatened, his attorney said. He was released, prompting protests by social justice groups whove pointed to the obvious: That being Black was a major factor in an attack that resulted in death.

The case is under investigation.

Weve become desensitized to violence. I used to call 911 when I heard gunshots in my neighborhood, or what sounded like gunshots. Its happening so often, Ive stopped calling, especially since I cant tell where the shots are coming from.

I told this to a city official, who said he hears gunshots in his neighborhood, too. Armed idiots are incessant.

That we are a violent country isnt easy to recognize from within and easier to see elsewhere in the world. A colleague once told me, Mexico has always been a violent country.

Yet the interwoven sins of racism and violence have been endemic since the nations beginnings on the East Coast and the American Southwest.

Theyre everywhere where indigenous tribes lived; where Africans were bought and sold; on the borderlands, where violence and the lynchings of Mexicans and Mexican Americans have yet to be fully realized.

For all the civil rights legislation passed and enacted, and for all the changes among individual Americans, our nation has gotten no better at addressing our worse selves.

Its even evident in our artistic expressions.

Related: Bill to raise the age for AR-15 rifle purchases advances in Texas House

Last week, I saw Aaron Sorkins stage adaptation of Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, a poignant piece about the American South.

Its set in 1930s Alabama, when ordinary white men operated in Christian society by day and wore white hoods by night. They lynched Black boys and men with impunity.

The film adaptation of Lees work by screenwriter Horton Foote starred Gregory Peck as attorney/white savior Atticus Finch, a character the American Film Institute named the greatest screen hero of all time.

Footes adaptation of Lees novel set a standard. I remember it was dark and melancholy.

Sorkins Mockingbird featured a lot of terrific performances, especially by Richard Thomas (The Waltons and The Americans), Melanie Moore as Scout Finch and Yaegel T. Welch as Tom Robinson, the Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

But its comedic bits, perhaps because there were too many of them, were cringe-worthy, prompting the audience to laugh too often at material set in racism and violence.

Sorkin made the work more palatable, perhaps for white audiences, underlining how far weve not come.

Its where we are today: a place where racism, violence and gun proliferation have become palatable, even as we keep lying to ourselves that the best country in the world can also be among the most violent.
Ingrid Christie

Writer David Sedaris is bringing his tour of independent booksellers to San Antonio's Nowhere Bookshop on June 12.

The Alamo Heights shop is small, and tickets to the reading were snapped up almost immediately. Tickets still are available for book signings immediately following the reading. They cost $18.99 and include a paperback of "Happy-Go-Lucky," the essay collection Sedaris is touring behind.
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The iconic bell tower at Trinity University has stood tall for nearly 60 years. David Tuttle just took the San Antonio landmark to new heights.

After all, it was the former dean of students who scored the giant Spurs banner that hangs from the 166-foot-tall tower any time the team makes the playoffs. Tuttle also set up the holiday lights motorists can spot from McAllister Freeway and Tuttle's wife can spot-check from their kitchen window. And it was Tuttle who once spent the night in the tower after he lost a bet that students couldn't raise $1,500 for the university's annual fundraising campaign.

Why dedicate so much of himself to those 15 floors of red brick and concrete? Because there's more to the T. Frank Murchison Memorial Tower than just a skyline fixture of school logo.

Human flies: When the 'Human Fly' invaded San Antonio: 3 men climbed Alamo City buildings with their bare hands

I think the tower is a great sign of the fact that Trinity University is here and a symbol for San Antonians," Tuttle said. "But I also think it provides us an opportunity to show that were part of the San Antonio community, too."

Here are the many ways the Trinity tower has left its mark on San Antonio and its student body.

Courtesy Trinity University

It's named after "Mr. Trinity."

Murchison Tower was built in honor of the late Thomas Frank Murchison, a Trinity grad and co-chairman of the building committee who pushed for the Skyline campus Trinity has called home since 1952. Murchison died in 1955.

Murchison graduated from Trinity in 1914 when the university was still based in Waxahachie. Trinity moved to San Antonio in 1942 when it merged with the University of San Antonio on Woodlawn Avenue.

During Trinity's first decade in the Alamo City, locals often referred to Murchison as "Mr. Trinity" for committing so much of his time, expertise and financial resources to the university, according to a 2013 edition of Trinity magazine. That vision ultimately led to an abandoned limestone quarry just north of downtown, which was transformed into the then-107-acre campus.

Courtesy Trinity University

The tower was a $100,000 gift from an old friend.

Murchison Tower was completed in 1964 at a reported cost of around $100,000, nearly $1 million today. Principal donor and Trinity trustee Arch S. Underwood from Lubbock footed the bill to honor Murchison, who was his childhood friend.

Courtesy image

The little big brother to the Tower of the Americas.

Murchison Tower and much of the Trinity campus was designed by architect ONeil Ford, who would later design the Tower of the Americas about 3 miles south from Trinity Hill. The Murchison Tower was the first tower Ford ever built, according to Texas Architect magazine. Trinity's website refers to the 1964 bell tower as "a spiritual predecessor" to Fords work on the 1968 Tower of the Americas.

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Courtesy Trinity University

A feat in Roman engineering.

Murchison Tower is a cruciform structure with four curving walls made of brick and reinforced concrete, but not in the way most buildings are built.

Modern construction typically starts with concrete forms and poured concrete, followed by bricks for the outside trim. The Trinity tower is made of two brick walls, one inside and one outside, with the concrete poured in between.

The technique goes back to the ancient Romans, whose use of "opus testaceum" or brickwork dates back to at least the late first century AD.

Courtesy Trinity University

Its bells come with a ton of history.

Murchison Tower is home to the Carolyn Calvert Bells, four bronze bells given by Trinity board chairman James H. Calvert in honor of his wife. The mechanical bells were cast in England at John Taylor & Co., the world's oldest bell foundry dating back to 1408.

"It was quite a gift for this magnificent tower," said Diane Persellin, professor of music education at Trinity and director of the Trinity Handbell Ensemble.

Persellin noted the tower's four bells vary in size, sound and weight, though collectively ring in at around 2,000 pounds. The A-note bell weighs 1,000 pounds, followed by the D-note bell at 476 pounds, the E-note bell at 330 pounds and then the G-note bell at 230 pounds, according to an April 29, 1964, write-up in the San Antonio Express.

Other bell facts of note: The bells chime an original score composed by Trinity music department chairman Bill Thornton. They also ring on the hour and quarter-hour. Persellin said the full score plays at the top of the hour, while a quarter of the melody plays at the 15-minute mark, half at the half-hour mark, and three-fourths at the 45-minute mark.

The Calvert Bells rang for the first time Dec. 16, 1964, at the tower's dedication ceremony.

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Courtesy Trinity University

It's not the steeple to the nearby church.

Murchison Tower is reminiscent of the campaniles or bell towers of medieval Europe where Ford found inspiration for the tower's design. Yet despite its proximity to the nearby Margarite B. Parker Chapel, the freestanding tower has nothing to do with the church. In fact, the chapel was completed in 1966 after the tower was built.

Courtesy Trinity University

Trinitys president meets new and exciting students at the top.

Call it the 200-step rite of passage. Trinity's traditional "Tower Climb" has first-year and final-year students climb to the top of Murchison Tower to meet the university president. The tradition started in the 1990s with then-president John Brazil. Aside from the presidential meet-and-greet and routine maintenance, the tower is generally closed to the public.

UTSA challenge: UTSA architecture course challenge: Design a building that blind people can navigate

Joe Barrera Jr./Staff file photo

An alumnus once spent several days in the tower to raise money.

Tuttle's single-night stay was a breeze compared to the soggy four days and nights Trinity alumni affairs director John Burleson spent cloistered in the Murchison Tower in 1976 to raise $25,000 for the alumni association.

Burleson began his mission Monday afternoon, Oct. 25, with a sleeping bag, a telephone and his guitar, plus a portable toilet. Cold rain dampened the penthouse view, though at least the tower bells were turned off for the fundraiser. Burleson hit his $25,000 goal Friday afternoon, Oct. 29.

When Burleson returned to solid ground, he headed home for a long bath and a Mexican dinner, according to an Oct. 30 Express-News recap. The story noted he also received a gift certificate for a week's room and board atop the Tower of the Americas.

Courtesy Trinity University

The tower shows three stories of Spurs spirit.

Spurs signs are a common sight on city buildings whenever the Silver & Black make the postseason. Trinity joined the fun in 2004 when Tuttle got the OK to hang a three-story GO SPURS GO banner from Murchison Tower. It's been a playoff fixture ever since, though Tuttle stressed the Spurs go deeper into the playoffs when the banner is hung after they make it out of the first round.

It also lights the way for the holidays.

In the early 2000s, Tuttle got the green light to install holiday lights in the tower that change colors in the four windows up top. Tuttle noted it was Trinity's own version of the Light the Way Holiday Festival, the popular tree lighting at the nearby University of the Incarnate Word.

Initially, Tuttle climbed up and down Murchison Tower to put in SIM cards and chip cards to change the colors of the lights, then called his wife at home so she could see how they looked from the kitchen window of their nearby home. The job eventually got easier with a phone app.

Express-News archives

It pays to be a "Tower" fan.

Trinity offers a full ride to 20 of the university's top applicants with the full-tuition Trinity Tower Scholarship. And seniors who donate at least $20.21 get to sign a brick in Murchison Tower during Senior Week.

rguzman@express-news.net
A couple of San Antonio natives are among the many writers striking in Hollywood.

Raymond Arturo Perez, staff writer for the second season of Netflix's "Selena: The Series," and Marissa Diaz, writer and producer of the Netflix documentary "Orgasm Inc.: The Story of One Taste, have joined members of the Writers Guild of America in their strike against studios for salary increases, residuals from streaming content and safeguards against losing work to artificial intelligence.

The job security aspect of it is the number one reason, said Perez, a WGA member who graduated from Communications Arts High School in San Antonio in 2010. Its our opportunity to really catch up with the fact that streaming has avoided a lot of the things that make writing a viable career.

READ MORE: Selena: The Series, though far from perfect, counters stereotypes and tells an authentic Mexican American story

Perez noted streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix call for fewer television episodes with fewer writers compared to cable and network programming, resulting in less work and less pay.

Those writers who do get hired must churn out scripts on a tighter schedule, he said, with studios expecting four to six writers to do the work of 10 to 12. Meanwhile, writers are concerned that content created by artificial intelligence will further diminish the value of their work.

Courtesy Raymond Arturo Perez

Fellow Communications Arts grad Diaz said the current streaming climate also hurts new writers as well as veterans. Fewer episodes and seasons not only mean less pay for greener writers, she said, but also less on-set experience that can lead to more writing jobs and production work.

For me its all about making writing more sustainable for future, incoming writers," said Diaz, who also has worked on the the HBO series "Girls" and the HBO Max series "Generation."

RELATED: 'Despacito' star Luis Fonsi making his feature film debut in San Antonio-shot romantic comedy

Earlier this month, the WGA called for its members to stop working until the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers comes to an agreement with them on various work and compensation issues.

The last major writers' strike ran for 100 days between late 2007 and early 2008. Perez expects the current strike could go longer.

We as a guild are prepared to be on strike as long as need be," he said.

And Diaz stressed that she and Perez picketing in Hollywood is for San Antonio as well.

"Its so exciting to get the support from our hometown, which is so important to us," she said. "It's important for people to know since the (film and television) industry is growing in San Antonio."

rguzman@express-news.net
The San Antonio ZIP code with the most reports of animal bites and animal-related complaints in the past year is the same one where two dogs attacked and killed a man in February, according to an Express-News analysis.

The number of complaints in the 78207 ZIP code  which is just west of downtown  mirrors a wider trend of higher numbers of complaints coming from ZIP codes closer to the city center where there's a higher concentration of residents.

Residents in the 78207 ZIP code reported 177 animal bites between April 21, 2022 and this past April 21, according to an analysis of calls made to the city's 311 line, which focuses on requests for city services. There were more than 8,000 animal-related complaints made to the 311 line for the 78207 ZIP code, the most among the 69 San Antonio ZIP codes analyzed by the Express-News.

MORE COVERAGE: San Antonio vows to step up enforcement after fatal dog attack

In February, two dogs attacked and killed 81-year-old Air Force veteran Ramon Najera Jr and injured his wife, Juanita Janie Najera, in the 2800 block of Depla Street, which is in the 78207 ZIP code. The dogs owners, Christian Alexander Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, both faces charges of attack by a dangerous dog causing death and injury to elderly by criminal negligence, according to court records. The dogs involved in the attack were euthanized. After the attack, San Antonio officials promised to step up enforcement of the city's animal control policies.

BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty

On April 22, about two months after that attack, a woman ran into the street to escape from a pack of dogs and was struck by a hit-and-run driver, suffering several injuries. That incident occurred in the 2200 block of Bandera Road.

Despite these high-profile incidents, the Express-News analysis of city data does not show an increasing trend of animal bites. San Antonio residents have reported an average of about 300 animal bites per month, according to the data. Most of the calls regarding animal bites came from ZIP codes in central San Antonio.

What's going on in central San Antonio?

The higher number of animal bite complaints in central San Antonio is in part due to that area being more densely populated than ZIP codes further from the city center, according to Lisa Norwood of the city's Animal Care Services. Additionally, some other local cities  such as Leon Valley and Converse  have their own animal control services and the city's animal services focuses on calls inside the city's limits.

Some San Antonio ZIP codes also tend to have more animal-related calls because they are home to animal-care facilities. About 245 animal bites were associated with places that reported five or more animal bites. Of those places, 15 of the 22 addresses are associated with animal hospitals, adoption centers and pet daycare centers. The other seven addresses that are associated with residential areas or parks reported five or more bites, including Brackenridge Park and Phil Hardberger Nature Area, which both reported six bites.

Critical vs. non-critical bites

The 311 data separate animal bite complaints into two categories: critical and non-critical bites.

Norwood said a bite is characterized as an injury that breaks the skin. A bite is categorized as critical based on the severity of the wound and how the person was injured. A critical status is usually not given when animals bite other animals.

People are encouraged to call 911 or seek medical attention if they suffer a deep bite wound or an injury they believe to be life-threatening. Additionally, they should give as much information about the animal as possible so authorities can properly investigate, Norwood said.

We need all the information that you can give us, Norwood said. What color was that animal? Was it wearing a collar? If so, what color was that collar? Does the animal live or hang out at a specific location? Have you seen the animal before? All of these things are very, very important because these are the things that allow our officers to follow up more thoroughly on calls.

Common animal complaints to 311

There were nearly 120,000 animal-related calls to 311 since April 2022, making up about a quarter of all 311 reports to the city in that period.

Of the animal-related calls, about 25 percent were requests to pick up dead animals. Stray animal reports take the No.2 spot and non-critical complaints about aggressive animals were the third-most common. However, when combined, critical and non-critical aggressive animal reports outpaced calls related to strays by more than 2,300 calls.

A call regarding an aggressive animal is considered critical if the animal is an active threat to a person or another animal. A non-critical situation would indicate the animal seems threatening, such as barking or growling

The Express-News analysis also found that ZIP codes with more stray animal calls were more likely to have a high volume of calls related to animal bites. Animal bites make up less than 1% of total 311 calls, and about 4% of 311 calls are related to stray animals. Multiple calls could be about a single stray animal.
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A man accused of plowing an SUV into a group of immigrants at a Brownsville bus stop Sunday, killing eight and injuring 10 others, had several past run-ins with the law and won $2.3 million in a lawsuit against the city nine years ago.

Police identified the suspect as George Alvarez, 34, of Brownsville. He was charged Monday with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police Chief Felix Sauceda said at a news conference Monday that Alvarez has a lengthy criminal record, including arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assaulting a public servant and driving while intoxicated.

Police said Alvarez drove a Range Rover through a red light and careened into a bus stop near the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center, a shelter for immigrants. There is no bench at the bus stop, and several people can be seen on surveillance video from the center sitting on the curb before the SUV struck them.

The Range Rover flipped after hitting the migrants.

Seven people were pronounced dead at the scene, and an eighth person later died at the hospital. The victims  the dead and the injured  were all male immigrants from Venezuela, according to police.

Alvarez tried to flee but was held down by witnesses until officers arrived, police said.

Investigators are still looking into why he allegedly crashed into the group. They are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether Alvarez was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The police chief said Alvarez was not cooperating with investigators and that they haven't ruled out the possibility that he intentionally crashed into the migrants.

At Alvarez's initial hearing Monday, a magistrate judge found that police had probable cause for his arrest. The judge then imposed bail of $200,000 for each of the 18 charges, totaling $3.6 million.

Alvarez told the judge he is a U.S. citizen. His defense attorney, Sergio Galvan, said Alvarez has six children and works for an industrial sandblasting company.

Courtesy/COURTESY BROWNSVILLE POLICE DEPA

Lawsuit against city

Alvarez won $2.3 million from the city of Brownsville in a years-long civil legal battle after spending four years in prison for a crime he apparently was falsely accused of.

However, an appellate court later tossed the lawsuit.

On Nov. 27, 2005, Brownsville police arrested Alvarez, who was 17 at the time, on a charge of burglarizing a vehicle. While Alvarez was in the Brownsville jail, a guard, Jesus Arias, said Alvarez repeatedly banged a telephone receiver against a wall, upset that the phone wasn't working.

Arias said he tried to move Alvarez from the holding area to a cell and that Alvarez attacked him, adding that other officers helped him subdue the prisoner.

Alvarez was charged with assaulting a peace officer. He pleaded guilty May 2, 2006, and was sentenced to six months in a drug treatment program, followed by an eight-year probation term.

In November 2006, Alvarez was kicked out of the drug treatment program for failing to comply with its rules. His probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to eight years in prison, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

In 2008, a 65-year-old veteran, Jose Lopez, filed a federal lawsuit against the same jail guard, Arias, accusing Arias of choking him and using excessive force.

Lopez had been arrested May 8, 2006, on a charge of sexual assault. While in his cell, he became upset because the phone was not working. Arias later claimed that when he tried to move Lopez to another cell, Lopez lunged at him, prompting Arias and other jailers to subdue him by force.

Michael Gonzalez/Associated Press

Lopez, like Alvarez, was charged with assaulting a peace officer. But unlike Alvarez, Lopez pleaded not guilty and went to trial.

After the trial began, one of Lopez's defense attorneys asked for and received security video footage inside the jail the day of Lopez's arrest. Contrary to Arias' report, it showed the jailer pulling Lopez from his cell and forcing him to the floor. Another officer grabbed Lopezs pony tail and pulled his head back while another guard placed his knee on the back of Lopezs neck, grinding his face into the floor.

The video was shown to the jury, and Lopez was acquitted.

After Lopez sued, his lawyer found another video, this one showing Arias putting Alvarez in a chokehold and taking him to the floor on the day Alvarez allegedly attacked the jailer. Two other officers then helped drag Alvarez into another cell.

The video was turned over to Alvarezs attorney, who filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. On Oct. 13, 2010, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the writ, vacated Alvarezs conviction and declared him innocent. The Cameron County District Attorneys Office dismissed the charge later that month, and Alvarez was released from prison.

In 2011, Alvarez filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Brownsville.

After a federal judge found the city liable for failing to disclose the video, a trial was held to determine damages. In September 2014, a jury ordered the city to pay $2 million in damages to Alvarez. An award of attorneys fees of $300,000 brought the total to $2.3 million.

The city appealed, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set aside the jury award and dismissed the lawsuit in June 2017. The appeals court ruled that because Alvarez had pleaded guilty, Brownsville could not be held liable for the failure to disclose the video to his defense attorney.

Alvarez's lawyer filed a writ in 2018 petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal. The high court turned down the request, records show.
MBABANE  Senator Chief Zabeni Shiba say the country should have a strict policy that will stipulate the number of children each person should have in the country.

The senator made this submission when the deputy prime minister was tabling the regulations yesterday. The senator said he observed that the reason government had so much challenges and making the regulations that were tabled in Senate was because people were busy giving birth to children they could not afford. He said it was worrisome that people were busy giving birth to children then later on expected government to look after them. He noted that some of the children who would be given up for adoption and in foster homes, only a selected few would be single or double orphaned, but most of them had their parents very much alive but the parents simply did not have means to look after them.

Burden

The senator said looking at the burden government was carrying due to children that were born by people who did not have the means to take care of their children, the county should have strict laws on how many children people were permitted to have. Shiba said he recalled that at one point, there were talks that government would draft a policy that would stipulate how many children a person should have. He said he was not sure how the policy would work for people who had more than one spouse but he was confident that there would be a way around the legislation. He urged the DPM to look into formulating that policy. Meanwhile, the DPM stated that a policy of that sort was under the portfolio of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. He said that ministry might need to provide updates on possibilities of having such policy in place.
To her professors at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, Cindy Cho embodied compassion and dedicated herself to improving peoples lives.

To her classmates and colleagues, Cho was a good person with a beautiful soul and kind heart.

They are mourning her death.

The Texas Department of Public safety says Cho, 35; her husband, Kyu, 37; and their 3-year-old son, James, died after a gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets in North Texas on Saturday.

The couples older son, William, who just turned 6, suffered injuries in the shooting that killed eight people.

We need more good people in the world like Cindy and her family, Ryan Noel Reyes, Cindy Chos classmate at UT Health San Antonio who is now an orthodontist in Laredo, wrote on Facebook.

This one is absolutely soul crushing, said Reyes, who is also married and has two children the same ages as Chos children. Cindy was awesome and one of the nicest people youd have ever met.

A GoFundMe dedicated to Cho, her husband and two children said they had just celebrated Williams birthday. They brought the family to Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday to swap out clothes.

Fanning, Timothy/GoFundMe

A gunman stepped out of his car and started shooting people at the outlet before a police officer killed him.

William and six others were injured in the shooting. The GoFundMe said William was released from the intensive care unit.

The family is in deep mourning, the post said.

Cindy Cho  known as Cindy Kang to her professors and classmates at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry  graduated in 2013.

She was a kind and caring student, always doing the best to help improve the health and lives of her patients, said Peter M. Loomer, dean of the dentistry school. She continued that spirit of compassion and dedication to excellence in her dental practice. She will be greatly missed, and our hearts go out to her family and friends. We express our deepest sympathies to all those victimized in this attack.

Myoung-Joon Kim, the head of the South Korean consulate in Dallas, told the Dallas Morning News that the victims are of Korean descent and are U.S. citizens.

Kyu Cho, a Richardson-based immigration attorney, came to the United States in the 1990s, according Porter Legal Group.

Kyu Cho used his experience as an immigrant to better understand and identify with his clients and to help them with their uniquely specific immigration matters, according to his profile on the Porter website.

Although he had only been with Porter Legal Group for a year, the law office said on Facebook that it was immediately apparent that he is one of the most thoughtful, caring and considerate people we have ever had the pleasure to know and work alongside.

We are shocked, absolutely crushed, and will miss him so much here every day, the post read.

One of the children attended Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, according to a video message the private school released this week.

Christine Coughlin, a dentist in North Texas, said on TikTok that she worked with Cindy Cho at Thrive Dental and Orthodontics in Richardson.

Coughlin said her reputation for kindness followed her into her professional life.

Our whole team loved her very much, and we are absolutely heartbroken, Coughlin said. Dr. Kang was the sweetest, most beautiful soul with the kindest heart. She was an outstanding dentist, mother, wife, daughter, and friend, and devout Christian. We cannot believe this happened.
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Police are seeking the publics help to find a black pickup that is suspected of being involved in the drive-by shooting death of a 2-year-old girl Monday afternoon on the North Side.

Mackenzie Hernandez Garcia, 2, was fatally shot about 1:30 p.m. at a home in the 100 block of Future Drive, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office.

Images from security camera footage show a black Chevrolet pickup with chrome rims and a temporary license plate driving away from the home.

READ ALSO: Teen wounded in East Side drive-by

Police Chief William McManus said officers found Mackenzie dead on the porch when they arrived. Investigators have identified a suspect, and they believe the shooting was done in retaliation for a prior incident.

There were five children, ages 2 to 6, in the home at the time of the shooting, which the chief called a pathetic act. No other injury was reported.

One neighbor, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said her children were in her house when they heard the gunfire a few houses away.

I grew up in this house. We have never had anything like this happen, she said. It makes me worried for my own kids. It is definitely scary.

Just behind the yellow police tape blowing in the breeze, two holes were visible where bullets pierced the front door of the modest one-story home. On the porch, a man held his head in his hands and sobbed as police collected evidence around the house.

READ ALSO: Drive-by shooting near AT&T Center leaves one dead, another hospitalized

Many neighbors said the normally quiet neighborhood has been plagued by gunfire recently.

I just dont know what to do. Something needs to be done to stop all of this, one man said as he watched officers put evidence markers on the ground. I was in the military for 30 years, and I felt safer in Iraq than I do here. At least out there I knew who the enemy was and I could protect myself.

Anyone with information regarding the pickup or shooting is asked to call the San Antonio Police Departments homicide unit at 210-207-7635.
Bexar County deputies arrested a woman accused of stealing a machine gun from a San Antonio-area gun range last week.

Amber Nicole Herring, 25, was charged Monday with felony possession of a prohibited firearm-machine gun and theft of a firearm. She is being held on $30,000 bail for the two offenses.

A woman rented the gun to shoot May 5 under the name Bralynn Sampson, the general manager of the LoneStar Handgun shooting range said. The next day, the owner noticed Sampsons license was still there and a Heckler & Koch fully automatic 9 mm MP5 gun was missing.

READ ALSO: 2-year-old San Antonio boy shot in head after gun falls off TV, SAPD says

That model is capable of firing about 800 rounds per minute.

Surveillance footage shows the woman leave the property through the lobby with the firearm and get into a white Ford Ranger waiting in the parking lot, according to an affidavit supporting Herrings arrest.

During the investigation, deputies learned Bralynn Sampson died in December 2022. When they researched Sampsons family members, they found Herrings social media profiles and learned she is Sampsons sister. Also, she matched the description of the woman in the ranges surveillance footage, the affidavit said, and has several distinct tattoos on her chest and arms that matched those seen in the footage.

READ ALSO: San Antonio police urge discretion, caution in using Apple AirTags to combat vehicle theft

An employee from the gun range was also able to identify Herring as the woman who visited the business.

According to LoneStars website, anyone can rent the weapons, except for machine guns, for a $20 all-access pass, but all weapons must be checked out one at at time for use on the premises. The rental fee for machine guns is $30 per day, and their use is limited to people 18 and older.
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The different wild critters running loose across San Antonio over the years spans the alphabet.

The roster of eye-catching visitors that rescuers have chased include alligators, pot-bellied pigs, emus, ferrets, llamas, raccoons, owls, and skunks. Some exotics captured were being kept as pets by residents in violation of the citys prohibitive animal ordinance.

Animal Care Services spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said exotic animals have highly complex needs; everything from what they eat to how they interact with and react to the world around them. She said most people do not have the knowledge, expertise and financial support to care for these types of non-domesticated animals.

READ MORE: San Antonio ZIP code where fatal dog attack occurred had most bites, animal-related complaints

Norwood said these types of rescues are highly dangerous and often involve additional staff with specialized equipment. On more than one occasion, ACS has had to call in assistance to block roadways and shut down businesses and other public spaces.

Specialty food and enclosures are often needed for Animal Care Services to provide for the animals during the resulting court cases, she said. All of that takes staff away from responding to the communitys already existing domestic animal issues.

Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News

Here are some of the extreme sightings and rescues:

March 2021  Authorities rescued a tiger and a bobcat from a Southeast Side home. The San Antonio Zoo took in both animals. The 13-week-old tiger cub and 5-year-old bobcat were transported to the San Antonio Zoo, where they received veterinary care.

September 2018  ACS officers seized more than 130 snakes and 400 rodents from a South Side home  the largest seizure in the shelters history. The rats and mice were kept as food for the reptiles. The longest snake at the home was 18 feet long; others measured 512 feet long.

July 2018  ACS officer Adan Perez took part in the slowest chase of his career. Nabbing an African spurred tortoise in a Beacon Hill neighborhood alley wasnt the issue  the problem came when he tried to pick up the 100-pound turtle.

ACS officer Stephen Centeno, a longtime snake owner, took away a 6-foot-long Python coiled in a kitchen container at an apartment on Fredericksburg Road.

READ MORE: Its illegal to own a pet coatimundi in San Antonio. Heres how one may have ended up here.

May 2018  A Northeast Side resident took in a pair of young bobcats from Atascosa County to keep as pets. The kittens were not docile. They were ferocious. The bobcats bit people as they tried to feed them and ripped apart plastic milk bottles.

A Rhesus macaque escaped from his crate at the San Antonio International Airport that same month. He scampered back into the venting system of the baggage handling area, with members from ACS and the San Antonio Zoo in pursuit. An ACS officer sedated the monkey with a tranquilizer dart. He was taken to the Born Free USA sanctuary in Cotulla.

City of San Antonio Animal Care Services

March 2017  Motorists on Hermosa Drive had to try not to hit a 2-foot-long iguana as it ambled down the road. Two drivers stopped and herded the reptile to a nearby lawn until ACS officers retrieved it.

April 2014  No one knows what a snow-white donkey may have wanted from JCPenney at Ingram Park Mall, but he didnt want to be captured. He was hoofing toward the department store when ACS officers arrived. As they started to remove the donkeys tether, he bolted away. After a brief chase, the officers corralled the mule without incident.

MORE COVERAGE: San Antonio vows to step up enforcement after fatal dog attack

In 2013, several boys were casting their fishing lines in Martinez Creek when they snagged a surprise  a 2-foot-long young alligator. The youngsters put the gator in a beer cooler for safekeeping. Concerned ACS officers searched for its mother near the area behind Oak Farms Dairy on Fredericksburg Road and Interstate 10. They never found her.

Norwood said wild animals can carry unknown illnesses, and there are several zoonotic diseases and conditions that can be transmitted by the species prohibited in San Antonio. Some diseases can harm residents. The animals may carry parasites like ringworm and hookworm to diseases like salmonellosis, monkeypox, and herpes viruses.

Rabies is a deadly illness that can be spread by a number of animals on the citys prohibited list, Norwood said. At the end of it, wild animals should be allowed to remain wild. They are not pets, and we do a disservice to them and the community when we try to make them companion animals.
North East Independent School District has a new sex education curriculum after going without one in its classrooms for an entire school year.

But officials still arent sure if the new program will be ready for most students this fall.

After months of argument as the NEISD board overhauled a key advisory panel of outside volunteers, then criticism of the panel for agreeing to use a checklist created by an extreme anti-LGBT group to narrow down its choices, trustees voted 6-0 late Monday to adopt Choosing the Best, a curriculum the district had been using until 2016.

Big Decisions, the curriculum that replaced it, was popular with parents, who opted in their children at a rate of 95 percent last school year. But it drew attacks from social conservatives who in recent years have helped elect three of the boards seven members.

The board suspended sex ed this year so the districts School and Health Advisory Committee, or SHAC, could review state-mandated updates to curriculum standards, then halted that work while it changed the SHACs membership and bylaws at the conservatives' insistence.

Sam Owens/Staff photographer

READ MORE: What stands between NEISD and restarting sex ed? These 40 people

In January, the newly-revamped SHAC dropped its review of Big Decisions because district officials grew skittish about possible controversy over the publishers relationship with Planned Parenthood. It had merged with a nonprofit that was collaborating with a Planned Parenthood chapter on a teen health program.

Choosing the Best might still take months of work to be ready for the new school year. It still needs to be revised to meet 20 of 52 Texas Essentials Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. Thats work that the publisher, NEISD officials and the SHACs Classroom Health and Sex Ed committee, or CHaSE, must do and that the board must approve in June or July.

The CHaSE members believed some of the video material in the new program normalizes sexual activity and must be changed to meet its goal of complying with the TEKS but not offering any material that goes beyond the state standards, Ben Elliott, chair of the CHaSE committee, told the board Monday.

These edits will be as small as two to five seconds, said Elliott, for which he gave the examples, I had a problem with porn, and I thought he was hot. Its OK if I have sex with him.

Elliott said several times that he wanted to make sure parents couldnt accuse the district of grooming their children toward sexual activity.

Trustee Diane Villarreal said she had concerns with Choosing the Best and preferred another program the SHAC had considered, called Heritage Keepers, especially because Choosing the Best did not say enough about potential negative side-effects of birth control.

They dont talk about, say, how damaging some of these contraceptives like the pill, and the IUD, you know, perforated uterus, is, or anything like that. And so, this is something I think people should be aware of, if you take the pill, you could get blood clots. Wheres that? Villarreal said.

Thats why I liked the Heritage Keepers, because frankly, that was teaching a lesson on a self control, she said.

No matter which curriculum the board chooses, Villarreal said, the district has to be extremely careful about how it is presented in classrooms.

Im just looking at it from a parental standpoint, Villarreal said. Theyre bombarded in the media that were this evil entity thats trying to do horrible things to their children, which is so far from the truth. Its just not even funny. But so there can be not even a glint of impropriety when were teaching this.

Villarreal brought up other concerns, most of which, it turned out after discussion, the CHaSE committee had already flagged for changes.

Im a parent and I joined this committee. I volunteered for this because of exactly what you just said, right? Because I wanted to make sure that my kids werent going to get groomed in classrooms, Elliott told her.

Trustees did not question the CHaSE decision to drop Big Decisions. They celebrated the SHAC efforts and applauded the CHaSE committee.

The CHaSE decision to use a tool developed by Family Watch International, which has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its anti-LGBT ideology, also drew no criticism during the boards public comment period.

But speakers blasted the failure of two of the boards conservatives to support a resolution against school voucher legislation that would steer Texas education funding to private schools. Trustee David Beyer expressed frustration with the boards lack of unanimity on vouchers in a Twitter post last week.

Beyer said in an email that he was pleased with the outcome of the sex ed deliberations. The participants approached it with a measured, methodical process; ensuring that we responded to our diverse community voices and that we are aligned with TEKS, he wrote.

All parents who spoke in public comment on the issue lauded Heritage Keepers, including Linda Chapman, who said she pulled her daughter from NEISD because of what she had heard about Big Decisions.

I started to realize the explosion of a sexually promiscuous and LGBTQ transgender agenda that is being pushed on children throughout this country. In my opinion, the transgender agenda is pure evil, she said.

Former SHAC member Tina Castellanos, said via text that Choosing the Best was evidence based, but the SHACs 2016 decision to replace it was partly because of concern about its effectiveness at the middle school level based on the districts teen pregnancy numbers. Big Decisions was adopted after a rigorous review of the available options, she wrote.

Liana Benavides, an NEISD parent and former PTS president, said Tuesday the self-imposed rule against going beyond the TEKS leaves the district limited to standards that an increasingly politicized TEA constructed to cater to Republican state leaders.

Not everybody can sit down and have these conversations with the children that theyre raising, Benavides said. So why not present the different scenarios, the different options, but still trying to teach them, Hey, theres a safe way to do these things.

All three options the SHAC reviewed had religious overtones, she said, and she was concerned about the shame students might feel for being labeled strong or weak based on character traits, something she saw in the Choosing the Best handbook at a public feedback session.

Heritage Keepers has a much higher cost than the $150,000 that Choosing the Best would cost for four years, and would require outside training for NEISD staff, said Jennifer Aguilar, the district director of PE and Health.

Im sorry, but I have a lot more faith in our teachers. I think theyre pretty outstanding professionals and dont need their hands held that way, trustee Sandy Hughey said.

The goal is to at least have the high school Health One lessons ready by the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, said Aguilar, because some students have to take that class in the first semester.

They have a bit more time to create the 6th, 7th and 8th grade lessons, she said, since those students can be taught later in the year in PE class, for example.
miodrag ignjatovic/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Employee medication was stored near unprotected food. Vegetables intended for customers to eat were found sitting on the floor. In-use spray bottles filled with toxic chemicals were left unlabeled.

These are just a few of the hundreds of observations Metro Health inspectors noted during routine restaurant inspections in 2022.
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FORT CAVAZOS  When he left Fort Hood 41 years ago, its a sure bet that then-Lt. Gen. Richard E. Cavazos never imagined the day would come when theyd name the place for him. But Tuesday was that day.

In a ceremony under a cloudy sky Tuesday morning, the Army's best-known post was officially renamed Fort Cavazos in honor of the nation's first Hispanic four-star general. Cavazos, who grew up on South Texas' King Ranch and died in San Antonio in 2017 at 88, fought in Korea and Vietnam, was decorated for bravery, and esteemed by numerous veterans who'd served under his command.

It's the end of Fort Hood, named in 1942 after Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood. The 340-square-mile installation near Killeen is one of nine posts around the country dropping the names of Confederate commanders.

The post became Fort Cavazos at 9:58 a.m. Tuesday in a ceremony that included the casing and uncasing of the posts garrison flag. A soldier took Fort Hoods garrison flag, which had been rolled up and encased in a sheath, and marched away. The new post flag, signifying the changeover to Fort Cavazos, was uncased and hoisted, fluttering in the wind.

More Information A look at the new nine Army posts The Naming Commission recommended that nine Army posts bearing the names of Confederate commanders be renamed. Heres a look at them. Fort Benning, Ga.: Recommended renaming for Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia, who became known in the book and film We Were Soldiers, about the first major battle between U.S. and North Vietnamese forces in which Hal Moore led a battalion. Julia Moores complaints about the casualty notification system led to reforms. Fort Gordon, Ga.: Recommended renaming for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led Allied forces in Europe and became president. Fort A.P. Hill, Va.: Recommended renaming for Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first female Army surgeon. Fort Hood: Recommended renaming for Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, the first Mexican American brigadier general in 1973 and later the first Hispanic four-star general. Fort Pickett, Va.: Recommended renaming for Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Korean conflict and Vietnam. Fort Polk, La.: Recommended renaming for Sgt. William Henry Johnson, an African American soldier in World War I who single-handedly fought two dozen German soldiers in a 1918 battle and posthumously was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015. Fort Rucker, Ala.: Recommended renaming for Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient who flew 2,543 helicopter missions in Vietnam and rescued more than 5,500 wounded soldiers. Fort Lee, Va.: Recommended renaming for Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. In the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps., Adams in 1944 commanded the first unit of African American women to serve overseas. Gregg was 17 when he joined the Army in 1945 and rose to become deputy chief of staff for Army logistics. Fort Bragg, N.C.: Recommended renaming as Fort Liberty, for the American value the commission considered the most essential to the U.S. military. See More Collapse

Fort Benning in Georgia will stage a similar ceremony Thursday. The Army post will be named for Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, who co-authored We Were Soldiers Once...And Young, a book about a pivotal battle in the Vietnam War that became a major Hollywood movie.

At Fort Hood, a platoon of active-duty and retired general officers and command sergeants major were on hand for the changeover, as well as more than 60 members of Cavazos family.

The Cavazos clan included the generals sole surviving sibling, Joseph, and all four of his children, along with at least eight grandchildren, one of them Army Spc. Nicolas Cavazos, who flew to Texas from Europe. Cavazos' widow, Caroline, could not make it to the ceremony.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Veterans who fought under the Kingsville native and still adore him years after his death were elated by the honor.

He was a soldiers soldier. He wasnt a commanding officer that flew around in a helicopter and directed battles. He was down on the ground with the troops doing the maneuvering and taking control, said Mel Brav, 80, of San Diego, Calif., who served as a lieutenant under Cavazos in the Vietnam War. He was a soldier that the men could identify with because where the men went, he went.

There were two finalists in the search for a new name for Fort Hood: Cavazos and Medal of Honor recipient Roy P. Benavidez, an Army master sergeant who spent many of his years in San Antonio and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Working with business and civic leaders in Killeen, a commission charged with finding new names for all nine installations selected Cavazos.

Cavazos is a true American hero, a role model (who was) somebody the community can be proud of, (and about whom) a soldier thats come into Fort Hood can say, Id like to be like this gentleman whether it be a man or woman, said Lawrence Romo, 66, of San Antonio, a member of the Naming Commission. Hes somebody they can emulate, they can look at and say, Hey, hes a rags-to-riches story, hes a self-made man. 

There was little controversy over Fort Hood in Central Texas or other posts across the South that bore the names of such Confederate generals as Robert E. Lee until the past decade. The issue heated up in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police three years ago. Demands began pouring into the Pentagon to rebrand Fort Hood and other installations with the names of less divisive war heroes.

In 2020, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said they were open to bipartisan discussion of a renaming plan. But President Donald Trump quickly slapped them down, tweeting that bases named after Confederate commanders were part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom.

However, those pushing military brass to drop Confederates' names from U.S. posts won the day. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo to the Pentagons senior leadership last October that Fort Hood and other Army installations would remove the names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America.

In Killeen, the buzz was all about Cavazos and Benavidez, a sharecroppers son.

Raul Perez Benavidez was born in 1935 in the tiny South Texas German community of Lindenau. He never knew his parents, Salvador and Teresa Benavidez, who died a year apart. He and a younger brother, Rogelio, were raised by an uncle and toiled as migrant farm workers, working from dawn to dusk in sugar beet and cotton fields from West Texas to Colorado. He didnt get much schooling, spending perhaps a few months a year in the classroom, and made it to the eighth grade before joining the Army. He earned a high school diploma while serving.

One of numerous Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients, he earned his in a desperate battle on May 2, 1968, in Cambodia.

Romo, who served as director of the Selective Service System before his appointment to the Naming Commission, said Cavazos eventually eclipsed Benavidez in the debate over which one would be the new face of Fort Hood. He called Cavazos the consensus choice, adding, "There was no controversy, really."

We have the first Hispanic leaders name. To have his name is history," Killeen Mayor Debbie Nash-King told reporters at Tuesday's ceremony. "To make this move at the highest levels of the Army, saying that times have changed, this is history.

Cavazos' father, Lauro Cavazos, came to South Texas in 1912, fought as an Army artillery sergeant in World War I and became a foreman of the King Ranchs Santa Gertrudis division in an era of intense racism.

Richard Edward Cavazos was drawn to the military and thrived there. He's often described as a charismatic, fearless leader and an innovative tactician. He put himself at risk numerous times in two wars, once crossing a battlefield alone in Korea searching for wounded troops who had been left behind.

Cavazos had been decorated for valor in Korea and Vietnam, receiving a Distinguished Service Cross for leading troops in hill battles in each conflict. Soldiers such as Ronnie Campsey, also a Silver Star recipient, respected his battlefield acumen, courage and willingness to march into danger with his troops in Vietnam.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

I was so honored to get to be with him, said Campsey, 81, a farm boy from Devine who now lives in Long Island, N.Y. So there were about 200 American soldiers going up Hill 207, and when he got his Distinguished Service Cross, he was leading the men, not hiding behind them. He was afraid we might get encircled so he was moving a little faster so everybody could get out of there. He gave strength to everyone he was with.

The clash with Viet Cong guerrillas near Loc Ninh, for which Cavazos was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, was just another day of fighting in the eyes of his men.

Retired Army Lt. Col. James Tucker, who served under Cavazos in Vietnam, offered one of two tearful tributes during the hourlong ceremony.

First of all, Dick Cavazos loved his soldiers, he said, choking up. I cry a lot. But when I heard the cannons fire, tears came to my eyes because there was something else Dick Cavazos loved  it was his artillery.

Artillery was fired during the changeover in honor of Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo, who made the keynote speech Tuesday.

In an interview before his death two years ago, renowned foreign correspondent Joseph Galloway talked of his admiration for Cavazos.

He would go every year to make a speech for high-ranking officers at the Air War College," Galloway said. "He would stand up and talk. He was very simple and soft-spoken but straight from the heart, better than anyone else. He could tell you what was in the heart of a soldier and what you had to do to live up to that soldiers expectations of a leader.

Cavazos also was a mentor and role model. One of the soldiers he coached was Colin Powell, the first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs and secretary of state under President George W. Bush. He once intervened on Powells behalf and saved his career.



If it hadnt been for Dick Cavazos and a Black general, Colin Powells career would have ended as a battalion commander at Fort Carson, Galloway recalled. The story behind the story is that Colin Powell found himself in a brigade that was run by a colonel who was a stone-cold racist. The guy, from the very day that Powell and his wife and family turned up at Fort Carson, made them just totally unwelcome. And at the end of the period, he rated him with an absolute career-killing officer report.

That went up the line, and the Black general who was the corps commander of Fort Hood thought there was something wrong with it. He knew Colin Powell, Galloway said. Instead of signing off on it, he kicked it up to Cavazos at Forces Command.

Cavazos tanked the colonel's evaluation of Powell, safeguarding his young protege.
They say that, in Texas, everything is bigger. How strange then that the governor of the Lone Star State keeps doing, saying and tweeting things that make him look smaller and smaller.

As I approach my 56th birthday, the direction that Americas politics have taken is really making me feel old.

Gov. Greg Abbott isnt helping. The Republican has turned out to be a real prize. If Texas were shaped like a giant cowboy boot, Abbott would be the heel.

It used to be understood that the objective of politics is to be liked by as many people as possible. Today, in a niche era when cable networks make billions of dollars speaking to a narrow sliver of viewers, some politicians dont seem to worry much about being unlikable.

And at the moment, Abbott is one of the most unlikable elected officials in the country.

When Abbott served as state attorney general from 2002 to 2015, he was considered a levelheaded moderate  at least by the warped standards of the Texas GOP. When a Republican in the legislature proposed a wacky idea, Abbott would back away.

Today, Abbott is an icy demagogue auditioning for bully in chief. The likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate thinks that immigration is his ticket to the White House. And so he has become what my friend and former senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming calls the south end of a horse headed north.

One way to become unlikable is to demean and otherize those who dont have a voice  such as the five people fatally shot last week in Cleveland, Texas, about 45 minutes from Houston. The victims were identified as Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Guzmans son Daniel Enrique Laso, 9; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18.

Authorities say the massacre happened after neighbors asked 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa to stop shooting his AR-style rifle in his yard, or at least go shoot it elsewhere, because it was late and a baby was sleeping. Oropesa allegedly refused and instead opened fire on his neighbors and others gathered at the home.

Oropesa is a Mexican national, and the five people who were killed appear to have all been from Honduras.

Abbott wasnt interested in how Oropesa  who had been deported four times in the past 14 years  got his hands on a high-powered rifle. Apparently, the AR-15 is now the preferred weapon of mass destruction for noncitizens as well as for native-born Americans.

Nor did the governor  a favorite son of the National Rifle Association  mention the fact that Texas has a perverse John Wayne gun culture. The state could be the massacre capital of America. Mass shootings in Texas include Fort Hood in 2009 and 2014, Dallas in 2016, El Paso in 2019 and Uvalde in 2022.

What got Abbotts attention was the presumed immigration status of the victims. Seizing political opportunism from the jaws of tragedy, the governor couldnt wait to tweet that he had offered a reward for information about the criminal who killed five illegal immigrants.

That was wrong six ways from Sunday. Lets just focus on three.

First, it was ghoulish. These people are dead. They no longer have to worry about sorting out Americas contradiction  the dueling signs at the border hollering Keep Out and Help Wanted. That Abbott mentioned their immigration status says more about him than them.

Next, it was false. One of the victims  Velazquez Alvarado, who was reportedly shot while shielding children from gunfire  had been in the United States legally since 2021. Her husband took time out from planning her funeral to tweet a photo of her green card.

(Abbotts office later put out a statement blaming federal officials for providing incorrect information. If thats true, then Abbott should be faulted for tweeting out information before he confirmed it.)

Finally, the governor did the very thing that conservatives accuse liberals of doing: politicizing tragedy. Whereas the left uses instances of mass murder to argue for stronger gun laws, Abbott couldnt wait to use it to make a pitch against illegal immigration.

In politics, the three Ps  positions, pandering and promises  mean nothing. If you dont like a politicians stance on a given issue, wait a few weeks. Itll change.

The only things that endure are decency and character. And, as he continues to demonstrate, Abbott doesnt have an ounce of either.
Recent advertisements are touting that Texans need to contact their lawmakers to allow a vote on expanding casino gambling in Texas. Its being sold as a way to add jobs and money to the economy, and help pay for schools and other services.

How much does anyone want to bet that once here, those same casinos said to help fund schools will receive Chapter 313-like property and business tax exemptions that eventually raise residential property taxes?

This is another bait-and-switch.

The state will collect the windfall, not us, and still be stingy in allocation to school funding. Just another way for Gov. Greg Abbott and his allies to pull another financial con over Texans.

Teri Frey

Chief fails at transparency

Re: Chief cleared aide in sex case, Front Page, April 23:

Compliments to the San Antonio Express-News for providing a public service by bringing awareness to the inconsistent and apparently unfair application of the disciplinary process at the San Antonio Police Department. More shocking is Chief William McManus declaration that his decisions are based on facts and fairness, not favoritism.  I prioritize the safety and well-being of the community and our officers.

McManus owes us, the public, an explanation on how our safety and well-being were safeguarded by his decision not to hold one of his officers accountable for misconduct.

At a time when trust and legitimacy are on the line for police everywhere, it is embarrassingly obvious that McManus is tone-deaf when it comes to misconduct. Accountability is also about creating a sense of fairness within the SAPD. Consistent application of workplace rules in an organization helps create a positive environment. McManus decision to reject his discipline boards recommendations may result in the opposite.

If City Council and the city manager do not demand a serious look into this situation, the city and the Police Department will have failed in prioritizing transparency and zero tolerance as they publicly and often proclaim.

Samuel Warren
Houston Congressman Dan Crenshaw sees glaring problems with a big border security bill that could be up for a vote in Congress on Thursday.

LATEST: Biden is sending 1,500 troops to border as COVID-era restrictions on immigrants are lifted

The Republican said late Monday that he can't support the bill as it stands now because it doesnt do enough to go after Mexican cartels that have been responsible for the flow of fentanyl into Texas.

Of all the things to leave out of a border security bill, you leave out the cartels? Really? Crenshaw said on his social media accounts.

While Crenshaw said most of the bill is good, hes working on an amendment to the legislation that would create more tools to go after their finances and anyone who helps them.

Ive introduced amendments to do that  but so far our leadership has refused to correct this glaring omission and refused to allow an open amendment process, said Crenshaw, who is in his third term in Congress.

The border security bill does have a provision that calls on the Biden administration to study designating the cartels as terrorist organizations. But Crenshaw says creating that designation will only create more avenues for people to ultimately seek asylum in the U.S.

Crenshaw has been pushing for months for legislation hes called the Declaring War on the Cartels Act and has joined the list of members of Congress who want to use military force against cartels in Mexico.

MORE ON CRENSHAW: Texas Republicans including Dan Crenshaw defend 'damn good deal' with Ukraine

We must take the cartels seriously and deter them and target them the same way we do terrorists, the Navy SEAL veteran said when he first introduced his bill aimed at the cartels. That is the only way to win.

A long shot bill

That idea of using military force has particularly antagonized Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who earlier this year said it showed a lack of respect for Mexicos independence and sovereignty and warned he would campaign against Republicans in Congress who advocate such ideas.

Crenshaw, whose district includes parts of northeast Harris County and part of Montgomery County, responded by filing a resolution condemning Lopez Obrador for political interference in U.S. elections.

Crenshaw is trying to get commitments from House leaders to bring his Declaring War on the Cartels legislation up for a vote, as well as other bills aimed at cartels.

Crenshaws opposition to the legislation is yet another problem for GOP leaders in Congress who have been trying to get a border security bill to the floor for months. Earlier, it was U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, who fought the legislation because he said it was too restrictive for legal asylum-seekers who are playing by the rules.

Last month on CBS "Face the Nation," Gonzales said many of the things he had opposed have been stripped out of the legislation.

It all speaks to how slim of a majority House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is trying to manage. There are 222 Republicans in the House and 213 Democrats. Losing just five votes gives Democrats enough votes to defeat any bill if they stick together.

All the negotiations are largely over legislation that has almost no chance of becoming law. Even if all Republicans in the House vote for the bill, the Senate has a Democratic majority that can stop the legislation.

And the White House on Monday said President Joe Biden would veto the proposed House legislation if it ever made it to his desk because it would restrict asylum claims and cut a program that allows migrants a chance to stay in the U.S. even if they are Ukranian refugees.

While we welcome Congress engagement on meaningful steps to address immigration and the challenges at the border, this bill would make things worse, not better, the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement. Because this bill does very little to actually increase border security while doing a great deal to trample on the nations core values and international obligations, it should be rejected.

The U.S. House is aiming to have the vote Thursday, which is also the day the U.S. ends COVID-19 restrictions that have allowed border authorities to quickly return many migrants who crossed the border illegally.

For Crenshaw, if the legislation passes despite his opposition, it could be another big loss in just a few months. Earlier this year, House Republicans passed him over for the chairmanship of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee.
LOBAMBA  Some owners of residential child care facilities are using funds donated to cater for the needs of the children for personal gain.

Some owners of these facilities were accused of taking larger percentages of these funds and used a little for the children they house in these facilities. These were submissions made in Senate yesterday, when the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, tabled the Childrens Protection and Welfares residential child care facilities regulations. The regulations were tabled in terms of Section 253 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini 001 of 2005. Senator Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi was commenting on Masukus response regarding the monitoring and tracing of funds that were donated to these facilities.

The senator stated that since there was no government control in almost all the residential child care facilities, there were people who made taking care of vulnerable children a way of generating an income. Dlamini said some owners of these facilities had expanded and built more houses with the aim to have more children in the homes. She said the reason they wanted to have more children was to increase the money they got from donors. She alleged that most of the foster care homes had even recruited their friends to also run these facilities because of the money they made from them.

Dlamini said a large chunk of the funds donated by donors for the children were not used for the children but taken by the owners for their personal needs. The senator noted that these private facilities did not even report back to the donors that a certain child had left the facility but continued to receive the funds. Some still take school funds for children who dropped out of school a long time ago, she said. The senator said due to the money making tactics that had infiltrated a some people, they ended up grabbing children who were less needy so they could increase the funds solicited from donors. She said she was hopeful that the regulations would reduce or totally eradicate the greediness that was taking over.

Facilities

Another issue that was raised by the senator was that of religious beliefs that children in these facilities were exposed to. She said some facilities might expose children to certain beliefs, which may lead to some of them being forced to conform to certain religions and practices. The DPM, when responding, mentioned that government had one residential child care facility, while the others were either privately-owned or were by non-governmental organisations. Government has only one foster home which is in Manzini, he said. Masuku mentioned that these non-governmental facilities never disclosed how much they got from donors. He noted that the passing of the regulations would give his office the power to somehow regulate and trace some of the funds among other operations of the residential facilities.

He explained that the reason they were unable to regulate the funding was because these foster homes were registered under the companys registration Act under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade. He said the regulations, however, would grant them the authority to ensure that all source of funding from these centres were above board. Masuku said that would counter terrorism financing that might hijack these facilities. Coming to religion, Masuku said religion would be determined by the home that those children would be staying at. The regulations state that a person who intends to operate an approved residential child care facility shall make an application to the minister, being the DPM, by giving details of the premises intended to be used for the facility. The application should have the names and qualifications of all care-givers and other officers to be employed at the facility.

They also stated that the minister shall upon receipt of an application, cause to be conducted such inspections or assessments by an authorised officer as may be appropriate to ensure that the facility and the premises of the facility comply with the National Minimum Standards for Residential Child Care Facilities as may be prescribed from time to time in the gazette. The applicant should have documents of ownership in the premises, lease agreement for the premises or any other documents indicating rights to occupy the premises, comply with the relevant health and building control standards set out in the applicable law. Where upon the recommendation by the authorised officer, the minister finds that the facility and the premises of the facility complies with the National Minimum Standards for Residential Child Care Facilities and the relevant health and building control standards set out in any applicable law, the minister may grant an approval for the establishment of the facility as specified.
Mifepristone, one of two drugs used in a medicine-induced abortion is shown here (Photo by Robin Marty via Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0)

A federal lawsuit that has two of Montanas abortion providers at the center of it has been filed in Virginia as the Center for Reproductive Rights has challenged the Food and Drug Administration for the way it has handled the requirements surrounding the drug mifepristone.

Blue Mountain Clinic and All Families Healthcare are both Montana providers which have joined with groups in Virginia, Kansas, Maryland, New Mexico, Illinois and Minnesota to challenge the federal governments restrictions they say have been unfairly and arbitrarily applied to the drug. Moreover, they say that drugs long track-record and the burdensome paperwork that goes along with prescribing it is a function of political pressure, not an issue of medical science.

The lawsuit, which names the FDA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services as defendants, was filed on Monday in Virginia.

Two separate federal rulings have also caused uncertainty, which is, in part, why the Center for Reproductive Rights said it filed the suit. Those two rulings  one from Washington and one from Texas  leave a patchwork of regulations, pending lawsuits and restrictions regarding the drug, which is often given along with misoprostol to end a pregnancy.

The lawsuit argues that the government has put several unnecessary and politically-motivated restrictions on the drug, which they argue is statistically safer than over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or popular prescriptions like Viagra.

The suit also references the uncertain legal setting after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe vs. Wade and replaced it with Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health. They argue that competing decisions in Texas and Washington have created an uncertain environment, making it nearly impossible for providers who are caught in the middle of trying to protect patient privacy and complying with federal, and, in some cases, ever changing state law.

Mifepristone has been used and approved from abortion for 23 years by more than 5 million Americans. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the drug has been subjected to requirements, including the use of the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy or REMS system. They argue that those protocols are used only for drugs with a high rate of adverse effects, like allergic reactions, chemical interactions with other drugs or food, or drugs that can have moderate to severe side effects.

By making mifepristone seem unique dangerous, FDAs continuing restriction of mifepristone stigmatizes medication abortion and contributes to the chaos anti-abortion activists now sow, the suit said. Plaintiffs are continuously facing the weaponization of the REMS by anti-abortion activists around the country.

They point out that even after the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals halted Texas federal judge Matthew Kacsmaryks nationwide ban on the medication, it didnt leave the old rules in place, but modified them unreasonably  for example banning mid-level practitioners, like nurse practitioners, from prescribing the drug, and banning its use in telehealth, something that had been allowed before the court battles.

Plaintiffs  independent abortion providers with limited resources in hostile states  are caught in the middle of this maelstrom, the suit said. They provide care in states that are party to neither case and thus in a particularly precarious and uncertain position. Plaintiffs cannot retool their practices overnight with no notice  healthcare has no on/off switch. They and their patients require clarity.

They are urging the federal government, via a court order, to remove the REMS restrictions that causes the additional paperwork and certification. They also believe eliminating the REMS requirement will lessen the chance that patients private medical data is turned over to other state authorities.

Safer than aspirin?

The FDA itself has researched mifepristone and determined that serious or adverse events associated with it are acceptably low.

A 2016 review from the National Institute of Health showed that major adverse events was roughly. 0.3%, while other studies pegged the rate of infection at 0.015% The suit also points out the drug has been in used in more than 600 published clinical trials and 800 peer-reviewed medical journals.

From 2000 to 2016, there were only 13 deaths even possibly linked to the medication, and none were causally linked to the drug.

In either case, that is far less than the risk of death from the use of Viagra, or over-the-counter, medications such as acetaminophen, it said.

The lawsuit notes that Tylenol reports more than 500 deaths per year and is among the most common reasons for liver transplants. Meanwhile, Viagra has a mortality rate six times higher than mifepristone.

The FDA noted that the risk, more probably, was linked to pregnancy itself and the same issues can occur during a miscarriage or surgical abortion.

It also found no significant outcomes based on whether the medication was issued by a doctor or mid-level practitioner, or via telehealth.

The challengers also note that while mifepristone is prescribed for abortion, it has other uses, but those arent subject to the same regulation. The drug Korlym has as much as six times the amount of mifepristone as the prescription used for abortion, and is not subject to the same paperwork. Its used to treat Cushings syndrome, a disease affecting the pituitary gland. As many as 15 million people have the disease, according to the Endocrine Society.

Targeting the already vulnerable

The lawsuit also said that requiring the services of a doctor, and mandating a clinic visit were unreasonable restrictions the government placed on the medication, even after its own research proved the drugs safety.

Many people seek medication abortion with mifepristone because it can be easier to access, particularly for patients in communities facing the most obstacles to care, it said. Medication abortion actively reduces what may be insurmountable barriers people face in access abortion care. People commonly take mifepristone at home following a consultation with a healthcare provider because they can have an abortion in privacy, at a place of their choosing, and with the support of their immediate network.

The lawsuit brought by the providers also points out that since the Fifth Circuit Court ruling, the FDA has imposed a pharmacy certification, which requires any pharmacy distributing the mifepristone to be specially certified to dispense the drug, and keep records on it.

A paper trail for prosecution

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that as some states adopt more aggressive measures against abortion, not just making it illegal, but punishing providers who offer services, that medical records could be targeted, leaving patient data at risk.

The suit also said that additional paperwork imposed by the FDA on both providers and pharmacies is an overreach that could lead to the unintended prosecution of those who have abortions.

If someone obtains access to the patients medical record  which is all the more possible with states criminalizing abortion and imposing civil liability for people assisting others in access abortion  they will have evidence that the patient received the medication for abortion, the suit said. This is a particular concern for patients who travel from a state where abortion is banned to a state where it is illegal.

The suit also said that its not just those seeking an abortion who may be affected, though.

The plaintiffs point out that signing off on paperwork is necessary in cases where patients received the drug in the miscarriage process. However, the paperwork require those patients to acknowledge they are taking the drug deciding to end their pregnancy, which could mean the patient would be targeted when they werent using the medication for an abortion.

The suit raises concerns about other information, such as spouses and family members, who could be included in the data and later targeted because they knew someone who had an abortion. The lawsuit specifically mentions states which have attached penalties for those who help a woman have an abortion, and payments to those who successfully report an illegal abortion.

The legal battle over mifepristone is causing chaos for our clinics and widespread confusion and fear among those who need an abortion, said Nicole Smith, Executive Director of Blue Mountain Clinic. We take care of patients from both Montana and our neighboring states who already face nearly insurmountable odds to receive essential abortion care. These restrictions perpetuate harm, stigma, and create unnecessary barriers to medication that is safer than penicillin.

The post Federal lawsuit seeks to keep abortion medication in place appeared first on Daily Montanan.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 9 at 10:11 a.m.

Missing hiker Matthew Read was found alive, according to a Facebook post from Glacier National Park.

WEST GLACIER, Mont. - Authorities are searching for a missing overdue hiker 19-year-old in Glacier National Park Monday.

A release from GNP said the hiker's vehicle was found at the Huckleberry Trail trailhead Sunday, and he was last heard from Friday afternoon--he was believed to begin his hike around noon that day.

Park rangers were notified Sunday he was overdue.

The hiker is described as a 19-year-old white man with short brown hair, brown eyes, 5-foot-11 and about 210 pounds.

He is potentially wearing a gray and black Columbia rain jacket with either blue and yellow or black and red shoes.

Crews did a swift search Sunday afternoon, and increased the search team to about 30 people Monday. Search crews include: park rangers, US Border Patrol, and Flathead County Sheriffs office along with county search dogs.

GNP's release said Two Bear Air flew Sunday night and will fly again weather permitted.

Park conditions are rainy, overcast and foggy, conditions on Huckleberry Trail are wintery in the higher reaches with snow on the trail at higher altitudes.

Huckleberry Trail is closed to allow crews to search.

Anyone with information on the missing hiker is asked to call the park tip line at 406-888-7077.
The following is a press release from the Montana National Guard Public Affairs Office:

HELENA, Mont. -- Seven members of the Montana National Guards Defensive Cyber Operations Element (DCOE) responded April 20, 2023, to assist the Montana State University in Bozeman after a cyber-attack that occurred April 19.

The request for assistance came through the Montana Department of Emergency Services and the DCOE was deployed to assist MSUs Incident Command with helping to identify and mitigate additional vulnerabilities.

The cyber-attack also affected the Great Falls campus, so two DCOE members were moved from Bozeman to Great Falls for onsite assistance.

The DCOE team defends against local attacks on Department of Defense networks. The governor can also call upon the 10-person team to assist with defensive cyber operations during an incident that affects the state, when civilian assets are unavailable or exhausted.

The Montana National Guard stands ready and prepared to assist the citizens of Montana with the initial response when cyber incidents affect infrastructure, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carroll Benjamin, a senior information protection specialist with the Montana National Guard.

Benjamin said the team was able to isolate the threat to prevent further spread of the attack to other systems and identify the source of the attack which will help to reduce future vulnerability.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, said Lt. Col. Antonio Lecce, G-6 Mission Command Supervisor, Although the DCOE can help following an attack, we would rather do a cyber resilience review before an attack occurs to deter any cyber incidents.

It can be a real eye opener for organizations to realize the scope of vulnerabilities that can be exploited if good cyber security practices are not implemented, Lecce said.

Lecce said the Montana National Guard has openings for people with an aptitude and interest in cyber security and will provide training and certifications, as well as hands on experience in exercises and real-world scenarios, that can be marketable for civilian employment.

In October 2022, during Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week, CyberSeek.org announced new data which revealed that for the 12-month period ending in September 2022, employers listed 769,736 openings for cybersecurity positions or jobs requiring cybersecurity skills.

The Montana National Guard has units in 17 communities across Montana. If you are interested in joining our team, please call 406-324-3255.
High adoption of gene-edited crop seeds is expected in the next five to ten years, a new report by Rabobank suggests.

Although the exact timeline for the adoption of gene-editing (GE) seeds is hard to estimate, researchers expect that adoption rates will surpass 50% within five to ten years.

Rabobank's report says that GE technology has the potential to benefit the entire food supply chain, from producers to consumers.

The US has been the frontrunner in terms of GE applications, as it was with genetically modified organisms (GMO), the report, released today (9 May), explains.

According to the USDA, 169 applications for GE products were submitted in the United States from 2011 to 2020.

These applications covered plants that are for human consumption, feed, industrial uses, and some microorganisms for industry. Some of these applications are expected to be commercialised soon.

According to the report, drivers for GE traits in crops include enhanced crop productivity, drought tolerance, improved crop quality, reduced environmental impact and increased sustainability.

Chia-Kai Kang, farm inputs analyst at Rabobank, says that GE technology has the potential to solve issues across the food supply chain for all stakeholders.

"It can increase crop productivity without expanding farmland area, reduce food waste, reduce harmful substances in food, and reduce pesticide use, among other things."

According to Kang, there are at least five factors that will determine if a GE crop can achieve a high adoption rate.

These include product performance, such as quality, yield, and consistency in performance; and possible long-term risks, such as allergic and toxic reactions.

It also includes disruption to trade flows due to export bans on GE crops; the marketing power, selling strategy, and distribution network of the input company; and access to technology.

Arable crops are getting most of the attention, she said, followed by plants not for human consumption, vegetables, fruits, and microorganisms.

Kang said: GE traits can benefit the entire food supply chain, directly impacting farmers and farm input companies, but also the grain and oilseed industry and consumers."

Unlike GMOs, which have been in the market for several decades, GE is a relatively new technology, developed less than ten years ago.

The development of GE brings new technology to the table that involves only editing the existing genes of the plant.

This solves one of the major criticisms of GMOs and brings fewer ethical concerns, as well as fewer regulatory constraints in some countries.
Police are working alongside NFU Scotland and other industry groups to tackle crime in rural communities in Angus, as well as to enhance crime prevention.

As part of the Angus Partnership Against Rural Crime, officers will be conducting a range of activity alongside 12 local and national organisations.

The partnership seeks to tackle offences such as theft of agricultural machinery, vehicles, tools, livestock or fuel; and arson, housebreaking, fly tipping and vandalism.

As well as NFU Scotland, the collaborative approach will involve the support of Forestry and Land Scotland, British Horse Society and Heritage Scotland, among others.

Police Scotland Inspector Mahboob Ahmad said the county was "often a target for criminals in our rural communities".

He said that flying tipping was a particular issue, and for the next 12 months, police and relevant partners would be carrying out patrols in key areas to tackle the crime.

The personal impact that becoming a victim of crime has, along with financial loss can be devastating to people, particularly if farming equipment, fuel or livestock is targeted.

"There is no doubt that having a co-ordinated approach will make a real difference," Inspector Ahmad said.

It is often perceived that rural communities are easy targets, but Angus is not a safe haven for criminals.

"I want to reassure residents and landowners that if you are affected, please report it to us and we will take action."

A spokesperson for NFU Scotland welcomed the partnership, warning that rural crime continued to impact on farmers in the region.

The union added that it was 'hugely important' for farmers to report all cases of rural crime, including theft, to the relevant authorities.

At a national level, we work closely with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) to ensure our members concerns are heard and the positive steps we are taking towards reducing rural crime in Scotland continue.

"At a regional level, we also encourage our members to be as involved as possible with the many regional PARCs established in Scotland in this case Angus PARC.

We are taking rural crime very seriously and these are the best platforms to give and receive up-to-date information on criminal activity at a local level.
Two farmers from Cornwall and Devon have been banned from owning livestock after being convicted of animal welfare offences.

Two separate investigations by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) into animal welfare cases concluded in the sentencing of the two farmers.

In the first case, Timothy Dean Harris was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates Court on 25 April 2023.

He received a 20-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to pay 5,000 in costs and 128 victim surcharge.

He has also been banned from ever owning farm animals again.

APHA inspectors were also instrumental in securing the sentencing of Diana Swabey, New House Farm, Devon.

She was sentenced on 26 April 2023, after pleading guilty to sixteen charges relating to animal welfare.

In May 2022, inspectors visited Harris stock in fields around the village of St Tudy in response to a complaint, where they detected unnecessary suffering to cattle.

A follow-up visit in June 2022 showed that whilst improvements had occurred, non-compliances continued to be detected.

Further complaints in November 2022 and February 2023 were inspected by APHA, with the court hearing that Harris took responsibility for what had happened.

Magistrates said the case showed prolonged neglect with Harris ignoring warnings and advice. They said this resulted in high harm to the animals, including death.

Ms Swabeys premises was visited by APHA in March 2022, and inspectors found numerous animals in poor conditions including cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry.

She has been sentenced with a 16-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work on each of the four unnecessary suffering charges.

She has also been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Aled Edwards, from APHA, said the agency took potential breaches of animal welfare legislation "very seriously".

He said: These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement processes, and the effective collaboration between ourselves and local authorities.

"I welcome these sentences from the courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others.
MANZINI  The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) needs answers.

NAPSAWU President Oscar Nkambule said the national executive committee (NEC) of his organisation had written to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, seeking answers on the viability of the Central Transport Administration (CTA). Nkambule said this followed that government advertised on national newspapers, seeking companies to express interest for government fleet leasing and financing. The Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe-led ministry stated that it intended to engage a firm for the provision of government fleet lease financing for a period ranging between three and five years.

The key requirements for the firms to be considered were said to include relevant qualification of staff proposed for the project and demonstrable experience. It was also stated that the firm must demonstrate its capacity in fleet lease and financing. He said the actions on the ground and what government had informed them were not at par. Nkambule said it had been communicated to them that the work of the CTA had been restored. The question that we now need an answer to is: What will the mechanics do if government wants a company that will lease and finance its fleet? The cars will have a motor plan, which means the mechanics will have nothing to do, he said. It is worth noting that the CTA is a department under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which its core functions include to purchase, maintain and dispose of government vehicles and other related equipment; as well as to provide fuel for government vehicles. It also rents vehicles for government ministries and departments. This department has five workshop facilities spread across the country and they are located in Mbabane, Matsapha, Nhlangano, Piggs Peak and Siteki.

Provision

For the efficiency of the government machinery through provision of transport, the CTA has, to date, been responsible for a fleet of about 3 000 vehicles, ranging from motor cycles, sedans, LDVs, trucks, tractors to heavy specialised construction motorised equipment. However, in 2020, its trading account was suspended after the CTA was marred by corruption-related scandals, which include the theft of fuel valued at over E10 million, stealing of automobile parts and failure to fix the government fleet. In light of the call for expression of interest for government fleet leasing and financing, sources informed this publication that it had been established that it was more viable to lease the fleet. The sources said this would absolve government of having to maintain the fleet. The sources said this would soon be the responsibility of the firm, which shall win the tender.

It was gathered that government intended that the firm which shall win the tender would also provide a fleet management service. This was said to be means of closing the leaks in the bulging expenditure in terms of maintenance and also having the fleet being abused by some personnel. On the other hand, while the union representing some of the civil servants deployed at CTA sees a bleak future for their employees, Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Thulani Mkhaliphi said: CTA is a government department responsible for government transport services and this department will continue to provide these services to government for as long as government requires transport to execute its functions.

He said this when sought for comment on what would be the role of CTA given the new direction that government was in pursuit of, regarding the procurement of its fleet. The PSs response is in-line with a memorandum he shared with the secretary to Cabinet, all PSs and all heads of department, regarding the operations of the CTA. The memorandum which was issued on December 30, 2022, is titled Circular No. 1 of 2023/24 on Central Transport Administration (CTA) operations. It communicated reforms in the management and process workflows between ministries and the CTA.

Mkhaliphi in the communication said in the quest to achieving efficiencies in the administration of government transport services, controlling officers were required to note that fueling of government vehicles would continue to happen at the respective CTA depots and accredited dedicated fuel tanks for those ministries with such special need. He said ministries would be allocated annual fuel litres, (both diesel and petrol), with pre-set monthly ceilings. The PS said in cases where ministries anticipated additional fuel consumption in a particular month on account of special assignment or projects, controlling officers were advised to make prior requests to draw additional fuel for that month but within the annual allocated fuel budget.

Issuance

Mkhaliphi further pleaded with controlling officers to designate officers at appropriate level for issuance of coupons to draw fuel. The officers, he said, would be the official designated fuel system managers with user password given by his ministry and not to be transferable without authorisation. The PS said no vehicle would be allowed to draw fuel without a properly issued coupon and complete filled out log book. Fuel will be procured by the Central Transport Administration and sold to ministries at the going market government pump price. Ministries will be provided with system view rights on their respective fuel draw down and actual budget balances to ensure that they track their fuel litres consumption and actual cost per month, per vehicle and operational unit, the PS said.

Furthermore, Mkhaliphi said controlling officers were advised that the new Public Finance Management Act did not allow the regular use of journal voucher's (JV) as it was done in the current payment of vehicle repairs and maintenance system CTA. He said this arrangement would, therefore, be terminated. Mkhaliphi said ministries' CTA budget (00261) shall be released to the CTA (Head 53) to expend. The PS said the CTA shall at each quarter prepare detailed expenditure report on vehicles service maintenance and repairs for ministries to review and track their respective expenditure. The PS said vehicles requiring service, repairs and maintenance shall be presented to the nearest CTA depot for inspection, diagnosis and a job card would be raised. He said ministries would be advised on the cost of the required parts replacement and/or service before works execution.
Kim Jong-un says Russia "will prevail" in its fight with "imperialists".

Kim Jong-un expects Russia to 'prevail' against the West

The North Korean dictator appeared to take aim at Ukraine and its Western allies by suggesting that Moscow is fighting for world peace and to protect stability in the region.

Kim's comments came in a letter to Vladimir Putin, according to the state news agency KCNA, and echoed the Russian despot's sentiments in his Victory Day address on Tuesday (09.05.23).

North Korea has forged closer ties with the Kremlin since Russia invaded Ukraine last year and Kim's letter reinforces the alliance between the two nations that have been isolated by the international community.

The Supreme Leader's message to Putin read: "We send warm wishes to you, the Russian army and the people of Russia for their holy fight to preserve world peace."

Kim also congratulated Putin on the Victory Day anniversary - which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 - and declared that Russia would continue to protect its "autonomy" and the "stability of the region".

The tyrant praised Moscow for undertaking a "sacred struggle to realise international justice and defend global peace against the high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialists".
Male elephant seals are killing themselves off with sex.

Male seals are dying as a result of sex

The randy animals make love with up to 50 females during the mating season but are more likely to die younger than less sexually active peers.

The five-ton male seals have a greater chance of getting injured in fights with other males and don't eat for three months because they stay on land during breeding season.

The study revealed that dominant males typically survive for up to 10 years while females generally live for twice as long.

Dr. Kyle Lloyd, of Pretoria University in South Africa, said: "These breeding seasons are quite chaotic. The beaches are so busy and the males are working hard.

"They can only get food from the ocean. When they come on land [to breed] theyre competing with other males for access to females.

"They need to have fat resources stored to be able to fight other males and survive on land without eating anything for weeks or months at a time."
Vladimir Putin says that Russia is embroiled in a "real war" with the West.

Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is in a 'real war' with the West

The Russian tyrant attempted to justify his invasion of Ukraine as a repeat of World War II during a 10-minute speech to mark Victory Day on Tuesday (09.05.23).

Putin told the crowd in Moscow's Red Square: "Soldiers and seamen, and officers, generals, admirals, fighters and commanders, to all participants of the special military operation, I congratulate you on Victory Day.

"It is the celebration to honour our fathers and grandfathers who fought for their motherland and through their sacrifice they saved the world from Nazism."

Putin reiterated claims that the Ukraine conflict is repeating World War II and that the "special military operation" is needed to de-Nazify the Donbas region from Kyiv and the West.

He said: "Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point.

"A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.

"Today we have a real war waged against us but we will be defending ourselves from terrorism, we will defend the citizens of Donbas."

Putin also took aim at the West and claimed that Ukraine's allies should be indebted to Moscow for Russian efforts against Nazi Germany in World War II.

He said: "They have forgotten who destroyed the evil. Who defended their motherlands, who liberated the people of Europe."
The Prince of Wales says his children are so tired after the coronation weekend.

The Prince of Wales says his children are so tired after the coronation weekend

Prince William 41, who has children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, with his 41-year-old wife Princess Catherine, 41, added they are so exhausted he worries they wont be able to get up for school on Tuesday. (09.05.23)

MailOnline reported he said his children were so tired while at The Big Help Out volunteer event in Slough on Monday (08.05.23), to join millions of people across Britain to help communities.

The princes children were at Charles coronation ceremony on Saturday, but Louis stayed home during the coronation concert as it was past his bedtime.

The Marchioness of Lansdowne, 68, a close friend of Queen Camilla, who attended her throughout Saturday, said the king and his wife were both extremely tired after the coronation but so proud of how it went.

Buckingham Palace added Their Majesties were deeply touched by the support from their fans and all those who worked on the event.

Prince William said in his speech at the coronation concert he was so proud of the king.

He added: For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pag eantry is a simple message: service.

For over 50 years, in every corner of the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world, he has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected I commit myself to serve you all - King, Country and Commonwealth. God Save The King!
Tom Hanks feels confident he can "handle" criticism of his new novel.

Tom Hanks can handle criticism of his novel

The 66-year-old actor feels proud of 'The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece' - which has been inspired by his career in Hollywood - and Tom insists he won't be fazed by any negative reviews.

The veteran movie star told the BBC that he has become "stronger when it comes down to really being torn apart".

In his novel, Tom refers to film stars who are "cry-babies, psychological train wrecks, on-the-wagon alcoholics [and] off-the-wagon addicts".

The actor also revealed that he opposes airbrushing classic books for modern audiences, after novels by the likes of Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie were recently amended by their publishers.

Tom explained: "I'm of the opinion that we're all grown-ups here. Let's have faith in our own sensibilities as opposed to having somebody decide what we may or may not be offended by.

"Let me decide what I am offended by and what I'm not offended by. I would be against reading any book from any era that says 'abridged due to modern sensitivities'."

Meanwhile, Tom previously claimed that he's only made four "pretty good" movies during his career.

The Oscar-winning actor also described the film-making process as a "miracle".

Tom - who has starred in movies such as 'Forrest Gump', 'Philadelphia' and 'Saving Private Ryan' - told PEOPLE: "No one knows how a movie is made, though everyone thinks they do.

"Ive made a ton of movies - and four of them are pretty good, I think - and Im still amazed at how films come together. From a flicker of an idea to the flickering image onscreen, the whole process is a miracle."
MBABANE  Two students from different universities committed suicide this past Sunday.

A second-year Social Work student was found hanging from the rafters of a house on Sunday morning. The Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) student, Nonjabulo Mangwe, was discovered already dead by her younger brother. Mangwe was home alone while her stepfather, who is a pastor at the Rehoboth Revival Ministries, and her mother had gone to attend a church service in Matsapha. In an interview, her stepfather, Jerry Masango, said they were extremely shocked by the incident. Masango said they had no clue on why their daughter decided to end her life, as she did not show any signs of being depressed.

Related

He stated that when he went to report at the school, he was told that it could not be related to schoolwork as she had done well. Masango stated that Mangwe sat her examinations last week and was waiting for the results. He said although the school had ruled out the chances of the suicide being linked to the results, he suspected that there was a connection. Mangwes stepfather said she had hinted to them last week that she might need funds to supplement one of her subjects, as she suspected that she would fail it. He said they told her that they would wait and see the results before taking any decision. We did not even raise our voices upon hearing that she might have to supplement. Masango said his stepdaughter was a hard worker and they believed that she would pass, although she doubted herself.

He said Mangwe was a reserved child since her childhood and slept a lot. The man of God said her stepdaughter did not even have friends at school and after class, she would come straight home. As a result, he said even if she was depressed, there was no one she turned to due to her reserved nature. Masango said there was nothing they found on her phone to suggest that she had a misunderstanding with anyone. He said; When we went to sleep on Saturday, she was her normal self. She remained with her younger brother watching television.

According to Masango, on Sunday morning, they prepared to go to church and she remained behind, adding that the plan was that she would wake up and clean the house then attend a church service at a local church.

Masango said the young boy also attended a local church, while he and his wife went to Matsapha. He stated that the younger sibling was the one who came back first in the house and upon arrival, found her sister hanging in their bedroom. Masango said they were called by the young boy who broke the news. I told him to seek help from elders who were close-by as we were in Matsapha, said the pastor. Masango said the boy tried to help her sister, but she had already died.

Confirmed

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the suicide. Vilakati stated that police found the young woman hanging at around 2:50pm, inside her bedroom. Reached for comment, Registrar at EMCU, Sebenta Menon, said they had been made aware of a student who died, although they had not received a formal report from the family. When asked if the university provided counselling to students going through depression, Menon said they did. He said they had a counsellor who was employed on a full-time basis, but students had to go to the office if they were going through certain issues. Menon said at times there were referrals by parents and lecturers. The registrar said they might need to improve the counselling sessions to provide to groups. He said it was difficult to randomly identify a depressed scholar, hence they needed groups from the student body.
Total UK footfall increased by 5.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in April 2023. However, this figure was 1.5 percentage points worse than March and below the 3-month average increase of 7.0 per cent, as per the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

High street footfall saw a significant uptick, with a 10.5 per cent increase in April YoY. While this was 1.9 percentage points better than the previous month, it still fell short of the 3-month average rise of 13.4 per cent. In contrast, retail parks faced a decline in footfall, decreasing by 6.9 per cent YoY in April, which was worse than both last months rate and the 3-month average decline of 5.6 per cent, according to recently released data from BRC-Sensormatic IQ.

UK footfall rose by 5.3 per cent YoY in April 2023 but was below the 3-month average increase of 7 per cent. High street footfall increased by 10.5 per cent, while retail parks saw a 6.9 per cent decline. England had the highest footfall increase at 9.7 per cent, followed by Scotland at 7.7 per cent, Wales at 3 per cent, and Northern Ireland at 2.9 per cent.

Shopping centre footfall experienced growth as well, increasing by 7.9 per cent YoY in April, albeit 0.3 percentage points worse than March and below the 3-month average rise of 9.1 per cent. Breaking down the data by nation, England led with the highest increase in footfall at 9.7 per cent, followed by Scotland at 7.7 per cent and Wales at 3.0 per cent. Northern Ireland saw the lowest increase, with footfall rising by just 2.9 per cent.

When compared to pre-pandemic levels (Yo4Y), the data revealed a significant gap yet to be closed. Total UK footfall decreased by 16.2 per cent, with high streets down by 21.2 per cent, retail parks lower by 6.1 per cent, and shopping centres experiencing an 18.2 per cent decrease.

Footfall saw YoY improvement mainly in high streets and shopping centres, which had been the most affected during the pandemic, and still have the furthest to catch up. Retail footfall is finding a new balance, as the rise in online shopping and spread of hybrid working, has changed consumer shopping habits. As a result, while we expect footfall to continue to improve, it may never reach the levels seen prior to the pandemic, said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC.

The outlook does remain tough however, and double-digit growth was always going to fizzle out as the year went on and footfall trends began to normalise. Nevertheless, rising consumer confidence and a May full of holidays is surely something that retailers can look forward to, said Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
In April 2023, the expansion of Chinas logistics industry experienced a slowdown, despite companies remaining positive about the future of the sector. The index tracking the countrys logistics market performance dropped by 1.7 percentage points from March, standing at 53.8 per cent in April. A reading above 50 signifies growth, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

The expectation for increased logistics activities is driven by the sustained economic recovery and an anticipated surge in holiday consumption, according to data from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

In April 2023, China's logistics industry expansion slowed, with the index tracking its performance falling to 53.8 per cent. Despite the slowdown, companies remain optimistic due to sustained economic recovery. The sub-index for new orders dropped to 52.3 per cent, while the sub-index for business activity expectations remained above 55 per cent.

The sub-index for new orders in April decreased by 1.4 percentage points month-on-month (MoM), registering at 52.3 per cent. Despite this, logistics companies remain optimistic about the sectors outlook, as the sub-index tracking business activity expectations stood at a high level above 55 per cent. Demand, bolstered by Chinas economic recovery and holiday consumption, is predicted to gradually increase in the coming months.

CFLPs chief economist He Hui attributed the minor decline of the index to seasonal fluctuations, as a strong rebound in the logistics sector in previous months led to a relatively high base, as per local media reports.

He noted that large and medium-sized logistics firms experienced stable business demand in April, while small and micro companies in the sector observed a decrease in demand compared to the previous month.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
German manufacturing experienced its largest decline since the pandemic began, with real new orders falling by 10.7 per cent on a seasonally and calendar adjusted basis in March 2023, according to provisional results released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

The decline followed a 4.5 per cent increase in new orders in February 2023, and marked a sharp reversal of the positive trend. New orders in the first quarter of 2023 were just 0.2 per cent higher than in the previous quarter. Excluding large-scale orders, there was a decrease of 7.7 per cent in March 2023 compared to the previous month. The negative trend of new orders was visible in most economic sectors in manufacturing.

While new orders in the intermediate goods sector decreased by 7.5 per cent in March 2023 compared to the previous month, new orders in the consumer goods sector increased by 1.2 per cent, as per Destatis.

German manufacturing saw its biggest decline since the pandemic began with new orders falling 10.7 per cent in March 2023, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The negative trend of new orders was visible in most economic sectors in manufacturing. Foreign orders fell by 13.3 per cent, while domestic orders were down 6.8 per cent.

Foreign orders sank by 13.3 per cent, while domestic orders fell by 6.8 per cent on the previous month. New orders from the rest of the world fell by 14.8 per cent, and orders from the euro area by 10.8 per cent.

In addition, real turnover in manufacturing (seasonally and calendar adjusted) decreased by 2.9 per cent in March 2023 compared to February 2023, as per provisional figures. A revision of the provisional figures revealed an increase of 1.5 per cent in February 2023 from January 2023.

The countrys calendar adjusted turnover in March 2023 was 3.7 per cent higher than in March 2022.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
US imports of textiles and apparel have continued to decrease in value terms, falling by 19.98 per cent to $25.874 billion in the first three months of 2023, compared to $32.331 billion during the same period in 2022. China remains the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US, holding a 23.78 per cent market share, followed by Vietnam with a 14.75 per cent share.

In January-March 2023, the bulk of US textile imports consisted of apparel, amounting to $19.472 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for $6.400 billion, according to the latest Major Shippers Report released by the US department of commerce. Both segments experienced a decline in inbound shipments.

US imports of textiles and apparel decreased by 19.98 per cent to $25.874 billion in the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. China remained the largest supplier with a 23.78 per cent market share, followed by Vietnam at 14.75 per cent. Apparel imports dropped by 19.73 per cent, while non-apparel imports fell by 20.71 per cent.

Apparel imports dropped by 19.73 per cent compared to the $24.259 billion traded in January-March 2022, while non-apparel imports fell by 20.71 per cent from $6.400 billion in the same period of the previous year.

Among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, the import from any country did not register rise. The imports from China and Cambodia declined by 34.89 per cent and 32.57 per cent, respectively. The import from Vietnam dropped 24.25 per cent, Pakistan 26.97 per cent, Honduras 15.84 per cent, Bangladesh 13.34 per cent and India 11 per cent.

Among the top ten suppliers in the non-apparel category, imports from Mexico experienced a year-on-year growth of 10.20 per cent. Imports from no other country rose in this period. Imports from Vietnam, on the other hand, declined by 12.58 per cent. Inbound shipments from other countries, such as China, Turkey, and Canada, also decreased. Specifically, imports from China decreased by 33.28 per cent and from India by 21.73 per cent.

During the period under review, US textile and apparel imports totalled $25.874 billion. Man-made fibre products accounted for $13.258 billion, while cotton products were valued at $10.876 billion. Wool products made up $780.065 million, and products from silk and vegetable fibres were worth $956.980 million.

In 2022, US imports of textiles and apparel continued to rise, reaching $132.201 billion, up from $113.938 billion in 2021. This increase followed a sharp decline in 2020 when the country's inbound shipments dropped to $89.596 billion, compared to imports of $111.033 billion in 2019.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is one celebrity with a classic sense of style. She is skilled at conveying a message through her clothing choices







In 2010, Aishwarya wore a sheer embroidered saree enhanced with an ornate gold border made by Sabyasachi as she walked hand in hand with her husband, actor Abhishek Bachchan. She wore a simple sleeveless blouse with the saree.In Rimzim Dadu's contemporary black saree with a glossy blue patterned pallu, Sonam looked gorgeous in 2016. Her red carpet ensembles are notorious for being out of the ordinary, and her Cannes appearances have always served as the ideal inspiration for celebrity fashion.In 2013, Vidya Balan wore Sabyasachi-made sarees when she walked the red carpet at Cannes. Vidya received criticism for being too safe on the red carpet, but she nailed every saree style. Vidya maintained the classic style while enhancing it with jewellery that radiated royalty. Even though each saree was draped differently, Vidya made sure that each one at Cannes showcased her passion for sarees.
Adipurush is touted to be one of the biggest films of the year with an ensemble cast. A special fan screening of the trailer was held in Hyderabad yesterday and Kriti Sanon and Prabhas were welcomed with the loudest cheer. Post the screening, the trailer was also leaked online.

Chants of Jai Shri Ram were also heard throughout. The release date of the film was also pushed as the team was improving the VFX effect.

Videos of Kriti and Prabhas have been going viral all over social media since yesterday.
The makers of Adipurush have revealed the trailer today in Mumbai at a grand event today which was attended by the cast, director Om Raut and producer Bhushan Kumar. It was launched globally in 70 countries. The Adipurush trailer is a feast for the eyes, showing spectacular graphics, action-packed scenes, and an all-star cast of actors. The teaser offers a tantalising insight into the universe of Adipurush with its top-notch visual effects, massive scale, compelling plot, and commendable performances.

The film, directed by Om Raut, is based on The Ramayana. Saif Ali Khan will play Lankesh, Kriti will play Sita, while Prabhas will play Lord Ram in the movie. Ahead of the release, the film will premiere at the Tribeca Festival in the Escape From Tribeca section on June 13 in New York.

Adipurush will hit the theatres on June 16. The movie will be released in two languages - Hindi and Telugu.

Watch the trailer here:
Parineeti Chopra Raghav Chadha Engagement: Parineeti Chopra and AAP MP Raghav Chadha's rumoured relationship has been a hot topic of discussion in the media for a while now. They have been seen together on multiple occasions, including Parineeti's visits to fashion designer Manish Malhotra's house, which has led to speculation about their potential marriage.

Despite this, both have remained silent on the rumours. On Tuesday, Parineeti and Raghav were snapped at Mumbai airport along with the actress's brother, Shivang Chopra, as they travelled to Delhi. A video of their departure has been shared online.

PARINEETI CHOPRA AND RAGHAV CHADHA SPOTTED AT AIRPORT

Amid the engagement rumours, Parineeti Chopra was papped at the airport, donning a red kurta set and shades. She also carried a huge black handbag with her. While Raghav wore a black shirt and beige trousers. The lovebirds are reportedly getting engaged on May 13 in Delhi amid close knit friends and family.

Amid Engagement Buzz, Parineeti Chopra Flaunts Fancy Ring As She Steps Out Post Dinner Date With Raghav Chadha

PARINEETI CHOPRA AND RAGHAV CHADHA ENGAGEMENT DETAILS

Meanwhile, Filmibeat has exclusively learned that Parineeti and Raghave will exchange rings on May 13, which will be followed by a few traditional rituals and dinner. For the unversed, the Code Name: Tiranga actress and Raghav studied together at the London School of Economics and share a close friendship.

As per our source, the couple's engagement ceremony will be attended by around 150 people, including close friends and family members. And before the ring ceremony, Punjabi rituals such as Sukhmani Sahib Path and Ardas will take place, which will be followed by an engagement and a dinner party.

Let us tell you that Sukhmani sahib is one of the banis that the Punjabi community recites, which is a one- or one and a half-hour path (walk) followed by gurbani kirtan and ardaas. The Sukhmani Sahib usually happens in the morning, before noon.

Amid Wedding Rumours, Parineeti Chopra-Raghav Chadha Head Out For An IPL Match Together; Check Out VIRAL Pics

PARINEETI CHOPRA ON THE WORK FRONT

Parineeti Chopra made her debut with YRF's Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl in 2011. Her last screen presence was with Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Danny Denzongpa, Neena Gupta, and Sarika in Suraj Barjatya's Uunchai. Up next, Chopra has Chamkila and Capsule Gill.
Amid The Kerala Story Row, Shabana Azmi Reminds Netizens Of A Plea Seeking A Ban On Laal Singh Chadha: The Kerala Story created an uproar before its release citing 'factual inaccuracies'. The film has been released in theaters and is receiving strong reactions from all over.

One of the celebrities who came out in support of the film, 'The Kerala Story' was Shabana Azmi. The veteran actress took to Twitter and questioned those who were seeking a ban on the film as she compared the film with Aamir Khan's Chadha.

While several people came in support of Azmi, a section of people including actress Kangana Ranaut corrected her and said that the Aamir Khan starrer was never called for a ban.

SHABANA AZMI CORRECTS NETIZENS MENTIONING A PLEA SEEKING A BAN ON AAMIR KHAN'S LAAL SINGH CHADHA

Now, in a fresh tweet, Azmi shared a screenshot of a news piece, citing a plea demanding a ban on Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chadha. Taking to the micro-blogging site, she wrote "So twiterratis who are saying there was only boycotting of LSC and no call for ban kindly refresh your memory. There was a PIL asking for ban."

SHABANA AZMI'S TWEET COMPARING THE KERALA STORY WITH LAAL SINGH CHADHA

Earlier, Shabana Azmi had tweeted in support of the controversial film, 'The Kerala Story'. She compared the film with Aamir's Laal Singh Chadha and had questioned those who were demanding a ban on the film. Azmi's tweet read, "Those who speak of banning #The Kerala Story are as wrong as those who wanted to ban Aamir Khan's #Laal Singh Chaadha. Once a film has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification nobody has the right to become an extra constitutional authority."

KANGANA RANAUT'S TWEET IN SUPPORT OF SHABANA AZMI

Along with others, Queen actress, Kangana Ranaut came out in support of Shabana Azmi, however, she mentioned that no one asked for a ban on LSC rather people wanted to boycott it. Kangan wrote, "This is a very valid point except for the fact that no one asked for a ban on LSC people just didn't want to see it for many reasons, major reason was it was a remake of a very popular old Hollywood classic which most people had already seen..."
China ready to enhance exchanges, cooperation with Bangladesh: ambassador

Xinhua) 13:53, May 09, 2023

DHAKA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Bangladesh to achieve a win-win result, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said.

Yao made the remarks at the "Reception for Bangladeshi Participants Attending 2023 Chinese Government Training Programs," which was held recently at the Chinese embassy here.

Yao said China and Bangladesh had witnessed increasingly close exchanges, deepening political mutual trust and fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and China is also ready to share development experience and facilitate the economic and social development of Bangladesh.

The ambassador wished all the participants a fruitful and enjoyable trip to China, believing that all of them would play an active role in China-Bangladesh cooperation after returning to Bangladesh.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, additional secretary and wing chief of economic relations division under the Ministry of Finance, spoke highly of fruitful cooperation between China and Bangladesh.

He hopes that China would continue to help Bangladesh overcome challenges in its economic development and achieve its development goals.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
MBABANE  If you buy a Bible from the devil, pray for it because it might come with demons.

This was Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Mbongwa Dlaminis advice to members of SNAT after the Industrial Court set aside governments decision to withhold his salary from October 2022. Dlamini was addressing his supporters, who largely included members of the SNAT executive and branch representatives, among others, after the court had issued the judgment. He said they appreciated the judgment and advised members of SNAT, and its executive, to be cautious and vigilant as they went about their business. As we appreciate the victory, let us not forget who we are dealing with. Asiyibuke ngalamanye emehlo. They might shift their target to a softer target because all eyes were on the president, said Dlamini.

The SNAT president appreciated the support he received from the association and encouraged them to show the same support to other members. He also encouraged the leadership to religiously pay affiliation subscriptions to Education International (EI).

Immense

He said EIs support to Eswatini was immense. He also said SNAT members should support other countries that needed it. SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati said the president of the association would serve his term to the end regardless of what others wanted. Vilakati said the challenge was that government did not follow rules to the letter, hence the taking of decisions unilaterally. He described Dlaminis case as a direct attack on SNAT. It is purely political. It is pure union bashing. They wanted to start with the president and follow with others. The president did not absent himself and the union did nothing except to speak on members rights, said Vilakati. Eswatini Schools Committee and Parents Association (ESCAPA) also appreciated the judgment. Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko said Judge Lungile Msimango must be promoted when other judges got promotion for issuing a fair judgment.
Anupamaa twist: If you thought that the drama in Gaurav Khanna and Rupali Ganguly's show was over, please brace yourself for more. While ardent fans of the show wanted Anupama and Anuj's reunion, it seems they will have to wait for a long time.

PROMO HINTS AT ANUPAMAA-ANUJ DIVORCE

Anupamaa and Anuj's separation has become the talk of the town as the two lovebirds have parted ways after Maya took away Choti Anu from them. She took advantage of the misunderstanding, creating troubles in MaAn's lives. She joined hands with Barkha to separate the duo and make sure that Anuj remains away from Anupamaa.

In a shocking turn of events, Maya tried to sexually abuse Anuj, locking him inside a room so that he is unable to meet his wife in Ahmedabad. Netizens might be waiting for Anupama-Anuj's reunion but the recent track suggests that the two will fail to resolve their differences.

The makers have released a shocking promo, making the fans wonder if Anupama will end her relationship with Anuj. The official Instagram handle of Director Kut Production shared the video along with the caption, "Dekhiye #anupamaa somvaar se ravivaar raat 10 baje sirf Star Plus par."

In the viral promo, Anupamaa said that she won't shed tears because of her husband, family members or her children. She stated the is not a 'bechari' (helpless), expressing her displeasure over the incidents that took place in her life.

ANUPAMAA FANS REACT TO NEW TWIST

Fans also voiced their opinion on the track, stating that they are unhappy as Anuj played a role in Anupamaa's life and now, she is neglecting his influence. They slammed the makers for showing Anupamaa's independent journey but not focusing on Anuj's contribution.

One user commented, "Ekdum bakwas dkp. Women empowerment kya pati se separation se hi aa sakti. Ghar rushes raha hai Rajan shahi" while another wrote, "Day by day it is getting very boring I had already stopped watching but when u guys released the promo in which anuj will be back to anupama I started hoping again and started watching promos but now I am tired of this I think its time to stop watching the promos also (sic)."

"This is such a wrong message given by DKP!! We all want to see a successful Anupamaa but at the cost of giving up Anuj & Ca... Waah... Anuj ne tho bechari banake rakha tha ...jisne itna Diya uska koi mol nahi... Disgusting," another fan shared his thoughts on the Instagram video.

It remains to be seen how the makers will react to the negative feedback on social media.
Adipurush Theatrical trailer Photo Credit: Twitter

Adipurush Trailer Review: The much-awaited and highly-anticipated theatrical trailer of pan-India star Prabhas' mythological film Adipurush has finally landed. The euphoria around the trailer is sky-high and fans couldn't contain the excitement around it.

The Hindi version of the trailer was released already with Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and director Om Raut attending the event in Juhu, Mumbai earlier. On May 9, as per the muhurth, the Telugu trailer was released at AMB Cinemas in Hyderabad. The trailer is receiving a thumping response and the visuals, background score is excellent. Fans opine Adipurush can become the biggest movie of Prabhas so far and of the year 2023, in all aspects.

Adipurush Theatrical Trailer

According to the information, unlike the teaser which was released to severe criticism, the theatrical trailer was enticing with great visuals, dialogues, and appeal. The makers learned from the mistakes and tried to include emotions in the trailer, as an attempt to connect to the viewers.

Reportedly, the theatrical trailer, which is said to be quite exciting, is three minutes and twenty seconds long. It showcases the movie's premise of Ramanayana, where it kick-starts with the conflict point of Janaki getting abducted by Lankesh. Then the introduction of Ayodhya and the arrival of Raghava, followed by the final fight.

Adipurush Story

The movie is based on the epic mythological tale of Ramayana. About 7000 years ago, Ayodhya's king Rama travels to the island of Lanka to rescue his abducted wife Sita, from Lankesh.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5W6pYD9u4PM?feature=share

Adipurush Cast

With pan-India star Prabhas playing the lead role of Ram AKA Raghav, Saif Ali Khan will be seen in the antagonist's role of Lankesh. Kriti Sanon is the Janaki of Adipurush. In addition, Sunny Singh, Devdatta Nage, Vatsal Sheth, Sonal Chauhan, and Trupti Toradmal are part of the film.

Adipurush Crew

On an stunning budget of Rs 700 Crore, Adipurush was made by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Om Raut, Prasad Sutar, and Rajesh Nair jointly under the T-Series Films and Retrophiles banner.

Successful music director duo Ajay-Atul composed the film's entire background score and music. Karthik Palani and Apurva Motiwale Sahai along with Ashish Mhatre worked as the cinematographer and editors of Adipurush.

Adipurush Release Date

The movie is finally going to hit the screens all over the world in five languages on June 16. However, the movie will make its debut on June 13 at Tribeca Festival. The movie is shot as a bilingual in Hindi and Telugu. In other languages, the movie's dubbed version will release. Adipurush is also available in 3D.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2023) - Tower Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TWR) ("Tower" or the "Company") announces that its board of directors (the "Board") has adopted an advance notice policy (the "Policy") which includes, among other things, a provision that requires advance notice be given to the Company in circumstances where nominations of persons for election to the Board are made by shareholders of the Company other than pursuant to: (i) a requisition of a meeting made pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Act"); or (ii) a shareholder proposal made pursuant to the provisions of the Act.

Additionally, the Policy sets a deadline by which holders of record of common shares of Tower must submit director nominations to the Company prior to any annual or special meeting of shareholders, sets forth the information that a shareholder must include in the notice to the Company, and establishes the form in which the shareholder must submit the notice for that notice to be in proper written form.

In the case of an annual meeting of shareholders, notice to the Company must be made not less than 30 days nor more than 65 days prior to the date of the annual meeting. However, in the event that the annual meeting is to be held on a date that is less than 40 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice may be made not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following such public announcement.

In the case of a special meeting of shareholders (which is not also an annual meeting) notice to the Company must be made not later than the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting was made.

Tower will, at its annual and special meeting scheduled for June 27, 2023, seek shareholder approval to amend the articles of the Company to include the provisions of the Policy.

The full text of the Policy is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

About Tower Resources

Tower is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in the Americas. The Company's key exploration assets, both in B.C., are the Rabbit North copper-gold porphyry project located between the New Afton copper-gold and Highland Valley copper mines in the Kamloops mining district and the Nechako gold-silver project near Artemis' Blackwater project.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Tower Resources Ltd.

Joe Dhami, President and CEO

(778) 996-4730

www.towerresources.ca



Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165242
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2023) - Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, is pleased to announce it has been selected by the Alberta Motor Association ("AMA") to provide six Level 2 charging stations to two of its locations, Edmonton Contact Centre and Calgary Blackfoot, with installation due to be completed in Q2 2023.

The AMA is a non-profit organization that provides various motor services, including roadside assistance, travel services, insurance, and registry services, to its over 975,000 members. In addition to serving its members, the AMA is also committed to promoting traffic safety and advocating for the rights of drivers and travelers.

"We are thrilled to partner with the AMA through our existing relationship with Hypercharge Preferred Partner, Inferno Solar, and we look forward to providing convenient and accessible charging for the association's employees, members, and visitors," said Chris Koch, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Hypercharge. "The installation of these charging stations is an important step in our commitment to promoting sustainable transportation options across Alberta."

The deal was completed in consultation with Hypercharge Preferred Partner, Inferno Solar, who will also manage turnkey installation of the chargers. Inferno Solar acts as a value-added reseller for the Company, interfacing with both the residential and commercial markets for those seeking to make an investment in EV charging infrastructure.

Refiling of MD&A

The Company also announces that it will be restating and refiling the Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") for the four months ended December 31, 2022 in order to enhance the disclosure regarding the Company's acquisition of Spark Charging Solutions Inc. and CoSource Information Technology Services Inc.; variations between financial quarters; the Company's use of proceeds from prior financings; and the Company's related party transactions. The Company is actively working on amending the MD&A to include such additional disclosure and will refile the MD&A as soon as possible.

-##-

About Hypercharge

Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions that offers turnkey technology to multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to providing seamless, simple charging solutions by offering industry-leading equipment and a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/

On behalf of the company,

Hypercharge Networks Corp.

David Bibby, President & CEO

Investor Relations:

Kelsey Letham | Head of Investor Relations

invest@hypercharge.com

604-881-1730

Media Contact:

Kyle Green | Senior Marketing Manager

kyle.green@hypercharge.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's installation of six Level 2 charging stations at two of AMA's locations and the timing thereof, and the Company's decision to refile the MD&A and the timing thereof. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the NEO Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the NEO Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165289


"TK-FS" product image

TOKYO, May 9, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), which operates the TANAKA Precious Metals manufacturing business, announced the launch of TK-FS, a new allow for probe pins of probe cards and test sockets used in the testing process of semiconductor manufacturing. Samples started shipping in July of 2022, and a material with even better performance has been achieved through continuous research and development.So far, TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo has been manufacturing and selling palladium (Pd) materials mainly for pogo pin-type probe pins used in test sockets for final testing (post-processing) of semiconductor packages. The latest TK-FS launch is a material that can be used in a wide range of types of probe pins besides pogo-pin types, such as cantilever-type or vertical-type for wafer testing (pre-processing) probe cards. This product has three unique attributes: a Vickers hardness of at least 500, specific resistance of at most 7.0 micro ohm-cm, and durability that can withstand 10 or more times of repeated bending. In TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo's existing products, there is no material that has simultaneously achieved these three qualities of high hardness, low specific resistance, and high pliability. This product succeeded in addressing all requirements, allowing the same material to be used in various types of probe pins.In the manufacturing process of semiconductors, semiconductor test equipment is used to conduct testing - divided into several stages - to see if the semiconductor is operating properly, how many years it can operate, and whether it is operating safely. Testing using semiconductor test equipment requires extremely high reliability as it is used to assess the performance of the main operations of products that use semiconductors. With the spread of IoT today, the demand for semiconductor-related products is expanding, including the necessity of semiconductors in electronic devices, as well as in a wide range of fields such as automobile and home appliances. At the same time, the market for semiconductor test equipment is also expected to continue developing.As this product is a material that combines the functions of high Vickers hardness, low specific resistance, and high pliability, it can be used for various types of probe pins. It is expected to contribute toward longer service life and lowering costs in semiconductor test equipment.For this product, the target is to achieve twice the shipment volume compared to that of existing products by 2028. In the future, the goal is to shift most of the existing products for probe pins to TK-FS. TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo seeks to contribute toward the development of the semiconductor market, which is expected to grow significantly going forward.Features of TK-FS- Simultaneously achieves the three functions of a Vickers hardness of at least 500, specific resistance of at most 7.0 micro ohm-cm, and durability that can withstand 10 or more times of repeated bending (based on TANAKA's standards)- Using unique processing technology, it is possible to adjust and offer a wide range of Vickers hardness values (400 to 520)- Has a higher elongation (8% to 13%) compared to TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo's existing probe pin materialsAbout TANAKA Precious MetalsSince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and around the world collaborate and cooperate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,225 employees, the Group's consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, were 787.7 billion yen.**From the current consolidated fiscal year, the amounts of sales for some transactions are indicated as net values due to the application of the Accounting Standard for Revenue Recognition.Global industrial business websitehttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/Product inquiriesTANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/Press inquiriesTANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/This press release in PDF: http://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20230509_EN.pdfSource: Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd.Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
New research by global digital trust association ISACA underscores the importance of digital trust for business and IT professionals in Europe. The study shows 94% of respondents believe that digital trust is relevant to their organisation, with 93% of IT professionals stating it is relevant for their current job. And its significance will only grow as 83% of businesses think digital trust will be even more important over the next five years.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005811/en/

ISACA defines digital trust as the confidence in the integrity of the relationship, interactions and transactions among providers and consumers within an associated digital ecosystem. Its key components include security, data integrity, privacy, governance and assurance, and it is a driving factor in consumer decisions and enterprise resilience.

Organisations must prioritise cross-functional teams, communication channels, and training programs that encourage collaboration to achieve digital transformation objectives and maintain trust with stakeholders. But according to ISACA's new research, less than half (44%) of respondents feel there is sufficient collaboration among professionals in their organisation who work in digital trust fields such as security, risk, governance, assurance, privacy, and quality.

Digital trust is key to success

Over three quarters (79%) of respondents recognise that organisations that demonstrate their commitment to digital trust will be more successful. They believe that businesses with high levels of digital trust are more likely to have a positive reputation (70%); experience fewer privacy breaches (57%); experience fewer cybersecurity incidents (55%) and have more reliable data on which to make decisions and have stronger customer loyalty (51%).

Despite respondents highlighting its importance, there is a clear disparity between thought and action when it comes to digital trust.

ISACA's research finds that only 7% of European business and IT professionals are completely confident in the digital trustworthiness of their organisation, with a staggering one in three (33%) not measuring their digital trust practises at all. Only a quarter (27%) of organisations provide any kind of digital trust training to staff, and 41% do not have a staff role dedicated to digital trust and are unlikely to in the next five years.

Chris Dimitriadis, Chief Global Strategy Officer at ISACA, said: "Businesses recognise the importance of digital trust, but most are struggling to achieve it. Employees aren't getting the right training to build their skills in this area, and we need to change the record through a combined training and credentialing approach that crosses digital trust domains like cybersecurity, audit, risk, privacy and governance of technology among others. That way, businesses can understand the critical factors that drive organisational success and learn about the strategies and techniques needed to establish and maintain digital trust."

Barriers to digital trust

There are several barriers to achieving digital trust. According to the research, 41% of respondents cite both a lack of leadership buy-in and a lack of alignment between digital trust and enterprise goals as blockers to progress. A similar number (38%) signal that a lack of budget was a barrier, indicating that businesses are struggling to find the resource and reason to improve the trustworthiness of their organisation.

Similar sentiments were found with regards to the provision of digital trust training. 49% of respondents identify a lack of staff skills and training as an obstacle to achieving high levels of digital trust. The findings indicate the need for businesses to prioritise investment in digital trust training and skills development from the C-suite right down to entry level employees.

Dimitriadis continues: "To truly achieve digital trust, high levels of collaboration and a holistic approach are essential. From IT and engineering to HR and sales, all departments must now align on how digital trust can be achieved through a unified strategy and then take the steps to do so.

"The organisations that do keep digital trust front of mind will not only protect themselves against cyberattacks, but also protect their businesses' bottom line by building long term customer loyalty in turn increasing customer retention. Those that do not will see these things negatively impacted and their business success undermined."

Rolf von Roessing, ISACA Evangelist, said: "Cyberattacks are on the rise and customers increasingly recognise their sophisticated nature. They'll therefore expect businesses to take the necessary steps to protect and secure their personal data. Those who adopt a company-wide strategy to build digital trust will establish themselves as a credible authority among customer bases and sustainably reap the long-term rewards."

Notes to editors

Methodology

All figures are based on fieldwork conducted by ISACA. Fieldwork was undertaken in 8,100 among global business and IT professionals, including 1354 within Europe.

About ISACA

For more than 50 years, ISACA (www.isaca.org) has equipped individuals and enterprises with the knowledge, credentials, education, training, and community to progress their careers, transform their organisations, and build a more trusted and ethical digital world. ISACA's member base in Europe exceeds 30,000, and the organization has further strengthened its presence in the region by establishing a new regional office in Dublin, Ireland, in 2022. Through its foundation One In Tech, ISACA supports IT education and career pathways for under resourced and underrepresented populations.

Learn More

For resources on digital trust, visit www.isaca.org/digital-trust. The State of Digital Trust report is available as a free download at www.isaca.org/state-of-digital-trust.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005811/en/

Contacts:

firstlight group

ISACAteam@firstlightgroup.io 07526565507
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Article 53 of the SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules

Credit Suisse AG to operate alongside UBS AG and its business divisions, functions and regions under UBS Group AG

CS CEO Ulrich Korner to join UBS Group Executive Board at close

Todd Tuckner to succeed Sarah Youngwood as Chief Financial Officer at close

Beatriz Martin Jimenez named Head Non-Core and Legacy and President EMEA Region

Michelle Bereaux named Group Integration Officer

Stefan Seiler named Group Head Human Resources and Corporate Services

All five becoming members of the UBS Group Executive Board

Regulatory News:

Following the recent announcement of the planned acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS (NYSE:UBS) (SWX:UBSN) outlines its new operating model and leadership team, an important milestone in the combination of the two firms.

UBS anticipates that the legal close will take place in the next few weeks. At this time, Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) will be merged into UBS Group AG (UBS) and the combined entity will operate as a consolidated banking group. UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG will continue to operate independently for the foreseeable future and UBS will carry out the integration in a phased approach.

UBS Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti comments: "This is a pivotal moment for UBS, Credit Suisse and the entire banking industry. Together we will solidify and represent the Swiss model for finance around the world, one that is capital-light, less reliant on taking risk and anchored by stability and high-touch service. This transaction will allow us to offer attractive returns to our shareholders and give us capacity to further invest and grow. With the new operating model and leadership team, UBS is well-equipped to build on its existing strength and the successes of the past decade. The integration of the businesses and legal entities will take time. But adding Credit Suisse to UBS's highly capital-accretive business model, diversified revenue streams, disciplined risk management and balance sheet for all seasons will benefit our clients, employees, investors, the economies we serve and the wider financial system."

At the time of legal close, the following governance will apply:

UBS Group AG will initially manage the two separate parent companies UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG. Each institution will continue to have its own subsidiaries and branches, serve its clients, and deal with counterparties.

The UBS Group Board of Directors and the UBS Group Executive Board will hold overall responsibility for the consolidated group.

Pending further integration, Credit Suisse AG will continue to rely on its established governance and risk control frameworks, though some new policies will be put in place to ensure that UBS Group has effective oversight.

Operating model and Group Executive Board

The combined firm will operate with five business divisions, seven functions and four regions, and in addition Credit Suisse AG. Each will be represented by a Group Executive Board member, all of whom will report to Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti.

Ulrich Korner, as Credit Suisse AG CEO, will become a member of the UBS Group Executive Board upon transaction close. With his knowledge of both organizations, he will be responsible for ensuring Credit Suisse's operational continuity and client focus, while supporting the integration process.

Divisions

Iqbal Khan will remain President Global Wealth Management

will remain President Global Wealth Management Rob Karofsky will remain President Investment Bank

will remain President Investment Bank Sabine Keller-Busse will remain President Personal Corporate Banking and President Switzerland

will remain President Personal Corporate Banking and President Switzerland Suni Harford will remain President Asset Management and Lead for Sustainability Impact

will remain President Asset Management and Lead for Sustainability Impact Beatriz Martin Jimenez will become Head Non-Core and Legacy and President EMEA.She will remain UBS Chief Executive for the UK and will continue in her role as Group Treasurer until a successor is named. With her background in our Investment Bank and as Group Treasurer, as well as her restructuring experience and knowledge of the UK market, she is ideally positioned to lead this work.

Functions

Todd Tuckner is appointed Group Chief Financial Officer. He will become a member of the Group Executive Board with immediate effect and take on the role of CFO at close of the acquisition. Having joined UBS in 2004, Todd Tuckner is currently CFO and Head Business Performance and Risk Management for Global Wealth Management and has held various leadership roles across Finance in the US and Switzerland. He will succeed Sarah Youngwood , who has decided to leave the firm after the transaction closes. Since joining UBS in 2022, Sarah has helped put UBS in the financial position necessary to make this acquisition. We thank Sarah for her contribution and wish her well for the future.

is appointed Group Chief Financial Officer. He will become a member of the Group Executive Board with immediate effect and take on the role of CFO at close of the acquisition. Having joined UBS in 2004, Todd Tuckner is currently CFO and Head Business Performance and Risk Management for Global Wealth Management and has held various leadership roles across Finance in the US and Switzerland. He will succeed , who has decided to leave the firm after the transaction closes. Since joining UBS in 2022, Sarah has helped put UBS in the financial position necessary to make this acquisition. We thank Sarah for her contribution and wish her well for the future. Michelle Bereaux will be Group Integration Officer. She has spent nearly 23 years at UBS and has held various leadership roles across the firm. Michelle Bereaux served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Human Resources for the Investment Bank, led multiple firm-wide transformation projects and, most recently, was Chief Operating Officer and UK Country Head of UBS's Asset Management business.

will be Group Integration Officer. She has spent nearly 23 years at UBS and has held various leadership roles across the firm. Michelle Bereaux served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Human Resources for the Investment Bank, led multiple firm-wide transformation projects and, most recently, was Chief Operating Officer and UK Country Head of UBS's Asset Management business. Mike Dargan will be Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer

will be Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer Stefan Seiler will be Group Head Human Resources and Corporate Services. In this role, he will bring Human Resources and Corporate Services closer to ensure an effective and efficient alignment of employees, real estate and vendor management strategies. Having joined UBS in 2011, Stefan Seiler became Group Head of Human Resources in 2018. Previously, he was Head of Human Resources for Region Switzerland and Group Functions, and Head Talent and Recruiting.

will be Group Head Human Resources and Corporate Services. In this role, he will bring Human Resources and Corporate Services closer to ensure an effective and efficient alignment of employees, real estate and vendor management strategies. Having joined UBS in 2011, Stefan Seiler became Group Head of Human Resources in 2018. Previously, he was Head of Human Resources for Region Switzerland and Group Functions, and Head Talent and Recruiting. Christian Bluhm will remain Group Chief Risk Officer

will remain Group Chief Risk Officer Barbara Levi will remain Group General Counsel

will remain Group General Counsel Markus Ronner will remain Group Chief Compliance and Governance Officer

Upon transaction close, all Credit Suisse Executive Board members and permanent guests who are also division and function heads will report to both their respective UBS Executive Board member and Ulrich Korner. This will ensure that Credit Suisse remains accountable for its day-to-day operations, while facilitating the integration of the respective areas into UBS over time. As previously announced, UBS will evaluate all options for Credit Suisse's Swiss business and will communicate further on this matter in the coming months.

Regions

Naureen Hassan will remain President Americas

will remain President Americas Sabine Keller-Busse will remain President Switzerland

will remain President Switzerland Edmund Koh will remain President Asia-Pacific

will remain President Asia-Pacific Beatriz Martin Jimenez will become President EMEA

UBS is confident that it has the right operating model and leadership team for a successful integration. It is committed to providing regular updates on the integration process over time.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This media release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including but not limited to management's outlook for UBS's financial performance, statements relating to the anticipated effect of transactions and strategic initiatives on UBS's business and future development and goals or intentions to achieve climate, sustainability and other social objectives. While these forward-looking statements represent UBS's judgments, expectations and objectives concerning the matters described, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from UBS's expectations. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect UBS's future results please refer to the "Risk Factors" and other sections of UBS's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, quarterly reports and other information furnished to or filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K, and the cautionary statement on the last page of this presentation. UBS is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005677/en/

Contacts:

UBS Group AG



Investor Relations:

Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00



Media Relations:

Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00

UK: +44-207-567 47 14

Americas: +1-212-882 58 58

APAC: +852-297-1 82 00



www.ubs.com/media
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Tuesday. The euro fell to nearly a 5-month low of 0.8712 against the pound, from a recent high of 0.8722. Against the Swiss franc, the U.S. dollar and the yen, the euro dropped to 4-day lows of 0.9777, 1.0985 and 148.28 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.9787, 1.1003 and 148.67, respectively. Against the Australia and the New Zealand dollars, the euro slipped to near 5-week lows of 1.6199 and 1.7328 from recent highs of 1.6229 and 1.7364, respectively. The euro slid to nearly a 3-week low of 1.4689 against the Canadian dollar, from a recent high of 1.4716. If the euro extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.85 against the pound, 0.96 against the franc, 1.08 against the greenback, 145.00 against the yen, 1.58 against the aussie, 1.69 against the kiwi and 1.43 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SGQ)(HK:1878) ("SouthGobi" or the "Company") today announces that Mr. Gang Li ("Mr. Li") has tendered his resignation as a non-executive director of the Company with effect from May 8, 2023 due to other personal commitments. Mr. Li confirmed that he has no disagreement with the board of the Company (the "Board") or the senior management of the Company, and there is no matter relating to his resignation as a non-executive director that needs to be brought to the attention of the Company's shareholders.

The Board would like to express its most sincere gratitude to Mr. Li for his invaluable contributions during his tenure as the non-executive director.

About SouthGobi

SouthGobi, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Office: +852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong)

+1 604 762 6783 (Canada)

Email: info@southgobi.com

Website: www.southgobi.com

SOURCE: SouthGobi Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753650/SouthGobi-Announces-Resignation-of-Non-Executive-Director
The platform recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt

DUBAI, UAE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recently signed a new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority as part of its efforts to boost tourism in the region.





This partnership is aimed at promoting Egypt's rich history, culture, and tourism opportunities. Through this campaign under the theme "In Egypt, your expectations are history", Wego will work closely with Egyptian Tourism Authority to promote this campaign on all its marketing channels and bring travelers the best of Egypt's summer and Eid Al Adha celebrations, including festivals, events, and attractions.

Mamoun Hmedan, CCO and MD, MENA and India, Wego, said: "We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority. Egypt is a perfect destination for travelers looking for a mix of history, culture, and adventure. Summer and Eid Al Adha are the ideal times to visit Egypt. We have recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt between 1 January to 27 April 2023 and we expect to see a surge around the Eid Al Adha period."

Wego will be presenting its users with a comprehensive guide highlighting the best places to visit, things to do, and experiences to enjoy. To reward travelers, a social media competition will run online to give people the chance to visit this must-see destination.

Egypt has a variety of activities and experiences to offer visitors during summer and Eid Al Adha. Travelers can explore ancient monuments as Egypt is home to some of the world's most iconic ancient monuments, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Luxor and Aswan.

Amr ElKady, CEO of Egyptian Tourism Authority, commented: "We are excited to partner with Wego for another year. With Egypt's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscape, and welcoming people, and Wego's large user base in MENA, we are confident that we can attract more visitors to Egypt and provide them with an unforgettable experience."

Suzan Mostafa, General director of Tourism Promotion at Egyptian Tourism Authority, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Wego and promote our country through this joint campaign. We will benefit from Wego's large user base in the MENA region, which will enable us to drive more traffic to Egypt and attract holidaymakers in the summer season."

During this period, Egypt comes alive with music, dance, and traditional festivities. Moreover, tourists can explore Egypt's stunning beaches, desert landscapes, all of which make Egypt a unique and unforgettable destination.

About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Jakarta and Cairo.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2070559/Wego_Egypt.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wego-and-egyptian-tourism-authority-sign-a-new-deal-301817059.html
MBABANE  Government is expected to pay SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini about E154 000 after his salary was withheld in October 2022.

The Moyeni High School Mathamatics and Science teacher, who earns about E22 000 per month, last received his salary in September 2022. The amount of E154 000 was arrived at based on calculations made by this publication after the Industrial Court set aside governments decision to withhold Mbongwas salary from October 2022 and other subsequent months.

The court issued no order as to costs. The order was issued by Judge Lungile Msimango yesterday. The judge said Mbongwa was not given an opportunity to be heard before the decision to withhold his salary was taken. It has been seven months since he last received his salary. Government accused Mbongwa of absenting himself from work for 109 days without permission from his immediate supervisor. The Swaziland National Union of Teachers (SNAT) president said he was expected to attend activities on behalf of the association and other activities of the general membership, which included attending federation meetings, among others.

Salary

After his salary was withheld, Mbongwa took the matter to the Industrial Court. He wanted government to pay him for the months of October and November 2022, and any further months for which he had not been paid. He also sought an order declaring that the Ministry of Education and Training, accountant general, Teaching Service Commissions (TSC) conduct of withholding and not paying his salary was illegal and violated the employment contract between the parties. Mbongwa further prayed that his intended disciplinary process be interdicted and stayed pending the outcome of these proceedings before court. During the hearing of the matter, Mbongwa argued that he always received his monthly salary through First National Bank (FNB) on the 21st of every month. However, he said on October 21, 2022, without lawful justification or reason, government, who had paid the salary as expected, reversed the payment.

He submitted that subsequent to the reversal of the salary, he went to the bank to make enquiries and he was informed that it had been paid, but was thereafter reversed by the Ministry of Education and Training. Mbongwa told the court that he then visited the Ministry of Education and Training, where he was referred to his immediate supervisor, the Head teacher of Moyeni Secondary School, who in turn, referred him back to the offices of the Manzini regional education officer (REO). The SNAT president contended that he was made to run from pillar to post and he resorted to engaging his attorneys, who addressed a letter dated October 27, 2022, to the ministry. He was enquiring about the reason for his salary not being paid and demanded that it be restored immediately.

According to Mbongwa, on November 2, 2022, he eventually received a written response from the ministry dated October 31, 2022, explaining why his salary had been frozen and/or reversed. In the letter, the ministry stated that his salary was stopped in accordance with Regulation 14 (1) of the Teaching Service Regulations 1983, following his prolonged absence from work by a total number of 109 days, without his immediate supervisors permission nor a certificate signed by a medical practitioner certifying that he was unfit for work on those occasions.

Activities

Mbongwa argued that as a member of the executive of SNAT, he was expected to attend to activities on behalf of the union and others. He said on all such occasions, he reported to his workstation, attended his work and where he had to be released for the day, he was released by the head teacher after reporting to the head of department, who was satisfied that the appropriate arrangements had been made for lessons on the said dates. He told the court that the invoking of Regulation 14 was not automatic to such an extent that government could apply it unilaterally. He argued further that due process had to be carried out for same to be applicable, as provided for in terms of the rules of natural justice and the Constitution, which was the right to a fair hearing. Mbongwa was represented by Lucky Howe of Howe and Masuku Attorneys.

Government argued to the contrary that the head teacher of Moyeni High School, as Mbongwas immediate supervisor, did not release him for trade union business. Principal Crown Counsel Ndabenhle Dlamini said both the head teacher and head of department denied the alleged working arrangements. Furthermore, even if the applicant (Mbongwa) attended trade union business, such attendance still required permission in terms of the recognition agreement between the Government of Swaziland (Eswatini) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, which was entered into by the parties in March 1992, said Ndabenhle. He told the court that TSC Regulation 14 expressly provided for forfeiture of any wages paid for a period of absence spanning 48 hours. Such forfeiture being automatic, the applicant can only have the salary restored upon proof of the head teachers permission or submission of a medical certificate of ill-health, of which applicant has furnished neither.

The alleged violation of applicants right to a fair hearing is frivolous and vexatious, as the fact in issue in this matter is the applicants absence from duty without leave, and he does not deny the absence, thus TSC Regulation14 automatically kicks in. Furthermore, the withholding of applicants salary is not actuated by malice but is a natural consequence of applicants refusal to render services to his employer in terms of his employment contract. The decision not to pay the salary for no work done is lawful, Ndlabenhle argued. Judge Msimango said the essence of Mbongwas bone of contention was that he had been denied his procedural right by not being given an opportunity to make representations prior to the withholding of his salary. As a consequence, the principle of audi alteram partem (right to be heard) comes into play. This principle is grounded on the notion of natural justice or procedural fairness, namely, that a person may not be condemned before he/she is given the opportunity to be heard on the issue under consideration, said Judge Msimango. The judge said, from the proceedings before court, it was clear that Mbongwa was not invited to make representations before his salary was withheld at the instance of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Exclusion

The respondents (government) unilaterally invoked Regulation 14 of the TSC Regulations at the exclusion of the applicants side of the story. The cardinal rule is that a decision must be informed by all the parties who shall be directly and substantially affected by it. So paramount is the audi alteram partem as a principle of natural justice that a litigant, who, with good course shown lament such right must be given redress in a court of law, therefore, adherence to the principle is vital, said the judge. Judge Msimango stated in the judgment that, following that Mbongwa was not invited to a hearing in so far as the stoppage of his salary was concerned, the court was of the view that he was denied his right to be heard.
Artprice by Artmarket's deployment of algorithmic AI via its proprietary Intuitive Artmarket is a tool that can generate highly relevant and personalized recommendations, allowing users to go infinitely further in their discovery of art and the art market.

Serveur Group, the founding shareholder of Artprice by Artmarket, is still by far the largest stakeholder with 45.78% of the voting rights (Ehrmann family not included). Serveur Group is one of Europe's leading pioneers of the Internet, computer graphics, pattern recognition, and professional databases since 1987 (see TIME Magazine 2001) and therefore has a deep-rooted and highly-advanced digital and scientific culture.

[ https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/05/AbodeofChaos-thierry-Ehrmann-IMG-3606.jpg ]

copyright thierry Ehrmann - courtesy of La Demeure du Chaos / Abodeofchaos - Organ Museum of Contemporary Art

Over the past few decades, Artprice by Artmarket.com and Serveur Group have developed thousands of increasingly powerful and relevant proprietary algorithms that allow the implementation of their own AI, in strict compliance with existing regulations, notably those relative to personal data and intellectual property.

This evolution was made possible by Serveur Group's and then Artprice's subsequent acquisition of innovative companies Like Xylogic, a Swiss company made up exclusively of prestigious scientists (from CERN, WHO, etc.) since 1999. In retrospect, this move (and others) was considerably ahead of its time, and it laid the foundations for our move toward the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the transparency and dynamism of the art market.

It is important to remember that Artprice by Artmarket has twice consecutively (a rare occurrence for companies listed on a regulated market) been awarded France's state-backed "Innovative Company" label which is subject to strict eligibility and is awarded by the Banque Publique d'Investissement (bpifrance).

As regards the current legislative context, we note that quite apart from the battery of legislation regarding General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the proposed European law on artificial intelligence (EU AI Act) and all existing intellectual property laws mean that the use of artificial intelligence in Europe (and probably the rest of the world shortly thereafter) will be subject to a great many constraints.

The principle problem may be expressed as follows: how to deliver a relevant AI result to users without walking all over intellectual property rights? Remember that the outcome of any search using Artificial Intelligence is only, in fine, a result contrived by the algorithmic processing of billions of already existing data.

Then there is the problem of ascertaining who owns the data in order to pay any copyright and related rights to be able to use it legally for commercial purposes configuring a paid service that respects the intellectual property laws of each country that is the challenge (no less!).

According to thierry Ehrmann, founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket.com, Artprice by Artmarket will be able, through its own AI Intuitive Artmarket, to take each of its 7.2 million customers and members "from discovery to revelation".

"...Our algorithms can parse billions of proprietary logs, texts, and hundreds of millions of artworks from Artprice's databases. They can identify semantics that qualify an artist's primary artistic ambitions, his/her universe, inspirations, mediums used, major themes developed, shapes and volumes worked, etc... and then search for corresponding syntonies in our logs of 810,000 artists with their biographies and certified data. In other words, instead of relying on academic visual criteria, the system will make connections based on the neural networks of our artificial intelligence, Intuitive Artmarket."

Neural networks, also called 'artificial neural networks' (ANNs) or just 'neural nets' are a subset of machine learning and are at the heart of deep-learning algorithms. Their name and structure are inspired by the human brain, mimicking the way biological neurons and their synapses send signals to each other along the axons.

Artprice by Artmarket.com's spiking neural networks rely on initial data training that teaches them to learn and improve their accuracy over time. Once these learning algorithms are tuned with high precision, they represent powerful tools in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, and it is these AI algorithms that will allow Intuitive Artmarket to classify and collate multimedia data at a very high speed.

For example, high-definition images or even old fine art engravings can be recognized in seconds rather than tens of minutes in a manual identification process conducted by well-known fine art experts.

If we look a the bigger picture, it has been very interesting to observe the trials and tribulations of one of the best-known neural networks on the planet, Google's search algorithm (which Artprice has been studying and analyzing daily since 1999). Since the beginning of 2023, Artprice Inc., Artmarket's American subsidiary, has been closely watching the development of Bard, Google's prototype chatbot based on its LaMDA language model. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is acutely aware of the opportunities and risks in this project and is reported to have issued a company-wide "code red" for its development. Whether or not this is true, Google, with a global market share of 93%, is the best laboratory for studying AI because it has a colossal existing economic dimension, unlike other AIs, where the risks (and economic profits) are still 'potential'.

Artprice by Artmarket's R&D department is creating spiking neural networks (SNNs) which 'cogitate' differently from human beings, without biases from emotions or 'disorders'. Our ambition is of course to put artificial intelligence at the service of art and art market professionals, institutions, collectors, and enthusiasts.

So, quite apart from its technical and scientific competence, Artprice by Artmarket's overwhelming strength is its capacity to use its own high-value-added data, produced and delivered for 25 years now as World Leader in Art Market Information. Not only does our position guarantee an unmatched level of consistency and relevance with respect to the responses it gives to searches, but it also overrides many of the aforementioned copyright issues, since our data is our data.

Artprice by Artmarket.com is the most important market-info player in the global art market. Its Artprice department has the most comprehensive databases on art prices and art market indices, with more than 30 million indices and sales results concerning works by more than 810,000 artists.

Artprice Images provides unlimited access to the largest art market archive in the world, with its documentary collection of manuscripts and auction catalogs, forming a physical and digital library made up of 180 million images (or engravings) of artworks from 1700 to the present day, all checked and commented by art historians. In this very specific economic sector, no company in the world has such a high volume of ultra-qualified and proprietary data, with the original documentation being a very important asset and representing an almost impregnable barrier to entry.

In addition, Artmarket, with its Artprice department, constantly enriches its databases with data from 6,500 auction houses and it continuously publishes art market trends for the world's main press agencies and 7,200 press titles around the world. This inexhaustible source of continually up to date data will ensure that Intuitive Artmarket will be way ahead of its competitors.

Very few companies in the world can claim to use AI on a proprietary terrain. And yet it is the only way of complying with the various intellectual property laws around the world, which are increasingly vast and complex, with grueling legal procedures taking over several years.

Artprice by Artmarket has registered as a professional beta-tester with Microsoft and its Bing search engine linked to GPT-4. Bing's AI can search on the Internet, whereas ChatGPT (excluding plugins) is currently limited to a database that stops in the year 2021.

The possibilities offered by the tool are therefore immense, hence its popularity: Microsoft Bing Chat now attracts more than 100 million active daily users and comes with a commitment to "responsible AI" that respects copyrights and other related rights.

The fact that Microsoft has just launched a paid subscription of $240/year to use its AI tool confirms the viability of this economic model for Artprice and its own AI, Intuitive Artmarket.

In thousands of beta-test searches with terms related to artists and the art market, Artprice by Artmarket has observed that the responses provided by Bing AI GPT-4 regularly quoted Artprice.com and Artmarket.com URLs as references for their sources. Microsoft's Bing works in partnership with OpenAI to provide an experience that encourages responsible use.

As we have seen, the development and implementation of 'responsible AI' is currently one of the major concerns of the G7 nations (announcement of April 30, 2023), as is the adoption of 'global regulations' on AI in the shortest possible timeframe.

Regarding copyright legislation in the context of artificial intelligence, the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the bloc "should find a political agreement as early as this year" (Reuters News: April 30, 2023), which is very positive for Artmarket.com.

We have also seen the Italian government's reaction to ChatGPT: it is strictly prohibited in Italy. This illustrates the kind of obstacle that AI developers face, regardless of their financial power and their lobbying capacity.

The truth is, in the AI domain, the potential for IP conflict is exponential. Take for example Stability AI, the creator of an AI generating synthetic photos, currently being accused of having extracted millions of images from the databases of Getty Images.

Artmarket's AI (Intuitive Artmarket ) works exclusively within a perimeter of proprietary content and is therefore protected under intellectual property legislation. This proprietary content is an almost infinite data mine built over three decades and covering more than four centuries of art market activity. The net result is that the aforementioned obstacles and potential prohibitions do not concern us because we do not need to look elsewhere for data or answers to very specific searches by people working on or interested in art and/or the art market.

This fact is, therefore, a guarantee not just of the sustainability of Artprice by Artmarket's economic model, but also of our shareholders' peace of mind and of considerable growth in the future of Artprice by Artmarket.com's business, with a constant increase in turnover.

The use of artificial intelligence will increase Artmarket.com's revenue, while ultimately reducing its operating costs. Our Intuitive Artmarket will provide our art market clients and participants with very relevant and truly personalized recommendations, allowing them to deepen their own knowledge of the art market, and de facto, will generate more sophisticated subscriptions and therefore a greater volume of annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Intuitive Artmarket will provide precise answers to users' searches quickly and the time saved will reduce energy consumption, which is fully in line with Artmarket's eco-responsible philosophy. As a result of the reliable, scientific, and sustainable avant-garde energy solutions implemented by Artprice by Artmarket, our CSR report testifies to an extremely positive ecological impact.

At the forefront of digital regulations, Europe is currently drafting laws on AI with its "Artificial Intelligence Act" and Artprice by Artmarket is contributing to this process with its lawyers and advisers. The Act aims to establish a number of specific constraints taking into account personal data protection as well as copyright and exhaustive source citation.

According to the best Anglo-Saxon financial analysts - who are one step ahead of Europe in this area - the only economically viable model that does not expose the economic entity (however big or small) to incessant legal proceedings is an AI-based on an extremely well-defined economic segment where information plays a key role, and where the entity in question has full intellectual property of all the Big Data (including Data mining), and confirmed ownership of the copyrights and associated rights to that data on all its algorithms, databases, machine learning, and neural networks.

In short, the AIs that will triumph with a very substantial economic gain, without major industrial or legal risk, are the economic entities that own the full intellectual property rights to all of the different stages of a proprietary AI in a defined market segment where high value-added information, at a high cost, is vital. This is precisely the case with our AI project Intuitive Artmarket developed by Artprice by Artmarket.com

Many researchers are trying to establish the genesis of AI.

Of the myriad of possible answers to this question, Artprice was intrigued by an article that appeared on the website "The Conversation" (Academic rigor, journalistic flair). Entitled "Blaise Pascal and the beginnings of artificial intelligence", the article offers a judicious answer: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) can be credited with two essential innovations that make it possible to envisage artificial intelligence today: he developed the first mechanical calculator in history and he developed the first rudiments of the calculation of probabilities.

According to thierry Ehrmann (biography Who's Who In France:

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/04/2023_2_Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf ), Founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket, the Group's guideline for its AI is very simple: "There can be no artificial intelligence without human intelligence".

Image: [ https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/05/AbodeofChaos-thierry-Ehrmann-IMG-3606.jpg ]

Copyright 1987-2023 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com

Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: econometrics@artprice.com

Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987.

See certified biography in Who's who :

Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 803,000 artists.

Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform.

Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 7200 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 7.2 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.

Artprice by Artmarket's Global Art Market Report, "The Art Market in 2022", published in March 2023:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2022

Artprice releases its 2022 Ultra-Contemporary Art Market Report:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2022

The Artprice 2022 half-year report: the art market returns to strong growth in the West:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/global-art-market-in-h1-2022-by-artprice-com

Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/

Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 6.2 million followers)

twitter.com/artmarketdotcom

twitter.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o

www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (over 4 million followers)

https://vimeo.com/124643720

Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: ir@artmarket.com

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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-79874-artmarket-com-artprice-to-introduce-its-own-ai-for-the-art-market-intuitive-artmarket-registered.pdf
PRAG (dpa-AFX) - House prices data from the UK is the only major economic report due on Tuesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, UK Halifax house price data is due. House prices are forecast to rise 0.2 percent on month in April, after rising 0.8 percent in March. At 2.45 am ET, the Bank of France releases current account data for March. The current account deficit is seen widening to EUR 3.3 billion from EUR 3.0 billion in February. Also, France's foreign trade data is due from the customs office. Economists expect the deficit to narrow to EUR 9.3 billion in March from EUR 9.9 billion in February. At 3.00 am ET, the Czech Statistical Office releases industrial and construction output and foreign trade figures. Industrial output is expected to grow 1.9 percent annually after rising 2.0 percent in February. At 6.00 am ET, industrial production data is due from Ireland. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
(Oslo, 9 May 2023) Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has secured renewable power for its proposed Hemnes green energy project, entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Statkraft.



The conditional agreement will see Statkraft supply FFI with renewable energy from the Norwegian grid to support potential plans for a 300 megawatt green hydrogen and green ammonia facility. The project also allows for further capacity to support plans for future scale-up of the site.

FFI Norway Country Manager Thor Magnus Rovik said, "Green energy projects have the potential to create a new industry and jobs in the Hemnes region and FFI is looking forward to working with the local community and industry to make that happen."

"As Europe's largest renewable power generator, Statkraft is playing a key role in reducing European greenhouse emissions and this deal allows FFI to convert renewable power from the Norwegian grid, into fuels such as green ammonia and hydrogen that can help reduce greenhouse emissions in Norway and across Europe," he added.

Statkraft EVP Markets Hallvard Granheim said, "By adding this PPA to our portfolio we again contribute to green industry development and decarbonisation based on our renewable energy resources. Green hydrogen and green ammonia are two of the solutions needed to help decarbonise society - and reach the net zero target."

FFI is currently assessing opportunities right across Norway for the development of green hydrogen and green ammonia and initial scoping studies have identified the Hemnes region as an area with real industrial potential for future green energy and port facilities.

FFI has an active presence in the region as it conducts further assessments into the development of large-scale green hydrogen production and has already established a strong working relationship with local authorities.

FFI is also conducting several environmental, viability and social studies and is developing a project concept in line with Norwegian regulations, FFI's environmental and social policies and values, and international good practice.

The PPA is conditional upon a positive Final Investment Decision for the Hemnes Project.

Media contacts:

Fortescue Future Industries

E: media@fortescue.com

M: +61 460 402 231

Statkraft AS

E: lars.gunther@statkraft.com

M: +47 91241636

About Fortescue Future Industries (FFI)

Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is a global green energy company committed to producing green hydrogen, containing zero carbon, from 100 per cent renewable sources.

Green hydrogen?is a zero-carbon fuel that, when used, produces primarily water. It is a practical and implementable solution that can help revolutionise the way we power our planet: helping to decarbonise heavy industry and create jobs globally.

?

FFI is leading the green industrial revolution, developing technology solutions for hard-to-decarbonise industries, while building a global portfolio of renewable green hydrogen and green ammonia projects.

??

FFI is also leading the global effort to help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and is developing and acquiring the technology and energy supply to help decarbonise the iron operations of one of the world's largest producers of iron ore by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2 terrestrial emissions) - our parent company Fortescue Metals Group (ASX FMG).? www.fortescue.com

About Statkraft

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 5,300 employees in 21 countries. www.statkraft.com




CAIRO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a world-leading vaping brand, stole the show at the recent Egypt Vape Expo held at the Cairo International Convention Center, showcased the technical prowess of its latest products. This event marked the first legal e-cigarette expo in the Egyptian market and attracted many players from B2B channels in North Africa and the Middle East. VAPORESSO's new LUXE XR MAX and XROS 3 NANO devices were the main showstoppers at the exhibition.

VAPORESSO's LUXE XR MAX is a small device that packs a big vape punch. The product comes equipped with a GTX COIL to deliver precise flavors using advanced technology that provide a futuristic sensory experience. On the other hand, the XROS 3 NANO is a compact and portable device with extended battery life and exceptional flavor performances. Both products drew an overwhelmingly positive response from those in attendance, with their innovative features particularly appreciated by the crowd.

VAPORESSO 's participation in the Egypt Vape Expo is part of the company's efforts to further strengthen brand awareness in the local and regional market. The event also served as a platform for the company to connect with players from the numerous B2B channels in North Africa and the Middle East, thereby accelerating the company's expansion into overseas markets.

In recognition of VAPORESSO's innovative technology and exceptional product design, the company received the top award at the event - the Best Technology Award. This award highlights the company's commitment to delivering high-quality and innovative vaping products to customers around the world.





VAPORESSO is proud to be a global leader in the vaping industry, with a wide range of products that cater to different consumer preferences. From the TARGET to the ZERO, the XROS series, and the LUXE X family, the company's products have been praised by customers in the Middle East and Africa for their exceptional performance, reliability, and design.

The Egypt Vape Expo serves as another grand success for VAPORESSO at overseas events. The company has been prolific at actively participating in the biggest vaping events around the world, showcasing its latest products and technologies to potential customers. With the success of this event, VAPORESSO is poised to continue expanding into the international market and providing exceptional vaping experiences to consumers worldwide.

For more information about VAPORESSO's products and technologies, please visit the company's website at https://www.vaporesso.com/.





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LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 11th year of the CX Retail Exchange, 11-12 July 2023, will invite senior customer experience leaders in retail to the Hilton, Syon Park, to explore the biggest challenges and solutions in the industry.

When the event launched a decade ago, there were no self-service checkouts, QR codes were non-existent, and same-day delivery was unheard of. Fast-forward to today and 10% of all e-commerce spending is done via social commerce, retailers are second-guessing their returns policies, and retailers such as Lush are leading the 'Big Tech Rebellion' to encourage customers to shop in-store rather than online.

Retail is the centre of innovation for new CX strategies, but simultaneously a difficult space to navigate amidst cuts in budgets and resources in the wake of dwindling profits and uncertain futures. Amidst this disruption, new opportunities are arising with the evolution of the high street, a rethinking of the shopping experience and new ways of remotely communicating with customers.

It is therefore an important time for senior CX leaders in retail to discuss these changes through engaging panel discussions led by experts in the field, intimate think tanks, interactive roundtables and one-to-one business meetings.

The Exchange is a different kind of CX event, offering the highest degree of relevancy for attendees; only senior CX leaders driving decisions within their organisations are invited. Example attendees from last year include the Head of Customer Service for Oliver Bonas, the Head of Customer Experience and Insights from Marks and Spencer and the Global Head of Social Media from Coca-Cola.

Our events are unique in that they provide an intimate setting to meet the key decision-makers of leading organisations. Whereas other conferences invite hundreds of people and rarely explore the intricacies of CX issues, our Exchanges are smaller, allowing exclusive opportunities to delve deeper and share ideas and challenges that affect those at the top.

Our sessions and presentations are topical and delivered by big-name experts. Some key presentations include "Meeting the Rising Norm Of Instant Deliveries In The Era Of Convenience" by Matthew Price, General Manager, Uber Eats, UK & Ireland, and "Minimising Friction Along The Customer Journey Through Effective Fraud Prevention Strategies" with Dhiren Karnani, Retail Director, KFC, and Aurimas Klimavicius, VP Community Support, Vinted. To access the full agenda, click here.

To secure your place at the CX Retail Exchange, request an invitation.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/europes-premier-invitation-only-event-for-senior-customer-experience-leaders-in-retail-301817089.html
Report shows Omada Identity Cloud as a Technology Leader in Product/Innovation matrix with AI recommendations and policy automation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Omada A/S ("Omada"), a global leader of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), announced today that the company has been named an overall leader in the KuppingerCole Leadership Compass Access Governance Report. The report, which evaluates 25 different IGA vendors and access governance products, recognized Omada's leadership in product and innovation.





Omada received high marks for its on-premises Omada Identity solution and Omada Identity Cloud solution - a full-featured, enterprise-grade, cloud-native IGA solution - with praise for its modern user interface that enables more self-service. As KuppingerCole analyst Nitish Deshpande notes, Omada Identity Cloud "enables SaaS customers to fully manage the back end of the solution including performing upgrades, creating, and editing environments, and more, without requiring assistance from Omada support."

In addition to the Omada Identity UI, Deshpande points out that the self-service "uses AI for recommending access-request based on peers via a thorough analysis," and "policies are in place for assignment using automation."

The report also calls out Omada for strengths including:

Self-service for access requests and delegation of access from tablets and mobile phones as well as desktops

Accelerator package that allows customers to be operational within 12 weeks

Broad set of configurable connectors for SaaS and on-premises, and support for a connector community for peers to share, generate and install connectivity packages

Improved authenticator options for user self-service and admin access with support for passwordless authentication

Advanced analytics reporting

Download a complimentary copy of the KuppingerCole Leadership Compass Access Governance Report to learn more.

Michael Garrett, CEO, Omada, said: "With today's complex IT landscape and increased cybersecurity risk, it's more important than ever that organizations have a strong identity governance strategy. We believe this recognition by KuppingerCole underscores our continuous efforts to help organizations reduce the complexity of governing their identities, meeting compliance and minimizing risk. This report highlights our investments in AI and automation to drive policy recommendations and auto-creation/updates, as well as Omada support for out-of-the-box reporting."

About Omada

Omada, a global market leader in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), offers a full-featured, enterprise-grade, cloud native IGA solution that enables organizations to achieve compliance, reduce risk, and maximize efficiency. Founded in 2000, Omada delivers innovative identity management to complex hybrid environments based on our proven best practice process framework and deployment approach.

For more information, go to omadaidentity.com

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RENNES, France, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Visual content leaks can cause serious harm to brands and agencies, resulting in damage to their reputation and financial loss. A recent study conducted by Imatag, a leading provider of digital watermarking solutions, highlights the risks and costs associated with visual content leaks.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9166751-new-study-imatag-visual-content-leaks/

The study surveyed 150 executives from various industries in the US and Europe.

Key findings

One of the main findings of the study is that the average cost of a visual asset leak is 8 million dollars. This shows that visuals revealing information about a new product or disclosing a new campaign have great value for brands.

However, the financial impact of visual content leaks is by no means the only consequence experienced by companies, who mention loss of competitive advantage, contractual issues, counterfeiting and damage to brand reputation as their main pain points. These incidents can also lead to a loss of trust among customers, stakeholders, and employees.

The top sources for digital asset leaks are agency subcontractors and retailer platforms. Other sources are lack of protection on mobile devices and office equipment, lost phones/laptops with non-protected images, and staff members sharing content with third parties outside the company (not realizing the material was confidential).

The study covers a range of topics, including the impact of visual content leaks on various industries, common types of leaks, and the costs associated with these incidents. It also shares examples of real-life content leaks and provides best practices for preventing them.

Why is this important?

Today, keeping sensitive business content safe from unauthorized dissemination has become a top priority for companies worldwide.

According to Mathieu Desoubeaux, CEO of Imatag, "we hear a lot about leaks following cyber attacks, and sensitive data usually refers to data that impacts business continuity. However, other "strategic" leaks are often forgotten. Visuals are not included in standard protection strategies, yet they play a pivotal role in the success of many companies."

Companies tend to protect their data with IT and their images with legal measures. When leaks occur, one of the challenges is to find out their source. Therefore, companies need forensics tools to carry out their investigation and get evidence for legal purposes.

The full report is available for download , along with additional resources and information on how businesses can protect themselves from visual content leaks.

Download the full report : https://hubs.la/Q01MWhBt0

ABOUT IMATAG

Created in 2015 to leverage its patented invisible watermark, IMATAG specializes in the protection and identification of images. In just a few years, Imatag has convinced large companies in the press market, as well as brands, of the value of controlling the use of their images. Whether to protect their copyrights, fight against leaks or better understand their market, dozens of references use Imatag's invisible tracker to identify their content, worldwide. More on www.imatag.com .

CONTACT INFORMATION

contact@imatag.com

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LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing the remarkable Whitney Lynn: a true force to be reckoned with. The retired 1st Lieutenant of the US Army Medical Service Corps has been appointed as Chairman for XRP Healthcare & The Burnratty Investment Group and will be the focal lead for Mergers & Acquisitions on the African continent. With over 45 years of experience in M&A, business development, start-ups, investment, and leadership across multiple industries, Whitney has truly proven to be a seasoned and accomplished professional.





As Vice President of Software Mergers and Acquisitions at Corum Group Ltd, Whitney was part of a team that created over 10 billion USD in wealth and conducted over 400 M&A transactions in more than 13 countries during the past 35 years.

One of Whitney's most significant achievements was executing a strategic plan to gain profitability as the Interim President and CEO of the 300 million USD Borland International. He downsized headcount and implemented aggressive cost-saving initiatives while also revamping the marketing strategy. He completed the successful acquisition of Open Environment Corporation, where he was the Fractional Chief Operating Officer, and drove the successful integration of OEC employees and subsidiaries with new leadership and culture worldwide.

Whitney also served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Colorbus, Inc., where he led the worldwide consolidation, integration, and restructuring of the combined companies, with impressive results. He significantly improved quality, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction by reducing expenses and headcount to maximize efficiency and revenue contribution per employee.

Whitney's entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds. With a keen eye for business opportunities, he purchased not just one, but two high-end bike shops in Kona, Hawaii and San Diego, CA. By expertly managing operations, budgeting, and inventory, Whitney successfully increased sales and margins for both shops. With such a diverse and extensive portfolio, Whitney has provided strategic transactional assistance and guidance to help companies grow and achieve their goals.

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Whitney holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and General Business and has achieved measurable results across global operations in multiple industries. A seven-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, completing a grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run, Whitney's determination and focus have served him well in his personal and professional life.

But Whitney's success isn't just limited to his own ventures. He's also a valuable mentor and advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs through his involvement in prestigious groups like Eliances' Newchip Accelerator. With his wealth of experience and expertise, Whitney guides start-ups towards acquiring investors and creating effective product launch strategies.

Whitney's business acumen and leadership have made him an absolute powerhouse. He's a true trailblazer who never settles for mediocrity making him the perfect fit for the role of Chairman of The Burnratty Investment Group and XRP Healthcare.

The newly appointed Chairman commented "I am humbled and honored to be part of such a dynamic team who are focused and extremely passionate to improve private healthcare on the African continent through M&A. One of the first things I look for in a company is an impressive and experienced team - XRP Healthcare and The Burnratty Investment Group certainly tick this box. I am committed to helping achieve the milestones set using my wealth of knowledge in this very specialized sector."

XRP Healthcare founder Kain Roomes stated: "It is an absolute pleasure to have Whitney Lynn join us on this journey - his expertise in this field positions us perfectly to grow exponentially and consolidate the highly fragmented multi-billion-dollar African Healthcare sector. With Whitney coming on board, it brings the team's combined experience to 200+ years. We are looking forward to a thrilling journey ahead, and there is nobody more poised and ready to do so than XRP Healthcare Africa and The Burnratty Investment Group."

The PFED at The Burnratty Investment Group, Mukisa Joshua William, regarding Whitney's acceptance to join the board has this to say: "Whitney Lynn's appointment as Chairman of the Board at The Burnratty Investment Group is a felicitous juncture for the organization, as his formidable expertise as 1st lieutenant of the law and M&A executive, combined with his excellent communication skills, acute critical thinking abilities, and aptitude for making deals, will undoubtedly enhance the company's strategic decision-making processes and drive its growth and success. His unflinching determination and penchant for surmounting challenges will surely imbue the board with a renewed vigor and galvanize it towards achieving its objective with alacrity."

Whitney Lynn is a certified veteran in the world of M&A committed to delivering impressive results. With Whitney at the helm the partnership between The Burnratty Investment Group and XRP Healthcare Africa, which is a subsidiary of XRP Healthcare, will continue to expand and achieve measurable results in pursuit of its ambitions for the African continent.

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Latest addition demonstrates UST's commitment to continued growth and innovation in this rapidly expanding field

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. and LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has announced that Liam Moran, a specialist in financial services, has joined the company as a member of its Advisory Board. With a strong background in banking and technology, he will bring the experience of working across a range of complex business, compliance, and regulatory environments on a global scale to UST.





Liam is the founder of fintech start-up Akuroo as well as an advisor to the Open Bank Project. He has worked with several global Tier-1 banks in Europe and North America. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in financial services, speaking at conferences and authoring works expounding on the importance of the smart use of technology in accelerating disruption in financial services.

Adding Liam to UST's global financial practice will further empower the company to build relationships in key markets and develop its operations in this dynamic, challenging, and exciting sector.

"UST has dramatically expanded its footprint in the financial services sector in recent years, and I'm proud to be joining a team of world-class experts working to maintain this upward trajectory. As the worlds of finance and technology become ever more intertwined, I'm looking forward to working with UST to position the company for sustained success in the years to come. We aim to both expand the client base and strengthen existing relationships," said Liam Moran, Advisory Board Member, UST.

"We are incredibly excited to be able to welcome Liam Moran as an Advisory Board Member. In addition to his expertise and decades of experience in this field, he shares UST's commitment to delivering transformation through innovation. Liam will equip us to build new relationships and strengthen existing ties by leveraging our platforms in the AI/ML, Data, Intelligent Automation and Operations Resilience as we look to capitalize on our recent growth and success," said Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer, UST.

In addition to his work, Liam is an avid cyclist and has completed four full Ironman triathlons. He resides in the west of Ireland.

About UST

For more than 23 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations-delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact-touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com

Media Contacts, UST:

Tinu Cherian Abraham

+1 (949) 415-9857

Merrick Laravea

+1 (949) 416-6212

Neha Misri

+91-9284726602

media.relations@ust.com

Media Contacts, U.S.:

S&C PR

+1-646.941.9139

media@scprgroup.com

Makovsky

ust@makovsky.com

Media Contacts, Australia:

Team Lewis

ust@teamlewis.com

Media Contacts, U.K.:

FTI Consulting

UST@fticonsulting.com

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The new global platform, NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour focuses on new design & digital innovation, reflecting the boldness and vibrancy of a generation of young creatives.

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mirinda has today revealed its powerful new global brand platform, 'There's no flavour like your flavour', alongside a playful new visual identity system, which honours creativity and uniqueness in all generations. Placing boldness at the forefront of Mirinda's 'M'pactful new look, the fruit flavoured carbonated soft drink brand aims to provide the much-needed spark of inspiration that Gen Z is craving.





Mirinda's new direction and global brand tagline cements the brand as a representation of the next generation, celebrating and embracing these vibrant creators, who have the courage to express their creativity and bring their authenticity both in real life and online.

Coinciding with the NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour launch, Mirinda has been given a striking new visual identity called "Making an M-pact", which was developed by PepsiCo Design and Innovation to ignite creativity. The Mirinda logo has been refreshed with a brighter green, along with sharper corners and cleaner lines to amplify its distinction. The iconic Mirinda 'M' serves as a canvas of creativity from which the brand is brought to life. The new visual identity features playful colour palettes which provide a burst of refreshment, while twirling spheres, fizzing bubbles and zesty fruit illustrations convey a sense of playfulness and energy throughout.

Each of the brand's 50+ irresistible fruit flavours, including fan favourites Green Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry, and Watermelon, will be given a corresponding colour palette, each with their own vivid, contrasting colourways. Mirinda's innovative flavour offerings are tailored to the unique palate of communities around the world, including Green Cream Soda and Orange Tamarind in Vietnam, and Acai Berry in Poland. The new visual identity will be visible on all Mirinda cans, merchandise, advertisements, retail displays, digital media and anywhere else you find Mirinda across its 200 markets.

Eric Melis, Vice President Global Brand Marketing at PepsiCo, commented, "We are pleased to unveil Mirinda's new global brand platform that inspires vibrant creativity, encouraging Gen Z to harness their uniqueness as a superpower. Through NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour we have developed a refreshing new visual identity and platform, which Mirinda fans can identify with - one that empowers this generation to resist conformity and instead, embrace self-expression. This marks the first step for the brand as we continue to evolve and grow in line with the youth of today. We look forward to rolling out the exciting plans we have in the pipeline."

Mauro Porcini, SVP & Chief Design Officer of PepsiCo, said, "Mirinda's 50+ flavours are a treat for the senses, and we wanted the brand's visual identity to look and feel the same. PepsiCo Design and Innovation brought Mirinda to life with vibrant, contrasting colours and bespoke illustrations that create a sense of dynamic energy and playfulness. We know Mirinda fans engage with the brand digitally as much as they do physically, so we created a visual identity that retains its excitement and distinction across all platforms."

Mirinda's new visual identity will be rolled out across the leading 20 international markets from May 2023, with many featuring their native languages on the cans. Kicking off with Vietnam and Thailand, the new visual identity will then appear in Poland, Romania, Czechia, Ukraine, Hungary, Croatia,Gaza/Palestine, Mexico, Argentina, Egypt, Iraq, Uganda, Ethiopia, China, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates and much more to come.

Alongside the new brand platform and visual identity system, Mirinda is committed to inspiring better choices for its consumers by offering reduced sugar alternatives. As part of this commitment, and to support PepsiCo's pep+ initiative to accelerate the reduction of added sugar across its wider portfolio, the brand successfully launched its Zero Sugar Orange flavour in both Poland and Nigeria and will continue to expand its low and no sugar portfolio internationally.

Notes to Editors

For information, please contact: pepsicomediarelations@pepsico.com

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com , and follow on Twitter, Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

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Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) too basked in glory during the coronation of King Charles III in the UK as the Princess of Wales Kate Middleton made her appearance wearing the Bahraini pearl drop earrings for the celebrations in preparation for the historic event, which is a continuation of a longstanding tradition among members of the British royal family.

This is not the first time the princess has donned the precious Bahraini earrings.

She previously wore the set to Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in September as pearls are typically seen as mourning jewels in British royal etiquette.

This serves to reaffirm the world-renowned reputation of Bahraini pearls, said a beaming Noora Jamsheer, the CEO of Danat.

Jamsheer highlighted that throughout history, English, French, and American jewellers have visited Bahrain to procure the finest and most exquisite natural Bahraini pearls directly from their source.

These pearls have been taken to various parts of the world, where these jewellers have perfected their crafting and presentation, she explained.

Jamsheer, reminisced about the authentic pearl necklace and pearl earrings that the late Queen Elizabeth II had worn on several occasions.

When asked about the reasons for her continued preference for the necklace, the Queen reportedly stated that it was a natural Bahraini pearl that she had acquired half a century ago, yet it still maintained its original color and luster as if it were newly made.

"The adornment of Bahraini pearls by renowned international female personalities, in the form of necklaces, earrings, and other exquisite jewelry pieces, serves as a remarkable avenue for promoting the distinctiveness of these unique natural pearls," she noted.

According to her, Bahraini pearls have been a prominent cornerstone of Bahrain's regional and global reputation, further emphasizing the message that Bahrain constantly sends to the world, reflecting the rich heritage and civilization of Bahrain.

"Wearing or possessing Bahraini pearls not only confers a unique sense of distinction and exclusivity but also instills a profound source of pride for all those who cherish them," she stated.

Jamsheer pointed out that Danat Institute was dedicated to participating in international conferences and events to promote Bahrain as a prominent centre for natural pearl extraction and trade.

Over the past five years, Danat has successfully implemented the National Plan for Natural Pearls, which seeks to establish Bahrain as a global hub for natural pearl examination. Additionally, the laboratory has become the first of its kind in the field of pearl and gemstone testing.

"Danat holds a significant responsibility at both the national and global level to protect Bahrain's precious pearl," she stated.

"Our duties extend beyond preservation and include ensuring their sustainable extraction, safeguarding their integrity, and further enhancing their reputation as one of the most valuable and distinguished precious assets. We acknowledge the weight of our obligation and remain committed to fulfilling it with the utmost dedication and expertise," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
Addition of UK based peptide and antibody production facilities expands peptides and biologics business in UK and Europe.

Biosynth, a supplier of critical raw materials to the life science industry, announces today that it has acquired Cambridge Research Biochemicals ("CRB"), a leading independent producer of custom-made peptide and antibody tools, based in the UK and supplying researchers in the pharmaceutical, life science and academic sectors.

CRB brings a wealth of expertise to Biosynth's peptide division, which has existing operations in the US and the Netherlands. This includes leading expertise in complex peptide chemistry and fluorescent dye labelling. CRB also brings additional custom antibody capacity in Europe, to support customers through the generation of novel, complex or unusual mono- and poly-clonal antibodies unavailable in catalogs.

Dr. Urs Spitz, CEO and President of Biosynth, said, "CRB has a long history in the peptide and antibody field, and we are excited to welcome their highly skilled team to our growing peptide division. Having a network of peptide sites at key locations, staffed by industry experts, allows us to best serve our customers throughout research and development and with the most complex and labelled peptides and high quality antibodies."

"We are excited to be joining the Biosynth family", added Emily Humphrys, Managing Director of Cambridge Research Biochemicals. "As one of the longest established peptide companies, we have over 40 years of experience and are proud to have a strong track record for peptide and antibody excellence with our customers. We see great similarities in the approach that Biosynth already take in leading with science and customer focus."

--ends--

About Biosynth

Biosynth is a supplier of critical materials, securing life science supply chains with global research, manufacturing and distribution facilities. Supplying the pharmaceutical, life science and diagnostic sectors; where Chemistry meets Biology, Products meet Services and Innovation meets Quality, Biosynth is at the Edge of Innovation. With an unrivaled research product portfolio of over a million products and end-to-end manufacturing services, Biosynth's expertise and capability runs across Complex Chemicals, Peptides and Key Biologics all from one trusted partner. Headquartered in Staad, Switzerland, Biosynth is owned amongst others by KKR, Ampersand Capital Partners and management. Find out more about Biosynth at www.biosynth.com.

About Cambridge Research Biochemicals

Cambridge Research Biochemicals (www.crbdiscovery.com) is a leading independent producer of custom-made peptide and antibody tools, supplying researchers in the pharmaceutical, life science and academic sectors worldwide. The primary applications of its products are as custom-made, laboratory scale reagents for proof of principal studies within early phase drug discovery and to support biomarker programmes in clinical studies. The company produces all flavours of peptides from simple to modified, stable and radio-labelled to dye labelled from milligrams to gram-scale to the highest levels of purity. In addition, CRB is a recognised expert at generating highly specific and targeted antibodies (both polyclonal and monoclonal). Fluorescent dye labelling is also a focus.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005621/en/

Contacts:

Biosynth

Aimee Cossins

+44 7984 525560

marketing@biosynth.com
AMSTERDAM, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Freya Pharma Solutions, a pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of effective pharmaceutical therapies for women diagnosed with Female Sexual Disorders (FSD), announced today that the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has informed Freya that they will provide a written response by 4 June on the request for advice on the US Clinical Development Program of Lybrido for the treatment of Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (FSIAD).





After obtaining advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2022, Freya Pharma Solutions is currently preparing the confirmatory ALETTA trial as part of the clinical development program of Lybrido in Europe. As a next step Freya has designed a clinical development program for the US in close collaboration with its Scientific Advisory Board consisting of leading experts in the field of FSD from the US and Europe, to prepare for a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) of Lybrido in the US. On Freya's request for advice, the FDA has now planned to provide a written response by 4 June 2023, where Freya's objective is to reach an agreement with the agency regarding the clinical development program of Lybrido in the US.

Dr. Jan van der Mooren, Chief Medical Officer at Freya Pharma Solutions said: "The announced response from the FDA on our clinical development program for Lybrido in the US marks a major next step in our plans to bring Lybrido to the market, and to make a contribution to the lives of many women suffering from FSD. It can be concluded that there is a high unmet need among women suffering from FSD for effective and safe treatments, which are currently not available in Europe and are very limited in the US, and that Lybrido is expected to address such a need. The ALETTA confirmatory clinical trial is planned to start soon in Europe, and we hope that with the advice from the FDA we can also soon start preparing clinical trials in the US. The company is highly confident that it is well on track with the clinical development of Lybrido as a treatment for women suffering from sexual disorders and the related distress which often negatively interferes with their quality of life and their relationships."

About Female Sexual Disorders

Among female sexual disorders (FSD), low sexual desire is consistently reported as the most common sexual complaint in women. As a result, many women are dissatisfied with their sex lives, which often affects their social and emotional well-being. Currently, several definitions are being used. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is the definition recommended by ISSWSH and is a sexual disorder in which women lack motivation or lose desire to have sex for at least six months, causing significant levels of personal distress. Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (FSIAD) is a sexual disorder that is defined in the 2013 version of the DSM-5 - the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - a publication by the American Psychiatric Association, as a persistent lack or significant reduction of sexual interest and/or arousal. Persons can be medically diagnosed after having a well-defined number of symptoms causing clinically significant distress and which have persisted for a minimum of six months. The disorder is specified by severity level and subtyped into lifelong versus acquired, generalized versus situational.

About Lybrido

A total of 20 phase 1 and phase 2a trials, and large-scale phase 2b trials in 17 research sites in the US have been conducted to date. These trials have investigated the efficacy and safety of two novel on- demand pharmacological treatments that have been designed to treat two FSIAD subgroups: women with low sensitivity for sexual cues (Lybrido) and women with dysfunctional over-activation of sexual inhibition (Lybridos). Lybrido increases central sexual motivation and physiological sexual responses, such as swelling of genitals and lubrication. The therapy can be taken 'on-demand' and helps to increase central sexual motivation from 3 to 6 hours after intake. This treatment consists of a novel (dual-route, dual-release, fixed-dose) combination tablet, consisting of a testosterone coating for sublingual administration and an inner-core component containing the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) inhibitor, sildenafil. The inner-core component is coated with a delayed-immediate-release matrix to ensure that the peak plasma concentration of the PDE 5 inhibitor coincides with the window of increased sexual motivation induced by the sublingually administered testosterone. Thus, this combination enables an increase in genital arousal through an increase in responsivity to sexual stimuli.

About Freya Pharma Solutions

Freya Pharma Solutions is a pharmaceutical company, focused on developing effective pharmaceutical therapies for FSIAD/HSDD, building upon fifteen years of solid research. The company has two compounds in development, Lybrido and Lybridos, to address the range of potential causes of FSIAD/HSDD. Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Freya aims to offer patients a convenient, personalized 'on-demand' solution for this recognized unmet medical need.

www.freyapharmasolutions.com

For further information please contact:

Freya Pharma Solutions, Amsterdam

Marcel Wijma, Chief Executive Officer

marcel@freyapharmasolutions.com

For media

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam

Leon Melens

T: +31 6 538 16 427

E: lmelens@lifespring.nl

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EQS-News: OYO ROOMS / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

OYO ROOMS: OYO to add over 50 hotels in the UK in 2023, London & Birmingham continue as focus cities



09.05.2023 / 11:30 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.







OYO to add over 50 hotels in the UK in 2023, London & Birmingham continue as focus cities London, 8th May 2023: Global travel technology company, OYO announced that it will be adding over 50 hotels to its portfolio in the UK in 2023. OYO currently has 150+ small hotels in over 65 cities in its network in the UK. It added new hotels in Otterburn, Folkestone, Worcester, Swansea, Crewe, Kidderminster, Solihull, Peterhead & Boston in 2022. While London, Birmingham, Torquay, Great Yarmouth and Manchester are the top markets for OYO in UK, it further plans to expand and focus on Leeds, Brighton & Plymouth in 2023. The company currently has 27 hotels in London region on its platform and 38 in the Midlands region. OYO empowers hotels by boosting demand and in turn increasing revenue via multiple Online Travel Agents (OTAs) & its own website and mobile app. OYO's best-in-class Artificial Intelligence-enabled pricing software automatically drives the best booking prices across all channels, based on room type, seasonality and other factors, therefore, enabling such increase in revenues. In the last 4 years, OYO's pricing engine, has done over 11 million price modifications in the UK market. With rising costs and staff shortages in the UK, the company has also rolled out a completely automated self-check-in technology solution to lower down labour and utility costs, provide a seamless experience to guests and reduce day to day operational hassles for the hotel owners. It also empowers hotel owners with an AI powered chat solution that takes away a lot of operational headaches away from the owners. The company also helps ensure great experience for customers, with automated tools such as Artificial Intelligence powered chatbots to quickly resolve customer queries, loyalty programmes and easy refund if needed. OYO's Guest Satisfaction scores are at 85%, a 100% improvement in the last two years and the average issue resolution time is under 3 hours. Nearly 75% of queries are resolved directly by Yo!Chat - OYO's award winning chatbot and self-serve IVR menu. Talking about the development Gautam Swaroop, CEO- OYO International said, "We have witnessed a great deal of interest from hotels owners across the country owing to our industry-leading demand, revenue generation and management capabilities along with operational ease that OYO offers. Our result-oriented tech stack has been a draw for many entrepreneurs in the UK who are looking to improve and scale their hotel business. With this expansion we plan to enable many small businesses in the region so they can realise their full potential and manage their business with ease."



Talking about the expansion, Puneet Yadav, Head - OYO UK said, "We have seen strong demand in the UK with over 20 patrons adding multiple hotels with us after seeing improved profits. Encouraged by this - we have doubled our business development effort with 30+ hotels in advanced-stage negotiations to join OYO and we hope to bring more hotels on our platform in 2023." Irfan of OYO Bailbrook Lodge in Bath, added that, "I had started with one hotel, OYO Arinza in 2019 and just after a few months of being part of the OYO platform, we saw an 26% improvement in our revenue's month-on-month. I found the Co-OYO app & OYO OS especially helpful in tracking progress and making day to day operations extremely stress-free. Today we have 4 hotels on the OYO platform and that itself is a testimonial to the great work the team has been doing." OYO UK recently announced that it has added 40 hotels to its platform in 2022 and doubled its revenue in 2022 vs 2021. OYO's network hotels also saw a 50% jump in revenue per available room (RevPar) vs 2021 and a 110% jump in revenue per available room vs Covid (2020). OYO has presence in over 35 countries globally. It owns a vacations home business in EU called OVH (OYO Vacation Homes) which operates legacy brands such as DanCenter and Belvilla. ------- About OYO: OYO is a global platform that aims to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses with hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology products and services that aim to increase revenue and ease operations; bringing easy-to-book, affordable, and trusted accommodation to customers around the world. OYO offers 40+ integrated products and solutions to patrons who operate over 168,711 hotel and home storefronts in more than 35 countries including India, Europe and Southeast Asia, as of September 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.oyorooms.com.

Disclaimer: Oravel Stays Limited is proposing, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, to make an initial public offering of its equity shares (the "Equity Shares") and has filed the Draft Red Herring Prospectus ("DRHP") with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").

The DRHP is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in , websites of the Stock Exchanges, i.e., BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com , respectively, and is available on the websites of the Global Coordinators and Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited and Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited at www.investmentbank.kotak.com , www.jpmipl.com and www.online.citibank.co.in/rhtm/citigroupglobalscreen1.htm; the websites of the Book Running Lead Managers, i.e., ICICI Securities Limited, Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited, JM Financial Limited and Deutsche Equities India Private Limited at www.icicisecurities.com , www.nomuraholdings.com/company/group/asia/india/index.html , www.jmfl.com and www.db.com/India , respectively. Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to the same, refer to the Red Herring Prospectus which may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the future, including the section titled "Risk Factors". Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP filed with SEBI for making any investment decision. The Equity Shares offered in the Fresh Issue (as defined in the DRHP) and the Offer for Sale (as defined in the DRHP) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and, may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Equity Shares are only being offered and sold (i) within the United States only to "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and pursuant to the applicable laws of the jurisdictions where those offers and sales are made. There will be no public offering of the Equity Shares in the United States.



09.05.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and MUMBAI, India, May 9, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - CleverTap, the World's #1 retention cloud, released the findings of its Foodtech and E-Commerce industry Benchmark Reports. Foodtech and e-commerce apps experienced exponential growth during the pandemic. According to App Annie's State of Mobile Report 2022, time spent on shopping apps scaled to more than 100 billion hours - up 18% year-on-year. Users spent 50% more sessions YoY in 2021 than in 2020 on foodtech apps. The benchmark reports reflect data collected from Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, Middle-East, and North America.The findings offer insight into how consumers engage with foodtech and e-commerce apps. Marketers can craft and deliver personalized messages and campaigns that can help drive engagement, retention, and growth. Some of the key metrics in the report include:https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/Multimedia/20230509_CleverTap.jpg"The findings from our benchmark reports are aimed to help marketers improve engagement and user journeys by providing insights into the behavior of e-commerce and foodtech app users." said Jacob Joseph, VP-Data Science, CleverTap. "As the app economy continues to expand, foodtech and e-commerce marketers will need to find ways to drive customer 'stickiness' which currently stands at a meager 15% and 17% respectively. Customized messaging informed by behavioral insights are crucial to get customers to return to the app interface and drive up this metric."For e-commerce marketers, the challenge and opportunity is to ensure that their company's app not only stands out in a crowded and fiercely competitive market. But also encourages users to make quick purchases, return frequently to buy more, and hopefully, spend a sizable sum with each transaction.16% of new users of foodtech apps complete more than one transaction in the first week. Best-in-class customer service will help boost this metric and keep customers returning for more. Foodtech companies need to be quick to offer special deals to new users and drive conversions. The benchmark report helps foodtech and e-commerce apps understand how to build successful mobile communication campaigns, and also allows growth marketers to discover areas that require greater focus.The reports can be downloaded with the links below:- Foodtech App Engagement Benchmark Report 2022 https://clevertap.com/insights/food-tech-benchmark-report/- E-commerce App Engagement Benchmark Report 2022 https://clevertap.com/insights/ecommerce-benchmark-report/About CleverTapCleverTap is the World's #1 Retention Cloud that helps app-first brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and lifetime value. It's the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep-segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product.The platform is powered by TesseractDB - the world's first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa Johns, and Tesco.Backed by leading investors such as Sequoia India, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.For more information:SONY SHETTYDirector, Public Relations, CleverTap+91 9820900036sony@clevertap.comVISHAAL MUDHOLKARConsultantArchetype+91 9724309069vishaal.mudholkar@archetype.coSource: CleverTapCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
SHENZHEN, China, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch of the flagship tablet Hpad3 by the innovative brand Headwolf, after 14 months of research and development, is undoubtedly a significant breakthrough in the tablet market. As the world's first tablet with MTK G99 chip and 30W super fast charging technology, Hpad3 has excellent performance and charging speed, easily surpassing other tablet products on the market.





Firstly, Hpad3 uses an 11-inch 2K screen with a resolution of 2000*1200, and is also equipped with TUV Rheinland's eye protection certification technology, which can greatly reduce eye damage and provide a more comfortable visual experience. This screen not only meets users' demand for high-definition picture quality, but also reduces eye fatigue during long-term use.

In terms of performance, Hpad3 uses the MTK G99 chip, which is a 4G eight-core flagship chip with a score of up to 380,000+, demonstrating amazing computing power and fast response speed. In addition, Hpad3 also has 8GB+8GB of RAM, which can be expanded intelligently to reach 16GB of running memory, increasing the running speed by 20% compared to ordinary 8GB, and has a 256GB ROM using the latest UFS flash memory technology, which is 40% faster than ordinary tablet EMMC storage technology, allowing users to easily run large applications and store files.

In terms of charging speed, Hpad3 supports 30W super fast charging technology, which can charge 80% in just 1 hour. This charging speed can greatly shorten the waiting time for users to charge and improve their efficiency. At the same time, Hpad3's 8500mAh large battery can provide up to 20 hours of battery life, meeting users' needs for long-term use.

Compared with other tablets, Hpad3's screen uses TUV Rheinland's eye protection certification technology, which can greatly reduce eye damage and provide a more comfortable visual experience. At the same time, Hpad3's performance is excellent, using MTK G99 chip and 8GB+8GB of RAM. Moreover, Hpad3 also supports intelligent expansion, reaching 16GB of running memory, increasing the running speed by 20% compared to ordinary 8GB. Such performance can easily surpass other tablet products on the market.

In addition to performance and charging speed, Hpad3 also has a series of intelligent functions, including a rear 20MP+5MP AI lens and a front 8MP AI lens, as well as 13 different shooting modes, allowing users to easily take high-definition photos and videos on the tablet. In addition, Hpad3 uses the latest Android 12 operating system, providing a smoother and more convenient user experience.

Headwolf Hpad3 tablet is a powerful, affordable, and beautifully designed product that can easily surpass other tablet products on the market. Its launch not only provides users with a better user experience, but also injects new vitality into the entire tablet market.

Good news, Hpad3 will be launched on the AliExpress Russia site from May 10th to May 14th, and those who grab it will get the lowest price of the year. During the launch period, the original price is 46,919 rubles, and the final price is only 19,746 rubles, enjoying the lowest price of the year. At the same time, the first 100 subscribers will receive a set of eight mysterious gifts. For more details, please click the link below:

https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005005438182916.html'spm=undefined&sku_id=12000033194352526

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072658/image_1.jpg

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSXV: MUN) (OTCQB: MUNMF) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of its audited Financial Statements (FS), and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for 2022 with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Company's audited FS, and MD&A are also available on Mundoro's website at www.mundoro.com under the heading "Investors". All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Ms. Teo Dechev, CEO of Mundoro commented, "The Company is pleased to have entered the 2023 field season with a solid balance sheet, approved work programs and budgets for partner-funded exploration on our exploration portfolio which plans to complete approximately 17,000 meters of drill testing across various porphyry targets in Serbia, Arizona and a copper sediment hosted target in Bulgaria. In 2023, Mundoro is anticipating to be cash flow positive with no need to return to the equity markets for operating capital."

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Financial Highlights

Strong Cash Position: As of December 31, 2022, the Company held $4,843,844 in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt.

Partner-Funded Exploration in 2022: The exploration expenditures, the majority of which are sole-funded by partners, were higher at $5,108,607 in fiscal year 2022 compared to $3,053,322 in fiscal year 2021 due to additional partner funded work program expenditures in Serbia, Bulgaria and the USA. As a result, recoveries from option partners in fiscal year 2022 were higher when compared to 2021 and were $4,275,666 (84%) and $2,082,141 (68%) respectively, resulting in net exploration costs of $832,941 in fiscal 2022 and $971,191 in fiscal 2021.

Generating Fees to Cover Corporate Expenses: The Company also received higher fee income (including operator fees, option fees, and miscellaneous income) of an aggregate $936,984 in fiscal year 2022 compared to $211,067 in fiscal year 2021. A total of $102,628 of option fees which were not included in the fee income aggregate for 2022, were instead used to offset against the capitalized value of mineral properties rather than being recognized in income. As a result, the total fees received from the portfolio in fiscal 2022 is $1,039,612.

Portfolio Outlook for 2023

Generation of Fees Guidance for 2023: For 2023, the Company estimates generating $2 - $2.5 million in fees from partner programs while the Corporate Expenses and Generative Exploration Costs are estimated to be approximately $1.6 million. As a result, the Company does not anticipate a need to raise capital in 2023.

Partner-Funded Exploration Expenditure Guidance in 2023: For 2023, the exploration expenditures funded by partners estimated at approximately $11 million to $15 million. During 2023, Mundoro is the designated operator of six (6) exploration programs in Serbia, one (1) exploration program in Bulgaria and two (2) exploration programs in the USA. Total drilling across all programs is planned to be approximately 17,000 meters depending on various factors such as permitting.

Portfolio Highlights for 2023 Year to Date

Signed Agreement with BHP to Option Exploration Properties in Timok, Serbia: In Q1-2023, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Group Limited (" BHP ") such that BHP has the right to earn-in to three (each, an " Option ") exploration areas that Mundoro holds in the Timok region. The projects under the Options with BHP are located in and around the Timok Magmatic Complex ( "Timok" ) in Serbia (see press release dated January 23, 2023). Mundoro is appointed as the operator of the work programs. The Timok Magmatic Complex is host to the largest copper-gold porphyry deposits in the western portion of the Tethyan Belt such as (i) Cukaru-Peki, a high sulphidation epithermal copper-gold and porphyry deposit, (ii) Bor underground mine which is a copper-gold porphyry, (iii-iv) Veliki Krivelj and Majdanpek open-pit mines which are both copper-gold porphyries, (v) the recently reopened Cerovo open-pit mine which is a copper-gold porphyry and (vi) the recently announced discovery of Coka Rakita exploration prospect.

Commenced Drill Program at Vale Optioned Projects in Timok, Serbia: Mundoro announced the commencement of a drill program at the Mundoro-Vale optioned projects located in the southwest portion of Timok in Serbia. The drill program has planned 8,000 meters to test five (5) target areas with nine (9) drill holes. The five main target areas for drill testing during the 2023 drill program are: (i) Tilva Rosh, (ii) Markov Kamen, (iii) Bacevica North, (iv) Orlovo, and (v) Prekostenski. For further information see press release dated April 3, 2023.

Commenced Drill Program at BHP Optioned Projects in Timok, Serbia: Mundoro announced the commencement of a drill program at the Mundoro-BHP optioned project, Borsko, located in the central portion of Timok in Serbia. The drill program has planned 2,000 meters to test one target area with one deep drill hole. For further information see press release dated April 5, 2023.

Commenced Drill Program at Vale Optioned Project, Dos Cabezas, in Arizona, USA: Mundoro announced the commencement of a drill program at the Mundoro-Vale optioned project, Dos Cabezas located in Cochise, Arizona. The drill program has planned 3,000 meters to test five target areas with five (5) drill holes. For further information see press release dated April 11, 2023.

Portfolio Exploration Plans for 2023

Vale-Mundoro Projects: The Management Committee approved a work program and budget covering the following exploration at each project area: Bobot and Odej: A Phase II drill program of 3,200 meters is planned for Tilva Rosh North target to follow up on the banded quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veins and mineralization intersected in the 2022 drill program. Drilling is anticipated to be completed in Q3-2023 with assay results from this drill program anticipated in Q4-2023. A Phase II drill program of 1,600 meters is planned for Markov Kamen South target to follow up on mineralization extension towards the south intersected in previous drill campaigns. Drilling is anticipated to be completed in Q4-2023 with assay results from this drill program anticipated in Q1-2024. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. Odej South and Gramada: Reprocessing and modeling of geophysical data is in progress to refine drill targets planned for drilling in 2023. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. The exploration work program has planned an IP survey for the Orlovo-Bacevica North corridor for a total of 48 line-km. There is infill soil geochemistry planned over the Gramada southeast area as well as 50 rock chip samples as a part of the program to follow up on geochemical anomalies identified from the 2022 sampling field program. A Phase II drilling program is planned for 800 meters at the Bacevica North target to follow up the geophysical anomalies and alteration. The drilling is anticipated to be completed by Q3-2023 with the assays expected in Q4-2023. A Phase I drilling program is planned for 1,600 meters at the Orlovo and D-vein targets to follow up on porphyry mineralization extension intersected in a previous drill campaign, as well as soil geochemistry anomalies, and new geophysical anomalies. The drilling is anticipated to be completed by the end of Q2-2023 with the assays expected in Q3-2023. A Phase I drilling program is planned for 800 meters at the Prekostenski target to follow up on mineralization extension by depth intersected in previous drill campaigns as well as geophysical anomalies identified. The drilling is anticipated to be completed by the end of Q3-2023 with the assays expected in Q4-2023. Skorusa: A Phase II AMT geophysics survey as well as evaluation of other geophysical methods is planned in 2023. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. Soil geochemistry is planned with a total of 210 soil samples to cover the western extension area. Rock chip sampling is planned for follow up of the soil geochemistry anomalies over the Skorusa license including 50 rock chip samples. A Phase II drill program is planned in Q3-2023 at Skorusa to follow up on the AMT geophysical anomalies and test mineralization at depth for a total of 1000 meters with the potential to extend by an additional 1000 meters. Assay results are expected in Q4-2023. Oblez: The geophysical models are being interpreted and correlated with the geochemical results from drill programs along with lithological and alteration down hole data to refine further targets for drill testing. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. Rock chip sampling with up to 50 rock chip samples, is planned as follow-up of the soil geochemistry copper anomalies over the Oblez South area. Padina: The Company is evaluating additional geophysical methods for use in this exploration area. A passive seismic geophysical survey is planned over the entire license area. The expected start time is in Q2-2023 with the results anticipated in Q3-2023. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. Branik: A passive seismic geophysical survey is planned over the entire license area. The expected start time is in Q2-2023 with the results anticipated in Q3-2023. A Phase I drill program is planned for a total of 750 meters to follow up on the orientation of the hydrothermal breccia with mineralized ore clasts intersected in a previous drilling campaign. The assay results are expected in Q4-2023. Regional structural interpretation is planned in order to improve the understanding of the structural setting and for targeting. Dos Cabezas Project: A phase 1 drill program designed to test five (5) target areas with a total of 3,000 meters commenced in Q1-2023. Complete assay results are expected in Q4-2023.

BHP-Mundoro Projects: The Management Committee approved a work program and budget covering the following exploration at each project area: Borsko Project: A drill program designed to test Target 1 at depth and to the northwest is planned with one (1) drill hole for a total of 2,000 meters of drilling during 2023. The drill hole is expected to be complete in Q2-2023 with assay results expected in Q3-2023. Trstenik Project: Continuation of drilling has been designed to test the extension of IP anomalies further to the south and southwest. One drill hole is planned for a total of 600 meters with petrophysics on the drill core. Geophysics is being planned with BHP as part of the 2023 work program to improve the for targeting at depth and throughout the license. The exploration program is aiming to test for a porphyry system at depth based on completed geophysics and results from Phase 1 drilling. South Timok Project: At Vitanovac, the Company is also planning for project scale sampling, mapping and geophysical surveys to be complete during 2023 as well as a drill program designed to test one of the target areas with one (1) drill hole for a total of 600 meters of drilling during 2023. While at Ponor, the Company is planning for project scale sampling, mapping and geophysical surveys to be completed during 2023.

JOGMEC-Mundoro EE1 Project: The Management Committee has approved a work program and budget to cover additional soil sampling, mapping, continuation of an AMT geophysical survey and drill testing for approximately 2,000 meters.

Kinross-Mundoro GT7 Project: The Management Committee has approved a work program and budget for the field season in 2023 to cover infill soil sampling with up to 730 samples to follow up on geochemical anomalies that remain open from the soil sampling program to the northwest and southwest. Rock chip sampling, with up to 50 rock samples, and detailed geology mapping within the infill soil sampling areas. IP Geophysics continuation for a total of 20.8 line-km, and a Phase I drilling program designed to test the Central and South target areas with four (4) drill holes, for a total of 2,500 meters. The work program also has plans for a water monitoring environment study with a focus on water quality in the area prior to a drill program.

Corporate Update

The Company issued 200,000 stock options to a Consultant of the Company. The stock options were issued in accordance with Mundoro's Equity Incentive Plan and are exercisable into common shares of Mundoro at $0.22 per share (being the closing price on the TSX Venture Exchange on May 5, 2023) over a five-year term.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information described in this press release has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. The scientific and technical information for Serbia and Bulgaria exploration programs was reviewed and approved by, R. Jemielita, PhD, MIMMM, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and Chief Geologist to the Company. The scientific and technical information for the USA exploration programs has been reviewed and approved by T. Dechev, P.Eng (PEO, APEGBC), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

About Mundoro Capital

Mundoro is a publicly listed company on the TSX-V in Canada and OTCQB in the USA with a portfolio of mineral properties focused primarily on base and precious metals. To drive value for shareholders, Mundoro's asset portfolio generates near-term cash payments to Mundoro from partners and creates royalties attached to each mineral property. The portfolio of mineral properties is currently focused on predominantly copper in two mineral districts: Western Tethyan Belt in Eastern Europe and the Laramide Belt in the southwest USA.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of earn-in expenditures, options and completion of a definitive agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Company's projects, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please visit Mundoro's website www.mundoro.com.

Contact Information:

Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

+1-604-669-8055

info@mundoro.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165265
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global biochar market size is expected to reach USD 1,202.9 million by 2030, grow at a CAGR of 12.1% from 2023 to 2030, as per the new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Globally increasing demand for the product in organic farming has been a major factor influencing the growth. In addition, increasing consumption in livestock feed and awareness pertaining to benefits of biochar as soil amendment are expected to drive the demand.





Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

Total product manufactured using pyrolysis technology in 2022 accounted for 64.0% market share in terms of revenue and is expected witness rapid growth over the estimated period.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness extensive growth in the forthcoming years due to increasing application of the product in livestock feed and organic farming.

is expected to witness extensive growth in the forthcoming years due to increasing application of the product in livestock feed and organic farming. Pyrolysis technology is increasingly used by Earth Systems and Clean Fuels B.V. among other manufacturers operating in the biochar market.

Read 100 page full market research report, "Biochar Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Gasification, Pyrolysis, Others), By Application (Agriculture, Others), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Biochar Market Growth & Trends

Biochar is an evolving industry and is anticipated to become a major influencing factor in increased crop yield and productivity of the agriculture sector. It improves soil fertility and provides necessary nutrition to crop. Moreover, applications in energy production and greenhouse gas remediation are expected to provide new revenue opportunities to the sector.

The market consists of organized and unorganized manufacturers. Growing economies such as China, India, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil produce significant amount of biochar through small and medium scale industries mainly running into village areas. Whereas, large scale manufacturers are concentrated in North America.

Consumption in agricultural application was the highest in 2022 and is anticipated to rise significantly over the forecast period. Among various applications in agriculture, farming held the highest market share in 2022.

In terms of volume, the agriculture sector is estimated to witness speedy growth over the forecast period. It has also gained high popularity in livestock farming as an additive in animal feed. The livestock sector has gained high importance, especially in regions such as Europe and North America where animal flesh is extensively consumed by human beings as a food. As a result of this, biochar consumption is expected to grow substantially in the foreseeable future.

Biochar Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global biochar market based on technology, application and region:

Biochar Market - Technology Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Pyrolysis

Gasification

Others

Biochar Market - Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Agriculture

Livestock



Farming



Others

Others

Biochar Market - Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Sweden



Denmark

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



Malaysia

Central & South America

Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players in Biochar Market

Biochar Products, Inc.

Biochar Supreme, LLC

ArSta Eco

Carbon Gold Ltd

Airex Energy Inc.

Pacific Biochar Benefit Corporation

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Wood Vinegar Market - The global wood vinegar market size is expected to reach USD 6.6 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.7%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing support from various governments for adoption of organic farming methods by small-farm holders for improved crop yield is the key factor driving the market growth. In addition, rapid expansion of organic farming in Asia Pacific is expected to boost the market demand further.

- The global wood vinegar market size is expected to reach by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.7%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing support from various governments for adoption of organic farming methods by small-farm holders for improved crop yield is the key factor driving the market growth. In addition, rapid expansion of organic farming in is expected to boost the market demand further. Microencapsulated Pesticides Market - The global microencapsulated pesticides market size is expected to reach USD 1.57 billion by 2030, as per the new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2022 to 2030. The industry growth is majorly driven by the increasing usage of the Integrated Pest Management System (IPMS) and increased regulatory support restricting the extensive application of agrochemicals.

- The global microencapsulated pesticides market size is expected to reach by 2030, as per the new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2022 to 2030. The industry growth is majorly driven by the increasing usage of the Integrated Pest Management System (IPMS) and increased regulatory support restricting the extensive application of agrochemicals. Nitrogenous Fertilizer Market - The global nitrogenous fertilizer market size is estimated to reach USD 94.02 billion by 2030 according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growth can be attributed to the increasing awareness amongst farmers regarding maintaining nutritional balance in the soil. Increasing population across the globe has generated the need to improve the annual crop yield to feed the population, which has boosted the agriculture sector across the globe. Hydrogen and nitrogen are the major raw materials used for manufacturing nitrogenous fertilizers. Nitrogen is required in large quantities by plants and is the primary nutrient in fertilizers. Hydrogen is a crucial component of ammonia, which is an important ingredient in numerous fertilizers. Nearly all commercial-scale ammonia incorporates nitrogen and hydrogen. Raw material Availability impacts nitrogenous fertilizer prices and production.

Browse through Grand View Research's Agrochemicals & Fertilizers Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/biochar-market-to-be-worth-1-202-9-million-by-2030-grand-view-research-inc-301819356.html
Infill program changing in-pit waste zones to strong copper-gold mineralization

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK. S (TSX:MNO)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQB:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the continuing successes of the ongoing drill program at Cabacal ("Figure 1"). Drill results have confirmed that the near-surface VMS mineralization within Cabacal's open pit, largely un-assayed by the historical drill program, hosts extensive copper-gold mineralization, and that the higher-grade copper-gold trends within the Cabacal resource[1] remain open. Additionally, drilling of the up-dip extensions of the Cabacal Northwest Extension ("CNWE"), external to the resource model but within the open-pit, where it is currently classified as waste, have returned the highest grade copper VMS mineralization within the CNWE. The ongoing drill program will shortly be expanded to three rigs. Assay results are pending.

Highlights Reported Today

First angled drill program across Cabacal mine results in an increase in local metal content; Angled drill test line averages 31% superior metal content to BP's vertical drilling; Highest grade gold zone defined 4.0m @ 9.6g/t AuEq (CD-228) from 56.0m; Gold over-print intersected within old workings, with scope for more upside; Future infill angled drill program across Cabacal mine to be greatly expanded;

Meridian unlocks the near surface copper-gold mineralization at Cabacal ; 61.3m @ 1.2g/t AuEq[2] (CD-228) from 10.8m; including 15.6m @ 3.0g/t AuEq from 51.5m; 56.7m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (CD-230) from 15.1m; including 18.5m @ 2.0g/t AuEq from 44.7m Shallow zones cutting historically unsampled areas confirmed as mineralized;

; CNWE infill program changes open-pit's waste zones into strong copper-gold upside ; 15.1m @ 1.5% Cu, 0.4g/t Au and 1.8g/t Ag (CD-248) from 44.7m; Latest up-dip copper-gold extensions are external to Cabacal's resource model; Results point to likely reduction in the mining strip ratio;

; Geophysics on Southern Copper Zone firming up next phase of drilling around CD-240[3]; and

and Resource upgrade on track for late 2023.

Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments : "The strong near surface results reported today highlight the additional value being created by the continuing program. Cabacal's PEA[4] generated outstanding economics driven by the financial model's "front end" mining of the shallow starter pit in the CNWE . As we are now demonstrating, there are more and more areas of shallow mineralization not included in the current mine plan and/or resource model. These have the possibility of extending that critical front end high-grade mill feed. Equally important are the first results of the infill program through the old mine area. Results from this first fence of angled drill holes have averaged 31% higher metal content than those of the historical drilling, due again to the under-representation of the gold overprint. When we combine this with the impressive result of CD-240's 34.5m @ 4.0% Cu, 1.7g/t Au & 22.4g/t Ag, it gives a very positive upside potential to the Cabacal PEA's already strong economic returns. Having a strong balance sheet and three rigs turning shortly, we look forward to more drill results, exploration results from the mine corridor and the resource upgrade later in the year."

Figure 1: Location of results reported in this news release.

In-Pit Angled Drilling Program Adding Metal Content

As the Cabacal host geology is dipping at ~15o to the southwest, both angled and vertical drill holes have comparable widths of mineralization (~96% of stratigraphic true width). The Company objective was to evaluate on average how the two different drill orientations perform as it does not expect that individual angled holes will always be universally better than vertical holes.

CD-228 overlapped historical holes JUSPD-358, JUSPD-383, JUSPD-368, JUSPD-386, JUSPD-388 and JUSPD-354. Taking the intersection-times-grade in AuEq as a measure of metal content, CD-228 returned a cumulative 81.0 gram-meters AuEq, compared to an average of 57.2 gram-meters AuEq in the historical holes overlapped (ranging from 28.8 to 84.0 gram-meters AuEq); a 41% superior metal content. CD-228 also returned the highest-grade gold interval of this fence of 62.5g/t Au (sample CBDS31263, 58.4- 58.7m), compared to the next highest in JUSPD-358 (48.0g/t Au, sample CAIF04773, 37.4- 37.9m).

CD-230 overlapped the historical holes: JUSPD-388, JUSPD-354, JUSPD-351 and JUSPD-279. CD-230 returned a superior 53.4 gram-meters AuEq, compared to the JUSPD's series lower average of 31.6 gram-meters AuEq (ranging from 25.2 to 41.9 gram-meters AuEq). Despite CD-230 intersecting a mining void that was assigned zero grade, it hosted superior metal contents.

Together, the average gram-meter content of 67.2 in CD-228 and CD-230, compared to an average of 51.3 in the vertical holes cutting the same area, being 31% higher in cumulative metal content.

Up-dip holes CD-232 (35.5 gram-meters AuEq) and CD-234 (39.8 gram-meters AuEq) continue to extend the mineralized trend positively up-dip through the decline area, compared to the next closest vertical hole up-dip on this section (JUSPD-110 - 16.6 gram-meters AuEq).

The Company is of the view that significant potential remains for additional gold mineralization hosted by the high-grade gold overprint within the Cabacal resource area. The quantum of this upside will be directly tested by the increased density of angle drilling from the infill program.

Figure 2: Examples of Meridian angled drilling compared to BP vertical drilling, labelled and coloured by AuEq compared to the block model. Middle diagram shows the high-grade structural gold in CD-228 (4.0m @ 9.6g/t AuEq).

The Importance of Advancing The Angled Drilling Within Mine Areas

Cabacal is two deposits in one, the bulk tonnage gently dipping copper-gold-silver VMS deposit that has been "overprinted" by a later event of sub-vertical high-grade gold structures. The 1980's "vertical" resource drilling by BP Minerals (~70% of the current Cabacal resource database) targeted what they thought was a shallow dipping system, and under-represents the gold related to the steeper high-grade overprint event. Since 2021, Meridian's CNWE drill program has confirmed via its angled drilling that it has a significantly higher probability of hitting the high-grade gold overprint while still intercepting the VMS system.

The Company recently completed a four hole test line through the mine area where the highest density of historical vertical drilling is located ("the Test"; "Figure 1", "Figure 2"). Two key findings have arisen. Firstly, preliminary results indicate that despite the higher density of vertical drilling the Test program still generated on average a higher metal content per metre of drilling. Secondly, the Test's results within the near surface zone, the area largely not assayed in the 1980's, is mineralized and is considered open and prospective along the length of the resource model.

These positive findings support the Company's belief that further drilling both within and beyond the resource envelop has potential to increase the Cabacal deposit's metal budget. Continued results such as these have the potential to add value to both the early and later stages of the mine schedule outlined in the recent PEA.

The Test line was collared over the Central Copper Zone. Four angled holes were drilled, from southwest to the northeast: CD-228, CD-230, CD-232 and CD-234. CD-232 and CD-234 terminated outside the area of the underground galleries in a more sparsely drilled position, in the area of the decline. Results included:

CD-228: 61.3m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.9g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.9g/t Ag) from 10.8m;

Including:

11.2m @ 0.8g/t AuEq (0.5% Cu & 1.3g/t Ag) from 10.8m (shallow zone);

15.6m @ 3.0 AuEq (2.5g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 1.4g/t Ag) from 51.5m;

6.1m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 2.1g/t Ag) from 78.0m;

CD-230: 56.7m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 15.1m;

Including:

18.5m @ 2.0g/t AuEq (0.7g/t Au, 0.9% Cu & 5.1g/t Ag) from 44.7m;

CD-232: 10.2m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 4.2g/t Ag) from 53.0m;

14.0m @ 1.3g/t AuEq (0.6g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.7g/t Ag) from 69.0m;

CD-234: 25.3m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) from 37.0m; and

7.9m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 3.3g/t Ag) from 67.0m.

Cabacal Northwest Extension's Waste Zones Converted To Mineralization

The infill program has been targeting the areas in the CNWE, largely where the resource remains inferred or unclassified (waste). The drilling efforts have been primarily concentrated on exploring the up-dip extension of the mine sequence, covering a distance of 1000 meters along the strike. The results are important as Cabacal moves towards the next phase of resource upgrade, ensuring areas that are currently classified as waste, negatively influencing Cabacal's PEA, have their true mineral content confirmed. CD-248's and CD-225's results highlight how the up-dip extensions within the CNWE, largely classified as waste through lack of drill coverage, are returning robust grades and widths of copper-gold mineralization ("Figure 3"). In particular, CD-248 returned the highest Cu VMS sample to date with 10.6% Cu. This confirms that copper rich zones extend out beyond the old workings.. The Company believes these results will contribute positively to future advanced mining and economic studies. Results included:

CD-248: 15.1m @ 2.5g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 1.5% Cu, 1.8g/t Ag) from 44.7m; and

CD-225: 12.7m@ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 1.1g/t Ag) from 27.0m.

Results continue to build from the earlier intersection of CD-193 (15.6m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.8% Cu, 0.4g/t Au, 1.3g/t Ag) from 42m.

Figure 3: Cross section showing newly drilled mineralization in unclassified areas, treated as waste in the PEA.

Southern Copper Zone Follow up

Following the strong results reported in CD-240, the Company has been undertaking geophysical follow-up programs to define potential extensions to the zone, with a Mise-a-la-Masse survey ("the Survey") defining a conductor modelled over at least a 100m strike length and strengthening to the south-east of the CD-240 position. The Survey technique applied an electric current directly to the mineral body via a cable inserted down the hole, and the resultant anomaly is defined by an array of sensors on the surface. The signal of the response diminishes naturally with distance from the drill hole, and the Company has established survey platforms to the southeast and northwest of the CD-240 position to guide further drilling.

Table 1: Results reported today

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-248 -49 59 80.9 CNWE 7.8 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.0 31.2 15.1 2.5 1.7 0.4 1.5 1.8 0.0 44.7 CD-246 -49 060 65.0 CNWE 35.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0 12.0 CD-245 -49 061 33.7 CNWE 8.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 3.5 0.1 10.4 CD-243 -49 059 49.1 CNWE 11.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.1 8.0 CD-241 -59 310 170.3 SCZ 13.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.0 98.4 2.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.0 114.4 CD-238 -49 061 70.3 CNWE 15.5 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.0 19.0 CD-236 -49 060 24.0 CNWE 7.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0 4.0 CD-235 -60 060 36.7 CNWE 6.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 3.0 10.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.1 16.3 CD-234 -60 045 90.2 ECZ Extension 9.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 20.6 25.3 1.1 0.8 0.4 0.5 2.8 0.0 37.0 Including 10.1 2.2 1.5 0.7 1.0 6.2 0.1 52.2 7.9 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.5 3.3 0.0 67.0 CD-233 -50 060 37.0 CNWE 5.1 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 3.6 10.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.0 0.1 13.3

Table 1 continued:

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-232 -60 045 102.2 CCZ 4.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.0 34.4 2.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 45.0 10.2 1.4 0.9 0.4 0.7 4.2 0.0 53.0 14.0 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.5 2.7 0.0 69.0 CD-231 -50 060 40.1 CNWE 6.5 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.1 20.2 CD-230 -60 045 91.4 CCZ 56.7 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.5 2.3 0.0 15.1 Including 18.5 2.0 1.3 0.7 0.9 5.1 0.1 44.7 Including 7.3 3.7 2.4 0.9 1.9 11.9 0.1 60.4 CD-229 -45 060 40.1 CNWE 13.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.0 5.0 CD-228 -59 045 101.6 CCZ 61.3 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.2 0.9 0.1 10.8 Including 15.6 3.0 2.0 2.5 0.3 1.4 0.1 51.5 Including 4.0 9.6 6.4 8.4 0.9 3.5 0.2 56.0 6.1 1.1 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.1 0.0 78.0 CD-227 -48 062 51.6 CNWE 6.9 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.1 17.1 CD-226 -49 061 36.5 CNWE 14.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.0 17.7 CD-225 -49 059 54.8 CNWE 6.5 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 6.0 12.7 1.2 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.1 0.0 27.0 CD-224 -49 064 70.9 CNWE 14.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 19.0 8.7 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 34.6 Including 1.9 2.3 1.5 2.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 34.6 6.9 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.5 0.0 48.2 CD-223 -49 060 76.1 CNWE 12.2 1.5 1.0 1.1 0.4 0.8 0.0 39.4 Including 1.7 5.2 3.5 5.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 39.4 And 2.2 3.7 2.5 1.4 1.7 3.6 0.0 49.0 CD-222 -49 059 77.2 CNWE 15.8 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.0 34.0 Including 3.1 1.7 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 0.0 45.2 CD-221 -45 060 79.0 CNWE 13.1 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.1 34.6 Including 2.0 2.9 1.9 2.5 0.4 0.7 0.0 36.0 CD-220 -53 060 53.2 CNWE 13.0 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.0 19.4

Table 1 continued:

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-219 -47 059 113.8 CNWE 13.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.0 23.0 14.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0 45.0 14.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.3 80.5 CD-217 -49 062 100.1 CNWE 6.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 29.0 22.4 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.1 0.0 56.6 Including 4.3 1.7 1.1 0.8 0.7 4.0 0.1 71.2 CD-215 -45 064 111.2 CNWE 8.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0 40.0 8.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.0 53.0 18.0 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.0 66.3 Including 1.8 6.9 4.6 3.4 2.4 5.9 0.0 81.0 CD-214 -50 063 93.0 CNWE 18.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 12.3 6.4 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 44.7 18.4 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.0 0.2 54.9

Table 2: Historical Intersections referenced in this release

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) JUSPD-110 -90 000 76.8 ECZ 16.6 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 2.6 0.0 8.0 11.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 33.1 2.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.5 0.0 53.0 JUSPD-279 -90 000 80.0 CCZ 35.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 2.6 0.0 40.4 JUSPD-351 -90 000 80.6 CCZ 28.0 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.3 1.0 0.0 36.9 5.0 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.4 1.1 0.0 72.0 JUSPD-354 -90 000 90.4 CCZ 6.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.0 38.4 13.9 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 3.2 0.0 54.6 2.3 2.4 1.6 0.4 1.4 5.9 0.0 74.8 JUSPD-358 -90 000 87.4 CCZ 12.5 3.3 2.2 2.9 0.3 0.8 0.0 28.2 17.2 1.9 1.3 0.8 0.8 4.9 0.0 46.3 4.6 1.6 1.1 0.3 0.9 5.4 0.0 71.3 JUSPD-368 -90 000 90.4 CCZ 30.0 1.2 0.8 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.0 10.0 38.7 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 1.0 0.0 47.0 JUSPD-383 -90 000 84.7 CCZ 55.4 1.5 1.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 0.0 25.8

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) JUSPD-386 -90 000 85.0 CCZ 59.0 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.8 0.0 22.0 JUSPD-388 -90 000 85.0 CCZ 54.8 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.0 22.0

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS gold-copper project;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt;

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and

Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil.

Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023).

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Dr. Adrian McArthur

CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.net.br

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Technical Notes

Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)).

Copper equivalents are calculated as CuEq(%) = (Cu% * %Recovery) = (0.6703*(Au(g/t) * %Recovery)) + (0.0087*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where

Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856;

Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686

Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037

Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield. Gold price US$1,650/oz; Silver US$21.35/oz; Copper US$3.59/lb.

Samples have been analysed at the accredited ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples with visible gold identified during logging are analysed by screen fire assay method Au-SCR21. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. In BP sampling, gold was analysed historically be fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by samples were analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 90-97% of intersection width.

The Mise-a-la-Masse survey is being conducted using the Company's in-house team, utilizing its GDD GRx8-16c receiver and 5000W-2400-15A transmitter. Data is processed by the Company's independent consultancy Core Geophysics. Geophysical and geochemical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit.

Qualified Person

Dr. Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, Ph.D. FAusIMM., CEO of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

[1] See Meridian News Release of September 26, 2022

[2] See Technical notes for AuEq inputs

[3] See Meridian News Release of March 27, 2023

True width is considered to be 90-97% of intersection width

[4] See Meridian News Release of March 6, 2023

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753659/Meridians-Drilling-Exceeds-Expectations-and-adds-more-Metal-into-Cabaal-Open-Pit
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TORONTO, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) today reported its first quarter (Q1) results for the period ended March 31st, 2023.



"This quarter we completed a series of large financing transactions involving shares of our McEwen Copper subsidiary, which has increased the market value attributable to our copper business to $550 million (for 100%) from $257 million at the conclusion of the prior financing round in August 2022. As 52% owner, McEwen Mining shareholders are benefitting from this value accretion, which validates the strategy we set out in July 2021 to surface value from Los Azules by funding it independently," said Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner. "Our 100% owned precious metal mines generated a gross profit this quarter, although McEwen Copper expenses obscures our improved performance on a net basis. We continue to invest in exploration as the most cost-effective means to extend the life of our operations with positive results."

Financial Results

Notice to reader: Under US GAAP, McEwen Mining consolidates 100% of the accounts of its wholly-owned and majority owned subsidiaries in its reported financial results, including McEwen Copper. Entities over which we exert significant influence but do not control, such as Minera Santa Cruz S.A. ("MSC"), are presented as an equity investment on our balance sheet.

Our gross profit in Q1 was $4.4 million and our cash gross profit(1) was $11.3 million, compared to a gross loss of $6.0 million and cash gross loss of $2.3 million in Q1 2022. The increase in gross profit and cash gross profit directly resulted from improvements in productivity across our Fox Complex and Gold Bar mine operations.

Adjusted net loss(1) was $6.4 million, or $0.14 per share in Q1, compared to an adjusted net loss of $13.1 million, or $0.28 per share in Q1 2022. Adjusted net income or loss is a new non-GAAP financial measure intended to provide readers with a metric to evaluate our 100% owned precious metal business, excluding McEwen Copper (52%) and MSC (49%), which owns the San Jose mine.

We reported a consolidated net loss of $43.1 million, or $0.91 per share in Q1, compared to a net loss of $20.7 million, or $0.45 per share in Q1 2022. The largest contributor to our net loss was $31.9 million spent on exploration at our Los Azules project, which we expensed under US GAAP. We also incurred $5.9 million in exploration expenses at our Fox Complex and Gold Bar mine operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Consolidated cash and equivalents increased to $190.8 million(2) at the end of Q1 with the completion of a primary and secondary offering of common shares in McEwen Copper. These transactions brought in 30 billion Argentine Pesos from FCA Argentina (a subsidiary of Stellantis) and $30 million from Nuton (a Rio Tinto venture).

McEwen Mining received $47.5 million in available funds from the secondary sale of 8.7% of McEwen Copper, which will be used to reduce our senior secured debt, for project development spending and general corporate purposes. The balance of the funds raised from the primary issuance will be used by McEwen Copper for Los Azules project spending, predominantly drilling and other feasibility-oriented work programs to advance the project towards an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in Q2 2023 and a Feasibility Study by the end of 2024.

Total debt was $65 million at the end of Q1. Management intends to reduce this amount by $25 million through the repayment in full of the portion of the senior secured credit facility owed to Sprott Lending.

Gold & Silver Production

Production from our three operating mines was 30,400 gold equivalent ounces (GEOs) (3) in Q1, compared to 25,200 GEOs in Q1 2022. Production guidance remains 150,000-170,000 GEOs for 2023.

Individual Mine Performance (See Table 1):

Fox performed well in the quarter and achieved its budgeted production at costs in-line with our guidance for the year. This is a significant improvement over Q1 last year when the mine struggled with effects of the pandemic and equipment failures. The Fox team's diligent efforts have resulted in much improved operating performance and cash generation.

Gold Bar continued to ramp-up mining from the Gold Bar South deposit in Q1, and successfully placed 15,000 contained gold ounces on the heap leach pad. Extreme snow and rainfall in the southwestern United States this winter resulted in flooding around Gold Bar, temporarily restricting access to the mine. Despite these challenges the Gold Bar team kept costs under control and remained focused on delivering ore to the heap leach pad and production is steadily increasing. Mining resumed at the Pick pit in April, which will continue to add gold inventory to the heap leach pad, contributing to the increase of production in the balance of the year.

San Jose usually has a lower production in the beginning of the year because of holidays closure and a planned annual shutdown for maintenance during Q1. This quarter's production was additionally hindered by negative grade reconciliation to the mine model, which is attributed to variability around the margins of the mined veins. From a financial perspective, lower production in Q1 was offset by higher than budgeted realized gold and silver prices, which allowed the San Jose team to adjust their plans for 2023 by accelerating development and definition drilling to access new mining areas. McEwen management visited San Jose in April to review the 2023 plan and exploration activities.

Exploration

Exploration results from flow-through funded drilling at the Fox Complex were published in a separate press release on May 8th; drilling will continue during the rest of the year, focusing on prospective zones at the Stock property and the Grey Fox property.

Infill and exploration results from Los Azules were published on January 26th, March 6th, April 5th, and May 5th. Drilling at Los Azules is expected to continue until the end of May and then resume in October, after the South American winter.

Gold Bar exploration activities were focused on defining the boundaries of our oxide resources at the Pick deposit, and on testing the Benmark target, located immediately southwest of the leach pad. Drilling at the Cabin South target is expected to be underway shortly. If results are successful in these areas, they each have potential to positively impact the mine plan in the near-term.

San Jose's drilling programs to define additional resources and reserves have a long history of success due to a high vein density, aided by good geophysical response from hidden veins. Exploration drilling to discover and extend veins is occurring in several areas with success to the North of the mine, where two potentially economic veins (Maura NW and Maura SW) are returning good results. Drilling at the Telken target in the South of the property, and adjacent to Newmont's Cerro Negro mine, is planned for Q3.

McEwen Copper

We own a 52% interest in McEwen Copper Inc., which holds a 100% interest in the Los Azules copper project in San Juan, Argentina, and the Elder Creek exploration project in Nevada, USA.

On February 23, 2023, we closed an ARS $30 billion investment by FCA Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Stellantis N.V., and on March 15, 2023, we closed a $30 million investment by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture and existing McEwen Copper shareholder. Subsequent to these transactions Stellantis and Nuton each own 14.2% of McEwen Copper.

During Q1, McEwen Copper spent $31.9 million to advance a major drilling campaign involving up to 15 rigs, ongoing road maintenance and improvements, hyperspectral scanning of the entire drill core library, technical studies necessary for the updated PEA, environmental baseline work, project optimization and trade-off studies including renewable power supplies and mining methods, and metallurgical test work.

On April 14, 2023, the Los Azules Environmental Impact Report for Exploitation was submitted by McEwen Copper to the Argentinian authorities for review.

Drilling at the Elder Creek project conducted by Kennecott Exploration Company, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is expected to begin in May. Kennecott has the option to earn a 60% interest in Elder Creek by investing $18 million over a maximum of seven years.

Management Conference Call

Management will discuss our Q1 financial results and project developments and follow with a question and answer session. Questions can be asked directly by participants over the phone during the webcast.

Tuesday



May 9th, 2023

at 11:00 AM EDT

Toll Free (US & Canada): (888) 330-2398 Outside US & Canada: (240) 789-2709 Conference ID Number: 67121 Event Registration Link: https://conferencingportals.com/event/ZSafhHZi Webcast Link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/775071696

An archived replay of the webcast will be available approximately 2 hours following the conclusion of the live event. Access the replay on the Company's media page at https://www.mcewenmining.com/media.

Table 1 below provides production and cost results for Q1, with comparative results from Q1 2022 and our guidance range for 2023.

Q1 Full Year 2023

Guidance Range



2022 2023 Consolidated Production Gold (oz) 20,850 25,900 123,000-139,000 Silver (oz) 335,500 381,200 2,300,000-2,600,000 GEOs(3) 25,200 30,400 150,000-170,000 Gold Bar Mine, Nevada GEOs 6,300 6,500 42,000-48,000 Cash Costs/GEO $2,284 $1,491 $1,400 AISC/GEO $2,633 $1,725 $1,680 Fox Complex, Canada GEOs(1) 7,700 12,700 42,000-48,000 Cash Costs/GEO $1,193 $1,088 $1,000 AISC/GEO $1,729 $1,311 $1,320 San Jose Mine, Argentina (49%) Gold production (oz)(4) 6,450 6,700 39,000-43,000 Silver production (oz)(4) 335,500 381,200 2,300,000-2,600,000 GEOs 10,700 11,200 66,000-74,000 Cash Costs/GEO $1,589 $1,800 $1,250 AISC/GEO $2,103 $2,234 $1,550

Notes:

Cash gross profit, cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs (AISC) per ounce, and adjusted net income or loss and adjusted net income or loss per share are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized definition under U.S. GAAP. For definition of the non-GAAP measures see "Non-GAAP- Financial Measures" section in this press release; for the reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the closest U.S. GAAP measures, see the Management Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed on Edgar and SEDAR. On our balance sheet the Argentine Pesos held by McEwen Copper are converted to US dollars at the official exchange rate (209ARS/USD on March 31st). 'Gold Equivalent Ounces' are calculated based on a gold to silver price ratio of 84:1 for Q1 2023 and 78:1 for Q1 2022. 2023 production guidance is calculated based on 85:1 gold to silver price ratio. Represents the portion attributable to us from our 49% interest in the San Jose Mine.

Technical Information

The technical content of this news release related to financial results, mining and development projects has been reviewed and approved by William (Bill) Shaver, P.Eng., COO of McEwen Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by SEC S-K 1300 and the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

Reliability of Information Regarding San Jose

Minera Santa Cruz S.A., the owner of the San Jose Mine, is responsible for and has supplied to the Company all reported results from the San Jose Mine. McEwen Mining's joint venture partner, a subsidiary of Hochschild Mining plc, and its affiliates other than MSC do not accept responsibility for the use of project data or the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING NON-GAAP MEASURES

In this release, we have provided information prepared or calculated according to United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"), as well as provided some non-U.S. GAAP ("non-GAAP") performance measures. Because the non-GAAP performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Cash Costs and All-in Sustaining Costs

Cash costs consist of mining, processing, on-site general and administrative costs, community and permitting costs related to current operations, royalty costs, refining and treatment charges (for both dore and concentrate products), sales costs, export taxes and operational stripping costs, and exclude depreciation and amortization. All-in sustaining costs consist of cash costs (as described above), plus accretion of retirement obligations and amortization of the asset retirement costs related to operating sites, sustaining exploration and development costs, sustaining capital expenditures, and sustaining lease payments. Both cash costs and all-in sustaining costs are divided by the gold equivalent ounces sold to determine cash costs and all-in sustaining costs on a per ounce basis. We use and report these measures to provide additional information regarding operational efficiencies on an individual mine basis, and believe that these measures provide investors and analysts with useful information about our underlying costs of operations. A reconciliation to production costs applicable to sales, the nearest U.S. GAAP measure is provided in McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Cash Gross Profit

Cash gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning. We use cash gross profit to evaluate our operating performance and ability to generate cash flow; we disclose cash gross profit as we believe this measure provides valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating our ability to finance our ongoing business and capital activities. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is gross profit. Cash gross profit is calculated by adding depletion and depreciation to gross profit. A reconciliation to gross profit, the nearest U.S. GAAP measure is provided in McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Adjusted Net Income or Loss and Adjusted Net Income or Loss Per Share

Adjusted net income or loss is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning. We use adjusted net income or loss to evaluate our operating performance and ability to generate cash flow from our wholly-owned operations in production; we disclose this metric as we believe this measure provides valuable assistance to investors and analysts in evaluating our ability to finance our precious metal operations and capital activities separately from our copper operations. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is net income or loss. Adjusted net income or loss is calculated by adding back McEwen Copper and MSC's income or loss impacts to our consolidated net income or loss.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, including "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements and information expressed, as at the date of this news release, McEwen Mining Inc.'s (the "Company") estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events and results. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies, and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results or future events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks, political, economic, social and security risks associated with foreign operations, the ability of the Company to receive or receive in a timely manner permits or other approvals required in connection with operations, risks associated with the construction of mining operations and commencement of production and the projected costs thereof, risks related to litigation, the state of the capital markets, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral resources and reserves, foreign exchange volatility, foreign exchange controls, foreign currency risk, and other risks. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information included herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. See McEwen Mining's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Risk Factors", for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information regarding the Company. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement.

The NYSE and TSX have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release, which has been prepared by management of McEwen Mining Inc.

ABOUT MCEWEN MINING

McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns approximately 52% of McEwen Copper which owns the large, advanced stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The Company's goal is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the objective of increasing its share price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has personal investment in the company of US$220 million. His annual salary is US$1.

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EQS-Ad-hoc: Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.:



09-May-2023 / 12:40 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





DISCLOSURE OF INSIDE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO ART. 17 OF THE EU MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU 596/2014, MAR)

STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS N.V. - Mattress Firm / Tempur Sealy

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. ("Steinhoff" or the "Company" and with its subsidiaries, the "Steinhoff Group").

On 11 January 2023 Steinhoff announced that Mattress Firm Group Inc. ("Mattress Firm") had elected to withdraw its IPO registration, and that Mattress Firm would continue to actively explore all options and the way forward. The Company, through Newco 3 and via Newco 9, holds an equity interest of 50.1% (economic interest of approximately 45% on a fully-diluted basis) in Mattress Firm.

Mattress Firm and Tempur Sealy International, Inc. ("Tempur Sealy") today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Tempur Sealy to acquire the entire issued shares in Mattress Firm in a cash and share transaction valued at approximately $4.0 billion ("Transaction Value").

Under the terms of the agreement, Tempur Sealy will acquire Mattress Firm for an enterprise value of approximately $4.0 billion. The consideration will consist of approximately $2.7 billion of cash consideration (subject to adjustments including the repayment of Mattress Firm's debt and other customary items) and 34.2 million shares in Tempur Sealy (with a valuation of $1.3 billion based on the closing share price of Tempur Sealy on 8 May 2023) issued to Mattress Firm shareholders. Following the transaction, Steinhoff will indirectly own approximately 7.5% of the combined company (based on the number of shares of Tempur Sealy common stock outstanding at the time of signing, plus the number of shares that will be issued in connection with this transaction). Tempur Sealy expects to expand its existing Board of Directors by appointing two mutually-agreed existing Mattress Firm directors to the Tempur Sealy Board upon the closing of the transaction.

The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm. Mattress Firm shareholders holding more than 80% of Mattress Firm's outstanding shares have signed voting agreements in support of the transaction. The transaction does not require Tempur Sealy shareholder approval.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, including receipt of clearance under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Tempur Sealy has noted that it has received a request for additional information and documentary material from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") in connection with the FTC's review of the transaction. Tempur Sealy has also noted that it expects to work cooperatively with the FTC to complete the acquisition.

On receipt of the cash consideration on closing, the cash will be used to prepay Newco 3 debt on the terms of the existing and amended finance documents.

The share consideration received will be subject to a three month lock up. Any disposal of the shares received will be at the discretion of Newco 3 and subject to the relevant finance documents. Proceeds from the sale of those shares will also be used to prepay financial indebtedness.

The Transaction Value does not differ materially from the value range used by Steinhoff in respect of its economic interest in Mattress Firm for the relevant disclosures and calculations in the 2022 Annual Report as well as for the 22 March 2023 AGM presentation and the WHOA documentation. There is therefore no material impact on the WHOA valuation reports and there are no changes required to the WHOA Restructuring Plan. The WHOA Restructuring Plan continues in accordance with the timetable previously announced.

For further details regarding the Mattress Firm / Tempur Sealy transaction, please refer to the detailed Tempur Sealy press release available on the Company website.

The Company has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited.

Stellenbosch

9 May 2023

Contact:

Steinhoff International Holdings N.V.

Investor Relations

Phone: +27 21 808 0700

E-mail: investors@steinhoffinternational.com

09-May-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Announces Agreement to Acquire Mattress Firm

Reports EPS of $0.48 and Adjusted EPS (1) of $0.53

Declares First Quarter Dividend of $0.11 per share

Reaffirms 2023 Adjusted EPS(1) Guidance Range of $2.60 - $2.80

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) and Mattress Firm Group Inc. ("Mattress Firm") today announced that Tempur Sealy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress specialty retailer, in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4 .0 billion. The Company expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. A separate press release related to the announcement of this transaction can be found on the Company's investor relations website at investor.tempursealy.com.

The Company today also announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 and reaffirmed financial guidance for the full year 2023.

FIRST QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Total net sales decreased 2.5% to $1,208.1 million as compared to $1,239.5 million in the first quarter of 2022. On a constant currency basis (1) , total net sales decreased 0.5%, with a decrease of 1.2% in the North America business segment and an increase of 1.7% in the International business segment.

, total net sales decreased 0.5%, with a decrease of 1.2% in the North America business segment and an increase of 1.7% in the International business segment. Gross margin was 41.4% as compared to 42.2% in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted gross margin (1) was 41.8% in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to gross margin in the first quarter of 2022.

was 41.8% in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to gross margin in the first quarter of 2022. Operating income decreased 24.0% to $143.3 million as compared to $188.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating income (1) was $153.4 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to operating income in the first quarter of 2022.

was $153.4 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to operating income in the first quarter of 2022. Net income decreased 34.7% to $85.3 million as compared to $130.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted net income (1) was $92.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2022.

was $92.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2022. Earnings per diluted share ("EPS") decreased 30.4% to $0.48 as compared to $0.69 in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted EPS(1) was $0.53 in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to EPS in the first quarter of 2022.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

(in millions, except percentages and per common share amounts) Three Months Ended

% Reported

Change March 31, 2023

March 31, 2022 Net sales $ 1,208.1

$ 1,239.5

(2.5) % Net income $ 85.3

$ 130.7

(34.7) % Adjusted net income (1) $ 92.9

$ 130.7

(28.9) % EPS $ 0.48

$ 0.69

(30.4) % Adjusted EPS (1) $ 0.53

$ 0.69

(23.2) %

Company Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson commented, "Our first quarter performance reflects the strength of our industry-leading business model, as we continued to outperform the broader industry against a challenging operating backdrop. Though the U.S. industry conditions were slightly less favorable than anticipated as a result of heightened macroeconomic pressures, we performed largely in-line with our first quarter expectations. In the second quarter, our expectation is that our consolidated sales will return to growth year over year, supported by the strong reception to our newly launched products, encouraging order trends quarter to date, and fully lapping the challenging prior year comps in the first quarter.

Thompson continued, "Today we also announced that we have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress specialty retailer. This acquisition aligns with our strategy of acquiring companies that extend our competitive advantages, enable us to move closer to consumers, and facilitate continued innovation. This combination will complement Tempur Sealy's extensive product development and manufacturing capabilities with vertically integrated retail. The two companies have grown over the last 35 years with a mutual focus on providing customers the best sleep products in the world. We are thrilled to formally bring these teams together."

Business Segment Highlights

The Company's business segments include North America and International. Corporate operating expenses are not included in either of the business segments and are presented separately as a reconciling item to consolidated results.

North America net sales decreased 1.3% to $919.6 million as compared to $931.4 million in the first quarter of 2022. This decline was primarily driven by continued macroeconomic pressures impacting U.S. consumer behavior. On a constant currency basis(1), North America net sales decreased 1.2% as compared to the first quarter of 2022. Gross margin was 37.4% as compared to 37.8% in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted gross margin(1) was 37.9% in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to gross margin in the first quarter of 2022. Operating margin was 14.8% as compared to 16.7% in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating margin(1) was 15.3% in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to operating margin in the first quarter of 2022.

North America net sales through the wholesale channel decreased $7.0 million, or 0.9%, to $804.3 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2022. North America net sales through the direct channel decreased $4.8 million, or 4.0%, to $115.3 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2022.

North America adjusted gross margin(1) improved 10 basis points as compared to gross margin in the first quarter of 2022. The improvement was primarily driven by pricing actions, partially offset by operational headwinds and product launch costs. North America adjusted operating margin(1) declined 140 basis points as compared to operating margin in the first quarter of 2022. The decline was primarily driven by operating expense deleverage partially offset by the improvement in gross margin.

International net sales decreased 6.4% to $288.5 million as compared to $308.1 million in the first quarter of 2022. This decline was primarily driven by unfavorable foreign exchange. On a constant currency basis(1), International net sales increased 1.7% as compared to the first quarter of 2022. Gross margin was 54.0% as compared to 55.3% in the first quarter of 2022. Operating margin was 15.3% as compared to 21.7% in the first quarter of 2022.

International net sales through the wholesale channel decreased $4.5 million, or 4.0%, to $108.3 million as compared to the first quarter of 2022. International net sales through the direct channel decreased $15.1 million, or 7.7%, to $180.2 million as compared to the first quarter of 2022.

International gross margin declined 130 basis points as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The decline was primarily driven by product launch costs, offset by pricing actions. International operating margin declined 640 basis points as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The decline was primarily driven by operating expense deleverage associated with product launch costs, the decline in gross margin and Asia joint venture performance.

Corporate operating expense increased to $36.9 million as compared to $33.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. Corporate adjusted operating expense(1) was $31.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to operating expense in the first quarter of 2022.

Consolidated net income decreased 34.7% to $85.3 million as compared to $130.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted net income(1) was $92.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2022. EPS decreased 30.4% to $0 .48 as compared to $0 .69 in the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted EPS(1) was $0.53 in the first quarter of 2023. There were no adjustments to EPS in the first quarter of 2022.

The Company ended the first quarter of 2023 with total debt of $2.9 billion and consolidated indebtedness less netted cash(1) of $2.8 billion. Leverage based on the ratio of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash(1) to adjusted EBITDA(1) was 3.24 times for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023.

During the first quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $35.7 million . Over the last twelve months, the Company has repurchased 7.4 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $208.3 million . As of March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $774.5 million available under its existing share repurchase authorization.

Additionally, today the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share, payable on June 6, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 23, 2023.

Financial Guidance

For the full year 2023, the Company reaffirmed its expectations for an adjusted EPS(1) range of $2.60 to $2.80 . This contemplates the Company's current sales outlook for mid single digit year-over-year growth.

The Company noted that its expectations are based on information available at the time of this release, and are subject to changing conditions and risks, many of which are outside the Company's control. The Company is unable to reconcile forward-looking adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure, to EPS, its most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure, without unreasonable efforts, because the Company is currently unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the type and extent of certain items that would be expected to impact EPS in 2023.

Conference Call Information

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. will host a live conference call to discuss the announced Mattress Firm acquisition and the Company's financial results today, May 9, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time . The call will be webcast and can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at investor.tempursealy.com. After the conference call, a webcast replay will remain available on the investor relations section of the Company's website for 30 days.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Constant Currency Information

For additional information regarding EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income (expense), adjusted operating margin, consolidated indebtedness and consolidated indebtedness less netted cash (all of which are non-GAAP financial measures), please refer to the reconciliations and other information included in the attached schedules. For information on the methodology used to present information on a constant currency basis, please refer to "Constant Currency Information" included in the attached schedules.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may be characterized as "forward-looking," within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements might include information concerning one or more of the Company's plans, guidance, objectives, goals, strategies, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words "assumes," "estimates," "expects," "guidance," "anticipates," "might," "projects," "plans," "proposed," "targets," "intends," "believes," "will", "contemplates" and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the announced Mattress Firm acquisition, the Company's expected quarterly results and full year guidance, the Company's quarterly cash dividend, the Company's share repurchase targets, the Company's expectations regarding geopolitical events including the war in Ukraine, the macroeconomic environment including its impact on consumer behavior, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in such rates, the bedding industry, financial infrastructure, adjusted EPS for 2023 and subsequent periods and the Company's expectations for increasing sales and adjusted EPS growth, product launches, expected hiring and advertising, capital project timelines, channel growth, acquisitions and commodities outlook. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations, meet its guidance, or that these beliefs will prove correct.

Numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from any that may be expressed herein as forward-looking statements. These potential risks include the factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. There may be other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

About Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

Tempur Sealy is committed to improving the sleep of more people, every night, all around the world. As a leading designer, manufacturer, distributor and retailer of bedding products worldwide, we know how crucial a good night of sleep is to overall health and wellness. Utilizing over a century of knowledge and industry-leading innovation, we deliver award-winning products that provide breakthrough sleep solutions to consumers in over 100 countries.

Our highly recognized brands include Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Stearns & Foster and our popular non-branded offerings consist of value-focused private label and OEM products. At Tempur Sealy we understand the importance of meeting our customers wherever and however they want to shop and have developed a powerful omni-channel retail strategy. Our products allow for complementary merchandising strategies and are sold through third-party retailers, our over 700 Company-owned stores worldwide and our e-commerce channels. With the range of our offerings and variety of purchasing options, we are dedicated to continuing to turn our mission to improve the sleep of more people, every night, all around the world into a reality.

Importantly, we are committed to carrying out our global responsibility to protect the environment and the communities in which we operate. As part of that commitment, we have established the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for our global wholly owned operations by 2040.

Investor Relations Contact:

Aubrey Moore

Investor Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Constant Currency Information" below.

TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in millions, except percentages and per common share amounts) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended





March 31,

Chg %

2023

2022



Net sales $ 1,208.1

$ 1,239.5

(2.5) % Cost of sales 708.2

716.7



Gross profit 499.9

522.8

(4.4) % Selling and marketing expenses 256.7

243.5



General, administrative and other expenses 104.5

97.6



Equity income in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (4.6)

(6.9)



Operating income 143.3

188.6

(24.0) %











Other expense, net:









Interest expense, net 32.8

20.9



Other expense (income), net 0.1

(1.3)



Total other expense, net 32.9

19.6















Income before income taxes 110.4

169.0

(34.7) % Income tax provision (24.5)

(38.1)



Net income before non-controlling interest 85.9

130.9

(34.4) % Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest 0.6

0.2



Net income attributable to Tempur Sealy International, Inc. $ 85.3

$ 130.7

(34.7) %











Earnings per common share:









Basic $ 0.50

$ 0.72

(30.6) % Diluted $ 0.48

$ 0.69

(30.4) %











Weighted average common shares outstanding:









Basic 172.0

182.6



Diluted 176.8

188.5





TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions)



March 31, 2023

December 31, 2022 ASSETS (unaudited)











Current Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 91.0

$ 69.4 Accounts receivable, net 461.5

422.6 Inventories 566.7

555.0 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 151.4

148.2 Total Current Assets 1,270.6

1,195.2 Property, plant and equipment, net 823.2

791.1 Goodwill 1,069.8

1,062.3 Other intangible assets, net 714.6

715.8 Operating lease right-of-use assets 563.1

506.8 Deferred income taxes 12.7

11.3 Other non-current assets 83.1

77.3 Total Assets $ 4,537.1

$ 4,359.8







LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)













Current Liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 368.1

$ 359.8 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 441.8

432.7 Short-term operating lease obligations 113.5

105.5 Current portion of long-term debt 74.0

70.4 Income taxes payable 25.4

12.8 Total Current Liabilities 1,022.8

981.2 Long-term debt, net 2,769.0

2,739.9 Long-term operating lease obligations 501.3

453.5 Deferred income taxes 116.5

114.0 Other non-current liabilities 83.9

83.5 Total Liabilities 4,493.5

4,372.1







Redeemable non-controlling interest 8.9

9.8







Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) 34.7

(22.1) Total Liabilities, Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) $ 4,537.1

$ 4,359.8

TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions) (unaudited)



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2023

2022 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:





Net income before non-controlling interest $ 85.9

$ 130.9 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 33.8

30.4 Amortization of stock-based compensation 10.8

13.8 Amortization of deferred financing costs 1.0

1.0 Bad debt expense 1.7

1.6 Deferred income taxes 0.7

(1.0) Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates 1.5

1.1 Equity income in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (4.6)

(6.9) Foreign currency adjustments and other (0.8)

(0.1) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of business acquisitions (30.2)

(85.2) Net cash provided by operating activities 99.8

85.6







CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:





Purchases of property, plant and equipment (52.1)

(60.3) Other 0.1

1.0 Net cash used in investing activities (52.0)

(59.3)







CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:





Proceeds from borrowings under long-term debt obligations 509.8

528.1 Repayments of borrowings under long-term debt obligations (477.4)

(216.0) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 0.8

0.1 Treasury stock repurchased (35.7)

(494.8) Dividends paid (20.8)

(18.7) Repayments of finance lease obligations and other (5.1)

(3.5) Net cash used in financing activities (28.4)

(204.8)







NET EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 2.2

(5.9) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 21.6

(184.4) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period 69.4

300.7 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ 91.0

$ 116.3

Summary of Channel Sales

The following table highlights net sales information, by channel and by business segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) Consolidated

North America

International

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022 Wholesale (a) $ 912.6

$ 924.1

$ 804.3

$ 811.3

$ 108.3

$ 112.8 Direct (b) 295.5

315.4

115.3

120.1

180.2

195.3

$ 1,208.1

$ 1,239.5

$ 919.6

$ 931.4

$ 288.5

$ 308.1





(a) The Wholesale channel includes all third party retailers, including third party distribution, hospitality and healthcare. (b) The Direct channel includes company-owned stores, online and call centers.

TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(in millions, except percentages, ratios and per common share amounts)

The Company provides information regarding adjusted net income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS, adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income (expense), adjusted operating margin, consolidated indebtedness and consolidated indebtedness less netted cash, which are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to net income, earnings per share, gross profit, gross margin, operating income (expense) and operating margin as a measure of operating performance, or an alternative to total debt as a measure of liquidity. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with performance measures that better reflect the Company's underlying operations and trends, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income, gross profit, gross margin, operating income (expense) and operating margin. The adjustments management makes to derive the non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments to exclude items that may cause short-term fluctuations in the nearest GAAP financial measure, but which management does not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of the Company's business.

The Company believes that exclusion of these items assists in providing a more complete understanding of the Company's underlying results from operations and trends, and management uses these measures along with the corresponding GAAP financial measures to manage the Company's business, to evaluate its consolidated and business segment performance compared to prior periods and the marketplace, to establish operational goals and to provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes. Limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures include that these measures do not present all of the amounts associated with the Company's results as determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental in nature and should not be construed as more significant than comparable financial measures defined by GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, these presentations may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP financial measure, please refer to the reconciliations on the following pages.

Constant Currency Information

In this press release the Company refers to, and in other press releases and other communications with investors the Company may refer to, net sales, earnings or other historical financial information on a "constant currency basis," which is a non-GAAP financial measure. These references to constant currency do not include operational impacts that could result from fluctuations in foreign currency rates. To provide information on a constant currency basis, the applicable financial results are adjusted based on a simple mathematical model that translates current period results in local currency using the comparable prior corresponding period's currency conversion rate. This approach is used for countries where the functional currency is the local country currency. This information is provided so that certain financial results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of business performance.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS

A reconciliation of reported net income to adjusted net income and the calculation of adjusted EPS is provided below. Management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information with respect to the impact of various adjustments as described in the footnotes at the end of this release.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Company's reported net income to adjusted net income and the calculation of adjusted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:



Three Months Ended (in millions, except per share amounts) March 31, 2023

March 31, 2022 Net income $ 85.3

$ 130.7 Restructuring costs and other (1) 5.2

- ERP system transition (2) 3.2

- Operational start-up costs (3) 1.7

- Adjusted income tax provision (4) (2.5)

- Adjusted net income $ 92.9

$ 130.7







Adjusted earnings per common share, diluted $ 0.53

$ 0.69







Diluted shares outstanding 176.8

188.5



Please refer to Footnotes at the end of this release.

Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Operating Income (Expense) and Adjusted Operating Margin

A reconciliation of gross profit and gross margin to adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin, respectively, and operating income (expense) and operating margin to adjusted operating income (expense) and adjusted operating margin, respectively, are provided below. Management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information with respect to the impact of various adjustments as described in the footnotes at the end of this release.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Company's reported gross profit and operating income (expense) to the calculation of adjusted gross profit and adjusted operating income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2023.



1Q 2023 (in millions, except percentages) Consolidated

Margin

North America

Margin

International

Margin

Corporate Net sales $ 1,208.1





$ 919.6





$ 288.5





$ -



























Gross profit $ 499.9

41.4 %

$ 344.0

37.4 %

$ 155.9

54.0 %

$ - Adjustments:

























ERP system transition (2) 3.2





3.2





-





- Operational start-up costs (3) 1.7





1.7





-





- Total adjustments 4.9





4.9





-





-



























Adjusted gross profit $ 504.8

41.8 %

$ 348.9

37.9 %

$ 155.9

54.0 %

$ -



























Operating income (expense) $ 143.3

11.9 %

$ 136.0

14.8 %

$ 44.2

15.3 %

$ (36.9) Adjustments:

























Restructuring costs and other (1) 5.2





-





-





5.2 ERP system transition (2) 3.2





3.2





-





- Operational start-up costs (3) 1.7





1.7





-





- Total adjustments 10.1





4.9





-





5.2



























Adjusted operating income (expense) $ 153.4

12.7 %

$ 140.9

15.3 %

$ 44.2

15.3 %

$ (31.7)

The following table sets forth the Company's reported gross profit and operating income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company had no adjustments to gross profit or operating income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2022.



1Q 2022 (in millions, except percentages) Consolidated

Margin

North America

Margin

International

Margin

Corporate Net sales $ 1,239.5





$ 931.4





$ 308.1





$ -



























Gross profit $ 522.8

42.2 %

$ 352.4

37.8 %

$ 170.4

55.3 %

$ -



























Operating income (expense) $ 188.6

15.2 %

$ 155.4

16.7 %

$ 66.8

21.7 %

$ (33.6)



Please refer to Footnotes at the end of this release.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Consolidated Indebtedness less Netted Cash

The following reconciliations are provided below:

Net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA

Ratio of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash to adjusted EBITDA

Total debt, net to consolidated indebtedness less netted cash

Management believes that presenting these non-GAAP measures provides investors with useful information with respect to the Company's operating performance, cash flow generation and comparisons from period to period, as well as general information about the Company's leverage.

The Company's credit agreement (the "2019 Credit Agreement") provides the definition of adjusted EBITDA. Accordingly, the Company presents adjusted EBITDA to provide information regarding the Company's compliance with requirements under the 2019 Credit Agreement.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Company's reported net income to the calculations of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:



Three Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2023

March 31, 2022 Net income $ 85.3

$ 130.7 Interest expense, net 32.8

20.9 Income taxes 24.5

38.1 Depreciation and amortization 45.0

44.8 EBITDA $ 187.6

$ 234.5 Adjustments:





Restructuring costs and other(1) 5.2

- ERP system transition (2) 3.2

- Operational start-up costs (3) 1.7

- Adjusted EBITDA $ 197.7

$ 234.5



Please refer to Footnotes at the end of this release.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Company's net income to the calculations of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023:



Trailing Twelve Months Ended (in millions) March 31, 2023 Net income $ 410.3 Interest expense, net 114.9 Income tax provision 105.4 Depreciation and amortization 182.2 EBITDA $ 812.8 Adjustments:

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (5) 0.4 ERP system transition (2) 18.7 Restructuring costs and other (1) 15.2 Operational start-up costs (3) 8.2 Adjusted EBITDA $ 855.3



Consolidated indebtedness less netted cash $ 2,772.7



Ratio of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash to adjusted EBITDA 3.24 times

Under the 2019 Credit Agreement, the definition of adjusted EBITDA contains certain restrictions that limit adjustments to net income when calculating adjusted EBITDA. For the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the Company's adjustments to net income when calculating adjusted EBITDA did not exceed the allowable amount under the 2019 Credit Agreement.

The ratio of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash to adjusted EBITDA is 3.24 times for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023. The 2019 Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a ratio of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash to adjusted EBITDA of less than 5.00 times.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Company's reported total debt to the calculation of consolidated indebtedness less netted cash as of March 31, 2023. "Consolidated Indebtedness" and "Netted Cash" are terms used in the 2019 Credit Agreement for purposes of certain financial covenants.

(in millions) March 31, 2023 Total debt, net $ 2,843.0 Plus: Deferred financing costs (6) 19.6 Consolidated indebtedness 2,862.6 Less: Netted cash (7) 89.9 Consolidated indebtedness less netted cash $ 2,772.7



Please refer to Footnotes at the end of this release.

Footnotes:

(1) In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded $5.2 million of restructuring costs primarily associated with the acquisition of Mattress Firm. In the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $15.2 million of restructuring costs primarily associated with the acquisition of Mattress Firm and headcount reductions related to organizational changes. (2) In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded $3.2 million of charges related to the transition of its ERP system, including labor, logistics, training and travel. In the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $18.7 million of charges related to the transition of its ERP system. (3) In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded $1.7 million of operational start-up costs related to the capacity expansion of its manufacturing and distribution facilities in the U.S., including personnel and facility related costs. In the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $8.2 million of operational start-up costs. (4) Adjusted income tax provision represents the tax effects associated with the aforementioned items. (5) Certain subsidiaries in the International business segment are accounted for as discontinued operations and have been designated as unrestricted subsidiaries in the 2019 Credit Agreement. Therefore, these subsidiaries are excluded from the Company's adjusted financial measures for covenant compliance purposes. (6) The Company presents deferred financing costs as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the related debt in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For purposes of determining total debt for financial covenant purposes, the Company has added these costs back to total debt, net as calculated per the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (7) Netted cash includes cash and cash equivalents for domestic and foreign subsidiaries designated as restricted subsidiaries in the 2019 Credit Agreement.

SOURCE Tempur Sealy International, Inc.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF)(OTCQB:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis cultivator and producer, is pleased to announce the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held May 8, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

All resolutions put forth by the Company's Board of Directors and Management were approved by its shareholders. The following directors were re-elected: Mr. Paul Rosen, Mr. Brian Farrell, Ms. Lisa Capparelli, Mr. Richard Skeith, and Mr. Ranson Shepherd.

Shareholders also voted in favor to:

Determine the number of directors to be elected to the board at Five (5), and to

Appoint MNP, Chartered Professional Accountants as Auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the Directors to fix the auditor's remuneration.

On behalf of its Board of Directors, the Company wishes to thank all voting shareholders for their ongoing support.

For more information regarding the matters approved by shareholders at the AGM, please refer to the Company's Management Proxy Circular that is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or on the Company's website at https://1933industries.com/investors/agm-materials.

About 1933 Industries Inc.

1933 Industries is a Nevada-based, growth-orientated company, focusing on the cultivation and manufacturing of a large portfolio of cannabis consumer-packaged goods in a variety of formats for both the wholesale and retail markets. Its product offerings include: THC flower, pre-rolls, and extracted products under the AMA and Level X brands for the Nevada market; Canna Hemp, national cannabidiol (CBD) brand of infused wellness products including tinctures, gummies, topicals and sport recovery products. The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association, LC (AMA) and 100% of Infused MFG LLC (Infused).

www.1933industries.com

About Alternative Medicine Association

AMA is a licensed medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and extraction subsidiary that produces its own branded line of unique cannabis products. AMA's extensive menu of cannabis products include: craft cannabis flower, pre-rolls, full spectrum oils, high quality distillates, proprietary blends of terpenes, vaporizer products and boutique concentrates such as shatter, crumble, batter, sugar wax, diamonds, and live resin. Ultra-craft brand Level X is an exclusive collection of exotic strains, selected specifically for their distinctive terpene profiles, high THC levels, and flavonoids. With state-of-the-art cultivation and extraction facilities based in Las Vegas, Nevada, AMA seeks to offer medical patients and recreational users alike a cannabis experience that's exceptional, potent, and consistent in quality. www.amanev.com

AMA is also licensed in Nevada as an adult-use cannabis distributor.

About Canna Hemp

With over 60 products in its portfolio, the Canna Hemp brand offers products in a variety of verticals and consumption formats, including, effects-based tinctures, topicals, vape pens and cartridges, gummies, and capsules for Sleep, Relief, Calm, Focus and Energy. High-grade CBD and a proprietary blend of terpenes formulated for specific effects are key differentiators for the Canna Hemp line. The Company recently introduced previously untapped cannabinoids Cannabigerol (CBG) and Cannabinol (CBN) to its portfolio of products with a new line of natural tinctures and gummies.

www.cannahemp.com

For further information please contact:

Alexia Helgason, VP, IR, Marketing, Media

604-728-4407

alexia@1933industries.com

Paul Rosen, CEO

paul@1933industries.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753654/1933-Industries-Announces-Results-of-Annual-General-Meeting
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, has been awarded a 14 million euro contract under a program of and funded by the Exploration Programme of the European Space Agency to design, develop, and qualify the 3D-BioSystem Facility. Being developed by Redwire Space NV, a Belgian legal entity, the 3D-BioSystem Facility will leverage the latest 3D bioprinting technologies to provide a modular, powerful, and unique system to sustain a large number of experiments. Expanding Redwire's legacy of in-space manufacturing and bioprinting on the International Space Station (ISS) for exploration and improving life on Earth, the 3D-BioSystem Facility will be a "one-stop shop" for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

"We are proud to be developing the 3D-BioSystem to advance critical microgravity bioprinting capabilities," said Erik Masure, Redwire Space NV Managing Director. "The ability to bioprint cell constructs will be critical for long-duration spaceflight expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond and for sustainable planetary settlements."

The system will include a 3D bioprinter, 3D cell culture units, and an incubator. The 3D-BioSystem will be able to produce samples in orbit, which can then be further processed there or be returned to ground.

Redwire Space NV's 3D-BioSystem Facility could be an important tool for better understanding cell to cell interactions in thick tissue, creating organoids for drug efficacy and toxicity testing, laying the groundwork for printing vascularized tissue, and, in the future, printing transplantable organ patches for tissue therapy. The system will also help ensure European technological non-dependence and competitiveness, which is crucial to securing space benefits for Earth and expanding the global space economy.

Redwire is a leader in microgravity bioprinting. Redwire's BioFabrication Facility (BFF), a flight dedicated 3D bioprinter, is currently operating on the ISS. BFF is being used for the BFF-Meniscus-2 investigation, which will use BFF to print human knee meniscus. The investigation, a collaboration between Redwire and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Biotechnology, is exploring how space bioprinting could help treat meniscal injuries, one of the most common orthopedic injuries affecting U.S. military service members. Like BFF, the 3D-BioSystem Facility has the potential to advance biomedical research to improve life on Earth.

Redwire's large and diverse catalog of equipment and services is being used by government, institutional and industrial customers for conducting research in microgravity. Redwire's on-orbit capabilities are advancing biomedical capabilities, advanced materials manufacturing, and plant biology, all in an effort to accelerate more scientific discovery and deliver more beneficial products to Earth.

About Redwire

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) is a global leader in mission critical space solutions and high reliability components for the next generation space economy, with valuable intellectual property for solar power generation, in-space 3D printing and manufacturing, avionics, critical components, sensors, digital engineering and space-based biotechnology. We combine decades of flight heritage with an agile and innovative culture. Our "Heritage plus Innovation" strategy enables us to combine proven performance with new, innovative capabilities to provide our customers with the building blocks for the present and future of space infrastructure. For more information, please visit redwirespace.com

Disclaimer: The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005682/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Emily Devine

Emily.Devine@redwirespace.com

305-632-9137

Media Contact (Redwire Europe):

Marta Lebron

Marta.Lebron@redwirespace.eu

+32 3 250 14 50

OR

Investors:

investorrelations@redwirespace.com

904-425-1431
The two biotech companies report that they have successfully screened and identified several small molecule compounds that bind to a challenging membrane protein drug target.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden and DRESDEN, Germany, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salipro Biotech AB and DyNAbind GmbH, two leading biotech companies, announced today the achievement of a key milestone from their collaboration aimed to revolutionize drug discovery against difficult-to-drug targets. The collaboration combines the benefits of Salipro Biotech's proprietary platform technology for membrane proteins with DyNAbind's proprietary DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology to accelerate the development of novel drugs for challenging targets.



Membrane proteins like GPCRs, SLC transporters and Ion Channels are an important but difficult-to-drug class of drug targets representing the majority of targets in the pharmaceutical industry. However, they are inherently unstable and complex to investigate, making drug discovery a tricky process. This collaboration set up a comprehensive discovery process to address this and expand the target space to enable pharma partners to develop novel first-in-class medicines.

The companies are delighted to announce that they have successfully screened and identified several small molecule compounds that bind to a difficult membrane protein target. Binding has been confirmed via surface plasmon resonance, marking a crucial milestone in the drug discovery process. This development opens up entirely new possibilities for the development of novel drugs against challenging targets such as GPCRs and Ion Channels.

Jens Frauenfeld, CEO of Salipro Biotech, said, "We are excited about this milestone in our collaboration with DyNAbind. Our Salipro platform technology for membrane proteins combined with DyNAbind's Dynamic Library technology has opened up new avenues for drug discovery against challenging targets. This marks a significant step towards making the undruggable druggable."

Michael Thompson, CEO of DyNAbind, added, "Membrane proteins represent a major challenge in drug discovery, so we're thrilled to demonstrate our progress in drugging these targets. Our Dynamic Library technology, combined with Salipro Biotech's expertise in making membrane proteins more accessible, has allowed us to make substantial progress in the discovery of novel drugs against these important targets."

This collaboration represents a significant development in the field of DEL and membrane proteins, showcasing the potential for cutting-edge technologies to transform drug discovery. The results demonstrate the potential for the development of novel drugs against challenging targets and will pave the way for future innovations in this field.

Press contact:

Salipro Biotech AB

Jens Frauenfeld

CEO

+46

https://www.salipro.com

DyNAbind GmbH

Nadine Schmieder-Galfe

Director of Operations

+49

https://www.dynabind.com/

For more information, please visit: https://www.salipro.com| https://www.dynabind.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salipro-biotech| https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynabind

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saliprobiotech

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a79e044e-0c5a-426f-b31d-198b6f30f7c8
Ricardo partnership with McLaren for the continued supply of high-performance engines continues into the next decade

Ricardo, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company with specialisms in niche manufacturing and industrial engineering has announced a long-term, multi-year partnership with British supercar company McLaren Automotive to manufacture its next-generation V8 power unit.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005049/en/

Ricardo plc and McLaren Automotive announce long-term multi-year V8 engine supply agreement partnership for future high-performance hybrid powertrains. (Photo: Business Wire)

Designed in-house by McLaren's powertrain team, the new high-performance V8 engine will power the next generation of lightweight, high-performance hybrid supercars as part of the company's Future of Performance strategy.

This is the third extension and fourth generation of the engine supply agreement between the two companies. Ricardo has built both the V6 and V8 engines that will power McLaren's existing and future high-performance hybrid supercars.

Since the introduction of McLaren's first series production supercar, the 12C in 2011, Ricardo has produced over 34,000 McLaren powertrains at its purpose-built assembly facility at Shoreham-by-Sea in the UK, before delivering them to the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, in the UK, where McLaren designs and hand builds its supercars.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ricardo will supply both hybrid and non-hybrid variants. To support this, Ricardo and McLaren will make further investment in the high-performance engine production facility at Shoreham, with over 100 expert manufacturing engineers and technicians committed to supplying McLaren's high-performance powertrains.

Graham Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo plc, said: "We are extremely pleased to have concluded this long-term multi-year engine supply agreement with McLaren Automotive, for its next generation high-performance V8 powertrain, which extends the long-term relationship between both companies into the next decade. Like McLaren, Ricardo has a proven track record of engineering excellence, delivering high performance technology and the highest standards of product quality supported by the upstream supply chain. With this agreement, we look forward to continuing our established and highly successful relationship with McLaren into its third decade."

Michael Leiters, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive said: "Our new high-performance, hybrid V8 powertrain will form an integral part of McLaren's next generation product line-up delivering best-in-class performance and thrilling driver engagement."

"This new agreement with Ricardo is, therefore, an important part of our 'Future of Performance' strategy and builds on the enduring relationship between the two British companies, providing a boost for jobs and ensuring increased investment in what is a vitally important domestic engineering supply chain for future technologies."

-Ends-

About Ricardo

Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world. Visit www.ricardo.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005049/en/

Contacts:

Media contacts:

Kathryn Bellamy

Group Senior Communications Manager

Ricardo plc

Email: kathryn.bellamy@ricardo.com

Telephone: +44(0)7921 941824
Boca Raton, FL, Zurich , May 9, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - BrickMark Group AG ("BrickMark Group"), a global pioneer in the tokenization of real estate assets, today announced a strategic partnership with PreIPO Corporation ("PreIPO.com"), a leading platform for investing in private companies before they go public. This collaboration aims to provide expanded access to tokenized real estate investments for accredited investors worldwide.The partnership brings together BrickMark's expertise in tokenizing real estate assets and PreIPO.com's established platform to allow accredited investors to access high-growth private companies. By joining forces, the two companies will enable accredited investors to easily invest in tokenized real estate, creating a unique opportunity to diversify their portfolios with the world's largest asset class."We are excited to partner with PreIPO.com and leverage our platforms to reach a wider audience of accredited investors interested in digital real estate investments," said Stephan Rind, CEO and Founder of Brickmark. "Our mission is to unlock the vast potential of the real estate market through tokenization, and this partnership brings us closer to that goal. With this partnership two of the leading FinTech platforms in Europe and North America join forces to strengthen their distribution network between two continents."Through this collaboration, BrickMark and PreIPO.com will offer the following benefits to investors:- Expanded Access: Accredited investors will be able to invest in tokenized real estate assets alongside private companies on the PreIPO.com platform.- Enhanced Diversification: Investors can diversify their portfolios by adding tokenized real estate to their existing investments in private companies.- Streamlined Transactions: The partnership simplifies the process of investing in tokenized real estate, providing a seamless experience for accredited investors."Stephan Rind and the Brickmark team have built an impressive platform that unlocks the value of real estate through tokenization," said David Grzan CEO of PreIPO.com. "We are thrilled to join forces and offer our accredited investors access to this innovative asset class, further enhancing the diversification of their portfolios."This partnership marks a significant step forward for both Brickmark and PreIPO.com as they continue to revolutionize the way investors access the world's largest asset class and high-growth private companies.About BrickmarkSwitzerland-based BrickMark Group is a global pioneer and leading provider in Europe of tokenization solutions for the transformation of real estate assets and projects into digital investment products. The BrickMark Group takes over the conception, structuring and implementation of the tokenization projects via their platform BRICKGATE as a so-called "One Stop Shop". Currently in preparation is the tokenization of two international commercial properties with a total volume of more than CHF 400 million.About PreIPO.comPreIPO.com is a premier platform that connects accredited investors with private companies before they go public. The platform provides investors with access to high-growth companies, allowing them to invest in the future success of these businesses and diversify their portfolios.For more information, please contact:BrickMark Group Public RelationsEmail: info@brickmark.netPhone: +41 41 500 0141PreIPO.com Public RelationsEmail: info@preipo.comPhone: +1 (888) 863 1582Source: PreIPOCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Gaza, May 9 (UNI) The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 12, a total of 20 other people were injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

"The death toll has risen to 12 and the number of those injured in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has reached 20," the ministry said.

Earlier, the ministry said nine people were killed in Israeli shelling.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS GNK
Revolutionary UGC Shortcut Program Empowers Aspiring Content Creators to Turn Passions Into Profitable Careers

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Rebel Socials, founded by Kate Rebel, is excited to announce the launch of their groundbreaking program, UGC Shortcut. This innovative program is designed to provide aspiring content creators with the tools, insights, and mentorship needed to turn their passion into a rewarding career. The UGC Shortcut program aims to transform lives by helping creators achieve financial freedom and success in the rapidly evolving digital world.



Kate Rebel: The Inspiring Force Behind Rebel Socials' UGC Shortcut

Kate Rebel, founder of Rebel Socials, demonstrates the use of a popular beauty product in her well-lit creative space, showcasing her expertise in crafting engaging and effective User-Generated Content

Kate Rebel, a stay-at-home mom turned successful lifestyle, health and wellness content creator based in Philadelphia, PA, discovered her true potential after realizing the opportunities available in the rapidly growing User Generated Content (UGC) industry. With no prior background in marketing, Kate mastered direct response formulas and content creation strategies, proving that anyone can succeed in this field with determination and passion.

Through her unique approach, Kate has successfully secured deals with major brands like Rimmel London, Biore, and Curology, demonstrating the power and effectiveness of her strategies. The UGC Shortcut program is a step-by-step guide that shares Kate's exact strategies for achieving success as a UGC creator. Through this program, Kate and Rebel Socials aim to inspire others to follow in her footsteps, breaking down barriers and making success accessible to all.

Rebel Socials offers a range of services, including a UGC Starter Kit, comprehensive UGC Course, and personal mentorship, designed to equip aspiring creators with the skills, strategies, and support needed to succeed in the content creation industry. The UGC Shortcut program emphasizes the importance of strategy, best practices, and ongoing learning, helping creators find success without the need for a large following.

As an industry leader, Kate Rebel and Rebel Socials are dedicated to helping others break free from the constraints of traditional employment, offering a pathway to a fulfilling career in content creation. Through Kate's guidance, mentorship, and the supportive community at Rebel Socials, aspiring creators are finding the confidence and skills necessary to turn their passions into profitable careers.

For more information on Rebel Socials and the UGC Shortcut program, visit their website.

About Rebel Socials

Rebel Socials, founded by UGC expert Kate Rebel, is a revolutionary platform that empowers creatives to turn their passions into successful UGC careers. Offering mentorship, resources, and strategies, including the groundbreaking UGC Shortcut program, Rebel Socials helps aspiring creators navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, achieve financial freedom, and find fulfillment in their work. With a proven track record of securing deals with major brands, Rebel Socials is a trusted resource for content creators looking to thrive in the competitive digital market.

Contact Information:

Kate Rebel

CEO

pr.projectkate@gmail.com

SOURCE: Rebel Socials

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753490/Unlocking-the-Secret-to-UGC-Success-How-a-Stay-at-Home-Mom-Turned-Content-Creator-Revolutionized-the-Industry-With-UGC-Shortcut
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT", or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTCQX:CBULF)(FSE:CB82) is pleased to provide the following operational update for its 100% owned Aukam graphite mine and processing plant located 200 km east of the port of Luderitz in Namibia.

In April our technical team arrived at the Aukam mine site to advance the plant in order to batch process one hundred tonnes of a high purity graphite concentrate which will be shipped to industry partners in Asia, Europe and USA for integration into end-user applications. This program completes our operational readiness ahead of commercial production and is contemplated to run through mid-August. This work will complete the installation of the polishing mill and the stirred media mill. These two mills are designed to remove minor impurities from the surface of graphite particles to attain the specification required by customers. This circuit should be installed at the Aukam site by mid-June.

The processing plant is designed to operate optimally at a graphite feed grade of 35%. From previous programs and test results, we were able to achieve an average grade between 94.8% and 97.3%, with a recovery between 87% and 94% (see Press Release of December 20,2021 with metallurgical results).

Within the next sixty days, our engineering team will carry out the following actions to prepare for delivery of the final product:

Complete the final assembly of the modified flotation columns and spargers

Set up and level the base frames for the flotation columns

Install a cover for the reagent area

Install the dosing pumps for the frother

Assemble and install the conditioning tanks

Construct the sumps for the flotation columns

Connect the air lines for the flotation columns

Connect the water feed for the flotation columns

Install the upgraded cyclones at the mill discharge

Install the mill feed water control system

Install the head chute of CV1 conveyor belt

Retrofit the CV2 and CV8 conveyor with chevron belts

Install the spill boards for the run-of-mine (ROM) bin

Assemble fencing for the core storage and mine access.

This work is expected to be completed in approximately 60 days.

Arno Brand, President and CEO of Gratomic stated "We are very pleased with the progress at Aukam and look forward to the completion of our final stages and the commencement of production. I'd like to thank our entire

Gratomic team for their efforts and we look forward to enhancing shareholder value and servicing our global customers".

Gratomic wishes to emphasize that no Preliminary Economic Analysis, Preliminary Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study has been completed to support any level of production. In fact, no mineral resources let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam property.

The Company is working towards completing a Feasibility Study (FS) on the Aukam Processing plant. The study, its recommendations, and their subsequent implementation, will provide conclusions and recommendation at a FS level of comfort relating to the scale up of the existing processing plant to a commercial scale processing facility capable of producing the desired concentrate grades and production rates.

Gratomic wishes to emphasize that the supply of graphite is conditional on Gratomic being able to bring the Aukam project into a production phase, and for any graphite being produced to meet certain technical and mineralization requirements. Gratomic continues to move its business towards production and as part of its business plan, expects to file a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects resource estimate in Q3 2023.

Risk Factors

No mineral resources, let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam Property. The Company is not in a position to demonstrate or disclose any capital and/or operating costs that may be associated with the processing plant until the FS (Feasibility Study) is completed.

The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on even the existence of mineral resources let alone on a Preliminary Feasibility Study or FS of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit.

Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved.

Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability.

About Gratomic

Gratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. The Company aims to become a leading graphite supplier and to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle battery supply chain through the development of its flagship Aukam graphite mine and ongoing exploration at the Capim Grosso property. The Company will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes.

Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing to confirm its suitability as anode material. Gratomic is confident that the test results will provide a unique competitive advantage in the desired target markets. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will share results as they become available.

On the January 25, 2023 Gratomic announced that it had entered into a LOI with Graphex Technologies to supply graphite through existing facilities and develop a downstream processing facility in the continental US.

Gratomic has entered into a collaborative agreement with Forge Nano to use its patented atomic layer technology (ALD) to coat of spherical graphite required in lithium-ion batteries.

For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:

Arno Brand at abrand@gratomic.ca or (416) 561- 4095

Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.

For Marketing and Media information, please email: info@gratomic.ca

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com)

SOURCE: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753602/Gratomic-informs-Operational-Update-on-the-Aukam-Mine-Site
Knight-Hennessy Scholars will include 85 new scholars in its sixth cohort, representing 29 countries and 38 graduate degree programs across Stanford University

STANFORD, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University today announced its 2023 cohort of 85 new scholars, the largest to date. The new cohort comprises students from 29 countries who will pursue degrees in 38 graduate programs across all seven graduate schools at Stanford. For the first time ever, the cohort includes scholars from Hungary, Malawi, the Netherlands, Russia, Sierra Leone, and Turkey.





Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate scholarship program. Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world. Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset; they span all seven schools at Stanford across all departments.

"In a world that continues to grow more complex, Knight-Hennessy scholars are building the knowledge, skills, and community needed to address our biggest challenges, from climate change to immigration to equity in health care and education - and so much more," said John L. Hennessy, Stanford University president emeritus and the Shriram Family Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. "I believe these scholars will help build a better future for all of us."

Knight-Hennessy Scholars develops emerging leaders who have a commitment to the greater good and the tools needed to drive meaningful change. The King Global Leadership Program is a core part of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience, offering a wide range of workshops, lectures, projects, and experiences that complement scholars' graduate school education, helping them reach their leadership objectives.

Among the 2023 scholars , 51 percent are female and 41 percent hold a passport from a foreign country. Sixty-three percent of U.S. scholars identify as a person of color, and 8 percent have served in the U.S. military. The scholars earned undergraduate degrees at 17 international and 38 U.S. institutions. Nineteen percent are the first in their family to graduate from college. The sixth cohort brings the total scholar count to 425 to date, beginning with the inaugural cohort enrolled in 2018.

"I am inspired by our scholars every day," said Tina Seelig, executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. "Their diversity is our strength. During their time with us KH scholars build an incredible community that expands their world and their potential for impact. I'm so excited to welcome our 2023 cohort."

The application for the 2024 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars will open June 1, 2023, and is due October 11, 2023. Prospective scholars can attend online information sessions to learn about the community, the leadership development program, and the admission process. Knight-Hennessy Scholars has no quotas or restrictions based on region, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars received 7,119 total applications this year, an increase of 5 percent from last year's 6,742 applications. Of the total applications, 3,733 were eligible applications for the 2023 cohort. Eligible applications include those prospective scholars who submitted applications to both Knight-Hennessy Scholars as well as their Stanford degree program.

Announced in 2016, Knight-Hennessy Scholars is named for Phil Knight, MBA '62, philanthropist and co-founder of Nike Inc., and John Hennessy, chairman of Alphabet Inc. and president emeritus of Stanford (2000-2016). Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the largest fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world. Learn more at kh.stanford.edu .

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/knight-hennessy-scholars-announces-2023-cohort-of-new-scholars-its-largest-ever-301817611.html
At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power nearly 23,000 homes

Income-qualified customers who are enrolled in the community solar program will see guaranteed savings on their bill every month

ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Duke Energy announced the completion of two solar projects in Alachua and Suwannee counties, the latest sites in the company's community solar program portfolio, Clean Energy Connection. Together, the sites at peak production are delivering 150 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the grid to benefit Florida customers.

The High Springs Renewable Energy Center is built on 700 acres in Alachua County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.

The Hildreth Renewable Energy Center is built on 635 acres in Suwannee County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels.

At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power what would be equivalent to around 23,000 homes.

With a combined investment of over $2 billion, Duke Energy Florida's solar generation portfolio will include 25 grid-tied solar power plants that will benefit all of the company's 1.9 million Florida customers. These projects will provide about 1,500 MW of emission-free generation using approximately 5 million solar panels by 2024.

"The company is well on its way to meeting a major milestone by placing its 21st solar project in operation by the end of this year, delivering on our customer commitment to provide reliable, affordable, clean energy," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "These investments allow Florida customers to enjoy renewable energy, while also providing cost savings by reducing fuel use."

Based on Duke Energy Florida's current fuel mix, each 74.9-MW solar facility displaces about 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal each year.

Clean Energy Connection program

Through the Clean Energy Connection program, Duke Energy Florida customers can subscribe to solar power and earn credits toward their electricity bills without having to install or maintain their own equipment.

Customers subscribe to a portion of solar energy from the company's Clean Energy Connection solar portfolio. The monthly subscription fee will help pay for the cost of construction and operation of the renewable energy centers and is conveniently added to a customer's regular electric bill. Customers also receive a corresponding subscription credit that represents their share of the energy produced by the solar centers in a given month, multiplied by the subscription credit rate, which escalates over the life of the subscription.

Enrolled income-qualified customers will receive immediate bill savings, as monthly credits will always be greater than the program fees. Current participation in any of these or related programs can be used to qualify: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP-EBT, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Duke Energy Neighborhood Energy Saver.

Duke Energy Florida customers who are interested in the program can learn more through the Clean Energy Connection website.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Audrey Stasko

Media line: 800.559.3853

Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

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Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Duke Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Duke Energy

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753684/Duke-Energy-Florida-Adds-150-Megawatts-of-Clean-Renewable-Energy-to-the-Grid-Completes-Two-New-Solar-Sites-as-Part-of-Companys-Community-Solar-Program
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the commencement of the Company's initial Permian Basin well workover program.

Workovers will be completed on a minimum of six producing Willowbend and Millican wells. The goal of the program is to optimize well pump performance, post the recently completed chemical treatments to further enhance well productivity. Since the acquisition of Millican and Willowbend, the Company has raised production five-fold by completing chemical treatments and surface optimizations.

"We're eagerly anticipating the results of the workover program as the majority of our recently acquired wells have been starved of maintenance capital for the majority of their operational lives," stated Mark Vanry, President and CEO of Wedgemount. "We're optimistic that the workovers will further increase production beyond what was achieved with recent chemical treatments."

Field work is being carried out by the Company's San Antonio, Texas based operations contractor, Petrosaurus Inc. Petrosaurus' in-house developed chemical cleanouts combined with well workovers and new zone perforations are a key part of Wedgemounts's initial plan to grow production from underexploited and underdeveloped light oil formations in central and south Texas.

About Wedgemount Resources Corp.

Wedgemount Resources is a junior natural resources company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, development and exploitation of natural resource projects in North America.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP.

Mark Vanry, President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Telephone: (604) 343-4743

info@wedgemountresources.com

www.wedgemountresources.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165264
Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that it has launched clinical development of its first-in-class IL-11 inhibitor antibody BI 765423 with a Phase 1 study (NCT05658107) to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Boehringer Ingelheim is already a global leader in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, and the initiation of clinical development of the anti-IL-11 treatment reflects the company's long-term commitment to combat fibrotic disease across therapeutic areas. The IL-11 inhibitor antibody is the first of its kind to reach clinical development stage and is based on a partnership between the Company and Enleofen Bio Pte. Ltd. (Enleofen), with a goal to improve patient outcomes.

'Fibrotic disease' is a term that covers a range of diseases characterized by uncontrolled and progressive fibrosis, or scarring, of various organs and tissues. It can be triggered by different factors (such as infections, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, degenerative diseases, tumors, and injury), can cause organ dysfunction/failure, and affect the quality of life and survival of patients. Some examples of fibrotic diseases are, systemic sclerosis, graft-versus-host disease as well as heart, lung, liver, and kidney fibrosis. Current treatments have led to progress in some areas, however fibrotic diseases remain to be a leading cause of morbidity/mortality and account for more than one third of deaths worldwide.

IL-11 plays a key role in fibrosis across multiple organs and pre-clinical studies have shown that anti-IL-11 treatment has the potential to stop and even reverse fibrosis in different fibrotic diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim joined forces with Enleofen, a leader in IL-11 biology, in 2020.

"The initiation of this trial is an important milestone for Boehringer Ingelheim and brings us closer to achieving our aim of transforming lives of people living with fibrotic diseases," said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D., Corporate Senior Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. "The effects shown for anti-IL-11 preclinically are impressive and could, if confirmed in the clinic, herald a dramatic advance in the treatment of fibrotic diseases."

"Enleofen is very excited to see the IL-11 inhibitor partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, a leader in anti-fibrotic therapy R&D, moving forward into the clinic to address unmet patient needs," said Prof Stuart Cook, co-founder of Enleofen and Tanoto Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre and the Cardiovascular Metabolic Disorders Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.

The IL-11 program complements Boehringer Ingelheim's clinical fibrotic disease pipeline portfolio which includes BI 1015550, a phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor, under investigation in two Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials-FIBRONEER-IPF (NCT05321069) and FIBRONEER-ILD (NCT05321082)-to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of BI 1015550 over at least 52 weeks in patients with IPF and in patients with other progressive fibrosing ILDs and several other clinical stage programs.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units Human Pharma and Animal Health. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

About Enleofen

Enleofen is a Singapore-based biotech company developing first-in-class antibody therapeutics for the treatment of fibro-inflammatory human diseases. The initial discovery science and drug target validation was carried out by founders Stuart Cook and Sebastian Schafer at the National Heart Centre Singapore at SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School and was subsequently licensed to Enleofen. Since 2017, the company has invested extensively in target validation, drug development, and preclinical studies, with the support of experienced international life sciences executives and investors, including founding directors Jeffrey Lu and Andrew Khoo.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005762/en/

Contacts:

Reinhard Malin

reinhard.malin@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Linda Ruckel

linda.ruckel@boehringer-ingelheim.com
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Since 2007, the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF) has awarded global and regional humanitarian awards to five Herbalife Independent Distributors who embody the mission of our foundation. HNF is proud to have so many supporters who are dedicated to improving the lives of children and communities. Thank you for your commitment and generosity!

The following humanitarians were chosen based on their philanthropic activity, community leadership, volunteerism, and advocacy. Join us in honoring the 16th annual Global and Regional Humanitarians!

Trey & Mamie Herron - Global Humanitarians & North America Humanitarians

Trey and Mamie Herron have dedicated their lives to giving back to communities throughout North America, and they have inspired their network of Herbalife Independent distributors to do the same.

Trey and Mamie have created physical challenges to raise funds, such as the Extortion Memorial Run that raised over $10,000. Last year for virtual Honors - they led a team fundraiser to motivate their organization, helping gather over $125,000 for our Casa Herbalife Nutrition program, and even matching some of those funds themselves. The Herron's also supported the American Cancer Society, coming in at #1 in Mississippi and #7 overall by raising over $66,000 for their Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Through their support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wounded Warriors and all the other organizations they contribute to, Trey and Mamie demonstrate that when you show up for others, your entire world can change.

Giving comes naturally to both Trey and Mamie and a passion for helping others is the reason why they are the 2023 Global Humanitarians.

Katherine Yiu & Felan Yu - Asia Pacific Humanitarians

Katherine Yiu and Felan Yu have been active contributors of their community and supporters of HNF for years. For Hong Kong's 30th Anniversary Event hosted at a theme park, Katherine and Felan sponsored 100 families from a local Casa Herbalife to participate in the festivities. They also organized a 100k virtual run, and even personally matched donations.

Katherine and Felan, who were once educators before joining Herbalife, have donated to schools in rural mainland China to help renovate buildings and students' facilities, and even volunteered as teachers. They also organized a blood drive with the Red Cross for their organization.

Katherine and Felan have continued to share their passion for giving back, and that's why they are the Asia Pacific Humanitarians of the Year.

Adriano Allegretti - Europe, Middle East & Africa, and India Humanitarian

Adriano Allegretti has made it his mission to give back, all while instilling the same selfless values to the members of his organization.

Two years ago, Adriano started an online training called, "Motivation Mondays," where over 300 distributors meet to discuss personal growth. All funds collected during the meetings are donated to HNF to support Casa Oz, a Casa Herbalife partner located in Italy, that serves children who are sick, as well as their families who need support.

Adriano's commitment to being a servant leader has been contagious and his leadership has inspired others to give back in great ways.

Herlinda Quiroz & Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba - Mexico Humanitarians

After years of supporting HNF and the Casa Herbalife program, Herlinda Quiroz & Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba officially became sponsors of Casa Aldeas Infantiles SOS, an orphanage located in Mexico in 2020.

At every event, Herlinda and Juan Carlos are the first to teach other Herbalife independent distributors about the importance of donating to HNF. Over the holidays, they organized volunteer visits for Children's Day and Christmas, delivering gifts and meals to children and families served through our Casa program in Mexico.

Their passion for making a difference truly has no limits and that's why they're the Mexico Humanitarians of the Year.

Sonia Sanabria Paniagua & Jaime Perez - South & Central America Humanitarians

Sonia Sanabria Paniagua and Jaime are big givers who not only donate funds, but also give their time and resources to support those in need.

They regularly visit Fundacion Arco Iris, an orphanage in Bolivia that helps provide children with food, shelter, and education, and frequently help coordinate activities for the children. When resources are short, they cover the rest, so the children don't go without.

In fact, during the holidays, Sonia and Jamie Perez organize a food drive and make sure that the children from Fundacion Arco Iris have a proper Christmas dinner and celebrate together.

Sonia and Jamie spend their time helping most vulnerable and that's why they are the South & Central America Humanitarians of the Year.

Congratulations to all of the HNF Humanitarians. Your support is impacting children and communities around the world!

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Contact Info:

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Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/herbalife-nutrition

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Herbalife Nutrition

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753694/Celebrating-the-2023-HNF-Global-Regional-Humanitarians
Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQX: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce that since it has started optimization and SEO marketing for its Sekur website, in order to reduce its per user Customer Acquisition Cost "CAC", its CAC was lowered to US$74 per Customer, while Life Time Value metrics "LTV" per customer went up several percentages.

In January 2023, The Company has embarked on a reduction of its Customer Acquisition Cost ("CAC") and has reduced its marketing expenses in order to focus on the more targeted digital marketing, such as adword campaigns and optimization of its Sekur website. Currently the Company is targeting a CAC of US$75 or lower by the end of 2023, and a CAC of US$60 or lower for 2024 from direct marketing, not counting B2B partnerships, which would lower the CAC overall. The Company is targeting consumers and SMBs at this time and is improving its website content in order to inform SMBs and visitors on the benefits of using the Sekur privacy and security communications platform.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data, said: "We are very happy to report that we have reduced our CAC to such an extent in such a short time. Some of the measures went as low as CAC US$13 per customer. This means that we are making money from each of our customers moving forward, if we keep CAC at or below US$100. As we add new products such as SekurVPN and SekurVoice, the average revenue per user "ARPU" should be moving higher as well, as we are planning customized 'a-la-carte' bundles for consumers and businesses. Once we achieve US$75 CAC or lower for a couple of months, we plan to accelerate spending to increase our subscriber base at a higher rate than we are doing today. We have managed to acquire a higher caliber customer, and we are carefully watching each dollar we are spending for our acquisition costs, as we are on track to meet the budget, we set for 2023. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech platform, we offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers."

On April 7th 2023, the Company launched its privacy VPN solution called SekurVPN available through https://www.sekurvpn.com, or through https://www.sekur.com , and started commercial sales of its highly anticipated SekurVPN privacy and security VPN solution. SekurVPN is priced at US$ 7/month/user and US$ 70/year/user for the service. The solution is also offered in USD, CAD, NZD, AUD, SGD, CHF, EUR and GPB. The Company plans to launch SekurVPN in the coming weeks to existing shareholders and Sekur users with a special offer, and move to a larger audience of 1,000,000 people in the USA, through several digital and email marketing campaigns.

SekurVPN is especially meant for privacy enthousiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address from hackers. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, using messaging applications and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hyjacking their location and signal. The service guarantees not to use Big Tech or Hyperscalers for its functioning or hosting, it guarantees that there are no third party bundles sold with it, so no data is leaked or sold to third parties, it guarantees no traffic pulling or monitoring, and no phone number required to register to the service.

According to a study and publication on forbes.com, 66% use a VPN to help protect personal data, 80% use a VPN for increased security and 33% use a VPN to mask their internet activity. More statistics can be found on this VPN Statistics And Trends In 2023 article.

Private:

SekurVPN uses its own proprietary infrastructure and does not use any Hyperscaler or Big Tech hosting providers, unlike most other VPNs. It offers Swiss IPs only, and this guarantees that it is using only SekurVPN's own servers and routing. Other VPNs offer 100s of locations and are using Big Tech providers, compromising users' privacy. SekurVPN never monitors users' activity and never shares any data with third party service providers. By being a pure VPN, without bundled outside services, such as anti-virus, and ad-blockers, SekurVPN keeps users' information private without sharing their data with third party service providers. With SekurVPN, users do not register their phone number on the App or the web, rendering users invisible from hackers or snoopers. No phone number to register, anonymous Swiss IPs only, no data mining or traffic sharing with anyone.

Secure:

SekurVPN's secure VPN routes all your Internet traffic through SekurVPN's privately owned servers, in multiple locations in Switzerland only, and using the highest encryption industry standards, combined with its proprietary HeliX technology for added security. Encryption keys are not stored on devices and are unique at every connection. Users' passwords, confidential data and Internet surfing stay encrypted even over public untrusted internet connections.

Easy to use:

SekurVPN is extremely easy to setup and deploy. There is no country list and our interface is simplified, just tap or click the connection button. SekurVPN's no-frills but highly secure and private service gives users peace of mind without thinking about geo-locations.

Currently SekurVPN is available to use with iOS and Android devices. A MacOS version and a Windows version are planned to be launched in the coming weeks.

In addition to SekurVPN, the company offers a bundled Sekur plan, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, as a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, and includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invite". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite via email or SMS, a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors.

SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com, and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@sekurprivatedata.com

For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at corporate@sekurprivatedata.com or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com.



For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurvpn.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165301
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on Briefing on the Annual Results of 2022



09.05.2023 / 14:51 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG



Announcement on Briefing on the Annual Results of 2022

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 9 May 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Briefing on the Annual Results of 2022.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020230509689879938893.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20in%20relation%20to%20Briefing%20on%20the%20Annual%20Results%20of%202022

IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

09.05.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


The Firm has recently closed $200 million of transactions with European-based companies

i80 Group ("i80"), an investment firm that specializes in providing credit solutions to growth companies, today announced that it has expanded into Europe with the opening of a new office in London and has hired Nils Schaffner as a Director on its investment team where he will be focused on sourcing and executing future investments in the UK and Europe.

Mr. Schaffner brings more than two decades of experience in the technology, media and telecom industry to i80, and possesses extensive experience and expertise serving as a strategic partner to early-stage UK and European fintech companies to help them successfully grow and execute against their business plans. Before joining i80, he most recently led the Fintech and Specialty Finance team for NIBC Bank in the UK, where he was responsible for receivable financing and asset-based lending to non-bank and digital lenders such as Iwoca, Ebury Partners, Tabeo and LendingCrowd amongst others. Prior to NIBC, Mr. Schaffner served as an Investment Committee Observer at Outward VC, a venture capital fund backing the next generation of European fintech and enterprise technology. Earlier in his career, he held positions in private equity and investment banking.

Marc Helwani, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at i80 Group, said "The UK and European ecosystems have developed rapidly in recent years, driven in part by innovation and a supportive business environment. From our vantage point, given the recent banking dislocation, now is the perfect time to expand our presence abroad as companies are seeking financing options beyond traditional banks. Given our experience and expertise partnering with growth-stage companies, we believe we are well suited to help founders and management teams achieve their long-term goals via flexible and creative solutions."

Nils Schaffner, Director, i80 Group, added, "The funding gap in the UK and Europe is only set to grow in the current climate. i80's expertise and proven track record of providing innovative companies with relevant financing solutions as well as an extensive network of valuable contacts to help them take their companies to the next level is compelling. I am excited to have the opportunity to help expand the firm's presence into the UK and Europe."

i80 Group has committed more than $2 billion in financing to over twenty-five companies since its inception.

About i80 Group

i80 Group is an investment firm designed to propel the innovation economy forward by empowering growth. The firm provides bespoke financing solutions that are unique to each investment partner's needs and are designed to help companies advance through critical growth milestones. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, and London. For more information, please visit www.i80group.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005226/en/

Contacts:

Mike Geller

Prosek Partners

646-818-9018

mgeller@prosek.com
Kolkata, May 9 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said India-Bangladesh relations are based on the values of shared culture, language, art and life traditions.

He said that no one can disrupt the relations between India and Bangladesh.

Shah said that the two nations have followed the same culture for thousands of years, and from the birth of Bangladesh till today India has always played a friendly role in the history of Bangladesh.

He said that the contribution of the Border Security Force (BSF) in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh is written in golden words, and underlines the cordial and warm relations between India and Bangladesh till today, which will only gain new energy and momentum from hereon.

The Union Home Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stone of various development projects of Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) and Border Security Force (BSF) in West Bengal.

Shah also inaugurated Maitridwar at ICP Petrapole, BSFs newly constructed Border Outposts (BOPs) and other buildings, virtually.

In his address the Home Minister said that inauguration and Bhoomi Pujan of many projects of Land Ports Authority of India and BSF has been done today.

He said as an organization, the Land Ports Authority of India not only helps accelerate India's economy but is also an ambassador of India's message of friendship.

Shah said the Land Ports Authority of India is a huge institution which takes forward our cultural and trade relations encompassing over 15 thousand kilometer long land border of India with all South Asian countries.

He added Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided a new momentum, direction and dimension to the organisation since 2016.

He said over 600-700 trucks come to Petrapole daily for trading purpose often leading to a problem of overcrowding. However, with the construction of a second cargo gate now, this problem will be solved.

Shah said between the years 2016-2022, there has been a significant increase in the number of land port cargo and passengers.

He said while in 2016-17, the trade amount was Rs. 18,000 crore, it has now crossed Rs 30,000 crore, which showcases the excellent performance of Land Ports Authority of India.

Shah said in 2022-23, over 20 lakh passengers have moved through the land ports. Additionally, after the construction of the passenger terminal building in Petrapole in 2021, movement of 5 lakh passengers annually, that is, about 11,000 passengers daily, has been facilitated.



The Home Minister said a police station building, hostel and 7 different police stations of BSF have been inaugurated today on the Bengal border at a cost of over Rs. 108 crore.

He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's border policy lays great emphasis on the issue of trade.

Shah said India's land border of over 15,000 kilometers touches 7 countries and under the leadership of Prime Ministeri, a new policy has been formulated to strengthen our relations and trade with all the countries of South Asia.

He said earlier there was paucity on the issues of border infrastructure, connectivity, trade, people to people connectivity and border village development.

Shah said now under the leadership of Prime Ministeri, border infrastructure is developing, connectivity is increasing, and trade with other countries is increasing. Along with this, people-to-people connectivity is also improving and border villages are being developed as the first village of the country, under the border village development programme.



The Union Home Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the governments border security policy is very clear and precise. The central government is working on building strong infrastructure in border areas and efforts are being made to provide benefits of welfare schemes in border villages like other villages of the country, while also improving connectivity in these villages.

He said by promoting land trade, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister is making efforts to spread business, industry and message of vocal for local in the border villages.

Shah said the development of land ports is not only important for fulfilling Prime Minister Modi's dream of India becoming a $5 trillion economy, but also for ensuring good relations with the neighboring countries.

He said the Land Ports Authority of India is moving forward by working like an ambassador with India's neighboring countries.

Shah said several initiatives have been taken for the Land Ports Authority of India in the last 5 years. These include Port Automation System, Land Port Management System, Land Port Digital Security and Monitoring System, Digital Port Asset Management System, Suvidha Portal, an Integrated Check Post at Attari and providing passenger amenities at the Agartala Land Port.

He said the Land Ports Authority of India has taken several initiatives and achieved all the objectives of its establishment.



The Home Minister said from the snowy peaks to the desert and from the land border to the Bay of Bengal, the Border Security Force has left no stone unturned to protect our land and borders everywhere.

He said the security of India's land borders cannot be imagined without BSF. Shri Shah said that when BSF personnel are posted on the border, nobody worries about the security of the nation's land borders.

Several dignitaries including Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nishith Pramanik, Union Minister for Ports, Shantanu Thakur, Chairman of Land Ports Authority of India and Director General of Border Security Force, were present on the occasion.

Earlier in the morning, Union Home Minister paid homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.

UNI BM SJC KK
MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Kisses from Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL),a publicly listed U.S.-based company, restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in the United States, Canada and Europe and new business partner celebrity Chef, Scott Conant, have chosen New York City as home to the group's new brand. The team, along with the help of Richard Kave, Executive Managing Director of Lee and Associates NYC, experts in the New York real estate market, have already begun to scout potential sites across Manhattan.

Claudio Ferri, co-CEO, CIO and co-founder of Kisses from Italy commented, "We are excited at looking into the New York City, Manhattan area for the first location which we believe is ideal, to launch our new restaurant brand. The support and feedback that Kisses from Italy has received since announcing the strategic alliance with Scott and his team, has been amazing and bodes well for our shareholders. Soon, we will be rolling out the brand name, concept and everything it entails." Ferri added, "I would like to acknowledge that we have received a lot of questions concerning the next steps. In response to those questions, we want to ensure that our group has taken all the necessary steps to protect all aspects of our intellectual property and trademark of the new brand. We have not revealed the name and full concept yet due to some of the filing delays we have encountered, but we are confident we should be able to share this exciting news shortly."

Scott Conant, Food Network celebrity chef, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, and cookbook author, commented, "While I'm no longer based in New York City, a piece of my heart will always belong there. Some of the most pivotal moments of my career happened in NYC, working in various kitchens for almost three decades and I still cherish those experiences. I can't wait to start another chapter with this fast-casual brand together with Kisses From Italy and plant more roots there soon."

Michele Di Turi, President, co-CEO and co-founder of Kisses From Italy also commented, "We have been blessed with this incredible opportunity to be working on this new brand with Chef Scott, Dan Rowe of Fransmart and their teams. Our new alliance with Scott has the Kisses from Italy team thinking about repositioning and elevating the overall Kisses From Italy brand, current locations and products in retail stores, for future growth. Granted some of the decisions in the short term may be difficult, but in our team's opinion, the path ahead of us, has never been clearer and the potential is arguably undeniable. Our strategy will involve repositioning the overall brand and its products into new strategic demographic areas that will bring long-term value and increase our brand awareness and exposure. The team is excited about bringing on new products that are traditional yet innovative for retail and overall distribution." Di Turi continued by saying, "We are also very excited that our new concept set up and layout will be incorporating hoodless and ventless technology. Significantly reducing a location's set up time, while adding versatility to the menu and potentially reducing the required space needed. All positive and attractive factors when looking for potential sites and ever more important for our future franchisee partners and the setting up of new locations."

This announcement of Kisses From Italy and Food Network celebrity Chef Scott Conant setting their sights on New York City as the home of the group's first location follows the recent announcement of the newly formed strategic alliance between Kisses From Italy and Scott Conant and with franchise industry giant Fransmart, who will take the lead on the global development and franchise sales for the new brand and concept.

About Chef Scott Conant

Scott Conant is a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. His portfolio of acclaimed restaurants includes Mora Italian (Phoenix, AZ), The Americano (Scottsdale, AZ and Atlanta, GA), and Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills (Monticello, NY). He has also published four cookbooks: New Italian Cooking, Bold Italian, The Scarpetta Cookbook, and his newest and most personal book to date, Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen, which launched in September 2021. Conant has been a popular presence on Food Network throughout the years, becoming a fan favorite as a recurring judge on Chopped since 2009 and frequent co-host of Beat Bobby Flay. As Chef Conant embarks on new opportunities, he looks forward to continuing to share his enduring philosophy that emphasizes the beauty of simplicity. For more information, visit ScottConant.com.

About Fransmart

Fransmart is a global leader in franchise development, selling over 5,000 franchises worldwide and turning emerging restaurant concepts into national and global brands for 20 years. Company founder Dan Rowe identified and grew brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, QDOBA Mexican Grill, and The Halal Guys from 1-5 unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Fransmart's current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened thousands of restaurants globally. Fransmart and their partner brands are committed to franchise development growth. For more information, visit www.fransmart.com.

About Lee & Associates NYC

The New York office of Lee & Associates provides a full array of corporate advisory and commercial real estate services, including office and retail brokerage, sales and investments, and project and property management. The firm has more than 60 real estate professionals in its 845 Third Avenue information is available at www.leeassociatesnyc.com.

Established in 1979, Lee & Associates is the largest broker owned commercial real estate company in North America with 72 offices serving most major market in the US and Canada. Through its over 1200 real estate professionals the firm provides superior market intelligence in office, industrial, retail, investment, and appraisal to meet the specialized needs of our clients. For the latest news from Lee & Associates, visit lee-associates.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Linkour company blog.

About Kisses from Italy Inc.

Kisses from Italy Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The Company offers a quick-service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses from Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee-related beverage, and an array of other products. In November of 2020, Kisses from Italy launched its retail branded products for distribution stores across Canada. Currently, our products are being offered in grocery stores and retail food stores.

The Company operates three corporate-owned stores and two franchised locations in the U.S. and Canada. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with the opening of its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. The Company opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy in October of 2019. In September of 2019, Kisses from Italy Inc. was approved by FINRA to trade its common stock and was approved for up-listing by the OTC Markets Group to the OTCQB in mid-October 2019 under the ticker symbol KITL.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings which are available at www.sec.gov as well as the Company's website at www.kissesfromitaly.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes to future operating results.

For more information, please visit www.kissesfromitaly.com

Contact Information:

Kisses from Italy Inc.

305-423-7129

info@kissesfromitaly.com

SOURCE: Kisses from Italy Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753640/Kisses-From-Italy-and-Celebrity-Chef-Scott-Conant-Targeting-New-York-City-As-Home-For-Their-Joint-Ventures-New-Concept-Flagship-Location
The news highlights the urgent need for more consistent, wide scale detection of the disease at an early stage

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd. (CSE: CGN) (OTCQB: CGNSF) (FSE: 1UB) ("the Company" or "Cognetivity") is pleased to note Eli Lilly & Co.'s results for its experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, which demonstrated slowing the progress of the disease in a final-stage trial, paving the way for the company to apply for US approval. The drug, donanemab, slowed the disease by 35% over a year and a half in a trial of 1,182 patients with early-stage Alzheimer's. The results represent the second time Alzheimer's was slowed in a final-stage trial by a drug that clears a brain protein called amyloid.

The success means patients and their caregivers could soon have another therapy shown to slow the disease alongside Eisai Co.'s Leqembi, which was approved in January. This announcement aligns with an ongoing successful clinical deployment of CognICA Platform in monitoring Cognitive Performance in Alzheimer's patients receiving disease-modifying therapy targeting beta amyloid.



Lilly's donanemab trial also looked at a population of 552 patients who were deemed to be at a greater level of disease severity based on brain scans. When that group was combined with the larger, less acute population, the drug showed less impressive results, slowing the progress of the disease by 22% over 18 months. This further highlights the vital importance of early detection and diagnosis, another huge unmet need when it comes to tackling Alzheimer's disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia who are not diagnosed is a significant concern. In fact, WHO estimates that approximately 50% of people with dementia worldwide are not diagnosed or are not aware of their diagnosis, so are unable to benefit from treatment.



On the Lilly results, Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer's Society, said: "Promisingly, the trial demonstrated a 40% slowing in decline of everyday activities such as driving, doing hobbies and managing finances. We need decisions as quickly as possible from the regulators. But that's not the end of the story - we can't end up in a situation where there are new drugs being approved but people can't get access to them early in their dementia journey when they work best - we need more accurate, earlier dementia diagnosis."

This is an area in which Cognetivity's technology is proving to be a game changer. Through the agreement with MS&AD, the ability to screen for early cognitive decline at a large scale has for the first time become a reality, helping to ensure that early signs of disease are detected routinely, when people can be helped and are still functional.

Dr Sina Habibi, CEO of Cognetivity Neurosciences commented: "We are absolutely delighted to see these results as it gives hope to millions of people affected by this devastating disease." He added: "What this highlights even further is the urgent need for early detection of diseases like Alzheimer's to be scaled across the world, which is exactly what we are enabling with our agreement with MS&AD, a major health insurance provider in Japan, and which we hope to continue to roll out across the world."

About Cognetivity Neurosciences

Cognetivity is a technology company that has developed a cognitive testing platform for use in medical, commercial, and consumer environments. Cognetivity's CognICATM uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to test the performance of large areas of the brain to help detect early signs of cognitive dysfunction. CognICA is currently available for clinical use in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East, with regulatory approval in other regions expected in 2023.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Sina Habibi"

Sina Habibi

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this news release, including those identified by the words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should" and similar expressions, to the extent they relate to the Company or its management, constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, the "Forward-Looking Statements"). These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Such statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such statements and information are based on a number of assumptions regarding our current and future business strategies and the environment in which we operate. We assume no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange is not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please visit: website: www.cognetivity.com or contact: info@cognetivity.com; media inquiries can be sent to pr@cognetivity.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165379
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company"), is pleased to provide an update of current exploration activities in Argentina and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Argentina (Santo Domingo)

Royal Road has entered into an option agreement with an individual titleholder to acquire 100% of the Santo Domingo porphyry copper and gold district located in San Juan Province, Argentina (see Press Release, February 15, 2023).

Drill-definition work, including grid-based soil sampling and saw-cut rock-chip channel sampling, is continuing at the Santo Domingo project. Diamond drilling is expected to commence in August of this year.

The Santo Domingo district is located 120 km east of San Juan City at an average altitude of approximately 1,200 meters above sea level (see Figure 1). The district comprises two, as-yet undrilled, porphyry copper-gold occurrences (Divisoria and El Arriero) and several vein-hosted gold and silver occurrences located within a mineral rights package covering a total area of approximately 200 square kilometers (see Figure 2). The porphyry occurrences at Santo Domingo are of a significant surface extent and show characteristic zoned porphyry-style alteration from central potassic cores (secondary biotite  potassic feldspar) with quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veins, passing outwards to phyllic and propylitic styles of alteration. Rock chip geochemistry seems to show a classic zoned pattern with copper only mineralization hosted within a potassic core at El Arriero and gold seemingly occurring peripheral to this core. Furthermore, recent mapping reveals that the area most likely sits within the immediate roof zone to a larger and connected porphyry copper and gold system concealed at depth.





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/165370_figure1rrm.jpg.





Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/165370_fig2rrm.jpg.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Royal Road has entered into a 50-50 Strategic Alliance Agreement ("the Alliance"), with KSA-based MSB Holdings Limited for the exploration of copper and gold resources in the highly prospective and underexplored Arabian Shield (see Press Release February 9, 2023). As part of the agreement, the Company has completed an exploration decision-support-system for KSA and identified priority targets and target areas for immediate field follow-up. Additionally, the Alliance was one of 13 corporate participants to have recently qualified for government bidding rounds on six early-stage exploration properties from within the Arabian Shield area. As part of this process, two of these properties were recently assessed in the field and the Alliance is currently assessing other occurrences and districts deemed to be of exploration interest.

"It is always exciting to put the very first drill holes into a previously untested porphyry copper and gold system, especially one like Santo Domingo which we believe is conceptually very clear and with obvious size potential. In-fact, it is quite rare nowadays to find untested porphyry copper and gold systems with mineralization and related alteration exposed on the surface, especially when the project is so close to existing infrastructure," said Dr. Tim Coughlin, Royal Road's President and CEO. "We are also excited by the potential of our new venture with MSB in KSA. The Arabian Shield is one of the most prospective and underexplored regions in the world, with very clear potential for world-class copper and gold resources. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an impressively proactive and supportive host-country which, through its Vision 2030 initiative, is actively promoting responsible mining and mining investment and is committed to sustainably developing its mineral resources and playing a key role in the supply of critical metals. We very much look forward to playing our part."

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

The following information was derived from public announcements by the previous operator at Santo Domingo. Rock-chip samples were prepared at the Acme Analytical Laboratories ("AcmeLabs") preparation facility in Mendoza, Argentina and assayed by fire assay (50 gram charge) at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Chile and for ICP-MS 32 elements (15 grams charge) at the AcmeLabs laboratory in Vancouver, all ISO-9001:2000 certified laboratories. Samples returning greater than 10 g/t gold and/or greater than 100 g/t silver are assayed using gravimetric analyses. Samples returning greater than 1% Pb and / or greater than 1% Zn are assayed using aqua regia digestion ore grade / AAS.

Cautionary statement:

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the Company's exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information please contact:

Tim Coughlin

+44 (0)1534 887166

info@royalroadminerals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165370
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Miguel Fluxa Rossello, founder and chairman of Spanish hotel and resort group, Iberostar, has been named as Forbes' Best CEO of 2023 in Spain. The prestigious recognition spotlights Mr. Fluxa's exceptional leadership and legacy in growing Iberostar Group into a global hospitality brand with an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of the environment.

"It is an honor to receive this recognition from Forbes Spain. We are a family company with strong values that have helped us shape Iberostar's corporate culture based on quality and long-term sustainability," said Fluxa Rossello. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of so many collaborators and professionals who have accompanied us throughout all these years and to the more than 30,000 people who today share our vision and passion for this industry."

Under Mr. Fluxa's leadership, Iberostar has become a pioneer in responsible tourism. Through a framework that focuses on people as the lifeblood of the business, and on the oceans through its Wave of Change movement, Iberostar has become an international leader with an extraordinary track record of sustainable practices. In 2020, Iberostar presented its 2030 Agenda, focused on eliminating waste, sourcing responsible seafood, neutralizing carbon emissions, and improving the health of the ecosystems surrounding its hotels. One of Iberostar's main commitments is reaching carbon neutrality by 2030, 20 years ahead of the industry's global target.

Fluxa's vision has also led to significant growth for Iberostar. Starting in 1973, creating the first Spanish tour operator, Iberojet, along with creating Sunworld, in 1991, the first tour operator with Spanish capital in England. This year, the company celebrates 40 years since the brand was launched in 1983 with seven hotels in Majorca - today, Iberostar has over 100 properties in 16 countries, with expansion plans in new markets all over the world. Furthermore, in November 2022, Iberostar signed a long-term commercial alliance with InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG), where Iberostar retains 100% ownership of its company, but is also part of IHG's system under the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand, becoming the 18th brand for IHG.

Forbes' Best CEO award is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the business world, with previous winners including Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, and Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella. The recognition, which is awarded by Forbes' publications, is based on a range of factors, including financial performance, leadership style, and impact on industry and society.

Notes to editor: Please find imagery here

About Iberostar Group

The Iberostar Group is a 100% family-owned multinational Spanish company with over 65 years of experience in the tourism industry, as well as entrepreneurial roots dating back to 1877. Its main line of business is Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, whose portfolio includes over 100 four- and five-star hotels in 16 countries. The Group has become an international leader, as it promotes a responsible tourism business model that revolves around caring for both people and the environment. Its pioneering Wave of Change movement reflects the company's specific commitment to the environment and the oceans, as well as its efforts to share it with society as a whole.

With sustainability acting as a driving force for business, the Iberostar Group places the circular economy at the heart of its strategy and is working towards its own 2030 Agenda. This involves becoming waste-free by 2025, carbon neutral by 2030, and 100% responsible in its seafood supply chain by 2025, as well as improving the health of the ecosystems that surround its hotels, among other goals.

The Group is made up of a global team consisting of more than 30,000 people and 95 nationalities. Thanks to this talent, the company is a leader in quality and is at the forefront of providing an outstanding experience for guests through constant innovation in terms of products and its commitment to digitisation.

Find out more about us at grupoiberostar.com/en/ .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072820/Iberostar_Group_CEO.jpg

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding term sheet ("Term Sheet") with Palm Constellation SARL ("Palm") pursuant to which Rome has agreed to acquire, from Palm, a 15% indirect interest in Exploration Permit 15130 ("PR15130"), which is one of two licences that comprise the Bisie North Tin Project located in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC.

As set out in the Term Sheet, a new company Mont Agoma SARL ("Mont Agoma"), which is in the process of being incorporated, will be the holder of Exploration Permit 15130. Upon incorporation, Mont Agoma will be owned by, respectively, CoTinCo Minerals Projects International LLC ("CoTinCo") holding a 45% interest, Palm holding a 30% interest and Rome holding a 25% interest. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, Rome can acquire a further 15% interest in Mont Agoma by issuing 5,000,000 units in the capital of Rome to Palm, where each unit will consist of one common share of Rome and one common share purchase warrant exercisable for two years at $0.50 per share. The 5,000,000 units will not be issuable by Rome until after: (a) Mont Agoma has been incorporated; (b) the Bisie North-East Permit has been transferred to Mont Agoma, free and clear of all charges, encumbrances and claims; and (c) Palm has transferred to Rome a 15% interest in Mont Agoma.

Rome is also a party to an option agreement ("Option Agreement") with CoTinCo dated August 15, 2022 pursuant to which it was granted two options by CoTinCo to acquire up to a 51% undivided interest in the Bisie North-East Exploration Permit 15130. Following its exercise of the first option under the Option Agreement, Rome has earned a 25% interest in and to the Bisie North-East Exploration Permit 15130. By exercising its second option under the Option Agreement, Rome can increase its interest in Mont Agoma by an additional 26%, and by acquiring a 15% interest in Mont Agoma from Palm, Rome can acquire up to a total 66% interest in Mont Agoma.

CEO and President Mark Gasson commented: "The current drilling programme at the Mont Agoma prospect, which is located within PR15130, is testing a newly defined high grade, contiguous tin in soil anomaly covering a strike length of ~1.2kms. Drilling completed to date has identified a large sulphide mineralised system, including tin bearing zones at surface that continue along strike and appear to increase significantly in grade and width at depth (refer to the Company's news release dated May 8, 2023). We are pleased about the opportunity to increase the Company's indirect ownership interest in this property, which hosts an exciting new discovery in the DRC's high grade tin province located in an area of stability near a highly successful producing tin mine."

The proposed transaction with Palm is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance for filing.

About Rome Resources

Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements to acquire 51% direct and indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome intends to fund exploration on the project up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Contacts

Investors / Shareholders

Mark Gasson

President, CEO & Director

P: (604) 687-4160

Media

E: info@romeresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165340
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (OTCQB: FRERF) (FSE: FR20) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent pursuant to which it has been granted an option to acquire up to 100% interest in Mendia Resources Corp. ("Mendia"), an Armenian corporation, by Mendia's sole shareholder (the "Optionor"). Mendia holds the exploration license over the Vardenis copper-gold project in central Armenia.

Additionally, the company is pleased to announce the filing of 133 new claims in Nevada for the purpose of potentially advancing a world class Lithium resource. Initial geochemical results are expected before mid-year. Staking of other potential lithium prospects is ongoing.

Vardenis Cu-Au Property

The Vardenis copper-gold property is a high-sulfidation, possible Cu-porphyry mineralized system formerly held by Dundee Precious Metals Inc. between 2015 and 2018. It occurs 25 kilometers along strike and in the same Eocene volcanic sequences which host the 3-million-ounce Amulsar gold deposit being developed by Orion Mine Finance, Osisko Gold Royalties and Resource Capital Fund.

The terms set out in the letter of intent provide Fremont with the exclusive option to acquire up to 100% of Mendia via staged option payments over 4.5 years. The staged payments are as follows:

On completion of the definitive agreement ("Closing"), the Company shall pay US$100,000 in cash and issue 500,000 Fremont common shares to the Optionor, and initiate specified exploration work on the Vardenis property, including a minimum of 2,500 meters of diamond drilling within 18 months; completion of which will earn the Company a 51% equity ownership interest in Mendia;

18 months following Closing, the Company shall pay an additional US$150,000 in cash, issue 700,000 Fremont common shares to the Optionor, and initiate further exploration work on the Vardenis property, including an additional 5000 meters of drilling within 3 years following Closing; completion of which will earn the Company an additional 29% equity ownership interest in Mendia (for a total of an 80% equity ownership interest);

36 months following Closing, the Company shall pay an additional US$100,000 in cash, issue 1,000,000 Fremont common shares to the Optionor, and initiate additional exploration work including a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) level study within 4.5 years following Closing; completion of which will earn the Company an additional 10% equity ownership interest in Mendia (for a total of a 90% equity ownership interest);

Subsequent to the Company's acquisition of a 90% interest in Mendia, the Optionor has the right to retain a 10% interest in Mendia by contributing 10% of costs moving forward; If the Optionor declines this right, the Company has the option to purchase the remaining 10% equity in Mendia for $US3,500,000 in either cash or equivalent in Fremont shares. If this option to purchase the remaining 10% is not exercised by the Company, and the Optionor does not meet their contribution commitments, the Optionor's residual interest in Mendia will be converted to a 1.0% net smelter return royalty once their interest falls below 5%.

Closing is subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence and the execution of a definitive option agreement with the Optionor on or before June 20, 2023. The definitive agreement will include customary provisions, representations, covenants and conditions which are typical for a transaction of this nature as well as provisions relating to dilution, governance and the terms of the net smelter return royalty. Fremont as the optionee, has the right to withdraw from the agreement at any time, with 30 day's written notice.

Closing will be subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.





Figure 1. Project Location

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Previous work on the Vardenis Property

Historic work on the Vardenis copper-gold property comprises early Soviet-era trenching and pits from the 1960s followed by more recent exploration undertaken by Canadian-based companies during the past decade. This recent work includes 1,246 meters of diamond drilling in seven holes, over 4,000 geochemical samples (both soils and streams), alteration mapping and trenching. This work has defined a NW-SE somewhat ring-shaped, gold-in-soil anomaly approximately seven kilometers in length, as well as a separate 3.6 x 2.0-kilometer copper anomaly located 1.4 kilometers to the south of the gold anomaly.

The seven drill holes were confined to a relatively small area on the western end of the gold anomaly. Four of those holes are just outside, but right along the edge of Mendia's current license area (due to watershed issues). The best results of this limited program returned 11.9 m @ 1.92 g/t Au and 18 m @ 0.58 g/t Au in holes 2 and 6, respectively; the latter hole occurs within Mendia's current license. Additionally, 15 trenches were excavated in a gold-anomalous area named the Archuk target on east side of the license. All trenches returned values averaging a minimum of 0.5 to >1 g/t Au, with a best result of 26m @ 3.65 g/t Au. This area has not been drilled.





Figure 2. Looking east with alteration draped over the topography

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Figure 3. Vardenis Gold-in-Soils Geochemistry on Geology

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Figure 4. Vardenis Copper soil geochemistry

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Fremont's President and CEO, Dennis Moore, commented, "After spending the better part of two years seeking opportunities in Armenia, Vardenis was chosen as one of the few projects that could create true shareholder value in a relatively short time frame. This project has decisive attributes which include:

A large-scale mineralized system;

Hosted in Armenia's most prospective Eocene volcanics, along strike from the 3M oz Amulsar gold deposit which is currently being developed;

At-surface copper-gold mineralization within widespread high-sulfidation-style alteration;

A plethora of previous data which identify significant, sizeable copper and gold anomalies;

Only 1,246 meters of historical drilling.

These attributes make Vardenis a very attractive target indeed."





Figure 5. NW-SE profile showing Au soil geochemistry relative to elevation

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Mr. Moore continues, "The historic exploration work undertaken at Vardenis provides Fremont with a strong head start to efficiently and effectively advance the project. Drill targeting will obviously be more straight forward than if starting from scratch. The current plan is to undertake detailed short-wave infrared (SWIR) alteration mapping to determine the hot-spots within the mineralized system, possibly conduct an IP survey over the circular copper-moly anomaly, then integrate this data with the results of historic soil geochemistry in order to identify the best targets. We expect to conduct the initial drill program within 18 months. A current National Instrument 43-101 technical report is in the process of being completed."





Figure 6. Molybdenum soil geochemistry -- Note annular-shaped anomaly suggestive of porphyry mineralization

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Fremont is continuing to actively pursue additional projects in Armenia.

Lithium project in Nevada

The increased demand for lithium in the EV market has led to a rapid expansion of lithium exploration and attendant junior explorers in prospective jurisdictions such as Nevada, Argentina and Chile. This has led to the discovery of several world-class deposits in Nevada such as Rhyolite Ridge (Ioneer, INR-ASX) and the Thacker Pass deposit. The latter is owned by Lithium Americas Corp. (approx. $3.2 billion market cap), and is located within the McDermitt caldera of northern Nevada.

As the Company has significant gold projects in Nevada, administered by a very experienced Nevada-based team, management decided to exploit this in-house expertise to search for prospective lithium deposits. Fremont's Nevada exploration group is headed by Vice President Dr. Clay Newton, a PhD structural geologist who has worked over 25 years in Nevada and explored for numerous commodities during his long career, including rare earths and lithium.

Dr. Newton explains, "In Nevada, there are two main types of lithium deposits - lithium brines and lithium-bearing clays. Lithium brines are found in closed evaporative basins in which there is ample water inflow into the basin but no outflow. Lithium, boron, and alkali elements are residually enriched as the playa lake water evaporates.

Lithium-bearing lake sediments, also common in arid evaporative basins, may also contain clays that are enriched in lithium and boron. The lithium may either be sourced from weathered and eroded felsic volcanic rocks surrounding the basin or from intra-basin ash and felsic tuffs".

Dr. Newton continues, "Diamond Valley, in Eureka County, is a large completely enclosed basin, that in the past held large lakes as evidenced by terraces cut high into the surrounding hills. Surface water and shallow groundwater flows from south to north in the basin, converging in the northern end, where there is always a seasonal playa lake. The southern part of the valley has for generations provided ample fresh groundwater for farming irrigation. However, the northern end of the basin has been known for decades to host more caustic groundwater than the southern part. Water from the northern end of the basin exceeds safe drinking water standards for multiple chemical constituents and total dissolved solids (from Eureka County Water Resources Master Plan, 2016). Additionally, there are very abundant artesian springs in the northern part, bringing deeper water to the surface, and some of the springs are warm water, indicating geothermal heating, another important element for hydrothermal leaching of intra-basin ash.

The northern part of the basin has an enclosed gravity low anomaly (see figures below) suggesting a deep groundwater reservoir. Such depressions are known to host lithium brines, which because of their higher density than fresh water, sink into the depressions."





Figure 7. Diamond Valley in central Nevada, the green line defines the enclosed basin

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Figure 8. Location of Li-brine claims over gravity low in Diamond Valley

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Fremont has recorded 133 claims to date for lithium brines, covering the gravity low anomaly in the northern end of Diamond Valley, as shown in the figure above. Initial geochemical results are expected within four weeks.

Qualified person

The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President & CEO, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Fremont

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality Nevada gold and lithium projects with the goal of making a new discovery. The Company has also been seeking world-class mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia and Georgia. Besides Cobb Creek, Griffon, and Hurricane in Nevada, Fremont has applied for an exploration license over the Urasar area in northern Armenia.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Dennis Moore"

Dennis Moore

President and CEO, interim Chairman

Fremont Gold Ltd.

For further information, contact:

Corporate Information

Fremont Gold Ltd.

Dennis Moore, President and CEO, interim Chairman

Telephone: +351 9250 62196

www.fremontgold.net

https://twitter.com/GoldFremont

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on several material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the completion of the Private Placement or the actual use of proceeds to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fremont undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165348
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A2QQ0Y) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") announces that the Company has been issued a cease trade order dated May 8, 2023 (the "CTO") by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") for missing the filing deadline of May 1, 2023 for the following periodic disclosure documents (collectively, the "Annual Filings"):

annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022;

annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022; and

certification of annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2022.

As a consequence of the CTO, trading of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange has been halted. While missing the May 1, 2023 filing deadline was through no fault of the Company, the Company expects to complete the SEDAR filing of the Annual Filings within the next few days. After the SEDAR filings are completed, the CTO will be revoked; and the Company is coordinating with the TSX Venture Exchange to coordinate a resumption of trading as expeditiously as possible once the CTO has been revoked.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

About Thesis Gold

Thesis Gold is a Vancouver based mineral exploration company focused on proving and developing the resource potential of the 178km2 Ranch Gold Project located in the "Golden Horseshoe" area of northern British Columbia, approximately 300 km north of Smithers, British Columbia.

Further details are available on the Company's website at: https://www.thesisgold.com/

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO and Director

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell

Vice President

The Howard Group Inc.

Email: dave@howardgroupinc.com

Tel: 403-410-7907

Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

Nick Stajduhar

Director

Thesis Gold

Telephone: 780-701-3216

Email: nicks@thesisgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165392
DEERFIELD (dpa-AFX) - Baxter International Inc. (BAX), a healthcare product developer, announced on Tuesday, that its Chief Financial Officer Jay Saccaro will step down at the end of May to pursue another opportunity. Brian Stevens has been named acting finance chief effective May 31, until the company fills the role. Stevens joined Baxter as senior vice president chief accounting officer and controller in 2018, and will continue with these responsibilities in addition to being the acting CFO. Brian is an experienced executive who worked in Groupon as its treasurer and Chief accounting officer. Currently the shares of Baxter International are trading at $44.37, down 2.71% or $1.24. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Sinequa to present new generative AI and neural search capabilities at PTC LiveWorx 2023

Enterprise Search leader Sinequa has added new capabilities to its Search Cloud platform that enable manufacturers and engineers to easily and reliable discover, generate and reuse information and insights throughout the product lifecycle and digital thread. Sinequa will present its AI-enabled search and insight engine for manufacturers including the most comprehensive set of product lifecycle search connectors available in the market today, at PTC LiveWorx 2023 PTC's premier annual technology conference being held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, May 15-18.

According to Peter Bilello, President CEO at CIMdata, "Accessing and leveraging knowledge in multiple systems has always been a challenge for manufacturers. The information that engineers need is often spread across multiple corporate systems (e.g., PDM/PLM, ERP, MES, MRO, SDM, supplier catalogs, test results, and operational data) and dozens of 'personal' systems (e.g., meeting notes, spreadsheets, presentations, customer feedback, etc.). Sinequa's Search Cloud provides an innovative approach to access this information easily and in context, allowing engineers to make informed decisions."

Built for large-scale industrial data and content, Sinequa's platform now combines Neural Search and Microsoft Azure Open AI Service with industry leading Large Language Models (LLM) -- the same technology underpinning ChatGPT. Engineering teams gain fast, accurate, unified search and insight generation across projects, products and parts within an organizations' design, supply chain, manufacturing, and services processes. Powerful question-answering capabilities and automated summaries help streamline workflows, collaboration, and improve decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.

According to Xavier Pornain, Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing at Sinequa, "Sinequa Search Cloud is an essential component of digital threads that manufacturers have envisioned for many years. Sinequa's AI-powered search connects the data across disparate systems, making relevant information discoverable and actionable. Now, powerful capabilities combine Sinequa's Neural Search with industry-leading generative AI models, backed by inherent strengths in the security, scale, and reliability of Azure. Manufacturers can accelerate innovation, improve workforce and customer satisfaction, and finally achieve operational excellence."

Sinequa breakout sessions and demonstrations at LiveWorx include:

IgniteTalx session PL1880I May 17th at 3:00pm: Why AI-Powered Search is a Critical Part of Product Lifecycle Management presented by Alana Cento, Director of Product Marketing at Sinequa.

Join this session in the PLM track to learn how Sinequa's Search Cloud unifies digital thread data that lives across disparate systems and makes relevant information discoverable across product lifecycle functions. Learn how engineers use Sinequa to gain a 360-degree view of projects, products, and parts to discover and reuse insights that accelerate innovation and deliver high-quality products and projects on time and within budget.

Product Demonstrations: Design Engineering, Sinequa Neural Search with ChatGPT

Stop by Sinequa booth #509 at LiveWorx to experience the Sinequa Search Cloud combining Neural Search with generative AI capabilities in a new conversational interface for finding and generating data-driven insights. Built-in enterprise-grade Azure security and secure connectors ensure reliability and insights with unmatched relevance. With hundreds of pre-built connectors to leading ERP, CAD, and PLM applications, including PTC Windchill, Sinequa enables users to unlock greater value from their data.

Global manufacturing leaders such as Airbus, Alstom, NASA, Siemens, Volkswagen, and others across aerospace and defense, automotive, industrial engineering, technology, and other industry sectors trust Sinequa to make all information findable and actionable by employees and customers for new insights and faster decision-making across the product life cycle.

To learn more about Sinequa's solutions for Manufacturing, please visit: https://www.sinequa.com/enterprise-search-for-industries/manufacturing/

To book your one-on-one demo at Sinequa's booth: https://www.sinequa.com/events/ptc-liveworx/

About Sinequa

Sinequa enables organizations of all sizes to put their content to work through the Sinequa Search Cloud. Customers trust the Search Cloud to connect, organize, and enrich all their content, learn from employee interactions, and present contextually relevant information with every search. Employees are empowered with the knowledge, expertise, and insights needed to make fast, informed decisions. Sinequa helps customers accelerate innovation, reduce duplicate work, foster real-time collaboration, and increase productivity. For more information, visit www.sinequa.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005773/en/

Contacts:

North America

Heather Racicot

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Jon Burch

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0208 819 3170
The global aerogel market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as growing demand from the oil and gas industry and the properties of aerogel like superior thermal resistance, reusability, and recyclability.

PORTLAND, Ore., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Aerogel Market by Form (Blanket, Particle, Panel, and Monolith) by Type (Silica, Polymers, Carbon, and Others) by End-Use Industry (Building and Construction, Oil and Gas, Automotive, Aerospace, Performance Coatings, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032". According to the report, the global aerogel market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 19.4% from 2023 to 2032.







Prime determinants of growth

The global aerogel market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as growing demand from the oil and gas industry and the properties of aerogel like superior thermal resistance, reusability, and recyclability. However, the high cost of production hinders the market growth to some extent. Moreover, demand for lightweight and protective equipment offers remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the aerogel market.

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Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2021 $1.3 billion Market Size in 2031 $7.5 billion CAGR 19.4 % No. of Pages in Report 350 Segments Covered Form, Type, End-Use Industry, and Region. Drivers Growing demand from oil and gas industry Properties of aerogel such as, superior thermal resistance, reusability and recyclability, lighter and thinner alternative to conventional insulations, high durability and protection from fire Opportunity High growth potential across various domains Effective substitution of fiber glass, foam, and cellulose Demand for lightweight and protective equipment Increase in demand for aerogel-based apparel Restraint High production cost Poor mechanical strength Demand dependent on the economic conditions of consumers

Impact of Russia Ukraine War on the Aerogel Market

Russia is one of the major producers of aerogel, and the conflict has led to disruptions in the supply chain. This disruption caused a shortage of raw materials, leading to increased prices and delays in production.

is one of the major producers of aerogel, and the conflict has led to disruptions in the supply chain. This disruption caused a shortage of raw materials, leading to increased prices and delays in production. However, the conflict has led to a shift in demand for aerogel products. For example, there has been an increased demand for aerogel insulation in Ukraine due to the need to retrofit buildings for improved energy efficiency.

The particle segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

Based on form, the blanket segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global aerogel market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is because aerogel blankets are used as thermal insulation in spacecraft and satellites. They are highly effective at protecting against extreme temperatures and can be used to shield critical components from the harsh conditions of space. However, the particle segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 19.84% from 2023 to 2032, as it is commonly used as insulation material due to their excellent thermal insulation properties. They can be added to various building materials, such as concrete and plaster, to improve energy efficiency and reduce heat loss.

Procure Complete Report (350 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3M8MbgY

The silica segment is expected to lead the trail by 2032

Based on the type, the silica segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global aerogel market revenue and is estimated to dominate during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that aerogel is used for the aerospace, building insulation, and cryogenic insulation. However, the carbon segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 19.91% from 2023 to 2032, as carbon is utilized as a sensing material for gas sensors due to their high surface area and unique pore structure.

The automotive segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

Based on the end-use industry, the oil and gas segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global aerogel market revenue and is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that aerogel is used for cryogenic applications, such as the storage and transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Aerogel insulation can help to reduce heat transfer and prevent the loss of LNG due to evaporation. However, the automotive segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 20.28% from 2023 to 2032. The growth is attributed to their unique properties such as low density, high surface area, and excellent thermal insulation.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032.

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global aerogel market revenue and is expected to rule the roost in terms of revenue throughout the forecast timeframe. The segment is driven by factors such as utilization of aerogel in oil and gas industry by regulatory authorities in the North America region. However, Europe is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 19.78% % from 2023 to 2032. The growth is attributed to the use of aerogel in the automotive industry in Europe to insulate engine compartments and exhaust systems.

Leading Market Players: -

ARMACELL

ACTIVE AEROGELS

AEROGEL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.

CABOT CORPORATION

ASPEN AEROGELS, INC.

AEROGELS, INC. BASF SE

DOW

SVENSKA AEROGEL AB

THERMABLOK AEROGELS LIMITED

GUANGDONG ALISON HI-TECH CO., LTD.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global aerogel market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/aerogel-market/purchase-options

Similar Reports:

Nano Silica Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Silica Flour Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Silica Sol Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Europe Blanket Aerogel Market: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2015 - 2022

Opaque Polymers Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

Super Absorbent Polymer Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SHENZHEN, China, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kandao Technology, a leading provider of intelligent hybrid collaboration solutions, is thrilled to announce Kandao Meeting Ultra and Kandao Meeting Ultra Standard are now available for purchase. This innovative 4K all-in-one AI 360 conference camera sets a new standard for 360 hybrid conferencing. Kandao Meeting Ultra is a conference system with two fisheye cameras that captures and stitches 4K 360 views on top, two 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen displays that double as a control panel, a 10-watt Hi-Fi speaker, and eight omnidirectional microphones. Exterior connections include a single HDMI IN, two HDMI OUT, an ethernet port, a single USB-C connection and multiple USB A ports. It is a complete, portable conferencing solution with built-in Android OS and AI auto-framing and tracking algorithm. Kandao Meeting Ultra Standard is released at the same time as a screenless and even more cost-effective version.





Why 360-degree AI conference camera?

Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard both have 360 degree views so that the entire meeting room can be captured and all local attendees are equally shown when joining hybrid meetings. Speaking participants do not need to squeeze together around single webcams. They can move around the room while always being auto-framed and focused by state-of-the-art audio and video AI algorithm. This huge step forward help meeting attendees achieve seamless hybrid collaboration with hardware features such as 8-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 6-Tops NPU in, realizing stable transmission, precise human face and voice detection, and low-latency tracking.

What makes Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard stand out?

To solve the center-of-table conference camera issue, where participants unnaturally turn their heads towards the TV or webcam in the front of room, Kandao Meeting Ultra positions two FHD screens right underneath the camera. This creates a more natural face-to-face collaboration by displaying the meeting right in front of you while showing the front face of local users to the remote attendees. Users have become accustomed to the single webcam and laptop experience, and we've extended this experience to multiple participants in a huddle room or conference room.

Two huge feature upgrades for image quality are the High Dynamic Range and noise reduction. Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard output streams at 4K 30FPS HDR video to avoid overexposure when conferencing near windows, while brightening up shady areas. Plus built-in noise reduction algorithm, faces can be recorded and displayed vividly and clearly. Users can also manually adjust exposure values in the settings to brighten dark spaces or lighten dark environments, to create the ideal lighting for meeting experiences.

In order to ensure every idea can be well-conveyed and heard, Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard sport a premium full-duplex audio system and implements an ambient noise cancellation AI algorithm. Without affecting the clarity and quality of spoken voices, it cancels distracting noises such as keyboard typing, car honking, doors opening and closing, and pen clicking, creating a focused meeting environment.





Flexible and customized conference view

There are three discussion modes for multi-attendee framing, main-speaker focusing, and all-attendee displaying. The device can automatically reframe views to capture up to eight detected local attendees. Similar to previous Kandao Meeting conference device models, the Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard have a panorama on top to show all attendees and are now upgraded to provide the option of removing this panorama.

One special feature on top of the AI speaker tracking algorithm is the ability to manually control viewing angles and zoom functionality. Users can simply lock the views in place (gallery view or speaker view with up to 8 participants shown simultaneously), then tap on individual frames to adjust the view and zoom in on speakers to provide even greater accuracy in tracking active speakers. The 360 panoramic viewing angle can also be adjusted and ignore zones can be set up to prevent the algorithm from auto-framing.

BYOD and Screensharing

Both Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra standard are robust 360 conferencing systems that operate as standalone devices supporting any video conferencing platforms. However, they also can still be used as computer USB peripherals for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments. You can use an HDMI cable to easily share your screen during meetings or share through wireless screen mirroring from iOS devices, Mac OS devices, Android devices, or Windows-system devices. Having two HDMI OUT ports enables connection to two external screens creating more possibilities for sharing in larger spaces. Users can connect a USB-C cable to a power supply or even use an Ethernet cable for Power over Ethernet capabilities, cutting down on the wiring in the room.

Data protection and privacy

Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard prioritize user privacy and data security. IP addresses or locations will never be stored and does not have open API to connect to outside sources. It has a one-step video conferencing log out and turn Bluetooth on/off functionality.

Which one is right for you?

Kandao Meeting Ultra is the best option to be used as a standalone product, especially for huddle rooms or meeting pods that are currently not video call enabled, such as having a full set up with monitors, cameras, mics, and speakers.

Kandao Meeting Ultra Standard is better for those who prefer to use it as a USB peripheral.

With innovative designs and advanced features, Kandao Meeting Ultra and Kandao Meeting Ultra Standard represent the next standard of 360 hybrid meetings, providing users with a comprehensive and immersive conferencing experience. Kandao Meeting Ultra and Ultra Standard are now available for pre-order. Kandao will hold a manufacturer training session at Infocomm 2023 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida. The event will take place from 2:30-4:30 PM on Thursday, June 15th in room W310AB. Join us today by registering for Infocomm here: bit.ly/Infocomm-MT46

Contact sales@kandaovr.com pre-order today or learn more on our website:

https://www.kandaovr.com/kandao-meetingultra/

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HAMILTON, BERMUDA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Family-owned spirits company Bacardi has a new Master of Botanicals for its world-famous BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin and MARTINI vermouth brands, as it announces the promotion of Alessandro Garneri to the prestigious role. Alessandro takes the reins from industry-legend, Ivano Tonutti, who will retire this year following an incredible career at Bacardi spanning more than 33 years.

An expert agronomist, Alessandro has been part of the Bacardi team for more than 17 years. He has headed up the company's Global Botanicals Center in Geneva since 2017, taking a leading role in installing cutting-edge technology at the plant, as well as pushing boundaries on sustainable sourcing and the latest product innovations in the Bacardi portfolio of premium spirits.

"Alessandro is the perfect example of our focus on nurturing talent and growing careers at Bacardi," says Dave Ingram, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Bacardi Limited. "After training for years for this role, he has everything it takes to be an incredible Master of Botanicals who will continue to lead the industry in sustainable sourcing of ingredients."

In his new role, Alessandro is responsible for overseeing the field-to-bottle journey of every botanical used to craft MARTINI and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, as well as for ST-GERMAIN Elderflower liqueur, NOILLY PRAT vermouth and BENEDECTINE liqueur - ensuring the consistent quality and flavor of each. All of this in a milestone year for MARTINI, as the brand celebrates its 160th anniversary.

"It's an honor to become the Master of Botanicals for such iconic and well-loved brands," comments Alessandro Garneri. "I have been passionate about science, the natural world and technology for as long as I can remember, and I feel privileged to be able to pursue those passions through my work. As a family-owned company, Bacardi does the right thing when it comes to sourcing and I'm excited to continue that legacy, creating a blueprint for others in the industry to follow."

For more than six years, Alessandro has trained under Ivano Tonutti, an industry expert who has shared his knowledge and experience on every element of the botanicals business to ensure a seamless transition.

Working closely with Anne Brock, Master Distiller for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and Beppe Musso, Master Blender for MARTINI, Ivano's work is behind the signature flavor of countless successful innovations for Bacardi, now enjoyed by consumers around the world - from super premium gin, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Premier Cru, to the pioneering MARTINI Non-Alcoholic aperitivo.

Ivano and his team have spent decades building strong relationships with, and giving back to, the farmers and suppliers of the company's botanicals - looking after their wellbeing and investing in sustainable farming practices to help protect the environment and their livelihoods for generations to come.

Ivano has also overseen numerous landmark sustainability milestones for Bacardi. Last year the company announced 100% of the wineries for the entire MARTINI portfolio are certified sustainable, while BOMBAY SAPPHIRE became the first major gin brand to be made with 100% sustainably sourced botanicals.

Dave adds, "Ivano's contribution to our business cannot be overstated. During his three decades with Bacardi, his expertise, energy and leadership have transformed the way we source, extract flavor from and ensure the quality of our beautiful botanicals. Everyone at Bacardi joins me in wishing Ivano a very happy and healthy retirement and in saying a huge thank you to him for his incredible impact on our business and the industry."

As he begins his retirement later this year, Ivano will continue to work closely with Bacardi as an expert advisor, supporting advocacy efforts and sharing his knowledge and expertise for the years to come.

"I am immensely proud of the legacy I leave behind at Bacardi," comments Ivano Tonutti, Master of Botanicals, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and MARTINI. "Every day of my 33-year career at Bacardi, I have been able to use my curiosity, my passion and my drive to protect the planet and to have a real impact on the way we source our ingredients and care for those who grow our botanicals. It's been an incredible journey and I look forward to seeing Bacardi continue to take huge strides in this space in the years to come."

Through its extensive Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) program, Good Spirited, Bacardi has set itself ambitious targets on sourcing, including a goal of sourcing 100% of its key ingredients from sustainably certified suppliers by 2025. Find out more about the sustainability commitments of Bacardi and its vision to become the most environmentally responsible global spirits company at https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Media enquiries:

Phillippa Williams, Communications Director, Global Supply Chain for Bacardi, pholmes@bacardi.com

Always drink responsibly.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bacardi Limited on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Bacardi Limited

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bacardi-limited

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Bacardi Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753723/Bacardi-Announces-New-Master-of-Botanicals-For-BOMBAY-SAPPHIRER-and-MARTINIR
La Plaine Saint Denis, May 9, 2023 - Showroomprive (SRP Groupe), a European group specializing in smartshopping, informs its shareholders about the upcoming convening of the shareholders' meetings of the company.

As indicated in its press release date March 31st, 2023, SRP Groupe's shareholders are invited to attend the additional ordinary shareholders' meeting which will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. 1 impasse du Pilier, 93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis.

A notice of meeting (avis de reunion), including the agenda, the draft resolutions that the Board of Directors plans to submit to a vote of shareholders, and main instructions for attending, voting and exercising shareholder rights at the General Meeting on May 26, 2023, has been published on April 21, 2023 in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO) (bulletin n 48 of April 21, 2023, announcement no. 2301047).

This notice of meeting can be consulted online on the Company's website at https://www.showroomprivegroup.com/en/shareholders-meeting/. All the information concerning the General Meeting will also be available on this website.

The notice of meeting will be followed by a convening notice (avis de convocation), which will be published in the BALO and a French legal announcement journal within the legal and regulatory timeframes.

The preparatory documents for the General Meeting are available to shareholders at the registered office at 1 rue des Bles ZAC Montjoie 93212 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex France and on the company's website at https://www.showroomprivegroup.com/en/shareholders-meeting/ according to legal and regulatory requirements.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains only summary information and is not intended to be comprehensive.

This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements about the Group and its subsidiaries. These statements

include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations

with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements

may be identified by the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "goal" or similar expressions. Although the Group believes that the

expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and the Group's shareholders are advised that

forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and

are generally beyond the control of the Group, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely

from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties

include those discussed or identified in filings with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (France's financial markets authority) made or

to be made by the Group (particularly those detailed in Chapter 4 of the Company's registration document). The Group makes no

commitment to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ABOUT showroomprive

Showroomprive is an innovative European player in the online private sales industry, specialized in fashion.

Showroomprive offers a daily selection of more than 3,000 brand partners via its mobile apps or website in France and

six other countries. Since its launch in 2006, the company has enjoyed rapid growth.

Showroomprive is listed on Euronext Paris (code: SRP) and reported GMV of almost 950 million incl. VAT

in 2022, and net revenue of 657 million. The Group is headed by David Dayan, the co-founder, and employs over 1,000 people.

For more information: http://showroomprivegroup.com

Contacts

Showroomprive NewCap Sylvie Chan Diaz, Investor Relations investor.relations@showroomprive.net Financial communications

Theo Martin, Louis-Victor Delouvrier Anne-Charlotte Neau Julliard

Relations.presse@showroomprive.net Financial media relations

Gaelle Fromaigeat, Nicolas Merigeau

showroomprive@newcap.eu

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CFI Financial, the leading multi-asset broker, has announced yet another record-breaking quarter in Q1 of 2023, following its historic year in 2022. The company reported impressive growth across all key metrics, with record trading volumes, new accounts, and active clients.

Compared to Q1 2022, the trading volumes have increased by a remarkable 57%, while the number of active accounts has increased by an impressive 157%. Moreover, the company has experienced record-breaking growth of 68% in new accounts, demonstrating its unique ability to attract new customers.

Hisham Mansour and Eduardo Fakhoury, the Founders and Managing Directors of CFI Financial Group, credited their dedicated team and commitment to delivering the best possible trading experience to their clients for the continued success of the company. "We are thrilled to report another outstanding quarter, with record-breaking performance across all key metrics," they added.

As part of its strategic expansion efforts, CFI Financial recently completed the full acquisition of the Egypt-based brokerage El Mahrousa, which has now been rebranded as CFI. Additionally, the company has launched a trading app and is committed to developing new products and tools to enhance its clients' trading experience. CFI Financial plans to open new markets in 2023 and bring its financial technology and expertise to even more traders worldwide. Such moves are expected to be pivotal in expanding the group's market reach and driving growth in new regions.

"We are proud of our achievements so far, but we know that there is always more to be done," said Mansour and Fakhoury. "We are committed to delivering the best possible service to our clients, and we are confident that our ongoing investments in our infrastructure and technology will continue to drive our growth towards more and better."

CFI Financial Group, a leading multi-asset broker specializing in online trading, operates globally with eight international licenses from top-tier regulatory bodies such as the FCA in the United Kingdom, CySEC in Cyprus, and the DFSA in UAE, to name a few. The group provides clients with direct access to global financial markets and has a premium position in the MENA region while expanding in emerging markets such as LATAM and Africa.

About CFI Financial Group

CFI Financial Group, a leading multi-asset broker specializing in online trading, operates globally with eight international licenses from top-tier regulatory bodies such as the FCA in the United Kingdom, CySEC in Cyprus, and the DFSA in UAE, to name a few. The group provides clients with direct access to global financial markets.

CFI Financial Group has a premium position in the MENA region and is expanding in emerging markets such as LATAM and Africa.

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This partnership enables simplified access to global markets and optimized cross border payments for corporate treasury and finance professionals.

BERLIN KOPENICK, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Today, StoneX Global Payments and TIS have formally announced an official partnership agreement. Under the arrangement, StoneX and TIS will combine their extensive experience in cross-border payments and cloud-native payment solutions to create an unparalleled level of global service and coverage for corporate treasury and finance teams.

https://cdn.newswire.com/files/x/fe/d3/91dab2704503f90cd0e52fe3e67e.png

The partnership, which leverages both companies' comprehensive industry knowledge and market-leading software solutions, enables corporate clients to drastically simplify the complexity of cross-border and foreign exchange payments. As a result, treasury and finance professionals can gain total visibility over their FX transactions, as well as full transparency to FX rates before transfers are initiated and executed. Ultimately, this gives corporate clients a more cost-effective and straightforward workflow for their FX payments, as well as increased protection against currency risks and other common international payment challenges. Today, the service provides a gateway into global markets across 140+ currencies and 180+ countries, allowing clients to choose the right payment option in each scenario with a guaranteed payment delivery of 48 hours or less.

"Teaming up with TIS unites their offering in key areas of corporate clients with our strengths in global payment solutions and technology. This enables our customers not only to leverage efficiency and automation potentials but also to benefit from cost savings in the local currency business. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with TIS", said Marc Joppeck, Head of Sales & StoneX Payments Division Germany & Corporate Payments Europe.

The strong connectivity between https://pr.report/hX3B9RTI and their customers' back-office systems and banks, following a multi-channel banking approach across any preferred network, makes payment processes streamlined, secure, and efficient. Both TIS and https://pr.report/-5omwWYD Global Payments have strong SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) partnerships and are fully compatible with ISO 20022, as well as the full scope of other messaging standards in use today. This means StoneX Global Payments and TIS can offer fully integrated and automated end-to-end processes regardless of the unique requirements presented by specific clients.

Regarding the benefits of this partnership, Jorg Wiemer, Co-founder and CSO at TIS, stated: "The collaboration with StoneX Global Payments enables our customers to significantly reduce FX payments costs and to further streamline cross-border payment processes. With automated, ERP-integrated processes as well as full transparency on cash flows and FX rates and 140+ currency options, and guaranteed delivery within 48 hours, together with StoneX Global Payments, we can offer unmatched services that allow our customers fast and efficient simple access to global markets. We're excited to push this collaboration further."

In recent months, StoneX Global Payments and TIS have already proven that the benefits their partnership provides to organizations are critically important. As of October 2022, TIS clients including the award-winning non-profit organization IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) are leveraging the FX payment solution to achieve substantial cost-savings over their previous setup. The partnership continues to deliver outstanding results for many other clients as well.

Moving forward, the combined strength of StoneX Global Payments and TIS is expected to continue creating enhanced global market access and optimized FX strategies, resulting in a partnership that consistently delivers maximum value to corporate clients.

About TIS

TIS helps CFOs (Chief Financial Officers), Treasurers, and Finance teams transform their global cash flow, liquidity, and payment functions. Since 2010, our award-winning cloud platform and best-in-class service model have empowered the entire office of the CFO to collaborate more effectively and attain maximum efficiency, automation, and control. By streamlining connectivity between our customers' back-office systems and their worldwide banks, vendors, and business partners, TIS enables users to achieve superior performance in key areas surrounding cash forecasting, working capital, outbound payments, financial messaging, fraud prevention, payment compliance, and more.

With over 11,000 banking options, $80 billion in daily cash managed, and $2.5 trillion in annual transaction volume, TIS has a proven track record of combining our unparalleled market expertise with tailored client and community feedback to drive digital transformation for companies of all sizes and industries. As a result, hundreds of organizations and thousands of practitioners rely on TIS daily to gain strategic advantage, monetize data, improve operational efficiency, and better manage risk. Learn more at https://www.tispayments.com/

About StoneX Global Payments

StoneX Global Payments is a product of the StoneX Group and specializes in cross-border payments. We offer tailor-made foreign exchange and payment services for corporates, NGOs, and financial institutions worldwide. Our global network of 350+ correspondent banks help us deliver transparent, secure, and guaranteed payments in more than 140 currencies across 180+ countries. Clients are able to gain access to our services through a highly scalable, efficient, and advanced payment platform that is easy to use.

StoneX Group Inc. and its subsidiaries are a leading provider of execution, risk management, advisory, market information, and clearing services for various asset classes and markets worldwide. Learn more at https://pr.report/1lfIwC45 or https://pr.report/usBfjAgk

Contact Information

Jennifer Knutel

VP Marketing

mailto:jennifer.knutel@tispayments.com

978-875-2085

Marc Joppeck

Head of Sales & StoneX Payments Division Germany & Corporate Payments Europe

mailto:marc.joppeck@stonex.com

SOURCE: TIS



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The dynamics of the cell and gene therapies market in rare disorders are anticipated to change as companies across the globe are thoroughly working toward developing new therapeutic options to treat a wide array of indications.

LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, emerging cell and gene therapies for various rare disorders, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan].





Key Takeaways from the Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Report

As per DelveInsight analysis, the cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 1.5 billion in 2022.

in 2022. According to the assessment done by DelveInsight, the estimated total prevalent cases of selected indications for cell and gene therapies in rare disorders in the 7MM were approximately 900K in 2022.

in 2022. Leading companies developing novel cell and gene therapies for various rare disorders, such as Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, Fabry disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and others include Roche, Freeline Therapeutics, Spark Therapeutics, Astellas Gene Therapies, Actus Therapeutics, GenSight Biologics, Coave Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, MeiraGTx, Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, GenSight Biologics, Nanoscope Therapeutics, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Ocugen, jCyte, ReNeuron, REGENXBIO, Amicus Therapeutics, Pfizer, Sarepta Therapeutics, Capricor Therapeutics, Nippon Shinyaku, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, CRISPR Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Editas Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Krystal Biotech, Abeona Therapeutics, Castle Creek Biosciences, Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l., RHEACELL, Ishin Pharma, Anterogen, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical , and others.

, and others. The promising cell and gene therapies for various rare disorders in the pipeline include Giroctocogene fitelparvovec, Dirloctocogene samoparvovec, Fidanacogene elaparvovec, Verbrinacogene setparvovec (FLT-180a), FLT190, Isaralgagene civaparvovec (ST-920), 4D-310, SPK-3006, AT845, ACTUS-101, LUMEVOQ (lenadogene nolparvovec), CTx-PDE6b, Botaretigene sparoparvovec, ATGC-501 (laruparetigene zosaparvovec), GS030, MCO-010 (sonpiretigene isteparvovec), 4D-125, OCU400, jCell, RGX-121, AT-GTX-502 (scAAV9.P546.CLN3), PF-06939926, SRP-9001, CAP-1002, NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells), Exagamglogene autotemcel, EDIT-301, BIVV003, VYJUVEK (beremagene geperpavec), EB-101, D-Fi (dabocemagene autoficel), RV-LAMB3-transduced epidermal stem cells, Allogeneic ABCB5-positive Stem Cells, ISN001, ALLO-ASC-SHEET, DTX301, UX111 (ABO-102), DTX401 (AAV8G6PC), and others.

(FLT-180a), (ST-920), (lenadogene nolparvovec), (laruparetigene zosaparvovec), (sonpiretigene isteparvovec), (scAAV9.P546.CLN3), (MSC-NTF cells), (beremagene geperpavec), (dabocemagene autoficel), (ABO-102), (AAV8G6PC), and others. In July 2022 , the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released a final evidence report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of ZYNTEGLO (betibeglogene autotemcel) for treating beta-thalassemia.

the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released a final evidence report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of ZYNTEGLO (betibeglogene autotemcel) for treating beta-thalassemia. In May 2022 , Orchard Therapeutics reached an agreement with Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung Spitzenverband (GKV-SV), which will result in reimbursed access to LIBMELDY (atidarsagene autotemcel) for all metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) patients in Germany who fall within the scope of the European marketing authorization.

Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market share @ Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Report

Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Overview

Cell and gene therapies use genes and cells to treat disease. A gene is a unit of DNA containing genetic information passed down from generation to generation. The genome comprises all genes; genes may contain information on observable features such as height or eye color. Many genes contain instructions for RNA or protein molecules that are not visible from the outside but serve crucial tasks in the body's cells. Cells are the building blocks of plants and animals (including humans); they are small functional units that work together to generate organs and tissues. Cell and gene therapy technology is quickly evolving for many different diseases. However, cell and gene treatments are still experimental drugs, and much more study is required before many of these therapies are available to patients worldwide.

Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Epidemiology Segmentation

DelveInsight estimates that there were approximately 900K prevalent cases of selected indications for cell and gene therapies in rare disorders in the 7MM in 2022.

As per our analysis, the highest prevalent cases from the selected indications for cell and gene therapies in rare disorders were for Retinitis Pigmentosa in the United States, whereas the least cases were reported for Hunter Syndrome in 2022.

The cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2019-2032 in the 7MM segmented into:

Total Prevalent Cases of Shortlisted Indications for Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders

Total Indication Eligible-wise Cases for Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders

Indication-wise Treated Cases of Cell and Gene Therapies

Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Insights

Numerous cell and gene therapies for rare diseases are currently approved in the 7MM, including retinitis pigmentosa (LUXTURNA), beta-thalassemia (ZYNTEGLO), epidermolysis bullosa (JACE), limbal stem cell deficiency (OCURAL), and many others. As per Delveinsight analysis, the total cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market size was around USD 1.5 billion in 2022. According to predictions, the United States will have the largest cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market. ZOLGENSMA produced the highest revenue of roughly USD 1 billion among the 7MM in 2022, while ROCTAVIAN is predicted to take the highest market share by 2032. ROCTAVIAN has received conditional approval in Europe for the treatment of severe hemophilia A. In addition to this approval, BioMarin Pharmaceutical is working to approve the drug in the United States, with a PDUFA target action date of June 30, 2023.

Hemophilia A is predicted to produce the most revenue among the selected indications by 2032, owing to the precedence of existing high treatment cost and expected high cost for emerging therapies along with significant residual unmet need. Gene treatments for Hemophilia A are estimated to earn around USD 6 billion in sales revenue by 2032 in the 7MM. The field of cell and gene therapies for rare indications is expected to rapidly expand in the coming years, as an increasing number of companies submit investigational new drug applications for these treatments each year, along with rising regulatory approval in the United States and Europe. In terms of manufacturing aspects of cell and gene therapies, there will be more competition for contract manufacturing businesses and pharmaceutical/biotechnology firms. The competition for contract manufacturing organization's production capacity will intensify as more companies enter the cell and gene therapy market, possibly driving up manufacturing costs. To ensure pharmaceutical/biotechnology firms can compete or obtain an advantage over competitors, companies may need to invest in manufacturing technologies or acquire companies with manufacturing expertise.

To know more about cell and gene therapies in rare disorders treatment guidelines, visit @ Cell and Gene Therapy Insights

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Hemophilia A and Key Companies

Giroctocogene fitelparvovec: Pfizer/Sangamo Therapeutics

Dirloctocogene samoparvovec: Roche

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Hemophilia B and Key Companies

Fidanacogene elaparvovec: Pfizer/Spark Therapeutics

Verbrinacogene setparvovec (FLT-180a): Freeline Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Fabry Disease and Key Companies

FLT190: Freeline Therapeutics

Isaralgagene civaparvovec (ST-920): Sangamo Therapeutics

4D-310: 4D Molecular Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Pompe Disease and Key Companies

SPK-3006: Spark Therapeutics

AT845: Astellas Gene Therapies

ACTUS-101: Actus Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and Key Companies

LUMEVOQ (lenadogene nolparvovec): GenSight Biologics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Retinitis Pigmentosa and Key Companies

CTx-PDE6b: Coave Therapeutics

Botaretigene sparoparvovec: Johnson & Johnson/ MeiraGTx

ATGC-501 (laruparetigene zosaparvovec): Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

GS030: GenSight Biologics

MCO-010 (sonpiretigene isteparvovec): Nanoscope Therapeutics

4D-125: 4D Molecular Therapeutics

OCU400: Ocugen

jCell: jCyte

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Hunter Syndrome and Key Companies

RGX-121: REGENXBIO

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Batten Disease and Key Companies

AT-GTX-502 (scAAV9.P546.CLN3): Amicus Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Key Companies

PF-06939926: Pfizer

SRP-9001: Sarepta Therapeutics

CAP-1002: Capricor Therapeutics/Nippon Shinyaku

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Key Companies

NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells): Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Beta Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia and Key Companies

Exagamglogene autotemcel: CRISPR Therapeutics/Vertex Pharmaceuticals

EDIT-301: Editas Medicine

BIVV003: Sangamo Therapeutics

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and Key Companies

VYJUVEK (beremagene geperpavec): Krystal Biotech

EB-101: Abeona Therapeutics

D-Fi (dabocemagene autoficel): Castle Creek Biosciences

RV-LAMB3-transduced epidermal stem cells: Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l.

Allogeneic ABCB5-positive Stem Cells: RHEACELL

ISN001: Ishin Pharma

ALLO-ASC-SHEET: Anterogen

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency and Key Companies

DTX301: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A and Key Companies

UX111 (ABO-102): Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies for Glycogen Storage Disease Type IA and Key Companies

DTX401 (AAV8G6PC): Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Learn more about the FDA-approved cell and gene therapies for rare disorders @ Approved Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Treatment

Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Dynamics

The cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market is predicted to grow positively due to an increase in the approval of a growing number of gene therapies and their ease of adoption following approval, the ability to treat a wide range of conditions, an increase in the number of cases, an expected one-time dosing approach, and curative treatment options.

The approval of LIBMELDY, SKYSONA, HOLOCLAR, UPSTAZA, ROCTAVIAN, and other medicines has successfully created regulatory channels for the development of further cell and gene therapies. Companies around the world are working hard to develop new cell and gene therapies options to treat a wide range of indications, such as hemophilia A and B, lysosomal storage disorder (Fabry, Pompe Disease, Danon Disease, MPS I, MPS II, MPS III), neurological disorders (Batten, Parkinson), musculoskeletal disorders (DMD, myotubular myopathy), eye diseases (achromatopsia, limbal stem cell deficiency, retinitis pigmentosa, retinoschisis, age-related macular degeneration, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy), and other indications such as diabetic macular edema, inborn metabolism disorder (Wilson's disease, Phenylketonuria, OTC deficiency/urea cycle disorders), dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, gangliosidosis, and xerostomia.

Many diseases' treatment landscapes have drastically evolved in the last few years. Companies are now developing cell and gene therapies that will play an important role in the future, particularly in the treatment of rare genetic disorders. The process of defining ideal candidates for given gene therapy and cell therapy will have to wait for the enrolment and long-term follow-up of a sufficient number of study subjects to provide satisfactory clarity regarding its safety and efficacy. In conclusion, the future of cell and gene therapy looks optimistic. Several clinical trials have yielded favorable results in terms of safety and efficacy. The findings of these studies motivate additional research into many indications, and the current scenario predicts a positive shift in the cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market for the forecast period.

However, several factors may impede the growth of cell and gene therapies in rare disorders market in the coming years. Despite advances since the enactment of the Orphan Drug Act, people in the United States with rare diseases continue to face challenges to diagnosis, care, and treatment. Moreover, in Europe, a possible crisis with gene treatments for rare diseases is developing, and few companies have withdrawn the drug after failing to get reimbursement in the EU.

Report Metrics Details Study Period 2019-2032 Coverage 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Base Year 2019 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market CAGR 35.8 % Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Size in 2022 USD 1.5 Billion Key Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Companies Roche, Freeline Therapeutics, Spark Therapeutics, Astellas Gene Therapies, Actus Therapeutics, GenSight Biologics, Coave Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, MeiraGTx, Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, GenSight Biologics, Nanoscope Therapeutics, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Ocugen, jCyte, ReNeuron, REGENXBIO, Amicus Therapeutics, Pfizer, Sarepta Therapeutics, Capricor Therapeutics, Nippon Shinyaku, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, CRISPR Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Editas Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Krystal Biotech, Abeona Therapeutics, Castle Creek Biosciences, Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l., RHEACELL, Ishin Pharma, Anterogen, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, and others Key Pipeline Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare DisordersTherapies Giroctocogene fitelparvovec, Dirloctocogene samoparvovec, Fidanacogene elaparvovec, Verbrinacogene setparvovec (FLT-180a), FLT190, Isaralgagene civaparvovec (ST-920), 4D-310, SPK-3006, AT845, ACTUS-101, LUMEVOQ (lenadogene nolparvovec), CTx-PDE6b, Botaretigene sparoparvovec, ATGC-501 (laruparetigene zosaparvovec), GS030, MCO-010 (sonpiretigene isteparvovec), 4D-125, OCU400, jCell, RGX-121, AT-GTX-502 (scAAV9.P546.CLN3), PF-06939926, SRP-9001, CAP-1002, NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells), Exagamglogene autotemcel, EDIT-301, BIVV003, VYJUVEK (beremagene geperpavec), EB-101, D-Fi (dabocemagene autoficel), RV-LAMB3-transduced epidermal stem cells, Allogeneic ABCB5-positive Stem Cells, ISN001, ALLO-ASC-SHEET, DTX301, UX111 (ABO-102), DTX401 (AAV8G6PC), and others

Scope of the Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders current marketed and emerging therapies

Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders current marketed and emerging therapies Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Dynamics: Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Drugs

Conjoint Analysis of Emerging Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Drugs Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's Views, Analyst's Views, Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about cell and gene therapies for rare disorders in development @ Cell and Gene Therapy Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Key Insights 2 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Report Introduction 3 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Key Highlights from Report 4 Executive Summary of Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders 5 Key Events: Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders 6 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 7 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders Market Overview at a Glance in the 7MM 8 Disease Background and Overview of Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders 9 Epidemiology and Patient Population 10 Marketed Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders 10.1 Key Competitors in Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders 10.2 Hemophilia A 10.2.1 ROCTAVIAN (valoctocogene roxaparvovec): BioMarin Pharmaceutical 10.3 Hemophilia B 10.3.1 HEMGENIX (etranacogene dezaparvovec): CSL Behring/uniQure 10.4 Retinitis Pigmentosa 10.4.1 LUXTURNA: Sparks Therapeutics (a company of Roche)/ Novartis 10.5 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) 10.5.1 ZOLGENSMA (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi): Novartis (AveXis) 10.6 Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) 10.6.1 LIBMELDY (atidarsagene autotemcel): Orchard Therapeutics 10.7 Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency 10.7.1 HOLOCLAR (Autologous human corneal epithelial cells containing stem cells): Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l. 10.7.2 OCURAL: Japan Tissue Engineering 10.7.3 SAKRACY: Hirosaki Lifescience Innovation 10.7.4 NEPIC (EYE-01M): Japan Tissue Engineering 10.8 Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) 10.8.1 SKYSONA (elivaldogene autotemcel): bluebird bio 10.9 Beta Thalassemia 10.9.1 ZYNTEGLO (betibeglogene autotemcel): bluebird bio 10.1 Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency 10.10.1 UPSTAZA (Eladocagene exuparvovec): PTC Therapeutics 10.11 Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa 10.11.1 JACE (human epidermal cell sheet): Japan Tissue Engineering 10.12 Severe Combined Immunodeficiency due to Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency (ADA-SCID) 10.12.1 STRIMVELIS: Orchard Therapeutics 11 Emerging Drugs 11.1 Key Competitors 11.2 Hemophilia A 11.2.1 Giroctocogene fitelparvovec: Pfizer/Sangamo Therapeutics 11.2.2 Dirloctocogene samoparvovec: Roche (Spark Therapeutics) 11.3 Hemophilia B 11.3.1 Fidanacogene elaparvovec: Pfizer/Spark Therapeutics 11.3.2 Verbrinacogene setparvovec (FLT-180a): Freeline Therapeutics 11.4 Fabry Disease 11.4.1 FLT190: Freeline Therapeutics 11.4.2 Isaralgagene civaparvovec (ST-920): Sangamo Therapeutics 11.4.3 4D-310: 4D Molecular Therapeutics 11.5 Pompe Disease 11.5.1 SPK-3006: Spark Therapeutics (acquired by Roche) 11.5.2 AT845: Astellas Gene Therapies 11.5.3 ACTUS-101: Actus Therapeutics (Acquired by Bayer) 11.6 Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy 11.6.1 LUMEVOQ (lenadogene nolparvovec): GenSight Biologics 11.7 Retinitis Pigmentosa 11.7.1 CTx-PDE6b: Coave Therapeutics 11.7.2 Botaretigene sparoparvovec: Johnson & Johnson/ MeiraGTx 11.7.3 ATGC-501 (laruparetigene zosaparvovec): Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation 11.7.4 GS030: GenSight Biologics 11.7.5 MCO-010 (sonpiretigene isteparvovec): Nanoscope Therapeutics 11.7.6 4D-125: 4D Molecular Therapeutics 11.7.7 OCU400: Ocugen 11.7.8 jCell: jCyte 11.7.9 Human Retinal Progenitor Cells (hRPC): ReNeuron 11.8 Hunter Syndrome 11.8.1 RGX-121: REGENXBIO 11.9 Batten Disease 11.9.1 AT-GTX-502 (scAAV9.P546.CLN3): Amicus Therapeutics 11.1 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) 11.10.1 PF-06939926: Pfizer 11.10.2 SRP-9001: Sarepta Therapeutics 11.10.3 CAP-1002: Capricor Therapeutics/Nippon Shinyaku 11.11 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 11.11.1 NurOwn (MSC-NTF cells): Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics 11.12 Beta Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia 11.12.1 Exagamglogene autotemcel: CRISPR Therapeutics/Vertex Pharmaceuticals 11.12.2 EDIT-301: Editas Medicine 11.12.3 BIVV003: Sangamo Therapeutics 11.13 Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa 11.13.1 VYJUVEK (beremagene geperpavec): Krystal Biotech 11.13.2 EB-101: Abeona Therapeutics 11.13.3 D-Fi (dabocemagene autoficel): Castle Creek Biosciences 11.13.4 RV-LAMB3-transduced epidermal stem cells: Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l. 11.13.5 Allogenic ABCB5-positive Stem Cells: RHEACELL 11.13.6 ISN001: Ishin Pharma 11.13.7 ALLO-ASC-SHEET: Anterogen 11.14 Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC Deficiency) 11.14.1 DTX301: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical 11.15 Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA) 11.15.1 UX111 (ABO-102): Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical 11.16 Glycogen Storage disease Type IA 11.16.1 DTX401 (AAV8G6PC): Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical 12 Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders: 7MM analysis 12.1 Key Findings 12.2 Market Outlook 12.3 Conjoint Analysis 12.4 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 12.5 Indication-wise Market size of Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders in the 7MM 12.6 Market Size of Cell and Gene Therapies in Rare Disorders by Therapies in the 7MM 12.7 United States Market Size 12.8 EU4 and the UK Market Size 12.9 Japan Market Size 13 Unmet Needs 14 SWOT Analysis 15 KOL Views 16 Market Access and Reimbursement 17 Appendix 18 DelveInsight Capabilities 19 Disclaimer 20 About DelveInsight

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CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Precision Swine Farming Market is projected to reach USD 711 million by 2028 from USD 418 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The market for precision swine farming by software offering is experiencing growth due to the need for efficient data management and analysis in managing large numbers of pigs as there has been a surge in demand for pork products.





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Demand for needle-free injection systems by hardware offering drive the market due to the reduced risk of infection

The precision swine farming market is experiencing an increasing demand for needle-free injection systems. This can be attributed to the numerous advantages they offer, such as the reduction of infection risk and improved animal welfare. The use of needle-free injection systems can significantly reduce the risk of infection for both animals and workers by eliminating the possibility of needlestick injuries. This, in turn, can ensure the safety and health of livestock, while also safeguarding the health of workers. Moreover, needle-free injection systems also offer an array of benefits in terms of animal welfare. Traditional injection methods can be painful and stressful for animals, leading to a decrease in productivity. Needle-free injection systems alleviate the pain and stress associated with traditional injection methods, thereby ensuring the well-being of livestock.

By application, swine identification and tracking category hold a significant market share during the forecast period

Swine identification and tracking systems are increasingly in demand in the precision swine farming market. The technology provides crucial data for farmers to monitor individual pigs, optimize growth, and track their health status. With information on each pig's feed intake, weight gain, and behavior, farmers can adjust their management practices to ensure that every pig receives the appropriate level of care, improving efficiency and yield. This technology also helps prevent disease outbreaks by quickly identifying and isolating sick pigs, reducing the risk of spreading disease to healthy ones and minimizing the need for antibiotics. Swine identification and tracking systems also aid farmers in complying with regulatory requirements related to food safety and animal welfare. By keeping accurate records of pig movement, feed intake, and medication history, farmers can demonstrate their adherence to regulatory authorities, increasing credibility and avoiding penalties.

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Europe is projected to be the dominant region in the precision swine farming market

Europe holds the largest share in the precision swine farming market due to several factors, including a shortage of labor and an aging population, as well as a growing focus on sustainable pork production and an increasing demand for efficiency and productivity in swine farming. In response to the labor shortage and aging population, European farmers have been investing in precision farming technologies, which help to increase efficiency and productivity while reducing the need for manual labor. Additionally, the focus on sustainable pork production has driven the adoption of precision swine farming practices, as these technologies enable better resource management, waste reduction, and animal welfare. Furthermore, the increasing demand for efficiency and production has further contributed to Europe's dominance in the precision swine farming market. Precision farming technologies allow for real-time monitoring and timely interventions, leading to improved growth rates and profitability.

The key players in this market include Nedap N.V. (Netherlands), CTB, Inc. (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. (US), Guangzhou Yingzi Technology Co, Ltd. (China), Hotraco (Netherlands), VDL Agrotech BV (Netherlands), AcuShot Needle Free (Canada), Pulse NeedleFree Systems (US), Henke Sass Wolf GmbH (Germany), Big Dutchman (Germany), EN-CO Software Zrt (Hungary), Luda Farm AB (Sweden), AGCO Corporation (US) and Microfan (Netherlands). The study includes an in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the precision swine farming market with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

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Browse Adjacent Markets @ Feed and Animal Nutrition Market Research Reports & Consulting

Browse Other Reports:

Digital Agriculture Market by Technology (Peripheral and Core), Type (Hardware and Software), Operation (Farming & Feeding, Monitoring & Scouting, and Marketing & Demand Generation), Operation and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Indoor Farming Technology Market by Growing System (Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Soil-based, Hybrid), Facility Type, Component, Crop Type (Fruits & Vegetables, Herbs & Microgreens, Flowers & Ornamentals), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

Top Trends in the Agricultural Biologicals Market by Agricultural Biologicals, Biocontrols, Bio fungicides, Bioinsecticides, Bio nematicides, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, Inoculants, Pheromones, Biological Seed Treatment - Global Forecast to 2026

Regenerative Agriculture Market by Practice (Aquaculture, Agroecology, Agroforestry, Biochar & Terra Preta, Holistically Managed Grazing, No-Till & Pasture Cropping, Silvopasture), Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Smart Harvest Market by Site of Operation (On-field, Greenhouse, Indoor), Component (Harvesting Robots, Automation & Control Systems, Imaging Systems, Sensors, Software), Crop Type (Fruits and Vegetables), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023

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The PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors market is anticipated to be driven in the coming years due to the rise in novel drugs and therapies and the increase in healthcare spending across the world. In addition, the high incidence of diseases and participation of key players will emerge in favor of the change in the PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors market dynamics.

LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Competitive Landscape report delivers an in-depth understanding of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors and the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market trends in the 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan].





Key Takeaways from the PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

DelveInsight analysis shows that the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market is expected to grow positively due to several underline factors during the study period (2019-2032).

Leading PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors companies such as Incyte Corporation, TG Therapeutics, Novartis, Beigene, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, OncoC4, Inc., Phanes Therapeutics, Compass Therapeutics, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, 4D Pharma plc, Chugai Pharma, Bayer, AbbVie, Kartos Therapeutics, Inc., NeoImmuneTech, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA, BioNTech SE, Istari Oncology, Inc., Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., NovoCure Ltd., and others are developing novel PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors that can be available in the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market in the coming years.

and others are developing novel PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors that can be available in the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market in the coming years. Some key PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors include Retifanlimab, TG-1501 (cosibelimab), PDR001 (spartalizumab), BGB-A317 (tislelizumab), Isunakinra, Nivolumab, ONC-392, PT199, CTX-471, Pembrolizumab, MRx0518, RO5126766, BAY3375968, ABBV-CLS-484, KRT-232, NT-I7, E7777, BNT116, Lerapolturev, JTX-8064, NovoTTF-200T, FAZ053 , and others.

and others. Several PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are awaiting approval, while some PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are in the advanced stages of development.

In July 2022 , Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that Part A of the Phase III CheckMate -914 trial, evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have undergone full or partial removal of the kidney and who are at moderate or high risk of relapse, did not meet the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR).

announced that Part A of the Phase III CheckMate -914 trial, evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have undergone full or partial removal of the kidney and who are at moderate or high risk of relapse, did not meet the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). In June 2022 , the US FDA accepted for review a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval for KEYTRUDA for the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage IB (=4 centimeters), II or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following complete surgical resection. The sBLA is based on data from the pivotal Phase III KEYNOTE-091 trial data, also known as EORTC-1416-LCG/ETOP-8-15 - PEARLS.

the US FDA accepted for review a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval for KEYTRUDA for the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage IB (=4 centimeters), II or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following complete surgical resection. The sBLA is based on data from the pivotal Phase III KEYNOTE-091 trial data, also known as EORTC-1416-LCG/ETOP-8-15 - PEARLS. In June 2022 , adjuvant treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) demonstrated statistically significant & clinically meaningful improvement in distant metastasis-free survival in patients with resected Stage IIB or IIC Melanoma in Phase III KEYNOTE-716 trial.

, adjuvant treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) demonstrated statistically significant & clinically meaningful improvement in distant metastasis-free survival in patients with resected Stage IIB or IIC Melanoma in Phase III KEYNOTE-716 trial. In March 2022 , the US FDA approved KEYTRUDA as a single agent for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation

Discover which PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are expected to grab the major PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market share @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Overview

PD-1 is a checkpoint protein found in T cells, which are immune cells. It generally functions as an "off switch" that prevents T cells from attacking other cells in the body. This occurs when it binds to PD-L1, a protein found on some normal (and malignant) cells. When PD-1 attaches to PD-L1, it effectively signals the T cell to ignore the other cell. Some cancer cells have a high level of PD-L1, which allows them to hide from an immune response. Monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 can inhibit this binding and increase the immune response against cancer cells. These medications have shown tremendous promise in the treatment of some malignancies. OPDIVO (nivolumab), KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab), BAVENCIO (avelumab), IMFINZI (durvalumab), LIBTAYO (cemiplimab), and JEMPERLI (dostarlimab) are some examples of authorized drugs that target PD-1/PD-L1. These drugs have been proven to be successful in treating multiple types of cancer, and new cancer types are being added as more research demonstrates their efficacy.

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Insights

PD-1/PD-L1 blockage is a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy that has been tested in preclinical and clinical trials for a wide range of cancers, including melanoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint drugs are actively redefining the therapy approach for many of the related disorders. The anti-PD-1 drugs Nivolumab (OPDIVO, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA, Merck Sharp and Dohme Corporation) have recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC who have progressed on or after first-line therapy.

Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab have already demonstrated highly promising performance in clinical trials, with ORRs of around 20% in unselected and severely pre-treated NSCLC patients. Cemiplimab-rwlc (LIBTAYO, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.) has also been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab have also been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the same indication. Furthermore, both the US and European regulators recommended pembrolizumab as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLCs.

Moreover, cancer immunotherapy has improved significantly in recent years, with some receiving FDA approval for cancer treatment. With this advancement, PD-1 blocking treatments can now be utilized in combination with other anti-tumor therapies in addition to acting as monotherapy. Pembrolizumab was also paired with chemotherapy in clinical research for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Furthermore, combination therapy that combines PD-1/PD-L1 blocking medicines has demonstrated high potency and efficacy. Combination therapies may become standard cancer treatment in the future.

To know more about PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors, visit @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Analysis

Key PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Drugs and Companies

Retifanlimab: Incyte Corporation

TG-1501 (cosibelimab): TG Therapeutics

PDR001 (spartalizumab): Novartis

BGB-A317 (tislelizumab): Beigene

Isunakinra: Buzzard Pharmaceuticals

Nivolumab: Bristol-Myers Squibb

ONC-392: OncoC4, Inc.

PT199: Phanes Therapeutics

CTX-471: Compass Therapeutics

Pembrolizumab: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

MRx0518: 4D Pharma plc

RO5126766: Chugai Pharma

BAY3375968: Bayer

ABBV-CLS-484: AbbVie

KRT-232: Kartos Therapeutics, Inc.

NT-I7: NeoImmuneTech

E7777: Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA

BNT116: BioNTech SE

Lerapolturev: Istari Oncology, Inc.

JTX-8064: Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.

NovoTTF-200T: NovoCure Ltd.

FAZ053: Novartis

Learn more about the FDA-approved PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors @ Approved PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Dynamics

The dynamics of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market are predicted to change in the coming years. Premium-priced targeted therapies with improved clinical profiles and the extension of therapy in the first-line setting are projected to fuel the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market. According to current research, the development of innovative therapies targeting specific mutations is predicted to dominate the forthcoming PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market, implying that the PD-1 market will also expand. Furthermore, the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors pipeline is very robust; many potential therapies are being investigated for the treatment of various cancer, and it is safe to predict that the treatment space will significantly impact the oncology market during the forecast period. Moreover, the anticipated introduction of emerging therapies with improved efficacy and a further improvement in the diagnosis rate is expected to drive the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market in the 7MM.

However, several factors are impeding the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market. The development of therapies for specific mutations limits the patient group eligible for drugs that target the entire population. In addition, the high costs connected with research activities, pricing, and reimbursement issues faced by high-priced medications. Furthermore, the anticipated entry of generic or biosimilar versions of blockbuster medications such as Keytuda, Opdivo, and others will reduce market sales and thus cause a dip in the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market growth.

Report Metrics Details Study Period 2019-2032 Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU-4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Base Year 2019 Key PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Companies Incyte Corporation, TG Therapeutics, Novartis, Beigene, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, OncoC4, Inc., Phanes Therapeutics, Compass Therapeutics, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, 4D Pharma plc, Chugai Pharma, Bayer, AbbVie, Kartos Therapeutics, Inc., NeoImmuneTech, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA, BioNTech SE, Istari Oncology, Inc., Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., NovoCure Ltd., and others Key PD1 and PDL1 InhibitorsTherapies Retifanlimab, TG-1501 (cosibelimab), PDR001 (spartalizumab), BGB-A317 (tislelizumab), Isunakinra, Nivolumab, ONC-392, PT199, CTX-471, Pembrolizumab, MRx0518, RO5126766, BAY3375968, ABBV-CLS-484, KRT-232, NT-I7, E7777, BNT116, Lerapolturev, JTX-8064, NovoTTF-200T, FAZ053, and others

Scope of the PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Current Marketed and Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

Current Marketed and Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Dynamics: Attribute Analysis of Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

Attribute Analysis of Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors in clinical development @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors in Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Key Insights 2. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report Introduction 3. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Overview at a Glance 4. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Executive Summary 5. Disease Background and Overview 6. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Marketed Drugs 7. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Emerging Drugs 8. Seven Major PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Analysis 9. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Outlook 10. Potential of Current and Emerging Therapies 11. KOL Views 12. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Drivers 13. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Barriers 14. Unmet Needs 15. SWOT Analysis 16. Appendix 17. DelveInsight Capabilities 18. Disclaimer 19. About DelveInsight

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - ZEX R WIRE is delighted to announce that they joined Dubai Fintech Submit by DIFC as Content Distribution Partner. The Summit will be organized by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. The event will take place at Madinat Jumeirah and will bring together over 5,000 global FinTech C-suite executives and technology experts to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in the sector.





ZEX PR WIRE Joins Dubai Fintech Summit by DIFC as Content Distribution Partner 2023

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ZEX PR WIRE Joins Dubai Fintech Summit by DIFC as Content Distribution Partner 2023

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The Summit will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers from both local and international arenas. Notable speakers include HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy; Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered; Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple; Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Bank Singapore; Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Templeton; and Brian Armstrong, CEO and Co-Founder of Coinbase, among others.

Mohammad Alblooshi, Head of DIFC Innovation Hub and FinTech Hive, underscored the importance of the Dubai FinTech Summit. "Nearly 60% of all FinTech companies in the GCC are currently based in the city. With the industry growing at an unprecedented rate, it is crucial for stakeholders to gather and discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Dubai FinTech Summit promises to bring together the most prominent figures in the industry, with an agenda that will captivate and inspire audiences worldwide."

Saurabh Singla, Co-founder and CBO of ZEX PR WIRE (ZEX Global Media) highlights the importance of global press release and media coverage as key to bring more awareness in the fintech industry. "There are thousands of incredible financial instruments to invest smartly, and its is very important to use the right channels to reach the masses," he said.





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Another important factor in content marketing is distribution. "Today, there are hundreds of A.I. tools that can help you and create perfect content, but the one thing A.I. can't do right now is distribution , " said Apoorv Gupta, Co-founder and CMO of ZEX PR WIRE (ZEX Global Media). "We have solved the PR Distribution process through our platform and made it available for all types of businesses too".

The Summit will offer attendees a platform to participate in discussions and exchange ideas on emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, and future possibilities. The event will feature discussions on a range of topics, including 'Building the Economies of the Future', 'Crypto and the Evolving Regulatory Framework', 'The World of Finance: Where are the Women?', and 'Building a Resilient and Sustainable Financial Sector in the Age of Disruption'. Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights on these critical issues from industry leaders and experts.

Register Today: https://dubaifintechsummit.com/

About ZEX PR WIRE

ZEX PR WIRE is an end-to-end solution to produce, optimize and target content -- and then distribute and measure results. Combining the world's most extensive multi-channel content distribution and optimization network and comprehensive workflow tools and platform, ZEX PR serves thousands of clients from offices in America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

ZEX PR WIRE has catered to over 2700+ clients, syndicating over 6000+ press releases to over 500+ premium global and local news outlets (Digitally). ZEX PR WIRE not only caters to the traditional market but also works closely work (directly or indirectly) with various top blockchain news/media houses such as Cointelegraph, Bitcoin.com, NewsBTC, Coinspeaker, Etrendy Stock, Newsaffinity, City Telegraph, TheTechly, NewsAlarms, Techbullion, U.Today... etc.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Lenovo

Gina Qiao, Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Strategy Officer, Lenovo

Despite all the challenges the technology industry and wider world faced in the past few years, we are now in the strongest position as a company and as a brand than we ever have been. Our strategic commitment to becoming the leader and enabler of intelligent transformation, with end-to-end solutions and an unparalleled, diverse portfolio of offerings, is bearing real fruit.

At Lenovo, we thrive through adversity-and that's only possible because of the extraordinary talent and perseverance of our employees. Every year, we gather for a series of global employee Kickoff events to reflect on the past, project into the future, and celebrate the teams behind our success. And right now, many of us finally get to reconnect and recharge in person after years apart. I cannot express how much it fills my heart to once again be together with my colleagues around the world!

As we enter our new fiscal year, I'm proud to say that our strategy and marketing teams played an integral role in leading Lenovo's transformation, innovation, and citizenship endeavors. We did this with an ambitious vision for the future only Lenovo can build, and a deep understanding of the needs of our customers, partners, and communities.

I find myself prouder than ever of the brilliant people at the company. We all find ways to innovate and challenge each other while still prioritizing corporate citizenship, including demanding equity and product accessibility, preserving indigenous languages, and being the first PC and smartphone maker with net-zero commitments validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. We put people at the center of everything we do.

As seen in our last quarterly earnings, our service-led transformation and vision for a New IT are well underway. Lenovo is no longer known as a just a device maker-though we continue to lead in that space-but instead as a solutions and services provider.

By firmly executing our corporate strategy, our efforts have clearly paid off. For our core business, despite severe market headwinds, we maintain our number 1 position in the PC market worldwide, with an eye towards creating even greater flexibility and possibility for our customers. For diversified growth engines, our non-PC revenue mix has reached a record high of 41% of group revenue as of Q3. This is a significant milestone in our transformation journey! And as anyone who knows Lenovo will attest, we will not lose momentum or ambition. At this moment in the history of Lenovo, with a healthy core business and a thriving diversified portfolio, nothing is holding us back from taking our transformation to the next level.

Sharing our vision of smarter technology for all

I love having the chance to tell Lenovo's story and share our commitment to a better future made possible through technology. I'm thrilled to see this brought to life through our new corporate video.

This encapsulates our creativity, unified vision and visual identity, and focusses on showcasing business outcomes driven by our customers-who tell us they see us as technology partners in their growth story. This project was pulled off entirely in-house by our Brand team - from strategy to messaging to creative to production. Of course, I'm personally proud of that! But crucially, it also involved close and constant collaboration with teams across Lenovo to best represent the depth and breadth of our work.

The same team created the pathbreaking Lenovo Late Night IT series. The second season, now taken forward by the NA Marketing team, is worth a watch for a candid and comedic look at the ways technology transforms the world in ever-deeper ways.

Building a better future

So what's next for our corporate strategy? Simply put, we will GO DEEP. We will go deep in prioritizing a more resilient business and seek the balance between scale and profitability. We will go deep in driving horizontal building blocks using our own IP, just like TruScale, to develop solutions that we then tailor to different markets and different customers. And finally, we will go deep in investing in innovations to tackle the smart integration trends in the market and build long-term competitiveness.

And our storytelling and outreach will go deeper, from focusing on communities in North Carolina, Brazil, or Robinson Crusoe Island to partnerships with F1, Ducati Corse, and DreamWorks. Stay tuned!

Finally, I want to offer my deepest gratitude and admiration for the resilience of our employees and their communities. The past few years presented unprecedented challenges, and I am awed by how you all rose to the occasion. I believe the best is yet to come-and we will build it together.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

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SOURCE: Lenovo

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - West Island Brands Inc. (CSE: WIB) (FSE: 39N0) (West Island" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the delivery of new flower SKUs to the OCS. West Island subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. D.B.A West Island Culture has forwarded along with other flower products, its first shipment of OUESTTM brand pre-rolls to the Ontario Cannabis Store (the "OCS").

West Island is entering the Ontario pre-roll market with a new one gram blunt of its popular Platinum Cake flower. Platinum Cake is a premium, high THC flower has been a very successful SKU for West Island. The introduction of a pre-rolled option will make the product available to a whole new audience. West Island is also introducing a new variety sampler pack, the Heavy Hitter Trio, a three pack of high THC and high terpene 0.5 gram pre-rolls. Included in the three pack are Platinum Cake, Grandpa's Stash-Banjo and Gelatti Kush for a mix of indica and sativa samples. Other approved SKU's are 7 gram units of the high THC and terpene rich Gelatti Kush and Oreoz strains.

West Island CEO, Boris Ziger states, "West Island continues to build on the success of the OUESTTM brand premium craft cannabis Ontario. At THC levels of over 30 percent, the new strains add complexity to the mix of products available from OUESTTM and are sure excite our audience."

About West Island

West Island is a multi-faceted, innovative company in the Quebec cannabis space. Its subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. is a Dorval, Quebec based Health Canada Licence Holder with standard cultivation licence, standard processing, medical sales and sales licences.

For more information on West Island Brands please visit the website at: westislandbrands.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

WEST ISLAND BRANDS INC.

Boris Ziger

Boris Ziger, CEO & Chairman

The Company's public filings are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.thecse.com.

For further information, please contact:

Boris Ziger, CEO at:

Telephone: 416-304-9935

E-mail: info@westislandbrands.com

Website: www.westislandbrands.com

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Corporation. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Corporation's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165404
Temple Bar Investment Trust Plc - Result of AGM

TEMPLE BAR INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Result of Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of Temple Bar Investment Trust Plc was held on Tuesday, 9 May 2023.

All resolutions as set out in the Notice of Meeting dated 23 March 2023 were passed.

The poll results on each resolution were as follows:

Resolutions Votes For % Votes Against % Total Votes Cast Votes Withheld ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS: 1. To approve the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 (together with the reports of the Directors and Auditor thereon) 96,899,865 99.98 23,189 0.02 96,923,054 56,641 2. To approve the report on Directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2022 96,293,468 99.47 511,349 0.53 96,804,817 174,878 3. To approve the Company's Remuneration Policy 96,306,580 99.47 509,864 0.53 96,816,444 163,251 4. To elect Mrs Carolyn Sims as a Director of the Company 96,661,367 99.89 106,396 0.11 96,767,763 211,932 5. To re-elect Mr Charles Cade as a Director of the Company 96,746,906 99.87 125,307 0.13 96,872,213 107,482 6. To re-elect Dr Lesley Sherratt as a Director of the Company 96,762,976 99.91 90,471 0.09 96,853,447 126,248 7. To re-elect Mr Richard Wyatt as a Director of the Company 96,722,461 99.87 127,672 0.13 96,850,133 129,562 8. To re-elect Dr Shefaly Yogendra as a Director of the Company 96,650,051 99.78 217,162 0.22 96,867,213 112,482 9. To re-appoint BDO LLP as the Auditor to the Company, to hold office from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next meeting at which financial statements are laid before the Company 96,746,983 99.89 109,871 0.11 96,856,854 122,841 10. To authorise the Audit and Risk Committee to determine the remuneration of the Auditor 96,826,187 99.93 69,913 0.07 96,896,100 83,595 11. To approve the Company's dividend policy, authorising Directors to declare and pay all dividends of the Company as interim dividends 96,750,981 99.82 172,444 0.18 96,923,425 56,270 12. To authorise the Directors generally to allot ordinary shares 96,686,768 99.86 138,059 0.14 96,824,827 154,868 SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS: 13. To authorise the Directors to allot shares for cash pursuant to sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 otherwise than in accordance with statutory pre-emption rights 96,515,764 99.71 278,105 0.29 96,793,869 183,826 14. To authorise the Directors to make market purchases of the Company's own shares 95,473,372 98.56 1,395,658 1.44 96,869,030 110,665 15. To approve that a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice 96,460,215 99.59 395,676 0.41 96,855,891 123,804

The number of shares in issue at close of business on 9 May 2023 was 334,363,825 and 28,036,679 Ordinary Shares are held in treasury. The total number of voting rights in the Company is therefore 306,327,146. Up to 28.99% of voting capital was instructed.

A copy of the full text of resolutions 12 to 15 will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

9 May 2023

LEI: 213800O8EAP4SG5JD323
LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On 26 April 2023, the Board of Directors of Tetragon declared a dividend of U.S.$ 0.11 (11.00 cents) per share in respect of the first quarter of 2023. The ex-dividend date is 2 May 2023. The record date is 3 May 2023. Payment of the dividend will take place from 26 May 2023.

Tetragon's website (www.tetragoninv.com) includes information on Tetragon's Optional Stock Dividend Plan for those shareholders electing to receive dividends in the form of Tetragon shares. Shareholders may elect to receive dividends in the form of Tetragon shares by making a dividend share election up to 15 May 2023. If no election is made, the dividend will be paid in cash from 26 May 2023.

Cash dividends may be received in Sterling by those shareholders making a dividend currency election up to 15 May 2023. If no election is made, the dividend will be paid in U.S. dollars from 26 May 2023.

The reference price for shares delivered in lieu of cash is U.S. $10.31, resulting in a conversion ratio of one newly issued share for every 93.73 dividend rights held. The reference price is based on the volume-weighted average of the trading prices of a non-voting share on Euronext Amsterdam N.V. for the five-day trading period (treated as a single period) from 2 May to 8 May 2023.

For further information on the Optional Stock Dividend Plan, please refer to the brochure on Tetragon's website.

About Tetragon:

Tetragon is a Guernsey closed-ended investment company. Its non-voting shares are listed on Euronext in Amsterdam, a regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam N.V., and also traded on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Our investment manager is Tetragon Financial Management LP. Find out more at www.tetragoninv.com .

Tetragon: Yuko Thomas Investor Relations ir@tetragoninv.com Press Inquiries: Prosek Partners Pro-tetragon@prosek.com U.K. +44 20 3890 9193 U.S. +1 212 279 3115



This release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU), or EU MAR, and of the UK version of EU MAR as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act (as amended).

This release does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities of Tetragon have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless they are registered under applicable law or exempt from registration. Tetragon does not intend to register any portion of its securities in the United States or to conduct a public offer of securities in the United States. In addition, Tetragon has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of such Act. Tetragon is registered in the public register of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten) under Section 1:107 of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act as an alternative investment fund from a designated state.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tetragon-financial-group-limited-dividend-information-in-respect-of-q1-2023-301819833.html
Cummins

COLUMBUS, IN / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Global power leader Cummins Inc. recently signed a definitive agreement with Tata Motors Limited to manufacture a range of low- to zero-emissions technology products in India over the next few years.

The agreement was signed by Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins' President and Chief Executive Officer, and Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, at Cummins' headquarters in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.). It was announced late last month.

Tata Motors and Cummins have a 30-year strong partnership through their joint venture Tata Cummins Private limited (TCPL) in India, established in 1993. The signing of this definitive agreement further strengthens their relationship and is a step forward from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two organizations in November 2022 to collaborate on the design and development of low- and zero-emissions propulsion technology solutions for commercial vehicles in India.

As a part of this agreement, Cummins and Tata Motors Limited have set up a new business entity called TCPL Green Energy Solutions Private Limited (GES), a wholly owned subsidiary under the existing joint venture, with a focus on the development and manufacturing of sustainable technology products.

These products will include hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, fuel delivery systems, as well as battery electric powertrains and fuel cell electric systems through the Accelera by Cummins brand.

The low- to zero-emissions technologies developed by TCPL GES will be integrated into both on-highway and off-highway applications for domestic and international markets. This agreement will play a pivotal role in developing sustainable powertrain solutions that will help in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and supporting India's net zero ambitions.

"Progress requires partnership, and I am delighted that we are embarking on this decarbonization journey with our trusted partner of 30 years - Tata Motors," Rumsey said after signing the agreement. "Together, we will advance low- and zero-emissions technologies in a way that is best for our customers, communities, and the planet."

Wagh is also excited about the partnership.

"Tata Motors is leading the global megatrend of green, smart and safe mobility in India," Wagh said. "Our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 in the commercial vehicles segment. We are collaborating with partners who believe in this vision and are delighted to further strengthen our three-decade long association with Cummins Inc."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cummins Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cummins Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753751/Cummins-and-Tata-Motors-To-Power-a-Cleaner-India-With-Low--to-Zero-Emissions-Technology
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Arrow Electronics:

Arrow and eInfochips are helping young entrepreneurs in India improve water quality and public health with a smart IOT sensor package enhanced by AI. Now the Saafwater platform is being tested in large cities like Hyderabad where water quality can fluctuate with serious consequences.

Saaf is a Hindi word for "clean" and "pure".

Saafwater is a startup by young Indian entrepreneurs who want to help provide reliably clean water and reduce health risks for their nation's 1.4 billion citizens - and billions more worldwide.

Their solution - a smart IOT sensor package enhanced by AI - won the 2021 Call for Code global competition for humanitarian technologies. The contest is supported by Arrow Electronics, charitable partner United Nations Human Rights, Founding Partner IBM, and others.

In 2022, Arrow matched Saafwater with eInfochips, an Arrow-owned design engineering firm with offices and prototyping centers in India. Together, they revised the platform using 4G to amplify the device's capabilities, allowing for faster real-time data and quicker turnaround for analyzing contaminated water. The new development also makes the device easier to manufacture at scale.

It attaches to water pipes serving an apartment complex, an office building, or a community. Sensors continuously measure the water's quality and stores the data in the Cloud for analysis. Water utilities and residents receive water quality updates and recommendations via text messages and a smart phone app.

Engineers at eInfochips built five cellular communication boards for the new design, and those units are being field tested during 2023 in the city of Hyderabad, population 11.5 million. Saafwater plans to install hundreds of units in more communities in India within a year.

Saafwater: How it Works and Who it Helps

The 4G enabled communication board built by eInfochips works with the control module created by Saafwater, which detect contaminants - a system that works effortlessly and improves data transmission reliability and speed.

"Two billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. We wish to deploy Saafwater in every village, every town, and every city in the world."

- Jay Aherkar, co-founder of SaaF Water

About Arrow: Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2022 sales of $37.1 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Arrow Electronics on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Arrow Electronics

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/arrow-electronics

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Arrow Electronics

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753756/Improving-Water-Quality-With-Data
LIMASSOL, Cyprus, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exnova has been awarded the "Best Mobile Trading Platform 2023" in the "Global" category by the International Business Magazine. This recognition is a result of the platform's exceptional combination of a simple yet intelligent mobile interface, a broad range of trading instruments, and competitive terms for traders.

Exnova's platform provides traders access to a wide selection of most-wanted trading instruments, including binary/digital/blitz options, Forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and ETFs. The platform boasts real-time market data, customizable charts, helpful tooltips, and more than 100 technical indicators and widgets. A user-friendly interface enables traders to track their positions and easily access market news and analysis on the platform.

In addition to its impressive technical features, the Exnova platform requires a low barrier to entry, with a minimum deposit of only $10 and a minimum trade size of just $1. The platform charges no fees for deposits, and withdrawals are processed instantly. Also, traders are provided with a $10,000 demo account to practice with.

The Exnova mobile platform for Android is available for free along with desktop and web versions. Previously, the platform has already received international awards as the fastest growing broker in Latin America and the most user-friendly broker of 2022.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2069736/Exnova_trading_platform.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exnova-named-best-mobile-trading-platform-global-2023-by-intlbm-301819890.html
Paul Durban has joined Dorsey Whitney LLP as a Partner in the Finance and Restructuring group in its London office, the international law firm announced today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509006082/en/

Finance and Restructuring Partner Paul Durban Joins Dorsey Whitney in London (Photo: Business Wire)

Paul Durban will lead the London office's Finance and Restructuring practice, advising clients on restructuring solutions, insolvency and finance matters, including UK and cross-border situations, acquisition finance, and fund finance. He acts for a range of clients, including private equity sponsors, credit funds, and corporates. Paul brings more than 16 years' experience in the legal industry, most recently with MJ Hudson in London. He studied at the University of Oxford and BPP Law School.

"I am thrilled to be joining Dorsey Whitney," Paul Durban commented. "While the ongoing market turbulence is challenging for many businesses, we are also seeing an uptick in requirements for specialist finance and restructuring support both from strategic investors and companies trying to sure up against financial headwinds.

"Dorsey Whitney has an exciting and varied client base including world-leading brands in technology and professional services. It's an exciting time to join the firm, and I'm looking forward to working with colleagues and clients as we navigate the road ahead."

Fabrizio Carpanini, Co-Head of Dorsey Whitney's London office, said: "We are on course to keep growing our expertise and footprint here in London, and the strategic hire of Paul is another step in that direction.

"Paul's appointment ensures that we are best placed to continue to support clients on a broad range of finance and restructuring matters, which no doubt will come into sharper focus as challenging market conditions continue to play out."

About Dorsey Whitney LLP

Clients have relied on Dorsey as a valued business partner since 1912. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides results-oriented, grounded counsel for its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including banking financial institutions; development infrastructure; energy natural resources; food, beverage agribusiness; healthcare life sciences; and technology.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509006082/en/

Contacts:

Carmen Ramson-Herzing

612.492.5194

ramson-herzing.c@dorsey.com
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the healthcare fraud analytics market will grow at a CAGR of 20.45% during 2022-2028.





To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3794

Healthcare fraud analytics is highly competitive, with many players vying for a market share. Major players in the market include IBM, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Optum, SAS Institute, Verisk Analytics, and Wipro. These companies offer a variety of fraud analytics solutions, including data mining, predictive analytics, and ML technologies to identify, detect, and prevent fraud.

Data mining is one of healthcare organizations' most popular fraud analytics tools. Data mining uses algorithms to analyze large datasets to detect suspicious activity. Predictive analytics uses predictive modeling techniques to identify patterns in the data that may indicate fraudulent activity. ML is used to train algorithms to recognize patterns and detect fraud.

One of the biggest trends in the healthcare fraud analytics market is the increasing use of AI and ML technologies. AI and ML technologies are used to automate the process of fraud detection and prevention. They enable healthcare organizations to process large volumes of data quickly and accurately, reducing the costs associated with manual fraud detection and prevention.

North America is expected to dominate the global healthcare fraud analytics market due to the presence of major healthcare fraud analytics players and government initiatives to prevent healthcare fraud. The APAC industry is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years due to the growing adoption of healthcare fraud analytics solutions and services by emerging countries such as India and China.

Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 5.03 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 1.65 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 20.45 % Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 MARKET Segmentation Solution Type, Delivery Mode, Application, End-user, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Market Dynamics Increase in Healthcare Fraudulent Activities Increasing Number of Patients Benefiting from Healthcare Insurance Rising Number of Pharmacy Claims-related Frauds

Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3794

Market Trends & Drivers

Increasing Healthcare Fraudulent Activities

Healthcare fraud has been an ongoing problem in the healthcare industry for a long time. The increase in healthcare costs, the rise in technological advances, and a greater reliance on electronic data have all contributed to an increase in healthcare fraud. The healthcare fraud analytics market helps combat this issue by identifying fraudulent activities and helping organizations take proactive measures to prevent future fraud. Healthcare fraud analytics uses various analytic techniques to analyze large datasets and detect suspicious behavior patterns. These techniques can detect billing and coding errors, improper payments, and other forms of fraud. Healthcare fraud analytics also helps organizations identify trends in healthcare fraud and proactively address areas of risk. The increasing prevalence of healthcare fraud is driving the demand for healthcare fraud analytics solutions. Organizations increasingly invest in healthcare fraud analytics solutions to detect and prevent fraudulent activities and protect their financial and reputational interests.

The Increasing Number of Pharmacy Claims-Related Frauds

With the growth of the healthcare industry, fraud & abuse have become increasingly serious problems. Fraudsters are taking advantage of the complexity of the healthcare system and the lack of oversight to commit fraud. As a result, healthcare organizations are facing increasing pressure to protect their finances from fraudulent activities. The healthcare fraud analytics market is growing as healthcare organizations begin recognizing the need for advanced analytics solutions to detect and prevent fraud. Healthcare analytics solutions are used to identify suspicious transactions and activities that could indicate fraudulent behavior. These solutions help detect and prevent fraud by providing insights into fraud patterns, allowing organizations to take corrective action.

Key Insights

Technological advances in healthcare product development are key to achieving high sales growth.

Data sources such as claims, billing, and patient records are increasingly used to power fraud analytics solutions. Healthcare fraud analytics solutions must be tailored to the organization's specific needs to be effective.

The rising preference for healthcare fraud analytics with ML and AI is the key driving factor of the global healthcare fraud analytics market.

Based on geography, North America dominates the global healthcare fraud analytics market, followed by Europe , APAC, Latin America , and the Middle East & Africa .

dominates the global healthcare fraud analytics market, followed by , APAC, , and the & . Arizton predicted North America could witness the highest growth over the forecast period, growing at a 23.39% CAGR.

Customization Available

Our team is always ready to answer your questions and concerns, guide you through the purchasing process, and dive into the research report. To learn more about the medical tent market, request an Analyst Brief from Arizton Advisory & Intelligence; our sales team will assist you in making an informed market decision to achieve market growth. We also provide customization solutions based on your business requirements and assistance with your questions and future goals. Our researchers will prioritize your interests and investigate all possible avenues to increase your business profits.??????

To Get the Benefit of Our Free Report Customization Service, Send Your Enquiry Here - https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/3794

Key Company Profiles

IBM

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Optum

SAS Institute

Verisk Analytics

Wipro

Alivia Analytics

CGI

Codoxo

Conduent

COTIVITI

FraudLens

FRISS

Healthcare Fraud Shield

Northrop Grumman Corporation

OSP

Qlarant

Qualetics Data Machines

Sharecare

Market Segmentation

Solution Type

Descriptive Analytics

Predictive Analytics

Prescriptive Analytics

Delivery Mode

On-premises

Cloud-based

Application

Medical Provider Fraud

Patient Fraud

Prescription Fraud

General Healthcare Fraud

End-user

Public Health Insurance Companies

Private Health Insurance Companies

Third-party Service Providers

Others

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

Europe

Germany



The UK



France



Italy



Spain

APAC

China



Japan



South Korea



India



Australia

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina

Middle East & Africa

& Turkey



Saudi Arabia



South Africa

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Table of Content

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.1.1 INCLUSIONS

4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS

4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

4.3.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY SOLUTION TYPE

4.3.2 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DELIVERY MODE

4.3.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION

4.3.4 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER

4.3.5 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GEOGRAPHY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 MARKET AT A GLANCE

7 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

7.1 OVERVIEW

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 OVERVIEW

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 INVESTMENT IN INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

9.2 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES OFFER GREAT POTENTIAL TO SECURE AGAINST FRAUD

9.3 AI IN HEALTHCARE FRAUD DETECTION

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 INCREASING HEALTHCARE FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES

10.2 INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS BENEFITING FROM HEALTHCARE INSURANCE

10.3 RISING NUMBER OF PHARMACY CLAIM-RELATED FRAUDS

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 CHANGE IN FRAUD PATTERNS

11.2 SECURITY & PRIVACY RISKS WITH FRAUD ANALYTICS SOLUTIONS

11.3 TIME-CONSUMING DEPLOYMENT AND NEED FOR FREQUENT UPGRADES

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.2.1 GEOGRAPHY INSIGHTS

12.2.2 SOLUTION TYPE INSIGHTS

12.2.3 DELIVERY MODE INSIGHTS

12.2.4 APPLICATION INSIGHTS

12.2.5 END-USER INSIGHTS

12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 SOLUTION TYPE

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.4 PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.5 PRESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS

13.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.5.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14 DELIVERY MODE

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3 ON-PREMISES

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14.4 CLOUD-BASED

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15 APPLICATION

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3 MEDICAL PROVIDER FRAUD

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15.4 PATIENT FRAUD

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15.5 PRESCRIPTION FRAUD

15.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.5.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15.6 GENERAL HEALTHCARE FRAUD

15.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.6.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

16 END-USER

16.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

16.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.3 PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES

16.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

16.4 PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES

16.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

16.5 THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

16.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.5.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

16.6 OTHERS

16.6.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.6.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.6.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

17 GEOGRAPHY

17.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

17.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

18 NORTH AMERICA

18.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.2.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

18.2.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

18.2.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

18.2.4 MARKET BY END-USER

18.3 KEY COUNTRIES

18.3.1 US: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.3.2 CANADA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19 EUROPE

19.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.2.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

19.2.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

19.2.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

19.2.4 MARKET BY END-USER

19.3 KEY COUNTRIES

19.3.1 GERMANY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.2 UK: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.3 FRANCE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.4 ITALY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.5 SPAIN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20 APAC

20.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

20.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.2.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

20.2.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

20.2.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

20.2.4 MARKET BY END-USER

20.3 KEY COUNTRIES

20.3.1 CHINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.2 JAPAN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.3 SOUTH KOREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.4 INDIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.5 AUSTRALIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21 LATIN AMERICA

21.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

21.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.2.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

21.2.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

21.2.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

21.2.4 MARKET BY END-USER

21.3 KEY COUNTRIES

21.3.1 BRAZIL: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3.2 MEXICO: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3.3 ARGENTINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

22.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

22.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.2.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

22.2.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

22.2.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

22.2.4 MARKET BY END-USER

22.3 KEY COUNTRIES

22.3.1 TURKEY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.3.2 SAUDI ARABIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.3.3 SOUTH AFRICA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

23.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW

23.2 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

23.2.1 IBM

23.2.2 LEXISNEXIS RISK SOLUTIONS

23.2.3 OPTUM

23.2.4 SAS INSTITUTE

23.2.5 VERISK ANALYTICS

23.2.6 WIPRO

24 KEY COMPANY PROFILES

24.1 IBM

24.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

24.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

24.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES

24.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS

24.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

24.2 LEXISNEXIS RISK SOLUTIONS

24.3 OPTUM

24.4 SAS INSTITUTE

24.5 VERISK ANALYTICS

24.6 WIPRO

25 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS

25.1 ALIVIA ANALYTICS

25.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

25.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

25.2 CGI

25.3 CODOXO

25.4 CONDUENT

25.5 COTIVITI

25.6 FRAUDLENS

25.7 FRISS

25.8 HEALTHCARE FRAUD SHIELD

25.9 NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

25.10 OSP

25.11 QLARANT

25.12 QUALETICS DATA MACHINES

25.13 SHARECARE

26 REPORT SUMMARY

26.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

26.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

27 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

27.1 MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.1.1 NORTH AMERICA: MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.1.2 EUROPE: MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.1.3 APAC: MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.1.4 LATIN AMERICA: MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.1.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: MARKET BY SOLUTION TYPE

27.2 MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.2.1 NORTH AMERICA: MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.2.2 EUROPE: MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.2.3 APAC: MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.2.4 LATIN AMERICA: MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.2.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: MARKET BY DELIVERY MODE

27.3 MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.3.1 NORTH AMERICA: MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.3.2 EUROPE: MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.3.3 APAC: MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.3.4 LATIN AMERICA: MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.3.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: MARKET BY APPLICATION

27.4 MARKET BY END-USER

27.4.1 NORTH AMERICA: MARKET BY END-USER

27.4.2 EUROPE: MARKET BY END-USER

27.4.3 APAC: MARKET BY END-USER

27.4.4 LATIN AMERICA: MARKET BY END-USER

27.4.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: MARKET BY END-USER

28 APPENDIX

28.1 ABBREVIATIONS

About Us:????????????????

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.??????????????

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.???????????????

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.????????????????

Contact Us?????????????

Call: +1-312-235-2040????????????

????????? +1 302 469 0707???????????

Mail:?enquiry@arizton.com?????????????

Contact Us:?https://www.arizton.com/contact-us?????????????

Blog:?https://www.arizton.com/blog?????????????

Website:?https://www.arizton.com/??????

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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg





View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/robust-growth-predicted-for-healthcare-fraud-analytics-market-worth-5-billion-by-2028-research-report--arizton-301819522.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / CRB's Board of Directors has named President Ryan Schroeder as Chief Executive Officer. Schroeder succeeds CEO and CRB co-founder Jeff Biskup, who will remain on the Board of Directors and lead the board as Executive Chairman.

Additionally, the company announced the formation of CRB Operations, a group uniting the company's Regional Operations and Technical Operations teams into a single structure and led by new Chief Operating Officer Sam Kitchell.

Schroeder joined CRB in 1987 as an architectural engineer, progressing in the company's operations before becoming the leader of CRB's Midwest region in 2010. He was named president in 2017 and has led the company through unprecedented growth including its first $1 billion-plus revenue years in 2021 and 2022.

Under his tenure, CRB has become a pace-setting and preeminent provider of manufacturing facilities that deliver life-saving medicinal therapies and vaccines as well as many of the brand-name food, beverage and pet food products consumers enjoy. The company's project portfolio includes numerous award-winning, large-scale biopharmaceutical and food and beverage projects, including many of the research and commercial production facilities that developed and deployed COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.

While growing the company's bottom line, Schroeder has overseen CRB's impressive physical expansion. With an employee count nearing 1,800-a roughly three-fold increase under Schroeder's leadership-CRB now has 21 offices in North America and Europe, with additional openings planned in the coming years.

"There is no one better positioned to further raise CRB's leadership position in the marketplace while simultaneously nurturing and advancing our coveted culture. From day one we've put remarkable client and employee experiences at the center of everything we do, and no one understands that balance more than Ryan," said Jeff Biskup, one of the company's original three founders who mentored Schroeder during his rise through the company ranks. "This promotion is well-earned by Ryan, and it's terrific news for our clients and employees as our company gets stronger and continues to expand our leadership in the industries we serve."

Said Schroeder: "Following in Jeff's footsteps as CEO carries extra meaning for me. He's been an incredible mentor from the day I arrived at CRB, and his devotion to successful client outcomes is unmatched. I will continue to lean on his leadership, experience and instincts as we guide CRB well into the future."

NEW CRB OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION

Combining CRB's regional and technical teams into a single reporting structure under Kitchell, who previously led the company's Emerging Business Operations group, advances the company's integration efforts and how CRB serves clients. His expertise and experience as both a CRB leader and former client uniquely position Kitchell to deliver on the company's promise to clients: successful, innovative project delivery that consistently meets their business objectives, Schroeder said.

"Creating an integrated CRB Operations group continues our journey toward becoming a truly united, global organization driven by technical excellence, continuous learning and innovation, with an exciting work environment that keeps employee experience at the heart of everything we do," Schroeder said.

Before his promotion, Kitchell led CRB's Emerging Business Operations team, which worked closely with the company's growth incubator, the Growth Catalyst Program, to identify new initiatives and bring them to market. Chief Strategy Officer Bart Schubert, who created and managed the GCP from its inception in 2019, will assume Kitchell's previous responsibilities.

Kitchell has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Before CRB, he served as Group Vice President of Engineering for Shire (now Takeda), where he led the company's global engineering team of more than 1,600 employees, overseeing engineering and validation operations at multiple manufacturing sites across seven countries and leading the corporate capital program. Before that, Kitchell held engineering Senior Director and Vice President roles at global biotech companies Baxalta and Baxter Healthcare.

"When I arrived at CRB in 2021, I was thrilled by the opportunity to design an EBO group that would develop our most promising business initiatives and prepare them for the marketplace," Kitchell said. "Over more than two decades, as a client and now an employee, I've seen CRB's entrepreneurial spirit and technical excellence unleashed on some of the world's most urgent challenges. I'm humbled and honored to take this next step and continue working alongside Ryan and our talented corps of professionals in their critical work."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CRB on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CRB

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/crb

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CRB

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753799/Schroeder-Is-CRBs-New-CEO-Kitchell-Named-COO
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / TriplePundit

Originally published on TriplePundit

Mastercard is among the leading businesses pushing for a more environmentally sustainable future - and as far as the company is concerned, the momentum for these efforts is coming directly from consumers.

"Consumers are really the key drivers of change for brands and corporations," Cristina Paslar, Mastercard's executive vice president for ESG Products, told TriplePundit. "We have policymakers, yes, but I would say the strongest voice is actually the consumer point of view and the consumer demand. Consumers can vote with their decisions, with their purchases and with their preferences."

Answering consumer calls for more sustainable choices

Nearly 65 percent of U.S. consumers see climate change and resource scarcity as serious and imminent threats, with over half willing to take personal action, according to a 2022 survey. Globally, charitable donations at environmentally-focused charities increased by 26 percent from 2021 to 2022, ranking second in year-over-year growth among all charitable causes, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute.

To address this growing interest, Mastercard has taken steps such as working with global industry players to develop a sustainable card program for all card issuers globally, including a directory of sustainable materials and vendors for card products. Starting Jan. 1, 2028, all newly produced Mastercard plastic payment cards will be made from more sustainable materials and approved through a certification program, in a first move for a payment network.

Mastercard's sustainable card offerings are available to consumers in more than a dozen countries globally. The company has engaged more than 330 financial institutions to issue cards with approved materials, and more than 60 financial institutions have issued cards with approved materials made from recyclable, bio-sourced, chlorine-free, degradable and ocean plastics. Six billion credit and debit cards are produced annually, typically from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which includes dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to children. These cards are replaced on average every three to four years, with discarded cards going to landfills across the world.

"We closed last year with more than 170 million sustainable cards ordered to date, which was beyond the 120 million we expected," Paslar said. "That shows that more and more of our customers are thinking, 'Yes, why not have a card that, instead of being made from virgin plastic, is made of a sustainable material?'"

Mastercard also created a Carbon Calculator in conjunction with the Swedish fintech startup Doconomy, which provides consumers with the means to view the estimated carbon footprint of their purchases in order to better understand where their choices have the greatest impact.

Card issuers, which include banks, credit card companies, credit unions and other financial institutions, also recognize these shifts in consumer preferences, Paslar said. And they're looking for "natural" ways to inform and empower consumers to make more sustainable choices with the products and services they purchase.

"We see high engagement from the card issuer side, where they see how they can play this role in informing, inspiring and enabling their consumers," she explained. "But at the same time, we have good signs that consumers are actually engaging with this type of solution."

Bringing the public and private sectors together for transformative change

Of all Mastercard's efforts to counter climate change and promote sustainability, the most prominent and potentially far-reaching is the Priceless Planet Coalition, which encourages collective action across the public and private sectors to combat climate change.

Launched by Mastercard in January 2020, the restoration effort led by Conservation International and the World Resource Institute aims to restore 100 million trees. The coalition has grown into a global network of nearly 140 partners and a portfolio of 18 high-quality restoration projects on six continents, as well as the island of Madagascar and the Philippines.

The projects were selected with an emphasis on those with the most potential for positive impacts on climate, local communities and biodiversity. The 18 projects range in size from a goal to plant 100,000 trees in Martin County, Kentucky, where deforestation from strip mining has degraded water resources, to planting millions of trees on the island of Madagascar, which has lost 25 percent of its tree cover since the turn of the century.

Efforts like Priceless Planet are also a way for coalition partners to connect with the public around sustainability, as Mastercard survey research indicates that tree-planting and reforestation efforts are "very relatable" for consumers, Paslar said.

"We have 136 partners, and the key to maintaining a strong partnership is to always provide assets and ideas about how we can work together in a way that we feel is commercially sustainable," Paslar told us. "By commercially sustainable, I mean that the end consumer - the cardholder who is holding our Mastercard cards that are issued by the banks and used at the merchants - they actually care about the climate. They care about having sustainable choices, and they care about doing business with brands that are truly acting and engaging on sustainable solutions."

This article series is sponsored by Mastercard and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

(Image credit: Sabin Ray, World Resources Institute)

(Image credit: Aaron Minnick, World Resources Institute)

(Image credit: Andrew Wu, World Resources Institute)

Launched by Mastercard and made up of nearly 140 global partners, the Priceless Planet Coalition supports tree-planting and restoration efforts around the world. Here, Ernest works at the Four Seasons nursery in Lilongwe, Malawi, which propagates local indigenous trees and other types of plants.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from TriplePundit on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: TriplePundit

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/triplepundit

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: TriplePundit

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753805/Consumers-Care-About-Sustainability-Mastercard-Shows-How-Business-Can-Respond
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on May 31, 2023 to all shareholders of record as of May 19, 2023 (ex-dividend date May 18, 2023). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) which will pay on June 30, 2023, to all shareholders of record as of May 19, 2023 (ex-dividend date May 18, 2023).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.1000 AGD NYSE abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0650 AOD NYSE abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0575 ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1200 AWP NYSE abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.0400 FAX NYSE American abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0275 FCO NYSE American abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0700 IAF NYSE American abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. $ 0.1300 IFN NYSE The India Fund, Inc. $ 0.3900 JEQ NYSE abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. $ 0.1000

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX")

abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF")

The India Fund, Inc. ("IFN")

abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. ("JEQ")

The above-noted abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on May 31, 2023, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of May 19, 2023 (ex-dividend date May 18, 2023). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF), the India Fund, Inc. (IFN) and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) which will pay on June 30, 2023 to all shareholders of record as of May 19, 2023 (ex-dividend date May 18, 2023).

For the abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF"), the India Fund, Inc. ("IFN") and the abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. ("JEQ"), this stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. The valuation date for this stock distribution is June 16, 2023. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.

Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name," or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in June 2023 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by June 15, 2023, and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to June 15, 2023.

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

Each Fund's estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.1200 $0.0372 31% $0.0168 14% $0.0660 55% - - FAX $0.0275 $0.0146 53% - - - - $0.0129 47% IAF $0.1300 $0.0260 20% $0.0013 1% $0.0078 6% $0.0949 73% IFN $0.3900 - - $0.0039 1% $0.3393 87% $0.0468 12% JEQ $0.1000 $0.0080 8% $0.0030 3% - - $0.0890 89%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.9600 $0.2976 31% $0.1344 14% $0.5280 55% - - FAX $0.1925 $0.1020 53% - - - - $0.0905 47% IAF $0.3800 $0.0760 20% $0.0038 1% $0.0228 6% $0.2774 73% IFN $0.8200 - - $0.0082 1% $0.7134 87% $0.0984 12% JEQ $0.3000 $0.0240 8% $0.0090 3% - - $0.2670 89%

* includes currency gains

** ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end; FAX, IAF and JEQ have a 10/31 fiscal year end; IFN has a 12/31 fiscal year end.

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

As of May 5, 2023, after giving effect to this payment, JEQ estimates it has a net deficit of $4,839,411. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 04/30/2023 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI3 9.63% 6.72% 19.70% 3.92% FAX -0.48% 10.44% 17.69% 5.22% IAF 6.76% 10.26% 12.63% 5.03% IFN 3.36% 10.72% 1.40% 2.68% JEQ -1.20% 4.59% 12.55% 3.06%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan, with the exception of the most recent distribution.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of April 30, 2023.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through April 30, 2023.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753789/abrdn-US-Closed-End-Funds-Announce-Distribution-Payment-Details
HOLLYWOOD, FL and MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / On May 22, 2023 after the NYSE closing, HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) will release its financial results for the second quarter ended April 30, 2023. The earnings release will be available through the Internet on the Company's website at http://www.heico.com.

In order to assist interested parties in scheduling their participation in HEICO teleconferences, the Company issues advance notices of conference calls.

HEICO will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its second quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: US and Canada (888) 254-3590, International (646) 828-8193, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 7575341. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call for 14 days. To access the replay, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com under the Investors section for details.

The Company has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Common Stock (HEI) and the Class A Common Stock (HEI.A), are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock (HEI.A) carries 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) carries one vote per share. The stock symbols for HEICO's two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI and HEI.A. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock symbol (HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa.

HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at http://www.heico.com.

Contact:

Victor H. Mendelson (305) 374-1745 ext. 7590

Carlos L. Macau, Jr. (954) 987-4000 ext. 7570

SOURCE: HEICO Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/753715/HEICO-Corporation-Announces-Regular-Quarterly-Conference-Call
TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to provide its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1-23"). All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Q1-2023 Financial Highlights:

Gross sales 1 for Q1-23 of $965.3 million compared to $673.9 million in Q1-22; an increase of $291.4 million or 43%

for Q1-23 of compared to in Q1-22; an increase of or 43% Gross Profit of $171.6 million compared to $109.0 million in Q1-22; an increase of $62.6 million or 57%

compared to in Q1-22; an increase of or 57% Organic gross profit growth1 increased to 16.5% from 13.9% in Q1-22

Cash flow from operating activities generated $28.8 million , compared to cash used in operations of $30.2 million in Q1-22, increasing by $59.0 million

, compared to cash used in operations of in Q1-22, increasing by Adjusted EBITDA1 of $41.2 million , increasing from $29.6 million in Q1-22 by 39%

, increasing from in Q1-22 by 39% Net revenue for Q1-23 of $678.2 million , an increase of 37% over Q1-22

, an increase of 37% over Q1-22 Product backlog 2 grew by $48M from Q4-22 to $527M at the end Q1-23

grew by from Q4-22 to at the end Q1-23 Adjusted EPS1 of $0.12 per share for Q1-23, increasing from $0.10 per share in Q1-22

per share for Q1-23, increasing from per share in Q1-22 Achieved 103 net new logos in Q1-23

"We are successfully executing against our strategy to demonstrate continued expansion in profitability and cash generation, each reaching new highs during Q1 despite current macro-economic conditions," stated Mr. Shaun Maine, Converge Group CEO. "While the overall market is expected to remain relatively flat in 2023, with particular challenges at the large enterprise customer level, we anticipate that we will gain market share organically, clearly positioning us as the preferred partner among mid-market customers, and that we'll see further organic gross profit growth throughout the remainder of 2023 and beyond."

________________________ 1 This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio) and not a recognized, defined or a standardized measure under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures. 2 Product backlog is calculated as purchase orders received from customers not yet delivered at the end of the fiscal period.



Q1-2023 Business Highlights & Subsequent to Quarter

Announced the conclusion of the strategic review process and the dissolution of the Special Committee

The Board has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share

per share Announced the re-commencement of the Company's normal course issuer bid ("NCIB")

Announced the appointment of Avjit Kamboj to Chief Financial Officer, a finance and technology executive with over 16 years of experience in capital and international markets

Converge subsidiary Stone Group earned Global winner Green World Awards 2023 and Global Silver Winner in Corporate Social responsibility Category; the Company plans on releasing further ESG details at upcoming AGM on June 20, 2023

"With the success of our cross-selling strategy, the Company will be prioritizing organic growth over inorganic growth moving forward," continued Mr. Maine. "The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Avjit Kamboj today as Chief Financial Officer. After leading finance in the early phase of Converge's growth, Mr. Kamboj will re-join the executive leadership team of Converge reporting into myself as Group CEO."

Capital Management Initiatives

In light of the Company's positive net cash flow and on-going cash generation, the Board of Directors has authorized the initiation of a quarterly dividend. The Board has declared a dividend of $0.01 per common share of the Company in respect of the first quarter of 2023. The dividend will be paid on or about June 16, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2023. This dividend is designated to be an eligible dividend for purposes of Section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company also intends to resume purchases under the NCIB that commenced on August 11, 2022. The NCIB terminates one year after its commencement, or earlier if the maximum number of common shares under the NCIB have been purchased or the NCIB is terminated at the option of the Company. As of the date hereof, 6,464,124 common shares of a maximum of 10,744,818 common shares have been repurchased by the Company under the NCIB.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time

Participant Webcast Link:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/Be13rwz0YGB

Participant Dial-in Details with Operator Assistance:

Confirmation #: 19352249

Toronto: 416-764-8609

North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605

International Toll-Free Numbers:

Germany: 08007240293

Ireland: 1800939111

Spain: 900834776

Switzerland: 0800312635

United Kingdom: 08006522435

You may register and enter your phone number to receive an instant automated call back via https://emportal.ink/41om1Vv

Recording Playback:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/Be13rwz0YGB

Toronto: 416-764-8677

North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541

Replay Code: 352249 #

Expiry Date: May 17th, 2023

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be required to access the webcast. A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call and webcast will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ .

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions. Converge's global approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)



March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Assets



Current assets





Cash $ 139,028 $ 159,890

Restricted cash 5,105 5,230

Trade and other receivables 784,096 781,683

Inventories 157,608 158,430

Prepaid expenses and other assets 25,139 23,046



1,110,976 1,128,279 Long-term assets





Property, equipment, and right-of-use assets, net 79,897 88,352

Intangible assets, net 446,961 463,751

Goodwill 566,996 563,848

Other non-current assets 12,061 4,646



$ 2,216,891 $ 2,248,876







Liabilities



Current liabilities





Trade and other payables $ 828,000 $ 824,924

Borrowings 460,221 421,728

Other financial liabilities 66,741 123,932

Deferred revenue and other liabilities 60,484 60,210

Income taxes payable 5,402 7,112



1,420,848 1,437,906 Long-term liabilities





Other financial liabilities 64,551 77,183

Deferred tax liability 98,513 102,977



$ 1,583,912 $ 1,618,066







Shareholders' equity





Common shares 599,233 595,019

Contributed surplus 8,767 7,919

Exchange rights - 1,705

Accumulated other comprehensive income 15,881 13,708

Deficit (20,398) (18,441) Total equity attributable to shareholders of Converge 603,483 599,910 Non-controlling interest 29,496 30,900



632,979 630,810



2,216,891 $ 2,248,876

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)





Three months ended March 31,





2023

2022













Revenues









Product $ 536,689 $ 397,392

Service

141,509

96,648

Total revenue

678,198

494,040

Cost of sales

506,610

384,995

Gross profit

171,588

109,045













Selling, general and administrative expenses

132,033

80,412

Income before the following

39,555

28,633

Depreciation and amortization

25,890

14,480

Finance expense, net

9,350

1,818

Special charges

4,284

5,722

Share-based compensation expense

848

1,212

Other expense

2,469

6,403

Loss before income taxes

(3,286)

(1,002)













Income tax expense

75

1,406













Net loss $ (3,361) $ (2,408)

Net loss attributable to:









Shareholders of Converge

(1,957)

(1,794)

Non-controlling interest

(1,404)

(614)



$ (3,361) $ (2,408)

Other comprehensive loss









Exchange (gain) loss on translation of foreign operations

(2,173)

6,587

Comprehensive loss $ (1,188) $ (8,995)

Comprehensive loss attributable to:









Shareholders of Converge

216

(8,381)

Non-controlling interest

(1,404)

(614)



$ (1,188) $ (8,995)













Adjusted EBITDA3 $ 41,208 $ 29,649

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit3

24.0 %

27.2 %



























____________________________ 3 This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio) and not a recognized, defined or a standardized measure under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.



Summary of Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)









For the three months

ended March 31,







2023

2022













Cash flows from (used in) operating activities











Net loss



$ (3,361) $ (2,408) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities













Depreciation and amortization





27,549

15,340 Unrealized foreign exchange losses





2,463

6,669 Share-based compensation expense





848

1,212 Finance expense, net





9,350

1,818 Income tax expense





75

1,406







36,924

24,037 Changes in non-cash working capital items











Trade and other receivables





(2,441)

(27,773) Inventories





1,328

6,549 Prepaid expenses and other assets





(1,426)

(1,429) Trade and other payables





781

(29,383) Income taxes payable





(6,925)

(753) Other financial liabilities





356

1,917 Deferred revenue and customer deposits





166

(3,385) Cash from (used in) operating activities





28,763

(30,220)













Cash flows used in investing activities











Purchase of property and equipment





(5,106)

(11,356) Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment





68

177 Repayment of contingent consideration





(8,960)

(10,134) Repayment of deferred consideration





(25,654)

(1,740) Repayment of NCI liability





(29,994)

- Business combinations, net of cash acquired





-

(67,926) Cash used in investing activities





(69,646)

(90,979)













Cash flows from financing activities











Transfers from (to) restricted cash





216

(63,493) Interest paid





(7,877)

(956) Payments of lease liabilities





(5,135)

(2,728) Repayment of notes payable





(40)

(121) Net proceeds from borrowings





34,199

162,468 Cash from financing activities





21,363

95,170













Net change in cash during the period





(19,520)

(26,029) Effect of foreign exchange on cash





(1,342)

(5,500) Cash, beginning of period





159,890

248,193 Cash, end of period



$ 139,028 $ 216,664

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This release refers to certain performance indicators including Adjusted EBITDA that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that these measures are useful to most shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders in analyzing the Company's results. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to the consolidated income (loss) or any other measure of performance under IFRS.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss adjusted to exclude amortization, depreciation, interest expense and finance costs, foreign exchange gains and losses, share-based compensation expense, income tax expense, and special charges. Special charges consist primarily of restructuring related expenses for employee terminations, lease terminations, and restructuring of acquired companies, as well as certain legal fees or provisions related to acquired companies. From time to time, it may also include adjustments in the fair value of contingent consideration, and other such non-recurring costs related to restructuring, financing, and acquisitions.

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to provide investors with a supplemental measure of its operating performance and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. The Company believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management also uses non-IFRS measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the ability to meet capital expenditure and working capital requirements.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA will likely differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for or in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's financial statements and disclosures in their entirety and are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-IFRS measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable IFRS financial measures.

The Company has reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Net loss before taxes $ (3,286) $ (1,002) Finance expense 9,350 1,818 Share-based compensation expense 848 1,212 Depreciation and amortization 25,890 14,480 Depreciation included in cost of sales 1,659 751 Foreign exchange loss 2,463 6,668 Special charges 4,284 5,722 Adjusted EBITDA $ 41,208 $ 29,649



Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit

The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit is a useful measure of the Company's operating efficiency and profitability. This is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by gross profit.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings per Share ("EPS")

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) represents net income (loss) adjusted to exclude special charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and share-based compensation. The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is a more useful measure than net income (loss) as it excludes the impact of one-time, non-cash and/or non-recurring items that are not reflective of Converge's underlying business performance. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by the total weighted average shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis.

The Company has provided a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Net loss $ (3,361) $ (2,408) Special charges 4,284 5,722 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 20,208 11,316 Foreign exchange loss 2,463 6,668 Share-based compensation 848 1,212 Adjusted Net Income: $ 24,442 $ 22,510 Basic 0.12 0.10 Diluted 0.12 0.10



Gross sales and gross sales for organic growth

Gross sales, which is a non-IFRS measurement, reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued. The Company believes gross sales is a useful alternative financial metric to net revenue, the IFRS measure, as it better reflects volume fluctuations as compared to net revenue. Under the applicable IFRS 15 'principal vs agent' guidance, the principal records revenue on a gross basis and the agent records commission on a net basis. In transactions where Converge is acting as an agent between the customer and the vendor, net revenue is calculated by reducing gross sales by the cost of sale amount.

The Company has provided a reconciliation of gross sales to net revenue, which is the most comparable IFRS financial measure, as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Product $ 665,310 $ 453,389 Managed services 40,636 33,983 Third party and professional services 259,312 186,557 Gross sales $ 965,258 $ 673,929 Adjustment for sales transacted as agent 287,060 179,889 Net revenue $ 678,198 $ 494,040



Organic Growth

The Company measures organic growth at the gross sales and gross profit levels, and includes the contributions under Converge ownership in the current and comparative period(s). In calculating organic growth, the Company therefore deducts gross sales and gross profit generated from companies that were acquired in the current reporting period.

Gross sales organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross sales, as reported in the Company's public filings, from current period gross sales for the same portfolio of companies. Gross sales organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross sales.

The following table calculates gross sales organic growth for Q123:

For the three months ended March 31, Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gross sales $ 965,258 $ 673,929 Less: gross sales from companies not owned in comparative period 245,630 188,685 Gross sales of companies owned in comparative period $ 719,628 $ 485,244 Prior period gross sales 673,929 408,100 Organic Growth - $ $ 45,699 $ 77,144 Organic Growth - % 6.8 % 18.9 %

Gross profit organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross profit, as reported in the Companies public filings, from current period gross profit for the same portfolio of companies. Gross profit organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross profit.

For the three months ended March 31, Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gross profit $ 171,588 $ 109,045 Less: gross profit from companies not owned in comparative period 44,597 31,808 Gross profit of companies owned in comparative period 126,991 77,237 Prior period gross profit 109,045 67,797 Organic Growth - $ $ 17,946 $ 9,440 Organic Growth - % 16.5 % 13.9 %



Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Converge and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected" "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts". "estimates", "believes" or intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could, "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Converge assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For a detailed description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's filings statement available on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com including its most recent Annual Information Form, its Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements.

Converge Technology Solutions Corp., Email: investors@convergetp.com, Phone: 416-360-1495

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/converge-technology-solutions-reports-strong-q1-2023-results-and-declares-quarterly-cash-dividend-301820100.html
Improvin, a Stockholm, Sweden-based climate technology company, raised 3.5M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Pale blue dot and Dynamo Ventures and supported by FoodBridge, PINC, and existing investors LRF Ventures and Atomico Angel Programme.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the development and expansion of its sustainability performance platform, which will be rolled out in Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Led by Niklas Wallsargard, CEO and Founder, Improvin provides a sustainability performance platform for the agri-food industry. Food brands, processors and mills use it to quantify, verify and report emissions from their primary production and collaborate with their suppliers to reduce emissions and enhance biodiversity. Its digital infrastructure enables agri-food businesses to incorporate sustainability into their existing sourcing processes while meeting regulatory standards for reporting with primary data.

Improvin is working with agri-food companies such as Oatly and AAK.

FinSMEs

09/05/2023
Beirut: The Arab Leagues decision to re-admit Syria after shunning it for 12 years was a significant symbolic victory for Damascus, part of a larger regional realignment and an indication of the United States waning role, analysts say.

But it may not immediately bring the reconstruction dollars that Syrian president Bashar Assad is hoping for. Nor is it likely to bring the changes Syrias neighbours want, such as an agreement on refugee returns and moves to reduce drug trafficking.

Syria is returning to the Arab fold even though there is no sign of a resolution to the countrys uprising-turned-civil war, now in its 13th year. The long-stalemated conflict has killed nearly a half million people since March 2011 and displaced half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. Multiple mediation attempts have failed.

The league approved Syrias readmission at a closed-door meeting in Cairo on Sunday. It means Assad can attend the leagues summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 19 May, further cementing his move out of pariah status.

What is the Arab League and why was Syria suspended from it?

The Arab League is a 22-member organisation founded in 1945 to promote regional cooperation and resolve disputes. But it is widely seen as toothless and has long struggled to help solve conflicts, especially in the recent era of wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya and a bitter diplomatic rift between Gulf monarchies and Qatar years ago.

The league suspended Syrias membership in 2011 after Assads government cracked down brutally on mass protests against his rule, an uprising that quickly descended into a brutal civil war. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries funnelled support to armed opposition groups trying to overthrow Assad, who was backed by Russia, Iran and militias affiliated with Tehran.

Why let it back in now?

After years of deadlock in the war, Assads government has a secure grip on most of the country, particularly most main cities. Opposition groups or US-backed Kurdish forces control most of northern and eastern Syria  and thats unlikely to change any time soon  but it has been clear for years now that an opposition overthrow of Assad is virtually impossible.

Arab governments that may have once hoped for that outcome are now deciding its better to reach out.

Were not looking for magical solutions, but what we do know is that the current situation is unsustainable. Its going nowhere, Saudi political scientist Hesham Alghannam said. We dont know when the conflict will end, and boycotting the regime didnt lead to a solution.

In recent years, several Arab countries moved towards reestablishing diplomatic ties, most notably the United Arab Emirates in 2018. Jordan and Syria reopened their borders in 2021. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Syria announced they are moving to reopen embassies and resume flights.

The devastating 6 February earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey also speed up rapprochement, bringing sympathy for Syria. More than 6,000 people were killed in Syria and hundreds of thousands lost their homes. Senior officials from once-hostile countries visited Damascus for the first time in over a decade and sent planeloads of aid.

Approaching Assad under the pretext of the humanitarian crisis was a less controversial way to continue improving ties.

Another boost was the Chinese-brokered deal to reestablish ties between Saudi Arabia and regional rival Iran, which is encouraging them to de-escalate conflicts like Syria and Yemen.

Also, the United States de-prioritisation of the Middle East and particularly of the Syria portfolio led regional actors to work out their own deals with Damascus, despite Washingtons objections, said Randa Slim, director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Which countries were for and against it?

Saudi Arabia played a key role in pushing for Syrias return to the Arab League, hosting a meeting last month to discuss the topic. Jordan hosted another gathering earlier this month.

Qatar remained the most prominent hold-out. However, after Sundays decision to readmit Damascus, Qatar said in a statement that it will not be an obstacle to an Arab consensus.

Kuwait also has not endorsed normalisation, said Bader Al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University.

Kuwait wants to know what the conditions are, what the political solution looks like. Will there be elections? An apology? Anything? he said. Despite these key sceptics, al-Saif said Riyadh will continue to push for Damascus to work for a more robust and integrated Arab order.

One main criticism of the rapprochement is that Assad has made no concessions toward a political deal to resolve Syrias conflict. Without a credible resolution, millions of Syrians who fled abroad  many to neighbouring countries  will be too afraid to return.

What will happen on the ground?

On the symbolic level, Syrias return to the league signals to opposition Syrians that they are left on their own, Slim said, and confirms to Damascus that its scorched-earth strategy in the war worked.

But on a practical level, a seat at the Arab League is not that powerful, she said.

US and European sanctions will likely prevent Arab countries from significant investments in reconstruction in the near future.

Many Syrians in government-held areas hope to see a benefit in greater trade with the Arab world to help to offset a crippling economic crisis.

That could happen, Alghannam said. If there is stability, I believe there will be an influx of Gulf investment and trade with Syria. Still, he noted, Saudi-Syrian relations were strained even before the Syrian conflict, so confidence-building will take time.

A statement issued by the Arab League after Sundays meeting suggested that Syrias further reintegration will depend on moving towards a political solution to the conflict, combating drug trafficking and facilitating the return of refugees. Gulf countries have also pushed for Damascus to curb Iranian influence in Syria.

Maha Yahya, the director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Centre, said it is unlikely that Syria will meet Arab countries demands.

As such, she said, I honestly dont think this move is going to open the floodgates of support for Syria.

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Russia is celebrating its victory day today (Tuesday, 9 May).

The country is witnessing muted celebrations in the backdrop of the Ukraine war and fears over Ukrainian attacks have led many events around Russia to be cancelled  though the parade in Moscows Red Square was held.

Putin, who has become the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, told his troops in Red Square that a real war is being waged against the motherland and that civilisation is at a turning point.

But why is Victory Day so important for Russia?

Lets take a closer look:

The holiday commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II.

While the Allies celebrated 7 May as Victory in Europe Day, Joseph Stalin waited until the Nazis in Berlin had signed the text of surrender on 9 May.

Tuesday marks the 78th anniversary of Germanys capitulation in World War II after a relentless Red Army offensive pushed German forces from Stalingrad, deep inside Russia, all the way to Berlin, about 2,200 kilometers.

The Soviet Union lost at least 20 million people in the war; the suffering and valour that went into the German defeat have been touchstones ever since.

According to Al Jazeera, the holiday was first marked in 1965 by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev  himself a veteran of World War II.

This, the countrys most spectacular and high-profile parade, is held outside the Kremlin with soldiers marching perfectly in unison, vintage tanks and missiles passing through the iconic Red Square, according to The New York Times.

Ivan I. Kurilla, a professor at the European University of St. Petersburg, told the newspaper that acknowledging the blood spilled by Russians in World War II is probably the only social glue to form a single society.

Interestingly, the holiday was only sporadically marked afterward by the Soviet Union, according to the BBC.

It was then president Boris Yeltsin who gave the holiday a new lease of life in 1995  on its 50th anniversary.

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has stoked patriotic fervour around the 1945 Soviet victory over the Nazis, boosting his standing as the heir of Soviet power.

Russian school and history books also focus on the importance Victory Day and show Moscow as the saviour of Europe.

However, scholars say the true significance of the day has been obscured.

Stephen Norris, professor of Russian history at the University of Miami, told Al Jazeera, Victory in World War II became the defining myth in post-war Soviet life, outstripping even the Revolution in its significance.

Norris added that the win validated the massive blood Russia spilled during World War II.

Nobel-Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich has captured this well, by stating the history of victory replaced the history of the actual war, Norris added.

The Stalin regime was almost as criminal as the Hitler regime, scholar Nikolay Koposov told a Wilson Center webcast in 2020, as per Time magazine. And most Russians do not realize that the war was not for their freedoms but was largely a battle between the two dictators.

Victory Day is Russias most important secular holiday.

It celebrates two tenets that are central to Russian identity  military might and moral rectitude. But the war in Ukraine undermines Russias claim to both this year.

Ukraine in 2015 symbolically shifted the day to 8 May  when Europe remembers the day, as per Al Jazeera.

On Monday, Zelensky said he had submitted a bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on 8 May.

The Ukrainian leader said the country would mark a separate Europe Day on 9 May, promoting peace and unity on the continent.

The Kremlin has also used the memory of the Soviet war effort to justify its offensive in Ukraine, claiming it is fighting fascists supported by the West.

Parade occurs amid heightened security

The famed parade in Moscows Red Square took place after Russias claim of an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on the Kremlin, whose spires loom next to the parade venue, but amid ramped-up security measures.

Moscow sought to project a show of force during its flagship parade on Red Square, with top-notch military equipment rumbling through it and leaders of ex-Soviet nations standing beside President Vladimir Putin.

Initially, only one of them  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov  was expected to attend, but at the last minute on Monday officials confirmed that leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were heading to Moscow as well.

Political analyst Arkady Dubnov said that for the first time in many years Putin will be surrounded at a Victory Day parade by a number of post-Soviet leaders.

Despite the serious weakening of its global positions after 24 February, 2022, Russia remains to a certain extent the metropolis of a former empire whose actions have to be taken into account, Dubnov said.

Still, the parade looked more modest than usual: There were no military aircraft flying over Red Square, and fewer pieces of military equipment were displayed. For the first time in years, the parade ended in under an hour.

Amid the heightened security worries, authorities also cancelled one of Victory Days most notable observances, the Immortal Regiment processions in which throngs of citizens take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II.

These processions carry an air of genuine emotion, in sharp contrast to the obedient stone-faced soldiers who march across Red Square during the tightly regimented military parades that change little from year to year.

Some speculated, however, that the reason behind cancelling Immortal Regiment marches was the fact that Russians might bring portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine to those processions, illustrating the scale of Russias losses in the drawn-out conflict.

People will not come out with portraits of their great-grandfathers, political activist Elvira Vikhareva wrote on Facebook as per The New York Times. People will come out with portraits of their fathers, sons and brothers. The regiment will not turn out to be immortal, but very much mortal, and the scale will be visible.

The use of drones has been once again banned in the Russian capital, and car sharing services have been temporarily barred from the city center, with users unable to start or finish rides there.

In St. Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, the authorities also banned the use of drones ahead of a parade. In some parts of the citys extensive network of rivers and canals, the use of jet skis has also been forbidden.

Although the processions are moving and impressively large, authorities thought that the risks were becoming prohibitive, said Russian analyst Dmitry Oreshkin, now at the Free University in Riga, Latvia. If some kind of drones fly there, penetrate through the impenetrable border  then why cant they drop something on this column?

For all the fearsome armaments that will growl through Moscows most famous square, Russias failure to make gains in Ukraine spoils the image of its armys indomitability.

After seizing sizable parts of the neighbouring country in the opening weeks of the invasion, the Russians abandoned an attempt to enter Kyiv, retreated in parts of northern and southern Ukraine, and failed to take Bakhmut, a small city of questionable value, despite months of exceptionally gruesome fighting.

But the missiles that rain down on Ukrainian civilian targets have drawn worldwide condemnation of Russia, while the Western countries that made common cause with Moscow to defeat Nazi Germany send billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine.

But Putin remains defiant.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin told his troops at Red Square.

A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.

Since Russia invaded its neighbour more than 14 months ago, Putin has repeatedly framed the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict with the West.

The Kremlins official narrative of the war has painted a picture of an existential conflict with the West, which in Moscows view is merely using Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia, re-write its history and crush its traditional values. That version of events has dominated Russian state media coverage of the war.

In his speech, Putin insisted that the Wests untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity are to blame for the conflict.

Putin welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade.

To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To Victory! Putin said concluding the speech.

With inputs from agencies

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Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat accused of intimidating a lawmaker, with Beijing ordering Ottawas consul in Shanghai to leave in a tit-for-tat move.

The expulsions are the latest episode in a souring of relations between the two countries that began five years ago:

Arrest of Meng Wanzhou

Their once-rosy relations began to sour in 2018 when Canadian police arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the Chinese telecom giants billionaire founder.

The arrest, at the behest of the United States, was linked to fraud charges relating to Mengs alleged efforts to hide violations of US sanctions on Iran involving a Huawei affiliate.

Meng, who now serves as Huaweis rotating chairwoman, remained under house arrest in Vancouver for almost three years while fighting extradition to the United States.

The two Michaels

Days after Mengs arrest, China detained two Canadians: former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor.

Beijing was accused of using the two men in a bout of hostage diplomacy to pressure Ottawa into releasing Meng.

She was allowed to return to China in September 2021 after striking a deal with US prosecutors.

Hours after that deal was announced, the two Michaels  who were detained for over 1,000 days  were put on a plane home.

In December 2022, the US Justice Department dropped all charges against Meng.

Uyghur genocide

Canadas growing outspokenness about Chinas alleged human rights violations has also worsened relations.

In 2021, Canadian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to declare Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in its northwestern Xinjiang region as genocide.

MP Michael Chong led that effort  prompting an alleged Chinese plan to target the lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions.

And in February this year, Canadas parliament unanimously passed a non-binding proposal to take in 10,000 Uyghur refugees who have fled China but are now facing pressure to return.

Tech battles

The two countries have also traded barbs over tech, with Canada moving to curb the presence of Chinese firms in its communications infrastructure.

Last May, Ottawa said it would ban Huawei from Canadas 5G networks, citing concerns over national security. Chinese telecom firm ZTE was also banned.

Beijing said the restrictions were imposed under the pretext of groundless security risks and without any solid evidence.

Canada in February this year followed the United States and the European Commission in banning the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from all government devices.

Xi-Trudeau spat

The bad blood was on full display in November last year at the G20 summit in Indonesia, when Chinese president Xi Jinping gave Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau an on-camera dressing down.

Video recorded by reporters at the summit showed Xi scolding Trudeau over the leaked details of talks between them.

The comments came after Trudeau raised with Xi the issue of what he called Chinese interference with Canadian citizens and Beijings alleged meddling with Canadas democratic and judicial systems.

Diplomats expelled

That issue has since ballooned.

Trudeau in March appointed a special rapporteur to investigate alleged Chinese interference in Canadas last two federal elections, accusations that Beijing denies.

The Globe and Mail, citing unidentified intelligence sources, reported in February that China worked to defeat conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing.

The newspaper also later reported that Ottawa had turned a blind eye to Chinese interference in Canadian affairs.

Citing classified documents and an anonymous security source, it said Chinese intelligence had planned to target lawmaker Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong and make an example of him for his alleged anti-Beijing positions.

On Monday, Canada announced that it will expel the Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate Chong.

China responded with a warning for Canada to step back from the brink, and said it would kick out Ottawas consul in Shanghai in retaliation.

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President Joe Biden said Monday his administration will write new regulations that will require airlines to compensate air travellers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airlines control.

The compensation would be in addition to ticket refunds when the airline is at fault for a flight being cancelled or significantly delayed. It would give consumers in the United States protections similar to those in the European Union.

I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you get from your US airlines, Biden said. Thats why our top priority has been to get American air travellers a better deal.

Biden added, You deserve more than just getting the price of your ticket (refunded)  you deserve to be fully compensated. Your time matters, the impact on your life matters.

Bidens pledge comes just weeks before the start of the peak summer travel season, when air travel could exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic records.

Officials at the Transportation Department, which will write the new rules, said they didnt have a precise date for when they expect to finish, but indicated they are working to quickly publish a notice that is required to get the process started.

As outlined at the White House by Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the rules would focus on cancellations and long delays caused by things such as mechanical issues with the plane or lack of a crew.

Airlines for America, which represents the biggest carriers, said in a statement that airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights. The trade group said more than half of cancellations in 2022 and 2023 have been caused by extreme weather or air traffic control outages.

Carriers have taken responsibility for challenges within their control and continue working diligently to improve operational reliability, including hiring more workers and reducing their schedules, the group said.

After the pandemic hit, airlines received $54 billion (Rs 4.41 lakh crore) in federal aid that included a prohibition on layoffs, but that didnt prevent them from paying tens of thousands of workers to quit or retire early.

Also Read: Why has Go First filed for bankruptcy? What happens to passengers who booked tickets?

Airlines have added about 118,000 workers since November 2020 and now have five per cent more employees than before the pandemic, according to Transportation Department figures.

The rate of cancelled flights has declined to 1.6 per cent so far this year, compared with 2.1 per cent in the same period last year. However, delays are slightly more common and a few minutes longer on average, according to data from tracking service FlightAware.

Currently, when an airline cancels a flight for any reason, consumers can demand a refund of the unused part of their ticket and certain extras that they might have paid to the airline, such as fees for checking a bag or getting a seat assignment. Airlines often try to persuade consumers to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund.

After widespread flight disruptions last summer, the Transportation Department posted an online dashboard to let consumers compare airline policies on refunds and compensation.

The Transportation Department is expanding the site to indicate when airlines offer cash, travel vouchers or frequent-flyer miles as compensation for flight disruptions under their control.

None of the major US airlines offer cash for controllable cancellations or long delays, only Alaska Airlines offers frequent-flyer miles, and only Alaska and JetBlue provide travel credits, according to the dashboard.

Biden and Buttigieg credited the dashboard with pushing the 10 largest US airlines to promise to provide cash or vouchers for meals when a carrier-caused cancellation forces passengers to wait at least three hours for another flight. Nine of the 10  all but Frontier Airlines  also promise under those circumstances to pay for accommodations for passengers stranded overnight.

Also read: Bad Air Days: Pee-gate, mid-air fist fights and other horror stories from airlines in India

Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines cancelled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. The Transportation and Justice departments are investigating whether Southwest scheduled more flights than it realistically could handle.

A report last month from the congressional Government Accountability Office blamed airlines for a surge in cancellations as air travel began to recover in 2021 and early 2022. The Federal Aviation Administration has also created disruptions due to technology outages and staffing shortages. The FAA recently encouraged airlines to reduce flights to and from major New York airports this summer because it doesnt have enough air traffic controllers at a key facility.

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A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify and deepen into a cyclonic storm, said India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Cyclone Mocha, the first cyclone of 2023, will bring in heavy rains and strong gusts in the region in the coming days.

It may intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm so the wind speed can be more than 120 km/hr over the central Bay of Bengal on 11 May. Thereafter, its direction will change and start moving towards the northeast, reaching near the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD Director General told News18.

Around 12 May, the storm is anticipated to approach the shores of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Sea conditions across the east-central Bay of Bengal, southeast Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea are predicted to deteriorate as the system gets stronger.

In the upcoming days, there is a risk for any type of marine activity due to very severe seas and waves that are much higher than normal, according to the IMD.

How did Cyclone Mocha get its name?

The storm is known as Cyclone Mocha in accordance with the nomenclature scheme used by the WMO/ESCAP member countries.

Mocha is a warm beverage with a chocolate flavour and is a variant of coffee.

Yesterdays cyclonic circulation over southeast BoB lay over southeast BoB & adjn South Andaman Sea at 0830 IST of 7th May. LPA is likely to form over the same region on 8th May. To intensify into a depression over SE BoB around 9th May. To intensify into a cyclonic storm pic.twitter.com/ewICcr7kpC  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 7, 2023

Yemen, a country on the Red Sea coast that is well-known for its coffee trade, gave the storm name Mocha.

Mokha, which is often written Mocha or Mukha, is also a port city on Yemens Red Sea coast.

For the unversed, a cyclone is a low-pressure storm that develops over warm waters. Fundamentally, consists of a system of fast winds spinning around a low-pressure depression, with the winds blowing in opposite directions in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Also read: Explained: Cyclone Mandous to hit Indian coast, what are dos and donts to follow

What advisories have been issued?

Fishermen have been advised by the weather office to expect rain and strong winds in the southeast Bay of Bengal starting on Sunday, with wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph.

A low pressure area has formed over SE BOB & adjoining South Andaman Sea at 0830 IST of today. Likely to intensify into a depression on 9th May over the same region and further into a CS over SE BOB and adjoining areas of EC BOB and Andaman Sea on 10th May. pic.twitter.com/aqkvaRDjpx  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 8, 2023

Those who are over southeast Bay of Bengal are advised to return to safer places before 7 May and those who are over central Bay of Bengal are advised to return before 9 May, the meteorological agency stated, adding that between 8 May and 12 May, there should be restrictions on shipping, offshore activities, and tourism, according to Indian Express.

The cyclonic storm is anticipated to hit the nations eastern coast between 7 May and 9 May. On 8 May, the region is anticipated to coalesce into a depression over the same area.

Thereafter, it is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm while moving nearly northwards towards central Bay of Bengal. The cyclonic storm may take shape around 9 May, the officials said.

Why cyclones are named?

The names of the cyclones are intended to make it simpler for people to recall and recognise the storms.

By giving storm names, the scientific community, the media, and disaster management can more easily identify and record specific cyclones, give warnings, increase community attention, and prevent confusion in areas that see several cyclones.

Also read: 32 days and counting: How Freddy is hurtling its way into becoming the worlds longest-lasting tropical cyclone

Whats the origin of their names?

Cyclones are given names by international organisations like the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia, and the Pacific.

Tropical cyclone warning centres and regional specialised meteorology centres (RSMC) also prepare names for cyclones.

One of six RSMCs authorised to identify tropical cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean is the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

IMD issues new list of Names of Tropical Cyclones over north Indian Ocean. The current list has a total of 169 names including 13 names each from 13 WMO/ESCAP member countries. Detailed Press Release available at https://t.co/dArV0Ug8nh and https://t.co/wRl94BzRXr pic.twitter.com/ge0oVz4riD  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 28, 2020

India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Pakistan, and Oman are members of the WMO and UN ESCAP.

In 2018, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen were added to the WMO and ESCAP, reported Livemint.

The Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and northern Indian Ocean cyclones are given names by the Indian Meteorological Department. As the cyclones and storms intensify over time, it also issues advisories to 12 other countries in the area.

The cyclone will go by the name Tej when Indias turn rolls around next.

Who suggests the names?

The names of tropical cyclones are listed alphabetically by country and alternate between womens and mens names in the Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), while in the Northern Indian Ocean, the names are gender-neutral and listed alphabetically by country.

With inputs from agencies

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The coronation of Britains King Charles III and Queen Camilla is done and dusted. It was an historic over two-hour ceremony where the world witnessed a new king and queen being crowned amid rituals, traditions and a whole lot of jewellery and regalia.

Amid all this, Queen Camilla shone brightly  largely because of the sparkly jewellery she adorned for her moment and the crown she opted for. Queen Camilla followed in her husbands footsteps of sustainability and chose the Queen Marys Crown, albeit without the controversial Kohinoor diamond.

This move by the British Royal Family to steer clear of the famous Kohinoor diamond was hailed by many as nimble diplomacy after calls to return the gem to India has grown louder in the recent years, especially after the demise of Queen Elizabeth II.

However, the royal ceremony on Saturday (6 May) once again threw spotlight on the royal familys colonial loot and one piece of jewellery that was spoken more about was Queen Camillas iconic necklace, called the Coronation Necklace.

All about the dazzling necklace

Queen Camilla on 6 May dazzled in a very special necklace as she travelled to Westminster Abbey with her husband, King Charles III, for their historic coronation. For the occasion, the 75-year-old wore the iconic Coronation Necklace, which dates back to 1858.

Originally designed by Garrard for Queen Victoria, its since been worn by every queen for every coronation, most recently for the late Queen Elizabeth II when she was crowned in 1953.

The necklace consists of 25 graduated brilliant diamonds with a 22.48 carat diamond pendant, known as the Lahore Diamond.

The neckpiece has a complicated royal history. It is said that Queen Victoria commissioned this piece after she lost many of her jewels after legal wranglings with her uncle. As per royal historians, when Queen Victoria inherited the British throne from her father, the Hanoverian crown passed to her uncle  King Ernst August I  because the state did not recognise female leaders.

This led to a tussle between the two sovereigns for the jewellery belonging to Queen Charlotte, Queen Victorias grandmother. After more than a decade of legal battles, the courts decided in favour of the Hanoverians rather than Queen Victoria.

It was then that a devastated Queen Victoria commissioned the new necklace and the earrings and this came to be called the Coronation Necklace. According to the Royal Collection Trust, the necklace was made at a cost of 65, using twenty-eight stones (three of which were subsequently removed) taken from two of the Queens Garter badges and a sword hilt.

Our coverage of King Charles Coronation

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Fashion at the Coronation: What did Kate wear? Who else stood out?

Ditching the Monarchy: How King Charles grip over the Commonwealth nation is slowly slipping away

Not my King protests on Coronation Day: The Brits who want to dump the monarchy

For the centrepiece of the necklace, the Lahore Diamond was selected. The massive stone, said to be 22.48-carats, was originally part of the Lahore Treasure in the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan until 1849 before British colonists took it over. Some argue that it was presented to Queen Victoria in 1851, while others say that it was stolen during King Alberts invasion of the Lahore Fort in 1858  thus making it controversial.

Reason for calling it Coronation Necklace

This necklace became Queen Victorias more preferred pieces; she was pictured in it more than any other piece of jewellery.

And since then it has become a regular feature around the monarchs necks. Queen Alexandra was the first to wear the necklace in a coronation ceremony in 1902. This was followed by Queen Mary in 1911 and Queen Mother Elizabeth also wore it in 1937.

In 1953, Queen Elizabeth also wore the Coronation Necklace as her primary pieces of jewellery on her Coronation Day. She also continued to wear the set throughout her reign, for various special occasions like state dinners.

Colonial loot

Apart from the Lahore Diamond, the coronation also featured other jewels that have been stolen from past British colonies.

The Sovereigns Sceptre with the Cross, which King Charles carried at the coronation, features the Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I diamond. According to the Royal Collection Trust, the Cullinan diamond was presented to King Edward VII (the British monarch at the time) in 1907, two years after its discovery in a private mine in South Africas old Transvaal province.

However, many South Africans reject this narrative and have demanded for the stone to be returned home.

Apart from the Great Star of Africa, a smaller diamond known as Cullinan II is set in the Imperial State Crown, which King Charles wore at the ceremony.

In recent times, there has been growing calls from across former British colonies to return the stolen jewels and artefacts.

It is left to be seen if the British monarchy does return it, though it seems very unlikely.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington: Just how does this debt limit standoff end?

Plenty of scenarios are being publicly and privately gamed out, but no one knows for sure. The possibilities range from kumbaya to economic chaos with plenty of possibilities in between.

So far, neither President Joe Biden nor House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, is giving ground ahead of talks slated for Tuesday.

Biden wants to increase the governments $31.4 trillion (Rs 2.57 lakh crore) legal borrowing limit, so that the federal government can continue to pay its bills and the risk of a historic default goes away.

McCarthy and other GOP lawmakers want a deal that guarantees trillions of dollars in spending cuts before they sign on to raising the debt limit.

Time is short: The Treasury Department warns the US could default as soon as 1 June if there is no deal.

A look at potential outcomes:

Lets agree to disagree

The president wants to disarm the whole debate by having Republicans make a public commitment that the US wont default. Hed then be ready to discuss spending, taxes and other budget issues.

He wants an assurance from McCarthy that the US can keep paying all of its bills by having the ability to keep borrowing. The president says hes ready to have a public debate with GOP lawmakers about the budget, just not with the worlds largest economy held hostage.

Also Read: US debt deal: What will happen if the debt ceiling is not raised?

As Ive said all along, we can debate where to cut, how much to spend, how to finally move the tax system where everybody begins to pay their fair share, Biden said. But not under the threat of default.

Its unclear how many GOP lawmakers share his definition of default. Some suggest a default would only apply to unpaid debt, while the administration wants to include the salaries of federal workers, repayments for contractors and aid to the poor, veterans, schools and others.

Shortly before the House narrowly passed a bill with $4.5 trillion (Rs 36,874,125 crore) in deficit savings along party lines, McCarthy said the US would not default. But he is still linking that issue directly to spending cuts in a way that Biden wants to avoid.

Addressing the debt requires us to come together, find common ground, and reduce spending, McCarthy said last month. Let me be clear: Defaulting on our debt is not an option, but neither is a future of higher taxes.

Republicans hold tight

Congressional Republicans could hold firm and force Democrats to wobble.

McCarthy has a slim majority in the House: 222 Republicans, compared to 213 Democrats.

His debt limit bill would reverse discretionary spending to 2022 levels, then place a one per cent cap on increases going forward.

The bill also would reverse Bidens forgiveness of student loan debt, his increased funding for the IRS and the tax incentives created in 2022 to encourage the adoption of clean energy. Those cuts would extend the debt limit through 31 March, 2024, or up to an additional $1.5 trillion (Rs 12,294,600 crore).

GOP conservatives such as South Carolina Representative Ralph Norman and others say they wont back anything less than that bill House Republicans passed on 27 April with 217 votes.

But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, wont let that bill make it through the Senate. Neither will Biden.

The question as the deadline approaches is whether Republicans stay united and that causes Democrats to cave. There is also the risk that dissent within the GOP caucus could put McCarthys speakership at risk, which could then make it even more challenging to reach an agreement.

The question is what kind of an agreement could get through the House, the Senate and the Oval Office.

Get an extension

Washington loves to put things off  the old kick the can down the road routine.

There is the possibility that lawmakers could agree to a short-term extension, pushing the debt limit expiration to 30 September, when a federal budget also needs to be passed.

This would be in line with the GOPs effort to sync the budget debate with the debt limit, while also removing the immediate risk of a default. Its the option government officials generally discuss in private with the most optimism.

Still, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tried to pour cold water on that idea in a Sunday interview with NBC News.

I dont think the responsible thing to do is to kick the can down the road, Jeffries said, even as he prioritised the importance of avoiding a default.

Markets go crazy

Wall Street could save the day, sort of, by having a meltdown.

Along with economists, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, has indicated that a stiff market selloff could force Republicans to retreat.

Their donors would holler about the pending financial losses and give every lawmaker an incentive to be the hero and rescue the jobs and retirement savings of millions of Americans.

Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the consultancy RSM US, said in a Monday email that the talk of a potential default already is making it more expensive for investors to buy insurance on US Treasury notes. But the panic is largely contained, so far, from the broader stock market that many voters and lawmakers follow.

14th Amendment

Biden could play the Constitution card.

The 14th Amendment became part of the Constitution after the Civil War. It states that the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorised by law,  shall not be questioned.

Laurence Tribe, an emeritus Harvard University law school professor, wrote Sunday in The New York Times that Biden can argue he has a constitutional duty to avoid default and thus can blow past the debt limit to continue the spending Congress has already approved.

On Monday, a union of government employees sued Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Biden to make the argument that they are constitutionally obligated to disregard the debt limit.

As a former senator, Biden likes to defer to Congress. But when pressed about invoking the 14th Amendment during last week, he kept his options open.

Ive not gotten there yet, he told MSNBC.

Senator James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, said Biden cannot act unilaterally. He told ABC News that the Constitution is very clear that spending  all those details around spending and money actually has to come through Congress.

Mint a coin

This is among the many creative  and unlikely  solutions circulating on the internet. The idea is that the government could mint a $1 trillion platinum coin and use it to avoid a default. Basically, there is a loophole in the law that could allow the US to mint a coin of any denomination if its made of platinum.

That has at least one big problem: Yellen ruled out the idea in a January interview with The Wall Street Journal, calling it something thats a gimmick.

Default

This is the scariest possibility.

If theres no deal, the US government could reach its X-date  the moment when it no longer can pay all of its bills. The Treasury Department would no longer be able to use accounting strategies to keep the government open. If the government were no longer able to borrow, unpaid bills would mount and the government would default.

But, but, but  not all defaults are the same.

The US could briefly miss some payments, and the risk of things getting worse could jolt lawmakers into reaching a deal. But even a brief default would cost the economy 500,000 jobs, according to a White House analysis. A protracted default would cost 8.3 million jobs, according to the analysis, almost as many job losses as there were during the 2008 financial crisis.

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Its become quite a regular occurrence in India  politics over a movie. First it was Vivek Agnihotris The Kashmir Files and now Sudipto Sens The Kerala Story.

The movie, starring Adah Sharma in the lead role, has been at the centre of controversy since its teaser came out in November 2022, claiming that 32,000 women from Kerala were converted to Islam and kidnapped to Syria to join Islamic State. After massive outrage over the unsubstantiated figure, the makers changed it to 3 women in the trailer.

Now, the movie is making news again with states battling over it. While some are drumming up support for the movie, which has already minted Rs 35 crore in three days, there are others like West Bengal that has banned it. In fact, the eastern state led by Mamata Banerjee has become the first in the country to withdraw the film from theatres.

We take a look at which states are supporting The Kerala Story and which are against it.

Kerala

The Kerala Story is based on incidents that took place in the southern state. The movie has generated a lot of buzz in the state, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling it a product of the Sangh Parivars lie factory.

He was quoted as saying, Propaganda films and their otherisation of Muslims should be viewed in the context of various efforts made by the Sangh Parivar to gain an advantage in electoral politics in Kerala. Their usual tactics do not work in Kerala, so they are trying to spread their politics of division through the film based on fake stories.

There was also a slew of petitions placed before the Kerala High Court to prohibit the exhibition of the movie. However, the court had rejected these pleas and refused to declare the A certification issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) illegal.

The court observed that going through the trailers of the movie, we find that trailers do not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. The fact remains that the petitioners have not watched the movie. We find that a competent statutory body, Central Board of Film Certification, has examined the movie and found that the film is suitable for public exhibition.

Justice Nagaresh, who was one of the judges in the Kerala High Court hearing the pleas, had said, There is something called freedom of speech and expression. They have artistic freedom, we have to balance that also. What is there in the film that is against Islam? There is no allegation against a religion, but only against the organisation ISIS.

After the court rejected the pleas, the movie has seen a limited release in theatres owing to the pushback it has received from some corners.

K Vijayakumar, president of the Film Exhibitors United Organisation Kerala, told The Quint that The Kerala Story is currently running in at least 30 theatres across the state. Multiplexes like PVR and Cinepolis withdrew their screenings because there may have been some pressure from outside, he alleged, hinting that protests against the film may have had an effect on the shows.

However, there are some who dont agree with this view. Some trade analysts believe that the collection of the movie has been poor in state and that the audience is opting for other movies such as 2018, Ponniyin Selvan 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

West Bengal

On Monday, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government banned The Kerala Story in the state, arguing that it may create unrest. It has become the first state to ban it, prompting Union Minister Anurag Thakur to say that it was beyond his understanding why the Trinamool Congress(TMC) chiefs sympathies were with terror organisations and not with the innocent girls from Kerala.

The West Bengals order to withdraw the movie read, To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the chief minister has directed an immediate ban on screening of The Kerala Story. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban.

Chief Minister Banerjee had earlier alleged that The Kashmir Files was made to humiliate one section of the society whereas The Kerala Story was a distorted movie aimed at defaming the southern state.

BJPs I-T department head Amit Malviya criticised the chief minister for the ban, saying the decision was unfortunate. Who is Mamata Banerjee trying to please with this ban? Does she think Muslims of Bengal relate more to the IS than the Indian Constitution? Shame on her regressive politics, he tweeted.

The BJP in West Bengal also added the ban was an attempt to scuttle free speech and appease a section of the minority community to serve its political interests.

However, the TMC dubbed the allegations against the party as baseless and accused the BJP of trying to create a communal narrative across the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The state government has already said this film aims to create division in the society. As the BJP has nothing to project in terms of development ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they are trying to create a communal narrative, TMC MP Santanu Sen claimed.

Tamil Nadu

The movie has also run into problems in the state of Tamil Nadu. Since the movie released on 5 May, some Muslim political groups and other political parties, including the Naam Tamilar Katchi, have carried out protests against it.

On 7 May, the Tamil Nadu Multiplex Association announced that they would not be screening the movie in the state. President of Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association, M Subramaniam, told news agency PTI, The film was only shown in a few multiplexes owned by pan-India groups, mostly PVR. Locally-owned multiplexes had already decided not to show the film, as it did not have any popular stars. In Coimbatore for instance, there were two shows so far  one on Friday and one on Saturday. Even those did not do well. Given that, theatres decided that it was not worth going through the threat of protests and such.

The decision by the theatre owners to restrict screening of the movie led state BJP vice-president Narayanan Tirupathi to point fingers at the MK Stalin-led government. Tirupathi accused the state of systematically blocking the screenings of the film by abuse of power.

He added that the DMK-led government should provide security to those who wanted to screen the movie. Calling the situation dangerous, he said that it appeared as if the government had planned the whole thing.

BJP leader and National Commission for Women member Khushbu Sundar also slammed those opposing the screening of the The Kerala Story.

Wonder what scares those who are fighting to ban #TheKeralaStory . The blatantly told truth or the fear of realising of being part of the truth, unknowingly & silently for years. Let people decide what they want to watch. You cannot decide for others. TN govt gives lame reasons  KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) May 8, 2023

Madhya Pradesh

While the above states have opposed the movie The Kerala Story, the BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh has made it tax free.

In a video address, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, The film shows how the (life of) daughters who get entangled in a the trap of love jihad gets destroyed. It also exposes the design of terrorism.

While we have already brought a law against (forced) conversion, the film creates awareness about the issue. This film should be watched by all and thats why the Madhya Pradesh government is declaring the film tax-free, he added.

Uttar Pradesh

The northern populous state of Uttar Pradesh has also indicated that it might make the movie tax-free with Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak saying if there is a proposal, the state government will make the film 'The Kerala Story' tax-free.

He added, Everyone should see The Kerala Story. I would appeal to all my sisters that they should watch (the film) and understand how atrocities are committed on sisters in a state.

And on 9 May, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the movie will be tax-free in the state.

'The Kerala Story'         Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) May 9, 2023

His secretariat also added that he could watch the film along with his cabinet colleagues at a special screening to be organised at Lok Bhawan.

Maharashtra

BJP MP Nitesh Rane has also expressed support for the movie and said that Maharashtra should make it tax-free.

He said, In the context of love jihad, this is a relevant film. It shows the truth of how Hindu women are oppressed and made victims of Love Jihad. Everyone in Maharashtra should watch this movie. I met Sudhir Mungantiwar to ensure that all Hindutva organisations can come forward with this truth.

We have requested that this film be made tax-free from the first day itself. Mungantiwar will hold discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on making the film tax-free, added the BJP leader.

Assam

While the state has not declared any statement on the movie, its Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while campaigning for his party, the BJP, in Karnataka said, There is a new film The Kerala Story which reveals many things. When the BBC made a film on Modiji making false claims, the Congress was in favour of it. But today the same Congress wants a ban on The Kerala Story," Himanta said referring to the row that had erupted over the BBC documentary India: The Modi Question.

With inputs from agencies

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Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the main rival challenging Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections scheduled on 14 May. The chairman of Turkeys main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi or CHP), 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu is confident of his victory. These elections are not being held under suitable conditions, he told The Guardian. But despite it all, we will win. Because people want democracy.

Known for his soft-spoken nature and making heart emojis with his hands, Kilicdaroglu has promised to bring freedom and democracy to Turkey if he wins.

Who is Kemal Kilicdaroglu and can he unseat Turkeys Erdogan? What will his victory mean? Lets find out.

Foray into politics

A former civil servant, Kilicdaroglu is the candidate of the six opposition parties that have come together to form a coalition against President Erdogan.

His party, centre-left CHP, was established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Born in December 1948 in the eastern Turkish city of Tunceli, Kilicdaroglu comes from a family that followed the minority Alevi faith.

After completing economics from Gazi University (formerly known as Ankara Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences) in 1971, Kilicdaroglu served in several top positions in economic and financial institutions of the country, as per Al Jazeera. He also taught at Hacettepe University in Ankara.

Kilicdaroglu worked towards removing corruption during his time as the director of the overarching Social Security Institution, reported BBC.

He was first elected to the Turkish parliament from Istanbul in 2002 as a CHP candidate, the same year Erdogans Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalknma Partisi or AKP) came to power.

In 2009, he unsuccessfully ran for the post of the mayor of Istanbul. Within a year, veteran politician Deniz Baykal resigned as chairman of the CHP after a secret video tape was leaked of his alleged extra-marital affair. While Kilicdaroglu first refused to stand for the CHP chairman post, he later agreed and won by a landslide, as per BBC.

Turkeys Gandhi

Kilicdaroglu has come to be billed as Turkeys Mahatma Gandhi, earning the monicker of Gandhi Kemal in the countrys media. As per Reuters, he is called so because of a passing resemblance with his (Gandhis) slight, bespectacled appearance.

Can Dundar, a former editor of the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, wrote for The Washington Post in 2017 that Kilicdaroglu came to be referred to as Turkeys Gandhi soon after he took over the leadership of the CHP in 2010, but the moniker had more to do with his faint physical resemblance to the Indian independence leader than with any similarities in revolutionary credentials or background.

In 2017, Kilicdaroglu launched a March for Justice, walking 450km from Ankara to Istanbul with a sea of supporters, to protest against President Erdogans crackdown on dissent following a 2016 coup attempt.

Building on the Gandhi analogy, some arecomparing Kilicdaroglus protest with the Indian leaders famous Salt March of 1930, when he and his followers walked 240 miles to the sea coast to protest the British colonial monopoly on the production and sale of salt, Dundar wrote in the 2017 Opinion article.

ALSO READ: Winners and losers of Recep Tayyip Erdogans two-decade rule in Turkey

One of the most-targeted politicians in Turkey

Kilicdaroglu has been targeted multiple times during his political career. In 2014, he was punched twice by a visitor in Parliament, leaving him with a bruised cheek and eye. As per BBC, despite this, the politician urged his colleagues to keep calm, saying, the path to democracy is full of obstacles.

His convoy came under attack by a missile by the Kurdish militant group the PKK in 2016. The next year, he survived an attempted bombing by the militant Islamic State group.

In 2019, he was attacked by a mob at the funeral of a soldier killed in fighting against Kurdish militants.

Can he unseat Erdogan?

There is a tight race between the Opposition leader and Erdogan, who has been in power in Turkey  first as prime minister and then as president  since 2003.

As per The Guardian, Kilicdaroglu, who is touted as the future of Turkish democracy, has a narrow lead in opinion polls, which indicates that the election race may advance to a second round later in the month.

What if Kilicdaroglu wins?

According to Politico, some Turkish and Western commentators are of the view that if Kilicdaroglu ousters Erdogan from power, Turkey can once again be democratic, prosperous, ready to pursue membership in the European Union, and better aligned with its NATO allies.

Kilicdaroglus Nation Alliance or the Table of Six, including CHP and five other Opposition parties, has promised to adopt what it calls the Strengthened Parliamentary System and discard executive presidency that has majorly increased Erdogans power.

If voted to power, Kilicdaroglu has pleged to deport millions of Syrian and Afghan refugees residing in Turkey.

If the Opposition candidate wins, Western leaders will need to face massive consequences. Ankara will move promptly to normalise its relationship with NATO. But some of the current divergences, for example on Cyprus and Syria, will not go away. On the positive side, the rule of law will be reinstated and relations with the EU improved  though not eased, Marc Pierini, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, wrote in an article for its website in April.

With inputs from agencies

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Brigadiers and officers ranked above them will now share a common uniform.

The Indian Army made the decision during the Army Commanders Conference.

The decision will take effect on 1 August.

But what will change? And why has this decision been taken?

Lets take a closer look:

What will change?

The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belt and shoes of senior officers will be standardised as part of the decision.

According to Indian Express, senior officers will no longer display regimental lanyards on their shoulders.

They will no longer wear regimental lanyards (cords) on their shoulders.

Shoulder flashes such as Special Forces, Arunachal Scouts, Dogra Scouts will also not be worn.

This is a departure from the current practice where senior officers of different ranks wear insignia of their respective arms and regiments on their uniform.

Infantry and military intelligence officers currently sport green berets, while armoured corp officers wear black berets, as per Indian Express.

The dark blue beret is worn by artillery, engineers, signals, air defence, and some minor corps officers, while army aviation corps officers don grey berets.

Para officers and armoured officers will thus no longer sport their maroon beret and belt respectively once they are promoted to brigadier, as per The Print.

There will be no change to the uniform worn by Colonels and below-rank officers.

Why has this decision been taken?

Sources told The Print that the distinct identity is vital strengthen camaraderie, esprit de corps and regimental ethos for junior leadership.

The identity fosters a strong bond in the same regiment, sources added.

However, brigadiers and above officers are those who have already commanded units, battalions and are mostly posted at headquarters or establishments, a source told PTI.

Here, officers from all arms and services work and function together.

The source added that a standard uniform will ensure a common identity for all senior-rank officers while reflecting the true ethos of the Indian Army.

This will also reinforce the Indian Armys character to be a fair and equitable organisation, the source added.

According to Indian Express, most officers promoted to the rank of Colonel no longer engage in regimental service.

Therefore, affiliations with a particular regiment or corps must also end at that rank  in order to avoid regimental parochialism in the higher ranks.

The newspaper noted that those at higher ranks often command troops from across regiments, thus it is only appropriate that these officers present themselves in a neutral uniform.

Interestingly, the army is reverting to a practice that was followed about four decades ago when changes towards wearing regimental affiliations began in the army.

Till the mid-1980s, the regimental service was till the rank of Lt Colonel.

Officers rank Colonel and above had common uniform patterns and insignia, as per the newspaper.

The army previously introduced a new digital print combat uniform for all soldiers, as per The Print.

Unlike the previous uniform, shirts are no longer tucked in and trousers have been given additional pockets.

Trousers have additional pockets and the material is supposed to be lighter but sturdier and suitable for all weather.

With inputs from agencies

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India has put forth an ambitious agenda for the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) which aims to bring inclusive and sustainable development, a senior Central government official told delegates from various countries on the first day of the DWG meeting in Goa.

More than 80 delegates from member countries and nine invitee countries and various international and regional organisations are attending the three-day meeting.

The meeting was co-chaired by Indias DWG Co-Chairs, Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretaries Nagaraj K. Naidu and Eenam Gambhir.

India has put forth an ambitious agenda for the DWG that aims to bring inclusive and sustainable development and accelerating achievement of SDGs at the forefront, Secretary (Economic Relations) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, told the delegates in a video address.

Ravi stated that the outcome documents proposed by India including High-Level Principles (HLPs) for Data for Development, HLPs for LiFE and Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the SDGs will directly feed into the leaders level document, the Green Development Pact that will be adopted at the Leaders summit in September.

He urged the DWG to work towards consensus documents and requested support from all delegations.

A day earlier, a senior bureaucrat had said the Goa meeting will set up development outcomes which will be taken up at the final ministerial meet scheduled to be held in Varanasi.

Officials on Tuesday said the sessions on Data for Development and HLPs on LiFE saw exhaustive and engaging discussions and negotiations for finalizing the language of outcome documents that reflects the strong collective will of G20 to work together on the development agenda. Satisfactory progress was achieved during the sessions in coming to a common understanding on a lot of issues, they said.

Before the inaugural on Tuesday morning, an exhibition showcasing Indias women-led initiatives was inaugurated.

The exhibition is based on the theme of ECHO. The Economy with safe climate and health leads to greater opportunities. It was organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs.

The exhibition was curated by the National Institute of Fashion Technology and showcased products conceived, designed, and made by women entrepreneurs, such as handloom and textile items, handicrafts, tea, spices, ayurvedic products, and millet-based food products.

An art and craft exhibition has also been curated by Serendipity Arts at the meeting venue, which was inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. It showcased rich and varied craft traditions from different parts of India that have shaped many cultural identities and are being reinvented through innovative applications in modern designs, officials said.

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In order to combat terrorism, security experts have called for a change in strategy, including the bolstering of intelligence and deployment, in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, citing high casualty figures of the soldiers in the last 18 months in the region.

Since October 11, 2021, a total of 26 Army personnel, including three officers and five paratroopers, and seven civilians have been killed in eight terror attacks in the two regions.

There is an effort by Pakistan to revive terrorism in the Jammu region, defence and security experts said.

Since October 2021, if you see the events, there is a concerted effort from across (the border) to disturb and and revive terrorism in the Jammu region, which has been free of terrorism largely from 17 to 18 years, former J-K director general of police (DGP) S P Vaid told PTI.

He said since the abrogation of Article 370, the entire terror ecosystem is being uprooted with most cadres and leadership of terrorists already eliminated.

Several strategies of the terrorists, including the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits, have been foiled by the security agencies, he said.

The former police chief said terrorists are now targeting the Rajouri-Poonch belt in the Pir Panjal region after suffering setbacks in Kashmir.

On October 11, 2021, terrorists carried out a major attack in Surankote in Poonch district, killing five soldiers, including a JCO. Two jawans were were killed in the Dera ki Gali belt on October 13 in another attack. Two weeks later, two soldiers, including an officer, died in an IED blast in Kalal, Rajouri.

Other prominent terror incidents in the region include a fidayeen attack on a military camp in Rajouri on August 11, 2022, killing five soldiers. An attack in Bhatta Dhurian killed another five soldiers. The latest attack occurred on May 5 when five paratroopers of special forces were killed.

Defence expert Brig (retd) Vijay Sagar Dheman said the attacks in the two border districts are serious. Jawans are being martyred. Public is being inconvenienced. They are losing faith in administration, he said. He added that security agencies are working overtime to stop the attacks.

Security experts say that there is a need to change the strategy in the region and strengthen intelligence and deployment in the region to counter the activities of terrorists.

Dheman said security agencies need to keep changing their strategies as terrorists too modify their plans as per requirement. The moment you get successes, they will change their tactics to counter your moves and you will counter theirs. This cat and mouse game continues, he said.

The defence expert said the strategy should be shifted from kinetic military action, which means aggressive cordon and search operations, to intelligence-based operations. Strengthen your intelligence agencies and they should pick up moles or overground workers and underground workers, Dheman said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Just a day before the southern state of Karnataka is scheduled to go to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an open letter to the voters where he said that he envisioned their dreams as his own.

In a video address posted on Bharatiya Janta Partys official Twitter handle, the prime minister can be heard saying, The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution.

He also highlighted the role Karnataka plays in Indias economy. India is the fifth largest economy in the world. Soon we need to make sure that India is among the top three economies of the world. This is possible only when Karnatakas economy develops at a rapid rate, Modi said.

Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, BJP governments decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnatakas economy.

He added, Even during covid, under the leadership of Karnataka BJP, foreign investment of 90 thousand crore was witnessed yearly. However, during the previous governments, Karnataka saw a yearly foreign investment of approximately 30 thousand crore. This is the BJPs commitment to the youth of Karnataka.

During the address, he reiterated the partys commitment to developing the state. BJPs government will work with utmost loyalty to improve the infrastructure in cities, advance the transport system, improve quality of life in villages and cities, and ensure that new opportunities are created for women and the youth.

We want Katnataka to be Number One in investment, industry and innovation. We want Karnataka to be Number One in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. BJP is also trying to make Karnataka number One in agriculture too. Karnatakas heritage and cultural competence have been revered, he added.

He urged the people of Karnataka to vote responsibly on May 10.

All three major political parties in the state  BJP, Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) have put all their efforts to woo the voters, making promises and launching accusations at each other to secure a majority in the states 224-seat Assembly.

With inputs from agencies

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At least 15 people, including three children and six women, were killed after a passenger bus fell off a bridge in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning.

The accident took place around 8:40 am when the bus broke through the railing of the bridge on Borad river and turned turtle after falling down.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that the ill-fated bus fell from the bridge on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village.

Nearly 20-25 others were injured in the accident, he minister informed, adding that they have been were rushed to the district hospital in Khargone.

At least 15 people were killed and 25 injured after a bus fell from a bridge on Tuesday in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone. According to reports, more than 50 passengers were travelling on the bus at the time of the accident.

pic.twitter.com/khTSxDD17h  Ahmed Khabeer   (@AhmedKhabeer_) May 9, 2023

As per reports, more than more than 50 passengers were travelling on the bus at the time of the accident.

Bus driver 'slept' over the wheels, lost control

A report by Times of India, quoted Khargone Sub-Divisional Officer (police) Rakesh Mohan Shukla saying that the driver of the bus, which was enroute Indore, appears to have a bout of sleep and lost control of the vehicle.

He added that the bus driver has not been traced.

The villagers were first to rush to the spot and push the bus back on its wheels. They then rescued the injured passengers before the police and rescue team arrived at the scene.

Madhya Pradesh government announces compensation

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the loss of lives in the bus accident.

Madhya Pradesh government has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to those who are seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in Khargone bus accident.

With inputs from agencies

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A third cheetah has died in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) J S Chouhan said.

Daksha, a female cheetah, was among the thirteen cheetahs who were rehabilitated at Kuno from Africa. A statement by the forest department shows that Daksha succumbed to her injuries that were caused by Daksha died following an injury which seems to be caused due to a violent interaction with the male cheetahs, possibly during mating.

The monitoring team found the female cheetah Daksha injured at 10:45 am on Tuesday. Veterinarians performed its treatment but she died around 12 noon. Daksha Cheetah was in enclosure No 1 while male Cheetah Vayu and Agni brought from South Africa were in nearby enclosure No 7, the release read.

The release explained that violent behaviour on the part of a male cheetah during mating often results in the partners death. Moreover, in such a situation it is nearly impossible for authorities to intervene.

On April 30, a meeting was held at Kuno Park in which Inspector General of National Tiger Conservation Authority Dr Amit Mallick, Wildlife Institute of India Dr Qamar Qureshi, Prof Adrian Tordif from South Africa and Vincent Van dar Marw of Cheetah Meta Population Initiative from South Africa were present, the release read.

During the meeting, it was decided to introduce Cheetah Male Coalition Agni and Vayu present in enclosure number 7 with female Cheetah Daksha which was in enclosure 1. As a result of which the gate between enclosure number 7 and 1 was opened on May 1. The Cheetah Male Coalition entered from enclosure number 7 to enclosure number 1 on May 6, the release added.

The autopsy of the female cheetah Daksha was being done by the veterinary team according to the protocol, it further read.

With inputs from agencies

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The ethnic unrest that has wracked the northeastern state of Manipur over the past few days claimed the lives of 60 people, wounded 231 others, and caused the burning of 1,700 homes, including places of worship, according to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday.

The state cabinet decided to give ex gratia payments of Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to those who sustained significant injuries, and Rs 25,000 to those who had minor injuries, according to the chief minister, who was speaking at a news conference today.

These are very very unfortunate incidents. I appeal to people to bring peace together at the earliest, Singh said.

He said that during the violence, 1,700 homes, including churches and temples, were destroyed by fire.

According to the chief minister, people whose homes were damaged would receive Rs 2 lakh in compensation, and the government will reconstruct them.

In the wake of the unfortunate incident that happened in Manipur, more than 20,000 people who were left stranded in relief camps have been moved to safety till today. Another 10,000 more stranded people will be transported to safety as soon as possible. Human lives are precious and destroying homes and properties are unacceptable, Singh said.

According to the chief minister, 214 out of the 1041 firearms stolen from security force members have been found.

He warned that a mass combing operation would be started if people who stole the firearms didnt bring them back to the closest police station.

According to him, the administration has taken a number of actions to assist those who have become trapped in the Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Imphal West, Imphal East, and Kangpokpi districts of the state.

According to him, a cabinet panel has been established to supervise the transportation of the stranded persons to their designated locations.

The SPs have been directed to identify vulnerable areas and ensure round-the-clock provision of full-proof security and protection for land and property, in the absence of their owners. They have been directed to take immediate action as per law against persons attempting to loot or occupy such land and property, Singh said.

The situation in Manipur is fast returning to normal, says Kuldeep Singh, Security Advisor to the chief minister.

He told reporters that 218 FIRs were registered against miscreants involved in the rioting.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the 10 hill districts on 3 May to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals  Nagas and Kukis  constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.

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The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is in the news for the wrong reasons once again. Two incidents of frisking have been reported from the NEET UG 2023 exam centres, where students were asked to remove their attire or swap it with their parents. Some even went to the nearby shops and purchased clothes to adhere to the code mandated by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

One incident was reported in West Bengal, and the other was reported in Maharashtra. Students reported about the incident on social media, and later complained about this to the authorities.

Some students even alleged that their inner wears were asked to open, and their bra straps were checked.

According to a Times of India report, a girl was asked to remove her kurta and was asked to wear it inside out.

Authorities told the aspirants that they were not adhering to the dress code mandated by the National Testing Agency, and that is the reason that they had to comply with a last-minute change in attire.

According to media reports, a student from the HMC Education Centre in Hoogly, West Bank, alleged that the authorities asked the students to change their pants or open their innerwear. He also said that their were no shops around the centre, and as a result, girls had to change their clothes in an open playground along with boys, with their parents surrounding their children to protect them

However, the principal of the HMC Education Centre denied such instances, and claimed that students were not abiding by the dress code, and thats why they were asked to change the attire.

Taking cognizance of the matter, NTA said it will issue comprehensive instructions to staff to be mindful of sensitivities involved in frisking female candidates.

With inputs from agencies

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About 55 crore people have enrolled themselves in the three new national social security schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.

The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have recorded enrolments of 16.2 crores, 34.2 crore and 5.2 crores, respectively in eight years of its existence, the Finance Ministry has said in a statement.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that these social security schemes are dedicated to the welfare of the citizens, recognising the need for securing human life from unforeseen risks and financial uncertainties.

In order to ensure that the people from the unorganised section of the country are financially secure, the Government launched two insurance schemes PMJJBY and PMSBY and introduced APY to cover the exigencies in old age, she said.

The PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes provide access to low-cost life/accidental insurance coverage to the people and the APY provides a saving opportunity for getting a regular pension in old age.

One of the main objectives under the National Mission for Financial Inclusion announced by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2014, was to expand the coverage of insurance and pension in order to provide the poor and marginalised sections of the society the much-needed financial security through affordable products, she said.

The three Jan Suraksha schemes have brought the insurance and pension within the reach of the common man. The number of people who have enrolled and benefitted from the above schemes over the last seven years is a testimony to their success. These low-cost insurance schemes and the guaranteed pension scheme are ensuring that financial security, which was available to a select few earlier, is now reaching the last person of the society, the Finance Minister said.

Giving an overview of providing facilities to the poor, she said, Today, even the poorest of the poor can have a life insurance cover for Rs 2 lakh at less than 1 rupee a day under PMJJBY and accident insurance of Rs 2 lakh at less than 1 rupee a month under PMSBY.

All the citizens of the country in the age group 18 to 40 can subscribe to receiving a pension after the age of 60 by paying a minimum amount of Rs 42 per month, she added.

Providing security with convenience to citizens through PMJJBY, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sitharaman said, Under PMJJBY, a cumulative number of 12.76 crore persons have enrolled since inception for life cover and families of 5,76,121 persons have received claims for Rs. 11,522 crores under the scheme.

The scheme has proved extremely useful for low-income households during the pandemic as in FY21, almost 50% of claims paid out were due to Covid-19 deaths.

PMJJBY

Scheme: PMJJBY is a one-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death due to any reason.

Eligibility: Individuals in the age group of 18-50 years having a savings bank or a post office account are entitled to enroll under the scheme. People who join the scheme before completing 50 years of age can continue to have the risk of life cover up to the age of 55 years upon payment of the premium.

Benefits: Life cover of Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death due to any reason against a premium of Rs. 330/- per annum.

Enrolment Process: Enrolments under the scheme can be done by visiting the branch or website of the bank of the account holder or at the post office. The premium under the scheme is auto-debited every year from the subscribers bank account based on a one-time mandate from the account holder.

PMSBY

Scheme: PMSBY is a one-year accidental insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death or disability due to accident.

Eligibility: Individuals in the age group of 18-70 years having a savings bank or a post office account are entitled to enroll under the scheme.

Benefits: Accidental death cum disability cover of Rs.2 lakh (Rs.1 lakh in case of partial disability) for death or disability due to an accident.

Enrolment Process: Enrolment under the scheme can be done by visiting the branch or website of the bank of the account holder or at the post office. The premium under the scheme is auto-debited every year based on a one-time mandate from the account holder.

Atal Pension Yojana

Background: The scheme was launched to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the underprivileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. It is an initiative of the government to provide financial security and cover future exigencies for the people in the unorganized sector.

APY is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).

Eligibility: APY is open to all bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years and the contributions differ, based on the pension amount chosen.

Benefits: Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1000 or Rs. 2000 or Rs. 3000 or Rs. 4000 or Rs. 5000 at the age of 60 years, based on the contributions made by the subscriber after joining the scheme.

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The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea against the Kerala High Courts interim order where it refused to stay the release of the film The Kerala Story.

The case will be heard on May 15. Senior advocate Kapil Sibbal brought the matter before a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for the early listing of the plea.

On May 5, the Kerala High Court refused to issue a stay order on the release of the film The Kerala Story.

It said that owing to the secular nature of Keralas society, people will accept the film for what it is. The court also asked the petitioners how the movie, which it observed is fiction and not history, would create sectarianism and conflict in society.

Nothing will happen just because the film is screened. The teaser of the film was released in November. What was offensive in the film? What is wrong in saying that Allah is the only God? The country gives citizens the right to believe in their religion and God and spread it. What was offensive in the trailer? the court observed while considering a batch of petitions seeking to cancel the films censor certificate.

The court added, So many movies have already come out about such organizations. There have been references against Hindu monks and Christian priests in many films before. Did you see all this in the way of fiction? What is so special now? How does this movie create sectarianism and conflict in the society?

Directed by Sudipto Sen and starring Adah Sharma, The Kerala Story has stirred up controversy across the country with many state banning it while others make it tax-free.

The trailer 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. Faced with backlash the makers then withdrew the figure and called the movie the story of three women from Kerala, in its trailer description.

With inputs from agencies

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A Delhi Court has framed Aaftab Poonawala with charges of murder and disappearance of evidence in the Shraddha Walkar murder case. Poonawala has been accused of killing his live-in partner Walkar.

Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar said the arguments were heard at length and sufficient materials were placed on record by the prosecution.

Poonawala has been charged under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the light of the aforesaid facts, sufficient material has been placed on record by the prosecution which warrants trial of the accused for both the offences, she said.

Reading out the charges to the accused, the judge said that Poonawala murdered Walkar on May 18 last year following which he chopped her body and disposed of the parts at various places in Delhi between May 18 and 22.

Poonawala has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and claimed a trial. The matter has been posted for further proceedings on June 1.

Last month, Shraddha Walkars father Vikas Walkar on Saturday demanded the case be fast-tracked so that he can perform her last rites.

Shraddha Walkars father Vikas Walkar on Saturday demanded the case be fast-tracked so that he can perform her last rites.

The Delhi Police on March 20 told the court while completing its arguments on the charges that incriminating circumstances revealed through reliable and clinching evidence which form a chain of events.

With inputs from agencies

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In a shocking case of medical negligence, a Telangana doctor has come under the scanner for allegedly using a common adhesive glue Fevi Kwik on a minor boy who came to get his wounds treated at the hospital. This not only worsened the boys condition but also left his parents agitated as they lodged a police complaint against the doctor, prompting an investigation into the matter. Notably, the incident took place at the Rainbow Hospital in Leeja municipality of Telanganas Jogulamba Gadwal district. The seven-year-old boy Praveen Choudhary recently attended a wedding with his parents in the same district where he got injured above his left eye as he fell down while playing.

He was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital where he was treated by Dr Nagarjuna and his team, who reportedly used Fevi Kwik to dress his wounds, instead of stitching. However, this only worsened his condition as his pain intensified, forcing his parents to consult another doctor. Upon the second consultation, they came to know that an adhesive has been used to treat the boy.

Enraged by this, the boys parents lodged a complaint with the police, seeking action against the doctor. In a video that has gone viral, the parents could be seen confronting the doctor and his assistants about their negligence. The video also showed the doctor admitting to his mistake and further adding that the mishap occurred due to a power outage in the hospital.

No.. No.. it happened by mistake and there was no power supply in the hospital when we were treating your son, the doctor was heard saying. While he made continuous efforts to calm down the parents assuring them of taking responsibility for any complications with the boy, the latter remained furious as they questioned his lack of common sense and berated him. The video has also drawn the irk of social media users who have been demanding the health department take appropriate actions against the doctors negligence.

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The high-stakes campaign for the state assembly in Karnataka drew to a close after a weekend of roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With voters across the state set to cast their ballots, the contest seems headed for a nail-biting finish after the tumultuous campaign by both the BJP and the Congress. Admittedly being on the backfoot over allegations of corruption, the BJP seems to have markedly turned the tide on the campaign with the Prime Minister making a strong pitch for what has now become a trademark of the BJP  the double engine sarkar. The prime ministers series of roadshows, three in Bengaluru, apart from Mysore and other parts of the state, have set a new benchmark in political campaigning. This shift in emphasis from mega rallies and speeches as the primary instruments of electoral campaigning to roadshows that extend into several hours crisscrossing multiple constituencies has added a new dimension to the contest. While Narendra Modis indefatigable campaign efforts have elicited predictable political reactions on whether a prime minister should be spending his time on state elections, even his worst detractors cannot deny that a new high bar has been set on public outreach.

It would not be an exaggeration to state that Narendra Modi has emerged as the most innovative mass leader in his approach to public outreach. A continuing theme of his career spanning several decades is the constant engagement with constituents irrespective of the electoral theatre from local elections at the municipal level and all the way up to the general elections to parliament. A defining theme of this engagement has been the use of technology to innovate and amplify the impact of the outreach. This emphasis on experimenting with every new technology to gain early mover advantage in creative outreach was also the subject of the recent book Collective Spirit, Concrete Action released by the Honble Vice President of India at a conclave in Delhi marking hundred episodes of Mann ki Baat. Writing on how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as Indias first Digital Prime Minister, I have examined at length how he has many firsts to his credit in the use of technology for mass outreach.

Clearly standing out in this regard was his use of YouTube to live stream his speeches in the 2000s while serving as the Chief Minister of Gujarat as a way to disintermediate television news channels in directly reaching out to his constituents. The immediate impact of this live streaming was visible in his growing following up beyond the borders of Gujarat both within India and internationally within the diaspora. His early use of Facebook and Twitter drew in individuals to engage with him politically from different walks of life who otherwise would have kept away from campaigning. This was most visible in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when digital volunteering for Mission 272+ saw professionals and students getting involved in the electoral process in a manner never seen before. The creative use of technology to amplify the effect of campaigning saw innovations like 3D rallies using holographic projections and Chai-pe-Charcha for interactivity across multiple locations. The evolution of MyGov as a digital citizen volunteering platform and the launch of Mann ki Baat as a platform for mass citizen engagement are the finest examples of how both conventional and cutting-edge technologies came together to explore new ways of engaging citizens. The mass rallies and roadshows have since been supplemented with interactive sessions all the way down to booth level volunteers through the innovative use of Mobile Apps by Narendra Modi.

The argument on whether a prime minister ought to be expending so much energy on a state election misses two crucial points. The first has to do with political accountability. As envisaged by the makers of the Constitution, elections are the means for establishing accountability of public representatives. When a prime minister puts himself first in the outreach during a state election, the clear and unmistakable message is that he is holding himself accountable to the citizens not just once in five years but all through those five years at various levels of government. The second has to do with the road ahead for difficult but necessary reforms that India needs to chart its course for the next few decades of Amrit Kaal. The promise of double engine sarkaar is not merely about schemes and public spending but also about the necessary political capital to push through complex reforms especially those requiring amendments to the Constitution. By leading from the front the Prime Minister is delivering the message that the comprehensive mandate he needs to transform India extends all the way from Parliament to the state capitals.

The contentious election in Karnataka will be a test of many factors that have come to characterize politics in India, from caste-based voting blocs to runaway populism. The ultimate test however will be if the wise voters of Karnataka put national interest over parochial considerations to deliver the mandate the Prime Minister has sought with just about twelve months to go for the next general elections in 2024. Irrespective of the outcome in Karnataka, this high benchmark that has been set by Narendra Modi in public outreach will be a reference point for future campaigns for a long time to come.

The writer is the former CEO, Prasar Bharti. Views expressed are personal.

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The word nalayak (incompetent) spoken twice against the serving prime ministers come to haunt the Congress. However, unlike November 1998 when AICC spokesman Mani Shankar Aiyar lost the job for uttering nalayak, nearly 25 years later, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges son Priyank seems to be getting away with it with the full backing of the grand old party. It is a reflection of the utter lack of decency in the political discourse in the country and the political leaderships admission that civility and decorum in public speeches is not a one-way street.

Priyank, seeking re-election from Chittapur in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka, had alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while claiming to be the son of the Banjara community, was proving to be inapt in taking care of them. Aisa nalayak beta baitha to kaise hota bhai? Ghar kaise chalega? (If an inept son is sitting in Delhi, how can you run the family?), Kharge junior reportedly asked while addressing a rally in his constituency.

Aiyars removal in 1998 was personally directed by Sonia Gandhi who had just taken over as the Congress president. Sonia had even asked the career diplomat and a Doon school friend of Rajiv Gandhi to tender an apology to the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for calling him nalayak.

In the regular 4 pm AICC briefing at the 24, Akbar Road, Aiyar had described Vajpayee as layak vyakti, nalayak neta (competent person, incompetent leader). In his apology, Aiyar had said, I have subsequently learned that the expression I used could have an unparliamentary connotation. Not being a native Hindi speaker, I seem to have inadvertently used an improper expression, for which I wish to tender my apologies to the Prime Minister for any offence unintentionally caused. Aiyar had told this correspondent that he had referred to Father Camille Bulckes dictionary and found nalayak as a word describing someone weak. I was tempted to use the Hindi word ayogya but in Tamil it has a different and rather derogatory meaning, Aiyar had said.

The Stephanian has a history of being politically incorrect, often scoring self-goals. Many years later, Aiyar had to apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after describing him a neech aadmi. This was at the instance of Congress president-designate Rahul Gandhi who had publicly rebuked him and said, I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar to address the Prime Minister. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said, Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. Rahul had also sought to remind everyone how the BJP and the prime minister routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage, Rahul had said.

At another level, the BJPs reliance on gaali politics against Prime Minister Modi as a potent poll issue needs a reality check. Had Aiyar not spoken Chai Wala [ 2013], neech aadmi [2017] derogatory remarks, would the outcome of subsequent 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls been different? Purely in electoral terms, these distasteful and repugnant remarks assist as a contributory factor rather than serving as game changer. The Karnataka election outcome on 13 May, 2023, will have a verdict on this aspect too.

The writer is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including > 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed are personal.

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Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, BJP governments decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnatakas economy.

In a video posted on Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) official Twitter handle, PM Modi said, "The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution."

The intense campaign for the Karnataka assembly elections on 10 May came to a conclusion, and on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the state's residents hope by declaring he saw their ambitions as his own.

The Goa government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said.

But, a senior official from Goa Chief Minister's Office said it is a practice to give a holiday when there are elections in neighbouring states. He claimed a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa last year.

The Goa State Industries Association stated that legal action against the vacation may be necessary.

Opposition parties and business organisations, however, have not been pleased with the Pramod Sawant government's choice.

In anticipation of the Assembly elections due in adjacent Karnataka, the BJP administration in Goa has proclaimed May 10 a paid vacation that would also apply to private companies and industrial workers.

The commission stated in its notice that criticising the policies and leadership of rival parties is both a right guaranteed and incorporated in the Constitution and a crucial duty of diverse political players under India's democratic system.

After Congress contacted the election panel, the Election Commission (EC) handed a notice to the Karnataka BJP about its advertising.

The election panel had already warned the Congress over their "corruption rate card" advertising in response to a protest from the BJP.

The Karnataka BJP was requested by the Election Commission on Monday to produce "verifiable and traceable" information regarding their newspaper advertising branding the Congress as "the most corrupt party in the world" by Tuesday evening.

On 10 May, voting for the Karnataka Assembly election of 2023 will take place. Voting will take place from 7 am until 6 pm. Vote tallying will be held on 13 May.

On Tuesday, representatives of the VHP and Bajrang Dal will organise "Hanuman Chalisa" rallies throughout India in opposition to the Congress' pledge to outlaw "organisations like Bajrang Dal and PFI" if it wins the Karnataka state election.

In a video address posted on Bharatiya Janta Partys official Twitter handle, the prime minister can be heard saying, The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution.

Just a day before the southern state of Karnataka is scheduled to go to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an open letter to the voters where he said that he envisioned their dreams as his own.

Shobha Karandlaje, a union minister and BJP leader, chants "Jai Shri Ram" at the Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is in light of the Congress's electoral platform in Karnataka, which calls for the outlawing of right-wing organisations like the Bajrang Dal.

Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.

In 58,545 polling locations around the state, where 2,615 candidates are running for office, a total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to vote.

The voting period will run from 7 am until 6 pm.

The BJP, Congress, and JD(S), three major political parties in contention, as well as their candidates, have made a strong appeal in an effort to improve their chances at the hustings given the high stakes of this election.

Karnataka is getting ready to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after a high-voltage election campaign.

"I seek your blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one State in the country," said Modi, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows in the State ahead of the polls.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us", he said on Twitter.

A day before the Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the BJP to take back power. He claimed that the support he has received in the state over the past few days has been unmatched and has strengthened his resolve to make the party the industry leader in all areas.

He also asserted that in Rajasthan the Congress government will return to power after the polls.

Speaking to reporters in Udaipur, Gehlot said, "It seems that the elections will be won with a huge majority."

Election day in Karnataka is this Wednesday, and results will be announced on 13 May.

Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, predicted on Tuesday that the Congress will easily win the Karnataka assembly elections.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained.

The Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that "some sanctity needs to be maintained" in response to political remarks made on the sub-judice case involving the removal of the four per cent Muslim quota in Karnataka.

According to a Times of India report, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagra Palike (BBMP) chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath advised all eateries to not come up with such offers, and said otherwise cases will be booked.

The high-octane Karnataka elections are just hours away, and voters are ready to show up at the polling centres to exercise their franchise on 10 May. To encourage maximum voter turnout, two restaurants in Bengaluru have come up with a tempting offer  free food to those who show up to cast their vote. However, the civic body has poured cold water over the offer and advised the two hotels to refrain from such an activity.

All three of the state's major political partiesthe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)have worked extremely hard to win over voters by making promises and levelling personal attacks on one another in a bid to win a majority in the 224-seat Assembly.

The intense campaign for the 10 May assembly elections came to a conclusion on Monday as well, with senior politicians conducting 19 public events and six roadshows, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spent 12 days camped out in the state.

The poll organisation is working nonstop to hold free and fair elections in the southern State.

This occurs before the polling parties gather the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) for the voting on May 10.

Tushar Girinath, the Bengaluru District Election Officer, inaugurated the Strong Room on Tuesday at Seshadripuram College in Yelahanka, Karnataka, in advance of tomorrow's Assembly elections.

On Tuesday, a number of BJP politicians, including Shobha Karandlaje, Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, and Malavika Avinash, were spotted reciting the "Hanuman Chalisa."

Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister and BJP MP from Dharwad seat, and members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chanted the 'Hanuman Chalisa' in a Hanuman temple in Nagashetti Koppa district of Karnataka's Hubballi on Tuesday.

The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time," the EC said.

81 assembly seats have been designated as "expenditure sensitive" by the polling panel.

After the Model Code of Conduct was implemented in the state on March 29, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 288 crore.

According to the Election Commission's allegation made on Tuesday, the amount of alcohol, drugs, and freebies confiscated by enforcement authorities in Karnataka during the current election was over 375 crore rupees, or 4.5 times the amount seized during the state's previous assembly election.

"The Congress party in Karnataka has driven a positive, development-centric campaign with a vision to uplift all Kannadigas. Alternatively, the BJP's campaign has only aimed to distract, divide and deceive the people," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

On Monday, the loud election campaign for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly came to a close. Three political partiesthe Congress, the BJP, and the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowdaare vying for control of the state.

The Congress asserted on Tuesday, a day before voting in the Karnataka Assembly elections, that it ran a campaign that was "positive and development-centric with a vision for the Kannadigas" while the BJP sought to "distract, divide, and deceive" the electorate.

In reply, Pawar said, "He should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private.

After the Nationalist Congress Party announced its candidates for the Assembly elections that will be contested there on Wednesday, Pawar was in Satara when some media approached him and inquired about Chavan's alleged remarks that the NCP was the 'B' squad of the BJP in Karnataka.

Chavan has previously disagreed with Pawar's assertion that the Congress leadership shown obstinacy during negotiations to create the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019.

Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, questioned Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday about his "stature" inside the Congress after the latter criticised the NCP for fielding candidates in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

The high-stakes campaign for the state assembly in Karnataka drew to a close after a weekend of roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With voters across the state set to cast their ballots, the contest seems headed for a nail-biting finish after the tumultuous campaign by both the BJP and the Congress.

"You have always showered me with love and affection. It feels like a divine blessing to me. In our 'Azaadi ka Amrit Kaal', we Indians have aimed to make our beloved country a developed nation. Karnataka is keen to lead the movement to realise its vision", PM Modi said in his letter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued an open letter to the people of the State, underlining his party's commitment to the state's growth and development, a day before the Assembly elections in Karnataka.

In order to depict the grand old party as being against Lord Anjaneya and the feelings of Hindus, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively grabbed up the subject and used the phrase "Jai Bajarangbali" regularly during the campaign.

The controversy surrounding the Congress' manifesto's pledge to outlaw the Bajrang Dal lends significance to the trips.

Shivakumar visited the temple at KR Market in Bengaluru and offered prayers, while Bommai visited the shrine at Vijayanagara in Hubballi and recited the "Hanuman Chalisa" with worshippers there.

Tuesday, one day before the Assembly elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state Congress president D K Shivakumar paid visits to Anjaneya shrines.

"We believe in Lord Hanuman and Ram, they are our source of strength. I pray to them every day, today I prayed in public," he added.

Speaking to ANI, CM Bommai said, "Karnataka people have already decided to vote for BJP. I request them to vote for development, progress, and strong education and healthcare system in the state".

Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, stated on Tuesday that the state's residents had already chosen to support the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly elections on 10 May.

The BJP needs to hold onto power in Karnataka, the only party-ruled State in south India, to maintain its winning run and gain an advantage in elections in the Hindi-speaking states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan later this year.

It was obvious that the "double-engine Sarkar" intended to strongly capitalise on Modi's appeal in order to support its campaign, secure its future, and combat "anti-incumbency".

The BJP, with its well-oiled electoral machine, ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Karnataka Assembly elections, which take place on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, a number of BJP politicians, including Shobha Karandlaje, Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, and Malavika Avinash, were spotted reciting the "Hanuman Chalisa."

Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister and BJP MP from Dharwad seat, and members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chanted the 'Hanuman Chalisa' in a Hanuman temple in Nagashetti Koppa district of Karnataka's Hubballi on Tuesday.

The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time," the EC said.

81 assembly seats have been designated as "expenditure sensitive" by the polling panel.

After the Model Code of Conduct was implemented in the state on March 29, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 288 crore.

According to the Election Commission's allegation made on Tuesday, the amount of alcohol, drugs, and freebies confiscated by enforcement authorities in Karnataka during the current election was over 375 crore rupees, or 4.5 times the amount seized during the state's previous assembly election.

#WATCH | Poll officials cast vote through the postal ballot in Bengaluru, a day ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/zF7y54L7Fa

The Congress party in Karnataka has driven a positive, development centric campaign with a vision to uplift all Kannadigas. Alternatively, the BJP's campaign has only aimed to distract, divide and deceive the people. Our 5 Guarantees will ensure the government provides a pic.twitter.com/1uoft3ug9I

"The Congress party in Karnataka has driven a positive, development-centric campaign with a vision to uplift all Kannadigas. Alternatively, the BJP's campaign has only aimed to distract, divide and deceive the people," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

On Monday, the loud election campaign for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly came to a close. Three political partiesthe Congress, the BJP, and the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowdaare vying for control of the state.

The Congress asserted on Tuesday, a day before voting in the Karnataka Assembly elections, that it ran a campaign that was "positive and development-centric with a vision for the Kannadigas" while the BJP sought to "distract, divide, and deceive" the electorate.

In reply, Pawar said, "He should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private.

After the Nationalist Congress Party announced its candidates for the Assembly elections that will be contested there on Wednesday, Pawar was in Satara when some media approached him and inquired about Chavan's alleged remarks that the NCP was the 'B' squad of the BJP in Karnataka.

Chavan has previously disagreed with Pawar's assertion that the Congress leadership shown obstinacy during negotiations to create the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019.

Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, questioned Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday about his "stature" inside the Congress after the latter criticised the NCP for fielding candidates in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

The high-stakes campaign for the state assembly in Karnataka drew to a close after a weekend of roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With voters across the state set to cast their ballots, the contest seems headed for a nail-biting finish after the tumultuous campaign by both the BJP and the Congress.

"You have always showered me with love and affection. It feels like a divine blessing to me. In our 'Azaadi ka Amrit Kaal', we Indians have aimed to make our beloved country a developed nation. Karnataka is keen to lead the movement to realise its vision", PM Modi said in his letter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued an open letter to the people of the State, underlining his party's commitment to the state's growth and development, a day before the Assembly elections in Karnataka.

In order to depict the grand old party as being against Lord Anjaneya and the feelings of Hindus, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively grabbed up the subject and used the phrase "Jai Bajarangbali" regularly during the campaign.

The controversy surrounding the Congress' manifesto's pledge to outlaw the Bajrang Dal lends significance to the trips.

Shivakumar visited the temple at KR Market in Bengaluru and offered prayers, while Bommai visited the shrine at Vijayanagara in Hubballi and recited the "Hanuman Chalisa" with worshippers there.

Tuesday, one day before the Assembly elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state Congress president D K Shivakumar paid visits to Anjaneya shrines.

"We believe in Lord Hanuman and Ram, they are our source of strength. I pray to them every day, today I prayed in public," he added.

Speaking to ANI, CM Bommai said, "Karnataka people have already decided to vote for BJP. I request them to vote for development, progress, and strong education and healthcare system in the state".

Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, stated on Tuesday that the state's residents had already chosen to support the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly elections on 10 May.

The BJP needs to hold onto power in Karnataka, the only party-ruled State in south India, to maintain its winning run and gain an advantage in elections in the Hindi-speaking states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan later this year.

It was obvious that the "double-engine Sarkar" intended to strongly capitalise on Modi's appeal in order to support its campaign, secure its future, and combat "anti-incumbency".

The BJP, with its well-oiled electoral machine, ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Karnataka Assembly elections, which take place on Wednesday.

The intense campaign for the 10 May assembly elections in Karnataka came to a conclusion on Monday with key politicians having 19 public meetings and six roadshows, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Congressman Rahul Gandhi camped out in the state for 12 days.

All three of the states major political partiesthe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)have worked extremely hard to win over voters by making promises and levelling personal attacks on one another in a bid to win a majority in the 224-seat Assembly.

Election day for the Karnataka legislature is 10 May, and results will be tallied on 13 May.

113 seats are required to achieve a majority and form a government. The BJP, which is contending with an anti-incumbency factor, has expressed confidence in maintaining power with a landslide victory and is aiming for a second term in the state.

The Vokkaliga and Lingayat voters will be a significant impact on the elections. Vokkaligas make up 11 per cent of the population, while Lingayats make up 17 per cent.

According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP will take back control with a landslide. On Sunday, Shah organised a massive roadshow in Doddaballapura.

We will win the elections by full majority or at least half a mark plus 15 seats. In these four years, Yediyurappa and Bommai government has done a lot of work, the Union Home Minister told ANI.

Significantly, Karnataka is the only state in the South where BJP is in power.

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Renowned scientist Geoffrey Hinton, who is often considered one of the biggest pioneers of AI, has claimed that the emergence of this technology poses a more pressing threat to humanity than climate change. Although he acknowledges that climate change is a significant risk, he believes that the dangers associated with AI are even greater.

I wouldnt like to devalue climate change. I wouldnt like to say, You shouldnt worry about climate change. Thats a huge risk too, he told Reuters last week. But I think this might end up being more urgent.

Also read: AIs Godfather Quits: Googles leading AI expert quits, starts warning about the techs future

Hinton, who has been called one of the godfathers of AI, recently resigned from his position at Google to create his own platform to raise awareness of the potential hazards of AI without any restrictions from his previous employer.

In March, Google launched its own AI chatbot, called Bard, to rival OpenAIs ChatGPT software, which had been released in November the previous year. Despite this, Hinton has stated that he believes Google has been a responsible caretaker of AI technology.

Hintons comments come after a number of prominent figures in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and Twitter, joined forces to issue a warning about the potential consequences of an uncontrolled arms race involving AI in Silicon Valley recently.

Also read: Elon Musk and AI experts call for pause in development of AI systems that outperform GPT-4

The open letter co-signed by Musk and other tech industry leaders highlighted the profound challenges posed by human-competitive intelligence in various areas, such as employment and information dissemination. The letter proposed a six-month halt in the development of AI technology that is more advanced than ChatGPT, as well as the establishment of an independent regulator to oversee the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

After its launch last year, ChatGPT quickly became the fastest-growing app in history, amassing over 100 million users within just two months.

Hinton explained to Reuters that addressing climate change is relatively straightforward because the solution is to stop burning carbon. However, with AI, its less clear what actions need to be taken to mitigate its risks.

With climate change, its very easy to recommend what you should do: You just stop burning carbon, Hinton said. If you do that, eventually things will be OK. For this, its not all that clear what you should do.

Hinton believes that simply pausing research, as suggested in the open letter, is unrealistic. Instead, he recommends investing resources in exploring ways to mitigate the risks associated with AI, which he considers an existential risk.

Also read: Microsofts Chief Scientist slams Elon Musks request to pause AI, says no point in demanding halt

Recently, US President Joe Biden held discussions with representatives from Google and Microsoft, urging tech companies to prioritize safety measures for AI programs before they are deployed. The meeting was described as frank and constructive by the White House.

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Gaza City: Top three militants were among the 12 people killed in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-controlled territory.

The Israeli military announced it had carried out strikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in the area, without giving further details.

The militant group confirmed three senior officials were killed, naming them in a statement as Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the Al-Quds Brigades military council, and Khalil al-Bahtini, also of the council and commander of the military wing in northern Gaza.

The third, Tareq Ezzedine, was described by Islamic Jihad as one of the heads of military action in the occupied West Bank who operated from Gaza.

The ministry said that women and children were among the dead, but did not give further details as to the identity of the victims.

According to Al Jazeera, an unconfirmed number of people were also injured in the Israeli air attacks.

Explosions targeting residential apartments were heard at about 2 am local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT Monday) in different parts of Gaza, Al Jazeera reported, adding, Its not very clear the names of the people who have been killed or the number of people who have been injured.

Witnesses said an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The air strikes, which began a little after 2 am (2300 GMT), were still going nearly two hours later, according to AFP, with a new explosion heard in the east.

The operation comes less than a week after Islamic Jihad announced a truce around Gaza  brokered with help from Egypt  following a fresh flare-up in violence on the heels of one of its members, who had been on hunger strike, dying in an Israeli prison.

Roles of militants

In separate statements detailing each of the Islamic Jihad figures killed, the Israeli army affirmed it would continue to operate for the security of the civilians in the state of Israel.

The military presented Ghannan as one of the most senior members of the organisation who was entrusted with coordinating weapons and money transfers between the Hamas terrorist organisation and his movement.

Bahtini was responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month, Israel said.

Ezzedine was recently planning and direction (sic) multiple attacks against Israeli civilians in the West Bank, where he was from and which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Israel for his involvement in suicide attacks in the 2000s, before being freed in a 2011 prisoner exchange and transferred to Gaza, according to the army.

Israel and Gaza militants have fought multiple wars since Hamas took control of the Palestinian enclave in 2007.

A three-day conflict last August in Gaza caused 49 Palestinian fatalities and none on the Israeli side.

Tuesdays casualties bring to 120 the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.

Nineteen Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP count based on official sources from the two sides.

With inputs from agencies

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Beijing called for resolute countermeasures and strongly condemned the Canadian side for declaring a Chinese diplomat as persona non grata on Monday.

Calling on Ottawa to step back from the brink, the Chinese embassy in Canada in a statement said that the Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side.

The move aggravated already strained Sino-Canadian relations, with China saying Canada had sabotaged relations between the two nations.

Canada on Monday expelled a Chinese diplomat in Toronto who allegedly sought to target Canadian lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong-based relatives over Chongs support for a parliamentary motion that called Beijings treatment of its Uyghur minority a genocide.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada vowed to take powerful and resolute countermeasures. Chinas statement comes after Canada announced that it is expelling Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei. Canada has alleged that Zhao Wei was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, Global Times reported citing The Canadian Press.

An intelligence report accused him of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Chinese Embassy in Canada said that Ottawas actions violate international law and basic principles of international relations and relevant bilateral agreements between the two nations.

The Chinese Embassy said that Beijing never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. It called the claim of Chinese interference in Canadian domestic affairs hyped up by some politicians and media baseless and a blatant slander against China on the basis of ideological bias and political manipulation.

The Chinese Embassy noted Canadas action seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Beijings diplomatic and consular personnel. Canadas action comes after the Canadian side summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday and threatened the expulsion of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.

The Chinese Embassy said Beijings diplomatic and consular personnel in Canada have performed their duties according to relevant international conventions and bilateral engagements between the two nations.

It further said that the Canadian government deliberately caters to anti-China forces and takes measures against Chinese consular officials. It further said that China will never accept it. Chinese Embassy urged the Canadian side to stop wrong actions and not to go further down the wrong path.

Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims purely baseless and defamatory.

Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei, read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, she added.This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play. We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance, the statement read.

This development comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March this year announced to probe alleged Chinese interference in their recent elections by an independent special rapporteur, according to CNN.

As per the CNN report, the development comes after weeks of uproar in Canada sparked by revelations, first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper, that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition leader Michael Chong and his relatives in China after his criticisms of Beijings treatment of its Uyghur minorities.

With ANI inputs.

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China is steadily making progress in the space race with the US. Its recent space achievement came on Monday after its secretive reusable spacecraft landed back in Earths orbit after nine months.

With a number of moon missions, its own space station in Earths orbit, and a historic Mars mission that included an orbiter, a lander, and a rover  the first-ever Martian trifecta  China has generally increased its space presence during the past ten years.

The 276-day journey was hailed as a success and an important breakthrough by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

In August 2022, the spacecraft was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The new space planes nine-month voyage was its longest.

According to Andrew Jones, a writer who focuses on Chinas space program, it had only ever previously travelled to orbit for two days.

Despite the recent flights length, China has only made brief announcements about the spacecraft, providing no information on the missions goals, the spacecrafts characteristics, or the manoeuvres it carried out in orbit.

In a brief statement on Monday, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua said that the experiments success marks an important breakthrough in Chinas research on reusable spacecraft technologies, which will provide more practical and cost-effective round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the company that created the spacecraft, reposted the Xinhua announcement on the social media site Weixin.

The experimental spacecraft reportedly landed down at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to Xinhua.

However, according to Jones, orbital tracking information and satellite pictures indicate that the landing took place at the Lop Nur military installation in the nearby province of Xinjiang, to the west.

Spacecraft that can be reused are nothing new. The most well-known example is perhaps NASAs Space Shuttles. Billionaire Richard Branson recently took a Virgin Galactic spacecraft into orbit.

According to Space.com, the Chinese spacecraft launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in August 2022 and unexplainably launched something into orbit in October.

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In the first incident of its kind, a man has been arrested for using AI bots and AI tools nefariously. A man in China has been taken arrested for fabricating a story about a train collision using ChatGPT and disseminating it online across social media.

This marks the first arrest of its kind in China and possibly the entire world, for misuse of ChatGPT. The police in Gansu province reported that the suspect, identified only by the surname Hong, was detained for generating false content using AI.

Also read: Inventor of Chinas Firewall says that AI bots like ChatGPT pose big challenges for governments

The fake news piece, which alleged that nine individuals had perished in a train disaster, was brought to the attention of cyber security officers in Kongtong County after it was circulated by over 20 Baijiahao accounts. By the time authorities became aware of the situation, the article had garnered more than 15,000 clicks.

After conducting a search of Hongs residence and computer, law enforcement discovered that the article had originated from a company owned by him. He was subsequently arrested and admitted to circumventing Baijiahaos duplication check feature and uploading the fabricated article on numerous accounts. Hong utilized ChatGPT to create multiple variations of the false story by incorporating elements from popular social media stories from previous years.

Under normal circumstances, ChatGPT is not available to Chinese IP addresses. However, Chinese users can still access its features with a VPN connection. Chinese tech companies like Baidu and Alibaba are working on their own versions of ChatGPT for the public, following Microsoft and Googles revealed their own AI bots.

Also read: Chinas AI Race Heats Up: Alibaba unveils ChatGPT-like Tongyi Qianwen AI to take on Baidus Ernie

Chinas stringent social media censorship, enforced by firewalls, aims to prevent any dissident content that may criticize the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). Chinas leading internet regulator has expressed concern that unrestricted use of deep synthesis technology could lead to its exploitation for criminal activities, such as online scams or defamation.

As ChatGPT has gained popularity, Chinese law enforcement agencies have become increasingly wary and have issued warnings about the technology. In February, Beijings police cautioned the public to be wary of rumours generated by ChatGPT.

Hong, the suspect, has been charged with the offence of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. However, if the offence is deemed particularly severe, offenders may face up to ten years in jail, along with additional penalties.

Also read: China drafts law to require security assessment for new AI products like ChatGPT

This is the first known instance of Chinese authorities making an arrest after Beijings initial regulations to oversee the use of deepfake technology went into effect in January. What makes this even more interesting, is that governments all over the world, are trying to legislate the usage of AI tools, as well as how they are developed. This particular incident will surely shape how AI-based regulations are formulated in case an individual needs to be prosecuted.

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China appears to continue its surveillance on the activities of other nations. In the latest, at least eight Chinese maritime militia vessels and surveillance vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 tried to snoop on the first-ever Asean-India naval exercise that concluded in the South China Sea on Monday.

The drills, however, continued as planned since the Chinese vessels and aircraft did not come close to the exercising warships.

Meanwhile, India and the South East Asian nations were closely monitoring the boats movement by the maritime militia that were operating under the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

What was China trying to claim?

China has been locked in territorial disputes with its neighbours in the contentious South China Sea. It has sought to establish a strong presence in the region, where it is engaged in maritime disputes with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

A report by Deccan Herald quoted a source saying that through its maritime militia operation, China was apparently intended to assert its expansive claims on the South China Sea, flex its maritime muscles and to send out the message to New Delhi and the ASEAN capitals that it was not amused by the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME).

During the maritime exercise, the Chinese vessels alongwith a research vessel approached the exercise area in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam but did not hinder the drills carried out by the warship of India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam on 7 and 8 May.

At one point of time, the Chinese boats came 70-80 kilometres of the Indian and the ASEAN warships in the South China Sea.

The Chinese vessels did not come anywhere close to impacting the AIME drills or manoeuvres. There was no close proximity to raise any alarm. A careful watch was, however, kept on the Chinese vessels, a report by Times of India quoted an Indian defence establishment source as saying.

What did warships of Indian and ASEAN states do?

Hindustan Times quoted people familiar with the matter saying that the warships of India and some other Asean states which were involved in the exercise had gone dark by switching off their automatic identification system (AIS).

Who spotted Chinese vessels in South China Sea?

The presence of the Chinese vessels was first reported on social media by former US Air Force officer, Ray Powell who tracks developments in South China Sea for the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University.

Powell said that on Sunday evening, five Chinese maritime militia ships moved from the Spratly Islands to the area of the India-Asean drill. Three other Chinese maritime militia ships left Subi Reef and headed in the direction of the exercise area on Monday.

The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, or AIME 2023, started on Sunday.

Indias indigenous warships INS Delhi, INS Satpura and a P8I maritime patrol aircraft participated in the drill.

India is watching Chinas moves

India has been persistently keeping a close watch on Chinas moves in the South China Sea. New Delhi is also taking all the preventive measures to ensure that the Chinese navy doesnt gain stronghold on the Indian Ocean where combat-ready Indian warships have been conducting round-the-clock surveillance for any unusual activity.

India has been consistently voicing for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific and has been emphasising on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

With inputs from agencies

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The internet has become such a platform where we often come across bizarre stories from all walks of life that go viral in no time. One vivid example of this is a tweet that shows how a woman after almost 4 years of her marriage got divorced and ended up seeking a refund from her wedding photographer. Yes, youve heard it right! Taking to Twitter, the wedding photographer named Lance Romeo shared the chat that he had with the woman and we bet youll find his responses quite hilarious!

It didnt just end here. The womans ex-husband also reached out to the photographer and apologised to him for his ex-wifes embarrassing behaviour.

In a series of tweets, the man shared screenshots of his chat with the woman. The woman began by introducing herself and said, I dont know if you still remember me. You did photoshoot for me at my wedding in Durban in 2019. As soon as Romeo recognised her, she displayed her intentions and directly asked for a refund of the amount that was paid earlier for the wedding photography, claiming that she is now divorced.

Romeo who initially thought it was a prank clearly refused any sort of refund stating that photography is a more refundable service. However, the woman kept steady on her demand further threatening to sue him.

I swear my life is a movie, you cant make this stuff up, he captioned the post while sharing screenshots of the entire conversation.

In another tweet, he shared another screenshot of the response that he received from the womans ex-husband. Stating that he got to know about the incident from social media, the man apologised to Romeo and offered to talk to him over phone.

UPDATE: we got the Husband. Update tomorrow when he gets back to me pic.twitter.com/QUYVVbIwfe  LanceRomeoPhotography (@LanceRomeo) April 14, 2023

As soon as the post were viral, reactions flooded the comment section. A user wrote, Its a prank coz theres no way a sane person can ask for a refund 4yrs after the service was rendered Youre so polite in your responses, while another one said, I am afraid of divorceor maybe she is just broke from paying legal fees.

Wonder if she wants refunds for all services rendered for the weddingcatering, venue, etc, a user commented.

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Berlin: As Russia marked Victory Day with a parade, Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday said that the European Union must not be intimidated by Moscows display of military power but continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

In Moscow, 2,200 kilometres northeast from here, Putin is parading his soldiers, tanks and rockets. Let us not be intimidated by such a show of force, Scholz told the European Parliament, referring to the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

We must not be intimidated by such power plays! Lets stay steadfast in our support for Ukraine - as long as it is necessary, he said.

Scholz also called for an enlarged and reformed EU that is more geopolitical in outlook and actions.

He said the European Union needs to streamline decision-making on foreign policy and taxation and keep its promise to Western Balkan neighbours to let them join.

Meanwhile, Putin on Tuesday said at Moscows Red Square Victory Day parade that the world was at a turning point and claimed a war had been unleashed against Russia.

He vowed victory and said Russias future rests on its soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

The traditional Soviet-style event celebrating Moscows victory over the Nazis took place amid security fears, 15 months into Russias Ukraine offensive.

Today civilisation is again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the parade, which included elderly veterans and soldiers from Russias Ukraine campaign.

A war has been unleashed against our motherland, he claimed.

With inputs from agencies

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Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a likely candidate for the US Presidency signed new legislation that prohibits the use of Chinese apps, such as TikTok, on government and school servers. He also signed a law that restricts land purchases by Chinese citizens.

These measures are part of a wider effort by state authorities to combat perceived threats from China. The bills were passed with bipartisan support by the Republican-controlled legislature, and also include a provision that bans universities in the southeastern coastal state from accepting any funding from China.

Also read: With TikTok US Ban likely, ByteDance launches alternate, Insta-like app, run pricey promo campaigns

DeSantis spoke at a press briefing, stating that the new laws show the states recognition of the threat posed by China and its commitment to take action. Today, were really recognising the threat from China, and were taking action, DeSantis said.

A list of apps from a list of countries of concern

The bills also identify other countries, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria, as countries of concern.

The legislation that restricts the use of certain applications requires Governor DeSantis administration to compile a list of apps that are owned, maintained, or created by a foreign entity and engage in specific activities that pose a cybersecurity threat or present a security risk to a public employers IT systems or data in the form of unauthorized access or temporary unavailability.

Also read: TikTok US Ban: Lawmakers to move forward with bill banning TikTok, says House speaker McCarthy

The bill notes that this definition will likely include apps like TikTok and WeChat. As a result, students will not be able to access these targeted apps on their personal devices via a school or government Wi-Fi network, similar to the ban implemented by the University of Texas at Austin in January.

The new law will prohibit students from accessing the specified apps on their personal devices while using a school or government Wi-Fi network. The University of Texas at Austin has already implemented a permanent ban on TikTok, preventing the app from being used on any of the universitys wired or wireless networks.

Florida is the latest state to ban TikTok and other Chinese apps

Several other states, including Montana, have also imposed restrictions on TikTok, and President Joe Bidens administration has banned the app from government-issued devices.

Governor DeSantis bill on college and university funding in Florida prohibits these institutions and their staff from accepting gifts, grants, or agreements from colleges located in China or the other targeted countries.

Also read: Montana a step closer to becoming first US state to ban Chinese app TikTok, final nod from Governor awaited

Additionally, it prohibits faculty exchange programs and dual-degree programs. However, the Florida university system Board of Governors may waive the restrictions on educational funding and cooperation.

The Chinese Communist Party has done a really, really effective job at identifying some of the soft underbelly of American society and really focusing on academic infiltration and influence, DeSantis said in his briefing.

Florida also restricts Chinese residents and businesses from owning land

SB 26, signed by Governor DeSantis on Monday, could have the most significant impact on Florida residents. The bill limits land purchases by residents of countries considered to be of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria.

The legislation will prevent individuals and companies from these targeted countries from owning agricultural land, as well as any land within a 16km (10-mile) radius of critical infrastructure facilities such as seaports, airports, and wastewater treatment plants.

Current landowners must register their property with the state by January 1, or they will face a daily fine of $1,000 and have their property seized by the state.

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Iran is maneuvering to economically benefit from Syrias reintegration into the region, which may enable Iran to circumvent US and international sanctions, as well as support Iranian-backed militias operating in Syria.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed 15 cooperative agreements with Syria on May 3 in a push to be the primary provider of reconstruction projects in Syria.

CTP previously assessed that Iran may use the Iranian para-statal organization Khatam al Anbia or Iranian-backed proxy companies to oversee such reconstruction projects. Iranian Free Trade, Industrial, and Special Economic Zones Supreme Council Secretary Hojatollah Abdol Maleki stated on May 6 that plans to establish a free trade zone between Iran, Iraq, and Syria have entered a technical and implementation stage.

Maleki suggested the free trade zone may extend to the Latakia port and the Al Qaim Iraq-Syria border crossing.

A free trade zone through Syria, Iraq, and Iran would allow Iran to move materiel across borders without oversight that would normally enforce sanctions on trade with Syria and Iran.

Meanwhile, the Arab League voted on May 7 to readmit Syria, after which an unidentified Jordanian official claimed that the Arab League will lobby to lift Western sanctions on Syria if the Assad regime agrees to a political solution to end the crisis.

The end of sanctions on Syria with the establishment of a free trade zone and Iranian reconstruction projects would enable Iran to circumvent Western sanctions on Iran.

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With an aim to boost cooperation in critical strategic technologies, India and the UK are in talks to build a partnership focusing on semiconductors, telecommunications and critical minerals.

The move comes on the back of intensifying competition over emerging technologies as nations race to develop key capabilities.

Both countries are considering a broad partnership that mirrors the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) by building cooperation on specific capabilities in strategic technology, Mint reported.

The focus will also be on linking Indian firms with cutting-edge research facilities based in the UK focusing on 5G and other crucial technologies, Mint reported, adding that another key focus will be building pathways for greater mobility for research talent to move between the countries.

Last year, India and the US set up the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) with the objective to push the defence industrial ecosystems and universities in both countries to work with each other and to build cooperation on key technologies like semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and rare earth processing.

Semiconductors also featured in discussions between the countries during Singhs visit to the UK, Mint cited the person as saying, adding that the focus in the coming months will be to boost cooperation on strategic technologies in the hope of building a broader partnership.

Last month, India and the UK will jointly create the India-UK Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre which will provide a platform to bring stakeholders from both countries together to work in some of the focus areas including industrial decarbonisation and Green Hydrogen.

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Tehran: As executions continue in Iran, two people, who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy were hanged on Monday, according to a report.

Yusef Mehrdad and Sadrullah Fazeli Zare, the two men who were put to death, were arrested in May 2020 and given death sentences in April 2021 for operating online anti-Islam groups and channels, CNN reported citing Iranian news agency Mizan.

After their arrest, Zare and Mehrdad were prohibited from speaking to or seeing their families for eight months.

According to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, authorities determined both of them to be members of the Telegram group Critique of Superstition and Religion, which led to their convictions, CNN reported.

Mehrdad reportedly went on a hunger strike in February 2022 to protest the authorities unwillingness to let him make phone call, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said.

The executions took place a few days after that of Habib Chaab, a man with dual Swedish-Iranian national who was accused of spearheading a separatist group blamed by Tehran for a string of attacks in the country.

The judiciarys Mizan News said Habib Chaab, the leader of the Harakat al-Nidal group, was executed on Saturday, calling him the mastermind of an attack that killed 29 people in Ahvaz in 2018, reported Anadolu Agency.

Iran considers Harakat al-Nidal to be a terrorist group.

Since demonstrations against Mahsa Aminis killing in September last year, the number of executions in Iran has increased.

In September 2022, Iranians took to the streets nationwide in protest for several months against Irans mandatory hijab law, and political and social issues across the country, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.

Those arrested for participating in anti-government demonstrations have faced various forms of abuse and torture, including electric shocks, controlled drowning, rape and mock executions.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Israels Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Tuesday arrived in India on a three-day official visit and is set to meet his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later in the day.

A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted  partnership, said Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Twitter.

As part of the trip, according to a statement from CII, Cohen will attend the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and also participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute on 9 May in New Delhi.

After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum today, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on 10 May, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Following his engagements in Agra, the minister will return to Delhi on May 10 before departing for a programme in Mumbai on 11 May. Apparently, he will depart for Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory.

His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech.

During his visit, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANIs question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, Im inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people.

He further said, Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have a good history of 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future.

In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India.

Earlier this month, 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 further said that the cooperation between the two countries is built on deep trust which is evident by the cooperation in the most sensitive fields.

Ive 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year.

With inputs from agencies

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Jerusalem: Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that Israel is eager to complete an FTA with India because there is a substantial amount of trade between the two countries and expressed hope that the deal will further boost bilateral economic ties.

From a meagre start of USD 200 million in bilateral trade (mainly in diamonds) in 1992 when full diplomatic relations between the two nations were established, merchandise trade has diversified and reached USD 7.86 billion (excluding defence) over the period of 20212022.

In addition, bilateral trade in services in 2021 was USD 1.1 billion and in FY 2022-23, bilateral merchandise trade from April to December 2022 stood at USD 8.09 billion (excluding defence).

The scope for trade opportunities between our countries is huge and there is a strong desire to finalise an FTA that hopefully will further strengthen our economic tiesI believe the scope of the FTA is far larger than trade numbers. We should discuss it with the vision of bilateral relations in mind, he stressed just ahead of his visit to India on Tuesday.

However, Cohen decided to cut short the trip hours after landing in New Delhi in view of certain developments in Israel.

With air traffic between the two countries getting a boost with the Gulf countries agreeing to open their airspace to Israeli airlines, Cohen described it as a game changer which also brings out Indias importance in the region.

Although the Corona epidemic temporarily reduced the number of direct flights, now we are talking about increasing the number of flights and increasing the destinations, Cohen noted.

The launch of more direct flights will increase the connectivity between our nations to facilitate the movement of tourists, business people and students. This boost to regional connectivity has also benefited the people of India. The thriving Indian diaspora throughout the Gulf can now fly directly from the UAE to Israel or from Israel to Bahrain, the minister said.

He also highlighted the immense impact it has on boosting trade relations in the region.

The Indian student community, largely composed of researchers at PhD and post-doctoral levels, forms the single largest student community from overseas.

Cohen intends to deepen this link by bringing in more students from India to Israel as academic cooperation between the two countries has inexhaustible potential.

We need to make a greater effort to be attractive to a larger number of Indian students. Professional officials are examining the issue with the universities and the Council for Higher Education. We are very interested in a large number of foreign students coming to Israel, and certainly students from India. This will bring the scientific communities of the two countries closer together in the long term, he said.

Asked as to how Indias Presidency of the G20 and an invite for New Delhi to the G-7 summit can be helpful in strengthening Indo-Israel ties, he said, We are confident that the agenda that India promotes in these forums is for the benefit of the global economy, of which Israel is a part.

The frequent consultations between various parties in Israel and India touch on many areas, but in issues of the G20 and G7 India has a unique role also due to its size and economic strength and its international importance, he asserted.

On Indias role in the Middle East, the Israeli foreign minister said: Regarding Indias role in the MEA (Middle East Area), we see a growing involvement of India in many places in the world, including in the MEA (Middle East Area), including getting closer to the United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and more. This is definitely a positive process because, as mentioned, India has a positive influence on the atmosphere of cooperation in the region. On the question of defence ties and Israels participation in the flagship Make in India programme, Cohen said that the defence ties have been a key pillar of the growing partnership between the two nations.

Our relations are based on three basic foundations: shared values, mutual interests and common challenges. With such well-synchronised defence cooperation, Israel was among the first countries to take up the call for the Make in India initiative and start joint projects with a manufacturing base in India, the Israeli minister emphasised.

We have no doubt in Israel that R&D serves as a growth engine for the local industry. That is why we are willing to create more platforms of joint R&D to pinpoint shared challenges, discuss and find solutions together, and even manufacture them together. Both sides have a lot to gain from this collaboration, he added.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who landed in India early today on a three-day official visit, has cut short his trip and is likely to return home later in the day in view of certain security developments in Israel.

Taking to Twitter, he, however, said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before heading home later today.

I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and as soon as I landed I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short my political visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will take place today, the minister wrote on Twitter in Hebrew.

Earlier at the CII India-Israel Business Forum in Delhi, Cohen said that he will raise with PM Modi the issue of Free Trade Agreement between Israel and India.

At the meet, India and Israel signed three new MoUs in his presence and that of Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

#WATCH | Three MoUs signed between India and Israel in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Delhi pic.twitter.com/rpqWNlQyM3  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

The Israeli foreign minister arrived in New Delhi this morning on a visit to explore ways to expand bilateral ties and prepare ground for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus trip to India this year.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen landed a short while ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and as soon as he landed he received a security update, the Israeli Foreign Ministry also informed in a statement later.

In light of the events in Israel, Foreign Minister Cohen decided to cut short his diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today, it said.

According to reports from Tel Aviv, Israel has launched a major military offensive targeting some militants in Gaza Strip.

At least 12 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, have been killed in the air strikes, they said.

A short while ago I landed in India for a very important strategic and political visit. I am receiving constant update from Israel on the situation and I hope to meet today with the Indian Prime Minister, and after that will shorten my visit and go back to Israel, Cohen said.

The ties between India and Israel have been on an upswing in the last few years in a range of sectors, including defence, agriculture and water management.

In January, Prime Minister Modi had a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu during which both leaders agreed on the potential for further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation.

With inputs from agencies

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Widely known as the King of Fruits, mangoes which widely start ripening during the hot summer months are harvested across the world in different periods, especially from the middle of the summer to the winter, depending on the location and variety of mangoes. They are majorly ready for picking during the late summer and autumn. However, a farmer in Japans Hokkaido Island has gone against the odds and is presently harvesting some of the juiciest and tastiest mangoes during the cold winter months. The mangoes which the farmer claims to be naturally produced are probably also among the most expensive mangoes as they are sold for as much as $230 (roughly Rs 19,000) each.

According to a Bloomberg report, the 62-year-old Hiroyuki Nakagawa harvests his winter special mangoes at his farm in Hokkaidos Otofuke. While the temperatures outside are dropping to as far as minus -8 degrees Celsius, the temperature inside his greenhouse clocks in around 36 degrees Celsius.

Japanese farmer harvests special winter mangoes

As per the report, Nakagawa has been growing mangoes in the snowy region of Japans northernmost island for more than a decade now. Earlier he ran a petroleum company but later switched to mango cultivation.

Under the guidance of another mango farmer who was convinced about growing the fruit in winter months, Nakagawa founded his farm and established his startup named Noraworks Japan. A few years after this, he trademarked his mango brand as Hakugin no Taiyo, which roughly translates to Sun in the Snow.

Since then, he has been running his business quite efficiently and presently sells them for around $230 each. Noting that he wanted to create something natural out of nature, Nakagawa recalled that he never thought an experiment in sustainable farming would one day yield the worlds most expensive mangoes.

Speaking about how he managed to grow mangoes in the cold months, the farmer shared his secret of using the two natural resources i.e., snow and onsen hot springs. He stores snow from the winter months to cool his greenhouses during the summers in order to delay the fruits blooming, then he uses natural hot springs to warm the greenhouse and harvest around 5,000 mangoes out of season.

Apart from this, he also highlighted about a few advantages that harvesting in winter came with. From fewer insects to a low-humidity climate and better access to labor, the winter months turned out to be the best and most sustainable period for harvesting mangoes for Nakagawa.

The mangoes are also much sweeter than normal ones with higher sugar content and a buttery smooth texture, claimed Nakagawa.

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UKs former prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week to give a speech on democracy in the wake of Chinas increasingly aggressive behaviour.

During her travel to the Far East, the former premier, whose dismal 49-day Downing Street rule ended in October, is scheduled to meet with important Taiwanese government officials.

According to her spokesperson, the former prime minister will give a keynote address to a thinktank to express solidarity with Taiwan as it faces an elevated threat from China.

She has attempted to carve out a position for herself as a hawk on Beijing since being ousted from No. 10 as Britains shortest-serving PM, warning of Chinas rising military power and expanding economic dominance, according to reports.

Following the announcement of her visit, Truss said Taiwan is a shining example of freedom and democracy.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

Experts believe, Truss visit could create a diplomatic headache for the UK Government which does not recognise Taiwan, nor maintain formal diplomatic relations with the island.

When the Governments revised Integrated Review of Security, Defense, and Foreign Affairs failed to identify China as a threat to the UK, PM Rishi Sunak came under fire from several Conservatives in March.

James Cleverly, who was named foreign secretary by Truss and held the position after Sunak became prime minister, is anticipated to accept an offer to travel to Beijing in the coming weeks.

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LinkedIn would cut 716 jobs as demand wavers and also shut down its China-focused job application, the company that focuses on business professionals said on Monday

The social media network owned by Microsoft Corp with 20,000 employees, has grown revenue each quarter during the last year, but it joins other major technology companies including its parent in laying off workers amid a weakening global economic outlook.

In the past six months, more than 270,000 tech jobs globally have been cut, according to Layoffs.fyi, which has been tracking the fallout.

LinkedIn makes money through ad sales and also by charging for subscriptions to recruiting and sales professionals who use the network to find prospects.

In a letter to employees, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky said the move to cut roles in its sales, operations and support teams was aimed at streamlining the companys operations and would remove layers to help make quicker decisions.

With the market and customer demand fluctuating more, and to serve emerging and growth markets more effectively, we are expanding the use of vendors, Roslansky wrote.

Roslansky also said in the letter that the changes would result in creating 250 new jobs. A LinkedIn spokesperson said that employees affected by the cuts would be eligible to apply for those roles.

LinkedIn also said it was eliminating the slimmed-down jobs app that it offers in China after it decided in 2021 to mostly withdraw from the country, citing a challenging environment. The remaining China app, called InCareers, will be phased out by Aug. 9, LinkedIn said.

Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision of discontinuing the service, the company told users of the website.

LinkedIn will retain a presence in China to help companies operating there to hire and train employees outside the country, the company spokesperson said.

In the tech sector, large companies have accounted for the bulk of recent layoffs, including 27,000 at Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), the most in its history.

Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) shed 21,000, and Google parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) has laid off 12,000.

Before LinkedIns announcement, 5,000 technology jobs had been eliminated in May alone, according to Layoffs.fyi.

Microsoft, which bought LinkedIn for around $26 billion in 2016, has announced some 10,000 job cuts in recent months and took a $1.2 billion charge related to the layoffs.

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Imran Khan, former prime minister of Pakistan, was arrested by Rangers on Tuesday from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

According to reports, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has been taken into custody in Al-Qadir Trust case.

Imran Khan had appeared before the IHC on Tuesday afternoon for two hearings. Moments after he arrived at the court, he was taken into custody by the Rangers who were stationed in the premises.

Workers and supporters of Imran Khan's party got into a quarrel with police and many were reportedly injured.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the respect for Courts by powerful corridors. Black day! pic.twitter.com/QuLCuePy9d  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023

'Black day for Pakistan'

A post shared on PTIs official Twitter handle also showed Imrans lawyer got injured inside the premises of IHC.

Imran Khans lawyer badly injured inside the premises of IHC. Black day for our democracy and country. pic.twitter.com/iQ8xWsXln7  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023

Islamabad police have clamped Section 144 in the capital city - Islamabad. The cops also denied the allegations by PTI that people were tortured.

Islamabad High Court seeks reasons for Imran Khan's arrest



Minutes after Imran's arrest, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq directed the Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary and the additional attorney general to appear before the court in 15 minutes.

Come to court and tell us why has Imran been arrested and in which case, Justice Farooq was quoted as saying by Dawn.

                    75                    pic.twitter.com/j5ZVkfAvDq  Babar Awan (@BabarAwanPK) May 9, 2023

Imran Khans car has been surrounded, PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhary said, adding that Rangers had occupied the IHC and lawyers "are being subjected to torture".

Fawad, in another tweet, alleged that the PTI chief had been abducted from the IHC premises while score of lawyers and general people had been tortured.

Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location, the PTI vice president said.

Former PM Imran Khan has been abducted from Court premises, scores of lawyers and general people have been tortured, Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location, CJ Islamabad HIgh Court has ordered Secy interior and IG police to appear within 15 min  Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 9, 2023

'Rangers are beating Imran Khan'

In a video message, PTI leader Musarrat Jamshed Cheema claimed that law enforcement is torturing Imran Khan right now they are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib.

Imran Khan arrested in Al-Qadir Trust case

Imran has reportedly been arrested for his involvement in Al-Qadir Trust case.

The former Pakistan PM, his wife Bushra Bibi, and their close aides Zulfiqar Bukhari and Babar Awan, were allegedly involved in formation of Al-Qadir University Project Trust.

The aim of the trust was to set up Al-Qadir University for imparting quality education in Tehsil Sohawa of District Jhelum, Punjab. The official address of the trust mentioned was Bani Gala House, Islamabad.

Later, the trustees signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private company - Bahria Town - which was also involved in real estate business. The motive was to receive donations from the firm.

As per the proposal, Bahria Town allotted land measuring 458 Kanal, 4 Marla, 58 square feet to the trust. Fulfilling paper formalities, Bushra Bibi signed the MoU with Bahria Town effective from March 2019.

'Mentally prepared for arrest'

Earlier in the day, before appearing at the court, Imran had said that he is "mentally prepared for the arrest".

There is no case against me. Im mentally prepared to be arrested. If I have to go to jail, Im ready, Imran said in his video statement before leaving for IHC.

PTI released Imran Khans recorded video. pic.twitter.com/VCdkwF4fsX  Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 9, 2023

The PTI chief had said if someone has a warrant against him, they should directly bring it to him. Im ready to go to jail myself, avoid staging drama.

My reply to ISPR & attempts by PDM & their handlers to arrest me for two reasons: 1. To prevent me from campaigning bec InshaAllah when elections are announced I will be doing jalsas. 2. To prevent me from mobilising the masses for street movement in support of Constitution if pic.twitter.com/IQIQmFERah  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 9, 2023

The former Pakistan PM had also said that he would prefer to die rather than accept slavery. Cannot spend my life under dacoits, goons and duffers.

With inputs from agencies.

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The Prince of Semi-Submersibles, a Colombian drug lord known for running a fleet of narco-submarines that smuggled thousands of kilogrammes of cocaine into the United States from South America, was sentenced to more than 20 years in jail.

Oscar Adriano Quintero Rengifo, 35, commonly known as Guatala, was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months in federal prison for smuggling cocaine in narco-subs.

According to a federal plea bargain, Quintero Rengifo was a member of a global criminal organisation that transported cocaine from South America to Central America for ultimate importation into the United States.

Prosecutors claimed that the organisation mostly deployed self-propelled semi-submersible boats to Guatemala from whence cocaine was carried into Mexico and subsequently into the United States.

Quintero Rengifo was referred to as the Prince of Semi-Submersibles in a statement by federal prosecutors.

In a Colombian-Guatemalan drug cartel, Quintero Rengifo worked his way up to become a skilled international smuggler.

Court documents stated that the organisation mainly dispatched boats to Guatemala, where the cocaine was then trafficked over the Guatemala/Mexico border and into the United States.

Cocaine was smuggled to Mexican cartel members by a former mayor of Guatemala who was in charge of the countrys northern trafficking routes into Mexico.

Within the gang, Quintero Rengifo advanced from planning smuggling operations to eventually investing in cargoes and obtaining investors.

The U.S. Coast Guard seized at least four vessels, including two semi-submersibles, that were connected to the defendants organisation and contained more than 13,000 kilogrammes of cocaine from at least January 2015 through September 2019, court documents revealed.

Rengifor was arrested on January 29, 2021, in Colombia at the request of the US, and on January 26, 2022, he was returned to the US.

In a guilty plea on May 20, 2022. U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell gave him a prison term.

For years, gangs have smuggled cocaine and other drugs via narco submarines, primarily from Colombia and Ecuador to Central America, Mexico, and the United States. They enable Mexican and Colombian drug organisations to work together to move drugs quickly and increase revenues.

What is Narco-submarine?

Narco-submarines are improvised boats painted in ocean colours with one mission: to carry drugs in hermetically sealed canisters over countless ocean kilometres to unsavoury ports of call in other nations.

Narco-submarines, according to the reports, have improved in recent years with the advancement in technology. And it is widely popular in drug-trade industry.

Authorities in Colombia reported that well over 100 narco-submarines had been found since 2018. The ships typically transport 1,543 pounds of marijuana and 286,600 pounds of cocaine. The most popular routes for drug traffickers are through Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.

Because narco-submarines transport goods valued at millions of dollars, traffickers employ engineers to construct them.

To be able to make them safe initially, they need special training on construction and ship design.

Large amounts of drugs can be loaded and transported quickly, and they have two important characteristics: Their profiled displacement on the coast makes them much less detectable due to their appearance.

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The arrest of ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Tuesday outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) resulted in protests and demonstrations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters across Pakistan.

PTI workers protested in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan, reported Geo News.

In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at police vehicles and tore down street lights. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters.

Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindis Murree Road.

The PTI supporters are seen chanting Release Imran Khan, and Shut down Pakistan, in the streets of Lahore, Faizabad, Bannu, and Peshawar. People of Lahore moving from Liberty towards Lahore Cantt, tweeted PTIs handle.

Pakistan, its your time now. Its now or never an opportunity. People must come out to defend their country now, it tweeted.

Its your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now its time to stand for him. #ReleaseImranKhan, it added.

Tweeting the picture of Imran Khans arrest, it said, This picture will be historical as we will see Imran Khan winning very soon. The people of Pakistan must come out today to defend their country.

Meanwhile, PTI supporters have encircled NAB Abpara office amid reports that Imran Khan maybe there.

There are reports of people being arrested outside NAB Abpara office. People must be outside NAB office as they might have Chairman PTI there! tweeted PTI.

Following Khans arrest, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the matter, and summoned the Islamabad IGP and the interior secretary within 15 minutes.

He also directed the additional attorney general to appear before the court in 15 minutes and instructed him to immediately find out who was behind the arrest.

Subsequently, Islamabad IGP Dr Khan appeared at the IHC and submitted a copy of the NABs warrant. He said the anti-graft watchdog utilised the help of any law enforcement agency as per its requirements, reported Geo News.

Meanwhile, IHC CJ Farooq inquired from the additional attorney general whether Khans arrest was legal. Where will we stand if the [legal] system breaks down? This matter is related to the functioning of the system, the judge observed.

Subsequently, the court summoned DG NAB and the anti-graft bodys prosecutor general to appear in person in 30 minutes.

Khan was arrested by Rangers personnel from Islamabad High Court (IHC)  acting on National Accountability Bureaus (NAB) warrant.

The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NABs investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.

Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo took Imran Khan away to NAB Rawalpindi, reported Geo News.

The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

As per the charges, Khan and other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion  190 million pounds at the time  sent by Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.

They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.

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Accusing the top generals of Russia of deceiving President Vladimir Putin over the war with Ukraine, the chief of Russias private mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin alleged that a Russian military unit of fleeing positions near Bakhmut in Ukraine.

Russia was incapable of defending its country, Prigozhin in a video said. Prigozhin said soldiers were fleeing because of the stupidity of Russian army commanders, who he said were giving criminal orders.

Prigozhin launched a scathing attack on the Russian army, saying that Moscows top generals were trying to deceive President Vladimir Putin over the Kremlins Ukraine campaign.

If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will, who will be angry that the war is lost, Prigozhin said.

The Wagner chief also claimed that one of the units of the defence ministry fled from one of our flanks  exposing the front. He also threatened to pull his fighters out of Bakhmut on May 10 if he did not receive badly needed ammunition.

Prigozhin, who has spearheaded Moscows fight for the east Ukrainian city has released a series of scathing videos recently targeting Russias military leadership.

Soldiers should not die because of the absolute stupidity of their leadership, Prigozhin said. He released the video on Russias Victory Day when Moscow celebrates the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.

The war started on February 24 after the Russian President ordered tens of thousands of troops to enter Ukraine from the north, east, and south as part of what he calls a special military operation.

Russia launched its biggest swarm of drones for months against Ukraine on Monday, the eve of Russias May 9 holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, striking the capital Kyiv and the Black Sea city of Odesa and shelling other cities.

Bakhmut has been under Russian attack for more than nine months, with Russias Wagner Group mercenaries leading repeated attempts to advance on what was once a city of 70,000.

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New Delhi: A top Turkish presidential adviser on foreign policy has said that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev is effectively a conflict between Russia and the collective West and that it can be resolved only by reaching a strategic agreement.

According to a Russia Today report, Ibrahim Kalin told Turkey-based Haberturk TV on Sunday that this war will not end with positional gains, but with a new security agreement between the two global blocs.

Kalin said he discussed the issue and Moscows stance on it with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to the country.

Even as Turkey itself has been working towards reaching the perspective of such an agreement, Kalin admitted that the current international climate is in favor of war rather than peace.

The great powers want this war to continue, he added, without naming the purported pro-war actors.

Cold War 2.0

Describing the standoff as the Cold War 2.0, Kalin said that the conflict has become a hot episode of a broader conflict between Moscow and the collective West.

While Russia apparently tried to avoid hostilities when it tabled a comprehensive security agreement shortly before the conflict broke out, the West rejected it, Kalin noted.

This war is not between Russia and Ukraine, but between Russia and the Western bloc. Cold War 2.0, he was quoted as saying by Russia Today citing Haberturk TV.

Kalin echoes Russian stance

The argument put forth by Kalin seemed to echo frequent claims made by senior Russian officials that the ongoing fighting was essentially a proxy war between Russia and the West being carried out by Ukrainians.

Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reinforced the position on Friday, saying that any conversations would not be place with [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky, who is a puppet in the hands of the West, but directly with his masters.

Ankara hosted peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine early on in the ongoing conflicts, demonstrating Turkeys role as a mediator in the larger struggle between Russia and the West.

Even though the diplomatic attempt finally failed, Turkey persisted in its efforts, pleading with both parties to resume talks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that even the worst peace will be better than war.

With inputs from agencies

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Giving up smoking can be hard. Getting rid of the unhealthy habit is a long and tedious journey where one has to be patient, muster up a lot of self-control and remain mentally strong. From therapies to medication, people have various ways in which they try to quit smoking, but most take time and a lot of will power to kick the habit.

A man in Turkey has come up with an out-of-the-box idea of believe it or not locking his head in a cage to quit smoking forever. Ibrahim Yucel, who had been struggling with the addiction for years, designed and wore the peculiar device himself to keep the cigarette away from his mouth at all times, according to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

Yucel resorted to wearing the device back in 2013 and now his story is doing the rounds on the Internet again. Before the head cage idea crossed his mind, Yucel had been smoking cigarettes for 26 years. He would smoke as much as two packets daily and was unable to quit the habit, however hard he tried.

He had attempted to quit smoking several times in the past but did not succeed. However, he was determined to get over the habit as his father had died due to lung cancer a few years ago. Finally, Yucel decided to cage his own head to quit smoking, He says, the cage was inspired by motorcycle helmets.

Yucel built the head cage using 40 metres of copper wire making sure that he isnt able to smoke a single cigarette even if he tries to. The man would then lock his head every morning in the cage which had locks on either sides. He would then hand the keys to his wife and daughter before heading out, according to media reports.

Yucels wife has had several embarrassing moments when she saw her husband walking around with his head in a cage. But, gradually, Yucels family accepted that he willingly wanted to quit smoking. He used to drink water using a straw and eat crackers with his head still locked in the cage, believe it or not.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills over 8 million people every year. Of these nearly 7 million are tobacco consumers while around 1.2 million deaths are caused by non-smokers exposure to second hand smoke.

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Milk, butter, meat, fish and vegetables will start carrying a not for EU label across Britain and not just North Ireland, the government announced in its latest Brexit plan.

The new labelling rules, enacted under Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Windsor Framework agreement, have caused confusion among businessmen who have demanded more explanation from the government.

Member of Parliament Sir Iain Duncan Smith slammed the new rules, which will come into effect from October.

The former Tory leader has been demanding Sunak to ditch the ridiculous regulations. They should drop it. It will be seen as ludicrous, Smith said.

What will the not for EU label do?

Come October, nearly all British food products transported to North Ireland can pass through the green lane.

The green lane will ensure that goods sent from the UK do not have to undergo border checks for meeting the European Unions standards, provided they carry the label.

As per the official website of the European Commission, the not for EU label has been seen as an important tool to safeguard the EU Single Market.

The purpose of these labels is to keep consumers informed about the manufacturing country of such goods and let them know that they do not belong to the EU but are only for sale to consumers in North Ireland.

The European Commission and the UK government have agreed on requirements for the labelling on agri-food retail goods. The label will be placed at different levels starting from an individual, box, shelf signs and posters.

What is the Windsor Framework?

The Windsor Framework is an agreement between the EU and the UK government where both parties inked a deal to make major changes to North Irelands trade routes.

The three-month-old agreement stipulates that North Ireland will stay inside the EUs single market for goods.

The concept of green lanes and red lanes is also a part of this framework. According to BBC, goods that stay in North Ireland will pass through the green lanes.

Using the green lanes would mean no more routine physical checks and minimal paperwork.

Meanwhile, red lanes will be used by products that are meant to be transported into Ireland.

How will it affect businesses?

Some politicians and businessmen are sceptical about the new regulations.

Former Cabinet minister David Jones said, There is no good reason why food produced and sold in any part of the United Kingdom should be labelled not for EU, much less if it is sold in mainland Great Britain.

Slamming the new rules as nonsense, Nigel Dodds, a member of the House of Lords, said, This is a massive added cost and inconvenience on all British producers. These stickers have to go on every single individual prepackaged food item.

Meanwhile, retailers say that the October deadline for the no EU labels is a little tight especially when the government has not given any further details.

Andrew Opie, member of the British Retail Consortium said, If we dont see guidance soon and it is workable there will be problems in October for supply chains.

Everyone wants to make this work so its probably worth the UK having a discussion with the EU now about compliance rather than waiting until closer to October, he added.

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Criticising the Arab Leagues decision to readmit Syria, the US on Monday said that President Bashar al-Assad does not deserve normalization after his countrys brutal civil war.

We do not believe that Syria merits readmission to the Arab League at this time, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

Despite repeated US statements, the Arab League voted Sunday to welcome back Syria, effectively concluding that Assad had won the war that has killed half a million people and displaced half the pre-war population since 2011.

We continue to believe that we will not normalize our relations with the Assad regime and we dont support our allies and partners doing so either, he said.

Key members of Congress across party lines took a much harsher tone and urged the United States to use the power of sanctions to prevent normalization with Assad.

Readmitting Assad to the Arab League is a grave strategic mistake that will embolden Assad, Russia and Iran to continue butchering civilians and destabilizing the Middle East, said a joint statement by Mike McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the top Democrat on the panel, Gregory Meeks.

Assad has not changed  he will continue these atrocities while setting a global precedent that ruthless dictators can wait out accountability for their crimes.Congress has restricted the United States from any assistance for reconstruction without accountability for abuses during the war.

Patel played down the disagreements and said that the United States shared common objectives with many of its Arab partners in Syria.

We share a number of the same goals with our Arab partners with respect to Syria, including reaching a solution to the Syrian crisis that is consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, Patel said, referring to the 2015 international bid that set out a roadmap for a political transition.

He said that the United States would also work with Arab partners on expanding humanitarian access to Syrians and on supporting stability to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group.

With inputs from agencies.

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A stunning video has captured the moment when a high school student in the United States pepper-sprayed her male teacher not once but twice after he confiscated her phone in class.

She was allegedly caught texting and Googling answers for her school work when the teacher took away her phone.

The incident that has led to outrage across social media platforms, happened at Antioch High School near Nashville, Tennessee.

The video originally shared on Reddit shows the male teacher walking out of the classroom after being pepper-sprayed and being followed by the female student who is asking for her phone to be returned.

When she tries to grab her phone back, the teacher pulls his arm away. The student then pepper-sprays him again, following which he falls to the ground crying out in anguish. However, the student continues saying that she wants her phone back. Can I get my phone, I need my phone, she can be heard screaming.

Another teacher from a neighbouring classroom told the teenager she cannot have her phone back as the pepper-sprayed teacher tried to recover from the attack.

According to the person who posted the video on Reddit, the same teacher was also previously punched in the face when he confiscated another students phone when the latter was caught cheating. The user explained that incidents like these were commonplace at this Antioch High School.

Watch the video here:

Girl pepper sprays teacher because he took her phone pic.twitter.com/QPAz6c3l4G  OnlyBangers.eth (@OnlyBangersEth) May 6, 2023

Netizens were shocked at the behaviour of the US teen who they said had thrown caution to the winds with many stating that she straight up assaulted the faculty member. One user said, This. She should be expelled immediately to a third-world country. Often, I wonder why young people dont respect their teachers in America. Is kind of a cultural shock to me. Im an immigrant. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in my native country.

Another said, The sad part is all the other kids just laugh likes its a joke.

A third social media user pointed out, And they say schools dont need armed security guards. Some kids are thugs and learn from their mamas. A fourth added, The student definitely wasnt justified either legally or ethically with her actions towards the teacher. The issue with the current generation of kids is that electronics are so embedded in their social structure; some kids have an almost addictive behaviour when its taken away even if just temporarily.

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The US will provide USD 1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defences as Russia continues to pound Ukraine with drones, rockets and surface-to-air missiles, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The aid package will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Unlike US equipment, weapons and ammunition sent from Pentagon stocks that can be delivered to Ukraine quickly, this money is to be spent over the coming months or even years to ensure Ukraines future security needs.

The Pentagon said it will fund air-defence munitions and drones for air defence, and provide equipment to help modify Western air-defence launchers, missiles and radars so they can be used with Ukraines systems.

It will also buy artillery rounds, howitzer ammunition, satellite imagery assistance and funding for ongoing maintenance and spare parts for a variety of systems. US officials said the weapons include HAWK air-defence systems. They spoke on condition of anonymity because that has not yet been formally announced.

The Pentagon said the aid will build the capacity of Ukraines military to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term. Including this package, the US has provided Ukraine nearly USD 37 billion in military aid since Russia invaded in February 2022.

The latest aid comes as Ukraine prepares to launch a spring offensive against Russian forces, with air defence a persistent issue.

Ukraines air defences shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russias latest nighttime assault, officials said Monday. Wreckage from a drone struck a two-story apartment building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post.

Russian shelling of 127 targets across northern, southern and eastern parts of Ukraine killed three civilians, the Ukrainian defence ministry said.

Facing economic sanctions and limits on its supply chains due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has routinely turned to Irans Shahed drones to bolster its firepower.

And US aid packages including more immediate military weapons and support have included systems to shoot down and otherwise defeat the drones.

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Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed that the mercenary group has not received the ammunition yet that Moscow promised after he threatened to withdraw troops from Ukraines Bakhmut.

Initial data, however, showed that authorities had begun to roll out the ammunition.

But Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces have spent months trying to capture the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, added that he did not want to spoil Russias big Victory Day parade set for 0700 GMT, and would reveal more details afterward.

In a video post published on the messaging app Telegram, Prigozhin said, The people who were supposed to fulfil the (shipment) orders have so far, over the past day, not fulfilled them.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the chief said that preliminary data showed his troops were beginning to get the ammunition while cautioning they had not seen it in practice.

Russian paramilitary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday threatened to pull his frontline fighters from Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine next week because of ammunition shortages, berating army chiefs in a grisly video.

Overnight we received a combat order they promised to give us all the ammunition and armaments we need to continue the operations in Bakhmut, Prigozhin said.

His group has been assured that everything necessary will be provided, he added.

Rivalries between Prigozhin and the conventional army had boiled over during the battle for the now-devastated flashpoint, where Wagner is leading the assault.

Prigozhin had blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for tens of thousands of Russian casualties in a series of blistering, profanity-laced videos on Friday.

With inputs from agencies

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Samsung Electronics has made an announcement that the FDA has granted authorization for the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature of the Samsung Health Monitor app.

This feature, in combination with the apps Electrocardiogram (ECG) function, can keep track of heart rhythms that may indicate atrial fibrillation (AFib) and monitor it from the users wrist.

AFib and Cardiovascular Disease

Samsung has highlighted that Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death worldwide. AFib, a type of arrhythmia, is a common indication of cardiovascular issues that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other complications. Some AFib cases are asymptomatic, leaving people unaware of their risks.

Samsung BioActive Sensor

Samsungs Galaxy Watch offers tools to help users understand their heart health. The Samsung BioActive Sensor has an ECG recording feature and a HR Alert feature that can spot irregular heart rates. With the new IHRN feature, Galaxy Watch users can monitor another aspect of their health.

Monitoring Irregular Heart Rhythms

The IHRN feature scans for abnormal heart rhythms using the Galaxy Watchs BioActive Sensor when it is turned on in the Samsung Health Monitor app. The Galaxy Watch alerts the user of possible AFib activity if it detects irregular heartbeats for a while, and asks them to use their watch to take an ECG for a better measurement.

Availability

Samsung has announced that the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature will be a part of the One UI 5 Watch. This feature will first be available on upcoming Galaxy Watch devices, likely the Galaxy Watch 6 later this year and then expand to previous editions.

Speaking on the announcement, Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics, said:
Back in March, HUAWEI unveiled its flagship P60 series along with Mate X3 foldable smartphone in China. Now the brand is making global debut of the same. These were introduced at the Flagship Product Launch event in Munich, Germany. Theres no word about global availability P60 Pro Art and P60 that were introduced in China, even though those are listed on global site.

HUAWEI P60 Pro

The HUAWEI P60 Pro adopts a unique pearl texture design that makes it shine through like a timeless ornament and gives it a distinct pattern. It features a new 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED quad-curved screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and LTPO (1120 Hz) technology. It also has a 1.07 billion-color display with support for 1,440 Hz PWM dimming, Kunlun glass protection, and a punch-hole screen with a 13 MP front camera.

The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 4G version with the 7th generation Qualcomm AI Engine. The two-way Beidou satellite messaging feature on the Chinese model is missing here.

Coming to the camera part, the P60 Pro has triple rear cameras that include a 48MP super-spotting main camera with F1.4F4.0 ten-step variable physical aperture, a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP 5x optical zoom RYYB camera with a 100x zoom range.

HUAWEI has implemented a 48MP super-concentrating multi-lens group telephoto module that has a super-large aperture of F2.1 and is equipped with a three-axis sensor for stabilization. It offers a 3.5x optical zoom range and a 200x digital zoom range. Theres also an option to shoot macro through a telephoto lens.

The HUAWEI P60 Pro has a 4815 mAh with support for up to 88 W of fast charging and 50 W of wireless fast charging.

HUAWEI P60 Pro specifications

6.67-inch (2700  1220 pixels) FHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, LTPO (1-120Hz) technology, 300Hz touch sampling rate, P3 colour gamut, up to 1.07 billion colours

Up to 3.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno next-gen GPU

8GB / 12GB RAM with 256GB / 512GB

EMUI 13.1

Dual SIM

48MP super-spotting F1.4~F4.0 aperture camera, OIS, 13MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 48MP super-spotting night vision telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom, up to 100x digital zoom, OIS, f/2.1 aperture, LED flash

13MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture

In-display fingerprint sensor

Water, dust resistant (IP68)

USB Type-C Audio, Stereo Speakers

Dimensions: 161 74.5 8.3mm; Weight: 200g (P60 Pro) / 206g (P60 Art)

Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE,GPS (L1 + L5 Dual band), NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C (GEN1)

4815mAh Li-ion battery with 88W HUAWEI SuperCharge and 50W wireless charging

HUAWEI Mate X3

Alongside P60 Pro Mate X3 has also been launched globally. This has a 7.85-inch OLED screen on the inside with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and a 6.4-inch external 120Hz LTPO (1-120Hz) OLED screen with a 300Hz touch sampling rate.

The Mate X3 is said to be the worlds first folding phone with four curves. It looks smooth and elegant. This also features an anti-fingerprint feather and glass version and a plain leather version.

The company says that it has used a new generation of double-rotation water drop hinge, and the hinge supports the phone in multiple angles for those no-tripod selfies. It runs the companys own EMUI 13.1 software, which adds useful features like a split-screen mode for video calls and video watching and a new nightstand mode that shows the weather and time.

It has a 50MP main camera, 13MP ultra wide-angle, and 12MP 5X telephoto. There is an 8MP front camera on the inner and outer screen. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and packs a 4800mAh battery with 66W wired fast charging. In terms of protection, the foldable comes with IPX8 water resistance, impact resistance inner screen, and outer screen made of Kunlun glass.

HUAWEI Mate X3 specifications

6.45-inch (2504  1080 pixels) LTPO OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate external display, 7.85-inch (2496  2224 pixels) LTPS OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate when unfolded, DCI-P3 color gamut, 1440 Hz high-frequency PWM dimming

Up to 3.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno next-gen GPU (4G only)

12GB RAM, 512GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with NM card

EMUI 13.1

Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / NM card)

50MP camera with Sony IMX766 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, 13MP Ultra Wide Angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, 2.5cm macro, 12MP Telephoto lens with f/3.4 aperture, 5x optical zoom, OIS, up to 50x digital zoom, OIS

8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture (inner and outer screen)

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

Dual Speakers

Dimensions: 156x 72.4 (141.5 unfolded) x 5.3mm (unfolded) 11.08mm (folded); Weight: 241g

Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, GPS (L1 + L5 dual-band), NavIC, NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C (GEN1)

4800mAh Li-ion battery with 66W Wired and 50W Wireless SuperCharge support

Pricing and Availability

The HUAWEI P60 Pro comes in Rococo Pearl and Black colour, is priced at 1199.99 (Rs. 1,24,150 / US$ 1,510 approx.) /  1199 (Rs. 1,07,900 / US$ 1,310 approx.) for 8GB+256GB model while the 12GB+512GB model costs 1299.99 (Rs. 1,34,475 / USD 1,635 approx.) / 1399 (Rs. 1,25,865 / US$ 1,530 approx.).

The HUAWEI Mate X3 comes in Dark Green and Black colours and is priced at 1999.00 (Rs. 2,06,910 / US$ 2,520 approx.) / 2199 (Rs. 1,97,915 / US$ 2,410 approx.) for 12GB+512GB model.

Both smartphones will be available through HUAWEIs online shop and select merchants. The P60 is already available in both Europe and the UK, while the Mate X3 will be available in Europe on May 22nd and in the UK on May 26th.
Foto: G4Media.ro

EXCLUSIV Cum a reusit o retea de 1.400 de romani sa sperie America cu jafuri in magazinele de lux: au acte si adrese false, au metode sofisticate de operare si folosesc copii in timpul infractiunilor
Story Highlights Unemployment is 3.4%, the lowest in decades

Only 20% of people are thriving at work which is creating a broken workplace

The real job crisis is 3.3 billion people want a great job, 91% dont have one

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. -- Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs at the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Address

The world is facing a jobs crisis. But you would never know it by looking at the worlds official unemployment rate. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), global unemployment has remained around 5% to 6% for the past decade -- a figure that hardly indicates a crisis.

The official unemployment figure hides actual unemployment because of how it is calculated. Real global unemployment may be over 30%. Although this is very concerning, there is an even bigger problem -- the alarming scarcity of great jobs. Of the roughly 3.3 billion people who want a great job, only 300 million have one. This is the real global jobs crisis.

The global unemployment rate should be replaced with a new metric -- the great jobs rate. This metric would hold leaders accountable for what really helps improve peoples lives -- a great job.

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The Wrong Jobs Metric

Official global unemployment was 5.4% in 2019, according to the ILO. (The pandemic pushed global unemployment to only 6.6% in 2020 and 6.2% in 2021). This would be a staggering figure if it applied to the entire global population (7.7 billion people), but that is not how unemployment statistics work. Unemployment applies only to the people in the labor force.

The global labor force includes people who are working and people who are looking for work; it does not include children, retired people, students, homemakers, or people who are not looking for work. The global labor force totals 3.3 billion people. A 5.4% unemployment rate means that less than 200 million people are unemployed. A massive number, for sure. But is it a global crisis?

Compared with other global crises, maybe not. Roughly 2 billion people suffer from food insecurity, 1 billion people live in slums or informal settlements, and 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. In light of these figures, there doesnt seem to be a problem in the global jobs market. Yet there is -- you just cant see it in the official unemployment figure.

When thinking of global unemployment rates, you might assume that rich countries have low unemployment rates and poor countries have high unemployment rates. Well, not according to the official unemployment numbers. Developing countries like Niger and Laos have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the world (0.6% and 0.9%, respectively) -- and wealthier countries like France have much higher unemployment rates (8.4%). The unemployment rate for all low-income countries is 4.6%; it is 7.6% for the euro area. When we look at the statistical relationship of GDP per capita and the official unemployment rate for more than 200 countries, they do not correlate.

The countries with the lowest unemployment rates in the world (in 2019) include many developing countries that collectively lack decent work for millions of people. Yet the unemployment rate in each of those countries implies that they all have healthy job markets.

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Undercounting the Unemployed

Most countries collect labor force statistics using long surveys administered to tens of thousands of people. These surveys ask individuals how many hours they worked in the past week and whether it was for an employer or for themselves. If they are not employed, people are asked whether they are looking for work. If they did not work any hours and claim that they are looking for work, they are considered unemployed. The resulting data are the official employment statistics for the country.

Now, imagine posing these questions to a subsistence farmer in Africa or someone selling trinkets on the street in India. Did you work 30 hours or more in the previous week? Of course they did. Although their work does not meet their basic needs, they still have what global agencies define as work. They are officially self-employed, meaning they are not unemployed.

This is why unemployment rates are so low in some of the poorest countries in the world. Millions who are truly unemployed are considered self-employed, and their painful work arrangement is evident when you look at their wellbeing. In a previous Gallup analysis, my colleague Jenny Marlar and I found that the self-employed in poor countries reported the lowest wellbeing in the world, even lower than the unemployed.

Some people even believe that unemployment is a luxury in lower-income countries because the poor in those countries cannot afford to spend time looking for the right job; only the rich can do that.

Additionally, many lower-income governments do not have enough money to assist the unemployed. According to The Economist:

In many developing countries, unemployment is low simply because few people can afford it. Even when they are available, benefits may not be worth the bother. In Thailand, for example, payments last six months and range from 1,650 baht per month ($52) to 15,000. To be eligible, a Thai worker must register with the social-security office. But only one in three does so ... Many remain outside the formal economy, where they are denied benefits but also spared taxes.

If you live in a wealthy country like the U.S., the term self-employed often connotes small-business ownership or entrepreneurship. But again, this is not the reality for many of the self-employed in most countries. In fact, 30% of people who are self-employed globally live in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 per day).

Real Unemployment?

Gallup regularly tracks global employment using a survey that closely follows the standards set by the ILO. It is comparable to the official unemployment rates in many countries, and as I previously reported, it tracks closely with the U.S. BLS data. Our 2019-2021 results were:

44% employed full time for an employer

22% self-employed

13% part time, want full-time work

10% part time, do not want full-time work

11% unemployed

So, if 22% are self-employed, and 30% of the self-employed live in extreme poverty, we can estimate that at least 6% (30% of the 22%) of the total workforce is incorrectly categorized as self-employed. They arent entrepreneurs -- they are people who desperately need meaningful work and are doing anything to get by. They are truly unemployed.

If you add 6% to the traditional unemployment figure that we found (11%), real global unemployment would be 17%. But even that is probably an underestimate. Living on less than $1.90 per day is extreme poverty, meaning the number of people who are categorized as self-employed but who are truly unemployed could be far higher.

Lastly, 13% of people have part-time work but want fulltime work. Yet the headline unemployment figure ignores them precisely because they have some work. If they were also considered unemployed, then real global unemployment would be 30%.

But sorting out who has some work and who has no work is not the core of the global jobs crisis. The real problem is the absence of metrics on the quality of someones job.

The Global State of Workplace Thriving, Quiet Quitting, and Loud Quitting

The unemployment metric is widely considered the single indicator to understand the health of the jobs market. But what metric captures how workers are feeling?

One of the most significant sources of global misery comes from work. Work is so miserable that when I Googled, My job is  the top four results were: (My job is) too stressful, making me miserable, boring, killing me.

And work is literally killing people. Three million people die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases each year, according to the ILO. Even if work does not kill you, it can seriously hurt you. Nearly one in five workers -- which translates to about 600 million people -- say they have been seriously injured at some point while working.

But even if work does not injure or kill you, how much psychological damage does it cause? According to the official statistics, we dont know. Official labor statistics only tell us if people are working, not how they are doing at work.

One attempt to quantify how people are doing at work is a concept known as worker engagement. Or, as Daniel Kahneman said on Adam Grants podcast, My interpretation of (worker) engagement was fairly close to wellbeing at work. That day, Kahneman was referring to Gallups measure for employee engagement, which quantifies wellbeing at work. We find that workers generally fall into three categories -- people are either thriving at work (our technical term for it is engaged), quietly quitting (not engaged), or loudly quitting (actively disengaged).

People who are thriving at work are enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. They enjoy working with their colleagues, have development opportunities, and feel cared about as a person. People who have quietly quit are psychologically detached from their jobs -- they put in the time without energy or passion. Loud quitters are resentful that their needs are not being met and represent the nadir of worker unhappiness.

Whether someone is thriving at work, quietly quitting, or loudly quitting is subjective. And everyone knows how they feel about their job and workplace. But understanding how workers are doing across large companies or even across countries requires having these conversations at scale.

After conducting millions of interviews with workers worldwide, Gallup identified 12 items (known as the Q12) that help succinctly and scientifically measure worker wellbeing at scale. The Q12 allows workers to describe how they are doing at work from their perspective. Workers are asked how much they agree with each of the following statements on a 5-point scale. Their answers also predict future behaviors, such as turnover and productivity.

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This list represents 12 of the most important emotional needs of a worker. Those needs include having the opportunity to learn and grow, getting meaningful recognition for doing good work, and even having a best friend at work -- which is one of the single biggest predictors of whether someone will stay at a job.

Look at the first item -- I know what is expected of me at work. Half of workers do not strongly agree with that item. Imagine showing up to work every day and not knowing what you are supposed to do. It must be frustrating, confusing, or completely maddening, and that is how half of the worlds workforce feels when they go to work.

Now look at the third item -- At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day. Less than one-third of workers strongly agree with that item. They are doing a job that does not allow them to use their strengths. Again, imagine coming in to work every day and constantly being told to do things you are not very good at or that you dont like doing. This emotional detachment adds to the worlds misery, and leaders miss it because they do not focus on how people feel in the workplace.

The Worlds Broken Workplace

Despite the importance of wellbeing at work, very few leaders make it a priority. After posing the Q12 to the world, Gallup finds that only 20% of all people are thriving at work, while 62% have quietly quit and 18% have loudly quit.

And the misery that those 18% of workers feel consumes a massive part of their lives. According to one estimate, the average person spends 115,704 hours of their life at work. That is the equivalent of more than 13 years. The only thing we spend more time doing is sleeping (about 33 years).

If people truly spend that much time working, its no surprise that how a person feels at work hugely affects their overall life. If you are thriving at work, you rate your overall life significantly higher compared with someone who is miserable at work. But thriving at work not only improves how you see your life, you also live a better life.

Gallup finds that if you are thriving at work, you experience far less stress, sadness, anger, pain, and worry every day compared with someone who has loudly quit. Thriving at work even enhances how much joy, laughter, respect, and intellectual stimulation you experience.

Having your emotional needs met at work changes everything. For instance, when we surveyed German working adults, 81% of thriving workers reported having fun at work in the past week, compared with only 10% of loud quitters. The loud quitters' misery even follows them home.

Fifty-nine percent of loud quitters say that in the past month, they had three or more days when the stress of work caused them to behave poorly with their family and friends. Being miserable at work can even make your life worse than having no work at all. Loud quitters not only rate their lives worse than the unemployed, they experience worse lives. Loud quitters are more likely than the unemployed to report anger, stress, physical pain, and worry, and less likely to report positive experiences such as enjoyment, respect, intellectual stimulation, and laughing and smiling a lot.

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The Worlds Official Statistics for Great Jobs

The official unemployment rate fails workers for two reasons: It doesnt capture real global unemployment, and it doesnt capture the misery in the workplace. The solution? Change the metric used for the health of the jobs market. Instead of working to lower the 5.4% global unemployment rate, world leaders should work on increasing the global great jobs rate, which today stands at 9%.

Im going to show you how I calculated the global great jobs rate -- and you may not fully agree with how I arrived at the number. But I hope this initial thinking will inspire someone to create a more perfect great jobs indicator.

First, lets define a good job and a great job. Gallup considers a good job to be steady work of at least 30 hours per week and a paycheck. A great job is steady work, a paycheck, and a job where the worker is engaged -- they can use their strengths, their opinions count, and they have a manager who cares about their development.

Now, the math: There are about 7.7 billion people on the planet, and roughly 5.4 billion of them are adults. And 3.3 billion of those adults want a great job.

Out of the 3.3 billion who want a great job, roughly 1.5 billion have a good job (steady work and a paycheck). If 20% of those with a good job are thriving at work, that means about 300 million workers have a great job.

But that also means that out of the roughly 3.3 billion people who want a great job, 91% of them dont have one. That is the real global jobs crisis.

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The current global unemployment metric holds leaders accountable to the lowest common denominator for jobs. The message is: Lets get the number of people with no work to the lowest percentage possible. Instead, the message should be: Lets get the number of people with great jobs to the highest percentage possible.

Every week, The Economist publishes a page in the back of its magazine that is called Economic data, commodities and markets. The page lists the GDP, consumer prices, and unemployment rates from 40 of the worlds largest economies.

But what if one day they just quit reporting those unemployment rates and instead reported only the great jobs rates? If they did, it would hold leaders responsible for getting everyone great work, which is what really makes a great life.

This article was first published on LinkedIn and is adapted from Gallup's latest bestselling book Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It, now available in audiobook.

Get your copy of Blind Spot: the Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It to learn why and how leaders should measure citizen wellbeing and happiness.

The Gallup Q12 items are Gallup proprietary information and are protected by law. You may not administer a survey with the Q12 items or reproduce them without written consent from Gallup. Copyright  1993-1998 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.
Politics

AP

'Risk it all': Migration rises ahead of end to asylum rules

A recent increase of migrants in the Brownsville, Texas, area of the U.S.-Mexico border is highlighting immigration challenges as the U.S. prepares for the end of a coronavirus pandemic-era policy that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants

BROWNSVILLE

Under a set of white tents at the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, dozens of Venezuelan men waited. Some sat on curbs and others leaned on metal barricades. When the gates eventually opened, the long line of men filed slowly up the pedestrian pathway to the bridge and across the Rio Grande River to Mexico.

In the past few weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have been facilitating these expulsions three times a day as roughly 30,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have entered the United States. in this region since mid-April. Thats compared with 1,700 migrants Border Patrol agents encountered in the first two weeks of April.

In the other end of the state, in El Paso, officials are dealing with another increase of migrants and worry that thousands more are waiting to cross.

All this comes as the United States is preparing for the end of a policy linked to the coronavirus pandemic that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants, and it spotlights concerns about whether the end of the immigration limits under Title 42 of a 1944 public health law will mean even more migrants trying to cross the southern border.

Weve been preparing for quite some time and we are ready. What we are expecting is indeed a surge. And what we are doing is planning for different levels of a surge, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last week during a visit to southern Texas. But he also stressed that the situation at the border is extremely challenging.

He spoke from a location in Brownsville where U.S. officials had set up a tent and facilities like portable bathrooms for migrants. He said its difficult to identify the cause of the recent increase in Venezuelan migration, but said the United States is working with Mexico to address it and predicted change very shortly.

Many of those crossing the border are entering through Brownsville just north of the Mexican border town of Matamoros. The city was rocked by another crisis Sunday when an SUV plowed into people waiting at a bus stop across from the citys migrant shelter. Eight people, mostly men from Venezuela, died.

Ricardo Marquez, a 30-year-old Venezuelan man, arrived at a shelter in McAllen after crossing the border with his wife and 5-month-old child in Brownsville. They left Venezuela because his daughter needs surgery.

I was confronted with the decision to either stay there or risk it all for my daughter, he said. They had crossed the Rio Grande after spending a month in Matamoros trying to get an appointment through an app the United States uses to schedule appointments for people without documents to come to the border and seek entry.

Officials in President Joe Bidens administration say they have been preparing for well over a year for the end of Title 42. The strategy has hinged on providing more legal pathways for migrants to get to the United States without risking the perilous journey to the border. That includes things like setting up centers in foreign countries where migrants can apply to emigrate as well as a humanitarian parole process already in place with 30,000 slots a month for people from four countries to come to the United States.

Starting May 12 theyre expanding appointments available through the CBP One app Marquez tried to use. When it was launched many migrants and advocates criticized the app, saying it had technological problems and there simply werent enough appointments.

The strategy is also heavy on consequences. The United States is proposing a rule that would severely limit asylum to migrants who first travel through another country, quickly screening migrants seeking asylum at the border and deporting those deemed not qualified, and a five-year ban on reentry for those deported.

A lot of these consequences have been met with harsh criticism by immigrants rights groups who have gone so far as to compare the policies to then-President Donald Trumps and say the right to apply for asylum on U.S. soil is sacrosanct. Much of the Biden administration strategy is also facing legal peril in the coming weeks. The proposed rule limiting asylum is almost certain to be the subject of lawsuits. And Republican-leaning states want to stop the Democratic administrations use of humanitarian parole on such a large scale.

The administration has also been increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement flights to remove people from the country  flights like one that took off recently from an airport in Harlingen, Texas. Shortly after dawn three buses pulled up next to a plane. One by one migrants got out of the bus. They were wearing handcuffs and leg restraints and surgical masks. First they were patted down for contraband and then slowly walked up the stairs to the plane. Altogether 133 migrants were sent back to their home country of Guatemala.

But those flights only work if countries accept them. Venezuela does not. And Colombia says its suspending deportation flights because of cruel and degrading treatment of migrants.

Administration officials say theyre using technology to speed up the processing of migrants who cross the border without documentation and using mobile processing, so they can process migrants while theyre being transported by bus or van, for example. Theyve pushed to digitize documents that at one time were filled out by hand by Border Patrol. And theyve beefed up the hiring of contractors so agents can remain in the field.

But critics have slammed the administration, saying its not doing enough. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent U.S. senator from Arizona, said on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that the administration wasnt communicating with local officials about things like what type of increase to expect or whether buses would be available to transport migrants. And she said a decision to send 1,500 military troops to the border came too late.

In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday he was deploying tactical National Guard teams this week to the busiest crossing spots. Abbott, who for years has accused the Biden administration of not doing enough on the border, also said many thousands more migrants in the coming days will be bused by the state to Democratic-led cities elsewhere in the United States.

It did not have to be this way, said Abbott, speaking in Austin as Guard members boarded four C-130 cargo planes behind him.

In communities that border Mexico, officials and community groups that care for newly arrived migrants are anxious about what the end of Title 42 means. Sister Norma Pimentel runs Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center, the largest shelter in South Texas.

The shelter functions mainly as a resource center where migrants can purchase tickets, make calls, eat and rest before traveling to their next destination, where they often have family or other contacts. But, Pimentel said, many of the Venezuelans in this latest migration increase dont have connections in the United States, making it harder for them to move to the next destination. That becomes a problem for us, she said.

The federal government gives money to communities to help them deal with the increases in migrants. On Friday the administration announced that $332 million had been disbursed to 35 local governments and service organizations. Most goes to communities close to the border due to the urgencies they are confronting, but cities far from the border also get funds.

In the Texas border city of El Paso, about 2,200 migrants are currently camped or living on the streets a few blocks from major ports of entry that connect El Paso with the Mexican city of Juarez. The city is prepared to open up shelters next week if needed at two vacant school buildings and a civic center.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser estimated that roughly 10,000 to 12,000 migrants are in Juarez waiting to cross, as local officials prepare for the unknown. Leeser said migrants are flocking to the border under false assumptions that it will be easier to gain entry to the United States when Title 42 goes away, but for many there could be tougher consequences.

Its a message federal officials have been repeating. But theyre competing against a powerful human smuggling network that facilitates northern migration and the desperation of migrants who feel they have no other option.

At the Brownsville port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say theyve run drills to prepare in case theres a large increase of migrants trying to cross and they need to close the bridge. Pedestrians cross from Matamoros using a covered walkway that can only accommodate a few people across. Worried about the impact of long lines of migrants coming to the port after May 11 without an appointment and impacting port operations, theyre calling on people to schedule appointments through CBP One.
felicilin at 9-05-2023 08:34 AM (5 days ago) (f)

With Nigerias total debt stock racing to over N80 trillion, there is heightened concern in the country.

With Nigerias total debt stock racing to over N80 trillion, there is heightened concern in the country.

Stakeholders are of the view that Nigerias economy is in an emergency situation and on the verge of collapse if nothing is done.



Although the Debt Management Office has consistently dismissed fears surrounding Nigerias increasing debt profile, economic analysts have never kept mum, signalling the alarm bill.



DMO, in its Fourth Quarter report of 2022, said Nigerias total debt hovers around N46.25 trillion.



Specifically, the total domestic debt stock was N27.55 trillion, while external debt stock was N18.70 trillion (USD 41.69 billion) as of December 2022.



Meanwhile, with the recent borrowing spree by the federal government and the National Assemblys approval of the Central Bank of Nigerias Ways and Means advance to the federal government, the Nations external and internal wealth could have surpassed N80 trillion.



At the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buharis administration in 2015, the countrys debt stock had continued to soar, rising from N12.6 trillion to over N80 trillion as the government prepares for exit on May 29.



It is evident that in the eight years of Buharis administration, borrowing to fund yearly budget deficits became routine. Here, the projected budget deficits from 2015 to 2023 are estimated to be over N47.73 trillion, according to an analysis from the Debt Management Office, DMOs data.



Accordingly, Nigerias budget deficit rose by 370.54 per cent from N2.41tn in 2016 to N11.34 trillion in 2023.



At the moment, whether the country is debt trapped or hooked becomes a judgement of semantics.



Recall that the World Bank said Nigeria spent 96.3 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing in 2022.



However, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed objected to the World Bank figure. She clarified that 80.6 per cent of Nigerias revenue was spent on debt servicing in 2022. Whichever figure one would want to run with, a significant chunk of the Nations revenue is being eaten up by debt.



On Monday, the Director-General of DMO, Patience Oniha, says that the agency has yet to release the March 31, 2023, debt figures.



The March 31 figures have not been published, she disclosed.



But, speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer of SD & D Capital Management, Mr Idakolo Gbolade decried that the outgoing government had financed its budgets through loans since 2015.



He urged the incoming government to look for ways to restructure and negotiate the Nations indebtedness to avoid collapse.



Stakeholders are of the view that Nigerias economy is in an emergency situation and on the verge of collapse if nothing is done.Although the Debt Management Office has consistently dismissed fears surrounding Nigerias increasing debt profile, economic analysts have never kept mum, signalling the alarm bill.DMO, in its Fourth Quarter report of 2022, said Nigerias total debt hovers around N46.25 trillion.Specifically, the total domestic debt stock was N27.55 trillion, while external debt stock was N18.70 trillion (USD 41.69 billion) as of December 2022.Meanwhile, with the recent borrowing spree by the federal government and the National Assemblys approval of the Central Bank of Nigerias Ways and Means advance to the federal government, the Nations external and internal wealth could have surpassed N80 trillion.At the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buharis administration in 2015, the countrys debt stock had continued to soar, rising from N12.6 trillion to over N80 trillion as the government prepares for exit on May 29.It is evident that in the eight years of Buharis administration, borrowing to fund yearly budget deficits became routine. Here, the projected budget deficits from 2015 to 2023 are estimated to be over N47.73 trillion, according to an analysis from the Debt Management Office, DMOs data.Accordingly, Nigerias budget deficit rose by 370.54 per cent from N2.41tn in 2016 to N11.34 trillion in 2023.At the moment, whether the country is debt trapped or hooked becomes a judgement of semantics.Recall that the World Bank said Nigeria spent 96.3 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing in 2022.However, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed objected to the World Bank figure. She clarified that 80.6 per cent of Nigerias revenue was spent on debt servicing in 2022. Whichever figure one would want to run with, a significant chunk of the Nations revenue is being eaten up by debt.On Monday, the Director-General of DMO, Patience Oniha, says that the agency has yet to release the March 31, 2023, debt figures.she disclosed.But, speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer of SD & D Capital Management, Mr Idakolo Gbolade decried that the outgoing government had financed its budgets through loans since 2015.He urged the incoming government to look for ways to restructure and negotiate the Nations indebtedness to avoid collapse. Quote The outgoing government has been financing the budget from loans since 2015 which gave rise to the unbearable loan position the country is now shouldering.



We had continuously increased the debt stock even in the face of dwindling revenue. Major infrastructural projects executed or being executed do not have the capacity to repay the loans due to insecurity and wrong prioritisation of projects.



Projects like the rail network are facing security challenges which have made them unable to generate adequate revenue. Other projects like roads are not commercially viable because they are not tolled.



Investments in aviation have not also yielded enough revenue to service the loans used for its execution.



In the face of insufficient revenue to service existing debt, the debt stock has increased to 77 trillion due to the securitization of the ways and means of the facility to the tune of N22.7 trillion.



The debt situation in Nigeria is precarious and needs urgent intervention by the incoming government.



The present indebtedness must be negotiated and repayment restructuring should be done to give breathing space for infrastructural development.



The government should also look at Public Private sector initiatives on major projects as against financing mainly by additional loans, he said.



Also, an Accounting and Financial Development Don at Lead City University Ibadan, Prof Godwin Oyedokun lamented that the current government had mortgaged Nigeria.



According to him, the level of indebtedness by the Buhari administration is alarming and shameful.



He stated that he is uncertain if the incoming government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu could handle the rot.



The present government has mortgaged the future of our future generations.



It is alarming that we find ourselves in this situation.



The incoming government has a lot of debt to cope with. The good thing is that the incoming government is part of the outgoing government.



This high debt profile means that we will continue to repay this from future earnings.



Future earnings are surely not going to be sufficient to cope with the governments expenditure, he said.



As espoused by economic analysts, the federal government must look towards equity financing instead of asset financing to escape financial stress. he said.Also, an Accounting and Financial Development Don at Lead City University Ibadan, Prof Godwin Oyedokun lamented that the current government had mortgaged Nigeria.According to him, the level of indebtedness by the Buhari administration is alarming and shameful.He stated that he is uncertain if the incoming government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu could handle the rot.he said.As espoused by economic analysts, the federal government must look towards equity financing instead of asset financing to escape financial stress.

Post Reply Posted: at 9-05-2023 08:34 AM (5 days ago) | Addicted Hero
ChatGPT Wrote Medical, Engineering, Law, And Other Scientific Papers, Published In Journals News oi -Alap Naik Desai

ChatGPT is being increasingly used to answer complex queries and have intellectual conversations. However, a radiologist at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center extended the Generative AI platform's skillset to write several scientific articles, which were published in well-read and respected journals.

Ever since ChatGPT was released to the general public, its versatility, depth, and scope continues to increase. It appears Generative AI can be skillfully used to research, compile, and write in-depth articles on technical and complex topics within hours instead of weeks and months.

Articles Written By ChatGPT Appear In Peer-Reviewed Journals

ChatGPT is a powerful conversational chatbot that OpenAI released late last year. While ChatGPT is running on Microsoft's funds, Google started offering Bard, a generative AI platform to rival ChatGPT.

These platforms are being used to answer queries, and according to a recent report, a medical professional used ChatGPT to write complex articles, which were accepted and published in reputed peer-reviewed journals.

Som Biswas, a radiologist at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has reportedly confirmed that he used ChatGPT to quickly write a scientific article in the field of medicine.

Biswas was able to create an article by prompting ChatGPT section by section. He even submitted the paper to Radiology, a monthly peer-reviewed journal from the Radiological Society of North America.

The immediate result of his paper was an article titled, "ChatGPT and the Future of Medical Writing". Since his first article, Biswas has used ChatGPT to write at least 16 papers and published five articles in four different journals.

ChatGPT, Bard, And Other Tools Reducing Time For Research And Study?

It is astonishing to note that Biswas claims he wrote the 16 papers in just four months. Moreover, the papers he generates aren't limited to topics within his radiology expertise. He has written papers on the role of ChatGPT in the military, education, agriculture, social media, insurance, law, and microbiology.

Biswas has successfully published in journals specializing in different niche disciplines, including a paper on computer programming. Two separate letters on global warming and public health were published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

Scientific papers and scholarly articles take a lot of time to compile. In fact, these articles demand dozens if not hundreds of hours of research before the author can even begin to write them.

Researchers strive to publish a few papers per year. Needless to say, generative AI is accelerating the creation of articles and research papers on complex times, and that too in record time. Content creators just need to ask the right questions or prompts.

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MakeMyTrip partners with Microsoft for voice-based travel bookings in Indian languages with AI News oi -Kabir Jain

MakeMyTrip announced a partnership with Microsoft on Monday to bring voice-assisted booking in Indian languages using Generative AI to make travel planning easier.

Beta Version Is Available for Users in English and Hindi

The voice-assisted feature will initially be available to a select group of MakeMyTrip users in English and Hindi. However, the company intends to expand the platform to other Indian languages in the near future, including Bhojpuri and various southern dialects.

MakeMyTrip revealed that Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services will power the new in-platform technology stack. The AI service will have a conversation with the user to determine their preferences for travel, then recommend destinations, hotels, activities, and other trip components based on those preferences, as well as help with the booking of the packages.

The New Feature Aims to Make Travel Planning Easier

According to MakeMyTrip, the new feature aims to make travel planning more accessible to a wider audience by leveraging the power of AI and voice technology.

Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder & Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, expressed pride in the introduction of the new feature that overcomes language, literacy, and accessibility barriers.

Although the travel portal previously offered language support in Hindi and Tamil, it was in text format and did not gain traction due to the complexity of regional language keyboards.

According to him, the new voice-assisted booking feature addresses these issues by using simple visual cues and voice commands in native Indian languages. He went on to say that the collaboration with Microsoft using Generative AI is expected to change the landscape of travel bookings in the future.

According to Sangeeta Bavi, Executive Director of Digital Natives at Microsoft India, the collaboration between MakeMyTrip and Microsoft, which combines the former's expertise with the latter's AI capabilities, including Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, will make travel more inclusive and accessible for travelers across India, with trust and security at the core.

Furthermore, the service will provide partners with a summary of hotel reviews that extract unique traveler impressions specific to various groups, such as solo travelers, business travelers, couples, families, and others.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Has FDA-Approved Tech To Monitor Active Stroke And Other Heart Risks Features oi -Alap Naik Desai

Samsung has confirmed that its upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch6 has medical-grade monitoring technology to spot problems with the wearer's heart. The premium smartwatch from Samsung will be able to track abnormal heart rhythms and notify users if required.

Samsung has received approval from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for its Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN) feature. This is a significant milestone for the company and a great development for the smart wearable industry.

Samsung Wear OS Skin Gets IHRN Feature For ECG To Track Abnormal Heart Rhythms

Ever since the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 series, Samsung has been actively adding a lot of health-related sensors. However, the company is gradually adding or unlocking functions that use these sensors.

The latest feature to debut soon is the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification or IHRN. As the name indicates, the feature will help wearers of the Samsung smartwatch to track their heart rhythms and check for any abnormalities.

The IHRN feature will proactively monitor heart rhythms to spot suggestive signs or indicators of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). AFib is a type of arrhythmia or simply put, abnormal fluttering or beating of the heart.

Arrhythmia is usually considered an early warning sign for any impending major cardiovascular issues. If unchecked or left unaddressed, this can significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other complications.

Some AFib cases are asymptomatic. In other words, sufferers may not even feel any strong indicators such as pain or discomfort. This means that AFib could be silent. If so, patients may have it and be unaware of the risks.

How To Use The IHRN Feature To Spot Heart Risks?

The upcoming IHRN feature will be added to the Samsung Health Monitor app. The feature will need to be manually activated.

Once activated, the IHRN feature will routinely check for irregular heart rhythms in the background. It will take several measurements without user intervention.

If The IHRN feature will detect a certain number of consecutive measurements as irregular, the watch will warn the wearer of potential AFib activity. The upcoming feature will prompt the wearer to take an ECG for a more accurate measurement.

The IHRN feature will be a part of the One UI 5 Watch, which is Samsung's own wear OS skin that will be running on the Galaxy Watch6 series. One UI 5 Watch is expected to be sent over as an OTA update to the Galaxy Watch5 series and the Galaxy Watch4 series smartwatches.

Samsung announced that the IHRN feature has been cleared by the US FDA. This suggests the company may start promoting its Samsung Galaxy Watch6 series smartwatches as medical-grade health accessories.

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Canada Expels Chinese Diplomat Over Allegations of 'Foreign Interference'

Sputnik News

20230508

The Canadian Foreign Ministry earlier indicated it was considering several options as its response to reports that a member of the Chinese delegation was behind alleged intimidation tactics to silence criticism of China voiced by a Canadian lawmaker.

Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was declared persona non grata by the Canadian Foreign Ministry on Monday following allegations of "foreign interference."

The announcement was issued by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, who noted in a release that the decision had been made "after careful consideration of all factors at play."

"Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei," reads the release. "I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home."

"We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," the notice concluded.

Shortly after the move was announcement, the Chinese embassy in Canada blasted the Canadian Foreign Ministry's determination and vowed that a response would soon follow.

"This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements and sabotaged the China-Canada relations," the spokesperson said in a statement to Sputnik on Monday. "The Chinese side strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged stern protest with the Canadian side."

"The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side," the statement added, urging Ottawa against further bruising Chinese-Canadian ties.

The Monday development came days after reports detailed that Chinese ambassador Cong Peiwu had been summoned by the Canadian foreign minister over alleged attempts by Chinese officials to interfere in Canada's domestic matters.

It was reported at the time that conservative Canadian lawmaker Michael Chong - including his family in Hong Kong - had been targeted as part of a harassment effort after he'd been critical of the Chinese government.

Zhao specifically came under the spotlight last week after a report by Canadian media cited intelligence assessments from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and claimed the official had been tied to the alleged harassment campaign.

Cong previously condemned the harassment claims surrounding Chong following his then meeting with Joly, reiterating in a statement that China fully adheres to a non-interference policy regarding a country's internal affairs.

The Chinese ambassador went on to say that reports of interference were being used as part of a larger attempt to ratchet up anti-China sentiment following earlier claims China interfered in Canadian elections.

Canadian media earlier reported that Joly and her advisers initially held off on taking action over concerns that Beijing might react with retaliatory measures, similar to the events that took place after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou.

A Sputnik

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Leading consulting company probed in counter-espionage action

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 09, 2023 01:13 AM

The Suzhou state security bureau and other authorities in East China have carried out a joint enforcement action against leading consulting company Capvision's Suzhou branch, urging it to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations for counter-espionage, and to promote the sound development of the consulting industry, local media reports said on Monday.

The relevant departments made inquiries with the company personnel in accordance with the law and regulations. The law enforcement operation was jointly carried out in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou, Shenzhen and other cities, according to the reports.

The national security organs have found that many overseas institutions with complex backgrounds have disguised their overseas background by using domestic consulting companies, with the purpose of stealing state secrets and intelligence from key sectors, according to China Central Television on Monday.

Founded in 2006, Capvision is a global expert network platform headquartered in New York and Shanghai, with more than 450,000 experts and 700 employees, according to the company's website.

"The company has more than 1,000 customers at home and abroad, with its business divided into three parts. Expert interview segment accounts for 80 percent of the total business and is primarily conducted through telephone interviews," said a police officer from Shanghai state security bureau, according to a CCTV report.

The company focuses mainly on influential experts in key fields and important industries such as policy research, national defense, finance, tech, energy and resources, medicine and health.

For a long time, in order to make profits, the company not only encouraged experts in key fields to disclose information during consultation; it also never let experts know the real identity of the clients in the name of protecting the clients' privacy, said the report.

A senior researcher at a large Chinese state-owned enterprise, surnamed Han, was sentenced to six years in prison for spying and illegally providing state secrets and intelligence, China Central Television reported.

At the invitation of Capvision in 2015, Han became an expert in the company and he downloaded confidential information in order to gain more profit.

Another expert surnamed Lei who was working for a military enterprise was suspected of illegally providing state secrets abroad.

When working with foreign-related consulting projects, these consulting companies frequently contact personnel involved with confidential information from government organs and other important sectors. They acquire all kinds of sensitive data illegally in the name of hiring industry consulting experts, posing a major risk to national security, said a police officer, according to the Jiangsu local media.

The state security organ and other authorities will intensify law enforcement against activities that endanger national security, such as illegal consulting. The companies and personnel involved shall be investigated for legal liability according to the law, said the police.

Chinese lawmakers on April 26 voted to adopt a revised Counter-Espionage Law, which will take effect on July 1, 2023. The revised law refines the definition of espionage, specifying acts such as conducting cyber-attacks against state organs, confidential-related units, or critical information infrastructure as acts of espionage.

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An important U.S. promise: to do everything possible to ensure defence purchases are delivered to Lithuania on schedule

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-05-06

International cooperation

During the visit to the United States, Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas met with Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) James Hursch Friday. Minister discussed with him Lithuania's major acquisitions from the United States and received an important promise that the DSCA would work to do everything possible to ensure defence deliveries from the U.S. would reach Lithuania on time.

"We spend one fourth of our defence budget on upgrading the Armed Forces. The financial U.S. assistance provided via different funds enables us to do even more. We are grateful to the DSCA for help with the acceleration of signatures of HIMARS, Switchblade and JLTV procurement contracts. Due to the complicated security situation in the region, we request again to see to a timely delivery of acquisitions to Lithuania, or even do so ahead of schedule whenever possible. It is a matter of importance to us," said Minister A. Anusauskas.

Lithuania has signed contracts worth of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars which makes us the largest buyer of American production in the Baltic states. Lithuania invites our Baltic neighbors to follow suit for the reasons of regional situation, interoperability and integration. The HIMARS system acquired by all the Baltic states is an excellent example of such cooperation.

The United States is one of the key Allies for the security of the Baltic region and one of Lithuania's partners in defence acquisitions. Aside from the HIMARS procurement agreement signed last year, Lithuania already had contracts with the United States Government on procurement of 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, 4 Black Hawk helicopters and Switchblade drones. Lithuania has been a longstanding buyer of the Javelin anti-tank missile systems and different communications equipment from the U.S.

Part of the capabilities are purchased through the U.S. Assistance Funds which accelerates capability development, ensures that NATO requirements are fulfilled and common NATO and U.S. standards are met, as well as gaining from the expertise of our partners. Focusing acquisitions on the United States ensures quick delivery of additional equipment in the case of emergency and pre-trained personnel to use it.

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French-led NATO exercise ORION is first of its kind in over 30 years

By Pfc. Alejandro Carrasquel May 8, 2023

CAMP DE MAILLY, France -- U.S. Army and NATO allies work side by side in a French-led interoperability coalition training for the first time in over thirty years.

The French 3rd Division's exercise, Large-scale Operations for a Resilient, Integrating, high-intensity Oriented and New Army, nicknamed ORION, was a culminating national exercise that took place across several French regions, from April 17-May 4, 2023.

"It's their national exercise, so it's their ability to show that they can lead this force in a large-scale combat operation," said Maj. Robert Moore, an operations officer assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment. "It's also an opportunity to show that we can have seamless unity and be able to provide large-scale combat operations against any foe that we may encounter."

The exercise combines field tactic maneuvers, artillery maneuvers as well as air-space surveillance technology with joint air-ground integration centers composed of command teams from multiple nations.

"ORION encompasses a command post exercise," said Capt. Shawn Botin, a brigade planner assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade, 34th Infantry Division. "It builds multinational interoperability and allows us to train with our partner nations in NATO."

The exercise jointly trained over thirteen countries and foreign military forces in multiple facets.

"Our main interoperability goal is to learn the similarities between our nation and the other nations," said Botin. "This refines our processes because if the United States were to be called upon to serve with a partnering nation, we can assist with providing a seamless transition into their work processes."

ORION focused on large-scale combat operations; foreign forces have rallied together under French 3rd Division command to exhibit multinational interoperability.

"We are not just here to train our Soldiers but also to assist with the training of the French 3rd Division as they are conducting the live portion of this exercise," said Botin. "This exercise fortifies the relationships the U.S. Army has with its partners and lays the foundation to build new ones."

During the exercise, U.S. Army troops with different specializations had the opportunity to work with their immediate counterparts from countries like Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and more.

"I think the biggest take-away for the Soldiers is understanding that there are military members outside of the United States military," said Botin. "Learning how to operate with them and seeing a specialist in the U.S. Army isn't that much different from a specialist in the French or British forces."

Moore went on to express that more than just on a tactical level, this campaign has benefited Soldiers on a personal level as well.

"The Soldiers love to work with other countries and to build camaraderie, not just within their own unit but also our partners'," said Moore. "You realize that we have a lot more in common than we have different."

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis met with Bayramov: "Sustainable peace in the South Caucasus is in the interest of both Azerbaijan and Armenia"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.05.08

On 8 May, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov is paying an official visit to Lithuania and taking part in the 7th meeting of the Lithuanian-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.

The Foreign Ministers discussed bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Azerbaijan, support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, the situation in the South Caucasus, and the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict settlement.

Landsbergis noted that Lithuania was closely following the situation in the South Caucasus, hoping for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. "We are convinced that sustainable peace is in the interest of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Lithuania strongly supports the mediation efforts by the European Union and the U.S.," said the head of Lithuania's diplomacy.

Landsbergis also underlined the need to support Ukraine until its victory - complete restoration of the country's territorial integrity - and assured that the rule of law, human rights and freedoms were the basis of EU-Azerbaijan relations, a condition for further prosperity.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is accompanied by an intergovernmental delegation consisting of the Azerbaijani Deputy Ministers of Economy, Energy, Digital Development and Transport, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Science and Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Health, and heads of other institutions and state enterprises, who will attend the 7th meeting of the Lithuanian-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.

The meeting will review a broad panorama of the areas of cooperation will be reviewed and explore ways of giving new impetus to cooperation.

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Establishment of a national division marks a historic step towards a new quality of the Lithuanian Armed Forces

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-05-08

Development and Strengthening of the Armed Forces

"Establishment of a national division is one of the most substantial steps in respect of in scope and complexity taken in the history of contemporary independent Lithuania towards a new Armed Forces quality. It is a breaking point in the Armed Forces modernization brought about by the security situation in the region as a matter of necessity. Formation of division will not only enable us to ensure a more efficient control and training of our Armed Forces but also a better interoperability with NATO. Allies welcome and support this step," states Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas.

The National Defence Council agreed to the proposal to establish a Lithuanian Armed Forces Division at a meeting on Monday. Minister of National Defence, President of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Chief of Defence of Lithuania agreed that formation of a division-sized unit in the Lithuanian Land Force responds to the needs identified in NATO's regional plans and assessment of the threat posed by Russia.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces Division will be aimed to reach Full Operation Capability by 2030.

"If we take into account potential Russia's plans to restore and even multiply its military capability as quickly as possible in the mid- and long-term, we must progress to the next capability level. The division would make a national structural element in the overall NATO capability hierarchy. We need to already start investing in heavy maneuver unit weaponry by purchasing, tank, the system we have not had to date. We also need to invest in the weaponry and equipment of units that enable this "heavy transition" - air defence, indirect fire support, military engineering and logistical systems," says A. Anusauskas.

According to Minister, the national division project would not start "from scratch" - the vision would be formed by the existing Land Force and supporting units. A. Anusauskas says the Lithuanian Armed Forces has matured for such a step: a significant part of acquired weaponry and equipment is categorized as division-level means and support such means, for instance, the HIMARS, the French Caesar self-propelled wheeled howitzers, Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles, UAVs, combat drones.

"Formation of a national division would be a long-term national project. The Division would be formed by three existing units - the Iron Wolf Brigade, the Griffin Brigade and the Aukstaitija Reserve Brigade, as well as their enablers, such as the Air Force, Special Operations Forces and other services," says Minister.

A. Anusauskas underscores that division is a wartime, not peacetime structure. The national Division would comprise approx. 17.5 thousand troops, part of that number would be filled with active reserve personnel in the event of mobilization. The Division project would be implemented and funded in stages, the first stage would start in 2024 with provision of heavy weaponry and equipment for maneuver units. In the second stage, enabler equipment and weaponry would be procured after being provided by Allies until that point.

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Joint Statement of the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari ofPakistan, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang of China and the Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan held the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Islamabad, Pakistan on 6th May 2023.

Stressing that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan serves the common interest of the region, the Foreign Ministers underscored the critical importance of trilateral cooperation in promoting this objective. The three sides resolved to further deepen and expand their cooperation in the security, development and political domains based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit.

The three sides underscored the need to tackle security challenges posing a serious threat to regional and global security, and directly impacting the stability and economic prosperity of the entire region.

The three sides agreed to coordinate and cooperate on security, organized crimes, drugs smuggling etc. and called on the international community to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and provide necessary supplies, equipment and technical assistance in this regard to the relevant countries.

The three sides stressed on the need of not allowing any individual, group or party, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) etc., to use their territories to harm and threaten regional security and interests, or conduct terrorist actions and activities. All three sides underscored the need to refrain from intervening into internal affairs of Afghanistan, and to promote Afghan peace, stability and reconstruction.

Underscoring the imperative to generate economic activity within Afghanistan, the Ministers stressed the importance of exploring realistic pathways towards the revival of the Afghan economy. To this end, the Ministers agreed to consider further supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan and exploring trilateral investment possibilities aimed at industrialization and job creation.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, the three sides stressed the importance of sustained and urgent humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan including the imperative to bridge funding gaps for humanitarian operations. The Ministers underlined that humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan must remain delinked from any political considerations.

The three sides reaffirmed their resolve to fully harness Afghanistan's potential as a hub for regional connectivity. Reaffirming their commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. Stressed that the importance of existing projects including CASA-1000, TAPI, Trans-Afghan Railways etc. would enhance regional connectivity as well as ensure economic uplift and prosperity for the peoples of this region.

The three sides emphasized to push forward the "hard connectivity" in infrastructure and "soft connectivity" in norms and standards, further explore the facilitating measures for the movement of people and trade activities between the three countries. The three sides agreed to enhance transit trade through Gwadar Port.

Expressing satisfaction at the existing trilateral cooperation, the three sides agreed to carry out exchange and training programs and to strengthen people-to-people exchanges by conducting the trilateral programs in line with the List of China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Practical Cooperation Projects, adopted by Foreign Ministers in this dialogue.

The three sides reaffirmed to continue cooperation in areas of mutual interest like economic development, capacity building, and improving livelihoods. The Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields such as agriculture, trade, energy, capacity building, border management etc.

The Ministers called upon the international community to engage constructively with the Afghan side. In this regard, they acknowledged the efforts made under the aegis of various mechanisms and formats, including in particular, the Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan, to promote dialogue and constructive engagement with the Interim Afghan Government. The three sides also urged the international community to assist Afghanistan in countering narcotics effectively and develop alternative crops to enhance its capacity for independent and sustainable development.

The three sides urged the relevant countries lift their unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return the assets overseas for the benefit of the Afghan people, and create opportunities for economic development and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Taking note of the Afghan Interim Government's repeated assurances to respect and protect women's rights and interests, the three sides called on the international community to support the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, and help Afghanistan to improve governance and strengthen the capacity building, so as to effectively protect the basic rights and interests of all segments of the Afghan society, including women and children.

The Ministers expressed appreciation to the neighbouring countries, in particular, Pakistan, for the generous hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, and called on the international community to provide necessary support and assistance to these countries and Afghanistan for the dignified return and reintegration of refugees into the Afghan society.

The three sides resolved to continue with the trilateral cooperation mechanism, including the Director-General Level Practical Cooperation Dialogue, and forge closer-good neighborly relations and partnership.

China and Afghanistan thanked Pakistan for the successful organization of the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue and its warm hospitality.

Islamabad

8 May 2023

88/2023

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Afghanistan, China, Pakistan urge release of overseas Afghan frozen assets

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 6:49 PM

Afghanistan, China and Pakistan have jointly urged relevant countries to remove sanctions on Kabul and release Afghan overseas frozen assets.

On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Taliban's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang issued a joint statement after holding the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday.

"The three sides urged the relevant countries lift their unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return the assets overseas for the benefit of the Afghan people, and create opportunities for economic development and prosperity in Afghanistan," the statement said.

Muttaqi concluded his four-day trip to Pakistan on Monday, after holding bilateral and trilateral meetings with his Pakistani and Chinese counterparts in Islamabad.

"Taking note of the Afghan Interim Government's repeated assurances to respect and protect women's rights and interests, the three sides called on the international community to support the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, and help Afghanistan to improve governance and strengthen the capacity building, so as to effectively protect the basic rights and interests of all segments of the Afghan society, including women and children," the statement read.

Since the full collapse of the US-backed government in Kabul and the Taliban takeover in August 2021, vast foreign subsidies were halted and aid programs and financial assistance were dramatically cut back as many countries refused to deal with the Taliban authorities.

No country has yet recognized the Taliban government and their rule over Afghanistan. Since their takeover, the Taliban have been struggling to contain a deepening economic crisis.

Afghanistan's heavily aid-dependent economy, mostly funded by international donors, has been in chaos since the Western countries suspended humanitarian aid and froze Afghan assets.

The administration of US President Joe Biden has frozen over $7 billion in Afghan assets since NATO's withdrawal from the country. Washington has said that half of the assets would be made available to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the United States. American forces occupied the country for about two decades after removing the Taliban from power. But as the US forces left Afghanistan, the Taliban stormed into Kabul, weakened by continued foreign occupation.

Millions of Afghans are without work today, the banking system is virtually dysfunctional, medical facilities are lying in shambles and the worst humanitarian crisis in modern history is unfolding.

Top diplomats of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan on Monday also "reaffirmed to continue cooperation in areas of mutual interest like economic development, capacity building, and improving livelihoods."

They also "agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields such as agriculture, trade, energy, capacity building, border management etc."

Last month, the United Nations warned that around 34 million people in Afghanistan were mired in poverty, as sanctions by the US against the de-facto Taliban government and the freeze of the country's assets have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis there.

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As of deadline, 18 parties apply to compete in Cambodia's July election

Candlelight Party is main opponent for ruling Cambodian People's Party

By RFA Khmer 2023.05.08 -- Cambodia's National Election Committee said Monday that 18 parties have officially declared their intent to participate in the country's July 23 general elections, when more than 9.7 million voters will decide who will represent them in the national assembly.

Monday was the deadline for applications, and the committee said that 11 of the 18 applications have been approved, while some of the other applications are still under review.

Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party is expected to dominate in the election, but the upstart main opposition Candlelight Party, which, according to the Associated Press is among those awaiting approval from the committee, performed relatively well in last year's commune elections and could make some noise in July.

The ruling party, however, controls all 125 seats in the assembly because Hun Sen had the Supreme Court dissolve the previous opposition party in the runup to the 2018 election.

Deadline registration

The Grassroot Democrat Party submitted its application on the last day, nominating 166 full and reserve candidates in 12 constituencies including the capital. Of these candidates, 36 are women and 20 are relatively young, the party's president Yeng Virak told RFA's Khmer Service.

Yeng Virak, who is himself vying for a seat representing Phnom Penh, said that the reason why the party is contesting few constituencies is because the party maintains a position of not wanting to split the ballot.

The party is also among those still waiting for approval.

RFA could not reach commission spokesman Hang Puthea for comment as of May 8.

Fairness required

Sam Kuntheamy, the executive director of the Neutral & Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, an elections watchdog, told RFA that some political parties failed to list candidates for the seventh term because they face budget constraints and a restrictive political environment.

However, he believes that the exercise of civil and political rights is key to ensuring that the election process is free, fair and just, so that stakeholders must compete fairly and in accordance with the law.

"For all stakeholders, especially political parties, we want them to organize the operation of their political parties appropriately and smoothly, because it is close to the election campaign period," he said. "We in the civil society also want to observe."

The National Election Committee announced that the official number of eligible voters in the upcoming elections is 9,710,655 and there will be 23,789 polling places nationwide.

Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

UPDATE: Adds information about the Candlelight Party also awaiting approval from the National Election Committee.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Construction of largest wind power project in Southeast Asia now under way in Laos

The plant will export electricity to Vietnam and is the country's latest power venture.

By RFA Lao 2023.05.08 -- The largest wind power project in Southeast Asia is now under construction in southern Laos, the latest power generation project in the impoverished, landlocked country.

Laos' government has an ambitious goal of becoming the "battery of Southeast Asia" by generating electricity and selling it to neighboring countries. The plant in Sekong and Attapeu provinces will have a generation capacity of 600 megawatts and will export electricity to Vietnam.

Dam projects in Laos - two have already been built on the Mekong River and several more have been proposed - have engendered controversy because of their environmental impacts and effect on villagers.

But the wind project likely won't result in any relocations of villagers, an official with the Monsoon Wind Power Lao Company Ltd. told Radio Free Asia.

"It looks like there won't be too much of an impact on local people," she said. "They can still live there."

The company broke ground on the U.S.$950 million project in late April. The project covers a concession area of around 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres).

Some land affecting 340 families in 18 villages has already been taken, including land for electrical transmission lines. Sekong provincial authorities have finished the process of survey and data collection and are expected to pay out compensation to villagers soon, the official said.

Basic infrastructure for villages

The project site is located in a hilly area with limited forest and limited land use, some 1,200-1,600 meters above sea level, according to Monsoon Wind Power.

"Only some parts of agricultural land will be lost to the project," a provincial environmental official said. "No houses and buildings will be affected. There will be some trees that need to be cut down."

Villagers are still waiting for what they call "fair" compensation and also expect project owners to develop basic infrastructure for the affected villages, a villager in Sekong province's Dak Cheung district told RFA.

"The relevant authorities have to keep their eye on this matter," he said. "Once the project owners construct the fence along their project site, we will not be able to raise our livestock in that area and we will not make our living as we used to. We ask that our interests be protected."

Monsoon Wind Power is a joint venture with Impact Energy Asia Development Limited, where it is registered as a corporation in Thailand. Another investor is Power Construction Corporation of China, a Chinese state enterprise

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Asia-Pacific not ready to deal with climate-induced disasters, UN commission says

Only 6 countries have made climate-tackling laws, according to a new report.

By Subel Rai Bhandari for RFA 2023.05.08 -- Most Asia-Pacific countries are "insufficiently prepared" to face extreme weather events and natural disasters, which are growing in intensity and frequency due partly to climate change, according to a new study by a United Nations regional commission.

While the region suffers the worst consequences of climate change, it is also a key perpetrator - accounting for over half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions - said the Bangkok-based U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), releasing its "Race to Net Zero" report Monday.

Over the past 60 years, temperatures in the Asia-Pacific region have increased faster than the global mean.

"Six of the top 10 countries most affected by these disasters are in the Asia-Pacific region, where food systems are disrupted, economies damaged, and societies undermined," ESCAP said.

The average annual economic losses across the region caused by natural and biological hazards are estimated at U.S.$780 billion, which is forecast to rise to $1.1 trillion in a moderate climate-change scenario and $1.4 trillion in a worst-case scenario, according to Monday's report.

The Asia-Pacific countries lack the sizable financial means to support adaptation and mitigation efforts and the data necessary to inform climate action. At the same time, existing infrastructure and services are insufficiently climate resilient, the report said.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, executive secretary of ESCAP, said the case for regional climate action in Asia and the Pacific is clear.

"In fact, just last month, the severe heat waves we experienced here in Bangkok and throughout the country have been described as the worst April heatwaves in Asian history," Alisjahbana said at the report's launch.

"These extreme temperatures also affected other countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, and Lao PDR ... Climate change puts our region's sustainable development in jeopardy."

The report will guide and inform the 79th session of ESCAP next week, focusing on accelerating climate action for the first time.

According to a March report by the U.N.-related Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 57% of global emissions from fuel combustion in 2020, three-fifths of which was generated from coal.

The emissions have more than doubled since 1990, driven by the electricity and heating, manufacturing and construction, and transport sectors, ESCAP said.

According to the U.N. report, 85% of Asia and the Pacific's primary energy supply comes from fossil fuels, while 60% of the region's energy-related CO2 emissions come from coal and one-third from gas and oil.

The report said that to limit temperature rises to 1.5C, oil and gas must be radically phased down by 2050 and coal wholly phased out.

27% of Asia and the Pacific's CO2 emissions are from the transport sector. Overall transport emissions increased by 200% over the past 30 years, while transport demand is forecast to increase by 150% between 2015 and 2050 in the region.

Three-fourths of global emissions in manufacturing/construction are from the region, ESCAP said.

Only six countries have laws to tackle climate challenges

A large majority of 49 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have already made carbon neutrality pledges by 2022, with commitments varying from achieving carbon neutrality or net-zero carbon dioxide, to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.

ESCAP said the sum of countries' actions to cut emissions and adapt to climate change "falls short of the required ambition."

The report said a 16% increase by 2030 in greenhouse gas emissions from 2010 levels is forecast instead of the 45% reduction needed to keep warming within 1.5 degrees.

Sangmin Nam, director of the environment and development division at ESCAP, said the Asia-Pacific region lacked regional cooperation to "really speed up the action" under the Paris Agreement, unlike the European Union or the African Union.

"We don't have such [a] regional party or regional cooperation. So, with this report, we try to identify some areas where regional cooperation, especially that can be supported by ESCAP."

Nam said that while there are hundreds or thousands of climate priorities, "one of the key elements is for the countries to develop policies of their low carbon or net zero targets."

"While 40 countries have already committed to a low carbon or net zero target, only six countries so far have developed their national laws accordingly," Nam told Radio Free Asia, citing Australia, Fiji, Japan, Maldives, New Zealand, and South Korea.

China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, has committed to a 2060 target for carbon neutrality and has developed "a policy guidance document with no legal provisions."

"It means countries need to develop internal regulations and policies," he said.

Huda Ali Shareef, Maldives' deputy ambassador to Thailand, said climate change impacts on the economies of the Pacific and small island developing states, and other lesser developed countries, are expected to be very high due to their ecological fragility.

"We need to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems for everyone, and especially the focus on the communities that are most at risk," she said, adding that such a system should facilitate regional cooperation.

Maldives is one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, facing an existential threat due to climate change, even though its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is only 0.003% in the global share, she said.

"The Maldives is proud to be one of the six Asia Pacific countries, who has adopted a law on carbon neutrality," she said."On energy transition, Maldives will increase renewable energy share to 15% in the energy mix by 2030."

However, she added that Maldives' carbon neutrality pledge by 2030 depends on the level of international support received.

"Least developed countries and small island developing states in the region have received zero climate-related foreign direct investment since 2011," she said.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Bulgarian Prosecutor Rebuked For Allowing Spread Of Disinformation About Explosion

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service May 08, 2023

Bulgarian Prosecutor Ivan Geshev was rebuked by a deputy for not quickly addressing media misinformation about a roadside explosion last week involving the nation's top lawman.

Bulgarian media had been reporting that Geshev was traveling in his car with his family on May 1 when a roadside bomb went off as his vehicle passed. Geshev later admitted on May 7 that his family had not been traveling with him at the time of the explosion.

The Prosecutor General's Office has been investigating the incident -- in which no one was hurt -- as an act of terrorism.

The incident comes as Geshev faces increasing heat at home and abroad for his failure to tackle high-level corruption.

Opponents have speculated that the May 1 explosion could have been staged to create an image of Geshev as a tough lawman facing threats from entrenched mafia figures.

Borislav Sarafov, a deputy prosecutor general and head of the National Investigation Service, said Geshev had indicated to him during a phone call last week that his family was in the car.

In a May 8 statement to media, he said Geshev should have addressed the false media narrative sooner.

"Why is the chief prosecutor silent for a whole week?" Sarafov asked.

The authorities have given other misleading information about the incident, including whether there were any forensic tests and suspects.

Geshev has been prosecutor general since 2019 and has yet to convict any high-profile individuals with crimes.

His nomination to the post triggered street protests at the time.

Geshev has been criticized by members of the U.S. Congress for his failure to tackle endemic corruption. Bulgaria is ranked at or near the bottom of corruption perception in the European Union, according to Transparency International.

Bulgaria's prosecutor general has broad power with few checks and is hard to fire or investigate.

Many Bulgarians want to reduce the power of the Prosecutor General's Office and bring it in more line with European norms.

Geshev is currently in the United States, and it is unclear if he will meet with U.S. officials.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian-prosecutor-rebuked- disinformation-explosion/32402019.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Uzbekistan Announces Early Presidential Election

By RFE/RL's Uzbek Service May 08, 2023

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has announced an early presidential election will be held in a move that follows recent constitutional amendments that extended the presidential term from five to seven years.

No date has been announced for the snap election, but the vote will come within two months of Mirziyoev's May 8 announcement in accordance with Uzbek law.

In making the announcement, Mirziyoev said he was relinquishing the remaining three and a half years of his presidential term on his "own initiative."

Mirziyoev said the decision was necessary to maintain balance among "all branches of power" following the constitutional changes and because of the need to implement the constitutional changes effectively.

A three-month deadline has also been given for extraordinary parliamentary elections, although no decision has been made on the dissolution of the current bicameral body.

A referendum on the constitutional amendments held on April 30 passed by a landslide, paving the way for the extension of the presidential term. Authorities billed the changes as a way to improve governance in the tightly controlled nation, but observers have suggested the main objective of the initiative was to extend Mirziyoev's time in office.

Mirziyoev, 66, was elected to his second five-year term as president in 2021. Winning the early presidential election could give him an extra 14 years in office, meaning he would be 80 years old if he remains president through his second term ending in 2037.

Mirziyoev was first elected president in 2016, succeeding late longtime leader Islam Karimov.

A former prime minister, Mirziyoev undertook a series of reforms to modernize the country's oppressive bureaucracy, pushing Karimov loyalists out of top government posts and bringing in younger technocrats.

Karimov was elected president four times despite the constitutionally allowed two presidential terms and extended his time in office once through a referendum. During his presidency the presidential term was changed from five to seven years, and then again from seven to five years.

Karimov remained in power until his death in 2016 at the age of 78.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-announces- early-presidential-election/32401647.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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GCC Secretary General: Unified Military Command is a Source of Pride, One of Most Significant GCC Achievements

Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, May 08, 2023, SPA -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi affirmed that the GCC Unified Military Command is a source of pride, an example to follow, and one of the most significant achievements of the GCC, due to its important contribution to unifying and coordinating military efforts to ensure the security and stability of the GCC states and defend them within the framework of the joint defense agreement and through the presence of a joint and unified Gulf military command of the GCC states.

The Secretary General's statements came during his visit to the headquarters of the GCC Unified Military Command in Riyadh on Monday, where he was received by Lieutenant General Eid bin Awad Al Shalawi, the Commander of the GCC Unified Military Command.

During the visit, the GCC Secretary General stated that the establishment and activation of the GCC Unified Military Command came with the blessing of the leaders of the GCC countries, stemming from their belief in the importance of coordination and unification of efforts between the armed forces. He said the GCC Unified Military Command is considered one of the greatest joint Gulf military achievements.

Furthermore, Albudaiwi said that the presence and diligent work of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of the GCC countries in the Unified Military Command is a source of pride to the well-established and extended Gulf system. He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Lt. Gen. Al Shalawi and the members of the GCC Unified Military Command for their continuous and distinguished efforts in the march of joint Gulf military action.

During the visit, the Secretary General was briefed on the work and tasks of the Unified Military Command, as well as the duties assigned to it, and discussed several matters related to joint Gulf military action to further strengthen the blessed course of the Cooperation Council, in order to achieve the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC countries, in line with the visions and directives of the leaders of the GCC countries.

--SPA

21:21 LOCAL TIME 18:21 GMT

0035

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As Many as 31 Saudi Citizens and 1143 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Evacuated from Sudan to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, May 08, 2023, SPA -- In continuation of the evacuation efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the directives of the Kingdom's Leadership, several evacuees arrived from the Republic of Sudan to the city of Jeddah today, which including 453 Yemeni and Sudanese nationals through HMS "Abha" and HMS "Riyadh".

Moreover, three aircrafts belonging to the Royal Saudi Air Force also arrived in Jeddah, carrying 31 Saudi citizens, and 690 nationals of the following nationalities: (Sudan, Lebanon, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Russia and the United States of America).

The Kingdom worked to provide all the necessary needs of foreign nationals in preparation for facilitating their departures to their countries, bringing the total number of evacuees from Sudan since the beginning of the process to approximately 8498 persons, including 278 Saudi citizens and 8220 individuals belonging to 110 nationalities.

-- SPA

01:33 LOCAL TIME 22:33 GMT

0003

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Sudan Envoys Hold Third Day of Talks on Humanitarian Relief

By VOA News May 08, 2023

Envoys from both of Sudan's warring factions met Monday for a third day of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to arrange for the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, but there was no sign the negotiations have made progress.

The parties have insisted they are only sitting across from each other to bring some relief to the humanitarian situation in the North African country and not to negotiate a truce.

The talks, which began Saturday, are aimed at allowing aid agencies to access those who are wounded, hungry or displaced. The Saudi kingdom has already pledged that it will provide Sudan with $100 million's worth of humanitarian aid.

Fighting erupted in Sudan in mid-April. After just a few weeks of fighting between the country's military and a paramilitary force, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have been forced to flee from their homes, with many of the displaced seeking refuge in bordering countries.

The two sides  Sudan's military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo  have not met since the fighting erupted April 15.

Fragile cease-fire agreements have failed to end the conflict or even do much to reduce the violence.

Eyewitnesses in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, told VOA they heard renewed gunfire and an airstrike in the city Monday in and around the downtown area.

A Saudi official told Agence France-Presse Monday that the talks in Jeddah have yielded "no major progress" so far. The official said "a permanent cease-fire isn't on the table. Every side believes it is capable of winning the battle."

The Sudan Tribune reported Sunday that the army negotiators have made three demands, including unconditional withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from Khartoum, an extension of a humanitarian truce, and the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese army within two years.

The newspaper said, "It's not clear how the RSF negotiators will respond to these demands."

Sudanese citizens are watching the talks in Jeddah with a mix of hope and skepticism.

Sumeya Musa, who fled violence from Khartoum to Al Jazirah state, told VOA she hopes the talks produce a truce that will allow her to safely escape Sudan.

"Our hope from these talks is that the guns will be silenced, and we move out of this country. Practically, we are suffering. We just want to see airstrikes, bombing and guns to stop for a while," she said.

The United Nations migration agency said recently that at least 334,000 people have been internally displaced by the fighting, in addition to the 100,000 who have fled the country. The U.N. refugee agency has warned the fighting could cause more than 800,000 to flee Sudan.

Most aid operations have been suspended or severely scaled back due to the lack of security. Several aid workers have been killed in the fighting.

Looting also has hampered aid operations.

The World Food Program said nearly 17,000 tons of food worth between $13 million and $14 million have been stolen from its warehouses across Sudan.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said recently it has launched an emergency appeal to support the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in its effort to deliver assistance to 200,000 people.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Tension continues in Sudan despite truce efforts

People's Daily Online

By Shuai Anning (Xinhua) 08:24, May 09, 2023

CAIRO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite several ceasefires declared by Sudan's conflicting parties, tensions and some deadly fighting continue to rage in the capital Khartoum and other areas.

According to Xinhua reporter in Khartoum, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Khartoum on Monday when representatives from the two sides are in Saudi Arabia for talks which mediators hope could bring an end to the over three weeks of hostilities that have killed hundreds and displaced thousands.

Sudan's health ministry stopped updating the number of casualties on May 2, when the death toll stood at 550 with 4,926 people injured.

In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing to neighboring countries. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a total of 123,110 refugees have fled to South Sudan, Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic since the conflict erupted in mid-April.

The UN agency projected the number could rise to 860,000 in the next six months.

CEASEFIRE BREACHED

Several ceasefire agreements were reached and breached by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the past few weeks, according to recent statements or tweets by both sides.

Both sides have sent their envoys to Jeddah for peace talks brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, but both had made it clear that they would only discuss a humanitarian truce, not an end to the conflict.

Tensions had been building up between the Sudanese army and the RSF in recent months before it plunged into a conflict.

The two sides, once allies in toppling former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and ousting the transitional civilian government in 2021, disagreed on the RSF's integration into the army, a key condition of Sudan's political reconciliation process to resume civilian rule.

The two sides were at loggerheads over how the RSF would be integrated into the military and who would have ultimate control over fighters and weapons.

The simmering tension finally broke out into a conflict on April 15, when fighting erupted at a military base south of Khartoum, with each side blaming the other for having initiated the violence.

Since then, the army and the RSF have battled each other with heavy weapons in densely populated areas of the capital and the adjoining cities. The Sudanese army has pounded the RSF bases with airstrikes.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

In addition to the hundreds of thousands that have been displaced, people who had no choice but to stay in Sudan are suffering from a shortage of basic services.

Residents in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri (Khartoum North) are enduring serious hardships that feature a short supply of bread, water, and electricity.

Several hospitals are out of service due to a shortage of medicines. According to the Sudanese Doctors Union, medical staff is unable to reach hospitals and health facilities have either been destroyed or seized and turned into military barracks.

Additionally, Internet services are hardly accessible to the residents of Khartoum, who are also facing difficulties in communicating through the main telecommunications networks.

MTN Communication Sudan, a telecommunications provider, announced on Friday that it had to suspend all services provided to subscribers in Khartoum because of power outages at its facilities.

Meanwhile, the lack of a humanitarian corridor in Sudan has disrupted the assistance of international organizations. The UN World Food Programme said six of its trucks heading to Darfur had been looted on Wednesday "despite assurances of safety and security," amid the ongoing power struggle.

With no end in sight to the conflict, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned on Friday that there will be 19 million acutely food-insecure people in Sudan in three to six months if the conflict continues.

The UNHCR said the agency and its partners will need 445 million U.S. dollars to support an outflow of refugees from Sudan and asked neighboring countries to keep their borders open to those fleeing the violence. It also requested the suspension of forced returns to Sudan, including those who previously had their asylum claims rejected.

Considering the dire humanitarian situation, the international community has intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.

During a high-level global meeting on April 20, 2023, the United Nations (UN) and regional organizations including the African Union (AU), the Arab League, and Sudan's neighboring countries agreed to exert pressure on the belligerent two sides to silence the guns.

They agreed to support Sudanese stakeholders through a jointly led AU-UN mechanism aimed at coordinating international action to end the violence and the destabilization of Sudan, the region and the continent, according to a press release by the AU.

The Arab League Council issued a resolution on Sunday to form an Arab ministerial contact group to communicate with the Sudanese parties and influential countries, aiming to reach a settlement of the crisis in Sudan.

The contact group will hold communication with the Sudanese parties, influential countries regionally and internationally as well as relevant international organizations, and coordinate with international relief organizations to provide urgent humanitarian and medical support to citizens and displaced persons inside Sudan.

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Victory Day Parade - 09 May

The May 9th parade on Red Square marked the Soviet Unions victory over the forces of Hitlerite Fascism World War II in the Great Patriotic War, with such victory proving elusive in the Special Military Operation. Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin declared. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland. VIP guests were limited to the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Only 8,000 troops paraded in Red Square  the lowest number since 2008. In 2020, there were 13,000 soldiers, and 11,000 troops took part in 2022.

Rather than the impressive projection of power of prior year's, this year's military display in Red Square was distinctly anemic  a single T-34, the legendary "tank of Victory" from the Great Patriotic War, and no other heavy armor. Not a single modern tank passed through Red Square. There were no self-propelled guns and new weapons. Armored vehicles "Tiger-M", BTR-82A, BMP "Boomerang", launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems S-400 "Triumph" and mobile ground missile systems "Yars ". For the first time, the latest Spartak and 3-STS Akhmat armored vehicles took part in the parade.

In case anyone needed reminding that Russia has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, the pride of the parade was a ponderous procession of a trio of massive 16-wheel transporters for the new RS-24 Yars (SS-27 Mod 2) mobile ICBM. The four-warhead missile "has no analogs in the world". Also featured were a bevy of Iskander-M medium-range ballistic missiles that can also carrying a nuclear warhead. Russia uses the weapon in a conventional form to carry out attacks against Ukraine.

As with last year, there was no flyover of airplanes and helicopters, fine weather notwithstanding. After two drones were attacked the Kremlin a week earlier, security concerns were cited for the cancellation of some two dozen Russian regions cancelling planned parades and fireworks. The stirring Regiment of Immortals precession, in which civilians carry portraits of family members killed in wars, was cancelled country-wide. Some suggested that carrying portraits of troops killed in the Special Military Operation might have been disruptive [yet another benefit of the Kremlin drone attack].

"What if someone comes out carrying portraits of relatives who were killed in the war against Ukraine? What if hundreds of people do? That would be a shock." asked historian Maksim Kuzakhmetov. "The Kremlin is trying to foster a sense that 'we will win', with a smile and laughter, as well as a sense of 'all for the front,'" he told Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "And in this regard, the Immortal Regiment can only cause ideological harm."

"People would come out not bearing the portraits of their great-grandfathers," Moscow political activist Elvira Vikhareva wrote in a Facebook post on April 18. "People would come out with portraits of their fathers, sons, brothers. The regiment would turn out not to be immortal at all but all too mortal. The scale would be evident -- the 'special military operation' is not being conducted without cost. That is why they canceled it."

Victory Day marks the final surrender by Nazi Germany to the U.S.S.R. in WWII, often referred to as the Great Patriotic War in Russia and other states in the former Soviet Union. The first Victory Parade was held on Red Square on June 24, 1945 on the order of the then-Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Joseph Stalin. With 265 meters of paving stones; 116 steps per minute; 70 centimeters per step - the arithmetic behind the annual military parade dedicated to the Soviet and Allied victory against Nazi Germany has been consistent for decades now. Still, each year has seen the introduction of something new. It is necessary to clarify that only two decades later in 1965 did the day of May 9 become the official Victory Day.

The aggressor's unconditional surrender was assured more than once  thus the reason different countries mark the end of the war on different days. Colonel General Alfred Jodl, chief of the operations staff of the German Armed Forces High Command, signed a surrender agreement with Allied forces on the night of May 6/7, 1945, in Reims, France. The surrender went into effect at 11:01 pm, May 8, 1945. Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, seeking to cement his control on the eastern front, secured the signature of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, chief commander of the German Armed Forces High Command, on an act of surrender at Soviet headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst just after mignight. That is why Russia has traditionally commemorated the end of hostilities on May 9.

Nothing beat the original Victory Day parade, marked on June 24, 1945. The ceremony was the largest ever held, featuring some 40,000 troops and 1,850 pieces of military hardware. Marshals Georgy Zhukov and Konstantin Rokossovsky road through Red Square on white and black stallions. Soviet leader Josef Stalin, soldiers, officers and foreign dignitaries presided over the parade from atop Lenin's Mausoleum. The parade included the famous moment when Red Army troops threw Nazi banners down before the Mausoleum, including the banner of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Hitler's personal bodyguard.

On May 9, 1965, on the 20th anniversary of victory and under the personal initiative of Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, himself a war veteran, Moscow saw its first Victory Day parade in 20 years. The 1965 parade was the first to see the carrying of the Banner of Victory hoisted above the Reichstag on May 1, 1945. The same day, Moscow, Leningrad, Odessa, Sevastopol, Volgograd (Stalingrad), and Kiev all officially received the title of Hero City.

Victory Parades in honor of the feat of Russian people in the Great Patriotic War began only on the anniversary dates, they were held in 1985 and 1990. On May 9, 1985, newly chosen Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev presided over the grandest Victory Day parade since 1945. The celebration had it all: veterans of the 1945 parade marching along Red Square's paving stones, partisans, workers of labor fronts, Polish and Czechoslovakian veterans, modern troops, some in historical costumes, historical and modern weapons systems.

On May 19, 1995, the State Duma passed a law authorizing the use during the parades of the symbols of the Soviet Union and the Great Patriotic War. From this moment, the parades timed to the celebration of the Victory Day were held annually. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory, the tradition of holding celebrations and parades in hero cities revived.

But at the same time participation of military equipment that inflicted great damage on their infrastructure was ruled out. In the same year, Poklonnaya Gora hosted demonstration performances, where new models of military vehicles and equipment were demonstrated. A few columns of war veterans passed through the main square of the country.

In 1995, the fiftieth anniversary of victory was marked in an unconventional way. Roughly 5,000 veterans from all across the former Soviet Union from marched through Red Square, where, for the first time, they were greeted by multiple foreign guests  US President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister John Major, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and others. Due to the construction of the Okhotny Ryad shopping center on Manezh Square, the heavy equipment and airborne component of the parade was moved to Poklonnaya Hill, where the Great Patriotic War museum whose construction began in 1987 was finally opened. The parade took place at a very difficult time in Russia's history, following the catastrophic collapse of its economy, defeat in the war in Chechnya, and the disintegration of Soviet-era alliances across the globe. On a positive note, it was this year that the Victory Day parade became an annual tradition.

A military parade involving almost 8,000 personnel, 111 tracked and wheeled military vehicles, as well as 32 aircraft and helicopters was launched on Moscow's Red Square at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (06:00 GMT) on Friday 09 May 2008, when Russia celebrated Victory Day.

The parade accompanied by a large military orchestra of 550 musicians is divided into two parts, a historical and a modern. Personnel dressed in WWII uniform, carrying historical military banners, are to be followed by the passing of sophisticated military hardware, including BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, T-90 tanks, Topol-M mobile missile launchers and Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

A rehearsal for the May 9, 2008 parade was held in Red Square the night of April 29, and a dress rehearsal will be held on May 5. More than 100 military vehicles took part in the rehearsal. During the rehearsal for the parade, a crowd of spectators cheered the appearance of formidable T-90 main battle tanks, Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems, S-300 air defense systems, Iskander-M tactical missile systems and Topol-M ballistic missile systems. Several Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers, a Tu-22M Backfire long-range bomber and Russia's aerobatic teams, Strizhi and Russkiye Vityazi flew over Red Square at an altitude of about 1,000 feet.

Military hardware was last involved in a parade on Red Square on November 7, 1990. No military parades were held on the square from 1991 to 1994, and the May 9 parade in 1995 saw WWII veterans marching in central Moscow. Troops resumed their participation in military parades on Red Square in 1996. Outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin said that an upcoming display of the country's military hardware in a Victory Day parade in Red Square on May 9 did not mean Moscow is threatening anyone.

The first major public event under Russia's newly inaugurated President Dmitry Medvedev was a military parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2008. For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union,the parade included military hardware,from the SS-25 Topol intercontinental ballistic missiles to the Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers.The message to the outside world was clear: Russia is back, also as a military power, with a global nuclear reach.

The May 9, 2010 parade, marking the 65th anniversary of victory, was the first time that servicemen from the countries of the Western anti-Hitler coalition took part in a Russian Victory Day parade. Troops from the US, the UK, and France, as well as Poland (whose troops took part in the 1985 parade), participated in the memorable ceremony, with battalions from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine also taking part. President Dmitry Medvedev said the inclusion of the foreign troops was a recognition of the shared Allied victory in WWII. The celebration was not without controversy, however, with protests led by the Communist Party complaining about the decision to allow NATO troops to march across Red Square.

The 2015 Victory Day parade is remembered as one of the grandest in scope (seeing the participation of over 16,000 servicemen and women), and perhaps the most high-tech, showing off for the first time a new generation of Russian military equipment, including the T-14 main battle tank, the T-15 and Kurganetz-25 infantry fighting vehicles, the Bumerang armored personnel carrier, the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer, the Ural Typhoon MRAP, the BTR-82AM naval infantry APC, the Kornet-D/EM mobile antitank missile system carried by GAZ Tigr light APCs, and the RS-24 Yars mobile ICBM launcher. Under President Vladimir Putin's initiative, the 2015 celebration was the first to be marked by a moment of silence for the fallen. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also famously made the sign of the cross before the start of the parade, prompting commotion in Russian and foreign media.

Increasingly, President Vladimir Putin has used the day to serve his own domestic purposes. In 2020, a study by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) found that under Putin, Soviet history has increasingly been told from a one-sided perspective in order to make the current regime appear stronger as well as casting it as a natural continuation of the former Soviet superpower.

Under Putin, Russia has once again begun staging pompous military parades on May 9. In Moscow's Patriot Park, there is the military cathedral complete with mosaics depicting the Red Army as well as newer wars in Georgia and Syria. At the 2021 parade, Putin said: "Russia tirelessly defends international law. At the same time, we will valiantly defend our own national interests in order to guarantee the security of our people. Russia's brave armed forces, descendants of the victorious, are the faithful guarantor for the country's development and the wellbeing of Russian families."

The Soviet victory over Nazi Germany is being instrumentalized as a way to justify the war of aggression launched against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. With that, May 9 has lost its function as a historical reminder of the suffering of millions of people and has become an aggressive instrument of propaganda for Putin's Russia.





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Russo-Ukraine War - 08 May 2023 - Day 439

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 Russian military recruiters have been targeting central Asian migrant workers in Russia to serve in Ukraine. Recruiters have visited mosques and immigration offices to recruit. At immigration offices, staff who speak Tajik and Uzbek routinely attempt to recruit migrants.

Radio Free Europe reported recruiters offering sign-up bonuses of USD $2,390 and salaries of up to USD $4,160 a month. Migrants have also been offered a fast-track Russian citizenship path of six months to one year, instead of the usual five years.

The high monthly salary and sign-up bonuses will entice some migrant workers to sign up. These recruits are likely sent to the Ukrainian frontlines where the casualty rate is extremely high.

Recruiting migrants is part of the Russian Ministry of Defence's attempts to fulfil its target of 400,000 volunteers to fight in Ukraine. The authorities are almost certainly seeking to delay any new overt mandatory mobilisation for as long as possible to minimise domestic dissent.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces carried out 11x missile strikes, 59x air strikes and carried out 76x rounds from MLRS. Civilians suffered, private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. The threat of launching missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes - Russian forces carried out about 30x attacks. Heavy battles are being fought for the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'yinka.

Volyn' and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of strike groups were found.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces maintain a military presence in the border areas with Ukraine. During the day, they carried out mortar and artillery shelling of the settlements of Berylivka, Moschenka, Galaganivka, Leonivka, Oleksandrivka, Buda-Vorobyivska, Gremyach of the Chernihiv Oblast; Znob-Novgorodske, Stara Huta of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Hoptivka, Krasne, Zelene, Staritsa, Ohirtseve, Vovchanski Khutory, Karaichne, Mala Vovcha, Mykolaivka and Nesterne in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Kupyansk axis: Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out airstrikes in the areas of Zapadne and Masyutivka settlements. The settlements of Kam'ianka, Topoli, Petro-Ivanivka, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Lyman Pershiy, Vilshana, Bugaivka in the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivske and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk Oblast were hit by Russian artillery and mortar attacks.

Lyman axis: Russia is trying to find weak points in Ukraine's defense. It led offensive actions in the area of Bilogorivka, but were unsuccessful. Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Nevske and Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Verkhnokamianske and Spirne in the Donetsk Oblast. Makiivka, Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Yampolivka and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.

Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive actions.

Fighting continues in the city of Bakhmut. During the day, Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the vicinities of Ivanivskyi and Chasovoy Yar. Airstrikes in Bohdanivka, Bakhmut and Predtechyny districts. Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Predtechine, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Diliivka, Druzhba, Zalizne and New York of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by Russian shelling.

Avdiivka axis: Russian forces carried out offensive actions in the Avdiivka and Pervomaisky districts, without success. Shelled Novokalynov, Berdychi, Lastochkina, Avdiyivka, Severna, Vodiane, Pervomaiske and Netaylov in the Donetsk Oblast.

Mar'yinka axis: Russian forces continues to attack the positions of the defense forces. Battles continue for Mar'yinka. At the same time, Georgiyivka and Pobeda in the Donetsk Oblast also got under Russian shelling.

Shakhtars'ke axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of Velika Novosilka. They shelled Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, and Vugledar.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to conduct defensive operations. At the same time, during the day, they shelled more than 20x settlements which are close to the frontline. Among them are Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil' of the Donetsk Oblast; Olhivske, Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Gulyaipilske, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka and Kam'ianske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Kachkarivka, Zmiivka, Tyaginka, Antonivka, Dniprovske, Kizomys, Stanislav of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

In the city of Skadovsk, the activity of the local and city administrations has been suspended. Therefore, during the night of May 6-7th the occupiers loaded documents, office equipment and other property of state institutions into vehicles, and on the morning of May 7, a large part of the Russian occupation administration left the city together with their families. Currently, a similar situation is observed in some settlements of the Oblast such as Mykhailivka, Petrivka, Shevchenko, Shiroke, Ul'yanivka and Krasne.

Taking into account the multi-kilometer traffic jams that have recently formed at the entrance to Crimea and in the area of the Kerch bridge, the Russian invaders plan to take the documents and looted property from the state institutions of the temporarily captured Kherson Oblast by sea, with the help of a dry cargo ship, through the port of the city of Berdyansk.

During the day, the Air Force of the Defense Forces carried out 11x strikes on concentration areas of Russian personnel and military equipment. In addition during this day, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a reconnaissance UAV of the "Zala" type. Missile and artillery units hit 3x manpower concentration areas, 2x ammunition depots and 3x other important Russian targets.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that, in Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novoselovskoye, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Sinkova (Kharkov region).

In addition, Russian troops disrupted actions of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups near Sinkovka and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, five armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been destroyed during the day in this direction.

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces have hit units of the enemy close to Chervonaya Dibrova, (Lugansk People's Republic), Terny, Torskoye, and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has suffered losses of over 70 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and two D-20 howitzers in this direction in the past 24 hours.

In Donetsk direction, assault detachments continued their offensive in the west part of the city of Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic). The Airborne Troops supported them and paralysed AFU units on the flanks.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Krasnoye, Bogdanovka, Stupochki, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic). ?? Aircraft made 5 sorties in the area, and Missile Troops and Artillery completed 69 firing missions in support of the troops.

The enemy has suffered losses of over 380 Ukrainian troops and mercenaries, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and two D-20 and D-30 howitzers in the past 24 hours.

Moreover, two ammunition depots of the 54th Mechanised Brigade and 80th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Verkhekamenskoye and Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, air strikes and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have engaged the AFU units in the areas of Ugeldar, Shevchenko, Vremevka (Donetsk People's Republic), Malinovka, Marfopol, Belogorye, and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and one D-20 howitzer has been neutralised in these directions during the day.

Moreover, two ammunition depots of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Vodyanoye and Kirovo (Zaporozhye region).

In Kherson direction, Russian troops have neutralised over 50 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer during the day.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 96 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

A depot with weapons and military hardware of an AFU group has been hit near Balakleya (Kharkov region).

Moreover, 15 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Novovodyanoye, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Kirillovka, Petrovskoye, Egorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Vasiliyevka (Zaporozhye region), and Peschanovka (Kherson region).

In total, 418 airplanes and 230 helicopters, 4,042 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,033 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,096 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,764 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,059 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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World War III.2

The US hegemon is Ukraines biggest weapons supplier by far, although the White House has at times underlined there is no blank cheque for Kyiv, as it does not want Ukraine to escalate the conflict to the point of risking World War III. World War III was the biggest war that never happened. World War III was a global conflict that began with the Soviet invasion of the Western Europe. World War III.2 began in 2022, and was fought between Russia and the Collective West, using many of the weapaons that were accumulated during the Cold War.

In the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine  although no country had declared war on Russia  many were asking: Is this the start of World War III? This act of war was intended to rewrite history, and upend the world balance of power. Brett Bruen, a former White House global engagement director who runs the Global Situation Room consultancy, stated  there clearly is a worldwide war being waged on a range of fronts between democracies and authoritarian regimes. While they may not be fighting on the battlefield, they certainly are squaring off online and through regional conflicts in places like Ukraine and Afghanistan.

Bryan Clark, a Hudson Institute senior fellow and a former director at the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, suggested, This isnt the start of World War III, at least in terms of how previous world wars played out. Russia can manage its operations in Ukraine to keep the conflict from escalating out of control, and the U.S., NATO and EU have reconciled themselves to not intervening militarily. This could be, however, the start of a long-term, slow-motion global confrontation between Russia and its Western neighbors, which could be complemented by conflict between China and its eastern neighbors, Clark says.

World Wars I and II spanned multiple continents, while Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine was at first a war between two countries. Autocratic leaders  notably Russia and China  are united by a belief that it's time to re-shape the current world order, which emerged in the aftermath of World War II. They share a determination to reduce US and Western influence.

In a survey of more than 17,000 people across the world, three-quarters of respondents agreed with the statement, I fear we are moving closer to World War III. The findings are culled from the U.S. News & World Report Best Countries survey, which was fielded this year from April 30 to July 13 and is used for an annual, perception-based rankings of countries. The share of respondents who agreed that were heading toward global war rose above 80% in five countries: Indonesia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and the United States.

US President hosted Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on 21 December 2022. Biden did not name any individual countries, but claimed some European nations are hesitant about further escalating the conflict. He said: "They understand it fully, but they're not looking to go to war with Russia. They're not looking for a Third World War. There's more to say, but I probably already said too much."

World War 3 is the name given to a hypothetical third worldwide large-scale military conflict subsequent to World War 1 and World War 2. Urging Germany to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said 17 January 2023 : "The defeat of Ukraine may become a prelude to World War III." Cold War II could become World War III in 2023 " with China as the arsenal of autocracy, according to Niall Ferguson.

The year 2022 was the year war made a comeback, world war could make a comeback, and Cold War II could become World War III. World War III, also written WW3 and WWIII, refers to a series of memes referencing the possibility of a third world war. The third world war is a hypothetical third armed conflict on a planetary scale after the First and Second World Wars. First mentioned since 1941, some people use the term to designate limited or smaller conflicts, such as the Cold War and the War on Terrorism, while others believe that such a conflict will surpass previous world wars both in scale and in its destructive impact.

The naming of wars, a and the delimitation of their timing, is an art not a science. There was no World War I until there was a World War II. At the time, what eventually became known as World War I was generally known as the Great War, and contemporaries had no idea they were living during World War I. While the beginning of the Great War is conventionally dated to 29 July 1914, the Balkan Wars which precipitated this cataclysm began some two years previously. And the beginning of the Second World War is dated as 01 September 1939, various regional wars of the preceeding four years set the stage for this conflagration.

As the Russo-Ukraine War reached its one-year anniversary, much of the world remained in a state of denial, refusing to call this World War III, which it gave every indication of being. It was not just a Russia-Ukraine war but a proxy Russia-NATO war. The conventional definition of a World War is that it involves the participation of multiple major powers in a global conflict. Nearly 50 countries had sent military or humanitarian aid to Ukraine, from every continent except Antarctica, which sounds like a world war. While NATO allies seem solidly behind the United States, the developing world is not. Their response is much more ambiguous. Taking developing countries into account, roughly 70% of the world population is not on the American side.

Russians have every incentive to speak of WWIII, as this highlights the magnitude of the struggle which Vladimir Putin unleashed. Just so do Westerners have incentive to avoid this term, and thus avoid accepting their status as co-belligerents in the war. The usage of the term "World War III" amplifies the credibility of Russian nuclear threats in an existential conflict, which the West is loath to do.

While it is easy to bandy about phrases such as World War III, it is naive not to consider that the West is engaged in a global war. WWIII does not have to look or feel like it was made in Hollywood. Russia and China share an interest in diminishing U.S. hegemony. Russian success in Ukraine may embolden China to attempt to take Taiwan and encourage other potential aggressors in the world. India continued to purchase large amounts of Russian oil despite the American-imposed embargo. A Russian victory keeping one or more of the four oblasts it occupied in Ukraine, may serve to highlight the limits of American power.

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End of COVID-19 global health emergency doesn't mean leaving epidemic unattended: Chinese health authority

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2023 11:28 PM

The end of the COVID-19 global health emergency does not mean leaving the epidemic unattended but shows that hazards caused by the epidemic can be effectively controlled with current capabilities, and relevant prevention and control work should be continued, officials from China's National Health Commission (NHC) said during a press conference on Monday, where they emphasized prevention and control work in the post-COVID era.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19, marking a symbolic end to the pandemic, which has taken 6.9 million lives and caused 765 million infections around the world since the agency first declared the coronavirus to be an international crisis on January 30, 2020.

The WHO's decision was made based on four factors - the downward epidemic situation, the stable characteristics of the virus' pathogenicity and mutation, the population's immune barrier established by natural infection and active vaccination, and systematic response capacities with strengthened medical treatment capacities and vaccines and medicines, Liang Wannian, head of China's COVID-19 response experts' team, said during the Monday press briefing.

A PHEIC creates an agreement among countries to abide by the WHO's recommendations for managing the emergency and each country uses its own public health emergency to gather resources and waive rules in order to ease a crisis. The end of the PHEIC means global emergency response measures including policies that hinder international travel can be lifted.

China optimized its management of COVID-19 at the end of 2022. The latest decision by the WHO will further reduce or eliminate restrictions on cross-border transportation and further benefit China's exchanges with the world in term of trade, tourism and academic exchanges, and reduce the inconvenience caused by some epidemic prevention and control measures, Liang said.

It is also beneficial for social and economic development, which will leave China with more energy and time to develop its economy and improve Chinese people's livelihoods, Liang said.



Liang noted that the latest move does not mean that China will leave the COVID-19 epidemic alone but will work closely with other countries around the world to take more targeted, effective and cost-effective measures to control the epidemic and protect the public's health.

Discussions of COVID-19 re-infections were popular online recently as some netizens suffered from COVID-like symptoms after the May Day holidays, during which large gatherings and mass movements increased the risks of getting the coronavirus. Officials said that the virus has kept mutating, and sporadic cases have been reported across the country with the harm of the disease still existing.

However, influenced by exchanges between China and the world, the current major prevalent strain in China has become the XBB variants, which have stronger transmissibility and immune escape ability than the earlier prevalent Omicron variants, but with no significant change in their pathogenicity, Chen Cao, researcher from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese CDC) said during the Monday briefing.

According to Chen, the monitoring data show that the XBB variants accounted for 97.5 percent of the imported cases in late April this year, which is basically consistent with the global proportion of XBB variants. In local cases, the proportion of XBB variants has increased significantly from 0.2 percent in mid-February to 74.4 percent in late April this year, becoming the major prevalent strain of COVID-19 in China.

Experts said that China will keep monitoring COVID-19 infections and the mutation of the coronavirus, with the multi-channel monitoring and early warning system that has already been established in the country.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said during a regular press conference on Monday that COVID-19 is a common enemy of human society and the WHO's declaration signifies an important victory in the global fight against the virus.



The Chinese government has always put people's lives and health first, adhered to the principle of science-based and precise measures, and optimized and adjusted epidemic prevention and control measures according to the situation in the process of fighting COVID-19, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during the press briefing.

It has not only maximally protected the lives and health of Chinese people but also become a major source of anti-epidemic supplies and key player in international cooperation against the pandemic by taking the initiative in making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good, supporting the exemption of intellectual property rights for vaccine research and development, initiating cooperation in vaccine production with developing countries, dispatching medical expert teams to other countries, and initiating joint global origins-tracing of the virus with the WHO, Wang said.

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U.S. Coast Guard Seizes $30 Million in Drugs with International Task Force

US Navy

08 May 2023

From U.S. Naval Central Forces Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain -- A U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter seized more than $30 million of heroin and methamphetamine from a fishing vessel transiting the Gulf of Oman, May 8.

Operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, USCGC Glen Harris (WPC 1144) seized 580 kilograms of methamphetamine and 35 kilograms of heroin from a vessel transiting international waters. CTF 150 is one of four task forces that form the world's largest multinational naval partnership, Combined Maritime Forces.

Naval forces supporting CTF 150 have seized illegal drugs worth a combined estimated U.S. street value of nearly $200 million in 2023.

Glen Harris arrived in the Middle East last year and operates from the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain where CMF is headquartered with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.

The fast response cutter is part of a contingent of U.S. Coast Guard ships forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships alongside U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East.

"The dedication and expertise of Glen Harris's leadership and crew embody our commitment to interdict and remove illicit narcotics from the sea, denying malign actors the ability to destabilize the region," said Capt. Eric A. Helgen, PATFORSWA's commander. "I could not be more proud of our fast response cutter crews."

Currently led by the United Kingdom, CTF 150 conducts maritime security and counter-terrorism operations in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean to disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations and their related illicit activities, including the movement of personnel, weapons, narcotics and charcoal. These efforts help ensure legitimate commercial shipping transits the region free from non-state threats.

U.S. and international naval units in the Middle East seized illegal drugs totaling $1 billion in value from 2021 to 2022.

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Belarus: Statement by the Spokesperson on the death of political prisoner Mikalai Klimovich

European External Action Service (EEAS)

08.05.2023

The European Union learnt with dismay and sadness that political prisoner of the Lukashenko regime in Belarus Mikalai Klimovich has died in the Vitebsk prison colony no. 3 last week. He was sentenced to a year in prison for posting a caricature depicting Alexander Lukashenko on a social network. He had a serious heart condition which was known to the judge and the prosecutor before the sentencing. He is unfortunately just one of many Belarusians who are in prison despite serious health conditions, suffering from lack of access to medication and medical assistance.

The death of Mikalai Klimovich is yet another proof of the regime's complete disregard for peoples' lives and rights. It also demonstrates a plain disregard of Belarus' obligations under international law and of the calls by the international community to stop the senseless repression. In its last resolution on Belarus adopted in March, the Human Rights Council highlighted concerns regarding the situation of detained persons in need of medical attention and called for their immediate release for humanitarian reasons.

The EU reiterates its demand for immediate access to former presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, who was reportedly hospitalised following mistreatment in prison. The EU also reiterates its call for an inquiry into the cause and circumstances of the death of political prisoner Vitold Ashurak on 21 May 2021. The EU reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. The EU will continue its efforts to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.



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Minister Anand and Deputy Prime Minister BAaszczak Reaffirm Strength of Canada-Poland Defence Relationship

National Defence

Readout

May 8, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand welcomed her Polish counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz BAaszczak, to Ottawa for a bilateral meeting.

Minister Anand and Deputy Prime Minister BAaszczak reaffirmed that both countries will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Both Canada and Poland have been leaders in providing assistance to Ukraine, with Canada having committed over $1 billion in military aid and over $8 billion in combined military, economic, humanitarian, and other aid. Minister Anand commended Poland's outstanding support to Ukraine, and both Ministers agreed on the importance of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group as a forum for coordinating donations of military aid to Ukraine.

Minister Anand thanked Deputy Prime Minister BAaszczak for Poland's collaboration with Canada to provide military assistance to Ukraine. Under Operation UNIFIER, Canada currently has approximately 80 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel deployed to Poland, where they are:

training Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) sappers on a range of basic and advanced engineering skills, engineering reconnaissance, the use of explosives for demolition work, and demining;

training AFU tank crews on the use of Leopard 2 main battle tanks; and

training members of the AFU with the skills needed to save lives in combat situations.

These ongoing training efforts build on the CAF's previous deployment to Poland from April to July 2022, when up to 150 CAF members deployed to Poland and worked in reception centres that coordinated the onward movement of Ukrainian refugees in Poland and across Europe. Minister Anand also noted that the Royal Canadian Air Force has transported over 8 million pounds of Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada and its Allies, and commended Poland for its collaboration.

Minister Anand lauded Deputy Prime Minister BAaszczak for Poland's leadership in hosting a Maintenance and Service Centre in partnership with Germany and Ukraine to sustain the Leopard 2 main battle tanks donated to Ukraine.

The two leaders also highlighted the Canada-Poland Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which they signed on October 11, 2022 during Minister Anand's visit to Poland. The MOU creates new opportunities for Canadian and Polish military and civilian personnel to learn from one another, train together, and enable cross-industry defence collaboration to modernize military technology.

Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's ironclad commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance, and highlighted Canada's continued efforts to strengthen NATO's eastern flank - notably by leading the multinational enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia. Minister Anand welcomed the significant defence capabilities that Poland contributes to eFP Battle Group Latvia and NATO's deterrence and defence posture.

Finally, Minister Anand noted her discussions over the past few months with Polish-Canadian community leaders who have shown remarkable dedication and compassion by contributing their time and resources to support Ukrainian arrivals in Canada. Minister Anand commended the leadership shown by the Polish-Canadian community and by the Polish government to support Ukrainians.

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Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 23: Canadians and allies build military readiness during challenging field training exercise

National Defence

News release

May 8, 2023 - Wainwright, Alberta - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

From May 8 until May 22, 2023, approximately 2,500 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and partner military personnel will take part in Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 23 in Wainwright, Alberta.

Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE is the Canadian Army's largest and most complex training exercise of 2023. This event ensures our soldiers are prepared to deploy in support of Canadians in any capacity, including combat operations.

Quotes

"In an increasingly unstable global security situation, the Canadian Army must continue to prepare soldiers and teams with relevant, tangible, and meaningful capabilities that are ready to support of NATO and like-minded Allies. Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE brings together soldiers, equipment, and training to ensure we are ready to confront and defeat a near peer enemy on the modern battlefield." - Lieutenant-General Jocelyn (Joe) Paul, Commander Canadian Army

Quick facts

Most soldiers participating in Ex MAPLE RESOLVE 23 are from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG), based in Valcartier, Quebec.

This year, Ex MAPLE RESOLVE 23 is a key portion of a wider 'spring training' regimen for 5 CMBG in Wainwright. Exercise REFLEXE RAPIDE was a live fire exercise that served as the lead-up training for Ex MAPLE RESOLVE.

Training is conducted in an immersive environment known as the Decisive Action Training Environment. Training activities are nested within a complex scenario in which the Canadian Armed Forces are called upon to fight alongside NATO allies against a peer enemy.

The training on Ex MAPLE RESOLVE 23 is not mission or operation specific, but rather ensures CAF personnel are ready to respond to any operation or deployment in defence of Canada or Canadian interests.

This comprehensive and complex Canadian Army training event, designed and developed by the Wainwright-based Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, validates personnel from 5 CMBG as ready to deliver on the Canadian Army's operational commitments.

This comprehensive and complex Canadian Army training event, designed and developed by the Wainwright-based Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, validates personnel from 5 CMBG as ready to deliver on the Canadian Army's operational commitments.

This exercise is a key event to practice interoperability with international partners. This year approximately 200 soldiers from the United States and 100 from the United Kingdom are participating.

Ex MAPLE RESOLVE ensures Canadian Army soldiers are ready to be mobilized as a brigade to respond to crises throughout the full spectrum of operations alongside Canada's close allies and partners.

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Chinese FM Qin Gang meets with US envoy to China

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2023 12:20 PM

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on Monday in Beijing, stating that the top priority is to stabilize China-US relations, to avoid a downward spiral, and to prevent accidents between the two major countries.

Preventing accidents between China and the US is the fundamental consensus and bottom line. China will adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. It is hoped that the US side will reflect deeply, meet China halfway, and push China-US relations out of the predicament and back on track, Qin told Burns.

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US a benchmark in disregarding and violating human rights: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2023 07:01 PM

The US is by no means a model of respecting and protecting human rights, but a typical example of disregarding and violating human rights, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday when commenting on United Nations (UN) experts' calling on the US to boost efforts to promote accountability for its past and future violations.

The UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice in the Context of Law Enforcement paid a visit to the US from April 24 to May 5. Slavery has left "a deep and long-lasting entrenched legacy" on the US, which can be "perceived through generational trauma," according to a press release by UN after wrapping up the 12-day visit.



"Racial discrimination permeates all contacts with law enforcement, from the first contact - at times already in school - by means of racial profiling, arrest, detention, sentencing and disenfranchisement in some States. In each of those aspects, available data points to a clear disproportional impact upon people of African descent," said the UN.

The UN experts urged the US government to take actions to establish strong accountability for human rights violations, strengthen supervision of law enforcement, and provide full compensation and assistance to victims of racial discrimination, said Wang.

In 2020, the UN Human Rights Council has held an emergency debate to raise concerns about racial discrimination in US law enforcement following the death of African American man George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer, Wang said. The Human Rights Council also established the above-mentioned Expert Mechanism in 2021 to promote racial justice and equality and to hold perpetrators accountable, said Wang.

However, unfortunately, incidents of police-related racial violence still occur frequently in the US, and discrimination against ethnic minorities such as people of African descent continues to increase, according to Wang.

Police violence and racial discrimination in the US fully expose the country's disregard for the right of life and deep-rooted racism, Wang said.

China urged the US to respond seriously to the concerns of the international community, examine through its own serious problems in racism, racial discrimination and police violence, and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries under the excuses of human rights. The US should take concrete measures to give the truth and justice of the victims and do not let the tragedy of Floyd and the thousands of victims of racism repeat again, Wang noted.

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China firmly opposes illegal sanctions, long-arm jurisdiction over China on grounds of China-Russia cooperation: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 08, 2023 09:40 PM

China is firmly opposed to illegal sanctions or long-arm jurisdiction over the country on the grounds of China-Russia cooperation, and the economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia is open and frank, not directed at third parties, and free from any third-party interference and coercion, said Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, on Monday.

Wang made the remarks in response to some foreign media outlets, including the Financial Times, which reported that the EU has proposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of selling equipment that could be used in weapons to support Russia.

According to the Financial Times, the sanctions list has two Chinese mainland companies, 3HC Semiconductors and King-Pai Technology, along with five others from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Sinno Electronics, Sigma Technology, Asia Pacific Links, Tordan Industry and Alpha Trading Investments.

If the relevant reports are true, the EU's actions will seriously undermine mutual trust and cooperation between China and Europe, and it is very dangerous to intensify the division and confrontation in the world, the spokesperson said.

"We urge the EU not to take the wrong path, otherwise China will firmly defend its reasonable and legitimate rights and interests," Wang added.

On the Ukrainian issue, China has always maintained an objective and impartial position, and actively promoted peace talks, playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, Wang said.

On April 26, top leaders from China and Ukraine held a phone call, during which China said as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and responsible major country, it will not choose to be a bystander to the Ukraine crisis, or "add fuel to the fire," or use the crisis as an opportunity to make profits.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that some US and European officials said they believe that Ukraine's planned spring offensive could pave the way for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow by the end of the year, and that China could help bring Russia to the negotiating table.

The willingness to encourage negotiations and seek a role for China in talks represents a shift in Western thinking, particularly in the US.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly expressed cautious optimism recently that Beijing could help defuse the conflict, the media outlet said.





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China, EU ramp up high-level exchanges, 'close interactions help guide objective perception of China amid noise from US'

Global Times

By Liu Xin and Chen Qingqing Published: May 08, 2023 10:31 PM Updated: May 08, 2023 11:21 PM

While Chinese Vice President Han Zheng is visiting Portugal and the Netherlands from Sunday to May 12, China on Monday announced the visit of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang to Germany, France and Norway from Monday to May 12. The ongoing visits showed China and the EU are embracing a full resumption of exchanges with frequent high-level interactions and people-to-people exchanges, analysts said.

With active interactions between China and the EU taking place since the end of last year, observers hope that the EU will have a more objective perception of China, especially amid the debate on China policy, in order to filter out the noise from the US and untangle the knot of the Ukraine crisis.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Qin's visit and said that during his visit to France, he will exchange views with the French side on implementing the consensus reached by their heads of state, improving cooperation in all fields and promoting the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

While visiting Germany, Qin will strengthen communication with the German side to promote the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations, Wang said, explaining that as China and Norway prepare to welcome the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, via Qin's visit, China is expected to further consolidate mutual trust and promote bilateral relations to a new level in the new era.

China's Vice President Han Zheng is also visiting Portugal and the Netherlands from May 7 to May 12 after attending the coronation ceremony of King Charles III of the United Kingdom on May 6.

While the US clamors about decoupling with China, it is of great significance and value for China and Europe to further promote bilateral relations through friendly interactions, which will also inject stability and positive impetus into the world, Gao Jian, a scholar at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times.

The recent close interactions between China and Europe reflect the resumption of exchanges between China and the world after three years of the pandemic. They also highlight the great importance China and the EU have attached to each other, as both sides have been active in maintaining high-level and high-frequency exchanges and dialogues in stabilizing the global situation and promoting economic recovery, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

One of Qin's focuses during the visit will be to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders during their meetings, analysts said. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his official visit to China in November 2022 and received French President Emmanuel Macron in April in China's Beijing and Guangzhou.

From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, China and the EU relations are experiencing "a comprehensive restart", with dialogues and exchanges in various fields being promoted. Qin's visit will smooth communication in the fields of diplomacy, security strategy and so on, said Cui.

The expert noted that the current close China-EU interactions also offer an opportunity to help Europe gain a more objective and clear perception on China, at a time when the EU is in the midst of a heated discussion on policies toward China, while misinformation and biased views are mounting. "A comprehensive and objective view on China is the basis for making policy that is beneficial to both China and the EU," said Cui.

Europe has been in a debate over its relations with China. While some European officials criticized Macron's remarks during his visit to the country in April and urged the EU to adopt much tougher rhetoric toward China-related topics, some EU politicians, including Macron himself, called for strategic autonomy of the bloc and not to become a "vassal" of the US on the Taiwan question, which China considers its core interest.

Observers said that various views on China within the EU are set to complicate factors. Aside from the US influence, some countries in the EU call for dialogue with China in some fields while in other fields, they stressed competition with the country. To the EU, it wants to maintain balance in economic and political relations with China.

Not an obstacle

The Ukraine crisis will also be an important topic during the visits of senior Chinese officials to Europe, as it is a geopolitical event that has affected global security governance and the global situation, analysts said. However, some EU and American politicians and media are attempting to make the Ukraine crisis one of the prerequisites for the development of China-EU relations and to make it a knot in China-EU ties.

On Monday, the Financial Times reported that the EU has proposed sanctions on Chinese companies for "supporting" Russia for the first time since the conflict in Ukraine began. The report said that the move is likely to increase tensions with Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that China firmly opposes long-arm jurisdiction or illegal sanctions on Chinese companies over China-Russia cooperation. China upholds an objective and fair stance, actively promotes peace talks, and has played a constructive role in facilitating a political settlement of the crisis.

If the relevant reports are true, the EU's actions will seriously damage the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the EU, and aggravate division and confrontation in the world, which is extremely dangerous, said Wang, urging the European side not to take the wrong path.

Gao from the Shanghai International Studies University, said that China's willingness to promote peace talks should not be viewed fairly, as it is neither the creator nor a party to the Ukraine crisis. The US is the creator of the crisis, and is having a negative influence on the EU.

The Ukraine issue should not be an obstacle to China-EU communication, but an opportunity for both sides to strengthen coordination, observers said.

China has taken steps in working with the European side to promote peace and dialogue and during the top leaders' meetings, the two sides have reached consensus on opposing nuclear war, jointly preventing humanitarian crisis and preventing any spillover effect, said Cui, noting that Qin's visit may promote pragmatic cooperation in these fields.

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Role of overseas Chinese stressed in promoting global peace, development

Global Times

Xi meets representatives, extends sincere greetings in Beijing

By GT staff reporters Published: May 08, 2023 03:31 PM Updated: May 08, 2023 11:22 PM

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, on Monday met with representatives to the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi expressed a warm welcome to the representatives and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese around the world, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, were present at the meeting, according to Xinhua.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday, Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, expressed the hope that overseas Chinese will work together to act on the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, actively promote world peace, global development and win-win cooperation, and advance friendship and exchanges between China and other countries, Xinhua reported.

Dedicated to the integration of China and the rest of the world to build a global community of shared future, the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations was attended by nearly 500 leading members of overseas Chinese associations from more than 130 countries and regions, according to Xinhua.

Overseas Chinese include Chinese nationals living overseas and Chinese people who have acquired foreign nationalities, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

Due to their allegiance to dual cultures and politics, they are natural bond between China and the world and can play a vital role in helping the country promote the construction of a global community of shared future amid a turbulent world, as they are one of the groups who desire friendship between China and the rest of the world the most, Wang explained.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government has attached great importance to giving full play to the role of overseas Chinese, developing friendly relations between China and the countries and regions where overseas Chinese live, and promoting world peace, expert noted.

Xi has repeatedly referred to overseas Chinese as the witnesses and promoters of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the rest of the world. He hoped that overseas Chinese would become enthusiastic disseminators of Chinese culture, active promoters of exchanges and mutual learning between the culture of the Chinese nation and the cultures of other countries and regions in the world, and non-governmental envoys who would make good contacts between people overseas and the Chinese people. These important expositions are exactly the affirmation and expectations of overseas Chinese in promoting the construction of a global community with shared future, experts stressed.

The CPC Central Committee in 2021 published a revised set of regulations on united front work, including a new chapter on united front work and overseas Chinese.

The new chapter stated that one main task of the work regarding overseas Chinese is to guide overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their families to become devoted to promoting friendly cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and foreign people and to promote the construction of a global community of shared future.

It is in this new chapter that the CPC directly connects overseas Chinese and the promotion of the construction of a global community of shared future in its documents. This is also a new demonstration of the CPC's emphasis on overseas Chinese-related affairs, according to experts

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China vows countermeasures if EU imposes sanctions on firms

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 4:00 PM

China says it will implement countermeasures against the European Union (EU) if the bloc imposes sanctions on Chinese companies over alleged assistance to Russia in the Ukraine war, urging the EU to avoid taking the "wrong path."

Later this week, the EU member states will discuss a new package of sanctions, a copy of which was seen by the Financial Times (FT) on Sunday. It intends to levy punitive measures against seven Chinese businesses accused of helping Russia with equipment that could be used in the war.

On Monday, Beijing issued a firm response.

China said it was against any behavior that relied on ties between China and Russia as a pretext for damaging trade cooperation. "If media reports turn out to be true, such actions by the European side will seriously undermine mutual trust and cooperation between the EU and China," said Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman Wang Wenbin.

"The European side should not make a mistake, otherwise Beijing will be forced to resolutely protect its rationally justified legal rights," he warned, when asked about the new package of sanctions against seven Chinese firms as reported by the FT.

The sanctions list includes two mainland Chinese companies, 3HC Semiconductors and King-Pai Technology, along with five from Hong Kong, including Sinno Electronics, Sigma Technology, Asia Pacific Links, Tordan Industry and Alpha Trading Investments.

Russia began the war on February 24, 2022 to "de-Nazify" the country and to counter what it described as the threat of the ex-Soviet republic joining NATO. Kiev and its allies, however, say they were baseless pretexts for imperial ambitions.

Since the onset of the war, the United States and Ukraine's other allies have sent Kiev tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems.

China has blamed the US and NATO for "provoking" Moscow into the war, and has condemned Western sanctions against Russia. Beijing has also said it is ready to boost cooperation with the Russian military in order to jointly uphold international justice, peace and security.

Russia has in turn strongly backed China amid recent tensions between Beijing and Washington over the US political and military interference in Taiwan.

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China calls on US to stop hollowing out One China principle as ties in deep freeze

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 10:44 AM

The Chinese foreign minister demands in a meeting with the American ambassador to Beijing that US must correct its handling of the Taiwan issue and halt its efforts aimed at averting the One China principle.

Speaking during a meeting on Monday with US Ambassador Nicholas Burns, China's top diplomat Qin Gang further underlined that it is imperative to stabilize Sino-US relations following a series of "erroneous words and deeds" threw ties back into a deep freeze.

Qin stressed in particular that the United States must correct its handling of the Taiwan issue and stop the hollowing out of the One China principle.

Pointing to easing of tensions between the two economic powers back in Novembers when presidents of the two nations met at a G20 summit in Indonesia and vowed more frequent discourse, Qin said, "A series of erroneous words and deeds by the United States since then have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-US relations."

"The agenda of dialogue and cooperation agreed by the two sides has been disrupted, and the relationship between the two countries has once again encountered cold ice," Qin further emphasized as quoted in a statement issued by Beijing's Foreign Ministry.

"The top priority is to stabilize Sino-US relations, avoid a downward spiral and prevent any accidents between China and the United States," China's top diplomat added per the ministry's official reading of his meeting with Burns.

The US side should correct its perception of China, return to rationality, and achieve mutual success in the better development of each country, the foreign minister also pointed out.

"We should push negotiations and talks on the back of mutual respect and equal benefit," he said, expressing optimism that Washington's envoy to Beijing will make constructive efforts in China by having more contacts and more communication and being a bridge between China and the US.

Qin also underlined that the Sino-US ties are of great significance not only to Beijing and Washington, but also to the world.

Relations between the two countries significantly deteriorated last year when the speaker of the US House of Representatives at the time, Nancy Pelosi, paid a provocative visit to the self-ruled island of Taiwan, claimed by China.

In response, Beijing severed formal communications channels with the United States including one between their militaries.

The tension between the two countries eased a bit in November when the US and Chinese president met at the G20 summit in Indonesia and pledged more dialogue.

Tensions, however, flared again in February when a Chinese high-altitude balloon appeared in American airspace and in response US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a visit to Beijing.

Last month, China staged massive military drills around Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met and held talks with the current Speaker of the US House Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.

Last week, Blinken appeared to offer hope of a visit, telling the Washington Post that it was important to re-establish regular lines of communication at all levels.

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US Disrupts Positive Momentum in Relations With Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Says

Sputnik News

20230508

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The stabilization of US-China relations should be a priority after Washington disrupted the positive momentum achieved during the meeting between the leaders of the two countries in Bali, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said during a meeting with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.

"In November of last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden held successful talks on the island of Bali and reached important consensuses. However, since then, a series of misguided actions and statements by the American side have disrupted the hard-won positive momentum in bilateral relations, relations between the countries have again hit the ice," Qin Gang said as quoted by China Central Television (CCTV) on Monday.

The foreign minister added that the stabilization of bilateral relations is a top priority.

Gang also called on Washington to stop supporting separatist forces in Taiwan.

"[The US] should properly approach the Taiwan issue ... stop supporting and condoning the separatist forces of 'Taiwan independence'," Qin Gang told Burns, as quoted by China Central Television (CCTV) on Monday.

The foreign minister also pointed out to Washington the need to respect China's "red lines" and stop violating its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a a territory with its own elected government a maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

Despite officially declaring its adherence to the so-called One China policy, the US has maintained informal diplomatic ties with Taipei, while also providing military assistance to the island, citing the "Chinese threat" as justification. Beijing has repeatedly slammed Washington for being "a security risk creator in the region."

Chinese Foreign Minister also shared his opinion on Moscow-Beijing ties in an interview to Saudi newspaper. He stated that the Russian-Chinese relations have overcome outdated models such as a zero-sum game and a confrontation between blocs and have been able to withstand different challenges.

"[The relations between Russia and China] have overcome such outdated models as the zero-sum game and the confrontation between blocs," Qin told.

The Chinese foreign minister also said that the bilateral relations had been able to withstand different challenges because the countries found way to strategic mutual trust, adding that they did not pose a threat to other nations and reflected "right direction of historical development."

Russia and China will continue to work on a comprehensive strategic partnership as well as promote the model of a multipolar world, Qin said.

A Sputnik

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After High-Level Meeting, China Urges US to 'Correct' Itself

By Rob Garver May 08, 2023

After meeting in Beijing with U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang criticized the U.S. for what he described as an ongoing effort to "suppress" his country, saying that improved communications between the two superpowers will depend on the U.S. changing its policies.

In a readout of the Monday meeting, Qin said that U.S.-China relations have worsened since a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November, saying "a series of erroneous words and deeds by the U.S. since then have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-U.S. relations."

Qin described relations between the two countries as having "hit the ice," and he criticized U.S. policy toward Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own.

Burns, for his part, was more reticent about the talks, posting a brief update on his official Twitter account that said, "I met State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang today. We discussed challenges in the U.S.-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication."

I met State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang today. We discussed challenges in the U.S.-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication. pic.twitter.com/2AYxkXiVMI

a Ambassador Nicholas Burns (@USAmbChina) May 8, 2023



Possible thaw

Despite the tone of Qin's comments, some viewed the meeting, one of the first high-level meetings between American and Chinese officials in several months, as a positive step.

Relations have been particularly strained since early February, when the U.S. spotted a Chinese espionage balloon flying over the U.S. mainland. That incident caused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel what had been expected to be an in-person visit with Qin earlier this year.

Last week, Burns seemed to signal an interest in greater dialogue between the two countries.

"Our view is we need better channels between the two governments and deeper channels, and we are ready to talk," he said last week in a virtual appearance at an event hosted by the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank.

"We've never been shy of talking, and we hope the Chinese will meet us halfway on this," Burns said.

Critical comments

The Foreign Ministry's readout of the meeting depicted Qin as sharply critical of the U.S., urging Washington to "correct its understanding of China" and to "return to rationality."

Appearing to refer to Burns' comments about being willing to talk, Qin said, "It is not possible to talk about communication on the one hand, but to keep suppressing and containing China on the other hand. You cannot say one thing and do another. We must respect China's bottom line and red line, and stop undermining China's sovereignty, security, and development interests."

He added, "In particular, we must correctly handle the Taiwan issue, stop hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop supporting and condoning 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."

In what appeared to be a reference to the espionage balloon incident, Qin said, "It is necessary to persist in handling unexpected incidents in the relationship between the two countries in a calm, professional and pragmatic manner, so as to avoid another impact on Sino-U.S. relations."

He said any future talks should be based on "mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit."

State Department reacts

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Deputy State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel commented on the meeting, saying, "Maintaining open lines of communication with the PRC [People's Republic of China] has been a key tenet of our approach as it relates to this very complicated bilateral relationship."

Asked whether the U.S. had anything to "correct" in its position on Taiwan, Patel said it did not.

"There has been no change to our policy with China. There has been no change to our 'One China' policy, which is guided by more than four decades of the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiquAs and the six assurances. We have been very clear-eyed about that. And we're also going to continue standing with our friends and allies across the Indo-Pacific to advance our shared prosperity and security and values."

Room for progress

Zuri Linetsky, a research fellow with the Eurasia Group Foundation, told VOA that he saw the dialogue between Qin and Burns as a positive sign, and said that the language in the Chinese Foreign Ministry's readout was clear about the policy changes Beijing wants the U.S. to make, in particular toward Taiwan and trade.

"One thing that stands out to me is this discussion of 'security and development interests' which is, I think, a call out to the restrictions on Chinese access to semiconductors," Linetsky said.

The Biden administration has pressured countries that use U.S. technology to make semiconductors and the machines that fabricate them to restrict sales to China. Though the U.S. has branded this as a very narrow ban, applying only to military technology or items that could be repurposed for military use, the Chinese appear to view the ban as part of a broader strategy to restrict the country's overall development.

Linetsky said that the meeting between Qin and Burns appeared to signal that more talks might be on the horizon, though he warned that it would be a mistake to expect progress to be smooth.

"This isn't going to happen in a straight line," he said. "It's going to happen in fits and starts."

Coming investment guidance

As soon as next week, the Biden administration is expected to release new guidelines that will restrict the investments U.S. firms can make in China, to prevent technology that can be used for military purposes from being transferred to Beijing.

The policy will be part of a broader administration plan to insulate the U.S. from China without fully breaking ties, a process that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a recent speech referred to as "de-risking" rather than the more commonly used term "decoupling."

"De-risking fundamentally means having resilient, effective supply chains and ensuring we cannot be subject to the coercion of any other country," he said in remarks delivered at the Brookings Institution on April 27.

In that same speech, Sullivan pushed back against Chinese claims that the U.S. was trying to freeze China out of new technologies and to hinder its overall development.

"These are tailored measures," Sullivan said. "They are not, as Beijing says, a technology blockade. They are not targeting emerging economies."

VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching contributed to this article.

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China strongly condemns, lodges solemn protest and vows to take countermeasure as Canada expels Chinese diplomat

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 09, 2023 07:42 AM

China strongly condemned and firmly opposed the Canadian side declaring a Chinese diplomat as "persona non grata" expelling the diplomat on Monday, which serious violates international law and basic principles of international relations, as well as relevant bilateral agreements between China and Canada, the Chinese Embassy in Canada said. It also vowed to take resolute countermeasures.

Some Chinese experts believe that the latest diplomatic row will deliver a direct heavy blow to the already strained China-Canada relations, and the Canadian government's China policy has become more confrontational due to its domestic political wrestling, which may enter a downward spiral.

The Liberal government is expelling Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, whom Canada's spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, the Canadian Press reported on May 9.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly wrote in a statement that Canada has declared the Toronto-based diplomat as "persona non grata," according to the media report.

China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. The claim of "Chinese interference in Canadian domestic affairs" hyped up by some politicians and media is baseless and a blatant slander against China, based on ideological bias and political manipulation, the Chinese embassy said. And the Canadian side's unreasonable provocation seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.

The latest move came after the Canadian side summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday and threatened the expulsion of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel, toward which the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry lodged a stern representation to Canada's ambassador to China.

China's diplomatic and consular personnel in Canada have always strictly performed their duties in accordance with relevant international conventions and bilateral agreements between China and Canada, the Chinese embassy noted.

Instead of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel, the Canadian government deliberately caters to anti-China forces and takes extreme measures against Chinese consular officials. China will never accept this, it noted.

We urge the Canadian side to immediately stop its wrong actions and not to go further down the wrong path. If Canada acts recklessly, China will take resolute and powerful countermeasures, the embassy said.

"The fundamental reason that Canada made those baseless allegations against China is that the country has been enhancing its strategic coordination with the US, and the latest expulsion could signal the start of a series of tit-for-tat moves,"Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

It will become a downward spiral as far as the Canadian government's China policy is concerned, which would pose more challenges for China-Canada relations, the expert said, who also believed that the US' future China policy will also affect the following moves of Ottawa.

The essence of this matter is the manifestation of domestic political struggle in Canada through foreign affairs, another Chinese expert on China-Canada relations who preferred not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"As the China-Canada relations have been already at a low point, the opposition party has been hijacking the government on the relevant matter," the expert said.

Some Chinese experts also criticized Canada for not being rational in its China policy. China-Canada relations, which have not fully recovered from the arrest of Huawei's Meng Wanzhou, should not be kidnapped and destroyed by certain Canadian politicians, they noted.



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3 villagers killed as MiG-21 jet crashes in India's Rajasthan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:58, May 08, 2023

NEW DELHI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed after a MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed Monday in the western state of Rajasthan, officials and local media reports said.

The aircraft crashed into a house in the Dabli area of Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, about 415 km north of Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.

A new Delhi-based television channel quoting local officials said two women and one man were killed in the village because of the crash.

Television images show a large crowd near the accident site and some of them moving debris with bare hands to look for survivors. The crash has created a huge crater in the ground.

Columns of smoke were rising from the site and debris was scattered all around.

Police said a rescue operation has been launched in the area where the aircraft had crashed.

Officials said the crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the Suratgarh airbase.

The pilot managed to eject from the aircraft using a parachute but suffered some injuries.

Following the crash, a military helicopter reached the accident site for rescue operations.

"MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries," reads a statement issued by IAF.

According to IAF, an inquiry was constituted to ascertain the cause of the crash.

Reports said IAF has inducted over 900 MiG-21 into its fleet over the past 40 years. Of late India is phasing out its MiG-21 squadron, following incidents of its frequent crashes in the past.

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Indian Troops Deployed to Manipur Site of Last Week's Ethnic Clashes

By VOA News May 08, 2023

Thousands of Indian troops have been deployed to the Indian state of Manipur where deadly ethnic clashes erupted last week.

The violence broke out last week because the Meitei community is seeking to be included in the Scheduled Tribe category, which would give them access to forest lands and a percentage of government jobs and college placements in designated institutions.

The Meiteis who are Hindus make up more than 50% of the Manipur population. Other ethnic groups already on the Scheduled Tribe list, which are predominantly Christian, fear that if the Meiteis receive the designation they will see their benefits cut back.

In the skirmishes last week, gunshots rang out, fires broke out, and thousands of people fled their homes. Cars, houses and churches were torched.

Home Minister Amit Shah said Monday that the situation in Manipur is under control and urged people to be peaceful.

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Iranian Chief of Staff: Power balance changing from West to East

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 8 May 2023 / 17:07

Tehran (ISNA) - The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said, "Today there are new signs about changing the power balance form the West to the East and the future belongs to our region and Asia".

General Mohammad Bagheri, who paid an official visit to Oman at the head of a military high-ranking delegation, held a meeting on Monday with Chief of Staff of the Omani Armed Forces Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al Raisi.

As General Bagheri described the Persian Gulf and Western Asia as one of the most sensitive regions of the world, saying, "In the past years, the region has been a place for Americans' coercion who tried to impose themselves as an absolute ruler against the world and the region".

He went on to say, "Today there are new signs about changing the power balance from the West to the East and it is noteworthy to stress that the future belongs to our region and Asia".

"Iran-Oman ties are prominent, friendly and intimate. We believe that the security of sea borders should be strengthened and we are ready to come up with a common plan in the light of joint maritime to counter with drug trafficking," General Mohammad Bagheri added.

He concluded, "Palestine issue is one of the essential issues for the Islamic Republic of Iran and Islam world. Today Zionist regime is under pressure from all communities and we witness a dichotomy in their sovereignty".

Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al Raisi, in his turn, said, "We are children of one region, so we comprehend our own benefits better than other people. We also believe that we can provide the security of the region by unity and solidarity of regional countries".

He expressed his satisfaction with Iran-Saudi Arabia, while considering the ties as one of the ways to prevent foreign countries' interference and to enhance the security of the region.

End Item

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Iran voices readiness to equip Syrian army with most advanced defensive weapons

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 4:24 PM

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani has expressed the Islamic Republic's readiness to equip the Syrian army with the most advanced defensive military weapons and equipment.

Ashtiani made the remarks in a recent meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Lieutenant General Ali Mahmoud Abbas, pointing to the long-standing support of Iran's Defense Ministry and Armed Forces for the Syrian military in the full-scale war against terrorist groups operating across the Arab country.

"This ministry, along with other economic and civil sectors, is prepared to launch, manufacture and equip the Syrian Armed Forces with the most advanced defensive weapons," Iran's defense minister said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate with the Syrian Arab Republic in building factories and launching production lines for strategic defense products to promote the security for the Syrian people," and in order to establish multilateral defense infrastructure and boost the country's weapons power, he added.

Stressing that reliance on "indigenous power" is one of the most important components of strength for any country, Ashtiani said, "Iran's Defense Ministry has achieved productive power with the same approach in the fields of land, sea, air, aerospace, electronics, etc. and has managed to prove its role in the field of fighting terrorism and supporting oppressed nations."

The Syrian defense minister, for his part, underlined that the security and stability of his country has been established with the support of Iran and its true friends, saying, "Strengthening Syria's defense power will make the country more prepared to fight terrorism as one of the members of the Axis of Resistance."

Appreciating the support of the Iranian Defense Ministry in the field of defense diplomacy, Abbas said, "Enemies will not spare any efforts to harm the brotherly and friendly relations between Syria and Iran. However, the relations between the two countries of Iran and Syria continue to grow deeper every day ... to serve the promotion of security and stability in the region."

Ashtiani, along with a group of Iranian ministers and high-ranking officials, accompanied Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi in his historic visit to Syria last week, the first by an Iranian president since the foreign-sponsored militancy gripped the Arab country twelve years ago.

Iran was the first country to rush to Syria's aid following the 2011 outbreak of the foreign-backed violence. In 2017, military advisory assistance provided by the Islamic Republic helped the Arab nation score a monumental victory over the Daesh terrorist group.

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Iran ready for intelligence cooperation with Oman against smuggling at sea: Top general

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 4:32 PM

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says the Islamic Republic is ready to foster closer intelligence cooperation with Oman in the fight against smuggling.

"After the closure of Iran's eastern borders, the smuggling route has changed and smuggling gangs have become more active at sea. This is dangerous for all countries, including Oman," Baqeri said in a meeting with Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tariq Al Said in Muscat on Monday.

"We are ready for joint intelligence and operational cooperation to deal with this sinister phenomenon," he added.

He hailed Oman's support for Iran in different fields, including the anchoring of Iranian vessels in Omani ports, and said Tehran welcomes further exchange of such visits in the future.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has vast experience in the fight against terrorism, modern warfare and equipment and is ready to share its experience with Oman," the top general said.

Iran and Oman have held several joint naval drills in recent years.

In December 2021, the Iranian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman held a joint military drill in Iran's territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

The military exercise, which was the ninth of its kind between the Iranian and Omani naval forces, was conducted in line with an agreement reached during sessions held by the two countries' joint military friendship commissions.

In his remarks, Baqeri also warned of foreign powers' plots to take advantage of differences among regional countries, urging negotiations to thwart the enemies' conspiracies.

Referring to the good status of relations between Iran and Oman, he noted that mutual ties can serve as a model for cooperation among regional states to promote security in the region.

Baqeri invited Omani military officials to travel to Iran with the purpose of improving bilateral cooperation in various defense fields.

Al Said, for his part, said the current strategic visit by the top Iranian general to Muscat can help prepare the ground for a visit by Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi to Muscat and Omani Sultan's trip to Tehran in the near future.

He expressed hope that Iran and Oman would be able to counter enemies' threats through joint cooperation.

The Omani deputy prime minister also hailed normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying it would help restore peace to the region.

He emphasized that Iran and Oman are responsible for ensuring security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, saying the two countries should not allow enemies to use minor issues as a pretext to undermine security in the region.

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Iran says serious to clarify misunderstandings with IAEA

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 10:47 AM

Iran has expressed determination to clarify misunderstandings with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying the issues related to the country's peaceful nuclear program should not be turned into an obstacle.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks during a weekly press briefing in Tehran on Monday, days after IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Tehran had agreed to the re-installation of cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear facilities.

"Iran's serious policy is to settle problems and misunderstandings with the IAEA," Kan'ani said in response to a question on the re-installation of cameras belonging to the UN nuclear watchdog.

"The policy is to ensure that the issues related to Iran's peaceful nuclear activities do not turn into an obstacle."

Iran and the IAEA are currently in a dispute triggered by the agency's Israeli-influenced accusations, which were leveled against Tehran's peaceful nuclear activities. The IAEA insists to probe into what it claims to be "uranium traces" found at "undeclared nuclear sites" in Iran.

The issue has emerged as a key sticking point in talks aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal, which remain stalled since last August. Iran has dismissed the probe as "politically motivated."

During Grossi's March visit to Iran, the IAEA and Tehran said in a joint statement that "Iran, on a voluntary basis, will allow the watchdog to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities."

Kan'ani said, "The measures of the Islamic Republic of Iran are being taken within the framework set during Grossi's trip. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will explain [the measures] whenever it deems appropriate."

Iran will deliver 'regret-inducing response' to any attack

The senior diplomat also touched on US national security advisor Jake Sullivan's recent comments on Iran.

Speaking at the Washington Institute, Sullivan said the US would do whatever was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a "nuclear weapon."

Kan'ani said Sullivan's remarks are not compatible with the IAEA's 15 reports which confirmed Iran's adherence to its commitments.

"The United States must follow up on the activities of the Zionist regime and the poisoning resulting from its subversive acts. Our activities have always been peaceful and we do not accept baseless claims," he asserted.

"Iran will not tolerate any aggression and will deliver a decisive and regret-inducing response."

Tehran welcomes Syria's return to Arab League

Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesman described as "another victory" for Syria the restoration of the country's membership in the Arab League after more than a decade of suspension.

"Recently, we witnessed a new development concerning Syria, which was another victory. Arab governments made it possible for Syria to attend the meeting of the Arab League, something we welcome," he said.

Iran, Egypt have ties at level of interest offices

Asked about Iraq's mediation in the restoration of Iran-Egypt relations, Kan'ani noted that the ties between the two countries are "at the level of interest offices" and that there is no restriction or obstacle in this regard.

"Tehran has declared that there are no limits to the expansion of relations in the region. We can facilitate Cairo's will in this path," he added.

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Iran's state-of-the-art weapons 'game changer' in intl. affairs: Defense official

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 8:17 AM

Head of the International Affairs department of Iran's Defense Ministry has hailed the country's advanced technology used to manufacture weapons, saying Iranian arms are today perceived as a "game changer" in the international arena.

Second Brigadier General Hamzeh Qalandari said the world was surprised by Iranian weapons after the lifting of a 13-year UN arms embargo in October 2020.

"A country that had problems in all areas and was prohibited from any technology, has today reached a place on the edge of technology, with its weapons described in international media as a 'game changer,'" he told IRNA.

"This fact led many countries to buy Iranian weapons or renovate and rebuild their own defense equipment using Iranian technology and equipment following the removal of the embargo."

Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.

Iranian officials have made clear that the country will never bow to pressure to scale down its military programs, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense.

World acknowledges Iran's fight against terror

The defense official also noted that the international community today acknowledges that Iran engaged in a true battle against terrorism and that US-assassinated General Qassem Soleimnai was the greatest commander in the fight against the ominous scourge.

"Regarding the issues raised as the SCO's main goals, i.e. the fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism, perhaps no one has had the experience of a true struggle as much as the Islamic Republic of Iran does," he said.

"It is worth mentioning that today the international community acknowledges that Martyr Soleimani was the greatest commander in the fight against terrorism."

SCO members keen to boost defense, security ties with Iran

Elsewhere in his interview, Qalandari referred to the talks between Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and his counterparts on the sidelines of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)'s defense ministers in the Indian capital of New Delhi late last month.

"Most of the meetings featured a serious willingness to form an alliance and improve the level of defense and security cooperation with the Islamic Republic," he said.

"All SCO countries also asked for using Iran's experience in the fight against terrorism and its spread to the region and the world. Another request, which was made in almost all meetings, was to have a close look at Iran's defense achievements."

SCO advancing, US-led NATO declining

Also in his remarks, Qalandari drew a parallel between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a US-led military alliance, and the SCO, a Eurasian political, economic, international security and defense organization.

Unlike NATO, the SCO has focused on expanding its influence based on cooperation rather than power and force, he said, adding that the Eurasian organization has tried to distance itself away from military issues and seek stability in conflict zones as well as joint economic cooperation.

"Perhaps the Ukraine crisis is a practical example showing that NATO's capability is declining like the power of the United States. It is contrary to the advancing path pursued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," he said.

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Iran Hangs Two Men For Blasphemy

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 08, 2023

Iran has executed two men who had been sentenced to death for using social media to promote "atheism and insulting religious and Islamic sanctities."

The executions of Yousef Mehrdad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare were announced on May 8 by the judiciary's news website, Mizan, which did not say when the two men were executed.

Zare's and Mehrdad's cases reportedly date to 2019, when charges were filed against them in the Arak Revolutionary court. Mehrdad, a father of three young children, was accused of online blasphemy, as well as having burned a Koran. Zare was reported to have confessed to insulting the prophet and Islam.

Their hangings add to a growing list that has seen Iran execute one person every six hours in the past two weeks, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization.

On May 6, a Swedish-Iranian dissident who went missing from a Turkish airport two years ago before turning up in Iranian custody was executed on terrorism charges.

Habib Chaab, a founder and former leader of a separatist group called the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA), had been accused of leading a terrorist group and sentenced to death for being "corrupt on Earth," a capital offense under Iran's strict Islamic laws.

The ASMLA was blamed for a bomb attack on an annual military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz in 2018 that killed at least two dozen people and injured scores more.

The raft of executions, coming amid continuing protests against Iran's clerical establishment, has led to an outcry from rights groups and calls by UN experts on Shi'ite-majority Iran to stop the persecution and harassment of religious minorities.

Iran Human Rights, which maintains a running log of executions in Iran, said 205 people have been executed in Iran so far this year, most of them on drug charges. Half of the more than 40 people killed in the past two weeks belonged to the Baluch ethnic minority, according to the rights group.

In March, Amnesty International accused Iran of executing members of ethnic minorities as a "tool of repression."

Maulvi Abdul Hamid, the influential Sunni Baluch leader of Iran, last week condemned the wave of executions said that the Islamic republic had made capital punishment an "art."



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hangs-two-men- for-blasphemy/32401390.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Executes Two Men for Blasphemy

By VOA Persian Service May 08, 2023

Iran's judiciary announced the executions Monday of two men who were sentenced to death for blasphemy.

The judiciary's Mizan news site identified them as Yousef Mehrad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare.

The report said their crimes included insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, and that they used online platforms to spread hatred of Islam and promote atheism.

Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam, who leads the Norway-based group, Iran Human Rights, said in a statement, "the authorities have once again demonstrated their medieval nature by killing two people for expressing their opinion." He called on the international community to respond decisively and immediately.

A group of U.N. experts last year highlighted concerns about Iran's criminalization of blasphemy and called on the Iranian government to "take meaningful steps to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression without discrimination."

Human rights groups reported that Mehrad and Zare were transferred earlier this year to solitary confinement.

The two were part of a group of seven people who had been arrested in 2020 for maintaining a telegram channel called "Criticism of Superstition and Religion," according to HRANA, the Human Rights Activists news agency. The rights group reported that the other defendants were released on bail, while Mehrad and Zare were sentenced to death.

Iran's Supreme Court upheld their death sentence in July 2021.

Death sentences in Iran have been on the rise with more than 200 prisoners being put to death since the start of this year, according to Iran Human Rights.

A German-Iranian political dissident, Jamshid Sharmahd, is also facing a death sentence, following a trial that Amnesty International last month called "grossly unfair."

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he spoke about Sharmahd on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and "asked Iran not to execute" him.

In an interview with VOA's Persian service, Gazelle Sharmahd, the daughter of Sharmahd, said, "We don't have any contact with my father, and we must follow the latest news."

Some information for this story came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Three international breweries pay Myanmar junta U.S. $155 million in taxes per year

Democracy activists call for a boycott of Heiniken, Carlsberg and ThaiBev products.

By RFA Burmese 2023.05.08 -- Democracy advocates in Myanmar are calling on three international beermakers to pull out of the country, alleging that taxes they pay to the military junta support crimes against humanity.

The covert activist group Justice for Myanmar last month released a report that implicated Heineken, Carlsberg, and Thai Beverage, all of which have operated in Myanmar after the Feb. 1, 2021 coup. Their tax payments have collectively amounted to U.S.$155 million.

"Paying taxes to people who commit war crimes is directly participating in those crimes and therefore the large foreign companies have to decide if they will continue to participate in the crimes of the military council or stop paying taxes," Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung told RFA's Burmese Service.

A young woman from Yangon, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA that any beer brand that supports the junta must be boycotted.

"Before the coup, I only drank Myanmar Beer brand. But after the coup, Myanmar Beer had to be completely boycotted, so I switched to other brands," she said. "Now, if Heineken, which is the most popular drink in the market, has been added to the boycott list, we have to choose from other options."

Every company that cooperates with the junta should pull out from Myanmar as soon as possible as they must be held responsible and accountable, Me Htet Nay of the Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica political research and rights group told RFA.

"I understand that companies with big investments have to pay a lot of money in taxes, so they have more responsibility for the oppression of the people. ... It is best in their interests that they leave," said Me Htet Nay.

He said that the junta's sources of income should be cut off as it spends most of the tax money on the military budget that oppresses the people.

Japanese-owned Kirin Company, which had been working with Myanmar beer, sold its shares and left Myanmar in 2022, a year after the military coup.

Domestic boycott

Pro-democracy activists are already boycotting products produced by military enterprises, including Andaman Gold beer, Myanmar beer, Mandalay beer, Dagon brand alcohol and beer, and Ruby and Premium Gold cigarettes.

The domestic boycott also extends beyond beer to include Sugar MEC brand sugar, Pure hand sanitizer, Bandoola Transport, Mytel and MEC Tel mobile operators, Shwe Nan Taw jewelry store, Ngwe Pin Lal brand, Star Mart and 547 mini marts, Dentomec toothpaste, and others.

Since the boycott, sales of Myanmar Beer have halved from $11 million in revenue before the coup to just over $5 million within a year of the coup, the company's records show.

A liquor store owner in Sagaing, who refused to be named for security reasons, told RFA that the demand for domestic beer has cratered.

"In the past, we used to sell Myanmar beer a lot when it was available. Now there is no demand for it anymore," he said. "No one asks for Myanmar beer these days. Myanmar beer is not transported to our areas anymore."

The boycott has been extended to the three international breweries, but consumers may find it difficult to target them because they produce more than their main brand in Myanmar.

"I don't sell Heineken either. I only sell Chang, Tiger, and ABC beer mainly," said the liquor store owner.

Netherlands-based Heineken N.V. produces not only Heineken, but also ABC, Tiger, Regal Seven and Bawdar beer in Myanmar.

Meanwhile the Danish Carlsberg Group makes Carlsberg, Yoma, Tuborg and Black Eagle Stout. ThaiBev, meanwhile, sells several different whiskey brands in Myanmar.

Tax revenues

The three companies alone paid around $27.6 million in special goods taxes to the junta between October and December 2021, Justice for Myanmar reported. They additionally paid $7 million in income taxes over the same three-month period.

Neither Heineken nor ThaiBev responded to RFA's email inquiries regarding the accusations.

Carlsberg responded to RFA that all of its subsidiaries are subject to local laws in all the markets in which they operate.

"This means that, like any other company, we are obliged to pay taxes and duties, whether in Myanmar, Denmark or any other market," the company said.

Carlsberg also said it had a positive impact on Myanmar's economy, employing 430 people and supporting 30,000 jobs as a result of its presence there. The Danish brewer said it is in a joint venture with the local MGS Breweries, and that its partner has no direct commercial links to sanctioned entities and individuals.

"We take respect for human rights in Myanmar extremely seriously. Our human rights programme follows the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). This work is ongoing and includes concrete efforts to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses connected to our value chain," said Carlsberg, adding that it conducts human rights due diligence.

Destroying product

Opponents of the coup that have organized into armed People's Defense Forces often target shipments of products made by military-owned companies, and destroy it before it gets to market.

Because of their actions, the transport and sale of military-produced alcohol, beer and other products have become almost non-existent, said Kyak Kyee, a soldier of 703 Battalion of the People's Defense Force based in Magway.

"We discovered boycott products such as Myanmar and Dagon beer, Ruby and Premium Gold cigarettes a lot in the beginning of the revolution," he said. "We warned those who transport them and made them sign a pledge not to do it again. We burn and destroy the products right in front of the people. Currently, there are no military-produced goods in our regions. Such goods are no longer found in our checkpoints, either."

RFA attempted to reach junta spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, regarding these issues, but phone calls went unanswered.

Min Lwin Oo, who is in charge of the mobilization sub-committee of the Democracy Movement Strike Committee (Dawei), said that refusing to buy products made by military companies is a valid way to weaken the military.

"Just as a retired American military professor said, we are in a difficult position to confront the military junta on the military front alone," he said. "If we can demolish the economic pillars of the military, it will weaken the military junta. I think [it] is a very effective method for the revolution."

On the other hand, he pointed out that people may be faced with a shortage of job opportunities, because of the domination of military-related businesses, and the boycott would leave them with fewer choices and rising product prices, when large international companies pull out from Myanmar.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Eugene Whong.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Indonesia, Singapore condemn Myanmar attack on ASEAN aid convoy

But Indonesian president says ASEAN's efforts to bring peace to Myanmar will continue.

By RFA Burmese and BenarNews Staff 2023.05.08 -- Indonesia and Singapore on Monday condemned an armed attack on an ASEAN humanitarian convoy in eastern Myanmar's Shan State and called for an end to violence in the strife-hit country.

Diplomats from both Southeast Asian countries were traveling with the convoy that was caught in gunfire on Sunday in Hsihseng township. There were no reports of injuries in the shooting, which the Myanmar military blamed on anti-junta forces. The opposition to the junta denied any involvement.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, said the violence would not deter his country in its efforts as this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to try to bring peace to Myanmar.

He was speaking in the Indonesian town of Labuan Bajo ahead of a three-day ASEAN summit which starts Tuesday. The conflict in Myanmar is likely to be one of the main topics of the summit.

"This will not diminish ASEAN's and Indonesia's determination to call for an end to the use of force and violence," Jokowi said. "Stop the violence because civilians have become victims. Let us sit together and start a dialogue."

He said that members of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), accompanied by an ASEAN monitoring team "was delivering humanitarian aid but unfortunately there was a shootout on the way." He gave no further details.

'Constructive dialogue'

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said that two staff of the Singaporean Embassy were in the convoy and had returned safely to Yangon.

"Singapore condemns this attack. It is critical to safeguard the safety of humanitarian and diplomatic personnel, to ensure that they can continue their operations and provide necessary aid to those in need," an unnamed ministry spokesperson said in a statement that urged all parties to refrain from violence.

"Only constructive dialogue among all key stakeholders in Myanmar can facilitate a peaceful solution in the interests of the people of Myanmar," the spokesperson said.

There were also two diplomats from the Embassy of Indonesia, three AHA Centre officials and several junta administrative workers in the convoy, according to local residents, who did not want to be named for safety reasons.

Myanmar's junta, which took power in a February 2021 coup that has precipitated fighting across large swathes of the country, blamed "terrorists" for the attack. It said one security vehicle was hit by small arms fire. It said that security forces of the convoy opened fire in response and the attackers retreated.

The convoy was heading to the Hsihseng-based Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLO) Liaison Office from the Shan State capital of Taunggyi to discuss assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) but was forced to turn back, the residents said.

Conflicting accounts

There were conflicting accounts of who opened fire on the convoy, which was traveling in an area where rival forces operate.

An official from the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), which is allied to the junta, claimed that five members of the rival PNLO, which is fighting for a democratic federal union system in Myanmar, had launched the attack. The official did not want to be named, citing security reasons.

But PNLO leader Khun Okkar denied it. He said some of the group's own officials were in the convoy so it had no motive to carry out the attack. "It was impossible that PNLO attacked its own officials," Khun Okkar told RFA Burmese.

"This incident was caused by a political rivalry in our region," he said, suggesting that a local militia allied to the junta was responsible, but declining to name it.

Naing Htoo Aung, secretary of the Ministry of Defense in the anti-junta National Unity Government, also claimed pro-junta militia were to blame.

He told the NUG's news agency that "the NUG, PDF and revolutionary forces had absolutely nothing to do with the attack on the convoy carrying the diplomats." PDF stands for People's Defense Force - the name used by militia forces across Myanmar that are battling the military.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Friday her country has been quietly engaging with the State Administration Council - as the junta regime is formally known - along with the NUG and ethnic armed organizations in its role as ASEAN chair this year.

She said the more than 60 engagements this year, which also included talks with the European Union, Japan, the United Nations and the United States, aimed to build trust "with non-megaphone diplomacy."

While ASEAN leaders are expected to discuss Myanmar at this week's summit, junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing is not invited. He's been excluded from ASEAN summits following his military takeover against a civilian government, which has triggered protests then blood fighting that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Two years ago, ASEAN's agreed upon a five-point plan to bring peace to Myanmar but its terms have been largely ignored by the junta.

The Indonesian president said Monday that ASEAN may struggle to get buy-in from the junta but he wasn't giving up hope.

"The situation in Myanmar is complex and Indonesia continues to push for the implementation of the five-point consensus. Various efforts have been made," Jokowi said.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Mat Pennington.

BenarNews journalist Ahmad Syamsudin in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.

This story has been updated with comments from Singapore, the Myanmar junta, the PNLO and the shadow government.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Rohingya stand firm on citizenship after day-trip to Rakhine state

The Burmese junta invited refugees to see housing constructed for their return.

By Abdur Rahman for BenarNews and RFA Burmese 2023.05.08 -- Bangladesh-based Rohingya who were taken to Myanmar's Rakhine state Friday to see preparations for refugee repatriation said they wouldn't return without citizenship rights, recognition of their Rohingya identity, and a guarantee that they could resettle in their home villages.

Twenty Rohingya and seven Bangladeshi government officials traveled to Maungdaw township in northern Rakhine, where the Burmese junta had invited them to inspect preparations as part of a China-backed effort to repatriate a small portion of the 1 million Rohingya refugees sheltering in southeastern Bangladesh.

The delegation boarded a boat in the morning to cross the Naf River that separates Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district from Rakhine, and returned on Friday evening.

Speaking to RFA-affiliated news service BenarNews when they got back, some Rohingya delegates expressed concern about temporary housing constructed in guarded camps. The group reached Maungdaw at around 10 a.m. and visited the Nagpura, Baulibazar and Kazirbil neighborhoods where Myanmar authorities have built makeshift camps with Chinese support.

"After many years, we got the chance to see our motherland. We visited Myanmar and we saw new camps there," Rohingya Mohammad Selim told BenarNews. "We asked them - why the camps and for whom? They replied those were for us."

Selim said the Rohingya want to return to their original homesteads, adding they did not find the camps to be safe.

About 740,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh from Rakhine following a Myanmar military crackdown against the Muslim-minority group in August 2017.

"We asked them what would happen to us if we do not get citizenship or if our safety is not guaranteed. In reply they said we must take national verification cards," he said. "If we accept the card, it will mean that we are guests, but we are the residents, not guests."

He said if Rohingya are not granted citizenship, they would not be able to own land in Myanmar.

"We have demanded that they return our homesteads and land. We will build our own houses on our land - unless we are given citizenship and our homesteads back, we will not return," he said.

Another Rohingya, Abu Sufian, echoed Selim's concerns.

"We visited many villages in Maungdaw. The Myanmar government built many IDP camps in the villages. In these circumstances, I do not see any possibility of returning there," he told BenarNews, referring to camps for internally displaced persons.

Myanmar's military council announced that 750 plots of land in 15 villages in the northern part of Maungdaw township had been prepared for the Rohingya repatriation. It announced that returnees were to be scrutinized and accepted before temporarily being placed in refugee camp for two months.

Rohingya Subia Khatun, who fled to Cox's Bazar following the military crackdown, said she visited her old village.

"My green village has been converted into a fortified camp. I feel bad to see the makeshift houses. We will not go to the camps - we want to live in our villages," Khatun told BenarNews.

Repatriation efforts

In recent months, Myanmar has shown interest in repatriating some Rohingya under a small pilot project.

A Myanmar delegation recently visited Teknaf in Bangladesh and identified more than 1,100 Rohingya for potential repatriation.

According to the agreement between the two countries, repatriation must be safe, voluntary and dignified. No Rohingya can be sent back forcibly.

"The arrangement is not bad at all. The enclaves are not IDP camps," Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh's refugee relief and repatriation commissioner who led the delegation to Rakhine on Friday, told BenarNews.

"The trip was for building the confidence of the Rohingya. A team from the Myanmar government is supposed to come to discuss issues, then we will decide about the repatriation."

Aung Kyaw Moe, who advises Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government (NUG) on Rohingya issues, questioned the military council's repatriation efforts and said the refugees should focus on getting justice for the genocide they suffered.

Hundreds of Rohingya were killed by the military during clearance operations in 2017, forcing thousands to leave. The U.S. State Department has declared this is an act of genocide.

"The military junta has never had a good intention or goodwill toward the Rohingya. Nor will they have any in the future," he told RFA.

Aung Kyaw Moe said the Myanmar military had failed in persuading Rohingya to return.

"They tried many times in the past, too but they did not succeed because the Rohingya have firsthand experience of the junta's genocide against them and its inhumane violation of human rights and crimes against humanity. That's why they will never come back unless justice is served for them."

Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Rohingya Liberation Coalition, said China had a big role in the repatriation effort.

"The military cannot refuse China's pressure. On the other hand, some of China's largest investments are in Bangladesh, too," he told RFA. "Both countries are under a lot of pressure from China, therefore, they are trying to make this repatriation project happen due to China's pressure."

Spokesmen for the Myanmar junta and Rakhine state did not respond to RFA requests for comment.

Kamran Reza Chowdhury for BenarNews in Dhaka contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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The Attack on AHA Centre Convoy

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 8, 2023

We are deeply concerned by reports that unknown assailants in Burma shot at an ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) convoy under military escort. Just ahead of the ASEAN Leaders' Summit, these attacks in Shan State come as the regime's violence and disregard for the rule of law have led to greater instability on the ground, all while the regime has continued to neglect its commitments under the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, including ceasing its violence and enabling unhindered humanitarian access.

The United States calls on Burma's military regime to meaningfully implement the Five-Point Consensus and respect the democratic aspirations of the people who have demonstrated they do not want to live another day under the military's tyranny. The military regime must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including rules on the protection of diplomatic personnel and civilians. The United States will continue to work with ASEAN and our allies and partners across the international community to support Burma on the path to long-term inclusive, democratic governance.

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Pakistan's Baloch terrorist leader, accused of attacking Iranian convoys, killed

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 11:27 AM

Pakistan's most wanted Baloch terrorist leader, Muhammad Asa, accused of attacking Iranian convoys, was shot dead in clashes between rival terrorist groups erupted over the distribution of looted money.

Hailing from the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Asa, also known as Mullah Ibrahim, carried a head bounty of 14,000 dollars from the Pakistan government.

Asa was involved in countless number of terrorist attacks, including assaults over Iranian trucks that were on the way to Taftan border zero point (Mirjaveh), and against the security forces.

He was also involved in sabotaging operations to destroy infrastructure projects in Baluchistan province, and killing laborers working for the projects.

In addition to his involvement in acts of violence, the slain terrorist leader possessed expertise in the construction of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The death of the wanted terrorist is being considered as a significant blow to the BLF.

Asa became a member of the BLF back in 2010 and remained involved in terrorist activities as a BLF militant in the areas of Kharan and Shor, after he rose to become a leader.

Ever since it re-emerged in 2004 after the group's insurgency was defeated in both Pakistan and Iran, the BLF has been responsible for attack on civilians, journalists, government officials and military personnel in Balochistan.

On April 7, the Pakistani army claimed that it arrested Gulzar Imam, leader and founder of an armed group, the Baloch National Army which is responsible for "dozens of bloody attacks" in Pakistan, including assaults on law enforcement agencies.

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Meeting with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov

Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, who is in Russia on an official visit.

May 8, 2023

16:50

The Kremlin, Moscow

The two leaders discussed the current state of and prospects for developing bilateral cooperation, interaction within integration associations, as well as regional and international issues.

Following the talks, the two leaders adopted a joint statement on deepening relations of strategic partnership and alliance.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Japarov, friends, colleagues,

We are very pleased to see you in Moscow, all the more so since you have come just ahead of Victory Day. It is symbolic that you are with us at this time.

We know very well and remember that 360,000 Kyrgyzstanis went to fight on the frontlines, and a little less than half, I believe, 134 000, did not return.

I know that you have been to Rzhev with the State Duma Speaker where you laid flowers and honoured the memory of those who fell and who fought on this part of the frontline.

As for our current relations, they are on the rise. Our trade increased 37 percent last year. Russia is Kyrgyzstan's biggest investor, ranking first in terms of direct investment. I am confident that this trend will continue to gather momentum.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to begin our working meeting and discussion in this expanded format. Once again, we are very pleased to see you.

Happy Victory Day! Welcome!

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov: Thank you, Mr President.

I am very grateful to you for your invitation to come to the Russian Federation on an official visit. Thank you for your warm welcome.

I am very pleased that we are meeting in Moscow in the lead-up to the celebrations for the 78th anniversary of the Great Victory. We will never forget the heroism of our fathers and grandfathers, who endured the hardships of war to secure freedom for future generations. Their memory will stay forever in our hearts.

Mr President, we have a very good opportunity today to discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation. I hope we will exchange views on further developing the Kyrgyz-Russian strategic partnership and alliance in the interests of both countries.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

Mr Japarov, may I suggest the following structure of our meeting: first, we will give the floor to our colleagues, the co-chairs of the government commission, listen to them and then go industry by industry. After that, we will have a face-to-face meeting.

Sadyr Japarov: Ok, let's do it that way.

Vladimir Putin: Very good, then.

<...>

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Greetings to the leaders and citizens of foreign states on the 78th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the leaders of Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Ossetia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and to the people of Georgia and Moldova on the 78th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

May 8, 2023

12:00

In his greetings, the President of Russia noted that on this remarkable day, we pay tribute and express deep gratitude to the people whose unparalleled feats on the battlefield and selfless work on the home front contributed to crushing the Nazi invaders and protecting the freedom of their motherland.

"Our moral duty today is to reverently safekeep the traditions of friendship and mutual help inherited from our fathers and grandfathers, to prevent the distortion of historical truth about the Great Patriotic War, along with the justification of Nazis, their henchmen and present-day ideological successors," the messages read.

The Russian leader stressed that the spiritual legacy of the Great Victory would continue to be instrumental in the strengthening and fruitful development of relations between our countries and nations.

Vladimir Putin offered words of genuine gratitude to all Great Patriotic War veterans and home front workers, wishing them good health, high spirits and a long and happy life.

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Wider Europe Briefing: How Brussels Is Plugging Its Loopholes On Russian Sanctions

By Rikard Jozwiak May 08, 2023

Brief #1: How The EU Plans To Crack Down On Sanctions Circumvention

What You Need To Know: One of the most frequently asked questions in Brussels right now when it comes to its ever-growing sanctions on Russia is whether they are efficient. The 10 rounds of restrictive measures imposed on the Kremlin since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 evidently hasn't changed Moscow's willingness to continue the war. In fact, the Russian economy contracted by just 2 percent last year and is even projected to grow a little in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) predictions.

The Brussels officials I have spoken to have pointed out that one of the main reasons for the sanctions' apparent lack of bite is that few countries outside the Group of Seven (G7) have actually bothered to impose any meaningful measures on Russia. Those same officials hope that, with some tweaks, the effects of the EU sanctions, notably the measures hitting oil and other raw materials, will be felt more keenly by Russia in the future.

The debate over the sanctions' efficiency is focused on whether the measures are as watertight as they should be and if more can be done to dissuade third countries from circumventing them. Thus, it isn't surprising there is also a push in the EU's next sanctions package on Russia -- due to be presented by the European Commission to the ambassadors of the 27 EU member states this week -- to create an anticircumvention system, close loopholes, and step up enforcement.

Deep Background: According to EU officials familiar with the forthcoming sanctions package who are not authorized to speak on the record, there will be a greater emphasis on stopping third countries -- and their companies -- from circumventing the EU measures. A two-step approach is being mooted in which countries will first receive a warning. If the warning isn't heeded, Brussels will impose sanctions on firms and individuals in these countries.

While the EU hasn't shied away from targeting both Iranian military entities and Dubai-based shipping companies for aiding the Kremlin, this particular move would bring the EU closer to the "secondary sanctions" that the United States is already applying around the globe -- essentially a framework designed to prevent or restrict third countries from trading with countries subject to U.S. sanctions.

While the new EU initiative is far from a done deal, it is telling that in the past few months David O'Sullivan, the EU's envoy on sanctions implementation, has been busy visiting various countries, notably in Central Asia. One of his main talking points is that around 770 parts imported from the EU to other countries have been found in Russian military equipment and weapons used in its war against Ukraine.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have all pointed out that, in 2022, exports of potential dual-use goods -- items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes -- to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan grew more than 62 percent, 83 percent, and 30 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year. Most of these items transit through the Baltic states or Poland from Western European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

Drilling Down:

Various EU officials told me that the risk of dual-use goods ending up in Russian hands is high, notably because the three Central Asian states are part of the Eurasian Economic Union together with Russia, meaning items cross borders with fewer checks.

It's likely the EU will add more tech goods to its ever-growing list of sanctioned products, even though at first sight they might not appear to have any military uses. The thinking here is that microchips extracted from refrigerators, microwave ovens, and other kitchen appliances could be used in Russian military equipment.

Although most EU countries include end-user certificates in their export licenses, there is no established instrument to ensure goods make it to an authorized end-user when they leave EU territory. There could, therefore, be a move by Brussels to carry out more end-user checks, which would mean physical inspections at the product's final destination and the requirement of shipment verification certificates from the importing country.

But there are also problems closer to home, such as the various loopholes in the current sanctions framework. Last year, 237 export authorizations for sanctioned dual-use goods to Russia were issued, worth nearly half a billion euros ($550 million). These were issued thanks to derogations in the current restrictive measures that allow certain trade with Moscow to continue.

These derogations can apply to goods that can be proven to be for humanitarian, medical, and pharmaceutical purposes. Current sanctions regulations also allow for the continued export to Russia of products such as consumer communication devices or for goods that ensure "cybersecurity and information security for natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies in Russia, except for its government and undertakings directly or indirectly controlled by that government." It's likely that talks around the next sanctions packages will focus on limiting or reducing these derogations.

There is also a problem with how the Brussels sanctions are communicated to authorities in the member states. Enforcing EU sanctions provisions is a matter for national authorities, not EU officials, so the overall overview of what is and isn't allowed can be anything but uniform as member states often divide those tasks among various institutions -- for instance, the Interior, Foreign, or Justice ministries.

Brief #2: Will The EU Finally Start Sanctioning Corrupt Officials?

What You Need To Know: After several years of debate, the EU has finally taken a decisive step to allow global corruption to be targeted with sanctions. On May 3, the European Commission presented a proposal to allow Brussels to enact restrictive measures against serious acts of corruption. This comes after a key speech last fall by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that called for the use of sanctions to fight corruption as part of EU foreign policy.

In many ways, this proposal could be seen as a European version of the U.S. Global Magnitsky Act from 2016, which allowed Washington to impose sanctions on human rights violators all over the world, including those it deemed responsible for serious corruption.

The main question, though, is whether the framework will be fully embraced by all 27 EU member states. They all need to give the thumbs up and, given previous experience when it comes to Brussels, going after corruption in third countries has never been easy.

Deep Background: The EU currently has 41 sanctions regimes, most pertaining to geographic countries or regions -- for instance, targeting officials and companies in Russia for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine or targeting Belarus after the authorities cracked down on the country's opposition.

So far, only two of those sanctions regimes include the legal scope to sanction people for corruption offenses -- Lebanon and the recently created framework for Moldova -- although no one has yet been targeted.

Apart from geographic sanctions, there are also a few sectoral EU sanctions that are global in scope: for example, targeting people who have tried to carry out cyberattacks against the bloc, or the EU's own Global Human Rights Sanctions regime.

The human rights sanctions regime was established in late 2020 and has slapped asset freezes and visa bans on 34 individuals and 15 entities from places such as China, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, South Sudan, and Russia, in response to acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, slavery, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests -- in short, similar to the Magnitsky Act. A key difference though: Unlike in the United States, corruption is not a sanctionable offense in the European version.

Drilling Down:

When the EU's human rights sanctions regime was debated by the bloc's foreign ministers in 2018-2019, there wasn't a consensus on adding corruption as a sanctionable offense. (Notably, Hungary pushed against it.) When asked why it wouldn't be better to just add corruption as a sanctionable offense to the already existing human rights framework, an EU official with insight into the matter noted that in talks with various EU member states there was "a clear preference for a standalone [sanctions] regime [rather than] amending the current human rights regime."

One of the fears is that the human rights sanctions regime could be watered down if it were to be redrafted. In recent years, Budapest has threatened to block the rollover of existing sanctions or the adoption of new sanctions in order to further its own interests, notably the release of withheld EU funds.

And it isn't just Hungary that is lukewarm toward anticorruption sanctions. Some other member states, notably in southern Europe, have also expressed reservations by pointing out how far the EU really can go in terms of interfering in what could be classified as domestic issues in third countries.

There are also concerns about obtaining enough credible evidence to impose sanctions. Brussels must go after people and companies via publicly available evidence. Corruption in distant countries can be an opaque business with few solid, available facts.

The European Commission is still hoping all the member states will eventually come on board for at least three main reasons. Firstly, it points out in the draft proposal that "conservative estimates suggest that corruption costs the EU economy at least 120 billion euros per year." It will hammer home the idea that graft undermines the rule of law, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide but also closer to home.

Secondly, this is a foreign policy instrument, which means it's unlikely any EU citizen will be targeted, even though that possibility hasn't been completely excluded. All EU capitals will have a final say on who will be hit with visa restrictions and asset freeze, so it is difficult to imagine there will be a lot of people listed.

And finally, the definition of corruption is rather narrow and could be further narrowed by EU member states in upcoming talks. The European Commission proposal is to only go after people and companies in three categories: firstly, the "active briber," defined as "the promise, offering, or giving to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage...in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties; secondly, "passive bribery," which essentially is acceptance by a public official of the above-mentioned "invites"; and lastly, "acts of embezzlement, misappropriation, or other diversion of property by a public official for his or her benefit."

Looking Ahead

The defense chiefs of all 31 NATO members, as well as Sweden, will assemble in Brussels on May 10 for the last meeting of NATO's highest military authority, the Military Committee, before the NATO summit in Vilnius in July. They will take a look at how to strengthen NATO's defense posture, especially in the eastern part of the alliance, ahead of the summit and discuss how to further assist Ukraine, notably with more Western air-defense systems, tanks, and ammunition.

EU foreign ministers will meet in Stockholm on May 12-13 for an informal foreign affairs council. As always when it comes to informal gatherings, which are scheduled twice a year, no concrete decisions will be taken, but the ministers will spend more time discussing long-term relations with various international actors. Expect a lot of time to be devoted to China.

Before the meeting, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will circulate his thoughts on an updated EU-China policy. The bloc doesn't really have much of a coherent policy vis-a-vis Beijing, due largely to the various EU member states' economic interests, so there will probably be some sort of compromise referring to China as a "rival" in some fields and as a "partner" in others.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe- briefing-brussels-sanctions-loopholes/32401603.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Six Leaders Of Former Soviet Countries To Attend Victory Day Celebrations In Moscow

By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, RFE/RL's Tajik Service May 08, 2023

Six leaders of former Soviet states will attend a parade on Red Square on May 9 to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe in 1945 even as Russian President Vladimir Putin pushes ahead with the continent's largest land war since that time period.

The authoritarian leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus will be joined by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian at the event.

The six countries were part of the Soviet Union at the time of World War II but declared their independence as the Russian-dominated U.S.S.R. collapsed in 1991.

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev will visit a memorial in Rzhev, a city west of Moscow in Russia's Tver region that was the site of heavy fighting during the war and where many fighters from Central Asia are buried.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on May 8 unveiled a memorial in Rzhev, saying it would "serve as a symbol of our eternal memory to all the heroes who fought for our future."

The Kyrgyz president arrived in Russia on May 7 for bilateral talks with Putin and other officials. The other leaders are also expected to hold talks with the authoritarian Russian leader.

Under Putin, Russia has gone to great lengths to commemorate World War II -- which killed more than 20 million Soviet citizens -- including reviving the pompous military parade held on Red Square during Soviet times.

During his more than 20 years in power, Putin has increasingly tried to unite Russian citizens around what they call the Great Patriotic War, transforming the memory of the four-year struggle against Nazi Germany into an integral part of national identity.

Separately, Putin has called the dissolution of the Soviet Union last century's "greatest geopolitical catastrophe," and his increasing tendency toward authoritarian rule and repression, including the invasion of Ukraine, have evoked comparisons with the former Russian and Soviet empires.

His increasingly repressive rule and foreign aggression have alienated many foreign leaders, resulting in a dwindling number of foreign dignitaries willing to attend his nostalgic parade.

In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, longtime Tajik President Emomali Rahmon was the only head of state to attend the Victory Day parade.

Last year, a little over two months after Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, no foreign leaders came to the World War II celebrations in Moscow.

Belarusian strongman Alyaksander Lukashenka will attend this year. Lukashenka, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, traditionally leads the May 9 Victory Day celebration in Belarus, which was ravaged during World War II.

Putin is expected to hold talks with the foreign leaders around the May 9 celebration.

Japarov's office said the Kyrgyz leader would hold a bilateral meeting with Putin on May 8 to discuss "current issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda, as well as the future of further development of mutually beneficial cooperation."

Japarov met with State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin ahead of the memorial unveiling in Rzhev.

Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution took place in 2005 amid street protests demanding political reforms that made it a beacon of fledgling democracy in a region more routinely stocked with post-communist authoritarians.

Putin dismissed pro-democracy events there and in other post-Soviet republics including Georgia and Ukraine as "color revolutions" fomented by Western meddling.

Kyrgyzstan is part of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance in Eurasia that also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.

But Japarov was a surprise no-show at a gathering last year of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in St. Petersburg on Putin's 70th birthday.

Kyrgyzstan then abruptly canceled CSTO training drills in a move that hawkish Russian lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin suggested was a reflection of Bishkek indulging in a "game" and wishing "not to fall under any spread of Western sanctions."

Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, a trading bloc dominated by Russia that also includes Belarus, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyz-president- russia-visit-japarov-putin-victory-day/32400550.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Suspect in Attempted Murder of Russia's Politician Prilepin Charged With Terrorism

Sputnik News

20230508

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The investigators have charged Alexander Permyakov, the suspect in the attempted murder of Russian writer, politician and the co-chairman of the political party A Just Russia a For Truth, Zakhar Prilepin, with terrorism, and requested his pretrial detention, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Monday.

On Saturday, Permyakov, the detained suspect in the assassination attempt on Prilepin, admitted during questioning that he had acted on the instructions of the Ukrainian special services, having planted explosive devices along the car's path.

"As part of the criminal investigation into the bombing of Zakhar Prilepin's car, Alexander Permyakov was charged with committing crimes under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (terrorist act) and Article 222 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal arms trafficking). The investigators request to choose pretrial detention as a preventive measure against him," the statement read.

The investigative committee added that Permyakov has been placed into the two-month pretrial detention.

On Saturday, Prilepin's car was blown up on a highway in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Region. The driver was killed, while Prilepin was injured. The region's governor, Gleb Nikitin, said that Prilepin had undergone successful surgery following the attack. Local residents told Sputnik that Prilepin had both of his legs broken after his car was blown up, but he was conscious.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told Ukrainian media on Saturday that it could neither confirm nor deny its involvement in the terrorist attack on Prilepin.

A Sputnik

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HRH the Crown Prince Receives US National Security Advisor

Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, May 8, 2023, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received here Sunday evening US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, with whom he reviewed the strategic relations between the two countries and means to boost them in various fields.

They also reviewed the latest regional and international developments of common concern.

US Ambassador to the Kingdom Michael Ratney, Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council Brett McGurk, Presidential Coordinator at the State Department Amos Hochstein, and Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor Ariana Berengaut attended the meeting from the American side.

--SPA

12:09 LOCAL TIME 09:09 GMT

0006

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White House National Security Adviser Holds Talks with Saudi Crown Prince

By VOA News May 08, 2023

The White House said national security adviser Jake Sullivan discussed efforts to end the war in Yemen as he met Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A White House statement said the two also discussed Saudi Arabia's support to U.S. citizens who evacuated from Sudan following the outbreak of fighting there last month.

Saudi state media said the talks took place in the port city of Jeddah, and that the discussion involved "strategic relations."

The White House said the two also took part in wider talks with national security advisers from India and the United Arab Emirates "to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world."

The talks come amid strained relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The sources of that tension include the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and cuts in oil production by the Saudi-led OPEC+ group.

U.S. intelligence agencies assessed the Saudi crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, which Saudi Arabia has denied.

The war in Yemen began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the country's capital. Saudi Arabia launched a military coalition in early 2015 in support of the Yemeni government.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Iran welcomes Syria's return to Arab League after 12 years

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani has congratulated the Syrian nation and government on their return to the Arab League after over a decade.

Kanaani said on Monday that decisions by Islamic countries to settle their disputes bring about positive outcomes and prepare the ground for preventing foreign interference in region, .

He underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes such an approach.

On Sunday, Arab League admitted a plan to bring Syria back to the bloc in a meeting held at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

In 2011, the Arab League suspended Syria's membership in the organization and imposed economic and political sanctions on the Arab country.

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Russia hails 'long-awaited' Syria return to Arab League

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 8, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Russia has welcomed an Arab League decision to readmit Syria, expressing hopes that the move would bring about a "healthier atmosphere" in the West Asia region.

"Moscow welcomes this long-awaited step which became a logical result of the process of returning Syria to the 'Arab family' which is gaining momentum," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said late on Sunday.

After more than a decade of suspension, the Arab League on Sunday readmitted Syria, saying Damascus could resume its participation in the organization's meetings immediately.

"We proceed from the premise that reinstating Syria's participation in the operations of the [Arab League], with it being one of its founding countries, will facilitate a healthier atmosphere in the Middle Eastern region and the swiftest overcoming of the consequences of the Syrian crisis," Zakharova was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.

She also called on Arab countries to increase their support for Syria in resolving the issues pertaining to its post-conflict recovery which is hindered by illegitimate unilateral sanctions against Damascus.

Syria's membership in the Arab League was suspended in 2011 when a foreign-backed insurgency erupted in the Arab country. The conflict caused several Arab states to severe their diplomatic relations with Syria and to support militants seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

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Iran: Syria's return to Arab League shows region's resolve to reduce foreign interference

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 5:29 AM

Iran has welcomed Syria's return to the Arab League more than a decade after its membership was suspended by the 22-member regional organization.

"Settlement of disputes among Muslim countries, as well as convergence and synergy among them, will deliver favorable results for collective stability and peace and will pave the way for reducing foreign profit-seeking interferences in regional affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said in a statement on Monday morning.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes such an approach," he added.

Arab government representatives in Cairo voted on Sunday to return Syria to the Arab League after a 12-year suspension.

All 13 of the 22 member states that attended the session endorsed the decision. However, there is still no Arab consensus on normalization of ties with Damascus.

Several governments did not attend the meeting. Among the most notable absentees was Qatar, which continues to back the so-called moderate opposition groups against Syrian President Bashar Assad's government.

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement also welcomed the announcement of Syria's return to the Arab League.

"We welcome the decision by foreign ministers of Arab countries to reinstate Syria's membership in the Arab League," Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the Gaza-based group, said.

"We hope all repercussions of the Syrian crisis will be addressed as soon as possible," he added.

The Hamas spokesman also called for "stronger interactions among all components of the Muslim world in order to further consolidate their position in the face of trans-regional colonial ambitions, the foremost of which is the expansionist Zionist scheme."

Russia hails Syria's return to Arab League

Russia also hailed the decision to reinstate its ally Syria's membership to the Arab League.

"We think that the decision of the Council of Arab League Foreign Ministers has demonstrated the Arab countries' aspiration to bolster coordination of actions in the interests of settling pertinent regional and international issues and confirmed their intent to continue conducting their independent policy on the global stage based on their core interests in the future," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

The vote in the Egyptian capital came days after top Arab diplomats met in Jordan to discuss a roadmap to bring Syria back into its fold as the foreign-sponsored conflict is in its last stages.

The decision also includes a commitment to ongoing dialogue with Arab governments to gradually reach a political solution to the conflict, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

The Arab League also set up a communications committee consisting of Saudi Arabia and Syria's neighbors Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq to follow up on the developments.

The Arab League suspended Syria's membership in November 2011, citing an alleged crackdown by Damascus on opposition protests. Syria has denounced the move as "illegal and a violation of the organization's charter."

Syria was one of the six founding members of the Arab League in 1945. In recent months, an increasing number of countries and political parties have called for the reversal of its suspension from the Arab League.

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Iran Willing to Provide Advanced Defense Weapons to Syria

Sputnik News

20230508

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran is willing to provide its most advanced defense weapons to Syria to boost security, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said on Monday.

"The era of restoration ... of Syria in various fields has begun, and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic of Iran, among other areas ... is prepared [to launch] production and equipment of the Syrian Arab Army with the most advanced defense weapons," Ashtiani said during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, according to Iranian media.

Ashtiani emphasized that Iran was ready to cooperate with Syria on building plants and launching production of strategic defense weapons to create multipurpose defense infrastructure, strengthen the republic's military capabilities and boost the security of the Syrian people.

At the same time, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri said that Iran was also prepared to share its vast experience in countering terrorism and conducting modern warfare with the Sultanate of Oman.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has vast experience in fighting terrorism, [conducting] modern warfare, [developing] military equipment ... and we are prepared to share it with our brothers," the Iranian general was quoted as saying by state-run media.

On Monday, Bagheri met with Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said in Oman. During the meeting, the Iranian official noted the strengthening of the ties between the two countries and offered Tehran's help in fighting maritime drug trafficking. Bagheri also reportedly invited Omani military officials to visit Iran.

On Sunday, foreign ministers of the League of Arab States announced that Syria was returning to the organization.

The 22-nation Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after a war broke out in the country. Several member states then recalled their ambassadors from Syria in protest against Syrian President Bashar Assad's policies, accusing his government of cracking down on demonstrators in the country. Years later, some of the nations have begun taking steps to reengage with Damascus and reopen embassies.

A Sputnik

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What Does Syria's Return to Arab Fold Mean for Kurds?

By Sirwan Kajjo May 08, 2023

With the Arab League agreeing to readmit Syria in the regional bloc, U.S.-backed Kurdish groups are expressing hope that this development will lead to a permanent resolution to the country's 12-year conflict.

Arab League foreign ministers met Sunday in Cairo to vote on the reinstatement of Syria's membership after a suspension of nearly 12 years due to the government of President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2011.

Syrian Kurdish groups welcomed the move, saying an active Arab involvement in Syria could activate a peace process in the war-torn country.

"We view this as a positive step, because it could lead toward a resolution," said Dalya Henan, a leading member of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the de facto political ruler in northeast Syria.

"But if we are looking for a real resolution to the Syrian conflict, all relevant sides must be involved," she told VOA.

The SDC is the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a major U.S. partner in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terror group. The two Kurdish-led groups are in control of nearly one third of Syria's territory.

The Syrian government doesn't recognize SDF's de facto semi-autonomous region, and talks between the two sides in recent years have yielded no results, primarily due to Assad's opposition to the Kurdish partnership with Washington.

Some 900 U.S. troops remain in Kurdish-controlled Syria as part of a global coalition against IS remnants. The Syrian government has been calling for their withdrawal.

But experts believe the U.S. is set on maintaining a low-cost, light-footprint presence in northeast Syria for the foreseeable future.

"The reality of an indefinite American context in Syria has settled into the strategy of regional actors, who now have a sense of the U.S.-imposed rules of the road to end the Syrian conflict," said Nicholas Heras, a Syria expert at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington.

"Fundamentally, the Biden team has an unspoken but active 'don't look, don't touch' approach to Syria policy that regional actors are coming to terms with: the U.S. won't look at regional, and European, rapprochement with the Assad government, but the regional actors won't touch the reality of American engagement with the Kurdish-led SDF zone in northeast Syria," he told VOA.

But retired Colonel Myles B. Caggins III, a former spokesperson for the anti-IS coalition, believes Syria's return to the Arab League could have implications for the U.S. military presence in the country.

"Assad's restored regional legitimacy is another indicator that Washington will eventually pull troops out of northeastern Syria," he told VOA.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington shared the goals of its Arab partners in Syria, including building security and stability, but remained "skeptical of Assad's willingness to take the steps necessary to resolve Syria's crisis," according to Reuters.

"We do not believe Syria merits readmission into the Arab League at this time," the spokesperson said Sunday, adding that U.S. sanctions on the Syrian government would remain in full effect.

Washington insists that the only viable solution to the Syrian conflict is the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which was adopted in 2015.

Analyst Heras said the current U.S. political and military position in northeast Syria could help the Kurds in the future.

"This reality means that the Syrian Kurds have an opportunity to build an enduring, albeit necessarily multiethnic and inclusive reality in northeast Syria that can bargain better with Damascus," he said.

Last week the Washington-based al-Monitor news site reported that Mazloum Abdi, the top commander of SDF, had traveled to the UAE seeking Abu Dhabi's help in mediating a deal between the Kurds and Damascus.

Some information in this report came from Reuters. VOA's Zana Omer contributed from Qamishli, Syria.

This story originated in VOA's Kurdish Service.

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Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

May 08, 2023

On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175), the President issued Executive Order 13338, in which he declared a national emergency with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria. The national emergency was modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive Order 13608 of May 1, 2012.



The President took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.



The regime's brutality and repression of the Syrian people, who have called for freedom and a representative government, not only endangers the Syrian people themselves, but also generates instability throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including with respect to chemical weapons and supporting terrorist organizations, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As a result, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13338, which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 13572, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13399, Executive Order 13460, Executive Order 13573, Executive Order 13582, Executive Order 13606, and Executive Order 13608, must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2023. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria.



In addition, the United States condemns the brutal violence and human rights violations and abuses of the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian enablers. The United States calls on the Assad regime, and its backers, to stop its violent war against its own people, enact a nationwide ceasefire, facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need, and negotiate a political settlement in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. The United States will consider changes in policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future.



This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.







JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,

May 8, 2023.

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Taiwan, U.S. in talks on US$500 million weapons aid package: Defense chief

ROC Central News Agency

05/08/2023 02:32 PM

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (ea) said Monday that his ministry has been in talks with the United States on the types of weapon systems that would be needed if the U.S. decides to supply Taiwan with US$500 million worth of emergency military aid under a grant program, amid China's growing military threats.

Speaking during a legislative hearing, Chiu confirmed a Reuters report last week that said U.S. President Joe Biden's administration was planning to send US$500 million worth of military aid to Taiwan, under the same emergency program that was being used to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion.

Chiu told lawmakers in the hearing that since January, Taiwan has been in talks with the U.S. to decide on a priority list of weapon systems under the possible US$500 million emergency grant.

The grant will provide free weapons to Taiwan in consideration of the current backlog in the U.S.' supply of weapons that Taiwan has already purchased, but it will not in any way alter those orders, he said.

According to the Reuters report on May 5, the U.S. Congress, as a part of its 2023 budget, authorized up to US$1 billion worth of weapons aid for Taiwan, using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a rapid response tool that allows the American government to provide emergency military assistance to U.S. allies and partners in crisis all over the world.

Under the PDA, the U.S. president can decide to rapidly transfer U.S. military equipment and other articles from the country's stockpiles to the partner or ally during an emergency, without congressional approval, according to the U.S. State Department website.

If approved by Biden, the aid package of up to US$1 billion will be the first granted to Taiwan under the PDA, but it is not yet known what it will comprise or when it will be sent, according to the Reuters report.

Since last year, Taiwan has been complaining of delays in the delivery of weapons purchased from the U.S.

Last week, Chiu said his ministry had been informed that delivery of the first two F-16V fighters in Taiwan's order for 66 of the American planes will be delayed for almost a year due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Republican Congresswoman Young Kim of California, Washington has run up a backlog of US$21 billion worth of defense articles it has agreed to sell Taiwan.

The U.S. Department of State had said earlier that the backlog was due to the current limited production capacity of the country's defense industry, rather than to any prioritizing of support for Ukraine.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc



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1st group of volunteer female reservists report for training

ROC Central News Agency

05/08/2023 03:44 PM

Taoyuan, May 8 (CNA) A group of 14 female veterans reported to a location in northern Taoyuan City to start five days of volunteer reservist training on Monday morning, making them the first women to undergo such training in Taiwan.

The 14 reservists reported to a "strategic location" in Taoyuan's Bade District before the deadline on noon Monday, according to Reserve Command Political Warfare Department chief Major General Hsieh Yung-wei ().

The military did not make public the "strategic location" for security reason.

According to Hsieh, the 14 women will undergo the same training as their male counterparts under the five-day program.

However, they will have separate dormitories and bathrooms to the male reservists, he added.

During the training period, all reservists, regardless of gender, undergo live-fire rifle shooting exercises and other training according to their specific expertise when serving in the armed forces, Hsieh added.

One of the veterans surnamed Chiu () told reporters after reporting for duty that she was happy to be able to revisit her life in the military again for five-days.

She said it is important for women to undergo reservist training the same as their male counterparts, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Another reservist surnamed Chiang () who was discharged from the military more than a year ago said she volunteered for the reservist training.

Chiang said she is nervous about the upcoming training, particularly as she now works night shifts and is no longer used to waking up early.

However, she added that such refresher training is important given ongoing cross-strait tensions.

"I want to do my part to safeguard the country," she added.

Chiang's husband surnamed Ho () who accompanied her when she reported for training told reporters they met while serving in the military as volunteer soldiers.

Ho said he has also been discharged from active military service and the couple have a one-year-old son.

He said he fully supports his wife's decision to volunteer for reservist training as the armed forces are like a big family to them.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced in January that it would start asking female reservists to volunteer for the same reservist training as their male counterparts later this year.

Previously, Taiwan's military said it only trained male reservists because it did not have sufficient capacity to accommodate both men and women.

Participants in reservist training have complained for decades that this is a form of gender discrimination.

While men in Taiwan are subject to compulsory military conscription and reservist training, women are not, but they can join the armed forces voluntarily to serve as soldiers and officers.

The MND did not say it is now requiring military training for female reservists because of an increased risk of war with China, but rather that it is doing so because all veterans regardless of gender should have the same responsibility.

As of 2021, a total of 8,915 women were listed as reservists. In addition to the reservists, 15 percent of Taiwan's 180,000 active military personnel are women, according to military figures.

The MND said that a total of 220 female reservists have volunteered to undergo required reservists training this year.

(By Wu Reui-chi and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW





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Practical, psywar aims behind latest Chinese drone incursions: Experts

ROC Central News Agency

05/08/2023 07:59 PM

By Sean Lin, CNA staff reporter

When People's Liberation Army (PLA) drones recently took the unprecedented step of circling around Taiwan, local media speculated that China might be using the new approach to spy on Taiwan's military facilities and deployments.

Military and drone experts believe Beijing had other motives in mind, however, including familiarizing itself with flight paths over waters in the Western Pacific and stepping up its campaign of psychological warfare against Taiwan.

On both April 28 and May 3, a PLA drone flew around Taiwan in its air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

The first drone, the TB-001 "Twin-Tailed Scorpion," flew in a counter-clockwise direction on April 28, starting south of Taiwan then flying along the eastern boundary of the ADIZ before heading back to China in airspace north of Taiwan.

The second drone, a BZK-005, followed roughly the same path on May 3 but in a clockwise direction, according to flight paths released by the Ministry of National Defense.

Chieh Chung (), an associate research fellow with the National Policy Foundation in Taipei, told CNA in a recent interview that because the drones were flying at some distance from Taiwan's shores, the flights were probably not aimed at gathering military intelligence.

Rather, Chieh said, the fly-bys were likely aimed at familiarizing the PLA with airspace east of Taiwan because monitoring Taiwan's east coast and nearby waters would be critical to the PLA before or during wartime.

If a war were imminent, Chieh said, the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official title) Air Force and Navy would likely move fighter jets from air bases in western Taiwan to Jiashan Air Base in Hualien County and naval fleets to maritime zones off Taiwan's east coast, to protect them from being destroyed by ballistic missiles.

PLA aircraft carriers and bomber squads would need drones to locate those naval fleets and fighter jets and other military facilities to take them out, Chieh said.

It was no coincidence, therefore, that according to some retired Navy officers Chieh talked to, the drones deliberately flew through two or three maritime zones critical to Taiwan's deployment of naval fleets for force preservation in the event of a war with China, he said.

The drone deployment, and the presence of China's newest aircraft carrier, the Shandong, in waters just 120 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan on April 24, were also aimed at delivering a message to Taiwan and other countries that Taiwan's force preservation zones are no longer safe, Chieh said.

Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, argued that the incursions were intended to intimidate Taiwanese and were part of the PLA's psychological warfare campaign against Taiwan.

One tell-tale sign, Su said, was that the two types of drones that buzzed around Taiwan had a low chance of surviving a war.

"Neither type of drone has stealth capability, and they fly at low speeds of between 180 kilometers and 300 km per hour, making them easy targets," Su said. "Taiwan would never let them get close [in a war]."

Apart from exerting psychological pressure, the fly-bys also had a more practical purpose -- to lower the cost of the PLA's routine incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ, Su said.

The Russian-made Saturn AL-31 engines widely used in China's "J" family of fighter jets and Sukhoi fighters and Chinese-built Shengyang WS-10 engines used in many "J" fighters have a lifespan of only about 1,500 hours, so deploying drones in place of fighter jets can ease the PLA's maintenance burden, Su said.

Meanwhile, Lo Cheng-fang (), CEO of Taiwan-based drone manufacturer Geosat Aerospace & Technology Inc., told CNA that the latest drone incursions were a new form of PLA "gray zone" tactics that had the PLA systematically advancing east.

That advance can be seen from PLA planes routinely crossing the Taiwan Strait median line since former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August last year to the detection of the Shandong and the latest drone incursions, Lo said.

That poses a graver dual threat to Taiwan because the PLA is now attempting to use drones to wage both asymmetric and cognitive warfare against Taiwan, Lo said.

Drones cost less to produce than aircraft, and routine PLA drone flights close to Taiwan that force the Air Force to scramble fighter jets in response would put a heavy burden on Taiwan's pilots and military, Lo said.

While the two types of drones that recently circled Taiwan could not conduct reconnaissance missions from where they were flying, China will one day develop electronic warfare drones designed specifically for reconnaissance, and Taiwan must be prepared for that, Lo said.

To counter China's drone incursions, Chieh recommended equipping domestically produced drones with signal jamming equipment to prevent PLA drones from transmitting military intelligence back to PLA command centers.

Deploying fighter jets would not be a good option, Chieh said, because fighter jets fly at a much higher speed than drones, a lesson South Korea learned in its attempts to down North Korean drones.

Instead, some countries have successfully knocked down intruding drones with drones, Chieh said, but that would only be an option if the drones entered the ROC's territorial air space or in the event of a war.

Lo suggested developing more advanced drones with combat and reconnaissance capabilities to alleviate the burden on crewed aircraft, describing that as a more time-efficient approach than developing 4.5- or 5-gen fighters.

Domestically produced drones such as the Albatross and the Teng Yun could also prove useful in shadowing intruding PLA drones should incursions become a norm, especially after compatible weapon systems have been developed, Lo said.

Su agreed that locally made drones should be deployed to shadow PLA unmanned aerial vehicles and complement existing radar systems, which he said would boost the reconnaissance capabilities of Taiwan's military and lower the cost of patrolling airspace around Taiwan.

State-run weapons developer National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is developing a high-energy laser weapon that only costs about US$2 each time it is fired, making it an even more cost-effective deterrence should PLA drones breach Taiwan's territorial airspace or were war to break out, Su said.

Enditem/ls

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Do the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations "restore" Taiwan to China?

Neither declaration attempts to settle control over Taiwan.

RFA Staff

2023.05.08

In Brief

Chinese officials repeatedly assert that the Cairo Declaration (1943) and Potsdam Declaration (1945) are two historical documents which prove that mainland China holds jurisdiction over Taiwan.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) found these claims to be false. Both documents clearly state the conditions for Japan's surrender at the end of the Second World War include forfeiting control of Taiwan and restoring the island to the Republic of China, or ROC.

The documents were never intended nor settle the current political disputes between Taiwan and China. Such statements by Chinese officials often misleadingly ignore the fact that the Republic of China exercises de facto sovereignty over Taiwan and the ambiguousness of which of the two governments holds legal sovereignty over the island.

In Depth

From the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 up till the present day, the People's Republic of China claims that it is the sole legal government that represents China and refuses to recognize the de facto ROC sovereignty over Taiwan.

As succinctly stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a speech given in September 2022, "the government of the People's Republic of China is recognized as the sole legal government representing the whole of China [including Taiwan]."

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attempted to support the longstanding claim by Chinese officials that their government's sovereignty over Taiwan has a historical basis in an April 21 public speech in Shanghai.

"Taiwan's return to China is an integral part of the post-World War II international order, clearly written into both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation," said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying, who posted tweets that reiterated the claim.

Did either the Cairo Declaration or Potsdam Declaration attempt to settle the dispute over Taiwan?

No, they did not.

At the time of their announcement, neither of these the declarations was meant to address the question of whether the Republic of China should relinquish sovereignty over Taiwan and allow Communist China to govern the island, says Richard Bush, a senior fellow at the Center for East Asia Policy Studies and author of several books on Taiwan-U.S. relations. He was also the chairman and managing director of the American Institute of Taiwan, America's de facto embassy in Taipei.

"Because the declarations were statements of intent prior to a negotiation over Taiwan's sovereignty, the PRC reasoning is faulty," Bush notes.

Given that the People's Republic of China had not even been established at the time the two declarations were made, it is illogical to use such documents to settle the dispute over Taiwan.

Chinese officials often assert that the Cairo Declaration restored Taiwan and the surrounding islands "to China," instead of the full original wording of the treaty, "the Republic of China." Copies of the Potsdam Declaration printed in Mainland China also often abbreviate the term "the National Government of the Republic of China" used in the opening article to simply "the National Government of China."

These seemingly small changes allow the PRC to more easily claim that the treaty grants their government jurisdiction and sovereignty over Taiwan. The terms are close enough to the original wording to sound convincing, yet different enough to sidestep the pesky fact that the Republic of China still exists.

Yet ultimately even this change in terminology does not make a big difference. Neither the Cairo Declaration nor the Potsdam Declaration were ever intended to settle the question of what Chinese government should hold jurisdiction over Taiwan. They have no bearing on the current dispute between the PRC and ROC over Taiwan.

"The two declarations were only statements of intention about what would happen to Taiwan after World War II," Bush said.

"At that time, the internationally accepted mechanism for transferring territory after a war was through a peace treaty," he said. "But in the treaties ending the war in the Pacific (the San Francisco Treaty and the treaty between Japan and the ROC), Japan only gave up ownership of TW; it didn't assign it to any country."

Since either of the declarations were announced, has China controlled Taiwan?

No, it has not.

While the Qing Dynasty maintained jurisdiction and sovereignty over Taiwan from the late 1600s until 1895, the Republic of China has retained full control over Taiwan after Japanese forces on the island surrendered at the end of World War II, Bush says.

Does mainland China hold legal sovereignty over Taiwan?

It depends on whom you ask. To answer such a question, one has to determine what grants a government sovereignty over territory. "This is still an open question that is best resolved by the two sides," Bush notes.

One can argue that since the PRC controls much more land and people within the territory that both it and the ROC both formerly claimed, that therefore it ought to hold sovereignty over Taiwan.

Or one can argue that since the ROC was the lawful representative government of China when both the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations were signed - as even the official PRC interpretation of history acknowledges - that therefore, it ought to hold legal sovereignty over Taiwan.

However these are arguable propositions, not facts. To unambiguously claim that the PRC legally represents Taiwan, as PRC officials regularly do, is misleading.

Conclusion

AFCL found Chinese official claims that the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration prove that the territory of Taiwan must eventually be governed by Communist China to be false. The documents made clear that Japan needed to relinquish Taiwan back to the Republic of China. They were never intended to settle the ongoing dispute over who has sovereignty over Taiwan.

China advocates an interpretation of history that promotes its own political goals, and Chinese officials often ignore or omit facts that contradict those interpretations. This is one such case.

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 May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 8, 2023

ROC Central News Agency

2023/05/08



PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

May 8, 2023 09:00iUTC+8i

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Sunday to Monday, May.7-8

2.PLA activitiesis

7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities.

3.Illustration of flight paths is not provided due to no trace of PLA aircraft crossing the middle line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ during the time frame.



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Estonia becomes a founding member of the Council of Europe's register of war damages

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

08.05.2023

On its 4 May press conference, the Estonian government announced that it had approved a draft agreement on establishing a Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine at the Council of Europe.

The aim of the agreement is to establish a register for converging, analysing and preserving evidence about the damages caused by Russia and damage claims in Ukraine after 24 February 2022.

"Estonia has been actively advocating for ensuring the war crimes and the crime of aggression committed in Ukraine are punished and for filing monetary claims against the Russian aggressors," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna underlined.

The agreement on establishing the register will be signed soon in Strasbourg at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

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The President: EU solidarity is key to securing financial support for Ukraine

President of the Republic of Lithuania

May 08, 2023

President Gitanas NausAda met with the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn.

The President and the European Commissioner discussed the mid-term review of the EU's funding priorities and the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. Gitanas NausAda pointed out that the focus should be on ensuring the sustainable development of the European Union and financing those areas that require the full attention of all member states. It is crucial to maintain and increase financial support for Ukraine as well as to boost funding for other areas relevant to the security of Europeans and Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine: military mobility, border protection and war refugee solutions.

Among the other issues discussed were proposals for new own resources - sources of revenue - for the EU budget. The President expressed Lithuania's support for the carbon border adjustment mechanism and the taxation of profits generated by major multinational companies. Gitanas NausAda also voiced some reservations about creating a revenue source based on the EU emissions trading scheme. According to the President, this is currently Lithuania's main source of funding for climate-related measures.

The President and the European Commissioner also exchanged views on the draft EU budget for 2024. Gitanas NausAda underscored the importance of securing funding for agriculture and cohesion policy and the need to increase support for Ukraine. "Given the ongoing Russian aggression and the urgent need to rebuild Ukraine's critical infrastructure, we must ensure continued and increased EU financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," the President said.



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Russia hits Ukraine with barrage of drones ahead of Victory Day

Iran Press TV

Monday, 08 May 2023 2:39 PM

Russia has launched dozens of missiles and drones towards Ukraine's capital, Kiev, and other cities, in a wave of attacks on the eve of Victory Day celebrations.

According to Kiev's mayor, Moscow had fired 60 drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital, claiming that all of them had been shot down. He said debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the capital.

In Kiev, explosions could be heard through the night. Three people were injured in blasts in the Solomyanskyi district and two when drone wreckage fell in the Sviatoshyn district, both west of the capital's center, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces also said, "Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded civilians, high-rise buildings, private homes and other civilian infrastructure were damaged."

The attack came as Russia prepares for Tuesday's Victory Day parade, the day which marks the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, marked Victory Day on Monday rather than Tuesday, announcing that he had signed a decree to change the date of the holiday in line with the practice of Western allies. "Recalling the heroism of millions of Ukrainians in that war against Nazism, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers today," Zelensky said in an address to the nation.

Russia said by changing the date, Zelensky betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who fought the Nazis.

"What is worse than an enemy? A traitor. That is Zelenskiy, the embodiment of Judas in the 21st century," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

On the day of Russia's parade, Zelensky will receive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to the European Union (EU).

Russia repels Ukraine drone attacks

Russia said it had shot down Ukrainian drones attacking the Crimea peninsula on Sunday.

The Russian administration in Crimea said it had repelled a night attack by a dozen Ukrainian drones.

The unmanned aerial vehicles were launched on the port city of Sevastopol, the capital of the peninsula and home to Russia's Black Sea fleet.

Moscow said the drones were neutralized by anti-aircraft defenses and electronic jamming. "No infrastructure in the city was damaged," said Mikhail Razvojayev, the city governor.

Meanwhile, concerns grew on Sunday over Europe's largest nuclear power plant after local authorities ordered civilians living nearby to evacuate.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has spent months trying to persuade Russian and Ukrainian officials to avert disaster at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in southeastern Ukraine.

"The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned on Saturday. "We must act now to prevent the threat of a severe nuclear accident and its associated consequences for the population and the environment. This major nuclear facility must be protected."

Moscow captured the nuclear facility soon after the start of the military campaign in Ukraine last year, but Ukrainian employees have continued to run it ever since.

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On Victory Day In Europe, Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Will Win As Prigozhin Claims Ammunition Arriving

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 08, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy marked the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe by saying his nation will be victorious over Russia as the Kremlin-connected head of a Russian paramilitary group claimed his forces were inching forward in the fiercely contested town of Bakhmut.

Zelenskiy submitted a bill to parliament officially marking May 9 as "Europe Day" in Ukraine, while Victory Day, May 8, would be celebrated as a "day of remembrance and victory over Nazism." The move is a snub to Russia, which invaded Ukraine to prevent it from integrating with Europe.

Russia and other former Soviet countries celebrate the end of World War II on May 9 while Europe celebrates it a day earlier.

Zelenskiy said in a video statement on May 8 that Russian forces invading his country would be defeated with the help of Western allies just like Nazi Germany was beaten in World War II.

"We destroyed evil together, in the same way as we are now standing together against a similar evil," he said in a direct reference to Russia and its unprovoked invasion.

"Together with all of free Europe, we will mark May 9 in Ukraine as Europe Day -- [the day] of a united Europe, the basis of which should be and will be peace; [a day] of our Europe," Zelenskiy said. "Ukraine has always been, is, and will be a part of [this Europe].

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, claiming the Eastern European country is part of the Russian world and that Ukrainians and Russians are "one people."

Putin has used Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations in recent years to promote his argument that Ukraine is gripped by fascism similar to that of Nazi Germany. The accusation is viewed by Kyiv and its allies as a baseless claim used as another pretext for Russia's invasion.

More than 20 Russian cities have canceled Victory Day parades this year, while celebrations in Moscow have been scaled back. Some experts have speculated that Russia is worried about possible social unrest as citizens remember family members killed or severely injured in the war in Ukraine.

Russia has suffered about 200,000 casualties by some estimates during the 14-month war and continues to lose dozens a day in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the war's hot spot. Russia has been besieging Bakhmut in the Donetsk region since last summer and has yet to take the city.

The Russian assault is being led by Wagner mercenaries. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner, had blamed a lack of ammunition for his group's inability to capture Bakhmut and just days ago threatened to pull out of the city if it did not soon arrive. On May 8, he said his forces have begun to receive more supplies.

Ukrainian intelligence has warned about the possibility of Russian provocations on the occasion of May 9, and Kyiv's military command said it shot down 35 suicide drones and 16 missiles used to attack Ukrainian territory ahead of the events.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its morning update on May 8 that "the enemy again attacked the territory of Ukraine, using Iranian Shahed attack drones," claiming "35 out of 35 drones were destroyed by our defenders."

It said the missile strikes targeted the regions of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolayiv, and Odesa and inflicted human casualties.

"Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded civilians, and high-rise buildings, private homes, and other civilian infrastructure were damaged," the General Staff said.

Earlier, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said five people were injured overnight as a result of a drone strike that damaged buildings and infrastructure.

On May 7, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate warned of Russian "provocations" ahead of the May 9 World War II victory celebrations.

"The enemy often chooses symbolic dates for this," said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the intelligence body, saying Moscow had employed the tactic since its invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for separatists in Ukraine's east in 2014.

"In this situation, provocations can be directed by the Russian special services against the Russian civilian population and timed to certain dates," Yusov said.

Yusov also warned about the possibility of a "false flag" incident that would attempt to draw Belarus into the full-scale war launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian officials say fighting has intensified in Bakhmut, which Ukrainian and Russian forces have battled over for months, as part of an effort by the Kremlin to capture the eastern Ukrainian city by May 9.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-military-russia- drone-attacks-anniversary/32401350.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukraine Claims Kiev Targeted With Heaviest Attack Since Launch of Special Op

Sputnik News

20230508

Sergey Lebedev

The capital was reportedly hit by the strongest air attack since the beginning of the Russian special military operation

Ukrainian media has reported a series of powerful explosions around the country, including Kiev, on Sunday night. Authorities in the capital stated that a tank with diesel fuel was damaged in the Solomensky district. Explosions and fires were also reported in Odessa.

"This is the most massive attack (...) on our city," Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

The attacks come after Ukraine organized a number of terrorist hits on Russian territory, including the recent drone attack on the Kremlin that was thwarted by Russian security services.

Zelensky's followers also made an attempt on Russian politician and writer Zakhar Prilepin, blasting his car on a highway in Nizhny Novgorod region. The driver was killed, while Prilepin was seriously injured. At the same time, the chief of Kiev's military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said they will proceed with "killing Russians."

As Moscow top investigator Alexander Bastrykin explained, this strategy only confirms that terrorism is a "typical style of Ukrainian nationalists."

Since October 2022 Russia has been carrying out precision strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, defense industry and military command facilities in retaliation for a terrorist attack on the Crimea Bridge.

In past months, air raid alerts have sounded in Ukrainian regions every day, sometimes throughout the country.

A Sputnik

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Russian Su-34 Bomber Strikes Foreign Mercenaries in Kharkov Region

Sputnik News

20230508

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Russian Su-34 frontline bomber has struck at the deployment point of foreign mercenaries in the Kharkov region with guided bombs, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.

"The crew of a Su-34 fighter-bomber, using universal modules for planning and correcting aerial bombs, struck at a temporary deployment point of foreign mercenaries near the village of Ivanovka [Ivanivka]," the spokesperson said.

In addition, in the Kupyansk direction, Russia forces have located and destroyed two Ukrainian sabotage reconnaissance groups and have thwarted three attempts of enemy troop rotation, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also told Sputnik that a combat vehicle of the Osa anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed using the Lancet precision loitering munition near the village of Velykyi Burluk. An Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer used by Ukrainian troops was also destroyed by Russian forces.

Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 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.

On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia.

Western countries have significantly increased their economic and military support for Kiev, which now includes air defense and multiple rocket launching systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery, anti-aircraft guns, armored vehicles and various types of ammunition. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in January that arms supplies to Ukraine by Western countries testify to their direct and growing involvement in the conflict.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainians' success in defense against Russian aggression is an antidote to other aggressions - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

8 May 2023 - 21:39

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I would like to thank our warriors. Those who defend the Ukrainian sky and those who fight for Ukraine on the frontline.

Our defenders of the sky - the Air Force and other branches of troops involved in the defense against terrorists' missiles and Shaheds - are doing a great job these days! They inspire not only us. Our partners see what Ukrainians are capable of, what the weapons we have been given are capable of in our hands, and how effective we are when we act together for the sake of our common security.

Ukrainians' success in defense against Russian aggression is definitely an antidote to other aggressions. The world needs to see that a free nation is capable of defending freedom from invaders. If we can do it, then others can do it. If they act as boldly, as accurately, and in the same unity with other free nations. I am grateful to each of our warriors who provides Ukraine with this result! I am grateful to every partner who helps our warriors with the weapons they need to be effective!

Today I would like to especially celebrate the warriors of the 96th Kyiv air defense missile brigade. For this and the previous day, they have done an absolutely great job!

Of course, today, as always, I thank our troops who are fighting in the most fierce areas. Maryinka, Bakhmut, Avdiivka... I thank each and every one who defends Ukraine there for their grit and resilience! The occupiers have again received some new tasks from their leaders to advance somewhere by a certain date... Well, this only means that despite any dates, our heroes will, as always, destroy the occupier.

Today, I held a meeting of the Staff. The commanders of operational directions, the Commander-in-Chief and the heads of intelligence delivered reports. By the way, Budanov's and Lytvynenko's reports were particularly thorough and relevant, and we will take certain steps based on them - steps that will strengthen our defense.

There were also reports on the training of our new units and the supply of ammunition. I held a meeting with the Minister for Strategic Industries on ammunition. There is good news in this regard. Of course, now is not the time to make them public.

I also held several security meetings with government officials. The head of government, the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Interior Minister, and other ministers.

The first meeting concerned demining in Ukraine. As of now, more than 170,000 square kilometers of our territory are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance. In general, this is estimated in terms of time rather badly - they say it will take decades to deal with such a threat. We have to do it much faster. We are also preparing a special system of actions that will help us demine the new territory faster after de-occupation. We are also actively working with partners to increase our capabilities. In terms of equipment, training of sappers and pyrotechnicians. We will cooperate with everyone in the world who has the experience, who has the technology, who has the financial capacity to support us to make Ukraine clear of Russian mines again.

Another security meeting I held today concerned the development of a fundamental new security concept for Ukraine. We will comprehensively answer all security issues of the country. At the legislative level, at the level of government decisions, in specific practical issues. From border protection to new security conditions for schools, from the infrastructural foundations of economic security to a real opportunity to guarantee our people the kind of protection against terror that the most advanced countries in the world have. All this will be presented. All this will be implemented.

Today, on May 8, when the world remembers the words "Never again!", we in Ukraine give meaning to these words. Not only to remember, but also to protect. Not only to value life, but also to do everything to ensure that everyone who threatens life, everyone who brings aggression, everyone who resorts to terror against other nations, every such evil loses.

I thank everyone who helps us protect lives! Glory to all our warriors who are now fighting for Ukraine!

May the victory over the current evil of ruscism be the best honor to the memory of those who fought and defeated Nazism!

Glory to Ukraine!

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President held a regular meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief

President of Ukraine

8 May 2023 - 12:29

On Monday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

The parties heard information about the consequences of recent air attacks by Russian troops and how to overcome them, and discussed opportunities to enhance the protection of the population and civilian and critical infrastructure.

They also heard reports on the operational situation at the front and the occupiers' plans for the near future.

The commanders of the operational and strategic groups of troops reported on the course of hostilities in the frontline areas within the responsibility of "Khortytsia", "Tavria", "Odesa" and "North" operational and strategic groups of troops.

The participants of the meeting analyzed the state of weapons and ammunition supply for the units of the Ukrainian defense forces, as well as the state of training, manning and equipment provision in the newly created brigades.

A separate report was heard on the supply of artillery ammunition and missiles of all types for the needs of the Ukrainian army this year.

The meeting was attended by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, and commanders of troops and operational directions. The meeting was also joined by members of the government, heads of security and law enforcement agencies.



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The address of the President of Ukraine on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War of 1939-1945

President of Ukraine

8 May 2023 - 09:00

Dear people!

On May 8, Ukraine and the free world remember six terrible years in the history of mankind. From 1939 to 1945... The years that took the lives of millions of people, including 8 million Ukrainians. The years of occupation and atrocities, bloody battles and bombings, blockades and mass executions, the Holocaust. All the evil that Nazism brought to the world, brought to our land.

Different nations opposed evil in unity, as allies of the anti-Hitler coalition. The nations of Europe and America... Asia, Australia, Africa - each has its own history of fighting in that war, but the common history of victory.

It is on May 8 that most nations of the world remember the greatness of the victory over the Nazis. The world admires all those who were protecting and protected life. Who threw down the Nazi flags on the liberated territory and who opened the gates of the concentration camps. Who restored freedom to the nations, who destroyed and condemned Nazi evil. It was on May 8, 1945, that the act of unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht entered into force. It is on May 8 that the world honors the memory of all those, whose lives were taken by that war. It is pure history, without ideological admixtures.

And it is the history of our people, our allies, the entire free world. Today, we are returning it to our state.

Today, I am submitting a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine proposing that May 8 be the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War of 1939-1945.

We will never forget the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism. And we will not allow anyone to erase the role of Ukrainians in this victory, our people, that generation whose memory we cherish in almost every family.

We will not allow the joint victory of the nations of the anti-Hitler coalition to be appropriated and we will not allow lies as if the victory could have taken place without the participation of any country or nation.

We destroyed evil together! In the same way as we are now opposing a similar evil together.

Remembering the heroism of millions of Ukrainians in that war against Nazism, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers now - the descendants of those who secured the victory - the surrender of Nazism that day, on May 8, 1945.

And we are proud of the heroism of the Ukrainian people! Then and now.

Unfortunately, evil has returned. Like back then evil rushed to our cities and villages, so it is doing now, like back then it killed our people, so it is doing it now. Although now it is another aggressor, the goal is the same - enslavement or destruction.

And like in the Second World War, we are not alone against evil. We fight against it together in the same way - together with the entire free world. With the states and people who created a joint victory at that time. Who, remembering the terrible years of that war, do not say "We can do it again!" but defend the meaning of the words "Never again!" Who did not betray the memory of their heroes and preserve the power of our common values - human life and freedom, equality and dignity, and a world without xenophobia and anti-Semitism, without racism and intolerance, without ideologies of hatred.

We fought then and we fight now so that no one ever again enslaves other nations and destroys other countries. And all those old evils that modern Russia is bringing back will be defeated just as Nazism was defeated.

This enemy once again put aggression and annexation, occupation and deportation, mass murder, and torture, bombing cities and burning villages up against our ideals. Our victory will be the answer to all this! The victory of Ukraine and the free world. Liberation of our lands. The return of our people. Protecting our values. And inevitably - justice, inevitably - justice against the ruscists' ideology of hatred.

Dear Ukrainians!

Now, as 80 years ago, Ukraine is fighting against total evil. Now, just like 80 years ago, Ukraine is fighting for the future - its own and that of the whole of Europe, the whole free world. Now, as 80 years ago, we rely on the common strength of free nations and know that together with them we will always be part of a free Europe that will not submit to evil. And together with all of free Europe, we will celebrate Europe Day on May 9 in Ukraine. A united Europe, the basis of which should be and will be peace. Our Europe, which Ukraine has always been, is, and will be a part of.

Today, I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity - the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ruscism.

This will be the Day of Europe, which has supported Ukrainians for all nine years of aggression and 439 days of the full-scale invasion. This will be the Day of Europe, which helps us fight in all directions: on the battlefield with weapons and on the diplomatic front - with determination, against missile terror and the winter blackout, in the economy and on the legal front. This will be the Day of Europe - our ally. Which gives shelter to Ukrainian women and children. Which does not encroach on our sovereignty and does not call into question our right to choose our own national path. Which never calls Ukraine a "fictional" or "artificial" entity. And which gives us its weapons so that we can defend ourselves and it - our Europe!

Many years ago, the tradition of celebrating Europe Day was established on our continent to mark peace and unity achieved. Today, unity on our continent brings us closer to celebrating the first day of our peace.

An honest memory of the past always strengthens faith in the future. Today, paying tribute to the most important victory of the 20th century, we are all waiting and approaching a new great day - a new victory. Our victory. Victory Day of Ukraine. Of course, joint. Which we will gain together with everyone who is helping us now.

We will remember every state and every nation that joined us in the struggle for freedom. We will never say that the victory could have happened without any of them. It will be a joint success, but I am sure that the world will call this day the same - Victory Day of Ukraine. The day when we expel the last occupier from our land. The day when we liberate all our cities and villages. The day when the curfew throughout Ukraine is replaced by the first minute of peace. When we can forget about the "Air Alarm" application. When the soldiers return to their families, the emigrants return to their homes. When we can safely travel through our country and discover its beauty again and again. When we meet guests of Ukraine, friends of Ukraine at our airports in Boryspil, Simferopol, and our other cities. In the free cities of free Ukraine!

We will not lose what we have gained, we will return everything captured by the enemy, we will rebuild what was destroyed and together we will protect it all.

We do not yet know the date of our victory but we know that it will be a holiday for all of Ukraine, for all of Europe, for the entire free world. There will be a holiday for all our heroes - our defenders, all our people who fight and work for our victory, all our allies and partners who strive for our victory as much as we do.

And our victory will have a symbol - a blue-yellow ribbon, our Ukrainian flag. Wherever it should rightfully be. Wherever our national colors will be also a symbol of respect for our people.

It should be like this and will be.

We remember the past, fight today, and do not stop, gaining victory.

Eternal memory to all those who died in the Second World War! Glory to each and every one who fought against Nazism and won!

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine! Glory to all our heroes of different times, to whom we equally owe our lives!

Glory to Ukraine!





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Latest in Ukraine: Zelenskyy Compares Evil of Nazism to 'Current Evil of Ruscism'

By VOA News May 08, 2023

New developments:

Rome's foreign ministry issued a traveling guidance Monday, "strongly" recommending that any Italians who are still in Ukraine leave by any means. The alert on Italy's "traveling safety" website cited Monday's heavy missile attacks on Kyiv and across all Ukrainian territory. It also urged anyone going for work there to take "appropriate risk prevention and mitigation measures" and to exercise "maximum caution."

Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prighozin, said his fighters have started receiving ammunition from the Russian military and reported progress in Bakhmut. "Today, the groups advanced a maximum of 130 meters (400 feet) ... Fierce fighting is going on, but the groups are continuing to advance," Prigozhin said in an audio message posted on social media.

Moscow's famed Red Square parade Tuesday on Russia's Victory Day will take place amid ramped-up security due to Russian fears of Ukrainian attacks. Many other Russian regions are canceling their V-Day celebrations as the war overshadows Russia's most important anniversary.

Fears about the safety of Europe's largest nuclear power plant are growing after the Moscow-installed governor of the Ukrainian region where it is located ordered civilian evacuations.

A survey published by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation on Monday shows that more than 67% of Ukrainians say the war with Russia can end only after a Ukrainian victory. Also, 82% of the respondents say there's no difference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany.

In his daily video address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in WWII and drew a parallel between the evil of Nazism then with "the current evil of ruscism."

"Today, on May 8, when the world remembers the words 'never again!' we in Ukraine give meaning to these words. Not only to remember, but also to protect," he said. "May the victory over the current evil of ruscism be the best honor to the memory of those who fought and defeated Nazism!"

The term "ruscism" was coined by Ukrainians to describe the Russian state under the current rule of President Vladmir Putin a roughly, Russian fascism.

Zelenskyy signed a bill Monday to officially mark May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II, breaking away from Russia's May 9 V-Day anniversary tradition.

Most European nations celebrate the anniversary of Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8. Russia and some former Soviet countries celebrate Victory Day on May 9, using the term the "Great Patriotic War," to stress Russia's victory over Nazi Germany.

Ukraine's Victory Day anniversary had also been the same day as Russia's, but this changed after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

"We will never forget the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism. And we will not allow lies, as if the victory in that war could happen without the participation of any country or nation," Zelenskyy said in Monday's video.

The Ukrainian president decreed May 9 to be Europe Day instead, marking Europe's support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

"Today, I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity a the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ruscism," Zelenskyy said.

"This will be the Day of Europe, which helps us fight in all directions: on the battlefield with weapons and on the diplomatic front with determination against missile terror and the winter blackout, in the economy and on the legal front," Zelenskyy said. "This will be the Day of Europe a our ally. Which gives shelter to Ukrainian women and children. Which does not encroach on our sovereignty and does not call into question our right to choose our own national path."

The Ukrainian president said Monday that Russian forces in Ukraine will be defeated like Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II.

Russian attacks

Explosions were heard overnight in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the messaging app Telegram that three people were wounded in blasts in Kyiv's Solomyanskyi district and two in the Sviatoshyn district, both west of the capital's center in the "biggest" exploding drone attack so far.

This was the fourth attack on Kyiv in eight days and was launched 24 hours before Russia's Victory Day anniversary.

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova tweeted that Ukrainian forces shot down 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones, but that debris had hit apartment buildings in Kyiv and injured five people.

In the Black Sea city of Odesa, Dzhaparova said Russian missiles hit a food warehouse and a recreation area, killing one person and injuring three others. A missile strike "completely" destroyed a Red Cross warehouse in the city, the humanitarian aid organization reported.

Russian artillery shelling also wounded eight people, including a 9-year-old boy, in two villages in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson, regional officials said.

Russia has also intensified its attacks on Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prighozin and his Wagner group continued their assault on the besieged city after the Russian military promised them more arms and ammunition.

Nuclear plant concerns

Fears about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in eastern Ukraine grew Sunday after Russian officials ordered the evacuation of civilians from 18 settlements around the nuclear power plant.

The plant is near the front line of battles between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Russia fired more than 30 shells at Nikopol, a Ukrainian-held town neighboring the plant, killing a 72-year-old woman and injuring three others Sunday, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine has also mounted attacks in the vicinity of the plant, according to The Associated Press.

The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency said in a statement Saturday the situation near the plant "is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous."

"I'm extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks facing the plant," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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US Watches With Caution as China Sends Peace Envoy to Ukraine

By Nike Ching May 08, 2023

In just a few months, U.S. officials have pivoted from publicly warning Beijing not to provide material support for Russia's war in Ukraine to acknowledging there is a role for China to play in brokering peace talks.

On February 24, the day that China unveiled its 12-point peace proposal, Blinken voiced skepticism during remarks to the United Nations Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine.

"No member of this council should call for peace while supporting Russia's war on Ukraine and on the U.N. Charter," the top U.S. diplomat said one year after Russia invaded Ukraine.

By May 3, Blinken publicly acknowledged that it's possible China would have a "very beneficial" role to play in peace talks.

Analysts and former American officials told VOA the shift in U.S. tone is partly a response to Washington's European allies, who view Chinese President Xi Jinping as the only possible leader who can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin's thinking about the war in Ukraine.

China has since announced it will send a peace envoy to Ukraine, although some remain skeptical that Beijing can be neutral.

China's special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, is expected to travel to Ukraine and other nations in a bid to bring a cease-fire and a diplomatic resolution to the war.

Li, a fluent Russian speaker, was Beijing's former envoy to Russia from 2009 to 2019 and was among a few people awarded the Medal of Friendship by Putin.

When asked by VOA if the U.S. thinks China can be bias-free in mediating an end to Russia's invasion in Ukraine, a State Department spokesperson said, "When it comes to diplomacy, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. The other key part of this is obviously Russia. The Kremlin has yet to demonstrate any meaningful interest in ending this war; quite the opposite."

"No, China cannot be bias-free. China is clearly supportive of President Putin," said Ambassador William Taylor, vice president for Europe and Russia at the Washington-based U.S. Institute of Peace. "So, it cannot present itself as a neutral mediator."

Taylor was charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv in 2019 and as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009.

As U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is reported to be weighing whether to work with Beijing to seek a negotiated settlement in Ukraine, Taylor told VOA, "The key caution is to be sure that any conversation with the Chinese about the Russian war on Ukraine has the Ukrainians as participants."

"The Chinese as a mediator are not terribly forceful," said Dennis Wilder, an assistant professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University, who from 2009 to 2015 was senior editor of the U.S. President's Daily Brief, a summary of intelligence from across the government.

"If people are expecting the Chinese to come up with the creative solution, they'll be disappointed. That's not the way China operates. If people are looking for China to offer its good offices, China is pretty good at that. But the Chinese very rarely come up with the solution," Wilder told VOA.

Last Wednesday, when asked by The Washington Post about working with China to achieve a stable outcome in Ukraine and China's offer to mediate an end to the war, Secretary of State Antony Blinken struck a warmer tone.

"It's certainly possible that China would have a role to play in that effort, and that could be very beneficial," he said.

Experts say those remarks reflect the European Union's belief that there has been some progress in encouraging Xi to oppose the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and to support Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty. They hope China will do more going forward.

"While agreeing with the U.S. that it is necessary to warn Beijing against supplying lethal aid to Russia, at the same time they want to urge China to use its leverage over Moscow to bring an end to the war," said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Others, including former Assistant Secretary for Europe Philip Reeker, who now heads the Global Europe Program at the Wilson Center, believes "working together to help end Putin's disastrous adventure would give Washington and Beijing an opportunity for engagement that could help in their own strained bilateral relations."

The debate on whether Washington could work with Beijing in achieving a negotiated settlement in Ukraine came as the White House said Washington and Beijing are discussing a potential trip to China by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Blinken also said he was hopeful to reschedule a visit to China this year.

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Kiev's threat to kill Russians confirms its role in terror plots: Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 09 May 2023 2:47 AM

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has slammed as "truly heinous" threats openly made by Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov of "killing Russians anywhere," insisting that they confirm Kiev's involvement in plotting terrorist attacks.

Peskov's remarks on Monday came in response to a statement by Budanov, who told the US-based Yahoo News last week that "We've been killing Russians and we will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine."

"This is a truly heinous statement," Peskov said as quoted in a report by RT, referring to threat announced by the senior Ukrainian official. "What Budanov said is a direct confirmation that the Kiev regime isn't only sponsoring terrorist activity, but is a direct organizer of this activity."

According to the report, Kiev's intelligence chief made the remarks in response to a question on whether the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) had anything to do with last year's assassination of Darya Dugina, a journalist and daughter of prominent Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin. Budanov then insisted that what Russia calls "terrorism, we call liberation."

Peskov further emphasized that Moscow "vigorously condemns" Budanov's remarks, pointing out that Russian authorities will now be monitoring reactions from Washington and European capitals to Kiev's open threat against Russians.

"It's very difficult to imagine that such terrorist statements from Kiev will remain without condemnation. Therefore, today we will be waiting for these condemnations," Peskov underlined.

He also noted that Moscow has its own secret services that "will be doing everything that they should be doing against the background of such statements."

According to the report, Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed last month in St Petersburg after a statute that had been handed to him during an event with his followers exploded. A dozen people were also injured.

Russia's Security Service (FSB) blamed the blast on "Ukrainian special services and their agents, including fugitive members of the Russian opposition."

Also last week, two drones were shot down above the Kremlin in what Russian officials described as a failed Ukrainian attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

While Kiev has officially denied any involvement in the incident, Ukraine's postal service has issued a stamp commemorating the attack.

On Saturday, Russian author and political activist Zakhar Prilepin was severely injured in a car bombing near the city of Nizhny Novgorod. His driver was killed. A suspect has admitted to Russian law enforcement that he was hired by an unidentified Ukrainian intelligence service.

Peskov stressed that such recent incidents along with Budanov's open threat "once again prove the rightfulness of President Putin's decision to launch the special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.

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Hong Kong: Officials brief parties on DC reform

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak continued to brief political parties on the proposals to improve governance at the district level today.

They hosted a briefing session for the Business & Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong and a session for the Liberal Party to listen to their views and solicit their support.

Mr Tsang and Miss Mak emphasised the necessity and guiding principles of the objectives of the proposals.

They pointed out that aside from reforming district councils (DCs), there is also a need to strengthen the district governance structure in order to enhance its efficacy.

The officials also said that the Government is going full steam ahead to prepare the District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2023 and hopes to submit it to the Legislative Council for scrutiny as soon as possible.

The Government aims to secure LegCo's passage of the bill before the council's summer recess this year so that the DC Ordinary Election can be held at the end of this year and the seventh-term DCs can take office on January 1 next year as scheduled.

The attendees shared their views enthusiastically and provided constructive suggestions. Both officials encouraged them to brief the community on the proposals.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Tokyo, Japan, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), " Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market : By Deployment, By Solution and Forecast till 2030, the market is predicted to thrive substantially during the assessment era from 2022 to 2030 at a healthy CAGR of approximately 19.20% to attain a valuation of around USD 14.3 Billion by the end of 2030.



Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Industry Key Players



Eminent industry players profiled in the global omnichannel retail commerce platform market report include,

NCR Corporation (US)

Diebold Nixdorf AG (Germany)

Infosys Ltd (India)

Salesforce.com (US)

Toshiba Corporation (Japan)

Oracle Corporation (US)

SAP SE (Germany)

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Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market Report Scope:



Report Metrics Details Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market Size by 2030 USD 14.3 Billion (2030) Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market CAGR during 2022-2030 19.20% Base Year 2021 Forecast 2022-2030 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Key Market Drivers Growing adoption of e-commerce for convenient online shopping purposes and increasing adoption of smartphones and tablets are the major key factors that drive the market.





Market Segmentation

The global omni-channel retail commerce platform market is bifurcated based on vertical, solution, and deployment.

By deployment, on-premise will lead the market over the forecast period.

By solution, e-commerce will domineer the market over the forecast period.

By vertical, consumer electronics will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=6956

Drivers

Booming E-Commerce Sales to Boost Market Growth

The rapid expansion of e-commerce sales globally is one of the key factors affecting growth in the worldwide retail omni-channel commerce platform market. E-commerce retail is expanding rapidly and becoming the customers' favorite sales channel both in developed and developing nations. The rapid rise in sales and use of mobile devices, particularly smartphones, and the expanding use of low-cost Internet services are the two main factors driving the expansion of retail sales via online channels. The e-commerce industry's rapid expansion has enormously favorable effects on the market for retail omni-channel commerce platforms because it is recognized as one of the primary channels in omni-channel commerce ecosystem.

Opportunities



Increasing Investments by Small & Medium-Sized Shops to offer Robust Opportunities

Due to the increasing sophistication of technologies & the ease with which essential resources are accessible, it is projected that small and medium-sized businesses will invest in this software, which might hasten the market's rise. This platform is used in a wide range of sectors and has several opportunities for omni-channel retail commerce platforms to drive the ORCP market's expansion. A number of omni-channel retail solutions were introduced by renowned digital commerce platform Shopify in May 2020 with the goals of improving online stores, offering a "buy now, pay later" option, and offering flexible local delivery. Shopify is also working with Facebook to establish optimal company processes to aid small-to-midsize retailers.

Restraints and Challenges

Privacy and Data Security Issues to act as Market Restraints

The dangers related to privacy and data security, high installation cost, complexity in the supply chain, and dearth in skilled expertise may act as market restraints over the forecast period.

Besides, the unpredictability of delivery times due to unforeseeable weather events or governmental regulations that may cause delivery of the goods to the consumer to be delayed can have a significant negative impact on the market's expansion. It is predicted that these issues will hinder market expansion during the projection period.

COVID-19 Analysis

Most of the important sectors are adversely impacted by the COVID-19's prevalence. Governments all across the world are firmly enforcing lockdowns, shutting down production sectors, banning transit, keeping social distance, & many other measures to stop the coronavirus from spreading. The business sector suffered significant losses as a result of the ongoing lockdown, which also caused production to stop. Even the large retailers, like Walmart, are seeing a decline in casual shopping. The electronics sector has been most negatively impacted by COVID-19 as China has outlawed China products from the other nations. China is the world's biggest producer of electronic goods and their parts, as per the International Trade Union Federation. Online purchasing has been more popular among customers during this pandemic as a result of social withdrawal and keeping at home, & e-commerce has accelerated growth. Due to its advantages for better shopping, consumers staying at home are favoring this platform, which has a beneficial impact on the market for omni-channel retail commerce platforms. As a result, in the current market environment, demand is rising.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100+ Pages) on Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/omnichannel-retail-commerce-platform-market-6956

Regional Analysis

North America to Head Omni-Channel Retail Commerce Platform Market

Due to its high level of digitization and a rise in online sales relative to offline sales, North America is expected to contribute a significant portion of the global market for omnichannel retail commerce platforms. Also, as compared to other regions, this region's retailers use omnichannel commerce solutions at a rather high rate. Due to its high level of digitization and increasing online sales in comparison to offline sales, North America is anticipated to make up a sizeable percentage of the market. Also, this region's retailers adopt omnichannel commerce solutions in a comparatively higher proportion when compared to other regions. Due to the area's rapid internationalization and commercialization, retailers there are using more omni-channel commerce solutions. A number of industry players are increasing the range of products they offer in order to create fresh client experiences.

APAC to Have Admirable Growth in Omnichannel Retail Commerce Platform Market

Asia-Pacific will grow at the highest rate due to the significant e-commerce sector and the use of click & collect systems. The expansion of the internet retail industry could drive market expansion. The market is expanding for the rising need for omnichannel platforms in developing nations like China, Japan, and India. The major e-commerce industry and growing popularity of click-and-collect systems both support the expansion of the region.

Industry Updates

April 2023- Reliance Retail Ltd., the retail division of the Reliance Group, announced the opening of Tira, an omnichannel platform for selling beauty products. Tira is an omnichannel retail model that offers a selected selection of both international and domestic brands. It is powered by technology and personalized experiences. It features blogs, shoppable videos, tutorials, fashion-forward advice, user-submitted recommendations, and a virtual try-on function that lets users test out color cosmetics in the convenience of their own homes.

The Asia Pacific area now dominates the worldwide live streaming market, led by a large user base. Furthermore, the proliferation of live video-streaming services and increased customer demand for live streaming over traditional television channels boost the market growth.



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CALGARY, Alberta, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Razor Energy Corp. ("Razor) (TSXV: RZE) is pleased to announce that it is offering rights (the Rights Offering) to eligible holders of its common shares (the Common Shares) of record at the close of business on May 16, 2023 (the Record Date).

The Rights Offering is being conducted in connection with Razors debt settlement agreement with Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), pursuant to which AIMCo and Razor have agreed, subject to certain terms and conditions, to the settlement of all obligations owing by Razor to AIMCo under the senior second amended and restated loan agreement dated February 16, 2021 through the transfer (the FutEra Share Transfer Transaction) to AIMCo of equity interests held by Razor in FutEra Power Corp., as disclosed in Razors press release dated May 1, 2023 (the Recapitalization Transaction).

Pursuant to the Rights Offering, each holder of Common Shares resident in a province or territory in Canada or in the United States (subject to restrictions in certain states) (the Eligible Jurisdictions) will receive one right (a Right) for each one Common Share held. Each whole Right will entitle the holder to subscribe for 0.494555 of a unit (a Rights Unit). Each Rights Unit will consist of one Common Share (a Unit Share) and one transferable Common Share purchase warrant (a Unit Warrant). Each Unit Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, one Common Share at a price of $1.20 per Common Share for a period of five years from the date of issuance.

Holders of Common Shares will need to exercise 2.022 Rights to acquire one Right Unit. A holder of Rights must pay $0.80 (the Subscription Price) to purchase one Right Unit. No fractional Rights Units, fractional Unit Shares or fractional Unit Warrants will be issued and, where the exercise of Rights would otherwise entitle the holder of Rights to a fractional Rights Unit, fractional Unit Share or fractional Unit Warrant, the holders entitlement will be reduced to the next lowest whole number of Rights Unit, Unit Share or Unit Warrant, as applicable, and no cash or other consideration will be paid in lieu thereof.

Razor expects to raise gross proceeds of up to $10 million from the Rights Offering and intends to use the proceeds to fund certain production enhancement activities and for general working capital purposes. The expected closing date of the Rights Offering and the Recapitalization Transaction is June 12, 2023.

The Rights will trade on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") under the symbol RZE.RT commencing on May 15, 2023. Holders of Common Shares purchased on or following the Record Date will not be entitled to receive Rights under the Rights Offering. The Rights Offering expires at 4:00 p.m. (Calgary time) (the "Expiry Time") on June 7, 2023. Rights are exercisable until the Expiry Time, after which time unexercised Rights will be void and of no value.

Directors and officers of Razor have indicated their intention to exercise some or all of their Rights, subject to market conditions.

The Rights Offering includes an additional subscription privilege under which eligible holders of Rights who fully exercise their Rights will be entitled to subscribe for additional Rights Units, if available and subject to proration, that are not otherwise subscribed for in the Rights Offering.

There are currently 25,275,250 Common Shares outstanding. An aggregate of 25,275,250 Rights are expected to be issued to subscribe for up to 12,500,000 Rights Units pursuant to the Rights Offering. The final number of Rights to be issued will depend on the actual number of issued and outstanding Common Shares on the Record Date. Following completion of the Rights Offering and assuming the exercise of all Rights, Razor expects that there will be approximately 37,775,250 Common Shares outstanding.

Standby Commitment

Pursuant to a standby purchase agreement dated May 1, 2023 between AIMCo and the Corporation (the Standby Purchase Agreement), up to $5,825,000 of the Rights Offering has been guaranteed by AIMCo, assuming the fulfilment of all closing conditions to the Standby Purchase Agreement (the Standby Commitment), including that a minimum of $1,000,000 of subscription proceeds (the Minimum Additional Proceeds) have been received from holders of Rights other than AIMCo and its affiliates.

In the event that the Minimum Additional Proceeds are not received, the Corporation will not receive any funds from AIMCo and the Rights Offering will not be completed. In such circumstances, Alliance Trust Company, as subscription agent, will return all subscription funds delivered by subscribers without interest or deduction.

Assuming the Minimum Additional Proceeds are received and the Standby Commitment is completed in full to the standby maximum of $4 million in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Standby Purchase Agreement, the Corporation will issue a minimum of 8,531,250 Unit Shares and 8,531,250 Unit Warrants in connection with the Rights Offering and pursuant to the terms of the Standby Purchase Agreement for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,825,000.

AIMCo currently holds approximately 18.25% of Razors issued and outstanding Common Shares. If all of the holders of Rights do not exercise their Rights in full then AIMCos ownership percentage of Common Shares owned will increase. AIMCo would own or control approximately 35.18% of the outstanding Common Shares following the completion of the Rights Offering, assuming the Minimum Additional Proceeds are the only proceeds that have been received from holders of Rights other than AIMCo and its affiliates and the Standby Commitment is completed in full to the standby maximum of $4 million.

Razor does not expect that shareholder approval will be required if any new control person is created through the exercise of Rights pursuant to the Rights Offering, given that the Rights will be listed for trading on the TSXV and the Subscription Price is at a significant discount to the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on May 5, 2023 of $1.00, being the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Rights Offering.

Eligibility

The Rights Offering will be conducted only in the Eligible Jurisdictions. Accordingly, and subject to the detailed provisions of Razors Rights Offering circular (the Circular), Rights will not be delivered to, nor will they be exercisable by, persons resident outside of the Eligible Jurisdictions (Ineligible Holders), unless an Ineligible Holder satisfies Razor that their participation in the Rights Offering is lawful and in compliance with all applicable securities and other laws, in which case Razor will direct the depositary and subscription agent, Alliance Trust Company (Alliance), to issue its Rights. After 5:00 p.m. on May 28, 2023 (10 days prior to the Expiry Time), such Rights may be sold on their behalf by Alliance.

Details of the Rights Offering are set out in Razors Rights Offering notice (the Notice) and Circular, which will be available under Razors profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Notice and rights certificate (the Rights Certificate) will be mailed to each eligible shareholder, excluding Ineligible Holders, of Razor as at the Record Date. To subscribe, registered shareholders must forward the completed Rights Certificate together with the applicable subscription funds to Alliance prior to the Expiry Time. Shareholders who hold their Common Shares through an intermediary, such as a bank, trust company, securities dealer or broker, will receive materials and instructions from their intermediary.

The Rights Offering Circular covers the offer and sale of the Unit Shares and Unit Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Rights within the United States under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). Razor has filed with the SEC in the United States a Registration Statement on Form F-7, available and under Razors profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar, under the U.S. Securities Act so that the Unit Shares and Unit Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Rights will not be subject to transfer restrictions. Notwithstanding registration under the U.S. Securities Act, the securities or blue sky laws of certain states (including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Utah, and Wisconsin) may not permit the Corporation to offer Rights and/or Units in such states, or to certain persons in those states, or may otherwise limit the Corporation's ability to do so, and as a result the Corporation will treat those states as Ineligible Jurisdictions under the Rights Offering. In these states, Rights may only be exercised by shareholders to which solicitations may be addressed without registration under the relevant state securities laws ("Eligible U.S. Institutions"). Shareholders resident in, or that hold their securities for the account or benefit of any person in, any such jurisdiction that wish to determine if they are Eligible U.S. Institutions should contact the Corporation. Holders in, or that hold their securities for the account or benefit of any person in, such jurisdictions that are not Eligible U.S. Institutions will not be permitted to exercise their Rights but may transfer the Rights outside of the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

MI 61-101 Matters

AIMCo is a "related party" of Razor pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). AIMCo owns or controls (directly or indirectly) 4,612,728 Common Shares (representing approximately 18.25% of the outstanding Common Shares) and is a significant shareholder of Razor.

With respect to the FutEra Share Transfer Transaction and the Standby Commitment, while such transactions are expected to constitute "related party transactions" for the purposes of MI 61-101, the FutEra Share Transfer Transaction is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 as Razor is not listed on a specified market that would require compliance with such formal valuation requirements (as set forth in Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101) and is further exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of Section 5.7(e) of MI 61-101 which provides that a related party transaction is exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements if the issuer is in serious financial difficulty, the transaction is designed to improve the financial position of the company (among other criteria) and there is no other requirement to hold a meeting of shareholders to approve the transaction.

As part of their deliberations in respect of the Recapitalization Transaction, a special committee formed by Razor (each of whom are "independent directors" in respect of the Recapitalization Transaction for the purposes of MI 61-101) (the Special Committee) considered the financial position of Razor and the objectives of the Recapitalization Transaction, and the criteria and conditions with respect to the financial hardship exemptions described above, including the fact that there is no requirement, corporate or otherwise, to hold a meeting to obtain any approval of the holders of Common Shares for the Recapitalization Transaction, and in this regard unanimously determined that: (i) Razor is in serious financial difficulty; (ii) the Recapitalization Transaction (including the FutEra Share Transfer Transaction) is designed to improve the financial position of Razor; and (iii) the terms of the Recapitalization Transaction (including the FutEra Share Transfer Transaction) are reasonable in the circumstances of Razor.

A discussion and description of the review and approval process adopted by the Special Committee and other information required by MI 61-101 in connection with the Recapitalization Transaction, including further details and the facts supporting reliance on the financial hardship exemptions described above, will be set forth in Razors material change report to be filed under Razors SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

About Razor

Razor is a publicly traded junior oil and gas development and production company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, concentrated on acquiring, and subsequently enhancing, producing oil and gas properties primarily in Alberta. Razors is led by experienced management and a strong, committed Board of Directors, with a long-term vision of growth, focused on efficiency and cost control in all areas of the business. Razor currently trades on TSXV under the ticker "RZE".

www.razor-energy.com

About FutEra

FutEra leverages Albertas resource industry innovation and experience to create transitional power and sustainable infrastructure solutions to commercial markets and communities, both in Canada and globally. Currently, FutEra operates a first of its kind co-produced geothermal and natural gas hybrid power project in Swan Hills, Alberta.

www.futerapower.com

Razor has two active subsidiaries, FutEra and Blade Energy Services Corp. (Blade).

About Blade

Blade Energy Services is as subsidiary of Razor. Operating in west central Alberta, Blades primary services include fluid hauling, road maintenance, earth works including well site reclamation and other oilfield services.

www.blade-es.com

For additional information please contact:

Doug Bailey Kevin Braun President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Razor Energy Corp FutEra Power Corp Executive Director FutEra Power Corp Razor Energy Corp 800, 500-5thAve SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3L5 Telephone: (403) 262-0242

READER ADVISORIES



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Razor to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the use of any of the words anticipate, believe, intend, may, is, will, should, expect and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Razor, including but not limited to expectations and assumptions concerning the Recapitalization Transaction and the Rights Offering (including the use of proceeds, structure, timing and terms and conditions), expectations relating to the completion of the Recapitalization Transaction and the Rights Offering and regulatory approval for listing of the Rights. Although Razor believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Razor can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to several factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the completion of the Rights Offering and the Recapitalization Transaction, the ability of Razor to obtain regulatory approvals in the manner contemplated, changes in general market conditions, industry conditions and events, changes in legislation and regulation, and other factors in the annual information form and management discussion and analysis of Razor which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Razor cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Razor undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. to Hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting on June 21, 2023





Halle (Saale) / Munich, Germany, May 9, 2023  Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY; NL00150002Q7) (Vivoryon), a clinical stage company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule medicines to modulate the activity and stability of pathologically altered proteins, today announced that its 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. (CEST). Shareholders can follow the AGM virtually via audio webcast on the Companys website (https://www.vivoryon.com/annual-general-meeting-2023/), or attend in person at Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel, Schiphol Boulevard 101, Amsterdam 1118BG, The Netherlands.





The full agenda and all relevant documents are available on the Companys website.





Reflecting Vivoryons continued progress towards becoming a late-stage clinical development company and in line with the Companys commitment to meeting international best-practice standards for corporate governance and diversity, the agenda includes, among other items, the appointment of two new members to Vivoryons Non-Executive Board of Directors. The proposed appointments follow the decision of the two long-standing members Dinnies Johannes von der Osten, PhD, and Jorg Neermann, PhD, to step down at the 2023 Annual General Meeting, as announced on May 1, 2023.





Appointment of Kugan Sathiyanandarajah as Non-Executive Director to Vivoryons Board of Directors:





Kugan Sathiyanandarajah joined Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR), a leading global investment firm, in 2010. As Managing Director, Private Equity, he is Head of KKR's Health Care Strategic Growth business in Europe. Mr. Sathiyanandarajah is a member of the Health Care industry team and was based in KKRs Menlo Park (California, U.S.) office from 2019 to 2020. He has played a significant role in a number of KKRs investments across growth equity and private equity in both Europe and the U.S., including Gamma Biosciences, Argenta, Nordic Bioscience, Biosynth Carbosynth, Alliance Pharma, LGC Group, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Alvogen and Galenica. He currently serves on the board of directors of Gamma Biosciences, Argenta, Nordic Bioscience, Biosynth Carbosynth and EchoNous. Prior to joining KKR, he was with Goldman Sachs, where he was a member of the UK mergers and acquisitions team. Mr. Sathiyanandarajah earned an M.A. (First Class Hons) in Physical Natural Sciences (Chemistry) from the University of Cambridge, UK.





Appointment of Professor Morten Asser Karsdal as Non-Executive Director to Vivoryons Board of Directors:





Professor Dr. Morten Asser Karsdal, MSc, PhD, mMBA, joined Nordic Bioscience in 2001 and rose to become CEO in 2010. He serves as Adjunct Professor, Molecular Medicine at the Southern University of Denmark. Professor Karsdal has extensive research, pharmacological and biomarker experience in the field of rheumatology (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis), diabetes and fibrosis with more than 625 peer-reviewed publications in top journals. Professor Karsdal has spearheaded the development of FDA approved molecular diagnostics and commercialized more than 125 ELISA assays. Utilizing his broad experience in clinical trial design, clinical use of biochemical markers, and the use of biomarkers in translational science, Professor Karsdal has participated in more than 100 clinical studies, and two pivotal phase 3 clinical studies in osteoarthritis. Professor Karsdal has worked with multiple oral formulations of smaller proteins and has identified and participated in the development of treatments for fibrosis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and diabetes, from target identification, preclinical development through phase 1 to phase 3 studies.





###





About Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.

Vivoryon is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative small molecule-based medicines. Driven by our passion for ground-breaking science and innovation, we strive to change the lives of patients in need suffering from severe diseases. We leverage our in-depth expertise in understanding post-translational modifications to develop medicines that modulate the activity and stability of proteins which are altered in disease settings. Beyond our lead program, varoglutamstat, which is in Phase 2 clinical development to treat Alzheimers disease, we have established a solid pipeline of orally available small molecule inhibitors for various indications including cancer, inflammatory diseases and fibrosis. www.vivoryon.com



Vivoryon Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding the business strategy, management plans and objectives for future operations of the Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (the Company), estimates and projections with respect to the market for the Companys products and forecasts and statements as to when the Companys products may be available. Words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should and will and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance; rather they are based on the Managements current expectations and assumptions about future events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and other factors could materially adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements and from expectations. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. This press release does not contain risk factors. Certain risk factors that may affect the Companys future financial results are discussed in the published annual financial statements of the Company. This press release, including any forward-looking statements, speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any information or forward-looking statements contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.





For more information, please contact:

Investor Contact

Stern IR

Julie Seidel

Tel: +1 212-698-8684

Email: SternIR-Vivoryon@sternir.com







Media Contact

Trophic Communications

Valeria Fisher

Tel: +49 175 8041816

Email: vivoryon@trophic.eu







Attachment
London, United Kingdom, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Interactive Whiteboard Market Research Report: By Type, Technology, Screen Size, and Region - Forecast Till 2030, the market is anticipated to acquire a valuation of approximately USD 8 billion by the end of 2030. The reports further predict the market to flourish at a robust CAGR of over 7% during the assessment timeframe.

Interactive Whiteboard Market Key Players

Eminent market players profiled in the interactive white board market report include

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Samsung Group

LG Electronics Inc.

Panasonic Corporation

DTEN

The Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Google LLC

Cisco System, Inc.

Smart Technologies Corporation

Microsoft Corporation.

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Interactive Whiteboard Market Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 08 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of 7.00% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Study Period 2023-2030 Key Market Opportunities The growth of the interactive whiteboard market in North America is attributed to the increasing demand for the interactive whiteboard in the education sector Key Market Drivers The growing demand for digital classrooms

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Interactive Whiteboard Market Drivers

Growing Education Gamification Trend to Boost Market Growth

Gamification of schooling is a growing trend that will likely drive industry expansion. Thanks to gamification, students can study their subjects at the time of playing educational games. By fostering innovation, creativity, and more student participation, it transforms education. By incorporating lessons into games, gamification enhances the lecture delivery format.

Interactive Whiteboard Market Opportunities

Integration of AI in Interactive White Board to offer Robust Opportunities

Artificial intelligence is a technology having a lot of potential in the IWB industry. Interactive whiteboards with AI capabilities make it easier to take notes during lectures, translate speeches into different languages, and include remote users in meetings and classes. Because of this, some businesses are focusing on incorporating AI into IWBs for boosting user demand for IWB.

Restraints and Challenges

High Integration Cost to act as Market Restraint

The high integration cost, constant technological advances, and dearth of technical knowledge may act as market restraints over the forecast period.

Interactive Whiteboard Market Segmentation

The global interactive white board market is bifurcated based on education, end users, screen size, technology, and type.

By type, the market is bifurcated into EM Boards, IR Boards, and Ceramic Boards.

By technology, resistive membrane will lead the market over the forecast period.

By screen size, the 70-90 will domineer the market over the forecast period.

By end users, education will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

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COVID-19 Analysis

The COVID-19 epidemic has possessed a significant impact on various industries, including the interactive whiteboard market. As more and more schools and businesses have shifted to remote or hybrid learning/work models, the demand for interactive whiteboards has changed. On one hand, the pandemic has created a greater need for remote collaboration and distance learning, which has led to a surge in need for interactive whiteboards. Many schools and businesses have had to invest in digital tools to facilitate remote learning and working, and interactive whiteboards can be a valuable tool for virtual meetings and online classes. On the other hand, the pandemic has also caused economic uncertainty and budget constraints for many institutions. As a result, some schools and businesses may be hesitant to invest in expensive interactive whiteboard systems. Additionally, the supply chain disruptions and manufacturing slowdowns caused by the pandemic may lead to higher prices or delays in the delivery of interactive whiteboards.

Interactive Whiteboard Market Regional Analysis

APAC to Head Interactive White Board Market

The interactive white board (IWB) market is predicted to grow profitably in the Asia-Pacific region. With more schools and institutions being created, the Asia-Pacific region's education sector is expanding quickly. Because they offer pupils a dynamic and interesting learning environment, interactive whiteboards are becoming increasingly popular. The adoption of technology is very strong in the Asia-Pacific area, and this tendency is also visible in the field of education. Due to the more interactive and engaging learning environment they offer, interactive whiteboards are in fact becoming more and more common in schools. Over the projected period, the Asia Pacific will grow at the quickest pace, with a CAGR of 10.1%. Over the last 10 years, this region has observed significant increase in the usage of student information systems & e-learning solutions for their widespread adoption in middle & high schools, lower-tier colleges, and middle and high schools. For instance, to provide education to every child through Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Japanese government developed the Global Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA). The program has ICT support personnel who teach programming sessions in conjunction with IT firms. Additionally, by putting kids in close contact with outside experts through web conferencing, digital tools aid in children's learning. The regional market would continue to expand as a result of these developments. Asia Pacific will experience the fastest growth in the market during the timeframe of the projection. The need for interactive whiteboards within the area has increased as a result of government-funded e-learning initiatives in nations like Japan and India. The success of the region's economy is aided by the presence of renowned corporations like Sharp Technology, Panasonic, and Samsung Electronics.

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North America to Have Admirable Growth in Interactive White Board Market

The Interactive Whiteboard market will have an admirable growth in North America. There is a strong need for interactive whiteboards in the region due to the well-established education industry and high rates of technology use in the classroom. The expansion of the market within the area is also being aided by the presence of numerous top companies in the industry. The need for Interactive Whiteboards in these regions is driven by a growing education sector and an increase in the use of technology in the classroom, and the market is anticipated to expand over the next few years. Overall, the market for interactive whiteboards will expand steadily due to the rising need for interactive and interesting presenting tools in business and educational settings. Additionally, the North American Interactive Whiteboard market in the United States had the biggest market share while the market in Canada had the quickest rate of expansion. Due to the growing need for interactive whiteboards outfitted with cutting-edge technologies, the North American market held the greatest revenue share in 2021. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled interactive whiteboards are a helpful technological innovation. Because of the accelerating pace of technical breakthroughs to provide a variety of new product features, businesses prioritize innovation. Additionally, numerous companies work to incorporate contemporary technologies into conventional whiteboards to improve their usability. As a result, several businesses are focusing on integrating AI into IWBs for boosting consumer demand.

Related Reports:

Virtual Reality Gaming Market Research Report: By Hardware, Compatibility, and Region- Forecast till 2030

Network Traffic Analyzer Market Research Report: By Solution, Deployment and Organization - Forecast till 2027

Image Sensor Market Research, By Technology, Optical Format, Linearity, Spectrum, Application- Global Forecast till 2030

About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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Ottawa, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The aircraft engine market growth is registering at a CAGR of 7.91% through 2032. The aircraft engine market growth is driven by the increasing investment in the defense sector across the globe, growing investment for the development of the innovative product, rising air passenger traffic and increasing technological advancements in the manufacturing of aircraft engines.



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Market Overview

The engine is a part of the propulsion system that generates mechanical power to move the aircraft. Engines for aeroplanes are propelled by jet fuel, aviation fuels (Avgas), jet B and biokerosene. The four most common types of aircraft engines available today are turboprop, turboshaft, turbofan, and piston engines. A turboshaft engine is a type of jet engine intended to produce shaft power for machinery rather than thrust. In addition to being used in general aviation, commercial aviation, recreational aviation, and other fields, the technology is also used in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. It also makes use of traditional motors and hybrid/electric technology.

Regional Insights

During the projection period, North America is anticipated to maintain its market dominance from 2022. A broad range of aircraft now has technologically advanced and effective engines due to increased manufacturing and the expansion of the aerospace sector. the region's escalating need for aircraft engines and the existence of major market players like General Electric Company, Honeywell International Inc., etc. To increase their product offerings and create aircraft engines using cutting-edge systems, subsystems, and other components, these companies are concentrating on research and development. For instance, in March 2023, Before the company's intended formation of two independent, market-leading companies in the energy and aerospace sectors, GE announced plans to invest more than $450 million this year in its current U.S. manufacturing facilities. The funding will be used to upgrade these facilities, buy cutting-edge equipment, and put the company and its American workforce in a strong position for the future. The market for aircraft engines in the region is expanding as a result of these variables.

The Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The substantial demand for domestic air travel in developing nations like China and India catalyzes the region's expansion. IATA (International Air Transport Association), for instance, predicts that air travel in India will increase by 85.7% from 2019 to 2022. Domestic RPKs (Revenue Passenger Kilometers) increased by 48.8% from 2021 while domestic ASK (Available Seat Kilometers) grew by 30.1% from the previous year.

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Scope of the report

Coverage Details Aircraft Engine Market Revenue by 2032 USD 187.26 Billion CAGR 7.9% Turbofan Engine Revenue Share 71% in 2022 North America Revenue Share USD 38.1 Billion in 2022 Key Players Rolls-Royce Holding PLC, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines Ltd, IHI Corp, Honeywell International Inc, Rostec, MTU Aero Engines AG, Safran SA, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Textron Inc, Williams International Co. LLC, General Electric Company and Other

Report Highlights

By type , the turbofan engine is expected to capture the largest market share over the forecast period due to its high fuel efficiency, which allows it to produce more thrust with almost the same quantity of fuel as the core. On the other hand, the turboprop segment is expected to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period. The turboprop engine was developed to operate more efficiently than the turbojet engine by adding the propelling function. The original goal of the turbojet motor was to fly at extremely high speeds and altitudes while performing better and more efficiently. Although their early climb and takeoff performance were not particularly good, when propellers were added to these turbojet engines, they were able to provide much better performance at medium speed and height as well. In conclusion, a turboprop engine blends the efficiency features of a turbojet and a propeller engine, in turn, driving the segment growth over the forecast period.

, the turbofan engine is expected to capture the largest market share over the forecast period due to its high fuel efficiency, which allows it to produce more thrust with almost the same quantity of fuel as the core. On the other hand, the turboprop segment is expected to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period. The turboprop engine was developed to operate more efficiently than the turbojet engine by adding the propelling function. The original goal of the turbojet motor was to fly at extremely high speeds and altitudes while performing better and more efficiently. Although their early climb and takeoff performance were not particularly good, when propellers were added to these turbojet engines, they were able to provide much better performance at medium speed and height as well. In conclusion, a turboprop engine blends the efficiency features of a turbojet and a propeller engine, in turn, driving the segment growth over the forecast period. By technology, the conventional segment is expected to capture a significant market share over the forecast period. The primary participants in the market for conventional aircraft engines are currently the key players in the market for aircraft engines. However, many new players are bringing in novel developments to provide aircraft engines that give operators more efficient and are more dependable than the current aircraft engines in response to the growing demand for more functionality from atypical aircraft engines. In the vast majority of airplanes, the engines are either gas turbines or pistons. Turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft, and others are some of the common kinds of aircraft engines. These conventional aircraft engines are used in a broad range of aircraft, including military aircraft, helicopters, wide-body and narrow-body commercial aircraft, and UAVs. As a result, the demand for conventional aircraft engines will increase along with the demand for commercial and defense aircraft in the aviation sector.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Growing expenditure in the defense sector

The growing expenditure in the defense sector is one of the prominent factors that propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. The US Department of Defense (DoD) allotted funds under the 2022 defense budget for the purchase of 85 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, 12 F-15EX, and 12 F/A-18 Super Hornet models. In the same way, the DoD intends to set aside funding in 2023 for 24 F-15EX and 61 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Additionally, the US Navy's funding for 2023 includes the purchase of 10 aircraft for its Multi-Engine Training System (METS), to acquire 58 aircraft in total over three years. The desire for training and light attack aircraft will be fueled by these plans. Such purchases are probably going to boost demand over the forecast period, which is probably going to help the US defense market's income bars.

Restraint

Long life cycles

Aircraft engines have long life cycles, which is a benefit. The lengthy lifespan of these engines, however, may be a factor limiting market growth as there won't be a need for new engines outside of new aircraft. Engines' increased lifespans are expected to hinder the industry.

Opportunities

Growing adoption of cost-effective and fuel-efficient aircraft

To decrease fuel consumption, major OEMs and aircraft producers around the world are concentrating on developing fuel-efficient aircraft. Manufacturers were compelled to concentrate on improving aircraft fuel efficiency as a result of rising fuel costs. For instance, in June 2021, A bold technology development program was started by GE Aviation and Safran to produce engines that consume more than 20% less fuel and emit 20% less CO2. A variety of fresh, innovative technologies for upcoming engines that may go into service by the middle of the 2030s will be developed and demonstrated by the CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program. Thus, these types of initiatives are expected to provide a lucrative opportunity for market expansion.

Related Reports

Recent Developments:

In June 2022, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a division of the Rostec State Corporation, merged with Sukhoi, a Russian manufacturer of civil and military aircraft, and Russian Aircraft Corporation (MiG), a Russian aerospace and defense business. The merger seeks to increase UAC's financial potential, enhance the effectiveness of the managerial and administrative staff, lower non-production expenses, and lighten debt loads. The Russian company Rostec State Corporation helps the country's makers and developers of industrial products.

In July 2022, to flight test, CFM's cutting-edge open fan engine design, Airbus and CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, are working together. As a component of CFM's Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration program, the Flight Test Demonstrator seeks to advance and quicken the development of advanced propulsion technologies on board an Airbus A380. The Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France will host the flight test campaign during the second part of this decade. At GE Aviation's Flight Test Operations facility in Victorville, California, USA, CFM will conduct engine ground tests and flight test validation before the A380 test missions.

Market Segmentation

By Type

Turboprop

Turbofan

Turboshaft

Piston Engine

By Component

Compressor

Turbine

Gearbox

Exhaust System

Fuel System

Others

By Platform

Fixed Wing Aircraft

Rotary Wing Aircraft

Unmanned Ariel Vehicles





By Technology

Conventional

Hybrid

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa





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Dublin, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hong Kong Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Hong Kong data center market will reach a value of $4.18 billion by 2028 from $3.72 billion in 2022, with investments growing at a CAGR of 1.97%



This report analyses the Hong Kong data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.

Hong Kong has around 55 operational colocation data centers. Most colocation facilities are being developed according to Tier III standards. The country has global operators such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Global Switch, Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions), NTT Global Data Centers, and China Mobile International.

Hong Kong data center market is driven by the consistent demand aided by digitalization initiatives, the presence of all major cloud operators, strong connectivity, strong ecosystems, nationwide deployment of 5G technology, and the presence of data protection law, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO).

The rising adoption of cloud-based services is helping the growth of retail and wholesale colocation services in the market. The industry is witnessing increased demand for colocation spaces across existing and upcoming data centers.

The deployment of 5G networks will boost the digital economy of the region and will lead to higher demand for high-bandwidth networking infrastructure. The adoption of Software Defined Networking (SDN) is likely to increase owing to smart city initiatives carried out by government agencies.

Investments from data center operators in the industry are growing in several locations. The major locations for data center developments in the market include Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Fo Tan, Chai Wan, Tai Po, and others.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Hong Kong colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in Hong Kong by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across locations in the country.

A detailed study of the existing Hong Kong data center industry landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Hong Kong a) Facilities Covered (Existing): 54 b) Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 13 c) Coverage: 10+ Cities d) Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) e) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data center colocation market in Hong Kong a) Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2022-2028) b) Wholesale vs. Retail Colocation Revenue (2022-2028) c) Retail Colocation Pricing d) Wholesale Colocation Pricing

Hong Kong market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Some of the key investors in the Hong Kong data center market in 2022 include BDx (Big Data Exchange), GDS Services, Goodman, SUNeVision Holdings (iAdvantage), China Mobile International, Angelo Gordon, Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions), ESR and others.

The Australia-based edge data center operator Edge Centers has announced its entry into the Hong Kong data center industry and has begun the construction of an edge facility, EC91, in Fanling. The facility is expected to be online by Q1 2023.

The global cloud operators Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Huawei Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and Tencent Cloud have their cloud regions in Hong Kong.

Telecom operators such as China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK), SmarTone, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH)'s brand 3, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT)'s subsidiary CSL have deployed 5G technology across the country.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 115 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $3.72 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $4.18 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.9% Regions Covered Hong Kong

Major Vendors

IT Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Atos

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Inspur

Lenovo

NetApp

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

Arup

Aurecon

BYME Engineering

Chung Hing Engineers Group

Cundall

DSCO Group

Faithful+Gould

Gammon Construction

ISG

Shun Cheong Engineering Group

Studio One Design

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Airedale

Caterpillar

Cummins

Delta Electronics

Eaton

Fuji Electric

KOHLER

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Piller Power Systems

Rittal

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Submer

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

AirTrunk

BDx (Big Data Exchange)

CITIC Telcom International

China Mobile International (CMI)

China Unicom

Digital Realty

Equinix

ESR

Global Switch

iTech Towers

NTT Global Data Centers

SUNeVision Holdings (iAdvantage)

Telehouse

Towngas Telecom (TGT)

Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions)

New Entrants

Angelo Gordon

Edge Centres

GDS Services

Goodman

Mapletree Investment

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

Kwai Chung

Tseung Kwan O

Tsuen Wan

Fo Tan

Tai Po

Chai Wan

Other Locations

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

REPORT COVERAGE:

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression Systems

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5qbb7z

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Golar LNG Limited (Golar or the Company) has today instructed Nordic Trustee AS to summon a written resolution for the Company's senior unsecured bonds maturing 20 October 2025 (ISIN NO 0011123432). The purpose of the written resolution is to consider a proposal for certain amendments to the bond terms (the Proposal).

The background for the proposal is the significant strengthening of the Companys financial position since the issuance of the unsecured bonds. The Company is therefore seeking to make certain amendments to the definition of Permitted Distribution, to increase the Companys flexibility for potential future shareholder returns in return for a one-off financial compensation to the bondholders and implementation of an incurrence test.

The summons for a written resolution including details on the Amendment Proposal is attached to this press release. The Voting Period shall expire on 25 May 2023 at the latest, at which point the final outcome of the Proposal will be decided and made public.

About Golar

Golar LNG is one of the world's most innovative and experienced independent owners and operators of marine LNG infrastructure. The company developed the world's first Floating LNG liquefaction terminal (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) projects based on the conversion of existing LNG carriers. Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies have also been completed for a larger newbuild FLNG solution.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflects managements current expectations, estimates and projections about its operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities and events that will, should, could or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as may, could, should, would, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, forecast, believe, estimate, predict, propose, potential, continue, or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Golar LNG Limited undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

Hamilton, Bermuda

May 9, 2023

Enquiries:

Golar Management Limited: + 44 207 063 7900

Karl Fredrik Staubo - CEO

Eduardo Maranhao - CFO

Stuart Buchanan - Head of Investor Relations

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act
RICHFIELD, OHIO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navigate360, the nations leader in K12 school safety and student wellness solutions, announces the appointment of Julia Goebel as chief marketing officer, Jami Timmons Klotz as chief product officer, and Dr. Joe McKenna as vice president of threat detection and prevention program development. All are passionate, innovative and experienced leaders poised to drive a new wave of meaningful impact in school safety and student wellness for the more than 50 million students in the United States.

We are pleased to welcome these accomplished executives in SaaS technology and K12 leadership to the Navigate360 team, said JP Guilbault, chief executive officer of Navigate360. Julia, Jami and Joe bring a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience which supports our mission of zero incidents of violence and harm.

Year to date, the Expert Insights data from Navigate360 show alerts related to self-harm are up 51 percent year-over-year and alerts related to weapons and harm to others are up 25 percent year-over-year. On average, the Navigate360 report also found more than 4,000 anonymous tips per week come into school tip lines powered by Navigate360 P3 School Tip Line solution, with the most common tips related to self-harm and weapons.

The offering of Navigate360 is unmatched in the industry, from ALICE Training to PBIS Rewards, and I look forward to expanding the reach of the company as we strive to make an impact on safety and wellbeing, said Julia Goebel, chief marketing officer at Navigate360. Issues related to bullying, self-harm and acts of violence are becoming part of the daily national conversation and we must move toward a proactiverather than reactiveapproach to student safety and wellness.

Before joining Navigate360, Goebel served in various leadership roles at software companies in the health IT and employee wellness spaceincluding chief marketing officer roles at Halo Health, now part of symplr, and at BenefitExpress, now part of WEX. Her background in leading marketing teams at publicly traded and PE-backed organizations and her focus on developing high-performance marketers will enable Navigate360 to reach more schools and districts nationwide. She is also a public official.

Further enhancing the Executive Leadership team of Navigate360 is Jami Timmons Klotz, chief product officer, and an experienced technology leader.

Navigate360 is already doing what no other company in the K12 space can, and we are poised to continue that trajectory. Joining this mission-based organization at the helm of the product organization will allow me to further enhance Navigate360's already impressive product offerings and make an even greater impact on society, said Jami Timmons Klotz, chief product officer at Navigate360. As a woman, mother and leader in tech, there is not a better opportunity to leverage technology to make a positive impact on the mental and physical safety of our youth. Data has power, and Navigate360 is uniquely positioned to drive positive short- and long-term results that impact all areas of society.

A results-focused product champion, Klotz comes to Navigate360 with more than 20 years of experience in the product leadership space, driving strategic growth and cultivating a strong brand image for several PE-backed companiesincluding BigTime Software and Avionte Staffing Software. Klotzs experience will ensure Navigate360s solutions are built around educators needs and deliver the real-time data and information schools and districts need to create learning environments where students, staff and educators feel safe.

Complementing the executive appointments is Dr. Joe McKenna, who will be overseeing the creation and implementation of threat assessment programs for Navigate360 customers as Vice President of Threat Detection & Prevention Program Development.

Research-based early detection and prevention measures are proven effective when implemented with fidelity, said Dr. Joe McKenna, vice president of threat detection & prevention program development. Ensuring that schools and districts who make the meaningful investment in behavioral threat assessment training, as well as case management, have the guidance and support needed to be proactive and successful is my ultimate goal.

McKenna joins Navigate360 from WestEds Justice & Prevention Research Center where he served as their Director of School Safety. In this position, he led federally funded research projects, as well as supported schools and districts across the country in implementing various school safety strategies. With his Master of Science and PhD from Texas State University in Criminal Justice and his Bachelor of Science from Roger Williams University, McKenna also served as the Deputy Superintendent and Executive Director of Safety and Student Support for Comal Independent School District in New Braunfels, Texas, as the Associate Director of the Texas School Safety Center and as an Adjunct Professor at Texas State University.

With these new additions in key roles, Navigate360 is poised and ready to further their mission of helping schools and communities across the U.S. achieve zero incidents of violence and harm.

To learn more about Navigate360, please visit navigate360.com

About Navigate360

Navigate360 is the premier provider of safety solutions for schools, leading to enhanced student wellbeing. For more than 20 years, our multifaceted, layered approachproviding everything from curricula that support positive behavior and self-image to campus physical safety and personnel traininghas focused on incident prevention. Empowering people, schools and communities to stay safe and thrive, Navigate360 serves more than 30,000 schools across the US and more than 14 million students. Recognized as a Certified Great Place to Work, Navigate360 is mission-driven and founded on a data-driven approach to school safety and student wellness.

Attachment
TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company) reports assay results from its 100%-owned Bandeira property as part of a 30,000-metre drill program at the Itinga Project, located within the lithium-rich Aracuai district in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The results from this campaign will culminate in an initial mineral resource estimate expected this quarter.



Bandeira is located approximately 500 metres south of Companhia Brasileira de Litios (CBL) Cachoeira lithium mine, and approximately 700 metres north of Sigma Lithium Corp.s large Barreiro lithium deposit. (See Figure 1). The Company is currently the second largest mineral rights holder in the region, controlling 14,182 hectares in this emerging hard rock lithium-producing district.

Bandeira Drill Intercept Highlights

1.62% Li2O over 20m (hole ITDD-23-062) Drilled in the northernmost extent of the property, this hole intersected a new high-grade zone of mineralization approximately 104 metres down hole (~80 metres from surface) (see Figure 2).

(hole ITDD-23-062) 1.42% Li2O over 15.8m and 1.73% Li2O over 11m (hole ITDD-23-078) Intersected 300 metres down-dip from previously reported holes ITDD-23-054 and ITDD-23-058 which intersected 1.84% Li2O over 6.45m and 1.44% Li2O over 6m, respectively (see March 21, 2023 press release and Figure 3). Extension to be confirmed with pending holes ITDD-23-084 and ITDD-23-078.

(hole ITDD-23-078) 1.24% Li2O over 18.1m, 1.99% Li2O over 6.7m, 1.66% Li2O over 8m and 2.10% Li2O over 4m (hole ITDD-23-073) Identified several well-mineralized intersections, the thickest of which is located ~500 metres from surface and 700 metres down-dip from previously reported holes ITDD-22-024 ( 1.71% Li2O over 5.7m and 2.46% Li2O over 2m ) and ITDD-22-025 ( 2.22% Li2O over 3.7m ) (see Figure 4).

(hole ITDD-23-073) 2.03% Li2O over 4.3m, 1.44% Li2O over 5.1m and 1.79% Li2O over 2.8m (hole ITDD-23-060)

(hole ITDD-23-060) 1.62% Li2O over 8m (hole ITDD-23-081) A highlight interval among a group of positive results in the south end of the property, which intersected a shallow (~80 metres from surface) mineralized pegmatite zone, discordant to the regional foliation.

(hole ITDD-23-081)

Blake Hylands, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Ionic, commented, We are very encouraged by the ongoing positive results across the Bandeira property. We continue to encounter new zones of mineralization at surface and meaningful extensions at depth, supporting the significant scale potential of the pegmatite vein system on our property. While we approach the point when we lock the data base to be included in the initial mineral resource estimates for Bandeira and Galvani, on track for completion this quarter, definition drilling will continue on both properties to expand the resources that will be included in future resource updates. Our team is working closely with SGS Canada as they continue to analyze the database of results and construct the resource model.



Only approximately 2,000 metres of drilling remains of the 30,000-metre drill program commenced in 2022 prior to the database for the initial mineral resource estimates at Bandeira and Galvani being closed for the resource estimate, however additional infill and expansion drilling will continue.

SGS Canada (SGS), a global leader in the estimation and modelling of mineral deposits has been engaged to complete the initial NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, on track for completion in Q2 2023. SGS has significant direct experience with lithium deposits in the region, including Sigma Lithium Corps nearby deposits. This initial mineral resource estimate will serve as a foundation for further expansion as the Company continues to identify and drill new targets, guided by ongoing results.

Previously announced drill highlights from Bandeira include:

1.32% Li2O over 24m, incl. 2.12% Li2O over 8m; 2.53% Li2O over 6.09m and 1.88% Li2O over 7.72m (hole ITDD-23-065)

1.43% Li2O over 17.1m (hole ITDD-23-061)

1.73% Li2O over 13.6m (hole ITDD-23-063)

1.47% Li2O over 15m from 242 metres depth (hole ITDD-23-057)

1.59% Li2O over 9.62m, incl. 2.39 Li2O over 5m (hole ITDD-22-039)

1.27% Li2O over 10.09m, incl. 2.13% Li2O over 5.06m (hole ITDD-22-023)

1.99% Li2O over 6.75m (hole ITDD-22-011)

1.44% Li2O over 8.33m (hole ITDD-22-012)

1.22% Li2O over 9.2m, incl. 1.71% Li2O over 5.7m (hole ITDD-22-024)

1.49% Li2O over 6.7m (hole ITDD-22-030)

2.22% Li2O over 3.7m (hole ITDD-22-025)

1.93% Li2O over 5.66m (hole ITDD-22-002)

The Bandeira and Galvani properties cover only 872 of the Companys 14,182 hectares land package in this unique hard-rock lithium district. The Company has begun exploratory drilling with one rig at its Itira property, located less than a kilometre West of Galvani. In addition, as announced on May 1, 2023, a 20,000-metre drilling program is underway on claims within its newly acquired Salinas project, targeting lithium-rich spodumene-bearing pegmatites which are directly adjacent to Latin Resources 13.3Mt @ 1.2% Li2O Colina deposit.

Figure 1: Bandeira Drill Highlights, Section Locations & Nearby Lithium Deposits

View Figure 1 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3024541d-c090-4bcc-bd1e-55f15f7c6083

Figure 2: Section LT800 Facing North-East; Holes ITDD-23-062 and ITDD-23-070 Identify New Zone of Mineralization

View Figure 2 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42ea0deb-d02a-4cea-b133-cbdda66a522b

Figure 3: Section LT100 Facing North-East; Holes ITDD-23-078

View Figure 3 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44f2565a-5629-495a-b51b-6c8c61af9020

Figure 4: Section LT600 Facing North-East; Holes ITDD-23-073

View Figure 4 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8276c5e3-1e14-4cb4-a600-d29e268cd946

Table 1. Bandeira Drill Results

Hole ID Az Dip From To Metres Li2O (%) ITDD-23-060 150



























-78



























225.23 229.50 4.3 2.03 283.30 284.48 1.2 2.16 315.98 316.93 0.9 2.25 319.40 321.20 1.8 0.99 332.62 334.00 1.4 2.04 399.67 402.45 2.8 1.79 405.94 408.44 2.5 0.81 444.29 449.43 5.1 1.44 ITDD-23-062 150















-77















104.43 124.43 20.0 1.62 incl. 104.43 108.43 4.0 1.93 incl. 119.43 124.43 5.0 2.03 349.56 353.47 3.9 1.05 384.50 388.68 4.2 1.01 ITDD-23-064 0







-90







187.46 189.33 1.9 1.17 192.60 198.98 6.4 1.68 218.58 221.58 3.0 2.12 ITDD-23-066 330











-86











31.16 36.16 5.0 0.98 53.35 58.48 5.1 1.38 63.61 65.61 2.0 1.34 107.59 113.23 5.6 1.06 ITDD-23-067 330







-50







86.96 103.96 17.0 1.21 incl. 86.96 91.96 5.0 1.65 incl. 96.96 102.96 6.0 1.47 ITDD-23-068 150 -50 92.23 93.97 1.7 1.03 ITDD-23-069 330



-75



60.55 75.48 14.9 1.44 incl. 62.55 70.55 8.0 2.01 ITDD-23-070 150















-62















78.30 84.30 6.0 1.06 and 89.30 97.30 8.0 1.32 and 152.73 156.40 3.7 1.83 and 332.74 336.36 3.6 2.15 and 341.39 343.42 2.0 1.41 ITDD-23-071 330 -50 86.49 90.49 4.0 0.90 ITDD-23-072 150



-76



99.14 100.94 1.8 1.37 113.69 117.69 4.0 1.38 ITDD-23-073 150























-85























28.77 30.3 1.5 2.97 77.82 83.66 5.8 1.99 206.62 213.3 6.7 1.99 243.54 245.1 1.6 1.43 352.92 360.92 8.0 1.66 408.21 426.35 18.1 1.24 443.07 447.07 4.0 2.10 ITDD-23-074 150



-55



85.77 89.55 3.8 1.58 96.84 100.25 3.4 1.98 ITDD-23-075 330











-50











109.00 112.38 3.4 1.44 115.18 119.43 4.3 0.98 130.10 141.90 11.8 1.00 incl. 130.10 136.10 6.0 1.23 ITDD-23-076 150



-50



82.64 86.84 4.2 1.41 165.53 168.98 3.4 1.39 ITDD-23-077 330 -85 nsv ITDD-23-078 150







-86







316.38 317.90 1.5 1.54 321.95 337.78 15.8 1.42 incl. 324.44 335.44 11.0 1.73 ITDD-23-079 330 -70 nsv ITDD-23-080 150 -53 pending ITDD-23-081 0







-90







32.80 35.80 3.0 1.34 120.07 128.07 8.0 1.62 144.40 149.12 4.7 1.50

About Lithium Ionic Corp.

Lithium Ionic is a Canadian-based lithium-focused mining company with properties covering 14,182 hectares located in the prolific Aracuai province in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, which boasts excellent infrastructure, including highways, access to hydroelectrical grid power, water, and nearby commercial ports. Its Itinga Project neighbours CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine and Sigma Lithium Corp.s construction-stage Grota do Cirilo project.

Quality Assurance and Control

During the drill program, assay samples were taken from NQ core and sawed in half. One-half was sent for assaying at SGS Laboratory, a certified independent commercial laboratory, and the other half was retained for results, cross checks, and future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples. Every sample was processed with Drying, crushing from 75% to 3 mm, homogenization, quartering in Jones, spraying 250 to 300 g of sample in steel mill 95% to 150. SGS laboratory carried out multi-element analysis for ICP90A analysis.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release has been prepared by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, and both are qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101.

Investor and Media Inquiries:

+1 647.316.2500

info@lithiumionic.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys ability to produce a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, the mineralization and development of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
English French

Monarch reports gold assays from 13 drill holes of its 2022 McKenzie Break drilling program.

Hole MK-22-348 intersects an impressive 1.77 g/t Au over 31.0 m, including a higher grade section of 2.83 g/t Au over 15.6 m along the southeast limit of the current proposed pit shell.

Notable broad zones of mineralization include 1.33 g/t Au over 9.35 m (MK-22-342) with the potential to extend the pit shell to the south, and 1.54 g/t Au over 14.91 m (MK-22-363) at the northeast limit of the drilling area.

Higher grade mineralization includes 9.09 g/t Au over 1.48 m (MK-22-363) and 8.54 g/t Au over 1.40 m (MK-22-367).

Results from the 2022 drilling program confirm that the pit shell and underground mineral resource can be expanded beyond the limits defined in the 2021 mineral resource estimate.

Assays are pending for 17 holes.

MONTREAL, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MONARCH MINING CORPORATION (Monarch or the Corporation) (TSX: GBAR) (OTCQB: GBARF) is pleased to report additional results from the 2022 drilling program on its wholly-owned McKenzie Break gold project, located 25 kilometres north of the Corporations wholly owned Beacon mill.

The 2022 drilling program on the McKenzie Break property totaled 16,104 metres in 53 holes. Today, Monarch is reporting the results from an additional 13 holes totalling 4,523 metres (see Figure 1, Table 1 and 2). Assays are pending for the remaining 17 holes of this drill program.

The drilling program was aimed at expanding the size of the 2021 mineral resource estimate (2021 MRE), including the current pit shell in the up-dip direction (to the west and south), and the underground resource to the east and north. The mineralized envelope currently measures 1,100 metres by 600 metres and has been tested down to a vertical depth of 400 metres.

The most significant intersection was found in hole MK-22-348, which returned 1.77 g/t Au over 31.0 m, including higher grade sections of 2.83 g/t Au over 15.6 m and 8.42 g/t Au over 3.0 m along the southeast limit of the current proposed pit shell.

Drill hole MK-22-363, located at the northeast limit of the deposit, intersected 1.54 g/t Au over 14.91 m, including a high grade intercept of 9.09 g/t Au over 1.48 m. This hole confirms that gold mineralization remains open to the northeast.

Drill hole MK-22-342 intersected 1.33 g/t Au over 9.35 m from 8.0 m to 17.35 m down the hole, confirming the near-surface gold mineralization continuing to the south. The drill hole is located 70 metres south of the pit shell limit and demonstrates the potential to extend the pit shell to the south and southwest.

Drill hole MK-22-367 intersected 8.54 g/t Au over 1.40 m and 8.99 g/t Au over 1.0 m.

Since the publication of the 2021 MRE by Geologica and GoldMinds (see Table 3), Monarch drilled a total of 41,465 m in 121 drill holes. The holes are relatively shallow and were primarily drilled at the outer edge of the proposed pit shell limits and in the area of the underground mineral resource blocks. This drilling has confirmed that the pit shell and underground mineral resource can be expanded beyond the limits defined in the 2021 MRE.

The known limits of the McKenzie Break mineralization continue to be extended near-surface and at depth as per our geological model, confirming that the proposed pit limits can be expanded, said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch. We expect the remaining drill assays will continue to give positive results and further expand the known mineralization.

Drilling and Quality Control

Drill results are obtained by sawing the drill core into equal halves along its main axis and shipping one of the halves to ALS Canada or AGAT Laboratories in Val-dOr, Quebec, for assaying. The samples are crushed, pulverized and assayed by fire assay, with an atomic absorption finish. Samples exceeding 3 g/t Au are re-assayed using the gravity method and samples containing visible gold are assayed using the metallic screen method. Monarch uses a comprehensive QA/QC protocol, including the insertion of standards, blanks and duplicates.

The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo., the Corporations qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Monarch

Monarch Mining Corporation (TSX: GBAR) (OTCQB: GBARF) is a gold mining company that owns four projects, including the Beaufor Mine, which is currently on care and maintenance and has produced more than 1 million ounces of gold over the last 30 years. Other assets include the Croinor Gold, McKenzie Break and Swanson properties, all located near Monarchs wholly owned Beacon Mill with a design capacity of 750 tpd. Monarch owns 29,504 hectares (295 km2) of mining assets in the prolific Abitibi mining camp that host a combined measured and indicated gold resource of 666,882 ounces and a combined inferred resource of 423,193 ounces.

Forward-looking statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to those describing the timeline of the initiatives described in this press release, those relating to the intended use of proceeds of the Offering, the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange in connection with the Offering, the entering into or more sale agreements, debt settlement agreements, merger or other combination business agreements, the Corporations commitments and initiatives outlined in the press release, the intended results of the initiatives described in this press release, the positive impact of the foregoing on project economics, and generally those statements which are discussed under the About Monarch paragraph and elsewhere in the press release which essentially describe the Corporations outlook and objectives, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of Canadian, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the Corporation's ability to continue as a going concern, the Corporation being a going concern able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business as they come due into the foreseeable future, the generation of interest for its review of a range of alternatives, in either the sale of part or all of the Company or its assets, a merger or other business combination with another party, a potential investment in Monarch, a debt restructuring, or other strategic initiatives with the goal of maximizing return in respect of the Companys assets, the ability of the Corporation to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the availability of financing or financing on favorable terms for the Corporation, the business conditions of the Corporation will not change In a materially adverse manner, expectations that the business of the Corporation will continue in the ordinary course, litigation as well as cash flow and capital structure risks and general business risks. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Monarch's Annual Information Form dated September 28, 2022, including in the section thereof captioned Risk Factors, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this Cautionary Note could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the manuals of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jean-Marc Lacoste 1-888-994-4465 President and Chief Executive Officer jm.lacoste@monarchmining.com Mathieu Seguin 1-888-994-4465 Vice President, Corporate Development m.seguin@monarchmining.com

www.monarchmining.com

Figure 1: McKenzie Break Significant Intervals from Press Release





Table 1: McKenzie Break Assay Results and Significant Intervals

Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m)* Au (g/t) MK-22-339 31.00 31.50 0.50 2.67 115.00 115.50 0.50 2.74 119.00 120.00 1.00 2.11 MK-22-342 8.00 17.35 9.35 1.33 Incl. 16.50 17.35 0.85 4.18 58.00 60.00 2.00 2.39 92.00 93.00 1.00 5.11 141.00 141.55 0.55 2.36 MK-22-345 114.50 115.50 1.00 1.16 MK-22-347 234.43 236.41 1.98 3.48 270.00 271.64 1.64 1.12 286.56 288.00 1.44 1.72 291.44 294.33 2.89 1.78 315.90 318.22 2.32 1.69 390.60 391.35 0.75 4.40 MK-22-348 92.75 97.55 4.80 2.04 136.21 138.14 1.93 4.77 148.60 150.00 1.40 3.04 203.00 234.00 31.00 1.77 Incl. 203.00 204.10 1.10 3.52 Incl. 211.00 211.65 0.65 2.87 Incl. 212.95 213.52 0.57 2.00 Incl. 218.40 234.00 15.60 2.83 Incl. 224.50 227.50 3.00 8.42 281.89 284.66 2.77 2.26 349.90 351.00 1.10 2.26 MK-22-351 NSA MK-22-358 103.50 105.50 2.00 1.68 118.50 119.50 1.00 1.05 175.00 176.00 1.00 1.12 MK-22-359 58.50 62.00 3.50 1.93 65.00 66.00 1.00 2.25 114.65 116.00 1.35 1.72 141.55 143.15 1.60 2.98 205.30 206.40 1.10 1.91 215.12 216.55 1.43 1.14 246.00 246.85 0.85 1.82 MK-22-360 211.90 212.79 0.89 1.30 222.00 223.85 1.85 1.08 242.66 243.38 0.72 2.66 279.08 280.23 1.15 1.55 305.77 306.89 1.12 1.85 311.77 312.28 0.51 2.20 352.90 354.27 1.37 1.46 MK-22-363 336.00 341.78 5.78 1.53 366.52 381.43 14.91 1.54 Incl. 370.52 372.00 1.48 9.09 445.33 446.70 1.37 1.30 MK-22-365 238.50 241.50 3.00 1.62 255.50 257.00 1.50 1.56 MK-22-366 119.80 120.90 1.10 1.69 246.00 250.55 4.55 2.12 280.00 280.50 0.50 7.86 304.40 305.10 0.70 1.86 368.50 370.38 1.88 3.20 373.70 375.70 2.00 1.18 MK-22-367 44.00 45.00 1.00 1.10 124.00 124.74 0.74 1.39 164.00 165.40 1.40 8.54 273.00 274.00 1.00 8.99 304.00 305.00 1.00 1.17 330.00 333.00 3.00 1.18

*The width shown is the core length. True width is estimated to be between 85% and 90% of core length.

NSA = No Significant Assays





Table 2: McKenzie Break Drill Hole Location

Hole UTM_E (m) UTM_N (m) Azimut () Dip () Length (m) MK-22-339 309566.7 5358400 230 -88 165 MK-22-342 309636.7 5358223 230 -88 156 MK-22-345 309852 5358150 230 -88 234 MK-22-347 310029 5358437 230 -88 399 MK-22-348 309951 5358491 230 -88 365 MK-22-351 309800 5358200 230 -88 231 MK-22-358 309865 5358615 230 -88 213 MK-22-359 309900 5358936 230 -88 360 MK-22-360 310182.2 5359219 230 -88 480 MK-22-363 310295.2 5359114 230 -88 552 MK-22-365 310032 5358877 230 -88 435 MK-22-366 310231.1 5358811 230 -88 513 MK-22-367 310037.7 5358714 230 -88 420





Table 3: 2021 MRE for McKenzie Break

Area (cut-off grade)

Indicated resource Inferred resource Tonnes

(t) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(Au) Tonnes

(t) Grade

(g/t) Ounces

(Au) Pit-constrained (0.50 g/t Au) 1,441,377 1.80 83,305 2,243,562 1.44 104,038 Underground (2.38 g/t Au) 387,720 5.03 62,677 1,083,503 4.21 146,555 TOTAL 1,829,097 145,982 3,327,065 250,593

Notes :

Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, market or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources are uncertain in nature and there has not been sufficient work to define these inferred resources as indicated or measured resources. The database used for this mineral estimate includes drill results obtained from historical records and up to the recent 2018-2020 drill program. Mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.50 g/t Au for the pit-constrained and underground mineral resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 2.38 g/t Au within reasonably mineable volumes. These cut-offs were calculated at a gold price of C$1,980 ounce. The pit-constrained resources were based on the following parameters: mining cost $3.5/t, processing, transportation + G&A costs $27/t, Au recovery 95%, pit slopes 15 degrees for overburden and 50 degrees for rock. The underground reasonably mineable volumes were based on the following parameters: mining cost $98/t, processing, transportation + G&A costs $27/t, Au recovery 95%, dilution of 15% at 0 g/t Au with a minimum stope dimension of 10m x 10m x 5m. The geological interpretation of the deposits was based on lithologies and the typical mineralized interval mainly composed by diorite hosted shear zones. The mineral resource presented here was estimated with a block size of 5m x 5m x 5m for the pit-constrained and for underground. The blocks were interpolated from equal length composites calculated from the mineralized intervals. Prior to compositing, high-grade gold assays were capped to 60 g/t Au applied on 0.6-metre composites. The mineral estimation was completed using the inverse distance squared methodology utilizing two passes. For each pass, search ellipsoids followed the geological interpretation trends were used. Tonnage estimates are based on rock specific gravity of 2.77 tonnes per cubic metre for all the zones. Results are presented undiluted and in situ. Estimates use metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). Metal contents are presented in troy ounces (metric tonne x grade / 31.10348). This MRE is dated February 11, 2021, and with an amended date of October 14, 2021. The effective date for the drillhole database used to produce this updated mineral resource estimate is February 1, 2021. Tonnages and ounces in the tables are rounded to the nearest hundred. Numbers may not total due to rounding. No economic evaluation of the resources has been produced. The MRE was prepared by Alain-Jean Beauregard, P.Geo., Daniel Gaudreault, P.Eng. of Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc., and Merouane Rachidi, P.Geo., Claude Duplessi, P.Eng. of GoldMinds GeoServices, all qualified persons under National Instrument 43-101.







Table 4: Monarch Combined Mineral Resource Estimates

Mineral resource estimates Tonnes

(metric) Grade

(g/t Au) Ounces Beaufor Mine1 Measured Resources 328,500 5.7 59,900 Indicated Resources 956,400 5.2 159,300 Total Measured and Indicated 1,284,900 5.3 219,200 Total Inferred 818,900 4.7 122,500 Croinor Gold2 Measured Resources 97,700 6.24 19,600 Indicated Resources 805,900 6.50 168,300 Total Measured and Indicated 903,600 6.47 187,900 Total Inferred 200,100 6.19 39,800 McKenzie Break3 In-pit Total Indicated 1,441,377 1.80 83,305 Total Inferred 2,243,562 1.44 104,038 Underground Total Indicated 387,720 5.03 62,677 Total Inferred 1,083,503 4.21 146,555 Swanson4 In-pit Total Indicated 1,864,000 1.76 105,400 Total Inferred 29,000 2.46 2,300 Underground Total Indicated 91,000 2.86 8,400 Total Inferred 87,000 2.87 8,000 TOTAL COMBINED5

Measured and Indicated Resources

Inferred Resources 666,882

423,193 1 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Beaufor Mine Project, October 13, 2021, Val-dOr, Quebec, Canada, Charlotte Athurion, P. Geo., Pierre-Luc Richard, P. Geo., and Dario Evangelista, P. Eng., BBA Inc.

2 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Croinor Gold Project, June 17, 2022, Val-dOr, Quebec, Canada, Olivier Vadnais-Leblanc, P.Geo., Carl Pelletier, P.Geo. and Eric Lecomte, P.Eng., InnovExplo Inc.

3 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Evaluation Report on the McKenzie Break Property, October 14, 2021, Val-dOr, Quebec, Canada, Alain-Jean Beauregard, P.Geo., Daniel Gaudreault, P.Eng., of Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc., and Merouane Rachidi, P.Geo., Claude Duplessis, P.Eng., of GoldMinds GeoServices Inc.

4 Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Swanson Project, January 22, 2021, Val-dOr, Quebec, Canada, Christine Beausoleil, P. Geo. and Alain Carrier, P. Geo., InnovExplo Inc.

5 Numbers may not add due to rounding.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b93d70d-003a-423c-a0b0-fe27f0175084
Dublin, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Warehouse Management Systems Market 2023-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The publisher has been monitoring the warehouse management systems market and is forecast to grow by $ 2403.65 mn during 2022-2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 12% during the forecast period.



This report on the warehouse management systems market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.



The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by rising need for inventory control, growing need for efficient forecasting models, and emergence of omnichannel distribution network.



The warehouse management systems market is segmented as below:

By Component

Software

Services

By Deployment

Cloud

On premise

By Geographical Landscape

North America

Europe

APAC

Middle East and Africa

South America

This study identifies the growth of e-commerce as one of the prime reasons driving the warehouse management systems market growth during the next few years. Also, integration of new technologies in wms and increasing automation of supply chains will lead to sizable demand in the market.



The author presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters.



This report on the warehouse management systems market covers the following areas:

Warehouse management systems market sizing

Warehouse management systems market forecast

Warehouse management systems market industry analysis

The publisher's robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading warehouse management systems market vendors that include 3PL Central LLC, Blue Yonder Group Inc., Daifuku Co. Ltd., Dassault Systemes SE, E2open Parent Holdings Inc., Epicor Software Corp., Infor Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Manhattan Associates Inc., Oracle Corp., PSI Software AG, PTC Inc., Reply Spa, SAP SE, Softeon, Tecsys Inc., Vinculum Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Cantaloupe Inc, Datapel Systems, and Mantis Informatics S.A. Also, the warehouse management systems market analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage all forthcoming growth opportunities.



The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.





Key Topics Covered:



1 Executive Summary



2 Market Landscape



3 Market Sizing



4 Historic Market Size



5 Five Forces Analysis



6 Market Segmentation by Component



7 Market Segmentation by Deployment



8 Customer Landscape



9 Geographic Landscape



10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends



11 Vendor Landscape



12 Vendor Analysis



13 Appendix



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

3PL Central LLC

Blue Yonder Group Inc.

Daifuku Co. Ltd.

Dassault Systemes SE

E2open Parent Holdings Inc.

Epicor Software Corp.

Infor Inc.

International Business Machines Corp.

Manhattan Associates Inc.

Oracle Corp.

PSI Software AG

PTC Inc.

Reply Spa

SAP SE

Softeon

Tecsys Inc.

Vinculum Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Cantaloupe Inc

Datapel Systems

Mantis Informatics S.A

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pht980

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartier Silver Corporation (CSE:CFE) (Cartier Silver or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed on SEDAR an independent technical report (Technical Report) by Micon International Limited (Micon), prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). This Technical Report, authored by Mr. Charley Murahwi, P.Geo., Pr. Sci. Nat., FAusIMM, of Micon, supports Cartier Silvers planned exploration program at the Los Chorrillos (Gonalbert-Felizidad) Silver Project (Los Chorrillos or the Project), in the Potosi Department, southern Bolivia by Minera Cartier Bolivia S.R.L., Cartier Silvers Bolivian subsidiary. The Technical Report will also be posted on the Companys website, www.cartiersilvercorp.com.



In the Technical Report, Micon concludes: In summary, the following factors qualify Los Chorrillos as a property of merit warranting detailed investigations to unravel its full potential:

Favourable geological/metallogenic setting.

Clear visual evidence of mineralization at surface and shallow underground workings offering opportunities for both open pit and underground exploitation.

Presence of a current flourishing producing artisanal mine, which although small, could get better/bigger with detailed exploration and capital injection.

Micon further noted: The above resource/reserve potential attributes are enhanced by the following infrastructural advantages:

Proximity to established power grids, domestic paved roads, and rail transportation routes.

Easy access to Northern Chilean seaports (Somarco and Portezuelo).

Road and rail access to 3 Bolivian smelters  Vinto, OMSA and Karachipampa.



Overall, Micon is of the opinion that detailed exploration/investigation of the Los Chorrillos will likely yield positive results towards establishing a much larger viable mining venture.

A two-phase exploration program is recommended in the Technical Report. Phase I includes targeted exploration, geoscientific studies (Induced Polarization and Magnetometry) and limited sampling and is estimated at CDN$400,000. The Phase II exploration program, which is contingent on the successful completion of Phase 1, includes 5,000m of diamond drilling and is estimated to cost CDN$2,000,000. Micon concludes that the budget under consideration is reasonable and justified and recommends that Cartier Silver conduct the planned activities.

Tom Larsen, Cartier Silvers CEO, commented: The Company is very pleased with Micons efforts in completing the Los Chorrillos NI 43-101 Report. The Technical Report clearly defines Cartier Silvers next steps to advance this project, in order to unlock its potential unrealized value. We are already proceeding forward with Phase I exploration on this highly prospective property.

Qualified Person

Dr. Bill Pearson, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101), has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this press release. Mr. Charley Murahwi, P.Geo., Pr. Sci. Nat., FAusIMM, of Micon International Limited, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, is the author of the Technical Report on the Los Chorrillos Gonalbert-Felizidad) Silver Project.

About Cartier Silver Corporation

Cartier Silver is an exploration and development Company focused on discovering and developing its recently acquired silver property assets, including the Chorrillos Project and claims staked by the Companys subsidiary, all of which are located in the Potosi Department of southern Bolivia. The Company also holds significant iron ore resources at its Gagnon Holdings in the southern Labrador Trough region of east-central Quebec, and the Big Easy gold property in the Burin Peninsula epithermal gold belt in the Avalon Zone of eastern Newfoundland and Labrador.

For further information please visit Cartier Silvers website at www.cartiersilvercorp.com

For further information please contact:

Thomas G. Larsen

Chief Executive Officer

(800) 360-8006

(416) 360-8006

Jorge Estepa

Vice-President

(800) 360-8006

(416) 360-8006

The CSE has not reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual developments or results, may vary materially from those in these forward-looking statements.

PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/fa46fe19-98dc-4145-b9ad-c2bd5bc16ff4
CALGARY, Alberta, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (the Company or Pan American) (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FRA: SS6) is pleased to announce the Company has engaged the services of Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. (Axiom) to carry out the 2023 exploration program on the Big Mack Lithium Project. Final preparations are in progress to execute comprehensive surface geochemical sampling over the project area. The program is designed to further refine drill targets and to test numerous surface mapped pegmatite occurrences that have not been historically analyzed for lithium.



Axiom's team of diverse geoscientists employs experience gained across Canada and multiple countries providing geological services and is an employee-owned, Saskatchewan-based company. Axioms Exploration division has multi-jurisdictional experience, managing numerous on-going lithium projects across Eastern Canada. Staff are specialized in the field of rare-element pegmatite exploration and Axiom's geoscientists are equipped with the latest industry knowledge and tools to provide reliable and accurate data. Axioms expertise includes the initial design, operation, and management of grass-roots exploration programs to the optimization of advanced projects.

Work is set to begin on the Big Mack Project late May. The program will include systematic geochemical sampling across the entire property to define areas hosting mineralization on surface, and sample known pegmatites that have not historically been tested for lithium. The Company plans to utilize recently completed high resolution UAV Magnetic data to assist in delineating targets. This program will be in advance of a drilling campaign which is planned to start later in the summer.

Exploration Plan

Completion of detailed UAV magnetics survey over the property in conjunction with Avalon Advanced Minerals Inc. and University of Manitoba.

Geophysical and subsurface 3D modelling.

Prospecting, additional sampling to further define the potential of the lithium and other rare-metal mineralization associated with the pegmatites.

Diamond drilling for further expansion of the Big Mack pegmatite along strike and depth and test the potential along the extension between the Eleven Zone and Sprinkler Zone / 6059 LCT-pegmatites.

We are thrilled to announce a new contractor partnership with Axiom, said Jason Latkowcer, Pan Americans Chief Executive Officer. By combining our expertise with that of Axioms, we hope to unlock the full potential of the Big Mack Lithium Projects 2023 exploration program and make significant strides in our goal of defining a resource on the property. Axiom have extensive experience in lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite exploration and a deep roster of human capital, including geological and geophysical experts, available in-house. We believe this partnership gives us the best chance of success and we are excited to get to work.





Figure 1. Big Mack Lithium Project Property Overview.



About the Big Mack Project

The Big Mack Lithium Project is located 2 km east of all-weather Snook Lake Road about 80 km north of Kenora, ON. The property is proximal (~1.3 km) to Avalon Advanced Material Incs Separation Rapids, Big Whopper deposit which hosts a measured and indicated tonnage-grade of 8.12 Mt @1.37% Li2O. The property is within an Ontario registered mining lease, with over 30 years of exploration history. The property lies within the traditional land use area of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (WIN) of Whitedog, Ontario: an Aboriginal community located approximately 35 km southwest of the property.

The property hosts four known Li-bearing pegmatites including the Big Mack pegmatite, Eleven Zone, Sprinkler Zone, and 6095 pegmatite which are thought to be related to the Separation Rapids Pluton. They are interpreted as zoned Complex Type, Petalite Subtype LCT Pegmatites. The Big Mack pegmatite represents the largest petalite-bearing mass on the property and is exposed over an 80 by 225 m area. Historic drilling campaigns (1998, 1999, 2001) intersected mineralization extending along a strike length of ~150 meters and to a depth of 75 meters. The deposit remains open at depth and along strike.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo. (Senior Geologist, Axiom), who is a Qualified Person for the Company as defined under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

About Axiom

Axiom is a private, employee-owned company with its corporate head office located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Established in 2011, Axiom is a complete consulting firm providing a diverse set of technical services within, and integrated across, each of our four main divisions: Exploration, Geophysics & Geomatics, Environment, and Energy Services.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS6) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within the Clayton Valley  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.

To register for investor updates please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jason Latkowcer

CEO & Director

Contact

Phone : (587) 885-5970

Email: info@panam-energy.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein may constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the commercialization of the Companys technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects or it is expected, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74330ea8-f8d8-4ac4-a512-aeda5b43afb6
VANCOUVER, British Columbia , May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has executed a Master Services Agreement (the Agreement) with RESPEC Consulting Inc. (RESPEC), a leader in engineering, data, geoscience and technological solutions for the salt industry. Pursuant to the Agreement, RESPEC will work directly with Vortex to explore and advance the Robinsons River Salt Project (the Project) by developing an exploration program for the Project designed to determine whether the Project shares similar geological characteristics to Atlas Salts Great Atlantic Salt Deposit, located approximately 15kms to the north of the Project.



RESPECs experts have evaluated over 1,000 caverns in nearly every major cavern storage region in the world. Their extensive history underground has helped them pioneer in-house specialty software and rock lab testing that focuses on analyzing solution-mined and conventionally mined caverns. RESPEC has the worlds largest rock laboratory dedicated to the underground storage industry and has experience with some of the largest scale Projects in North America, including Mitsubishi Powers Advanced Clean Energy Storage Project in Utah, the ATCO Heartland Energy Centre in Alberta and seven other hydrogen storage projects worldwide.

The Project covers 17,139 hectares in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador and is approximately 35km south of Stephenville. Previous work conducted on the Project includes a gravity and magnetic survey, which the Vortex team expects to leverage in designing the exploration program for the Project their data collection. Vortex is exploring the Project for potential similarities to Atlas Salts Great Atlantic Deposit.

We are very excited to be moving ahead in partnership with RESPEC and their team of experts, said Paul Sparkes, Chief Executive Officer of Vortex. We believe that the multi-disciplinary team of geologists, geophysicists and engineers are exactly what Vortex needs to efficiently advance the Project. RESPEC is one of the only underground storage consultants with direct experience in hydrogen storage caverns globally and has many other related areas of expertise covered in-house. Vortex intends on deploying teams as quickly as it can to conduct the first stages of exploration as we work with RESPEC to develop a detailed drilling plan.





Figure 1 - Vortex Energy Robinsons River Salt Property

Sam Voegeli, Energy Services Lead at RESPEC, comments RESPEC is looking forward to working closely with the Vortex team to further explore the Robinsons River Salt Project. Were excited to leverage our 50+ years of experience with underground storage and salt deposits to help bring the Project closer to development. The RESPEC team is eager to be involved in such an exciting project that has the potential to be positioned as a key global hydrogen hub in the energy transition.

About RESPEC Consulting Inc.

RESPEC was founded in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1969 and operates in 14 states and two Canadian provinces. RESPECs projects and products have been completed for clients in seven continents and 50 countries. Underground. Aboveground. Natural. Technical. Digital. Inside. Outside. On-Site. No matter the market, RESPEC integrates solutions tailored to clients and communities needs. RESPEC unites engineering and applied sciences with technology, professional, and creative services so that everyone gets cutting-edge outcomes. RESPEC finds answers that work for the needs at hand. RESPECs diversified team can handle projects ranging from early-stage exploration to multi-disciplinary feasibility studies.

About Vortex Energy Corp.

Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project in Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador covering over 17,000 hectares. Leveraging the Robinson River Salt project, the Company is also exploring the development of technologies to efficiently store green Hydrogen in Salt Caverns. Vortex also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Sparkes

Chief Executive Officer, Director

+1 (778) 819-0164

info@vortexenergycorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the exploration plans of the Company for the Project, including the nature and type of the Companys exploration activities, the timing of such exploration activities, the ability of the Company to leverage its exploration efforts to develop a drill plan for the Project and the aim of the Companys exploration efforts; and the expected benefits of the Companys partnership with RESPEC, including that RESPEC will assist the Company in advancing the Project. .

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the Companys ability to execute on its exploration plans for the Project, including that it will receive all of the necessary permits to conduct such exploration activities, will be successful in carrying out such exploration activities and will accomplish the desired outcomes from such exploration activities; and that the Companys partnership with RESPEC will be carried out in accordance with the Agreement and yield the anticipated benefits to the Company and the Project.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that exploration at the Project does not proceed in the manner currently contemplated, or at all; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to receiving requisite permits and approvals, changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a project; that the geology or mineralization of nearby projects may not be indicative of the geology or mineralization at the Project; that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company, including that the Company may fail to develop a drill plan for the Project; and that the Companys partnership with RESPEC may not yield the anticipated benefits to the Company or the Project, including that the Companys partnership with RESPEC may not be carried out pursuant to the Agreement, or at all, and may not assist in advancing the Project.. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0c87992-98bc-4f51-84cd-18a94d766e5b
New York, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The succinic acid market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth USD 181.0 Mn in 2022 and is poised to reach USD 359.8 Mn by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2022 to 2032.

Succinic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, is created from renewable resources including corn, wheat, and sugarcane, making it an attractive substitute for substances derived from petroleum. The chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and personal care sectors are succinic acid's main markets. Succinic acid is a precursor used in the chemical industry to create a variety of compounds, such as resins, solvents, and polymers. It serves as an excipient in medicine formulations made by the pharmaceutical industry.

To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a Succinic Acid Market sample report at https://market.us/report/succinic-acid-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

Based on type, in 2022, the Succinic Acid Market was dominated by the petro-based segment owing to its cost-effectiveness.

owing to its cost-effectiveness. By End-User, in 2022, the industrial segment dominated the largest market share in the end-user segment.

dominated the largest market share in the end-user segment. In 2022, Asia-Pacific dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 42.4% .

dominated the market with the highest revenue share of . North America is expected to have the highest CAGR among all regions, owing to the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.

Factors Affecting the Growth of the Succinic Acid Market

There are several factors that can have an impact on the growth of the succinic acid industry including:

Increasing demand from end-use industries: Numerous end-use industries, including pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and personal care, are seeing an increase in the demand for succinic acid. Due to its application in the creation of numerous goods, including medications, food additives, and cosmetics, succinic acid is becoming more and more in demand.

Numerous end-use industries, including pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and personal care, are seeing an increase in the demand for succinic acid. Due to its application in the creation of numerous goods, including medications, food additives, and cosmetics, succinic acid is becoming more and more in demand. Shift towards sustainable products: The need for bio-based succinic acid is being driven by the shift towards sustainable products. Customers are choosing sustainable alternatives as they become more conscious of how traditional items affect the environment. The succinic acid industry is expanding as a result of this tendency.

The need for bio-based succinic acid is being driven by the shift towards sustainable products. Customers are choosing sustainable alternatives as they become more conscious of how traditional items affect the environment. The succinic acid industry is expanding as a result of this tendency. Favorable government regulations: The succinic acid business is expanding as a result of favorable government laws for the use of bio-based products. The demand for succinic acid is rising as governments throughout the world create policies and laws to promote the use of bio-based goods.

The succinic acid business is expanding as a result of favorable government laws for the use of bio-based products. The demand for succinic acid is rising as governments throughout the world create policies and laws to promote the use of bio-based goods. Technological advancements: The industry is expanding as a result of the creation of new methods for producing succinic acid. The industry is expanding as a result of the easier and more affordable production of succinic acid made possible by the use of biotechnology and renewable feedstock.

The industry is expanding as a result of the creation of new methods for producing succinic acid. The industry is expanding as a result of the easier and more affordable production of succinic acid made possible by the use of biotechnology and renewable feedstock. Availability of raw materials: The expansion of the succinic acid business is significantly influenced by the availability of raw materials. Succinic acid must be produced using renewable feedstock, and the availability of such feedstock may have an impact on the industry's expansion.

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Top Trends in Succinic Acid Market

The demand for bio-based substances like succinic acid is being driven by the global movement toward sustainability. Making succinic acid from renewable resources like sugarcane and maize allows manufacturers to have less of an influence on the environment and the carbon footprint. Particularly in the natural and organic food industry, succinic acid is being utilized more frequently as a taste enhancer and food additive. It is a preferred component in many food and beverage goods because of its ability to heighten flavor and lengthen shelf life. In order to increase productivity and yield in the succinic acid production process, new methods are being investigated.

Market Growth

The market for succinic acid is expanding as there is an increasing need for bio-based succinic acid in a variety of sectors, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemical intermediates. Further driving the demand for bio-based succinic acid is predicted to be the growing awareness of the negative effects of petrochemical-based products and the increased emphasis on carbon footprint reduction. The market for succinic acid is predicted to expand significantly over the next few years due to reasons such as rising demand for bio-based succinic acid, improvements in production technology, and a growing focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific is predicted to be the most lucrative region with the greatest market share of 42.4% in the overall succinic acid market, and it is anticipated that it will see a CAGR of 7.3% over the course of the forecast year. The Asia-Pacific region's succinic acid market is predicted to grow at the highest rate due to increased demand from end-use industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food & beverage. Because of the rising population, rising disposable income, and quickening industrialization in countries like China, India, and Japan, the market in this region has been growing.

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Scope of Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 181 million Market Size (2032) USD 359.8 million CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 7.3% Asia-Pacific Revenue Share 42.4% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

There is an increasing need for bio-based chemicals like succinic acid as environmental hazards associated with synthetic chemicals are becoming more well-known. So, using renewable resources like sugarcane, corn, and cassava to make succinic acid has become more widespread recently. Succinic acid is a typical food component used in the production of baked goods, dairy goods, meals, and drinks. Succinic acid is currently more required as a food additive due to the surge in demand for processed food items.

Market Restraints

To make succinic acid, significant financial investment is required in technology and equipment. Succinic acid made from biomaterials may not be as competitive on the market as conventional succinic acid made from petrochemicals since it is more expensive to produce. the scarcity of raw materials like corn, cassava, and sugarcane because these are renewable resources. This could have an impact on succinic acid production, resulting in price volatility and supply chain disruptions. Succinic acid competes with other bio-based compounds that can be utilized in comparable applications, like citric acid and lactic acid.

Market Opportunities

Several industries, including the pharmaceutical, chemical intermediate, and food and beverage sectors, frequently employ succinic acid. These applications' growing popularity, especially in developing nations, may offer succinic acid manufacturers new chances to grow their market share.

Costs associated with producing succinic acid can be reduced while efficiency and sustainability are raised thanks to the creation of cutting-edge production technology. By using contemporary fermentation techniques, such as bioreactor and metabolic engineering design, it is possible to increase the yield and purity of succinic acid while reducing reliance on non-renewable resources.

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Report Segmentation of the Succinic Acid Market

Type Insight

The petro-based is anticipated to be the most profitable segment with a projected CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period and the highest revenue share of 57.6% in the global succinic acid market. This is mostly utilized in the chemical sector to create succinic acid using a petroleum base. In comparison to bio-based succinic acid, this is more cost-effective and more effective. Additionally, it is employed as a flavor enhancer in the food and beverage sector. It is used in a variety of industries because of its established manufacturing facilities.

End-User Insight

The industrial sector dominates the succinic acid market as an end-user segment with a market share of 23.2% and a CAGR of 6.9%. One of the most important applications of succinic acid in the chemical industry is the synthesis of 1,4-butanediol (BDO), a widely used chemical that is used in the production of spandex, polyurethane, and other materials.

For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/succinic-acid-market/request-sample/



Market Segmentation

Based on Type

Petro-based

Bio-based

Based on End-User

Industrial

Coating

Food & Beverage

Personal Care & Cosmetics

Pharmaceuticals

Other End-Users

By Geography

North America

The US Canada Mexico



Western Europe

Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe



Eastern Europe

Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC



Latin America

Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America



Middle East & Africa

Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Competitive Landscape

To obtain a competitive edge in the market, these businesses are primarily focused on increasing their production capacity, creating innovative items, and expanding their distribution networks. As an example, BASF SE increased its succinic acid manufacturing capacity by 30% in 2020 to fulfil the rising demand for succinic acid derived from biomaterials. The succinic acid market is extremely competitive and is highlighted by the existence of numerous significant companies. BASF SE, Myriant Corporation, Reverdia, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, and Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd. are a few of the major competitors in the sector.

Key Market Players:

Listed below are some of the most important succinic acid industry players.

BASF SE

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings

Bioamber Inc.

DSM

Kawasaki Kasei Chemicals Ltd.

Purac

Reverdia

Other Key Players

Recent Developments of the Succinic Acid Market

In 2021, BioAmber leading bio-based succinic acid producer filed for bankruptcy and sold its succinic acid factory to a private equity company.

BioAmber leading bio-based succinic acid producer filed for bankruptcy and sold its succinic acid factory to a private equity company. In 2020, To increase the production of bio-based succinic acid, Johnson Matthey, a leader in sustainable technologies, and Myriant Corporation have formed a strategic alliance.

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three BASF leaders in manufacturing were among 130 women recognized nationally at The Manufacturing Institutes (MI) annual Women MAKE Awards. This national awards program honors women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers across all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the executive level.



BASFs 2023 award winners include:

Women MAKE Honoree: Carol Easley, Operations Director, Polyol North America

Women MAKE Honoree: Cara Madzy, Vice President Operations, Coatings Americas

Women MAKE Emerging Leader: Lindsey Daniels, Process Safety Specialist



We are proud to celebrate the 2023 Women MAKE Award recipients who are making a difference at BASF and shaping the future of manufacturing, said Marc Ehrhardt, President, BASF North America. It is role models like you, who drive innovation, and at the same time inspire the next generation of female talent in our industry. At BASF we know the value of different perspectives and experiences, and we stay committed to attracting, developing, and retaining great female talent.

The Women MAKE Awards are part of the MIs Women MAKE America initiative, which is the nations marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. Women MAKE America aims to create a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the industry.

The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisis, and women are the industrys largest talent opportunity; bringing just 6% more women into manufacturing would fill all open jobs in the sector today, said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. That is exactly why the Women MAKE Awards are so important and powerful. These are the women who will inspire our next generation of female talent to pursue a career in this industry.

BASF sponsored the annual awards ceremony, which was held in Washington, D.C. on April 20. For more information about BASF careers and efforts that promote women in manufacturing, visit www.basf.us/women.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022. For more information about BASFs North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of 87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Media Relations contact

Sarah Haneline

225-339-7794

Sarah.haneline@basf.com
DALLAS, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2023 U.S. Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte* Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams. As a four-time recipient of this designation, Associa also received Gold Standard recognition from Deloitte.

The 2023 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic culture, as well as strong financials. Designees propelled their businesses forward and remained true to their purpose and values by investing in their people, creating advantage through digital transformation, taking measurable action on sustainability, and demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Im incredibly proud to have earned Deloittes Best Managed Company award for the fourth consecutive year and to be recognized as a Gold Standard winner, said Associa Chairman and CEO John Carona. Knowing the effort our leadership team puts into creating our strategy  and executing against it while ensuring a supportive environment for all employees  this level of recognition is a true testament to Associas success. Im grateful for the hard work and dedication that all of our employees put into ensuring our continued growth.

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 46 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

About the Best Managed Companies Program

The Best Managed Companies program is a mark of excellence for private companies. U.S. designees have revenues of at least $250 million. Hundreds of private companies around the world have competed for this designation in their respective countries through a rigorous and independent process that evaluates four key criteria in their management skills and practices  strategy, execution, culture and governance/financials. U.S. program sponsors are Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit www.usbestmanagedcompanies.com.

About Associa

With more than 225 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 11,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 43 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

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tom.womack@associaonline.com

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LAS VEGAS, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Expanse Studios is proud to announce a new partnership with BTCGOSU, the best Bitcoin casino review site. BTCGOSU offers the latest information on BTC Casinos, Slots, Table Games, Guides, and News.



Gosu means highly skilled player in Korean, which is a term mostly used in e-gaming. Having been professional Starcraft players themselves, it is a perfect name for a Bitcoin Casino Review site.

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As these games support various currencies and cryptocurrencies, the latest partnership reached with BTCGOSU is a logical step forward.

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Expanse Studios is a cutting-edge gaming development company that produces a wide variety of games using HTML5 technology. Their games include slots, roulettes, table games, turn-based strategies, and much more.

The companys relentless focus on innovation has led them to create a seamless mobile-first experience that blends old-school motifs with state-of-the-art design, captivating soundtracks, and immersive animations.

Expanse Studios is dedicated to providing the best possible gaming experience. We have extensive information stored in our database to help us achieve that. This information includes:

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Chico, CA, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Work Truck Solutions, the only company that offers a complete set of commercial vehicle business solutions, has been named an Emerging 8 honoree by Cherokee Media Group (CMG). The Emerging 8 award recognizes the most innovative and promising companies in the automotive industry.

"We are thrilled to be recognized as an Emerging 8 honoree," said Kathryn Schifferle, founder and Chief Vision Officer of Work Truck Solutions. "This award is a testament to our team's hard work, dedication and focus on industry changes and trends, and we are excited to continue providing innovative solutions to all our customers."

CMG announced the Emerging 8 award during the Auto Intel Summit/National Remarketing Conference Spring Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina. Candidates for the award come from recommendations by industry leaders.

Work Truck Solutions helps dealerships manage their commercial inventory and connect with their business buyers, reducing pain points throughout the process, while increasing profits for the commercial operation, said Aaron Johnson, CEO of Work Truck Solutions. The company's powerful commercial vehicle platform educates buyers with digital marketing tools, and delivers insightful market and product data directly to our dealer customers.

Emerging 8 honorees are recognized as companies who address challenges through innovative technology and are at the forefront of the automotive space.

Work Truck Solutions relies heavily on its company culture to stand out as a leader. We have built an outstanding culture of collaboration, appreciation, and iteration in service to the industry, explained Schifferle. Our team celebrates both mutual support and success achieved for our customers daily.

Not content to rest after receiving the Emerging 8 nod, Johnson wrapped up comments from the company by saying, Work Truck Solutions will continue to build our partner network of OEMs, automotive tech stack providers, upfitters, fleet management companies, service providers and other industry stakeholders who share our vision of helping the industry become more efficient, transparent and connected.

About Work Truck Solutions

Work Truck Solutions is the smart technology platform that serves the Commercial Vehicle industry. The end-to-end solutions such as Comvoy.com, the national commercial marketplace, and CV Showroom, the smart digital catalog of commercial vehicles not in stock, connect the dots between commercial vehicle buyers, dealers, manufacturers and upfitters. This innovative technology is the one-stop inventory management, operational analytics, and digital marketing solution that maximizes commercial sales, customer relationships and profitability.

Attachment
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chinova Bioworks (Chinova), a Canadian food technology company, announced today its clean-label shelf-life extender, Chiber, as the first mushroom fiber to be included in Whole Foods Market approved ingredient list.

Chiber is a natural fiber extracted from white button mushrooms that extends the shelf-life of food and beverage products. It has been gaining traction in the food industry due to its natural origins and ability to help reduce food waste by improving the quality and freshness of products.

Whole Foods Market has established a rigorous Quality Standards program that evaluates every ingredient used in the products sold in their stores. This program ensures only approved ingredients are used, and that every product meets the high standards of quality and safety that customers have come to expect from the retailer.

During a process which saw Chinova Bioworks provide detailed safety, processing, and application data on Chiber Mushroom Extract to the Whole Foods Market review team, the ingredient was added on to the list as an acceptable ingredient. The overwhelmingly positive results speak for themselves, with the ingredient featured in five listings: Chiber, Mushroom Fiber, Mushroom Derived Fiber, White Button Mushroom Fiber, and White Button Mushroom Derived Fiber.

"Chiber is transforming the food industry by providing a natural and effective solution for extending the shelf-life of food and beverage products," said Natasha Dhayagude, CEO and co-founder of Chinova Bioworks. "This milestone serves as a testament to Chinova's commitment to providing innovative and sustainable ingredients to meet the ever-evolving needs of manufacturers and consumers."

Using a patented eco-friendly process, Chinova Bioworks extracts a fiber from the upcycled stems of white button mushrooms to create a clean-label shelf-life extender easily incorporated into food and beverage products while providing broad spectrum protection against spoilage-causing microorganisms. Chiber is allergen-free, has no sensory impact, and extends the shelf-life of products without affecting their taste, texture, or appearance. Approved for use in the United States, Canada, and 70 other countries, Chiber is certified as vegan, Kosher, and Halal and is organic and non-GMO compliant.

"Whole Foods has been a trusted source for natural and organic products and we are proud to be the only natural and clean label antimicrobial ingredient approved under their ingredient qualification program. Chiber naturally meets their rigorous standards for transparent and healthy ingredients," said David Brown, COO and co-founder of Chinova Bioworks. "The approval of Chiber for use in Whole Foods stores provides food and beverage manufacturers with a clean label solution to enhance the quality and freshness of their products, while increasing transparency and sustainability."



Chiber Mushroom Extract is used across the food and beverage industry, including those in the beverage, bakery, plant-based meat, and plant-based dairy industries. With the approval from Whole Foods Market, Chinova Bioworks is able to work with more food and beverage producers to make their products clean-label and acceptable for the important national retailer.

Stop by booth S0351 at the IFT First trade show in Chicago from July 16-19, 2023, to meet the Chinova team and experience Chiber firsthand.

About Chiber:

Chiber is a groundbreaking, all-natural fiber upcycled from white button mushroom stems. With its natural preservation properties, Chiber enhances various products' quality, freshness, and shelf-life. It also provides broad-spectrum protection against commonly caused spoilage microorganisms such as yeast, mold, and harmful bacteria, providing a natural and healthy alternative to synthetic additives. Being allergen-free and with no sensory impact, Chiber extends the shelf-life of products without affecting their taste, texture, or appearance. Chiber is approved for use in North America and 70 other countries, is certified as vegan, Kosher, and Halal, and is organic and non-GMO compliant. Chiber represents a breakthrough in natural shelf-life extension and provides a sustainable solution to preserve the natural goodness of food and beverage products.

About Chinova Bioworks:

Chinova Bioworks is a Canadian food-tech company founded in 2016 to revolutionize the food and beverage industry by introducing natural and sustainable ingredients derived from white button mushrooms. The company's signature ingredient, Chiber, helps reduce food waste for manufacturers by improving the quality, freshness, and shelf-life of their products while providing broad-spectrum protection. Chinova's clean-label technology reduces reliance on artificial ingredients and aids in lowering food waste. The company has raised $10.5M in investment and recently became a finalist in the Government of Canada's Food Waste Reduction Challenge. With a team of 30 employees, Chinova has made notable strides in promoting gender diversity in STEM, with 73% of its R&D department being women. The company is committed to advancing sustainable practices and driving meaningful change in the food and beverage industry.

Visit www.chinovabioworks.com for more information.

Media Contact:

Julia Boyd

julia@chinovabioworks.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23969128-ce95-4be0-8d57-9be26c23647b
Dublin, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Armored Vehicle Market Size, Share, & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Conventional, Electric), By Product (Combat Support, Combat), By Mobility, By Mode Of Operation, By Point Of Sale, By System, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global armored vehicle market size is anticipated to reach USD 44.56 billion by 2030. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Companies Mentioned

BAE Systems

BMW Ag

Daimler Ag (Mercedes Benz)

Elbit Systems

Ford Motor Company

General Dynamics Corporation

Inkas Armored Vehicle Manufacturing

International Armored Group

Iveco

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Gmbh & Co. (Kmw)

Lenco Industries, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Navistar, Inc.

Oshkosh Defense, Llc

Rheinmetall Ag

Stat, Inc.

Textron, Inc.

Thales Group

The growing internal and external terrorist activities across the globe are expected to drive the market demand over the forecast period.

Technological advancements, such as unmanned vehicles, are expected to further fuel the market growth. For instance, in February 2021, ADASI, a reputable end-to-end solution provider in the autonomous systems industry with a presence in the MENA area, revealed an armored robotic vehicle and two new unmanned ground vehicles at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference.



The unmanned vehicles, controlled by a ground control station with a transmission range of 12 kilometers and an endurance of six to 8 hours, can travel at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour to provide greater firepower to the Armed Forces while decreasing the risk to troop life.

Armored vehicles are protected by depleted uranium or stainless steel and are equipped with powerful weapons that combine defensive, tactical offensive and operational mobility capabilities. The development of advanced vehicles, such as unmanned armored vehicles, and AI-based smart object recognition & tracking technology used in the military sector are expected to propel market demand over the next few years.



For instance, In January 2022, Rafael, an Israeli defense technology company, unveiled its first next-generation tank powered by artificial intelligence. The advanced vehicular integrated combat systems developed by the organization are a fusion of automated technologies and battlefield sensors that can react faster than humans. It combines a vehicle's defense and weapons and can take over combat tasks that have been given to it.

The growing need to protect military recruits from land mines and fire is expected to drive the demand for armored vehicles over the next seven years. Furthermore, the demand for vehicles is increasing in the Asia Pacific and Middle East & African regions due to the constant tension among neighboring countries and internal threats from rebels.



For instance, in March 2022, the Ministry of Defense Hungary, which maintains political and civil control over the army in the country, announced that the Hungarian Armed Forces had received 40 tactical wheeled armored vehicles known as Gidran for its military from Turkey.

The vehicles are 4x4 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored vehicles that Hungary's army will use. The country has become the first European Union to permit a Turkish defense firm's operation on its territory by accepting the Gidran for military use and constructing a production line. The major players are investing in R&D programs to develop new technologies and products.



Enhanced protection and fuel efficiency are the key aspects considered for future developments in armored vehicles. For instance, in March 2022, Rheinmetall AG, a German automotive and arms company headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, announced plans for a new facility in Eastern Slovakia and a significant investment in the Slovak economy.

The company has invested 30 million in the project as a whole. The plant has 12, 000 square meters of production lines and a 15, 000 square meter test space. The new facility will be Rheinmetall's central hub in the Slovak Republic, responsible for delivering 80% of the Ministry of Defence's new IFVs.



Armored Vehicle Market Report Highlights

The combat vehicles segment led the market in 2022 accounting for over 64% of the global revenue owing to various factors. One of the main reasons for this is the increase in defense spending by various governments worldwide to strengthen their military capabilities

The conventional armored vehicles segment held the largest revenue share of over 96% in 2022, as these vehicles are widely used in military operations and are considered to be an essential component of a nation's defense arsenal

The wheeled segment led the market in 2022 accounting for over 70% of the global revenue share. The primary reason for the growth is the versatility and mobility of wheeled vehicles, making them suitable for a wide range of military operations

The manned armored vehicles segment held the largest revenue share of over 76% in 2022. The superior protection, advanced technologies, highly skilled personnel, geopolitical tensions & conflicts, and longevity & durability are all factors that contribute to the dominance of the segment in the global market

The OEM armored vehicles segment held the largest revenue share of over 78% in 2022. OEMs often have extensive experience designing and producing military-grade armored vehicles, allowing them to incorporate the latest technologies and innovations into their products

The Fire Control Systems (FCS) segment held the largest revenue share of over 31% in 2022. FCS are critical components of modern military vehicles, enabling accurate targeting and effective engagement of enemy targets. The increasing use of unmanned and autonomous military vehicles has further driven the demand for FCS, as these vehicles rely heavily on advanced targeting and guidance systems to carry out their missions

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $29.4 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $44.56 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.4% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology And Scope

Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Armored Vehicle Market Variables And Trends

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.2.1 Component Suppliers Outlook

3.2.2 Contract Manufacturers

3.2.3 System Integrators

3.2.4 Distributors

3.2.5 End Users

3.3 Market Dynamics

3.3.1 Market Driver Impact Analysis

3.3.2 Market Restraint Impact Analysis

3.3.3 Industry Challenges

3.3.4 Industry Opportunities

3.4 Industry Analysis Tools

3.4.1 Porter's Analysis

3.4.2 Macroeconomic Analysis



Chapter 4 Armored Vehicle Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1 Product Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

4.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By Product (USD Million)

4.2.1 Combat Vehicles

4.2.2 Combat Support Vehicles



Chapter 5 Armored Vehicle Market: Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Type Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

5.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By Type (USD Million)

5.2.1 Electric Armored Vehicles

5.2.2 Conventional Armored Vehicles



Chapter 6 Armored Vehicle Market: Mobility Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1 Mobility Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

6.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By Mobility (USD Million)

6.2.1 Wheeled

6.2.2 Tracked



Chapter 7 Armored Vehicle Market: Mode Of Operation Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1 Mode Of Operation Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

7.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By Mode Of Operation (USD Million)

7.2.1 Manned Armored Vehicles

7.2.2 Unmanned Armored Vehicles



Chapter 8 Armored Vehicle Market: Point Of Sale Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1 Point Of Sale Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

8.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By Point Of Sale (USD Million)

8.2.1 Oem

8.2.2 Retrofit



Chapter 9 Armored Vehicle Market: System Estimates & Trend Analysis

9.1 System Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

9.2 Armored Vehicle Market Estimates & Forecast, By System (USD Million)

9.2.1 Engines

9.2.2 Drive Systems

9.2.3 Ballistic Armor

9.2.4 Fire Control Systems (Fcs)

9.2.5 Navigation Systems



Chapter 10 Armored Vehicle Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 11 Armored Vehicle Market - Competitive Landscape

11.1 Company Categorization

11.2 Ompany Market Positioning

11.3 Company Market Share Analysis, 2022

11.4 Company Heat Map Analysis

11.5 Strategy Mapping

11.6 Company Profiles/Listing

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bw9zf6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
SAN DIEGO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Trinseo PLC (NYSE: TSE) between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023. Trinseo is a materials solutions provider that manufactures and sells plastics and latex binders in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally.



What is this Case About: Trinseo PLC (TSE) Failed to Disclose the Multitude of Problems at its Bristol, PA Plant

According to the complaint, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) the Companys Bristol, Pennsylvania plant had a troubled safety record while under prior ownership and continued to be unsafe after the Company acquired it; (2) defendants did not sufficiently disclose specific risks related to conducting operations at that plant; and (3) operating a chemical plant with an unsafe history and presently unsafe operations exposed the Company to a heightened risk of a chemical spill or other adverse event.

On March 26, 2023, the Company published an announcement on its website that stated, in pertinent part: Altuglas, a subsidiary of Trinseo, is working with local, state and federal agencies to clean up the release of a latex emulsion product from its manufacturing facility in Bristol, PA. The release, which occurred Friday evening, March 24, appears to be the result of an equipment failure." The next day, The Philadelphia Inquirer released an article entitled Bristol plant that spilled chemicals into Phillys water supply had other mishaps over the last decade, highlighting the decade-long problems at the plant. On this news, Trinseos stock fell $1.09 per share on March 27, 2023, or 5.2%, damaging investors.

What Now: Similarly situated shareholders may be eligible to participate in the class action against Trinseo. Shareholders who want to act as lead plaintiff for the class must file their papers by June 20, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here .

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

Contact us to learn more:

Aaron Dumas, Jr.

(800) 350-6003

adumas@robbinsllp.com

Shareholder Information Form

About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders.

To be notified if a class action against Trinseo PLC settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



MONTREAL, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- React Gaming Group Inc. (React Gaming or the Corporation) (TSXV: RGG, OTCQB: ITMZF) announces the appointment of Normand Bellemare to the board of directors.

Mr. Bellemare has extensive experience in the field of sales, after receiving a Bachelor's degree in Social Communication. Over the years, he has won several awards of excellence from major international companies. In 1998, he created a company, Runes Technologiques, which specializes in technological recruitment. Mr. Bellemare has also been in charge of sales at Renaps Info, a company that offers technological services.

Management Cease Trade Order

The Corporation announces that it has not met its filing deadline for its audited annual financial statements and accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certificates for the financial year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the Annual Financial Filings), and that a management cease trade order (MCTO) has been granted by the Autorite des marches financiers (the AMF).

In connection with the Corporation's expectation that it would be unable to file the Annual Financial Filings on time, the Corporation applied for a MCTO under National Policy 12-203  Management Cease Trade Orders (NP 12-203) as disclosed in the Corporation's news release dated May 1st, 2023. As previously announced, the Corporation was unable to file the Annual Financial Filings by the filing deadline because of a delay arising from a change in auditors.

Yesterday, the AMF granted the Corporations application for the MCTO. The MCTO restricts trading in securities of the Corporation by each of the directors and officers of the Corporation until the Annual Financial Filings are filed, and requires that the Annual Financial Filings be filed on or before June 30, 2023. The MCTO does not affect the ability of shareholders to trade their securities and the general investing public will continue to be able to trade in the Corporation's common shares.

While the Annual Financial Filings are pending, the Corporation will release bi-weekly default status updates in compliance with NP 12-203. During the period it remains in default of the filing requirements, the Corporation intends to adhere to the Alternative Information Guidelines, as defined in NP 12-203. The Corporation confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.

About React Gaming Group

React Gaming Group (TSXV: RGG) (OTCQB: ITMZF) is a publicly traded holding company that stands at the forefront of the esports and iGaming industry. By investing in innovative technologies that enhance tournaments, teams, and wagering, we provide our users with gaming platforms that produce non-stop action, exciting outcomes, and unparalleled enjoyment. Through the use of intelligent data, we also connect our sponsors to robust communities within the rapidly evolving industry, ensuring maximum engagement and substantial reward. For more information, please visit us at reactgaming.ca and follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube .

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, will, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations, and include but are not limited to the statements regarding the completion of the Private Placement, payment of a finders fee in connection with the Private Placement, the securities to be issued under the Private Placement, closing the Private Placement in tranches, the offering jurisdictions of the Private Placement, effecting the Share Consolidation, mailing of the information circular, and receipt of approval from the TSXV with respect to the Private Placement and Share Consolidation. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Corporations statements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of the Corporations control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding the Corporations activities, including: that the Corporations assumptions in making forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect; general adverse market conditions and competition; the inability to finance operations and/or obtain any future strategic investment necessary to implement new technologies; the inability to build a sustainable, conscientious company with a stronger presence online through new products in esports and gaming; the inability to obtain, or maintain, gaming license(s); and that market conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect the outcome of the business or operations of the Corporation, including its results and financial condition. Except as required by securities law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

REACT GAMING GROUP INC.

Scott Meyers

1-514-861-1881

info@reactgaming.ca
ROSEVILLE, Calif., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PASCO Scientific hosts two, three-day intensive summer institutes at their engineering headquarters in Roseville, California. The SPARKvue Summer Institute, designed for teachers of all science disciplines, builds teacher confidence and competence using a combination of PASCO sensors, hands-on labs, and SPARKvue software ; and the Capstone TM Summer Institute hosts physics educators looking to incorporate more data-based investigations into their upper-secondary or university-level physics courses using a combination of PASCO sensors and Capstone software.



Supporting teacher professional development in science and STEM education is key to student achievement, says Richard Briscoe, former physics teacher and CEO of PASCO Scientific. During my teaching days, I learned that when science educators have the opportunity to engage with their peers and to learn new ways of conducting hands-on science experiments, all learners thrive.

Summer Institute dates:

SPARKvue Summer Institute

July 12-14, 2023

PASCO CapstoneTM Summer Institute

July 19-21

PASCO Summer Institutes include:

Three days of hands-on workshops

Daily lunches and snacks

Evening gathering with fellow educators, PASCO engineers, curriculum writers, and support team.

Printed packet of student activities for the upcoming school year

Transportation to and from the PASCO facility and designated hotel

Behind the scenes tour of the PASCO facility

Meet the PASCO educators, scientists, and engineers



Teachers learn more about the PASCO Summer Institutes and register at https://www.pasco.com/training-and-events/summer-institutes

About PASCO SCIENTIFIC

PASCO Scientific is the global leader in technology and innovative solutions for science and STEM teaching and learning. Since 1964, PASCO has partnered with science educators to engineer solutions that transform science education by putting the power of discovery into the hands of students. Worldwide, science educators become part of a community supported by training, professional development, online video support, and standards-based curricular materials. Through collaboration with educators, PASCO provides real-world practices in science, STEM, data analysis, and technology to prepare students for the complex challenges affecting all nations.




SAN DIEGO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating whether JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) (JinkoSolar or the Company) any of its executive officers, or others violated securities laws by misrepresenting or failing to timely disclose material, adverse information to investors. The investigation focuses on investors' losses and whether they may be recovered under federal securities laws.



What if I purchased JinkoSolar common stock? If you purchased JinkoSolar common stock and suffered significant losses on your investment, join our investigation now:

Click or paste the following web address into your browser to submit your losses:

https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/jinkosolar-holding

Or for more information, contact Jim Baker at jimb@johnsonfistel.com or (619) 814-4471

There is no cost or obligation to you.

What is Johnson Fistel investigating? On May 8, 2023, it was reported in the Florida Times that JinkoSolar was raided by federal agents. Federal authorities did not disclose the reason for the search warrant executed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigative arm.



What if I have relevant nonpublic information? Individuals with nonpublic information regarding the company should consider whether to assist our investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the SEC program, whistleblowers who provide original information may, under certain circumstances, receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, contact Jim Baker at (619) 814-4471 or jimb@johnsonfistel.com.
NEW YORK, NY, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  ILUS International Inc. (OTC: ILUS) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and growing companies in the public safety, industrial, defence and renewable sectors. Having previously announced that its Industrial subsidiary, Quality Industrial Corp. (OTC: QIND), had appointed Exchange Listing LLC as Capital Market Advisor for its NYSE American listing, the company confirms that it has been making strong progress towards this listing in the late summer of 2023. With the listing process of QIND underway, ILUS is now preparing its emergency response subsidiary, Emergency Response Technologies (ERT), for its own uplisting following its large acquisition currently in negotiation.

Working closely with the Exchange Listing team, the ILUS and QIND management teams have made exceptional progress towards finalizing QINDs NYSE American listing application. Given that the process for QIND is running smoothly, ILUS is now focussed on ramping up ERTs progress with the objective of uplisting ERT to a major stock exchange along an agreed route at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

ILUS is implementing several strategic measures to ensure that ERT can confidently uplist to a major stock exchange along the route agreed with the Exchange Listing team. These measures include but are not limited to:

Completing the large US vehicle manufacturing acquisition which is currently in negotiation. Merging the two current ERT companies in the US under ERT North America with the large US acquisition to be added under this umbrella, all led by ERT CEO, Dan Peters (former President of Rev Groups Fire Division (NYSE: REVG)). Merging the four ERT companies in the Middle East under ERT Middle East, managed by a newly appointed General Manager reporting to Dan Peters. Consolidating all manufacturing outside the US for all products and vehicles from the UK and Dubai to Serbia, leveraging Serbian government incentives in the process. This transition is currently already underway. Merging the European manufacturing and a European acquisition currently in negotiation under the ERT Europe umbrella.

The measures taken will streamline ERTs operations and significantly improve ERTs financials while reducing operational costs by 20-25%.

Now that QINDs progress towards the NYSE American has gained momentum of its own, we are aggressively rolling out our ERT strategy in line with its own planned route towards a major stock exchange. Our strategy for uplisting ERT is unique, and we believe it can be delivered within an impressive time frame after the QIND uplist, with QIND also serving as a springboard for ERT. We believe that each subsidiary uplisting should bring significant value to ILUS Shareholders as ILUS remains the parent company reaping the rewards of all subsidiary growth and success. said ILUS Managing Director, John-Paul Backwell.

ILUS is in the process moving FireBugs current manufacturing to Serbia in a phased process which will see all FireBug products and vehicles sold outside the US manufactured in a facility alongside the already agreed E-Raptor electric utility vehicle facility in Kragujevac. There is a separate plan for FireBug manufacturing in the US to be implemented in conjunction with the planned large acquisition. The company is also currently discussing a new automotive manufacturing deal in Serbia, with ILUS Managing Director traveling to Belgrade next week for further negotiations on the deal.

We believe it is important to keep our Shareholders updated on our progress and strategy as we continually assess, align and pivot if needed based on macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Working with the Exchange Listing team, we are now more capable and confident to deliver our clear strategy for the uplisting of both QIND and ERT, with other subsidiaries to follow thereafter, but it is just as important that we streamline and simplify our operations to reduce operating costs and position ourselves to win larger contracts, such as the large ERT and Hyperion Defence contracts we are currently bidding for in the Middle East and Europe, commented ILUS CEO, Nicolas Link.

ILUS looks forward to providing further updates this week, including announcement of the first contract signed by its Defence subsidiary, Hyperion Defence Solutions, followed by a video podcast with Nicolas Link and John-Paul Backwell.

For further information on ILUS, please see its communication channels:

Website: https://ilus-group.com

Twitter: @ILUS_INTL

Email: IR@Ilus-Group.com

Source: ILUS

Related Links

https://ilus-group.com

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels:

website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS

Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



(Note: All dollar amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars, except as otherwise noted).



TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairfax India Holdings Corporation (Fairfax India or the Company) (TSX: FIH.U) announces that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 3% equity interest in Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) from Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, part of Siemens Financial Services (SFS), for consideration of $75 million. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2023, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.

Fairfax India has also agreed to acquire an additional 7% equity interest in BIAL from SFS for additional consideration of $175 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain performance conditions by BIAL and other closing conditions, which are expected to be tested subsequent to October 31, 2023.

BIAL is a private company located in Bengaluru, India. BIAL, under a concession agreement with the Government of India until the year 2068, has the exclusive rights to carry out the development, design, financing, construction, commissioning, maintenance, operation and management of the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB) through a public-private partnership. KIAB is the first greenfield airport in India built through a public-private partnership.

"This additional investment in BIAL reinforces our confidence in the continued success and opportunities at BIAL. With the opening of Kempegowda International Airports Terminal 2, we expect significant growth over the coming years. We have had great support from Siemens through SFS over the past few years and look forward to our continued partnership," said Prem Watsa, Chairman of Fairfax India.

About Fairfax India

Fairfax India is an investment holding company whose objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation, while preserving capital, by investing in public and private equity securities and debt instruments in India and Indian businesses or other businesses with customers, suppliers or business primarily conducted in, or dependent on, India.

For further information, contact: John Varnell, Vice President, Corporate Affairs (416) 367-4755

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements may relate to the Companys or an Indian investments future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, growth strategy, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividends, plans and objectives of the Company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities of the Company, an Indian investment, or the Indian market are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, will or will be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions and estimates as of the date of this press release, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following factors: the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine; oil price risk; geographic concentration of investments; foreign currency fluctuation; volatility of the Indian securities markets; investments may be made in foreign private businesses where information is unreliable or unavailable; valuation methodologies involve subjective judgments; financial market fluctuations; pace of completing investments; minority investments; reliance on key personnel and risks associated with the Investment Advisory Agreement; lawsuits; use of leverage; significant ownership by Fairfax may adversely affect the market price of the subordinate voting shares; weather risk; taxation risks; emerging markets; multilateral instrument; economic risk; and trading price of subordinate voting shares relative to book value per share risk. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the Companys annual information form dated March 10, 2023 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Companys website at www.fairfaxindia.ca. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.
TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stroud Resources Ltd. (TSXV: SDR) (Stroud or the Company) is pleased to provide a summary of its 2021-2022 drilling program, completed at its Santo Domingo Silver Property (Santo Domingo or the Property), located in the municipality of Hostotipaquillo, State of Jalisco, Mexico.



The 2021-2022 exploration drilling program consisted of approximately 9,936 m in 32 diamond drill holes (Table 1) and selected results from this drilling are provided in Table 2. The drilling program was designed to explore the extent of known epithermal vein-hosted silver mineralization on the Property and to begin to define additional silver-mineralized zones and vein systems which were anticipated to run parallel to the existing La Raya and Guadalupe silver vein systems. To date, the Santo Domingo Project has approximately 85 drill holes totalling 18,184 metres (Table 1).

Highlights:

Discovery of third silver-vein system (Zopilote Zone) parallel to the Guadalupe and La Raya zones (Figure 1).

SD-21-49: 625 g/t AgEq 1 over 1.55 m (Guadalupe East Zone).

over 1.55 m (Guadalupe East Zone). SD-21-74: 680 g/t AgEq over 1.65 m (Guadalupe East Zone).

SD-21-50: 230 g/t AgEq over 10.35 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-71: 159 g/t AgEq over 36.80 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-75: 152 g/t AgEq over 34.70 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-52: 196 g/t AgEq over 15.10 m and 233 g/t AgEq over 6.45 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-58: 173 g/t AgEq over 1.05 m (Zopilote Zone).

SD-21-81: 147 g/t AgEq over 32.15 m (Zopilote Zone).





(1AgEq is calculated using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1, US$1,500/oz gold, US$20/oz silver, and recoveries of 100%.)

Figure 1 shows the new Zopilote vein system that is west and parallel to the La Raya and Guadelupe zones. The La Raya vein system is approximately 35 m wide by 300 m down-dip and over 700 m along strike. The Guadalupe vein system is typically 15 to 30 m wide.

Hostotipaquillo Region, Mexico

The Hostotipaquillo region has seen extensive drilling over the last three years. In particular, GoGold Resources Inc. (GoGold) has been drilling their Los Ricos South Project of which their Jamaica II property is adjacent to Strouds Santo Domingo Silver Property.

GoGolds Los Ricos South Project has a mineral resource estimate containing Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources of 10.0M tonnes containing 63.7M ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.3M tonnes containing 19.9M ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq (see GoGold news release dated July 29, 2020).

The Companys NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report on the Santo Domingo Property was issued on November 20, 2017. It comprises Measured & Indicated Resources of 6.0M tonnes containing 25.7M ounces AgEq grading 134 g/t AgEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.4M tonnes containing 13.3M ounces AgEq grading 120 g/t AgEq. The Mineral Resource Estimate was calculated using a cut-off grade of 45 g/t AgEq over a three-metre true width and a gold-silver ratio of 72:1 Continuity of mineralization was established by drilling on 50 metre centres and using a specific gravity of 2.65.

Table 1. Summary of diamond drilling completed to date on the Santo Domingo Silver Project, Mexico.

Year Company Type of Drilling Drill Hole

Series No. Drill

Holes Min. Depth (m) Max. Depth (m) Length

(m) 1999 Stroud DDH SD-99-01 to 04 4 18 125.5 382.5 2003 Stroud DDH SD-03-05 to 05B 2 101 190 291 2005 Stroud DDH SD-05-06 to 09 5 49 235.2 702.5 2006 Stroud DDH SD-06-10 to 13 4 192.5 346.5 944 2007 Stroud DDH SD-07-14 to 19 7 71.7 349.4 1119 2008 Stroud DDH SD-08-20 to 30 13 17.1 374 2,331.7 2011 Stroud DDH SD-11-31 to 45 18 23.4 239.6 2,477.7 2021 Stroud DDH SD-21-46 to 84 26 55.5 552 8,090.9 2022 Stroud DDH SD-22-59 to 64 6 128 503 1,844.75 Total: 85 18,184.05





Figure 1. Location of drill hole collars and traces from the 2021 and 2022 diamond drilling and main silver vein trends, overlain on a satellite image, Santo Domingo Silver Project (Stroud Resources, 2021).

Drill Core Assay Results

Geological modelling of the Santo Domingo Silver Project identified additional silver and base metal mineralized zones running parallel to the previously announced Mineral Resource Estimate on the La Raya Silver Vein System.

Focus of the 2021 drilling campaign was to confirm the geological and mineral resource model for the La Raya Silver Deposit, as well as deepen exploration drilling to test expected mineralization of the La Raya vein beyond where historical Spanish miners were active. The 2021 drilling campaign confirmed the extension and geological interpretation of the La Raya and Guadalupe vein systems and identified a new silver-vein system to the west, named the Zopilote Zone.

The 2022 drilling campaign focused on the newly discovered Zopilote silver-mineralized zone, primarily beginning to test the extension, continuity and interpretation of the Zopilote vein system. The location of drill hole collars was limited by the previously approved drilling permit and its planned drill pads which had not accounted for the discovery of the new Zopilote Zone.

Table 2. Selected drill core assay results from the 2021-2022 diamond drilling program.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) AgEq1 (ppm) Ag (ppm) Au (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Vein System SD-21-46 148.15 149.30 1.15 85 53 0.43 58 352 726 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 160.80 162.70 1.90 156 102 0.73 33 140 355 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 178.95 179.45 0.50 111 68 0.57 43 268 561 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 222.85 223.90 1.05 40 17 0.30 17 106 528 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 236.30 236.70 0.40 406 243 2.17 66 532 703 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 252.40 253.40 1.00 29 20 0.13 816 9,800 1,315 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 306.20 306.85 0.65 72 20 0.70 193 698 1,960 Guadalupe W SD-21-49 87.00 89.15 2.15 94 70 0.32 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 91.30 93.40 2.10 25 14 0.15 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 103.45 105.00 1.55 625 624 0.01 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 131.05 133.75 2.70 52 43 0.13 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-50 10.65 21.00 10.35 230 138 1.22 513 7,182 23,193 La Raya SD-21-50 67.80 71.50 3.70 133 62 0.95 784 13,338 29,892 La Raya SD-21-50 106.80 109.80 3.00 35 26 0.12 162 1,289 2,245 La Raya SD-21-50 112.80 113.60 0.80 35 25 0.13 959 1,010 1,175 La Raya SD-21-50 119.25 128.80 9.55 51 31 0.27 559 3,627 5,627 La Raya SD-21-50 168.00 168.40 0.40 75 50 0.33 4,150 38,100 132,500 La Raya SD-21-51 24.00 48.00 24.00 115 105 0.13 42 710 439 La Raya SD-21-51 57.00 58.50 1.50 51 45 0.09 27 196 457 La Raya SD-21-52 10.80 25.90 15.10 196 113 1.11 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 53.10 54.95 1.85 81 68 0.18 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 77.95 83.40 5.45 58 39 0.26 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 100.50 106.95 6.45 233 181 0.69 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 108.10 109.25 1.15 28 23 0.07 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 113.95 114.25 0.30 109 82 0.37 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 121.25 122.65 1.40 30 27 0.05 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-57 6.00 20.70 14.70 224 165 0.78 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-57 183.35 184.40 1.05 68 65 0.04 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-57 197.05 252.15 55.10 39 24 0.20 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-57 259.60 260.80 1.20 65 45 0.26 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-58 265.30 267.05 1.75 56 32 0.32 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 279.30 280.95 1.65 34 21 0.18 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 282.60 283.65 1.05 173 96 1.03 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 291.60 293.35 1.75 64 39 0.33 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 322.70 324.25 1.55 35 24 0.14 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-68A 222.80 224.45 1.65 26 22 0.05 166 2,090 2,300 Guadalupe E SD-21-68A 227.90 229.60 1.70 34 7 0.36 59 741 1,460 Guadalupe E SD-21-69 97.30 111.85 14.55 37 29 0.10 39 550 1,160 La Raya SD-21-69 125.00 173.90 48.90 72 41 0.42 17 169 402 Guadalupe E SD-21-71 4.20 41.00 36.80 159 141 0.23 130 2,297 1,967 La Raya SD-21-71 41.80 43.10 1.30 25 23 0.03 15 319 781 La Raya SD-21-71 49.60 50.95 1.35 28 21 0.09 16 218 662 La Raya SD-21-71 52.30 120.65 68.35 79 66 0.18 49 356 946 La Raya SD-21-71 130.60 133.00 2.40 37 28 0.12 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-71 184.15 185.20 1.05 50 29 0.28 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 203.55 204.90 1.35 49 34 0.20 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 221.25 222.75 1.50 59 28 0.42 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 252.65 254.35 1.70 44 10 0.45 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 275.10 282.45 7.35 45 18 0.36 197 1,404 3,061 Guadalupe E SD-21-73 288.35 289.55 1.20 33 8 0.33 265 1,920 3,260 Guadalupe E SD-21-74 162.55 167.35 4.80 64 38 0.35 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-74 200.45 202.10 1.65 680 679 0.01 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-75 60.80 62.20 1.40 26 23 0.04 33 561 1,555 La Raya SD-21-75 65.10 99.80 34.70 152 60 1.23 356 5,751 18,551 La Raya SD-21-75 107.40 108.95 1.55 25 12 0.18 79 866 2,670 La Raya SD-21-75 264.90 265.25 0.35 43 13 0.41 1,190 2,760 45,000 Guadalupe E SD-21-80 264.00 264.35 0.35 63 25 0.51 2,360 69,200 18,200 Zopilote SD-21-81 170.65 202.80 32.15 147 106 0.55 52 133 242 Zopilote SD-21-81 237.00 237.50 0.50 45 34 0.14 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 295.85 320.70 24.85 56 45 0.14 236 7,718 4,857 Zopilote SD-21-81 335.85 336.65 0.80 53 30 0.30 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 389.30 391.20 1.90 74 46 0.37 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 396.90 402.60 5.70 83 74 0.12 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 408.70 409.05 0.35 47 27 0.27 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 413.30 413.90 0.60 35 17 0.24 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-82 247.80 248.95 1.15 78 38 0.54 26 175 364 Zopilote E SD-21-84 63.30 73.00 9.70 54 37 0.22 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 78.80 81.10 2.30 32 23 0.13 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 86.80 88.70 1.90 39 26 0.17 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 154.25 156.25 2.00 26 6 0.27 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 179.40 180.00 0.60 96 52 0.59 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 330.70 332.25 1.55 61 51 0.14 154 284 707 Zopilote E SD-22-60 54.45 56.00 1.55 26 21 0.07 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-60 81.15 83.70 2.55 140 112 0.38 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 84.05 88.70 4.65 60 52 0.11 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 94.95 96.90 1.95 30 29 0.01 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 104.00 104.40 0.40 61 15 0.62 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 271.40 272.90 1.50 46 30 0.22 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 278.60 279.90 1.30 28 12 0.21 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 283.80 285.95 2.15 106 104 0.02 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 336.25 337.70 1.45 37 26 0.15 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 340.60 388.30 47.70 55 42 0.18 141 1,526 4,108 Zopilote SD-22-61 390.05 391.80 1.75 28 10 0.24 268 2,250 11,300 Zopilote SD-22-61 399.90 400.40 0.50 85 71 0.19 3,620 70,900 175,000 Zopilote SD-22-61 406.80 442.25 35.45 60 47 0.17 33 235 905 Zopilote SD-22-61 444.10 444.70 0.60 26 21 0.07 16 62 398 Zopilote SD-22-61 471.50 472.00 0.50 40 32 0.11 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 473.00 474.75 1.75 31 24 0.09 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 480.05 487.00 6.95 63 58 0.06 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 493.70 495.55 1.85 62 45 0.23 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 224.35 224.60 0.25 41 30 0.15 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 231.20 232.60 1.40 37 10 0.36 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 235.75 237.15 1.40 35 23 0.16 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 238.60 239.75 1.15 130 101 0.39 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 189.85 220.20 30.35 57 51 0.09 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 286.30 288.10 1.80 26 8 0.23 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 323.50 323.95 0.45 281 176 1.40 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 328.50 329.15 0.65 30 18 0.16 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 380.20 381.00 0.80 131 88 0.57 -- -- -- Zopilote

Note: drill core intervals are not true widths and are reported as core lengths; significant assays are considered >25 g/t Ag over a >0.5 m interval.

Qualified Person

Dr Scott Jobin-Bevans, CEO and a Director of the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

About Stroud Resources Ltd.

Stroud Resources is a TSXV listed company focused on the exploration and development of its Santo Domingo epithermal silver project in central Mexico.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of the drill results, geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits.

Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Companys expectations or projections.

For more information, please visit www.stroudsilver.com or contact Mirsad Jakubovic, Chief Financial Officer, Stroud Resources Ltd., Tel: (416) 888-8731, mirsad@cpamba.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1fd120c6-694e-47f3-a3cd-bc65afc6cc21
MONTREAL, May 8, 2023 - AM Resources Corp. ("AM" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: AMR) (Frankfurt: 76A) announces the appointment of MNP LLP as its new auditor. Effective April 4th, 2023, MNP LLP (the "Successor Auditor") replaced Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP (the "Former Auditor") as the Corporation's auditor.

All procedures have been properly followed under National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102") regarding the change of auditor and, as required, a Notice of Change of Auditor together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor have been filed via SEDAR with each securities commission in each province in which the Corporation is a reporting issuer. There were no reportable events (as defined in NI 51-102) between the Former Auditor and the Corporation.

Failure-to-File Cease Trade Order

The Corporation announces that the Autorite des marches financiers has issued a cease trade order ("CTO") in respect of its securities as a result of the Corporation's inability to file its audited annual financial statements and corresponding management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, including the CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "Financial Documents"), before May 1st, 2023 as required by NI 51-102.

AM is working diligently and expeditiously with the Successor Auditor to complete the audit and expects to file the Financial Documents on or about June 30, 2023.

The Corporation is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings. The Corporation also confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Corporation that has not been generally disclosed as of the date of this press release. The Corporation will provide updates as further information relating to the Financial Documents becomes available.

Correction to Previous News Release

In the news release dated May 3, 2023, the Corporation announced the acquisition of the exclusive right and interest to earn a 100% interest in three properties located in Austria (the "Option"). The Corporation has obtained such Option from Mr. Julien Desrosiers and not Prospection Grosier Mineraux Ltee. Furthermore, in connection with the Option, the Corporation will grant a 2% NSR royalty of which 0.5% of the NSR may be repurchased by the Corporation for an amount of CAD$1,500,000.

About AM Resources

AM Resources Corp. (TSXV: AMR) is a mining exploration company with interests in coal and natural bitumen projects in Colombia. AM is betting on Colombia's excellent mineral potential and favourable climate to pursue its Colombian venture.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE AM Resources Corp.
Vancouver, May 9, 2023 - Recharge Resources Ltd. ("Recharge" or the "Company") (RR:CSE) (RECHF:OTC) (SL50:Frankfurt) announced today that its fully-funded, spring drill program at its 100% owned Brussels Creek Gold-Copper-Palladium Project in Kamloops, BC, Canada, has now been completed.

The aim of the 900-meter NQ drill program was to test the potential for copper-gold mineralization similar to that present at the adjacent New Afton mine owned by New Gold Inc. NGD.V ($1.18 Billion Market Cap). The New Afton Mine occupies the site of the historic Afton Open Pit mine, which operated from 1977 to 1997. The present mine and concentrator facility commenced production in July 2012. The mine is a block caving operation. In 2021, the mine produced 52,542 oz Au and 61,700,000 lbs Cu.



Click Image To View Full Size

The Company is now awaiting assays from the Spring drill program in order to develop a follow up exploration program.

CEO, David Greenway, summarised, "Recharge is pushing forward on all fronts with drilling now completed and awaiting assays at the Brussels Creek Copper-Palladium-Gold Project. Drilling is pending at the Pocitos lithium brine project and a Spring recon program now approved for the Georgia Lake Lithium project.

"We thank Mr. Shearer and all those involved in the consultation and drill planning process. Recharge is committed to sustainable exploration and mining practices. This is a pivotal time for the Brussels Creek Project in BC, with the drill program having started."

Brussels Creek Project

The BC property is an early-stage exploration property, located approximately 24 kilometres west of Kamloops, and is immediately adjacent to New Gold's New Afton mine. The property has 17 claims (66 cells) covering 1,350.43 hectares. The geological setting of the property is very similar to New Afton, a silica-saturated copper-gold alkalic porphyry-style deposit, as well as the Highland Valley, Mount Polly, Kemess and Galore Creek deposits. Recent field observations noted the presence of a substantial mineralized quartz-feldspar porphyry body intruding the overlying Nicola group volcanics. Historic sampling and mapping on the property, in 1983 and 1984, located a broad anomalous zone (200 metres by 400 metres) with gold values up to 3.5 grams per tonne. Grab samples taken from the property in 2019 include values of 10.1 g/t Au (with 0.7 g/t palladium) and 11.5 g/t Au.

Brussels Creek Web Page: https://recharge-resources.com/projects/brussels-creek/

Recharge's management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Recharge may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Qualified Person

Johan T Shearer, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist, is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 responsible for the technical content of this release, and consents to its release.

About Recharge Resources

Recharge Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring and developing the production of high-value battery metals to create green, renewable energy to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle market.

All stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"David Greenway"

David Greenway, CEO.

For further information, please contact:

Recharge Resources Ltd.

Joel Warawa

Phone: 778-588-5473

E-Mail: info@recharge-resources.com

Website: recharge-resources.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding Recharge's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Recharge will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including Recharge's results of exploration or review of properties that Recharge does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Recharge assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Rhodium (Rh) (~US$ 7, May 9, 2023 - New Age Metals Inc. (NAM) (TSXV:NAM); (OTC:NMTLF); (FSE:P7J) ("NAM" or the "Company") announces completion of the Rh geochemistry study of the River Valley Palladium Deposit, 100 km east of Sudbury, Ontario. Phase 3 of the Rh geochemistry study collected 552  HQ core samples from four metallurgical drill holes completed in 2021 within the Dana North, Dana South, Lismer North and Lismer Ridge Zones. This announcement presents new Rh assay data for these 552 samples. These zones are located in the northern 5-km of the 16 km-long River Valley Palladium Deposit (Figure 1). In addition to Rh, the core samples were also assayed for gold (Au), iridium (Ir), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and ruthenium (Ru) at the Geoscience Laboratories in Sudbury.

The new Rh data covered herein are in to addition to data generated from recent and historical exploration drill core, surface channel samples and grab samples of the River Valley Deposit

(see NAM press releases dated March 2, 2021 for Phase 1 and December 15, 2021 for the Phase 2 results; see also Pacific North West Capital Corp. press release dated July 26, 2011). Rh is the most valuable platinum group metal (PGM), with recent spot price highs of about US7950/oz Rh, roughly 5 times higher than Pd and 7 times higher than Pt. However, Rh analyses are too costly to be performed on every drill core assay sample. Rh is reported in the current Mineral Resource Estimate for the River Valley Deposit (see NAM press release dated October 5, 2021), based on regression analysis of historical drill core and channel sample assay data for the Dana and Lismer Zones.





Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1. Distribution of 2021 updated pit constrained Mineral Resources at $15/t NSR cut-off at the River Valley Project. The mineralized zones labelled in red (Dana North, Dana South, Lismer North and Lismer Ridge) are the subject of this press release. Notes: M&I = Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Ind: = Indicated Mineral Resources, Inf = Inferred Mineral Resources.

The purpose of the multi-phase Rh geochemistry study program is three-fold:

1)Investigate Rh grades and distribution trends within the River Valley Deposit; 2)Develop a more robust regression technique to estimate Rh concentrations from Pt grades for future Mineral Resource Estimates; and 3)Investigate the potential of Rh as payable metal at River Valley.

Each of these topics are addressed below.

1) Rh Grade and Distribution Trends

In total, 552 samples of mineralized drill core intervals in the four metallurgical holes were selected for Rh assay: 200 from Dana North, 148 from Dana South; 84 from Lismer North, and 120 from Lismer Ridge. Overall, the Rh assays values returned range from 0.0007 g/t to 0.306 g/t Rh.

Thirty-four drill of the core samples returned assays of ?0.100 g/t Rh (Table 1) and 113 samples returned assays >0.050 g/t Rh. The highest assay result for Ir is 0.069 g/t and for Ru is 0.039 g/t, also for the samples from the Lismer Ridge Zone.

Note: *2.700 g/t Pd is the upper limit of detection for the analytical method employed by the assay lab, and therefore the higher Pd values listed can be regarded as provisional.

The announcement of these 552 results increases the total inventory of Rh data assays for River Valley to 8,610 (Table 2). At 80.2% of the total, the results for Dana North still dominate the inventory. However, the maximum Rh assay in this dataset is reported for the Lismer Ridge Zone, located 3 km south along strike from Dana North.

Notes: *drill core samples of mineralized intervals only

(channel samples, surface rock samples and academic study samples excluded)

**lower limit of detection = 0.000008 ppm Rh

Statistically, the assay results show strong positive correlation of Rh with the other four PGE

(R2 >0.9) and moderate to strong correlation with Au (R2 >0.6) (Table 3), consistent with presence in the mineral phases Hollingworthite [(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS], platarsite [(PtAsS) with minor Rh and Ru), and laurite [(RuS2 with minor Rh], each of which has been identified in previous mineralogical and scientific studies of River Valley. In contrast, Rh shows moderate correlation (R2 >0.6) with Cu, Ni and S at the Dana Zones and weak correlation (R2 <0.5) with Cu, Ni and particularly S at the Lismer Zones. On the other hand, and as previously reported for the Pine and Lismer North Zones, Rh (and Ru) do not correlate with chromium (Rh R2 <0.010, and therefore is very unlikely to be held in Cr-bearing phases like chromite. The evident occurrence of Rh independently of chromite differs from other Rh-bearing PGE deposits elsewhere, and could potentially benefit metallurgical recovery processes. Similarly, the presence of laurite could bode well for potential Ru recovery.

Notes: *2022-2023 assay data from Geoscience Laboratories and 2021 assay data from SGS Canada Inc. are for the same sampled drill core interval

**Au, Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru assay values in grams per tonne (g/t); Cu, Ni, and Co assay values in percent (%); Cr assay values in ppm

*** Correlation coefficient for rhodium

2) Development of a Reliable Regression Technique

Statistical analysis indicates that Rh assay values for the remaining River Valley Deposit (>100,000 samples) can be estimated on the basis of measured Pt values through regression analysis. A plot of measured Pt values versus Rh values for the 552 drill core samples assayed at Geoscience Labs and the non-linear regression line with its derived equation are shown in Figure 2. At this stage, non-linear regression models appear to be better than linear regression models for predicting higher Rh values.

Figure 2. Plot of measured Pt versus Rh ppb values for the assayed mineralized drill core intervals (1044 samples) and the non-linear regression line with derived equation solved in DataDesk? 8.2.1.

3) Investigate the Potential of Rh as Payable Metal at River Valley

In order to progress Rh studies further, subsequent phases of work will take samples of PGE mineralized intervals from additional mineralized zones to establish and confirm the spatial distribution of rhodium, where practical, throughout the River Valley Deposit. Specifically, the mineralized zones selected to be studied next include the Lismer Ridge Zone and the Varley Zone. Rhodium recovery testwork and detailed mineralogical investigations will be included in future metallurgical studies, in order to determine whether Rh could be a payable metal for a potential PGM mining operation at River Valley. Additionally, non-linear regression models will be further investigated for more even more reliable prediction of Rh contents, particularly higher values, where Rh assays are not available.

Rhodium

Rh is the rarest and most valuable of the PGEs. The main use for Rh is in catalytic converters designed to clean vehicle emissions. This metal is particularly effective in cleaning nitric oxide emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles. The majority of Rh is produced as a

by-product of platinum mining in South Africa. South Africa is the world's largest producer of Rh (~80%), followed by Russia (~10%), Zimbabwe (~5%), Canada (~2%), and the USA (~2%).

The global average mineral resource/reserve grade is 0.281 g/t Rh, with the lowest reported mineral resource/reserve grade of 0.010 g/t Rh and the highest reported mineral resource/reserve grade of 0.381 g/t Rh (source: S&P Global, 2020). As of May 1, 2023, the price of rhodium is ~US$7,300/oz (source: Kitco May 1, 2023).

Assay Procedures & Quality Control

Drill ( HQ) core samples were selected by NAM geologists from PGE-Cu sulphide mineralized intervals in the Dana North and South and Lismer North and Ridge drill holes completed in 2021. The samples were delivered directly to Geoscience Laboratory in Sudbury for processing, preparation and assay analyses. Gold, iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium were assayed by 30 g nickel fire assay with ICP-MS finish (IMP-200; ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited). Copper, nickel, cobalt, sulphur, Cr and 28 additional elements had previously been assayed by two-acid digestion and ICP-OES finish by SGS Laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. (see NAM press release dated March 1, 2022). Blanks and blind certified reference material (standards) samples were inserted at regular intervals for assay with the core samples, as part of NAM's rigorous Quality Control program.

About the River Valley Palladium Project

The River Valley Palladium Project is located 100 road-km east from the City of Sudbury.

The Project area is linked to Sudbury by a network of all-weather highways, roads and rail beds and is accessible year-round with hydro grid and natural gas power nearby. River Valley enjoys the strong support of local communities, like the village of River Valley, 20 km to the south.

A fully executed Memorandum of Understanding is in place with a local First Nation. Environmental baseline studies re-commenced in 2020 are planned to continue through 2023.

The details of the 2021 updated Mineral Resource Estimate were announced in a Company press release dated October 5, 2021. At cut-offs of CDN$15/t NSR (pit constrained) and CDN$50/t NSR (out-of-pit), the Mineral Resource Estimate consists of: 89.9 Mt grading 0.54 g/t Pd, 0.21 g/t Pt, 0.04 g/t Au and 0.06% Cu, or CDN$47.58/t NSR in the Measured and Indicated classifications; and 94 Mt grading 0.35 g/t Pd, 0.16 g/t Pt, 0.04 g/t Au and 0.06% Cu, or CDN$31.69/t NSR in the Inferred classification. Contained metal contents are 2.3 Moz Pd+Pt+Au in the Measured and Indicated classifications and 1.6 Moz Pd+Pt+Au in the Inferred classification.

The 2019 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") results for the River Valley Palladium Project were announced in a press release dated June 27, 2019, and are based on the 2019 updated Mineral Resource Estimate. The 2019 PEA outlines a 20,000 t/day open pit mine and processing plant operation producing an average of 119,000 ounces of PdEq per year over a mine life of 14 years. Using base case metal prices of US$1,200/oz Pd, $1,050/oz Pt and $3.25/lb Cu, the PEA showed a pre-tax NPV5% of US$261 million and a pre-tax IRR of 13%. At a +20% palladium price of $1,440/oz Pd, the pre-tax NPV5% increases to $501M and the pre-tax IRR to 19%.

The updated 2021 Mineral Resource Estimate forms a basis for the ongoing updated PEA of the River Valley Palladium Project. The updated PEA results are due to be released in the summer of 2023.

About NAM

New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions; a Platinum Group Metals division and a Lithium/Rare Element division.

The PGM Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North America's largest undeveloped Platinum Group Metals Projects, situated

100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska, and plans to complete a surface mapping and sampling program in 2022.

The Company's Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. The company recently completed a phase two drill program at Lithium Two Project and is beginning to receive initial assay results. Further exploration plans for 2023/24 include continued mapping/sampling field programs following up on prospective trends outlined in the magnetic data and 2022 surface sampling, additional geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. The company has a partnership with Mineral Resource Limited (MRL, ASX: MIN), a top global lithium producer to explore and develop the Company's lithium project portfolio. The 2023/24 budget for our Manitoba Lithium Division has been submitted to MRL and a final budget is expected by mid-April 2023. The company is currently completing its 2022/23 $2.3 million budget.

Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production. The Company is actively seeking an option/ joint venture partner for our newly acquired Northman, McLaughlin Lake, and South Bay Lithium Projects in Northern Manitoba, as well as its road-accessible Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska.

Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to info@newagemetals.com or Harry Barr at Hbarr@newagemetals.com or Faraz Rasheed at Frasheed@newagemetals.com or call 613 659 2773.

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Qualified Person



The contents contained herein that relate to Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based on information compiled, reviewed or prepared by Dr. Bill Stone, P.Geo., a consulting geoscientist for New Age Metals. Dr. Stone is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the PGE/PGM-related technical content of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Harry Barr"

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Michael Andretti is hoping to hear by "the middle of July" whether his bid in collaboration with Cadillac to enter Formula 1 in 2025 has been green-lighted by the FIA.

While other groups are also submitting applications as part of the sport's tender process to potentially add one or two new teams by 2026, former F1 driver Andretti's is the highest profile.

The existing teams have not been supportive on the basis that extra teams dilute the value of their franchises, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insisted in Miami that he has "no say" in whether Andretti gets the nod.

Red Bull's boss Christian Horner added: "I mean, if it dilutes the income of the (existing) ten, it's like turkeys voting for Christmas.

"So are Liberty prepared to pay and fund an 11th team? Are the FIA prepared to reduce their fees to help accommodate it?"

Horner also said some of the circuits on the calendar are not able to "operationally" accommodate an 11th team.

"If you look at the pitlane here or somewhere like Monaco, Zandvoort, where would we be able to accommodate an 11th team? Where do we put the motorhomes? Where to the trucks go?

"I just think it would be an incredibly difficult thing to be accommodated with the way that the sport has evolved as well," he added.

But in the paddock in Miami last weekend, 60-year-old Andretti - figurehead of a motor racing empire involved in Indycar, Formula E and even Australian Supercars - said he is still determined to enter F1 in 2025.

"That's our goal. We're working on it," said the American.

"We have the process that we're in the middle of with the FIA. We're submitting our paperwork this week, and hopefully getting an answer middle of July. So we're making good progress.

"We're building a team as we speak."

(GMM)
Boost your business with AI: How artificial intelligence is changing digital marketing

Frederick Ebo Hinson Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 04:28

Are you prepared to take your company to the next level?

You may change your marketing strategy and open new avenues for success by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Say goodbye to cookie-cutter marketing efforts and hello to bespoke, data-driven tactics tailored to your specific business requirements. Here are five ways to employ artificial intelligence as a digital marketer:

1. Personalised Content Creation: AI can evaluate enormous volumes of data, such as consumer behaviour, preferences, and interaction patterns, to develop personalised content that is targeted to each unique user.

Personalised emails, website content, social media posts, and adverts are all examples of this.

You may increase consumer engagement and conversion rates by delivering highly relevant and tailored content.

2. Predictive Analytics: Artificial intelligence (AI) can analyse massive volumes of data to find patterns, trends and insights that may be used to inform your marketing plans.

You can forecast client behaviour, forecast market trends and make data-driven decisions with predictive analytics. This can assist you in optimising your marketing initiatives, effectively allocating resources, and staying ahead of your competitors.

3. Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI can provide automated customer service, handle questions and aid with transactions.

They can interact with customers in real time, provide personalised recommendations, and even make purchases on their behalf. Chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance the client experience, boost satisfaction and shorten response times.

4. Social Media Listening and Sentiment Analysis: Artificial intelligence (AI) can analyse social media data in real time to monitor brand mentions, sentiment and trends.

You can understand how your brand is regarded by your audience, uncover possible concerns, and respond to customer feedback fast by leveraging social media listening and sentiment analysis.

This can aid in the management of your brand's reputation, the improvement of client sentiment and the promotion of brand loyalty.

5. Automated Ad Campaign Optimisation: By analysing performance data and making real-time modifications, AI can optimise your digital advertising campaigns. AI-powered technologies can optimise bidding tactics, ad placements, and ad creatives automatically to maximise your return on ad spend (ROAS).

This can assist you in improving ad performance, lowering expenses, and achieving better outcomes from your advertising initiatives.

To summarise, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a valuable tool for digital marketers, allowing them to harness data-driven insights, tailor content, improve consumer experiences, optimise campaigns, and achieve better marketing results.

You may stay ahead of the competition by using AI into your marketing plans and delivering more effective and targeted marketing campaigns.

The writer is a Digital Marketing Professional/Author/Creative Writer
Gas for electricity cheaper, cleaner alternative  Ben Asante

Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Houston, Texas, USA Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 03:03

THE Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), Dr Ben K.D. Asante, has said that the country can save up to 50 per cent in electricity generation cost if it used more natural gas to fire thermal plants.

The oil and gas engineer said a research by the company showed that the country could save up to $50 million a year if it replaced light crude oil with gas as a fuel source for generating electricity.

Dr Asante told the Graphic Business in Houston, Texas, in the United States of America (USA) that natural gas was also relatively cleaner than light crude oil, making it Ghanas best stepping stone to a climate-friendly environment.

He spoke to the paper at the just-ended Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, where Ghana exhibited its hydrocarbon wealth to he world.

Power cost

For years, Ghana has been bogged down by high energy prices caused by costly contracts and rising cost of production.

It also comes at a time when the world is pushing for a shift from fossil fuels to renewables and Ghana's signatory to the Paris Agreement means that the country would have to show more commitment to he green evolution.

Although Dr Asante said Ghana and Africa in general must approach the energy transition issue with tact, he said natural gas could come in handy for the country.

Citing the findings of a research by Ghana Gas, the engineer said a heavy reliance on gas as fuel for thermal plants as against light crude oil would reduce the energy bill by 50 per cent and also cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 80 per cent.

Ghana currently has about 15 thermal plants that generate about 3,753 mega watts (MW) of electricity in Takoradi in the Western Region and Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

Bridge fuel

Speaking to the paper after participating in an Africa forum on the energy transition at the conference, Dr Asante said although Ghana and Africa in general must not be rushed into making the shift to renewables, cheaper and cleaner alternatives could be explored as bridge fuels to help lengthen the use of fossil fuels and the exploitation of the hydrocarbons.

He was speaking on the role gas can play in the energy transition.

Cleaner alternative

Dr Asante, who sat through the programme, said Africa needed technical and financial resources to be able to participate fully in the energy transition.

But while it explored the avenues to raises resources and built the technical capacity, the petroleum engineer said it needed to find smarter ways of lengthening its uses of fossil fuel.

This, he said made gas a smarter option.

Takoradi is generating about 1,000 MW of power. When you use light crude oil, our bill, even when you are looking at crude oil at $60 per barrel, is about $70 million per month to generate a 1,000mw.

When we use gas instead of the light crude oil, our monthly bill is just about $33 million.

So, you see a significant reduction in our bill when we use gas instead of oil. But it does not end there, he said.

We also talk about the atmospheric emissions as well.

When we use oil, we are able to get into the atmosphere with CO2 to the tune of about 8.3 million tones per year but when we use natural gas, we only release just about 1.3 million tones per year for the same amount of energy of a 1,000mw that we generate in Takoradi.

So, you see that you do not only have significant savings by using gas instead of oil but you also have significant atmospheric responsiveness when you use gas, the Ghana Gas CEO said.

Capacity

Dr Asante also underscored the need for Africa to build adequate capacity to be able to fully exploit its hydrocarbons while making the switch to renewables.

He said Africas frustrations and our indignation will be impotent unless we are able to acquire the requisite financial and technical resources.

At the moment, we do not have that yet and so even if we recognise that we have to lengthen our use of fossil fuel, we have to make sure that we the requisite financial resources and the technical capacity, he said.

Key energy experts in Africa have spoken variously against a quick push to transition from fossil fuels to renewables, citing the need for the continent to be allowed to fully exploit its hydrocarbons to fast track development.

For a continent that contributes about 3.4 per cent of CO2 emissions, they said it was unfair for it to be rushed into abandoning its resources in the name of energy transition.

Energy forum

Meanwhile, the energy transition forum, which was on the theme: Building resilience in Africas energy sector in the wake of energy transition, brought together policymakers, experts and investors in Africas energy sector to explore the impact of energy transition on the continent and how it should approach it.

It was in two parts: opening speeches from Ghanas Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria's Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Gabriel Taminu Aduba, and a panel discussion by private sector players and regulators from the continent.

The panel comprised the CEO of the Petroleum Commission, Ghana, Mr Faibille Jr, who also represented Ghanas Minister of Energy, the Executive Vice President and Head of Kosmos Ghana, Joe Mensah, the Chairman of the Association of Tanzania Oil and Gas Service Providers, Abdulsamad Abdulrahim, and the Chief Technical Officer of the Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc in Nigeria, Ebenezer Ageh.It was moderated by Dr Kwame Boakye Agyei of the Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber.
Ghana deepens petroleum trade ties with Mali

Business Desk Report Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 04:06

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has initiated moves to promote fuel trade and investment between Ghana and Mali.

The NPAs strategy is to continuously engage the Malian authorities and importers to achieve the objective of increasing fuel supply to the Sahelian region.

Consequently, a delegation from the NPA led by a Deputy Chief Executive, Linda Asante, paid a four-day working visit to Mali.

The team held meetings with key stakeholders including the regulators, Office Malien des Produits Petoliers (OMAP), the Malian Customs, and the directorate in charge of trade  Direction Generale Commerce de la Consommation et de la Concurrence (DGCCC) and Malian petroleum importers operators.

Mrs Asante said the visit was part of NPAs strategy to deepen economic relations between Ghana and and Mali, and other countries in the sub-region particularly in the area of fuel trade.

It was also to discuss matters on trade facilitation and the signing of a trade cooperation agreement between Ghana and Mali, she added

The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the idea was to collaborate with key Malian institutions to develop export protocols and sign trade cooperation agreement to promote fuel trade and investments between the countries.

She also revealed that another key area of focus for the delegation was to strengthen the collaboration between NPA and its counterparts in curbing illicit fuel activities associated with the fuel trade to ensure the tax revenues of both countries are protected, and also ensure that the Ghana-Mali corridor is safeguarded to protect the economic interests of both countries.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on Ghanas Ambassador to Mali, Napoleon Abdulai.

Additionally, the visit presented an opportunity to initiate discussions to increase the supply of the fuels currently being supplied (Gasoil, Gasoline and Jet-A1) to Mali and promote LPG imports jnto the Malian market from Ghana.

The team established a working relationship with the embassy on how to advance the economic interests of Ghna and facilitate the signing of the Trade Cooperation Agreement.
Social Media: the great connector and its hidden truths

Dr Maxwell Ampong Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 04:28

The Internet has undeniably changed how we live, work and communicate. Since its inception, it has played a pivotal role in transforming lives and societies across the globe.

From revolutionising access to information to connecting people worldwide, the Internet has broken down barriers and created unimaginable opportunities. Its evolution from a static network to a dynamic hub of diverse content created by everyone has been astounding.

In recent years, the rise of social media has become a particularly significant phenomenon. Boasting an impressive 4.7 billion users as of 2021, which accounts for 59 percent of the world's population, social media has become an integral part of our lives and has an immense impact on businesses and individuals.

Initially, the Internet was primarily a static network, where users could access information but had limited means to contribute or interact with the content.

However, as the technology evolved and became more accessible, users began to create and share their content, giving rise to a more interactive and collaborative space.

This shift has been most evident in the emergence and growth of social media platforms.

Social media platforms have gained traction at an exponential rate, offering a space for users to connect, share ideas and communicate with others from all corners of the world.

The statistics are staggering, with billions of users engaging on various platforms daily.

This unprecedented level of connectivity has led to a profound impact on how we live, work and even perceive the world around us.

The widespread adoption of social media has transformed how businesses and individuals interact, opening doors for new opportunities, marketing strategies, and revenue streams.

As a result, companies are increasingly leveraging social media platforms to reach, engage and retain their target audience.

Simultaneously, individuals use these platforms for personal growth, networking and connecting with friends and family.

However, the rise of social media usage also comes with its own set of challenges and concerns.

Privacy, fake news and cyberbullying have become more prevalent, demanding greater attention from governments, businesses and users.

The Internet's journey from a static network to a dynamic hub of diverse content, powered by the rise of social media usage, has indelibly changed our lives and societies.

As we embrace the possibilities and face the challenges of this digital landscape, it is crucial to remain vigilant and informed about the potential impacts and opportunities.

The rapid rise of social media has been nothing short of a global phenomenon, with individuals and businesses embracing its numerous benefits and applications.

As a result, social media has become an integral aspect of our digital lives by allowing users to create, share and exchange information, ideas and thoughts through online communities and networks.

Growth of social media platforms

The growth of social media platforms has been exponential, with over 128 sites in existence today.

Among these platforms, Facebook remains the largest and most influential, boasting over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of 2021.

Other major platforms include Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat, each with unique features and a user base.

The rapid expansion of social media has been fueled by advancements in technology, particularly the proliferation of smartphones and mobile internet access.

As a result, social media has become more accessible, allowing users to connect and engage with others anytime, anywhere.

In recent years, Ghana has witnessed significant growth in social media usage, with the number of users reaching an impressive 8.8 million.

This surge in social media adoption has changed how Ghanaians communicate and interact with one another and has created many opportunities for businesses and the broader economy.

The number of social media users in Ghana has grown exponentially, reaching 8.8 million people as of 2021.

This increase in adoption can be attributed to the rapid expansion of mobile phone usage and affordable internet access, which have made social media platforms more accessible to a larger population.

Among the numerous social media platforms available, WhatsApp has emerged as the most widely subscribed app in Ghana.

With its user-friendly interface, free messaging and calling features, and end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp has become the go-to app for Ghanaians to communicate with friends, family and business contacts.

In addition to its popularity for personal use, WhatsApp has also been embraced by Ghanaian businesses as a powerful marketing and communication tool.

Businesses leverage the app to connect with customers, share updates and promotions, and provide customer support, ultimately enhancing their reach and engagement.

Benefits of social media

1. Staying connected with friends and family: Social media platforms enable people to keep in touch with loved ones nearby, bridging distances and fostering a sense of closeness.

2. Networking for job prospects: Professional networking sites such as LinkedIn have become indispensable tools for job seekers and employers, helping connect talent with opportunities and build professional relationships.

3. Self-expression and creativity: Social media platforms allow individuals to express their thoughts, ideas and creative endeavours, allowing users to share their passions and interests with a global audience.

Business benefits of social media

1. Locating and interacting with customers: Businesses can harness the power of social media to connect with their target audience, engaging with existing customers and attracting new ones through targeted campaigns and content.

2. Promoting products and services: Social media offers a cost-effective and efficient way to promote products and services, allowing businesses to reach a broad audience and generate buzz around their brand.

3. Tracking consumer trends: Social media platforms provide businesses with invaluable insights into consumer preferences, enabling them to stay ahead of the competition and tailor their offerings to meet evolving customer needs.

4. Providing customer support: Businesses can leverage social media to offer swift and efficient customer service, addressing queries, concerns and feedback in real-time and improving overall customer satisfaction.

Dark side of social media

Increased time spent on social media can contribute to a range of mental health issues, including:

1. Anxiety: Constantly comparing oneself to others online can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, leading to a negative self-image.

2. Lack of sleep: Excessive use of social media, particularly before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to poor sleep quality and insomnia.

3. Depression: Overusing social media platforms can contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness, increasing the risk of depression.
Usage of financial technology up by 29%

Juliet Akyaa Safo Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 10:03

Mobile money surpassed traditional banking in Ghana, becoming an essential driver of financial inclusion in the country, the Global Findex Database 2021 has indicated.

Generally, access and usage of financial technology have increased considerably in Ghana, from 29 per cent in 2017 to 68 per cent in 2021, the database revealed.

The 2021 Global Findex Database sampled 1,000 adults in Ghana in the research, although data were collected from about 128,000 adults in 123 economies globally.

The database was aimed at providing a rigorous and multi-dimensional picture of how adults save, borrow, make payments and manage financial risks.

Public forum

The results were revealed in Accra last Thursday (May 4) during a public forum on financial inclusion organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and the World Bank.

The forum was also a platform for independent assessment and discussion of emerging data on the progress of financial inclusion in Ghana.

Dubbed Towards Financial Inclusion for All: an analysis of Ghanas Findex data, it was also to contribute to advancing the importance of evidence-led policy and industry interventions to deepen financial inclusion in the country.

It was attended by policymakers, commercial services providers, consumer groups and people from academia, and served as the maiden edition of the ISSER Inclusive Finance Development Series (IIFDS), an initiative by ISSER to position African research institutions at the forefront of advancing evidence for the development of inclusive finance.

It was launched by the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey.

2021 Ghana Findex data

Giving some highlights on the 2021 Ghana Findex data, a Lead Economist in the Development Research Group at the World Bank, Dr Leora Klapper, revealed that 40 per cent of adults in Ghana were most worried about medical expenses than school fees, and money for old age.

She said the database also indicated that 12 per cent of adults borrowed money using a mobile money account, while 37 per cent of adults saved using a mobile money account.

Nearly four million unbanked adults in Ghana have a mobile phone, and about two million unbanked adults receive agriculture payments in cash, including nearly one million who have a mobile phone, she added.

Monitoring for inclusion

The Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi, called for a unified data architecture to help players in the financial sector to understand the dynamics and to help them to design more appropriate products and services.

I believe the rollout of the biometric Ghana Card, which is now designated as a single identity card for purposes of financial transactions, holds a lot of promise for promoting a unified data architecture for monitoring and financial inclusion in Ghana, she said.

She, however, noted that efforts must be made to promote data integrity, data privacy, systems robustness and effective data governance in that regard.

She added that the Bank of Ghana, on its part, had recently implemented a new online reporting and analytics supervisory tool to harmonise data collection from various licence institutions and to help them to improve data analytics and reporting.

Panel discussion

During a hybrid panel discussion, panelists called for a comprehensive database that could be accessible to all.

They explained that such a database would help to promote proper monitoring and evaluation of data in the financial sector.

They also called for strong collaboration between academia and the financial system to advance the financial inclusion agenda.

The panelists were the Director of ISSER and Executive Director of ReFinD Research Initiative, Professor Peter Quartey; the Head of Financial Market and Innovation at the Ministry of Finance, Benjamin Torsah Klu; a Deputy Director at the Payment Systems Department of Bank of Ghana, Clarissa Kuwordor; the Chief Executive Director of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, Dr Kenneth Ashibey; and the Global Director of Digital Financial Services, Opportunity International, Dr William Derban.
Well reverse declining oil output  GNPC CEO

Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Houston, Texas, USA Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 04:51

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is optimistic that crude oil production will rebound in the medium term after suffering steady declines in the past three years.

After peaking in 2019, Ghanas annual crude oil production has been on a steady decline. It fell by almost six per cent to 51,756,481 barrels in 2022  below the governments projections  impacting negatively on revenue targets.

While expressing concern about the development, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GNPC, Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah, told the Graphic Business that ongoing investments into the three producing fields and a strong campaign for increased exploration for proven reserves would help to raise output in the coming years.

Our goal at GNPC is to increase production in conjunction with our partners and firm up the countrys reserves.

The petroleum resources are there; we just need more investment to technically firm them up as proven, Mr Danquah said in an interview at the just-ended Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) at Houston, Texas, in the United States of America (USA).

Oil and gas reserves are proven through drilling and exploratory works to verify the quantities and qualities of the discovery. Mr Danquah said the decline in production was not unusual as it was normal for output to plateau and naturally decline whenever reserves were not proven and replaced steadily.

To help sustain and ramp up the countrys crude oil output, he explained that exploration activities within the western basin needed to be intensified, as was the focus of the corporation.

Strong investor interest

The GNPC CEO said Ghana was a hotbed for petroleum resources, with so many prospective areas that have not been explored.

These virgin areas, he said, required significant investments to help develop.

He said investors at the 2023 OTC had also shown strong interest in the countrys petroleum sector, brightening the prospects for increased exploratory works in the coming years.

Beyond that, Mr Danquah said: Ghana will always be an attractive place for mineral resources as well as oil and gas exploration, and we are far from exhausting the spectrum of our petroleum resources.

When comparing aggregate upstream exploration activities in Africas Gulf of Guinea to Americas Gulf of Mexico, we are barely at the tip of the iceberg, he said.

Ghana started crude oil production in 2010 and had been enjoining a steady rise in annual output until 2020, when it suffered its first decline.

Since then, it has been falling by an average of 10 per cent  contributing to the fiscal deficits and the general macroeconomic imbalances.

If you look at projections about seven years ago, Ghana was supposed to be producing at least half a million to a million barrels a day by now.

But as was the case for most upstream companies, the pandemic hit oil and gas demand hard. Today, demand has recovered, and we are optimistic for the future, he said.

To further develop the working petroleum system in our offshore basins by drilling more wells, we require significant investments as well as requisite technologies that are not indigenous, he said, noting that it was one of the main reasons for the corporations participation in the OTC 2023.

Voltaian Basin

At the OTC, which is an annual gathering of companies and service providers in the petroleum sector globally, GNPC exhibited the Voltaian Basin, the countrys first onshore acreage that the corporation was looking to undertake first drilling in the first quarter of next year.

Its CEO said interest in the basin had been strong and that the corporation was aiming at retaining a greater share of the basin unlike offshore finds where the countrys stake was lower and financially carried until production.

He said the current economic challenges facing the country required that innovative and informative strategies were taken to attract investors with deeper pockets.

Pecan field

Meanwhile, in a report that explored the fortunes of the countrys oil and gas sector, Fitch Solutions said in February that while investments in the Jubilee and Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) fields would prevent significant short-term declines, the key upside to Ghanas longer-term oil production outlook was the Pecan Field Development.

The field, which is owned by Aker Energy as the operator with Lukoil, GNPC and Fueltrade as other shareholders, is projected to pump 110,000 barrels per day (bopd) when production begins.Further progress on the final investment decision (FID) in the Pecan development is essential for Ghana to return to pre-pandemic levels of oil production (which averaged 197,000 b/d in 2019), the data and research firm said.

It is part of the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points licence block and has estimated reserves of 334 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
'Madam' premieres on DStv, GOtv Akwaaba Magic today

Kweku Zurek TV/Radio May - 08 - 2023 , 17:07

DStv and GOtv have revealed the highly anticipated premiere of the latest Telenovela, "Madam," today, Monday, May 8, 2023.

The gripping drama series will air every weekday at 8 pm on Akwaaba Magic, available on DStv Ch 105 and GOtv Ch 102.

Viewers can expect an unforgettable journey into the life of Lankai Morgan, a woman determined to seize power by any means necessary.

Starring the immensely talented Joselyn Dumas as the audacious and complex character, Lankai Morgan, "Madam" promises to be one of the most talked-about shows of the year.

While Lankai dedicates her life to rehabilitating young girls who have been shattered by life's challenges, she also manipulates them into seducing men in power, exploiting their vulnerability to advance her own interests.

The exceptional cast of "Madam" includes Lucky Lawson, Michael Katahena, Salma Mumin, Dean Amegashie, Jasmine Baroudi, Adomaa, Godwin Namboh, and other gifted actors.

Produced by Shirley Frimpong-Manso's Sparrow Productions, "Madam" is an enthralling show that boasts a powerful storyline and outstanding production values.

Afua Kissi-Nyame, Head of Marketing at MultiChoice Ghana, expressed her excitement about "Madam," stating, "We're thrilled to bring Madam to our viewers. With the talented Joselyn Dumas and other amazing actors, the series will captivate audiences and keep them coming back for more."

To catch this captivating drama on Akwaaba Magic, viewers can stay connected to DStv and GOtv on *759#.
Its logically right to have sex before marriage  Relationship Expert

GraphicOnline Life May - 09 - 2023 , 08:46

A counselor and relationship expert, Mr. Daniel Fenyi, has entered the debate surrounding premarital sex, stating that it is not necessarily wrong to engage in sexual intercourse with a partner before marriage, from a logical or idealistic standpoint.

Mr. Fenyi made his remarks during a virtual discussion with members of the Ghana Universities Journal regarding the balance between career and relationships.

During the discussion, Reverend Regina Boakye offered a contrasting view, stating that engaging in sexual activities before marriage is Biblically wrong.

Despite this, Mr. Fenyi argued that it is important to have sex before marriage in order to know a partner's sexual health status comprehensively.

"Although it is morally and spiritually not right, it is logically important to engage in sex before marriage to comprehensively know your partners sexual health status, he said.

Mr. Fenyi emphasized that it takes both partners to get to know each other well, making it essential to engage in sexual activities before marriage.

However, he also stressed the importance of being responsible for one's sexual health to avoid negative outcomes such as sexually transmitted diseases.

In addition, Fenyi advised individuals to focus on their strengths in their career and make the most of the things that others praise or commend them for.

He also urged young people to avoid negative social media advice and to explore the many benefits available on the internet.

The Ghana Universities Journal is a group of tertiary students who engage with industry players, stakeholders, and the government to provide constructive criticism and solutions to benefit their generation.
1 Million jobs pledge under YouStarts achievable  K.T. Hammond

Maclean Kwofi May - 09 - 2023 , 11:17

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has emphasised the resolve of the government to use the YouStart Ghana Jobs and Skills Project to establish a solid entrepreneurship regime that can support and accelerate the development of the economy.

He explained that through the YouStart initiative, the government has now shifted its attention towards the creation of indigenous entrepreneurs as part of efforts to address the high youth unemployment rate in the country.

Touring some YouStart training centres in Accra yesterday, Mr Hammond observed that given the interventions made under the YouStart initiative, the government would be able to achieve its one million jobs pledge in three years.

The government believes that entrepreneurship plays an important role in the economic, social and environmental transformation of the country, as this will enable young people to seize income generating opportunities and help address unemployment.

With this pace, I want to also emphasise, I am confident that the one million jobs in three years promised by this government will be achieved, he said.

Training takes off

Official training for the component 2.1 of YouStart Ghana Jobs and Skills Project took off yesterday in 188 districts across the country.

Targeting 50,000 youth, the project seeks to provide entrepreneurship training and competitive start-up grants to youth who have the potential to start a business.

The three-month training is expected to equip the participants with relevant skills, access to market, technology and financial support to enable them to start and grow their businesses.

The project is being implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) with financing and technical support to the tune of GH400 million from the World Bank.

Mr Hammond noted that the project was considered a major stepping stone and an avenue to upgrading skills among the countrys population, creating more and better-quality jobs and improving job outcomes for the youth.

For this reason, I wish to thank the World Bank Group, especially for providing financing and technical support to the Government of Ghana (GoG) for the implementation of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.

I also appreciate other financial institutions, development partners and the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) for their commitment and support to this worthy cause, he said.

The minister, who interacted with the participants, urged them to take keen interest in the training in order to build their capacities to become global giants.

He said entrepreneurs needed to concentrate more on proper and innovative packaging, as well as branding of their products and services.

That, he said, would position them well to penetrate the international market and compete with other firms.

Top priority agenda

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEA, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, maintained that the project was considered one of the main forms of support for the governments top priority agenda of upgrading skills among the countrys population, creating more and better-quality jobs, and improving job outcomes for the youth.

She said it was expected that over 50,000 youth would be trained at various levels upon completion within 188 districts in all the 16 regions across the country.

According to her, those who successfully reach the advanced stage and show promise in creating viable businesses will be allowed to apply for competitive business grants.

The grants will be in the form of capital, equipment (including start up kit), Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions and business formalisation, she added.
163 Students benefit from Gold Fields scholarship

Donald Ato Dapatem May - 09 - 2023 , 08:06

One hundred and sixty-three students within the operational area of the Gold Fields Ghana Limited (Tarkwa and Damang Mines) have been awarded scholarships to pursue various courses at the tertiary level for the 2022/2023 academic year.

The beneficiaries, made up of 84 males and 79 females,included two hearing impaired persons who will study at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf.

Each student will benefit from an amount of GH7,000 annually through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation Scholarship Programme.

In total, $199,245 would be spent for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Scholarship

The Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, explained that the scholarship programme was opened to students who had gained admission into any tertiary institution in the country.

To qualify, he explained, an applicant must either be a native of any of the companys 19 host communities or must be resident in that community before Gold Fields started its operations in Ghana.

Applicants complete a form which is issued by the foundation to community chiefs and assembly members.

Before a candidate is considered for an interview, the chief of the community must endorse the form as a proof that the candidate indeed satisfies the residency condition, he said.

In addition to this, Mr Yakubu said applicants for this award needed to prove that they had obtained aggregate 12 or better at the WASSCE level, adding that considerations are sometimes given to students who attended rural basic schools and continue to reside in rural host communities after senior high school even if they did not make the qualifying aggregate score.

Mr Yakubu further noted that the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation scholarship programme was Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) bias.

One of the objectives of the programme, he added, was to support students in STEM programmes so they could take up roles in the company when vacancies arise, noting that this is part of Gold Fields drive to improve its host community employment numbers.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to exhibit socially acceptable behaviours on their various campuses and that honesty and integrity were also important.

As scholarship beneficiaries, you are ambassadors for Gold Fields and you must carry yourselves as such.

Grade

The Regional Manager- Community Relations Gold Fields Ghana (Tarkwa Mine), Robert Siaw, advised the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the opportunity and take their studies seriously, cautioning that if they failed to make good grades, their scholarship would be revoked.

The Senior Assistant Registrar at the Directorate of Students Affairs at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Theodora Oduro, advised parents of the beneficiaries to provide them with their needs to make them comfortable at their various schools.

A beneficiary of the scholarship programme, who will pursue Medicine, Judith Reese Obeng, thanked the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for the opportunity.
60 entities, individuals to be honoured at SDG awards

Chris Nunoo May - 09 - 2023 , 07:13

About 60 establishments including educational and corporate institutions and individuals have been shortlisted to receive special recognition for their contributions towards the attainment of all the energy-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These are, SDGs four which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all and SDGs seven which also ensures access to clean and affordable energy.

The rest include SDGs 13 which seeks to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commitment to achieving a climate-neutral world by mid-century to limit global warming and SDGs 14 which is about conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Special awards

A Technical Coordinator in charge of Energy Transition at the Ministry of Energy and Lead Judge for the awards, Dr Robert Sogbadji, at a press conference in Accra yesterday to outdoor the nominations said, there would also be lifetime awards and other special awards for most influential SDG leaders in Africa.

The awards would be in 17 category and it includes SDG Teaching and Learning Award, Energy Media Personality of the Year, SDG Financial Services Award, Green Sustainability Hospitality Facility of the Year, SDG Research Award and Energy Infrastructure Award.

Put together by Think Energy awards, and powered by the African Global Response Energy Environment (AGREE) Limited, with support from the SDG Advisory Unit of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Energy and Ghana Gas Company, the novel ceremony is aimed at celebrating excellence, innovation and impact of the respective individuals and organisations on clean energy, energy efficiency and energy access.

Dr Sogbadji said the award was timely to support all institutions and to identify them and encourage other institutions to put in efforts to identify the SDGs.

He said the organisers were allowing the public to vote 30 per cent while the judges would contribute 70 per cent to select the winners.

That, Dr Sogbadji explained, was to create much awareness about the SDGs for the public to know that the SDGs were still being pursued until 2030.

Awareness

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the African Global Response Energy Environment Limited, Humphrey Tetteh, explained that the awards would increase awareness about the efforts at achieving the seven SDGs including access to clean and affordable energy in the West African sub-region.

He said the event would serve as platform to recognise the efforts of individuals and corporate entities, who were making a difference in the quest to achieve the SDGs particularly those related to clean and efficient energy.

He said the vision of his outfit was to raise about $1million in the next three years to support winners of the awards to embark on projects aimed at shoring up efforts at attaining the energy-related SDGs and for that matter improving the energy sector in general.
Ghana's largest banana exporter expands operations

Emelia Ennin Abbey May - 09 - 2023 , 13:47

Golden Exotics Limited (GEL) has launched its 20th anniversary with a commitment to expand its operations and contribute to the development of communities surrounding its plantations.

The company, which started with the planting of pineapples on a 700 hectare land, projects to hit a total banana plantation of 2,000 hectares by June this year.

It has plantations in Obom, near Ngleshi-Amanfrom in the Ga South Municipality; Kasunya, near Asutuare, in the Shai-Osudoku District, and Torgorme in the North Tongu District.

Commitment

Over the years, the Managing Director of GEL, Benedict John Rich, speaking before launching the year long anniversary celebration in Accra, said the development of the company had been underpinned by its commitment to sustainable policies, including decent work, respect for human rights of its employees, health and safety, respect for the environment, responsible sourcing and best international practices.

"For us, it is not enough to do things, unless we are doing them properly," he said .

Since the company's inception, Mr Rich said it had undertaken its corporate social responsibility in the areas of education, health, economic wellbeing, among others, in the communities where it operated and intended to revisit such projects during the anniversary year.

In 2014, he said the company commenced the planting of organic bananas, and at an average of 100 hectares per year it could now boast 600 hectares which was currently one of the largest in the world, while its conventional farms kept expanding.

In the past two decades, Mr Rich said the company had embraced technologies ranging from the use of smart phone and bar code scanners in the field, to drones, in the fields of precision agriculture and traceability of its products in line with commitment to remain productive and competitive.

Challenges

Recognising that there would be challenges with productivity and profitability being the major ones, he added that the world was also a more complicated place, with global pandemics, war, geopolitics and climate change affecting the environment, agriculture and trade as never before.

Following a dip in Ghanas pineapple industry, he said Golden Exotics had been forced to diversify and was working on planting other crops.

The Vice president of Compagnie Fruitiere, Ghana, Olivier Chassang, said the shareholders were always making efforts in spite of challenges both in Ghana and internationally, to expand the business in Ghana.

On behalf of the shareholders of the company, he congratulated the management of GEL for their leadership and relentless efforts in exploring strategies for the sustainability of the company's business operations in Ghana.

After stating how the company started in 2003, the Sustainability Manager of GEL, George Kporye, whose papaya farm, Paradise Farms, which he had started with a sister and a friend was acquired by the shareholders of GEL, said the success and 20 years milestone had been chalked up through the collective efforts of management and workers with the support of the communities they worked in and customers.

Activities lined up to mark the 20 years anniversary celebration include financial literacy training sessions for employees of the company and residents in communities GEL operates in, gender specific activities, work site fun activities, health screening , radio sensitisation programme on women working in agribusiness and fun games to commemorate this year's May Day celebration.
"I married for myself and not anyone else" - Prof Dominic Fobih on taking a wife at 80

GraphicOnline May - 09 - 2023 , 11:10

Professor Dominic Fobih, a former Minister of Education, has made headlines after tying the knot with a 31-year-old woman.

The 80-year-old former Member of Parliament for Assin South was captured on video dancing with his new wife, who was dressed in a white and gold beaded-laced corset gown, to the love song 'Fatia Fata Nkrumah' by Dada KD.

The wedding has sparked public discussion, with some making claims about the marriage, including allegations that Professor Fobih has nine wives.

In response to these claims, the professor stated that he only has one wife and that most of the claims are due to ignorance and misinformation.

I dont have nine wives, I have one wife, I just got married. I didnt have a wife before so Ive just got married. Who in Ghana has nine wives. If anybody is commenting on nine wives the person has been misled. Those who are commenting are commenting on what theyve read and that is borne out of ignorance, Prof. Fobih said in a radio interview with Accra-based Starr FM on Tuesday (May 9, 2023).

He added that he married for himself and not for anyone else.

Im a very strong-willed person and Im always convinced about what I decide to do and is best for me. I know why Im doing this and so they can tell all sort of things. I didnt marry for anybody, I married for myself, Prof. Fobih added.

Professor Fobih, who was a legislator from January 2001 to January 2017 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, described himself as a strong-willed person who knows what is best for him.

The ceremony has since gone viral on social media, with many sharing their opinions about the marriage.
Latest casualty: Firefighting hits a snag - Galamsey devastates water sources

Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu May - 09 - 2023 , 11:00

Firefighting operations in parts of the country are the latest casualty of illegal mining, commonly called galamsey locally, firefighting officials have lamented.

They say the consequences of galamsey have gone beyond merely polluting water bodies and sources, and now impacting water availability in the right volumes for fire emergencies.

The Western Regional Fire Command, for instance, says low pressure in water service lines to its hydrants or points of replenishment is threatening fire service operations.

It said that had arisen from illegal mining activities, and warned of dire consequences for firefighting operations if galamsey was not stopped or treated as a national emergency.

The Fire Command said the points of collection of raw water from rivers in emergency cases were heavily silted and had a high turbidity level that had become a danger to firefighting, lives and property in the event of an emergency.

It said the Fire Service remained the most impacted institution due to the unending illegal mining activities.

In the Western Region, we have the Pra, Ankobrah and Tano rivers and other tributaries that make it easy for us to source water to save situations, but the problem now is that galamsey is making it impossible for us, the Regional Fire Commander, Fredrick Ohemeng, said.

During an interaction with the media in Takoradi after this years Fire Week Celebration, Mr Ohemeng said the service relied on Ghana Water Company sources and raw water bodies in non-urban areas for replenishment to carry out its operations.

Now, we cannot be sure due to the high level of silt and the poor turbidity. Even in the cities where we have points of collection, the pressure is low due to the inadequate water at the intake point of Ghana Water Company, he said.

The Fire Week Celebration is an annual event instituted by the Ghana National Fire Service to sensitise the public to fire issues and safety precautions to reduce the chances of fire disasters.

Graphic dialogue

The consequences of galamsey on firefighting operations will be one of the focus areas at the two-day national dialogue being organised in Accra by the Graphic Communications Group Limited.

Indeed, policymakers, experts and other stakeholders in the natural resource sector will converge on Accra on Thursday and Friday for the dialogue, intended to promote the sustainable management of the country's natural resources.

It is being held in partnership with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to explore ways of tackling challenges confronting the land, mining and forestry sectors to ensure optimum use of those resources.

Dubbed: "Harnessing our natural resources responsibly for our sustainable collective good", the dialogue will also look at innovative ways of protecting the environment from destruction.

The dialogue is being held at a time the government is implementing a number of interventions to help deal with excesses in the land, forestry and mining sectors.

For instance, although the mining sector remains the major backbone of Ghana's economy, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP), the activities of illegal miners remain an albatross that is eroding the gains.

Since 2017, the government has implemented a number of interventions, including a ban on all forms of small-scale mining for almost two years, the deployment of military operations such as Operation Vanguard and Operation Halt, the revision of the mining laws, the introduction of community mining schemes (CMS) and deployment of speed boats for monitoring illegal mining activities on river bodies.

In the forest sub-sector, the issue of illegal logging, illegal mining, expansionist agriculture and wildfires are fuelling deforestation and forest degradation.

A recent report by the Forestry Commission on the state of the nation's forest has revealed that 4,726 hectares of the countrys forest reserves have been destroyed by illegal mining activities.

In the land sub-sector, although a new land act has been enacted, there are still teething issues such as multiple sale of land, delays in land title registration, activities of land guards and land tenure system that affect effective land administration.

It is expected that the dialogue would be centred around some of these issues, with the aim of proffering workable solutions to the challenges.

Risky situation

Mr Ohemeng warned that the situation was not only risky, but also serious and a threat to the public.

The prevailing situation is that the pressure in the lines is not the best because Ghana Water Company is not getting the required volume of raw water to process for public consumption and for our activities in case of a fire outbreak, he added.

The low pressure in itself is a challenge, hence the need for the public to know that the extreme negative effect of illegal mining is not far from us in the urban areas or cities; it has an effect on our operations and a threat to public safety.

Even the chemical content of the water, aside from the poor turbidity, is also having a negative effect on our equipment, he said.

Public view

A resident of Takoradi, A. Korshe Zorwoonoo, said the time had come for Ghanaians to agree that enough was enough and join the fight against illegal mining since its threats were unlimited.

If there is fire in the city and the fire service cannot get water to attend to the disaster, who are we going to blame, the Fire Service, Ghana Water Company, ourselves or the galamseyers? he asked.

Now we have the fire service not getting the needed (water) pressure to fight fire and save lives, then it is obvious that we are not safe in the city; the threat of illegal mining is closer to us than we thought, he said.

Beyond degradation

Others said they thought the threat was limited to the unavailability of potable water in the localities.

If today the Fire Service is being affected, then we are not safe, a lady trader said.

Mr Kwesi Dadzie, also a resident, said: We blame the Fire Service for arriving late on fire scenes, but if what they are saying is the situation, then we are in trouble. Galamsey is contaminating aquatic life, underground water, root foods and threatening water bodies, and we are looking on unconcerned.

He said beyond the known effects of degradation and pollution, the threat is now greater, and we should act now or have ourselves to blame.
Laws on false reporting essential  Prof. Date-Bah

Justice Agbenorsi May - 09 - 2023 , 08:30

A former Justice of the Supreme Court, Professor Justice Samuel Date-Bah, has said that a blanket removal of laws criminalising false reports would be perilous.

He said such laws existed to regulate mischief, hence conversations about the scrapping of such laws must be subjected to a process to see if they still served a purpose under the current legal regime.

Prof. Date-Bah was speaking as the Chairperson of a lecture organised by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID) of the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Accra yesterday.

It was dubbed: The legal regulation of hate speech, fake news, etc. Is it desirable? Is it possible?

The lecture, which attracted students and staff from various faculties of the school, discussed in detail the issue of hate speech and the nature of language used in the media and public discourse.

Issues such as ethics, fake news and language use took centre stage in a bid to promote decent and non-harmful language in media commentary.

Context

Two legal provisions  the Electronic Communications Act and the Criminal Code, specifically Section 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)  have been criticised lately as stifling freedom of speech.

Promoters of such calls include the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Private Newspaper Publishers Association (PRINPAG).

The President of the GJA, Albert Dwumfour, at the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day in Accra last Wednesday, said the arbitrary application of those laws only served to instill fear in the populace.

As critical stakeholders in the media industry, we cannot remain unconcerned as these laws are used to arrest citizens and journalists and criminal charges preferred over civil remedies for press and speech offences that are merely defamatory, he said.

It was based on this that the General Secretary of the GJA, Kofi Yeboah, sought Prof. Date-Bahs thought on the matter at yesterdays public lecture.

Complex

Prof. Date-Bah explained that the issue of free speech and fake news within the current legal dispensation was a complex one, saying there were forces which had to be reconciled.

If we want to domesticate the discussions, clearly it is not a simple matter.

There has to be a process of discussion to arrive at a conclusion which reflects our culture, he said.

He added that the provisions needed to be subjected to a process to ascertain if they served the purpose for which they existed, stressing that a blanket repeal of such provisions would only pave the way for mischief without any regulation.

Law enforcement

The main speaker, Dr Venkat Lyer, a barrister and academic from Northern Ireland, explained that laws on hate speech needed to be applied sparingly to ensure that people were able to express themselves freely.

He said law enforcement officers needed to be generous when applying such laws to avoid self-censorship.

He, however, cautioned against the abuse of free speech.

On fake news, Dr Lyer said in spite of other jurisdictions drafting fake news laws, it was not easy to define fake news.

That, he said, was a danger as people could be unfairly convicted under such laws, adding: If the law is couched loosely, there will be wrong convictions.

He further called for a strong judicial protection regime and capacity-building for lawyers in order to interpret the laws appropriately to ensure fairness.
AUDIO: "I dont have nine wives, I have one wife, I just got married" - Prof Dominic Fobih speaks

GraphicOnline May - 09 - 2023 , 12:35

Former Ghanaian Minister of Education, Professor Dominic Fobih, has denied rumours that he has nine wives and that his recent marriage to a 31-year-old woman was his ninth time.

A video of a colourful marriage ceremony with his 31-year-old wife went viral on social media over the weekend, generating discussions on social media.

However, in a radio interview on Accra based Starr FM's morning show with Francis Abban today, Prof. Fobih rejected the claims, stating that he has only one wife and that the reports were "borne out of ignorance" and contained lies.

He also clarified that his wife is a 31-year-old medical professional.

Prof Dominic Fobih

The 80-year-old former Member of Parliament for Assin South added that he is a strong-willed person who knows what is best for him and that he married for himself, not for anyone else.

Prof. Fobih served as a legislator from January 2001 to January 2017 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and was also the Minister of Lands, Forestry, and Mines during Ex-President John Agyekum Kufour's administration.

Listen to the entire interview below;

Read also: "I married for myself and not anyone else" - Prof Dominic Fobih on taking a wife at 80
Mine Workers Union protest against Sunon Asogli

Joshua Bediako Koomson May - 09 - 2023 , 09:11

The Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) supported by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is embarking on a protest at Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited to demand the reinstatement of three dismissed local union leaders.

The protest is also intended to halt what the union describes as blatant violations of the fundamental rights of workers, acts of interference, unfair labour practices, and disrespect for regulatory institutions by the management of the company.

At a news conference in Accra yesterday, the General Secretary of the GMWU, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, said the union arrived at that decision as a result of several failed attempts to resolve the issue amicably with the management of the company.

Show up

The union has consequently encouraged its members to turn up in their numbers and converge on the TUC Head Office in Accra at 8 a.m. today to be conveyed to the protest grounds at Kpone.



Background

Giving the background, Mr Gbana said nearly 70 workers of the company took the decision to join the GMWU, and they went through the necessary legal processes to acquire a Collective Bargaining Certificate which was duly issued by the Chief Labour Officer.

That certificate empowered the union to represent and negotiate with the company on behalf of the unionised workers.

However, as a condition to recognise the certificate issued by the Labour Department, he said the company, through its lawyer, demanded to know the names of the unionised workers.

The issue, Mr Gbana said, ended at the National Labour Commission (NLC), with the commission, on two occasions, ruling and directing that the list of the workers was not relevant at that stage and that the certificate was properly and legally issued to GMWU, and, therefore, the company must enter into negotiations with the union.

The company and its lawyers disregarded the decisions of the commission with impunity, and have since refused to respond to any correspondence from the union.

Based on the commission's ruling and under the Labour Act, Mr Gbana said the union wrote to the management per the GMWU Constitution and Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

However, the company refused to comply with the request, citing concerns over the Collective Bargaining Certificate, a matter which, he said, had been settled by the NLC.

Based on the company's apparent refusal to comply with the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), as well as its refusal to respond to any correspondence from the union or honour meetings scheduled by the NLC, the GMWU General Secretary recounted that a notice of intention to embark on strike was served by the union on the company and copied the NLC.

This was supposedly in reaction to actions of management, including the termination of the employment of three of the branch union leaders comprising the Union Secretary, the Assistant Secretary and the Chairperson, for the reason that they had joined a trade union and had been elected to lead workers at the enterprise level.

Please take note, once again, that the affected workers have not committed any crime, and they have not broken any company rules. The only crime they have committed, according to the management of the company, is that they have decided to join a trade union of their choice to protect their social and economic interests, he said.



Resolution

While recognising the intervention of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Gbana said calls on the management of the company and the authorities concerned to ensure the reinstatement of the three local union leaders had fallen on deaf ears.

He added that the several calls to the management to refrain from any acts of intimidation, fear and panic being unleashed on the union members in the company and to stop the abuse of the rights of employees to belong to a union of their choice had also fallen on deaf ears.

Therefore, we are going to use every means, including embarking on protest marches, picketing demonstrations, strikes across the industry and the country, to demand the reinstatement of the three dismissed local union leaders, he said.
Mion: Two persons accused of witchcraft lynched

Mohammed Fugu May - 09 - 2023 , 14:01

Two persons have reportedly been lynched at Zakpalsi, a farming community in the Mion District in the Northern Region over witchcraft accusations.

The deceased, Imoro Safura, 40, a mother of seven and Mba Cherefo are said to have been accused of being behind the illness of a woman in the community after her family consulted a soothsayer.

An irate youth in the community on Sunday reportedly attacked Safura at her residence, sensing danger she ran to seek refuge at the chiefs palace, but was overpowered and lynched in the process, Graphic Online gathered.

Subsequently, the youth pursued Cherefo and reportedly killed him at his residence.

The police has initiated investigations into the matter.

Alleged Witches committee

The Regional Re-integration Committee of Alleged Witches has condemned the incident and called for swift investigation to bring the perpetrators to book and give justice to the victims and their families.

The Executive Director of Songtaba, Lamnatu Adams who spoke on behalf of the committee, said the incident was a clear case of murder, hence there must not be any interference in the police investigations.

While urging the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and attacking accused persons, she called on Parliament to hasten the passage of the Anti-witchcraft bill into law to criminalize witchcraft accusations and attacks.

Background

There are rampant cases of people being accused of witchcraft in the Northern Region and that has often led to violent attacks on the victims and the burning down of their homes by their accusers, who are mostly the youth.

While most victims of such accusations are often chased out of their communities to seek refuge in the various witches camps, others are sometimes physically attacked and lynched.

In July 2020, a 90-year-old woman, Akua Dentah was lynched on accusations that she was a witch at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region.

Anti-witchcraft bill

The Parliament of Ghana is working to pass an Anti-Witchcraft Bill into law to criminalise witchcraft and other related offences.

A pre-stakeholder engagement on the bill started in Accra last month as part of efforts to build support for the passage of the bill by Parliament.

The proposed Witchcraft Bill includes the prohibition of professional witchcraft or wizardry, prohibition against the accusation of witchcraft, participation in the declaration of a person as a witch or wizard, and a penalty against the chief or headman encouraging witchcraft.
NMC resolve complaints against Zuria FM and Shine FM

Graphic Online May - 09 - 2023 , 08:59

The National Media Commission (NMC) has advised media houses to dialogue with their audience and stakeholders when issues of professional standards occur.

That, the commission said would help create a congenial atmosphere for peaceful coexistence.

The advise comes after the commission resolved two complaints brought before it for settlement.

The complaints were Alidu Seidu Vs Yussif Abdul Ganiyu and Zuria FM 88.7 in Kumasi, and the Avenor Traditional Council Vs Shine FM in Akatsi.

In a statement signed by the NMC's Deputy Executive Secretary, Alexander Bannerman, the commission explained that in both cases, the parties mutually agreed to allow peace to prevail and to work together for the development of their communities.

In their resolve for peace, they also pledged to use the radio stations in the communities to enhance their co-existence.

The parties said that unity was a good step to mend their sour relationships and to send a signal that they are together to build peace, the statement said.

The Commission has, therefore commended the parties for their exemplary display of magnanimity and leadership qualities within the communities in which they live.
Scale up operations with creative minds - Minister advises Graphic

Delali Sika May - 09 - 2023 , 07:33

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, has advised the management of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to scale up the use of creativity and digitalisation to keep up with the market trend and shift in the paradigm of accessing news.

He said people could now access information through technology-based devices such as smartphones and laptops, and that tapping into technology would increase the possibilities of reaching diverse audiences for improved incomes.

The demand for news has not gone down; in fact, it is on the rise. People always want to read or know what is next. The channel to access it is what has shifted; it is now in the digital space, which is in the palm through devices such as mobile phones.

The question is how do we drive the physical products that we have to fit into the new demand trend? The constraints are real, and I am happy you are aware of it; it is the content that attracts readership and this drives the money, the minister said.

He gave the advice when he visited the premises of GCGL yesterday to deepen relations with the company.

He was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Christina Edmund; the Assistant Director, Richmond Bosompem Ababio; the Executive Assistant Director, Priscilla Naa Deedei Quaye; the Policy Advisor, Samuel Aning, among others.

The minister was received by the Managing Director of GCGL, Ato Afful; the Director, Marketing, Franklin Sowa; the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey; the Director, Finance, Samuel Essel; and the acting Head of Human Resource, Dela Bonsu.

Business mindset

Mr Cudjoe further urged the company to pursue debtors who owed the company large sums of money without fear or favour, adding that the mindset should now be more business-oriented.

Go for your money; if my Chief Director owes you, go for it. You need money for operations. Now the mindset should be that of business. If you fail, you will become a liability. Just do what you have to do, make money, pay for your cost of production, salaries, among others, he added.

Response

Responding to the ministers observation, Mr Afful said the company was already in the digital space but lacked the speed to keep up.

We are there, but the speed is what we have not found yet. People are generating ideas and moving with them with speed. We are also pushing and forcing ourselves to drive that agenda, which would enable us to compete beyond our editorial structure and strength.

Prior to this shift in news channels, one would have to wait for a publication in the Daily Graphic or Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, but now even government communiques are seen in the social media space, and thats the kind of environment we are operating in, he said.

Strong brand

Nonetheless, Mr Afful said things had not been easy.

Gone were the days when the Daily Graphic survived solely on the sale of its papers. The mindset has now changed to an advertised business module because the revenue from the newspaper sales will not be able to take care of the business, he said.

He, however, noted that the company had a strong brand, and when it was able to generate the best of creative ideas and gain digital presence, it would convert into value.
St. Peter's old boy honours former Core Maths teacher

Martin Sarfo Omari May - 09 - 2023 , 19:10

An old boy of the 1997 batch of St Peter's Senior High School at Nkwatia in the Eastern Region, has honoured one of the teachers for his role in his academic pursuit.

The old boy, Perscoba Dr Isaac Okyere Ampofo, a Doctor of Nurse Practice with a focus in family medicine in the United States of America (USA), over the weekend honoured Mr. Frank Nyakutey, popularly known as Aston, for making him appreciate Core Mathematics and thus making it possible for him to be where he is today.

Dr Ampofo, also known as Rakunda, presented a plaque with a citation on it and cash amount of GH10,000 to his former teacher, for taking his time to help him to overcome his challenge in the subject as a General Arts student then.

Making the presentation, Dr Ampofo said during his secondary school days at St Peter's, he had challenges understanding Core Maths as a subject.

He said the role Aston played in making him understand the subject was a major contributing factor that helped him to further his studies at the University of Ghana and subsequently to University of Connecticut, Yale University and Harvard Business School.

He said it was for the critical role Aston played in his life that he has decided to honour him.

He also used the occasion to advise the students to be good ambassadors of the school and to take their studies serious.

In receiving the gifts, Mr Nyakutey was grateful to the 97 batch of old boys and particularly, Dr Ampofo for the honour done to him and thanked his benefactor for still remembering what he did for him some 26 years ago.

On behalf of the management of the school, the school Chaplain, Rev Fr. Jacobson also thanked the 97 year group and Dr. Ampofo for all the support they have been giving the school over the years and specifically for honouring Mr Nyakutey for his contribution to their development and success in life.

Contributions of Perscoba 97 to the school

The Secretary of the 97 year group, Mr. Martin Sarfo Omari (aka Nima) who is also the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Northern Zonal Manager for the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) stated that, the group has over the years renovated and refurbished the staff common room and also donated school jerseys and other sports accessories of the various sporting disciplines to the school.

Some of the 97 old boys who accompanied Dr. Ampofo to the school included Samuel Asamoah (Tiikele), Julius Agboka (Odeneho), Stephen Gyimah (Chopala), Yeboah Rawlings (Tikofy), Maxwell Asante (Waspero), Daniel Ofori (Mamushka), Christopher Amponsah (Toph), Gborgbor Washington and Joshua Owusu (Snr Mafio).
Students Loan Trust Fund to go after defaulters

Emmanuel Bonney May - 09 - 2023 , 06:47

The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) says it will resume publishing the names of beneficiaries who have refused to pay back their loans this month.

It said it had been able to trace a number of borrowers who were in employment but were yet to settle their indebtedness to the Trust fund.

Also, the SLTF has warned it would go ahead and prosecute the culprits once they failed to take steps to honour their obligations.

The Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, Nana Kwaku Agyei Yeboah, gave the hint yesterday during a courtesy call on the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey.

Call

The call was to officially congratulate the Editor on his appointment and also seek the support of the Daily Graphic for its educational and recovery campaign.

Mr Yeboah said the organisation had been working with the Daily Graphic and that it was a continuous process.

We are here to congratulate you and also talk about the SLTF and the things that we are doing. You have been supportive in our educational and recovery drive. This visit also seeks to strengthen the working relationship.

The SLTF is in the process of continuously engaging Ghanaians on the no-guarantor system to expand access to education to the most vulnerable, the SLTF CEO said.

Recovery month

Mr Yeboah explained that the plan to publish the list of defaulters formed part of the activities of the repayment month, May, set aside by the SLTF to educate students on the repayment of their loans.

The SLTF, he indicated, had sought advice from the Attorney-General's Department which had given it the go-ahead with the plan in accordance with the Students Loan Trust Fund Act, 2011, Act 820.

"Our Act empowers us to publish the photos and other details of some of our worst borrowers," he emphasised.

The SLTF CEO further explained that after graduation, the SLTF kept reminding borrowers through text messages, letters and other means on the need to pay back loans they had taken while in school; however many of them had ignored all the follow-up efforts to get them to pay back.

Through its activities during the recovery and repayment month, the SLTF, he said, was hoping to recover about GH50 million, adding that borrowers could go to the bank to pay as well as make payment electronically through mobile money, among other avenues.

Payment plan

Mr Yeboah said there was an opportunity for borrowers to negotiate a payment arrangement with the SLTF, adding that "so if we don't hear from the borrower making any attempt to pay for the period the loan travels, the law mandates us to recover through legal means.

He said the SLTF would start with the publication of 40 names of persons indebted to the Trust fund, adding that the repayment was critical to supporting other students to benefit.

The month of May, he indicated, had been set aside to educate and step up the campaign to let borrowers know that it was their civic responsibility to pay back the loan they took when they were in school.

Sometimes, we need to remind people on how to pay and where to go to make payment, so we use this month to step up our engagements on all the media platforms, both traditional and social media, to talk to Ghanaians about the loan repayment and also to sensitise people about the no-guarantor programme which was rolled out in June last year, he explained.

Graphic there to help

Mr Yartey pledged the support of the Daily Graphic in assisting the SLTF to realise its objectives as it had proved to be an efficient and reliable medium to reach out to the general public.

He said as a national media organisation with extensive reach and wide coverage, it had the space in both the hard copy and the digital space.

It is something we have been doing for over seven decades. It is about getting the overall government agenda achieved, and so we are ready to support you in that regard, Mr Yartey assured.

Procedure for recovery of loan

The SLTF was established in December 2005 under the Trustee Incorporation Act 1962, Act 106.

The objectives of the Trust Fund are to provide financial resources for the sound management of the Trust for the benefit of students and to help promote and facilitate the national ideals enshrined in Article 25 and 38 of the 1992 Constitution.

Under the SLTF Act 820, the procedure for recovering the loans have also been stated to include the following:

26. (1) Where a borrower defaults in repaying the loan for six cumulative months, the Board shall send notice of demand to the borrower to make payment in a manner provided under subsection (2).

(2) A copy of the demand notice shall be sent or delivered to the borrower or the guarantor at their last known place of abode or address and published twice in a state-owned daily newspaper.

(3) If the borrower or the guarantor fails to repay or make satisfactory arrangement to repay the loan in accordance with the demand notice, the Board shall publish the name of the borrower or the guarantor in a state-owned daily newspaper.

(4) The publication shall state the amount owed and demand that the amount owed should be paid within one month after the publication, and that failure to do so is an admission of the debt and it shall be deemed that judgement on the amount in addition to costs of five per cent of the debt has been entered by a Circuit Court against the borrower and guarantor.

(5) The Board shall without any further notice to the borrower or guarantor proceed to execute or enforce the judgement for the recovery of the loan or any balance then outstanding in an appropriate manner.
VRA, NADMO to embark on dam spillage simulation exercise

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse May - 09 - 2023 , 06:40

The Volta River Authority (VRA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), will on Thursday embark on a dam spillage simulation exercise.

Dubbed: Da woho so, the exercise forms part of the VRAs emergency preparedness plan (EPP) for the Akosombo and Kpong dams to enhance the readiness of state agencies to respond to emergencies arising from the release of significant amount of water from the dams.

The exercise will take place at the Asuogyaman, North Tongu and Ada East districts, three of the nine districts most likely to suffer severe damages in an unlikely event of a dam spillage and will involve total evacuation, search and rescue, as well as compulsory and voluntary evacuations.

The all-inclusive exercise will comprise state security agencies, the National Ambulance Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the North Dakota National Guard and the US Embassy who are providing technical support and training.

Significance

At an event ahead of the exercise in Accra yesterday, a Deputy Chief Executive of the VRA, Edward Obeng-Kenzo, said while excessive spillage or dam break was unlikely to happen due to the companys efficient maintenance system, it was still necessary to plan for any eventualities.

He said a dam break was likely to affect more than 300,000 people, adding that it is necessary to prepare for the worst effects of climate change.

Mr Obeng-Kenzo said climate change and its impact were becoming evident in the country and the world with the increased frequency and magnitude of floods which he said the Akosombo and Kpong dams were physically exposed to.

He said the government had developed a national adaptation plan which involved building climate-resilient infrastructure and increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate-related risks.

There is also the installation of several renewable energy projects, including the 50 MW Solar plant at Bui, the 6.5 MW VRA Solar plant at Lawra and the 28 MW VRA Solar plant at Kaleo.

Others are the commencement of the installation of about 35 new mini grids and the implementation of the nation's nuclear power programme, the primary source of baseload power by 2035, the deputy CEO said.

Early detection

The Director-General of NADMO, Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, said disasters could be prevented through early warning systems such as simulation exercises and building of efficient response systems.

He, therefore, commended the VRA for adhering to the constitution by establishing an emergency preparedness and response plans in accordance with Law 216 (Act 927) which obliges all agencies to simulate their plans jointly with NADMO.

Continued exercises of this nature will improve the preparedness and resilience of our local communities.

Gaps in disaster preparedness and response will also be identified and the capacity of response agencies, including NADMO, to manage and reduce disaster risk will be increased, Nana Prempeh added.
WFP partners local manufacturers to produce healthy foods

Emelia Ennin Abbey May - 09 - 2023 , 06:49

The World Food Programme (WFP) is collaborating with local manufacturers to produce safe and healthy foods for beneficiaries of its programmes.

The initiative includes the production, processing and distribution of foods, and forms part of WFPs local sourcing policy to ensure food products procured for vulnerable beneficiaries in countries in Africa hit by conflict, climate change and socio economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were safe and also met quality standards.

Processors of foods such as grains, cereals, fortified oils, cereal blends and peanut butter would receive support under the initiative.

At a five-day Africa food safety and quality retreat in Accra yesterday, the Country Director of WFP - Ghana, Barbara Tulu Clemens, said her outfit would ensure that more than half of essential nutritious food products required for their programmes were procured within the continent.

Participants include food safety and quality experts from across Africa and beyond who are discussing how to promote local sourcing of safe and healthy food products in countries the programme operates in to safeguard lives.

Other topics are food safety and quality in Africa - aflatoxin control and management strategy, impact of climate change and security issues.

They will also discuss the importance of food standards in regulating food safety in developing countries where regulatory frameworks were still limited.

Food producers

Ms Clemens said WFP was supporting two industrial food processors in the country to set up new food processing facilities, while developing global level food safety and quality management systems.

One of the companies already exports life-saving nutritious food to some vulnerable countries such as Afghanistan while the other company was also involved in the production of safe, quality and nutritious foods for local consumption.

In collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ms Clemens said three food processing facilities would also be commissioned soon to produce nutritious cereal blends and other creative local foods to meet the nutritious needs of local communities.

She said there were also plans to facilitate the establishment of multi-user agro-processing firms for various foods under the WFP country strategic plan which would be implemented between 2024 and 2028.

Relevance

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Roderick Kwabena Daddey-Adjei, said food and nutrition were key to a decent life and vibrant community, including meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said the WFP was central in helping Africa achieve food security in the face of economic hardships resulting from conflicts, natural disasters and climate change.

According to him, the WFP was undertaking a number of interventions, including supporting the national school feeding programme.

As part of efforts to ensure food safety, he said the authority had developed a food safety policy and a progressive licence scheme which was supporting local industries to produce food products in hygienic conditions.

This will make it easier for the local companies to attract the WFP local sourcing support.

He, therefore, urged local companies to take advantage of the schemes to receive technical support to meet the required standards and prevailing food safety requirements.

The Food Safety Quality Chief of the WFP, Virginia Siebenrok, also emphasised the significance of the meeting to discuss challenges, exchange knowledge, align visions and standardise technical support and operational interventions.
Anomalies in voters register: NDC addresses Duffuors concerns

Political Desk Report Politics May - 09 - 2023 , 07:09

The head of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Elections Commission, Kakra Essamuah, said concerns raised about the accuracy of the partys voter data ahead of Saturdays flag bearer and parliamentary primaries were being addressed to ensure fairness to all involved.

Subsequenlty, he said, a press conference has been scheduled for Thursday to communiacte officially to the public and to allay any possible fear.

At the time of filing this story yesterday, the partys Elections Commission had scheduled a meeting with all representatives of the various contestants to agree on the modalities and to address any perceived anomaly.

It followed doubts raised by team Kwabena Duffuor about the integrity of the partys electoral process ahead of Saturdays primaries, expressing worry about the accuracy of the voter data.

Contestants

Dr. Duffuor will face-off with former President, John Dramani Mahama, and one-time Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, on Saturday in the flagbearaship.

Following the concerns raised, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor's campaign team has requested that the relevant stakeholders, including key actors within the party, engage in a roundtable to address the issues promptly.

Statement

The team emphasises the importance of resolving these matters to ensure a transparent and fair election to avoid any potential pitfalls that may have severe consequences, a statement issued by the campaign team said.

The campaign team has raised concerns over what it perceives as anomalies in the voter register provided by the NDC Electoral Commission for next Saturdays presidential and parliamentary primaries.

The team called for the issue to be addressed to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.

The statement signed and issued by a member of Dr Duffuor' s campaign team, Kofi B. Kukubor, said the concerns were first expressed in a letter dated April 17, 2023, when the campaign team requested access to the voters register, which serves as the basis for determining the eligibility of voters in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries.

Analysis

The statement added that following the said concerns, on May 2, 2023, a meeting was held at the NDC party headquarters, during which some information regarding the voters register was disclosed to Dr Kwabena Duffuors team.

However, upon conducting a preliminary analysis of the information provided, the campaign team discovered what they deemed to be excessive anomalies within the register.
Kwabena Duffuor calls for postponement of NDC primaries over discrepancies in voter register

GraphicOnline Politics May - 09 - 2023 , 06:58

Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised concerns about discrepancies in the party's voter register ahead of the presidential and parliamentary primaries scheduled for May 13, 2023.

Dr. Duffuor has called on the National Executive of the NDC to postpone the elections in order to ensure a fair and accurate process. Dr. Duffuor is contesting former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive, Kojo Bonsu and former President John Dramani Mahama at the primary.

In a letter to the General Secretary of the NDC, Duffuor's campaign team highlighted the incomplete and inaccurate delegates register and urged for sufficient time to clean the register to ensure a transparent election.

"The incomplete and inaccurate Voters register has a high potential of deliberately causing an irreparable damage to the bright chances of Candidate Dr. Kwabena Duffuor - which we are unable to countenance," the letter reads.

Considering the findings, Team Duffuor is demanding the following;

1. Postponement of the May 13th Presidential primaries.

2. Stakeholders meeting to establish an agreeable roadmap that will guarantee the integrity of the Voters Register.

3. Clean the Voters Register within an agreeable timeframe to ensure free and fair elections.

4. To save the image of the NDC so that the party can have the credible voice to speak on national elections matters when the need arises.
Spio-Garbrah roots for Mahama's in in NDC presidential primary

Samuel Duodu Politics May - 09 - 2023 , 09:15

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed to delegates to vote massively for the former President John Dramani Mahama to brighten the chances of the party winning back power.

Mr Spio-Garbrah addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday said Mr Mahama remained the only tried and tested aspirant among the three aspirants - Dr Kwabena Duffuor and Kojo Bonsu.

His reason is that, Mr Mahama is the one who can "rescue" the country from the current economic challenges and reposition Ghana and make it attractive again.

Spio-Garbrah, himself a former flagbearer aspirant ahead of the 2020 elections who was defeated by Mr Mahama said his endorsement is hinging on a research conducted by his team which predicts Mahama to win by 80 per cent.

While rooting for Mahama, Mr Spio-Gabrah commended his two contenders, Dr Duffuor and Mr Bonsu for the bold attempt to contest the former president, expressing the hope that they will avail themselves to work with Mr Mahama after Saturday's internal elections.

He also appealed to delegates to vote for his son, Dr Kobina Sebastian Ekwow Spio-Garbrah who is standing as a parliamentary candidate for the Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region.
Last year Oppo pulled its phones from Germany due to a legal spat with Nokia. This March a report came out, claiming that Oppo (and its sibling OnePlus) will leave several key markets: France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK. Both Oppo and OnePlus refuted that report, but there may still be trouble on the horizon.

Frandroid interviewed several employees in France to find out whats happening. One worked for Atmospheres, a contractor for Oppo that handles phone sales. According to that person, the service contract with Oppo ends on June 30.

A former Oppo sales manager said that employees were told that the new Find X and Reno series will not be released in France. The Find N2 Flip was originally going to be available in retail stores, but plans changed and the phone is available online only. Sales personnel was reportedly told to take down Oppo displays and to stop sales even before the June 30 deadline.

Oppo claimed that it will remain active in France after June 30. However, its not clear whether its phones will remain available  in Germany Oppo delisted all phones from its local site, while things like headphones and wearables continued to be sold (those seem to be gone now too).

Also, Oppo reassures current owners that it will continue providing support and after-sales services for its phones, including receiving software updates. The Oppo France site is still selling phones.

Source (in French)
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Panelists talk missile defense, Guam security ahead of possible 'Taiwan Crisis'

Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A vintage fallout shelter sign can be found on the southwest corner of the Academy of Our Lady Guams auditorium in Hagatna on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view into Andersen Air Force Base from atop a hillside in Yigo on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view into Andersen Air Force Base from atop a hillside in Yigo on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view of Guams tourism hub, Tumon Bay, on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view of Guams tourism hub, Tumon Bay, on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view of Guams tourism hub, Tumon Bay, on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view of Guams tourism hub, Tumon Bay, on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view of Guams tourism hub, Tumon Bay, on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A vintage fallout shelter sign can be found on the southwest corner of the Academy of Our Lady Guams auditorium in Hagatna on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN Motorists depart from one of two gated entrances of Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN Motorists approach the armed sentries posted at one of two gated entrances into Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view into Andersen Air Force Base looking down Route 15 from atop a hillside in Yigo on May 9, 2023. Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A view into Andersen Air Force Base from atop a hillside in Yigo on May 9, 2023.

A souped-up missile defense system is coming to Guam, but what more needs to be done to protect the islands civilians should a U.S.-China conflict erupt?

That was some of the talk among military officials, academics and local politicians who sat down over the weekend to talk about the consequences for Guam should a Taiwan Crisis erupt. Discussion was all part of a forum hosted by the University of Guam Master of Public Administration class.

Guam is often lined up as a target of Chinese missiles in war game simulations, and minds in the national security community have dated the possibility of a U.S.-China conflict as early as 2026 or 2027, the PDN has reported.

Whether China does intend to threaten the region and how to best deal with the rising power are questions for civilian political leadership in the U.S., Joint Region Marianas Capt. Michael Smith told a crowd of UOG students.

I live in the world of capability, Smith said, I detect what I need to defend against.

And that capability is what a newly anticipated 360-degree missile defense system is meant to shield against  a variety of missile threats, from old-school ballistics to newly developed hypersonic weapons, according to Smith, we are going to counter the capability of the Peoples Republic of China to hurt U.S. citizens.

More details about the scope of the missile system, its footprint on the island, and who will be operating it will become apparent as a series of public hearings in June open, Smith said. Defense of the island will require participation and understanding from leaders in the civilian sector.

With the buildup progressing, the system and the units meant to operate them will be coming to Guam, and theyre not going anywhere, he said.

The threat is real

Theres no doubt that a strike on Guam is a possibility, said Leland Bettis with local think-tank Pacific Center for Island Sustainability. Moves to spread military infrastructure throughout the region, in the event that Andersen Air Force Base is crippled, were evidence of that, he said.

The threat is real.

But Bettis doesnt believe enough is being done to protect the island.

Were talking about the defense of Guam, the protection of Guamits not happening people. Where are the shelters? I havent heard one proposal for a shelter yet, Bettis said, adding that the supply of food is another unaddressed issue should war cut the island off from supplies.

And if the fate of the island is hinged on the outcome of competition between the U.S. and China, more than just military solutions are needed, Bettis said, missile defense is not going to get us there.

Wheres the investment in the security of our civilian community? said Sen. Chris Barnett, chair of the Legislatures Public Safety Committee.

Local public safety agencies are already facing severe staffing shortage, Barnett said, and could not be expected to lead the charge on emergency response in the event of a war. Congress has raised doubts about the efficacy of U.S. missile defense systems, he said, and more investment into local security should be coming from the federal government, including the creation of bomb shelters.

Community members also dont have any knowledge of what to do, should war break out, according to Barnett. During the Cold War, residents had practiced stop, duck and cover exercises amid the looming threat of Nuclear war with Russia.

I think thats, unfortunately, something we have to start considering instituting in the schools and government offices, he said.

Barnet believes a posture of preparedness for war may be a requirement for people choosing to stay on Guam.

Both Bettis and Barnett raised the point that the communitys exposure to danger was a consequence of the military offensive capability on the island.

The tip of the spear ... thats the part that gets stabbed into the enemy, the senator said.

Big stick

While Guam is the start of the defense of the U.S. mainland, Guam should also be prepared for offensive measures, as a means of deterrence, according to Del. Jim Moylan. Increased defensive and offensive capabilities for forces on Guam would make it less likely for China to factor Guam into any possible plan of attack, he said.

The stronger you make the island the less likely somebody dumb will try to mess with you. Thats the old idea.

Moylan said that more needs to be invested into the islands ability to fend off Chinese attacks, and that Guam should be a bigger focus of the Biden administration.

The Whitehouse had recently shortchanged funding for missile defense of the island by about $147 million, Moylan said, and had not made a stand on the appearance of the Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group operating hundreds of miles off the shores of Guam.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he is pushing for more support for the island and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Response plan

In the event of an imminent missile attack, local buildings which are built to withstand winds over 175 mile-per-hour winds will be the first shelter for members of the community, Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui, the governors special assistant for homeland security, said in a pre-recorded video statement. Guam has some of the highest building codes in the nation.

GovGuam does maintain a comprehensive emergency management plan, which includes plans to deal with hazards that are manmade, Aguigui said. However, the plan remains confidential.

The Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense works closely with the Department of Defense to coordinate preparations for any threats, Aguigui said. She said the local office is confident in the ability of DoD to respond to any threat.

An imminent nuclear attack may leave the community just minutes to respond, the major general said.

Homeland Security maintains a webpage detailing how residents should respond to a nuclear explosion and other attacks: https://bit.ly/41gChOz.

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Being rooted in the islands has meant Glen Peterson has answered the call of the Pacific no matter how far his career takes him.

The 51-year-old U.S. Secret Service agent has bounced between the mainland and the islands so often, he should be titanium level with United Airlines.

For now, he and his family are in Seattle, where he recently took a position as special agent in charge of Secret Service operations over several states including Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

A 1989 George Washington High School graduate, Peterson is the middle child of Joan and Larry Peterson of Tamuning. Before marrying his mom, his dad had purchased a general contracting company, Choi Engineering, from its Korean owner and worked on construction projects throughout Micronesia.

He would have a lot of projects in Palau and Guam, and my mom was a flight attendant for Air Mike and thats how my parents met, he said, referring to the former Continental Airlines regional service.

They raised their kids on Guam, but he would spend summers with his moms relatives in Palau, and a sense of community and family has stayed with me my whole life.

Need to go get an education

But the path wasnt so clear after graduating from GW. He tried a couple of semesters of college in Arizona, but decided college wasnt for him, so he came home and worked for his dad.

Working construction is where I realized that I need to go get an education. Seeing them digging the hole, digging the ditch and working long hours, I thought, maybe give it another chance, go back to college. So I actually went to college when I was 21 years old.

That decision seemed to be the turning point in his life, where he began his transformation from a local boy seeking his lifes purpose to a man on a mission.

He ended up earning a bachelors in travel industry management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and worked in management positions for the Outrigger Hospitality Group while finishing his MBA at Hawaii Pacific University in 2000.

But too bad for the industry, hospitality wasnt where his heart was. My true passion was in law enforcement.  I think all my life I wanted to get into either the military or law enforcement just to give back, you know. Again, my mom, my grandparents were immigrants from Palau, you know, a small little island.

They came to the U.S. because theyre looking for better opportunities for their family. And, to me, theres a lot to say about service to a country thats given so much to me and my family, for me to be able to give back.

He trained with the Honolulu Police Department before being recruited by a joint police and fire department in California.

The City of Sunnyvale is one of the few departments in the country where youre police, fire and EMT, and so thats why they paid so well. They actually came to Hawaii and actively recruited a lot of police officers and firefighters.

The job was just a steppingstone to his ultimate goal, however.

So when I entered into my law enforcement career, my dream was to become a federal agent. I applied to the FBI, and the Secret Service, so I did a little bit more research and what really impressed me about the Secret Service was their dual mission of investigations and protection.

It was in the Secret Service that his career steadily took off over the course of the next two decades. Promotion after promotion, he would bounce back and forth between the mainland, Guam and Hawaii.

Fulfilling dream after dream So I started April 8, 2002. I was sworn in as a special agent in the Honolulu field. At the time, I was a police officer-firefighter in Northern California, and when I got the call, they (told) me I could either start in our San Jose office or start in Honolulu, which is where I originally applied, and it took me to two seconds to decide, you know? Im an island boy, Id rather go back to Hawaii.

So I took my first assignment in Honolulu and then took a transfer to our Los Angeles field office in a smaller office out in Riverside County, Riverside, California, and I spent about five years out there.

And then my other dream was  when I was in the police department, to get into our SWAT team. We have a specialized unit in the Secret Service called the Counter Assault Team  theres very rigorous training and a trial process for that. And I was fortunate enough to actually make it onto the unit.

And so they transferred me, because that unit is based in Washington D.C., and I worked under President Bush at the time and then we transitioned over to President Obama. About the end of my time there, it was time for me to find another place in the Secret Service and the opportunity came up in Guam to go back home. So I jumped on that opportunity.

Career takes off

I was able to go back, I spent about five years in Guam conducting criminal investigations and doing our protective mission and I absolutely enjoyed it. It was great to get back and catch up with old friends and family, and it was really nice to go back home for those five years. But, you know, I looked at Hawaii as kind of my second home.

So after my five-year tour in Guam, I put in a transfer back to Honolulu, which I got and so I was in Honolulu about a year, maybe it was two years and then I started looking into the promotion process. And so I eventually got promoted, and I got my first supervisory agent position in Los Angeles. So I went back to Los Angeles, I was supervisory agent there for a couple years.

And another opportunity came up where I could run my own office and I became the resident agent in charge for our Albuquerque, New Mexico, office. So I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a couple of years, where I was in charge of all Secret Service operations for the state of New Mexico. It was a great experience, I had a wonderful time in New Mexico. But, you know, my heart always yearned to go back to the islands.

So a supervisory position came open back in Honolulu, Hawaii, so I came back. (I was) here a year and of course, more opportunities came up (and) I was selected for our Senior Executive Services program.

And now the view has opened up for me as far as leadership roles in the Secret Service to try to give back to an agency that has given me so much, you know, and given me all these experiences. And so I recently got selected to move to run the Seattle field office of the Secret Service.

Peterson oversees all operations for Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and parts of Idaho and Montana.

Make them proud

Now, its kind of crazy to think of a kid from Guam becoming a Secret Service agent, making it onto its elite tactical force, and leading hundreds of agents in a regional office in the Pacific Northwest, dont you think?

Glen Peterson attributes it all to his upbringing.

So I think its the way we were raised on the islands. Its all about hard work, determination, you know, showing respect. I think that really followed me through my career.

You know, my mom and my grandparents came from the small country of Palau, came to Guam, which is the U.S., you know, for better opportunities for us and I saw that, right? I need to I always go to try to make them proud.

And I think thats what us as Pacific Islanders, I think thats one of the unique traits we have, is were always looking to make our family proud, you know, trying to impress our parents. I didnt want to, with all the opportunities they gave me, I didnt want to disappoint them. And I think that was kind of the driving force of where I am today.

Hes just getting started in this new job, and so hes not looking  yet  beyond the next couple of years.

Right now Id love to stay in the western part of the United States or possibly even come back to the islands. Thats my dream.

But again, I have to remember that this is not only a service to me, but a service to the country.  Im already eligible to retire, but I think I still got some fuel in me to continue moving forward. But yeah, Ill take the opportunities as they come.

Dont think you cant do it

For youths on Guam who are looking to follow in his footsteps, he has a few words of advice.

So when I was in Guam for five years, one of my favorite things to do was to go to the career fairs, speaking from the elementary schools all the way to the high schools and UOG.

I always told them, never let anybody tell you, you cant do that. I mean, all the times Ive heard that, I think that motivated me more to prove them wrong. And, you know, as long as youre willing to leave the island ... Ive seen the world, Ive been to countries Ive never thought (Id go) to, Ive seen all 50 states. So if thats the sense of adventure that youre looking for, dont think that you cant do it because I obviously could do it.
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The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center was honored with the 2023 Hustisia Award on Tuesday by the Judiciary of Guam.

The award is given annually since 2008 in May, recognized as law month, to an organization or individual for making an outstanding contribution to the justice system and rule, and role of law on island.

Past recipients include the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Retired Judge Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson, Magistrate Judge Joaquin V.E. Manibusan Jr., Ericas House, the Public Defenders Service Corp. and former Chief Justice Peter C. Siguenza Jr.

There were seven nominees for the Hustisia Award this year.

In many ways the work of justice and mental health are deeply intertwined. Our judicial system sees a disproportionate number of individuals in Guam battling substance misuse, mental health disorders or a combination of the two, said Chief Justice Robert J. Torres Jr.

He said the task of reintegrating these individuals back into society as stable, productive and law-abiding citizens would not be possible without the work of the center.

Torres Jr. highlighted that in 2008 the center and judiciary established the mental health court to take these cases.

I want to join the judiciary in recognizing GBHWC for 40 years of inspiring public service, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.

She said under Director Therese Arriola and her staff the center found the funds to establish a much-needed detox unit to help residents recovering from drug use.

In response to a labor shortage, Leon Guerrero said the center created an internship program to have psychologists from the states do their residency in Guam.

A similar partnership with the University of New Mexico brought psychiatrists to the island.

Arriola expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the award and recognition for all the hard work her staff put into their job every day.
The sanitary conditions at Oceanview Middle School are getting worse, according to the latest public health inspection, which resulted in the Hagat school keeping its D sanitation rating, with 61 demerits.

The school last September failed an initial sanitary inspection, with 56 demerits, and also a November follow-up inspection, with 45 demerits.

Oceanview has been allowed to operate, despite the low sanitation scores, because Guam law at the time gave schools a grace period, until July 2024, to comply with updated sanitation requirements.

But the Legislature last month eliminated that grace period and passed a law that requires all 41 public school campuses to pass a sanitary inspection before the beginning of next school year.

According to Public Health, the sanitary permit now must be revoked at any school campus which has 41 or more total demerits. The agency on April 28 issued a written notice, stating the governments rules and regulations prohibit Public Health from approving a variance request for any sanitation violations.

Two other public schools  Simon Sanchez High School and Southern High School  also are operating with D sanitation ratings.

The biggest violations during the most recent inspection at Oceanview, the week of April 10, were related to: excessive temperature and humidity in restrooms and locker rooms; broken and leaking air conditioners; uncovered exhaust fans; inadequate lighting; fountains and sinks which are leaking or draining water directly to the ground; no appropriate hand soap or paper towels at hand sinks, some of which are stained; too few toilet facilities for students; and rat droppings and cockroach egg casings in several rooms.

Some of the minor violations, worth one demerit each, were related to torn and stained carpets and floors, dust and debris, peeling paint and improper trash receptacles.

According to the inspection report, three previous violations had been corrected and the school was in the process of addressing 14 other violations.

But unresolved and new violations noted by the seven public health inspectors added up to 61 demerits. This school must pass a follow-up inspection prior to the issuance/renewal of its sanitary permit, the report states.

School Principal Duane Mantanona refused to sign the inspection report, the report states.

Inspectors also told Oceanview school officials to stop allowing students to sell pre-packaged food and drinks until the student clubs obtain a sanitary permit.

Public Health on April 28 stated its unlikely all schools can be inspected before the beginning of the year because of limited resources at the health agency.

It is expected that due to the aging school facilities on Guam, many of the schools may potentially fail the inspections, Public Health stated, noting it does not know how many schools might fail.
Guam Fire Department units responded to a reported structure fire at Lindas Diner in Hagatna at 3:48 a.m. May 9, 2023, according to department spokesman firefighter Nick Garrido.
The Guam Visitors Bureau was one of 43 different countries that participated in the 38th Seoul International Travel Fair held at COEX from May 4 to 7, according to a press release from GVB.

Approximately 55,000 people attended the fair during the 4-day period, enjoying a variety of attractions at the Guam pavilion, including cultural performances by local CHamoru group Guma Taotao Tano, photo opportunities with Kiko and Kika the Guam Koko bird mascots and interactive social media events.

The Guam pavilion also had a reservation feature that allowed visitors to purchase Guam travel products and enter to win round-trip tickets to Guam through a stamp program. In total, 133 Guam packages were sold at the travel fair.

The Guam delegation was joined by the following GVB members  Baldyga Group, Crowne Plaza Resort Guam, Core Tech (Bayview Hotel Guam, Dusit Beach Resort Guam, Dusit Thani Resort Guam), Guam Travel & Tourism Association (Fish Eye Marine Park, Guam Ocean Park, Hertz Rent A Car, Guam Plaza Resort, Guam Premier Outlet, Valley of the Latte), Hoshino Resort Risonare Guam, PHR (Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, Hotel Nikko Guam, The Tsubaki Tower, Righa Royal Laguna Guam Resort) and Skydive Guam.

Guam participates in the fair every year to engage directly with consumers in Korea and to show that we are fully prepared with our Guam partners for a rapid recovery of the Korea market. As overseas travel gradually increases, I hope that Koreans will choose to visit Guam to experience the warmth of the CHamoru people and the charm of our island, said GVB Director of Global Marketing Nadine Leon Guerrero.

Among the 284 companies, organizations and DMOs at the Seoul fair, GVB was able to win the Best Parade Award and Best Booth Contents Award for Guam.

GVB forges new partnership with Jeju

As part of the South Korea mission, GVB signed a memorandum of understanding with Jeju Tourism Organization to pave the way for a more sustainable tourism industry in the South Korea market. Jeju Tourism Organization is a government-invested corporation that was established in 2008 to promote Jeju Island as a competitive destination in both domestic and global tourism markets.

The signing of the MOU took place at Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Korea on Thursday, May 4. The GVB delegation was led by Korea Marketing Committee Chairman Ho Sang Eun and members of Jeju Tourism Organization were led by President & CEO Eun Sook Koh.

Under this MOU, both organizations plan to foster strategic partnerships and facilitate cooperative mechanisms for the promotion of Guam and Jeju. Future marketing projects will focus on ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) campaigns as well as content production for sustainable tourism that highlights the safety of both destinations.

As we continue with our tourism recovery efforts, GVBs mission in South Korea is to expand our source markets and to develop our resources, said GVB Korea Marketing Committee Chairman Eun, Ho Sang. In this regard, we are very excited to build the bridge with Jeju Tourism Organization, which will lead us to active engagement in tourism, culture, and business. We look forward to solidifying our partnership with Jeju and seeking mutual prosperity by working together.
The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority held opening ceremonies on May 8, 2023 to officially commence National Hospital Week. Front row from left: Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. Back row from left: Jennifer Cruz, Senior Vice-President, Chief Nursing Officer (GRMC); Eric Plinske, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development (GRMC); Belle Rada, Assistant Administrator, Professional Support Services (GMHA); Charlotte Huntsman, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources & Organizational Development (GRMC); Dr. Joleen Aguon, MD, Associate Administrator of Medical Services (GMHA); Alan Funtanilla, CEO and President (GRMC); Lillian Posadas, Hospital Administrator/CEO (GMHA); Captain David Barrows, MD, Commanding Officer (USNH); William Kando, Associate Administrator, Operations (GMHA); Dr. Dustin B. Prins, MD, Associate Administrator of Clinical Services (GMHA); Christine Tuquero, Assistant Administrator, Nursing Services (GMHA); and Bernie Lobaton, Vice President, Support Services (GRMC).
Relief for ratepayers and small businesses were both on the table for lawmakers as session resumed Tuesday, but theres no consensus yet on whether theres enough cash on hand to fund both initiatives.

Bill 75 would pump $15 million into another round of the Local Employers Assistance Program, while Bill 83 would extend the $100-a-month power rebate program through to September at a cost of roughly $26 million.

But GovGuam came into fiscal year 2023 with a balanced budget. That means any extra spending authorized by senators has had to come from tax money thats come in over what was expected.

Official reports show that, after setting aside money for pay raises and school repairs, GovGuam collected $10.5 million more than expected as of the end of March. Director of Administration Ed Birn said April has brought in $8 million more in excess, though thats subject to change, with the final report from the Bureau of Budget Management and Research due on the 20th.

That $18 million pot is still short of the $41 million thats needed, but the devil is in the details.

Bill 83 has been revised to split up power credit funding by taking $10.5 million from the current fiscal years excess revenue, and $15.5 million from last fiscal year. The government reported $105 million worth of excess revenue in fiscal 2022but more than half of that has been obligated and the surplus is still unaudited.

Bill 75, meanwhile, would set aside money for the LEAP program as soon as such funds become available. Administration Director Birn said its the first time hes seen legislation that aims to appropriate tax dollars worded that way.

Senators hadnt sorted things out by the time they recessed around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Small business issues

Funding for small businesses was the first item entertained by lawmakers, though several senators took issue with the measure as introduced.

Speaker Therese Terlaje, main sponsor of the power credit legislation, said funding the LEAP would stall out money for ratepayers.

Thats really the dilemma that we are all in and, I believe you are all in as well. And I dont think anyone, not even the governor, wants to see the people not get their power credit, she said.

Sen. Chris Barnett noted that some of the businesses that got pandemic-related relief from LEAP included game rooms, luxury goods stores and strip clubs.

If it comes down to giving the businesses the relief, or giving the people of Guam the relief under ever-rising power bills that I would just be more comfortable addressing the needs of the general public, he said.

Sen. Chris Duenas was one of several senators to suggest that Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero use some of the remaining federal American Rescue Plan dollars in her control to fund the LEAP. The governor has committed $5 million for a LEAP extension, but Duenas said he would prefer that she put up either $15 million or $20 million instead.

I think this is unfortunate and not what we should be doing to put these programs against each other, Duenas said.

About $239.6 million of ARP remained as of the latest report, but Birn said that the full amount has been obligated. Pulling more money from ARP would result in another program becoming unfunded.

Budget chair Sen. Joe San Agustin, who authored the LEAP legislation, objected to concerns from other lawmakers.

I dont see what the reason is to kind of hold this back, he said.

San Agustin noted that, so far, GovGuam on average has collected $10 million in excess revenue for each month of the fiscal year. It was expected to bring in another $5 million minimum in excess for the remaining five months, he said, a statement that Birn agreed with.

If we do the simple math  it makes $25 (million). Plus the $18 (million) today makes enough to cover both bills, San Agustin.

Other lawmakers, including Sen. Telo Taitague, were not as confident in the governments ability to bring in more money. Taitague noted GovGuams special funds were short about $8 million.
Tina Sablan is a former elected representative in the Northern Marianas Legislature, and a member of the Friends of the Mariana Trench and the National Ocean Protection Coalition; her participation in the AtB for All meetings was supported by Green Latinos. Angelo Villagomez lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the Center for American Progress. Raimundo Espinoza is the founder and executive director of Conservacion ConCiencia.




Haiti - Crisis : UN Security Council Statement





Monday, May 8, 2023, the members of the Security Council expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. They condemned in the strongest terms the increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which undermine the peace, stability and security of Haiti and the region, including kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, homicides, extrajudicial killings and recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal networks. They called on the perpetrators of these abhorrent acts to be brought to justice and emphasized the Councils role in placing sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of Haiti, in accordance with resolution 2653 (2023). They took note of the report of the Secretary-General (document S/2023/274) dated 14 April, in which he reiterates the request for enhanced assistance to support the Haitian National Polices efforts to combat high levels of gang violence and re-establish security.



They stressed the importance of restoring efficient judicial institutions in order to strengthen the fight against impunity. They also reiterated the need for meaningful progress into the investigation of the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise.



The members of the Security Council noted with grave concern the illicit trafficking flows of firearms and ammunition that enable gangs and other criminal networks to fuel violence in Haiti. They reiterated the urgent need to prohibit the transfer of arms and related materiel of all types to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion.



The members of the Security Council underscored the necessity for all actors to ensure immediate, safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to permit the equitable delivery of humanitarian assistance to all people in need. They also reiterated the need for the full protection, safety and security of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel and their assets. They condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure, including those involving health and education facilities, and called for an immediate cessation of all forms of violence throughout the country and for the safety of the population. They emphasized the urgent need to address the loss of livelihoods, food security and nutrition, health security, displacement of residents and access to social infrastructure.



The members of the Security Council, mindful of the need for security support, reaffirmed their call to all political actors to engage constructively in meaningful negotiations to allow the holding of inclusive, free and fair legislative and presidential elections, as soon necessary conditions are met. They noted the ongoing political process and called for continued progress in the path to restoring the countrys democratic institutions and encouraged efforts to ensure a wider participation in the political process. They emphasized the need to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and the importance of including youth, persons with disabilities and civil society in Haitis political processes.



The members of the Security Council reiterated their continued solidarity with the people of Haiti. They expressed their support for the work done by BINUH and the United Nations country team towards a better future for Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Gonaives : The Government Commissioner laid off

Monday, May 8, Serard Gasius, the Commissioner of the Government of Gonaives was laid off for having freed a bandit. He is replaced by Moise Deristin.



The population kills several members of the "Kraze Barye" gang

On Sunday and Monday May 8, several members of Vitelhomme's "Kraze Barye" gang were killed in Bellevue-la-Montagne (commune of Petion-Ville) as part of the popular justice movement "Bwa Kale" against armed bandits.



4 new armored vehicles delivered to the PNH

Monday, May 8, a US Air Force plane delivered 4 new Canadian INKA armored vehicles to the National Police (PNH) on the tarmac of the International Airport.



The BRH imports US$40 million from the USA

The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) imported approximately US$40 million from the United States Federal Reserve to solve the shortage of greenbacks in the local market. A move that has led to a slight fall in the exchange rate in recent days, explained economist Enomy Germain.



Did you know ?

The overall conviction rate in the Haitian justice system is 3%, with only one conviction in a corruption case, in the last 15 years.



Diaspora: Tribute to Excellence

In the strategy to further highlight compatriots who excel in the Haitian community of Atlanta, the Consul General of Haiti in Atlanta, Mrs. Roudelyne Nogar Jean, had a fruitful meeting with Mrs. Edvige Jean-Francois, Executive Director of the Center of African and Diaspora Studies at Georgia State University. Ms. Jean-Francois has also worked at major news organizations, including CNN, CNNI and Associated Press Television News (APTN) as a White House producer. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2019/04/28 | Source

LG Household and Health Care on Thursday said it acquired an American cosmetics company to expand its foothold in the U.S.

Advertisement

LG signed a deal to buy 100 percent stakes of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management and beauty company New Avon for US$125 million.

New Avon is a privately held company of global beauty giant Avon Products, which has been in business for over 130 years.

With the acquisition of New Avon, which has sales networks in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S and earned total revenue of W700 billion last year, LG aims to explore new market opportunities after its success in China (US$1=W1,163).

"The U.S. is the world's largest market for beauty products, worth about W50 trillion a year", said an LG spokesman.

LG posted record sales of W1.87 trillion in the first quarter of this year, thanks to the huge success of its high-end cosmetics brands -- Whoo, Su:m and OHUI. Combined sales of these three brands reached W798.9 trillion, up 30.7 percent from the same period of last year.

"Overseas sales increased by 35 percent compared to a year ago. Our marketing strategy to focus on high-end products in China, instead of cheaper brands, worked well", the spokesman said.
Saturday, May 20, promises to be a busy day in the High Country with a full calendar of events for local fundraisers and family fun.

None, however, will be more exciting for the younger generation, especially, than the 19thannual Emergency Fest to be held on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone.

For one big day, the Peacock parking lot, known to many as the former Raley Lot on Rivers Street, will be transformed into an educational, but fun festival atmosphere as the Watauga County Firefighters Association, area emergency services organizations, New River Tire and others team up to sponsor this event.

For three full hours  from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., youngsters and their young-at-heart parents, grandparents and/or other adult chaperones, are invited to attend this free event to meet with local emergency service heroes and to learn all about what they do, how they do it and how emergency situations can be prevented.

On display at Emergency Fest will be an impressive line-up of local fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, rescue vehicles, forestry vehicles and helicopters. Also present will be representatives of the Watauga chapter of the American Red Cross, New River Light & Power Company, and other related organizations.

According to the sponsors, participants will have the opportunity to learn the proper use of fire extinguishers and how to use a fire hose; kids will be able to sit inside a helicopter, learn about (child) car seat safety, take bike safety course and more.

Several area agencies will also be demonstrating vehicle extrication, which we all know is necessary during many motor vehicle accidents and must be accomplished with great precision and skill.

Local Scout Troops will be collecting old American Flags at the bike safety course for a flag retirement ceremony, which will be conducted at a later date. Make sure to bring older, worn flags from home, your organization or business, for proper disposal as you prepare to raise your new flag for the summer.

Kids will also have a chance to compete in a scavenger hunt, learning about all the areas emergency services, while winning prizes. There will also be face painting and bounce houses available for tons of fun, as well as popcorn and cotton candy available, with donations going toward the Firefighters Burned Children Fund.

A spokesperson for the host groups said, We are excited to offer this fun learning event for the youth of Watauga County. We hope to see you there.

Free parking will be available in ASU parking decks on Rivers Street and Stadium Heights Drive.

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Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday reported that the Mongolian nurse, Anudari Boldbaatar , had to fight for a residence permit and face accusations of forgery essentially because the agency was incapable of interpreting the account statements she had provided as part of her application.

THE FINNISH IMMIGRATION SERVICE (Migri) has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the permit application of a foreign-born nurse.

Boldbaatar, the newspaper wrote, completed a nursing degree in Helsinki in May 2020, in the midst of the first wave of coronavirus infections in Finland. After working a couple of months in the internal medicine ward of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), she volunteered to move to the intensive care unit to treat patients with Covid-19.

Migri in December 2020 denied her permit application and issued a deportation order with a two-year entry ban into the Schengen Area, accusing her of presenting forged documents. It declined to specify whether the accusation was linked to the payslips, account statements or employment contracts she had provided as proof of income, arguing that disclosing the information would go against a very important public interest.

The agency also took issue with the short-term nature of her employment at HUS and the Home Care Services Unit of the City of Helsinki. She had begun working in the care sector on a part-time basis as soon as she had completed the requisite number of study points.

Boldbaatar did not learn the exact nature of the accusations until after she was summoned to a police interrogation in May 2021. Migri, the interrogations revealed, was accusing her of presenting account statements that contained so many miscalculations that they could not be genuine.

She told the newspaper that it took her a couple of minutes to realise that the miscalculations were a misinterpretation of a feature she was using on Revolut, a banking service headquartered in London. The feature automatically set aside a small sum for saving in conjunction with each payment made from the account.

Migri in its request for inquiry argued both that the transactions were not reflected accurately in the account balance and that it was unlikely that a charge could be made from the account with two different methods at the same exact time.

The prosecutor chose not to bring charges in the case in August 2022.

Helsinki Administrative Court overturned the permit denial and remanded the case to Migri on 1 November. It also reprimanded the agency for denying the application based only on a suspicion and for not disclosing the grounds of its decision, a violation of her legal protection.

Boldbaatar, who had received a full-time employment contract in January 2022, had had enough, though, and left Finland in late November. After this, I couldnt imagine staying in Finland.

Kafkaesque

Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen (NCP) on Saturday described the case as Kafkaesque.

This and many other experiences demonstrate that even though the direction of social goals and policy-making changes, its difficult to change the operational approach of such an old agency, he commented on Twitter.

Migri, he reminded, was originally established specifically to prevent the entry of foreigners to Finland. He also viewed that the agency has fallen light-years behind the good service culture of other agencies, such as the Finnish Tax Administration.

Vartiainen said Ilkka Haahtela, the newly appointed director general of Migri, can hopefully bring about a change in the operational culture. Haahtela previously served as the head of employment and immigration affairs at the City of Helsinki.

Also Haahtela took part in the online debate prompted by the article by Helsingin Sanomat.

My first comment is a genuine and profound apology to our customer and Finland, he wrote in what was his first statement on Twitter.

Risto Siilasmaa, a board member at F-Secure, viewed that a completely new agency should be set up in order to get rid of an operational culture that has made it impossible to launch services that attract foreign labour to sectors struggling with a chronic labour shortage in Finland.

We should establish a new agency for this purpose so that you can build the appropriate culture from the start, he viewed.

Anne Brunila, a former senior executive at Fortum, asked if this is how one attracts skilled labour to Finland. A person receives a nursing education and a permanent job in Finland, but Migri issues a deportation order because of its own moronic mistake, she slammed.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Helsingin Sanomat wrote about the case, which was later described as Kafkaesque by Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen (NCP), on 10 December 2022.

TWO SENIOR ADVISORS at the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) have received a written reprimand regarding their handling of the case of Anudari Boldbaatar , a Mongolian nurse who applied for a residence permit to look for work after completing her qualifications in Finland.

Migri subsequently launched an internal inquiry into the case, finding significant errors in deciding on the application and classifying the justifications, Ilkka Haahtela, the director general at Migri, said to Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday.

The errors in the overall consideration were so significant that two written reprimands were ultimately issued. This was a major mistake for the agency, but only part of it was caused by employees, he commented.

Boldbaatar's permit application was rejected two years earlier effectively due to the advisors' inability to analyse the account statement she had attached to the application as proof of income. Not only was she denied the permit and issued a deportation order, the officials also submitted a request for inquiry with the police, accusing her of falsifying the account statement.

The agency additionally classified the key justification for the negative decision.

The applicant appealed against the decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court. No charges were ultimately brought against her after the prosecution determined that there were no probable reasons to corroborate her culpability.

The court overturned the permit decision in November 2022, reprimanding the agency for making it based exclusively on a criminal suspicion. Migri then admitted that its decision to classify the justification of the decision infringed on the legal protection of the applicant.

Boldbaatar left Finland after the two-year battle to overturn the decision.

Haahtela on Thursday told Helsingin Sanomat that Migri issued new instructions as the application was being considered that urged officials to pay particular attention to documents and their technical review. Trainings related to the instructions encouraged employees to pay particular attention to miscalculations.

The error was that there wasnt much overall consideration. And that the issue wasnt discussed with the customer, he said.

Migri recently decided to initiate a separate legality control into the negative decisions issued last year on permit extension applications based on work, studies or family life. In April, it reported that it had made procedural errors and failed to meet all its legal obligations in nine per cent of the decisions inspected.

Most of the procedural errors related to the duty to sufficiently examine each case or the duty to hear the views of the applicant and their family members.

In practice, this may mean, for instance, that a customer had not been given an opportunity to express their view on a possible removal from the country or that the family member residing in Finland had not been heard when a matter regarding his or her spouse was decided, commented Haahtela.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The study, which focused on Finnish attitudes towards the EU, found that those who hold negative views of the EU are particularly dissatisfied with the functioning of Finnish society.

A recent survey conducted by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) reveals that 64% of Finns hold a positive attitude towards their country's membership in the European Union, while 17% remain critical of the Union. This record-high approval rating for EU membership was observed after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

While Finns generally have reservations about the state of democracy in the country, those who hold negative views of the EU are particularly pessimistic about the state of Finnish democracy. Only 6% of those with a negative view of the EU believe that democracy works well in Finland and that concerns about the lack of citizen influence are unfounded. In contrast, 76% of this group does not view Finnish democracy as working well. Overall, 33% of all Finns consider democracy in the country to be functioning well.

The survey also found that the age group that holds the most positive views towards EU membership are those between the ages of 18-25 and those over the age of 65. The most pro-EU views were also held by those with academic backgrounds, students, and supporters of the Swedish People's Party, the Green Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the National Coalition Party. A majority of supporters of the Left Alliance and the Center Party also hold positive views towards EU membership. In contrast, Christian Democratic Party supporters were more negative (42%) than positive (29%) towards EU membership.

The study also found that supporters of the Finns Party, a right-wing populist party, were the most skeptical of the EU, with 57% holding negative views. However, the party's supporters have become slightly more positive towards the EU after Russia's attack on Ukraine, with 22% now holding positive views, up from 14% in 2021.

The survey was conducted between January 31 and February 13, 2023, and included responses from 2,043 individuals aged 18-79 (excluding Aland). The results have a margin of error of 2-3 percentage points in either direction. The respondents were selected through a randomized sampling technique and were representative of the population in terms of age, gender, location, education, occupation, industry, and political affiliation. The data was analyzed by Pentti Kiljunen from Yhdyskuntatutkimus Oy.

This study is part of a long-standing series of surveys conducted by EVA on the values and attitudes of the Finnish population since 1984. The results of this survey provide valuable insights into the opinions of the Finnish public on the EU and democracy. It is clear that while the majority of Finns view their country's EU membership positively, there remains a significant proportion of the population who are critical of the EU, and this skepticism is linked to broader concerns about the functioning of Finnish democracy.

HT
With summer fast approaching , many people are considering their options for staying cool during the hot weather. One popular option for cooling down apartments is an air conditioning unit. However, if you live in an apartment building and are considering installing an air conditioning unit, its important to know that this decision requires the approval of the housing company.

The installation of air conditioning can affect building components for which the housing company is responsible. As a result, the housing company must approve any changes made to the building.

"If air conditioning units have been previously installed in apartments and the housing company has made an approving decision in a general meeting, then the approval from the board is usually sufficient. However, the housing company can set conditions for the installation and monitoring of the device," says Tapio Haltia, legal counsel at the Finnish Real Estate Federation.

If a shareholder plans to install an air conditioning unit, they must submit a modification notice to the board or the property manager. The board then considers giving its approval and sets any conditions that may be necessary to prevent any harm or damage to the building or another shareholder.

In some cases, the housing company may prohibit the installation of an air conditioning unit. For example, if the installation extends outside the apartment and affects the facade of the building or if it creates any harm to other shareholders or the housing company, the housing company has the right to refuse the installation.

If there has not been a previous decision made regarding air conditioning installation in the housing company, it is recommended that the board make a decision before the installation of the first unit. This decision should cover aspects such as the location of the unit, management of the condensation, and liability issues. A simple majority vote is required to make this decision.

If no decision has been made before, the decision-making process in the housing company may take some time. In the worst-case scenario, it may be too late to install an air conditioning unit for the upcoming summer.

"However, it would be good if the housing company's position on air conditioning installation was already in place for the upcoming summers. This way, shareholders can quickly install air conditioning units and ensure equal treatment of all shareholders," says Tapio Haltia.

Its essential to consult with the housing company and to adhere to its conditions and regulations when installing air conditioning units. By doing so, you can ensure the installation of your air conditioning unit will be approved, and your apartment will stay cool during the hot summer months.

HT
The employer had employed foreign workers who did not have the right to work in Finland. The employer had neglected to verify the workers' right to work, despite being repeatedly instructed by the occupational safety authority of the employer's obligations regarding the use of foreign labor.

A restaurant owner has been sentenced to a 40-day fine for two counts of using unauthorized foreign labor by the Helsinki District Court's decision on May 8, 2023.

The employer is also required to keep records of the foreign workers employed and the basis for their right to work at the workplace.

According to the District Court, the employer, who had employed several foreign workers for a longer period and undergone official inspections, was aware of the employer's obligations and the consequences of their violation. This case highlights the importance of employers' obligations to verify their workers' right to work, especially when employing foreign workers. Failure to do so can result in severe penalties, including fines and other legal consequences.

This case also raises awareness of the issue of unauthorized foreign labor, which is a growing problem in many countries, including Finland. Employers must be aware of their obligations and ensure they are not employing foreign workers who do not have the right to work in the country. It is crucial to protect the rights of workers and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals who may be at risk of being exploited by unscrupulous employers.

HT
The migration of the white-fronted geese is currently underway in Finland, as reported by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The past week has seen an influx of these geese, with the largest group of 20,000 birds spotted in Parikkala Island. The numbers of migrating birds have been relatively small so far, with the highest count being less than 5,000 at any given location. The birds are expected to continue their migration in the coming days.

The local gatherings of white-fronted geese have been particularly significant in the regions of South and North Karelia. The largest gathering of these geese was seen on May 6th on Parikkala Island, with an estimated count of 20,000 birds. In North Karelia, the largest flocks have been seen in Liperi, Raakkyla, and Vartsila, with almost 10,000 birds. On May 6th, there were an estimated 10,000 local white-fronted geese in Nurmijarvi, Uusimaa.

Similar movements of white-fronted geese have also been reported in Estonia, Russia, and Sweden. The largest group spotted in Estonia was a gathering of 6,000 geese in the Parnu area on May 3rd. In Sweden, the largest gathering was spotted on May 5th, with a total of 12,400 geese on the country's southwest coast. In Russia, the largest group was reported on April 29th in Aunus, Karelia, with a count of 12,000 geese.

Researchers from Finland and the Netherlands have been tracking the migration patterns of these geese using GPS transmitters. As of May 9th, nine out of fifty tagged geese have been spotted in Finland, with two in Orimattila and the rest in Polvijarvi, Liperi, Leppavirta, Kerimaki, Valkeala, Hamina, and Somero. One tagged goose has been spotted in Russia, seven in Estonia, and one in Sweden. Fewer geese have been tracked compared to last week, and it is possible that some geese have already migrated beyond the reach of mobile networks.

According to Jarmo Koistinen, a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the migration of white-fronted geese is expected to continue in the coming week, with favorable weather conditions supporting their journey. The Baltic Sea region is currently experiencing warm and dry southeast winds that are expected to continue, driving the geese from Estonia into Finland.

BirdLife Finland and the North Karelia Centre for Economic Development, Transport, and the Environment are monitoring the migration of the white-fronted geese, aided by the Tiira bird information service, weather forecasts, and GPS trackers. The Finnish Ministry of the Environment is funding the research conducted by the University of Turku and the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

The migration of white-fronted geese is a vital ecological phenomenon, contributing to the biodiversity of the areas they pass through. Observing the patterns and behaviors of these birds provides valuable insights into their survival strategies and informs conservation efforts. The ongoing research into the migration of these geese serves as a testament to Finland's commitment to preserving its natural environment and its diverse wildlife.

HT
Blue Ridge Health wins national recognition for migrant outreach

SEATTLE  Western North Carolinas own Federally Qualified Health Center, Blue Ridge Health, was recently honored by the National Association of Community Health Centers as the 2023 Outstanding Migrant Health Center in the nation.

Chief Medical Officer MaryShell Zaffino and Vulnerable Populations Manager Kenett Melgar accepted the award at the national Conference for Agricultural Worker Health in Seattle. Blue Ridge was the only health center in the country to receive this honor.

Blue Ridge Health is proud to be recognized for 60 years of service to migrant farmworkers and their families, said the agency's CEO, Dr. Richard Hudspeth.

Rooted in humble beginnings in migrant care through the work of founder Claire Burson and numerous volunteers, Blue Ridge Health earned the award through demonstrated excellence and innovation in service delivery through its longstanding migrant farmworker programming. Established in 1963, these services have continued to expand and have impact, with last years efforts supporting 2,402 agricultural workers and their families as they passed through the mountain region harvesting apples, blueberries, Christmas trees, tomatoes and more. Blue Ridge Health workers seek out and connect with these traveling communities, learn their migrant culture and work to provide for their basic needs.





Migrant populations often face significant barriers to receiving proper healthcare and support in their communities due to social stigma and financial burdens. The Blue Ridge Outreach team attempts to lessen these barriers to healthcare by providing medical care and mobile clinics, transportation assistance, interpreters, medical education, and more.

At Blue Ridge Health, we want to overcome these barriers so everyone has the chance to receive quality, compassionate healthcare, Hudspeth said. Through these barriers, we see opportunities to serve our community in the community, to bring affordable care right into the field for migrant workers and their families.

Migrant agricultural workers are vital to the North Carolina economy and help provide food for families tables, and yet their average salary is less than $20,000 per year. From Blue Ridge Healths very beginnings through today, it is committed to offering dedicated support to migrant farmworker populations and their families.

Paloma Hernandez, chair-elect of the NACHC, praised Blue Ridge's migrant farmworker outreach staff.

In a world that is increasingly beset with problems and tragedy, they inspire us by the example they set, their belief that we can become a more compassionate and just society  if we all do our part, she said.
Deputy Secretary Palm on her Trip Reiterated the Biden-Harris Administrations Commitment to Serve Communities and Tribes across Alaska

Over the last several days, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm conducted an official trip to Alaska, visiting with Native communities and touring health facilities making use of HHS funding. During her visit, the Deputy Secretary delivered remarks at the National Indian Health Board Tribal Health Conference in Anchorage, Alaska and traveled across the state to Minto, Tanana, Rampart, Utqiagvik, Angoon, and Sitka.

During her visit, Deputy Secretary Palm visited with Tribal leaders and representatives as she toured local schools, assisted living facilities, health clinics, dental health aide therapist training sites, a water treatment plant, and a child care facility, among other sites. The Deputy Secretary reiterated HHS commitment to work closely with Alaskan and Tribal leaders to improve health services and discussed how HHS can best partner with local communities. She heard firsthand from tribal members, health care providers, and community organizations including the Arctic Slope Native Association, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium about the unique health challenges encountered by rural and remote Alaska Native communities. Also, she emphasized the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to addressing the nations behavioral health crisis. The Administration has made important progress on expanding access to behavioral health services, and invested billions of dollars through American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to clearly send the message: Support is Here.

Since 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress in prioritizing the needs of Tribal communities across the nation including Alaska. The Biden-Harris Administrations FY2023 budget for the first time in history provided the Indian Health Service (IHS) with advance appropriations, giving IHS budget certainty. This accomplishment is an important bridge to the Presidents mandatory request in the FY2024 budget. The Administration has also increased support within the IHS to provide services to American Indian and Alaska Native patients, including suicide prevention, treatment for substance use disorder, and both in person and tele-behavioral health services. Additionally, through funds allocated from the American Rescue Plan, HHS has invested over $5 billion to combat COVID-19 in Indian Country and improve equitable access to vaccines.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that comprehensive, culturally appropriate personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people.

The following participants were in attendance for events during the tour:
India, 9th May 2023: Yuvaap, a platform dedicated to promoting health and wellness, is excited to announce its collaboration with Mr. Vijay Pandey, an esteemed yoga teacher. With his expertise in therapeutic yoga, this partnership aims to provide a comprehensive wellness approach that addresses various ailments, including back pain, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. This collaboration showcases Yuvaap's continued commitment to providing individuals with the tools and resources needed to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

With 15 years of massive experience in teaching yoga, Shri Vijay Pandey is known for his expertise in Iyengar Yoga, which emphasises the proper alignment, breathing techniques, and sequencing of yoga postures. He has excelled himself in the art of Iyengar yoga under the guidance of revered master BKS Iyengar, who is a pioneer of Iyengar yoga. His credentials also include a postgraduate diploma in yoga, a master's in yoga, 500 hours of YTT, and RYT-200, which demonstrate his commitment to the art of yoga therapy. Vijay sir added, "Yoga therapy adheres to the principles of transforming people's physical and mental health for the better.

All the episodes on therapeutic yoga were recorded online with Mr. Vijay Pandey sir, and will be available exclusively on the official Yuvaap mobile application

Commenting on this collaboration, Ms. Richa Khurana, Co-Founder of Life Alchemy, said, "We are thrilled to have Vijay sir on board with us for this series. He is a renowned yoga instructor with a wealth of experience in yoga therapy. Our platform is committed to offering everyone a holistic approach to health and wellness, and our collaboration with Vijay sir is a valuable keystone in achieving that goal."

Yoga therapy is a holistic branch of yoga that is designed to tailor the needs of people dealing with certain limitations. Modern yoga therapy encompasses both physical therapy and psychotherapy as therapeutic modalities. The sessions are not only tailored to meet individuals' specific needs, such as yoga for back pain or knee pain. They also address various ailments, such as yoga for PCOD,yoga for diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular ailments, and mental wellbeing.

All the episodes on therapeutic yoga were recorded online with Mr. Vijay Pandey sir, and will be available exclusively on the official Yuvaap mobile application. This application also offers varied online training sessions, healthy recipe videos, and other varied resources to transform your overall physical and mental wellbeing. However, you can always catch a glimpse of this series on theYuvaap Official YouTube channel.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Air India on Tuesday extended its deadline for its pilots to accept their revised compensation structure and working conditions, days after the pilots refused to sign the new contract. The Air Indias decision came days after the pilots refused to sign the airlines new contract. (Representative Image)

The airline in an email on Tuesday morning informed its pilots that it has extended the deadline for signing in the revised contracts till May 12, an official in the know of the matter told HT.

A response from Air India spokesperson was awaited.

The airline had earlier asked its pilots to sign the new contracts by April 30. However, over 1,500 of its pilots that belong to both its pilot unions (Indian Commercial Pilots Association and Indian Pilots Guild) had signed a petition against the revised norms.

The two pilot bodies also wrote to Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran and sought his intervention alleging that the HR policy of Air India was a draconian approach and driven by a lack of trust.

The pilots had also warned the airline management of going to any extent if any of their members is fired for not signing the new service agreement, plunging the companys new owner Tata Sons attempt to what it has described as a transformation plan into major doubt.

This was after the airline, on April 17, announced details of a new remuneration system and began rolling out offer letters, unveiling pay grades and new service conditions that the pilots unions called exploitative.

The pilots said that they were protesting against the management as it did not consult them before coming up with the alleged harsh working terms.

The management had, last week, asked the pilots to take a leap of faith. The email received by them today seems to be a result of the same, said a second official close to the matter.

The pilots said that the protest is a result of unethical behaviour of the management towards the pilots who are the backbone of the airline.

We feel that we are not being treated with the respect and dignity that we deserve as employees of Air India. As a result, our morale is low, and we are concerned that this will have a negative impact on our ability to perform our duties to the best of our abilities, their petition has stated.

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Sam Bankman-Fried, who has long denied stealing from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday asked a US judge to throw out criminal charges against him over the now-bankrupt FTX's collapse. Samuel Bankman-Fried(File/ AP)

In a filing in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said several of the charges failed to properly state an offense.

Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former billionaire, has largely been confined to his parents' home since his December arrest in the Bahamas, where he had lived and where FTX was based. He was extradited to the United States just over a week after his arrest.

FTX imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried stole billions of dollars in FTX customer funds to plug losses at Alameda, buy real estate, and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme. They have also charged him with bribing Chinese officials.

Prosecutors have until May 29 to respond to Bankman-Fried's dismissal request, and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan will hear arguments on June 15.

Bankman-Fried rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to an estimated net worth of $26.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine. His fortune largely evaporated when FTX collapsed in November.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate has pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

He has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations.

Three onetime close associates - former Alameda co-chief executive Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh - have all pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Bannkman-Fried's trial is set for October 2.

His parents, who live in Palo Alto, California, are Stanford University law professors and co-signed his $250 million bond.

Bankman-Fried has limited access to technology, after prosecutors warned he might tamper with witnesses.
In good news for the states fruit growers, the central government prohibited the import of apples where the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) import price is less than or equal to 50 per kg  changing the import policy to prohibited from free. A notification to ban on import of cheap apples was issued to the director general of foreign trade on Monday. (HT File)

A notification to the effect was issued to the director general of foreign trade on Monday. The import of apples will remain free if the price is above 50 per kg.

Terming it a victory for apple growers of Himachal, Samyukt Kisan Morcha Harish Chauhan convener said the import of foreign apples had been severely denting their sales. Irans apple was imported in India at an average 20-25, on which import duty of 50% was imposed taking its price to 30 to 35, said Chauhan.

With a fixed minimum price for import at 50 per kg, the price of Iranian apple would go up to 75 allowing local fruit to better compete with it in the market, he noted.

Notably, Kashmir had also been demanding the government to raise import duty on apples.

A competitive space

For the last two years, home-grown apples had been facing stiff competition from duty-free fruits being imported from Iran under Indias free trade agreement. Large consignments of apples are shipped to ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra, while some are routed to markets in north India through the Attari-Wagah border.

Large quantities of Irans red delicious variety and those grown in Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan would earlier crowd the Indian markets.

SKM co-convener and former Shimla mayor Sanjay Chauhan said the apple import from Bhutan has been exempted, but the same is unlikely to hurt Himachal growers. He said the decision will also stop the illegal import of apples through South Asian Free Trade Countries (SAFTA).

SKM had been demanding a 100% import duty on foreign apples, with representatives raising the issue during the Centres pre-budget meeting for the last three years. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, had made it clear that under the WTO pact, a maximum of 50% duty can be levied on apples, adding that the Union ensures that foreign apples first reach ports in southern India so it does not directly impact the apple grown in North.

Apple alone makes for a 6,000 core economy in Himachal and sustains more than 1.75 families in Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur. It covers 48% of the states total area under fruit crops and about 81% of the production during 2021-22 financial year. The area under apple has increased from 400 hectares 1950-51 to 3,025 hectares in 1960-61. It stood at 1,15,016 hectares in 2021-22.

The fluctuations in the production of apples during the last few years have attracted the governments attention. The state is trying to explore and harness the vast potential through diversified horticulture production in agro-ecological zones.

BJP jumps to claim credit

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Himachal chief minister Jairam Thakur thanked the Centre for a historic decision, saying the ban on the import of apples priced less than 50 per kg will benefit apple growers immensely.

We wholeheartedly thank the central government and the entire leadership of the BJP for this historic decision, he said.

Thakur said that the cheap apple imported from Iran and Turkey was causing huge losses to the local growers, also noting the apples being smuggled into India through Afghanistan without paying import duty. He added that his partys government had raised this issue many times.

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The Centre for Cyber Operations and Security (CenCOPS) whose foundation stone was laid down by the Union defence minister Rajnath Singh at Government Press Building, Sector 18 on Monday; will be well-equipped to stop or counter any cyber-attack on the data of local administration or to secure any crucial government data in the city. Work for project CenCOPS has been awarded to Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on nomination basis at estimated cost of  88 crore under Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme. (HT Photo)

CenCOPS, the first-of-its-kind in India, will enable police forces of Chandigarh and neighbouring states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttrakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal, in solving complex cybercrime and strengthening the cyber security setup.

Work for project CenCOPS has been awarded to Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on nomination basis at estimated cost of 88 crore under Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme.

Giving details, superintendent of police (SP) Ketan Bansal, said, It was Chandigarh polices own initiative to have an advanced and well-equipped modern cybercrime centre here. We received 22.35 crore funds from ministry of home affairs which have already been given to DRDO by us. The facility will have a training lab. Key software and hardware will be installed to ensure cyber security. We will complete the set up in three to four months.

The centre will have facilities, including data analytics and predictive policing, evidence collection and advanced forensics, cyber security and cybercrime investigation and social media analytics and citizen outreach.

The data collected from various sources will be analysed in depth here which will also help in predictive policing. We will be able to deploy the force well in time at the appropriate places with the intelligence received from CenCOPS. Information being shared at various social media platforms will be analysed and strong intelligence inputs can be gathered from there to avoid violence. In case of cyber-attack, the alerts will be released immediately, Bansal added.

Moreover, CenCOPS will be beneficial in face recognition of the anti-social elements in the city. The data of the defaulters or gangsters will be fed in the facial recognition system (FRS) and the moment a camera in the city captures the face, the system will generate an alert which will help us in timely policing, the SP added.
The education department has initiated reverification of the government schools which were upgraded to senior secondary in 2021 in order to cater to the increased strength and requirements of the residents. The schools which were upgraded include eight high schools, eight middle schools and three primary schools. (HT Photo)

A total of 19 schools are being verified to confirm whether they fulfil the requirements for senior secondary, high and middle schools.

The schools which were upgraded include eight high schools, eight middle schools and three primary schools. The official notification to upgrade as many as 229 schools was issued in December 2021 by the former Congress government.

The government high schools which were upgraded as senior secondary have not received any staff or principals. After the announcement in 2021, schools had even started the process to enrol students for academic session of 2022-23 but admissions were denied following verbal orders from the district education department.

Among officials conducting the verification, Balwinder Kaur, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University, visited Government High School, Sunet on Tuesday. GSSS Sunet had been upgraded to a senior secondary school. Notably, the residents of Sunet had written to the district education office and MLA of the constituency to upgrade the school.

An education department official said that none of the upgraded schools has been made functional and the schools will be upgraded when the infrastructure and staff requirements are fulfilled.

The eight high schools upgraded to senior secondary schools in the district include government high schools at Amloh Road in Khanna, Aliwal, Haibowal Kalan, Nagra, Sunet, Barewal Awana, Begowal and Jassowal.

The eight middle schools that were upgraded to high schools are government middle schools at Ratanheri, Madhepur, Kalal Majra, Housing Board Colony, Billanwali Chhapri, Jassian, Garhi and, Mohi.

Government primary schools at Bhikhi Khatra, Tugal and Jodhan were upgraded to middle schools.
Fire brokeout in the official residence of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Sector 7 on Tuesday. According to the officials, the fire broke out inside the room of his son Deepender Singh Hooda, located on the first floor of the house. The fire was caused due to a short circuit in a split AC unit inside the room. The fire at former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hoodas official residence was caused due to a short circuit in a split AC unit inside the room, sources said.

Sources said that the staff of the former chief minister had switched on the AC as he was to reach his home from Delhi shortly. Fire damaged the AC, ceiling fan, the walls and pictures hanging on the wall inside the room.

The fire spread to another room but was soon controlled by the fire team which rushed from Sector 17 fire station and Industrial Area Phase 1 to the spot around 1:30 pm.
The committee formed by Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, to look into the potential submission of fake certificates during the recruitment process of nursing officers launched an inquiry on Monday. The committee formed by Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, to look into the potential submission of fake certificates during the recruitment process of nursing officers launched an inquiry on Monday. (HT file photo)

The four-member panel will be responsible for verifying the authenticity of certificates of course on computer concepts. Certificates submitted by all candidates during the recent recruitment process will be verified.

According to officials privy to the development, about 80% candidates who were hired for 182 vacant posts have submitted dubious certificates. They said many candidates submitted certificates from a Rajasthan-based institute.

It was clearly stated in the vacancy advertisement that only certificates issued by National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology would be accepted.

Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32) medical superintendent Sudhir Garg said, We dont have any mechanism to check the veracity of the certificates. Following reports of potential fraudulent submissions, a four-member committee was formed to verify the certificates.

We have written to the institutes concerned, requesting them to verify the authenticity of the certificates issued by them. Additionally, we have asked them to provide a report from the agency responsible for issuing the certificates, he added.

Meanwhile, a video has been widely circulated on social media platforms, which purportedly claims that candidates could obtain a course on computer concepts certificate for 6,000.

Health secretary Yashpal Garg said an investigation is being conducted into both the video and the counterfeit certificates.

If the allegations are confirmed, an FIR will be registered and the culprits will face consequences. No one will be exempted from punishment, he added.

The recent development in the case has raised questions on the entire recruitment process. However, involvement of the third-party agency that conducted the written exam has not yet been examined yet.

How did the scam unearth

During the verification process after recruitment of nursing officers, GMCH-32 officials noticed discrepancies in the photograph and signature of one candidate. To check the possibility of more such anomalies, the authorities constituted a six-member scrutiny committee to collect details of all nursing officers selected on the basis of the written test.

During this process, five candidates did not appear before the committee by taking medical leave and later resigned with a 24-hour notice. The police have so far booked eight persons in the case and arrested three -- Rekhraj (candidate), Mukesh (middleman) and Joginder (impersonator). All three arrested accused are alumni of a nursing college in Jodhpur.

According to the police, Joginder had initially sought 5 lakh from Rekhraj and eventually doubled the amount after learning that it was a permanent job. It was a deal of 12 lakh, as 2 lakh was promised to Mukesh, the middleman, the police had said.

182 nurses hired through written test

GMCH-32 had issued advertisements for the recruitment of 182 nursing officers in December 2021. The recruitments were to be conducted on the basis of merit obtained in a written test and there was no provision of interview. An external agency was hired to conduct the written test, which was held at 39 centres in Chandigarh on August 28, 2022.

Total 10,594 candidates had appeared for the test, where videograph/photograph, thumb impression and signature of each candidate were taken.

The successful candidates were called for document verification and counselling that was held in three phases at GMCH-32. Subsequently, the selected candidates received an offer of appointment and were asked to report for medical examination.

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Thirteen students from Haryana have returned home from violence-hit Manipur and three more are scheduled to reach here by Wednesday, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said. Haryana students meet their family members after returning from the violence-hit Manipur at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)

Officials said 16 students from the state were studying in various institutions in Manipur.

The first batch of five students returned home late Monday via Delhi, Khattar told reporters on the sidelines of the cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening. Eight more returned on Tuesday, he added.

Khattar said due to a rush of students from other states too returning from Manipur, tickets of the three remaining students were available for Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the state government made arrangements for accommodation of the students returning home at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi.

The first batch of five students who returned from Manipur hailed from Mahendragarh, Palwal, Sirsa and Rohtak. They told reporters in Delhi they were thankful to the Haryana government for the arrangements.

The students said after violence erupted in Manipur, they had appealed to the Haryana government to evacuate them safely. There was no direct flight from Manipur to Delhi and tickets were not available. The state government brought the students back to Delhi from Manipurs Imphal via Agartala and Kolkata with a flight travel time of about 9 hours.

Neha, a first-year MSc Mathematics student, hailing from Sirsa district, said, The state government supported us a lot. They coordinated with us throughout, booked our flight and brought us home safely. Jind resident Ritu, a PhD scholar in Chemistry at NIT Manipur, said every student contacted their state government after violence erupted in Manipur.

We also contacted the Haryana government, which immediately started the process and brought us back home safely. We are thankful to the government for their support, she said.

The students said officials were also in touch with their parents and informing them about their safety.

Ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur last week after tribals organised a demonstration in the 10 hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes displaced around 23,000 people and resulted in the deaths of at least 54 people.
Kitty parties and dinner outings in the city of Ludhiana, well-known for its extravagance, have touched a new high, literally. Ludhiana has become the seventh city in the country and only one across Punjab, Haryana and the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to get an air dining at a height of 100 feet (over 30 meters). The concept, first started in Belgium, includes a deck with a huge dining table in the middle and 22 chairs that is lifted with a crane at a height of 100 feet. (HT Photo)

The venture, started in the city by a hosiery manufacturer on Ludhianas upcoming South City suburb recently, is wooing people from across the state and beyond as the idea to dine at a height and get a birds eye view of the city and an adjacent canal has caught the fancy of many, including NRIs who have been booking it for their families back home.

The concept, first started in Belgium, includes a deck with a huge dining table in the middle and 22 chairs that is lifted with a crane at a height of 100 feet and gives a unique aerial view of the city with the Sidhwan canal adding to the charm. It takes less than a minute for the crane to reach the height once the guests are strapped with seated with three sets of safety belts.

The dining table, where a buffet dinner is served by waiters, is suspended in the air for 50 minutes for the guests to enjoy the experience. Thats not all. The deck is slowly rotated five times so that one can take in a 360 degree view.

The restaurant operates full on weekends with booking being done in advance. On weekdays, however, it operates on the basis of demand. Recently, a video posted on Instagram showing a number of women enjoying a kitty party while air dining, joining hands and singing Yaad karegi duniya tera mera afsana went viral. Simmi Wadhwa, one of the women at the kitty party in the video said they were surprised to know that such a facility has opened in Ludhiana.

We had experienced this in Hong Kong and other countries. When we got to know that sky dining or air dining as it is called has opened in Ludhiana, we were the first ones to book our kitty party here and what a wonderful time we all 15 members had. The food was awesome and we have now decided to make it a regular affair to host kitty parties here, she says.

Arvind Takkar, the owner of the franchise, says he was inspired to open the venture during his trip to Dubai sometime ago. We knew the idea will be a hit as it is based on adventure and food. Even those who have a fear of heights have a memorable experience as there are three safety belts attached to the chairs.

We decided to bring such a facility to Ludhiana but then due to Covid outbreak the idea could not take off. Last year, we decided to give shape to this dream again and then began the work and formalities, says Takkar adding that the German-made crane is on rent and consumes 15 to 20 litres of diesel with every trip.

Takkar says he is currently receiving orders from people around the state who have been coming from as far as Chandigarh apart from major cities in the state to experience this adventure dining.

There are families who are making the booking for get-togethers on special occasions and there are group of friends who are making the plan to come and dine here. Recently, an 87-year-old woman from Patiala came with her son and daughter-in-law for dinner. She enjoyed to a great extent and was dancing in her chair while having her food with the sunset view at the rear. The couples son from Canada had made the booking for his parents and grandmother, adds Takkar.

The pricing

Different rides are reasonably priced between 1,000 to 2,500. A joyride booked for 30 minutes from 4.30 pm to 5 pm costs 1,500 per person and offers snacks on the menu. The sun downer from 5.15 to 6 pm and from 6.15pm to 7pm costs 2,200 and offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian snacks, mocktail and a dessert. The dinner rides starting from 7.45pm cost around 2,500 per person and includes snacks, buffet and dessert. The menu is changed every ten days to bring in more variety.

Who all are not allowed

Pregnant women and children with less than height of four feet are not permitted on the deck. For safety reasons, alcohol is not allowed.
AMRITSAR The team of NSG, a counter-terrorism unit under the ministry of home affairs, visited the blast site and also held meeting with senior officials. ((HT Photo/Sameer Sehgal ))

A day after a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached Amritsar to probe the twin blasts that rocked Heritage Street near Golden Temple with 30 hours, sleuths of the National Security Guard (NSG) inspected the site on Tuesday.

The team of NSG, a counter-terrorism unit under the ministry of home affairs, visited the blast site and also held meeting with senior officials. On Monday night, a team of NIA had joined the investigation.

The first explosion took place on May 6 night on Heritage Street in which one person was injured and glass facades of some buildings in the area were damaged. The second low-intensity blast took place in the same area on May 8 morning injuring one more person.

Punjab Police officials said they have not found any trigger device or detonator from the area that may have been used.

Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday said the terror angle could not be ruled out in the twin blasts. We are taking help of all agencies like the National Security Guard, which has specialisation in blast investigation, he said.

A senior official of the Amritsar police commissionerate, who is part of the investigation, said the NIA and NSG teams are helping the local police to crack the case. So far, no agency has taken over the case. The probe is being handled by Amritsar police, he said.

A team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had also taken the samples from the blast site. We are waiting for the forensic report to know about the nature of the blasts, said commissioner of police Naunihal Singh.

Another senior police official said: We are not certain what was used for the explosions. Our investigation will move further once the FSL report is received.

The police have also questioned around 100 who claimed to be eyewitnesses, the official said.

The locations where the blasts took place were not in the range of CCTV cameras. Identifying a suspect out of thousands of people who visit the Heritage Street is a daunting task, said the official.

Heavy police force and paramilitary forces, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) remained deployed at Heritage Street on Tuesday. The forces also conduced flag marches to instil the sense of security among the people.

Police have not made public the first information report (FIR) of the case, which is registered under the Explosives Act at the E-Division police station, it is learnt.
Police on Tuesday arrested two alleged terrorist associates in Shopian and recovered arms, ammunition and improvised explosive device (IED) from them. Police arrested two Lashkar associates in Shopian, Kashmir. (HT File)

Sharing details, a police spokesperson said forces have arrested two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Shopian.

During the course of investigation, police, alongwith the army, and Central Reserve Police Force arrested two more terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT on Tuesday. They have been identified as Shahid Ahmad Lone of Chotipora Shopian and Waseem Ahmad Ganie of Borihalan, Shopian, the spokesperson said.

Addressing the recoveries, police said incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a pistol, a magazine, four pistol rounds, a silencer, an IED and a remote control were recovered.

On May 2, police and security forces arrested another LeT associate.

NIA raids 16 locations across J&K

Jammu Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out extensive searches across Jammu and Kashmir, in the premises of cadres and hybrid terrorists and overground workers linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several major banned Pakistan-backed terror outfits.

The same comes a week after similar state-wide searches.

An official NIA statement read, The raids, in the terror conspiracy case, were continuing till late in the evening. They were spread across locations in Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir, as well as in Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts of Jammu.

The NIA has been investigating the activities of newly floated terrorist groups.

These outfits are affiliated to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, Al-Qaeda, etc, the statement read, adding, Tuesdays raids, conducted at a total of 16 locations (12 in the Kashmir Valley and four in Jammu division), were part of NIAs investigations into the activities of OGWs and cadres in support of these new terror outfits.

NIA had earlier, on May 2, conducted raids at 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the seizure of incriminating material and digital devices
Police on Tuesday solved the blind murder case of an accountant, who was shot dead by four unknown persons at his home on Sunday night. Police said the deceased, Sourabh Sodhi, was gunned down by the accused for robbery. (Representational Photo)

Police said the deceased, Sourabh Sodhi, was gunned down by the accused for robbery. Police have arrested two accused identified as Amardeep Singh alias Romi (18) and his friend Sagar alias Dhola of Islamabad area in Amritsar. Three more accomplices of the arrested men- Avtar Singh, Rohit and Bahman - have been identified and nominated by the police in the murder case.

The conspiracy to rob money from the accountants home was hatched by Amardeep Singh, who was working as a servant at the deceaseds bakery shop situated near his house, police said.

Police have also recovered a motorcycle used in the crime and the looted purse of the accountant.

Addressing a press conference, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Dr Mehtab Singh said, Amardeep knew that Sourabh deals with money. Amardeep discussed the matter with Sagar, who is already a history-sheeter, and they hatched the plan to commit the robbery. They involved three more men from Tarn Taran. He said, The accused had barged into Sourabhs home with their faces covered. One of them was holding a pistol. The accused had opened fire and killed Sourabh. Before leaving, the accused had also taken away two mobiles, a gold chain of Sourabhs wife and a wallet at gun point.

The ADCP said their raids were on to nab the absconding accused. All the accused have been booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act at Islamabad police station.
The head of the Tibetan government in exile also referred to Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, on Monday accused China of using cyber tools to defame the Tibetan community as well as its spiritual leader the Dalai Lama President of central Tibetan Administration Penpa Tsering at Tibetan school in Chotta Shimla. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

Tsering made the comments during a three-day tour to Shimla, during which he will also chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

The challenge is we are seeking negative peaceful salutations, and non-violent solutions which is the middle approach. which should address the aspirations of the Tibetan people. The Chinese government called His Holiness Dalai Lama a separatist. Is it the Chinese government who wants us to separate from China or is it the Tibetans, Tsering questioned during a media interaction on Tuesday.

China will continue its propaganda against us, he said, adding, As we know that China has started the cyber war, which will continue against us. Social media is being misused, and media was used as a propaganda tool.

The Dalai Lama, the both temporal as well as spiritual head of Tibet, devolved his power making way for the appointment of Sikyong in 2011.

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London NCA investigators believe the money was profit from the sale of banned Class A drugs and organised immigration crime. (Representational Photo)

Sixteen people, including a number of Indian-origin men and women, have been convicted following a major investigation into a west London-based organised crime group involved in international money laundering and people smuggling, the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Tuesday.

Members of the criminal network smuggled in excess of GBP 42 million in cash out of the UK, making hundreds of trips to Dubai between 2017 and 2019. NCA investigators believe the money was profit from the sale of banned Class A drugs and organised immigration crime.

The individuals arrested and charged as part of the operation were prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court in south London starting in January this year.

In the first trial, ringleader Charan Singh, Valjeet Singh, Jasbir Singh Kapoor, Jasbir Singh Dhal were found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property or money laundering. While Swander Singh Dhal was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property and also conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law. Diljan Singh Malhotra was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law. All six, in their 30s and 40s, have been remanded in judicial custody pending their sentencing in September.

In the second trial, Amarjeet Alabadis, Jaginder Kapoor, Jackdar Kapoor, Manmon Singh Kapur, Pinky Kapur and Jasbeer Singh Malhotra were convicted of removing criminal property and bailed pending sentencing in four months time.

The NCA said around GBP 1.5 million was seized from couriers leaving the UK but flight analysis, evidence from cash declarations in Dubai, and other material seized by the NCA showed the group had succeeded in transporting far more. As part of the investigation, NCA officers also uncovered a plot involving members of the criminal gang to smuggle 17 migrants, including five children and a pregnant woman, into the UK in the back of a van carrying tyres in 2019.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is planning to provide smart watches to sanitation workers as a pilot project to track and monitor cleanliness operations in the city at the micro level, officials aware of the development said on Tuesday. The smart watches will be equipped with GPS(Pexels)

Also read: MCD to conduct Delhis first community dog census in 14 years

The smart watches will be equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System) facility to track the movement of workers and sweeping operations, and will log their attendance, a senior municipal official from the department of environment management services (sanitation) wing said, requesting anonymity.

The corporation plans to procure and distribute 2,400 such smart watches  200 units for each of its twelve administrative zones, officials said.

The area of duty for a particular sanitation worker will be geofenced and the system will be alerted in case of violations. The watches can also be used to take pictures, the official added.

The direction to undertake such a pilot project was issued by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during a meeting on April 6. He also asked MCD to explore the procurement of smaller mechanised cleaning machines which can be deployed in the inner colony roads, while assuring that the government will provide it with 250 sweeping machines for cleaning in wards.

MCD covers around 15,582 km of colony roads which are manually swept by over 50,000 sanitation workers.

At present, the corporation supervises the activities of the sanitation staff through sanitation inspectors.

A second municipal official from the sanitation department said that markets and commercial areas are expected to be swept twice a day. The wider roads (carriageway more than 60ft) are cleaned using mechanical road sweepers.

If the pilot project is successful, the project can be expanded to other wards as well. The smart watches will replace the geo-tagged ID card, and can also be used in tracking the health of workers, the official said, wishing not to be named.

Mukesh Baidya, who heads the all municipal corporation sanitation union said that unless corruption is weeded out from the system no form of technological intervention can help improve the situation. Earlier, the municipal corporation wasted crores on deploying the biometric system. The civic body then tried using the wireless systems to improve co-ordination among sanitation staff but the system is lying dead from the last two years due to lack of funds. They have also tried using mobile app-based attendance to regulate work but the system does not work and workers are found queueing up to get their attendance rectified. Watches will not prove to be different unless the system is cleaned and corrupt practices are stopped, he added.

Also read: Sensors, cameras at Delhi landfills in MCD plan to prevent fires

The issue with street sweeping and loopholes in the system have been flagged by city residents multiple times. Atul Goyal, who heads URJA (United RWAs Joint Action)  an umbrella body of resident welfare associations in Delhi, said that each ward is divided under sub-wards with road lengths allocated to each worker but the strength is not reflected on the ground.

There are multiple workers deployed to clean the colony streets but very few people are actually working. Adoption of technology to audit the work is a good idea but the municipal corporation will have to involve local communities and RWAs to get the work audited through cleanliness supervision committees, Goyal said.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Locket Chatterjee has hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee after the state government banned recently released film The Kerala Story in the state. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee termed the ban on 'The Kerala Story' a bid to win Muslim votes,(Twitter/ANI)

She made a huge mistake. She doesn't know Bengalis...If she is banning #TheKeralaStory, it seems Mamata Banerjee is anti-Hindu, anti-India & anti-women. The film is based on ISIS & nothing else. It means she is trying to ban this film to hide something", the MP told ANI.



She is banning a film by Sudipto Sen, a Bengali filmmaker. She seeks votes in the names of Bengalis but bans a film on Muslims. This has been done for Muslim votes, she added.



On Tuesday, the chief minister ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the Sudipto Sen-directorial to avoid any incident of hatred and violence. With this, Bengal has become the first state to ban the film, triggering a political slugfest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

"To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the CM has directed an immediate ban on screening of 'The Kerala Story'. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban," a West Bengal government official told PTI.

The film depicting how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the Islamic State has already kicked off a political controversy. The film's producer Vipul Shah has said the makers will take legal route against the ban by the Bengal government.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders have spoken about the film and its subject. The movie The Kerala story is trying to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society, especially in a state like Kerala which is beautiful land of hardworking, talented and intellectual people. The Congress party is now trying to ban the film and support the terror elements", the prime minister had said at a rally in poll-bound Karnataka's Ballary last week.

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A supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a special court in Delhis Rouse Avenue Court on May 5, has alleged that arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Anubrata Mondal was able to acquire assets worth 48 crore in seven years though his declared annual income was only 3.3 lakh. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal jailed in a cattle smuggling case being bought to ESI hospital for a checkup prior to being produced before Enforcement Directorate in Kolkata in March (ANI FILE)

Mondal, 64, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in August 2022 for his alleged involvement in the cattle smuggling case. ED, which is probing into the money laundering aspects of the case, arrested Mondal in November 2022. He is currently in Delhis Tihar jail.

The 204-page supplementary charge sheet filed by ED attempts to piece together what ED officials describe as Mondals rise since 2015-16 with the help of his chartered accountant (CA) Manish Kothari. HT has reviewed a copy of the document.

To be sure, Anubrata Mondal and his daughter Sukanya have consistently denied the ED allegations.

Starting point

The ED investigation started after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a first information report (FIR) on September 21, 2020, against Satish Kumar, the then commandant of the Border Security Forces 36th battalion and Md Enamul Haque, the alleged kingpin of the racket. Four days later, the ED also started its probe.

In its new charge sheet, ED named TMCs president of Birbhum district Anubrata Mondol, Sukanya and Mondals CA Manish Kothari.

According to ED, Enamul Haque in 2015 expanded the cattle smuggling racket that he had been allegedly running across the porous border to Bangladesh. While Haque was the kingpin, other members of the syndicate included his three nephews, popularly known as JHM brothers, his associates Abdul Latif Sheikh alias Hingol and others. Haque was arrested in November 2020 by CBI and is in jail.

They bought cattle at very low prices from various custom auctions in the bordering district of Murshidabad and from cattle haats in Hooghly, Murshidabad, Birbhum and North Dinajpur. The cattle were loaded into trucks and sent to Sonar Bangla, the office of Haque and JHM brothers close to the Indo-Bangla border in Murshidabad district that was described by ED as the smuggling rackets nerve centre.

Each truck driver was allegedly a token and a specific route to reach various border outposts such as Nimtita, Khandua and Giria in the Murshidabad district. Local smugglers used to take over from there and smuggle the cattle across the border to Bangladesh, mostly between 11pm and 3am.

According to ED, Enamul Haque and Latif Sheikh allegedly made payments to Mondal, the influential TMC leader who was believed to have the chief ministers ear. The two were in touch with Mondal through his security guard Sehegal Hossain.

The local administration gave safe passage to the trucks carrying the tokens. The BSF teams at the border too played along, allegedly because of the connivance between Haque and Satish Kumar, a former BSF commandant. Kumar was named in the CBIs first charge sheet and continues to be in custody.

Hossain was the contact person for whoever wanted to speak to or meet Mondal. He collected the money from Haque and his aides and was the right-hand of Mondal, said an ED official.

Cash deposits

According to EDs new charge sheet, the bribes or protection money was allegedly deposited in various accounts of Mondal and his family members, including his daughter Sukanya.

The cash amounts have been deposited intentionally in figures like 49000, 49999, 99000, 199000 and 199999 etc to avoid detection by statutory authorities (bank and tax department) or to avoid submitting identity details such as PAN (required for deposits of 50000 and above), said the charge sheet.

For example, 49,000 was deposited every day between August 6 and August 9 in 2019 in Mondals account in a private bank. Between June 8 and June 12 in 2020 49,999 were deposited every day in his account, said an official.

Mondal claimed during questioning that these were remunerations of land deals which he made and profits from his rice mills. ED said he, however, couldnt produce any documents to back up his claim.

The figure and pattern of cash deposits clearly reveal that they were not any part of normal trading or business transactions. These bank accounts have been opened only for the purpose of laundering of proceeds of crime (received from Haque, his nephews and associates such as Latif) by projecting as business transactions and to hide these cash transactions to be red-flagged or caught by any government authorities, the supplementary charge-sheet said.

Sleuths also found that to hide the identity of depositors the cash amounts were deposited through cash deposit machines.

Proceeds of crime

According to the charge sheet, Mondal allegedly used the bribes or protection money to acquire assets and business entities and opened fixed deposits in his own name and in the name of his family members and close associates including servants.

ED officials claim that they have found benami properties and huge transactions in the bank accounts of Mondals close associates including Bidyut Baran Gayen, a driver in the civic body and Biswajyoti Banerjee, a ward councillor.

Both Gayen and Banerjee, who worked as household help of Mondal, said that their ITRs were filed by Mondals chartered accountant Manish Kothari and they just signed the ITR on Mondals instructions, said an ED official, adding that Mondal was the ultimate beneficiary.

Their bank accounts were opened by Sehegal Hossain on Mondals instructions.

Kothari, while filing all their ITRs, reported transactions under various heads such as income from logistics and transport business, house property income, capital gains and agricultural income. However, the individuals denied having any such source of income during interrogation.

The money from these benamidar bank accounts was transferred to Mondals family as credit or to the firms owned by Mondals family to give it a colour of unsecured loans.

Cash was deposited in the (benamidar) bank accounts and thereafter transferred for the use of Mondal, Hossain and their family members, the charge sheet said.

Mondal, however, told ED officials that he took credit from some persons for his wifes treatment.

During this period, ED alleged that Mondal also acquired two companies - ANM Agrochem Pvt Ltd and Neer Developer Pvt Ltd  and created several other business entities in the name of his daughter and wife including rice mills to launder money that came as protection money from the cattle smuggling syndicate.

Lottery tickets

According to EDs probe, Mondal and his daughter Sukanya had declared at least 2 crore as a lottery prize since 2018. They claimed to have won the lottery at least 10-12 times.

ED said its investigation revealed that a lottery agency, M/s Ganguly Lottery used to inform Mondal about the winner whenever any person in the Birbhum district won a lottery ticket.

Mondal through his henchmen and local influencers used to contact the winners of the lottery and used to get the winning lottery ticket in exchange for cash, the charge sheet said.

Mondal told ED officials during questioning that he and his daughter won lottery tickets at least 10-12 times. Ram Pradip Ganguly, proprietor of M/s Ganguly Lottery stuck to this version during his interrogation by ED officials.

ED scanned Income Tax returns filed by Sukanya Mondal for the year 2019-20 and 2020-21 and found that she had declared lottery winnings on multiple occasions.

Blame game

ED officials said during questioning, Sukanya Mondal claimed that her father Anubrata Mondal and his CA Manish Kothari knew about the transactions and source of money. But her father told ED that Manish Kothari knew the details.

Kothari, on the other hand, alleged during questioning that it was Sukanya Mondal who looked after banking transactions and day-to-day business. He also told officials that Anubrata Mondal rarely dealt with him directly and that he was in touch with Sukanya who also provided him the documents for the tax returns.

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PRAYAGRAJ Even after the killing of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, social media accounts in the formers name are active, with a section of netizens demanding justice for him and his kin and some others justifying the murders of the brother duo. In nearly all the social media accounts created in the name of Atiq and his sons, their old photographs and videos are being shared with emotional songs in the background. (File Photo)

A few social media accounts created in the name Atiqs shooter, Lavlesh Tiwari, have also surfaced. These are also being run by unidentified people who are justifying the murders of Atiq and Ashraf by Sunny Singh, 23 of Hamirpur, Lavlesh Tiwari, 22, of Banda and Arun Maurya, 18 of Kasganj, said cops.

Atiq and Ashraf were gunned down by three armed assailants while the mafia duo was being brought to Motilal Nehru (Colvin) Divisional Hospital for a court-mandated medical examination on April 15.

On Monday, the cyber crime unit of local police lodged an FIR against a Twitter handle for allegedly issuing threats to avenge the killings of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem (aka Ashraf). The case was lodged after instructions were issued in this regard by ADG (law and order) and SP (cyber crime), police officials said.

In a post on April 25, twitter handle The Sajjad Mughal uploaded an old clip of Atiqs son Ali Ahmed addressing a gathering during an AIMIM rally. The user captioned the tweet saying -- Atiqs lineage has not ended. Atiqs son Ali is still alive. God willing, the situation and government will change, then the city will again be called Allahabad, and all scores will be settled. However, it is not clear if the speech was given by Ali in Prayagraj or any other city.

In response to the tweet, several netizens flagged it as an attempt to create unrest.

We will keep a watch on such social media accounts and take action if users are posting objectionable content that may pose threat to peace, said a senior police official.

In nearly all the social media accounts created in the name of Atiq and his sons - Ali, Umar and Asad - their old photographs and videos are being shared with emotional songs in the background.

Over 1,000 internet users are following an Instagram account in the name of Atiq Ahmad, which was created in October 2022. The last post on this account was on April 21 in which photographs of Atiq, Ashraf, Asad and Ghulam were being shared with a farewell song. There were some other videos purportedly showing Atiq Ahmed giving speeches or being escorted by the police.

Hamare baad mehfil mein afsane bayan honge, baharen humko dhudengi na jaane hum kaha honge, said one of the posts on Alis Instagram with a photograph of Atiq and Ashraf being escorted by the police a few seconds before they were shot dead.

Another Instagram account, created in April 2023 in the name of Atiqs third eldest son - Asad  is active. Asad was killed in an encounter with UP STF in Jhansi on April 13. The last post on this account on Friday showed old photographs of Atiq and his wife Shaista Parveen and their sons. Social media users seemed to have different opinions about these. A netizen termed Atiq and Ashraf as martyrs while others prayed for the peace of their souls.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday addressed several meetings in support of BJP candidates contesting urban local body polls in the second phase, voting for which will take place on Thursday (May 11). Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (HT file photo)

During these meetings in Chitrakoot, Banda and Kanpur districts, he underscored his governments achievements and how it had ensured rule of law and development in the state. Tuesday was the last day of electioneering for the second phase of civic polls.

A day after taking veiled potshots at the Samajwadi Party (SP), the chief minister again targeted the main opposition party in Chitrakoot, a holy place associated with Lord Rama.

Some political parties have forgotten their forefathers. It was Ram Manohar Lohia who had started the Ramayana fairs but the Samajwadi Party, which does politics in the name of Dr Lohia, denied the existence of Lord Rama. In fact, the SP allowed firing on the devotees of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and now its leaders are making unsavoury comments on Tulsidass Ramcharitmanas as well, he said.

My double engine government is working to restore Chitrakoots lost glory as a major centre of Sanatan Dharma and connecting it with development. Chitrakoot has been freed from dacoits, crime and criminals and is being re-established as a holy place of Sanatan Hinduism, the CM said. They (SP leaders) cant befriend a saint but would readily garland a dacoit and allow them to exploit common people and traders, he added.

In Kanpur, the CM said, During SP rule, this place was infamous for kattas (country-made firearms) and curfews. Today the airport in Kanpur is ready and will be inaugurated this month itself. The Greenfield Express Highway between Lucknow-Kanpur is giving the city a new identity. The enhanced connectivity of Kanpur has also increased its productivity.

Work on the second phase of Metro project, a gift by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is currently under way at Kanpur and will be inaugurated soon. Once infamous for kattas, now a new node of the Defence Corridor is coming up here, Yogi said.

About 14 crore litres of sewage were discharged into the Ganga through the Sisamau drain due to the neglect by previous governments. Even when Namami Gange project was launched under the guidance of PM Modi, the then SP government did nothing for two years. In March 2017, the double-engine BJP government came to power, and today not even a single drop from the Sisamau drain falls into the Ganga, he added.

The election is not about personal animosities or making personal remarks, but about developing our cities into safe and smart ones, the CM said. Addressing a rally at Banda, he said, The Bundelkhand region has overcome the problem of barren and rugged terrain and is set to become a heaven on the earth. In the next four months, the work of providing pure tap water to every house in Bundelkhand is going to be a reality. Banda that was once known for garbage heaps is now set to become a heaven on earth.
MUMBAI: Within 12 hours of an 85-year-old mans murder at his Santacruz apartment, the prime suspect, a newly-hired caretaker, was arrested from Ahmedabad railway station. Santacruz senior citizens murder: Caretaker arrested from Ahmedabad railway station

The police officials said the caretaker also intended to harm his wife who was sleeping in another room, with a locked door which may have saved her life.

The caretaker, a Nepali citizen, identified as Krishna Manbahadur Periyar, 30 had allegedly strangulated pharmaceutical expert Dr Murlidhar Naik on Sunday night and fled. He was hired on May 1 to look after the senior citizen and used to share the same room with him. The police said they recovered a chain made with gold and rudraksh worn by the elderly man and a wristwatch from the accused.

The Naiks, Murlidhar and his 84-year-old wife Uma, had another caretaker who looked after the ailing husband until a month ago. Since he wanted a few days off on account of his marriage later this month, the elderly couple asked the same agency - Health Care At Home - for a replacement. Hence the agency sent Periyar for the job, informed deputy commissioner of Police Krishnakant Upadhyay. He added that it also happened that Periyar had approached the agency only a day prior to his starting date.

On the night of May 7, the police said, the Naik family had gone to sleep around 9pm. Both of them slept in different rooms in their 2 BHK flat in a high-rise apartment on Central Avenue. Periyar slept in the same room as Murlidhar. The caretaker got up early the next morning, tied the hands of the senior citizen and taped his mouth. He knew that Uma would wake up by 7am and the cook would arrive at the house at around 8am. After killing Murlidhar, Periyar took his chain made of gold and rudraksh and his wristwatch, said DCP Upadhyay.

The DCP added that Periyar then tried to enter the room where Uma was sleeping. However, he found that the door was locked. He seems to have left the house around 6am. He then took a northbound train from Santacruz station, got off at Kandivali for breakfast and then proceeded to Borivali, said the DCP.

Meanwhile, the cook came to the house at her usual time. When Uma woke up, she found the door to Murlidhars room ajar and assumed that he was doing his morning chores. It was only after the cook went to call him for morning tea that they found his body.

We booked the accused under sections 302 and 394 of Indian Penal Code on the complaint of his daughter Sangeeta Garg, a Chembur resident, said Upadhyay.

Information that the detection team which was tracking the accused received information from Western Railways that Periyar was seen at the Borivali station at 7.47 am and at Mumbai Central at 9.09 am from where he boarded the Saurashtra Express around 9.45 am. He reached Ahmedabad at 9 pm.

While he was on the train, we had already alerted the GRP at Ahmedabad. Ten teams were sent to different places to look for the accused, as catching him was a priority. It became more urgent when we got to know he hails from Nepal and probably planned to go there, said Upadhyay. The Ahmedabad GRP had detained the accused until the Mumbai police team reached there.

Police said not only did the agency through which Periyar was hired co-operated in providing information about him, two of his brothers who also live and work in Mumbai also helped the police. The brothers told the police that their family hails from a village in Kalikot district of Nepal and they have been coming to Mumbai and doing various jobs here for the past 7-8 years.

However, the accused also holds an Aadhar card that is linked to an address in Bengaluru. Periyar is married and his wife stays in their native place.
PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday responded to criticism of his party in an editorial of the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, saying that he and his party leaders ignore what others say and do not give any importance to such articles. Supporters and party workers welcome NCP chief Sharad Pawar on his arrival in Satara on Monday. (HT Photo)

We do not attach any importance if someone is writing about whether we create new leadership or not. It is their prerogative to write, but we ignore such things. We know what we are doing, and we are satisfied with it, Pawar said at a media interaction in Satara to a question on the recent Saamana editorial that blamed him for not putting a succession plan in place.

The NCP leader, who founded the party in 1999 after walking out of the Congress, recalled that he did create the entire leadership of the NCP back in 1999 when the NCP came to power in alliance with the Congress.

From the NCP, Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar, Dilip Walse Patil and RR Patil got the chance to get inducted into the cabinet. But in 1999, I made all these people cabinet ministers, and the entire Maharashtra saw their work, Pawar said.

Pawar also took a swipe at Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress who described the NCP as the Bharatiya Janata Partys B-team in Karnataka, a reference to the NCPs move to field candidates on some seats in the neighbouring state.

He should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private, Pawar said, questioning Chavans standing in his party

Pawar also explained the NCP move to field candidates in Karnataka to the continuing effort to expand the party. He said the NCP did not take the decision in consultation with other parties such as the Congress as it wanted to start from scratch.

Pawar said his party was contesting a limited number of seats in Karnataka and this will not adversely affect the Congresss prospects.

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Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said while Kattas (illegal country-made firearms) were manufactured in Kanpur during the Samajwadi Party (SP) government, a node of defence corridor was being built here now. This election, Yogi said, was about making the cities smart and safe with all basic facilities (HT FILE)

Kanpur was establishing a new identity as a centre for defence production, he said was addressing a gathering to mobilise peoples support for BJP candidates in the ongoing civic polls.

Yogi said the city was earlier known for curfews while its airport was ready now. It will be inaugurated this month. The greenfield highway between Kanpur and Lucknow will be the new identity. The increased connectivity of Kanpur has vastly enhanced its productivity, the CM added.

He further said the first phase of Kanpur Metro was inaugurated by the Prime Minister last year. Work on the second phase was in progress on a war footing, Yogi said. Appealing to people to vote for the BJP candidates, he said those responsible for curfews, riots and playing with peoples faith were candidates of the SP in the municipal elections now.

Their remarks about women and the Ramayana are not hidden from anyone. I appeal to the people to add third engine to the double engine government to make your city better, the CM said.

This election, he said, was about making the cities smart and safe with all basic facilities. Kanpur used to be an industrial powerhouse, but its neglect by the previous government was not hidden to anyone, Yogi said.

Mother Ganga is our faith and identity. Fourteen crore litre of sewage was discharged into the river as previous government kept on neglecting its health. Today, not a single drop of sewage goes into the river from Sisamau drain, he said.

The state and centre, he said, provided 22,000 houses in Kanpur under PM Awas Yojana, while 71,200 street vendors had been provided with interest free loans. More than 51,800 destitute women, 22,600 physically challenged and 75,300 elderly people were getting the benefits of pension, the CM said. Work was under way to make city traffic simple and easy with 100 more electric buses to be introduced soon, he added.
Bihar governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Monday assured a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation that he would seek a report from the state government on the Sasaram and Biharsharief communal violence during Ram Navmi and the subsequent developments, said party state president Samrat Choudhary. Bihar BJP state president Samrat Choudhary. (File Photo)

However, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar immediately hit back, saying the police action was evidence-based and arrests were made from both the communities on the basis of whatever came out in police investigation, and many persons from both sides were also let off after they were found innocent during interrogation.

The BJP delegation comprising Choudhary, leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha, former deputy chief minister Tar Kishor Prasad, senior BJP leader Nand Kishor Yadav among others, presented a memorandum to the governor and sought an impartial inquiry by a Patna high court judge into the turn of events leading to clashes, saying that it pointed to be the handiwork of PFI (Popular Front of India) and organisations like it.

The development happened after the BJP state chiefs visit to Sasaram and Biharsharief, where he sat on dharna against the arrests. In connection with the Sasaram violence, police had earlier picked up former BJP legislator Jawahar Prasad, while in Biharsharief, Bajrang Dal convenor Kundan Kumar was arrested along with others affiliated to different organisations.

Accusing the state government of implicating innocent people to appease a section of the population, the memorandum said that after the incidents of stone pelting and attack on Ram Navmi procession, the police under pressure from the government not only picked up innocent persons of a particular community, but also pressurised them by making fake videos on mobile to reveal some names they want to be implicated.

Recording of statements happens before judicial magistrates. Had the police been active and alert, the incident would have never happened, as there was a well-defined route for the procession. The violence was part of a well-planned conspiracy to stop the visit of Union home minister Amit Shah to Sasaram. There was violence because there were no administrative steps to ensure peace during an important festival. The only reason for the incidents are administrative negligence, but no action has been taken against any official. It calls for impartial probe as to why the police is acting in a partisan way and why there is an attempt to give protection to PFI-type organisations, said Choudhary.

The BJP state chief said that after violence, even before the police could initiate inquiry, the CM gave his verdict to tilt the direction by pointing fingers at the BJP. The fact is that he was himself behind the conspiracy to stop Amit Shahs visit. The government tries to play down bomb explosions by PFI by labelling them crackers, but is quick to nab others if it suits its appeasement policy. There was a marriage at Bajran Dals Biharsharief convenor Kundan Kumars house, but the police arrested him and misbehaved with his wife and family. Action should be taken against those police officials, he added.

JD-U spokesman Neeraj Kumar said political FIRs will not serve any purpose, as all actions in the Nitish government are evidence-based and for everyone to see and analyse. Those who created trouble in a hitherto peaceful place are facing action as per law and they are from both communities. Those who were found innocent during interrogation were allowed to go and they, too, belonged to both the communities. There is no action without evidence against anyone. In Sasaram, 35 persons were freed after interrogation and they included 23 Hindus and 10 Muslims. Facts speak for themselves, he added.

Kumar said that the BJP should look within as to why its leaders or its affiliate organisations were in the police scanner due to their actions and if they were facing the law, why the party was not exploring legal options for their bail. We are also sad that the young boys will suffer all their life for their actions at a time when they should have strived for employment due to their involvement in communal violence. Those associated with Bajrang Dal, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and BJP have also come under police lens during investigation and it is an alarming trend. If Muslims have been found involved, they have also met the same fate, he added.

Bihar politics has been on boil recently after JD-U MP Kaushlendra Kumar demanded that the Bajrang Dal should be banned, alleging that it organises mob and whips up passion in the name of Ram. Later, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders attacked the proposed visit of Bageshwar Dham preacher Dhiendra Shastri. Earlier, Bihars education minister Chandrashekhar, who had stirred a controversy by speaking against a section of the epic Ramcharitmanas, said that Shastri could go to jail if he tried to whip up passion during his visit from May 13-17.

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At least four criminals were injured after they suffered bullet injuries in a gunbattle with police in Bihars East Champaran district on late Monday evening, police said. Police seized four firearms and ten live cartridges from the spot. (Representative file image)

East Champaran superintendent of police (SP), on Tuesday said armed criminals opened fire at a team of police near Baraghat. Caught unawares, the criminals opened fire at the police team, said SP.

All the four who were wounded have been arrested, said the superintendent of police.

Police returned the fire in self-defence after criminals took to indiscriminate firing, touching off a gunbattle in which around 20 rounds were fired by police in response, said Dhananjay Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Chakiya.

Also Read: 16 lakh, gold worth 15 lakh looted from SBI in Bihars Jamui in broad daylight

The incident occurred at around 8:30pm, he added.

A police release said that four criminals suffered bullet injuries in the gunbattle.

The criminals were among those who were indulged in the loot of 48 lakh from ICICI Bank which took place at Chakiya on April 12, this year, said the release.

All the arrested persons have been identified.

Police seized four firearms and ten live cartridges from the spot.
Pune: The currency notes in denominations of 500, 200, and 100 were seized by police late on Monday. (HT PHOTO)

Pune City Police seized 3.4 crore in cash on Monday night after receiving a tip-off about the unusual movement of a big amount of cash in a car near the Manjari area.

In a joint operation Traffic Police branch, Loni Kalbhor Police Station, Hadapsar Police Station and Crime Branch Unit 5 acting on the information intercepted a car near the Grapes Research Centre in Manjari, on the outskirts of the city at around 10 pm.

During the search operation police discovered cash loaded in six bags being transported through the car.

After bringing the car to the Hadapsar Police Station, a search was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses, and around half a dozen bags containing cash were found.

Reacting to the development, Arvind Gokule, senior police inspector at Hadapsar police station said, The currency notes in denominations of 500, 200, and 100 were seized, and the trader and farmer from Indapur Taluka, who was driving the car were questioned for the presence of cash in the car.

According to police, the driver claimed that he was taking the cash to a bank in Pune for loan repayment.

After the completion of the cash and vehicle seizure procedure, police notified the Income Tax Department for further investigation to verify the source of the cash and the drivers claim.

Police have acted under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) 41(D) and further investigation is going on.
The gang involved in the distribution of fake Secondary School Certificate (SSC) marksheets of the Maharashtra State Open School  busted last week by the Pune police  disseminated more than 2,700 such marksheets, officials probing the racket said on Tuesday. The gang involved in the distribution of fake Secondary School Certificate (SSC) marksheets of the Maharashtra State Open School  busted last week by the Pune police  disseminated more than 2,700 such marksheets (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

Amol Zende, deputy commissioner of police (crime), Pune city police, said, After technical investigation of the material seized from the accused, it was found that the accused had distributed over 2,700 fake SSC marksheets of the Maharashtra State Open School through 21 bogus sub-centres. Of the 2,700 fake marksheets, 35 to 40 were used for various purposes.

The gang was involved in selling fake certificates under the names of the Board of Secondary Education Sambhaji Nagar, Amdas University, Maharashtra State Open School Sambhaji Nagar and Maharashtra State Open School Board of Secondary Education among others, Zende informed.

Investigation revealed that the gang members were also involved in the sale of fake degree certificates (B.Sc., B.Com., ITI). The gang was found to be operating from Sangli, Sambhaji Nagar, Dharashiv, Pune city and Pune rural.

Ramnath Pokle, additional commissioner of police (crime), said, This gang has a very large reach. As of now, we have identified 15 to 17 agents who had zeroed in on potential consumers and sent their information to primary operators. During the investigation, more such agents have been found and the figure is likely to rise further. Verification of the fake certificates is underway.

The Pune city police crime branch unit had busted the fake marksheet racket last week, arresting four persons identified as Saiyad Imran Saiyad Ibrahim from Sambhaji Nagar, Altaf Sheikh from Paranda in Dharashiv district, Krushna Sonaji Giri from Bidkin in Sambhaji Nagar, and Sandeep Dyandev Kamble from Sangli district.

Elaborating on the modus operandi of the gang, the police said that Saiyad Ibrahim had developed a fake website of the Maharashtra State Open School through which he sought out people requiring SSC certificates in their existing jobs. He even opened 21 sub-centres and appointed agents to run these sub-centres. As of now, the police have busted three such sub-centres while the hunt for the remaining sub-centres is underway.

According to the police, Saiyad Ibrahim would charge sums ranging from 35,000 to 65,000 depending on the percentage of marks the customers wanted printed on their fake marksheets. Currently, the police are on the lookout for other agents associated with Saiyad Ibrahim.

Sharad Gosavi, chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), said that the State Institute of Open School (SIOS) is a separate board. The SIOS used to conduct exams for Class 5 and 8 but not for the Class 10 and 12. The fake certificates were being distributed in the name of SIOS.

In the ongoing system, there is provision of form number 17 since 1966 for students of Class 10. Therefore, according to us, there is no need of SIOS for students of Class 10 and 12, Gosavi said.

Gosavi said that the response to SIOSs exams for Classes 5 and 8 is very poor. Only 35 students enrolled for the Class 5, while 50 students enrolled for the Class 8. A total 85 students enrolled for SIOSs Class 5 and 8 exams.

The police said that the prime accused has confessed to creating a fake website and issuing bogus graduation certificates. The arrested accused were produced before a city court on Monday after serving their original custody period. Saiyad Ibrahims custody has been extended till May 13 while the remaining three accused have been given 14 days of magisterial custody.
A state transport (ST) woman employee was killed after a public transport bus hit a stationary bus at the parking lot of Vallabhnagar ST Bus depot in Pimpri at about 8:30 am on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Shilpa Gedam. Gedam, who worked as a technician at the depot, was rushed to a hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC)

According to the complaint filed at the police station, Prashant Wadkar of Partur depot was attempting to move a bus from the parking area. As another bus was obstructing the parking area, he took the drivers seat of the stationary bus and tried to park it on the another side.

However, due to a technical fault, Wadkar failed to apply the brakes, resulting in the bus hitting a Shivshahi bus parked in front. Gedam, who was checking the oil level of the Shivshahi bus, was caught between both the vehicles and the wheels ran over her.

Gedam, who worked as a technician at the depot, was rushed to a hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

The administration of Vallabhnagar ST depot filed a complaint with the Pimpri police station. A case has been registered against Wadkar, who was driving the bus at the time of the accident.
Pune: Until six months ago, there was nothing that was extraordinary, other than his talents, about Pradeep Kurulkar. The Defence Research Development Organisation, where he worked as director, describes him as outstanding, his acquaintances say the 59-year-old is a regular family man while a senior leader of the RSS, which Kurulkar has been associated with since age 5, says he was always dutiful. Pradeep Kurulkar (left) was taken to ATS office in Shivajinagar on Tuesday. (RAHUL RAHUT/ HT PHOTO)

But about six months ago, the vigilance team at the DRDO in Pune where Kurulkar played a key role in the design, development and production of Akash launchers and mission-critical ground systems defence projects, started tracking his movements and communication. They suspected their star scientist was in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative in what they told the Maharashtra ATS seemed like a case of honey trap.

After the DRDO complaint, a team of Maharashtra ATS began tracking Kurulkar and found that he was in touch with a female Pakistani Intelligence Operative through audio and video messages over Whatsapp. ATS also claim the scientist has allegedly shared sensitive security and defence related information with her. The agency believes that Kurulkar first came in contact with the female PIO in September 2022 and continued to remain in touch with her for six months before blocking her number.

At the time of his arrest on May 3, Kurulkar was officiating as head of Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)], a premier Systems Engineering Laboratory of DRDO based at Dighi near Pune. His area of specialization, according to DRDOs website, is design and development of missile launchers, military engineering equipment, advanced robotics and mobile unmanned systems for military applications.

On Tuesday, Kurulkar who is six months short of retirement, was produced before the additional sessions judge (Special Court) in Pune and remanded to further custody until May 15th. While his lawyer protested his clients innocence, the ATS said they needed time to examine the forensic evidence, including a pen drive seized at the time of Kurulkars arrest. According to ATS, the scientist blocked the Pakistani Intelligence Officer after initial communication with her but then she got in touch with him again using another number. He was also in touch with the PIO on Gmail and the IP address of the recipient has been traced to Pakistan. A message from the PIO asking him why he had blocked her was recorded on the mobile phone which has been seized by ATS, the officer told the court. In her submission,

inspector Sujata Tanawade said that in the course of his work, Kurulkar met a number of women at the DRDO guest house and they believe that one of them was possibly the PIO. The ATS is also investigating all his foreign travel in the last few years. His bank accounts are also to be checked whether he received any money that he cant explain, she said. Before his arrest, Kurulkar deleted data from his mobile phone, laptop and pen drive. The ATS said they needed to ascertain what that data was and whether it had been shared with others.

What has left his acquaintances stunned is that until not long ago, Kurulkar was flexing his nationalist credentials and his association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on social media. In a YouTube interview he speaks at length about the influence of the RSS on his life and how his family, from the time of his grandfather, has been a part of the Sangh. The shakha, he tells the interviewer is an integral part of his daily life. Kurulkar who is married to a doctor, stays is the Peth area which is the Old City. He hails from a family of mathematicians and joined the DRDO in 1988 after completing his Bachelors degree (BE) in Electrical Engineering from COEP Pune with a first class with distinction. A senior RSS leader in the city told HT, on the condition that he not be quoted, that they had been left stunned by the circumstances of Kurulkars arrest. His story exhibits patriotism and betrayal, he said. Kurulkar was often touted by the RSS in Pune as one of the stars, and his arrest has now snowballed into political controversy with NCP holding protests against him and the RSS.

The RSS teaches to love the country, how to be good citizens but what about their own swayamsevak who is holding a key post and providing sensitive defence information to Pakistan? demanded Pune City President Prashant Jagtap.

Kurulkar has been booked under the relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act. The DRDO has so far refused to comment on his arrest.

BOX

In the course of his career, Pradeep Kurulkar won several honours including the Science Day award for best publication in 2000, the DRDO Agni Award for Excellence in Self-Reliance in 2002, the DRDO Award for Path-breaking Research/ Outstanding technology development in 2008 for AKASH and the DRDO Award for Performance Excellence for MRSAM in 2016 and the Award for Excellence of Technology by DEMA in 2016. He is also a fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India), Life Member of Indian National Society for Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (INSARM), Member of Fluid Power Society of India (FPSI), and Robotics Society of India.

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TS SSC Result 2023 Live Updates: Telangana SSC or Clas 10 results have been declared. Board of Secondary Education Telangana (BSE) announced these results at a press conference. TS SSC result 2023 will be available soon on bse.telangana.gov.in, results.bse.telangana.gov.in, resuts.bsetelangana.org.

Also read: CBSE results 2023 live updates

Apart from the official websites, Telangana SSC results are also available on Hindustan Times.

TS SSC result 2023 on HT portal

TS SSC result 2023 on official website

To check TS SSC result on HT portal, follow these steps:

Go to the link mentioned above. Enter the asked credentials and login. Check and download your results. Students can also register on the link and get updates when results are declared.

Also read: CGBSE result 2023 live updates

Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy announced SSC results at a press conference.

Check TS SSC result.
In a bid to stop Manga piracy, Viz Media has rolled out a new app and subscription service which contains 10,000 chapters of manga and is accessible to English readers. With the latest development, the Shonen Jump subscription and the new Viz Manga subscription will together contain over 25,000 chapters of manga. Image for representation(Twitter)

As per a report by Polygon, the Viz Manga service contains chapters from several genres which includes titles from renowned Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha. The icing on the cake for English-reading fans is that fifteen of those series will be available to them on the same day of release as in Japan.

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We hope that people will gravitate towards a platform where the latest content is free and an affordable subscription allows access to a vast library of chapters, said Andy Nakatani, senior director of online manga and subscription manga, and Carl Hayes, senior director of consumer acquisition and retention, in a joint statement.

All the more so, because users can trust an official platform where they know that the mangaka will get proper recognition for their work. This is really just a first step and we plan to expand in the future on to make even more manga available to more people, they added.

The move by Viz Media targets the increased readership and fan following for manga and anime in American popular culture since the Covid Pandemic. As per Viz Media's news releases, global demand for manga is at an all-time high and the Shonen Jump app has over 35 Million average monthly reads currently.

The latest development aims to sort out the problems faced by English readers. Non-Japanese readers and those residing outside Japan, were not able to access some of the manga content. At times, they wouldn't have it in the English language and had to wait for years to get the officially translated version.

As a way around the barriers faced by English readers in USA, several fans and websites have been unauthorisedly translating and scanning manga series. Websites like MangaDex, serve as a hotbed for the unofficial translations for fans to keep themselves updated with certain manga series.

Viz Manga service is expected to tackle the existing 'piracy' network. With the new app and subscription service, fans would get the official English translations in a digital manner and also get access to thousands of chapters of manga.

The VIZ Manga service was only made possible because we had an incredible amount of cooperation and support from the mangaka and their publishers in Japan. And of course the driving force of this project comes from the passion and dedication that so many people at VIZ as well as those who work with VIZ have for manga, said Nakatani and Hayes.

The Viz Manga subscription is now available for $1.99/month, and the app can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices.

Here is the full list of series that will receive simul-publication:

Rumiko Takahashi: Mao

Haro Aso: ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Takashi Shiina: Yashahime: Princess Half Demon

Tomohito Oda: Komi Cant Communicate

Kotoyama: Call of the Night

Story by Kanehito Yamada, Art by Tsukasa Abe: Frieren: Beyond Journeys End

Makoto Ojiro: Insomniacs AXer School

Kenjiro Hata: Fly Me To The Moon

Rei Toma: The Kings Beast

Hisato Murasaki (based on the video game by Atlus): Persona 5

Kagiji Kumanomata: Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

Gosho Aoyama: Case Closed

Tamifull: How Do We Relationship?

Kyousuke Motomi: Queens Quality

Rei Hiroe: Black Lagoon

Other back library titles which will be accessible on the new app include:

Rumiko Takahashi: Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Mermaid Saga, and others

Junji Ito: GYO, Uzumaki, and others

Yuu Watase: Fushigi Yugi, Absolute Boyfriend, and others

Inio Asano: Goodnight Punpun, What a Wonderful World, and others

Taiyo Matsumoto: Sunny, Tekkonkinkreet, Ping Pong, and others

Gosho Aoyama: Case Closed

Ai Yazawa: Nana

Arina Tanemura: Full Moon, The Gentlemens Alliance, and others
Ishq Vishk, directed by Ken Ghosh, was released on May 9, 2003. The film about young love became a hit, thanks to its young cast and popular songs. It was the film debut of Shahid Kapoor, son of Pankaj Kapur and also starred Amrita Rao opposite him. For the film's 20th anniversary, Amrita revealed that she was wooed for the project with a cake and a bouquet by Tips, the music company that produced the film. (Also read: Amrita Rao was approached for Salman Khan's Wanted, says vengeful manager 'didn't inform' her) Ishq Vishk marked the film debut of Shahid Kapoor who starred alongside Amrita Rao.

The actor also shared that Ishq Vishk was originally supposed to be her debut movie. But the search for the lead actor opposite her took time and by the time the film released, she had already starred in the films Ab Ke Baras and The Legend of Bhagat Singh before that. But the musical became a breakthrough project for some of the artistes involved including Shahid Kapoor and Amrita. Shenaz Treasury, Yash Tonk, Satish Shah, Shahid's mother Neelima Azeem and Vishal Malhotra were also part of the cast.

Amrita told Bollywood Hungama in an interview, "Ken Ghosh spotted me in a Cadbury Perk ad which had a Karwa Chauth theme. Ken Ghosh instantly found his Payal in me and took the ad film to Mr Kumar Taurani and Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films. I was still in school and not interested in debuting in the movies as yet. Tips came home with a bouquet and cake which said 'We will make you a star! They also had a very promising contract in place. The rest is history!"

She was last seen in the film Thackeray (2019) alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The actor is married to RJ Anmol and gave birth to their first child a boy named Veer on November 1, 2020. They host a YouTube show, Couple Of Things where they speak to other partners about their relationships.

A sequel to the film titled Ishq Vishq Rebound is due to be released this year. Marking Nipun Dharmadhikaris Hindi debut, it stars Pashmina Roshan, the cousin of actor Hrithik Roshan, Jibraan Khan, Rohit Saraf and Nailaa Grewal. Jibraan played Shah Rukh Khan and Kajols son in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

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On Sunday, Sonam Kapoor attended the coronation ceremony of King Charles III in the UK to introduce the choir at his historic concert. Sonam's extended family cheered on in India as they posted on their Instagram Stories. On Tuesday, her father, actor Anil Kapoor wrote a special post congratulating Sonam on the coronation honour and shared that he was proud of her for being 'the face and voice of this generation'. Sonam and her husband Anand Ahuja both reacted to Anil's post on Instagram. (Also read: Sonam Kapoor dons white, greets audience with 'namaste' at King Charles III's coronation concert. Watch) Sonam Kapoor was invited to introduce the choirs at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III on Sunday.

The veteran actor shared a photograph of Sonam in her white dress for the coronation ceremony and wrote on Instagram, "Sonam has always done things differently and it makes me so happy when she gets recognized and celebrated for it. It is such an honor to be invited amidst royalty to address all the commonwealth nations. It seems fitting that Sonam should represent our country on a global stage with other accomplished artists to bring in a new era of unity, harmony and creativity. As a father, and as a member of the Indian film fraternity, I could not be more proud of Sonam for being the face and voice of this generation. @sonamkapoor (red heart emoji)."

Sonam replied with a few red emoji and stated, "Love you so much! My biggest cheerleader." Anand added, "Wowwww. So lovely said!" The couple recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on May 8. They are parents to son Vayu Kapoor Ahuja who was born on August 20, 2022.

At the coronation concert, Sonam introduced the choir performances of The Bahamas Youth Choir, Steve Windwood and Virtual Commonwealth Choir. Beginning with a namaste, her speech at the event stated, "Our Commonwealth is a union. Together we are one third of the worlds people, one third of the worlds ocean, one quarter of the worlds land. Each of our countries is unique. Each of our people is special. But we choose to stand this one. Learning from our history, blessed by our diversity, driven by our values and determined to build a more peaceful, sustainable and prosperous future for everyone, where every voice is heard."

Sonam was last seen in the film AK vs AK (2020) in a cameo alongside her father Anil and brother, actor Harsh Varddhan Kapoor. She is awaiting the release of her next film, Blind, produced by Sujoy Ghosh.

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Filmmaker and president of the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association Ashoke Pandit has condemned the ban on The Kerala Story in West Bengal. Taking to Twitter on Monday, Ashoke also shared two brief clips. In one of the clips, actor Amitabh Bachchan spoke at an event in the state a few months ago. In the second clip, a person recorded a video on how the Kolkata Police shut down the screening of the movie. (Also Read | The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen says a boy 'apologised for abusing' producer after watching film) Ashoke Pandit spoke about West Bengal CM's decision to ban The Kerala Story in the state.

In a clip, Amitabh said, "But even now ladies and gentlemen, and I'm sure my colleagues on stage will agree, questions are being raised on civil liberties and freedom of expression. Since those early times, there have been many changes in cinema content."

In another clip, a person sat inside a theatre and showed a blank screen. He said, "I am in Lake Mall Cinepolis right now. I've come to see the movie The Kerala Story at 10.55 pm show. Just after 15 minutes, the police has come here and they have asked to shut down the movie. The hall authorities are saying they will refund the movie tickets. It's house full, everyone is sitting over here...The ban is from tomorrow and these people are showing muscle power today."

Sharing the clip, Ashoke captioned the post, "Happening in the same state Bengal where Amitabh Ji few days back was raising the issue of Freedom of expression. Unfortunately today a thought-provoking film #TheKeralaStory is banned by the same CM sitting on the stage applauding to what Bachchan Sahab was saying. I wish and hope Industry together condemns this dictatorial attitude of Mamata Banerjee."

On Tuesday, speaking to news agency ANI, Ashoke said, "I condemn the banning of the film The Kerala Story by the West Bengal government. It's a big attack on the freedom of expression of a filmmaker. It is sending the wrong signal to the entire country."

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the movie to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence". Reacting to it, The Kerala Story producer Vipul Shah said that they will take legal action against the ban imposed on the screening of the film in the state.

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A day after the West Bengal government banned The Kerala Story, film's director Sudipto Sen called the decision 'politically motivated'. In a new interview, Sudipto asked state chief minister Mamata Banerjee to watch the film and then take a decision. He recalled that when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat was banned in 2018, Mamata was 'the first political leader who came in support of the movie'. (Also Read | Producers Guild of India raises strong objection on state-enforced ban on The Kerala Story, says it is distressed) Sudipto Sen has spoken over CM Mamata Banerjee's decision to ban The Kerala Story in West Bengal.

West Bengal became the first state to ban The Kerala Story which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. Mamata had said that The Kerala Story was banned to "avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state".

Speaking with news agency ANI, Sudipto said, "Not a single untoward incident has happened in the state because of the film. The decision to ban the film is politically motivated. I request her to watch the film and then take any decision...I am not a politician, I am a filmmaker. I can only make a film, you want to see it or not that you guys will decide. There was no problem when the film was released in Kolkata for four days, suddenly Didi felt that there could be law and order issues Mahua Moitra, Mamata Banerjee, they are the champion of free speech, human rights."

He also added, "I requested her to watch the film first and not to decide on people's opinions. You will like the film, you will be proud that the Bengali director made this responsible film. After watching the film, everyone started liking the film so much that all the debate ended automatically. There was one problem that too was not a major problem in Tamil Nadu. There was a guy who use to threaten the movie hall owners. Every time, if there is any issue in Tamil Nadu that particular gentleman use to stand by and created problems. After all this, the Tamil Nadu High Court allowed us and said there is no logic to ban the film if the censor board has already given the clearance."

The movie has been made tax-free in Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has also decided to make it tax-free in the state. A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn.

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Day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a ban on The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri has revealed that he has sent a legal notice to her for her comments made about him and the film. He along with Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal have asked Mamata to tender unconditional apology by withdrawing all the allegations against them and their films on May 8. Also read: Mamata Banerjee announces ban on The Kerala Story in West Bengal, film producer reacts Vivek Agnihotri has sent a 4-page notice to Mamata Banerjee.

During her address to the media while announcing a ban on The Kerala Story, Mamata had said, "What was 'The Kashmir Files'? It was meant purely to humiliate a particular section of society. What is 'The Kerala Story'? It is a distorted story."

Sharing a four-page-long notice sent to Mamata, Vivek wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, "BREAKING: I have, alongwith @AbhishekOfficl & Pallavi Joshi, sent a LEGAL NOTICE to the Chief Minister, Bengal @MamataOfficial for her false & highly defamatory statements made with malafide intention to defame us & our films #TheKashmirFiles & upcoming 2024 film #TheDelhiFiles."

Through their advocate, Vivek has said that Mamata called The Kashmir Files a conspiracy and that it is mostly fiction and planned. Addressed to Mamata, the notice read: You had tweeted the same and also made statement on floor of the assembly without taking the name of the movie. You further stated that the movie is funded and created and that there is conspiracy to create unrest. You also urged the people not to watch the movie. It is stated that her statements caused great amount of damage to the filmmaker's reputation and the profit of the film.

It is also stated that the filmmaker had planned to make a movie on Bengal Genocide in 1946-47 and 1971 titled Delhi Files but when they announced the project in Kolkata, they were attacked, abused, threatened of FIRs by Mamata's party members.

It claims that with stroke of single statement made by her, all the hard work, commitment, truthfulness of the filmmakers got damaged bringing bad name to movie and them and "the same is irreparable. As per the notice, Mamata prevented the making of The Delhi Files only to gain easy popularity among the so called seculars in the country and to see that the Bengal genocide does not see the light of the day and to keep the public at large in dark on the said issue.

Demaning an apology from her, the notice read: It is required that either you substantiate the allegations made by you against my clients and their movie by producing authenticated proof or to withdraw your statements by addressing media in similar manner and tendering unconditional apology to them. You need to give equal amount of publicity for withdrawing the accusations made against my clients. It is mentioned that in absence of the same, the filmmaker will go ahead with legal proceedings against the West Bengal CM.

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Marvel fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the fourth Captain America film, "Captain America: New World Order," which may be in for a surprise as rumours swirl that the movie may receive a new title before it hits theaters. While the pre and post-production is well underway, a change in title could indicate a shift in focus for the upcoming film. What could the title change mean for the MCU? (Image Credit: Marvel Studios)

New World Order will feature Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, following his acceptance of the Shields mantle in the Disney+ web series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

The cast will also include Harrison Ford as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Tim Blake Nelson as the Leader, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Shira Haas as Sabra, and Liv Tyler as Betty Ross.

While the plot for the fourth installment remains a mystery, the inclusion of the Leader and Thunderbolt Ross suggests that Sam Wilson will face off against the infamous Red Hulk.

Despite the title "Captain America: New World Order" being announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, along with bunch of other big titles, a new rumour suggests that the film will receive a different title before its release.

Popular industry insider, CanWeGetSomeToast revealed on Twitter that the fourth Captain America movie is currently untitled and will be re-titled. They also leaked several Marvel insights way before the launch date including Spider-Man: No Way Homes three Spider-Man team-up.

When another Twitter user asked the insider if the New World Order would be revamped, they replied, Yes it is.

The follow-up tweets read, "No, Writer's strike has nothing to do with this."

The reason for the change may stem from a now-deleted Instagram post by the account @atlanta_filming, which posted a picture of the official Captain America 4 title with the "New World Order" changed to say "New Title Coming??" The caption sparked some speculation that the use of "New World Order" as a title could be controversial due to its association with conspiracy theories and Russia and China's political involvement.

Marvel Studios has not addressed the title change rumors, but their silence on the matter could suggest that a change is indeed underway. Cause every time there is an uncanny rumour the studio goes vocal about it. So Marvel may be waiting until a new title is decided upon before making an announcement.

However, there is a solid possibility that they may simply be ignoring the rumours if they are false. Regardless of whether the title change rumor holds any truth, fans can expect a fresh and exciting installment in the Captain America franchise and Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

ALSO READ| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 debuts at $114 million at the box-office, Priyanka Chopra's Love Again flops

Regardless of the title, fans can anticipate a thrilling addition to the MCU with Anthony Mackie's big-screen debut as the new Captain America and the introduction of new characters like the Red Hulk.

Captain America: New World Order is ready to hit theaters on May 3, 2024.
Actor Jonathan Majors is expected to appear virtually in court on May 10 to face charges of assault and harassment. The 33-year-old actor is known for his role in the HBO hit Lovecraft Country, a string of successful indie films, and his portrayal of Kang, the latest existential threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jonathan Majors attends the champagne-colored red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.,(REUTERS)

Major's career hangs in the balance after domestic violence allegations surfaced in March 2023. On March 25, police responded to a 911 call from Majors' girlfriend, who said she was assaulted. She sustained minor injuries to her head and neck and was hospitalized in stable condition. Majors was charged with assault and aggravated harassment and released on his own recognizance.

Majors' lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, claimed that the woman was having an emotional crisis and that her team had video footage from the vehicle where the altercation took place and written statements from the woman recanting her allegations. The U.S. Army suspended its TV ad campaign featuring Majors, expressing concerns about the allegations.

Chaudhry released text messages between Majors and the woman in which the woman said she used physical force against him and that the police arrested him due to an NYPD protocol requiring arrest in certain circumstances. The woman also disavowed any allegations that Majors had done anything to her and confirmed that he called 911 because of her mental condition. Despite this, on April 18, Majors was dropped by his publicist and manager, who cited the allegations against him as the reason for their decision.

Majors was generating awards buzz for his role in Magazine Dreams, which emerged as a critic favorite at this year's Sundance Film Festival. He also shot the second season of Loki for Disney+ and was due to appear in at least three upcoming Marvel films through 2025. There have been no discussions about recasting his role, but sources say the studio is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Also read | Royal surprise! King Charles and Queen Camilla make appearance on American Idol

As of now, fans and studio executives are anxiously watching the case, and the outcome will determine the future of Majors' career.
Producer Sandra Thomas, known for bankrolling films such as Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013), Philips and the Monkey Pen (2013) and Aadu (2015) among others, has reacted strongly to the ongoing drug menace controversy in Malayalam industry. In an interview, she has admitted that there is rampant use of drugs in Malayalam filmdom and that strict action needs to be taken to control it. She said that many producers are suffering due to the drug addictions of some actors. (Also read: Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi banned for bad behavior on sets by Malayalam film unions) Actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi have already been banned by the Malayalam film unions.

Over the last few weeks, the Malayalam industry has been plagued by reports of several actors taking drugs on film set. Following several complaints, The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and Kerala Film Producers Association last week jointly issued a ban of popular Malayalam actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi, who were allegedly taking drugs on sets.

In an interview to Cinema Express, Sandra said: Its true that drug usage is rampant in Malayalam cinema. Its high time we controlled it because there are plenty of issues associated with it. People who take these drugs dont sleep at night, so theyre always late for the shoot. We also dont know when theyre sober. Theyll nod at all our instructions, but they wont be listening. They keep forgetting the time and dates. At the end of the day, its the producer who suffers."

She also reacted to the ban on actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi. She confirmed that film bodies have reached a consensus with the exhibitors ensuring that their films dont get released in theatres.

Its a nightmare to handle uncooperative actors, she said, and added, In Shane Nigams case, I dont know whats wrong with his request to check the edited footage. It becomes a problem only when he tries to be involved in the process and demands modifications according to his wish.

Actor Tini Tom recently reacted to the rampant drug use. He also said that he recently worked with an actor whom he suspected to be on drugs as he has stained teeth. Tom further added that he has decided to not let his son pursue acting as his wife is worried for him.

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The feature adaptation of Azar Nafisa's bestselling Iranian novel, Reading Lolita in Tehran, is all set to roll. The sale of this movie by WestEnd Films will be launched at the Cannes Film Festival, kicking off on May 16 at the divinely beautiful French Riviera. Starring in it will be Golshifteh Farahani (Pirates of the Caribbean, About Elly and Paterson) and Zar Amir-Ebrahami (Cannes Palme d'Or winner for Holy Spider in 2022). The film is an adaptation of the 2003 bestselling novel Reading Lolita in Tehran.

The movie will also be titled Reading Lolita in Tehran, and helmed by award-winning director Eran Riklis (Lemon Tree, The Syrian Bride, Dancing Arabs) and written by Marjorie David  alongside Mina Kavani (Red Rose, No Bears).

The book is now available in 32 languages and set after the Iranian Revolution when the country came under an extreme form of dictatorship.

The plot is inspiring and makes every effort to counter the brutality of the regime. It narrates the story of a teacher who gets together seven of her most committed girl students and encourages them to read forbidden Western classics. These included Lolita, The Great Gatsby, Daisy Miller and Pride, and the girls realised that if they had to have freedom, they had to leave their beloved homeland.

As the moral police force took over Iran and indulged in rampant raids in Tehran, including the universities there, the girls in the teacher's room removed their veils and spoke their minds. Their stories ran parallel to the novels they read.

Reading Lolita in Tehran, with its depiction of both human relationships and political and global matters, struck a deep emotional chord with me, said Riklis.I was totally aware of the potential complexity of telling such an intimate story of women in Iran. But I also knew that its a wonderful and emotional challenge, based on a universal view of human struggle wherever and whenever it is. I knew that my approach to storytelling, one of respect, emotion, dignity, love and responsibility, will always win and overcome any obstacle.

Eran Riklis brings a uniquely sensitive touch in exploring the complex lives of these women under political and personal siege, said Maya Amsellem, managing director of WestEnd Films.

Reading Lolita in Tehran marks the second feature from WestEnd starring Amir-Ebrahami. Earlier this year it was announced that the company was selling the political thriller Untitled Judo, which Amir-Ebrahami is also set to co-direct alongside Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv.

Reading Lolita in Tehran was shot in Italy and is now in postproduction. It is an Italian-Israeli effort.
Prince Harry was present by himself at the Coronation ceremony of his father King Charles III. A source has now informed that many in the Royal Family still wondered why he had bothered to come, after publicly shaming them with his controversial book Spare. (Also read: Meghan Markle spotted hiking with friends after skipping coronation of King Charles III) Britain's Prince Harry attends the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/Pool via AP)(AP)

At the coronation ceremony, Prince Harry was placed two rows behind his brother, Prince Williams. There he was present alongside his cousins and controversial uncle Prince Andrew. Meanwhile, his wife Meghan Markle, who skipped the coronation ceremony to stay in the States, was seen hiking with her close friends on Sunday morning. Meghan had declined the invitation ceremony because the date of the coronation coincided with the 4th birthday of their son Archie.

Now as per a report by Vanity Fair, sources claimed that many insiders in the Royal Family were left wondering why Harry bothered to come at all. It was reported that Harry had no interaction with his brother Prince William and his father King Charles III during his brief visit. Harry also made his way to the airport as soon as the ceremony was over, and declined the offer to stay back for the informal lunch afterwards. One makes ones choices. To be honest there wasnt much talk of Harry at all. The focus was very much on the occasion. the source close to the Royal Family said. Even before the official photographs of King Charles III were taken, Harry had made his exit. Reportedly, Harry was determined to return back in time to be with his son for his 4th birthday.

The coronation ceremony was the first time where Harry was seen with the Royal Family after the release of his controversial memoir Spare, where had detailed his life as royal member in the household. Harry and Meghan were last spotted together with the rest of the members of the royal family during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth which took place last year in September 2022. Since then, Meghan and Harry announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals. Then onwards, the couple have moved to the US, where they now live with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

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Piers Morgan has come out in support of Prince William for his 'dignified silence' at the coronation in the presence of his brother Prince Harry. The Sky News Australia host wrote his recent column after the much-awaited coronation ceremony that took place last weekend. (Also read: Royal Family left wondering why Prince Harry came to the coronation) Britain's Prince Harry, right center row, looks on as front row from left, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess of Wales and Edward the Duke of Edinburgh attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Yui Mok, Pool via AP)(AP)

Prince Harry was present at the coronation ceremony of his father King Charles III, although he didn't stand with the rest of the family. He was placed two rows behind his brother, Prince Williams. There he was present alongside his cousins and controversial uncle Prince Andrew. He also didn't interaction with either his father or his brother, and made his way to the airport as soon as the ceremony came to an end. Meanwhile, Harry's wife Meghan Markle was seen hiking around with her close friends in California.

Now as per the new column written by Piers Morgan for New York Post titled, The coronation was an absolute triumph for the real royals  and a disaster for bitter Harry and Meghan,' Piers has showered his praise for William and wrote, "The Prince of Wales has maintained a dignified silence as Harry has repeatedly and shamefully trashed him, his wife, Catherine, his father, Charles, and his stepmother, Camilla, in a repugnant tell-all book and Netflix documentary series... No man would prefer standing back and saying nothing while his own sibling torches their whole family in such a disgusting manner."

This was the first time where Prince Harry was seen with the other members of the Royal Family after the release of his controversial memoir Spare, where he detailed several allegations against them that grabbed headlines. He also alleged that at one instance his brother Prince William even physically attacked him amid growing tensions in their relationship over Harrys marriage to Meghan Markle. Owing to the physical assault, Prince Harry said that he also had a visible injury to his back.

Harry and Meghan were last spotted together with the rest of the members of the royal family during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth which took place last year in September 2022. Since then, the couple announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals. Then onwards, the couple have moved to the US, where they now live with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

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The spread of anthrax cases in Odisha is due to handling of animal carcasses, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission, a central investigation into the recent outbreak that infected 12 persons, killing one of them, has found. HT Image

The regional director of directorate generate of health services has inquired and sent a report, a central government official said, requesting anonymity.

Anthrax is an infectious and often fatal disease caused by bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil and affects domestic and wild animals. It is a zoonotic disease, infecting people if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

All of those who have been infected, including the one who died, handled the carcasses of (infected) animals as per the investigation report, the official said, adding that the situation in the eastern state was under control.

Anthrax typically does not spread from animal to animal or person to person. The bacteria produces spores on contact with oxygen. If ingested or inhaled by an animal, or after entering through cuts in the skin, they can germinate and cause the disease. Inhalation anthrax is the most serious form and can kill quickly if not treated immediately. It is considered by experts a potential bioterrorism organism.

The cases in Odisha have been reportedfrom the villages of Tentuliguda, Gulimusa and Dasmantpur. One person died, while the other 11 are under treatment but in a stable condition, according to people familiar with the matter.

In humans, anthrax manifests in three distinct patterns -- cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalational, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The most common is a skin infection, where people become infected handling animals or animal products that contain spores. The disease can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.

Odisha is a major contributor in the number of anthrax cases, according to studies done in India.

Anthrax is a major but neglected zoonotic disease of public health concern in India with Odisha contributing a major share to the disease burden. The real burden of anthrax in India is not understood precisely since a significant number of cases go unreported and only a portion of human cases seek medical care, said researchers in a study published in 2021 entitled One Health approach for elimination of human anthrax in a tribal district of Odisha: Study protocol.

Over the past 15 years, 14 out of 30 districts in Odisha have experienced outbreaks of human anthrax, with 1,208 cases and 436 deaths, the study found.

Among those affected districts, Koraput has more than 300 human anthrax cases including 10 deaths over the past six years. Almost all the cases came from a group of indigenous tribes involved in handling and consuming animal carcasses, the study said.

Anthrax is one of the top 10 diseases reported in India and one of the major causes of deaths in livestock, with a high fatality rate, National Animal Diseases Referral Expert System data show. High density of tribal population of over 22% and extensive forest cover makes Odisha prone to anthrax outbreaks as meat is one of the primary foods of most indigenous tribes.

Without treatment, the disease has high fatality of one in five to one in four, according to Vinod Scaria, scientist at CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology.

The Indian Council of Medical Research is working to ensure effective diagnosis and disease management, and has formed detailed guidelines for affected districts. ICMRs Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar has conducted a study in four districts of Odisha -- Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Sundargarh -- on control strategies.

People living in tribal areas are largely affected. Therefore, it is crucial to devise and implement control strategies keeping this fact in mind, a government researcher said, declining to be named.

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Bengaluru: Rainfall is likely to cast a shadow on polling in Karnataka on Wednesday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rains in Bengaluru and other parts of the state. Polling officials collect VVPATs and other voting materials ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, at Veterinary College distribution centre in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (PTI)

According to IMD, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms with lightning are expected in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from Bengaluru, light to moderate thundershowers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Yadgir, Ramanagara and Shivamogga, the IMD said on Tuesday.

The weather department has observed a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal. The low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea has become well marked low pressure area over the same region at 0530 IST today, the 9th May 2023, the IMD said in a statement on Tuesday.

It is very likely to intensify into a depression by today evening over the same region and subsequently into a cyclonic storm over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of east central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea on 10th May. It is likely to move initially north-northwestwards till 12th May morning. Thereafter, it is likely to recurve gradually and move north-northeastwards towards Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts, it added.

Bengaluru saw heavy downpour on Monday evening causing flooding in several parts of the city. The rainfall was mainly concentrated in the south and central parts of the city, leading to traffic congestion especially in the Central Business District and key arterial roads.

The state capital witnessed 92 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

According to the met department, the light to moderate showers is likely to cause temporary disruption of electricity in some areas, minor traffic snarls, possible damage to kuccha and unsecured structures, and possible uprooting of weak tree branches.

With Bengaluru witnessing rains, chief electoral officer of Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena expressed apprehension about the voter turnout. Earlier we thought it would be the heat, but its the rain that were worried about. We are making sure that there is enough shade at polling booths to tackle this, he said.

The polling for the 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka will be held on Wednesday between 7 am and 6 pm. Over 50.31 million voters will decide the fate of 2,615 candidates.
Bhubaneswar: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday called on his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, with both leaders calling it a courtesy meet while declining any talks on opposition unity. Janata Dal (United) leader Kumar, who leads a seven-party coalition government in Bihar, has been meeting leaders from various opposition parties in a bid to forge a united opposition alliance to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (Agencies)

Janata Dal (United) leader Kumar, who leads a seven-party coalition government in Bihar, has been meeting leaders from various opposition parties in a bid to forge a united opposition alliance to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Also read: On Odisha CM's 'pleasant stay' tweet for Nitish, BJP's jibe: seems on holiday

Ours is a known friendship, and we were colleagues many years ago. No discussion was held on any alliances today, Patnaik said after the meeting in state capital.

Kumar said, My relation with his (Patnaiks) father Biju Babu and Naveen ji is very old. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we could not meet. No political discussions were held. We have good relations and there is no need to discuss any politics.

In the last few months, the JD(U) leader has held a series of meetings in a bid to bring together opposition and regional parties on a common platform. Recently, Kumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Bannerjee.

Later this week, Kumar is expected to meet National Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. He is also likely to meet Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren.

Patnaik shared photos of his meeting with Kumar on Twitter, saying: Glad to meet Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Bhubaneswar. Odisha shares a special bond with Bihar and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope he had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha.

The Odisha chief minister said the state government will provide 1.5 acre of land in Puri to the Bihar government free of cost for building facilities for tourists who visit the coastal city to offer prayers to Lord Jagannath.

In March, Mamata Banerjee called on Patnaik during her three-day Odisha visit. While Banerjee had called the meeting a courtesy call, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader said there was no political discussion during the meeting.

Also read: Pawar back on the field, to meet Nitish on opposition unity

The Odisha chief minister is too cautious to join any political bandwagon, especially when the general and assembly elections are just a year away, BJD leaders said. He has always played safe in the past. Besides, he has no interest in national politics and is happy being the CM of Odisha, a BJD lawmaker said, declining to be named. The politics of equidistance has always served him well. There is no reason why would he discard it now.
With Karnataka set to vote on Wednesday, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress on Tuesday visited temples to seek divine intervention for their win. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state chief D K Shivakumar along with a large number of party leaders and supporters sought the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari in Mysuru on the eve of Karnataka elections. (HT Photo)

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state chief D K Shivakumar along with a large number of party leaders and supporters sought the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly Election: Opinion poll shows Congress in lead

Along with flowers, fruits, incense sticks, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar performed special prayers at the temple, and presented a brief copy of the partys election manifesto, which highlighted Congresss five guarantees in the event of the party coming to power.

Goddess Chamundeshwari is regarded as the deity of the land. Before taking up any good work, it is our duty to seek blessings of the deity, Shivakumar said. The Congress leader also offered prayers to the Anjaneya temple at KR Market in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and his supporters recited Hanuman Chalisa at Hanuman Mandir in Hubbalis Vijay Nagar.

Union minister Shobha Karandlaje and excise minister K Gopalaiah also chanted Jai Shri Ram at the Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru, and targeted the Congress over its poll manifesto which proposed a ban on right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal.

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha also visited the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru and paid his obeisance to the deity.

The visits gain significance amid the controversy over Congress proposing to ban Bajrang Dal in its manifesto.

The manifesto said that the Congress government would take decisive action against organisations like Bajrang Dal and Popular Front of India (PFI) for spreading hate, triggering a hit back by the BJP saying Hanuman bhakts are being targeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had likened the promised ban on Bajrang Dal to locking up Hanuman and his devotees, former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa burnt the Congresss manifesto, and Bajrang Dal workers tore the Congress document and held rallies in several parts of the state.

The high-voltage campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka ended on Monday with Modi holding 19 public meetings and six roadshows while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi camped in the state for 12 days.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly elections 2023: Voting time, documents to carry & all you need to know

The counting of votes in the Karnataka assembly polls will be held on May 13. The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats.

(With inputs from agencies)
Union minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday took a swipe at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar over his meeting with Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, saying the "statements and emotionless pictures" shared by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader seems to suggest the JD(U) leader was on a vacation. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addresses the media after a meeting, in Bhubaneswar, Tuesday, May 9, 2023.(PTI)

Amid efforts to forge unity among non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar held a discussion with Naveen Patnaik for around an hour at Odisha CM's residence. The two leaders, however, claimed that no discussion on any political alliance between the JD(U) and BJD for the Lok Sabha elections next year was held in the meeting.

"No discussion was held on any alliance today. I am delighted that Nitish ji came to Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and colleagues ever since we served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet," Patnaik told reporters.

Patnaik shared some photographs from the meeting, and tweeted: "Glad to meet #Bihar Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar in #Bhubaneswar. #Odisha shares a special bond with Bihar and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope he had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha."

Reacting to Patnaik's tweet, Giriraj Singh, BJP's firebrand leader from Bihar, said, The kind of statements and emotionless pictures shared by Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik ji on Nitish Kumar ji and his meeting, it seems that Nitish Kumar ji had gone there for a holiday. #PleasantStay"

Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar was welcomed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport by state minister Ashok Chandra Panda and BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Kumar said, "Our relation with his (Naveen) father Biju Babu and Naveen ji is very old. Due to the COVID pandemic, we could not meet. No political discussions were held. We have good relations and there is no need to discuss any politics."

He is also scheduled to visit Mumbai and hold meetings with senior Opposition leaders. The Bihar chief minister will arrive in Mumbai on May 11 afternoon and head directly to Matoshree, the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in Bandra, where he will hold talks with the former chief minister.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday backed filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's move to send legal notice to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on The Kashmir Files film, saying it was much needed to restore some semblance of rule of law in the state. BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that the chief minister is trampling on civil liberties and freedom of speech with impunity in West Bengal, in an apparent reference to the ban on the screening of The Kerala Story. Film director Vivek Agnihotri at an event at Indian Museum in Kolkata, India, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)

Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' and alleged at a news conference that 'The Kashmir Files' was made to humiliate one section of the society whereas director Sudipto Sen's film was aimed at defaming the southern state.

The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri sent a legal notice to Banerjee asking her to either substantiate the claims by producing authenticated proof or withdraw the statements by addressing the media in a similar manner and tendering unconditional apology. Agnihotri alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo made the statement only to gain easy popularity among the so called seculars in the country, to coerce and prevent my clients from going ahead with the making of the movie 'The Delhi Files' and also to see that the Bengal genocide does not see the light of the day and to keep the public at large in dark on the said issue.

Such acts of you are illegal and are also not expected from a person occupying such high place in the society, the lead notice read.

Reacting to Agnihotri's move, Malviya tweeted: This was much needed. Mamata Banerjee is trampling on civil liberties and freedom of speech with impunity in West Bengal. People are getting assaulted for wanting to watch a movie. Filmmakers are being threatened and ascribed motives to. We need to move urgently to restore some semblance of rule of law in Bengal

The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, follows the story of a group of women from the southern state who converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh appeal to voters on the eve of the Karnataka assembly elections, urging them to come and vote on May 10 for a bright future, prompting the Congress to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) citing violation of the model code of conduct. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh appeal to voters on the eve of the Karnataka assembly elections. (File photo)(HT_PRINT)

Also read: Karnataka polls: BJP looks to script history, Congress eyes comeback

In a memorandum to the poll watchdog, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the speech brazen, deliberate and calculated violation of the model code of conduct as well as the provisions of the Representation of the People Act by Modi and other leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The high-decibel campaign for the crucial May 10 assembly elections ended at 5pm on Monday. Surjewala said even after the campaign period ended, the PM addressed people in two video messages, one around 10 pm on Monday and another at 8.52 am on Tuesday, wherein he appealed to the voters of Karnataka on behalf of the BJP and all its candidates.

The Congress alleged the video violated the 48-hour silence period before polling, as mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Should the ECI remain a mute and helpless spectator or act on its constitutional duty under Article 324 of the Constitution of India? Do the laws apply to Prime Minister or not and if ECI has the capacity and willingness to enforce such mandate or remain a helpless bystander? Surjewala said in a tweet, sharing a copy of memorandum. Truly a litmus test for ECI!

The Congress also took exception to interviews of Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda after the official period of campaigning ended.

Taking note of the complaint, EC officials familiar with the matter said that such appeals made outside the polling area do not come under the ambit of the existing law.

The official said that parties alleging violation of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act through social media have themselves put up a number of such posts even on their official social media handles. It has been noticed that the section 126 specifically doesnt cover the use of social media/intermediaries during the silence period. It also does not cover violations outside the poll area. Section 126 RP Act restricts the public display of election matter in the polling area during silence period thereby limiting its application only to the display of election matter in the polling area, the official added.

Also read: Karnataka polls: 10 keenly-watched constituencies

Recognising this gap in the Act, the commission had in 2019 taken up the matter with ministry of law and justice and sent a proposal for expanding the scope of the section 126 to include display of content through intermediaries or through any other means. The proposal is still under consideration of the government, the official said.

HT reached out to BJP leaders for a comment on the matter but didnt get a response immediately.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday announced he will begin a five-day foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur two days later to raise issues such as corruption as he sharpened his attack on Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot for inaction over graft and questioned his loyalty to their partys leadership. Jaipur: Congress leader Sachin Pilot addresses a press conference at his residence, in Jaipur, Tuesday, May 9, 2023.(PTI)

He cited Gehlots speech in Dholpur on Sunday and said it seems the chief ministers leader is not Sonia Gandhi but his predecessor, Vasundhara Raje.

In his speech, Gehlot said Raje and two other opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal and legislator Shobharani Kushwah, helped save his government when Pilot led a revolt of Congress legislators against him in 2020.

Gehlot requested the legislators who took the money during the 2020 political crisis to return it to Union home minister Amit Shah.

He said if they did not return the money, they will always be under pressure from Shah.

Pilot rubbished claims that the legislators got money from Shah as false. Our protest was against Gehlots style of functioning, he said. It is condemnable. I categorically deny false and baseless allegations.

Pilot called Gehlots criticism of lawmakers of his own party unprecedented. Praising BJP leaders and dishonouring those of Congress is beyond my understanding. This is absolutely wrong, said Pilot. He added some people want to weaken the Congress but they will not let them succeed. After listening to Ashok Gehlots speech in Dholpur, I have understood why we could not take action in the cases of corruption...No leader is more important than the public.

Pilot said he will also raise issues related to the younger people during his Jan Sangharsh Padyatra from Ajmer to Jaipur. I believe the right decisions are only taken when one has the peoples support...Any further decision will be taken after this yatra.

In July 2020, Pilot and 18 other Congress lawmakers revolted against Gehlot. The crisis lasted nearly a month before the Congress leadership removed Pilot as the deputy chief minister and state Congress chief.

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A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a cyclonic storm - Cyclone Mocha - over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of the east-central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea with all the Eastern states being put on alert. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area has already formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea on Monday. Cyclone Mocha(ANI)

How was Cyclone Mocha named?

The Cyclone Mocha (Mokha) - a name suggested by Yemen - was named after the Red Sea port city which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

Notably, Cyclones are named depending on the regional rules.

The system of naming cyclones was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP). According to the WMO, in the Atlantic and in the Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones receive names in alphabetical order, and women's and men's names are alternated, while in the Northern Indian Ocean, the names are listed alphabetically by country and are gender-neutral.

When will Cyclone Mocha make landfall and where?

According to the weather office, Cyclone Mocha is likely to intensify into a depression on May 9 and turn into a cyclone on May 10. The storm is expected to move towards the Bangladesh and Myanmar coasts around May 12.

Director General of IMD M Mohapatra said, The time of landfall and expected intensity, as it moves towards the coast, will be available when the low-pressure area intensifies into a depression. We have issued a subjective statement for now, but the specifics will be made available soon as the models provide a clearer picture within a five-day forecast period.

IMD's warning

The weather department has warned small seafaring vessels and fishers not to venture out Tuesday onwards. It also asked authorities to regulate tourism, offshore activities, and shipping near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 8 and 12.
A Delhi court on Tuesday put Aaftab Poonawala on trial for allegedly killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and chopping her body into pieces, holding that there was sufficient material on record to frame penal charges against him. Aaftab Amin Poonawala (ANI)

The courts decision begins the next chapter in one of the most sensational murder cases in the Capital.

Poonawala, 28, pleaded not guilty and chose to face trial as the court framed charges of murder and disappearance of evidence against him. The charges, if proved, could fetch Poonawala the maximum punishment of death penalty, or life imprisonment at the very least.

Sufficient material has been placed on record by the prosecution which warrants trial of the accused for both the offences... prima facie case for the offence under sections 302 and 201 IPC (Indian Penal Code) is made out against the accused, said additional sessions judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar.

The judge recorded the statement of Poonawala, who was present in the court during the proceedings, and fixed June 1 to commence the trial in the case. The trial will start with recording of the prosecutions evidence.

In its charge sheet, the Delhi Police relied upon circumstantial as well as corroborative evidence such as recovered body parts, digital trail, DNA profiling reports, post-mortem report, statements of witnesses, recovery of knife, scissors, hammer among others to substantiate the allegations that Poonawala is guilty of killing Walkar and should be charged under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).

On the other hand, advocate Akshay Bhandari, who appeared for Poonawala, submitted that charges of tampering with evidence and shielding the accused cannot be jointly framed with a murder charge. He further argued that it is incumbent upon the prosecution to show the manner in which the crime was committed and bring on record other specifics of the crime such as time and place of the commission of the alleged act.

The court, while framing the charges, turned down the arguments of Poonawalas lawyer, observing that since the case of the prosecution is primarily based upon circumstantial evidence, and not the account of eyewitness or direct evidence, there is no requirement of stating the manner in which the crime was committed at the stage of framing of charges.

The prosecution has heavily relied upon circumstantial evidence to bring on record the alleged offence and the said offences were alleged to have been unearthed after a period of about five to six months. Thus, it would be expedient in the interest of justice to expect the prosecution to bring on record the exact manner in which the alleged offence was committed, the court said.

Relying on a 1952 judgment of the Supreme Court in the Kalawati and Ranjit Singh vs Himachal Pradesh case, the court also rebuffed Poonawalas submission that charges of sections 302 or 201 cannot be framed jointly against him. If there is sufficient evidence placed on record by the prosecution regarding both the offence there seems to be no bar on the framing charge for both the offence u/s 302 and 201 IPC, it held.

Meanwhile, the court deferred the hearing of an application filed by Walkers father seeking his daughters bones and other body parts to perform the last rites. The plea will be heard on May 22.

In January, the Delhi Police filed a 6,629-page charge sheet detailing how Poonawala allegedly murdered Walkar by strangling her, and then dismembered and disposed of her body.

According to the charge sheet, Poonawala kept the sawed body parts in a fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in south Delhis Mehrauli. He then allegedly scattered the remains across Delhi. Some of them have since been recovered.

Poonawala and Walkar, both from Vasai near Mumbai, were in a relationship and lived together since 2019. The two moved to Delhi in May 2022.

Poonawala killed his 27-year-old girlfriend on May 18 who then chopped her body into at least 35 pieces over two days, stored them in a refrigerator for about three months, and dumped the parts piece by piece.

The crime remained undetected between when it took place in May and November 12, when Poonawala was arrested. He confessed to the crime after the womans estranged family realised she had been missing.

Over the next few weeks, Delhi Police recovered body parts in southern parts of the Capital, as well as Gurugram, with forensic checks confirming that some of these belonged to the murdered woman.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday took an apparent dig at Pakistani actress Sehar Shinwari who wanted to file a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Research and Analysis Wing or R&AW chief for allegedly spreading chaos and terrorism in my country. Pakistani actress Sehar Shinwari.

Shinwari's tweet comes after Pakistan's anti-corruption agency arrested former prime minister Imran Khan at Islamabad high court on Tuesday, triggering clashes between Khan supporters and police that saw the death of at least one protester.

Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police ? I have to file a complain against Indian Pm & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claims) then I am sure Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice, the Pakistani actress tweeted.

Responding to Shinwari's tweet, the Delhi Police tweeted, We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!

Pakistan's telecommunications watchdog said that mobile data services were being suspended on interior ministry orders, while Netblocks, a global internet monitor, said access to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube had been restricted.

The clashes killed one of the protesters and injured 12 people, including six police officers in the southern city of Quetta, provincial home minister Ziaullah Langove said.

Khan's arrest comes a day after the powerful military rebuked him for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of trying to engineer his assassination and the former armed forces chief of being behind his removal from power last year.

Authorities in three of Pakistan's four provinces imposed an emergency order banning all gatherings after Khan's supporters clashed with police, blocked major roads in a string of cities and stormed military buildings in Lahore and Rawalpindi, according to witnesses and videos shared by his party.

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Pakistans former premier Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad high court complex in a dramatic operation involving paramilitary personnel on Tuesday, triggering fears of a possible confrontation between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the ruling coalition. Imran Khan was surrounded by security personnel and dragged out of the court. (HT Photo)

Scores of Pakistan Rangers personnel in riot gear swarmed into the court complex in armoured vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Khan arrived for the hearing of cases against him. The personnel presented an arrest warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the countrys anti-graft watchdog, that named Khan as an accused in a case of corruption.

The paramilitary personnel broke doors, jumped through windows and scuffled with PTI workers to reach Khan. The NAB said in a statement that Khan was arrested by its officials and the Rangers were deployed for the action on the orders of the interior ministry. The statement also claimed that the Rangers didnt detain Khan.

Pakistans interior minister Rana Sanaullah told a news conference in Islamabad that Khan was arrested by the NAB in connection with what is known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. He said there were dozens of other cases involving alleged corruption in progress against Khan.

Sanaullah said Khan had failed to appear in court despite being issued several notices in connection with the case. A statement issued by Islamabad Police said Khan was arrested in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, which involves allegations that he and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising a laundered amount of 50 billion that was identified and returned to Pakistan by the UK during the term of the PTI government.

PTI leaders claimed Khan was roughed up during the arrest, though this could not be independently verified. Islamabad high court chief justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the arrest and sought explanations from the Islamabad police chief, interior secretary and additional attorney general.

Later in the evening, the court termed the arrest as legal, local media reported.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration issued an order prohibiting large gatherings soon after Khans arrest. Islamabad Police warned that strict action will be taken against anyone violating the order. PTI leaders called on party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against Khans detention.

Khan, 70, has spearheaded a campaign against the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif since he was removed in a vote of confidence in parliament in April last year. He has accused the Sharif government of colluding with the US and the Pakistani military to remove him from power.

People familiar with the matter said Khan apparently crossed a red line when he accused Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, director general of counter-intelligence in the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of trying to kill him twice while addressing a rally in Lahore on Saturday. Though Khan had referred to the same general obliquely in other speeches, he had never named Naseer publicly.

The military hit back against Khan on Monday, saying in a strongly worded statement that the PTI chief had levelled highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving military officer without any evidence. This has been a consistent pattern for the last one year wherein military and intelligence agency officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives, the statement said.

The military asked Khan to make a recourse to legal avenues and stop making false allegations. The military also reserved the right to take legal action against false and malafide statements and propaganda.

Sharif too criticised Khan for maligning and threatening the army and ISI. Khans levelling of allegations without any proof against Gen Faisal Naseer and officers of our Intelligence Agency cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated, Sharif said in a tweet.

The people cited above said the use of Pakistan Rangers, a paramilitary force led by Pakistan Army officers, to arrest Khan was a significant development that pointed to the military signing off on the action. The PDM government, which has been crippled by a lack of popularity, would not have acted without a go-ahead from the army, the people said.

Khan has also resisted several attempts by police to arrest him in connection with his failure to appear in court to face charges in several cases, and this is believed to have been a key reason behind the decision to deploy the Rangers.

The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its history, has grown increasingly wary of Khans levelling of allegations against top serving and retired officials as part of his campaign against the PDM government. The people said some within the military perceived Khans actions as an attempt to engineer a split within the army, especially in view of the support for the PTI in some quarters.
Imran Khan arrested Live updates: Pakistan's former Prime Minister and the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary Rangers at the Islamabad High Court where he was attending a hearing for a corruption case.

This comes just a day after Imran Khan accused the powerful army of plotting to assassinate him. Video footage captured the Rangers forcefully taking Khan and pushing him into a prison van. These Rangers typically work under the Interior Ministry, and their leadership often comprises of army officers on secondment.

The arrest was met with nationwide condemnation from the supporters of Khan, who is also a former cricket star. According to news agency AP, Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official from PTI party said that Khan was dragged outside the Islamabad High Court and forced into a police vehicle by agents from the National Accountability Bureau.

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Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen arrived in India on Tuesday for a crucial political-economic visit aimed at strengthening the ties between the two nations. During his visit, Cohen called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held wide-ranging talks with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, defense minister Rajnath Singh, national security adviser Ajit Doval, and minister of jal shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

He was leading an economic delegation of 36 Israeli businesspersons, primarily from the water management and agriculture sectors, seeking to bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Cohen's visit was curtailed due to the security situation in Israel. Israel carried out a series of targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group and at least 10 civilians, reported Associated Press. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and other bystanders were killed in the attack.

"We did cut short the visit because of the situation in Gaza. We had a very good visit. He had four principal meetings with EAM Dr S Jaishankar, Defence Minister, PM Modi and NSA. The meetings reflected the very intimate and warm relationship that there are between India and Israel," Naor Gilon, Israel Ambassador to India, said.

The discussions between the Israeli and Indian officials highlighted the advancements made through the Israel-India Innovation Initiative (I2U2) and delved into a wide range of topics, including security, economy, technology, innovation, connectivity, and health.

Cohen inaugurated the CII India-Israel Business Forum, marking a significant step towards enhancing collaboration and partnership between the business communities of both nations. The event witnessed the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), ushering in a new era of cooperation.

The two sides inked an agreement that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, an Israeli readout said. Both countries also signed a letter of intent to establish two Centers of Water Technology in India, showcasing their commitment to addressing water-related challenges through innovation and technological advancements.

Underlining the significance of education, a groundbreaking project named "World on Wheels" (WoW Bus) was launched by the Embassy of Israel in India in the presence of Cohen. This initiative aims to promote digital literacy, personality development, and entrepreneurship training in rural areas of India. The embassy has been actively collaborating with local partners in India to implement various educational projects.

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New Delhi: Generals from the Gorkha Rifles will no longer wear their trademark hats, their counterparts from specific armoured regiments will not don brown shoes, and the Special Forces brass will bid adieu to the famous maroon beret, with the Indian Army set to introduce a new uniform dress regulation for senior officers. From headgear to shoulder rank badges and gorget patches (collar tabs) to belts and shoes, the uniform of the senior officers will now be standardised and common. (ADGPI - INDIAN ARMY Twitter)

After introducing a new combat dress for all soldiers last year, the army has now decided to adopt a common uniform for officers of the rank of brigadier and above to bolster a common identity and approach in service matters among the senior leadership, officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

With the new regulation in place from August 1, the senior officers will no longer wear accoutrements specific to their respective arms and services, said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named. These officers include major generals, lieutenant generals, and the army chief.

Read: Army mulls longer tenures for commanders on counter-terror duties

From headgear to shoulder rank badges and gorget patches (collar tabs) to belts and shoes, the uniform of the senior officers will be standardised and common, said a second official, who also asked not to be named. The decision to switch to the common uniform was taken in April during the Army Commanders Conference, chaired by army chief General Manoj Pande, after extensive consultations with all stakeholders.

In another significant departure from the existing practice, the senior officers will no longer wear the ubiquitous lanyard around the shoulder.

The common uniform will not reveal the regimental or service affiliation of the senior officers, said the first official.

These officers have already commanded units and are mostly posted at headquarters and establishments where officers from all arms and services work and function together, he said. A standard uniform will ensure a common identity for all senior officers, while reflecting the true ethos of the army.

The current uniforms of the senior officers vary with their regimental and service affiliations. For instance, officers from armoured corps wear black berets, those from infantry and mechanised infantry wear caps that are different shades of green and gunners sport blue caps. Officers from the Corps of Military Police thus far wore red berets. The senior officers will wear dark green berets now, the officials said.

The officials gave granular details of the changes. The belt buckles will no longer be arms or services specific and will be replaced by buckles with the Indian Army crest on them. The shoulder rank badges will be golden for all senior officers. Currently, officers from the rifle regiments such as Gorkha Rifles, Garhwal Rifles and Rajputana Rifles wear black rank badges.

All senior officers will wear black brogues without exception. Top doctors will sport red collar tabs instead of the current maroon.

Once you reach a particular rank, regimental affiliation can be done away with, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd). The message is that there should be no regimental bias in functioning and decision making. The senior officers will belong to a common pool and old affiliations will no longer be important, he added.

Read: Indian Army obtains IPR of combat uniform to prevent sale in open market

There will be no change in the uniforms worn by colonels and below.

Different types of uniforms and accoutrements have specific association to respective arms, regiments and services, the officials said. This recognition with distinct identity within the arms, regiments and services is essential for junior leadership and the rank and file to further strengthen camaraderie, esprit de corps and regimental ethos which form the bedrock of soldiering, said the first official, At the unit level, a distinct sense of identity reflects a strong bond among officers and men in the same regiment, he added.

In 2022, the army introduced a new combat uniform, and all soldiers will switch to it over the next two years. The army said at the time that the new uniform provided soldiers better camouflage, more comfort, and uniformity in design. While soldiers wear the combat uniform in operational areas, officers posted in the Army headquarters in New Delhi also wear the combat dress on Fridays, in solidarity with men operating in forward areas.
The Indian Army is mulling over longer tenures for top field commanders in terrorist-insurgency prone areas to push them to initiate action against the adversary rather than bide time for the next higher command assignment. Indian Army personnel on counter-terror duties in Rajouri sector.(HT File)

It is understood that the Army Headquarters is planning to extend tenures of Divisional Commanders and Corps Commanders from normally one year to around two years so that the field commander focuses on the counter-terrorist duties at hand rather than bide his time for the next promotion. This particularly applies to Corps and Divisional commanders serving in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.

According to South Block sources, Corps (headed by Lt General) and Division (headed by Major General) and Brigades (headed by Brigadiers) deployed in counterterrorist and counter-insurgency duties will now have a tenure of 15 to 18 months before being moved out to the next assignment.

The attitude of playing it safe for the next promotion will be discouraged and the officer will be judged by the action taken against cross-border infiltration and jihadists from across and within the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, said a top commander.

The Indian Army is concerned about the terror strikes by Pak based proscribed groups in the Nagrota based 16 Corps area particularly in Poonch-Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir since 2021. While the actions of the leadership and whether standard operating procedures were followed are being reviewed by the Headquarters, the playing it safe attitude of the field commanders has caught attention of the top leadership.

The death of 10 Indian Army soldiers including four belonging to the elite Special Forces in Rajouri area in two incidents of April 20 and May 5 have brought the focus on leadership in the field formations. It is understood that two groups of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists belonging to Kotli based Sajjid Jutt aka Habibullah Malik module are operating in Kandi Forests of Rajouri and are currently being hotly engaged by the Indian Army.

These terrorists are armed with under barrel grenade launchers apart from assault rifles and are taking advantage of Pakistan mobile network coverage across the LoC in India. Fact is that Pakistan has built a network of high-powered mobile towers all along the international border and LoC in Jammu and Kashmir with operational range well within Indian territory and is being used by Pakistani jihadists to launch cross border attacks. This apart, Pakistani terror groups with tacit support of the Pak Army are sending weapon shipments through drones for J&K local terrorists to cause mayhem in the South Kashmir area.

The sudden spurt of violence in Poonch-Rajouri sector is part of Pakistan plan to derail the May 22-24 Srinagar meeting of G 20 grouping with no less than Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari openly threatening India on the side-lines of SCO FMs Meeting in Goa on May 4-5.

The Indian Army, security forces and the intelligence have taken up the Pak challenge and are focused on avenging the death of Indian troopers in Rajouri sector with area military leadership directed to wipe out terrorists from this sector.

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A design review of a safety-critical system of the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, involved in a string of accidents including one last week, may be in order, according to a top government regulatory body responsible for the certification of the airworthiness of military aircraft. An Indian Army Dhruv ALH

The Bengaluru-based Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) wrote to the three services and the coast guard about this on April 23. It has ordered the design review of a safety-critical system on board the India-made helicopter by an expert panel to improve its airworthiness even though the helicopter has a stable and mature design, officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, asking not to be identified.

The call for the design review comes on the back of the ALHs troubling safety record. In the past five years, it has been involved in 12 accidents. The army grounded its ALH fleet for a comprehensive safety check after a helicopter crash-landed in Jammu & Kashmirs Kishtwar on May 4, killing a soldier and injuring the two pilots. The helicopter is operated by the army, air force, navy, and coast guard.

CEMILAC, which functions under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reached the conclusion that the design review of the booster control rods is mandatory after an expert committee, formed in the backdrop of a navy ALH ditching (emergency landing in water) into the Arabian Sea on March 8, explored the possible failures that led to the incident, the officials said.

These rods allow pilots to control the helicopters motion, and any failure can severely affect power input to the rotor blades and cause accidents.

Most of the militarys ALHs are currently grounded for comprehensive checks after the string of accidents. The Indian Air Forces latest light combat helicopters (LCH), which inherit several features of the ALH, were also grounded, the officials said.

The regulatory body has red-flagged the drastic reduction in the fatigue life of the rods, the officials said.

The design review is critical as the Indian armed forces operate more than 300 multi-role ALHs, designed and developed by state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. HAL began delivering these helicopters in the early 2000s.

The committee, constituted by the CEMILAC chief executive (airworthiness), found that the most probable cause of the navy ALH incident on March 8 was a technical failure  an error in the assembly of serrated washers in the booster control rods, said one of the officials cited above.

It has recommended short and long-term measures to enhance the safety of the twin-engine ALH, Hindustan Times has learnt.

The design, development and qualification of the steel booster control rods that are tolerant to assembly errors shall be expedited, and the compliance of the new design shall be aimed for implementation in six months to one year, CEMILAC wrote in a letter dated April 23 to HAL, the three services, and the coast guard.

Though the helicopters are matured from the design point of view, having been exploited for more than 3 lakh hours, still there is scope to review the design/lifting aspects of the safety-critical system by an expert committee as a long-term measure, said the April 23 letter accessed exclusively by HT. It was written by CEMILAC director (helicopters and missiles) DM Isack.

The CEMILAC-constituted committees finding related to the malfunctioning of the booster control rods on the navy ALH is in line with the failure analyses done by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru, and HALs Rotary Wing Research & Design Centre (RWR&DC), said a second official, who also asked not to be named.

The drastic reduction in the fatigue life of the control rod with wrongly assembled serrated washers has been verified experimentally at RWR&DC, HAL as part of the committees investigation, the letter said.

A coast guard and an army ALH were involved in accidents after the March 8 navy incident. The coast guard helicopter made a forced landing in Kochi on March 26, followed by the precautionary landing by the army ALH on May 4 in Kishtwar.

On May 4, the pilots reported a technical fault to the air traffic control before the incident, which led to the army suspending ALH operations for the second time in less than two months.

The three services grounded their ALH fleets for safety checks after the navy ALH ditched into the sea following unexplained loss of power. The navy choppers are still grounded, while IAF is clearing its ALHs for flying in batches after the mandatory checks. The army had resumed ALH operations a few weeks before the May 4 crash landing after which it grounded the helicopter again.

The LCH, inducted last October, was also grounded. It is capable of targeting enemy air defences, slow moving aircraft, high-altitude bunkers as well as carrying out counter-insurgency operations.

CEMILAC has prescribed measures for the resumption of ALH and LCH operations.

Clearance for both platforms, limited to 100 flight hours each, will be given after mandatory inspections, the officials said. Further clearance for up to 500 flight hours or one year, whichever is earlier, will be based on the successful completion of two critical tests by HAL, they said.

These tests involve the flight testing of two helicopters with instrumented control rod assembly for verifying the multi-axis loads on the control rods, and the fatigue testing of the rods with correctly assembled serrated washers to confirm their original capability, the officials said.

The top regulatory body has also called for evolving an accelerated life testing (ALT) methodology to pinpoint any other potential failure modes and to assess the life of the ALHs integrated dynamic system (IDS), the officials said. The main gearbox, upper controls and rotor head as a single unit is called IDS.

It is critical to fix the flaws on the ALH as there are flight safety implications. It plays an important operational role and India operates a large number of ALHs. Also, there are many potential foreign customers who are watching the helicopter closely, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

A defence ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the design review.

The armed forces grounded their ALH fleets last year too after an army Rudra helicopter (armed version of Dhruv ALH) crashed in Arunachal Pradesh in October 2022, killing all five personnel on board.

To be sure, it is not uncommon for an aircraft fleet to be grounded for inspection after an unexplained crash or incident.

The Dhruv ALH is a multi-mission helicopter in the 5.5-tonne class.

ALH operations have been hit in the past too -- the helicopters were grounded in 2006 following tail rotor problems, and later again in 2014 after a fatal crash.

The July 2014 crash, which left the choppers seven-man crew dead near Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, was one of the worst crashes involving the helicopter. The aircraft involved had logged only two hours of flying after being serviced at Bareilly.

In another incident, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh and eight others were injured in a crash in the Poonch sector in October 2019.

The grounding of the ALH comes at a time when HAL is looking at tapping the export potential of the chopper. It is currently in talks with the Philippines for a possible order. In 2015, Ecuador unilaterally terminated a contract with HAL after four of the seven ALHs it bought from the Indian firm were involved in crashes.
India and Israel are strategic partners which don't compete with each other but complete each other, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Tuesday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomes his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, in New Delhi on Tuesday.(Twitter/@DrSJaishankar)

The Israeli foreign minister arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning on a visit to explore ways to expand bilateral ties and prepare the ground for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to India this year.

At the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Cohen said India-Israel trade volume will surpass the USD 20-billion mark.

Terming India "the gate from the east to the west", Cohen said trades from India will sell everywhere.

"It is very important to emphasise that Israel and India are strategic partners. We are not competing with each other. We definitely complete each other," he said.

The Israeli foreign minister said agreements would be signed later on Tuesday for having more employees from India in Israel.

"We also like to take this opportunity to have students from India to Israel. Our countries should and have a lot in common. Both of us have a vibrant democracy. We are working together with the Jewish people and the Indian people for more than 2,000 years. But right now, I believe that in the coming 2,000 years, we can do much more," he said.

Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the foundation of the relationship between India and Israel has deep roots and a long history. "As the world underwent important changes, the strategic importance of the India-Israel relationship has only increased," he said.

"We are committed to addressing some of the world's biggest challenges by joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transport, space and technology through the India-Israel-UAE-US network," the minister said.

Shekhawat said the defence sector is an important area of cooperation between India and Israel. "And both countries have made significant progress (in it). It is appropriate to mention that to further our relationship today we are signing a joint statement of intent to establish India Israel's central water technology at IIT-Roorke," he said.

The Jal Shakti minister called on countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector.

"It is more pertinent for countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector in view of climate change. The role of the private sector and business leaders is vital in providing the solutions and in addressing the water security problems," Shekhawat added.
Bengaluru Polling officials with EVMs and other materials leave for their respective polling booths on the eve of Karnataka assembly elections, in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (ANI)

The Election Commission on Tuesday said enforcement agencies in poll-bound Karnataka seized over 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and freebies, which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the 2018 assembly elections in the state.

The EC said contraband worth 375.61 crore has been seized, up from 83 crore in 2018. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth 288 crore after the imposition of the model code of conduct on March 29 in the state.

The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination have led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time, the EC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Notable hauls include seizure of 4.04 crore cash in Bangarapet constituency in Kolar district,a raid on a laboratory illegally manufacturing Alprazolam in Hyderabad using intelligence and trail mapping by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the seizure of 100 kg ganja in Bidar district, the poll panel said. Significant liquor seizures have been made in all the districts, it said.

Another striking feature of expenditure monitoring has been huge seizures of freebies. Sarees and food kits have been seized from Kalburgi, Chikkamagalur and other districts. A large number of pressure cookers and kitchen appliances were also seized from Bailhongal and Kunigal and other assembly constituencies, the EC statement added.

While announcing the schedule for Karnataka assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had stressed increased vigil and zero tolerance on the distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

The extensive monitoring process started months back before the announcement of elections and includes a host of activities like a thorough review of the preparation of different stakeholders including enforcement agencies, DEOs/SPs, the appointment of experienced officers as expenditure observers, sensitising and inter-agency coordination & monitoring and adequate availability of field level teams. 146 expenditure observers were deployed and 81 assembly constituencies were marked as expenditure sensitive for the stricter vigil, the EC said.

The CEC had remarked that the commission has significantly raised the bar for ensuring inducement-free elections and the continuum of stepping up of efforts and increase in seizures witnessed during recently held assembly elections in five states, would continue.

Polling in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.

(With inputs from agencies)
As high-decibel poll campaigning ended on Monday, Karnataka is all set to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly tomorrow. With the stakes being high in this election, the major political parties in contention - the BJP, Congress and JD(S) - and their candidates have made a strong pitch seeking to boost their prospects at the hustings. Karnataka is set for a big fight between the BJP, Congress and the JD(S) parties tomorrow.

Karnataka Assembly Election: Opinion poll shows Congress in lead

Heres all you need to know about the Karnataka election 2023:

Voting timings:

The voting for the single-phase Karnataka elections will be held on Wednesday from 7am to 6pm. A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

How to find your booth to cast your vote?

The Chunav app launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) will help voters get details like locations of polling booths, real-time queue, emergency facilities available, wheelchair facilities nearby and more.

You need to type your voter ID number, and the app will show you the location of your polling booth.

Documents to carry for polling:

To cast a vote, individuals must carry voter ID card or Aadhaar to their allotted polling booth. Apart from voter ID, voters can use one of these 12 documents to establish their identity at the polling station:

Aadhaar card, MNREGA Job card, passbooks with photograph issued by bank/post office, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of ministry of labour, driving License, PAN Card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/state govt./PSUs/Public limited companies, official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and unique disability ID (UDID) card.

Karnataka polls: Record seizures including contraband worth 375 cr by EC in state

Voting process:

As soon as you reach the polling booth, an officer will verify your name, and identification on the electoral roll. The officer will then ink your finger, get your signature, and will hand over a chit to you.

A different person will see your inked finger and take the chit from you. Then you will be instructed to proceed and cast your ballot in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) kept covered and separately. You can go and push the button for the candidate you favour or can select None of The Above (NOTA) if you don't support any particular candidate/party.

READ | Karnataka Poll: Every Kannadiga's dream is my own, PM Modi says in video message

Keenly-watched constituencies:

Shiggaon: Shiggaon is a BJP stronghold. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai is seeking re-election from Shiggaon for the fourth consecutive time. The Congress has fielded Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan against Bommai.

Hubballi-Dharward Central: Former chief minister and Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar, who quit the BJP after being denied a ticket, is contesting as a Congress candidate from this seat. Mahesh Tengingayi hopes to retain the seat for the BJP for the six successively time since 1994.

Varuna: The seat in the Chamarajnagar district has been Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiahs bastion. The BJP has fielded V Somanna, an influential Lingayat leader, against Yathindra.

Kanakapura: Kanakapura has been a fortress of the Congress. State Congress chief DK Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, has won the seat thrice in a row. The BJP has fielded revenue minister R Ashoka, a six-time and also Vokkaliga, against Shivakumar.

Channapatna: Channapatna is a JD(S) bastion in the Old Mysuru region. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy seeks to retain the seat. CP Yogeshwara is contesting as a BJP candidate for the second consecutive time. Congress has fielded Gangadhar S as its candidate.

Karnataka election results:

The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

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The BJP looks to script history to retain its southern citadel while a combative Congress eyes a comeback as Karnataka goes to polls on Wednesday at the end of a high octane campaign that was marked by a plummeting level of public discourse and grew increasingly shrill over the Bajrang Dal issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi being garlanded by BJP workers at an election campaign rally.(PTI)

As state leaders and candidates from different political parties thronged temples on Tuesday to seek blessings of god and good fortune on the eve of voting for the 224 Assembly constituencies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a video message to the people of Karnataka on Twitter seeking their blessings in the mission to make the state the number one in the country.

The Congress petitioned the Election Commission seeking immediate action against the prime minister for his appeals to Karnataka voters "in violation" of the model code, and said it was "a litmus test" for the poll body's capacity and willingness to enforce laws.

In his message, Modi said the affection he has received in the state over the last few days has been unparalleled, and it has strengthened the resolve to make it number one across all sectors.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us."

In an appeal to "brothers and sisters" of the State, Modi sought their blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one state in the country.

"My appeal is for the bright future of Karnataka. It is for the bright future of your family, especially the younger generations," said the prime minister, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows as part of BJP's aggressive campaign in the state.

In a lengthy complaint to the chief election commissioner, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala asked the commission whether it will remain a "mute and helpless spectator" or fulfil its constitutional duty and act against the prime minster.

With the stakes being high in the mega battle of ballots, the major political parties in contention--the BJP, Congress and JD(S)--have made a strong pitch to boost their electoral prospects. The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), which is in power in Punjab and Delhi, has also fielded candidates.

Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm amid tight security arrangements and the ballots will be counted on Saturday. A total of 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break a 38-year-old jinx -- Karnataka has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985, the Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give it a much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The battle-ready BJP with its well-oiled election machine ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Modi.

It was clear the double-engine Sarkar sought to heavily bank on Modi's appeal to bolster its campaign, shore up its prospects and fight "anti-incumbency".

Also what needs to be watched out for is whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) will emerge as a "kingmaker" or a "king" by holding the key to government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.

The Congress manifesto proposing to ban the Bajrang Dal heated up the later half of the campaign as the BJP and Prime Minister Modi aggressively latched on to the issue to portray the grand old party as being against Lord Hanuman and the sentiments of Hindus.

Modi also likened the proposed ban to locking up Hanuman itself.

He also made it a point to chant 'Jai Bajrang Bali' in all his speeches after the Congress released its manifesto.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Varuna), JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy (Channapatna) and state Congress President D K Shivakumar (Kanakapura) are the among the top candidates in the fray.

Other than Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy, Jagdish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central) is the other former CM, who is in the fray. Shettar had recently joined Congress, quitting BJP.

Bommai and Shivakumar also visited Anjaneya(Hanuman) temples on Tuesday.

While Bommai visited the shrine at Vijayanagara in Hubballi and chanted "Hanuman Chalisa" with devotees there, Shivakumar paid a visit to the temple at KR Market in Bengaluru and offered prayers.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar along with a large number of Congress leaders and supporters also paid their obeisance to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the deity of Mysuru city.

Along with flowers, fruits, "Thamboolam", incense sticks and purified butter, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar presented a brief copy of the Congress' election manifesto, which highlighted the party's five "guarantees" in the event of it coming to power.

Barbs like 'venomous snake', 'Vishakanya' and 'Nalayak beta' vitiated the poll campaign as some leaders used intemperate and abusive language.

While Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from Karnataka, likened Modi to a 'venomous snake' and his son and Congress candidate Priyank Kharge called the prime minister a "nalayak beta", BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal described former Congress president and MP Sonia Gandhi as a 'Vishakanya' (venomous woman).

The Election Commission claimed that enforcement agencies in Karnataka seized over 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and "inducements' which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the last assembly election in the state in 2018.

"A government with full majority" seemed to be the favourite slogan for the leaders of all the political parties during the campaigning that ended on Monday, as they stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government unlike what happened after the 2018 Assembly polls.

In the 2018 elections, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress 80, JD(S) 37, and an independent, BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party(one each).

With no party having a clear majority and Congress and JD(S) making a bid to forge an alliance, BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa staked claim and formed the government. However, it had to resign within three days ahead of the trust vote, unable to muster numbers.

Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as chief minister, but the wobbly government collapsed in 14 months, as 17 legislators including independents resigned and came out of the ruling coalition, and defected to BJP. This was followed by BJP coming back to power and, in the bypolls held subsequently in 2019, the ruling party dominated by winning 12 out of 15 seats.

In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, Independents two, Speaker one and vacant six.

The BJP's campaign seemed largely "centralised" with the focus mainly on Prime Minister Modi, 'double-engine' government, national issues and programmes or achievements of the union government coupled with those from the state, including those on reservation.

The Congress by and large focused on local issues and its campaign also was run by its state leaders initially. However, its central leaders like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently.

The Congress was also aggressive on the plank of corruption accusing the BJP of being a '40 per cent commission government'. But the party's promise to restore the 4 per cent quota for Muslims was seized by the BJP to ramp up its Hindutva plank in the hope of consolidating votes.

The Congress claimed that it drove a positive and development-centric campaign with a vision for the Kannadigas while the BJP's aim was to "distract, divide and deceive" the people.

The JD(S) ran a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H D Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda too joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.
Bengaluru: A day before the voting for the assembly polls, the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) on Tuesday appealed to the people to cast their vote in accordance with their conscience, while reminding them that corruption has reached frightening levels in the state. Polling officials with EVMs and other materials leave for their respective polling booths on the eve of Karnataka assembly elections, in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (ANI)

Corruption has reached frightening levels in our beloved state. The 40% commission in public projects has already claimed the lives of several contractors; the public too is forced to live with defective, dangerous, and life-threatening infrastructure, the association said in a letter to the voters. Democracy works when people cast their vote in accordance with their conscience. Corruption deeply hurts our collective conscience, the letter said.

KSCA president D Kempanna had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021 alleging that contractors had to shell out 40 per cent commission in public projects, a charge which the Congress made it a key campaign issue to target the ruling BJP, which had rubbished the allegation .

Sharing the letter on his Twitter handle, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote: The Karnataka State Contractors Association has written another letter -- this time to the voters. PM Modi never replied to their pleas against the BJPs 40% commission government. Tomorrow the people of Karnataka will reply for him.

In another development, Congress leader Ramesh Babu on Tuesday filed a complaint against chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, health minister K Sudhakar, and officials from the health department over a tender given for emergency medical services. The Congress leader submitted the complaint with Lokayukta alleging that the Karnataka government gave the tender for the emergency services, worth 1,260 crore, to a company that does not have any background on health issues.

Today, I filed a complaint against chief minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai, health minister K. Sudhakar, the health departments principal secretary and other officers of the health department to the Lokayukta regarding a tender transaction, Babu told reporters.

They overlooked all the parameters and gave the tender for the emergency service of the health department of Karnataka amounting to 1260 crore to a company that doesnt have any background in health issues, he added.

Chief minister Bommai, who visited a Hanuman temple, and health minister Sudhakar didnt respond to the calls made for a response.
Tamil Nadu BJP vice president Narayanan Thirupathy on Tuesday hit out at the ruling DMK government for pulling down The Kerala Story film from all the theatres in the state. The BJP leader condemned the move and alleged that it was done due to vote bank politics. MK Stalin.

Tamil Nadu government - which was not able to legally ban the film in the state - is now trying to remove the film from all theatres. This is condemnable. Due to vote bank politics, the DMK government is not allowing this movie to be screened in the state, Thirupathy told news agency ANI.

The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday stopped the screening of the controversial Sudipto Sen movie - which has triggered a massive political row. The trailer came under fire as it claimed to depict the forced recruitment and conversion of young girls and women by the terrorist group - ISIS.

On Friday, the Kerala high court refused to stay the release of the movie, noting that the producers have published a disclaimer along with the movie which specifically says that the film is a fictionalised and dramatised version of events and that it does not claim accuracy or factuality of historic events. It also observed that there was no allegation against a religion, but only against the ISIS organisation.

There is something called freedom of speech and expression. They have artistic freedom, we have to balance that also, Justice Nagaresh stated.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal on Monday against the Kerala High Court's interim order.
The Supreme Court Tuesday voiced displeasure over political statements being made about withdrawal of four per cent quota for Muslims in poll-bound Karnataka, after it was told Union Home Minister Amit Shah was making public statements about the hugely contentious issue at the hustings. The Supreme Court. (ANI)

Terming as "inappropriate" the political statements about the matter which is sub-judice, the apex court asserted "Some sanctity needs to be maintained".

The withdrawal of four per cent reservation for Muslims and its reallocation between the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities just before the assembly elections has become a hot-button issue in the southern state.

"When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained," a bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners who have challenged the scrapping of the Muslim quota by the state's BJP government, said, "Every day the home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn the four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?"

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, said he is not aware of any such remarks being made. He, however, contended those criticising religion-based quota are not wrong.

"Solicitor General making a statement in the court is not a problem but someone saying anything on a sub-judice matter outside the court is not appropriate. In 1971, a West Bengal political leader was hauled up for contempt for holding a press conference defending a rationing order which was pending before the court," Justice Joseph said.

"We understand and respect the sentiment of the court," said Mehta but added as a counsel, "I am saying that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional".

Justice Nagarathna also expressed displeasure over statements being made outside the court on the quota issue.

The arguments turned bitter when Dave said statements proudly claiming credit for the withdrawal of Muslim quota were being made every day. An agitated Mehta urged the court to restrain the senior lawyer from making such statements without a context.

"This is the Supreme Court bench and dont let it be turned into a fish market. This court has to restrain him (Dave) from making such statements. What they (Dave and others) are saying is without any context. They need to show what is the context, what is the content, and tenor of the statements. Let them file an application to this effect, we will file our reply," he said.

Dave told the court he will file an application and bring it on record what kind of statements are being made.

Mehta said without any application nobody would know what statement has been attributed to him (the Union home minister).

"Please see this statement. The Union home minister said that four per cent reservation for Muslims was unconstitutional and BJP removed it. This amounts to contempt of court," an angry Dave told the court.

As decibels rose, Justice Joseph asked Dave to not shout or make political statements in the court.

"We will not allow this court to become a political forum. We are not party to it. We cannot allow the issue to be politicised in this manner. We will adjourn the matter," the bench asserted.

At this juncture, a lawyer appearing for the petitioners told the bench that the BJP has stated in its election manifesto it will do away with four per cent Muslim reservation if voted to power.

The enforcement of the government order on scrapping of the Muslim quota has been kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court.

Replying to the submission, Mehta insisted there is nothing wrong in such a manifesto and, in fact, every political party should include in their manifesto the promise that they will abolish religion-based reservation.

Advocate Ravi Kumar Varma, appearing for Central Muslim Association, made a prayer to restrain the press from publishing such speeches, a contention Mehta opposed, saying media cannot be censored like this.

After heated arguments, the court deferred the hearing till July 25.

Earlier in the day, Mehta and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing for the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, said they needed some accommodation from the hearing as they have to participate in a constitution bench matter on same-sex marriage.

Mehta assured the court that the interim order it had passed keeping in abeyance till May 9, the eve of the polling, the state government's order of scrapping the Muslim quota will continue.

Dave insisted the implementation of the government's order be deferred till further orders to which the court agreed.

On April 26, the Karnataka government had told the top court it has taken a "conscious decision" to not continue with Muslim reservation on the sole basis of religion as it is unconstitutional.

The petitioners have challenged two orders of the state government taken at the fag end of its term, drawing criticism that it was trying to shore up its dwindling electoral prospects.

The BJP government had on March 24 decided to abolish the four per cent reservation for Muslims under 2-B category. The four per cent surplus quota was split into two equals halves and distributed among Vokkaligas in 2-C category and Lingayats in 2-D category.

Muslims who were eligible for reservation were categorised under the economically weaker sections.

The state government's decision has pushed the overall reservation limit to around 57 per cent now.
On a Tuesday morning, Thoi, a middle-aged Meitei shopkeeper at Nupi Keithel, a daily market run exclusively by women in the heart of Manipurs violence-torn capital of Imphal, sits forlornly. In front of her are heaps of the produce she seeks to sell, grains of local rice -- white, black and brown -- piled neatly in front of her. The market opened at 7am on Tuesday morning, and with curfew relaxed till 9am, she has had very few customers. I feel scared at times, but business has to go on, she said. Tuesdays morning at the womens market in Imphal district (HT Photo)

Also read: Protect, rescue, rehabilitate: Supreme Court takes note of Manipur violence

Close to a week after Manipur was swept by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities across multiple districts, the state capital of Imphal began taking baby steps to normalcy, with the curfew relaxed between 5am to 9am on Tuesday. This was an hour more than the relaxation on Monday that lasted till 8am. But as Manipur begins to open up gingerly, people milling around its markets like Nupi Keithel, the scale of the challenge that the restoration of normalcy will take is becoming clearer.

The usual market hours are from 7am to 6pm. On Monday, the curfew was relaxed till 8am. Today, the government extended it by an hour but that hasnt really helped us. I have a family of four and my daily income has dropped by almost 90%, Thoi said.

On Monday, for the first time since the ethnic violence began on May 3, chief minister N Biren Singh gave a glimpse of the scale of the destruction that swept through the state, saying 60 people had died, 231 were injured, 1,700 homes had been burnt, and over 35,000 citizens had been displaced.

On Tuesday, with personnel of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and paramilitary forces still swarming the streets to restore normalcy, and facilitating the return of evacuated people to their homes, the general officer commanding of the Spear Corps called on the chief minister.

GOC Spear Corps called on the Honble Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr N Biren Singh; discussed the prevailing security situation and synergised ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and restore normalcy. Honble Chief Minister lauded the efforts of Army and Assam Rifles, Spear Corps, Indian Army, tweeted.

But at Nupi Keithel, most traders spoke of the long road back to normalcy, and counted their losses. Dedicated to Lemarel Sidabi, a goddess Manipuris worship, the markets woman shopkeepers are predominantly from the Meitei community that forms 53% of the states population, and are the majority in the Imphal valley.

Flies buzzed around the undisturbed pile of homemade sweetmeats at the elderly Tababis shop. Next to her, Shalinis store of freshwater fish, a Manipur staple, had more takers. My sales may only have been hit by about 20% but that isnt something to be happy about. Unsold fish has to be preserved overnight in iceboxes. That is an additional expenditure, she said.

Mami, a Muslim woman who sells fruit on a pavement just outside the main complex, said that the restrictions on movement, both by the government measures to control violence and those self-imposed by wary residents, were affecting supply. Supply trucks dont come regularly from village farms. The prices have gone up by 20-30% since the curfew started. Wholesalers refuse to take back unsold products. These are left to rot, Mami said.

Also read: Imphal-Kolkata air ticket touches 20k as situation in Manipur remains tense

Across the main street, where men run retail stores too, Jaspreet Singh runs a garment shop that has existed for fifty years. I never expected to see this sort of violence. Businesses will continue to suffer because the Kukis, who live in the hill regions, will not visit markets in Imphal. Conversely, Meiteis who live in the valley, will avoid going to the hill districts, Singh said.

A few kilometres away from open stores in and around Nupi Keithel, at New Lambulane in Imphal East, there are stark reminders of the long road to peace that still must be traversed; a charred shopping mall, barricaded roads, contingents of the Manipur police, and silence after curfew ends.

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Six of every 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) inspected or audited by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) between June 2019 and April 2022, had committed one or more of the 12 compoundable offences under the Foreign Contribution Registration Act (FCRA), people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified. A compoundable offence is one that can be settled, usually with a fine. The number of NGOs that had committed non-compoundable offences is not known. HT Image

The ministry inspected or audited 335 NGOs and associations and found that in 201 instances, there were compoundable offences of the law that entitles these organisations to get foreign contributions.

The action, officials say, is in line with the governments policy that all organisations receiving foreign funds must ensure better compliance, transparency and accountability as well as adherence to declared and legitimate objectives and keep the authorities informed about the expenses.

Inspections/audits were of 335 FCRA registered organisations were done between June 2019 and April 2022 to examine aspects such as utilization of foreign funds, submission of annual returns, diversion of funds, details of donors, change in names, address and objectives of NGOs etc., said an officer, who didnt want to be named.

Data accessed by HT reveals that between June 2019 and April last year, MHA granted 570 new FCRA licences, 3,766 renewals, 80 prior permissions and 4,384 foreign hospitality permissions. At the same time, requests in fresh licence (2,821), renewal (738), prior permission (291) and hospitality (241) categories were rejected by it. Also, licences of 1,816 NGOs/associations were cancelled and 52 were suspended during this period. It isnt known whether any of the 335 inspected or audited are among those that had their licences cancelled or suspended.

To be sure, inspections and audits have been carried out after April 2022 as well, but the data is yet to be compiled.

FCRA licences have been in the news since a 2020 amendment that barred public servants from receiving foreign funding and made Aadhaar mandatory for every office-bearer of the NGOs. The new law also says that organisations receiving foreign funds will not be able to use more than 20% of such funds for administrative purposes. This limit was 50% earlier. Civil society has criticized the changes in the law saying it restricts foreign funded humanitarian work in India.

Abishek Jebaraj, a Supreme Court lawyer who has appeared in several FCRA cases, said: The FCRA laws are severely hampering foreign social investment in India and the meeting of our sustainable development goals.

He added: Fair regulations in national interest are important but the never-ending wait for getting registrations, high compliance costs, the vague and overbroad provisions, restrictions on collaboration with FCRA funds, arbitrary application of criminal provisions etc., are destroying several development organizations, increasing their administrative costs, causing social sector unemployment and preventing much needed aided to the poor in our country.

In October 2022, the government cancelled the FCRA licences of two Gandhi family run NGOs, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) alleging that they violated several provisions of the act such as using funds for personal gains, diverting it for undesirable purposes, not keeping the government in loop about source and utilisation of funds, and not using the designated bank account.

The ministry recently ordered investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Oxfam India and environment law advocacy group  LIFE (Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment) citing serious violations in their funding and utilization.

A second officer said: The inspections/audits help in effective monitoring of receipt and utilization of foreign funds. Such exercises also eliminate the possibility of benami expenditures and reduction in expenses on unproductive matters like increased salary of employees, bungalows and cars for office-bearers of NGOs.

Organisations which may not be directly linked to a political party but engage in political action such as a bandh, hartal (strike) or rasta roko (road blockade) will be considered to be of political nature, according to new FCRA rules. The organisations covered under this category include farmers organisations, student or worker organisations, and caste-based organisations.

Responding to a query on the government using FCRA to crack down on critics and environmental groups, home minister Amit Shah on May 4 said in an interview with HT: I dont think more than 10% of the NGOs would have lost their licence. Working in the environment sector does not mean that they will not abide by the law of the land. Money coming into the country from abroad is a sensitive issue and there is a law for that, no one should transgress that. If anyone does that, then surely there will be action.

MHA informed Parliament in March that organisations working in various fields received around 55,449 crore between 2019 and 2022. While 16,306.04 crore was received by NGOs in financial year 2019-20, 17,058.64 crore was received in FY2020-21 and 22,085.10 crore in FY2021-22.
Bengaluru The EC has seized contraband worth  375.61 crore, up from  83 crore in 2018. (Representational image)

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday said record seizures worth 375 crore were made in the form of liquor, drugs, and freebies in the run up to the Karnataka Assembly elections. This is 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the 22018 Assembly polls in the state.

The EC has seized contraband worth 375.61 crore, up from 83 crore in 2018. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth 288 crore after the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct on March 29 in the state.

The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time, the EC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Notable hauls include seizure of 4.04 crore of cash in Bangarapet AC in Kolar District, a raid of an illegal lab manufacturing Alprozolam in Hyderabad by intelligence gathered and trail mapping done by the Narcotics Control Bureau, 100 kg of ganja seized in Bidar, and significant liquor seizures in all districts.

Another striking feature of expenditure monitoring has been huge seizures of freebies. Sarees and food kits have been seized from Kalburgi, Chikkamagalur and other districts. Huge number of pressure cookers and kitchen appliances were also seized from Bailhongal and Kunigal and other assembly constituencies, the EC statement added.

While announcing the schedule for Karnataka assembly elections Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had stressed on increased vigil and zero tolerance on the distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

The extensive monitoring process started months back before the announcement of elections and includes a host of activities like a thorough review of the preparation of different stakeholders including enforcement agencies, DEOs/SPs, the appointment of experienced officers as Expenditure Observers, sensitizing and inter-agency coordination & monitoring and adequate availability of field level teams. 146 Expenditure Observers were deployed and 81 Assembly Constituencies were marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies for the stricter vigil, the EC said.

The CEC had remarked that the commission has significantly raised the bar for ensuring inducement-free elections and the continuum of stepping up of efforts and increase in seizures witnessed during recently held assembly elections in five states, would continue.

Polling in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.

(With inputs from agencies)
Sachin Pilot launched an all-out attack Tuesday against Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot after the latter claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party's Vasundhara Raje had 'saved his government from toppling in 2020'; the reference was to a failed rebellion - that nearly brought down the Congress government - by Pilot and some MLAs loyal to him. "After listening to Gehlot's speech, it seems his leader is Raje and not Sonia Gandhi," Pilot said. Congress leader Sachin Pilot (File Photo)

"He (Gehlot) alleges that the BJP tried to topple his government... then he says a BJP leader helped save his government. He should explain the contradiction," Pilot told reporters.

"Some people want to weaken the Congress... we will not let them succeed. After listening to Gehlot's speech, I understand why we could not act on corruption cases in 4.5 years."

"No leader is more important than the public," Pilot declared.

Pilot's harsh words mark an escalation in his conflict with Gehlot and come months before Rajasthan - one of only two states the Congress is in power (on its own) - holds an election.

The attack also comes a day before Karnataka - where the Congress is bidding to unseat the BJP - votes in the first big Assembly election of 2023.

Earlier, speaking at a programme in Rajasthan's Dholpur on Sunday, Gehlot said Raje and two other BJP leaders - Shobha Rani and Kailash Meghwal - had 'saved' his government by declining to take advantage of the Congress' infighting.

"Vasundhara Raje Scindia... said it has never been our tradition to topple the elected government on the basis of money. They did not support those who toppled the government due to which our government survived," Gehlot claimed.

Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the past few years as the younger leader bids to replace the veteran in the state's top post. Three years ago Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs decamped to neighbouring Haryana - where the BJP is in power - sparking reports the saffron party was trying to woo the disgruntled leader and topple Ashok Gehlot's government.

The nearly month-long crisis forced the Congress' high command to intervene and remove Pilot as both deputy chief minister and state Congress chief.

Meanwhile, Pilot has announced his 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' - to start from Ajmer on May 11 and finish five days later in Jaipur - to raise issues of corruption.
Day after Shiv Sena (UBT) faction's mouthpiece Saamana's editorial claimed Sharad Pawar had failed to groom a successor to take the NCP forward, the veteran leader on Tuesday responded to the comment. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.(PTI)

Sanjay Raut doesn't know what we have done. The characteristic of NCP is that we all colleagues discuss things, come out with different opinions but we do not go out to publicise them as it is our family matter. As family we all know how the party is going to be taken ahead and how new leadership will be created, Pawar said in Satara.



On Monday, the Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction in the Saamana editorial ahd also claimed that the panel set up to decide Pawar's successor had included some members who were keen to go with the Bharatiya Janata Party. But these members were compelled to ask the veteran leader to continue due to pressure from the NCP cadres, the editorial read.

"Sharad Pawar is like an old banyan tree in politics who had left the Congress party, founded NCP, and expanded it. Pawar is indeed an important figure in national politics and his words command respect. However, he has failed to create a successor who could take his party forward, the editorial had said.



Last week, the 82-year-old leader had announced his decision to step down as NCP chief after helming the party for 24 years. His decision had sent shockwaves among the party cadre. After pressure from party workers and leaders mounted, Pawar said he would take two-three days to rethink.



Finally, Pawar announced it was not right to step aside and he has withdrawn his resignation. I can't disrespect your sentiments. Due to your love, I am respecting the demand that was made to me to withdraw my resignation and the resolution that was passed by senior NCP leaders. I withdraw my decision to step down as the national president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)", he had said.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday called it far-fetched to argue that the right to marry is not a constitutional right, adding that marriage and its incidents cannot be limited to a mere statutory recognition but are entitled to constitutional protection. The bench will continue hearing the matter on Wednesday. (HT)

Also read: Homosexuality a disorder, will rise if same-sex marriage legalised: RSS body survey

Hearing a clutch of petitions that have demanded legal recognition for same-sex marriages, the Constitution bench emphasised that all the core constituents of a marriage can be traced to one or the other constitutional values and therefore, it may not be right to contend that people cannot approach a court pressing their constitutional right to marry.

To say that the right to marry is not a constitutional right would be far-fetched. Look at the core elements of marriage. Each one of them has a constitutional value...So, we must accept as a basic proposition that marriage itself is entitled to constitutional protection. It is not just a matter of statutory recognition. Once we have crossed that threshold, the next issue is if heterosexuality is a core element of marriage, said the bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. The bench also comprised justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha.

The occasion for the court to underscore the nature of the right to marry arose as senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, argued that there is neither a fundamental right to marry nor is there a right to seek recognition of such a marriage. According to Dwivedi, societal acceptance, age-old traditions and cultural values predating the Constitution have recognised a marriage only between heterosexuals and that the top court must not issue a declaration regarding same-sex unions which could prove to be vague, amorphous and incapable of being executed.

To this, the bench replied that the India Constitution itself is a tradition breaker in containing a bundle of provisions relating to equality, reservation and banning untouchability that seemed to change the traditions. Traditions are there to the extent they are there. But at the same time let us be alive to the fact that the concept of marriage has evolved...Apart from heterosexuality, there may be other elements of that relationship which must find protection within law, it added.

The court went on to add that there are three layers to the issue of recognition. First, the legislative recognition which undoubtedly has to emanate from Parliament...no doubt about it. Second is administrative and civil incidents and there, the government has taken the first step forward and they have constituted a committee chaired by the cabinet secretary. Third, how do you give meaning to the content of constitutional values? Even if we accept your submission, there is, even in this area, some element of constitutional jurisprudence for the court to evolve, it told Dwivedi, who urged the bench not to issue any declaration that may not be executable.

To this, the bench retorted: Is common law seeped into our bones to an extent that everything we say needs to be executed through contempt or other proceedings? Is it not sufficient that the court says that this is the state of affairs? We are not just talking about the constitutional branches but also talking about the society. How it is assimilated is not up to us.

It added that even a declaration and recognition of a right may have a significant impact. The order of the court is in the context of recognising the existence of a right. Its thereafter for the legislature. The court may not be able to take actions to implement it. Once there is a recognition and the court stops there, its one of the important things, observed the bench.

It also prima facie disagreed with Dwivedis submissions that the court cannot issue a declaration without specifying the manner and the extent of securing those rights. The court has in the past issued declarations which postulate enactment of legislation by Parliament...like right to clean environment, health, right to education. Therefore, at the core, to say that the court cannot issue a declaration would not be correct. Equally, we take your point that dont go to an area where you declare a right to marry, added the bench.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, cautioned the Supreme Court against foreclosing a discussion in Parliament by issuing a declaration on same-sex unions. Even as he said that the Constitution bench should grant a recognition to the sexual identity of LGBTQI+ community, Sibal argued that same-sex unions could get recognition and rights only through a legislation and that a declaration by the court in vacuum may not serve a purpose.

Also read: Same-sex marriage hearing highlights: Same sex couple not imported: CJI

At one point, the bench said that the society may not be willing to accept same-sex unions but there is another perspective to this. Its like firing a blank. You allow it but outside, there is no acceptance. But the counterpoint to that is it lends us (petitioners) dignity in our own eyes. That lends us acceptance in our own society and among parents and those who are willing to accept us. This is also a point that you will have to deal with, it told Sibal.

The senior counsel on his part said that decriminalisation of homosexuality is a judgment to celebrate but the court must remain mindful of overreach in matters that require Parliament to ponder over and set the stage for moving forward appropriately.

Opposing the petitions, senior advocate Arvind Datar urged the bench not to hold that there is a fundamental right to marry since that would amount to declaring a law and preventing Parliament from going into an issue which falls under the domain of both the Centre and states.

Datar added that the court cannot alter the language of the Special Marriage Act because that would not only change the fabric of a legislation that was brought in with a stated objective, but it would also lead to a collateral damage and impact on several provisions in other statutes.

The bench will continue hearing the matter on Wednesday.

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New Delhi Public representatives should not make political statements about an issue pending before the court, and should maintain the dignity of judicial proceedings, the Supreme Court observed on Tuesday in relation with comments made on the campaign trail in Karnataka. Supreme Court made the observation in relation with comments made on the campaign trail in Karnataka. (Representational image)

The courts observations came after it was told that home minister Amit Shah had spoken about the withdrawal of a 4% other backward classes (OBC) quota for Muslims in Karnataka. Even though it did not take any names, nor opt to pursue the verbal complaint against the home minister, a bench led by justice KM Joseph stressed that it does not want the issue of reservation for Muslims in Karnataka being politicised at a time when the apex court is seized of the matter.

We are all pained by this...if something is pending before any court, no statement should be made, especially by the public representatives. Dignity should be maintained when matters are pending before the Supreme Court, observed a bench that also included justices BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.

In response to a court order, no statement should not be made...We dont want reservation being politicised, especially when it is pending before this court...Public statements should not be made when matters are pending before this court, added the bench.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions against the March 27 government order (GO) of the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government that did away with the 4% OBC quota for Muslims and distributed it equally to Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas. The Karnataka governments decision was widely seen as a move aimed at pleasing the two dominant backward classes ahead of the state elections in May. Karnataka goes to polls on Wednesday, and the results will be declared on May 13.

Following a Cabinet meeting on March 24, Bommai announced the scrapping of the quota, saying: There is no provision under the Constitution for reservation to religious minorities  It was struck down by the court in Andhra Pradesh. Even Dr BR Ambedkar had said that reservation was for castes.

On Tuesday, when the Karnataka reservation matter came up, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the state, requested for adjourning the proceedings since he was in the midst of a constitution bench hearing on the same-sex marriage before another bench. He said that the court could extend his April 25 undertaking that the state government will not implement the impugned GO scrapping reservation for the Muslim community and that the earlier regime will be in place until further orders of the bench.

During the hearing on Tuesday, senior counsel Dushyant Dave, representing a petitioner who has challenged the states decision, alluded to Shahs alleged statements on the issue at election rallies. Every day, none other than the home minister Mr Amit Shah makes a statement that reservation has been withdrawn. This is hurting us. It amounts to contempt of court, he contended.

Responding, justice Nagarathna remarked: If what you are saying is true, we wonder that if the matter is pending at no less than the Supreme Court, why should anyone make a statement?

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, said that not only Daves claims were unverified, but it was also not known as to in what context and how the alleged statements were made. If someone says that reservation cannot be on the basis of religion, it has nothing to do with the pending matter here. We do not know the context etc, he added.

But the bench replied: We hope you understand what we are trying to tell you. In response to any court order, statements should not be made....you as a solicitor general, appearing in this matter, can make a statement that reservation should not be on the basis of religion but it is not the same thing if someone says publicly it from a podium...Its not open for anyone else to say this from a podium.

While Dave read out the statements allegedly made by Shah on his mobile phone, the SG said that the court cannot take a judicial note of something argued across the bar by a lawyer without there being an application in this regard.

The bench said that it has already expressed its mind. What we are saying is that if we go back to 1970, when a West Bengal chief minister made a statement regarding a matter pending before the court, and he was hauled up for contempt...We have already expressed our sentiment. We have nothing to do with politics. We dont want this to be politicised, it remarked.

The court proceeded to adjourn the case to July 25, when the matter will be heard by a new bench since justice KM Joseph, who heads this bench, will retire on June 16.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred till July 11 the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the case of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members in 2002. The Court stated that the public notice will indicate the next date of hearing as July 11. (ANI file image)

A bench of justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed the issuance of notices to the convicts, who remained unserved even now.

The bench also directed the publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served notices.

Also Read: Supreme Court judge decries bid to delay Bilkis Bano case verdict

Advocate Shobha Gupta who appeared for Bano told the Court that in her petition, except for Pradip Ramanlal Modhiya, one of the convicts, all remaining 10 convicts were served.

Even with regard to Modhiya, the Gujarat police had pasted the notice on the door of his residence as his phone was switched off and elder members of his house refused to take it on his behalf.

She insisted that pasting of the notice was sufficient proof of service and the Court should proceed with the case hearing.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta appearing for the state informed that when the Court is not satisfied with the service of notice, it can resort to publication of public notice through newspapers.

However, he added, The power of the Court under Article 142 is wide. Court may not allow procedures to defeat the process of hearing.

Let there be no further technicalities, said the bench as it directed the convicts named in all the petitions yet to be served with notice of the Court proceedings to be issued fresh notices.

The Court registry was directed to provide a list of the unserved convicts in three days.

In addition, the Court directed publication of public notice in two vernacular Gujarati newspapers in the area where they reside.

The Court stated that the public notice will indicate the next date of hearing as July 11.

As regards Banos petition, the Court restricted the public notice to be issued only for Modhiya.

When the matter was heard last week, the Court was faced with similar technical hurdles with the lawyers appearing for some of the convicts seeking time to file their responses.

The Court took note and had observed, It is obvious that you do not want the hearing to be conducted by this bench.

Justice Joseph retires on June 16 when the Supreme Court is on its summer break. His last working day in court will be May 19, after which the vacation starts.

Its obvious that they dont want me to hear the matter. Its very, very clear...we issued the notice on the first day this matter came to us. Thats the best and the maximum we could do. But is this the way the matter can proceed? asked the judge, sharing the bench with justice Nagarathna

On April 18, the top court questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11 convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered.

All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.

Bano was 21, and five months pregnant when she was gangraped while fleeing the violence during the 2002 riots, and her three-year-old daughter was one of the seven people killed.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Monday a petition challenging the refusal of the Kerala high court declining stay of the movie The Kerala Story. The story of The Kerala Story movie revolves around the lives of three girls from the state who narrate their ordeal of being trapped in marriage after converting to Islam and taken to Afghanistan where they are forced to join terrorist outfit ISIS. (File Photo)

An appeal against the order passed by the high court on May 5 was mentioned by senior advocate Kapil Sibal before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Tuesday.

Arguing the appeal filed by journalist Qurban Ali, Sibal told the court that the appeal requires urgent hearing as the high court has refused to grant interim stay on the movies release last Friday.

The bench, also comprising justice PS Narasimha agreed to list the appeal on Monday.

The high court order by a division bench of justices N Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas was passed after the judges watched the teaser of the movie. A bunch of petitions had sought stay on the movies release and even objected to the certification given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The petition filed by Ali claimed that the movie amounts to hate speech as it claims that nearly 32,000 girls from Kerala are lured to join ISIS by their Muslim friends. This tends to create enmity and hatred among different groups, Ali had argued in the high court seeking stay on the movies release.

The high court order said, We find that trailers (of the movie) does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. The HC sought to rely on the wisdom of the CBFC which had examined the movie and found it suitable for public exhibition. Even the petitioners before the HC claimed they had not watched the film.

The HC noted that the film producers have published a disclaimer with the movie stating that the movie has been fictionalised and presents a dramatised version of events. The story of the movie revolves around the lives of three girls from Kerala who narrate their ordeal of being trapped in marriage after converting to Islam and taken to Afghanistan where they are forced to join terrorist outfit ISIS.

The publication of the disclaimer was also a ground for the high court not to order stay of the release.

Prior to the movies release, the Supreme Court had on three occasions refused to order stay and asked all petitions to be filed before the Kerala high court where similar matters were pending. The top court had even urged those seeking stay on the film to be mindful of the money and hard labours of actors that goes into making of the movie.

The West Bengal government recently banned screening of the movie in the state in the interest of preserving harmony while theatre owners in Tamil Nadu decided to stop the screening owing to poor response.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has encouraged all courts and tribunals to adopt technology by switching to e-filing of cases and ending the old and outmoded ways of filing cases in paper format, stressing that they do not have a choice but to modernise. The Supreme Court issued instructions to the Centre and administrative heads of tribunals to ensure a seamless transition to working in the electronic mode.

The judiciary has to modernize and adapt to technology. The tribunals can be no exception. This can no longer be a matter of choice, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and justice JB Pardiwala said in an order on May 1.

The top court, which was hearing a case relating to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) where filing physical documents was insisted upon despite e-filing, felt that this acted as a disincentive. The bench also issued common directions to the Centre and administrative heads of tribunals to ensure a seamless transition to working in the electronic mode.

With technological advances, the countrys judiciary and tribunals must move towards e-filing. This process has already commenced and is irreversible. The court directed the Centre to take a fresh look at the rules to encourage e-filing across tribunals and even constitute a working group to make a comprehensive assessment of the position across tribunals and suggest regulatory changes.

Since the matter under consideration is related to NCLAT which deals with cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the bench said, The IBC is a significant prong in economic reforms. The manner in which the law is administered will have to keep pace with technology.

The court order came on an appeal filed by one Sanket Agarwal who initiated the process for corporate insolvency of a company, APG Logistics Private Limited, before the National Company Law Tribunal. This was dismissed in August last year against which Agarwal filed an appeal before the NCLAT. Since the order of NCLT was only made available by September 15, Agarwal e-filed the appeal on October 10 and followed it up with physical filing on October 31. The NCLAT in its order passed in January dismissed the appeal on the ground of limitation as it was held to be filed beyond the 45 days prescribed for filing of appeal.

The court noticed the flip flop in the NCLAT rules with regard to the limitation period being triggered at the time of e-filing or physical submission of documents at the counter. The bench restored the appeal to the NCLAT.

It is utterly incomprehensible why NCLAT should insist on physical filing in addition to e-filing. This unnecessarily burdens litigants and the Bar and is a disincentive for e-filing, the court said, noting that the duplication was time-consuming and added to the cost of litigation and left behind a carbon footprint which is difficult to efface.

The judicial process has traditionally been guzzling paper. This model is not environmentally sustainable. If some judges are uncomfortable with e-files, the answer is to provide training to them and not to continue with old and outmoded ways of working, the court said.

The bench said a copy of its verdict should be sent to NCLAT chairperson and secretaries of the Government of India working with ministries of finance, corporate affairs, and law and justice for ensuring compliance and undertaking remedial steps.

The court also noticed that Rule 103 of NCLAT Rules provides for e-filing. In January 2021, NCLAT issued a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) which encouraged everyone to avail of the e-filing facility available at its portal. Later in December 2022, another order was issued to clarify that the limitation period (for filing of appeal) shall be computed with reference to the date of e-filing while the physical copy would have to be filed within seven days of e-filing.

The top court noted that in the present case, the appellant (Agarwal) exercised due diligence and applied for a certified copy upon pronouncement of the order that was made available to him on September 15. The Court held that the period of 10 days from September 5 (the date of applying for certified copy of judgment) to September 15 would stand excluded in determining the period of limitation under the IBC and in these terms, allowed the appeal.
Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Tarun Chugh lashed out at Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday amid a political slugfest over 'The Kerala Story', calling her a 'modern-day Jinnah who creates hindrances in every nationalist work'. Chugh's rant comes after the Bengal government banned the controversial Sudipto Sen-directed film. Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Tarun Chugh. (File)

"Mamata Banerjee creates hindrances in every nationalist work in the country. She is modern-day Jinnah as she has problems with India's growth and objection to everything in the country," Chugh told news agency ANI.

Earlier, the BJP's Bengal MP Locket Chatterjee also slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress' decision and labelled Mamata Banerjee 'anti-Hindu, anti-India and anti-women'. "She is banning a film by Sudipto Sen, a Bengali filmmaker. She seeks votes in the names of Bengalis but bans a film on Muslims. This has been done for Muslim votes," Chatterjee said.

On Monday Bengal became the first state to ban the controversial 'The Kerala Story' after Mamata Banerjee banned screenings to avoid any 'incident of hatred and violence'.

The film has been declared tax-free in two states - Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, both of which are ruled by the BJP. Senior BJP leaders, including prime minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of MP and UP, have thrown their weight behind the film.

'The Kerala Story' claims to show the radicalisation and conversion (to Islam) of young Hindu women in Kerala. The film also claims to show how these women are then inducted into the Islamic State. Apart from the hugely controversial subject matter - opposition parties and the Kerala goverment have accused the film's makers (and the BJP) of divisive propaganda - 'The Kerala Story' was also slammed after its trailer claimed 32,000 women were converted.

After open calls challenging this detail, the film's makers changed this claim to say the film is about the 'true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala'.

Earlier today the Supreme Court said it would hear on Monday an urgent plea against the Kerala High Court's interim order declining to stay the release of 'The Kerala Story'.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Tuesday hit out at the makers of recently released film The Kerala Story, even calling for the producer to be hanged in public.



Under the name of 'The Kerala Story', a state and its women were defamed. The official figure of three was projected as 32,000. The person who produced this fictional movie should be hanged in public, ANI quoted the NCP leader.



The Sudipto Sen-directorial depicting the recruitment of girls by terror group Islamic State has triggered a massive political storm across the country. The film has found support in the Bharatiya Janata Party with saffron party-ruled states Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh declaring the film tax-free.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in poll-bound Karnataka's Ballari had mentioned the film, saying it exposed the consequences of terrorism in the society.



The movie The Kerala story is trying to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society, especially in a state like Kerala which is beautiful land of hardworking, talented and intellectual people. The Congress party is now trying to ban the film and support the terror elements", the prime minister said.

Nadda, on the other hand, had watched the film in a special screening in Bengaluru. However, West Bengal government has banned the film to avoid hatred and violence in the state, intensifying a TMC-BJP slugfest in the state. NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad addresses a presser in Mumbai.(Praful Gangurde/ HT photo)

In another development, the Supreme Court on May 15 will hear a petition against the Kerala high court order which refused to stay the release of the film.

On May 5, the high court refused to stay the release of the movie and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole.



(With PTI inputs)

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The Uttar Pradesh government will declare the recently released film The Kerala Story tax-free in the state, chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Tuesday.



Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will watch the film along with his cabinet colleagues at a special screening to be organised at Lok Bhawan on May 12, the chief minister's secretariat said. A banner from The Kerala Story film,

Last year, the UP CM had also watched Akshay Kumar-starrer Samrat Prithviraj' at a special screening after declaring the movie tax-free in the state.

UP BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra had recently shown the film to 100 girl students in Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh has become the second state after Madhya Pradesh to make the controversial film tax-free.



The film shows how the (life of) daughters who get entangled in the trap of love jihad get destroyed. It also exposes the design of terrorism, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a video message.

While we have already brought a law against (forced) conversion, the film creates awareness about the issue. This film should be watched by all and that's why the Madhya Pradesh government is declaring the film tax-free, he added.



The film has received support from the Bharatiya Janata Party with Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoking it during his poll rally in Karnataka.



The movie The Kerala story is trying to expose the consequences of terrorism in a society, especially in a state like Kerala which is beautiful land of hardworking, talented and intellectual people. The Congress party is now trying to ban the film and support the terror elements", Modi said at a poll rally in Ballari last week.



The film depicting the forcible conversion of girls before being recruited by terror group Islamic State has already kicked up a political storm across the country. The West Bengal government on Monday banned the Sudipto Sen-directorial.



West Bengal govt has decided to ban the movie The Kerala Story. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state", chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Monday.

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A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Nagpur on Tuesday to conduct a probe into threatening phone calls made to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, a police official said. Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari.

The calls were allegedly made by a murder convict, Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested from a jail in Belagavi, Karnataka, and booked under the anti-terror law UAPA.

A senior official of the Nagpur police said the NIA had registered a case at Bengaluru and the Mumbai unit of the central agency was directed to conduct an investigation. A team of the NIA arrived in Nagpur from Mumbai and started collecting documents and crucial leads regarding the case, he said.

Exploring the suspected role of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror outfit, and the underworld in the episode are the main focus of the investigation, said the official.

On January 14, Pujari made a threatening call to Gadkari's public relations office in Nagpur, demanding 100 crore and claiming to be a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang, according to the police. At that time, he was lodged in a jail in neighbouring Karnataka. He made another call on March 21, threatening to harm the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Nagpur if 10 crore was not paid to him, the police said.

Pujari was arrested and brought to Nagpur on March 28 from a jail in Belagavi city of Karnataka, and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked against him. After receiving the green signal from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, NIA officials launched an investigation on terror angle as Pujari had relations with terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's South Division chief Captain Naseer, said the official. The murder convict had also taken arms training in the North-East, he added.
A Muzaffarnagar district court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced two men to 20 years in prison for gang raping a Muslim woman during the 2013 communal riots, marking the end of an arduous trial that spanned nearly a decade and saw six other cases of rape collapse. Seven witnesses, including the victim, were examined in the court during the course of the trial. (Representational photo)

Additional district sessions judge A K Singh also imposed a fine of 15,000 each on the two men, Mahesh Vir and Sikandar, who were convicted under sections 376(2)(g) (punishment for committing rape during communal or sectarian violence), 376D (gangrape) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, the survivors lawyer Rizwan said.

Accused Mahesh Vir and Sikandar are being sentenced to 20 years in prison under section 376D of the Indian Penal Code and a fine of 10,000 (each) is also imposed on them, said the court

On September 8, 2013, a day after clashes first broke out ( on September 7) between Jat and Muslim communities in western Uttar Pradesh, the Muslim woman was gang-raped by three men after putting a knife to the throat of her minor son and threatening her with dire consequences in the Phugana area.

A special investigation team probing the communal violence filed a charge sheet against three people -- Kuldeep, Maheshvir and Sikander -- in the court. Kuldeep died during the trail of the case.

Seven witnesses, including the victim, were examined in the court during the course of the trial. It was only intervention of the Supreme Court in May 2014 that a case of gang rape was registered against the accused on a petition filed by seven women through senior advocate Vrinda Grover and Advoate Kamini Jaiswal.

Time spent by the accused persons in jail will be adjusted in the prison term awarded to them as per law, observed the court.

Sixty-four people were killed in one of the worst-ever communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts on September 8, 2013. The clashes broke out after a girl was harassed in Kawal village of Charthawal area of Muzaffarnagar. More than 50,000 people were displaced due to the violence that followed.

The charge sheet was filed in January 24, 2014, the soon after the trial began.

But the proceedings were repeatedly delayed. During this time, the other six cases of rape connected to the Muzaffarnagar rape collapsed one after the other as witnesses turned hostile and victims were browbeaten into compromise.

In May 2014, she approached the Supreme Court, seeking to expedite the trial.

Social activist and advocate Akram Akhtar was among those who provided legal support to the survivors family. Akhtar said the woman was 26 when she was gang raped. I visited the family often and witnessed their hardships, it was not easy for them to fight a battle for 10 years, he said, adding that the womans husband, a tailor, is the sole bread earner of the family.

Victims husband, meanwhile, said they have both received threats, and offers from money to take back the case. We passed through a lot of hardships in the past 10 years during our battle for justice, he said, adding that they had to leave their village and move from Laakh to Kandhla town of the district.
Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and his Canadian counterpart, Mary Ng, co-chaired the sixth Canada-India Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment, in Ottawa on Monday and discussed an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between the two countries. Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and his Canadian counterpart, Mary Ng. (Twitter)

The EPTA is an interim step towards the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Indian and Canadian officials earlier held a seventh round of negotiations for the EPTA in Ottawa last month.

In a tweet, Goyal said his dialogue with Ng reinforced how forging an EPTA would further deepen the India-Canadian trade ties, mutually benefiting both countries.

With our deepening trade ties, both India & Canada look forward to further enhance collaboration in new & diverse areas for greater growth.

Ng, who hosted a dinner for Goyal, tweeted, We both know the future lies in building a clean economy, one that is inclusive and creates prosperity for both our people. Lets continue to invest in one anothers success!

She said she looked forward to working together over the next few days to advance trade relationships, benefiting businesses and workers.

Goyal, who will be in Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday before departing for India on Thursday, will meet with Canadian CEOs. The Canada-Indian Business Council will also host a reception for him.

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Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee began his political life critical of some movements and strategies adopted by Mahatma Gandhi and was similarly opposed to the policies of Jawaharlal Nehru, according to a new biography titled Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right 1924-1977 by Abhishek Choudhary, the first of a two-part volume published by Picador. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (PTI)

To be sure, Vajpayee  who went on to become Prime Minister himself  gained great respect for Gandhi over the course of his life, and his animosity towards Nehru also appeared to be tinged with admiration sometimes.

The book suggests that Vajpayee, who was 18 when the Quit India movement was launched by Gandhi in 1942, wasnt entirely convinced of its effectiveness. Whereas the second world war was a time to strengthen ourselves militarily, the opportunity was wasted on individual satyagraha which ended, as always, with sitting purposelessly in the jail, the book quoted Vajpayee as having written in an essay in 1947.

The book relies on his writings in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs (RSSs) mouthpiece Panchjanya, among other publications. In a 1947 essay in the newspaper, Vajpayee wrote: World War I fuelled the Pan-Islamist ambitions of Indian Muslims. Around this time, Gandhiji, along with the Ali brothers, frequently invited the Afghans to invade India. But fortunately the Gandhi-Muslim conspiracy got noticed, and thus 30 years ago that disgusting attempt to convert India into Pakistan was thwarted.

Even during Gandhis fast-unto-death in January 1948, the Panchjanya, in which Vajpayee had a key editorial role by then, remained critical of the event, said the book.

As Vajpayee grew into a mature parliamentarian and politician who earned praise across party lines, his views on Gandhi also seem to have evolved.

While inaugurating a street named after the Mahatma in 2002, for instance, Vajpayee said Gandhis teachings continued to be relevant in the 21st century. Throughout his life, he (Gandhi) preached and practiced mutual tolerance and understanding among people belonging to all the religions of the world. In this, he echoed the age-old conviction of Indias civilisation that truth is one, the wise only interpret it differently, he said.

Though the book, which chronicles Vajpayees early years in politics, did not feature the 2002 incident, it traced a similar arc in his views of Nehrus policies.

As a young Member of Parliament in 1957, Vajpayee attacked Nehru on foreign policy and especially his engagement with China. One face reflects Churchill, who brought victory to Britain; the other reflects Chamberlain, who encouraged Hitler with his appeasement. I am sorry to say, but we have standing before us a man who exhibits a peculiar divided personality, he said as he attacked Nehru.

The book says how when confronted with Vajpayees searing attack for his invitation to Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai, Nehru complimented him in the evening for a solid speech. The then PM also included him in the list of delegates to the United Nations in 1960, with special instructions to foreign service officer MK Rasgotra to show him around and introduce him to leaders from different countries.

Later in his life, though, Vajpayees views on Nehru grew into one of grudging respect.

Describing Nehru in the United Nations, Vajpayee said: There was a flutter in the assembly and all delegates moving here and there rushed to their respective seats. Pandit Nehru was in his white Gandhi cap, coca-cola coloured sherwani, the invariable red rose, and churidar pajamas.

Vajpayee also noticed his confident manner of address, his clear and perfect accents, his well-formed turns of expression, and suddenly felt proud of his prime minister.

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Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Tuesday sent a legal notice to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on his 2022 blockbuster 'The Kashmir Files.



Yesterday Mamata Banerjee said that 'The Kashmir Files' and my upcoming film which is based on the genocide in Bengal, are propaganda. She said that BJP funds me for the films I make. We have sent a legal notice to CM Mamata Banerjee against the statements she made, Agnihotri told news agency ANI.



How I have been living for the past one year, only I can tell you. Some politicians, journalists and so-called communal fact-checkers have made my life difficult. They are trying to silence me. Some communal fact checkers circulated my daughter's picture after lifting it from her Instagram profile, which is a shameless act, he said. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (ANI)

Released in 2022, The Kashmir Files chronicling the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in 1990 had triggered controversy upon its release. Those criticising the film had termed it as one harbouring communal agenda.

While announcing the decision to ban the latest release The Kerala Story in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had said, "What is "The Kashmir Files"? it is to humiliate one section. What is "The Kerala Story"?... It is a distorted story".



I am talking about people and not in favour of the CPI(M) as the party is working with the BJP. It is the BJP which is patronising the film, she had said.



The Bengal government's decision to ban the Sudipto Sen-directorial film has triggered a massive political slugfest between the Trinamool Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.



The film is against terrorism and IS. The film exposes their modus operandi. Is the TMC supporting terrorism? This has been done to appease a section of the minority community", BJP vice-president Dilip Ghosh had said.

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After a stellar trailer preview event for fans in Hyderabad, Kriti Sanon travelled to Mumbai with Prabhas to attend the trailer launch event of her upcoming film Adipurush. Kriti chose a gorgeous, dreamy pristine white and gold saree for the occasion, custom designed especially for her. Fans loved the six yards of wonder on the actor and showered her with compliments. Some had goosebumps, and others called her 'Perfect Sita'. See the picture and read our download on the traditional look below. Kriti Sanon creates magic in elegant saree for Adipurush trailer launch with Prabhas. (Instagram)

Kriti Sanon's ethnic look for Adipurush trailer launch

On Tuesday, Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and the makers of Adipurush launched the film's trailer. Kriti's stylist, Sukriti Grover, took to Instagram to share Kriti's ethereal look for attending the event. The star draped herself in an elegant white and gold-hued six yards of wonder, custom-designed by master couturiers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. She created magic in the beautiful saree, styled with minimal jewellery and makeup. Check out the picture below.

Kriti's white silk saree comes adorned with beautifully crafted gota patti embroidered in gold and pink threadwork, a broad bronze gold border on the pally, and gold brocade work in petal-shaped patterns on the hem. She teamed the six yards with a heavily-embellished gold and pink-hued blouse featuring a round neckline.

Kriti traditionally wore the saree, with pleats on the front and allowing the pallu to fall from the shoulder in a floor-sweeping style. She draped a matching embroidered dupatta on the other shoulder to complete the ensemble.

Kriti chose minimal, statement jewellery pieces, including dainty earrings, statement rings, and ornate gold bangles to accessorise the saree. Lastly, a centre-parted bun adorned with white rose gajra, subtle eye shadow, nude lip shade, a dainty bindi, mascara on the lashes, rouged cheeks, a dewy base, and darkened brows gave the finishing touch.

Meanwhile, fans loved Kriti's dreamy custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla look. They showered her with compliments in the comments section. A few fans commented they had "goosebumps" looking at the pictures. One wrote, "Perfect Sita." Another remarked, "No nazar [evil eye] on her." Some netizens wrote "heavenly" and "beautiful".
Actor Kriti Sanon, with her co-star Prabhas, attended the trailer screening event of their upcoming film, Adipurush, in Hyderabad. Last night, Kriti and Prabhas, with the filmmakers, visited a theatre to watch the preview of Adipurush with fans. Kriti slipped into a gorgeous heavily-embroidered anarkali for the occasion. The star looked unreal in the traditional ensemble, perfect for the wedding or festive season as it ticks all sartorial boxes. Keep scrolling to see Kriti's ethnic look. Kriti Sanon stuns in an anarkali for Adipurush trailer screening event. (Instagram)

Kriti Sanon's traditional look for Adipurush trailer screening event

Last night, Kriti Sanon and Prabhas attended the fan preview of the trailer of their upcoming film, Adipurush, with the fans inside a theatre. Kriti chose a heavily-embroidered anarkali in pastel colours for the occasion. She shared pictures of her traditional look for the event on Instagram with the caption, "And it has begun...Big Day Tomorrow [heart and prayer emoji] The love from Hyderabad has filled my heart with positivity! [prayer emoji] #AdipurushTrailer releases tomorrow May 9 at 1:53 pm! [heart, prayer and evil-eye emoji] #JaiSiyaRam #Adipurush." See the post below.

Kriti chose a Rimple & Harpreet Narula anarkali, styled by Sukriti Grover, to attend the event. The suit set features a floor-length anarkali kurta and a net dupatta in pastel shades like aqua blue, pink, peacock blue, green, red and lavender hues.

While the kurta features a round neckline, floral-embroidered cropped jacket, full-length sleeves, cinched waist, and a layered flowy ghera skirt, the dupatta comes gota patti work and sequin embellishments. The intricate floral embroidery elevated the overall look of the ensemble.

Kriti accessorised the suit set with a Kundan and gold choker necklace, matching earrings, and sandals. She opted for winged eyeliner, subtle smoky eye shadow, feathered brows, glossy pink lip shade, rouged cheekbones, dewy base, and beaming highlighter for the glam picks. Lastly, a centre-parted messy low bun gave the finishing touch.

Meanwhile, Prabhas and Kriti Sanon's Adipurush will release in June. The film also stars Saif Ali Khan.
Actor Ananya Panday attended the Hindustan Times India's Most Stylish Awards 2023 on Sunday night. Ananya was among a long list of celebrities present at the event. The star wore a hot pink mini-length blazer dress, sheer stockings and high heels at the award show. She accessorised the ensemble with striking accessories, including a gold bucket-style bag, which caught the internet and paparazzi's attention - who called it the 'balti bag'. If you loved Ananya's quirky accessory, we have found the price for you. Keep scrolling to find out how to add the exact piece to your collection. Ananya Panday carried a gold 'balti bag' to HT India's Most Stylish Awards. (Instagram)

What is the price of Ananya's 'balti bag?

Ananya Panday's gold 'balti bag' is from the shelves Judith Leiber Couture and is called the Khloe's Pot Of Gold bag. It is from the label's holiday collection in collaboration with the Kardashian and Jenner family and comes ornamented with stacks of custom gold coins and a crystal-covered brass handle. Adding the bag to your collection will cost you 4,90,463 (USD 5,995).

Ananya Panday carried the Judith Leiber Couture Khloe's Pot Of Gold bag. (judithleiber.com)

Coming to Ananya Panday's outfit for HT India's Most Stylish Awards 2023, the star chose a hot pink-coloured mini blazer dress. It features a plunging V neckline, pulled-back long sleeves, notch lapel collars, front button closures, side pockets, and short hem length.

Ananya styled the ensemble by tying another blazer around her waist, a pair of sheer stockings, and matching hot pink high-heel pumps. Lastly, she chose hoop earrings, a chain-link bracelet, rings for accessories, and the Pot Of Gold bag for the accessories. A side-parted sleek bun, winged eyeliner, kohl-lined eyes, nude lip shade, mascara on the lashes, darkened brows, rouged cheeks, dewy base, and beaming highlighter gave the finishing touch.

What do you think of Ananya's outfit?
Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand are on course to hit 1 million a month each from October, a level last seen before the pandemic, as travel is expected to gather momentum during the winter and long national holidays. Thailand says Chinese tourists on track to reach pre-Covid level, to hit 1 million a month each (Pinterest)

Advanced hotel bookings and requests for chartered flights pointed to a surge in arrivals, Chuwit Sirivejkul, regional director for East Asia at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said at a briefing on Tuesday.

The return of Chinese travelers, who accounted for more than a quarter of total visitors to Thailand before the Covid outbreak, is seen as a boon for Southeast Asias second-largest economy amid headwinds to recovery from a global slowdown. Beijing allowed tourists to travel in groups in February after abandoning its Covid-Zero policy.

Chinese tourist arrivals jumped to about 270,000 in March from less than 100,000 in January, according to Thailands Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Daily arrivals from China have averaged between 8,000 to 10,000 since Feb. 6 when group travel was allowed, according to Chuwit.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is maintaining its official forecast of Chinese visitors at 5 million this year though arrivals can jump to as high as 7 million depending on the number of flights during the high season between October and March, Chuwit said.

Overall tourist arrivals to Thailand have topped 2 million every month between December and April, according to official data. Thailands Finance Ministry sees international arrivals at 29.5 million this year, more than twice last years tally of 11.2 million.
The May 10 elections in Karnataka will be closely watched, with observers focussing not just on the conduct of the crucial polls, but also the voter turnout in Bengaluru, the state capital. This is because the city, Indias information technology hub, has an unenviable history of voting in numbers far lower than the state average. PREMIUM Political parties will have to come up with a focused agenda for cities, so that residents get involved in electing their representatives. (HT Archive/Rpresentative Image)

Karnataka witnessed an impressive voter turnout record in the 2013 and 2018 assembly elections, touching 71.83% and 72.44%, respectively. But constituencies under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike recorded a 60% turnout in 2013 and 55% in 2018. Election enthusiasts hope that the fevered campaign pitch will push the city to not repeat this dismal record in the ongoing polls. Any such dip could not only bring down not just the states average, but also underline the urban low-turnout challenge to the all-India aspiration of breaking the 70% barrier in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

If political combativeness is a key factor for voters enthusiasm, there has been plenty of it in Karnataka. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has an accurate electoral roll and is working towards ensuring the best possible voter experience. If the urban elite finds every political candidate unacceptable, they can always opt for the None of the Above (NOTA) button. Fixing a Wednesday as the assembly election date to deny the scope for a long holiday to the electorate is as much a tactical rescue act by the election panel as a reflection of urban civic apathy towards elections.

Bengalurus weak electoral participation record is a reflection of a larger malady of urban apathy towards elections across the country. For years now, cities have seriously lagged behind rural India in electoral participation. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, metro constituencies were 10-15% behind their respective state averages in turnouts. Nine of the 20 lowest-turnout constituencies were in cities. Voters in cities blamed traffic, adverse climatic conditions, the discomfort at polling stations for these numbers, besides questioning the futility of elections, leadership, and politics.

But this was not always the case.

Till 1977, Delhi and Chandigarh, and even urbanised states such as Maharashtra, topped the turnout charts; the relative but distinct decline in urban turnout is a feature that took hold in recent decades, even as the voting percentages across Indias 650,000-plus villages rose, thanks to higher political engagement of the population, both as identity groups and as beneficiaries of government-initiated welfare schemes.

In addition, unlike urban areas, villages have the tradition of collective decision-making and community bonding. While rising literacy, exposure and aspiring leadership are behind higher rural electoral assertion, the urban citizen had an excess of these things, leading to acute scepticism and the withdrawal from the process. And, of course, there is the theory of elite flight, which suggests that since urban elites dont need to interface with their elected representatives for civic goods, theyve exited the process of political bargaining, which is now only inhabited by the urban poor.

Can this be reversed? Political parties will have to come up with a focused agenda for cities, so that residents get involved in electing their representatives. One specific complaint in Bengaluru is that no political party came up with solutions to the plethora of hardships the city dwellers face on a daily basis. This is not undoable. Following systematic efforts at raising information, motivation and facilitation, many towns and cities have seen better turnouts in the past. Such steps are important; otherwise, the gains of an updated electoral roll and remote voting could also be lost. On its part, ECI needs to roll out new engagement initiatives. Political campaigners and civil society must also chip in. Any steady decline in voters participation in cities may strengthen the case of those calling for compulsory voting.

Under the central governments flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, the level of cleanliness has been connected to a citys pride; and this has sparked a healthy race to earn the tag of garbage-free cities or open defecation-free cities. The same tactic should apply to voting in elections, as the apathy of citizens is the silent and the surest way for a decline of democracy.

The assembly elections are Bengalurus chance to redeem itself and chart out a path of hope to break the stranglehold of urban apathy in Indias democratic electoral process. India will be watching.

Akshay Rout is former director- general, Election Commission of India

The views expressed are personal
Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT has become the talk of the town ever since its release. People are testing its abilities and experimenting with what all this AI can do. However, at the same time, several people fear that this technology may take over their jobs. Fearing the same, recently, a Redditor claimed that their 60-year-old professor is retiring from his job because of ChatGPT. This post has sparked a discussion on the platform. A Redditor claimed that their professor is retiring because of ChatGPT.(Unsplash)

In a post made in the subreddit r/ChatGPT, a Redditor wrote, "My 60-something-year-old professor told the class he's retiring next year because of ChatGPT. His words, 'if there's a way for students to cheat and get away with it, they will do it.' He is not wrong, though. I wonder if other older professors will follow suit and feel defeated by this."

Take a look at the post here:

This post was shared just one day ago. Since being posted, it has been liked over 4,000 times. Many people have also shared their views in the comments section.

Check out a few reactions here:

An individual wrote, "It's not a case of being defeated, I don't think. This guy has done his job and wants to put his energy into something else instead of spending his time chasing up lazy students who can't be bothered putting in the work required. He has better things to do." A second added, "GPT will not eliminate competition. When everyone is using GPT, the smart students are still better at asking questions and generating better prompts. The lazy ones are still not going to bother whatever tools you throw at them." A third posted, "Cheating can give you a degree, but it can not give you knowledge. Eventually, the students that developed their mind will be successful in the real world."
A womans incredible survival story who was stranded in Australias forest for five days is going viral on the Internet. The 48-year-old woman, Lillian, survived on a bottle of wine and lollipops. Victoria Police reported that Lillians vehicle was stuck in mud after she took a wrong turn and reached a dead-end road. Since there was no mobile coverage in the area, Lillian could not request assistance. After Lillian failed to make her daily call to her loved ones, they became concerned and alerted the authorities. This lead to extensive police searches that eventually led to her location. The woman, who survived on a bottle of wine and lollipops after being stuck in Australias forest for five days, used her cars heater overnight to keep herself warm. (Twitter/@VictoriaPolice)

Also Read: Woman demands full refund from photographer after divorce

Lillian was found a good 60 kilometers away from the nearest town, and due to health issues, she was unable to try and walk for help, so stayed with her car, Wodonga Police Station Sergeant Martin Torpey said in an official statement.

The statement further adds, She was only planning a short-day trip so had only taken a couple of snacks and lollies with her but no water. The only liquid Lillian, who doesnt drink, had with her was a bottle of wine she had bought as a gift for her mother so that got her through. While she couldnt move her car, she was able to use the heater overnight give her some warmth.

The Victoria Police even shared aerial footage of the region where the Lillian was found with the caption, See the moment Air Wing located a woman, who was missing for five days in dense bushland. Yesterday afternoon, Air Wing were conducting a sweep of the hilly terrain when they spotted Lillians car at the end of a dirt road in the Mitta Mitta bushland.

The clip opens to show Lillian waving at a helicopter. Soon, a police van arrives on the scene. As the video progresses, the officers can be seen approaching Lillian and leading her to the van. She was later taken to a hospital for medical observation and treatment of dehydration.

Take a look at the tweet below:

Since being shared on May 6, the tweet has collected over one lakh views. Additionally, it has raked a plethora of likes and comments.

Heres how people reacted to the tweet:

Oh how wonderful to see such good news. I think I would have hugged the Police officers. So glad Lillian is in safe hands now, posted an individual. Another added, Emotional video to watch, What a wonderful job you all did. These sort of stories make me so happy, an antidote to the other stuff that bombards us. Well done Victoria police and everyone who helped find Lillian, expressed a third.

A fourth wrote, Wow! Having been on a few land searches! you cant describe the feeling of finding someone and returning them to their loved one. Congratulations to the Vic Police and the search teams. Smart for Lillian to have stayed with her car, commented a fifth.

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Washington: Joe Biden will become the first American president to visit the Pacific Islands later this month, when he travels to Papua New Guinea for bilateral engagements and to attend the first US-Pacific Islands Summit, the White House announced on Tuesday. President Joe Biden speaks before a screening of the series American Born Chinese in the East Room of the White House in Washington, in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, on Monday. (AP)

In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden will stop over in the island on his way from the G7 summit in Hiroshima to the Quad leaders summit in Sydney. President Biden will meet with Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island Forum leaders to follow up on the first-ever USPacific Island Summit in Washington, DC last fall.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, will be in Papua New Guinea to meet Pacific Island Forum leaders at the same time and attend the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation. While the White House statement did not announce a meeting between the two leaders, Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape had said earlier this month that he looked forward to welcoming Biden and Modi. Papua New Guinea is ready to receive both President Biden and Prime Minister Modi. 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.

The White House said Biden and Pacific Island leaders will discuss ways to deepen cooperation on challenges such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth. As a Pacific nation, the United States has deep historical and people-to-people ties with the Pacific Islands, and this visit  the first time a sitting US President has visited a Pacific Island country  further reinforces this critical partnership.

The Pacific Islands have, in recent years, become a new site of geopolitical contestation between China on one hand, and the West on the other. With China and Solomon Islands agreeing on a security pact in early 2022, the US stepped up its diplomatic offensive in the region. Bidens Indo-Pacific czar Kurt Campbell visited the region. The US, along with Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Japan launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative. India is an observer in the group.

And then White House hosted all Pacific Island leaders for a historic summit in Washington DC in September 2022  this was the first time they were invited to the Presidents residence for a formal summit. Issuing a declaration on US-Pacific partnership, the participating countries, in an acknowledgment of the biggest concern of the Pacific Island countries, agreed to tackle climate crisis as the highest priority of our partnership, for it remains the single greatest existential threat to the livelihoods, security, traditional and customary practices, and wellbeing of people in the Pacific region.

In addition, in an acknowledgment of American security concerns, the declaration said, In promoting peace and security, we recognise the importance of international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including on freedom of navigation and overflight. We will oppose all efforts to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any country, large or small.

Last year, responding to a question from HT on how he saw the role of India in the Pacific Islands, Campbell had said, India is an observer in Partners of the Blue Pacific. They have been engaging with us. They have strong and deep historical ties in the Pacific, in Fiji, and elsewhere. We look forward to working more closely with India in the Pacific. One of the things I have been most gratified by is the close coordination with India in the Indo-Pacific on a range of issues, including the island nations. I look forward to that cooperation continuing.

The simultaneous visit of Biden and Modi is expected to intensify cooperation in this theatre of the Indo-Pacific.

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Toronto: The Canadian government is expelling a Chinese diplomat alleged to be behind a strategy to intimidate the family of a lawmaker in Hong Kong. Police and traffic police stand outside the Canadian embassy in Beijing, on Tuesday. China said Canada has sabotaged relations between the two nations by expelling a Chinese diplomat Ottawa has accused of seeking to intimidate a lawmaker critical of Beijing. (AFP)

In a release on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said, Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr Zhao Wei.

Zhao has been with Chinas Consulate in Toronto since 2018. He is expected to leave Canada within five days.

The outlet Globe and Mail, in a recent report based on documents from Canadas spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), stated that Chinas intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), wanted to target Canadian MPs who were behind a February 2021 motion in the House of Commons terming the treatment of Uighurs as tantamount to genocide.

That motion, which passed, was moved by opposition MP Michael Chong, who is believed to be singled out by Beijing. A CSIS reported claimed Beijing wanted to make an example of Chong by imposing potential sanctions on his relatives in China. The Chinese diplomat tasked by state intelligence was alleged to be Zhao Wei.

Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry, summoned Chinas Ambassador to the country Cong Peiwu on Thursday.

Joly said the decision was taken after careful consideration of all factors at play.

I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, she added.

Reacting to the announcement, Chong said, It shouldnt have taken the targeting of a member of Parliament to make this decision. We have known for years that the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) is using its accredited diplomats here in Canada to target Canadians and their families.

The expulsion is likely to cripple Canadas relations with Beijing, as it drew a furious reaction from the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa. The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side, a statement from the Embassy spokesperson said. Saying the decision had sabotaged relations between the two countries, the spokesperson Beijing strongly condemns and firmly opposes this, and has lodged stern protest with the Canadian side.

It added that Zhao was declared persona non grata based on rumours of the so-called China Interference hyped up by some politicians and media. If the Canadian side acts wantonly and arbitrarily, it will be met with Chinas resolute and strong reactions, the statement posted by the Embassy concluded.

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Cooler weather across Alberta on Monday helped firefighters battling widespread wildfires in Canada's main oil-producing province, but the government said it could be months before all the blazes are brought under control. Canada struggled on Monday to control wildfires that have forced thousands to flee, halted oil production and threaten to raze towns. (AFP)

Alberta declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to wildfires that have displaced nearly 30,000 people and prompted energy producers to shut in at least 185,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), about 2% of Canada's output.

Read here: Wildfires ravage Canada's Alberta, over 30,000 forced to evacuate

By Monday afternoon 98 wildfires were still active, with nearly 30 classified as out-of-control.

More than 700 firefighters had been deployed and Alberta had requested a further 1,000 from other provinces, who were expected to arrive over the next week, officials said.

The provincial government also invited volunteers with firefighting skills to register with the province to help tackle the blazes. The government wanted to utilize the many people across the province with firefighting expertise, particularly in Indigenous communities, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said.

"Some of these fires might continue on for several months so if we can use resources that are already here, the people who are able to help, we want to be open to doing that," Smith said at a press conference.

ALBERTA REQUESTS FEDERAL HELP

Alberta has formally requested help from the federal government, including military assistance, and Smith spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau earlier in the day.

"We talked a lot about the different ways the federal government can help and we will be working to make sure that we're supporting Albertans right across the province as necessary," Trudeau said in televised remarks.

Canada is the world's fourth-largest crude producer, and about 80% of its oil comes from Alberta.

The oil and gas shut-ins looked temporary and have had no immediate impact on energy prices, said Mark Oberstoetter, head of Americas upstream research for consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

So far there are no reports of significant damage to infrastructure and production is expected to be restored once the wildfires come under control, BMO Capital Markets said in a note.

Canadian daily natural gas exports to the United States fell to 6.7 billion cubic feet on Sunday, their lowest since April 2021, according to data provider Refinitiv.

Pipeline company Enbridge Inc said its assets were operating as normal but the company did "expect some minor fluctuations in volumes as some customers upstream may be impacted", according to a statement.

TC Energy said it has shut down two compressor stations on its NGTL gas pipeline system, which connects most of the natural gas produced in western Canada to domestic and export markets.

"Other sections of the NGTL system and other pipeline systems continue to operate safely and we continue to monitor the situation closely," TC said in a statement.

Read here: Massive wildfire in South Korean coastal city forces hundreds to flee

Alberta is also Canada's biggest cattle-producing province. Some ranchers were moving livestock away from fires to rodeo grounds or other public places, but no cattle are known to have died from fire or smoke, said Karin Schmid, an official at the Alberta Beef Producers industry group.

Farmers in some areas are already dealing with drought, and the fires will likely further set back the growth of hay and grass to feed cattle, Schmid said.
Beijing: China on Tuesday expelled a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa ordered a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing to leave the country. A man walks past the entrance of the building where Canadas consul general facilities are located in Shanghai, China on Tuesday. (AFP)

China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a brief statement, adding that she had been asked to leave China before May 13.

In response to Canadas unreasonable actions, China has decided to take reciprocal countermeasures, the Chinese statement said.

Beijings retaliatory measure comes a day after Justin Trudeaus government expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, accused of attempting to intimidate Canadian lawmaker, Michael Chong.

Ottawa declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei persona non grata, on Monday, the Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.

I have been clear: We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, she said in the statement, quoted in reports from Canada.

Chong was allegedly targetted by Zhao after he sponsored a motion to condemn Chinas treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority group.

The Chinese embassy in Ottawa had promptly called the allegations groundless and warned of consequences.

China strongly condemns and firmly opposes it and has lodged a solemn representation with Canada. China will resolutely take countermeasures, and Canada will bear all the consequences arising therefrom, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.

The statement added that the move deliberately undermines China-Canada relations.

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Donald Trump sexually abused magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her by branding her a liar, jurors decided on Tuesday, dealing the former U.S. president a legal setback as he campaigns to retake office in 2024. FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla., after being arraigned earlier in the day in New York City. Donald Trump's town hall forum on CNN on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, is the first major TV event of the 2024 presidential campaign, and a big test for the chosen moderator, Kaitlan Collins. The former White House correspondent and now-morning show host must juggle questions from an audience of Republican primary voters, her own follow-ups and the need to fact-check false statements. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)(AP)

The nine-member jury in Manhattan federal court awarded about $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

The jury deliberated for just under three hours. It rejected Trump's denial that he assaulted Carroll and ruled in her favor. To find him liable, the jury of six men and three women was required to reach a unanimous verdict.

Carroll, 79, testified during the civil trial that Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in either 1995 or 1996, then harmed her reputation by writing in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform that her claims were a "complete con job," "a hoax" and "a lie."

President from 2017 to 2021, Trump is the front-runner in opinion polls for the Republican presidential nomination and has shown an uncanny ability to weather controversies that might sink other politicians.

It seems unlikely in America's polarized political climate that the civil verdict will have an impact on Trump's core supporters, who view his legal woes as part of a concerted effort by opponents to undermine him.

"The folks that are anti-Trump are going to remain that way, the core pro-Trump voters are not going to change, and the ambivalent ones I just dont think are going to be moved by this type of thing," said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist in Pennsylvania.

Any negative impact is likely to be small and limited to suburban women and moderate Republicans, he said.

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Trump raped, sexually abused or forcibly touched Carroll, any one of which would satisfy her claim of battery. They were separately asked if Trump defamed Carroll.

Because this was a civil case, Trump faces no criminal consequences. Carroll was seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Trump's legal team opted not to present a defense, gambling that jurors would find that Carroll had failed to make a persuasive case.

Trump had said Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist and a registered Democrat, made up the allegations to try to increase sales of her 2019 memoir and to hurt him politically.

Because the case was in civil court, Carroll was required to establish her rape claim by "a preponderance of the evidence" - meaning more likely than not - rather than the higher standard used in criminal cases of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt." Carroll had to show "clear and convincing evidence" to prove her defamation claim.

The trial featured testimony from two women who said Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago.

Former People magazine reporter Natasha Stoynoff told jurors that Trump cornered her at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in 2005 and forcibly kissed her for a few minutes until a butler interrupted the alleged assault. Another woman, Jessica Leeds, testified that Trump kissed her, groped her and put his hand up her skirt on a flight in 1979.

Jurors also heard excerpts from a 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which Trump says women let him "grab 'em by the pussy."

"Historically, that's true, with stars ... if you look over the last million years," Trump said in an October 2022 video deposition played in court. He has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct.

Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, told jurors during closing arguments on Monday that the 2005 video was proof that Trump had assaulted Carroll and other women.

The federal trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to Carroll's lawyer, began on April 25. Citing the uniqueness of a civil case against a former president, the judge decided that the names, addresses and places of employment of the jurors would be kept secret.

Carroll testified that she bumped into Trump at Bergdorf's while he was shopping for a gift for another woman. Carroll said she agreed to help Trump pick out a gift and the two looked at lingerie before he coaxed her into a dressing room, slammed her head into a wall and raped her. Carroll testified she could not remember the precise date or year the alleged rape occurred.

Carroll faced questions from Trump's legal team attacking the plausibility of her account including why she had never reported the matter to police or screamed during the alleged incident.

Two of Carroll's friends said that she told them about the alleged rape at the time but swore them to secrecy because she feared that Trump would use his fame and wealth to retaliate against her if she came forward.

Carroll told jurors she decided to break her silence in 2017 after rape allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein prompted scores of women to come forward with accounts of sexual violence by powerful men. She went public with her account while Trump was still president.

She said Trump's public denials wrecked her career and instigated a campaign of vicious online harassment by his supporters including various threatening messages and social media posts.

While Trump did not testify at the trial, a video clip from the October 2022 deposition showed him mistaking Carroll for one of his former wives in a black-and-white photo among several people at an event.

"It's Marla," Trump said in the deposition, referring to his second wife Marla Maples. Previously Trump had said he could not have raped Carroll because she was not "his type."

Trump has cited the Carroll trial in campaign fundraising emails as evidence of what he portrays as a Democratic plot to damage him politically.

His poll numbers improved after he was charged in New York in March with falsifying business records over a hush money payment to a porn star before his victory in the 2016 presidential election.

That indictment, filed in New York state court, made him the first U.S. president past or present to be criminally charged. Trump has pleaded not guilty and said the charges are politically motivated.
Hours before former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary forces from outside the Islamabad high court, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him. In a video statement, Khan claimed that the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition and its alleged "handlers" were trying to arrest him to prevent him from campaigning for elections and from mobilising the masses if the government refuse to obey the Supreme Court and violate Constitution on holding elections. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan gestures in a video statement, at an unknown location in Pakistan, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.(Twitter / Imran Khan)

"There is no case on me. They want to put me in jail, I am ready for it," said former Pakistan PM and PTI chief Imran Khan before his arrest.

He tweeted: My reply to ISPR & attempts by PDM & their handlers to arrest me for two reasons: 1. To prevent me from campaigning bec InshaAllah when elections are announced I will be doing jalsas. 2. To prevent me from mobilising the masses for street movement in support of Constitution if PDM govt & their handlers refuse to obey the SC & violate Constitution on holding of elections (sic).

Khan was arrested Tuesday during a court appearance in Islamabad for one of the dozens of cases pending since he was ousted from office last year. Local TV news channels showed chaotic scenes outside the court as hundreds of PTI supporters clashed with security officers.

"Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case," the official Islamabad police Twitter account said, referring to a graft case.

On late Monday, Pakistan's military warned him against making "baseless allegations" after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him. The rebuke late Monday underscored how far Khan's relations have deteriorated with the powerful military, which backed his rise to power in 2018 but withdrew its support ahead of a parliamentary vote of no confidence that ousted him last year.

(With agency inputs)

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Pakistans former premier Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary personnel from the Islamabad high court complex on Tuesday, triggering fears of a possible confrontation between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the ruling coalition. Former Pakistan PM and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan being arrested by Pakistan Rangers from the Islamabad High Court complex in Pakistan on Tuesday (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) t)

Scores of Pakistan Rangers personnel in riot gear swarmed into the court complex in armoured vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Khan arrived for a hearing of cases against him. The personnel presented an arrest warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the countrys anti-graft watchdog, that named Khan as an accused in a case of corruption.

The paramilitary personnel broke doors, jumped through windows and scuffled with PTI workers to reach Khan. NAB said in a statement that Khan was arrested by its officials and the Rangers were deployed for the action on the orders of the interior ministry. The statement also clarified that the Rangers didnt detain Khan.

Pakistans interior minister Rana Sanaullah told a news conference in Islamabad that Khan was arrested by the NAB in connection with what is known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. He said there were dozens of other cases involving alleged corruption in progress against Khan.

Follow Live Updates on Imran Khans arrest

Sanaullah said Khan failed to appear in court despite being issued several notices in connection with the case. A statement issued by Islamabad Police said Khan was arrested in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, which involves allegations that he and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising a laundered amount of 50 billion that was identified and returned to Pakistan by the UK during the term of the PTI government.

PTI leaders claimed Khan was roughed up during the arrest, though this could not be independently verified. Islamabad high court chief justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the arrest and sought explanations from the Islamabad police chief, interior secretary and additional attorney general.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration issued an order prohibiting large gatherings soon after Khans arrest. The Islamabad Police warned that strict action will be taken against anyone violating the order. PTI leaders called on party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against Khans detention.

Pakistan security forces guard a vehicle carrying former Prime Minister Imran Khan after his arrest at a court in Islamabad (Reuters)

Khan, 70, has spearheaded a campaign against the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif since he was removed in a vote of confidence in parliament in April last year. He has accused the Sharif government of colluding with the US and the Pakistani military to remove him from power.

People familiar with the matter said Khan apparently crossed a red line when he accused Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, director general of counter-intelligence in the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of trying to kill him twice while addressing a rally in Lahore on Saturday. Though Khan had referred to the same general obliquely in other speeches, he had never named Naseer publicly.

Pakistani paramilitary troops walks in a court, where Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan was to appear, in Islamabad. He was later arrested (AP)

The military hit back against Khan on Monday. In a strongly worded statement, it said the PTI chief levelled highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving military officer without any evidence. This has been a consistent pattern for last one year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives, the statement said.

The military asked Khan to make a recourse to legal avenues and stop making false allegations. The military also reserved the right to take legal action against false and malafide statements and propaganda.

PM Shehbaz Sharif too criticised Khan for maligning and threatening the army and ISI. Khans levelling of allegations without any proof against Gen Faisal Naseer and officers of our Intelligence Agency cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated, Sharif said in a tweet on Monday.

The people cited above said the use of Pakistan Rangers, a paramilitary force led by Pakistan Army officers, to arrest Khan was a significant development that pointed to the military signing off on the action. The PDM government, which has been crippled by a lack of popularity, would not have acted without a go-ahead from the army, the people said.

Khan has also resisted several attempts by police to arrest him in connection with his failure to appear in court to face charges in several cases, and this is believed to have been a key reason behind the decision to deploy the Rangers.

The powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its history, has grown increasingly wary of Khans levelling of allegations against top serving and retired officials as part of his campaign against the PDM government. The people said some within the military perceived Khans actions as an attempt to engineer a split within the army, especially in view of the support for the PTI in some quarters.

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In a recent article published by The New Yorker, J.R. Moehringer, the ghostwriter of Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," revealed details of his experience working with the Duke of Sussex. The author shared heartwarming moments with Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as a tense Zoom call that led to a fight over a passage in the book. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, leaves after King Charles' coronation ceremony, in London, Britain.(via REUTERS)

Moehringer recalled a time when Harry won over his daughter Gracie with his extensive knowledge of the movie "Moana." He also praised Meghan's generosity, noting that she brought him trays of food and sweets during his stay in their guesthouse and even sent him home with toys for his children.

Despite the bonding moments, the ghostwriter and Prince Harry had a major disagreement over a passage in the book, leading to a heated argument over Zoom. Moehringer found Harry's story relatable and infuriating and appreciated the opportunity to speak with someone who understood the never-ending feeling of wishing to call one's mom.

Prince Harry's memoir, released in January 2021, provided a candid look at his life in the royal spotlight, addressing topics such as Princess Diana's death, his strained relationships with members of the royal family, and the challenges he faced growing up. The book has been praised for its raw honesty and openness.

In recent years, Prince Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family has been a subject of intense scrutiny. Their decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family in early 2020 shocked the world. Since then, the couple have relocated to California, where they have continued to work on their charitable endeavors and have spoken out on issues such as mental health and racial injustice.

Also read | Meghan Markle ditches royal coronation for a peaceful hiking trip in California

Despite the controversy surrounding their departure from the royal family and their allegations against them, Prince Harry and Meghan have been in limelight making their side of statement. And with the release of "Spare," readers now have a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs that have shaped Prince Harry's life.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged that its party chief Imran Khan was being tortured after being arrested by Rangers personnel outside the Islamabad high court on Tuesday, but it was not confirmed independently. PTI leader Musarrat Cheema.

"State terrorism - breaking into IHC premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan and abducted him," tweeted former minister Shireen Mazari, a PTI spokeswoman.

Another PTI leader Azhar Mashwani alleged that Khan had been abducted from inside the court by the Rangers. He said that the party had given an immediate call for staging protests in the country.

"They are torturing Imran Khan right now [] they are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib," PTI leader Musarrat Cheema said in a video message.

Former information minister and PTI vice president Fawad Chaudhry earlier said the court has been "occupied by the Rangers" and lawyers are being subjected to torture.

"Imran Khans car has been surrounded," he added.

Khan has been facing several cases since his ouster through a no-trust vote in April last year. He has rejected all these cases as political victimisation by the ruling alliance.

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In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who was present at the Islamabad high court (IHC) for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon, was arrested by paramilitary Rangers from the premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan during a protest.(AFP file)

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari.

The Islamabad Police released a statement quoting Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan as saying that Imran Khan had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising 50 billion.

What is the Al-Qadir Trust case and its connection to Imran Khan?

A NAB official confirmed news agency PTI that said that Imran Khan has been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case which is about the setting up of Al-Qadir University for Sufism in the 2019 Sohawa area of Jhelum district of Punjab.

The Al-Qadir Trust case pertains to accusations against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other leaders of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf around the establishment of Al-Qadir University.

The case is related to an alleged settlement between his government and a property tycoon, which led to a loss of 50 billion rupees to the weak economy of Pakistan.

"His arrest warrants were issued today morning and subsequently he is arrested," he said. The warrant said that Khan was accused of corruption and corrupt practice.

The leaders of the PTI are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.

Imran Khan faces over 120 cases

Imran Khan is facing 121 cases across Pakistan, including for committing treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism.

The list states that 31 cases have been registered against Khan in the federal capital and 30 cases and call-up notices have been issued in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

These cases are related to various charges like treason, blasphemy, committing and inciting violence and terrorism.

According to the list, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against Imran in Lahore and 14 cases have been registered in Faisalabad. Some 22 terrorism cases have been registered against Imran Khan across the country.

An Islamabad court is set to indict him on May 10 in a case in which he allegedly hid the proceeds from the sale of state gifts.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In unprecedented scenes, supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday stormed the Pakistan Army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore after his dramatic arrest in a corruption case. Police fire teargas shell towards Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party activists and supporters of former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran to dispers them during a protest against the arrest of their leader in Peshawar on Tuesday(AFP)

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the Islamabad High Court when the paramilitary Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff.

The arrest of the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman comes a day after the powerful army accused him of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI.

As the news of his arrest by the Rangers spread, massive protests broke out in several cities across Pakistan. Protesters at several places turned violent and burned police vehicles and damaged public property.

The Rangers, which operate under the Interior Ministry, are usually commanded by officers on secondment from the army.

For the first time, Khan's supporters smashed the main gate of the army's sprawling headquarters in Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint. The protesters chanted slogans against the establishment.

In Lahore, a large number of PTI workers stormed into the Corps Commander Lahore residence and smashed the gate and window-panes. The army personnel present on duty there, however, did not try to stop the enraged protesters who surrounded them and chanted slogans against the handlers of the PML-N led government in the military establishment. The protesters held a demonstration in the Cantonment area.

Lahore was virtually cut off from the rest of the province because of the protest on main roads including the entry and exit points.

The caretaker Punjab government called the Rangers to control the law-and-order situation in the most populous province and imposed section 144 under which not more than five people can gather at one point.

According to the Home Department, the ban on gatherings will remain in place for two days.

The Punjab government also requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to suspend Internet and mobile services in the areas of the province where violent protests took place.

A large number of PTI workers also pelted stones at the residence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in Faisalabad city. Similarly, protests were held in Multan, Jhang, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Khanewal, Vehari, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Gujrat cities.
Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead. Smoke and flames rise into the sky after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck Islamic Jihad targets.(REUTERS)

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls' room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.
Medics said one person was killed and four were wounded in an Israeli air strike that targeted the house of an Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza before dawn on Tuesday. Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Representative image)

The Israeli military said it was hitting Islamic Jihad targets in the Hamas-governed coastal enclave.

An Islamic Jihad source said several leaders in the group's armed wing were targeted.
President Biden has made a public statement on the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike that has paralyzed Hollywood. Speaking at a White House screening of the Disney+ series American Born Chinese, Biden expressed his hope that the strike would be resolved soon, and that writers would receive a fair deal. US President Joe Biden speaks before a screening of 'American Born Chinese' in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.(AFP)

The event was attended by the cast and producers of the show, as well as Disney executives. Biden's comments drew cheers and applause from the audience, who were gathered to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

US President Joe Biden hosts a screening of 'American Born Chinese' in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.(AFP)

"This is an iconic, meaningful American industry, and we need the writers and all the workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation, the stories of all of us," Biden said.

Biden's remarks come after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment on the strike last week. While politicians in New York and California have offered to help with negotiations, Biden's statement is a significant symbolic move that is sure to be welcomed by the striking writers.

The event was hosted by the White House, and American Born Chinese star Ke Huy Quan introduced Biden. The President noted that he knew Quan from his role in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and even shared a smile with the actor over a memorable scene from the film.

Also read | Hollywood's biggest productions in limbo as writers' strike rolls into week 2

With the strike showing no signs of ending soon, Biden's support for the writers is sure to be appreciated, as Hollywood's creative industry continues to be in a state of flux.
The Duke of Sussex reportedly slipped in and out of Buckingham Palace without seeing any of the Royal Family during his recent visit to the United Kingdom for the Coronation of King Charles III. Britain's Prince Harry attends the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/Pool via AP)(AP)

Prince Harry, 38, spent around 30 minutes at the Royal Residence after the Westminster Abbey service before heading to Heathrow Airport to catch the 3.45 am flight to California, United States to be with his wife Meghan Markle and their children, reported by The Telegraph.

According to an insider, Prince Harry's visit to Buckingham Palace was just for logistical reasons, as he needed a moment out of the public eye after the two-hour of the auspicious ceremony. He did not speak to any royal family members during his brief visit.

King Charles III is said to have expressed regret over his younger sons invitation to the Coronation and raised a glass to toast "those that weren't there" during the Royal Family's celebratory lunch.

However, sources stated that the Duke of Sussexs lack of contact with the Royal Family was "practical," as he was eager to return to his wife and children while the rest of the families were busy with the Coronation procession.

Notably, this was the first time the Duke was known to have been at the Royal Residence since the Queen's funeral last September. He was in the UK earlier this year to attend court cases but is not known to have seen King Charles III or Prince William.

During the Coronation ceremony, the Junior Prince was seated in the third row at the Buckingham House balcony, two rows behind his brother Prince William, Duke of Wales and wore a dark morning suit and tie, with his Afghanistan and Jubilee medals pinned to his suit jacket, and a Royal Victorian Order star and neck decoration. Throughout the ceremony, he maintained a plastic smile.

Although, Duke was seen in a light conversation with his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, informing them he was flying to Meghan about quarter to four. He landed in Los Angeles on the same afternoon of his sons fourth birthday.

It is about showing up, showing support, and being there for his father, a source expressed.

At the Royal Family's celebratory lunch, King Charles III reportedly toasted his three grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who were among the stars of the show and carried out their public appearances with aplomb.

However, the crowned king also made a point of toasting "those that weren't there" and wished Prince Harry a very happy birthday "wherever he was," as it was reported that the Duke of Sussex's visit to the UK coincided with his birthday.

It was apparently a very sweet moment, a source told.

The lack of traction between Harry and the Royal Family during his visit has been noticed by some as a continuation of the ongoing tensions between the Duke of Sussex and his family.

ALSO READ| Ghostwriter spills the tea on Prince Harry's memoir Spare, reveals Zoom fight and sweet moments with Meghan

The British Army General has been outspoken about his experiences with the Royal Family and his decision to step back from royal duties in 2020. However, many have interpreted his lack of contact as a practical decision given his tight schedule and the limited time he had in the UK.

Prince Harry's brief visit to Buckingham Palace and his lack of contact with the Royal Family have garnered significant media attention and fuelled speculation about the ongoing tensions within the Royal Family.
The United States announced on Tuesday a new $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that will include air defense systems, ammunition and funds for training, the Pentagon said. Ukrainian soldiers walk through the forest close to the Russian positions.(AP)

Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds will be used to purchase the weapons, allowing President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull them from U.S. stocks. Delivery of the weapons and systems depends on their availability and production timeline.

In the package, Ukraine will receive additional air defense systems and munitions as well as the technology to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraine's native defense systems. The funds will pay for 155-mm Howitzer ammunition, counter-drone ammunition, satellite imagery and various types of training, the Pentagon said.

So far in fiscal 2023, the Department of Defense has provided $5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine under the USAI in four separate tranches. In fiscal 2022, the U.S. put $6.3 billion worth of USAI funds to work buying for Ukraine's defense.

The U.S. has also rushed more than $35 billion worth of weapons to Ukraine using Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval during an emergency.

Also read: Russia carries out missile attacks across Ukraine ahead of Victory Day

Tuesday's military aid comes as Congress and the White House debate ways to avoid a default on the nation's debt, with many Republicans demanding sharp cuts in domestic spending in exchange for lifting the debt limit.

However, members of both parties insist they support continued aid for Ukraine including top Republicans House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate.
Washington: In the Brady briefing room of the White House, on Monday afternoon, when press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre began her press conference, she reeled off numbers. People write messages on crosses in a memorial setup near an entrance to the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, on Monday. On May 6, a shooter opened fire at the outlet mall, killing eight people. (AFP)

It is the 128th day of 2023. And yesterdaywe witnessed the 201st mass shooting in this country this year. That means we are averaging more than one a day. More than 200 mass shootings in 128 days. Credible estimates show that more than 14,000 people have died this year from gun violence.

Jean-Pierres remarks were triggered by the latest incident of mass shooting in Texas, where an Indian engineer, Aishwarya Thatikonda, was killed along with seven other people, including children, in a mall in Dallas.

Back in Washington DC, the mood was dark. The flags at White House were flying half mast. Questions at the press briefing were all about the shooting and what President Joe Biden was doing about it. And the White Houses response was best captured in a phrase that Jean-Pierre used repeatedly  we are frustrated.

This is a crisisWe are talking about the number-one killer of kids in AmericaSchools, shopping malls, churches, movie theatres, grocery stores, temples  places that are a part of our everyday lives, that are essential to our everyday lives  day after day are coming under attack from weapons of war that have no place on our streets.

She candidly acknowledged that the United States was the only country in the world that faces a crisis of this nature. This is the only country in the world that has this going on right now. The only country that has to deal with gun violence, mass shootings in this way. That shouldnt be.

But what next? Claiming that the President had done all that he could  Biden has taken two dozen executive actions and played a major role in shepherding a limited gun safety legislation through the Congress last year  Jean-Pierre placed the blame squarely on Republicans in the Congress.

Congress must address this crisis. Yesterday, the President once again asked Congress to send him a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, ending immunity for manufacturers, requiring safe storage, enacting universal background check. Its just common sense.

But it is unlikely that there will be any action in the Congress. Republicans remain committed to an extreme interpretation of the Second Amendment  the constitutional provision that allows Americans to bear arms. They are in a majority in the House of Representatives. And with a competitive presidential election season approaching, observers see little scope for bipartisan cooperation on an issue as contentious as gun control.

With reports that the Texas gunman was inspired by White Supremacism, Jean-Pierre said that Biden, on his first day in office, had begun developing what became the national strategy to counter domestic terrorism. We have spoken out consistently about the concerning rise in hate-fuelled violence in this country.

But what was clearest in the White House press briefing on Monday was that faced with a gun violence epidemic, among the most powerful offices in the office was publicly helpless, resigned and frustrated, unable to move the needle to make America even a tiny bit safer.

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At first  and even second and third glance, Neil Fosters career in the hospitality industry gives no impression of being an accident. Instead, Foster has spent the last quarter century making a significant mark on the industry while working with hotel companies and technology vendors to uncover better ways of doing business. And yet, Foster himself would describe his introduction to the hospitality world as a happy accident.

What began with washing dishes and bussing tables later evolved into a role as an electronic data processing manager. Since then, Foster has been at the helm of various hospitality brands at transformative inflection points. Today, Foster is the Global President of HFTP, the world-renowned hospitality spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry. Bringing a holistic worldview that balances the needs of both hoteliers and vendors, Foster is poised to continue his resounding impact on the hospitality industry well into the future.

With HITEC just around the corner, I had the opportunity to sit down with Foster to discuss the evolution of his career, the wide-reading technological advancements hes witnessed (or been a part of), and of course, all things HITEC Toronto.

Fosters foray into the hospitality industry began in the mid-90s in a decidedly humble fashion. My first jobs included washing dishes and bussing tables in Northwestern Ontario, he reiterates. As I look back, this early exposure to the industry was the perfect foundation, as it offered me a uniquely grounded perspective. I learned early on that corporate and external viewpoints dont always reflect the reality of the front lines.

When asked what he loves most about the industry, Fosters answer arrives without hesitation. Its the people I love most about this industry  and whats kept me here over the years, he shares. Its because of this that I have such an enthusiastic view of technology. When we find platforms or processes that solve problems and eliminate friction within workflows, we have a meaningful impact on the people working within the industry. By embracing innovative technology that makes life easier, we establish a better staff experience and help our people focus on providing the best possible guest experience.

Foster became an HFTP member in 2000 and pursued his CHTP certification in 2001. One of my early bosses, the late Carl Johnston, took me along to an HFTP meeting in the early days; I felt immediately at home, he explains. The CHTP inspired a lasting connection with the association and granted me further opportunities to get involved with the councils, chapters, the board, and the executive committee over the years. Fast forward to today, and Foster has the honor of serving as HFTP Global President for 2022-2023. I am deeply grateful and proud to serve the Association as President this year, following in the footsteps of the many amazing leaders over HFTPs 71-year history. I couldnt do it without the support and encouragement of fellow members, industry leaders, and countless colleagues, of whom there are too many to mention here, he recounts warmly. And from my earliest days in the industry with Starwood, I must attribute a special acknowledgment to Kosta Tomazos, Carl Johnston, and Dave Norton (no longer with us), who always supported and encouraged my involvement with HFTP in the early years.

Foster notes that the progression to HFTP president doesnt happen overnight  after time spent on the Executive Board, the Executive Committee term spans five years. Working with a diverse board of committed directors and a capable executive team under Frank Wolfes leadership has made the transition into this role smooth, he explains, adding that he has spent the last few months refreshing his knowledge on the diverse members and stakeholders HFTP serves. Its been a very positive start to the term as our industry embraces the post-pandemic era, and Im lucky to be without the many constraints my most recent predecessors, Mark Pate and Michael Levie, had to contend with. Michael and Mark have served HFTP as effective crisis leaders, helping keep things together through the undeniably difficult pandemic while simultaneously working through unfamiliar association developments. I feel as well-prepared and supported as anyone can hope to be. I look forward to carrying out a successful term, together with an incredible Executive Council, Board, and Executive Team, in service to our members. It's truly an honor to serve, and I'm grateful to be here.

When asked about the recent transformation of the hospitality industry, Foster aptly terms it a full-scale revolution that has moved our deceptively simple, people-centered sector into a new era centered around technology. To say I feel lucky to be part of this journey would be a gross understatement, he shares. As I got started in this industry niche, email and commercial internet adoption were only just beginning, and an EDP (electronic data processing) manager role had only just become a reality for a 300-room hotel. According to Foster, early assignments within his EDP role which included upgrading the hotel events logging process (a big book) to an early S&C system, installing a first touchscreen POS system (Squirrel), and replacing an aging PMS solution (HIS) hosted on an IBM System 36 (with 10 floppy disks for backup) to Fidelio (now Oracle Cloud PMS).

As technology has evolved to span the breadth of all aspects of a hotels operation, some organizations have elected to realign technology (which is no longer a subset of finance) to ensure the entire organizations needs can be served effectively and evenly, Foster explains. In this way, decisions are less likely to be made based on cost without sufficient consultation with the most valuable stakeholders  the users. Furthermore, we can finally have an open dialogue about the enterprise-wide risks that hinge on thoughtful process design (i.e., guest data protection and security). Over the years, Ive seen an inclusive, carefully managed, and consultative approach leads to the best technology outcomes. If you ask Foster, the success of technology must be gauged by its ability to support positive human experiences.

Foster currently resides in Vancouver, BC, with his family but spent many of his formative years in Toronto, which he still affectionately calls the big smoke. He notes that the city has so much to offer  especially in the summer  making it the perfect location for HITEC 2023. It gives me great pleasure to see HITEC in Canada again, especially in Toronto, where I spent the most formative years of my career with Starwood. I always think of Toronto as a uniquely welcoming place, where residents from around the world can embrace and celebrate the best of their cultures with the help of festivals, cultural centers, and a robust selection of culturally-influenced dining options, he shares. There are so many things to see and do in the city, so be sure to check out suggestions before HITEC to get the most out of your trip.

Foster also notes that the last HITEC in Toronto in 2017 set an attendance record with over 6,500 attendees. Not only that, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. So far, HITEC Toronto 2023 is shaping up to be another great success, with booth sales 99% sold as of late April and registrations trending above normal, Foster reveals. I am especially excited to share that a stellar education program is coming together for this event, thanks to Shannon, Steve, the HITEC Advisory Council they co-chair, and Bryan and Allison on the executive team. While we cant let all the cats out of the bags just yet, were thrilled to announce a special reception in honor of Women in Hospitality Technology. According to Foster, HFTP is expanding on this theme by building a comprehensive, data-driven profile of women leading the way in innovation.

Women in the industry with technology-connected responsibilities are encouraged to complete this survey for a chance to be highlighted alongside other female leaders in the industry, he adds. I hope to see you all in Toronto for a HITEC you wont want to miss!

About Puzzle Partner

Puzzle Partner Ltd. is a boutique marketing agency focused exclusively on complex B2B initiatives for the travel and hospitality technology industry. We are experts at combining strategy and tactical execution in a way that doesn't just maximize a company's potential; it redefines it. By delivering influential content, marketing services, and public relations rooted in the skills of our team and tested through real-world experience, we help our clients gain visibility, raise their profile and ultimately increase their sales revenues. We incorporate a holistic blend of paid, earned and owned media, along with creative services, into an integrated communications strategy to drive brand awareness ahead of competitors and deliver impactful business results.

To learn more visit puzzlepartner.co.

Lauren Ramesbottom

Head of Content, Puzzle Partner

Puzzle Partner Ltd.
Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel

Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of its second hotel and second Radisson Individuals property in Eskisehir, Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals. Last year, the Group opened its first Radisson Individuals property, Nova Vista Deluxe & Suites Eskisehir, a member of Radisson Individuals. The opening of Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals marks the third Radisson Individuals hotel opening in Turkey and brings the Group's portfolio across the country to over 45 hotels in operation and under development.

Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals offers guests a unique experience with its modern architecture and proximity to the city center where guests can explore the many landmarks, the Haller Youth Centre, one of the city's historic food markets, the Espark Shopping Centre, and popular Vural Street. The hotel's central location offers easy access to the local restaurants and bars where guests can experience the local cuisine. Guests can also cruise around and explore the city by gondola, which departs from the gondola point 800m away from the hotel. Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals is easy to reach from multiple areas in Turkey and abroad. Hasan Polatkan Airport is only 7.5 kilometers away and the city's train station can be reached by foot in under five minutes.

Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals features 97 rooms and suites equipped with day-to-day amenities such as in-room coffee and tea facilities, a work desk, a professional hair dryer, and free high-speed Wi-Fi to make guests feel at home while travelling. The hotel also offers a complimentary breakfast buffet, in-house restaurant, and valet parking. Emirgan Sutis, the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, serves both international and Turkish dishes, as well as bespoke kids menus, and features a bright and cozy dining room for the whole family. Meals can also be enjoyed on the restaurant's terrace, which also has an open-air option.

Yilmaz Yildirimlar, Area Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, says: ''We are delighted to grow our presence in Turkey and be one step closer to our goal of reaching 50 hotels by the end of 2023 with the opening of Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals. Eskisehir is an important business and leisure destination in Turkey, and we are thrilled to expand our footprint in this vibrant city."

The meeting hall at Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, is perfectly equipped for business meetings and events and can accommodate up to 50 people spanning 80 m2. The hall is equipped with whiteboards, audio-visual equipment, chargers, and adapters, and offers printing services.

Ozan Ylmazarslan, General Manager of Nova Vista Eskisehir Centrum Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals, also made the following statements: ''We are proud to be the second Radisson Individuals branded hotel in Eskisehir, one of Turkey's beloved cities. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing exceptional service with Radisson Hotel Group's signature 'Yes I Can' philosophy. We are committed to making every guest's stay memorable and look forward to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests in Eskisehir.''
ForwardKeys and CHTA Launch Caribbean Travel Trends Report

This week at the Caribbean Marketplace in Barbados, ForwardKeys collaborated on the Caribbean Travel Trends Report with CHTA, featuring a top 20 destinations by country list, and examining key destinations that showed uncanny resilience and travel data mastery during Covid-19: Aruba, Saint Lucia, US Virgin Islands, and Bonaire.

This full report is now available to be downloaded at the end of this article and was received in person at the event. Here are a few highlights of the major themes in the report.

1. Who are the movers and shakers within the Caribbean this year?

The Caribbean region pulled through some of the worst parts of the health crisis due to quick and clever travel regulations and practices the respective government authorities put into place. But some destinations remained more resilient than others. Fast forward to 2023, and some key players still reign supreme.

The success of our regions recovery is a testament to the power of collaboration. Tourism leaders, businesses, governments, organizations, airlines, and our hospitality professionals have achieved impressive results by working together. We are grateful for the hard work and close partnerships that continue to allow us to recover and soar to new heights, says Nicola Madden-Greig, President of, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

2. The rise and power of the South American market in the region

The competition is getting stronger now that we can look at the pandemic in the past tense. Diversifying your marketing by widening your net is pivotal. The latest data by ForwardKeys shows there is a real potential to convert more international arrivals from Colombia and Argentina this year.

Through our air ticketing data, we are observing a significant leap from the Latin Markets into the Caribbean, especially from Central America, Colombia, and Argentina. Even more encouraging is that they are flying in premium-class cabins, more than before the pandemic. A worthy market to tap into, says Olivier Ponti, VP of Insights at ForwardKeys.

3. Destinations thrive thanks to data and flight connectivity.

In the Caribbean Travel Trends Report, a common thread from destination to destination, withstanding its geo-location and target audience, was the importance of being a destination that is easily reached and improving flight connectivity.

From the Dominican Republic to the US Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, and Curacao  all destinations increased their international arrivals by savvy use of travel data to decipher topflight routes, airline carriers and origin markets. Unlike other destinations that cut down the number of flights or changed the configuration of the airframes, these destinations widened their flight networks and connections.

A lesson learned from the COVID-19 crisis by many destinations comes down to something simple  what does the data say? As Albert Einstein once said: In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.

Download the report here for the full version and in-depth analysis per country.
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Gov. Greg Abbott and Tesla CEO Elon Musk celebrated the groundbreaking of a $375 million lithium refinery Monday, praising the facility for advancing clean energy, keeping Texas independent and helping to prevent a bottleneck as Tesla ramps up production.

"It's important to address what we think is, as we look ahead a few years, a fundamental choke point in the advancement of electric vehicles," Musk said.

The refinery, located near Corpus Christi in the city of Robstown, is expected to be finished next year, with full production a year later. Musk said it would produce more battery-grade lithium than the rest of North America's refining capacity combined.

And it's just the latest component of Musk's Texas empire. The billionaire controls thousands of acres across Texas, spanning sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, farmlands outside Austin, a McGregor facility that once made bombs and industrial space in Houstons sprawling metropolis.

"Elon appears to be building what can be described as a techno utopia in Texas," said Goran Calic, professor of strategy at McMaster University outside Toronto. "The relationship seems to be mutually beneficial and really positive for both sides. Given the interdependence, both Texas and Elon are likely interested to keep things this way."

It was a partnership praised Monday by Abbott and Musk, who gushed over one another before taking the obligatory shovel photo. (Tesla had already begun construction, and work could be seen in the background.) Shovels and Musk arrived at the event in a Tesla Cybertruck.

"There is no greater entrepreneur in the entire world than Elon Musk," Abbott said. "We're proud he calls Texas home."

Abbott praised the refinery for enabling Texas to be self-reliant and "not dependent upon any foreign hostile nation for what we need."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lithium is produced almost entirely outside the United States. This makes the U.S. supply chain vulnerable as lithium batteries power everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles to grid-scale energy storage systems.

There are five operational lithium refineries in the U.S. About 19 more are being developed, though six of these have a higher probability of being completed between 2025 and 2027, said Brian Jaskula, a lithium commodity specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Minerals Information Center. The others have more funding and developmental steps to work through. Most will be (or will attempt to be) battery-grade lithium refineries like the one being built in Robstown.

China is the largest refiner of battery-grade lithium, Jaskula said.

Abbott said the Robstown refinery will be good for jobs and the state's economic development  a pro-business attitude that helped attract Musk to Texas and has kept him here.

"Elon does things in a very unusual way, which can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes," Calic said, noting a recent SpaceX launch in South Texas that exploded four minutes after liftoff. "Texas political leadership, and its people, are more likely to accept these risks than are politicians and citizens of some other states."

Tesla is headquartered in East Austin, where the company says its Gigafactory has a 10-million-square foot factory floor to produce the Model Y and Cybertruck.

SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, Calif., is launching the world's most powerful rocket from Boca Chica, outside Brownsville, and tests its rocket engines in McGregor, southwest of Waco.

In Bastrop County, about 30 miles east of Austin, the Boring Co. is testing tunneling technologies that would move traffic underground, and SpaceX has a new facility to work on equipment related to its Starlink broadband internet satellites.

The Robstown lithium refinery is in Nueces County. Musk and other Tesla officials pledged that it would be cleaner than other lithium refineries as the company implements new techniques to use less energy, boost efficiency and create a cleaner byproduct. This byproduct will basically be a mix of sand and limestone, which could then be used for construction materials.

Musk said Tesla will continue to use lithium suppliers. But Calic, who has studied Musks management strategy for more than two years, said refining lithium fits with Musk's preference for vertical integration. His companies build a lot of components in-house.

This is partly due to necessity, Calic said, as Musk's businesses push the limits of technology and suppliers can't always keep up. It can also help lower costs.

Owning entire ecosystems also gives Musk's companies more control  and, thus, more revenue. Tesla makes electric vehicles, and it owns more than 45,000 Superchargers around the world. SpaceX builds rockets, and it's creating satellites that these rockets can push into space.

"The really dangerous downside is that his companies may miss out on innovations that are outside the ecosystem they have built," Calic said. "Think of Kodak being disrupted by digital cameras."
Q: We purchased a newly constructed house in Hays County on May 31, 2022. The developer owned it prior to our purchase. I filed for the homestead exemption as well as the over-65 exemption. Both were approved, but not until 2023. The Appraisal District said: Since the property was considered business personal property held for sale as of Jan. 1, 2022, the property is considered part of the builder's inventory. You will be receiving your residential homestead exemption for the 2023 year going forward. As I understand the new rules for 2022, we should be able to claim the property as our homestead on a pro-rated basis for seven months of 2022. Is my understanding incorrect?

A: According to the Hays County Appraisal District website, you are entitled to a prorated exemption if you own and live in the home, you bought it after Jan. 1, 2022, the home didn't already have a homestead exemption and you were not claiming a homestead exemption on another home.

It would seem you have satisfied all four of these tests.

Maybe the rules were still too new last year when you applied, and the person who processed your request got it wrong.

You should call the Hays County Appraisal District at 512-268-2522 and try to get this resolved in your favor.

Q: I am unmarried and have no children. I live in Texas and own my home free and clear. Upon my death, I would like to leave my home to my nephew who is a resident of New York. I have a will and the executor for my estate is aware of my intention. What can I do now to make this process as easy as possible?

A: You should meet with an estate planning attorney in Texas. This attorney can ensure that your will is properly drafted and executed, that it leaves your home to your nephew, and that it complies with all applicable laws in Texas.

You should consider setting up a Transfer on Death deed which can transfer the ownership of your home to your nephew without probate upon your death. This option can help to simplify the transfer of your home to your nephew.

Be sure to keep your estate planning documents in a safe place, and let your executor know where to find them. It may be helpful to keep your nephew informed of your plans, so that he knows what to expect and can prepare accordingly.

By taking these steps, you can help to ensure that the process of leaving your home to your nephew is as easy and straightforward as possible, and that your wishes are carried out according to your intentions.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)  MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)  National Health Investors Inc. (NHI) on Tuesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter.

The Murfreesboro, Tennessee-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $48 million, or $1.11 per share, in the period.
IRVINE, Calif. (AP)  IRVINE, Calif. (AP)  Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS) on Monday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $232.8 million.

The Irvine, California-based company said it had profit of $1.46 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.02 per share.

The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.01 per share.

The chipmaker posted revenue of $1.15 billion in the period, matching Street forecasts.

For the current quarter ending in June, Skyworks expects its per-share earnings to be $1.67. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had forecast adjusted earnings per share of $3.16.

The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.05 billion to $1.09 billion for the fiscal third quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $1.51 billion.

_____

This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SWKS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SWKS
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Elon Musk and Gov. Greg Abbott met near Corpus Christi on Monday to celebrate the groundbreaking of Tesla's lithium refinery.

This $375 million refinery, located in Robstown, is expected to be finished next year. Full production would come a year later.

Here are five things to know about it:

MUSK IN TEXAS: Is Bastrop's Snailbrook the start of Musk's next company town?

1. This refinery would help Tesla ramp-up production

Tesla recently lowered its prices and is looking to ramp-up production, ideally producing 1.8 million vehicles this year. In 2022, it delivered a record 1.31 million vehicles.

But Musk, the Tesla CEO, is worried about an impending choke point: battery-grade lithium. He said lithium is a very common element on Earth, but there aren't enough refineries creating the lithium required for electric vehicle batteries.

"Battery-grade lithium actually has to be extremely precise," Musk said. "It's ultra pure. Because if you have any impurities in lithium, it causes degradation of the battery."

That's why Tesla is building a plant near Corpus Christi.

"It's important to address what we think is, as we look ahead a few years, a fundamental choke point in the advancement of electric vehicles," Musk said.

2. More lithium refineries are opening across the U.S.

There are five operational lithium refineries in the U.S., and about 19 more are being developed, said Brian Jaskula, a lithium commodity specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Minerals Information Center.

He said six of the 19 have a higher probability of being completed between 2025 and 2027. The others have more funding and developmental steps to work through. Most will be (or will attempt to be) battery-grade lithium refineries.

This surge in refineries comes as the U.S. Department of Energy worries about a vulnerability in the U.S. supply chain. Lithium is produced almost entirely outside the U.S., and lithium batteries are needed to power everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles to grid-scale energy storage systems.

China is the largest country for refining battery-grade lithium, Jaskula said.

3. Abbott touted the refinery as key to Texas independence

Abbott on Monday claimed that Tesla's new refinery would keep Texas self-sufficient.

"Texas wants to be able to be self-reliant," he said, "not dependent upon any foreign hostile nation for what we need. We need lithium for the phone you have in your hands, for the batteries that will be in Tesla trucks, and for other purposes."

He also praised Musk for his various ventures across the state.

"There is no greater entrepreneur in the entire world than Elon Musk," Abbott said. "We're proud he calls Texas home."

4. Robstown is just the latest contribution to Musk's Texas empire

Musk controls thousands of acres across Texas, spanning sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, farmlands outside Austin, a McGregor facility that once made bombs and industrial space in Houstons sprawling metropolis.

"Elon does things in a very unusual way, which can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes," said Goran Calic, professor of strategy at McMaster University outside Toronto, noting a recent SpaceX launch in South Texas that exploded four minutes after liftoff. "Texas political leadership, and its people, are more likely to accept these risks than are politicians and citizens of some other states."

Tesla is headquartered in East Austin, where the company says its Gigafactory has a 10-million-square foot factory floor to produce the Model Y and Cybertruck.

SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, Calif., is launching the world's most powerful rocket from Boca Chica, outside Brownsville, and tests its rocket engines in McGregor, southwest of Waco.

In Bastrop County, about 30 miles east of Austin, the Boring Co. is testing tunneling technologies that would move traffic underground, and SpaceX has a new facility to work on equipment related to its Starlink broadband internet satellites.

"Elon brought his Gigafactory here, and he liked it so much he brought Tesla here and then the Boring Co. here," Abbott said Monday. "SpaceX is here. Neuralink is partly here  that means the future of Neuralink will be right here in the Lone Star State."

Neuralink, based in Fremont, Calif., seeks to create the future of brain-computer interfaces.

5. The refinery will have new innovations to boost efficiency and cleanliness

Musk and other Tesla officials pledged Monday that the Robstown refinery would be cleaner than other lithium refineries.

The company is trying new technologies that would use less energy, boost efficiency and create a cleaner byproduct. This byproduct will basically be a mix of sand and limestone, which could then be used for construction materials.

"There's no toxic emissions or anything," Musk said. "You could live right in the middle of the refinery and not suffer any ill effects."

Musk said Tesla will continue to use lithium suppliers. But Calic, who has studied Musks management strategy for more than two years, said refining lithium fits with Musk's preference for vertical integration. His companies build a lot of components in-house.
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WASHINGTON -- One evening last summer, power officials in Texas observed a new phenomenon: the amount of electricity available on the grid went into sharp decline even though temperatures were relatively moderate.

An unusual combination of factors was at play. As the sun went down so too did the wind, causing a simultaneous decline in generation from wind turbines and solar panels. At the same time, a number of coal and gas plants were offline, causing tight grid operations, Pablo Vegas, president of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said in a news conference last week.

Had those same events taken place a week later, when temperatures soared and power demand hit a record, grid operators might well have had to implement rolling blackouts. As it turned out, this time there was ample wind that day, so there was no reliability concerns, Vegas said.

With wind and solar farms taking up a larger and larger share of the countrys power generation, the state of the U.S. power grid is coming under increasing scrutiny in Congress, as grid operators around the country warn blackouts could soon be a regular feature of American life.

At issue, grid officials around the country say the closure of so-called dispatchable power sources such as gas and coal plants  which can deliver electricity with the flip of a switch  leaves the power grid increasingly reliant on intermittent renewable generation that can go offline with a shift in the weather.

At a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Mark Christie, a Republican appointed during the Trump administration, warned the blackout that left millions of Texans without power during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 could be a harbinger.

Im afraid to say it, but I think the United States is heading towards a catastrophic situation, he said. The problem is not the addition of wind and solar, its the subtraction of dispatchable resources like coal and gas through this cascading number of early retirements.

Those comments echoed statements from officials at some of Americas largest power grids, including PJM on the East Coast and MISO in the Midwest, as well as the North American Electric Reliability Corp., which sets reliability standards for the grid.

In Texas, the state legislature is weighing whether to offer $10 billion in low-interest loans to build around 15 new gas-fired power plants to serve as a backup if ERCOT runs out of power.

We need to make reforms that are going to incentivize building more dispatchable generation so that as demand continues to grow as the state of Texas continues to grow, we'll always have reliable supply to serve it, Peter Lake, chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, said last week.

The state of the power grid is drawing concern at the national level from Democrats and Republicans alike, not just over the rapid closure of coal and gas plants but the rise in extreme weather events that can knock out generation and transmission lines.

There is even movement in some quarters of Washington for the federal government to take a larger role in determining which types of power generation are being built.

At the hearing last week, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner James Danly, a Republican, said the commission needed to do more to protect markets from inappropriate state subsidies for wind and solar generation.

But other members of FERC are unlikely to go along with a strategy, which could be in conflict with existing energy law dictating decisions regarding generation be largely left to states, said Christi Tezak, managing director at the consulting firm Clearview Energy Partners.

Congress could change the (law) to give FERC more authority over generation, but we think that is highly unlikely, she said in an email.

That leaves decisions on the fate of the U.S. power grid largely in the hands of individual state utility commissions, which have wildly disparate points of view on what a modern power grid should look like.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, echoed the views of many in his state when he criticized federal environmental policies that made it more expensive to generate electricity from coal, a resource his state has in abundance.

But others see little to be gained from building the old fossil fuel-fired power plants of the past.

Alison Silverstein, an Austin-based consultant and former adviser at FERC, said Texas needed to invest in improving its energy efficiency, as well as building more fast-starting gas plants, battery systems and getting homes and businesses to lower their power use at times of high demand.

Its not just old power plants are closing but weve done nothing on energy efficiency, so were always chasing a rising demand growth, she said. The real challenge is how do we adapt to the energy transition and the needs of the grid with high renewable penetration. Thats less, 'Lets build a bunch of gas plants' and more, 'Lets wring as much (electricity) as we can out of the grid.'

That sort of strategy is proving a tough sell in Austin, with Republican lawmakers eager to build a flood of new gas-fired infrastructure and disincentivize the construction of wind and solar farms they view as increasingly unreliable.

At his press conference last week, Lake, who was appointed in 2021 by Gov. Greg Abbott, said wind and solar farms were of great benefit in bringing down the cost of electricity but, don't have an on switch."

We've got lots of renewables, but at the end of the day, zero wind times infinity windmills is zero electricity. And the sun sets every night, he said.
As is usually the case, the movies in this year's edition of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Five Funny French Film series, running May 12-14, don't get much distribution within the U.S. despite being standout cinematic experiences. So, each film offers an opportunity to participate in discovering something new.

The comic beats in the 11th edition of the fest range from absurd to ensemble spectacle and over-the-top slapstick.

Then on closing night, writer-director Sophie Letourneur will present and discuss her sophomore feature, "Enormous."

One of the stars is Marina Fois, a popular actress who also costars in 'Freestyle,' which screens the previous day says Marian Luntz, film curator at the MFAH. Letourneur won the Prix Jean Vigo for this film and was invited to Houston by our colleagues at Villa Albertine."

Villa Albertine is a French cultural service under the auspices of the French Embassy that promotes artistic exchange in several American cities including Houston.

Additionally, the MFAH has Claire Denis' Chocolatscheduled for the end of the month. While its not part of the FFFF series the film marks the feature debut of Denis with a stunning 4K digital restoration print. Denis was assistant director on the film Paris, Texas that was shot in Houston in the early-1980s.

Five Funny French Films When: May12-May14 Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details:$10; mfah.org See More Collapse

Heres a look at the films:

'Oh My Goodness!/Juste ciel!' (7 p.m. May 12)

Nun tomfoolery shines a light on a rivalry within the sisterhood. Yet this is no Sister Act.

Nuns at a small convent in need of finance get the chance to improve their fortune by competing in a bicycle race with a big payday.

After some plot switches we have another nunnery racing for the same fortune only this Mother Superior is the arch nemesis of the Mother Superior of team omega.

There's some deft laughs that range from the physical to metaphysical. Some of the jabs reach for heavenly laughs.

;Happy 50/Plancha' (9 p.m. May 12)

A group of friends is ready to take a flight to celebrate a members 50th birthday. Only the plane flight is canceled and the group descends on birthday boy Yves' nearby Brittany vacation home.

Friendships are tested over the weekend but the area is brought to life from local autumnal festivals to the natural beauty of the countryside.

Director Eric Lavaine actually made a similar film with many of the same actors where the plot swung around a man celebrating his 50th birthday titled Barbecue."

'Freestyle/En roue libre' (5 p.m. May 13)

Surreal comedy about a woman who cannot leave her car. Anxiety created phobia provides a wonderful road movie trip. The coastal resort area known as Cap Ferret becomes the films destination.

Marina Fois gives a wonderful performance as a woman trapped in a psychological quandary. She has no choice but to drive endlessly. The path becomes congested with miscreant characters on a journey tinged with her own neurosis.

'The Innocent/ Linnocent' (7 p.m. May 13)

This is a comedy-drama with a sly wink to heist films starring Louis Garrel and Noemie Merlant ("Portrait of a Lady on Fire").

Garrels mother works as a prison counselor. He doesn't understand why she has just married a convict up for parole. His own girlfriend, dreamy Merlant, works at an ocean theme park. Garrel is even more confused when he gets dragged into a robbery scheme to rip off a valuable shipment of Iranian caviar masterminded by his new father-in-law.

'Enormous / Enorme' (5 p.m. May 14)

A straight up lampoon of pregnancy and relationships in one fell swoop.

Over the top reality mixed with mugging comic performances from Marina Fois and Jonathan Cohen [CQ] make this comedy superbly special. There's beauty and theres grimaces.

A world famous touring solo concert pianist extraordinaire and her husband/manager/agent make wild love in hotels from New York to Berlin.

On an international flight Cohen unwillingly takes part in delivering an on board baby. He subsequently switches his wife's birth control pills with sugar pills.

There are stretches of the film that turn into a serious documentary on the birth process. This sharp contrast challengess the audience even while it challenges the characters.
Its not every day that Houston gets to hobnob with Spanish royalty. So next weeks visit by Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain, in Houston to oversee an international gala, should bring out socializing of the highest order.

The 2023 Sophia Awards for Excellence will take place May 17 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, giving its organizers, The Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, a chance to celebrate the cultural contributes of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world.

For foodies, the spotlight on Spanish cuisine brings to mind the joys of Iberico ham, gazpacho, sangria, tortilla Espanola, croquetas, and Spanish brandy and sherry. And, of course, paella, the Valencian rice dish that is arguably Spains greatest contribution to global gastronomy.

MORE ON QUEEN SOFIA: Queen Sofia of Spain is coming to Houston in May. Here's why and what to expect

Houstonians have their favorite restaurants for paella, but its also a dish that, with practice, can be mastered at home. We turned to chef Miguel Schubowitsch of Houston-based TerraMar Imports for a recipe and tips for home-made paella. Schubowitsch is the in-house chef for the gourmet food importer, specializing in international products from Greece, France, Italy and Spain, including a dizzying variety of paella-making equipment and ingredients.

While many of the ingredients for paella can be purchased at supermarkets such as H-E-B and Central Market, some key ingredients can be found exclusively at TerraMar (terramarimports.com; 1234 N. Post Oak, Suite 130), which offers pickup and next-day shipping and home delivery.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Making paella is an art, Schubowitsch said. And as with any art, base materials and technique are key. Just as you wouldnt expect classic Texas barbecue to come from your home oven, paella success cant be achieved without the proper ingredients and tools.

Schubowitsch advises to invest in a proper paella pan (polished steel or enameled steel) and to use authentic, quality ingredients such as good olive oil, Spanish paella rice, saffron and spices, and paella broth that is invested with traditional paella seasonings.

The main thing is to use the right equipment and ingredients of high quality, he said. You can get the perfect result.

Or near perfect. Paella is a dish that is best mastered by repetition. While highly adaptable (there are many different versions that employ a variety of proteins and vegetables), paella is essentially a merger of rice and liquid. And as anyone who has struggled with perfecting even the most basic rice knows, it can be a struggle, especially when trying to also develop paellas prized socarrat, or crispy toasted rice.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Socarrat is not a dealbreaker, Schubowitsch said. But its definitely something Spanish people want.

Five ways to improve your paella game, according to chef Miguel Schubowitsch:

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Use the best ingredients. Your finished dish will only be as good as the ingredients you source. That includes a proper paella pan, either polished steel or enameled steel are best options. Saffron, Spanish paprika, piquillo peppers and paella broth (which is made with spices and flavors necessary for the best paella) should also be sourced. Rice matters. Paella is a cooked rice dish, so the type of rice used is important. Bomba rice, sometimes labeled Valencia rice, is widely considered the best for paella, known for its flavor-absorbing ability that cooks to distinct, separate grains. Albufera, known for its cooked creamy texture while maintaining a firm exterior) and Calasparra, a flavorful short-grain rice considered a premium paella rice, also are two of the most authentic rice varieties for the dish. Strive for socarrat. Paella lovers prize socarrat, the crusty, crispy rice at the bottom and sides of the cooked paella. The toasty, caramelized flavor is achieved while the rice is cooking and when it is resting off the heat. Schubowitsch said paella should never be covered while it is cooking; but it is covered at the end when it is off the heat to help develop a deeper paella flavor. Do not stir the rice once it has been distributed in the paella pan and the heat has been reduced to medium. Socarrat is something that is mastered (practice makes perfect), and theres a fine line between the desired crispy rice and burnt rice. The ratio between rice to liquid is important. For each cup of rice, use two cups of cooking liquid or paella broth. Paella is versatile. If you dont have all the seafood ingredients for seafood paella, its OK to do without. There are so many types of paella (using rabbit, chicken, duck, snails, meats and sausages, vegetables, beans). Use the ingredients and flavors that appeal to you while adhering to the cooking instructions that marry the rice and cooking liquid.

Seafood Paella

 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 cups Spanish paella rice

12 ounces fresh squid, cleaned and cut into pieces

12 ounces fresh shrimp (about 20-24 medium-size shrimp)

6 ounces pre-cooked octopus, cut into pieces

6 whole prawns (six shell-on/head-on prawns, defrost if frozen)

12 ounces pre-cooked mussels in shell

6 pre-cooked white clams in shell

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

 Spanish onion, finely chopped

2 Roma tomatoes (grate on box grater, skins discarded)

1 tablespoon sweet Spanish paprika

1 tablespoon dried nora pepper, finely chopped

1 pinch saffron threads

Salt to taste

6 cups Spanish paella broth

1/3 cup sweet peas

6-8 Spanish piquillo pepper strips

Aioli for serving (recipe follows)

Instructions: Heat olive oil in a 13-inch paella pan set over medium heat. Add squid and a pinch of salt. Stir quickly with a wood spoon and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Add peeled shrimp, onion, nora pepper, garlic, and paprika and cook for 3 minutes. Add grated tomatoes and saffron, stir to combine for 2 minutes.

Add paella broth and increase heat to medium-high. When the broth begins to boil, add the rice and stir, forming a circle around the outer edges of the pan. Taste broth and add salt if needed. Let broth and rice boil for 5 minutes then reduce heat to medium. Cook for 10-12 minutes.

Add mussels, clams, and prawns to the top of paella, evenly distributing. Cook for another 5 minutes (you should start to hear the socarrat, the crusty rice at the bottom of the pan, forming).

When the broth has been absorbed into the rice, decorate the paella with the peas and strips of piquillo peppers. Remove from heat and cover with a lid or foil. Wait 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a dollop of aioli if desired.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Makes 6 servings

Recipe courtesy chef Miguel Schubowitsch, TerraMar Imports

Cooking notes: Pre-cooked octopus, mussels and white clams are available at H-E-B and Central Market stores (The white clams are a very seasonal ingredient and sometimes hard to find). TerraMar Imports (terramarimports.com; 1234 N. Post Oak, Suite 130) stocks a wide variety of paella pans, paella rice and olive oils as well as dried nora peppers and Spanish paella broth. If you cant find nora peppers, omit from recipe.

Aioli

1 whole head of garlic

 teaspoon salt

1 large egg yolk

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose cloves, but leave head intact. Place garlic head on a piece of foil and drizzle with a little olive oil. Wrap foil around garlic to form a pouch.

Bake garlic for 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden brown. Remove and let cool slightly.

Once cooled, squeeze cloves out of the skin into a small bowl. Add salt to garlic and smash with a fork, forming a smooth paste.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk garlic paste and egg yolk until combined. Slowly drizzle olive oil into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk vigorously to emulsify, creating a creaming texture.

Once olive oil has been incorporated, add lemon juice. You can also stir in a pinch of smoked paprika for added flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings. Transfer to a jar with lid or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Makes about 1 cup aioli.
New York Eatery, the Bellaire sister restaurant to Meyerland favorite New York Deli & Coffee Shop, will close May 14 just shy of two years of operations.

Owners Michael Saghian and Riana Sherman announced that the full-service restaurant, opened during the pandemic, never found its audience at 5422 Bellaire, the location thats also home to Bagel Shop Bakery and Houston Catering Concepts. The closing of New York Eatery does not affect Bagel Shop Bakery or Houston Catering Concepts at that address; both remain open. New York Deli & Coffee Shop and Bagel Shop operations at 9724 Hillcroft also are not affected.
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Fox 26 morning anchor Jose Grinan is retiring after 30 years with the station.

He made the announcement Monday and will continue to co-anchor the morning news with Melissa Wilson. His last day will be in June, according to Fox 26 site.

MORE FROM JOY SEWING: CBS News' Michelle Miller, left at birth by mother, recounts search to belong in memoir

In January, Grinan, 70, returned to his anchor role after being on medical leave since last fall.

"It's really exciting to be back after being off for such a long time, but when the doctors say you have to rest, you have to rest and you have to obey the doctor's orders," Grinan said on air in January.

A native of Tampa, Grinan's father was a native Cuban and his mother was a first-generation Cuban American. He became interested in broadcasting while filming and helping to produce documentaries for the U.S. Army. Before joining the Fox 26 News department in 1993, Grinan worked in New York, Tampa, Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Editors Note: To have calendar events posted on the Sugar Land Sun Calendar, email editor Roy Kent at rkent@houstonchronicle.com.

State of the tax office: A town hall meeting on the state of the Fort Bend County Tax Office is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Missouri City Community Center, 1522 Missouri City Drive. Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner will address property taxes, exemptions and the 2023 vision. Also scheduled to attend are Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds; Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt; Arcola Mayor Fred Burton; and Fort Bend County Chief Appraiser Jordan Wise.

May 12

Mariah Carey Tribute: The Mother of All Divas Concert - Mariah Carey Tribute is set for 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music as we pay homage to the mother of all divas: Mariah Carey. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

May 13

Mothers Day market: The Mothers Day Vibe Market is set for noon-5 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. Treat your mom or yourself to a day of shopping local artists, makers and creatives with Vibe Artisan Markets. More than75 artists, creatives and makers, live music and professional Mothers Day photo minis are among the featured events. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

May 15

Richmond City Commission: The Richmond City Commission is slated to meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the City Hall Annex at 600 Morton St. For more information go to www.richmondtx.gov.

Missouri City City Council: The Missouri City City Council is scheduled to meets at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, at City Hall Council Chamber, 1522 Texas Parkway in Missouri City. A livestream of the meeting will be available at www.missouricitytx.gov/780/MCTV. For more information go to www.missouricitytx.gov.

May 16

Sugar Land City Council: The Sugar Land City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North. To view agendas go to https://tinyurl.com/mr2aazdd.

Rosenberg City Council: The Rosenberg City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 2110 4th St. To view agendas go to https://tinyurl.com/bde8sb2s.

Fulshear City Council: The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, in the City of Fulshear Municipal Complex, 6611 W. Cross Creek Bend Lane. For more information go to www.fulsheartexas.gov.

May 17

Stafford City Council: The regular meeting of the Stafford City Council will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. For more information go to www.staffordtx.com.

May 19

Dancing Under the Stars: Dancing Under The Stars with Fred Astaire is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. On May 19 featured styles will be Country and Western dances. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

May 20

Corvette show: Corvette Owners Club of Houston Spring Show is scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.
Editors Note: To have calendar events posted on the Katy Rancher calendar, email editor Roy Kent at rkent@houstonchronicle.com.

State of the tax office: A town hall meeting on the state of the Fort Bend County Tax Office is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Missouri City Community Center, 1522 Missouri City Drive. Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner will address property taxes, exemptions and the 2023 vision. Also scheduled to attend are Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds; Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt; Arcola Mayor Fred Burton; and Fort Bend County Chief Appraiser Jordan Wise.

May 12

Live music: Live music featuring Sheila Marshall is set for 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Central Green Park, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. For more information go to www.centralgreenpark.com/events.

May 13

Museum re-dedication: The Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum 5th Dedication Anniversary is scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at 6002 George Bush Drive. There will be light refreshments, tours, a scavenger hunts and a touch-a-truck event. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/56st8e6c.

Mothers Day market: The Mothers Day Vibe Market is set for noon-5 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. Treat your mom or yourself to a day of shopping local artists, makers and creatives with Vibe Artisan Markets. More than75 artists, creatives and makers, live music and professional Mothers Day photo minis are among the featured events. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

May 14

Farmers Market: The Farmers Market at La Centerra meets 11 a.m.-3 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. There will be local vendors selling a variety of homemade goods and fresh produce in Heritage Square. For more information go to https://ynfma.org.

May 16

Fulshear City Council: The Fulshear City Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, in the City of Fulshear Municipal Complex, 6611 W. Cross Creek Bend Lane. For more information go to www.fulsheartexas.gov.

May 19

A Night on the Town: Enjoy this night of fun and some downtown businesses around town square from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, in downtown Katy. Presented by the city of Katy. Attendees can enjoy live music and activities while visiting downtown businesses. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/56st8e6c.

Reggae night: A night of Reggae music is scheduled for 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Central Green Park, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. For more information go to www.centralgreenpark.com/events.

May 20

Corvette show: Corvette Owners Club of Houston Spring Show is scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. Fill your need for speed and come check out the Corvette Owners Club of Houston spring car show. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

May 22

City Council: The Katy City Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall at 901 Avenue C in Katy. The agenda will be posted at https://tinyurl.com/ytvfv83s prior to the meeting.

May 28

Farmers Market: The Farmers Market at La Centerra meets 11 a.m.-3 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. There will be local vendors selling a variety of homemade goods and fresh produce in Heritage Square. For more information go to https://ynfma.org.

Live music: A Patriotic Concert presented by Exchange Club of Fort Bend is set for 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at Sugar Land Town Square, 15970 City Walk. Join the Exchange Club of Fort Bend and enjoy a community wide concert commemorating fallen heroes and guiding us to patriotism and love for America. For more information go to www.sugarlandtownsquare.com/events.

July 9

Car Culture Show: The Car Culture Show is held bi-monthly from 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays in the Alamo Theater parking lot in LaCenterra at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. The next show is Sunday, July 9. There will be more than 50 exotic and muscle cars on display, along with a DJ spinning tunes and other exciting amenities. See more details at thecarculture.org.

Sept. 10

Car Culture Show: The Car Culture Show is held bi-monthly from 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays in the Alamo Theater parking lot in LaCenterra at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. The next show is Sunday, Sept. 10. There will be more than 50 exotic and muscle cars on display, along with a DJ spinning tunes and other exciting amenities. See more details at thecarculture.org.

Nov. 5

Car Culture Show: The Car Culture Show is held bi-monthly from 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays in the Alamo Theater parking lot in LaCenterra at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy. The next show is Sunday, Nov. 5. There will be more than 50 exotic and muscle cars on display, along with a DJ spinning tunes and other exciting amenities. See more details at thecarculture.org.
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A man who spent nearly three decades in prison for the 1989 killing of Oregons prisons director has been granted his full freedom.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta ordered the Marion County murder indictment against Frank Gable be dismissed on Monday and prohibited the state from retrying him in the death of Oregon prison chief Michael Francke, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

"The state or any court is BARRED from rearresting, reindicting or retrying Petitioner for the murder of Michael Francke, Acosta wrote in a brief order. A full opinion is expected later.

Gables sister Francine Sinnett told the newspaper she learned about the decision from her brother: He just called and said its over.

Hes ecstatic. Im ecstatic. Its such a load off of your soul," she said.

Gable left prison in 2019 after the judge found that the trial court made an error in excluding evidence of third-party guilt. The ruling came after multiple witnesses recanted their testimony and defense lawyers cited a record of improper interrogation and flawed polygraphs used to question witnesses and shape their statements to police.

Acosta then ordered Gable to be released or retried within 90 days. The judge paused the 90-day clock at times as the state unsuccessfully appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and then unsuccessfully petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.

Gable has remained on federal supervision.

In 1991, Gable was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the killing of Francke, 42.

Franckes brothers, Pat and Kevin Francke, have been staunch defenders of Gable and believe he was wrongly convicted.

Kevin Francke, Michael Franckes youngest brother, told the newspaper in a statement, We are beyond happy that Frank and his wife, Rain, will no longer be paralyzed with fear by every unexpected phone call or knock at the door, and they can go about a normal existence.

Roy Kaufmann, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Justice, said the department respects the courts ruling.

John Crouse, a Salem man who had then been on parole for a robbery, repeatedly said he killed Francke, telling law enforcement officers as well as relatives and a girlfriend that he stabbed Francke when Francke caught Crouse burglarizing his car. Crouse is no longer alive.

Acosta found that the exclusion of Crouses confessions at Gables trial was wrong and violated Gables due process rights. The 9th Circuit upheld Acostas ruling, calling the facts of the appeal extraordinary.
EUNICE, N.M. (AP)  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday began a special inspection at the Urenco USA uranium enrichment facility in southeastern New Mexico following an incident last month.

NRC officials said the April 21 incident involved the operation of a crane near a building that handles uranium hexafluoride without the required safety controls present.
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Houston Chronicle editorial writers Monday were named finalists for a 2023 Pulitzer Prize in opinion writing for a series of editorials about the Uvalde school massacre.

Editorial board members Lisa Falkenberg, Joe Holley, Nick Powell and the late Michael Lindenberger were honored for their work for helping Texas readers understand the mass shooting that killed 21 people, including two teachers and 19 elementary school students.

"Writing about gun violence in Texas is hard, sometimes demoralizing work," Falkenberg said. "Change is too slow in coming. But how will change ever come if opinion journalists arent out there beating the drum, saying the names of victims, repeating the names of victims, elevating their families pleas for stronger gun laws?"

She said Uvalde families and allies travel to Austin weekly to demand that legislators raise the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons. "Lawmakers who oppose that effort just want them to go away," she said. "They wont. We wont, either."

Powell said progress can be slow.

"It's a weird topic to win for because there's nothing really to celebrate," Powell said.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Painful and permanent, tattoos honor Uvalde victims and keep their memories alive

Powell said he took some comfort from the news Monday that a bill that proposing a higher age limit on buying assault-style weapons had passed out of a state legislative committee, hours before a deadline that would have killed the measure.

"Today with the news that the raise the age bill was vote out of committee, I felt like I could smile for this," Powell said.

"We are extremely proud of our Editorial team for again being recognized as a Pulitzer finalist," Houston Chronicle Publisher Nancy Meyer said. "Our demand for truth and calling for reform in response to the Uvalde school tragedy should be heralded along with the expectation of continued accountability."

The Chronicle team wrote seven editorials that were submitted to the Pulitzer board for its consideration. The editorials criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the police response to the tragedy and called for legislators to take meaningful steps on gun reform. Over the past year, the editorial board has written more than two dozen editorials on Uvalde, gun control and related topics.

The Miami Herald won the Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series of editorials on the failure of Florida public officials to deliver on promised taxpayer funded amenities.

The Chronicle has won two Pulitzers, most recently in 2022 for a series of editorials on voter suppression in Texas. Falkenberg, the Chronicle's vice president and editor of opinion, won the paper's first prize in 2015 for commentary.

Falkenberg leads the editorial board as well as the paper's opinion and outlook sections. Raised in Seguin, she joined the Chronicle staff in 2005.

Powell joined the Chronicle in 2017 as its Gulf Coast reporter and reported on the Santa Fe High School shooting, the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine and Galvestons delays in rebuilding public housing after Hurricane Ike. Before joining the Chronicle, Powell worked as an opinion writer and editor at City & State NY.

Holley, a Waco native, has been the newspaper's "Native Texan" columnist since 2013. Holley was also an editorial writer from 2012 to 2017. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017 for a series of editorials on gun control and the Texas gun culture and was part of the team of Pulitzer winners in 2022, for editorials on former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie." Holley also wrote a book about the Sutherland Springs mass shooting.

Lindenberger was the former Chronicle deputy opinion editor and was most recently the editorial page editor of the Kansas City Star. He died in December. He joined the Chronicle in 2018 after 14 years at the Dallas Morning News. He also wrote and edited for The Courier-Journal in Kentucky and was a teacher, public speaker and graduate of the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

New York Times writer Alex Kingsbury was also named a finalist for editorials on the "existential threat of terror and violence committed by right-wing political extremists."
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The man accused of killing five people in Cleveland will get seasoned representation after a judge appointed veteran Houston criminal defense attorney Anthony Osso.

Osso said he was contacted by 411th state District Judge John Wells to act as Francisco Oropezas counsel. Houston-based attorney Lisa Andrews will be co-counsel, Osso said.

Oropezas next court date will be May 18.

On HoustonChronicle.com: El Paso funeral home donates five caskets for Cleveland mass shooting victims

While Oropeza is currently charged with five counts of murder, the charges are expected to be upgraded to capital murder, which will make him eligible for the death penalty. Oropeza is accused in the April 28 shooting deaths of Diana Velasquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 9, all from Honduras.

Osso, who had represented several defendants in capital murder cases, said he is working to put together an extensive defense team for Oropeza. Osso was one of Harris County's highest-paid court-appointed attorneys last year.

I think he needs good representation, Osso said. Its going to be a tough case. Weve met with the sheriff and his staff to determine what procedures they would like us to follow and what kind of access we will have to him.

Osso said the first step was to gather as much information as he could to determine the groundwork for the case.

We are trying to sort through what happened and what the relationship was with the neighbors, Osso said. Im not sure it went down the way the media is portraying it and that is what we need to get to the bottom of.

Osso called the San Jacinto County Attorneys Office and the San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office stand-up people.

Everyone is doing their job, he said. They have accommodated us to meet with our client.

San Jacinto County Assistant District Attorney Rob Freyer called Osso and Andrews formidable opponents.

He and Lisa Andrews are outstanding attorneys, Freyer said. They are very competent and very qualified. They know their way around a courtroom. On a case like this, a defendant is entitled to good representation and he is going to get it without a doubt.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Remembering the 5 Texas mass shooting victims, killed after dispute with neighbor

The shooting, which authorities described as "execution-style," occurred after one of the neighbors asked Oropeza to stop firing his AR-15 so close to the home because a 6-week-old baby was trying to sleep, survivor Ramiro Guzman said. Guzman, his wife and 6-month-old child survived the gunfire after hiding under a blanket in a closet.

Law enforcement officials captured Oropeza May 2 at a relative's Montgomery County home, ending a four-day manhunt. A tip to the FBI led authorities to Oropeza at his sister's home in the Montgomery County town of Cut and Shoot, about 13 miles from where the shooting happened in Cleveland.

Oropezas common-law wife Divimara Lamar Nava, 52, was charged May 3 with hindering the efforts to find him, according to court documents. Police say she was at the home where her husband was arrested. Police had previously said she was cooperating with the search effort.

Authorities arrested Domingo Castilla, a friend of Oropeza, in the neighborhood where the victims were shot. Castilla was indicted on federal charges after authorities found firearms he purchased "from a friend" in his home.
Federal authorities have tested the 3D-printed gun that a student brought to Chavez High School in April during an apparent mental health crisis. Prosecutors have told a judge that although it lacked bullets and a working magazine  it could fire like any other weapon.

The student printed the weapon at home and brought it to school, stashing it in his waistband, court officials said on Friday.

He showed a school official the weapon, never removing it from his waistband, and said he wanted to take his own life, prosecutors said. They told the court that the student did not have any bullets on hand.

More from Nicole Hensley: Harris County judge, lawyer spar over absent court reporter: 'Dont tell me how to run my court'

Judge Danilo Lacayo balanced the seriousness of the allegation with the students reported but unspecified mental health condition having likely contributed to his behavior. The judge lowered the bail for Alexander Teran, 18, from $1 million to $100,000. He had been held on the higher bond for a month.

The teen made bond Saturday on a charge of carrying a prohibited weapon, court records show. He is expected to undergo a mental health evaluation at a Harris County hospital to determine if he is a candidate for inpatient care.

His defense attorney, Joshua Willoughby, vowed to help ensure Teran will focus on his recovery before he returns to school or work.

A prosecutor told the jurist at Friday's bail hearing that school leaders considered Terans actions an isolated incident, rather than an attempt to hurt others at the school. No students or teachers were harmed or threatened.

The school would enroll him in an alternative school, should he make bail, the prosecutor said.

An official with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tested the weapon and found that bullets could be loaded individually and fired, the prosecutor said. The magazine in the firearm at the time Teran brought it to school did not work but a different magazine would have, the official said.

Before closing for the day, the judge noted that he read Terans evaluation and he specifically warned him to not use drugs.

DEADLY CRASH: Parents of man killed during Montrose first date sue driver accused in drunken crash

You cannot use drugs or alcohol, Lacayo said. No marijuana, no shrooms, no coke. That upsets your mind.

He also ordered Teran to give up the 3D printer at his family's home and any other weapons it may have produced.

That 3D printer is going somewhere, and its not going in your house, the judge continued.

The lowering of Terans bail followed a tense clash of words earlier in the week where Willoughby challenged the judge about his decision to delay their hearing until the court reporter's return. She had gone home sick earlier with a fever.
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A Galveston County judge was removed Monday from the long-delayed trial of the accused Santa Fe High School shooter after lawyers argued conflicts of interest should prevent his involvement.

Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge Jeth Jones was disqualified from presiding over the trial by 11th Administrative Judicial Region Judge Susan Brown, according to the Galveston County District Attorney's Office. Brown' decision came weeks after a hearing in which attorneys for Dimitrios Pagourtzis sought to have Jones removed as judge over bias and conflict-of-interest complaints.

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Pagourtzis is accused of killing 10 people and wounding 13 others in the May 18, 2018, shooting at Santa Fe High School. He was arrested inside the high school on the day of the shooting. The trial has been delayed following a 2019 ruling Pagourtzis was mentally unfit to aid in his own defense. He is currently under treatment at a North Texas state hospital.

Defense attorney Nick Poehl argued Jones, a former defense attorney, should be disqualified as the judge because Jones' former law partner, Jared Robinson, had met with Pagourtzis in the days following the mass shooting. While Robinson, who is now also a district court judge, wasn't hired to represent Pagourtzis, Poehl said he heard privileged information and the privilege should extend to Jones.

Poehl in a brief last week wrote that because of the meeting "the judge might have a favorable or unfavorable view of the litigant resulting from such

a relationship, even if that relationship only lasted 48 hours, and nobody can know but him."

Poehl and prosecutors participated in a phone call Monday morning, after which Brown ruled that Jones was disqualified from the case. He said he was relieved by the ruling

"Trying to remove a judge is not an easy thing," Poehl said. "It's rarely successful. While we were confident we had the right argument, until it's for sure you're afraid to tell yourself that you're too right."

Poehl also sought Jones' recusal after the judge in March arranged to have Pagourtzis' mental health re-evaluated, despite a recent ruling that the 22-year-old was still incompetent to stand trial. Jones ordered a psychiatrist from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to evaluate Pagourtzis, but that evaluation was objected to by the Texas Attorney General's Office, which said that UTMB doctors are prohibited by contract from performing mental health evaluations on prisoners. Brown did not make a ruling on that issue. Poehl said as a result of Jones' disqualification, all of his orders since February were voided.

Jones will be replaced by Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.

Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady said in a statement Cox was known for making decisive and fair rulings.

"Our office is disappointed to lose Judge Jones, but we believe that Judge Cox will handle the case fairly and efficiently," Roady said.

Jones was the second judge to preside over the trial. The original judge on the case was former 122nd District Couty Judge John Ellisor, who retired in January.

The new appointment shouldn't change any timelines on Pagourtzis' trial, though Cox will likely be asked to sign a new order of commitment for Pagourtzis because one signed by Jones earlier this year is now void, Poehl said. There's been no reported changes in Pagourtzis' mental state, and the order could be in place for another year, Poehl said.
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As a prolonged fire at a Shell petrochemical plant in Deer Park sent thick black smoke into the Houston-area sky over the weekend, company and state representatives repeatedly said the event posed no danger to the nearby community.

Local residents, advocates and experts remain wary, citing extensive emissions events and environmental violations from Shell and other Deer Park operators.

I feel like thats always the update, said Joe Robles, a Deer Park resident who has lived through repeated fires and explosions in the areas dense concentration of petrochemical plants and refineries. Robles said many residents have lost confidence in those assertions after living through incidents that experts determined were dangerous only years later.

MORE ON SHELL PLANT: What to know about the chemical plant that caught fire in Deer Park

The 70-hour weekend fire erupted in the Shell plants olefins unit, the key to petrochemical production which breaks down gasses into compounds that form the basis of a wide variety of products, including plastics, paints and agricultural chemicals. The plant makes few final products, instead sending the olefins to other manufacturers.

According to news releases from Shells coordinated response, Air monitoring is ongoing and has not detected any harmful levels of chemicals affecting neighboring communities. In a news conference Monday, Kelly Cook from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the agency had overwhelmed the area with air monitoring.

Neither the company nor local government officials advised residents to shelter in place during or after the fire.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Advocates, however, say they worry about what officials are leaving out of the monitoring and reporting process.

Theyre monitoring for several known carcinogens, said Jennifer Hadayia, executive director of Air Alliance Houston. No one has been monitoring for particulate matter, which is one of the most concerning pollutants out there because it lodges into the lungs and the cardiovascular system.

Natalie Gunnell, a spokeswoman for Shells coordinated response team, said the company had been monitoring for benzene, 1,3-butadiene, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, sulphur dioxide and flammable gas at the plant site and neighboring communities.

No harmful levels of chemicals have been detected affecting neighboring communities, she wrote in an email to the Chronicle.

TEXAS POLITICS: Houston chemical fires wont spur new laws, for now

Dr. Pushan Jani, a pulmonologist at UTHealth, said that type of air pollution  including particulate matter  can lead to an acute exacerbation of underlying lung disease, especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also can lead to an exacerbation in patients without rhinitis and sinusitis long term, he said, while chronic exposure to air pollution is associated with lung cancer.

Besides particulate matter and known carcinogens, Jani said other substances emitted during a fire like the one at the Shell plant could be a problem, but we dont even know what other chemicals to measure in the polluted air.

Shell has not released specific results of any tests, but the TCEQ has posted some results on its website, indicating elevated levels of volatile organic compounds in two areas adjacent to Deer Park on Friday, Cloverleaf and Northshore. Those levels were not considered harmful, the agency said.

University of Houston Vice President of Energy and Innovation Ramanan Krishnamoorti said that while air pollution is no longer a challenge for residents, it is possible that during the extended fire locals could have been exposed to hydrocarbons, poorly burnt product and soot.

Krishnamoorti said the negative results of monitoring efforts were encouraging but that it will be important to look at plume dispersion and see where there might be carbon deposition, which could spread over a large geographic area.

Meanwhile, the water used to douse the fire  some of which has been released into the Houston Ship Channel  likely contains hydrocarbons (and) fire extinguishing additives, he said.

Gunnell, the response team spokeswoman, said Shell and state authorities collected discharge samples to monitor for carbon, pH levels, oil and grease. While they have not released the results of that sampling, she said that by Sunday afternoon, the carbon levels had returned to acceptable range.

The response team also will sample the Houston Ship Channel once a day to monitor pH levels, Gunnell said. On Monday morning the pH levels at the initial entry of the discharge were above acceptable levels, and five samples taken within 500 feet of the site were within the acceptable permitted levels.

Excess runoff has been directed into the Ship Channel at least twice since response efforts began, according to news releases. The releases say responders have used booms, or floating barriers, to slow the spread of contaminants on surface water, to prevent any product from entering the channel.

Experts say booms do work, but note they are not foolproof: in a similar controlled release scenario after the 2019 fire at the nearby Intercontinental Terminals Co., contaminated water spilled into surrounding waterways. Gunnell said the response team has been checking the precautionary boom.

ITC WASTE: The ITC fire created 20 million gallons of waste. Getting rid of it is no easy task.

Ayanna Jolivet McCloud, executive director of Bayou City Waterkeeper, said the Clean Water Act does allow permitted plants to release a certain amount of contaminants into the water. It is up to companies to report those releases.

McCloud noted that people often think first about air quality when a fire produces such a dramatic column of smoke but that we have to look at these disasters in terms of both: we also have to think about the secondary toxic releases into the waterways immediately.

During the past decade, Shells petrochemical plant in Deer Park has reported frequent unexpected emissions events to the TCEQ: 160 since 2012. At least 42 of those were reported to have taken off in an olefins unit, the same place as the weekend fire, with four olefins unit events in the past year and a half.

Within its report of each incident, Shell cited an affirmative defense, indicating it should not be held liable since the events were accidents or emergencies.

State records show that in the same time period, the plant had 1,914 environmental violations on its record, 95 of which remain active.

An analysis of that data by Brendan Gibbons for the Environmental Integrity Project found Shell had a number of paperwork violations, including failure to provide documentation to evaluate compliance, as well as severe violations for the release of toxins into the air and water.

Thirty-seven of those violations resulted in fines by environmental regulators.
The number of babies born with syphilis in the U.S. continued its upward climb in 2021, new data shows, worrying doctors and public health investigators in Texas who have been trying to draw attention to what they say is a largely hidden crisis.

Nationally, congenital syphilis cases rose by an alarming 32 percent from the previous year, according to a report published last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Texas accounted for the largest share of cases, 680, and tied Mississippi for the fourth-highest rate of congenital syphilis in the nation with 182 cases per 100,000 live births.

This has been a big deal, said Cynthia Deverson, who serves on the regional body that reviews congenital syphilis cases in the greater Houston region. Its just that now we have the technology and the staffing and the education to understand that its a big deal.

MATERNAL HEALTH: Harris Countys high rate of Black maternal deaths driven by discrimination, experts say

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause small, usually painless sores that heal on their own, regardless of whether a person is still infected. If left untreated, the disease can progress to later stages in which it remains hidden, with no visible signs or symptoms. It might take years for complications to arise. Long-term damage can extend to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

In a pregnant person, syphilis may pass to the unborn child with potentially devastating consequences. Congenital syphilis led to 220 stillbirths and infant deaths nationally in 2021. Babies who survive can experience severe symptoms like deformed bones, an enlarged liver and spleen, meningitis, skin rashes and nerve damage that can affect their sight and hearing.

The reason for the increase is complex. Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis all went up in the first year of the pandemic. The change might reflect an increase in patients who sought care at clinics after stay-home orders were lifted, the CDC said. It also could mean greater disease spread, as those with an STD may have had their infection longer and more opportunities to transmit the infection to sexual partners. Additionally, the frequency of new sexual partners may have changed as people re-emerged from quarantine.

The pandemic only partially explains the surge, as cases had been increasing for years before COVID-19 arrived. Experts say social barriers to health care access, coupled with a general lack of awareness of the importance of testing and treatment, has allowed the disease to spread in Texas.

Many patients and health care providers dont even understand syphilis is still a thing, as it has been for centuries, Deverson said. As someone who is reviewing actual cases and speaks to actual (patients), it has been astounding.

'We think were invincible'

While syphilis has been around for centuries, the adoption of safe sex practices as a result of the 1980s HIV epidemic contributed to a decline that saw cases reach an all-time low in 2000, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. For the CDC, the prospect of eliminating the disease in the United States entirely appeared within reach.

Since then, syphilis has made a gradual comeback in the U.S., with the greatest increases in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. In a Lancet article published last year, Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, professor of infectious diseases at University of Southern California, partly blamed the erosion of sexual health services and programs. National funding for STDs fell 40 percent between 2003 and 2018.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Dr. Edgar Hernandez-Andrade and Dr. Irene Stafford do an ultrasound of a pregnant patient that was diagnosed with syphilis at UT Physicians OB-GYN clinic on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Houston. A growing number of babies nationwide are being born with syphilis, a devastating illness that resulted in 220 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2021 alone, according to data released last week from the Centers for Disease Control in Prevention. More babies are born with syphilis in Texas than anywhere in the nation. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer) Dr. Edgar Hernandez-Andrade and Dr. Irene Stafford do an ultrasound of a pregnant patient that was diagnosed with syphilis at UT Physicians OB-GYN clinic on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Houston. A growing number of babies nationwide are being born with syphilis, a devastating illness that resulted in 220 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2021 alone, according to data released last week from the Centers for Disease Control in Prevention. More babies are born with syphilis in Texas than anywhere in the nation. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer)

In recent years, states have concentrated more resources on the problem. The Texas Department State Health Services enhanced syphilis surveillance, launched a podcast about the disease and partnered with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine to train health workers on testing, according to an agency spokesperson. In 2021, the agency received $18.6 million in STD funding that covered more than 180 positions to increase STD prevention and treatment efforts within Texas, the spokesperson said.

The Houston Health Department started its own awareness campaign after cases more than doubled in Harris County from 47 in 2017 to 104 in 2018. Cases rose again in 2019 to 149 and stayed relatively stable through 2021, according to health department data. The city is now developing a 24-hour hotline for physicians to call specifically for information on congenital syphilis.

However, sexual health information continues to fall behind the need, said Dr. Irene Stafford, a maternal-fetal specialist and associate professor at UTHealth Houstons McGovern Medical School.

Stafford recalled speaking with a high school student last month at a teen sexual health task force meeting in Austin. She had asked a young woman in the audience why their age group takes up half of all new sexually transmitted infections.

She looks right at me and says, Because teens are no longer afraid of STIs, Stafford said. She goes, We think were invincible.

Treatment can be difficult

A penicillin regimen up to one month before delivery can effectively cure the syphilis infection in the pregnant person and prevent transmission to the baby.

But depending on the stage of the disease, treatment might require doses over multiple appointments. Not everyone can secure transportation, childcare and time off work to make that happen, experts say. On top of that, pregnant patients who miss a dose have to restart treatment from the beginning.

Already in Texas and Harris County, more patients struggle to access prenatal care compared to the rest of the nation, according to the Understanding Houston Initiative, a research partnership between the Greater Houston Community Foundation and Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

MIFEPRISTONE: Houston doctors warn 'dumbfounding' effort to ban mifepristone would limit miscarriage management

Nationally, less than 2 percent of pregnant women received no prenatal care during their pregnancy in 2020, according to the initiative. In Texas, the rate was double at 4 percent, while Harris Countys rate was 5.6 percent. In 2016, Texas also had the lowest percentage of pregnant patients who started prenatal care in the first trimester, CDC data shows.

Further complicating treatment is the fact that syphilis symptoms, when visible, can mimic other more common conditions like eczema or skin ulcers.

One of Staffords patients, a Houston woman who spoke to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity, thought it was a mistake when a nurse called her to break the news that she had tested positive for syphilis.

My initial response was, Are you sure that you have the correct person? the patient said.

As she continues her pregnancy, worrying about her own health and that of her baby has been emotionally draining, she said, especially with the stigma around the disease.

A lot of people dont want to talk about it, she said. Still to this day, Im like, Was it something that I did?' Its having to go through those moments, and it is embarrassing. But it happens more than people think.

Many doctors dont know the rules

Despite the heavy burden of the disease in Texas, experts say many healthcare professionals either dont know about or disregard a state requirement to test all pregnant patients for syphilis in the first and third trimester, and again at delivery.

Much of Deversons work as a project manager for the Fetal Infant Morbidity Review Board on Congenital Syphilis and Perinatal HIV involves following up on missed opportunities for testing and treatment when a baby dies from the disease or experiences severe symptoms. That means calling their doctor on the phone to verify whether they tested the patient according to the law.

Deverson said a doctor might decide not to test because the patient doesnt fall into high-risk groups, which include people living with HIV. Maybe the patient didnt have insurance, or the doctor tested them earlier in the pregnancy and didnt feel another was necessary, she said.

Many doctors simply arent aware that Texas requires three syphilis tests during pregnancy, she said.

A lot of (doctors) have been genuinely remorseful about the outcome for the baby, Deverson said. So I tend to believe them.

There are no penalties for physicians who dont test appropriately, and the phone call from a member of the review board might be the doctors only reminder, said Stafford, who also serves on the review committee.

A Dear Doctor letter, typically used to inform physicians about important drug updates, might be more effective, along with a link to the treatment guidelines, Stafford said.

ABORTION LAW IMPACT: Birth control demand is expected to grow in post-Roe Texas. Is the state ready?

She added that the review board also has identified missed opportunities to test in emergency rooms and triage areas.

Sometimes the patients only prenatal care is in the ER, Stafford said. (Maybe) their partner is offshore. Their partner works at eight oclock at night. They dont have transportation. They live outside the loop. Theyre scared. Theyre worried, and they come to the ER multiple times. This is a missed opportunity to screen for things that are mandated.

Emergency rooms proactively should screen all pregnant patients who arent assigned to a health care provider, and coordinate follow-up prenatal care with a physician, Stafford said. Even if the patient doesnt show up to their follow-up appointment, the test will go to the local health department, which can investigate further.

Broader change needed

The systemic changes needed to improve screening in Texas present major hurdles, said Imelda Garcia, associate commissioner of laboratory and infectious disease services at DSHS.

She said the state health department has encouraged hospitals to update records systems, to automatically prompt medical teams to screen pregnant patients for syphilis when appropriate. Harris Health recently made such a change to its system for obstetrical care. Most hospitals, however, have little incentive to make those costly upgrades, Garcia said.

The state also has sent a few letters directly to physicians about policy changes around congenital syphilis, but theres no way of knowing whether doctors read them, she said.

Were trying to get the word out, Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Stafford hopes to engage young people through social media. She said she recently attended a community health center conference in Georgetown where social media influencer Thomas Petrou collected footage of himself conducting man-on-the-street style interviews with attendees, asking basic questions about congenital syphilis and STIs.

Stafford hopes, eventually, that kind of collaboration will make a difference.

We should start raising flags, she said. It should be on the news. It should be on social media. Any way in which people learn, we need to go ahead and educate the public about this infection.
Sunnyside resident Stephany Ramirez, 22, gave birth to her daughter on July 4 after a busy pregnancy, during which she pursued her real estate license and drove for Door Dash to build up a savings.

Another baby, she said, would be too much to handle financially. So next month, she will receive an IUD  a long term, reversible birth control device  at a Legacy Community Health clinic through her Medicaid plan.

"With the economy and everything going up, I just can't afford to have two pregnancies," she said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: A Houston mother's terrible choice: deliver Theodora and watch her die or terminate her pregnancy

Ramirez's situation reflects an immense need in the country: 21 million women of reproductive age needed publicly funded contraceptive care as of 2016, according the Guttmacher Institute. Demand is expected to increase in states like Texas, where strict abortion laws mean many people, mostly in poor communities of color, now will have to carry pregnancies to term.

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But Texas is ill prepared, healthcare advocates and policy experts warn. Significant policy changes and funding cuts over the last decade make it more difficult for low-income patients to access contraceptives, threatening to worsen the already poor maternal health outcomes in the state.

A lot of this (new) legislation is focused on protecting the rights of the unborn, but we need to be equally focused on protecting the rights of women and their ability to make decisions about their health, said Dr. Rola El-Serag, director of the Baker Institute's Center for Health and Biosciences at Rice University and former expert educator in womens health with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Increasing demand

Originally from Mexico City, Ramirez moved to Houston when she was 9 years old. She became a citizen at around 12 and enlisted in the Texas National Guard at 17. Her contract expired last year, she said, just as she became pregnant. Debt mounted, so she turned to Door Dash. Her fiance, a contractor who installs HVAC systems, also helped support them.

Now a new mother, she continues to pursue a career as a Realtor with Keller Williams while family members help at home with the baby. She stresses over breastfeeding and struggles with postpartum depression. Groceries, car payments and credit card bills remain a constant concern.

With an IUD, she will not have to worry about another pregnancy adding to her burden. Abortion laws did not factor into her decision, she said, but demand for contraceptives has already increased at some Houston-area clinics since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade three weeks ago.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, which covers eight clinics in the greater Houston region, has seen a 67 percent increase in patients seeking long-term reversible contraceptives, such as IUDs and implants, according to a spokesperson.

Legacy Community Health, the largest federally qualified health center in Texas, and the four family planning clinics operated by the Houston Health Department also have experienced a surge of interest in long-acting contraceptives, officials told the Chronicle. Other news outlets have reported similar trends elsewhere in the state.

Anecdotally, I can tell you, now women are taking family planning a lot more seriously, because they know an unplanned pregnancy is not going to be something that they can easily mitigate, said Dr. Devanshi Somaiya, chief of family planning for the Houston Health Department.

Health care gaps

Clinics are facing this growing interest after a decade of significant changes to the states family planning programs. Family planning includes contraceptive access as well as pregnancy testing, counseling and STD testing.

In 2011, the legislature slashed the family planning budget dramatically, from $111 million to $38 million, and made it harder for Planned Parenthood and other specialized family planning organizations to access the remaining funds, according to the researchers at the Texas Policy Evaluation Project based at the University of Texas at Austin.

As a result, 82 clinics across Texas closed or stopped providing family planning services, and fewer organizations provided IUDs, implants and female sterilization and vasectomy due to high costs.

Lawmakers reinstated funding over the next several years, which helped some providers rebuild services, while continuing to steer money away from Planned Parenthood, which serves a disproportionately high share of family planning patients. Even as funding stabilized, the state has struggled to fill coverage gaps and has consistently declined to expand Medicaid coverage.

Uninsured and publicly insured women commonly report issues paying for care, finding a provider that accepts their insurance and locating providers that offer the services they need, according to the policy evaluation project. Research also shows most women in that population are not using their preferred birth control method. Meanwhile, the state continues to boost funding for an anti-abortion program that supports faith-based pregnancy centers, which generally do not offer contraceptives.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston crisis pregnancy centers, labeled deceptive by experts, find new spotlight after Roe ruling

The loss of critical safety net providers, coupled with the growing shortage of healthcare workers and pandemic-related job losses, likely have contributed to longer wait times at some clinics, said Dr. Anna Chatillon, a researcher with the policy evaluation project. A typical wait for a family planning visit could be a month or more at Houston Health Department and Legacy clinics, officials say.

Somaiya said she could use more money at health department clinics to offer competitive salaries for a shrinking pool of healthcare workers. She would like to build out infrastructure, including mobile clinics, to dispense birth control to communities most in need.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

At Legacy, funds are needed to meet the steadily growing number of patients seeking family planning services. The number has ballooned from 46,562 in 2018 to 67,896 last year at all of its Houston-area clinics, according to data provided by organization. Already, in the firsts six months of 2022, Legacy has nearly surpassed the 2018 total.

What we've received from the state and the federal government has been very minimal compared to the amount of patients that we see on a normal day, said Lindsay Lanagan, vice president of government relations and public affairs at Legacy.

Something for myself

Its not just money that providers and patients need, said Dr. Vian Nguyen, an OB-GYN and chief medical officer at Legacy.

Cutting down on the logistical hurdles of applying for government funding might encourage more patients to seek out healthcare, she said. It takes more than an hour for some patients to work through different eligibility criteria and complete the paperwork, she said.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Funding is great, but if

we don't make it easy for people, the reality is, that's just not their number one priority in certain patient population groups, she said. It's not what they're thinking about.

Ensuring better access to womens healthcare is especially critical in a state with the highest uninsured rate in the country and one of the worst maternal death rates nationwide, experts say.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Ramirez is grateful to have access to doctors who, in the midst of her busy life, can answer all of her questions.

On Monday, she saw Nguyen at the bustling Legacy clinic on Mapleridge street, where they talked about what Ramirez described as mild depression. The doctor also helped her identify the type of birth control she preferred. The IUD will be free with Medicaid, she said.

Ramirez is eager to work with the goal of one day owning rental properties in Mexico.

I want to support my daughter, she said. And I want to do something for myself.
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While the U.S. Customs and Border Protection clocked a record of more than 2.3 million border crossings in fiscal year 2022, that number only tells one part of the story. Individuals can cross the border more than once and many who enter, stay only briefly: Hundreds of thousands of the people apprehended at the border are sent back to their countries or Mexico.

New analysis of immigration court filings from Syracuse University offers an approximation of how many border crossers were allowed in and now face deportation.

INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: 40 years of U.S. border policy, from Reagan and Bush to Biden

The research found 880,855 individuals who are facing new deportation cases. These numbers are driven by border crossings. The cases will likely end in a deportation order if applicants fail to win asylum  which is very difficult to do  unless the applicants find another way to remain legally in the U.S.

Syracuse University researcher Austin Kocher said these numbers show the different people impacted by volatility in different parts of the world. It reflects significant political instability in various major parts of the world.

A large portion of those migrants ended up in this region. Roughly 42,000 people who crossed the border in fiscal year 2022 were headed to the Houston area, according to an analysis of Houston-area court filings.

The following are the top ten nationalities of people of migrants to the U.S. and the numbers of each that came to Houston. While these court filings in the U.S. and Houston are driven by border crossings, there isnt publicly-available data to provide a direct measure of those released into the country.

1. Cubans

Roughly 118,000 Cubans were let into the country and had new immigration cases in 2022 calendar year.

Houston was among the most popular destinations for Cubans last year.

During the 2022 fiscal year, roughly 7,558 cases for Cubans were sent to Houstons three immigration courts  more than any other court system outside of Houston.

RECORD NUMBERS: Cubans arrive at border in record numbers, with thousands headed to Houston, an emerging destination

Houston-area refugee resettlement groups have been overwhelmed with Cuban arrivals over the past year. The metro area is becoming an increasingly important landing point for Cuban immigrants, and it may continue to see growth as political repression, food scarcity and other country conditions push people out of Cuba and the United States continues to allow Cubans in.

Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer

2. Venezuelans

In fiscal year 2022, Houston was an intended destination for more Venezuelans with new deportation cases than people of any other nationality, according to Houston-area immigration court filings driven by border crossings.

Houston-area courts saw more than 9,000 individuals with new immigration cases while nearby Dallas-area courts saw more than 11,000 Venezuelans headed to the region in fiscal year 2022.

TEXAS POLITICS: Record surge of Venezuelan asylum seekers strains Texas border

Venezuelans were the second largest group to receive notice to appear requests in immigration courts nationwide in 2022. These court notices begin the deportation process.

More than 6 million Venezuelans have left home due to the ongoing corruption, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. This mass displacement was spurred by economic mismanagement and corruption ushered in by authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, which has led to shortages of food, medicine and other necessities.

Jessica Phelps, Staff photographer / San Antonio Express-News

3. Nicaraguans

Nicaraguans accounted for more than 90,000 new immigration filings by border crossings in 2022.

Nicaraguans have dealt with an autocratic president Daniel Ortega, who has dismantled nearly all institutional checks on presidential power, according to analysis by Human Rights Watch, which described it as a country with rampant police abuse, as well as severe restrictions on freedom of expression and association, political discrimination, and stringent restrictions on abortion.

In Houston-area courts, Nicaraguans accounted for roughly 5,000 of new immigration court filings among people facing deportation.

4. Colombia

Immigration court filings showed border crossings by Colombians amounted to about 84,000 in 2022.

Colombia has suffered high unemployment and economic inequality, exacerbated by the pandemic, and very few Colombians believe the instability in the country will diminish, according to a World Bank Report on the impact of the pandemic. The job and income losses wiped out a decade of progress in reducing poverty, the World Bank found.

Houston-area court filings show some 2,000 Colombians were headed to the area in the last fiscal year.

More from Elizabeth Trovall: How does Bidens big border plan measure up against past plans to curb illegal immigration?

5. Honduras

Houston was a major destination for Hondurans in the last fiscal year  nearly 9,000 received new notices to appear in local immigration courts.

It was the fifth most common nationality to enter the country and face deportation -- roughly 69,000 people, according to 2022 Syracuse University analysis of immigration court records.

6. Haiti

Chaotic conditions in Haiti  as well as poor treatment and few opportunities for Haitian migrants in Latin America  spurred tens of thousands of Haitians to come to the U.S. in 2022. Some 56,000 were let into the U.S. in 2022 with notices to appear.

HAITIAN ODYSSEY: From Haiti to Texas: Inside migrants' perilous 10,000-mile journey

Relatively few of Haitians were headed to the Houston area  just over 100 during last fiscal year.

Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

7. Mexico

Some 55,000 Mexicans were allowed into the U.S. and face new deportation cases, according to 2022 data. Of that group, roughly 1,000 have pending cases in Houston-area courts.

8. Guatemala

Roughly 2,000 Guatemalans had their new immigration court cases assigned to Houston-area courts in fiscal year 2022. Guatemalans came in 8th in terms of how many border crossers passed into the U.S. -- some 46,000 people.

MORE IMMIGRATION STORIES: Houston judges are denying up to 100% of asylum cases in immigration courts

9. Peru

Political unrest in Peru last year may have sparked an uptick in Peruvian arrivals at the southwest border in 2022. Now ousted President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Peru's Congress, which prompted mass protests.

More than 43,000 Peruvians received new notices to appear in U.S. immigration courts, driven by border crossings, during 2022.

In fiscal year 2022, Houston-area courts saw 200 border-driven new immigration cases from the region.

Mario Tama, Staff / Getty Images

10. Russia

As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, Russians have arrived at the southwest border by the thousands.

In the 2022 calendar year, some 30,000 Russians were facing deportation from new immigration cases, driven by border crossings.

A fraction of these cases landed in Houston  less than a 100, according to the fiscal year data.
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As the Trump-era Title 42 border policy that impacted hundreds of thousands of migrants nears its end on Dec. 21, border officials in West Texas are intercepting high numbers of migrants arriving in the region trying to beat the deadline.

El Paso Border Patrol Sector Acting Chief Peter Jaquez posted on Twitter that over the weekend the El Paso sector had a three-day average of 2,460 migrant encounters  a major increase in border crossings in the area.

The influx at the El Paso border sector comes after fiscal year 2022 broke records for border crossings.

Some experts predicted that border crossings might increase in December after a federal judge invalidated the COVID-19 public health policy in November, effectively restoring the prior asylum policy to its status quo.

What is Title 42?

Enacted in 2020 during the pandemic, Title 42 used the federal health code as a rationale to bypass the mandated asylum process, which typically involves screenings or credible fear interviews. It was a useful tool that allowed the government to rapidly expel migrants arriving at the southern border under the guise that it would help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The policy has remained in place, while many other pandemic policies have been rescinded.

Human rights advocates, migrants and immigration attorneys criticized the blanket policy as inhumane and overreaching as it served as a convenient tool for both the Trump and Biden administrations to swiftly control the historic number of border crossings.

Between the two administrations more than 2 million migrant encounters were subject to Title 42 expulsions since March 2020, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Roughly half of those took place in Texas, including when the government flew thousands of Haitians camped out in Del Rio back to Haiti, even though many hadn't lived there for several years.

Consequences of ending Title 42

A public end to Title 42 may contribute to the perception of a more open immigration system, making it easier for smugglers to profit off of desperate people abroad. The Department of Homeland Security has tried to get ahead of that misconception.

People should not listen to the lies by smugglers who will take advantage of vulnerable migrants, putting lives at risk, reads a Department of Homeland Security statement regarding the end of Title 42. The border is closed, and we will continue to fully enforce our immigration laws at the border.

However, in the short-term some experts said it's likely the policy change will be perceived as an invitation to people fleeing tough situations back home, even though the border remains closed to people without valid asylum claims. The recent increase in border crossers in El Paso could be an indication of that shift in perception.

Immigration experts said that doing away with Title 42 expulsions may actually bring harsher consequences for migrants without valid asylum claims, including increased time in detention and having an official deportation on their record. Under Title 42, recidivism rates  repeat border crossings  increased to 27 percent in 2021 up from 7 percent in 2019, prior to Title 42.

Under the border policies in place prior to the pandemic, applicants whom judges said did not have valid asylum claims were subject to "expedited removal" from the country, a deportation process that went on a person's permanent record, sometimes carried criminal charges and prohibited future entry into the U.S. either permanently or temporarily. Expulsions under Title 42 did not carry the same legal consequences for migrants, so migrants were less likely to be deterred from repeat crossings.

Title 42 End: What to expect in Texas after reversal of Trumps biggest border policy

Texas stands to be the state most affected by the overturning of Title 42, considering it is home to the largest share of the southwest border with Mexico, and has the largest number of ICE detention centers and Border Patrol stations. And cities like Houston are top destinations for immigrants from the Northern Triangle, Mexico and Venezuela, who have been subject to Title 42 expulsions.

Under President Joe Biden, many of the people arriving recently under Title 42 with valid asylum claims were likely getting allowed into the U.S. through government exemptions.

A federal judge recently ruled that the Biden administration had until Dec. 21 to end Title 42 and restore asylum policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Why did Title 42 end?

According to his decision, Senior U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is based in Washington, D.C., found the governments suspension of asylum laws under CDC health code arbitrary and capricious. He granted the government five weeks to transition out of Title 42 and into pre-COVID-19 asylum laws.

Though the judge's ruling restores access to asylum at the border, the system still remains overwhelmed by cases which delays decisions for both valid and meritless immigration cases. Migrants will continue to face challenges even as new judges are added to backlogged immigration courts. And swiftly handled cases may not be the solution either. The new Houston-area program that fast-tracked asylum cases also led to low representation rates, negatively impacting the likelihood of winning their cases, revealing a central tension in any effort to address the deluge of asylum cases  a fast trial is often not a fair one.
Courtesy of Houston Zoo

Migratory birds are making a 17-hour nonstop flight over the Gulf of Mexico, and Houston Zoo is sharing how to help protect these winged wanderers on their journey.

May 13 is World Migratory Bird Day, in which the zoo will celebrate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kathrine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands area, where guests can engage in bird-saving activities.
The Texas Senate recently passed legislation that sparked outrage from Harris County officials and political commentators nationwide.

If signed into law, the legislation allows the secretary of state the power to order an entirely new election in any county with a population of more than 1 million if the county runs out of paper ballots at 2 percent or more of its polling sites for over an hour. The legislation is seen by some as punishment for Harris County officials for running out of ballot paper at some polling sites last year.

Here's what to know about the legislation and where it is now in the Texas legislature:

Where did the legislation come from?

The legislation was co-authored by Senators Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston; Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Charles Creighton, R-Conroe; Joan Huffman, R-Houston; and Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

The measure is a reaction to some Harris County polling locations running out of paper on Election Day in November last year. Some Republican election judges told the Chronicle that paper shortages were widespread, but an investigation found no evidence voters were systemically disenfranchised.

The election bill, along with a host of other GOP senate bills, is largely seen as specifically targeting Harris County.

Despite the lack of evidence of a widespread problem, Republican lawmakers pushed the legislation forward based on their argument that Harris County officials deliberately created ballot paper shortages so Republican candidates lost elections they otherwise would have won.

The legislation was introduced in March 2023.

What is the current status of the bill?

Senate Bill 1993 passed a vote in the Texas Senate, 19-12, and it now goes to the Texas House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats.

If it passes the House, Gov. Greg Abbott will have the option to sign it into law, veto it or allow it to become law without a signature.

The legislation would go into effect Sept. 1, 2023.

What is the response to the bill?

"Harris County" trended on Twitter in the week after the bill passed the Senate. Political commentators and elected officials took to social media to voice their concerns about the legislation.

Harris County officials also responded to the legislation. Harris County Attorney Christian Meneffee said the bill is, "targeting the largest county in the state, which is led by people of color."

County Commissioner Adrian Garcia also called the bill "election denial."

Jen Rice, Jeremy Wallace and Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.
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Houstonians should monitor the forecast in the coming days as showers and thunderstorms were expected to prompt possible flooding in several areas, meteorologists have said.

Harris County and 17 other counties in southeast Texas are under a flood watch that will continue until Wednesday evening. Follow the latest live Houston weather updates for more information.

Heavier rain still expected Tuesday

There's been a lull in rain since this afternoon, but the National Weather Service still predicts that more is coming.

Rain late tonight is forecasted to continue into Wednesday morning. Slow-moving storms could drop another 7 inches of rain on some isolated areas by the end of Wednesday.

The weather service's currant flood watch includes parts of 18 counties in Southeast Texas and the Coastal Bend.

Flood watch will continue into Wednesday night

Most of the Greater Houston area will be under a flood watch until Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service in League City.

In a 3 p.m. advisory, the weather service said excessive storm runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

A watch declared by the weather service means the potential for flooding exists.

People living in flood-prone areas should monitor forecasts and be prepared for flood warnings, which would mean flooding is imminent.

Houston ISD cancels sports, after-school activities

The Houston Independent School District at 4:38 p.m. announced that it had canceled after-school activities and sporting event due to the inclement weather.

River authority monitoring the weather

The San Jacinto River Authority, which manages Lake Conroe, said the lake is expected to receive 2 to 3 inches of rain over the next several days, according to a release from the river authority. The potential for heavy rainfall continues through the week, according to the authority.

The river authority manages the lakes storm releases any time it exceeds the normal full level from 201 feet above mean sea level.

In 2017, several residents in Montgomery and northern Harris County sued the river authority, claiming to "intentionally" flood their homes during Hurricane Harvey. A year later, officials agreed on a temporary plan to reduce flooding risks in communities between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston by strategically lowering the levels of the two reservoirs.

The plan calls for lowering Lake Conroe from its normal level, 201 feet above mean sea level, to 200 feet in April and May and to 199 feet in August and September. The seasonal lowering program was extended to run the end of 2023. The river authority said rain is expected to be moderate and that it is in communication with the National Weather Service and local offices of emergency management.

Alief ISD cancels after school activities

Alief ISD announced it would cancel all student after school activities due to the weather conditions and out of an abundance of caution. The activities included extended day-after school programs and UIL events.

Heavy rainfall expected to continue all week

After a day of heavy rainfall across some parts of the Houston region, residents can expect a brief respite this evening, but the area isnt yet out of the woods when it comes to the potential for flooding, according to officials with the National Weather Service in League City.

Heavy rainfall battered parts of the Houston region, stalling several cars along Interstate 69 near Tidwell Road, cutting power to more than 60,000 residents and filling some streets in north Harris County.

But the showers will continue to move northeast away from Houston through the evening hours, said Amaryllis Cotto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. That lull should last through the evening, but starting early Wednesday, the chance of rain will again increase.

Rainfall could resume somewhere between several hours before sunrise up through the morning commute, Cotto said. Modeling is inconsistent on what part of Houston and when might be most at risk, but rainfall rates could reach between 2 to 4 inches per hour in some isolated areas.

Residents should be alert and pay attention to the radar and weather forecast ahead of morning commutes, Cotto said.

Cars stalled near Interstate 69

Multiple cars have stalled at the intersection of Tidwell Road and Interstate 69, according to a tweet from Storm Chaser Houston.

In the video, multiple cars can be seen trying to drive through flooded areas.

A flash flood warning was extended for central Harris County by the National Weather Service till 1:45 p.m.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges everyone to monitor road conditions, be aware of street flooding and turn around, dont drown.

More than 60K power outages reported in Houston area

Roughly 30,000 power outages were reported in the Houston area Tuesday, according to the CenterPoint Energy outage tracker.

More than 18,000 outages were reported in the Spring area and another nearly 10,000 outages in the Humble-Kingwood area.

CenterPoint Energy also reported outages scattered across the Houston area, including another 2,500 outages near the Katy area.

Residents in north Houston concerned about flooding

Around 11:50 a.m., a video of flooding near a house on Mesquite Street, east of the Hardy Toll Road, was posted by Storm Chaser Houston. According to the post, some residents were concerned as more rain continued north.

Around 9:50 a.m., as showers and thunderstorms were primed to prompt potential flooding throughout the day, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez Tweeted: We pre-stage and prepare equipment to help gain access to areas that may be affected. When its time when the call comes in we will be there.

Spring ISD announces power outages across the district

Spring ISD officials reported multiple power outages across the district, but are operating on generator power.

Space City Weather upgrades storm to stage 2

Space City Weather issued a stage 2 alert Tuesday morning, which represents the presence of an elevated threat, including possible flash flooding in areas such as Sugar Land, Katy and The Woodlands. A stage 1 flood alert was issued Monday by Space City, in which Meteorologist Eric Berger forecast 3 to 6 inches of rain during the next seven days.

Around 10:50 a.m., the National Weather Service announced showers and thunderstorms were moving northeast, away from Houston.

Brian Kyle, a meteorologist for the weather service, said rainfall rates are bringing three inches of rain per hour. The storm should be moving toward Kingwood in the next couple of hours, he said.

Some flooding was seen around Interstate 45 along the feeder roads, he said.

Flight Aware reports hundreds of delays, 60 canceled flights at Houston's 2 airports

As of 11:30 a.m., Flight Aware reported more than 200 delays at both Houston airports.

The total number of delays for flights at William P. Hobby Airport was 47, according to the flight tracking website. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, 184 delays had been reported.

More than 60 canceled flights also were reported between both airports.

Keep track of the storm

As bad weather passes through Houston, the Chronicle has a number of ways to help you keep tabs on the storm in real-time.

For ongoing flood updates across the city and live weather radar, check out the Chronicle's Texas Flood Map and Tracker.

You also can see where power outages are happening in town and across the state with our Texas Power Outage Tracker.

Our latest stories will appear on our Weather landing page, as well as in this live blog and on our homepage, so be sure to check back for the latest news and analysis.

Ground stop issued at IAH

Federal officials have issued a ground stop on all flights into Bush Intercontinental Airport because of passing thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The guidance was issued at 9:34 a.m. and its duration already had been extended once Tuesday; it now is set to run through 12:15 p.m., according to an advisory on the administrations website.

As of around 9:50 a.m., more than 95 flights into or out of the airport had been delayed, along with 29 cancelations, according to the flight tracking website, FlightAware.

Flood watch issued for Houston area

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch that went into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in effect till 7 p.m. Wednesday. Possible flooding is expected in several areas in southeast Texas, including Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery counties, according to forecasters.

Thunderstorms Tuesday were already pummeling parts of Fort Bend County and elsewhere in the Houston metro area and the heavy rain the em produced was expected to continue on through Wednesday, with widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches, according to the weather service. About 5 to 7 inches of rain was possible in the hardest hit areas.

MORE ON WEATHER: Flood alert issued for Houston by Space City Weather, with 3-6 inches of rain expected this week

There remained a 70 to 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout all of Tuesday, couples with wind speeds of 5 to 10 mph and a high temperature of 80 degrees, according to the weather service. The temperature was expected to drop into the high 60s because heavy cloud cover and gray skies obscured the sun from view Tuesday morning and thunderstorms were likely to continue until approximately 7 p.m.

Showers and thunderstorms also were expected to continue throughout Wednesday, with winds as strong as 10 mph and a high temperature near 80 degrees, according to the weather service. There was a 30 percent chance rain would continue Wednesday night.

There was a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day Thursday, with skies remaining mostly cloudy at night. Slight chances of rain were expected to persist throughout the work week and into the weekend.

Be sure to plan ahead, have multiple ways to monitor the updated forecasts (in case of loss of power) and carry a raincoat and umbrella at all times.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.
WASHINGTON (AP)  An investigation into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents has intensified in recent weeks, with prosecutors summoning a broad range of witnesses before a federal grand jury and zeroing in on questions of whether the former president or others obstructed government efforts to recover the records.

It remains unclear when the investigation led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith might end or whether Trump might face charges over documents found at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate. But as probes in Washington and Atlanta proceed, Republican critics of Trump see an opportunity for intensifying legal woes to take away his frontrunner mantle in the 2024 presidential race in a way that an earlier indictment in New York failed to do.

The ongoing investigations are the ones that have the meat, said Bobbie Kilberg, a longtime Republican donor who has become a vocal Trump critic.

Its very, very serious," she said. "It ought to have a real impact on the American people. And if it doesnt, all I can do is shake my head in bewilderment.

A grand jury in the Mar-a-Lago case has heard testimony over the last few months from numerous Trump associates. Prosecutors have put before the panel a lawyer who helped respond to Justice Department demands for the classified documents last year, and have also been interested in Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage. At least one witness was asked to testify a second time, suggesting prosecutors may be looking to lock in particular testimony they view as useful, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret legal proceedings.

In a message Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Smith of harassing and threatening my people" over the documents investigation, which he called a hoax. His lawyers have similarly sought to pre-emptively attack any indictment, telling the House Intelligence Committee in a letter last month that the Justice Department should be ordered to stand down from the probe.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that the investigations are nothing more than a targeted, politically motivated witch hunt against President Trump designed to prevent him from returning to the White House.

Investigators over the last year have cast a wide net. They've interviewed witnesses about Trumps handling of classified documents as president and about the response to a May 2022 subpoena that demanded the return of classified materials in his possession, people familiar with the matter have said. They've also sought to determine whether Trump took steps to hide any records taken to Mar-a-Lago or showed them to anyone, as part of a continued focus on possible obstruction.

Among the witnesses who recently testified was Matthew Calamari Jr., the director of security at Trump Organization, Trumps company, according to one of the people.

His testimony could be relevant because of prosecutors' subpoena to the Trump Organization last year for surveillance footage from the Palm Beach property. Video reviewed by prosecutors showed a Trump associate moving boxes of documents out of a Mar-a-Lago storage room, prosecutors have said. Other media organizations reported that Calamaris father, also named Matthew Calamari, a Trump organization executive vice president, testified last week too.

A moment that underscored the gravity of the case came in March when Smith's team secured the testimony of Trump lawyer M. Evan Corcoran after convincing a judge in sealed proceedings that Corcoran's legal services had been used in furtherance of a crime.

Corcoran helped draft a letter last June to the Justice Department attesting that Trump's team had conducted a diligent search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in response to the government's subpoena. At that time, the Trump team produced roughly three dozen classified documents, on top of 15 boxes of records returned in January 2022 to the National Archives and Records Administration.

But prosecutors suspected even more classified records remained. They obtained a search warrant last August and seized more than 100 additional documents.

In their letter, Trump's lawyers said that Corcoran expected investigators to return to Mar-a-Lago to go through any boxes of documents that remained, and that he and Trump understood this to be the beginning, not the end, of working cooperatively. Though the letter was addressed to lawmakers, it presumably includes arguments the lawyers would make to try to head off any potential indictment.

Prosecutors on Smith's team have simultaneously pressed forward with a separate probe into efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, winning court orders to question key advisers and aides before the grand jury. Among the witnesses to appear was former Vice President Mike Pence, who two weeks ago spent hours inside the Washington courthouse.

In Georgia, prosecutors in Fulton County are investigating whether Trump or anyone else committed crimes in trying to undo his narrow loss in that state to Democrat Joe Biden.

The investigations are in addition to the March indictment from the Manhattan district attorney arising from hush-money payments during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Though a blow legally, the indictment seemed a boon for Trump in the Republican Party's evolving presidential primary contest ahead of the 2024 election. Trump's standing in the GOP had been slipping until he was charged, when suddenly, Republicans across the political spectrum rushed to defend him against what they framed as a questionable, politically motivated prosecution.

Today, polling suggests that Trump is the dominant frontrunner in the GOPs growing 2024 field.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trumps chief primary rival, has struggled to maintain the same level of strength he wielded prior to Trumps indictment. But as the governor prepares to launch his campaign officially, his allies are quietly confident that Trumps baggage will eventually catch up to him.

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a frequent Trump critic, described the New York indictment as somewhat of a swing and a miss.

But any further indictments prosecutors might bring, Duncan said, are going to be a whole different amplitude that hes gonna have to deal with.

___

Peoples reported from New York.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Democrats who reclaimed the Pennsylvania House majority in November and clung to a one-seat margin by sweeping three special elections earlier this year face yet another contest for control of the chamber next week, when voters will fill a vacancy in the Philadelphia suburbs.

At stake in the Delaware County special election is whether freshman Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro will have at least one chamber to aid his agenda going into the final month of budget negotiations. The result could also affect a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights that legislative Republicans are one House vote away from putting before voters as a referendum.

The seat became open when Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel resigned in March, a week after a lobbyist accused him by name of sexual harassment.

A win by Republican candidate Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, would likely give the House GOP a 102-101 majority and the power to reclaim control of the legislative agenda and the chamber's voting calendar. Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat, has presided over the House since February.

But the Democrat in the race, Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, is running in a district that has given solid margins to Democratic candidates in recent elections. Libertarian Alfe Goodwin, whose campaign focuses on criminal justice reform and fighting homelessness, is also on the ballot.

During a debate between Ford and Boyd that was hosted by WHTM-TV in Harrisburg last week, Ford said she is against having Pennsylvania voters decide the abortion amendment, a Republican-crafted proposal which states that the Pennsylvania Constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions. Ford said she is personally opposed to abortion but would not seek to change existing state law.

Boyd's effort to tie Ford to the longstanding Republican effort to ban or further restrict abortion access in Pennsylvania includes an ad in which Shapiro warns that a Republican House majority will move to strip him of veto power over anti-abortion legislation.

Ford has focused her own campaign messaging on the Zabel scandal. She argues that Boyd did not respond sufficiently when she learned of Service Employees International Union lobbyist Andi Perez's account, that Zabel caressed her leg while they discussed legislation outside the Capitol in 2018 and did not stop when she moved away from him.

Zabel told The Associated Press, when he resigned in March, that he had planned to defend himself through the House Ethics Committee but ultimately decided he did not want to continue putting his loved ones through a public ordeal.

Common sense says that if someone comes to you and says that they're being sexually harassed, you do something about it, Ford said during the debate. You don't just let it go. Boyd responded that she did not endorse or support Zabel after hearing Perezs account, and while active in the county Democratic Party hierarchy she tried to find someone to run against Zabel but was not successful.

Perez last month endorsed Boyd, saying the candidate had for years respected her request to keep her account regarding Zabel private.

Republicans entered the 2022 election with a 113-90 advantage in the state House, but Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats, barely enough to claim majority status and elect McClinton as speaker.

If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat in the Sunbury area as widely expected, the chamber will return to GOP control. The House Republican floor leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, was speaker last year but said he no longer wants the job, raising the prospect of a GOP leadership fight while lawmakers work to pass a budget before the state's next fiscal year begins in July.

Even if McClinton retains the speakership after next week's special election, another potential fight for House majority control looms. At least four incumbent Democrats are on the ballot for local positions this year. Rep. John Galloway of Bucks is running for district judge, Rep. Amen Brown for Philadelphia mayor, Rep. Kristine Howard of Chester for common pleas judge and Rep. Sara Innamorato to be Allegheny's next county executive.

If any or all of them win in November, that will create new Democratic vacancies in the House, at least until additional special elections can be scheduled in early 2024.

___

This story has been updated to correct that McClinton has presided over the House since February.
Steven Spainhouer rushed to the Allen Premium Outlets and arrived before most ambulances. His son had called him Saturday afternoon from the H&M store where he worked, and told him he was barricaded inside after hearing gunshots.

Once on scene, the father counted the bodies sprawled on the concrete. He performed CPR on three people and lost all of them, he told NBC and CBS. When he turned over one woman, a child emerged from under her body.

I asked him if he was OK and he said, 'My mom is hurt, my mom is hurt,' Spainhouer said. So rather than traumatize him, I pulled him around the corner, sat him down and he was covered from head to toe...like somebody poured blood on him."

The former army and police officer said the carnage was unfathomable. At least eight people died, including three children. Yet, it was only a week earlier that two women were shot in the head execution-style while they shielded several children during a mass shooting outside Cleveland, Texas. And it was not even a year ago that two Uvalde teachers died trying to protect their students.

The bodies of these women are the only protection the children had. Even when a police officer happens to be nearby and rushes towards the shooter as was the case in Allen, during the crucial first minutes, these womens bodies are ballistic shields.

Monday morning at the Capitol in Austin, another mother, Kimberly Mata-Rubio, was putting her body between prayer and fate. She shook with anticipation in the House gallery, thinking about her daughter, Lexi, 10, a fourth grader who was killed during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde last year. Every week since the session began, Mata-Rubio has made the three-hour drive from Uvalde to Austin, pleading with any lawmaker who will listen to pass one modest reform that could have saved the life of her daughter: House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age for buying semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

It was the final day for bills to get voted out of committees and have any chance at passage during this session. Before taking her seat in the gallery, Mata-Rubio found out that chair of the House Select Committee on Community Safety, state Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande City, told a reporter that the bill did not have the necessary support. Still, an announcement from the House floor that the committee would meet one more time to take a vote on several bills, including HB 2744, kept hope alive.

The families packed the committee hearing room, waiting for the bill to be announced. Mata-Rubio thought back to the conversations she had with one particular member of the committee, Rep. Justin Holland, a Republican from Rockwall. She told the editorial board that Holland was visibly moved during their meeting, tearing up and listening intently as she and other Uvalde families told their stories. Before the meeting ended, he asked if he could pray with them.

She said yes but she knew that prayers can be disingenuous, attempts to deflect or distract from calls for reform, unless they're accompanied by real action. Mata-Rubio did not count on the lawmaker's support.

By the time HB 2744 was brought up for a vote in committee, though, Holland and Rep. Sam Harless, a Republican from Houston, cast the deciding votes along with six Democrats to move the bill one step closer to a full House vote.

Mata-Rubio burst into tears and the Uvalde families exchanged hugs. They know the bill still faces long odds to pass, and its unclear if the bill will clear its next hurdle, to be voted out of the Calendars Committee by Thursday. But if the goal was to begin changing minds, to budge the inertia that defeats seemingly every common sense gun reform proposal that gets drafted in the Legislature, Mata-Rubio and her community pulled off a major victory.

I know Texas politics, I was very aware of what we were up against, she told the board. But I just honestly, I learned from my heart. I let Lexi lead. I share her story. It's my greatest responsibility. And that's what keeps me going. Its on my shoulders.

The burden should not fall on these mothers  and fathers'  shoulders alone. Mata-Rubio and her fellow activists have moved mountains just to get this small, but meaningful, piece of legislation towards the House floor for a vote. It will take persistent lobbying to go even farther and ensure that critical solutions such as universal background checks and red flag laws are enshrined here in Texas.

Yet, U.S. Rep. Keith Self, the first-term Republican from McKinney who represents Allen, told CNN that proposals to restrict gun rights, such as raising the age people can buy AR-15 style rifles, are a knee-jerk reaction that does not stop criminals. He added, Today we should be focused on the families. Prayers are important. Prayer is powerful in the lives of those people who are devastated right now.

Perhaps Self has a point. There are Texans praying, or at least wishing from their deepest reaches, the next shooting won't be in their community, at an elementary school, church, Walmart or nearby mall.

Yet for those inclined to pray, let it be a prayer that leads to action. Pray and then call your elected representatives. Pray and demand HB 2744 be scheduled for a vote. Pray loud enough that it reaches the Capitol itself and moves lawmakers to action.

As the African proverb often quoted by the late Congressman John Lewis reminds us, When you pray, move your feet.
As Texas religious leaders, it is deeply concerning to us that Speaker of the House Dade Phelan has prioritized House Bill 20, which is up for a first crucial floor vote this week.

People of faith have long advocated for compassion toward immigrants. From individual acts of charity to global humanitarian ministries, believers of all faiths affirm the call to welcome the sojourner.

Chronicles 16:19-22 reminds us, When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.

Yet today in Texas, legislators  many of them ardent believers  have forgotten the call of Scripture to welcome strangers, not repel and resist them. They have bought into a narrative driven by fear and hatred of the unknown, which subjects immigrants, asylum seekers and U.S. citizens alike to harassment and scapegoating for problems they did not cause.

House Bill 20 by Rep. Matt Schafer of Tyler would create a new border protection unit, staffed by an unregulated militia of commissioned and noncommissioned volunteers subject only to the authority of the governor and his appointees. An untrained and marginally managed militia force endangers lives.

The members of this militia would target and expel immigrants. The bill would give them a wide range of authorities, including the authority to deter persons attempting to cross the border unlawfully, including with the use of non-deadly crowd control measures.

Translated, this means Texas volunteers could be deployed to prevent asylum-seekers from setting foot on U.S. soil, where according to international law they have the right to claim refuge from persecution in their home countries.

Backers argue HB 20 would protect Texans from legitimate threats. The bill makes extensive reference to fentanyl, human trafficking and transnational cartels. The bills findings argue that Texas is "in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay" and declares authority under Section 10, Article 1 of the United States Constitution.

But the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute urges lawmakers to consider the facts: Fentanyl is smuggled for U.S. citizens by U.S. citizens, not asylum seekers. Over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints; and just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever.

The Cato Institute argues that reducing deaths requires figuring out the cause, not jumping to blame a group that is not responsible.

HB 20 is also unlikely to help with human trafficking. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, of the 1,169 defendants charged in U.S. district court with human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2020, 95 percent were U.S. citizens.

Instead of solving actual problems confronting Texas families and communities, HB 20 would harm our already-suffering siblings, including children crossing the border alone. By establishing unregulated militias with police powers, and selectively designating migrants as trespassers and terrorists, HB 20 would destroy trust in our communities and threaten our congregations and ministries that aid those in need.

By leaving border enforcement in the hands of unregulated militias, lawmakers would make faith communities vulnerable to intimidation and coercion, violating the constitutionally promised religious protections that allow us to practice our faiths.

We urge our representatives and senators to lead and legislate with love for all whose feet find U.S. soil. We urge them to protect and serve the people of our state without causing harm to others. We urge them to show compassion towards those who must leave the land of their birth out of desperation for their survival.
Title 42, the pandemic-era federal border policy that gave officials the power to forego the asylum process and immediately expel migrants at the southern border, is set to expire Thursday.

During the pandemic, one of the measures the federal government activated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was allowing officials to immediately expel migrants crossing the southern border  and the use of that provision, called Title 42, is expiring on Thursday.

Ahead of the expiration date, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began a "targeted enforcement operation" Tuesday in El Paso to process individuals for Title 42 expulsion, El Paso Matters reported.

With the end of Title 42, any resulting increase in the number of migrant crossings likely will impact Houston more than many other U.S. cities.

Roughly 42,000 people who crossed the border in fiscal year 2022 were headed to the Houston area, according to an analysis of Houston-area court filings.

MORE ON BORDER CROSSINGS: A look at which migrants headed to Houston during record border crossings in 2022

What is Title 42?

Title 42, enacted in 2020 under the Trump administration, used the federal health code to bypass the legal asylum process, allowing the government to rapidly expel migrants under the claim that it would help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While many other pandemic measures have been rescinded, Title 42 has remained in place.

Human rights advocates, migrants and immigration attorneys have criticized Title 42 as inhumane and overreaching, saying it served as a convenient tool for both the Trump and Biden administrations to swiftly control the historic number of border crossings.

Since March 2020, over 2 million migrant encounters were subject to Title 42 expulsions, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Around half of those took place in Texas, including when the government flew thousands of Haitians camped out in Del Rio back to Haiti.

In 2022, 1.4 million migrants were removed or expelled, which is more than any previous year, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Of the 207,416 border encounters in June 2022, roughly half ended in a Title 42 expulsion  meaning the U.S. denied the migrant entry into the country without access to the asylum system and either returned the person to their home country or Mexico.

HAITIAN ODYSSEY: Inside Haitians journey across the Americas

Will more migrants cross the border now?

Some experts say it's likely the policy change will be perceived as an invitation to people fleeing difficult circumstances, though the border remains closed to people without valid asylum claims.

"Make no mistake, reopening ports of entry and reverting to normal processing of border crossers under immigration law will cause initial capacity constraints," Laura Collins, director of the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, said in an opinion piece in the El Paso Times. "Pent-up demand for asylum may temporarily increase the numbers of migrants. But the U.S. government has effective tools to manage this, such as alternatives to detention for migrants who arent a public safety concern."

The Department of Homeland Security is expecting to see that initial increase in migrant crossings once the policy expires.

"We expect the days following the end of Title 42 public health order will be challenging and that encounters will increase for a time, as smugglers will seek to spread disinformation to capitalize on this change," the agency said in guidance issued last month.

DHS announced last week that 1,500 additional troops will join 2,500 already stationed there for 90 days as officials anticipate an increase in border crossings following the end of Title 42.

After Title 42 expires, migrants who try to bypass the asylum process and re-enter without legal permission will be subject to a five-year ban on admission and potential criminal prosecution, according to DHS.

Texas likely will be the state most impacted by Title 42 expiring  it is home to the largest share of the southwest border with Mexico, and has the largest number of ICE detention centers and Border Patrol stations.

Cities like Houston are top destinations for immigrants from the Northern Triangle, Mexico and Venezuela, who have been subject to Title 42 expulsions.

MORE ON HOUSTON IMMIGRATION: Immigrants are filling the trucking labor gap in Houston as foreign-born drivers triple in numbers

Why is Title 42 ending?

A federal judge ruled the Biden administration had until Dec. 21 to end Title 42 and restore asylum policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to his decision, Senior U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is based in Washington, D.C., found the governments suspension of asylum laws under CDC health code "arbitrary and capricious."

jen.rice@houstonchronicle.com
The Texas House voted unanimously Tuesday to expel state Rep. Bryan Slaton after an internal investigation found the North Texas Republican had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old legislative aide.

Slaton had already resigned Monday, but the members said the Tuesday vote was legally necessary to prevent him from retaining any power in the interim before his successor is elected. The governor has not yet called a special election.

"Rep. Slaton has engaged in conduct unbecoming of a member, said Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, who chairs the investigating committee. No one in this chamber disagrees that his conduct was wrong. We all agree that it cannot and will not be tolerated."

Slaton, 45, was not on the floor Tuesday. Immediately after the vote, Capitol staffers scaled ladders to remove Slatons name from the two voting boards that line the chambers front walls.

The last time a state representative was expelled from the body was in 1927.

BACKGROUND: House panel calls for expulsion of Texas Rep. Bryan Slaton, accused of inappropriate sexual conduct

The investigative report detailed how Slaton, who is married, had grown close to the aide and invited her to his condo one night, offering her and other Capitol staffers alcohol. Whistleblowers who were interviewed said he had sex with her that night, then later pressured her and other staffers to stay quiet about the incident.

The aide said she was drunk enough to have split vision and feel dizzy, and a friend said the aide later told her she went to get Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, the next morning.

Slaton is a conservative firebrand and former youth minister from North Texas is known for pushing attention-grabbing bills, like one calling for Texas to secede, or another providing tax cuts for straight couples with children, as long as neither spouse had been previously divorced. He has often locked horns with more moderate members of his party.

After the vote, Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan said he supported the decision, adding that it sends a message that sexual harassment and inappropriate activities in the workplace will not be condoned, and they are unacceptable.

Pressure had been building for Slaton to step down in the days after the House General Investigating Committee on Saturday recommended he be expelled. Several GOP groups had called for him to step down, including the majority of the State Republican Executive Committee and anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life.

The Texas GOP did not comment on the report until Slaton issued his resignation.

In his resignation letter Monday, Slaton did not address the alleged inappropriate relationship. He said he looked forward to spending more time with his family and finding other ways to serve his community and the state.

Murr, a former county attorney and judge, told members Tuesday that hes always taken the view that leniency can be exercised when a person shows remorse for their actions; however, he said, that is not the case here.

"Most disappointingly, the letter of resignation from yesterday shows no remorse, Murr said. It contains no apology to those involved or to any of you."

PAST COVERAGE: State Rep. Bryan Slaton steps down after House report finds he had sex with aide

Investigators said they did not have sufficient evidence to determine whether Slaton committed sexual assault under the states penal code. Murr did not respond to requests for comment on whether the panel forwarded the matter to law enforcement authorities.

Prior to the vote, state Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, a member of the House investigating committee and a former prosecutor, said her parents met in that very chamber in the 1960s and were later married.

"We are not here because two consenting adults met and fell in love in the Texas House, Johnson said. We are here because a 45-year-old member took advantage of and abused his power over his subordinate teenage staffer."

She added that the report made her sad because it showed the aide and other staffers involved had an experience that was the polar opposite of her own as a young staffer.

Rather than what our offices can do to show our support for all Texans, these staffers have learned how offices can be manipulated to benefit a few, Johnson said.

Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Shreveport LA

312 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SMITH COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of

the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT

FOR WEST CENTRAL MARION...NORTHWESTERN HARRISON...SOUTHEASTERN UPSHUR

AND CENTRAL GREGG COUNTIES...

At 311 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over West Mountain,

or near Gladewater, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Longview, White Oak, Gladewater, Gilmer, Clarksville City, East

Mountain, Diana, West Mountain, Union Grove, Warren City, Pritchett

and Judson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR

SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTY...

At 312 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado

was located near Bevil Oaks, or 7 miles west of Lumberton, moving

east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage

to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is

likely.

Lumberton.

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile

home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and

protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the

tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

FOR EASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...

At 313 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fayetteville,

or near La Grange, moving north at 20 mph.

La Grange, Fayetteville, Round Top, Carmine, Rutersville, Warrenton,

Ledbetter, Waldeck, Ellinger, Walhalla, Willow Springs, Ammannsville,

Winedale, Rek Hill, Mullins Prairie, Nechanitz and Holman.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.

They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in

Austin San Antonio.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern

Burleson, southern Grimes, southeastern Brazos, northeastern

Washington and northwestern Waller Counties through 400 PM CDT...

At 316 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7

miles southwest of Washington, or 11 miles northeast of Brenham,

moving northeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Southeastern College Station, Navasota, Washington, Millican,

Anderson and Independence.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to

localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded

roadways.

LAT...LON 3013 9613 3019 9634 3024 9642 3059 9624

3043 9587

TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 209DEG 6KT 3026 9624

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN GRIMES...

SOUTHEASTERN BRAZOS...NORTHEASTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHWESTERN WALLER

COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.

Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. However small hail and

heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
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Dalton Fire District's $3M Goes to Voters on Tuesday

DALTON, Mass.  The Fire District voters will be asked to approve nearly $3 million in spending articles at Tuesday's annual meeting.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m.at the Stationery Factory.

The 22 articles on the warrant amount to $2,950,182, a $253,728 increase from the previous year.

The funds raised by taxation would amount to $1,063,582. The remaining costs would be covered by transfers from other accounts like the overlay and free cash and revenues raised by the department including fees and ambulance.

The commissioner and treasurer are requesting that voters approve various money items, Articles 2 through 7, amounting to $221,513, a 4 percent, or $7,557, increase from FY23.

Contributing to this increase is Article 4, which proposes district voters approve an increase of 300 percent for administration contingency bringing the budget from $5,000 to $20,000.

Article 2 proposes that the budget item for commissioners' compensation to remain level funded at $5,948 and Article 3 is proposing a $19,807, or 18 percent increase, to cover administration bringing the budget item from $112,508 to $132,315.

Article 5 asks voters to authorize a $1,500, or 14 percent, increase for accounting consulting fees, which would bring the budget item from $10,500 to $12,000.

Article 7 creates a budget in the amount of $1,250 for a Governmental Accounting Standards Board 45 budget. The Other Post Employment Benefits budget, Article 6, is proposed to remain at $50,000.

The Water Department is requesting that voters approve various money items amounting to $1,215,466, a 6 percent or $64,763 increase from FY23.

Articles 12 and 13 are the major drivers to the budget increase. Article 12 asks for authorization to appropriate $30,000 to cover the cost of meter calibrations. This was not in the FY23 budget.

Article 13 is requesting that the district approve a timber maintenance budget increase to $37,000, an 85 percent or $17,000 increase from FY23.

A yes vote on Article 9 would decrease the Water Department principal and interest line item by $7,065 bringing its total to $377,625.

Article 8 is requesting voters approve a 4 percent increase for the Water Department's operating budget bringing its total to $704,841 from $681,013.

The department's contingencies budget, Article 10, and bills budget, Article 11, remain level funded.

The Fire Department is requesting that voters approve various money items amounting to $1,513,203, a 12 percent or $161,271 increase from FY23.

Contributing to this increase is Article 18, which is requesting that voters approve a 400 percent or $40,000 increase in the department's contingency budget.

Also influencing this increase is Article 20, which is requesting the town appropriate $10,800 to cover the cost of an AED, or automated external defibrillator upgrades.

The department is also requesting that the town appropriate $10,700 for Article 21, which would cover the cost of a Megacode Kelly Electronic Manikin, a human-size device used for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

Article 22 is requesting that the district appropriate $2,5000 to cover the cost of 50 percent of a state Department of Conservation and Recreation matching grant for forest fire fighting equipment.

Article 23 would appropriate $10,000 to cover the cost of 5 percent federal Assistance to Firefighters grant. Both Articles 22 and 23 are level funded from last year.

The department's ambulance budget, Article 14, is requesting a 19 percent, or $122,293 increase, which would bring the budget to $703,506.

Article 15 is an appropriation of $597,837 for the department's operating budget. This would be a 9 percent increase from FY23.

The dispatch support fee and dispatch fee to the town, Articles 16 and 17, are projected to remain level funded.
North Adams Garage Owner Gets Permit Reprieve

The amended plan submitted by Sparkboro Wellness for a cannabis dispensary has slight modifications from two years ago.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Nite Owl automotive repair was found to be in compliance with its permit.

"I would say that he is compliant at this time," said Building Inspector William Meranti at Monday's Planning Board meeting. "My check has been with the limit set for up to 12 [vehicles] allowed on the lot.

"The front of the building has been cleaned up, the work around the window has been finished. Pleased to say that I would call it compliance."

Owner William Gardner had been put on notice last month that his special permit would be revoked if he couldn't keep the number of motor vehicles on his property under control. He's been fined and cited in the past.

"One thing that I found that is extremely important is cars cannot be on that sidewalk, not ever be on that sidewalk," said Chair Brian Miksic. "And that's happened many, many many times."

Gardner had acknowledged that the number of cars on the lot had gotten excessive. Numerous people on Facebook had written about his willingness to allow his customers to take time paying their bills. Gardner also said it was sometimes difficult to get parts in a timely manner.

The owner did not speak at this meeting, nor did several people who appeared to have attended to support him. Councilor Marie T. Harpin, Jennifer Barbeau and Wayne Wilkinson were also in attendance.

Planner Lisa Blackmer, also a city councilor, said this issue had been one of the biggest responses she'd seen as to people coming up to talk to her about it.

"I'm very supportive of the business so I just kind of want to put that out there and as far as being on the Planning Board, I think the only thing that comes anywhere near close is the glamping," she said, in terms of public response.

Miksic wondered about postponing the decision for another month to ensure compliance; Blackmer suggested a 90-day review.

Planner Kyle Hanlon initially motioned to vote down the revocation and then amended to add a 90-day compliance check that passed unanimously.

In other business:

 The board approved the application of The board approved the application of Creative Soul LLC of Adams to operate a school for dance and wellness at 37 Main St. in the Berkshire Plaza.

The dance studio will take over 3,200 square feet on the second floor and hold classes Monday through Saturday.

"We offer a variety of dance disciplines  ballet, modern jazz, tap and hip hop. Our students start as young as 3 years of age," said owner and instructor Ashley Oladehin. "We also offer adult dance and fitness classes so like zumba, barre, Pilates, yoga, salsa and contemporary. ...

"We're just really excited to bring this business to downtown North Adams."

 The board approved The board approved an amended plan by Porches inn to shift its 11-room addition 12 feet farther north on Veazie Street. Berkshire Hills Development Co. purchased the adjacent property at 38 Veazie for $400,000 on March 3. Attorney Jeffrey Grandchamp said no other changes will be made and that the single-family house at 38 Veazie will not be part of the hotel as it is in an R5 zone.

 The board approved a resubmitted plan by Sparkboro Wellness NAMA Corp. for property at 1268 Curran Highway to build and operate a marijuana retail dispensary in an I-1 zone. The plans approved in 2021 had run out in January. The new application includes modification of the driveway farther to the south at the recommendation of the state Department of Transportation.

The house on the site has been demolished and construction is expected to be completed by year's end with an opening in February.

In response to questions about traffic control, attorney Philip Silverman said he did not think there would be the same crowd issues seen a couple years ago when dispensaries first opened, but that the owners were agreeable to having a police detail for the initial opening days. He said they would consult with the police chief.

He also said new owners with experience in the cannabis industry will be taking over the company from Shake and Bake Holdings LLC.

 The board welcomed new member Dean Bullett, a former airport commissioner who was appointed to the seat left vacant Lynette Ritland Bond.




iciHaiti - Taiwan : Towards cooperation between Cap-Haitien and Kaohsiung





Monday, May 8, 2023, Roudy Stanley Penn, Haiti's Ambassador to Taiwan, discussed bilateral exchanges in the fields of education, health and smart agriculture with Chen Chi-mai, the Mayor of Kaohsiung.



Penn hailed Kaohsiung's innovation under Chen's administration and said the city's transformation into a smart city and adoption of digital technology were key factors in its rapid development. He said that in addition to exchanges at the national level, now is the time for cooperation between cities.



The Ambassador said that Haiti's second largest city, Cap-Haitien, shares historical and urban characteristics with Kaohsiung and is interested in exchanging ideas and exploring more cooperation opportunities.



Chen said Kaohsiung is the Taiwanese city that most closely resembles Cap-Haitien in terms of climate and geography. He highlighted Kaohsiung's use of smart agriculture to improve production management efficiency and said the city's development experience could provide appropriate solutions for Cap-Haitien.



IH/ iciHaiti






















iciHaiti - Tourism : Haiti participated in FITCuba 2023





Last week (May 1st to 5, 2023) was held the 41st edition of the International Tourism Fair in Cuba (FITCuba 2023). For this event, the tourism ministers of the Group of 77 + China met in Havana, the Cuban capital. The event, held at the Palace of Conventions, is another sign of Cuba's desire to promote cooperation in the main negotiating bloc of the multilateral mechanism and to place education, culture for sustainable development, science, technology and innovation.



FITCuba was dedicated to the interrelation between culture, heritage and tourism.



A Haitian delegation actively participated in the challenges of tourism in the world after the pandemic and its impact on the development of communities. Luz Kurta Cassandra Francois, the Minister of Tourism, who represented Haiti at the meeting, spoke about the challenges of a tourist revival with positive impacts on the economy.



During a bilateral meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Juan Carlos Garcia Granda, Minister Francois demonstrated a link between Haiti and Cuba with a view to multi-destination in the region. This connectivity will see in particular the tourist pole of the North. Provisions for the relaxation of visas for tourist stays have also been considered.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Lionel Richie divided audience opinions after his performance at the Coronation Concert on Sunday evening (7 May).

The pop and soul icon was one of the headliners at the event, honouring the official accession to the throne of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Richie, 73, took to the stage with two of his most famous songs: Easy Like Sunday Morning and All Night Long.

Supported by a full orchestra, Richie sang to the crowd of 20,000 people ahead of his fellow American Idol judge, Katy Perry, who appeared as headliner minutes later.

Those who watched the concert from afar did not hesitate to share their opinions on Richies performance. While plenty of people were excited for the Dancing on the Ceiling star to bring his classic hits to the proceedings, some viewers opined that his voice sounded different to their expectations.

Is someone disguised as Lionel Richie because that is not his voice! Sounds completely different, one fan tweeted.

Elsewhere, another person wrote: Where is the real Lionel Richies voice?? Sounds like hes been possessed by Elton John.

Whose voice is that coming out of Lionel Richie because it cant be his own wondered another.

Lionel Richie (Getty Images)

Yet the sound of Richies voice at the concert wasnt noticeably different to others, many of whom were charmed by his renditions.

He smashed it! Im so proud that Lionel and Katy are representing the US, wrote an American viewer on social media.

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I have seen Lionel Richie in concert twice, and he is such a great showman, one viewer recalled, adding: He has a wonderful way of connecting with his audience.

In 2020, Richie spoke out on how a mystery throat illness in the Nineties meant that he had to undergo four surgeries.

You dont want anybody fooling around down there. This is your identity, he told People of his nervousness surrounding the procedures, adding, I never really thought that it would end.

Elsewhere at the Coronation Concert, Prince George and Princess Charlotte were entertained by Miss Piggy and Kermit, while Katy Perrys outfit choice sparked comparisons with a particular piece of confectionery.

You can read The Independents review here.
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Snoop Dogg has expressed his intense dissatisfaction with the streaming model for artists in a viral video.

The rapper and music mogul recently took part in a panel discussion at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California.

As part of the talk, Snoop  real name Calvin Broadus  went off on a tangent about how disappointing the financial returns of the streaming era have been for music artists.

I dont understand how the f*** you get paid off that s***, he said to the amusement of the audience.

Could somebody explain to me how you could get a billion streams and not get a million dollars? That s*** dont make sense to me.

The Death Row Records owner then turned his speech to the audience, asking whether those in charge of streaming services were present to hear his message.

"I dont know who the f*** is running the streaming industry if you in here or not? But you need to give us some information on how the f*** to track this money down, because one plus one aint adding up to two.

Snoop went on to note that when he first released music in the 1990s, artists would get a specific percentage of the sales of CDs and vinyls, but argued that the same transparency doesnt exist with streaming numbers.

Much of the same sentiment has been expressed by Hollywood writers, who are currently on strike until a satisfactory pay deal is struck with streaming bosses.

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Snoop Dogg (Getty Images)

Linking musicians and writers struggles, Snoop continued: How many streams, how much money do I get? We need to find a way to figure that out, the same way that the writers who are striking because of streaming  they can't get paid.

At the time of writing, a video tweet with Snoops speech has been viewed on Twitter more than 143,000 times. Many fans have shared their appreciation for the artist speaking out on the topic on behalf of artists old and new.

Snoop is a real one for this! wrote one commenter, while another added: People discount Snoop, but he is a savvy, savvy man who cuts right to the heart of it. He even brought receipts and math.

Writer Joel Morris tweeted: Snoop here reiterating the big point. If you explain your artistic career to a stranger, or a relative at a wedding, they all expect that you would benefit hugely from a big hit. But creators don't. And that's not a sustainable industry. That's theft of others' property.

Earlier this year, the Drop it Like its Hot star thrilled fans across the UK when he integrated his Just Eat jingle into his live arena shows, celebrating his decades in the music industry.
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The Weeknd is done being The Weeknd.

Abel Tesfaye has performed under the monicker since 2009, winning four Grammy Awards and selling over 75 million records along the way.

In a new interview with W Magazine, the artist revealed his plans to ditch the alter-ego after one last hurrah.

Its getting to a place and a time where Im getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter, he said.

Ill still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. Im definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn.

He continued: The album Im working on now is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd. This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, Ive said everything I can say.

Tesfaye appeared in the interview alongside his co-star Lily-Rose Depp in Sam Levinsons forthcoming HBO drama, The Idol.

The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp in The Idol (HBO)

Film and TV is a new creative muscle for me, Tesfaye told W. I dont release my music until I think it is great. Why would this be any different?

The series has already stoked controversy after a Rolling Stone investigation suggested that the series had gone disgustingly off the rails, citing a number of troubling claims about proposed storylines.

At the time, Tesfaye brushed off the report in a tweet mocking the publication.

In a statement sent to The Independent, HBO wrote: The creators and producers of The Idol have been working hard to create one of HBOs most exciting and provocative original programs. The initial approach on the show and production of the early episodes, unfortunately, did not meet HBO standards so we chose to make a change.

Director Amy Seimetz departed the project in April 2022 and was replaced by Levinson after several of the episodes had already been shot.

HBOs statement continued: Throughout the process, the creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew. We look forward to sharing The Idol with audiences soon.

The Idol premieres on HBO and Max on 4 June at 9pm in the US and is expected on Sky and NOW in the UK in the same month.
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On Tuesday (9 May), a Los Angeles judge denied Tory Lanezs motion for a new trial after the rapper was found guilty of shooting Megan in the foot after a 2020 party in the Hollywood Hills.

Yesterday, the Toronto artist  real name Daystar Peterson  begged Judge David Herriford not to ruin [his] life by denying the motion, adding: I could be your son, your brother.

Peterson was originally scheduled to be sentenced on 28 February, however, it was pushed back so that his attorneys could file for a new trial.

In the end, the jury believed the prosecutions case beyond a reasonable doubt, Herriford said Tuesday, per legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff.

Petersons lawyers then filed a radical motion to disqualify Judge Herriford from the case, telling him they didnt think he could issue his ruling until the motion was resolved. Herriford disagreed.

Peterson faces more than 20 years in prison after a Los Angeles jury convicted him of assault and weapons charges in December 2022.

A sentencing date has not yet been given, however, Herriford reportedly indicated that it could happen within 30 days of his ruling.

Tory Lanez (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Megan  real name Megan Pete  told the Los Angeles court that Peterson had shot a handgun towards the back of her feet and told her to dance b**** after she got out of his SUV and walked away from it. The pair had allegedly been arguing about their music careers.

She required surgery to remove bullet fragments from her feet and said that Peterson offered her $1m (830,000) to stay quiet about the incident as he was on probation.

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Petersons lawyer claimed that the shots had actually been fired by Petes former best friend Kelsey Harris and claimed he had tried to stop the shooting.

Harris said that she did not fire the gun and that Peterson was the shooter.

In a statement released after the verdict, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon praised the female rappers bravery, and said that she showed incredible courage and vulnerability despite repeated and grotesque attacks.

Women, especially Black women, are afraid to report crimes like assault and sexual violence because they are too often not believed, Gascon said.
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China on Tuesday expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move hours after one of its officials in Toronto was expelled by the Justin Trudeau government for allegedly being involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Chinas foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that in response to Canadas unreasonable actions, Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Canadian consulate in Shanghai, has been asked to leave the country by 13 May.

The statement added that China reserves the right to respond further.

The foreign ministry said that the expulsion was "just and necessary," reported Reuters.

The action comes hours after Canadas foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly said in a statement on Monday that Ottawa had declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei persona non grata.

We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, she said.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.

This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play, she added.

The decision comes after Ms Joly said last week that her department is summoning the Chinese ambassador to a meeting after an intelligence agency report indicated that opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after the politician criticised Beijings human rights record.

Mr Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Chinas Xinjiang province where the minority group faces human rights abuses according to rights groups.

On 1 May details of a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) 2021 report came to light when Canadas Globe and Mail newspaper reported that Beiing sought information about Mr Chong and his family in China in a likely effort to make an example of him and deter others from taking positions against the Chinese government.

The CSIS report had highlighted Chinese influence in Canada that included information about potential threats to Conservative MP Mr Chong and his family.

On Wednesday, Mr Trudeau said he found out about the report from the newspaper, and blamed the spy agency for not passing it on to him at the time.

Mr Chong had also said that he was profoundly disappointed to find out about the potential threat to his family from a newspaper.

He criticised the Trudeau government for inaction and called for Mr Zhaos expulsion.

On Thursday China's foreign ministry denied Canada's allegations.

China is opposed to any interference in a countrys internal affairs. We never interfere in Canadas internal affairs and have no interest whatsoever in doing so, spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters.

Tensions between Canada and China have been running high in recent years especially since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018.

China subsequently arrested two Canadians on spying charges.

All three were freed in 2021.

The spy agency report on Mr Chong was the latest revelation in a string of foreign interference attempts made by the Chinese government in Canada, according to the Trudeau government.

Mr Trudeau has previously stated that China tried to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
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China has made its first-known arrest in a case involving the misuse of ChatGPT by a man to allegedly generate fake news about a train crash.

Police in the northwest Gansu province arrested the man, identified only by his second name Hong, for using the artificial intelligence technology to allegedly create variations of a fake news piece and then sharing it on the countrys social media, where it was shared widely.

Local reports said the fake news item about the crash had elements from various trending news pieces.

The fake news said the crash killed nine people in Gansu on 25 April.

The piece gained more than 15,000 clicks on Chinese social media by the time police came to know of its inauthenticity.

Local cyber security officers caught the circulation of the fake news and launched an investigation that led to the arrest of Mr Hong.

Earlier this year in January, Chinas first regulations regarding deep fake technology applications officially went into effect. The regulations aim to help boost the development of the artificial intelligence industry and prevent its misuse.

The regulations, released by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the industry and information technology ministry and the public security ministry, state that the videos and photos made using AI must be clearly labelled to avoid confusion.

The specialised regulation issued by China for deep synthesis services has and will continue to have a far-reaching impact on the healthy development of internet information services, Meng Dan, director of the Institute of Information Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences said at the time.

Police in Gansu said their investigation revealed a total of 21 accounts on Baijiahao  a blog-style platform of Chinese tech company Baidu  that posted different versions of the news piece simultaneously, with different accident locations.

Police said they tracked all 21 accounts on Baijiahao that had shared the AI-generated fake news to a marketing company in Shenzhen.

Mr Hong, the representative of the company, was later arrested and charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble by police.
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More than 50 million people are set to cast votes in local state elections in southern Indias Karnataka on Wednesday that will serve as a critical test for prime minister Narendra Modi.

The polls are crucial for Mr Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which faces the challenge of retaining incumbency in the only southern Indian state where it currently has a government. The other southern states  Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana  have all consistently rejected the BJP.

The elections have also seen a lengthy, high-voltage campaign against the opposition Congress party that is vying for a return to power in Karnataka.

The Karnataka state assembly elections are also critical for the BJP and Mr Modis national pitch to return to power in national-level elections that will be held next year.

Home to Indias Silicon Valley city Bengaluru, Karnataka has three major political players in the fray  the BJP, the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)  all of whom have aggressively campaigned since the start of this year to woo voters by holding miles-long mega rallies and competing over local and federal issues like regional caste identities, reservations and even pitting the states own milk brand against the one in Mr Modis Gujarat.

The Election Commission of India, that supervises the countrys elections, is going to hold the polling exercise on Wednesday and announce results on Saturday.

The agency has set up more than 58,000 polling booths across the sixth largest Indian state to accommodate nearly 890 voters at every station.

Campaigning for the polls concluded on Sunday, with a slew of rallies held by Mr Modi and his political opponents from the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, across the length and breadth of Bengaluru.

Mr Modi held 19 public meetings and six roadshows, with the BJP fielding 222 contenders in the polls. The contest is for a total 224 seats and the winner will need to cross the halfway mark of 113 to form a government in Karnataka.

In a strong anti-BJP campaign, the Gandhi duo, along with regional stalwarts from the party, like DK Shivkumar and ex-chief minister Siddaramaiah, have fiercely targeted Mr Modis party for not focusing on critical issues facing the state and failing to deliver on previous poll promises.

The opposition party also targeted fringe organisations like the Bajrang Dal, that are a part of the same umbrella family as the BJP, and said it will take decisive action against these groups.

Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, the mother of the two Gandhi scions, also made a rare campaign appearance in the Hubli district.

The Karnataka elections have been dominated by strong regional caste issues between two factions: the Lingayats and the Vokkaliga community, that represent 17 and 11 per cent of the state population respectively.

Karnataka has seen a trend for nearly four decades of alternating political parties coming to power, something Mr Modi wants to break by returning to power there.
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Police in India brought murder charges against the owner of a houseboat after it capsized on Sunday, leading to the deaths of 22, most of whom were children.

Fifteen of the victims of the mishap, that took place off the town of Tanur in coastal Kerala states Malappuram district, are said to be children.

The owner of the boat, identified as Nazar, was arrested from Kozhikode city in Kerala, a day after he went missing.

Malappuram district police superintendent S Sujith Das confirmed the arrest, adding that the boat capsize is being probed as a murder case. The boats driver and his helper are however, still absconding, he said.

Authorities will also investigate if the boat, named Atlantic, had the mandatory permits needed for operations.

The states high court also issued strong remarks over the mishap and initiated a suo motu case.

Referring to the incident as shocking and haunting, the court directed investigators to probe why authorities allowed the operation of vessels flouting rules.

A two-judge bench of justices Devan Ramachandrana and Shoba Annama Eapen said their hearts were bleeding after seeing the lifeless bodies of children, reported the Times of India.

Onlookers gather near the site of a boat accident in Tanur, in Malappuram district on 8 May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The accident took place due to a deadly cocktail of callousness, greed and official apathy, noted the justices.

This comes as an opposition legislator claimed the boat owner enjoyed political patronage.

He had benefited from the political patronage of the ruling LDF [the Left Democratic Front alliance]. The officials who had given tacit support for the violations in the boat service should be made accused in the case, said KPA Majeed, a legislator of the Indian Union Muslim League representing Tirurangandi Assembly in Malappuram, reported the Indian Express.

In this photograph taken on 7 May 2023, people carry out rescue operation at the site of a boat accident in Tanur, in Malappuram district of Indias Kerala state (AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier on Monday, Keralas chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered a judicial probe in what he described as a major tragedy and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1m (9,667) to the relatives of the deceased. The government will also bear the expense of the treatment of the injured individuals.

The state has witnessed a major tragedy in Tanur. 22 peoples lives were lost; 5 people swam and escaped. Out of the 10 people who were hospitalized, 2 have been discharged. Eight people are still under treatment, he said.

Mr Vijayan also visited Tirurangadi hospital, where many of the injured are admitted and later visited the families of the deceased, along with other ministers and opposition leaders.
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At least 60 people have died in northeastern Indias Manipur state after a spate of violence broke out last week in the wake of ethnic tension.

The violence that broke out on 3 May has led not just to the loss of life, but widespread displacement of local communities, scores of injuries and large-scale property destruction.

The state governments disclosure of the death toll on Monday was the first one ever since the violence unfolded last week.

At a press conference on Monday evening, state chief minister N Biren Singh, who belongs to prime minister Narendra Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, were burnt in the violence, reported Press Trust of India.

Earlier at a press conference, Kuldiep Singh, security adviser to the Manipur government, put the toll at 65, reported The Indian Express.

In a separate statement on Twitter, Mr Singh said more than 20,000 people have been evacuated.

In a positive development, more than 20,000 people have been moved to safety, curfews were partially relaxed and confidence have been built among the public of the state. I hope we will be able to attain peace and get back to normal life very soon.

The state government has also claimed that the situation has been brought under control by the police and army that have patrolled the streets and enforced a curfew that is still in place.

Earlier, the situation was deemed serious enough by the state government for it to issue shoot at sight orders for some extreme cases.

Mr Singh said thousands of civilians are now being escorted to their homes by security personnel.

People wait at a temporary shelter in a military camp, after being evacuated by the Indian army on 7 May, as they flee ethnic violence (AFP via Getty Images)

He added that 1,041 guns and 7,460 rounds of ammunition were looted from security personnel during the violence.

The chief minister said efforts are being made to bring back people who have been forced to leave their homes due to the violence in different parts of the state, including in Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Imphal West, Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.

A cabinet panel has also been formed to oversee the movement of stranded people.

The chief minister said the state government will provide an ex gratia of Rs 500,000 (approx 4,829) to the families of the deceased, with Rs 200,000 (approx 3,863) to those who suffered major injuries and Rs 25,000 (approx 241) to those with minor injuries.

Also on Monday, Indias Supreme Court expressed concerns about the humanitarian problem arising out of the several days of violence.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum, Delhi, seeking a probe by a special investigation team into the violence and another filed by a Manipur lawmaker Dinganglung Gangmei, challenging the Manipur High Court order asking the state governments recommendation on inclusion of Meiteis as STs, reported The Indian Express.

Our immediate target is protection... stabilisation. We are concerned with the humanitarian problem, said the bench headed by chief justice of India DY Chandrachud.

Mr Chandrachud also said the court is concerned about the loss of life, about the loss of property.

The federal and Manipur governments told the court that the state was returning to normalcy and no violence had been reported over the last two days.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, said peace meetings were being held in disturbed areas.

An Indian army soldier inspects the debris of a ransacked church that was set on fire by a mob in the ethnic violence hit area of Heiroklian village on 8 May (AFP via Getty Images)

The court will take up the case for hearing again on 17 March.

Violence in the state, that activists and commentators have said has often been ignored by the countrys mainstream media, first broke out on 3 May after a Tribal Solidarity March called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM).

The march was organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a 19 April Manipur High Court directive.

Under Indian law some government jobs, college admissions and electoral seats  from village councils to parliament  are reserved for communities under the Scheduled Tribe category as a form of affirmative action to tackle historical structural inequality and discrimination.

Tribal groups like the Kukis have opposed the Meitei communitys inclusion in the list fearing opportunity and job loss due to the groups demographically and politically advantageous position.

The tension gave rise to the widespread violence that unfolded in many districts across the state.
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Violent protests erupted across Pakistan on Tuesday after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested and dragged away during a scheduled court appearance in Islamabad, sparking fresh turmoil in a country already struggling with an economic crisis.

Police clashed with Mr Khans supporters after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party urged them to shut down Pakistan in protest. Hundreds blocked streets in Lahore, where police were been put on high alert.

Mr Khan was giving his biometric data in a room inside the Islamabad High Court when officers dressed in riot gear stormed the building, smashing windows to gain access in dramatic scenes captured on video by Mr Khans aides.

A large group of Pakistan Rangers  a paramilitary civil defence unit controlled by the interior ministry  led an apparently injured Mr Khan away to an armoured vehicle.

Khan is swarmed by police during his chaotic arrest on Tuesday (PTI)

Mr Khan, a cricket hero-turned-politician, was in court over dozens of charges, mostly relating to alleged corruption, brought against him since he was removed from office by a vote of no confidence last year. He says the charges are all politically motivated.

Political infighting is common in Pakistan, where no prime minister has yet fulfilled a full term and where the military has ruled for nearly half of the countrys history.

Interior minister Rana Sanaullah said Mr Khan had been arrested over corruption, alleging he cost the countrys treasury millions of pounds by illegally purchasing land from a business tycoon while in office.

But Fawad Chaudhry, PTIs vice president, said Mr Khan had been abducted.

Hammad Azhar, a former minister in Mr Khans ousted government, said the arrest was not acceptable and that for the party it represents our red line. He also called on the people of Pakistan to come out on the streets in protest.

In Karachi, police fired tear gas and swung batons at hundreds of demonstrators who blocked a key road.

In Lahore, where Mr Khan lives with his family and where PTI enjoys strong levels of support, police were trying to disperse rallies on key central roads where many had gathered to protest, largely peacefully.

Officials from the federal National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said arrest warrants were issued for Mr Khan last week in a corruption case for which he had not obtained bail; images of a warrant dated 1 May were circulated widely on social media, though their authenticity was not immediately confirmed.

Sources at the NAB told Associated Press that Mr Khan would be brought before a corruption tribunal as early as Wednesday.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party activists in Peshawar protest against Imran Khans arrest (AFP/Getty)

Mr Khan appears to have known that his arrest in Islamabad was likely  he assembled a panel of six senior PTI officials to lead the party in the event of his arrest, telling Reuters: I have made a committee which will obviously take decisions once  if  Im inside [jail].

He released a video earlier in the day in which he insisted that there is no case on me.

They want to put me in jail, I am ready for it, he said.

And PTI issued another video after the arrest, in which Mr Khan addresses the nation saying: It is possible I wont get a chance to talk to you again.

My fellow Pakistanis, when these words of mine reach you I will already be closed inside in an unlawful case. After this, you all should realise that fundamental rights, law and democracy have been buried.

He continues: Pakistans public has known me for 50 years; Ive been in the eyes of the public for 50 years, I have never gone against Pakistans constitution and Ive never broken the law. Since Ive been in politics, I have always tried that [all] my struggle would be peaceful and within the ambits of the constitution.

He said his arrest is not because I have broken any law but it is being done so that I accept this corrupt cabal of crooks that have been imposed on us. They want me to accept them.

Since being ousted from office, Mr Khan has been subject to at least one failed assassination attempt which, he told The Independent in an interview in March, left him with lasting nerve damage. PTI officials alleged that paramilitary officers deliberately targeted his wounded leg during Tuesdays arrest.

Mr Khan accuses the government and the countrys security agencies of being behind the attempt on his life, a charge which both have denied.

His party say that key elections due in the state of Punjab, of which Lahore is the capital, have been illegally postponed by the government fearing it will lose out to Mr Khans party at the ballot box. The election commission had put off the vote indefinitely citing security concerns, but the countrys supreme court ordered it to go ahead this Sunday. National elections in Pakistan are due to take place next year.

Pakistan is enduring an economic crisis, with inflation running at over 36 per cent and an expected IMF bailout delayed by months. Industrial activity has virtually ground to a halt as the central bank has raised interest rates to a record 21 per cent, worsening already-high unemployment and poverty.
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Mystery surrounds the death of a British teenager in Thailand whose beaten body was found in a forest after he went missing after a motorcycle ride.

Thai police believe 16-year-old Woramet Ben Taota, a dual-national, was murdered after he was found dead in a grove in the Ban Than district on Sunday morning, with blunt force trauma injuries to his face and head.

His phone and money were missing from his shoulder bag, leading to speculation he may have been robbed.

Local media reported that Woramets body was found by a rubbish collector who was working in the area at the time. Officers later found his belongings, including a smartphone charger and his ID card and bank card, but his phone and cash were missing.

Police believe he may have been killed elsewhere and dumped at the spot where he was found, slumped against a tree, the Daily Mail reported.

A man connected to drug dealing in the area and who knew Woramet has been arrested. Police are also seeking a girl, Suraphltchaya Khamsa, 16, who officers believe was romantically linked to the British teenager.

Police were searching for Woramets girlfriend, Yam, also 16, who is thought to have been the last person who saw him alive. She has now been found safe and has been ruled out as a person of interest in the case by police.

Police Major General Sampawapol said: Suraphltchayas nickname was Ping Pong. She also had a close romantic relationship with the deceased. She is still missing and we are actively searching for her. She was the last person to see Ben.

A suspect has been apprehended who had known the victim for a long time. He denies having any involvement in the death. However, we believe he is involved and it is connected to drug dealing in the area.

The superintendent of the Mae Tha Police said Woramet was found with blood stains all over his face.

The face and head were found to have been beaten with a hard object until swelling and bruising was caused and there was also a deep wound in his face. The body has been taken to hospital for an autopsy, Police Colonel Sittisak Singtongla said.

Police said Woramet had said goodbye to his mother on Saturday evening and said he was going to work with friends but said nothing else of his plans.

Detectives added they are not ruling out any motives for the murder.

We have not yet finalised the issue, Mr Singtongla said.

It is still unclear whether it was a robbery, because the phone and cash of the deceased were not found, but we still cannot rule out other issues.

Pictures on Woramets social media show him riding motorcycles and competing in competitions. It is understood he was a keen motocross rider.

Woramets grandmother Lilian Graham said she believed her grandson was lured into the forest where he was murdered. She added that Woramets father, Steve Graham, a UK businessman, is now on his way to Thailand to speak with detectives.

Ben was with a girl and they went to the forest to meet a man. But something must have happened. And the man killed Ben, Ms Graham told MailOnline.

She added: Its been a real shock. We are all devastated. Ben's father Steve is going to Thailand tonight.

I wanted to go out there with him to support him. But he wouldn't let me. He said the flight was too long and it would be too upsetting.

Ms Graham said Woramet was born following a long-distance romance between her son Steve and the boys mother, who is known as Ooy Taota.

She said: Steve met Ben's mum Ooy when he was in Thailand on holiday with friends. She became pregnant and Steve went back many times.

I went out to visit them as well. I really love it out there. But they lived too far apart and sadly their relationship didn't work out. But Steve and me really loved Ben. He was really special. A real character.
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Troubled online estate agent Purplebricks has seen its shares plummet to a new record low, as the group warned its cash reserves were under threat as it looks for a buyer to help revive its fortunes.

The group also warned that while talks over a sale were ongoing, investors could end up with little from any deal, as it said those being looked at would be expected to deliver returns to shareholders materially below the companys current share price.

Shares in the beleaguered firm plunged by more than 60% at one stage in trading on Tuesday, with the firm now having seen its stock market value tumble by nearly 90% over the past year.

The board believes it is necessary to conclude the strategic review and the formal sale process promptly and in a manner that provides more certainty around the group's future ownership Purplebricks

The grim update saw Purplebricks caution that it is now not set to return to cash generation early in its financial year to April 2024 and that its cash reserves would be under threat if a strategic review and sale were not completed soon.

It comes after a difficult 18 months, with an overhaul of its operating model, multiple management reshuffles and shareholder calls for the removal of its chairman Paul Pindar.

The group put itself up for sale in February after disclosing its turnaround plans have been costlier than expected and it is set to sink deeper into a loss.

In its latest update, Purplebricks said a small number of parties were still in discussions over a potential acquisition of the company.

It added: Given the expected level of potential returns to shareholders the option of an equity fund raise has been revisited but is still considered to lack the necessary support.

The board, with the assistance of its advisers, will continue to engage with shareholders to understand their views on the options for the group.

Purplebricks said while the year to April 30 finished in line with its expectations, sales and underlying earnings for the current financial year were being affected after it has failed to increase new property instructions as hoped.

It said that in light of the groups current financial position, its payment processor withheld a portion of remittances, which affected its cash position.

The firm now estimates its cash position has fallen to about 9.1 million as at April 30 2023.

It said: The board believes it is necessary to conclude the strategic review and the formal sale process promptly and in a manner that provides more certainty around the groups future ownership.

In the view of the board, a conclusion to the process is necessary in the interests of shareholder value, and to create greater stability and clarity for the future of the company, its employees, its funding partners and its customers.

Founded in 2012, Purplebricks had a lot of success in its early years, disrupting an old industry.

In 2017 the companys shares were selling for about 5 each, but their value has now been decimated, with the stock trading at just over 2p each.
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People are clawing through mud for missing family members in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after days of severe flooding left more than 400 people dead.

The villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in the eastern DRC were devastated after torrential rains began on Thursday night, causing rivers to overflow and triggering landslides.

Around 3,000 families are now homeless after properties and farmlands were destroyed near Lake Kivu in the Kalehe territory.

Its like the end of the world, Gentille Ndagijimana, 27, whose mother, father, and two sisters were killed, told AFP.

Ulrich Crepin Namfeibona, from Medecins Sans Frontieres, said in a statement emailed to The Independent that around 150 people are wounded and villages have been completely erased with the floods.

The catastrophe hit overnight and as Thursday was market day, the population in Bushushu was twice as large as usual, the statement read.

MSF said it had evacuated 36 severely injured people by boat to hospitals.

The statement continued: Shelter, food and other basic items are urgently needed for these communities who have lost everything. We are also seeing children who have lost their parents and need protection.

The Congolese Red Cross does not have body bags, the BBC reported, and are being forced to leave those who have died wrapped in blankets. MSF said they were donating body bags, medicines and medical supplies to health structures in the area.

The areas administrator told The Associated Press by phone that many bodies had been found floating in Lake Kivu. More than 300 victims had been buried in mass graves as of Sunday, local groups said.

Delphin Birimbi, a civic leader in Kalehe, also told AP he understood that thousands of people remain missing.

Villagers gather near a destroyed home in Nyamukubi, near Kivu Lake, on Saturday following devastating flooding and landslides (AP)

Some doctors arrived to treat the injured, but communities were pleading for more emergency assistance - which has been hampered by impassable roads.

MSF also warned that poor living and sanitary conditions in the aftermath of the floods create high risk of diseases, such skin infections and diarrhoeal diseases, especially close Lake Kivu where cholera is endemic.

The disaster comes just days after more than 130 people were killed in flooding in neighboring Rwanda and nearly 10,000 displaced.

Heavy rains have inflicted death and destruction across East Africa, including in parts of Uganda and Kenya.

On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered his condolences to the flood victims in both Rwanda and the DRC.

This is yet another illustration of accelerating climate change and its disastrous impact on countries that have done nothing to contribute to global warming, he said, according to Le Monde.

With reporting from The Associated Press. This article has been updated
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Exasperated Anne Hathaway fans are defending the Devil Wears Prada star after she was accused of being rude in a resurfaced interview.

The clip shows the US actor declining to discuss a conversation she had with Vogues editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and laughing at the idea that she would ever share details with a journalist.

However, fans of the Princess Diaries star have jumped to her defence and dismissed the complaints on social media.

The interview in question took place last October at ELLE magazines Women in Hollywood event, after Hathaway wore an outfit that resembled her character Andy in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada.

The actor wore a black turtleneck with a brown crocodile skirt and jacket to the Michael Kors show at New York Fashion Week, complete with bangs. She sat next to Wintour during the show in September.

Asked whether she and Wintour had ever spoken about the movie  in which Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a character modelled after Wintour  Hathaway confirmed they had.

However, when the reporter pushed for information about what the legendary Vogue editor has shared, Hathaway replied: Why would I tell you? before laughing loudly.

The interviewer said: Because Im a fan and I need to know.

No, but you werent there, Hathaway said, shaking her head slightly.

The interviewer said they respected Hathaways decision not to divulge her and Wintours interaction, and the actor thanked her.

A clip of the interview, which stops just before the interviewer said: I respect that has resurfaced on social media with some viewers branding Hathaway as rude.

On TikTok, some people commented that Hathaway was being passive aggressive or was displaying mean girl vibes.

But her fans took to Twitter to defend the Love and Other Drugs star, who also wowed them with her appearance at the Met Gala last week, and said she was well within her right not to share a private conversation.

Its a personal moment she didnt want to share?? one person wrote. Maybe if she was consistently doing it to certain people I would say micro/passive aggressive but its not even all that.

(Getty Images for Michael Kors)

Another said: She just didnt want to share personal stuff and made a joke about this and even laughed at herself and the way she said, but you werent there sounds really sweet to me, why would anyone be offended by this?

A third added: If Anna Wintour told me a secret I wouldnt even tell it to my own cat.

Speaking about the viral moment she recreated one of her characters looks, Hathaway told Today that she hadnt done so on purpose.

(Getty Images for Michael Kors)

It was kind of nuts, wasnt it, she told host Savannah Guthrie. It was by accident. I was supposed to wear something else. The shoes didnt fit, this was the other outfit that came.

And then my hairstylist, who was so lovely and I had never worked with him before, just said, Oh I know what to do. And he threw my hair up in a ponytail.

Hathaway said at that moment she realised who she resembled.

I looked in the mirror and I thought, Oh thats funny, I wonder if anybody will notice.
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A 25-year-old who has been mostly bed bound by a painful condition that is causing her brain to slip down her spine is pleading for help to raise funds for lifesaving treatment in the US to stabilise her skeleton.

Desperate to raise the 200,000 she needs, Emily Balfour, from London, said she will eventually face permanent disability and is at risk of paralysis if she does not receive PICL, a procedure that injects stem cells into the spine through the back of the mouth.

An ice-skating accident at the age of 14 flagged the alarming conditions that cause Emily to now live with relentless levels of pain.

She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), a collection of rare conditions affecting the connective tissues that make her joints unstable and prone to dislocation, as well as craniocervical instability (CCI), meaning the area where her skull and spine meet is dangerously unstable.

Emily also has Chiari malformation, which means the lower part of her brain has herniated and is pushing down through the top of her spinal column.

My health is continuing to deteriorate but I still havent managed to raise enough money to get the treatment I need in America, Emily said.

It would be lifesaving for me and, unless I get the treatment, my life is on pause and stagnated, Ive become largely bed bound.

And this issue doesnt just affect me, there are so many people with this condition who are struggling to get funds for treatment abroad. Money is the barrier for us being able to live our lives.

In 2011, Emily was first diagnosed with EDS after an ice-skating accident resulted in a trip to the doctors.

I want to keep my sense of agency but its getting more and more difficult. Emily Balfour

Once a sporty and active teen, Emily is now confined to her bed most days.

Due to Chiari malformation, Emilys brain is pushing down through the top of her spinal column and she said medical specialists have informed her that some of her brain is no longer in her skull.

Emily once had dreams of working in film, but she is unable to complete her degree and is also not able to work while she struggles with her health.

She said: Im not able to participate in life, Im unable to work and I keep having to delay the completion of my degree.

I have limited vision, I cant see out of my left eye and I have recently dealt with limb paralysis.

Earlier this year, Emily was rushed to hospital after her left arm became paralysed and swollen.

(PA Real Life)

She said: It looked like a dead persons arm, I feared Id never regain mobility of it.

It turned out I was struggling with blood flow to the arm, and Ive regained limited use of my arm, but Im high risk of it happening again.

Ive seen people with these conditions lose function of their arms completely and that obviously concerns me because I live by myself.

I want to keep my sense of agency but its getting more and more difficult.

Emily said her brainstem has been damaged to the point where her body is not functioning and she suffers daily from extreme fatigue, periods of paralysis, and loss of vision.

Its incredibly frustrating and I have to accept that I cant live the life I thought I would. Emily Balfour

As a result, Emily now finds herself largely bed bound, is regularly in and out of hospital and suffers from excruciating symptoms which threaten irreversible physical disability and potentially death.

Innovative treatment in the US to stabilise her skeleton will be life-changing for Emily, but it comes at a cost.

She hopes to raise 200,000 for multiple stem cell treatments, medical care and accommodation in Colorado, USA, where she will undergo a procedure known as PICL to repair and strengthen the ligaments that keep her skull stable.

She said: Im in relentless levels of pain and, the more activity I do where Im moving my neck, the worse the pain is.

If I dont get treatment then its looking likely that eventually I will lose the use of one or both of my arms.

The longer it goes on, Im losing more and more years of my life.

(PA Real Life)

Before her diagnosis, Emily had dreams of working in film, having attended the BFI Film Academy as a teen.

She also had plans to travel after finishing her English degree, which is currently on hold.

Emily said: Its incredibly frustrating and I have to accept that I cant live the life I thought I would.

Im seeing other people my age having fun and building their careers but until I get the PICL procedure, Im stuck.

There are other people who are also in my situation and its not an easy journey but I just hope that these treatments will be easier to access closer to home so we can get back to living.

I just want to be able to complete my degree and have a normal life and not be stuck in this living hell. Emily Balfour

Emily hopes more research into EDS will result in more treatment options becoming available.

For Emily, she says the procedure will be a lifeline and enable her to start living again.

Getting treatment will change everything, she said.

I wanted to write and make films, but I am now more interested in medicine and want to get a psychotherapy qualification and work in that field.

I used to be so passionate about movies and reading, but because of my brain and vision issues, Im restricted to audiobooks now. I cant even do basic things like watching TV, that once brought me so much joy.

I just want to be able to complete my degree and have a normal life and not be stuck in this living hell.

To donate to Emilys fundraiser, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-treatment-for-emily.
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The coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla came to an end on Saturday 6 May, after a display of grandeur and tradition at Westminster Abbey.

Britains new King and Queen were crowned in front of 2,000 guests as well as a worldwide audience, with more than 20 million people tuning in to watch the crowning moment.

The coronation was a time of reflection and solemnity for the royal family and the nation, as a new Carolean era begins.

However, there were several moments of levity that many people couldve missed if theyd simply blinked during the ceremony.

From an unexpected appearance from the grim reaper to the Duke of Sussex pulling an awkward face while taking his seat in the Abbey, weve rounded up six moments you might have missed.

The grim reaper visits Westminster Abbey

Twitter users have pointed out a moment where a figure that appears to be dressed as the grim reaper walks underneath an archway in the Abbey as the congregation makes its exit.

Cloaked figure runs through Westminster Abbey during coronation

Anyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? wrote one person on Twitter, while another added: Who invited the Grim Reaper?

In mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper causes a victims death by coming to collect their soul.

Find out more about the identity of the mysterious cloaked figure here.

Camilla fears crown mishap

The new Queen was crowned with Queen Marys Crown during the ceremony.

Camilla will now be known as Queen Camilla, not Queen Consort (Reuters)

As it was placed on her head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Camilla could be seen adjusting her hair out of her face.

As she walked to her chair after being crowned, the new Queen looked nervous and held herself rigidly, as though trying not to let the crown fall off her head.

Prince Harry sees a ghost

The Duke of Sussex attended the coronation without his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, or his two children.

Prince Harry looked startled at one point during the coronation ceremony (Getty)

However, he appeared in good spirits as he entered Westminster Abbey with his cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their respective husbands.

Prince Harry was also photographed smiling widely at the Princess Royal as he took his seat in the third row in the Abbey.

However, at one point, a candid photograph caught the duke pulling an awkward face, which has been compared to him seeing a ghost.

One Twitter user joked he may have seen the grim reaper.

Ant and Decs odd facial expressions

Harry wasnt the only person at the coronation pulling strange faces.

TV hosts Ant and Dec were caught on camera making bizarre expressions as they moved their jaws while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

One viewer quipped: Thats a someone farted look. Another suggested that the pair were like two schoolboys who cant contain their laughter.

Three Camillas are better than one?

The Queen kept two companions close by to support her during the coronation ceremony.

They were her sister, Annabel Elliot, and one of her close confidantes, Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne.

But eagle-eyed social media users couldnt help but point out that all three blonde women, who all wore ivory-coloured dresses, looked quite similar to one another.

During the ceremony, a viewer tweeted: Assuming The Three Camillas will sing us out?

Another social media user called them Camillas stunt doubles.

King Charless emotional moment

King Charles III appeared touched after his son, Prince William, paid homage to him during the ceremony.

Charles looked emotional as his son, William, kissed him on the cheek (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

After the crowning, William became the only blood prince to pledge his allegiance to his father and kissed Charles tenderly on the cheek.

The new monarch seemed emotional as he nodded at his son and said: Amen.
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The Duke of Sussexs ghostwriter JR Moehringer has revealed the behind-the-scenes making of Harrys memoir Spare.

To write the autobiography, Moehringer says he and Harry spoke around the clock about the book on Zoom, on the phone, via text, and eventually, in person at Harrys home in Montecito, California.

In the controversial book, which was released in January, Harry was critical of his family and made several claims about how his brother William treated him, alleging that the Prince of Wales physically attacked him. He also revealed very personal details, such as the account of losing his virginity, his frostbitten penis and the number of soldiers he killed while on military tour in Afghanistan.

The Duke of Sussexs autobiography became the UKs fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 copies across hardback, ebook and audio formats on its first day of publication, its publishers said in the week of its release.

In an article written for The New Yorker, Moehringer, who also ghostwrote the memoir of Nike founder Phil Knight, has discussed how the making of the memoir was not a smooth journey. He recalled some teary-eyed moments with the duke, and also a row about a story about Diana, and what it was like staying in Harry and his wife Meghans Los Angeles home.

Here are the biggest revelations made by Moehringer:

Late-night row over Princess Diana story left Harry with flushed cheeks and narrowed eyes

The ghostwriter alleges that he and Harry found themselves in a disagreement over a passage discussing the dukes late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever in its first week of release (PA Wire)

During the summer of 2022, Moehringer said that he and Harry and been reviewing edits over a Zoom call at 2am when they reached a passage discussing Diana.

In the excerpt in question, Harry is subjected to terrorism training by military personnel posing as insurgents.

Moehringer advised Harry not to include the story in the memoir, and they subsequently disagreed on the matter, leading them to apparently shout at each other.

At last, Harrys captors throw him against a wall, choke him, and scream insults into his face, culminating in a vile dig at Princess Diana, Moehringer wrote.

And yet some part of me was still able to step outside the situation and think, This is so weird. Im shouting at Prince Harry. Then, as Harry started going back at me, as his cheeks flushed and his eyes narrowed, a more pressing thought occurred: Whoa, it could all end right here.

Finally, Moehringer said, Harry exhaled and calmly explained that he wanted to include the line because, after years of having his intellect belittled, this would show how he had still had his wits about him, even after being kicked and punched and deprived of sleep and food.

Regardless, Moehringer insisted that it was unnecessary to include the line, writing in the New Yorker: Strange as it may seem, memoir is not about you. Its not even the story of your life.

He said that Harry took this decision in good humour but added, with a mischievous grin, that he really [enjoyed] getting you worked up like that.

The Independent has contacted representatives of the Duke of Sussex for comment.

Moehringer and his family were stalked by members of the press

Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK of all time when it was published in January 2023.

Moehringer said that following the publication, the response had been that of a frenzied mob and that he and his family had been targeted by the paparazzi.

The British press now converted the book into their native tongue, that jabberwocky of bonkers hot takes and classist snark, he said.

Facts were wrenched out of context, complex emotions were reduced to cartoonish idiocy, innocent passages were hyped into outrages  and there were so many falsehoods.

He recalled how while taking his son to preschool, he had been stalked by a paparazzo, who had stood in the middle of a road to take a picture.

In the first-person piece, the novelist said that the experience had helped him understand Harry better after his name was leaked ahead of Spares publication.

JR Moehringer also ghostwrote the memoir of Nike founder Phil Knight (Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan looked after Moehringer when he was homesick

Moehringer visited Harry and Meghans home in Montecito, California, on several occasions while he was working on the book.

He wrote that when he visited the duke and duchess with his wife and children, his daughter Gracies heart was won over by Harrys love of Moana.

As the pandemic waned, I was finally able to travel to Montecito. I went once with my wife and children. (Harry won the heart of my daughter, Gracie, with his vast Moana scholarship; his favourite scene, he told her, is when Heihei, the silly chicken, finds himself lost at sea), the author wrote.

Moehringer also recalled two other trips to Harry and Meghans house during which he stayed in the couples guest house. He claimed that Meghan and the duke and duchesss now-four-year-old son Prince Archie would visit him during their afternoon walks.

Moehringer really likes Prince Harry

I just liked the dude, Moehringer writes about the first time he spoke with Harry in 2020. I called him dude right away; it made him chuckle. I found his story, as he outlined it in broad strokes, relatable and infuriating.

He continued: The way hed been treated, by both strangers and intimates, was grotesque. In retrospect, though, I think I selfishly welcomed the idea of being able to speak with someone, an expert, about that never-ending feeling of wishing you could call your mom.

Moehringer and Prince Harry shared a tearful moment

After what had been a long and emotional journey working together, the pair celebrated the books release by raising a glass before a teary-eyed Harry thanked his publishing team and editor.

He mentioned my advice, to trust the book, and said he was glad that he did, because it felt incredible to have the truth out there.

"There were tears in his eyes. Mine, too, wrote Moehringer.

Harry seemed overjoyed after the book was finally released

Moehringer recalled attending a party for the launch of Harrys book, and when he arrived, he was worried that Harry was not happy.

He appeared, marching toward us, looking flushed, Moehringer wrote. Uh-oh, I thought, before registering that it was a good flush. His smile was wide as he embraced us both.

He was overjoyed by many things. The numbers, naturally. Guinness World Records had just certified his memoir as the fastest-selling nonfiction book in the history of the world.
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Prince Harrys ghostwriter has opened up about the process of writing the Duke of Sussexs memoir Spare, and the comfort both Harry and his wife Meghan Markle provided during the project.

Author JR Moehringer opened up about the conversations and work that went into writing the dukes best-selling, tell-all memoir in an essay published by The New Yorker on 8 May.

In the piece, Moehringer recalled visiting the couple at their home in Montecito, California, and how the Sussexes treated both him and his family.

Moehringer said that when he visited the duke and duchess in California with his wife and children, his daughter Gracies heart was won over by Harrys love of Moana.

As the pandemic waned, I was finally able to travel to Montecito. I went once with my wife and children. (Harry won the heart of my daughter, Gracie, with his vast Moana scholarship; his favourite scene, he told her, is when Heihei, the silly chicken, finds himself lost at sea), the author wrote.

Moehringer also recalled two other trips to Harry and Meghans house during which he stayed in the couples guest house. He claimed that Meghan and the duke and duchess now-four-year-old son Prince Archie would visit him during their afternoon walks.

The author said Meghan, knowing that he was homesick during the trips, would also bring him food and desserts.

Harry put me up in his guesthouse, where Meghan and Archie would visit me on their afternoon walks, he wrote. Meghan, knowing I was missing my family, was forever bringing trays of food and sweets.

The novelist said that the duchess also sent a gift of toys to his children.

Moehringer also wrote how, after Spare was published on 10 January 2023, a friend of Prince Harrys hosted a book party to celebrate the memoirs success, to which Moehringer and his wife were invited.

The author said he was initially hesitant about attending the party due to the criticism that the memoirs contents received since the release of the book. He also claimed that in the days before the party, he and his wife had been stalked and followed by paparazzi.

Moehringer said he ultimately called up his friend Prince Harry, who he knew would understand.

It was like telling Taylor Swift about a bad breakup, he wrote of the dukes response. Harry was all heart. He asked if my family was okay, asked for physical descriptions of the people harassing us, promised to make some calls, see if anything could be done. We both knew nothing could be done, but still.

The novelist said he and his wife ultimately attended the book party, during which Harry thanked him for all his help.

The duke recently returned to the UK where he reunited publicly with members of his family for the first time since the release of Spare for the coronation of his father, King Charles III. Notably, Harrys visit was brief; he arrived a day before the coronation ceremony and then returned to California shortly after the crowning concluded.
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Princess Eugenie has been praised for including photographs of the Duke of Sussex attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in her social media post about the big day.

Eugenie, the younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, was at the coronation on Saturday (6 May) with her husband, Jack Brooksbank.

The heavily pregnant princess was also seen entering Westminster Abbey with her cousin Prince Harry, who attended his fathers crowning without his wife, Meghan Markle.

In her Instagram post about the historic occasion, Eugenie shared snaps that featured Harry, as well as other photos of the King and Queen, Brooksbank, her sister Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and shots of the parade.

She wrote in the caption: Yesterday meant so much to me, as Im sure it did to so many watching.

What a magical celebration for the King, the Queen, our country, and the Commonwealth. The day was such a reflection of dedication and service to our country.

Fans were pleased that Eugenies two of Eugenies photo selections included Harry.

Thank you for featuring a few photos that included Prince Harry, one person wrote, noting that other members of the royal family did not post snaps of the duke.

Another person said: Thank you for your support to Prince Harry and his family.

[It was] so lovely that Harry had you and Jack to welcome him and sit with him, a third added.

Others commended Brooksbank for treating Harry warmly during the ceremony, as livestreams from inside Westminster Abbey showed the pair having a friendly exchange.

Eugenie is currently pregnant with her second child. She and Brooksbank, who have been married since 2018, are parents to son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank.

The coronation was the first time Harry had seen other members of the royal family since the release of his memoir Spare in January. He and his brother, the Prince of Wales, had no noticeable interactions during the ceremony.

Harry spent just over 24 hours in the UK to be present at the coronation, but is believed to have left immediately after to return to California in order to celebrate his son Prince Archies fourth birthday.

Archies birthday fell on the same day as the coronation. Neither of Harry and Meghans children, Archie and Princess Lilibet, attended the event.

It was reported that the King wished Archie a happy birthday during a private party held at Buckingham Palace after the ceremony and the royal familys appearance on the balcony. Harry was not present for the balcony appearance nor for the party, as he headed to Los Angeles International Airport.

He caught a British Airways flight and arrived at LAX at around 7.30pm local time (3.30am UK) in time for Archies birthday celebrations.
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The Bolivian general who captured Argentine-Cuban guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara has been buried, and the ceremony was shunned by Bolivias leftist national government in a gesture that has angered his relatives.

Retired Gen. Gary Prado Salmon, a hero to some compatriots and a pariah to others, died Saturday at 84 from renal complications.

He had been declared a national hero in 1967, but also was accused in 2009 of involvement in a coup attempt against then-President Evo Morales. The Bolivian Army did not bury Pardo with any honors for Sunday's ceremony, though he did receive tributes from city and state officials.

No authority from the national government in La Paz issued any statement on Prados death, nor did any military officials. No active members of the military participated in the wake nor funeral and there were no active duty officers flanking Prados coffin, as is the norm for deceased members of the service  all of which has upset Prados family.

My husband will not be honored. The commanders violate the rules to please the government, Maria del Carmen Morales, Prados widow, told the local El Deber newspaper.

Prados son, Gary Prado Arauz, said a request by the Union of Retired Military Personnel that honors be rendered had been denied. Its a shame, he told journalists at his father's wake.

Prado did receive tributes from local authorities in Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the county where he lived. The government of the Santa Cruz region laid Prado in state and friends and family members as well as retired military officers celebrated a Mass in the citys cathedral before he was buried.

Prado was a captain on October 8, 1967 when he commanded the patrol that captured the legendary guerrilla fighter in the Bolivian jungle.

In his book How I Captured Che and in subsequent interviews, Prado stated he was not responsible for Guevaras execution, which was ordered by higher-ranking officers. I had nothing to do with it. I was looking for the other guerrilla fighters. When I returned to the camp, they had already executed him, he said.

Later in life, Prado was Bolivia's ambassador to Great Britain in the early 1990s and to Mexico in 2000-2002. It was during his posting in Mexico that Mexican writer and filmmaker Alberto Hijar threw a glass of wine in his face, shouting, To the health of Che, murderer.

The government substantially distanced itself from Prado during the tenure of Morales, a leftist president in office from 2006 to 2019, who is a recognized admirer of the Cuban revolution and a friend of late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Prado served 11 years of home detention after he was accused of alleged terrorism as part of a supposed coup plot against Morales in 2009. Morales is the current leader of the ruling Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS.

While Prado was in the opposition, he was admired by supporters for his backing of the leaders of Santa Cruz, the countrys economic engine that has long been at odds with politicians in La Paz.

Former center-right President Carlos Mesa, who was in office 2003-2005, sent a message of condolence. I am deeply saddened by the death of General Gary Prado, an honorable military man and a good person. A protagonist of a historic and fundamental event in our history, the capture of Ernesto Che Guevara, he tweeted.

Guevaras guerrillas fought in the Bolivian jungle for nine months between 1966 and 1967.

Guevara, an Argentine who later became a Cuban citizen, was buried alongside other guerrilla fighters in Valle Grande, near where he was captured. The whereabouts of his remains were kept secret until they were recovered and moved to Santa Clara, Cuba in 1997.
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Andrew Bridgens increasingly wayward political path since the Covid pandemic looks set to lead him to joining Laurence Foxs Reclaim Party, following his expulsion from the Conservative Party for comparing vaccines to the Holocaust.

The MP for North West Leicestershire is expected to be announced as the first representative of Mr Foxs party in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the PA news agency understands.

The expulsion followed comments made by Mr Bridgen in which he appeared to describe the vaccine rollout as the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust.

The backbencher is no stranger to controversy, having previously been suspended from the Commons after he was found to have displayed a very cavalier attitude to the rules in a series of lobbying breaches.

In March last year, a judge at the High Court ruled that Mr Bridgen acted in an aggressive and arrogant manner and gave dishonest evidence amid a years-long brotherly feud over a family potato business.

Mr Bridgen had brought legal action after his request to be reappointed as a non-executive chairman of AB Produce, a vegetable-production company, was rejected in 2017.

The MP contacted the firms auditors, bankers and a police inspector alleging he was a victim of fraud by his sibling Paul Bridgen and other company chiefs.

Judge Brian Rawlings found there was little evidence to support the fraud claims but that there had been some breaches of companies law in the wider case, ruling for and against Mr Bridgen on various issues.

In Parliament, Mr Bridgen has been a prominent critic of every Tory prime minister since his election in 2010, with political views that have often been at odds with Conservative government policy.

Mr Bridgen called for David Cameron to be replaced in 2013 before demanding a vote of no confidence in Theresa May over her Brexit approach in 2018.

In 2022, the serial rebel became the fifth MP to publicly call for then-prime minister Boris Johnson to resign over lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.

Later in the year, he demanded an end to Liz Truss short-lived premiership, writing in a blog post that she had run out of friends and sunk her own leadership with the mini-budget.

Following his expulsion in April, he became embroiled in an aggressive confrontation with senior Tory Lee Anderson on the parliamentary estate.

The deputy chairman was said to have told a guest of Mr Bridgen, 69-year-old former Tory councillor Sebastian Leslie, to come outside and well sort it out as they rowed over the MP being kicked out of the party.

Mr Bridgen has denied he is antisemitic, but defended his language about the jabs.

He also threatened to sue Matt Hancock after the former health secretary hit out at the remarks, saying that he had a legal letter before action from the Bad Law Team on my behalf regarding defamation.

That legal action was to be supported by his soon-to-be party Reclaim, along with the Bad Law Project, which is linked to party leader Mr Fox and claims to oppose political ideology disguised as law.
Boris Johnson called the former top civil servant who oversaw the Partygate inquiry a psycho, according to the ex-No 10 communications chief.

Guto Harri revealed the ex-prime ministers scathing views on Sue Gray  who resigned last month to take up a role with Labour as Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff.

Mr Harri, director of communications under the former PM, has alleged that Mr Johnson squared up to King Charles in a showdown meeting over the governments Rwanda policy.
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A mother has issued an emotional plea to tackle knife crime as her 14-year-old sons killer was locked up for life, saying: It can be anyones child.

Jermaine Cools was fatally stabbed with a machete in Croydon, south London, on November 18 2021. Footage released by police shows his 16-year-old killer Marques Walker carrying out the attack and fleeing the scene.

The unarmed child was the youngest fatality involving knife crime in the capital that year.

Jermaine Cools, 14, was the youngest victim of knife crime in London in 2021 (Metropolitan Police)

Walker had a history of carrying deadly weapons and had been on bail for carrying a Zombie knife six weeks before.

Showing a lack of remorse, he wrote about the murder in rap lyrics saying: Even if that youth was a civillian I would still rewind and chef up [stab] his back.

Walker, now 17, pleaded guilty to murder, possessing a knife and causing grievous bodily harm to a fellow inmate while in youth detention after the killing.

On Tuesday, Walker became the first youth to be sentenced on television as he was detained for life at the Old Bailey with a minimum term of 19 years.

Judge Sarah Munro KC, who was briefly interrupted by angry shouting from the public gallery, said: This is yet another case of the senseless murder of a young teenager committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom.

She said Walker stabbed Jermaine mercilessly and the victim must have been terrified and in agony.

Walker also pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm. While at HMP Feltham on 1 July 2022, he took part in an attack on another detainee, stamping on the boys head and leaving him in need of life-saving brain surgery.

A zombie knife seized from Walker in Croydon weeks before killing (PA)

Jermaines mother Lorraine Dudek described the failure to deal with Walkers knife-carrying habit as a missed opportunity.

She said: Had it been addressed earlier he would not have had the opportunity to go out to kill.

Young males get caught with a knife, the knife gets confiscated. Within an hour they get another one from Snapchat or social media.

Stop and search has its place and its very, very good for removing weapons but the follow-up has to be there.

When Jermaine got stopped and searched I was happy about it. Some parents complain about their children being stopped and searched  that could be the deterrent that stops them.

Ms Dudek told how the family had witnessed victim blaming as people struggled to accept that boys with no gang connection could be stabbed for no reason.

But she said: People dont realise it can just be anyones child.

Marques Walker, 17, was sentenced to life for senseless attack' (PA)

The court heard how Walker, from Bromley, Kent, was caught on CCTV footage calmly walking towards Jermaine and drawing a machete from his coat.

Jermaine either fell or was pushed to the ground before the youth ran towards him and repeatedly lunged at him with the blade.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said: It is clear that Jermaine Cools did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was unarmed, he was on the floor, and he was totally vulnerable.

He was stabbed a total of seven times by Marques Walker in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity.

Jermaine, who had previously confided in his parents that he was worried about knife crime, was driven by a passer-by to the Mayday Hospital where he died from a wound to the chest.

Police identified Walker from CCTV footage but he went to ground, sleeping on the sofas of friends for nearly six weeks.

On December 27 2021, he was found at an address hiding behind a bed and initially gave a false name to officers.

Jermaine was stabbed to death in Croydon on November 18 2021 (PA)

The court was told the defendant had previously been caught carrying three large knives.

A Rambo-style blade was seized at his school and at the time of the murder he was on bail for possessing a Zombie knife six weeks earlier.

Jermaines parents described their son as a beautiful child and a bright light in the world who was just interested in music and cars.

Ms Dudek said: He had become aware that knife crime is massive. A lot of teenagers live with the threat of knife crime.

It was at the forefront of his mind. He became aware of the fact Croydon has the highest amount of knife crime in London  thats where his mind was in.

Ms Dudek suggested that tackling knife crime started at home and said she had always told Jermaine never to carry a blade.

She said: For me, Jermaine was the closest person to me, he was the best child ever.

We do not live anymore. We just exist. When they took his life, they took ours. We just exist now. We exist in pain.

Jermaines mother said he was best child ever (PA)

Ms Dudek thanked the people who came to her sons aid, saying: Im very grateful to them because without them my son would have died in the street.

She added: All these gang members. All his friends and family that protected him have my sons blood on their hands. I will never forgive the defendant.

Jermaines father Julius Cools said: I just feel I have not got justice yet. Everyone that was involved should get justice.

Referring to Walker, he said: Your devilish actions that night took Jermaine from us. You stabbed him so many times, if it was one or two wounds maybe Jermaine would have survived but you kept stabbing him.

I want justice for my son. The one that pushed my son, pushed him down for someone to stab him, should get the same justice.

Superintendent Richard Vandenbergh, of Scotland Yard, said: It was a horrific event that should never have happened. He was the very youngest that year to have lost their life to knife crime.

Jermaines family have spoken out about knife crime and I hope that their courage in speaking out may stop some other family losing a child to this evil crime.

This youth was able to obtain knife after knife. Anyone seeing the pictures of those weapons police seized from him in the months leading up to the killing of Jermaine should be concerned that weapons like this seem so readily available to young men.

Press Association contributed to this report
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A woman has died in hospital after she was shot while police engaged in a stand-off with a man in Kent.

Armed police and a trained negotiator were scrambled to a terraced house in Priory Road, Dartford, at 12.40pm on Saturday afternoon following reports of a disturbance.

The woman, aged 36, was taken to a London hospital suffering from shots from a handgun  where Kent Police say she died on Monday evening.

A man, aged 29, was also taken to hospital with a firearms injury and remains in a critical condition.

A force spokesman said: An investigation into a firearms incident at a property in Dartford is now being treated as murder after the victim died in hospital.

Officers, along with a trained police negotiator, attended and attempted to engage with a man inside the address.

Firearms officers also attended and whilst they were at the scene, a 36-year-old woman suffered injuries believed to have been caused by a handgun and she was taken to a London hospital.

The victim died from her injuries shortly before the evening of May 8.

The man, aged 29, was also taken to hospital with a firearms injury and he remains in a critical condition.

He is being treated as the suspect and an investigation is being led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Witnesses described how police cordoned off the road and ordered people to stay inside their homes, before officers broke through the front door.

After an hour-long stand-off, pandemonium broke out and neighbours heard what they described as sounding like two rounds of gunshots.

One woman, who wished not to be named, described the scene as chilling.

Kent Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because police were at the scene at the time of the injuries.

No police weapons were discharged.

An IOPC spokesperson said: On Saturday we were notified by Kent Police about a firearms incident in Dartford, where a woman and a man sustained serious injuries.

We have now been advised that sadly the woman involved has died.

Today we received a mandatory referral from Kent Police regarding this incident, which we are assessing to determine whether any further action is required from us.
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A barge set to house 500 asylum seekers has arrived in the UK as the government struggles with efforts to move migrants out of hotels.

The Independent understands that people will not be transferred onto the Bibby Stockholm until July, following refurbishment to increase its capacity and safety checks.

The barge has been towed from its former berth in Italy to the port of Falmouth, in Cornwall.

It will remain there while works are carried out, before being moved onto its final destination in Portland, Dorset.

The private operators of the port struck an agreement to host the barge with the Home Office without formal public consultation, angering the local council and residents.

Conservative MP Richard Drax previously told The Independent legal action was still being considered to stop the governments plans for what he labelled a quasi-prison.

He accused ministers and Home Office officials of being unable to answer practical questions on how the barge will operate, such as how asylum seekers will be able to come and go safely through the port, what activities they will be provided with and how sufficient healthcare will be ensured.

The question is how do we cope? Mr Drax said. Every organisation has its own raft of questions: Where's the money coming from? Who's going to do what if this all happens? There are not sufficient answers, which is very worrying.

The Independent previously revealed that asylum seekers will have less living space than an average parking bay on the Bibby Stockholm, which saw at least one person die and reports of rape and abuse on board when it was used by the Dutch government to detain migrants in the 2000s.

An official brochure released by owner Bibby Marine shows there are only 222 single en-suite bedrooms on board, meaning that at least two people must be crammed into every cabin for the government to achieve its aim of holding 500 people.

Tory MP says asylum barges should be 'totally out of the question'

Dorset Council has said it still had serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario and remains opposed to the proposals.

The Conservative police and crime commissioner for Dorset is demanding extra government funding for the local force to meet the extra policing needs that this project will entail.

A multi-agency forum including representatives from national, regional and local public sector agencies has been looking at plans for the provision of health services, the safety and security of both asylum seekers and local residents and charity involvement.

Portland Port said it had been working with the Home Office and local agencies to ensure the safe arrival and operation of the Bibby Stockholm, and to minimise its impact locally.

The barge is part of a wider government push to move migrants out of hotels, which are currently housing more than 47,000 asylum seekers at a cost of 6m a day.

But the use of ships as accommodation was previously ruled out on cost grounds by the Treasury, when Rishi Sunak was chancellor, and the government has not confirmed how much it will be spending on the scheme.

The official brochure for the Bibby Stockholm shows 222 single bedrooms, but the Home Office says it will house 500 asylum seekers (Bibby Marine)

Ministers have also identified several former military and government sites, including two defunct airbases and an empty prison, that they want to transform into asylum accommodation.

But a court battle with Braintree District Council over former RAF Wethersfield is ongoing, and legal action has also been threatened over similar plans for RAF Scampton in Lancashire.

Last month, a barrister representing home secretary Suella Braverman told the High Court that 56,000 people were expected to arrive on small boats in 2023 and that some could be made homeless if hotel places are not found.

A record backlog of asylum applications, driven by the increase in Channel crossings and a collapse in Home Office decision-making, mean the government is having to provide accommodation for longer while claims are considered.
Gas prices have been predicted to nearly treble this winter across Europe.

Goldman Sachs has forecast that prices could rise beyond 100 per megawatt hour in the second half of 2023 - a threefold increase from the present rate of 36.

It comes as prices have fallen in both Asia and Europe, the Telegraph reported, after demand has been lower following a mild winter, strong inflows of natural gas, and stockpiling. Households have also been incentivised to use less gas.
The chief of the Metropolitan Police has defended the forces coronation arrests and claimed crowds actually cheered the crackdown.

Sir Mark Rowley said it was unfortunate the demonstrators were unable to join fellow activists on Saturday following their detention.

The six were the first arrests to be made under the sweeping Public Order Act, under suspicion of going equipped to lock-on  a measure protesters use to make it harder for police to move them.
Described as luxury living by the company that leases it, a barge set to house 500 asylum seekers has arrived in the UK.

The barge has been towed from its former berth in Italy, arriving in the port of Falmouth, Cornwall, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Set to be eventually stationed in Portland, Dorset, the three-story Bibby Stockholm is proposed as an alternative to housing refugees and asylum seekers in hotels. Only single adult males are to be housed onboard, the Home Office has confirmed.
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Nicola Bulley remains missing after exactly three weeks, with Lancashire Police now being criticised for disclosing the mum-of-twos struggles with alcohol and perimenopause.

The 45-year-old, was last seen on Friday 27 January at around 9.20am while walking her dog alongside the River Wyre in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire. Friends and family of the mother-of-two have said they will never give up hope of finding her.

Ms Bulleys phone was found, apparently still connected to a Microsoft Teams work call, on a park bench nearby, along with the harness and lead for her dog, Willow, a springer spaniel.

Nicola Bulley has not been seen since she went out to walk the dog (PA)

Around 30 minutes before her phone was discovered, the mortgage advisor had sent an email to her boss, followed shortly by a text to a friend to arrange a playdate. She sent the text at 8.57am shortly before logging into the Teams call, locals at a village meeting were told.

Below we take a look at a timeline of the case as the search continues.

Timeline of Nicola Bulley case

10 January

A response car staffed by both police and health professionals attended a report of concern for welfare at Ms Bulleys home address. No one was arrested in relation to the incident, which the force said was a result of her alcohol issues but it is being investigated.

Police did not reveal the incident until 15 February, some three weeks after Ms Bulley disappeared.

27 January - Day of disappearance

8.43am  Nicola walked along the path by the River Wyre, having dropped her children off at school

8:50am (approximately) - A dog-walker  somebody who knows Nicola  saw her walking around the lower field with her dog. Their two dogs interacted briefly before the witness left the field via the river path

8.53am  She sent an email to her boss

9.01am  She logged into a Teams call

9.10am (approximately)  A witness  somebody who knows Nicola  saw her on the upper field walking Willow. This has been corroborated by police.

9.20am (approximately)  Her mobile phone is linked to the area of a bench by the river

9.30am  The Teams call ended but Nicola stayed logged on

9.33am  A local dog walker finds Willow running around off her lead

9.35am (approximately)  Nicolas mobile phone, facing upwards, and Willow were found at the bench by another dog-walker. Willows harness and lead were halfway between the bench and the river.

10.50am  Nicolas family and the schools attended by her children were notified of her disappearance

11am  Nicola was reported missing to police

(Lancashire Police)

28 January

Police deployed fleets of drones, helicopters, and search dogs as it launched a major missing persons operation.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue also joined the hunt, accompanied by the Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team.

29 January

Local residents gather in the village hall and devise their own search.

30 January

Superintendent Sally Riley from said police were keeping a really open mind about what could have happened. She said the force was not treating Ms Bulleys disappearance as suspicious.

Ms Bulley with her partner Paul Ansell (Nicola Bulley/Facebook)

1 February

Ms Bulleys parents, Ernest and Dot, gave an interview to Sky News in which they describe the horror they might never see their daughter again.

This has just emptied our lives at the minute, we just feel so empty, Mr Bulley told the broadcaster.

2 February

Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a second witness. The witness told police they did not have any additional information which could aid the search.

North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit also launched a search near where Ms Bulleys mobile phone was recovered.

Police divers were also scouring the River Wyre while Ms Bulleys family issued a public appeal for information and support.

3 February

The force announced it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley fell into the River Wyre.

4 February

Lancashire Constabulary calls for a key witness, spotted pushing a pram near to where Ms Bulley disappeared, to come forward.

Ms Bulleys parents Ernest and Dot Bulley spoke about their agony as they wait for news (Sky News)

5 February

The woman described as key witness came forward.

Police said she was very much being treated as a witness and warned against speculation and abuse on social media.

6 February

Underwater search experts arrived to assist police in the search for Ms Bulley.

In a statement issued that same day, Ms Bulleys partner Paul Ansell said: Its been 10 days now since Nicola went missing and I have two little girls who miss their mummy desperately and who need her back.

7 February

Police dismiss suggestions of a criminal aspect in Ms Bulleys disappearance.

Elsewhere, underwater search expert Peter Faulding said he did not think Ms Bulley was in the water.

Underwater forensics expert Peter Faulding and his team search the river (PA Wire)

8 February

Mr Ansell described the perpetual hell he was experiencing of not knowing what happened to Ms Bulley.

Police search shifted from the river near to where she vanished further downstream and out towards the sea.

Police search teams were spotted where the River Wyre empties into the Irish Sea at Morecambe Bay near Knott End.

9 February

A dispersal order is issued by police to break up groups of amateur sleuths reportedly filming in the surrounding village where Ms Bulley disappeared.

10 February

Mr Ansell told of the unprecedented hell his family was experiencing but insisted they still had not given up hope of finding her.

A friend of Ms Bulleys, Emma White, said the investigation had been like torture

Mr Ansell at the search site with Mr Faulding (PA)

12 February

Yellow ribbons emblazoned with handwritten messages were left by friends and family, and attached to a bridge close to where Ms Bulley was last seen.

13 February

Wyre Council removed councillors contact information from its website, citing inappropriate emails and phone calls regarding Ms Bulleys disappearance.

14 February

Two people are arrested on suspicion of sending malicious communications over the disappearance of Ms Bulley.

Lancashire Police said it received reports over the weekend of messages being sent to Wyre Council members.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson and Detective Superintendent Rebecca Smith providing an update on the search (PA Wire)

15 February

Police hold a press conference, providing updates on what they have done in the last 19 days.

During the conference, police say Ms Bulleys case was graded as high-risk due to individual vulnerabilities, without elaborating.

In a later statement, given to clarify this assertion, police revealed Ms Bulley suffered with some significant issues with alcohol in the past which had resurfaced over recent months.

Sharing the personal information leads to a backlash, with MPs among those questioning how it helps the investigation.

16 February

After Lancashire Police disclose that Ms Bulley was struggling with menopause and alcohol-related issues, the force is criticised.

MPs accuse the force of victim blaming, while womens rights campaigners say they have reinforced dangerous stereotypes that women are crazy and hormonal.

Ms Bulleys family later releases a statement to say: "As a family, we were aware beforehand that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details about our Nikki.

Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there speculating and threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop.

Home secretary Suella Braverman is among those to raise concerns, asking the force to explain why they shared the personal information.

17 February

Police come under further scrutiny with the information commissioner saying he will look into the decision to release details.

John Edwards, the commissioner, said: Police can disclose information to protect the public and investigate crime, but they would need to be able to demonstrate such disclosure was necessary.

Dame Vera Baird, the former victims' commissioner for England and Wales, said: "I'm afraid this is the biggest error that I have seen for quite a long time.

"It's going to undermine trust in the police yet further."

09 May

Police who shared personal information about Nicola Bulley during the search will face no action, the Information Commissioners Office confirms.

Lancashire Police faced reviews by three separate bodies of its handling of the Bulley case after coming under heavy criticism.

An independent review by the College of Policing commenced on Tuesday, the countys police and crime commissioner said.
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The UK is locking up too many offenders, former prime minister Sir John Major has said, as he warned against excessive zeal to be tough on crime leading to unwise policy.

The ex-Tory leader argued that pointless short-term prison sentences are being imposed in cases where non-custodial measures would be more effective and fair.

He also urged the new Justice Secretary to abandon Dominic Raabs proposals to give ministers more power to block Parole Board decisions, warning the system should not be unduly pressured by public campaigns.

Sir John was prime minister when his home secretary, Michael Howard, told the party conference in 1993 that prison works.

But in Tuesdays intervention  the first on prisons and sentencing since his premiership  he called for a stronger focus on rehabilitation.

In a speech to the Prison Reform Trust at the Old Bailey, Sir John said: Stern sentences for violent crimes are necessary, and the instinct to protect the public is laudable  but we should beware that excessive zeal to be tough on crime does not lead us into unwise policy.

In the year to June 2022, 43,000 people were sentenced to a prison term, of which fewer than two in every five had committed a violent offence.

The UK has the highest imprisonment rates in Western Europe  and yet I find it hard to believe we British are uniquely criminal, he said.

Many prisoners  far too many, I believe  are sentenced to short-term imprisonment when other sentences would be preferable. In some cases, care and medical attention are called for rather than prison.

To be blunt  my suspicion is that many short sentences are pointless and that a non-custodial sentence would be more effective and, perhaps, more fair.

The former prime minister also warned of intolerable conditions in some prisons, where two to three inmates are sometimes held in a Victorian cell built for one person.

To have inmates held in worse conditions than in Victorian times is an indictment of policy that is hard to ignore, he said.

Sir John defended the Parole Boards ability to make sound decisions, pointing to the low reoffending rate  one in 200 prisoners  in the three years following release.

This would suggest that the Parole Board is not a bunch of gullible softies, he said.

Plans introduced by Mr Raab  who resigned from cabinet last month  to increase ministerial powers to veto board decisions may lead to a slippery slope, Sir John told the audience.

I understand that the former Justice Secretary sought the power to veto decisions made by what is allegedly the independent Parole Board, to release prisoners convicted of serious crimes, he said.

The problem with this is that I do not see how (or why) the Justice Secretary would be able to reach a more just decision than the Parole Board.

Any single Government Minister  however able or well-meaning  would be far more vulnerable to public campaigns and, under pressure, to make a harsher decision to appease them.

I do not think that any politician should have that power, and I hope the new Justice Secretary will reconsider or  if he does not  that Parliament will deny it.
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Two trains carrying 170 so-called Eurovision superfans arrived in Liverpool to be welcomed by drummers, drag queens and dancers.

Members of international fan network OGAE received the rapturous greeting at Liverpool Lime Street ahead of the competitions first semi-final on Tuesday.

The trains were operated by Avanti West Coast from London and by London Northwestern Railway from Birmingham.

Its such an honour for me to look after the superfans today Train manager Jan Fuller-Green

The train manager for the Avanti West Coast train was Jan Fuller-Green, an OGAE member who attended Eurovision events in Stockholm and Lisbon.

He said: Having travelled around Europe, its amazing to have the competition on our doorstep.

Its such an honour for me to look after the superfans today. Such amazing tales, all united by the love of Eurovision.

Music producer Peter Waterman joined the service at Crewe.

OGAE president Simon Bennett said: We are absolutely thrilled to be partnered with Avanti West Coast and to give our members a chance to travel to Liverpool in style.

The atmosphere in Liverpool is already fantastic but this means our members can get the party started even before they arrive in the city.

Nicola Ryder, commercial partnerships manager at Avanti West Coast, said: Were incredibly proud to play our part in getting this group of dedicated fans to and from Eurovision.

Liverpool always guarantees a friendly welcome and its the home of so many great musicians over the years, making it the perfect venue to host this years event on behalf of the people of Ukraine.

The atmosphere on the journey north was amazing and we have no doubt our guests will have a Eurovision to remember.

Many people visiting Liverpool will be affected by train strikes.

There will be major disruption due to action by Aslef on Friday and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the day of the final on Saturday.
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Former prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week to give a speech to show solidarity with the self-governed island in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour from China.

Ms Truss is also expected to meet Taiwanese government officials during the trip.

During her time as prime minister Ms Truss was widely expected to move the UK Government on to a more hawkish footing when it came to dealings with Beijing, wanting to declare China under Communist Party rule a threat to national security.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing Former prime minister Liz Truss

However, her brief time in Downing Street  cut short to only 44 days after her mini-Budget impact on the markets last year saw confidence in her premiership collapse  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Rishi Sunak chose not to go as far, updating the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is visiting the US this week, has previously said that isolating China would be a sign of weakness.

On Friday, he said that he raised the issue of Taiwan, and broached what is happening in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, during pre-coronation talks with Chinese vice-president Han Zheng.

It came before it was announced that the first UK ministerial visit to Hong Kong since Beijings crackdown on civil rights began in the former British colony is to take place, with investment minister Lord Johnson due to travel there.

In her speech next week, Ms Truss is expected to issue a rallying cry in the face of Chinese and Taiwanese tension.

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.

Ms Truss said: Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

She used a speech in the US last month to accuse western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen met the Chinese leader in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing.

Downing Street, asked what Mr Sunak made of his predecessors decision to visit Taiwan, said it was up to individual MPs where they choose to travel.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Our long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas. And thats underpinned by our shared democratic values.

For our part, the UK Government will continue to engage with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of a peaceful resolution in his meeting with the Chinese vice-president on Friday.

The spokesman also said it was completely appropriate for the Government to send a minister to Hong Kong given it was home to hundreds of businesses who help sustain a thriving 120 billion a year trade and investment relationship with the UK.

He added: It will again be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Chinas clampdown on freedoms and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which are directly hurting Hong Kongs people and the economy.
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Mark Drakeford has accused the UK Government of having a deliberate voter suppression agenda after reports people were turned away from ballot boxes in England last week due to new photo identification laws.

The First Minister told Senedd members the Welsh Government would not be introducing ID requirements for local and Senedd elections held in Wales.

Responding to a question during Tuesdays Plenary session, Mr Drakeford said the issue of voter fraud did not exist.

He claimed the Conservative Party was using far-right tactics from the United States to make it more difficult for people who might not support them to turn up and cast their vote.

Conservative member Darren Millar said he was baffled by the Welsh Governments position on the matter.

Voters were required for the first time on Thursday to show photo ID in order to collect their ballot paper.

More than 8,000 council seats in England were being contested across 230 local authorities, while mayors were being selected in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.

The Government has argued the change is required to reduce electoral fraud, but the move has been widely criticised over concerns of potential voter disenfranchisement.

In Wales, voters will now have to show photo ID at polling stations in some elections including Police and Crime Commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, Recall petitions and UK General elections.

However, they will not need to show ID to vote at Senedd elections or local council elections as the powers over those voting systems are devolved.

Mr Drakeford said: The chair of the Electoral Commission himself witnessed people being turned away from polling stations and very concerningly he witnessed those people we rely on to conduct elections suffering abuse from people who felt that they had been unfairly denied their democratic rights.

I have no doubt at all that Act is part of a deliberate voter suppression agenda pursued by the Conservative government.

The problem that is being created is that people who wish to participate in the democratic process are being denied that right and we will not collude in that in Wales Mark Drakeford

The way they think they can win elections is to learn the lessons from the far-right in the United States, and that is to make it more difficult for people who might not support them to turn up and cast their vote.

We will not be pursuing that course of action here in Wales. Our policies are designed to make it easier for people to cast their vote, not more difficult, he added.

There wasnt a single prosecution across the whole of the United Kingdom last year for voter fraud. This is a solution in search of a problem, a problem that doesnt exist.

The problem that is being created is that people who wish to participate in the democratic process are being denied that right and we will not collude in that in Wales.

Mr Millar said: This is about the security and integrity of our elections. We know that across the whole of western Europe voter ID is the norm, and in most western democracies it is the norm.

But it seems that you have an issue with it, perhaps because of your own partys record on fraud cases which have happened in Labour areas, such as the Tower Hamlets frauds, the Birmingham frauds as well, back in 2004.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: Its vital we keep our democracy secure, prevent the potential for voter fraud, and bring the rest of the UK in line with Northern Ireland which has had photo identification to vote in elections since 2003.

This follows successful pilots in 2018 and 2019, including in Woking where over 99% of people were able to successfully cast their vote.

Following local elections in May, it is essential that we understand how voter identification has operated in practice. Extensive analysis of the data collected from polls is now being undertaken by the Electoral Commission and the Government, with final reports set to be published later this year.
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Britains most senior police officer has defended the arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters and hit out at ill-informed commentary amid fierce criticism of the action taken.

Writing for the Evening Standard, Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said it was unfortunate that the demonstrators were unable to join fellow activists on Saturday following their detention.

The six were the first arrests to be made under the sweeping Public Order Act, under suspicion of going equipped to lock-on  a measure protesters use to make it harder for police to move them.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers, which came into force last week, saying it was right for officers to have the power to tackle serious disruption.

Sir Mark wrote in the Standard: While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protesters, I support the officers actions in this unique fast-moving operational context.

The six campaigners from Republic were arrested early on Saturday morning and detained for 16 hours.

They were released without charge after police conceded it could not be proved whether the protesters intended to lock-on.

Republics chief executive Graham Smith, who was among those arrested, is considering legal action against the Met after officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode.

He said three rather embarrassed officers apologised to him at his home in Reading, Berkshire, before handing back the straps for the placards they arrested him over.

I said for the record I wont accept the apology. We have a lot of questions to answer and we will be taking action, he told the PA news agency.

Mr Sunak told broadcasters during a visit to Southampton: Of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

What the Government has done is give the police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to peoples lives.

I think that is the right thing to do and the police will make decisions on when they use those powers.

The police and the Home Office have to get straight exactly how they protect our democratic rights at the same time as protecting the day for thousands of people David Davis, former Brexit secretary

In total, 64 people were arrested over the weekend, of which 52 were over police concerns that the coronation may be disrupted.

Sir Mark said it was frustrating the force could not share more information about some of the arrests while investigations continue.

He said: I can report that we found people in possession of possible lock-on devices and people that appeared to be purporting to be stewards of the event in possession of plastic bottles containing white paint, which we believe were specifically to be used to criminally disrupt the procession and resulted in arrests for going equipped to commit criminal damage.

Much of the ill-informed commentary on the day is wholly inaccurate  for example, protest was not banned.

I want to be absolutely clear  our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has asked for further information about why the Republic supporters were arrested, as well as volunteers for Westminster City Council charity Night Star which hands out rape alarms.

The leader of the council has requested an apology from the Met after all three Night Star volunteers were released without charge.

Cllr Aicha Less, deputy leader and cabinet member for Communities and Public Protection, said: We have met with the Metropolitan Police to discuss the arrest of our Night Stars, about which we have been deeply concerned.

We are pleased to confirm that all three of our volunteers, who provide such a valuable service to the community, have been released without charge and will not face any further action.

In addition, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Adam Hug, has also written to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police today, setting out the reasons for our concerns about the handling of this matter. He has also requested an apology is made to the three volunteers.

We continue to offer our Night Stars our full support and are also mindful about the potential impact of this matter on our night safety work, much of which is reliant upon members of the public giving up their free time. Thats why we will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police to keep the city safe and to learn from this unfortunate incident.

Former Greater Manchester Police chief Sir Peter Fahy said the Public Order Act used to detain the protesters was very poorly defined and far too broad.

Senior Tory MP David Davis called the legislation too crude and urged the Commons Home Affairs Committee to investigate.

Sir Peter told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We see the consequences of that particularly for the poor police officers who have got to try and make sense of the legislation that was passed only a few days ago.

This could affect all sorts of different protests in your local community, when youre unhappy about HS2 or a housing development or whatever, this legislation could be used against you, and the police would be under pressure.

Mr Davis, a former Brexit secretary, said the arrests show the legislation is too crude, too poorly defined.

The police and the Home Office have to get straight exactly how they protect our democratic rights at the same time as protecting the day for thousands of people, he told Today.

The whole law is defined really very broadly. Its also true for the stop-and-search powers as well. There are a whole series of elements of law which are just too broadly defined.

Downing Street was clear that it thinks the new powers are appropriate and in line with what the public want.

It wouldnt be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

He said that the Home Office had business as usual conversations with the Met ahead of the policing operation, after Republic demanded to know whether officers were acting at the behest of politicians.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman attended a number of meetings with the Metropolitan Police ahead of the coronation, the PA news agency has been told.

A Whitehall source characterised them as routine updates on the forces expectations and preparations for the operation, stressing the police remain operationally independent.
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Irelands deputy premier has said that the country is not relying on the RAF, and insisted that the air force does not patrol Irish skies.

Micheal Martin was responding to reports that there was a long-standing defence deal between the UK and Irish governments involving the RAF and Irish air space.

Speaking to the media before addressing a group representing Irish soldiers, Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Martin claimed the report was not accurate in terms of interdiction.

I believe that that story is not accurate that was released during the week, he told reporters.

We dont talk about international security, or national security more generally. But as I said yesterday, we need to be clear on this that anything that Government, any agreements that Government enter into, are fully aligned with national sovereignty and sovereign decision-making, and also with military neutrality.

He added: Were not relying on the RAF, as per reports, were not.

We have limitations in terms of capacity without question, thats not an issue. The focus is on improving that capacity over time.

He added: In terms of national security, we will deal with issues as they emerge, but I would point out, go back over the last two, three, four decades, the issues that youre referring to (an incursion) simply have not happened.

So we just need a bit of perspective and a bit of calm about this.

When it was put to him that the British Secretary of State had said in November that RAF jets had been in Irish air spaces on several occasions, Mr Martin said: There may have been occasions in the past, for different reasons, but again, I think a bit of common sense should prevail here.

I'm a bit impatient with that kind of language. Micheal Martin

The Tanaiste also said that it was not new news that Russian ships had appeared within Irish waters, and said that the monitoring of various navies and air operations has been happening for a long time.

In response to questions on whether Ireland is the weakest link in Europe, he said that Ireland was investing in its defensive capabilities as recommended by the Commission on Defence Forces report.

He said: Thats what were doing, we are investing in that now and the focus is on procurement now, of radar and so one and all of the necessary and ships and capacity on the equipment side  thats on the way.

Mr Martin acknowledged that it would take time for those defensive capabilities to be procured and delivered.

He added: Again, I think that language, Id have issues with it, quite frankly  its not as if the entirety of Europe is depending on us for its security, lets get a small bit real about all of this.

Im a bit impatient with that kind of language.

Id much prefer a more calmer debate with a degree of perspective, understanding and acknowledging our limitations, then, having acknowledged as we have, enabled Government decisions and the Commission on the Future of our Defence forces, improving our capacity and investing in people and investing in capacity.

He said that it had been outlined in the Commissions report that Ireland did not have sufficient defensive radar capabilities.

Mr Martin made the comments before addressing the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA), in Trim, Co Meath.

During his speech, he emphasised the improved starting pay conditions and announced healthcare provision for enlisted personnel.

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the announcement.

The health and wellbeing of my personnel has always been one of my key priorities as Chief of Staff and in particular, this initiative clarifying the position with regard to private secondary medical care for all members of the Defence Forces, he said.
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Boris Johnson confronted King Charles III over the Rwanda asylum policy  squaring up to him for branding the plan appalling, it has been alleged.

Guto Harri, No 10s director of communications under the former PM, claimed Mr Johnson told him he went in quite hard on the then-Prince of Wales in a remarkable meeting over royal interference in politics.

Charles and Mr Johnsons showdown discussion is said to have happened at a Commonwealth summit in the capital Kigali in June following the royals reported criticism of the plan to send failed asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Mr Johnson disputed his long-standing allys account as inaccurate, with a source saying he deplores any commentary on conversations with royals.

At the time, Mr Johnson described his discussion with Charles in Rwanda as a good old chinwag that covered a lot of ground.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Harri says that the meeting was less amicable than the ex-Tory leader had suggested at the time  claiming the pair also clashed over the royals views on slavery.

In June 2022, a source told newspapers that Charles was more than disappointed at the Rwanda policy, and thinks the governments whole approach is appalling.

The former No 10 spin doctor said Mr Johnson had suggested that Charles could have his people kill the story about the then-heirs unease over government Rwanda plans.

The former BBC journalist wrote: I went in quite hard, [Mr Johnson] told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of a democratically elected government.

Mr Harri added: Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, (saying): If you didnt say it we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they havent done that says it all.

Boris Johnson at the coronation of King Charles III (PA)

Speaking on LBC about his claim, Mr Harri backed his former boss and said: They did have a bit of a showdown  So it wasnt a fight. Obviously they didnt square up to get in the ring. But Boris, rightly, challenged the unelected royal at the time.

Asked about his claim that the King was busted, he said: The impression I got is that Prince Charles at the time was squirming, trying to deny hed said this  The fact that the story was allowed to stand and could not be denied meant that he had actually described government policy as appalling.

Mr Harri also claimed relations between the two men further soured after Mr Johnson warned Charles not to make a speech on slavery which could open the door to reparations  warning that he would have to sell the Duchy [of Cornwall] to pay for it.

The prince was about to argue for a deeper understanding of slaverys enduring impact. It was, he said, a conversation whose time has come.

The PM was appalled. And warned the prince in plain English, I wouldnt talk about slavery or youll end up being forced to sell the Duchy of Cornwall to pay reparations to those whose ancestors built it, Mr Harri added.

Charles and Boris Johnson in Rwanda ((Chris Jackson/PA))

Mr Harri claimed Charles and Mr Johnson had struggled to get on for years after the politician was late for a meeting while mayor, but that Rwanda was the final straw. Relations never fully recovered and Charles will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 before he ascended to the throne, he added.

Mr Johnson attended the Kings coronation at the weekend along with other former prime ministers  but is said to have had a difficult relationship with Charles since he was London mayor.

Mr Johnson brought Mr Harri into No 10 after a clear-out of aides over Partgate, bringing back his former City Hall communications adviser into his inner circle.

Former No 10 spin doctor Guto Harri (Reuters)

A source close to Mr Johnson said: This account is simply inaccurate and does not reflect the conversation that took place. Boris Johnson has had nothing to do with this podcast, had no knowledge of it and deplores any attempt to report such conversations in public.

Friends of Mr Johnson added that he deeply disapproved of the leaking of conversations with the heir to the throne and would never do so.

Meanwhile, Mr Harri also alleged that Mr Johnson called the former top civil servant who oversaw the Partygate inquiry a psycho.

He also claimed that Rishi Sunak would have been reshuffled out of the chancellor job if the ex-PM had stayed in office because of a major clash over the need for tax cuts.

Ex Downing Street comms chief says Boris Johnson thought Sue Gray was a psycho

Mr Harris comments come as Mr Johnsons supporters called on MPs to consider another leadership contest if Mr Sunak cannot turn around Tory fortunes.

David Campbell Bannerman  a key Boris Johnson supporter and chairman of the grassroots Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO)  said Mr Sunak should take the blame for the local election drubbing.

Conservative members are furious at this, Mr Bannerman told Times Radio. There needs to be a reset of policy  and if Rishi cant do that then we need to look at alternatives ... I personally would like to see Boris back.

Recommended Huge barge set to house 500 asylum seekers arrives in the UK

The former head of the British Army has attacked the plan to send migrants who arrived on small boats to Rwanda  saying the country is still living under the shadow of genocide.

General Sir Richard Dannatt told The Independent that Rwanda had a dark history and it is not the kind of country to which people fleeing conflicts should be sent.
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A senior Tory has attacked his partys own anti-protest bill as too crude and poorly defined after police faced backlash over its use to arrest coronation protesters.

Former minister David Davis said the arrest of six demonstrators, including Graham Smith , chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic , was an example of flaws in the bill.

Mr Davis was the only Conservative MP to oppose the governments Public Order Act, which hands police new powers to shut down protests before they occur by lowering the bar for serious disruption.

The bill, which was implemented just days before the coronation, also bans slow marching and can result in a six-month prison sentence for campaigners who use tactics to lock on to buildings.

Mr Davis told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that police have a very difficult job with major events such as the coronation cautioned: They have to police it with a view to democratic rights as well as to making sure that days are not ruined.

The police and the Home Office have to get straight exactly how they protect our democratic rights at the same time as protecting the day for thousands of people.

Mr Davis called for Parliaments home affairs select committee to bring in police chiefs to collect evidence on how to apply the Public Order Act. He said the bill is defined very broadly and called for a centralised set of guidelines on how it should be applied. If we are going to do it, we should do it properly, do it centrally and get the same level of democracy around the whole country, Mr Davis said.

Mr Davis called on the home affairs select committee to collect evidence on how to apply the Public Order Act from police chiefs (PA)

Sir Peter Fahy, former head of Greater Manchester Police, agreed with Mr Davis, telling the programme the Public Order Act was poorly defined and far too broad.

We see the consequences of that, particularly for the police officers, who have got to try to make sense of legislation that was only passed a few days ago, he said.

And Sir Peter suggested political pressure, including from Tory party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, was partially to blame. He highlighted calls from Mr Anderson in April for the Sir Mark to take tougher action against Just Stop Oil protestors.

The criticism comes after Scotland Yard expressed regret that the six people arrested ahead of the Kings coronation were unable to join fellow anti-monarchy protests after they were detained for up to 16 hours. The Metropolitan Police was threatened with legal action after no charges were brought against those who were held.

The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested the group using new powers under the much-criticised Public Order Act as officers believed items found alongside a large number of placards could be used as lock-on devices to cause disruption.

Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event, the statement said.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith said a chief inspector and two other Metropolitan Police officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode after they visited him on Monday evening.

The force later confirmed Mr Smith and five others were told they would face no further action.

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the policing of the coronation. Sir Mark described the arrest of six anti-monarchy campaigners as "unfortunate'' but stressed that he supported the arresting officers' actions. And Britains most senior police officer claimed celebrating crowds applauded and cheered while his officers arrested people close to the processional route.

And Prime minister Rishi Sunak defended the new powers used to arrest protesters. His official spokesman would not comment on specific decisions around the arrests, but said the government stands by these powers.

No10 said the powers are appropriate and in line with what the public want.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: I think the public has been alarmed by the chaos caused by highly disruptive protesters over the last few years and the legislation was brought in to balance the fundamental rights of protesters with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of serious disruption to their daily lives.

It wouldnt be right to judge a whole piece of legislation based on one example.

And health minister Neil OBrien said he thought the force did an excellent job policing the coronation.

Labour has come under pressure from other opposition parties to say whether it would scrap the Tories law if they were elected to power.

The SNPs Chris Stephens said Labour were spineless, while the Liberal Democrats Alistair Carmichael said any party happy to support the new powers is no supporter of civil liberties and should think again.

Labours Lisa Nandy on Tuesday said while something had gone wrong for the protestors arrested at the coronation, the party would not engage in the wholesale repeal of legislation.

If there is a problem with the legislation, of course we will rectify that in government, she told BBC Breakfast.
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Watch again as Labour asked the government to provide a statement on the policing of King Charles IIIs coronation following criticism of the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters.

Scotland Yard has expressed regret that the six people arrested ahead of the event were unable to join fellow anti-monarchy protesters.

The Metropolitan Police were threatened with legal action when no charges were brought.

Following the coronation, Republic chief executive Graham Smith said a chief inspector and two other Metropolitan Police officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode after they visited him on Monday evening (8 May).

We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route, a tweet from the Met Police read after the coronation.

Rishi Sunak had earlier backed the force over the dozens of arrests of protesters amid concerns they were cracking down on the right to protest.

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An interview on GB News with a Covid vaccine sceptic  in which the jab was compared to mass murder  was in breach of broadcasting rules, Ofcom has found.

The media watchdog said the episode of The Mark Steyn Show on the right-wing channel, which aired in October 2022, was in significant breach of its code.

The programme featured an interview with Canadian author Dr Naomi Wolf, who claimed the vaccine rollout was a pre-meditated crime amounting to mass murder, and was comparable to the actions of doctors in pre-Nazi Germany.
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Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of moral cowardice over the expulsion of Jeremy Corbyn in a devastating personal attack by another senior Labour figure.

Former Labour minister Chris Mullin claims Sir Keirs decision to expel Corbyn from the party over an antisemitism row was cynical bid to appease the mob.

Some of Corbyns critics were not fit to tie his shoelaces, says Mullin.

EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS MULLIN DIARIES Chris Mullin, who was a Labour MP for more than 20 years and a minister under Tony Blair, has won plaudits for the first three instalments of his political diaries, described as wickedly indiscreet and a treat to be savoured. The Independent is exclusively serialising the fourth volume.

In a separate provocative jibe, Mullin describes Starmers decision to appear alongside the union flag in Labour videos as fatherlandism and phoney patriotism.

The term fatherland refers to a persons native country  but is most closely associated with Hitlers Germany.

The claims are contained in Mullins latest memoir, Didnt You Use To Be Chris Mullin?, which is being serialised exclusively in The Independent.

The diarist, novelist, and former MP, 75, played a key role in freeing the Birmingham Six, Irish men wrongly convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1974 Birmingham pub bombs.

Mullin, who served in Tony Blairs government, says he is so disgusted by Starmers treatment of Corbyn that he has considered leaving Labour.

He praises Corbyn for showing dignity in the face of the extraordinary quantity of shite thrown at him while leader.

Chris Mullin was Labour MP for Sunderland South until 2010 (PA)

On Starmers decision not to readmit Corbyn to the Labour Party, Mullin says: It may appease the mob, but it is an act of moral cowardice.

He says he backs Corbyns claim that allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party are exaggerated.

It upsets me to see him cynically thrown to the wolves. For the first time in more than 50 years, having stuck with the Labour Party through thick and thin, I begin to wonder if I still belong in it.

Mullin says Corbyn and his blinkered supporters bore much of the blame for Labours defeat in the 2019 election. But he goes on: Jeremy has behaved with dignity throughout, despite the extraordinary quantity of shite that has rained down upon him, much of it from people unworthy to tie his shoelaces.

Mullin also pours scorn on Starmers decision to use a union flag backdrop in an official party video in a bid to appeal to voters in Labours working-class heartlands.

Keir Starmer in front of a union jack (ugh), which I gather is known in PR circles as fatherlandism. Why cant we leave phoney patriotism to the Tories?

The term is thought to have been coined by Corbynite Labour MP Clive Lewis in 2021 after it emerged that Starmer planned to focus on patriotism to win back voters.

Mr Lewis said then: Its not patriotic, its fatherlandism  there is a better way to build social cohesion than moving down the track of the nativist right.

Mullin also says MPs are making fools of voters by working a two-day week at the Commons.

He says a modern MPs typical Westminster working week starts around midday on Monday  and ends the same time on Wednesday.

He writes: For the rest of the week the chamber is almost dead. If MPs dont take parliament seriously, why should anyone else?

Mullin also reveals he was once stalked by a woman activist who wrote obscene messages and stayed in his spare room.

And he controversially criticises Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for returning 2m to charity sponsors after claims that waitresses were sexually harassed by businessmen who attended an event.

I know I shall get into trouble for even thinking this aloud, writes Mullin, but what sort of world are we living in when the interests of chronically sick and deprived children are swept aside in a tide of feminist outrage?

It is a reference to the notorious Presidents Club event in Mayfair in 2016 where secret film exposed sexual impropriety at a lavish charity event attended by senior figures from business and politics.

Mullin also takes potshots at a number of fellow Labour politicians.

He calls former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown weird and accuses him of volcanic rages and chronic indecision.

And he brands former Labour MP Owen Smith, who unsuccessfully tried to depose Mr Corbyn, a shyster.
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Labour leader Keir Starmer will warn his shadow cabinet the hardest part lies ahead despite signs voters are returning to the party after leaving over Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn.

Amid warnings Labour could fall short of a majority, Sir Keir is set to tell his top team they must show how the party would create a big reforming government rather than relying on the Tories unpopularity.

The opposition leader will acknowledge there remains a lot of scepticism about politics and will tell them they must show they have plans that offer not just reassurance, but the hope the country needs.

Labour gained 536 council seats in last weeks polls while the Conservatives lost 1,000 councillors. The opposition was particularly buoyed by winning control of councils in the Brexit-backing areas of Dover, Blackpool, Medway and Stoke.

Sir Keir believes Rishi Sunak has made a strategic error by thinking that voters are more concerned with woke issues than the cost of living and the crisis in the NHS.

In the coming weeks, Labour will try to persuade more voters they are ready for power by unveiling details of its missions on education reform, clean power and making the NHS fit for the future as it seeks to bolster support.

Professor John Curtice and other leading polling experts have said the opposition may fall short of winning an overall majority in the Commons without further progress ahead of the general election expected next year.

Sir Keir will issue his own warning at the regular meeting of his shadow cabinet. The hardest part lies ahead, he is expected to say. People who turned away from us during the Corbyn years and the Brexit years are coming back.

But there is understandably a lot of scepticism about politics out there and now we need to go from reassurance to hope. We need to show that we will be a big reforming government bringing hope of a better life for working people.

Sir Keir Starmer celebrates in Chatham, Kent after the party won Medway Council (PA)

Sir Keir argues that the Conservatives are doing too little, too late to repair the damage they have done to the health service. The NHS trumps woke every day of the week," Sir Keir will tell his shadow cabinet.

The Independent understands Labour is also considering putting higher taxes on foreign buyers of UK homes as the party seeks to pressure the government on the housing crisis.

The opposition plans to increase the 2 per cent surcharge on stamp duty for overseas buyers, ban them purchasing more than 50 per cent of homes in a development and introduce a rule allowing first-time buyers priority access to new developments.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak refused to apologise for the dire Tory local election losses on Monday, as he promised to work night and day to deliver on the priorities he has set for the nation.

Rishi Sunak hugs a lunch club member at Mill End Community Centre in Rickmansworth, Herts on Monday (AP)

Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke said the PMs major mistake of dropping housebuilding targets had played a role in the poor performance, while ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith and deputy chairman Lee Anderson said tax cuts were the key to election victory next year.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf said on Monday that he is confident his party can triumph over Labour in Scotland at next years general election  and win any independence referendum the SNP can extract from Labour in a hung parliament.

With projections suggesting Labour could struggle to gain an overall majority at Westminster, the SNP is keen to make clear its negotiating position.

Mr Yousaf said: Id be confident of both winning the general election and confident, of course, of winning an independence referendum, adding that the SNP could obtain the prize of a referendum, as well as kicking the Tories out of Scotland.

Sir Keir has repeatedly said there will be no deals with the SNP after an election. But Labour has not explicitly ruled out a coalition with the Lib Dems in the event of a hung parliament.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey suggested that another referendum on a proportional representation (PR) voting system would be a key demand for a coalition. PR is absolutely on the table for the Liberal Democrats, of course it is, he told the BBC on Sunday.

Buoyed by success in taking more than 400 council seats, Sir Eds party is up four points on 16 per cent in the latest Redfield and Wilton poll  the highest showing in the firms surveys since the 2019 general election.
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Anas Sarwar was confident of a Labour majority ahead of the next general election as he brushed off claims of a coalition U-turn from the SNPs Westminster leader.

The Scottish Labour leader told the PA news agency that the English local election results, which saw significant gains for the party, highlighted the demand for change across the UK.

But initial projections from the local government results have suggested Labour may not win enough seats to gain a majority.

And Mr Sarwar said unseating SNP MPs in Scotland will be key to that victory.

Speaking at Glasgow Airport on Tuesday, Mr Sarwar said: It is absolutely clear that those results demonstrate that we would have a majority Labour government because there werent elections in Scotland, Wales and in London.

If you add those results across local government results that you saw in England, with what we expect to happen in Scotland, Wales but also in London, we can deliver that majority Labour government.

It comes as he rubbished comments from Stephen Flynn who said UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would backtrack on his stance of rejecting a coalition with the SNP in the event of a hung parliament.

Speaking on BBC Scotlands Good Morning Scotland, Mr Flynn said of Sir Keir: He is not going to walk away from becoming prime minister simply to deny many of our asks.

We are going all out for a majority Labour Government and I believe Scotland will help deliver the seats that helps get that majority Labour government Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader

The conditions of a deal with the SNP would include prioritising the cost-of-living in policies and handing Holyrood the powers to hold an independence referendum, he said.

But Mr Sarwar repeated the refusal to work with the party at Westminster. He said: No ifs, no buts, no deals with the SNP.

We are going all out to get rid of this rotten Tory Government, all out to get a majority Labour government, and if we fall short of that, the SNP have a clear choice, they can either choose to welcome a Labour government, or allow a Tory government.

And I dare the SNP to usher in a Tory government and see how Scotland reacts.

He added: We are going all out for a majority Labour government and I believe Scotland will help deliver the seats that helps get that majority Labour government.

Mr Sarwar also accused Mr Flynn of aspiring to be a replica of Douglas Ross after he called for tactical voting at the next general election.

Mr Flynn urged Labour and Liberal Democrat voters to vote SNP to block the Tories, while Scottish Tory leader Mr Ross came under fire for suggesting unionist voters should back the party with the best chance of defeating the SNP.

On the BBC Scotland programme this morning, Mr Flynn also said: This is the same Keir Starmer who quite openly dropped his opposition to Brexit, he dropped his opposition to nationalisation, he dropped his opposition to scrapping tuition fees, and he dropped his opposition at the weekend to repealing anti-protest legislation.

We know that Keir Starmer is desperate to be prime minister. The key thing here is that the Tories have continued to ignore Scotland  will Labour?

Keir Starmer is a man who has broken many of his pledges, not just to the Labour party but to the wider British public in order to try and become prime minister.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said Sir Keir was counting on some kind of backroom coalition or deal to get into Downing Street, adding: Stephen Flynn knows  as voters do  that Labour would cave into SNP demands for Indyref2 if that was the price for getting the keys to Downing Street.
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Attending the Kings coronation was the right thing to do, the Sinn Fein vice president has said.

Michelle ONeill attended the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey on Saturday alongside other party leaders from Northern Ireland, including the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Ms ONeills presence at the coronation was seen as another demonstration of the markedly improved relations between the republican movement and the royal family since the peace process.

At the partys 2023 local election manifesto launch in Newry on Tuesday, Ms ONeill said differing political aspirations should be respected.

I attended the coronation event, because I believe that that was the right thing to do, she said.

I believe that if were going to build a better society, and look towards the future, and a better future for our children and our grandchildren, then we have to have the confidence in ourselves and who we are, and to respect our differences.

And we all have equally legitimate political aspirations and outlooks, and thats OK. But lets be comfortable enough to be respectful of each other. Lets be comfortable enough to build that better future.

And lets keep our eyes on the next 25 years, and weve just celebrated 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, and whats been achieved is amazing, despite all the political ups and downs, whats been achieved is amazing.

And Im focused on the future, and weve talked about change and the changing political landscape, and where we want things to go in the future  lets make sure that everybody feels comfortable, and feels valued and is treated equally in our society, because then wed have the recipe for something better for everybody.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that Ms ONeills representation of the party at the coronation was a show of respect for Unionists.

I just wanted to say very clearly that Michelles attendance, Sinn Feins attendance at the coronation, was a mark of recognition and respect for our Unionist citizens, for British people who are British now in a partitioned Ireland, and who will be British in the United Ireland, and its an explicit recognition of that, she said.

She added: We all live here together, for goodnesss sake, when there is an act of, of respect, kindness, inclusion, lets take that. Thats what I think we should do for each other.
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A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death in Dagenham on Friday.

Metropolitan Police confirmed the 15-year-old, from Colchester, was arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate violent disorder offence after 18-year-old Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu, known as Jordan, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station.

Officers were called at 11.47pm following reports of men armed with machetes close to the station.

Police and paramedics from London Ambulance Service attended the scene where a man was found with stab injuries  and despite efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.

A post-mortem on Sunday found Mr Kukabus cause of death was a single stab wound to the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector James Shirley, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: My thoughts remain with the young mans family and friends. Dedicated detectives have been working around the clock since this tragic incident as we strive to identify and apprehend those responsible for killing Jordan.

Our investigation is making significant progress, including the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in the early hours May 9. Local people have provided us with information, which together with forensic inquiries and analysis of CCTV is enabling us to build a picture of what happened on Friday night.

I am grateful to everyone who has provided information. There will be other people with information that would assist our investigation and I urge them to come forward and share what they know or any relevant footage.

This can be done anonymously through Crimestoppers should anyone prefer not to speak with police.

A 20-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder has since been released with no further action, but has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and is currently on bail.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 8711/05 May.
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Wales devolved Government should be given control of Crown properties worth billions, in order to drive prosperity, Plaid Cymrus Westminster leader has said.

Liz Saville Roberts said devolving control over the Crown Estates properties in Wales could help end a begging bowl culture, and give Cardiff more say over financial decision-making.

She also suggested it could be used to provide better energy security and ease the rising cost of living in Wales.

Ms Saville Roberts said it was an apposite time to discuss devolution of the estate, with the Kings coronation taking place over the weekend.

The Crown Estate is an independent company which belongs to the monarch for the duration of their reign, though the revenue from its 16 billion property portfolio flows directly to the Treasury.

The Sovereign Grant, which pays for the Kings official duties as head of state, is currently set at 25% of the Crown Estates annual profits, including a 10% uplift to pay for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace.

The estates holdings north of the border were devolved to Scotland in 2016, and its revenue now goes to the Scottish Government.

The Crown Estate owns the UK seabed out to 12 nautical miles, and Ms Saville Roberts said an arrangement similar to Scotland would give Wales a direct say in how the profits from new floating wind farms planned off the Welsh coast would be spent.

She told the PA news agency: The Crown Estate should be devolved to Wales because there is now so much potential, particularly with floating offshore wind, for us in Wales, to make sure that this isnt just another extractive exercise.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP suggested that if the profits from this were in the hands of the devolved Government in Cardiff Bay, it could be used to provide better energy security and lower heating costs for Welsh homes.

She said it could be a step in transforming Wales struggling economy, telling PA: One of the criticisms that any Welsh politician on the left will face is that we are forever asking for more money, that we are asking for the Barnett Formula to be revised.

The Crown Estate should be devolved to Wales because there is now so much potential, particularly with floating offshore wind, for us in Wales, to make sure that this isnt just another extractive exercise Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymrus Westminster leader

I am very interested in what are the mechanisms that we could bring to Wales that would allow us to build our own economy more effectively, and not to be an adjunct.

The Plaid MP said previous attempts to raise the issue with the Conservative Westminster Government had been a non-starter.

She said her party would be certainly pushing the cause if Sir Keir Starmers Labour were to win the next general election.

It would be deeply hypocritical of Labour to ascend to power in Westminster, when they have held power in Wales since 1999, not to act on something where their longest standing Government have come out in favour of it, she added.

Ms Saville Roberts, a member of the Privy Council who describes herself as a republican, said she had long raised the matter before it was known a coronation would take place this year.

She said: It is apposite now of course, because people are considering how the royal family are funded.

Speaking ahead of the coronation weekend, the Plaid MP said: I think in terms of the cost-of-living crisis and people making the comparison between a massive public expenditure on a coronation which is not constitutionally necessary, it does make people think about where priorities lie.

There will be people on the day of the coronation who will have a wonderful day, they will look forward to it, they will enjoy it and I really hope they do. I wish them all the best for that.

She added: I want to play my part in building Wales as a nation where we stand on our own two feet, where we are confident of moving into the future, where we are not having to put out the begging bowl, and to work with the people of Wales on small and large suggestions about how to do that.

I think the devolution of the Crown Estate, it feels fair, it feels equitable, and we could do so much with this.

It could be one critical step that could make so much difference to the Welsh economy in the furthest westernmost regions of north and south Wales.

I ask the Government of the day to engage with this, and I would ask Conservatives who say that Welsh Government should get on with the day job, well, this is part of the day job.

Growing the economy is part of the day job.

Ministers have previously said they are not in favour of Ms Saville Roberts proposals.

While serving as secretary of state for Wales, Simon Hart last year told the House of Commons there was no public appetite at all in Wales to devolve the Crown Estate.

The Conservative MP, now Government chief whip, also suggested at the time that devolving the estate would  fragment the market and delay the further development of key projects in the floating offshore wind sector.

A Crown Estate spokesman said: The Crown Estate works closely with the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales to manage land and the seabed sustainably over the long term and to bring broader economic, social and environmental benefits to Wales.
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The UK would welcome an intervention by Chinese president Xi Jinping to help broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, according to the Foreign Secretary.

Speaking during a visit to the US, James Cleverly said Britain would not be critical if Mr Xi chose to use his significant degree of influence with Russian president Vladimir Putin to bring about a just and sustainable peace settlement.

The Cabinet minister also warned the West that it had to be ready for the expected spring offensive by Kyiv to fail to make a decisive breakthrough against Russias troops.

Taking questions during an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, Mr Cleverly was asked for his view on whether the West should be open to Beijing playing a role in trying to co-ordinate a ceasefire in eastern Europe.

If he can help restore the sovereignty of Ukraine and get Russian troops out of that country then Im not going to be critical of that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

Mr Xi is thought to be on good terms with Mr Putin, having visited Moscow in March.

China, which has said it wants to act as mediator in Russias war with Ukraine, has tried to appear neutral but has refused to criticise the Kremlins invasion.

Mr Cleverly said: I would welcome the intervention that brought this war to a just and sustainable conclusion from wherever it came.

And I dont think we should be dog in the manger about this. We know that Xi enjoys a significant degree of influence with Vladimir Putin.

If he can use that influence to deliver on what he has publicly stated that he feels strongly about  which is sovereignty, territory, integrity, the non-threat of use of nuclear weapons  then why would we be critical of that intervention if it is meaningful and if he actually delivers upon it? (Those are) two big ifs.

But if through his intervention he can help restore the sovereignty of Ukraine and get Russian troops out of that country, then Im not going to be critical of that.

But it needs to be more than just headline-grabbing stuff, it needs to be genuine intervention.

Mr Cleverly also said the West needed to be braced for the 15-month conflict in Ukraine to get scary as he warned it may not follow a Hollywood script.

He urged the UK and its allies to stick with Kyiv, arguing it was better to be dealing with the threat of Moscow now rather than have to put more resources into battling Mr Putins aggression further down the line.

The comments come against the backdrop of long-held expectations that Ukraine is planning a counterpunch offensive in a bid to push the Kremlins troops back from the current frontlines.

We need to recognise that there might not be a simple, quick, decisive breakthrough, Mr Cleverly said.

And the point that weve made in the UK is that we have to stick with them.

Now I hope and expect theyll do very well because whenever Ive seen Ukrainians, theyve outperformed expectations. But we have to be realistic. This is the real world, this is not a Hollywood movie.

Things are complicated, things are messy, things are difficult, things will get scary.

We will expect to hear escalatory words coming out of Vladimir Putins lips  we need to be ready for that, we need to have the resolve to continue to do the right thing, notwithstanding those comments.

Asked whether he thought the Wests armed response had been commensurate with the challenge posed by Russia, Mr Cleverly added: There is a strong argument that we shouldnt leave our respective military cupboards bare.

My answer is that: if were saving stuff up for a rainy day, this is the rainy day.
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Eight people have died and seven were injured when a gunman dressed in tactical gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.

The suspect was shot dead by a police officer who was responding to an unrelated call, police said.

He has been identified by law enforcement sources as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, according to NBC News.

Hundreds of shoppers fled from Allen Premium Outlets, a large outdoor shopping centre, after gunfire erupted at about 3.30pm local time on Saturday.

Seven people, including the gunman, were pronounced dead at the scene, and one more died after being taken to hospital, the Allen Police Department said.

Heres what we know so far about the shooting.

How the shooting unfolded

Dashcam video circulating on social media appeared to show the gunman getting out of a grey sedan just outside the malls entrance and immediately beginning to shoot at passersby in the carpark.

More than three dozen shots could be heard in the footage.

Witnesses told CNN that panicked shoppers screamed and hid behind cars as the suspect shot indiscriminately.

Inside the mall, families and employees rushed to take cover in storage areas and hallways, witnesses said.

According to Allen police, an officer attending an unrelated call at Allen Premium Outlets heard gunshots at 3.36pm on Saturday.

The officer engaged the suspect and neutralised the threat, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Hundreds of shoppers exiting the Allen Premium Outlets after a mass shooting on Saturday. (Associated Press)

Audio footage obtained by the Daily Mail captured the officer telling dispatch: I need everybody I got.

About two minutes after calling for backup, the officer told said he got him down.

The area was soon flooded with law enforcement officers and medics.

An image obtained by the media appeared to show the suspect lying on the ground after being shot.

He was dressed in black body armour, with additional magazines strapped to his chest, and an AR-15-style rifle was lying beside him.

Maxwell Gum, a 16-year-old pretzel stand worker, told the Associated Press that terrified shoppers stampeded as they sought safety. He said that he sheltered in a storage room.

Another witness Kingsley Ezeh told CNN he heard a woman behind him scream someones shooting, and saw a man holding a neck wound that was dripping with blood.

Mr Ezeh said he and others huddled at the back of a store for more than two hours as police cleared the scene.

Allen resident Steven Spainhouer said he rushed to the scene after his son, who was working at an H&M store in the outlet, called him.

Dashcam footage shows the gunman opening fire ( AP)

Mr Spainhouer said he saw several children among the deceased, and tried to perform CPR on several victims. At least three of the people he tried to save succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

I never imagined in 100 years I would be thrust into the position of being the first first responder on the site to take care of people, Mr Spainhouer told CBS News.

The first girl I walked up to was crouched down covering her head in the bushes, so I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side and she had no face.

Video footage showed hundreds of shoppers exiting the mall with their hands raised.

What we know about the victims

Seven people  including the suspect  were killed at the scene, Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said at a press conference on Saturday. Nine people were transported to hospital, where two more succumbed to their injuries.

Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security guard at the mall, was identified by family members as one of the victims on Sunday.

LaCours grandmother posted a tribute to her grandson on social media.

He was such a beautiful soul, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him 2 weeks ago.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, an engineer who moved to the US from India, was also killed in the attack.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

Thatikonda was shopping with a friend at the mall when she was shot and killed by the gunman, a family representative told WFAA.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, died in the Allen mall shooting

Her friend was also shot and injured in the shooting and is currently in stable condition in hospital.

Thatikondas family is planning to fly her body to India where she has family.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting (Family photo)

Kyu Song Cho, 37, Cindy Cho, 35, were out shopping with their two sons, William Cho, 6, and James Cho, 3 when the horrific mass shooting occurred, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family.

Kyu, Cindy and James all lost their lives during the shooting.

William is the only surviving member of the family.

Parents Cindy and Kyu Cho were killed along with their three-year-old son James in the Texas mall shooting (GoFundMe)

Elementary school sisters, Daniela Mendoza, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were also killed in the shooting.

Daniela, a fourth grader, and Sofia, a second grader, were out with their mother Ilda Mendoza when the shooting occurred.

Ilda remains in the hospital according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed at the Allen mall massacre (GoFundMe)

A 32-year-old man named Elio Cumana-Rivas also died during the shooting.

Three survivors were undergoing surgery and remained in critical condition on Saturday night, while four others were in stable condition.

Medical City Healthcare spokesperson Janet St James, said their trauma facilities received eight patients between the age of 5 and 61 following the shooting.

What we know about the suspect

Mauricio Garcia, 33, was identified on Sunday as the gunman who killed seven innocent shoppers and a mall staff in Saturdays horror attack.

Garcia drove to the mall with several weapons and opened fire as soon as he stepped out of his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle and a handgun were reportedly found on him and in his car.

Police have not released a possible motive, but investigators are looking into Garcias possible neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs.

Garcia was wearing black body armour and a patch on his chest that suggested he may have harboured extremist ideologies, law enforcement sources told The Washington Post.

The patch read RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad, a popular phrase among far-right extremists.

Police sources told NBC News that Garcia had posted and engaged with neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online.

People gather at the shopping mall after the mass shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A social media profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru that seems to have belonged to Garcia gives a glimpse into his thought process in the days before the attack.

Posts seen by The Independent show Garcia posted more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and Google information that shows when the mall is at its busiest.

He also included photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

Garcia entered the US Army in June 2008 but was terminated three months into his initial training, Heather J Hagan, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman, said in a statement provided to The Independent.

Mauricio Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008; he was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterisation of discharge for any soldier, Ms Hagan said.

However, a US Army official indicated Garcia was terminated due to, Other designated physical or mental conditions.

After that, he became a security guard, most recently working for an aluminum supply company.

Through his work as a security guard, Garcia underwent firearms proficiency training as recently as 2018, according to the Texas Online Private Security database.

The online records show that he began training in 2015 before becoming a commissioned security officer in April 2016.

His licence expired in April 2020.

During that time, he is listed as working for three security companies: Ruiz Protective Service, Statewide Patrol and Verified Response Security & Investigations.

Police officer on the scene of the mall shooting

It is unclear why his security guard licence was suspended.

It is unclear if he had any connection to the mall where he carried out Saturdays rampage.

Private security guards are vetted and are barred from gaining a license if they have convictions for crimes such as assault or sexual offenses, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to CBS News reporter JD Miles, Garcia was a security guard with no serious criminal record.

At the time of the shooting, Garcia had reportedly been living in a motel.

A girl runs as other shoppers leave with their hands up after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas (via REUTERS)

FBI agents raided a Dallas home where Garcia had been living with his parents for years, according to Fox News.

Officers were stationed outside the address on Sunday. The suspects family requested a translator to speak with authorities.

The Texas Bureau of Public Safety is leading the investigation into the suspect. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Rangers have also been deployed to assist local law enforcement agencies with the investigation.

What lawmakers are saying

Allen Mayor Ken Fulk said in a statement that the quick thinking of law enforcement had prevented greater loss of life.

Their thorough training not to hesitate to move toward the threat likely saved more lives today.

He said the community would wrap our arms around the victims and families impacted by the tragedy.

Allen is a proud and safe city which makes todays senseless act of violence even more shocking, he said.

Law enforcement officers at a mall in Allen, Texas, where a gunman killed eight people on Saturday. (Associated Press)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who recently signed laws easing gun restrictions, called the mall shooting an unspeakable tragedy.

His comments were met with anger from gun safety advocates, and state and national lawmakers.

Roland Gutierrez, a Texas state senator, told MSNBC there was a special place in hell for lawmakers who do nothing to stem the unprecedented wave of gun violence.

I dont care about their thoughts and I dont care about their prayers, Mr Gutierrez said.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was murdered in the Parkland school shooting, called on Mr Abbott to tell Texans the truth about why mass shootings continue to occur.

You need to explain that your policies failed and that you lied. Your policies are to blame.

Survivors of the Allen mall mass shooting are escorted away from the scene by police officers. (via REUTERS)

President Joe Biden implored Congress to send him a bill banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and enacting universal background checks.

Republican Members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug, he said in a statement. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.

He ordered American flags at the White House, public buildings and on military bases to fly at half mast as a mark of respect to the victims.

Senator Ted Cruz said he was praying for the victims and the wider Collin County community.

Thank you to the incredible law enforcement who put a stop to the monster who committed this act of evil.

The shooting came one week after five family members were killed by a neighbour in Cleveland after asking him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been nearly 200 mass shootings already in 2023.

FBI asks for video of shooting

The FBI is asking for anyone with video, audio or photographic evidence of Saturdays shooting to share it with them.

The bureau has set up a portal where evidence can be submitted anonymously.

The FBI told CNN it was present at two locations in Dallas, and is helping state and local police by devoting all available resources to include investigative, intelligence, digital forensics, and victim services personnel among others.

Texas dark weekend

The mall shooting marked the start of a dark weekend for Texas.

In Brownsville, eight people were killed when an SUV slammed into a crowd of people outside a migrant shelter in the border city on Sunday afternoon.

Horrifying footage, taken from a security camera and shared by Texas Rep Henry Cuellar, shows a group of people waiting for a bus outside the citys Ozanam Center. The SUV then rams into the victims.

Seven people died before an eighth victim succumbed to their injuries in hospital later that day. At least nine others were hospitalised.

Most of the victims were Venezuelan men who had spent the night at the shelter and were boarding a bus to return to downtown Brownsville.

Officials initially said that the incident appeared to be intentional and described the driver  whose identity remains unknown  as very uncooperative.

Police on the scene of the car crash in Brownsville

Also on Sunday, one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on a DART train in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday  just a 30-minute drive from the mall massacre.

Gunfire broke out on board a Green Line train near Hatcher Station when two people got into an argument on Sunday afternoon, accoding to authorities.

DART police said that officers were called to reports of a shooting on the northbound train at around 4.30pm.

Officers arrived on the scene to find two people  one of them a bystander  suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were both transported to local hospitals where one of the victims was pronounced dead. The condition of the second victim  the bystander  is unknown.

A third individual was also wounded in the shooting after being struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene, police said.

Now, DART police are searching for the suspected shooter, whose identity is unknown.
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The death of Jordan Neely demands a thorough investigation, according to a statement from President Joe Bidens administration, speaking publicly for the first time on the killing of the 30-year-old homeless New Yorker who was placed in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway train last week.

In widely shared video footage, a man identified as 24-year-old Daniel Penny is seen restraining Neely on the floor of an F train while his arm is wrapped around Neelys neck for several minutes.

The New York medical examiners office declared Neelys death a homicide due to the compression against his neck. No charges have been filed, and the New York City Police Department and Manhattan district attorneys office are investigating.

Jordan Neelys killing was tragic and deeply disturbing, White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement shared withThe Independent on 9 May.

Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We firmly believe that the events surrounding his death demand a thorough investigation, the statement added.

The White House statement is the first to address Neelys death on 1 May.

When he walked into the F train on 1 May, Neely was complaining of hunger and thirst, according to journalist Juan Alberto Vasquez, who watched the incident and filmed Mr Penny pinning Neely to the ground in a chokehold for several minutes.

Mr Vasquez reported that Neely was yelling that he was tired, didnt care whether he went to prison, and was ready to die, then threw a jacket to the ground. He began filming after Mr Penny grabbed Neely from behind and brought him to the floor of the traincar.

Neelys death has sparked debates, protests and vigils across New York and on the citys subway platforms, as demonstrators, advocacy organisations, and city, state and federal officials point to the failure of a system meant to support people like Neely.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed in a statement to The Independent last week that senior, experienced prosecutors are investigating Neelys death.

This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neelys life, press secretary Douglas Cohen said. As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the [medical examiners] report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.

Additional reporting by Andrew Feinberg in Washington DC
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Christian LaCour, 20, a security guard working at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, was remembered as a hero on Tuesday after it was revealed he helped escort others to safety before he was shot and killed during a mass shooting on Saturday.

Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said LaCour helped escort one individual to safety and remained on site trying to help others when Mauricio Garcia, 33, shot and killed him.

Garcia murdered eight people at the outlet mall, including children, before police shot and killed him.

LaCour's sister, Breanna Smith, remembered her brother in an interview with CNN.

Christian was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family, she said.

Max Weiss, an employee at the outlets, said he was the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there.

Every time he was in the store, it felt safer, Mr Weiss said. He brought laughter and joy and always knew what to say.

Allied Universal, the company that employed LaCour, released a statement following the news of his death.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Christian LaCour, our security professional who was tragically killed while protecting the customers and employees of the Allen Premium Outlets, the company said, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Another family member lamented the loss on social media.

Words cannot even begin to describe the devastation that our family feels, the family member said. There will forever be a void.

Kyu Song Cho, 37, his wife, Cindy Cho, 35, as well as one of their children were also killed in the shooting, as were elementary school students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, and engineers Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27, Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, and Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.

Police are still investigating the motive behind the shooting. Social media accounts linked with Garcia include photos of him with guns, Nazi-symbol tattoos, and espousing white nationalist ideology.
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Police in Brownsville, Texas, have identified the driver who crashed his SUV into a group of people waiting for a bus outside a migrant centre, killing eight and seriously injuring 10 others.

Since the wreck, police and the FBI have been investigating the cause of the crash, including whether or not the incident was intentional.

Follow all the latest updates here

The government of Venezuela, noting that several of the victims were migrants from the country  has called for a thorough investigation into the driver's motives.

Here's everything we know about the Brownsville driver:

George Alvarez

On Monday, Brownsville Police Chief Felix Sauceda held a press conference during which he revealed the driver had been identified as George Alvarez, 34.

Mr Alvarez allegedly attempted to flee the scene of the incident after he struck the victims and rolled his jeep.

Bystanders reportedly stopped Mr Alvarez and kept him detained until police arrived. He was then taken into police custody and then to an area hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained in the wreck.

Police said Mr Alvarez was being "very uncooperative" with them during their initial investigation.

The driver has since been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

George Alvarez is seen in his mugshot after deadly crash outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Police Department )

Criminal history

Also during the press conference, the police chief noted on Monday that Mr Alvarez has a lengthy criminal history.

His past charges include numerous assault charges, an aggravated assault charge, and additional charges for burglary, theft, DUI, and resisting arrest. He is currently being held on a $3.6m bond, according to CNN.

Crash

Around 8:29am, police began receiving emergency calls describing a violent car accident in which numerous people were hit by a gray Range Rover.

The crash occurred near the Ozanam Centre, a migrant resource facility.

Mr Sauceda said during the press conference on Monday that the SUV ran a red light, lost control, and flipped onto its side. Video footage of the incident appears to show the vehicle hitting the victims before it flips onto its side.

Motive

Mr Sauceda said the vehicle "lost control" before it hit the victims, but noted that law enforcement had not ruled out the possibility that the incident was deliberate.

Police said they were invesitgating claims that the driver was hurling invectives at the migrants prior to the crash, according to the New York Times.

The FBI has joined the investigation and is currently investigating whether or not the crash was intentional. They have not reached any conclusions in that line of inquiry.

On 10 May, police announced that blood screens from the hospital where Mr Alvarez was being treated showed he had drugs in his system at the time of the crash. Cocaine, benzodiazepines and marijuana were all detected, though his level of intoxication is currently unclear.

The director of the migrant shelter, Victor Maldonado, told CBS affiliate KMOV4 that people have reportedly approached the centre's security guards and told them the crash happened because of their facility.

Ive had a couple of people come by the gate and tell the security guard that the reason this happened was because of us, he said.

The shelter has been at or over capacity  250  in recent weeks while trying to assist an influx of migrants arriving in the region. Mr Maldonado noted that many of the migrants do not want to stay in Brownsville, but said they are stuck in the area due to a lack of transportation options available through the shelter.
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Questions keep mounting over the investigation of a murder-suicide at the property of a convicted rapist where seven bodies were discovered last week.

Following the gruesome findings on Jesse McFaddens property on 1 May, dive teams with the Oklahoma State of Bureau Investigations (OSBI) have been spotted using sonar devices at one of the ponds neighbouring the scene of the heinous crime that sent shockwaves in the community of Henryetta, KJRH reports.

The Medical Examiner and excavation crews were also at the property until Monday evening.

The development is especially compelling in light of revelations by a neighbour of McFadden who told the network last week that they had seen somebody digging the pond about six months ago. When confronted, the individual reportedly said they meant to expand the pond, despite there being no apparent reason to do so.

It comes amid reports, also from KJRH, that a family of the victims found a ledger at the crime scene with a list of unknown names and ages  the last final names being those of the six victims shot dead by McFadden last week before he turned the gun on himself.

The Independent has reached out to the OSBI for comment on the possibility that McFadden may have been the individual digging the pond last year, and whether the agency is investigating other potential crimes at the property.

The Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed last week that McFaddens wife Holly Guess, 35, and her children Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17, Michael James Mayo, 15, and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13 were among the deceased. Tiffanys friends Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 15, were the two other murder victims.

Before dive teams began a second processing of the scene on Saturday (6 May), KFOR revealed that authorities left behind a trove of stomach-churning evidence at McFaddens property after releasing the scene just days before the bodies were found. While touring the residence with the owners authorisation, a crew of reporters found hand restraints, sex toys and drug paraphernalia that have since been seized by Okmulgee Police.

Local law enforcement agencies have faced scrutiny for both the handling of the murder investigation and McFaddens botched trial on charges of soliciting and child pornography.

Missing Teens Bodies Found Oklahoma (OKLAHOMAN)

McFadden, who was on the state sex offender registry, was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl in 2003 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He had an early release in 2020, in part for good behaviour, despite being hit with fresh charges in 2017 after he was caught exchanging lewd pictures with a teen while in jail.

After his release in October 2020, McFadden was arrested the next month and then released on a $25,000 bond pending trial, which was repeatedly delayed, partially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

McFaddens rape victim Krystle Strong and cellmate James Fleming told The Independent last week that they separately contacted several law enforcement agencies in a fruitless attempt to stop his release and warn authorities that he was a danger to the community.

A spokesperson with Henryetta Police Department said that McFaddens address was located in an unincorporated part of Okmulgee County, where his registration was up to date, and deferred to Okmulgee Police Department, which did not answer The Independents request for comment.

Missing girls Brittany Brewer, 15, left, and Ivy Webster, 14, right, were found dead in Oklahoma in May 2023 (Brewer family / Webster family via Facebook)

Due to his home address. Henryetta Police Department would have no records kept of his registration, Henryetta Police said in a statement.

According to KFOR reporter Erin Christy, several departments in the District 25 task force were initially put in charge of the investigation. Ms Christy said that she was deferred to the OSBI by the Okmulgee County Sheriffs Office after Sheriff Eddy Rice declined to clarify the confusion surrounding which agency had the eadership of the case.

Ultimately, someone needs to say well go through this or that. What did you miss? And if you have people outside your jurisdiction, it doesnt work well, Former Tulsa Police Department homicide detective Dave Walker told KFOR. You gotta be in charge of everything or youre not in charge of anything.

This undated photo provided by Janette Mayo shows from left, Tiffany Guess, Michael Mayo and Rylee Elizabeth Allen

Relatives of the victims have expressed disbelief after learning about McFaddens early release. Ivy and Brittanys parents have said they did not know McFadden had been convicted of raping a minor, while Guess mother has said she only found out very recently.

And they rushed him out of prison. How? Guess mother Jannette Mayo also told the AP. Oklahoma failed to protect families. And because of that my children, my daughter and my grandchildren are all gone ... Im never going to get to see em, never going to get to hold them, and its killing me.
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A mom promoted a children's book on grief on local TV before being arrested for her husband's murder.

Kouri Richins, 33, appeared on TV only last month to speak about her book Are You With Me?

My husband passed away unexpectedly last year. March 4 was a one-year anniversary for us, He was 39, she said on ABC4.

It completely took us all by shock, she added. We have three little boys, ten, nine and six, and my kids and I kind of wrote this book on the different emotions and grieving processes that weve experienced in the last year. I went on Amazon and Barnes and Noble to try to find something to help us cope at night, nights are the hardest. I just wanted some story to read to my kids at night and I couldnt find anything that suited them, so I was like lets just write one.

Ms Richins was arrested Monday for the March 2022 murder. She is accused of having poisoned her husband with fentanyl at their home in Kamas, Utah  a small town in the mountains close to Park City, according to the Associated Press.

Prosecutors argue that Ms Richins made a late-night call to the authorities in March last year to say that her husband was cold to the touch.

Ms Richins told police that she made her husband a mixed drink using vodka to supposedly celebrate a recent sale of a home before she left to help one of their three children to sleep in their bedroom.

Kouri Richins appeared on Good Things Utah to speak about her book Are You With Me?' (Screenshot / ABC4)

She claimed that when she returned, she found him unresponsive and called the emergency services.

A medical examiner found that Eric Richins had five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.

Ms Richins has been charged with murder in addition to allegedly possessing GHB. Its a narcolepsy drug often used recreationally, such as at dance clubs, the AP notes.

The charges are based on the officers accounts of their interactions with Ms Richins as well as the account of an unnamed acquaintance who said they sold the fentanyl to Ms Richins.

The charges come two months after Ms Richins appeared on local TV to speak about her picture book Are You With Me?  which she authored to help children after losing someone close to them.

Kouri Richins is accused of murdering her husband Eric in March 2022 (Facebook)

Ms Richins appeared on a segment called Good Things Utah, saying that the death of her husband was unexpected and describing how it adversely affected her and her three children  all boys.

She said that grieving for children was about making sure that their spirit is always alive in your home.

Its, you know, explaining to my kid just because hes not present here with us physically, doesnt mean his presence isnt here with us, she told the local TV station.

A police search warrant states that Mr Richins died on 4 March 2022.

The Richins family is notable in Summit County, according to KPCW. The Richins Building in Kimball Junction was named after one member of the family  Sheldon Richins.

Members of Mr Richinss family said not long after his death that they suspected his wife of having killed him. Warrants state that he warned them that if anything happened to him, she was to blame.

One of Mr Richinss sisters claimed that he called her a few years ago when he was in Greece on vacation. He claimed that one of the drinks his wife had given him had made him very ill. The sister claimed that Ms Richins had made an attempt to take her brothers life.

A warrant also states that Ms Richins was caught changing her husbands life insurance policy to make herself the only beneficiary.

This photo provided by KPCW.org shows Kouri Richins at the KPCW studio in Park City, Utah, April 12, 2023 (AP)

On Valentines Day last year, less than a month before his death, Mr Richins had an allergic reaction after having dinner with his wife. He broke out in hives, was unable to breathe, and passed out after using taking Benadryl and using his sons EpiPen.

According to court filings, Ms Richins had bought fentanyl pills for $900 a few days before the dinner. She asked for another $900 not long before Mr Richinss death.

Before he died, Mr Richins changed the beneficiary of his will and his power of attorney from his wife to his sister. A warrant states that he thought his wife might kill him for the money.

Friend reveals what Utah man said before dying as wife is facing murder charges

Warrants also state that Mr Richins was planning on divorcing his wife, but that proceedings had yet to start at the time of his death.

Ms Richins published the book on 7 March of this year, telling KPCW a few weeks later that its designed to offer comfort and solace to young minds.

Last month, she told KPCW that the book was inspired by her own kids questions.

You know, Is dad with us? she said. Because theyre going through the sadness of knowing that hes not here, presently.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Richinss attorney for comment.
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The defence in the murder trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has rested their case without presenting any witnesses.

Shortly after Idaho prosecutors rested the states case at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Ms Vallows attorney Jim Archibald told the court that after consulting with his client, the defence was ready to proceed with closing arguments.

Ms Vallow will not take the stand in her own defence, East Idaho News reported.

We dont believe the state has proven its case so the defence rests, Mr Archibald said on Tuesday.

Ms Vallow is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and her new husband Chad Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

The state has called roughly 60 witnesses throughout the five weeks of the trial, while the defence called none, according to CourtTV.

Judge Steven Boyce, state prosecutors and Ms Vallows defence attorneys will meet on Wednesday to sort out jury instructions. Meanwhile, jurors were excused until Thursday morning, when closing arguments are set to begin.

Judge Boyce also ruled on Tuesday that the court will stream the verdict of the high-profile case once its reached.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months.

One month after they were last seen alive, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  died suddenly and Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach.

In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder.

Prosecutors allege that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs  but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammys life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits.

Mr Daybell will stand trial separately with a potential date of June 2024 spoken about in court.
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Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell exchanged texts in which they discussed inflicting pain on children and giving them a reason to scream, the jury at her trial for murder heard on Monday.

As another week began of the prosecution building its case against Ms Vallow, the court continued to hear testimony from retired FBI Agent Doug Hart whose role in the investigation was to comb through Ms Vallows iCloud accounts.

With more than 4,500 text messages saved to the accounts, he was able to piece together a timeline of the developing relationship between Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow over 2019.

This included the period in which her husband was shot to death by her brother and she was able to pursue a romance with doomsday author Mr Daybell.

In addition to raunchy text messages  some threaded together to form a lengthy story  the couples bizarre beliefs about possession and zombies and rating individuals on a light-to-dark scale were laid out.

Shortly after the death of Charles Vallow on 11 July 2019, Ms Vallow and her son JJ, seven took a trip with her niece Melani Boudreaux and her two children. It is not known if Ms Vallows daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, was on the trip.

In texts, Mr Daybell referred to the Boudreaux children as 3s based on where he placed them on his strange rating system.

He sent her a text asking if she wanted him to cause pain to the two 3s she was travelling with. The two believed in an ability to use their minds to cast out demons from people and work on them.

She replied to him telling him to hold off, but added that if they started to act up again we can zap them.

Mr Daybell agreed and responded: If they are going to act up, well at least give them a reason to scream.

The 49-year-old is charged with the murders of her children, JJ and Tylee, and conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months.

One month after they were last seen alive, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  died suddenly and Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach.

In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder.

Prosecutors allege that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs  but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammys life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits.

Mr Daybell will stand trial separately with a potential date of June 2024 spoken about in court.
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The judge presiding over Lori Vallows murder trial has ruled that the court will stream the verdict of the high-profile case once its reached.

The decision was made public on the fourth week of Ms Vallows trial over charges of conspiracy to kill her children JJ Vallow, seven; and Tylee Ryan, 16; as well as his doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybells wife Tammy Daybell.

Last year, Judge Steven Boyce banned cameras from the courtroom, citing concerns that they could prevent a fair trial. It came after Ms Vallows attorneys contended that one news organisation abused the privilege by repeatedly zooming in on Ms Vallows face during previous hearings. Prosecutors sided with the defence and said the cameras should be banned as news coverage could make it hard for the court to find an impartial jury.

A coalition of more than 30 news organisations including The Associated Press and East Idaho News asked the judge to reject the motion but the court ultimately decided that news organisations would no longer be able to shoot still photography or videos inside the courtroom.

Judge Boyce stated in his Tuesday ruling that the reasoning behind the ban loses validity upon the reaching of a verdict, allowing the court to stream the final chapter of the weeks-long trial through its YouTube channel, according to East Idaho News.

On Monday, the court heard testimony from retired FBI Agent Doug Hart, whose role in the investigation was to comb through Ms Vallows iCloud accounts. With more than 4,500 text messages saved to the accounts, he was able to piece together a timeline of the developing relationship between Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow over 2019.

This included the period in which Ms Vallows previous husband Charles Vallow was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox and she was able to pursue a romance with doomsday author Mr Daybell.

In addition to raunchy text messages  some threaded together to form a lengthy story  the couples bizarre beliefs about possession and zombies and rating individuals on a light-to-dark scale were laid out.

Shortly after the death of Charles Vallow on 11 July 2019, Ms Vallow and her son JJ, seven, took a trip with her niece Melani Boudreaux and her two children. It is not known if Tylee Ryan was on the trip. In texts, Mr Daybell referred to the Boudreaux children as 3s based on where he placed them on his strange rating system.

He sent Ms Vallow a text asking if she wanted him to cause pain to the two 3s she was travelling with. The two believed in an ability to use their minds to cast out demons from people and work on them. She replied to him telling him to hold off, but added that if they started to act up again we can zap them.

Mr Daybell agreed and responded: If they are going to act up, well at least give them a reason to scream.

Tylee Ryan and Joshua JJ Vallow (Family handout)

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months.

One month after they were last seen alive, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  died suddenly and Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach.

In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder.

Prosecutors allege that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs  but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammys life insurance money and the childrens social security and survivor benefits.

Mr Daybell will stand trial separately with a potential date of June 2024 spoken about in court.
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A social media profile that appears to belong to a gunman who killed eight people in a busy Dallas-area shopping mall on 6 May includes dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also includes more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information that shows when the mall is at its busiest. It was posted in the days leading up to the attack.

Posts reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers also include photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

The profile appears to belong to Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old who was fatally shot by police after he fired an AR-style rifle at the outlet mall, killing eight and injuring seven others.

Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed or suggested a motive behind the mass shooting. Hank Sibley, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told reporters on 9 May that Garcia had a neo-Nazi ideation.

A federal law enforcement bulletin notes that the FBIs review and triage of the subjects social media accounts revealed hundreds of postings and images to include writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi materials and material espousing the supremacy of the white race.

The profile did not have any followers or appear to have any engagement from other users. It is likely difficult for US authorities to remove Garcias content from the platform, known as Odnoklassniki, a popular social media platform in Russia.

One image on the ok.ru profile includes a picture of his hand which appears to be the same tattoo that belonged to the gunman. Another photo of a receipt from January has the name Mauricio and a phone number that appears to match one that belongs to Garcia.

Photos on the profile also include dumped-out boxes of ammunition, posted at the same time with images outside the mall. The profile had appeared to telegraph preparations for violence for years; a photo of a written diary entry in a spiral-bound notebook from 2019 details a dream about racist violence.

In what appears to be a final post, the user claims that a psychologist would not be able to fix him. A link to a YouTube video posted by the same person on the day of the shooting shows Garcia removing a Scream mask and asking, Not quite what you were expecting, huh?

During the attack, he was reportedly wearing a patch reading RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad  a flak jacket with the patch appears on the ok.ru profile.

This catchphrase has emerged in recent years as both a far-right brand and rallying cry popular with the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group. Its also often associated with memes and T-shirts praising Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and his extrajudicial killing of political enemies by throwing them from helicopters.

Dissidents, particularly leftists, socialists, and supporters of the previous government, were dropped to their death from helicopters by Pinochets regime, West Points Combating Terrorism Center notes in its research of the Right Wing Death Squad meme. Today, the reference often features an image of a helicopter and is often accompanied by slogans such as Right Wing Death Squad, Free Helicopter Rides, and other iterations.

The phrases are emblazoned on T-shirts and stickers; several members of the Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding the January 6 attack have been photographed with similar patches or T-shirts reading Pinochet Did Nothing Wrong.

Jeremy Bertino, center left, is pictured with an RWDS patch in 2020. (EPA)

Members of the Proud Boys are photographed with RWDS on their hats in 2020. (AP)

RWDS has appeared at neo-Nazi gatherings, far-right protests and other events attracting Proud Boys members and other fascist groups within the years after the 2016 election.

The phrase was scrawled on shields during the so-called Unite the Right rally white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. At the time, Facebook removed several racist groups from the platform, including one called Right Wing Death Squad.

In 2019, federal investigators uncovered an alleged plot involving an active-duty US Marine to kill minorities, drug users and members of the Democratic National Committee in a group chat called Right Wing Death Squad.

The profile also includes references to other mainstream far-right influencers, including podcaster Tim Pool, whose platforms have included appearances from the Proud Boys and Alex Jones, among others, and Libs of Tik Tok, which promotes anti-LGBT+ content.

Allen is among one of the most diverse suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to roughly 105,000 people.

Many of the posts allegedly written by Garcia also discuss or reference his Hispanic heritage, underscoring the ways in which white supremacism, fascism and violent extremist ideologies often escape rigid racial or ethnic lines.

Virulent antisemite and white nationalist Nick Fuentes has a half-Mexican father, and Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol attack, is Afro-Cuban.

Nazi propaganda website The Daily Stormer also began publishing in Spanish in 2017 in an effort to seize on Latin American audiences. The ok.ru profile mentions the website and its founder Andrew Anglin.

I think I even read in the news Hispanics could be the new white supremist [sic], one of the ok.ru post reads. Just the other day this black dude told me the line is blurring. He cant tell the difference anymore. Someone would look white but their [sic] actually Hispanic.

In photographs of his spiral-bound diary entries, he also said he wore an Its OK to be White shirt and that he is Hispanic whether he likes it or not.

A Dallas-area home connected to Mauricio Garcia, who killed eight people at a mall in Allen, Texas on 6 May. (AP)

Garcia was removed from the US Army in 2008 due to mental health concerns, according to military officials.

He joined the Army in June 2008 and was removed three months later before completing basic training, Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan said in a statement. He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards. We do not provide characterization of discharge for any soldier, she added.

Garcia was heavily armed and armoured when he began firing indiscriminately with an AR-style rifle at the Allen Premium Outlets shopping centre on 6 May.

Authorities discovered eight firearms at the scene, including three on his person and five in his car. All were legally purchased.

Among the eight victims are a three-year-old boy, an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl, according to the Allen Police Department.

An Allen police officer who was already at the scene for an unrelated incident fatally shot him.

There have been more than 200 mass shootings, including 21 mass murders, so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

White supremacists are behind the highest number of extremism-related murders in most years, according to an analysis from the Anti-Defamation League. Last year, 21 of 25 extremism-linked murders were committed by white supremacists  but all the extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds, the report found.

This was first published on 8 May and has been updated with developments
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A gunman clad in black body armour and armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle opened fire at a Texas mall on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring seven others.

The suspect was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, a security guard and former US Army trainee.

Dashcam video circulating on social media appeared to show the gunman getting out of a grey sedan just outside the entrance of the Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling centre on the outskirts of Dallas, and immediately opening fire on passersby in the carpark.

An Allen Police Department officer attending an unrelated call at the mall heard the gunfire and neutralised the suspect, police said.

What we know about the suspect

Mauricio Garcia, 33, was identified on Sunday as the gunman who killed eight innocent shoppers and mall staff members in Saturdays horror attack.

Garcia drove to the mall with several weapons and opened fire as soon as he stepped out of his vehicle. An AR-15 rifle and a handgun were reportedly found on him and in his car.

Police have not released a possible motive, but investigators are looking into Garcias possible neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs.

Garcia was wearing black body armour and a patch on his chest that suggested he may have harboured extremist ideologies, law enforcement sources told The Washington Post.

A girl runs as other shoppers leave with their hands up after a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas (via REUTERS)

The patch read RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad, a popular phrase among far-right extremists.

Police sources told NBC News that Garcia had posted and engaged with neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online.

A social media profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru that seems to have belonged to Garcia gives a glimpse into his thought process in the days before the attack.

Posts seen by The Independent show Garcia posted more than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and Google information that shows when the mall is at its busiest.

He also included photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

Garcia also trained with the US Army but was terminated in June 2008, three months into his training without completing entry training, US Army Public Affairs Spokeswoman Heather J Hagan told The Independent.

After that, he became a security guard, most recently working for an aluminum supply company.

Through his work as a security guard, Garcia underwent firearms proficiency training as recently as 2018, according to the Texas Online Private Security database.

The online records show that he began training in 2015 before becoming a commissioned security officer in April 2016.

His licence expired in April 2020.

During that time, he is listed as working for three security companies: Ruiz Protective Service, Statewide Patrol and Verified Response Security & Investigations.

Police officer on the scene of the mall shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

It is unclear why his security guard licence was suspended.

Private security guards are vetted and are barred from gaining a license if they have convictions for crimes such as assault or sexual offenses, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

According to CBS News reporter JD Miles, Garcia was a security guard with no serious criminal record.

At the time of the shooting, Garcia had reportedly been living in a motel. FBI agents raided a Dallas home where Garcia had been living with his parents for years, according to Fox News.

Officers were stationed outside the address on Sunday. The suspects family requested a translator to speak with authorities.

How the shooting unfolded

The gunman arrived at the mall just after 3.30pm local time on Saturday.

Video showed him exiting a grey sedan vehicle, dressed in black tactical gear and armed with an AR-15-style weapon before opening fire.

People gather across the street from a shopping center after a shooting Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Allen, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Hundreds of shoppers could be seen trying to flee the scene on aerial footage after the gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style gun. Bodies of the victims, including several young children, were covered by sheets.

Seven people  including the suspect  were killed at the scene, Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said at a press conference on Saturday.

Nine people were transported to the hospital where one succumbed to their injuries.

Three survivors were undergoing surgery and remained in critical condition on Saturday night, Mr Boyd said. Four others were in a stable condition.

The injured included children as young as three, a Dallas area hospital told CNN.

The victims

Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security guard at the mall, was identified by family members as one of the victims of Sundays massacre.

LaCours grandmother posted a tribute to her grandson on social media.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

He was such a beautiful soul, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him 2 weeks ago.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer who moved to the US from India, was also killed in the attack.

Thatikonda was shopping with a friend at the mall when she was shot and killed by the gunman, a family representative told WFAA.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting (Family photo)

Her friend was also shot and injured in the shooting and is currently in stable condition in hospital.

Thatikondas family is planning to fly her body to India where she has family.

Parents Cindy and Kyu Cho were killed along with their three-year-old son James in the Texas mall shooting (GoFundMe)

Kyu Song Cho, 37, Cindy Cho, 35, were out shopping with their two sons, William Cho, 6, and James Cho, 3 when the horrific mass shooting occurred, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family.

Kyu, Cindy and James all lost their lives during the shooting.

William is the only surviving member of the family.

The Cho family was American nationals and citizens but of Korean descent, a Houston counsul for South Korea told NBC News.

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed at the Allen mall massacre (GoFundMe)

Elementary school sisters, Daniela Mendoza, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were also killed in the shooting, the Wylie Independent School District confirmed to NBC News.

Daniela, a fourth grader, and Sofia, a second grader, were out with their mother Ilda Mendoza when the shooting occurred.

Ilda remains in the hospital according to a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

A 32-year-old man named Elio Cumana-Rivas also died during the shooting.

Texas dark weekend

The mall shooting marked the start of a dark weekend for Texas.

In Brownsville, eight people were killed when an SUV slammed into a crowd of people outside a migrant shelter in the border city on Sunday afternoon.

Horrifying footage, taken from a security camera and shared by Texas Rep Henry Cuellar, shows a group of people waiting for a bus outside the citys Ozanam Center. The SUV then rams into the victims.

Seven people died before an eighth victim succumbed to their injuries in hospital later that day. At least nine others were hospitalised.

Most of the victims were Venezuelan men who had spent the night at the shelter and were boarding a bus to return to downtown Brownsville.

Officials initially said that the incident appeared to be intentional and described the driver  whose identity remains unknown  as very uncooperative.

Police on the scene of the car crash in Brownsville (AP)

Also on Sunday, one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on a DART train in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday  just a 30-minute drive from the mall massacre.

Gunfire broke out on board a Green Line train near Hatcher Station when two people got into an argument on Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.

DART police said that officers were called to reports of a shooting on the northbound train at around 4.30pm.

Officers arrived on the scene to find two people  one of them a bystander  suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were both transported to local hospitals where one of the victims was pronounced dead. The condition of the second victim  the bystander  is unknown.

A third individual was also wounded in the shooting after being struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene, police said.

Now, DART police are searching for the suspected shooter, whose identity is unknown.
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A GoFundMe campaign has topped $1.2m for a six-year-old boy who was the only member of a Korean American family to survive the mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas.

Cindy Cho, Kyu Cho, and their children William, 6, and James, 3, had gone shopping at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon when gunman Mauricio Garcia, 33, drove to the mall armed with an AR-15 and opened fire on innocent shoppers and mall workers.

Cindy, 35, Kyu, 37, and James were among the eight victims killed in the massacre before Garcia was shot dead by a law enforcement officer on the scene.

Now, after his mother, father and younger brother were all murdered, little William has been left orphaned.

The family had just celebrated Williams sixth birthday four days earlier, according to a GoFundMe set up to help him.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, it read.

Cindy, Kyu and three year old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning. After being released from the ICU, their six year old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

The campaign page added: This GoFundMe is being created to help their family. Please share this link with your family and friends.

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe had soared past $1.2m.

All eight victims of Saturdays horror mass shooting have now been identified.

Friends of Cho family setup a GoFundMe request (GoFundMe)

They are: Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old mall security guard, Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer who moved to the US from India, elementary school-age sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, and Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.

The motive for the horror attack remains unknown but investigators are said to be probing Garcias possible neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideologies.

At the time of the shooting, the gunman  an Army veteran who worked as a security guard  was reportedly wearing a patch reading RWDS  standing for Right Wing Death Squad.

A social media profile believed to belong to the gunman, and reviewed by The Independent and extremism researchers, show that he posted dozens of Nazi-related images and hate-filled rants against women and racial minorities prior to Saturdays massacre.

The profile on the Russian-based platform ok.ru also reveals that he staked out the mall in the lead-up to the shooting, working out the times that would have the most footfall.

More than two dozen photos of the Texas mall and surrounding areas, including Google location information, were found on the profile.

Other images included photos showing SS and swastika tattoos, praise for Adolf Hitler, misogynistic screeds that echo incel (or involuntary celibate) ideas and forums, and complaints about the state of his mental health.

In what appears to be a final post, the user claims that a psychologist would not be able to fix him.

A link to a YouTube video posted by the same person on the day of the shooting shows Garcia removing a Scream mask and asking: Not quite what you were expecting, huh?

The horror mass shooting has reignited calls for greater gun control  coming off the back of multiple other mass shootings and just days before the anniversary of the Uvalde massacre.
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The state of Texas  from the border with Mexico to the swanky suburbs north of Dallas  spent Monday reeling from unimaginable horror.

Traumatised shoppers were gathering in Allen to reclaim vehicles at the outlet mall where an active shooter on Saturday killed eight and injured seven. Officers in Brownsville were preparing to update the public after a driver plowed into a group of migrants waiting at a bus stop, again killing eight and injuring at least 10 on Sunday morning. And police in Dallas were holding a gunman who opened fire on a city light rail line on Sunday afternoon, killing one and injuring two.

Meanwhile on Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was tweeting about the border.

Up bright and early to provide a border security update ahead of the end of Title 42, the Republican leader wrote, urging his followers to join him for a live update from the state capital of Austin.

Border security update? retorted Twitter user Faustina Marie, @theroyalruffian. How do you plan to prevent Texans from being slaughtered by other Texans?

Here, The Independent recaps a horror weekend of violence that left 18 dead and many more injured.

Allen Outlet Mall Shooting

Reports of the first mass tragedy of the weekend began on Saturday afternoon, as panicked social media posts and pictures emerged showing an active shooter at Allen Premium Outlets, about a half-hour north of Dallas. Around 3.30pm, an officer responding to a nearby call heard gunfire at the outdoor mall, responded, identified and killed the shooter, law enforcement said  but the gunman had already fatally wounded eight people and injured nine others.

Among the dead were security guard Christian LaCour, 20; engineer Aishwarya Thatikonda, whose 28th birthday was just days away; sisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, in fourth and second grade, respectively; and parents Cindy and Kyu Cho, along with their three-year-old, James.

As of Sunday morning, Allen authorities said three injured remained in critical condition in area hospitals and three were in fair, including one patient being treated at a childrens hospital.

Covered bodies are shown at the Allen Premium Outlets, about a half-hour north of Dallas, where a shooter killed eight on Saturday (via REUTERS)

Police on Sunday confirmed the identity of the suspect as Mauricio Garcia, 33, of Dallas. A law enforcement official told AP that multiple weapons had been found at the scene after Garcia was killed, including an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun. Investigators searched a Dallas motel near an interstate where Garcia had been staying, as well as a home connected to the suspect, the official said.

Federal agents reviewed social media accounts believed to have been used by the suspect expressing interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views; Garcia had a patch on his chest bearing the acronym for a popular right-wing extremist phrase, the official told AP.

Garcia also had a patch on his chest when he was killed by police that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups, the official said.

The front entrance is shown of a home connected to Allen shooting suspect Mauricio Garcia, 33, of Dallas (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Dallas-area churches on Sunday night were holding services for victims as news of the tragedy spread. Within hours of its creation on Monday, a GoFundMe for the young Cho family had raised $380,000 more than its $50,000 goal.

The page says that the parent and three-year-old had visited the mall on Saturday along with older son, William, to celebrate his sixth birthday four days earlier.

An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead, the GoFundMe continued. Cindy, Kyu and three year old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning. After being released from the ICU, their six year old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

Another mother and her children were also caught up in the atrocity, Wylie Independent School District officials said in a letter to families, according to reporting by ABC affiliate WFAA.

The Mendoza sisters, who attended Cox Elementary in Sachse, Texas, were killed while shopping at the outlets with their mother, Ilda, who was critically wounded, Superintendent David Vinson wrote.

Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten, he continued. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.

The father of one Premium Outlets employee who rushed to the scene on Saturday described the horrifying site and called for change within his gun-loving state.

A veteran and former cop, Steven Spainhouer told MSNBC: Im a gun lover; I have guns. But these M4s, AR-15s, theyve got to get off the streets or this is going to keep happening, and weve got to stop that at some point. Prayers an condolences wont bring these people back. We need some action in our legislatures at the federal and state level for better gun control, and Im saying that as someone who loves guns.

President Joe Biden echoed those calls for action, also ordering flags lowered to half-staff.

Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, andnot for the first time, he tweeted Sunday. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar. We need more action, faster to save lives.

Brownsville Bus Stop Attack

Early Sunday morning, as Texans readied for church services praying for the souls of the mall victims, another tragedy struck the state  570 miles south of the crime scene.

Footage captures the fatal crash at a migrant shelter in Brownsville (Rep Henry Cuellars office)

A grey SUV driven by a local 34-year-old crashed into a group waiting at a Brownsville bus stop just before 8.30am, killing eight and injuring ten more, police said. During a press conference on Monday, Chief Felix Sauceda said George Alvarez  who had an extensive rap sheet  had run a red light, flipped the vehicle and smashed into 18 people before attempting to flee the scene.

The bus stop was near a non-profit Ozanam facility that helps to house migrants  whose ranks have been swelling quickly in the run-up to immigration law changes taking effect on Thursday.

At least some of the victims were Venezuela natives, Chief Sauceda said, calling the Sunday event in the border city a very tragic scene. He said Alvarez had been charged with eight counts of manslaughter and ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The chief also noted that investigators were still working to determine a motive and whether or not the deaths were intentional as well as awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

One Venezuelan migrant, who gave his name as Jesus, told local station KVEO that hed been near the bus stop on Sunday at the time of the tragedy. He said hed been at the Ozanam center for three days after traveling from his native country and his family had bought him a plane ticket to Utah.

George Alvarez is seen in his mugshot after deadly crash outside migrant shelter in Brownsville, Texas (Brownsville Police Department )

We were waiting there, and the truck sped through the traffic light, and by the grace of God nothing happened to us, but they did hit the others around us, he told the station.

Brownsville police said on Monday that they had also not ruled out additional charges against Alvarez. The FBI was assisting in the investigation.

I cannot describe the heartache I feel at hearing the news from this morning, not just as an advocate for the rights of migrants, but as a resident of Brownsville, Rochelle Garza, president of the Texas Civil Rights Project, tweeted on Sunday. My heart goes out to those who were impacted by this tragedy.

Dallas DART Shooting

Eight hours after the Brownsville bus stop carnage, gunfire broke out in Dallas on a city light rail line, leaving one dead, two injured and a suspect temporarily on the run.

A disagreement between two people broke out aboard a northbound Green Line train around 4.30pm near the Hatcher station within the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, spokesman Gordon Shattles told The Independent. A shooter subsequently fatally wounded one person and injured a bystander before taking off, police said.

A third victim was believed to have been struck by shrapnel and was treated at the scene, police told CNN. The shooting disrupted Green Line service for hours as passengers were routed via bus shuttle between various stations amidst police investigations.

A shooting broke out on Sunday afternoon near the Hatcher Station of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, leaving one dead and two injured (Alamy)

Mr Shattles said Monday that DART police had apprehended the suspect and recovered the weapon used in the incident.

The individual has officially been charged with one count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, he told The Independent.

The Dallas-area incidents occurred at an especially difficult time for the Dallas Police Department  a separate entity from DART Police  which was hit by a ransomware attack just days before the outlet mall shooting. The FBI said on Friday that it was coordinating with the city, after the ransomware disrupted public services and websites, according to Reuters.

The computer disruption hindered efforts to quickly find information about the Allen suspect, who was believed to be from Dallas, police told local outlets following the mall shooting. The Dallas CIO was scheduled to brief the public safety committee on Monday on the status of the ransomware attack, WFAA reported.

North Texas and federal authorities, meanwhile, continued to piece together details from the Saturday outlet shooting as Gov Abbott continued to tweet about the border later on Monday. Aside from one weekend tweet about the Allen tragedy  highlighting his attendance at a vigil  the Republican avoided most mention of the weekend carnage on his social media.

Were deploying the new Texas Tactical Border Force to border hotspots to repel illegal crossings, he tweeted Monday, adding: In Bidens absence, Texas continues taking unprecedented action to respond to this crisis.

Some of his constituents urged him to look more closely and quickly at other crises, particularly after the Lone Stars horrific weekend of violence.

We knew we could count on you to commence with xenophobic gaslighting in an attempt to take the focus off all the carnage across Texas this weekend, wrote @CariMarshallTX. Guess what - its not working.
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Donald Trump has falsely claimed that he wasnt able to defend himself in the E Jean Carroll case after he rejected an offer to testify in the trial.

On Tuesday morning, the former president wrote on Truth Social that he was waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me.

Mr Trumps rant comes after he missed the deadline to testify in the civil rape trial brought against him by Ms Carroll, a writer and magazine journalist.

The Sunday 5pm ET deadline passed without Mr Trumps lawyers filing a motion to inform the court of any change in plans  despite the former president previously saying that he was cutting his trip to Scotland and Ireland short to head back to New York and confront Ms Carroll.

US District Judge Lewis Kaplan had warned Mr Trump that once the deadline passed, he would no longer have the opportunity to testify in the case.

That ship will be irrevocably sailed, he said.

Ms Carroll, a former Elle advice columnist, claimed that he raped her in a dressing room in Manhattans Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1995 or 1996  a claim Mr Trump strongly denies.

Judge Kaplan issued the Sunday 5pm deadline on Thursday giving Mr Trump an extension to appear and testify in court.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Trump added: In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press. I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!

Ms Carroll made the allegation against Mr Trump public for the first time in her 2019 book What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal.

Judge Kaplans extension came after Mr Trump told reporters in Ireland that he would probably shorten his trip and return to the US to attend the trial.

Im going to go back, and Im going to confront this, Mr Trump said, adding that this woman is a disgrace and it shouldnt be allowed to happen in our country, according to The Daily Beast.

He also attacked Ms Carroll, calling her fake and saying that Judge Kaplan was extremely hostile.

I have to leave early. I dont have to but I choose to, Mr Trump said, according to the New York Daily News. I was falsely accused by this woman. I have no idea who she is. Its ridiculous.

He doesnt like me very much, Mr Trump added of Judge Kaplan. Its a disgrace but we have to do it. Its a part of life.

Judge Kaplan mentioned Mr Trumps comments in Ireland when saying last week that the jury needed the opportunity to hear from him personally.

In the interests of justice, the judge said he would allow the case to be reopened for a short period of time to give Mr Trump an opportunity to testify.

If he has second thoughts, Ill at least consider it, the judge said as he announced the deadline.

But, despite Mr Trumps comments, his lawyer Joe Tacopina said on Thursday that he wouldnt be attending the trial.

Ms Carrolls legal team called 11 witnesses during the two-week proceedings while the defence called none. Both legal teams rested their cases on Thursday.

Mr Trump has rejected all allegations in relation to the case, saying that Ms Carroll wasnt his type and that he doesnt know who she is.

Following closing arguments on Monday, the case has now been handed to the jury for deliberations.

On Tuesday morning, the ex-president also took to Truth Social to bellow about ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR COUNTRY. WELL WIN ANYWAY, & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!!

He also went after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, saying that Once people started learning about Ron DeSanctimonious, his Poll Numbers and popularity started to disintegrate at a level and speed rarely seen before in American Politics. Just an Average Governor (look at the stats!) with great P.R. Probably lost MAGA forever!

DeSanctimonious put off his announcement until June because his numbers are sooo BAD. He also got rid of his ridiculous Exploratory Committee because he didnt like what they were telling him. MAGA!!! Mr Trump added.

He said his Wednesday night town hall on CNN, Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me.

Mr Trump claimed the network was rightfully desperate to get those fantastic (TRUMP!) ratings.

Later on Tuesday, he called his former Attorney General Bill Barr a sloppy, lethargic mess who was lazy as hell, and petrified of the Radical Left Democrats, & the fact that they were going to impeach him.

I wish they had, which would have meant that he was doing his job, which he wasnt, Mr Trump said, adding that Mr Barr was Bad on Election Fraud & just about everything else he touched.

Sloppy Bill is now a human sound bite, along with Karl Rove, Wacky Peggy I hate Reagan Noonan, & Paul Ryan, for Rupert Murdoch & his ANTI-TRUMP (just like 2016!) WSJ, Plus! he said.
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A three-year-old boy, two elementary-age sisters, a young engineer from India and mall workers are among the eight people killed in last weekends horror mass shooting in Allen, Texas.

The shooting unfolded at around 3.30pm local time at the crowded Dallas-area Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday as families and friends enjoyed their weekends.

Mauricio Garcia, a 33-year-old former security guard believed to have harboured neo-Nazi and white supremacist beliefs, drove to the mall armed with an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire on innocent shoppers and workers.

He was killed by a law enforcement officer who was on the scene and rushed to subdue the gunman.

Eight people were killed and seven others injured.

Police have not released a possible motive behind the shooting, but the gunman was wearing a patch reading RWDS  that stands for Right Wing Death Squad  as he carried out the rampage.

Police sources told NBC News that Garcia  an army veteran who worked as a security guard  had also posted neo-Nazi and white supremacist content online.

While details are yet to emerge about the gunman and what led up to the horror attack, the identities of those killed are coming to light.

Heres what we know so far about the victims:

Christian LaCour

Christian LaCour, a security guard who worked at the mall, was identified as one of the people killed in the gunfire by his family.

LaCour was 20 years old and had grown up in nearby Farmersville area.

He was working as a security guard at the mall when he was shot and killed on Saturday.

Christian LaCour was killed in the shooting in Allen, Texas (Facebook)

LaCours grandmother had posted on social media on Saturday, saying his family was unable to locate him.

She then later paid tribute to him in another post.

He was such a beautiful soul, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him 2 weeks ago.

LaCours family said they are still processing his passing and that it has broken their hearts that they have had to spread this news to others.

Aishwarya Thatikonda

Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old engineer who moved to the US from India, was also identified by family members as one of the victims.

Thatikonda was shopping with a friend at the mall when she was shot and killed by the gunman, a family representative told WFAA.

Aishwarya Thatikonda died in the Allen mall shooting (Family photo)

Her friend was also shot and injured in the shooting and is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

Thatikondas family is planning to fly her body to India, where she has family.

Kyu Song Cho, Cindy Cho and James Cho

Three-year-old James Cho was among the eight killed in the shooting, along with his parents Kyu Song Cho, 37 and Cindy Cho, 35, according to officials.

His six-year-old brother was also present at the mall and suffered injuries, but survived and was released from the ICU. He is the only surviving member of the family.

Parents Cindy and Kyu Cho were killed along with their three-year-old son James in the Texas mall shooting (GoFundMe)

According to a GoFundMe page set up by friends and relatives, the Cho family had gone to Allen Premium Outlets mall on Saturday to exchange clothes that their six-year-old son had received as a birthday present a few days earlier.

Friends of the family, who set up the page, wrote that the afternoon, which was supposed to be filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre.

The Cho family was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Dallas Morning News newspaper cited Korean consulate officials confirming that the Cho family were American citizens of Korean descent and that diplomats are in contact with their family members.

Daniela and Sofia Mendoza

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed in the horror attack while they were shopping at the outlet mall with their mother.

Wylie Independent School District paid tribute to the two elementary school students at Cox Elementary School, who were in grades four and two respectively.

They were remembered by their school principal Krista Wilson as the kindest, most thoughtful students with smiles that could light up any room in a letter to parents.

In a GoFundMe launched to help the family, organiser Anabel Del Angel revealed that their mother survived the attack but is still in hospital.

Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were among those killed at the Allen mall massacre (GoFundMe)

With a heavy heart, we share that our beautiful Daniela and Sofia have passed away. They were tragically taken from us by a senseless act on May 6th, 2023. Their mom is currently still hospitalized. We want to thank everyone that has been reaching out and offering their support and assistance. Please pray for our now broken family, it read.

The girls have left a void that nothing in the world could ever fill. Please pray for their mom, my sister, and her broken heart. Please also pray for their dad, that despite all the trauma he has had to endure, is still unbelievably strong. They will be forever missed and loved.

Elio Cumana-Rivas

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was the eighth victim identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday evening.

No further details about him have been released yet.
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David Miranda, a former Brazilian congressman and the husband of journalist Glenn Greenwald, has passed away at the age of 37 after a nine-month-long battle in the ICU with a gastrointestinal infection.

Mr Greenwald, 56, took to Twitter to write a tribute to his husband.

Shortly after 8am on Tuesday 9 May, Mr Greenwald wrote: It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the passing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow. His death, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He died in full peace, surrounded by our children and family and friends.

Miranda was lauded by Brazilian politicians, celebrities, and activists, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tweeting: My condolences to @ggreenwald and family for the loss of David Miranda. A young man with an extraordinary trajectory who left too soon.

Miranda, who served in the Brazilian congress between 2019 and 2022, was a strong member of the resistance to the far-right administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, according to The Guardian.

Renata Souza, a legislator on the left, tweeted about her immense sorrow at the departure of my dear friend David Miranda. A funny, loving, party-loving guy who never gave up fighting for life and for the people of the favela.

Brazilian rapper Emicida wrote: Today Brazil has lost a courageous young man who, in fighting for his dreams, ended up unshackling the dreams of many others too.

Rosangela Lula da Silva, the first lady of Brazil, tweeted that Miranda was leaving a legacy of struggle and love and the president of the Workers Party (PT), Gleisi Hoffmann, wrote that he had a vivacity which brought joy to politics.

Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, right, and his partner David Miranda (AP)

Miranda was the first gay man to be elected to the city council in Rio. He was also pivotal in the 2013 Edward Snowden leaks, an effort led by Mr Greenwald. Miranda was held at Heathrow Airport in London for nine hours while on his way to Rio carrying memory sticks with documents related to the Snowden revelations, The Guardian noted.

Mr Greenwald told The New York Times in 2019 that he met Miranda on a beach in the Ipanema neighbourhood of Rio when Miranda knocked his drink over with a ball.

I was not at all the type that ever fell in love with someone at first sight, Mr Greenwald said at the time. But the passion, Davids intensity, it was like two asteroids colliding.

Mr Greenwald added on Twitter on Tuesday that his husbands life had been extraordinary in all ways, noting that Miranda lost his mother at age five, leaving him an orphan in Jacarezinho.

A beautiful and compassionate neighbor called Dona Eliane took care of Miranda despite having four of her own children and being in deep poverty, Mr Greenwald said.

The neighbour became Mirandas mother and gave him a chance for a life.

That gave David the chance to live his full potential in a society that often suffocates it. He was key to the Snowden story, became the first gay man elected to Rios City Council, then federal Congress at 32. He inspired so many with his biography, passion, and force of life, Mr Greenwald wrote in the Twitter thread.

The journalist said there was nobody with a stronger will or life force.

Being a father was Mirandas biggest dream and it gave him the greatest pride and purpose, according to Mr Greenwald. He was the most dedicated and loving parent. He taught me how to be a father. And our truly exceptional boys - with their own difficult start to [life] - is his greatest legacy.

Mr Greenwald said he was told on 6 August, the day Miranda was hospitalised, that he was unlikely to live through that week.

I heard the same 3 times since, Mr Greenwald wrote. He refused, in classic David style. The last 4 months gave our family the most beautiful moments together.

The husband said Miranda was the strongest, most passionate, most compassionate man Ive known. Nobody had a bad word for him.

I cant describe the loss and pain. Ill do my best to honor his legacy: our children and our NGOs. And I know so many will celebrate him and his impact, he concluded.
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A jury in New York has found Donald Trump liable for the sexual abuse of writer E Jean Carroll.

Ms Carroll, 79, sued the former president for raping her in a dressing room at a Bergdorf Goodman in New York in 1996, and then destroying her reputation when he claimed she was lying.

The jury didnt find Mr Trump liable for raping Ms Carroll.

In the courtroom, the clerk read the verdict: As to battery, did Ms Carroll prove that Mr Trump raped Ms Carroll? The jury answered No.

But the jury did find that Mr Trump more likely than not sexually abused Ms Carroll, and awarded her $2m (1.6m).

The jury also found Mr Trump liable for wanton disregard, for which Ms Carroll was awarded $20,000 (16,000).

Mr Trump was also found liable for defamation as the jury found that he made false statements about Ms Carroll.

The jury found that Mr Trump acted with actual malice and that Ms Carroll had been injured, for which she was awarded $1m. For repairing her reputation, Ms Carroll was awarded $1.7m.

In total, Ms Carrol was awarded $5m (4m).

Judge Lewis Kaplan told the jury, which has remained anonymous, that theyre allowed to speak about their experience and to publically identify themselves as having been a part of the jury.

But he also shared his advice, telling them not to go public.

Not now, and not for a long time, he said.

I suggest you not identify yourselves, he told the jury just before they left the courtroom.

Judge Kaplan also directed the jury not to identify other members of the group.

As the verdict was read out, Ms Carroll sat emotionless in the front row beside her attorneys Roberta Kaplan and Shawn Crowley. She nodded her head as Judge Lewis Kaplan thanked the jury for paying close attention to the evidence, even when it wasnt riveting.

After the jury was led out, she hugged Ms Kaplan and Ms Crowley. Defence attorney Joe Tacopina approached and shook her hand and said, Congratulations and good luck.

As she left the court, Ms Carroll was heard saying: Were very happy.

The jury heard graphic testimony from Ms Carroll and two other women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who accused Mr Trump of sexual assault.

Mr Trumps grab em by the p***y comments in the Access Hollywood tape amounted to a confession, Ms Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan told jurors in closing statements on Monday.

Ms Carroll was exactly Mr Trump's type and had sexually assaulted her in the exact way that he had been caught describing his treatment of women on the infamous recording, Ms Kaplan added.

In a real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said.

Ms Carroll, a longtime Elle magazine advice columnist, first revealed details of the sexual assault in a book excerpt that ran in New York magazine in June 2019.

Over three days of testimony, Ms Carroll told the jury that she and Mr Trump had engaged in playful banter after a chance encounter at Bergdorf Goodman one evening in the mid-1990s.

But after taking an escalator up to a deserted 6th floor to look for lingerie, Mr Trump led her to a dressing room, pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her.

It was extremely painful, Ms Carroll told the jury. He put his hand inside me and curled his finger. As I sit here today, I can still feel it.

Ms Carroll added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attackers despite the statute of limitations.

She told how the traumatic experience had left her incapable of forming romantic relationships.

The writer said she would be inundated with a wave of slime on social media every time Mr Trump commented or posted about her allegations.

As the case was tried in civil court, the jury had to find that Ms Carrolls attorneys had proved Trump was liable for battery and defamation by a preponderous of evidence.

Leslie Lebowitz, a clinical psychologist, testified that Ms Carroll suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and had a panic attack after being shown an episode of the Trump-hosted reality show The Apprentice.

Ms Carroll slept with a loaded gun at her cabin in upstate New York after receiving death threats from Mr Trumps supporters, Ms Lebowitz testified.

Mr Trump did not testify in the case, but the jury heard his deposition where he confused his second wife Marla Maples for Ms Carroll.
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Elon Musk appears to be entertaining the idea that the mass shooting by a far-right extremist at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was a psyop or psychological operation.

Mr Musk, the owner and CEO of Twitter, reacted to a series of tweets on Monday suggesting that initial reporting on the suspects apparent right wing motives was suspect and that the shooting was a psyop.

This gets weirder by the moment, he wrote in response.

Eight people were killed in the rampage  including three children  which the shooter carried out using an AR-15-style rifle. Authorities are currently investigating whether the suspected gunman had links to the far right after the 33-year-olds social media profiles were found online.

One profile reportedly belonging to the gunman, who police named as Mauricio Garcia, shared extremist views about mass shootings and white supremacy. The same profile also praised Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account run by right wing activist Chaya Raichik, which targets the LGBT+ community. Mr Musk frequently interacts with the Libs of TikTok Twitter account.

Mr Musk later doubled down on his comments, calling it either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!

It is not the first time Mr Musk has been quick to entertain conspiracy theories about violence inspired by right wing actors.

In the aftermath of an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mr Musk shared a bogus news report from a website known for fake news suggesting that the perpetrator may have been a gay lover of Mr Pelosis.

That time, Mr Musk was responding to a link to a Los Angeles Times shared by Hillary Clinton that detailed David DePapes digital trail of far-right conspiracy theories before he attacked the-then speakers husband.

The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories, she wrote in a Twitter post.

The following day, Mr Musk replied , claiming that there is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye. He attached a screenshot of a bogus report accusing Mr Pelosi of getting into a drunken fight with a male prostitute.

He quietly deleted the tweet, but thousands of people had already shared it, along with the original article, which has fuelled thousands of similar posts.

He also did not acknowledge the post or apologise for sharing information that was never credible and later debunked by Mr DePapes own apparent statements to police. Instead, Musk sarcastically attacked The New York Times for reporting, correctly, that he shared a story from a website known to publish false news.

This is fake, he joked. I did *not* tweet out a link to The New York Times!
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A Chinese community leader in New York City is facing accusations of deceit after he invited an Elon Musk impersonator to an event last month.

Gary Kong, president of not-for-profit corporation Sino-American Commerce Association in Flushing, New York invited the Tesla boss impersonator to launch the first issue of a magazine, Wall St Magazine, at James Hotel in Manhattan on 27 April.

Over 100 guests attended the event, expecting the real Mr Musk to make an appearance. An impersonator instead came for the event, shook hands with guests and unveiled the first issue of the magazine, said reports in Chinese outlet The Paper and the South China Morning Post.

The impersonator even had bodyguards surrounding him.

The guests later found out that the real Tesla billionaire was not present at the event, after which they accused Mr Kong of lying and deceiving them to attract a large audience for the event.

The Sino-American Commerce Association had earlier issued a statement to publicise the April event. It read: Elon Musk launch cover appearance party in Manhattan.

One of the guests had visited the US from China for the event. In a video shared widely on Chinese social media, according to SCMP, she was enraged as she had spent over a month in the country just to meet Musk.

Screengrab from a Weibo video of the New York event shows the Elon Musk impersonator (Weibo/Gao Weiwei)

[This event] has received a lot of attention in China, but its unexpected that the person who showed up, in the end, was fake... its unacceptable to cheat Chinese people like this, Chinese people deceiving Chinese people is too much, she can be heard saying in the video, according to SCMP.

To diffuse the situation, the associations founding president held a press conference a few days after the Manhattan event.

All I can say is that this was [a result of] the differences between Chinese and Western cultures, said Annie Fu, emphasising that the Chinese audience likely misunderstood the statement that was issued to publicise the event.

Mr Kong, an entrepreneur himself, also clarified that the 27 April event was free and nobody was asked to pay a fee to attend the launch of the magazine, rubbishing claims that some paid $10,000 to meet the Twitter boss. However, in March, a similar event had been planned, and later cancelled, and some guests from mainland China had reportedly been charged $30,000.

It was not clear whether those guests had received their refunds.

The Independent has reached out to Sino-American Commerce Associations Mr Kong for a comment.
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E Jean Carroll said the world finally knows the truth after a jury had found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered him to pay her nearly $5m.

Were very happy, the beaming 79-year-old told reporters outside court before departing in a black SUV on Tuesday afternoon.

After hearing eight days of evidence, the jury took just two and a half hours to find Mr Trump liable for the 1996 sexual assault of Ms Carroll in a dressing room at the luxury Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman.

The jury ruled that Mr Trump was not liable for rape, but that he must pay Ms Carroll a total of nearly $5m in damages for sexual assault and defamation.

In a statement released after the verdict, Ms Carroll said: I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

She expressed her deep and lasting gratitude to all those who have stood by me from the start, singling out her legal team led by Roberta Kaplan who never, ever backed down in pursuit of truth and justice.

Ms Carroll spent nearly 13 hours on the witness stand where she recounted in graphic detail the violent sexual assault. Under cross examination, she was peppered with questions by defence counsel Joe Tacopina about why she hadnt screamed for help during the sexual assault.

Jean Carroll, center, walks out of Manhattan federal court, on 9 May 2023. A jury has found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing the advice columnist in 1996, awarding her $5m in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House. (AP)

As the verdict was read out, Ms Carroll sat emotionless in the front row beside her attorneys Ms Kaplan and Shawn Crowley.

She nodded her head as Judge Lewis Kaplan thanked the jury for paying close attention to the evidence even when it wasnt riveting.

After the jury was led out, she hugged Ms Kaplan and Ms Crowley. Mr Tacopina approached and shook her hand, and said congratulations and good luck.

In a statement, Ms Kaplan said the verdict showed that nobody was above the law.

For far too long, survivors of sexual assault faced a wall of doubt and intimidation. We hope and believe todays verdict will be an important step in tearing that wall down.

E Jean Carroll has never wavered in her strength, courage, and determination to seek justice. Donald Trump, on the other hand, failed to even show up in court. This is a victory not only for E Jean Carroll, but for democracy itself, and for all survivors everywhere.

Mr Trump did not appear in court, but the jury was played his deposition and the Access Hollywood tape in which Mr Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women.

His grab em by the p***y comments amounted to a confession, Ms Kaplan told jurors in closing statements on Monday.

Ms Carroll was exactly Mr Trumps type and had sexually assaulted her in the exact way that he had been caught describing his treatment of women on the infamous recording, Ms Kaplan added.

In a real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said.

They also heard testimony from Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who are among the more than two dozen women have accused Mr Trump of sexual assault and misconduct.

After the verdict, Judge Kaplan thanked the nine-person jury, which has been shuttled to the court amid strict security from undisclosed locations each day.

He advised them not to reveal their identities to anyone, not now, and not for a long time.

Donald Trump met E Jean Carroll in 1987 when he was married to Ivanka Trump, and she wa with her then-husband John Johnson (Supplied)

In a rant on his Truth Social social media site after the verdict, Mr Trump repeated his false claims that he had no idea who Ms Carroll was.

Speaking outside court, Mr Tacopina told reporters that Mr Trump planned to appeal the verdict.

Hes firm in his belief that he cannot get a fair trial in New York, Mr Tacopina said.

Ms Carroll, a longtime Elle magazine advice columnist, first revealed details of the sexual assault in a book excerpt that ran in New York magazine in June 2019.

Ms Carroll testified that she and Mr Trump had engaged in playful banter after a chance encounter at Bergdorf Goodman one evening in the mid-1990s.

But after taking an escalator up to a deserted 6th floor to look for lingerie, Mr Trump led her to a dressing room, pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her.

It was extremely painful, Ms Carroll told the jury. He put his hand inside me and curled his finger. As I sit here today, I can still feel it.

Ms Carroll added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attackers despite the statute of limitations.

She told how the traumatic experience had left her incapable of forming romantic relationships.

The writer said she would be inundated with a wave of slime on social media every time Mr Trump commented or posted about her allegations.

The jury awarded Ms Carroll $2m in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive damages for the battery allegation. They awarded $1m in compensatory damages for the defamation and $1.7m for the repair of her reputation. The jury awarded another $280,000 in punitive damages for the defamation.
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Border cities in Texas are bracing for an influx of migrants and asylum seekers as the Trump-era Covid policy Title 42 came to an end last night.

The rule, which was rolled out in March 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allowed officials to prevent people from entering the country and spreading Covid-19. More than 2.8 million people were turned away from the countrys southern border over the past three years.

Authorities have used Title 42 as a temporary solution to the border crisis but as the Biden administration ends the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, the rule also comes to an end.

Now, the US is bracing itself for an increase in migrants and asylum seekers with cities like El Paso declaring a state of emergency.

Already, border towns are overwhelmed by the number of people seeking shelters, with many sleeping in the streets.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed additional soldiers to the border in preparation for Title 42s expiration.

With the ending of Title 42 on Thursday, President Biden is laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world, Governor Abbott said in a press release.

The Texas National Guard is loading Blackhawk helicopters and C-130s and deploying specially trained soldiers for the Texas Tactical Border Force, who will be deployed to hotspots all along the border to help intercept and repel large groups of migrants trying to enter Texas illegally, Mr Abbott added.

President Joe Biden has defended his own decision to send 1,500 troops to the border ahead of Thursday, batting off criticism that he has failed to adequately prepare for Title 42s expiration  his officials claim they have spent more than a year putting plans in place.

Many of the people crossing into the US are expected to travel through Brownsville, north of the town of Matamoros in Mexico, the recent scene of an SUV crash that left eight people dead and around 10 others injured outside of a migrant centre.

What is Title 42?

The policy is part of the CDCs Covid emergency declaration and allows border agents to turn away migrants at land borders in the US without having to take them into custody  in what the CDC said would mitigate the risk of Covid-19.

A week after then-president Donald Trump declared Covid a national emergency, Title 42 rolled out. The policy saw around 2.8 million people turned away at the US border following the outbreak of Covid.

Why is it expiring?

Although the Biden administration has made use of the policy, particularly against a background of an unexpected increase in migration to the US amid issues in Nicaragua and Venezuela, it is allowing it to expire at 11.59pm EST on 11 May.

This is because the Covid public health emergency is expiring  and Title 42 relies on the public health emergency for legitimacy after the CDC concluded in April last year that there was no public health reason to turn away migrants at the southern border.

In anticipating an influx of people to US borders, the Biden administration has attempted to legislate its way out of the situation, introducing a raft of measures it hopes will manage arrivals.
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Jurors in E Jean Carrolls civil battery and defamation case against former US president Donald Trump in New York took just three hours of deliberations before returning their verdict.

The nine-person panel was given the case on Tuesday and did not waste any time in bringing the case to a swift and damaging end for the 2024 Republican presidential hopeful.

The jury in the civil case returned a verdict that Mr Trump was liable for sexually abusing Ms Carroll, but not raping her, and awarded the writer a total of $5m in damages, which includes the defamation claim.

In the courtroom, the clerk read the verdict: As to battery, did Ms Carroll prove that Mr Trump raped Ms Carroll? The jury answered No.

The jury also found Mr Trump liable for wonton disregard, for which Ms Carroll was awarded $20,000, according to Inner City Press.

(EPA, Getty)

Mr Trump was also found liable for defamation as the jury found that he made false statements about Ms Carroll.

The jury found that Mr Trump acted with actual malice and that Ms Carroll had been injured, for which she was awarded $1m. For repairing her reputation, Ms Carroll was awarded $1.7m.

As the case was a civil one and not criminal, Mr Trump was not found guilty but rather liable by the jury.

Ms Carroll, a former magazine columnist, spent three days on the witness stand in a Manhattan federal courtroom alleging that Mr Trump raped her in the dressing rooms of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman department store in spring 1996, and then defamed her in a social media post last October.

For his part, Mr Trump has denied her allegations, insisting the incident she describes never happened.

E. Jean Carroll, center, walks out of Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in New York. (AP)

Lawyers for both sides presented more than four hours of closing arguments on Monday, with Ms Carrolls attorney Roberta Kaplan insisting her clients testimony was credible, it was consistent and it was powerful and arguing that every single aspect of what she said is backed up or corroborated by other evidence.

Ms Kaplan and her colleagues argued that the testimony of two other women, Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff, who have accused Mr Trump of sexual assault, coupled with his notorious remarks from the Access Hollywood tape of 2005, indicate a repeated pattern of behaviour towards women consistent with Ms Carrolls account.

But Joe Tacopina, a lawyer representing Mr Trump, sought to rubbish that narrative and argued that Ms Carroll being unable to give a precise date on which the alleged attack occurred suggested she was not a trustworthy witness, also making much of her decision not to report it to the police at the time.

She has abused this system by bringing a false claim for, amongst other things, money, status, political reasons, he said.

And in doing so, she has minimised real rape victims, you know, rape victims down by the water and around the world, to use someones words. She is exploiting their pain and suffering and is capitalising on their stories and we cant let her profit to the tune of millions of dollars for her abuse of this process and her efforts to deceive you.

Both sides also disputed the meaning of Mr Trumps decision not to give evidence in person, the Republican having provided only a pre-recorded deposition in which he again denied the accusations against him.

Ms Carrolls attorney Michael Ferrara argued his absence was indicative of guilt, but Mr Tacopina declared: How do you prove a negative? Challenging the story is our defence. There are no witnesses for us to call. Theres no witness for us to call because he was not there, it didnt happen.

Then on 9 May, following instruction from Judge Lewis A Kaplan, the six men and three women in the jury box began weighing up everything they heard before delivering a verdict hours later.

Ms Carroll filed her lawsuit last November under the New York State Adult Survivors Act, a state bill that enabled sexual assault allegations whose statues of limitation have long since expired to be revisited.

Her suit was a civil one, meaning the jury needed to decide whether Ms Carrolls legal team succeeded in proving that Mr Trump did commit battery against their client by the preponderance of the evidence, a lower standard for certainty than the beyond reasonable doubt threshold employed in criminal trials, the highest in law.

Donald Trump and E Jean Carroll (Getty/Reuters)

The defamation question, meanwhile, hinged on whether the jury believed, again by the preponderance of the evidence, that Mr Trump knew that his denial of the accusation against him was false when he made it.

They also had to consider whether Ms Carrolls team presented clear and convincing evidence that the property moguls statement of denial was false and that he made it in a spirit of malice, meaning there is little room left for doubt based on the information presented.

When it reached its conclusions, the jury needed to be unanimous, but could reach different verdicts on the battery and defamation claims, which were treated as two separate concerns.

After finding against Mr Trump on both battery and defamation, the jury recommended that Ms Carroll receive both punitive damages to punish him, as well as actual damages to cover the losses she experienced as a result of his alleged conduct.

Ms Carrolls team did not put a round number on the compensation it hoped to receive should she win - but the final number came out to $5m.

Ms Kaplan said on Monday: For E Jean Carroll this lawsuit is not about the money. Its about getting her good name back.

What is the price for decades of living alone without companionship, for having no one to cook dinner with, no one to walk your dog with, no one to watch TV with, and for feeling for decades like you are dirty and unworthy. Im not going to put a number on that for you.

The ruling: What is the definition of sexual abuse?

Ms Carrolls lawsuit against Mr Trump was two-pronged, alleging both battery and defamation.

For battery, Judge Lewis A Kaplan presented jurors with three forms under which Trump could be found liable: rape, sexual abuse and forcible touching.

The jury did not find Mr Trump liable for rape under Judge Kaplans definition of sexual intercourse by force, including penetration.

Jurors did find him liable for sexual abuse, defined as touching sexual or intimate parts by force.
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A large share of independents dont support President Joe Biden across multiple polls as he launches his 2024 re-election campaign.

Interactive Polls tweeted out four surveys that showed Mr Biden has a net negative 29 per cent approval rating.

A survey from The Washington Post and ABC News showed that in a rematch against former president Donald Trump, 42 per cent of independents said they would back Mr Trump compared with 34 per cent who said they would support Mr Biden.

In addition, 30 per cent of independents approve of the job Mr Biden is doing compared to 60 per cent who disapprove. By comparison, Mr Biden beat Mr Trump with the group by nine points in 2020, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Mr Biden also lags in other polls among independent voters. A The Economist/YouGov poll found that 33 per cent of independent voters approve of Mr Biden. Meanwhile, a Civiqs poll found that 29 per cent of independent voters approve of him compared to 58 per cent who disapprove of Mr Biden.

An Investors Business Daily/TIPP found that 27 per cent of independent voters approve of Mr Bidens job performance while 63 per cent disapprove.

The numbers come as Mr Biden announced his re-election campaign last month, aiming to create a contrast between himself and Mr Trump as well as MAGA Republicans who want to restrict abortion and ban books.

But Mr Biden faces significant headwinds as he faces re-election. The Post/ABC poll found that 44 per cent of people polled said they would vote for Mr Trump and only 38 per cent said they would vote for Mr Biden. Similarly, 42 per cent said they would vote for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis while 37 per cent said they would back Mr Biden.
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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the tangled web of revelations surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomass lack of financial disclosures gets worse and worse by the day.

Speaking with Jake Tapper for CNNs State of the Union, Mr Durbin expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts for failing to enact regulations regarding Justices disclosures.

I thought I had heard it all but more disclosures about [Justice Thomas] activity- just embarrass me, Mr Durbin said.

Last month, ProPublica revealed that Justice Thomas had received lavish and expensive vacations from GOP donor Harlan Crow over the years without disclosing them. The investigation suggested that the heaps of gifts possibly played a part in Justice Thomas decision-making as a Supreme Court Justice.

Since then, more information has come to light showing how Justice Thomas has benefitted from Mr Crows generosity. In another ProPublica report, it was revealed that Mr Crow paid thousands of dollars in tuition for Justice Thomas grand-nephew to attend boarding schools.

Yet another ProPublica report revealed that Justice Thomas mother was living in a home rent-free, paid for by Mr Crow.

The question is whether it embarrasses the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, Mr Durbin added.

Mr Durbin invited Justice Roberts to testify in front of the Judiciary Committee on the possible influence that the Justices undisclosed financial ventures could have had on rulings.

Notably, Justice Roberts declined.

The bottom line is this: Everything is on the table. Day after day, week after week, more and more disclosures about Justice Thomas  we cannot ignore them, Mr Durbin said.

Mr Durbin, as well as other Democrats, are serious about getting Justice Roberts to impose disclosure rules on the Court.

The Illinois Senator added: The thing were going to do first, obviously, is to gather the evidence, the information that we need to draw our conclusions. Im not ruling out anything.

Mr Durbins commentary comes just one week after the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing regarding the matter.
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Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against George Santos, the Republican congressman whose campaign was littered with falsehoods about his past.

The Justice Department unsealed a 13-count federal indictment on Wednesday (10 May) charging Mr Santos with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

Mr Santos surrendered to authorities at a federal court on Long Island and was arrested shortly after 9am. He slipped past dozens of reporters to enter via a backdoor of the building.

In the indictment, prosecutors accuse Mr Santos of lying on financial disclosure forms he filed to the House when he became a candidate. The first count alleges that he overstated his income from one job and failed to disclose income from another. The second alleges that he lied about his earnings from his company, the Devolder Organization.

Prosecutors also allege that Mr Santos fraudulently used donations to his political campaign for his own benefit, spending thousands of dollars of the solicited funds on personal expenses, including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments.

Mr Santos is also accused of an unemployment insurance fraud scheme before his successful congressional campaign in which he applied for government assistance in New York while still employed by a Florida-based investment firm.

The charges represent a rapid rise and fall for a man his own constituents decried as an imposter.

Mr Santos was elected to represent New Yorks 3rd Congressional District in November 2022, defeating Democrat Robert Zimmerman by a margin of 54 per cent to 46 per cent. Soon after that victory, it emerged that Mr Santos had lied about much of his personal history and work experience .

A New York Times investigation found that he had lied about working for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, lied about the college he attended, fabricated an animal charity, that the company from which he had earned a salary of $750,000 and dividends of $1m did not have any online presence, lied about saying he lost four employees in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, and that he faced criminal charges in Brazil for cheque fraud.

A local pressure group started by local citizens was formed with the aim of forcing Mr Santos from office. They held regular protests outside his campaign office and called on Republican leaders to expel him from Congress.

Republican House majority leader Kevin McCarthy refused to hold a vote to expel Mr Santos, but the GOP leader said he would likely face a probe by the House Ethics Committee.

Following the news of criminal charges on Tuesday, Mr McCarthy told CNN: Ill look at the charges.

Since Mr Santos was sworn into office in January, revelations about his past have continued to emerge. The most recent report found that Mr Santos was charged with writing bad checks to purchase puppies from Amish farmers in 2017.

Mr Santos, 34, has apologised for what he described as resume embellishment, but has refused to resign.

The Independent contacted New Yorks Eastern District for comment.
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It can be difficult keeping up with the list of fictions that George Santos has been accused of telling, admitted telling, or merely been caught spinning red-handed following a contradictory statement.

But, do not fret: The Independent is here, and were keeping track of the whole list of lies even as it continues to grow  both in number and in the sheer scale of the humiliation that it presents for not just Mr Santos, who remains adamant that he will serve two years in office as representative for New Yorks third district, but for the Republican House caucus as a whole.

For months now, home state Republicans and Democrats alike called for his resignation from Congress while major conservative groups vowed not to work with him.

Still, he found a niche for himself among the GOPs far-right Maga caucus, among fellows like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz.

On Wednesday 11 January, New York Republicans called on Mr Santos to resign, saying that he disgraced the House of Representatives. Mr Santos, meanwhile, held firm, telling reporters that he will not step down.

Then, on 31 January, Mr Santos announced he was stepping down from his committee assignments following a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

On 2 March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was investigating Mr Santos.

But, things really took a turn on 9 May, when Mr Santos was arrested and hit with 13 federal charges from the Justice Department.

The embattled congressman was charged with seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

He was arrested after surrendering to authorities at a federal court on Long Island the following morning (10 May).

So, with scrutiny continuing to mount on Mr Santos, lets dive in to every fabrication, fiction, lie, mistruth, and embellishment that he has admitted to telling or been caught spreading by journalists and others (so far):

He went to college

Our first one, and one of the primary batch of lies uncovered by The New York Times and other news outlets, is Mr Santoss claim that he obtained degrees from NYU and Baruch College, another New York City-based school.

As it turns out, not only did he not graduate from either school, officials at both said there was no record of him attending under any alias. Mr Santos has now admitted this, chalking it up to the effort to make his resume more impressive.

He went to prep school

Mr Santos claimed in a campaign biography during his failed 2020 bid for Congress (in the same district) that he had briefly attended a prestigious prep school in New York.

He began Horace Mann preparatory school in the Bronx, however, did not graduate from Horace Mann due to financial difficulties for his family, read the biography.

As you might expect, Horace Mann officials said there was no record of him ever attending. Mr Santos has not responded to discovery of this apparent fabrication.

He worked at banks

Another from the initial dispatch: Mr Santos did not, as it turns out, work at either Citigroup or Goldman Sachs. He has now admitted that this too was a fiction: Instead, he claims to have worked for the two banks through a third company, though he has provided no evidence to back that claim up.

What we do know is that an investment firm he founded in May of 2021 came into sudden wealth, bringing in millions of dollars to the degreeless Mr Santos, whose employment history remains murky. He has yet to explain how this firm he founded (and shut down in 2022 after failing to file paperwork) operated or made its millions in such a short period  or how he made his connections in the industry at all.

He ran a charity

The political newcomer claimed not only to be an ex-banker but also a lover of animals: Mr Santos previously claimed to have founded a charity group called Friends of Pets United, taking credit for supposedly saving thousands of dogs and cats. But no IRS records of the group could be found, and Mr Santos himself even backed away from the claim that he founded the group, later telling reporters that he only campaigned for the group and tried to find foster homes for some animals.

Its clear that the charity existed in some form  what is far less clear is whether it was done by the books, what Mr Santoss real role was, and even whether it actually helped animals at all. An Amish dog breeder recently identified Mr Santos as the man who purchased two puppies from him with a bad check; the reason for the purchase was unclear, but at the time the group was supposedly rehoming puppies and dogs.

Hes Jewish, and his grandparents fled the Holocaust

Its becoming almost impossible to count every time Mr Santos has been accused of telling various audiences that he is Jewish. The Republican Jewish Coalition says that he represented himself to them as Jewish, and he has made public comments to that effect in interviews. Then there was the position paper uncovered by Axios in which he simply refers to himself as an American Jew, removing all doubt as to what he said.

Nevertheless, in a recent interview with Fox News he insisted that he had not lied, and in fact only referred to himself as Jew-ish  an explanation that sounded like it was ripped straight from a Weekend Update joke.

Not only has he come clean about actually being Catholic, genealogists contacted by The Forward said that there was no evidence to prove his other past claims on the issue; namely, that his grandparents on his mothers side escaped the Holocaust. They were born in Brazil.

He knew victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting

Among many other claims, Mr Santos told WNYC last year that he personally had lost four of his employees at the tragedy at Pulse nightclub in 2016.

It was later determined by news reports that no one on the list of those killed in the mass shooting were identifiable as being employees of any business owned by Mr Santos.

The congressman then changed his story to say that well, actually, they hadnt been officially hired yet  the four unnamed persons were supposedly all new employees.

Theres no evidence of that, either.

He owns real estate

During the 2020 campaign, Mr Santos told voters that he owned more than a dozen rental properties across the state of New York. Turns out, thats not true: He told City & State New York that he actually does not own any properties at all. Some may be owned by his family, but he only at the most had use of them.

His mother died twice

This one easily takes the crown for most bizarre lie told so far. In one tweet uncovered Wednesday by reporters, Mr Santos claimed that his mother had died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York.

Then he sent another tweet, five months later. In that message, his mother had a new time of death: 23 December, 2016.

While Mr Santos has not admitted to this fib or addressed it publicly, it is reasonably safe to say that his mother did not come back from the dead.

Some have pointed out that it is possible Mr Santos could have been referring to his mother contracting cancer or another disease resulting from the fallout from the towers destruction. However, a review of her employment history found no signs of her ever working or living anywhere near Ground Zero. A review of her immigration history would further reveal she was not even in the country when the attack occurred.

His apartment was robbed

In a sworn statement in housing court in 2016, Mr Santos claimed he was mugged on his way to pay hundreds of dollars in back rent to his Queens landlord during an eviction case. The New York City Police Department has no record of any such attack.

A report from New York outlet Gothamist revealed that Mr Santos wrote that he was mugged on his way to deliver a rent cheque to Queens Housing Court on 15 January 2016 in an effort to resolve his case.

The Republican wrote that he was unable to provide a police report and was told to return to police several days later to pick one up, according to an affidavit that was filled out under oath.

Mr Santos was set to pay $2,250 in back rent for his Queens apartment.

A spokesperson for NYPD told the outlet there was nothing on file related to Mr Santoss claims.

He goes by George Santos

This one doesnt count as a lie, but its still worth mentioning in this long list of fibs.

Mr Santos as recently as 2019 was introducing himself publicly and privately as Anthony Devolder, which appears to be his middle name  George Anthony Santos  as well as his mothers maiden name, Devolder.

He even hated that his friends would sometimes refer to him as George, according to The Washington Post, and insisted on being called Anthony by his friends and others.

His whole family called him Anthony. He wanted to be called Anthony. He would use the name Anthony Devolder, said that former acquaintance, described as an ex-friend and coworker.

He may have performed as a drag queen in Brazil

Mr Santos has most recently been accused of having performed as a drag queen named Kitara Ravache in Brazil more than a decade ago.

The allegation came from Brazilian drag professional Eula Rochard, 58, who reportedly recognised him on TV following his elevation to the House of Representatives, excitedly told her friends and then reacted to their disbelief by digging out an old photograph she insists shows the pair of them together in costume, posting it on Instagram.

Hes changed a lot, but he was always a liar, Ms Rochard told Reuters. He was always such a dreamer.

Mr Santos first emphatically denied her story on Twitter, writing: The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or performed as a drag Queen is categorically false. The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results. I will not be distracted nor fazed by this.

But, as youd expect, that wasnt the whole story. A Politico investigation found that a user on Wikipedia named Anthony Devolder (one of Mr Santoss aliases) claimed to have participated in drag shows in Brazil as a teenager.

Mr Santos later changed his tuned to claim that he had dressed in drag at just one festival, quipping, Sue me.

He may have been the mastermind of a credit card skimming scam

A man convicted of a credit card skimming fraud and deported to Brazil reportedly told federal authorities that Mr Santos was the mastermind of the scheme.

I am coming forward today to declare that the person in charge of the crime of credit card fraud when I was arrested was George Santos / Anthony Devolder, Gustavo Ribeiro Trelha wrote in a declaration obtained by Politico. The outlet reported that the letter was sent by express mail and email to the FBI, the US Secret Service office in New York, and the US Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of New York, by Trelhas attorney Mark Demetropoulos.

Trelha claimed Mr Santos directed the scheme in Seattle in 2017 wherein they would clone cards and siphon money from the linked accounts.

Santos taught me how to skim card information and how to clone cards. He gave me all the materials and taught me how to put skimming devices and cameras on ATM machines, Trelha wrote in his statement.

Trelha claimed Mr Santos visited him in jail in Seattle after his arrest and threatened him not to reveal his part in the scheme to authorities.

We used a computer to be able to download the information on the pieces, Trelha wrote in his declaration. We also used an external hard drive to save the filming, because the skimmer took the information from the card, and the camera took the password.

It didnt work out so well, because I was arrested, he wrote.

Responding to the allegations on Capitol Hill on Friday, Mr Santos told reporters that he was innocent.

He added that he never did anything of criminal activity, and I have no mastermind event.

I cooperated with Secret Service, FBI, everybody that asked for my help. Got information for them. Got everybody arrested and deported, Mr Santos said, according to CNN.

He rejected that he and Trelha were roommates and said he only met him a couple of times in my life.

A recording obtained by the network shows that Mr Santos appeared in court in 2017 at the bail hearing of Trelha, calling him a family friend. At that same hearing, Mr Santos falsely told the judge he worked at Goldman Sachs.

Alex Woodward, Abe Asher, and Gustaf Kilander contributed to this report
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Lawyers for the chair of the Georgia Republican Party are arguing their client shouldnt be indicted for attempting to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election in the state because he was simply following the advice handed down by members of former President Donald Trumps legal team.

David Shafer, the Georgia GOP chair, is reportedly in jeopardy of being indicted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of an ongoing investigation into the Trump teams efforts to steal Georgias electoral votes. To ward off a potential indictment, Mr Shafer appears to be trying to pin his involvement on his partys most powerful figure.

Last week, Mr Shafers attorneys sent an 11-page letter to Ms Willis office outlining their case that their client was acting based on repeated and detailed advice of legal counsel when he cast a contingent electoral college vote for Mr Trump, despite the fact that Joe Biden won his state.

(E)very action by Mr. Shafer as a presidential elector nominee or contingent elector in 2020 was specifically undertaken in conformity with and reliance upon the repeated and detailed advice of legal counsel, eliminating any possibility of criminal intent or liability, Mr Shafers lawyers wrote in the letter, which was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A key component of Mr Shafers legal claim is what happened in Hawaii during the 1960 presidential election between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. The states initial vote count showed that Nixon had won by less than one tenth of one percentage point, after which Democrats filed for a recount.

While the result remained unsettled, three non-certified Democratic electors cast votes for Kennedy while the certified Republican electors cast their votes for Nixon. When the recount found that Kennedy had in fact won the state by just 115 votes, the non-certified Democratic electors had their votes counted.

Rather than suggest the uncertified Democratic electors had committed crimes, Judge [Ronald] Jamieson hailed them as heroes, describing their meeting as a critically important step that preserved their ability for their presidential ballots to be counted, Mr Shafers lawyers wrote in their letter.

It will ultimately be up to Ms Willis and, potentially, a group of Georgia jurors to decide how much weight to put behind Mr Shafers arguments. Mr Shafer has previously said he was not aware of the extent to which the availability of alternate electors was meant to force then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the result of the election, though the existance of such a plan might be considered a key difference between the Georgia and Hawaii situations.

Ms Willis announced last summer that she was scrutinising the actions of the alternate electors in her probe into the handling of the election. She is expected to announce the charges stemming from the investigation this summer.

Mr Shafer, meanwhile, is scheduled to step down as chair of the state Republican Party in June.
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Hackers struck the website of Irans foreign ministry on Sunday in the latest embarassment for the countrys government after months of protests rocked the country last year and continued into early 2023.

The websites front page was defaced with crossed-out images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, as well as the countrys president, Ebrahim Raisi.

Their photos were displayed under images of two Iranian opposition figures, Massoud and Maryam Rajavi  founders of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK). The pair are considered pro-western dissidents aimed at the overthrow of the Iranian government in support of a secular republic.

Images indicated that the website was down throughout the day, finally being retaken and covered with a message announcing routine maintenance late Sunday. But the images had spread to the websites of hundreds of Iranian embassies before being taken down.

Translations of the Farsi text on the hacked pages read, [t]here is a great revolution in Iran, the uprising will go until the demolition of the palace of oppression, as well as Death to Khamenei, Hail Rajavi.

An image of the front page of the website of Irans foreign ministry following a hack by an anti-regime group over the weekend (The Independent)

The group taking responsibility for the attack calls themselves Ghiam ta Sarnegouni, roughly translated to uprising to overthrow, and also obtained numerous documents in their hack of the foreign ministry  some have already been posted online, including passports belonging to top officials.

A source with knowledge of the extent of the attack described the group as having seized tens of thousands of documents. Among the more political of those seized included a report apparently authored by foreign ministry officials detailing an effort to form a committee with the sole purpose of discredit the MEK and its related organisations, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran, abroad.

Referring to the anti-regime MEK as hypocrites, the report reads: During the first four sessions, the committee focused on understanding the nature of hypocrites and monitoring their movements and activities. Its primary mission was to discredit hypocrites and undermine their advantages and values. The committee found that this discrediting should take place in all spheres, not just political, with other committees handling other responsibilities.

Passports belonging to top Iranian officials are posted online by a group calling itself Ghiam ta Sarnegoun, or uprising until overthrow. (The Independent)

Its a revealing look at how the Iranian foreign ministry remains hyper-focused on countering any opposition figures who could arise with both popular support in Iran and, dangerously for the regime, the backing of the United States or its allies in Europe. Still wary of such tactics from the west, the authoritarian Iranian government remembers all too well how the popular government of Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown by a CIA- and MI6-backed coup in 1953.

The Rajavis could very well represent those kinds of opposition figures most feared by the Iranian government. Though Massoud Rajavi vanished in 2003 and has not been heard from since, his wife Maryam remains the leader of the MEK and has seen her clout grow steadily on Capitol Hill in recent months and years to the point where her opposition movement now enjoys the support of Washingtons foreign policy establishment in Congress and elsewhere around the city. That development is thanks in no small part due to the failure of Irans government and the Biden administration to negotiate a return to the 2015 nuclear accord abandoned under the Trump presidency.

With few alternatives being offered to the maximum pressure-style relations pursued by the Trump administration in Washington today, the MEK has built popular support among members of both parties as a kind of government-in-waiting should the regime finally crumble, even as some critics decry how the group now manages a state in exile in Albania where its members have resided since the days of the Obama administration. Whether the US will take tangible steps to see that happen remains another question.

Ms Rajavi spoke remotely on Capitol Hill earlier this spring in support of a bipartisan resolution cheering on protests against Irans morality police and condemning the subsequent crackdowns by state security officials. Her address came at a press conference attended by House members of both parties.

Just last month, she cheered members of Congress once again for demonstrating that the U.S. Congress remains on their side, as they seek a democratic, free republic based on the separation of religion and state following the formation of a bipartisan caucus around the issue of womens rights in Iran.
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Tuesdays meeting between him, other Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden had produced no forward progress on an agreement to stave off what economists say would be a catastrophic default on Americas sovereign debt.

Mr McCarty, who has kept the House in recess for the last two weeks and for a majority of the days since he and Mr Biden last met on 1 February, told reporters outside the White House that Mr Biden and both Republican and Democratic leaders had merely reiterated the positions they held when the House Speaker and the President met 97 days before.

Nothing has changed since then ... everybody in this meeting reiterated the positions they were at. I didn't see any new movement, he said.

The California Republicans last meeting came just a few weeks after he eked out enough votes to claim the Speakers gavel with support from extremist and white nationalist members of the House Republican Conference, many of whom demanded that he use the need to lift the governments century-old statutory debt ceiling as leverage to force Mr Biden to roll back much of the legislative record he and Democrats accomplished over the prior two years.

Since that February meeting, the White House and the House of Representatives have remained far apart on what is needed before legislation allowing the US to resume issuing new debt instruments can reach Mr Bidens desk for his signature.

For his part, the presidents view has remained consistent since the beginning of the year. Mr Biden has repeatedly said that Congress should pass a clean debt ceiling increase and negotiate on spending cuts desired for next fiscal year when Congress begins work on a budget.

Mr McCarthy characterised Mr Bidens insistence that the Congress lift the debt ceiling on its own and address the spending cuts Republicans covet during the regular budgeting process as intransigent even though Republicans have not introduced a budget proposal for the next fiscal year. He also accused Senate Majority Leader Check Schumer of trying to stymie negotiations so Congress would be left without a choice but to pass the clean debt ceiling increase desired by Democrats and Mr Biden.

Chuck's whole idea before was to take us to the brink and someone's going to have to break right. I don't want to play politics with this. I think this is too important, said the Speaker, who suggested the only reason Mr Biden had called a meeting was because the GOP-led House had passed a bill to raise the debt limit while enacting drastic cuts to government programmes favoured by Democrats.

That legislation, which passed the House with a bare majority of GOP votes last month, would provide just a years worth of relief coupled with spending provisions that slash non-defence spending by as much as 20 per cent. Among the programmes on the chopping block: President Joe Bidens student debt relief initiative, as well as funding for new IRS personnel.

The plan would also add new work requirements for adults on Medicaid, cap the growth of the federal government, and impose 2022 limits on discretionary spending. The White House said in response to the bills passage that Republicans were attempting to strip away health care services for veterans, cut access to Meals on Wheels, eliminate health care coverage for millions of Americans and ship manufacturing jobs overseas.

While the House-passed bill is unlikely to go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate, thus far Mr McConnell and Senate Republicans have backed up Mr McCarthys demand for Mr Biden to sign off on GOP-endorsed austerity measures in exchange for Republican votes to allow the US to continue paying its debts.

Prominent GOP figures frequently claim that raising the statutory debt limit to enable the US to continue meeting financial obligations  a practice that was once routine under presidents of both parties and met no objections when it was done under Mr Bidens predecessor  is akin to authorising new spending.

That claim, however, is not how the debt limit works. Raising the debt limit does not increase or decrease the amount of money that is spent on programmes that have already been authorised by Congress and have had funds allocated to them in appropriations legislation.

Experts say a failure to raise the debt limit would force the government to default on its debt and precipitate a worldwide financial crisis. The last time the US flirted with that disastrous outcome was 2011, when Republicans controlled the House and Democrats controlled the Senate and the White House. Mr Biden, then the vice president under Barack Obama, led the negotiations with congressional leaders that headed off a default, but not before the US had its credit rating decreased for the first time in history.

That 2011 dispute ended with Republicans suffering a drop in their approval ratings and facing accusations of endangering the US economy for political reasons. It also came along with an unprecedented downgrade in Americas credit rating. Those same charges are being raised again now by the White House and the presidents allies in Congress, who are holding firm on Mr Bidens call for a clean debt limit boost.

Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that unless Congress acts, the US will by 1 June cease having the legal ability to issue debt instruments that allow the government to pay for spending already authorized and incurred.

Despite attempts by reporters to get Mr McCarthy to guarantee that the US would not default, the House Speaker repeatedly refused to make such a promise.
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Former first lady Melania Trump told Fox News Digital that she is fully behind former president Donald Trumps 2024 White House bid as he faces charges related to hush money payments and a civil lawsuit over alleged rape.

He has my support, and we look forward to restoring hope for the future and leading America with love and strength, she said.

Ms Trump told host Pete Hegseth that if she had the the privilege to serve again as first lady, she would focus on child development and making sure kids have the support and resources they need to reach their full potential.

My husband achieved tremendous success in his first administration, and he can lead us toward greatness and prosperity once again, she said.

Ms Trumps words come as her husband is embroiled in several legal battles. The former president last month pleaded not guilty to multiple charges over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an affair while his wife was pregnant with the couples son, Barron Trump (who is now aged 17).

After the arraignment, Mr Trump delivered a defiant speech criticising District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but Ms Trump was not present during the address.

In addition, on Monday, lawyers for writer E Jean Carroll made their closing arguments in a defamation trial. Ms Carroll accused Mr Trump of raping her in a New York department store in the 1990s, which Mr Trump has vociferously denied. In turn, Ms Carroll sued him for defamation.

But Ms Trump seemed undeterred by these allegations in her interview with Fox, focusing instead on her plans if she were to resume to role of first lady.

My focus would continue to be creating a safe and nurturing space for children to learn, grow, and thrive, she said. If additional problems arise, I will take the time to study them and understand their root causes.
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Donald Trump on Monday congratulated his wife Melania Trump for a great job as first lady after he appeared to have snubbed her on her birthday once again.

The former president of the United States wrote on Truth Social that the former first lady was doing the great job specifically with her Be Best initiative, an anti-bullying campaign launched during the Trump presidency that was frequently derided due to her husbands well-known bullying style on the campaign trail.

His post notably came just a few days after Ms Trump celebrated her 53rd birthday with a small gathering of friends at Mar-a-Lago. Her husband went the entire day without acknowledging her on social media, despite the frequency of his posting.

According to People magazine, it wasnt even clear if Mr Trump attended the celebration itself  representatives confirmed to the magazine only that the former president would attend if his schedule permitted.

This latest snub of his wifes birthday is far from the first awkward moment to occur on Melanias (supposedly) special day. In 2018, Mr Trump admitted that he had forgotten her birthday that year until just immediately beforehand, resulting in her only receiving flowers and a card.

The following year, the president marked his wifes birthday by inviting the prime minister of Japan to the White House for a state dinner, eschewing the private moments that other presidents and their loved ones have shared.

A source told People that Melania likes a low-key celebration with family and that I believe is her plan for this years birthday.

If Donald is here, he will be joining the family to celebrate his wifes birthday. Despite what you hear, the Trumps are a close family, the source claimed.

One reason for Mr Trumps apparent distraction could be the cascade of legal battles he currently faces.

After becoming the first ex-president to come under criminal indictment last month, Mr Trump now awaits a decision by a district attorney in Georgia regarding whether he and/or members of his former legal team will face criminal charges over their attempts to interfere with the results of the 2020 election.
 Close Trump calls Jan 6 a beautiful day during CNN town hall

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Donald Trump and his likely 2024 rival Ron DeSantis were planning on fighting for voters at duelling events in Iowa today.

Mr DeSantis, whose presidential campaign announcement could come any day now, spent the day shaking hands at a congressmans annual picnic and then an Iowa Republican Party fundraiser in Cedar Rapids.

Mr Trump was originally slated to hold an outdoor rally in Des Moines tonight, but later had to cancel because of a tornado warning.

He may have cancelled his rally, but the former president is still the center of the conversation for other reasons.

Mr Trump defended CNN over his chaotic town hall appearance on Wednesday evening, saying the network did the right thing by giving him a mainstream media platform.

The former president has also begun his appeal against the verdict in the E Jean Carroll case after he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation earlier this week.
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Sydneys state premier has defended his decision to cancel illuminations on the citys iconic Opera House for the coronation - despite lighting sails to mark the Queens death.

The structure of the picturesque landmark was left in its neutral colours throughout the weekend as Charles III was crowned as monarch of Australia as well as the UK.

It was reported by 2GB Sydney that there had been plans to mark the occasion under a previous regime but these had been cancelled by the new state premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns.

He said: I would like to keep it for Australia and Australians and moments of sacrifice and heroism for the country, or when theres an important international event in Sydney.

The Sydney Opera House was illuminated with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (AP)

More than 3 million Australians watched the coronation and Canberras Parliament House was one of several prominent buildings to have been illuminated.

Mr Minns pointed to the cost of 40-50,000 to illuminate the Opera House and that this had been done 70 times last year compared to 23 times in 2012.

At the end of the day Ive made a decision that we need to protect government, we need to protect taxpayer money in particular, he told ABC

Obviously these are changes to the constitutional arrangements in Australia and the UK and thats important for many people, but I dont dont think it meets the threshold for lighting up the opera house.

Celebrations outside the opera house for the Platinum Jubilee (PA Wire)

Monarchists have pointed out that the opera house was lit up to mark Sydney WorldPride, the Lunar New Year, the Ukraine invasion anniversary, and Australia Day as well as a horse race - an event which drew protests.

Mr Minns became premier in March and his Labor Party has republican views, although prime minister Anthony Albanese did attend the coronation.

Philip Benwell, chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, told reporters: We are facing a campaign of republicanism by stealth in Australia by the current government despite the parading of the prime minister in London declaring his allegiance to the King.

Sydney Opera House told ABC that they were considering the type of event that the sails should be illuminated for to prevent overuse.

Over the past 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of requests to illuminate the sails, including from community groups, charities, organisations, foreign embassies/consulates, and the NSW government, a spokesman said.
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Activists are calling for a bear accused of killing a jogger in Italy to be freed, claiming its the wrong gender.

Andrea Papi was mauled to death in the mountainous far north of the country on 5 April and authorities swiftly captured JJ4, a 17-year-old female bear that has previously shown signs of aggression towards humans.

Maurizio Fugatti, president of the Trentino province, has called for JJ4 to be put down, and a hearing on 11 May will decide the bears fate.

Marches and protests have been held to demand the freedom of JJ4. She has now been separated from her cubs and Leal, an environmental group, has said that tests show that teeth marks on Mr Papis body were not consistent with a female bear.

Leal wrote: Female bears have smaller measurements compared to males, both in their body mass and their dental structure JJ4 is innocent.

The bear has been under suspicion since she attacked two hikers in 2020 and after that incident, she was fitted with a tracking device although this since run out of battery.

Mr Fugatti said the bear would have been shot during its capture had it not been for an order from an administrative court. Leal has called for his resignation.

Andrea Papi, 26, was killed by a bear while running in mountains near the town of Caldes ( )

A vet report, according to the Guardian, looked at Mr Papis injuries and found this was a protracted attempt by the bear to distance and dissuade the victim and not a deliberate or predatory attack.

A man was attacked by another bear in the same province in March, the newspaper added, and interactions with humans are on the rise with the animal population growing after bears were reinstated in the 2000s. This was the first fatal bear attack in Italy in living memory.

Nevertheless, Mr Fugatti said in a Facebook post on May 5 that he had been in a meeting to discuss the serious problem of big predators such as bears and wolves.

The situation in Bolzano and Trento is no longer sustainable, a solution must be found, he wrote - the post having been translated from Italian to English.

We have noticed a sensitivity on the topic so much that a discussion opened up during the council of ministers. Here we have repeatedly emphasised how, to solve the problem, it is necessary to carry out legislative initiatives not only in Italy, but also in Europe, because the problem is not only about Trentino.

Mr Fugattis office could not be reached for comment.
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Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Battle tanks from the US, Britain and Germany are now being supplied for the first time and Mr Zelensky toured London, Paris and Brussels in early February 2023 to request fighter jets be sent as well in order to counter the Russian aerial threat, a step the allies appear to have reservations about making, although Joe Biden has since visited Kyiv in a gesture of solidarity.

Much of the fighting has been concentrated around the key eastern city of Bakhmut of late, with bombardments and heavy artillery fire taking place as Russian forces ramp up a major new offensive with the one-year anniversary of the war looming.

In the autumn, Mr Zelenskys forces launched a major campaign of their own to retrieve the besieged city of Kharkiv and succeeded in driving Russian orcs out of Kherson but, as Ukraines resistance grows, Mr Putins threats of escalating the fight grow too, causing concern globally about the prospect of nuclear warfare being unleashed.

Mr Zelensky has said Russian officials have begun to prepare their society for the possible use of nuclear weapons but added that he does not believe the Kremlin is ready to use them.

The president believes action is needed now to avert that scenario, pointing out that Russias threats pose a risk for the whole planet and that Moscow has made a step already by occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest nuclear station.

In response to the ever-growing sense that his invasion has backfired, Mr Putin staged a televised address in September in which he ordered a partial military mobilisation of 300,000 reservists and reiterated his threat to use nukes against the West, a major escalation of his rhetoric in which he assured the world: Its not a bluff.

Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP)

The Kremlins faltering troops, otherwise saddled with outmoded equipment and sub-standard supplies, have employed brutal siege warfare tactics throughout the war, surrounding Ukraines cities and subjecting them to intense shelling campaigns, a strategy previously seen in Chechnya and Syria.

Ukrainian cities in the east and south have been battered by Russian missiles in pursuit of gradual gains, while the targeting of residential buildings, hospitals and even nurseries and memorials have led to outraged accusations of civilians being intentionally targeted and of war crimes being committed on a massive scale.

The discovery of mass graves in towns like Bucha and Izium have shocked the world.

Mr Zelenskys initial appeals for Nato to implement a no-fly zone remain unanswered as the West fears such an act would be interpreted as a provocation by Russia and draw the alliance into a much larger war over Eastern Europe.

However, US president Joe Biden, his European counterparts Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz and UN secretary general Antonio Guterres have all condemned the Kremlins unprovoked and unjustified invasion and promised to hold it accountable, with the West introducing several rounds of tough economic sanctions against Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs while supplying Ukraine with additional weapons, hardware and defence funding.

The Ukrainian president has recently shown signs of frustration with allied dithering over next steps and the West has also faced criticism for not doing enough to support the millions of refugees from the conflict, who have fled their homeland for neighbouring states like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova.

Ukrainian refugees wait in front of the consular department of the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin, Germany, in April 2022 (AP)

So what are the key issues behind the conflict, where did it all begin and how might it unfold?

How did the crisis start?

Rumbling tensions in in the region first began in December 2021 when Russian troops amassed at its western border with Ukraine, creating widespread international concern but not acting until the final week of February 2022, when Mr Putin moved to officially recognise the pro-Russian breakaway regions of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) as independent states.

This enabled him to move military resources into those areas, in anticipation of the coming assault, under the guise of extending protection to allies.

That development meant months of frantic diplomatic negotiations pursued by the likes of US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Mr Macron, Mr Scholz and then-UK foreign secretary Liz Truss in the hope of averting calamity had ultimately come to nothing.

Going back even further to 2014 gives the current situation more context.

Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula that year in retaliation after the countrys Moscow-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power by the midwinter mass protests seen in Kyivs Maidan Square, an angry reaction to his decision to reject a treaty strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between his country and the EU, probably acting under pressure from the Kremlin.

Ukrainians return to Kyivs Maidan Square to celebrate the liberation of Kherson in November 2022 (AFP/Getty)

Weeks later, Russia threw its weight behind two separatist insurgency movements in Ukraines eastern industrial heartland, the Donbas, which eventually saw pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk declare the DPR and LPR independent states, although their claims went entirely unacknowledged by the international community.

More than 14,000 people died in the fighting between 2014 and 2022, which devastated the region.

Both Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the rebels but Moscow has denied the allegations, stating that the Little Green Men who joined the separatists cause were not really Russian soldiers or had done so voluntarily, hence their lack of identifying insignia, an argument few believe.

A 2015 peace accord  the Minsk II agreement  was brokered by Francois Hollande of France and Germanys Angela Merkel to bring Mr Yanukovychs eventual successor Petro Poroshenko and Mr Putin to the table in the hope of ending the bloodshed.

The 13-point agreement obliged Ukraine to offer autonomy to the separatist regions and amnesty for the rebels while Ukraine would regain full control of its border with Russia in the rebel-held territories in return.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel mediates a tense meeting between then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin at a D-Day commemoration in 2014 (AP)

The agreement is highly complex and remains contested, however, because Moscow continues to insist it has not been a party in the conflict and is therefore not bound by its terms.

In point 10 of the treaty, there is a call for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the disputed DPR and LPR: Ukraine says this refers to forces from Russia but Mr Putin is adamant in his denials that his country has any of its own troops in the contested regions, despite the obviousness of the untruth.

In 2021, a spike in ceasefire violations in the east and a Russian troop concentration near Ukraine fuelled fears that a new war was about to erupt but tensions abated when Moscow pulled back the bulk of its forces.

How is the situation at present?

As discussed, the fighting has become entrenched around the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar since late 2022, with Russias savage Wagner Group mercenaries battling Ukrainian forces in heavy mud, rubble and sub-zero temperatures in what has become a savage war of attrition.

Of the latest aggressions against Bakhmut, the deputy commander of Ukraines Svoboda battalion, Volodymyr Nazarenko, said: The city, the citys suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling.

But after months of costly and violent warfare like this, it is believed that Russian citizens are finally beginning to see through the fog of Kremlin propaganda and understand Mr Putins misjudgement of the war for what it is, the aggressor having suffered devastating losses and economic consequences as a direct result of its leaderships actions.

Ukrainian servicemen drive along a street with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle in the frontline town of Bakhmut in February 2023 (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Reuters)

The news that the average number of Russian soldiers dying per day has hit 824 in February 2023, four times higher than the rate of casualties recorded in June and July 2022, will only increase the pressure on Mr Putin at home.

A growing reluctance to see more conscripts killed and living standards fall, especially in support of a war so ill-defined, is likely and could eventually lead to street protests.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, director of the intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, said Russians are now feeling the consequences of the Kremlin leaders war choice.

What might happen next?

In October, Russia responded to Ukrainian strikes on a major bridge connecting Crimea to its territory  a matter of huge pride to Mr Putin when it was first opened  by launching a widespread missile bombardment of Ukraine, some of which killed civilians in Kyiv.

Mr Putin called the destruction of the bridge along the Kerch Strait an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure.

In response to these assaults, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to wipe his country off the face of the earth while his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, added that the strikes show Mr Putin is a terrorist who talks with missiles.

Volodymyr Zelensky (AP)

Meanwhile, the West continues to assess the risk of nuclear warfare.

Mr Biden has warned explicitly that the conflict could lead to nuclear armageddon. However, the White House has insisted that it has no reason to believe there is an imminent threat of Mr Putin using such weapons just yet.

But the Kremlin leader did make clear in that September address that Russia would consider the use of nuclear weapons against Nato if its territory were to be threatened as a result of the invasion.

At the time, Mr Putin warned: To those who allow themselves to make such statements about Russia, I would like to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for some components more modern than those of the Nato countries.

The threat was the most significant suggestion of the use of nuclear weapons by a leader with access to those weapons in decades and threatened to return Washington and Moscow to the height of tensions not seen since the Cold War.

The question of fighter jets now needs to be resolved with some urgency as the war enters a new stage with the coming of spring.

A Ukrainian man surveys the damage caused by a missile strike on a residential area near Kyiv's main train station (Getty)

It is feared that Mr Putin, humiliated by the failure of his conquest so far, could now resort to even more drastic measures as the first anniversary of the war approaches, given that he will be under enormous pressure to present demonstrable wins to a Russian public growing impatient with a futile conflict.

The prospect of the war finally spilling out over Ukraines borders and engulfing the rest of Europe can also not be dismissed, although Nato remains hugely reluctant to take up arms against Russia and will do everything in its power to avert that nightmare scenario.

Ukraine is not (yet) a member of the military alliance, hence Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty not having been triggered before this point.

However, the world saw a near-miss on 15 November when what appeared to be a Russian rocket crossed into Poland, killing two people when it hit a grain silo in Przewodow, Lublin, an act that might well have been interpreted as an attack on a Nato ally necessitating the entire alliance entering the fray to come to its defence.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and investigators concluded that the blast had actually been caused by a Soviet-era relic from Ukraines own arsenal, which had been fired in an attempt to bring down one of the aggressors projectiles targeting Lviv and drifted off course by mistake.

The West breathed a collective sigh of relief but the episode served to illustrate just how quickly matters could escalate into a much wider war over continental Europe.
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Russian forces evacuated residents from a town near the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine on Sunday as the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he was extremely concerned about the safety of the facility.

Ukraines military said local Russian passport-holders were being taken to the port city of Berdyansk and the town Prymorsk, both on the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The evacuation, which could not be verified on the ground, comes as Ukraine is expected to launch a much-anticipated counteroffensive to retake Moscow-held territory in the area.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed deepening concern amid reports Russian forces fired more than 30 shells at Nikopol, a Ukrainian-held town close to the plant.

The general situation in the area near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous, he said.

Im extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks facing the plant.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of the partially-occupied Zaporizhzhia province, announced on Friday that he had ordered the evacuation of civilians from 18 settlements in the area, including Enerhodar, which is located next to the power plant.

The settlements affected are 30-40 miles from the front line of fighting between Ukraine and Russia.

(via REUTERS)

Ukraines Special Operations Forces on Saturday accused Russia of using phosphorous in the besieged city of Bakmut and released a new video showing the tell-tale white fire from such munitions.

International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus or other incendiary weapons - munitions designed to set fire to objects or cause burn injuries - in areas where there could be concentrations of civilians, though it can also be used for illumination or to create smoke screens.

It was not possible to independently verify where the video was shot or when, but chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British army colonel, said it was clearly white phosphorous.

This is being fired directly at Ukraine positions and this would be a war crime, he said.

I expect because the Russians have failed to take Bakhmut conventionally, they are now using unconventional tactics to burn the Ukrainian soldiers to death or to get them to flee.

Russian forces have not commented on the claim, but have rejected previous accusations from Ukraine that they had used phosphorus munitions.

Mr Grossi said operating staff at the nuclear power plant, whose six reactors are currently all in shutdown mode, had not been evacuated as of Saturday but that most live in Enerhodar and the situation has contributed to "increasingly tense, stressful and challenging conditions for personnel and their families".

He added that IAEA experts at the nuclear site "are continuing to hear shelling on a regular basis".

"We must act now to prevent the threat of a severe nuclear accident and its associated consequence for the population and the environment," Mr Grossi said.

This major nuclear facility must be protected. I will continue to press for a commitment by all sides to achieve this vital objective.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Vladimir Putins annual Victory Day speech meandered down a familiar path that we have seen several times over the last few months  blaming the West for trying to destroy Russia culturally, while continuing to pervert the historical record by saying that it is only Russia that has truly fought Nazism.

The narrative he is trying to push is that the real war is not the one Moscow started in Ukraine, but one being waged on Russia by the West using Kyiv as a proxy. So far, so predictable. But the emphasis was clearly on convincing Russians of the need to push on, and the pride the country should have in the military personnel taking part in this war, whether they are fighting on the frontlines, providing supplies, or treating the injured. The phrase Theres nothing stronger than love for the motherland was among Putins closing words.

The comparison to the Nazis is a simple  if false  one for Putin to make. The Kremlin may be concerned about losing the support of the Russian people as the invasion heads into its 15th month, with a Ukrainian counteroffensive believed to be coming very soon, but the suffering the people of the Soviet Union faced during the Second World War has been built into the national identity in the decades since by the authorities. It is a button that Putin has pushed a number of times in the last decade, since he illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, and it is an easy crutch to lean on.

The pressure Putin is under appears clear. It was a different parade on Red Square from the one we are used to seeing. There were fewer soldiers  8,000 compared with 11,000 in 2022  and less military hardware, and the procession was shorter than usual. There was no flypast, either.

The Kremlin has sought to paint this as a result of security concerns; events in other parts of the country, too, were cancelled or scaled back, in the wake of what Moscow has claimed was an attempted drone strike on the Kremlin by Ukraine last week. But Western nations have suggested that Moscow does not want to highlight the equipment losses due to the conflict, or the loss of troops in what has become an extremely bloody war of attrition in eastern Ukraine.

This years Victory Day parade in Moscow was a scaled-down affair (EPA)

An important part of the commemorations that have been built into the Victory Day events is the Immortal Regiment procession, which sees people across the country march holding photographs of their relatives who fought in the Second World War. It is one element of the events that has been abandoned this year, with the Kremlin likely aware that people dont need a reminder of the scale of the troop losses the nation has accrued in recent months  even if the official figures are far below those logged by Ukraine and its Western allies. Recently, US intelligence estimates suggested that the past five months had seen 100,000 Russian casualties, including 20,000 dead, many of them in the region around Bakhmut.

Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, stole a march on Putin on Monday by celebrating Ukraines own Victory Day and the role his countrys troops played in the Soviet victory over the Nazis, and comparing this to the current fight. The agreement marking the capitulation of Nazi Germany was signed late at night on 8 May 1945, in Berlin. But, with the time difference, it was already a day later in Eastern Europe. Zelensky moved yesterday to align with Europe, rather than 9 May as had been the tradition.

The celebrations on 9 May are supposed to be a chance for Putin to display Russias military and political might to the world. This years diminished spectacle reflects the position the Kremlin is in  and Ukraine will be hoping its long-expected counteroffensive will only make things worse.
After Russia attacked Ukraine with its latest barrage of cruise missiles, Vladimir Putin made an angry speech to mark Victory Day in Moscow, hitting out at Western countries for starting what he claims is a real war against Russia.

However, in a sign of the toll his invasion of Ukraine has taken on Russias forces, the annual military parade across Red Square was pared back, as Moscow throws manpower and weaponry at the frontlines following an underwhelming winter campaign and an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Today, civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point, Mr Putin said as he again sought to defend his invasion of Ukraine by painting Russia as having been cornered by Western global elites. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland, he said.
 Close Huge smoke cloud emerges from explosion in Russia near border with Ukraine

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Moscows air forces have suffered their worst losses in 14 months of war after four military air crafts were struck down on Saturday, according to Russian media reports.

Russian news outlet Kommersant said two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters were shot down on Saturday close to the Ukrainian border, in what would be a spectacular coup for Kyiv if confirmed.

Kommersant said on its website that the Su-34 fighter-bomber, Su-35 fighter and two Mi-8 helicopters had made up a raiding party, and had been shot down almost simultaneously in an ambush in the Bryansk region, adjoining northeast Ukraine.

According to preliminary data ... the fighters were supposed to deliver a missile and bomb attack on targets in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, and the helicopters were there to back them up - among other things to pick up the Su crews if they were shot down.

The last time Russia took such catastrophic hits on its airforce was in early March of last year, according to The Telegraph.

Elsewhere, Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Berlin Sunday for talks with German leaders about further arms deliveries.
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Israel has carried out a series of targeted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing three commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group and at least 10 civilians, according to Palestinian officials.

The strikes have only added to the tension in the area, with exchanges of fire across the Gaza border having intensified recently, particularly following the death last week of an Islamic Jihad leader on hunger strike in Israeli custody. Expecting return rocket fire, Israel closed roads in Israeli towns near Gaza, instructed residents there to keep close to bomb shelters, and said it was calling up some military reservists.

The airstrikes hit the top floor of an apartment building, a house in Gaza City, and a third property in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian health ministry said 20 people had been wounded, and that some were in a serious or critical condition. Health officials said the 13 dead included a number of women and children. In a statement, Islamic Jihad said two of the commanders wives, several of their children, and other bystanders were among the dead.

Israel said it had targeted several militant training sites, as well, before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. Israels foreign minister Eli Cohen, who is in Delhi on a diplomatic visit, said he would be cutting his trip short to return to Israel after receiving a security update on the events back home.

In all, at least 15 Palestinians were killed in the strikes, Palestinian officials said. Two men died later after Israeli jets hit what the military called an anti-tank team near the southern border of Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

The Israeli military said that the three commanders killed had been responsible for recent rocket fire towards Israel.

It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of Islamic Jihads military council. The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gazas ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead.

A Palestinian youth at the heavily damaged home of Islamic Jihad leader Jehad Ghanam (AFP via Getty)

At midday, tens of thousands of people took part in two funerals, with at least 10 bodies being mourned in one funeral in Gaza City. Mourners carried the bodies, which lay on stretchers, on their shoulders to ambulances. Childrens coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with heavy barrages of rocket fire. The scale of any escalation could hinge on whether Hamas takes part.

While the Israel Defence Force (IDF) maintained that the pre-dawn airstrikes were a response to incessant aggression on the part of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation, it conceded it was aware of some collateral damage.

Israeli military spokesmen said the "pinpoint" operation involved 40 aircraft but they confirmed that women and children had been killed.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Jordans foreign ministry, and the Egyptian government, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

Tor Wennesland, the UN envoy to the Middle East, said he was deeply alarmed by the events, and condemned the civilian deaths, calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint.

Among the 10 civilian victims was a dentist known for offering free treatment to poor families, according to the mans brother. Jamal Khuswan was killed along with his wife, Mervat, and their 21-year-old son Youssef, a medical student. They were all asleep in their apartment. Khuswans four other children survived the attack with minor injuries, his brother Mohammad told reporters. It felt tough, very bad, Mohammad said. Khuswan was hailed by the health department as a national figure who spared no effort to carry out his humanitarian duty.

Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place decided by the organisation.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel would pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, he said in a statement.

The airstrikes come at a time of already heightened tensions between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.

This is linked, in part, to increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months in an effort to detain Palestinians suspected of being involved in planning or carrying out attacks on Israelis.

Israel says the raids in the occupied West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see the attacks as a further entrenchment of the occupation of land they seek for a future independent state.

Since the start of 2023, 105 Palestinians  around half of them militants or alleged attackers  have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel over the same period.
Boris Johnson confronted King Charles III over the Rwanda asylum policy, squaring up to him for branding the plan appalling, his former No 10 communications chief has said.

Speaking to LBC, Guto Harri has claimed the former prime minister and the then-Prince of Wales had a bit of a showdown in a remarkable meeting over royal interference in politics.

It wasnt a fight, obviously they didnt square up to get in the ring, but Boris rightly challenged the unelected royal at the time, what was it for him to go calling a key government policy appalling, Mr Harri explained.

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A barge set to house 500 asylum seekers has arrived in the UK as the government struggles with efforts to move migrants out of hotels.

The vessel has been towed from its former berth in Italy to the port of Falmouth, in Cornwall.

It will remain there while works are carried out, before being moved to its final destination in Portland, Dorset.

The private operators of the port struck an agreement to host the barge with the Home Office without formal public consultation, angering the local council and residents.

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Imran Khan, former prime minister of Pakistan, has been arrested by the countrys security forces during a scheduled court appearance in Islamabad, officials from his party say.

Mr Khans PTI party released video footage purporting to show a large crowd of police officers dressed in riot gear escorting the former PM to a waiting vehicle.

His lawyer said in a video posted to Twitter that he had been taken into custody outside the Islamabad High Court and that he was badly injured in the process.

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Ukraines first lady has suggested 19,000 Ukrainian children have been illegally taken by Vladimir Putin to wipe their memories to retrain them into becoming Russians.

Olena Zelenska spoke to Good Morning Britain in an interview aired on Tuesday morning (9 May).

This is scary, 19,000 Ukrainian children now are illegally taken to Russia, this is a lot. They are not cars, fridges, cattle. They are people, children, she said.

Russia is making efforts to wipe their memories to retrain them into becoming Russians.

Ms Zelenska added thousands of Ukrainian children have been traumatised psychologically.

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Volodymyr Zelenksy greeted Ursula von der Leyen as she arrived in Kyiv to mark Europe Day on Tuesday 9 May.

A Ukrainian flag was also raised outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels to celebrate the occasion.

From now on, 9 May will be Europe Day - in the European Union and also in Ukraine, Mr Zelensky wrote, sharing a video of himself welcoming the president of the European Commission on Telegram.

Today, we are meeting in Kyiv on this special day. Because Kyiv is such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe.

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New footage shows protesters clashing with police in New York over the death of homeless man Jordan Neely, after he was choked to death by a 24-year-old marine.

The group at Lexington Avenue and East 63rd Street subway station forced a Q train to slam its brakes on after they climbed onto the tracks, shouting: No justice, no peace!

Police forced several people onto the ground as things turned violent in a bid to get them out.

Thirteen people were arrested in connection with the incident.

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The dozens of drones fired at Ukraine by Russia is a sign of the crucial juncture we have reached in the invasion.

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, described it as the biggest such attack he had seen, with airstrikes and missiles also used on other cities. It was the fourth such attack on the capital in little more than a week, although Mr Klitschko said all the drones aimed at the city had been shot down.

Moscow has stepped-up its long-range assault ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. The drone attacks followed a lull in the wave of Russian airstrikes.
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The verdict in the E Jean Carroll v Donald Trump is in. On Tuesday (9 May), jurors announced they had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll. They rejected another claim, for rape, and awarded Carroll $5m in damages.

This is vindication for Carroll, whom Trump has previously called a liar, and who had to face a presumably traumatizing amount of public scrutiny after deciding to take a former president to court. Carroll has alleged that Trump raped her in the 1990s inside a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan.

When the E Jean Carroll v Donald Trump case opened on 25 April, I braced myself for well, a lot of ignominy. As someone who has covered other high-profile cases, including Harvey Weinsteins 2020 criminal trial in New York, I have witnessed firsthand how brutal the criminal justice system can be to survivors of sexual crimes. I have often worried about its inadequacies, and the ways they might deter other survivors from coming forward and fail the ones who decided to do so.

The Carroll v Trump trial, however, provided some surprisingly helpful examples of how we might want to handle rape and sexual abuse cases going forward. Obviously, those cases are always going to involve untold amounts of pain and trauma. Obviously, in an ideal world, those trials would not even be needed, because the wrongs they are designed to right would not exist. But if rape and sexual abuse are going to continue to be prevalent in our world, then, yes, we owe it to ourselves and others to make sure the justice system is equipped to handle them.

The first thing the justice system did in Carrolls case was allow her to file a complaint at all. Carroll first spoke out in 2019, and filed a lawsuit against Trump in 2019. That particular lawsuit is still making its way through the legal system and has stalled for various reasons  not least of all, the fact that the Department of Justice, in what The New York Times called a highly unusual legal move, transferred the case from state to federal court, offering him an array of protections that wouldnt have been available to him if hed been sued in an individual capacity.

But Carroll went on to file another suit  the one that led to this latest verdict. She was able to do so thanks to the Adult Survivors Act, a New York State law that gave adult survivors of sexual assault a one-year period of time during which they could file civil lawsuits pertaining to past attacks, regardless of the statute of limitations. The window opened on 23 November 2022 and will close on 23 November 2023, after which statutes of limitations will come into effect again. Carroll, according to The Associated Press, was one of the first to file a civil lawsuit as part of the Adult Survivors Act.

A specific piece of legislation, designed with survivors in mind, allowed Carroll to have her day in court. It is a law that recognizes that some people might need time (more time than statutes of limitations allow) before they are ready to take legal action. This is the kind of survivor-centric, empathetic legislation we need more of.

During the actual trial, Trump chose not to be there. I, of course, do not know how Carroll felt about this decision, but Trumps absence does mean that he did not take the stand. Had he done so, its not unreasonable to imagine his testimony would have been callous, and that it might have helped spread some of the harmful myths about rape and sexual assault that frequently get aired in courtrooms.

The trial itself  and in fact, the entire process, from Carrolls complaint to the verdict  was relatively quick. Carroll filed this civil lawsuit in November 2022. It went to trial on 25 April 2023. Two weeks later, by 9 May, we had a verdict. The trial was not televised. Its actually kind of miraculous how not a circus this process turned out to be.

Carrolls own words make clear how vindicating the trial and verdict are from her perspective. I filed this lawsuit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed, she said in a released statement, shortly after the verdict was announced. I would like to express my deep and lasting gratitude to all those who have stood by me from the start, especially my incredible and fearless legal team, led by Robbie Kaplan, who never, ever backed down in pursuit of truth and justice.

Courtrooms are too often ill-equipped to handle sexual crimes. They can be brutal environments for survivors. This trial gives us crucial clues on how to build a better justice system.
Britains Labour Party, which is heavily tipped to lead the countrys next government, plans to impose significant barriers to foreigners buying homes when it takes power.

Policies including higher stamp duty for foreign buyers and restrictions including a cap per development around the sale of new builds are being drawn up by party officials. according to a report in the Financial Times.

Any such moves could have significant implications here, especially for home buyers in the border counties of Ireland, who at the moment can opt to buy property in either the Republic or Northern Ireland without penalties.

Labour officials could not be reached on Monday, a bank holiday in Britain, to clarify whether the plans include an exemption for cross- border purchases here.

They wi ll also be watched by policy makers here where voters locked out of home ownership and into a precarious and limited rental market are a growing demographic and potentially key electoral constituency.

The move to restrict foreign property purchases in the UK comes as Labour party leader Keir Starmer is looking to cement his partys already commanding lead in the opinion polls ahead of a general election next year.

Britain, like Ireland, has seen the growth of large- scale private rented sector (PRS) investment in recent years as well as the controversial purchase of trophy properties in London and other centres by wealthy overseas individuals and families that in many cases are neither rented nor occupied by the owners.

The Labour UK plan would impose time- limited restrictions to target investment in particular developments and local authority areas in order to give priority to first- time buyers, the Labour officials told the Financial Times.

Foreign buyers would not be able to purchase more than half the home in a new scheme.

In addition, a future Labour government would also increase the additional stamp duty  currently at 2pc  overseas buyers pay.

Countries including Singapore, Denmark, Canada and Malta currently restrict sales of homes to overseas residents along the lines being examined by the Labour Party, but many property market experts say blocking investment ultimately risks fewer new homes being built.

That ha s been the key argument made by successive Fine Gael- led governments here against imposing major restrictions on so-called cuckoo funds as foreign institutional investors poured billions of euros into bulk purchases of thousands of apartments in Ireland in recent years.
Nuremore Hotel in Monaghan is one of several Irish-registered firms linked to Chinese businessman Kai Dai

The High Court has made orders winding up a company involved in the running of the Nuremore Hotel in Co Monaghan which owes Revenue over 680,000 in unpaid taxes.

Mr Justice Conor Dignam appointed experienced insolvency practitioner Declan de Lacy as liquidator of Nuremore Hotel Management Ltd, a firm involved in the management and operation of the Carrickmacross hotel and country club.

The hotel is one of several Irish-registered firms linked to Chinese businessman Kai Dai, who is a director of the company, the court heard.

Arthur Cunningham, representing Revenue, said his client was seeking winding up orders after the company failed to satisfy its demand to pay PAYE, PRSI and wage subsidy payments of just over 680,000.

Counsel said the petition to wind up this company had originally been brought by Liga Kondrate, who had been employed as a chef de partie at the hotel.

Counsel said his client had taken over the petition, after Ms Kondrate had been paid her debt in full.

Counsel said his client had serious concerns about the company and the hotel.

The hotel had ceased operations late last year, and its electricity and gas supply had been cut off, counsel said.

There were also concerns about insurance, counsel added.

As well as this company, it had already successfully had Mr de Lacy appointed as liquidator to another firm related to the hotel, Huawen Foundation Ltd, which the court heard is listed as being a consultancy and advisory company for those wishing to participate in the Irish State's immigrant investor programme.

Since his appointment to Huawen, Mr de Lacy had taken steps to secure the hotel property and had the locks on the facility changed, counsel added.

Counsel said petitions have also been brought against two other companies linked to the hotel, which are listed for hearing before the court later this month.

Counsel said that while the petition to wind up Nuremore Hotel Management Ltd had been advertised, there was no opposition to Revenue's application to have the company wound up.

The judge accepted the company is insolvent and unable to pay its debt to revenue.

As well as appointing Mr de Lacy as liquidator, the judge also directed Mr Kai Dai to file statements of affairs in respect of the company and awarded Ms Kondrate and Revenue the costs of bringing their winding up petitions.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is due to present the report to Cabinet today   Gareth Chaney

Many adults face being left behind in their jobs because they dont have the right skills to thrive and are unprepared for changes in the workplace, a new report will warn ministers.

Ireland is falling behind countries who are on top of upskilling across the EU by 40pc, even though participation here is still above the EU average.

Irish employers have now expressed significant concerns over labour and skills gaps because the imbalance of skills in the labour market is high, according to a new OECD report.

The stark findings will be brought to the Cabinet by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris today.

There is a significant shortage in digital skills, which include knowledge of software, coding, data analytics, STEM subjects and management, the report found, with 30pc of adults having less than basic digital skills.

It is particularly worrying that adults with comparatively weak socio-economic profiles (eg, lower social classes, low education levels) self-report that their digital skills are below average, the report states.

Lack of motivation is given as one of the main reasons in not taking part in upskilling courses. However, the amounts of people who did not upskill and who did not want to do so is among the lowest in the EU.

Family reasons, schedule and costs are some of the main barriers to upskilling, or life-long learning, which is learning that is self-motivated and continuous.

Around a third of individuals are over-qualified for their jobs, which leads to wage penalties.

Jobs could be better designed to stimulate the use of employee skills through work flexibility, teamwork and performance-based pay, the report states.

Large multinational corporations are much more likely to use new solutions to increase productivity.

For example, putting in place new technologies has opened up significant productivity gaps between foreign companies in comparison to local businesses, according to the research.

This has led to significant differences in pay for employees between the two types of businesses.

However, the Government has significant opportunities to improve the Irish skills system.

The report recommends that several government departments take a more active role in tackling problems with skills, not just the Department of Further and Higher Education.

The report also recommends that subsidised upskilling be offered to managers to increase the value of support they can offer their staff.

Businesses should also use innovative solutions to improve productivity and the standard of employee work.

Parents, carers, people with low education or skills and those who have been unemployed for long periods of time could benefit from upskilling, the report stated.

Parents especially need support if they decide to take up life-long learning.

Almost 30pc of adults who want to take part in it cannot due to cost, the report says.

Confusion around costs, grants and entitlements can also be a major barrier for those who are vulnerable but want to learn.

When it comes to finding suitable and affordable courses, they may not be aware of the extent of the supports available to them.

The OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Report sets out a detailed road map, comprising 24 recommendations, for meeting the challenges identified.

Launching the report, Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said he would report back to Government shortly on the next steps, including the need to consider a new Skills Act.
Singers great-great-grandfather left Kiltimagh in Co Mayo for a new life in America  and the rest is history

Bruce Springsteen has spent the past few days enjoying the sights and flavours of Dublin, but perhaps he should strike out to Kiltimagh to find out more about his family history.

Springsteen has family roots in Co Mayo, just a few miles from those of US president Joe Biden.

Springsteens great-great-grandfather Richard McNicholas emigrated from Kiltimagh after the Great Famine to begin a new life in the United States.

Ireland has a special place in the musicians heart and he speaks affectionately about his Irish relatives including the McNicholas family.

Bruce Springsteen sings 'Hometown' in Kildare pub

He spoke about his Irish granny McNicholas at the Slane concert in 1985. The family are named in the song American Land, and in his autobiography Born To Run he mentions his Nana McNicholas. Springsteen gives them a shout-out at his Irish concerts along with the Farrells, OHagans, and Sullivans.

When I heard Springsteen had a McNicholas granny  having that surname myself  I was curious to find out which branch of this popular south Mayo family name his ancestors hailed from.

Over the past year small pieces of the puzzle came from online sources, but finding which area of the county Richard McNicholas emigrated from proved to be more difficult.

This part of the puzzle would eventually be solved by older emigrants from Kiltimagh who had moved to the US in the last century. Crucially, they remembered that Springsteens ancestors had come from the townland of Treenagleragh, on Sliabh Cairn, a hillside near Kiltimagh.

This was the missing link, but I needed a professional to verify the story. There are two official genealogy centres in Mayo  the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe and the North Mayo Heritage Centre, at Enniscoe House near Crossmolina, which President Biden visited to find out about his Mayo ancestors.

Official records for the areas of Bohola and Kiltimagh, the area where the McNicholas clan originated, are held in the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe.

The centre holds a variety of records including church records, civil records, land records, 1901 and 1911 census, and gravestone inscriptions from the region. 

It was there I met historian and manager Ger Delaney who sifted through historical records of all kinds until he discovered a Richard McNicholas of Treenagleragh, Kiltimagh who had sailed to the United States after the famine.

Records revealed that in the winter of 1848 three McNicholas families were among 33 families, amounting to 145 people, who were evicted from their homes by Lord Lucan. A letter from the local priest to an Irish newspaper gives a desperate picture of the suffering this caused to the evicted families.

Charlie Bird shares heartwarming memory of meeting his hero Bruce Springsteen

While there is no proof that Richard McNicholas was from one of the evicted families, the timing of his subsequent departure from Liverpool to the United States makes it highly likely.

A shipping record shows that Richard McNicholas, a labourer aged 20, and a spinster by the name of Ann McNicholas (21), possibly his sister, sailed from Liverpool to Baltimore, Maryland on February 1, 1851, arriving there six weeks later on March 17. 

Newspapers from the time also confirm that Richard had lost communication with his brother James McNicholas, who lived in Michigan. James had placed an advert in the Boston Pilotnewspaper in 1867 searching for his brother Richard McNicholas of Treenagleragh, Kiltimagh.

In those days not everyone was literate and communications were poor at the time, so this was a common practice for tracing lost relatives among the Irish community. The newspaper was read and circulated across the eastern part of North America and it would have passed word of mouth to Richard that his brother James was looking for him, Ger Delaney explained.

Richard settled in Old Bridge, Monmouth, New Jersey and his son John McNicholas married Jennie Farrell, daughter of Ann Geraghty, one of Springsteens better known Irish ancestors. Jennie was mother to Alice McNicholas, who married Fred Springsteen. Their son Douglas is Bruces father.

Alice helped raise Bruce in the town of Freehold, New Jersey and, while he calls Alice his Irish granny, she was born in the USA.
Its televisions toughest gig due to its mixture of light entertainment and current affairs

"Being The Late Late Show host is a nightmare job. Its an impossible job. It demands that the host be all things to all people, and nobody can be that"

In the end, the coronation had to be put off for a bit longer. No, not the one in Westminster Abbey; the othercoronation. The anointing of the new host of The Late Late Show.
Taking Sides

RTE One, 9.35pm

One hundred years ago this month, the Irish Civil War staggered to a halt after 10 months of guerilla warfare and mutual atrocities. It was fought between IRA men  who believed that the Treaty, and the subsequent partition of the island, constituted a betrayal of the 1916 Rising  and by former comrades, who insisted on the legitimacy of the new State.

The pro-Treaty side won, of course, but they did so with considerable help from the British, a fact which would contribute to the Civil Wars legacy  long decades of partisan politics and bitterness.

Former Tory minister Michael Portillo is enjoying a second career as a TV presenter and documentarian. In the documentaries Partition, 1921 and The Enemy Files, Portillo has given us a British perspective on 1916 and the Anglo-Irish War, and in this new film he tackles Westminsters attitude to our Civil War. With access to cabinet memos, secret military reports and the private correspondence of key politicians, he explores the attitude of the British establishment to the Civil War, which must have given them a certain amount of pleasure.

Westminsters interests lay in protecting British possessions in the north, so they backed the side most likely to preserve the status quo. Pro-Treaty forces would benefit greatly from access to British artillery and armoured cars, to the enduring disgust of the anti-Treaty side.

MasterChef   BBC/Shine TV

MasterChef

BBC1, 8pm

The seven best cooks from the opening rounds return to face a tough challenge set by food critic Grace Dent, who asks them to create the ultimate pot-luck supper dish. And with just four places in the quarter final up for grabs, the pressure is on. With John Torode, Gregg Wallace.

Live UEFA Champions League

Virgin Media Two, 7pm

Italian giants and fierce rivals AC Milan and Inter Milan square off in the first leg of their semi-final at the San Siro, which gets underway at 8pm.

Kids

Kids

Channel 4, 9pm

A look at the work of childrens services in Coventry, including the case of Xorin, a 17-year-old who moved to Wales after being exploited by a drug gang, and is now trying to rebuild his life.

Marie Antoinette

RTE2, 9.35pm

When copies of a lurid pamphlet are circulated in Paris claiming that Chartres is the queens lover and father of her unborn child, Louise locks Versailles down and starts questioning Antoinettes many enemies.

Nope

Sky Cinema Premiere, 10pm

Jordan Peeles wonderfully original sci-fi thriller stars Daniel Kaluuya as OJ Haywood, a horse trainer who inherits his fathers ranch when he dies in strange circumstances, then becomes convinced that something alien is watching them from the skies. With Keke Palmer.

Queen Cleopatra   Netflix

Queen Cleopatra

Netflix, streaming now

Jada Pinkett Smith produced this docu-series exploring the lives of prominent African queens. Among them, Cleopatra, one of the worlds most powerful woman, a daring queen whose romances were allowed to overshadow her intellect.

Dance Brothers

Dance Brothers

Netflix, streaming now

What should be titled Dance Brahs; this throwback to nineties rave culture features two Finnish brothers Roni (Roderick Kabanga) and Sakari (Samuel Kujala) struggling to make a living as professional dancers. To help finance their dreams, they decide to start their own club, which brings some income, shelter and a training space. Their unique club and dance routines quickly bring fame, but artistic ambitions and personal relationships collide with commercial demands. Drama ensues.

Missin: Dead or Alive   Netflix

Missing: Dead or Alive

Netflix, streaming now

Up to 1,500 people go missing in America every single day. This immersive documentary follows officers from a South Carolina sheriffs department as they search for individuals whove disappeared under troubling circumstances.

Life After Reality

Prime Video, streaming now

This Colombian production follows Marcela, a steadfast teacher who suddenly decides to do a reality show. Far from home, her family faces the harsh reality of life without her  on the upside, they can watch her every move on TV. In the event this isnt your bag, Prime is paying homage to 1990s youth by recently releasing all seasons of Sabrina The Teenage Witch; Beverly Hills 90210 and Freaks & Geeks.

Star Wars: Visions  Volume 2

Disney+, streaming now

Keen to keep the May the 4th be with you tradition alive, Disney+ has launched the second volume of the Emmy Award-nominated Star Wars: Visions. Containing a mix of shorts (nine in total) from animation studios scattered across the globe, the sequel brings a dynamic new perspective on Star Wars. Needless to say, the one were most looking forward to is the offering from Cartoon Saloon, because who doesnt want to see Yoda get the Secret of Kells treatment? With the Irish contingent boxed off, expect further contributions from El Guiri Studios (Spain); Punkrobot (Chile); Aardman (UK); Studio Mir (South Korea); Studio La Cachette (France); 88 Pictures (India); Dart Shtajio (Japan); and Triggerfish (South Africa). While you might expect whimsy from the makers of Shaun The Sheep and Wolfwalkers, some shorts will definitely freak out younger viewers.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

Netflix, streaming now

A gritty yet flamboyant dramatisation looking into the underbelly (and undercarriage) of professional sumo. With a history of more than 1,500 years steeped in Japanese traditional culture, its also filled with young men hungry for money, females, fame, and power.

Mission: Impossible Franchise

Paramount+, streaming now

The Tom Cruise fest has just reached fever pitch on Paramount+, with the platform adding ALL six Mission: Impossible movies. Well, what else will whet appetites for Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One due for release this July.
Eurovision Song Contest

RTE2, 8pm

Its the first semi-final of this years contest, with Ireland represented by Wild Youth, wholl be hoping to reach Saturdays final with their catchy song We Are One. Marty Whelan commentates.

Champions League Live

RTE2, 7.30pm

Liam Brady and Peter Collins set the scene for the mouthwatering semi-final, first-leg clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Bernabeu. Darragh Maloney commentates, kick-off at 8pm.

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan   BBC/Gabriel Range

Turkey: Empire of Erdogan

BBC2, 9pm

Two-part documentary exploring the career of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who made his name as mayor of Istanbul, was sent to prison and banned from being an MP for life, only to make an astonishing comeback.

Ticket to Paradise

Ticket to Paradise

Sky Cinema Premiere, 8pm

When their daughter announces shes getting married, divorced couple David and Georgia must set aside their many differences and travel to Bali for the wedding. Romantic comedy starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts.

Star Trek: Visions - Volume 2

Star Wars: Visions  Volume 2

Disney+, streaming now

Keen to keep the May the 4th be with you tradition alive, Disney+ has launched the second volume of the Emmy Award-nominated Star Wars: Visions. Containing a mix of shorts (nine in total) from animation studios scattered across the globe, the sequel brings a dynamic new perspective on Star Wars.

Needless to say, the one were most looking forward to is the offering from Cartoon Saloon, because who doesnt want to see Yoda get the Secret of Kells treatment? With the Irish contingent boxed off, expect further contributions from El Guiri Studios (Spain); Punkrobot (Chile); Aardman (UK); Studio Mir (South Korea); Studio La Cachette (France); 88 Pictures (India); Dart Shtajio (Japan); and Triggerfish (South Africa). While you might expect whimsy from the makers of Shaun The Sheep and Wolfwalkers, some shorts will definitely freak out younger viewers.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

Netflix, streaming now

A gritty yet flamboyant dramatisation looking into the underbelly (and undercarriage) of professional sumo. With a history of more than 1,500 years steeped in Japanese traditional culture, its also filled with young men hungry for money, females, fame, and power.

Mission: Impossible

Mission: Impossible Franchise

Paramount+, streaming now

The Tom Cruise fest has just reached fever pitch on Paramount+, with the platform adding ALL six Mission: Impossible movies. Well, what else will whet appetites for Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One due for release this July.
Caroline van der Plas' BBB party was able to capitalise on voters' discontent with the 'mainstream' political entities. Photo: Patrick van Katwijk/BSR Agency/Getty Images   Getty Images

An interesting situation developed in North Tipperary during the 1969 general election.

Former star hurler John Doyle (holder of eight All-Ireland medals), an NFA (National Farmers Association) member, farming at Holycross, four miles from Thurles, ran for Fianna Fail against NFA man Liam Whyte (FG) and Rickard Deasey (Labour), a former NFA president.

Who would get the biggest share of the farming vote was the question on everyones lips in the farmyards across Tipperary.

In the end, neither of the three actually got elected.

The outcome may act as a warning to some today as 54 years on, the farmer vote is still making the headlines.

As reported on page 3, it shouldnt come as a surprise that just 15pc of those polled recently said they would give their first preference vote to someone standing for a rural party.

That number could conceivably drop even further for an even more niche farmers party being mooted by some.

Its no surprise either that the majority of those that do support the idea are likely Independent voters. Hardly a sign of a political revolution beyond the pale.

The basis for the rise of the Dutch pro-farmer party was it was a new entity that grew out of voters discontent with the traditional mainstream political offerings.

The same is happening here and the discontent seems to be growing.

The speculated coming together of Independent TDs under a communal banner would make it the fourth-biggest party in the State.

Thats assuming all the Independent TDs and more agree to work together on a shared manifesto.

Independent TDs, due to their disillusionment with the traditional parties, can attract a strong vote when a local issue stirs the political winds enough to ensure their success.

However, for a new political party to succeed, it needs a spark and leadership that can capitalise on broader rural issues and articulate the disquiet of voters across the country.

There is a danger that the proponents of a rural party or a farmers party overestimate their potential vote-pulling power.

As far back as the 1980s, political commentators were writing about the diminishing significance of the farmer vote, and at that point, around 20pc of the candidates standing for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were actually farmers.

Today, you could count on one hand the number of farmers in the Dail.

Coupled with this is the fact that many farmers have a strong affinity to the traditional parties and, indeed, many are already heavily involved in politics at a local level.

It could be argued that the worst possible outcome for farmers and rural voters is the formation of a new dedicated party that goes on to be a flop at the polls, further eroding political support at a national level for their policies.

Let the goings-on in North Tipp in 1969 serve as a warning.
I have been running my elderly bachelor neighbours farm for years and they signed a letter leaving it to me. But now their nephew is back and says he is taking over. Where do I stand?
The statue of Prince Albert sits at the back of Leinster House. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The statue of Albert is now almost completely enclosed by a hedge. Photo: Douglas O'Connor

Britains King Charles III is being urged to take possession of a statue of his great-great-great-grandfather at the Dail.

The coronation is over  please take Albert home, said Aontu leader Peadar Toibin TD.

The statue of King Charless ancestor, Prince Albert  husband of 19th-century British monarch Queen Victoria  overlooks a lonely hedge at the back of Leinster House.

It once dominated the rear of the building, facing on to Merrion Square from the middle of the lawn.

It was moved to the side of the Natural History Museum after Irish independence, and a cenotaph to the Civil War dead eventually took the central location instead.

The statue of Albert is now almost completely enclosed by a hedge that has grown up around it over the years.

The statue of Prince Albert should be removed from the Leinster House lawn, said Mr Toibin, who invited King Charles to pay for it to be shipped to England.

A corresponding statue of Queen Victoria stood in front of Leinster House, facing Kildare Street, where the plinth is now. It was put into storage after independence and was eventually sent to Sydney, Australia.

Aontus Mr Toibin outlined the reasons the statue was not an appropriate choice for the seat of the Irish parliament.

Prince Albert was the husband of British Queen Victoria, who was also known as the Famine Queen, given that she was the monarch that presided over the deaths of one million Irish people and the emigration of a further two million, he said.

He did not watch the coronation TV coverage at the weekend as he is busy canvassing for Aontu candidates for the local elections in the North later this month.

The statue of Prince Albert sits at the back of Leinster House. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert over Ireland was an unmitigated humanitarian disaster, from which Ireland has not recovered from yet in terms of population  yet we have a statute at the rear of Leinster House in Prince Alberts honour, he said.

Prince Albert was born a German, Franz August Karl Albert Emanuel. Through his marriage to Queen Victoria, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha retained the British throne.

The British royal family only changed its surname to Windsor during WWI.

The statue of Albert was unveiled at Leinster House before a large crowd in 1860, when Albert was aged 41.

It celebrates his industrial, artistic and scientific achievements. Albert died just a year later, aged only 42.

I cant imagine any other mature democratic nation doing as we are in keeping Albert, with his history, said Mr Toibin, who made an effort in 2016 to have the statue removed.

Im not sure if its a form of post-colonialism or Stockholm syndrome within the political system  or just an inability to make a decision, he added.

The statute should be decommissioned.

Its seems we are embarrassed enough to let the statue be overgrown by a hedge, but not enough to just remove the statue.

Surely we have enough Irish people of note who have contributed and sacrificed for the development of the Irish State that we can come up with a person better suited to Leinster House Lawn?

I am thinking of the many outstanding women who help build this Republic such as Hanna Sheehy Skeffington or Dr Kathleen Lynn.

But one way or another, Albert has to go.
A Chinese medical practitioner convicted of sex offences in the UK was found staying in a Dublin acupuncture clinic after coming here without notifying the authorities of his past.
Rugby

This can inspire young women to play for their country because this is an amazing sport and it suits our DNA 13:31
Crime

EXCLUSIVE | Gerry The Monk Hutch gave gardai 48 hours to talk to him before he fled to Spain  weeks after Regency attack
While she was at first hesitant about talking about the menopause in her stand-up show Demented, comedian Deirdre OKane (55) says women going through this period of their lives are at their best mentally and in their prime.

Speaking to the RTE Guide, Kane said: "I dont think anyone is dying to talk about it. Nobody is dying to broadcast this but that makes me very happy.

"Also, I know there really is no room for vanity in stand-up comedy. Its a very open, honest art form. Theres nowhere to hide and if you do try to hide, that will come across.

"Once I made peace with the menopause  it took me a while now, because Ive plenty of personal vanity  but once I realised its 2022, as it was, is this really a thing? Are we still making a thing about this? When I realised that, I thought this is ridiculous. Women need to take this back and own it."

She said the menopause has traditionally been seen as a source of shame and "a feeling of its over for you, Im an old boot now  get out of the way."

However she said women are actually in their prime at this stage in their lives.

"Were at our best now, mentally. I think, yes, there are obviously massive downsides to it, but its actually a very good time of life as well, she added.

While happy to discuss the menopause, it is not something she necessarily wants to continue to dwell on.

"Truthfully, Im over it because Ive been talking about it for a year so Im a little bit 'move on now Dee but I realise its important and its having a zeitgeist moment and thats good."

When putting her shows together she says she holds back very little. In her show she discusses her father, who died four years ago, saying that speaking about him is very therapeutic.

Meanwhile Kanes daughter Holly is now heading to drama school, something she attempted to talk her daughter out of.

I did my best to steer her out of the industry, I did everything I could. But its in the walls, theres no avoiding it. I have hopes for my son that hell get a salaried job, she joked.

Kane hosted the 2023 IFTAs at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on May 7.

She is herself is a six-time IFTA nominee and was awarded Best Lead Actress (Film) in 2015 for her role as childrens rights campaigner Christina Noble in the 2014 film Noble.
Cheng Wei, an inheritor of bark paper-making skills in Jingxian county, Xuancheng city, east Chinas Anhui Province, has rejected job opportunities in big cities and taken on the responsibility of inheriting the thousand-year-old handicraft for the last 11 years. Born into a paper-making family, the difficulty involved in learning the skill is deeply engraved in Chengs mind. Manufacturing hand-made bark papers with passion and a positive attitude has always been Chengs working principle and objective. Cheng's family was worried that their paper making skills would be lost to time. Seeing his ageing parents still working hard to make a living through paper making and to pass down the craft, Cheng started thinking about taking over their responsibilities from them. In 2011, he left his job in Guangzhou, and returned home to take up paper-making. Cheng started as an apprentice for his father, immersing himself in the minutiae of first-hand bark paper-making. Making bark paper is difficult work. For hand-made bark paper, there are a dozen steps involved, from skinning the trees to the final materialization of the papers, which takes from one week to 40 days. It requires a year for the paper to be completed. Collection of raw materials serves as a typical example. Workers must peel the bark from the roots to the branches. Cheng said that the best part of a tree is in the middle section, and requires workers to pinch the head and tail and remove the forked branches, a task so time-consuming that many workers are unwilling to do it. The main raw materials come from the bark of paper mulberry trees and blue sandalwood trees. There is a paper mulberry wood right on the hill behind Chengs home, and a blue sandalwood wood is located in the remote mountains. Cheng likes to collect materials with his father, because they can talk about tree bark on the way. After collecting raw materials, Cheng boils the bark with plant ash and limestone, which can increase the yield of thick liquid and eliminate pectins and lignins. This step guarantees the quality in the following production steps, and prevents papers from being polluted by impurities. In a workshop, Cheng puts the battered bark into a pool and adds natural and pollution-free carambola vine juice to it. His family has contracted 5 mu (3,333.33 square meters) of carambola vine planting fields. When the fruits are ripe, tourists can come to pick them. This not only increases the raw materials for bark paper production, but also boosts the income of local growers. Cheng has tried all possible raw materials to make paper. Sometimes, when he discovers plants he is not familiar with, he goes online to research them. In his spare time, Cheng likes to read books about the paper cultures of China and other countries. After being inspired by the books, he tries to realize his new ideas, which is sometimes hard to accomplish immediately and usually requires months of effort. In 2018, after two years of hard work with his father, Cheng produced paper that was suitable for ancient book restoration. Featuring outstanding quality and high purity, the paper is widely used in historical book restorations. Cheng always remembers what his father once said to him: Dont do what other people do, do your best in what other people are unwilling to do. Influenced by his family, he is determined to focus on paper making skills, and believes that spending five or even 10 years on producing one kind of paper is worthwhile. This is my source of cultural confidence, says Cheng.
Loosening alcohol laws could result in an increase in injuries, crime, public disorder, public safety and domestic violence, one expert said. Photo: Getty Images   Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Governments plan to ease access to alcohol to boost the night-time economy will lead to more drink-related disease, injuries, crime, public disorder, public safety and domestic violence, it is claimed today.

The criticism comes from Professor Emeritus Ton Babor at an event in Dublin organised by the Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network, Alcohol Action Ireland and Alcohol Forum Ireland.

In his analysis of the Sale of Alcohol Bill, Prof Babor  co-author of Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity  said there is now extensive scientific literature on the effects of the measures proposed in the law.

These include the extension of trading hours, the concentration of drinking outlets, lack of regulation of drink deliveries and the removal of limits on the number of on-licenses.

He said: The evidence is that they cause increases in things such as alcohol-related disease, injuries, crime, public disorder, public safety and domestic violence.

When alcohol consumption becomes the central organising feature, as reflected in the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill, the social and recreational benefits can come at an enormous cost.

Part of the cost is attributable to the need to improve urban management, urban infrastructure and public transportation services, environmental sanitation, personal security, police protection, emergency services and traffic management.

"Many cities in the UK, the EU and Australia have experienced epidemics of public intoxication following policy changes that were intended, just like the Sale of Alcohol Bill, to attract adults and youth to social and cultural events, but succeeded mainly in attracting youth out for a night of heavy drinking.

A key question for the Republic of Ireland is whether the major changes proposed in the Sale of Alcohol Bill are likely to facilitate epidemics of binge drinking that have major implications for public health and social well-being.

Dublin Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy said the evidence given by the expert must form part of the discussion on the Sale of Alcohol Bill.

Professor Frank Murray, chair of Alcohol Action Ireland, said: The proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill contains measures which, if enacted as proposed, will result in increased alcohol harms and deaths in Ireland. In the face of a dreadful crisis in healthcare bed capacity, approximately 1,500 hospital beds are used every day for alcohol-related illnesses. Emergency departments currently at breaking point, are also hugely negatively impacted by alcohol use.

A study in 29 emergency departments in Ireland found that alcohol accounted for 6pc of all patients presenting, with 57pc arriving by ambulance. In the early hours of Sunday morning, alcohol-related illnesses and injuries accounted for 29pc of all presentations.

It is in this awful landscape of alcohol harms and deaths, that the Government is planning to increase the availability of alcohol in a misguided effort to stimulate the night-time economy, through significant extensions to opening hours and increases in both the number and type of venues permitting sale of alcohol. Such increases will predictably increase alcohol sales and with that will increase alcohol harms.

We should bear in mind the fact that other jurisdictions are rowing back on liberalisation of night-time economies, he added.
New research reveals Irish stroke survivors feel 'abandoned' and suffer suicidal thoughts

Stroke survivor Mick ODonnell (35) said counselling helped him get his life back to normal after he collapsed in front of his heavily pregnant wife in August 2021.

But many survivors in Ireland are feeling abandoned  as findings from a new European study show that one in eight experience suicidal thoughts after they leave full-time care.

Not long after my stroke, our daughter Emma was born, said Mr O'Donnell a printer.

But I was no help. My balance was gone and my wife was nearly looking after two children.

My mental health suffered because I wasnt allowed to hold my baby.

Sometimes I wasnt even allowed to be on my own in case I had a fall.

The father-of-two, from Bettystown, Co Meath, was later offered counselling to aid his recovery.

The counselling was fantastic because I was able to involve my wife, he said.

She was going through it as well. She was the backbone of it all, she helped me through everything.

He was speaking as Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) research reveals around a third become clinically depressed in the years following what is known as a brain attack and up to a quarter suffer ongoing anxiety.

It also found that a survivors risk of death by suicide is around twice that of the general population.

Published to coincide with European Stroke Awareness Day today, the study says stroke survivors across the continent are being discharged from care without follow-up or specialised stroke support.

The scoping review 'The unmet needs of stroke survivors in Europe', by King's College London, notes that survivors and carers have to quickly gain an understanding of their needs and the practicalities of life after stroke.

As a consequence, patients report feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty related to stroke, medical care and life as a persistent problem, the authors added.

The Irish Heart Foundations Director of Advocacy, Chris Macey, said the findings mirror the experience of many stroke survivors in Ireland.

And with only a small fraction having access to a HSE clinical psychologist, he called on the Government to increase the level of specialist support available to stroke patients both in hospital and the community.

There are fewer than the equivalent of three full-time clinical psychology posts in the whole country to meet the needs of around 6,000 people hospitalised due to stroke every year.

This means only one in 20 receive a service, with a large number essentially feeling abandoned after leaving full-time care, he said.

Mr Macey said it was vital that recommendations in the HSEs National Stroke Strategy to significantly increase clinical psychology posts were now met and that these should also be available post discharge to stroke survivors in the community.

After consulting with stroke survivors on the findings of this research, we have been told we should communicate the full extent of the psychological impact of stroke in terms of widespread experience of suicidal feelings, depression, and anxiety  because its an issue that desperately needs to be addressed, he added.

The report also found that there was a severe lack of information and training for stroke survivors and carers, while the provision of community-based rehabilitation therapies and support is falling far short of peoples needs.

Many survivors only feel that impact after they return home and realise the extent to which their lives have been changed, so the need for high grade psychological services in the community is crucial, Mr Macey said.

But they emphasised there is hope when emotional and social supports are accessed.

For anyone who needs advice on any of the issues raised, the Irish Heart Foundation can be contacted via its Nurse Support Line on 01 668 5001.

Pieta House operates a 24-hour helpline, 1800 247 247; and the Samaritans 24-hour helpline number is 116 123.
The Government has been warned it must offer proper contracts to experienced military personnel who are facing forced retirement if it is serious about safeguarding the future of the Defence Forces.

The contracts which were introduced in 1994 mean that a cohort of sergeants and petty officers must retire at the age of 50.

This had been due to take effect initially in 2015 but has been extended several times with the latest extension due to expire in December 2024.

Mark Keane, the president of PDFORRA which represents over 6,500 military personnel, told his delegates today that these issues need to be addressed urgently to give those affected security of tenure.

The conference in Trim, Co Meath, is being attended by representatives from across the country while Tanaiste and Defence Minister Micheal Martin was also present this afternoon.

Addressing the Tanaiste about the 'Post 1994' cohort, Mr Keane said: "You cannot recruit this level of experience and if you and your Government are serious about safeguarding the future of the Defence Forces, then proper contracts need to be enacted as a matter of urgency.

"Ironically, are these not the very same NCOs (non-commissioned officers) who will be needed to train those proposed increased new entrants into Oglaigh na hEireann as laid out in the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces?

"Minister, we need you to intervene, we need you to deliver, the organisation needs these people now more than ever to ensure that the Defence Forces is saved before its too late," Mr Keane said.

He added that they are witnessing the "greatest exodus ever" from the Defence Forces with a current strength of 7,500 well below the agreed number of 9,500.

Mr Keane also said they could not recruit their way out of the crisis, with just 60 new recruits undergoing training at the new Joint Instructor Training Centre in Gormanston, Co Meath.

The three-day conference will also hear about 55 motions which deal with issues around remuneration, retention and recruitment.

PDFORRA general secretary Gerard Guinan also spoke to representatives about the Independent Review Group (IRG) report published in March.

It detailed a series of abuse within the Defence Forces while also setting out recommendations including the need for an oversight board.

Mr Guinan said nobody he knows who has read the report has not expressed a level of shock, sadness or anger at its contents, and that the organisation could not allow a situation to develop where they go "back to business as usual".

"We must push on for a grievance procedure that is truly independent, transparent and has adequate protections for both the victim and the accused. This cannot be achieved through having an internal system, subject to the chain of command. We must have transparency, independence and accountability," Mr Guinan said.

The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, said that the recommendations of the IRG report need to run in tandem with the High-Level Action Plan for the report of the Commission of the Defence Forces.

"This is necessary to ensure that our personnel are afforded the best equipment, training and supports necessary for them to carry out their difficult tasks. The IRG and the CODF provide us with the route towards the necessary transformation of our force where the protectors can protect and where the protectors are protected.

"It will not be tolerated and the perpetrators responsible for such actions will be held to account," he said.

Tributes were also paid to Private Sean Rooney who lost his life while serving overseas in the Lebanon last December.
Senator Garret Ahearn says the label shows this whiskey on sale in Moscow was bottled in Clondalkin last December

A Fine Gael senator has accused Jameson of selling its whiskey in Russia.

Photos from Senator Garret Ahearn show a bottle of Jameson whiskey with a Russian label which he says is for sale in a shop in central Moscow.

The bottles label shows it was bottled in Clondalkin last December.

Mr Ahearn has now said that Pernod Ricard, producer of Jameson, should be added to the EU sanctions list.

The images of a famous Irish product, complete with the address of Irish Distillers Limited and the Clondalkin address of the bottling operation, are there for all to see on the Russian label, said Mr Ahearn.

It was bottled less than five months ago and is now sold in central Moscow despite the war in Ukraine.

Mr Ahearn said Irish Jameson whiskey continues to quench Putins thirst.

The bottles label states the Russian importer authorised to collect claims is PR Rus JSC, 119034, Russian Federation, Moscow, Sechenovsky.

So, while Russian drones and missiles rain down on Kyiv this week, our Jameson whiskey continues to quench Putins thirst. Times up. This cant continue."

He also called on Tanaiste Micheal Martin to bring this up at the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

The Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin should bring this up at this months foreign affairs council with his European counterparts to broaden the sanction packages and add Pernod Ricard to the sanctions list, he said.

Id encourage the Tanaiste to ask other European foreign affairs ministers to look at their own industries where luxury goods have started to slip back into Russia.

A spokesperson for French drinks giant Pernod Ricard said it "will be able to provide clarity on its operations in Russia in the coming weeks".

They said the company has "utterly condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia" and has "stood and stand firmly" with Ukrainians.

"In fully complying with all international sanctions we significantly reduced the number and quantity of brands imported to a level that enabled us to protect our local teams, their livelihoods, and the welfare of their families.

"This also meant reducing the quantities being sold to avoid intentional bankruptcy, which is a criminal offence in Russia and represents a significant risk for our employees.

"In doing everything we can to manage the situation, the reality of exiting Russia is both complex and extremely challenging."

The spokesperson said the company is "working hard to find the best way to navigate this complexity".
Very few tears would have been shed in parts of the UK or Ireland if the 1984 IRA Brighton bombing killed Margaret Thatcher, former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has claimed.

The 1984 IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party conference killed five and injured 31.

MP Sir Anthony Berry was killed, along with party chairman Eric Taylor, and the wives of three Tory MPs - Lady Jeanne Shattock, Lady Muriel Maclean and Roberta Wakeham. However, Mrs Thatcher was uninjured in the bombing.

On an episode of The Rest Is Politics podcast, presented by Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Mr Adams said: There would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher in Republican Ireland, or in many villages in Wales and working-class Scotland and England itself.

Asked if he would have been happy if Mrs Thatcher and the British cabinet at the time died during the bombing, Mr Adams replied: Happiness or happy is not a term I would use. The fact is, there was a war.

Margaret Thatcher was notorious, not just for her presiding over the deaths of the hunger strikers, which could have been easily resolved, by very simple improvements in the prison regime.

But also because she was upfront, and she was being the Iron Lady, and she was masquerading as being somebody who was indomitable, and so on.

But, its done, its over, its gone. All of that was in the past.

Former soldier and Tory MP Rory Stewart challenged Mr Adams about his remarks, to which the Northern Irish politician replied: I never went to war.

You came to me, you know. You came in, in khaki and tanks. I think including the deaths of British soldiers and RUC officers, all those deaths are to be regretted.

Its a regrettable part of our history. And, clearly for civilians, for them to be killed, it doesnt matter if it was an accident or not. Thats even more regrettable, and thankfully were now out of all that, and we need to learn the lessons of it.

Following the announcement of the death of Mrs Thatcher in 2013, Mr Adams claimed the former prime minister did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister.

Working-class communities were devastated in Britain because of her policies, he said.

Gerry Adams stepped down as leader of Sinn Fein in 2018 after more than three decades in the role.
Boys non-biological father is Irish-British

A same-sex couples son born in the UK under a surrogacy arrangement does not derive Irish citizenship from his non-biological Irish-British father, the Supreme Court has found.

In a ruling that overturns a High Court decision, the court held that the non-biological father, who secured a post-birth parental order in an English family court, is not classified as the boys parent under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1956.

In a judgment on behalf of the five-judge court, Mr Justice Brian Murray held that the term parent in the 1956 Act refers to the boys genetic father and the surrogate birth mother.

The boys UK birth certificate initially recorded the birth mother, who was not engaged in a commercial capacity, and his biological father, who is British.

It is not without some reluctance that the court concluded the child is denied an important legal status, Mr Justice Murray added.

However, this is what the law provides in circumstances where the legal relationship between the child and his non-biological father does not arise directly under Irish law but under the law of another jurisdiction, he said.

Irish law does not give citizens domiciled here a facility equivalent to the parental order issued under the UKs Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, said the judge.

If Irish law empowered courts here to make such parental orders, significant issues would arise under Article 40.1 of the Constitution (which states that all citizens shall be held equal before the law) if the Oireachtas were to then deprive children of this type of parent of citizenship enjoyed within other families, he said.

The married couple brought High Court proceedings in 2020 seeking, among other declarations, an order directing the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a decision on their 2017 application for an Irish passport for their son.

A passport officer had indicated to the couple in late 2017 that the department intended to refuse the passport application because of the 1956 Acts definition of a parent.

The High Court found the boy, who lives in Britain with his parents, has been an Irish citizen from birth due to the citizenship of his non-biological but legally recognised father. Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled that the minister was in breach of his statutory duty in failing to issue a decision in a reasonable time.

Under section 7(1) of the 1956 Act a person is an Irish citizen if at the time of his or her birth either parent was an Irish citizen.

Mr Justice Barrett was persuaded by the couples argument that this required the non-biological soon-to-be father to be an Irish citizen at the time of the boys birth. He did not need to be the childs legal father at the time of the birth, they submitted.

The minister had argued the boy was not entitled to an Irish passport because he was not entitled to Irish citizenship.

The minister, represented by barristers Gerard Durcan SC and Sarah Fennell, appealed directly to the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said it agreed with the ministers argument that the High Court did not have sufficient regard to the importance and true meaning of the words from birth and at the time of his or her birth in section 7(1) of the 1956 Act.

Mr Justice Murray could not see any reason why these words were intended to mean anything other than what they at first glance suggest - that all the conditions for acquiring citizenship must be present from the time of the childs birth.

The biological father and birth mother are the parents referred to in the 1956 Act, the judge said. Another woman donated the egg, but it was not necessary for the court to consider this genetic mothers status under the 1956 Act, he said.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), which was joined as a notice party in the Supreme Court, asked the court to consider declaring that, by failing to provide a surrogate child whose non-genetic parent is Irish with a legislative route to birth right citizenship, the State has breached this boys constitutional rights.

Mr Justice Murray said the court cannot consider this for several reasons, including that the applicant couple did not seek this relief. More fundamentally, he said, IHRECs request invited the court to step into a significant policy debate which cannot be allowed without the State having an opportunity to adduce evidence on the issues.

Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Mr Justice Peter Charleton and Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe agreed with the judgment. Mr Justice Gerard Hogan delivered a concurring judgment with which Mr Justice Woulfe agreed.

In his shorter judgment, Mr Justice Hogan said that while the failure of the Oireachtas to allow for citizenship by descent in a case like this raises an acute constitutional issue it is inappropriate to proceed further on this issue when it has not been raised by the applicant couple.
The Dublin Airport whistleblower at the centre of screening security claims faces involuntary termination of his employment, the Seanad has been told.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is investigating claims made by the whistleblower that standards of screening at Dublin Airport could lead to a terrorist attack.

Independent Senator Tom Clonan appealed to the authoritys CEO, Kenny Jacobs, to not proceed with the termination of the whistleblowers employment.

He said the whistleblower is a very senior and very experienced member of staff with decades of experience with security and matters of passenger safety.

He has raised systemic failures in the training of the recruited staff, the Seanad heard.

Im also very alarmed to note that the person who made the protected disclosure faces involuntary termination of his employment on Friday, he told the Seanad today.

I would appeal to the CEO on the board of the DAA not to proceed with this termination of his employment, it will bring about the perception of corporate reprisal or retaliation on a person of conscience, on a whistleblower.

This person acted in the public interest and should not be subjected to this type of treatment and retaliation.

Senator Clonan said we have moved on from the times of garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and his own treatment on blowing the whistle on abuse within the Defence Forces.

He said the Dails transport committee should summon DAA executives to come in and answer questions, as they have previously refused to do so as they are preparing for the summer season.

The DAA confirmed that the whistleblower had tendered his resignation which has been accepted.

"The individual has tendered his resignation, which has been accepted, has attended and concluded his exit interview with our CEO, who thanked him for his service and will leave the business this Friday May 12," the spokesperson said.

The protected disclosure, handed to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan in the Dail last year, is currently with the IAA.

The minister was warned security screening at the airport is not fit for purpose.

Shock claims in the disclosure alleged screening at the airport is in a critical situation which leaves possible gaps for explosive devices to slip through and on board flights.
The typical Irish private room host earned more than 3,100 last year, Airbnb says

Airbnb will encourage people to stay in hosts' spare rooms in a return to its couch-surfing origins, amid rising concerns about the cost of holiday accommodation.

The company said its one million single-room listings would now be shown in a dedicated section on its app.

Privacy information, such as whether the door locks and if it has its own bathroom, will also be added to listings.

It has also launched Host Passports to help guests get to know their hosts before booking. Hosts will also be asked to fill out detailed information about themselves, such as their job, hobbies and pets.

It comes as Airbnb says it saw 140pc growth in the number of nights stayed in private rooms in Ireland since last year.

Private rooms remain one of Airbnbs most popular types of stay for guests as the third most booked category, with the average cost being just 89 per night, it said.

However, the average cost of a night booked through Airbnb has risen from $122/111 at the start of 2019 to $168/152 at the start of last year.

Last year, Airbnb said private room hosts in Ireland earned a total of almost 32 million, while the typical Irish private room host earned more than 3,100.

Airbnb Rooms

The company has been seeking to battle criticism that it has become unaffordable and ridden with hidden fees. Last year it started to show the total price of a stay up front after complaints from customers about being stung by items such as cleaning fees.

Airbnb was founded in 2008 as a way for people to rent out spare bedrooms and sofas but the site has become increasingly dominated by whole home rentals in recent years.

Airbnb said an update to the app would mean more than 50 new changes, which it said were made after analysing more than 4m customer service requests.

They include allowing users to spread payments over time through a deal with the buy now pay later company Klarna, better checkout instructions, and lower fees for stays of a month or longer.

Brian Chesky, the companys chief executive, said the focus on single rooms moved the company back to its founding ethos. Airbnb was founded after Mr Chesky and his co-founder Joe Gebbia rented out space in their San Francisco apartment in 2007.

Mr Chesky said: With Airbnb Rooms, were getting back to the idea that started it all  back to our founding ethos of sharing. Airbnb Rooms are often more affordable than hotels, and theyre the most authentic way to experience a city. This is the soul of Airbnb.

Additional reporting by Pol O Conghaile
It was the stare that spoke a thousand words about the broken bond between two once close royal brothers.

Princess Diana, had insisted they be brought up as equals.

But as he was relegated to a third-row seat, the Princess Royals hat obscuring his view, there was no mistaking Prince Harrys sense of unease as he briefly glanced across to Prince William during their fathers coronation.

Charles crowned King as world watches

Marking the first time Harry has been in the same room as the king and the heir to the throne since the publication of his bombshell autobiography Spare, which was highly critical of the royal family, it was never going to be an easy reunion.

Yet in seemingly not exchanging a single word with his father or brother during his visit, returning to California after just 36 hours, Harry (38) could not have looked further removed from the firm he once called home.

His sidelining appeared all the more stark in comparison to the prominent role William (40) played in publicly pledging to be the kings liege man of life and limb.

The 74-year-old monarch looked visibly moved after his eldest son leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, responding with a heartfelt: Thank you, William.

Prince William kisses his father during the coronation ceremony. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire   PA

The sorrow in his eyes appeared to speak to a sense of regret that while he has gained a stalwart and supportive heir  he has lost his spare. At the end of Harry and Meghans tour of Africa in 2019, Harry spoke of being on a different path to William.

Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure its under, inevitably stuff happens, he said.

Were brothers, well always be brothers. Were certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him and as I know, hell always be there for me. I love him dearly.

Harrys actions have only served to make him even more insignificant in the royal pecking order

Four years on, however, and following the couples Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix documentary and tell-all memoir, the brothers dont just seem to be on different paths but different planets.

Royal insiders admit there is little hope of reconciliation, with William said to be absolutely horrified by what Harry wrote about him in Spare. He has called for an apology but as a source close to William explained: There has been no acknowledgement, let alone apology from the Sussexes for the hurt theyve caused.

Ironically, Harrys actions have only served to make him even more insignificant in the royal pecking order, after him having constantly complained of having to play second fiddle to his brother.

Although he will always retain his fifth place in the line of succession (despite being stripped of his His Royal Highness style), his decision to step down from public duties has only served to further elevate William and Kate.

Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince Louis stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the coronation. Photo: REUTERS/Hannah McKay   REUTERS

Appearing every inch a future king and queen on Saturday, the couple and their children Prince George (9) Princess Charlotte (8)and Prince Louis (5) have been front and centre of this weekends celebrations, reaffirming their superior status in the House of Windsor.

With a global audience of billions watching the two-hour ceremony unfold in Westminster Abbey, the coverage rather puts the Sussexes Netflix viewing figures into perspective. It is no coincidence that it was William and his wife Kate (41) who were chosen to be the warm-up act at the Dog and Duck in Soho on Thursday, before once again popping up for a walkabout in Windsor on Sunday ahead of the coronation concert.

At this stage, Harry and Meghan could only dream of such projection

And as with Queen Elizabeth II in the later stages of her reign, the couple can only expect to take on more responsibility. At 74 and 75 respectively, the king and queen are not going to be able to undertake lengthy overseas tours to far-flung destinations and, as time goes on, will become increasingly reliant on the younger generation.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The burden on the Prince and Princess of Wales is even greater in the absence of Harry and Meghan  but on the plus side, it means the couple can command much more attention and many more column inches for the causes closest to their hearts. Williams speech at the coronation concert is proof of their desire to connect with as many people as possible on the subjects they hold most dear.

At this stage, Harry and Meghan could only dream of such projection.

The truth is that Harry is now a spare part in an institution that can survive without the Sussexes.
Tom McCaughren: The AK-47 in my hands was the same type of gun used by the IRA to kill Det Gda Jerry McCabe
Ukrainian and EU flags in front of the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels. Photo: Getty   Getty Images

Today is Europe Day (its also the 440th day since Russia illegally invaded its peaceful neighbour Ukraine), which is intended to honour the 1950 declaration by French foreign minister Robert Schuman that would eventually lead to the founding of the body that became the European Union.

The Schuman Declaration set out his idea for a new form of political co-operation in Europe. His vision was that such collective efforts would make war between Europes nations abhorrent and unthinkable.

The ideal of inter-dependence and unity of purpose, solidarity in the face of aggression and threat still holds. Despite Vladimir Putin plunging the continent back into war, the fracturing of relations that he was relying on has not occurred.

In fact, the bloodshed and ruthless disregard for civilians has, if anything, helped to reassert the primacy of the values and beliefs Schuman aspired to. The pact was driven by the need to rebuild and reimagine a better world out of the ashes of the devastation wrought by World War II.

Although initially a coal and steel pact, its foundations were deep enough to build upon.

Prophetically, it noted: World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.

Meanwhile, Ireland marks its 50th anniversary as an EU member this year. Noting the milestone back in January, Micheal Martin said: The five decades since we signed the accession treaty have witnessed Irelands emergence as a modern, open economy and society.

Over the decades our European partners have provided the strongest and most steadfast of support to peace and reconciliation on this island, including through generous EU funding programmes and, more recently, in solidarity with Ireland as we work together to manage the unique challenges for this island resulting from the UKs decision to leave the EU.

Support from Brussels was critical in the messy aftermath of former UK prime minister Boris Johnsons disastrous mishandling of sensitive border issues. The EUs stability and leadership during the pandemic was also essential to steer us through an unprecedented crisis.

Today, amid the uncertainty and disruption created by Moscows disastrous military invasion, Europe must stand together closer than ever.

Last weekend we saw Russian forces evacuating residents from the area near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. More than 1,600 people were forced to move.

The words of the former Russian statesman Pyotr Stolypin come back to haunt us: In Russia, every 10 years everything changes, and nothing changes in 200 years. The head of the UNs nuclear power watchdog has warned the situation around the plant had become potentially dangerous.

However, Europe has thrived as a collection of free countries and will continue to do so. Core values such as the right to self-determination, and democratic rules-based systems of government, have become sacrosanct.

No autocrats volatility will be allowed to snatch away the freedoms that are the foundations of the continent.
Ustad Wajahat Khan and Peadar O Riada alongside other musicians explore the links between Irish and Indian traditional music in An Draighean, Peadar's home in Cuil Aodha, during the making of Continuing Trraditions, Donal O Ceilleachair's film.

Ustad Wajahat Khan, Kolkotha and London and musician and composer Peadar O Riada, from Cuil Aodha, explored the links between Irish and Indian traditional music in 'Continuing Traditions', a film directed by Macroom film-maker Donal O Ceilleachair and shown in the Ionad Culturtha in Baile Mhuirne on Friday night.

BACK in 1976, when composer Peadar O Riada was a music student in UCC, he completed a thesis on the links between Irish and Indian traditional music.

Almost fifty years later, a film, in which Peadar features alongside one of Indias leading musicians, Ustad Wajahat Khan, a world renowned on the sarod, a traditional Indian instrument similar in shape to a bouzouki but far more complex with 22 strings and far larger in scale, was shown in the Ionad Culturtha in Baile Mhuirne at the weekend.

The film, Continuing Traditions, was directed by Macroom film-maker, Donal O Ceilleachair, the director of The Camino Voyage and other award-winning documentaries. Continuining Traditions has already a number of award at some of Indias leading film festivals.

The Ireland/India link had been alluded to by Peadars father, Sean O Riada, the composer of Mise Eire and the founder and driving force of Ceoltoiri Chualann which revolutionised Irish traditional music

During one of his Musical Heritage programmes on RTE radio, Sean O Riada said: Irish music is not merely not European, it is quite remote from it. It is indeed closer to some forms of Oriental music and ... its improvised ... very much like Indian rag.

The link between the Irish and Indian music was explored at a commemoration held in Cuil Aodha in 1981 to mark the 10 year anniversary of Sean O Riadas death. At that event mebers of Ustad Wajahat Khans family performed Indian music in the local hall, Aras Eamon Mac Suibhne, in the presence of the then President, Patrick J. Hillery, and Taoiseach, Charles Haughey alongside many other distinguished guests.

After that event Peadar corresponded with Ustad Wajahat Khan over the years but in recent years this correspondence intensified and they decided to meet up to explore the links between Irish and Indian music.

While bands such as The Beatles have used Indian music to add an extra dimension to their own work, this meeting up had no pre-ordained end point in mind and sought to see whether there was a way in which the two different traditional musics could work together in a genuine, mutually enriching way.

Donal O Ceilleachair heard of the work that was going on and asked if he could film what was happening in Peadar O Riadas home, An Draighean/The Blackthorn, in Cuil Aodha.

Speaking after the screening on Friday, Ustad said he was initially reluctant to allow this as he feared the presence of the camera and the idea that this was a production would be too instrusive on the process. But Donal spoke with him and allayed his concerns.

Peadar told a story to explain the approach he and Ustad had to the exploration they were carrying out. Back in 1969/1970, when my father was returning home through Dublin Airport, he was door-stepped by an RTE journalist, Liam Nolan, who asked him what did he think of the Beatles using Indian music on an album they had just issued at the time - Ravi Shankar was playing on it.

The Beatles are only using the virility of Indian music to boost the virility of their own music, was Sean O Riadas withering response.

We didnt want to be like lots of people today, poaching bits of nice sounds from each others culture, which would put their own story ahead a bit at the expense of the other culutre said Peadar.

We wanted to be sure what what we were doing was real.

The film illustrated the process of investigation and exploration between Peadar and Ustad, where they were trying to find out more about each others music while seeing what links existed.

According to Peadar, Irish traditional music like all wester music had been confined to rigid structures which limited their development while Indian music, Ustad said, was less restricted and more accommodating to individual creativity.

The exploration continued in the film - according to Ustad, the achievement of the director was to distill long conversations and rehearsal sessions into short excerpts which did much to tell the story effectively.

An initial visit lasting four days one year was followed by a much longer visit by Ustad the following year - this time he was joined by family members including his son and brother. Peadar was joined by other musicians, the uileann piper Mick OBrien and the Oisin Morrison, an award winning harpist.

The second stay was aimed at developing a programme of music which would feature in a concert featuring the Irish and Indian musicians at last years Galway Arts Festival. This concert, in the appropriate venue of St Nicholas Church, named after oriental saint, Nicholas of Tyre (aka Santa Claus!) featured two sessions of music, one featuring the Indian musicians and the other starring the Irish group, to be followed by a session of both groups playing rags or sets of tunes they had devised together at Peadars house. A Rag is an piece of Indian music and the one featuring both Irish and Indian music was called Rag an Draighean, in honour of the place it first came together.

The result was mesmerising and beautiful and, luckily, was captured by Donal O Ceilleachairs film, which was itself a stunning work of art. Continuing Traditions is expected to be shown in Ireland later this year.
Contactless payment on buses in Dublin is still 'years' away

Contactless payment on buses in Dublin is still years away, despite being available on rural Local Link services, Dublin city councillors have been told.

Anne Graham, chief executive of the National Transport Authority, addressed councillors on a range of issues, including anti-social behaviour and driver recruitment.

Ms Graham said the difficulty in recruiting drivers is not a safety issue, but is due to the lack of accommodation available for workers in the city.

Ms Graham told councillors that recent media reports that contactless payment would be rolled out on bus services shortly, was incorrect.

We are trialling contactless payments, but not in Dublin, she said. We need next generation ticketing and new equipment to be able to deal with bank cards.

Our current system on our bus service is too old to actually deal with contactless payments, so we do need new equipment.

Ms Graham said a trial is happening on Local Link services in rural areas which have much more modern equipment which allows contactless payments to be made.

Ms Graham said the NTA is in the middle of the procurement of that system and hopes to be able to roll it out when a contractor has been appointed.

Once we have that contractor appointed we will have a better idea of the timeline. But it will be in the months and years to get across all our services.

We obviously want to do it quicker than that, but it is a significant deployment of new infrastructure and new IT systems, she added.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Anne Graham of the NTA

In terms of the recruitment of drivers, Ms Graham said the NTA has the fleet for a 24-hour bus service, but not the drivers.

We believe operators are competing with other industries, including the construction industry, to try and recruit drivers, she said.

We dont believe it is an issue of safety, although that could be an element of it.

Housing is one of those issues that needs to be addressed, affordable housing to try and encourage more people to live in the city and make themselves available for recruitment as drivers.

At the moment the constraint is not funding, or fleet, it is actually drivers, she said.

Full bus services have recently resumed to west Tallaght after being suspended at night for four months following threats of violence, attacks, vandalism and a female driver being terrorised by a mob in December.

Ms Graham said a public transport police is a matter for An Garda Siochana to decide whether it is appropriate.

However, she said there has been great cooperation between bus operators and gardai to any incidents on public transport.

Any time there is an anti-social incident is abhorrent. Its abhorrent for the staff and customers are also impacted, she said.

Ms Graham added it was regretful that the roll-out of the new G-Spine bus routes under Bus Connects in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard collided with the issue of driver shortages.

Frustrated bus users in south-west Dublin have been calling for a review of the new G-Spine or a return to the original routes due to delays, cancelled services and inaccurate real-time displays.

We accept that the service was not delivered to the extent we would like it to be delivered and we are working with the operator to improve that, she said.
The Dart+ Coastal North Project will increase capacity between Dublin city centre and Drogheda

Irish Rail has announced its updated plans to extend an electrified rail network to Drogheda.

Plans include a redesign of Howth junction and a Dart shuttle service to Howth as part of the Dart+ Coastal North Project.

The existing infrastructure currently terminates at Malahide and it is proposed to extend this electrification, by about 37km, to Drogheda.

The project will also increase rail capacity on the Northern Line between Dublin city centre and Drogheda MacBride Station, including the Howth Branch.

How the modified entrance to Howth Junction and Donaghmede Station would look

The first non-statutory public consultation for the Dart+ Coastal North project opened in spring last year.

Since then, the project has undertaken additional surveys and studies to select a preferred option for the route which has been published today.

A new platform will be constructed at Drogheda MacBride Station and a new track will be created at Clongriffin Station.

Read more Delays in introducing contactless payments on Dublin buses baffling, says TD

Significant upgrades will be made to Howth Junction and Donaghmede Station. These upgrades will allow for a Dart shuttle service on the Howth Branch Line.

According to Irish Rail, the service will provide a sustainable, electrified, reliable and more frequent rail service for passengers.

How the modified footbridge at Howth Junction and Donaghmede Station would look

Plans include reconfiguration of the existing track layout and infrastructure at stations including Drogheda MacBride, Malahide, Clongriffin, Howth Junction and Donaghmede.

There are currently 19 operational stations included on the Dart+ Coastal North route bringing passengers into and out of the city centre.

The Dart+ Coastal North Project is the third infrastructural project under the Dart+ Programme to be delivered, aiming to increase the length of the Dart network to 150km.

The project is open to public consultations at www.dartplus.ie.
The new Penneys store will open in Dundrum Town Centre next month

The new Penneys store in Dundrum Town Centre will become their third largest in Ireland when it opens next month.

Penneys is expanding and relocating to the second and third floor of the former House of Fraser site as part of a 14.8m investment.

The newly improved store will officially open at 10am on Thursday, June 22. It will be Penneys third largest after its flagship store in Mary Street and its store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

Damien ONeill, Head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: The store is nearly ready and looking incredible.

We are confident our customers are going to love our new space as its twice the size of our current store.

We are excited to offer a much wider selection of products across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and homeware, including some great new services, he added.

The womenswear section in Penneys

Penneys is still recruiting for a number of retail positions and is encouraging people to apply. Penneys currently has 37 stores in Ireland and over 400 in total across Europe and US.

Customers to the new Penneys Dundrum store can look forward to discovering the latest summer fashion trends and great value everyday essentials across womenswear, menswear, kids wear, beauty, and homeware in a fantastic store setting.

The new store in Dundrum is part of the retailers commitment to invest over 250m in Ireland over the next 10 years, which includes the development, relocation and/or refurbishment of its stores across the country.

The investment also includes a 75m state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution facility in Newbridge, Co Kildare, which is currently under construction.
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has spoken of his alarm at the high number of cattle in North Kerry and West Limerick testing positive for the Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) virus, and he has warned that the financial support offered to farmers of infected herds is not fit for purpose and belongs to a different time.

Mapping provided by Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which manages the BVD-eradication programme, shows that North Kerry has been the worst-affected region in the country so far in 2023, as was the case last year, with at least 60 suspected or confirmed cases of the virus to the end of March.

Between April 12, 2022, and April 11, 2023, there were 315 cases in Kerry and Limerick. The vast majority of these cases have centred on North Kerry and West Limerick.

The Department of Agriculture is yet to respond to queries from The Kerryman, which asked why numbers have been persistently high in the region since 2022.

Calves that survive infection during early pregnancy are born persistently infected with the virus and most would die within two years. Some will develop fatal mucosal disease, while BVD can also lead to serious reproductive problems and weakened immunity.

The primary test for the BVD virus is an ear-notch test of newly born calves, and the herd is immediately restricted following a positive or inconclusive test. All animals with a positive or inconclusive test should be removed. Restrictions on movement of other cattle within the herd can only be lifted under strict conditions, including extensive testing and vaccination, within three weeks of the suspect animals removal. Farmers of neighbouring herds are immediately informed of heightened risk.

The Department provides up to 160 to dairy farmers for the removal of an animal, and 220 to beef farmers, depending on how quickly the cattle are removed.

Deputy Healy-Rae told The Kerryman that this compensation adds insult to injury.

With the price of cattle now, if youre lucky and your calf is healthy, you will make a good price, he said. But if you lose out, you lose out in a big way.

This level of compensation has not kept up with the price of cattle and belongs to a different time. It is not fit for purpose.

Deputy Healy-Rae said he has had contact with farmers of affected herds, but 99 per cent dont want to talk about the situation.

BVD is estimated to cost Irish farmers 102million per annum. BVD virus positive tests are rare and have dropped from over 16,000 nationally in 2013 to fewer than 300 last year.
A relative and neighbour of the victims of the Lixnaw shootings on September 7, 2021 are to meet with Minister for Justice Simon Harris next Monday.

Cath Houlihan, a niece of the late Eileen OSullivan, and a neighbour of the OSullivan family, Norma Harrington, launched a campaign to attract mental health support for the Lixnaw community in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The bodies of mother and son, Eileen and Jamie, were found dead in their home from gunshot wounds, while a short distance from the family home the body of Mossie, Jamies father, was discovered.

The women set up a social media page Reform Rural Ireland to garner mental health support for isolated communities experiencing tragedy.

Reform Rural Ireland say it will express its experience and views on familicide legislation, gun laws, and mental health supports for rural communities with the Minister.

A message posted on their social media site in recent days confirmed they are to meet with Minister Harris after a hard-fought campaign that also involved consultation with the HSE to seek mental health supports.

They thanked the public for continuing to support the journey.

We hope to be able to share our views based on our communitys experiences and advocate for change. We will do all we can.
The scenery is magnificent, the road empty and silent in Carlingford at 5 to 3pm on Saturday the 28th of March 2020. Picture Ken Finegan/Newspics   Ken Finegan/Newspics

Calls have been made for a safety audit at the harbour of the popular north Louth village of Carlingford which has been the scene of two drowning tragedies in the last four years.

Dundalk father-of-four Alan Joyce drowned on Easter Monday after falling into the water while on a family camping trip, while Belfast woman Ruth Maguire drowned in March 2019 when visiting the village for a hen party

Local councillors highlighted the need for a review of safety measures at the harbour at last weeks meeting of Dundalk Municipal District.

We need to look at making the harbour at Carlingford safer, Cllr Andrea McKevitt said, referring to the drowning of Mr Joyce.

Cllr Antoin Watters said he fully supported the call for a safety audit, saying it had never taken place.

Previously the family of mother-of-three Ruth Maguirehad called for a safety railing to be erected at the harbour to prevent a similar tragedy.

At the inquest into the death, her mother said she would like to see something done to improve safety at the harbour, which she described as "totally unsafe.

She had argued that the village, which made a lot of money from young people coming from all over Ireland to attend hen, stag and birthday parties, had a responsibility to make it safer for visitors.

She had also told the inquest that the family had been told of other near misses at the harbour and had been contacted by the brother of a man who had fallen into the water while on a stag night but had fortunately been rescued by his friends.

The County Coroner Mr Ronan Maguire BL said he would contact Louth County Council and ask them to examine the feasibility of putting in a guard rail at the harbour in Carlingford.
Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice says rural Ireland needs representation and is calling on independent TDs to form a rural political party.

The independent TD who was also a founding member of the Independent alliance that came into government in 2016, has called on all independent politicians to form a political party dedicated towards the representation of rural issues.

He has stated that a policy document needs to be drafted before moving on towards the implementation of this idea. He wants to include agriculture, health, regional balance, housing, rural development and transportation as the main agendas of the party.

Deputy Fitzmaurice believes that the housing crisis is a problem everywhere and rural areas were not unaffected. He blames bureaucracy in building houses and the planning system as the main causes of the crisis.

He said that Ireland has done a great job in building roads and connectivity but a lot more is needed to be done.

We need to drive the projects in other parts of the country too.

Deputy Fitzmaurice blames the government for not looking after everyones interests and only talking about cities and towns. He said people from all parts of the country need to be given equal access to opportunities.

On the leadership of the new party he says that its not for him to decide who will be the leader, its more about people coming together and the leader needs to be fluent in what they are talking about.

There is a new programme for the government every year and if you are not at the table your issues dont get addressed.

If the policy of the government is different from what you believe in as a TD then its not being worked on, said Deputy Fitzmaurice.
A court in Dublin yesterday (Tuesday) heard that Barry Young (38) ran a 20 strong gang which operated in Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway where it was involved in drug-dealing, intimidation and money laundering.

At the three-judge Special Criminal Court yesterday (Tuesday)), Detective Garda Inspector Ray Mulderrig said that when Young was arrested by detectives from Sligo at Dublin Airport on January 11 this year he was on his way to Spain in a bid to escape his life of crime and drug-debts.

Gardai seized Youngs phone and discovered thousands of messages, images, videos and calls relating to Youngs criminal activities in running the Sligo-based gang.

Phone activity revealed messages about drug-seizures, drug-debt enforcement, intimidation, cash lodgements and movements, and the collection and distribution of drugs.

Young moved money through a business account to a Spanish account held in his name in February and April 2019. The transfers totalling 35K were made ahead of his planned departure from Ireland.

The court heard that drug seizures linked to the gang totalled over 628,000, while Young himself had 40,000 in ready cash despite his only stated income being social welfare payments. Young also dispatched enforcers that he described as head-the-balls and Dirty Harrys to collect on drug debts, todays sentencing hearing was told. At the three-judge court yesterday (Tuesday) Detective Garda Inspector Ray Mulderrig told Fiona Murphy SC, for the State, that Young was arrested by detectives from Sligo at Dublin Airport on January 11 of this year on his way to Spain in a bid to escape his life of crime and drug-debts. Det Insp Mulderrig told Ms Murphy that gardai seized Youngs phone and discovered thousands of messages, images, videos and calls relating to Youngs criminal activities in running the Sligo-based gang. Det Insp Mulderrig said Young had 81 previous convictions at the time of his arrest and had been twice sentenced for drug-dealing, with the last conviction for that offence coming in 2006 when he was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Ms Murphy said that gardai examined the phone which was found to contain thousands of local, national and international interactions used for directing the criminal gang in relation to the sale and supply of drugs through Youngs known associates. The barrister said the phone revealed a group of at least 20 members who operated in a controlled, hierarchical command structure with directed sub-cells who then directed their own subordinates through a chain of command directed by Barry Young who was ultimately informed of the results. Ms Murphy said phone activity revealed messages about drug-seizures, drug-debt enforcement, intimidation, cash lodgements and movements, and the collection and distribution of drugs. The court heard the investigation revealed a high level of communication regarding drug-debt enforcement and the names and addresses of debtors. Det Insp Mulderrig said that while violence and threats were used, violence was the option least preferred by Barry Young. The detective said that investigations of five phones associated with Young led to the arrest of 16 people, six of whom are before the courts, with three of those facing charges of organised crime involvement and money laundering directly attributed to the gang. Det Insp Mulderrig said four of Youngs accounts were frozen which had a cumulative balance of over 40K, despite Youngs only stated source of income being social welfare payments. The detective said that in October 2019, a seizure of 2kg of cannabis from a UK associate of Youngs took place in Ballina, Co Mayo. The associate was sentenced to three years imprisonment on foot of the seizure. Ms Murphy said this caused Young to embark on a path of panic, fear, agitation and anger in a damage-limitation exercise. The two kilos of cannabis were valued by gardai at 40K and Det Insp Mulderrig said that mobile evidence revealed that Young made two calls to the associate two days before the seizure and had sent messages to another associate to deliver two Spanish, referring to the cannabis. Another associate of Youngs caught with 100K of cannabis and 18K in cash in January 2020 had a phone number attributed to Young in his phone saved under Boss. A third associate, who was caught with 328K worth of cannabis and had a huge drug-debt of his own, was used as a courier for cash and drug deliveries in Sligo, Leitrim and Dublin, said Ms Murphy. After Youngs January 2022 arrest in Dublin Airport, searches in the Sligo area found 36,360 in cash, 145,250 worth of cannabis, 11K worth of cocaine and 4,500 worth of valium and diazepam linked to the gang. Phone data also revealed that drug-debt enforcement involved Young sending individuals to private homes to commit criminal damage and demand money in Sligo and Galway. Young described the debt collectors in messages as head-the-balls, Dirty Harrys, Russian fellas, mental and crazy dispatched to fix debts owed. A search of Youngs home by Sligo gardai saw the seizure of banking and vehicle documents, along with business papers for a vehicle recovery business called BY Recovery, though garda investigations found that no facility or yard for the business existed. Det Insp Mulderrig said Young was moving money through the business account to a Spanish account held in Youngs name in February and April 2019. The transfers totalling 35K were made ahead of his planned departure from Ireland. Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Michael Bowman SC, for Young, that his client had been cordial, mannerly and pleasant in his interactions with gardai. Mr Bowman said his client came from a decent, working class family in Sligo and that Young developed a significant drug difficulty that led to his drug-debt issues. Mr Bowman said Young had been under enormous pressure to pay his debts and had been looking for a way out of the life he made for himself, adding that Young was preparing to move out of Ireland when arrested. Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Mr Bowman that there had been a legitimate threat to Youngs life due to his debts and that his clients mental health had suffered as a result. Mr Bowman said Young had become depressed and suffered anxiety over his debts and his situation that led him to go to counselling where he admitted he had sought to end it all. The barrister said the enormous pressure on his client to pay monies back to those above him caused Young to seek a way out and he sought to take his own life. Mr Bowman said Young did not display any over-trappings of wealth associated with criminal activity and said his client rented a nondescript residence without fancy clothes, jewellery or foreign holidays. The barrister said Young had engaged in counselling and drug and alcohol addiction services before his arrest as far back as 2018 due to the parasitic nature of the drug trade. Mr Bowman said his client described the day of his arrest as a happy day and that Young had thanked gardai for catching him because every day he was trying to find peace with what he has done. Mr Bowman said Young had been a big fish in a small pond but was answerable to layers upon layers of individuals operating above him. Father-of-two Young pleaded guilty that he, between October 4, 2019 and January 15, 2022, both dates inclusive, directed the activities of a criminal organisation both within and outside the State, contrary to Section 71 A of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as inserted by Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009.
We may be years past the glory days of the Eurovision in Ireland, when the likes of Johnny Logan, Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington, Charlie McGettigan and Riverdance ensured this small island nation became the heavy hitters of the annual song contest. But Irelands slippage down the ranks in recent years has not dampened the interest of Wexford town when it comes to searching for all things Eurovision on Google.

According to research conducted by search engine specialists Digital Funnel, Wexford is the second most obsessed town in Ireland when it comes to the Eurovision, coming in just behind Killarney. The Kerry town came out on top with a score of 287 out of 400, followed by Wexford, Maynooth, Mallow and Carrick-on-Suir rounding out the top five most interested towns in Ireland.

So as Irelands entry Wild Youth take to the stage on Tuesday night in a bid to gain a place in Saturdays grand final, Wexford town will be fully engaged in the contest  according to the research at least.

Co Dublin is the most interested county, with six towns in the county appearing on the long list, closely followed by County Tipperary and County Wicklow, both on four.

At the other end of the scale, Nenagh in Co. Tipperary is the least interested town in Ireland when it comes to the famous song contest, only registering a 25/400 score. Croagh, Kinnegad, Edenderry and Crossakiel are some of the other least interested towns. registering a 25/400 score.
Free to attend French food and music festival for New Ross quays this June

A friendly invasion of New Ross of the foodie kind has been announced for the June Bank Holiday Monday.

The Normandy Tourist Board are arriving in force armed with brioche buns, cider and more for a French Food Festival in three locations with Norman heritage, including New Ross, which is forging strong links with the French province.

The Normandy Food Tour will bring the very best of Normandys foods, drinks and music to St. Patricks Park in Dublin on Saturday, June 3, to the historic Cathedral Square in Waterford on Sunday, June 4 and to the Quayside of New Ross town on bank holiday Monday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Normandy food trucks will arrive en masse to serve up tasty sweet and savoury dishes with tastings on offer all day long. Chez lCouz marries the finest Normandy beef with creamy camembert and Neufchatel cheese served up in a soft bun. GrignotMalin will be serving up traditional French crepes filled with cheese and more. And who can resist dessert, especially when its Caravanille preparing delicious fresh brioches topped with Normandy delicacies.

A Normandy Sweet Treats Tasting will also be on offer with Cara-Meuh, La Maison Du Biscuit cakes, Jeannette Madeleines, Caramel De Pommes Dieppois apple spread and more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to bring some home, thanks to cheese vendor La Degusterie.

Traditional brews will also be on offer and visitors can enjoy a cider-tasting experience with Cidrerie de la Brique where visitors can journey from the traditional methods through to styles defining the future. There will also be a Calvados tasting of Chateau du Breuil and Busnel apple brandies. La Mont Vinette, a bar in a vintage caravan will also be offering samples of their unique and authentic Normandy cocktails.

A demo stage will see a schedule of fabulous Normandy chefs cook up traditional and innovative cuisine including Escalope a la Normande, Teurgoule rice pudding along with the universally loved brioche. Totally free-to-attend master classes will be held throughout the day with sampling some of Normandys best exports available plus a family-friendly crepe demonstration activity will be showcased each afternoon.

Joining the food and drinks producers are the Normandy Tourist Board who are keen to build upon the historic Norman connections and to share the heritage and cultural offerings available in picturesque Normandy.

Commenting on the upcoming Normandy Food Tour, Director of Normandy Tourism Michael Dodds said: We are very excited to take the Normandy Food Tour to Ireland. We value our shared heritage with Ireland and we look forward to building upon those connections this June. It is the first time that the Normandy Food Tour will travel to Ireland and it is genuinely a real treat for festivalgoers, with the very best artisanal foods and drinks of beautiful Normandy on offer along with a flavour of our culture and of course our shared heritage.

To top the celebrations off visitors to each of the food tour stops will be entertained by the French musicians For the Hackers, who will be performing for the very first time in Ireland. Hailing from Dieppe, Normandy, these indie-rockers have been active for about a decade now, and have numerous hits to their name. Their blend of pop, rock and electro with French lyrics is guaranteed to impress.

The Normandy Food Tour is a free-to-attend family-friendly event with live music, free cookery demos, tasting opportunities and more. See https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/normandy-food-tour/ for more details.
Cost of living getting too much for you? Help is available.

MABS is offering Money Management talks to all local groups.

Please contact Bray MABS at 0818 07 2250 to arrange a talk for your group.

South Leinster Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the States money advice service, guiding people through dealing with debt and support with money management.

They have offices at 2 The Boulevard, Quinsboro Road, Bray. See mabs.ie. The MABS Helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Beach cleans

Arklow Coastcare, with the help of volunteers from Sunbeam House and the National Learning Centre, cleans Arklow South Beach every Thursday at lunchtime from 1.30 p.m. All are welcome.

For more information about the group or any of their many environmental projects, you can contact Corey Bateman by email at cbateman@wicklowcoco.ie.

Cancer support

Arklow Cancer Support is offering counselling face to face or remotely for cancer patients or family members. It also offers bereavement counselling, plus its volunteers drive patients for their daily radiation therapy

If you are interested in joining the group meetings, you can do so any Thursday night at 7.30 p.m.

Their drop-in Friday events are open to all. Opening hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. You can also reach the team via 0402 23590 or 085 110 0066 or email arklowcancersupport@gmail.com.

Junior Parkrun

Arklow junior parkrun takes place every Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m. at the Duck Pond. This is a 2k event for juniors only, aged between four and 14 years old.

For info, email arklowduckpond-juniors@parkrun.com.

Aughrim Town Market

Check out the Aughrim Town & Country Market every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in The Pavilion, Rednagh Road, Aughrim.

You can find a full selection of artisan baked breads, biscuits, cakes, hummus, chutneys and savoury eats.

There are also health supplements, candles, jewellery, knitted toys and childrens wear.

For more information, call Dave at 083 0349577.

Grow

Grow Mental Healths Arklow Community Group is holding in-person meetings at a new venue weekly on Mondays at 10 a.m. at the Arus Lorcan community centre in Castle Park.

Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings which will explore positive mental health, wellbeing and recovery.

Meetings are free to attend and open to all. For more information about the Grow group, you can call Trish on 086 012 9082.

Autism friendly

Arklow Library has some amazing activities planned.

All children with special superpowers are welcome; siblings can come along too.

Just give the library a call on 0402 39977 to book.

Dont forget, you can book the Magic Table at any time, so dont delay.

Family fun at the library

Arklow Library hosts Family Fun Time every Saturday from 11 a.m., with stories, crafts, jigsaws and plenty of other fun and interactive activities. There is also Storytime at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.

On Fridays, there is a Movie Club for ages three and up at 3.30 p.m. For more information, contact 0402 39977.

Arklow Writers Club

Join the Arklow Library Writers Group for a safe environment to share and improve on your writing. All levels welcome and no booking is required.

My Open Library has resumed, meaning those with MOL access cards have access to the library from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Contact arklowlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie for more information on MOL or the writers group.

East Coast Samaritans

East Coast Samaritans, based in Arklow, offer emotional support to their callers through telephone calls and email.

They can be contacted 24/7 by calling 116 123. You can also find more information at www.samaritans.org/branches/arklow/.

The charity would also like to invite anyone who is interested in volunteering to get in touch. For more information, go to samaritans.ie/volunteer.

Arklow Craft Fair

The Arklow Craft Fair takes place in Bridgewater Shopping Centre from noon to 6 p.m. on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. The fair brings crafters/artisans/growers/bakers of all kinds together.

Arklow Tidy Towns

Arklow Tidy Towns mission is to improve the landscape in the town of Arklow for residents and visitors alike. They meet each Tuesday in season to carry out various projects around the town.

Their CE scheme carries out essential landscape maintenance and litter control all over the town on a daily basis.

For more information, or to join the team, email arklowtt@live.com or head to their Facebook page.

New Irish chat group

If you would like to practice your Gaeilge or just learn a few words of Irish, join friendly faces and local linguists at the Ballyraine Cafe every Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The group will meet every Wednesday (except for school holidays) and all are welcome to attend.

For more info, visit the Ballyraine Cafe Facebook Page.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Arklow Bridge Clubs

Arklow 68 Bridge Club is back to in-person bridge every Wednesday at 7.15 p.m. at the Arklow Presbyterian Church Hall, Dublin Road. All are welcome to attend.

The Asgard Bridge club have been hosting their new season on Mondays, at 7.30 p.m., also in the Presbyterian Church Hall in Arklow.

Mens Shed

Arklow Mens Shed meets at Monument Lane.

Our aim is to create a space where men can meet to share experiences and encourage each other to develop new skills, gain better health and develop friendships.

New members welcome.

For info, call 086 3217860 or email arklowmensshed1@gmail.com.

Arklow Parish Bingo

We are delighted to let you know after a very long absence Arklow Parish Bingo will recommence on Tuesdays, at Arus Lorcain, Castlepark Arklow.

Doors open at 8 p.m., with play commencing at 8.30 p.m.

Golden Circle trips

The Arklow Golden Circle social group are hosting a tea dance on Sunday, May 14 in the Arklow Bay Hotel from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with music provided by Pat Mccarthy.

The group will be making a trip to Dublin for Bloom on Fri, Jun 1. There is space for 100 people and tickets are 35. The buses will depart from Tesco at 9 a.m. sharp

The group will also be going on a group holiday to Galway, from October 1 to 5.

Included in the price is the cost of the hotel, your evening meals, the bus journey, trips out, meals on the way up and down.

The price for twin and double rooms are 500; singles 835. Contact Gertie at 083 4042747.

Lets Sing

Come to Arus Lorcain in Arklow on Thursday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and share the fun of singing with others.

There is a cost of 5 to attend. Call Rosarii at 0402 32248 if you would like more information.

House of Stories

The Arklow House of Stories group meet every last Thursday of the month at The Harbour Bar at 8.30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend the evening.

Conversation Group

Arklow Library are holding a weekly conversation session in English every Thursday at 7 p.m. all adults are welcome.

It is a mixed international group, where anyone can improve their English speaking skills.

The group also includes some local people who join for the chats.

All kinds of amazing

If your child has additional needs, this group may be for you. A welcoming and friendly group, perfect for sharing experiences.

The group meet between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. every last Wednesday of the month, at Arklow Library.
Established by Roundwood native Triona Murphy in 1998, the talented seamstress made the daunting and courageous decision to leave her job at Avoca Handweavers to strike out on her own.

When a prominent spot on Arklows Main Street became available, the plucky entrepreneur jumped at the opportunity. Twenty-five years later, In Stitches is still going strong  with customers from around the county and beyond using their expert services.

Mending everything from jeans and skirts to graduation and wedding dresses, Triona and her partners in crime - Veronica Doyle, her sister Maria Kenny and a whole host of friends and family  the In Stitches team have overcome recession, Covid and Main Street road works together.

Reflecting on a quarter of a century of serving the Arklow community, Triona said: I still remember walking into the estate agent here in Arklow and the girl there saying to me, I hope youre not opening up another hairdresser because there are loads of them here.

When I told her that it was going to be an alteration shop her face lit up and she told me how badly the town needed one  thats when I knew it was the right move. There was already one in Wicklow, but there were none in Arklow at the time.

I had been working in the Avoca Handweavers and I thought long and hard about leaving the job. There were a lot of people who thought I was stone mad, going from the Handweavers to opening my own place. But here we are 25 years later and were still flat out.

Sewing is in the family, my mother was a seamstress and a tailor, and all the sisters followed suit as well. They help out and I have fantastic friends who all chip in when the going gets tough. We work day and night here, doing long hours  thats what has kept us going. Its all about the great people and fantastic customers we have here.

Like many Arklow business owners, Triona counts her perseverance through Covid among her crowning achievements. Making masks for a local company and continuing some of their regular work for the HSE, the In Stitches staff felt blessed to work through lockdown, if only for a few weeks.

"We have had tough times like everyone else in business this long, but weve stuck it out together, Triona said. When Covid shut everyone down three years ago, like everyone else, we weren't really sure how we'd cope.

Luckily, we managed to maintain some work. A local company, Servier, contacted us about three weeks in and asked if we would make masks for them. We got permission to do it and made hundreds, which kept us going for a few weeks before we closed back down. We do a few bits for the HSE normally, and they got us back in to do that too.

We were probably one of the first businesses in Arklow to re-open after the restrictions were lifted, and we have always felt we were very lucky for it. Businesses that were selling products were hit so much harder and I know lots of people who never re-opened their doors.

We got through it though and were going as strong as ever at the moment. We owe a big thanks to the people of Arklow for that. They're so great at supporting local businesses and we've had great craic with them over the years. We've laughed with them and we've cried with them.

And it's not just the people of Arklow. Our customers come from Carnew, Aughrim, Roundwood, Kilcoole, Bray, Gorey and even Dublin.

It's so hard to believe that we're open a quarter of a century and it's all thanks to our customers. So, a big thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Not only has your custom kept us going all this time, but your funny stories, your kind gifts, your friendly chats and just being part of the Arklow community and beyond have been an absolute treasure.
CCTV footage has been sent to specialist team in the UK for fresh analysis

THE tortured family of a missing mother-of-one, whose car was last seen in Bray, has finally been given hope of a breakthrough after crucial CCTV footage relating to the baffling case was dispatched to a specialist team in the UK for fresh analysis.

Esra Uyrun was last seen leaving her home in Clondalkin, west Dublin, on the morning of February 23, 2011.

Her family believes the 38-year-old was abducted at some stage between the time she set off from her home and the discovery of her car in Bray later that morning.

Although the vehicle, a grey Renault Twingo, was captured on CCTV driving towards a car park in the Co. Wicklow seaside town, a previous bid to enhance the grainy video footage and identify the mystery driver - who the family believes to be Esra's abductor - proved unsuccessful.

However, Berna Fidan, Esra's older sister, said confirmation that the footage is being re-examined by leading experts in the UK represents "the best chance in years" of finally solving the mystery.

The development comes following London-based Berna's visit to Ireland back in February to mark the 12th anniversary of Esra's disappearance.

During the visit the 57-year-old grandmother-of-one met with senior gardai, where she pleaded with them to give the green light for the low-quality CCTV footage to be sent over for thorough analysis specialists in the UK.

Berna said her hopes were lifted in recent days, after her garda liaison officer contacted her to confirm the footage has been sent to a leading company in London.

She said: "It's a huge relief that this has finally happened. I've been informed that the video has been sent to a leading company in the UK, one that is used for major investigations.

"The footage was examined a few years ago, but I don't believe a proper job was done on it at the time. But I know all the stops will be pulled out this time to enhance the footage, so we can finally see who was driving Esra's car.

"I'm very confident that the technology now exists to do this, but at the same time I don't want to get too optimistic, because we've had so many setbacks since the day Esra disappeared.

"That said, this represents our best hope for years of finally moving the case forward, and finding out what happened to my sister. All being well, we should get results within the next couple of weeks.

"As I've said previously, I'm sure that the person who was driving wasn't Esra, but the person who abducted her. Hopefully the footage can be enhanced enough to identify the driver."

Meanwhile, anyone with information relating to Esra's disappearance should contact Ronanstown Garda Station on 01-6667700, Bray Garda Station on 01-6665300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111.
Convicted sex offender Rolf Harris warned his daughters friend who he was abusing to tread carefully because he was powerful and had money, according to a new ITVX documentary.

Australian-born Harris was a family favourite in the UK for decades before he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at Londons Southwark Crown Court in June 2014  which included a catalogue of abuse against his daughters friend over 16 years.

The victim has given permission for the impact of her abuse to be told through her psychotherapist Chip Somers in new ITV series Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight which documents the rise and fall of the TV host, entertainer and artist.

Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight will tell the story of his rise and fall (Gareth Fuller/PA)   Gareth Fuller

The two-part documentary will hear how the woman went to Mr Somers in the late 1990s for help with an alcohol problem before it became apparent that there was a huge secret that she was holding on to.

Mr Somers explains: She told me she had been sexually abused by Rolf Harris from the age of 13, and this went on for a number of years.

Her choice was to not say anything about it, but it caused her a lot of trauma and was instrumental in causing her to misuse alcohol as a way of anaesthetising that trauma a momentary respite from having to carry that burden all the time.

As her relationship with Harris became more intimate, Mr Somers says Harris was clear in his message to her: She is also quite clearly told, This is something that you cannot talk about. Do not tell anybody about this. This is our little secret. I am a powerful person, I have money, so tread carefully.

The psychotherapist added: She was having to carry this incredible secret, this incredible burden, this incredible sense of guilt and disgust and hatred of what is happening to her.

Trauma thrives in darkness and Rolf Harris made quite sure that she was shrouded in darkness.

The documentary will allege Rolf Harris assaulted a 16-year-old girl three times in the space of 35 minutes on the set of Star Games in 1978 (Laura Dale/PA)   Laura Dale

The programme will also feature alleged victims Suzi Dent and Karen Gardner, who waived their right to anonymity.

In the first episode of the two-part series, Australian make-up artist Ms Dent alleges Harris sexually assaulted her when she was 23 and working on a programme he appeared on in 1985.

Ms Gardner alleges she was assaulted three times in plain sight in the space of 35 minutes at the age of 16 when she was carrying Harriss bag on the set of Star Games in Cambridge in 1978.

Ms Gardner says: He said to me, Youre irresistible. I was 16. He was 48. He was 10 years older than my dad.

Harris was acquitted of assaulting Ms Gardner after the jury could not reach a verdict at two trials, and Ms Dents allegations of assault were not tried in court because they occurred outside the UK.

Rolf Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court with his wife Alwen (right) and daughter Bindi (Andrew Matthews/PA)   Andrew Matthews

Harris, now 93, was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at Londons Southwark Crown Court in June 2014.

These included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens, and a catalogue of abuse against his daughters friend over 16 years.

Following his conviction, Harris was stripped of his CBE  which he received after painting the Queens 80th birthday portrait.

In May 2017 he was formally cleared of four unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied.

Later the same year, one of the 12 indecent assault convictions was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Rolf Harris: Hiding In Plain Sight will air on ITVX from May 18.
The Metropolitan Police has said it regrets arresting six protesters before the coronation (Labour for a Republic/PA)   Labour for a Republic

Scotland Yard has expressed regret over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the Kings coronation after being threatened with legal action when no charges were brought.
Prince Harry vs Piers Morgan is the classic tale of the prince vs the troll
Nicola Bulleys body was recovered from the River Wyre, three weeks after she went missing   PA

The UKs Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will not be taking any enforcement action against Lancashire Police over its disclosure of missing mother Nicola Bulley's personal information, the force has said.
Roberto Marquez and his Israel Gil from Dallas erect a memorial to honour those who lost their lives when a gunman opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday. Photo: REUTERS/Jeremy Lock   REUTERS

Federal officials are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Allen, Texas mall on Saturday expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology as they seek a motive for the attack, a law enforcement official said. The official cautioned the investigation is in its early stages.
Donald Trump sexually abused magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her by branding her a liar, jurors decided on Tuesday, dealing the former US president a legal setback as he campaigns to retake office in 2024.
Woman who was abducted 50 years ago is found via DNA website

The girl, who vanished in 1971 at the age of 21 months, was found by family through the 23andMe website

The woman was found through a DNA testing site. Photo: stock image   Getty Images/Westend61

Bevan Hurley UK Independent Tue 9 May 2023 at 03:30






This magazine discusses the key drivers of investment growth in the west Indian state of Gujarat and its appea...
The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India...
Image: video grab

Guwahati: Assam on Tuesday inked Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with nine companies that are estimated to bring private investments to the tune of Rs 8201.29 crore.

Commissioner, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Oinam Sarankumar Singh signed the agreements with the industry players like PepsiCo India Holding Limited, Varun Beverages Limited, Calcom Cement India Limited, Star Cement NE Limited, Century Float Glass Limited, Taj Cement Manufacturing Pvt. Limited, Star Cement India Limited and DS Group.

On the other hand, MD AIDC Manavendra Pratap Singh singed an MoU with the Adani Group for a Centre for Perishable Cargo at LGBI airport to provide state of the art infrastructure for air cargo handling facility to boost export of horticulture products from entire North East.

Today, we have signed MoUs with various organisations, which will bring investment worth Rs 8,201 cr to Assam's economy: HCM Dr @himantabiswa pic.twitter.com/tyjBBd6F0D  Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) May 9, 2023

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, We have resolved the fault line in our society. The last two years have been unique in our history as for the first time since the Assam agitation, we haven't seen any bandh or agitation that endangered the industrial environment of the State.

To expedite industrial development in Assam, the state government has formulated a customised industrial policy to help individual private investment to the size of more than Rs 100 crore, Sarma said.

The Chief Minister also said that the investment in the sectors namely beverages, snacks and food manufacturing, cement, glass, electric vehicles manufacturing would help in setting up mega industrial projects in different parts of the state.

He also said the fact that the investments and the follow up activities would generate an estimated 6115 employment opportunities in the state is a very welcome development.
Image Credit: PIB

New Delhi/IBNS: India and Myanmar on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Myanmars Rakhine State, marking a major milestone in enhancing bilateral and regional trade.

Union Minister for Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and Myanmars Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications Admiral Tin Aung San launched the operations of the port. During this event they received the first Indian Cargo ship which was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the operationalisation of Sittwe Port would enhance bilateral and regional trade as well as contribute to the local economy of Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The greater connectivity provided by the port will lead to employment opportunities and enhanced growth prospects in the region.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Sonowal highlighted the close historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

He reiterated Indias longstanding commitment towards the development and prosperity of the people of Myanmar through developmental initiatives such as the Sittwe Port.

This project was conceptualized to provide alternative connectivity of Mizoram with Haldia / Kolkata / any Indian ports through the Kaladan River in Myanmar.

The project envisages highway/road transport from Mizoram to Paletwa (Myanmar), thereafter from Paletwa to Sittwe (Myanmar) by Inland Water Transport (IWT) and from Sittwe to any port in India by maritime shipping.

Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant-in-aid assistance from India.

Once fully operationalized the waterway and road components of KMTTP will link the East coast of India to the North-eastern states through the Sittwe port.
Image Credit: Wallpaper Flare

Shillong/IBNS: The Basin Development Unit in East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya in a bid to boost agricultural productivity and profitability, has teamed up with the Agriculture Department to provide training to nine local farmers.

The cultivators were sent to Siliguri in West Bengal to learn about the Hydroponic system of farming, an advanced technique that promises to increase yields in a shorter timeframe, reported The Shillong Times.

Among the nine farmers who completed the training were Iahphang Dkhar and Morning Suchiang, both renowned strawberry farmers in the district and across the state and country.

The others included Jamris Langstang, Erick Dkhar, Robin Siangshai, Samuel Latam, Jimris Langstang, and Dibait Dkhar, all of whom are known for their expertise in growing oranges.

The group was accompanied by officials including Raja Brahma, MCS, the Extra Assistant Commissioner cum Nodal Officer for EJHD, Hun Ioo Blah, the District Project Manager for Basin East Jaintia Hills District, Programme Associate for Basin, and Smt. Bamerishisha Rymbai, the District Horticulture Officer for East Jaintia Hills District.

This initiative aims to equip local farmers with new skills and innovations to enhance agricultural production in the region.
Across the world from the United States to India, medical experts say robotic surgery is surging because of the many benefits it offers, ranging from reduced recovery time to less blood loss. Adrian Maddox, Molly Rhodes, Ryan Barich, Anna Leggat, and Ryan Williams from the US and Ayush Gupta from India report on the growing trend

Last summer, Jerry Ahrens in the US visited the emergency room with a stomach ache, which turned out to be a mass on his right kidney. He needed surgery. When it came time for the operation, Dr. Naveen Pokala at University of Missouri Health Care got some help from an assistant he often depends on: a robot.

Six incisions later, the mass was out, Ahrens kidney saved.

From left: Daniel Hafez, Washington University of Saint Louis; Jason Davis, Henry Ford Hospital; Naveen Pokala, MU Health Care; Robert J. Webster III, Professor at Vanderbilt University

Ive got six small holes, or incisions in various places on the belly where they went in to do that, Ahrens said. No major cuts, openings or stitches or anything like that.

Pokala frequently uses robotic surgery to help his urology patients. Its part of a growing trend  not just in the United States but in Pokalas native India. Medical experts say robotic surgery is surging in many parts of the world because it offers many benefits, such as reduced recovery time, less blood loss than a traditional surgery and fewer complications.

Dr. Daniel Hafez, a neurosurgeon at Washington University in St. Louis, said they have had two robots there for about five years.

Doctor Jason Davis looks at an X-ray image of a patients hips to determine the next steps in the process at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Photos provided by Henry Ford Health Orthopedics.

The benefit of the robot right now is to improve the surgical accuracy and guide the placement of our instrumentation - what we call navigation,he said. So like GPS tells you where to go when you're driving, the robot tells us where we are placing our screws and other instruments.

The most popular robotic system for some surgeries in both countries is the da Vinci, made by the company Intuitive  which reported 1.1 million procedures in the U.S. in 2021, up from 876,000 in 2020. Robotic surgery was on the rise for many years before that, too. A 2020 study looking at nearly 170,000 patients in 73 hospitals found the use of robotic surgery rose from 1.8% of all general surgery procedures in 2012 to 15.1% in 2018.

Over the past 12 years in India, meanwhile, there have been 128,000 successful robotic surgeries, according to Apollo Hospitals.

Doctor Jason Davis uses a computer program that assists in the robot assisted surgery he performs at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Davis specializes in hip and joint replacements. Photos provided by Henry Ford Health Orthopedics.

Doctors from various specialties use robotics for surgeries involving the spine, heart, joints and other parts of the body. Traditional surgery is still an option, but many patients favor robot-assisted operations, said Robert J. Webster III, a professor of mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University.

The same is true in India, where Dr. Balasubramaniam Ramana is a senior surgeon in the bustling eastern city of Kolkata. Ramana specializes in general surgery and bariatric surgery and began studying robot-assisted surgery in 2018 when he became interested in treating hernias.

Robotic surgery is making a huge difference in the management of complex patients in multiple specialties, he said.

A close up of Doctor Jason David working on a computer program that coordinates with his robot assisted surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Photo provided by Henry Ford Health Orthopedics.

A Bevy of Benefits

Pokala, director of robotics at MU Health, said that robot-assisted surgeries can actually make his work in urology easier. The robotic device allows him to make smaller holes in a patients belly for surgery, leading to less blood loss and a faster recovery.

The robot actually makes it easier to work well in a confined space, he said. With minimal invasive surgery youre set to sort of putting small holes, which are like a centimeter at the most and some of them are eight millimeters or even smaller. Through those you do the whole operation, so the pain is a lot less Because you fill the belly up with air, it also tends to bleed a lot less patients have a lot less pain and they tend to recover a lot faster.

After Pokala performed the robot-assisted surgery on Ahrens, he said he got better and better each day.

After about two to three weeks I would go into town, get out of the house, Ahrens said.

Patients in India expressed similar sentiments. The Vattikuti Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit founded by the Indian-born entrepreneur and philanthropist Raj Vattikuti, provides education to patients, training to surgeons and funding for surgical technology.

The foundation releases videos about the experiences of patients and surgeons with robot-assisted surgical technology. In one, a patient explains how quickly she recovered after a kidney transplant.

I started feeling well and moving better. My hospital staff allowed me to leave my bed the very next day, Suman Thapar from Kotkapura, Punjab, said in the video.

When asked if she was worried about the robot-assisted surgery, she said she felt confident in the doctors abilities. I was not afraid at all, and even after the transplant, I didnt feel that I had undergone any surgery.

Mahendra Bhandari, CEO of Vattikuti Foundation and director of robotic research and education at Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Hospital, allayed the fears around robotic surgery.

The robot is totally under the control of the surgeon and does not do anything on its own, said Bhandari, who along with Indian-American physicians Raj Vattikuti and Mani Menon have featured in Many Voices, One Nation exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for their contribution to the world of Robotic Surgery through the Vattikuti Foundation.

Bhandari said the decision to use robotic surgery versus traditional surgery should be based on the patients individual needs, medical history, and the experience of the surgical team.

Pokala said newer surgeons and medical students are in some cases learning more about robotic medicine than traditional forms of surgery.

The newer surgeons probably dont know how to do an open prostatectomy at all because we dont do those anymore, Pokala said of the prostate procedure. It bleeds a lot less, you know, and when you did them before people would bleed almost two liters to three liters.

Jason Davis, senior staff surgeon at Henry Ford hospital in metropolitan Detroit, is a total joint replacement surgeon with a specialty in robot-assisted hip replacement. He said one benefit from the surgeons standpoint is that it reduces the physical and mental fatigue doctors can feel during surgeries.

That allows doctors to focus on their work, and stay less fatigued throughout their workdays. In a 2020 study in The Journal of Surgical Case Reports, researchers found that surgeons practicing laparoscopic surgery had significantly higher physical fatigue than doctors who performed the same surgery using robot-assisted devices. But the study also said the fatigue laparoscopic surgeons experienced doesnt reduce the dexterity and overall performance of the surgeon.

The Question of Cost

For patients, the cost difference between traditional, or open, surgery and robot-assisted surgery depends on the type of procedure the doctor performs and the persons insurance coverage. In most health care systems, the price is similar regardless of the way in which the surgeon chooses to perform the procedure.

The main cost factor for this is the capital acquisition of the robot itself, Hafez said. In spine surgery, the hospital already owns the majority of the equipment, and the patient is paying for the implants used during the surgery. Similarly, for robotic surgery, the hospital must purchase the robot and its associated instruments. It is an expensive investment the hospital is making to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes.

But the benefits are worth the cost, Hafez said.

Once you purchase it, then you start getting the benefit of improved accuracy, reduction in OR times, reduction in X-ray exposure to the patient, and reduction in blood loss, Hafez said. So you start saving costs per use over time, but there's definitely a capital acquisition cost up front that is much higher.

In India, meanwhile, Ramana said there is no uniformity with costs or what insurance covers for robotic surgery. For example, somebody has a kidney tumor and that needs to be done robotically, it is possible that the insurance company may accept that compared to some other surgery, Ramana said.

At teaching hospitals, surgical residents are trained on the robotic systems and how to perform procedures on them. Patients who go to training hospitals could get such surgeries for free. There are also programs at government hospitals where qualified patients can get robotic surgery at lower costs.

According to the Vattikuti Foundation, robotic surgery costs can be reduced in India because of large volumes of patients.

Although the initial investment in robotic surgical equipment can be expensive, robotic surgery may ultimately result in lower overall healthcare costs due to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and potentially fewer complications, Bhandari said.

However, the cost-effectiveness of robotic surgery depends on several factors, including the type of procedure, the patient's medical history, and the availability of skilled robotic surgeons.

Potential Risks

But as with any surgery, there are potential risks.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, complications from surgery in general include hemorrhaging, shock, and reactions to medicine and anesthesia. The success of a surgery, and the rate of complications, also depend on the skill of the doctors.

Davis said its important for patients to do research about potential doctors before choosing one.

Primarily look at a surgeon and their team and experience rather than shop around for a specific robotic surgeon versus non-robotic surgeonBecause the robot is really just a tool, Davis said. If you put in wrong settings or make wrong inputs into it, you can also do some harm.

Vattikuti Foundation was set up by Indian American entrepreneur and philanthropist Raj Vattikuti (second from right) in Michigan, USA and India.

Ramana explained that some of the potential risks of robot-assisted surgeries are similar to laparoscopic surgery. For example, there are risks from anesthesia.

The other things are robot-specific, Ramana said. So robot specific complications would include something like the robotic arm may actually injure the patients head or the eye, if it is not taken care of while positioning the robot against the patient.

But Ramana said harmful complications with the robotic system are rare.

A Robotic Future

As robot-assisted surgeries expand in different places around the world, some people worry the trend could affect the employment outlook for surgeons.

But Ramana said unless we have a pure robotic evolution, humans will still have jobs. This is not like AI taking over the function of normal professionals, he said. Robotic surgery is in that sense a misnomer.

Ramana said that you still need someone who is a trained professional to handle the robot since it does not have the ability to work independently.

There is a very important feature of robotic surgery for people to understand that the robot is not going to do the surgery for you, Ramana said. Its the surgeon who does the surgery. So the robot is basically an interface between the patient and the surgeon.

Patients also have the option in many cases to choose between traditional forms of surgery and robot-assisted surgery. Walter Dixon was given the choice between radiation treatment and removing his prostate after finding out that he had a mass growing. He decided to allow doctors to use robot-assisted technology to take out the cancer.

I was out, woke back up and it was done! Dixon said. It was very comfortable, as far as something that major, I was very, very impressed with it..

Experts said robot-assisted surgery is only going to continue to grow. In a recent earnings conference call for Intuitive Surgical Inc., CEO Gary Guthart said the company saw an 18% increase in procedures using da Vinci systems in the quarter and full year of 2022. Overall, da Vinci systems were used in a total of 11 million procedures since the commercialization of the machinery within the past year.

He said the U.S. and India were among the countries that stood out.

Webster said he believes that robot-assisted surgery will begin to be integrated into resident and fellowship curricula.

Typically, exposure starts during residency and really accelerates during a clinical fellowship. During residency, a doctor does rotations, hopping around the hospital to get broad perspectives, Webster says, If they find that they like robotic surgery, then they often choose a specialization that uses robotics and sign on to a fellowship program that makes them a true expert in robotic surgery.

As they join the medical profession, experts say, they will help shape its future.

Dr B Ramana of India explains the benefits of robotics surgery at his chamber in Kolkata. Image by Debanjan Das

It's going to continue to rise across all surgical specialties. I think all humans are prone to error, no matter how great they are or how technically skilled they are as a surgeon, Hafez said. So as tech gets better, and as AI gets better, there is going to be a continued increase in the use and the role of robotics.

(This report is a cross-country collaboration between the students from the Business Journalism department of the University of Missouri, USA headed by Prof. Randy Smith, and young journalists from India. The project is overseen by Laura Ungar, reporter on the global health and science team at The Associated Press, and journalist Sujoy Dhar, founder of the Indian news agency India Blooms News Service.)
Image Credit: Unsplash

A US appeals court has rejected Apple Inc's claim that security firm Corellium Inc violated its copyrights by creating a simulated version of the iOS operating system.

The simulation was intended to aid researchers in identifying potential security vulnerabilities in Apple's devices. The ruling came on Monday, marking a setback for Apple's efforts to protect its intellectual property, a report from Reuters stated.

In accordance with the fair use copyright doctrine, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Corellium's recreation of Apple's system is lawful and supports scientific advancement through valuable security research. Neither company has provided an immediate response to the decision.

Corellium, a Florida-based company, provides a software platform that enables the use of iOS on non-Apple devices and allows for in-depth analysis and modification of the operating system to enhance security research.

Apple filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Corellium in 2019 after an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the company for $23 million.

In 2020, a district court rejected Apple's claims, which were subsequently appealed in 2021.

In its ruling on Monday, the 11th Circuit upheld Corellium's fair use of iOS, acknowledging that the company's software provides unique features that aid security researchers in ways that physical iPhones cannot.

The court rejected Apple's argument that Corellium simply repackaged iOS for profit, which would have threatened Apple's market and security research programs.

According to the circuit court, Corellium's software has paved the way for more comprehensive security research on operating systems like iOS.

However, the appeals court has remanded the case to the district court to assess whether Corellium violated Apple's copyrights by using its icons and wallpapers, or whether it facilitated copyright infringement by third parties.
A day after West Bengal banned the controversial film The Kerala Story, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh announced it will be "tax-free" in the northern state, media reports said.

"'The Kerala Story' to be made tax free in Uttar Pradesh," tweeted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.

'The Kerala Story'         Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) May 9, 2023

Prior to Uttar Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state Madhya Pradesh had announced the film as tax-free.

The Kerala Story, which is directed by Sudipto Sen, depicts the alleged radicalisation and conversion of young Hindu and Christian women to Islam in Kerala and their recruitment into the terrorist organisation Islamic State or ISIS.

The Kerala Story has sparked a political controversy. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the film's makers of promoting the agenda of the Sangh Parivar.

He criticized the film for painting Kerala as a hub of religious extremism and spreading hate propaganda against the state.

After Tamil Nadu, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced the film will be banned in her state.

Speaking to the media, Banerjee said, "West Bengal government has decided to ban the movie The Kerala Story. This is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state."

"What is The Kashmir files? it is to humiliate one section. What is The Kerala story?... It is a distorted story," she said.

The film was released after the Madras High Court rejected a petition seeking a ban on the release of the controversial film.

The high court verdict followed a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a series of appeals, including one filed by the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, against the movie's release.

The petitioners claim that the film could incite hatred and hostility in society, and the top court directed them to approach the relevant high court.
Image Credit: UNI

Kolkata/UNI: On the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday garlanded the statue of Gurudev at Jorasanko Thakurbari and paid tributes.

Shah then went round the Thakurbari, accompanied by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar.

Taking to Twitter, Shah said, "My tribute to Gurudev Tagore on his birth anniversary."

"His thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement," he added.

" He remains a visionary poet & beacon of light for us, " Shah stated.

My tribute to Gurudev Tagore on his birth anniversary. His thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement. He remains a visionary poet & beacon of light for us. pic.twitter.com/F2nwlrlCGI  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 9, 2023

After Jorasanko Thakurbari, Shah will head to Petrapole in North 24 Parganas district to take part in the foundation stone laying ceremony and inauguration of various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and BSF.

Later in the day, Shah will attend a function at Science City for the release of the full dome film "Luminaries of Bengal" and inauguration of several projects to be followed by attending Rabindra Jayanti celebration by "Khola Hawa".

Swapan Dasgupta, President, Khola Hawa, and former MP (Rajya Sabha), said, Shah will speak on Tagore's influence on modern Indian thought.

The event is being supported by the Ministry of Culture as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations in the country, Dasgupta said.
Image: Khalsavox.com

In a revelatory interview between retired Pakistan Military officers Major Adil Raja with Colonel Akbar Hussain, it has been uncovered that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operates an extensive smuggling network, involving high-ranking army officers. This network has allegedly fueled the Khalistan movement and played a key role in the formation and operation of narco-terrorism.

In the video interview, Colonel Akbar Hussain spoke to retired Pakistani military officer and YouTuber Major Adil Raja, who provided insight into the activities of the ISI. According to Raja, the ISI exploited individuals like Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) Chief Paramjit Singh Panjwad to operate drug cartels and target Punjabs youth. The intelligence agency facilitated the smuggling of drugs into India, using terrorists like Panjwad as pawns.

Colonel Hussain explained that numerous high-ranking military personnel are complicit in this illegal drug network, which has become ingrained in the system. Such involvement reflects poorly on the battalion units and dishonours the Pakistani flag.

Raja disclosed that the ISI raises funds under the guise of black operations, which are then misappropriated or used to finance smuggling and contraband networks. He claims that Panjwad, under ISI protection, supplied illegal arms and drugs to India from across the border. The intelligence agency relied on Panjwad to escalate Khalistani separatism in Punjab and orchestrate terrorist attacks, such as the 1999 bomb blast near the Chandigarh passport office.

Panjwad, who was known as Malik Sardar Singh in Lahore, was ultimately gunned down by unidentified assailants on May 6, 2023, in Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan. His organization, the KCF, was designated as a terrorist group by the Indian government in July 2020, following a series of bombings and murders attributed to the group.

In another major expose, Major Adil Raja alleged that the Pakistani army employed actresses as honey traps. Pakistani actress Sajal Aly has since responded to these defamatory allegations on social media.

Last month Major Adil had accused the ISI of tracking him and attempting to hack his virtual presence.

(Image and text credit: Khalsavox.com)
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has thanked the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha-led government for evacuating students who were stranded in violence-hit Manipur.

In a statement, the association's national convenor, Nasir Kahuihami, thanked the Jammu and Kashmir administrations for facilitating the evacuation of Kashmiri students from Manipur, which is grappling with violence and unrest. Kahuihami acknowledged that all the students from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir who were studying in Manipur and were stranded due to the escalating violence have safely returned to their home country J-KUT via flights, reports ANI.

He praised both the J-K and Manipur authorities for their prompt efforts in ensuring the safe return of these students from violence-hit Manipur.

Kahwahami was quoted as saying by the news agency, "The students were stuck in Manipur due to the ongoing violence, which made it difficult for them to return home. However, the J-K Students' Association approached the J-K LG administration and the Manipur administration, seeking their help in evacuating the students."

In response, the J-K LG administration and the Manipur administration immediately swung into action, coordinating with various agencies to ensure the safe and timely evacuation of the Kashmiri students.
Image Credit: Wikipedia

Imphal/IBNS: The restored version of the 1990 Manipuri film "Ishanou", directed by acclaimed filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma, is scheduled to debut at the Cannes Film Festival from May 16-27.

The movie, which features Anoubam Kiranmala and Kangjam Tomba and focuses on the Maibi culture of Manipur, has been acknowledged as a World Classic and will be shown in the Cannes Classic section.

According to officials from the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), the 91-minute film was formerly an official entry to the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes in 1991, stated Northeast Now.

In collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation in Mumbai and director Aribam Syam Sharma, the MSFDS initiated the ambitious restoration project for "Ishanou".

"Ishanou" is only the second celluloid Manipuri feature film that the SN Chand Cine Archive and the Museum of MSFDS has digitised and the first film to have undergone restoration.

Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma, Chairman of Film Forum Manipur (FFM), stated that Syam Sharma is a groundbreaking pioneer of Manipuri cinema who has been tirelessly working to depict the cultural and emotional nuances of the state and its people with a humanitarian vision through cinematic storytelling with a distinct artistic signature.

Several film-related organizations in Manipur had urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry last year to bestow the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on Syam Sharma.

In November of last year, during the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa, Manipuri films were featured under the special Manipuri cinema category titled "Golden Jubilee of Manipuri Cinema."
wallpaper cave

The Iran government hanged two people on Monday who were earlier sentenced to death due to blasphemy.

Yusef Mehrdad and Sadrullah Fazeli Zare were arrested in May 2020 and sentenced to death in April 2021 for running online anti-Islam groups and channels, news agency Mizan was quoted as saying by CNN.

Meanwhile, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said it is alarmed by the continued enforcement of blasphemy provisions around the world and condemns efforts to enact stricter blasphemy legislation.

The existence and enforcement of such lawswhich punish individuals for allegedly offending, insulting, or denigrating religious doctrines, deities, symbols, and religious feelingsundermines freedom of religion or belief and related human rights, including freedom of expression.

Blasphemy prosecutions demonstrate a blatant disregard for human rights, and are often used to target members of religious communities and others who hold different or dissenting views, said Chair Nury Turkel. It is outrageous that the Iranian government executed Yusef Mehrdad and Seyyed Sadrullah Fazeli Zare on charges of insulting the Prophet despite an international outcry and telling Mr. Mehrdads family the execution had been stayed.

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF highlighted blasphemy prosecutions in multiple countries. In 2020, USCIRF released a groundbreaking report that documented the global enforcement of blasphemy laws, and in 2022, released a series of reports on blasphemy laws in Nigeria, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, and Turkey.
Image: UNICEF/Arlette Bashizi

New York: Recurring attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to drive forced displacement and extreme hardship for millions of Congolese, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.

The country has 6.2 million internally displaced people, while more than 1.3 million have become refugees.

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UNHCR said that Goma, the capital of eastern DRCs North Kivu province, hosts over 560,000 displaced people in and around the city. Many live in spontaneous sites on the side of the road, in dire conditions, despite the efforts of humanitarian actors.

Constant fear of attack

Elizabeth Tan, UNHCRs Director of International Protection, recently returned from North Kivu, and she told reporters about one woman she had met, with five children:

She didnt have any food even for that day and so she had sent her children out to collect firewood and to try and make a little bit of money. And her main concern was, would her girls come back, without having suffered an attack in the forest.

UNHCR warned that the lack of adequate sanitation and overcrowding are fuelling risks of cholera and measles outbreaks, while people desperately try to survive.

Emergency shelters

She said in Buchagara, an official IDP site on the outskirts of Goma hosting more than 15,500 displaced people, vulnerable individuals and families were now being housed in 3,000 emergency shelters alongside recently installed community kitchens, with water and sanitation facilities up and running.

Currently, the emergency shelter provided only covers three per cent of the estimated needs. Women and youth are particularly exposed to protection risks, including gender-based violence, she warned.

Adequate shelter is key to restoring personal security and dignity - Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR

She said IDPs had appealed for more shelters, and ways of making some income, through agriculture or small business opportunities.

Safety and dignity

Adequate shelter is key to restoring personal security and dignity, said Ms. Tan.

More than 180,000 have recently arrived in Kalehe territory, tens of thousands of whom are sheltering in the town of Minova, she added, a two-hour drive south of Goma.

Local hosting communities have generously shared their limited resources with the displaced populations so far, but they are under enormous strain.

She said UNHCR had scaled up shelter, site management and protection responses, thanks to generous support from the international community.

However, the needs are great. The DRC is one of the most underfunded humanitarian situations globally. UNHCR requires $233 million to respond to the needs of displaced people in DRC this year, but so far, has only received 15 per cent of that amount.
Image: Wallpaper Cave

Gaza: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck a number of military facilities and weapon production sites of the Islamic Jihad Movement within Operation Shield and Arrow in the Gaza Strip, IDF said on Tuesday.

"Israel Defense Forces struck ten arms production facilities and military objects belonging to terrorist organization Islamic Jihad," IDF stated on social media.

IDF also said six Islamic Jihad's facilities that were used as weaponry storage and logistics infrastructure were hit. Moreover, IDF struck terrorist group's military outpost south of Gaza.

According to the statement, IDF's helicopters and fighters attacked weapon manufacturing facilities and missile production workshops in Khan Yunis.

Moreover, IDF said it targeted several operation chiefs of the Islamic Jihad. Later, Liwa al-Quds (also Jerusalem Brigade), Islamic Jihad's armed wing, confirmed that three of its senior officers were killed in the attack.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip killed 12 people and injured 20.

(With UNI inputs)
UNI

Islamabad: Taliban leader and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has asked Pakistan and outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to hold negotiations as a means to resolve issues faced by Islamabad pertaining to the banned outfit.

The Taliban leader is currently on a four-day Pakistan visit.

He made the comments while addressing the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

As for Pakistans security concerns, we ask that the government of Pakistan and the TTP sit together and find a solution to these problems on their own," he was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

We hope [] that the problem would be resolved, he said, answering multiple questions regarding the TTP, which is seen as one of the main perpetrators of recent terror attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan is witnessing a rise in terror activities in recent months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

This surge in terror attacks was seen after Kabul-hosted talks between the TTP and the Pakistan government collapsed, resulting in an end to the ceasefire among them in November last year and the outlawed group ordering its militants to stage attacks across the country, reports Dawn News.

Pakistan says that TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban, has been using the Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan, but the administration in Kabul has denied that the militant group is operating outside of Afghanistan.
Image: Hasan Mahamud Sokal/Pixabay

Dhaka: Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is the national carrier of the country, is currently facing delays in the disbursement of salaries to its employees due to an alleged cyber attack on the national carrier's email servers in March this year, media reports said.

Sources from the airline told Dhaka Tribune they have been unable to fully recover the email server even though a month and a half has passed since the attack.

On condition of anonymity, a Biman employee told the newspaper that he had not been paid on time in the last two months.

However, Biman Bangladesh has denied the media reports on the alleged attacks.

Biman Joint Secretary Siddiqur Rahman, who has been serving as acting managing director and CEO while Shafiul Azim is in London, told Dhaka Tribune: "Everyone got payment but there was a bit of delay. We are operating everything using a backup server."

Digital Security Agency and Civil Aviation Ministry insiders furnished Dhaka Tribune with documents that suggested the hackers demanded $5 million in ransom for restoring Biman's access to its email servers.

Recently , Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim said: There was no disruption in the operations or operational work of Biman. Our activities are going on as usual.

Wishing anonymity, officials at administration & HR Directorate of the airlines said that they used to receive salaries on the first two days of every month, but did not receive salaries for March and April on time due to the accounts server being down, reports Dhaka Tribune.

Along with the cyber attack on March 17, the hackers had sent a message that read Hello and had a yellow, parallelogram-shaped logo using the unique malware Zero Day Attack.

The next day, the hackers demanded $5m in ransom by March 20.

On March 21, they sent another message threatening to publish 100GB personal and confidential data unless the ransom was paid by the deadline, the newspaper reported.

The hackers have reportedly threatened to publish flight, passport, and other information of passengers and Biman employees on an online blog if they did not receive the ransom.

Interestingly, the Bangladesh government declared 29 organizations, including Biman, as critical information infrastructure under the Digital Security Act in October 2022.
Image:  UNICEF/Salam Al-Janabi

New York: Following a systematic crackdown on the rights of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban  from attending school to working at the UN  the stage may be set for multiple preventable deaths that could amount to femicide unless restrictions are reversed rapidly, independent UN human rights experts announced on Friday, following an eight-day visit to the country.

We are alarmed about widespread mental health issues and accounts of escalating suicides among women and girls, they said in a joint statement. This extreme situation of institutionalized gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Extreme discrimination

Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, de facto authorities have issued a cascade of restrictive orders that amounts to extreme institutionalized gender-based discrimination and a systematic chipping away of the rights of women and girls, they warned.

The ongoing appalling human rights violations have masked other underlying manifestations of gender-based discrimination that preceded the Talibans rule and are now deeply engrained in society and even normalized, they added.

Currently, females are prohibited from being in school above sixth grade, including universities, can only be provided care by women doctors, and are barred from working at the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Life under house arrest

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, and the Chair of the working group on discrimination against women and girls, Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, shared their preliminary observations, including meetings with Taliban leaders and grave accounts from the women and girls they met in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, in Balkh province, between 17 April and 4 May.

Numerous women shared their feelings of fear and extreme anxiety, describing their situation as a life under house arrest, they reported.

We are also particularly concerned by the fact that women who peacefully protest against these oppressive measures encounter threats, harassment, arbitrary detentions and torture, they said.

Extreme misogyny

For two years, the de facto authorities have dismantled the legal and institutional framework and have been ruling through the most extreme forms of misogyny, destroying the relative progress towards gender equality achieved in the past two decades, they said.

In meetings with the Taliban, the experts said de facto authorities had told them that women were working in the health, education, and business sectors, and that they were ensuring that women can work according to Sharia, separated from men.

The de facto authorities reiterated their message that they were working on the reopening of schools, without providing a clear timeline, and indicated that the international community should not interfere in the countrys internal affairs, the experts added.

However, they noted that the Taliban impose certain interpretations of religion that appear not to be shared by the vast majority of Afghans.

Alive, but not living

The experts said that one of the women they spoke with told them, we are alive, but not living.

The consequences of the restrictive measures have led to detention for alleged moral crimes under extreme modesty rules, they said. New laws have also decimated the system of protection and support for those fleeing domestic violence, leaving women and girls with absolutely no recourse.

The impact is alarming, the experts said, noting that new Taliban-imposed measures have reportedly contributed to a surge in the rates of child and forced marriage, as well as the proliferation of gender-based violence perpetrated with impunity.

These acts do not occur in isolation, they cautioned. If we are to eliminate discrimination and break cycles of violence, gender justice requires a holistic understanding as to why such violations are committed.

Gender apartheid

The world cannot turn a blind eye, they warned.

They recommended that the international community develop further normative standards and tools to address the broader phenomenon of gender apartheid as an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, humiliation, and exclusion of women and girls.

At the same time, the UN should take a human rights-based approach which requires a deep understanding and analysis of its principles, they said.

Technical and financial partners should considerably increase their support to activists and grassroots organizations present in Afghanistan and to the unwavering efforts of a still vibrant civil society to avoid the complete breakdown of civic space which could have irreversible consequences, they recommended.

They urged the de facto authorities to honour commitments towards the protection and promotion of all womens and girls rights and comply with obligations under instruments to which Afghanistan is a State party, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Special Rapporteurs

The experts expect to present to the Human Rights Council in June a joint report thoroughly analysing the situation of women and girls rights in Afghanistan, followed by an interactive dialogue with Afghan women.

Special Rapporteurs and other rights experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
Image: Pixabay

A 15-member Chinese delegation is likely to visit Gilgit-Baltistan region to explore options for buying and importing cherries from Pakistan, media reports said.

The Chinese buyers hailing from Xinjiang, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces as well as the Weifang area will arrive in the region  home to cherry orchards in Pakistan, on May 15 on a four-day visit, Commercial Counselor, Pakistan Embassy, Beijing, Ghulam Qadir told APP.

They will meet local farmers, and relevant officials and visit cherry orchards and inspect quality of the exotic fruit, he added. Pakistan and China signed a cooperation protocol during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs visit to Beijing in November last year, reports The Nation.

Under the protocol, China will not only import cherries from Pakistan but also help the local grower to enhance production.

China is currently importing a major share of its cherries from South American countries.

However, the transportation cost and time remain a major issue of concern.

Ghulam Qadir informed that the annual demand of the Chinese market is around 350,000 metric tons but Gilgit-Baltistan produces around 5,000 metric tons of cherry per season.
Islamabad/IBNS: Violent protests broke out on Tuesday evening across Pakistan, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Karachi among other places, after former PM Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), triggering a new political conflict in the country.

The protests have been unleashed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cadres, who resorted to stone pelting on houses, offices, and vehicles, burning banners and tires, and blocking roads. In Faisalabad, a mob pelted stones on Rana Sanaullahs house.

PTI workers also broke into Pakistan's General Headquarters and Corps Commander's Lahore house over Khan's arrest.

Scenes from Lahore as protests break out in Pakistan against arrest of Imran Khan #Pakistan #ImranKhanArrest #PakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/3najcWQjzF  India Blooms (@indiablooms) May 9, 2023

After the attacks on GHQ (General Headquarters) and Corps Commander's Lahore house, anything can happen now. The first target is to deal with the rioters, perpetrators and those who spread them. Time is short and conditions are very bad," prominent journalist Talat Hussain said.

In Rawalpindi, protesters also smashed the main gate of the armys headquarters. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted pro-Khan slogans as they moved toward the sprawling building.

In the port city of Karachi, police resorted to baton charges and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had gathered on a key road.

Meanwhile, a medical board led by Dr. Fareed Ullah Shah has arrived at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi office to conduct a medical checkup on the detained PTI Chairman.

The PTI chairman was arrested as part of NABs investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case ahead of his appearance before the IHC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him, reports Geo News.

According to reports, Rangers personnel driving a black Toyota Hilux Vigo whisked away Imran Khan to NAB Rawalpindi.

It appears Khan got wind of his arrest hours earlier as before leaving for the court the PTI chief was quoted as saying by Geo News: If someone has a warrant, they should directly bring it to me. Bring the warrant, my lawyer will be there. Im ready to go to jail myself.

There is no case against me. Im mentally prepared to be arrested. If I have to go to jail, Im ready, Khan said.

According to Geo News, the PTI chairman was in the IHC's biometric verification department when he was nabbed by paramilitary men. The NAB officials had arrest warrants.

Khans warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.

NAB in a statement said Khan was booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

"The arrest was ordered and implemented by the NAB," the accountability watchdog said in a statement, adding, "Rangers troops were deployed for the action on the orders of the Ministry of the Interior".

The statement made it clear that the Rangers did not detain Khan, while Section 144 was already imposed in the federal capital, reports Geo News.
Max Kleinen/Unsplash

New Delhi: A 27-year-old Hyderabad woman, Aishwarya Thatikonda, has been identified as among the eight people killed when a gun-wielding man opened fire at shoppers outside a mall in Dallas area in the US on Saturday.

The Indian consulate in Houston said on Monday, that one of the eight victims of the Texas mall shooting over the weekend was Thatikonda, an Indian civil engineer from Telangana.

The Indian Consulate in Houston said: We express our deep condolences to the family of Ms. Aishwarya Thatikonda who died in the tragic shooting incident in Allen, Texas on May 6."

We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local authorities. Our officers are on the ground to render all possible assistance. We are closely monitoring the situation," the Consulate said.

Thatikonda was shopping at the Allen Outlet mall for her upcoming 28th birthday.

According to reports, her family plans to have her body sent to India.

Thatikonda was in the US on a work visa, and was employed at a Frisco-based general contractor.

Ashok Kolla, leader with the Telugu Association of North America, is working to arrange the return of Thatikonda's remains to India.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, was identified as the shooter who drove to the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday afternoon and opened fire on innocent shoppers with an AR-15-style rifle.

He was shot and killed by a police officer who was nearby responding to an unrelated call.

Police are now investigating whether the attacker was motivated by right-wing extremist ideology.

(With UNI inputs)
Hold onto your sarees, folks, because we have some breaking news! A video on Instagram is causing quite a stir, featuring a guest who shares a shocking encounter with a professional saree stylist charging Rs 1.10 lakh per saree.

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The video is from the popular podcast The Specific Ask by Rishabh Aggarwal, where he interviews career counselor Kanchan Nanda Ralhan.



The podcast delves into unique and borderline bizarre careers and professions, and Kanchan recalls an encounter she had during her son's wedding preparations.

Kanchan stumbled upon a woman with impeccable saree draping skills and couldn't resist complimenting her. The woman revealed she was a professional drapist and charged a staggering amount for her services.

Excited by the prospect of impressing her son's friends, Kanchan inquired about the cost of styling them all. The reply she received left her jaw on the floorRs 36 lakhs for just one session per saree!

The drapist's usual fee is a mere Rs 1.10 lakh for a 10-minute session. She even directed Kanchan to check out her page to see her busy schedule.

The professional saree draper in question is Dolly Jain, who has mastered draping sarees in over 325 styles!

As expected, the internet was divided on Dolly's exorbitant charges, with some finding it absurd and others appreciating her skills. Either way, one thing is for sure- Dolly Jain's saree draping skills are truly unmatched!

Many jumped to defend Dolly Jain and called her remarkable for mastering her art and earning what she deserved. Many lashed out at the video for disregarding her talent.

Here are some reactions from the Instagram reel that has everyone talking.

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Dolly's impressive clientele includes A-listers such as Gigi Hadid, Isha Ambani, Shloka Mehta, Diya Mehta, Radhika Merchant, and Kiara Advani, a few.

Her journey began with a simple hobby of styling her dolls as a child in Kolkata, and now she holds records in both the Limca Book of Records and the India Book of Records.



(To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment)
A 27-year-old Indian-origin engineer working in the US as a project engineer was among the nine people killed when a gun-wielding man opened fire at shoppers outside a mall in the Dallas area in the US on Saturday.

LinkedIn

Aishwarya Thatikonda, of McKinney, was shopping with a friend when Mauricio Garcia, the 33-year-old gunman, shot them at the Allen Premium Outlets in Dallas, the New York Post reported.



Gunman acted alone and killed 9

The shooting started around 3:30 pm on Saturday as crowds of shoppers filled the outdoor mall. The shooting killed nine people before the gunman was shot dead by a police officer.



Brian E Harvey, the chief of police in Allen, Texas, said at a news conference on Saturday night that the gunman acted alone. A police officer, who was on another assignment at the mall at the time of the shooting, heard gunfire, rushed towards it, and killed the shooter.



A Dallas home linked to the gunman's parents was searched by police Saturday night after the massacre, and officials also scoured a motel where the shooter had booked an extended stay, law-enforcement sources told a local media outlet.



In a statement about the shooting, the mall said they were "horrified by the senseless tragedy" at Allen Premium Outlets and expressed outrage over ''the violence that continues to plague" the United States.



Woman had spoken to family before incident

LinkedIn

A family representative confirmed to the WFAA television station that Aishwarya was also among the dead from the senseless gun violence. Her friend, who was not identified, was reportedly injured but is in stable condition at the hospital.



Aishwarya, the daughter of a district judge in Ranga Reddy district court in India, worked as a project engineer at Perfect General Contractors LLC.



She had spoken to her family members before the incident on Saturday, and when they called her back after learning about the shooting, they did not get any response, according to the judge's friend.



"The family got the information about (her death) on Sunday. They are in shock. They have been told that efforts were being made to send her body by Wednesday," the judge's friend said.



#WATCH | Rangareddy, Telangana: Visuals from outside the residence of the woman who was killed in shooting in a mall in Texas, US pic.twitter.com/zTuusxX5B0  ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2023

Victim had been working in Dallas for two years

Aishwarya did her civil engineering at a college in Hyderabad, India and completed her masters in the US, after which she had worked there for more than two years. She was working in Texas while her family was in India.

We express our deep condolences to the family of Ms. Aishwarya Thatikonda who died in the tragic shooting incident in Allen, Texas on May 6.

We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local authorities. Our officers are on the ground to render all possible  India in Houston (@cgihou) May 8, 2023

After learning about the death of Aishwarya in the shooting incident, the Consulate General of India in Houston expressed condolences to her family and stated that they were closely monitoring the situation and rendering all possible assistance.

Second-deadliest shooting of the year

Saturday's tragedy occurred just a couple of weeks before the first anniversary of the Uvalle, Texas, School massacre when 19 children and two adults were killed by a gunman at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022.



It comes just days after a gunman became enraged during a visit to an Atlanta medical facility. He allegedly shot dead at least one person with a handgun and injured four others before he was caught hours later.



Saturday's incident is the country's second-deadliest shooting of the year, after the Monterey Park, California, massacre in which a gunman killed 11 people in a ballroom on January 21.



Texas has second-largest Indian-American population

According to US Census Bureau, Texas has the second-largest Indian-American population in the US as of 2020. In 2010, there were 230,842 Indian Americans in Texas, making up 0.9 per cent of the population.



As per data shared by Open Doors, about half of the Indian students are pursuing higher education in six US states including New York, California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Arizona. Texas had 19,382 Indian students in 2021.



(With inputs from agencies)

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
S Nandhini, a Class 12 student from the Dindigul district, has emerged as the topper in the higher secondary examinations, scoring a perfect 100 in all six subjects and achieving 600/600.

The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) declared the results on Monday.

Nandhini, whose father is a carpenter, aspires to become an auditor.

"The result of Class XII has been declared. I scored 600/600 marks. This makes me very happy. My grandmother and teachers supported me," she said."My father is a daily wage laborer, but he never tried to stop me from studying. He told me that my education is my wealth and has encouraged me," she added.

In response to S Nandhini's exceptional achievement in the Class 12 exams, Chief Minister MK Stalin has pledged his government's complete support for her future education.

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N Gayathri, a student of a Chennai Corporation-run school, has achieved remarkable success in the recent exams by scoring 592 marks.



Gayathri's impressive score included full marks in two subjects and a score of 99 in the remaining four.

Twitter

Despite facing financial challenges, with her mother working in a fruit store and her father being a private library assistant, Gayathri's hard work and dedication have paid off.

"Education is the only thing that will change our lives in many ways. Education is the only way to understand others," said Gayathri, underscoring the importance of having a goal and path in life.

(Also read: 11 Stories Of Grit & Passion That Prove You Don't Have To Be Rich To Do Something Extraordinary)

Another example is Monisha, the daughter of a single mother working as a sweeper who has achieved a commendable score of 499 in her recent exams.

Despite financial hardships, Monisha has shown determination to succeed and fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer. Her achievement is a testament to her hard work and perseverance.

"We shouldn't give up studies having our present situation in mind. Today may be life is not in our hands, but it will change tomorrow. It can change with our education or talent. So we should study well," said Monisha, who was identified and nurtured by Karunalaya, a nonprofit.

According to the recently announced results of the Tamil Nadu Class 12 board exams, 96.38% of the girls who appeared for the exams cleared them, while 91.45% of the boys succeeded.

The exams, which took place in March-April, saw 8,03,385 students appearing, out of which 7,55,451 cleared them with flying colors. These results indicate the students' impressive performance despite the challenging circumstances caused by the ongoing pandemic.

(With ANI inputs)

(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)


Bishop Fox, a US-based cybersecurity company, made headlines recently after announcing a 13% reduction in its workforce, impacting around 50 employees. Interestingly, this decision came just days after the company hosted a lavish party at the RSA cybersecurity conference, where it served branded drinks to employees, industry colleagues, and attendees.

Twitter

The news shocked many employees, who took to social media to express their surprise and frustration at the sudden layoffs.



Photos from the party circulated on social media just a week before the layoffs began.

Did you attend our #ArtOfCyber #RSAC party? Share your pictures with us - use the hashtag #ArtOfCyber! https://t.co/dDVQBtaBbw  Bishop Fox (@bishopfox) April 27, 2023

While Bishop Fox did not disclose the amount spent on the RSA party, a TechCrunch report states that the company claimed the recent restructuring would enable it to maintain a solid financial position.

Twitter

Bishop Fox CEO Vinnie Liu explained that letting go of employees was necessary due to the global economic situation and the need to identify opportunities to make the business more efficient.



Liu also reassured employees and investors that Bishop Fox remains financially stable and has a positive outlook for growth and technology investments in the upcoming quarters and years.

The decision to lay off employees amid a lavish party has raised concerns about corporate spending practices and how companies balance their financial strategies with their responsibilities to their employees.

The move comes when many companies are re-evaluating their operations and financial strategies in response to ongoing challenges and uncertainties in the global economy.

However, Bishop Fox remains confident in its ability to continue delivering high-quality cybersecurity solutions to its customers while maintaining a solid financial position.

(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)


Many K-Pop music producers and journalists that visited the Greek Pavilion expressed their excitement about Greece and the potential collaborations in the tourism industry.
The ruling All Progressives Congress on Monday officially announced the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godwin Akpabio, as its consensus candidate for the position of Senate presidency in the 10th Assembly.

Akpabio is to be assisted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Jibrin Barau, who would be the new Deputy Senate President.

According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, on Monday, the zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: Senate President  South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Deputy Senate President  North West-Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

Others are the Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-West)  Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna), Deputy Speaker South East-Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).

READ MORE: 10th NASS: North-West Group Hails Tinubus Neutrality Despite Pressure

The announcement of the zoning arrangement according to Morka, followed a meeting on Monday by the NWC to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, and other stakeholders on the zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly.

He said, The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangements for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.

The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: SENATE: Senate President  South-South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President  North West-Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Speaker. House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) and Deputy Speaker South East-Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).

We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.

When asked to explain why North Central was left of the two principal offices in both chambers, Morka declined comments and made his way out, saying No question, please.

The absence of North Central confirmed earlier fears of demonstrators who stormed the APC secretariat to register their displeasure about the alleged marginalisation and the position of the party on the zoning formula.
A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, adjourned the continuation of the trial of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Oluwafemi Thomas until May 15 and May 16.

Thomas is standing trial alongside a Bureaux de Change operator, Kabiru Sidi, on four counts bordering on $2.2 million money laundering

They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and were first arraigned in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu.

READ ALSO: Court Jails Fake EFCC Official For Defrauding Belgian Woman Of 45,000

They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.

The case was, however, re-assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji after Saidu was transferred from the Lagos division of the court.

The trial has since commenced in the suit and the defence had opened its case and still giving evidence in court

When the case was called on Monday, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr O. Gbolahan appeared for the first defendant.

The second defendant, however, informed the court of the absence of his counsel on the grounds of ill health.

On his part, the prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, adding that he had come in from Abuja last week hoping to take this case.

He, however, said that in the circumstance, he would accept an adjournment

While noting that the second defendant was entitled to be represented by a counsel, the court also noted that the defendant had narrated to the court his efforts to secure a counsel.

The court consequently, adjourned the case until May 15 and 16 and urged the defendant to ensure he is present in court with his counsel on the next date

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the charge against the defendants has been amended several times, with the defendants taking fresh pleas on each amendment.
The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume has commended the nomination of Senator Godswill Akpabio for Senate President by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ndume who had recently expressed intention to contest for the Senate position warned fellow senators against accepting bribes from candidates.

Information Nigeria had reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC on Monday adopted a zoning template for the position of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly.

The zoning template released on Monday favoured the South-South, especially Akpabio for the position of the Senate President.

READ ALSO: 10th Assembly: APC NWC Nominates Akpabio For Senate President, Tajudeen For Speaker

However, in an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Ndume shared his disappointment when a senator asked him what he wanted in exchange for support.

According to him, he was disgusted, but the lawmaker in question later apologized.

He further advised senators to maintain their integrity, adding that, Senators are men of integrity and so I have told them not to collect money from any aspirant. Even though I heard that money has changed hands, nobody has approached me to say that he would give him money.

I was the first among the contestants who indicated an interest in writing that I wanted to be Senate President, with a 10-point agenda and these agenda are things that I feel if we make it our programme in the 10th Senate it will bring back the integrity to the Senate, in all these I put the National, Ndume said.
Barely few weeks to the inauguration of president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a man identified as Comrade David Aper Nyor, the president of Benue Youth has disclosed his intention to embark on a road journey, on foot, from Makurdi, Benue State to Abuja, to witness the historical event.

Nyor, who is a native of Konshisha LGA of the state, revealed in an interview that he is embarking on the journey to express his joy towards the election of the president-elect and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nyor in a statement appreciated Sen, Barnabas Gemade, for his support and major contributions to Benue Youths Volunteers for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nyor commended Sen, Barnabas Gemade for promoting peace, unity, equity, fairness and justice, as he clearly demonstrated by the electoral victory of the president elect in the february 25th election in Benue state,

According to him, the road journey is a mark of honour and to also disparage the ill-conceived notion from those he described as forces of darkness, that Tinubu would not be inaugurated.

When we started this journey, they said our President-Elect will not be given the partys ticket (APC). After the primaries, they started agitating that the Muslim-Muslim ticket can not survive at the polls.

While we went out on 25th of February to vote for the progressive renewed hope, they were busy making noise and planning to rigged elections, but God failed them.

READ MORE: Election Tribunal: Court Adjourns Hearing On Peter Obis Petition Till Wednesday, Denies Lalong For Representing Tinubu

The decision to vote for our president elect, was not just a choice but a total decision of Nigerians because we believe in his competence and capacity to save the situation of our love country Nigeria.

I will personally be honoring the inauguration of my president elect, as a volunteer. I will be trekking from Tinubu/Shetima campaign office in Makurdi to Abuja starting on the inauguration day, to honor the victory of Asiwaju, Nyor revealed.

He said those having erroneous assumptions that Tinubu would not impact development are the true enemies of Nigeria who, he said, do not like the unity of the country at heart.

I urge all patriotic citizens to join hands and make deliberate efforts In promoting good governance and securing a better government for all, he stated.
Popular Nigerian disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, better known as DJ Switch, has slammed the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over his comment that God can use the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to fix the country.

Recall that Adeboye, represented by his Special Assistant, Pastor Dele Balogun, at the monthly thanksgiving service at the RCCG Headquarters in Ebute-Metta, said Nigeria would prosper under Tinubus administration.

READ ALSO: Tinubu May Travel Out To Avoid 10th NASS Zoning Drama  Aide

Reacting via her Twitter handle on Monday, DJ Switch said Pastor Adeboye who was mute during the injustices mounted against Nigerians by his best friends in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has suddenly found his voice and now wants God to help Tinubu fix Nigeria.

She said one day, the cleric and his cohorts would show Nigerians the god they are always referring to.

She wrote, Daddy Adeboye seems to have found the voice he lost when Nigerians were suffering suppression and violence from his best friends in the APC! Now god wants to help Tinubu fix Nigeria? One day, una go show us the particular god wey una dey refer to!

Know for yourself!

See post below:
President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has asked the election tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against him.

In its petition marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023, APM argued that the withdrawal of Mr. Ibrahim Masari who was initially nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, invalidated Tinubus candidacy in view of Section 131(c) and 142 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

However, Tinubu, through his legal team led by Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and substance.

When the petition was called for hearing on Tuesday, the aggrieved party, through its legal team led by Mr. M. O. Atoyebi, SAN, adopted answers it filed on April 21, in response to pre-hearing information sheet that was issued by the court.

While Abubakar Mahmood, SAN, led the team of eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for the INEC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented the APC just as Yomi Aliyu appeared for Masari.

Meanwhile, after all the parties had adopted their answers, the Justice Haruna Tsammani led five-member panel adjourned further pre-hearing session on the petition till Thursday.

The tribunal thereafter, directed all the parties to identify all applications and documents they would either concede to or object to during full-blown hearing of the matter.

It further equally directed the parties to outline issues to be determined in the petition.

It is the case of the petitioner that there was a gap of about three weeks between the period that Masari, who was listed as the 5th Respondent in the petition, expressed intention to withdraw, the actual withdrawal of his purported nomination, and the time Tinubu purportedly replaced him with Senator Kashim Shettima.

APM further argued that Tinubus candidature had elapsed as at the time he nominated Shettima as Masaris replacement.

READ MORE: Election Tribunal: Action Alliance Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu

It posited that as at the time Tinubu announced Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate, he was no longer in a position, constitutionally, to nominate a running mate since he had ceased to be a presidential candidate of the 2nd Respondent having regards to the provisions of section 142 of the 1999 Constitution.

The party equally argued that Masaris initial nomination activated the joint ticket principle enshrined in the Constitution, stressing that his subsequent withdrawal invalidated the said joint ticket.

It, therefore, prayed the court to declare that Shettima was not qualified to contest as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the APC as at February 25 when the election was conducted by INEC having violated the provisions the of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
There is jubilation in the Edo states civil service as Governor Godwin Obaseki, approved the payment of 13th months salary to the states civil and public servants effective from December 2023.

Obaseki gave the approval on Monday at an engagement with the State civil and public servants at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City.

The governor, said he was on a thank-you mission after a successful Edo House of Assembly election, emphasized that the 13th month salary payment approval comes with a deal, which is: I do for you, you do for Edo.

Obaseki disclosed this while interacting with civil and public servants between levels 8 and 17 at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City, the Edo state capital.

The governor, who commended Edo workers for their support of his administration over the last six years, assured the development of the Benin Port and other projects aimed at placing the State on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.

He said, You have asked for a 13th-month salary to be paid to you in December. We will do it but between now and December, how will you pay the state government back?

READ MORE: Court Dismisses Obasekis Trade Union Ban In Tertiary Institutions

I am here today to say thank you for your support. When I look back, I know I have people. You have supported me for the past six and a half years.

I thank you for coming out to vote during the last election to sustain our developmental strides in Edo State. Our focus should be on how to sustain our developmental strides in the state.
LinkedIn, worlds largest social media platform for professionals, has revealed plans to cut 716 positions across the globe.

According to the company, it would shut down its jobs online application in mainland China.

Ryan Roslansky, Chief Executive Officer of the company on Monday, in a letter titled A message from LinkedIns CEO addressed to employees of the platform, explained that despite the growth of the company globally, the company had been experiencing shifts in customer behaviour and slower revenue growth.

He said, Over the years weve had to make hard decisions to ensure we were setting the company up to deliver on our vision, and Im sharing one of those decisions today.

READ ALSO: Microsoft To Buy LinkedIn For $26 Billion

As we guide LinkedIn through this rapidly changing landscape, we are making changes to our Global Business Organization (GBO) and our China strategy that will result in a reduction of roles for 716 employees.

Our colleagues who are impacted by this announcement have all made invaluable contributions to our company. I want to recognize the impact this decision has on the lives of those individuals. And I want all of you to know that the entire leadership team and I are dedicated to helping our colleagues during this transition and ensuring that they are treated with the care and respect they deserve.

If your role is directly impacted by this decision, you will receive a calendar invitation within the next hour for a meeting with a leader from your team and a representative from our Global Talent Organisation, Roslansky added.
A United Kingdom-based company, ASQ Group, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to append his signature on the Peace Corps Bill before leaving office.

Samson Adeosun, the Chief Executive Officer of the Group, who gave the appeal in a statement in Abuja, pointed out that the benefits associated with assenting to the bill were enormous.

According to him, the bill would specifically engage the youths and drastically reduce insecurity in the country, adding that the corps would help in complementing the tireless efforts of other security agencies at maintaining peace across the country.

He stressed that Creating jobs can have numerous benefits, especially in a country like Nigeria where youth unemployment is a major challenge. By creating job opportunities, the government can engage the youth and provide them with a sense of purpose and direction. This can help reduce the likelihood of young people being drawn into criminal activities and other forms of insecurity.

Moreover, job creation can have a ripple effect on the economy, as people with jobs tend to spend money and contribute to overall economic growth. This can also lead to increased tax revenues for the government, which can be used to fund other important initiatives as in this regard insecurity would be holistically brought to an end.

READ ALSO: Buhari To Commission Dangote Refinery In Two Weeks

In addition, job creation can help address social and economic disparities, as it provides opportunities for people from different backgrounds and regions to participate in the economy and improve their standard of living. This can ultimately lead to a more stable and cohesive society.

Overall, the benefits of creating jobs are significant and far-reaching and should be a priority for any government seeking to promote economic growth, reduce insecurity, and improve the well-being of its citizens.

If assented to by the President, it will go a long way in providing jobs for a large number of unemployed youths and also ensuring peace and unity in the country.

In line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, President Buhari is expected to assent to the bill on or before 11th May 2023 when 30 days window given for such important action must have been exploited.

The Bill, If assented to, the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria which had been operating on the template of volunteerism over the years, will now be a Federal Government owned and funded Agency in the name of Nigeria Peace Corps.
No fewer than126 Nigerians stranded in Port Sudan have been evacuated home.

Recall that the ministry of foreign affairs and NIDCOM have been making successful moves as Nigerians stranded in Sudan returned back home.

However, the evacuation plane, Tarco Airline, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 10.30am.

According to Director Media and Protocol Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Mr. Abdulrahman Balogun, the arrivals bring to 1,730, the number of Nigerians that have been evacuated from Port Sudan.

READ MORE: 834 Nigerians Arrive Abuja From Sudan

He also pointed out that it is the ninth flight since the evacuation exercise began.

He reassured families and those still in Port Sudan that the government was doing everything possible to bring them back home.

He said the government shared their pains and discomfort.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has on Tuesday, declared Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected Governor of Osun State.

The judgement followed an earlier decision by a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Mohammed Shuaibu, which affirmed his victory, nullifying the judgement of the election petition tribunal.

READ ALSO: Election Tribunal: Tinubu Tells Court To Dismiss APMs Petition Against Him

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 403,371 votes, to defeat then-incumbent governor Adegboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 375,027 votes.

But Oyetola and the APC rejected the result of the poll and headed for the tribunal.

The governorship election in the state was held on July 16, 2022.

In its January 27, 2023 majority verdict, the Justice Tertse Kume-led tribunal annulled Adelekes victory and declared Oyetola the winner of the poll.
The Katsina Police Command have arrested a 17 years old secondary school boy identified as Abdulrahman Ibrahim for allegedly stabbing a man to death after he had snatched the deceaseds phone.

Ibrahim was among the 74 suspects paraded on Monday at the headquarters of the Katsina State Police Command.

Also paraded was a 20-year-old man, Buhari Dahiru, described as a serial rapist.

The police said the teenager, Ibrahim, of Kofar Sauri quarters, Katsina, was arrested on April 21, 2023, shortly after he lured a phone dealer to the Modoji area of the town where he attacked and stabbed him with a knife on his neck.

Ibrahim told journalists in an interview that he killed the victim in self-defence.

I killed him when he wanted to kill me and wounded me in the hand, he told journalists in the Hausa language.

READ MORE: Police Arrest 22 Years Old Son For Stabbing Mother To Death In Kano

The police further disclosed that Dahiru of Central quarters, Sabon Garin, Daura, was arrested after he had broken into the house of one Murtala Abdullahi also in Daura, attacked his pregnant wife with a knife and attempted to rape her.

The police added that Dahiru had before his arrest, attacked, robbed and raped two housewives also in Daura.

Dahiru did not deny the allegation during an interview with journalists.

A total of 74 suspects were paraded on Monday for various offences including being informants to bandits, dealing in hard drugs, phone snatching and prostitution.

The commands spokesman, CSP Gambo Isah, said the suspects were arrested during recent police raids of some black spots in different parts of the state.

The command has carried out raids in several locations within the Katsina metropolitan area, which include Sabuwar Unguwar; Gadar Nayali, Modoji, Tundun YanlihiddaKwabren Dorawa, Janbango, Abbatuwa, Filin Canada, Lambun Dan Lawai, Kofar Marusa, Tsalawa, Chake and Tunas (Ingawa Local Government Area), among others, and succeeded in arresting 74 suspects, he said.
Gunmen have abducted over 40 worshipers at Bege Baptist Church, in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Kaduna State, Joseph Hayab, who disclosed the incident on Monday to newsmen, said 15 of the abducted worshippers escaped and have since returned to their respective families.

Hayab said: About 40 people were, on Sunday, abducted by gunmen during a church service at Bege Baptist Church, Madala, along Buruku Baringi road, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

READ ALSO: Kaduna Lady Sues Father Over Attempted Forced Marriage

The worshippers were in the Sunday service in the Church when around 9:30 am they heard gun shots very close to the Church. The gunmen attacked the church and went away with about 40 worshippers.

Along the way, 15 of the abducted persons returned remaining 25 who are presently in captivity without any word from their abductors.

Efforts are being made to get in contact with the abductors concerning the remaining people and we pray that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has disclosed that the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged him to step down for Godswill Akpabio in the race for Senate presidency.

Umahi made the disclosure on Monday at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke, while fielding questions from newsmen on his arrival to Ebonyi from Abuja on Monday.

He said, I discussed the issue with him when he was in Paris and on return to the country, he invited me. It was an honour to be invited by the president-elect and he told me that he had made commitments.

It is his right as the President-elect to make commitments and anyone running for such office makes promises. I did not want to be a clog in the wheel of his progress so I accepted.

According to him, his withdrawal from the race was in the interest of the South-East, as it could no longer continue to be in the opposition.

READ ALSO: My Family Conspired Against Me To Vote Peter Obi  Gov. Umahi

We cannot continue opposing everything as politics is all about dialogue, give and take. What could have happened if I said no and considering our efforts to promote the APC in the zone, we will get a tangible position, he said.

Umahi added that he was not aware of any resolution of South-East senators to support former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, for the position.

I am the chairman of the Akpabio campaign council and can tell you that we have more APC senators on our side, he said.

The governor furthered that he would never lobby to be appointed a minister in the incoming administration but leave the decision to destiny, Tinubu and the Party.

I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the senate to rest. I will however, have no choice if it is the sacrifice to make in the interest of the Party, Southeast and to help the president-elect, Umahi added.
The Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board, just over 1,000 people voted, and 89% approved unionization. Read more

Residents and fellows in the University of Pennsylvania Health System have voted to unionize, becoming the first group of training doctors in Pennsylvania to do so.

In an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board, just over 1,000 people voted, and 89% approved unionization for house staff  the industry term for these physicians in training. About 1,400 total workers would be represented by the union, Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR).

The road to this day was not easy, but it was worth it, said Kendall Major, a second-year internal medicine resident. As the primary caregivers for many of our most vulnerable community members, we need a say in the decisions that impact our ability to care for patients.

 READ MORE: Penn residents fight for a union could set a precedent for the future of labor organizing in medicine

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The vote took place over three days last week. A spokesperson for Penn Medicine acknowledged the election results and noted that the vote is not yet certified by the NLRB.

We are proud of Penn Medicines long history as home to many top residency and fellowship programs, and we have appreciated the ongoing opportunity to hear directly from residents about their concerns during this unionization campaign, the Penn Medicine spokesperson said in a statement. We respect our trainees collective decision and remain committed to continuing our work to improve their training experience and ensure that they are fully supported during these transformative years of their medical careers.

Madison Sharp, a third-year OB/GYN resident, said she and her colleagues received text messages and e-mails telling them about the downsides of unionizing. During the election, signs posted around campus told the physicians to Give us a chance and Vote No.

The Penn Medicine doctors are the largest group to successfully unionize in Philadelphia in 53 years, according to CIR.

The residents went public with their organizing plans in February, but their efforts began long before that. One of the catalysts, residents said, were the extra shifts they were expected to cover during COVID-19 peaks.

Residents and fellows earn a set salary annually, without extra pay for taking on more hours. Working well over 40 hours per week, sometimes double that, is not uncommon, physicians said. While they can expect their income to increase after they finish training, their student loan payments usually cannot be delayed until that time, creating financial stress for many, they said.

In addition to base pay, residents and fellows organizing the union expressed concern about their health-care benefits, parental leave, and child-care support.

At the end of the day, the prestige of working at a nationally ranked hospital like Penn isnt enough to ensure our patients receive top quality care, to meet our basic needs, or to address the deeper inequities of our health-care system, said Sharp.

After the vote is certified, the next step for the residents will be bargaining a first contract, which can be a long process. It takes 465 days on average to bargain a first contract, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.

Because residency and fellowship have set end dates, many of the residents who took a leading role in organizing the union are unlikely to benefit from the terms in that first contract.

Chantal Tape, a family-medicine resident in her final year, noted that the campaign has involved doctors from every department and in all years of training.

I hope we can inspire house staff and other health-care workers across the country to organize, Tape said. I believe that union can shift the dynamic of our health-care system away from profits for wealthy institutions and toward a better quality of life for workers and better care for patients.

The physicians are one of several groups of workers currently organizing at University of Pennsylvania institutions. The others include student workers in the universitys residence halls, as well as graduate and undergraduate researchers and teaching assistants, who number more than 4,000.

Resident physicians have been unionizing across the country, and CIR has seen an uptick in doctors joining their union over the past year. CIR, a local of the Service Employees International Union, represents more than 25,000 house staff across the United States.
Whitney Howarth, of Bethlehem, Pa., and Praveen Raj, of Evanston, Ill., view a stained glass window made by famed Philadelphia artist Nicola DAscenzo, in the collection of the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill. The window was salvaged from the 1965 demolition of the former Horn & Hardart headquarters at 16th and Chestnut in Center City. A similar window from the building has recently been restored by two Philadelphia artisans and is being offered for $1.2 million at a Manhattan fine arts gallery. Read more

Frank Joseph Hardart Sr. and Joseph V. Horn, the Philadelphia restaurateurs who gave America its first Automat in 1902, wanted customers to enjoy good food at great prices in a setting graced with beauty.

Thus the signature Horn & Hardart restaurant and company headquarters in Center City featured not only hot or cold dishes behind little coin-operated windows, but also decorative stained glass by the esteemed Philadelphia artist Nicola DAscenzo.

The Art Deco building at 16th and Chestnut was torn down in 1966. Five decades later, the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill and an art dealer in Manhattan hired stained-glass designer Chandler Coleman to repair or restore two decorative DAscenzo windows rescued from the wrecking ball.

The company believed that fine artwork should be in the most common of places, and their restaurants were designed for anybody with a nickel, said Bruce Laverty, curator of architecture at The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. The library on Washington Square has an extensive collection of Automat photographs, drawings, and documents.

Bernard Goldberg, who owns Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts in New York City and commissioned Coleman to restore the window he is now offering for sale at $1.2 million, said: It was in terrible shape, and now its amazing, a treasure. Chandlers work is done with love and taste and elegance. Hes a master.

Philly artisans restore the art of Horn & Hardart

At his Cathedral Stained Glass Studio in Cheltenham, Coleman said he learned the trade from a master craftsman.

As a boy in Germantown, he spent time in the studio of Kenneth Crocker, a noted stained-glass designer who trained in England. I wanted to see how it was done, said Coleman, who repaired the Woodmere window and restored the one now at Goldbergs.

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He said these two Horn & Hardart pieces were not necessarily challenging  at least for work by DAscenzo, whom he admires.

He did mosaics, watercolors, oils, and stained glass. He was a true artist, Coleman said. Ive probably done 10 to 15 DAscenzo windows, mostly from churches. His windows tend to be more intricate, with intricate cuts and lots of angles.

Goldberg categorized some of DAscenzos work on par with Tiffany.

Colemans workshop contains a meticulously organized archive of raw stained-glass sheets in a cornucopia of hues and with names such as German crackle and English streaky. He has drawers full of small, decorative, beveled glass facet jewels. Sample stained-glass panels on display recall those that first attracted him as a boy to Crockers Germantown Avenue studio.

Chandler was one of the kids from the neighborhood who would come into the shop. Many of them just wanted to see my Irish setter, who sat in the window, said Crocker, who is 88 and lives in a retirement community in Rydal.

But Chandler wanted to learn. He learned just by watching me, said Crocker, adding that Colemans talents were evident early on and can be seen in his mature work at Cathedral Stained Glass.

Poor is the pupil who does not excel his master, Crocker said.

Ian Pappajohn, who along with his brother Matt has owned a woodworking business in Phillys Frankford neighborhood since 1996, built new frames of white oak for both the Horn & Hardart windows.

Chandler took very careful measurements before the window was taken apart and made templates for us, Pappajohn said. We made everything to those measurements.

Because Goldberg envisioned a buyer wanting to use the window as a privacy screen, we built three frames hinged together and with rolling legs that would support it and allow it to be moved or pivoted, Pappajohn said.

He has vivid childhood memories of the Horn & Hardart on the southeast corner of Broad and Walnut and is pleased to have helped preserve objects that attest to the firms character.

Companies used to spend a great deal of money on their headquarters, in the era when things were built to last, he said. Were in a disposable era now.

The story behind Woodmeres window

Had it not been for a chance encounter at 16th and Chestnut in 1966, the window that has become a favorite stop for Woodmere visitors likely would have been disposed of  permanently.

As I understand the story, Nancys husband, Ray, was passing by the demolition site when he saw the window or sections of it being carried out as trash, museum director Bill Valerio said.

He said, Stop, this cant go into the trash, and ran to a phone booth and called his wife, Valerio said.

Nancy Posel was a librarian and did some rapid research on the window. She told her husband what was at stake, he called a friend who was an architect, and the piece was saved.

Later it was installed in the library portion of an addition to the Posel home in Rydal. The window was a stunning feature, said Lita Solis-Cohen, a friend and former neighbor who also is an authority on antiques.

In 2016, Nancy Posel, a longtime patron of the Woodmere, donated it to the museum.

Automat (the movie)

Long after New Yorks and the nations last Automat closed in 1991  the final Philly-area location, in Bala Cynwyd, had shuttered the year before  Horn & Hardarts vision inspired filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz to make The Automat.

Featuring interviews with comedian Mel Brooks and former Philly Mayor Wilson Goode as well as Hollywood film clips attesting to the cachet that stylish Automats once possessed, Hurwitzs documentary had a long run at the citys Ritz Five theater last spring and received four nominations for Critics Choice Awards in 2022.

Horn & Hardart really were all about quality and creating a wonderful experience for their clientele, Hurwitz said. The headquarters and the windows really epitomize the company at its finest. Imagine a restaurant chain doing this today.

While older Philadelphians think of the Automat  the first of which closed in 1968 in the building that still stands at 818 Chestnut St.  as belonging to their city, New Yorkers feel the same way about theirs, said Hurwitz, who grew up in California.

The New York and Philadelphia operations were run separately, and the New York headquarters seems to have kept better records.

But Hurwitz said Phillys Athenaeum was immensely helpful in her research and will host a June 22 screening of The Automat with a question-and-answer session afterward.

Meanwhile, interest in Automats  perhaps driven by the appeal of contact-free dining in the post-pandemic era  may be growing.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, a New York franchise with Automat-adjacent vending kiosks that resemble a cross between Amazon pickup lockers and stacks of microwave ovens, has opened locations in Philly. And an official website is touting what appears to be a new iteration of Horn & Hardarts coffee sometime in 2023.
A strike led by members of the Teamsters Local 830 union at Juniata Park beverage distributor Liberty Coca-Cola has ended pending a new five-year contract, which is set to increase a wage increase and retirement benefits. Read more

The Teamsters union at the Philadelphia regions largest Coca-Cola bottling plant is ending a three-week-long strike after reaching an agreement with management over wage increases and retirement benefits in a new five-year contract.

I am proud of our members for the resilience and solidarity they showed during the past three weeks, said Teamsters Local 830 Treasurer Daniel H. Grace. I also want to thank Liberty Coca-Cola for continuing to dialogue throughout a sometimes difficult process and for reaching a fair new five-year contract with us.

Teamsters Local 830  which has more than 3,000 employees across Liberty Coca-Colas sales, driver, and warehouse staff  had 414 members begin striking on April 16 after their previous contract expired.

The new contract maintains our commitment to provide employees with the highest wage increases in Coca-Cola/Local 830s history, a statement from Liberty Coca-Cola read. We appreciate all that our employees do to make this a great company, and we look forward to getting everyone back to work tomorrow under the new agreement.

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Though the union has previously avoided specifics on the wage increase they were seeking, the demands included increased employer 401(k) contributions and the ability for members to utilize Local 830s health insurance, which Grace has previously said was significantly cheaper than the Aetna option offered by Liberty Coca-Cola.

That demand didnt come to fruition, said Teamsters 830 spokesperson Frank Keel. The new contract does allow for health savings accounts and a freeze of employee contributions to the Aetna plan at 3% for the next three years, which Keel said was previously a sticking point.

 READ MORE: Hundreds of workers at a Philly Coca-Cola distributor were on strike. Heres why.

The clash prompted mayoral candidate and grocery story magnate Jeff Brown to stop selling Coca-Cola products at the 12 Fresh Grocers and ShopRite stores hes associated with in the region.

I dont think its right what Coke is doing. I stand with union men and women, Brown said nearly two weeks into the strike. He gave up the majority of his stakes in the grocery chains before running for office.

The statement from Teamsters 830 said that any and all boycotts of Coke products have also ended, though final details of the contract are still being worked out.

We are absolutely of the belief that Jeff Brown honored what he told our membership, said Keel. We actually believe [Browns boycott] had some impact on getting this thing done, finally.

Keel said the union never formally asked for Brown or any other Coca-Cola seller in the region to do a boycott, though Teamsters 830 members did ask attendees at last weekends Penn Relays  which the beverage company sponsors  to not purchase Coke products.

 READ MORE: Jeff Brown: No more Coca-Cola at ShopRites and Fresh Grocers because of Teamsters strike

The Juniata Park Coca-Cola distributor had previously pushed back against claims that it was refusing to offer competitive wages, alleging that a contract previously rejected 5-1 by Teamsters 830 members wouldve included a 17% raise over the next five years, the largest the union would have ever received.

A spokesperson for Liberty Coca-Cola told The Inquirer in April that the current average annual pay for a union member at the 725 E. Erie Ave. facility was $79,000. Grace called the raise offer a flat-out lie, and noted that the average Liberty worker would have to work 20 hours of weekly overtime to reach that level of annual compensation.

I could never verify how Liberty came up with the 17% number, but the increase in the [new] contract is higher than that, Grace said without going into detail. I can assure you that in 48 years Ive been doing this, this is the highest wage increase weve ever received.

Keel said that final figures should come within the next two days: Theres a great deal of effort and enthusiasm to get this thing wrapped up quickly.

The union narrowly avoided a strike during contract negotiations when they stood to lose their pension plans in 2018. Back then, management called the decision a necessary cost-cutting measure because of strain from Philadelphias soda tax, which a study from the University of Pennsylvanias medical school found decreased the purchase of sweetened beverages by 40%.

Nobody wins a strike, but there are pluses and minuses, said Grace. One thing I do know: If your membership stays together, youll eventually win out.
The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center Monday, as the Philadelphia Department of Prisons reported the escape of two prisoners the day before. Read more

Two men, including one charged with four homicides, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Sunday night  and it went unnoticed for almost an entire day, jail officials said.

Philadelphia police described one of the escapees, Ameen Hurst, 18, as a very dangerous individual and are asking for the publics help in tracking him down. Hurst has been charged with committing four homicides in three separate cases between 2020 and 2021.

 READ MORE: Two men, including one charged with 4 murders, escaped from a Philly jail, police say

The second man, Nasir Grant, 24, was in custody on drug and gun charges.

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Heres what we know about the two men and how they escaped.

Who is Ameen Hurst?

Hurst was just 16 years old when he was arrested in April 2021.

He has been charged with killing four people and injuring two others in three shootings between December 2020 and March 2021:

On Dec. 24, 2020, police say, Hurst fatally shot Dyewou Nyshawn Scruggs, 20, who was streaming live on social media when he was shot. On March 11, 2021, police say, Hurst shot four men sitting in a parked car on the 1400 block of North 76th Street, in Overbrook Park. Two men  Naquan Smith, 24, and Tamir Brown, 17  were killed. One week later, police say, Hurst fatally shot 20-year-old Rodney Hargrove near the front gates of the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. Hargrove had been released from jail, and was waiting outside for relatives to pick him up when he was killed March 18.

After Hurst was arrested, police say, they also connected him to two robberies. He was charged with robbery, illegal gun possession, conspiracy, and related offenses in those cases.

He was being held without bail, and had a status listing before a judge scheduled for June.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore described Hurst as a very dangerous individual, and said, We are looking for the publics help to get him back.

Who is Nasir Grant?

Grant was arrested in September and charged with six counts of illegal gun possession, manufacturing and delivering drugs, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, and related charges.

He was being held on $500,000 bail, and had a jury trial scheduled for January 2024.

How did they escape?

Union and jail officials say multiple system failures, including a temporary staff shortage, led Hursts and Grants escapes to go undetected for almost an entire day.

The two men were not cellmates, but were housed in the same unit, said Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney.

That unit was unstaffed Sunday evening, said David Robinson, president of Local 159 of AFSCME District Council 33, the correctional officers union.

The two men went into the outside yard area and were then able to escape through a triangular-shaped hole that had been cut in the fence, Carney said, adding that it was not unusual for them to have had access to the yard in the evening hours.

But according to Robinson, two critical posts outside  the armed perimeter patrol and an armed post at the gate to the back road, known as Post 13  were also unstaffed, and the two men escaped undetected.

These two vital posts were closed  and they have been closed for, honestly, almost a year, Robinson said. When you cut posts and you cut corners, this is where were at.

Carney said she has asked the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to assess all of the Philadelphia jails for security weaknesses.

Staff conducted three inmate counts before it was realized that Grant and Hurst were gone, and none indicated an escape, John Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Department of Prisons, said Tuesday.

Its unclear how those counts failed to note that Hurst and Grant were missing. Mitchell said that is part of an internal investigation.

A preliminary report obtained by The Inquirer indicates that staff were made aware of their absence only after other prisoners notified them on Monday afternoon. A prison spokesperson disputed that, saying the mens absence was noted during an afternoon count.

The flash report also said that both incarcerated people were able to leave the grounds undetected because of post being closed due to temporary staff shortage per the order of the executive office. The lieutenant whose name is listed on the flash report, Sheneka Golden-Deveaux, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

What should the public do?

Police are looking for the publics help to find the men.

Authorities ask that anyone with information call 911 or Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153.

Have there been other issues at the jail?

The escape occurred less than a week after the correctional officers union, Local 159 of AFSCME District Council 33, entered a vote of no confidence in Carneys leadership. They said she had failed to adequately respond to a staffing crisis that has risen to more than 800 vacancies, or 40% short of a full complement.

Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center is part of a jail complex that houses about 4,300 people on State Road in Northeast Philadelphia. The jails have been subject to a monitor appointed by a federal judge since last year, in response to a class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane and unconstitutional prison conditions.
If you go to Pennsylvanias latest brewery, Wyndmoors Yankee Chipper Brewing Co., expecting to see stainless-steel fermenters and a big bank of taps, think again. Up until a few weeks ago, this was just a BYOB.

The Irish stout soon to be served at the Yankee Chipper is brewed in the kitchen, fermented in the basement, and pumped into a jury-rigged keg by hand. Owner Eric Connor, a Manayunk native and restaurant-industry veteran, plans to make 320 gallons of Irish stout, or about 10 barrels of beer, every year on-site. To put that into perspective, consider many small local breweries  including Germantowns Attic Brewing and South Phillys Brewery ARS  brew 10-barrel batches at a time.

Not only that, but Connor is a homebrewing novice, and hes not afraid to admit it.

Thats because his ultimate play in getting a brewery license is not to start cranking out bottles and kegs. Its Connors way of getting a liquor license for his nearly 2-year-old restaurant without having to take out a second mortgage.

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The bidding in Montgomery County starts at $350,000 and goes up  like immediately goes up, Connor said. This is a much more affordable way for someone like me. I dont have crazy deep pockets or a wealthy family. Every nickel I have is in here.

He spent about $20,000 getting the brewery license, sometimes referred to as a G license. Most of that went to a lawyer who helped him navigate the nearly year-long process; he found the expense well-worth it.

The laws are all very new and theres constant advisory opinions being added to the law, Connor said. It seemed like every time we submitted, whatever they asked us to submit would go through some channels and then come back.

Now that the license has finally come through, Connor is not only allowed to brew and sell his own beer on-premise, but hes also able to serve any Pennsylvania-produced beer, wine, and liquor  the options for which have grown expansive in recent years.

While he has yet to tap the inaugural keg of Yankee Chipper Irish Stout, hes already serving beers from Yuengling, Victory, Troegs, and King of Prussias Workhorse Brewing. Once his draft system is installed, hell have eight beers and ciders on draft. Hes also contracted with Wissahickon Brewing to make a lager, an IPA, and potentially a kolsch for the restaurant. The wine and spirits selection is more limited at the moment but includes Stateside Vodka, Kinsey Bourbon, Dads Hat Rye, and Bluecoat Gin.

A liquor license was always part of the plan for the Yankee Chipper, which is a block away from the bustle of Willow Grove Avenue, home to Locals Coffee, Captain Andys Market, El Jefe Taqueria, and three pizza shops. Connor and his co-owner, cousin Shana Cox, renovated the former shot-and-a-beer/smoking bar at 827 E. Pleasant Ave. and initially focused on resetting perceptions in the neighborhood.

When we first opened [in July 2021], it was really important to us to kind of shake that reputation that they had. So we werent even worried about a license yet, Connor said.

They rehabbed the bar, raised the ceilings, restored the wainscoting, and added wooden-pew seating. All that was missing from the cozy Irish pub was a proper beer, so Connor commenced the process of securing the brewery license last July. He was finally approved on April 25. Hes been perfecting his stout recipe in the meanwhile.

Despite the wait, Connor is nothing but satisfied with the outcome. We had a long road getting the license, but the truth of the matter is ... the laws that we have in Pennsylvania are great for small businesses like me.

The Yankee Chipper at 827 E. Pleasant Ave., Wyndmoor, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m. 267-703-2447, the-yankee-chipper.square.site
Then-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 3 Director Ala Stanford visits the Maria de los Santos Women's Health Center June 30, 2022. Stanford, a physician and nationally recognized health equity advocate, stepped down from her position at HHS to return to the primary care clinic she launched in Swampoodle. Read more

Ala Stanford, the founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium who rose to lead regional operations for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has stepped down from her position in the federal government to focus on her clinic in Philadelphia.

She said she plans to continue to promote equity in health care nationally, but believes that the individual profile she built over years of health care advocacy in the Philadelphia region will allow her to spread that message more effectively.

Stanford, a Montgomery County surgeon, received widespread national acclaim for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic, founding the consortium to get COVID testing and vaccines into the Black communities that were some of the hardest hit by the virus.

In 2021, she opened the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity in Swampoodle, aiming to provide comprehensive primary care in a neighborhood with few health care options and to combat social inequities that can result in poor health outcomes for many people of color.

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In April 2022, President Joe Biden appointed her to lead HHSs Region 3 office, covering Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Stanfords last day was May 2.

Stanford said her time at the department was an honor, and called invaluable what she learned about health mandates, policy and funding on a federal level. After a year in her position in the federal government, she came to believe that she could make more of an impact on patients lives on the ground in Philadelphia.

The clinic hopes to eventually expand outside the neighborhood, she said, but wants to focus on North Philadelphia first.

I need to make sure that the 19132 zip code, where the life expectancy is one of the lowest in the city, has access to preventative care, screening, mental health, gynecology, pharmacy, she said. We do not have enough ambulatory care centers in our zip codes with the lowest life expectancies.

In the 19132 zip code in North Philadelphia, which includes Stanfords Swampoodle clinic, 90% of residents are Black, and about 34% of people live in poverty. The areas residents have life expectancies of about 70 years, which is nearly 20 years shorter than the expected life span of residents in wealthier areas of the city, such as Old City.

This summer, the clinic is planning a health fair where Philadelphia students can get physicals before the school year, and adult patients can get preventive screenings for cancer and other illnesses.

Advocating for health equity

As an individual, Stanford said, she believed that she could be a more effective advocate for the wide-ranging social factors contributing to disparate health outcomes across communities.

Wealth is linked to home ownership. Home ownership is linked to education. Education is linked to health outcomes, and health outcomes are exacerbated by racial injustice, she said. If we are really talking about achieving health equity, all those things must be addressed, and I could not do all of that within HHS.

She added that she still plans advocacy work on a national level. Educating the next generation of doctors on the unconscious biases that can keep patients of color from adequate health care is imperative, she said.

It doesnt matter how many policies you put in place, how many quality performance metrics you have, if health care providers arent looking in the mirror with their own moral compass and recognizing what role we play in poor health care, she said.

During Stanfords time at the head of the HHS regional office, she led vaccine fairs and outreach around 988, the national mental health crisis hotline, among other initiatives.

She has positively impacted and led important regional priorities, and the Biden-Harris administration is grateful for her service, Marvin Figueroa, director of HHSs Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, said in a statement, adding that the offices whole team has benefitted from her knowledge and experience.

Until a new regional director is appointed, Melissa Heard, Region 3s executive officer, will serve as the offices acting director.
A draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says breast cancer screening should start at age 40 to benefit groups including Black women and women with dense breasts. Read more

The draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to begin breast cancer screening at age 40 is a welcome change from the prior guidance to start at age 50.

The task forces prior recommendation was based on the number of false positives from mammograms, relative to the number of lives estimated to be saved. Mammograms were estimated to save lives about 1 in 1,200 cases when screening occurred at age 50 and above. When started at age 40, mammograms saved lives in an estimated 1 in 1,400 cases, according to the task force.

When a mammogram shows abnormalities in the breast tissue, patients must have additional imaging and often a biopsy to test for cancer. If no cancer is found in the year after the initial abnormal mammogram, its considered a false positive. The process can be stressful for patients, which is why some medical professionals have urged against early testing.

 READ MORE: Health panel recommends women get screening mammograms at age 40

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But many of us in the breast cancer surgery community disagreed with the recommendation of starting mammograms at age 50. Our own pro-screening thoughts aside, we find that most women express a desire to undergo screening at 40. They understand and accept there is a risk of a false-positive result and unnecessary biopsies.

The task forces recommendation to lower the starting age for mammograms responds to a troubling trend: The rate of younger adults being diagnosed with breast cancer is on the rise. The task force now sees a greater benefit in starting screening earlier.

We think this is a positive development. But the recommendation is still for every other year screening, which many of us think should be annual.

Although most breast cancers grow slowly, we know that delays do have an effect on breast cancer survival, and the stage at diagnosis is our primary indicator of prognosis. The American College of Radiology already recommends non-high risk patients to start at the age of 40.

At Fox Chase Cancer Center, we agreed with American College of Radiology recommendation and continue to endorse annual screening beginning at age 40 in average-risk women.

Richard J. Bleicher is a professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology and leader of the breast cancer program at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
A highly contagious disease was spreading quickly. People were getting sick and dying, with no vaccine and little knowledge of how to treat it. Ultimately, public health officials ordered Philadelphia residents to quarantine.

This was not 2020. It was 1793, when yellow fever entered Philadelphia through its ports and spread wildly, killing 5,000 people in less than three months.

But urging residents to quarantine or temporarily relocate wasnt enough. The city built the Lazaretto, a large brick facility named for the patron saint of lepers, where people and goods arriving by ship were screened and quarantined if suspected of illness.

 READ MORE: Long before coronavirus, Philly ran a quarantine center for another deadly contagion

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The Lazaretto closed in 1895. But more than a century later, in 2005, the building and its rich history caught the attention of David Barnes, an associate professor in the Department of History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He became fascinated by its stories. This month, Johns Hopkins Press is releasing his third public health history, Lazaretto: How Philadelphia Used an Unpopular Quarantine Based on Disputed Science to Accommodate Immigrants and Prevent Epidemics.

Today, the building houses the government offices of Tinicum Township. In the halls where patients once suffered with their fevers and digestive maladies, people are paying property taxes and filing their code applications.

We spoke to Barnes recently about the lessons of the Lazaretto.

What are some of the most striking similarities between then and now?

Theres a recurring dynamic in many epidemics that almost transcends the specific circumstances of each disease. In the earliest stages, there is uncertainty and a vague sense of fear, followed by some combination of official denial or silence or release of only fragmentary information or contradictory information. This, in turn, intensifies the uncertainty and fear. It breeds mistrust, which builds to some kind of panic.

 READ MORE: This building on the Delaware River saved immigrant lives for 95 years. Now its been rescued by Tinicum Twp. | Inga Saffron

People who have the ability to leave population centers and go someplace remote will do so. And then you see a flood of patients to health-care facilities, even patients who might not even have a severe illness, but are just terrified and experiencing this general sense of desperation.

Quarantine was criticized as tyrannical and absurd. Yet when disease spread from Front Street into the rest of the city, an outraged public called for accountability.

Yes. Quarantine in the 19th century was a major pain, and it still is in the 21st century. Quarantine caused acutely inconvenient delays for sailors and passengers who were so close to their destinations. But especially, quarantine was bad for business. Time was money, and it still is. With any delay, merchants ran the risk of losing customers who would seek their goods elsewhere, and of losing perishable goods outright to spoilage. But heres the kicker: Theres only one thing worse for business than quarantine, and that is an actual epidemic. You want to see businesses suffer, try letting yellow fever break out in your city. That, I argue in the book, is a big reason everyone complained about quarantine, but almost no one went so far as to advocate abolishing it.

What about the unfairness of outbreaks? What about those too poor to heed the advice of the 1800s, which was to leave quickly, go far away, and return late?

In the 1793 outbreak, 40,000 residents fled Philadelphia. Of the 20,000 who remained, one in four died. Guess which group was wealthier.

I hear all the time that germs dont discriminate and that epidemics are the great equalizer. Its not true today, and it never has been true. Poor and marginalized populations have always suffered disproportionately from infectious disease. This is true not just in terms of higher rates of illness and death, but also in terms of disease-related stigma that intensifies already existing discrimination and fear.

We also saw this greater vulnerability at the Lazaretto with the thousands of destitute and hungry immigrants who arrived desperately ill with typhus (called ship fever at the time).

How do we address these inequities?

It is a huge challenge. We can start with the obvious things, which shouldnt be controversial, like providing everyone access to basic lifesaving care. This doesnt always mean expensive, high-tech care. Sometimes it can just be basic nursing care. We should provide that to everyone, regardless of income, status, race, or any other aspect of identity.

If theres one thing Ive learned from studying the history of public health, its that we can never medicate our way to a healthier population. We can use pharmaceuticals to save lives in an emergency, but theyre never going to make populations healthy. Populations get healthier when we reduce the factors that weaken their resistance to disease. These include poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, food insecurity, housing insecurity, chronic debilitating stress, substance abuse, and many others.

What are the differences in quarantine between then and now?

We dont have Lazarettos  separate, isolated facilities where we make people and ships and goods wait for an undetermined period of time before entering the city. With COVID, we had semi-voluntary individual Lazarettos in our own homes. But the sense of inconvenience, the sense of frustration, the sense of disruption of the rhythms of life and business relationships and personal relationships, that was as true then as it is now.

Quarantine, especially as practiced in the 19th century, was a blunt instrument. Today, we have sharper instruments available to us to prevent various diseases or minimize their spread. We can test for the presence of specific germs in people and places. We can tailor our limitations on movement and behavior to fit what we know about those germs and diseases. Clearly, in the case of COVID, the shutdowns and limitations on public interactions were necessary. And they caused a lot of harm.

Now, as it was in the days of the Lazaretto, our challenge is to minimize the harm and maximize the benefit.
Chronic exposure to air pollution can negatively affect peoples olfactory systems at a young age and may make them more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons, a study shows. Read more

In the 1990s, residents of Mexico City noticed their dogs acting strangely  some didnt recognize their owners, and the animals sleep patterns had changed.

At the time, the sprawling, mountain-ringed city of more than 15 million people was known as the most polluted in the world, with a thick, constant haze of fossil fuel pollution trapped by thermal inversions.

In 2002, toxicologist and neuropathologist Lilian Calderon-Garciduenas, who is affiliated with both Universidad del Valle de Mexico in Mexico City and the University of Montana, examined brain tissue from 40 dogs that had lived in the city and 40 others from a nearby rural area with cleaner air. She discovered the brains of the city dogs showed signs of neurodegeneration while the rural dogs had far healthier brains.

Calderon-Garciduenas went on to study the brains of 203 human residents of Mexico City, only one of which did not show signs of neurodegeneration. That led to the conclusion that chronic exposure to air pollution can negatively affect peoples olfactory systems at a young age and may make them more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

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The pollutant that plays the big role is particulate matter, said Calderon-Garciduenas. Not the big ones, but the tiny ones that can cross barriers. We can detect nanoparticles inside neurons, inside glial cells, inside epithelial cells. We also see things that shouldnt be there at all  titanium, iron, and copper.

The work the Mexican scientist is doing is feeding a burgeoning body of evidence that shows breathing polluted air not only causes heart and lung damage but also neurodegeneration and mental health problems.

 READ MORE: Phillys air pollution soars in summer. This neighborhood has the worst of it.

Its well established that air pollution takes a serious toll on the human body, affecting almost every organ. Asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, premature death, and stroke are among a long list of problems that can be caused by exposure to air pollution, which, according to the World Health Organization, sits atop the list of health threats globally, causing 7 million deaths a year. Children and infants are especially susceptible.

Sussing out the impact of air pollution on the brain has been more difficult than for other organs because of its inaccessibility, so it has not been researched as thoroughly, according to researchers. Whether air pollution may cause or contribute to Alzheimers or Parkinsons is not settled science. But Calderon-Garciduenas work is at the leading edge of showing that air pollution goes directly into the brain through the air we breathe, and has serious impacts.

Some psychotherapists report seeing patients with symptoms stemming from air pollution. Not only does the pollution appear to cause symptoms or make them worse; it also takes away forms of relief.

If we exercise and spend time in nature we become extra resilient, said Kristen Greenwald, an environmental social worker and adjunct professor at the University of Denver. A lot of folks do that outside. Thats their coping mechanism; its soothing to the nervous system.

On polluted days a lot of her clients cant go outside without feeling they are making themselves more sick or distressed.

 READ MORE: Depression can get better. These four Philadelphians are living proof.

Megan Herting, who researches air pollutions impact on the brain at the University of Southern California, said environmental factors should be incorporated in doctors assessments these days, especially in places like Southern California and Colorados Front Range, where high levels of air pollution are a chronic problem.

When I go into a medical clinic, they rarely ask me where I live and what is my home environment like, she said. Where are we living, what we are exposed to, is important in thinking about prevention and treatment.

In the last two decades, with new technologies, research on air pollution and its impact on the human nervous system has grown by leaps and bounds.

Research shows tiny particles bypass the bodys filtering systems as they are breathed in through the nose and mouth and travel directly into the brain. Fine and ultrafine particles, which come from diesel exhaust, soot, dust, and wildfire smoke, among other sources, often contain metals that hitchhike a ride, worsening their impact.

A changing climate is likely to exacerbate the effects of air pollution on the brain and mental health. Warmer temperatures react with tailpipe emissions from cars to create more ozone than is generated when its cooler. And more and larger forest fires are expected to mean more days of smoky skies.

Ozone has been linked to neurodegeneration, decline in cerebral plasticity, the death of neurons, and learning and memory impairment. Ozone levels are extremely high in Los Angeles and the mountain valleys of the West, including the Front Range of Colorado, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.

 READ MORE: Escape an anxiety attack with this 5-step grounding technique

Air pollution also causes damage from chronic inflammation. As air pollution particles enter the brain, they are mistaken for germs and attacked by microglia, a component of the brains immune system, and they stay activated.

Your body doesnt like to be exposed to air pollution and it produces an inflammatory response, said Patrick Ryan, a researcher at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, in an email. Your brain doesnt like it either. Theres more than 10 years of toxicological science and epidemiologic studies that show air pollution causes neuro-inflammation.

Much of the current research focuses on how pollution causes mental health problems.

Damage to the brain is especially pernicious because it is the master control panel for the body, and pollution damage can cause a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. A primary focus of research these days is how pollution-caused damage affects areas of the brain that regulate emotions  such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. The amygdala, for example, governs the processing of fearful experiences, and its impairment can cause anxiety and depression. In one recent review, 95% of studies looking at both physical and functional changes to areas of the brain that regulate emotion showed an impact from air pollution.

A very large study published in February in JAMA Psychiatry, by researchers from the universities of Oxford and Peking and Imperial College London, tracked the incidence of anxiety and depression in nearly 400,000 adults in the United Kingdom over a median length of 11 years and found that long-term exposure even to low levels of a combination of air pollutants  particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric oxide  increased the occurrence of depression and anxiety.

Another recent study, by Erika Manczak at the University of Denver, found adolescents exposed to ozone predicted for steeper increases in depressive symptoms across adolescent development.

But the epidemiological research has shortcomings because of confounding factors that are difficult to account for. Some people may be genetically predisposed to susceptibility and others not. Some may experience chronic stress or be very young or very old, which can increase their susceptibility. People who reside near a lot of green space, which reduces anxiety, may be less susceptible.

Folks living in areas where there is greater exposure to pollutants tend to be areas under-resourced in many ways and grappling with a lot of systemic problems. There are bigger reports of stress and depression and anxiety, said Manczak. Given that those areas have been marginalized for a lot of reasons, its a little hard to say this is due to air pollution exposure.

The best way to tell for sure would be to conduct clinical trials, but that comes with ethical problems. We cant randomly expose kids to air pollution, Ryan said.
A former Lower Merion high school teacher who lured several teenagers in the Philippines into sexual encounters with gifts of money, medicine, candy, and cake was sentenced Tuesday to more than three decades in federal prison.

Craig Alex Levin, 67, admitted hed spent much of the last two decades traveling to the Southeast Asian country for liaisons with girls he met over Facebook. He kept detailed notes on dozens of minors, ranging in age from 12 to 17, rating them numerically on characteristics including age, personality, and their sexual performance.

But as the retired educator stood before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III, he insisted hed done nothing wrong except for failing to recognize that what he described as typical Filipino sexual mores would be misunderstood in the United States.

Its not unusual for adult males in the Philippines to spend time with teenagers, he told the judge. The sex I had with teenage girls was always consensual.

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Bartle had another word for it: Deplorable. The 35-year sentence he handed down all but ensures Levin will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The number of girls you preyed upon in the Philippines is staggering, the judge said. You took advantage of poor and desperate young girls.

Advocacy groups describe the Philippines as the epicenter of a global sex abuse trade and estimated that anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 Filipino children have been forced into child labor or sex work.

Contributing to the problem was that the countrys age of consent was 12 years old, until it was raised to 16 last year amid efforts by the island nation to crack down on the exploitation of children.

Still, it is illegal in the United States for citizens to travel abroad for the purpose of having sex with minors  a crime punishable by as much as 30 years. Levin pleaded guilty to that charge as well as counts including attempted sex trafficking and distribution of child pornography last year.

His sentencing Tuesday came four years after he was arrested by the Philippine National Police while trying to sneak a pregnant 15-year-old girl into a hotel room hed stocked with handcuffs, condoms, and womens underwear.

The girl later told authorities Levin had paid her for sex on three occasions, offering her everything from $20 a session to chocolate and a bar of soap. She also said that hed helped her obtain a fake ID to get past hotel security guards tasked with stopping sex tourists by screening minors entering the building.

Further investigation revealed his contact with dozens of other Filipino teenagers online, including another 15-year-old girl who told officials shed had sex with Levin several times after a teenage friend put her in touch with him on Facebook.

Levins sentence was based on his interactions with six Filipino girls, but the true number of his victims is almost certainly much larger, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella said. Many of them, she added, did not have food to eat, electricity in their homes, or necessary medicine and looked to Levin as a source of financial support.

His victims were poor and desperate, frequently writing to Levin that they were willing to meet for commercial sex acts because they were hungry or needed medicine for family members, she wrote in court filings in the lead-up to Tuesdays hearings. Of the already most vulnerable humans on the planet [children], he chose ones that were in the weakest position to resist him  and then used their bodies to sexually gratify himself.

Levin, dressed in a green prison jumpsuit and slumped in a chair next to his lawyer, bristled as the prosecutor reiterated that point Tuesday in the Philadelphia courtroom.

His lawyer, Jack McMahon, noted that in Levins nearly 30 years as a special-education teacher in the United States  including two decades teaching at Lower Merion and Harriton High Schools on the Main Line  no students ever accused him of anything inappropriate.

He described the Philippines trips as Levins outlet and noted that some of the girls Levin admitted abusing would invite him to their homes for meals with their parents and wrote letters to the judge describing him as respectful, generous, and kind.

Hes been a dedicated public servant, excellent father, excellent person, McMahon said. He obviously has some sort of sexual issues, but only acted on them when the sexual norms and sexual mores were different from ours.

But Rotella, the prosecutor, balked as Levin and McMahon suggested that he should receive a lighter sentence due to the 14 months he spent in a Filipino penal colony infested with rats and with next to no food or health care while awaiting extradition to the United States.

Levin should not get credit, she said, for having to suffer what those children suffer [every day]  what made them vulnerable to his predatory behavior.

Ultimately, the judge agreed. In addition to his prison term, Bartle ordered Levin to pay $30,000 in restitution  $5,000 to each of the six children he was convicted of victimizing  and spend the rest of his life under court supervision should he be released.

It goes without saying that the crimes you committed are not only serious but horrific and deplorable, he said. What you have done is likely harm [the victims] psychologically and emotionally for a lifetime.

In a statement upon his arrest, the Lower Merion School District said that it was not aware of any reports that Levin had victimized any of its students during his tenure with the district.
Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney (right) spoke at a press conference outside the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Monday. Mayor Jim Kenney is behind her, and Xavier Beaufort, deputy prisons commissioner, is on the left, holding photos of the two escapees. Read more

Two men escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., but their absence was not noticed until Monday afternoon, Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said at a news conference Monday evening.

One, Ameen Hurst, 18, was charged with four homicides, including the killing of Rodney Hargrove, who had just been released from a Philadelphia jail when he was gunned down on prison grounds in 2021.

The other, 24-year-old Nasir Grant, faces drug and gun charges.

 READ MORE: The parents of the man gunned down after leaving a Philly jail have sued the city and prison administrators

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The goal right now is to make sure these two individuals are apprehended and brought back into custody, Carney said, adding that both U.S. Marshals and the Philadelphia Police have joined that effort.

Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore of the Philadelphia Police Department described Hurst as a very dangerous individual, and said, We are looking for the publics help to get him back.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153.

The escape occurred less than a week after the correctional officers union, Local 159 of AFSCME District Council 33, entered a vote of no confidence in Carneys leadership. They said she had failed to adequately respond to a staffing crisis that has risen to more than 800 vacancies, or 40% short of a full complement.

The prisons have been subject to a monitor appointed by a federal judge since last year, in response to a class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane and unconstitutional prison conditions.

 READ MORE: 29 people died in Philly jails in the pandemic. City officials said they did 'a good job.'

Two former high-ranking Philadelphia Department of Prisons officials said the escape appeared to reflect multiple system failures  including at least three missed body counts, given that the prisons did not go on lockdown until Monday afternoon. One said the prison, known to staff and incarcerated people as PICC, had an alarm system along its fence that should have been maintained.

You went through an 11 o clock count. You went through a 3 a.m. count. You went through a 7 a.m. count and maybe an 11 a.m. count? They missed a bunch of counts, said Ed Miranda, a former deputy warden for the department. How many counts were done prior to you finding out these guys got out? Was the post manned?

Carney said she has asked the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to assess all of the Philadelphia jails for security weaknesses. She said the two men were housed on the same unit at PICC, but were not cellmates.

It was not clear how officers who conducted counts failed to notice the two mens absence, or how it was finally discovered. Although some prison staff speculated that a stabbing that occurred in PICC on Sunday evening may have been intended as a diversion, Carney said it was not related to the escape.

Hurst and Grant were able to escape through a fence in a prison yard, Carney said. She said the area was staffed, and said it was not unusual for them to have had access to the yard in the evening hours.

Mayor Jim Kenney, speaking at a Monday evening news conference, said his first goal was to bring the men into custody. After that, he said, he wants answers.

Im angry about it, he said. If everybody followed through with what they were supposed to do, we wouldnt have this. So were gonna find out what happened.

Staff writer Chris Palmer contributed to this article.
Red and blue police lights flashed along Delsea Drive on Tuesday morning in tribute to Deptford Township Police Officer Robert Bobby Shisler, whose body was coming home.

For almost two months, Shisler 27, received treatment at University of Pennsylvania Hospital after being shot in the leg March 10, and died there Sunday.

Shisler was shot while chasing Mitchell Negron Jr., 24, in Deptford. Shisler returned fire, killing Negron. The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office is still investigating, and has released little information. The office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Shislers death was caused by a complication of a gun shot wound to the lower right extremity, according to the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office, and the manner of death was homicide.

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Shisler is the first Deptford police officer killed in the line of duty, and the first officer killed in Gloucester County since 1999. His colleagues are still reeling from his death.

We have a playbook for everything else, said Detective Sgt. Robert Jones, the Deptford Police Departments spokesperson. Were improvising about this, quite honestly.

Jones was among the first to find Shisler after he had been shot near Doman Avenue during the midday pursuit, and he put a tourniquet on Shislers badly injured leg. Officers carried Shisler to a police car and took him to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. From there, he was transferred to University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

This kid was strong, this kid was tough, Jones said. This kid battled for eight weeks out of sheer will.

A Deptford native, Shisler graduated from Deptford High School in 2014, where he played baseball and football, according to an obituary posted by Boucher Funeral Home in Deptford. His baseball skills earned him a spot on the team at Presbyterian College. He joined the police force four years ago, Jones said, and served most recently in the departments patrol division. Shisler had a passion for weightlifting, even winning a National Physique Committee body building competition, but his imposing physique wasnt the only thing about him that made an impression.

One of the things that first would hit you about Bobby was his smile, he said. His smile was infectious.

Shislers younger brother is also a Deptford officer, and his grandfather was a police officer. He is also survived by his parents, Robert and Tracy Shisler, and a sister, Ashley Shisler.

The departments administration is recommending officers acknowledge their feelings about Shislers death and accept everything from rage to confusion to grief.

The support that weve gotten from our families ... wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, children ... has been tremendous, Jones said. And we still have a long way to go.

Shislers hospitalization included multiple surgeries, and he lost part of his right leg. Over the last two months, Jones said, Shisler did at times regain consciousness, and knew about the outpouring of support. Nichole Rodgers, the wife of another Deptford officer, set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Shislers medical bills that has raised more than $144,000. She will continue collecting money, she said Tuesday, to support Shislers family.

 READ MORE: Deptford Township police officer dies from injuries sustained when he was shot in the line of duty

His family is going to need all our love and support, she said.

Virtually every Deptford officer participated in the caravan to claim Shislers body in Philadelphia. A motorcade of Deptford police cruisers, police motorcycles, and a hearse departed for the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office from Boucher Funeral Home about 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, police vehicles from more than two dozen regional police departments lined Delsea Drive. A color guard from the Washington Township police department stood watch outside the funeral home.

Dozens, many of them family members of Deptfords police force, maintained a vigil outside the funeral home, waiting for the motorcade. They carried American flags and some wore black Deptford police department T-shirts emblazoned with Shislers name, badge number, and the phrase Weve got your six  another way to say We have your back.

Always support blue, said Heather Worthington, of Magnolia, a friend of Shislers uncle.

Worthington and her daughter Avah were among those who gathered outside the funeral home, drawn by their connection to Shislers family and the shock of his death.

He fought a hard fight, she said.

The motorcade, with a hearse no longer empty, returned to the funeral home shortly before 10 a.m., joined by Philadelphia Police Department vehicles.

Deptford police officers, black and blue bands around their badges, mustered in the funeral homes driveway. Some exchanged long embraces.

Its heartbreaking, said Joan Parks, who is married to a Deptford officer and was one of the people who waited outside the funeral home for Shislers arrival. One of the saddest things Ive ever experienced.

Services will begin with a visitation May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at Pfleeger Concert Hall at Rowan University, followed by services at the same location, a funeral home employee said.
Rebecca Rhynhart admits that when she first moved back to Philadelphia in 2008 to work for the Nutter administration, she didnt get out very much.

I was working 12, 14 hour days, she said, mentioning that she picked her apartment at 8th and Chestnut Streets mainly because it was a short walk from City Hall and the Municipal Services building.

Philly was reeling from the global financial crisis, and as the City Treasurer and later the Budget Director, Rhynhart was in charge of putting Phillys finances back together.

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When I got there, they were still using the precursor to Excel, she told The Inquirer. There were tens of thousands of dollars being wasted. It was a time that was very, very intense.

Rhynhart grew up in Abington, and first came to Philadelphia in the late 90s after she graduated from college. The diversity and vibrancy of the city compared to the suburbs, [thats] what really drew me to Philly, she said.

She lived in a studio apartment at 12th and Pine Streets, working as an editorial assistant and sales rep in the college textbook industry for a couple of years before moving to New York City for graduate school.

Then, she spent several years working on Wall Street before accepting her position under Mayor Nutter. And in 2018, Rhynhart became the first woman to be elected City Controller in Philadelphia, serving as the citys chief auditor.

While Center City and city government has always been her home base, if you ask Rhynhart how shell be able to address the needs of people living in very different parts of Philadelphia, she says  just look at my track record.

Ive managed a thousand employees as the chief administrative officer. I ran the controllers office, I called out the issues. Now I can actually fix it.

 READ MORE: Watch all candidate videos from the series here.
A toddler was among those injured in a North Philadelphia shooting Monday night, according to police.

The 2-year-old, the childs 34-year-old mother, and a 30-year-old man were grazed by gunfire around the intersection of Gratz and Dauphin Streets just after 9:30 p.m. Officials say all three are in stable condition at Temple University Hospital.

Its a very upsetting scene, but thankfully we are glad that all three are going to be okay, Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Krista Dahl-Campbell told reporters.

Police didnt find out about the shooting until the three were admitted into the hospital. None of the victims has been identified, and it remains unclear what led to the shooting.

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6ABC reported that Tuesday is the childs third birthday.

We dont know if any of the three were the intended target, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told NBC10. The toddler was certainly not believed to be the target, he said.

No arrests have been made, and officials said the only description they have is that the shooter was driving in a white sedan.

There have been nearly 600 shooting victims so far this year, 118 fatal, according to data from the city controllers office. Ten percent of all shooting victims have been children under age 18.
A lawyer by profession, Singh worked as an in-house legal counsel and for regulators, including WorkSafe Victoria and the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria. He then trained and worked as a financial planner before becoming a case manager with an AFCA predecessor, the Financial Ombudsman Scheme, in 2010. Afterwards, he became an ombudsman when AFCA launched in November 2018 and then took on the role of senior ombudsman for investments and advice in 2021.
Priorities and focus

Im thrilled to join the Beazley family to help Lodestone take the next step in its evolution, said Kizziah, who is also a US Army veteran, in a release. Our first step will be to formalise our approach to deliver excellent outcomes more efficiently, while also preparing the organisation for growth and scale.
It's always an honour to rank in these awards, said Dixon, who has more than three decades of industry experience. Ten years for me is very important [because] insurers and clients can actually see the level that we operate at.
Oracle group managing director Matthew Denehy said: This is a very strategic appointment as it demonstrates our commitment to establishing a solid foundation and operational framework behind the board of directors, along with enhancing the skillset and talent within the OG family. We have been on the lookout for a GM for over 12 months. We have waited for the right person, and Carl fits the position perfectly.
Control data access

Control who or what can access the data  ensure only authorised people or processes have access to the keys that unlock the safe, said Grant. While they may be authorised to access the room containing the safe, it does not automatically give them the right to access the cash.
We are confident that the opportunities we have identified to monetize our addressable market will expand our share, and we have thoughtfully prioritized our growth initiatives in 2023 to significantly improve our profitability and fund our purpose to save driving and fuel car culture for future generations, the company said in a news release.
In the report, the top-performing brokerages outlined the qualities that brokerages need to stand out, including data-driven insights to reduce risks, seizing opportunities that other brokerages do not, and focusing on acquiring and developing talent with the right skill set to excel in a rapidly changing industry.
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A Maryland widow is entitled to her late husbands workers compensation death benefits because she was dependent upon her husband at the time of his disablement, a Maryland appeals court has ruled.

The appeals panel overturned a lower court that had denied her the benefits because it found she was not dependent upon her husband at the time of his death.

This case arose from an award by the Maryland Workers Compensation Commission (WCC) of partial death benefits to Janet Conrad, as a dependent of her late husband, Joseph Conrad, who was employed as a firefighter by Montgomery County.

Conrad filed a claim with the WCC, seeking dependency benefits arising out of her husbands death from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Her husband was diagnosed with COPD and lung cancer in 2012, and he passed away in 2017. Prior to his death, the commission awarded him workers compensation benefits for his conditions.

But Montgomery County opposed the death benefits yo his widow, maintaining that while Conrad was partially dependent on her husband at the time of his death, she became wholly self-sufficient immediately after his death, and therefore, the commission erred in awarding her death benefits. The Circuit Court of Montgomery County agreed and granted the countys motion for summary judgment that denied her the benefits.

On appeal, Conrad argued that the circuit court erred in failing to focus on her dependency at the time of [Mr. Conrads] disablement and the time of death, and instead, the court improperly focused on the time after death. She further asserted that the court erred in considering her receipt of Social Security benefits in its assessment of her dependency status.

The county did not dispute that Conrad was a dependent at the time of disablement and the time of her husbands death. However, the county contended, she became wholly self-supporting once her husband died and his pension became her pension. Therefore, it argued, the circuit court properly found that the award of continuing benefits was erroneous. The county further argued that Social Security benefits are income that properly may be considered in determining the issue of dependency under the Workers Compensation Act (WCA).

The appeals court noted that the first step is to determine whether under the WCA the surviving spouse is partially or wholly dependent on the date of disablement, and therefore, entitled to receive benefits up to the $45,000 maximum. The court said the law mandates application of the facts existing at the time of the accident that caused the death of the employee in dependency determinations, adding that the accident is the date of disablement for occupational illness.

The appeals court noted that there was no dispute that Conrad, who was not employed at the time of her husbands disablement, was wholly dependent on her husband at the time of disablement. Accordingly, it ruled, she is entitled to $45,000 in whole dependency benefits. It found that the circuit court erred in ruling that to award the appropriate level of death benefits, the commission shall determine a surviving spouses level of dependency based on the parties situation at the time of the covered employees death, not on the date of disablement.

The parties agreed that the county had fulfilled its obligation when it paid Conrad approximately $50,000. What happens next is up to Conrad, who may seek continuing benefits if she believes that she continues to be dependent, wholly or partially.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Maryland
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. announced two indictments of a certified public accountant for defrauding the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) of more than $10 million in workers compensation insurance premium payments.

Accountant Steve Lyon Lyon was charged with several counts of insurance fraud in a New York State Supreme Court indictment. Lyon is accused of filing doctored payroll-related documents for workers of facade restoration and scaffolding companies.

According to court documents and statements in court, Lyon engaged in a scheme with Anaar Construction & Contracting Corp. and its owner Sadaf Bhatti, Anaar, a Fresh Meadows-based masonry subcontractor specializing in building facade repairs and waterproofing, and Bhatti utilized Lyon to complete the firms premium audits. Though the company had a privately retained tax accountant, Lyon acted as the companys representative during NYSIFs mandatory annual audits.

As alleged, from March 10, 2018, to March 10, 2020, Lyon filed payroll-related documents with the Department of Labor and NYSIF, the states largest workers compensation provider. The filings with NYSIF drastically reduced the size of Anaars workforce and payroll. NYSIF relied on these false documents to calculate the companys workers compensation insurance premiums, grossly under-charging the company as a result. Over the course of the scheme, Anaar underreported its payroll by more than $4.5 million and underpaid NYSIF by more than $1.4 million.

Lyon is also charged in a separate indictment for running a similar scheme for two Long Island City-based companies, DNA Contracting LLC., and Spring Safe & Sound Inc. As alleged, from January 1, 2019, to March 1, 2022, Lyon misrepresented the total workforce and payroll for both companies during quarterly filings thereby defrauding NYSIF of more than $9.4 million.

In January, Lyon was arraigned in New York State Supreme Court for similarly defrauding NYSIF. Defendants in that case  OneTeam Restoration Inc., a Long Island City-based masonry subcontractor, and its owner Mario Rojas, Jr.  each pleaded guilty to falsifying business records and were sentenced to three-year conditional discharges. The case against Lyon remains open and pending.

Source: Manhattan District Attorneys Office

Topics Workers' Compensation Fraud New York Talent Construction
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Officials from pharmaceutical manufacturer Seqens and the city of Newburyport, Massachusetts are waiting on insurance adjusters to show before beginning demolition and cleanup at the Seqens facility where a worker was killed in an explosion last week.

The city has given Seqens, also known as PCI Synthesis, a deadline of 8 a.m. on Wednesday to start demolition of the building addition where the explosion occurred.

A spokesperson for Seqens told Insurance Journal he had no official update as of noon on Tuesday regarding the arrival of adjusters and start of demolition.

According to Newburyport Fire Chief Stephen H. Bradbury III, hazardous materials technicians and crews were on the scene in the citys business park on Monday, removing the final eight 55-gallon drums of chemicals, and draining approximately 2,000 gallons of chemicals from chemical reactors at the plant.

Bradbury said his crews temporarily stopped work at the site on Monday after high winds caused the metal building additions walls to shift. A contractor was brought in to shore up the steel supports to replace a crane that has been holding up the building since last Friday.

At about 12:45 a.m. last Thursday, 911 operators received a report of an explosion at 9 Opportunity Way. Fire crews battled heavy fire conditions for approximately one hour. Five workers were in the building at the time, and four evacuated safely. The body of the missing worker, identified as 62-year-old Jack OKeefe, was found on Thursday afternoon. The other four workers were treated at a local hospital and released.

Officials said that while the explosion appears related to a chemical manufacturing process and does not appear suspicious, the exact cause remains under investigation by the Newburyport Fire Department, State Police, and the Essex County District Attorneys office.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have bee at the site as well.

The tragedy has raised questions about the future of the plant that has a history of health, safety and environmental problems. This explosion was the third at the plant since 2020. It moved to the Newburyport plant in 2005 from a facility in Leominster, where there had been two explosions.

Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon told the Newburyport Daily News he wants the plant closed until a full investigation is completed. He questioned whether it should be allowed to reopen.

Others questioned why the plant has been allowed to keep operating given its history.

Why are we allowing companies to continue to operate knowing that theres a laundry list of these kinds of concerns already brought to their attention? Al Vega, chief of strategy for the Massachusetts Coalition For Occupational Safety And Health (MassCOSH), asked on WBUR radio. MassCOSH is a coalition that represents workers.

Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Seth Moulton wrote to Seqens North America, the facilitys owner, seeking an explanation as to why this latest incident occurred and how, after years of fines and regulatory enforcement actions, Seqens could have allowed unsafe conditions to persist.

The company vowed to cooperate with all investigations.

We strive to follow best practices and regulatory guidelines and have implemented safety protocols and procedures to prevent incidents like this from occurring, the company said in a statement, adding that it is fully committed to working closely with the authorities and relevant agencies to determine the cause of the incident.

Photo: Crews on-scene at hazardous materials explosion in Newburyport, Mass. on May 4,2023. (Photo Courtesy Newburyport Fire)

Topics Training Development Chemicals
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The rollout of the Lloyds Market Associations (LMA) cyber war exclusions has received considerable criticism for the chaos and confusion caused in the weeks leading up to the March 31st effective date. But there are some certainties to keep in mind about the new regime.

For example, a compliant cyber war exclusion must be included in policies purchased through Lloyds  its not voluntary. Also, the most commonly used exclusion  LMA5567A/B  does not exclude state-sponsored cyber attacks, unless certain thresholds are met  the most notable of which is that the insured digital assets must be located in a state that has suffered a major detrimental impact.

And another important fact is that the LMAs exclusions can be revised, provided they adhere to Lloyds requirements listed in Lloyds Market Bulletin Y5381.

This article is the first of a series with a coming article focusing on thoughts from brokers and insurers about the new Lloyds cyber war regime.

Of course, the devil is in the detail  and some market experts say that the legal profession could be a major beneficiary, when and if future disputes arise.

While Lloyds executives admit the market has faced and will continue to face some disruption, they support the need for the exclusions. Burkhard Keese, Lloyds CFO, admitted the exclusions have received a lot of criticism, but are needed to provide contractual certainty around uninsurable losses. Our stakeholders expect Lloyds to provide leadership in these difficult decisions, and I believe we are happy to take and to accept that leadership, he said during a media briefing in March to discuss the markets 2022 financial results.

Lloyds CEO John Neal admitted that the cyber war exclusion could cost the market some income. (Some market participants have suggested that it will be the U.S. market that benefits from the exclusion, although it remains to be seen how the market will evolve once people get used to the new regime).

Youve got to define what limits youre giving, what exposure youve got. Its obvious. It may take others a little while to get there, but its the right answer, said Neal during the same briefing.

We cannot leave ourselves in a similar situation that we found ourselves in, for example, with business interruption claims where were debating the cover at the point of loss. So weve made the right decision short term. Do I think that could cost us some income? Yes, I think it could, but cyber is still our fastest growing insurance product anyway, Neal confirmed.

Keeses and Neals concerns about clear wordings appear to be justified, given the recent decision in the appellate division of New Jersey Superior Court, which upheld a state trial court opinion that the war exclusion in drugmaker Merck & Co.s all-risk property insurance policy does not apply in the case of the cyber attack the company suffered in 2017. (Notably, this was not a cyber policy). The court ruled that insurers could not use the policy exclusion to avoid covering about $1.4 billion in damages Merck said it suffered from the NotPetya cyber attack in the spring of 2017.

Nevertheless, there is an agreement that the LMA cyber war exclusions may be a good start for discussions  but further refining probably will be required. While many Lloyds syndicates and non-Lloyds insurers have adopted the LMA exclusions, other insurers (such as Beazley) are providing their own acceptable adaptations of the exclusions. Brokers, including Marsh (in conjunction with Munich Re) and WTW, also have prepared adaptations in response to consultations with cyber insurance buyers.

Deeply Unhelpful

But the rollout wasnt an easy one  in part because of communication failures  from the press and even the LMA itself. Lessons have been learned.

Misreporting about the LMA exclusions  specifically that Lloyds war exclusions do not cover state-sponsored cyber attacks  has been deeply unhelpful, said Andrew Hill, global head of Cyber Coverage & Innovation at WTW, who moderated a panel on the LMA cyber war exclusions at the Zywave Cyber Risk Insights London Conference 2023.

While one of the exclusions does exclude all state-sponsored attacks  thats LMA5564 and its iterations  Hill said that exclusion is not being used anyway. The most commonly used exclusion is LMA5567, which does not blanket exclude nation-state attacks. In fact, on the contrary, it covers nation-state cyber attacks unless certain thresholds have been met, he added.

Hill suggested the manner in which Lloyds rolled out its cyber war exclusions had shaken buyers confidence in the London market and the communications surrounding the publication of the LMA exclusions could have been handled better. Im sure brokers all share experiences of clients having some reticence to buy into the LMA war exclusions.

For example, Hill noted that, over the past year, clients have had to face the prospect of five, six or seven different war exclusions in one tower of insurance because there is a lack of market consensus on appropriate war exclusions, which has not been helpful. In an emailed interview after the meeting, Hill said the sheer number of war exclusions hitting the market in recent months has naturally led to some confusion among insurance buyers.

Whilst Im not necessarily recognizing that there has been tangible damage to the perception of the London market, I can see that theres been a lot of very unhelpful publicity, and I think thats based on a misunderstanding of how these clauses actually operate, said Helga Munger, senior cyber claims manager, Munich Re, who spoke on the panel and also worked on developing the exclusions.

Patrick Davison, underwriting director, for the LMA, admitted that the rollout hadnt gone according to plan. What we probably didnt do very well and with hindsight could have done better, was engage a bit more broadly around some of the principles of what we were doing.

He recalled that there was a long debate over three years to develop the exclusions and the initial publication in 2021 was met relatively quietly, but with the re-publication of the clauses last year, the volume of debate increased significantly.

Now had we had some earlier conversations about principle and intent, would those discussions have been less emotive and more constructive? Quite possibly, I think, is the answer. So, there are some lessons for us as an organization. Davison said the model clauses are designed to stimulate debate and weve certainly achieved that.

The LMA has published four exclusions for war, cyber war and cyber operation: LMA5564, LMA5565, LMA5566, and LMA5567. (In January, the LMA issued revised versions  the A clauses  with LMA5567A proving to be the most popular. A Munich Re-Marsh exclusion is also available to the market.)

With the benefit of hindsight, Hill asked the Zywave panel, if it was possible that a war exclusion spread over a page and a half, which deals with multi-layered issues of war, nation-state attacks and infrastructure issues was perhaps too ambitious to be socialized with clients who perhaps dont have that amount of time to invest in understanding all of those layered issues?

Munger acknowledged that the first iteration of the LMA5567 clause was complex but has since been revised, with input from Munich Re, Marsh and Aon. We have a clause which LMA published this year, which is much simpler, much shorter, much more concise and very understandable, she said. So I think weve recognized that the complexity of the language was an impediment, but the function of the clause is basically the same. What we are trying to exclude is those catastrophic events that insurance cannot possibly sustainably cover.

Hill expressed concern that there are signs in the international cyber insurance market of a trans-Atlantic dichotomy. On the one hand, there is the influential U.S. market, which is still hanging its hat on war exclusions based on the NMA464-type exclusion, drafted as far back as 1938 (in the pre-digital era). On the other hand, he said, there is the Lloyds market, which together with Munich Re and a few other companies are putting their weight behind the LMA exclusions. (The NMA, or the Lloyds Non-Marine Association, is the predecessor of the LMA).

Munger speculated that some U.S. markets may be hesitant to change until they see the outcome of the Merck case. (The Zywave meeting was held before the recent Merck decision).

I would say that the debate that we have sparked is actually beneficial for people, whether or not the clauses themselves are the final answer  but I suspect theyre not, she said.

Questions Remain

Hill questioned the decision not to define what is meant by major detrimental impact. (The trigger for the exclusion would be an attack that has a major detrimental impact on a states ability to function). He acknowledged that a one-size-fits-all definition applicable to the functions of every nation state would not be without its challenges.

Hill recalled a conversation with a representative of a leading global insurer, which is still using a NMA464-type exclusion and expressed concern that LMA5567 just kicks the issues of interpretation further down the road.

The argument is that, while the LMA exclusions succeed in clarifying whats meant by war and whats meant by a nation-state attack, we still have this concept of major detrimental impact, which would require interpretation in the event of the exclusions application, Hill said.

Davison said the definition of major detrimental impact was not included because the complexity of defining that term would mean that you would probably end up with a list of types of things that would happen, which at the time we felt was not the correct way of proceeding.

The aim was to give the utmost transparency, Munger said. So weve given those additional explanations of what war means or what is a cyber operation as a part of war. When it comes to the additional concepts of major detrimental impact to the functioning of the state, we do have references that we used for that [which] were discussed right at the beginning in the LMA discussions. And they relate to, for example, the UK critical national infrastructure guidelines, which references just what a high bar that major detrimental impact is.

Davison emphasized that the LMA is open to suggestions about how to improve the exclusions. I think our view was that there wasnt an easier or clearer way of doing it at the current time.

Topics Cyber Excess Surplus Lloyd's
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), AXA XL, and the MGA Alta Signa Europe.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

BHSI Promotes Browne, Holmes to Global Underwriting Posts

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced two leadership promotions. Hilary Browne has been promoted to the role of deputy global chief underwriting officer, and Cameron Holmes is now global underwriting officer, Property for Energy and Construction.

Browne, who has nearly 25 years of global insurance industry experience, joined BHSI in 2019 as country manager, Ireland, and head of Casualty for Europe, and most recently served as global chief underwriting officer, Casualty and Healthcare, and deputy head of Europe. As she assumes her new role, her Europe region responsibilities will transition to Alessandro Cerase, newly named head of BHSI Europe Region, while she retains responsibility for global casualty and healthcare underwriting.

Additionally, in her new role Browne will provide executive oversight for BHSIs global A&H underwriting, multinational underwriting and support, and underwriting affairs. She will continue to be based in Dublin and will report to David Fields, global chief underwriting officer, BHSI.

Holmes has been head of Property Technical Lines at BHSI in Australia since 2018. He joined BHSI in 2015 as property energy and construction manager and has more than 20 years of experience in engineering and technical lines property insurance. As he assumes his new role, he will continue to be based in Sydney and will report to Dean LaPierre, BHSIs global chief underwriting officer, Property and Marine.

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AXA XL Bolsters Energy Team With Hires From WTW, Chubb

AXA XL announced the following hires in its Energy team, further bolstering its offering in the UK & Lloyds Business Unit:

Josephine Stroud  senior underwriter, Energy Liability, UK & Lloyds

 senior underwriter, Energy Liability, UK & Lloyds Daniella Simmons  underwriter, Downstream, Power and Renewables, UK & Lloyds

 underwriter, Downstream, Power and Renewables, UK & Lloyds Lulu Knott  underwriting assistant, Energy Liability and Downstream Energy, UK & Lloyds

Stroud will apply her deep knowledge of the energy market to assist in the development and execution of the portfolios underwriting strategy. Most recently, she held the position of executive director  head of Energy Liability at Willis Towers Watson.

Simmons will play a key role in supporting clients through the energy transition, working on both downstream, power and renewables business. She joins from Chubb Global Markets where she was most recently a downstream energy assistant underwriter.

Knott is new to the energy insurance industry and will support the Downstream and Liability teams with the delivery of their ambitions for the business unit.

Energy remains a strategic part of AXA XLs portfolio, and as a long-established leader and trusted partner in this market, were committed to supporting our clients as they navigate the challenges of the energy transition, commented Nicola Harris, head of Energy, UK & Lloyds.

Further, Im delighted to welcome three new women to our team, which echoes our commitment to increasing representation of women across the business. These new hires allow us to continue to offer an exceptional service, coupled with market-leading expertise, as we help our clients to explore solutions for current and future risks.

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MGA Alta Signa Names Marongiu as Technical Head of Cyber U/W

European boutique managing general agent (MGA), Alta Signa Europe B.V. has appointed Mauro Marongiu as technical head of Cyber Underwriting.

Marongiu will be responsible for managing cyber business in Italy, and the wider European large and middle market. His appointment matches Alta Signas close-to-source underwriting approach to meet the needs of clients and broker partners across the region. Marongiu brings significant technical expertise, making him an important hire for the further development of Alta Signas cyber offering across Europe.

Prior to joining Alta Signa, Marongiu was a cyber security underwriter for Satec, with prior experience coming as an IT security specialist, analyst and consultant at companies such as UniCredit Services, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Capgemini.

Cyber is a crucial component for the growth of our Italian operation, and Im very pleased to have Mauro on board. His impressive experience will bring a valuable perspective and I know that our clients and brokers across Europe as a whole will benefit greatly from his wealth of expertise, commented Marina Chierici, Alta Signas branch manager for Italy.

Topics Cyber Insurance Wholesale AXA XL
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Federal Insurance Co. must pay the $10 million policy limit in a directors and officers policy issued to Astellas Pharma, despite the carriers assertion that Illinois public policy forbids it from reimbursing the drugmaker for the cost of settling allegations that it violated anti-kickback laws, a federal appellate panel ruled.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a decision by the US District Court that the $100 million payment to resolve a Justice Department investigation was covered by the D&O policy and public policy did not bar payment.

The appellate panel said the policy included settlements as a type of covered loss. The fact that the policy excluded losses caused by deliberate fraud or illegal renumeration only if there were final adjudication shows that Federal intended to cover the settlement payment, the opinion says.

In essence, the final adjudication exclusions show that Federal wrote the policy to extend coverage to the limits of applicable law and public policy. Federal was willing to extend coverage, if permissible, to settlements even for claims for deliberate fraud and willful violations of the law, so long as there was no final adjudication, the opinion says.

In 2012 Astellas launched Xtandi, an androgen receptor inhibitor that is used to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The company charges $7,800 for a months supply of the drug, making it unaffordable to many Medicare recipients because the government covers only $6,000 of that cost.

Astellas attracted the attention of federal prosecutors after it began making payments to charities that help patients pay for drugs needed to treat chronic diseases. Astellas encouraged two organizations, the Chronic Disease Fund and Patient Network Foundation, to create special funds that would provide patient assistance only for androgen receptor inhibitors such as Xtandi. Astellas donated $27 million to the funds in 2013.

Government officials had cautioned that patient assistance funds that are structured too narrowly may risk running afoul of the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act. The Justice Department began investigating Astellas because its contributions to the patient assistance plans could be used to reward doctors and patients for choosing particular drugs.

A marketing executive admitted that he expected the donations to benefit Astellas, but the primary purpose was charitable.

Astellas authorized its attorneys to begin settlement negotiations with the Justice Department in 2018. A year later, the company agreed to pay the government $100 million, of which $50 million was labeled as restitution to the United States.

Astellas asked Federal and its other liability insurers to cover portions of the settlement, but the insurers denied the claim. Astellas filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract.

Federal filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the settlement cannot be insured because it was restitution, meaning a payment to a victim of intentional wrongdoing. The District Court did not agree and ruled in favor of Astellas. The insurer appealed.

The 7th Circuit panel said the final adjudication language in the policys exclusions show that Federal intended to stretch its liability coverage as far as the law would allow. The panel said while half of settlement was labeled as restitution, that was done only for tax purposes and the other half of the $100 million payment was not affected.

The opinion says payments made to compensate a victim for a loss are compensatory and insurable. On the other hand, a payment made to disgorge fraudulently obtained profits is restitution, which is not insurable.

The court said discerning the difference between the two types of payments can be tricky. Deciding whether the Astellas settlement was restitution is even more difficult because the government never filed a formal complaint. The settlement released Astellas from any civil or administrative monetary claim the government may have.

The panel said Illinois appellate courts have held that insurers cannot deny claims merely because fraud is suspected. Federal was required to show that the payment was not even potentially covered.

Even in cases where settlement payments unquestionably included some restitution, Illinois courts have given the benefit of the doubt to the insureds, the opinion says.

Topics Carriers Illinois Directors Officers
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A California federal judge on Monday dismissed a proposed class action accusing Twitter Inc of targeting female employees for layoffs after Elon Musk acquired the company last year, but said plaintiffs would be allowed to amend the lawsuit to add more details.

U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in Oakland said the lawsuit filed in December was devoid of basic information, such as the plaintiffs positions with Twitter and the identity of managers who decided which workers would be laid off.

Tigar also said that allegedly sexist remarks made by Musk and cited by the plaintiffs were irrelevant because they came long before he acquired Twitter for $44 billion last year.

The decision came after a different judge in the same court on Friday dismissed a separate lawsuit accusing Twitter of discriminating against workers with disabilities by requiring employees to report to the office and put in long hours working at high intensity after the layoffs in November.

Both judges gave the plaintiffs three weeks to file amended lawsuits further detailing their claims.

Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs in both cases, said that she planned to file a revised complaint in each lawsuit adding new facts.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiffs in the sex discrimination lawsuit say that Twitter laid off 57% of its female workers compared to 47% of men after Musk took over. The disparity was more stark for engineering roles, where 63% of women lost their jobs compared to 48% of men, according to the lawsuit.

The disability bias case was filed in November by a former engineering manager and cancer survivor who claims that Twitter fired him when he refused to stop working remotely. Musk said in a memo to staff in November that employees should be prepared to work long hours at high intensity or quit.

The lawsuits are among several Twitter is facing stemming from Musks decision to lay off about half of the companys workforce.

Twitter has denied wrongdoing in those cases, including ones claiming that the company failed to pay promised severance.

Liss-Riordan also represents nearly 2,000 former Twitter employees who have filed legal claims against the company in arbitration.

Topics Lawsuits
The Alliant Insurance Foundation, in partnership with Southern University, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, and the Spencer Educational Foundation, has launched its first initiative, funding a risk management and insurance degree program at Southern University.

Working in conjunction with the Spencer Educational Foundation and the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the Alliant Insurance Foundation is granting the Southern University System an initial investment of $1.4 million over a three-year period for the creation of an accredited School of Insurance degree program.

The Alliant Insurance Foundation is honored to partner with the Southern University System to broaden access to the insurance industry, develop a robust pipeline of underrepresented students interested in insurance, and collaborate in additional ways to move the needle on diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Lilian Vanvieldt, Alliant Insurance Foundation Board Chair.

In addition to the creation of the academic program, the Alliant Insurance Foundation has committed to investing in the careers of current and future Southern University students through a range of supporting initiatives. This includes outreach, internship opportunities, and support with job placement.

The Alliant Insurance Foundation is a charitable, nonprofit organization focused on promoting justice and equality by expanding access to opportunities for career growth and advancement in the insurance industry for individuals with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. The Foundation has raised more than $2 million in its first year to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the larger insurance industry.

Source: The Alliant Insurance Foundation

Topics Louisiana Training Development Education Universities
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Most people will be familiar with the posters at workplaces noting the number of days since a lost-time work injury.

Well, theres a dirty little secret behind that, one that helps employers avoid higher experience modifications on their workers compensation insurance and helps insurers avoid paying comp claims, argues an appeal of a 2022 denial of benefits to an injured welder in Florida.

The employer and insurance carrier have called that argument absurd and more closely resembling the plot line from an Adam Sandler goofball comedy movie script than anything approaching reality.

The case, Jose Pena vs. Wood Group USA and Broadspire, is now on appeal to Floridas 1st District Court of Appeals. A ruling, perhaps late this year, could affect how employers and employees handle alternative work offers for years to come. On the claimants side is Randy Porcher of the powerhouse national injury firm Morgan & Morgan. In the defense corner is Jerry Mckim, of Wyland & Tadros in West Palm Beach.

The injury came in March 2022 when Pena, a 60-year-old welder who lived in Houston, was working a temporary job for a Florida Power & Light contractor, Wood Group USA. While climbing a ladder at the south Florida power plant site, Pena slammed his head on a scaffold bar. Although he was wearing a hard hat, the impact caused damage to his spinal cord and triggered pain and numbness in his neck and arm, according to the appeal briefs.

Pena filed a medical-only comp claim and was provided treatment at a nearby clinic. A doctor ordered work restrictions.

Rather than have the welder file for temporary partial disability indemnity benefits and send him home, the employer put him on light duty in the office  at full salary. Porchers account claims that Wood Group had Pena doing little more than hanging out in the break room, day after day. Finally, Pena had enough, felt he could recover better at home in Texas, and left the jobsite and returned home.

The company then terminated Pena and denied his subsequent indemnity and additional medical comp claim, saying the welder had abandoned the job after suitable offer of employment.

Porcher said the practice is not uncommon, and reflects a calculated effort by some major employers. Even though workers compensation insurance rates, on average, have dropped steadily over the last decade in Florida and most other states, some high-risk classification employers continue to pay high premiums.

Although each employer/carrier might have differing answers as to why they undertake the defense, the larger employers are doing it to keep their experience mods as low as possible. The goal is no lost-time claims, Porcher said.

Comp attorneys in other states said they have seen the practice or heard about it periodically, mostly in heavy industries such as oil drilling.

Theyre called no-work work jobs,' said Larry Chaban, a claimants attorney in Pittsburgh.

In some cases, the employer pushes for a medical-only claim so that the workers comp insurance carrier will cover the treatment cost. At other times, the employer will go so far as to pay for medical treatment out of its own pocket, possibly to avoid any ding at all on the ex-mod.

Then, theyll fire the guy if he leaves and goes home, out of state, Chaban said.

Porcher said that hes seen a growing trend: Some employers now utilize professional employment organizations to place injured workers in light-duty, voluntary positions with non-profits and charities, while the employer pays their wages. That lets the worker recover while the employer avoids an indemnity comp claim and higher premiums. But it also can deprive the worker of convalescing at home, with familiar surroundings and health care providers, making it more likely the worker will walk away.

The head of ReEmployAbility, a 20-year-old return-to-work firm based in Brandon, Florida, said most businesses that engage her organizations services do not appear to have an ulterior motive.

Thats not to say that employers dont use it in a way thats not good, said CEO Debra Livingston. But thats not our approach.

Some employers, such as trucking companies, dont often have light-duty work they can provide to injured drivers. But work at charity organizations can be beneficial to the employees, keeping them active and away from the couch while recovering. Inactivity by injured workers has been linked to greater use of medication, depression and longer recovery periods, studies have found.

Florida courts are reviewing the suitability of charity work as alternative, light-duty employment. In a recent case in northwest Florida, a judge of compensation claims found in April that a ReEmployAbility job at Goodwill Industries was not adequate because it required standing, causing pain to the claimant. The worker was justified in refusing to continue.

Mckim, the insurance attorney in the Pena case, said that the circumstances with Pena were different and that suitable jobs were offered. The Wood Group did not have Pena doing nothing in the breakroom for three weeks, but had assigned him to desk work and safety training. The welder was the one who declined to follow the plan and chose to sit in the breakroom much of the time, socializing with others, McKim said.

And it wasnt some grand plan to bore the worker so much that he would quit the job and return home, allowing a job-abandonment defense, Mckim said.

The employer took no punitive action  because it could have been charged with retaliation, he said.

The offer of continued employment and the duration of that offer are key points in job-abandonment cases. Florida comp law allows the defense if an injured worker refuses employment suitable to the capacity thereof The employee shall not be eligible for compensation during the continuance of such refusal.

Porchers appeal brief argued that the company did not offer appropriate employment, and certainly not on a continuing basis. Florida courts have held that employers must establish the continued availability of a job to sustain a job-abandonment contention.

The employer indicated that once claimant was terminated for returning home on April 11, 2022, there was no offer of employment for claimant; hence there could be no continuing refusal, the claimants brief reads.

Porcher also raises constitutional questions, arguing that the employer deprived Pena of his right to enjoy his own home in Texas, where Wood Group had offices and other operations with better alternative employment possibilities.

The employer, in essence, indicated that Pena had no right to convalesce and live at home (at least not with impunity), because through section 440.15(6), the Legislature gave it the power to make such decisions for him, Porchers brief reads. By all appearances, the (judge of compensation claims) seemingly agreed, deciding that because claimant made this decision to return home, he did something wrong or legally punishable, resulting in the taking of property rights and compensation to which he was otherwise entitled.

Employers have been known to game the system and deliberately offer impractical alternative work options to some injured workers, in order to capitalize on the job-abandonment defense, he said. The appeal brief gave the example of a company offering only a midnight shift to a single mom with a toddler at home, knowing she couldnt manage the time slot.

If unregulated, this can become a destructive game, creating an appearance that the individual and his family do not much matter (nor do property rights and notions of liberty or personhood), and the employer can do no wrongso long as they have generated a piece of paper offering employment, Porcher argued.

Mckims answer strongly disagreed with Porchers assertions. He posited that the compensation judge did not err in his ruling in favor of Wood Group, denying TPD benefits to Pena after he returned to Texas.

The appellant exhaustively airs a litany of grievances, perceived injustices and imagined limitations imposed on his personal freedoms, all the supposed product of a pernicious alchemy of corporate oppression and legislative fiat, but none of which enjoy grounding in truth or fact, the answer brief reads.

Mckim pointed out that the employer had an established policy: If a worker does not report for duty for three straight days, the employee is deemed to have abandoned the job. Pena voluntarily chose to jeopardize his comp claim by truncating his involvement with the Florida job, the defense brief notes.

The claimants side noted that returning to Houston was important for the worker, partly because the authorized neurosurgeon there found a cervical spinal injury from the accident, which had not been diagnosed by the Florida clinic.

It could be months before the 1st District Court of Appeals, the only one of Floridas six appeal courts that handles workers comp cases, may decide on the case, attorneys said.

Topics Florida Texas Workers' Compensation
The California woman suing Subway for claiming its tuna products contain ingredients other than tuna wants to end her lawsuit because she is pregnant, prompting Subway to demand her lawyers be sanctioned for bringing a frivolous case.

Nilima Amin said her severe morning sickness and debilitating conditions as she prepares for a third child have left her unable to proceed with the obligations as plaintiff, and require her to focus on her health and family.

Amin wants to dismiss the case in San Francisco federal court without prejudice, which would let her sue again when she feels better.

In a May 4 filing, Subway said Amins excuse flunked the straight-face test, and her lawyers likely realized it would not simply pay the windfall settlement that they hoped to get by constructing a high-profile shakedown.

Subway also said the media frenzy from the lawsuit caused severe harm, and faulted Amins ever-changing theories to debunk its claim that its tuna sandwiches, salads and wraps contained 100% tuna.

The chain wants Amins proposed class action dismissed, and her seven lawyers to pay at least $618,000 of its legal bills.

Amins lawyers did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment.

The plaintiff claimed to have ordered Subway tuna products more than 100 times before suing in January 2021.

She accused Subway of using other fish species, chicken, pork and cattle in its tuna products, or no tuna at all.

Last July, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco let Amins case continue but rejected her claim that reasonable consumers would expect only tuna and nothing else, calling it a fact of life that ingredients such as mayonnaise were okay.

Subway has nearly 37,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.

The case is Amin v Subway Restaurants Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 21-00498.

(Reporting by Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

Topics Lawsuits California
An employee in Alaskas Denali National Park and Preserve died when he was caught in an avalanche in the backcountry, not far from the parks entrance, officials said.

Eric Walter, who provided radio-based safety support and dispatch services for National Park Service operations across Alaska, died in the Thursday avalanche, the park said in a prepared statement.

An individual told the parks kennel staff that they saw a skier trigger an avalanche on an unnamed north-facing slope about 10 miles into the park, near the sprawling parks only road.

Responding rangers found an unoccupied truck parked about a mile away from the avalanche site. A ranger used a spotting scope to look for survivors in the avalanche debris.

The ranger saw two skis, one vertical and the other lying flat on the surface, the statement said.

The parks mountaineering team, based in nearby Talkeetna, flew to the site on a contracted helicopter. Two rangers determined the skier, later identified as Walter, had died.

Our thoughts are with Erics family in this challenging time, Denali Superintendent Brooke Merrell said in the statement.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
London, England. May 09, 2023.  Eliot Partnership (Eliot Partnership), the leading global insurance sector specialist executive search firm, today announced its expansion into the global Life Insurance and Reinsurance market under the leadership of Brad Whatley, Director, Global Life, who joined the business in June 2022.

Brad is based in Chicago and brings nearly 20 years of experience and specialist subject matter knowledge to Life clients leadership engagements. Working closely with Lydia Pitts, Senior Partner and Head of North America, and the wider global business, Brad will be expanding the firms sector specialist executive search services into the Life Insurance and Reinsurance market. Prior to joining Eliot Partnership, Brad was Managing Director at an insurance specific executive search firm, specialising in the Life insurance industry. Brads insurance experience precedes his time in the search industry, having started his career with tenures at Aon Corporation and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Brad commented, The world of insurance is ever evolving and is continuing to grow even more interconnected across borders. Eliot Partnerships identity as a global insurance sector specialist, alongside our global one P&L structure, brings a unique value proposition to both clients and candidates alike. Im truly excited to be part of the Eliot team and the next phase of our journey.

Commenting on the expansion, Lydia Pitts, Senior Partner and Head of North America at Eliot Partnership said, I am delighted to be launching our Life proposition under Brads leadership. His deep knowledge of the Life market has been complementary to our existing P&C offering, and positions us to work even deeper with certain key clients in North America and beyond. We look forward to the Life practice continuing to enrich and deepen our internal capabilities for the benefit of the businesses we serve.

Andrew Eliot, Founder and Managing Partner of Eliot Partnership said, Brad is the ideal person to be leading our global Life initiative. Not only is he a Life subject matter expert and a proven search professional but he is also a tremendous fit with our business across the world. Furthermore, our North America coverage has been extended by his presence in Chicago which we look forward to developing further. Welcome Brad!

About Eliot Partnership

Eliot is unique in being the only global insurance sector specialist executive search business in the world. Eliot has a wide range of clients from insurance companies, reinsurers, brokers, run-off companies, loss adjusters, Insurtechs, medium-sized Specialty businesses, smaller boutique companies and entrepreneurial start-ups. Eliot works with boards, CEOs and their executive teams, including business and functional heads, to fill senior roles across the insurance, reinsurance, legacy, and claims management sectors, and leads domestic and global assignments from its regional hubs in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

Topics Reinsurance Leadership
The number of pigs in Ireland decreased by nearly 9% last year, the 2022 National Pig Census shows.

The national herd last year consisted of 1,541 active herds keeping over 1.6m, which comprised 135,652 breeding pigs, 1.5m fattening pigs, and 951 non-production pigs.

Total 2022 recorded pig numbers reflect a decrease of 155,153 pigs (8.64%) on the 2021 national herd.

The total number of fattening pigs decreased by 146,254 (8.86%) and the number of breeding pigs decreased by 8,941 (6.18%).

However, overall pig numbers increased in five counties  Leitrim, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, and Westmeath.

Census forms

The census results have been published this week by the Department of Agriculture.

The date chosen for the 2022 pig census was Sunday, October 23.

That month, pig census forms were issued to the 3,038 pig keepers registered with the Department of Agriculture.

Completed returns were received in respect of 2,712 holdings, representing a response rate of over 89%.

1,171 of the respondent holdings were not active.

Cavan has largest pig population

The census shows that, as has been the case since 2016, Co Cavan recorded the largest pig population with some 314,418 pigs, representing 19.17% of the total numbers.

Co Cork again recorded the second-highest population with 270,558 pigs (16.5%) and Co Tipperary recorded the third-highest number with 170,604 pigs (10.4%).

Co Cork continued to record the largest number of active herds (228), accounting for 14.8% of the total number.

Counties Wexford and Tipperary were the next highest with 109 and 108 (7%) active herds respectively.

The counties with the smallest numbers of active herds were Dublin (20), Louth (21), and Leitrim (22).

The smallest pig populations were recorded in Dublin (46), Galway(2,875), and Leitrim (3,518).

The average number of pigs kept on an active pig herd was 1,064 which shows a slight increase from the average of 1,060 pigs per active herd in 2021.

43 herds (2.79%) each kept in excess of 10,000 pigs, accounting for 42.8% of the total pig population (702,006).

96.23% of all pigs (over 1.5m) were recorded in 263 herds, each keeping more than 1,000 pigs.

Pig production to fall

Pig production is expected to fall this year, a result of the contraction of the sow herd that occurred in 2022.

Producers suffered over 18 months of loss-making, described as a "financial nightmare" by the Irish Farmers' Association pigs committee chairman Roy Gallie.

The IFA's latest market update shows that there was no announced change to Irish pig prices recently with farmers reporting quotes of 2.28 as an average Irish price.

However, some farmers are now reporting top prices of circa 2.38  2.42 available.

There is a gap between the Irish average price and the EU average price which must be bridged, the IFA said, and Irish farmers must be allowed to receive higher prices reflective of EU levels to achieve a sustainable margin for their pigs.
It is late afternoon in Thomastown in Co Kilkenny and there is an expectant hush as the soloist appears on the compact stage of the vintage concert hall. Michael McHale beams a broad smile before settling himself at the Steinway piano and launches into the solemn opening of Beethovens Pathetique Sonata.

And away we go on a rollercoaster of Romantic piano music that holds the audience enthralled before finally drawing them to their feet at the close of an exhilarating rendition of Ballade in B minor, a bravura showstopper by Liszt. It is a performance delivered with flawless skill and charm that clearly demonstrates, why the Belfast native is in demand in prime classical music venues on both sides of the Atlantic.

McHale cuts a youthful figure, and it is hard to believe that he has officially arrived at middle age. He is in reflective mode as he prepares to continue his 40th birthday tour with a series of recitals at the Triskel Arts Centre.

I have included music that has played an important part in my musical life, from my childhood through to the present day, he explains.

Over the four recitals, the programme ranges over works of the greatest 19th-century pianist-composers paired with contemporary works by composers with whom McHale has a connection. He recalls his debut appearance in Derry. The very first piece I can remember playing in public was the 4th of Schuberts Impromptus. I was ten years old. When I finished, I just walked off and my teacher said, 'Michael, you have to bow - you must be kind to your audience'.

It was a lesson he took to heart. Notably in his solo recitals, he is a performer who is never aloof but likes to engage with his audience by talking to them about the music.

Michael McHale, pianist musician. Picture: Frances Marshall

In 2018, McHale joined the staff of the Cork School of Music and travels regularly from his London base to coach degree students. What advice does he give them? You have to work hard and be determined but the most important thing is to enjoy it. Those that are considering a career, I say-put yourself out there and perform in public as much as possible. Meet as many people in the industry as you can, and you will get the breaks here and there.

The recitals in the Triskel have been long coming. A series planned for 2020 was inevitably abandoned due to covid. McHale was fortunate to have a lifeline as a member of a crack-team of chamber music musicians who continued to record at Londons Wigmore Hall for online events throughout lockdowns. The Wigmore Hall Soloists come to the National Concert Hall for the first time later this month for an evening of chamber music.

What makes McHale unusual among piano virtuosos is the breadth and depth of his skill set. It wasnt always about classical piano for McHale. As a teenager he played with a jazz band in Belfast. After school he went to study music in Cambridge where a rigorous academic degree sharpened his composition skills. It is not unusual for him to finish a recital with an encore of his own skilful arrangements of Irish airs or an improvisation on a jazz standard.

After a recital, a record company executive suggested that he record his arrangements. His first solo album, recorded in 2012, The Irish Piano was a distinctive calling card. Over the last ten years, his discography has expanded considerably to include many interesting collaborations, most extensively with clarinettist Michael Collins. But for McHale, there is no contest.

You cant beat the live performance. That interaction with an audience is what I love most. 

THE ROMANTIC PIANO  Lunchtime Recital Series at Triskel Arts Centre

The Romantic Piano: Romeo and Juliet, Friday 12: May Romeo and Juliet, as depicted by Prokofiev. Nocturnes by Field, Chopin and Schuberts Impromptus

The Romantic Piano: Love Songs, Friday 19: May Liszts Second Ballade; Arrangements of songs by Schubert, Clara Schumann and the Paris-born Augusta Holmes, Philip Hammond

The Romantic Piano: Moonlight, Saturday 27: May Beethovens Moonlight and Apassionata Sonatas paired with new works by Linda Buckley and Aine Mallon

The Romantic Piano: Flights of Fantasy (for four hands) in association with MTU Cork School of Music , Fri 9 June: McHale is joined by CSM colleagues to play duets by Ligeti, Debussy and Schubert Michael Collins: Michael McHale and The Wigmore Soloists perform at the National Concert Hall May 21st.
Shein, the giant Guangzhou-based online shopping brand, has a pop-up in Cork this month. I wont be going anywhere near it. Will you? Their tag - making fashion accessible to all - sounds great until you actually think about what that means - for the people who make the clothes, and for the planet. In terms of ethical practices and sustainability, they score a fat zero.

Accessible to all translates as clothes so cheap they are literally disposable; it costs less to send them to a landfill than to process returns. So when you buy an ultra-cheap item, and it barely lasts the weekend because its so shoddy, it will end up in the landfill. Multiply that by millions. Mountains and mountains  entire mountain ranges - of discarded garments, leaching into the earth, made of synthetic fossil fuel fibres, toxic dyes, plastics, microplastics, and animal products from unregulated  that is, horrific  sources. How on earth is this happening now, in 2023?

For Generation Greta  the Gen Z demographic to whom Shein primarily markets, using platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, plus networks of influencers, and celebrities like Katy Perry, Rita Ora, Khloe Kardashians, and other wealthy women who really ought to know better  youd think this would be the stuff of nightmares. Gen Z are the ones for whom climate crisis matters the most, and fast fashion causes more emissions than global aviation and shipping combined; what might seem like the democratisation of fashion, the copying of designs and regurgitating them through your letterbox in a matter of days, is nothing more than a cynical business model. For Gen Z, young and broke and living on Instagram, cheap fashion is deeply alluring. Shein knows this, and exploits it mercilessly. Governments do lots of tutting, but take little action.

(Front) Rebekah OLeary with (Back, l to r) Aisling Chan, Jodie Dodrill and Freya Brophy attend the exclusive SHEIN pop up showroom at 32 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2 on 22nd March, 2022. Picture: Leon Farrell

Its not just Gen Z who are skint. We are all feeling this current, ongoing pinch, plus we all love a bargain, the dopamine centres in our brains having long been hijacked and remoulded by online shopping. Browse, click, doorbell, repeat. Even when our dopamine high crashes as were filling out the returns form, because what we saw online and what arrives through our letterbox are often radically different (how can they not be, with items that cost less than a latte) we are already gearing up to do it again. Meanwhile, Shein  launched in 2008 - has overtaken Amazon as the USs most downloaded shopping app. The brand has 28 million followers on Instagram alone. Thats a lot of landfill.

Shein has taken the fast-fashion model, and made it ultra-fast  theres roughly a ten-day turnaround from copying a design to the design being available online. Cheaper than Primark, cheaper than H&M  and now bigger than Zara and H&M combined. Except of course, its not possible to manufacture millions of items that cost almost nothing, without there being a significant hidden cost. Hence its supply chains remain opaque and unaccountable, no matter how many words like empowering; or sustainable they chuck on its website.

Who makes the garments? How much are these makers paid per hour? What kind of conditions do they work in? Shein reassures us that they dont use actual children or enslaved people to make their stuff. Wow, terrific. But who do they use? Third-party suppliers in China, who make their stuff in small batches, which sounds an awful lot like an anagram of sweatshop.

Rebekah OLeary attends the exclusive SHEIN pop up showroom at 32 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2 on 22nd March, 2022. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

But dont take my word for it  have a deeper look at how Shein operates here, where the fashion ethics site Good On You (creating a world where its easy for anyone, anywhere to buy better) examines how the brand works and why we should run a mile. Their take on Shein? Avoid. Instead, check out their online directory where they have evaluated thousands of brands and garments that are more ethical and more sustainable.

Although Shein may possibly be the worst offender currently  its hard to stop imagining those of mountains of discarded garments, literal mountains of waste, and pollution in a world where we desperately need to think and act sustainably  they are not alone within the fast fashion market. Boohoo, for instance, arent great either. Nor are the high street giants, no matter how much greenwashing they slosh at us. The cheaper the item, the murkier the supply chain. You dont have to be an economist to work that out.

So what to do? You could take Vivienne Westwoods long-standing advice to buy quality over quantity, (Buy less, choose well, make it last) but that involves a lot of saving up and a lot of self-restraint. Or you could buy top quality, totally sustainable clothing at knockdown prices by buying second-hand, preloved, vintage, whatever you want to call it. My wardrobe is full of Nicole Farhi, Jaegar, and Cos  all picked up second-hand from shops, markets, and online. Affordable in every sense. When it comes to clothes shopping, send your money, however limited, in the right direction, and remember the Three Fs  Fuck Fast Fashion.
IF you could turn back the clock, would you still choose to be a parent?

The question is taboo, so for those who regret becoming a parent, it must feel unsayable.

Yet parental regret is real for a significant minority. In a US poll, 7% of parents said they wouldnt have children if they had their chance over again; a 2016 German study found 8% wouldnt, while 11% werent sure.

And a Polish study showed at least 10% of parents expressing being regretful.

Quite a sizeable chunk of the population feel parental regret, says Dr Ann-Marie Creaven at University of Limericks (UL) Department of Psychology. Being emotionally literate about such a potentially tricky topic is important, she says.

By regret, we mean a clear, well-considered belief that if you could go back in time, you would not choose parenthood.

Regret is different to disappointment. The type of activities we regret are those we had some control over. We experience disappointment when something doesnt work out as we hoped; we experience regret when that something was clearly under our control.

Creaven says that regretting parenthood doesnt mean youre a bad parent or that you dont love your child. For many who feel regret, they love the child, but regret the role.

Dr Anne-Marie Casey, senior clinical psychologist in Childrens Health Ireland at Crumlin and member of Psychological Society of Ireland, agrees with this distinction. Parental regret is not I regret my son/daughter or that I dont love them, its the changes that have happened as a result of parenthood that are regretted.

Casey says that becoming a parent involves change. Its these changing roles and relationships, the fantasy of how you imagined life would be and the reality. Nothing can prepare you for these, nor for the relentless ideals that are out there for parenthood.

Parenthood is forever

So what can predispose parents to regret? If you didnt want to be a parent in the first instance, having a child isnt likely to make those feelings disappear, says Creaven. Unlike decisions about career/housing, both of which are reversible, becoming a parent isnt temporary. All going well, your children will outlive you. So, it isnt possible to box it away and unpack it when you feel in the mood for a spot of parenting.

So becoming a parent to satisfy a partners desire for parenthood, for example, isnt a good idea; your life will not be the same, just plus a baby, says Creaven, who points to a societal assumption that heterosexual couples will have children. If youre on the fence and someones pressuring you to go one way, you might decide to go that way. Its really difficult to imagine what parenthood is like beforehand. Someone could easily be swayed; you dont really know what youre getting into, and everybody says its wonderful. And its expected.

Stretched resources can tip parents into regret. Research in Germany and Poland found regret more likely among lower-income households. Similarly, single parents in Poland were more likely to experience regret. Supposedly it takes a village to rear a child,but if you dont feel you have a village, you might well experience burnout and regret, says Creaven.

Dr Carmel Hannan, Sociology Department UL. Picture: Alan Place

The timing can also feed regret. People can regret when they had children, rather than that they had them, says Dr Carmel Hannan at the Department of Sociology, UL.

She points to findings from Growing Up in Ireland (2008), which showed that 72% of mothers said their pregnancy was planned. But 10% reported theyd intended to become pregnant somewhat later and 5% had wanted a baby much later and 6% hadnt intended having children at all.

Casey says parental burnout is another predictor of regret. A study in the Netherlands found parental burnout increased in lockdown when parents spent more time attending to children and had less time for self-care.

Pointing to a study from the University of Utah, which analysed online comments about parental regret, Casey says a child whos different than you expected can lead to feelings of should I ever have done this? Maybe theres a personality clash, or theres a medical diagnosis with constant hospital appointments, and you really miss your old life then.

What parents are mourning is their previous freedom and the alternative route their lives would have taken. This isnt necessarily related to careers, but to more fulfilled, well-rounded lives, says Creaven, who sees a temporal element to such regret, which might be intense during the busy years of parenthood, but dissipates when the parent becomes a grandparent. The time at which you might most intensely feel regret could be when youre at your busiest and most distanced from the life you had.

Creaven cautions against taking parental regret seriously during the early years, a labour-intensive time of big life change. Once that has all cleared and youre feeling regret at a stage where generally people would be well settled in the parenting role, then its probably a genuine regret, Creaven says.

Impact on children

While lacking data on the impact of parental regret on children, Craven says we can speculate about this. It can mean parents feel guilty and invest considerable effort in making sure the child doesnt feel the parent is regretful. It might also mean parents put a lot of structures in place to allow them fulfil other aspects of their lives.

I dont think regret needs to impact children; it doesnt necessarily mean the parent doesnt love the child. They regret their role, not the existence of the child.

Casey says theres stigma to expressing parental regret but not to say you regret having a pet. Yet theres a certain overlap of experience in both scenarios. You love them, but theyre expensive and time-consuming. You miss the time before when you didnt have them. You maybe resent the time input, the sacrifice, the difficulty. Exactly the same themes come up. I find the contrast interesting: Heres something thats socially acceptable to say and heres something that isnt.

The taboo about expressing parental regret is because parenthood has become a holy grail, so glorified and sacrosanct.

Creaven says parents doubt themselves for regretting such a monumental choice. You feel silly. You dont want to undermine your child. And you dont want to be hurtful to others who wouldnt want to hear, because maybe it might bring up difficult questions for them.

Hannan says studies show most Irish men and women want to have children. In Ireland, having children is almost a universal norm, she says, citing a 2011 Eurobarometer survey of 27 European countries, which asked about actual versus ideal family size. Family-size preference was larger in Ireland than in the other countries.

This can make it harder to express parental regret, which Creaven would like to see countered by society becoming more tolerant of different life paths. An accepting attitude might see more people opting out of parenthood and parents less likely to experience regret.

But how to deal with parental regret? Casey says its about holding two emotions together: Regret for the path you took and love for your child. Its healthy to acknowledge regret, to acknowledge both the love and the shadow. The more truthful we are with ourselves, the better.

Creavens advice for those feeling this tricky emotion: A person can experience regret for their parenting role [but] still feel a lot of love for the person their child is/has become. Understanding this might make people feel less guilty about their regret.

Also, regret more generally is very normal. Think of the major life decisions we take, around jobs/homes/relationships/parenthood; chances are some of us will experience regret relating to those.

You dont need to feel guilty about the regret - its inevitable some will have this experience. Even the best-laid plans dont always make us feel how we expected to feel.
Ireland is very likely to experience more violence on the street and in the home, as well as higher levels of hospital emergencies, if proposed licensing laws are passed, a leading international expert has warned.

Professor Tom Babor said for Ireland to avoid the epidemics of public intoxication seen in other countries that have promoted their nighttime economy, it needs to revise the laws.

The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 has been introduced to streamline the alcohol licensing system and create a single bill to regulate its sale.

Launching the bill, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the bill would support the development of the night-time economy".

Prof Babor, based at the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in the US, conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the bill and concluded: It is highly likely that the bill could contribute to an upward trend in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.

Prof Babor said Ireland was among the top 10 EU countries in terms of heavy episodic drinking, per-capita consumption and a variety of alcohol-related problems.

He said provisions in the bill allowing for an extension in trading hours as a means of stimulating the nighttime economy have been implemented in other countries.

In the Netherlands, he said a one-hour extension in central Amsterdam resulted in a 34% increase in ambulance calls for alcohol-related injuries compared to other areas of the city.

Similar changes in 18 cities in Norway found a 16%-25% increase in assaults attributable to the extension.

He said provisions enabling an increase in retail outlets have, according to studies, generally resulted in increases in street and domestic violence, road crashes and injury.

He added: Hospital admissions, emergency presentations, and domestic violence are also influenced by increases in outlet density.

Public drinking

He expressed particular concern at the impact of public drinking in city areas with concentrations of licensed premises.

Many cities in the UK, the EU and Australia have experienced epidemics of public intoxication following policy changes that were intended, just like the Sale of Alcohol Bill, to attract adults and youth to social and cultural events, but succeeded mainly in attracting youth out for a night of heavy drinking, Prof Babor said.

He launched his report with three groups, Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network, Alcohol Action Ireland, and Alcohol Forum Ireland.

Prof Babor recommends restrictions are kept on opening hours and that off-licence trading hours are set at 10am to 10pm.

He calls for residents to have access to legal resources to ensure the community has a role in the licensing system.

Prof Babor said there should be restrictions on the sale of products susceptible to abuse, such as liquor shots and energy drinks and urged limits on super pubs.

He called for a health impact assessment on the potential effects of the law and a sunset provision terminating the bill if it fails to produce economic benefits and reduce alcohol-related harms.
Over the last year, 90% of adults in Ireland donated to a charity, according to new research from the Charities Regulator.

The research found that 80% of people believe having trust and confidence in a charity is very important when deciding to donate  which is up from 65% since 2020, when a similar study was undertaken.

The survey, conducted for the Charities Regulator by Amarach Research, showed strong public support for greater enforcement, tighter controls on charities by the regulator, and more checks on charities activities.

While 89% of adults donated to a charity during the past year, the nature of those donations has changed over the past two years.

The number of people who made financial contributions declined from 74% to 59%, while the numbers donating goods increased from 43% to 57%.

But those who donate money gave a higher average contribution last year  169 compared to 155 in 2020. Charities seem to be becoming more dependent on the over-55s, with this group donating the most money.

Dublin was the most generous location for those who donated money, followed by Connacht/Ulster, the rest of Leinster, and Munster.

Vital role

Charities Regulator chief executive Helen Martin said the survey "shows the vital role that trust and transparency play in the charitable sector".

She encouraged people to check the regulator's register of charities online before making a donation to any charity.

There are currently over 11,500 registered charities in the State.

Those most strongly supported during the past 12 months include medical or health-related (44%), homeless or refuge services (43%), local community organisations (41%), children or youth services (29%), and animal rescue or welfare (29%).

More than 80% of people feel that charities and the work they do in society is important, while three-quarters of respondents believe that the impact of charities is significant. The importance of charities and their impact was felt most strongly among women aged 55 and over, the study showed.

A personal interest or a connection to a charity/issue remains the single largest influence (58%) for deciding which charity to support, while news and media reports about a charity (13%) is the second largest influencer.

The charity shop sector is benefiting from both an increase in donations  up 13% to 57%  and from higher customer numbers, with an 8% increase in the number of people purchasing goods from charity shops.
Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin has denied any deal has been done with the RAF to protect Irelands airspace, but admitted there may have been occasions in the past for a number of reasons that British military aircraft have flown over the country.

He said he believes recent stories in the media about a deal with Britain are not accurate but declined to say any more on the matter, citing national security.

Mr Martin also played down Russian naval activity off the south and west coast saying it was not new news. He made these comments to reporters prior to addressing PDForras annual delegate conference in Co Meath.

Ryan McKinley, Susan Grehan, and Mark Doherty, delegates at the annual PDForra conference in Trim, Co Meath on Tuesday. Picture: Moya Nolan

There he announced an agreement had been reached in principle between his department and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoes department to allow all enlisted military personnel to have access to private secondary healthcare.

The details of how this will be implemented are now being considered with a view to introducing it as soon as possible, Mr Martin said.

He said it will be of immense benefit to ranks represented by PDForra, who will be able to avail of referrals to private hospitals and consultants as deemed clinically necessary by an examining medical officer, in line with the treatment afforded to officers.

Lt Gen Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff, addressing delegates at the PDForra conference in Trim, Co Meath, on Tuesday. Picture: Moya Nolan

This was welcomed by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy who said the health and wellbeing of his personnel is one of his key priorities.

Mr Martin said the fallout from the shocking revelations in the recent Independent Review Group report (Women of Honour) will result in a statutory inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces and to address workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct.

Our end goal has to be a safe workplace where self-worth and dignity is actively promoted and mutual respect becomes a dominant feature in an organisation which is open to change, he said. I want a career in the Defence Forces to be one where every individual feels valued, respected and recognised for the positive contribution they are making to the countrys security.

Mr Martin assured delegates the Government remains fully committed to implementing the Working Time Directive in the Defence Forces.

I know that delegates appreciate the complexity of these issues, given the specific nature of military service, he said.

However, I wish to again emphasise that the health and safety of personnel in the Defence Forces, as enshrined in the directive, remains an absolute priority and I have directed both department officials and military management to progress to implementation as soon as possible.

PDForra president Mark Keane with Tanaiste Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mnister for Defence at the organisation's annual dlegate conference in Trim, Co Meath. Picture: Moya Nolan

Lt Gen Clancy said the possibility of a prolonged war in Ukraine presents continued significant security and economic challenges for Ireland and our European partners and this will have implications for how we train, operate, and deploy with the pending German-led EU battlegroup exercises.

The chief of staff said this will be professionally challenging but also professionally fulfilling for 183 personnel  mainly from the Mechanised Infantry Company  as they test their parity of knowledge and application of skills with 10 partner nations that will take part in two military exercises in Germany and Hungary.
The violent robbery of a 93-year-old woman who was followed for seven minutes by her two attackers was a scarcely comprehensible act of thuggery in broad daylight in Cork City.

Judge Helen Boyle said the courageous victim was entitled to walk from her home without being set upon by two men who targeted her and robbed her.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed the jail terms of 10 years with the last year suspended on 35-year-old Damian Fitzgerald of Inniscarra Road, Fair Hill, Cork, and 32-year-old Damien Long of Ardbhaile, Mayfield. Fitzgerald had over 200 previous convictions, Long had more than 100.

This was a scarcely comprehensible act of thuggery in broad daylight in Cork City on a 93-year-old lady carrying out her weekly routine at St Lukes  a beautiful area of the city with a population of old and young, Judge Boyle said.

Judge Boyle noted the two accused only pleaded guilty after the victim turned up in court on the morning a jury was sworn in for the trial of the duo.

In a city of brave and courageous ladies, she came to court on her Roleator to give evidence  I would like her family to know how brave she is.

Garda evidence

Detective Inspector Denis Lynch said on the afternoon of November 9 2022, the 93-year-old woman left St Lukes Post Office but she was followed by the two men.

Just as she turned off on to Charlemont Terrace, she felt her bag being caught off her shoulder from behind. She tried to hold on to the bag and as she looked around she saw two males  one of the males was running off as the other continued to pull violently at the bag.

As a result of the force being applied, she fell to the ground and one of the males ran off with her bag  both males ran in the same direction towards town while the pensioner was in instant pain and screamed for assistance and help.

A woman heard the screams and came to the pensioners assistance while a man tried to trip one of the males, but they escaped and he contacted the gardai and two officers were quickly on the scene as were the emergency services.

She suffered life-changing injuries including multiple fractures to her pelvis.

Det Insp Lynch said a team from Watercourse Road Garda Station under Detective Sergeant Kieran OSullivan and Detective Garda Paraic White began an investigation and after harvesting a huge amount of CCTV footage, they identified Fitzgerald and Long as suspects.

Gardai arrested both men on November 12 for questioning and they interviewed Fitzgerald four times but he exercised his right to silence and they also interviewed Long four times and he denied it was him on the CCTV, denied being on Wellington Road and denied any knowledge of the robbery.

It was only after a jury was sworn in for the first time they admitted the robbery and pleaded guilty.

Judge Boyle was shown CCTV footage of the two men following the pensioner as she walked home from the post office on the day she was robbed.

Det Insp Lynch said: It is clear from the CCTV footage shown to the court that this was a premeditated, planned crime in that a vulnerable elderly lady going about her daily routine was subjected to this violent robbery that has totally changed her life.

Victim impact statement

In my 80s and 90s, I felt fortunate to be well enough to be living a full and independent life  shopping, cooking for myself, driving myself to play bridge, going into town to get mass and browse the shops and most especially, attending social gatherings with friends and family, the victim said.

She said after cocooning during covid she was happy and relieved to regain her normal life afterwards  even including the odd weekend away with the bridge girls  and noted some of her friends were not so fortunate and had remained dependent.

Then came that awful afternoon in November when I was attacked and robbed, not just of my handbag but of my recently regained normal life.

"I never in my life experienced such fear. I could not comprehend how such a horrible act could happen to a 93-year-old woman.

The multiple fractures I sustained as a result of being knocked to and dragged along the ground left me in excruciating pain and a prisoner in my own home for many months.

"I was put on massive doses of painkillers to help with pain management. While these did help I was still in great pain on a daily basis for a number of months and my independence was taken from me.

My family had to provide 24-hour care for me and while I know they all care greatly for me this impacted them and their family lives. I consider myself very lucky to have such a wonderful family and appreciate so much their support throughout this ordeal.

My life became challenging overnight. I was unable to get out to play bridge or meet my friends. I was unable to walk downtown which I have been doing for the last 63 years from home. I missed a number of family occasions.

She thanked healthcare professionals for helping her progress from a wheelchair to a Roleator. She also thanked gardai, especially Garda Paraic White, who led the investigation.

For a long period of time, I was very reluctant to attend this court case and the only reason I changed my mind was to ensure that all the hard work carried out by the gardai and legal teams was not in vain.

The two accused could have spared me coming to court had they pleaded guilty. Instead they forced me to come to court last week, adding more pain to what they had already inflicted on me.

My life as I knew it has changed immeasurably as a result of this terrible crime and sadly, I feel this incident will stay with me for as long as I live.

Apologies from the accused

Damien Long, 32, read a letter from the witness box to the victim of the robbery.

I would like to express by most sincere apologies. I am so sorry for what happened. I hold my hands high and my head down.

It will haunt me for the rest of my life  I deserve every year of it. I ask God to look over you and keep you safe. I dont know how to repay you. I do deserve my punishment.

I am so sorry for the pain you and your family have been put through.

I pray to God for forgiveness for the sins I have committed. I feel so ashamed of what I did on that day.

If you dont mind I will pray for you every day. I will be punishing myself for a long time.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said Long could be distinguished from his co-accused in that he [Long] did not pull the injured party to the ground but left the scene and ran away once she held on to her bag.

Ms Hyland acknowledged the comment from Det Insp Denis Lynch that the remorse has come too late.

Defence senior counsel Seamus Roche read out a letter of apology to the injured party which was written by Damian Fitzgerald where he said: I am so so sorry for what I have caused and done to you. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. It is a living hell I have put you through. I would love to be able to put it right.

I want you to know if there was anything I could do for you I would do it in a heartbeat. I pray to God for you every day and night.

No way could I ask you to forgive me because it is unforgivable. I was off my head on drink and drugs. I have no memory of that day.

The demon came out of me through addiction. It is not the real me. It should never have happened. I am a messed up person.
Junior Minister Niall Collins did know that his wife had expressed interest in a site in Patrickswell before it was discussed by a Limerick County Council area committee meeting in 2007.

Mr Collins addressed the Dail two weeks ago about the disposal of the site which was later purchased by Mr Collins wife Eimear O'Connor. He has maintained that he did not break any laws or guidelines while on the council.
The local elections in Northern Ireland are a chance for people to re-endorse the outcome of last Mays Assembly election, Sinn Feins vice president has said.

Michelle ONeill was speaking at the partys manifesto launch for the 2023 local elections at the Canal Court hotel in Newry.

The elections for 11 councils across Northern Ireland will take place on Thursday, May 18.

Ms ONeill is entitled to the position of First Minister as the Stormont leader of Sinn Fein, who were the largest party at the last Assembly election.

She has not taken up office as First Minister as the Assembly is currently not operational due to the DUPs ongoing protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Ms ONeill said the council vote is a chance for people to endorse positive leadership.

I think that for us, this election is an opportunity for people to re-endorse the position which they voted for last May, for the executive to work, for politics to work, for us all to be around the executive table together, she said.

So I think people will, and certainly my experience on the ground, engaging with people going door to door in the community, speaking to the local business community, they know this is where we all should be.

So for me, this election is a huge opportunity again, for the public to re-endorse positive leadership, someone whos determined to try for a better future, someone whos going to fight back against Tory austerity, someone whos going to work and make politics work.

Sinn Fein local government elections manifesto (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Fein have 105 elected councillors, just behind the DUPs 122.

There are 462 seats being contested at this years election and Sinn Fein are fielding 162 candidates, the partys highest number to date.

Sinn Fein will be hoping to become the largest party in local government, replicating their success at last Mays assembly election when they became the largest party at Stormont for the first time.

The partys manifesto includes making councils living wage employers, as well as constitutional goals, including securing a date for a unity referendum from the Irish and British governments.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said the DUPs failure to form an executive was a failure to reflect the outcome of the most recent assembly election.

Obviously the election stands in and of itself as an important moment in electing councillors for local government, she said.

But yes, I think it is true to say that out on the ground, the big conversation still is, when will the democratic outcome of the last election be finally respected?

And people naturally say to us all of the time, that the failure by the DUP to establish an executive with everybody else, to work with everybody else, represents a failure on their part, to respect the views of the democratic outcome of that election.

So I think what you will see and certainly what were hearing, and I think we can all confirm this, is a demand and a huge appetite amongst the public for the DUP to do the right thing, and people are very clear about what the right thing is  the right thing is the executive working, the right thing is government for all, and the right thing is for Michelle ONeill to now meet that executive as First Minister, and to work in partnership with everybody.

Ms McDonald added that she was optimistic that the executive would be restored and the DUP would have to respond to the wishes of the electorate.

The democratic process, the function of it, is to allow the people to be in charge and at the driving wheel, and I think those that wish to find an excuse not to work together, not to share power, will I think always find that excuse, she said.

But I am, and we are, much more optimistic and hopeful that reason will prevail, and that good judgment, quite frankly, will prevail, and the needs and wishes of people in communities across the board will prevail.

And so anybody who is concerned about that, irrespective of your political stripe, will understand that we cannot stagger on indefinitely, with no government and with no executive.

Thats not a viable or realistic proposition. So theres the challenge for the DUP to respond to the clear wishes of society to have orderly, progressive leadership that delivers for everyone.
Recently we were reminded, yet again, that institutions require independent monitoring if vulnerable people and their interests are to be protected.

The review by Dr Geoffrey Shannon into St John Ambulance, published in March, found there had been a "significant degree of organisational awareness" of threats to child safety and a failure to act on this knowledge.

March also saw the publication of a report into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces that found that it barely tolerates women and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks.

Both reiterated the essential lesson that institutions should not be policing themselves, which, to our shame, should be a lesson well learned in Ireland.

Yet today, this Government is proposing to set up a whole new infrastructure to prevent and meet the needs of sexual violence victims, without any element of independent monitoring. This is inexplicable.

Cliona Saidlear: This Government is proposing to set up a whole new infrastructure to prevent and meet the needs of victims, without any element of independent monitoring. This is inexplicable. Picture: RollingNews.ie

The problem that is to be addressed involves some of the most vulnerable and victimised people in our society. This is not a niche issue.

The Central Statistics Offices Sexual Violence Survey 2023, the most comprehensive and substantial overview of sexual violence in more than 20 years, found that:

Four in 10 people experience sexual violence in their lifetime  52% of women and 28% of men, and the problem is increasing;

65% of young women between the ages of 18- 24 report being affected by sexual violence.

It is an issue that cannot be relegated to outside the home. In fact, the most dangerous place for women is in a relationship, with 64% of women who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime abused by a partner/ex-partner.

Patterns of victimisation emerge that suggest continued vulnerability over a lifetime. Fifteen per cent of adults were subjected to sexual violence as both a child and as an adult. Rates of disclosure are not high.

Only 47% of adults who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime told someone about at least one experience of sexual violence. This is the scale of the problem that the new Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) infrastructure is designed to address.

The current Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence reflects a step change in the Governments approach to DSGBV and its prioritisation on the State agenda. For the first time, the Government is approaching the issue with the belief that change is possible rather than finding better ways to live with the intolerable.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland particularly welcomed the commitment to a dedicated and specialist DSGBV agency. For too long, DSGBV had fallen between agencies and departments, which has led to a lack of oversight and understanding of the issues and resulted in gaps in responding effectively.

One such stark example is the Department of Housing failing to count how many people on their housing need register were homeless because of domestic violence. The answer is  a lot.

The DSGBV Agency General Scheme is currently being examined by the Oireachtas committee on justice. However, neither the strategy nor the draft legislation contains provision for independent monitoring, apart from delegation of monitoring around the one aspect of children to the existing Ombudsman.

The State is committed to oversight and accountability within Government, with the minister for justice and Cabinet keeping a close watch and steer on the new agency and its implementation and coordination of the zero tolerance strategy. This is to be welcomed.

Four in 10 people experience sexual violence in their lifetime  52% of women and 28% of men, and the problem is increasing, according to the CSO.

However, what is neglected is the establishment, resourcing, or indeed any proposal to place on a statutory footing, a mechanism for independently monitoring and evaluating the Governments adherence to its obligations.

Not only would such a mechanism do much to support the work of the agency and Government, the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention, of which Ireland is a signatory, explicitly requires effective monitoring under Article 10.

Its evaluation of other countries' attempts to meet the obligations under Article 10 points out the challenge.

In its 2016 report it stated: "A situation in which close institutional ties exist between those who implement measures and bear political responsibility for them on the one hand and those who are supposed to evaluate the efficacy of those measures on the other, or even one in which the two groups are identical, provides fertile ground for conflicts of interests and can weaken the analysis."

We have learnt many times over in Ireland, particularly around sexual violence, that leaving authorities to police themselves is not just bad practice but is failure of design. It would appear the Council of Europe agrees.

We cannot begin this new page in addressing sexual violence by replicating old and failed practices.
Boris Johnson confronted Britain's King Charles, essentially squaring up to him for branding the Rwanda asylum policy appalling, it has been alleged.

Guto Harri, who served as No 10s director of communications under the former British prime minister, claimed Mr Johnson told him he went in quite hard on the then-prince.

Mr Johnson disputed his long-standing allys account as inaccurate, with a source saying he deplores any commentary on conversations with royals.

Charles and Mr Johnson discussed Charless reported criticism of the scheme as they met in Rwandas capital of Kigali at a Commonwealth summit in June.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson departs following the coronation of the King (Phil Noble/PA)

At the time, Mr Johnson described his discussion with Charles as a good old chinwag that covered a lot of ground.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Harri says that the meeting was less amicable than suggested.

The former BBC journalist wrote: I went in quite hard, he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he  as unelected royalty  had said about the actions of a democratically elected government.

Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, (saying): If you didnt say it we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they havent done that says it all.

Along with other former prime ministers, Mr Johnsons attended the coronation at the weekend.

Mr Harri claimed Charles and Mr Johnson had struggled to get on for years after the politician was late for a meeting while London mayor, but that Rwanda was the final straw.

Relations never fully recovered and Charles will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 before he ascended to the throne, he added.

Mr Johnson brought Mr Harri into No 10 after a clearout of aides over the partygate scandal, bringing back his former City Hall communications adviser into his inner circle.

A source close to Mr Johnson said: Boris Johnson does not recognise this account and it is inaccurate. It does not accurately reflect any conversation

We would never comment on these matters and Mr Johnson deplores any attempt to do so.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his countrys Victory Day parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday that a real war has been unleashed against Russia by the Wests untamed ambitions, shortly after the Kremlins forces rained cruise missiles on Ukrainian targets.

Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point, the leader said at the capitals annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland. Since Russia invaded its neighbour more than 14 months ago, Mr Putin has repeatedly framed the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict with the West.

The Kremlins official narrative of the war has painted a picture of an existential conflict with the West, which in Moscows view is merely using Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia, rewrite its history and crush its traditional values. That version of events has dominated Russian state media coverage of the war.

Russian RS-24 Yars ballistic missiles move towards Red Square to attend the Victory Day parade (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

In his speech, Mr Putin insisted that the Wests untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity are to blame for the conflict.

He welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade, and concluded his speech: To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To victory!

Earlier, Russia unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles on Ukraine, hours before the start of the Moscow parade, which this year is taking place amid tight security measures.

The Kremlins forces launched 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that air defence had successfully destroyed 23 of them.

In a Telegram post, the air force said eight Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from carriers in the Black Sea towards the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The barrage came as Moscow and other cities hosted military parades and other festivities marking Victory Day, Russias biggest secular holiday which this year has been significantly overshadowed by the war in Ukraine.

Moscows annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War are taking place amid tight security measures (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

At least 21 Russian cities cancelled May 9 military parades  the staple of celebrations across Russia  for the first time in years.

The Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in the Second World War  another pillar of the holiday  have also been cancelled in dozens of cities.

Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns; however some speculated that the real reason behind the cancellations was the fear that Russians might take portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine, illustrating the scale of Russias losses in the drawn-out conflict.

Moscow was expected to project a show of force during its flagship parade in Red Square, with top-notch military equipment rumbling through it and leaders of ex-Soviet nations standing beside Mr Putin.

Initially, only one of them  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov  was expected to attend, but at the last minute on Monday officials confirmed that leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were heading to Moscow as well.

The pared-down celebrations come after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. The Kremlin billed it as an attempt on Mr Putins life; Ukraine denied involvement.
China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian politician and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it firmly opposes.

It said Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China reserves the right to take further actions in response.

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.

Justin Trudeaus government is expelling a Chinese diplomat who was allegedly involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition politician and his relatives in Hong Kong (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Earlier on Tuesday, Canada said Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canadas spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition politician and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively torn up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press.

China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora, particularly those from minority groups.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It was not immediately clear if he was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Mr Zhao persona non grata and that Canada would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, she said.

Canadas spy service indicated that, in 2021, opposition Conservative politician Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after he criticised Beijings human rights record. Canadas spy agency has not released details publicly.

Mr Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uighur ethnic group in Chinas Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political re-education camps.

China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centres is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies towards Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Mr Chong said Mr Zhaos expulsion should have happened years ago.

I hope that this makes it clear not just to the Peoples Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil, he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press conference in Beijing (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Mr Zhaos expulsion was based on rumours of the so-called China interference hyped up by some politicians and media.

This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, the statement said.

It added that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side.

China never interferes in other countries internal affairs, it said.

In recent years, China has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Party-controlled Chinese state media posted in the US and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare.

In 2020, China ordered the closure of the US Consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a centre of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Mr Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Mr Trudeau has appointed former governor-general David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder, at the behest of US authorities who accused her of fraud.

Many countries labelled Chinas action hostage politics, while China accused Ottawa of arbitrary detention.

The pair, who were accused of vague national security crimes, were released hours after Ms Mengs lawyers ended the nearly three-year feud embroiling Ottawa, Beijing and Washington with a deal under which she accepted responsibility for misrepresenting the companys business dealings in Iran.
Security measures are keeping the peace in a remote north-east Indian state where 60 people were killed and 35,000 civilians displaced in rioting and ethnic clashes last week, officials said.

Manipur states chief minister, N Biren Singh, told reporters late on Monday that around 230 people were injured and about 1,700 houses were burned by protesters after fierce fighting broke out when members of tribal groups clashed with a non-tribal group over demands of economic benefits and reservation status.

Mr Singh said thousands of civilians, escorted by security personnel, are now returning home after the situation was brought under control by police and army who patrolled the streets and enforced a curfew that is still in place.

Refugees from Manipur state rest at a relief camp at Lakhipur, in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam (Panna Ghosh/AP)

He said 1,041 guns and 7,460 rounds of ammunition were looted from security personnel during the violence in which some religious places were also burned by the mobs.

On Monday, Indias Home Minister Amit Shah told the India Today news channel that the situation in Manipur is under control and appealed to the people to maintain peace.

Violence in Manipur, which borders Myanmar, broke out last week after protests by more than 50,000 Kukis and members of other predominantly Christian tribal communities in Churachandpur and adjoining districts.

They were protesting at the majority Meitei Hindu communitys demand for a special status that would give them benefits including the right to farm on forest land, cheap bank loans, and health and educational facilities, as well as a specified quota of government jobs.

Security measures are keeping the peace in remote Mainipur state in north-east India where 60 people were killed and 35,000 civilians displaced in rioting and ethnic clashes last week (Panna Ghosh/AP)

Minority hill community leaders say the Meitei community is comparatively well-off and that granting them more privileges would be unfair. The Meiteis say employment quotas and other benefits for the tribespeople would be protected.

Two-thirds of the states 2.5 million people live in a valley that comprises roughly 10% of the states total area.

The Meiteis are Hindus while rival groups, including the Kuki and other tribes, are mostly Christian and mainly live in the surrounding hill districts.

Ethnic Muslims constitute about 8% of the state population.
The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has risen to 604, including civilians, the UN health agency said on Tuesday, as representatives of the warring parties held talks in Saudi Arabia.

A further 5,100 people have been injured as a result of the fighting, World Health Organisation spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters.

On Monday, the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said the number of fatalities had reached 487.

The conflict started on April 15, after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields and displaced nearly 700,000 people on top of the 3.7 million who had already been internally displaced within the country before the conflict began, according to the UN migration agency.

People displaced from Sudan at a refugee camp in Renk County, South Sudan (Peter Louis/WFP/AP)

On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said talks between delegations of both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in the coastal city of Jeddah.

The talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by the kingdom and the United States in hopes of ending the fighting.

Meanwhile, General Burhan accused the RSF of using residential neighbourhoods as military bases and civilians as human shields.

In an interview with Egyptian TV channel Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya late on Monday he insisted they must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached.

If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations, he said.

We wont go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens.

The RSF has not responded to General Burhans statement.
Myanmar troops used an enhanced-blast munition known as a fuel-air explosive in an air strike that killed more than 160 people, including many children, at a ceremony held last month by opponents of army rule, according to a report by a human rights monitoring group.

Human Rights Watch accused the military of dropping the weapon, also known as a thermobaric or vacuum bomb, on a crowd that had gathered for the opening of a local office of the countrys resistance movement outside Pazigyi village in Myanmars central Sagaing region on the morning of April 11.

The area is about 70 miles (110km) north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

The attack caused indiscriminate and disproportionate civilian casualties in violation of international humanitarian law, and was an apparent war crime, said the New York-based group.

#Myanmar: @HRW found military used 'thermobaric' bomb in attack on Pa Zi Gyi village in Sagaing Region.



Such munition can only cause indiscriminate & disproportionate harm and destruction. 160 civilians were killed.



This an apparent war crime.https://t.co/rlj8x9DT0K pic.twitter.com/JIMDsRVp87  Philippe Dam (@philippe_dam) May 9, 2023

Thermobaric weapons consist of a fuel container and two separate explosive charges, with the first detonating to disperse the fuel particles and the second igniting the dispersed fuel and oxygen in the air, creating a blast wave of extreme pressure and heat that creates a partial vacuum in an enclosed space.

That makes the weapon particularly deadly for people in an enclosed space, such as the office that was being opened.

Myanmar is wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and brutally suppressed non-violent protests.

That triggered an armed resistance and combat in many parts of the country, with the military increasingly using air strikes to counter the opposition and secure territory.

Human Rights Watch said it based its conclusion that a thermobaric weapon had been used on a review of 59 photos of the victims bodies and a video of the site following the attacks.

It said it also analysed eight photographs and two videos of the remnants of the weapons posted online by the National Unity Government, an underground group that calls itself the countrys legitimate government.

It presented them during a news conference three days after the bombing of the building that was supposed to be a local office for the organisation.

The attack killed 168 civilians, including 40 children under the age of 18, it said. The youngest victim was a six-month-old girl and a 76-year-old man the oldest, the statement said. The tally could not be independently confirmed by the Associated Press.

A witness told AP on the day of the attack that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly on to a crowd of people and a helicopter appeared about half an hour later, firing at the site.

The witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities, said those killed also included leaders of local anti-government armed groups and other opposition organisations.

Myanmars army acknowledged the attack but defended its actions, accusing anti-government forces in the area of carrying out a violent campaign of terror.

The aftermath of the air strike on Pazigyi village in Myanmars Sagaing region in April (Kyunhla Activists Group/AP)

It said the Peoples Defence Forces  the armed wing of the National Unity Government  had terrorised residents into supporting them, killing Buddhist monks, teachers and others.

The military governments spokesman, Major General Zaw Min Tun, told state television MRTV there was evidence that the attack had set off secondary blasts of explosives hidden by the Peoples Defence Forces around the site.

Human Rights Watch said that, according to a witness, the Peoples Defence Forces stored goods, funds, medicines and also some ammunition in the office building, which was intended for civilian uses such as filing taxes, township meetings and judicial processes.

The presence of opposition combatants and ammunition would make the building a legitimate military objective subject to attack, said the group.

Even so, the use of an enhanced-blast weapon for the attack was unlawfully indiscriminate because its use in a crowded civilian area could not minimise the loss of civilian life.

In addition, the initial strike and ensuing attacks on hundreds of fleeing civilians was almost certainly an unlawfully disproportionate attack, and possibly a deliberate attack on civilians.

The use of thermobaric weapons is rarely publicly acknowledged because of the indiscriminate destruction they can cause.

The United States has used varieties of fuel-air explosives in conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan, the US Air Force dropped what it described as its largest non-nuclear conventional weapon, the 21,693lb (9,840kg) Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb.

Russia, which acknowledges producing fuel-air munitions, has been accused of using them in several conflicts, including in Ukraine.

The weapons have also been reported to have been used by Azerbaijan in fighting against neighbouring Armenia, and by government forces in Syrias civil war.
Posts on a Russian social network suggest a man who opened fire at a suburban Dallas shopping centre, killing eight people and wounding seven others, had planned the attack for weeks.

Mauricio Garcia, 33, researched when the site in Allen was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack on Saturday, which ended with police killing him.

Among the dead were two primary school-age sisters, a couple and their three-year-old son, and a security guard.

Garcias online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The front entrance of a home connected to suspected gunman Mauricio Garcia (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

The online activity has contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the US Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and had apparently been working as a security guard, according to neighbours and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the US.

The Associated Press independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of Dallass most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official.

The official said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Protesters gather at the Texas State Capitol in Austin to demand stricter gun controls (Eric Gay/AP)

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, US Army spokeswoman Heather J Hagan said.

According to an Army official, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterised discharge, which is common for recruits who do not make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defence official. That type of discharge  which is not dishonourable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbours said they thought he worked as a security guard but they were not sure where.

A woman who lives next door said she did not know her neighbours well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests on Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of becoming law.
Burma Assassination Spree Sends Shock Waves Through Myanmar Junta and Allies

Soldiers and police stand guard behind sandbag fortifications at a police station in Yangon on January 27, 2022. / AFP

Junta lobbyists and members of the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) are in a state of panic and have been urging each other to exercise caution following a spate of fatal attacks on junta officials, former military officers and their associates in towns.

On April 22, the junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC)s deputy director-general, Sai Kyaw Thu, was shot dead in broad daylight in Yangon.

The assassination sent shock waves through military supporters. The following day, USDP spokeswoman Daw Nan Mya Mi Mi Zaw posted a long Facebook warning for military supporters to turn off mobile data wherever they go, not make or answer phone calls in public, not post pictures in real-time when they travel, speak no more than necessary during trips, and bear in mind there could be watermelons [pro-democracy informers inside the military] around them.

Other well-known lobbyists also urged their peers to exercise caution amid rising dangers.

The UEC also organized meetings focusing on safety of its members in Naypyitaw.

Led by former Major-General Soe Thein, the election body is one of the pillars of the junta. Its director-general Aung Myo Lwin brought the lawsuit that led to the jailing of civilian president U Win Myint, state counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and presidents office minister U Min Thu for allegedly abusing their power to influence the former election commission.

Sai Kyaw Thu, who was assassinated by urban revolutionary group For the Yangon, was a prosecution witness in the case. Plaintiff Aung Myo Lwin and other prosecution witnesses will now be dreading that they might also be killed.

Sai Kyaw Thus killing came amid spate of assassinations targeting pro-regime figures.

In March, regime-allied lawyer Min Tayzar Nyunt Tin was fatally shot in Thanlyin.

Former lieutenant-colonel Aung Nyi Tun and two others were also killed in Thanlyin on April 18.

On April 29, one week after Sai Kyaw Thu was gunned down, retired major U Ye Min Than was assassinated by the Bahans Guerrilla Force.

Other high-profile targets have included the junta-controlled central banks vice governor Daw Than Than Swe, military-owned Mytel Telecoms chief financial officer U Thein Aung, and retired Brigadier-General Ohn Thwin, who was the mentor of deputy junta chief Soe Win.

Daw Than Than Swe was the only one to survive assassination attempts and has since been promoted to central bank governor.

Kyaw Zeya, a former lieutenant colonel and National League for Democracy lawmaker who became vice chair of the Peoples Pioneer Party led by junta social welfare minister Thet Thet Khine, wrote on Facebook that it was tragic and unfair that former military personnel were being killed. They were being targeted while living a peaceful retirement with their families after surviving battles during military service, he wrote.

Kyaw Zeya is now in the process of registering his new Union Peace and Unity Party with the UEC.

Chats with former military classmates were now overshadowed by talk of the killings, he added. Once they could walk with their heads held high on planes, trains and buses, but for more than a year now they have had to wear civilian clothes in public and keep a watchful eye wherever they go, he complained.

Except for certain individuals like Khin Yi, the ex-Brigadier General and current USDP chair who lives in a heavily guarded residence in Naypyitaw and boasts a team of personal bodyguards, former military officers are now living in fear.

Many former generals, officers, and families of junta-appointed ministers have fled Yangon and Mandalay to the regimes administrative seat of Naypyitaw following the attacks. USDP members, military supporters, and family members of ex-military officers living in war zones have also sought safety by relocating to Naypyitaw.

Secret notices have been issued to every department urging staff to stay vigilant for security threats, citing attacks on officials from administrative bodies and civil servants, a staff officer from Naypyitaw said.

The notices advise staff to travel by plane when necessary. Many of the family members of former generals have moved to Naypyitaw following assassinations. Some have bought houses here while others are renting.

As those with ties to the military flock to Naypyitaw as a safe haven, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has been tightening his own personal security. He rarely leaves his military office compound except to attend meetings at the presidential residence, official ceremonies, or for occasional visits to the giant Maravijaya Buddha Image he is having built on Naypyitaws outskirts. He frequently urges his officers and their families to be aware of their security.

Generals and their family members are also not allowed to leave the military office compound without permission.

Despite the presence of sandbag-fortified bunkers and checkpoints at major intersections, the abode of the generals is still prone to resistance attacks.

In February and March, blasts rocked the home of former Upper House deputy speaker and current USDP central consultative committee member Myat Nyein, and the Mandalay Paradise Restaurant owned by former agriculture and irrigation director-general U Kyaw Myint Hlaing, who has close ties to former military dictator Than Shwe.

Last Wednesday (May 3), urban guerillas attacked a junta security checkpoint in a neighborhood of former military officers and junta-appointed ministers in Naypyitaws Ottarathiri Township.
Burma Five Myanmar Junta Police Killed in Mandalay Region: Resistance

Anti-regime resistance troops in Myanmar.

At least five Myanmar junta police officers were killed and four injured when resistance groups attacked a police station in Ngazun Township, Mandalay Region, on Sunday, according to resistance forces.

Two drones dropped six bombs on Myo Thar police station, a Myingyan District Drone Team spokesman told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday.

Five police officers were killed and four others, including a relative of the police chief, were injured during the attack, he said. We targeted the brutal police force. We were careful to prevent civilian casualties and told the public to avoid police stations and regime outposts.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Officers from the police station have been extorting money from drivers and residents at a Tadar-U and Myingyan road checkpoint, according to residents.

The police opened fire when the resistance bombs exploded. Around 50 officers were reportedly in the station at the time.

Ngazun and Myingyan peoples defense forces also took part in the attack. There were no resistance casualties reported.

Drones are increasingly being used to target regime forces. In April a police outpost in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region, was attacked with drones and in Chin State two junta armored vehicles were badly damaged by drones.
Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Behead 8 Civilians and Resistance Members in Sagaing

Locals attend the funeral for resistance defenders killed by regime forces in Chaung U Township last Friday. / Chaung U Revolution

Myanmar junta forces killed and beheaded three civilians and five resistance members during a raid in Chaung U Township, Sagaing Region last Friday, according to locals and resistance groups.

A detachment of 80 troops raided a training camp of the Chaung U Peoples Defense Force (PDF) and an adjacent monastery after occupying the townships Kyi Kone village at 7 pm on Friday, a representative of the resistance group told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday.

Regime troops seized and killed three Chaung U PDF members and two civilians who were evacuating over 100 residents sheltering at the monastery. Prior to the raid, regime troops had clashed with resistance forces in the area.

Our comrades had enough time to avoid the junta raid, but instead they chose to evacuate displaced civilians from the monastery. They were seized along with two civilians while they checked whether any refugees were left in the monastery, said the Chaung U PDF representative.

All refugees were evacuated ahead of the raid by regime troops. However, the resistance training camp leader, two of his comrades and two civilians were killed and decapitated by junta soldiers, according to the resistance leader who retrieved their bodies after regime forces retreated.

They all were stabbed in their necks and abdomens before being beheaded. Their headless torsos were still bleeding when we arrived. We had to cremate their bodies without heads, the PDF leader said.

Locals and resistance forces also found the bodies of a 65-year-old female resident and two other resistance fighters from another local group a few kilometers away from the site of the raid.

The woman refugee was shot in the head. The other two were stabbed and shot to death after being detained by the junta military column, said the Chaung U PDF leader.

He said regime troops have been committing such atrocities to terrorize resistance defenders and civilians who oppose military rule. The tactic was backfiring, he added.

Witnessing the juntas inhumane atrocities has made my comrades and I even more determined to fight till the regime is ousted. We cant allow a military of murderers and rapists to govern our country and people.

On Saturday morning, the same military column went on to burn 530 houses during a raid on Let Htoke Taw village in neighboring Myinmu Township, according to residents and resistance members.

Regime forces opened fire on villagers during the raid, killing a 50-year-old villager and wounding two other residents.
Burma PNLO Denies Attacking ASEAN Relief Convoy in Myanmars Shan State

A road junction on the route to Hsi Hseng in southern Shan State / Hsi Hseng Township Development Committee

The Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), an ethnic armed organization based in eastern Myanmars Shan State, has denied attacking a convoy carrying regional diplomats and officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as it was attempting to deliver relief supplies in the south of the state over the weekend.

The convoy carrying two diplomats each from the embassies of Singapore and Indonesia, three officials from the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, and PNLO liaison officers was attacked by an unknown armed group in Hsi Hseng Township on Sunday.

The convoy was traveling to a displacement camp in Hsi Hseng to provide humanitarian aid to displaced families there. Following the fighting, the convoy turned back to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State. No one was injured in the attack.

The shooting happened around 9 a.m. An unknown group fired around five to 10 shots at the convoy. The attack I think was intended to discourage diplomats from visiting the displacement camp. The convoy left Taunggyi at 7.30 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Hsi Hseng at 10. They were attacked at a place some 4 miles [6.5 km] from Hsi Hseng, PNLO patron Khun Okkar told The Irrawaddy.

The ASEAN diplomats canceled their trip after the shooting, and PNLO vice chair Khun Tun Tin met displaced families on behalf of the ASEAN diplomats and handed over relief supplies.

No one was injured. A back door of the last vehicle in the convoy was hit. The seat was hit. But no one was hit, said Colonel Khun Okkar.

While the attack took place in an area controlled by junta-affiliated militia the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), allegations have appeared on social media that the PNLO was behind the attack. A news report by Radio Free Asia also quoted an anonymous PNO official as saying the attack was carried out by a PNLO team lead by member Kyaw Htin.

PNLO patron Khun Okkar denied the allegations. There were PNLO liaison officers in that convoy. And the plan was for relief supplies [for displaced people] to be handed over at the PNLOs liaison office. The entire trip was arranged by the PNLO under the guidance of the Peace Process Steering Team [PPST]. So, why would the PNLO attack such a thing, which could help boost the organizations political image and earn political recognition for it? The attack was intended to force the convoy to cancel their trip, said Khun Okkar.

Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) Secretary-2 Ko Marwi, meanwhile, said the KNDF is not active in Hsi Hseng, adding that he had no knowledge about the attack on the convoy.

Secretary of the parallel National Unity Government (NUG)s Defense Ministry U Naing Htoo Aung told PV TV: Junta troops and PNO militias are deployed at the place where the attack happened, and it is not convenient for [resistance forces] to carry out guerrilla attacks there. So, it would be impossible for the Peoples Defense Force and other revolutionary organizations to attack the convoy there.

The attack took place two days before the ASEAN Summit kicked off in Indonesia on Tuesday. The Myanmar crisis is at the top of the summits agenda.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo told a press briefing on Monday that he condemned the attack.

The PNLO is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and is also a member of the PPST, a 10-member group of NCA signatories. Seven PPST members including the PNLO are currently engaged in peace talks with the military regime.
Myanmars Crisis & the World Myanmar to Dominate ASEAN Summit as Violence Escalates

Myanmars chair is left vacant during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 9, 2023. / AFP

Junta-ruled Myanmar is set to dominate a meeting of Southeast Asian nations in Indonesia starting Tuesday, after an air strike on a village last month reportedly killed at least 170 people.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), long decried by critics as a toothless talking shop, has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis.

But those efforts have been fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents, which include ousted lawmakers, anti-coup Peoples Defense Forces and armed ethnic minority groups.

An air strike on a village in a rebel stronghold last month that reportedly killed about 170 people sparked global condemnation and worsened the juntas isolation.

It also fueled calls for ASEAN to take tougher action to end the violence.

That pressure increased Sunday after a convoy of vehicles carrying diplomats and officials coordinating ASEAN humanitarian relief in Myanmar came under fire.

Few details have been released about the shooting in eastern Myanmars Shan State, but a foreign diplomat in Yangon said diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore were in the group.

Singapore confirmed two staff members from its embassy in Yangon were in the convoy but unharmed.

Singapore condemns this attack, its foreign ministry said late Monday.

Indonesia, the ASEAN chair this year, has not yet said if its diplomats were in the vehicles.

The shooting happened days before the May 9-11 ASEAN summit on the Indonesian island of Flores, where foreign ministers and leaders will continue efforts to kick-start a five-point plan agreed with Myanmar two years ago after mediation attempts to end the violence failed.

The incident certainly raises the urgency of Myanmar as a key discussion point at this summit, a Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP.

The US State Department said it was deeply concerned about the shooting and urged the junta to meaningfully implement the Five-Point Consensus.

Myanmar remains an ASEAN member but has been barred from top-level summits over the juntas failure to implement the peace plan.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Friday that her country was using quiet diplomacy to speak with all sides of the Myanmar conflict and spur renewed peace efforts.

ASEAN has long been criticized for its inaction, but its initiatives are limited by its charter principles of consensus and non-interference.

Former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa said the bloc was being tested whether it is relevant and able to address this issue.

But US-based analyst Zachary Abuza said the group was unlikely to offer more than another milquetoast statement of condemnation despite Sundays attack.

Had a diplomat been killed, there would have been more pressure on the organization to do something, but frankly theyve been so feckless in the past two years that its hard to see them actually acting in a meaningful way, Abuza told AFP.
Analysis Myanmars Corrupt Air Force Gets big Budget Raise as Airstrikes Escalate

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at the 75th anniversary of the Myanmar Air Forces founding in December 2022.

The Myanmar militarys budget has increased every year since Min Aung Hlaing became its chief in 2011. The budget of the air force in particular has jumped significantly, as new aircraft have been purchased and the military regime has become increasingly reliant on air attacks to combat the resistance movement.

For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the junta has approved a defense budget of almost US$2.7 billion, an increase of US$920 million on the previous year.

However, until very recently the air force budget was comparatively small. According to a separate defense expenditure list acquired by The Irrawaddy that the military did not submit to parliament, the air forces expenditure for the 2019-20 fiscal year totaled US$376 million. That amount did not include aviation fuel bills and salaries.

At that time, Myanmar was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and holding the 2020 general election. There were some clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine State. But overall the period saw the fewest clashes since Min Aung Hlaing became the military chief in 2011.

As the air forces spending was around US$376 million during that period of relative calm, its spending might reach US$1 billion per year between 2021 and 2023.

But half of the budget usually ends up in the pockets of generals, officers and cronies.

U Kyaw Min Oo, the owner of Sky Aviator Co, who was born to an ordinary family in Ayeyarwady Regions Mawlamyinegyun Township, amassed huge wealth in the decade after he was awarded licenses to supply the air force. The crony has limited edition Mercedes cars in his garage.

Brigadier-General Kyaw Moe Thet, who served as the commander of an air base in Mandalays Tada-U Township, is one of the beneficiaries of business deals involving the air force. He sponsors artists with millions of kyats. Among the artists are Yone Lay and J Fire. The general also owns dozens of land plots in Mandalay, each worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

Even richer are the air force chief and his relatives who have accumulated immense wealth within a few years to join the countrys League of Cronies.

The structure of the Myanmar Air Force was based on the UKs Royal Air Force, with three key departments  procurement, engineering and administration  designed to exercise checks and balances in procurement and usage of equipment, thereby preventing corruption. But the air force has become increasingly corrupt since 1988.

Under the previous military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, the air force stopped inviting open tenders for the procurement of new aircraft, spare parts and maintenance.

Instead, licenses were awarded to those who were close to the air force leadership. Back then, the sister-in-law of Vice Senior General Maung Aye, known as Daw Daisy, was the key middleperson in procuring aircraft for the air force.

Business owners awarded licenses paid commission to the likes of Daw Daisy and the generals. But under Min Aung Hlaing, the children of generals have established their own companies to supply the military.

Notable examples include Ivan Htet, the son of former air force chief General Maung Maung Kyaw, who established Alliance Engineering Service to supply the air force. General Maung Maung Kyaws nephew and niece, U Lin Htet and Daw Mon Yee, also made fortunes by supplying and providing maintenance services for the air force.

It was easy money for the generals and their suppliers, as all they need to do is to cook the books by charging higher prices for items and services provided to the air force. So the generals awarded licenses to supply the air force to their relatives.

Companies have to give commission to both the military chief and air force chief for business deals made with the air force. The head of the air force reportedly gets at least five per cent of the value of each deal.

Among the middlemen who helped purchase aircraft, helicopters and parts under former military dictator Than Shwe were U Tay Za, who runs the Htoo Group of Companies, and Dr. Naing Htut Aung, who owns Gate Way International. U Tay Za has close ties with former air force head General Myat Hein. The generals son worked for U Tay Zas company.

Since Min Aung Hlaing became the military chief in 2011, his son and daughter, General Maung Maung Kyaws children and U Kyaw Min Oo have monopolized business with the air force. U Kyaw Min Oo previously worked for U Tay Za, while his younger brother served as the commander of an air force Mi-17 squadron.

Mahar Sit Thu Gyi Co, which supplies the air force, is owned by Min Aung Hlaings daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon.

Aircraft need different types of maintenance after flying for certain hours. It is a business with huge profits.

The annual maintenance cost for a MiG-29 fighter is over US$4.6 million, while a Yak-130 bombers maintenance costs US$2.1 million, according to air force figures. But the actual cost is 50 per cent less, according to some air force officers.

In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the Myanmar military spent US$2.4 million on two Mi-35P assault helicopters from Belarus. One of them crashed in 2021 because they were substandard, according to air force officials.

The military regime is increasingly reliant on its air force to combat the growing resistance movement. But while the juntas airstrikes cause ever-greater civilian casualties, senior air force officers and their cronies are getting even richer.
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 (12:53 pm) - Score 552

Broadband ISP Quickline, which is working to roll out their gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) network to 96 rural locations (55,000 premises) across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England, has announced that theyve connected their first UK Q Hub in the village of Hibaldstow, near Brigg in North Lincolnshire (England).

The term Q Hub appears to be just another name for sponsoring the deployment of a new full fibre broadband connection to local village halls or community centres, which is something that a lot of other network operators do to help encourage support and advertise their builds (while also being of benefit to the local authority and residents).

Even though its technically already been connected, the official launch of the providers first Q Hub will take place on Saturday, May 13th, from 2.30pm-5.30pm with a family event to mark the occasion.

Julian Chalk, Quicklines Head of Enablement and Engagement, said: Our sponsorship of the village hall in Hibaldstow, and the creation of our first Q Hub, demonstrates our long-term commitment to support the communities we serve. Were proud to be making a genuine difference to the lives of people living and working in these communities. The launch event at Hibaldstow promises to be a great afternoon and we hope as many residents as possible come out to enjoy it and take advantage of the new equipment and connectivity available to them.

The ISP is being supported by a 500m investment from Northleaf Capital Partners, which acquired them in 2021. Quickline has previously stated that this would fuel their ambition to cover 500,000 UK premises in rural and semi-rural areas with ultrafast broadband via a mix of FTTP and 5G based FWA (wireless) infrastructure by 2025 (here).

The operator has already covered 300,000 premises via just their FWA network, while their XGS-PON based Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) deployment has so far covered 10,000 premises across over 20 rural communities. But theyre initially aiming to reach 96 rural locations (55,000 premises) across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in England (deployment plan).

Residential customers covered by their new FTTP network are usually charged from 29 per month on a 24-month term for 100Mbps (50Mbps upload) speeds with free installation, and that goes up to 49 for their top 900Mbps (450Mbps upload) tier. But Quickline are also giving their customers some peace of mind with a commitment that their tariffs will remain unchanged for 24-months.
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 (12:01 pm) - Score 4,344

At the start of this year Vodafone became the first UK mobile operator to begin the process of switching off their old 3G mobile (mobile broadband) network, which started with a pilot in the Devon city of Plymouth and the Hampshire town of Basingstoke. The operator now plans to start switching off the remainder of its 3G from June 2023.

The government and all major mobile operators have already agreed to phase-out existing 2G and 3G signals by 2033 (here), which will free up radio spectrum bands so that they can be used to further improve the network coverage and mobile broadband speeds of more modern 4G and 5G based mobile networks. The switch-off will also reduce the operators costs and power consumption.

NOTE: Vodafone s 3G has been live for 18 years, but back in January 2022 it accounted for just 4% of the data used on their network (down from over 30% in 2016).

However, 3G services will be the first to go because older 2G signals remain useful as a low-power fallback (theyll be sticking around for a lot longer) and are still necessary for some rural areas, as well as for particular applications (e.g. many Smart Meters and other Internet of Things (IoT) / M2M services are dependent upon 2G). But most operators expect to have completely phased out 3G by the end of 2024.

In the case of Vodafone, the operator has today stated that their national shutdown will happen in phases throughout the remainder of 2023, starting in June with Hull, Oxford and Greater London, before progressing across the South. The remainder of the UK will follow later in the year.

On the technical front, the change will enable some 10MHz of spectrum in their 900MHz band to be re-purposed for use by modern 4G and 5G mobile services, which could result in faster mobile broadband speeds and better network coverage from those platforms.

Nevertheless, the move will inevitably cause some data connectivity problems for anybody who still relies on a 3G-only device (rare), which is why the operator has been running a campaign alongside charities and consumer groups to reach its most vulnerable customers and ensure everyone stays connected. But most of those with a 3G handset (i.e. one that cant do 4G or 5G) will find that it may continue to function, albeit only via basic 2G services (i.e. voice and very slow data). Anything that doesnt fall back to 2G will, however, cease to function.

Vodafones UK Network Director, Andrea Dona, said: Our focus remains to continue to build the UKs most reliable mobile network and to continue to do this, we need to ensure our technologies are fit for purpose. 3G use has already dropped significantly as most of Vodafones customers now use the 4G network. Were also strengthening and improving our 4G and 5G coverage and this can only mean good news for our customers as well as the wider UK economy. At the same time, weve been working hard to make sure our customers are fully aware and have the information and tools they need to support themselves, as well as friends and family through the programme. The Digital Skills Helpline is a great asset, bringing customers the skills they may need to make the most of their device. On this solid bedrock, now is the time to say goodbye to 3G and focus on the current benefits and future possibilities of our 4G and 5G networks.

Take note that the changes will impact any dependent Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), so you wont be able to escape it by switching to an MVNO on the same physical network. As for the other operators, their plans for 3G are as follows.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Today

Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 76F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 69F. Winds light and variable.
After a Full Days Work, This Robot Did Not Collapse from Exhaustion

A video showing a robot collapsing after putting away boxes has been circulating on Twitter, accumulating nearly 5 million views.

Some claimed the robot collapsed due to a long days work causing it to deactivate itself from exhaustion.

However, the incident was part of a four-day demonstration where the robot, named Digit, fell multiple times.

The manufacturer, Agility Robotics, clarified that it was a normal occurrence for new technology and warned against ascribing intent to robots.

The company introduced Digit at the ProMat trade show in Chicago, which was held in March 2023.

According to Liz Clinkenbeard, Vice President of Communication for Agility Robotics, the fall was caused by a software bug or a minor sensor error, which took only 15-20 minutes to repair.

Clinkenbeard also emphasized that while the companys robots can use artificial intelligence, they do not possess human intent.
Tens of thousands of Serbians took to the streets on Monday to protest against the recent shootings which left 17 people dead.

The demonstrations were demanding better security, a ban on violent TV content, and the resignation of key ministers. The crowd solemnly marched through the centre of the capital Belgrade, carrying a banner saying Serbia Against Violence.

We have gathered here to pay our last respects, to do our best so this never happens again, anywhere, said Borivoje Plecevic from Belgrade. Last week, a schoolboy brought two handguns to his school and killed eight pupils and a security guard.

The day after, a 21-year-old man brandishing an assault rifle and a pistol killed eight and wounded 14 people. Both shooters surrendered to the police.

Protesters and opposition supporters demanded a shutdown of TV stations and tabloids which they accused of promoting violent and vulgar content.

Vucic and his allies deny the accusations while opposition parties accuse President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of autocracy, oppressing media freedoms, violence against political opponents, corruption, and links with organised crime.

Vucic said protesters on Monday were trying to force him to step down and destabilise the country.

He was ready to test his partys popularity in a snap vote but did not specify the date. Parliamentary elections in Serbia are due in 2026 and a presidential contest in 2027.

Protesters also called for the resignations of Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic and Aleksandar Vulin, the director of the state security agency, and the dismissal of the governments Regulatory Committee for Electronic Media (REM) within a week.

Demonstrators demanded an emergency parliamentary session and a debate about the overall security situation.

Similar protests were held in several other Serbian cities. In response to the shootings, Serbias police on Monday started a one-month amnesty for surrendering illegal weapons.

Over 1,500 weapons were handed over on the first day. Vucic announced police checks of registered gun owners.

Serbia has a deeply entrenched gun culture and is awash with military-grade weapons and ordnance in private hands after the wars of the 1990s that tore apart the former Yugoslavia. (REUTERS)
China responded on Tuesday by expelling a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai, following Ottawas decision to order a Chinese diplomat based in Toronto to leave the country.

The current escalation in bilateral tensions has been catalysed by concerns over Chinese influence in Canada.

On Monday, Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an intelligence report that accused him of attempting to target a Canadian lawmaker who had criticised Chinas treatment of its Uyghur minority.

In response to Canadas actions, China ordered Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the consul of the Canadian consulate in Shanghai, to leave China by May 13.

Chinese officials indicated that they reserve the right to take further action in response to Canadian measures.

Diplomatic tensions have been growing since the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018.

Beijing subsequently arrested two Canadian nationals on spying charges. These individuals were eventually freed earlier this year.

The situation was exacerbated further last year when China imposed a three-year ban on imports of Canadian canola, the countrys largest crop, from trading companies Richardson International and Viterra, citing concerns over pests. China is also a major importer of Canadian wheat and potash.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) report produced in 2021 about Chinese influence in Canada contained information about potential GOP threats to Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family.

The contents of the report were only made public this month, revealing that China had sought information about Chong and his family in an apparent attempt to deter him from taking anti-Chinese government positions. Chinas Toronto consulate-general dismissed the claims as purely baseless.

Canadian media outlets have carried several anonymous reports alleging that the Chinese government has sought to interfere in Canadas last two elections, a claim rejected by Beijing.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously suggested that China had attempted to meddle in both the 2019 and 2021 votes. However, he has appointed an independent special investigator to look into the allegations.
Israeli aircraft launched airstrikes on Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza Strip early on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Israeli military.

According to the group, three of its senior commanders were killed in the attacks. The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that several people were killed and injured in the airstrikes without providing further details.

The Israeli military revealed that it had directed its aerial bombing at the residences of three senior commanders of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group.

Witnesses reported that the strikes targeted a residential building in Gaza City and a house in Rafah, with continued airstrikes targeting militant training sites. Islamic Jihad, a smaller group than the ruling Hamas movement, confirmed that the three senior commanders had been killed.

Tensions between Israel and militants in Gaza Strip have been rising due to increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting daily raids to detain Palestinians suspected of planning or carrying out attacks.

The Israeli military has advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters in anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes.

Last week, Gaza militants fired rockets towards southern Israel, leading to airstrikes from the Israeli military following the death of a senior member of the Islamic Jihad in Israeli custody.

The exchange of fire ended with a ceasefire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations, and Qatar.

These airstrikes are similar to those in 2022, where Israel bombed places housing commanders of the Islamic Jihad group, leading to a three-day blitz that saw the group losing its two top commanders and other militants.

Israel states that the raids in the West Bank are aimed at dismantling militant networks and thwarting future attacks, while the Palestinians view them as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future independent state.

Since the beginning of 2023, around 105 Palestinians, half of whom are militants or alleged attackers, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to an Associated Press tally.
Ousmane Sonko, a Senegalese opposition figure, has been given a six-month suspended sentence by a court in an appeal of a defamation case that may harm his presidential candidacy next year.

Sonko came in third in the 2019 presidential election and plans to run again in 2024, but two court cases may put his candidacy in jeopardy.

In March of this year, he was sentenced in a separate defamation case to a heavy fine and a two-month suspended sentence for defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang.

However, on Monday, the Dakar appeals court increased the suspension to six months, potentially rendering Sonko ineligible for public office.

Baboucar Cisse, Niangs lawyer, announced that if the sentence is validated following a six-day appeals window, Sonko will be disqualified from running in the next presidential election and will have to pay a 200 million CFA Franc (approximately $330,000) penalty.

Sonko did not attend Mondays hearings and previously warned that he will no longer respond to court summons unless his safety is ensured. An AFP reporter noted that he was absent from the appeal hearing as well. Ibrahima Bakhoum, the prosecutor general, called for Sonkos two-year imprisonment when the appeal was launched.

The Senegalese opposition leader is also facing a trial later this month connected to allegations of rape and death threats made by an employee of a beauty salon that he had visited for a massage.

Sonko has denied the charges and alleged that President Macky Sall is involved in a conspiracy to ruin his candidacy in 2024.

Moreover, Sonkos encounters with the legal system typically result in tension and traffic jams on the streets of Dakar, as he typically travels to court with a procession of supporters.

The case against Sonko in 2021 prompted riots that killed at least 12 people in the politically stable West African country.
Saudi Arabia resumes diplomatic relations in Syria following its re-entry into the Arab League.

On Tuesday, the Saudi foreign ministry declared that Saudi Arabia would be reopening its diplomatic mission in Syria.

This comes almost a decade after diplomatic ties were severed, and just two days following Syrias reentry into the Arab League.

Some Arab countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, have moved past their previous isolation of President Bashar al-Assads crackdown on protests in 2011 and the subsequent civil war.

According to sources, Damascus and Riyadh agreed in March to reopen their embassies. The Saudi foreign ministry did not provide a date for when the embassy will reopen.

Syrias state news agency has stated that Damascus has decided to resume its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.

Contact between the two states has accelerated in light of a significant China-brokered deal to reestablish ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a key ally of Assad.

However, the United States, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has opposed regional states moves to normalize ties with Assad, due to his governments brutality during the conflict and the need for progress towards a political solution.

Some Arab states express opposition as well. The Saudi foreign ministry believes that this decision will support regional security and stability. (Reuters)
The United Nations revealed on Monday that more than 600 people were killed last month in Haitis capital, amidst a political-economic crisis.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, In the month of April alone, more than 600 people were killed in a new wave of extreme violence that hit several districts across the capital.

 They added, This follows the killing of at least 846 people in the first three months of 2023, in addition to 393 injured and 395 kidnapped during that period  a 28-percent increase in violence on the previous quarter.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Americas and has been in crisis since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

Most of Port-au-Prince, the countrys capital, is now controlled by gangs, resulting in it being one of the most dangerous places in the Western hemisphere.

The UN has been urging the Security Council to send in a specialized non-UN international armed force for months to help police restore order.

Image Source: Sandrine Exil
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN) announces the closing of its non-brokered unit private placement financing (the "Offering") announced on April 24, 2023. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company has issued 7,044,460 units (the "Units") at a price of C$0.25 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of C$1,761,115. Each Unit comprises one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.35 for a period of three years expiring on May 9, 2026. The Company has the right to force conversion of the Warrants, if at any time from and after the date of issuance, the weighted average closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), equals or exceeds C$0.50 for 20 consecutive trading days. The expiry date of the Warrants will then be 30 days from the date of issue of a news release announcing the forced conversion.

Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) ("Teck"), Hannan's largest shareholder has increased its interest in the Company and subscribed for 1,120,000 Units for gross proceeds to Hannan of C$280,000. Prior to the Private Placement, Teck held 9.0% of Hannan. Upon closing of the Private Placement, Teck will hold 9.9% of the issued common shares and warrants of Hannan on a partially diluted basis.

Mr. Michael Hudson, CEO, comments: "In this oversubscribed private placement, we have been able to continue to find alignment of strategy with shareholders, while maintaining a tight share register. Our major shareholder Teck has increased their position, and we have also received strong support from other key shareholders. We are very thankful for this support and see it as a demonstrable vote of confidence in the technical merits of the Company's projects as well as our team. Over the last two years Hannan has recognized the significant potential for large copper-gold-silver deposits in Peru, while retaining optionality for large scale discoveries in Chile (copper) and Ireland (zinc/lead silver). This bold grassroots strategy has attracted some of the largest industry participants to partner with Hannan, with both Teck and JOGMEC involved at equity and joint venture levels, respectively. With drilling ongoing in Ireland, geophysical surveys in Chile and large geological and social team very active in Peru, we are very excited about Hannan's short-, medium- and long-term exploration opportunities."

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month hold period, expiring on September 10, 2023. The Company paid a cash commission of C$2,250 to a finder. The Private Placement is subject to final approval of the Exchange.

The Company plans to use the net proceeds to fund exploration expenditures at the Company's Peruvian, Chilean and Irish projects, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes.

Certain insiders of the Company participated in the Offering and purchased an aggregate of 180,000 Units. Participation of the insiders in the Offering constituted a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61101"), but was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61101, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insider nor the consideration paid by the insider exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. None of the Company's directors expressed any contrary views or disagreements with respect to the foregoing. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of the insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF)

Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Latin America. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru, and has recently optioned a copper-porphyry project in Northern Chile.

On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information

www.hannanmetals.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary,

+1 (604) 685 9316, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward- looking information" for the purposes of applicable securities laws. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, market conditions and the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the novel COVID-19 virus; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - May 9, 2023 - VR Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:VRR) (FSE:5VR) (OTC:VRRCF), the (Company), or (VR), is pleased to announce it has Closed the recently announced, non-brokered private placement (the Financing) for gross proceeds of $1.88M. Plans are now underway to commence drilling next month at the Companys REE critical metals project at Hecla-Kilmer and the kimberlite discovery nearby at Northway, located in northern Ontario.

The First Tranche of the Financing was recently closed for gross proceeds of approximately $1.7M as described in NR-23-07 dated April 19, 2023. Today the Company issued today an additional 1,270,743 Units, as defined below, for gross proceeds of $177,904 (Final Tranche) to Close the Financing.

The completed Financing in its entirety breaks down as follows:

Flow Through private placement, consisting of 7,971,250 units at a price of $0.16 per Unit for total gross proceeds of $1,275,400

Hard dollar private placement, consisting of 4,300,743 units at a price of $0.14 per Unit for total gross proceeds of $602,104

Use of Proceeds Going Forward

VR will use the net proceeds of the Financing for its mineral exploration business, including active exploration on various mineral properties held in Ontario, Canada, and Nevada, USA.

Ontario. The successful Close of the Financing allows the Company to commence its spring drill program in northern Ontario. The camp was re-opened last week and is ready for the start-up of drilling planned for next week on the kimberlite breccia pipe at Northway, followed by drilling at the nearby Hecla-Kilmer REE critical metal project. Drilling is expected to take approximately one month to complete.

Nevada. The Company will also use funds from the Financing to execute two, state-of-the-art geophysical surveys this spring on the large-footprint, polymetallic copper-moly-silver porphyry alteration and sheeted vein system on its New Boston property in west-central Nevada.

Supporting Information on Financings

The Financing was described in full in news release NR-23-06 dated April 4, 2023. The units for both financings consist of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at $0.23 for a period of eighteen months, until October 19 and November 9, 2025, respectively for the First and Second Tranche.

The Company paid cash fees totaling $2,394 in connection with the Final Tranche for total aggregate of $53,644 of cash fees for certain placements into the Financing.

The securities that were issued today for the Final Tranche are subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period expiring on September 10, 2023.

The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with an exemption from such registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About VR Resources

VR is an established junior exploration company focused on unique, greenfield opportunities on large-footprint mineral systems for critical metals, copper and gold in the western United States and Canada (TSX.V: VRR; Frankfurt: 5VR; OTCQB: VRRCF). VR is the continuance of 4 years of active exploration in Nevada by a Vancouver-based private company. The foundation of VR is the diverse experience and proven track record of its Board in early-stage exploration, discovery and M&A. The Company is well financed for its exploration strategies and corporate obligations. VR owns its properties outright and evaluates new opportunities on an ongoing basis, whether by direct staking or acquisition.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael H. Gunning

_____________________________

Dr. Michael H. Gunning, PhD, PGeo

President & CEO

For general information please use the following:

Website: www.vrr.ca

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact: Mike Gunning, 604-374-3708; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward looking statements in this release, for example include but are not limited to: the general use of proceeds; that the Company will complete the financing; that the Company will carry out exploration on its properties in Nevada and Ontario.

Although the Company believes that the use of such statements is reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

The Companys public disclosure filings can be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review the materials.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release is not for distribution to the United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.




ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - Fokus Mining Corporation ("Fokus" or the "Company") (TSXV: FKM) (OTCQB: FKMCF) (FSE: F7E1) is very pleased to welcome Mr. Jean-David Moore, P.Eng. in forestry, to its Board of Directors. This important appointment takes effect immediately.

Jean-David Moore has been a consultant and an adviser to several mineral exploration and development companies for more than fifteen years. He also holds large holdings in several mineral exploration companies and has developed a strong relationships network in the sector. He currently owns 8.2 million common shares of Fokus.

A graduate of Laval University in Forestry Engineering, Mr. Moore holds a master's degree also from Laval University, in Quebec. He is a member of the Order of Forest Engineers of the Province of Quebec (OIFQ). As a forestry scientist, he has published more than 70 scientific publications in different international journals.

Mr. Moore states: "I am extremely pleased to join the board of Fokus as I strongly believe in the potential for a multi-million-ounce resource of the Galloway project. This important project is located in an area that offers logistical support such as rail, roads, electricity, and a skilled workforce. With an initial resource estimate recently published, we look forward to increasing gold ounces as the drilling program progresses. This large property is relatively unexplored and has a potential for several more mineral discoveries."

Jean Rainville, President, and CEO of the Company commented: "I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Moore to our Board of Directors. He has a strong investment experience in our industry and can appreciate the significant potential of the Galloway project. His know-how and understanding of our sector, his proficiency combined with his solid network will be invaluable for our development.

About Fokus

Fokus Mining Corporation is a mineral resource company actively acquiring and exploring precious metal deposits located in the province of Quebec, Canada. In implementing this major undertaking within the Canadian mining industry, we are determined to unlock the secret of the Galloway gold project.

The Galloway property covers an area of 2865.54 hectares and is located just north of the Cadillac-Larder Lake deformation which extends laterally for more than 100 kilometres. Numerous gold deposits are related to that structure and its subsidiaries. The current work focuses on a small western portion of the mineral claims where several mineral occurrences have been identified. For more information, visit our website: fokusmining.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Related Links

http://fokusmining.com/
RENO, Nev., May 8, 2023 /CNW/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") reports its operating and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. i-80's Consolidated Interim Financial Statements ("financial statements"), as well as i-80's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Operations and Financial Condition ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2023, are available on the Company's website at www.i80gold.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Unless otherwise stated, all amounts referred to herein are in U.S. dollars.

2023 First Quarter Highlights:

Q1 2023 gold sales of 2,349 ounces, including the first gold sold from the Granite Creek property

March 31 cash balance of $57 million and $33 million in restricted cash

cash balance of and in restricted cash Continued exploration success at Ruby Hill including multiple new high-grade discoveries and expansion of gold and polymetallic mineralization

6,890 core feet and 320 RC feet drilled to expand monitoring of the hydraulic properties at McCoy Cove

Continued underground core drilling delineation of the CSD Gap ore body at McCoy Cove (10,699 feet)

9,389 tons of oxide mineralized material shipped to Lone Tree from Granite Creek for processing

Entered into an agreement to acquire Paycore Minerals Inc.

Engineering Class III study of Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment continued on plan

"We are encouraged to have achieved the milestone of our first gold sale from Granite Creek, with over 400 ounces sold. We continue to advance development and improve production capabilities at this site and expect a ramp up through 2023. In addition, we continued to have production from the residual leaching at both Lone Tree and Ruby Hill", stated Ryan Snow, Chief Financial Officer of i-80. "We continued to advance development at McCoy-Cove and exploration at Ruby Hill spending nearly $9.0 million during the quarter to further understand the Hilltop and Blackjack zones at Ruby Hill and the CSD Gap ore body at McCoy Cove. With the additional capital raise completed in February, we will continue to advance i-80's projects towards our ultimate goal of being a mid-tier Nevada focused producer."

Three months ended

March 31, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted) 2023 2022 Revenue 4,548 2,857 Cost of sales (6,542) (1,525) Depletion, depreciation and amortization (1,421) (167) Mine operating income (loss) (3,415) 1,165 Expenses Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development 8,979 9,254 General and administrative 5,191 3,273 Property maintenance 2,449 326 Share-based payments 1,308 1,442 Operating loss (21,342) (13,130)

Production and sales totaled 2,349 gold ounces for the quarter at a realized gold price of $1,9271 per ounce sold.

Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development costs were $9.0 million in Q1. This expenditure mainly reflects the exploration and pre-development work at McCoy Cove and Ruby Hill.

Lone Tree

Lone Tree is expected to become the hub of i-80's Nevada operations and the central processing facility for gold mineralization from the Granite Creek, McCoy-Cove and Ruby Hill underground gold deposits. Importantly, Lone Tree is host to infrastructure that, following successful refurbishment efforts, will position i-80 as one of only three companies in the United States capable of processing both oxide and refractory mineralization.

During the quarter, the Company continued leaching the residual material on the pads as planned and shipped approximately 1,950 ounces of gold on loaded carbon from site to further processing. Additionally, the Company continued to advance the engineering study and cost estimate for the restart of the autoclave.

Lone Tree produced and sold from its residual leaching activities 663 ounces of gold during Q1 at a realized gold price of $1,9621 per ounce sold.

Granite Creek

During Q1 the Company continued its efforts to upgrade existing de-watering infrastructure to ensure efficient operations and have mined 16,648 tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 9.9 g/t, of which 9,389 tons of oxide material was hauled to the Lone Tree leach pad to continue processing. As of March 31, 2023, 1,870 feet of development were completed as part of the Company's ramp up plan.

Granite Creek produced and sold 444 ounces of gold during Q1, at a realized gold price of $1,9381 per ounce sold.

McCoy-Cove

There was 7,210 feet of core and RC drilling conducted during the first quarter of 2023 for hydrogeologic characterization to support permitting efforts. Underground delineation drilling continued during Q1 with 10,699 feet of core drilled. Expenditures continued during the quarter on the exploration ramp and hydrology studies, and engineering of de-watering and mining options. As of the end of the first quarter, development footage completed was 1,308 feet. Total footage development of the project life as of Q1 2023 is 4,403 feet.

Ruby Hill

During the first quarter of 2023, drilling at Ruby Hill was primarily focused on further definition and expansion of high-grade polymetallic mineralization along the Hilltop fault structure, successfully extending mineralization over a strike length of approximately 750 metres and resulting in the discovery of additional zones. 13,875 feet of core drilling and 25,750 feet of RC drilling was completed during the quarter. In addition to drilling at Hilltop, multiple holes are being drilled to test the Blackjack Zone and these holes are intended at testing new targets. The Ruby Hill property provides significant optionality as it is host to oxide gold, sulphide gold, polymetallic CRD and skarn base metal mineralization. All deposits are located in close proximity to the underground infrastructure development being planned in 2023.

Residual leaching activities at Ruby Hill produced and sold 1,242 ounces of gold during Q1 at a realized gold price of $1,9041 per ounce sold.

Investor Day Presentation

The Company will hold an "Investor Day" presentation immediately following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 9, 2023, being held at Bennett Jones LLP office  100 King St W Suite 3400, Toronto in the Canada Boardroom on the 34th floor. The inperson AGM will begin at 4:00pm EST followed by the Investor Day presentation commencing at 4:30pm EST. The presentation can also be accessed via a conference call and webcast (details below). Investors are invited to attend the event inperson where they can meet and discuss details with members of i-80's Board of Directors and Management Team.

Conference Call Participant Details Webcast URL: https://app.webinar.net/AyeNd3zbxWk Phone Number Information: North American Toll-free: 1-888-664-6383 Local Toronto: 1-416-764-8650

Qualified Persons

Tyler Hill, CPG-12146, Chief Geologist, and Tim George, PE, Mining Operations Manager, at i-80 have reviewed this press release and are the Qualified Persons for the information contained herein and are a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, actual production results and costs, results of operation outcomes and timing of updated technical studies at the Company's mineral projects, timing to advance mineral projects to production and advance permitting and feasibility work on the on its mineral projects and future production, development and exploration results. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labor unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to i-80's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The Company has included certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under IFRS in this document. These include: adjusted net earnings and average realized price per ounce. Non-IFRS financial performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements.

Definitions

Adjusted earnings / (loss) and adjusted earnings / (loss) per share excludes from net earnings / (loss) significant write-down adjustments and the gain / (loss) from financing instruments.

Average realized gold price represents the sales price of gold per ounce before deducting mining royalties, treatment and refining charges and gains or losses derived from the offtake agreement with Orion.

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. It may not be comparable to information in other gold producers' reports and filings.

Three months ended March 31, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)(i) Nevada production 2023 2022 Revenue per financial statements $ 4,548 2,864 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (21) (7) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 4,527 2,857 Ounces of gold sold ounce 2,349 1,489 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,927 1,918 Lone Tree Revenue per financial statements $ 1,304 1,631 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (4) (7) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 1,300 1,624 Ounces of gold sold ounce 663 843 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,962 1,926 Ruby Hill Revenue per financial statements $ 2,382 1,233 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (16)  Gold revenue from mining operations $ 2,366 1,233 Ounces of gold sold ounce 1,242 646 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,904 1,908 Granite Creek Revenue per financial statements $ 861  Silver revenue from mining operations $   Gold revenue from mining operations $ 861  Ounces of gold sold ounce 444  Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,938 

(i) May not add due to rounding.

Adjusted Earnings / (Loss)

Adjusted earnings / (loss) and adjusted earnings / (loss) per share are non-IFRS measures that the Company considers to better reflect normalized earnings because it eliminates non-recurring items. Certain items that become applicable in a period may be adjusted for, with the Company retroactively presenting comparable periods with an adjustment for such items and conversely, items no longer applicable may be removed from the calculation. Neither adjusted earnings / (loss) nor adjusted earnings / (loss) per share have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

The following table shows a reconciliation of adjusted earnings / (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, to the net earnings / (loss) for each period.

Three months ended

March 31, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)(i) 2023 2022 Net loss for the period $ (13,118) $ (23,263) Adjust for: Gain / (loss) on warrants 5,568 (3,105) Gain / (loss) on convertible loans 8,366 (6,093) Loss on deferred consideration (427) (844) Loss on fair value measurement of Gold Prepayment Agreement (3,091)  Loss on fair value measurement of Silver Purchase Agreement (857)  Inventory net realizable value adjustment (4,025)  Total adjustments $ 5,534 $ (10,042) Adjusted loss for the period $ (18,652) $ (13,221) Weighted average shares for the period 245,603,313 239,301,138 Adjusted loss per share for the period $ (0.08) $ (0.06)

(i) May not add due to rounding.
Vancouver, British Columbia  TheNewswire - May 9, 2023: Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE:HWG) (OTC:HWAUF) (the "Company" or "Headwater") is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive option and earn-in agreement (the Earn-in Agreement) wth a wholly owned subsidiary of Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest) (ASX, TSX, PNGX: NCM) on the Companys Lodestar Project in Nevada (Lodestar or the Project).

Pursuant to the Earn-in Agreement, Newcrest will have an option to acquire (the Earn-In Transaction) up to a 75% interest in Lodestar for cumulative earn-in exploration expenditures of US$30,000,000 and the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study which includes a minimum resource of 1.5 million gold or gold equivalent ounces.

Highlights:

Newcrest will sole fund a minimum commitment of US$2,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Lodestar project, or pay the difference to Headwater;

During the staged earn-in phase, Newcrest will have the right to earn up to a 65% interest in the Project by sole funding exploration expenditures of US$30,000,000 over a 6-year period;

Newcrest retains the right to earn an additional 10% interest in the Project (for a total interest of 75%) by: (1) ceding a 2% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty to Headwater on claims 100% owned by the Company and a 1% NSR royalty on inlying claims subject to an underlying option agreement and (2) completing a Pre-Feasibility Study, solely funded by Newcrest which includes a minimum 1.5 million ounce gold or gold-equivalent resource within an additional 24-month period; and,

Newcrest will reimburse all expenditures previously incurred by the Company on the Project through a cash payment totalling US$77,759.

Caleb Stroup, the President and CEO of the Company, states: We are very excited to partner with Newcrest again on yet another high-quality exploration project in the Headwater portfolio. Our ongoing relationship with Newcrest has allowed us to quickly and effectively advance a number of our projects and we look forward to expanding this relationship through the inclusion of the Lodestar project. The structure of the Earn-In Transaction offers our shareholders a potential carried Project interest to the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study and a back-end net smelter royalty. This transaction is another demonstration of the ability of the Headwater team to execute our hybrid business model and build significant value for shareholders through early-stage exploration.

Figure 1. Lodestar land position showing relation to the Companys Spring Peak project and Hecla Mining Companys (Hecla) adjoining past-producing Aurora mine complex.

About the Lodestar Project

The Lodestar project is located in the Aurora Mining District of west-central Nevada and adjoins Heclas past-producing Aurora mine complex (Figure 1), where existing infrastructure includes a 350 ton per day mill, several production water wells and high-voltage, three-phase power. The Project is located north of the Companys Spring Peak project, where Headwater recently announced the new Disco and Opal Ridge high-grade discoveries (see Figure 1, and Headwater news release dated March 2, 2023).

Historic exploration at the Project focused on surface rock chip sampling of the prominent silicified ridgeline at the core of the Project, sampling of a short historic adit (Figure 2) and the completion of several shallow drill holes in this immediate area. Drilling completed on the Project by Echo Bay Exploration and Borealis Exploration in the 1980s reportedly consisted of four shallow drill holes immediately adjacent to the silicified ridgeline, designed to test for near-surface bulk-tonnage type mineralization. Headwater has obtained assays but not the exact collar and survey information for these historic holes, the deepest of which reached a maximum total depth of 91.44 metres and contained a 10.67 m interval grading 0.29 g/t Au. The Company interprets the anomalous gold observed in the historic drilling above the interpreted epithermal boiling zone to be a positive indicator for precious metal bearing structural feeders at depth, which remain untested.

Table 1: Principal Structure of the Earn-In Agreement:

Stage Expenditures (US$) Newcrest Interest (%) Time for Each Stage Minimum Commitment $2,000,000 0% 24 Months from Execution Date Stage 11 $10,000,000 51% 2 36 Months 1 from Execution Date Stage 2 +$20,000,000 65% 36 Months from commencement of Stage 2 Stage 33 Completion of PFS 75% 24 Months4 from commencement of Stage 3

1Stage 1 is inclusive of the Minimum Commitment of US$2,000,000.

2If Newcrest completes Stage 1 but not Stage 2, its ownership interest in the Project is reduced to 49%, which Headwater retains the right to purchase at a mutually agreed price or, if a price cannot be mutually agreed within a specified period, for fair value that will be determined based on an agreed-upon process (Fair Value).

3Upon completion of Stage 3, Headwater will be ceded a 2% NSR royalty on claims 100% owned by Headwater and a 1% NSR royalty on inlying claims subject to an underlying option agreement. The NSRs are subject to partial buy-back provisions.

4Newcrest to sole fund the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study which is required to include a minimum 1.5 million ounce gold or gold-equivalent resource.

Terms of the Agreement:

Newcrest shall make a cash payment of US$77,759 to Headwater within 15 business days of the Execution Date as a reimbursement of 100% of Headwaters acquisition and exploration expenditures incurred on the Project. Newcrest will sole fund guaranteed exploration expenditures of US$2,000,000 over a 24-month period as a minimum commitment or pay the difference to Headwater. Upon completion of the upfront cash payment and minimum commitment expenditures, Newcrest may elect to proceed to the earn-in phase of the transaction.

Stage 1:

Newcrest may elect to earn a 51% interest in the Project by sole funding expenditures of US$10,000,000 (which includes the Minimum Commitment) within 36 months of the Execution Date. If Newcrest fails to meet the Stage 1 earn-in expenditure amount, Headwater will retain 100% ownership of the Project with no interest earned by Newcrest.

Stage 2:

Newcrest may elect to earn an additional 14% interest in the Project, for a total 65% interest, by sole funding additional expenditures of US$20,000,000 within 36 months following completion of Stage 1. If Newcrest initiates but does not complete Stage 2, its interest will revert to 49%, which Headwater retains the right to purchase at a mutually agreed price or, if a price cannot be mutually agreed within a specified period, for Fair Value.

Stage 3:

Newcrest may elect to earn an additional 10% interest in the Project, for a total 75% interest, by completing the following:

Ceding a 2% NSR royalty to Headwater on claims 100% owned by Headwater and a 1% NSR royalty on claims subject to an underlying option agreement. Newcrest retains the right to buy back 50% of each NSR royalty for Fair Value at any time; and

Delivering to Headwater a Pre-Feasibility Study for the Project, solely funded by Newcrest which includes a minimum 1.5 million ounce gold or gold-equivalent resource within an additional 24-month period following the completion of Stage 2.

2023 Work Plan

The exploration model that the Company intends to deploy at Lodestar is similar to that used at the Companys nearby Spring Peak project. A combination of geological mapping, surface sampling and geophysics will be utilized to further define the highest-priority targets to test for high-grade epithermal vein mineralization in interpreted structural feeder zones below and adjacent to the outcropping alteration.

The Company is planning a controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) resistivity survey to identify high-resistivity targets at depth and explore beneath the exposed epithermal alteration as well as the shallow, young volcanic cover that blankets most of the Project masking the underlying prospective geology. Concurrently, the Company intends to complete a soil sampling program. Detailed geologic mapping and infill rock chip sampling focused on the core area of exposed alteration will also be completed with the aid of high-resolution drone imagery and a digital surface model. The results of this preliminary work will be used to design a potential maiden drill campaign at the Project.

Underlying Agreement

The Lodestar project consists of a combination of unpatented mining claims staked by Headwater and a small number of unpatented mining claims acquired through an option agreement with a private prospector (the Vendor Claims). By making an initial cash payment of US$20,000 and escalating annual payments, Headwater retains a 30-year option to purchase an undivided 100% interest in the Vendor Claims for a one-time payment of US$1,500,000 subject to a 3% NSR royalty, of which 2% can per purchased at any time for US$3,000,000 resulting in a post-buydown residual 1% NSR.

Agate Point Update

Further to the Companys news release dated March 2, 2023 announcing the results of the Phase I drill program on the Agate Point project, Newcrest has completed the minimum expenditure commitment of US$500,000 on the project and has elected not to proceed to the Phase I earn-in of 51% interest in Agate Point. Accordingly, Newcrest has provided notice to Headwater that it is terminating its option on the project. No further work is planned on the project at this time.

About Headwater Gold

Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) is a technically-driven mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and discovery of high-grade precious metal deposits in the Western USA. Headwater is aggressively exploring one of the most well-endowed and mining-friendly jurisdictions in the world with a goal of making world-class precious metal discoveries. Headwater has a large portfolio of epithermal vein exploration projects and a technical team comprised of experienced geologists with diverse capital markets, junior company and major mining company experience. The Company is systematically drill testing several projects in Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon and in August 2022 announced a significant transaction with Newcrest Mining Limited where Newcrest acquired a 9.9% strategic equity interest in the Company and entered into several earn-in agreements on Headwaters projects.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.headwatergold.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Caleb Stroup

President and CEO

+1 (775) 409-3197

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For further information, please contact:

Brennan Zerb

Investor Relations Manager

+1 (778) 867-5016

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott Close, P.Geo (158157), a Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, exploration activities and the specifications, targets, results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them, Newcrests anticipated funding of the earn-in projects and the timing thereof, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as pro forma, plans, expects, may, should, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, potential or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Companys exploration plans and the proposed expenditures for exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, the risk that Newcrest will not elect to obtain any additional interest in the earn-in projects in excess of the minimum commitment, the ability of the Company to obtain the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Companys limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys prospectus dated May 26, 2021 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Companys profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.




Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - May 9, 2023 - Recharge Resources Ltd. ("Recharge" or the "Company") (RR:CSE) (RECHF:OTC) (SL50:Frankfurt) announced today that its fully-funded, spring drill program at its 100% owned Brussels Creek Gold-Copper-Palladium Project in Kamloops, BC, Canada, has now been completed.

The aim of the 900-meter NQ drill program was to test the potential for copper-gold mineralization similar to that present at the adjacent New Afton mine owned by New Gold Inc. NGD.V ($1.18 Billion Market Cap). The New Afton Mine occupies the site of the historic Afton Open Pit mine, which operated from 1977 to 1997. The present mine and concentrator facility commenced production in July 2012. The mine is a block caving operation. In 2021, the mine produced 52,542 oz Au and 61,700,000 lbs Cu.

The Company is now awaiting assays from the Spring drill program in order to develop a follow up exploration program.

CEO, David Greenway, summarised, "Recharge is pushing forward on all fronts with drilling now completed and awaiting assays at the Brussels Creek Copper-Palladium-Gold Project. Drilling is pending at the Pocitos lithium brine project and a Spring recon program now approved for the Georgia Lake Lithium project.

We thank Mr. Shearer and all those involved in the consultation and drill planning process. Recharge is committed to sustainable exploration and mining practices. This is a pivotal time for the Brussels Creek Project in BC, with the drill program having started.

Brussels Creek Project

The BC property is an early-stage exploration property, located approximately 24 kilometres west of Kamloops, and is immediately adjacent to New Gold's New Afton mine. The property has 17 claims (66 cells) covering 1,350.43 hectares. The geological setting of the property is very similar to New Afton, a silica-saturated copper-gold alkalic porphyry-style deposit, as well as the Highland Valley, Mount Polly, Kemess and Galore Creek deposits. Recent field observations noted the presence of a substantial mineralized quartz-feldspar porphyry body intruding the overlying Nicola group volcanics. Historic sampling and mapping on the property, in 1983 and 1984, located a broad anomalous zone (200 metres by 400 metres) with gold values up to 3.5 grams per tonne. Grab samples taken from the property in 2019 include values of 10.1 g/t Au (with 0.7 g/t palladium) and 11.5 g/t Au.

Brussels Creek Web Page: https://recharge-resources.com/projects/brussels-creek/

Recharges management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Recharge may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

Qualified Person

Johan T Shearer, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist, is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 responsible for the technical content of this release, and consents to its release.

About Recharge Resources

Recharge Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on exploring and developing the production of high-value battery metals to create green, renewable energy to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicle market.

All stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on , , and Instagram.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

David Greenway

David Greenway, CEO.

For further information, please contact:

Recharge Resources Ltd.

Joel Warawa

Phone: 778-588-5473

E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: recharge-resources.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding Recharges intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Recharge will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including Recharges results of exploration or review of properties that Recharge does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Recharge assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Highlights:

Infill drilling intersected large gold zones inside conceptual pit grading up to 1.1 g/t Au over 113.0 metres (including 52.5 g/t Au over 1.0 metre); 0.8 g/t Au over 154.3 metres (including 2.4 g/t Au over 26.6 metres) and 1.5 g/t Au over 61.5 metres.

Near-surface expansion drilling returned significant intercepts grading up to 2.7 g/t Au over 32.5 metres (including 56.2 g/t Au over 1.0 metre); 4.5 g/t Au over 16.9 metres and 68.8 g/t Au over 1.0 metre.

All of these results will be included in the upcoming resource updates on the Courvan and Pascalis trend deposits expected this quarter.

Over 41,000 metres of drilling completed already in the 2023 program at Novador with 12,000 metres remaining to be drilled. Three drills are active including two at Monique and one on regional exploration.

TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Probe Gold Inc. (TSX: PRB) (OTCQB: PROBF) (Probe or the Company), is pleased to provide the first set of results from the 2022 Courvan Gold Trend resource drill program on its 100%-owned Novador property (the Property) located near Val-dOr, Quebec. Results from seventy-four (74) drill holes, totalling 13,700 metres, returned significant gold intercepts between surface and 250 metres depth at the Southwest deposit (see figure 1 and table of drill results below). Results from this drilling returned the largest intervals to-date from the Courvan Trend, including 1.1 g/t Au over 113.0 metres in hole CO-22-189 and 0.8 g/t Au over 154.3 metres in hole CO-22-245. The 2022 fall drill program at Courvan was focused on both resource expansion and resource conversion drilling. An updated MRE is currently being calculated and will include the new results released today.

David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe, states, Our first set of results from Courvans infill and expansion drilling programs have yielded the largest intervals to-date as well as significant near-surface intercepts, highlighting the projects potential for growth and increased production. These results are a continuation of the exceptional results we are receiving across the project, including both Pascalis and Monique, that demonstrate improving grade and thickness. With these first results for Courvan, we can now confirm that we are achieving our objectives across all three deposits, namely unlocking value through continued growth of our gold resources and upgrading the resource classification to support upcoming economic studies and development plans. The Resource Updates for Pascalis and Courvan are progressing well, and we anticipate further Courvan results to be released during the upcoming weeks.

Of the one seventy-four (74) holes drilled to identify or confirm near-surface mineralization, sixty-two (62) returned gold intercepts over 0.4 g/t Au, which is above the cut-off grade used in the 2021 pit-constrained resource estimate. Infill drilling at Southwest deposit returned significant results, as expected and expansion drilling near the bottom of the pit identify new parallel gold zones. The deposit remains open laterally and at shallow depth as very few holes were drilled under 250 metres deep. Assay results for an additional one hundred and forty-one (141) holes drilled in Q4 2022 at Courvan over the Bussiere and Creek deposits will be released when received and interpreted.

The latest drilling results continues to improve our 3D model of the mineralisation at Courvan, which is characterized by a set of shallow dipping East-West gold-bearing veins adjacent to shear zones crosscutting the Bourlamaque granodiorite batholith. Gold veins intersected are characterized predominantly by sulphide-bearing quartz-carbonate-tourmaline and gold is generally associated with cm-scale pyrite masses in veins and zones of 1% to 5% finely disseminated pyrite in the host rocks.

Selected drill results from the fall 2022 Courvan Southwest deposit drilling program are, as follows:

Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Gold (g/t) Resource CO-22-189 179.5 293.0 113.5 1.1 Infill Including 236.2 237.2 1.0 52.5 Infill CO-22-190 186.3 197.3 11.0 1.2 Expansion CO-22-193 81.5 86.5 5.0 6.0 Infill CO-22-194 125.5 126.5 1.0 12.5 Expansion CO-22-195 153.0 211.0 58.0 0.5 Infill CO-22-195 245.5 250.0 4.5 2.4 Expansion CO-22-205 82.5 107.3 24.8 2.3 Infill Including 82.5 92.3 9.8 5.2 Infill CO-22-206 57.1 64.3 7.2 2.1 Infill CO-22-216 144.3 148.8 4.5 2.7 Expansion CO-22-216 228.0 270.0 42.0 1.3 Expansion CO-22-217 158.5 220.0 61.5 1.5 Infill Including 214.5 215.4 0.9 53.3 Infill CO-22-219 34.5 37.5 3.0 6.0 Infill CO-22-225 57.0 68.4 11.4 3.2 Expansion CO-22-232 23.5 56.0 32.5 2.7 Expansion Including 55.0 56.0 1.0 56.2 Expansion CO-22-233 102.5 103.5 1.0 13.3 Expansion CO-22-237 145.0 154.0 9.0 1.1 Infill CO-22-237 163.4 168.5 5.1 1.9 Infill CO-22-237 185.0 196.0 11.0 1.1 Infill CO-22-238 60.5 63.5 3.0 4.5 Expansion CO-22-240 186.5 187.5 1.0 72.2 Infill CO-22-240 197.5 214.0 16.5 4.3 Infill CO-22-241 138.5 147.0 8.5 1.1 Infill CO-22-241 219.0 220.0 1.0 68.8 Expansion CO-22-242 25.4 26.4 1.0 19.3 Expansion CO-22-242 144.5 145.5 1.0 9.8 Expansion CO-22-245 48.5 202.8 154.3 0.8 Infill Including 48.5 75.1 26.6 2.4 Infill Including 48.5 49.5 1.0 41.9 Infill CO-22-246 101.5 115.3 13.8 0.7 Infill CO-22-246 166.8 173.2 6.4 2.2 Exp CO-22-251 197.0 198.0 1.0 17.6 Infill CO-22-254 286.0 297.0 11.0 0.9 Expansion CO-22-265 91.8 95.3 3.5 13.1 Infill Including 94.5 95.3 0.8 54.5 Infill CO-22-267 140.1 146.1 6.0 1.9 Infill CO-22-267 160.0 161.0 1.0 18.3 Infill CO-22-267 217.0 222.0 5.0 3.9 Infill Including 219.0 220.0 1.0 13.9 Infill CO-22-269 199.2 200.0 0.8 19.7 Expansion CO-22-289 279.0 281.0 2.0 8.3 Expansion CO-22-289 288.5 292.5 4.0 4.7 Expansion CO-22-295 274.0 290.9 16.9 4.5 Expansion Including 284.0 285.0 1.0 38.9 Expansion CO-22-303 112.4 122.4 10.0 1.4 Expansion CO-22-303 260.5 301.5 41.0 1.4 Expansion CO-22-303 287.1 299.5 12.4 3.9 Expansion Including 297.5 298.50 1.0 35.8 Expansion CO-22-308 223.6 248.0 24.4 0.8 Infill

(1) All the new analytical results reported in this release and in this table, are presented in core length and cut to 100 g/t Au when needed. True width is estimated between 65 to 95 % of core length. Only grade times thickness above 10.0 g/t Au * m is reported.

Figure 1: Surface Map  Courvan Gold Trend new drilling results

About Probes Novador Project

Since 2016, Probe Gold has been consolidating its land position in the highly prospective Val-dOr East area in the province of Quebec with a district-scale land package of 446 square kilometers that represents one of the largest land holdings in the Val-dOr mining camp. The Novador project is a sub-set of properties totaling 175 square kilometers hosting three past producing mines (Beliveau Mine, Bussiere Mine and Monique Mine) and falls along three regional mine trends. Novador is situated in a politically stable and low-cost mining environment that hosts numerous active producers and mills.

Novador project includes gold resources totaling 2,038,900 ounces Indicated and 357,200 ounces Inferred for Monique and 1,128,100 ounces Indicated (historical, from the 2021 resources estimate) and 1,638,200 Inferred ounces (historical, from the 2021 resources estimate) for other deposits, including Pascalis and Courvan (see press release dated January 17, 2023).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Mr. Marco Gagnon, P.Geo, Executive Vice President, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

Quality Control

During the last drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to a certified commercial laboratory and the other half retained for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples; which includes insertion of mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assayed with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. Total gold analyses (Metallic Sieve) were carried out on the samples which presented a great variation of their gold contents or the presence of visible gold.

About Probe Gold

Probe Gold Inc. is a leading Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of highly prospective gold properties. The Company is committed to discovering and developing high-quality gold projects, including its key asset the multimillion-ounce Novador Gold Project, Quebec. The Company is well-funded and controls a large land package of approximately 1,500-square-kilometres of exploration ground within some of the most prolific gold belts in Quebec. The Company was formed as a result of the $526M sale of Probe Mines Limited to Goldcorp.

On behalf of Probe Gold Inc.,

Dr. David Palmer,

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information:

Please visit our website at www.probegold.com or contact:

Seema Sindwani

Vice-President of Investor Relations

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1.416.777.9467

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to raise a minimum of $500,000 and up to an aggregate of $1,000,000 by way of a non brokered private placement (the "Offering"). The Offering will consist of up to 4,000,000 Flow Through Units (the "FTU") at a price of $0.10 per Unit, for proceeds of up to $400,000; up to 3,424,658 Charity Flow Through Units (the "CFU") at a price of $0.1168 per Unit, for proceeds of up to $400,000; and 2,500,000 Hard Dollar Units (the "HDU") at a price of $0.08 per Unit for proceed of up to $200,000. All Units (FTU, CFU, HDU) will consist of a common share and a half warrant. Each full warrant entitles the investor to purchase a common share in the Company at anytime for $0.15 for a period of 2 years. The Company may re-allocate among FTU, CFU and HDU depending on market demand. The initial Purchasers of the CFU may subsequently donate such CFU to registered charitable organizations, who may in turn choose to sell such CFU Units (the "Re-Offered Units") to purchasers at a price of $0.08 per Re-Offered Unit (the "Re-Offer Price") or sell such Re-Offered Units to purchasers at the Re-Offer Price. The Company will not be a party to any such arrangements. A finder's fee may be paid in connection with the Offering to finders, as determined by mutual agreement between the Corporation and the finders and subject to regulatory approval. The finders' fee will consist of 6% cash for Units sold to investors introduced by such finders, and non transferable share purchase warrants equal to 6% of such CFU, FTU or HDU sold to investors ("Compensation Warrants"). The Compensation Warrants will permit the purchase of one common share in the capital of the Company for 24 month from closing at a price of $0.15.

Proceeds from the FTU and CFU securities issued in connection with the Offering, will be used to explore and advance critical minerals properties in Ontario (Maude Lake Ni-Cu-PGM and Saturday Night PGM) and the Yukon (Pike Warden Au-Ag-Cu). Completion of the Offering will be subject to all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the Offering will be completed as proposed or at all. HDU securities issued in connection with the Offering are intended for exploration and corporate activities.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the FTUs and CFUs will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, and/or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). Because the Offering is being completed pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the securities issued under the Offering will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document relating to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.transitionmetalscorp.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting:

Scott McLean

President and CEO

Transition Metals Corp

Tel: (705) 667-6178

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. ( NYSEMKT: PZG ) ("Paramount" or the "Company") announces the results of the votes from its annual stockholder meeting which was held on December 14, 2016. There were 15,689,954 shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date of October 19,... Read More
Myanmar's military used a "vacuum bomb" in an air strike on an opposition village that killed dozens of people in a likely war crime last month, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

Fighting has ravaged large tracts of Myanmar since a military coup in 2021 that sparked renewed clashes with ethnic rebel groups, as well as the formation of dozens of "People's Defence Forces" now battling the junta.

The military bombed a gathering in an opposition stronghold last month that media and locals said killed about 170 people, sparking renewed global condemnation.

The military had used a thermobaric bomb in the attack on Pazi Gyi village in Sagaing region, HRW said. Their assessment was based on analysis of 59 photos of the victims' bodies and a video of the site following the strike.

Thermobaric bombs, also known "vacuum bombs" are more powerful than conventional high-explosive munitions and use two separate charges.

The first scatters a fuel mixture as a cloud around the target and the second detonates the cloud, sucking the oxygen out of the atmosphere and forming a huge fireball.

The thermobaric bomb used in Pazi Gyi had caused "indiscriminate and disproportionate civilian casualties... and was an apparent war crime," HRW said.

Thermobaric weapons are not specifically banned under international conventions but their use against civilian populations could result in war crimes convictions.

The junta said it had launched "limited air strikes" on Pazi Gyi but said most of the dead had been killed after the strikes hit an ammunition store.

Myanmar is set to dominate a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that started in Indonesia on Tuesday.

The bloc has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the bloody crisis but the junta, backed by allies and arms suppliers Russia and China, has refused to negotiate with its opponents.

HRW called on the United Nations Security Council to adopt an arms embargo on Myanmar, refer the junta to the International Criminal Court and impose sanctions on the military's sprawling business empire.

"The Myanmar junta's abusive military operations depend on its ability to purchase weapons and materiel," HRW said.

"ASEAN and the UN Security Council both need to reconsider their toothless approaches to Myanmar's junta and take stronger measures."
When Colombias Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) unveiled its fifth indictment a month ago, it marked several milestones: it accused mid-level commanders of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for the first time, unveiled its first investigation focused on regions rather than specific crimes, and put the spotlight on thousands of victims belonging to two ethnic minorities. It was also the first time that the judicial arm of Colombia's transitional justice system held an armed actor responsible for environmental damage.

According to the JEP, the two guerrilla structures operating in the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, in Colombias southwest, were responsible for the destruction of high mountain ecosystems and the degradation caused by illegal mining and coca cultivation. After describing it as a damage "whose imprint may be totally irreversible", the tribunal deemed it a war crime and presented charges against ten local guerrilla commanders.

It was a momentous decision, at a time when discussions on the merit of including 'ecocide' as a fifth international crime in the Rome Statute continue at a global level. In Colombia, it was the first time that the transitional justice stemming from the 2016 peace agreement issued a legal decision addressing the impact of the internal armed conflict on the environment, a landmark in the world's second most biodiverse country. It was its way of fulfilling the promise that, as the indictment says, "transitional justice is also environmental justice."

It was not, however, a decision without controversy. Three of the seven justices that comprise the JEP's Acknowledgment Chamber, which is in charge of documenting the cases presented by the tribunal, departed from the majority decision and presented strong dissenting opinions questioning this legal qualification. Two more submitted clarifications of vote defending it. This unusual situation underscores how, despite the historic nature of the peace tribunal's investigation of ecological crimes, there is marked internal disagreement over how it should punish them.

Out of the seven justices in the JEP's Acknowledgment Chamber, three filed dissenting opinions arguing with the decision by justice Raul Sanchez (seen speaking) to deem environmental harm as a war crime, while two others supported it.  JEP

"The impact of war on nature"

In his indictment, justice Raul Sanchez focused on documenting two criminal economies in that region that, in his opinion, "summarize the impact of war on nature." On the one hand, FARC promoted illegal gold mining using backhoes that destroy river basins and sediment river beds, in mining facilities that even used toxic and internationally banned chemicals such as mercury to separate the mineral from the rock. On the other, the guerrillas promoted the cultivation of coca to produce cocaine, in what he called a "vicious circle" of deforestation and agricultural land use changes.

Both were, says the JEP, key sources of financing for FARC and activities so complementary that they coincide in up to two-thirds of Cauca, carried out "without any environmental management or harm reduction rules. In general, the decision says, rebels participated indirectly, charging extortion or commercializing the product, although the Acknowledgment Chamber also says it documented cases of FARC members who owned machinery.

The sum of these damages led the JEP to conclude that, in that region, FARC were the "de facto environmental authority" and "didnt have an active policy to prevent the damages caused". In its words, their "ambiguous attitude (...) ended up generating serious harm to the environment due to their conduct, permissive in some cases and direct in others, with human acts that broke the environmental balance of the region".

In addition, the JEP accused FARC of causing multiple damages to paramos (alpine tundras), a high mountain ecosystem that only exists in a handful of tropical countries and is considered strategic for its water richness. According to the tribunals account, the guerrillas mowed down its carbon-rich plant cover to set up camps and planted landmines to stop army advances, the explosion of which affected the surroundings. In one section, it highlighted the destruction of frailejones (friar plants), emblematic and hairy plants that retain large amounts of water and whose almost ghostly silhouette is spotted in the fog. "It grows one centimeter per year and recovering specimens can take up to 200 years," the JEP explained, stressing that this fact proves the severity and magnitude of the damage.

"The environment, as a broad concept, but also represented by living or sentient beings, witnessed an attack against its integrity driven by armed actors greed," it concluded.

The territory as a victim

In addition to documenting the environmental footprint of these two criminal economies and the damage to paramos, the JEP elaborates on another novel idea. Not only the indigenous and Afro-descendants were victims of the armed conflict but also the territories they inhabit, in what it called "a crime of a multi-offensive nature".

According to the indictment, FARC's various actions - from assassinations to confinements and displacements - caused countless collective and individual damages to ethnic minorities, who enjoy special constitutional protection in Colombia. Citing examples taken from reports submitted by various peoples and communities, the JEP contended that the guerrillas weakened their governance structures, facilitated the loss of identity traits such as language or dress, restricted access to their sacred sites and weakened their local economies. This led it to conclude that there was "a systematic affectation of the right to cultural identity of ancestral peoples, farmer communities and Afro-descendants".

Although it doesnt develop the idea in depth, the accusation ties these affectations to the worldview of many ethnic peoples in Colombia, for whom the territory is as much an integral part of the community as the people who inhabit it. Therefore, indigenous reservations and Afro community councils, rather than being just "places of dispute on account of geographical traits that constitute strategic advantages in war", were part of the "thousand or hundred-year legacy" of the 10 indigenous peoples and dozens of Afro communities affected. In this logic, illegal mining matters not just because it "dealt a severe blow to the enormous biodiversity of the area," says the JEP, but also because it "altered the relationship of communities with their ancestral lands.

In some passages, it would seem that the JEP didnt bring its investigation to its ultimate consequences. In one part, the indictment mentions that leaders of the Gabriel Galvis Mobile Column acknowledged planting landmines in the paramo around San Rafael lagoon, which the Kokonuko tribe consider a sacred site. The JEP team didnt realize that this lagoon - also called Andulvio - is located within Purace National Park, a fact that makes the confession even more serious given that national parks also enjoy special constitutional protection in Colombia.

Colombia's peace tribunal also deemed that indigenous and Afro-descendant territories -like the Misak reservation in Silvia (Cauca)- are victims of conflict, given the intimate relation between ethnic minorities and their land.  Andres Bermudez Lievano

Environmental damage as a war crime

In investigating the environmental harm caused by the FARC in the southern Andes, the JEP faced a significant hurdle: the Rome Statute  the treaty that established the International Criminal Court of which Colombia is a member  contemplates that lasting, extensive and serious damage caused to the environment can constitute a war crime in the midst of an international conflict, but it says nothing about internal armed conflicts such as the one Colombia experienced for half a century. It is a dilemma reinforced by demands from ethnic groups and environmental scientists on the need to address the impact of war on the country's ecosystems and national parks.

This legal grey area meant that there was no single, clear path to charge the former FARC commanders for their environmental destruction. Justice Raul Sanchez decided to classify these acts as a war crime following a three-pronged line of argument. In his central thesis, he reasoned that it fits within the international crime of destroying or seizing the property of an adversary, since the environment is a civilian property and an attack on natural resources constitutes one against the State as its adversary.

Secondly, he contended that Colombian law prohibits causing extensive, lasting and serious damage to the environment, that this entails individual criminal liability for whoever causes it and that the international criteria are met - following the Tadic test of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - to consider it a war crime. Finally, he argued that environmental crimes should not be prone to amnesties and defended that nature can also be considered a victim, in a country where other non-human entities - such as the Colombian Amazon or the Atrato River in the Pacific - have been declared subjects of rights by high courts.

"A non-existent crime in international criminal law"

Justice Sanchezs legal argumentation spurred a heated debate within the Acknowledgment Chamber, which extends to another regional case focusing on the southern region of Narino and also soon to see an indictment. Unlike what had happened in previous indictments, three of its seven magistrates wrote partial dissenting opinions in which they disputed the indictments methodology and some of its conclusions.

The issue generating the most noise were environmental damages. Julieta Lemaitre, the justice in charge of the case against the FARC for kidnapping, defended that the accusation "makes a careful and well-intentioned analysis of environmental degradation" but stated that it "creates a crime that does not exist in international criminal law". In her view, if environmental degradation was - as the decision says - caused mainly by illicit crops and illegal mining, those behaviours were not an international crime at the time the accused committed them and, instead, are privy to amnesties. She also disputed the notion that the environment is a State asset and pointed out that, if it were, it wouldnt belong to ethnic peoples.

Catalina Diaz, in charge of the false positives case, emphasized that it "provides a solid basis for designing redress measures that take into account the complexity of the effects on nature," but contended that it suffers from "serious argumentative flaws" in classifying them as war crimes. Among others, she signalled that there is no evidence that FARC attacked ecosystems with the intention of diminishing the combat capacity of their adversary and that the causal links of the accused with the criminal economies that depredate the environment are not proven. And Lily Rueda, in charge of the child recruitment case against FARC, noted that she "doesnt deem it possible to qualify illegal mining or illicit crops as means or methods of combat". Like her two colleagues, she considered that the accusation describes two criminal activities that are privy to amnesties as war crimes, in conflict with the peace deals idea of granting the broadest amnesty legally possible.

In sum, all three contended that the indictment fails to prove that there is serious, extensive and lasting damage, that the defendants were directly responsible for it and that they did so through actions in violation of international humanitarian law.

A cross-cultural justice?

Two other magistrates defended the accusations conclusions. Oscar Parra, who also leads the extrajudicial executions case, added additional ways to deem it a war crime, including that FARC omitted its obligations as an occupying power in the territories where it acted as de facto environmental authority and that "the appropriation of natural resources, soils, rivers and other water sources or elements of the complex interrelationship of the environment" can be considered a form of pillage, punishable with the harshest penalty in both types of conflict.

Belkis Izquierdo, the JEPs new vice-president and the justice in charge of the Narino regional case, argued that it is a good example of the "horizontal cross-cultural dialogue" that the peace tribunal must weave with the legal systems of ethnic peoples and that its decisions must incorporate those worldviews. That implies, she said, recognizing the "intimate" and "harmonious" relationship they have with the territory, "essential for their physical, cultural and spiritual survival."

"More than understanding the damage committed against landscapes or natural resources, it is necessary to have a relational approach that considers the rupture of socio-ecological relations at multiple scales and temporalities," Izquierdo, an Arhuaca indigenous woman and the first indigenous woman to reach a high court in Colombia, wrote. She went on to suggest a legal path that she considers more suitable than the one chosen by Sanchez: that FARC's actions against sacred sites constitute the war crime of destruction of cultural property or places of worship. Not to consider it as such, she wrote, entails that ethnic peoples visions and experiences are not reflected in the accusation.

The debate Izquierdo raises is not an isolated one, but reflects that of her own case, which deals with crimes committed against dozens of Afro community councils and several Awa reservations - the countrys most victimized indigenous people - in the Pacific region bordering Ecuador. She presented her proposed indictment against another group of local guerrilla commanders to the Chamber in last October, as two people familiar with the case confirmed to Justice Info, but it has not yet been approved by her colleagues amid similar legal debates.

Symbolic crimes

How the JEP - the first high court in Colombia to have indigenous magistrates - ends up resolving this legal debate will have implications going forward. Not only will it be critical for the other two regional cases already under investigation, but also to decide what to do with the claims brought forward by other victims and the environmental sector.

As Justice Info reported, a group of scientists and environmental experts asked the tribunal to examine how national parks and the public officials looking after them were attacked by FARC, including at least one case - the murder of park ranger Martin Duarte in the Macarena Range National Park - in which one of the alleged perpetrators is awaiting the JEPs decision on his legal status. The private sector has also called for 3,659 attacks against oil infrastructure in the last three decades, which polluted rivers and aquifers, including more than 700 carried out by FARC in Narino and neighbouring Putumayo, to be addressed. Both are crimes of high symbolic value for which the former guerrillas have yet to answer.

It may also mark other transitional processes in the future. Especially because Gustavo Petros administration initiated peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), another guerrilla still in arms that has historically focused its military activity on blowing up oil pipelines as a way to fight against the economic model. If negotiations with this rebel group are successful, its members could be brought before a transitional justice mechanism - whether it is the JEP or a new one - and thus be held accountable for these acts of war and the environmental damage they caused.

"Transitional justice internationally has had to address and provide legal responses to demands for justice that hadnt been satisfied by the ordinary justice system. What is at stake here is the possibility that the JEP take into account the environmental and territorial justice demands of victims," says Gloria Lopera, a Jorge Tadeo Lozano University professor and former Constitutional Court senior law clerk who has studied the legal history of indigenous territories. "Those environmental damages and the appropriation of the territory with an extractive and criminal motivation are not something secondary, but part of what has fuelled the conflict and kept it going."
Kang Han Soo (Woo Do Hwan) carried out a land messenger and eventually dropped the case in "Joseon Attorney" episode 12.

'Joseon Attorney' Episode 12: Kang Han Soo Helps Farmers Gain Their Land

In "Joseon Attorney" episode 11, Kang Han Soo (Woo Do Hwan) was caught for the murder of Choo Young Woo and got tortured, but he was able to be released thanks to the decisive testimony of Choo Sal (Lee Chan Jong).

In continuation in episode 12, Kang Han Soo reached out to Choo Sal, who was holding a crying baby. After hearing his unfair story, he was forced to commit a land investigation. Jo Cheol, Choo Sal's older brother, built the land when he heard that he could own the land if he cleared the wasteland within three years, but ended up losing to Won Dae Han (Lee Jae Woon).

Kang Han Soo claimed that the period of three years has not yet ended, referring to the fact that he had been to serve in the country. However, the families of the tenant farmers who would testify were held hostage by Won Dae Han and were in a difficult situation as they perjured themselves.

Amid the crisis over land litigation, Lee Yeon Joo (Bona) suggested that the government should use the domestic history, which manages the royalty property, to cope with it expediently.

Why Did Kang Han Soo Drop the Farmers' Case?

Since the farmers did not know the law, Kang Han Soo stood by the farmers and criticized the performance for urging illegality. After fact-checking, the attorney felt it would be a complicated process to get the farmers' land again.

On the day of the cancellation, the case resumed but Kang Han Soo suddenly declared that he would drop the case, embarrassing everyone. He also said that he had collected all the embankments made, which eventually led him to give up the land.

Little did others know, Kang Han Soo has a hidden agenda for dropping the case. The land lit up Han Soo's efforts, which were entirely on the farmers' side to prevent injustice from being passed down.

As the story progressed, Kang Han Soo entered an acupuncture bar and accidentally met Eun Woo (Han So Eun), his sister. However, a strange atmosphere flowed during their meeting.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Secret Romantic Guesthouse' Episode 14: Hyun Woo Tries To Kill Ryeo Un

What can you say about "Joseon Attorney" episode 12? 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.
Han So Hee is creating a new image of her not just as a top Hallyu star but also Song Hye Kyo's new bestie!

The actress' interactions with the "The Glory" actress drew attention from the public and the media, even earning the nickname "Song Hye Kyo's Woman."

Han So Hee Makes Headlines As 'Song Hye Kyo's Woman'

Han So Hee and Song Hye Kyo's interactions are creating huge buzz in the online Hallyu community ahead of their drama premiere.

Earlier this year, Han So Hee graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar Korea's May issue as a global ambassador of luxury watch Omega.

The media also shed light to Han So Hee's adorable relationship with fellow Korean star Song Hye Kyo whom she's working with in the upcoming series "The Price of Confession" (literal title).

Han So Hee made articles in the past year for her immersive acting performances in her recent works including "The World of the Married," "Nevertheless" and "My Name."

She earned the reputation as the "Next Troika" with Go Yoon Jung and Shin Ye Eun-the same title that precedes Tae Hye Ji, the legendary actresses.

The "My Name" star is compared to Song Hye Kyo for her similar facial features and charms. But in the recent months, she is being recognized more as "Song Hye Kyo's Woman" by the media.

Han So Hee & Song Hye Kyo's Swoon-Worthy Womance

Han So Hee and Song Hye Kyo sent the internet into a frenzy with their lovely online interactions, following their confirmation to star in a new drama.

They would leave comments of compliments on each other's Instagram photos. Han So Hee often refers to Song Hye Kyo as "her girl."

Song Hye Kyo also reciprocates her affection by leaving hearts and cute emojis on her posts, hyping up the audience for their upcoming drama.

The public also witnessed Han So Hee's hilarious side when she commented that she dreams of being a dog after Ruby, a bichon frise, is seen being hugged by Song Hye Kyo.

This raises speculations whether "The Price of Confession" would picture an intimate relationship between the two actresses who are working together for the first time.

Fans expressed their excitement for the possibility of sapphic scenes, especially with Han So Hee's background with women-loving-women films.

"The Price of Confession" production unit hasn't disclosed the intricate details yet but it's predicted to offer a work with Song Hye Kyo and Han So Hee that has never been seen before.

'The Price of Confession' Details & What We Know So Far

Song Hye Kyo and Han So Hee's "The Price of Confession" follows the complex lives of two aloof and enigmatic women.

In the series, Ahn Yoon Soo and Mo Eun, two different individuals, get entangled in a cold murder case due to unforeseen incidents.

Song Hye Kyo plays Ahn Yoon Soo, an art teacher who just wishes to live a normal life while Han So Hee takes on the antisocial student Mo Eun. Despite not knowing one another, they grow a connection that changes the course of their lives forever.

The series is in the middle of its production with the intention to release it in the later half of 2023 so stay tuned for more updates!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
The Kentucky Derby: factors that contribute to winning the most prestigious horse race in the world, and what medical training can learn from them

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The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. It is considered one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and is the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, followed by Preakness Stakes and the Belmont stakes. At the time of this writing, Mage won the famous race in the 149th Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby has been held annually since 1875 and is run over a distance of 1 1/4 miles or 2.01 km on a dirt track at Churchill Downs. The race is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds, and horses from around the world compete for a purse of over $ 2 million. The Kentucky Derby is also known for its traditions, including playing My Old Kentucky Home by the University of Louisville marching band, the mint julep drink, and the wearing of flamboyant hats by the spectators. Secretariat, the most successful horse in the Kentucky Derby history, won the race in 1973 with a record-breaking time.

Several factors can contribute to a horse winning the Kentucky Derby, one of the worlds most prestigious and high-profile horse races. Here are some key factors.

1. Speed. One of the most important factors in horse racing is speed. The Kentucky Derby is no exception. Horses that can run fast and maintain speed for the entire 1 1/4 mile race have a better chance of winning.

2. Stamina. The Kentucky Derby is a long race, and horses that have the stamina to maintain their speed over the entire distance have an advantage. Horses that have experience running longer races, such as the 1 1/8 mile races leading up to the Kentucky Derby, may have an advantage.

3. Jockey skill. The jockey plays an important role in the success of a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Jockeys need to be skilled at maneuvering their horse through traffic, considering the horses energy for the final stretch, and making strategic decisions during the race.

4. Training. The training and conditioning of the horse leading up to the Kentucky Derby can also play a key role in its success. Well-trained and well-conditioned horses are less likely to experience fatigue or injury during the race.

5. Post position. The position of the horse at the starting gate, or the post position, can also impact its chances of winning. Horses that are closer to the inside of the track may have an advantage, as they have a shorter distance to travel. Overall winning the Kentucky Derby requires a combination of speed, stamina, jockey skill, training, and luck. It is considered one of the most challenging and prestigious horse races in the world, and winning it is a major accomplishment for any horse and its team.

What does this have to do with medical training, you may think?

Lets look at the factors:

1. Speed. Medical training to become a doctor never slows down. You dont have a chance to catch your breath or take a break. If you take any time off, its to your detriment, as the gaps are not in your favor and must be explained in every application for the rest of your professional career.

2. Stamina. It goes without saying that getting through medical school and residency requires stamina with a capital S. In the words of my favorite hand surgeon, Dr. Jean Paul Brutus, If you get through medical training, you are a tough cookie.

3. Skill. It takes speed, stamina, but also skill. Somewhere during those long hours of studying in medical school and relentless training, we all figured out where our skills were. Are you great at fixing broken bones, calming a baby/child, caring for geriatric patients, or caring for critically ill patients in ICU? Whatever your skills, you find your path, a.k.a. residency.

4. Training. The hours are long and often brutal. The human body is complex, and there is a reason medical school and residency are as long and arduous as it is. Because training matters- always has and always will. The most highly trained person in the room will always be the ships captain.

5. Post position. This is a tough one because even after all the above, positioning yourself in the cutthroat medical world is never easy. It requires constant pivots and being on your toes to adapt to any situation, as the landscape is constantly shifting like quicksand beneath your feet, especially in the post-COVID world.

Back to this years race: The 149th year of the famed Kentucky Derby saw the end of a sad and tumultuous week in which seven horses died in the week leading up to Churchill Downs. The deaths renewed concerns about the sports safety record and the horses treatment. Perhaps this is timely, as the physician burnout epidemic is raging, with renewed concern from many physician organizations and physicians themselves. A record number of 64 percent of ED doctors, 60 percent of internal medicine doctors, and 59 percent of family medicine and pediatric doctors are now reporting one or more symptoms of burnout and moral injury. In this country, up to 400 U.S. physicians are taking their lives by suicide yearly. Those are staggering numbers, as are the numbers of fatalities in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The horses at the Triple Crown are trained and groomed to win the coveted races but are euthanized when suffering an injury they are very prone to suffer.

Are we physicians, the healers trained to save lives and heal others, able to save and heal ourselves? Or is it too late?

Corinne Sundar Rao is a board-certified internal medicine physician and founder, Legacy Physicians, which helps hospitals find well-qualified physicians at a much lower overhead than they would pay staffing agencies. She can be reached on LinkedIn and Facebook.
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Have you heard the news?

Flesh-eating zombie drug kills you from the inside out,' headlines a CNN article.

Tacoma market busted for selling zombie drug, barks out a Seattle-area news affiliate.

 Zombie drugs? Florida man stabs couple, eats dead mans face in random attack, shouts a Syracuse news outlet.

Surely by now, you have heard chilling stories about Xylazine, a substance colloquially called tranq that originated in veterinary sedation but now contaminates street supplies of fentanyl. Perhaps you have read one of the above-linked reports from major and minor news outlets about the flesh-eating zombie drug this week.

Except that you have not, because none of these headlines references Xylazine, and no one was published in the current decade. The first article from 2013 warned of the looming threat of krokodil, an injectable extract of codeine that was common in Russia when codeine was available over the counter there. Krokodil was always a suboptimal choice for opioid-dependent people as extracting the active desomorphine from codeine requires alkali solutions, organic solvent, acidified water, iodine, and red phosphorus, which cause predictable damage when injected. You had not heard of krokodil since the mid-2010s because that is when Russia stopped selling codeine over the counter, making the garage extraction of desomorphine moot. Despite warnings about its inevitable North American takeover, krokodil never became popular in the U.S. because codeine has not been available over the counter for several decades and because people who use drugs generally prefer not to inject red phosphorus if given the option to choose just about anything else.

The second article from 2018 sounded the alarm on spice, a general term for synthetic cannabinoids that was purported to cause everything from panic attacks to extreme aggression but has somehow faded off the public radar despite the delta-8 THC variant being almost entirely synthetic and almost entirely legal at the federal level.

The third article red-flagged flakka in 2016, a synthetic cathinone that carved out an endemic niche in South Florida in the mid-2010s. Its purported ability to confer monster-like strength has no scientific grounding, and the cannibal variant of the zombie myth was debunked when the face-eating offender was found to have no flakka in their system at all. Like PCP before it, flakkas spurious reputation gave wide latitude for law enforcement to use notable force to subdue anyone suspected of being intoxicated by the drug. (A 2019 report by Cleveland 19 news took drug panic to the illogical extreme by conflating flakka with Xylazine, apparently based on both being zombifying drugs, declaring confidently that Flakka is a man-made crystal drug similar to bath salts, and now officials say its being mixed with opioids like fentanyl  Xylazine is the drugs clinical name.)

It seems that we do not have so much an epidemic of flesh-eating zombie drugs but a cyclical resurrection of urban legends about drugs that, disappointingly, failed to turn hordes of humans into face-eating zombies or eat their flesh.

Indulge me instead by taking a grounded, clinical approach to Xylazine, especially its severe withdrawals and propensity for causing wounds with its vasoconstrictive effect. Xylazine is a more potent member of the same medication class as clonidine and tizanidine, common medications used for calming opioid withdrawals by muting the effects of adrenaline. This commonality gives us a clear pathway to trial treating withdrawals from Xylazine with similar, milder analogs, much as we use methadone or buprenorphine to stabilize withdrawals from opioids.

Because Xylazine is FDA-approved for veterinary use, we clearly understand how it affects mammalian physiology  unlike novel psychoactive substances or research chemicals where we may have no data on its effects and drawbacks. We can use that understanding to develop and optimize overdose reversal, withdrawal management, wound prevention, and other treatment protocols.

Xylazine is not the first or last drug contaminant to cause tissue damage and infection, from krokodils ravaging tissue necrosis to bacterial contamination that causes heart, bone, and deep tissue infections. Ironically, in my fifteen years working in opioid treatment, I see far fewer wounds in todays fentanyl users  Xylazine or no xylazine  than in yesterdays heroin users, as fentanyl is cheap and strong enough that a surprising number of people never progress to injecting it to maintain the effect. Moreover, we live in a nation with an advanced medical care system that includes such technologies as skin grafting, wound vacs, and hyperbaric chambers that can effectively heal wounds of all sorts.

Once grounded in clinical perspective, the hyperbole of yet another exhausting drug panic becomes clear. Why is this over-exaggeration a problem? The scare-mongering endemic in the zombie, flesh-eating, cannibal, and even demon narratives shore up arguments for ongoing prohibition and mass incarceration  in fact, in two extrajudicial police killings of black men, the victims were described with the same zombie imagery invoked in these drug-panic narratives. The unfounded idea that any drug can give a person superhuman strength justifies aggressive policing of anyone exhibiting signs of intoxication. This exotification of drugs stigmatizes aspects of drug use that are, in reality, often mundane to the point of being boring, like basic wound care. Drug panics blind us to policies that reduce drug uses dangers. If we truly wanted to rid the drug supply of Xylazine, we could legalize and regulate fentanyl tablets, but the goal here is not to secure a safer drug supply. The goal is to stoke cynical panic to justify incarceration rates that outstrip even Russia during the Gulag era.

On a final note, the persistent efforts of journalist Keri Blakinger revealed that the Los Angeles County Sheriffs crime lab was aware of the presence of Xylazine in the local opioid supply as far back as 2019 and on the opposite coast from where it was first publicized and vilified. People who use drugs in Los Angeles have somehow been coping with this episodic exposure to this contaminant for years. Medical providers have been somehow reversing overdoses, calming withdrawals, and addressing wounds of xylazine-poisoned patients for years without even being aware of the burgeoning panic that would emerge when the words tranq dope hit the streets. In other words, we can all take a breath and realize that despite the media frenzy to the contrary, Xylazine is another drug in a long line of drugs, another contaminant in a long line of contaminants. We can use established knowledge and experimental science to optimize treatment of people who have been exposed without exacerbating the stigma and harm done to people who use drugs every time a new panic sets in about flesh-eating zombie drugs.

Julie Craig is an addiction medicine specialist.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has condemned the growing habit among Ugandans of celebrating the misfortunes of others.

Among was presiding over Tuesday afternoons special sitting held to pay tribute to late State Minister for Labour Charles Engola who was shot dead by his bodyguard Wilson Sabiiti last week.

The speaker has noted that it is inhumane and uncultured for one to celebrate other peoples misfortunes and urged Ugandans to stop the habit.

It is inhuman, it is also uncultured and very immoral to celebrate the death of anyone because you hold divergent views. Beyond our different political and religious affiliations we are humans. It is normal to disagree and hold different views but what binds us together is that we are all human beings, Among said.

The speaker has also noted that parliament will make a contribution of Shs50 million to the family to help them in this trying moment.

Among also condemned gun violence in the country and urged Ugandans to desist from taking the law into their hands.

Her remarks follow the recent brutal murder of blogger Ibrahim Tusubira aka Jjaja Iculi who was shot dead over the weekend in Kyanja by unidentified gunmen.
The body of Col. (Rtd) Charles Engola, former junior minister for labour and industrial relations, has arrived at Parliament for MPs to pay their tributes.

Speaker Anita Among has received the body alongside Lango Parliamentary Group MPs.

At 2 pm, the House will convene to pay tribute to the fallen Minister.

The motion for a resolution of parliament to pay tribute to the late minister will be moved by the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and seconded by the Leader of Oopposition.

According to the burial programme, Engolas body will leave Parliament at 3 pm.

On Wednesday, there will be a funeral service at Kololo ceremonial grounds from 9 am and thereafter the body will depart to the deceases home in Kyanja for a vigil.

On Thursday, the body will be airlifted to Oyam district ahead of burial on Saturday at his ancestral home in Awangi village.
Parents have been given up to June 30 to register their children for the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) assessment they are supposed to undertake under the Lower Secondary curriculum.

The first Cohort of the students who are undertaking the new Lower Secondary Curriculum is now in S.3 and are expected to sit for their DIT assessment this year in November.

According to the circulars addressed to parents from various secondary schools across the country, each learner is expected to pursue a vocational occupation aimed at equipping them with employable skills for the world of work.

These students are slated to be subjected to two examinations; one at senior three for vocational skills by DIT and at senior four by the Uganda National Examination Board (Uneb) for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).

According to the chairperson of the National Private Education Institution Association (NPEIA), Mr Hasadu Kirabira, some schools have not registered their students, citing the ambiguous requirements needed in the assessment.

The head teacher of Immaculate Hearts, Sr Gladys Kachope, said that all her senior three students are ready to be registered to sit for these assessments.

Learners are also supposed to pay Shs80, 000 for the DIT assessment. This is in addition to Shs 164,000 registration fee for UCE.

The acting Executive Director of DIT, Mr Patrick Byakatonda, in a previous interview with Daily Monitor said students pursuing vocational subjects in Seniors Three will acquire a Competence Certification of Level 1 on the Uganda Vocational Qualifications Framework (UVQF).
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khaskhabar.com : , 09  2023 4:27 PM
Kilkenny City Vocational School was delighted to welcome Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan and the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Florence Ensch, to the school today.

The Minister and the Ambassador were warmly welcomed to the school by members of the School Student Council, school teachers and Assistant Principal Linda McCormack.

The Minister and the Ambassador visited the school on International Europe Day, a day every year that celebrates peace and unity across Europe for all citizens.

The students heard from both the Minister and the Ambassador on the significance of Europe Day and what it means to be a European Citizen.

The Schools Green School Committee then had the opportunity to present to both the Minister and the Ambassador on their work to date with their initiative on energy conservation and their efforts to earn their seventh Green Schools flag for the school, which is an incredible achievement!

ABOVE: Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Florence Ensch, Minister Malcolm Noonan, Cllr Maria Dollard, Assistant Principal Linda McCormack and Cllr Deirdre Cullen

On the morning, the Kilkenny City Vocational School students were joined by the 5th class students from St. Johns Senior School to present to the Minister and the Ambassador on their collaborative project on Sustainable Tourism.

The schools were selected to undertake this project through the DEIS School Excellence Initiative as the Kilkenny cluster. There are four schools involved in the project, Kilkenny City Vocational School, St. Johns Senior School, St. Patricks De La Salle and Duiske College, Graignamanagh.

this project the students are researching the difference between urban tourism in Kilkenny City and rural tourist opportunities in Graignamanagh. The focus of the project being how as a county we are promoting sustainability through tourism. Both the Minister and the Ambassador were very interested to hear from the students on this project and would like to come back to hear more in future!
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 9 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale SA signed an agreement with French sustainable iron ore company GravitHy to seek solutions to produce carbon-neutral steel, it said on Tuesday.

The agreement will focus on studies to build a factory to produce briquettes from Vale's high-grade iron ore through direct reduction, a steel making method. Vale's briquette is an iron ore agglomerate that reduces emissions in the steelmaking process in the blast furnace route and emits less CO2 when compared to pellets. The product is part of the company's plans to achieve its commitment to reduce scope 3 net emissions by 15% by 2035.

The briquette factory would be located in Fos-sur-Mer, France, next to GravitHy's first Direct Reduction Iron (DRI, also known as sponge iron) plant. GravitHy's plant is designed to produce DRI using hydrogen as a reducing fuel, substantially cutting carbon emissions in the steelmaking chain when compared to the blast furnace route, and is set to be traded globally in the form of hot-briquetted iron (HBI).

"This reinforces Vale's confidence in the direct reduction route and the use of hydrogen to enable the decarbonization of the steel industry," the mining company said in a statement. Vale also aims to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

($1 = 0.9084 euros) (Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Editing by Stephen Coates)
ROME, May 9 (Reuters) - Italy's largest bank Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) said on Tuesday it was investing 70 million euros ($77 million) to foster the international growth of Bending Spoons, one of the country's most successful app developers.

Milan-based Bending Spoons has registered more than 500 million downloads and has 90 million monthly active users, according to its website. Its apps include popular video editing tool Splice and Remini, an image editor based on artificial intelligence.

Intesa said its financing, to be backed by Italy's export credit agency SACE, aims to help the company's foreign expansion through the purchase of assets and the development of apps in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Bending Spoons was founded in 2013 in Copenhagen but moved its headquarters to Italy the following year. Four of its five founders are Italian.

It said in September last year it had raised more than $340 million from investors including Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and Kerry Trainor, the former CEO of video streaming platform Vimeo (VMEO.O).

In 2020 it also developed the Immuni app, which was intended to help trace COVID-19 infections in Italy but had little impact on efforts to curb the pandemic.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)
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(Kitco News) - Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder and former CEO of FTX and Alameda, is seeking to have nearly all criminal charges against him dismissed.

SBFs legal team filed a series of seven pretrial motions with the Southern District Court in New York late Monday which argue for the dismissal of all but three of the charges he faces at his October criminal trial. And while the legal arguments are specific to each charge, the documents also outline a broader narrative which mirrors recent arguments by Coinbase, Ripple and others that the U.S. government is unfairly attacking crypto firms to cover up their own regulatory failures.

The motions group the charges according to their grounds for dismissal, with some focusing on the terms of SBFs extradition from the Bahamas and others arguing a lack of evidence of a clear offense or improper discovery.

One motion seeks to dismiss four charges related to Bankman-Frieds activities at FTX and Alameda including conspiracy, bank and wire fraud charges, arguing that the addition of these charges after extradition violates the Treatys rule of specialty provision which holds that the U.S. should only try SBF on the charges for which they were extradited.

Another motion seeks to dismiss four charges related to conspiracy to defraud the United States and other wire fraud and conspiracy charges, arguing that the Justice department has failed to state an adequate offense to support these counts.

The only charges the motions do not seek to dismiss are three counts of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, though Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to those charges as well.

Perhaps the most revealing information in the pretrial motions is the picture they attempt to paint of the U.S. governments role in the problems that have plagued the broader crypto industry, which aligns FTX and SBF with other beleaguered crypto firms.

In 2022 the entire cryptocurrency sector underwent tremendous shocks due to a broad market crash dubbed the crypto winter, they wrote, saying that every major participantincluding exchanges, banks, lenders, and hedge funds suffered massive losses and many went bankrupt during the year. FTX, the non-U.S. exchange founded by Mr. Bankman-Fried and others, lasted far longer (paying back billions to customers and lenders during the course of the year), but ultimately succumbed to the same market forces, filing for bankruptcy on November 11, 2022.

The lawyers characterized as dramatic and troubling the ensuing actions taken by the U.S. government.

Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the Government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes, they wrote. In a classic rush to judgment, the Government brought the original indictment against Mr. Bankman-Fried on December 9, 2022, less than a month after FTXs bankruptcy, doing so before they could review evidence related to their case, including detailed financial records of FTX and their various counterparties.

Not surprisingly, this resulted in an indictment containing eight vague and non-specific charges against Mr. Bankman-Fried containing boilerplate language followed by literally one sentence purportedly describing the basis for the charge and no additional details or support, they said.

This narrative perfectly aligns with the arguments made by U.S.-based exchanges and crypto firms who have criticized the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their regulation-by-enforcement approach of issuing Wells notices with little or no specific charges, refusing to define the assets or support the supposed violations, and rushing to judgment before reviewing the evidence.

In sum, the Governments haste and apparent willingness to proceed without having all the relevant facts and information has produced an indictment that is not only improperly brought but legally flawed and should be dismissed, they write.

Elsewhere, SBFs lawyers focus on the failure of regulators and lawmakers to keep pace with the growth and evolution of the crypto ecosystem, another familiar refrain from U.S. crypto companies. In the span of a single year, the combined market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies grew from less than $200 billion in 2020 to nearly $3 trillion in 2021, they wrote, while the applicable legal framework for the cryptocurrency industry developed much more slowly.

They describe both U.S. policymakers and regulators as being divided over whether existing regulations could be applied to the cryptocurrency markets, or whether new rules would need to be created, and whether any U.S. regulations could be applied to foreign-based cryptocurrency companies, generally deciding they would not be.

The lawyers argue that SBF actively sought clear regulation, which was not on offer in the U.S., and moved the fledgling FTX exchange from Hong Kong to the Bahamas in 2021 because they had successfully implemented a regulatory structure.

Bankman-Fried believed that by developing the exchange abroad, the concept could be fine-tuned and eventually brought within the U.S. legal framework, they wrote. While the cryptocurrency industry was skeptical of government regulation, Mr. Bankman-Fried and FTX sought to work constructively with global regulators, including the Securities Commission of the Bahamas, which became FTXs primary regulator.

In their characterization of the onset of the Crypto Winter in 2022, the filings also make parallels between the bank collapses of 2008, and cast Sam Bankman-Fried in the role of a Jamie Dimon, using his superior acumen to survive and his considerable resources to rescue other foundering firms. [M]uch of the cryptocurrency ecosystem became insolvent, with a series of companies  exchanges, banks, lenders and hedge funds  collapsing and filing for bankruptcy in the spring and summer of 2022, they wrote. In fact, Mr. Bankman-Fried tried to step in and stabilize the collapse.

SBFs lawyers are also perfectly willing to lump FTX and Alameda in with the rest of the pack when it suits their purposes, such as justifying the absence of risk management, segregation of customer accounts, or any financial, security, or accounting controls. Ultimately, the fall became too pronounced and FTX was caught up in this same downturn, they said. Like many other cryptocurrency market participants, and many other start-ups that experience exponential growth in a short period, FTX did not have fully developed controls and risk management protocols. FTX, like other market participants, was susceptible to a broader market collapse.

Interestingly, the motions make no mention of SBFs multiple meetings with SEC chair Gary Gensler, or the U.S. cryptocurrency legislation he helped draft and actively promoted on Capitol Hill, even though it would seem to support the cooperative, pro-regulation, industry-champion role in which theyre casting their client. This could be an acknowledgement that the legal battle will be fought against a political backdrop, and a shrewd attempt to maintain as many potential allies as possible in a divided congress.

The Justice department has until May 29 to respond to the motions, and U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan will hear arguments on the dismissal requests from both sides on June 15.
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(Kitco News) - Sibanye-Stillwater (NYSE: SBSW) reported today that production from its gold operations in South Africa (including DRDGOLD) was 200,267 oz in Q1 2023, up 46% compared with Q1 2022, following the resumption of the operations after the industrial action in the first half of 2022.

All-in sustaining costs (including DRDGOLD) were $1,826 per ounce of gold in Q1 2023 or 25% lower than in Q1 2022, reflecting a return towards normalized operations from significant operational disruptions during 2022.

"Load curtailment continues to challenge normal operating procedures and causes an increase in operating costs, but is being managed through the adoption of more effective protocols to mitigate impact," the company said.

The company's platinum group metals (PGM) production from its operations in South Africa was 379,791 4Eoz (excluding third party purchase of concentrate) in Q1 2023, down 8% compared to Q1 2022, primarily due to the ongoing planned closure and ceasing of production at Simunye shaft at Kroondal, copper theft related production disruptions, load curtailment and productivity constraints in areas where operations are mining through adverse ground conditions.

Mined 2E PGM production from the company's US PGM operations was 100,690 2Eoz in Q1 2023 or 18% lower than in Q1 2022, primarily due to structural damage to the shaft which accesses the deeper levels of the Stillwater West mine. There were no injuries from this incident and the shaft was successfully recommissioned on 16 April 2023.

The company also reported that its adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2023 was $441 million, which is a decline of 51% compared to adjusted EBITDA of $898 million in Q1 2022.

"While the economic and operating outlook remains challenging and uncertain, we are beginning to identify early indications of more positive sentiment after a very tough period. We continue to believe that we are well positioned to benefit from a more positive and supportive environment and will continue to deliver shared value with all stakeholders," the company said.

Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals company with a diverse portfolio of mining and processing operations and projects and investments across five continents. The company is also one of the foremost global PGM autocatalytic recyclers and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.
ZURICH, May 9 (Reuters) - UBS Group (UBSG.S) said on Tuesday that Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Koerner will stay on after the takeover of its Swiss rival as part of a new leadership team of the combined group.

Announcing its leadership reshuffle, UBS also promoted Todd Tuckner, now finance chief of its core wealth management business, to group chief financial officer, succeeding Sarah Youngwood who decided to leave once the deal closes after a year in the job.

UBS is taking over Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) as part of a Swiss government-orchestrated rescue backed by as much as 250 billion Swiss francs ($281.25 billion) of state support after recent banking sector turmoil brought the country's No. 2 lender to the brink of collapse.

Besides Koerner, who spent over a decade at UBS before returning to Credit Suisse in 2021, UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti largely leaned on UBS executives in pulling together his new team. Some media had speculated that a number of Credit Suisse bankers would take up senior roles at the new group.

"The new leadership team under CEO Sergio Ermotti clearly reflects the fact that UBS takes over CS. There are fewer changes than expected," Vontobel analyst Andreas Venditti said in a note.

Commenting on Koerner's future role, UBS said Koerner would be responsible for Credit Suisse's operational continuity and client focus, while supporting its integration. Credit Suisse executive board members will report to both their relevant UBS executive board member and Koerner.

It is unclear whether he will stay on after the integration is completed.

Attention now shifts to UBS's strategic plans for the combined bank.

UBS reiterated that it will evaluate all options for Credit Suisses Swiss business - which currently comprises wealth management, commercial and investment banking - and will "communicate further on this matter in the coming months."

A person familiar with the matter said a decision on the Swiss unit's future was likely to be taken by the end of the summer. UBS needs to act fast given that Credit Suisse is structurally loss making, said the person, who declined to be named because the discussions were private.

Reuters reported last week that options under consideration for that business include a sale or an initial public offering of Credit Suisse's domestic unit.

Ermotti returned to UBS in April to steer the biggest banking deal since the global financial crisis, involving Switzerland's two biggest banks employing around 120,000 people worldwide.

This is a pivotal moment for UBS, Credit Suisse and the entire banking industry," Ermotti said in the statement. "Together we will solidify and represent the Swiss model for finance around the world, one that is capital-light, less reliant on taking risk and anchored by stability and high-touch service."

UBS said that following the legal closing of the transaction, which it expected in the coming weeks, UBS Group AG would manage two separate parent companies  UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG - throughout the integration process it has said could take three to four years.

During that time, each institution will continue to have its own subsidiaries and branches, serve its clients and deal with counterparties.

Zuercher Kantonalbank said this meant there would be initially no big changes for the current Credit Suisse management.

"We assume that through such approach bigger disruptions will be avoided. However the job uncertainty for the current CS managers will remain," the bank said in its daily comment.

Tuckner, who joined UBS in 2004 from KPMG in New York, has held various leadership roles across finance in the United States and Switzerland, UBS said.

It also said Michelle Bereaux, who has been with UBS since 1998, will become group integration officer, while several top UBS managers will retain their jobs.

* Iqbal Khan will remain head of global wealth management

* Rob Karofsky stays on as president of investment banking

* Sabine Keller-Busse remains president of UBS Switzerland.

($1 = 0.8889 Swiss francs)
Like many media outlets, I asked Radio NZ under the OIA for a copy or transcript of what justice minister Kiri Allan said at the farewell for her partner, Mani Dunlop, after it emerged that she had to apologise later for them.

radio NZ declined to release a full transcript but did release two paragraphs which said:

There is something within this organisation that has to be looked at. Now I know that you said that you would pick up that, the wero, that Mani left. It is not for just you, it is for your SLT to pick up. It's for your SLT to pick up. It's for your boards to pick up. That there is something within the organisation that will not, and has not been able to keep Maori talent and that is a question that I think deserves some deep reflection. We are looking at these two, and we are looking at this organisation and how it treats its talent. Want to know she doesn't need to do it, it's not her role to carry that anymore. So it's to this room, and the people within this place to grow and nurture, show that they have a viable future within this organisation. That you can come in as an intern and that you can get to the top spot, not just because you are Maori but because you have trained them well, you have nurtured them well.

Now the comments are clearly inappropriate. She is a Cabinet Minister and a member of APH which effectively signs off on who gets appointed to boards such as Radio NZ. Her comments lambasting the board come very close to an illegal directive.

Having said that, I do appreciate the context was one of emotion with her fiancee leaving Radio NZ after ten years and failing to get the Morning Report job.

Ironically I do think Dunlop was discriminated against in not getting the Morning Report job, but not due to being Maori. I have no inside knowledge but I suspect being engaged to a Cabinet Minister was seen as problematic for a job which involves interviewing a lot of Cabinet Ministers.

If that was the reason, that is a pity. I don't think your choice of partner should be held against you. Jane Clifton is an example of someone who wrote wonderfully acerbic articles about both national and Labour, while partnered up with Murray McCully and then Trevor Mallard.

So I wouldn't have a problem if Mani Dunlop had gained the Morning Report job. I'd judge her on her performance in the role, not on preconceptions.

Anyway back to Radio NZ, and their refusal to release the full transcript. This looks bad for three reasons.

Kiri Allan has herself said she has no problem with it being released The Prime Minister has already had a copy of the transcript, seemingly from Radio NZ staff. The refusal under the Official Information Act includes as a reason to protect the tikanga of RNZ and its kaimahi

Protecting the tikanga of Radio New Zealand is not grounds for refusal under the oia. And the section of the ACT they cite only applies to natural persons, not organisations.

So I have appealed the decision to the ombudsman. Only the second time in twenty years I have done this I think. It is not that I think the full transcript will contain any proof of further wrong-doing, but that the refusal by Radio NZ is so obviously flawed.

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The NY Post reports:

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation  and ordered to pay more than $5 million in damages  by a federal jury in writer E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit accusing him of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman fitting room decades ago. Carroll, 79, held her head down as the verdict was read in Manhattan federal court  and nodded when she heard the jury finding in favor of her defamation claim for Trump, 76, branding her a liar when she came forward with her allegations. The nine-person jury  three women and six men  decided the case after three hours of deliberations that began just before noon Tuesday.

This is not a surprising decision. As Trump is a pathological liar, putting him on the stand would almost guarantee he would get done for perjury. And considering he boasted about how he likes to grab women etc, again it is not surprising.

It is significant to some degree that a former President and presidential candidate has been found unanimously by a jury to have sexually assaulted a women, on the balance of probabilities.

Without diminishing what Trump has done, it is worth noting that bill clinton almost certainly sexually assaulted multiple women also. Clinton had the full establishment defending him at the time against Juanita Broaddrick.

Will this harm Trump's chances of winning the Republican nomination? Probably not. He has too strong a lock.

It may harm him in the general election somewhat, but too early to tell. The latest polls have him comfortably ahead of Biden, but again it is early days.

Anyway i'm pleased for Jean Carroll. The jury listened to all the evidence, and decided they believed her.

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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. High 82F. N winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 83F. NNW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 51F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Buckhead Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) by 11.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 9,580 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 1,245 shares during the quarter. Buckhead Capital Management LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,241,000 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 EOG. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 196.1% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,859,925 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,175,599,000 after purchasing an additional 6,529,464 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 802.0% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,307,749 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $275,153,000 after purchasing an additional 2,051,889 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 11,693.0% during the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 1,698,540 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $219,995,000 after purchasing an additional 1,684,137 shares during the period. Yacktman Asset Management LP bought a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 3rd quarter valued at $160,336,000. Finally, Findlay Park Partners LLP raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 41.2% during the 3rd quarter. Findlay Park Partners LLP now owns 4,065,758 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $454,267,000 after purchasing an additional 1,185,883 shares during the period. 87.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $152.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $141.00 to $142.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 24th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $150.42.

EOG Resources Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of EOG stock traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $114.41. 317,258 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,711,557. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $92.16 and a 12-month high of $150.88. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The companys 50-day moving average price is $114.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.53.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $6.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.83% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.00 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.76 earnings per share for the current year.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.88%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.64%.

EOG Resources Profile

(Get Rating)

EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Epwin Group Plc (LON:EPWN  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Tuesday, April 4th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a dividend of GBX 2.55 ($0.03) per share on Monday, June 5th. This represents a yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. This is a positive change from Epwin Groups previous dividend of $1.90. The official announcement can be accessed at this link.

Epwin Group Stock Performance

Shares of LON:EPWN opened at GBX 69.95 ($0.88) on Tuesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is GBX 74.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 121.07, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.16. Epwin Group has a one year low of GBX 66 ($0.83) and a one year high of GBX 86.40 ($1.09). The firm has a market cap of 101.37 million, a PE ratio of 1,158.33 and a beta of 1.03.

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Insider Activity

In other Epwin Group news, insider Stephen Harrison bought 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 76 ($0.96) per share, for a total transaction of 7,600 ($9,589.91). Insiders own 36.09% of the companys stock.

About Epwin Group

Epwin Group Plc manufactures and sells building products in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Extrusion and Moulding, and Fabrication and Distribution. The company offers windows, doors, cavity closers, and curtain walling products; wood plastic composite decking products and panels; glass reinforced plastic prefabricated components, such as door canopies, dormers, chimneys, copings, bay window canopies, and bespoke components; fascias and cladding systems; rainwater, soil, and underground drainage products; bathroom panels/wall boards; and insulated glazing units.

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N-able (NYSE:NABL  Get Rating) is scheduled to be posting its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, May 10th. Analysts expect N-able to post earnings of $0.08 per share for the quarter. N-able has set its FY 2023 guidance at EPS and its Q1 2023 guidance at EPS.Persons that wish to register for the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

N-able (NYSE:NABL  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.02. N-able had a net margin of 4.49% and a return on equity of 4.73%. The company had revenue of $95.76 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $93.59 million. On average, analysts expect N-able to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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N-able Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NABL opened at $12.65 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 140.57 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 2.49 and a quick ratio of 2.49. N-able has a one year low of $8.12 and a one year high of $13.92. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $12.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $11.31.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Insider Transactions at N-able

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on NABL shares. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on N-able from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of N-able from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $13.00 to $11.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th.

In other news, CFO Tim James Obrien sold 18,786 shares of N-able stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.75, for a total transaction of $258,307.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 531,235 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,304,481.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CFO Tim James Obrien sold 18,786 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.75, for a total value of $258,307.50. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 531,235 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,304,481.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Frank Colletti sold 26,316 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.59, for a total value of $305,002.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 385,210 shares in the company, valued at $4,464,583.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 53,922 shares of company stock worth $667,210 over the last 90 days. 0.83% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of N-able

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in N-able by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,474,435 shares of the companys stock worth $59,760,000 after buying an additional 375,635 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of N-able by 2.0% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,554,806 shares of the companys stock worth $42,042,000 after purchasing an additional 88,993 shares during the period. Sunriver Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of N-able by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. Sunriver Management LLC now owns 2,217,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,175,000 after purchasing an additional 184,941 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its position in shares of N-able by 3,929.0% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 2,123,911 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,834,000 after purchasing an additional 2,071,196 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its stake in N-able by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,685,181 shares of the companys stock worth $15,554,000 after purchasing an additional 131,620 shares in the last quarter. 97.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

N-able Company Profile

(Get Rating)

N-able, Inc provides cloud-based software solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's solutions enable MSPs to support digital transformation and growth within small and medium-sized enterprises. Its software platform is designed to be an enterprise-grade solution that serves as an operating system for its MSP partners and scales as their businesses grow.

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Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE  Get Rating) will announce its earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, May 11th.

Park Aerospace Stock Down 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:PKE traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $12.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 8,404 shares, compared to its average volume of 194,018. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $13.38 and a 200-day moving average of $13.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $254.44 million, a P/E ratio of 32.21 and a beta of 0.55. Park Aerospace has a 12-month low of $10.08 and a 12-month high of $16.92.

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Park Aerospace Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a None dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 3rd were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 31st. Park Aerospaces dividend payout ratio is 128.21%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Institutional Trading of Park Aerospace

Separately, StockNews.com raised Park Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 13th.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky purchased a new stake in Park Aerospace in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Park Aerospace by 277.2% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,139 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 1,572 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Park Aerospace by 542.8% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,709 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 3,132 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Park Aerospace by 535.1% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,834 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $89,000 after acquiring an additional 5,758 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC bought a new position in Park Aerospace in the third quarter valued at about $103,000. 86.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Park Aerospace Company Profile

(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.

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Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC lifted its position in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 1.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 79,164 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,152 shares during the quarter. Southern accounts for 1.2% of Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $5,653,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC increased its position in Southern by 192.0% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 511 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the period. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Southern by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 500 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors own 61.78% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on SO shares. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price 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. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on shares of Southern from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Mizuho raised shares of Southern from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $72.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.14.

Southern Stock Performance

NYSE SO traded down $0.04 on Tuesday, hitting $74.53. 1,272,868 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,166,198. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The Southern Company has a 1-year low of $58.85 and a 1-year high of $80.57. The firms 50-day moving average price is $69.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.27 billion, a PE ratio of 24.05, a P/E/G ratio of 5.19 and a beta of 0.51.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The firm had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.97 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

Southern Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. This is a boost from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Southerns payout ratio is currently 87.74%.

Insider Activity at Southern

In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 146,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on 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 owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was 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 approximately $1,832,299.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 7,134 shares of company stock worth $502,179 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Southern Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi.

Further Reading

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Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, right, and Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser laugh during a forum at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min



Over 200 business executives, transport authorities and sovereign funds of Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed to fortify bilateral cooperation, Tuesday, in a joint commitment to creating a virtuous cycle of IT-powered green city planning in the fossil fuel-rich country, the land ministry said Tuesday.



This is a follow-up to the visit by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to Korea last November, when business deals of up to 40 trillion won ($30 billion) were signed in manufacturing, smart technology, bio and healthcare, city planning, infrastructure building, energy, agriculture, environment and gaming.



Underpinning the strong bilateral relationship is $156.5 billion in overseas construction orders inked between Korea and Saudi Arabia as of March. The figure accounts for 17 percent of Korea's total overseas construction orders over the past five decades worth $925 billion, according to the ministry. It is twice the $83.1 billion from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Yoon Suk Yeol administration pledged policy assistance to win $50 billion in overseas construction orders every year until 2027.



Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong said the two countries held a forum at The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. They discussed transport logistics strategies, joint investment opportunities and sharing of innovative technologies in the areas of construction, mobility and smart city planning.



Among those in attendance was Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, who was joined by officials of Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Civil Aviation, Transport General Authority and Saudi Arabia Railways.



Hyundai Motor Group shared smart city planning strategies, while Hanwha Systems, the aerospace and defense affiliate of Hanwha Group, shared urban air mobility technologies.



Hyundai Elevator, the management consulting affiliate of Hyundai Group, demonstrated electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technologies. The company's eVTOL technology is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to take off, hover and land vertically.



"We hope today's event will be remembered as another important milestone to expand bilateral cooperation," Won said during his welcoming speech at the hotel.



"Opportunities abound for industry leaders of Korea and Saudi Arabia's state-run organizations, especially in the fields of future mobility including autonomous cars, electric vehicles (EVs) and construction of smart ports, railways and other mobility infrastructure. The government will continue its efforts to provide assistance for generating mutually beneficial outcomes."


All three occupants of this 2008 Ford Fusion were taken to area hospitals for in stable condition treatment of injuries following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of C.R. 24 and C.R. 35 northwest of Waterloo Monday, the DeKalb County Sheriffs Office said. Two passengers were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the wreckage.
Seventy-seven students in Trine Universitys Allen School of Engineering and Computing were inducted into the Order of the Engineer during a recent ceremony. The group includes Evan Zielke of Auburn.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]/London [UK], May 9 (ANI/PRNewswire): UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has announced that Liam Moran, a specialist in financial services, has joined the company as a member of its Advisory Board. With a strong background in banking and technology, he will bring the experience of working across a range of complex business, compliance, and regulatory environments on a global scale to UST.

Liam is the founder of fintech start-up Akuroo as well as an advisor to the Open Bank Project. He has worked with several global Tier-1 banks in Europe and North America. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in financial services, speaking at conferences and authoring works expounding on the importance of the smart use of technology in accelerating disruption in financial services.

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Adding Liam to UST's global financial practice will further empower the company to build relationships in key markets and develop its operations in this dynamic, challenging, and exciting sector.

"UST has dramatically expanded its footprint in the financial services sector in recent years, and I'm proud to be joining a team of world-class experts working to maintain this upward trajectory. As the worlds of finance and technology become ever more intertwined, I'm looking forward to working with UST to position the company for sustained success in the years to come. We aim to both expand the client base and strengthen existing relationships," said Liam Moran, Advisory Board Member, UST.

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"We are incredibly excited to be able to welcome Liam Moran as an Advisory Board Member. In addition to his expertise and decades of experience in this field, he shares UST's commitment to delivering transformation through innovation. Liam will equip us to build new relationships and strengthen existing ties by leveraging our platforms in the AI/ML, Data, Intelligent Automation and Operations Resilience as we look to capitalize on our recent growth and success," said Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer, UST.

In addition to his work, Liam is an avid cyclist and has completed four full Ironman triathlons. He resides in the west of Ireland.

For more than 23 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations--delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact--touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com

Media Contacts, UST: Tinu Cherian Abraham +1 (949) 415-9857

Merrick Laravea+1 (949) 416-6212

Neha Misri+91-9284726602media.relations@ust.com

Media Contacts, U.S.: S&C PR +1-646.941.9139 media@scprgroup.com

Makovsky ust@makovsky.com

Media Contacts, Australia:Team Lewisust@teamlewis.com

Media Contacts, U.K.:FTI ConsultingUST@fticonsulting.com

This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)

(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], May 9 (ANI): The Manufacturers' Association of Israel (MAI) concluded a cooperation agreement with the leading business body - Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - eyeing a boost in trade between India and Israel in fear of the shrinking global economy.

MAI signed an MoU on Tuesday with CII, a representative business organisation of 9,000 direct members. The MoU's primary aim is to facilitate through cooperation between the business organisations, a significant increase in the volume of trade between the two countries, which currently stands at 8.5 billion.

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MAI Ron Tomer signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CII President Rakesh Bharti Mittal, to promote cooperation and create cross-border business opportunities between the countries.

The primary objective of this agreement is to significantly increase the volume of trade between the two nations, which currently stands at USD 8.5 billion. The agreement was signed in the presence of Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, India's Water Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon.

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This agreement holds tremendous significance for the commercial relations between the two countries, considering that CII is not only India's leading and most prominent business body but also represents over 9,000 Indian companies across the nation, according to a statement from CII.

Additionally, it encompasses an additional 300,000 subsidiary members through regional branches, collectively employing millions of individuals throughout the country.

Furthermore, the importance of the relationship between MAI and CII is projected to expand even further, as India's population has surpassed China's this year for the first time in accordance to official UN data, making India the most populous economic power globally, according to the statement.

In Israel, the Manufacturers' Association of Israel (MAI) represents over 2,000 leading industrial and hi-tech companies in the economy, collectively providing employment to around 500,000 workers.

According to the statement, the agreement between the parties has now come to fruition after a lengthy process of fostering commercial relations between India and Israel. During this period, the volume of exports and imports between the two countries has nearly doubled over the past five years, rising from about USD 4.7 billion dollars to USD 8.5 billion.

Furthermore, the two nations are currently engaged in negotiations for a free trade agreement, and India stands as Israel's largest trading partner in Asia, according to the statement. However, when considering the overall volume of exports and imports of Israel, which amounts to USD 316 billion annually, the current trade volume between the two countries, totalling USD 8.5 billion, represents a relatively modest percentage yet.

In this regard, the agreement is anticipated to bolster investments and business connections between India and Israel. It aims to establish a framework that will facilitate future business collaborations and substantially enhance the volume of trade between the two countries.

The agreement also sets the stage for initiatives that foster mutual cooperation, create investment and trade opportunities, and facilitate the exchange of relevant information. It encompasses activities such as contacting and attracting companies to India and Israel, hosting joint events, and supporting visits by government and industry representatives from India to Israel, as well as Israelis in India.

The President of MAI Ron Tomer said: "I am happy and proud to sign a historic MoU agreement with my honorable Indian colleague, Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal. This agreement represents another significant step in strengthening the commercial ties between the two countries, with our goal being to double trade between them. It's important to remember that the economy in Western countries is shrinking, so new opportunities lie in countries like India. Therefore, from this perspective, this agreement serves as an important "contingency plan" for Israeli exporters who are seeking to develop into new markets."

Tomer is also the chairman of the president of Israeli Employers and Businesses Organisations (IEBO).

Tomer said, "Additionally, India is not only a true friend of the state of Israel but also an industrial and agricultural powerhouse that is constantly growing, creating almost unlimited potential for commercial and economic relations between our nations. India has much to contribute to the State of Israel, and vice versa."

Already today, he said there is significant trade between the two countries, which is expected to become even more significant and extensive in the future.

"We have already observed a substantial increase in the adoption of Israeli technologies in India's industrial and automation processes in recent years. This includes the utilisation of Israeli software for production management and advanced cyber protection," Tomer said, adding, "I firmly believe that this trend will continue to intensify, accompanied by the adoption of products from other industrial sectors in Israel to further contribute to the country's development."

CII President Rakesh Bharti Mittal is also one of the prominent businessmen in India. Mittal's fortune is estimated by Forbes to be around 4.1 billion dollars, and he leads the largest telecom corporation in India, serving over 500 million subscribers in East Asia and India. (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], May 9 (ANI): Centre's three flagship programmes - the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), which intended to enable affordable insurance and security to people have completed eight years of their launch.

PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, 2015.

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As we celebrate the 8th anniversary of the three social security (or Jan Suraksha) schemes, this report will note down the progress of the schemes, including their reach among people.

In order to ensure that the people from the unorganised section of the country are financially secure, the Government launched two insurance schemes --PMJJBY and PMSBY; and also introduced APY to cover the exigencies in old age.

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Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY):

PMJJBY is a one-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death due to any reason.

Persons in the age group of 18-50 years having an individual bank or a post office account are entitled to enrol under the scheme. People who join the scheme before completing 50 years of age can continue to have the risk of life cover up to the age of 55 years upon payment of the regular premium.

Life cover of Rs 2 Lakh in case of death due to any reason against a premium of Rs. 436 per annum.

As on April 26, 2023, the cumulative enrolments under the scheme have been more than 16.19 crore and an amount of Rs. 13,290.40 crore has been paid for 664,520 claims.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY):

PMSBY is a one-year accidental insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death or disability due to an accident.

Persons in the age group of 18-70 years having an individual bank or a post office account are entitled to enrol under the scheme.

Accidental death cum disability cover of Rs 2 lakh (Rs 1 lakh in case of partial disability) for death or disability due to an accident against a premium of Rs 20 per annum.

The cumulative enrolments under the scheme have been more than 34.18 crore and an amount of Rs. 2,302.26 crore has been paid for 1,15,951 claims.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY):

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the underprivileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. APY is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).

APY is open to all bank account holders in the age group of 18 to 40 years who are not income taxpayers and the contributions differ, based on the pension amount chosen.

Subscribers can make contributions to APY on monthly/quarterly/half-yearly basis.

Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000 or Rs 3,000 or Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 after the age of 60 years, based on the contributions made by the subscriber after joining the scheme.

The monthly pension is available to the subscriber, and after him to his spouse and after their death, the pension corpus, as accumulated at age 60 the subscriber, would be returned to the nominee of the subscriber.

In case of premature death of the subscriber (death before 60 years of age), the spouse of the subscriber can continue the contribution to the APY account of the subscriber, for the remaining vesting period, till the original subscriber would have attained the age of 60 years.

So far, more than 5 crore individuals have subscribed to the APY scheme. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A crew member of the movie The Kerala Story, received a threatening message from an unknown number, according to Mumbai Police. As per the police, Sudipto Sen, director of the film The Kerala Story informed police that one of the crew members received a message from an unknown number. "The message threatened the said person not to step out alone from home and that they didn't do a good thing by showing the story," police said. The Kerala Story Movie Review: Adah Sharma's Film is a Badly-Accented Propaganda With Very Ulterior Motives (LatestLY Exclusive).

Police provided security to the crew member but FIR has not been registered as they are yet to receive a written complaint. The Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal banned the film The Kerala Story citing 'maintenance of peace' and to avoid incidents of 'hatred and violence' in the state on May 8. The Kerala Story Review: Critics Bash Adah Sharma's Controversial Film, Call It 'Manipulative'.

Watch The Kerala Story Trailer:

West Bengal became the first state to ban the film, The Kerala Story, which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage. There's a continuing political outcry around the movie even as it has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. On the decision to ban the film, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "It is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state."

The CM directed the state chief secretary to remove the movie from all theatres where it is being screened. Reacting to the ban, Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the producer of the film, said they will pursue legal options against the decision. "If state government won't listen to us, we will explore legal avenues. However, whatever course we take will be based on legal advice," Shah told ANI.

Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film evoked sharp opposition from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who called it 'RSS propaganda'. The Kerala Story stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in lead roles. A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn. Its trailer description was later changed to a story of three women from Kerala.
Srinagar, May 9 (PTI) Security forces on Tuesday arrested two militant associates of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district and recovered arms and ammunition, including an IED, from them, police said.

During the course of an investigation into a case, security forces arrested two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT, a police spokesperson said.

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The spokesperson identified them as Shahid Ahmad Lone, a resident of Chotipora Shopian, and Waseem Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Borihalan Shopian, in south Kashmir.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including a pistol, a pistol magazine, four pistol rounds, a silencer, an IED, a remote control, two batteries, and an empty magazine of AK 47 rifle, were recovered on their disclosure, the spokesperson said.

Also Read | Supreme Court Agrees To Examine Plea Against 'The Kerala Story' on May 15.

He said one terror associate has already been arrested in the case.

On May 2, security forces arrested a terrorist associate of LeT, identified as Tanveer Ahmad Wani, a resident of Daramdora Shopian.

He said further investigation is going on in the case.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Imphal (Manipur) [India], May 9 (ANI): Under the initiative of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), KSO, Churachandpur District Administration and 9 sector Assam Rifles evacuated 518 stranded people including medical students and shifted them to Imphal on Monday.

As violence gripped several parts of Manipur, security advisor to the Manipur government Kuldeep Singh said on Sunday that tension continued to prevail in some areas of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh.

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"The current situation in Manipur has improved quite a lot. Today curfew was also relaxed. Some areas of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh are still under tension. Peace meetings were held. Till now, 134 arms have been recovered out of the looted arms," Singh told ANI.

Earlier on Sunday, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey convened a security review meeting at Imphal over the violence in the State.

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Security Adviser to Manipur government Kuldip Singh, IPS (Retd) and Additional Director General of Police Ashutosh Sinha, the overall Operational Commander of the present turmoil arising in the State were present in the meeting.

According to Raj Bhavan, Governor Uikey expressed during the meeting that she had already made to all the sections of the society to solve the problem through peaceful dialogue amicably.

Governor appreciated the relentless efforts made by the Security Forces to save lives and properties at this critical juncture. Further, she also suggested shifting people, who are in different relief camps, to send to their respective places safely which was acceded to by both the Security Adviser and the Operational Commander.

Indian Army and Assam Rifles which were called in to curb violence in Manipur have successfully rescued nearly 23,000 civilians so far and moved them to the operating bases, a statement from the Indian Army said on Sunday.

Violence erupted amid protests against a high court order asking the state government to consider including the majority Meitei community in Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Amid the demand of the Meitei people for ST status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent. (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], May 9 (ANI): Delhi Police Narcotics Squad, South District have arrested two gamblers for indulging in online betting during an IPL match of Gujarat vs Lucknow that took place on May 7.

According to police, seven mobile phones and one laptop were recovered from their possession.

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The gamblers have been identified as Akash alias Akki and Vishal Gupta and a case under sections 3/4 Delhi Public Gambling Act, has been registered in police station Ambedkar Nagar, the police said.

According to DCP South Chandan Chaudhary, On May 7, a credible piece of information was received by Narcotics Squad, South District that two persons were betting in ongoing IPL matches at Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar area.

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Immediately, a team of Narcotics Squad was formed to bust the Gambling racket.

Accordingly, the information was further developed and local enquiry into the area was conducted.

Hence, a trap was laid in the area and a raid was conducted and the gate of the said house was locked.

Immediately, police personnel was deputed to knock on the door.

As soon as the door was knocked out, the alert staff swung into action and apprehended two persons who were operating a gambling racket on IPL matches with the help of mobile phones and a laptop.

During the course of interrogation, the accused persons confessed that they used various illegal online betting applications through international platforms wherein international betting rates on winnings/losing were displayed while streaming the online matches.

The accused persons further stated that they used to take a line of the live match which was usually a few seconds ahead of the live telecast (called Dabba Phone).

Then they used to supply the line further to their other counterparts using Suitcase/Box having numerous mobile phones interconnected with each other and carrying out conference calls between them.

They took bets through other mobile phones from their punters and clients.

They also maintained the transactions with the help of an I-betting assistant. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 9 (ANI): Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Mayor of Mumbai Vishwanath Mahadeshwar passed away on Tuesday after being unwell for a few days, said party officials.

The former Mayor of Mumbai was 63 years old and suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday.

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His mortal remains will be kept at Raje Sambhaji Vidyalaya, Santacruz East, for the last darshan. After that, the funeral procession will leave for the crematorium at Teachers Colony Bandra Crematorium, the officials said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday expressed his condolences and said, "Loyal Shiv Sainik, a great teacher, a knowledgeable corporator with knowledge of teachers' questions and mayor of Mumbai. My humble tribute to him!"

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Mumbai Youth Congress President Zeeshan Siddique also expressed his condolences.

"Extremely saddened to hear about the demise of the former mayor of Mumbai - Shri Vishwanath Mahadeshwar ji. My sincere condolences to his family members and loved ones in this tough time," he tweeted.

Vishwanath Mahadeshwar was the Mayor of Mumbai from 2017 to 2019 and also chaired the Standing Committee. (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], May 9 (ANI): Amid the heightened tensions over the violence in Manipur, four students of Delhi who were studying in the state will reach the national capital today.

Meanwhile, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNTCD) has arranged for Air tickets from Imphal to Delhi.

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On Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke to Manipur CM N Biren Singh, regarding the evacuation of four Delhi students stuck in the violence-hit state.

The students identified as Aman Kumar, Priya Kumari, Harsh Parihar, and Abhishar Prince Jha, Deputy Secretary (GAD) said in a letter.

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"I am directed to inform you that the following four students from Delhi who are studying at IIIT, Imphal have to be safely evacuated from Imphal to Delhi," the letter read.

All four students will be coming from 6E 2503- Indigo flight today.

"It is requested that the necessary arrangements may kindly be made on an urgent basis for safe transits of above said students for their evacuation from their present location (in Imphal) to the Imphal Airport," the letter read.

Moreover, students from Maharashtra and Telangana were also brought back to Mumbai and Hyderabad, respectively by special flights on Monday.

Air India extended a full fee waiver on rescheduling or cancellation of tickets for all flights to or from Manipur till Monday.

The decision was taken in view of the situation in the northeastern state. The airline started to offer the concession on May 4.

Several state governments are working on plans to move their residents out of the violence-hit Manipur.

However, starting Sunday, some relaxations in curfew have been effected to enable people to purchase essential items in the violence-hit areas.

Violence erupted amid protests against a high court order asking the state government to consider including the majority Meitei community in Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Amid the demand of the Meitei people for ST status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, May 9 (PTI) West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose was working without any consultation with the state government on the appointment of vice-chancellors of universities, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore at the Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) here, Basu said the governor was acting like Macbeth and Julius Caesar, only driven by high ambition.

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On Monday, while addressing the convocation ceremony of the state-run RBU, Bose had said, "When there is a crisis, whether legal, constitutional or political, the governor cannot act like Hamlet in Shakespeare -- 'to be or not to be'. Yes, that is what education teaches us, to be ready for taking prompt action."

When the minister was about the comment of the governor, who is the chancellor of the varsity, Basu alleged that Bose was usurping power.

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"He is acting like Macbeth and Julius Caesar, only driven by high ambition. Many a time we told him to take decisions in Higher Education related matters after talking to the government. But, he seems to have usurped power," Basu said.

The governor was talking of following rules on one hand, and flouting it on the other, he alleged.

He appointed vice-chancellors in several universities without consulting the Higher Education Department, the minister said.

The Raj Bhavan's acrimonious equation with Nabanna, the state secretariat, changed after Bose replaced Jagdeep Dhankhar as the governor in November last year.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Raj Bhavan several times and held discussions with the governor on issues concerning the state.

However, the relation somewhat soured after Bose sent letters to state varsities, asking for weekly updates about their programmes and financial expenses.

His unannounced visit to campuses, and meeting with varsity officials and teachers further soured the relationship as the state started taking exception.

While Bose has so far stayed away from responding to political statements, his comment at the RBU convocation came in reply to TMC's shrill attacks, alleging that he was "interfering" in the domain of the elected government.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 9 (ANI): Students from Maharashtra who were stuck in the violence-hit areas of the north-eastern state of Manipur have been brought back to Mumbai by a special flight on Monday.

The students left Guwahati around 4.30 pm for Mumbai, informed Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office.

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After landing safely in Mumbai, the students looked visibly relieved and even posed for photographs with each other.

While talking to ANI, a student Rohit who was stuck in Manipur said, "We want to thank Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The situation in Manipur was pretty bad, the internet was shut and there were firing."

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One of the stranded students who were brought back to Mumbai from Manipur tells about the situation in the northeastern state when violence spiralled out of control a few days ago.

Another student said, "Suddenly attacks started happening. There was open firing too. We witnessed everything in front of our eyes. There was CRPF security near the campus. Still, the students were very scared and everybody wanted to return to their home."

Shiv Sena's Manipur chief Tombi Singh also expressed his gratitude to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for providing all possible help to ensure the safe evacuation of students and even posed for pictures with them.

On Sunday, CM Shinde interacted with stranded students from the state of Manipur.

Shiv Sena released the video of Shinde talking with the students.

"The students thanked the Chief Minister for helping them so promptly and said that we are all safe," the party said.

Meanwhile, Air India extended a full fee waiver on rescheduling or cancellation of tickets for all flights to or from Manipur till Monday.

The decision was taken in view of the situation in the northeastern state. The airline started to offer the concession on May 4.

Several state governments are working on plans to move their residents out of the violence-hit Manipur.

Internet services remain suspended in Manipur in view of the ethnic clashes.

However, starting Sunday, some relaxations in curfew have been effected to enable people to purchase essential items in the violence-hit areas.

Violence erupted amid protests against a high court order asking the state government to consider including the majority Meitei community in Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, May 9 (PTI) Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C on Tuesday said all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a free, fair and peaceful bypoll to the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.

Polling for the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency will begin at 8 am and will continue till 6 pm on Wednesday.

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The Jalandhar Lok Sabha (reserved) seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. He suffered a cardiac arrest during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jalandhar's Phillaur in January this year.

There are a total 16,21,800 eligible voters, comprising 8,44,904 males and 7,76,855 females and 41 transgender, in the constituency, the CEO said, addressing the media here.

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Nineteen candidates, including four women, are in the fray. The counting will take place on May 13.

There are a total of 1,972 polling stations and there will be webcasting of all these stations.

"We are going 100 per cent coverage of webcasting. All 1,972 polling stations will be monitored online," Sibin said.

He said the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed at 1,524 polling stations. "It means the CAPF will be deployed at almost 80 per cent of polling stations."

Micro observers will be deployed at 302 polling stations, he added.

The CEO said there are five contesting candidates -- Paramjit Kaur Teji, Rohit Kumar Tinku, Sukhwinder Sukhi, Gurjant Singh and Neetu Shatranwala --with criminal antecedents.

He said as many as 4,839 ballot units, 2,927 control units and 2,973 VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trail) will be used in the by-election.

Sibin said there will be 45 model polling stations.

The CEO said 1,083 complaints were received on National Grievances Redressal Portal since the model code of conduct came into the force, and of which 989 were disposed of and 94 are under process.

He said 1,381 complaints were received on c-Vigil app and out of which 1,142 were found correct and resolved.

The CEO said following complaints of model code of conduct received against AAP candidate Sushil Rinku, an expenditure of Rs 4.65 lakh was added to the candidate's account.

Regarding the seizure made by the expenditure monitoring teams, he said cash, liquor, drugs worth Rs 3.77 crore were recovered.

(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, May 9 (PTI) National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at six locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with a case related to unlawful activities of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and arrested two people, officials said.

Mohammad Qaiser, the Madurai regional president of PFI and Sadiq Ali, the SDPI district secretary of Theni have been detained, officials said, adding the raids are underway in Chennai, Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts.

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So far, nearly a dozen cadre of PFI have been arrested by the NIA since registering the case early last year.

The case relates to conspiracy and unlawful activities, such as creating enmity among different groups on grounds of religion and carrying out activities prejudicial to communal harmony to disrupt public peace and tranquillity and cause disaffection against India, the officials said.

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They said the outfit has been accused of organizing training with deadly weapons for the cadres and using them to attack targets chosen by leaders of PFI at the district and state levels.

(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], May 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit Rajasthan on Wednesday to dedicate and lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 5,500 crore, an official statement said.

As per the statement by the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday, Prime Minister will visit Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara at around 11 am.

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At around 11:45 am, he will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Nathdwara.

The Prime Minister will visit the Shantivan complex of Brahma Kumaris on Abu Road at around 3:15 pm.

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"Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 5500 crores. The focus of these projects will be on bolstering infrastructure and connectivity in the region. The projects of the road and railway sector will also facilitate the movement of goods and services, thereby boosting trade and commerce and improving the socio-economic conditions of the people in the region," the PMO said.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for road construction projects for upgradation to two-lane in Rajsamand and Udaipur.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of Udaipur railway station, to provide enhanced amenities for the public. He will also lay the foundation stone for the gauge conversion project and for setting up of a new line from Nathdwara to Nathdwara town in Rajsamand.

Further, Prime Minister will dedicate three national highway projects to the nation, including 114 km long six-lane Udaipur to Shamlaji section of NH-48; 110 km long widening and strengthening to 4 lane with paved shoulder of Bar-Bilara-Jodhpur Section of NH-25; and 47 km long two lanes with paved shoulder section of NH 58E.

"A special focus of the Prime Minister has been on giving impetus to spiritual rejuvenation across the country. Continuing with the endeavour, Prime Minister will visit the Shantivan complex of Brahma Kumaris. He will lay the foundation stone of a Super Speciality Charitable Global Hospital, the second phase of Shivmani Old Age Home and the extension of the Nursing College. The Super Speciality Charitable Global Hospital will be set up on Abu Road, spread across an area of 50 acres. It will offer world-class medical facilities and will prove especially beneficial for the poor and the tribal people in the region," the PMO 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)
Bengaluru, May 9 (PTI) After a high voltage campaign, it is now time for the mega battle of ballots in Karnataka, with the state all set to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

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With the stakes being high in this election, the major political parties in contention - the BJP, Congress and JD(S) - and their candidates have made a strong pitch seeking to boost their prospects at the hustings.

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The voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm.

A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.

As many as 11,71,558 are young voters, while 5,71,281 are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and 12,15,920 are aged above 80. Around 4 lakh polling personnel are engaged in the poll process.

While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx -- the State has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985 -- and retain its southern citadel, the Congress is seeking to wrest power to give the party much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Also what needs to be watched out for, is whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular), will emerge as a "kingmaker" or a "king" by holding the key for government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.

A total of 75,603 Ballot Units (BU), 70,300 Control Units (CU) and 76,202 voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) are slated to be used during voting.

According to poll officials, elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state for the smooth conduct of elections and forces have been deployed from neighbouring states as well.

As many as 84,119 State Police Officers and 58,500 CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces ) police in 650 CoYs (companies) are on Law & Order and security duty on poll day across the state.

'Critical Polling Stations' are covered by one or more of the measures like Micro Observers, Webcasting and CCTVs to keep a watch on the polling process as force multipliers.

Karnataka had recorded a voter turnout of 72.36 per cent in the 2018 Assembly polls.

In a bid to check apathy among voters, the Election Commission has come up with an out-of-the-box idea by holding the Karnataka assembly poll in the middle of the week to prevent people planning an outing by clubbing the poll-day holiday with the weekend break.

Voter apathy is a term now used by the poll panel to describe the tendency among the electorate to stay indoors on voting day rather than going to the polling station to exercise their franchise.

"Date of the poll has been kept on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Monday, it would have come with a holiday of Saturday and Sunday. And had it been on a Tuesday, take a day's off and we can go out ... Wednesday is a little difficult," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told reporters while announcing the date of Karnataka poll on March 29.

Counting of votes is on May 13.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Varuna), JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy (Channapatna), state Congress President D K Shivakumar (Kanakapura) are the among the top candidates in the fray.

Other than Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy, Jagdish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central) is the other former CM, who is contesting this election. Shettar had recently joined Congress, quitting BJP.

"A government with full majority" seemed to be the favourite slogan for the leaders of all the political parties during campaigning that ended on Monday, as they stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government in the state, unlike what happened after the 2018 polls.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress 80, JD(S) 37, and one each independent, from BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP)

With no party having a clear majority and as Congress and JD(S) were trying to forge an alliance, B S Yediyurappa of BJP staked claim, being a single largest party and formed the government. However, it had to resign within three days ahead of the trust vote, unable to muster numbers.

Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister, but the wobbly government collapsed in 14 months, as 17 legislators including independents resigned and came out of the ruling coalition, and defected to BJP. This was followed by BJP coming back to power and, in the bypolls held subsequently in 2019, the ruling party swept by winning 12 out of 15 seats.

In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, Independent two, Speaker one and vacant six (following deaths and resignation to join other parties ahead of polls).

The BJP's campaign seemed largely "centralised" with the focus mainly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 'double-engine' government, national issues and programmes or achievements of the union government coupled with those from the state, including those on reservation.

The Congress by-and-large focused on local issues and its campaign also was run by its state leaders initially. However, its central leaders such as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently.

JD(S) too ran a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H D Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda too joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dhalai (Tripura) [India], May 9 (ANI): The vigilant Border Security Force (BSF) troops posted in Tripura seized narcotic substances comprising of brown sugar, phensedyl and other contraband items worth Rs 1.04 crore from the DEMU train at Ambassa under Dhalai district and also detained a smuggler while smuggling drugs through India-Bangladesh international border, an official statement said on Monday.

BSF Tripura seized 204 grams of suspected brown sugar, valued at Rs 1,02,00,000 in the international market, from the Railway Station Ambassa.

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The seizure of the suspected brown sugar was made from a white colour bag left abandoned by the suspect who managed to slip away taking advantage of other passengers.

Besides the above, the troops also seized 4 kgs of Ganja, 377 bottles of Phensedyl/Eskuff cough syrup and other contraband items having a collective seizure value of Rs 2,74,999 apprehending a Bangladeshi national in other operations along Indo-Bangladesh international border.

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BSF is persistently putting efforts to make society, drug-free by enforcing the rule of law and such seizures of drugs is a decisive step in this direction.

Vigilant BSF troops deployed on the extreme frontiers of the country in Tripura are effectively guarding the International Border and seizing contraband items regularly from the bordering areas.

Border Security Force is fully committed to eradicating the menace of drugs from Tripura making "Tripura - A Drug-Free State".

It is pertinent to mention that the BSF Tripura is committed to eradicating the drug menace and to thwarting the attempts being made by trans-border criminals/smugglers by taking all possible proactive measures and is frequently confiscating huge quantities of contraband giving big jolts to trans-border smugglers, particularly Narcotics/drug traffickers during 'Anti-Smuggling Drives' in the Tripura State. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 9 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday arrived in Kolkata for his day-long visit to the state.

During his visit, Shah will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and Border Security Force (BSF).

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Shah's state visit will begin with offering the tribute at the statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Kolkata's Jorasanko Thakurbari on Tuesday morning.

The Home Minister's participation in the event is scheduled on Tuesday as Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the birth of the great Bengali poet, known as the Bard of Bengal and Gurudev and who made significant contributions to art, literature, and music. Tagore received the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his poetry collection "Gitanjali." He also composed the national anthems of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

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Shah will later lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and the BSF at noon at Integrated-Check Post Petrapole in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas situated at the India-Bangladesh border.

ICP Petrapole, located along the international border between India and Bangladesh, is the largest land port in South Asia. It is situated at a distance of about 80 km from the city of Kolkata, West Bengal.

The Home Minister will also participate in an event linked to the release of the full dome film 'Luminaries of Bengal' and the inauguration of various projects at Science City in Kolkata in the evening.

The Home Minister's day-long visit to West Bengal will conclude with his participation in Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrations by Khola Hawa at Kolkata's Science City. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 9 (PTI) Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council on Tuesday launched India Jewellery Exposition Centre, a 365-day exhibition platform, in Dubai to commemorate the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

"CEPA is one of the most ambitious pacts. India's exports to UAE have exceeded USD 30 billion, with gems and jewellery and plastics deriving benefits from lower-priced inputs. GJEPC (Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council) has set up IJEX and I see tremendous value in such initiatives.

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"CEPA will accelerate business momentum and is expected to transform the scale and scope of bilateral partnerships," Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar said in a statement.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been a boon to the bilateral trade relations between the two nations, with India-UAE trade growing by 16 per cent to reach USD 84.5 billion in 2022-23 from USD 72.9 billion the previous year.

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Of this, India's exports to the UAE grew by 11.8 per cent to USD 31.3 billion, with the gem and jewellery sector witnessing a surge of 16.54 per cent to USD 5.77 billion.

"The gems and jewellery sector is among the industries that have gained significantly from CEPA. India's exports in this sector have witnessed impressive growth.

"I am sure the Indian jewellery industry would make the most of this opportunity and take the exports of the gem and jewellery exports to the pre-Covid level of USD 10 billion to the UAE soon," GJEPC chairman Vipul Shah added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 9 (ANI/WAM): The Arab Federation for Digital Economy and the Union of Arab Chambers signed a cooperation agreement at the Entrepreneurs Investment Summit, held in parallel with the Annual Investment Meeting 2023 (AIM) in Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed by Professor Dr Khaled Hanafi, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, and Dr Ali Mohamed Al-Khoury, Advisor to the Council of Arab Economic Unity and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Union for Digital Economy, in the presence of high-level representatives from both organizations and Arab economic figures.

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The agreement stresses the importance of collaboration to achieve a common Arab vision for the digital economy. It aims to strengthen the Arab digital economy, enhance the reality of Arab trade exchange, and enhance intra-Arab trade. It also aims to leverage e-commerce and modern technology to achieve Arab food security.

The two parties are committed to expanding the application of the Arab Free Trade Agreement and increasing the capabilities of e-commerce and modern technology in the Arab region.

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The e-commerce market in the Middle East and North Africa is classified as the fastest-growing in the world, with a value of USD 49 billion by the end of 2022. Today, 60 per cent of consumers in the Arab region pay through digital channels when shopping online, a 20 per cent increase from 2021.

In 2021, companies in the Middle East and North Africa region recorded combined profits of USD 201.7 billion, an increase of 121 per cent from USD 91 billion in 2020, indicating a significant recovery. (ANI/WAM)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ottawa [Canada], May 9 (ANI): Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling.

However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims "purely baseless and defamatory".

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"Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr. Zhao Wei," read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

"I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home," she added.

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"This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play. We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," the statement read.

This move will further deteriorate diplomatic relations between the two countries. This development comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March this year announced to probe alleged Chinese interference in their recent elections by an independent special rapporteur.

The Canadian Government appointed former Governor General David Johnston as its Independent Special Rapporteur to examine alleged interference by Beijing in the Federal elections in 2019 and 2021.

Johnston was given access to relevant classified or unclassified records and documents, and he will submit regular reports to the prime minister, Trudeau's office said in a statement.

The news comes after weeks of uproar in Canada sparked by revelations, first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper, that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had targeted opposition leader Michael Chong and his relatives in China after his criticisms of Beijing's treatment of its Uyghur minorities.

The intelligence service said that Beijing had tried to sway the outcome of Canada's federal elections in 2019 and 2021. Chong has repeatedly called for Zhao's expulsion since the Globe report emerged, CNN reported.

Beijing has denied accusations of political interference in Canada. In a statement dated May 5 and posted to the website of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, a spokesperson flatly rejected the possibility "that a consular officer from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto was involved in the so-called intimidation of a Canadian Member of Parliament and his relatives."

"The claim has no factual basis and is totally groundless. We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to it," it said, going on to accuse local media and politicians of seeking to "disrupt the normal exchange and cooperation" between Canada and China, CNN reported.

The allegations have become a growing political problem for the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has said that intelligence services failed to brief him on Chong's alleged targeting.

Chong has focused much of his criticism on Trudeau's government. He said that Trudeau's government was too slow to act. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kabul [Afghanistan], May 9 (ANI): German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Hannah Neumann in an exclusive interview with Tolo News said it is important for women in Afghanistan to participate in social and economic spheres.

According to Neumann, restrictions on women in Afghanistan are crushing the hopes of half of Afghan citizens and also diminishing economic opportunities.

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"They are really crashing down public life, they are crashing down on half of the Afghan citizens, on so many hopes, and they are also diminishing economic opportunities for everyone in the country by all these decrees, bans and policies," she said, as quoted by Tolo News.

The German MEP urged the Taliban to end restrictions on women and uphold the practical involvement of women in the social and economic spheres.

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"The rising engagement happens at the moment on the national level, where for example we have an EU delegation and of course our representative here," Neumann said.

Najibullah Jami, a political analyst, said: "Pressures and restrictions are not the solutions in Afghanistan; rather, the EU, the US, and the countries of the region should jointly take a positive and constructive solution with the Islamic Emirate."

Despite the Taliban's repeated assurances that it is committed to upholding those rights within the framework of Islamic law and that women will return to work and education after being given the proper conditions, there has been no sign of change to the current policies, according to Tolo News.

Recently, UN experts in their findings on the state of human rights and discrimination against Afghan women in Afghanistan, said the Taliban through its "most extreme forms of misogyny", has been destroying the relative progress towards gender equality achieved in the past two decades in the country, Afghanistan based Khaama Press reported.

This came following UN experts' eight-day visit to Afghanistan. UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett was also a part of the visit.

The mission took place from April 27 to May 4 in the context of a chronic humanitarian crisis and profound turmoil due to the most recent verdict banning Afghan women from working with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], May 9 (ANI): Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on Tuesday reserved the verdict on former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan's arrest, reported Geo News.

IHC expressed displeasure over the law enforcement agencies for taking Imran Khan into custody from the court's premises around 2:15 pm.

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Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that if the PTI chief was arrested illegally, "he will have to be released," reported Dawn.

The IHC CJ further remarked that the court is ascertaining the legality of Imran Khan's arrest whether it is legal or illegal. "What law allows the authorities to arrest someone from the high court's premises?" reported ARY News.

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The IHC CJ reserved the verdict which will be announced in a while.

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court summoned the Director General and Prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau after the former prime minister's arrest from the high court premises.

Justice Farooq directed the govt to inform the court immediately who was behind the arrest and in what case has Imran been arrested in.

Earlier in the day, the IHC had taken a notice of Imran's arrest and directed the Islamabad police chief, the interior ministry secretary and the additional attorney general to appear before the court within 15 minutes, reported Dawn.

The IHC CJ said that he was showing "restraint" and warned that he would "summon" the prime minister if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.

"Come to court and tell us why Imran has been arrested and in which case," Justice Farooq said.

"We told you to appear in court within 15 minutes but you came after 45 minutes," the IHC CJ observed, expressing anger at the delay.

Imran Khan was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The PTI chief was taken into custody by Rangers personnel, who were acting on the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant, from the premises of Islamabad High Court where the former premier had gone to seek bail in multiple cases registered against him.

According to the NAB notice, Khan's warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.

Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir said that Imran had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising a laundered amount of Rs 50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government, reported Dawn.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Imran had failed to appear before the court despite being issued several notices. "The arrest has been conducted by the National Accountability Bureau for causing losses to the national treasury," he said, adding that Imran was not tortured.

Meanwhile, protests were reported in several cities across the country.The demonstrators burnt tyres and chanted slogans against the coalition government.

Moreover, a water cannon was being used against protesters that had gathered outside Imran's Zaman Park residence, reported Dawn.

Police were put on high alert in Lahore. A statement issued by Lahore police said security across the city had been beefed up on the instructions of Lahore Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi.

In Karachi, both lanes of the Sharea Faisal were blocked after PTI MNAs and MPAs blocked the roads. Demonstrations were also reported at the main University Road, near the Old Sabzi Mandi, Banaras Chowk and Al-Asif Square.

Separately, PTI's Sindh chapter issued a protest call, asking supporters to gather outside the Insaf House at 4 pm.

Demonstrations were also reported in Peshawar's Hashtnagri and GT Road, Bannu, and Charsadda, reported Dawn. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], May 9 (ANI): Following ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan's arrest outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday by Rangers, the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the matter and summoned the Islamabad IGP and the interior secretary within "15 minutes," reported Geo News.

He also directed the additional attorney general to appear before the court in 15 minutes and instructed him to immediately find out who was behind the arrest.

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"If an inquiry has to be conducted, action will also be taken against the prime minister and ministers," the chief justice said.

Justice Farooq further asked: "Tell us in which case the arrest was made?"

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The Islamabad advocate general then requested that the court extend the time of 15 minutes to half an hour; however, the request was rejected and he was ordered to appear in 15 minutes, reported Geo News.

The PTI chief was taken into custody by Rangers personnel, who were acting on the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) warrant, from the premises of Islamabad High Court where the former premier had gone to seek bail in multiple cases registered against him, reported ARY News.

According to the NAB notice, Khan's warrants were issued on May 1 by NAB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt.

In a statement, Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said that Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, adding that the situation is under control.

Meanwhile, Islamabad police further said that Section 144 had been imposed in the federal capital and rejected the PTI's allegations that people were tortured.

Taking to Twitter, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Imran had failed to appear before the court despite being issued several notices to him in the inquiry.

"The arrest has been conducted by the National Accountability Bureau for causing losses to the national treasury," he said.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and others for the alleged gain of hundreds of canals of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

As per the charges, the Khan and others accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion -- 190 million pounds at the time -- sent by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.

Former PM Imran Khan had registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on Dec 26, 2019.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced protests across the country following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The appeal was made from the official Twitter handle of the PTI.

Subsequently, PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan, reported Geo News.

In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery. They threw stones at police vehicles and tore down street lights. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters.

Reacting to the "illegal" move, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi disapproved of his party chief's arrest. "The entire nation should immediately take to the streets," he said asking everyone to come out in protest.

Taking to Twitter, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar condemned the arrest and announced that a committee will announce the next plan of action.

"Pakistan's biggest political leader arrested after attack on the high court. The whole world is shown that there is no law left in the country," he said.

Umar said that the party's six-member committee, formed by Khan and headed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, will announce PTI's plan of action.

PTI leader Murad Saeed, in an audio message via PTI's official Twitter account, claimed that Khan has been tortured and arrested. He asked supporters, particularly youth, to step out to protest against the PTI chief's arrest.

"It's time free Pakistan from these oppressors and false gods. It's time for Haqeeqi Azadi. Come out to the places you've been asked to arrive at," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI): Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India for his first official visit which would pan three days starting Tuesday.

During the visit, he is set to meet his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Also Read | Las Vegas Shooting: One Person Injured in Gunfire at Von Tobel Middle School, No Students Hurt.

Informing of the Israeli minister's arrival in the national capital today, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi wrote on Twitter, "A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted - partnership."

Eli Cohen will also be present at the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Eli Cohen will participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute on May 9 in New Delhi, according to a statement from CII.

Also Read | Nepal MP Amresh Kumar Singh Takes Off Clothes in House After Not Being Allowed To Speak.

After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum today, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Following his engagements in Agra, the minister will return to Delhi on May 10 before departing for a programme in Mumbai on May 11. Apparently, he will depart for Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory.

His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech.

During his visit, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANI's question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, "I'm inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people."

He further said, "Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have a good history of 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future."

In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India.

Earlier this month, 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 further said 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jerusalem, May 9 (PTI) Israel and India on Tuesday inked an agreement that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, a move expected to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who reached New Delhi on Tuesday morning for a three-day visit but announced cutting it short because of the security situation arising out of Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip, held talks with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.

Also Read | Imran Khan Arrested: Everything You Need to Know About the Al-Qadir Trust Case Which Led to the Arrest of Former Pakistan PM.

The ministers discussed ways to strengthen Indo-Israel ties by "adding direct flights, continuing cooperation in agriculture and water management, and expanding cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and cyber defence", according to a Hebrew press statement from the Israeli foreign ministry.

"The ministers also signed agreements to allow the arrival of 42,000 Indian workers in the fields of construction and nursing," it added.

Also Read | Israel Airstrikes Kill 13 Palestinians, Including Three Islamic Jihad Commanders in Gaza.

The addition of workers from India is expected to help deal with the rising cost of living in Israel and help thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

According to the statement, 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction field and another 8,000 for nursing needs.

In reference to the proposed rail and port link, the Israeli foreign minister said that it would shorten the route between Asia and Europe and make Israel a commercial, technological and transportation hub in the changing trade routes in the Middle East.

Emphasising the significant role India can play in expanding the scope of the landmark Abraham Accords, Cohen said that the strategic partnership with New Delhi strengthens Israel and also contributes to the stability in the Middle East.

"India can play a significant role in expanding the Abraham Accords and promoting regional projects with countries, and countries that do not yet have relations with Israel," the press statement quoted Cohen as saying.

The Abraham Accords of 2020 was the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years and is the popular description for the normalisation of Israel's ties with the Islamic world.

Officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and India met earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and discussed a rail and port network linking the Gulf states and India.

It is believed that the same may be extended on the other side to include connectivity with Israel, local media reports earlier said.

India and Israel have seen an intense last few months of engagement starting with the visit of Knesset's (Israeli parliament) Speaker Amir Ohana at the end of March followed by the visit of Minister of Economy Nir Barkat in April and now comes the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister in quick succession.

The visits are being seen as a build-up to the much-anticipated visit of Netanyahu towards the end of this year.

(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], May 9 (ANI): Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Tuesday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the strengthening of strategic relations between India and Israel.

With PM Modi, the Israeli Foreign Minister discussed expanding the Abraham Accords and also promoting a free trade agreement.

Also Read | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Meets Google CEO Sundar Pichai in US, Discusses Make in India Programme.

Following his meeting with the PM, Cohen tweeted. "India is a world power, the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world. I spoke with PM Modi about strengthening the strategic relations between the countries, expanding the Abraham Accords, and promoting a free trade agreement that will boost Israel's economy."

His tweet added, "I thanked him for his warm attitude towards the State of Israel and the Jewish community in India, and we agreed to continue to strengthen the excellent ties between Israel and India."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: US To Provide Ukraine USD 1.2 Billion in Long-Term Security Aid.

Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen is on a three-day visit to India, however, he had to cut short his visit due to the security situation in Israel following Operation Shield and Arrow.

Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has decided to cut short his India visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.

Cohen, who arrived in India on Tuesday on a three-day official visit, will now return to Israel after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under 'Operation Shield and Arrow', The Times of Israel reported.

The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement's senior leaders.Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip.

During his day-long visit, Cohen also met his Indian Counterpart S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

In India, Cohen also led an economic delegation consisting of 36 Israeli businesspersons mainly from the fields of water management and agriculture.

He also tweeted, "Strengthening the economic ties with one of the biggest powers in the world For my visit to India, I arrived at the head of an economic delegation of dozens of businessmen and company representatives. The trade potential between Israel and India is enormous, and today we have taken significant steps that will expand cooperation on the way to a free trade agreement, and contribute to the economies of both countries."

Both countries noted the progress in I2U2 and held wide-ranging discussions on cooperation in security, economy, technology, innovation, connectivity and health.

Foreign Minister Cohen also opened the CII India-Israel Business Forum. Three MoUs were signed during the event, marking a new era of cooperation and partnership between the business communities of both nations.

During the visit, there was a signing of the framework of the agreement between Israel and India on the facilitation of the temporary employment of Indian workers in specific labour market sectors (caregivers and construction workers) in the State of Israel.

Both countries also signed a letter of intent to establish two Centers of Water Technology in India.

A project called World on Wheels (WoW Bus) was launched by the Embassy of Israel in India in the presence of Foreign Minister Cohen. The aim of this initiative is to facilitate digital literacy, personality development, and entrepreneurship training in rural parts of India. This is one of the many projects undertaken by the embassy with local partners in India in the field of education. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 9: The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) will conduct the TS EAMCET 2023 examination from tomorrow, May 10. Candidates who will be appearing for the TS EAMCET 2023 exam are advised to visit the official website of TS EAMCET at eamcet.tsche.ac.in to download the hall ticket or admit card.

On April 30, the Telangana State Council of Higher Education released the admit card for Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy common entrance test or TS EAMCET 2023. The TS EAMCET 2023 Exam will begin tomorrow and candidates will have to carry their admit card in order to attend the common entrance test examination. TS Inter Results 2023 Declared at tsbie.cgg.gov.in: Telangana State Board Declares IPE 1st and 2nd Year Exam Results, Know Steps To Check Score.

Steps To Download TS EAMCET 2023 Hall Ticket:

Visit the official website of TS EAMCET at eamcet.tsche.ac.in

On the homepage, click on the 'Online Application" link

Next, click on the "Download Hall Ticket (E & AM)" link

A new tab will open

Enter using your login details and other credentials

Click on submit

Your TS EAMCET 2023 hall ticket will be displayed on the screen

Take a printout for future reference

To download the TS EAMCET 2023 exam hall tickets, candidates will require their registration number, hall ticket number and date of birth. This year, the TS EAMCET 2023 examination will be held on May 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in two shifts from 9 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm. Karnataka SSLC Result 2023 Date Announced: KSEAB Class 10th Exam Results To Be Declared Tomorrow at karresults.nic.in; Know Steps To Check Score.

The TS EAMCET 2023 exam for the Engineering stream will begin tomorrow, May 10 while the Agriculture and Pharmacy stream exam will be conducted from May 12 onwards. Students are advised to carry their exam hall tickets and report at the examination centre on or before time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, May 9: V.V. Singh, an officer of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) who investigated the sensational 2021 Aryan Khan drug case, has been removed from service, a top source told IANS. The NCB source said that his removal, however, had nothing to do with the case.

"This pertains to a case which he was handling while in Delhi zone. His removal is not connected to the Aryan Khan case. There was an inquiry pending against him in the Delhi case due to which he has been removed," the source told IANS. Aryan Khan Drugs Case: Shah Rukh Khans Son Deliberately Targeted, Role of Eight Officials Under Scanner, Claims NCB Report.

Singh was handling a number of several high profile cases all related to Bollywood during his posting in the Mumbai NCB. The NCB, led by its then Mumbai head Sameer Wankhede, had on October 2, 2021, carried out a high-profile raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai harbour and arrested 20 persons, including Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan. Aryan Khan Moves to Special Court to Get Back His Passport After NCB Gives Him Clean Chit in Drugs Case.

After spending nearly three weeks in jail, he was released on bail. In May last year, the NCB dropped charges of drug possession against six persons, including Aryan Khan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 02:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Three Maoists have been killed a DSP rank officer has suffered injuries in the exchange of fire, DGP Sunil K Bansal told PTI. The policeman, who suffered bullet injuries in the leg, was rushed to Bhima Bhoi Medical College & Hospital in Bolangir, he said.
The meeting between Kumar and Patnaik assumed political significance as the latter had held a discussion with West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in March. Speculations about Kumar's meeting with Patnaik, who heads the Biju Janata Dal, have been doing the rounds for quite some time.
Delhi Police on Tuesday took dig at a Pakistani actress over her tweet regarding unrest in the country after former PM Imran Khan's arrest. The actress Sehar Shinwari in her tweet blamed Narendra Modi and Indian Intelligence agency RAW for the violence in Pakistan. She tweeted "Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police? I have to file a complain against Indian Pm & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claims) then I am sure Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice." Delhi Police replied "We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!" Imran Khan Arrest: Ex-Pakistan PM Arrested From Outside Islamabad High Court; Heres All You Need To Know.

Delhi Police Give Boss Reply to Pakistani Actor

We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country! https://t.co/lnUCf8tY59  Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) May 9, 2023

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(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New Delhi, May 9: GSMA, which is the organiser of the tech industry's flagship event Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, has been fined 200,000 euros (about $224,000) by Spain's data protection watchdog over the biometric data collection of attendees in its 2021 event. Intel Layoffs Continue! Leading Chip-Maker Confirms To Cut Further Workforce To Reduce Costs.

Spanish agency AEPD dismissed an appeal by the GSMA against the infringement finding, saying the MWC organiser infringed "Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)" which deals with requirements for carrying out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA), reports TechCrunch.

The GDPR legislation requires that a DPIA is carried out "proactively in situations where processing people's data carries a high risk to individual's rights and freedoms".

GSMA had a facial recognition system in place at the 2021 event, called BREEZZ, which offered attendees the option of using automated identity verification to enter the venue in person.

Only 20,000 people attended MWC 2021 in person (17,462 to be precise) as per GSMA disclosures to the AEPD, as the event happened in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

About 7,585 used the facial recognition system BREEZZ to access the venue. The majority of the attendees opted for the alternative of manual checks of their ID documents.

The GSMA had also offered virtual streaming of the event and no ID checks were required. Several major tech companies had skipped MWC 2021 over Covid concerns. LinkedIn Layoffs: Professional Networking Platform Fires 716 Employees, Leaves China Market.

MWC Barcelona is an annual trade show organised by GSMA, dedicated primarily to the mobile communications industry. Its annual attendance is generally around 100,000 people, while mobile phone manufacturers often use the conference to unveil upcoming devices.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 12:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, May 9: In a horrific incident that took place in Brazil, a doctor allegedly "pulled a babys head off" after he climbed onto a pregnant womans stomach. Reportedly, the incident took place on May 1 at Hospital das Clinicas da UFMG in the Santa Efigenia area of Belo Horizonte. The incident came to light after the mother of the deceased child lodged a complaint against the doctor.

According to a report in Express.Co.UK, the doctor is now being investigated by the police after the incident came to light. Speaking to local media, the family of the dead baby girl said that the hospital tried to put pressure on them in order to sign documents that would eventually cover up the real incident. Brazil Shocker: Teenager Gives Birth to Twins From Two Different Fathers After Having Sex With Both Men on Same Day.

Mother Lodges Complaint Two Days After Losing Her Child

The deceased child's mother identified as Ranielly Coelho Santos (34) approached the police and lodged a complaint two days after she lost her baby girl. In her complaint, the mother of the girl child said that she was rushed to the hospital on April 24 after there were concerns over her high blood pressure.

Seven days after she was admitted to the hospital, the doctors induced her labour, she claimed. The woman also said that during labour, an unnamed obstetrician called her husband in order to observe the procedure alongside her mother. The complainant also said that her husband saw their daughter blink and move her lips as she was born. This, she said was proof that her daughter was alive and well.

However, things seem to have turned ugly. In their complaint, the family of the deceased girl said that the doctor allegedly climbed onto the woman's belly and "ripped off the child's head". After registering the complaint, cops said that the family did receive an apology from the doctor for what transpired. First Baby Born in 12 Years in Remote Brazilian Island Fernando de Noronha Where Childbirth is Banned.

Meanwhile, an officer said that a social worker approached them and said that although the hospital would cover the baby's funeral costs, they would only agree if the family signs the documents that contains certain conditions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 02:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, May 9: As part of a major step to protect public health, the government of Australia has banned vaping due to increased usage among teenagers. Australia has become the 47th country to ban vaping and join countries like India, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Japan, Brazil, which have earlier banned e-cigarettes.

Earlier this month while announcing the ban on what has been seen as an epidemic, Australian Health Minister, Mark Butler said vaping has become a significant behavioural issue in high schools and a growing concern in elementary schools. Smoking Tobacco, Vaping E-Cigarettes May Raise Risk of COVID-19 in Healthy Young People, Says Study.

The Minister expressed his concern over the marketing strategy of disguising vapes as highlighter pens, which makes it easier for kids to hide and use them at school. He called it a shameful tactic and that the government is determined to eliminate this market. The Australian government will ban the import of non-prescription vaping products including non-nicotine devices.

As the harmful effects of vaping are becoming more evident and its use among teenagers continues to rise globally, experts from various fields, including doctors, pulmonologists, child experts and psychologists are speaking out against vaping.

Many argue that vaping has become a gateway to smoking and that developed countries are late in banning these devices. The long-term impact of e-cigarettes is still unknown, but studies have shown serious lung injuries and adverse health effects associated with their use.

Vikas Mittal, Associate Director, Pulmonology, Max Healthcare said: "Vaping and E-cigarettes are relatively new intoxication habits and long-term impacts are yet to be fully understood. However, since 2019, several peer-reviewed journals have reported e-cigarette-related lung injuries, some of which have been serious and required ICU interventions. Such concerns and the rising use of such devices among teens are prompting countries to take action and question the harmlessness of e-cigarettes.

"India has done well to ban e-cigarettes early on and any country not taking such measures is being slow in addressing an issue that will undoubtedly pose a health risk to future generations." E-Cigarettes Banned in India: What is Vaping? Know the Side Effects of Smoking E-Cigs.

Butler believes that the public was promised that vaping would be a pathway out of smoking, not a pathway into it. Unfortunately, according to the Minister, this is what it has become.

Rajesh Gupta, Additional Director Pulmonology & Critical Care, Fortis Healthcare Noida, said: "It is not scientifically right to claim that a step-down from smoking cigarettes to E-cigarettes will effectively eliminate nicotine addiction. As per current knowledge, this approach is not going to work since E-cigarettes also contain nicotine. When a person uses an e-cigarette, the nicotine vapour is absorbed into the bloodstream and triggers the release of dopamine which is the pleasure chemical in the brain that sustains the addiction. Thus, promoting one form of smoking as a replacement for other form of smoking doesn't make sense.

"E-cigarettes become a step-up activity to smoking conventional cigarettes specially for children. This is because electronic devices which are a key part of e-cigarettes can be used to deliver other higher degrees of addictive substances which can be in the form of sticks or other liquids. I am surprised that developed countries are taking this long to ban e-cigarettes."

India's ban on e-cigarettes in September 2019 was aimed at preventing the potential harm that e-cigarettes could pose to future generations. The decision was made in consultation with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which listed the reasons for the ban in a white paper.

The white paper pointed out that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) contain highly addictive nicotine solutions, as well as other ingredients such as flavouring agents and vaporizers that are harmful to health and can cause adverse effects like cardiovascular and neurological disorders, as well as impact foetal development. There are two forms of e-cigarettes being promoted: heated tobacco products and vaping devices. Union Cabinet Approves Ordinance to Ban Production, Import of E-Cigarettes and E-Hookahs.

Heated tobacco e-cigarettes heat actual tobacco instead of burning it, resulting in an aerosol that can be inhaled. While vaping devices do not use tobacco but heat up a liquid usually containing nicotine to create an aerosol.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
For migrants in Italy getting special protection status can be life-changing. But lawmakers have now approved a law severely restricting access.Italy's parliament recently greenlighted a controversial decree to crack down on irregular migration. Known as the Cutro decree  in reference to the southern town in Calabria where more than 90 people died in a shipwreck last February  the legislation severely limits a special protection status Italian authorities can grant to migrants who do not qualify for asylum.

Also Read | E-Cigarettes Banned in Australia: Australian Government Follows India To Ban Vaping Due to Increased Usage Among Teenagers.

Italy has recorded more than 42,000 irregular arrivals since the beginning of 2023, four times as many as in the same period last year and the Italian government claims special protection incentivizes migrants to start dangerous trips to the country.

Also Read | Canada: Justin Trudeau Government Expels China Diplomat for Alleged Threats to Lawmaker.

"Special protection creates attractive conditions for immigration and we will eliminate it," said Nicola Molteni of the right-wing League party, whose currently serving as the undersecretary at the Interior Ministry.

Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party, recently sparked controversy, warning against the "ethnic replacement" of Italians by migrants, a notion widely regarded as racist.

Before the decree, people offered special protection status could live in Italy for two years, renew their residence permit and convert it into a working permit. It was granted to asylum seekers who risked being persecuted in their country of origin, those fleeing war and natural disasters, as well as those with family ties or high levels of economic integration in Italy.

What changes with the new migration rules

Now, all that has changed. While special protection remains available for those at risk of torture, inhumane treatment or systematic rights violations in their home nation, the new law narrows access by scrapping criteria based on family links of economic integration.

"If a person is not at terrible risk in their home country, but in the meantime has started a family or had children in Italy, the commission [assessing residence status] will not take this into account," explains Paolo De Stefani, a professor in international law at the University of Padova.

People fleeing natural disasters or seeking treatment for severe medical conditions will also see their access to special protection restricted. Most importantly, however, it will not be possible for them to convert it into a work permit.

Language courses and legal advice will also be scrapped in reception centers.

Things will change, too, for unaccompanied minors. They are still entitled to special protection permits until they turn 18; they can extend it for one more year, but cannot convert it into a work permit.

"This means killing the prospects of integration for people arriving in Italy at a very young age," said De Stefani. "What type of educational path will be imagined for those with such prospects?"

In contrast with the otherwise restrictive nature of the law, the law offers a new possibility for victims of forced marriage to apply for special protection.

Migrants fear for their future

While those who already benefit or who have already requested special protection will not be affected by the new legislation, many agree the climate towards migrants has become more harsh.

Sarja Kubally, a Gambian national currently under special protection, says Italy has not been the same since a new government headed by the far right came to power.

"I am thinking of leaving, I am happy here, but now I am afraid of staying with this situation," he told DW.

Although Kubally is confident he himself will get a work permit, he fears others will miss out on opportunities he benefited from.

"Special protection really changes your life. It allows you to work, to study. You can do many things and give back," Kubally said. "If someone needs help, you need to help them, not make it even harder for them. We should put humanity first."

The uncertainty for Ali, who asked not to use his real name for security reasons, is far greater. The Pakistani national, who spent four years in Greece where he maintains local authorities did not accept his asylum claim, has been living in Italy since 2021. He now has a three-year work contract and is learning Italian, but his asylum request was recently rejected. He is now appealing the decision. Should his bid be turned down again, Ali will not be able to apply for special protection under the new rules.

"I lost four years of my life in Greece, but here in Italy I am well integrated, I have a job, I want to stay here," Ali told DW. "Well-integrated people should be allowed to stay. I haven't thought about [what I would do if I couldn't access special protection]. Going back to Pakistan is unthinkable."

Less special protection, more precariousness

Italy has always provided special protection, except from 2018-2020 when former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini scrapped it temporarily . Though Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni claims otherwise, Italy is not the only country which offers this type of protection. Though different terminology is used, 18 other states in Europe provide similar special protections.

Critics warn restricting access to special protection will push more migrants into an undocumented life outside the law and rob vulnerable people of fundamental rights  especially as the move follows another decree which limits the work of nonprofit rescue ships operating in the Mediterranean, and Italy last month declaring a six-month state of emergency to curb migration flows.

Valeria Carlini, a spokesperson for the Italian Council for Refugees, says the law will not only harm people seeking protection but also local societies, where migrants have begun building a life and contributing to the socioeconomic fabric.

Law professor De Stefani believes the legislation ultimately undermines integration  especially for irregular migrants  and aims to put an emergency band-aid on migration flows. "People will have poorer conditions in Italy and eventually seek better protection and living standards in other European countries," he said.

Like many of her predecessor governments, Meloni has been demanding more solidarity and better coordination among EU countries to tackle migration flows.

"This law might be seen as the latest maneuver to pressure Europe into seriously tackling migration issues, but it is betting with someone else's life," said De Stefani.

Edited by: Rob Mudge

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2023 01:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 8 May, Mexicos supreme court (SCJN) invalidated the first part of Presidents Plan B electoral reform, which was passed by congress as a series of legal reforms in December 2022.

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On 6 May Cubans staged protests in Caimanera municipality, Guantanamo province, against the Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) government, according to social media and official reports.

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On 5 May, Colombias Presidentcriticised Attorney Generalfor not doing his bidding, generating fierce pushback from the supreme court.

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On 5 May, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London, after which Sunak announced a donation of R$500m (US$99.81m) to the Amazon Fund, a mechanism focussed on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Analysis:

The diplomatic engagement with the UK over issues such as environmental protection signals the Lula governments more general commitment to strengthening ties with western partners, such as the US, the UK, and the European Union (EU). Lulas visit to London, to attend the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May, offered a further chance for a diplomatic reset, especially given Lulas recent rhetoric which had suggested closer alignment with Russia, a major source of concern for the US and European allies which support Ukraine in its efforts to repel the ongoing Russian invasion. It suggests that Lula is seeking to regain the favour of Ukraines western allies by appealing to mutual interests such as trade and efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

Climate diplomacy and environmental protection can still be a key area where Lula can push for Brazils prominence on the world stage, as many western leaders have welcomed his governments efforts tackle deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.

Suspended during the presidency of Lulas right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), the Amazon Fund is mainly backed by the US and European countries, having been set up originally by Norway and Germany. The UKs contribution will add to the commitment from the US, announced on 20 April, to invest US$500m. Spain and France are also considering donations.

(2019-2023), the Amazon Fund is mainly backed by the US and European countries, having been set up originally by Norway and Germany. The UKs contribution will add to the commitment from the US, announced on 20 April, to invest US$500m. Spain and France are also considering donations. Improving the prospects for deeper economic cooperation with the UK and western allies was another objective for Lula on this trip. Speaking to journalists after the coronation, Lula stated his intention to increase the Brazil-UK bilateral trade balance to US$8.6bn, up from the current balance of around US$6bn.

Lula is set to continue his diplomatic charm offensive, as he will meet the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, in Brasilia later today (9 May), accompanied by a Dutch business delegation.

Looking Ahead: Lula will meet Sunak again in Japan next month: Brazil has been invited as an external partner to the G7 leaders summit which is taking place from 19-21 May, where he can push for more climate financing and economic cooperation.
Authorities have released the identities of the Texas Mall shooting victims, along with the name and background of the Texas shooting gunman.

Fox News reported that the Texas Mall shooting suspect, Mauricio Garcia, had a brief three-month US Army stint.

The spokesperson for the US Army Public Affairs, Heather J. Hagan, said in a statement that Garcia entered the regular Army in June 2008. However, Garcia was terminated from the Army three months later without completing the initial training.

Hagan added that Garcia was not given a military occupational specialty and had no deployments or awards.

The spokesperson for the Army said that they do not provide "characterization of discharge for any soldier."

One Army official told the media news outlet that Garcia broke away from the Army under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation, with one paragraph stating "other designated physical or mental conditions."

Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey refused to answer questions regarding the suspect's ideology. He noted that they "don't have a lot" right now.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not go into detail about the investigation but said that the public should not jump to conclusions as there is a "lot of conflicting information" about Garcia.

READ NEXT: Francisco Oropesa Perez-Torres, Texas Shooting Suspect, Unlawfully Entered the US

Texas Mall Shooting Suspect

Garcia was reported to have brought more weapons and ammunition with him inside his car, according to one source.

Two senior law enforcement officials said that he was wearing a patch on his chest, with acronyms embedded "rwds," which authorities believe to be letters standing for "right-wing death squad," as reported by NBC News. One of them said the phrase was used in far-right online spaces.

The reported social media accounts of Garcia revealed hundreds of posts with "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric" upon initial look at the materials. They also reportedly contain neo-Nazi material and material espousing white supremacy.

Law enforcement officials said that the agencies involved in the investigation are investigating if the shooting was a racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism case.

Officials said that they are leaning toward the belief that the Texas mall shooting gunman acted alone, with investigators interviewing his relatives and friends.

The Texas mall shooting was considered the second deadliest mass shooting in the US this year and the second in Texas in a little over a week.

Texas Mall Shooting Victims

Three Korean Americans were confirmed to be part of the list of victims. They were identified as Chu Kyu Song, 37, and wife Kang Shin Young, 35, with one of their children killed in the shooting, according to CNN.

One GoFundMe post for the family noted that a six-year-old son was released from the ICU and is the only surviving member of the shooting.

At least seven others were wounded before Garcia was killed by an Allen police officer who was already at the retail center on an unrelated call.

Aside from the Cho family, sisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza were both killed in the shooting. The two were both elementary school students in the Wylie Independent School District.

A security guard named Christian LaCour was also among the victims, including 27-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda.

READ MORE: Texas School Shooting Footage Shows Police Negligence

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WATCH: 8 killed, 7 injured in shooting rampage at Texas mall l GMA - from ABC News
King Charles III has now officially been crowned King of England and several other countries like Jamaica. However, it is largely met with criticism and apathy in former colonies and members of the Commonwealth.

There was only lukewarm interest in the king's coronation over in Jamaica, and this was the clearest sign that the monarchy's love affair with the Caribbean country is now over, as a growing independence movement is gaining traction.

Many in the country want to drop King Charles III as their head of state. One of them is veteran lawyer Hugh Small, a member of the 5-person constitutional reform committee overseeing the country's transition to a republic.

He told The Guardian, "I can't stand the thought that the head of state of Jamaica is King Charles III. We tolerated it long enough, and now the public conscience has raised to a boiling point, I'm very anxious to see it go," said the 81-year-old lawyer, who added that the acceptance that Jamaicans had for Queen Elizabeth did not transfer to King Charles.

"He is not a very endearing person. It makes it really difficult for me and for a lot of people in Jamaica to think that Charles III is king of Jamaica," he said.

King Charles III and the Issue of Slavery

Another Jamaican, ex-pat Devon Green, who is currently living in London, said that Charles III "is less loved by the British people." He added that the royal family's racism towards the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, was one of the reasons other immigrant Brits disapprove of him, as well as his refusal to apologize for the Royal Family's role in slavery.

However, according to the Associated Press, King Charles III and Buckingham Palace have supported research to look into his family's links to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

READ NEXT: Prince Harry Dating History

This made things more awkward when during a visit to Jamaica last year, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, were confronted with protests that called for the United Kingdom to pay for slavery reparations. This was the same Jamaican visit where Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that Jamaica intends to become fully independent from the UK in front of the royal couple.

Belize Also Eyes Becoming a Republic, Break Away From King Charles III as Head of State

Jamaica is not the only Caribbean country to seek independence and break away from the British monarchy. Belize has already hinted that it might be the next country after Barbados to gain independence.

Prime Minister John Briceno of Belize has previously stated in an interview that the country would be next to exit the Commonwealth and that there was "no excitement" in the country for the king's coronation.

According to Yahoo!, the country has already passed legislation and has already created a constitutional commission to not just create reforms but also transition the South American country into being a republic.

Other Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean, such as Antigua and Barbuda, have also been eyeing referendums to break away from the Commonwealth and remove King Charles III as their head of state.

READ MORE: Prince Harry Claims Royal Family Has 'No Willingness to Reconcile'

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Jamaica looking to remove King Charles as head of state - CBC News
Former President Donald Trump's rape trial has now concluded as the attorneys for both sides have presented their closing arguments, with E. Jean Carroll's lawyer accusing Trump of destroying the writer's reputation.

Roberta Kaplan, who represents the former Elle Magazine writer accusing the former president of raping her, reminded the jury that nobody is above the law, not even a former president like Donald Trump. However, Trump's attorneys argued that Carroll brought "false claims."

The BBC noted that the 9-member jury will begin their deliberations on Tuesday morning. They have heard arguments from both sides over the course of two weeks inside a Manhattan federal court.

Carroll claims that Trump raped her in the lingerie department of a Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1995 or 1996 and has kept quiet about it for over two decades until she released her memoir when Trump was still president.

The former president has denied the allegation, but the columnist's attorneys have presented evidence that Trump's sexual advancements to other women show a clear pattern of behavior.

E. Jean Carroll Attorney Uses Donald Trump's Own Words Against Him

In her closing argument, Carroll's attorney Roberta Kaplan, not related to US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversees this case, stated, "In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself." She then used the words uttered by the former president against himself.

The Caroll lawyer pointed out that when Trump stated that her client was not his "type," he might have admitted that "she wasn't attractive enough for me to sexually assault."

The lawyer then talked about the incident where Trump mistook a photograph of Carroll for his second wife, Marla Maples. She said that because Trump married Maples, who Kaplan said "was exactly his type," it would discredit Trump's "Not my Type" argument.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Georgia Election Probe: 8 Fake Trump Electors Accept Immunity Deals

Attorney Kaplan also pointed to the infamous Access Hollywood tape, also known as the "Grab her by the p*ssy" tape, to point to Trump's repeated behavior of sexual harassment. In that tape, Trump infamously bragged that he would usually kiss and grope women without their consent because he was famous.

"What is Donald Trump doing here? Telling you in his own words how he treats women," said the attorney. She added, "In order to win Trump needs you to believe that not only E Jean Carroll is lying but all three women perjured themselves in this case,"

Meanwhile, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina claimed that Carroll colluded with two other Trump accusers to fabricate stories about the former president.

Donald Trump Did Not Show Up During His Own Rape Trial Despite Vowing to Confront E. Jean Carroll

When Trump was in Ireland, he told reporters that he would be flying back to New York and confront accuser E, Jean Carroll. However, his very own attorney, Joe Tacopina, shut this down when he confirmed that despite saying this to reporters, Trump would still not be showing up in court to testify.

According to Reuters, Tacopina told Judge Kaplan that his client has already waived his right to testify in the trial, though the judge extended a deadline for the former president to testify until Sunday, which Trump did not meet. As the closing arguments were made, he did not appear once in his rape trial.

READ MORE: White House Correspondents' Dinner: Roy Wood Jr. Roasts Joe Biden, Donald Trump

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Closing arguments begin in civil trial against Donald Trump for alleged rape - ABC News
The driver involved in the Texas car crash near a migrant shelter in Brownsville that killed eight people and injured 10 others has been charged with eight counts of manslaughter.

Brownsville Police chief Felix Sauceda said Monday that the driver was identified as 34-year-old George Alvarez, who slammed his vehicle into a group of migrants on Sunday morning.

Police noted that Alvarez had an extensive criminal history, including charges of assault and driving while intoxicated. According to CNN, his new charges don't just include eight counts of manslaughter but also 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Sauceda said the driver's bond was set at $3.6 million, with the Brownsville Police Department investigating the cause of the crash.

The chief noted that Alvarez was driving a gray Land Rover when he lost control and flipped on its side after running a red light. He reportedly hit a total of 18 people.

READ NEXT: Texas Mall Shooting Suspect Revealed; Greg Abbott, Joe Biden React

Texas Car Crash Survivors Recall Horrific Incident

Authorities said around 20 to 25 migrants, who had recently arrived from Venezuela and were seeking refuge, were waiting at a bus stop across the street from the Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center when George Alvarez hit them.

The center is a non-profit homeless shelter helping to house several migrants. Luis Herrera was one of them, and he spoke to Valley Central about his horrific experience. Herrera and his friends were hit by the vehicle.

"We were going to the airport and it happened unexpectedly because a woman in a car passed by and advised us to separate and moments later the killer was coming in the car gesturing and insulting us," he told the outlet.

Another survivor, Jesus, who was staying at the shelter and also heading to the airport to travel to Utah after his family bought him a plane ticket, said the truck "sped through the traffic light and by the grace of God nothing happened to us, but they did hit the others around us."

Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez said they still have no evidence that the crash was intentional, but noted that investigations continue despite the driver being apprehended and charged.

Texas Car Crash Victims Were Mostly Venezuelan Migrants

The Bishop Enrique San Pedro Ozanam Center is known to house migrants from both Central and South America.

Victor Maldonado, director of the shelter, said he had already reviewed surveillance footage of the crash and confirmed that George Alvarez's vehicle ran the red light and plowed into the group of migrants waiting at the bus stop.

Maldonado confirmed that most of the victims who died in the Texas car crash were Venezuelan migrants. However, the victims have yet to be publicly named.

Another survivor, Freddy Granadillo, told The Guardian that the driver was yelling slurs before the incident happened.

"He said 'damn your mother, immigrants'," said Granadillo, who came from Venezuela. He recalled the driver saying, "Leave my country."

The Venezuelan migrant told the outlet that after the crash happened, he tried to help but admitted he could not do anything,

A memorial mass was held on Sunday evening for those who died, with Bishop Daniel Flores of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville leading the mass. He noted that "migrants feel driven to reach the border and seek refuge and security in the US."

READ MORE: Texas Walmart Shooter Who Targeted and Killed Latinos to Plead Guilty

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WATCH: Driver in Deadly Texas Crash Charged With Manslaughter - From ABC 7 Chicago
Ahead of a significant US policy change that may result in the surge of migrants at the US-Mexico border, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced Monday his intention to discuss migration with US President Joe Biden this week.

According to Reuters, Lopez Obrador said he would hold a video call with Biden on Tuesday, which is expected to discuss not only the pressing issue of migration but also the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and economic collaboration.

The US is set to end Title 42 on May 1. Since 2020, the policy has allowed US authorities to quickly expel migrants trying to cross the US-Mexico border, including asylum seekers, to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a justification.

The move to end the Trump-era immigration policy is expected to drive more migrants to the US.-Mexico border, and many are concerned about this.

Despite Lopez Obrador's announcement, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refused to confirm the call to the reporters.

When asked about the policy change, the Mexican president advised migrants to pursue lawful means of entering the US and urged the US government to process visa applications promptly.

"We're making the respectful suggestion... that they don't take too long to give out permits," Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador noted.

READ NEXT: US Mexico Border Cause of Fire

The Title 42

Title 42, a policy implemented by then-President Donald Trump in March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19, has come under intense scrutiny from human rights activists.

Al Jazeera reported that since then, it drew condemnation from rights groups after the policy has been used to quickly expel people over 2.8 million times.

As Title 42 ends Thursday, which coincides with the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency, the Biden administration has announced plans to deploy additional troops to the US-Mexico border.

However, rights groups continued to raise concerns as Washington has also implemented measures such as expedited screenings and deportations to discourage border crossings.

Critics argued that these measures violate the rights of migrants and fail to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, violence, and political instability in their countries of origin.

US-Mexico Border After Title 42 Expiration

According to BBC, as the expiration of Title 42 looms, both the US and Mexico are preparing for a surge of illegal border crossings. US officials anticipate that the number of arrivals this month could double to around 10,000 per day compared to 5,000 in March.

The expiration of Title 42, which denied many asylum seekers the chance to apply for asylum in the US, means that the US will return to its previous policy of verifying the legitimacy of asylum claims before deporting applicants.

To speed up the process, the US has proposed new policies to "expedite" the asylum interview process, aiming to assess applications within 24 hours and deport applicants within days or weeks.

Unlawful border crossers who are apprehended and deported will be "presumed ineligible for asylum" and barred from reentering the US for at least five years, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

To address the root causes of illegal border crossings, the Biden administration has sought to open legal immigration channels to reduce the number of people attempting to cross the border illegally.

The administration has committed to accepting up to 100,000 immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador with families already living in the US.

On the other hand, Mexico has pledged to accept 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela per month as part of a deal struck on May 2.

READ MORE: Mexico Gets Puppy from Turkey

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WATCH: US-Mexico Border Towns Prepare for End of Title 42 Policy - From CBS News
Sheetz is eyeing an existing Bethlehem convenience store as the potential site of a next-generation model, complete with drive-thru, car wash and parking and fuel areas.

Blair County-based Sheetz, Inc. proposes to build the new convenience store on the property of the existing site, 3201 Schoenersville Road, in the Lehigh County portion of Bethlehem. Sheetz would demolish all existing buildings, underground storage tanks and fuel piping/conduit before constructing a new 6,139-square-foot convenience center with 12 fueling stations on the 2.2-acre lot, according to plans.

Craig D. Peiffer, assistant director for the citys Bureau of Planning & Zoning, told lehighvalleylive.com Monday parking would decrease by about 22 spaces as a result of the new project. The drive-thru entrance, he said, would be constructed on the north side of property  between Sheetz and the Starbucks in the neighboring Schoenersville Centre shopping center.

A lane for the new car wash is planned next to the new drive-thru lane, in which both lanes would be located behind the building or near the west lot line, Peiffer said. The current Sheetz site does not offer drive-thru service.

Also proposed is dining capacity for nearly 50 people. Nick Ruffner, who handles public relations for Sheetz, said there would be both indoor and outdoor dining, but its unclear how many seats would be interior or exterior.

Asked about any potential timelines for the construction of the project if green lit, Ruffner told lehighvalleylive.com its too early to provide those specifics.

Representatives for the family-owned chain are scheduled to go before citys Planning Commission at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at City Center, 10 E. Church St.

Its unclear how many of the Sheetz stores, dubbed prototypical models, exist out of the more than 600 locations across Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz as early as 2005 reportedly began unveiling the roughly 6,000-square-foot stores.

Regionally, Bethlehem zoners in October 2022 approved plans for a Sheetz with drive-thru at 1720 East Fourth Street  between Emery Street and Lynn Avenue  on the Southside.

Sheetz is known for combining a gas station with a fresh-foods cafe and convenience store. It got its start in the 1950s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Stores typically serve up burgers, fries, hot dogs, subs, chicken sandwiches, burritos and breakfast sandwiches. Junk-food lovers often flock to the stores for chips, soda, doughnuts and other grab-and-go foods. Some stores additionally offer liquor and theres coffee beverages and cold drinks, like milkshakes.

Sheetz isnt the only convenience store chain constructing drive-thru lanes  something that became very popular among fast-casual patrons during the coronavirus pandemic. A 2,030-square-foot Wawa with just a drive-thru  no convenience store  is getting ready to begin construction at the Trexler Business Center, along Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
Will Easton get one new city councilperson? Two? Three? That question will be answered next week.

Seven Democrats are running for three at-large seats on Easton City Council. Only two incumbents are running, so at least one new councilperson will be sworn in next year.

No Republicans are running, so the race will be settled at the May 16 primary unless an independent candidate or a Republican write-in emerges and pulls the upset in the general election.

Heres a brief sketch of each candidate:

Ken Brown

Job: Northampton County director of court services

Neighborhood: South Side

The incumbent has served on Easton City Council since 2003 and is seeking his sixth four-year term. He served as director of the Shiloh Manor senior housing facility for 25 years until he took the job as Northampton County director of court services in 2018. He also served on the Easton Area School Board.

Browns family moved to Easton from Philadelphia in search of a better life. His brother was killed by the Easton police while on the run as a robbery suspect. Brown ran cross country at Easton Area High School and overcame his struggles as a student to graduate from East Stroudsburg University.

Never, ever let anyone tell you you cant be anybody, Brown told lehighvalleylive.com. Follow his campaign on Facebook.

Kurt Carlson

Job: Consultant

Neighborhood: College Hill

Carlson serves as vice president on the citys affordable housing task force. The task force is using $4 million in American Rescue Plan funds to buy blighted or vacant properties, fix them up and start other housing-related programs. Carlson has developed a firefighter trainee grant program through the neighborhood association and set up a nurse training pipeline between the Third Street Alliance and Gracedale Nursing Home, his website says.

As a consultant hes able to find solutions to organizational and governmental problems by creating mutually beneficial partnerships, according to his campaign website. He and his wife have a toddler daughter.

Kurt believes that Easton can be a place where everyone has the chance to live an honest, prosperous life, his website says.

Ken Greene

Job: Educational consultant

Neighborhood: Downtown

Greene and his wife won the 2022 Gretchen Wrenshall Memorial Award for community service in Easton. Their civic group, Friends of Easton PA, helped spearhead an effort to string lights around trees in Centre Square.

Greene renovated the former Lennys Mens Wear building on Eastons Centre Square. He and his wife live upstairs and rent the bottom floor to a bank. Hes served on the city planning commission since 2019. Greene retired last year after spending 13 years as the superintendent of schools in Newton, New Jersey.

Ken loves Easton because the city has an inclusive energy to it that is diverse, vibrant, and welcoming of everyone, he said on his campaign website.

David OConnell

Job: Retired

Neighborhood: College Hill

OConnell is seeking his third consecutive four-year term on city council. The former Massachusetts resident has lived in Easton since 1989. OConnell has chaired city council committees on planning and economic development. Hes helping to assemble a non-profit housing development corporation and also works with the West Ward Community Initiative.

OConnell is a U.S. Army veteran and the former manager of the Country Classics at Morgan Hill condominium community in Williams Township. He wants to work to the benefit of the Downtown, South Side and West Ward neighborhoods in addition to his home neighborhood of College Hill.

We are four distinct neighborhoods, each with its own history and personality. But we are one united city, and it will always be my mission to ensure that all citizens share equally in Eastons bounty, he said. Follow his campaign on Facebook.

Frank Pintabone

Job: Landscaping company owner

Neighborhood: South Side

Pintabone is a fourth-generation Easton resident and lifelong South Side resident who served for six years on the Easton Area School Board. He has been buying and fixing up Easton properties, he said.

As part of his platform he wants to bring a trolley system back to the city, crack down on absentee landlords and push for a full-service grocery store in the West Ward. He also wants to expand the Easton Ambassadors program into the South Side and College Hill neighborhoods. HIs priorities also include boosting affordable housing and bringing small businesses into the neighborhoods.

I am from the neighborhood, I am for the neighborhood and I want to be your next Easton City Councilman at large, he said. Pintabone has a campaign website.

Crystal Rose

Job: Marketing director at Unity Bank

Neighborhood: Downtown

Rose is a fourth-generation Easton resident who serves on Eastons civil service board. She serves on the board of trustees for Americas Grow-A-Row, a local nonprofit that grows and gleans fresh produce for those in need, previously served on a Third Street Alliance fundraiser committee and organized community movie nights on the Karl Stirner Arts Trail.

She said the downtown has lacked representation on city council and she wants to be a voice for downtown residents and businesses. She wants the city to hire a small business liaison to help navigate code requirements and other governmental obstacles for start-up companies.

We need to come together to solve our affordable housing issues and better connect our neighborhoods. Everyone deserves to be heard, she said when she launched her campaign in January.

Lance Wheeler

Job: Pennsylvania constable

Neighborhood: West Ward

Wheeler is a lifelong West Ward resident. He said the West Ward needs a supermarket, more affordable housing and more activities to improve residents quality of life. He opened a stand to sell low-cost pumpkins to the West Ward at Halloween and hosted a Super Bowl party for neighbors at Centennial Park.

Wheeler founded the community group West Ward WISE in 2014. The group is largely concerned with anti-crime and quality of life efforts in the West Ward. He was a former president of the Easton branch of the NAACP.

The West Ward lacks representation on city council, Wheeler said. Jim Edinger is the only city councilman who lives in that neighborhood and Wheeler wants to change that.

Come out and vote. This is an important election, Wheeler said. Follow his campaign on Facebook.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
UPDATE: Authorities capture 1 of 2 inmates who escaped from Philadelphia prison

Authorities searched Tuesday for two inmates  one accused of killing four people  who were gone from a Philadelphia prison for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.

Nasir Grant, 24, and Ameen Hurst, 18, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center around 8:30 p.m. Sunday by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said.

Headcounts conducted at 11 p.m. on Sunday, 3 a.m. on Monday, and 7 a.m. on Monday reportedly showed that all prisoners were accounted for, said Philadelphia Prisons Department Commissioner Blanche Carney. The facility became aware of the escaped inmates at about 3 p.m. Monday, Carney said.

We have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed, Carney said. That yard should have been secured, and the fence not breached.

Mayor Jim Kenney said at a news conference Monday evening that they want to find out exactly what happened.

Clearly the system screwed up and people didnt do what what theyre supposed to do, Kenney said.

Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney, right, updates news media outside the Philadelphia Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center Monday, May 8, 2023, on the recent escape of two prisoners as Mayor Jim Kenney is in rear, and Xavier Beaufort, left, Deputy Prisons Commissioner holds photos of the two escapees. Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center around 8:30 p.m. Sunday by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said.Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Hurst was arrested in March 2021. Hes accused of shooting and killing a man on Christmas Eve 2020, said Frank Vanore, Philadelphia police deputy commissioner of investigations. The other three shootings happened in March 2021.

Hes a very dangerous individual from what we know, and we are looking for the publics help to get him back, Vanore said at the news conference.

Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges, Blanche said. The inmates were housed in the same unit, but different cells, she said.

The U.S. Marshals Service said Tuesday it was leading search efforts for the fugitives and was offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to each suspects arrest.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is urged to contact the Marshals Service at 800-336-0102, the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477 (TIPS) or send information to the U.S. Marshals Service at usmarshals.gov/tips.

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Experts plan to examine the metallic object that crashed through the roof of a New Jersey home on Monday, police said.

The 4-inch-by-6-inch object penetrated the roof of a ranch-style home on Old Washington Crossing Pennington Road in Hopewell, then crashed through the ceiling and stopped after it hit the hardwood floor, according to a statement from the Hopewell Township Police Department.

Officials are looking to determine whether the object is a meteorite, police said.

A plan is in place for an astrophysicist from The College of New Jersey in Ewing to meet with the homes residents and further examine the object, police told NJ Advance Media in a statement.

The object crashed through the roof and ceiling of the ranch-style home before impacting its hardwood floor, investigators said.Hopewell Township Police

Police did not identify the astrophysicist. Officials from The College of New Jersey did not immediately identify the astrophysicist involved.

Since this is not a crime and it was determined yesterday that there were no safety concerns, we will only be involved if the residents request our assistance, police Sgt. Joseph Maccaquano said.

Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, told CBS3 News that the rock-like object that landed in Mercer County may have been 4 to 5 billion years old, dating back to when our solar system first formed.

Its been running around in space all that time, and now its come to Earth. And it fell right into their laps, Pitts said. But for it to actually strike a house, for people to be able to pick (it) up, thats really unusual. It has happened very few times in history.

The family who owns the house told CBS3 they are thankful no one was injured and they may go out and buy a lottery ticket.

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Camille Furst may be reached at cfurst@njadvancemedia.com.
Edward Cullen, the retired bishop whose time leading the Diocese of Allentown led to reforms amid allegations of abuses within the church, has died. He was 90 years old.

Cullens death on Tuesday was announced the same day by the diocese. In a statement, current Bishop Alfred Schlert called his predecessor a faithful servant of the church.

He was visionary in spiritual, pastoral and temporal matters, Schlert said. Along with the clergy, religious, and laity of the Diocese, I mourn his loss and commend his soul to Gods mercy, trusting in Our Lords promise of reward to good and faithful servants.

During Cullens time as the Lehigh Valleys third bishop from 1998 to 2009, the Catholic Church was rocked by allegations of child sexual abuse  the Boston Globes Spotlight team broke the scandalous story in 2002, spurring national and worldwide attention.

In the dioceses statement on Cullens death, it credits the bishop with almost immediately working to remove offenders from the ministry and implementing polices and reforms to protect children in the church. The statement says in 2002 he was the first Pennsylvania bishop to convene a meeting with the five district attorneys in the dioceses area and turned over personnel files of all accused priests.

Law enforcement has credited the diocese for cooperating in investigations over the years, specifically citing that decision.

But cases were not always handled cleanly. In grand jury testimony over the years, Cullen reportedly had knowledge of cover stories for some accused priests early in his career. A 2011 report from the Philadelphia Inquirer, citing testimony by Cullen, revealed that parishioners in the city would be told an accused priest was on a religious retreat or resigning for health reasons.

SNAP, a network of 25,000 survivors and supporters of abuse by institutional authorities such as priests, said such attempts to conceal accusations wreaked havoc on trusting youngsters and their families and ignored, concealed and enabled these horrific crimes.

We hope that (Cullens) death will inspire present and past diocesan employees to speak out against Allentowns clergy sex crimes and cover-ups, SNAP said in a statement on Tuesday. No matter how old, little, or unimportant our information or suspicions may appear, it is crucial that we all disclose it to law enforcement officials if we know of or suspect abuse.

Still, between Cullens installation in 1998 and the 2002 meeting with law enforcement, the new bishops zero-tolerance policies resulted in at least seven priests being removed from assignment in the Allentown diocese over allegations of child sex abuse, according to contemporary reports.

The diocese says he expanded criminal background checks for church leadership, staff and volunteers; established an internal review board for abuse cases and established a staff position to assist victims; and required abuse protection training.

He is also credited with launching a $28 million capital campaign within the diocese in 2003, one that generated $54 million in pledges.

Bishop Edward Cullen pauses to bless a baby during the procession into the Pius X gymnasium during special mass for the opening of the 2003 school year.Bruce Winter | lehighvalleylive.com file photo

Cullens early life was spent around his native Philadelphia, where he was ordained and served as an assistant pastor, an assistant director of Catholic Social Services, and an auxiliary bishop.

Pope John Paul II appointed Cullen as fourth bishop of the Allentown diocese in late 1997. When he was installed a few months later in February 1998, he was met with a minute-long standing ovation by a crowd of 800. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of the Philadelphia archdiocese said that in giving you Bishop Cullen, Philadelphia has made a great sacrifice.

The doors of this cathedral and the hearts of thousands of the faithful were opened to me in welcome, Cullen said during his installation. The graciousness and warmth of your welcoming have been so humanely sincere and spiritually authentic that, honestly, I feel somewhat overwhelmed.

The diocesan statement quotes Cullen saying his time as bishop was a tremendous blessing  is rooted in being immersed into the life of a Catholic community that is, by any measure, superlative.

The Diocese of Allentown includes 80 parishes and 252,000 Catholics in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.

The diocese announced services are as scheduled at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, 1825 W. Turner St., Allentown:

Reception of the Body: 4 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Vigil Service: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Additional Visitation: 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, May 19

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Friday, May 19

Bishop Edward Cullen talks with the students during a 2006 service in Bethlehem.Bruce Winter | lehighvalleylive.com file photo

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
A Northampton County judge has thrown out a Lower Saucon Township decision to rezone a township landfill, a decision championed by opponents of a proposed landfill expansion.

Judge Abraham Kassis threw out the zoning ordinance Monday on techincal grounds. He said a legal notice published in December failed to alert residents they could review a map and the text of the ordinance for free. The published ordinance didnt specify the land that would be affected, Kassis wrote.

The failure to follow the public notice rules invalidates the 3-2 vote by town council on Dec. 21 to rezone the landfill. It means about 40 hours of testimony on the proposed 275-acre expansion over the course of more than two months must be scrapped. The township must start the process over.

This is a huge victory for all of those who oppose the expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill, said attorney Gary Asteak.

Asteak represents seven residents who sued to block the expansion. The landfill at 2335 Applebutter Road is called the Bethlehem landfill even though its in Lower Saucon Township.

Landfill attorney Maryanne Starr Garber said her clients are disappointed with Kassis decision, adding, We are confident that at the end of the day we will continue to be the trusted neighbor that has operated in Lower Saucon Township with integrity and the highest standards for over the past three decades.

Township attorney B. Lincoln Treadwell said hed review the decision with township officials to decide the townships next move.

The township council voted on Dec. 21 to rezone the landfill from Rural Agriculture to Light Industrial. The change allows the landfill to expand by conditional use rather than as a special exception. That puts the decision whether to permit an expansion into the hands of the township council rather than the zoning hearing board.

The township will have to start over and hold another hearing to rezone the land. It will be tougher this time for the township to push through the rezoning, Asteak said.

The do-over will allow other entities to potentially intervene on behalf of the residents, including St. Lukes University Health Network, Bethlehem Township, Freemansburg, Hellertown, Northampton County and the City of Easton.

Asteak said all 40 hours of the testimony to date have been presented on behalf or the landfill expansion. Asteak said he has at least 40 hours of his own testimony prepared from geologists and others on what an environmental catastrophe this landfill expansion would cause.

Garber previously told lehighvalleylive.com most residents understand how important the landfill is for the local economy. She said the landfill makes contributions to local charities, maintains its property responsibly and is a good neighbor.

Asteak said the dozens of residents who have attended hearings indicate otherwise.

Landfill warriors will continue the fight to protect these lands. This is just the beginning, said resident Victoria Opthof-Cordaro on Tuesday. Her parents are among the seven residents who sued.

Asteak said the township can avoid more costly litigation by backing away from the landfill expansion plans. If not, voters will have an opportunity next week and in November to elect township supervisors who oppose the landfill expansion.

We can litigate this for years and we will, Asteak said. We may ultimately be successful in our efforts. But the quick way to stop the landfill expansion is at the ballot box.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Phillipsburg adopted a $21 million spending plan last Tuesday, despite pushback and some members of council and the public who wished to see a last-call amendment added to the budget prior to the vote.

If approved, the amendment proposed by Councilman Randy Piazza Jr. on Tuesday would have added four additional police officers to the towns payroll, for a total of 40 police officers, including the police chief.

The approved final budget already makes plans to hire two police officers to the towns police department.

During the two-hour meeting, officials and members of the public were both recorded yelling over one another and slinging insults.

Residents said they were bothered by sewer rate hikes approved last year, the tax rate proposed this year, a $600,000 sum approved to support the local library, as well as the councils rejection of Piazzas proposal.

Piazza made a similar request two weeks ago that was rejected in a super-majority vote. The amendment wouldve added three officers to the payroll. The latest proposal would have reallocated more than $200,000 from the shared services fund with the Borough of Alpha to pay for the officers salaries, he said.

I tried to work within the budget, he said.

That money is already designated to pay for new police vehicles, Chief Financial Officer Bob Merlo said.

The towns municipal spending for 2023 is down $635,000 from the $21,846,384 spending plan approved in 2022. Council has also touted its .26% tax increase as relatively flat.

Notably, the budget draws $824,046 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal coronavirus pandemic relief package as well, and promises the full sum of those federal dollars to the police department, in addition to its $3.8 million allocation ($35,000 less than in 2022).

Some $5.7 million is allocated to sewer costs  a rate that will continue to increase $5 every year until 2025, an increase of 133%. The residential per gallon usage fee will also rise each year to $0.0065 in 2025, a collective increase of 6.56%.

Same as last year, $686,180 is allocated to the Phillipsburg Free Public Library.

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Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.
Student from Laois have taken 3rd prize in the Senior category at this years Student Enterprise Programme National Finals. The Finals of the Local Enterprise Office initiative took place on Friday in Croke Park.

Supported by Local Enterprise Office Laois, the students won 3rd overall in the Senior Category.

The winning students from Heywood Community School were Daniel Aylward, Evan Farrell amd Donil Mathew who worked under the guidance of their teacher, Patricia Brennan.

Their student enterprise was called Hurlr'.

It saw the students create a hurley holder for a bicycle to make travelling with a hurl easier and safer. The hurley holder is one of a kind. The students designed and produced it from scratch in their workshop.

The Laois team flew the flag for Laois in the senior part of the competition after emerging from the county contest which saw 540 students from 7 schools enter that annual programme locally. A total of 84 students made it to the Laois County Final on March 14 in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

Sarah-Kate Dunne from Portlaoise College represented Laois at the National Finals in the Junior Category with her business Golden Flame Wax Works.

Hurlr was among 82 student businesses that contested the national final in what is Irelands largest entrepreneurship programme for second-level students. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Laois students at the launch of the national awards.

Mark Clancy is the Acting Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Laois.

Year on year the Student Enterprise Programme continues to showcase the very best of Irish ingenuity and entrepreneurship amongst our secondary school students. This year produced a varied selection of businesses, from agricultural products and homemade gifts to products that were built on our unique ability to tell compelling stories.

"We see every year that the National Finals are not an end point for our student entrepreneurs, but a stepping-stone on the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey. From our class of 22/23 we will see some business leaders and global entrepreneurs of the future emerge, he said.

Pic: Golden Flame Waxworks by Sarah-Kate Dunne from Portlaoise College is presented with her award for Junior Category winner by Leas-Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council PJ Kelly MCC and Linda Meredith, LEO Laois at the County Final of the Student Enterprise awards.

Neale Richmond, Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, congratulated the students.

"With over 25,000 students taking part in this years programme, it is a huge achievement to make it to the Finals and shows a real flair for entrepreneurship. Some amazing businesses and entrepreneurs have come from this programme  the majority did not win any prizes but are still running successful businesses today.

"So, to those of you who won something today, a huge congratulations, but most importantly, to you all, this is the first step on the path, you are the entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future and everyone here today is excited to see what you do next, he said.

The National Final students competed across three categories, Junior, Intermediate and Senior, were all in attendance on the day exhibiting their businesses which were judged by a team of national business experts and mentors. Each student enterprise was challenged with creating, setting up and running its own business, which must show sales of their service or product. The judging panel included business owners and representatives from enterprise agencies and associated bodies.

The three main category winners on the day were: McCompactors from Roscommon Community College, representing Local Enterprise Office Roscommon (Senior Category Winner), Clip Clop Designs from Moyne Community School representing Local Enterprise Office Longford (Intermediate Category Winner), and Grasper from Drumshanbo Vocational School representing Local Enterprise Office Leitrim (Junior Category Winner).

More info on the Laois third place winner at www.hurlr.ie

The Student Enterprise Programme is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country. Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 350,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.
Naas Racecourse was unintentionally drawn into the war in Ukraine by permitting an commemorative event there on Sunday last.

Up to 1,000 people, mainly though not all from Russia, attended the event to mark the victory by the then Soviet army over Nazi Germany towards the close of the second World War.

Clarifying the background to the event - which attracted some negative reaction on social media - racecourse manager Eamonn McEvoy said the facility is made available to community groups whenever possible and this is always done on a good faith basis.

Mr McEvoy said that some week ago he was contacted by someone who had previously used the facility seeking to host an eastern European community family day.

As there was no race meeting on the calendar the request was granted - as it is for many public events including, sometimes, concerts.

In the week leading up to the event the gardai were independently in touch to liaise about the event and confirmed they were satisfied to let it proceed. The gardai were also present at the event.

There were about 400 to 500 people in attendance, many of them families. I attended personally throughout the day, spoke to those who had gathered and am very satisfied that those in attendance came from a range of countries throughout the former Soviet bloc and were there to commemorate the end of World War 2  many with photos of their family members who had served in the war, added Mr McEvoy.

However, he added, while there were flags of many nations on display, as well as historical flags from the WW2 era, there was an unexpected number of Russian flags on display. Notwithstanding that Russian flags are not banned in Ireland (or sanctioned in any way) I fully understand the negative reaction of a number of people given the invasion and continuing war in Ukraine.

A statement on behalf of Mr McEvoy noted the event was entirely peaceful and the organisers have assured me they are in no way linked to current Russian state activities.

It is very hard to anticipate or take preventative action against offensive emblems, flags or banners or to regulate behaviour at events which are not in our control or direction. Naas Racecourse was inadvertently drawn into highly sensitive geopolitical events and for that I would like to apologise to anyone who was offended by it.

He said the racecourse will continue to be available to community groups on a good faith basis and we will develop protocols for future events to work with our community groups to prevent such controversy in the future.

Read more Kildare news
A consultant surgeon has brought a High Court challenge against the HSE's decisions to place him on what he claims on enforced sick-leave and its refusal to allow him to return to work.

The action has been brought by Dr Pawan Rajpal, who is a constant general and Colorectal Surgeon who has been employed at Cavan General Hospital for almost 25 years.

He also works at Monaghan General Hospital, and Connolly Hospital in Dublin.

The court heard that in August 2022 Dr Rajpal was informed that he was the subject of a complaint from another staff member, and that he faced being suspended.

Dr Rajpal strongly denies any wrongdoing, and says that the allegations relate to an alleged encounter outside of working hours and away from HSE property.



He claims that no formal decision was ever taken by the HSE to suspend him, and that he has not been properly informed by the HSE of the full details of the allegation against him.



Arising out of the allegation against him he took sick leave for a two-week period, due to work-related stress.

In mid September he obtained a certificate from his GP stating that he was ready to return to work.

However, he claims that the HSE has failed to allow him to return to his duties.



He claims that the HSE has unlawfully and in breach of his contract of employment has insisted that he cannot return to work unless he is reviewed by an occupational health therapist of the HSE's choice.

He claims that this falls outside a stipulated process for referrals to occupational health professionals which expressly says that an employee does not have to undergo any form of assessment and can refuse to attend.

He also claims that no proper procedures that would allow the HSE restrict his ability to work have been followed.

The HSE's position, he claims, amounts to placing him on enforced sick leave and is in effect a suspension, and is in breach of his contractual rights.

Dr Rajpal claims that prior to these incidents he had voiced his opposition to what he claims are the HSE's attempts to bring about changes that would downgrade facilities at Cavan Hospital.



He further claims that being out of work has damaged his reputation, and his ability to earn a living.

Since September he has been working at other hospitals.

He claims that the HSE's actions, and alleged failures to provide him with adequate reasons for its decision, are in breach of the rules of natural justice, and a failure to comply with fair procedures.

Represented by Patrick McCann SC, with David Lennon Bl, Dr Rajpal has brought judicial review proceedings against the HSE where he seeks various orders and declarations from the court including a order terminating his sick leave and that he be immediately reinstated to his role.

He also seeks various declarations including that the refusal to allow him to return to work is in breach of his contractual entitlements, and that any decision to suspend him be terminated.

He further seeks an award of damages against the HSE.

The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who on an ex-parte basis, granted Dr Rajpal permission to bring his challenge against the HSE.

The judge made the matter returnable to a date next month.
A mobster who directed a 20-strong member gang thanked gardai for arresting him and had felt suicidal over his drug-debts, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Sligo native Barry Young (38) pleaded guilty in March to directing the activities of the gang, which had an international character but operated in the Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway areas where it was involved in drug-dealing, intimidation and money laundering.

The court heard that drug seizures linked to the gang totalled over 628,000, while Young himself had 40,000 in ready cash despite his only stated income being social welfare payments. Young also dispatched enforcers that he described as "head-the-balls" and "Dirty Harrys" to collect on drug debts, today's sentencing hearing was told.

At the three-judge court today, Detective Garda Inspector Ray Mulderrig told Fiona Murphy SC, for the State, that Young was arrested by detectives from Sligo at Dublin Airport on January 11 of this year on his way to Spain in a bid to escape his life of crime and drug-debts.

Det Insp Mulderrig told Ms Murphy that gardai seized Young's phone and discovered thousands of messages, images, videos and calls relating to Young's criminal activities in running the Sligo-based gang.

Det Insp Mulderrig said Young had 81 previous convictions at the time of his arrest and had been twice sentenced for drug-dealing, with the last conviction for that offence coming in 2006 when he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Ms Murphy said that gardai examined the phone which was found to contain thousands of "local, national and international" interactions used for directing the criminal gang in relation to the sale and supply of drugs through Young's "known associates".

The barrister said the phone revealed a group of "at least" 20 members who operated in a "controlled, hierarchical command structure with directed sub-cells who then directed their own subordinates through a chain of command directed by Barry Young who was ultimately informed of the results".

Ms Murphy said phone activity revealed messages about drug-seizures, drug-debt enforcement, intimidation, cash lodgements and movements, and the collection and distribution of drugs.

The court heard the investigation revealed a high level of communication regarding drug-debt enforcement and the names and addresses of debtors. Det Insp Mulderrig said that while violence and threats were used, violence was the option "least preferred by Barry Young".

The detective said that investigations of five phones associated with Young led to the arrest of 16 people, six of whom are before the courts, with three of those facing charges of organised crime involvement and money laundering directly attributed to the gang.

Det Insp Mulderrig said four of Young's accounts were frozen which had a cumulative balance of over 40K, despite Young's only stated source of income being social welfare payments.

The detective said that in October 2019, a seizure of 2kg of cannabis from a UK associate of Young's took place in Ballina, Co Mayo.

The associate was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on foot of the seizure. Ms Murphy said this caused Young to embark on a path of "panic, fear, agitation and anger" in a "damage-limitation" exercise.

The two kilos of cannabis were valued by gardai at 40K and Det Insp Mulderrig said that mobile evidence revealed that Young made two calls to the associate two days before the seizure and had sent messages to another associate to deliver "two Spanish", referring to the cannabis.

Another associate of Young's caught with 100K of cannabis and 18K in cash in January 2020 had a phone number attributed to Young in his phone saved under "Boss".

A third associate, who was caught with 328K worth of cannabis and had a "huge" drug-debt of his own, was used as a courier for cash and drug deliveries in Sligo, Leitrim and Dublin, said Ms Murphy.

After Young's January 2022 arrest in Dublin Airport, searches in the Sligo area found 36,360 in cash, 145,250 worth of cannabis, 11K worth of cocaine and 4,500 worth of valium and diazepam linked to the gang.



Phone data also revealed that drug-debt enforcement involved Young sending individuals to private homes to commit criminal damage and demand money in Sligo and Galway. Young described the debt collectors in messages as "head-the-balls", "Dirty Harrys", "Russian fellas", "mental" and "crazy" dispatched to "fix" debts owed.



A search of Young's home by Sligo gardai saw the seizure of banking and vehicle documents, along with business papers for a vehicle recovery business called 'BY Recovery', though garda investigations found that no facility or yard for the business existed.

Det Insp Mulderrig said Young was moving money through the business' account to a Spanish account held in Young's name in February and April 2019. The transfers totalling 35K were made ahead of his planned departure from Ireland.

Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Michael Bowman SC, for Young, that his client had been "cordial, mannerly and pleasant" in his interactions with gardai.

Mr Bowman said his client came from a decent, working class family in Sligo and that Young developed a "significant drug difficulty" that led to his drug-debt issues.



Mr Bowman said Young had been under "enormous pressure" to pay his debts and had been looking for "a way out of the life he made for himself", adding that Young was preparing to move out of Ireland when arrested.

Det Insp Mulderrig agreed with Mr Bowman that there had been a legitimate threat to Young's life due to his debts and that his client's mental health had suffered as a result.

Mr Bowman said Young had become depressed and suffered anxiety over his debts and his situation that led him to go to counselling where he admitted he had sought to "end it all".

The barrister said the "enormous" pressure on his client to pay monies back to those above him caused Young to "seek a way out and he sought to take his own life".

Mr Bowman said Young did not display any "over-trappings of wealth" associated with criminal activity and said his client rented a "nondescript" residence without "fancy clothes, jewellery or foreign holidays".

The barrister said Young had engaged in counselling and drug and alcohol addiction services before his arrest as far back as 2018 due to the "parasitic nature of the drug trade".



Mr Bowman said his client described the day of his arrest as a "happy day" and that Young had thanked gardai for catching him because "every day he was trying to find peace with what he has done".



Mr Bowman said Young had been a "big fish in a small pond" but was answerable to "layers upon layers" of individuals operating above him.



Father-of-two Young, with a previous address at Geldof Drive, Cranmore, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty at the non-jury court that he, between October 4, 2019 and January 15, 2022, both dates inclusive, directed the activities of a criminal organisation both within and outside the State, contrary to Section 71 A of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, as inserted by Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009.



Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to July 31 for the offence which carries a maximum of life imprisonment.
Founder of Darkness into Light Jane Freeman details how her personal response to the nightmare of suicide created Pieta House

If ever I hear of someone who has died by suicide now, my first thought is of their family and loved ones and what a terrible journey lies ahead of them. No words can describe this journey: despair, darkness, desolation capture it only to a small degree.

The question that everyone who has travelled this route usually begins with is, Why? - a question that can never be answered becoming a lonely scream in the dark that nobody hears - an inner wail that can never be calmed.

This question is usually followed at breakneck speed by the awful questions, Why didnt I spot it? Why didnt I stop it? If ever I was to give words of comfort to families and friends who have lost someone through suicide, I would tell them in total honesty that the answer to these questions is  because family and friends are the last people to know. Many people say that their loved one showed no signs of suicidal intent. They are right; the loved one in distress was trying to protect them.

I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. With all deaths, there are regrets about not spending more time with the person who died, or being kinder when they were alive, but suicide comes with a particular type of guilt that will forever remain. Regrets circle endlessly: I should have known; I could have prevented it; why didnt I listen harder or take them seriously? Guilt is the one emotion that eats away at your core.

Every day I would surround myself with books and articles on suicide. With every article and every book I read on the subject, however, I was becoming increasingly despondent, feeling increasingly guilty, because I was learning that the death of the person I was grieving might have been prevented. I became depressed. I was functioning on a basic level. I would continue to leave my children off to school, but I would go back to bed immediately afterwards. Over the days, weeks, and months that followed, regardless of what I read, I wasnt getting any relief. That is, until one day.

As usual, I was lying on my bed and the children were at school. I found myself surrounded by books. These were about bereavement, depression, mental health and, of course, suicide.

On that morning, however, for some reason I picked up a book that was not about any of those topics. This book dealt with art through the centuries revealing remarkable paintings and sculptures.

One artist whom I will never forget: Michelangelo. This young man, at just twenty-three years of age, had carved a sculpture out of one large piece of marble. His main model of inspiration was a woman called Mary of Nazareth. This humble, ordinary woman became the focus of the sculpture, the Pieta.

Housed in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Pieta shows Mary, a mother, cradling the dead, broken body of her crucified son. His lifeless body is sprawled across her lap, while she looks intently into his face.

This incredible sculpture held something truly magical for me  staring at the mothers expression was an epiphany for me. It was the look of incredibly tender, compassionate acceptance written on her face that made me sit upright and realise that this is what our country needed. We needed a Pieta in every community so that we, too, could look on people who were in distress with tenderness and compassionate understanding.

It was a light-bulb moment that made me jump out of bed. With this look of compassion still in my head, I ran down to Lucan village to Kieran Bradys office.

Kieran is an auctioneer whom I knew, admired, and trusted. I told him I wanted to buy a house. What I had in mind was a house where the person in crisis would be embraced and held until they could walk on their own again.

A professional service that would provide a new therapeutic model, which would view people as people in short-term crisis rather than people who needed medical intervention.

After listening intently to me, he said with great wisdom, Joan, what you want is to create a charity.

After my conversation with Kieran, I spoke to my brother John Lowe (who later became known as the Money Doctor). They both convinced me to start a charity, an organisation that would help people in suicidal crisis, openly, compassionately and with incredible acceptance. In January 2006 Pieta House opened its doors.

That was my beginning, and yet every new milestone for Pieta House became the beginning. Every person who wanted to take up the baton, or who wanted to take a service to their community, every person who was drowning in grief and wanted to atone for their loss  that was a new beginning. The following stories are from the people who made that new beginning  who made Pieta House and, indeed, Darkness into Light the incredibly soothing and hopeful light it is today.

Extracted from Darkness into Light: A Nations Response by Joan Freeman.

Published by Beehive Books. Available nationwide.
Property owner Adam Norris surveys the damage at his home outside the town of Drayton, Alberta, on May 8, 2023. WALTER TYCHNOWICZ / AFP

Canada struggled on Monday, May 9, to control wildfires that have forced thousands to flee, halted oil production and razed towns, with the western province of Alberta calling for federal help. Some 30,000 people were ordered to leave their homes over the past three days, as nearly 100 fires flared across the province  including 29 out of control.

Federal disaster officials and the military were on standby, after the head of the western province of Alberta Danielle Smith spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to formally ask for assistance.

"Canadians stand with the people of Alberta as they deal with these terrible, terrible wildfires," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. "We were watching images from the communities affected by these wildfires and I assured Danielle that we will be there to help," he said. Details of what supports would be made available were not immediately released.

In Alberta, firefighters prioritized dousing flames threatening homes and businesses. Many roads near the provincial capital Edmonton were blocked off as temporary shelters welcomed evacuees.

Oil firms  including Vermilion Energy and Crescent Point Energy  announced temporary shutdowns of operations, slashing production by more than 125,000 barrels of oil per day.

In this photo provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service, a wildfire burns a section of forest in the Grande Prairie district of Alberta, Canada, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Government of Alberta Fire Service/The Canadian Press via AP) GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA FIRE SERVICE/THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

Many residents and oil workers rode to safety in motorhomes or with campers in tow, and set up in empty parking lots. Others are staying with friends or family, like Jerry Greiner, a resident from Dayton Valley, west of Edmonton, the capital of Alberta.

"We could see the smoke on Friday and there was a pretty strong wind," the 55-year-old told AFP, his eyes tearing up as he recounted receiving the order to evacuate that night.

"We quickly grabbed our bags (and went) to our friends' house. About 12 people stayed there," he said. This marked the first time he has ever had to flee wildfires.

Dayton Valley, a small town of 7,000, was completely abandoned. Trees and grass fields all around were blackened by the fires, and smoke billowed from a few charred buildings, but most of the homes appeared intact, observed an AFP reporter.

'Scary and surreal'

It was not clear when residents would be permitted to return. Resident Randy Braun, 57, said the fire chief told locals it would be "at least a week minimum."

Kathy Bereuwski, 61, escaped with her family and dogs. "The sky," she told AFP, "was pitch black" with smoke and falling ash.

"It's very scary and so surreal," said evacuee Dorothy Denis. "Every time there's an alert, you're scared to look (at your phone) as they might say it's your town that's on fire." "The past few days have been very crappy," echoed Kathy, another evacuee, who declined to give her last name. "It's just been very stressful."

In the northern community of Fox Lake, a fire destroyed 20 homes, a store and a police station. Residents had to be evacuated by boat and helicopter.

The Alberta premier declared a state of emergency on Saturday, calling the wildfire situation "unprecedented."

The province  one of the world's largest oil-producing regions -"has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires," she said. Almost all of Alberta as well as much of neighboring Saskatchewan province, parts of British Columbia and a large swath of the Northwest Territories face extreme fire risks.

Two out-of-control wildfires in westernmost British Columbia have also forced residents to evacuate, and authorities have warned they expect strong winds to swell those blazes.

In recent years, western Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to global warming. Forest fires in Canada's oil sands region in 2016 disrupted production and forced out 100,000 residents from Fort McMurray, pummelling the nation's economy.

More recently in 2021, British Columbia suffered record-high temperatures over the summer that killed more than 500 people, as well as wildfires that destroyed an entire town. That was followed by devastating floods and mudslides.

Authorities were hopeful on Monday that rain and cooler temperatures would bring some relief to Alberta.

Le Monde with AFP
Having just returned from a parliamentary mission to Bosnia, Serbia and Albania, I have come away definitively convinced that the Balkans represent the future of Europe. There is no doubt about it. And our procrastination as well as the slowness of the integration process only delay a decision that is all the more essential to the construction of Europe due to the war in Ukraine, which, tragically, in a single year, has already profoundly changed the world.

In Sofia at the beginning of March, within the framework of the interparliamentary forum organized by the European Democratic Party, I pleaded, as I have done for the past five years, for France and the European Union to take a greater interest in this region, which is still too often caricatured as "the powder keg of Europe." We must get rid of this obsolete and erroneous image of the Balkans.

Nationality conflicts have been frequent in Europe for centuries. The Balkans are just one example, with their 29 nationalities, their constant displacement throughout history, and their permanent struggle between the imperial model (Ottoman, Austrian) and the cooperative and multi-ethnic model (Vojvodina, Sarajevo).

Yet the observation is stark: 20 years after the Thessaloniki Declaration, the European Union (EU) has not done its full part in the Balkans. Worse still, its legitimacy is constantly challenged by powers such as China, Russia and even Turkey.

Investments too low

Today, it is becoming urgent to move on to the next stage and accelerate the integration process, ignoring Brussels' bureaucracy and Europe's technostructure. One part of the Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria) is already in the EU, while the other, consisting of Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia, is impatient. These countries will not wait forever for the EU.

Admittedly, they are not all at the same point in the integration process. However, many of their issues are in common: reconciliation, development and energy transition, education, public administration reform, the fight against corruption, rebalancing of demographics, and so on. These issues must be considered by the 11, not only with the countries of the so-called "Western Balkans," but also with parliamentarians from the EU countries as well as representatives of European civil society (think tanks, NGOs, businesses).

In order to build a stronger Union, we must definitively integrate the Balkans to Europe. But today, the EU is not visible enough in the Balkans. This is particularly true of its investments, which are still too low, in the infrastructure and economy of this region.

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KIND-HEARTED Limerick youngsters are organising donations to help some of the least well-off in society.

Members of Caherdavin Scout Group, on the citys northside, have teamed up with local homelessness charity Novas to collect clothes, non-perishable foods and toiletries.

At their meetings each Thursday night, they are bringing the offerings for Novas volunteers to use on their outreach programme.

This sees them walk the streets of Limerick to provide the donations and support to those sleeping rough.

Bob Halvey, the chairperson of Caherdavin Scout Group said the children have organised collections among families, friends and their sporting clubs, while people who want to donate are welcome to drop-in an item when the troop meets each Thursday.

Its all being done as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

As part of the initiative  which the scouts came up with themselves  CEO of Novas Dr Una Burns paid a visit to their hall near Christ the King Church to speak with the scouts about the work of the Limerick based charity.

"We are so grateful. It was a lovely experience to talk with the scout members in Limerick, and they were particularly interested in the work we do with the outreach programme, she said.

Dr Burns added there are many items people might not realise are needed, for example sunscreen during the summer months.

Mr Halvey said: We are trying to teach these children to be better, more community-minded citizens. Part of scouting is helping those less fortunate.

We are trying to instil that ethos into them. It doesn't matter why somebody is homeless or on the street begging. They are there, they are human beings and we have to help them.

If you want to make a donation, you can drop into the Caherdavin Scout Hall at Blackthorn Drive every Thursday between 7.30pm and 9pm.

Alternatively, give Mr Halvey a call at 086 0403861.
STUDENTS in Limerick participated in a performance of Beethovens Ode to Joy in celebration of 50 years of Irelands membership in the European Union.

Among the Limerick Schools to take part in the performance were students from Crescent College Comprehensive.

Students from Crescent College who form the school choir with help from their music teacher, Roisin Lavery sang a rendition of the EU anthem for Minister of State and Limerick city TD, Kieran ODonnell and Croatian Ambassador Davor Vidis.

The students sang the anthem in both English and Irish.

Lisa Bennett, a teacher at the school says it has been really difficult to do performances at the school as of late.

Were currently going through a major renovation and with Covid the last few years it has been difficult for students to show off their skills, she said.

The students at Crescent College have been practising for this nationwide event for the past two weeks.

They absolutely loved it. They really did. I think what they enjoyed the most was being able to perform in such a public way, Lisa added.

The initiative is part of EU50, the Governments programme of events from January 2022 to May 2023 celebrating Irelands membership of the EU over the last 50 years.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, invited schools at all levels to learn, rehearse and perform the EU Anthem to celebrate our shared European values and citizenship.
A FRENCH duo are taking on a big challenge in May as they attempt to row the coastline from Limerick to Cork.

Charlotte and Jean, from Brittany, will start their epic adventure on May 14 from Limerick city and hope to finish up in Cork city on June 20.

The pair will have 36 stops on their journey and they are encouraging locals to meet them along the way.

They decided to take on the endeavour as they both enjoy sporting challenges, seeing new landscapes and meeting people.

Charlotte, a writer and street circus performer, says they are hoping to meet as many people as possible along the coast and share stories and poems along the way, and perhaps even a board game!

The self-confessed chess lovers won't be on their own on the journey as eight classes of students from French high and middle schools will be following the adventure.

Jean, a librarian at the Court of Justice, is no stranger to Ireland having worked here in bars for a number of years.

The experienced rower said he loves Ireland and Irish people and is looking forward to coming back.

Due to the unpredictability of the seas, changes may be made to the schedule but you can keep up to date on the Facebook page Les Insolubles.
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Jaiprakash Associates, the flagship company of crisis-hit Jaypee Group, Tuesday said it has defaulted on loans worth 3,956 crore, which includes both principal and interest amounts.

In a regulatory filing, Jaiprakash Associates informed that the firm on April 30 defaulted on repayments of a principal amount of 1,642 crore and interest of 2,314 crore.

The loans pertained to various banks, and the nature of the obligation is fund-based working capital, non-fund-based working capital, term loans and FCCB (foreign currency convertible bonds), the company said.

The company said The total borrowing (including interest) of the company is 29,277 crore, repayable by 2037, against which only 3,956 crore is overdue as on April 30, 2023.

Out of the said borrowing of 29,277 crore, 18,106 crore will get further reduced on transfer to the proposed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for which the Scheme of Arrangement duly approved by all the stakeholders, is pending sanction of NCLT.

The entire loan is in any case under restructuring, the company said, adding that it has been taking tangible steps to reduce the borrowings.

"Post the proposed divestment of cement business and the restructuring under consideration, the borrowing will get almost to nil upon implementation of revised restructuring plan," it said.

Jaiprakash Associates said that ICICI Bank had approached the NCLT Allahabad on the direction of the RBI under section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 against the company which has been contested by the Jaiprakash Associates.

"The matter is pending to be decided simultaneously with the Scheme of Arrangement for transfer of real estate to the SPV to be sanctioned by the NCLT," the filing said.

In September 2018, ICICI Bank filed an insolvency petition against JAL. The country's biggest lender SBI has also moved the NCLT against JAL, claiming a total default of 6,893.15 crore as of September 15, 2022, news agency PTI reported.

Recently, JAL and its group firms announced the sale of its remaining cement assets to Dalmia Bharat Ltd at an enterprise value of 5,666 crore and exit from the sector as part of its strategy to reduce debt.

Earlier, as part of its debt resolution exercise, Jaiprakash Associates had sold more than 20 million tonnes per annum cement capacity to Aditya Birla group firm UltraTech Cement between 2014 and 2017.
MUMBAI : The Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the Union government against a consortium led by Reliance Industries Ltd regarding a gas dispute in the Krishna Godavari basin.

The ministry approached the court after an international arbitration panel rejected its fine of $1.55 billion on Reliance Industries and partners BP Plc and Niko Resources for allegedly selling gas that migrated from Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltds (ONGC) KG blocks to their block.

c The inferences are factual conclusions arrived at by the arbitral tribunal, which cannot be second-guessed by this court in the exercise of its powers under Section 34 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act," the court observed.

A bench led by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, while upholding the arbitral tribunals 2018 order, said, This court is accordingly not persuaded to hold that the conclusions drawn by the arbitral tribunal are such that no reasonable person would reach. Suffice it to say that the view taken by the arbitral tribunal is most certainly a possible view, which calls for no interference."

In 2013, state-run ONGC wrote to the director-general of hydrocarbons, alleging there was evidence of lateral continuity" of gas pools between the Reliance block and the adjacent blocks allocated to ONGC. This meant the gas pools of the Reliance block and the ONGC blocks appeared to be connected, with possible gas migration between the two.

DeGolyer & MacNaughton, an independent agency, was asked to verify the claim, and it was found that there was indicated connectivity and continuity of the reservoirs across the blocks operated by ONGC and RIL.

Thereafter, based on the A.P. Shah committee report, the ministry raised a demand for $1.55 billion on Reliance as computed provisionally, along with interest up to 31 March 2016; and of $174.90 million towards revised additional cumulative profit claimed to be receivable up to the same period towards disgorgement of unjust enrichment".

Following this, Reliance invoked Section 33 of the production sharing contract (PSC), initiating an arbitration against the ministry in 2016. In its 2018 order, the arbitral tribunal gave a majority verdict of 2:1 in favour of Reliance. This verdict said, Reliance is fully entitled to produce all hydrocarbons resulting from petroleum operations conducted within its contract area, which may include hydrocarbons that could have migrated from an adjacent block."

According to the tribunals findings, the PSC permits Reliance to produce gas which migrates into the sub-sea reservoir lying within the contract area from an outside source.

As far as the ministrys claim of unjust enrichment is concerned, the tribunal held that there is no question of unjust enrichment" that requires further determination. The government challenged the order in the Delhi high court.
Indias aviation market faces near-term stress with over 22% of its fleet grounded due to engine issues or maintenance work. Go Firsts flight suspension has only exacerbated the situation, according to a Mint study.

An analysis of data available on aircraft tracking portals such as Flightradar24 shows that 147 out of the total 655 aircraft operated by seven major airlines in India are not operational for at least the past week.

Wadia Group-owned Go First contributes significantly to the grounded fleet, as it has temporarily suspended flight operations. Out of its 54 aircraft, nearly half were already out of service due to the problems with Pratt and Whitney engines that power its Airbus A320neo fleet.

On 3 May, Go Air had grounded the rest of its active fleet citing an unviable financial situation due to engine issues since 2016.

According to data, 40 planes operated by IndiGo, Indias largest airline with a fleet of over 300 planes, are out of service. IndiGo also uses Pratt & Whitney engines for some of its A320neo aircraft and has experienced grounding of nearly 10% of its fleet since at least October 2022.

It all depends when the supply chain is able to provide us all the things we need. There are some different reports. Were in close contact, of course, with the original equipment manufacturers, and we hope the situation will improve in the course of the year. But again, I think here, we depend really on the OEMs and the supply chain facilitation on that part," IndiGos chief executive officer Pieter Elbers told analysts in February.

Over 55% of budget carrier SpiceJets fleet is active and the remaining 27 aircraft out of the total 61 airplanes, are grounded, primarily due to its financial health, besides some instances of unavailability of aircraft parts. While Ajay Singh, SpiceJets chairman and managing director, recently said it will revive 25 of the grounded aircraft with funds under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, it remains to be seen when the planes will become operational, as civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has received requests from Irelands lessor SMBC to de-register three SpiceJet aircraft on 10 May. Two of the three planes are grounded for a long period now, but it doesnt affect our operations. We have been working to bring back our grounded fleet on the basis of the loan sanctioned under the ECLGS scheme," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

Tata Group-run Air India currently has 18 of its 118 aircraft grounded. Other airlines under the Tata umbrella such as Vistara has grounded four planes from its fleet of 63 aircraft, and AirAsia Indias one aircraft from its fleet of 28 is out of service. Three of the 28 aircraft operated by Air India Express is grounded.

The youngest airline to have taken to the Indian skies, Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022, is operating its entire fleet of 20 aircraft. It is imminent that air fares are likely to remain more expensive as the current quarter sees a strong travel sentiment owing to the summer breaks in schools," an analyst said, seeking anonymity.

Global supply chain issues have been impacting the delivery of new aircraft and aircraft parts, and it is likely to ease only at the end of 2023 or by 2024. Hence, while high fares may help airlines with strong yields, demand will suffer as airlines struggle to quickly add this kind of loss in capacity in Indian aviation market, which is seeing record levels of traffic," an airline executive said also requesting anonymity.
MUMBAI : Pharmacy retailer Pharmeasy is scripting a turnaround and has become operationally cash flow positive in April, in a sign that the companys efforts at cutting expenses are beginning to bear some fruit, two people familiar with the development said.

In April, it eked out monthly adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) or a positive cash flow from operations in double digit" crores, one of the people cited above said. This is the first time Pharmeasy has reported a positive cash flow, at least since the acquisition of Thyrocare Ltd it acquired 24 months back. However, this excludes the payment the company has to make each month to its lender Goldman Sachs and the companys non-cash Esop expenses, the people cited above said.

In June 2021, Pharmeasys parent API Holdings acquired 66% stake in Thyrocare for 4,546 crore.

The turnaround comes as the TPG-backed group integrates the diagnostics business on its platform and the efficiencies of cross selling are beginning to kick in. Specifically, Pharmeasy reduced its monthly operational loss from 86 crore in March 2022 to approximately 5.6 crore in March 2023," two people in the know said, to indicate that the health-tech business has been reducing its burn rate gradually over the last one year. This has come by scaling down marketing efforts and amping up its cross selling of products to improve margins.

For Pharmeasy, this could mean that it could negotiate better relief from Goldman Sachs, its chief lender, which refinanced a $300 million loan in 2022. The initial loan came from Kotak Mahindra Bank to finance Thyrocare acquisition.

As per the terms of the debt agreement, the structured debt of 2,280 crore from Goldman Sachs is due in 2026, but requires Pharmeasy to pay 25 crore interest each quarter. It also has a payment-in-kind (PIK) componentin the range of 7.25-8.25%which is due to be paid only in 2026. A PIK component helps a company preserve cash but could allow for a delay in payment or payment through other ways including in securities.

Pharmeasy tried to raise fresh capital in FY23, but due to poor market conditions it was forced to shelve the plans.

One of the covenants of the Goldman loan required the company to raise additional equitywhich Pharmeasy satisfied in October 2022 through a rights issue.

Existing investors were invited to subscribe to up to 750 crore through convertible notes. It counts Prosus, TPG, Temasek, B Capital, Tiger Global, Orios, and Kotak PE, among others, as its investors.

In October 2022, the company raised 550 crore through a rights issue from its existing investors after it called off its IPO plans in FY23 because of poor market conditions.

The motto was to become Ebitda +ve at all costs, before hitting the market for more capital," the second person cited above added. According to him, the existing investors may put in some more moneya few hundred croresin June or July 2023, if required.

As the company has cut down on losses as part of the three-year turnaround plan, there may not be a need for existing investors to put in more equity," the second person added.

The company expects to post consolidated revenues of over 7,000 crore in FY23, according to the second person. The companys losses for FY23 could not be ascertained, but the person cited above said it was significantly lower" than before.

Pharmeasy revenues will cross 7,000 crore accounting net revenue, and it will be the largest buyer of medicines in India, next only to the central government. Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is over 10,000 crore," this person said.

The company reported consolidated net sales of 5,728.8 crore in FY22, according to its regulatory filings with the registrar of companies or RoC. The losses in FY22 amounted to 3,992.4 crore in FY22. However, the operational loss stood at around 850 crore in FY22, the first person said. The gap between 850 crore to 3,992 crore was mostly non-cash expenses such as Esop charges or one-time expenses," the person added.

Pharmeasy is clearly a leader in the segment with other players such as Netmeds (acquired by Reliance Group) and 1mg (acquired by Tata Group) trailing in terms of revenues and growth. For the financial year ended 31 March 2022, Reliance backed Netmeds posted a total income of 111.48 crore as against 151.23 crore in FY21, the annual report shows. The business however made a profit of 10. 57 crore in FY22 against 1.68 crore in FY21. For 1mg, its revenue from operations grew 65.7% to 222.10 crore in FY22 as against 134.04 crore in FY21. Its net loss narrowed to 146.30 crore in FY22 from 281.41 crore in FY21, filings show.
New Delhi: Vedanta Ltd has appointed Terry Daly as an advisor for its semiconductor business, the company announced on Tuesday. Daly will provide strategic counsel and inputs as Vedanta looks to establish a state-of-the-art semiconductor fab unit and semiconductor assembling and testing unit in India.

David Reed, CEO of Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL), said, We are pleased to welcome Terry Daly to our team. As an industry veteran, Terry brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in managing several workstreams that are critical for establishing a world-class semiconductor fab."

Daly said, India has a generational opportunity to become part of the global semiconductor supply chain and provide geographic diversification to its customers, supply chain resiliency to its partners, and job creation opportunities to its extremely talented population. I am very impressed by the unique, complementary partnership that Vedanta and Foxconn bring to the opportunity to establish Indias first commercial semiconductor fab."

Before joining Vedanta, Daly served as an independent consultant in the microelectronics industry. He was earlier senior vice president at GlobalFoundries, where he held positions as head of strategy and corporate development, chief of staff, and head of corporate program management. He was instrumental in establishing a strategic alliance on advanced technology with Samsung and in the acquisition of IBMs microelectronics business.

Daly also spent 26 years at IBM, the majority in the companys semiconductor division, where he held executive roles in business management, finance, manufacturing operations, program management, and strategy. Before joining IBM, he spent five years as an officer in the United States Army.

Vedanta has been actively recruiting talent from the semiconductor industry globally. In February, VFSL appointed industry veteran David Reed as CEO, and in April, the company welcomed Lawrence (Wong Chee Yoong) as senior director - Human Resources. The company continues to build a team of highly experienced personnel for its semiconductor business.
Visa obstacles continue to plague a majority of travellers planning trips in the coming days. According to a Thomas Cook India Limited report 70% of the 3,500 customers surveyed for its India Holiday Report - May 2023" faced visa-related issues for international travel.

Despite these hurdles, international tourism is witnessing a robust recovery. The survey also indicated a potential correction in domestic holiday trends, as 40% of respondents prefer domestic travel, while 66% opt for international destinations.

Europe remains a top choice, with 46% of travelers favouring Switzerland, France, Spain, and Italy. Short-haul travel is also popular, as 50% of customers expressed interest in destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman. Island getaways like the Maldives and Mauritius attract 28% of travelers, while destinations like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia are preferred by 25% to 30% of respondents due to improved flight options and connectivity.

Australia sees a 20% uptick thanks to streamlined digital visa processes, but the U.S. continues to grapple with visa challenges, with only 8% of travelers selecting the country.

Rajeev Kale, president and country head of holidays, MICE and visa at the company, said, Holidays are witnessing rapid rebound, with travel clearly emerging as a non-negotiable for Indians. Not only are multiple mini-cations back for 82% respondents (in addition to 1-2 long holidays), but also that they are willing to pay 20% more. Also the rise of Young Indias Gen Z and millennials as well as middle India or Bharat are significant power-centres in the evolution of the sector." He added that Indians are now seeking immersive travel experiences.

Domestically, 60% of travellers opted for Kashmir, followed by 50% for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 35% for Ladakh, 40% for North East, 25% for Kerala, 30% for Andamans, and 30% for Goa.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried asked a New York federal judge to dismiss most of the criminal case against him, saying the Justice Department brought flawed charges in a rush to indict him after the collapse of the crypto exchange.
New Delhi: In 2021, Kantar, analytics and brand consulting company appointed Ted Prince Jr., to the newly created position of chief product officer to drive the next generation of its offerings and real-time platforms, using advanced technologies. In India, for instance, Kantar drives extensive market research for the countrys largest brands by reaching millions of households and offering syndicated products, large-scale quantitative studies to qualitative research.

In an interview with Mint, Prince talks about the Bain Capital-backed firms shift to offering products and solutions that are now more driven by technology. A lot of that work is happening through the companys India technology hubs in Chennai and Bengaluru. Edited excerpts.

How did the pandemic change the way you use technology?

We do a lot of qualitative surveys, so we used to get people in a room (for surveys) and we were not able to do that for obvious reasons post-covid. So one of the things we quickly developed was the ability to do focus groups over digital and through things like teams or other systems. But we also had to move fast to some agile market research capabilities, so we invested in something called Marketplace, which is our agile platform for testing, innovation and even brand equity. We put a lot of money into that. One we can move beyond just being a consulting firm but two we could do a lot of quick digital turnaround market research. We do about six to seven million surveys a year in India; Kantar world-panel has over 100,000 households.

How important is a market like India when it comes to building capability for global markets?

India is the biggest (technology) hub for Kantar. We do some central product development here, especially in the area of AI and machine learning. Secondly, it is a global analytics hubs, we do a lot of work for clients based primarily in the US, Europe and out of Asia. We do a lot of our global product management data processing and analytics also out of here. We have 4,500 people in India; about 2,500 are actually geared towards overseas services. We recently spent the day with our analytics team in Chennai, who are really driving the R&D behind the company and their focus is on AI and chat GPT and other new innovation technologies. Now Im in Bengaluru, where we have another tech hub, that is delivering for clients but also helping us deliver new products both through analytics capabilities but also technology capabilities. As we look at how Kantar makes this transformation from a primary consulting to a tech-enabled product company that is driven off of data analytics, the capabilities we have in our Indian offices are going to be hugely important for that transition.

Is there a plan to expand this capacity?

Yeah, definitely. In fact, were moving into a new office in Bengaluru. We actually found that during the pandemic a lot of our team went to work where theyre from. So were now opening many more offices in India so we can offer people a way to work from where they want to be. So its going to be a big investment for us and well continue to grow our capability within India.

Kantar has made a couple of acquisitions in the last two-three years. Is the company keen to buy into more digital companies?

Weve done a number of acquisitions over the last few years, primarily in the United States and in the Europe. Historically, we acquired Analytics Quotient, and a number of other smaller India tech companies. We always look at everything as can we build it or buy it?, and in some cases partner up. But were constantly looking at interesting technology tuck-ins. We were talking to the head of our Chennai, and Bengaluru analytics offices, saying that if you see interesting companies that are doing creative analytics, or content analytics or advertising targeting analytics, these are things that were interested in. So were pretty opportunistic, and Bain Capital, as you can imagine, is a big believer in transforming a company through acquisition. In addition to overall transforming through tech and products, well continue to be pretty active, including in the India market.

Will Kantar look at M&A opportunities in India?

Yeah, certainly. In large language modeling with everything going on around Chat GPT and Gen AI, were looking for smart, young companies that could really help us accelerate our capabilities there. As I mentioned, content analytics is an interesting space because you can do more and more ad shaping and ad testing through AI or through Gen-AI. Thats another area where weve historically been very strong. Then given how big India is becoming in the overall media space we may look at some analytics companies that are looking at media effectiveness or MMM (media mix modeling) capabilities within India itself.

Are there any early examples of how you have integrated AI or Chat GPT into the kind of work you do for clients?

So we are doing a number of proof of concepts (POCs). I think that there are a couple areas that were looking atone is just to create greater efficiency around how we deliver our big brand trackers. So we deliver, for the biggest brands, these trackers in 6070 countries. As you can imagine, the survey process is pretty complex, so doing intelligent interviewing and being able to figure out the next best question and how to come up with surveys very efficiently is a great use case. The other one is text summarization, so we pull out lots of insights, often just verbatim, and so pulling all that information and being able to summarize for our clients is another one. And then the last, which is a really interesting area is if you think about it--we collect all this data and then we produce a report for a client or a dashboard, but they have lots of questions. So, just being able to insert that into a chat question, instead of having to get through all the data.

Is India a key market for such product development?

Yeah, it is the" key market. We have a number of big initiatives and its all being driven through our analytics teams in India.
The federal government could run out of money to pay its bills soon, putting Congress on the clock to again raise or suspend the federal borrowing limit.
Imran Khan, former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief, was arrested by the paramilitary force in a corruption case on Tuesday. Imran Khan was taken into custody from a court premises in Islamabad in a corruption case, according to the reports. A video of Imran Khan's dramatic arrest outside the high court in Pakistan is being shared on social media.

"Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case," the Islamabad police official Twitter account said, referring to a graft case.

Imran Khan's arrest comes a day after the powerful army had accused the former prime minister of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI.

Musarrat Cheema, the PTI leader, in a video message on Twitter, said: "They are torturing Imran Khan right nowthey are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib."

"Imran Khan's car has been surrounded," Imran Khan's aide Fawad Chaudhry said. The PTI leader also said that Imran Khan was dragged out of the court and into a police vehicle. Terming it as an abduction", Chaudhry said the former premier is now in the custody of the security forces.

WHAT HAPPENED AT COURT?

Imran Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Imran Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari.

TV footage showed the Rangers grabbing Khan from the collar and bundling him into a prison van.
Anand Groups Gabriel, Indias largest manufacturer of suspension units and front forks, on Tuesday said it will form a 49-51 joint venture with Dutch sunroof-maker Inalfa, which has a 25% global market share in sunroofs and a $1.5 billion turnover. The partnership will produce sunroofs for passenger vehicles in India.

Set to be launched as a technical licensing partnership, the Gabriel-Inalfa alliance will set up a production line near Chennai with an annual capacity of 200,000 units by the first quarter of 2024. The facility will initially cater to the demand from South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia, which already have a sunroof penetration rate at nearly 40% of their sales in the Indian market.The JV will eventually collaborate with other domestic original equipment manufacturers, especially those having a significant presence in SUVs, like Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra, which have been looking for local sunroof suppliers.

Around 60% customers of Hyundais flagship product Creta choose top-of-the-line variants that come with sunroofs. The JV will involve an initial investment of 170 crore, primarily for establishing the production facility.

In 2022, 500,00 cars out of the total 3.8 million units sold in India had sunroofs.

If Gabriel is able to fully utilize its 200,000 units capacity, it will become the second largest sunroof maker in India, following German sunroof maker Webasto which leads Indias market.

To begin with, Inalfa will localize a bottom-load panoramic sunroof in India, a product which forms nearly 50% of its global sales.

We will also plan to localize our other products like the smaller tilting sunroof in India eventually, basis our conversations with local OEMs here. It is a good opportunity for us to build new relationships in India, which is a large market for many of our global OEM clients but also has many large OEMs we do not currently work with", Inalfa said Gabriel estimates the sunroof market will grow 12-15% in India by 2030, and significantly more in SUVs, as the segment forms a nearly 60%-65% share of passenger vehicle volumes by the end of the decade. We expect that sunroof penetration in SUVs will reach at least 50% by that time", Manoj Kohlatkar, managing director, Gabriel, said. Industry estimates suggest that PV sales could breach 6 million units by 2030.

According to the company, the sunroof business could generate up to 1000 crore in revenue by the turn of the decade.

Gabriels move to diversify and expand outside of its core strength in the shock absorbers and struts market is a strategic play that will see continued momentum going forward, Anjali Singh, executive chairperson, ANAND group, told Mint.

We are looking at a whole host of products that could work strategically for Gabriel. The reason we decided on sunroofs is because we saw it has huge growth potential and is agnostic to both EV and IC-engines etc. Going forward, we have to pace ourselves. This (setting up sunroof manufacturing) is going to be a big job in itself. We will look for further diversification but those are strategies still unfolding", she said.

There is further growth in this area (sunroofs). We will look at put up a second line. Our customers including Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki are very important for us. Hyundai and Kia are marquee customers for Inalfa and also big for us, but we are hoping to work with homegrown OEMs such as Tata & Mahindra particularly too", Singh added.
New Delhi: In poll-bound Karnataka, enforcement agencies seized over 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and freebies which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the 2018 assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) of India said in a statement on Tuesday.

The EC said its increased focus on election expenditure monitoring led to the seizures.

Seizures of 83.78 crore were made by enforcement agencies from the date of the commissions visit in March until the announcement of elections, according to the statement.

While announcing the schedule for Karnataka assembly elections Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had stressed on increased vigil and zero tolerance on the distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

Notable hauls include seizure of 4.04 crore of cash in Bangarapet AC in Kolar District, a raid of an illegal lab manufacturing Alprozolam in Hyderabad by intelligence gathered and trail mapping done by the Narcotics Control Bureau, 100 kg of ganja seized in Bidar, and significant liquor seizures in all districts.

The commission also reviewed law and order situation and undertook inter-state vigil through border check posts. The review was attended by chief secretaries, DGPs, excise commissioners, and regional heads of prominent enforcement agencies of all these bordering states.

Enforcement agencies have been actively involved in deterrent activities, with seizures and attachments made by all stakeholder agencies including state police, income tax, commercial tax, ED, RPF, GRP, CISF, NCB, CISF, and DRI.
JERUSALEM : Israel and India on Tuesday inked an agreement that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, a move expected to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who reached New Delhi on Tuesday morning for a three-day visit but announced cutting it short because of the security situation arising out of Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip, held talks with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.

Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon.



The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership - Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security - are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the pic.twitter.com/CPAdcBuYEw  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 9, 2023

The ministers discussed ways to strengthen Indo-Israel ties by "adding direct flights, continuing cooperation in agriculture and water management, and expanding cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and cyber defence", according to a Hebrew press statement from the Israeli foreign ministry.

"The ministers also signed agreements to allow the arrival of 42,000 Indian workers in the fields of construction and nursing," it added.

The addition of workers from India is expected to help deal with the rising cost of living in Israel and help thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

According to the statement, 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction field and another 8,000 for nursing needs.

In reference to the proposed rail and port link, the Israeli foreign minister said that it would shorten the route between Asia and Europe and make Israel a commercial, technological and transportation hub in the changing trade routes in the Middle East.

Emphasising the significant role India can play in expanding the scope of the landmark Abraham Accords, Cohen said that the strategic partnership with New Delhi strengthens Israel and also contributes to the stability in the Middle East.

"India can play a significant role in expanding the Abraham Accords and promoting regional projects with countries, and countries that do not yet have relations with Israel," the press statement quoted Cohen as saying.

The Abraham Accords of 2020 was the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years and is the popular description for the normalisation of Israel's ties with the Islamic world.

Officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and India met earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and discussed a rail and port network linking the Gulf states and India.

It is believed that the same may be extended on the other side to include connectivity with Israel, local media reports earlier said.

India and Israel have seen an intense last few months of engagement starting with the visit of Knesset's (Israeli parliament) Speaker Amir Ohana at the end of March followed by the visit of Minister of Economy Nir Barkat in April and now comes the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister in quick succession.

The visits are being seen as a build-up to the much-anticipated visit of Netanyahu towards the end of this year.
With less than a year left for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Karnataka Assembly polls are being viewed as a prelude of sorts. And while the BJP insists that it will win a comfortable majority, at least three pre-election surveys have predicted that the Congress would return to power. But opinion polls are not always a clear indicator for election results.

The Congress could eke out a narrow victory in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party in the southern state.

According to the ABP News-CVoter opinion poll, the Congress could win 110 to 122 seats while the BJP may secure 73 to 85 seats. The JD(S) is projected to win between 21 and 29 seats. Meanwhile the India Today-CVoter has predicted a loss for the BJP, with only 74-86 seats.

In 2018, the Times Now and VotersMood Research opinion poll for example had indicated that the BJP would make major gains but still fall short of the Congress tally and the majority mark. Another poll - conducted by India Today - said that both the parties would fall short of a majority. Most predicte that there would be a hung Assembly.

Following the elections, the NDTV poll of polls had taken nine exit polls into consideration to predict that the BJP would win 97 seats while the Congress secure 90 seats and the JD(S) combine secured 31 seats. Within this, some had given the Congress the edge, while others showed the BJP leading. Only three agencies predicted a clear majority for any party. Again, the data suggested that Karnataka might well be staring at a hung Assembly.

The 2018 elections ultimately saw the BJP secure 104 seats (36.2% vote share) while the Congress won 78 (38% vote share) and the JD(S) secured 37 seats (18.3% vote share). While the polls did indeed result in a hung Assembly, the BJP went on to form the government as the single largest party. Chief minister Yeddyurappa however resigned 10 minutes before the trust vote and the Congress-JD(S) coalition formed the government.
The Kerala government has ordered a judicial probe into the Malappuram boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 22 people including children and women. CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced the state government's decision after an all-party meeting into the incident. CM Vijayan also said that the state government will cover the expenses of the patients receiving treatment and a 10 lakh compensation will be given to the families of individuals who lost their lives in the boat accident.

The CM said, The all-party meeting has decided on a judicial inquiry in this matter. The probe will cover technical issues related to the boat's safety, among other matters. A judicial commission comprising technical experts will be formed. A special investigation team of the Kerala police will also probe the matter."

The Kerala Chief Minister also announced that the state government will look if the safety protocols for tourist boats were followed in the Malappuram boat tragedy.

Kerala Police on Monday also apprehended the owner of the boat that capsized leading to the death of 22 people. The owner had been absconding and was finally nabbed by the police in Kozhikode on Monday.

As per reports, the fishing boat did not have a license to offer boating services and the vessel was packed beyond its capacity of 20 people. The boat also lacked basic security equipment like life jackets.

"It was a tragedy which was invited. It could have been avoided if the boat was not overcrowded or if it had not been operated beyond the permissible time. When the boat reached a bend in the river, it overturned as it was already tilting to one side," News agency PTI quoted a local bystander as saying

Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan on Monday informed about the details of the passengers involved in the boat tragedy, he said, "The deaths of 22 people have been confirmed. We have identified that there were 37 people on the vessel. Five of them swam to safety yesterday. It was a private boat, and there is no official count of passengers,"

Rajan also confirmed that seven teams were involved in the rescue operation for the Tanur boat tragedy. These teams include the NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, fire services, the Navy and local people

(With inputs from agencies)
The National Investigation Agency launched fresh raids at 16 locations across Jammu and Kashmir in a Pakistan-backed terror conspiracy case on Tuesday. The development came mere days after the federal agency conducted raids at 12 locations and seized incriminating material and digital devices in connection with the case. The probe agency has cracked down heavily against the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several major banned Pak-backed terror outfits in recent days.

The raids continued till late into the evening on Tuesday and were spread out across locations in Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam and Baramulla districts of Kashmir, as well as in Poonch, Rajouri and Kishtwar districts. It was part of the agency's probe into investigations into the activities of overground workers and cadres in support of these new terror outfits.

The case pertains to the hatching of a conspiracy and plans by proscribed terrorist organisations to execute violent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with sticky bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small arms.

The NIA has been investigating the activities of newly floated terrorist groups, such as The Resistance Front, United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters, Kashmir Tigers and PAAF.

According to an official communique, Pakistan-based operatives were also found to be using drones to deliver weapons, bombs, drugs etc to their workers in the Kashmir valley.

Officials said the terrorist outfits involved in the conspiracy were Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Badr and Al-Qaeda, besides their offshoots such as The Resistance Front, United Liberation Front Jammu and Kashmir, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters, Kashmir Tigers, and People's Anti-Fascist Front.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday expressed its disapproval of the comments made by politicians on Karnataka's Muslim OBC reservation matter.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna, and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, When the matter is pending before the court and there is a court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained".

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave invited the bench's attention to the comments made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly election.

Dushant is appearing for petitioners who have approached the court challenging the Karnataka government's decision to scrap 4% reservation for Muslims in the Other Backward Classes category.

Dave said in the court, "Everyday home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn four percent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?"

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government objected to the statements being made, saying he is not aware of any such remarks and if anyone is saying that quota based on religion should not be there, then what is wrong and it is a fact.

Thereafter, the SC bench said, "We will not allow this court to become a political forum. We are not a party to it. We will adjourn the matter".

The bench then directed that the interim orders passed in the last hearing would continue till further orders and listed the matter in July.

On April 26, the Karnataka government told the top court it has taken a "conscious decision" to not continue with reservation on the sole basis of religion as it is unconstitutional and it has, therefore, scrapped the provision of 4% quota for the Muslim community.

The state government filed its reply to a batch of petitions challenging its two orders dated March 27, scrapping the four per cent quota for Muslims in 2B category of the 'Other Backward Castes' and granting benefits of increased quota to Vokkaligas and Lingayats in admissions and appointments to government jobs.
Social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook were suspended in various parts of Pakistan on Tuesday night amid protests. Police has clashed repeatedly with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party activists following former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest earlier in the day.

Protesters blocked roads, indulged in arson and even stormed military areas on Tuesday evening, with police firing tear gas and water cannons in retaliation. Against this backdrop, several local media channels said that social media restrictions had been imposed. Meanwhile netblocks indicated that the three websites had also been restricted across the country.

The situation has also prompted an outcry from human rights groups, with Amnesty International asserting that the ban restricts peoples access to information and freedom of expression".

ALSO READ: Imran Khan's arrest: Supporters unleash mayhem on streets of Pakistan | 10 points

Protesters set fire to at least three buildings across the country, while police said dozens of supporters have been arrested. Khans party reported at least four people were killed and 20 injured in separate clashes. Amid the protests, mobile broadband services were suspended on the orders of the interior ministry, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, while complaints of slow internet service spread on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)
India monitored several Chinese ships that appeared in a portion of the South China Sea where a flotilla of Southeast Asian nations warships were engaged in military drills, Bloomberg has reported citing a government official.

India and Singapore co-hosted the final day of the weeklong ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise involving nine ships, six aircraft, and over 1,800 personnel from across the groupings nations, and were expected to trawl international waters along the transit route to the Philippines.

The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) began on Sunday with naval ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei taking part. They were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone when the Chinese boats moved towards them, the Indian sources told Reuters. However, the militia boats and naval vessels crossed each other without any face-off, they said. The Chinese ships were seen about 100 nautical miles away from the area where the exercises were taking place and did not belong to the countrys navy, said the official, who asked not to be identified citing the sensitivity of the issue.

The Indian warships there include the INS Delhi and the INS Satpura.

Beijing issued no formal warning or objection to the flotilla from the ASEAN countries, the person added.

Defense ministries in both India and Singapore did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though the Republic of Singapore Navy wrote in a Facebook post Monday afternoon the exercise had safely concluded.

AIME was successfully and safely completed with the conclusion of the sea phase in international waters earlier this morning," it said. RSS Supreme will continue in transit to the Philippines and prepare for the upcoming ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise."

Chinas Ministry of Defense also didnt immediately respond to a faxed request for comments.

Worries over national security in the Asia-Pacific are rising with countries seeking to bolster their defenses as relations between China and the US struggle to find a floor. Military tensions between India and Beijing have also risen since 2020, when the worst fighting in decades erupted on their Himalayan border.

The abrupt 90-degree turn of Chinese vessels into the path of the ASEAN-India maritime exercise was strikingly coincidental, but its unclear whether it was directly related, said Raymond Powell, who leads Stanford Universitys Project Myoushu on the South China Sea.

Ships participating in the ASEAN-India security exercises were expected to track simulated vessels of interest and practice dealing with unplanned encounters to reduce the likelihood of accidents or miscalculations.

Last month, the US called upon China to stop the provocative and unsafe conduct in the South China Sea, the State Department said in an official statement, adding that it continues to track and monitor these interactions closely.

Chinese and Philippine ships last month came close to collision in the South China Sea, just as the Southeast Asian nation was participating in military exercises with the US. China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea, one of the worlds busiest shipping routes, where almost a third of global maritime crude oil trade passes. A 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling in the Hague had invalidated Chinas claims.

(With inputs from Bloomberg, Reuters)
As an US debt default looms increasingly closer, President Joe Biden met with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. The closed-door talks come amid warnings that the US could default exhaust its ability to meet all payment obligations by early June without action. Thus far, Republicans and Democrats have been unable to find common ground on the issue.

Republicans hope to negotiate sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for allowing new borrowing to avoid default. Democrats - including Biden - have been loath to give way and the POTUS is likely to reinforce his stance when it comes to the countrys full faith and credit to be held hostage" to negotiations. He is expected to affirm his willingness to hold talks on the budget only after default is no longer a threat.

While the meeting is not expected to produce anything close to a final agreement on raising the debt limit, will be closely scrutinized by global investors, US voters and Washington lawmakers.

The POTUS is also slated to travel to New York's Hudson Valley on Wednesday to once again pressure Republicans to pass a clean debt ceiling hike and highlight that a House Republican plan would cut veterans' health care visits, support staffs at schools and Meals on Wheels for seniors.

McCarthy, whose party holds only a slim majority in the House, wants to tie a vote on the debt ceiling to broad spending cuts the White House considers draconian. Earlier in the day, he had also rejected the possibility of a short-term debt-limit extension, calling for the issue to be solved now". The White House also separately closed the door to a short-term solution today.

(With inputs from agencies)
Donald Trump must pay $5 million in damages for sexually abusing magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defaming her by branding her a liar, a jury decided on Tuesday.

"Today, the world finally knows the truth," Carroll said in a statement. "This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed."

The former U.S. president, campaigning to retake the White House in 2024, will appeal, his lawyer Joseph Tacopina told reporters outside the Manhattan federal courthouse.

Carroll, 79, testified during the civil trial that Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in either 1995 or 1996, then harmed her reputation by writing in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform that her claims were a "complete con job," "a hoax" and "a lie."

Trump was absent throughout the trial which began on April 25. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the verdict a "disgrace" and said, "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is."

Because it was a civil case, Trump faces no criminal consequences and, as such, there was never a threat of prison.

The jury, required to reach a unanimous verdict, deliberated for just under three hours. Its six men and three women awarded Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages, but Trump will not have to pay so long as the case is on appeal.

In April, Trump gave election regulators only the rough estimates of his wealth that are required in financial disclosures, listing over a dozen properties as worth "over $50 million" each.

'CORE PRO-TRUMP VOTERS ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE'

President from 2017 to 2021, Trump is the front-runner in opinion polls for the Republican presidential nomination and has shown an uncanny ability to weather controversies that might sink other politicians.

It seems unlikely in America's polarized political climate that the civil verdict will have an impact on Trump's core supporters, who view his legal woes as part of a concerted effort by opponents to undermine him.

"The folks that are anti-Trump are going to remain that way, the core pro-Trump voters are not going to change, and the ambivalent ones I just dont think are going to be moved by this type of thing," said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist in Pennsylvania.

Any negative impact is likely to be small and limited to suburban women and moderate Republicans, Gerow said.

Trump has cited the Carroll trial in campaign fundraising emails as evidence of what he portrays as a Democratic plot. He has said Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist and a registered Democrat, made up the allegations to try to increase sales of her 2019 memoir and to hurt him politically.

His poll numbers improved after he was charged last month with falsifying business records over a hush money payment to a porn star before his victory in the 2016 presidential election.

The first U.S. president past or present to be criminally charged, Trump has pleaded not guilty and said the charges are politically motivated.

Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist, said it remained to be seen whether the verdict in Carroll's case would make Trump "unpalatable" to Republican voters beyond his base, prompting them to coalesce around another candidate.

The trial featured testimony from former People magazine reporter Natasha Stoynoff, who told jurors that Trump cornered her at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in 2005 and forcibly kissed her for a "few minutes." Another woman, Jessica Leeds, testified that Trump kissed her, groped her and put his hand up her skirt on a flight in 1979.

Jurors also heard excerpts from a 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which Trump says women let him "grab 'em by the pussy."

"Historically, that's true, with stars ... if you look over the last million years," Trump said in an October 2022 video deposition played in court. He has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct.

Trump mistakes carroll for ex-wife

Carroll testified that she bumped into Trump at Bergdorf's and agreed to help him pick out a gift for another woman. The two looked at lingerie before he coaxed her into a dressing room, slammed her head into a wall, pulled down her tights and penetrated her, she testified. Carroll said she could not remember the precise date or year the alleged rape occurred.

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Trump raped, sexually abused or forcibly touched Carroll, and were separately asked if Trump defamed Carroll. The jurors found Trump sexually abused her but not that he raped her.

Before the jurors began deliberating, Judge Lewis Kaplan defined rape for them as non-consensual "sexual intercourse" through "forcible compulsion." He described sexual abuse as non-consensual "sexual contact" through forcible compulsion.

Jurors awarded Carroll $2 million in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive damages for her battery claim, and $2.7 million in compensatory and $280,000 in punitive damages for her defamation claim.

Trump's legal team attacked the plausibility of Carroll's account including why she had never reported the matter to police or screamed during the alleged incident.

Two of Carroll's friends said that she told them about the alleged rape at the time but swore them to secrecy because she feared that Trump would use his fame and wealth to retaliate if she came forward.

Carroll told jurors she decided to break her silence in 2017 after rape allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein prompted scores of women to come forward with accounts of sexual violence by powerful men. She went public with her account while Trump was president.

She said Trump's public denials wrecked her career and instigated a campaign of vicious online harassment by his supporters.

While Trump did not testify at the trial, a video clip from the October 2022 deposition showed him mistaking Carroll for one of his former wives in a black-and-white photo among several people at an event.

"It's Marla," Trump said in the deposition, referring to his second wife Marla Maples. Previously Trump had said he could not have raped Carroll because she was not my type."
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest World Economic Outlook highlighted Chinas recent rebound and said that China would contribute a third of global economic growth in 2023. Given the global economic environment, a rebound in China is essential to support global growthas the US and Europe face rising interest rates, stubborn inflation and pockets of financial instability.

Chinas first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) showed an economy on the rebound following one of its worst years for growth in decadesgrowing by 4.5% year-on-year. It helps that Chinas first-quarter recovery is more consumption and services-sector based, reflecting households accumulated savings and pent-up demand following the covid controls, rather than from a debt-heavy fiscal stimulus that China has used in the past. At the same time, a consumption-led recovery will have more of a domestic impact than internationally.

The questions that now arise are whether China can meet its target of 5% growth for 2023, and, more fundamentally, re-establish its historic global growth leadership.

As of now, its too early to say. Its recent recovery has been uneven and Chinas own National Bureau of Statistics has assessed that the foundation for an economic recovery is not solid yet. Further, Chinas Politburo has said: Demand is still insufficient and many difficulties and challenges still need to be overcome to promote high-quality development." In this context, while services were strong in April, the manufacturing index fell.

Given Chinas growth history, the question is what happens next. Can China extend its unique and historically spectacular growth over the last five decades? In under a generation, China has lifted its status from low-income to upper middle- class, defying scholars who periodically pointed to the likelihood of mean reversion (or a middle- income trap). Although its growth has halved over the past decade from super-fast to a 5-6% range, this has been reflective of Beijings official recognition of a need to rebalance growth engines.

Overall, China has tried to manage its persistent growth imbalances since the global financial crisis (GFC) by shifting away from its external imbalance visible in its vast current-account surpluses and large accumulation of international reserves that had global effects.

The shift that has taken place is that internal imbalances arising from credit- and debt-financed investment have overtaken external imbalances. Since the GFC, as fiscal stimulus rose and stayed high and corporate debt doubled, capital efficiency has steadily fallen, with total factor productivity significantly declining and reducing its contribution to the Chinese economys overall growth.

As a result, Chinas high and rising investment since the GFC has left a legacy of high debt in less productive sectors, such as real estate, and with local governments. The impact was multiplied, as much of this investment was implemented by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and provincial governments that built excess capacity in sectors such as coal, cement, steel and housing. This debt-heavy growth model has especially affected Chinas poorest regions, where the property market remains in a slump, and has been a key factor in Chinas rising youth unemployment (close to 20%) and inequality. This debt legacy has also been mirrored in countries that have become part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Can China replicate its global growth leadership? The urgency of further reforms arises also from the looming demographic changes in China that will raise labour costs and reduce corporate profits, unless matched by rising productivity (that has been declining over the past decade). It helps that in its early recovery this year, the drivers have been household consumption and the services sector, rather than the usual public investment and its manufacturing-export machine. Looking ahead, especially for the revival of private investment, much will depend on the transparency and predictability of Chinese policies, and the avoidance of moral hazard in dealing with the provincial debt overhang.

To sustain its recent rebound in growth without exacerbating its debt imbalance, China needs to shift to an economy driven by innovation and increasing productivity in a new growth model. The global implications of this transition will be significant, given the size of Chinas economy and degree of its integration with world trade and global value chains. Global scrutiny on the manner and means of this transition has become a compelling factor in its trade linkages (and trade war) with the US and other advanced countries. China is attempting to balance its reliance on overseas sources of technology, which have helped it well, with efforts to strengthen purely domestic innovation capabilitiesintended also as a hedge against the risks of a US-led decoupling. Its challenge is to do this in accordance with international standards, for which a role would have to be played by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The challenges facing China are considerable, but the country has so far shown an ability to undertake sizeable reforms without social dislocations.

Looking ahead, these long-awaited reforms in China need to bolster potential growth through productivity gains by encouraging a more efficient allocation of resources and building a more competitive economic environment. This is also a critical lesson for other emerging markets.

Among the policies needed to do this, China needs to be on a firmer trajectory towards a more modern financial system, one that is capable of addressing the challenges of a more mature and complex economy. This is also crucial for making the renminbi an international currency.

Most importantly, as promised by Chinese authorities, it needs to increase the role of market forces by reducing implicit subsidies to SOEs, sparking competition in the banking system and opening more key sectors to private entry, investment and credit. Immediate steps should include deleveraging SOEs with continued regulatory and supervisory tightening, much greater recognition of bad assets and more market-based allocation of credit to dynamic economic sectors.

Financial liberalization should be part of the next big wave of reforms in China. It could help lay a foundation for complementary reforms elsewhere and thus for sustainably strong growth in China over the medium term.

Anoop Singh is a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, and a former member of the 15th Finance Commission
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has long courted Elon Musk and his many business concerns, imploring the electric car wizard, drilling genius, space explorer, and epic memer to locate his big, expensive facilities inside the state. This week, Abbott got his wish again.

On Monday, May 8, the duo joined forces once more to break ground on Tesla's lithium battery factory in Corpus Christi.

Per a filing with the Texas Comptroller's Office, Tesla pursued the site for the creation of a "battery-grade lithium hydroxide refining facility," which it calls the first of its kind in North America. The filing also confirms a $375 million investment by Tesla into the facility.

Seated in front of a Cybertruck at the event, Abbott presented Musk with a certificate of gratitude in choosing the Texas location for his refinery and had some more kind words for his prized California expat.

"There is no greater entrepreneur in the entire world than Elon Musk," the governor said, really enunciating every syllable in the South African billionaire's name. "We are proud he calls Texas home.

Musk then returned the gratitude to his old pal.

"Tesla is incredibly appreciative for everything the state of Texas, the governor has done," Musk said.

Musk elaborated on the facility, saying that Tesla would begin construction immediately, finish next year, and reach, hopefully, full production a year later.

"This is extremely fast by normal standards," Musk said, grinning. "But that's how we do things."

Residents of Bastrop County, Pflugerville, Boca Chica Village, and South Austin are all nodding in unison. But Musk assured those in attendance that there's nothing to worry about in the way of pesky environmental concerns.

Theres no toxic emissions or anything  you could live right in the middle of the refinery and not suffer any ill effects, Musk said.

No word if Musk will create a town inside the middle of his lithium battery refinery.
For the first time in the award's history, two novels were awarded this year's Pulitzer Prize for fiction: "Trust," by Hernan Diaz, and "Demon Copperhead," by Barbara Kingsolver.

"His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice," by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, developed from reporting the authors did for The Washington Post, won the award for general nonfiction. (Samuels is now a staff writer for the New Yorker.)

Here's a full list of the winners and finalists in all of the categories:

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Fiction: "Trust," by Hernan Diaz, and "Demon Copperhead," by Barbara Kingsolver

"Trust" traces the life story of an early 20th-century financier through a quartet of nested perspectives: a melodramatic novella about their marriage; the unfinished draft of his autobiography, striving to correct the previous narrative; the recollections of a woman hired to help ghostwrite his memoir; and finally, the diary left behind by his wife. Though on paper it may sound "repellently overcomplicated," The Post's critic Ron Charles wrote in his review, "in execution it's an elegant, irresistible puzzle" - and a meditation on how men construct their self-images in part by burying others' contributions.

Diaz received the news during a lunch of chicken and waffles in Greenville, S.C., a stop on his current tour promoting the paperback release of "Trust." "I had to leave the restaurant when I heard, and I started weeping on the curb," he said. "It was very embarrassing. Three very kind ladies came and said, 'Honey, are you okay?' And I did tell them what happened, and we were all hugging. It was very sweet."

Despite being a Pulitzer finalist for his debut novel, "In the Distance," Diaz said he wasn't prepared to win. "I've been writing since I was a child," he said, and has written novels and story collections that were "declined with universal enthusiasm." Sharing the prize with Kingsolver, "such a brilliant, amazing novelist," he said, "it's all too much."

Charles called Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead" his favorite novel of 2022, describing it as "equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking." Inspired by "David Copperfield," Kingsolver hasn't "merely reclothed Dickens's characters in modern dress and resettled them in southern Appalachia," he wrote. She has "reconceived the story in the fabric of contemporary life," and in doing so offers a thrilling and fierce examination of the opioid crisis, the foster-care system and other moral stains on this very wealthy country.

Finalist: "The Immortal King Rao," by Vauhini Vara. This debut novel by Vara, a tech journalist, braids immigrant saga and sci-fi fable, alternating between the stories of a tech entrepreneur's rise and his daughter's rebellion.

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General Nonfiction: "His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice," by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

This book, which grew out of a six-part Post series and more than 400 interviews, explores Floyd's life, the country he grew up in and the legacy of his death. It tells his story from his enslaved ancestors to his murder in Minneapolis in 2020 and beyond. In his review for The Post, Mark Whitaker called it a "detailed, vivid and moving" account. You can read an excerpt here, along with a feature explaining how the book was written.

Finalists:

"Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution's Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction," by David George Haskell

"Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern," by Jing Tsu

"Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation," by Linda Villarosa

- - -

Memoir or Autobiography: "Stay True," by Hua Hsu

Hsu's memoir, one of The Post's 10 best books of 2022, tells the story of an unlikely friendship Hsu struck up in college and the shattering murder of his friend in 1998. It "describes both the buildup and the aftermath with devastating emotional precision, questioning the possibility of meaning in tragedy and the value of the stories we tell while attempting to find it," wrote Charles Arrowsmith in his review for The Post.

This is the first time a book has been recognized in this category.

Finalists:

"The Man Who Could Move Clouds," by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

"Easy Beauty," by Chloe Cooper Jones

- - -

History: "Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power," by Jefferson Cowie

"Freedom's Dominion" investigates the ways in which racial domination has played out in Barbour County, Ala., the birthplace of George C. Wallace. Through this lens, Cowie sheds sobering light on the ways White people fought back against federal authority and how those clashes still reverberate today.

Finalists:

"Seeing Red: Indigenous Land, American Expansion, and the Political Economy of Plunder in North America," by Michael John Witgen

"Watergate: A New History," by Garrett M. Graff

- - -

Biography: "G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century," by Beverly Gage

The first new biography of J. Edgar Hoover in nearly 30 years, tapping previously classified sources and deeply examining his personal and public lives, is now the "definitive work" on the man, according to Kai Bird's review for The Post. Bird called it "a monument to the power of biography."

Finalists:

"Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century," by Jennifer Homans

"His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice," by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

- - -

Poetry: "Then the War: And Selected Poems, 2007-2020," by Carl Phillips

A four-time finalist for the National Book Award for poetry, Phillips won for this collection featuring poems that explore desire, love and power. Phillips "combines beauty and insight in syntactically surprising lines that always reward careful study," The Post's Ron Charles wrote. Charles and Phillips discussed the role that faith has played in his poetry in a 2014 interview.

Finalists:

"Blood Snow," by dg nanouk okpik

"Still Life," by Jay Hopler

- - -

The Washington Post's Jill Pellettieri contributed to this report.
In the Gateway City, crime doesn't pay.

We've collected together stories from over 70 notable arrests by the Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriffs Office during April 2023.

Criminals in Laredo were arrested on various charges, including sexual assault of a child, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and more.

The links in the gallery are persons suspected of crimes and arrested by the Laredo PD or the Webb Sheriff's Office. Their crimes were previously reported by the Laredo Morning Times. All are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Each entry includes the offense the individual was arrested for.

Continue scrolling through the gallery to see the most notable arrests in Laredo during the month of April 2023.

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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Courtesy/Doctors Hospital Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy/Doctors Hospital Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Doctors Hospital is continuing its celebration of Stroke Awareness Month by educating the community with a Stroke Awareness Fair on Thursday, May 11.

The fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the main lobby of Doctors Hospital. It will feature cholesterol and glucose screenings, blood pressure checks, measurements of height and weight, and educational booths about risks and effects of stroke, available support groups, heart attacks and much more.
Laredo may be facing inclement weather throughout the entire week.

According to the National Weather Service, Laredo has the potential to see thunderstorms on every day of the week.

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That starts Monday night. As of 8 p.m., the NWS reports thunderstorms are likely for the Laredo area, with a chance of precipitation at 60% which would be expected to total between a quarter to a half an inch. Additionally, the forecast will be mostly cloudy with a low around 72.

Tuesday continues with likely thunderstorms, mainly before noon. The day also features 60% chance for precipitation. There would also be partly sunny skies with a high near 92.

Wednesday and Thursday also feature low chances for showers and thunderstorms witting at 30% and 20%, respectively.

But on the weekend, chances of showers and thunderstorms remain likely. The current forecast calls for a 70% chance of precipitation for both Friday and Saturday with a 60% chance on Sunday and Monday.
SILVER CITY, Mich. (AP)  An 8-year-old Wisconsin boy missing for two days in a remote, rugged northern Michigan park was discovered near a log Monday and appeared to be in good shape, authorities said.

The park posted a photo of one of the searchers carrying Nante Niemi on his back. Another photo on Facebook shows the boy wearing a dirty sweatshirt and munching on a Clif bar.
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DALLAS (AP)  The man accused of killing eight people and wounding several others in a mass shooting at a suburban Dallas shopping mall researched when it was busiest and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack.

The posts by Mauricio Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest the 33-year-old had been planning the attack for weeks before he stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire Saturday. Among the dead were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a security guard.

Garcia's online activity also betrayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos he posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

Other posts indicated Garcia had researched when the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, one of the Dallas-areas most diverse suburbs, would be the busiest  Saturday afternoons, the time he carried out the massacre, which ended when police shot and killed him.

The online activity contributed to an emerging picture of the gunman Monday. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived at a family home until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they weren't sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didn't immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

A woman who lives next door said she didn't know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying ahead of the attack.

Amid protests Monday at the Texas Capitol for stricter gun control, two Republicans sided with Democrats to advance a bill that would raise the age to buy semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21, though the measure has little or no chance of actually becoming law.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen, which is home to about 105,000 people, is among the Dallas-Fort Worth area's diverse suburbs. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allen's population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

Allen also is connected to another of Texas recent mass shootings. Patrick Crusius lived there in 2019 before he posted a racist screed online warning of a Hispanic invasion and drove to El Paso, where he opened fire at a Walmart, killing 23. Crusius, 24, pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges in February.

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Baldor reported from Washington and Johnson from Seattle. Jamie Stengle and Adam Kealoha Causey in Dallas; Michael Balsamo in Washington; Vanessa Alvarez in New York; James Vertuno in Austin; Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island; and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
The Texas House is considering a bill that would have public school students as young as eight years old trained to stop the bleeding from victims' wounds during a school shooting. The proposed legislation comes after a gunman killed 19 elementary-school students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas last May.

Current state law requires schools to train students to use "bleeding control stations," starting in seventh grade. HB 1147, authored by Democratic Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins and Republican Ryan Guillen, would change existing legislation to begin teaching kids to use bleeding stations starting in third grade instead. These stations contain supplies needed to stem bleeding from a major injury, including "tourniquets approved for use in battlefield care by the armed forces of the United States," chest seals and compression bandages, per the latest available version of the bill.

In an interview with KHOU 11, San Antonio psychologist Dr. Christopher Hansen expressed concern that the trainings could traumatize younger students. "If we've gotten to the point where we need third-graders to treat traumatic gunshot wounds on other children, we really need to take a step back and look at that," Hansen told KHOU 11. "We have thousands of veterans and first responders, doctors and nurses who do this professionally are trained to deal with it and, and they come up with a lot of problems, PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorders, et cetera as a result, he continued. "Why on earth would we do that to our children?"

No student is required to take this training, Gervin-Hawkins said in a statement If a student or their parents are worried about the material, they can opt out. Secondly, students are already very aware of the prevalence of school shootings, giving them the tools necessary to stop the preventable death of a classmate is common sense," she continued.

The bill is currently still in the House's committee phase, before the chamber's Youth Health and Safety Select Committee. A spokesperson for Rep. Gervin-Hawkins told Chron that "HB 1147 is unlikely to pass out of committee this session."

"The representative and staff have been working with other members to address concerns about the bill, but not enough members of the committee are willing to vote to send the bill to the house floor," the spokesperson said. Rep. Guillen did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the bill's potential movement during the current legislative session.

The bill is among a litany of legislative measures aimed at addressing gun violence in Texas being considered during this year's legislative session. The Lone Star State has suffered several mass shootings in recent weeks, most recently on Saturday in Allen, where a gunman killed eight people during a spree at an outlet mall.
Over the weekend, Fort Bend County residents approved a $1.26 billion bond to fund improvements for Fort Bend Independent School District construction projects and technology for students and staff.

The billion-dollar bond is the largest in district history and includes three propositions to improve infrastructure in the district. According to county election results, all three proposals were approved by voters casting ballots in the May 6 election.

According to the FBISD website, Proposition A is a general item worth $1.18 million in upgrades on design and construction, security, transportation, and IT systems. Most of the Proposition A fund will be allocated to renovating school campuses, the largest construction item being rebuilding Clements High School, tagged for having foundational issues expected to cost $222.8 million.

FBISD campuses, including Briargate, Mission Bend, and Elementary School 55, are also tagged for renovations, and $591 million will be used for facility deficiencies, the district added.

In addition to construction improvements, $30.1 million will be used for security. $24 million will go towards campus intercom systems, replacing doors and hardware, fire alarms and upgrading campus sprinkler systems. The remaining $6 million is planned for security cameras, police cars, mounted door locks, weapons, response kits, and an emergency notification system.

Thirty-five new school buses will also be procured with the newly approved fundingpart of $66 million plans to improve the district's overall network.

Proposition B will see $52 million in funding put toward buying new laptops and computers for staff and students. Proposition C will fund a new indoor swimming facility in the southeast area of the district, calculated to cost $22 million in total.

Fort Bend ISD Deputy Superintendent Steve Bassett said the billion-dollar bond doesn't address all the necessary improvements in the district but is a start for the primary renovations.

"It's over a billion because we're both the sixth largest school district [in the state], and it's been five years since we had a bond proposal," Bassett said. "It just doesn't happen overnight," he added.

Bassett also noted that with its passage, school board officials would start a lengthy process of identifying a company to build the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems renovations. The two elementary schools consolidated in the proposal will go through renovations first and likely reopen in August 2025.

"[We] tell them the scope of the work and put back bids to do that work," he said. "We save a lot of money that way."

Fort Bend Independent School District is the sixth-largest school district in Texas with100 buildings, over 90,000 students and 12,000 employees.
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A San Antonio dentistry grad was among the eight killed in the Allen mall shooting, according to a report from the San Antonio Express-News. Cindy and Kyu Cho and one their sons died while visiting the North Dallas mall last weekend. The remaining member of the Cho family is 6-year-old William Cho, who was recently released from the ICU.

The gunman killed eight people and wounded seven others in the Allen Premium Outlets, which is about 25 miles north of Dallas. He was killed by a police officer nearby who happened to be at the outlet that day. The gunman was armed with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, according to officials.
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More than 700,000 people have fled their homes in Sudan to escape fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the International Organization for Migration said Tuesday.
Nancy Patterson with the college says they were alerted of the incident on Saturday, May 6. They have shut down their systems and have disrupted 1,069 students.
Athens may be almost 200 miles from Nashville, but the students still felt the impact from the tragic shooting and wanted to show their support.
The agency is saying that all of the catfish died at the same time, but due to the decay, samples could not be taken to determine the cause of death.
A recent surge of migrants in the Brownsville, Texas, area of the U.S.-Mexico border is highlighting immigration challenges as the U.S. prepares for the end of a coronavirus pandemic-era policy that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants
El Peru participa en el 18 periodo de sesiones del Foro de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Bosques #UNFF18, reafirmando su compromiso con la gestion forestal sostenible y la implementacion conjunta del #UNSPF 2017-2030.

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Hong Kong: HK delegates to attend UN meetings

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will send a delegation to attend the meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 12.

As part of the Chinese delegation, the Hong Kong SAR Government delegation will introduce to the committee the part of Chinas ninth report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) that is related to the Hong Kong SAR.

The Hong Kong SAR Government delegation will also answer the committees questions on the CEDAWs implementation in the city.

This is the fourth time the committee has examined a report submitted by the Hong Kong SAR under the CEDAW since 1999. The previous round of hearing was held in October 2014.

The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that since the last hearing, the room for development for women in Hong Kong has been continuously expanding.

As always, we will resolutely and clearly explain to the international community the progress made in womens development in Hong Kong, and strive to do our best in publicity work, it said in a press release.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also pointed out that while the CEDAWs objective is to safeguard womens rights, remove barriers and gender stereotypes against women and ensure womens full development, it noticed that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), many of which are not based in Hong Kong, have made submissions to the committee that are highly politically charged.

Many of the statements in these submissions are based on false information and distorted narratives regardless of the truth, with flawed comments on the human rights situation in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong SAR Government delegation will make cogent clarification and stern rebuttals to any vilification at the hearing, it added.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong SAR Government also noted that it was aware of the untruthful biased commentary regarding the National Security Laws implementation and the handling of the 2019 riots, presented at the informal meeting between the committee and NGOs yesterday in Geneva.

Apart from strongly refuting such a commentary, the Hong Kong SAR Government also strongly condemned the vilification and smearing in respect of the so-called gender-based violence alleged to be committed by Police during the serious violence in 2019.

Click here for the Hong Kong SARs fourth report under the CEDAW as well as the Hong Kong SAR Governments written response to the committees List of Issues.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Mantenemos nuestra colaboracion y amistad en los momentos mas dificiles. ????apoya al Peru con $500,000 para agua y saneamiento, bienes de asistencia humanitaria, y especialistas en zonas afectadas por las inundaciones. @DeptofDefense @USAIDPeru pic.twitter.com/2UicIjlLQu
Resource and Support workers from PPNs across Ireland attended the wonderful Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone for the PPN Workers Retreat on April 27 & 28. The 31 PPNs across Ireland represent 18,000 Community Groups nationally.

The Public Participation Network (PPN) is the main link between the Council and the Community and Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental Groups in their County.

The retreat was an invaluable way for PPNs around the Country to network and idea swap. Over the 2 days, there were talks by Michael Quirke, Brian Harvey and The Wheel's Tony Ward & Johnny Sheehan, as well as individual PPNs.

Waterford PPN Resource Worker, Muriel Tobin, said It was a pleasure to be part of the organising group of this years retreat. I cant even put into words the amount of personal and professional learning, support and friendships that were made in such a short space of time. This invaluable networking could never be captured in any amount of emails or zoom meetings. The unity and support was profound and it was very evident that a more cohesive collective will strengthen the PPNs in Building a Better Future

Laois PPN Resource Worker, Dan Bergin, said " Stephen Ring and I were delighted to be part of the organising group for this years PPN Workers Retreat. This was the first Retreat since pre-Covid. It was a great opportunity to share knowledge, ideas and best practice that benefits all PPNs. Laois PPN would like to thank the DRCD for their support for this event."

Offaly PPN Resource Worker, Bride Costello Hynes, said A great opportunity for PPN staff from across the country to come together, to build relationships that help us support one another to enhance the delivery of Public Participation Network outputs effectively. A Solution focused event, providing an opportunity to discuss challenges and explore how other counties have overcome them. Thought provoking speakers and great open discussion.
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Columnists Press Releases
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 09 2023

Susannah Smith was allegedly drunk and texting when she crashed into a utility pole, sending powerlines into the roadway, and caused the death of 34-year-old Milton Diaz.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Sea Cliff woman has been indicted on manslaughter and other related charges for allegedly causing the death of a motorcyclist while she was both drunk and texting on her mobile phone in June 2022.

Susannah Smith, 22, was arraigned Friday before Judge Robert Schwartz on charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony); Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor); Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was continued at $50,000 bond. She is due back in court on June 5, 2023. If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces up to five to 15 years in prison.

This defendant was allegedly intoxicated and texting with a friend after picking up pizza when she veered off the road and crashed into a utility pole, scattering power lines onto the roadway and cutting the lights, DA Donnelly said. Milton Diaz did not see the hazards that this defendant allegedly created as he drove by and tragically struck one of the downed lines, causing him to fall off his motorcycle to his death. Our thoughts remain with Miltons family and friends as we prosecute this case.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on June 15, 2022, at approximately 11:58 p.m., the defendant was driving a 2014 Ford Focus northbound on Cedar Swamp Road while allegedly intoxicated and texting with a friend. The defendant drove off the roadway onto the grassy shoulder and crashed into a utility pole, downing the pole, and causing wires to be strewn across the roadway and the power to go out.

The force of the impact also caused the defendants car to flip onto its side.

Minutes later, 34-year-old Milton Diaz drove through the pitch-black crash scene on a 2006 Honda motorcycle and struck one or more of the downed power lines, causing him to fall off his motorcycle.

The victim suffered significant trauma and was pronounced deceased at the scene at 12:14 a.m.

The defendant needed assistance from the Brookville Police Department to exit her vehicle.

She was taken to Nassau University Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

The defendant was arrested on June 16, 2022, by members of the Nassau County Police Department and Brookville Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by Karen Johnston, Esq.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: May 09 2023

State Landmarks To Be Illuminated Blue on May 9 To Recognize Officers' Sacrifice and Highlight the Service of All Police Officers Across New York State.

Governor Kathy Hochul today honored the lives of 55 police officers from eight police departments who were remembered at the New York State Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony in Albany. The officers' names have been added to the Memorial's black granite wall, which now includes the names of 1,772 men and women from 150 police departments and sheriffs' offices across the state and six federal agencies who sacrificed their lives in service for New Yorkers. Governor Hochul also issued a proclamation declaring May 9 as Police Memorial Day and directed state landmarks to be illuminated blue to recognize the sacrifice of the officers whose names are included on the memorial and to recognize the service of all police officers across the state.

"Every day, the selfless men and women in police departments across the state put their lives on the line to protect us, knowing they may not make it home," Governor Hochul said. "Today, we honor these 55 police officers, and we join their loved ones in remembering their unwavering commitment and dedication to our safety."

"Today we honor and remember police officers from across New York State who paid the ultimate price to keep us safe," said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. "May we never forget their bravery and courage. May we never forget the sacrifice they made to protect us all."

The following landmarks will be illuminated blue tonight:

One World Trade Center

Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge

Kosciuszko Bridge

The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building

State Education Building

Alfred E. Smith State Office Building

Empire State Plaza

State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center

Niagara Falls

Albany International Airport Gateway

MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station

Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal

Moynihan Train Hall

This afternoon's ceremony recognized the sacrifice of 55 police officers who died from injuries they sustained on duty, or as the result of COVID-19 or Ground Zero-related illnesses.

Line of Duty Deaths

NYPD

Detective Wilbert Mora was shot when he responded to a call reporting a domestic dispute in an apartment at 119 West 135th Street in Harlem. (January 23, 2022)

Detective Jason Rivera was shot when he responded to a call reporting a domestic dispute in an apartment at 119 West 135th Street in Harlem. (January 21, 2022)

Rochester Police Department

Police Officer Anthony P. Mazurkiewicz and Officer Sino Seng were conducting surveillance in an unmarked vehicle while in plainclothes when they were ambushed and fired upon by the suspect. Officer Mazurkiewicz who was in the driver's seat, sustained a fatal gunshot wound. His partner, Officer Seng, was struck with a non-fatal wound and was able to return fire. The suspect fled the scene and was hiding in a vacant house when he was located by responding officers while and taken into custody. (July 21, 2022)

Yonkers Police Department

Detective Sergeant Frank D. Gualdino was driving his police vehicle while in uniform to supervise officers on traffic detail when he was struck head-on by another vehicle. (December 1, 2022)

The following officers died as a result of exposure to COVID-19. The names of the officers who died due to COVID were first added to the memorial in 2021; the memorial now contains the names of 25 officers whose deaths were COVID-related:

NYPD

Police Officer David A. Mathura (March 6, 2022)

Police Officer Daniel J. Sanchez (January 19, 2022)

Police Officer Leonard Swanson (February 5, 2022)

Nassau County Police Department

Detective Hector M. Nunez (December 8, 2021)

Detective Charles C. Vroom IV (September 12, 2021)

Niagara Falls Police Department

Lieutenant Kristina M. Zell (November 7, 2022)

Ground Zero-Related Illness Deaths

The following officers died from illnesses resulting from their work at Ground Zero in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The names of officers who died from Ground Zero-related illnesses were first added to the Memorial in 2008 and now total 380.

New York State Police

Sergeant F. Brent Chomyszak (August 23, 2022)

Major Roderick C. Covington (March 31, 2022)

Trooper Scott P. Enser (March 20, 2021)

Trooper Joseph J. Mecca, Jr. (December 2, 2020)

Sergeant Ivan M. Morales (October 28, 2022)

Trooper Michael R. O'Donnell (December 24, 2020)

Sergeant James G. Sweeney (March 6, 2021)

NYS Environmental Conservation Police

Lieutenant Paul C. Adam (September 8, 2015)

Police Officer Lawrence E. Cabana (August 6, 2022)

Investigator Thomas J. Graham (September 21, 2013)

Port Authority Police of NY & NJ

Police Officer Frederick G. Maley (July 17, 2022)

NYPD

Police Officer Chanda D. Barnes (April 25, 2021)

Sergeant Hugh Bartlett (September 12, 2021)

Sergeant William P. Brautigam, Jr. (January 31, 2021)

Detective Barbara A. Burnette (December 30, 2021)

Sergeant Pedro A. Candia (April 15, 2022)

Detective Enrico J. Crisafi (November 28, 2021)

Detective Michael A. DeVecchis (January 16, 2020)

Sergeant Cornelius J. Douglas (June 24, 2021)

Detective Pedro A. Foruria, Sr. (August 25, 2021)

Sergeant Michael S. Fuller (July 26, 2021)

Police Officer Hector M. Gonzalez Jr. (April 7, 2021)

Detective Roland A. Gray (June 22, 2021)

Detective Patrick J. Hogan (December 31, 2021)

Police Officer John Horan (December 18, 2020)

Detective Michael A. Houlahan (March 25, 2020)

Police Officer Dennis J. Howard (August 5, 2020)

Police Officer Denise A. Jones (September 6, 2021)

Police Officer William M. Kelly (October 3, 2021)

Detective Brian J. Maley (February 17, 2021)

Detective George C. Moreno (July 30, 2021)

Detective Terence P. Mulvey (December 1, 2021)

Police Officer Thomas M. O'Reilly, Jr. (June 17, 2021)

Detective Nicholas F. Ortiz (April 5, 2021)

Police Officer Neil E. Porter (October 7, 2021)

Police Officer Laurence J. Prehn (November 10, 2021)

Police Officer Michael J. Reass (September 21, 2021)

Police Officer Steven L. Rodriguez (June 9, 2021)

Police Officer Michael Romano (January 16, 2021)

Detective Frank Rosado (December 19, 2019)

Sergeant Christopher M. Tully (August 14, 2021)

Police Officer Matthew S. Von Seydewitz (January 27, 2020)

Detective James M. Ward (January 17, 2022)

Nassau County Police Department

Police Officer Robert D. Negri Jr. (September 28, 2011)

Detective Matthew A. Perlungher (August 4, 2021)

The State Division of Criminal Justice Services coordinates the ceremony and the work of the Police Officers Memorial Advisory Committee. The state Office of General Services maintains the memorial and its Commissioner also serves on the Committee.

Division of Criminal Justice Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, "We gather to show our profound appreciation for the service and sacrifice of these brave men and women, and to express our heartfelt gratitude to the families and friends who live in the shadow of their loss every day. Thank you for sharing your loved ones and their legacy with your fellow New Yorkers. We are humbled by your presence here today and vow to always honor their memory."

Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, "The New York Police Officers Memorial honors individuals who have sacrificed their lives in the performance of their duty and ensures their courage, dedication, and sacrifices are always remembered. We at OGS are proud of our role as caretakers of this special memorial and of providing a space where the families, friends, and colleagues of our State's fallen officers can mourn their loss and pay tribute to their legacy as keepers of the peace in our communities."

The memorial is based on a design concept suggested by Colleen Dillon Bergman, the daughter of Emerson J. Dillon Jr., a 16-year veteran of the New York State Police who was killed in the line of duty in 1974. Bergman also suggested that the names of police officers be placed on the memorial without regard to rank. In a letter to the committee established to oversee the memorial's creation, she explained: "It doesn't matter from which department they came, the feeling of loss is experienced the same." Those words are engraved on the memorial.

Memorial Inclusion Criteria

To be included on the memorial, an individual must have been a police officer, as defined in the State's Criminal Procedure Law, or employed as a federal law enforcement officer and performed the same or essentially similar duties as defined in that law. Applications to DCJS for inclusion on the memorial must be made by agencies that employed the officers.

In addition to Commissioners Rosado and Moy, the following individuals serve on the Memorial Advisory Committee: New York State Troopers PBA President Charles Murphy, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Benevolent Associations President Michael O'Meara, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Patrick Phelan, New York State Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Peter R. Kehoe, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York President Patrick J. Lynch, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Chapter President Andrew Rakowsky, and the Police Conference of New York President Richard Wells.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state's criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook and Twitter.
YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will have a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the President of the European Council Charles Michel on 14 May in Brussels, the European Council announced Monday.

The European Council said in a press release that Charles Michel has continued to be in close contact with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance the EUs efforts to promote stability in the South Caucasus and normalisation between the two countries.

Pashinyan, Aliyev and Michel have agreed to convene again on 14 May 2023 in a Brussels trilateral meeting.

The leaders will also hold a meeting together with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 1 June.

Their discussions will also be flanked by a meeting together with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, in the margins of the upcoming European Political Community summit in Chisinau on 1 June 2023. The leaders have also agreed to continue to meet trilaterally in Brussels as frequently as necessary to address ongoing developments on the ground and standing agenda items of the Brussels meetings. President Michel equally expressed his intention to invite the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France and Germany to meet a second time in the margins of the next EPC summit in Granada in October 2023, the European Council added.

News on the upcoming Armenia-Azerbaijan talks in Brussels was first reported by the Financial Times earlier on Monday.
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Greece claims to be on course for a record summer season with a number of resorts fully booked due to high demand in the UK and Germany.

Greeces hopes of setting a foreign arrival record in 2023 have received a boost from major United Kingdom and German tourism agency, TUI Group, which books packages and expects the Greek islands to be an even bigger draw with the fading of the COVID pandemic.

The company announced an additional 220,000 flight seats and stated that British holidaymakers are showing keen interest in Greece, particularly the islands, and are favoring all-inclusive deals and resorts.

TUI UK & Ireland Commercial Director Richard Sofer stated that Summer 2023 is looking promising, with Greece ranking among the top destinations for our customers. Greece is a popular choice for repeat customers who have the option to experience something different every time they visit.

Sofer also emphasized that Greeces mainland and collection of islands offer a plethora of destinations and experiences. There is so much to see that one visit will never suffice, according to Travel Daily Media.

The TUI Group, which includes Germany, anticipates a surge of visitors from the country to Greece, surpassing the previous record of 2019 before the Coronavirus pandemic struck in early 2020.



And Last-minute deals and cheap flights will be in short supply this summer, according to the head of Tui Group. There will be no last-minute summer as in previous years.

On the contrary, prices will tend to be higher rather than lower shortly before departure, because hoteliers and airlines also know that a lot is still booked at short notice.
YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan released a statement on May 9 on Victory Day.

Below is the full statement released by Harutyunyans office.



Dear compatriots,



Dear veterans of the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh Liberation War,

Honorable generals, officers, soldiers of the Defense Army,



May 9 is one of the most glorious pages in the history of the Armenian people. The victory of our grandfathers along with other peoples in the Great Patriotic War, the formation of the Artsakh Republic Defense Army, the Liberation of Shushi are the [undisputed] victories that rightly made that day a symbol of national pride.



First of all, I want to bow [before] the [sacred] memory of all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the Motherland at different times, as well as to the merits of living heroes. Their feat and bravery are immortal and will always be a bright example of patriotism and selflessness for future generations.



Today, Artsakh has once again appeared in the focus of an [existential] struggle. The blockade by the authorities of Azerbaijan, which has been going on for five months now, aims to break the will and spirit of struggle of our people through psychological and physical pressure, to force them to leave the land of our ancestors with a history of thousands of years, or [subjugate] us, under security threats.



The aspirations of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem are not new for us. We know this well, as well as the strength and power of the unity of the Armenian people, which was demonstrated in the most decisive periods of our history.

Today again, national unity has become the imperative of the day. We have no right to hesitate or step back. There is only one way. Artsakh was, is and should be Armenian, with the free will of its people and the right and determination to manage their own destiny. The efforts of all of us, in Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora, should serve [for] this purpose, we should rediscover and cherish the [meaning] and spirit of the victorious Triple Holiday as a guideline for our lives.

May God protect our homeland and people.
The Paris police force and Frances interior minister faced questions and criticism Monday over why a march of around 600 neo-Nazis through the streets of the capital was authorised at the weekend.

The annual rally Saturday by far-right extremists dressed in black came as authorities clamp down on protesters banging saucepans against the government, with new restrictions put in place Monday to prevent President Emmanuel Macron from being drowned out by the noise during speeches.

The march saw several hundred men from far-right groups march with flags and chant slogans to commemorate the death of a far-right activist, Sebastien Deyzieu, in 1994.

The protest was authorised by city authorities, and police could be seen patrolling nearby.

France marked its traditional May 8 public holiday on Monday to commemorate the victory of Allied forces over Nazi Germany in 1945 and the lives lost in the fight against fascism.

Socialist Party senator David Assouline called on Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to explain yourself over the march.

Its unacceptable to have allowed 500 neo-Nazis and fascists to parade in the heart of Paris. Their organisations, the display of their ideology, slogans, insignias are as much an insult to the dead as an incitement to racial hatred, he wrote on Twitter.

Ian Brossat, a spokesman for the Communist party, joked that saucepans are clearly more dangerous than jackboots.

Left-wing charity Attac also wrote that the far right demonstrates their hatred with complete impunity in the centre of Paris while the state is seeking to outlaw saucepan-banging.

The Paris police department reacted on Monday by explaining that it did not have the legal powers to prevent a demonstration unless there was a proven risk to public order.

Given that this demonstration had not caused any problems or public order issues during previous years, the Paris prefect was not in a position to take steps to ban it, it said in a statement.

It referred to a previous attempt in January to stop a flaming-torch rally by the far-right Paris Pride group, which was overturned by a judge after an appeal by organisers.

 Saucepan bans 

Demonstrations were banned on Monday around the Champs-Elysees in Paris where Macron attended a May 8 ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe war memorial.

Police in the eastern city of Lyon also outlawed demonstrations Monday near a war memorial where Macron paid tribute to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin.

An appeal from the CGT trade union was rejected by a local court.

The CGT said 5,000 protesters, some banging saucepans, marched outside the security perimeter enforced during Macrons Lyon visit, with the local authorities putting their number at 3,000.

Anti-riot police fired tear gas on multiple occasions while car windows were smashed, AFP journalists saw.

Members of the government have been pursued by saucepan-banging protesters since Macron signed a deeply unpopular pension reform into law on April 15 that will raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.

The interior ministry has banned a number of extremist anti-immigration groups in recent years, including Generation Identitaire and Zouaves Paris.

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SHOW OF FORCE. A US soldier opens the cockpit of one of their F16 fighter jets prior to the US-Philippines air force joint military exercise dubbed Cope Thunder at Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga. AFP

The Navy has increased the frequency of patrols in the hotly contested West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels continue to intrude.

We have improved the frequency of our patrols. I cant give you the exact figures, but I should say our operational commands have increased the tempo of patrols, Navy Chief Toribio Adaci said on the sidelines of the Maritime Security Symposium on Tuesday.

We give it to our sailors because they continue to perform their mandate patrolling in the area even though the other side is there, he added.

On April 29, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported more than 100 Chinese militia vessels were roaming the waters off Julian Felipe Reef.

On April 23, a Chinese coast guard ship sailed into the path of the BRP Malapascua near Ayungin Shoal, causing a near collision. Journalists on board the Filipino vessel and another one witnessed the incident.

The Philippine Navy and the PCG are among the members of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), created to safeguard and monitor the countrys territorial waters.

Many security experts have urged the government to prioritize the modernization of the PCG to stand up to Chinas provocative tactics in the West Philippine Sea.

The PCG currently has three vessels that can conduct patrols in the area.

Meanwhile, maritime law expert Dr. Jay Batongbacal said the current administration is doing a good job in handling the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

But we also now need to consider longer term and follow actions through, he added.

Batongbacal also said that in order to rightfully claim the disputed territory, the country needs to make China accept and recognize international law.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated the nine-dash claims of China covering the entire South China Sea and recognized the Philippines sovereign rights in the area within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Beijing has been ignoring the international ruling and has deployed hundreds of militia vessels to bully and intimidate local fishermen and other boats.

Meanwhile, the Navy said its missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) joined the at-sea-phase of the first ASEAN-India exercises in the South China Sea from May 7 to 8.

The participation of BRP Antonio Luna in AIME 2023 underscores the PNs commitment to building bridges of friendship, as well as promoting regional cooperation for peace and security in the ASEAN region, Ensign Menoel R. Orpilla, the PN public affairs office chief aboard the ship, said in a statement Tuesday.

He added that the at-sea-phase comprises numerous events involving ships, conducted with ASEAN member-states navies and Indian Navy counterparts.

Orpilla said BRP Antonio Luna left Changi Naval Base in Singapore May 5 for the exercise.

The BRP Antonio Luna arrived in Singapore on May 1.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in Indonesia today for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Labuan Bajo, high in the hope there would be productive engagements with his counterparts in the economic alliance.

He returned recently from a week-long visit in the United States, where he met with US President Joe Biden, and the United Kingdom for the coronation of King Charles 3rd. .

The ASEAN Summit will kick off with an opening ceremony today, followed by a plenary session.

A series of interfaces among ASEAN leaders and representatives and/or delegates of relevant ASEAN bodies are scheduled on the same day, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza told Palace reporters earlier on.

The 65-year-old President is expected to join other ASEAN leaders in various discussions on community building efforts and various pressing issues in the region.

In his departure statement Tuesday, Mr. Marcos said: I look forward to our productive engagements, to our always productive engagements with our ASEAN partners.

This is a continuation of the process that we had begun where deriving from the idea and the principle and the concept of ASEAN Centrality in the face of the challenges we have to answer not only as single nations but as this political (alliance) that is ASEAN.

Many heard him say his participation will serve to promote and protect the interest of the country, including efforts towards economic growth, attaining food and energy security security, promoting trade and investment, combating transnational crimes like the trafficking in persons, and protecting migrant workers in crisis situations.

During the summit, ASEAN leaders are expected to exchange views on pressing issues of common concerns like the developments in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and major power rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.

The chief executive stressed that joining regional summits like this one gives him optimism as there seems to be a very clear area of commonality among member nations.

I am always optimistic because all the interactions that we have had with the different leaders of ASEAN member states and for that matter APEC and all the APEC Plus conferences that weve had there seems to be a very clear area of commonality, he said.

Mr. Marcos will also participate in the 15th Brunei DarussalamIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), as well as various interfaces with ASEAN leaders with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary assembly and representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ASEAN Youth and the High-Level Task Force on the ASEAN Community Post 2025 Vision.

We know he will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of strengthening cooperation in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region to sustain its thriving economy; the strong partnership between the executive and legislative bodies of ASEAN; the role of private sector and the youth in advancing growth and shaping the future of the ASEAN Vision.

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OPM legends Chito Miranda (left) and Gary Valenciano

AIA Philippines (previously AIA Philam Life) is organizing a concert to celebrate its major achievements in 2022. The concert, titled Roar as One, is happening on May 16 and will feature a star-studded lineup of Filipino artists, including brand ambassadors Gary Valenciano and Chito Miranda.

Other featured performers include Parokya ni Edgar, Ely Buendia, December Avenue, and Zack Tabudlo, as well as special guests The Diegos and El Gamma Penumbra.

The event marks the launch of AIAs investment management arm, AIA Investment Management and Trust Corporation Philippines (AIAIM Philippines), the successful acquisition of HMO giant MediCard Philippines, and its continued financial strength and performance, retaining the top spot in net worth, and ranking second in net income and assets according to the latest Insurance Commission Ranking.

The past few years coming from the pandemic have been challenging and yet everyone came together to deliver, with these wins the result of those efforts. The accomplishments last year would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our people. This concert is a big thank you celebration of those efforts for all that we accomplished in 2022, says AIA Philippines CEO Kelvin Ang.

The executive is thrilled with the addition of MediCard Philippines to AIA family, which includes AIA Philippines, BPI AIA, AIAIM Philippines, and AIA Digital+.

Legends celebrating with the legend is the resounding theme of the upcoming production as One AIA Philippines maintains its position as an industry leader. ROAR as One ultimately celebrates the companys big wins in 2022  a reward for the entire community for a job well done  as it primes itself to conquer bigger challenges in the years to come.

Visit https://www.aia.com.ph/ for more information about AIA Philippines, or the AIA Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AIAPhilippines/, email customerservice.ph@aia.com or call (02) 8528-2000 to know more.

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Responding to the need of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong for access to doctors who speak their language, Metro Pacific Investments Corporations (MPIC) mWell partnered with the Department of Migrant Workers to enable Overseas Filipino Workers (DMW) to conveniently consult Pinoy doctors using the mWell app. The collaboration was launched at the town hall meeting with key DMW officials and leaders of the Filipino Community (FILCOM) at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.

As the Philippines first and only health app available globally, this milestonemarks the first step in mWells mission to bring healthcare closer to Filipinos in all parts of the world.

mWell Chairman and MPIC Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan says, Metro Pacific Groups mWell is the Philippines first fully integrated health app which brings together experts in technology, medicine, wellness, and healthcare in one sustainable living ecosystem. This high-performing platform gives access to quality healthcare and empowers our countrymen to be in control of their health. We shall continue to set the standards in digital healthcare as we build a healthier nation and be recognized as the flag carrier for innovative digital healthcare.

During the launch of the mWell-DMW collaboration in Hong Kong, mWell CEO and President and MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla recognized the great sacrifice of migrant workers to provide a better life for their family and explained how the mWell app can help ensure that they are able to protect their health which is their biggest investment.

mWell app can help ensure that migrant workers are able to protect their health which is their biggest investment.

Our goal is to make health and wellness accessible, available, and affordable to all Filipinos anytime, anywhere. With the mWell app, even those working in Hong Kong can now easily talk to Pinoy doctors who understand their language and can provide the medical advice that they need right away. With the mWell apps wellness features, our migrant workers can take control of their health empowering them to be more productive, become healthier, and live their best life with their families, said Ms.Cabal-Revilla.

Consul General Raly Tejada paid tribute to the FILCOM leaders present in the Town Hall and implored their continued support for the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong. You are the ones who inspire the Consulate to work even harder. We make sure that all your concerns are taken care of,Tejada said.

Since the overall well-being of OFWs is a key concern, DMW Undersecretary for Finance and Internal Affairs Maria Antonette Allones highlighted the role of partnerships in ensuring their health and welfare. Pangalagaan ang inyong mga sarili. Importante na kayo ay laging well. Parte dito ang ang partnership ng DMW sa mWell, said Undersecretary Allones in her message to the community leaders. Her statement supports Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Oples message during the partnership agreement signing ceremony with mWell in Manila. We appreciate the partnership through the MOA that we signed with mWell so that OFWs can contact doctors who speak their language through the mWell app.

In partnership with UnionDigital Bank, mWell provided Hong Kong migrant workers with health passes for FREE online consultation. Huawei raffled off a laptop to be delivered to the family of the chosen OFW in the Philippines and donated a tablet to the Bethune house. The tablet will be used by the migrant workers in their shelter for online consultations.

Empowering OFWs to face health challenges away from home

Most of Hong Kong OFWs are not fluent in English or Cantonese, making it difficult for them to communicate with local healthcare providers. Being away from their family and support system over long periods of time also takes a toll on their mind health. Some are exposed to occupational health hazards in certain industries. On top of all these, they must bear the high cost of healthcare.

Harnessing the power of technology, mWells globally recognized platform gives OFWs access to over 800highly-trained Filipino partner-doctors internal medicine doctors, cardiologists, endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, and more. Mind health experts are just a few taps away.To help ease their financial worries, affordable health plans for doctor consultationsare easily within reach.

The availability of health passes which may be sent as gift to families in the Philippines is made possible through a partnership with Tindahan ni Bossing (TINBO) by PLDT Global. OFWs can provide the gift of health by sending their families affordable mWell health plans which includes online consultation, free medical certificate, and e-prescription.

With the health and wellbeing of Filipinos in mind, mWell also promotes preventive healthcare as the Philippines healthcare mega app.It has an mWellness Score developed by data scientists, which measures physical health based on daily activities  exercise, light activity, steps, sleep. This serves as a guide to achieving a healthy physical lifestyle to fight against chronic diseases and attain long-term health. Specialized fitness programs and calorie-controlled recipes created by nutritionists are also easily accessible.

mWell unveils advocacy program for workers in the Philippines

Aside from migrant workers in Hong Kong, mWell also provides free online consultation services for daily wage earners including tricycle drivers and market vendors asLabor Day tribute.

In a series of on-ground events, mWell shall bring its health and wellness advocacy to select communities in the country. The feature shall also feature wellness and livelihood talks, plusZumba sessions to encouragehealthy and active lifestyle.

On top of this, Mind Health sessionsfeaturing expert psychologists will be conducted for office employees in partner companies as part of the mWell@Work program.

Committed to change lives through the power of technology, mWell is the only healthcare app among the convenor organizations and supporting companies of the GoDigitalPilipinas (GDP) movement.

mWell was recently named the winner of two Gold Stevie Awards in the Innovation in Health & Wellness and Most Innovative Startup of the Year- Business Service Industriescategories in the 10th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.It is the only Philippine entry to bring home the Gold Award in these two categories. Bronze winners include Vietnam, Taiwan, and Australia.

The two Gold Stevie Awards come at the heels of being chosen as the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the 2023 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Groups GabayKalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

Download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwellph on Instagram for more updates.

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LANSING  A Senate bill would require lawmakers to wait two to three years after leaving elected office to become a registered lobbyist.

That would shut a revolving door of lawmakers-turning-lobbyists after their terms end, according to Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.

Described as a cooling-off period, the ethics proposal would require rank-and-file senators and representatives to wait two years. Committee chairs would need to wait an extra year.

The proposal also would also prohibit lawmakers spouses from lobbying while their partners are in office.

However, Runestad, who has unsuccessfully made the same proposal in the past, said he has no hope the bills will even get to the Senate floor for a vote, let alone pass.

Many fellow Republicans are unpersuaded as well.

When they turned down his request to cosponsor the legislation, the Republican lawmakers cited their own future aspirations.

Time and time again, I would hear, But Jim, I want to be a lobbyist. Why would I sign that? Runestad said. That was the number one thing I heard.

The lone cosponsor is Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly. Johnson is also a former secretary of state, whose department oversees the registration of lobbyists.

Runestads legislation was referred to the Election and Ethics Committee, chaired by Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield.

Moss said that the contents of the legislation  a cooling-off period for lawmakers  is a priority for the committee, but a higher priority is handling voter-approved changes in lawmaker financial disclosure laws.

Last November, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that lets lawmakers serve 12 years, instead of 14 years, in the House, Senate or both. It also requires lawmakers to publicly disclose their personal finances.

As for Runestads lobbying proposal, Moss said, Whether it was Sen. Runestad, or somebody else pushing this forward, I want to revisit it, I want to analyze it, I want to see if it actually solves the problems in Lansing. I cant just commit right now to a timeline or a hearing.

Moss said Runestad has not reached out to him in his capacity as the committee chair.

Typically theres a process by which a person who wants their bill heard will talk to the committee chair ahead of time, Moss said. Thats what I did when I was in the minority. I dont know if Sen. Runestad has his own timeline. If this was one of his policy priorities that he wants to see get done, he has not reached out to me as chair of this committee.

In Michigan, former lawmakers can become lobbyists the moment they leave office. According to a 2019 report by Public Citizen, 33 states have at least a one-year cooling off period. Other states, including Alabama, Florida and Iowa, have a two-year cooling off period.

Common Cause Michigan, a good government watchdog group, hasnt taken a position on the concept. However, its program director, Quentin Turner, said hed like more transparency in state government.

Turner said he would like to understand better the financial incentive of revolving door lawmakers. That would make it easier to determine possible relationships between a lawmaker and a lobbying industry.

Turner said if that is the case, there is nothing necessarily wrong with having a career outside of lawmaking, still involved in Lansing.

Former Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, left office in December and now works as the executive director of the Michigan Chemistry Council.

Cambensy, who is now a registered lobbyist, said the large amount of turnover of lawmakers due to term limits means she is lobbying many lawmakers she hadnt met while in the House.

When she arrived at the Capitol, Cambensy said, she was leery of lobbyists. Now, after having served there for five years (most House members serve six years, but Cambensy ran in a special election), Cambensy said lobbyists play a role in educating members, which she calls a great thing.

If youre using (lobbying) to take advantage of legislators, I think thats where lobbying certainly gets a bad rap, Cambensy said.

Runestad said he is concerned with lawmakers chairing committees that focus on and oversee particular industries, then lobbying for one of the same industries.

Cambensy said it is admirable to advocate for transparency and disclosure in government, but isnt sure that limiting career choices for legislators is a good way to advocate for that.

Runestads legislation would set penalties at a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.
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LANSING  Long associated with calm music, soothing landscapes and the soft tones of Tim Allens voice, Michigans campaign to promote tourism will get an update to appeal to younger audiences.

David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, said the updated campaign marks the first time Pure Michigan has targeted young individuals.

Theyre more interested in experience than stuff, he said. Mostly Baby Boomers and Gen Z are looking for experience rather than the bigger TV set or the nicer car. That provides a great opportunity for the travel industry.

The new ads will be more vibrant, Lorenz said, Youll see more people and more activity in the ads. The music is more uptempo.

For 17 years, weve always used the music from Cider House Rules, weve used Tim Allens voice, weve had this very calm, subtle approach, Lorenz said. That reaches the older folks, but we really felt by lifting up the spirit and showing the diversity in this way, were going to be more appealing to younger people as well.

The campaign, billed as Keep it Fresh, will include spots focusing on Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City, using the sights, sounds and artistry that reflect the range of unique experiences and stories to be found in Michigan, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

We know that people, when they come to Michigan, expect to see beautiful nature. Theyre going to find that, Lorenz said. But now theyre also starting to realize they can find vibrant, interesting cities.

Its unbelievably cool. I never thought Detroit would come back the way it is in my lifetime, he said.

The new campaign will mark Pure Michigans return to national airwaves, with spots airing on Discovery, Food Network, HGTV and Magnolia Network, and in local regions throughout the Midwest

Digital portions of the Keep it Fresh campaign launched in late February, with TV ads beginning in March.

The council also launched Pure Opportunity, a business marketing campaign touting the states skilled labor pool, freshwater resources and top ranking in climate change preparedness.

That campaign will feature images of Michigan companies like Pfizer in Portage, Orbion Space Technology in Houghton, Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire, Daddy Dough Cookies in Grand Rapids and Detroit Denim.

Michigan is a place that will drive the world forward through grit, our world-class workforce, and stunning natural resources, Whitmer said in a news release.

Modernized music

One of the first changes people may notice in the new campaign is more upbeat music.

We were limited because of the slow, soft, beautiful, emotionally evocative music style of Cider House Rules, Lorenz said. Its kind of hard to say, Hey, lets go snowmobiling!

Nicole Churchill, a co-founder of Assemble Sound, the Detroit company that developed the new score, said they wanted to refresh the music without completely deviating from what people have grown to know and love.

That Cider House Rules score thats been used for so long has become such a connection with the brand, I think the biggest challenge was how you maintain the integrity and pay homage to that while still bringing a little bit of newness and youth, and how you get people who are across different generations to like the same thing, Churchill said.

Julian Wettlin, director of creative licensing for Assemble Sound, said, It was kind of a tightrope to walk between this modern, kind of poppy, electronic, indie-rock world that they wanted to play in with keeping the sincerity that Cider House Rules has.

The company used all Michigan talent for the demos, and the score that was selected was composed by Ann Arbor native Ben Collins.

Wettlin said he didnt allow the project to overwhelm him while working on it.

After seeing rough cuts of the spots, he thought to himself, Oh, right, this will live for a very long time.

While the state only contracted for one song, Wettlin said it was designed to be adaptable enough to fit multiple spots.

We basically gave them a toolbox of sounds, Wettlin said. When they get into mix, they can take down some of the bass and let the synths live a little higher in the mix on the more nature ones, and the nightlife ones maybe pull some of that sentimental quality and bring up more of the fun quality.

A new voice

Another auditory change people are likely to quickly latch onto: the introduction of a new voice, Detroit poet jessica Care moore.

Moore, whose first and last name are not capitalized, came to national prominence after winning Its Showtime at the Apollo a record-breaking five times in a row.

Oprah shared in 2022 one of moores poems, Her Crown Shines, which was written for then-Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson following her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lorenz said the Michigan Economic Development Council had looked at introducing a second voice for years, but they just didnt seem right until we found jessica.

Were using her in a different way. Were using her writing talents as well as her voice, Lorenz said. I love her kind of grainy, granular, earthy voice. Its going to blend really well with Tim.

Focus on diversity

Highlighting diversity is one way the new campaign will appeal to younger audiences, Lorenz said.

We have a lot to be proud of with our diversity, and we think thats very appealing to a lot of people right now, Lorenz said. With our TV and radio ads, youre going to hear an additional voice with Tim Allen this year  youll hear a woman. That, in itself, demonstrates in a subtle way that were not the same old state you think we were. Were so much more.

But he acknowledged that some audiences may feel that capitalizing on diversity may seem superficial or opportunistic. Its a concern that they considered.

Thats one of the reasons why its taken us a while to really take this approach, because we felt that it had to be genuine. It had to be authentic. It had to be real, Lorenz said.

We tell the truth about things that are important to people, and things that we know are gaining importance in the future, he added. The state has changed in the last 17 years, and were trying to represent that change.

Moore joins Allen in the campaign, who has faced backlash in recent years. After attending the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, Allen told Jimmy Kimmel that, You get beat up if you dont believe what everybody else believes. This is like 30s Germany.

Asked whether that factored into the decision to introduce a new voice, Lorenz emphasized that Tim is not our spokesperson, hes our voice, and that he is not being replaced, but rather joined, by moore.

Marketers have to be careful with political debates, he said. Its really important that we stay out of that, because were in a very divided time politically.

But its tricky.

Everything seems to be perceived as being political these days, Lorenz said. But he isnt concerned about backlash to a more diverse campaign.

As long as were doing the right thing and were trying to do our best to articulate that were trying to make sure that all persons of goodwill know that they are welcome here, thats what counts. Lorenz said. If there are others out there who take that as some kind of a political statement, they just dont understand.
YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. The chief of Armenias top law enforcement agency has said that the criminal probes into the fifth columnists who operated within the Armenian military will eventually reveal those responsible for the defeat in the 2020 Second Nagorno Karabakh War.

The fifth column existed and still exists, and numerous [criminal] cases are being investigated in this regard, Chairman of the Investigative Committee Argishti Kyaramyan told reporters on May 9. Some of the cases have already been concluded, some were made public, but some remain undisclosed due to the interests of the investigation, but the time will come when our society will get the answers to all questions of concern, it will clearly know who those fifth columnists are, because of whom and why we lost, and how the circumstances of this defeat began and ended. I promise you this, Kyaramyan said.

Asked on the alleged desertions in the military during the war, Kyaramyan confirmed that there are multiple criminal investigations into alleged desertion and other cases but refused to disclose numbers.
More US Banks Could Collapse -- A Lot More

This ETF "continues to make lower lows"

It's sobering to reflect on the fact that the second, third and fourth largest bank failures in U.S. history have all occurred in just the past few months.

They are First Republic, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank of New York. The failure of Washington Mutual in 2008 still ranks first.

And here's an interesting factoid from the New York Post (May 1):

This year's 3 bank failures held $532B in assets -- more than all lenders that collapsed in 2008 crisis

The current banking crisis may be far from over, as another headline suggests (USA Today, May 4):

US banking crisis: Close to 190 banks could collapse, according to study

As the article notes, that study found that 186 more banks could teeter on collapse if only half of their depositors withdrew their money.

The Financial Times in Britain also piped in on this topic and expressed concerns about way more than 186 banks (May 2):

Half of America's banks are potentially insolvent -- this is how a credit crunch begins

The bottom line with these banks is that they are suffering losses from bonds and debt securities. The downturn in commercial real estate has hit banks hard.

Curiously, back on March 21, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was giving assurances about the banking system (US News & World Report):

Yellen Tells Nation's Bankers That the Crisis Is 'Stabilizing'

The May Elliott Wave Financial Forecast, a monthly publication which covers major U.S. financial markets, differed from the Treasury Secretary's view on U.S. banking as the publication showed this chart and said:

The SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) continues to make lower lows since Secretary Yellen's pronouncements. The ETF is down 48% since peaking on January 14, 2022, several days after the top in the Dow and S&P 500.

Since that chart and commentary published, San Francisco-based PacWest Bancorp is another bank which has seen its shares crater in price.

Are there viable alternatives to banks?

Yes!

Elliott Wave International has created a special report titled "Your 5 Top Alternatives to Banks," and there's a way you can access it for free.

This special report is excerpted from Robert Prechter's Last Chance to Conquer the Crash. The book was published in 2021 and warned of the banking scenario we're experiencing now.

Read "Your 5 Top Alternatives to Banks" now when you sign up for a FREE Club EWI account.

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline More Banks Could Collapse -- A Lot More. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Santas Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire is retiring Rudys Rapid Transit Coaster after the 2023 season.

Lets enjoy a Pure Joy Family Style summertime season riding Rudys Rapid Transit Coaster before the ride is retired from service during Fall 2023, Santas Village posted on Facebook. Its a family favorite and we are sad to see it go.

The roller coaster climbs 26 feet before descending onto a double-figure-eight track with multiple dips and turns at up to 22 mph, according to the organization. It was first at Bensons Animal Park (New England Playworld) in Hudson from 1981 through 1987. At that time it was known as the Firefly Coaster. It then moved to Santas Village in 1988.

But decades later, replacing parts hasnt been easy.

It is an old coaster and repairing and replacing parts is getting harder and harder to do, Santas Village wrote. As we saw when the original Great Humbug Adventure was retired for a beautiful modern dark ride, a ride retirement can give us a chance to improve.

The organization said theyd be sharing more about its replacement soon.

Many Facebook users shared memories of the roller coaster.

This is my first coaster. I road it as Firefly at Bensons and was excited when we visited Santas Village to find that they had added it, Mike Cutermarsh wrote. So many amazing memories. It will be missed.

Heartbroken. The one big kiddie coaster that introduced me to the world of roller coasters. (That and Polar Coaster). Its been many years since I rode it and will be sad to see it go, Liz Venus wrote. The closest clone to this ride is at Six Flags New England. Sigh...

Santas Village said there is not an exact closing day for the ride but it will be in the fall. The park opens May 27.
Changes the Biden-Harris administration made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program have paved the way for $42 billion to be approved for more than 600,000 borrowers.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 615,000 borrowers will receive $42 billion in loan forgiveness as part of the federal PSLF program which was overhauled by the Biden administration in October 2021.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was intended to provide debt relief to teachers, firefighters and other public employees. If those workers took a public service job for 10 years, and made payments on federal student loans during that time, at the end of the decade any remaining student debt they had would be forgiven.

This plan is separate from President Joe Bidens Student Loan Forgiveness plan thats currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Borrowers eligible for the PSLF originally had trouble actually achieving the debt relief they were promised. Prior to the Biden administrations revision, just over 16,000 people received loan relief under the PSLF since its 2007 inception.

The Department of Education also announced improvements to its PSLF help tool, which allows borrowers to apply for the program online. The changes will now allow borrowers to complete the entire PSLF application online. Borrowers will no longer need to fax or mail in their application with a signature.

Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked relentlessly to fix a broken student loan system, including by making sure we fulfill the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness for those who have spent a decade or more serving our communities and our country, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

To date, the Biden-Harris team has kept that promise for more than 615,000 teachers, nurses, social workers, service members, and other public servants by approving a combined $42 billion in student loan debt forgiveness, Cardona continued. The difference that Public Service Loan Forgiveness is making in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans reminds us why we must continue doing everything we can to fight for borrowers and why families cannot afford to have progress derailed by partisan politicians. During Public Service Recognition Weekand every weekwe thank all those who serve our communities.
A man in Chelsea was arrested Tuesday in connection to a stabbing that took place in an apartment on Lafayette Street that left one woman dead early on Monday.

Angel T. Alvarez, 65, of Dartmouth, will be arraigned in Chelsea District Court on Tuesday morning on a murder charge, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys office. Police responded to a call at around 10 a.m. on Monday, Channel 7 reported.

Read more: Newburyport plans demolition of exploded part of chemical plant that killed worker

Just before 2 p.m., Chelsea police tweeted that there was an active death investigation at 44 Lafayette St. with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police detectives.

Active Death Investigation

Chelsea Police, along with State Police Detectives assigned to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden's Office, are involved in an active death investigation at 44 Lafayette Ave. CPD and DA's office will update as info becomes available.  Chelsea Police (@CityofChelseaPD) May 8, 2023

The Suffolk County District Attorneys office identified Margarita Morehead, 59, as the woman who was stabbed multiple times, resulting in her death, this morning in a dwelling on Lafayette Avenue in Chelsea, a spokesperson said.

Read more: Accused leaker Jack Teixeira faces second detention hearing Thursday in Worcester

Neighbors reportedly expressed fear and nervousness over what happened.

This is horrible. This is uncalled for, one man said to NBC10 Boston. Something like this happened at this time of day? Thats tragic. Just take somebodys mother, sister, you know what Im saying?

I just moved here in September and I was remarking to the people I work with how I love my building, Pamela Rivera told Channel 7. I love my apartment. It was so quiet, clean, I never hear any noise.

Moreheads death was Chelseas first homicide of 2023, the district attorneys office told NBC 10.
A Baystate Health doctor accused of wearing a hidden camera while conducting medical exams on children and hoarding thousands of child sex abuse images and videos pleaded not guilty to the charge in U.S. District Court.

On April 21 in Boston federal court, Dr. Bradford Ferrick, 32, of Winchester and Amherst, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of child sex abuse images.

Baystate Health administrators were horrified after learning about Ferricks charges. The medical center immediately placed Ferick on unpaid administrative after his arrest in February.

If found guilty, Ferrick faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Ferrick previously voluntarily agreed to be held in custody without bail.

On Feb. 13, officials searched Ferricks Amherst residence and found about 61 devices that officials said contained thousands of images and videos of child sex abuse. The external hard drives, computers, cell phones, hidden camera systems and SD cards were all seized.

Investigators located many of the external hard drives on a dining room table near an Apple computer which had the display name Bradford Ferrick on the lock screen, court documents state.

Ferrick and his parents were all home during this search, according to court documents. They declined to speak with investigators.

A few days later, officials attempted to search his iPhone but were unable.

Officials believe Ferrick was able to use another computer device to remotely lock his iPhone between the time it was seized from his residence and when Detective Valdario attempted to review it, and potentially erase evidence on the device.

Detectives were able to get a second state search warrant for his Winchester residence. Investigators found 11 more devices, including an iPhone 7. Massachusetts State Police was able to unlock that iPhone and obtain the password for it using forensic software available to law enforcement, according to court documents.

A preliminary review of some of the devices seized allegedly revealed images and videos depicting child pornography of victims who appear to be between the ages of six and 11 years old, federal investigators said.

Officials then searched Ferricks residence he was renting in Amherst. Federal prosecutors said eight more devices were found, including multiple hidden camera devices and USB storage devices.

It is alleged that one of the hidden camera devices  which was designed to be worn as a bracelet  was found to contain at least two surreptitiously recorded videos of Ferrick administering medical exams, the statement read. It is alleged that two minors who investigators believe to be patients could be heard and, at times, partially seen in the videos.

A forensic review of the devices seized at both residences is ongoing.

Investigators also believe Ferrick wore a bracelet with hidden cameras while working at a Baystate Health office in August, including while one patients mom was in the room.

I heard the voices of, and could at times partially see, boys who appeared to be patients, federal investigators stated.

A boy can be heard stating he was 14 years old. In another video, the boy states he was going into 9th grade.

During the first video mentioned, it appears the mother of the patient is present, court documents state, adding that the people in the room likely dont know theyre being recorded.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation believes there could be more victims and said Ferrick may face additional charges at a later date.

The FBI has provided a form if you believe you or your minor dependent(s) were victimized by Bradford Ferrick, or you have information relevant to this investigation.

The questions ask for contact information, if you or a child came in contact with Ferrick and at which facility.
It wasnt long ago that Hampshire College seemed to be on the brink of sale or closure. But the experimental Amherst school is now poised to welcome its largest incoming freshman class in five years.

More than 300 students will join Hampshire College this coming fall semester, the most in an incoming class since 2018, the school said.

This is another indication that our radical approach to undergraduate education is resonating, college President Ed Wingenbach said.

In the spring of 2019, Hampshire faced a dismal financial outlook and sought a merger with another institution to ease a budget crisis.

With the colleges future in doubt, administrators declined to enroll a full freshman class in 2019. The incoming cohort that fall numbered 13 students.

Under the new leadership of Wingenbach  formerly the president of Ripon College in Wisconsin  Hampshire launched an ambitious fundraising plan: raise $60 million by 2024.

The school is now on track for full enrollment and financial stability by 2027, it said in a news release.

Hampshire College, founded in 1965, offers an unconventional curriculum to its population of a few hundred students. The school emphasizes student-driven learning, hands-on experience and close collaboration with educators.

Of the 306 incoming students this fall, 21 are transfers.

Three joined Hampshire this year from the New College of Florida. The small liberal arts school in Sarasota, a self-described community of free thinkers, has become a target of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has reportedly sought to remake the school as a hub of conservativism.

In March, Hampshire College said it would match tuition for any New College students who wished to transfer.

Twenty other students have begun the process of transferring to Hampshire, the school said.

The incoming class represents 37 states, including Arizona, Georgia, Oregon and other states where Hampshire hopes to draw more students in the future.

About a third of the incoming students are people of color, 37% are eligible for Pell grants and 8% are from other countries.

These numbers offer compelling proof that as students and families make their college choices, theyre drawn to an experience organized around the generation of new possibilities, new questions, and new solutions to the complex challenges our future presents, Wingenbach said.

He said last year, in an interview with Albany radio station WAMC, that Hampshires turnaround can be attributed to a number of changes at the school.

A refreshed curriculum allows students to study how to tackle grand societal ills, such as white supremacy or climate change.

I think students, particularly students coming out of the pandemic, find that kind of relevant and focus on an education for change really compelling, Wingenbach said.

The school has also tried to increase its visibility and recruiting in new regions, both in the United States and abroad, where students have not historically come from.

Wingenbach also told WAMC that students want to be able to control their own education. In Hampshires small-school environment, which gives students heavy influence over their studies, he said students have found value in self-direction and self-motivation.
NEW YORK (AP)  A jury has found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House.

The verdict was announced in a federal courtroom in New York City on the first day of jury deliberations. Jurors rejected Carrolls claims that she was raped, but found Trump liable for sexually assaulting her.

Jurors reached a verdict Tuesday in the lawsuit accusing former President Donald Trump of raping advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996.

The verdict was to be announced at 3 p.m. in a federal courtroom in New York City.

Word of the verdict emerged just a few hours after the jury began deliberating in the case, which alleges Trump raped Carroll in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan read instructions on the law to the nine-person jury before the panel began discussing Carrolls allegations of battery and defamation shortly before noon.

If they believe Carroll, jurors can award compensatory and punitive damages. Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Carroll or even knew her.

Kaplan told jurors that the first question on the verdict form will be to decide whether they think there is more than a 50% chance that Trump raped Carroll inside a store dressing room. If they answer yes, they will then decide whether compensatory and punitive damages should be awarded.

If they answer no on the rape question, they can then decide if Trump subjected her to lesser forms of assault involving sexual contact without her consent or forcible touching to degrade her or gratify his sexual desire. If they answer yes on either of those questions, they will decide if damages are appropriate.

On defamation claims stemming from a statement Trump made on social media last October, Kaplan said jurors must be guided by a higher legal standard  clear and convincing evidence. He said they would have to agree it was highly probable that Trumps statement was false and was made maliciously with deliberate intent to injure or out of hatred or ill will with reckless disregard for Carrolls rights.

Meanwhile, Trump posted a new message on social media, complaining that he is now awaiting the jurys decision on a False Accusation. He said he is not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me.

Trump said he will not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me ... no matter the outcome!

Trump never attended the trial, which is in its third week, and rejected an invitation to testify, which the judge extended through the weekend even after Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina, said Thursday that his client would not testify.

Tacopina told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carrolls account is too far fetched to be believed. He said she made it up to fuel sales of a 2019 memoir in which she first publicly revealed her claims and to disparage Trump for political reasons.

Carrolls attorney, Roberta Kaplan, cited excerpts from Trumps October deposition and his notorious comments on a 2005 Access Hollywood video in which he said celebrities can grab women between the legs without asking.

She urged jurors to believe her client.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Kaplan said. She said much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case.

In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll.

Carroll, 79, testified that she had a chance encounter with Trump at the Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower. She said it was a lighthearted interaction in which they teased each other about trying on a piece of lingerie before Trump became violent inside a dressing room.

Tacopina told jurors there was no reason to call Trump as a witness when Carroll cant even recall when her encounter with Trump happened.

He told the jury Carroll made up her claims after hearing about a 2012 Law and Order episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

They modeled their secret scheme on an episode of one of the most popular shows on television, he said of Carroll.

Two of Carrolls friends testified that she told them about the encounter with Trump shortly after it happened, many years before the Law and Order episode aired.
STEPANAKERT, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. Citizens of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh gathered at the central plaza in Stepanakert city for the No to Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh movements rally on May 9.

The rally began with a prayer at the Renaissance Square , followed by a moment of silence in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWII and the Nagorno Karabakh wars.

The participants of the rally reiterated their demands and determination to struggle for their right to live freely.

The text of a recently launched petition addressed to the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries and the Armenian Prime Minister was read.

The petition warns that Azerbaijan is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing, genocidal actions aimed at depriving the people of their homeland and is keeping 120,000 Armenians blockaded. It also mentions the gross violations of the 2020 ceasefire agreement  the trilateral statement  by Azerbaijan.

We demand the application of all international mechanisms to ensure the terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, as well as the implementation of the UN International Court of Justice ruling, reads the petition.

Former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan was also in attendance.

On April 23, Azerbaijan violated the red lines and installed a checkpoint. The violation of these red lines makes us struggle, as honorable men, because we have no other option. No one should restrict our free access and exit in and from Armenia. We are under blockade for already 149 days, we dont have gas and power, and you know the situation in Sarsang reservoir. We have many problems, but we are not giving up. Yes, the situation is difficult, but one thing is certain, there can be no talk about any so-called reintegration. We are defending our home, our cities and villages, the graves of our ancestors, our right to live on our land. We dont want to attack anyone, we want a calm and happy life in our homeland. We are ready for negotiations, but these negotiations cannot take place with the gun to our head, but only in case of mutual respect, Vardanyan said, calling on Armenians around the world to be united for Artsakh.

President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, together with former presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, were also in attendance.
SPRINGFIELD  Old-time mobster Rex Cunningham has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly threatening to break all the bones in a mans body over a $600 debt.

Cunningham, 72, was indicted on four criminal charges including unarmed robbery, intimidation of a witness, attempted extortion by threat of injury and threat to commit a crime. His lawyer says prosecutors have blown the case way out proportion.

The incident occurred on April 19, 2022, with a knock on a mans door that evening, according to court records. The man was a tenant of Cunninghams girlfriend, Tammy Taylor, although Cunningham refers to Taylor as his wife.

Im Tammys husband. Good to meet you, now lets get a few things straight here. You stop being a f---ing wise guy, Cunningham is alleged to have said. You be disrespectful to these girls again Ill break every bone in your f---ing body. You call the cops, you call whoever the f--- you want and thats whats going to happen to you.

Dont say a word. Ill take your f---ing head off right here, Cunningham reportedly said, as captured in a recording.

Got you, the man responded. He was behind on his $600 monthly rent.

He told police he activated an audio recording app on his phone because he thought the visitor was Taylor and they were embroiled in eviction proceedings.

Rex Cunningham, right, and codefendant Brian Hoyle are shown here in Hampshire Superior Court after their arrests on illegal gaming and loansharking charges in 2017. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

Cunningham was once a feared loan shark with longtime ties to the Genovese crime family. He was known to boast about violent attacks he committed on debtors who tried to stiff him.

He went to federal prison for 17 years after being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys office and was released in 2011. Cunningham later did a short stint in jail after pleading guilty in 2017 to running illegal gaming and street loan rings out of two Irish pubs he owns in Springfield.

Cunningham pleaded not guilty to the charges in Palmer District Court after his arrest. His attorney labeled the exchange with the alleged victim a misunderstanding over what Cunningham perceived as a display of very bad manners.

On Tuesday, defense lawyer Daniel D. Kelly decried the indictments as an overreach by the Hampden District Attorneys office.

This has been blown way out proportion. If his name was Rex Smith as opposed to Rex Cunningham, if the case was even brought it would have remained in district court and would have been resolved with a nominal fine, Kelly said.

Since when is getting your feelings hurt turn into a felony? This is not an organized crime case, Kelly added.

Cunningham did not injure the alleged victim, and offered to write the man a receipt if he gave him all the money in his wallet.

You want to pay me, Ill give you a receipt, said Cunningham, according to investigators.

I dont want to break you, Cunningham offered, referring to leaving the man without any cash.

He also advised the man not to be a rat and go running to police. That, however, is what the man did.

Cunninghams arraignment date has not yet been set.
A Springfield police officer faces criminal charges after an investigation by his superiors accused him of assaulting his girlfriend in April.

The Springfield Police Department arrested officer Jeffrey Alicea, a two-year member of the force, on April 15 after an investigation determined probable cause for his arrest based on interviews with Alicea, his girlfriend and her father. The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission recently suspended Alicea due to his ongoing criminal case in Springfield District Court.

Alicea pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on April 18 and Judge Danielle Williams allowed Alicea to be released with condition as the case against him proceeds. He faces two charges; assault and battery on a household member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
AMHERST  Kyu Song Cho, an immigration lawyer killed with his wife, Cindy, and their 3-year-old son, James, and five others in a shooting at a Dallas, Texas, area outlet mall Saturday was a University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our UMass Amherst alumnus Kyu Cho, his wife and their three-year old son in the Texas mall shooting, said campus spokesman Edward Blaguszewski. Mr. Cho graduated from UMass Amherst in 2007 with a degree in political science.

Kyu Cho, 37, and Cindy Cho, 35, reportedly took their family to the Allen Premium Outlets to run errands.

The Chos 6-year-old son, William, was injured and needed treatment at an ICU. He is the only surviving member of the family.

Cho was born in South Korea and raised in Dallas.

Porter Legal Group, where Cho was a managing attorney, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that coworkers were shocked, absolutely crushed.

Although Kyu has only been with our firm for a year, it was immediately apparent that he is one of the most thoughtful, caring and considerate people we have ever had the pleasure to know and work alongside, the post said. He was that way as a leader, mentor, and friend at our organization too. He was loved and respected by his and our entire team.

Former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton was one of those mourning the Chos.

I cant stop thinking about this beautiful young family, murdered with an AR-15 style rifle while running errands, Clinton wrote on her Twitter account. Ban assault weapons now.

A GoFundMe campaign for the Cho family has already raised more than $1.49 million.

The shooter, Mauricio Garcia, had a fascination with white supremacy, and he had large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, the Associated Press said.

Authorities believe he planned the attack for months.

Garcia killed eight and wounded seven others before he was killed by a police officer.
FOXBOROUGH  JaWhaun Bentley was a student at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyatts, Maryland, when he sent a direct message to Donta Hightower on Instagram. Bentley was a budding linebacker who looked up to Hightower and Jamie Collins when they were on the Patriots.

After getting drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round in 2018, Bentley shared the same field with his idols. That experience has played a part in Bentley developing into the top linebacker in New England.

To play with both of those guys and to be my mentors, my OGs so to speak, being able to grasp all the things they did and play alongside them  I learned a lot, Bentley said on Tuesday. I cant say it enough. We still talk to this day. Probably when I get off the podium, well be talking to each other.

Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots have had a long line of successful linebackers. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel led the way during the early portion of the Patriots dynasty. Jerod Mayo followed in their footsteps. After Mayo, it was Hightower and Collins. Over the past two seasons, Bentley took over the linebacker room.

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Every year, Bentley has improved statistically. After playing in three games as a rookie, he made 44 tackles in 2019 followed by 91 tackles in 2020. In 2021, he set another career-high with 109 tackles. Last year, he bettered that with a career-high 125 tackles and a career-best three sacks.

Bentley said he dives into old game film during every offseason. He watches himself to pick out weak points or errors he made the previous season. That work has helped make Bentley the best linebacker in New England, where hes successfully followed in his mentors footsteps.

I would say I feel like every players goal is year in and year out to improve. Ive made that my goal, Bentley said. Not even year from year but game to game, find that improvement and not let it be a cliche term but actually put action to it and critiquing yourself. A lot of people say theyre their own worst critic but unless you show action behind it, its really just words.

I just try to improve daily. Whether thats physically, leadership qualities, all the intangibles that come with it and bringing guys along with me. Its no fun to do it by yourself.

A two-time captain, Bentleys work on and off the field would certainly make linebackers of the Patriots past proud.
The Essex County District Attorneys Office identified a 47-year-old woman as the person hit and killed by a car in North Andover Sunday afternoon.

Angela Desmond, 47, of North Andover was identified as the person killed in the incident, according to DA officials.

On Sunday at 1:30 p.m., authorities said Desmond was walking on Massachusetts Avenue, near Route 125, when she was hit by a Honda Civic.

First responders rushed Desmond to Lawrence General Hospital where she later died.

Essex County District Attorney officials have not released the identity of the driver in the crash, authorities are still deciding whether to file charges in the fatal incident.

Massachusetts state police and the North Andover Police Department are investigating the incident.
A Springfield cop was among four Massachusetts police officers added to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commissions latest round of police suspensions.

Springfield Police Officer Jeffrey Alicea was suspended by the POST Commission on May 4. Alicea was accused of assaulting a family member with a weapon while in police uniform during an April 15 domestic incident, according to court documents.

The Springfield Board of Commissioners is set to discuss the officers suspension on Tuesday.

The Springfield Police Department said the POST Commission suspended Aliceas certification due to pending criminal charges from the April incident.

Individuals uncertified in Massachusetts cannot work for any state law enforcement in any capacity.

Alicea is the second Springfield police officer to be added to the POST Commissions list. Springfield police officer Leon Davis was added to the list in January after he was accused of repeatedly hitting a woman with a stun gun during a 2021 arrest.

Massachusetts law requires the POST Commission to suspend officers who have not completed specific in-service training through the Municipal Police Training Committee and those who have been charged, arrested or indicted on a felony.

Jonathan Correia of the Brockton Police Department, Mila DepinaCooley of the Boston Police Department and Iancy Gonzalez of the Salem Police Department were also added to the list, bringing the POST Commissions officer suspension list to 28, as of May 4.

Read more: 3 Massachusetts police officers charged in 3 unrelated criminal incidents

Officers included in the list face serious criminal allegations such as fraud, child rape, bribery and indecent assault.

The commission also placed Christopher Cowley and Edward Fitzgerald, both of the Wrentham Police Department, on administrative suspension for failing to complete mandatory training.

POST commission officials are expected to release another round of suspensions next month.
A longtime proponent of targeted tax relief, Senate President Karen Spilka on Monday didnt make any promises about passing a bill, saying only that it remained under review.

The Senate is still taking a look at tax relief, after April tax collections fell far short of estimates, Spilka told reporters Monday afternoon.

Spilka has long called for permanent, progressive tax relief  including last summer, when revelations over Chapter 62F and the need to return nearly $3 billion in excess revenues to taxpayers upended planned packages on Beacon Hill.

Spilka insisted Monday that her chambers relief package, which will be unveiled after the fiscal 2024 budget process, must be smart and sustainable.

I said last spring, I said again in the summer, I said again in the fall and then January, that we should have permanent progressive tax relief that is smart and sustainable, and the Senate is taking a look at doing that, Spilka said.

Spilka did not commit to a specific timeline, only saying it would happen after the budget. With this approach, the Senate appears to be diverging from the tactics used by the House and Gov. Maura Healey, who made tax relief proposals a central part of their budgeting proposals.

Its not clear if the Senate Ways and Means Committee budget proposal due for release Tuesday will factor in any impacts next year from proposed tax relief, as both the House and governor did.

Asked if the Senate would put forward a relief proposal soon after or months after the budget rollout, Spilka replied, Well see when we are ready.

Asked if the Senates version of the tax relief will resemble Healeys $1 billion or the Houses $1.1 billion bottom line, Spilka opted for different metrics, saying the body will be basing it off of consensus from the senators, and again repeating that it would be progressive, permanent, smart and sustainable.

Spilka wouldnt say what size tax package her chamber could afford after April tax revenues came in $1.435 billion or 23.1% below the most recent monthly benchmark.

Since news of the revenue shortfall broke, Healey has maintained a line that her budget team factored in a likely slowdown when they crafted her tax plan and her fiscal year 2024 budget bill, which sets aside funds for tax relief.

The Senate president echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the downturn was expected and accounted for when lawmakers and economists agreed on the consensus revenue number in January.

The month of April we took into account to a large extent when we did our consensus revenue, when we figured our budget. It was a significant drop. But again, the bottom line is weve always had ups and downs. We did last year, we did the year before and we will continue to have that and I think that that needs to be taken into account when we do a progressive, permanent, smart, sustainable tax relief, she said.

During Januarys consensus revenue hearing, analysts said they expected a slowcession where there would still be growth, but not the eye-popping increases of recent years.

Spilka was also noncommittal when asked whether she would include reform to capital gains tax and estate taxes, policies included in the governors and Houses proposals that have gotten backlash from progressive groups but which supporters say are central to addressing competitiveness concerns.

Both the House and Healeys budget proposals cut the states 12 percent tax rate on short-term capital gains to 5 percent, though Healeys bill would execute the cut percent more immediately, while the Houses version would taper down to 5 percent. Healey aims to triple the threshold at which the estate tax kicks in, from $1 million to $3 million, while the House proposed doubling the threshold.

Asked if her definition of progressive tax relief did not include these more controversial aspects of the Healeys and the Houses tax packages, Spilka said nothing was off  or on  the table right now.

Again, were in the process of the Senate getting input and getting consensus and that will guide whats in it and whats not, she said. Nothings been rolled out  nothings been necessarily rolled in. Weve had, weve already had a lot of discussion and input from senators and well continue to take that input.

Still, the Ashland Democrat said the budget and tax relief package together should be designed to help Massachusetts to remain and be even more competitive.

Spilka refrained from specifying what tax measures may be proposed by senators, aside from the earned income tax credit. Both Healeys and the Houses tax relief plans called for expanding the child and family tax credit, senior circuit breaker and rental deduction cap, while overhauling the estate tax and short-term capital gains tax.

The Senate has focused years ago on the EITC piece, helping our lowest-income residents, Spilka said. Research shows that EITC is one of the best ways to give low-income folks the benefits and some money in their pocket, and then they turn it around and put it on main street, their local economies.

The Senate last July had wanted to raise the state tax credit from a 30% match to a 40% match of the federal credit.

At their first leadership meeting after nearly a month, Spilka was not the only one who appeared at ease about April tax revenues plummeting by $2.163 billion from the same month last year.

Ill just add that unemployment is incredibly low, Healey said to reporters. Were in a very strong financial position here in the state. We recently had an increase to our bond rating. And Aprils numbers, while lower than that last year in April, are still the second highest recorded revenue in the commonwealths history. So you know, obviously were in the process of reviewing things and more analysis to be done, but I continue to be of the view that both the budget that we passed that well continue to work on here with the Legislature and also a tax relief package remain whats in order for the commonwealth.House Speaker Ron Mariano also said the downturn was expected.

Well look, we anticipated the potential downslope on the economy and thats why we rolled in a few of our tax changes over two years, we incrementally made some changes, Mariano said of the Houses tax plan.

Unlike Healeys signature $600 child and family tax credit, the House wants to phase in the relief over a three-year span. The chamber also wants to reduce the short-term capital gains rate over two years.

We wanted to be prudent. We think we were, he said.
FOR one of the most pleasant and authentic wilderness experiences, you wont do much better than to head down to Letterkeen and Srahmore, in the foothills of the Nephin Beg Mountain Range.

Letterkeen is the essence of tranquillity. The name says it all, as it means calm hillside. Caoin can also mean fair or pleasant. Leitir means wet, spewy hillside and the Big Strath or Srah Mor indicates we are in riparian territory here. Rivers abound and they do not look much prettier than the Altahoney River. Altahoney River in Irish is Abhainn Ailt an Chonnaidh that translates to river of the cliff of the firewood. There are beautiful tiny weirs and waterfalls along its course from Nephin Beg mountain to Lough Feeagh.

The reason I like these two townlands so much is that they contain one of the best looped walks in the county, the Letterkeen Loop Walk. I have completed the loop many times and it never fails to impress. I was there again recently with Westport Hillwalkers.

We stopped for lunch at the Lough Avoher (from bothar meaning road) hut, constructed voluntarily by members of Mountain Meitheal. It is in a lovely location at the edge of the townland of Mam aRata, the pass of the young hare, where the Bangor Trail continues to the northwest and there are two options for a longer high or a shorter low section of our loop above the little mountain lake from which the hut takes its name.

Panorama

ONE of the best panoramas on the walk is from Correenbeg Hill, the next stop on the high route. At 311 metres above sea level this is a terrific vantage point. Views to the west include the sea coast and Nephin Beg Mountain to the north. Lying in-between is a wilderness that looks untouched. Well, almost. There are forest tracks, evidence of tree harvesting, one or two farmhouses and the Bellacorick wind turbines are visible in the distance. It was once reputed to be the loneliest place in Ireland.

Using a word you dont hear much these days, Robert Lloyd Praeger, antiquarian Irish nature writer, described the scene as inspiriting. I love this word because it seems to offer something more long-term to someone  it means encouraging or enlivening  rather than the more fleeting effect of being merely inspiring. It is inspiring too of course, producing positive or creative feelings. In any case, no amount of writing about it can truly convey the lived experience; you must get out there and experience it first-hand yourself.

Rewilding

ANOTHER word, that was not in vogue in Praegers day, is rewilding. This whole section of the National Park is undergoing a rewilding programme under the auspices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The NPWS website explains:

Wild Nephin National Park is at the beginning of the rewilding and ecological restoration of the Nephin Forest, an extensive area of what was previously commercial conifer plantation to the east of the Nephin Beg Mountain Range. The Nephin Forest Conversion is starting the journey to where nature is once again the driving force.

The Conversion Plan will set out the long-term vision for the Nephin Forest with plans to rewild and restore peatlands, woodlands, and riparian habitats within an expansive landscape. Over the past 50 years this area has been dominated by coniferous forests planted for commercial timber production. Our work will create conditions for natural processes to become the dominant driver of change, where biodiversity is enhanced, ecosystems restored and where people can connect with nature in a remote and wild environment.

The nearby Owenduff bog is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe and is an important scientific and scenic feature of the National Park. Wild Nephin National Park is part of the Natura 2000 Network, which protects rare and important habitats and species under the EU Habitats and Birds Directive. To the east of the mountains is the Nephin Forest, which is currently mainly comprised of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine, and was originally planted for commercial purposes. This area is now within the National Park and will be managed for biodiversity and recreation.

People have fished and hunted game in the area for a long period. Fishing and hunting lodges, still present outside of the National Park, were bases for these activities. Native red deer, which have returned to the Nephin Beg mountains, was one of the species hunted.

Dr John OCallaghan is a mountain walk leader who has organised and led expeditions both at home and abroad.

He has served on the board of Mountaineering Ireland and is currently on the Irish Uplands Forum board.
Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan visited the Stepanakert Memorial on May 9 to honor the fallen troops, the Presidential Office stated.

May 9, 2023, 11:33 Artsakh Republic President visits Stepanakert Memorial

STEPANAKERT, MAY 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: Arayik Harutyunyan, together with government officials and military commanders, paid tribute to the memory of the martyred heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the wars for our homeland's freedom.
Today on May 9, Artsakh Republic citizens gathered at Renaissance Square in Stepanakert for the No to Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh movements rally.

May 9, 2023, 16:42 ''No to Ethnic Cleansing'' Rally held in Stepanakert

STEPANAKERT, MAY 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: The rally began with a prayer at the Renaissance Square , followed by a moment of silence in honor of the martyred heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the wars for our homeland's freedom.

The text of a recently launched petition addressed to the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries and the Armenian Prime Minister was read.

We demand the application of all international mechanisms to ensure the terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, as well as the implementation of the UN International Court of Justice ruling, reads the petition.

Former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan was also in attendance.

On April 23, Azerbaijan violated the red lines and installed a checkpoint. The violation of these red lines makes us struggle, as honorable men, because we have no other option. No one should restrict our free access and exit in and from Armenia. We are under blockade for already 149 days, we dont have gas and power, and you know the situation in Sarsang reservoir. We have many problems, but we are not giving up. The situation is difficult, but one thing is certain, there can be no talk about any so-called reintegration.

We are defending our home, our cities and villages, the graves of our ancestors, our right to live on our land. We dont want to attack anyone, we want a calm and happy life in our homeland. We are ready for negotiations, but these negotiations cannot take place with the gun to our head, but only in case of mutual respect, Vardanyan said, calling on Armenians around the world to be united for Artsakh.

President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, together with former presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, were also in attendance.
(Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) As per DelveInsights assessment, globally, Cystic Fibrosis pipeline constitutes 75+ key companies continuously working towards developing 80+ Cystic Fibrosis treatment therapies, analysis of Clinical Trials, Therapies, Mechanism of Action, Route of Administration, and Developments analyzes DelveInsight.

Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Insight, 2023 report by DelveInsight outlines comprehensive insights into the present clinical development scenario and growth prospects across the Cystic Fibrosis Market.

The Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline report embraces in-depth commercial and clinical assessment of the pipeline products from the pre-clinical developmental phase to the marketed phase. The report also covers a detailed description of the drug, including the mechanism of action of the drug, clinical studies, NDA approvals (if any), and product development activities comprising the technology, collaborations, mergers acquisition, funding, designations, and other product-related details.

Some of the key takeaways from the Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Report:

Companies across the globe are diligently working toward developing novel Cystic Fibrosis treatment therapies with a considerable amount of success over the years.

Cystic Fibrosis companies working in the treatment market are Spirovant Sciences, Arcturus Therapeutics, Krystal Biotech, Vertex Pharmaceutical, AbbVie, Armata Pharmaceutical, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Verona Pharma , and others, are developing therapies for the Cystic Fibrosis treatment

Emerging Cystic Fibrosis therapies such as  SP-101, LUNAR CF, KB407, VX-522, Galicaftor/Navoc aftor/ABBV-576, AP-PA02, 4D-710, ELX-02, Ensifentrine, and others are expected to have a significant impact on the Cystic Fibrosis market in the coming years.

In September 2021, Vertex Pharmaceuticals initiated a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, controlledstudy evaluating the efficacy and safety of VX-121 combination therapy in subjects with cystic fibrosis (cf) who areheterozygous for f508del and a minimal function mutation (F/MF). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacyand safety of VX-121/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor (VX-121/TEZ/D-IVA) in CF participants who are heterozygous forF508del and a minimal function mutation (F/MF participants).

In November 2021, The Phase 2 clinical trial with ELX-02 in Class 1 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with at least one G542X nonsense allele mutation saw encouraging topline results, according to Eloxx Pharmaceuticals. At the 1.5 mg/kg/day dose, ELX-02 was well tolerated and reduced sweat chloride in patients by a statistically significant 5.4 mmol/L

Cystic Fibrosis Overview

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive genetic disease caused by a mutation in the epithelial chloride channelcystic fibrosistrans membrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CF is a predominant genetic disorder with a disease severity ranging from mild to life-threatening. The number of CF patients in a population varies depending on ethnicity

Get a Free Sample PDF Report to know more about Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Therapeutic Assessment

Emerging Cystic Fibrosis Drugs Under Different Phases of Clinical Development Include:

SP-101: Spirovant Sciences

LUNAR CF: Arcturus Therapeutics

KB407: Krystal Biotech

OligoG: Algi Pharma

MRT5005: Translate Bio

CB280: Calithera Biosciences

KB407 : Krystal Biotech

VX-522: Vertex Pharmaceutical

SPL84231: SpliSense

Galicaftor/Navoc aftor/ABBV-576: AbbVie

AP-PA02: Armata Pharmaceutical

4D-710: 4D Molecular Therapeutics

ELX-02: Eloxx Pharmaceuticals

Ensifentrine: Verona Pharma

Route of Administration

Cystic Fibrosis pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs, such as

Intra-articular

Intraocular

Intrathecal

Intravenous

Ophthalmic

Oral

Parenteral

Subcutaneous

Topical

Transdermal

Molecule Type

Molecule Type

Products have been categorized under various Molecule types, such as

Oligonucleotide

Peptide

Small molecule

Product Type

Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Therapeutics Assessment

Cystic Fibrosis Assessment by Product Type

Cystic Fibrosis By Stage and Product Type

Cystic Fibrosis Assessment by Route of Administration

Cystic Fibrosis By Stage and Route of Administration

Cystic Fibrosis Assessment by Molecule Type

Cystic Fibrosis by Stage and Molecule Type

DelveInsights Cystic Fibrosis Report covers around 80+ products under different phases of clinical development like

Late-stage products (Phase III)

Mid-stage products (Phase II)

Early-stage product (Phase I)

Pre-clinical and Discovery stage candidates

Discontinued & Inactive candidates

Route of Administration

Further Cystic Fibrosis product details are provided in the report. Download the Cystic Fibrosis pipeline report to learn more about the emerging Cystic Fibrosis therapies

Some of the key companies in the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Market include:

Key companies developing therapies for Cystic Fibrosis are  Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, NovaBiotics, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, SolAeroMed, Translate Bio, Inc., Path BioAnalytics, Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, AlgiPharma, Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Santhera Pharmaceuticals, Calithera Biosciences, Inc, AbbVie, Spyryx Biosciences, Inc., Verona Pharma, Laurent Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, OrPro Therapeutics, Protalix Biotherapeutics, Krystal Biotech, Insmed Incorporated, BiomX, Arcturus Therapeutics, and others.

Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Analysis:

The Cystic Fibrosis pipeline report provides insights into

The report provides detailed insights about companies that are developing therapies for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis with aggregate therapies developed by each company for the same.

It accesses the Different therapeutic candidates segmented into early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage of development for Cystic Fibrosis Treatment.

Cystic Fibrosis key companies are involved in targeted therapeutics development with respective active and inactive (dormant or discontinued) projects.

Cystic Fibrosis Drugs under development based on the stage of development, route of administration, target receptor, monotherapy or combination therapy, a different mechanism of action, and molecular type.

Detailed analysis of collaborations (company-company collaborations and company-academia collaborations), licensing agreement and financing details for future advancement of the Cystic Fibrosis market.

The report is built using data and information traced from the researchers proprietary databases, company/university websites, clinical trial registries, conferences, SEC filings, investor presentations, and featured press releases from company/university websites and industry-specific third-party sources, etc.

Download Sample PDF Report to know more about Cystic Fibrosis drugs and therapies

Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Market Drivers

Rising incidence of Cystic Fibrosis, advance research and development over the last few years have contributed to get a clearer picture of the disease, and development of the healthcare industry are some of the important factors that are fueling the Cystic Fibrosis Market.

Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Market Barriers

However, no standard cure for cystic fibrosis, adverse effects associated with the drugs and other factors are creating obstacles in the Cystic Fibrosis Market growth.

Scope of Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Drug Insight

Coverage: Global

Key Cystic Fibrosis Companies: Spirovant Sciences, Arcturus Therapeutics, Krystal Biotech, Vertex Pharmaceutical, AbbVie, Armata Pharmaceutical, 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Verona Pharma , and others

Key Cystic Fibrosis Therapies : SP-101, LUNAR CF, KB407, VX-522, Galicaftor/Navoc aftor/ABBV-576, AP-PA02, 4D-710, ELX-02, Ensifentrine, and others

Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutic Assessment: Cystic Fibrosis current marketed and Cystic Fibrosis emerging therapies

Cystic Fibrosis Market Dynamics: Cystic Fibrosis market drivers and Cystic Fibrosis market barriers

Request for Sample PDF Report for Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Assessment and clinical trials

Table of Contents

1 Cystic Fibrosis Report Introduction 2 Cystic Fibrosis Executive Summary 3 Cystic Fibrosis Overview 4 Cystic Fibrosis- Analytical Perspective In-depth Commercial Assessment 5 Cystic Fibrosis Pipeline Therapeutics 6 Cystic Fibrosis Late Stage Products (Phase II/III) 7 Cystic Fibrosis Mid Stage Products (Phase II) 8 Cystic Fibrosis Early Stage Products (Phase I) 9 Cystic Fibrosis Preclinical Stage Products 10 Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Assessment 11 Cystic Fibrosis Inactive Products 12 Company-University Collaborations (Licensing/Partnering) Analysis 13 Cystic Fibrosis Key Companies 14 Cystic Fibrosis Key Products 15 Cystic Fibrosis Unmet Needs 16 Cystic Fibrosis Market Drivers and Barriers 17 Cystic Fibrosis Future Perspectives and Conclusion 18 Cystic Fibrosis Analyst Views 19 Appendix 20 About DelveInsight

*The Table of Contents (TOC) is not exhaustive; the final content may vary. Refer to the sample report for the complete table of contents.

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A large fire has been extinguished at a power plant west of the Iranian city Isfahan, state media report.

"This afternoon, fire broke out in one of the cooling towers of the Isfahan power plant. The fire was extinguished thanks to the rapid response of relief forces and there were no injuries," the director general of crisis management of the Isfahan governorate told state media.

The Isfahan thermal power plant has five units with a total generation capacity of 830 Megawatts.

The cooling tower that caught fire is linked to a power unit with a maximum output of 320 MW.

The owner of the power plant told state media the cause of the incident would be announced after an investigation.
by Fern Siegel , May 9, 2023

Emily Plunkett Fleischer was named the U.S. director of AdGreen.

The new role is funded by Ad Net Zero, the ad industrys plan to promote and embed sustainable products and services.

Fleischer will work with AdGreen global director Jo Fenn and Ad Net Zero director John Osborn to introduce the organization to the U.S.

Founding supporters of the effort include ad trade orgs, such as AICP, ANA, 4As and IAB, along with Google, Meta, L'Oreal, Unilever, Diageo, Reckitt, Indeed, Pubmatic, IPG, Publicis Groupe, Dentsu, WPP, Omnicom and Havas.

Fleischer, founder-CEO of Maidstone Films, completed the most projects in AdGreen's carbon calculator in 2022. She will continue at Maidstone while working at AdGreen.

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In her new role, Fleischer will steer the adoption of the AdGreen calculator tool in the U.S. market. It is specifically modeled for the ad production community, allowing users to measure carbon across significant areas of the production process.Ive seen first-hand that you dont have to compromise quality to reduce emissions, and I am thrilled to have the support of the existing AdGreen team, Ad Net Zero and other industry organizations as we bring that message to the U.S. market, said Fleischer.Ad Net Zero launched its action plan in the U.K. in November 2020, followed by Ireland and a global rollout at Cannes Lions in 2022. Ad Net Zero launched in the U.S. in February 2023
by Barbara Lippert , May 8, 2023



Photograph by David Russell/HBO

This weeks episode opens with Tom warbling Rasmussen! Its election eve and guess what Father Sexmas has brought you? Hot polling!

(Rasmussen is the real-world right-wing polling company that this weekend showed Trump ahead of Biden.)

Good husband Tom has brought Shiv breakfast in her home office. He got the tray from the caterer, part of a crew that has descended on their apartment for the Tailgate Party, an ATV pre-Presidential election-night fixture that Logan had always hosted in his townhouse.

Now the party has moved to Shiv and Toms apartment, a gorgeous, if somewhat generic, modern downtown triplex with several terraces.

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When last we checked on Mr. and Mrs. Bitey, they were reuniting.

And from the looks of their latest post-hot-sex texts, it feels so good.

Which makes the prezzie that Tom offers along with brekkie a head-scratcher.

As she opens the Cartier-like box, Shivs perhaps expecting a watch.

Instead, she finds a glass paperweight with a scorpion inside.

Huh? Passive aggressive, Tom? It suggests that fable about the scorpion promising the frog not to bite him if hell carry him across the river. Half-way, the scorpion indeed stings the frog, and as the frog dies, the scorpion explains It is my nature.

As a marriage metaphor, its heavy-handed. Tom claims its a joke. I love you, honey, but you kill me, and I kill you.

But it does explain the nature of what becomes of their cocktail bash, a.k.a The Night of 1,000 Stingers.

This shindig is ostensibly about gathering the top political kingmakers in a room to be nonpartisan and convivial as they crown the next President.

But betrayal is the Roy nature. The center does not hold. And these are desperate, mostly despicable, people, forced to drink terrible wine.

By the end, ironically, Willa and Connor are the only couple left standing. And their mutual support is fun and endearing in an otherwise devastating, pitch-dark episode.

From the beginning, Connor busts out some comic lines. At the sibs early-morning meeting, he says he wants Logans funeral to be a tight-90. When talk turns to polling, he says In Alaska, Im exploding.

But at the party, a manic Roman tries to strong-arm Connor into dropping out and sending his once laughable Conhead army to the now-down-in-the-polls proto-Nazi Jared Mencken, in return for an ambassadorship.

The first offer is Mogadishu, but Connor thinks its too car-bomby.

Earlier, a mob-bossy Kendall had met with his ex-wife Rava and heard that their daughter Sophie no longer wants to go to school. Shes had a racially tinged experience on the street and her classmates have started an anti-ATN thing.

Rava just wants Ken to call his daughter. But knowing hes a shitty parent, Kendall gets grandiose, screaming Six continents! Im breaking my back and its all for them! To make the world safe!

Hes bonkers, but I like that the writers are showing some real-world consequences from Fox News-style propaganda.

Lets get back to co-host Pinky, who is still playing the dangerous role of double agent. She orders Mattson to attend. (He didnt want to be part of an AOL-era...putrid stuffed mushrooms thing.) But after a post-Living+ bump, the Waystar stock is back in a trough, and she knows the boys plan to go regulatory to try to kill the deal. She wants Mattson to mix with the important folks wholl be there.

In one of the best-written moments, Kendall has just welcomed the guests, made a moderately charming speech, and asked for a moment of silence in memory of his dad. Thats when the Swedes burst in.

Mattson is not good; he really seems Musked up. For starters, hes wearing a hideous gold fur bomber jacket, like an out-of-work oligarch. Hes out of his element and acting like a jerk-off coder from Gothenburg.

To her family, Shiv feigns that shes shocked by Mattsons arrival, but agrees to baby-sit him. He later tells her something insightful: He thought these people would be sophisticated, but theyre only interested in gossip and money.

And what with the vaping and imbibing, he and his sidekick Oskar start publicly humiliating Ebba, the harassed head of comms to whom Mattson had previously sent his blood. Mattson tells Greg (who proudly fired one hundred ATV people in a single bound) to fire Ebba. They all scream Ebba! -- like Marlon Brando screaming Stella!-- as she retreats to a terrace.

The dumpster brothers have heard what happened and had earlier gotten some oppo on the blood situation, so they simulate humanity and go out to soothe her. Ebba ends up delivering the goods, saying that Mattson is not even a real coder -- he just got stuff in a box and sold it -- and also spills that his numbers in India are inflated.

Shiv calls him out, and Mattson admits that hed need two Indias to make those numbers true. So this is why hes so hot on the deal -- hes buying cover and time so he can conceal this subscription numbers scandal.

But lets get to the ticking time bomb of the ep, the unconscious uncoupling of Shiv and Tom. Even before the party started, Tom had complained that he was tired. But with his sandpaper eyes, he managed to see that Shiv, while dancing with Mattson all night, was betraying him. Id already labeled their domestic cruelty an act out of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and thats exactly what Jesse Armstrong, writer and showrunner, called it in a post-show video.

This balcony scene, a reverse Romeo and Juliet, was almost six minutes of an exquisitely acted gut-punch. Both Shiv and Tom seem to realize that this time, theyve backed the wrong horse in work and love, so whats left? Each said terrible things about the other, and sadly, both were right. Tom really went for the solar plexus when he said that Shiv was cruel and would not make a good mother.

If I may digress for a minute: I understand shes in denial, but Shivs pregnancy storyline bothers me, especially in this political climate. There was even a fakeout of Shiv falling down stairs. Plus, the idea that Tom would not know shes almost 20 weeks pregnant amid all their recent intimacy is ridiculous.

Still, he said things like you refused to have my baby.

So what started out as a passive-aggressive joke on his part has become the terrible truth. They are both scorpions, thinking theyre frogs.

Naturally, in the end, with the India info, Kendall sees an opening for himself. He pulls Karl into a room to discuss going reverse Viking: Waystar buying GoJo. When Karl asks about his siblings, Ken says, One head, one crown.

One head, one crown, one big nervous breakdown.

See you at the funeral.
by Steve Ellwanger , May 9, 2023

What do cheese and chocolate have in common?

For a limited time, Velveeta.

The Kraft Heinz brand is taking the La Dolce Velveeta platformwhich positions Velveeta as a lifestylein yet another direction in a limited-time collaboration with Los Angeles-based Compartes Chocolatier.

TruffVels are cheese-infused white chocolates shaped like shells that mimic the appearance of Velveeta Shells and Cheese.

Two of lifes greatest pleasures are cheese and chocolate, and we've already seen our pleasure seekers experiment with this combination across social mediaso this collab was a no-brainer, Velveeta senior brand communications manager Kelsey Rice said in a news release.

Billed as the first-ever cheese truffle, a five-pack of TruffVels sells for $24.95 on the Compartes Chocolatier website, while supplies last.

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La Dolce Velveeta was unveiled in 2021 as a brand refresh aimed at encouraging people to be bold and unapologetic when it comes to enjoying lifes greatest pleasures.

In 2022, Velveeta collaborated with Nails Inc. to launch cheese-scented red and yellow nail polish.

Last month, La Dolce Velveeta evolved further with the introduction of three characters enjoying cheesy food in uniqueand strangeways.

In this spot titled Crowd, a woman stands in a busy outdoor shopping while scooping Velveeta Shells and Cheese from a fanny pack.

In Rider, a man standing on a mechanical bull in a bar consumes the same thing from a glass boot.
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Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Detection of Parkinson's Disease

How This Could Be Significant for Parkinson's Disease

Interpretable Machine Learning on Metabolomics Data Reveals 2 Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease - (DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01468)

As UNSW researcher Diana Zhang explains, she and Associate Professor W. Alexander Donald developed a machine learning tool called CRANK-MS, which stands for Classification and Ranking Analysis using Neural network generates Knowledge from Mass Spectrometry."The most common method of analyzing metabolomics data is through statistical approaches," says Ms Zhang."So to figure out which metabolites are more significant for the disease versus control groups, researchers usually look at correlations involving specific molecules."But here we take into account that metabolites can have associations with other metabolites - which is where the machine learning comes in. With hundreds to thousands of metabolites, we've used computational power to understand what's going on."A/Prof. Donald says that in addition to looking at combinations of metabolites, the researchers used an unedited list of data."Typically, researchers using machine learning to examine correlations between metabolites and disease reduce the number of chemical features first, before they feed it into the algorithm," he says."But here we feed all the information into CRANK-MS without any data reduction right at the start. And from that, we can get the model prediction and identify which metabolites are driving the prediction the most, all in one step. It means that if there are metabolites which may potentially have been missed using conventional approaches, we can now pick those up."At present, Parkinson's Disease is diagnosed by observing physical symptoms such as a resting hand tremor. There are no blood or laboratory tests to diagnose non-genetic cases of it. But atypical symptoms such as sleep disorder and apathy can present in people with Parkinson's decades before the motor symptoms show up. CRANK-MS, therefore, could be used at the first sign of these atypical symptoms to rule in or out, the risk of developing Parkinson's in the future.However, A/Prof Donald emphasizes that validation studies are needed using much larger cohorts and conducted in multiple parts of the globe before the tool could be used reliably. But in the limited cohort examined for this study, results were promising, with CRANK-MS able to analyse chemicals found in blood to detect Parkinson's disease with an accuracy of up to 96 percent."This study is interesting at multiple levels," he says."First, the accuracy is very high for predicting Parkinson's disease in advance of clinical diagnosis. Third, some of the chemical markers that drive accurate prediction the most have been previously implicated by others to Parkinson's disease in cell-based assays but not in humans."There were some interesting findings when examining the metabolites of people who went on to develop Parkinson's in the study.For example, triterpenoids were found in lower concentrations in the blood of those who later developed Parkinson's disease compared to those who did not. Triterpenoids is a known neuroprotectant that regulates oxidative stress and is commonly found in foods such as apples olives , and tomatoes . A future study could examine whether eating these foods could naturally protect against developing Parkinson's disease.Also worthy of further exploration was the presence of polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in people who went on to develop Parkinson's, which could be linked to being exposed to industrial chemicals."We have evidence to suggest that it is PFAS, but we need more characterisation data to be 100 percent sure," says A/Prof Donald.CRANK-MS is a tool that is publicly available to any researchers who would like to use machine learning for disease diagnosis using metabolomics data."We've built the model in such a way that it's fit for purpose," says Ms Zhang."The application of CRANK-MS to detect Parkinson's disease is just one example of how AI can improve the way we diagnose and monitor diseases. What's exciting is that CRANK-MS can be readily applied to other diseases to identify new biomarkers of interest."The tool is user-friendly where on average, results can be generated in less than 10 minutes on a conventional laptop."Source: Eurekalert
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis, met today. Monday, May 8, 2023, with the Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh, Tipu Munshi, who is on a working visit to Athens.



The discussion focused on the possibilities and prospects for enhancing trade and overall economic cooperation between Greece and Bangladesh, with emphasis on the sectors of shipping, infrastructure/construction and agricultural production.
JOURNALIST: At this point, ladies and gentlemen, we welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs and New Democracy candidate MP in the regional unit of South Athens, Mr. Dendias, to the Action24 studio.

Minister, thank you very much for accepting our invitation to join us here, at the Action24 studio for the first time...

N. DENDIAS: But it wont be the last time.

JOURNALIST: That makes us very happy. All the best. Thank you very much.

I'd like to start our discussion with the last comment by . Cavusoglu, as Foreign Minister, whom you've known for decades, suggesting that the danger in the Aegean has not been essentially averted. "Tension will exist and could break out at any time as long as certain issues are not resolved".

Whats your comment on that?

N. DENDIAS: First of all, Mevlut Cavusoglu is under electoral pressure. As evidenced by opinion polls, President Erdogan is under pressure; he is obliged to say something that will work and carry political weight. So, whatever the AKP members say at this time, I dont necessarily take it at face value.

Aside from that, I have stated clearly, to the extent that I can, that I will not allow for tension until the elections. On the other hand, let us be clear: Greece does not support any policy of appeasement.

We will proceed to the elections, and the governments of both countries, the ones to be elected - we believe we will be here  will have a window of opportunity to see if we can find a solution to our dispute. What are the odds? Not too many. But we have to try.

JOURNALIST: So, do you think calm waters in the Aegean are more of a temporary suspension of action? Are they something like a moratorium because of the pre-election climate or will they remain after the elections in both countries?

N. DENDIAS: I believe that our behavior following the earthquakes in Turkiye, which was highly appreciated by Ankara, established a different climate.

This provided an opportunity that hopefully will last until the elections and for a while after the elections. If we dont reach some kind of understanding within that time frame, Im afraid that therell be a major setback.

JOURNALIST: Minister, would it be an exaggeration to ask you whom you would prefer as an Athens interlocutor, not to say your interlocutor in the Foreign Ministry, after our own elections: is it Erdogan - Cavusoglu or a possible new one, the unknown opposition?

N. DENDIAS: Im not entitled to express an opinion. I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. I have no right to express any opinion on the verdict of Turkish society and the Turkish people.

If you ask me if I have an opinion, Ill tell you that I do. But Im not entitled to express it.
NEW YORK  Officials representing a suburban New York county where New York City's mayor wants to send migrants for a four-month hotel stay vowed to fight the plan Monday through fines and a state of emergency.

We are not equipped to humanely assist these individuals, which eventually were going to have to do, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said at a news conference where he was joined by U.S. Rep Michael Lawler and other officials opposed to the plan.

Day, a Republican, called Mayor Eric Adams' plan to bus up to 300 single adult male migrants to hotels in Rockland and neighboring Orange counties the same as throwing people out to the middle of the ocean who cant swim and saying go to shore. It cant work.

Lawler, a Republican whose Hudson Valley district includes Rockland County, said he was vehemently opposed to this plan which would shift the cost for housing, food and health care for folks who may be here illegally on to Rockland County and our municipalities.

Adams, a Democrat, announced the plan Friday to bus migrants to the two counties north of the city on a voluntary basis. He said the program would help the city handle the more than 37,500 asylum seekers in the citys care.

Adams announced the plan as cities across the U.S. prepare for an increase in migrants seeking asylum when a pandemic-era policy that permitted the expulsion of many migrants ends. Officials anticipate that the end of the immigration limits under Title 42 of a 1944 public health law will mean more migrants trying to cross the southern border.

Adams said the migrants sent from New York City to Rockland and Orange counties would be provided with meals, counseling and other services for a stay of up to four months in the hotels.

Adams' news release did not name the hotels where migrants would be sent, but Day and Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny said they had learned that the Armoni Inn and Suites in the hamlet of Orangeburg had been selected.

Kenny said housing migrants there for four months would violate the town's ordinance limiting hotel stays to 30 days.

Im sorry, Mr. Mayor, you dont trump our laws, said Kenny, who joined Day at a news conference in New City, the county seat. We have our own town code, so the town is prepared to commence legal action.

A message seeking comment was left with the Armoni.

Day announced a state of emergency Saturday that he said will prohibit other municipalities from bringing people to Rockland County and prohibit hotels and motels from housing immigrants without a license.

He said the state of emergency will remain in effect for at least 30 days and will be enforced through fines of $2,000 per migrant per day for the hotels and for any municipality that sends migrants to Rockland.

It was unclear what authority Rockland County would have to fine New York City for sending migrants there. A spokesperson for the city's legal department declined to comment.

The top elected official in Orange County, the other county where Adams said migrants would be sent, was more muted in his criticism.

We have questions about who these immigrants are and remain concerned if they were properly vetted, Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said in a statement Friday. "It is another example of the Federal governments failed immigration policy and inability to control the border.

Adams has complained for months that the volume of migrants arriving in New York was beyond the city's capacity to house and has criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican elected officials for busing migrants to New York.

Adams' administration has been using hotels within the city to house some migrants, mainly families with children. Plans to house others at sites including a cruise ship terminal and a beach parking lot in the Bronx have been scrapped.

Adams' press secretary, Fabien Levy, said Monday that the city has cared for more than 61,000 migrants and we have done so largely without incident."

Levy said in a statement that the federal government should do more to help the city house migrants, but until they do, we need other elected officials around the state and country to do their part and emulate the humane and compassionate approach New York City has taken over the past year.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales amounted to 1.63 million units in Apr. 2023, surging 55.5% from the previous year, while also ticking up 2.5% from the previous month, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

For clarity, the passenger vehicles hereby refer to the cars, SUVs, and MPVs locally produced on the Chinese mainland.

As the spree of the price war in April gradually subsided in Apr., consumers subsequently resumed rational consumption with their wait-and-see mood eased, which unleashed some of the demands suppressed earlier this year, said the CPCA.

The association added the growing demands for travel during the May Day holiday boosted car purchases in April, continuing the stable trend from the end of Mar.

The Auto Shanghai 2023 held last month served as a powerful platform and booster for promoting domestic car consumption. The grand auto show radiated the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions for on-site sales with the media coverage throughout the country. Even after the press days, consumers' enthusiasm for visiting the auto show remained strong, and the release of major vehicle models has also increased the contribution of Chinese car companies from R&D to sales and service to the global auto industry, said the association.

There were around 240,000 luxury PVs retailed across China last month, representing a 101% year-on-year growth, but showing a 13% month-on-month dip. The luxury car market has gradually strengthened as the shortage of high-end cars caused by the chip supply constraints last year has waned.

Chinese indigenous PV brands recorded a combined retail sales volume of roughly 790,000 units in Apr., which was 63% and 1.5% more than that of the year-ago and month-ago periods, respectively.

The CPCA's data show that China's local brands accounted for 48.2% of the country's total PV retail volume last month, 1.7 percentage points higher than the prior-year level.

With about 610,000 PVs delivered in Apr., mainstream joint ventures in China logged a 35% rise from a year earlier, and also posted a 12% growth from the previous month.

Among the top 10 automakers by Apr. PV retail sales in China, BYD still ranked highest, while the fastest-growing one (compared to the year-ago period) was SAIC Volkswagen. Aside from Dongfeng Nissan, the top nine companies all obtained a two-digit year-on-year increase.

China's monthly PV wholesale volume reached 1.788 million units in Apr., shooting up 87.6% over the year-ago period, but sliding 10% compared to the previous month.

Chinas local automakers saw their PV wholesales total roughly 1 million units in Apr., which soared 83% from a year earlier, but shrank 5% from a month earlier. In the same period, the PV wholesale volume of mainstreams joint ventures reached around 530,000 units, growing 67% year over year, but dropping 17% month on month.

There were about 260,000 luxury PVs sold across the Chinese mainland last month through wholesale, representing a 186% spike over a year earlier, but indicating a 12% decrease over a month ago.

With regard to the PV wholesale volume in Apr., BYD still outshone other automakers with a volume of around 209,000 units. The top 10 automakers all scored a year-on-year upward movement in Apr. wholesales with Tesla being the fastest-growing one.

As for production performance, Chinas locally-produced PV output amounted to 1.759 million units last month, zooming up 77.4% from a year ago, but dwindling 15.7% from a month ago.

According to the data compiled by the CPCA, China's passenger vehicle export volume (including complete vehicles and CKDs) reached roughly 300,000 units in Apr., rocketing 227% from the prior-year period, while also edging up 3% from the previous month.

In the Jan.-Apr. period, China exported a total of 1.08 million passenger vehicles (+115% YoY), 30% of which were contributed by new energy vehicles.
BIG RAPIDS  Area first responders were invited to attend a safety presentation by team members from the Gotion facility in Independence, Ohio, at the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety on Monday.

The speakers stressed to those in attendance that the chemicals to be transported to and used by the Gotion North America Manufacturing electric battery vehicle component site in Green Charter Township are not hazardous materials.

Martin Payne, research engineer for Gotion Independence and who has been in the industry for over 30 years, said they are familiar with all the materials that go into the components that will be made in the facility in Green Charter Township.

We handle them every day, and are well equipped to know what you need to know about them if you are handling them or come in contact with them in an emergency situation, Martin said. The components that go into the lithium-ion battery  the cathode and the anode  are what we are proposing to make here. Everything else will be made someplace else.

There is no lithium metal in our batteries, he said. An Energizer battery has lithium metal in it; our batteries are lithium-ion batteries. We have no lithium metals, so the fires you see on the internet, we dont put that in our batteries.

He said the lithium they use as a raw material comes in ionic form  lithium carbonate  which is similar to table salt, and the safety guidelines for exposure state it is not a hazardous material.

We dont buy the lithium salts, we buy the lithium carbonate, and we have no salt ponds, he said. So, when you see the salt ponds, those are in Argentina. We dont handle any of those materials anywhere at Gotion.

The materials we plan to make in Michigan are the least hazardous of everything that goes into the battery, he continued. All the raw materials that go into the product and all the finished goods that come out of the product that will be at the production facility in this area are all nonhazardous and we have the research to back that up.

Martin said the two main materials to be used at the facility are graphite and lithium ferrous phosphate.

Graphite (used in anode production) is a form of carbon, he said. When you think of carbon, think of pencils or charcoal briquettes. It is a higher quality, but basically the same thing. Those materials do not spontaneously burst into flames. From a hazard perspective, this is not any more hazardous than that (charcoal briquettes).

Graphite can be mined, he said, but it is too expensive and too hard on the environment. Gotions target is to make its graphite from renewable resources such as biomass.

You can get all kinds of renewable resources that you can make biomass carbon from, he said. It is basically like roasting coffee beans. You dont want them to burn so you blanket them in nitrogen, and that is another safety feature because you are not combusting them.

Once it is roasted, it is ground into a powder and put into a bag for storage and transport.

The lithium ferrous phosphate, which goes into the cathode production, is the lowest cost of the cathode materials, he said. It requires three basic raw materials  iron phosphate, which is readily available, lithium carbonate, which will be purchased from places like Argentina, and sugar.

The lithium carbonate is incorporated into the iron phosphate and the sugar changes the iron into the right oxidation state to make the battery work.

Again, it is done in a nitrogen atmosphere, so it is a noncombustible atmosphere, Martin said. Neither of these have hazardous properties according to the Safety Data Sheet. Neither are soluble in water  they dont react, they dont dissolve. Our main thing is to keep the moisture out because it will ruin the product, however, if they are exposed to water, they can be dried out a reused.

He added that cobalt will not be used in the production because it is very expensive and difficult to obtain.

It (cobalt) is in places that are politically unstable, and it is expensive to get out of the ground, so people have moved away from using that, he said. We are going with a material that is more stable and is the cheapest to make, cheapest to put in a cell, and it performs very well.

Scott Faulkner, with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, asked if there was any risk in terms of particulate matter for breathing hazards.

Martin said they are not hazardous as far as air particulate matter.

You dont want to inhale a bunch of it, he said. Dust control is very important, because we dont want to lose any of it. If you dont have dust control, that means you have air leaking in and that will make a bad product, so it is really critical that we keep that under control.

Gotion North America Manufacturing vice president Chuck Thelen said, at $55,000 a ton, they will not be wasting any of it, and the dust control system will take all the dust and recycle it back into the process.

With the air quality requirements from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, you wont be able to spew any particles out of the smokestack, Thelen said. We will have our own air quality experts on staff, and we will have our own water quality folks. We will monitor all of this for continuing conformance.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Thelen said Chapman had mandated on behalf of the township and the county that certain things would be required regarding safety protocols, and he intends to honor those mandates.

Safety engineer Dr. Jennifer Hoffman told those in attendance that when establishing standard operating procedures and determining risks involved with handling certain materials, they look at three things  identifiable hazard, risk assessment and implementation.

Hazards can be anything, not just chemicals, Hoffman said. Anything that could come up with operating machinery or handling compounds is looked at by a team so that many eyes are on it and nothing gets lost.

She said they identify the hazards, or risks, then determine if it is a high, medium or low risk.

We look at the likelihood of it happening, and if it were to come up, what are the consequences, she said. We determine if it is high level, medium level or low level, and how it needs to be addressed. We go through every level for every hazard that is identified.

The Standard Operating Procedure manual will list all the different personal protective equipment for any particular task and all the hazard mitigating protocols for each task. It is a thorough documentation of everything that needs to be carried out, she said.

Additionally, they do hands on training with the first responders so they know the ins and outs to everything at the facility and they are provided with the Safety Data Sheet, so they know what exactly is in the building at any given time.

Safety is a culture we really try to imbed into everything we do, Hoffman said. We coordinate training with the first responders. We want to make sure they are comfortable with what we are doing. The SDS is available for every chemical used in processing and they dont go out of date because if there is any new information the SDS will show it.

She said the SDS for graphite and lithium ferrous phosphates states they are nonhazardous  no hazard associated with the material. For any type of exposure, the first aid is to flush with water or get fresh air. In the event of an environmental exposure, the materials would not linger.

Gotion logistics expert Jason Cecil addressed the issue of transporting the materials in and out of the area.

Everything says it is not regulated and hazardous, so there are no issues with shipping, Cecil said. If you are worried about it being trucked into the city, we can set up a route into the city to keep it away from waterways and out of the main city.

Thelen said they are working with the state to talk about traffic patterns. The plan will be to bring all the trucks in through the same location to the north of the facility using the 19 Mile Road exit and coming down 220th Avenue. Pedestrian traffic will come off 18 Mile Road.

In the event of a spill, Cecil said, first responders will want to use self contained breathing apparatus to prevent dust inhalation during clean up and use foam in the event of a fire to ensure the materials dont get spread around further.

The materials are not marine pollutants, so if they do get into the water, they are not harmful to aquatic life, he said. It is inert and can be cleaned up.

We want to make this as safe as possible for the community and the environment, he added.

Faulkner said with all the questions about the environmental hazards of these materials, the SDS would go a long way to allaying those fears.

Anyone interested in researching the Safety Data Sheets for any of these materials can find them online, Hoffman said.

To read all articles published by the Pioneer pertaining to the Gotion battery plant, visit: https://bit.ly/3NzZkRl.
sdbower/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A woman living in a Denver suburb was excited to move into the first home she's ever purchased.

What she wasn't expecting is that while the original human owners had left, large snakes were still calling the walls of the house their home.
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NEW YORK (AP)  A jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House.

The verdict was split: Jurors rejected Carrolls claim that she was raped, finding Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. The judgment adds to Trump's legal woes and offers vindication to Carroll, whose allegations had been mocked and dismissed by Trump for years.

She nodded as the verdict was announced in a New York City federal courtroom only three hours after deliberations had begun, then hugged supporters and smiled through tears. As the courtroom cleared, Carroll could be heard laughing and crying.

Jurors also found Trump liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations. Trump did not attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read.

Trump immediately lashed out on his social media site, claiming that he does not know Carroll and referring to the verdict as a disgrace and a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time. He promised to appeal.

Trumps lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, shook hands with Carroll and hugged her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, after the verdict was announced. Outside the courthouse, he told reporters the jury's rejection of the rape claim while finding Trump responsible for sexual abuse was perplexing and strange.

Part of me was obviously very happy that Donald Trump was not branded a rapist," he said.

He defended Trump's absence, citing the trial's circus atmosphere." He said having Trump there "would be more of a circus.

Tacopina added: What more can you say other than I didnt do it'?"

In a written statement, Kaplan said the verdict proved nobody is above the law, not even the president of the United States.

Carroll, in her own statement, said she sued Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth. This victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

It was unclear what, if any, implications the verdict would have on Trumps third presidential bid. Hes in a commanding position among GOP contenders and has faced few political consequences in the wake of previous controversies, ranging from the vulgar Access Hollywood tape to his New York criminal indictment.

His GOP rivals were mostly silent after the verdict, a sign of their reluctance to cross Trump supporters who are critical to winning the presidential nomination. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, one of the few vocal Trump critics in the race, said the verdict was another example of the indefensible behavior of Donald Trump.

Carroll was one of more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment. She went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that the Republican raped her in the dressing room of a posh Manhattan department store.

Trump, 76, denied it, saying he never encountered Carroll at the store and did not know her. He has called her a nut job who invented a fraudulent and false story to sell a memoir.

Carroll, 79, sought unspecified damages, plus a retraction of what she said were Trumps defamatory denials of her claims.

The trial revisited the lightning-rod topic of Trumps conduct toward women.

Carroll gave multiple days of frank, occasionally emotional testimony, buttressed by two friends who testified that she reported the alleged attack to them soon afterward.

Jurors also heard from Jessica Leeds, a former stockbroker who testified that Trump abruptly groped her against her will on an airline flight in the 1970s, and from Natasha Stoynoff, a writer who said Trump forcibly kissed her against her will while she was interviewing him for a 2005 article.

The six-man, three-woman jury also saw the well-known 2005 Access Hollywood hot-mic recording of Trump talking about kissing and grabbing women without asking.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll, Leeds and Stoynoff have done.

The verdict comes as Trump faces an accelerating swirl of legal risks.

Hes fighting a New York criminal case related to hush money payments made to a porn actor. The state attorney general has sued him, his family and his business over alleged financial wrongdoing.

Trump is also contending with investigations into his possible mishandling of classified documents, his actions after the 2020 election and his activities during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump denies wrongdoing in all of those matters.

Carroll, who penned an Elle magazine advice column for 27 years, has also written for magazines and Saturday Night Live. She and Trump were in social circles that overlapped at a 1987 party, where a photo documented them and their then-spouses interacting. Trump has said he doesnt remember it.

According to Carroll, she ended up in a dressing room with Trump after they ran into each other at Bergdorf Goodman on an unspecified Thursday evening in spring 1996.

They took an impromptu jaunt to the lingerie department so he could search for a womens gift and soon were teasing each other about trying on a skimpy bodysuit, Carroll testified. To her, it seemed like comedy, something like her 1986 Saturday Night Live sketch in which a man admires himself in a mirror.

But then, she said, Trump slammed the door, pinned her against a wall, planted his mouth on hers, yanked her tights down and raped her as she tried to break away. Carroll said she ultimately pushed him off with her knee and immediately left the store.

I always think back to why I walked in there to get myself in that situation, she testified, her voice breaking, but Im proud to say I did get out.

She never called police or noted it in her diary. Carroll said she kept silent for fear Trump would retaliate, out of shame and because she worried that people would see her as somewhat responsible for being attacked.

The jury awarded Carroll $2 million for Trumps sexual abuse and $20,000 in punitive damages. For defamation, jurors awarded $1 million for Trump's October statement, another $1.7 million for harm to Carroll's reputation and $280,000 in punitive damages.

Tacopina told jurors Carroll invented her claims after hearing about a 2012 Law and Order episode in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of the lingerie section of a Bergdorf Goodman store.

Carroll cannot produce any objective evidence to back up her claim because it didnt happen, he told jurors. He accused her of advancing a false claim of rape for money, for political reasons and for status.

In questioning Carroll, he sought to cast doubt on her description of fighting off the far heavier Trump without dropping her handbag or ripping her tights, and without anyone around to hear or see them in the lingerie section.

The lawyer pressed her about  by her own account  not screaming, looking for help while fleeing the store or seeking out medical attention, security video or police.

Carroll reproached him.

Im telling you he raped me, whether I screamed or not, she said.

Theres no possibility of Trump being charged with attacking Carroll, as the legal time limit has long since passed.

For similar reasons, she initially filed her civil case as a defamation lawsuit, saying Trumps derogatory denials had subjected her to hatred, shredded her reputation and harmed her career.

Then, starting last fall, New York state gave people a chance to sue over sexual assault allegations that would otherwise be too old. Carroll was one of the first to file.
MANISTEE  Children will have a chance to meet police, fire and other first responders next month at the Armory Youth Project.

A collection of first response and agencies that interact with children teamed up to create the annual event that is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 3.

This is the second year for the event that aims to bring families together for a fun-filled day with games, safety tips, food, drinks and swag.

Were hoping to make it even bigger and better, Manistee City Police Department Chief Josh Glass said. Theres beach safety, boater safety, (Michigan State Police) will be there checking child seats, theres online safety, the (Lakeshore Childrens) Advocacy Center is going to be there for body safety.

Glass said no one will be selling anything at the event as he wants it to be focused on all aspects of safety for children.

Theres some safety tips for parents as well, thats a big piece, Glass said.

He noted that the event is also an avenue for positive police interaction.

What better way to have a positive interaction than to teach some kind of safety information, Glass said. (Im hoping we can) get out, getting public, feeding the public, having a cookout catch them early in the summer.

Glass said the hopes are that the event will also include representatives from area fire and police departments, the U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
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Midland County residents are encouraged to start gathering non-perishable food for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 13.

Midland County postal workers will be participating in the food drive put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The drive is the nation's largest single-day food drive.
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President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia, reprising a familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces.

Putins remarks came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched.

The Russian leader has repeatedly sought to paint his invasion of Ukraine as necessary to defend against a Western threat. Kyiv and its Western allies say they pose no such threat and that Moscow's war is meant to deter Western influence in a country that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland.

Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric that harkens back to the earlier war in an effort to rally his citizens and forces  and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this year's celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns after several drone attacks have been reported inside Russia.

Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday  the lowest number since 2008. Even the procession in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part. There was no fly-over of military jets, and the event lasted less than the usual hour.

This is weak. There are no tanks, said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscow's Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. Were upset, but thats all right; it will be better in the future.

The Kremlins forces deployed in Ukraine are defending a front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), presumably thinning the ranks of troops available for such displays.

This is supposed to be a showpiece for Russian military might. But so much of that military might has already been mauled in Ukraine that Russia has very little to show on its parade in Red Square," said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Londons Chatham House think tank.

As a display of military hardware it was very underwhelming, said Michael Clarke, visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, noting that the T-34, the iconic World War II tank, was the only tank on display. Normally they show off all the really modern stuff, and they didnt have any of those. Nor did they seem to have armored fighting vehicles.  So there was nothing new on display.

Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II  a pillar of the holiday  were canceled in multiple cities.

That seems to be for fear that those people who have lost their relatives in this current war on Ukraine might actually join the processions and show just the scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in its current war," Giles said.

Russian media counted 24 cities that also scrapped military parades  another staple of the celebrations  for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancelations. It wasnt clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin that it called an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied involvement.

There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it.

On a tribune in Red Square, Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland, Putin said.

The guest list was also light amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would head to Moscow as well.

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw them.

In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defense Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they, too, pulled out.

Prigozhins allegations could not be independently verified, and the Russian military has not commented on them.

The threat of departure marked another flare-up in Prigozhins long-running dispute with Russias military brass over credit and tactics in the war.

On Tuesday, he contrasted the pomp of the May 9 celebrations, broadcast across Russia, with the reality on the ground.

Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers; we did not deserve a single bit of this victory. The counteroffensive will be on the ground, not on television, Prigozhin warned, adding that the Russian state is unable to defend the country.

Prigozhin has become known for such inflammatory, headline-grabbing statements, particularly at key moments when attention is focused elsewhere  but issuing them on Victory Day was remarkably bold.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The missiles came hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Von der Leyen urged EU member nations to take measures to prevent countries from helping Russia to circumvent the blocs sanctions. The EU has noticed that certain products that have been banned to undermine Russias war effort are still getting through, she said.

Von der Leyen did not name the countries.

Ukraine is keen to join the EU, but membership is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

Later in the day, Zelenskyy used his nightly address to mark Europe Day, having decreed Monday that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, and join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8.

In the address, he drew parallels between the brutal aggressions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

It is only a matter of time before the current aggressor loses, like the aggressor who lost 78 years ago, before Russian revanchism is crushed by the bravery of our warriors and the joint power of the free world, he said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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A 6-year-old male Weimaraner named Shadow has been deemed a "dangerous dog" following a Monday hearing in Midland Countys 75th District Court, partly stemming from Shadow having bitten a woman in January.

Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Atea Duso said the parties agreed to conditions that resolved the case. Shadows owners, Su Das and her husband Rajib Bora, of Sanford, agreed to the dangerous dog classification. Also, they agreed to place an electric fence farther back at their house and to tether Shadow while he is inside the fence as a double protection. If taking Shadow outside their home, they agreed to harness and muzzle him to avoid potential danger. In addition, they must attain liability insurance.

Shadow has reportedly already reunited with Das and Bora.

Shadow was surrendered to the Midland County Animal Shelter on Feb. 13 and was then moved to a private boarding facility in April, after biting a woman in January. Part of the court agreement is that the couple pay restitution to cover the expense of the animal shelter and private facility.

More Information Six-year-old Sanford Weimaraner is deemed a dangerous dog, family agrees to prosecutor's office terms to reunite with him See More Collapse

Its a fair resolution, Duso said. All we want is for everyone to be safe.

Were not out to be mean and put dogs to sleep, she added. We want this to be safe for the family and everyone around.

Das remains on probation until Nov. 10 for a stray dog charge that she pleaded to involving incidents in July 2022 that occurred two days apart.

In July, Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks said two people accused Shadow of being aggressive toward their dogs. A woman was walking her dog when she said Shadow came off his property and acted aggressive toward her dog. That resulted in the woman falling to the ground.

Brooks said that two days later, there was another incident in which someone was walking Shadow in the same area where a man was walking his dog. A fight ensued between the dogs, and the man reportedly had to pin Shadow down to keep him away from the man's dog.

Das was cited with two counts of having a dangerous dog and was allowed to plead to one count of having a stray dog, which would have been discharged if there had been no further incidents for a year. At that time, Das also agreed to put in an electric fence and to license Shadow.

Six months later, in January, Bora said he was walking Shadow on a leash on a trail. Two other dogs, which were unleashed, came toward them. Bora began moving away from the unleashed dogs, who followed him and Shadow. The dogs attacked Shadow, Bora said, and Bora was bitten by the unleashed dogs while trying to break up the fight.

He said the woman who owned the unleashed dogs also tried to separate the animals. During the fight, Bora said Shadow slipped out of his collar and bit the woman.

Brooks said under Michigan law, dogs can be off a leash if they are under their owner's control.

Bora didnt call the police after the January incident. He said after having lived in Houston, Texas, he knew that such things happen and one doesnt always need to call animal control or the police. But the woman who was bitten by Shadow did call authorities.
BEIJING (AP)  Chinas chief foreign intelligence agency has raided the offices of business consulting firm Capvision in Beijing and other Chinese cities as part of an ongoing crackdown on foreign businesses that provide sensitive economic data.

Foreign companies operating in China have come under increasing pressure, driven primarily by national security considerations, as Xi Jinpings government tightens control over business, clashing with efforts to lure back foreign investors after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Investigators simultaneously visited Capvision branches in Beijing, Shanghai, and the southeastern manufacturing hubs of Suzhou and Shenzhen, along with other locations the state media reports did not identify.

Officers from the Ministry of State Security, police and market regulatory bodies questioned staff, the reports said. There was no word on arrests or detentions, although the reports said investigations had been opened into the company and personnel involved in the case according to law.

No details were given about the specific legal issues at stake, and state media did not give the exact dates of the raids on Capvision, which is headquartered in New York and Shanghai.

Over recent years, in order to realize the strategy of containing and and suppressing China, certain Western countries have become increasingly rampant in stealing intelligence and information pertaining to our countrys military industry, economy and finance, state broadcaster CCTV said Monday.

The report alleged domestic consulting companies were tools of stealing such secrets. Some domestic consulting companies have weak awareness of national security and seek to benefit financially by straddling the legal barriers," the CCTV report said.

Asked about the recent actions against Capvision and other companies, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Chinas national security authorities and other competent departments have recently been carrying out open law enforcement on relevant enterprises in accordance with the law.

This is a normal law enforcement action in accordance with Chinese law, aiming to promote the regulated and sound development of the industry and safeguard national security and development interests, Wang told reporters at a daily briefing Tuesday. The spokesperson gave no further details.

Capvision bills itself on its website as a leading global expert network platform that excels at identifying the right advisors for specific business insights. The company says it serves more than 2,000 clients through more than 600 researchers and 450,000 industry professionals.

China needs to be more transparent about law enforcement actions against companies such as Capvision that carry out the sort of due diligence that firms need to make investment decisions, said Eric Zheng, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said in a press statement.

It would be helpful if the authorities would more clearly delineate the areas in which companies can or cannot conduct such due diligence," Zheng said. "This would give foreign companies more confidence and enable them to comply with Chinese regulations.

Capvision has not commented on the raids, but on its WeChat social media channel posted a flyer Monday marking National Security Education Day, which fell on April 15.

As a leading Chinese industry specializing in providing information services, Capvision is resolutely committed to the outlook on national security and is leading the industry in its healthy and orderly development, the flyer said.

The company is just the latest to be investigated, apparently over its attempts to obtain information that would not be considered state secrets in other countries.

Last month, consulting firm Bain & Co. said police questioned staff in its Shanghai office. It gave no details of what they were seeking. Prior to that, the corporate due diligence firm Mintz Group said its Beijing office was raided by police who detained five employees. An employee of a Japanese drug maker has also been detained on spying charges, and the government announced a security review of memory chip maker Micron Inc.

Last week, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns said American companies were deeply concerned about a recent expansion of China's anti-espionage law that could put them at legal risk simply for seeking standard information on China's economy and local businesses they might seek to partner with.

Burns said the mixed signals were prompting many to put major investments on hold until more clarity was available, although they were unlikely to pull out of the world's second-largest economy, which, despite the vitality of the private sector, is still dominated by major state-run companies and financial institutions.

Still, some global companies are shifting investment plans to Southeast Asia, India and other economies where political risks are considered lower.

Whether politically motivated or not, the investigations come as Chinas relations with Washington, Europe and Tokyo are strained by disputes about human rights, Taiwan, security and technology.

Xi, Chinas most powerful leader in decades, is in the midst of multiple campaigns to tighten the ruling Communist Party's control over entrepreneurs, root out official corruption and reduce reliance on foreign technology and expertise. Foreign firms already face hurdles in executive travel to China, along with the possibility of exit bans, theft of commercial secrets and Chinese government interference in deal-making.

Changes to the espionage law give authorities powers to gain access to electronic information. The law covers all documents, data, materials and items related to national security, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It remains unclear how national security is defined.

Foreign companies and government agencies have for years advised employees visiting China not to carry computers or mobile phones with confidential information because they might be seized by authorities or stolen by industrial spies.

The crackdowns paint a jarring backdrop for official efforts to reverse a decline in foreign business interest in China. The ruling party wants foreign companies in electric cars and other fields to bring in technology and provide competition to force Chinese companies to improve.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden and congressional leaders confronted each other on the debt limit impasse Tuesday, ending their meeting with no breakthrough but agreeing to meet again this week to try to avert the looming risk of an unprecedented government default.

Speaking at the White House, Biden described the talks as productive even though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said after the high-stakes Oval Office meeting that he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate.

Lawmakers and their staffs were to continue discussions on the annual federal budget at Bidens encouragement. Biden and the congressional leaders are to meet again Friday.

After the hourlong discussion in the Oval Office, Biden said he was absolutely certain that the country could avert a default, declaring that failure to meet America's obligations is not an option.

Still, time is short. The government is bumping up against its legal limit for borrowing and will not be able to pay all of its bills as soon as June 1 if Congress doesnt agree to raise the debt ceiling. That failure would send the country into default with wide-reaching economic impact at home and around the world.

Republicans came to the White House hoping to negotiate sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for allowing new borrowing to avoid default. Biden, on the other hand, reinforced his opposition to allowing the countrys full faith and credit to be held hostage to negotiations  while affirming his willingness to hold talks on the budget only after default is no longer a threat.

I told congressional leaders that Im prepared to begin a separate discussion about my budget, spending priorities, but not under the threat of default, Biden said.

Outside the White House, McCarthy said, I asked the president this simple question: Does he not believe theres any place we could find savings?"

As the president welcomed McCarthy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, he quipped to reporters, Were going to get started, solve all the worlds problems.

Biden later described the meeting's tone as very measured and low-key, adding, Occasionally there would be a little bit of an assertion that maybe was a little over the top from the speaker.

He especially took issue with McCarthy's branding as a lie the Democrats' assertion that the Republicans' budget restraints would hurt veterans.

Still, Biden added, I trust Kevin will try to do what he says.

There seemed to be at least a bit of daylight between McConnell, who has let his House counterpart take the lead in negotiations and backed him up ahead of the White House meeting, and McCarthy.

The Senate leader said: The United States is not going to default. It never has and it never will." The speaker, though, simply said, Ive done everything in my power to make sure we will not default.

Democrats said there is room to come together on spending cuts as part of the budget process, but quickly jumped on McCarthy's refusal to rule out the possibility of default, with Schumer saying the Republican is greatly endangering America.

To use the risk of default, with all the dangers that has for the American people, as a hostage and say its my way or no way, are mostly my way or no way, is dangerous," Schumer said.

McCarthy said Biden had directed their staffs to continue discussions, and said the leaders themselves would convene again in person Friday at the White House.

While Biden ruled out default, he also all but dismissed trying to unilaterally prevent it. He said he didn't believe invoking the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says the validity of the federal debt shall not be questioned, was a solution to the current impasse.

White House lawyers will pursue the idea further, he added, but "the problem is it would have to be litigated.

Before the White House meeting, both McCarthy and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted it would be simple to avert default  if only the other side capitulated.

The chasm between these opposite postures had fomented uncertainty that is roiling financial markets and threatens to turn into a tidal wave that swamps the countrys economy. Default, officials say, threatens to disrupt Social Security payments to retirees, destabilize global markets and tilt the nation into a potentially debilitating recession.

Last month, House Republicans passed a sweeping bill to slash spending, an opening offer in negotiations. But that legislation has no chance in the Democratic Senate and the White House has threatened to veto it. Republicans hope that bill would achieve $4.5 trillion in deficit savings through cuts in spending, eliminating tax breaks for investing in clean energy, and reversing Bidens plans to reduce the burdens of student loan debt.

Referring to the House bill, McCarthy said, We both said default is not an option  but only one of us took action.

Already looking past the meeting, Biden on Wednesday is to go to Westchester County, New York, where he plans to deliver a speech on how proposed spending cuts approved by House Republicans could hurt teachers, older adults needing food aid and veterans seeking health care.

It's part of a broader campaign by Biden to try to paint the Republican cuts as draconian. Aides believe that message both strengthens his position in talks with the GOP and boosts his nascent 2024 reelection effort. His Wednesday visit will be to a congressional district won by Biden in 2020 but now represented by a Republican, Rep. Mike Lawler.

Because the House Republican bill does not specifically spell out which federal programs would be cut, Democrats have gone on offense warning of steep hits to popular programs. The Democratic-aligned group House Majority Forward announced a $1 million campaign Tuesday amplifying such cuts, while the House Republicans' campaign committee countered with its own effort portraying Democrats as addicted to spending.

McCarthy said his caucus would take steps to increase funding for veterans despite their overall proposal. First of all, cutting the veterans is a lie, he said.

While calling for a clean increase to the debt limit, Biden has said he is open to discussion about how to reduce the federal deficit. His budget plan would trim deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade, mainly through tax increases on the wealthy and changes such as letting the government negotiate over prescription drug prices.

In response to McCarthys demand to claw back some unspent funds from his sweeping COVID-19 relief package, Biden said he would take a hard look at doing so independent of the talks to raise the debt limit.

We dont need it all, but the question is what obligations were there made, commitments made, money not dispersed, etc., Biden said, adding, Its on the table.

Biden added the debt limit should be raised for more than a year, so that we can move things along. The House GOP bill raised the possibility of another showdown over the governments borrowing authority in the heat of a presidential election next year.

While the financial markets have started to show some jitters, the business community has thus far largely avoided backing either side in the showdown and instead called for a deal to be struck.

Securing a bipartisan path forward to raise the debt ceiling could not be more urgent, said Josh Bolten, the head of the Business Roundtable, a group that represents CEOs. The cost of a default, or even the threat of a default, is simply too high.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggested its own priorities for a swift deal Tuesday, saying "there are no two better places to start than permitting reform and an agreement on spending caps.

Biden's refusal to negotiate on the debt limit is informed by his firsthand experience in 2011, when he was Barack Obama's vice president and the administration made painful concessions to Republicans in an effort to avoid default. Biden has told aides it's an experience he refuses to repeat, not just for himself, but for future presidents.

Notably, though, the administration has not ruled out a short-term increase in the debt limit that would align the deadline to increase federal borrowing authority with the talks on government spending that must be resolved by Sept. 30.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- During the Auto Shanghai 2023, Horizon Robotics and Continental AG reached a consensus at the management level to further deepen their cooperation. Their joint venture will leverage Horizon Robotics' next-generation high-performance chips to develop a domain control 3.0 solution that integrates pilot and parking functionalities.

Photo credit: Horizon Robotics

The product supports Level 2+ NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) capabilities and incorporates advanced parking features, enabling end-to-end ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) functions and providing comprehensive solutions to international and domestic automakers.

Looking back at the collaboration between Horizon Robotics and Continental AG, on September 29, 2021, they announced the establishment of a joint venture company, with operations located in the Shanghais Jiading District. On January 17, 2022, the joint venture, Continental Xin Zhijia (Shanghai) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. was officially registered.

In March 2023, the 8-megapixel intelligent front-view camera developed and produced by the joint venture was successfully deployed onto Changan Deepals SL03 sedan, becoming the industry's first mass-produced 8-megapixel intelligent front-view camera system.
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ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested and dragged from court Tuesday as he appeared to face charges in multiple graft cases, a dramatic escalation of political tensions that sparked violent demonstrations by his angry supporters across the country.

The arrest of Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 but remains the leading opposition figure, represented the latest confrontation to roil Pakistan, which has seen former prime ministers arrested over the years and interventions by its powerful military.

At least one person was reported killed in clashes between protesters and the military in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, with another five people wounded there, while about 15 injuries were reported amid similar violence in Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrations.

Amid the violence, officials at Pakistans telecommunication authority said regulators blocked social media, including Twitter, and internet service was suspended in the capital of Islamabad and other cities. Classes at some private schools were canceled for Wednesday.

Khan was removed from the Islamabad High Court by security agents from the National Accountability Bureau, said Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and then shoved into an armored car and whisked away.

She said Khan has been arrested on corruption charges and he is accused of taking property in exchange for providing benefits to a property tycoon in the country. She denounced attacks at offices of the military and at public places by Khan supporters, saying it was done in an orchestrated manner on Imran Khans directions.

Chaudhry denounced the arrest of the 71-year-old former cricket star as an abduction. Pakistans independent GEO TV broadcast video of Khan being hauled away.

A scuffle broke out between Khans supporters and police outside the court. Some of Khans lawyers and supporters were injured in the melee, as were several police, Chaudhry said.

Khan was taken to the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, for questioning at the offices of the National Accountability Bureau, according to police and government officials. He also was to undergo a routine medical checkup, police said.

Khan had arrived at the Islamabad High Court from nearby Lahore, where he lives, to face charges in the graft cases.

He has denounced the cases against him, which include terrorism charges, as a politically motivated plot by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, saying his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy. Khan has campaigned against Sharif and demanded early elections.

Tuesday's arrest was based on a new warrant from the National Accountability Bureau obtained last week in a separate graft case for which Khan had not been granted bail. His lawyers challenged the legality of the arrest, but the court upheld it, although it added that Khan should not have been forcibly removed from the courtroom. Khan is scheduled to appear at an anti-graft tribunal on Wednesday, officials said.

Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He alleged Pakistans treasury had lost millions of dollars while Khan was in office due to illegal purchases of lands from a business tycoon.

The National Accountability Bureau is Pakistans powerful anti-corruption organization that has detained and investigated former officials, including prime ministers, politicians and retired military officers. But some view the NAB as a tool used by those in power, especially the military, to crack down on political opponents. When Khan was in power, his government arrested Sharif, then the opposition leader, through the NAB.

At a news conference, Law Minister Azam Tarar said Khan was arrested because he was not cooperating with the investigations. He also denounced the violence by Khan supporters, saying that protests must remain peaceful.

It should have not happened, he said, shortly after TV video emerged of burning vehicles and damaged public property in parts of the country.

In a statement Wednesday, Marriyum Aurangzeb, the information minister in Sharifs Cabinet, denounced attacks at offices of the military and at public places by Khan supporters, saying it was done in an orchestrated manner on Imran Khans directions.

Authorities said they have banned rallies in the eastern province of Punjab.

As the news of the arrest spread, about 4,000 of Khans supporters stormed the official residence of the top regional commander in Lahore, smashing windows and doors, damaging furniture and staging a sit-in as troops there retreated to avoid violence. The protesters also burned police vehicles and blocked key roads.

Protesters also smashed the main gate of the armys headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted pro-Khan slogans as they moved toward the sprawling building.

In the port city of Karachi, police swung batons and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had gathered on a key road.

Raoof Hasan, another leader from Khans party, told Al Jazeera English television that the arrest is blatant interference in the judicial affairs by the powers-that-be." Hasan added that Khan "was virtually abducted from the court of law.

Khan's arrest came hours after he issued a video message before heading to Islamabad, saying he was mentally prepared for arrest there.

Khan was wounded by a gunman at a rally in November, an attack that killed one of his supporters and wounded 13. He has insisted, without offering any evidence, that there is a plot to assassinate him, alleging that Pakistan's spy agency was behind the conspiracy. The gunman was immediately arrested and police later released a video of him in custody, allegedly saying he had acted alone.

In a strongly worded statement Monday, the military accused Khan of fabricated and malicious allegations of its involvement in the November shooting, saying they are extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.

The military has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of the 75 years since the country gained independence from British colonial rule, and wields considerable power over civilian governments.

Sharif, whose government faces spiraling economic woes and is struggling to recover from last years devastating floods that killed hundreds and caused $30 billion in damage, slammed Khan for assailing the military.

Let this be abundantly clear that you, as former prime minister, currently on trial for corruption, are claiming legitimacy to overturn the legal and political system," Sharif tweeted after Khan's arrest.

In a statement, the European Union urged restraint and cool headedness in the country, through dialogue and the rule of law.

At a news conference in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly both declined any substantive comment. We just want to make sure that whatever happens in Pakistan is consistent with the rule of law, with the constitution, Blinken said.

Cleverly said he had not been briefed in detail but added, The U.K. has a longstanding and close relationship with Pakistan. We are Commonwealth partners. We want to see peaceful democracy in that country. We want to see the rule of law adhered to. Im uncomfortable to speculate further without having a detailed briefing on that.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the global body is concerned about all Pakistani political figures being treated fairly and that due process is followed. He said: We will monitor this process as it goes on to make sure our concerns are being addressed.

Khan is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged in 1979. The current prime ministers brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested several times on corruption allegations.

In March, police stormed Khans Lahore residence, seeking to arrest him based on a court order in a different case. Dozens of people, including police, were injured in ensuing clashes. Khan was not arrested at the time and later obtained bail in the case.

Khan came to power in 2018 after winning parliamentary elections and had initially good relations with the military which gradually soured.
HARTFORD  A man was critically injured in a shooting late Tuesday morning, police said.

The shooting happened shortly before noon at Park and Lafayette streets, Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said. The intersection is down the street from the criminal and civil courthouses.

Boisvert said early Tuesday afternoon that police didn't know if it was related to anything that may have been going on in court.

A man in his 20s was wounded but was alert when first responders arrived, Boisvert said. He was taken to the hospital, where he was listed in critical, but stable, condition.

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene divisions responded and took over the investigation, which is ongoing, Boisvert said.

Anyone with information about the case may call the Hartford Police Department tip line at 860-722-8477 (TIPS).
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BEIJING (AP)  China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian lawmaker and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it firmly opposes.

It said Jennnifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China reserves the right to take further actions in response.

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.

We understand there is retaliation but we will not be intimidated, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after the Chinese move. We will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference.

Trudeau's government said it is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canadas spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively ripped up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press. China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It wasnt immediately clear if Zhao was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Zhao persona non grata and that Canada would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home," she said.

Canadas spy service indicated that in 2021, opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijings human rights record. Canadas spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uyghur ethnic group in Chinas Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political reeducation camps. China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centers is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies toward Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Chong said Zhao's expulsion should have happened years ago.

I hope that this makes it clear not just to the Peoples Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil, Chong said.

The senior Canadian government official said the week delay in announcing the expulsion was to allow the foreign minister to meet with cabinet colleagues who had trade-related responsibilities so they could prepare for any economic retaliation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Zhao's expulsion was based on rumors of the so-called China Interference hyped up by some politicians and media.

This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, the statement said. It added that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side."

China never interferes in other countries internal affairs, it said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin doubled down on China's rejection of the accusations and threats to take further action against Canada.

China is unwavering in its determination to safeguard its own interests," Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

"We urge the Canadian side to immediately stop unreasonable provocations. If Canada does not listen to the advice and acts recklessly, China will fight back resolutely and forcefully, and the Canadian side must bear all the consequences arising from this.

China in recent years has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Party-controlled Chinese state media posted in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare. In 2020, China ordered the closure of the U.S. Consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a center of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former Governor General David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder, at the behest of U.S. authorities who accused her of fraud.

Many countries labeled Chinas action hostage politics, while China accused Ottawa of arbitrary detention. The pair, who were accused of vague national security crimes, were released hours after Meng's lawyers ended the nearly 3-year-long feud embroiling Ottawa, Beijing and Washington with a deal under which she accepted responsibility for misrepresenting the companys business dealings in Iran.

___

Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department said Tuesday that it had disrupted a long-running Russian cyberespionage campaign that infected computer networks in dozens of countries, including in the United States, and resulted in the theft of sensitive information from governments.

Prosecutors linked the spying operation to a unit of Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, and accused the hackers of stealing documents from hundreds of computer systems belonging to governments of NATO members, an unidentified journalist for a U.S. news organization who reported on Russia, and other select targets of interest to the Kremlin.

For 20 years, the FSB has relied on the Snake malware to conduct cyberespionage against the United States and our allies  that ends today, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Departments National Security Division, said in a statement.

The specific targets were not named in court papers, but the Justice Department said the affected networks were in more than 50 countries. U.S. officials described the espionage campaign as very consequential, saying the hackers had successfully exfiltrated sensitive documents from NATO countries.

Prosecutors say the hackers, employing malicious software known as Snake, routed data stolen from foreign governments through compromised computers in the U.S. as a way to cover their tracks. They operated from what the Justice Department said was a known FSB facility in Ryazan, Russia.

In a separate statement, CrowdStrike Intelligence, a private cybersecurity firm that has studied the threat, said the sectors targeted by the hacking included government organizations, defense-related organizations and companies developing cryptographic hardware. It said countries all over the world had been affected, including in Europe, Australia, part of Asia and North and South America.

U.S. officials said they'd been investigating Snake for about a decade and came to regard it as the most sophisticated malware implant relied on by the Russian government for espionage campaigns. They said Turla, the FSB unit believed responsible for the malware, had refined and revised it multiple times as a way to avoid being shut down.

The Justice Department, using a warrant this week from a federal judge in Brooklyn, launched what it said was a high-tech operation using a specialized tool called Perseus that caused the malware to effectively self-destruct.

Federal officials said they were confident that, based on the impact of its operation this week, the FSB would not be able to reconstitute the malware implant.

______

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
BEIRUT (AP)  Saudi Arabia and Syria will reopen diplomatic missions between the two countries now that relations have improved 11 years after the facilities were closed, the two nations foreign ministries said Tuesday.

The announcements came nearly a month after Syria and Saudi Arabia said they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming airline flights. That had followed a visit by Syrias top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012 and a visit by Syrias foreign minister to Riyadh.

On Sunday, the 22-member Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing Syrian President Bashar Assad, a long-time regional pariah, back into the fold.

Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over the Assad government's brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League.

After the conflict started, Saudi Arabia backed the Syrian opposition.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the reopening of its embassy in Damascus aims to strengthen security and stability in the region. It did not say when the embassy will reopen, adding that the move follows the Arab Leagues decision to reinstate Syrias membership.

Syria's Foreign Minister later said that Damascus will resume work at its mission in Saudi Arabia.

In recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syrias neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement.

The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit on May 19 and Syria is expected to attend.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United States and Britain voiced dissatisfaction with the weekend decision by the Arab League to re-instate Syria as a member.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said they opposed the move. But they also allowed it was up to the Arab League to determine its membership.

Also on Tuesday, Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Moscow where he will attend a meeting on Wednesday that will include his counterparts from Iran, Turkey and Russia.

It will be the first time that Syrias foreign minister will meet his Turkish counterpart in more than a decade, as Turkey has been a main backer of opposition fighters trying to remove Assad from power.

Meetings between the defense ministers of Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were held in Moscow in late April.

Syrias 12-year conflict has killed half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million.
The former Massachusetts National Guardsman accused of posting top-secret military documents on the internet will get another day in court before a federal magistrate decides whether his pre-trial release poses a threat.

U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy will reopen a detention hearing for Jack Teixeira at 2 p.m. Thursday in the federal courthouse in Worcester.

It will be Teixeira's second appearance before Hennessy, as the judge prepares to decide whether to order that he continue to be held since arrest, as prosecutors want.

Hennessy took 90 minutes of arguments from the government and Teixeira's court-appointed lawyers on April 27.

Teixeira was arrested and charged in April under the Espionage Act and faces up to 25 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors say Teixeira, 21, a low-level IT employee who had been stationed at the Otis Air National Guard base, had high-level access to classified documents.

Teixeira enlisted in the U.S. Air National Guard in 2019, officials have said. Since May 2022, he held the rank of an E-3/Airman, with the title of Cyber Defense Operations Journeyman.

A government memo says that starting around February 2022, Teixeira began to "access hundreds of classified documents containing national defense information that had no bearing on his role as essentially an information technology ("IT") support specialist."

Documents he obtained were posted on the social media site Discord, including sensitive materials related to the war in Ukraine.

Teixeira's lawyers contend it was another social media user who disseminated the military secrets. They say Texiera shared the material with a "small, private" group.

In making a case that Teixeira be held, prosecutors presented the court with evidence of the defendant's long history of making threats in social media posts.

Teixeira said this in a social media post, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini: "If I had my way I'd kill a f---ing ton of people."

But his attorneys countered that their client has a family history of military service and could be released on conditions that include a curfew and electronic monitoring.

The government, however, said evidence against Teixeira "is substantial and mounting ... the charged conduct would very obviously end his military career. ... He accessed and may still have access to a trove of classified information that would be of tremendous value to hostile nation states that could offer him safe harbor and attempt to facilitate his escape from the United States."

___

(c)2023 The Republican, Springfield, Mass.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Days after Jordan Neely died after being held in a chokehold by a Marine veteran aboard a New York City subway train, the vet has identified himself amid swirling questions about the use of the tactic, which is taught in basic training by the service.

Twenty-four-year-old Daniel Penny identified himself in a statement from his lawyers as the Marine who was seen on video using a chokehold on Neely for minutes until he stopped moving.

Late on Friday, lawyers Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff released a statement confirming that they represented Penny and that he was, in fact, "involved in a tragic incident on the [New York City] subway, which ended in the death of Jordan Neely."

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The statement goes on to argue that Penny "never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death."

According to records released by the Marine Corps last week, Penny served a single tour -- from 2017 to 2021 -- as a rifleman Marine. His last duty station was 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, and he did one deployment to the Mediterranean with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2019. He left as a corporal but was promoted to sergeant while in the Individual Ready Reserve.

Now other Marines are questioning Penny's actions, and one has started a petition calling for his prosecution, arguing Penny did not act in accordance with the training Marines receive.

Gabriel Murphy, a fellow Marine veteran who had a remarkably similar career to Penny, served one tour in the Corps from 2006 to 2010 as an assaultman Marine with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, where he deployed with the 11th MEU in 2007 and to Afghanistan in 2009. He also ended up leaving the service as a corporal.

Last week, Murphy started an online petition that argued that "the individual who choked Mr. Neely to death should be prosecuted for murder." The petition had been signed by nearly 6,000 people as of Tuesday afternoon.

"I hope that the military community joins me in disavowing the actions of this individual," it added.

In an interview with Military.com, Murphy said that training on chokeholds is "not something you touch once in boot camp and then go forget about."

Both Murphy and Penny received instruction on the Marines' version of martial arts -- the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) -- starting in boot camp. The official website of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island notes that the Corps' graduation requirements include that "all recruits undergo training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program throughout training" and adds that "they earn a tan belt, the entry-level belt of the five-level system."

According to the document that lays out the standards for the program, part of the tan belt curriculum includes training on performing a rear choke, in addition to a variety of strikes, counters and other takedown techniques.

"I can tell you just living at the barracks, or being on a MEU, or just existing in 1/5 -- we did some of that stuff constantly and a lot of it was informal," Murphy explained, while adding that MCMAP training is not designed to be non-lethal or safe.

Murphy, whose unit and Afghanistan deployment were profiled in the documentary "Patrol Base Jaker", said that the Marines teach close combat techniques only in the frame of repelling the enemy's assault -- and even then "those [techniques] are all taught, essentially, as 'you screwed up and now somebody's grappling with you.'"

"You're basically starting to kill them, and then you have to decide when to stop," Murphy said.

Military.com reached out to the Marine Corps several times for this story with questions about training chokeholds, but with the exception of providing Penny's record -- a move it noted was not meant to confirm any detail of the video shot on the subway or that Penny was the person involved, the service has not spoken about the incident.

A Marine Corps spokesman said the service is staying silent so that it would be in compliance with the Privacy Act.

The Department of Justice has banned the use of chokeholds by federal law enforcement agencies since 2021, except when deadly force is authorized, because they have "too often led to tragedy."

"These techniques are inherently dangerous," the department wrote in a memo dated September 2021.

The Marine Corps' MCMAP manual says that "when executed properly, a blood choke takes between 8 to 13 seconds for the aggressor to lose consciousness."

CNN reported that a witness said the two men were on the floor for about seven minutes.

The use of neck holds that restrict either air or blood to the brain have a long and tragic history, including the killing of Eric Garner by New York City Police in 2014. There are myriad other examples of suspects dying after chokeholds just in the last several decades alone.

Kenniff, one of the two lawyers who signed Penny's statement, ran against Alvin Bragg, the man who is now charged with making the decision on whether to prosecute Penny, in the 2021 election.

Murphy doesn't want Penny's actions to further color the view that the public has of his fellow Marines and veterans.

"This is not representative, and I'm trying to get that out there," he said, before adding that "veterans have enough problems without [being associated with Penny's actions]."

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Marines Look to Get Closer to Special Operations Teams While Practicing Extractions
Meet Fort Cavazos. As of Tuesday, the installation formerly known as Fort Hood, Texas, that has been at the center of several national controversies will no longer be named after a Confederate general.

The new name honors Gen. Richard Cavazos, a Texas-born Mexican American who twice earned America's second-highest military honor during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Both instances of Cavazos' heroism involved rallying his soldiers against an entrenched or ambushing enemy, often exposing himself to fire and at least once refusing an order to leave his soldiers behind.

This latest designation is part of the Defense Department's push to rename installations honoring the Confederacy; Fort Cavazos is one of nine Army installations being renamed after the Pentagon's Naming Commission delivered recommendations to the secretary of defense.

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Fort Hood -- which has gained national media attention for strings of soldier suicides and murders -- is home to the Army's III Armored Corps, an organization that makes up the lion's share of the service's heavy armored units.

"We are proud to be renaming Fort Hood as Fort Cavazos in recognition of an outstanding American hero, a veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars and the first Hispanic to reach the rank of four-star general in our Army," Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, III Armored Corps commanding general, said in a press release. "General Cavazos' combat-proven leadership, his moral character and his loyalty to his soldiers and their families made him the fearless yet respected and influential leader that he was during the time he served, and beyond."

Fort Hood was originally named after Confederate general John Bell Hood. As of last year, the Army estimated that the renaming of the base would cost about $1.5 million.

Given Hood's troubling recent history, including the death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen in 2020 that launched an investigation into the way leadership handled sexual assaults and murder investigations, some are not convinced that the new name will result in much change for the installation's reputation.

"Now they're going to rename the installation, so hopefully that's going to take away the negative PR," Sean Timmons, a Texas-based managing partner for the Tully Rinckey law firm and a former judge advocate general at Fort Hood, told Military.com in an interview last month. "But it's just going to be a new name and the same business as usual practices. It's not going to change anything."

Last month, Military.com reported that two female soldiers died in March at the installation. Both had died by apparent suicides, yet the Army reported only one publicly.

Army leaders appear excited to welcome a new, fresh chapter in the installation's otherwise troubled history by honoring the "Texas-born hero of the Korean and Vietnam wars," as an Army press release referred to Cavazos, and his acts of gallantry in combat.

"Fate brought Richard E. Cavazos into the American Century," the Naming Commission's final report read. "But valor and leadership characterized his career of military service within it."

The son of a World War I veteran, Cavazos joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps and commissioned as an infantry lieutenant toward the beginning of the Korean War.

"It was during that war's closing days that he first distinguished himself as a leader, rallying his men to make three separate charges on a well entrenched enemy position," an Army press release said. "Afterwards, he returned to the field five separate times to personally evacuate his wounded men before accepting treatment for his own injuries."

Cavazos would go on to serve in the Vietnam War as a battalion commander, again distinguishing himself in combat.

"He was an atypical army officer in Vietnam," Bill Fee, who served under him, said in a U.S. Army museum interview. "Most battalion commanders stood in the rear or in a helicopter above to direct the battle. ... [He] had nothing to do with that. He fought on the ground with his troops during battle.  He was on the ground with us as we were facing the North Vietnamese Army."

Then-Lt. Col. Cavazos counterattacked the enemy at Loc Ninh, Vietnam, leading an assault against a fortified position and again exposing himself to fire.

In addition to earning two Distinguished Service Crosses, Cavazos earned two Legions of Merit, a Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart and a bevy of other awards. He commanded III Corps at Fort Hood and became the first Hispanic American to achieve the rank of four-star general, according to the commission's report.

After serving for 33 years in the Army, Cavazos retired in 1984. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 88, according to the service.

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

Related: Army Renames Aviation Installation After Medal of Honor Recipient
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In the fourth month of 2023, Tesla sold 75,842 China-made vehicles in wholesale, representing an 14.66% drop over the previous month, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Last months wholesale volume was not applicable to a year-on-year comparison due to the pandemic outburst in Shanghai in April 2022.

In the past month, the US electric vehicle maker saw 35,886 Shanghai-made vehicles set sail overseas, which almost tripled from the previous month.

In the first four months of this year, the cumulative wholesale volume of China-made Tesla vehicles summed up to 305,164 vehicles, 127,779 units of which were exported to overseas markets, accounting for roughly 41.87% of the total volume.

Model 3; photo credit: Tesla

Last month, Chinas new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) wholesale volume reached roughly 607,000 vehicles, which skyrocketed 115.6% year on year but edged down 1.7% over March. From January to April, there were a total of 2.108 million NEPVs sold via wholesale, jumping 43% from a year earlier.

In terms of April wholesale volume of specific passenger vehicle models, nine boasted a number exceeding 20,000 units with seven of them being NEPVs, which were the Tesla Model Y (49,059 units), the BYD Qin (42,202 units), the BYD Yuan (39,160 units), the BYD Song (35,836 units), the BYD Dolphin (30,462 units), the Tesla Model 3 (26,783 units), and the GAC AION Y (21,065 units).

Judging from the overall monthly retail volume of NEPVs in China, Tesla secured 7.6% of the market in April 2023, climbing 7 percentage points year over year. At the same time, Chinas locally-owned brands accounted for 70.5% of the entire NEPV market, notching down 5 percentage points from the previous year. The market share of new energy vehicle startups stood at 13.1% in the past month, slipping 3.9 percentage points compared to the year-ago period.

BYD's vehicle

Outside of China, a total of 91,000 NEPVs were exported by Chinese automakers last month, indicating a remarkable 1,028.5% soar year-on-year. According to the CPCPA, NEPVs accounted for about 31% of the total passenger vehicle export volume in April.

Specifically, the top three carmakers regarding export volume were Tesla China (35,886 units), SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company (21,450 units), and BYD (14,827 units), with SAIC Motors wholly owned brands booming in the European markets while BYD going strong in Southeast Asia.
The As have reengaged with various landowners as they look into potential stadium sites in the Las Vegas area, report Howard Stutz and Tabitha Mueller of the Nevada Independent. According to the report, As officials have recently been in contact with land holders at multiple Vegas-area locations that had previously been under consideration.

Its a bit of a surprise considering the As already announced a land purchase agreement for 49 acres west of the Vegas strip three weeks ago. The Nevada Independent report suggests the As are scoping alternatives as backup plans. While the agreed-upon site still seems to be the organizations top priority, its somewhat notable theyre also exploring other options.

It seems theres at least some concern the As wont get legislative approval for their stadium plan at the site theyre already buying. To date, the clubs only agreement has been the land purchase. They have not finalized a stadium deal thatd set the stage for formal relocation. Indeed, theyve still yet to even put an official proposal up for consideration in the Nevada legislature. Theyve expressed plans for a 35,000-seat ballpark thatd involve a $1 billion investment from the franchise in addition to $500MM in county-issued bonds to be paid by tax dollars related to the stadium project.

Without a formal proposal on the legislative docket, though, there remains some uncertainty whether the plan will be greenlit. We havent gotten anything concrete yet of exactly what it is that theyre looking for, or what they would like us to take a look at, a state senator told Stutz and Mueller last week. So its tough to have conversations about what exactly we may or may not do, and time here is finite.  We only have a few more weeks left, so if theres going to be a deal, its got to come very soon.

While theres no indication the As are seriously alarmed about the prospect of negotiations falling through, its clear theyll have to accelerate talks in the relatively near future. The Nevada legislature remains in session through June 5, though they could call a special session to continue negotiations into the summer.

Oakland mayor Sheng Thao announced at the time the As entered into the Nevada land purchase she was ceasing discussions about a possible stadium project in Oaklands Jack London Square. She later left open the possibility for reopening negotiations, though its clear the As efforts for a Vegas site would have to be in peril for that to happen at this point. Theres still nothing to suggest the As are considering sites outside Nevada.

In any event, theres a clear target date for the As to have a binding stadium agreement in place. A provision in the collective bargaining agreement mandates that the organization have a formal stadium deal by next January 15 if theyre to retain their status as revenue sharing recipients. The As lease at RingCentral Coliseum runs through 2024.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has banned all helicopter flights by Simrik Air, the charter service company based at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. This is a decision that comes after last Friday a rotorcraft of the airline had crashed to the ground, killing one person. The authority will inspect the fleet and proceed with an audit of the company.

These are the facts: an AS-350B3e helicopter (registration 9N-AJZ) carrying five people, which took off from Gola with destination Siprung, crashed during landing, in the Sankhuwasabha region, in Bhotkhola. According to local press reports, the aircraft was carrying construction materials for the "Upper Arun Hydropower" project. Three occupants were seriously injured in the accident, while one died.

Problems with flight safety in Nepal are confirmed. Recently, the authorities of the regulators of the skies had suspended some air traffic control (ATC, Air Traffic Control) officers of the Kathmandu airport, after a plane crash between two aircraft of the companies Air India and Nepal Airlines.

On the same topic see also the article published by AVIONEWS.
CRYSTAL FALLS, MI  Projects to repair three Upper Peninsula bridges will impact travel for several months.

The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to invest about $2.9 million to repair the three bridges located in Iron and Ontonagon counties.

The three bridges are located on U.S. 45 over the east branch of the Ontonagon River, M-64 over the Mineral River, and M-69 over the Paint River near Crystal Falls, White Pine and Mass City, respectively.

Work includes a deep overlay, epoxy overlay, joint replacement, deck, railing, and substructure patching, curb and gutter repairs and guardrail and approach work.

This work will extend the lifespan of the bridges and result in a smoother driving surface and increased safety for motorists, MDOT said.

The trio of projects are set to begin on May 15 and will likely be completed sometime in October, MDOT said.

Traffic will be maintained with one lane of alternating traffic utilizing temporary traffic signals, but detours will be necessary during some phases of the projects, MDOT said.

The project is expected to support 35 jobs, MDOT said.

READ MORE:

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ONTONAGON COUNTY, MI  An 8-year-old boy who got lost in the woods Saturday afternoon and was found two days later survived by eating clean snow and covering himself with leaves for warmth, police said.

Weather conditions in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigans Upper Peninsula can still be wintry, and theres still snow on the ground in some places.

Nante Niemi, 8, of Hurley, Wis., survived two nights  about 48 hours  alone in the cold wilderness after he got lost on his way back to his familys campsite around 1 p.m. Saturday. He had been collecting firewood with a group.

RELATED: Boy, 8, missing in Porcupine Mountains found safe after 48 hours

Niemi was wearing a sweatshirt, sweatpants and boots, and had no gear or food with him. He stayed warm and safe by hiding under a log and covering up with branches and leaves; he also blanketed the log with leaves, he told police after he was found. He ate clean snow to stay hydrated.

On Sunday, he found a trail. When he came to the end of it, he figured the best thing to do was to just stop and wait, police said.

A volunteer found Niemi around 1:30 p.m. Monday about two miles from his familys campsite.

They offered to carry him out today, but he told the guys who found him that he wanted to walk, police said.

Niemi is in good health and has been reunited with his family, police said.

RELATED: Police release identity of Wisconsin boy, 8, missing in Porcupine Mountains

RELATED: Search underway for boy, 8, missing in Porcupine Mountains

Michigan State Police Wakefield Post led the investigation and search on the ground, in the air and on water. More than 150 personnel from MSP and local partners assisted in the search.

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Fatal shooting was over $3 refund at Michigan gas station, police say
MONROE, MI  A new dining option is available in Monroe.

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first restaurant in Monroe on Tuesday. The eatery at 1284 N. Telegraph Road joins of slew of locations in Metro Detroit and is the 52nd in Michigan overall.

The restaurant features the brands Chipotlane drive-thru pickup lane. Guests at the location will also be able to try Chipotles new chicken al pastor, which was launched in March.

The chicken is seasoned with a powerful marinade of Chipotles signature adobo, morita peppers, ground achiote and a splash of pineapple. Its finished with fresh lime, and hand-chopped cilantro to create notes of heat, smoke and a hint of fruit.

Guests are looking to restaurants for unique menu items they cannot make at home, and al pastor has been gaining mass appeal in recent years, said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer in March. Weve put our own spicy spin on al pastor with our freshly grilled chicken and have created a truly delicious menu item that fans will crave. Its where fire meets flavor.

The Monroe location will be open every day from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The location is hiring and will need to fill up to 25 jobs. More information can be found here.

Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Chipotle has more than 3,200 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

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McDonalds is making 4 subtle changes to improve its burgers

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI  Julie Ohashi was walking on the wooded trail behind her house, a daily ritual with her son and their dog, when she saw something that made her freeze.

Just off her property, and a short distance from her kids swing set, someone had painted a black swastika on a tree.

Charred bark marred the other side of the trunk, according to photos and video she shared with MLive, taken when it was discovered on April 2.

It was pretty shocking, kind of just stopped me in my tracks, took my breath away, Ohashi said, comparing the sight to a sucker punch.

The punch landed in the midst of a contentious spring election in solidly-conservative Livingston County, where Ohashi, a Hartland Consolidated Schools parent, had become more active in increasingly divided school politics.

A nonpartisan political group she and other parents founded, Livingston Integrity PAC, was fighting for the renewal of a Hartland Schools tax that had come under fire from some county GOP leaders.

Read more: Michigan voters rejected extremism at the polls, but culture wars still loom large

Ohashi does not know how the Nazi symbol ended up on the walking path near her home, but a day earlier her name and where she lived had been posted in a Facebook group against the millage, she said.

Our family sees that swastika and attempted tree burning as a pathetic and cowardly attempt to intimidate us into silence, she said.

Ohashi, who shared the experience publicly during a Hartland School Board meeting on Monday, May 8, immediately reported the hate symbol to police.

An Oakland County sheriffs deputy took an initial report, as her home is on the Oakland/Livingston county line. MLive has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the report, but has not yet received it.

Our detective has forwarded this information to the FBI special agent in charge of Livingston County due to it being a little more involved with school politics over there, Oakland County Undersheriff Curtis Childs said in an email.

Ohashi has continued to relay information to federal law enforcement, noting her husband is one of the few racial minorities in their neighborhood. She said she understands the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

An FBI spokesperson declined to answer questions about the vandalism, saying it is the agencys policy not to confirm or deny if it is conducting an investigation.

An association affiliated with the lake where Ohashi lives removed the swastika, and its members said they had never encountered anything like the vandalism before, Ohashi said.

A teacher herself who was born and raised in Livingston County, Ohashi said she founded a parents group during the 2022 election cycle.

She said she aimed to combat what she viewed as misinformation from a slate of conservative school board candidates who ended up winning three Hartland seats, running under the slogan education not indoctrination.

The activism eventually birthed Livingston Integrity, a group formed to combat what its members see as extremism in schools, increasingly political battlegrounds across Michigan and the nation. Ohashi is president of the group.

Read more: Trans athletes, book bans: How school elections became political battlefields

Its members knocked doors, called residents and distributed mailers to support the renewal of an 18-mill non-homestead tax during the May 2 election for Hartland Schools, a district of some 5,200 students north of Brighton.

Schools officials said the millage generated about $5.5 million annually and unlocked state funding. Without it, they would have to cut education programs, they said.

But some Republican leaders rallied against the measure, with the Livingston Daily reporting that much of the pushback stemmed from concerns about how the schools handled topics of gender, race and sexuality, as well as student discipline and safety.

In the end, voters chose overwhelmingly  76.6% in favor  to renew the tax.

Ohashis group aims to stand up for marginalized students, including those with individualized education programs or who identify as LGBTQ, as theyve come under attack in the district, she said.

Hate groups use these symbols and symbolic burnings as a way to create fear, she said, but the vandalism has only motivated her to continue her work.

In fact, it motivates us to go harder because it clarifies whats at stake for our community, and most importantly, for our kids and their future, she said.

More from MLive:

NAACP excluded from Memorial Day parade in Muskegon

Michigan gets poor grades for drinking water, roads and energy in 2023

Its been almost 2 years since Michigans COVID levels were this low

State superintendent in letter to Flint schools: We are very concerned
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that a missing 77-year-old woman was found dead in the Huron National Forest.

The Michigan State Police said Karen Adams, 77, of Kimball was located on May 7, but did not disclose her condition.

According to the DNR, Adams, who has dementia, was found around 1 p.m. in Oscoda Countys Big Creek Township

Adams had not been seen since around 1:40 p.m. on May 3 when she left a family members residence on Schmallers Road in Montmorency Countys Loud Township in a 2018 Chevy Cruze.

A group of off-road vehicle riders located Adams vehicle south of Mio on May 6.

Conservation officer Casey Pullum and two Oscoda County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to the scene. The vehicle was stuck on Snowmobile Trail LP 968, north of Deyarmond Valley Road and Union Corners Road.

Canine teams as well as a MSP helicopter were called in to search, but a ground search crew located Adams body less than a mile from her vehicle, the DNR said.

Exposure to the elements is believed to be the cause of death but has not been confirmed. No foul play is suspected, the DNR said.

The U.S. Forest Service, Montmorency County Sheriffs Office, Tri Town Fire Department, American Red Cross, Alpena County Search and Rescue and search members from Oakland County assisted at the scene.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland man is accused of beating and Zip-tying a 60-year-old woman then stuffing her into a 3-foot-by-3-foot plastic container and sealing the lid, police say.

He then moved the container around his house to avoid police detection, authorities said.

Officers found the woman after hearing her muffled cries for help during a house search in the middle of the night May 3, officers reported. As of Thursday, the victim was unconscious and on a ventilator, with multiple fractures to the back of her head, according to court documents.

Dalontay Edmond-Geiger, 31, is charged in Cleveland Municipal Court with attempted murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and evidence tampering. A judge on Friday set a $500,000 bond.

The incident occurred at Edmond-Geigers home on West 97th Street in the citys West Boulevard neighborhood. Police got a call that afternoon about a woman acting hysterical at West 97th Street and Lorain Avenue, claiming there was a female tied up in the basement of an area home, according to a police report.

Officers knocked on the door of the house, which was playing loud music. Edmond-Geiger emerged in a frantic state, the report states. He declared that he was a confidential informant for the Cleveland police, asked officers to turn off their body cameras and told them to leave because he didnt want his cover blown. Then he disappeared back inside.

Ten minutes later, he reappeared and permitted officers to search the basement, which turned up nothing. The officers left. (During the incident, police confirmed that Edmond-Geiger was trying to become an informant, according to the report.)

At about 10:30 that night, police spoke with another woman on the corner of West 97th and Lorain, asking if she had any information on the house. She immediately became upset, then whispered, He killed her, according to the report.

The woman refused to speak to police so close to Edmond-Geigers house, but she agreed to reconvene with officers at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, a few blocks away, 20 minutes later.

At the church, the woman told police that she, Edmond-Geiger and two others were stopped a week earlier on two occasions by vice unit officers, which prompted Edmond-Geiger to accuse one party member of snitching.

The woman visited Edmond-Geigers house later, she told officers at the church, and thats when he told her he killed the person he believed spoke with officers, the police report says. He did so after Zip-tying, beating and stabbing her, he said as he showed the woman photos of the victims body, which appeared lifeless, the report states.

About midnight, police returned to Edmond-Geigers house and started knocking. Edmond-Geiger emerged and told officers hed let them in through the back.

Two officers circled the house, while another, who remained by the front door, heard a noise. I could hear what sounded like a heavy object being dragged across the enclosed front-porch floor, he reported.

Officers entered the house and began searching. One thought he had heard a moaning sound, according to the report. Each time he heard the moan, Edmond-Geiger turned up the radio, refusing to turn it back down, police say.

The moaning seemed to be coming from the porch. An officer opened the door and called out. A womans muffled cries appeared to be under the porch or inside a wall, police reported.

Eventually, Edmond-Geiger told the officers where the woman was, saying, She is in the tote, police say.

An officer opened the container and found the victim, motionless, stuffed with her body folded inside, according to the report. She said she was paralyzed and in pain, the report says.

Edmond-Geiger was arrested, and the victim was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center.

Last month, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher placed Edmond-Geiger on probation for two years after he pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property. Because he violated his probation, he faces as much as 18 months in prison in addition to the new charges.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- An 18-year-old Ann Arbor man was charged Monday for strong-armed robbery after he stole a womans purse and used her credit cards.

Jeremiah Facen was arraigned in Washtenaw Countys 14A-1 District Court on charges of larceny, carrying a concealed weapon and two counts of stealing a financial transaction device. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 23 years.

Ann Arbor police officers were called to E. Washington Street and S. Fourth Avenue around 9:15 p.m. on May 8, for reports of a strong-armed robbery, police said. A 54-year-old Ohio woman had been walking west on E. Washington Street when she was approached by a man who grabbed her purse and began running down the street, police said.

The woman was not injured and did not know Facen, police said.

Her credit cards were used at several downtown businesses. Police used surveillance footage from one of the businesses to identify Facen, who was found on a bus that had stopped at the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority headquarters, police said.

Facen still had the womans purse and the purchased items when officers apprehended him. He was also carrying an unregistered, loaded firearm with an extended magazine, police said.

Facen is currently lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $2,500 bond. It is unclear when he is next set to appear in court.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

Read more from The Ann Arbor News:

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YPSILANTI, MI - Community members are rallying in support of reinstating veteran Ypsilanti Community High School choir teacher Crystal Harding, who was placed on paid, non-disciplinary administrative leave.

Harding, who has taught in the district for more than 30 years, was placed on leave on May 3 while the district investigates several issues that have recently arisen regarding her involvement with the Ypsilanti High School Choir, according to a letter from administrators obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

The district is investigating what it calls unauthorized field trips, fundraisers, student interviews and news reporting from the choir under Hardings watch, the letter states.

Hardings supporters turned out at the Ypsilanti School Board meeting Monday, May 8, with community members, teachers, former students and Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown asking that Harding be reinstated.

Over the years its clear that Miss Harding has demonstrated being a highly effective educator, former Ypsilanti teacher Gilda Myles said Monday. I know there are two sides to every story, and Im hoping that were going to be very transparent.

Brown said she was moved by the performance of Hardings students during a choir concert in February and witnessed firsthand the impact she has in students lives.

I implore you to reconcile this, Brown said. Put her back in the classroom in front of these students. They need her. We need her. Our community needs her.

Harding and some of her Ypsilanti High students recently spoke with the news media regarding a video she had hired a videographer to make about the choir in late April. At the time, she claimed the video had not yet been completed by a third-party contractor and that she had lost communication with the producer.

Harding explained that students helped raise $700 for the video, which was intended to be used to help the choir apply for a grant funding in the future. In the story, Harding and her students highlighted some of the funding challenges the choir program and district have, including not having a sound system.

Placing Harding on leave for bringing the districts financial struggles to the forefront sets a bad example to students, community member Trische Duckworth said.

What we are teaching them is that you cant speak out, she said. What were teaching them is that you cant tell the truth. We know the deficits - we know you all work hard to cover them. But when someone stands in their truth and we know it is true, we should be in support of that - even for our students who spoke out on that newscast.

The video has since been produced and the contract with the videographer has been fulfilled, according to the Ypsilanti Choral Association, Inc., a nonprofit directed by Harding that funds and supports the Ypsilanti Community High School choir program.

Harding met with district administrators the day after the news story aired on April 27, however, to address the issues that prompted the investigation.

School districts are comprehensively regulated at the local, state and federal levels, Human Resources Director Sue McCarty wrote in the letter to Harding. Those regulations extend to the classroom, classroom activities, classroom management, curriculum, and off-site curricular and extracurricular activities. This extends even to private fundraising and school relations with booster organizations.

Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross confirmed Harding has been placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave but declined to comment further. Harding, who is not allowed to enter school property or attend school events without written permission during the leave, was not at Mondays meeting and declined to comment further.

Ypsilanti School Board President Celeste Hawkins acknowledged during Mondays meeting that the board was aware many in the audience were there to support Harding, but said she couldnt comment on the circumstances of Hardings leave.

The district does not comment publicly regarding personnel matters, Hawkins said. However, I can inform you that placement on paid administrative leave is not uncommon and is not indicative of discipline of a staff member. Rather, it is indicative that the district is completing a review of information it received related to a staff member.

Its clear from the communitys response that Harding is a valuable asset to Ypsilanti Community Schools, former student Arlo Johnston said.

She was just trying to speak on behalf of her students and speak up for them, because thats what this district is supposed to do for their students, Johnston said. Something I think is vitally important for you all to understand is she has support from all corners of this planet, from all sorts of people. Not valuing her is a mistake on (the districts) part.

Harding taught choir at Erickson Elementary School, before spending the last six years at the high school. Prior to that, she was a member of the choir during her high school years in Ypsilanti.

Harding also is one of 212 music teachers from across the country named as quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award from the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. The award recognizes educators who have made a significant contribution and demonstrate a commitment to music education.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

READ MORE:

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YPSILANTI, MI - An Eastern Michigan University graduate is one of eight people killed in the May 7 mass shooting at a Texas shopping mall.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, was killed during a Saturday, May 7 trip to the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas near Dallas, university officials said. She graduated from EMU in 2020 with a masters degree in construction management.

As the nation has to once again grapple with a senseless act of gun violence, we share our condolences with Aishwaryas family and friends, university officials said in a statement. She will forever be remembered as a strong Eastern Michigan University Eagle.

Thatikonda came to the Ypsilanti university from India where her father is a judge, officials said. After graduation, she went to work for the Dallas-area firm Perfect General Contractors, according to her LinkedIn page.

She was prepared to give her very best at all times, the Dallas firms founder Srinivas Chaluvadi wrote in an email, according to the Associated Press.

She came to the United States with a dream to make a career, build a family, own a home and live forever in Dallas, Chaluvadi wrote.

The 33-year-old gunman linked to the May 7 shooting killed eight and wounded seven others before a police officer killed him, police said. The victims included a couple and their 3-year-old son, a security guard, two elementary school-age sisters and Thatikonda, according to the Associated Press.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

Read more from MLive:

Thousands of miles from home, Arab students at Eastern Michigan form own community

A look back at how women fought for and won spots on the Michigan Marching Band

About 1,900 students earn degrees at Eastern Michigan graduation
FLINT, MI -- Flint City Council members are used to fighting among themselves.

On Monday, May 8, the audience got in on the act.

Council President Allie Herkenroder (Ward 7), Judy Priestley (Ward 4), and Eva Worthing (Ward 9) walked out of their Special Affairs Committee meeting on Monday just before Councilwoman Ladel Lewis (Ward 2) called for a recess because we have chaos in this chamber.

Audience members were coming towards me instead of staying in their seats, Worthy said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. Someone shouted that they were going to beat me in the head and after I left (with a police officer), someone said they were going to get me.

Priestley, who left but later returned to the meeting, said she didnt feel really safe and said she was followed to her vehicle by audience members who used their phones to question and record her on video.

It was the worst meeting Ive ever attended, she said.

Council members have been at odds with each other for more than 17 months since six new members were elected.

Members have regularly criticized their colleagues, accused each other of racist and threatening comments, and spent long periods of time debating council rules, making points of order, and appealing decisions made by the chairperson.

1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays was initially elected president of the council but a majority of members voted him out of the same position after just four months and hard feelings have left Flints legislative body fractured politically, often unable to finish the business on its agenda.

Mays has claimed some members of the council have treated him differently because of his race and called Black council members who disagreed with him handkerchief-head negros who are more interested in pleasing Mayor Sheldon Neeley than serving the residents in their wards.

A majority of the council has removed Mays from several meetings just this year for being disruptive and in March, a Genesee District Court jury found him guilty of disorderly conduct at a 2022 meeting after a two-day trial.

Last summer, three top officials in City Hall filed complaints with the citys Human Resources Department, claiming they were the victims of verbal abuse and bullying by members of the council and just last week, Worthing and council member Tonya Burns (Ward 6) argued during a council meeting, pointing fingers at each other, as Burns called Worthing a liar and Worthing, who rose to her feet, called Burns unprofessional.

A year earlier, Worthing, who is white, apologized after calling the actions of another councilwoman -- Jerri Winfrey-Carter (Ward 5) -- ghetto.

The words have not been forgotten as Winfrey-Carter recalled them again on Monday and said Worthing should have been removed for arguing with a member of the audience.

The Journal could not reach Herkenroder, who said little during Mondays meeting, and who was the first to walk out of that meeting.

As the president of the council, Herkenroder is charged with acting as chair during regular council meetings, which are held every two weeks.

The regular meeting that was scheduled for Monday was never called to order because the Special Affairs Committee meeting lasted more than four hours.

Council members were meeting in an auditorium in the Genesee County administration building because of a renovation to their own chambers inside City Hall and county officials had asked them to finish their business by 9:30 p.m. so the building could be closed for the evening.

The Neeley administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Journal about Mondays meeting but issued a news release on Tuesday, criticizing the councils failure to take final action on any business, including new contracts for police and firefighters.

This is very disappointing for both police and fire staff who have been working diligently with the promise of pay increases, Fire Chief Theron Wiggins said in a statement issued by the city. When agreed-upon changes are delayed, it jeopardizes our credibility with our valued labor unions and can impact our ability to attract and retain staff. This has real consequences for our first responders.

The city also released a statement from City Administrator Clyde Edwards, which said in part, We appreciate the partnership of several council members. But others have lent their efforts to disrupting essential city business to the point of holding the city hostage.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

3 Flint officials file bullying, harassment complaints against city council

Flint councilman thrown out of meeting after barrage of racial slurs

Mays could face jail time after jury finds him guilty of disorderly conduct

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
VALENCIA, SpainSpanish news outlet The Olive Press reports that charges levied against AVN Hall of Fame performer Nacho Vidal for involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 death of a fashion photographer in Vidal home's have been provisionally dropped by a Valencia court.

Vidal was arrested in June 2020 in connection with the death, which occured after the photographer, Jose Luis Abad, took part in a "toad venom ritual" at Vidal's Valencia home that may have been meant as an attempt to "detoxify" him. According to reports at the time, the ritual involved inhaling a hallucinogenic substance secreted by the Bufo toad that is believed to have healing powers that can cure addictions.

Vidal was released on bail shortly after his arrest, though his passport was withdrawn pending further legal proceedings.

The new ruling from the Valencia court, which came down Monday, found that Abad had "voluntarily submitt[ed] to the ceremony" after "having previously consumed cocaine," according to Spanish news site ABC. A coroner's report determined that the mixture of the toad venom with the cocaine in Abad's system had a fatal effect.

The dismissal of the case may still be challenged by the plaintiff, ABC notes.
FLINT, MI -- Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley has signed a contract for the Genesee County Sheriffs Office to continue its operation of the city lockup, a holding facility thats designed to ease overcrowding at the county jail and to provide a cooling-off period for those whove been arrested.

Neeley signed a $2.4-million contract for the county to operate the lockup from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept 30, 2023, on Friday, May 5.

The deal was sealed after county officials last week discussed the potential for laying off 22 employees who perform work related to the facility because talks over the operating agreement had broken down.

It also comes after Neeley and Sheriff Chris Swanson met last week to work out details of the agreement after the county Board of Commissioners approved it on March 29.

The Flint City Council also approved the contract last September.

A statement released by the city says the arrangement will continue with enhanced communication and operational processes.

We had a refreshing conversation; it was open, engaging, and a learning process for us both, Neeley said in a statement released by the city. I continue to welcome the partnership of Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Swanson said on Monday, May 8, that the meeting with Neeley has helped strengthen what hes called a great partnership between the city and county.

When an issue has the potential to impact people, the sheriff said, You work it out. You negotiate. You meet face-to-face.

Swanson has described the lockups continued operation as critical.

If we dont keep this open there are going to be losses and it wont (just) be money thats lost, he told commissioners during a committee meeting last week.

The lockup is owned by the city and has been operated by the county for more than 10 years. Funding for the operation has been provided to the city through the state of Michigan.

Some county commissioners have questioned the three-way partnership because the arrangement has resulted in the county receiving delayed reimbursements and Neeley has suggested the city might operate the lockup without the countys help in the future.

Flint officials have said recent delayed reimbursements have been the result of no contract having been in place during the past seven months.

The new contract takes the potential county layoffs off the table and assures that the lockup population wont be moved to the county jail as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier this year because of staffing and other issues.

Swanson has said hes tried to keep the lockup population in its fixed location on the second floor of the Flint Police Department despite problems with elevators and equipment, and cells that cannot be used because of their condition.

Before it reopened in August 2021, an inspection of the lockup by the Michigan Department of Corrections noted the need for an evacuation plan for the facility and listed safety concerns including some cells that could not be opened because of broken mechanical parts.

The Journal obtained the inspection report through the Freedom of Information Act.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

As talks break down over Flint lockup, Genesee County considers options, employee layoffs

Faced with staffing shortage, sheriff moves Flint lockup population to county jail

Demolition could be next for historic Flint church with ties to citys auto pioneers
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A Zeeland woman convicted of killing her daughter in 2002 will not get a new trial.

Karen Boes, 67, was found guilty by a jury of felony murder after her daughter, Robin Boes, 14, died of smoke inhalation in a fire at the Boes family home on July 30, 2002. Boes has been serving a life sentence without parole since her sentencing.
KENT COUNTY, MI - Resurrection Life Church and Crisis Aid International announced Tuesday they were partnering on a facility to provide comprehensive support for victims of sex trafficking across West Michigan.

A groundbreaking ceremony for House of Hope  a residential service for sex trafficking victims  was held on Tuesday, May 9 in Wyoming.

The house will accommodate up to 20 girls of all age ranges. They will have the ability to stay at the refuge from six months to two years, depending on their needs to adjust to a life after exploitation.

West Michigan, the rest of the nation is going to take notice of what youre doing because this home is going to be a world class facility that others will dream up and one day follow, said Pat Bradley, president and founder of Crisis Aid International, told those gathered about the anti-human trafficking project.

The House of Hope, referred to as a refuge, will have group therapy spaces, recreational and gym spaces as well as dining and living areas.

Bradley said the war against human trafficking was declared in West Michigan on Tuesday, not just the start of a construction project.

Kent County has a Human Trafficking Task Force that Lieutenant Jason Richards with the Kent County Sheriffs Office supervises. He said many cases of sex trafficking go unreported with no mechanism to statistically record the instances of exploitation, leading to less understanding of how prevalent the sex trafficking is in West Michigan.

Related: Ottawa County Sheriff Kempker requests human trafficking victim advocate amid rising cases

Crisis Aid Internationals Victim Advocate Alice Guillory said lots of the support for the sex trafficking victims will come in support groups, therapy and with volunteers coming in to teach the women skills for the purpose of becoming self-sustainable after leaving the refuge.

Guillory also said that the refuge will help in being a home, instead of a processing facility where the goal is to move victims through the system. Guillory said this will give the victims a place of safety and healing.

Crisis Aid International is also working with with area law enforcement on its Children Anti-Exploitation Partnership (CAP) program, which works to prevent children exploitation over the internet. Bradley said that the CAP staff will work right alongside detectives to bridge the gap between victims coming to the police department to report their exploitation.

Guillory said many of the children in our community have already been targeted by predators, either in childhood or at a vulnerable time in their lives, and most often do not have access to the support that the CAP program can provide.

Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood is a partner at the Timothy Group, which is leading the fundraising campaign for the project. He said Tuesday the House for Hope has a $7.5 million budget and $5 million has already been raised.

The measure of any society is how they treat their most vulnerable and this facility is an example of a tangible way members of our community, Wyoming and Kent County, are looking out for the most vulnerable, and providing support to those who are experiencing challenges, Vanderwood said.

Resurrection Life Church and Crisis Aid International announced they were partnering on "House of Hope" to offer support for victims of sex trafficking across West Michigan during a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, May 9 in Wyoming, MI. (Elizabeth Nass | MLive.com)

Vanderwood, who has known Resurrection Life Church Pastor Duane Vander Klok for 50 years, said he wanted to help with the vision for the project.

Bradleys dream for House of Hope started three years ago. Crisis Aid International has been partnering with Resurrection Life Church for the past 18 years, doing advocacy work in Missouri and overseas in East Africa.

House for Hope is modeled after the Refuge Home in St. Louis, MO, where Crisis Aid International is based. The group opened that refuge in 2012, as well as the East Africa Refuge Homes, in which the organization placed girls after they were rescued from the red-light district in East Africa.

I think its important to have the House of Hope here in West Michigan because that will provide another resource for those individuals in the community who are being trafficked to be able to have that safety and stability because one of the biggest things is shelters and availability of space, Guillory said.

Having another one that is going to be available for the community and other service providers to refer to is going to be great.

Plans are for the refuge to open in the fall of 2024, aiming to be a new hub for advocacy and spiritual healing. The location is not being revealed for safety.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- A man accused of fatally shooting a family member in the head in Jackson County has been charged with murder.

Paul Stiles, 55, was arraigned in 12th District Court on Monday, May 8, on charges of open murder and felony firearm in connection with a shooting that occurred the day prior.

Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriffs Office were called to the 12400 block of Stony Point Road in Hanover Township around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, for reports of a man shooting his nephew.

When they arrived, police found a 34-year-old Jackson County man dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. A firearm was also found inside the home, police said.

Police identified the man as Devin Stiles.

Drugs and alcohol are believed to be involved, according to police.

Paul Stiles is currently in Jackson County Jail without bond. He will next appear in court on Wednesday, May 24.

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MICHIGAN CENTER, MI  Students at Michigan Center High School will see a new face in the principals office in the fall.

The Michigan Center School Board announced at its Monday, May 8 meeting that Zachary Kanaan is taking over the position in the 2023-24 school year.
VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI -- A man police allege was driving under the influence when a road worker was struck and killed in Southwest Michigan has now been charged.

Van Buren County prosecutors on Monday, May 8 authorized charges against the man in the March 3 death of Rene Rangel Jr., 58.

Police earlier said the driver was a 30-year-old Hartford man.

He was driving a 1997 Dodge pickup, trying to pass another vehicle, when he hit and killed Rangel on County Road 681 near 48th Avenue in Lawrence Township. The road worker was holding a traffic control sign.

Prosecutors on Monday authorized charges of operating under the influence causing death, moving violation causing death in a work or school bus zone and operating a motor vehicle without security.

The man was arrested by state police Monday and taken to the Van Buren County Jail. He is awaiting arraignment.

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VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI  A man accused of driving while intoxicated, hitting and killing a road worker has been arraigned on two felony counts.

Logan Ryan Brown, 30, of Hartford, was arraigned Tuesday, May 9, on one felony count each of operating under the influence causing death and moving violation causing death in a work or school bus zone in Van Buren County District Court. Both felonies are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Brown was also arraigned on one misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle without security.

Police previously said drugs were a factor in the crash.

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The Van Buren County Prosecutor authorized the charge May 8, and Brown was arrested the same day by Michigan State Police, according to the countys jail logs.

Related: Family, community gather to remember road commission worker killed on job

Brown is accused of hitting and killing Rene Rangel Jr., 58, on March 3. Rangel, a Van Buren County Road Commission worker, was holding a traffic control sign on County Road 681 near 48th Avenue in Lawrence Township.

Police previously said the driver of a 1997 Dodge pickup, who they allege was Brown, attempted to pass another vehicle when he hit Rangel.

Related: Driver hits, kills road worker in Southwest Michigan work zone

The Van Buren County Road Commission is thankful to the Van Buren County Sheriffs Department, Michigan State Police, Van Buren County Prosecutors Office and all other agencies involved in helping bring justice. And of course, thank you to you all for your continued support, the commission said on Facebook.

Brown was given a $350,000 cash or surety bond, which he has not posted, according to court records. He is scheduled for a probable cause conference May 17.

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BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  A broken, stolen statue was returned to a Southwest Michigan park more than seven weeks after it was taken.

Someone used excessive force to break off the top of the statue, called Madeline Bertrand A Potawatamie Woman, off its pedestal. That left the statues ankles and feet behind on March 16, the Berrien County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

The statue was returned to Madeline Bertrand County Park, 3038 Adams Road, in Niles, around 11 p.m., May 6. A person placed the statue at the base of the pedestal and then took a photo, police said.

The statue shows what Bertrand looked like as a young woman. She lived in the Niles area. Bertrand, originally called Nona, was a member of the Potawatomi tribe, according to the Potawatomi Nations website.

She was raised by Potawatomi Chief Topenebee and married French fur trader Joseph Bertrand Sr. in 1804. Their marriage was ratified by the Catholic Church in 1818, during which she was given the Christian name Madeline.

The statue shows Bertrand walking into her new life, while looking back at her culture and religion she was leaving when she married Joseph Bertrand Sr., sculptor Tuck Langland told the South Bend Tribune.

The statue likely weighs more than 200 pounds, Langland told the South Bend Tribune

Although we are happy to have the original statue back, we are all very concerned about this theft and what other damage this person may do at the park or in the surrounding neighborhood, Park Manager Derek Tyler said in the news release.

Security footage of the theft and return is being reviewed and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the theft or anyone who sees a photo of the statue on social media should call the sheriffs office detective bureau at 269-983-7141, extension 7224.

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BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  Police have released the name of the woman who possibly drowned in the St. Joseph River.

Shirani Simpson, 42, entered the river near Dairy Road in Oronoko Township around 6:30 p.m., Sunday, May 7, because her 8-year-old son appeared to be having difficulty in the water, the Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police said.

Related: Missing mother possibly drowned in Michigan river, police say

Police released Simpsons name on Tuesday, May 9, as they continue to search for her, as of 10:30 a.m.

Emergency personnel were sent to the area because the woman was missing after she entered the water.

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The boy was found on an island in the river by firefighters in a rescue boat. He was taken to Corewell Lakeland Hospital in Niles, where he was treated and released in good condition, police said.

Seven agencies are involved in the search for Simpson, including the Great Lakes Drone Company.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  The shooting death of Tonya Marie Woody took away the glue that held together a family.

Theyve been trying to pick up the pieces and stay together in the year after her death, Woodys adult daughter Diamond Ivy said during the sentencing for the man who pleaded guilty.

It is important to understand the gravity of your actions and the ripple effect it will have on future generations, Ivy said.

Eric James Smith, 33, of Parchment, was sentenced Monday, May 8, by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Pamela Lightvoet to 15 to 45 years in prison for one felony count of second-degree murder. Before that sentence starts, Smith will serve two years in prison for felony firearms, with credit for 350 days.

Woody and Smith were parents to a 1-year-old boy. The shooting happened after an argument between them.

Smith attended the sentencing, wearing an orange jumpsuit from the Kalamazoo County Jail and a surgical mask. A plea agreement said Smith would be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years.

You cant hide behind your mask with where youre going, Lightvoet said. You certainly, probably deserve to spend more time than what this agreement is.

Smith pleaded guilty to the charges March 31. A charge of carrying a concealed weapon was dismissed.

My sister was a kind and loving person, said her brother David Woody Jr., while choking up. (She) helped anyone she could, even though she didnt have help, herself.

Smith had time to make the choice and walk away, David Woody Jr. said. There was no reason to shoot her, he said.

You left her there to die, David Woody Jr. said. Period. You did not call no ambulance. You didnt call on anyone but your family to come get you. While you packed your clothes, your sons clothes, you left her for hours.

Woody was the only daughter of her father, David Woody Sr. He named every boat he owned Tonya, Woodys nephew David Woody III said.

Tonya Woody had seven kids and at least one grandchild.

Smiths actions mean Woody wont be there for the marriages of her children and the birth of more grandchildren, Ivy said. While Ivy was lucky enough to have Woody there for her milestones, the other children wont have that. Woodys son, Daniel Tedford, got married in 2022 after Woodys death.

This incident has showed me life is very short, Tedford said. I just want this to be done. I want to remember my mom.

Smith did everything he could to lessen the stress for the family during criminal proceedings, defense attorney Matthew Wait said. Smith did not go through his preliminary examination and did not take the case to trial.

I truly apologize for the hurt and pain and grief that I caused, Smith said. I know words cant fix everything.

Smith has never truly apologized to the family and refused to look at the family throughout the whole sentencing, David Woody Jr. said.

I just want you to know, only God can judge, but 15, 17 years, thats nothing, David Woody III said. Youll still get three hots and a cot. This is going to hurt my family for a long time.

You took away a daughter, grandmother, an aunt, a sister, a cousin, a friend.

Smith is in the Kalamazoo County Jail until he is transferred to the Michigan Department of Corrections.

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MIAMIAdult industry health screening provider Talent Testing Service (TTS) has launched a new initiative to provide monthly statistical graphs charting the trends in positivity rates for the sexually trasmitted diseases for which it tests.

"TTS firmly believes that knowledge is power, and by sharing these crucial insights, we foster a collective commitment to the highest standards of safety within the industry," the company said in a statement about the new resource. "The monthly statistical graphs will serve as a powerful tool, shedding light on historical positivity rates, thus empowering individuals to prioritize their health and minimize potential risks."

Specifically, the monthly charts will track the positivity rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea (each from urine, rectal swab and throat swap samples) and trichomonas vaginalis (from urine samples).

To see the first round of charts representing data as of April 2023, click here.
MUSKEGON, MI  The local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been barred from participating in this years Muskegon Memorial Day Parade under new rules disallowing political groups.

The president of the Muskegon NAACP branch said he thinks that decision by an independent committee is inappropriate, saying the civil rights organization is nonpartisan and counts many veterans among its members.

The parade committee this year decided to not accept any parade entries from politicians, political organizations or political parties, said Steve Allen, who chairs the Greater Muskegon Memorial Day Parade Committee.

Weve just kind of had it with politics, Allen told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle on Monday, May 8. We just want to honor our veterans.

The Greater Muskegon Memorial Day Committee received a permit from the city of Muskegon to hold the parade, according to Muskegon City Manager Jonathan Seyferth. That volunteer committee that organizes the parade and other Memorial Day activities voted unanimously to reject the NAACPs application to participate because of its political activities, Allen said.

After viewing the NAACPs website, Allen said he concluded the group is a political action committee.

Its the same with the NRA (National Rifle Association). Its the same with Right to Life. Its the same with Planned Parenthood, he said. We dont want that.

Local NAACP President Eric Hood told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle the organization is nonpartisan and dedicated to upholding the civil rights of all.

Why cant we represent and honor veterans in the Memorial Day parade? Im not understanding, said Hood, who is a Muskegon city commissioner. Thats part of what we do is represent all minority groups.

Hood, who is a U.S. Army veteran, said the NAACP has participated in the Muskegon Memorial Day parade for as long as he can remember. Hes been the local president for about 8 years.

The NAACPS mission is presented on its website:

Our mission is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

Its bylaws for local branches state that activity to promote legislation to improve education and economic status of minority groups as well as repeal those that are discriminatory shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

Hood said he planned to attend a meeting of the committee to discuss his organizations banishment from the parade. Allen said he welcomed the conversation.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. May 29 at 340 Morris Avenue in downtown. It will proceed down Morris to Terrace Street and then to Clay Avenue, ending at Hackley Park.

In addition to the parade, the local committee organized a ceremony that will follow the parade at the Frauenthal Theater. This year, 12 World War II veterans will receive special recognition at the ceremony, Allen said.

The committee also acquired 11,000 American flags that it distributed to local veterans groups for placement at the graves of military veterans, he said.

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SAGINAW, MI  A Saginaw man has been charged with numerous felonies after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase across two counties in the wrong lanes.

Patrick R. Mitchell, 42, on Monday, May 8, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens, who arraigned him on single counts of felonious assault, malicious destruction of police or fire department property, and third-degree fleeing or eluding police.

The three charges stem from Mitchell at about 1:45 on May 4 driving a speeding vehicle near Cumberland and Holland avenues in Saginaw. Michigan State Police troopers tried pulling the vehicle over, but Mitchell did not stop and instead entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 75, though he was heading south.

TriCity Post Troopers arrested a man after he led them on a high-speed pursuit going the wrong way on I-75 yesterday morning. Thankfully nobody was injured! See the release below for more details. Note: Video is edited for length. https://t.co/rlqIcjF0XF pic.twitter.com/bTUkxpy6T2  MSP Third District (@mspbayregion) May 5, 2023

As troopers pursued the vehicle, an 18-year-old male in it called 911 to say he was being held against his will.

Birch Run police officers and Genesee County Sheriffs deputies deployed stop sticks at different spots along I-75. Mitchell eventually pulled into the Clio rest area, where troopers used a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to impact the vehicle and stop it as Mitchell tried reentering the freeway.

Police arrested Mitchell, who also had outstanding warrants for third-offense operating while intoxicated, driving while license suspended or revoked, driving without insurance, driving with an open alcohol container, and possession of methamphetamine.

The 18-year-old in Mitchells car was not injured and would not cooperate with police once the chase came to a halt, resulting in Mitchell not facing a kidnapping charge, said Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson.

Mitchell in November 2003 was sentenced to three years probation on a conviction of ethnic intimidation.

Mitchell is to appear for a preliminary examination at 3:30 p.m. on May 25.

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KOCHVILLE TOWNSHIP, MI  With some celebrity appeal provided by a social media personality, Prom in the Citys attendance inched closer to its pre-pandemic popularity, the events organizer said.

Crystal Parker, who coordinates the annual prom-style gathering for individuals with special needs, said 182 participants were in attendance Saturday, May 6, at Kochville Veterans Hall.

In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted public events, the prom attracted about 100 people yearly. Prior to 2020, Prom in the City attendance at times reached 250 people, Parker said.

She said participants were excited to meet social media personality Jasmine Reid, whose TikTok account features more than 53,000 followers. She traveled to Kochville Township from Dallas for the occasion, Parker said.

Reid was diagnosed with cystic hygroma, a lymphatic malformation that generates a growth, most typically on the neck.

They were so excited that our keynote speaker was someone who was just like them, Parker said. This was the first year we had a speaker that was special needs, and that was huge for us.

In this image provided by Crystal Parker, attendees gather outside the Prom in the City event in Kochville Township.

Reid posted several videos from the event Saturday, including a keynote address where she encouraged attendees to overcome their physical challenges in pursuit of their ambitions.

Parker said, after the prom concluded, she began planning for next years event.

Its a revolving door, she said of the effort. Prom in the City is such a huge obligation. Right after I finish one, I automatically begin planning for another.

Parker said the 2024 prom was scheduled Saturday, May 11.

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Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy swung through Michigan this week, pitching himself as the best choice to carry on Donald Trumps America first agenda.

Even more so than the former president himself.

I think we can go further, Ramaswamy told an audience of Livingston County Republican Party members Sunday in Howell. Were going to take it further because were doing it based on principles and moral authority, not just vengeance and grievance.

He emphasized that policy agenda does not belong to one man and that hes willing to go beyond Trump on issues key to conservatives.

Ramaswamy, a 37-year-old, Ivy League-educated biotech and finance executive from Ohio, told the audience of about 200 hundred in Howell he would dismantle the federal bureaucracy, claiming its within the presidents power to unilaterally abolish the U.S. Department of Education and Environmental Protection Agency, and derided efforts to mitigate climate change as a climate cult.

As president, Ramaswamy said in an interview he would prohibit companies like Gotion, which is preparing to building a $2.4 billion battery plant outside Big Rapids, from investing in the U.S. At the same time, U.S. companies should be banned from doing business in China.

If youre a (Chinese Communist Party affiliate), which most Chinese companies are, its like D.A.R.E. in the 1990s  just say no, he said. In the short run, that might involve some trade-offs. In the long run, we need to decouple from China.

If Mexico is unwilling to eradicate its drug cartels to combat the opioid crisis, Ramaswamy said, we will come in and do it for you. Drone strikes, airstrikes, special forces.

Ramaswamy gained national attention by assailing what conservatives have labeled woke ideology  writing multiple books on the topic  from his viewpoint as a child of Indian immigrants who grew up outside Cincinnati, Ohio. His campaign literature is filled with blurbs from national publications about his anti-woke efforts.

The spiritual argument at the center of his campaign flips identity politics on its head. He told the audience the country is in the middle of a national identity crisis, and his aim in running for president, he said, is to rekindle a broad sense of national identity that pointedly eschews the social justice movements that have enraged Republican primary voters.

Were hungry for identity at a point in our national history, when the things that used to fill our hunger fade, he said. Patriotism, hard work, family  these things have disappeared. That leaves a vacuum in its wake  that is when poison begins to fill the void. It almost doesnt matter which one it is. Pick your favorite poison: woke-ism, transgender-ism, climate-ism, COVID-ism, globalism.

Hes been hitting the right notes for some Republicans in Michigan, and attendees in the crowd repeatedly said they liked everything they heard. Jennifer Smith, chair of the Livingston County Republican Party, called his message extremely on-point with the county party. She said the party had been working to bring Ramaswamy, who frequently appears in conservative media, to Livingston since early March.

I voted for Trump twice. I fully intend to vote for him a third time, but I like Vivek and if I had to vote today, I would vote for him, Smith said.

Even as Trump is considered the frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has trailed him closely. Michigan legislators have openly endorsed DeSantis and sent him a letter in January, urging him to run. DeSantis, however, hasnt yet declared whether hell run.

Related: Ron DeSantis, eyeing presidency, tests campaign message in Michigan

While polls show DeSantis and Trump nearly tied among Republican primary voters in Michigan, nationally his prospects arent as bright. Its left other candidates, like Ramaswamy and former gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson, jostling for position as the chief Trump alternative.

I think that theres been a lot of contention, you know, with Trump and hypothesizing DeSantis, Smith said. Is he running? Is he not? I mean, we dont even know, and I think right now, this is a fresh new take and a new young contender. Were excited about it.

Ramaswamy took lengths at his campaign stops to separate his outlook from Trumps insisting our best days are ahead of us, under his leadership and pushing positive vision for the countrys future.

Its not about me, its not about Trump, it is about the people of this country, Ramaswamy said after the event. Its not going to be someone coming from on high from the White House to just save us, me or Donald Trump.  Thats the kind of revolution, cultural revival that Im leading in this country.

Sen. Jim Runestad, R-Walled Lake, hosted the candidate at a legislative fundraiser. He told MLive he worked for months to bring Ramaswamy to Michigan, but isnt prepared to endorse anyone in the Republican primary.

I think that this vetting of ideas is really a positive thing, Runestad said. I think itd be a great thing for the Republican Party. More debates, the more interaction I think it distills down, a great opportunity for the state of Michigan.

Smith and her county party leadership were elected as part of an upending in the state party, where a bloc of new America first precinct delegates rallied to vote in former secretary of state candidate Kristina Karamo as chair in February and excise the establishment wing.

Read more: Conspiracies and a Holocaust meme mark the dawn of Karamos Michigan Republican Party

The fate of Michigans Republican presidential primary in 2024 remains uncertain. Democratic majorities in the legislature voted to move up the presidential primary to February, in line with a new order set by the Democratic National Committee, but against the Republican National Committee that chose to maintain the status quo.

Republican leaders have floated having a closed, party-sponsored caucus in order to avoid the risk of having their number of delegates sharply reduced at a national convention.

Read more on MLive

A February Michigan presidential primary may rest on legislature ending early

A new Senate proposal to recruit Michigan teachers: pay their student loans

Michigan voters rejected extremism at the polls, but culture wars still loom large

5 years after Nassar case, Michigan Senate passes additional sexual assault protections
Liz Gereghty, the sister of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, is running for a U.S. House seat in New York, according to an announcement video posted online Tuesday.

Gereghty, a small business owner and member of her local school board, names her mother in the announcement, Sherry Whitmer, as an inspiration for why shes running.

Gereghty is running as a Democrat and like her sibling in Michigan, Gereghty cited reproductive rights, gun violence and the cost of living as major issues in her platform.

When the radical Republican majority is too busy banning books to help working families like yours, somethings gotten way off track, she says in the announcement. The only one left to fix it is us.

The states 17th congressional district, which comprises a part of the region outside New York City known as Hudson Valley, was won by Republican Mike Lawler in 2022. He unseated the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair, then-U.S. Rep. Pat Mahoney, by a narrow 1.2% margin.

The seat is expected to be a target for Democrats heading into 2024. The video concludes with an invitation to solve the countrys problems together.

Gereghty may have primary opponents. The Washington Post reported former congressman Mondaire Jones, who also lost in 2022, has not ruled out a rematch and may also seek the seat.

Read more on MLive:

Morel mushroom growth tracked by soil temperature forecasts this week

Michigan gets poor grades for drinking water, roads and energy in 2023

High-speed rail a $100m conversation starter in early Michigan budget

Gotion pauses step of Chinese-linked plant to convince Michigan locals
JACKSON, MI -- About 170 students and guests attended an Evening in Paris for 2023 prom at Lumen Christi High School.

A sidewalk cafe featured eclairs, cream puffs, croissants and freshly made mini crepes. A photo booth and decorations including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe were also featured.
GRAND BLANC TWP., MI  Flint Powers Catholic celebrated in style as about 175 students enjoyed prom on Friday evening, May 5 in the Captains Club at Woodfield.

Before heading to the big dance, prom-goers shined bright, dressed to the nines in an array of colors and styles on the red carpet in front of hundreds of cheering parents, family and friends.
Years in the making, a large bill package hoping to increase accountability for sexual assault related crimes recently cleared the Michigan Senate.

The bipartisan legislation would, in part, create guidelines for health professionals performing certain procedures in an effort to prevent sexual assault under the guise of medical treatment.

This is something that has always been a bipartisan package ever since 2018, and its something where I think that weve seen that no matter what party youre from, we want to address sexual assault, said bill sponsor Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit.

The bill package was born out of one Michigans most high-profile cases of sexual assault. In 2018, now-disgraced USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced in Ingham County Circuit Court to up to 175 years in prison for abusing hundreds of women and girls during medical appointments.

Part of the great thing about being a public servant is being able to really be inspired by people sharing their stories and tragedy and turning it into something positive, Chang said. I think that this is one of those examples where people are courageously stepping up to share what has happened to them and moving our full state towards action.

SB 67 would make it a crime for a healthcare professional to mislead a patient into believing sexual contact would be necessary for the patients health.

SB 69 would prohibit a healthcare professional from performing a medical treatment on a minor involving vaginal or anal penetration unless it was within the scope of their practice, a medical assistant was in the room and the childs parent or guardian gave prior consent.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would also be required to create a consent form to be used by the healthcare professional for such treatments.

SB 71 would require a health professional to record a medical service involving vaginal or anal penetration on a patients file for at least 15 years.

Changs bill, SB 66, would also require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to create age-appropriate material related to sexual assault for sixth through twelfth grades. The hope is that, by raising awareness, sexual assault will become less prevalent.

Over 50% of women and about 33% of men have experienced sexual violence, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly 80% of female and male survivors reported being raped before age 25.

By providing more of that education, I think well be helping a lot of people, Chang said.

Related: Man wants accountability for his childhood abuse. Michigan law wont allow it.

Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Coldwater, was the lone senator to vote against SB 66. The rest of the bill package was unanimously approved by all senators.

Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Groveland Township, sponsor of SB 70 to amend related sentencing guidelines, said the vote was an amazing display of bipartisanship.

This shows that it is nonpartisan, and I think the goals are pretty simple. Its to prevent sexual assault, support survivors and punish offenders, Johnson said. When you only come one from unanimous, thats pretty good.

The bills were introduced in previous terms but failed to pass through both chambers of the legislature. Chang has higher confidence the legislation will be successful this time around.

This is something that we as policymakers can take steps to address, we can prevent future assault, we can protect survivors and improve accountability, Chang said.

The package was referred to the House Committee on Criminal Justice. It will have to pass through the House and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer before becoming law.

Read more from MLive:

Wallet Watch: Rural Michigan pushes back on electric vehicle battery plants

Trumps next Michigan visit, state budget talks ramp up: Your guide to Michigan politics

Michigan had more poor-rated roads in 2022, according to new report

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LANSING, MI - The Michigan State Housing Development Authority rolled out a program last month that offers resettlement support to refugees and other immigrants.

The Newcomer Rental Subsidy provides refugees, asylees and immigrants from areas like Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti and African countries about $300 to $500 a month in rental subsidies. Assistance is available for up to 12 months.

Amy Hovey, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, said the program aligns with a goal to increase affordable housing across the state for everyone including those seeking to build a new life here.

This program is truly a win-win, as it addresses the most pressing barrier to refugee resettlement by meeting housing needs while setting up families for success with increased employment and opportunity, Hovey said in a statement.

The two-year program is being funded by the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund with $4 million designated to the Office of Global Michigan.

Households need to apply for rental aid and eligibility and will be evaluated periodically, a news release said. Eligible recipients must be enrolled in an Office of Global Michigan-funded or similar employment program. They will also receive financial and budget education.

The United States resettled 24,645 refugees in the last fiscal year  falling below a 125,000 cap  according to the Refugee Council USA. Michigan was ranked No. 4 for welcoming 713 refugees behind California, Texas and New York.

Most refugees arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Sudan, Burma and Ukraine.

More on MLive:

GOP presidential candidate would ban Gotion battery plant, Chinese investments in U.S.

Morel mushroom growth tracked by soil temperature forecasts this week

5 years after Nassar case, Michigan Senate passes additional sexual assault protections
Morel mushrooms are growing across areas of Lower Michigan. The warmer weather this week shows when morel emergence should spread northward.

Morel mushrooms grow during a period with certain soil temperatures and ample moisture in the soil. The gradual warm-up this week should expand northward the conditions for morels to pop up out of the ground.

Most literature and tales from real-world morel hunters indicate soil temperatures in the 50s start the germination of morels. A few anecdotal stories say the mushrooms emerge after the first 50-degree night. Its no surprise that a 50-degree night means soil temperatures would be near 50 degrees in the morning.

RELATED : Its morel season in Michigan: 9 things every mushroom hunter should know

But remember that the soil in the woods is somewhat slower to warm than the temperatures out in the open. You probably need a few days in a row of 50 degrees or higher for soil temperatures in the forests to warm to 50 degrees or more.

Here are the current soil temperatures at 2 inches deep. This should be a good soil depth to look at soil temperatures.

Soil temperatures at two inches deep at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2023.

The southern half of Lower Michigan has soil temperatures in the 50s and 60s already. With the gradual warm-up of air temperatures over the next few days, clumps of morels should expand this week.

Notice the soil temperatures below for northern Michigan are currently in the upper-40s to lower-50s.

Soil temperatures at two inches deep at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2023

With air temperatures expected to warm into the 60s and eventually lower-70s this week in the woods of northern Michigan, conditions should be right for the morel population to explode.

You can track actual soil temperatures here.

Lets go to a model forecast of the soil temperatures for this week. Obviously we will see warming soil temperatures.

Soil temperature forecast from 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2023 to 8 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2023.

The soil will warm into the 50s and 60s across northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. This should be a great week to get out and morel hunt. If you notice the morels tapering off across southern Lower, head north as the germination of the mushrooms shifts north.
Donna J. Tilley

Donna J. Tilley passed away peacefully in her home on April 7, 2023. She was surrounded by her family, who had lovingly given their support throughout her long illness with Parkinsons Disease. She was born on April 9, 1934 in Seward, Nebraska, and moved to Southern California at an early age.

Donna was an accomplished vocalist and choir director. She earned a degree in early childhood development at age 40 and then became a preschool director.

After she retired, she took up quilting and made many quilts for her family and friends. She taught us the value of family.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, George Tilley and her 3 children; Gary Brace of Waynesville, NC, Julia Marlow and her husband Chris of Cheyenne, WY, Roger Brace and his wife Julie Sullivan Brace of Flagstaff, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Her memorial service will be at The Peaks on May 12 at 10 am. Please make donations to the Parkinsons Foundation in lieu of flowers.
poverty, as well as experience physical and mental health issues

they are more vulnerable to neglect and abuse

dementia, depression, and anxiety but also increases risk of premature death from all causes, a risk equal to that of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Ghanaian radio presenter, Frank Kwabena Owusu, popularly known as Franky5, has advised music lovers attending events to cheer performing artistes up.

Speaking on GTV Breakfast's VGMA Unpacked segment, Franky 5 emphasized the importance of supporting artists during their performances, saying cheering artists while they perform is a sign of appreciating them for their work.

Artists are cheered to appreciate them for their good work. Those who are there to have fun must be put in front to cheer our artists if those in the VIP stands are not willing to cheer them up. I could literally hear about five hands clapping when the MC told the crowd to cheer the artists up. E no be about your GHC 1,000 VIP Ticket you dey buy oo, cheer the artists when you attend events. he lamented

Kwabena Owusus advice comes in the wake of the recently held Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), where several people in the VIP stands were not cheering the artists up during their performances.

The VGMA is an annual music awards event in Ghana that recognizes the achievements of musicians in the country.

The event attracts a large number of music lovers who come to support their favourite artistes.
Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva has said she can never allow her house to be used for a movie location.

Joke noted that even though it's a trendy thing in the industry for apartments to be used as a movie set and location, she would never allow her home to be used.

The actress made this submission in a statement during a recent youth development forum tagged, 'The Roundtable Lekki'.

While urging the movie industry to emulate their American counterpart, Tyler Perry who has built sound stages and studios, Joke Silva said that she is very much aware of what it takes for scenes of a movie to be shot, explaining that if two people are to shoot a scene, over 20 people have to be present.

She said: We shoot in apartments these days. But I won't allow movies to be shot in my home. it won't happen.

I know the number of people that are brought into a shoot. There may be two people in a scene, but over 20 people will probably be there to shoot it.

That means 20 people will put their hands on my wall, and do other things.

We need to build our studios and sound stages, just like American filmmaker, Tyler Perry who built one of the biggest sound stages in the world.

Because sound stages give you control and allow you to make movies at your desired pace, the Dailypost quoted her.
Kwabena Frimpong, father of Black Sherif who won the coveted Artiste of the Year award at this year's Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) has revealed how he and his wife were anxiously awaiting the results of the awards ceremony.

According to him, they were up throughout the event waiting to see where it will end for their son who was looking forward to winning his first VGMAs Artist of the Year.

In an interview on Accra-based Asaase Radio on Monday, May 9, Mr. Frimpong appealed to Ghanaians to continue supporting his son.

"We couldn't sleep on the VGMA night. His mother and I stayed up all to watch the show. We were up all night," he said.

He added that Black Sherif called him immediately after the awards show to share the good news.

Mr. Frimpong said, "He called me the very [minute] after the awards as he was leaving the venue."

The proud father urged Ghanaians to be understanding of Black Sherif, saying "He's still young. He's just 21 years. I urge Ghanaians to continue to support him, and when he fumbles, please forgive him and gently correct him. He's still learning."

On his son's victory, Mr. Frimpong said "We couldn't sleep on the VGMA night. His mother and I stayed up all night to watch the show. We were up all night. We are grateful to God and the people of Ghana for their support."

Black Sherif shot to fame in 2020 and has quickly become one of Ghana's brightest new stars with hit songs like "Money", "First and Second Sermon", and "Kwaku the Traveller".

His big VGMA win marks a major achievement for the young talent.
The 3Music Awards, founded by Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, has become one of the most highly anticipated musical awards events in Ghana.

The event, which is usually held in March annually, has however been delayed this year without any official explanation.

Fans of the award event have been left in anticipation, wondering what could be responsible for the delay.

Baba Sadiq, who resigned as the awards board chairman to follow his political ambition, said he leaves it to the new board chairperson, Rashidatu Abdulai, to issue a statement on the current state of the event.

According to Sadiq, management of 3Media Network, organizers of the award scheme, will issue a statement in the next few weeks.

It will be unfair to preempt the answer. Our new CEO Rashidatu Abdulai is fully on top and in charge, and I know a few of the things that they are planning and some of the things that they are doing. And so I really would like them to take it off from there, Sadiq said on Accra-based Joy FMs Showbiz A-Z, hosted by Kwame Dadzie.

The 3Music Awards has gained a reputation as an event that recognizes and rewards musical talent of various genres.

The event usually features performances from some of the biggest names in the Ghanaian music industry and attracts a huge audience.

The delay in this year's event has left many fans of the award event disappointed, but it is hoped that the statement that will be issued by the organizers will provide an explanation for the delay and give fans something to look forward to.
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Dr. Samuel Nkansah has been conferred a Doctor of Business Administration by the University of Phoenix in Arizona, USA. Dr. Nkansah holds an Executive MBA in Finance and completed a Doctor of Business Administration in 2020 at the University of Phoenix in Arizona, USA.

The graduation celebration was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until last weekend when Dr. Nkansah and colleagues were all decorated with their certificates.

Dr. Nkansah's information available to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema indicates that his thesis and dissertation were based on "Evaluation of Generic Prescribing Patterns of Physicians in Selected Ghana Health Facilities: A Correlational Methodology."

He stated that a scholarly paper based on this thesis was named "Adherence to a Public Policy on the Use of Generic Medicines in a Developing Country" and was published in the Journal of Generic Medicines in November 2021.

"I am currently the Technical Service Advisor/Consultant to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's Committee for Vaccine Production commissioned in March 2021."

"My role will be to assist the committee in developing a roadmap for vaccine production and manufacturing in Ghana by December 2023."

Dr. Nkansah is currently the technical adviser and consultant hired by GIZ to help the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) update and create capacity so that it can satisfy international vaccine control standards.

"I am the lead consultant for the Total Family Health Organisation (TFHO)-Community Practise Pharmacists' Association (CPPA) project to increase uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in second-cycle and tertiary institutions," he explained.

Dr. Nkansah was the primary consultant for the TFHO-Pharmacy Council in a similar project to improve public awareness about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine through over-the-counter medical services (OTCMS).

He has over 25 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, including sales, marketing, and policy management in the worldwide pharmaceutical market.

He founded Samaholdings Limited and has been advising pharmaceutical businesses and a hospitality organization on business plans for additional West African areas since 2018.

Dr. Nkansah previously worked as the corporate lead for pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in West Africa, rising through the ranks to manage the company's government affairs wing in West and Central Africa.

This position entailed organizing the roll-out of government affairs throughout the region through interaction with key stakeholders whose responsibilities are critical to our company's long-term viability.

"I oversaw the implementation of government affairs in West Africa." I discovered and developed long-term relationships with important customers in West and Central Africa's Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI), resulting in the launch of newer vaccines.

"The primary goal is to include the Penta Vaccine and Rotarix vaccines in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Liberia." This result would not have been possible without Dr. Nkansah's knowledge and understanding of vaccination dynamics.

-CDA Consult || Contributor
The National Chairman of the Bissas Association of Ghana, Alhaji Musah Shaibu Gutare has said deploying more security personnel to Bawku though good but not the solution to the prolonged chieftaincy dispute in the area.

The chairman made the call at the 17th Annual Zekula Festival celebration of the chiefs and people of Bissas in Kulungungu in the Upper East Region.

"Government cannot keep bringing security to Bawku and expect different results," he stated.

He called on the President, Nana Addo Dawkwa Akufo-Addo to learn from former President John Agyekum Kufour's approaches that brought peace to the area during the renewed conflict in May 2008.

A statement read on behave of the Chief of Kulungungu by Chief Amadu Haruna encourages all Bissas living in Ghana to coexist with other neighbouring tribes for peace and development.

Naba Amadu Haruna commended the government for providing security at the various border post to keep surveillance against violent extremists.

The Chief cautioned the people of Kulungungu and Pusiga to avoid comments or acts that will lead to chaos and report to the security any suspicious character mingling within their jurisdiction.

The MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has appealed to the feuding factions in Bawku not to drag Bissas into the conflict and the problem stakeholders are struggling to solve.

Mahama Ayariga also appealed to the Bissas not to also take sides inorder not to further worsen the situation on the ground.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu described the Bissas as hardworking, industrious, widely educated widely and found everywhere in the country and urged them to support ways to resolve the Bawku conflict.

The Zugraan of Kusaug traditional area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II has described the Bissas community in his traditional area as friendly and peaceful people who are contributing to help make Bawku the hope of the Upper East Region.

Naba Azoka II appealed to the Bissas community in the Kusaug traditional area to continue to contribute their quota towards peace in Bawku.
As part of activities marking the annual Nurses Month celebration, the ELIJEKO FOUNDATION, a Ghana-based Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to providing free preventative health education and pre-hospital emergency, recently hosted a two-day Basic Life Support (BLS)/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training program for healthcare professionals in Greater Accra and the Ashanti Regions.

The event was held in partnership with Conexus Medstaff in the USA and Ghana's National Blood Service.

It attracted a large crowd of eager and enthusiastic nurses and midwives from various health facilities in the Greater Accra Region and Ashanti Region respectively.

The participants were thoroughly trained by going through a detailed step-by-step approach outlined in BLS/CPR to save life or prevent untimely death.

The Elijeko Foundation, founded in 2016 by Mr. Andrews Nyantakyi, a U.S. Navy Veteran, and his family, addresses Ghana's healthcare needs by offering preventative health education, medical outreach, and training programs.

It has served over 140,000 beneficiaries since its inception. It continues to expand its programs to rural and remote communities without access to quality healthcare services.

Mr. Nyantakyi is also an Emergency Room Nurse at Inova Hospital System in the United States of America. He is a current Family Nurse Practitioner student at the George Washington University School of Nursing.

Mr. Nyantakyi shockingly revealed at the event that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. There are an estimated 17.9 million deaths from CVDs in 2019, and 85 percent of these deaths were due to heart attack and stroke.

Against these statistics, he urged Ghanaians to develop the habit of regular check-ups at the various health centers to ensure a safe and sound body.

"We always hear reports that this person died of heart failure or an attack without any cause. In this regard, I would plead with all of us to check our systems very well, do regular check-ups, and know ourselves to prevent such incidents. Cardiac arrest is very dangerous and can happen to anyone whether adults or children so we need to be very aware such that when it happens, we can offer to help such victims," he stated.

He added: "There are causes that lead to cardiac arrest but what is required at this critical stage is more public engagement and education. If we can educate Ghanaians to recognize cardiac arrest early and activate the emergency response system, we can save a lot of people.

"This is why Elijeko Foundations Bystander CPR Initiative is very important because if our citizens can start early CPR with an emphasis on chest compressions, we can keep blood flowing when the heart stops pumping and it is going to increase the chance of survival and buy the person more time.

According to him, "I would encourage nurses and doctors to educate more in the various communities. I am sure it would come a long way to helping."

Touching on the importance of Ghana's National Blood Service in the line of duty as nurses, Kate Sonne of Clinical Services Department at the National Blood Service briefed the participants about the service's functions.

"We have doctors, nurses, lab technicians, administrators, and finance workers at the service. Our core mandate is to make blood available and on time. So at the operational level, we have a recruitment team that educates people on our services and recruits people into the system," she stated.

She also explained why the blood bank charges fees for blood stocks.

"As we are underfunded, all these administrative duties and resources at the Blood Service cost money; therefore, we need to charge some fee to keep the service running.

"...We also advocate for voluntary blood donors and it's the safest, so we encourage people to regularly donate blood. It's one of the most critical aspects that keeps the National Blood Service working.

"Blood donation is critical, and as nurses, we should also encourage people to donate blood. This is because we might need it to save your life or someone's life in the future," Madam Sohu further indicated.

Some participants, on their part, expressed their satisfaction and encouraged the Elijeko Foundation to continue such a valuable initiative.

"The training has been very informative and it's really helpful because I believe it would help us and the country as a whole.

"The BLS training has also broadened my knowledge as a nurse and in case I encounter an issue of cardiac arrest with my wide understanding of CPR, I think I will be able to help that person and save his or her life. I want Elijeko Foundation and their partners to continue supporting nurses with such programs," one participant said.

Another beneficiary of the training had this to say: "Let's all support Elijeko Foundation to do more for Ghanaian nurses with such training because in our field anything can happen and it's imperative to know all these BLS/CPR. The Training is indeed an important step in the right direction."

Gracing the occasion was the CEO and Founder of Elijeko Foundation, Mr. Andrews Kwabena Nyantakyi. In addition, Mr. Vasco Lopes Da Silva, the Director of Conexus, the Country Director of Elijeko Foundation Celestina Kalor Abapiri, and Steffy John as the Guest Speakers.

The training program also formed part of Elijeko Foundation's prime objective of ensuring a community and evidence-based approach to health education by working with healthcare providers to create a platform that promotes dialogue for preventative health education to save lives.
The Pensioner Bondholders Forum has resumed picketing at the Ministry of Finance demanding the payment of their delayed coupons and principals.

The retirees earlier picketed at the ministry in February 2023 for about two weeks, pressing their demands to be exempted from the haircut on their bonds under the domestic debt restructuring program.

After several negotiations with the ministry, their demands were met, and their bonds were exempted from the program.

However, the retirees are back again, this time demanding the payment of their coupons and principals that have been delayed for months.

Speaking to Accra-based JoyNews, a retired police officer said, "now I'm struggling to pay my medical bills."

The forum's lead convener, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi lamented the situation, saying, "We are pensioners. We need this money for important things such as drugs and upkeep. After serving the nation, you don't expect pensioners to go through this ordeal for their own money."

The situation particularly worries pensioners who rely on their bond investments to supplement their retirement income.

According to them, the delay in payment of their coupons and principals has left many struggling to make ends meet, with some even unable to pay for essential medical bills associated with old-age.

The Pensioner Bondholders Forum is calling on the Ministry of Finance to expedite payments and ensure that pensioners receive their dues without further delay.
After graduating from Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a masters in school counseling this week, Giselle Soto will be headed to Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA) to help guide high school students.

She finished her undergraduate degree, also from NAU, in 2020, so she said she was especially excited for this weeks graduation.

They did their best to accommodate and make sure everyone was safe, but it felt like I was missing a milestone, she said. Now, getting to walk across the stage and getting my third degree feels like an even bigger moment.

Soto is a first-generation Latina graduate and has been working in school counseling part-time at FALA as part of her practicum.

Her favorite part of the work so far was spending time with the students and hearing everything they have to say."

Hearing how well they are able to advocate for themselves and their needs and navigating how to best get them that support, she said.

NAU's school counseling graduate program combines clinical and mental health counseling classes, with a social emotional learning component. Soto explained that the focus is on supporting students in both their academic and personal efforts to help them succeed in and after high school.

Her volunteer efforts throughout college have had a similar focus. Soto has been involved in peer mentoring through NAUs Transfer and Online Connections program, which she said had helped her adjust during her first semester as an undergraduate student.

In her two years as a peer mentor in undergrad, Soto met with transfer students just starting at the university to help them connect to resources. After returning for her graduate degree, she resumed working with the program as a graduate assistant.

One takeaway from her time in college,, she said, was find your people.

There are always going to be people that make your life a little easier and that make you feel like you can breathe, she said. Also, being your own resource and being unafraid to use other resources available to you. I think its important to advocate for yourself even when it seems unreasonable.

Soto has lived in Flagstaff most of her life, attending NAU for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She said she plans to stay in the area for at least another few years.

I really love Flagstaff, she said. I love being able to drive five to 10 minutes in any direction and basically being able to find a trail. Its home, my familys here and I feel like it had the opportunities that I needed at the time.

After graduation, Soto will be starting a school counseling internship at FALA.

She said she took the role because she wanted to continue the work from her practicum, which was split between FALA, Coconino High School and NAUs practicum clinic.

I love what I do in all aspects, she said of her longer-term plans. I love the chaos and the flexibility and changing nature of being in a school setting so I believe that even when my internship is done ill continue to work in the schools as a school counselor and Ill be in Arizona for a couple years because Im not ready to let go of it just yet.
08.05.2023 LISTEN

The flagbearer hopeful for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Duffuor remains optimistic ahead of the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) primary elections.

Rumors were rife, describing Dr Duffuor as a mole in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) sponsored by the ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest the NDC flagbearership race.

However, the flagbearer hopeful debunked rumors of any sort of allegiance to the ruling NPP as he reiterates that he is the most affected amongst his colleague NDC members due to government's banking sector clean up.

Ahead of his campaign tour in Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, he stated  I funded the NDC, so Im NDC and nothing can change my love for the NDC. The NDC destroyed my banks and tried to collapse every business under my control. I want to tell you that the NPP has hurt me more than any other member of the party. The NPP can never use me to destroy the NDC. My aim is to return NDC to power to make Ghana better.

The former finance minister indicated that his commitment to the party and vowed to work to bring the party to power.

I commit myself to serve the NDC and Ghana in making sure that we restore hope and national pride in Ghanaians and putting our economy back, not only on recovery but also prosperity. It is doable because we have done that before. NDC will do it again. There are tears in the eyes of Ghanaians and pain in the heart of Ghanaians because of how our economy has been mismanaged, he emphasised.
French President Emmanuel Macron will make his first state visit to Germany in July amid tensions on issues ranging from energy policy to China.

Macron, invited by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will stay between 2 and 4 July in the first state visit by a French president in 23 years.

"The visit will honour the close friendship of the two countries in the 60th year of the Elysee Treaty on bilateral relations," said Steinmeier's office.

Macron will visit several regions of Germany with Steinmeier to underline the ties between the nations.

"This special event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the decades-old friendship of the two countries as well as the close personal ties between Steinmeier and Macron," added Steinmeier's office.

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, will travel to Paris this week to prepare the visit.

She will meet her French counterpart Catherine Colonna on Tuesday and join a cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday.

EU summit

Colonna is expected in Berlin on Thursday for talks with Baerbock as well as the foreign ministers of Jordan and Egypt on the situation in the Middle East.

Macron will also head to Germany. He will meet the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 6 June just before the conference for a new global financial pact and a European Union summit in June and a NATO summit in July.

The flurry of events comes amid friction on a range of issues. Germany's phase-out of nuclear power as France pursues new construction of reactors has proved contentious as have a reform of the EU's stability and growth pact.

Macron also sparked controversy last month after a visit to China.

The French leader said that Europe should not be a follower of either Washington or Beijing, or become enmeshed in any escalation over the future of Taiwan.

Built on trust

The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, branded Macron's remarks unfortunate. "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States," he added.

Beijing said on Monday that the Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, would visit Germany, France and Norway this week, as China pushes to act as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.

On Monday, German foreign ministry spokesman Christofer Burger denied a major rift between Paris and Berlin over China.

He said that the two capitals coordinated on policy more than with hardly any other partner.

Asked about the differences between the two countries, Scholz's spokesman insisted that ties were friendly and built on trust.

"It's like in a good marriage," said the spokesman. "You can always give it fresh impetus so that it remains good. And that's the case in the German-Franco relationship."
Ohemaa Ofosua Aduanwomah Amoakoa Oseiadeyo Ahoufe

09.05.2023 LISTEN

Ohemaa Ofosua Aduanwomah Amoakoa Oseiadeyo Ahoufe, the Ahennanahemaa of Kwahu Ahinase in the Kwahu East District has appealed to the general public to support her build a Crises Resources Centre for the Ahinase community.

Speaking to the media in an interview, Ohemaa Ahoufe, also the Queen Mother of the Kwahuman Association of Minnesota in the United States of America stated that the groundbreaking for the project would take place as part of activities to commemorate her one-year installation as the Ahennanahemaa which had been slated for August 12 this year.

She added, there was going to be a durbar and fundraising to canvass for more resources in aid of the project, while an education fund would be launched to promote access to quality education, a health walk and screening exercise.

She said the Crises Resources Centre would comprise of a first aid clinic, pre school, shop, warehouse and a donation centre to promote the socio-economic development of the community members who are predominantly farmers.

Ohemaa Ahoufe noted the community was underdeveloped and lacked many basic social amenities, however under her "Promoting Villages to Cities Campaign she intended to bridge the gap between villages and cities with Ahinase being one of the adopted communities for the initiative.

She stated, through the initiative a place of convenience had been constructed for the community to reduce open defecation.

She noted though she harboured such a good initiative, it required the collective effort of all Ghanaians to be able to achieve this desire and therefore appealed to Kwahu residents both home and diaspora to assist her build the Crises Centre, which she believed would help improve the livelihood of the people.
The General Legal Council (GLC) has refuted media reports that lawyers will have to write examination before having their licenses renewed.

The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is said to have been misquoted in a speech to fresh lawyers called to the Ghana Bar Association.

However, the General Legal Council made it clear in a statement on May 8 that, The attention of the General Legal Council has been drawn to the erroneous reportage on some media platforms of His Lordship the Chief Justices speech given at the enrolment ceremony of 196 Lawyers called to the Bar on Friday, 5th May 2023. There was no mention of lawyers being required to write examinations at all before a renewal of license and indeed no such amendment to the Law is about to be made.

According to GLC, the standard for lawyers is to accomplish Continuing Professional Development before the renewal of a practising licence, is a standard requirement in some jurisdictions around the world. This practice is aimed at sharpening the skills of lawyers and keeping them abreast with recent developments in the Law for the benefit of the clients they serve.

GLC further urged all lawyers and the general public to treat the false news with a pinch of salt.The General Public and Lawyers are hereby informed of the misrepresented reportage and the correction thereof accordingly, General Legal Council in its statement emphasised.
09.05.2023 LISTEN

A tipper truck has run into the family house of the Founder and Leader of International God's Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, injuring three people at Heman in the Kwabre East Municipal of the Ashanti Region.

The accident according to the report occurred when the tipper truck which was being dragged on the back of towing car had the chains connecting the two vehicles broken, losing control in the process.

The truck with registration number GR-7137-23 according to an eye witness run into the house and destroyed two bedrooms at dawn when the occupants of the room were fast asleep.

Speaking to this reporter, Maama Konadu, a member of the affected family said the sad incident occurred on the dawn of Sunday, May 7, 2023.

Akosua Konadu disclosed that her mother, 63-year-old Ama Konadu, her daughter, Joycelin Mensah, 11, and another young man, Daniel Owusu, 26, were the ones in the two rooms.

She added that Daniel Owusu was trapped under the truck with one of the tires sitting on his leg.

The two other victims, she noted, sustained severe injuries and have been rushed to Jamasi Hospital for treatment.

"Driver of the tipper truck told us they were travelling from Wa to Kumasi to obviously fix the vehicle because it had broken down for some time.

"On reaching Heman, the truck broke from the towing car, and the driver, in an attempt to save the situation run into our house causing severe injuries to three persons.

"We have officially filed a report to the police in the area and they have since taken over the case," she said.
Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Communications, has declared support for Mr John Dramani Mahama ahead of the presidential primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2023.

At a press conference in Accra on Monday, Dr Spio-Garbrah said Mr Mahama was in pole position to win Saturdays flagbearership contest and subsequently wrestle power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 presidential election.

He said research conducted by his team of researchers at the regional and national levels and on social media indicated that the former President would secure not less than 80 per cent of the total number of votes on Saturday.

We have conducted various analysis of the election results of the past and have undertaken a S.W.O.T. analysis of our candidates looking into the future and have also examined the individuals who picked forms to contest the current flagbeareship race.

our research shows that the preference level for President John Mahama as the most credible and winnable candidate of the NDC to contest the presidential election was above 90 per cent, he said.

The NDC is expected to hold its presidential and parliamentary primaries on Saturday, May 13, 2023, to elect a flagbearer and parliamentary candidates for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Former President Mahama, who was the flagbearer of the NDC in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections, is being challenged by Mr Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi, and Dr Kwabena Duffuor, a former Minister of Finance.

Dr Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, contested Mr Mahama for the NDC flagberarship slot in 2019 but lost to the former President.

In 2008, he contested to the lead the NDC in the 2008 presidential elections but lost to late President John Evans Atta Mills.

Dr Spio-Garbrah commended Dr Duffuor and Mr Bonsu for taking a bold step to advance democracy in the NDC and urged the two candidates to support Mr Mahama after the primaries to secure victory for the NDC in the 2024 general election.

He said the country's economy was in dire straits and required urgent and speedy rebranding to rebuild key sectors of the economy and deliver prosperity to the people.

He said he was confident that Mr Mahama could put the economy back on track and rebrand the country.

Dr Spio-Garbrah also stated his readiness to use his experience and expertise from his private and public services across the globe to contribute to efforts to rebuild the country.

GNA
Assin Central Lawmaker Kennedy Agyapong has filed an appeal against Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako in a defamation suit that the latter won against the former.

The application for an appeal dated 5th May 2023, said Among the primary issue in contention on this appeal is a commentary made by the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] about the respondents [Kwaku Baako] involvement in galamsey activities by intervening on behalf of a company called C&G Aleska.

The said intervention had to do with the defendant [Kennedy Agyapong] calling on the Minister for Environment Science, Technology and Innovation who was the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) to allow C&G Aleska to go back on site and continue its illegal mining activities although its license had been revoked confirming respondents [Kwaku Baako] influence peddling which also amounts to his involvement in galamsey.

The said intervention resulted in the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong] commentary that the respondent [Kwaku Baako] was also involved in galamsey. That during the trial the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong] effort to get the Chairman of the IMCIM [Frimpong-Boateng] to testify and corroborate the same proved futile, therefore, resulted in the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] unable to prove his defense of true, fair comment and thus justified.

On the 18th day of April 2023, the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] chanced upon a confidential document from the Office of the President of Ghana with an attached report prepared by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng which intrinsically addressed the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong]concerns and the role played by the respondent [Kwaku Baako] on behalf of C&G Aleska which was involved in galamsey activities.

Background

It is recalled that Mr Agyapong accused Mr. Baako and investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas of engaging in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) with a company C & G Aleska Company Ltd.

Unhappy with the allegations, Mr Baako sued Mr Agyapong and demanded GHS25 million in general damages from Kennedy Agyapong.

Kweku Baako in his suit complained that Mr. Agyapong in July 2018 made some defamatory comments against him on some radio stations including his own media platforms Net2 TV and Oman FM.

Mr. Baako said the MP accused him of being corrupt, being a hypocrite, and dishonest among others.

Look, I have dared Kweku Baako. He is a very corrupt guy. Where is his paper? Kweku Baako is very corrupt; Kweku Baako is very corrupt in his paper. Kweku Baako is not a clean man that President would tolerate in his office anymore. I said I have concluded that Kweku Baako is not cleanHe's a hypocrite.. Kweku Baako is not an honest man at allI said he's not a saint. Kweku Baako is not a saint. He's evil Very evil manHe's a very evil man, Mr. Agyapong said these, according to Kweku Baako's writ.

The court on Friday, June 26, 2020, gave Mr. Agyapong 30 days to retract and apologise to Kweku Baako three times on the platforms he used to defame the veteran journalist.

Instead of the GHS25 million demanded by Kweku Baako, the court awarded GHS100,000 damages instead and a cost of GHS30,000.

-3news.com
Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has said although the report of the now-dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) which he chaired is two years old, it is still an important document in the fight illegal small scale mining commonly called galamsey.

He told TV3's Alfred Ocansey in an interview on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Monday May 8 that This report was not meant for public consumption. It might have stayed there for two years but now it is known so it can still be used although it is two years old, in the fight against illegal mining.

The report implicated a wide number of government officials, most of whom have denied the allegations in the report.

The Presidency said that the document was not an official report formally delivered to the Office of the President.

On the contrary, the seat of government said, it could only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM.

A statement issued by the Presidency on Saturday, April 22 said the document was handed to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President on March 19th 2021, in an informal meeting, where Prof. Frimpong-Boateng complained about public attacks and criticisms made about his tenure as Chairperson of the IMCIM.

This was after Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's tenure as Minister had not been renewed by the President of the Republic in his second term.

The document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action. It is noteworthy that the IMCIM was a creature of Cabinet, and any formal report on its activities would, normally, be submitted to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary, or directly to the President of the Republic as Chairperson of Cabinet. Till date, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has done neither, the statement said.

It added It is important also to point out that, whilst Prof. Frimpong-Boateng makes serious allegations against some government appointees, as having been involved in, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, not a single piece of evidence was adduced or presented to enable the claims to be properly investigated.

Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's meeting with the Chief of Staff in March 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document.

It further stated that the President's commitment to fighting illegal mining is unassailable, and the Office of the President welcomes any information on illegal mining activities which provides a credible basis for investigations to be conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

-3news.com
Cameroonian journalist Anye Nde Nsoh was recently shot and killed by separatists. (Photo: The Advocate)

09.05.2023 LISTEN

Cameroonian authorities should thoroughly investigate the recent killing of journalist Anye Nde Nsoh, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that journalists can work in the Northwest Region safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

At about 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, gunmen shot and killed Nsoh outside a bar in the Northwest Regions capital of Bamenda, according to multiple news reports.

Capo Daniel, a leader of the Ambazonia Defense Council separatist faction, said in a video statement that Nsoh had been killed by one of the groups fighters. He told CPJ by messaging app that the journalist was mistaken for a military commander who frequented that bar.

Cameroonian authorities must ensure that the killing of journalist Anye Nde Nsoh is thoroughly investigated, those responsible are brought to justice, and that his death is not used for propaganda purposes, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Journalists in Cameroons Anglophone regions find themselves under attack by both the government and separatist fighters. Both sides must respect the rights of journalists to report freely and ensure their safety.

In his video statement, Daniel called Nsohs killing was an unfortunate event and said he was satisfied with his groups investigation into the killing.

Nsoh, 26, covered sports, culture, and local news as the Northwest bureau chief for the privately owned newspaper The Advocate and as a correspondent for media outlets including City FM, Dream FM, and kick442.com, according to those reports and other reporting reviewed by CPJ.

In a statement reviewed by CPJ, police blamed a group of armed terrorists and said investigations were ongoing to bring the outlaws to book.

Since 2017, the conflict between Cameroonian government forces and separatists from the English-speaking minority has killed over 6,000 people and displaced 765,000, according to the independent International Crisis Group.

Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo was tortured and murdered in January, and Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe was shot dead in February.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv this Tuesday to mark Europe Day with Ukraine's President Volodymir Zelensky. Moscow  for its part  will host a military parade to celebrate Soviet Victory Day.

Von der Leyen's visit comes as the 27-nation bloc traditionally marks its "peace and unity" on 9 May, one day after Victory in Europe Day which celebrates the surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces in 1945.

On Monday, Zelensky announced his country would equally celebrate the day "together with all of free Europe".

Von der Leyen has already visited Ukraine on several occasions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine 14 months ago and has been a driving force in providing support for Kyiv and setting sanctions targeting the Kremlin.

Only last week, Zelensky was in the Netherlands where he urged speed in having the EU welcome Ukraine as a member.

Ukraine is officially a candidate for EU membership but formal negotiations have yet to begin  a process that could take many years.

'Anti-Nazi rhetoric'

Meanwhile, Zelensky has vowed that Russian forces would be defeated in Ukraine just as Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945.

His speech, recorded at a war memorial in Kyiv on Monday, came one day ahead of Victory Day in Moscow  a Soviet war anniversary to be marked by an army parade through Red Square with security on high alert.

"All the old evil that modern Russia is bringing back will be defeated just as Nazism was defeated," Zelensky said in a video at Kyiv's World War II memorial and park.

He added he has also submitted a bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on 8 May, which for years was marked on 9 May like in Russia and other ex-Soviet countries.

The move is just the latest in a series of steps Ukraine has taken in recent years to distance itself from Moscow  including by renaming streets and towns named after Soviet figures.

Fresh EU sanctions on Moscow

Brussels on Monday proposed a fresh round of sanctions on Russia  with an EU spokesperson saying the measures would seek to tackle "the evasion of sanctions".

The Kremlin has leaned heavily on World War II rhetoric to justify its invasion, saying in February last year it was launching the war to "de-Nazify" Ukraine.

But Ukraine holds the Kremlin responsible for "aggression and annexation, occupation and deportation," as well as "mass murder and torture."
Deputy County Attorney Ammon Barker is announcing his bid to succeed Bill Ring as the next Coconino County Attorney. Hes filed the paperwork and started collecting signatures to get his name on the 2024 ballot after more than a decade working in criminal justice in Coconino County.

Barker is originally from Salt Lake City. He moved to Arizona with his wife to attend law school at Arizona State University, graduating on the heels of the 2007 housing market collapse. The country was grappling with a recession, and opportunities for a young would-be prosecutor to get their foot in the door were limited, he said.

Eventually, he found an opening for a law clerk in Coconino County and was hired in 2010.

I was part of a homicide trialit was just magic to me. I just knew that this was a place I wanted to be, Barker said.

That summer, he went on to pass the bar exam, and fell into step with other area prosecutors. For most of the last decade, Barker has worked on felony cases  prosecuting more than a dozen homicides.

He worked most recently on the trial of Mark Gooch, who was convicted of murdering Sasha Krause, a Mennonite woman from New Mexico. He was also lead prosecutor in the case of Steven Jones, the NAU student who was sentenced to six years in prison for shooting and killing Colin Brough on campus in 2015.

I started receiving pretty heavy duty cases, a lot of violent crime cases, and began prosecuting homicides just a few years out of law school, Barker said.

Originally he was drawn to trial work by the prestige and allure of the courtroom. Barker had a clerkship in Maricopa County during law school and observed the prosecution of a DUI case.

It felt like magic to me, to watch the process and observe the jury and what they were thinking, Barker said. I dont think theres a better system in the world for managing justice, and the whole idea of being in the courtroom was really exciting to me.

The draw of the courtroom and its particular brand of protocol and drama wasnt the only reason why Barker chose to sit in on the judges right side in front of the bar.

Not long after he moved into his first Flagstaff home, on Lake Mary Road, Barker recalls reading through police reports and thinking about how he was familiar with the places where crimes were occurring. He said that filled him with a sense of responsibility to his community.

This is a community that I love. I want people to feel safe here, and I felt that I had a special talent in trial work, he said.

Fast forward to 2023 and Barker has been Deputy County Attorney (appointed by current County Attorney Bill Ring) for a year and a half. His wife is a business owner, and hes raising three daughters. He said those things only add to his sense that northern Arizona deserves strong leaders to keep the area safe.

That isnt to say Barkers sense of justice is purely black and white. Everyone who is convicted of a crime is not a villain.

Its so important to me that people feel safe. Thats why Ive spent so much time prosecuting violent offenders, but theres a whole contingent in our system of folks who are afflicted with drug addiction, with mental illness that need an assist out of the criminal justice system, he said.

Thats one of the reasons why he wants to be the Coconino County Attorney.

Ultimately, I just want to solve problems. Im a problem solver and I recognized that sometimes you need to ask why were doing something a certain way and ask if there is maybe a better or more innovative way to address some of the issues in our community, Barker said. Drug addiction, alcohol addiction and mental illness: these are things that I believe can be addressed outside of the criminal justice system if were creative. Thats really what compelled me to want to become County Attorney. I want to be in a position where I can make those changes. 

Barker was one of the people who helped develop the Pathways to Community Program and champion the County Attorneys Offices involvement in the process.

The voluntary program is housed in the Coconino County Jail. Its designed to fight recidivism with support and treatment for people arrested on substance abuse charges.

Barker said Pathways participants sign a contract promising to enter treatment and abstain from all substances for 6 months. If the contract is signed, and not violated, the County Attorneys Office doesnt charge or prosecute their case.

That has enormous downstream effects, Barker said.

For one thing, it saves the county a tremendous amount of money. The probation department doesnt have to get involved, the courts resources are saved, less incarceration might be called for, and the time and attention of prosecutors can be spent elsewhere  namely on violent crimes.

Id like to see a menu of diversion/deflection options to address those populations in particular, Barker added. Its going to allow our prosecutors to have more time with victims of crimes because theyre not dealing with drug cases or the cases where folks are mentally ill. They can focus on the cases that really disturb the community and really make people upset.

In order to develop a menu of diversion solutions, the County Attorneys Office will need to collaborate with the court system, defense teams, law enforcement, community health, and even healthcare and mental healthcare providers.

I feel like I have the ability to do that, said Barker.

Right now, he manages a staff of about 50 people  including 20 attorneys.

I have that experience [in criminal prosecution], but Im also a leader in the criminal justice field in the county. I know how to collaborate with people. I know how to work with judges, with law enforcement, and with the defense bar, Barker said.

If elected, Barker will be the chief prosecutor in the county. That role means he will not only have the final say on who is officially charged with a crime in the region, hell also oversee the branch of the county attorneys office that handles civil litigation, and act as legal advisor to the board of supervisors.

First of all, the job is to keep the community safe, but lets see if we can prevent future crime, he said. Its going to be about treatment. Its about getting them [non-violent and substance-dependent offenders] the services that they need so that we dont see them again. In doing that, we can save time and resources for the county in the long run.
The Headmaster of Fijai Senior High School, Kenneth Agbomadzi has been reinstated by the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The headmaster, Mr. Kenneth Agbomadzis reinstatement took effect on May 8, 2023.

This was three weeks after he was interdicted for allegedly collecting illegal fees.

A statement signed by the Director of Education, Western Region, Mrs. Felicia Agyeibea Okai, on May 8, said this decision was based on the outcome of the report presented by an investigative Committee set up to probe the issue.

I have been directed by the Director-General to re-instate you effective May 8, 2023, based on the outcome of the Investigative Committees report on the alleged Collection of illegal Levies in the school. The Regional Director is to hand over the Administration of the School to you and accord you the necessary support for you to function effectively, it stated.

The GES in its statement cautioned that it frowns on unauthorized collection of levies.

GES Management directs that the Head, Teachers and Parents of the school should be made to understand that Ghana Education Service (GES) frowns on unauthorized collection of levies and takes every act of illegal collection of monies seriously, GES warned in its statement.

The GES further warned to take action against any teaching staff who flouts its directives in future.

GES said, Management of GES wishes to inform you that all staff have a primary responsibility to cure strict compliance to all directives, rules and regulations of the Service and will not hesitate to take severe sanctions against any officer who flouts such directives and rakes in the future.

Read below full statement by GES


09.05.2023 LISTEN

A flagbearer aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwabena Duffuor is complaining of some discrepancies in the partys voter register ahead of Saturdays primaries.

Dr. Duffuor is calling on the National Executive of the party to postpone the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries scheduled for this weekend, May 13, 2023.

In a letter to the General Secretary of the NDC, Dr Duffuor's campaign team says the call is based on the incomplete and inaccurate delegates register expected to be used for the elections.

The Head of research and strategy of the Duffuor campaign, Kofi Kukubor who authored the letter, says the postponement will give ample time for the register to be cleaned and an opportunity for a free and fair election.

-Citi Newsroom
Former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has promised to provide jobs for the Ghanaian youth when given the chance to lead as President.

The politician is one of the aspirants contesting the flagbearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to the flagbearer hopeful, the youth are struggling due to lack of jobs.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto indicated that he has the key to unlock opportunities and provide jobs that will change the state of affairs if he becomes president.

My vision is really targeted at the youth. To have an impact on the youth is to create job opportunities for them. The youth really need jobs and the agriculture sector holds the key, the former Minister of Food and Agriculture said.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto continued, Everywhere I go, you see these young people thanking me for giving them opportunities to venture into agriculture. It is very gratifying to note that the opportunities are changing lives, especially, when you go to the northern parts of the country.

Although he is not tagged as a frontrunner, he is confident of victory at the end of the ruling party's primaries later this year.
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has lambasted National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful Dr. Kwabena Duffuor over what he describes as desperate politicking.

According to Sam George, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana is being childish in the race for the flagbearer elections.

It is childish for an 80-year-old man to be engaged in such desperate politicking because he wants to be elected flagbearer, the Ningo Prampram MP said in an interview with TV3.

He was commenting on Dr. Kwabena Duffuors claim that he has a better track record than former President John Dramani Mahama.

Sam George however indicated that Dr. Duffuor has no track record. According to him,Dr. Duffuor can only ride on the back of the records of John Dramani Mahama in the unlikely event that he wins the NDC presidential primaries.

When Dr. Duffuor makes such comments you should ask him in the very unlikely event, in the 0.0001per cent probability chance that he becomes the flagbearer of the NDC, whose records is he going to campaign on? Is it not John Mahamas records? Mr. Duffuor has no record. He was the Minister in the government when John Mahama was the Vice President, Monkeys play by sizes. He cannot compare himself with Former President Mahama, Sam George stressed.

The MP continued, President Mahama has a track record as president, he has a track record as an appointee of Mr. Mahamas government because Mr. Mahama and President Mills formed the government and appointed him.

Everything he has achieved or claimed to have achieved was at the direction and behests of Prof Mills and Mr. Mahama.

Sam George is confident in John Dramani Mahama to win the primaries and lead the NDC win the 2024 General Elections.
There was drama at Nkurakan community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region over the weekend when a big snake was found in a sealed chop box.

The incident attracted the residents of the community who came to have a view of the big snake which nobody knew where it came from.

According to reports, the snake was deposited at the venue by some youth who had come to perform ritual money at a place known to be involved in such acts.

The snake was supposed to be given eggs for 30 days after which it was expected to vomit money for them. But failed.

Surprisingly, the chop box with the snake was however picked up by some young men when people surrounded it to take a look at it.

The situation has created fear in Nkurakan as the chop box was found close to the place where a 6-month-old baby was found dead after going missing for some hours on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the residents are calling on the Police to as a matter of urgency deal with the growing crime issues in the community.

-DGN online
The Deputy Director General of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Peter Antwi-Boasiako has said there was no way Nana Akufo-Addo could have won the 2016 presidential elections had Kwabena Agyapong remained in his post as General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party.

He said, Kwabena Agyapong flamboyantly abused his position as the General Secretary by exhibiting gross disrespect.

Peter Antwi- Bosiako was speaking on Hot Digital Radio in London on the program 'Ghanas Biggest Conversation' hosted by Kofi Marfo (Sir Richie).

Asked by the host if he played a role in the suspension of Kwabena Agyapong as the General Secretary of the party, Peter Antwi- Boasiako said even though he was not part of the aggrieved NPP members who filed a petition for his removal, he was the one who masterminded it from the UK.

"I confronted Kwabena on the phone and urged him to avoid mentioning my name as one of the petitioners, to which Kwabena responded by saying people informed him that I was one of the petitioners, Peter added.

Peter Antwi- Bosiako also declared his unflinching support for Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as the best choice to represent the party in the 2024 polls.

He said Bawumia has in-depth knowledge about the countrys economy than the other aspirants.

The NPP presidential hopeful, Kwabena Agyapong who was in London last year revealed to Kofi Marfo during an interview that Peter Antwi- Boasiako and two others in London orchestrated his removal.

Kwabena Agyapong said after all the evil tactics by a section of his political party members against him, he has been exonerated and has since assumed his membership position.
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Recently, Bangladesh and Myanmar have launched a bilateral pilot project to repatriate the Rohingya. Myanmar has dedicated 15 villages to repatriating Rohingya refugees from Coxs Bazar. Initially, Myanmar will take 1140 Rohingya. A Myanmar delegation has already visited the camps in Coxs Bazar. But the initiative is facing harsh criticism from INGOs and NGOs such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Human Rights Watch (HRW). NGOs are against such initiatives citing the situation in Myanmar.

A delegation of 17 members from Myanmar came to Bangladesh on March 15 to verify the information of the Rohingyas on that list. They returned after verifying the information of 480 Rohingyas enrolled in the repatriation pilot project. Then last Friday, a delegation of 27 members including 20 Rohingya went to visit Myanmar Rakhine State. They check whether the environment there is suitable for repatriation of Rohingyas. Returning to the country Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) in Bangladesh camps Md. Mizanur Rahman expressed satisfaction with the goodwill of Myanmar.

After the Rohingya delegation returned from Myanmar's Rakhine state, there was a mixed reaction to the issue of repatriation to Rohingya camps. Many arguments are going on between those who support repatriation to the camp and those who are not interested in repatriation. Most of the Rohingyas claim that there is no opportunity for the Rohingyas to adopt a different path except repatriation.

According to media reports, regarding the speech of the members of the Rohingya delegation who visited Myanmar's Rakhine state last Friday, the speech they presented in the media may be their personal opinion. Therefore, it cannot be accepted that the process of repatriation of Rohingyas will be stopped. Repatriation is the right of Rohingyas. If someone likes, they will go, if someone wants, they will not go, so it does not mean that all Rohingyas will not go. The Rohingyas will be repatriated if the governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar want. Their statement is also clear about the claim collection. They are saying, first take the Rakhine land in Myanmar, then I will give all the demands from there. It will be much easier for the Rohingyas to stand on their homeland and claim their rights. Many people are passionate about the country. There are the graves of many relatives, mother and father. They have very little rights in Bangladesh camps either, they are somehow living in a floating life. The happiness of dying in one's homeland is much greater than that. It should not their concern whether anyone will go or not, Rohingyas will return to Myanmar if they are called.

According to social media reports and ground information, ordinary Rohingyas in the camp in Cox's Bazar want to return. They want to go to their homes at any cost. A large part of the Rohingya want to use the opportunity of repatriation. Only a particular group of Rohingyas who are enjoying various immoral facilities and abuse their position in the camps do not want to return. A part of the Rohingya supported by international organizations has also been added. It is known that the Rohingyas have taken a stand against the issue of repatriation in Rohingya camps in Ukhia and Teknaf. On May 5, a 20-member Rohingya delegation returned to Myanmar after inspecting the infrastructure prepared for the Rohingyas and expressed a negative attitude towards the repatriation of journalists. However, other Rohingyas in the camp are unwilling to support their attitude. A conscious section of the Rohingyas is expressing their reluctance to stay as refugees in Bangladesh. They decided to stir up interest among other Rohingya in the camp by campaigning to return to Myanmar.

Cox's Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). Mizanur Rahman said, we along with the Rohingyas have just come to see the villages and infrastructure prepared for the Rohingyas in Maungdoo, Myanmar and its surroundings. There will be further talks between the two countries, hopefully the repatriation process will progress.

The real place for Rohingyas is Arakan in Myanmar, not the Rohingya camp to make demands. Those who talk about citizenship, security and visas in terms of repatriation, are not really thinking about the Rohingyas. Even in Bangladesh they have no citizenship, no lands. The security that the Rohingyas once had from terrorists is now gone. So, if they can live without these things in this country, then why not in Myanmar? Myanmar will ensure maximum security for the repatriated Rohingyas. Because the eyes of the whole world will be on them. If any wrongdoing is done by taking the Rohingyas there, it will spread all over the world thanks to the internet. Rohingyas should go bak to their homeland Myanamr now as a whole population cannot spend years in another country in refuge from another situation. Rohingyas have the right to go back to their own nation, their own territory, and their own homes -- where they can exercise all of their civil rights to strive toward constructing a better life and future for themselves and their offspring.

Currently no Rohingyas are safe in the camp. Each camp has its own criminal gangs. This is where the Rohingyas suffer the most insecurity. There is no guarantee of life in the camp now, who is shooting and running away from which side. Much more happiness if you can go to the country and taste the native land.

A section of the international community is playing politics with the Rohingyas in the camps in Cox's Bazar. Due to this, their repatriation process is becoming difficult at times. Unfortunately, we are noticing that various international circles are doing their own style of politics with the Rohingyas. It is difficult to say how much these quarters will see the interests of Bangladesh, or the Rohingyas. The Rohingyas are expected to return to a slightly better environment than the environment from which they crossed the Myanmar border into Bangladesh. Because the state system of Myanmar will not change overnight. This may not change even in the next 10-20 years. While the junta is killing people day after day, the hope that the Rohingyas will be repatriated to a different status with full citizenship is simply not realistic. This is a harmful thought for the Rohingyas. It is now important to ensure the status they had earlier.

While Bangladesh and Myanmar are preparing their returnee lists and facilitating the repatriation, INGOs and NGOs are expressing concerns over the plan. They are mainly objecting that the environment in Rakhine is not conducive enough for any repatriation at this moment. They are also condemning the Junta and labeling the plan as an eye wash. Prominent INGOs and NGOs including UNHCR and HRW have already given statements clearing their stance on the plan. They want Bangladesh to halt the program. Burmese Rohingya Organization UK has also called the process a Public Relation rather than repatriation.

Perhaps, Juntas controversial image are the prime reasons behind the stance of the NGOs concerned about the Rohingya. The Rohingyas should also think, if they do not start repatriation now or do not go, it will benefit Myanmar. Because, Myanmar always wants the Rohingyas not to come and they create various pressures for this. Myanmar wants the Rohingyas to say that the status is not created, the environment is not created and not to come. Now the repatriation process needs to be started to challenge Myanmar. It will not solve the problem if only one and a half thousand Rohingyas return. But Myanmar can be told that you have recognized your citizens, now take measures for the rest.

Myanmar's interest in Rohingya repatriation has increased for a number of reasons. By exploiting this interest, Bangladesh should start the process of repatriating the Rohingyas. We are very optimistic about the repatriation of Rohingya this time. Because the Rohingya issue is a geopolitical equation. In the current military, political and economic situation in Myanmar, the integrity and ethnic unity of the Myanmar state is at great risk. Now if they want to make their state safe, they have to solve the Rohingya problem. The Rohingya problem was not created only because of Bangladesh and Myanmar. There are other parties involved in creating this crisis. If the reasons for creating this crisis are not met, then they will not play a role in solving the crisis. Now the cooperation of the third party, the international community, is needed in the matter of repatriation. Rohingyas should play a role in creating housing and other facilities. International pressure should also be applied. The more the international community can be kept active on behalf of Bangladesh to solve the problem, the more opportunities will be created to solve the problem. This opportunity should be used.

For more than two years now, Junta is administering the state of Myanmar. The international community and the great powers did little to pressurize the Junta to repatriate the Rohingya. Prior to Junta, the international community also failed to convince the democratic government to repatriate the Rohingya and bring the perpetrators to justice.

At this moment, Junta is formally in power, even though it faces a serious legitimacy crisis and resistance at home. But it is the only formal authority in Myanmar.

Bangladesh has been facing a refugee crisis for six years now. It has tried bilaterally, trilaterally, and multilaterally for the past six years for a viable solution. It has left no stone unturned, yet found nothing. Bangladesh eagerly wants to explore the initiative as something is better than nothing. Moreover, Bangladesh cannot remain indifferent to the Junta question. Owing to bilateral political, economic, connectivity, and economic issues, Bangladesh has to engage with the authority of Myanmar- that is Junta currently.

While Bangladesh- the guardian of the Rohingya on the global stage is trying heart and soul to repatriate the Rohingya to their birthplace, the NGOs are not doing enough for the most persecuted community of our time. The UNHCR and other NGOs are only maintaining the camps. Due to other emerging crises and donor fatigue, these NGOs are also reducing their effort in every aspect after six years. Recently, WFP reduced its monthly per capita ration from only $12 to $10 citing fund shortage.

Advocacy networks such as HRW, and Amnesty International failed to create effective pressure on Myanmar. Like the NGOs, the Great powers also failed to pressurize Myanmar effectively. As a result, Bangladesh is carrying the burden alone. And Bangladesh, which did not see any result in the last six years cannot but explore the option. The declining fund, deteriorating camp conditions, growing insecurity, and adverse impact of the refugees on the host community have made Bangladesh a desperate host looking for reducing the burden, where its international partners are only performing their formal duties within a set boundary. This crisis is also destabilizing regional security. The Rohingya cannot consistently receive food, shelter, and medical care due to our limited economic capabilities. It is important to note that aid for the Rohingya is decreasing daily. The current Ukraine conflict has the entire world on edge. Although the world community has lost sight of the Rohingya humanitarian issue as a result of the war in Ukraine

Moreover, the conducive environment debate is also a politically biased one. As the Junta is repatriating, it is guaranteeing their safety. The other stakeholders of Rakhine and Myanmar, the Arakan Army (AA) and the National Unity Government (NUG) have already recognized the Rohingya. Furthermore, it also has the responsibility of international community to provide an external guarantee for Rohingyas safety upon repatriation. Therefore, it may not be unsafe to explore the possibilities of repatriation with the Junta. It seems the NGOs are driven by their own compulsion of lengthening projects and squeeze their donors displaying the plight of the refugee community.

In a nutshell, the repatriation plan will reduce Bangladeshs burden at least to some extent. The pilot project will also increase Bangladesh-Myanmar engagement. The World community should not go against it; instead, they should come forward and engage effectively to ensure the rapid repatriation of the rest of the refugees. The NGOs and Advocacy networks should also scale up their activity rather than reacting compulsively. we can consider the Rohingya pilot project as the beginning of the long-overdue repatriation, which might inspire more people to return Myanmar from Bangladesh in the future. Myanmar must ensure that the return of Rohingya Muslims is continuous, dignified, and sustainable. Myanmar needs to have goodwill in order to interact favourably with Bangladesh. The Rohingya situation needs to be resolved successfully and permanently, according to the entire globe. For the Rohingya people to return from Bangladesh to Myanmar with safety and dignity, the successful implementation of the pilot project is necessary.

By John Rozario

Bio: The writer is based in Karnataka, India, and has completed a master's degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University in International Relations. He is a researcher, Bangladesh studies, strategic and international affairs analyst He can be reached at [email protected].
Dear Fadi Samith Dabbousi,

As I read through your article, which is captioned Alan Kyerematen: Stop your Demons Now!, I did all I could to see if there was any justification for the authoring of it, and sincerely, I couldnt find any justification. It seems to me you were more interested in writing English than substance. Anyway, nice meeting you on this street for the first time.

When I first saw the usage of the word demons in your caption, I was really taken aback because I felt that was too harsh, but then, it quickly made me recall something the Vice President, head of EMT, said relative to the economy some time ago.

Fadi, correct me if I am wrong, he said something to the effect that the economy of Ghana was being attacked by demons and principalities. He said that at the time the countrys economy had started taking a nosedive on his watch. My brother, are you also attributing DMBs nose-diving campaign to demons? Thats quite interesting.

Well, for your information, just as the economic demons and principalities never left the economy alone till it ended up on IMF table, the political demons would also not rest till your boss is massively defeated on the 4th of November 2023.

The countless neglected hungry demons in NPP, who are mostly polling station executives, are more powerful, blood-thirsty and vicious than the ones that sucked the blood out of the economy to make it anemic for IMFs surgical table. The demons in NPP want their pound of flesh from the establishment and its candidate. They have laid ambush on 4th November Street to suck every pint of blood out of their body. That is how vicious the Alan demons are.

Fadi, in the second paragraph of your incoherent write-up, you had this to write: His camp has descended into the gutters of bigotry in all its ugly nuances and straightaway linked your baseless claim to the media reportage on the walk. My brother, why do you ascribe bigotry to the Alan camp for what the media reported relative to their mammoth walk?

Well, you obviously need help, so let me help you with the meaning of the word bigotry, and you would understand why your incoherent piece is utterly senseless. Oxford Learners Dictionary defines bigotry as the state of feeling, or the act of expressing, strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions. I hope you understood what you just read.

Now, some reputable media houses, based on what they saw, reported that over 300,000 people walked with Alan. Others put the figure at 400,000. However, you, who claim to be the champion of honesty, are saying you would be charitable to put the figure at 400. So, per the definition of bigotry you just read, who is engaging in bigotry here? Is it you Fadi, the media or the Alan camp? The jury is out there!

Besides, you wrote this: The Walk for Bawumia at Kwahu was many folds bigger than Alans Kumasi and Accra put together. How laughable! Who doesnt know the Kwahu walk was an NPP walk that you shamelessly wanted to take advantage of. And, who doesnt know the Kwahu Easter numbers come nowhere close to any of the two Aduru Wo So walks. Once again, per the definition of the word bigotry, who is engaging in bigotry here? From your own write-up, you have shown you are the biggest bigot in town.

Kindly get the part 2, thanks.

E. G. Buckman
A Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Mustapha Gbande, has warned that the Functional Executives Committee (FEC) of the party will not sit aloof for the integrity of members to be attacked by the campaign team of the former Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour.

''We have our integrity to protect and will not sit down for the image of the national officers of the party to be dragged in the mud, he warned.

Mr Gbandes comment comes after Dr Duffuor called on the National Executive of the party to postpone the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries scheduled for this weekend, May 13, 2023.

This according to him, is a result of some discrepancies in the partys voter register.

In a letter to the General Secretary of the NDC, Dr Duffuors campaign team complained that the register is incomplete and inaccurate to be used for the elections.

Reacting Dr Duffours letter for the postponement of the election, Mr Gbande said Dr Duffuors team is raising red flags when there is none.

Speaking on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odeyeeba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Mr Gbande said the album was given to all the aspirants in the race some two months ago.

If you dont know the delegates how were you campaigning? he queried.

He said so far, albums of 240 Constituencies have been given to Dr Duffour's team.

The rest will be made available to them today, he assured, wondering: Is it a case Dr Duffour wants to be treated as the former president?

He said it would be a mistake for the former finance minister and his team to think that they have the same influence as former president John Mahama.

Dr Duffour must be told he hasnt been there before and there is no way he can wield the same influence as the former president, Mr Gbande noted.

He said Dr Duffour is not on the same pedestal as the former president.

He warned the situation where few individuals in the party schemed for the party to remain in opposition in the last elections will not be countenanced by the current executives of the party.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Mr Stephen Duah Agyemang, former Finance Manager of the defunct Beige Bank, has denied approving funds transfer during his tenure in office.

The third prosecutions witness said he was not responsible for approval of funds but reviewed, checked and prepared vouchers for payment that had been approved by Michael Nyinaku, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Beige Bank Group.

It was during a Cross-examination at the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, a Court of Appeal Judge with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge.

In the Cross-examination by Mr Thaddeus Sory, defense counsel for Nyinaku, the witness said once the CEO gave his approval, payment was then authorised by the Finance Department, which he headed.

Mr Duah Agyemang explained that once the CEO approved payments, he was satisfied and did not make any further queries.

The witness said that the former CEO of Beige was responsible for payment of everything, but all such payments must start from the preparation of vouchers.

Mr Sory asked the witness whether in terms of authority to make payments, there were various authorities in the process and the payment vouchers were prepared by him (Duah Agyemang).

When questioned about the cost to be incurred because of the transition of Beige Savings and Loans to a Universal Bank, the witness said he had no idea.

The question was about certain approvals of payments bearing the name and signature of the witness.

Mr Sory said Nyinaku, the accused person, had allegedly informed others, including Mr Duah Agyemang of the intended expansion of the Saving and Loans to reflect its status of a universal entity.

The lawyer said the accused person corresponded with the witness and others through emails.

Mr Sory put it to Mr Agyemang Duah that his client made it clear in the email that some expenses had to be incurred in respect of the project and the witness answered yes.

Led by Madam Stella Ohene Appiah, Principal State Attorney, the witness read part of his statement to the police saying, my role was to review all payments. Authority to make payment emanates from the CEO who normally communicate via email. No payment was made without personal feedback.

Prosecution: You have stated you will identify the various payment vouchers signed off by you with their supporting documents, look through the exhibit A and do the identification to the court.

Witness: I can identify the ones with my name.

PW1 and 12 is payment in favour of Kwame Mensah dated on the 9/8/16 and it was signed by me prepared for the payment, he said.

PW12 is a payment for property in favour of Kwame Mensah Bonsu. I have the contract documents which is also attached to the payment and signature in respect of Kpatsa property at Airport West. That one too, I have email supporting and approving to make payments on 1/4/16.

Also, PW4 is another one, which has my name signed 3/4/17, that is payment in respect of expansion project TBG, that one too I have supporting documents attached to the voucher, he added.

Prosecution: Now Mr Duah Agyemang, beyond the three exhibits listed to the court, please go through the entire list and tell the court whether there were other vouchers bearing your signature.

Yes, there are other vouchers bearing my name and signature, Mr Duah Agyemang answered.

-GNA
Indivisible Tohono Co-Founder April Ignacio talks about the importance of the City of Tucson and Pima County's intent to form a task force during a press conference on National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on May 5, 2023. Photo by Antonio Ramirez | City of Tucson

The City of Tucson is the first city in the nation to launch its own Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls task force, which will work on ways to address the crisis within the city, greater Pima County and nearby tribal nations.

Tucson has the fourth-highest MMIWG rate in the country, and the state of Arizona has the third-highest rate, according to a report by Urban Indian Health Institute.

The numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this community is not new, but our prioritization of it is, Indivisible Tohono Co-Chair April Ignacio said.

Community advocates, tribal leaders and city officials gathered near downtown Tucson on May 5 to acknowledge the importance of creating a task force for the city, county and tribes.

This is the bare minimum that we can do, and its not enough, Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Adelita Grijalva said. We have to let people know that there is a problem, and we have to be part of a solution to solving it.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors also issued a proclamation during its May 2 meeting to recognize May 5 as a day of awareness of the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

During the meeting, Indivisible Tohono and community members stood before the board holding photos of Indigenous women lost due to the MMIWG crisis.

Standing in front of the board, Ignacio said they want to emphasize how important it is to the families and the communities for officials to acknowledge that Tucson has a missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls crisis.

Without acknowledging it is to perpetuate the violence that continues in our communities, she said.

City and county officials acknowledged that the work they will do toward MMIWG has largely been thanks to the grassroots efforts by Indigenous women who have spearheaded the effort to raise awareness about the crisis within their communities.

We know that indigenous women in our community have been leading on this issue, and for years, their demands for answers, for accountability, for solutions have been unaddressed by municipal, county, and state officials, said Tucson Council Member Lane Santa Cruz. Its our turn as the city of Tucson and Pima County to take swift and urgent action to address the crisis within our region.

The task force was announced in coordination with the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, making Tucson the first known municipality to develop a task force.

Within the City of Tucson and Pima County, the task force will bring together experts from law enforcement, social services, healthcare, and other relevant fields to coordinate efforts and develop comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, said Charlene Mendoza, chief of staff for Mayor Regina Romero.

Mendoza said they understand that data is limited, lacks accuracy, and Indigenous women are often misidentified. She said she hopes that the task force will give city leaders some idea of the true impact of the MMIWG crisis, resulting in system and policy changes needed to collect correct and accurate data.

We need this to ensure that resources and services are being directed to exactly where they are needed most, she said. The time is now to make meaningful changes in our data collection, policy, training, and services.

For Ignacio, who serves on the state MMIWG task force that Gov. Katie Hobbs established in March, seeing a city take steps to develop a localized task force is a big deal for Indigenous communities.

Ignacio is Tohono Oodham and she has been advocating for MMIWG within Indian Country for years. She said she knows more Indigenous people want to get involved in some way.

The first step is just showing up, Ignacio said. Just showing up and making your presence known has an effect on the leaders of your community.

And thats what Ignacio has been doing. She has responded to calls for action on MMIWG, including when legislation was approved in 2019 establishing the states first MMIWG study committee.

Ignacio said she needs the Indigenous communities to see that they can make a difference just by showing up, because the change happening now was only possible through grassroots efforts.

We dont have to continue to marinate in our grief, she added. We can take steps forward to be a beacon of hope and to keep these family members in our memories.

Fellow Indivisible Tohono Member Elayne Gregg, from the Tohono Oodham Nation, spoke during the announcement, commending the city and counties for publicly acknowledging that this type of violence is happening to Indigenous women and girls.

Gregg had advocated for MMIWG awareness for years and has been at the forefront alongside Indivisible Tohono of some of the major pushes for change in Arizona, including when the legislature passed House Bill 2570 in 2019 to establish the states first MMIWG study committee.

Gregg speaks out in honor of the Indigenous women and girls lost within her community, but also for her late daughter Rhia Danae Almeida, who was seven years old when she was murdered in Ajo in 2009.

What I have learned through my pain, through my silence, is that I still have a voice and that we have a voice, Gregg said. I have found support and love through sharing my grief.

Gregg has shared her experience among others many times in support of efforts to address the MMIWG crisis in Arizona. One point she emphasized is that the individual responsible for what happened to her daughter was off tribal land. She did get help and justice in her daughters case, but she knows it would have been different if it did happen in her homeland, the Tohono Oodham Nation.

If you were to look at the victim services that our people on our tribal lands get, you could see that they are severely insufficient, Gregg said. This is why it is so important to speak up and demand help.

Anna Harper-Guerrero, the executive vice president & chief strategy officer for EMERGE Center Against Domestic Abuse, attended the task force announcement. She commended Indivisible Tohonos work for MMIWG and Gregg for her bravery in sharing her story.

Harper-Guerrero pointed out a few key factors that contributed to the MMIWG crisis, including the lack of victim services available for victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.

Our lack of allocation of resources has only served to make them more invisible and to promote the erasure of the many women and girls whose faces you see here today, she said. We are not equipped to provide the level of support that families need.

Like many Indigenous community advocates for MMIWG, Harper-Guerrero pointed out that the violence against Indigenous women is not new for these communities, and it is linked to violence in the homes and romantic relationships.

The number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in our community is directly tied to the unaddressed prevalence of domestic violence and sexual violence in our community, Harper-Guerrero said. It has deep origins in the embedded belief systems that tell us that female bodies have less value, that the dehumanization and sexualization of women and girls is acceptable.

Harper-Guerrero added that the only way to begin a pathway to healing for Indigenous communities is by first acknowledging that historical trauma, which is the origin of this violence.

We know that when this land was taken, sexual violence was the tool that was used against women and girls to take these lands, and it persists today, she said.

More details about the task force will be announced by the Mayors Office and taken to the Tucson City Council for an official vote.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has embarked on a demonstration against Sunon Asogli Power Limited at Kpone for its refusal to reinstate three dismissed workers who happen to be their local union executives.

According to the Union, the workers had their contracts terminated because they decided to join the Ghana Mine Workers Union which is under the Trades Union Congress.

But Sunon Asogli has refuted such claims explaining that the workers were dismissed due to what it describes as the unions unlawful operations in the company.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, Abdul Moomin Gbana said it will not relent in ensuring that justice is served for their dismissed members.

We are not against any investor coming to Ghana but Sunon Asoglis $750 million cannot buy our rights so today, we are demonstrating to the whole world that unions in this country will exercise our rights.

Our demands are very simple and we have made it clear to our employer that our three colleagues must be reinstated and we will fight and fight till they are reinstated.

The Trades Union Congress and its over 20 affiliates converged at the Kpone Methodist Church to begin their protest.

-citinewsroom
Ghana Education Service (GES) has reinstated the Head and the Senior House Masters of the Ghana Senior High School in Tamale in the Northern Region.

The two were interdicted following a media report alleging that a toilet facility had been converted into a dormitory facility for students of GHANASCO.

The videos of the GHANASCO students using the toilet cubicles as sleeping areas went viral and caused public outrage.

Subsequently, a committee was set up to investigate the report after the headmaster denied that no toilet facility had been converted into a dormitory for the male students.

Sources at the regional GES office revealed to Citi News that, the reinstatement follows a recommendation by the committee tasked to investigate the issue.

Citi News checks at the school revealed that the headmaster Douglas Haruna Yakubu and the senior housemaster have both resumed their roles.

-Citinewsroom
A passenger in an Aflao-Kumasi bound bus has been found dead after they arrived at their final destination at Asafo Labour in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

According to the passengers on the bus, they thought he was asleep but only realized he was dead when he did not alight from the vehicle after reaching the Asafo Labour station.

The driver of the vehicle immediately reported the incident to the police after which the body was conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue.

The driver is currently assisting the police with investigations.

The station master at the Asafo Labour taxi station, Owusu Banahene, who witnessed the incident, narrated to Citi News that the family of the deceased has been contacted.
General Secretary of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council in the Volta Region, Apostle Addai Kusi has dared the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lock up their churches over excessive noise.

The EPA embarked on an operation following complaints by residents on excessive noise caused by churches in an unauthorised location causing nuisance at night.

In an interview with the media, the Director of EPA in the Region, Hope Smith Lomotey, said the move by his office was necessitated after some churches in the region failed to comply with the required standards of operating a church under the EPAs regulations.

Mr Lomotey also noted that, although some churches have acquired permits to operate in authorised areas, they are yet to renew their permits and may also be affected by the agencys enforcement.

According to him, church leaders must apply for a permit before establishing their churches.

Some churches have applied for permits, others have not, so we are regularising those who have not".

The challenge we have is that most of these churches, they establish before they apply for regularisation, he explained.

Reacting to this, the General Secretary of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council in the Volta region Apostle Addai Kusi said although, his office has not received any notice to that effect, they will resist any attempt by the EPA to close down their churches.

He told Class News in an interview that Well resist any such attempt, well rather have to engage and know what stages of permit we need and then we can do business. We are legitimately doing our business in Ghana and we will want to cooperate before state agencies to make sure that peace prevails.

I am the General Secretary and Im telling on authority Im not aware, Ive not received any notice to that effect and Ill be glad to meet them [EPA], he added regarding his knowledge of the threat to close uncooperative churches.

Source: Classfmonline.com
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho has made a case why John Dramani Mahama should never become President of Ghana again.

In an interview, he argued that You dont destool a chief and enstool him later. It is a curse.

According to Samuel Koku Anyidoho, Ghana will not only incur spiritual curses when Mahama becomes president again but the country will suffer physical damages as well.

Another one spiritually is that this sword that the President holds to swear the part of office, spiritually you can only hold it twice. Jerry Rawlings held it twice in 1992 and 1996. President Kufuor held it twice in 2000 and 2004. President Mills held it once, he died and he left. John Mahama, on the 9th of 24th July 2012 you held the Sword of State and you swore an oath. On the 7th of January 2013, you held the sword of state and swear again. You held it twice.

Why do you want to hold it three times and be a curse upon the country? Why does John Mahama think that Ghana was created for him and he will come and mess the nation up spiritually and physically? It wont happen. It cannot happen, Koku Anyidoho told journalists as reported by 3News.

In a series of tweets in the past week, Koku Anyidoho has made it clear that he is against the candidacy of John Dramani Mahama in the flagbearer race of the NDC.

He has indicated that he supports Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and will vote for him in the upcoming party primaries next weekend.
09.05.2023 LISTEN

Often, it's said that a man who chases an antelope stops not to respond to greetings. So without giving much intro to beleaguer readers with abundant information than necessary for the topic under discussion, I'll try to be niggard with space and time to make reading less strenuous. Because we live in a regime where people are already averse to reading coupled with an economic mess whose resultant effect is the daily hunger pangs and mental anguish suffered by the masses. Thus, one could not pretend to say or assume to himself that he will be guaranteed a peaceful reading without distractions.

Just like most of the valuable minerals that lie beneath the ground, If left unpolished, they remain rusty and drowsy. So is history, if left unconcerned and untutored, risk lending itself to mythological and unsophisticated narrations by people with half-truths. Therefore history must jealously be guarded if the need be against this unscrupulous "faasikuns" .

It is variously said by votaries and surrogates of Hudu Mogtari and others that Dr Rashid Pelpuo ousted his "predecessor" M.A Seidu to occupy the Wa Central seat. But the question is did Rashid Pelpuo really oust M.A to become the PC for Wa Central constituency? To address this claim or question, it's important to consider the meaning of the word "ousted or oust" and match it against the facts and ascertain whether or not the facts lend credence to their claim. Even though their argument is intellectually nauseating and logically incoherent but we proceed to address them and possibly educate them. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word "oust or ousted" means to remove or takeaway something from someone. In our case, to remove someone from political office via polls or ballot. Also, one could be ousted or removed from office through undemocratic means such as use of weapons or force to takeaway someone from office. So clearly, the later does not apply in Ghana because Ghana is under a constitutional democracy and doesn't subscribe to such means of changing leaders. As a matter of fact, the only way one could be said to have "ousted" (I've doubts whether that's even the appropriate word to use in this context) another from political office in the current dispensation is through the ballot, voting.

Now, can it be said that Dr Rashid Pelpuo ever went into elections with MA Seidu before? To my mind, I think the answer is NO! Unless evidence is provided to the contrary. Per my checks there's no trace of history or fact that points us to such a contest in (old) Wa Constituency. Even in their own incoherent arguments, they never mentioned any election that Dr Rashid Pelpuo contested with MA Seidu. Then what informed that bizarre and unreasonable conclusion? Or is't that they lacked the ability to appreciate history?

Going forward into the 2004 general elections, the then Wa Constituency was divided into two, creating two entirely new Constituencies, Wa Central and Wa West Constituencies. So legally speaking, the old Wa Constituency was dissolved and new two (Wa West and Central ) constituencies demarcated with distinctive legal backings. In effect, the old constituency (Wa Constituency) ceases to exist and can only be referred to for historical purposes and nothingless. So it will even be erroneous if not ignorance for one to refer to Wa West or Wa Central as (then) Wa Constituency. Because the two are different things altogether and none of them draws its legal backing from the old order that created the old Wa Constituency. Therefore you cannot on any ground substitute the old Wa Constituency for Wa Central or Wa West Constituencies because it defeats intelligence and it demonstrates a dearth of knowledge unless for historical purposes. It is just like having an orange and decides to divide it into two equal parts. None of the halves can be referred to as the full or complete orange you only do so by saying that they were once one orange but now they are all distinct and independent half oranges. In effect, you don't select one half as a complete representation of the full orange.

Having cleared this mental clog that leads many to poor judgment or conclusion, I'll proceed to lay the bare history or facts as they were. Shortly after the announcement that greeted the creation of Wa Central Constituency, Hon MA Seidu called a meeting of party elders and declared that since his hometown was in the Wa West Constituency, he won't contest the Wa Central seat. By then Hon Rashid Pelpuo was working with his Consultancy firm at Tamale and was invited by the then constituency chairman to contest the primaries as the sole person having shown interest in that position on previous occasions, though he never contested M.A in any of those occasions. The first occasion was in 1996 which was orchestrated by the Youth of Wa, Rashid Pelpuo declined to contest MA citing reasons that M.A was his former teacher and thus he has that reverence for him. Disappointed by this decision, one of the Youth Alhaji Bob Ibrahim of Jengbeyiri told me personally that he pulled a gun at Rashid Pelpuo threatening to harm him for disappointing them. Notwithstanding, Rashid Pelpuo still stood on his grounds to make sure the youth dropped that idea.

On the second occasion (2000), he personally took positive steps along side the support of the youth and made preparations (bought his campaign pick up and other things) to contest MA Seidu but unfortunately the NDC party came out with a directive that no incumbent MP should be contested in 2000 primaries. That was it and he respected the party's decision and stood down his decision to Contest M.A again. But some of his colleagues like Rashid Bawa of Akatsi and Abubakari Sadick Boniface of Salaga who were unhappy with this decision severed ties with the NDC and joined the NPP to win their respective constituencies in that very elections. Even though Hon Rashid Pelpuo was equally pursued by both the NPP of Wa Constituency and Nadowli Constituency to contest on their tickets, he still declined and steadfast his hopes to the NDC. Until the Constituency was divided into two in the year 2004 where Hudu Mogtari put up himself against Dr Rashid Pelpuo and suffered his first defeat. The strange thing in the 2004 primaries was that, prior to the elections both candidates (Rashid and Hudu) were good friends. Before the elections, Rashid Pelpuo who was operating a Consultancy in Tamale hosted Hudu Mogtari and Lawyer Wahidu Bampuori in his house in Tamale. This was an occasion where Hudu Mogtari wanted to marry his wife (Joyce Bawa Mogtari) which ceremony was to take place in Tamale (Source: Memoirs of Hopes - unpublished)

Upon hosting his brothers in his residence, Rashid Pelpuo still used his car to run all the errands for his brother free of charge. This shows the level of friendship and brotherhood that existed between them prior to the primary. In one of their hearty conversations among the 3 Waala brothers, Wahidu Bampuori mooted the topic of Wa Central politics and suggested that Rashid Pelpuo should go and contest for that seat since he was the one most likened by the youth of Wa Central. At the end of the conversation, it was agreed and accepted by all the 3 brothers that Rashid Pelpuo was the guy cut for the job at that material moment (Source: Memoirs of Hopes - unpublished). Wahidu Bampuori and Hudu Mogtari left to Accra and leaving their good friend Rashid in Tamale after the curtains on the marriage ceremony were drawn.

Subsequently, nominations for NDC Parliamentary primaries were opened for the year 2004 general elections. Surreptitiously, Hudu Mogtari rushed to pick up a nomination form without informing his good brother, Dr Rashid Pelpuo whom he earlier had a chat with on his visit to Tamale about the seat. A lot of party elders appealed and tried to persuade him to allow Rashid Pelpuo to go unopposed for two terms and he too will take over from him. No appeal or persuasion could yield Hudu Mogtari to stand down his ambition. The reason for the elders of the party calling for consensual leadership was to avoid intraparty disintegration. I remember at the grounds that very day some elders wept as voting was ongoing of the consequence of his option.

The wisdom in this mode of selecting leaders was that loyalty and commitment to party course should be rewarded ahead of materialistic chauvinism. That's why you could see those days a less resourceful person who is committed to the party holding executive position ahead of the so-called rich people in society. Besides, this mode also favors the socio-cultural setting of the Wala people and the more reason the elders were more up for it. Despite these prayers, Hudu Mogtari rejected them and insisted on primary, voting to elect leaders. The consequences of his option were well known and could easily be predicted by well meaning party faithfuls. But what could be the motive behind the decision of a man whose effects were apparent and dangerous but he still insisted on it? Or if not an ill-motive, what will make a man stand on the interest of the majority? Though bad and dangerous that decision was but it also opened the floodgates for voting as a way of choosing PCs and it made it impossible for party elders or executives to impose a term limit on any parliamentary candidate.

Sensing Hudu Mogtari's intransigence, Rashid Pelpuo too picked up a nomination form for the contest and at the end of the day "truth stands". Hudu Mogtari suffered a huge defeat and as a result some of his supporters served ties with the NDC and crossed carpet to the NPP. Somewhat, this vindicated the elders position for consensus rather than voting though personally I believed that their mode was unsustainable in a fast changing world. But be that as it may, the contest set the stage for the first parliamentary primary in Wa Central and as well restraint party executives and elders from imposing or preventing people contesting in elections.

Having put these issues into perspective, I now found it difficult to understand anyone that will seek to suggest that Dr Rashid Pelpuo ousted MA Seidu when the facts as I just stated never categorically or inferencially point to any evidence in that respect. Neither was it shown that party executives and elders ever restrained M.A from contesting the 2004 parliamentary election in Wa Central constituency nor MA's declaration that he would contest the Wa West Seat cannot be interpreted to mean M.A was ousted from Wa Central by Rashid Pelpuo or any other person. Even in the event where consensus should have prevailed and allow Rashid Pelpuo to go uopposed, Hudu Mogtari still found legal reason to defeat that moral process.

Clearly, it is fair to conclude that this cabal of miscreants either misrepresented the "oust" and thereby linguistically abused the word; or they were innocently misformed that came out to the public with a half baked truths and therefore needing our assistance.

It's interesting to note that this marks 20 years of rivalry (2003-2023) built on truth and ill motive. And Inshallah, Truth shall stand again!

Sen. Suleman Ikyei

[email protected]
Cleopatra, queen of Egypt in the years 51-30 BC, is back in the news thanks to a controversial docudrama series on Netflix called Queen Cleopatra . Much debate has raged about her ethnicity. The queen was of Greek ancestry. In the Netflix series she's played by a black actress. The fuss has provided an opportunity to look at her role in history and how she has been portrayed over time. Historian Toby Wilkinson is an Egyptologist and author of the award-winning book The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: the History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra. We asked him to shed some light on the past.

Who was Cleopatra and why is she so important?

In a very real sense, the reign of Cleopatra marks the final flourishing of ancient Egyptian culture .

Cleopatra  or Cleopatra VII to be precise: there were six earlier queens with the same name  was the last monarch of the Ptolemaic dynasty , a family of Macedonian Greek origin which ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC until the country's conquest and occupation by Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) in 30 BC.

During her reign of 21 years, at a time when other states in the eastern Mediterranean were being assimilated by the growing power of Rome, Cleopatra managed to preserve Egyptian independence through her astute diplomacy, strategic leadership and personal charisma. She is important because of her position in history  she is the individual who connects the Hellenistic Age of Alexander's successors and the Roman Empire that followed it  and her legendary status since her death. When Cleopatra died, so did ancient Egyptian civilisation as a vibrant, living culture.

What do you make of the controversy over her ethnicity?

It tells us more about the preoccupations of our own time than about what was considered important in Cleopatra's age. According to my knowledge of ancient Egyptian custom, skin colour was much less important than culture: if you lived like an Egyptian, adopting Egyptian cultural practices, then you were considered an Egyptian, whatever your ethnic background. There is no evidence that Cleopatra's ethnicity was a matter of debate or interest during her own lifetime. She came from a long line of Greek-speaking kings, but her family had lived in Egypt for 300 years.

There is some doubt about the identity of Cleopatra's mother. But centuries of royal precedent suggest she too would have been of Macedonian Greek descent.

Because of Cleopatra's remarkable achievements during her lifetime and her lasting reputation down the ages, it is understandable that different groups want to claim her as their own. Cleopatra belongs to us all.

Why do you think her looks have been foregrounded?

If we look at the images of Cleopatra created during her own lifetime  in statuary, on temple walls, and on coins  she does not necessarily conform to modern ideals of beauty. An ancient carving of Cleopatra. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

For example, she is often depicted with a long, aquiline nose and a pointed chin. But because Cleopatra evidently charmed two of the strongest military leaders of her day  the Romans Julius Caesar and Mark Antony  we project onto her our own cultural preconceptions about female influence, and assume she must have been physically attractive.

However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and history teaches us that power is a strong aphrodisiac. Her attractiveness to Caesar and Antony would have stemmed as much from her position of power, ruling over the wealthiest country in the Mediterranean, as from any personal qualities. Whether Cleopatra was beautiful or not in modern terms, she was an accomplished ruler and skilful politician, and her contemporaries clearly recognised her abilities.

What about her brain? What did she achieve in her time?

Cleopatra was intelligent, shrewd and strategic. She was a woman ruler in a world dominated by strong men. She forcefully asserted her right to rule, dispensing with her two brothers when they undermined or tried to thwart her objectives. Both ended up dead.

Her strategic liaisons with Caesar and then Antony were carefully calculated to secure her own position and her country's autonomy. Her diplomatic skills enabled Egyptian independence when other states were falling to the power of Rome. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in 1963. Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

As a native Greek speaker, she was also the first of her dynasty to learn to speak Egyptian, so that she could communicate with her subjects in their own language. This was highly unusual at the time, given the differences and difficulties of the language. It marks Cleopatra as a progressive thinker and able linguist.

Her leadership skills also enabled her to avert famine in Egypt when other lands in the eastern Mediterranean suffered from starvation. Last but not least, she was comfortable operating across cultures: she promoted ancient Egyptian civilisation, founding new temples and honouring the traditional deities, while also maintaining Egypt's position as the leading nation of the Greek-speaking Hellenistic world.

Why do you think she still fascinates people?

Even in her own time, Cleopatra was a source of fascination  as a woman ruler in a man's world. The Romans found her exotic, intriguing and controversial; and the writings of Roman historians and commentators ensured Cleopatra's posthumous reputation. Her entanglement with Rome, especially her infamous love affairs with Caesar and Antony, scandalised contemporary Roman society and have fascinated subsequent generations.

The exact nature of these relationships  were they based on true love or political necessity, and what the power dynamic between Cleopatra and her lovers was  has inspired writers throughout history, from British playwright William Shakespeare to Hollywood .

Read more: Queen Cleopatra: experts save this poorly scripted Netflix docuseries

Today, her example of female empowerment and independence of thought resonates with contemporary concerns. Although Cleopatra's name is famous, we actually know very little about her real character. This allows every age to project its hopes, fears and aspirations onto her.

Queen Cleopatra streams on Netflix from 10 May

Toby Wilkinson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Toby Wilkinson, Fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge
Heavy fighting in Sudan has displaced 700,000 people within the country since the middle of April, the United Nations said on Tuesday, adding the figure had doubled in a week.

Sudan was thrown into chaos when fighting broke out on 15 April between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). At least 750 people have died and thousands injured.

"There are now more than 700,000 internally displaced by the fighting which began on April 15," Paul Dillon, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration said.

"Last Tuesday, the figure stood at 340,000," he added.

Even before the beginning of the fighting, 3.7 million people were registered as internally displaced in Sudan, added Dillon.

Another 150,000 people have fled the country since the beginning of the conflict, according to numbers released by the UN refugee agency on Monday.

"Many IDPs are sheltering with relatives, while others are gathering in schools, mosques and public buildings," said Dillon.

He said the IOM was "conscious of the enormous pressures" placed on host communities "already suffering from the effects of more than three weeks of fighting".

The conflict has seen aid workers killed, health facilities attacked and aid convoys looted. The UN projects that the number of "acutely food insecure people" in Sudan could increase by between two and 2.5 million if the war is prolonged.

Mediation

Meanwhile, the latest truce talks in Saudi Arabia yielded no progress, with a Saudi diplomat saying both sides consider themselves "capable of winning the battle".

Saudi Arabia has assumed a major role in evacuations from Sudan, dispatching naval and commercial vessels to bring thousands of civilians across the Red Sea from the Sudanese coastal city of Port Sudan.

The Jeddah talks, which are set to continue "in the following days", aim to reach "an effective short-term halt" to the fighting, facilitating aid delivery and restoring basic services, the Saudi foreign ministry said.

Mediation efforts have multiplied elsewhere.

The African Union  which suspended Sudan following a coup in 2021  and East African regional bloc IGAD are pushing for discussions mediated by South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.

Dafaallah al-Haj, the envoy of Sudanese army chief Burhan, met with Kiir in South Sudan's capital Juba on Monday.

Haj later told reporters that, "Our response to the initiative of Saudi Arabia and the United States doesn't exclude the role of IGAD" and Kiir.

Haj added that if the RSF "rebels put down their arms, we will pardon them."

(with AFP)
Even though the repatriation of Rohingyas has made no substantial progress in the last five years, a delegation of Rohingya refugees traveled to Myanmar on Friday to see new facilities erected in preparation for the resurrection of the long-stalled plan. Officials have expressed optimism that repatriations will resume later this month.

Over one million Rohingya are currently residing in the worlds largest refugee camp in Bangladesh, and the vast majority of them fled a 2017 military offensive in Myanmar that is currently under investigation by the United Nations for genocide. Repatriation of Rohingya refugees is currently the main concern for Bangladesh and there have been difficulties with overpopulation, instability, and violence in the refugee camps.

When it comes to helping the Rohingya, Bangladesh has already gone above and above. Bangladesh has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. As a result, Bangladesh is not required by law to house any refugees on the territory of the country. However, for humanitarian reasons, Bangladesh has provided Rohingyas with shelter.

Previous futile attempts to repatriate the refugees

In January 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the Physical Arrangement Agreement. In accordance with its terms, Myanmar was supposed to make all necessary preparations for their return, and from the date the repatriation begins, they would finish it within two years. Since then, unfortunately, little progress has been made, and the United Nations has repeatedly warned that conditions are not suitable for their repatriation.

Following the widespread exodus of Rohingya from Myanmars Rakhine state to Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar in 2017, two unsuccessful repatriation attempts were made in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In both instances, the Rohingya refused to return to their homeland out of fear of further persecution and a hostile resettlement environment. With the military takeover of Myanmar in 2021, the junta liable for mass murders and genocide against the Rohingya was consolidating its power, uninterested in resolving the crisis despite Bangladesh and other allies efforts and initiatives.

Why is the repatriation stalling?

The primary causes of the impasse in the repatriation process are Myanmars reluctance, the pandemic, and the military coup in Myanmar. In June of last year, the Rohingya staged a massive demonstration and expressed their desire to return home. The primary obstacle lies in figuring out how they are going to return.

The growing threats

In order to establish 34 settlements in the Ukhia and Teknaf region, Bangladesh had to endure enormous ecological damage. There are now over 12 million Rohingya residing there. Every year, there are 35 thousand births. Once-forested land covering 4,500 acres has been completely destroyed. In addition, funding for Rohingya refugees in 2022 has decreased substantially compared to the two previous years, which has alarmed humanitarian organizations and the Bangladeshi government.

The situation in the Rohingya refugee settlements is deteriorating because Western countries have shifted their focus to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Multiple global crises, such as the Covid pandemic, the Afghanistan crisis, and lately the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have exacerbated and exacerbated the condition. In 2022, only 43% of the required amount of USD 881 million under the Joint Response Plan has been funded, according to reports. In 2021, 72 percent of the required USD 943 million was disbursed.

The sudden appearance of pilot project by Junta government

On Friday, May 5, 2023, approximately 20 Rohingyas and seven Bangladeshi officials, including a border patrol officer, were sent to visit the two model villages constructed for the pilot return project. They will see the various facilities created for the purpose of repatriation to Myanmar, said Deputy Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mohammed Khalid Hossain.

According to Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, the new facilities for returning refugees include a market, hospital, and reception center.

Officials anticipate that the repatriations will commence later this month, prior to the annual monsoon season. Previously, a list of more than 880,000 Rohingyas was sent to Myanmar, where the identities of approximately 70,000 were verified by them. As previously stated, approximately 1,100 individuals were identified in the initial phase as a pilot initiative for their return. Later, Myanmar objected to the inclusion of 429 individuals on the list.

What is the impact of the pilot project?

How beneficial would the pilot repatriation be for Bangladesh and the Rohingya people? The answer could be positive. The program may be viewed as the beginning of a long-overdue repatriation, which may inspire greater repatriation in the future. Bangladesh has a severe dilemma regarding how to handle this refugee crisis for years to come, including questions of national security, funding, administration, and the treatment of refugees and host populations. Due to the Ukraine conflict, the Rohingya humanitarian crisis has lost its urgency to the international community already.

The pilot repatriation project offered by Myanmar may pave the way for the early repatriation of 1.1 million Rohingya refugees.

We can consider the Rohingya pilot project as the beginning of the long-overdue repatriation, which might inspire more people to return Myanmar from Bangladesh in the future. Rohingyas should go back to their homeland Myanmar now as the whole population cannot spend years in another country in refuge from another situation. Rohingyas have the right to go back to their own nation, their own territory, and their own homes -- where they can exercise all of their civil rights to strive toward constructing a better life and future for themselves and their offspring. The Rohingya cannot consistently receive food, shelter, and medical care due to our limited economic capabilities.

It is important to note that aid for the Rohingya is decreasing daily. The current Ukraine conflict has the entire world on edge. Although the world community has lost sight of the Rohingya humanitarian issue as a result of the war in Ukraine. Bangladesh's government and the majority of its citizens share the Rohingya's humanitarian concerns. We cannot, however, provide refuge for this enormous population for very long. Although our nation is small, it has a sizable population. In the Rohingya camps, extortion, murder, rape, and the sale of arms have all been documented. Internal anarchy is growing. The decision to provide asylum to the Rohingya was an act of humanitarianism. The international community now has the duty to return them.

The discussion of a "conducive environment" is politically biased. The Junta is ensuring their security when it repatriates them. In a nutshell, the repatriation plan will at least somewhat lessen Bangladesh's burden. The experimental project will improve relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The international community shouldn't oppose it; instead, they should go forward and actively participate in ensuring the prompt return of the remaining refugees. Myanmar must ensure that the return of Rohingya Muslims is continuous, dignified, and sustainable.Myanmar needs to have goodwill in order to interact favourably with Bangladesh. The Rohingya situation needs to be resolved successfully and permanently, according to the entire globe. For the Rohingya people to return from Bangladesh to Myanmar with safety and dignity, a solution to the Rohingya problem is necessary.

Harunur Rasid is a London-based Bangladeshi expatriate who is a Bangladesh and Myanmar affairs observer, analyst, and researcher.
A heavy rainstorm that hit Zanlerigu and other communities in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, has destroyed economic trees and ripped off the roofs of some houses.

The trees, including Shea, Dawadawa and Baobab among others had their branches destroyed and some completely uprooted.

At the Gane community for instance, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) could count more than 10 Shea trees that were completely uprooted.

Pelungu, Gundork, Yekote and parts of the Logre communities had similar experience.

Acacia and other trees were not spared as the Zanlerigu Junior High School had two of its trees completely uprooted and the branches of others destroyed.

Many locals, especially the women, rely heavily on these economic trees to generate income to support their families through the sale of Shea nuts, dawadawa and the leaves and fruits of the Baobab.

According to accounts by some inhabitants, the loss of some of the trees threatened their livelihood as they depended on them for food and income.

Mrs Yenmah Bugbire, a resident, while expressing her disquiet over the occurrence, highlighted its impact on women.

Women rely on these trees heavily as our source of income and any destruction of these trees has a direct impact on us even if it has to do with one single Shea tree because one Shea tree can produce bags of Shea nuts and we only hope this disaster will not repeat itself.

Although it may have appeared to be a natural disaster, many locals believed the devastation had to do with climate change engineered by the activities of man.

Mr Mba Kolog, a 53-year-old farmer said there have been instances, where we lost trees through rainstorm in this community but not to this extent, such that one could count up to 10 trees in just one locality and this exposes how we have destroyed our vegetation cover.

Deforestation is what has paved way for this kind of storm, and it may just be a tip of the iceberg if we don't stop destroying the Nangodi and Sakoti forest which otherwise could have minimized these kinds of disasters, he added

Mr Yamga Zure, a resident, noted that the continuous cutting down of trees for firewood, charcoal and for building purposes contributed to the storm.

The cause of this rainstorm typically has to do with our activities of cutting down trees for our parochial interest without planting. Our neighbourhood is gradually becoming like a desert and if care is not taken the worst will happen to us because the trees available can't contain the wind any longer, he said.

GNA
Xem them

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Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
There was disaster as the Word in Action Church in Old Bortianor collapsed today.

Some seven construction workers who were trapped under the collapsed church building have been rescued.

Emergency services, including the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service, were quickly dispatched to the scene to assist with the rescue efforts.

As of now, it is unclear how many people were inside the building when it collapsed, and the number of casualties is yet to be confirmed.

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) says it has brought its search to an end.

They are yet to identify the cause of the collapse, Wonder Matthew, deputy NADMO director for Ga South told the media.

He said, For now, we cannot do any assessment now. Engineers are now trying to bring their assessment but what we know now is that seven persons have been injured and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The collapse of the building has come as a shock to many in the community, who have now rallied together at the main entrance of the premises.
Former President John Dramani Mahama

09.05.2023 LISTEN

Former President John Mahama has warned members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against divisive tactics that could undermine party unity ahead of the 2024 elections.

Speaking during a campaign tour of the Northern Region, Mahama expressed optimism that the NDC can overcome its challenges and regain power if members stay united.

He dismissed conspiracy theories of rifts between himself and other Northern Regional stalwarts such as Haruna Iddrisu, who he described as his "younger brothers."

Mahama said, "I know some people like conspiracy theories. This one doesn't like this one, this and this one is quarrelling, count me out. I have no enemies in the Northern region, all of them are my younger brothers."

He urged party members to shun those "hiding and recording tapes and insulting everybody", saying such tactics only seek to divide the NDC rather than unite it.

Mahama vowed that he and Northern region leaders like Haruna Iddrisu will "work together, win the election 2024 and we are going to put Ghana back on its feet."

The former president's warning comes as the NDC prepares for its presidential primaries on May 13 where he will face competition from Kojo Bonsu and Dr Kwabena Duffuor.

Mahama emphasized that unity will be key for the NDC to successfully renew its mandate and address Ghana's challenges when elected into office again.

Watch the former President in the video below:
09.05.2023 LISTEN

John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer hopeful of the opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of manipulating the judiciary to its advantage.

In a recent speech during his tour in the Northern Region, Mr Mahama stated that the NPP has manipulated the judiciary and managed to injunct the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Honourable James Gyakye Quayson.

He described as "gross injustice and an affront to our democracy."

Mr Mahama stated, The people of Assin North elected a person to represent them in Parliament. This government has manipulated the judiciary in such a way that theyve injuncted the MP for Assin North. S even though hes an elected member, he cannot perform the duties of an MP. That is a gross injustice and it's an affront to our democracy.

The Supreme Court ordered James Gyakye Quayson, to stop holding himself as an MP until the determination of a suit challenging the constitutionality of his election.

In a 5-2 majority decision Wednesday [April 13, 2022], the apex court ordered Mr Quayson to abstain from any Parliamentary business and also refrain from engaging in activities pertaining to an MP.

In July 2021, Mr Ankomah-Nimfah won a judgment at the Cape Coast High Court nullifying Mr Quaysons election on the basis that the MP held Canadian citizenship at the time he filed to contest the seat.

He then went to Supreme Court in January, this year for interpretation of Article 94 (2) (a), the same constitutional provision the High Court used to nullify Mr Quaysons election.

His basis for going to the apex court was that despite the judgment by the High Court, Mr Quayson still continued to parade himself as an MP.
At the end of the project, the Krutown car station in Prestea will boast of double paved areas, area lighting and a befitting waiting area for passengers.

Currently, the station which has vehicles that are bound for Bogoso, Tarkwa, Takoradi, Kumasi and other communities in the Prestea HuniValley Municipality is full of potholes filled with stagnant waters.

According to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the area, there has not been any major plan to make the station a befitting one since the area was allocated to them some fourteen years ago by the then Wassa West District (now Tarkwa  Nsueam Municipality).

At a short ceremony to break ground for the start of the rehabilitation project on Friday 5th May 2023, the Member of Parliament for Prestea HuniValley Municipality Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe was optimistic the project will soon be done to relieve drivers and passengers.

He further stated that there are other projects ongoing in various stages across the constituency, but normally I always want a project to complete before I talk about it.

Hon. Cudjoe said, after the completion of the lorry park, the beauty of the place will boost the status of Prestea community.

Special Guest for the occasion, the Divisional Chief of Himan, Nana Nteboa Pra IV, commended the Member of Parliament for the move and pledged his support on behalf of the community to see the project done to the glory of Krutown and Prestea as a whole.

He asked the MP to continue focusing on issues that pertain to the development of the constituency, especially Bogoso Prestea Road, to bring some solutions.

Thanking the Hon. Member for coming to their rescue, Chairman for Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) Nana Ato said, several letters to the municipal authorities to put the station in good shape appeared to have fallen on deaf ears. So, for Hon. Cudjoe to come to their aid to construct the place brings good news to them.

On his part, the representative of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Mr. Peter Bronya recounted the time the station was allocated to them and how they have been craving for such development over a decade now.

Mr. Bronya stated that the action by Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe is an indication that, he is development-oriented and the GPRTU will assist to see the success of the project.

The four-face project which is expected to be completed within a month or two is costing the Member of Parliament Ghc500,000.
Senegal's opposition coalition said Tuesday it would stage rallies over a threat to bar one of its leaders, Ousmane Sonko, from presidential elections after he was convicted in a defamation case.

Sonko was on Monday handed a six-month suspended term that could jeopardise his bid for the 2024 elections.

His possible elimination would significantly alter the contest, and could also lead to violence from his supporters.

Sonko claims the judiciary is being used to sideline him from the vote.

"The people have to mobilise to support Ousmane Sonko in this fight," Khalifa Sall, one of the coalition chiefs, told a press conference on Tuesday.

He joined other heads of the Yewwi Askan Wi alliance in urging followers to turn out in force for an already-scheduled rally due this Friday, and for another protest a week later, on May 19.

Senegal is traditionally a beacon of stability in troubled West Africa, but in recent years has been buffeted by turbulence that has at times turned deadly.

Sonko, 48, came third in the 2019 election against incumbent Macky Sall, and intends to stand again next year.

But his candidacy has been clouded by Monday's conviction, which saw an appeal court increase a sentence of two months suspended, handed down in March, for defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niangtou.

The court also ordered Sonko to pay 200 million CFA francs (around $330,000) in damages to Niang.

The opposition figure has not issued any public statement since Monday.

Sonko is also facing trial later this month for alleged rape and death threats over a complaint filed by an employee at a beauty salon where he went for a massage.

He says he is the victim of a government plot to scupper his candidacy.

The government has denied the accusation.

In 2021, the rape charge against him helped trigger riots that left at least 12 people dead.

The presidential party accuses Sonko of seeking to paralyse the country and of drumming up anger on the streets in a bid to escape justice.

His appointments with the justice system are often sources of tension and near-paralysis of traffic in the capital Dakar, as he usually travels to court with a procession of sympathisers.

Political tensions have also been stoked by Sall's refusal to rule out running for a third term as president, a move his opponents say would be unconstitutional.

Khalifa Sall -- the former mayor of Dakar, who is not related to the head of state -- and former minister Karim Wade, the son of an ex-president, have also seen their political careers truncated by legal cases.

Both are prominent opponents of the current president.

Dethie Fall, another Yewwi Askan Wi figure, called for a march on May 19 against a "campaign to liquidate Ousmane Sonko".

He said that not to act "would be to let democracy be transformed into a monarchy and dictatorship by President Macky Sall, who has only one idea in mind, the third mandate".

The news of Sonko's conviction caused sporadic unrest on Monday in Dakar and elsewhere.

However, opposition calls for demonstrations have had a limited response in recent months.

Authorities have banned numerous rallies and deployed significant police resources.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has stressed that it will continue to fight alongside the Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) for all workers illegally dismissed by Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Ltd to be reinstated.

TUC on Tuesday, May 9, joined GMWU to stage a demonstration against the Chinese-owned company after several attempts to dialogue to have the three sacked workers reinstated failed to yield results.

The workers were sacked after they were elected union leaders according to Ghana Mineworkers' union.

Speaking before the protest started today, TUC Secretary General Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah indicated that his outfit will not stop fighting until the management of Sunon Asogli backtracks on the sacking of the workers.

He argued that although they have nothing against foreign investors, Sunon Asogli should be made to understand that their $750 million-dollar investment cannot buy the rights of Ghanaian workers.

We workers in Ghana are not against any investor coming to Ghana but Sunon Asoglis 750 million dollars investment cannot buy our rights. So today, we are demonstrating to the whole world that unions in this country will exercise their rights.

We will not allow our three colleagues to be dismissed. Our demand is very simple and we have made it very clear to the employer that our three colleagues must be reinstated. We will fight and fight and fight until they are reinstated, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah said.

Speaking to Citi News this evening, General Secretary of the GMWU, Abdul-Moomin Gbana said the union will take other steps after todays demonstration until the three dismissed workers of Sunon Asogli are reinstated.

There are a series of actions that we have lined up. I may not be able to disclose them at the moment but I can assure you that this fight is not over. We will not retreat and we will not surrender, Abdul-Moomin Gbana stressed.
Rev. Patrick Biney, an associate overseer of Crystal Grace Chapel International, urged Christians not to see defeat as a failure but rather as an opportunity for God to reposition them for greater glory.

Preaching on the theme "Enlarging to Fulfill," on Sunday, May 7 in his church auditorium at Sarpeiman, Accra, Rev. Biney said God gives man power to manage his creation and a person is only fulfilled when he is able to maximize his potential before death.

Aligning with the church's theme for the year "Our Year of Fulfillment," Rev. Biney assured the congregation that "no matter how small it is, it will surely come to fulfillment because things are not yet over for you, God will reposition you."

He explained that though God does miracles, he is not a magician. "Magicians dont have principles but miracles are done on principles," he said. "God does his things through the process of seed and germination."

Quoting [Job 8:7], Rev. Biney said, "Though your beginning is small, your latter shall be greater."

He added that God does not despise small beginnings, referencing [Zechariah 4:10].

Rev. Biney warned the congregation against looking down on others, saying "whoever despises you will turn around and say your God is God.

"[Job 36:5] God is mighty but despises no one," he added.

He prophesied that "despite your suffering when you finally shoot up, you are not going down soon. Your end will justify your suffering."

Rev. Biney urged Christians not to give up, referencing [Psalm 92:13], [Genesis 26:13-14], [1 Corinthians 3:5] and [1 Chronicles 4:9-10].

Rev. Biney was optimistic that God "will make you fulfilled as he promised."

"He doesn't neglect you," the pastor assured.
Alpha Family Trust purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 3,675 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $403,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position 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 raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,138,862 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $7,173,676,000 after purchasing an additional 351,136 shares in the last quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC grew its holdings 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 valued at $1,518,117,000 after purchasing an additional 316,416 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in 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 buying an additional 218,683 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 8.6% during 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 in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.93% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on ABT. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $132.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. SVB Leerink boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $122.37.

Insider Activity

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total value of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $757,746,582.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . 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 sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,222,103.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 60,197 shares of company stock worth $6,659,607. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Abbott Laboratories stock traded down $0.32 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $110.58. 1,339,316 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,207,857. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $93.25 and a 12 month high of $118.23. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The firm has a market cap of $192.29 billion, a PE ratio of 33.43, a PEG ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.67.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.36%. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.73 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 62.01%.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

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Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products.

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Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO.B  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $467.95 and last traded at $467.95, with a volume of 198 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $467.95.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, TheStreet upgraded Bio-Rad Laboratories from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th.

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Bio-Rad Laboratories Price Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average of $446.42 and a 200 day moving average of $415.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 4.29 and a current ratio of 5.55.

About Bio-Rad Laboratories

Bio-Rad Laboratories ( NYSE:BIO.B Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $676.84 million for the quarter. Bio-Rad Laboratories had a negative net margin of 7.01% and a positive return on equity of 4.19%.

(Get Rating)

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc manufactures, and distributes life science research and clinical diagnostic products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company operates through Life Science and Clinical Diagnostics segments. The Life Science segment develops, manufactures, and markets a range of reagents, apparatus, and laboratory instruments that are used in research techniques, biopharmaceutical production processes, and food testing regimes.

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EngageSmart (NYSE:ESMT  Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Citigroup from $26.00 to $20.00 in a report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on ESMT. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of EngageSmart in a report on Monday, March 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on EngageSmart from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 23rd. KeyCorp lifted their price target on EngageSmart from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of EngageSmart from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded shares of EngageSmart from a c- rating to a d rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $25.88.

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EngageSmart Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of NYSE:ESMT opened at $16.37 on Friday. EngageSmart has a twelve month low of $15.01 and a twelve month high of $22.65. The companys 50 day moving average is $18.06 and its 200 day moving average is $18.36. The company has a market cap of $2.72 billion, a PE ratio of 125.93 and a beta of 0.45.

Insider Buying and Selling at EngageSmart

EngageSmart ( NYSE:ESMT Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $83.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $81.79 million. EngageSmart had a net margin of 6.97% and a return on equity of 3.25%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 36.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.01 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that EngageSmart will post 0.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Diego A. Rodriguez sold 3,703 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.65, for a total value of $69,060.95. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $71,858.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Robert Paul Bennett sold 14,000 shares of EngageSmart stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.25, for a total transaction of $241,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 838,925 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,471,456.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Diego A. Rodriguez sold 3,703 shares of EngageSmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.65, for a total transaction of $69,060.95. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,853 shares in the company, valued at $71,858.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,284,409 shares of company stock valued at $23,422,353 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 2.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EngageSmart

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in EngageSmart during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new position in EngageSmart during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in EngageSmart during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Sandia Investment Management LP purchased a new position in EngageSmart during the 3rd quarter worth $52,000. Finally, Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI grew its position in EngageSmart by 131.0% during the 1st quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 2,749 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 1,559 shares during the last quarter. 90.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About EngageSmart

(Get Rating)

EngageSmart, Inc provides Software-as-a-Service based customer engagement software and integrated payment solutions. It operates through two segments, Enterprise Solutions and SMB (small and medium sized business) Solutions. The company offers SimplePractice, an end-to-end practice management and electronic health record platform for health and wellness professionals to manage their practices; and InvoiceCloud, an electronic bill presentment and payment solution that helps government, utility, and financial services customers to digitize billing, client communications, and collections.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Friday.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Bank of America cut shares of Citizens Financial Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $37.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $49.00 to $40.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $48.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $48.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $43.78.

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Citizens Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE CFG opened at $25.76 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.21, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.32. Citizens Financial Group has a twelve month low of $23.37 and a twelve month high of $44.82. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $31.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Citizens Financial Group Dividend Announcement

Citizens Financial Group ( NYSE:CFG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The bank reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $2.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 11.12% and a net margin of 21.12%. The businesss revenue was up 29.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Citizens Financial Group will post 4.53 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 3rd will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 2nd. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.52%. Citizens Financial Groups dividend payout ratio is 40.48%.

Citizens Financial Group declared that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Friday, February 17th that permits the company to buyback $1.15 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the bank to repurchase up to 5.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Shivan S. Subramaniam purchased 3,300 shares of Citizens Financial Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $28.79 per share, for a total transaction of $95,007.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 66,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,907,711.77. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Shivan S. Subramaniam purchased 3,300 shares of Citizens Financial Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $28.79 per share, for a total transaction of $95,007.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 66,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,907,711.77. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Kevin Cummings sold 90,689 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.00, for a total transaction of $3,899,627.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 455,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,598,927. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Citizens Financial Group

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CFG. Heritage Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 646 shares of the banks stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 155.2% during the 1st quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 809 shares of the banks stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 492 shares during the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 1,656.0% during the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 878 shares of the banks stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 828 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 483.3% during the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 875 shares of the banks stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 725 shares during the last quarter. 88.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Citizens Financial Group

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Citizens Financial Group, Inc engages in the provision of commercial banking services. It operates through the Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking segments. The Consumer Banking segment includes deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending, student loans, auto financing, credit cards, business loans, and wealth management and investment services.

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Commerzbank AG (OTCMKTS:CRZBY  Get Rating) traded up 0.8% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $10.94 and last traded at $10.88. 35,407 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 7% from the average session volume of 33,075 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.79.

Commerzbank Stock Up 0.8 %

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $11.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.99.

Commerzbank Company Profile

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Commerzbank AG engages in the provision of commercial banking services. It operates through the following business segments: Private and Small-Businesses Customers, Corporate Clients, and Others & Consolidation. The Private and Small-Businesses Customers segment is comprised of the universal bank services for private and small-business customers, online securities transactions, and asset management.

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Ensign Energy Services (TSE:ESI  Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by stock analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from C$4.50 to C$4.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential upside of 89.57% from the stocks previous close.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Ensign Energy Services from C$5.00 to C$4.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$4.50 to C$3.70 in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$3.50 to C$3.00 in a report on Tuesday. CIBC lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$5.00 to C$4.25 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, ATB Capital lowered their price target on Ensign Energy Services from C$9.00 to C$8.50 in a report on Monday, April 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$4.90.

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Ensign Energy Services Trading Down 6.6 %

TSE ESI traded down C$0.15 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting C$2.11. 1,269,595 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 389,169. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$3.05 and a 200 day moving average price of C$3.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 113.04. Ensign Energy Services has a 52 week low of C$1.99 and a 52 week high of C$5.00. The stock has a market cap of C$388.11 million, a PE ratio of 42.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 202.94 and a beta of 3.12.

Ensign Energy Services Company Profile

Ensign Energy Services ( TSE:ESI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 3rd. The company reported C$0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.08 by C($0.01). Ensign Energy Services had a return on equity of 0.68% and a net margin of 0.51%. The company had revenue of C$467.98 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$460.40 million. Analysts forecast that Ensign Energy Services will post 0.4278523 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Rating)

Ensign Energy Services Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and services.

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Equinox Gold (CVE:EQX  Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Desjardins from C$6.50 to C$6.25 in a research note published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports.

A number of other research firms have also commented on EQX. National Bank Financial raised their price target on Equinox Gold from C$7.25 to C$9.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$5.75 to C$7.50 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. National Bankshares increased their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.00 to C$7.25 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.50 to C$7.50 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$8.00 to C$7.50 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd.

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Equinox Gold Price Performance

Shares of CVE EQX opened at C$7.88 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$7.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$7.88. Equinox Gold has a 1-year low of C$4.25 and a 1-year high of C$8.90. The firm has a market cap of C$892.46 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -43.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.28.

Insider Buying and Selling at Equinox Gold

Equinox Gold Company Profile

In other Equinox Gold news, Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of Equinox Gold stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$7.03, for a total transaction of C$44,647.53. In other news, Senior Officer Sebastian Damici sold 5,216 shares of Equinox Gold stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$5.15, for a total transaction of C$26,862.40. Also, Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of Equinox Gold stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$7.03, for a total transaction of C$44,647.53.

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Equinox Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral deposits. The company's principal properties include the Aurizona project covering a total land package of approximately 223,160 hectares located in Maranhao State, Brazil; and the Castle Mountain property situated in California, the United States.

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Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG  Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.85-$1.90 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.87. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Essential Utilities also updated its FY23 guidance to $1.85-1.90 EPS.

Essential Utilities Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of WTRG traded down $0.23 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $42.84. 1,349,873 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,168,693. Essential Utilities has a fifty-two week low of $38.50 and a fifty-two week high of $52.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The business has a 50-day moving average of $42.93 and a 200-day moving average of $45.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.79.

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Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $705.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $578.00 million. Essential Utilities had a return on equity of 8.73% and a net margin of 20.33%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 31.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.44 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Essential Utilities will post 1.86 EPS for the current year.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a $0.287 dividend. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Essential Utilitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.97%.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on WTRG shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Essential Utilities from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $53.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $54.00 target price on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $54.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.38.

Insider Activity at Essential Utilities

In related news, CEO Chris Franklin purchased 37,245 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $40.70 per share, with a total value of $1,515,871.50. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 37,245 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,515,871.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Utilities

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WTRG. 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 1st quarter worth approximately $38,000. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Essential Utilities by 47.0% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,176 shares of the companys stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the period. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Essential Utilities by 59.8% during the 4th quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,819 shares of the companys stock worth $87,000 after acquiring an additional 681 shares during the period. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its stake in Essential Utilities by 14.0% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 2,403 shares of the companys stock worth $115,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Essential Utilities during the 4th quarter worth approximately $205,000. Institutional investors own 69.96% of the companys stock.

Essential Utilities Company Profile

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Essential Utilities, Inc is a holding company, which engages in providing water, wastewater and natural gas services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments. The Regulated Water segment includes water and wastewater regulated utility companies.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI  Get Rating) in a research report released on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Flexible Solutions International Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of Flexible Solutions International stock opened at $2.83 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.05 and a beta of 1.74. Flexible Solutions International has a fifty-two week low of $1.51 and a fifty-two week high of $3.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 3.01 and a quick ratio of 1.61.

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About Flexible Solutions International

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Flexible Solutions International, Inc is an environmental technology company engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of products that save water and energy. It operates through the following segments: Energy and Water Conservation Products and Biodegradable Polymers. The Energy and Water Conservation Products segment consists of a liquid swimming pool blanket which saves energy and water by inhibiting evaporation from the pool surface, and a food-safe powdered form of the active ingredient within the liquid blanket.

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP  Get Rating) Director Ted Pound sold 2,770 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.50, for a total value of $84,485.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 46,541 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,419,500.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

CenterPoint Energy Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of CNP traded down $0.04 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $30.21. The company had a trading volume of 3,617,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,682,347. The stock has a market cap of $19.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.01, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.88. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $25.03 and a 52 week high of $33.50. The companys 50 day moving average price is $29.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65.

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CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 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 company had revenue of $2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.79 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.47 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that CenterPoint Energy, Inc. will post 1.49 EPS for the current year.

CenterPoint Energy Dividend Announcement

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CenterPoint Energy

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. CenterPoint Energys payout ratio is currently 60.32%.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in CenterPoint Energy by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 416,071 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $11,725,000 after purchasing an additional 32,603 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its holdings in CenterPoint Energy by 30.2% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,436,671 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $40,485,000 after buying an additional 333,476 shares in the last quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. increased its position in CenterPoint Energy by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 51,689 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,550,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,659 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $187,000 after acquiring an additional 456 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. boosted its position in CenterPoint Energy by 12.9% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 2,788,024 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $78,567,000 after acquiring an additional 318,562 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.28% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. 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. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $33.00 target price on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Guggenheim downgraded shares of CenterPoint Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $31.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CenterPoint Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $32.75.

About CenterPoint Energy

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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.

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Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Rating) VP John Teeruk Kochavatr sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.12, for a total transaction of $153,360.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 15,489 shares in the company, valued at approximately $791,797.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Portland General Electric Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:POR traded down $0.49 on Tuesday, reaching $50.71. The companys stock had a trading volume of 705,516 shares, compared to its average volume of 775,509. Portland General Electric has a 52-week low of $41.58 and a 52-week high of $56.37. The company has a market cap of $4.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.75, a PEG ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $48.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.02.

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Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.11. Portland General Electric had a net margin of 8.88% and a return on equity of 9.06%. The business had revenue of $687.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $624.60 million. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Portland General Electric will post 2.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Portland General Electric Increases Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Portland General Electric

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 26th will be issued a $0.475 dividend. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.75%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 23rd. This is a positive change from Portland General Electrics previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.30%.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 308.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 834 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 630 shares in the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the 1st quarter valued at about $39,000. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Portland General Electric by 150.9% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 946 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 569 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Portland General Electric by 475.1% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 995 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 822 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,000. Institutional investors own 97.03% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on POR. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Portland General Electric from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Monday. They set an overweight rating and a $56.00 price objective on the stock. Credit Suisse Group increased their price objective on shares of Portland General Electric from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Portland General Electric from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Portland General Electric currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $50.75.

About Portland General Electric

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Portland General Electric Co engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. The firm also sells electricity and natural gas in the wholesale market to utilities, brokers, and power marketers. It also serves residential, commercial and non-residential customers.

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Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ  Get Rating) (NYSE:CNQ) had its price target lowered by National Bankshares from C$110.00 to C$105.00 in a research note released on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. National Bankshares currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

CNQ has been the subject of a number of other reports. Raymond James lowered their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$87.00 to C$85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$76.00 to C$82.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. National Bank Financial raised their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$100.00 to C$110.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. CSFB reduced their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$93.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$92.00 to C$94.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Natural Resources currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$91.79.

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Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

Canadian Natural Resources stock opened at C$76.43 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources has a 52-week low of C$58.75 and a 52-week high of C$87.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$77.45 and a 200-day moving average of C$77.90. The firm has a market capitalization of C$84.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.03, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.01.

Canadian Natural Resources Dividend Announcement

Canadian Natural Resources ( TSE:CNQ Get Rating ) (NYSE:CNQ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$1.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.21 by C($0.25). The business had revenue of C$9.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$9.46 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 29.12% and a net margin of 25.86%. As a group, analysts predict that Canadian Natural Resources will post 8.476386 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a $0.90 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.71%. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 37.82%.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Natural Resources

In related news, Director Stephen W. Laut sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$80.78, for a total transaction of C$403,875.00. 2.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers synthetic crude oil (SCO), light and medium crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), primary heavy crude oil, and Pelican Lake heavy crude oil.

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Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:PORBF  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $14.51 and last traded at $14.51, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $14.51.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Pola Orbis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd.

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Pola Orbis Price Performance

The businesss fifty day moving average price is $13.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.21 billion, a PE ratio of 24.59 and a beta of 0.44.

Pola Orbis Company Profile

Pola Orbis Holdings Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells cosmetics and related products in Japan and internationally. It operates through Beauty Care and Real Estate segments. The Beauty Care segment offers cosmetics; skincare products; health foods; and fashion products, such as women's underwear, women's apparel, and jewelry under the POLA, ORBIS, Jurlique, H2O PLUS, THREE, DECENCIA, Amplitude, ITRIM, FIVEISM  THREE, and FUJIMI brand names.

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Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT  Get Rating) had its price objective trimmed by Stifel Nicolaus from $93.00 to $78.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday, The Fly reports.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Planet Fitness from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Planet Fitness from $96.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Cowen increased their price target on Planet Fitness from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. DA Davidson reissued a neutral rating and set a $87.00 price target on shares of Planet Fitness in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, Raymond James raised their target price on Planet Fitness from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, February 24th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong 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 $86.67.

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Planet Fitness Stock Up 3.6 %

NYSE:PLNT opened at $72.02 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.30. Planet Fitness has a 12-month low of $54.15 and a 12-month high of $85.90. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $77.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $76.84.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness ( NYSE:PLNT Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $222.23 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $238.30 million. Planet Fitness had a negative return on equity of 68.11% and a net margin of 10.86%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.32 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Planet Fitness will post 2.2 EPS for the current year.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,723,313 shares of the companys stock valued at $502,985,000 after acquiring an additional 80,705 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,021,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,200,000 after acquiring an additional 190,817 shares in the last quarter. Amundi boosted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,520,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $212,257,000 after acquiring an additional 288,762 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,182,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,479,000 after acquiring an additional 164,178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bares Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Bares Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,063,152 shares of the companys stock valued at $162,576,000 after acquiring an additional 48,955 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.56% of the companys stock.

Planet Fitness Company Profile

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Planet Fitness, Inc engages in the operation and franchising of fitness centers. It operates through the following segments: Franchise, Corporate-Owned Stores, and Equipment. The Franchise segment includes operations related to the companys franchising business in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, and Australia.

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Taseko Mines (TSE:TKO  Get Rating) (NYSE:TGB) had its target price trimmed by Scotiabank from C$2.75 to C$2.50 in a report published on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Taseko Mines from C$2.50 to C$2.75 in a research note on Monday, February 6th. National Bankshares lowered their price objective on Taseko Mines from C$2.75 to C$2.50 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Taseko Mines from C$2.60 to C$2.90 in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Finally, TD Securities upped their price objective on Taseko Mines from C$2.50 to C$2.75 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th.

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Taseko Mines Trading Up 1.5 %

Taseko Mines stock opened at C$2.05 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$2.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$2.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 164.58. The stock has a market cap of C$591.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -22.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 2.01. Taseko Mines has a 12 month low of C$1.15 and a 12 month high of C$2.53.

About Taseko Mines

Taseko Mines ( TSE:TKO Get Rating ) (NYSE:TGB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported C$0.02 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$100.62 million during the quarter. Taseko Mines had a negative return on equity of 7.27% and a negative net margin of 6.63%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Taseko Mines will post 0.0808 EPS for the current year.

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Taseko Mines Limited, a mining company, acquires, develops, and operates mineral properties. The company explores for copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, and silver deposits. It holds 75% interest in the Gibraltar mine located in British Columbia. It also holds 100% interest in Yellowhead copper project, the Aley niobium project, and the New Prosperity gold and copper project located in British Columbia; and the Florence copper project located in Arizona.

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TELUS (TSE:T  Get Rating) (NYSE:TU) had its target price increased by BMO Capital Markets from C$32.00 to C$33.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

T has been the subject of several other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on TELUS from C$36.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Monday, February 13th. TD Securities reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$32.00 to C$31.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 10th. Cormark reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a report on Friday. Scotiabank boosted their price target on TELUS from C$30.50 to C$31.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, CIBC upgraded TELUS to a buy rating and set a C$31.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Two 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, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$31.82.

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TELUS Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of T opened at C$27.65 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$39.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.66. TELUS has a 12-month low of C$25.94 and a 12-month high of C$32.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 142.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$27.68 and a 200-day moving average price of C$27.87.

TELUS Increases Dividend

TELUS ( TSE:T Get Rating ) (NYSE:TU) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported C$0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.28 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$5.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.98 billion. TELUS had a net margin of 8.83% and a return on equity of 10.19%. Equities research analysts expect that TELUS will post 1.1201248 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a $0.364 dividend. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.27%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This is a positive change from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is currently 121.74%.

About TELUS

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TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network revenue; mobile technologies equipment sale; data revenues, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services.

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Weave Communications, Inc. (NYSE:WEAV  Get Rating) CRO Matthew C. Hyde sold 5,353 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.30, for a total value of $28,370.90. Following the transaction, the executive now owns 601,873 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,189,926.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Weave Communications Trading Up 7.7 %

WEAV stock traded up $0.42 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $5.87. The company had a trading volume of 757,347 shares, compared to its average volume of 202,053. The business has a 50-day moving average of $4.81 and a 200-day moving average of $4.81. Weave Communications, Inc. has a one year low of $2.91 and a one year high of $6.93. The stock has a market cap of $389.42 million, a PE ratio of -8.13 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

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Weave Communications (NYSE:WEAV  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported ($0.14) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by $0.04. Weave Communications had a negative return on equity of 50.16% and a negative net margin of 29.49%. The business had revenue of $37.69 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $36.40 million. Research analysts predict that Weave Communications, Inc. will post -0.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Weave Communications

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in shares of Weave Communications by 90.8% during the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,800 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 3,236 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Weave Communications by 88.2% during the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 15,975 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 7,487 shares during the period. Acuitas Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Weave Communications by 164.6% during the first quarter. Acuitas Investments LLC now owns 284,398 shares of the companys stock worth $1,413,000 after purchasing an additional 176,906 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Weave Communications by 52.8% during the first quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 18,681 shares of the companys stock worth $93,000 after purchasing an additional 6,456 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Weave Communications during the first quarter worth approximately $78,000. 63.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Several research firms have weighed in on WEAV. Raymond James upgraded Weave Communications from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $6.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $6.00 price objective on shares of Weave Communications in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd.

Weave Communications Company Profile

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Weave Communications, Inc provides a customer communications and engagement software platform in the United States and Canada. Its platform enables small and medium-sized businesses to maximize the value of their customer interactions and minimize the time and effort spent on manual or mundane tasks.

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Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of WESCO International (NYSE:WCC  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has $180.00 price target on the technology companys stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on WCC. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of WESCO International from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Oppenheimer upped their target price on WESCO International from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on WESCO International in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $215.00 target price on shares of WESCO International in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price objective on WESCO International from $165.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, WESCO International currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $190.00.

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WESCO International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE WCC opened at $129.88 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. WESCO International has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $175.00. The company has a market cap of $6.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.95. The businesss 50 day moving average is $146.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $139.26.

WESCO International Dividend Announcement

WESCO International ( NYSE:WCC Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The technology company reported $3.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.14. WESCO International had a return on equity of 21.75% and a net margin of 3.98%. The business had revenue of $5.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.45 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.63 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that WESCO International will post 17.53 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. WESCO Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 9.60%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other WESCO International news, EVP Nelson John Squires III sold 4,665 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.25, for a total transaction of $794,216.25. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 73,198 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,461,959.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Nelson John Squires III sold 4,665 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.25, for a total transaction of $794,216.25. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 73,198 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,461,959.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Diane Lazzaris sold 10,748 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.56, for a total transaction of $1,736,446.88. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 56,172 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,075,148.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 105,532 shares of company stock valued at $17,217,762. 2.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WESCO International

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of WESCO International by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 58,708 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,350,000 after buying an additional 2,486 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of WESCO International during the third quarter valued at $56,000. AXA S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of WESCO International during the third quarter worth about $2,889,000. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of WESCO International in the third quarter valued at approximately $202,000. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of WESCO International by 25.4% in the 4th quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 13,286 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,663,000 after acquiring an additional 2,690 shares during the last quarter. 94.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

WESCO International Company Profile

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WESCO International, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of electrical, industrial, communications maintenance, repair and operating, and original equipment manufacturer products. It also offers construction materials, and supply chain management and logistics services. Its product categories include general supplies, wire, cable and conduit, communications and security, electrical distribution and controls, lighting and sustainability, and automation, controls, and motors.

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As Karnataka gears up for Assembly elections on May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote an open letter to the people of the state, highlighting his party's commitment to Karnataka's growth and development. The BJP is aiming to break a 38-year-old anti-incumbency factor and win a second consecutive term. In the open letter, Modi thanked the people of Karnataka for their love and affection and expressed his desire to see Karnataka lead the movement towards a developed India. He said that Karnataka has the potential to become a $1 trillion economy and play a crucial role in helping India reach its goal of becoming one of the top three economies in the world. http://     @narendramodi   Here's PM Modi Ji's open letter to the people of Karnataka.#PoornaBahumata4BJP #BJPYeBharavase pic.twitter.com/z3d1AcsDD5  Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 9, 2023 He highlighted the BJP government's success in attracting foreign investment during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Karnataka receiving over 90,000 crore annually, compared to 30,000 crore under the previous government. PM Modi also reassured the people of Karnataka that the BJP government will continue to work towards creating next-gen urban infrastructure, modernizing transport, raising the quality of life in rural and urban areas, and creating opportunities for women and youth. As part of the BJP's campaigning in Karnataka, PM Modi held a roadshow in Bengaluru on May 6. The BJP is facing stiff competition from the Congress, led by heavyweights DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, and the JD(S) fronted by HD Kumaraswamy. The BJP has fielded 224 candidates, the Congress 223, while the JD(S) has fielded 207 candidates. Out of the 5.2 crore eligible voters in Karnataka, 9.17 lakh will be voting for the first time. Voting for the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will commence on May 10, and the counting of the votes will be done on May 13. In a separate video message, PM Modi urged the people of Karnataka to exercise their right to vote on election day to make the state "Number 1". He appealed to the voters to support the BJP's vision for development and progress, emphasizing that the dream of every citizen of Karnataka is his dream.
Karnataka Assembly Polls 2023 news highlights: Campaigning for Karnataka Assembly Polls ended yesterday evening on May 8; voting will take place tomorrow on May 10. The electioneering saw political bigwigs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and heavyweights from the Indian National Congress (Congress) hoping to turn the tide in their favour. While the Congress is banking on an anti-incumbency wave that has worked since 1985, the ruling BJP hopes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity will see them through. The prime minister was part of around 15 public meetings and roadshows over six days, giving the BJP campaign a significant push. A total of 113 seats are needed for a simple majority  a feat BJP has never achieved. In all, there are 2,613 candidates in the fray for the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections after the last date for withdrawal of nominations on May 1. According to the final list of candidates shared by the Election Commission of India (EC), 185 women candidates and one from the Others category are contesting. While 224 candidates are from the ruling BJP, the opposition Congress has fielded 223, and the Janata Dal (Secular) has fielded 207 candidates. This is being viewed as a three-way battle between the BJP, Congress and the JD(S). Counting of votes will be completed on May 13. Stay tuned for the latest news, developments and updates in the run-up to the elections!

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Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S Puri said that the committee on stalled real estate projects should expeditiously make its recommendations and all stakeholders should carry out their share of responsibilities without delay so that these projects can be completed soon and homes handed over to homebuyers who have been waiting for long. The committee on stalled real estate projects, chaired by former NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant, had met representatives of apartment owners associations, which held its second meeting on May 8 after its formation by the housing ministry on March 31 this year. Another effort that is underway is the issue of stalled real estate projects. As decided by this body, a committee has been constituted to examine the issues holistically and recommend ways to complete these stalled projects. I would recommend that this committee expeditiously make their recommendations and all stakeholders should carry out their share of responsibilities without delay so that these projects can be completed soon and homes handed over to buyers who have been waiting for a very long time, Puri said at the 4th Central Advisory Council (CAC) meeting held on May 9. The CAC was set up by the government for effective implementation of the real estate law in the country. In its meeting on May 9, it discussed issues ranging from legacy stalled projects and uniformity in rules framed by states and Union Territories (UTs) under the provisions of the Act. Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Manoj Joshi asked members to submit their suggestions to the stalled real estate projects committee. The issue of non-compliance of orders passed by Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA) was also discussed at the meeting. In this regard, the Council deliberated on the best practices followed by certain states regarding the execution of orders passed by RERA. Homebuyers body, Forum For People's Collective Efforts (FPCE), which is represented in the CAC, submitted a report on the mechanism being adopted by Gujarat RERA Authority to enforce their orders where RERA has categorically vested its Authorities with enough powers to carry out their regulatory functions, including the execution of orders for recovery on behalf of homebuyers. Gujarat RERA has decided to recover the due amounts through Mamlatdars or tehsildars, who are working on deputation in the RERA Authority and have been vested with the powers of a regular Mamlatdar by the State Revenue Department. Joshi that this is a regular practice followed by various financial institutions, state finance corporations, and industrial development corporations where revenue recovery powers are delegated to a revenue official posted in that organisation, and the means of revenue recovery becomes that much more effective. Abhay Upadhyay, President, FPCE, said at the meeting that Gujarat RERA has appointed an adjudicating officer who is a retired secretary general of Ahmedabad High Court and has been delegated powers under Section 81 of the Act so that he can deal with the execution and proceedings of RERA orders. He suggested that other authorities should also appoint a person vested with the powers of a district collector with regard to the recovery mechanism. Rajive Kumar, Chairman, Uttar Pradesh RERA, said that recovery certificates are an effective weapon with the government. In UP, RERA has been able to recover around Rs 583 crore  which is about 52 percent of the total outstanding  through district magistrates, despite a lack of liquidity at the builders end. Keeping in view the importance of speedy and effective execution of orders passed by RERA, it was decided at the CAC meeting that the housing ministry will compile the best practices in this regard and circulate the same to all the States/UTs and other stakeholders for consideration. Participants at the CAC meeting were informed that 32 states/UTs have set up real estate regulatory authorities. It was informed that Ladakh, Meghalaya and Sikkim are yet to establish any such authority, while six states/UTs (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry) are yet to establish permanent regulatory authorities. All states and UTs have notified rules under RERA, except Nagaland, which is in process to notify the rules. The participants were informed that 32 States/UTs have set up Real Estate Regulatory Authorities. Three states/UTs, namely, Ladakh, Meghalaya and Sikkim are yet to establish an Authority. Six states/UTs, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Telangana, Jammu & Kashmir and Puducherry are yet to establish permanent Authority. The participants were told that 28 states/UTs have set up Real Estate Appellate Tribunals, seven states/UTs, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are yet to establish the Tribunal, and four states, namely, Manipur, Telangana, Tripura and Uttarakhand are yet to establish a permanent Appellate Tribunal. As many as 1,02,933 real estate projects and 72,657 real estate agents are registered under RERA across the country, and 1,07,081 complaints have been settled by RERA across the country. Manoj Gaur, Chairman, Credai, said at the meeting that while RERA has helped increase homebuyers confidence, delays in projects are not always on account of the fault of the builders. He suggested that builders should also have the right to appeal before RERA if their projects are stalled on account of NGT orders, labour cell, or orders passed by the local administration. Sometimes, projects are completed but authorities deny completion certificates. RERA should be empowered to address these issues as well, he said. Development Authorities that sell plots should also qualify as developers and should be registered as one under RERA, he added.
Razorpay, a Bengaluru-based digital payments company, is moving its parent entity from the US back to India, a report in Economic Times quoted two people, who are familiar with the matter, as saying. Earlier this year, Walmart-owned online payments firm PhonePe moved its holding company from Singapore to India. They have kicked off the first stage of a multi-layered process to bring its parent entity back to India. It will take time and a good amount of funds, but the management and board are keen on it. This makes sense in a highly regulated sector like financial services, ET quoted a source who wished to remain anonymous. As a Y-combinator-backed startup, Razorpay had to domicile itself in the US in order to raise funds. Payment services are offered by Razorpay to merchants. The move comes at a time when the Indian government is making efforts to encourage local fintech companies and startups domiciled abroad to relocate to Gujarat International Finance Tech (Gift) City's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Moneycontrol could not independently verify this news development. Razorpay is in the process of "reverse flipping," according to a person with knowledge of the matter. In response to ET's quiries, Razorpay confirmed that the company had begun the process of reverse flipping from the US to India, but declined to share further details. According to another source quoted in the report, the payments firm could consider a listing in India after relocating its parent company, adding, The plan around its IPO (initial public offering) is still a bit far away, but the priority is to have the company domiciled in India. Recently, the fintech platform said it would be joining the governments e-commerce project, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). It will launch a payment reconciliation service for several network participants, which includes buyers, sellers, and logistic providers. Established in 2014, Razorpay is backed by investors like Y Combinator, GIC, Sequoia Capital India, Ribbit Capital, Matrix Partners, MasterCard, and others who have collectively invested over $740 million in the company. The company was last valued at over $7 billion.
Three Adani Group companies, including Adani Green Energy Ltd., have lost their endorsement from the worlds leading arbiter of corporate green goals, a blow to the industrial conglomerates attempt to reposition itself as a leader of Indias energy transition. Adani Green, Adani Transmission Ltd. and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. were removed in late April from the list of companies taking action published by the Science Based Targets initiative. The UN-backed group helps companies establish concrete plans to reduce emissions consistent with the Paris Agreements target on limiting global warming. The SBTi carried out an internal assessment based on publicly available and submitted information and concluded that the involved companies are not in conformity with the initiatives standards and policy requirements, an SBTi spokesperson said by email. Sustainability-minded investors commonly look for SBTis stamp of approval, and stocks bearing the Adani name appeared in more than 500 ESG funds in early February. That same month, a filing revealed Adani was using stock from its Green companies as collateral to help finance its controversial Carmichael coal mine. Watchdog groups say ESG investors may have inadvertently channeled funds into fossil fuels through their Adani Green investments, and losing SBTis validation is another setback. The Group lost billions of dollars in market value earlier this year following a short-sellers accusations of corporate fraud built on a constellation of shell companies and related-party transactions. Adani Responds The Adani Group said it had asked the SBTi to justify the exclusion and was optimistic the SBTi would review and reverse its decision. None of these companies is involved in the exploration, extraction, mining and/or production of oil, natural gas, coal or other fossil fuels, a spokesperson for the conglomerate said. All three are publicly listed independent companies and have been working on preparing their low carbon transition plans after committing to SBTi. The group is trying to raise about $800 million for new green energy projects, part of billionaire Gautam Adanis push to transform his conglomerate into the worlds largest producer of renewable energy and a leader in green data storage. Adani Green Energy reported surging fourth-quarter profits last week, one sign the group is recovering from the damage done by the short-sellers attack. SBTi has removed at least 16 other companies from its list, according to its website following an update to the organizations fossil fuel policy, which excludes companies with any direct involvement in exploration, extraction, mining and/or production of oil, natural gas, coal or other fossil fuels. Adani Group companies Ambuja Cements Ltd. and ACC Ltd. have SBTi validated near-term targets and retained their place on the list. On March 21, nonprofits Eko and Market Forces filed a formal request for SBTi to review the five Adani group companies on its list. The letter refers to the interconnected financial nature of the group, a flagrant disregard for corporate governance and its fossil fuel expansion plans. Will van de Pol, acting executive director at Market Forces, welcomed SBTis move, adding its critical that such initiatives are not used for greenwashing. No Adani Group company can be considered aligned with the Paris Agreement while its expanding the scale of the fossil fuel sector, he said.
At Rs 10,035 crore, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection of Haryana is four times that of Punjab's Rs 2,316 crore for April 2023, despite the big brother being home to a larger population of 3.06 crore and sprawled over an area of 50,362 sq km, compared to a population of 2.99 crore and an area of 44,212 sq km for the smaller cousin. The states with the maximum GST collection include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, while the north-eastern states and union territories rack up the lowest revenue. Gurugram contributes around 40 percent of Haryanas GST collections. The concentration of large corporations in Gurugram drives up Haryanas GST collections. Punjab's economy is still based a lot on agriculture, which is GST exempt. Punjab is Indias third-largest foodgrain producer, behind Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In 2018, 25 percent of Punjabs GDP came from agriculture, while for Haryana it was 14 percent, Anita Rastogi, Principal, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, told Moneycontrol. Haryana is developing much faster in terms of infrastructure and is a preferred destination for multinational companies as well as individuals, thereby leading to significant GST collections, Anchal N. Arora, Partner, Felix Advisory, said. Haryana has a higher consumption of goods and services, which could be the result of higher disposable incomes and a larger middle class. This also leads to higher GST collections as the tax is applied on the consumption of goods and services. Automation, data analytics, and digital audits in the state of Haryana is helping deter errant taxpayers. Haryana is located in the National Capital Region (NCR) and is surrounded by Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, which are all high revenue-generating states. This could lead to a higher flow (and consumption) of goods and services, and therefore higher GST collections, Rajat Mohan, Senior Partner, AMRG & Associates, an accounting firm, told Moneycontrol. Haryana has about 1.5 times more entities registered with GST authorities than Punjab, but the GST collection is about four times. States with better infrastructure have been able to attract corporates and reap its benefits. Haryana has so many big corporates because of its advanced infrastructure and better industrial policies. Punjab and Rajasthan have not been able to develop that kind of infrastructure or support system to attract major investments, resulting in lower GST numbers. If we look at neighbouring states, only UP is on par in terms of growth and revenue collections, Ankur Gupta, Practice Leader at tax advisory firm SW India, told Moneycontrol. GST is a consumption-based tax that is levied at the point of consumption. The GST collections of a state depend on various factors, such as the size of the economy, the level of industrialisation, consumer spending patterns, and the tax administration. Larger states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, which have a large population and more economic activity, consume more goods and services, resulting in higher GST collection. In states like Tamil Nadu, high employment and literacy means higher purchasing power, which leads to greater consumption, and consequently, higher GST collections. Bengaluru in Karnataka is a hub of the service sector, which again leads to high consumption, Rastogi said. GST collections are the highest in Maharashtra, since it is the financial capital of the country and attracts significant investment. Maharashtra is quite proactive when it comes to audit investigation, which helps improve GST collections. Unfortunately, thats not the case with others. Maharashtra invests substantial amounts in training officers for this, Pune-based chartered accountant Pritam Mahure told Moneycontrol. As a result, due to the massive base of industries and corporates, the larger states collect a major chunk of the GST revenues, while smaller states with a focus on growth and development are expanding their tax base. Additionally, big states tend to have more industrial, commercial, and institutional infrastructure investments that add to the overall tax collection. Moreover, big states have much better infrastructure when it comes to tax administration, which leads to more efficient tax collection and compliance. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu have highly advanced technology backing the local tax offices, ensuring better compliance. The tax officers of the bigger states are regularly updated in jurisprudence, ensuring a thorough assessment process. All this plays a crucial role in improving tax recovery and making the process more efficient and effective, Mohan said. On the other hand, the north-eastern states are tiny in terms of population, and their purchasing power is low. A predominantly informal economy, limited industrialisation, limited financial inclusion, and geographical challenges add to the woes of tax administration, leading to low collection in these states. A large portion of the population in the north-east states is engaged in agriculture, which is exempt from GST. This reduces the number of taxpayers in these states. In states like Tripura and Manipur, the service sector is in a nascent stage, he said. However, GST collection has grown in the past year in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Mizoram. While the growth of J&K and Ladakh can be attributed to increased investment, the growth in Sikkim and Mizoram can be attributed to improving infrastructure, Gupta said.
Hon Hai Precision Industry has bought a 300 acre land for approximately Rs 300 crore ($37 million) in the Bengaluru rural district of Karnataka, filings with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) showed. The purchase was done on behalf of its subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development on May 9. The land tract is in Devanahalli near Kempegowda International Airport, in the outskirts of Bengaluru. The move comes as the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer looks to diversify production away from China. Foxconn is the biggest supplier of Apple iPhone parts. "They are going to take possession of the land after May 10 elections" Gunjan Krishna, commissioner for industrial development and director, department of industries and commerce, Karnataka government told Moneycontrol. On March 20, the Karnataka government signed a mega MoU with Foxconn, with the firm committing to investing Rs 8,000 crore for a mobile manufacturing unit that would provide employment opportunities for 50,000 people in the state. It may be recalled that in a letter to Bommai dated March 6, Foxconn expressed its keenness to set up an electronics manufacturing unit as part of its Project Elephant in Bengaluru. A team of senior executives from Foxconn led by Liu and 16 senior leaders of the company were in the city on March 3. On March 3, up to 300 acres of land were identified for the manufacturing facility for Foxconn at Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) industrial area at Doddaballapur in Devanahalli Taluk near the Bengaluru International Airport. The electronics manufacturing unit was projected to generate more than 1 lakh employment opportunities in the next 10 years within the state. A day later, on March 4, the company stated that it had not entered into any binding, definitive agreements for new investments during the trip. This is despite a Letter of Intent being signed between the company and the Karnataka government on March 3. It led to a major embarrassment for Bommai ahead of the assembly polls. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state for entrepreneurship, electronics & technology, had also tweeted that Apple phones will be built in a new 300-acre factory in Karnataka. Making base in India Earlier this month Telangana principal secretary of IT and Industries Jayesh Ranjan told Moneycontrol that Foxconn will hold a "ground-breaking" ceremony in the state on May 15. The much publicised investment, which is expected to create 1 lakh jobs, will reportedly be the company's biggest single outlay in India. Queries to Ranjan on the size of the investment, the products that Foxconn will make and other details went unanswered. There has been a lot of buzz around Karnataka and Telangana governments announcing Foxconn's "interest" in investing in their states. (With inputs from AFP)
Go First, which suspended operations and filed for voluntary insolvency, may find it difficult to resume flights in India any time soon because the airline's legal battle with Pratt & Whitney over faulty engines is likely to be a messy, long drawn-out affair, senior aviation executives said. Pratt & Whitney is not likely to just give in to the demand of Go First and provide both compensation for the grounded fleet and also supply it with new engines or spare parts," said a senior executive of an international carrier operating in India. He added that even if Go First wins its legal battle against P&W, the engine maker is likely to contest the case in the higher courts, which could delay the resumption of Go Firsts operations by up to a year. Go First filed for insolvency on May 2, citing the grounding of half of its fleet due to faulty engines supplied by P&W. Earlier, on April 28, the airline moved an emergency petition before the Delaware Federal Court on April 28, calling for a legal order to force P&W to comply with two arbitral awards issued by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Appeal likely The SIAC ordered P&W on March 30 to provide Go First with at least 10 serviceable engines by April 27 and the remainder by the year-end. After P&W refused to comply, the SIAC issued a second arbitral award on April 15, asking the US company to fulfil its order. Another senior executive of an international carrier said P&W is unlikely to accept any arbitration order that harms its reputation. "Even if the Delaware court rules in favour of Go First, P&W will likely pursue the case in a higher court and may even look at an out-of-court settlement," the second executive said. Going by the history of legal disputes between aircraft equipment makers and airlines, disputes may take at least a year to get resolved. However, even if the legal dispute between Go First and P&W is resolved, the US company still faces global supply chain issues, which will limit the supply of engines to Go First for six months. Lessors of Go First are already looking to take possession of their aircraft and if the legal dispute is prolonged for another month, Go First will be forced to part with its planes," a senior aviation official said, adding that with a limited fleet, the airline will unlikely be able to operate profitably in the short term. He added that the Indian carrier is also likely to struggle with its airport slots, passenger confidence, and employees in the short to medium term. According to the first executive, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration with equipment makers was key for the survival of any airline globally. Go First's aggressive stance on the faulty P&W engines is likely to hit the airline more than P&W," the first executive said. He added that many airlines around the world were struggling with engine issues due to P&W and instead of blaming the engine manufacturer they were collaborating with the company to come up with solutions. Go First chief executive Kaushik Khona said last week that it had sued P&W for damages in the US and was hoping to receive as much as $1.1 billion in compensation from the company. To ensure this happens, we will tap into many more jurisdictions across the world, some of which are in the US, one in Germany, one in Japan and maybe one or two more in Europe and Singapore," Khona said. Order backlog Carriers around the world are dealing with a shortage of engines and spare parts, particularly on their latest-generation workhorse narrowbody jets. Suppliers to P&W, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies Corporation, have struggled with a backlog of subcomponent orders. Lufthansa, IndiGo, Spirit Airlines and Go First have all been hit by issues due to faulty P&W engines. Last week, Lufthansa said it had grounded a third of its Airbus SE A220 fleet in Zurich owing to problems with P&W engines. Earlier this month, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said P&W has been struggling to support its fleet of passenger jets with spare parts and engines. "This being said, there are issues with in-service support of the GTF that are leading to airlines having planes with temporary issues, and planes 'AOG' (grounded), and this is something that we are very closely monitoring," Faury said on May 3. Go First and P&W reached a deadlock in March when it came to negotiations about the PW-1100G GTF engines, with the airline looking to sue the engine maker over its grounded aircraft. In 2019, Go First signed a deal to buy P&W engines for its 72 A320neo aircraft along with a comprehensive service agreement that mandated compensation from the engine maker for maintenance issues. However, Go First claims that P&W stopped supplying spare engines to the airline and asked Go First to pay for the repair of faulty engines, despite being under contract to repair them free of cost. P&W responded to allegations by Go First Airline, saying that it was committed to meeting delivery schedules. It also highlighted Go First's history of not meeting financial obligations. P&W said in a statement it is committed to the success of its airline customers, and continues to prioritise delivery schedules for all customers. P&W is complying with the March 2023 arbitration ruling related to Go First. As this is now a matter of litigation, it will not comment further. Go First filed for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings in the National Company Law Tribunal on May 2.
Shares of Mankind Pharma made a roaring debut on the bourses on May 9, with the scrip listing at Rs 1300 on the NSE and the BSE, a 20 percent premium to the issue price of Rs 1,080 a share. The price band for the biggest initial public offering (IPO) of 2023, so far, was Rs 1,026-1,080 a share. The Rs 4,326-crore IPO was also one of the biggest by a domestic drug maker since Gland Pharma came up with its Rs 6,480 -crore issue in 2020 and the biggest of 2023, so far. Mankind Pharma offers pharmaceuticals as well as several consumer healthcare products. The IPO, which was a complete offer for sale (OFS), was fully priced with a P/E valuation of 30 times, said Anubhuti Mishra, Equity Research Analyst, Swastika Investmart. Before listing the stock was trading at a premium of Rs 105 (9.72 percent) in the grey market, which saw an increase particularly after the share allotment on May 3, 2023, she told Moneycontrol, expecting a profitable listing. The success of the listing would ultimately depend on the overall market sentiment, she added. The grey market is an unofficial trading platform where shares get traded well before the allotment in the IPO and listing on bourses. It is typically tracked to get an idea of the listing prices. Read more | Mankind Pharma likely to list today with a double-digit premium The IPO, which was subscribed over 15 times, received a robust response from qualified institutional investors, who bid 49.16 times the allotted quota, while high net-worth individuals bought shares 3.8 times the portion set aside for them. Retail investors were not too enthused and only subscribed to 92 percent of their share quota. The company also received a good response in the anchor round, with 16 MF schemes and names like CPPIB, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, Blackrock, GIS and Nomura participating. The money raised through the issue will go to selling shareholders, and the company will not receive funds from the offer. The company's consolidated profit in the nine-month period ended December FY23 was at Rs 996.4 crore, down 20 percent from the year-ago period impacted by weak operating performance. Consolidated revenue increased by 10.6 percent year-on-year to Rs 6,697 crore, while the company reported a nearly a 13 percent YoY decline in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) at Rs 1,484 crore with a margin falling 598 basis points compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
The full benefits of Reliance Industries' $45 billion (Rs 3.6 lakh crore) of investment and capex across businesses over FY22-24 will start flowing through from FY25 earnings, believes global financial services firm JPMorgan. It remains Overweight on the stock and continues to see the stock price offering attractive risk-reward. Its target on RIL is Rs 2,960, indicating a 19 percent upside from the current levels. Follow our live blog for all the market action "Overall, we expect this years AGM (likely in June/July) to give more color on Jio Financial Services (JFS) and Retail," JPMorgan analysts Pinakin Parekh and Sarfraz Bhimani said in a recent report. End game for Retail? RIL has aggressively added floor space, nearly doubling in last two years to ~65 million square feet. The conglomerate has also added warehousing space, acquired multiple brands across categories and entered new categories and formats. While there are investor questions on when these initiatives will help in margin expansion, JPMorgan's analysts believe the full benefit will flow through to earnings and bottom line over next 2-3 years. Refining margins to rebound Singapore benchmark refining margins have collapsed with spot GRMs at $2.2 per barrel versus Q4 average of $7.6per barrel. But demand indicators continue to be resilient, especially uptick in mobility fuels, and that will help GRMs rebound, according to Parekh. "Petrochem spreads are also averaging higher vs. 2HFY23 and, overall, a combination of arbitrage barrels, and elevated naphtha-ethane spreads should result in steady O2C earnings," he said. "We remain Overweight on RIL and continue to see the stock price offering attractive risk-reward with multiple growth optionalities not reflected in the stock price," he concluded. Disclosure: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
In the past few weeks, there has been talk of India adopting the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) system for airports in the country. The US implemented the TSA after the 9/11 attacks to prevent similar attacks in the future. It was felt that aviation was one of the most critically affected sectors due to a lack of consistency and integration in the US homeland security infrastructure. Also Read | Where GoFirst planes are parked and how airport operators deal in such times Rajiv Bansal, the secretary of civil aviation, has been quoted as saying on April 27 that India must deliberate on the move to a TSA-based concept across 148 airports, which will grow to 220 airports in the next three to four years. We should have a seamless security system. Though the idea has been mooted, its implementation in India is still some time away. Moneycontrol examines whether the TSA system is better than the current security arrangements at Indian airports and what advantages it may bring. What is the TSA system? In the US, the TSA serves as a one-stop shop for all aspects of aviation security. It serves as the regulator that develops security policy, compliance oversight  both domestically and internationally  provides law enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Services, has an intelligence branch, dog detection teams and a full research and development branch. All primary equipment for screening operations is procured, owned and maintained by the TSA. Unlike in India, baggage-screening at US airports is the responsibility of the TSA, not airport operators. This leads to greater consistency in the screening process. The TSA is also the lead federal agency for security of highways, railroads, mass transit systems and pipelines. Why did the US adopt the TSA system? After the 9/11 attacks, it was found that there were several red flags that had been raised but not acted on. The 31-page executive summary of the 9/11 Commission Report stated that while the attacks were a shock, they should not have come as a surprise. Also Read | Amsterdams airport is on a quest to ban private jets Islamic extremists had given plenty of warnings that they meant to kill Americans indiscriminately and in large numbers, it said. The TSA was established by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George Bush on November 19, 2001, or about 70 days after the attacks. It is funded through a passenger fee charged for every trip originating in the US. Why is there talk about India adopting this system? India faces similar issues that the US faced before 9/11. Besides, India is in a zone where the Taliban rules a country not too far from its borders and there are threats from various extremist organisations. With aviation and the number of airports growing, the threat perception is much more intense as a rogue element can take off from an airport where security is not that tight and target a high-value target. Current situation in India As per the International Civil Aviation Organisations guidelines, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is the overall security regulator. BCAS comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. However, operations at airports fall under various ministries. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards airports, and the Bureau of Immigration both come under the home ministry. The finance ministry takes care of the Customs Department. The CISF provides security at about 70 major airports, while it is the responsibility of the state police to manage other airports. Various agencies handle different security aspects at airports. Also Read | MC Explains: The case for turning India into an aircraft leasing hub For example, at major airports such as Delhi, there is an inline baggage security system, which is basically miles of conveyor belts where checked-in bags are scanned many times. At such airports, bags are dropped off at the check-in counter, tagged and sent through the inline baggage security system. At smaller airports, bags are x-rayed and cleared before they are dropped off at the check-in counter and sent to the hold. The airline staff then checks the boarding cards of passengers before they board. If there is an incident involving an unruly passenger on a flight headed to Delhi, it is the responsibility of the airline to offload and hand the offender to the Delhi Police for further action. The CISF is not authorised to enter the aircraft. In smaller airports, security is the responsibility of the state police, which complicates matters further. Take the case of the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka. The authorities have seized over Rs 300 crore in cash, which was supposedly meant to influence voters. It is possible that some of these funds came by air from smaller airports surrounding Karnataka. What advantages does TSA bring? If the TSA system is adopted in India, there will be harmonisation of equipment and standard protocols or rules to be followed by all airports. The various silos functioning at airports will fall under one head, which will be in a better position to coordinate a quick response in case of an untoward incident or reports suggesting the possibility of some incident. Has India taken a decision to follow the TSA system? There is no finality on this, although a debate is going on over whether there is a need to reassess the countrys aviation security system. Those in the know insist that it is still too early to say whether the TSA or some other system will be followed. The idea is said to have been floated only a few months ago. Should India adopt a TSA-like system? Yes. With Indian aviation growing, new airports coming up and the country set to become the third-largest civil aviation market globally, there is a need to have standardised norms for airport security under one agency, something that a TSA-like system will ensure. If such a system is adopted, then security will get its due place. Besides, with a TSA-like protocol, Indian airports will shift to high-tech security systems such as 3D body scanners, which the BCAS has mandated to be installed at all airports that handle 5 million or more passengers annually by the end of this year. Such machines will do away with the need for passengers to take out personal electronic devices, chargers and liquids during security checks, saving time and making the passenger experience at airports better. However, for all this to happen, an act will have to be passed, allowing a TSA-like system for which the states will also have to be on board. Funding a TSA-like system There is no clarity on this. At the moment, the money for CISF and BCAS comes from the government. Since security is a sovereign function, this funding could continue to come from the government, with a part of the cost passed on to flyers through a passenger security fee. Currently, passengers are charged a fee as a part of the air fare under two heads  security and facilitation. For the US TSA, a total of $10.4 billion (Rs 85,400 crore) in funding was sought in the Presidents FY24 budget, according to a TSA statement dated March 28, 2023.
#1. Government considering a new framework for faster resolution of bankruptcy cases The central government is considering an insolvency resolution mechanism led by creditors under the bankruptcy law to hasten settlement and ease the burden on the National Company Law Tribunal. Creditors and debtors could be allowed to reach an informal agreement on the plan to resolve a bankruptcy case and then approach the tribunal to quickly admit cases. Why its important: The new framework is expected to reduce litigation in insolvency admission and resolution and would likely reduce the burden on the adjudicating authority. #2. Financial stability body stresses need for more early warning systems for economy Even as a liquidity crisis roils banks of the West, the Financial Stability and Development Council has discussed the need for more early stress indicators in Indias financial sector to enable sector regulators to identify potential signs of trouble and deal with them in advance. The council also decided that regulators should conduct a special drive to facilitate settling unclaimed deposits and claims in the financial sector across all segments including bank deposits, shares, mutual funds, and insurance. Why its important: Maintaining macroeconomic stability is a shared responsibility of financial sector regulators. This has been driven home by the continued banking crisis in Western countries. #3. Stringent quality control orders by government may impact Chinese imports Import of Chinese goods could shrink, posing problems for Indian industry as there is a surge in quality control orders by the Indian government. Inspections by the Bureau of Indian Standards have become now crucial. The announcements of hundreds of such quality control orders now require customs officials to block products not compliant with Indian standards. Why its important: India has imposed mandatory certification on many products and the standards bureau has been proactive in issuing quality control orders. These could put companies dependent on Chinese imports in a fix. #4. State-run infrastructure entity to launch $1 billion fund of funds The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Ltd, a state-backed investment fund, will likely launch its second fund-of-funds to raise $1 billion to invest in the funds of asset managers. The fund could be launched later this year after shareholder approval. The first fund received commitments of $600 million. Why its important: NIIF has built a portfolio across ports and logistics, renewables, smart meters, roads, and digital infrastructure backing assets. Another infusion will strengthen and expand its portfolio. #5. Relief plea by insurers on alleged GST violations referred to sector regulator The finance ministry has refused to intervene in a plea for relief made by the insurance industry facing penal action from tax authorities for GST input tax credit violations. The ministry has referred the matter to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. Officials peg the alleged tax evasion at over Rs 2,000 crore. Why its important: The ministry has declined to take a lenient view of the alleged commission practices and not treat these violations as willful evasion. The insurance regulator will not have to decide on it. #6. Lower stocking by grocery stores slows FMCG sales, home care only category to grow Demand for FMCG items fell in April due to lower stocking by shops, according to Bizcom data. Kirana stores stocked lower quantities in April as they had stocked heavily in March. Sales in value terms fell 8.4 percent in April compared with a year ago and 17 percent sequentially. Urban areas saw a sharper decline. Home care was the only category that saw growth at 11.2 percent on year but fell sequentially as much as 20.9 percent. Why its important: The slow growth could just be a blip as there was overstocking in March. Trends indicate overall demand seems to be reviving, particularly in rural areas. #7. E-way bills witness a dip in April but continue to be robust on strong economic activity Generation of electronic permits to transport goods declined slightly from the record 90.9 million in March to 84 million in April, marking the second-highest figure till date. E-way bill generation in April fell by about 7 percent from March but remained close to the monthly average seen in the March quarter, according to data from GSTN, the company that processes GST-related returns. Why its important: The slowdown was expected as companies eased pushing inventory into the supply chain in the first month of the financial year after a year-end surge in shipments. The latest numbers show the manufacturing momentum continues. #8. Investor protection body rejects regulators proposal to let firms handle claims and refunds The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority, a statutory body of the corporate affairs ministry, has turned down a proposal by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to let companies handle investor claims and refund shares, dividends and interest income held in a designated fund. Sebi had suggested the refund process could be modelled on the lines of the Reserve Banks Depositor Education and Awareness Fund, which holds unclaimed funds of bank depositors. Why its important: The proposal was rejected on the grounds that, unlike money, these refunds involve securities, which are not fungible. #9. Razorpay starts process to move back parent company to India Digital payments firm Razorpay is in the process of moving back its parent entity to India from the US. The development comes after Walmart-owned online payments firm PhonePe shifted its holding company to India from Singapore. Y Combinator-backed Razorpay, valued at $7.5 billion, had to necessarily domicile itself in the US when it raised funds from the Silicon Valley incubator. Razorpay offers payment services to merchants. Why its important: India has been tightening financial sector regulations, necessitating the housing of parent entities of payments firms within the country. This is expected to lead to closer supervision. #10. Invesco cuts Swiggys valuation by a third to $5.5 billion Invesco, an investor in food delivery platform Swiggy, has slashed the firms valuation by as much as 33 percent to $5.5 billion from $8.2 billion. Invesco valued Swiggys shares at $3,305 per share on January 31, down from $4,759 in October last year, when it had first trimmed the companys share value. Swiggys rival Zomato, which was listed during the tech boom of 2021, has seen its stock plummet 48 percent since its debut some two years ago. Why its important: The devaluation is part of the continuing correction of the global technology market. The year of easy money and sky-high valuations seem to be over.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the report by an oil ministry panel which recommended a ban on diesel four-wheelers by 2027 is yet to be accepted by the government. A report by Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC), headed by former petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor, said India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheelers by 2027 in cities with over 10 lakh population and switch to electric and gas-fuelled vehicles. The oil ministry said on May 9 that the suggestions by the panel relate to multiple ministries and a range of stakeholders. Consultations with various stakeholders on the report are yet to be initiated, the ministry said in a tweet. No decision has yet been taken on the recommendations by ETAC, the ministry added. As India aims to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070, the panel suggested phasing out motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers with internal combustion engines by 2035. The panel has also recommended that city transport in India, which is the world's fourth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, should be a mix of metro trains and electric buses by 2030. If the panels recommendations are accepted, the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country is expected to rise exponentially.

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Byjus, the worlds most-valued edtech firm, is set to raise a massive $1 billion funding in a mix of equity and structured instruments at its current valuation of $22 billion. It will make it one of the largest funding rounds in recent history and provide a much-needed boost amid regulatory scrutiny. The potential fundraising will be a vindication of sorts for Byju's founder and CEO, Byju Raveendran, as it comes weeks after India's financial probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), conducted searches at its offices under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The funding deliberations also come at a time when Indias startup ecosystem is witnessing one of the worst funding winters in recent times, with some of the most prolific startup investors in the country cutting bets by more than 80 percent. Moreover, investors have become extremely cautious about edtech companies, as these firms have seen a drop in demand for online learning post the pandemic. Around $700 million of the $1 billion funding round will be raised through equity, and one of the three Middle East-based sovereign funds is in advanced talks to lead the round, people familiar with the matter told Moneycontrol. The funding round is expected to close in a month's time. The remaining $300 million will be raised via structured instruments and the company is in advanced talks with US-based asset management companies Oaktree Capital Management, Apollo Management, and Davidson Kempner Capital Management, the people said, requesting anonymity. Structured instruments are market-linked investment products based on securities. These can be later converted into shares (typically at a discount) at the time of events like an initial public offering. The potential fundraise, the second flat round for India's most-valued startup, will help Byjus to prepay a part of the $1.2 term loan B (TLB) it had raised in 2021, the people said. Byju's had raised a TLB of $1.2 billion from a clutch of investors in 2021, one of the largest for Indian startups and amid mounting concerns around the firm, some lenders of the company were seeking prepayment of $200 million over restructuring the loan, according to a media report. Byju's has been renegotiating terms with its lenders and had offered to increase the rate of interest on its $1.2 billion TLB by 200 basis points (bps) as part of renegotiating its debt-financing arrangements. Byju's declined to comment. Queries sent to Oaktree, Apollo and Davidson Kempner, and the sovereign wealth funds did not elicit an immediate response. Byju's, which is also India's most-valued startup, has been under fire since the start of 2022 for a range of issues including accounting irregularities, alleged mis-selling of courses, and mass layoffs. The company has laid off over 3,500 employees in the last 12 months as it was hit by a double whammy of drying venture capital funding and slowing demand for online learning services. Byju's is also looking to get its tutoring services unit--Aakash Educational Services, which it acquired in April 2021 for nearly a billion dollars, listed on India's stock exchanges at a valuation of $3-4 billion. But, the company has also held exploratory merger talks for Aakash with its biggest rival Unacademy, Moneycontrol reported exclusively earlier in March. Founded almost a decade back by Raveendran, a former teacher, and his wife Divya Gokulnath, Byju's has raised over $5 billion in funding from equity and debt investors to date. It last raised a $250 million round in October at a flat $22 billion valuation.
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The plan is not official, yet. But there seems to be some buzz around it. And the buzz is emerging from Tel Aviv. It is American news website Axioss Tel Aviv correspondent, Barak Ravid, who has done the story that the national security advisers of the US, India, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates will be discussing the issue, and that this has been in the pipeline for more than a year now. The plan: a rail project linking the Gulf Arab countries with India. But it is being presented as linking West Asia with South Asia to make it appear that it is a larger regional project. The countries who will be involved in it as major players would be the US and India, the US with the money and the plan, and India with its expertise in implementing international railway projects. US Counter to Chinas BRI But the details will emerge much later. The priority is the strategic goal. This can be seen as an American counter to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an attempt to check the Chinese economic footprint beyond China. To begin with, China has strong relations with Iran and with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is not completely in the American camp. The Americans have been trying to integrate Israel with the Gulf Arab states, but the Abrahamic Accords which diplomatically connected the UAE and Bahrain  it also included Sudan and Morocco  stand as an unfinished agenda. Saudi Arabia is not in it. The Americans had tried to create another strategic formation comprising the UAE and the US, Israel and India with the curious chemical acronym I2U2. But in the proposed West Asian rail link project, Israel is to be kept out, apparently for the moment. And it will be India, the US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE who will form the core group. But this too would remain incomplete unless Syria, Oman, Iraq are brought into the project, apart from Qatar and Bahrain. Though Saudi Arabia and UAE, and even India would not object, the US would not want either Syria or Iran to be part of the project. And Israel would be out of it as well because of the inclusion of Syria and Iran. A History Lesson Americans may not want to know the complicated and doomed history of railway projects in the region in the early part of the 20th century with all its strategic and political overtones. First, there was the Berlin-Baghdad rail link which was to have been constructed by the Germans, and it was part of the German and Turkish strategic planning. Though the Ottoman Empire of Abdul Hamid II was on its last legs before the 1908 Young Turk revolution, the Ottoman emperor saw the advantages of the railways in tightening the control of Istanbul over the empire in Mesopotamia, and there was to have been an extension of the Berlin-Baghdad line to the port of Basra. Abdul Hamid II wanted the Hejaz Railway to link the two holiest shrines of Islam, Makka and Madina, and he wanted to build it with the money of Turkey and other Muslim nations. There were plenty of problems in implementing the project, including the resistance of the Arab notables to the railway because they believed that this would weaken their influence and power. The Hejaz railway got constructed after the many pauses in the 1920s. But by then the political map of the region had changed. Americas Receding Footprint So, the Americans, Indians and others have to recognise that a railway undertaking in the region, for implicit strategic goals, will be a hurdle race, with too many compatible and incompatible issues thrown in. And they will not be the first ones to engage in it. It has been tried before. China is unlikely to be checkmated by the move because its oil imports from Saudi Arabia are the highest from that country in 2022, and the economic relationship is much too solid to be shaken or stirred. It would seem that the rail project is a desperate attempt by President Joe Biden to keep the American foot inside the Arab door. Indias relations with the Arab states stand independent of the American factor. The same cannot be said about Israels presence in the region. Without American mediation, Israel will find it difficult to be in the same room as the Arab players, including Syria. In the last few months, Syria had been readmitted into the Arab fold after the 2011 break. And the Iranians are on friendlier terms with Saudi Arabia. That makes things awkward and uncomfortable for the US and Israel. Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr is a New Delhi-based journalist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
An unbecoming stalemate persists on holding elections to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies on May 14 with Pakistans higher judiciary aligned in direct confrontation against the Parliament and Federal government. The three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial has been adamant that its April 4 order has to be complied with. The Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) Federal Government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has refused to comply with the order. The National Assembly twice turned down requests to provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the elections. The Defence Ministry also told the CJ, in-camera, about their inability to spare Army personnel for election duties because of national security concerns. Judiciary Proposes, Government Disposes Article 224(2) of the Pakistan Constitution (1973) prescribes elections within 90 days to both Federal and Provincial Assemblies if dissolved before full terms, or within 60 days after a full term. Article 224 (1) further prescribes the setting up of caretaker governments to conduct the elections. A consensus has prevailed in the recent past to hold national and provincial elections on the same day. The Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January 18, 2023. The 90 days limit has long lapsed, and theres no progress even after the SCs fresh order of April 24 holding the ECPs election schedule for October 8 invalid. No specific date was decided for the KP elections. After the CJ found himself in a blind alley, a petition filed by an individual citizen, Kashif Khan was hastily admitted in Court just before Eid ul Fitr (April 21), following which the Chief Justice asked all political parties to sit together and thrash out a consensus date on which elections could be held. Though the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)s three-member delegation met the PDM government team, the dialogue could not reach agreement on the date of elections. However, all agreed that Federal and Provincial elections should be held on the same day. PTIs Fears For Imran The PDM government insists it should pass the annual budget in June and last out its full term, till August 13 and hold elections thereafter, by the end of October, 2023. The PTI leadership fears Imran Khan may be disqualified before then, for illegalities committed either in the Toshakhana goods sales or foreign funding cases. They apprehend, the benign protective umbrella of CJ Umar Ata Bandial may not be available after his impending retirement on September 16. The term of President, Arif Alvi, also known to be the PTIs man, ends on September 9, 2023. The 2023 Census of Pakistan has just been completed but elections may have to be held on the basis of the 2017 Census, as approval of the Council of Common Interests is mandatory and fresh delimitation of constituencies at both the national and provincial level has to follow. At present, the National Assembly has 266 directly elected seats, with 141 from Punjab, 61 in Sindh, 45 in KP, 16 in Baluchistan and 3 from the Federal Capital Area (FCA). After the PTI National Assembly members resigned en masse last year, the PDM alliance has a comfortable majority therein. The Punjab assembly has 371 seats. Before its dissolution, the PTI was able to win a razor-thin confidence vote, with 184 seats against the PDMs 171, due also to the controversial disqualification of defecting PTI MPAs by the Judiciary interpreting or rewriting Article 63A (dealing with disqualification of defectors) of the Constitution. The Battle For Punjab Ever since bypolls to 20 Punjab Assembly constituencies held in July, 2022 wherein Imran Khans PTI won 17 seats, it has been riding on a wave of popularity in Punjab built on a narrative of unfair ouster from power, whereas the real reason was his falling out with Pakistans powerful military establishment. Imran Khan continues to rail nonstop against the new Army Chief, Gen Asim Munir and Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, DG, Counter Intelligence in ISI. His henchmen talk of denotifying the formers appointment. Understandably so, the top Army Generals have serious reservations about Imrans return to power. PML (Nawaz) Vice President, the feisty Maryam Nawaz has tried to counter Imrans narrative, by accusing him of double standards and the CJ, for going out of the way to protect him. This has had only a limited impact. The history of past elections in Pakistan does not inspire confidence about absence of rigging or conjured results, especially if the Army is on the other side. Many an unpredictable twist or a turn of events await. Rana Banerji is a former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
An 11-year-old child prodigy from Mexico City, Adhara Perez Sanchez, is making waves globally with her exceptional intelligence. Adhara's IQ surpasses that of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, who are known for their remarkable contributions to the world of science, and both had an IQ of 160. The young girl is set to receive a master's degree in engineering, with a dream of becoming an astronaut for NASA. Adhara's childhood was not easy. Growing up in the low-income neighborhood of Tlahuac, Adhara was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. She faced many challenges in school, including bullying from her classmates, which led her to isolate herself. However, her mother, Nayeli Sanchez, noticed her daughter's talent in mathematics, which was confirmed when she was enrolled in the Center for Attention to Talent (CEDAT), a school for gifted children. Adhara's IQ was measured at an astonishing 162. Adhara's passion for space exploration began when she saw Stephen Hawking's artwork at her doctor's office. She then developed a deep interest in mathematics and science, with a dream of exploring Mars. Adhara finished elementary school at five, middle and high school at six, and already holds a bachelor's degree in systems engineering. Currently, she is pursuing a master's program in mathematics at the Technological University of Mexico. Adhara is not just focused on her education; she is also working with the Mexican Space Agency to promote space exploration and mathematics to other young girls. She is also working on finishing her G-tests, which will enable her to man flights through an agency with connections to NASA. If she passes, she will be around 17, and the first autistic person to fly. She is already well-known and has appeared on several magazine covers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adhara Maite Perez Sanchez (@adhara_perez11) Adhara's dream is to continue her education at the University of Arizona, where she plans to study astrophysics. The school had offered her a scholarship, but due to visa issues, it was deferred. However, this has not stopped Adhara from pursuing her dream, and she remains determined to succeed. Read: Teen with autism swims from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu in 13 hours In an interview with Goalcast, Adhara shared her dream of exploring Mars, saying, "I want to go to space and colonize Mars. If you dont like where you are, imagine where you want to be. I see myself at NASA, so its worth a try."
During Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting over the weekend, CEO Warren Buffett heaped praises on Ajit Jain, the company's insurance czar and speculated to be the legendary investor's successor. While addressing questions on artificial intelligence (AI), Buffett said that "there won't be anything in AI that replaces" Jain. "It can do remarkable things," the 92-year-old said, "but it couldn't tell jokes." Buffet also quashed speculations about Ajit Jain being Berkshire Hathaway's heir apparent. Ajit never wanted to run Berkshire, the CEO said. Here are 10 things to know about Ajit Jain: 1.) Jain, who was born in Odisha, graduated with a BTech degree from IIT Kharagpur. He then joined IBM in India, before moving to the US to earn his MBA from Harvard. 2.) He joined Berkshire Hathaway's insurance business in 1986, at a time he said he knew "little about insurance". 3.) But Jain must have learned fast, as under his watch, not only did its insurance business grow fast, it also played a vital contribution in Berkshire's investment float. 4.) This happened as Warren Buffett was able to use the vast premiums collected from the insurance business -- dubbed 'float' -- and invest them in his portfolio. 5.) Essentially, the returns generated by Buffett's investments were not just because of the Oracle's legendary stock-picking skills, but were amplified thanks to what was effectively leverage generated by the low-cost 'float' generated by Jain's insurance business. 6.) It has been Jain's superior skills when it comes to underwriting -- or deciding when to offer insurance to customers and at what price -- that ensured that even as the business generated upfront premium by the millions, the business rarely took undue risk or resulted in blow-ups. 7.) Buffett has previously lauded Jain's "unmatched" underwriting skills, saying he insures risks that no one else has the desire or the capital to take on. 8.) "His operation combines capacity, speed, decisiveness and, most important, brains in a manner unique in the insurance business. Yet he never exposes Berkshire to risks that are inappropriate in relation to our resources," he said. 9.) Jain's "mind, moreover, is an idea factory that is always looking for more lines of business he can add to his current assortment," Buffett added. 10.) Buffett's regard for Jain can be seen in a letter to shareholders, in which he said that if "Charlie (Munger), I and Ajit are in a sinking boat, and only one of us can be saved, swim to Ajit". Read more: The inside story of Warren Buffetts big Japan bet, over glasses of Coke at four seasons
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday Canada will not be intimidated by retaliation from China after Beijing expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat response to Ottawa's decision to expel a Chinese diplomat on Monday. "We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over allegations related to foreign interference on Monday, and hours later, China asked Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in response to Ottawa's "unreasonable actions".

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By Tim Culpan It looks increasingly likely that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. will proceed with a factory in Europe  after entering the US  as a way to meet both industry demand and political pressure. Adding a third continent would make the worlds biggest chipmaker a truly global enterprise, one that takes its expansion plans in a new direction. A site near Dresden in Germanys northeast is the leading contender as TSMC negotiates with clients, car manufacturers and governments over incentives and costs. A possible venture with NXP Semiconductors NV, Robert Bosch GmbH and Infineon Technologies AG includes state subsidies and would have a budget of at least 7 billion ($7.7 billion), though presumed to be closer to 11 billion, Bloomberg News reported last week. The Hsinchu-based company said it is still assessing the possibility of building on the continent. Should the deal go ahead, TSMC could find itself committing more than $50 billion on new factories outside Taiwan, which is currently home to more than 95% of its capacity. Such a risk requires it to find just the right business model in each locale, one that caters to local needs without losing sight of its vision to remain the global leader in chip technology and manufacturing. That Europe is so different from the US is what may end up rationalizing this latest move. The two regions have a few things in common when it comes to semiconductor strategy. Both wish to rekindle their perceived loss of chip prowess. And governments on either side of the Atlantic are willing to spend tens of billions of dollars (and euros) to lure the biggest and most-powerful players to their shores. In each case, local authorities are taking a lead role in doling out incentives such as tax breaks and cheap land. A key purpose of the Arizona project is to help the US catch up on leading-edge semiconductor technology after having once been the global leader. Yet in Europe, the goal is to ensure continued supply of crucial components to the auto industry, an economically and politically important sector for many countries in the region. Crippling shortages through the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted how important chips are for carmakers. In 2020, the state won the grand prize when TSMC announced it had chosen a site near Phoenix as home for a $12 billion project that would make almost-leading-edge chips (Oregon was believed to be short-listed). That program was later increased threefold and theres a good chance further expansion will be announced. TSMC doesnt make $40 billion commitments on a whim. Its decision to invest an unprecedented sum into what amounts to a greenfield project comes because key clients such as Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp. told the chipmaker, either implicitly or explicitly, that they will buy from these new factories. Their chips are largely logic processors: components that act as the brain of devices ranging from iPhones to artificial intelligence servers. Washington politicians and industry leaders are hoping that one day the worlds best chips will be made on US soil. They wont. Not by TSMC, anyway. Europe is different, and TSMCs strategy there makes more sense. Even though the Taiwanese company introduced its 28-nanometer process 12 years ago, it is expected to be at the heart of the chipmakers European strategy. Theres two reasons for this: most automotive chips still use that node, and TSMC has pivoted this technology to more niche applications instead of processors. As industry observer Paul McLellan once wrote: Old TSMC fabs don't die, they become specialty technology fabs. Whereas 28nm was used to make the A7 chip for Apples iPhone 5s in 2013, today its commonly deployed to manufacture sensors (eg LiDAR, used to detect a cars surroundings), microcontrollers and radio frequency transmitters. A modern car includes semiconductors to detect traffic, control the side mirrors, and monitor battery levels. Thats not to say newer processes arent also found in cars: TSMCs 5, 7 and 16nm offerings are also deployed to make components for advanced driver-assistance systems, infotainment and control circuits. Apple, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. are eager to shift to new manufacturing techniques annually because that allows their own products to be more powerful, a key selling point for logic processors. Automotive chip designers such as NXP, Infineon and STMicroelectronics NV, on the other hand, work on longer product cycles which require detailed safety checks and integration across more complex systems. Theres far more electronic components in a car than a smartphone, and the automobile industry upgrades their vehicles at a slower pace. In their case, newer is not always better. Even though this older technology only accounts for around 10% of TSMCs revenue, compared with more than 50% for processes introduced within the last seven years, the chip giant is still a global leader by market share. A belief that electric vehicles and continued deployment of sensors and electronics in cars is a long-term trend justifies a bet on Europe. Having local partners and governments cover much of that wager makes it the kind of project TSMC will find hard to resist.
Zoltan Pozsar, a widely followed Credit Suisse markets guru, has left the bank, part of an exodus of staff that started in the months before the lender's shotgun takeover by rival UBS (UBSG.S), the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Pozsar left Credit Suisse in recent months, according to the report, which cited a person familiar with the matter. He worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Treasury before joining Credit Suisse in 2015, where he was Credit Suisse's global head of short-term interest-rate strategy, the Wall Street Journal said. Credit Suisse declined to comment. UBS in March agreed to buy Swiss bank Credit Suisse for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.23 billion) in stock and agreed to assume up to 5 billion francs ($5.4 billion) in losses, in a shotgun merger engineered by Swiss authorities.

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At the risk of tempting fate, the European Union energy commissioner offered a rather upbeat summary of the continents recent natural gas plight. The EU, Kadri Simson said last week, came out of the winter with storages half full and a positive outlook for next winter. European gas prices, which peaked last year at more than 330 ($362) per megawatt-hour, have now plunged to 35  the lowest since the 2021 summer although still double the historical average. Will it last? Perhaps for now. Europe got lucky last winter. Thanks to mild temperatures, which significantly curbed consumption, and Chinas zero-Covid policy, which let Europe import lots of liquefied natural gas that otherwise would have been unavailable, the continents gas storage bottomed out at 55% of capacity at the end of the heating season, well above the 10-year average of 33%. But emerging from the winter with so much gas in storage came at a price. Although Europe avoided a recession, output in the energy-intensive industrial sector contracted significantly. Ask any European industrialist, and they would tell you the crisis isnt over for them. Regardless of the cause, with far more gas leftover than expected, replenishing storages to Brussels target of 90% of capacity ahead of next winter will be a lot easier. The outlook is indeed positive. To reach that 90% target, Europe needs to inject about 35 billion cubic meters of gas into storage between now and late October, well below the 10-year average of about 55 billion. Last year, Europe bought around 70 billion to inject into storage  one of the reasons why prices surged to an all-time high. Even if the continent pushes its storage to 95% of capacity, the amount of gas needed would be smaller than in any injection season of the previous decade. The market is pricing an easy-peasy scenario. Gas contracts for immediate delivery are trading at a significant discount to contracts for the 2023-2024 winter. Its both a sign that supplies are plentiful for the current injection season, as well as an indication that the market believes European demand needs to be curtailed again next winter via punitive high prices. Gas contracts for January-February 2024 are trading near 60 per megawatt-hour. Regional gas stockpiles have already increased to 60% of their capacity, a level that they didnt hit in 2022 until early July. At the current pace, the 90% target would be surpassed well before October, perhaps as soon as late August or early September, though this would depend, in large part, on whether the region can continue buying as much LNG as it wants. Without Russian piped gas, LNG shipments have effectively become the new baseload supply for Europe, replacing the role that Russian state-owned Gazprom played in yesteryear. According to the International Energy Agency, LNG accounted for two-thirds of the regions imports through the crucial 2022-2023 winter season. Of that, about half came from LNG cargoes that were diverted from China, where the shipments werent needed due to the impact of zero-Covid on industrial demand, traders say. Another chunk came from other Asian nations, including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, which were priced out from the LNG market and instead burned coal for electricity generation. A small, but important, sliver came from Russia itself, as Europe continues to buy Russian LNG. (Remember: Brussels imposed sanctions on Russian oil exports but left gas supply untouched. The reduction in gas flows from Russia to Europe is the result of the Kremlin cutting shipments via pipeline, not European retaliation for Moscow invading Ukraine.) For now, China still isnt buying much LNG, freeing cargoes to go to Europe. Wael Sawan, the chief executive officer of Shell Plc, one of the worlds biggest LNG suppliers, put it succinctly last week, saying that prompt LNG demand was weak. But Sawan warned Europe about the short-termism of for now, noting that Chinese consumption was starting to really pick up. After China abandoned its zero-Covid policy in the final days of 2022, the market anticipated a rapid rebound in energy demand. This didnt materialize the way many had expected. While consumers are back in full swing, pushing up demand for jet-fuel and gasoline, the manufacturing sector, which uses LNG, has recovered more slowly. Industry executives believe Chinese industrialists were scared about a potential snap-back into zero-Covid and so restarted factories gradually. At the same time, Western demand for Chinese goods has been depressed due to plenty of supply in the US and Europe. This may last for a few more months, giving Europe enough time to replenish its gas storage and averting a crisis in the winter. But punting on good luck is never a good long-term strategy.
The Nevada man who was shot by Lincoln narcotics investigators Monday amid a confrontation in west Lincoln died Saturday, according to the sheriff's office.

35-year-old Chace Abney died on Saturday from the injuries he sustained in the shooting, according a press release from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Abney was shot at around 2:45 p.m. Monday by investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol and Lincoln Police Department in a parking lot near Northwest 27th and West O streets, according to authorities. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries Monday afternoon.

At least one Lincoln Police officer and one state trooper shot Abney after the 35-year-old fired one round from a 9 mm handgun toward police, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner previously said. No officers were injured in the shooting.

At a news conference at the Sheriff's Office's headquarters Tuesday, the sheriff suggested Abney's shooting seemed justified and declined to name the officers involved while painting a clearer picture of what authorities say led up to the incident.

The investigators  both of whom work on the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force  had been conducting surveillance at the Super 8 motel at 2635 W. O St., Wagner said.

The investigators were not looking into Abney, but Wagner said the 35-year-old followed the officers in his Chevrolet Malibu across O Street to a parking lot at 123 N.W. 28th St.

Wagner said the investigators confronted Abney and shouted repeated commands  though it's unclear how many commands  to exit the sedan.

Instead, Wagner alleged, Abney pointed a handgun at police and fired one round. Wagner said he wasn't sure if Abney was inside or outside the car when the shooting transpired.

The investigators returned fire, striking the 35-year-old more than once, the sheriff said. Wagner declined to say how many times Abney was shot.

"From preliminary information  it appears that (the officers) were justified in their actions," Wagner said at the news conference Tuesday.

Wagner said it remains unclear why Abney followed police from the hotel, where he had been a guest but was not staying in the room police were surveilling.

Investigators haven't found the projectile Abney is accused of firing toward police, but Wagner said they did recover a shell casing from his 9 mm, which was reported stolen Monday in Norfolk, the sheriff said.

The involved officers immediately rendered first aid to Abney before Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews responded and took him by ambulance to Bryan West Campus.

Abney had most recently been living in New York and had outstanding warrants in New York, Arizona and California, Wagner said. He had ties to Lincoln and had been here for about a week prior to Monday for a family function, the sheriff said.

Both investigators have been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with each agencys policy.

As required by Nebraska state law, a grand jury will be convened to investigate the events that led up to Abney's death and determine if police acted criminally in the shooting.

Abney was transported to the Douglas County Medical Center in Omaha following his death, where an autopsy will be performed, according to the sheriffs office. The autopsy is scheduled for May 8 at 8:30 a.m.

Journal Star reporter Andrew Wegley contributed to this report.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sought a dismissal of criminal charges against him in a court filing late Monday, saying prosecutors have improperly made federal crimes out of civil and regulatory issues that resulted from an industrywide collapse of cryptocurrency markets dubbed the crypto winter. Lawyers for the onetime head of a multibillion dollar cryptocurrency exchange said in papers in Manhattan federal court that the U.S. government had a dramatic  and troubling response to a broad market crash in cryptocurrency last year that affected every corner of the market. They said Bankman-Frieds non-U.S. FTX company lasted far longer than others in the industry before it entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. A trial is tentatively set for the fall. Prosecutors alleged in December that Bankman-Fried cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has called it one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history. In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40 million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1 billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021. The original indictment to which Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty after his December extradition from the Bahamas contained eight vague and non-specific charges against Bankman-Fried, his lawyers said Monday. The additional charges filed later violated an Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Bahamas, they added. In the wake of the crypto winter, the Government, in hindsight, may dislike or disapprove of business practices of the cryptocurrency industry, FTX, or even Mr. Bankman-Fried  but this does not give it license to turn them into federal crimes, Bankman-Frieds lawyers wrote. Bankman-Fried, 31, has been living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, under a $250 million bail arrangement that has severely limited his ability to communicate on the internet and move money around. In other papers filed Monday, Bankman-Fried's lawyers sought dismissal of portions of the indictment on other grounds, including with arguments that some charges duplicated others. They also claimed that FTX debtors had become an arm of the government, casting Bankman-Fried as a villain and providing so much information to prosecutors that defense lawyers must worry that they will be unable to get their hands on documents that might help prove Bankman-Fried's innocence. A message sent to a spokesperson for prosecutors was not immediately returned.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has agreed to pay $215 million to put an end to a long-running class-action lawsuit that accused the Wall Street giant of systemically underpaying women. The New York-based bank struck the deal with lawyers representing about 2,800 women, who claimed the firm discriminated against them in pay and promotions, a person with knowledge of the accord said, asking not to be named discussing the confidential talks. About a third of the settlement is expected to be set aside for attorney fees. The upcoming trial, scheduled for next month in New York, would have provided a rare public forum for testimony about inequality inside the financial industry, where all but one of the six biggest US banks have only ever been run by men. The two sides had been finalizing a deal, racing to settle before trial, Bloomberg News reported last week. A spokesperson for Goldman declined to comment and a lawyer for the plaintiffs didnt immediately respond to messages. The company had previously said it was looking forward to vigorously defending itself against what it called baseless claims. The case was closely watched in an industry where women have long said that complaining of unfair treatment can derail careers. Though the trial was to focus on the statistics of pay and promotion, and a judge had said the question of a boys club atmosphere didnt qualify for class treatment, it was poised to be more than a mere grab bag of numbers. It would likely have examined some of the fabric of Goldmans workplace, thanks in part to testimony from executives. The settlement is bigger than the sum that Smith Barney paid decades ago, more than $100 million, to end what was known as the Boom-Boom Room suit, which had accused the firm of harassment and discrimination. The Goldman suit was first brought by Cristina Chen-Oster, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who joined in 1997 and sold convertible bonds. She filed a discrimination complaint in July 2005 with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, then sued in 2010. Goldman fought  successfully, in some cases  to send some women in the case to arbitration, a more secretive system. But mandatory arbitration agreements arent the only tools in the corporate arsenal. Nondisclosure agreements and settlements have long been used on Wall Street and beyond to keep claims of bad behavior and unfair treatment out of the spotlight. For years, Goldman and its peers have pledged to diversify their ranks, acknowledging that they need to do better. Even though Goldmans partner class last year was 29% women, it counted as Goldmans most inclusive group of promotions yet.
Pakistan witnessed widespread clashes and mayhem on the streets after former premier Imran Khan was arrested by the country's paramilitary force on May 9. The supporters of his party, Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf, stormed the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the corps commanders' residence in Lahore, local media reports said. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code were issued in the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan, as the protests turned violent. Several police vehicles were torched, and scores were left injured in the clashes that broke out. The government has snapped social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, to stop the circulation of rumours and misinformation, an official said. Khan has reportedly been summoned before the anti-graft court on May 10. He has been sent in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said. Here are the key things to know: Section 144 imposed in Pakistan's Punjab province Section 144, which bars the assembly of more than five persons in public, has been imposed in Pakistan's Punjab province amid widespread clashes between the supporters of Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party and police personnel. The restrictions have been imposed for two days amid serious security threats", a government notification said. Indian defence forces keeping close watch on situation in Pakistan: Report The Indian defence forces are maintaining a close watch on the situation that is emerging in Pakistan following the arrest of Imran Khan, news agency ANI reported, citing defence sources. A strong vigil is being kept along the Line of Control and the international border that demarcates the two countries, the sources reportedly said. PTI Sindh chief Ai Haider Zaidi 'abducted' Ali Haider Zaidi, the president of PTI's Sindh province, has been "abducted", as per a statement issued by the party. It shared a footage on social media which shows security personnel whisking away Zaidi in a security vehicle. President PTI Sindh abducted from Karachi. Democracy is suspended in this country, people must save Pakistan now. #ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/lBAHizTaiM  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023 Imran Khan's politics based on 'blatant lies': PM Shehbaz Sharif The politics of Imran Khan is based on "blatant lies" and "U-turns", Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, hours after the PTI chief's arrest. "Bending the judiciary to your whims and behaving as if rules don't apply to you. What I said about you in my tweet is established by facts over the past few years," he added. PTI shares visuals of protests held in various cities The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is headed by Khan, shared visuals of the protests held by its supporters against the ex-PM's arrest in different cities across the country.      !!#ReleaseImranKhan pic.twitter.com/By4jte1OvV  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023 'Tell us why Imran Khan has been arrested': Islamabad HC summons top officials, reserves judgement The Islamabad High Court summoned top officials and police officers after paramilitary Rangers dramatically arrested former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case from the court premises but reserved its ruling. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took notice of the arrest by paramilitary Rangers when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief was present at the court to mark his biometric attendance before the start of the hearing of a corruption case. "Come to court and tell us why Imran has been arrested and in which case," Justice Farooq had said, ahead of the hearing. Social media snapped in parts of Pakistan Social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, has been snapped in parts of Pakistan as clashes rage over the arrest of Khan by the Pakistani Rangers, reports said. Twitter shut down in various parts of Pakistan. Using a workaround to post this tweet.  Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) May 9, 2023 Islamabad police says 5 police officers injured, 43 protesters arrested The police in Islamabad said five officers on duty have been injured in the clashes which erupted with the supporters of PTI. At least 43 protesters have been arrested, the police said in an update shared on social media. Lahore: PTI supporters set Corps Commander's house on fire Anguished supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have set the house of Corps Commander in Lahore on fire, local media reports said. Earlier, it was reporters that the protesters have breached the compound of the military headquarters in Rawalpindi. Section 144 imposed in Peshawar Restrictions under Section 144 of the penal code, which bars the assembly of more than five persons in public, has come into effect in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where Khan's PTI holds massive support. Police vehicles burnt in Lahore; emergency declared in Quetta hospitals Several police vehicles have been set ablaze in Lahore, where scores of protesters have hit the streets following the arrest of Khan. In Quetta, where casualties have been reported due to the clashes between the security personnel and protesters, an emergency has been declared in all hospitals. Deaths due to clashes in Quetta, Lahore; Section 144 imposed in Balochistan: Reports Multiple fatalities have been reported due to the clashes between PTI supporters and security forces in Quetta and Lahore, local media reports said. In Balochistan, where the agitation has flared up, the authorities have imposed Section 144 of the penal code which bars the assembly of more than five persons in public. Khan an ally of country's enemies: Pak Interior Minister Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of playing in foreign hands and issuing statements against the state institutions. "Khan is an ally of the enemies of the country and trying to damage the country," he said. The minister said that paramilitary Rangers was legally performing its duty when its officials carried out the arrest. He said that the government had nothing to do with the arrest which was carried out on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He said that there were "dozens" of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier. "No sort of torture was inflicted on him (Khan)," the interior minister said. Protesters enter military headquarters' compound in Rawalpindi Supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who have blamed the country's military for the action taken against their leader, have entered the military compound in Rawalpindi to mark their angst, local media reports said. In Lahore, they have stormed outside the residences of army commanders, the reports added. @PTIofficial protesters are easily entering GHQ, IV CORPS LAHORE and even getting into the Commander's personal bedroom .How is this possible. Why are the gates widely Open. Can anyone please explain?? #____#imrankhan#IAm_FaisalNaseer#ImranKhanArrestpic.twitter.com/BkTFSI4jj5  Ahsan Khan Niazi (@Ahsanniazi225) May 9, 2023 Imran Khan's PTI calls for nationwide shutdown PTI gave a call for nationwide shutdown shortly after Khan was arrested by the Pakistani Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court. "Its your time, people of Pakistan. Khan has always stood for you, now its time to stand for him," the party posted on Twitter, as it issued a clarion call to all of its cadres and supporters. Imran Khan to be produced before anti-corruption court tomorrow: Reports Khan will be produced before an anti-corruption court in Islamabad on May 10, Geo TV reported. The ex-PM has been referred to a seven-member medical board for medical examination at the Islamabad-based Poly Clinic. What is the case in which Imran Khan was arrested? Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Khan was arrested for causing loss to the national treasury in a corruption case. "The arrest has been made by the NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case," Sanaullah said, adding that the arrest was made on merit and Khan was in the custody of the anti-graft watchdog. Sanaullah said that the UK authorities in a money-laundering case had confiscated 190 million pound or Rs 60 billion money of a Pakistani property tycoon with the objective to transfer it to the government of Pakistan. However, Khan is accused of allowing the tycoon to get the money back rather than depositing it in the state and use it to pay a fine imposed by the Supreme Court in another case. The tycoon in return provided 23.1 hectare (458-kanals) in Sohawa in Jhelum district and 12.1 hectare (240 kanals) in Banigala near Islamabad to the Al-Qadir Trust, as per the charges pressed by the anti-graft body. The minister claimed that the Al-Qadir Trust was registered in the name of Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and her close friend Farah Gogi. He also said that the worth of the property was about 6-7 billion rupees. "Khan caused a huge loss to the state treasury," he said, and urged the court to return the same money to the government. With PTI inputs
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested for causing loss to the national treasury in a corruption case. Providing details on the arrest of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf outside the Islamabad High Court, he also dismissed reports of torture of the 70-year-old leader during his arrest by paramilitary Rangers. Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was arrested by on Tuesday while he was present at the court for the hearing of a corruption case, a day after he took on the country's powerful army for allegedly hatching a plot to kill him. Sanaullah said Imran was arrested by officials of the National Accountability Bureau specifically in the Al-Qadir Trust case, adding that there were dozens of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him for causing loss to the national treasury, Geo News portal reported. "No sort of torture was inflicted on him (Khan)," the interior minister said. The interior minister said a laundered amount of 190 million pounds or around Rs 70 billion belonging to a property tycoon was caught in the United Kingdom. According to the law, this amount rightfully belonged to the people of Pakistan, he said. He further added that it was to be deposited in the national treasury and the UK government has contacted the Pakistani government regarding the issue. Meanwhile, Sanaullah alleged that former accountbaility czar Mirza Shehzad Akbar had gotten involved and an agreement was then realised, as a result of which an Al-Qadir Trust was made. The interior minister said that subsequently property of 12.1 hectare (240 kanals) in Bani Gala and another 23.1 hectare (458-kanals) property was registered in the trusts name. The PTI party led by Khan recently submitted a list of cases to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The list states that 31 cases have been registered against Khan in the federal capital and 30 cases and call-up notices have been issued in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. These cases are related to various charges like treason, blasphemy, committing and inciting violence and terrorism. According to the list, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against Khan in Lahore and 14 cases have been registered in Faisalabad. Some 22 terrorism cases have been registered against Imran Khan across the country. Khan has been facing a slew of cases since his ouster through a no trust vote in April last year. He has rejected all these cases as political victimisation by the ruling alliance. Currently, Khan has said he is facing over 140 cases related to terrorism, blasphemy, murder, violence, inciting to violence.
U.S. President Joe Biden will become the first U.S. sitting president to visit Papua New Guinea this month with a trip following the G7 in Japan, marking the administration's investment in the Pacific region to counter China. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would meet Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape other Pacific Island Forum leaders. "The leaders will discuss ways to deepen cooperation on challenges critical to the region and to the United States such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth," she said. Biden's expected May 22 stopover in the capital Port Moresby will 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 United States and its allies, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited 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 Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. 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. Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Sydney, Australia, for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia.

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China has launched a nationwide anti-espionage crackdown on consulting firms, according to state media, accusing one global firm of leaking state secrets and having ties with foreign intelligence agencies. On orders from Chinas central government, authorities carried out synchronized operations in cities including the financial powerhouses of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, a provincial TV channel in Jiangsu province reported Monday night. The state broadcaster didnt say where it got the information or provide a timeframe for the raids. State security officials visited the Suzhou branch of Capvision, a consulting firm with headquarters in New York and Shanghai, the broadcaster said. Capvision employees in the city that neighbors Shanghai were questioned and some items were searched and seized, according to the report, which didnt identify whether other firms were also targeted. Security officials have found Capvision accepted consulting projects from overseas companies with close ties to foreign governments, military and intelligence agencies, according to a Tuesday report shared by the official WeChat account of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Communist Partys top legal body. Capvision said in a statement posted to its WeChat account on Monday evening that it will resolutely stick to national-security policies and take the lead to guide the healthy development of the consulting industry. Beijing has taken several steps in recent months to tighten foreign access to sensitive information amid growing tensions with the US, despite Premier Li Qiangs recent vow to establish a broad space for foreign companies in China. The government last month passed a vague new counter-espionage law that expanded the list of activities which could be considered spying, intensifying the risks for foreign firms. US consultancies  often used by overseas investors and multinational companies to conduct due diligence and research in China  are particularly in the spotlight. In recent weeks, authorities have questioned staff at the China offices of US consultancy Bain & Company and targeted New York-based due-diligence enterprise Mintz Group. Foreign companies need to assess whether the work theyre doing in China might be viewed as supporting a hostile agenda, said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at advisory firm Teneo Holdings LLC in New York. Information that on its face doesnt appear sensitive or relevant to national security might be viewed as such if its used in the context of providing advice in service of an anti-China or pro-decoupling agenda. Its not clear where the red lines are, so any work that sits in a gray area should probably be performed outside China, Wildau added. My sense from the recent incidents is that Chinese staff and long-term expatriates are at greater risk than visiting executives, he said. State Secrets Chinese authorities have recently found that overseas institutions with complex backgrounds have relied on domestic consulting companies to steal state secrets, according to the Tuesday report shared by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. The report cited a police officer from Shanghais national security bureau as saying Capvision also accepted consulting projects in sensitive fields such as national defense and cutting-edge technology. This compelled its staff members to call military enterprises and sensitive research units for information  both areas where Washington has imposed trade restrictions on China in recent months. In that environment, Beijing has pushed to curtail access by overseas firms to Chinese data sources, in part, in response to a series of reports written by US research institutions that have reinforced Washingtons hard line on China, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Chinese services such as Wind Information Co. in recent months stopped providing detailed data on the nations companies to overseas clients. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the countrys powerful internet overseer, also notified data providers in March to restrict overseas access to sensitive information such as patents and statistics, the Journal reported, citing people who have consulted with Chinese authorities. Registry databases at Qichacha and TianYanCha  companies that provide similar services  have also been inaccessible for some time to users outside mainland China, according to several people familiar with the matter.
Pakistan police on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders in Islamabad after several workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party staged protests across the city and created a riot-like situation following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan by paramilitary Rangers. The Islamabad police said that there was no incident of violence in the country's capital. Former prime minister Khan was arrested by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday while he was present at the Islamabad High Court for the hearing of a corruption case, a day after he took on the country's powerful army for allegedly hatching a plot to kill him. The arrest comes a day after the powerful army had accused Khan of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI. The chairman of the PTI, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari. Following Imran Khans arrest, Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad as several PTI workers staged protests across the city and created a riots-like situation, media reports said. They also blocked roads in Lahore and staged protests, the reports said. Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan as saying that Khan was arrested in relation to the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising Rs 50 billion. The police chief also said that the situation in Islamabad was normal, adding that Section 144 had been imposed in the city and action would be taken against violators. "Situation is normal. Section 144 is in place and violations will result in police action," said IG Islamabad. PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the IHC has been occupied by the Rangers and lawyers are being subjected to torture. Imran Khans car has been surrounded, he added. The police, however, rejected the PTIs allegations that people were tortured. Khan, 70, has been facing a slew of cases since his ouster through a no-trust vote in April last year. He has rejected all these cases as political victimisation by the ruling alliance. Khan is facing over 140 cases related to terrorism, blasphemy, murder, violence, and inciting violence.
Russia fired cruise missiles at Kyiv on Tuesday and paraded troops and vintage equipment across Red Square in a curtailed celebration of victory in World War Two, while Kyiv fended off the air strikes and hosted the head of the European Union. In a fiery 10-minute speech in front of the Kremlin walls, Russian President Vladimir Putin thundered against "Western global elites" and said Russia again faced an existential threat. "Today, civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our homeland," said the Russian leader, who last year ordered what the West calls an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, destroying cities and killing thousands of civilians. May 9, the date in Moscow's time zone of Germany's May 8 surrender in 1945, is the most important holiday in Russia under Putin, who casts his invasion of Ukraine as analogous to the threat Russia faced from the Nazis in World War Two. Ukraine, hosting EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said its air defences shot down 23 of 25 Russian cruise missiles fired chiefly at the capital Kyiv overnight, and there were no reported casualties. It was the second night in a row of major Russian air strikes and fifth so far this month. Putin said the whole country was praying for its "heroes" at the front and concluded with a cheer for "Russia, for our valiant Armed Forces, for victory!". After he spoke, a band struck up and cannon fired a salute. Soldiers marched through the square, followed by armoured vehicles and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles in a parade notably smaller in scale than past years. A flyover of warplanes over Moscow was cancelled, and parades in some other cities were scaled back or called off, amid security concerns  including drones that exploded over the Kremlin citadel itself last week  and shortages of troops and arms at the front. The traditional "Immortal Regiment" processions, in which people carry portraits of relatives who fought against the Nazis, were cancelled. State television lauded the arrival of the "legendary T-34 tank"  a World War Two-vintage relic paraded in the place normally taken by modern battle tanks. In Ukraine there were no reported casualties from Russia's latest wave of air strikes on the capital. "Overnight into the 'sacred' May 9, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine," Ukraine's air force said. Sergei Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, said the Russians were trying to kill civilians. "As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed." Moscow denies targeting civilians and says its air strikes are aimed at reducing Ukraine's ability to fight. Debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv but caused little damage, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Debris lay in a road in the often-targeted Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kyiv. Russia has stepped up its attacks this month in anticipation of a looming Ukrainian counteroffensive, after a failed Russian winter campaign captured little territory despite the bloodiest ground combat in Europe since World War Two. Kyiv symbolised its break from Moscow this year by shifting its observance of the World War Two Victory to May 8 in line with European allies; on May 9 it celebrated a declaration that led to the founding of the body that became the European Union. "Good to be back in Kyiv. Where the values we hold dear are defended everyday," the EU's von der Leyen tweeted, calling it a "such a fitting place to celebrate the day of Europe". In Moscow, Putin welcomed the leaders of half a dozen other former Soviet states at the Kremlin before they took their places on the dais outside and later laid flowers at the eternal flame by the Kremlin walls. "Putin is parading his soldiers, tanks and missiles today," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "We must not be intimidated by such power plays! Let's remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine  for as long as it takes!" WAR AT JUNCTURE The Soviet victory over the Nazis is Russia's defining state story under Putin, who says independent Ukraine now represents a return of the World War Two threat. Ukraine, which as part of the Soviet Union overrun by the Nazis suffered worse per capita losses than Russia in World War Two, says Moscow's account of the shared history is distorted to justify today's Russian aggression. The parade comes at a crucial juncture in the war, with Kyiv preparing to launch a counteroffensive in coming weeks after keeping its troops on the defensive for the past six months. Kyiv says Russia tried and failed to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut in time for the holiday to give Putin a trophy for his costly winter campaign. Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the Ukrainian military's eastern command, said little had changed over the past 24 hours in the battle for the city: "The enemy has not taken Bakhmut," he said. "There are no significant changes in positions." Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose private army Wagner made up mainly of convicts recruited from prison led Russia's fighting in Bakhmut for months, has threatened to abandon the city, accusing generals of withholding the ammunition his forces need. On Tuesday he said the ammunition had still not arrived but he did not want to "spoil" the Victory Day parade and would reveal more details later.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is reaching out to US business and financial leaders to explain the "catastrophic" impact a US default on its debt would have on the US and global economies, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. The Treasury secretary is having one-on-one conversations with individual CEOs to warn them about the "dangerous consequences of the current brinkmanship," one of the sources said. The sources declined to name the CEOs with whom Yellen had spoken in recent days, or provide any other details about their conversations, but one said they included executives in the financial sector and broader economy. While the sources did not spell out her purpose, Biden administration officials have been speaking to business owners about pressuring Republicans to raise the debt ceiling without conditions. The Treasury secretary delayed a planned trip to Japan for this week's Group of Seven finance ministers meeting to appear on the ABC News program "This Week" on Sunday, where she warned the failure of Congress to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling could trigger a "constitutional crisis." Talks on the issue should not take place "with a gun to the head of the American people," Yellen said in a pointed reference to Republican lawmakers' insistence on tying a debt-ceiling increase to sweeping spending cuts that Democrats oppose. Yellen is now slated to leave for Japan this week and will hold a news conference in Niigata, Japan, on Thursday before the G7 meeting. President Joe Biden insists that Congress has a constitutional duty to raise the debt ceiling, which reflects previously spent federal money, without conditions. He will meet on Tuesday with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and top congressional Democrats at the White House to try to break the impasse. Yellen told lawmakers last week that Treasury will likely be unable to pay all the government's bills as early as June 1 without an increase in the federal debt limit. Yellen, other economists and analysts have repeatedly warned that a default on US debt would result in millions of job losses, while driving household payments on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards higher. Unlike most other developed countries, the US puts a hard limit on how much it can borrow. Because the government spends more than it takes in, lawmakers must periodically raise the debt ceiling.
India and Canada are getting closer to signing an early-stage trade agreement, a move thats part of a larger Canadian strategy to diversify its Pacific trade and supply chains away from China. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in Ottawa on Monday for ministerial talks and the two countries are making steady progress toward a deal, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Canada has had intermittent trade negotiations with India going back more than a decade, but last year the two sides decided to narrow the scope and focus on an initial deal that would include a few industries, rather than an economy-wide accord. Ng said she has a strong relationship with Goyal and that they are advancing toward a signed agreement. It is not going to be years, she said about how much longer it will take. The point of doing an early-stage trade deal is to be practical and spend time on areas of agreement rather than having talks drag out, she said. Ng didnt lay out the industries that would be included in any such deal, but she said technology  especially for lowering emissions and protecting the environment  would naturally be a focus. There will be rules around investment, rules around tariff reductions, rules around the kinds of services that we would do with each other, rules around how to facilitate trade, she said. Providing a more predictable investment regime for Canadians is also a priority, Ng said. Canadian pension funds are increasingly investing in Indian infrastructure and Canadians overall have about C$65 billion ($48.7 billion) in portfolio investments in India, she said. A trade deal with India is also part of the governments larger Indo-Pacific strategy to diversify its trade away from heavy dependence on China, Ng said. This very much is about building trade ties and resiliency with those who advance and respect the rule of law, she said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing the Group of 20 this year, meaning Canadian ministers will be visiting India throughout the year  with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau likely to attend the leaders summit in New Delhi in September.
OMAHA  A Nebraska woman was sentenced Friday to decades in prison in the death of a 5-year-old boy.

A Douglas County District Court judge sentenced Antonea Cannon, 21, of Omaha, to 70 to 72 years for intentional child abuse resulting in death. She had pleaded no contest to the charge in February.

Cannon took Jaylen Hearnes to the hospital unresponsive in March 2002 and said he was cold to the touch. But police quickly grew suspicious of the account she offered.

Cannon, who identified herself as the sole caretaker of Jaylen, told police she left him with her 12-year-old sister while she worked and that the boy's biological mother took him out to lunch.

Cannon said she noticed him unresponsive after picking him up and taking him with her to get her two children from day care.

But the 12-year-old told police she was not at home that day, and another sister confirmed the girl's account.

Police say injuries to the child were consistent with severe child abuse, and court documents revealed officers found blood in Cannon's home, along with a "striking instrument" that appeared to be splintered.
Sen. Deb Fischer said Monday she is co-sponsoring legislation that would allocate $3.08 billion of unobligated COVID-19 relief funds to "rip and replace" Chinese-made communications technology that is located near critical U.S. military assets, including Offutt Air Force Base and nuclear missile silos in Nebraska.

"When the Federal Bureau of Investigation looked into this phenomenon, it found that the Chinese company Huawei was regularly selling equipment to rural providers at cheap prices that seemed unprofitable," Fischer said.

"In these cases, the equipment would be located next door to American military assets," she said.

"We know that the Chinese Communist Party intends to exploit these vulnerabilities for all kinds of activities, including espionage," Fischer said.

Fischer, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a news release outlining her efforts in the Senate as the Nebraska Legislature was also considering the issue.

Pending is a comprehensive bill (LB683) that was returned from final reading enactment to second-round consideration Monday at the request of Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln for an amendment to address the issue.

Bostar said the amendment would withhold public funding from telecommunications companies that are "compromising our national security."

The amendment was adopted on a 37-0 vote.

Chinese technology has been placed on top of cell towers in Nebraska, Colorado and Montana, Fischer said, and "curiously, these technologies were clustering near critical military locations."

"It's just one example of the threat Chinese-made equipment in our communications networks poses to national security," she said.

Wettest counties in Nebraska Wettest counties in Nebraska #50. Stanton County #49. Boyd County #48. Cedar County #47. Boone County #46. Holt County #45. Valley County #44. Dakota County #43. Platte County #42. Greeley County #41. Franklin County #40. Garfield County #39. Wheeler County #38. Colfax County #37. Kearney County #36. Buffalo County #35. Blaine County #34. Nance County #33. Thurston County #32. Adams County #31. Howard County #30. Hall County #29. Cuming County #28. Thomas County #27. Clay County #26. Webster County #25. Merrick County #24. Fillmore County #23. Hamilton County #22. Nuckolls County #21. Butler County #20. Burt County #19. Dodge County #18. Polk County #17. York County #16. Seward County #15. Thayer County #14. Saunders County #13. Saline County #12. Washington County #11. Douglas County #10. Lancaster County #9. Sarpy County #8. Jefferson County #7. Cass County #6. Otoe County #5. Johnson County #4. Gage County #3. Nemaha County #2. Pawnee County #1. Richardson County
May 09, 2023

Ukraine Open Thread 2023-110

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 May 9, 2023 at 16:23 UTC | Permalink

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Lillian Ip from Cheltenham went missing on April 30 when she was travelling to Dartmouth Dam in Victoria. On the way to the dam, she was driving along a forest road when her car got held up in a puddle of mud and would not move. Uh oh.
Starting May 26, machines will once again chug uphill and glide downhill on the old Milwaukee Road rail line across the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between the long-lost ghost towns of Taft, Montana, and Pearson, Idaho.

Except these days the machines are bicycles, rather than the legendary Hiawatha passenger trains that for decades coursed over what is now the Route of the Hiawatha bike and hike trail near Lookout Pass. Often called simply the Hiawatha Trail, the 15-mile route opens for its 25th season on May 26, following an annual winter closure. The trail will be open every day through Sept. 17. The trail is on National Forest System land but managed by Lookout Pass Ski Area, which offers rental bikes and gear, and operates a shuttle for riders and hikers who want a ride back to Lookout from the far end of the trail. A trail pass, also purchased from the ski area, is required to access the path.

Steam locomotives first pulled trains along the path's 10 tunnels and seven high trestles on July 4, 1909. About 13 months later, many nearby towns and parts of the rail line's infrastructure were destroyed in 1910's "Big Blowup," also known as The Great Burn  a wildfire that consumed as much as 3 million acres in Washington, Idaho and Montana. According to a history of the route compiled by Lookout Pass Ski Area, rail workers saved 600 lives by filling trains with people and moving them into tunnels as the inferno consumed the landscape. After the fire, the route was rebuilt as an electrified line between Avery, Idaho, near the modern path's Idaho end, and Harlowton, Montana. That 440-mile stretch was the first long-distance use of electric locomotives and proved that electrified rail could be efficient and reliable.

The final passenger train on the route  the Milwaukie Road's "Olympian Hiawatha" between Chicago and Seattle  crossed the route in 1961. By the early '70s modern diesel-electric locomotives, which don't rely on electrified rail lines, had supplanted their once-groundbreaking electric predecessors. The last freight train traveled the line in 1980, beginning more than a decade of inactivity and abandonment before the railbed was rehabbed into a bike path.

For the past quarter-century, cyclists have pedaled the scenic path over and through the mountains. The Montana end of the trail sits at a higher elevation than the Idaho end, offering riders a subtle downhill grade for much of the ride  and slight resistance on the ride back, for those who forego the shuttle. Riders can also start at the Idaho end to climb the trail first and then return downhill. Riders who start at the low end in Idaho must ride the trail up and back without a shuttle, and must still purchase a trail pass at Lookout Mountain Ski Area.

Lookout Pass Ski Area recommends that riders start their ride before 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Headlights are mandatory and jackets are advised for the route's cold and dark tunnels, the longest of which is the 1.66-mile Taft Tunnel underneath St. Paul Pass and state line near the Montana end of the path. The tunnel also crosses from the Mountain Time Zone in Montana to the Pacific Time Zone in Idaho's northern panhandle.

The ski area, also on the state line 7 miles from the Hiawatha Trail's Montana end, operates on Pacific Time. The bike rental and trail pass shop at Lookout is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time from May 26 through Sept. 17. Trail passes are $20 in person or $18 when reserved in advance for Monday through Thursday. Passes are $40 in person or $36 in advance for Friday through Sunday  but that price automatically includes a shuttle ride back. Kids' passes are less expensive. Lookout's rental fleet includes standard mountain bikes as well as tandem bikes for two riders, recumbent bikes  on which a rider sits reclined with their feet out in front of them  and adult tricycles. The ski area also rents Burley trailers to tow small children behind bikes, and handlebar-mounted headlights for use in the tunnels. Bag lunches are available as well.

The ski area strongly recommends helmets for all riders, in part because rockfall is possible within tunnels. Helmets are required by Idaho law for riders younger than 18. Dogs are not allowed on the trail, except for service dogs. But service dogs are not allowed in the Taft Tunnel, which can be bypassed via Roland Pass.

Some electric-assist bikes, known as e-bikes, are allowed on the trail. E-bikes have a battery and electric motor that magnify a rider's pedaling effort, a feature called pedal-assist. Some have a throttle but most do not. Class 1 e-bikes, which do not have a throttle and cut off pedal-assist at 18 mph, are allowed on the trail. Class 2 e-bikes, which have a throttle and pedal-assist both limited to 18 mph, are allowed on the trail only if ski area staff can confirm that the throttle is disabled. Class 3 e-bikes, which do not have a throttle but offer pedal-assist up to 28 mph, are not allowed on the trail.

More information, including pricing and pass reservations, is available at ridethehiawatha.com or by calling 208-744-1234.
Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

A private plane experiencing engine issues during its flight from Dallas to Odessa made an emergency landing Tuesday morning at Midland International Airport.

The City of Midland reported that at about 8:20 a.m. Midland International received a call requesting the emergency landing of a private aircraft.
A Mandan woman is charged with attempted murder tied to a weekend incident in which she allegedly used sewing shears to stab another woman multiple times.

Police and West Dakota SWAT officers on Sunday took 50-year-old Sabrina Kraus into custody after she barricaded herself in her apartment, according to the Mandan Police Department. She also is charged with felony aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and preventing arrest, court records show.

The defense attorney listed for her in court records declined comment when contacted by the Tribune.

Officers were called to a Second Avenue Northeast apartment about 4 p.m. on a report that a 59-year-old woman had been stabbed. The woman told police Kraus was in her apartment and became upset when the woman asked Kraus to leave. Kraus allegedly grabbed a sewing scissors from a table and attacked the woman. The woman attempted to defend herself with a firearm but it did not fire, according to a police affidavit. Kraus allegedly further attacked the woman with a piece of wood, causing head injuries.

The woman was taken to a Bismarck medical facility for treatment, the department said. She suffered a number of stab wounds to her head, arms, legs and chest. Authorities did not release her name.

Kraus allegedly told police she had a firearm and continued to make threats to harm others after barricading herself in her apartment. Apartment buildings in the area were evacuated, a number of streets were shut down and traffic was diverted for about three hours, police said.

Kraus was taken into custody without further incident, authorities said. Police allegedly found in her apartment a scissors they say had been cleaned. It matched the description given by the woman who was attacked, according to the affidavit.

Kraus was being held in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Staff Reporter

Richelle obtained a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from the Far Eastern University in Manila, the Philippines. She was a junior reporter for Marianas Variety from 2009 to 2010, and from 2014 to 2015. In the Maldives, she worked as a news reporter and marketing executive. In her free time, shes a painter, pianist, and mom baker.
HELENA, Mont.  Two transgender children, their parents and two health care providers filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that a Montana law that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth is unconstitutional.

The ban on puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgical procedures applies only to transgender youth being treated for gender dysphoria, but that same care can be provided to cisgender adolescents for any other purpose, according to the complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Montana and Lambda Legal.

The ban serves no purpose other than to intentionally burden a transgender person's ability to seek necessary care to align their body with their gender identity, the complaint states. It asks a state judge to block enforcement of the law, which is to take effect on Oct. 1.

The new law provides commonsense protections for Montana children  who cant even enter into contracts or buy cigarettes or alcohol  from harmful, life-altering medications and surgeries," said Emily Flower, spokesperson for Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Opposition to the bill by Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr  the first openly transgender female lawmaker to serve in the Montana Legislature  triggered a series of events that eventually led to her being banned from the House floor for the final days of the 2023 session.

The Republican-controlled Montana Legislature passed the bill and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed it late last month. Montana is one of at least 16 states including North Dakota with laws to ban such care, despite protests from the families of transgender youth that the care is essential.

It is mentally and physically painful to feel like you are trapped in the wrong body, Jessica van Garderen, the mother of a 16-year-old transgender daughter, said in a statement. Going through puberty for the wrong sex is like having your body betray you on a daily basis. The only treatment we have found to be effective and give our daughter hope again is hormone therapy.

Taking away this crucial medical care is inhumane and a violation of our rights, van Garderen said.

The complaint argues that the new law interferes with parental rights and is unconstitutional because it violates the plaintiffs' right to privacy, their right to seek health care and the right to human dignity.

Supporters of the ban, including bill sponsor Republican Sen. John Fuller, said minors should not be allowed to undergo irreversible, life-changing procedures before they are adults and are old enough to understand the consequences and give legal permission.

Just living as a trans teenager is difficult enough, the last thing me and my peers need is to have our rights taken away," plaintiff Phoebe Cross, a 15-year-old transgender boy, said in a statement. The blatant disrespect for my humanity and existence is deeply unsettling.

Under the new law, health care providers who provide such care could lose their medical licenses for at least a year and be subject to lawsuits for up to 25 years after any treatment was provided.

The bill also prohibits public money, such as Medicaid, from being used to pay for such care.

Federal judges in Alabama and Arkansas have blocked laws that sought to ban gender-affirming care. The Department of Justice joined a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of transgender parents and their children against a similar ban in Tennessee.
DENVER (AP)  A judge sentenced a woman convicted of killing her 11-year-old stepson in Colorado and dumping his body over a bridge in Florida to life in prison without parole on Monday, calling her claim that she was insane and that one of her other personalities killed him a disservice to those who are mentally ill.

Earlier in the day, jurors found Letecia Stauch guilty of first-degree murder and other charges she faced in Gannon Stauchs killing over three years ago. Prosecutors said she stabbed Gannon 18 times as he tried to fight her off before hitting him in the head and then shooting him once.

Prosecutors claimed Stauch killed the boy in January 2020 because she hated him and wanted to hurt his father, Al Stauch, whom she planned to leave and who was away on a National Guard deployment at the time. They said she then put his body in a suitcase and drove over 1,300 miles with it in a rented van.

Judge Gregory Werner said Stauch was also motivated by hatred and jealousy of Gannons mother, Landen Bullard, and resentful of being left to take care of Gannon and his younger sister.

Unlike other defendants with mental health problems, Werner said Stauch was never surprised by what her alleged other personality did but instead took conscious steps to cover up her actions.

There is no time during the minutes, hours and days following the murder where Letecia came out and wondered 'Gee, why am I carrying a body around a body in my luggage?' That just isn't credible," he said.

Al Stauch broke down in court while addressing Gannon, saying he would never would have thought he was leaving him with his murderer." Both he and Bullard recalled how their severely premature son weighed about a pound and a half when he was born, able to fit into the palms of his dads hands, but proved to be a survivor.

You came into this world fighting. Unfortunately, you left this world fighting, Bullard said.

Stauch did not deny killing Gannon, but she pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense argued that she killed Gannon during a psychotic break" caused by trauma from being physically, emotionally and sexually abused during her childhood.

Experts at the state mental hospital concluded that Stauch had a personality disorder with borderline and narcissistic features but was sane at the time Gannon was killed. Under Colorado law, that means understanding the difference between right and wrong and being able to form the intent to commit a crime.

The main defense witness, Dr. Dorothy Lewis, author of the book Crazy, Not Insane and featured in an HBO documentary with the same title, concluded Stauch suffered from dissociative identity disorder  when someone has two or more personalities as the result of trauma  and was not sane at the time Gannon was killed.

In the weeks leading up to Gannon's killing, Stauch was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder after she was referred to a psychologist while being treated military health clinic. Therapist Ronda Niederhauser testified that Stauch did not show any signs of being a threat to herself or others and was aware of her surroundings.

Authorities believe Stauch killed Gannon in his bedroom a few hours before reporting him missing on Jan. 27, 2020, saying he had not come home from playing with friends. Dozens of volunteers helped search for the boy in the area around where the family lived near Colorado Springs. However, investigators later revealed that Stauch concocted a variety of stories to mislead them, including that a man she hired to repair a carpet raped her and then abducted Gannon.

After Al Stauch became suspicious of his wife, he allowed the FBI to listen in on his phone calls with Stauch, trying to draw out more information from her about where Gannon was. Hours of audio from those calls along with video recordings of interviews with Stauch about her mental health were a prominent part of the evidence offered during the five-week trial.

Gannons body was found in a suitcase below a bridge on the Florida Pandhandle during an inspection done twice a year in what prosecutors called divine intervention.

Stauch was convicted of first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree murder of a child by a person in a position of trust, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

She did not appear to show any reaction to the verdict as it was read, sitting at the defense table between her two lawyers, or as Al Stauch, Bullard and others spoke to the judge about how Gannon's killing had hurt them.
CS Reed/Getty Images

PITTSFIELD  The state Supreme Court will not consider an appeal of 2021 sexual assault and sexual abuse convictions in a 2021 Pike County case.

Clayton G. Watts, 24, was convicted of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Pike County on July 22, 2021. He was sentenced by Judge Alan D. Tucker to 10 years in prison and, by statute, must serve at least 85% of the sentence and be under supervision after his release.
GLENWOOD, Wis. (AP)  A suspected drunken driver shot and killed a Wisconsin sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop before running into some nearby woods and killing himself, authorities said Sunday.

During a conversation about field sobriety tests, Jeremiah Johnson was evasive, drew a handgun and shot St. Croix County Deputy Kaitie Leising in Glenwood, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Minneapolis, the state Department of Justice said.
LINTON -- The company planning to build a carbon dioxide pipeline through part of southern North Dakota is analyzing a potential route south of Bismarck at the request of state regulators.

There has been significant opposition to the Midwest Carbon Express project by landowners to the north of the capital city.

Summit Carbon Solutions Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Powell said the southern route analysis will be submitted to the Public Service Commission in mid-May. He declined to discuss details during a Tuesday hearing the PSC conducted in the Emmons County seat of Linton when questioned by Randall Bakke, who represents Bismarck-area landowners opposed to the project.

The pipeline would transport 12 million metric tons of climate-warming CO2 emissions from 32 ethanol plants in five states to an underground site in western North Dakota's Oliver County.

The three-member Public Service Commission in recent months has been holding public hearings across the state on the proposed 320-mile pipeline route through Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Logan, McIntosh, Morton, Oliver, Richland and Sargent counties, before it decides whether to approve the route.

Tuesday's hearing dealt with portions of the pipeline that would run through Emmons, Logan, and McIntosh Counties in the south central part of the state, but Bakke also raised concerns voiced by Burleigh landowners in recent months. Residents north of Bismarck have expressed safety concerns with the route of the pipeline, as well as worries that it's too close to developing north Bismarck. The city is expanding to the north much more quickly than it is to the south.

The Burleigh County Commission in early March passed an ordinance that requires companies building hazardous liquid pipelines to submit emergency plans to local officials. Commissioners that month also adopted new zoning regulations that require companies building pipelines for hazardous liquids to obtain a special county permit and follow certain rules. Commissioners also have asked the PSC to hold off on deciding on a permit for Summit's CO2 pipeline until updated federal rules for such projects are in place.

The agency that sets federal standards, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is in the process of updating regulations due to the rupture of a carbon dioxide pipeline in 2020 in Satartia, Mississippi, that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people and sent dozens of people to the hospital.

Pipeline opponents in North Dakota have repeatedly referenced that incident. Summit touts the overall safety record of pipelines and notes that a CO2 pipeline has existed in western North Dakota for more than 20 years, transporting carbon dioxide from the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah to oil fields in Canada.

Other North Dakota counties also have updated local regulations in response to Summit's pipeline plans. The company maintains that federal regulation makes local ordinances unnecessary.

Emmons County in January held a public hearing so county residents could voice their opinions on the project. Summit Land Director Jeff Skaare told county commissioners then that the project would pay more than $400,000 in property tax to the county. But Emmons County Chair Erin Magrum said I don't think there's a big appetite" for green energy projects in the county.

Commissioners in February voted to amend county zoning ordinance to increase setbacks for all types of pipelines to 2 miles from city limits, 1  miles from any residence and 500 feet from other buildings. The update also set a requirement for 100% easements in the county.

Summit has been working to secure the needed land for the project. The company in mid-April said it had reached voluntary easements with landowners for nearly three-fourths of the pipeline route in North Dakota and more than 85% of the sequestration site in Oliver County.

There are about 41 miles of pipeline proposed in northern Burleigh County as part of Summits project. The company in mid-April said it had secured voluntary easements for 25 miles.

Summit recently filed eminent domain lawsuits against at least 80 landowners in South Dakota who are unwilling to sign an easement to allow the pipeline to cross their property. Summit also has filed eminent domain lawsuits in Iowa. A check of court documents showed no such lawsuits filed in North Dakota as of Tuesday.

Eminent domain is the forceful taking of private property use, with compensation. Bills that would have granted North Dakota landowners more rights in the eminent domain process failed to pass in the Legislature this year. The legislation was pushed by Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, who lives in Emmons County.

Personal testimony from landowners at Tuesday's hearing ranged from concerns about safety to frustration with Summit's easement negotiations to questions about whether climate change is a threat.

Emmons County landowner Julia Stramer told the PSC that she has spent more than $8,000 in legal fees and wasted countless hours trying to keep Summit from entering the property that her family has owned for four generations.

Back in the 1960s when my dad would plow the field turning over new topsoil, we would pick rocks, and collect rocks. Our most prized finds were the rocks used by people who lived and used the land many years ago," she said, placing two rocks on the desk where she sat. "We also found arrowheads, pottery, scrapers and bone tools. But the most special were the rocks we called hammerheads. We think that at one time these were attached to bones to make a hammer.

The pipeline would cut diagonally through her property. She told the PSC that her share of the offered easement compensation after income tax figures to be $23.24 per year for 99 years.

If this pipeline is built, the land will be our children and our grandchildrens. It will keep them from wanting to live there and retire there, she said.

A fifth PSC hearing is scheduled in Bismarck at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum for June 2 at 8:30 a.m. A March 14 hearing in Bismarck commenced at 8:30 a.m. and concluded at 10:22 p.m., before everyone who wanted to speak had an opportunity.
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BALTIMORE (AP)  After Maryland lawmakers recently eliminated the statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits amid heightened scrutiny of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced plans Tuesday to bring a series of civil claims on behalf of victims.

The threat of litigation comes as the the archdiocese faces continued fallout from a state report released last month that found more than 150 priests and other clergy in the archdiocese sexually abused over 600 children with impunity. The report, which the Maryland Attorney Generals Office produced after a yearslong investigation, paints a damning picture of the nations oldest Catholic diocese.

Days after the reports release, Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation to end Marylands statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits effective Oct. 1. Previously, victims couldnt sue after turning 38.

Crump, best known for representing victims of police brutality, held a news conference Tuesday outside the Baltimore Basilica with attorney Adam Slater, his partner on some earlier high-profile sex abuse cases. Several potential plaintiffs shared their stories of abuse; some overlapped with findings of the attorney generals investigation while others presented new allegations.

You cannot outrun the trauma that was inflicted, no matter how hard they tried, Crump told reporters. Many of them  for years, for decades  believed it was their fault.

A spokesperson for the archdiocese didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Marc Floto, one of the potential plaintiffs, said the attorney generals investigation inspired him to come forward and speak publicly about childhood abuse he said caused so many problems in his life.

Still to this day, I have so much anger, so much hate, he said, sobbing silently between sentences. The church needs to be held accountable.

Floto displayed a printed photo of himself  in suit and tie, his blonde hair neatly combed  from around the time he said the abuse occurred.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly.

This little boy had his innocence stolen, Crump said.

Floto said he wasnt interviewed for the attorney generals investigation but his abuser, Father James Dowdy, is named in the report.

Ordained in 1969, Dowdy served in several Maryland parishes before abuse allegations surfaced in 1991, according to the report. He denied the allegations, saying it was nothing more than horseplay with boys, and apparently he faced no consequences.

Two years later, another man reported Dowdy had sexually abused him in the 1970s and 80s. Dowdy was then placed on leave and his ministerial faculties were removed, the report says. Church officials agreed to pay the victims counseling and medication costs while simultaneously bankrolling Dowdys therapy, health care and living expenses for years. His expenses cost the church well over $100,000, more than 10 times what the victim received, according to the report. During therapy, Dowdy disclosed many more instances of abuse. Finally, in 1977, his church employment was terminated.

The Baltimore archdiocese has already paid more than $13.2 million for care and compensation for 301 abuse victims since the 1980s, including $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements.

But the recent law change, including a provision making it retroactive, could allow for a deluge of additional lawsuits.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, representing the three dioceses serving the state, opposed the measure, arguing the retroactive window was unconstitutional and citing potentially devastating impacts on the Baltimore archdiocese and other institutions. Anticipating a court challenge, lawmakers included language in the bill that would further delay lawsuits until the Supreme Court of Maryland can determine whether its constitutional.

Several other states have passed similar legislation in recent years, and in some cases, resulting lawsuits have driven dioceses into bankruptcy.

Also present at Tuesdays news conference, former Maryland Sen. Tim Ferguson said he was 13 or 14 when a priest asked to take him fishing for the weekend. The guest bedroom was being renovated, the priest claimed, so they would have to share his bed.

Ferguson said he froze during the assault, then laid awake all night. He was afraid to report the abuse to his parents, worried what his father might do.

Joe Taylor said his abuser, Father Thomas Smith, would take boys on beach trips and make them swim with him in dark waters.

Smiths name appears multiple times in the attorney generals report, which said he both perpetrated abuse and helped protect other abusers in congregations across the Baltimore area. He died by suicide in 1993, not long after a second victim accused him of assault and filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese. The claim was later dismissed because of the statute of limitations, but a judge found the archdiocese committed a possible dereliction of duties in its handling of abuse cases.

The lawsuit came five years after Smith admitted to church officials that he had abused multiple boys in the 1960s  a revelation that was brushed under the rug, according to the report. Shortly after learning of the abuse, then-Archbishop William Borders wrote Smith a letter praising his many fine years of priesthood and ordering him not to engage in any form of youth work, according to the report.

Dozens more victims came forward after Smiths death.

Taylor, who grew up in a devout Catholic family, said his own relatives didnt believe him when he reported Smiths abuse, believing priests to be infallible.

Just a lifelong battle, he said. No amount of money can bring back 45 years of lost friends and family.
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There is a terrible shortage of people who fix things.

I am thinking of electricians, plumbers, glaziers, auto mechanics and many more skilled workers who keep life livable and society running.

It is frustrating if you cant get a plumber when you need one. But the skilled worker shortage has much more significant consequences than the inconvenience to the homeowner. The rate of national progress on many fronts is being affected.

More housing is desperately needed, but architects tell me some new construction isnt happening because of the skilled worker shortage. Projects are being shelved.

The problem in electric utilities is critical  and interesting because the utilities offer excellent pay, retirement and healthcare, and still, they are falling short of recruits. They are aware that many of their workers will be retiring in the next several years, adding to the problem. One utility, DTE in Michigan, has been training former prisoners in vegetation control  the endless business of trimming trees around power lines.

Auto dealerships are scrounging for mechanics, now euphemistically called technicians. Skilled workers are in short supply for the railroad and bridge industries. Many industries are prepared to offer training.

The need is great, and it has a quietly crippling effect on national prosperity.

The skilled worker shortage has been worsening for some time, but it is now palpable.

Contributory factors have been building: The end of the draft meant an end to a lot of trade schooling in the military. Many a youth learned electronics, motor repair or how to paint something from Uncle Sam. That is the generation that is now retiring.

Then there is the education imbalance: We encourage too many below-average academic students to go to college. It is part of the credentialing craze. Those less suited to academic life seek easier and easier courses in lesser and lesser colleges just to come out with a bachelors degree  a certificate that passes for a credential.

The result is a glut on the market of workers with useless degrees in such things as marketing, communications, sociology, and even journalism. If you arrive in college in need of remedial English, your future as a journalist is likely to be wobbly.

Since childhood, I have been impressed with people who fix things: People like my father. He fixed everything from diesel engines to water well pumps, burst pipes and sagging roofs. Men, and women, of his generation worked with their hands, but they were, in their way, Renaissance people. They knew how to fix things from a cattle feeder to a sewing machine, from a loose brick in a wall to a childs bicycle to a boiler.

We arent going to quickly bring back honor to manual work or reverence for the great body of people who keep everything running. So we might look to the hundreds of thousands of skilled artisans who would do the work if they could enter the United States legally. Yes, the migrants milling at the southern border. Many skilled welders, plumbers and masons are yearning to cross the border and start fixing the dilapidated parts of this country.

The owner of a clothing factory told me she was desperate to find women who could sew. She said it is a skill that has just disappeared from the American workforce. A landscape contractor in Washington told me he would close without his Mexican workers.

A modest proposal: Let us write an immigration law based on who is really needed. Add to this a work permit dependent on fulfilling certain conditions. You would soon find company recruiters mingling with the border agents along the Rio Grande.

And we would lose our fear of a burst pipe. Help is just a frontier away.
The North Dakota State University School of Nursing is launching a program in Bismarck aimed at addressing a need for nurses in the state and region.

The Accelerated Nursing degree program will be available through the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck

As a land grant university, we are committed to providing access to education and serving the needs of North Dakota, NDSU President David Cook said in a statement. This new nursing education option underscores our commitment to supporting the health care workforce needs of the state.

In the past year there were more than 1,100 unique job postings for registered nurses in North Dakota, according to NDSU, which cited data from the market analytics company Lightcast. North Dakota has one of the lowest ratios of nurses to population in the country, according to the NurseJournal resource site.

This post-baccalaureate program provides a career path for those who want to use their current degree to help make a career change and prepare to become a licensed registered nurse, said Charys Kunkel, director of NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health.

The program is enrolling students for the fall semester and accepting applications through July 20. It's for people who have completed a non-nursing bachelors degree, or have completed a graduate degree and seek an in-demand health care career. It includes both in-person and online classes.

Students can obtain a bachelor of science in nursing degree in about 14 months, according to NDSU. Financial incentives are available for students who commit to joining the Sanford Medical Center  Bismarck nursing team for three years.

More information is at ndsu.edu/nursing/degrees/accelerated_bsn/ or by calling NDSU Nursing at Sanford Health at 701-224-3800.
Myanmar violence, sea feud are tough challenges for ASEAN View Photo

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP)  Alarm over Myanmars still-unfolding deadly civil strife, including an armed attack on an aid convoy, and Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea are expected to challenge Southeast Asian leaders commitments to non-interference and consensus decision-making as they meet in Indonesia this week.

Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened Tuesday in the resort town of Labuan Bajo to finalize the agenda ahead of the two-day summit of the 10-nation blocs heads of state.

The United States and China are not part of the twice-yearly summit, but their escalating rivalry looms large over the high-profile Asian gathering. Beijing has warned that U.S. efforts to strengthen security alliances and intensify combat-readiness drills with Asian allies would endanger regional stability.

Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN has avoided getting entangled in major-power competition as a bloc. But its diverse members are often involved in partnerships and disputes with superpowers. They range from authoritarian Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which are closely aligned with Beijing, to liberal democracies like the Philippines, which is Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia and recently allowed an expansion of American military presence in the country, to Chinas outrage.

The other members  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have heavy economic and security engagements with both the U.S. and China.

ASEAN wants to remain open, to cooperate with anyone, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, this years ASEAN chair. We also dont want ASEAN to be anyones proxy.

Bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and deciding by consensus have held the unwieldy club of autocrats, monarchs and democracies together for decades. But that approach has also prevented it from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders.

ASEANs principles have been tested since Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. Its become one of the blocs gravest crises since its establishment.

Military airstrikes in April killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an apparent war crime.

Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta said ASEANs inability to persuasively and rapidly address a potential political conflagration like the Myanmar crisis should prompt it to take a second look at its founding principles.

ASEAN can no longer hide under the principles of non-interference and consensus, she told the AP. All of that can work in a non-urgent situation that does not require speed and immediate decision-making to control a crisis.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmars eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

Indonesia had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment but it was very unfortunate that in the middle of the trip there was a shootout, Widodo said Monday.

This will not deter ASEAN and Indonesia from calling for an end to the violence, Widodo told reporters Monday, renewing his call for dialogue among contending parties in Myanmar. Nobody wins in this situation.

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmars military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmars military since assuming the rotating role as ASEANs leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is taking a non-megaphone diplomacy approach to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmars top general in 2021.

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmars top general to their summits after 2020, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmars military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the blocs non-interference policy.

To put it mildly, the organization is now facing nothing short of an existential crisis, said Richard Heydarian, a lecturer on international affairs at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Even regional diplomats who were involved in ASEAN work before have been either guardedly optimistic about the bloc or harshly critical. When asked by The Associated Press to give one word that best describes the blocs current status, one Southeast Asian diplomat replied, Progressing. Another said, Opprobrium.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of clearance to comment publicly on the issue.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders at the summit, they plan to condemn the reported deadly airstrike by the Myanmar military and add that all forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians.

They plan to reissue a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements that does not name China.

Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

At a closed-door session of the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to raise a Feb. 6 encounter in which a Chinese coast guard ship used a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded at least two crewmembers on a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal, a Filipino official told the AP on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Early this year, Marcos granted American forces access to four more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact. Beijing was infuriated by that agreement, which it feared would provide American forces staging grounds to intervene in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

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Associated Press journalists Andi Jatmiko and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report.

By JIM GOMEZ and EDNA TARIGAN

Associated Press
Rights group accuses Myanmar of using fuel-air explosive View Photo

BANGKOK (AP)  Myanmars military used an enhanced blast munition known as a fuel-air explosive in an airstrike that killed more than 160 people, including many children, at a ceremony held last month by opponents of army rule, a human rights monitoring group charged in a report Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch accused the military of dropping the weapon, also known as a thermobaric or vacuum bomb, on a crowd that had gathered for the opening of a local office of the countrys resistance movement outside Pazigyi village in Myanmars central Sagaing region on the morning of April 11. The area is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

The attack caused indiscriminate and disproportionate civilian casualties in violation of international humanitarian law, and was an apparent war crime, the New York-based group said.

Thermobaric weapons consist of a fuel container and two separate explosive charges, with the first detonating to disperse the fuel particles and the second igniting the dispersed fuel and oxygen in the air, creating a blast wave of extreme pressure and heat that creates a partial vacuum in an enclosed space. That makes the weapon particularly deadly for people in an enclosed space, such as the office that was being opened.

Myanmar is wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat in many parts of the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory.

Human Rights Watch said it based its conclusion that a thermobaric weapon had been used on a review of 59 photos of the victims bodies and a video of the site following the attacks.

It said it also analyzed eight photographs and two videos of the remnants of the weapons posted online by the National Unity Government, an underground group that calls itself the countrys legitimate government. It presented them during a news conference three days after the bombing of the building that was supposed to be a local office for the organization.

The attack killed 168 civilians, including 40 children under 18 years old, it said. A 6-month-old girl was the youngest victim and a 76-year-old man was the oldest, the statement said. Its tally could not be independently confirmed by The Associated Press.

A witness told the AP on the day of the attack that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly onto a crowd of people and a helicopter appeared about half an hour later, firing at the site. The witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities, said those killed also included leaders of local anti-government armed groups and other opposition organizations.

Myanmars army acknowledged the attack but defended its actions, accusing anti-government forces in the area of carrying out a violent campaign of terror. It said the Peoples Defense Forces  the armed wing of the National Unity Government  had terrorized residents into supporting them, killing Buddhist monks, teachers and others.

The military governments spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, told state television MRTV there was evidence the attack had set off secondary blasts of explosives hidden by the Peoples Defense Forces around the site.

Human Rights Watch said that according to a witness, the Peoples Defense Forces stored goods, funds, medicines and also some ammunition in the office building, which was intended for civilian uses such as filing taxes, township meetings and judicial processes.

The presence of opposition combatants and ammunition would make the building a legitimate military objective subject to attack, said Human Rights Watch.

Even so, the use of an enhanced-blast weapon for the attack was unlawfully indiscriminate because its use in a crowded civilian area could not minimize the loss of civilian life. In addition, the initial strike and ensuing attacks on hundreds of fleeing civilians was almost certainly an unlawfully disproportionate attack, and possibly a deliberate attack on civilians.

The use of thermobaric weapons is rarely publicly acknowledged because of the indiscriminate destruction they can cause.

The United States has used varieties of fuel-air explosives in conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force dropped what it described as its largest non-nuclear conventional weapon, the 9,840-kilogram (21,693-pound) Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb.

Russia, which acknowledges producing fuel-air munitions, has been accused of using them in several conflicts, including in Ukraine. The weapons have also been reported to have been used by Azerbaijan in fighting against neighboring Armenia, and by government forces in Syrias civil war.

By GRANT PECK

Associated Press
EU takes aim at countries helping Russia to avoid sanctions View Photo

Brussels (AP)  A top European Union official on Tuesday urged the 27 member nations to take trade measures against countries that help the Kremlin to circumvent the blocs sanctions against Russia, sparking a warning from China that it would retaliate if targeted.

During a visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measures  which would set a new precedent for EU action  should be part of a fresh round of Russia sanctions which the member countries are discussing.

We recently see a growth of highly unusual trade flows through the European Union and certain third countries. These goods then end up in Russia, von der Leyen said, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She did not name the countries, but EU officials have raised concerns about certain flows of goods through China and Iran for some time.

If we see that goods are going from the European Union to third countries and then end up in Russia, we could propose to the member states to sanction those goods, von der Leyen told reporters.

All 27 members must approve any sanctions unanimously. Over the last several months, von der Leyens commission has become responsible for proposing what sanction action to take, leaving the member countries to thrash out their differences, sometimes over several weeks.

This tool will be a last resort and it will be used cautiously following a very diligent risk analysis and after approval by EU member states. But there should be no doubt that we work against sanctions circumvention, she said.

Chinas foreign minister said Beijing would respond strongly if the EU took steps against Chinese companies doing legitimate business in Russia.

Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing has laws forbidding arms deliveries to crisis regions. At the same time, he insisted that exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies should not be interfered with.

We are strictly against some countries using their own domestic laws, their long arm jurisdiction, to impose one-sided sanctions against China, Qin said, according to an official interpreter. In such a case, we would also react strongly to this and defend the legitimate interests of our country and our companies.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that any sanctions would target specific companies, not countries, that supply Russian arms manufacturers with critical components  including so-called dual use goods.

This is not directed at any specific country, but rather it is directed in particular at these sanctioned goods, she told reporters in Berlin. But we expect of everyone, including of China, that they put pressure on their companies accordingly.

The EU has imposed 10 rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Banks, companies and markets have been hit  even parts of the sensitive energy sector. Well over 1,000 officials are subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

Much work has involved closing loopholes so that goods vital to Putins war effort do not get through. However, it is the first time that plans have been announced to target trade via other countries, apart from sanctions against Iranians alleged to be supplying drones to Russia.

Past sanctions have been agreed in just months  extremely quickly for the EU. But new measures are becoming increasingly hard to endorse as they inflict damage on the economic and political interests of some member countries even as they aim for the Kremlin.

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Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.

By LORNE COOK

Associated Press
Mother Lode Roundup Queen candidates, Ginna Hahn, KaeLee Gates, Opal Cahoon and Tommi Cover View Photo

Sonora, CA  Popular community events leading up to the 64th Mother Lode Roundup will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of the parade and rodeo on Saturday and Sunday.

This Wednesday will be the Rick Restivo Band Review at Sonora High School. The various school bands from across Tuolumne County will take part in the annual free concert that starts at 6pm.

Activities will shift over to the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Posse Grounds on Rawhide Road on Thursday. The Queen coronation will begin at 4pm. This years candidates are Opal Cahoon, Tommi Cover, KaeLee Gates and Ginna Hahn. Then at 6pm will be the Calcutta, which is an auction of the upcoming rodeos calf scramble participants to raise money for local scholarships.

The parade will be Saturday at 10am in downtown Sonora and the two-day rodeo is set for Saturday and Sunday at 2pm at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

Click here to view the myMotherLode.com Roundup section that lists the 2023 schedule of events, history, and special awards.

Last weekends Mother Lode Views also previewed the Roundup, and you can find the 30-minute show here.
TPx, a leading managed services provider (MSP), is transforming its network and IT systems to better serve small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). In a recent interview with VP of Solutions Marketing Shannon Graham and CMO Lauren Wickstead, they discussed the companys evolution from a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in California in 1998 to an MSP that offers a broad range of services to SMB customers. TPx is retooling its network systems, processes, products, and people to become more agile, eliminate the network, and focus on network and IT transformation. The goal is to be more than a CLEC and to offer more than just circuits.

TPx is looking for representatives who can have a managed services discussion, not just about circuits, said Wickstead. They are eliminating the network to become more agile and are focusing on network and IT transformation. They had homegrown systems but are making a transformation to ServiceNow and Salesforce to help in broadening their portfolio. TPx has hired new solution architects and a security overlay team to help close deals. Security is new for many telecom people, so TPx is growing with them. TPx also offers free cyberthreat and network assessment programs and brings in solution architects to get a foot in the door with security. The customers they target are companies with 100 to 2,000 employees. TPx will work with smaller companies, just not SOHO (small office/home office).

TPxs UCx voice solution is embedded in Webex, which we launched just before the pandemic, said Wickstead. UCx with Webex transforms the way employees work with a single solution that includes video meetings, whiteboarding, secure messaging, file sharing, built-in call control functionality, and more, to increase employee productivity and streamline teamwork. The benefits of UCx with Webex include dozens of features in one app, enhanced teamwork and collaboration, custom design around teams, and the ability to use the tools (Google, Salesforce, Microsoft, and more) you like most. The solution also offers enterprise-grade security and compliance, integrated calling and call control, immediate access to new features and updates, and business continuity. This helped a lot of people with traditional PBXs keep business continuity.

Inbox detection and response is also a helpful addition to their portfolio, as TPx is helping clients comply with the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information  the Safeguards Rule, for short.

As the name suggests, the purpose of the Safeguards Rule is to ensure that entities covered by the rule maintain safeguards to protect the security of customer information. The Safeguards Rule took effect in 2003, but after public comment, the FTC amended it in 2021 to make sure the rule keeps pace with current technology. While preserving the flexibility of the original Safeguards Rule, the revised rule provides more concrete guidance for businesses. It reflects core data security principles that all covered companies need to implement. The Safeguards Rule applies to financial institutions subject to the FTCs jurisdiction and that arent subject to the enforcement authority of another regulator under section 505 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C.  6805.

The Safeguards Rule deadline is June 9th, 2023, said Wickstead. TPx has a partnership with the American Creditors and Collection Association to help their membership base prepare for the above timeline. Shannon Graham noted that Security can mean a lot of things to different people but at TPx, its about more than just installing firewalls and antivirus software. Its about working with customers to understand their unique needs and risks and developing customized solutions to mitigate those risks. TPxs approach to security is reflective of its broader strategy of working closely with SMB customers to understand their needs and provide tailored solutions to help them achieve their goals.

One of TPxs key service offerings for SMBs is its UCx voice solution, which is embedded in Webex. This solution provides a range of features to enhance collaboration and productivity, including video meetings, secure messaging, and file sharing. With UCx and Webex, employees have access to a single app that offers dozens of features, along with enterprise-grade security and compliance, integrated calling and call control, and the ability to use tools from a range of providers.

Overall, TPxs transformation efforts are aimed at helping its partners help SMBs stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and security. With cybercrime on the rise and expected to cause $10.5 trillion in damages by 2025, according to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, the stakes are high for businesses of all sizes. By partnering with TPx, SMBs can access customized solutions and expert guidance to help them mitigate their risks and achieve their goals. And with the Safeguards Rule deadline approaching, TPxs partnership with the American Creditors and Collection Association provides an added level of support to help businesses comply with these important regulations.

In conclusion, TPx is committed to transforming its network and IT systems to better serve SMB customers. The company is retooling its network systems, processes, products, and people to become more agile, eliminate the network, and focus on network and IT transformation. TPxs approach to security is reflective of its broader strategy of working closely with SMB customers to understand their unique needs and risks and developing customized solutions to mitigate those risks. As the threat of cybercrime continues to grow, TPx is well-positioned to help SMBs stay ahead of the curve and protect their businesses from the financial and reputational costs of a cyberattack. Finally, the company continues to receive industry recognition in telecom  specifically SD-WAN, as well as cybersecurity.

Aside from his role as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO, Rich Tehrani is CEO of RT Advisors and a Registered Representative with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.

RT-Advisors continues its mission of assisting tech companies in M&A and capital raising using our unique tech media background and relationships to aid companies to optimally position themselves. In addition, as of late we have been increasingly assisting fast-growing tech companies in obtaining non-dilutive capital. Please let us know if we can be of assistance. The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors.
Visit Tuolumne County View Photo

Sonora, CA  While celebrating its 40th anniversary, Visit Tuolumne County (VTC), a private, non-profit, destination marketing organization, got some good news: a growth in travel spending in the county.

The figures were tabulated by Visit California in its 2022 Travel Impact Report, which was prepared by Dean Runyan Associates as part of National Travel and Tourism Week and California Tourism Month. The numbers show that overall total direct travel spending in the county increased from $241 million in 2021 to $251 million in 2022.

The $10 million increase in local tax contributions includes transient occupancy tax, or TOT, money. That has helped offset household income taxes by $954, according to VTC, and added 290 tourism-related jobs, with a breakdown of the numbers showing an increase from 2,260 in 2021 to 2,550 last year.

We are thrilled to see a healthy growth in tourism spending in Tuolumne County, stated President and CEO of Visit Tuolumne County Lisa Mayo. Over the past 40 years, we have been growing Tuolumne Countys tourism economy, and we look forward to continuing to build a robust marketing plan and continue a healthy trajectory for tourism growth.

Key markets, according to VTC, are national and international visitors, who tend to stay longer and spend more while visiting a destination. In 2022, VTC targeted those areas, expanding its national markets to include Washington, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona, and internationally to include Mexico. There was also a re-launch into Canada while continuing marketing efforts in the UK and Ireland.

We have received reports from many of our partners that they are seeing an increase in visitors from Mexico and Canada. While our website reports show increased visitation from all our expanded markets, remarked Mayo.

Mayo also shared that another key initiative for tourism growth during off-peak and mid-week times is using the countys unique spaces and outdoor adventures for board meetings, team building, and retreats. Bookings that VTC has already assisted in making across the county. It is also a marketing tool Mayo says VTC has already invested in with meeting and group advertising, along with offering a refreshed incentive offer and meeting planner guide. For more information on VTC, click here.

Of note, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors recently discussed whether to reduce the current 20% of Transient Occupancy Tax revenues (around $1.75-million) to support VTC to around $500,000 as a possible set amount going forward, as earlier reported here. At this time, the board has not made any decision on whether to reduce VTC funding.
Minnesota prepares for near-total ban on forever chemicals View Photo

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  Minnesota is on the verge of banning non-essential uses of forever chemicals. And lawmakers say they are naming the legislation after a woman who spent the last months of her life campaigning for restrictions that will be some of the toughest in the country.

Legislators, environmentalists and family members paid tribute Tuesday to Amara Strande. She died two days shy of her 21st birthday last month from a rare form of liver cancer. She grew up in a St. Paul suburb where the groundwater is contaminated by PFAS and believed the chemicals were part of what caused her cancer, which was diagnosed when she was 15.

Through her pain and exhaustion, Amara was willing to be a voice of those who have become the victims of illnesses that are linked to these forever chemicals, said her father, Michael Strande. Amara called on the lawmakers of Minnesota to do what is right in passing laws that will not only protect our environment, and human lives, but also force industries to find alternative ways of manufacturing their products without these deadly chemicals.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have spread around the globe and dont break down in the environment. They have been linked to a broad range of health problems, including low birth weights and certain cancers. The chemicals have been used since the 1940s in many consumer and industrial products, including nonstick pans, fast-food packaging, fabrics and firefighting foam.

I have spent the last five years fighting cancer with every ounce of my being. And I will for the rest of my life, Amara Strande said at an emotional news conference with lawmakers and her parents back when they announced the legislation in January. Corporations must stop the production of these toxins and be held accountable and pay for the damage theyve done. Through no fault of my own, I was exposed to these toxic chemicals. And as a result, I will die with this cancer.

Amaras Law will allow only limited exceptions to the ban, such as firefighting foam used at airports and oil refineries and in protective clothing for firefighters. It also will require companies to disclose if the products they sell in Minnesota contain the chemicals. The ban would take effect in 2025 for a long list of products including carpets, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fabrics and fabric treatments, furniture, products for children, menstruation products and ski wax.

A House-Senate conference committee that is negotiating the details of a broad environment and natural resources bill agreed last Thursday to the PFAS language that will be included. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and his administration support the ban. He is expected to sign it after the House and Senate complete work on the final package.

This will be the strongest PFAS legislation in the nation, said Democratic Rep. Sydney Jordan, of Minneapolis, who went on to say: Minnesota invented PFAS. By passing this, Minnesota is going to invent the solution.

Supporters said Minnesota has a special responsibility because the chemicals were invented by Maplewood-based 3M, which announced in December that it is exiting PFAS manufacturing and discontinuing their use in its products.

We have a duty to lead the charge in their eradication from the environment, from our bodies, from our consumer products, from our water, said Democratic Sen. Judy Seeberger, of Afton, the lead sponsor in the Senate. She said the issue is personal because her home well is contaminated with PFAS, forcing her to use a filtration system to get safe water.

Andrea Lovoll, legislative director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said the Minnesota legislation goes farther than any other states and has the strictest list of what counts as non-essential uses. For example, she said, Californias restrictions dont cover cookware or require as many comprehensive disclosures. Up until now, she said, Maine has had the strongest restrictions. But Maines 2021 law mandates a phaseout by 2030 while Minnesotas law kicks in faster.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year designated the chemicals as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. But the EPA stopped short of an outright ban, after warning that the compounds were more dangerous than previously thought and pose health risks even at extremely low levels.

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This story corrects the last name of Andrea Lovoll, legislative director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

By STEVE KARNOWSKI

Associated Press
Pennsylvania House battle hinges on Philadelphia suburbs View Photo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Democrats who reclaimed the Pennsylvania House majority in November and clung to a one-seat margin by sweeping three special elections earlier this year face yet another contest for control of the chamber next week, when voters will fill a vacancy in the Philadelphia suburbs.

At stake in the Delaware County special election is whether freshman Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro will have at least one chamber to aid his agenda going into the final month of budget negotiations. The result could also affect a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion rights that legislative Republicans are one House vote away from putting before voters as a referendum.

The seat became open when Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel resigned in March, a week after a lobbyist accused him by name of sexual harassment.

A win by Republican candidate Katie Ford, a military veteran, school volunteer and behavioral therapist, would likely give the House GOP a 102-101 majority and the power to reclaim control of the legislative agenda and the chambers voting calendar. Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat, has presided over the House since February.

But the Democrat in the race, Heather Boyd, a former congressional and state legislative aide, is running in a district that has given solid margins to Democratic candidates in recent elections. Libertarian Alfe Goodwin, whose campaign focuses on criminal justice reform and fighting homelessness, is also on the ballot.

During a debate between Ford and Boyd that was hosted by WHTM-TV in Harrisburg last week, Ford said she is against having Pennsylvania voters decide the abortion amendment, a Republican-crafted proposal which states that the Pennsylvania Constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions. Ford said she is personally opposed to abortion but would not seek to change existing state law.

Boyds effort to tie Ford to the longstanding Republican effort to ban or further restrict abortion access in Pennsylvania includes an ad in which Shapiro warns that a Republican House majority will move to strip him of veto power over anti-abortion legislation.

Ford has focused her own campaign messaging on the Zabel scandal. She argues that Boyd did not respond sufficiently when she learned of Service Employees International Union lobbyist Andi Perezs account, that Zabel caressed her leg while they discussed legislation outside the Capitol in 2018 and did not stop when she moved away from him.

Zabel told The Associated Press, when he resigned in March, that he had planned to defend himself through the House Ethics Committee but ultimately decided he did not want to continue putting his loved ones through a public ordeal.

Common sense says that if someone comes to you and says that theyre being sexually harassed, you do something about it, Ford said during the debate. You dont just let it go. Boyd responded that she did not endorse or support Zabel after hearing Perezs account, and while active in the county Democratic Party hierarchy she tried to find someone to run against Zabel but was not successful.

Perez last month endorsed Boyd, saying the candidate had for years respected her request to keep her account regarding Zabel private.

Republicans entered the 2022 election with a 113-90 advantage in the state House, but Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats, barely enough to claim majority status and elect McClinton as speaker.

If Ford wins, and if Republicans hold on to a central Pennsylvania seat in the Sunbury area as widely expected, the chamber will return to GOP control. The House Republican floor leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, was speaker last year but said he no longer wants the job, raising the prospect of a GOP leadership fight while lawmakers work to pass a budget before the states next fiscal year begins in July.

Even if McClinton retains the speakership after next weeks special election, another potential fight for House majority control looms. At least four incumbent Democrats are on the ballot for local positions this year. Rep. John Galloway of Bucks is running for district judge, Rep. Amen Brown for Philadelphia mayor, Rep. Kristine Howard of Chester for common pleas judge and Rep. Sara Innamorato to be Alleghenys next county executive.

If any or all of them win in November, that will create new Democratic vacancies in the House, at least until additional special elections can be scheduled in early 2024.

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This story has been updated to correct that McClinton has presided over the House since February.

By MARK SCOLFORO

Associated Press
AP sources: US Rep. George Santos facing federal charges View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. Rep. George Santos, who faced outrage and mockery over a litany of fabrications about his heritage, education and professional pedigree, has been charged with federal criminal offenses, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The charges against Santos, filed in the Eastern District of New York, remain under seal.

The people could not publicly discuss specific details of the case until it is unsealed and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The unsealing would happen when Santos appears in court, which could come as soon as Wednesday.

Reached on Tuesday, Santos said, This is news to me.

Youre the first to call me about this, he said in a brief phone interview.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment. The charges were first reported by CNN.

The New York Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street background, college degrees and a history as a star volleyball player. Serious questions about his finances also surfaced  including the source of what he claimed was a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands of dollars in back rent.

Santos has resisted calls to resign and recently announced he was running for reelection. He said his lies about his life story, which included telling people he had jobs at several global financial firms and a lavish real estate portfolio, were harmless embellishments of his resume.

Pressure on him to quit, though, has been intense. Reporters and members of the public hounded him. He was mocked on social media and late-night television. Fellow New York Republicans demanded he resign, saying he had betrayed voters and his own party with his lies.

Nassau County prosecutors and the New York attorney generals office had previously said they were looking into possible violations of the law.

Besides questions about his life story, Santos campaign spending stoked scrutiny because of unusual payments for travel, lodging and other items.

The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and urged regulators to investigate Santos. The mountain of lies Santos propagated during the campaign about his life story and qualifications, the center said, should prompt the commission to thoroughly investigate what appear to be equally brazen lies about how his campaign raised and spent money.

In his filings with the FEC, Santos initially said he loaned his campaign and related political action committees more than $750,000  money he claimed came from a family company.

Yet, the wealth necessary to make those loans seems to have emerged from nowhere. In a financial disclosure statement filed with the clerk of the U.S. House in 2020, Santos said he had no assets and an annual income of $55,000.

His company, the Devolder Organization, wasnt incorporated until spring 2021. Yet last September, Santos filed another financial disclosure form reporting that this new company, incorporated in Florida, had paid him a $750,000 salary in each of the last two years, plus another $1 million to $5 million in dividends. In one interview, Santos described the Devolder Organization as a business that helped rich people buy things like yachts and aircraft.

Court records indicate Santos was the subject of three eviction proceedings in Queens between 2014 and 2017 because of unpaid rent.

Some Republicans, including those in his district, have sharply castigated Santos for his dishonesty. The Nassau County Republican Committee, which had supported his candidacy, said it would not support Santos for reelection.

Santos lost his first race for Congress in 2020 but ran again in 2022 and won in a district that is in the suburbs of Long Island and a sliver of Queens.

A local newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had raised issues about Santos background before the election but it was not until a few weeks after the election that the depth of his duplicity became public.

The New York Times reported that companies where Santos claimed to have worked, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, had no record of him having been an employee. Baruch College, where Santos claimed to have gotten a degree in finance and economics, said he hadnt been a student.

Beyond his resume, Santos invented a life story that has also come under question, including claims that his grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII.

During his campaign, he referred to himself as a proud American Jew.

Confronted with questions about that story, Santos, a Roman Catholic, said he never intended to claim Jewish heritage.

The Times also uncovered records in Brazil that show Santos, when he was 19, was the subject of a criminal investigation there in 2008 over allegations he used stolen checks to buy items at a clothing shop in the city of Niteroi, which is near Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian authorities said they have reopened the case.

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Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and JAKE OFFENHARTZ

Associated Press
Plainview ISD has been the talk of the town over the past week after multiple protests against the school district in their handling of a sexual abuse case between multiple students and recorded and watched by others at Plainview South Elementary in mid-April.

One of the main activists of the protests in Plainview last week was Heather Gonzales. During Monday and Fridays protest, she stated that she wants protesters to remain non-violent and focus on making their voice heard. She spoke with the Herald Monday morning to reiterate her stance.

We continue to tell everyone who's standing with us that we want everything to be completely calm. We do not want any violence. We will not want any, you know, aggression towards anybody. We want this to remain peaceful, Gonzales said.

News of Plainview ISD and the protests gained traction on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Those media outlets have helped spread the story to a national audience with some individuals on those apps condemning PISD while others have commented their support in the protesters cause. More notably, there have been individuals that have made threats upon the districts faculty and students.

The threats Plainview ISD received over the past week were directed towards faculty and students at South Elementary. Specifically, there were death threats made to the boys and teacher in the classroom at South Elementary along with others.

PISD took screenshots of those threats posted on social media and sent them to the FBI, Department of Public Safety and other relevant law enforcement agencies.

The Herald reached out to those agencies but was unable to receive a response before press time.

In response to the threats received, the district initially announced their plan to cancel Monday classes at South Elementary. That announcement was made last Friday. PISD later sent out a message to district families Sunday evening alerting them of the cancellation of classes district wide.

That was posted on Plainview ISDs website the same day and read, As we continue to receive threats and as there was a mass shooting in Allen Texas, PISD will cancel school Monday throughout the district in an abundance of caution. Due to misinformation regarding a matter under investigation, we continue to receive threats of violence that are extremely concerning.

The district released another statement Monday afternoon that announced their plans to cancel school for a second day in a row. The statement shared more details on the actions PISD took in their decision to cancel classes.

PISD submitted a case to the Hale County District Attorneys Office regarding the threats. The district is also working with the Texas Education Agency and Texas Department of Public Safetys Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division to, assess the containment and continued viability of threats of violence made state-wide and nationally against South Elementary and PISD educators, the districts statement Monday read.

The return of classes at Planview ISD this year is still up in the air. The statement the district released Monday did not give a clear timetable on when classes would resume. The statement read, Once we receive feedback from both entities (TEA and DPS), we will decide on when classes may continue.

Gonzales shared with the Herald that threats made to the district will distract from what the movement and the changes they are looking to make.

We know that if there's any violence that occurs with whoever is making these threats, it's going to take away from what we're trying to do, Gonzales said.

Gonzales and protesters are calling for change from the district leaders. They want change in the districts communication with parents and members of the community. They also want the district to hold its faculty and district leaders accountable. Gonzales has already organized two protests last week and told the Herald she plans to speak at the upcoming school board meeting May 18.
President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia, reprising a familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces.

Putins remarks came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched.

The Russian leader has repeatedly sought to paint his invasion of Ukraine as necessary to defend against a Western threat. Kyiv and its Western allies say they pose no such threat and that Moscow's war is meant to deter Western influence in a country that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland.

Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric that harkens back to the earlier war in an effort to rally his citizens and forces  and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this year's celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns after several drone attacks have been reported inside Russia.

Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday  the lowest number since 2008. Even the procession in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part. There was no fly-over of military jets, and the event lasted less than the usual hour.

This is weak. There are no tanks, said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscow's Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. Were upset, but thats all right; it will be better in the future.

The Kremlins forces deployed in Ukraine are defending a front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), presumably thinning the ranks of troops available for such displays.

This is supposed to be a showpiece for Russian military might. But so much of that military might has already been mauled in Ukraine that Russia has very little to show on its parade in Red Square," said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Londons Chatham House think tank.

As a display of military hardware it was very underwhelming, said Michael Clarke, visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, noting that the T-34, the iconic World War II tank, was the only tank on display. Normally they show off all the really modern stuff, and they didnt have any of those. Nor did they seem to have armored fighting vehicles.  So there was nothing new on display.

Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II  a pillar of the holiday  were canceled in multiple cities.

That seems to be for fear that those people who have lost their relatives in this current war on Ukraine might actually join the processions and show just the scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in its current war," Giles said.

Russian media counted 24 cities that also scrapped military parades  another staple of the celebrations  for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancelations. It wasnt clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin that it called an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied involvement.

There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it.

On a tribune in Red Square, Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland, Putin said.

The guest list was also light amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would head to Moscow as well.

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw them.

In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defense Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they, too, pulled out.

Prigozhins allegations could not be independently verified, and the Russian military has not commented on them.

The threat of departure marked another flare-up in Prigozhins long-running dispute with Russias military brass over credit and tactics in the war.

On Tuesday, he contrasted the pomp of the May 9 celebrations, broadcast across Russia, with the reality on the ground.

Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers; we did not deserve a single bit of this victory. The counteroffensive will be on the ground, not on television, Prigozhin warned, adding that the Russian state is unable to defend the country.

Prigozhin has become known for such inflammatory, headline-grabbing statements, particularly at key moments when attention is focused elsewhere  but issuing them on Victory Day was remarkably bold.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The missiles came hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Von der Leyen urged EU member nations to take measures to prevent countries from helping Russia to circumvent the blocs sanctions. The EU has noticed that certain products that have been banned to undermine Russias war effort are still getting through, she said.

Von der Leyen did not name the countries.

Ukraine is keen to join the EU, but membership is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

Later in the day, Zelenskyy used his nightly address to mark Europe Day, having decreed Monday that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, and join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8.

In the address, he drew parallels between the brutal aggressions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

It is only a matter of time before the current aggressor loses, like the aggressor who lost 78 years ago, before Russian revanchism is crushed by the bravery of our warriors and the joint power of the free world, he said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A Plainview man reported missing in April was found dead in a local apartment on Saturday.

According to the Plainview Police Department, officers entered an apartment at the 800 block of Denver St. around 2 p.m. on May 6 and found Christopher Coleman's body.

An autopsy was conducted on the body on Monday and his cause of death was determined to have been a stroke.

Coleman was last heard from on April 20.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  New Zealand police said they have found the body of a high school student in a cave after a school group got into trouble when floodwaters hit.

A group of 15 students and two adults had set out Tuesday morning on a trip to the Abbey Caves in Whangarei as part of an outdoor education class, authorities said. The others made it out safely.

The death has raised questions about why school officials chose to go ahead with the trip even after forecasters had warned that heavy rain was approaching.

The district council website cautions people to check weather forecast as caves can be prone to flash flooding. The site says the cave system features dramatic limestone outcrops, sink holes and three significant caves.

We acknowledge this event has been very distressing for the school and wider community, and that there are a number of questions the public will have, Police Superintendent Tony Hill said in a statement. "At the moment, polices focus is on supporting those affected."

Hill said the body was recovered late Tuesday.

Whangarei Boys High School Principal Karen Gilbert-Smith wrote on Facebook that the event was hugely upsetting for all those involved.

In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united as a WBHS community and provide support where required, the principal wrote.

Further south, the heavy rainfall and flooding Tuesday prompted authorities in Auckland to declare a state of emergency. The declaration remained in place Wednesday morning as the weather eased.

Fire and emergency crews said they responded to more than 200 calls on Tuesday, most of them in Auckland. Many were for floodwaters entering buildings, but they had also responded to landslides, falling trees and trapped cars. Some train and bus services were canceled, and authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Severe weather has plagued the North Island this year. In January, four people were killed when floodwaters hit Auckland. In February, 11 people died when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a difficult time for the region.

He said Tuesday he'd yet to find out all the details on what had happened to the student.

I do want to express my deep concern there and my absolute support for the school community," Hipkins said.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military has systematically evaded accountability in the deaths of 20 journalists over the past two decades, launching slow and opaque investigations that have never resulted in prosecution or punishment, an international press-freedom group said in a report Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued its report ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh  a Palestinian-American journalist with the Al Jazeera satellite channel who was killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

The army has said Abu Akleh was likely killed by Israeli fire, but said the shooting was accidental and not announced any disciplinary action.

The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the failure of the armys investigative process to hold anyone responsible is not a one-off event, said Robert Mahoney, CPJs director of special projects and one of the reports editors. It is part of a pattern of response that seems designed to evade responsibility.

The New York-based CPJ documented the cases of 20 journalists killed by Israeli military fire over the last 22 years. Eighteen of the dead were Palestinians, while the other two were European foreign correspondents. At least 13, including Abu Akleh, were clearly identified as journalists or traveling in vehicles marked with press insignia, it said.

No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths, the report said. The impunity in these cases has severely undermined the freedom of the press, leaving the rights of journalists in precarity.

The report found a routine sequence in the deaths of journalists. Israeli officials typically discount evidence or witness claims while cases are still under investigation, and journalists are accused of terrorism without providing any evidence. Probes can drag on for months or years and clouded in secrecy before they are closed, and families of the dead have little legal recourse.

Israels procedure for examining military killings of civilians such as journalists is a black box, it said. There is no policy document describing the process in detail and the results of any probe are confidential.

It found that the army tends to launch more robust investigations in cases such as Abu Aklehs, when the journalist holds a foreign passport, but even those do not result in prosecution.

It called for criminal investigations into three cases: Yasser Murtaja, a well-known Palestinian journalist killed while covering protests along the frontier with Israel in 2018; Ahmed Abu Hussein, another journalist killed covering Gaza protests in 2018; and Abu Akleh.

Israeli officials claimed without giving evidence that Murtaja was a militant.

In the case of Abu Akleh, the army said there was a very high probability that she was shot by an Israeli soldier who had misidentified her as a militant. But it held out the possibility that she had been shot by a Palestinian militant, though it gave no evidence to support that claim.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it regrets any harm to civilians during operational activity and considers the protection of the freedom of the press and the professional work of journalists to be of great importance.

It said it operates in a complex security reality and does not intentionally target noncombatants, using live fire only as a last resort. It said criminal investigations are typically opened in cases of civilian deaths, unless the incident occurred in an active combat situation or if there is no suspicion of a crime having been committed by IDF soldiers.

Abu Akleh, who was 51, was shot while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on May 11, 2022. The area is known to be a stronghold of Palestinian militants.

The Israeli military frequently operates in the camp and said its soldiers had been involved in intense gunbattles with militants that morning. But it has provided no evidence that Palestinian gunmen were in the vicinity of Abu Akleh.

A number of independent investigations, including one by The Associated Press, concluded that Abu Akleh was almost certainly killed by Israeli fire and found no evidence of militant activity in the area. Witness accounts and amateur videos have also shown the area to be quiet before she was shot.

The United States concluded that an Israeli soldier likely killed her by mistake, but it did not explain how it reached that conclusion. A U.S.-led analysis of the bullet last July was inconclusive as investigators said the bullet had been badly damaged.

The Palestinian Authority, Al Jazeera and her family have accused the army of intentionally killing Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist well known across the Arab world for documenting the harsh realities of life under more than half a century of Israeli military rule.

The report said the shooting has had a chilling effect on press freedom.

Many reporters covering similar raids and tensions  which have risen markedly since Shireens killing  are afraid of being shot, said Guillaume Lavallee, chairman of the Foreign Press Association at the time of the shooting, told CPJ. He said the feeling of vulnerability is especially strong among Palestinian colleagues.

The FPA represents dozens of international media organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including The Associated Press.

In its report, the CPJ called on the Israeli military to reform its rules of engagement to prevent the targeting of journalists, to guarantee swift, independent and transparent investigations and to make their findings public.

It also called on the U.S. to issue an update on the status of a reported FBI investigation into Abu Aklehs killing and to put pressure on Israel to reform its rules of engagement.

___

This story has been corrected to show that CPJ is asking for an investigation into the death of Ahmed Abu Hussein, not Yousef Abu Hussein.
Contacting Berkshire Hathaway Customer Service Center

https://www.contactcustomerservicenow.com/contact-berkshire-hathaway-customer-service/

Berkshire Hathaway is the corporation owned by Warren Buffett, one of the richest men on earth. The website for the company is bleak with just a tiny bit of information offered up about Buffett, the company and subsidiaries of the company. Some of the companies operating under Berkshire Hathaway include Brooks, Fruit of the Loom, Geico, Oriental Trading Company and McLane Company.

Contact Info:

Click here to leave a comment about your customer service experience.

Contacting Berkshire Hathaway customer service is not easy. There are a few pieces of contact information, but this is the first company weve encountered that admitted from the start youll probably not receive an email or mail response in return. If you need to contact s subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, use the contact information for that company.

Phone Contact Numbers

There is no phone number listed on the Berkshire Hathaway website. We did find the phone number listed online, however, on a trusted website. The company operates with low overhead costs so staffing is limited.

Corporate: 1-402-346-1400

Activewear Customer Service: 1-866-638-5390

Fax: 1-866-337-0412

Mailing Address

Contacting Berkshire Hathaway customer service is not a simple feat. You can choose to write to the customer service department, but there is little chance youll receive a letter in return.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc3555 Farnam StreetSte 1440 Omaha, NE 68131

Or

Berkshire Hathaway Activewear4545 Malsbary RdCincinnati, OH 45242

Official Website

The Berkshire Hathaway site is located at http://berkshirehathaway.com/. The shop side of the business is located at http://www.berkshirewear.com. You can order clothing and accessories. The prices are extremely affordable compared to other activewear companies.

Social Media

Berkshire Hathaway, and founder Warren Buffett, are not particularly impressed with social media. You wont find pages on sites like Facebook.

Customer Service Email

We found a contact email for Berkshire Hathaway and the shop. You will not receive a response from the company email, according to the message on the corporate website, but you will likely receive a response from the activewear shop.
Yves here. Highly unequal societies have lower life expectancy, even for high income cohorts, compared to the top wealthy in more equal countries. But the life span costs are more obvious at the bottom of the food chain.

Note the US prison population has fallen but remains at a high level. From the Sentencing Project:

However, even though the US is no longer the worst in the world in terms of prisoners per capita, look at our company. From Statista:

By Fred Clasen-Kelly, a senior correspondent for KFF Health News. Originally published at KFF Health News

After spending 38 years in the Alabama prison system, one of the most violent and crowded in the nation, Larry Jordan felt lucky to live long enough to regain his freedom.

The decorated Vietnam War veteran had survived prostate cancer and hepatitis C behind bars when a judge granted him early release late last year.

I never gave up hope, said Jordan, 74, who lives in Alabama. I know a lot of people in prison who did.

At least 6,182 people died in state and federal prisons in 2020, a 46 percent jump from the previous year, according to data recently released by researchers from the UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project.

During the pandemic, a lot of prison sentences became death sentences, said Wanda Bertram, a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit that conducts research and data analysis on the criminal justice system.

Now, Jordan worries about his longevity. He struggles with pain in his legs and feet caused by a potentially life-threatening vascular blockage, and research suggests prison accelerates the aging process.

Life expectancy fell in the United States in 2021 for the second year in a row, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That decline is linked to the devastating effect of Covid-19 and a spike in drug overdoses.

Some academic experts and activists said the trend also underscores the lasting health consequences of mass incarceration in a nation with roughly 2 million imprisoned or jailed people, one of the highest rates in the developed world.

A Senate report last year found the U.S. Department of Justice failed to identify more than 900 deaths in prisons and local jails in fiscal year 2021. The report said the DOJs poor data collection and reporting undermined transparency and congressional oversight of deaths in custody.

Thousands of people like Jordan are released from prisons and jails every year with conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and infectious diseases they developed while incarcerated. The issue hits hard in Alabama, Louisiana, and other Southeastern states, which have some of the highest incarceration rates in the nation.

A major reason the U.S. trails other developed countries in life expectancy is because it has more people behind bars and keeps them there far longer, said Chris Wildeman, a Duke University sociology professor who has researched the link between criminal justice and life expectancy.

Its a health strain on the population, Wildeman said. The worse the prison conditions, the more likely it is incarceration can be tied to excess mortality.

Mass incarceration has a ripple effect across society.

Incarcerated people may be more susceptible than the general population to infectious diseases such as Covid and HIV that can spread to loved ones and other community members once they are released. The federal government has also failed to collect or release enough information about deaths in custody that could be used to identify disease patterns and prevent fatalities and illness inside and outside of institutions, researchers said.

Over a 40-year span starting in the 1980s, the number of people in the nations prisons and jails more than quadrupled, fueled by tough-on-crime policies and the war on drugs.

Federal lawmakers and states such as Alabama have passed reforms in recent years amid bipartisan agreement that prison costs have grown too high and that some people could be released without posing a risk to public safety. The changes have come too late and not gone far enough to curb the worst effects on health, some researchers and activists for reform said. Still, no one has proven that incarceration alone shortens life expectancy. But research from the early 2000s did show the death rate for people leaving prison was 3.5 times higher than for the rest of the population in the first few years after release. Experts found deaths from drug use, violence, and lapses in access to health care were especially high in the first two weeks after release. Another study found that currently or formerly incarcerated Black people suffered a 65 percent higher mortality rate than their non-Black peers. Black people also make up a disproportionately high percentage of state prison populations. The enactment in 2000 of the Death in Custody Reporting Act, and its reauthorization in 2014, required the DOJ to collect information about deaths in state and local jails and prisons. The information is supposed to include details on the time and location of a death, demographic data on the deceased, the agency involved, and the manner of death. But a recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that 70 percent of the records the DOJ received were missing at least one required data point. Federal officials also lacked a plan to take corrective action against states that didnt meet reporting requirements, the GAO found. The deficiency in data means the federal government cant definitively say how many people have died in prisons and jails since the Covid-19 pandemic began, researchers said. Without data, we are operating in the dark, said Andrea Armstrong, a professor at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, who has testified before Congress on the issue. Armstrong said federal and state officials need the data to identify institutions failing to provide proper health care, nutritious food, or other services that can save lives. The DOJ did not make officials available for interviews to answer questions about the GAO report. In a written statement, agency officials said they were working with law enforcement and state officials to overcome barriers to full and accurate reporting. The Justice Department recognizes the profound importance of reducing deaths in custody, the statement said. Complete and accurate data are essential for drawing meaningful conclusions about factors that may contribute to unnecessary or premature deaths, and promising practices and policies that can reduce the number of deaths. Department officials said the agency is committed to enhancing its implementation of the Death in Custody Reporting Act and that it has ramped up its efforts to improve the quality and quantity of data that it collects. The DOJ has accused Alabama, where Jordan was incarcerated, of failing to adequately protect incarcerated people from violence, sexual abuse, and excessive force by prison staff, and of holding prisoners in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. The deficiency in data means the federal government cant definitively say how many people have died in prisons and jails since the Covid-19 pandemic began, researchers said. Jordan served 38 years of a 40-year sentence for reckless murder stemming from a car accident, which his lawyer argued in his petition for early release was one of the longest sentences in Alabama history for the crime. A jury had found him guilty of being drunk while driving a vehicle that crashed with another, killing a man. If he were convicted today instead, he would be eligible to receive a sentence as short as 13 years behind bars, because he has no prior felony history, wrote Alabama Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace, who reviewed Jordans petition for early release. With legal help from Redemption Earned, an Alabama nonprofit headed by a former state Supreme Court chief justice, Jordan petitioned the court for early release. On Sept. 26, 2022, Wallace signed an order releasing Jordan from prison under a rule that allows Alabama courts to reconsider sentences. A few months later, Jordan said, he had surgery to treat a vascular blockage that was reducing blood flow to his left leg and left foot. A picture shows a long surgical scar stretching from his thigh to near his ankle. The Alabama Department of Corrections refused an interview request to answer questions about conditions in the states prisons. Jordan said his vascular condition was excruciating. He said he did not receive adequate treatment for it in prison: You could see my foot dying.
My position with the Post has evolved since 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and The City Paper, after which I worked with both publications. The City Paper ceased operations in 2013, two years after I was named Post managing editor. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post.

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Now that The New York Times has done its job of whitewashing the reputation of sociopathic scam artist Elizabeth Holmes, it has turned its attention to domestic terrorist Mauricio Garcia (33), who murdered eight people at a Dallas-area mall.

Human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid has outlined the disturbing facts about Garcia. He had a deep-seated hatred for women and Black people, openly praised Hitler and neo-Nazis, and donned Nazi regalia. He was active on social media platforms, using them to endorse genocide.

However, The New York Times seems perplexed about Garcia's motive for his heinous act. In a story headlined, "After Texas Mall Shooting, Searching for Motive and Grieving for Children," it said:

Investigators trying to learn why a gunman fatally shot at least eight people at a Texas mall are examining a social media profile, rife with hate-filled rants against women and Black people, that they believe belonged to the gunman. The profile, found on the social media site OK.RU, matches the gunman's birthday and refers to a motel where he was staying before the shooting. The profile also includes language praising Hitler, with references to neo-Nazi websites like The Daily Stormer. On Sunday, officials identified the gunman, who was killed at the mall by a police officer, as Mauricio Garcia, 33. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

If this seems weird, it's worth noting that The New York Times has been previously accused of attempting to normalize neo-Nazis, as evidenced by a 2017 article titled "In America's Heartland, the Nazi Sympathizer Next Door."
At Wednesdays Americana Music Honors and Awards ceremony, Rhiannon Giddens will receive one of two inaugural Legacy of Americana Awards. The newly established honor was created in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music (which is set to open in Nashville in 2020), and recognizes an artist, writer, producer or educator who has either made a lasting impression through music or inspired art to recognize the legacy of Americana music traditions.

Giddens fellow honoree is the late Frank Johnson, a black folk musician who was born enslaved in North Carolina, rose to prominence in the 19th century and was largely forgotten until John Jeremiah Sullivan researched and told his story in The New Yorker. Sullivan traces the connection points between Johnson and Giddens, the latter of whose work as both a musician and a scholar celebrates the vast contributions of African American string bands and players to the broader American music canon.

The Scene caught up with Giddens to discuss the award, Johnsons legacy and her thoughts on representation in country and Americana music. Our conversation also touched on her two newest recorded projects: her excellent collaboration with Francesco Turrisi, there is no Other, as well as Songs of Our Native Daughters, the debut album from Our Native Daughters, Giddens band with three other black women who play roots music  Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla.

What does it mean to you to be the first recipient of the Legacy of Americana Award?

Its wonderful that they want to recognize the work Ive been doing. I really appreciate it, because you know its not easy trying to do what I do in a sort of commercial industry. Its not been the easiest thing in the world. I really appreciate them nodding to a historical figure. The only thing that has really taken me aback a little bit was the quickness with which Frank Johnson was taken into the history of American music.

Which is amazing, but theres been absolutely no mention of the man who single-handedly uncovered him, John Jeremiah Sullivan, who wrote that article. Nobody knew about him before Sullivan discovered him, basically. So thats been sort of a distressing thing for me, because what I do relies so much on people like Sullivan, who have combed through newspaper notices and painstakingly put together this portrait of this man, Frank Johnson.  I just think thats really important to acknowledge, because what I do is very much in line with what these writers are doing. Im just doing it through music.

So, to your knowledge, Sullivan is not involved in the awards process?

Well, Ive brought him into the Americana Association. Were doing a panel now. I dont think there was a malicious intention. This is just how these things happen  and its how people disappear. Its as easy as that, you know what I mean? So its worth saying. And I do believe [the Americana Music Association] has reached out to [Sullivan], so its totally fine. But thats my job, as well, to make note of these things and make sure that everybody is being highlighted.

I was struck by how Sullivan was able to unearth and piece together a story that had so far gone untold. When you first encountered it, what did you experience? And what, since then, have you connected to in Johnsons work?

It didnt surprise me, because Ive been doing work of my own. Knowing that [Johnson] is part of this long tradition of string-band music  to have a name, and somebody who is so influential, thats important. 

In the pre-recording era, you have this nameless, faceless mass of black musicians who helped form the core of what is now known as American music. And its so nice to have a name and so nice to have this knowledge that he was so well-respected, that his funeral was so large, that he had such an impact even beyond the black string-band tradition that he belonged to. That is a very special thing, to have a personality to hold up, to give an award to. Because there are so many anonymous musicians that well never know.

In recent years, especially, there have been a lot of conversations about diversity both at AmericanaFest itself and, more broadly, in the country and Americana communities. You appear in Ken Burns new film Country Music, speaking about African American musicians and their place in country music history. When you consider where those conversations are now, particularly acknowledging these musicians whose legacies have been erased, what progress do you hope to see made?

Oh, theres so much progress that needs to be made. Thats just the way it is. People forget that there were hundreds of years of ignoring these things, hundreds of years of influences and things going into the music but being completely disregarded, and history being written to reflect that. Theres a lot to be righted, so you cant do it all at once, and not one person can do it all.

You have to do it piece by piece by piece. I havent seen the whole thing. Im only in the first episode. Im sure theres loads Ill wish were in the miniseries. But [Burns] is telling it the way he sees it, and he has made it very clear that [race] is a strand he wants to highlight. I think thats huge progress right there, that hes in the mix talking about that. I was the last interview for the project, and Im grateful he included my voice. Its moving slowly, but its moving. I definitely can see that now.

You recently wrapped up a run of dates with Our Native Daughters. What has it been like for the four of you to come together and share a stage?

Its great. I think everybody pulled a lot of strength from that. Were each of us in our own world, sort of pushing the boulder up the hill and trying to talk about some of these things. So to come together and have a united front for a minute was really powerful. Those moments are really important. I saw an article where some guy was like: Whats with all these supergroups? I dont get it. Im like: Yeah, youre a white dude, you probably wouldnt get why coming together as black women means something. It doesnt have to mean anything to him, but it meant something for us and for the people who came and saw us.

It also hasnt been long since there is no Other came out. A few weeks ago, I saw a tweet from you talking about how you got to bring the minstrel banjo and the daf drum to The Today Show, which is such a cool thing to say. How does it feel to be able to bring this music to audiences who may not be familiar with it?

It was kind of weird. They read the New Yorker article and said, Lets hire her! But it was cool. These kind of shows, I dont know what particular rings that stone dropped in the pond makes, but it was cool to bring it to a prime-time show. It was cool to see them react to it. Those guys have seen a lot of stuff over the years, and it felt like a genuine [reaction]: Wow, this is cool and different. We like this. It was fun. Surreal, but fun. Im talking to Al Roker with my banjo on.
A century after its heyday in its Mississippi birthplace, blues continues to evolve in unlikely places  including Mississippi. The circumstances that spawned blues in the early 20th century are mostly gone, and what remains of that culture can primarily be found in the physical landscapes of the Mississippi Delta and the states Hill Country, which is separated from the Delta by a few miles. So you could travel to Mississippi to see the landscape, visit tourist sites and hear re-creations of the old-time music. But this weekend, Nashville is the place to be, as a longtime annual event offers the opportunity to see Sharde Thomas and the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band  the foremost living practitioners of a style that is even older than the blues, but which also draws from blues and popular music.

Thomas music recasts blues in a form that draws upon North American and African traditions, and it has nothing to do with nostalgia. She and her band will perform Saturday at An Ode to Otha, the 25th annual installment of an event that connects Nashville and Mississippi. The party celebrates the birthday of Thomas grandfather: legendary fife and drum master and Rising Stars founder Otha Turner, a sharecropper who lived in Tate County, Miss., and achieved worldwide fame before he died in 2003. Turner was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship in 1992, and saw his music used in Martin Scorseses 2002 film Gangs of New York. An Ode to Otha is organized each year by Nashville lawyer Bill Ramsey, a friend of Turners who shares his June 2 birthday.

The event is a benefit for the Second Harvest Food Bank and is a party and picnic complete with multiple bands, food and kid-friendly activities.

Ramseys annual celebration aims to carry on the spirit of Turner, who for decades oversaw picnics at his farm in the Tate County community of Gravel Springs. Ramsey had first seen Turner (who sharecropped on Ramseys grandfathers plantation) play in Mississippi around 1960, when Turners music was known only to folk-music collectors. Eventually, Ramsey and Turner met, with the Nashvillian bringing Turner and Rising Stars to town to play as part of an early-90s Tennessee Dance Theatre piece composed by musician Max Carl.

Otha Turner was a force of nature, Ramsey tells me from his Nashville office. We used to go to that picnic down there, and I dont even know how many people were there  800, 1,000, 1,600 people. When Otha was there we never saw a fuss or a fight. If Otha heard about one coming up, he would just walk over there and stop it, by the force of his personality.

Turner, who was born in Madison County., Miss., in 1907, personified a style of music that, like blues, blends African and North American approaches to rhythm and melody. Turner sang and played a homemade cane flute to the accompaniment of snare and bass drums. His approach was derived from a style of music that developed in the West African country of Senegal, and began spreading in America in the 1700s as African American slaves started performing in and forming military bands.

When I saw Turner perform in Memphis in the 90s, he played staccato pentatonic melodies, while the drummers created patterns that often seemed ready to roll free of the bar lines. Turners music reworked blues songs like Willie Dixons 1955 My Babe and The Mississippi Sheiks 1930 Sitting on Top of the World into folk music. What mattered in Turners performances was pattern and repetition that encouraged movement  principles his granddaughter continues to honor.

We like to keep it fresh, to interact with all ages in the audience, Thomas says from her home in North Mississippi. Born in Senatobia, Miss., in 1990, Thomas began playing fife when she was 5, and took over leadership of Rising Stars after Turners death. She has toured with the band in Europe and recorded in Nashville with Americana duo Blue Mother Tupelo, who will also appear at the Ode to Otha picnic.

We continue to do My Babe for the old fans, and we might throw Little Sally Walker in, or Wild Thing,  says Thomas. Lately weve been doing [Elle Kings] Exs and Ohs, and the kids really love that one.

Thomas has modernized one of Americas oldest musical forms, becoming an international star. She and her band may be the last surviving practitioners of this particular tradition in fife and drum music  a role she finds both satisfying and thought-provoking.

I think if I ever stop, it will be the end, she says. Thats the scary part. I wouldnt want that to happen. I dont want somebody else to just pick it up and carry it  unless they carry it on the right way.
(Natural News) The CEO of the inclusive AB InBev blamed misinformation on social media for stoking a nationwide boycott of Bud Light following the brewers move to promote the beer with TikTok trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

People often talk about this topic in social media like noise You have one fact and every person puts an opinion behind the fact. And then the opinions start to be replicated fast on each and every comment. By the time that 10 or 20 people put a comment out there, the reality is no longer what the fact is, but is more [about] what the comments were, chief executive Michel Doukeris told the Financial Times.

Instead of taking the blame for the companys catastrophic attempt to virtue signal, even if it means alienating the vast majority of its clients, Doukeris instead blamed online misinformation and confusion, including reports that Mulvaneys Bud Light can is a production can and every can would be like the one that was in that post . . . We never intended to make it for general production and sale for the public. Well, thats just a brilliant way for InBev to also alienate the progressives after scrambling to distance itself from the entire fiasco.

He said others thought it was a Bud Light campaign while it was not: it was one post. It was not an advertisement. Narrator: it was.

Dylan Mulvaney has become the new brand ambassador for Bud Light. ? The beer brand even made a special edition Dylan Mulvaney Can ?celebrating his 365 days of girlhood. (This is not April Fools, its actually real) ??????? #dylanmulvaney#trans#transgenderpic.twitter.com/xuu87WxrvZ  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 1, 2023

Doukeris was furious about videos of billboards with images of the Bud Light can inserted electronically and 10mn people [were] watching it and commenting . . . That had nothing to do with Bud Light, it was just like pure social media creation.

Last Thursday, Doukeris said in an earnings call that Bud Lights decline in US sales for the first three weeks of April accounted for 1% of the brewers global volumes. He did not comment on potential full-year impacts, indicating it was too early to have a full view.

During the earnings call, Doukeris attributed the Bud Light controversy to misinformation.

LISTEN: @AnheuserBuschs CEO blames misinformation for @BudLight being pulled into controversy/the political debate, following their sponsorship of trans-TikToker Dylan Mulvaney: pic.twitter.com/GEbbrI1juE  Will Hild (@WillHild) May 4, 2023

He noted the boycott is having a negative impact on overall sales.

LISTEN: @AnheuserBuschs CEO confirms the @BudLight backlash is having an *ongoing* negative impact on their overall sales, saying its too early for the company to understand the duration and total impact pic.twitter.com/EVFTspIrft  Will Hild (@WillHild) May 4, 2023

The latest data from Bump Williams Consulting based on Nielsen IQ data show boycotts of Bud Light collapsed sales by 26% from a year ago for the week ending on April 22.

Bud Light executives have been desperately scrambling to restore the brands image by accelerating the production of new ads, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, sales of rival brands Coors Light and Miller Light each grew 21% during the same period ending April 22.

Bud Light is now facing boycotts from both ends of the political spectrum as LGBTQ bars are displeased with the brewers lack of support for Mulvaney.

Read mroe at: ZeroHedge.com
(Natural News) Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy introduced a bill into the House of Representatives on Friday, May 5, to crack down on the ability of illegal immigrants to vote in federal elections.

The Protecting American Voters Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Matt Rosendale of Montana and Pete Sessions and Michael Burgess of Texas, provides state officials with the power to obtain any information they need to verify the citizenship of individuals upon their voter registration. (Related: Jim Price: Americans must FIX election system to get the president they really want  Brighteon.TV.)

Specifically, the bill compels the Department of Homeland Security to provide states with information about the citizenship status of voter registrants when asked. The Social Security Administration must also provide information for states inquiring about citizens born in the United States.

American citizens and American citizens only should have the power to determine our republics future, wrote Roys press office in a statement. Thats why Rep. Roy is leading the fight to protect U.S. elections.

Previously, Homeland Security was allowed to provide such information, but only at its discretion. Social Security, meanwhile, is not permitted to provide any kind of detail for matters of election integrity.

More and more illegals getting the right to vote in elections

Illegal immigrants are becoming a more common sight at polling stations all over the United States. As of April 2023, over a dozen towns and cities in three states  California, Maryland and Vermont  allow non-citizens to vote in local elections.

At least 12 other states  Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin  do not have clear impediments to allowing municipalities to pass their own voter qualification laws allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.

Only seven states  Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio  have specific laws preventing immigrants, legal or otherwise, from voting in state and local elections.

At the federal level, non-citizens are legally prohibited from casting a vote for congressman, senator and president. But many migrants still regularly slip through the cracks every election. One audit of Georgias election found that the states voter registration rolls from 2022 included some 1,634 non-citizens who were registered to vote. The audit does not state how many of those migrants actually voted.

Roy and others like him are seriously concerned about the effect of uncontrolled illegal immigration on future elections. The administration of President Joe Biden has seen a surge in illegal immigration, with Customs and Border Protection encountering over 2.3 million migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border during the entirety of the 2022 fiscal year, which lasted from October 2021 to September 2022.

By February 2023, Border Patrol has already seen over one million illegals at the border. As many as 700,000 illegals are just waiting for the end of Title 42 before attempting a crossing. This makes Roys bill an important one, especially since leading Democrats have made it clear how important illegal immigrants are to their election strategies.

Learn more about voter fraud and attempts to secure Americas elections at VoteFraud.news.

Watch this video showing millions of illegals flooding into America.

This video is from the EARTH SHAKING NEWS channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

As end of Title 42 looms, 90,000 illegals rush to Americas southern border over 10-day period.

Mexico-based cartels gearing up to flood America with up to one million illegal aliens after Biden opens the border by dropping Title 42.

Connecting the Dots: Forensic computer expert exposes methods used in election fraud  Brighteon.TV.

BLUEPRINT PLAN: How to use Florida Governor Ron DeSantis model for secure elections to protect the US national election in 2024.

Illegals pose as migrant children to get expedited access across U.S. border.

Sources include:

DailyCaller.com

RedState.com

Ballotpedia.org

Brighteon.com
Texas House Rep. Bryan Slaton (45), a beloved GOP ultra-conservative married man with a family, was forced to resign as a result of a scandal involving a young staffer, whom he allegedly intoxicated to the point of blurred vision before engaging in nonconsensual intercourse.

From the Texas Tribune:

The committee report said Slaton had invited the 19-year-old woman to his Austin apartment late March 31 and gave her a large cup of rum and coke, then refilled it twice  rendering her unable to "effectively consent to intercourse and could not indicate whether it was welcome or unwelcome."

In other questionable actions, Slaton also provided alcohol to the aide and another woman under the age of 21 on several occasions, the report said.

The report also alleged that after Slaton and the woman had unprotected sex in the early hours of April 1, Slaton drove her home, and she later went to a drugstore to purchase Plan B medication to prevent a pregnancy. Slaton, a staunch abortion opponent, later tried to intimidate the woman and her friends into not speaking about the incident, the report said.
(Natural News) The consumption of gene-edited pigs has been authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as German-style sausages, according to a report by NextGov.

Gene editing involves making changes in an organisms DNA that would typically occur in nature or through selective breeding but would take longer without a tool like CRISPR.

While the FDAs authorization is limited to these specific pigs, it demonstrates that gene-editing livestock to quickly produce desirable traits for improved food production is a viable strategy for helping feed the planets growing population, but of course, it will be with altered food that is not proven safe  like these pigs.

Jon Oatley, a professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences in Washington State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, is working towards FDA approval for a line of gene-edited pigs and believes its essential for universities to set a precedent by working with federal regulators to introduce these animals into the food supply, ensuring that the research isnt for naught.

Its important for a university to set the precedent by working with federal regulators to get these animals introduced into the food supply, he told the outlet. If we dont go through that process, all of the research were doing is for naught because it will never make it out into the public.

Oatley is utilizing CRISPR, the dangerous gene-editing tool, to enhance genetic traits in livestock and is currently striving for FDA approval for a line of gene-edited pigs. He initiated the investigational food use authorization process for five gene-edited pigs to demonstrate that food derived from these animals is safe to consume and to establish that an academic institution can obtain this type of FDA approval.

The pigs, which were two years old, were processed at the universitys Meat Lab and their meat was inspected by the US Department of Agriculture. Meat scientist Blake Foraker then turned some of the pork into sausages, which will be used to raise travel funds for the universitys Meat Judging team through catering services.

The pigs were initially gene-edited to serve as surrogate sires, meaning they could sire offspring with traits from another male pig. This involves gene-editing male animals to be sterile by targeting a gene specific to male fertility called NANOS2. The sterile male animals are then implanted with another males stem cells, which produce sperm with the desired traits that can be passed on to future generations.

Surrogate sire technology, a high-tech version of selective breeding, can revolutionize the dissemination of valuable genetics in livestock, enhancing meat quality, as well as animal health and resilience to changing environmental conditions, particularly in developing nations. The progeny of the surrogate sires have not yet undergone FDA review for possible food chain inclusion.

Obtaining investigational approval for the five gene-edited pigs required clearing several hurdles, including spending two years and about $200,000 collecting data for the authorization. While the FDA waives some fees for non-profit organizations such as universities, the process was still an arduous one for Oatley and his team.

The original intent in making these animals was to try to improve the way that we feed people, he told the outlet. And we cant do that unless we can work with the FDA system to get these animals actually into the food chain.

Acceligen is the only other organization that has had a gene-edited animal approved by the FDA to enter the food supply. In 2020, the FDA granted a low-risk determination for products made from Slick-Haired Cattle, which are gene-edited to have coats that increase their resilience to higher temperatures.

Other companies have had genetically modified animals approved by the FDA, but their approach was transgenic, involving inserting DNA from outside species into the organisms genome. Gene editing, on the other hand, is a more advanced technology that only works within a species DNA and can make changes that could occur naturally or through traditional breeding practices.

But its this very technology and tampering with our food chain that is to blame for a range of health phenomena and problems. And, the CRISPR tech itself was found to cause hundreds of unintended mutations, scientists have warned.

Sources include:

NextGov.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A Denver City Council member named Candi CdeBaca, who is currently running for reelection has declared that she wants white owned businesses taxed extra and for these funds to then be redistributed to black owned businesses.

(Article by Mike LaChance republished from TheGatewayPundit.com)

Simply put, this is racism and communism.

Why is this person on the Denver City Council? Is this how the people of Denver truly wish to be represented?

NBC News in Denver reports:

As Banks Fail and Americans Scramble to Protect Retirement Accounts With Physical Gold and Silver, A Faith-Based Company Shows Them How

Denver Councilwoman CdeBaca suggests tax on white-owned businesses Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca is suggesting a new tax on white-owned businesses to fund racial reparations to minority-owned businesses. CdeBaca advocated for race-based taxation, which would almost certainly prompt constitutional challenges, at a Thursday forum before the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance. CdeBaca faces a June 6 runoff to represent District 9. Her challenger, Darrel Watson, said he also supports racial reparations in the form of private business investment in underserved communities. Capitalism was built on stolen land, stolen labors, and stolen resources, said CdeBaca, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist. CdeBaca said a business improvement districts, or BID, could be used to enact a race-based tax on white-owned businesses.

You could be collecting those extra taxes from white-led business all over the city and redistributing them to Black and Brown-owned businesses, CdeBaca said.

See the video below:

Denver City Council member Candi CdeBaca, who is running for re-election, says white owned businesses should be taxed extra and redistributed to black owned businesses. pic.twitter.com/s9JhSdAmtj  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 5, 2023

People responded on Twitter:

Its always sad when bigots get into government office.  Dread Pirate Darin (@ddogsbbq) May 5, 2023

And this is how you chase business out of Denver.  Beekman (@BeekmanNoCo) May 5, 2023

Social decay is caused by the government, They divide us by pigmentation, sexuality, economic status, and political ideology, & then they pit us against one another, as seen here.  ????? ??? ??????????? (@Scotty_2017) May 5, 2023

Blatant Communism.  James Lindsay, Reformer (@ConceptualJames) May 5, 2023

There needs to be a movement in America to expel radical, racist, leftists from office.

Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com
(Natural News) Generals of the United States Armed Forces are warning the country about Chinas growing influence in Latin America, which is resulting in millions of dollars worth of Chinese military assets making their way into the hands of South American nations.

Chinese activities in South America represent a relentless march to replace the primary influence the U.S. has over the continent, according to Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of the U.S. Southern Command responsible for armed forces activities in South America. (Related: Global military spending hits record-high $2.24 trillion amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, heightened tension in Taiwan.)

Between 2009 and 2019, the Chinese Communist Party transferred more than $615 million worth of military assets to just five South American nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. These military assets include small arms, ground vehicles, air defense radars and aircraft.

China is also strengthening military ties and increasing its military presence in the region. Cuba regularly hosts the Peoples Liberation Army, Chinas armed forces, for port visits. Chinese peacekeepers also regularly participate in peacekeeping operations in Haiti.

The communist nation regularly conducts military training exercises and provides supplies to local law enforcement in the region as well. For example, China provided the police departments of socialist Bolivia with military vehicles and anti-riot gear. China donated patrol and logistics vehicles to the police forces of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. More recently, on Feb. 10, China presented Panamas security forces with thousands of tactical helmets and bulletproof vests.

This is a risk we cant accept or ignore, said Richardson.

China also influencing Latin America politically and economically

China has also used its growing influence in Latin America to pressure five nations to sever their diplomatic ties with Taiwan. These are Panama (2017), El Salvador (2018), the Dominican Republic (2018), Nicaragua (2021) and, just this year, Honduras.

Experts warn that the remaining holdouts in the region are facing increased pressure to establish full diplomatic ties with the communist mainland. These holdouts are Belize and Guatemala in Central America; Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean; and Paraguay in South America.

In 2000, China accounted for less than two percent of exports to Latin America. Within eight years, the communist nations trade with the region grew at an average annual rate of 31 percent. By 2021, Chinese trade to Latin America totaled $450 billion, and China is currently the top trading partner for South America and the second-largest for Latin America as a whole, right behind the United States.

China has also been flooding Latin America with overseas foreign direct investments and loans. Between 2005 and 2020, Chinese state-owned banks together loaned some $137 billion to Latin American governments in exchange for lucrative projects and products like oil and contracts for energy and infrastructure projects. In 2020 alone, China provided Latin America with over $17 billion in investments and loans, mostly going to South America.

Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck warned that these investments and loans are leading to China obtaining more and more control over critical infrastructure in the region. China already owns more than 80 percent of Mexicos telecommunications infrastructure. Other nations with massive Chinese debts, like Venezuela, could be forced to hand over their own critical infrastructure, such as their energy grids.

Learn the latest news about and involving China at CommunistChina.news.

Watch this clip from Newsmax as news anchors Lidia Curanaj and Michael Grimm discuss why President Joe Biden isnt worried about Chinas growing threat.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Signs Chinese troops were invited into America to disarm and carry out executions of patriots for the globalists  what did China get for the millions they paid the Biden crime family?

America is the BIGGEST THREAT to Taiwan right now, says geopolitical researcher Brian Berletic.

Taiwan to buy 400 American anti-ship missiles as China continues to threaten the island nation.

Chinese invasion of Taiwan looms as international leaders take neutral position over the longstanding conflict.

Divide and conquer: Gen. Michael Flynn warns China is dividing the US and its allies in push for global domination.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

News.USNI.org

CFR.org

FirstPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium for multiple nuclear weapons.

During his visit to Greece, Gallant told his Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos that Iran is not happy with just one nuclear bomb. In fact, it has already accumulated enough enriched uranium at the 20 percent and 60 percent levels for five.

If Iran enriches to the 90 percent weaponized level, it would be a great error and the price would be heavy, and there would be consequences which could inflame the Middle East, Gallant said. As per the defense official, only top-level intelligence cooperation between Israel and Greece had prevented a possible disaster.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Tehran accumulated enough enriched uranium at a high but non-weaponized level for four nuclear weapons. Gallants statement made it clear that Tehrans build-up of its potential nuclear arsenal continues as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl recently said Iran could weaponize uranium in less than two weeks. (Related: Thanks, Obama: U.S. defense official declares Iran can construct a nuclear bomb in about 12 days.)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently told a congressional bipartisan delegation led by Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, that Iran could blackmail any American city if it acquired nuclear weapons.

To have Iran being able to threaten every city in the United States with nuclear blackmail is a changing of history, Netanyahu said. Iran is 50 North Koreas and not merely a neighborhood bully like the dynasty that rules North Korea.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) earlier addressed the Knesset plenum, the supreme authoritative body of Israels unicameral legislature. He also spoke with Netanyahu about the dangers of a nuclear Iran.

Iranian official: US responsible for all attacks on Irans nuclear facilities

Responding to the remarks of U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the Israeli occupations freedom to act against Irans nuclear program, Secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said Sullivans announcement means that America was and still is responsible for all the terrorist attacks of the Zionist entity on Iranian people and nuclear facilities and it must bear the consequences of that.

Sullivan said in an address to the Washington Institute think tank on May 4, that the American government has made clear to Iran that it can never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. As President [Joe] Biden has repeatedly reaffirmed, he will take the actions necessary to stand by this statement, including by recognizing Israels freedom of action, Sullivan said.

Iran has confirmed more than once that it has the technical ability to produce an atomic bomb, but has insisted that it does not intend to do so.

Meanwhile, former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Ehud Barak clearly acknowledged the fact that Israel possessed nuclear weapons. Political parties in the West are deeply concerned about the possibility that, if the coup in Israel succeeds, a messianic dictatorship will be established in the heart of the Middle East with nuclear weapons in its possession, Barak tweeted back in April.

It can be recalled that the Israeli occupation challenged the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 487 of June 1981, which required Tel Aviv to urgently submit all of its nuclear facilities to the safeguards of the IAEA.

On September 18, 2009, the IAEA issued a resolution calling on Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as open its facilities to international inspection, though the occupation did not express any interest in the matter.

The UN General Assembly invited the Israeli occupation to become a treaty member in December 2009 following a resolution dubbed Establishment of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Region of the Middle East. Though 167 countries voted in favor of the resolution, the Israeli occupation refused to acquiesce in it. Furthermore, Israel skipped the 2010 nuclear summit in Washington.

The First Committee of the UN General Assembly also ruled in October 2022 decision that Israel must destroy all its nuclear weapons and submit its nuclear facilities to the control of the IAEA.

Visit NuclearWeapons.news for more news related to the nuclear weapons around the world.

Watch the video below that talks about Iran having enough uranium for five nuclear weapons.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel claims Iran has 18x more enriched uranium than Obama deal allowed.

Bidens Iran nuclear deal will be a massive boon to Russia, with Moscow set to cash in on $10 billion contract.

Biden unfreezes $29 billion for Iran, handing huge gift to nation that promises to build nuclear weapons and bomb Israel.

Sources include:

JPost.com

12FT.io

English.Almayadeen.net

Twitter.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Biden regime is having a lot of trouble trying to explain how much it is going to cost American taxpayers to go carbon neutral.

At a recent Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)  not to be confused with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is running for president as a Democrat in 2024 against fake president Joe Biden  could not for the life of him get a straight answer out of Biden Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk about the true cost of carbon neutrality.

Kennedy asked Turk again and again just how much each American taxpayer will have to fork over in order to achieve the Biden regimes goal of going carbon neutral by the year 2050. The best Kennedy got was a head nod out of Turk when suggesting that some experts have estimated that the plan will cost a whopping $50 trillion.

Its going to cost trillions of dollars; theres no doubt about it, Turk admitted.

If we spend $50 trillion to become carbon neutral by 2050 in the United States of America, how much is that going to reduce world temperatures? Kennedy then replied.

So, every country around the world needs to get its act together, Turk said in response. Our emissions are about 13 percent of global emissions right now.

Yeah, but if you could answer my question: If we spend $50 trillion to become carbon neutral in the U.S. by 2050, youre the Deputy Secretary of Energy, give me your estimate of how much that is going to reduce world temperatures.

To this, Turk started blabbing about a net cost, adding that, um, benefits were having from getting our act together and reducing all of those costs and climate benefits, and blah, blah, blah he continued rambling basically nonsense in response to Kennedys question.

Let me ask you  maybe Im not being clear: If we spend $50 trillion to become carbon neutral by 2050 in the United States, how much is that going to reduce world temperatures?

This is a global problem, so we need to reduce our emissions and we need to do everything to, uh , was the only answer Turk was able to deliver.

(Related: The so-called greenhouse gases that Turk, Biden, and his ilk claim are destroying the planet are actually the elixir of life itself, proving that these creeps are anti-life.)

Carbon neutrality really means no more humans (except the elite and their transhuman stock of human-hybrid robots)

The conversation, if you can even call it that, went back and forth and back and forth with Turk never delivering any actual answer to Kennedys questions, prompting Kennedy to state flat-out that Turk obviously had no clue what he was talking about.

In my heart of hearts, there is no way the world gets its act together on climate change unless the U.S. leads, was the best Turk could do, at this point obviously flabbergasted that he was being expected to deliver a cogent and truthful answer to the questions  be sure to watch the discourse below:

Biden official: Its going to cost trillions of dollars. Theres no doubt about it.?? Me: So, if the U.S. spent $50T to become carbon neutral by 2050, how much is that going to reduce world temperatures??? Biden official: *No answer* pic.twitter.com/6u8QmeJRdq  John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) May 4, 2023

The reason why Turk was unable to answer Kennedys questions is because there [are] no logical, reasonable, or truthful answers that would satisfy thinking voters, who are quickly realizing that leftists like Turk are asking them to accept the force-feeding of an incredibly radical set of policies with a price tag that is unprecedented in global history to achieve a carbon neutrality goal, whose benefits are so nebulous, negligible and wholly reliant on the cooperative actions of other countries beyond U.S. control that they cannot be measured in any reliable way, to quote one independent news source.

More of the latest news about the climate lies of the libtards can be found at Climate.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) It is not healthcare to cut off the private parts of a child, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) reemphasized over the weekend as far-left activists grieve over some of the actions the Florida legislature passed to protect children from radical gender ideology.

(Article by Hannah Bleau republished from Breitbart.com)

It is not healthcare to cut off the private parts of a child  that is mutilation. We are standing up against that, DeSantis said on Sunday, sharing a clip from his Friday press conference as he marked the final day of the legislative session and touted the state lawmakers accomplishments.

When you talk to people  and I know like people in your industry will dress it up with a euphemism and theyll say its health care to cut off the private parts of a 14 or 15 year old  that is not health care. That is mutilation, DeSantis said.

It is not healthcare to cut off the private parts of a child  that is mutilation. We are standing up against that. pic.twitter.com/vUw0H11NEg  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 7, 2023

When were standing up against that, DeSantis said before he was interrupted by applause before continuing. When were standing up against that, were protecting these kids.

The governor listed examples of individuals who went through the transition as minors and now say it is the biggest regret of their life.

They feel like that they were manipulated. I understand theres some physicians that are very ideological about it, but the fact is people go through a lot when theyre teenagers. You grow out of it most of the time in these situations, he said, noting that 80 to 90 percent resolves by the time you get there.

Sweden, these European countries that went down this road have done a big U-turn. They said this is not good, medical practice and so they dont do it anymore, he continued, explaining that this would not have even been controversial even ten years ago.

DeSantis listed off some of the actions the legislature took to protect minors from this kind of mutilation.

The legislature prohibited doing things like double mastectomies. They prohibited doing things, you know, with male private parts that are very graphic. They prohibited pumping these minors with puberty blockers, which is just not something thats appropriate, he explained, identifying those moves as appropriate guard rails.

This is far from the first time DeSantis has spoken out against radical gender ideology being forced upon children, responding to President Biden after the 80-year-old commander-in chief criticized the Sunshine State for protecting children from this ideology.

Whats going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. Its just terrible what theyre doing, Biden said during an appearance on The Daily Show, essentially suggesting that it is cruel to protect children from transgender surgeries.

It is not sinful to prohibit the mutilation of minors. It is not acceptable for the federal government to mandate that procedures like sex change operations be allowed for kids, DeSantis responded.

It is not sinful to prohibit the mutilation of minors. It is not acceptable for the federal government to mandate that procedures like sex change operations be allowed for kids. https://t.co/YhPrrU5Poi  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 14, 2023

A recent Washington Post-KFF poll found that most, 57 percent, believe gender is based on sex assigned at birth.

WATCH DeSantiss full press conference below:

Read more at: Breitbart.com
(Natural News) Governments across the globe attempted to control the public by enforcing mass vaccination and vaccine passports at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to implement a Global Digital Health Certificate. The implementation of the digital health certificate is among the 307 amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) proposed by 94 member nations of the WHO.

The proposed amendments to the IHR are a completely different set of proposals to the Pandemic Treaty. Amendments to the IHR were adopted in 2022 without Senate/Parliament confirmation. These amendments could easily be adopted in the same manner.

Report hints at implementation of Global Digital Health certification network

The World Health Assembly (WHA) will hold a meeting from May 21-30. In preparation for the upcoming meeting, attendees have been uploading documents, including a progress report called Report O.

The report states that there are plans to implement a Global Digital Health certification network.

In an episode of Steve Bannons War Room, James Roguski warned that while the Global Digital Health Certificate is on a voluntary basis, the authorities are currently building the infrastructure necessary to track and trace everybody on the planet.

Additionally, building these systems takes time and money, suggesting that they wont be voluntary for long, warned Roguski. (Related: Ashish Jha, Bidens new COVID-19 Coordinator, wants everyone to have vaccine passports.)

Considering the context that Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin referred to the Global Digital Health Certification at the 2022 B20 Summit, it seems unlikely that the measure will be on a voluntary basis.

Indonesias presidency of the G20 began on December 1, 2021. By November 2022, Sadikin flaunted Indonesias achievements during its G20 presidency at the B20 Summit. B20 is the official forum for G20 dialogue with the global business community.

This organization is one of many blurring the lines between public and private interests. It attempts to push the world closer to the ideology of a world controlled by unelected businessmen who will make sure that they cannot be held accountable as they manipulate government policies to maximize profits without a care for the cost to human life, liberty or rights.

At the B20 Summit, Sadikin told B20 attendees that Indonesia must invest in emergency medical countermeasures and the business opportunities this creates.

What are the business opportunities for you? Then business for emergency medical countermeasures which is diagnostic, vaccine, therapeutics or medicine will grow very, very fast globally, said Sadikin.

Sasha Latypova, head of investigative group Team Enigma, highlighted the word countermeasures in her research.

When talking about what was marketed to the public as COVID vaccines, Latypova said that the Department of Defense (DoD) ordered demonstrations from pharmaceutical companies using the same secretive framework they use to order weapons.

No pharmaceutical regulation applies to countermeasures, Latypova warned.

Sadikin floats the idea of a global surveillance system

Sadikin also tried to sell the idea of a global surveillance system using the language of a warlike footing, while emphasizing potential business opportunities. Sadikin talked about the enemy, which is not a human being, but pathogens that need surveillance system like when you are being attacked by alien out of the country.

He said all countries will likely link all radar systems to improve surveillance if the enemy is coming from outside the planet. Similar to that, Sadikin said the world needs to strengthen and link our radar systems for [a] pathogen.

If there is another pandemic, Sadikin said stopping the spread of the virus requires limiting, not stopping the movement of the people through a digital health certificate, acknowledged by the WHO.

Visit Pandemic.news for more updates on pandemic-related issues.

Watch the video below to find out how vaccine passports and the Global Digital Health Certificate can be abused in a totalitarian dictatorship.

This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

WHO developing digital wallet to store vaccination certificates.

G20 globalists push mandatory vaccine passports for all international travel despite fading COVID pandemic.

Health Ranger: Engineered demolition of digital currency paves way for centralization, heavy regulation.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Apps.WHO.int[PDF]

YouTube.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Once upon a time, about two-and-a-half years ago, the only American institution that had yet to be infiltrated by the far lefts woke countercultural revolutionaries was the U.S. military, but the sycophants who are running Joe Bidens regime have managed to successfully destroy it as well.

While agencies like the Justice Department, the FBI, and various intelligence bureaus have all been filled with anti-independent, anti-conservative leaders, the military has been turned into a nightmarish, woke social experiment that fewer and fewer Americans want to join.

The Army, for instance, is facing challenges in meeting its recruitment target of 65,000 new soldiers this year, and this also comes at a time when there is a declining pool of eligible young people to serve, Military.com reported.

We are not going to make that goal, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told lawmakers at a congressional hearing Tuesday. We are doing everything we can to get as close to it as possible; we are going to fall short.

The Army fell short of its goal of 60,000 new active-duty recruits last year by about 15,000 troops. The Army National Guard is facing even more challenges, struggling to attract new soldiers while also dealing with retention issues as well. Military leaders claim the Guard is falling short because part-time soldiers are leaving the service due to the demands of juggling domestic and overseas missions  but during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, the Guard didnt have that problem.

No, its not deployments or a strong labor market or even completely the fault of a shrinking recruit pool.

Its wokeness, pure and simple.

The Navy is a prime example.

Struggling to meet their recruiting goals for fiscal year 2023, U.S. Naval leadership has found whom they believe to be the perfect person to increase the branchs ranks: Drag Queen Harpy Daniels, The Federalist reported earlier this week.

The Daily Caller added that the Navy hired Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, an active-duty drag queen who identifies as non-binary and performs under the stage name Harpy Daniels, to be a Navy Digital Ambassador to increase recruitment for the branch. The Digital Ambassador program was launched to reach a wider range of potential candidates for military recruitment through digital platforms, as per a Navy spokesperson. The program reportedly ran from October 2022 to March 2023.

Kelley had announced on Instagram in November that the Navy had invited him to be their first Digital Ambassador, and highlighted his experience performing in drag for the Navy since 2018, while also presenting himself as an advocate and leader for individuals who were allegedly oppressed for years in the service.

From joining to 2016 and being able to share my drag experience on my off time with my fellow sailors has been a blessing, Kelley wrote. This experience has brought me so much strength, courage and ambition to continue being an advocate and representation of queer sailors!

According to a report by Military Times last month, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force are expected to face recruitment shortfalls in the thousands this year. The Navy is projected to miss its target by around 6,000 recruits, while the Army and Air Force are expected to fall short of their goals by 10,000 and 3,400, respectively.

Since President Joe Bidens inauguration in 2021, the Defense Department has promoted the adoption of DEI ideology, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Critics argue that this ideology is divisive and harmful as it disregards merit and discriminates based on characteristics such as race and sexual orientation.

Critics of DEI suggest that even if an individual is qualified for a certain position based on their merit, they may be overlooked in favor of someone who meets the preferred identity standards of being more diverse.

This is insanity. At a time when Russia is on the warpath in Ukraine and Chinas rising fast, we have America haters in charge and theyre destroying the one institution built to defend the country.

Sources include:

MilitaryTimes.com

TheFederalist.com

Military.com
(Natural News) Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) in a recent exclusive interview with Breitbart News slammed President Joe Bidens ordering of as many as 1,500 troops to the southern border in advance of an expected surge when Title 42 expires in just days.

(Article by Kristina Wong republished from Breitbart.com)

Moore, who is on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, said the troops will be helping to process illegal migrants more rapidly, versus defending the border.

The troubling thing for me is we know that Title 42 is about to expire and that the CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] is already nothing but concierge and now our soldiers will not be defending the U.S. border, theyre going to be escorting people to the immigration offices and getting their motions to appear in court with their free cell phones and their government-subsidized income, so thats the concern for me, he told Breitbart News in an on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest, Hungary.

Its not going to be about the soldiers doing their job, its going to be about the soldiers process more people here illegally and rapidly, he said.

Title 42 is a pandemic-era restriction implemented under former President Donald Trump that allowed the CBP to turn away illegal migrants at the border. The restriction ends on May 11, when a surge of thousands of illegal migrants are expected.

According to a U.S. North Command press release, active-duty military personnel will provide support with duties including data entry, warehousing support, and additional detection and monitoring support efforts. The command denied that troops would escort or have any direct contact with migrants.

Moore, who is an Alabama Army National Guard veteran with two military bases in his district, also weighed in on the recent revelation that the U.S. Navy recruited a drag queen influencer as a digital ambassador to help recruit sailors.

When youve got China testing hypersonic missiles and weve got that sort of stuff going on in the media, you know, the military needs to break and kill things and they need to be feared and respected around the globe and I think that, again, undermines our ability to defend our country, it puts our allies in danger, he said.

Were decommissioning ships as China is expanding their navy and if we get into something with Taiwan, thats going to be huge and that to me  I cannot for life of me, figure out what the Sec Def, General Milley, Joint Chiefs  anybodys thinking any of this stuff is going to do rather than just endanger soldiers and put us at a disadvantage in a combat situation, he added.

The wokeness shows weakness and it puts us in a bad spot and it honestly hurts our recruiting. There are a lot of young men who have no dream or idea right now of serving under this [defense secretary] because, or this commander in chief, because they feel he puts their lives in danger so we cannot hit our recruiting goals, he said, adding that his nephew currently serves.

I was a veteran, my brothers a veteran, and my dad was a veteran, weve all served our country, and its just frustrating to see them weaken what was so well-respected around the world, he added.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
(Natural News) A member of the Denver City Council, a dark-skinned woman named Candi CdeBaca who is currently running for reelection, believes that if you have fair skin and run a business in Denver, you should be taxed at a higher rate so your revenues can be redistributed to black-owned businesses that are taxed at a much lower rate.

CdeBaca wants every business in Denver to be assessed in order to determine the skin color of its owners. Business owners determined to have skin that is too light in color would then be taxed at a much higher rate than businesses owned by people with dark skin.

Race-based taxation of the kind CdeBaca wants to see implemented in Denver is, of course, illegal and unconstitutional. Even so CdeBaca is pushing for it, having presented the scheme at a recent forum before the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance.

(Related: During the Black Lives Matter [BLM] riots in Minneapolis following the George Floyd incident, the majority of destroyed businesses were black-owned.)

CdeBacas opponent, Darrel Watson, is also an anti-white communist who wants white-owned businesses to suffer

On June 6, CdeBaca will face a runoff against challenger Darrel Watson, who is also running for the seat representing District 9, a section of North Denver that includes the neighborhoods of Clayton, Cole, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Skyland, and Whittier.

Unfortunately for local voters, Watson is hardly any better than CdeBaca, as he, too, is a white-hating communist who believes that local white people need to be punished in order to support race-based reparations for blacks.

Watsons plan differs slightly in that he wants more private business investment in underserved, meaning non-white, communities. CdeBacas plan is even more radically unconstitutional.

Capitalism was built on stolen land, stolen labors, and stolen resources, CdeBaca, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist, complained at the forum.

CdeBaca says that she believes the creation of more business improvement districts, or BIDs, could be used to enact her proposed race-based tax on white-owned businesses in not just North Denver but all across the city.

You could be collecting those extra taxes from white-led business all over the city and redistributing them to black and brown-owned businesses, CdeBaca stated  you can watch her speak below:

Denver City Council member Candi CdeBaca, who is running for re-election, says white owned businesses should be taxed extra and redistributed to black owned businesses. pic.twitter.com/s9JhSdAmtj  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 5, 2023

Denvers racial makeup is barely above 50 percent white (non-Hispanic), as of this writing. And in District 9 where CdeBaca is running, whites appear to be the minority.

What this means, of course, is that communists like CdeBaca who are pushing anti-white policies and claiming that they support minorities will soon no longer be able to use that word to describe people with black and brown skin, who, when combined together, are quickly becoming the majority while whites become the new minority.

Does this mean that once the scales tip in that direction that white-owned businesses will be the new underrepresented group deserving of reparations? At what point will minority whites start receiving all these special benefits since they are rather quickly being replaced by minorities?

Social decay is caused by the government, one person wrote in response to CdeBacas racist plan. They divide us by pigmentation, sexuality, economic status, and political ideology, & then they pit us against one another, as seen here.

Another wrote that this is blatant communism, not to mention reverse racism that is blatantly unconstitutional and highly offensive and marginalizing towards light-skinned people.

Hating whitey has become a new American pastime among leftists. To learn more, visit Libtards.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing magazine writer E. Jean Carroll 27 years ago. The former "grab-'em-by-the-pussy" president was found liable for battery but not rape, and because the case was civil and not criminal, the sexual predator will only face a financial sanction.

From The Guardian:

The jury deliberated for less than three hours. It did not find Trump raped Carroll, but did find him liable for battery.

It awarded Carroll about $5m in compensatory and punitive damages: about $2m on the sexual abuse count and close to $3m for defamation, for branding her a liar and calling her allegations a "con job".

Trump leads polling for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination by wide margins but the verdict adds to his legal woes. Last month, he pled not guilty to 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records over the payment of hush-money to the porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

Trump looks likely to face criminal charges over his attempts to falsify the result of the 2020 election in Georgia. 

In the Carroll case, a jury of three women and six men was persuaded by Carroll's confident testimony during three days on the stand as she described the sexual assault in a New York department store changing room in 1996.
(Natural News) According to a report by former Intercept journalist Lee Fang, the FBI is reportedly urging Facebook and other social media companies to censor what Ukrainian officials deem disinformation, even if the information in question is not false.

Fangs article for his newsletter includes comments made by llia Vitiuk, the head of Ukraines Department of Cyber Information Security.

According to Fang:

Once we have a trace or evidence of disinformation campaigns via Facebook or other resources that are from the U.S., we pass this information to the FBI, along with writing directly to Facebook, said llia Vitiuk, head of the Department of Cyber Information Security in the Security Service of Ukraine.

We asked FBI for support to help us with Meta, to help us with others, and sometimes we get good results with that, noted Vitiuk. We say, Okay, this was the person who was probably Russias influence.

When people ask me, How do you differentiate whether it is fake or true? Indeed it is very difficult in such an informational flow, said Vitiuk. I say, Everything that is against our country, consider it a fake, even if its not. Right now, for our victory, it is important to have that kind of understanding, not to be fooled.

During the Trump era, the FBI and NGOs with former FBI officials were involved in social media censorship, persuading platforms to crack down on supposed Russian disinformation networks that were actually composed of American Trump supporters.

That has led to significant scrutiny of government agencies, with congressional investigations, lawsuits by red states, and the Twitter Files  released with the help of Twitter CEO Elon Musk  revealing their role in promoting social media censorship.

The files reveal Twitters decision-making process around high-profile content moderation actions such as the banning of Donald Trump in January 2020 and the removal of a New York Post article on Hunter Bidens smutty, revealing laptop. Critics rightfully accused Twitter of censorship, and the Twitter Files give insight into the platforms content policies and tools used to deal with accounts or tweets that violated its policies.

One of the major revelations in the Twitter Files is the existence of Twitters visibility filtering tool, which allows the platform to selectively hide tweets and accounts from users without notifying them. The tool has been used to suppress content that Twitter deemed inappropriate or misleading. The files show debates and disagreements among executives at Twitter regarding content policies and the use of the visibility filtering tool.

The New York Post articles on Hunter Bidens laptop are another significant event detailed in the Twitter Files. Twitter initially blocked access to the article, citing a policy against sharing hacked materials. However, the platform faced backlash for what some saw as an attempt to censor the story. The Twitter Files reveal that Twitter executives were divided on how to handle the situation, with some employees writing back handled to requests from connected actors of both parties to delete tweets.

The Twitter Files also shed light on Twitters decision to ban Trump from the platform. The files show that the decision was made after Trumps tweets were deemed to have incited violence at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Twitter executives discussed the possibility of banning Trump for years before ultimately taking action.

In addition to providing insight into Twitters content moderation policies, the Twitter Files also include a glossary of terms for readers who may be unfamiliar with government agency names. The glossary is a useful resource for those looking to understand the inner workings of Twitter and how it interacts with government entities.

Finally, the files revealed how the major social media platforms were being pressured by government agencies to censor conservatives, and how many times the platforms voluntarily went along with the censorship.

Sources include:

CBSNews.com

Racket.news

LeeFang.com
(Natural News) Another Manhattan-based Google engineer has reportedly killed himself in a second incident involving the tech giant in as many months.

The tragic incident occurred last week when a senior software engineer reportedly jumped to his death from the 14th floor of Googles headquarters in Chelsea. The authorities have not yet revealed the mans identity as they are still in the process of informing his family, the Hindustan Times reported.

According to police sources, multiple 911 calls were made after an unconscious person was found lying on the ground near a building on West 15th Street, opposite the 15-story Art Deco building. The police rushed to the spot and found the man unconscious. He was immediately taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the report said.

Investigators found handprints on the ledge of a 14th-floor open-air terrace, leading them to believe that the man had jumped from there. However, they have not found any suicide note or video of the incident, the report added.

The incident occurred just a couple of months after the death of another Google employee, Jacob Pratt, who was also a software engineer working at the Manhattan headquarters. Pratt was found hanging in an apartment in Chelsea on February 16th at the age of 33, in what appeared to be a suicide.

As of now, Google has not released any statement regarding the incident. However, the twin tragedies have once again highlighted the importance of addressing mental health in the tech industry.

Meanwhile, concerns over Googles commitment to privacy continue.

The tech behemoth has access to a vast amount of personal data from its users. While Google assures its users that their privacy is a top priority, there are still many concerns about how the company uses and protects this data.

Every search, click, and even voice command is tracked and stored by Google. This data is then used to personalize ads, improve search results, and create a profile of each user. While this may seem like a harmless practice, it raises concerns about how this data is used and who has access to it.

Googles data collection practices also raise concerns about government surveillance and the potential for abuse. In 2013, Edward Snowden revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) had been collecting data from Google and other tech companies as part of their surveillance program.

There are also concerns about the security of user data stored by Google. While the company has implemented several security measures, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, there have been several instances where data breaches have occurred. In 2018, it was revealed that a bug in Google+ had exposed the personal information of millions of users, including names, email addresses, and occupations. Google+ eventually went away but the companys data collection continues to this day.

Finally, there are concerns about the monopolistic power of Google and the impact this has on user privacy. With such a dominant position in the search engine market, Google has the ability to dictate how information is accessed and presented to users. This can lead to a lack of diversity in search results and limit access to alternative viewpoints. Additionally, with so much personal data at its disposal, Google has the power to create and shape public opinion in ways that may not be in the best interest of its users, and in fact, the company has been credibly accused of manipulating the outcomes of elections.

While Google claims to have made efforts to address privacy concerns, there are still many issues that need to be addressed. And the amount of personal data collected by the company, lack of transparency, potential for government surveillance, security breaches, and monopolistic power all raise significant concerns about user privacy.

Now, apparently, the company has a suicide problem, too.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

HindustanTimes.com
(Natural News) Houston recently hosted a weeklong large-scale, multi-agency nuclear incident training exercise led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), featuring various military personnel and aircraft in Harris County and southeast Houston. The training exercise that ended Friday, May 5, sought to prepare the city for a possible nuclear attack.

A map released by the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2002 showed that Houston could be a prime target for a nuclear attack due to its dense population and vast essential infrastructure.

The training exercise came after the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last month. During the state visit, President Joe Biden warned North Korea about the consequences if it is planning to launch a nuclear attack.

The West also faces a growing nuclear threat from Russia amid escalating tensions in the Ukraine war. Last month, a top Russian security official warned that the threat of nuclear war has increased due to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) providing military assistance to Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council, said: Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also does not shy away from the possible use of nuclear weapons and has observed nuclear exercises involving submarines, bombers and ballistic missile launches inside Russia.

Meanwhile, China has begun the largest-ever period of expansion of its nuclear arsenal. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden, Chinas current stockpile of nuclear weapons is estimated to be around 350 nuclear warheads.

FBI: Training exercise should not alarm the public

In a tweet prior to the event, the FBI emphasized that the presence of military personnel, aircraft, and individuals with protective equipment during the training exercise should not alarm the public. The primary objective of the exercise was to enhance the response capabilities of participating agencies in the event of an actual nuclear incident. (Related: Dirty bomb drills being run in Austin, Tex., ahead of known radiological terror cells entering the US.)

In May last year, the National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy (DOE) led a major radiological exercise in Austin, Texas, known as Cobalt Magnet 22. Over 30 local, state and federal agencies participated in the exercise.

According to the FBI, last weeks drills were part of a series of routine U.S. government biannual exercises.

Numerous local and state agencies participated in the drills, including the Harris County Sheriffs Office, the Houston Police Department and various other law enforcement, fire, emergency management and public health agencies.

The exercise is an opportunity for participating entities to practice and enhance operational readiness to respond in the event of a nuclear incident in the United States or overseas. The training exercise will not pose any risk or interference to the public, the FBI said in a statement.

Read more news about international conflicts and the threat of a nuclear war at WWIII.news.

Watch this video to learn more about the large-scale, multi-agency nuclear incident training exercise in Houston.
(Natural News) Approximately 700,000 migrants are currently in Mexico, waiting to cross the United States-Mexico border when President Joe Biden ends the public health authority known as Title 42 on May 11, a foreign population larger than that of Boston, Massachusetts.

As reported by Breitbart News, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, then-President Donald Trump utilized the public health authority called Title 42 at the border to guarantee that federal immigration officials could efficiently return millions of undocumented migrants to Mexico, and its been in place for the past three years.

The Biden administration plans to deploy 1,500 U.S. troops to the border to facilitate faster processing of arrivals and expand the Catch and Release network to quickly move border crossers and illegal aliens into the U.S. interior, the report said. Supervisor Jonathan Lines revealed during a Yuma County Board of Supervisors meeting this week that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have warned them about 700,000 migrants waiting in Mexico to cross the border when Title 42 ends.

Border Patrol shared with us their intelligence that there are approximately 700,000, as of three weeks ago, in the shelters in Mexico waiting to come into the United States, Lines said, according to the news outlet. They also shared with us that at the Darian Gap which is at the Panama Canal, theyve seen a 500 percent surge in people crossing over that gap on their way up to the United States.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) office confirmed to Breitbart News that he, too, has been told by officials of the looming crush of illegal immigrants.

Right now, all of the people that are coming across the border, 40 percent of them are expelled under Title 42 in Yuma, Arizona, Lines said. So 40 percent of the people coming across are immediately expelled and theyre flown back to their countries of origin. That goes away on May 11; they are no longer processed out.

And just imagine what it is costing U.S. taxpayers to fly those migrants back to their home countries  and from an administration that claims to be fighting emissions and climate change.

Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot stated that his law enforcement officers are unable to apprehend and detain border crossers and illegal aliens due to federal law, which would consider such actions as kidnapping. As a result, his officers hands are tied, he said.

[If we could arrest], I would fill the jail in a day with the amount of individuals that we encounter trespassing, Wilmot told local media.

Lines added: International labor organizations and the cartels are facilitating this trade. Theyre making a significant amount of money  27 million were forced into labor over the last two years [and] 6.3 million [forced] into sexual exploitation.

Dr. Robert Trenschel of the Yuma Regional Medical Center stated in February that local taxpayers were left with $26 million in unpaid medical bills from border crossers and illegal aliens who showed up to the hospital needing care, just within a year. Trenschel also predicted that this amount would increase once Title 42 ends.

After it expires, around 400,000 border crossers and illegal aliens are expected to arrive at the border every month, which is more than the resident population of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Former Democratic Senator-turned-Independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who is up for reelection next year and already has a Democratic challenger, called out Joe Bidens resident flak, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, after the latter laughably claimed that under the president, illegal immigration has fallen 90 percent.

Thats worse than absurd, but thats about the strongest word we can use here. It also really ticked off Sinema, whose state, of course, borders Mexico and has seen a wildly dramatic uptick in both illegal immigrant traffic and smuggling of deadly fentanyl under Bidens watch.

Obviously, the border is not secure. Anyone with eyes can see that, Sinema told Fox News anchor Bret Baier. And anyone who lives in a border state like I do, born and raised in Arizona, actually takes offense at comments like that because theyre just factually not true.

The reality is, is that border communities in my state are suffering already, and thats before the end of Title 42 next week, she added.

Just last week, I held a hearing in our border subcommittee and brought a Republican mayor and a Democratic mayor, both representing small border towns from Arizona, she said. And we just asked them, what is it like every day in your town? And Bret, there are high-speed chases going on through the city of Sierra Vista right now with young teens driving cars and sometimes being killed or causing the death of others transporting drugs and other migrants through these communities.

It is not secure, Sinema added. It is not safe.

Sources include:

USAJournal.news

Breitbart.com
(Natural News) Joe Biden and his family are corrupt and dirty, according to a growing list of whistleblowers who continue to provide government authorities and Congress with details while nothing at all happens to them.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. James Comer (R-KY) are claiming that an internal FBI document contains evidence of a criminal scheme in which Biden participated, exchanging money for policy decisions when he was vice president.

We have received legally protected and highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures,  said a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray last week from the two lawmakers. It has come to our attention that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) possess an unclassified FD-1023 form that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions. It has been alleged that the document includes a precise description of how the alleged criminal scheme was employed as well as its purpose.

???@RepJamesComer & @ChuckGrassley reveal the existence of an FBI record alleging then-VP Biden engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national. According to a whistleblower, this record details an alleged arrangement involving an exchange of money for policy decisions. pic.twitter.com/6yLwPLi8Hw  Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 3, 2023

We believe the FBI possesses an unclassified internal document that includes very serious and detailed allegations implicating the current President of the United States, said Grassley in a joint statement.

The information provided by a whistleblower raises concerns that then-Vice President Biden allegedly engaged in a bribery scheme with a foreign national. The American people need to know if President Biden sold out the United States of America to make money for himself, added Comer.

A House Oversight Committee press release added:

Grassley has long raised concerns about political bias infecting high-level investigative decisions at the FBI, including investigations related to the Biden familys foreign business arrangements and bank records. While FBI Director Christopher Wray pledged to prevent any retaliation targeting whistleblowers, the FBI and Justice Department have thus far refused to voluntarily provide responsive records or answers to congressional inquiries related to its handling of these politically sensitive investigations.

Comer and the Oversight Committee are investigating the Biden familys suspicious business schemes to determine if the Biden family has been targeted by foreign actors, if President Biden is compromised, and if there is a national security threat. The Oversight Committee has obtained thousands of pages of financial records related to the Biden family and their associates business transactions. Recently, the Committee revealed one deal that resulted in several members of the Biden family and their companies receiving over $1 million in more than 15 incremental payments from a Chinese company through a third party.

Comer issued Wray a subpoena to appear before his committee on May 10.

Meanwhile, Just the News reported on Monday that a respected former federal prosecutor approached the U.S. Justice Department in the fall of 2018 on behalf of a foreign witness. The witness claimed to have evidence that Joe Biden had exercised influence to protect his sons employer in Ukraine and, in return, received money for his family.

The ex-prosecutors offer was not taken up by the agency, but a year later, the DOJ secretly obtained his phone records, presumably to identify his contacts, the outlet reported.

Retired U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins from Little Rock, Arkansas, wrote a letter to then-New York U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman on October 4, 2018, stating that then-Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko was willing to travel to the United States to present evidence about the Bidens and Burisma Holdings.

Lutsenko believes VP Biden (and Sec State Kerry) exercised influence to protect Burisma Holdings in exchange for payments to Hunter Biden, (business partner) Devon Archer, and Joe Biden, Cummins emailed Berman.

Nothing was done, though, even when Trump was in office.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

Oversight.House.gov
(Natural News) More and more potential illegal immigrants are congregating just outside the southern border as they prepare to flood the U.S. once President Joe Biden lets Title 42 expire on May 11.

Title 42 is the name for a series of restrictions instituted by former President Donald Trump in March 2020 in response to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The order allowed border agents to expedite the process of expelling illegal immigrants, who entered the U.S. from Mexico, on the basis of protecting public health. (Related: As end of Title 42 looms, 90,000 illegals rush to Americas southern border over 10-day period.)

Democrats, including Biden, have repeatedly criticized Title 42s health justification, claiming it was part of Trumps overall goal of curbing both legal and illegal immigration in a way that violates human rights.

When Biden took office in 2021, he vowed to reverse what he called Trumps overly-restrictive approach to immigration. Since Biden took office, more than six million people have been admitted through the border legally, illegally and quasi-legally. This means that for every four American citizens born, up to three migrants made their way across the border.

TX: Happening now, hundreds of migrants just showed up here in Brownsville to self-surrender to border patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. illegally #Title42 is still in place for another week. The majority of migrants are being processed and released with an pic.twitter.com/pNDZzovUNh  Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) May 4, 2023

Biden does not plan to extend Title 42

Bidens administration has announced that it intends to lift Title 42 next Thursday, May 11, when Americas own COVID-19 public health emergency ends. What this means is that when illegal immigrants are caught by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents illegally crossing the border, they will again be allowed to request asylum  a process that can take years to resolve and during which time the so-called asylum speakers will be allowed to live and work in the United States.

As the deadline approaches, more and more illegals are attempting border crossings. In April, Border Patrol reportedly apprehended over 183,000 illegal immigrants. More than 19,000 of these migrants are currently being held in CBP facilities, exceeding capacity by over 200 percent.

Meanwhile, the White House is doing very little to prepare for what will happen to Texas and other border states once Title 42 ends. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed he feels confident that current protocols will be able to handle the influx. But Border Patrol agents are concerned that the lack of new action will prompt more illegals to make the journey north.

Republicans have similarly raised their concerns over how Biden remains far too lax on immigration policies.

Theyre putting all their time and effort into illegal immigration, finding ways to increase capacity [in holding facilities], finding ways where people can come over illegally quicker, said GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas 23rd congressional district, which runs along the majority of the states border with Mexico.

The reality is nine out of 10 people that come over into our country illegally do not qualify for asylum, he added. You havent heard the president say one thing about immigration other than just blame others.

Learn more about the state of Americas southern border at InvasionUSA.news.

Watch this episode of Glenn TV on BlazeTV as host Glenn Beck warns how the end of Title 42 could exacerbate the border crisis to the point that Texas could become unrecognizable.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Mexico-based cartels gearing up to flood America with up to one million illegals after Biden opens the border by dropping Title 42.

El Paso mayor declares state of emergency as city braces for influx of illegal aliens once Title 42 expires.

Ann Vandersteel: American Red Cross aiding ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION at southern border  Brighteon.TV.

DHS chief Mayorkas plan to solve the Biden migrant crisis is to allow millions more into the country.

Bidens DHS predicts 390K migrants at the border every month after Title 42 ends.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

Reuters.com

NewsNationNow.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is very approachable and extremely well informed about a vast spectrum of topics. Hes running for President of the United States on the Democrat ticket, and the Democrat establishment is going all-out to silence him by cancelling all debates and trying to sweep Joe Biden back into the White House.

You can learn more about RFK Jrs run for the Oval Office (and join his email list) at www.Kennedy24.com

Although RFK and myself dont agree on everything, I consider him to be a true American hero for his courage and perseverance in exposing the covid / vaccine / Fauci fraud.

Hes also a healer who, I believe, can help bring America back together from its current fractured status, where Big Government, Big Tech and the fake news media have worked incessantly to disrupt and destroy America from within.

I have publicly stated that Im considering temporarily switching my party affiliate to Democrat solely to vote for RFK Jr. during the Democrat primary process, should the DNC even allow such a process to occur (never trust the establishment to follow the rules).

Interestingly, the DNC is trying to railroad RFK in much the same way the RNC is trying to railroad DJT. Both establishment parties despise real heroes like RFK or DJT, and they want them both to be silenced and shut out of the political process.

Thats why we must work hard to listen to these courageous men and share their message with others. My full interview with RFK Jr. is below, and I am publicly inviting Team Trump to join me for an interview about the Trump candidacy.

Heres what I cover in todays Brighteon Broadcast News, which includes the RFK interview:

 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. discuss border security, election integrity, voter ID and more

 Covers the investigation and PROSECUTION of covid officials who committed fraud

 RFK achieves stunning CROSSOVER support from Republicans and conservatives

 Adams invites Trump team for an interview

 Mass homelessness in California getting WORSE as Bidens economy crumbles

 Spike protein damages the BRAIN, explaining why vax booster proponents are so dumbed down

 California black groups demand $200 million in reparations payments to EACH black person

 Colorado bureaucrat wants to confiscate money from WHITE-owned businesses to subsidize BLACK businesses

 Interview with Paul Wittenberger, filmmaker and producer of Fluoride  Poison on Tap documentary

Brighteon: Brighteon.com/58f6b492-d708-4a4a-bfdb-d02a67505bcb

Rumble: Rumble.com/v2mvjc2-bbn-may-9-2023-robert-kennedys-vision-for-healing-a-fractured-america.html

Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/5LpH5vZH0RNu/

Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=645a6075b1e3f80b3295a01c

iTunes podcast: Healthrangerreport.com/brighteon-broadcast-news-may-9-2023-robert-kennedys-vision-for-healing-a-fractured-america

Discover more interviews and podcasts each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/HRreport

Follow me on:

Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger (my breaking news gets posted here first)

Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger



Substack: HealthRanger.substack.com

Banned.video: Banned.video/channel/mike-adams

Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@healthranger

Twitter: @MikeAdamsHR

Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger

Parler: Parler.com/user/HealthRanger

Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport

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Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about breaking news each day.

Download my current audio books  including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind  at:

https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/

Download my new audio book, Resilient Prepping at ResilientPrepping.com  it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the loss of both the power grid and combustion engines.
(Natural News) Oklahoma banned 13 major financial institutions from doing business with the state after a review found that the banks engaged in energy boycotts.

State Treasurer Todd Russ announced the measure on May 3, which effectively blocked the banks from managing billions of dollars in Oklahoma pensions, investments and other state entities. His decision represents one of the most aggressive actions any state has taken against banks pursuing so-called woke environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

The 13 financial entities barred by the Sooner State from doing business were as follows:

BlackRock Wells Fargo JPMorgan Chase Bank of America State Street Grosvenor Capital Management Lexington Partners FirstMark Fund Partners Touchstone VC Global Partners WCM Investment Management William Blair Actis Climate First Bank

The energy sector is crucial to Oklahomas economy, providing jobs for our residents and helping drive economic growth, Russ said in a statement. It is essential for us to work with financial institutions that are focused on free-market principles and not beholden to social goals that override their fiduciary duties.

The Sooner States treasurer announced the ban three months after he sent a letter and questionnaire to dozens of banks and financial institutions. Russ Feb. 1 letter inquired about the institutions climate and energy investment policies. (Related: Nineteen U.S. states launch investigations into BlackRock and Vanguard for embracing climate tyranny.)

Under a 2022 law passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, Russ  in his capacity as state treasurer  is mandated to probe the investment policies of banks the state does business with. He is also mandated to compile a list of companies determined to be engaged in a boycott of the energy sector.

According to the state treasurers office, it received almost 160 responses that helped form the May 3 decision. Companies may be added to or removed from the states list in the coming months, however.

Woke banks question their inclusion in the list

State Financial Officers Foundation CEO Derek Kreifels lauded Russ announcement as a significant step  in guarding his states financial security against ESG advocates. He added that the state treasurer joined state financial officers across the nation in pushing back against ESG and ensuring that American families savings are invested according to their values and not ESG extremists.

Two of the big banks included in Russ list questioned why they were included. They denied backing woke ESG initiatives and touted their supposed investments in Oklahomas energy sector.

A representative for JPMorgan called the state treasurers decision baseless, adding: Between 2021 and 2022 we provided over $2 billion in financing and other services to 40 Oklahoma companies in the oil and gas space.

Our business practices are not in conflict with this anti-free market decision, and we look forward to continuing to serve customers and communities in Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, a BlackRock spokesperson bragged that the company is a leading investor in the Oklahoma energy sector. The spokesperson told Fox Business: On behalf of our clients, we have invested over $15 billion in public energy companies based in Oklahoma and approximately $320 billion in public energy companies globally, including investments in both traditional energy sectors like oil and gas and in renewables.

BlackRock offers our clients the choices they need to help them achieve their investment objectives for low fees. We believe lists like these ultimately raise costs for Oklahoma taxpayers and reduce returns for firefighters, teachers and state employees seeking to retire with dignity. They also undermine free-market competition and choice for investors.

In April, BlackRock disclosed that it has a staggering $9.1 trillion in assets under management. Back in February, Russ noted that BlackRock manages more than 60 percent of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System.

Visit Wokies.news for more stories about ESG initiatives and the banks that pursue them.

Watch this video that exposes BlackRocks dark secrets.

This video is from the Global Citizens channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Get woke, go broke: SVBs focus on ESG led to its collapse.

Everything you need to know about BlackRock, the company that owns the world.

Progress: Woke investing takes major blow after Vanguard bows out of climate alliance.

Sources include:

ClimateDepot.com

FoxBusiness.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Early in 2021, Big Pharma claimed that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines were safe and effective. The vaccines were also recommended by public health authorities for pregnant women even though it was unusual for a new class of medicine.

By late 2021, adult women, including pregnant women, were losing their jobs because they chose not to get vaccinated. Those who signed up for COVID-19 vaccines did so because they trusted health authorities, especially since the vaccines wouldnt have been approved if the evidence was not clear.

However, data from Pfizer has revealed that COVID-19 vaccines could harm pregnant women.

COVID-19 vaccines and womens health

Thanks to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, a lengthy vaccine evaluation report sponsored by Pfizer and submitted to the Australian regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), on January 2021 was released.

The report revealed new data that had been suppressed by the TGA and Pfizer about the safety of the COVID vaccines for pregnant women and their effects on the fertility of women of childbearing age.

Here are four key points from the report:

The rapid decline in antibody and T cells observed in monkeys following the second dose of the vaccine. Biodistribution studies, which were previously released in 2021 through an FOI request in Japan. Data on the fertility outcomes in rats. Data on fetal abnormalities in rats.

Concerning the first point, the report revealed that antibodies and T cells in monkeys declined within five weeks after the animals were given a second dose of BNT162b2 (V9), raising concerns over long-term immunity.

The first point highlights the fact that the regulators should have anticipated the rapid decline in vaccine efficacy. They also must have known that the initial two-dose course was unlikely to give lasting immunity and would eventually need multiple repeat doses.

The three remaining points should be a major cause for alarm with the pharmaceutical regulatory system.

With regards to vaccine impact on fertility and fetal abnormalities, the report referenced a study involving 44 rats that describes two main metrics: pre-implantation loss rate and the number of abnormalities per fetus. In both cases, the metrics were much higher in vaccinated rats compared to the unvaccinated rats.

The pre-implantation loss ratio compared the estimated number of fertilized ova and the ova implanted in the uterus. According to a table from the report, the loss rate for the vaccinated (BNT162b2) rats is more than double the unvaccinated control group.

In a case-control study, a doubling of pregnancy loss in the intervention group point to a serious safety signal.

But instead of taking the matter seriously, the authors of the report compared the outcomes to historical data on other rat populations, specifically 27 studies of 568 rats. The study authors also ignored the outcome because other populations had recorded higher overall losses.

But the analysis is worrying because it remains below the highest previously recorded pregnancy loss levels in populations elsewhere. It is not a safe outcome, particularly when the intervention is also linked to twice the harm observed in the control group.

A similar pattern was observed for fetal malformations, with higher abnormality rates in all of the 12 categories studied. Out of the 11 categories where Pfizer confirmed the data is correct, there are only two total abnormalities in the control group, compared to 28 with the mRNA vaccine.

In the category that Pfizer labeled as unreliable (supernumerary lumbar ribs), there were three abnormalities observed in the control group and 12 in the vaccinated group. (Related: Ben Armstrong: Pfizer knows the COVID vaccine is dangerous for pregnant women.)

Pfizer also ignored the trend and compared the results with historical data from other rat populations.

The case-control nature of the study design was again ignored, perhaps to hide the negative outcomes demonstrated. The data from the report suggests that there is no reliable basis for claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

Government claims about vaccine safety were false

The concentration of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) in the ovaries, a doubled pregnancy loss rate and raised fetal abnormality rate across all measured categories suggest that designating a safe-in-pregnancy label (B1 category in Australia) was contrary to the evidence presented in the report.

The data suggests that the governments safe and effective claims were not only inaccurate, they were also misleading.

Despite the negative nature of these outcomes, the classification of the Pfizer vaccine as a safe vaccine seems to have precluded further animal trials. In the past, new medicines, especially those never tested or used in humans before, needed a very rigorous assessment.

But vaccines have a lower burden of proof requirement than ordinary medications. Therefore, classifying mRNA injections as vaccines ensured regulatory approval with less stringent safety requirements, as noted by the TGA.

mRNA gene therapies function more like medicines than vaccines because they modify the internal functioning of cells instead of stimulating an immune response to the presence of an antigen.

Labeling these gene therapy products as vaccines implies that, as far as the public is aware, no genotoxicity or carcinogenicity studies have been carried out to ensure their safety.

The report, which was only released after an FOI request, is alarming because it reveals that the authorities knew of the major risks associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccination yet still told the public the vaccines were safe.

It seems that mainstream media is working with Big Pharma and the authorities to ignore the newly released data. Dont fall prey to those in power and be cautious when listening to public health messaging about coronavirus vaccination.

After all, its obvious that regulators, drug companies and the government knew that vaccine-induced immunity trails off rapidly just as it was observed in real-world data, with efficacy against infection recorded as falling to zero.

The single point-in-time figures of 95 percent and 62 percent efficacy quoted for Pfizer and AstraZeneca, respectively, implies almost nothing since a rapid decline was to be expected.

The concept of a two-dose course was also inaccurate since more boosters would have been required due to the rapid decline in antibodies and T-cells observed in monkeys.

The data also does not support the safe conclusion concerning pregnancy; rather, it should be considered harmful for pregnant women. The assurances of safety were misleading, as proven by data disclosures in the recent FOI release.

Regulatory authorities knew that animal studies provided evidence of both pregnancy loss and fetal abnormalities, consistent with the systemic distribution of the mRNA vaccines. Pfizer decided not to follow up on the vast majority of pregnancies in the original human trials, despite high miscarriage rates in the minority they followed.

With all the evidence about vaccine efficacy and safety, the administration of these products to pregnant women and those of childbearing age was a high-risk move and certainly not justified.

Watch the video below to learn how COVID-19 vaccines are causing health issues in pregnant women.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA has only now granted approval to Modernas covid vaccine, meaning every injection before this was EXPERIMENTAL medicine  and the media lied to everyone about it.

More Covid vaccine negative effects and coverups are emerging.

These natural substances NEUTRALIZE covid vaccine spike proteins.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

TGA.gov.au[PDF]

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has committed to make the U.S. an exemplary democracy once more as he vies for the presidency in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The founder of the health freedom group Childrens Health Defense (CHD) announced his intent to grab the Democratic Partys presidential nomination from the incumbent President Joe Biden. Kennedy slammed Biden, who is gunning for re-election at age 80, as a Deep State president.

The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy highlighted several issues as part of his campaign agenda. He reiterated plans to close 800 U.S. overseas bases and bring American troops home immediately in order to make America an exemplary democracy again. The CHD founder, whose father and uncle were both Democrats, expressed belief that the Democratic Party has lost its identity.

Renee Parsons, a staffer at the House of Representatives, described the CHD founders announcement as a fitting response to the incumbent Democrats and their handlers. She pointed out that he is an exceptional presidential primary challenger emerging from the prestigious political Kennedy clan.

He is genetically opposed to the malicious agenda espoused by Biden and its authoritarian elite, she wrote. Parsons also mentioned how Kennedy called for an end to the corrupt merger of corporate and state power. Moreover, the health freedom advocate denounced the corporate kleptocracy as a cushy socialism for the rich and a brutal merciless capitalism for the poor. (Related: TruNews: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s presidential bid a BIG THREAT to the Deep State.)

The younger Kennedy has publicly lambasted infectious disease expert and former White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci on his response to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). He even wrote a book about the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases titled The Real Anthony Fauci.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy emerged as one of the leading advocates of health freedom by challenging vaccine mandates. This came despite the denouncement of his work as misleading and dangerous by both public health experts and members of his own family.

Biden seeking re-election despite advanced age and low popularity

In Parsons view, Kennedys work is by no means misleading. She explained: He is more knowledgeable than any other candidate with regard to all the implications of the pandemic and its mandated minutiae of masks, distance, shutdowns, vaccinations, impacts on American culture and health of its children.

Prior to his announcement, Kennedy spoke before an audience at Hillsdale College in Michigan  the only college in the U.S. that did not shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. He left three nuggets of wisdom for the audience:

Any power that government takes from the people, it will never return voluntarily;

Every power that government takes will ultimately be abused to the maximum extent possible; and

Nobody ever complied with their way out of totalitarianism  the only thing people can do is resist.

Parsons also blasted Biden for having the audacity to run for a second term despite his advanced age and low popularity. She mentioned that almost 70 percent of the U.S. does not approve of the incumbent president having a second term after he mishandled the economic situation.

According to an April 2023 CIVIQS poll, 67 percent of Americans said Bidens America is heading in the wrong direction compared to just 22 percent saying it is going in the right direction. Moreover, 59 percent said the nations economy is getting worse  more than three times the 18 percent that said it is getting better.

VoteDemocrat.news has more stories on Kennedys 2024 presidential election bid.

Watch Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart of TruNews discuss how Kennedys 2024 presidential run seeks to destroy the Deep State.

This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ITS OFFICIAL: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will run as a Democrat in 2024 against Biden.

Ron Paul, RFK Jr. publicly call out CIA for Kennedy assassination, covid plandemic.

Tucker Carlson fired from Fox for calling out Big Pharma advertisers deadly vaccines, says Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

ABC News censors Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s criticisms against covid vaccines.

Climate change is being exploited by mega billionaires to tyrannize the planet, warns RFK Jr.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

RealPolitics.com

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
Elon Musk sure fixed Twitter! Sharing some reporting from Mashable on how the whole blue checkmark fiasco has gone down subscriber-wise, and subscribers have gone down, TechDirt pretty much eviscerates the idea that Musk has any chance left to spin-doctor this into a win. There is no 5-Dimensional chess grand mastership here.

Mashable pointed out that the folks who pre-signed up for Musk's blue checkmark of loyalty bailed on the subscription service in droves when he eliminated the mark's utility as a verification tool.

The total early subscriber numbers are linked directly to internal leaks published(opens in a new tab) by the Washington Post last year showing that a total of 150,000 users originally signed up for Twitter Blue within just a few days of its launch in November. Twitter temporarily disabled new signups for about a month shortly after those users subscribed as a result of accounts signing up for Blue with the intent to impersonate major brands on the platform. That means around 81,843 users, or 54.5 percent, of Twitter users who subscribed to Twitter Blue when it first launched in November are no longer subscribed to the service. That's an abnormally high churn rate for an online subscription service. Churn rate is the percentage of users that unsubscribe from a service.

Techdirt reminds us that this was Musk's monetization bet. This is what the investors and all that debt are hanging on because the advertising revenue sure has melted away. Even before he bought the company advertisers were taking off, once he added his personal brand and flourish to everything on Twitter they just fled. Eliminating what little "trust and safety" was left has finished it, the movie is just going to take a long time to end.

He basically made this is his big monetization bet and it's flopped. Embarrassingly so. Advertisers running away took away multiple billions of dollars in revenue, while Twitter Blue subscriptions have added a few million dollars to the bottom line? Back in November, it became clear that a very small percentage of people were interested in paying. A followup in February found the numbers of paying subscribers was pitifully small. Musk's plan to charge organizations a much higher fee to verify the organizations seems to have fallen flat as well.

Where is the revenue coming from to finance the debt?
Weather reports revealed that warmer conditions are expected to unfold in parts of the Midwest and Northeast this week after experiencing an unseasonably chilly outlook.

As the spring season is forecast to continue, weather forecasts explain that some parts of the country experienced chilly conditions.

However, chances of rainy conditions can still unfold as some portions of the country could expect severe weather conditions.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center recently reported that an enhanced weather outlook is forecast in parts of Western Illinois, Northeastern Kansas, Southern Iowa and Southeastern Nebraska.

The weather forecast added that a severe thunderstorms watch was issued in parts of Northwest Indiana, North-Central Illinois and Northeast.

The forecast said that large hail and damaging gusts could also become possible.

Warmer Conditions Forecast

In the latest weather forecast, AccuWeather explained that parts of the Midwest and Northeast experienced unusually cold or chilly start this May.

However, the forecast noted the rebound to warmer temperatures as the Spring season continued.

The weather report noted that the Omega block played a significant role in the weather outlook, especially the chilly beginning in the Northeast and Midwest.

This weekend, AccuWeather's latest outlook revealed that rain and thunderstorms could also become possible.

The forecast said rainy weather could likely be in Minneapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans and Miami.

While some parts of the country had warmer conditions, reports said that a snowy outlook unleashed in portions of Michigan.

The sudden shift to average temperatures is expected this May. However, Americans should ensure that they could bring an umbrella or raincoat protection for chances of rain.

Recently, the weekend forecast showed that a potential afternoon high and rebound to not chilly outlook could emerge in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Charleston, Detroit, Burlington, Portland, Boston, New York City and Washington.

Weather in parts of the United States

On the other hand, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported that challenging weather conditions could become likely in parts of the Southern Plains, Ohio Valley and Central Plains.

Also Read: US Weather Forecast: Chilly Weather Conditions Likely This Week in Parts of Northeast

Meanwhile, parts of Central Great Plains, Mid-Mississippi Valley could experience potential tornadoes, large hail and destructive wind gusts.

Due to the risk of severe weather in the affected areas, it is best that homeowners and motorists should keep updated with the troublesome weather outlook.

Tornado outbreaks could become dangerous for homeowners. As a result, staying prepared is essential.

In addition, motorists should check the road outlook to avoid delays and slower commutes. When the weather becomes severe, it is advisable to stay at home.

Furthermore, preparing an emergency kit at home would be helpful for homeowners if the weather becomes troublesome this week.

In the previous news reports, the recommended emergency kits are battery-powered flashlights, radios, medicine kits and sufficient bottled water supplies.

Meanwhile, the NWS Storm Prediction Center reported the potential enhanced risks in parts of the country.

Related Article: US Weather Forecast: Rainy Conditions Likely in New York City This Week

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
As May began, the latest weather reports revealed that milder conditions and potentially hotter temperatures could be likely in parts of Britain this week, with chances of thunderstorms and rain.

It is best that motorists and homeowners keep updated with the weather conditions this week, especially for the chances of rainy conditions.

Milder conditions with chances of rain and thunderstorms

Furthermore, Daily Express UK reported that warmer conditions could emerge in parts of the UK this week.

Weather forecasts noted that El Nino could play a significant role in unfolding hotter temperatures in the UK.

Recently, the Guardian reported that Spain experienced hotter temperatures due to the impact of heat waves.

The challenging weather conditions in Spain alerted Spain residents of the potential effect of record-breaking temperatures.

Meanwhile, Sky News reported that a yellow warning was issued in parts of the UK due to potential thunderstorms that could result in flooding.

The forecast added that milder conditions, with potential cloudy conditions, could likely continue this week. In addition, the report noted the challenging temperatures last weekend.

Met Office Weather forecast

Meanwhile, the Met Office's latest forecast showed that showery weather conditions could unfold in parts of the country this Tuesday.

Also Read: UK Weather Forecast: Possible Wintry, Rainy Conditions Likely to Unfold This Week

The forecast noted that rainy conditions could be expected in Southern UK parts. Motorists and homeowners should also stay alert for chances of thunderstorms in Northwest England and Scotland.

From Wednesday to Friday, the weather forecast reported sunshine conditions with chances of showers could unleash.

Furthermore, the forecast noted heavy rain and thunderstorm conditions that could reach parts of the east and the south.

Britons could expect potentially isolated showers in the country on the weekend and early next week. However, the forecast said that unsettled conditions could emerge in the north.

Meanwhile, windy conditions could emerge in the Northwest. Britons could also notice potential slightly average temperatures next week.

While the UK is set to experience milder conditions, the National Weather Service (NWS) latest advisory reported that scattered severe thunderstorms could unfold in parts of the United States, significantly in the Central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley.

The weather advisory added that challenging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes could emerge, noting that the severe thunderstorms could also impact parts of the Southern Plains.

Staying safe during heavy rain and severe thunderstorms

The weather reports noted that thunderstorms could unfold this week in the United Kingdom. Heavy rain could also be likely.

Britons with travel plans and outdoor activities should stay updated with the weather conditions, with rain chances.

A rainy outlook could result in flooding and slippery road conditions in the country. Motorists should stay away from potentially flooded areas.

Thunderstorms could be challenging and dangerous. It is best to stay away from flooded or open areas.

When thunderstorms unfold, it is best to shelter in a secure place.

Related Article: Warmer Temperatures, Sunny Weather to Unleash in UK This Week

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that we experience every day, whether we're standing on the ground, throwing a ball, or watching the Moon move across the sky. It's a force that binds the universe together, shaping the motions of planets, stars, and galaxies. But what makes gravity? This is a question that has puzzled scientists for centuries, and one that continues to drive our understanding of the universe. In this article, we'll explore what makes gravity, from the early theories of Isaac Newton to the groundbreaking discoveries of modern physics. Join us on a journey to unravel the mysteries of this fascinating force and discover why it's so important to our understanding of the cosmos.

What is Gravity?

Gravity is a natural force of attraction that exists between all objects with mass or energy. It is the force that pulls objects towards each other. The strength of gravity depends on two factors: the mass of the objects and the distance between them. Objects with greater mass have a stronger gravitational pull than objects with less mass. The distance between objects also affects the strength of gravity. The closer two objects are, the stronger the gravitational force between them.

The discovery of gravity is often attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, who observed an apple falling from a tree and was inspired to develop his theory of gravitation. However, the concept of gravity has been known for centuries before Newton's time. Ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Pythagoras believed in the idea of gravity, and Galileo Galilei conducted experiments on falling objects in the 16th century.

Newton's contribution to the discovery of gravity was his formulation of the laws of motion and universal gravitation. In 1687, he published his famous book, "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy," in which he described the laws of motion and gravity. Newton's laws of motion describe how objects move and interact with each other, while his law of universal gravitation describes the force of gravity between two objects based on their masses and distance.

Newton's laws of motion and gravity revolutionized the way scientists understood the universe and paved the way for new discoveries in astronomy and physics. For example, scientists were able to use Newton's laws to calculate the orbits of planets and moons, and to predict the motion of comets and other celestial objects. Newton's laws of gravity remained the accepted model of gravity for over two hundred years until the theory of general relativity was introduced by Albert Einstein in 1915.

Gravity in Space

Gravity is a fundamental force that plays a crucial role in shaping the motion of objects in space, from small asteroids to massive galaxies. It is responsible for keeping planets in stable orbits around stars, including our own Solar System. The force of gravity between a star and a planet is what keeps the planet in a stable orbit, and the strength of the gravitational pull is determined by the mass and distance between the two objects.

The gravitational pull of the Earth is what keeps the Moon in a stable orbit around our planet, and the Moon's gravity also affects the Earth by causing the tides to rise and fall. Gravity is also responsible for the formation of galaxies and the universe as a whole. It caused matter to clump together and form structures like galaxies, stars, and planets, allowing the universe to evolve over billions of years.

The study of gravity has allowed scientists to make important discoveries about the universe, including Einstein's theory of general relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of space, time, and gravity. The development of new tools and techniques, such as telescopes and gravitational wave detectors, continues to advance our knowledge of gravity and its role in shaping the universe.

Important Discoveries About Gravity

Over the years, scientists have made many important discoveries about gravity that have significantly improved our understanding of the universe. Some of the most significant discoveries include:

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton published his law of universal gravitation, which describes the force of attraction between two objects. This law laid the foundation for our understanding of gravity and helped explain the motion of planets and other celestial bodies.

Einstein's Theory of General Relativity: In 1915, Albert Einstein developed the theory of general relativity, which revolutionized our understanding of the nature of gravity. This theory explains that gravity is not a force between two objects but is instead a result of the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy.

Gravitational Waves: In 2015, scientists made the groundbreaking discovery of gravitational waves. These are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are created when two massive objects, such as black holes, collide. This discovery provided strong evidence for Einstein's theory of general relativity and opened up a new way of studying the universe.

Dark Matter: Scientists have observed that the motion of galaxies does not match their visible mass, leading to the hypothesis that there must be some unseen mass in the universe. This unknown mass has been dubbed "dark matter," and scientists are still working to understand its properties and nature.

Dark Energy: In the late 1990s, scientists discovered that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, suggesting the presence of some unknown force driving this acceleration. This force has been dubbed "dark energy," and its nature is still largely unknown.

These discoveries have significantly improved our understanding of the universe and have opened up new avenues for scientific exploration.

Conclusion

Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that affects everything in the universe. It is the force that binds the universe together, shaping the motions of planets, stars, and galaxies. The strength of gravity depends on the mass and distance between objects. Understanding gravity is important for understanding the world around us and the wonders of the universe. Kids can learn more about gravity by exploring the universe through books, documentaries, and educational programs.
Temperatures going over 110 degrees Fahrenheit shattered records in Vietnam and Laos the past week.

Extreme Heat Records Broken in Vietnam and Laos

Last week, temperatures in Vietnam and Laos broke records. Hoi Xuan in Vietnam recorded a blistering 111.4F on May 6, shattering the previous high for the nation of 110.1F from 2019. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Laos was 110.3F on the same day, which was in Luang Prabang. These milestones were set only a few weeks after Thailand experienced its first temperature increase above 113F.

In the next few days, the heat in Southeast Asia should ease because a tropical disturbance is bound to form nearby.

These unprecedented highs may not endure for very long, according to meteorologists, according to Asia Financial, since global warming impacting weather across Asia.

Cyclogenesis

Forecasting tools predict that the Bay of Bengal will see ideal cyclogenesis conditions during the next few days. By later this week, there will be a greater likelihood of a tropical storm edging north-eastward into areas of Myanmar due to several variables, including increased vorticity and extremely high sea surface temperatures. South-east Asia will experience some strong winds and heavy rainfall as a result of this, including the regions where recent temperature records were smashed, according to The Guardian.

Thailand Too

In contrast, Bangkok, Thailand, experienced a high of 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday.

Since late March, the majority of Thailand has experienced temperatures in the low 90s and low 100s Fahrenheit, including the country's capital. Using information from the Thai Meteorological Department, the northwest city of Tak reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in the nation in mid-April.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha raised worry last month about the dangerously high temperatures that have been recorded throughout Thailand.

For South and Southeast Asia, April and May are often the hottest months of the year as temperatures climb before the yearly monsoon rains provide some relief.

In the upcoming days, temperatures are predicted to rebound to more normal levels across the region, but as the climate issue worsens, extreme heat events are now more frequent, CNN reports.

Also Read: Sandy Fire: South Florida Wildfire Consumes 690 Acres of Pine Reserve

Very Dry Spain

Spain has also experienced some extremely dry and warm weather recently, shattering its April temperature record. For most of Spain in April, the temperature anomaly was almost 3C above average due to the heatwave that lasted for weeks. Spain has been impacted by more than simply the heat; it has also been extremely dry away from the north coast. For the majority of the country, rainfall barely exceeded 20% of an average April month, with certain locations in the central and southern regions even receiving less than 10%.

This might have an impact if it were a single month, but since the beginning of the year, much of Spain has experienced below-average rainfall every month. With the forecast not promising much reprieve, May is already well on its way to becoming yet another dry month. The worst-affected drought areas are unlikely to receive any rain during the upcoming couple of weeks. Despite not being the most severely impacted, Catalonia has abnormally low reservoir levels, which may hamper water supplies for towns like Barcelona throughout the summer, The Guardian reports.

Related Article: Severe Weather Continues to Pick on Central Texas Extending to Oklahoma
A state of emergency is declared by authorities, and 29,000 people are up for evacuation as catastrophic extreme wildfires spread throughout Canada.

Evacuation for 29,000 People

More than 29,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as more than 100 wildfires rage throughout Alberta, Canada, in what officials are calling an unprecedented crisis for the province.

According to Christie Tucker, Lead of the Wildfire Information Unit, 16 new fires have started in Alberta just in the previous 24 hours.

31 of the 108 active wildfires in the province were blazing "out of control," according to Tucker, who said that firefighters were combating them.

Firefighters don't frequently see such a wide area destroyed, and this kind of furious wildfire activity is unusual this early in the year, according to Tucker on Sunday.

However, Tucker claims that a combination of extremely dry circumstances, unusually hot weather, and strong winds have contributed to this exceptionally extreme wildfire activity.

Extreme Wildfire in Canada

According to Yahoo News, this year's wildfires in Alberta have consumed a total of 375,000 hectares, or approximately 926,000 acres, and recent fires have consumed a significant amount of land in the last few days.

Crews have made their way from Quebec and Ontario to help the firefight, and more firefighters and resources are being sent to Alberta from around the nation to combat the spreading fires, according to Tucker.

Gains were made on Sunday when sporadic showers around the province allowed firefighters access to places they previously couldn't because of the severe behavior of wildfires.

Firefighters currently anticipate that lower temperatures and greater humidity will aid them in putting out the flames in the province's southern and central regions, but Tucker noted that difficult conditions still exist in the northern region.

Communities in Alberta have experienced some sweltering heat over the last week, with Edmonton, the province's capital, reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit, in the midweek. This is more than 10 degrees hotter than normal.

According to CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford, the area has also had a dearth of precipitation, which may have contributed to Alberta's catastrophic fire conditions by drying out the ground and making fires harder to put out.

According to provincial officials, numerous routes in north and central Alberta are closed and several hospitals have been completely evacuated.

Also Read: Severe Weather Continues to Pick on Central Texas Extending to Oklahoma

Wildfire EWF-031

Thousands of Albertans leave their homes to go to evacuation shelters, unsure of whether they would still have a place to live when the orders to leave are removed.

As of Sunday, a wildfire that has gotten out of control had consumed more than 16,300 hectares, or roughly 40,200 acres, in the Fox Lake neighborhood, according to the authorities.

The extent of the flames' destruction is yet unknown because firefighters are unable to completely estimate property loss due to the strong fire conditions and thick smoke, according to Blair.

Numerous structures have been damaged, according to officials, notably in the Fox Lake area where 56 firefighters are battling the blazes with heavy equipment and aircraft.

In Yellowhead County, where 8,000 residents were given the go-ahead for a rapid evacuation, many more have also been told to leave. According to CNN, the Little Red River Cree Nation received orders to evacuate an additional 3,600 people.

According to the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard, an additional out-of-control wildfire known as EWF-031 has scorched around 192,500 acres of land as it rages southeast of Yellowhead County's town of Edson.

Related Article: Severe Weather Persists in Texas, 18000 Still Without Power Supply
In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the critically endangered Kau silversword is making a comeback as a result of decades of coordinated conservation work and good fortune.

Critically Endangered

The distinctive silver-leafed plants have been reestablished by National Park Service biologists and partner organizations at Kilohana, a high-elevation refuge on the slopes of Mauna Loa.

A few years ago, one of the park's fence workers saw a little plant growing in the stony, dry earth. It was formed like a rosette. It resembled a little "Hina Hina" or silversword.

Even though they are extremely rare, Kau silverswords (Argyroxiphium kauense) have been found in the upper Kahuku Unit of the park, far from any known populations. During follow-up surveys, five more plants were discovered.

That was one of the finest texts she has ever gotten, according to Sierra McDaniel, the natural resources program manager for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The crew is now reintroducing plants at two different locations on Mauna Loa, but the possibility of a third population stoked their enthusiasm.

Protected Areas

While the public cannot enter Kilohana or any of the other isolated protected areas, a new digital story map created by the park tells the tale of arduous work and cross-generational cooperation to safeguard the Kau 'ahinahina and the ecosystems in which the species is known to flourish.

Between 2021 and 2022, park biologists and conservationists planted 152,000 seeds and 330 young silverswords in a safe, fenced location at Kilohana.

The plants have a 97% initial survival rate so far.

According to McDaniel, the fact that Kilohana is gated off prevents invading non-native goats, lambs, and pigs from entering and consuming the Hina Hina, which is why the initial rate of survival is so high. The best ally in preserving indigenous habitats and flora is a fence, Big Island Now reports.

Native Plant: Kau Silversword

Because foraging ungulates love to eat them, the magnificent Kau silversword, a native of Hawaii, is fighting an uphill battle to survive. However, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's resource management is making unceasing efforts to safeguard what is left of these plants. The recovery of the Mauna Loa silversword is currently well underway thanks to the installation of kilometers of fence and the diligent work of resource managers, who cross-pollinate wild plants, collect their seeds, and nurture them in secure greenhouses.

The National Park Service says that the future of the Kau silversword is looking more optimistic because of the planting of approximately 20,000 saplings in park-protected areas. To ensure the long-term survival of this extraordinary species, the actions of the national park staff and resource management are crucial.

Also Read: Business Owner Chops Down Live Oak Tree on Public Property Without Permit - Florida

The Paradise Island, Hawaii

Thousands of species unique to the planet only exist in Hawai'i.

The result was something amazing as barren land was shoved up from the sea and clothed with intricate and distinctive ecosystems. Some of the planet's most dynamic and diversified ecosystems may be found on the Hawaiian Islands. Flowering plants came to the Hawaiian Islands once every 105,000 years during a period of 32 million years. The Hawaiian Ecosystem states that 90 percent of the native Hawaiian plants are endemic, or found only in Hawaii, and not elsewhere on Earth.

Related Article: UK University Sows New Meadow for Native Wildflowers To Tackle Biodiversity Crisis
On Monday night, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab intends to release over 400 bats at Joslyn Castle as the weather begins to warm up and the number of insects rises. Since the start of the pandemic, this is the first live event.

Nebraska Wildlife Rehab

The public is invited to the rehab's spring bat release for the fourteenth consecutive year, and this will be the first time it will take place at Joslyn Castle, according to executive director Laura Stastny. The group is overjoyed to be working with Joslyn Castle on the public event.

The Joslyn Art Museum, where the first ten years' worth of releases were produced, is currently closed for repairs.

Wildlife rehabilitators are also going to have bats on hand so that people may have a close look at them before the release. Starting at 6 PM, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab has set up informational tables and fun family activities using bats.

At 7:45 PM, there will be a brief talk on bats, and at around 7:55 PM, the release will occur for at least 30 minutes.

Perfect Release Timing

These are all bats that were brought to the rehab center throughout the winter when they couldn't be released, according to Stastny.

The scarcity of insects and the chilly weather prevent their discharge throughout the winter.

To enjoy on the lawn before the release, members of the public are encouraged to bring their picnic dinners. Additionally, there will be a food market.

Although Nebraska Wildlife Rehab welcomes lawn chairs and blankets, it asks that no tents or posts be brought and that no animals be brought to the event. The bat-releasing event is free of charge and open to the public.

Up to the end of the bat release, portable restrooms will be accessible.

Stastny stated that NWR believes this event, in which members of the public are invited to see a significant number of bats being released back into the wild, is the only one of its sort in the US. Their team is honored to represent these special and helpful animals as ambassadors and to offer this special opportunity to the community, Lincoln Journal Star reports.

Also Read: Flower Foraging Dooms Mosquitoes as Nectar Spreads Honey Bee Virus to Bloodsuckers

Bats

The National Park Service states that more than 45 distinct species of bats inhabit national parks and that various types offer various advantages. Many acts as prey for other creatures, while some pollinate plants, others devour insects, and all serve as sources of inspiration for scientific research.

According to USGS, there are fewer bug pests destroying crops when bats are present because they eat insects, which saves farmers money on pesticides. Bats that eat insects are known as "insectivorous." They gorge on insects every night, contributing to pest control with more than $3.7 billion worth of savings each year in the US, according to USGS.

Other creatures in the ecosystem rely on bats for food, much as certain bats depend on thousands of insects each night to survive. Bats are eaten by hawks, falcons, and owls, and they are occasionally attacked when they are roosting by animals including weasels, ringtail cats, and raccoons.

Related Article: Upcoming Bat Maternity Season Leaves Florida Locals Last Few Days for Blocking Roosts


Congo flooding has resulted in hundreds of deaths as of Monday, May 8, as raging floodwaters and landslides swept through villages in the eastern part of the country last week, according to reports.

Many dead bodies were found by emergency responders floating in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lake Kivu.

More than a quarter of the fatalities were buried by local authorities in several mass graves.

The Congo flood death toll figure is expected to increase as search operations for victims and potential survivors are ongoing, according to authorities.

The disaster occurred when flash floods and mudslides struck homes and buildings in the Kalehe territory of South Kivu province, causing widespread disruption and a huge loss of life.

The severe weather came after similar heavy rain events affected thousands of people in East Arica, including in Kenya.

In Rwanda, flooding and landslides killed more than 130 people in recent days, as well as at least six people in Uganda.

The region is currently in its autumn season that spans from March to June each year.

Congo Flooding

Over 400 people have died in the DRC as of Monday after bodies were retrieved following flooding and landslides in two villages in the said territory last week, according to a video report by BBC News.

The DRC floods mostly affected several villages near Lake Kivu. While recovery efforts are underway people are still digging through mud to find missing relatives, the U.K. broadcasting network adds.

The Congo floods started last Thursday evening, May 4, prompting rivers to overflow with flash floods sweeping majority of buildings in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi, ABC News reported.

Kalehe civic leader Delphin Birimbi stated he understood that thousands of people are still missing and told The Associated Press that some doctors went to the affected areas to treat the injured.

However, communities were still pleading for more emergency assistance, as cited by the U.S. media outlet.

Local officials said that the initial death toll was 200 following the torrential rainfall.

More bodies were found on Sunday, May 7, wherein provincial administrator Thomas Bakenge reportedly confirmed the dead toll has reached 394 at that time.

Also Read: Genetic Study of Congolese Okapi Shows it is a Resilient Species

East Africa Heavy Rain

Prior to the DRC floods, heavy rain in East Africa since late April inundated many areas across the region, where Rwanda floods and landslides forced many residents in the southern, western, and northern provinces to be left homeless, NBC News reported.

The disaster destroyed not only homes but also roads and bridges, as well as medical facilities.

In recent years, similar extreme weather events in central and eastern Africa have also led to catastrophic consequences.

In particular, structures in mountainous areas and near bodies of water are vulnerable during torrential rain.

Fragile homes in rural areas are also susceptible to water erosion and rockfalls, based on previous incidents of the same nature.

Related Article: Unforgiving Floods and Landslides Kill 120 People in Kinshasa, DRC
Naval Group, a leading French maritime defense company, is participating in the second edition of DEFEA (Athens Defence Exhibition) in Greece, taking place from May 9th to May 11th, 2023. The event is organized by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence.

Model of the Gowind class corvette at DEFEA 2023, Athens. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

The group will showcase its surface ship offers and technologies, such as the FDI frigates and Gowind corvettes, highlighting French-Hellenic industrial cooperation through several events and subcontract signings within the FDI HN program.

The company has been established in Greece since 2008 and is known for its expertise in technology transfers and in-country construction. Naval Group's Hellenic Industrial Participation (HIP) plan has already signed over 50 contracts involving 60 Hellenic partners since the program's start in March 2022. The plan aims to provide economic returns and transfer know-how to the Greek defense industry.

Naval Group's offer for the corvettes program includes a robust industrial cooperation plan that aims to ensure economic benefits in Greece of at least 30% of the program value and create hundreds of jobs while furthering the involvement of Hellenic partners in the Groups international operations. The FDI HN program meets all the requirements of the Hellenic Navy and the first two frigates are scheduled for delivery in 2025, with the third in 2026.

The Gowind corvette is proposed as a solution to meet the Hellenic Navy's requirements for the renewal of their naval capabilities. Naval Group has a long history of conducting transfers of technology and know-how in major complex industrial programs worldwide.

The Gowind corvette is already sea-proven with the Egyptian navy, with the first of its class built in France in 38 months, and the rest of the series successfully built in Egypt by a local shipyard.
At DEFEA 2023, the ongoing defense exhibition in Athens, Fincantieri, and ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group have unveiled their joint strategy if the Italian Group, as the prime contractor, is selected for the Hellenic Navy corvette program by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence.

Model of the FCx30 corvette at DEFEA 2023. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

Fincantieri proposes the FCx30, a cutting-edge, sea-tested corvette with exceptional performance across all warfare areas. The design is based on the Doha class for the Qatari Emiri Navy.

With a full load displacement of 3,200 tons, an overall length of 107 meters, and a top speed exceeding 26 knots, the vessels can operate in the most demanding and hostile conditions, offering high performance in all weather, as well as exceptional anti-submarine warfare capabilities such as low acoustic signature and low noise electrical drive.

The vessels will feature advanced hybrid propulsion technology. They will run on an innovative electric drive system at low speeds and switch to internal combustion engines at high speeds.

The machinery configuration also grants the ships excellent survivability, with 50% of propulsion power and 50% of electrical power available even when two adjacent compartments are flooded.

Last December, Fincantieri signed an official agreement with ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group to establish a corvette production line and life-cycle support base at Onex Naval and Maritime Elefsis Shipyards. The agreement:

 outlines collaboration terms for constructing 2+1 high-tech, top-standard corvettes at Onex Elefsis Shipyards, along with necessary upgrades, improvements, knowledge transfer, and technology/equipment estimated at around 80 million;

 anticipates the creation of 2,500 direct and indirect new jobs in the shipbuilding industry;

 fosters cooperation with numerous benefits for the Greek economy and defense sector, while enhancing prospects for further collaboration between the two Groups in future warship and commercial ship construction programs.

This agreement marks a significant step towards strengthening domestic defense production. The knowledge gained from the ONEX-Fincantieri partnership, encompassing the entire Italian industrial ecosystem, will be crucial for developing competitive products that meet various market defense needs, further invigorating the Elefsis Shipyards' revival and ONEX's comprehensive upgrade and modernization plan.

The new corvette production line and life-cycle support base will involve several Greek companies, encouraging the growth of an industrial and high-tech ecosystem surrounding the Elefsis Shipyards and Western Attica region.

The MoUs signed between Fincantieri and other industrial partners, including Greek companies, establish the foundation for long-term business relationships.
On Monday night, protestors took to the streets of New York City over the shocking death of Jordan Neely, who was choked to death by a former marine while riding the subway. The New York City Police Department eventually shut the protest, using their usual set of fair and just tactics such as demanding that people stop exercising their right to protest, and then arresting them for resisting arrest.

This time, however, NYPD officers also uncovered some horrifying melee weapons, like this:

This is a Molotov Cocktail that was found at tonight's protest. We are committed to ensuring everyone's right to protest. Violence has no place in civic demonstration. These actions will never be tolerated & anyone bringing weapons or dangerous substances will be arrested. https://t.co/5eS5A525SQ pic.twitter.com/VMh14FQQSD  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 9, 2023

Yes, you see, that's a bottle of Topo Chico carbonated mineral water. The name "molotov cocktails" typically implies that the bottle contains a flammable liquid, such as alcohol  ya know, so it explodes, splintering flaming glass shards across the street. That's sort of the whole point of it as a makeshift incendiary device. Carbonated Mineral Water, however, is not flammable. In fact you could even use it to help put out a fire (though still water is probably a better idea).

Now, is it possible that someone filled this glass bottle with alcohol or gasoline or some other flammable liquid? Sure. Hell, it wouldn't be unreasonable for a police officer to pour the flammable liquid out of the bottle before taking it back to the office for a PR photoshoot. But even if that were the case, it sure seems odd that the only alleged Molotov Cocktail they could recover was one made from a water bottle.

But hey, what really matters is that "Violence has no place in civic demonstration," right?

This is how the NYPD treats peaceful protesters pic.twitter.com/IdmMego6t5   (@corncommunist) May 9, 2023

NOW: Cops are arresting journalists at this evening's candlelight vigil for Jordan Neely. pic.twitter.com/AGT4M5608i  Chi Osse (@OsseChi) May 9, 2023

(NYC Mayor Eric Adams also later repeated the Molotov Cocktail claim at a press conference.)
The high-profile defense exhibition takes place in Athens, Greece from 9 to 11 May. Five of EDGE's portfolio companies exhibit industry-leading advanced technology and defense products and solutions.

EDGE booth at DEFEA takes place at Metropolitan Expo Athens. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

EDGE, one of the world's leading and fastest-growing advanced technology and defense groups, participates for the first time at DEFEA 2023, which occurs in Athens, Greece, from 9 to 11 May.

The group showcases its diverse product portfolio, with a clear focus on autonomous systems and smart weapons, highlighting EDGE's technologically advanced defense solutions and products to the European market, and for new commercial and security partnerships.

DEFEA 2023 occurs under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence  General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA), covering the defense industry and national security.

It is attended by international delegations, distinguished guests, government officials, senior executives, and high-ranking military personnel from Greece, Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, and the wider Eastern Mediterranean.

Five of EDGE's portfolio companies display a wide range of advanced solutions and products covering the domains of autonomous air and land systems, naval systems, precision-guided munitions, and small arms.

In the domain of autonomous air systems, EDGE showcases the HUNTER SP (Soldier Portable) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the tube-launched HUNTER 2-S swarming UAV system, and the REACH-S unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

The Shadow 25 loitering munition is also displayed, along with the GARMOOSHA rotary-wing UAV. Land systems and solutions are represented by NIMR's LRSOV, a special operations vehicle.

A model of the landing craft 160 Sea Trooper at DEFEA 2023. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

EDGE's advanced naval capabilities include the ADSB 160 ITEP (Inshore Tactical Engagement Platform), 120 FIP (Fast Inshore Platform), 510 OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel), and the Sea Trooper, the ideal landing-craft vessel.

In the domain of precision-guided munitions, EDGE showcases its multi-range DESERT STING air-to-surface precision-guided munition, as well as the Rash 1-M, Rash 2-H, and Rash 2-M precision-guided munition systems.

For small arms and ammunition, EDGE displays its CARACAL F pistols, CMP 9 submachine guns, the CAR 816 assault rifle, and the CSR 338 sniper rifle, as well as a full range of small caliber ammunition.

EDGE's participation at the high-profile international event follows its highly successful participation at LAAD Defence & Security 2023 defense exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, where it announced the opening of a new regional office for Latin America in Brasilia, enabling EDGE to expand its scope, forge new partnerships, and promote its unique and competitive offerings across the continent.

Attendees of DEFEA 2023 can visit EDGE at stand A26 in Hall 2 at the Metropolitan Expo Exhibition Centre at Athens International Airport.
Increasing numbers of hospitals and other healthcare settings across the globe are dropping masks. Some folks are very concerned about what this means for public health, especially given that (a) rates of hospital acquired COVID in some areas are at higher levels than they have been since the start of the pandemic, and (b) research consistently shows that COVID is definitely not just a cold or flu. Despite all of the information we have about how destructive COVID can be on almost every bodily system, and despite the large numbers of people who are suffering from long COVID, some healthcare workerslike the ones featured in this videoare absolutely gleeful about ditching their masks. The Beziers Hospital Center, in Beziers, France recently created and posted this video of hospital staff looking almost creepily ecstatic as they hurl their masks to the floor. On their YouTube channel, they describe the video:

On May 8, 2020, the pandemic forced us to make wearing a mask compulsory everywhere and for everyone in the establishment. Three years later, to the day, we are lifting this obligation. Maybe it will have to win again in the future, but for now, let's enjoy the pleasure of discovering or rediscovering each other again. To celebrate this event, our teams are happy to be able to remove it and prove it to you. in images, in pictures. We wish to pay tribute to them because they have remained mobilized and concerned for the good of all.

The Winslow Public Health Collective saw the video and tweeted their reply: "There are indeed 3 min 42 of scientific obscurantism in this video. The jovial denial of nosocomial infections by airborne contamination has nothing to envy to the antivax rhetoric, both are serious and culpable attacks on public health." They also tweeted, "Endangering others. . . If you have any COVID risk disease (or if you want to stay healthy): avoid Beziers." And they created a reaction video, explaining: "An error has crept into your video and we have taken the liberty of making a correction (thank you)." Enjoy this corrected video, which is just the original one played backwardeveryone in the video is joyfully putting on their masks, looking thrilled to protect the health of folks visiting their hospital.

(NOTE: Please excuse any terrible translations of the original French from all of these posts. I used Google Translate, so blame that.)


Events and radio mark Julian of Norwich 650th Events and radio mark Julian of Norwich 650th

This year marks the 650th anniversary of the Shewings of Julian of Norwich with events in Norwich and further afield marking the occasion.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheelers in cities with over 10 lakh population and switch to electric and gas-fuelled vehicles by 2027, according to a report commissioned by the petroleum ministry.

According to the report, diesel city buses should not be added to the fleet in urban areas for about 10 years. The panel submitted its report to the government in February this year. The panel headed by former Oil Secretary Tarun Kapoor suggested phasing out motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers with internal combustion engines by 2035.

Electric vehicles (EVs) may be promoted as the optimal solution in preparing for phasing out internal combustion engine two/three wheeler vehicles by 2035. In the intermediate period, policy support for ethanol-blended fuel with an increasing blend ratio needs to be given, reads the report.

It called for four-wheelers, including passenger cars and taxis, to partially shift to electric and partially to ethanol-blended petrol with about 50% share in each category. A ban on diesel-powered four-wheelers in all million-plus cities and all towns with high pollution has to be enforced in five years, i.e. by 2027, the report said.

Transitioning to EVs and CNG as transition fuel (up to 10-15 years) has been emphasised. To boost electric vehicle use in the country, the report said the government should consider a targeted extension of incentives given under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles scheme (FAME) to beyond March 31.

NEW DELHI: India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheelers in cities with over 10 lakh population and switch to electric and gas-fuelled vehicles by 2027, according to a report commissioned by the petroleum ministry. According to the report, diesel city buses should not be added to the fleet in urban areas for about 10 years. The panel submitted its report to the government in February this year. The panel headed by former Oil Secretary Tarun Kapoor suggested phasing out motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers with internal combustion engines by 2035. Electric vehicles (EVs) may be promoted as the optimal solution in preparing for phasing out internal combustion engine two/three wheeler vehicles by 2035. In the intermediate period, policy support for ethanol-blended fuel with an increasing blend ratio needs to be given, reads the report. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It called for four-wheelers, including passenger cars and taxis, to partially shift to electric and partially to ethanol-blended petrol with about 50% share in each category. A ban on diesel-powered four-wheelers in all million-plus cities and all towns with high pollution has to be enforced in five years, i.e. by 2027, the report said. Transitioning to EVs and CNG as transition fuel (up to 10-15 years) has been emphasised. To boost electric vehicle use in the country, the report said the government should consider a targeted extension of incentives given under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles scheme (FAME) to beyond March 31.
By AFP

BENGALURU: Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has bought a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru, the key Apple supplier said in a filing Tuesday as it looks to diversify production away from China.

Also known by its official name, Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and a principal assembler of Apple iPhones.

Both companies are seeking to shift manufacturing away from China after strict Covid policies, a bout of industrial unrest and ongoing diplomatic tensions with the United States hurt production.

The 1.2 million-square-metre (13 million-square-foot) acquisition in Devanahalli, near the airport for Bengaluru, was announced in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

It said that subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development was paying three billion rupees ($37 million) for the site, the size of more than 50 Manhattan city blocks.

Another Foxconn unit was acquiring land use rights to a 480,000-square-metre site in Vietnam's Nghe An province, it added.

Karnataka state chief minister Basavaraj S. Bommai said in March that Apple would "soon" manufacture iPhones at a new plant that would create "about 100,000 jobs".

Bloomberg News reported that month that Foxconn was planning to invest $700 million in a new factory in Karnataka.

ALSO READ | iPhone maker Foxconn to set up $700-million plant in Bengaluru

Foxconn chairman Young Liu visited the state then and also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has urged foreign firms to manufacture goods in the South Asian nation.

Foxconn has manufactured Apple handsets in India since 2019 at its plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The company is expected to break ground on a new facility in Telangana state next week, local media reported.

Two other Taiwanese suppliers, Wistron and Pegatron, also manufacture and assemble Apple devices in India.

'Good growth'

Apple has been making its own push into India and chief executive Tim Cook last month opened its first two retail stores in the world's most populous country.

The California-based firm is betting big on the nation of 1.4 billion people -- home to the second-highest number of smartphone users in the world, after China.

Navkendar Singh of market intelligence firm International Data Corporation told AFP that Apple had already proved "quite successful" in India, with domestic iPhone sales of 6.7 million last year.

"This is good growth considering that Apple plays at the price range of more than $500 all the time," he added.

The world's biggest company in terms of market value is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in India.

Apple said last September it would manufacture its latest iPhone 14 in India, just weeks after launching the flagship model.

The country last year accounted for seven percent of Apple's iPhone production, according to Bloomberg, lagging behind the United States, China, Japan and other countries.

ALSO READ | iPhone maker takes big strides in India

China, by far the leading producer of Apple products, saw production disrupted by violent protests last November at the country's largest iPhone factory, also owned by Foxconn.

Hundreds of employees protested over conditions and pay at the plant in the central city of Zhengzhou, spurred in part by public frustration over the government's zero-tolerance approach to Covid during the pandemic.

"Having contingency or diversification plans helps so you are not too dependent on one region," Counterpoint Technology Market Research senior analyst Prachir Singh told AFP.

"It's not like the Chinese operations will come down to zero," he added. "It is about building a similar world in India so they have multiple locations to rely on."

BENGALURU: Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has bought a huge tract of land on the outskirts of Indian tech hub Bengaluru, the key Apple supplier said in a filing Tuesday as it looks to diversify production away from China. Also known by its official name, Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and a principal assembler of Apple iPhones. Both companies are seeking to shift manufacturing away from China after strict Covid policies, a bout of industrial unrest and ongoing diplomatic tensions with the United States hurt production.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The 1.2 million-square-metre (13 million-square-foot) acquisition in Devanahalli, near the airport for Bengaluru, was announced in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. It said that subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development was paying three billion rupees ($37 million) for the site, the size of more than 50 Manhattan city blocks. Another Foxconn unit was acquiring land use rights to a 480,000-square-metre site in Vietnam's Nghe An province, it added. Karnataka state chief minister Basavaraj S. Bommai said in March that Apple would "soon" manufacture iPhones at a new plant that would create "about 100,000 jobs". Bloomberg News reported that month that Foxconn was planning to invest $700 million in a new factory in Karnataka. ALSO READ | iPhone maker Foxconn to set up $700-million plant in Bengaluru Foxconn chairman Young Liu visited the state then and also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has urged foreign firms to manufacture goods in the South Asian nation. Foxconn has manufactured Apple handsets in India since 2019 at its plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The company is expected to break ground on a new facility in Telangana state next week, local media reported. Two other Taiwanese suppliers, Wistron and Pegatron, also manufacture and assemble Apple devices in India. 'Good growth' Apple has been making its own push into India and chief executive Tim Cook last month opened its first two retail stores in the world's most populous country. The California-based firm is betting big on the nation of 1.4 billion people -- home to the second-highest number of smartphone users in the world, after China. Navkendar Singh of market intelligence firm International Data Corporation told AFP that Apple had already proved "quite successful" in India, with domestic iPhone sales of 6.7 million last year. "This is good growth considering that Apple plays at the price range of more than $500 all the time," he added. The world's biggest company in terms of market value is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in India. Apple said last September it would manufacture its latest iPhone 14 in India, just weeks after launching the flagship model. The country last year accounted for seven percent of Apple's iPhone production, according to Bloomberg, lagging behind the United States, China, Japan and other countries. ALSO READ | iPhone maker takes big strides in India China, by far the leading producer of Apple products, saw production disrupted by violent protests last November at the country's largest iPhone factory, also owned by Foxconn. Hundreds of employees protested over conditions and pay at the plant in the central city of Zhengzhou, spurred in part by public frustration over the government's zero-tolerance approach to Covid during the pandemic. "Having contingency or diversification plans helps so you are not too dependent on one region," Counterpoint Technology Market Research senior analyst Prachir Singh told AFP. "It's not like the Chinese operations will come down to zero," he added. "It is about building a similar world in India so they have multiple locations to rely on."
Dr. Paul Updike and Sheryl Katz have been in the addiction treatment field for decades, spearheading services at Catholic Health System amid the ongoing opioid epidemic and the carnage it has caused across Western New York.

Their work can be difficult and heartbreaking. But there also can be joy when they are able to help someone who is struggling with addiction and who wouldn't have been able to turn the corner without their help.

"With this disease, particularly the opiates, it's unforgiving  it's completely unforgiving," said Updike, medical director of chemical dependency treatment services at Catholic Health. "So if these patients aren't getting help, they're not just stopping on their own. Opiates do not allow for that."

"It ravages every, every part of their life," added Katz, Catholic Health's director of substance use disorder services.

So as Updike and Katz paced the overhauled fifth floor of St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga, they knew the nearly $8 million poured into this space will help meet a crucial need at a critical time.

The long-planned Clearview Treatment Services at St. Joseph Campus  similar to an existing inpatient unit at Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston  has 40 chemical dependence rehabilitation beds and will open later this month.

While the project fits into the ongoing reinvention of St. Joseph Campus, it also bolsters Catholic Health's addiction management programs and fills a greater community need at a time when 30 similar beds just went offline at the soon-to-close Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport.

New substance use disorder treatment center at St. Joseph Campus gets $2.4 million boost The long-planned Clearview Treatment Services at St. Joseph, which is a campus of Catholic Health System's Sisters of Charity Hospital, will have 40 chemical dependence rehabilitation beds on the facility's fifth floor.

It will help alleviate a situation where demand for inpatient beds is outpacing supply and, in turn, help providers get patients into the proper level of care as quickly as possible.

As Updike and Katz explain, there are times when patients may not do well in outpatient settings and may need the higher level of care that an inpatient facility provides. But if there are no beds available or if there's a waiting list, that increases the likelihood that patients could fall through the cracks in what is often a disconnected system.

"The plan is to be able to admit these patients very seamlessly, so that they can maybe do an inpatient treatment as needed at the time and then come back into their outpatient setting once they've been stabilized," Updike said.

Catholic Health has seen high demand in its outpatient settings.

The system's Pathways Program, which provides medication-assisted treatment for heroin or prescription drug addiction, sees more than 1,500 patients at its locations in Buffalo, Amherst and Rochester.

Catholic Health President and CEO Mark Sullivan said the system is the second-largest outpatient medication-assisted treatment center in the state. And that, Sullivan said, speaks to "what the unmet need is here."

"Unfortunately, there are even more patients that really need our services," Updike said.

Why St. Joseph Campus

Sullivan said the system began thinking about adding an inpatient substance use treatment unit to St. Joseph Campus in 2017.

"This wasn't something that just started," he said. "The opioid crisis has been in Western New York for many years, and many people think it's for those on the fray. But there are people challenged by addictions that are dressed like all of us in this room that every day are trying to keep it together."

Perhaps no other local hospital has gone through as dramatic of a transition in recent years as St. Joseph, a campus of Sisters Hospital in Buffalo.

The Cheektowaga site has morphed several times to match community needs, no adaptation more prominent than when it became a Covid-19-only inpatient treatment facility for the pandemic's first year.

From slated for closure to repurposed: Inside the reinvention of St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga St. Joseph Campus has been through many changes over the years, ranging from the abrupt transition to a Covid-only hospital in 2020 to the ongoing reinvention into an outpatient and ambulatory care center. Constant reinvention is what it takes to fit within the future of health care.

Catholic Health has since redeveloped the campus into an outpatient and ambulatory care center.

And the campus is again meeting the need with completion of Clearview on the fifth floor, a former medical-surgical wing.

"By adding this centrally located site, we'll not only be able to expand access for our community but leverage our team of experts who for years have been providing rehabilitation through our outpatient Pathways program and our Clearview Treatment Center at Mount St. Mary's," said Aaron Chang, president of Sisters Hospital.

'This is a tragedy'

In its application to the state for Clearview, Catholic Health said the demand for inpatient treatment beds consistently exceeds the supply, noting the situation was likely to get worse following the increase in opioid overdoses and deaths during the pandemic.

For example, the application noted, the then-45-bed Clearview unit at Mount St. Mary's saw its occupancy increase from about 38% in 2015 to 91% in 2019.

It was a big reason why Catholic Health two years ago decided to add 24 more inpatient beds to the unit at Mount St. Mary's, which now has a 69-bed treatment unit.

Eastern Niagara Hospital to close in June, ending a century of service in Lockport The financially pinched Eastern Niagara Hospital, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2019 and would have closed two years ago if not for the management agreement with Catholic Health, said in a news release Friday that it was only able to operate this long by relying on state grants.

As of early this year, there were 214 chemical dependence rehabilitation beds in the eight-county Western New York region, compared with 169 in 2013, according to figures provided by the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports.

That figure dropped by 30 beds after the April 1 closure of Reflections Chemical Dependency Program at Eastern Niagara Hospital.

But aside from that closure  the entire hospital is closing in mid-June  more beds have opened in the last year. In addition to the upcoming opening of Clearview at St. Joseph, Recovery Center of Niagara opened within the last several months, renovating the former Inter-Community Memorial Hospital in Newfane.

The openings come at a time when opioid-related drug overdoses are surging.

Erie County reported this month that it had recorded 306 opioid-related overdose deaths last year, exceeding the previous high of 301 reached in 2016 when leaders declared the spike in overdoses the greatest public health crisis in a generation and created the Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force.

"We're right back to where we were in 2016 when the county first put together its opiate task force," said Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, clinical care chair of the University at Buffalo's Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions. "This is a tragedy, and it's a fentanyl tragedy."

More so than the number of beds in the region, what's important is ensuring the area has the services that put patients in the "scenario that fits best with their needs," said Nielsen, also senior associate dean for health policy in UB's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

"The inpatient experience is sometimes necessary, just to provide a removal of the person from their environment that is triggering them," she said. "So it helps them clear their head, make better decisions and that sort of thing. Many people, though, can be treated as an outpatient and don't need the intensive inpatient therapy experience. However, some do."

Rehabbing an old hospital: Recovery Center of Niagara coming to Newfane The former Inter-Community Memorial Hospital in Newfane is being turned into a facility that will offer inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation services for those struggling with substance use disorders.

A larger issue than available beds, she noted, is a lack of workers in the substance use treatment field, a situation that has made it difficult to staff the existing inpatient and outpatient programs in the area.

The plan at Clearview at St. Joseph Campus, Katz and Updike said, is to have about 30 employees, including nurses, support staff and medical staff.

More beds needed?

When asked whether even more inpatient beds beyond the new Clearview unit are needed in the region, Updike isn't sure how to answer.

On one hand, he thinks the argument can be made that more are needed.

"You can kind of argue that, but I think it's hard to know the exact number that we need because I just think there's so many of these patients that are kind of lost in the cracks," he said.

"And then they're coming back and maybe they're in rehab 10 times or something  I mean that kind of thing is not uncommon. And I believe that if we could kind of get the patients stabilized and followed over the course of time, there would be actually less need for inpatient treatment," he said.

"Or maybe it's just that we need to do a better job of how we coordinate care and utilize some of the treatment that we have," Updike said.

But Updike and Katz agree the new inpatient unit will help Catholic Health provide better care to patients in its addiction management programs. By having the beds available at Clearview  where the average patient stay is 28 days  they said that should facilitate much easier transitions for patients to ensure they are treated in the right setting at the right time.

And once they are able to be transitioned into an outpatient setting, that treatment can be indefinite. They noted that patients, on average, are treated at their methadone clinic for eight years.

"This is a disease that is really best thought of as a chronic illness that requires chronic ongoing management," Updike said.
Devaraj B Hirehalli By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The voter turnout on May 10 will be the last and most important factor which will have a bearing on the outcome of the Karnataka election results. Higher the voter turnout, the more unpredictable the result, with all political parties, especially the BJP, Congress and JDS having traction among the voters, according to experts.

This time, leaders from national parties have campaigned extensively, including about 100 from the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and about 50 from the Congress. The regional JDS hit the campaign trail early on, with its Pancharatna programme branching out across the state, while the AAP campaigned extensively in urban spaces. Together, such sustained campaigning could have an unprecedented effect on voter turnout this time, with the electorate coming out to have a say.

In the 2013 assembly polls, the state recorded 70.23 per cent turnout, and in 2018, it was 72.13 per cent, the highest for Karnataka since 1952. Anti-incumbency and other issues played a role, as people found a reason to cast their votes without fail, and observed a leader, adding that distribution of inducements and money also had an impact.

Srinivas, a Congress sympathiser from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, who had camped here for several days, suggested that parties bring the electorate to polling booths, as high voter turnout is likely to help the opposition, as anti-incumbency is a prime factor.

Psephologist Prof Sandeep Shastri said voter turnout will certainly have a bearing on the results but it depends on the constituency and regions, such as Old Mysuru, Kalyana Karnataka, coastal, Mumbai-Karnataka and central Karnataka. If there is anti-incumbency, voter turnout is higher and is likely to hurt the ruling party. However, there is no empirical data to prove it, he said.

BENGALURU: The voter turnout on May 10 will be the last and most important factor which will have a bearing on the outcome of the Karnataka election results. Higher the voter turnout, the more unpredictable the result, with all political parties, especially the BJP, Congress and JDS having traction among the voters, according to experts. This time, leaders from national parties have campaigned extensively, including about 100 from the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and about 50 from the Congress. The regional JDS hit the campaign trail early on, with its Pancharatna programme branching out across the state, while the AAP campaigned extensively in urban spaces. Together, such sustained campaigning could have an unprecedented effect on voter turnout this time, with the electorate coming out to have a say. In the 2013 assembly polls, the state recorded 70.23 per cent turnout, and in 2018, it was 72.13 per cent, the highest for Karnataka since 1952. Anti-incumbency and other issues played a role, as people found a reason to cast their votes without fail, and observed a leader, adding that distribution of inducements and money also had an impact.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Srinivas, a Congress sympathiser from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, who had camped here for several days, suggested that parties bring the electorate to polling booths, as high voter turnout is likely to help the opposition, as anti-incumbency is a prime factor. Psephologist Prof Sandeep Shastri said voter turnout will certainly have a bearing on the results but it depends on the constituency and regions, such as Old Mysuru, Kalyana Karnataka, coastal, Mumbai-Karnataka and central Karnataka. If there is anti-incumbency, voter turnout is higher and is likely to hurt the ruling party. However, there is no empirical data to prove it, he said.
Jaison Wilson By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Hearing a plea by the kin of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who was stabbed to death allegedly by inmates belonging to a rival gang inside Tihar jail, the Delhi High Court said on Monday that the incident, which was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, was a totally unacceptable state of affairs.

Questioning the jail authorities over the recovery of four knives from the high-security prison premises, Justice Jasmeet Singh ordered the jail superintendent to appear before the court in person on the next date of hearing on May 25.

Justice Singh watched the video in the court and said it was seen that Tajpuriya was taken out of his cell and stabbed to death. The court said it was unable to comprehend why no action was taken by jail officials and sought to know if any of the officials have been suspended for the lapses. This is totally an unacceptable state of affairs. The security of every prisoner is on the respondent. I am unable to gather what is happening here, the judge said.

The HC directed additional standing counsel Rahul Tyagi, representing the State, to file an affidavit within one week through the Director General of Prisons explaining how four knives were found in prison.

What is happening here? I am unable to get it. Can these inmates cut the bars and murder people? the court asked while dealing with the petition moved by Tillus father Jagpal Singh and his brother.

Senior counsel Maninder Singh, who appeared for the petitioners, argued that his clients feared a threat to their life. The duo, in their plea, also sought an investigation by the CBI into the murder of Tajpuriya in the jail on May 2 and sought police protection. The HC directed Delhi Police to ensure the security of both the petitioners.

4 accused sent to 4-day police cutody

A city court on Monday sent four accused in Tillu Tajpuriyas murder inside Tihar jail premises to

four days of police custody. Tajpuriya was attacked with improvised weapons allegedly by four members of the rival Gogi gang inside the high-security prison on May 2.

ALSO READ| Tillu Tajpuriya murder: Seven personnel of Tamil Nadu Special Police suspended

DG meets top officers of ITBP, TN police

Senior officers of ITBP and Tamil Nadu Police that are deployed in Tihar met Delhi Prisons DG Sanjay Beniwal on Monday to discuss ways to address security concerns in the wake of the killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside the prison premises last week, according to officials.

NEW DELHI: Hearing a plea by the kin of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who was stabbed to death allegedly by inmates belonging to a rival gang inside Tihar jail, the Delhi High Court said on Monday that the incident, which was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, was a totally unacceptable state of affairs. Questioning the jail authorities over the recovery of four knives from the high-security prison premises, Justice Jasmeet Singh ordered the jail superintendent to appear before the court in person on the next date of hearing on May 25. Justice Singh watched the video in the court and said it was seen that Tajpuriya was taken out of his cell and stabbed to death. The court said it was unable to comprehend why no action was taken by jail officials and sought to know if any of the officials have been suspended for the lapses. This is totally an unacceptable state of affairs. The security of every prisoner is on the respondent. I am unable to gather what is happening here, the judge said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The HC directed additional standing counsel Rahul Tyagi, representing the State, to file an affidavit within one week through the Director General of Prisons explaining how four knives were found in prison. What is happening here? I am unable to get it. Can these inmates cut the bars and murder people? the court asked while dealing with the petition moved by Tillus father Jagpal Singh and his brother. Senior counsel Maninder Singh, who appeared for the petitioners, argued that his clients feared a threat to their life. The duo, in their plea, also sought an investigation by the CBI into the murder of Tajpuriya in the jail on May 2 and sought police protection. The HC directed Delhi Police to ensure the security of both the petitioners. 4 accused sent to 4-day police cutody A city court on Monday sent four accused in Tillu Tajpuriyas murder inside Tihar jail premises to four days of police custody. Tajpuriya was attacked with improvised weapons allegedly by four members of the rival Gogi gang inside the high-security prison on May 2. ALSO READ| Tillu Tajpuriya murder: Seven personnel of Tamil Nadu Special Police suspended DG meets top officers of ITBP, TN police Senior officers of ITBP and Tamil Nadu Police that are deployed in Tihar met Delhi Prisons DG Sanjay Beniwal on Monday to discuss ways to address security concerns in the wake of the killing of gangster Tillu Tajpuriya inside the prison premises last week, according to officials.
By PTI

BHOPAL: Fifteen persons were killed and 20 to 25 other people injured when a bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Tuesday morning, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said.

The incident took place at 8.40 am.

The bus fell from the bridge on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village, he said.

WATCH |

"Fifteen people were killed and nearly 20-25 others were injured in the accident," the minister told reporters.

The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital in Khargone, he said.

The police were conducting a probe into the incident, he added.

BHOPAL: Fifteen persons were killed and 20 to 25 other people injured when a bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Tuesday morning, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said. The incident took place at 8.40 am. The bus fell from the bridge on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); WATCH | "Fifteen people were killed and nearly 20-25 others were injured in the accident," the minister told reporters. The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital in Khargone, he said. The police were conducting a probe into the incident, he added.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

KARNATAKA: "Public functionaries should not make statements on sub-judice matters, the Supreme Court remarked on Tuesday while taking serious exception to the political statements being made on sub-judice matters related to the withdrawal of the 4 % Muslim quota in Karnataka.

A bench led by Justice KM Joseph said that some sanctity needs to be maintained when there is a court order.

Although the bench adjourned the pleas challenging the GO that scrapped the 4% reservation granted to Muslims under the OBC quota and instead distributed the same equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities for July but recorded SG Tushar Mehtas statement that the assurance of non-implementation of order scrapping 4% quota would continue until further orders.

The remarks were made by the bench pursuant to taking note of the submissions by Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave that Home Minister Amit Shah made public statements taking credit for scrapping.

ALSO READ| Will not implement decision on scrapping 4 per cent Muslim quota till SC completes hearing: Bommai

A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, "When the matter is pending before the court and there is a court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained".

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners challenging scrapping of the four per cent Muslim quota, said, "Everyday home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?"

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government objected to the statements being made, saying he is not aware of any such remarks and if anyone is saying that quota on the basis of religion should not be there, then what is wrong and it is a fact.

Even on April 25, Karnataka Govt had assured SC that it would not make any appointment or admission on the basis of its March 27 GO. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna that its assurance would hold the field till the next date of hearing. The affidavit is ready. However today, I am before the constitution bench. Can this be taken up next week? Mehta submitted.

ALSO READ| Will end Muslim quota if BJP wins in Telangana: Union Home Minister

Opposing the pleas challenging the GO, Karnataka Govt has told the SC that reservation solely on the basis of religion is unconstitutional, contrary to the mandate of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India and principles of social justice and secularism.

Karnataka Govt in its 1678-page affidavit has said that just because the decision was before polls, timing etc cannot be pointed out unless Petitioners can show that the reservation was Constitutional and permissible. Merely because reservations have been provided in the past on the basis of religion, the same is no ground for continuing the same for perpetuity, more so when the same is on the basis of an unconstitutional principle, the affidavit has said.

ALSO READ| 'BJP never believed in religion-based reservation': Shah on scrapping 4 per cent quota for Muslims

According to the state, it adopted conscious governance initiatives through affirmative action to address social and economic backwardness and to make public service more inclusive and representative of the population.

(With Inputs from PTI)

KARNATAKA: "Public functionaries should not make statements on sub-judice matters, the Supreme Court remarked on Tuesday while taking serious exception to the political statements being made on sub-judice matters related to the withdrawal of the 4 % Muslim quota in Karnataka. A bench led by Justice KM Joseph said that some sanctity needs to be maintained when there is a court order. Although the bench adjourned the pleas challenging the GO that scrapped the 4% reservation granted to Muslims under the OBC quota and instead distributed the same equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities for July but recorded SG Tushar Mehtas statement that the assurance of non-implementation of order scrapping 4% quota would continue until further orders. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The remarks were made by the bench pursuant to taking note of the submissions by Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave that Home Minister Amit Shah made public statements taking credit for scrapping. ALSO READ| Will not implement decision on scrapping 4 per cent Muslim quota till SC completes hearing: Bommai A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, "When the matter is pending before the court and there is a court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained". Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners challenging scrapping of the four per cent Muslim quota, said, "Everyday home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?" Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government objected to the statements being made, saying he is not aware of any such remarks and if anyone is saying that quota on the basis of religion should not be there, then what is wrong and it is a fact. Even on April 25, Karnataka Govt had assured SC that it would not make any appointment or admission on the basis of its March 27 GO. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna that its assurance would hold the field till the next date of hearing. The affidavit is ready. However today, I am before the constitution bench. Can this be taken up next week? Mehta submitted. ALSO READ| Will end Muslim quota if BJP wins in Telangana: Union Home Minister Opposing the pleas challenging the GO, Karnataka Govt has told the SC that reservation solely on the basis of religion is unconstitutional, contrary to the mandate of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India and principles of social justice and secularism. Karnataka Govt in its 1678-page affidavit has said that just because the decision was before polls, timing etc cannot be pointed out unless Petitioners can show that the reservation was Constitutional and permissible. Merely because reservations have been provided in the past on the basis of religion, the same is no ground for continuing the same for perpetuity, more so when the same is on the basis of an unconstitutional principle, the affidavit has said. ALSO READ| 'BJP never believed in religion-based reservation': Shah on scrapping 4 per cent quota for Muslims According to the state, it adopted conscious governance initiatives through affirmative action to address social and economic backwardness and to make public service more inclusive and representative of the population. (With Inputs from PTI)
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: After The New Indian Express report on 41,621 missing women in Gujarat went viral, Gujarat Police in defence of the state government issued a clarification on social media that 39,497 have since then returned.

It is, however, a self-admission that 2,124 women are still missing and the police are unable to trace them. Significantly, the police have not contended the numbers in the news report.

The state government has not shared facts and figures for 2021 and 2022 which calls for more clarification.

Out of 41,621 women gone missing during the period 2016-20 as per the data published in Crime in India-2020, 39,497 of the missing women have been traced and they are united with their families. The said information is also part of Crime in India, 2020, Gujarat Police tweeted.

The investigation has revealed that women go missing due to family disputes, elopement, failure in examinations, etc, it added.

According to the TNIE report based on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 7,105 women went missing in 2016, 7,712 in 2017, 9,246 in 2018, and 9,268 in 2019.

In 2020, 8,290 women were reported to have gone missing. The total number adds up to 41,621.

Incidentally, as per a statement made by the state government in the Assembly in 2021, 4,722 women went missing in just one year (2019-20) in Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

AHMEDABAD: After The New Indian Express report on 41,621 missing women in Gujarat went viral, Gujarat Police in defence of the state government issued a clarification on social media that 39,497 have since then returned. It is, however, a self-admission that 2,124 women are still missing and the police are unable to trace them. Significantly, the police have not contended the numbers in the news report. The state government has not shared facts and figures for 2021 and 2022 which calls for more clarification.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Out of 41,621 women gone missing during the period 2016-20 as per the data published in Crime in India-2020, 39,497 of the missing women have been traced and they are united with their families. The said information is also part of Crime in India, 2020, Gujarat Police tweeted. The investigation has revealed that women go missing due to family disputes, elopement, failure in examinations, etc, it added. According to the TNIE report based on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 7,105 women went missing in 2016, 7,712 in 2017, 9,246 in 2018, and 9,268 in 2019. In 2020, 8,290 women were reported to have gone missing. The total number adds up to 41,621. Incidentally, as per a statement made by the state government in the Assembly in 2021, 4,722 women went missing in just one year (2019-20) in Ahmedabad and Vadodara.
C P Surendran By

The great question that a movie like The Kerala Story (or The Kashmir Files) raises is not of free speech: the good liberal would not ban it; the not-so-good, like M K Stalin or Mamata Banerjee, would. The great question movies of this persuasion raise is: Do they help you grapple with the violence and intolerance they so graphically portray? The Kerala Story, well shot, fails on this count. We leave the theatre frightened and, therefore, cruel because the barbarians are at the door.

To begin with, The Kerala Story should have been A Kerala Story. The story of a few women who, with their male partners, went on their own accord to join ISIS. Shalini, Geetanjali, Nimah and Bhagyalakshmi are almost devoid of agency. This was not the real case: there was a strong element of volition in their conversion.

But if you showed that, they would not be free of the blame. The one-dimensionality of the characters contributes to the predictability of the action. This does not help. Mainly because the movie begins at a UN incarceration centre on the Iran-Afghanistan border, showing Shalini has already survived her ordeal. The action is shown in a series of flashbacks. The movie then begins with the climax.

There are many scenes of assault, rape and slaughter. Anyone with even superficial exposure to the ISIS video clips and literature would agree that nothing shown in the movie is imaginary.

In a social media note, Ullekh N P, an illustrious journalist, quotes Lynne O Donnel, an Afghan affairs reporter, saying that ISIS could not have run a jail for 32,000 women (as first claimed by the movie makers) in Afghanistan because the US had the writ of the place.

True, but I see it as consistent with the methodology of the movie itself, so the project becomes more apocalyptic. It is the same need at work in seeing Kerala as a whole under the Love Jihad threat; a character says: Kerala is going to be an Islamic State. Unlikely, Sir.

At the time the movie is set, around 2014, admittedly, a minuscule number of marriages came to be known as Love Jihad. But The Kerala Story seems to imply that a handful of marriages of this kind are powerful enough to augur the end of the booming matrimonial industry of the property-conscious Keralites, Marxism notwithstanding.

Since the assumption of the BJP to power in 2014, the nature of Indian cinema has changed. At Inox, for instance, the build-up to the movie was quite symbolic. The screen came alive at first with the patriotic fervour and momentous music of Ayega India, showcasing the countrys achievements in various walks of life, a much more rousing and potent version of the ancient Indian News Reviewthe pedestrian Nehruvian propaganda.

Ayega India was followed by the teaser of Adipurush, a movie based on the Ramayana, whose pacifist Maa Nishaada sentiments clearly have evolved to a martial conclusion in a Prabhas, who seems to have developed biceps even in his ears. The accompanying music praising Lord Ram was warlike.

The next in the nature of things was the trailer of IB 71, an Indo-Pak war movie, in which Vidyut Jammval, the equally muscled up soldier-hero, informs Anupam Kher, his seemingly witless superior, of his plans for the utter rout of Pakistan.

And now, we are set for The Kerala Story. It all works to a script.

As it happened, the book I took to the theatre to read in the lobby was J M Coetzees Waiting for the Barbarians. It is about an elderly magistrate in a frontier colony of an Empire threatened by the Barbarians, summoning from his challenged spiritual reserves a kind of courage and kindness in the face of the compulsive colonial need to have an enemy at the door; and his painful discoverysubject to prolonged torture and abasementthat the rulers are even more barbaric than the primitive enemy they must maim and kill. It is the fear that makes them cruel. The fear also enables them to define a purpose and meaning to their life: power. Without the enemy, they are lost.

The novel is a sustained and saddening feat, managing to salvage for its sensual and sinning protagonist a sliver of grace in his fallen state. He does not belong to either the Empire or the Barbarians. His heroism, shown most strikingly in his love for a blinded and mostly silent Barbarian girl (who cannot return it on account of tribal taboos), is quite meaningless because nothing comes of it save a manifestation of his cussed fidelity to his personal values a preference of his friend to his nation. Indeed, the only time he feels rested enough to fall asleep is when he washes the broken feet of the girl.

The novel ends with him coming across children building an imperfect snowman in the square of the ruined town: This is not the scene I dreamed of. Like much else nowadays, I leave it feeling stupid, like a man who lost his way long ago but pressed on along a road that may lead nowhere. It is in the magistrates desolation that we experience our catharsis. That is what art does. It goes against the grain. It humanises.

The Kerala Story fails on this count. It is not the movie we would like to watch, say, with our Muslim friends. Perhaps thats why it is such a success. It speaks something about our times. And us.

C P Surendran

One Love and the Many Lives of Osip BPoet, novelist, and screenplay writer. His latest novel is

(cpsurendran@gmail.com)

The great question that a movie like The Kerala Story (or The Kashmir Files) raises is not of free speech: the good liberal would not ban it; the not-so-good, like M K Stalin or Mamata Banerjee, would. The great question movies of this persuasion raise is: Do they help you grapple with the violence and intolerance they so graphically portray? The Kerala Story, well shot, fails on this count. We leave the theatre frightened and, therefore, cruel because the barbarians are at the door. To begin with, The Kerala Story should have been A Kerala Story. The story of a few women who, with their male partners, went on their own accord to join ISIS. Shalini, Geetanjali, Nimah and Bhagyalakshmi are almost devoid of agency. This was not the real case: there was a strong element of volition in their conversion. But if you showed that, they would not be free of the blame. The one-dimensionality of the characters contributes to the predictability of the action. This does not help. Mainly because the movie begins at a UN incarceration centre on the Iran-Afghanistan border, showing Shalini has already survived her ordeal. The action is shown in a series of flashbacks. The movie then begins with the climax.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There are many scenes of assault, rape and slaughter. Anyone with even superficial exposure to the ISIS video clips and literature would agree that nothing shown in the movie is imaginary. In a social media note, Ullekh N P, an illustrious journalist, quotes Lynne O Donnel, an Afghan affairs reporter, saying that ISIS could not have run a jail for 32,000 women (as first claimed by the movie makers) in Afghanistan because the US had the writ of the place. True, but I see it as consistent with the methodology of the movie itself, so the project becomes more apocalyptic. It is the same need at work in seeing Kerala as a whole under the Love Jihad threat; a character says: Kerala is going to be an Islamic State. Unlikely, Sir. At the time the movie is set, around 2014, admittedly, a minuscule number of marriages came to be known as Love Jihad. But The Kerala Story seems to imply that a handful of marriages of this kind are powerful enough to augur the end of the booming matrimonial industry of the property-conscious Keralites, Marxism notwithstanding. Since the assumption of the BJP to power in 2014, the nature of Indian cinema has changed. At Inox, for instance, the build-up to the movie was quite symbolic. The screen came alive at first with the patriotic fervour and momentous music of Ayega India, showcasing the countrys achievements in various walks of life, a much more rousing and potent version of the ancient Indian News Reviewthe pedestrian Nehruvian propaganda. Ayega India was followed by the teaser of Adipurush, a movie based on the Ramayana, whose pacifist Maa Nishaada sentiments clearly have evolved to a martial conclusion in a Prabhas, who seems to have developed biceps even in his ears. The accompanying music praising Lord Ram was warlike. The next in the nature of things was the trailer of IB 71, an Indo-Pak war movie, in which Vidyut Jammval, the equally muscled up soldier-hero, informs Anupam Kher, his seemingly witless superior, of his plans for the utter rout of Pakistan. And now, we are set for The Kerala Story. It all works to a script. As it happened, the book I took to the theatre to read in the lobby was J M Coetzees Waiting for the Barbarians. It is about an elderly magistrate in a frontier colony of an Empire threatened by the Barbarians, summoning from his challenged spiritual reserves a kind of courage and kindness in the face of the compulsive colonial need to have an enemy at the door; and his painful discoverysubject to prolonged torture and abasementthat the rulers are even more barbaric than the primitive enemy they must maim and kill. It is the fear that makes them cruel. The fear also enables them to define a purpose and meaning to their life: power. Without the enemy, they are lost. The novel is a sustained and saddening feat, managing to salvage for its sensual and sinning protagonist a sliver of grace in his fallen state. He does not belong to either the Empire or the Barbarians. His heroism, shown most strikingly in his love for a blinded and mostly silent Barbarian girl (who cannot return it on account of tribal taboos), is quite meaningless because nothing comes of it save a manifestation of his cussed fidelity to his personal values a preference of his friend to his nation. Indeed, the only time he feels rested enough to fall asleep is when he washes the broken feet of the girl. The novel ends with him coming across children building an imperfect snowman in the square of the ruined town: This is not the scene I dreamed of. Like much else nowadays, I leave it feeling stupid, like a man who lost his way long ago but pressed on along a road that may lead nowhere. It is in the magistrates desolation that we experience our catharsis. That is what art does. It goes against the grain. It humanises. The Kerala Story fails on this count. It is not the movie we would like to watch, say, with our Muslim friends. Perhaps thats why it is such a success. It speaks something about our times. And us. C P Surendran One Love and the Many Lives of Osip BPoet, novelist, and screenplay writer. His latest novel is (cpsurendran@gmail.com)
Shiv Visvanathan By

Sometimes a small news item commands a different sort of attention than the confetti of election news. The other day it was reported that the government had decided to rationalise the number of autonomous scientific institutions. The word rationalise is an intriguing one. It was popularised by the great German sociologist, Max Weber, and evokes a sense of control and predictability as the very requirement of governance. What one misses during the process of rationalisation is the spirit of play, the ecology of surprises, and a sense of soulfulness of an activity like science.

When science is managerialised and instrumentalised, it becomes Big Science, and what one misses are the diversities of research clusters, especially PhD programs. Big Science as organised hubris confronts a village of Little Sciences as play. When one thinks of play and playfulness, one thinks of legends like C V Raman, K S Krishnan and J C Bose. Play is the catalyst of creativity. Rationalised play becomes a mere game, an instrumentalised rule game with predictable results. Play adds to the unexpected and research in life. Play provides different music to the rhythms of knowledge. I remember Raman dismissing the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) when it was inaugurated, by labelling it as tombs for the burial of scientific instruments. Play summons the child in you, sometimes literally. A few years ago, the Raman Institute had a program where children were apprenticed to leading scientists. I remember a 10-year-old strutting around with notes, claiming he was studying blackholes.

K S Krishnan captured the same spirit. I recollect a story about him driving through the gates of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Krishnan stopped his Studebaker car and rushed down to stop the felling of a tree. He wanted to know why it was being cut. The architects explained that it looked asymmetrical. Krishnan stopped and looked thoughtfully. He then said, I too have studied symmetry. You create symmetry not by cutting a tree but by planting another one. For Krishnan, science policy was a dismal science of governance that ruined the playfulness of science. I remember a time in the 1950s when Nehru would rush down to the NPL canteen to talk science with Krishnan. This sense of play is missing now that science has become a huge investment. Physicist Ernest Rutherford once insisted, The Americans have money, we dont, therefore we need to think. Play triggered all forms of talk, from heuristic to fantasy. One misses this today.

One managed with less as one improvised. I remember in the early years at the Raman Institute, diamonds were difficult to obtain. The scientists borrowed them from their wives earrings and created a new realm of science. Play allows for improvisation. The culture of jugaad was once part of the playfulness of science.

Play called for a different kind of accountability from science policy. Mistakes were not punished. I remember the distinguished scientist C V Seshadri saying, Tell me your most interesting mistakes, and I will tell you what kind of science you are doing. Play adds a different metaphysics of time to science. There is a story about Russian botanist and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov. When he was in Cambridge, he observed that his colleague was deeply empiricist. In his very Russian accent, Vavilov claimed, X has no phi-lo-sophee.

Recently, I was reading Patrick Geddes letter to Sister Nivedita about the proposed Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Geddes wanted a playful science, a hybrid science which would syncretise two cultures. Like Bose, he wanted a civilisational science that was playful, not a nationalist science that would become jingoist. Playfulness is one of the great bulwarks against the demands of a nation state. For Bose, colonisation and nationalisation are elements which playfulness in its plurality must resist. This is why Geddes said that science should emerge from childhood myths, creating a fecundity of hypotheses.

I remember sitting as a college boy listening to a conversation between scientists including my father, meteorologist C Ramaswamy and astrophysicist Chandrashekhar. It moved between archeology and meteorology. They rattled on for four hours, only stopping for coffee. My grand-aunt wickedly added that even science stopped before filter coffee. She said, Look at them, quarrelling like happy sparrows over some hypothesis. One wishes one heard more stories like this.

I feel a sense of anxiety when government committees attempt to modify the autonomy of institutions. They literally destroy the ecology of science. A scientist, once editor of Current Science, explained it to me. He said that science gave a sense of style to cities like Calcutta and Bangalore. The sense of science added to the freedom of the city. Todays committees can destroy both cities and science. He meant that a governmentalised science would make the city more bureaucratic. His prescient comments have the immediacy of obituary today.

People overplaying the nation state often forget that the real dreams of Indian nationalism were visions of childhood and science. This was true of Gandhi, Tagore, Geddes, Besant and Raman. They dreamt a different science. A science with a different spirit which this regime seeks to clericalise through governmental committees. Protecting autonomous science is a guarantee against clericalised science. This is a promise we need to make to the future. Play and freedom make science and democracy liveable and possible.

This is a task for civil society to keep such worlds of childhood alive. Destroying both the childhood and playfulness of science by clericalising them might be one of the unstated crimes of this regime. I was dreaming for a moment: Imagine a K S Krishnan, a Satish Dhawan, a Raman and a Chandrashekhar chuckling and annotating the Kasturirangan Report.

Science is too precious to be left to clerks and regimes. One needs a playful sense of science to retain a playful attitude to power. One is reminded of a story from the early years of the Nazi era by Austrian journalist Robert Jungk. A scientist worriedly asks his colleague whether the Nazis had damaged science. The latter replies abruptly that they cant as it doesnt exist anymore.

The last paragraph is an addendum to this essay. The man who popularised the idea of play in academics was the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga. He was a Sanskrit scholar who used the Sanskrit idea of leela to outline the culture of medievalism. A playful man, he was dean of the University of Utrecht. When the Nazis demanded he fall in line, he chose to go to the camps. The idea of play seems to be haunted by tragedy in this era.

Shiv Visvanathan

Social scientist associated with THE COMPOST HEAP, a group researching alternative imaginations

(svcsds@gmail.com)

Sometimes a small news item commands a different sort of attention than the confetti of election news. The other day it was reported that the government had decided to rationalise the number of autonomous scientific institutions. The word rationalise is an intriguing one. It was popularised by the great German sociologist, Max Weber, and evokes a sense of control and predictability as the very requirement of governance. What one misses during the process of rationalisation is the spirit of play, the ecology of surprises, and a sense of soulfulness of an activity like science. When science is managerialised and instrumentalised, it becomes Big Science, and what one misses are the diversities of research clusters, especially PhD programs. Big Science as organised hubris confronts a village of Little Sciences as play. When one thinks of play and playfulness, one thinks of legends like C V Raman, K S Krishnan and J C Bose. Play is the catalyst of creativity. Rationalised play becomes a mere game, an instrumentalised rule game with predictable results. Play adds to the unexpected and research in life. Play provides different music to the rhythms of knowledge. I remember Raman dismissing the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) when it was inaugurated, by labelling it as tombs for the burial of scientific instruments. Play summons the child in you, sometimes literally. A few years ago, the Raman Institute had a program where children were apprenticed to leading scientists. I remember a 10-year-old strutting around with notes, claiming he was studying blackholes. K S Krishnan captured the same spirit. I recollect a story about him driving through the gates of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Krishnan stopped his Studebaker car and rushed down to stop the felling of a tree. He wanted to know why it was being cut. The architects explained that it looked asymmetrical. Krishnan stopped and looked thoughtfully. He then said, I too have studied symmetry. You create symmetry not by cutting a tree but by planting another one. For Krishnan, science policy was a dismal science of governance that ruined the playfulness of science. I remember a time in the 1950s when Nehru would rush down to the NPL canteen to talk science with Krishnan. This sense of play is missing now that science has become a huge investment. Physicist Ernest Rutherford once insisted, The Americans have money, we dont, therefore we need to think. Play triggered all forms of talk, from heuristic to fantasy. One misses this today. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); One managed with less as one improvised. I remember in the early years at the Raman Institute, diamonds were difficult to obtain. The scientists borrowed them from their wives earrings and created a new realm of science. Play allows for improvisation. The culture of jugaad was once part of the playfulness of science. Play called for a different kind of accountability from science policy. Mistakes were not punished. I remember the distinguished scientist C V Seshadri saying, Tell me your most interesting mistakes, and I will tell you what kind of science you are doing. Play adds a different metaphysics of time to science. There is a story about Russian botanist and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov. When he was in Cambridge, he observed that his colleague was deeply empiricist. In his very Russian accent, Vavilov claimed, X has no phi-lo-sophee. Recently, I was reading Patrick Geddes letter to Sister Nivedita about the proposed Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Geddes wanted a playful science, a hybrid science which would syncretise two cultures. Like Bose, he wanted a civilisational science that was playful, not a nationalist science that would become jingoist. Playfulness is one of the great bulwarks against the demands of a nation state. For Bose, colonisation and nationalisation are elements which playfulness in its plurality must resist. This is why Geddes said that science should emerge from childhood myths, creating a fecundity of hypotheses. I remember sitting as a college boy listening to a conversation between scientists including my father, meteorologist C Ramaswamy and astrophysicist Chandrashekhar. It moved between archeology and meteorology. They rattled on for four hours, only stopping for coffee. My grand-aunt wickedly added that even science stopped before filter coffee. She said, Look at them, quarrelling like happy sparrows over some hypothesis. One wishes one heard more stories like this. I feel a sense of anxiety when government committees attempt to modify the autonomy of institutions. They literally destroy the ecology of science. A scientist, once editor of Current Science, explained it to me. He said that science gave a sense of style to cities like Calcutta and Bangalore. The sense of science added to the freedom of the city. Todays committees can destroy both cities and science. He meant that a governmentalised science would make the city more bureaucratic. His prescient comments have the immediacy of obituary today. People overplaying the nation state often forget that the real dreams of Indian nationalism were visions of childhood and science. This was true of Gandhi, Tagore, Geddes, Besant and Raman. They dreamt a different science. A science with a different spirit which this regime seeks to clericalise through governmental committees. Protecting autonomous science is a guarantee against clericalised science. This is a promise we need to make to the future. Play and freedom make science and democracy liveable and possible. This is a task for civil society to keep such worlds of childhood alive. Destroying both the childhood and playfulness of science by clericalising them might be one of the unstated crimes of this regime. I was dreaming for a moment: Imagine a K S Krishnan, a Satish Dhawan, a Raman and a Chandrashekhar chuckling and annotating the Kasturirangan Report. Science is too precious to be left to clerks and regimes. One needs a playful sense of science to retain a playful attitude to power. One is reminded of a story from the early years of the Nazi era by Austrian journalist Robert Jungk. A scientist worriedly asks his colleague whether the Nazis had damaged science. The latter replies abruptly that they cant as it doesnt exist anymore. The last paragraph is an addendum to this essay. The man who popularised the idea of play in academics was the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga. He was a Sanskrit scholar who used the Sanskrit idea of leela to outline the culture of medievalism. A playful man, he was dean of the University of Utrecht. When the Nazis demanded he fall in line, he chose to go to the camps. The idea of play seems to be haunted by tragedy in this era. Shiv Visvanathan Social scientist associated with THE COMPOST HEAP, a group researching alternative imaginations (svcsds@gmail.com)
Lactalis America Group is moving forward with what it calls a culinary, sensory and innovation center project that would bring residents and chefs to its South Buffalo complex for taste-testing, more than a year and a half after first introducing the concept.

The U.S. subsidiary of France's Group Lactalis, which owns Sorrento Lactalis, plans to construct a one-story square building on three lots on Leland Drive, across that street from the company's local headquarters and manufacturing operations. It would be built on 0.35 acres of vacant land, adjacent to a parking lot.

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The 5,719-square-foot building at 68, 70 and 74 Leland would be used for research, development and testing of new food products, while also providing some office space for the research team. The facility would have full audio-visual capabilities for staff to film product shoots for marketing, conduct demonstrations and even virtually host clients.

It would feature culinary and residential demonstration kitchens, a large walk-in cooler, a dry storage room, along with an expert jury panel room with 20 seats to sample and evaluate new foods and a research-and-development tasting room.

"We'll be able to host our retail customers or our culinary customers who come in," said Lactalis spokesman Don Heins, referring to stores and restaurants. "Our chefs will be able to cook a new menu item up for them. They'll be able to sample it, and possibly integrate it into their menu. We'll be able to attract customers from throughout the United States, maybe further.

Heins said about 120 community members will come in each week.

The $2 million project, to be constructed by Elma-based Building Solutions, would take about four months to complete.

Plans for the new 16-foot-tall building were initially introduced in fall 2021, when the company sought a rezoning of four contiguous residential properties that it had owned for years. Former homes on three of them were razed several years ago after Lactalis acquired them, while the fourth was torn down as part of this project, which also included construction of a 110-space parking lot.

Since then, the plans have morphed slightly to meet building code and city requests, including the addition of larger glass windows on the Dryvit system facade.

This is the latest expansion by Lactalis, which also constructed a 5,006-square-foot office addition on the back of its existing 26,865-square-foot complex at 2376 South Park Ave. That $1.1 million project was part of the company's plans to add 35 to 40 new jobs at its headquarters, which already housed 150 of the company's 600 employees.
By Express News Service

TANUR (MALAPPURAM): The pleasure cruise that turned Poorapuzha River in Tanur into a watery grave for 22 people, including 15 children, flouted multiple rules as enforcement agencies looked the other way.

Among the many rules that Atlantic, the ill-fated boat, flouted, overcrowding is considered the main cause of the accident.

The boat, originally a fishing vessel that was converted into a double-decker tourist cruise, was carrying 37 passengers against a capacity of just 22. The police are investigating if more people entered the boat without tickets.

Further, there were no sufficient life jackets on the boat and it had no safety certificate from the surveyors under the ports department. The boat also operated the service after 5 pm despite the ban on rides on the river post-sunset. The failure to follow the mandatory security protocol also contributed to the gravity of the tragedy.

Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who reached Tanur on Monday morning, ordered a judicial inquiry as well as a special police investigation into the tragedy and announced Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, there was simmering rage in this otherwise quaint village on the many rules that the boat operator has been brazenly violating, perhaps with the silent backing of the authorities. While police nabbed the boat owner, Nasar, from Kozhikode, the boat driver and his helper are still absconding.

Nasar, an expatriate who recently returned to Tanur, had reportedly tried to flee the country from Kochi airport on Sunday night but abandoned the idea after learning that the police were close on his heels. Police have seized his vehicle from Kochi.

The chief minister, who paid tributes to the deceased at a madrasa where the bodies were kept for public homage, also visited the government hospital at Tirurangadi.

We cant describe the grief of kin of the bereaved families. We should take measures to prevent the recurrence of such accidents, Pinarayi said, announcing the judicial probe after he held a review meeting with his cabinet colleagues.

A 14-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident. Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das will oversee the probe and Tanur DySP K V Benny will be the investigating officer.

As many as 10 people, who were rescued from the spot, were admitted to various hospitals in the district. Five people in the boat swam back to the shore without any injuries. Health Minister Veena George said counselling will be provided to the kin of the deceased to help them overcome the mental stress and pain.

IN PHOTOS | Kerala: Several tourists dead as boat collapses near Thoovaltheeram beach in Malappuram

TANUR (MALAPPURAM): The pleasure cruise that turned Poorapuzha River in Tanur into a watery grave for 22 people, including 15 children, flouted multiple rules as enforcement agencies looked the other way. Among the many rules that Atlantic, the ill-fated boat, flouted, overcrowding is considered the main cause of the accident. The boat, originally a fishing vessel that was converted into a double-decker tourist cruise, was carrying 37 passengers against a capacity of just 22. The police are investigating if more people entered the boat without tickets.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Further, there were no sufficient life jackets on the boat and it had no safety certificate from the surveyors under the ports department. The boat also operated the service after 5 pm despite the ban on rides on the river post-sunset. The failure to follow the mandatory security protocol also contributed to the gravity of the tragedy. Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who reached Tanur on Monday morning, ordered a judicial inquiry as well as a special police investigation into the tragedy and announced Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, there was simmering rage in this otherwise quaint village on the many rules that the boat operator has been brazenly violating, perhaps with the silent backing of the authorities. While police nabbed the boat owner, Nasar, from Kozhikode, the boat driver and his helper are still absconding. Nasar, an expatriate who recently returned to Tanur, had reportedly tried to flee the country from Kochi airport on Sunday night but abandoned the idea after learning that the police were close on his heels. Police have seized his vehicle from Kochi. The chief minister, who paid tributes to the deceased at a madrasa where the bodies were kept for public homage, also visited the government hospital at Tirurangadi. We cant describe the grief of kin of the bereaved families. We should take measures to prevent the recurrence of such accidents, Pinarayi said, announcing the judicial probe after he held a review meeting with his cabinet colleagues. A 14-member special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident. Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das will oversee the probe and Tanur DySP K V Benny will be the investigating officer. As many as 10 people, who were rescued from the spot, were admitted to various hospitals in the district. Five people in the boat swam back to the shore without any injuries. Health Minister Veena George said counselling will be provided to the kin of the deceased to help them overcome the mental stress and pain. IN PHOTOS | Kerala: Several tourists dead as boat collapses near Thoovaltheeram beach in Malappuram
By Express News Service

JAJPUR: For 90-year-old Kali Jena of Bandha Sahi in Jajpurs Binjharpur block, the struggle to collect her quota of rice provided under the public distribution system (PDS) is real.

Aided by a stick, the nonagenarian widow walks for one and a half kilometres to collect PDS rice from the retailer every month. On Sunday, a frail Kali was seen undertaking the arduous trek to the retailer at Alkund village under the scorching sun, a sight which moved many.

A resident of Ward no 14 in Bandha Sahi, Kali lives alone in her thatched hut for the last three decades after the death of her husband. She has a son but he lives with his family at another place. Being alone, the nonagenarian struggles to look after herself.

Unable to eke out a living due to her old age and frail health, she solely depends on the 5 kg of rice provided by the government under the Food Security scheme. And with no one to depend upon for her needs, Kali is forced to undertake the long and difficult trek to the PDS retailer with a bag to collect rice every month throughout the year braving the vagaries of nature.

Locals said the government has launched welfare schemes for the poor and needy but elderly people like Kali have not been able to avail the benefits. They urged the local administration to provide PDS rice at her doorstep every month. Despite repeated attempts, the marketing inspector of Binjharpur block Suvangi Ray was not available for comments.



JAJPUR: For 90-year-old Kali Jena of Bandha Sahi in Jajpurs Binjharpur block, the struggle to collect her quota of rice provided under the public distribution system (PDS) is real. Aided by a stick, the nonagenarian widow walks for one and a half kilometres to collect PDS rice from the retailer every month. On Sunday, a frail Kali was seen undertaking the arduous trek to the retailer at Alkund village under the scorching sun, a sight which moved many. A resident of Ward no 14 in Bandha Sahi, Kali lives alone in her thatched hut for the last three decades after the death of her husband. She has a son but he lives with his family at another place. Being alone, the nonagenarian struggles to look after herself.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Unable to eke out a living due to her old age and frail health, she solely depends on the 5 kg of rice provided by the government under the Food Security scheme. And with no one to depend upon for her needs, Kali is forced to undertake the long and difficult trek to the PDS retailer with a bag to collect rice every month throughout the year braving the vagaries of nature. Locals said the government has launched welfare schemes for the poor and needy but elderly people like Kali have not been able to avail the benefits. They urged the local administration to provide PDS rice at her doorstep every month. Despite repeated attempts, the marketing inspector of Binjharpur block Suvangi Ray was not available for comments.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: As many as 178 Telugu students stranded in strife-torn Manipur, including 72 from Telangana and 106 from Andhra Pradesh, arrived at 1.22 pm on Monday at Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad from Imphal.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Womens Wing) B Sumathi said that of the 106 Telangana students scheduled to arrive on Monday 72 reached the city and the remaining 34 will reach the city in a phased manner by night through connecting flights from Kolkata via Delhi or Bangalore.

The authorities stated that a total of 130 Telangana students will be brought to the city by Tuesday.

Among those who were airlifted by a special flight from Imphal were a couple and their five-day-old baby from Bhainsa town of Nirmal district.

Many of the students who arrived in Hyderabad were pursuing their education in prestigious institutes like IIIT, NIT, JIMS, and Central Agricultural University among others at Imphal. The parents of the students were provided with prior information regarding the details of the flights and arrival timings. On arrival at the RGIA, 15 RTC buses were arranged for transferring the students to their hometowns, across both the States besides city buses and cars for local commute.

Despite instructions directing the parents not to come to the airport, many turned up out of concern for their children.

Sai Kiran, from Ghatkesar, pursuing engineering in NIT Manipur, sharing his experience about the turbulent situation said, We were hearing gunshots and sounds of bomb attacks nearby for the past five days. The condition is still critical in the State and the Manipur government by jamming signals shut down internet services. It did not reveal the information about what exactly was happening but the people who were staying there were in the grip of fear.

He said: Soon after the curfew was imposed and riots began in Imphal, we approached the Telangana government. We were safely escorted with police security from the college to the airport. We are very happy for the prompt action taken by the government authorities, he added.

Rashid, another student on the flight explained that the conditions were terrible in Manipur. Though our college provided security for us in the hostels, the situation in the surrounding areas was frightening. Even the security personnel provided to us were doubtful if they would be able to protect us in case there was more trouble. It was then that we contacted the Telangana government for help and really appreciate the quick response.

PL Rao, a construction worker in a highways company in Manipur and Nagaland States for the last seven years, along with his wife Amita also came by the same flight. He said that he was indebted to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for bringing them safely back to Hyderabad. A special working group with a round-the-clock control room in the DGP office was set up by CS A Shantikumari and DGP Anjani Kumar.

HYDERABAD: As many as 178 Telugu students stranded in strife-torn Manipur, including 72 from Telangana and 106 from Andhra Pradesh, arrived at 1.22 pm on Monday at Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad from Imphal. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Womens Wing) B Sumathi said that of the 106 Telangana students scheduled to arrive on Monday 72 reached the city and the remaining 34 will reach the city in a phased manner by night through connecting flights from Kolkata via Delhi or Bangalore. The authorities stated that a total of 130 Telangana students will be brought to the city by Tuesday. Among those who were airlifted by a special flight from Imphal were a couple and their five-day-old baby from Bhainsa town of Nirmal district.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Many of the students who arrived in Hyderabad were pursuing their education in prestigious institutes like IIIT, NIT, JIMS, and Central Agricultural University among others at Imphal. The parents of the students were provided with prior information regarding the details of the flights and arrival timings. On arrival at the RGIA, 15 RTC buses were arranged for transferring the students to their hometowns, across both the States besides city buses and cars for local commute. Despite instructions directing the parents not to come to the airport, many turned up out of concern for their children. Sai Kiran, from Ghatkesar, pursuing engineering in NIT Manipur, sharing his experience about the turbulent situation said, We were hearing gunshots and sounds of bomb attacks nearby for the past five days. The condition is still critical in the State and the Manipur government by jamming signals shut down internet services. It did not reveal the information about what exactly was happening but the people who were staying there were in the grip of fear. He said: Soon after the curfew was imposed and riots began in Imphal, we approached the Telangana government. We were safely escorted with police security from the college to the airport. We are very happy for the prompt action taken by the government authorities, he added. Rashid, another student on the flight explained that the conditions were terrible in Manipur. Though our college provided security for us in the hostels, the situation in the surrounding areas was frightening. Even the security personnel provided to us were doubtful if they would be able to protect us in case there was more trouble. It was then that we contacted the Telangana government for help and really appreciate the quick response. PL Rao, a construction worker in a highways company in Manipur and Nagaland States for the last seven years, along with his wife Amita also came by the same flight. He said that he was indebted to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for bringing them safely back to Hyderabad. A special working group with a round-the-clock control room in the DGP office was set up by CS A Shantikumari and DGP Anjani Kumar.
By Associated Press

ISLAMABAD: Officials from the party of Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said the 72-year-old Khan was arrested on Tuesday on the premises of the court by agents from the countrys anti-corruption body, the National Accountability Bureau.

Imran Khans video message before he left for court in Islamabad- he was subsequently arrested @NewIndianXpress @ImranKhanPTI @MEAIndia https://t.co/UIoJWzoDiI  Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) May 9, 2023

Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April last year. He has claimed his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy and has campaigned against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, demanding early elections.

Chaudhry said Khan was dragged out of the court and into a police vehicle. He said the former premier is now in the custody of the security forces. He denounced the arrest as an abduction.

Pakistans independent GEO TV broadcast images of Imran Khan being pulled by security forces towards an armored vehicle, which took him away.

Khans party immediately complained to the Islamabad High Court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for Khans arrest.

Officials from the anti-corruption body said that Pakistans National Accountability Bureau had issued arrest warrants for Khan last week in a separate graft case, for which he had not obtained bail  something that would protect him from arrest under the countrys laws.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Khan will be brought to appear before an anti-graft tribunal later on Tuesday.

PTI supporters break into Lahore Cantt after Imran's arrest

After the arrest of Imran Khan on Tuesday, there are reports of PTI supporters breaking into the residence of a military officer in the cantonment area of Lahore, media reports said.

Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah shared this information in a tweet, saying, "PTI supporters break into military officer's house in Lahore Cantt," Dawn reported.

He also shared a video showing a group of men, some of them with their faces partly covered, entering a gated premises with sticks in their hands. They were later seen using the sticks to hit the walls, Dawn reported.

Men in uniform could also be seen on the premises.

PTI workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gathered on the streets of Lakki Marwat district under the leadership of provincial party president Muhammad Iqbal against the arrest of Imran Khan.

The PTI supporters resorted to burning tyres and closed down the Indus Highway.

After Khan's arrest, PTI called for protests across Pakistan. Roads have been blocked on main thoroughfares in major cities like Karachi.

PTI supporters began marches in various cities. The police fired tear gas shells at the protesters in Karachi, Dawn reported.

(With inputs from IANS.)

ISLAMABAD: Officials from the party of Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan say he has been arrested as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases. Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said the 72-year-old Khan was arrested on Tuesday on the premises of the court by agents from the countrys anti-corruption body, the National Accountability Bureau. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Imran Khans video message before he left for court in Islamabad- he was subsequently arrested @NewIndianXpress @ImranKhanPTI @MEAIndia https://t.co/UIoJWzoDiI  Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) May 9, 2023 Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April last year. He has claimed his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy and has campaigned against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, demanding early elections. Chaudhry said Khan was dragged out of the court and into a police vehicle. He said the former premier is now in the custody of the security forces. He denounced the arrest as an abduction. Pakistans independent GEO TV broadcast images of Imran Khan being pulled by security forces towards an armored vehicle, which took him away. Khans party immediately complained to the Islamabad High Court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for Khans arrest. Officials from the anti-corruption body said that Pakistans National Accountability Bureau had issued arrest warrants for Khan last week in a separate graft case, for which he had not obtained bail  something that would protect him from arrest under the countrys laws. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Khan will be brought to appear before an anti-graft tribunal later on Tuesday. PTI supporters break into Lahore Cantt after Imran's arrest After the arrest of Imran Khan on Tuesday, there are reports of PTI supporters breaking into the residence of a military officer in the cantonment area of Lahore, media reports said. Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah shared this information in a tweet, saying, "PTI supporters break into military officer's house in Lahore Cantt," Dawn reported. He also shared a video showing a group of men, some of them with their faces partly covered, entering a gated premises with sticks in their hands. They were later seen using the sticks to hit the walls, Dawn reported. Men in uniform could also be seen on the premises. PTI workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gathered on the streets of Lakki Marwat district under the leadership of provincial party president Muhammad Iqbal against the arrest of Imran Khan. The PTI supporters resorted to burning tyres and closed down the Indus Highway. After Khan's arrest, PTI called for protests across Pakistan. Roads have been blocked on main thoroughfares in major cities like Karachi. PTI supporters began marches in various cities. The police fired tear gas shells at the protesters in Karachi, Dawn reported. (With inputs from IANS.)
By Online Desk

Russia has launched a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes on cities across Ukraine, reports say.

Explosions were heard overnight in the capital, Kyiv, where the mayor said five people had been injured in the "biggest" kamikaze drone attack so far, BBC reports.

One person was killed in the attack on the southern Odesa region. BBC quoted Ukraine's Red Cross as saying that its warehouse was hit.

It marks the fourth attack in eight days on Kyiv and comes just 24 hours before Russia celebrates Victory Day.

The annual holiday commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two, a conflict the Kremlin has baselessly tried to draw parallels with since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the report added.

According to The Guardian, Russias latest missile barrage came as both sides appeared to be preparing for a widely expected Ukrainian offensive Kyiv hopes will help recapture territory lost since the start of the war.

At the weekend, Russia began evacuating hundreds of civilians from occupied areas in south-eastern Ukraine, including families from Enerhodar, a city close to Europes largest nuclear power plant, the report added.

According to The Guardian, In the east of Ukraine, Moscow intensified its attack on Bakhmut, hoping to take the embattled city in time to mark its Victory Day holiday, said a senior Ukrainian general charged with defending Bakmut, a city with a prewar population of about 70,000 that has been blasted to ruins.

In Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said he had submitted a bill to parliament officially making 8 May a day of remembrance and victory, while 9 May would become Europe Day, the latest move that underlined Ukraines break with its Soviet past, the report said.

Standing in front of a second world war memorial, Zelenskiy also said Russian forces would be defeated in Ukraine, like Nazi Germany was at the time.



Russia has launched a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes on cities across Ukraine, reports say. Explosions were heard overnight in the capital, Kyiv, where the mayor said five people had been injured in the "biggest" kamikaze drone attack so far, BBC reports. One person was killed in the attack on the southern Odesa region. BBC quoted Ukraine's Red Cross as saying that its warehouse was hit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It marks the fourth attack in eight days on Kyiv and comes just 24 hours before Russia celebrates Victory Day. The annual holiday commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two, a conflict the Kremlin has baselessly tried to draw parallels with since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the report added. According to The Guardian, Russias latest missile barrage came as both sides appeared to be preparing for a widely expected Ukrainian offensive Kyiv hopes will help recapture territory lost since the start of the war. At the weekend, Russia began evacuating hundreds of civilians from occupied areas in south-eastern Ukraine, including families from Enerhodar, a city close to Europes largest nuclear power plant, the report added. According to The Guardian, In the east of Ukraine, Moscow intensified its attack on Bakhmut, hoping to take the embattled city in time to mark its Victory Day holiday, said a senior Ukrainian general charged with defending Bakmut, a city with a prewar population of about 70,000 that has been blasted to ruins. In Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said he had submitted a bill to parliament officially making 8 May a day of remembrance and victory, while 9 May would become Europe Day, the latest move that underlined Ukraines break with its Soviet past, the report said. Standing in front of a second world war memorial, Zelenskiy also said Russian forces would be defeated in Ukraine, like Nazi Germany was at the time.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Top U.N. officials, health industry leaders and activists demanded Monday that the world invest more to develop new vaccines and tackle a surge in tuberculosis fueled by the impact of COVID-19 and conflicts including Ukraine and Sudan.

At a crowded meeting punctuated by activists chanting End TB Now," there were speeches from many TB sufferers and a keynote by U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who spoke about how her father passed on tuberculosis to her two-year-old sister: TB claimed his life at the age of 60, but her sister, now 50, is a survivor.

Tuberculosis is the biggest infectious disease killer in the world today, taking the lives of around 4,400 people every day around the world including 700 children, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, said ahead of Mondays hearing to prepare for a high-level meeting on Sept. 22 during the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly.

The U.N. deputy secretary-general said global response efforts to tuberculosis have saved 74 million lives since 2000, but over 10.5 million people got the disease and an estimated 6.1 million died in 2021, and it is now the leading cause of death for people with HIV.

The TB epidemic is driven by a host of factors including poverty, malnutrition and HIV and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in all countries, Mohammed said, stressing that these drivers of the disease must be addressed.

She said $22 billion is needed to provide all people diagnosed with TB access to quality treatment by 2027 along with access to health and social benefits so they dont suffer financial hardship  and an additional $5 billion a year is needed for TB research and innovation.

We can develop safe and effective tuberculosis vaccines and simple one-stop shops for quality tests and care, Mohammed said. This would be a game changer.

U.N. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a video address to the meeting that COVID-19 turned our world upside-down for three years, and in addition to the millions of deaths it deprived millions of people of essential health services including for tuberculosis.

Conflicts across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East have made life-saving services even harder to access for people living with TB, he said. These challenges have been a setback in the fight against TB, reversing some of the significant gains we have made over the past 20 years in expanding access to prevention, testing and treatment.

The WHO chief said the high-level meeting in September must be a turning point in reinvigorating progress in the fight against TB, not only by expanding existing tools but also developing new tools including new TB vaccines. Thats why WHO has proposed establishing a TB vaccine accelerator council to facilitate the development, licensing and use of new TB vaccines," Ghebreyesus said.

Dr. Ozlem Tureci, chief medical officer of BioNTech which developed one of the main COVID-19 vaccines with Pfizer using messenger RNA technology, told the meeting that it started trials of a new vaccine candidate for TB several weeks ago.

The Stop TB Partnerships Ditiu said a COVID vaccine was developed in less than a year while it has taken 19 years to get three or four other vaccines for TB to phase 3 trials because of a lack of money.

Before COVID, which like TB is transmitted through the air, we didnt see very dramatic cases of TB, she said, but after COVID we saw a type of TB that we saw in  movies in which people spit blood and they are very weak, and so on.

Ditiu said the economic impact of COVID and conflicts, first and foremost in Ukraine but now also in Sudan, are having a huge impact on efforts to treat people with TB and diagnose new cases.

Ukraine has the highest number of estimated people with TB in the European region  34,000  and also a high number with drug-resistant TB, she told a news conference on Thursday.

Its remarkable, the fact that the Ukrainian people are actually showing an amazing resilience in doing their best to maintain the services for TB, Ditiu said. But obviously a lot of people left the country.

Nonetheless, she said, major efforts have been made to track down those with the disease, but what worries everyone is to ensure that people in Ukraine have access to treatment.

According to the Stop TB Partnership, which is managed by the U.N. Office for Project Services and aims to achieve a world free of tuberculosis, 18,000 people in Sudan received treatment in 2021.

Ditiu said the situation there for TB sufferers because of the ongoing fighting and collapse of most of the health system is probably like a ticking bomb.
India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE advance shared vision of a more secure, prosperous Middle East region

Riyadh, May 8: India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE on Sunday worked towards advancing their shared vision of a more secure, prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world, according to a readout issued by the White House.

India, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE advance shared vision of a more secure, prosperous Middle East region

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday met with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, his UAE counterpart Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, according to the official readout.The four delegations agreed to maintain regular consultations and follow up on the matters discussed throughout the day.The US NSA also held bilateral meetings with the Crown Prince, Sheikh Tahnoon, and Doval to discuss bilateral and regional matters. Sullivan said he looks forward to further consulting with Doval on the margins of the Quad Summit later this month in Australia.With Crown Prince Mohammed, Sullivan reviewed significant progress in talks to further consolidate the now 15-month-long truce in Yemen and welcomed ongoing UN-led efforts to bring the war to a close, as well as covering a range of other issues, according to the readout issued by The White House.Sullivan thanked the Crown Prince for the support Saudi Arabia has provided to US citizens during the evacuation from Sudan.Meanwhile, NSA Doval recently held talks with his Iranian counterpart Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, reported Iran's IRNA news agency.The two officials discussed economic, political and security issues concerning the two countries as well as the most important regional and international developments.ANI08 May 2023

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214 Telugu students reach Hyderabad by special flight from Manipur

Hyderabad, May 8: Over 200 students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who were stranded in violence-hit Manipur, reached Hyderabad by a special aircraft on Monday.

214 Telugu students reach Hyderabad by special flight from Manipur

The special aircraft carrying a total 214 Telugu students landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 1.22 p.m.While 106 students are from Telangana, the remaining 108 belong to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.Telangana's minister for labour Malla Reddy along with officials welcomed the students at the airport. Authorities arranged food and also transport for the students to enable them to reach their respective destinations.Students heaved a sigh of relief on returning safely. They said they were worried about their safety due to violence around their institutions."The situation is worse. We were living in fear as houses around our college were being blasted," a student said.Another student said the college authorities were helpless and the local staff had left them to their fate.Students thanked Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for bringing them safely.Another student, Spurthy said a total of 26 girl students from NIT Manipur have reached Hyderabad. She said MLC K. Kavitha spoke to them over phone and assured them all help.Minister Malla Reddy said 180 students from Telangana were stranded in Manipur. The remaining students have reached Kolkata and will be landing in Hyderabad by Monday night.On the direction of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police contacted officials in Manipur. The state government arranged a special aircraft to bring the students back and paid for their travel expensesAnother special aircraft will be landing in Hyderabad by Monday. Students will also be reaching here by different flights from Raipur, Patna and Bhubaneswar.MLA Prakash Goud, protocol department secretary Arvind Singh, Rangareddy district collector Harish, CID chief Mahesh Bhagwath and other officials received the students.IANS08 May 2023

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order Tuesday that directs state agencies to take 10 steps intended to bolster the fight against the fentanyl crisis, including setting up a plan to use wastewater surveillance to keep tabs on use of the drug.

Fentanyl overdose deaths in Virginia have grown more than 20-fold since 2013, according to Youngkin's executive order, which also states that since 2020, more Virginians have died from fatal drug overdoses than motor vehicle and gun-related deaths combined.

We must act," Youngkin said in a statement. I am confident that together these measures are significant steps to reduce the occurrence of fentanyl overdoses and deaths in the Commonwealth.

Youngkin's order directs the Virginia Department of Health to develop a cost-effective plan" within 120 days to use and fund "wastewater surveillance to detect the frequency, potency, and occurrences of fentanyl use in specific locations. That's a strategy other places around the country have employed, according to news reports.

The order asks that special advisers to the governor on opioid response and opioid interdiction be assigned within 90 days. It also directs the Department of Social Services to develop a plan to offer wrap-around services and treatments to those taking care of children whose parents have passed away from a drug overdose.

Youngkin asked state public safety officials and state police to develop a a strategic plan for law enforcement agencies for tackling the problem in parts of the state dealing with high numbers of overdose deaths.

He also wants a workgroup established to study how to keep incarcerated people with substance use disorders drug-free after they are released.

Youngkin signed the executive order at a National Fentanyl Awareness Day event at a Fredericksburg high school, spokesperson Macaulay Porter said.
MiG-21 jet crashes into house in Rajasthan, 3 dead, pilot safe

Jaipur, May 8: Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed into a house in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh on Monday morning, killing three women, IAF said in a statement.

MiG-21 jet crashes into house in Rajasthan, 3 dead, pilot safe

Police said pilot Rahul Arora (25) saved his life by ejecting in the nick of time with the help of a parachute. He has been sent to Suratgarh with minor injuries.The deceased have been identified as Bashokour (45), Banto (60) and Leela Devi (55)."A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed today morning at about 0945 hours. The aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh. Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures."Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh base."The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in a statement.The explosion after the MiG-21 crash caused the roof of another house in the neighborhood to collapse. The woman living in this house also suffered injuries.The relatives of the women killed in the accident were adamant on demanding government jobs and compensation by keeping the bodies.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his grief over the incident."Saddened by the crash of the Indian Air Force's MiG-21 aircraft in Suratgarh which killed 3 people. I pray to God to give peace to the souls of the departed and strength to the family members to bear the loss. The relatives of the deceased will be given assistance from Chiranjeevi insurance as per rules," he added.IANS08 May 2023

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Japan downgrades legal status of Covid-19, relaxes measures

Tokyo, May 8: Japan on Monday officially downgraded the legal status of Covid-19 to the same category of seasonal influenza and relaxed other Covid-19 measures previously in place.

Japan downgrades legal status of Covid-19, relaxes measures

The downgrading of the virus means it will no longer be in a special category equivalent to or stricter than Class 2, but is now categorised among Class 5 diseases like seasonal influenza, Xinhua news agency reported.If there is in future a spike in cases of Covid-19 infections, under the new lowered categorisation, a state of emergency will not be declared and people and businesses are allowed to make decisions by themselves on antivirus measures.As for quarantine guidelines following infection, the government here had previously recommended that those testing positive for Covid-19 isolate for a period of seven days and those who had been in close contact with an infected person quarantine for five days.The government has removed these guidelines, although some advisories remain in place for students and others, including nursing care providers.Prior to this, on March 13, the wearing of face masks became a decision left up to each individual.Covid-19 vaccinations will continue to be free through this fiscal year, although residents of Japan will have to pick up the tab for outpatient care or hospitalisation for Covid-19-related care and treatment.Expensive hospital treatments may be eligible for subsidies until September this year, however.In addition, under the government's eased regulations, patients admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 will no longer be treated at designated facilities, but at regular hospitals.The downgrading of the virus and easing of some related restrictions has led to some concerns from experts at medical institutions, however.Shoji Yokobori, who heads the critical care centre at the Nippon Medical School Hospital, said he is concerned that the number of infected patients could surge or patients could become severely ill under a new variant of Covid-19.In addition, Yokobori added that fears were rife that infections could continue to spread in homes for senior citizens and that when the cost of receiving treatment for the virus is not fully covered by the government, patients will stop seeing doctors.Tetsuya Matsumoto, a professor at the International University of Health and Welfare also voiced his concerns, saying that henceforth it may be difficult to monitor the number of cases in Japan should there be a further wave of infections."The medical system, which appears to be improving, may not actually have the capacity to sufficiently respond. The challenge is how to steadily increase the number of medical institutions that can receive patients," Matsumoto said.Under the auspices of the Health Ministry's advisory panel, a group of experts warned earlier last month that a ninth wave of infections could hit Japan.Japan's Health Minister Katsunobu Kato has previously highlighted an uptick in cases in Japan of a new subvariant of Covid-19.IANS08 May 2023

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For Rs 700 per month, govt spending Rs 7 lakh: SC on frivolous litigation

New Delhi, May 8: The Supreme Court on Monday said that at least 40 per cent litigation pursued by Central and state governments is frivolous.

'For Rs 700 per month, govt spending Rs 7 lakh': SC on frivolous litigation

A bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai observed that two young women had appeared for Union of India in two different matters and it told both that if these matters were to be argued by the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), "we would have dismissed it with cost of Rs 10 lakh".The bench observed that it did not want to impose in the matters where young counsel appeared for the government.Justice Gavai said "For a matter which involves Rs 700 per month, the state or Union must have spent Rs 7 lakh and too from the public exchequer."The bench, also comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol, made these observations when counsel sought to mention a matter.The bench said the government should try to weed out such unnecessary litigation and further observed that poor employees are getting Rs 50,000 or Rs 60,000 additionally.After the court's observations, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present in court to argue a matter involving a batch of petitions challenging the extension given to the ED Director, resumed his submissions.IANS08 May 2023

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Mojo of Majority- Making Karnataka shine with a majority government at the helm: A senior ministers take

New Delhi, May 8: Senior Minister of Karnataka state Dr Ashwath Narayan C.N, took to Twitter to hail Karnataka as the state on the fast track, all thanks to the double engine government that has put the state on a roll.

Mojo of Majority- Making Karnataka shine with a majority government at the helm: A senior minister's take

He further elaborated the benefits of electing the same political party both at the State and at Central levels. Karnataka which was deprived of the same party rule from last few decades has witnessed a paradigm shift be it in governance or development since the last four years.The minister lamented about Karnataka being at the receiving end of "coalition politics" that is plagued by factionalism, slow decision making, instability, lack of accountability and other disadvantages and appealed to the voters to ponder upon the sheer bliss/convenience of electing a majority government.As the third largest economy in the country, Karnataka has been outperforming other states in per capita income since 2020-21. Not only has it bagged the 'Top Achiever' rank in ease of doing business, it also continues to top NITI Ayog's India Innovation Index.He further stated that Karnataka which is home to around 45 unicorns and more than 13,000 technology start-ups, has rightfully earned the Start-up Capital and Unicorn Capital sobriquets, rightfully so as the state has created a favourable ecosystem for them to thrive and flourish.The uniformity of thought and action which is a result of having the same party at both the levels has transpired into sustainable overall development in all major sectors including, infrastructure, health, education and agriculture and most importantly in the area of implementation of policies and welfare programs.He went ahead and said, Karnataka, which is on the verge of picking its next government, no longer carries with it the bitter memories of factionalism, slow decision making, instability, lack of accountability and other disadvantages that come with the formation of a coalition government.Having tasted the benefits of a stable government, Karnataka is in a better position to give its mandate prudently.A "double engine government leads to greater political stability. It also blunts the chances of any hindrance from the political opposition at the State level.The quality of governance improves, it strengthens political institutions at both levels.With the same party in power at both the State and Central level, there is likely to be better coordination and collaboration between the two levels of government, which can result in more efficient implementation of policies and programmes. There is also better representation of the State's interest at the national level.The State government may have better access to resources from the central government, which can help in implementing development projects and programmes in the State.There is also faster approvals of projects and policies, resulting in quicker implementation of development initiatives.The tweet was well received by the Twitterati and was re-tweeted in great numbers.This story has been provided by NewsReach. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsReach)ANI08 May 2023

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TCNS to merge with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL)

Mumbai, May 8: TCNS Clothing (TCNS), India's leading women's ethnic-focused fashion player, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for combining with ABFRL, India's leading fashion & apparel company, and a part of the Aditya Birla Group. The transaction entails a combination of TCNS into ABFRL and will be carried out through - (1) Acquisition of the founding promoter's stake through a SPA and a conditional public open offer followed by (2) Merger between the two entities.

TCNS to merge with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL)

The value of the promoter stake and open offer consideration for TCNS is ~ Rs. 1650 Crores for 51 per cent stake, making this one of the largest deals in the Indian fashion space. Onkar Singh Pasricha, Chairman and Executive Director of TCNS, commented This deal marks a true milestone for our company and its stakeholders. Under the support and guidance of ABFRL, TCNS will surely achieve even greater heights of success and excellence. We are happy that we have been able to pass on our legacy to one of the most prestigious and respected groups - one that is known for its values, ethics, corporate governance and employee empowerment.We believe that all stakeholders of TCNS will benefit immensely from this landmark transaction. Speaking on the transaction, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, This deal is yet another marker of the Aditya Birla Group's faith in the dynamism and buoyancy of the Indian consumer economy.As India stands on the cusp of a multi-decadal consumption boom, ABFRL is a forerunner in shaping the fashion landscape of our vibrant nation. For ABFRL, the TCNS deal is indeed a significant milestone as it complements our existing portfolio of exceptional brands across the entire spectrum of Indian fashion. By embracing TCNS's portfolio of loved women's ethnic brands, we are reinforcing our commitment to ethnic wear, the largest category in the apparel industry. With this acquisition, the fast-growing ABFRL platform is poised for the next phase of transformational growth.Over the years, TCNS has evolved into a leading women's branded apparel company with proven playbook of multiple brand creations and seamless execution across multiple channels.Commenting on the acquisition, Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL said, "As young Indians identify a new-found confidence in their identities woven around Indian culture and heritage, the next set of leading consumer brands will be built in the Indian ethnic wear space. TCNS, through its brands W, Aurelia, Wishful and Elleven, is catering to the Indian women's fashion needs across markets and price points. Each of these brands have been built over a long period of time and enjoy tremendous consumer love. This transaction is the pivotal piece of our ethnic strategy and marks the culmination of our stated intent of building India's most comprehensive ethnic wear portfolio."Anant Daga, Managing Director of TCNS said, "TCNS has been a pioneer in branded women's ethnic wear market in the country. Over the last 20 years, we have built India's most successful women's franchise on the back of our leading brands. The market continues to offer long-term growth opportunities and our partnership with ABFRL will help us fully realize this potential. ABFRL's proven brand-building capability, distribution strength and strong ecosystem of partners will help our brands into its next phase of growth and profitability."Credit Suisse acted as the exclusive financial advisor and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Co acted as the legal advisors for the transaction. Grant Thornton acted as an independent valuer for TCNS while ICICI Securities provided the Fairness Opinion to the Board of TCNS.Transaction StructureAs part of the transaction, ABFRL will make a conditional open offer to acquire up to 29 per cent stake at Rs. 503 per share from public shareholders and acquire the remaining stake from the founder promoters to reach an overall shareholding of 51% in TCNS. Pursuant to the above, TCNS will be amalgamated with ABFRL under the merger scheme wherein public shareholders of TCNS (as on effective date) will receive 11 shares of ABFRL for every 6 shares that they hold in TCNS.The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals including approvals from the Competition Commission of India, SEBI, Stock Exchanges, and National Company Law Tribunal.Disclaimer Certain statements in this "Press Release" may not be based on historical information or facts and may be "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those relating to general business plans and strategy of the Company, its future outlook and growth prospects, future developments in its businesses, its competitive and regulatory environment and management's current views and assumptions which may not remain constant due to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company assumes no responsibility to publicly amend, modify or revise any statement, based on any subsequent development, information, or events, or otherwise. This "Press Release" does not constitute a prospectus, offering circular or offering memorandum or an offer to acquire any shares and should not be considered as a recommendation that any investor should subscribe for or purchase any of the Company's shares.This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI08 May 2023

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Amit Shah to lay foundation stone, development projects of Land Port Authority and BSF in Bengal tomorrow

New Delhi, May 8: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and Border Security Force (BSF) in his day-long visit to West Bengal on Tuesday.

Amit Shah to lay foundation stone, development projects of Land Port Authority and BSF in Bengal tomorrow

Shah's state visit will begin with offering of The tribute at the statue of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Kolkata's Jorasanko Thakurbari on Tuesday morning.The Home Minister's participation in the event is scheduled on Tuesday as Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the birth of the great Bengali poet, who was known as the Bard of Bengal and Gurudev and who made significant contributions to art, literature, and music. Tagore received the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his poetry collection "Gitanjali." He also composed the national anthems of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.Shah will later lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and the BSF at noon at Integrated-Check Post Petrapole in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas situated at the India-Bangladesh border.ICP Petrapole, located along the international border between India and Bangladesh, is the largest land port in South Asia. It is situated at a distance of about 80 km from the city of Kolkata, West Bengal.The Home Minister will also participate in an event linked to the release of the full dome film 'Luminaries of Bengal' and the inauguration of various projects at Science City in Kolkata in the evening.The Home Minister's day-long visit to West Bengal will conclude with his participation in Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrations by Khola Hawa at Kolkata's Science City.ANI08 May 2023

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Cognitive behavioural therapy can improve fatigue after Covid-19: Study

London, May 8: People with post-viral fatigue after suffering from Covid-19 can benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy, resulting in less fatigue and concentration problems, suggests a study.

Cognitive behavioural therapy can improve fatigue after Covid-19: Study

After a Covid infection, a substantial number of patients report persisting symptoms. This is often known as long-Covid or Post-Covid Syndrome and the most common symptom is severe and debilitating fatigue.The study, led by a team from University Medical Center (UMC) Amsterdam and Radboud in the Netherlands found that after behavioural therapy, Covid patients not only had less symptoms but also functioned better both physically and socially.The improvements persisted even after six months, said lead researcher, Hans Knoop, Professor of Medical Psychology at Amsterdam UMC.The findings are published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.In the study, patients who received cognitive behavioural therapy were compared with patients who received care as usual.Normal care often consisted of supervision by their general practitioner or specialist, physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy.Cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with persistent fatigue after Covid-19 focused on reducing fatigue by dealing with the symptoms differently."Together with patients, we looked, for example, at how they can improve their sleep-wake rhythm. We also helped them become more active again with small, safe steps. For example, by going for short walks," Knoop said.Cognitive behavioural therapy showed clear results for these patients. Most participants experienced significantly less fatigue and improved concentration after treatment.They also made significant progress socially and physically. The results also proved to be stable over time. After six months, the differences, compared with those received regular care, were still present."Cognitive behavioural therapy also appears to be a safe treatment. Our research shows that the symptoms did not worsen, and new symptoms arose less often," Knoop noted.The researchers emphasise that the fact that behavioural therapy can help does not mean that the cause of the symptoms is psychological. Furthermore, not everyone benefits from behavioural therapy.It is therefore very important to continue to search for other effective treatments and the physical causes of the post-Covid syndrome, the team said.IANS08 May 2023

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Rival party lawmakers of S.Korea meet with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida

Seoul, May 8: Two rival party lawmakers of South Korea met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday and delivered their thoughts on the results of a summit held a day earlier between Kishida and President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Rival party lawmakers of S.Korea meet with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida

The closed-door session comes on the second day of Kishida's two-day working visit to South Korea, a highly symbolic trip that marks a start for the restoration of bilateral relations long frayed over issues rooted in Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported.Representative Chung Jin-suk from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and Representative Yun Ho-jung from the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP), both of whom are leaders of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union, attended the Monday meeting with Kishida at a hotel in Seoul.At the scene, dozens of police officers were dispatched near the hotel's front gates, while a mob of reporters and cameras surrounded the lobby inside, waiting for the arrival of Prime Minister Kishida and the Korean delegates.During the meeting, which lasted around 50 minutes, the two lawmakers delivered their thoughts on the results of Sunday's summit, where the two leaders pledged to work closely together in all areas of cooperation.The summit also produced an agreement to allow South Korean experts to visit the Fukushima nuclear power plant for safety checks ahead of the planned release of contaminated water from it.During a joint press conference, Kishida also expressed regret over the issue of Japan's wartime forced labour, which had been the biggest thorn in relations between the two countries, saying his "heart aches" for those who suffered under harsh conditions at the time.It was the first time Kishida has made such a remark."It seems like a warm breeze is blowing in Korea-Japan relations just one year after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration was launched. The two leaders' courage and determination was the power behind the rapid normalisation of the Korea-Japan relations," Chung told reporters after the meeting ended."We told the Prime Minister that we think highly of Tokyo's efforts and was impressed by his warm message in regards to the forced labour victims," he said.Chung added that he also asked Kishida for Japan's support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan, and Kishida said in response that the country is looking at the issue seriously, according to Chung.Yun of the main opposition DP, however, said he told Kishida there is still a long road ahead in resolving historical issues between the two countries and urged Tokyo to step up efforts.On the dispatch of a joint inspection team to look into the Fukushima water release, Yun said "While I expressed gratitude, I requested Tokyo to turn the joint inspection into an opportunity for a joint verification by experts from the two countries. I also requested Japan to consider other alternatives apart from releasing the wastewater into the ocean."Yun also added that he requested Tokyo to "revise" its key defence documents, which endorsed Japan's sovereignty claim to the South's easternmost islets of Dokdo."I pointed out it is inconsistent for Japan to include a contentious matter with Korea in their defence documents, while it is discussing security cooperation with the US and Korea," he said."The move resembles the likes of China and Russia."IANS08 May 2023

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Rajasthan: 3 civilians killed in Indian Air Force MiG-21 crash, pilot ejects

Jaipur, May 8: A total of three civilians were killed after the wreckage of the Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft fell on a house in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on Monday morning, the IAF said today.

Rajasthan: 3 civilians killed in Indian Air Force MiG-21 crash, pilot ejects

The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh due to an "onboard emergency."The mishap took place at around 9.25 am."Soon after the take-off, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh's base," IAF said in the statement."The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families," it added.The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.The MiG-21 fleet is on its last leg and all the remaining three aircraft from the fleet are planned to be poached out by 2025.Earlier in January, one pilot lost his life after two IAF fighter jets - a Sukhoi-30 and a Mirage 2000 - crashed during a training exercise.While one aircraft crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, the other crashed and landed in Rajasthan's Bharatpur.ANI08 May 2023

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Will not remain silent in case of constitutional crisis in Bengal: Governor

Kolkata, May 8: West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Monday gave a latent warning to the state government after he said that he will not remain silent in case there is a constitutional crisis in the state.

Will not remain silent in case of constitutional crisis in Bengal: Governor

He also referred to the legendary play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. "If there is a constitutional or legal crisis, I will not remain silent like Hamlet," the Governor said while attending a function at the ancestral residence of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at Jorasanko in North Kolkata on Monday, a day before when the entire country will be celebrating the birth anniversary of the Nobel Laureate Indian poet, writer and educationist.The governor's observation came after the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) vice-chairman Arun Halder met him at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday afternoon. Halder sought the latter's permission to summon and question the chief secretary and the director general of police in connection with the recent killing of a youth in police firing at Kaliaganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal.In the meeting Haldar also complained to the government about the alleged noncooperation that the NCSC team was facing from the state administration while coming for field inspections in the state. Haldar informed that the Governor assured him that he will speak to the chief minister, chief secretary and the state police director general to resolve the lack of coordination on this count.Initially, after taking over the Governor last year, the relationship between the Governor House and State Secretariat was quite amicable. However, as days passed by the differences started surfacing between the two institutions on many issues like recruitment of vice- chancellors in state universities, personal slanders against a judge of the Calcutta High Court and the recent clashes over Ram Navami in certain pockets of West Bengal, among others.The state government also expressed severe exceptions to the Governor's recent visits to the different state universities without informing the state secretariat in advance. In such a situation, political observers feel, the Governor's fresh caution of not remaining silent in case of constitutional crisis in the state might open another round of tussle between Raj Bhavan and State Secretariat.IANS09 May 2023

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The leader of a sex trafficking and drug operation in Buffalo faces a maximum of life in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

Lairon Graham, 65, will return for sentencing Sept. 11 before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charges  conspiracy to possess and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and sex trafficking by force or coercion  carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Prosecutors said that Graham, also known as Shah and Uncle Shah, provided drugs to four women addicted to crack cocaine and heroin between 2013 and August 2021 and forced them into prostitution. According to prosecutors, Graham also subjected them to threats and physical abuse, beating one of them almost daily.

In addition, prosecutors said, Graham organized a group of drug dealers and oversaw sales of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from a house on Swinburn Street in Buffalo between June 2020 and Spring 2021, then moved operations to a Liddell Street residence.

Graham also sold drugs from his own residence on Davey Street. When investigators raided it on Aug. 25, 2021, they seized 43 grams of fentanyl, 37 grams of crack cocaine and $2,500 cash.
FM Sitharaman chairs the 27th Financial Stability and Development Council meeting

New Delhi, May 8: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday chaired the 27th Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting in the presence of Ministers of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Bhagwat Karad in New Delhi.

FM Sitharaman chairs the 27th Financial Stability and Development Council meeting

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Chief Debashish Panda, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Chief Deepak Mohanty, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan, Revenue Secretary Rajesh Malhotra, Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Vivek Joshi, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Ajay Seth and other officials of the finance ministry have taken part in this meeting.This is the first meeting after the Union Budget took place and also the first meeting after the US bank default which had threatened the financial situation of banks across the world.The FSDC is the apex body of sectoral regulators, headed by the Union finance minister.In the last Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on September 15 reviewed the state of the economy at the FSDC meeting in Mumbai.The Council during the last meeting deliberated on the early warning indicators for the economy and preparedness to deal with them, improving the efficiency of the existing Financial/Credit Information Systems and issues of governance and management in Systemically Important Financial Institutions including Financial Market Infrastructures, and strengthening cyber security framework in the financial sector. Besides, common KYC for all financial services and related matters, an update on account aggregator and next steps, issues relating to financing of power sector, strategic role of GIFT IFSC in New Aatmanirbhar Bharat, inter-regulatory issues of GIFT-IFSC, and need for the utilisation of the services of registered valuers by all government departments were also discussed.ANI09 May 2023

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Tanur boat tragedy: Kerala govt orders judicial probe

Malappuram, May 8: The Kerala government on Monday ordered a judicial inquiry into the Tanur boat capsize incident in which 22 people lost their lives.

Tanur boat tragedy: Kerala govt orders judicial probe

"A thorough judicial inquiry along with a meticulous investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police will be conducted to bring those responsible for the Tanur boat accident to justice. An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the kin of each of the deceased," tweeted Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held in Tanoor on Monday. The judicial commission will comprise technical experts to examine the technical aspect of the capsized boat."It needs to be seen whether the precautionary measures established after the suggestions of various investigations reports of similar tragedies are followed up here," the Chief Minister said in a Facebook post."It has been decided to conduct a judicial inquiry into the Tanur tragedy. It is envisaged that the judicial commission will also comprise technical experts to look into technical issues related to the boat," he added.He further said that the police investigation will be conducted by forming a special investigation team. Malappuram District Police Chief will head the investigation team.Twenty-two people, including a police officer, were killed after an overloaded double-decker tourist boat capsized at Parappanangadi on Sunday.Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Vijayan visited the Taluk Hospital, Tirurangadi in Malappuram where survivors of the boat capsize incident were admitted.Meanwhile, Kerala Human Rights Commission registered a case in connection with the boat tragedy.Malappuram district collector and district police chief and Port chief surveyor of Alapuzha have to submit a report to the Commission.ANI09 May 2023

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Only those people are protesting who have not seen the film: The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen

Mumbai, May 8: 'The Kerala Story' has been facing protests across the country due to its storyline for quite some time.

Only those people are protesting who have not seen the film: 'The Kerala Story' director Sudipto Sen

On Monday, during a media interaction filmmaker, Sudipto Sen opened up on the ongoing controversy related to his recent release film 'The Kerala Story'.Sudipto shared the backlash he and his team received after the teaser release, "We have two testimonies, if you will see them you will laugh. Once our teaser was released, one boy was constantly abusing our co-producer for the last two months. Yesterday after watching our film, the boy texted, 'I apologize to you publicly, I have no other objection.' And I too got abusive texts. So, if you guys feel that justification has not been done to the story after watching the movie, then you guys can take those two testimonials from us and you will come to know."He added, "The days when they were protesting and today after watching our film, those people have stopped opposing us. In today's date, only those people are protesting who have not seen the film."The film has gathered a massive response from the audiences and has minted Rs 35.25 crores in its opening weekend.Taking to Twitter, trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote, "#TheKeralaStory is UNSTOPPABLE and UNSHAKABLE... PHENOMENAL biz on Day 2 and 3 makes it a SMASH-HIT...Withstands two mighty opponents #Hollywood film #GotGVol3 and #IPL2023... Fri 8.03 cr, Sat 11.22 cr, Sun 16 cr.Total Rs 35.25 cr. #India biz. #Boxoffice Growth / Decline... Sat [growth] 39.73% Sun [growth] 42.60% EXTRAORDINARY TRENDING... All eyes on its biz on Mon."The kind of reaction we are getting if you go through our Instagram and Twitter, you will see almost half of the comments are from that community, who after watching the film, are saying that this story was supposed to be said long back and they are thanking us to tell this story," Sudipto continued.'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. The controversy surrounding the film started when its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. This statement triggered a heated political debate and many leaders questioned the veracity of the claim.He added, "There are 4 girls right now they are in same jail. The debate that started over 32,000, now a days no one is doing that debate because after watching the film, they have realized that there is no point focusing on that 32,000. Still at the end of the film we have put a declaimer which clearly mentioned the facts."ANI09 May 2023

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High-level inquiry will be conducted to fix responsibility for violence: Manipur CM

Imphal, May 8: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday urged people to maintain peace while informing that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to hold those responsible for the violence to account and also act those who failed to discharge their responsibilities in containing the unrest.

High-level inquiry will be conducted to fix responsibility for violence: Manipur CM

In his first public reaction to the ethnic clashes that have put the Northeast state on the boil, the Manipur CM also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for monitoring the situation and sending central forces to restore normality at the earliest.He assured media persons that those stranded in the ongoing violence were being provided with the best possible care.The Manipur CM added, "Around 60 people have lost their lives so far while 231 have suffered injuries in the violence. Also, about 1,700 houses were burned down in the unfortunate incidents (rioting) on May 3. I appeal to the people to restore peace and calm to the state."He also appealed to the people not to block or obstruct the movement of public transport."Those stranded at different locations in Manipur are being provided the best possible care and support. They are being moved to safe locations and shelters. Till now, 20,000 such persons have been evacuated and about 10,000 remain stranded," Singh said, adding that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to fix the responsibility on those behind the violence."A high-level inquiry will be conducted to fix responsibility on persons/groups behind the violence and government servants who failed to discharge their responsibilities. I appeal to all not to spread or believe unfounded and baseless rumours. Till now, 35,655 persons, including 1593 students, have been moved to safer locations," the CM said.The chief minister also assured that the government machinery was working round the clock to resolve the situation and restore order and MLAs and ministers were also making sincere efforts to bring back peace."I appeal to the public to extend their maximum cooperation to paramilitary and state forces. I also appeal to them to create a safe and conducive environment to enable affected families to return to their homes. I sincerely thank the honourable Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the government. He has been monitoring the situation from the first day of violence and has sent several companies of central forces to the state to restore order," Singh said.Several state governments, including those in the Northeast, are working on plans to evacuate their citizens out of the violence-hit Manipur.Meanwhile, Internet services remained suspended in the state and curfew continued to be enforced in violence-hit regions.Some relaxations to the curfew, which were introduced on Sunday to enable people to purchase items of daily need, continued as well on Monday.Clashes erupted in the Northeast state after the high court directed the state government to consider including the majority community of Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).Amid the demand of the Meitei people for ST status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent.ANI09 May 2023

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NTCA experts visit KUNO to review status of Project Cheetah

New Delhi, May 8: On the directions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a team of experts visited KUNO National Park on April 30, 2023, and reviewed the current status of Project Cheetah.

NTCA experts visit KUNO to review status of Project Cheetah

The team examined all aspects of the project and submitted a comprehensive report on the way forward.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said, "On the directions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a team of experts comprising of Adrian Tordiffe, Veterinary Wildlife Specialist, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Vincent van dan Merwe, Manager, Cheetah Metapopulation Project, The Metapopulation Initiative, South Africa; Qamar Qureshi, Lead Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Amit Mallick, Inspector General of Forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi visited the Kuno National Park on 30 April 2023 and reviewed the current status of the Project Cheetah.""The team observed that twenty cheetahs were successfully translocated to Kuno National Park (KNP) in September 2022 and February 2023 from southern Africa in the initial phase of an ambitious project to re-establish the species within its historical range in India," Ministry addedMinistry further said that the project hopes to benefit global cheetah conservation efforts by providing up to 100 000 km2 of habitat in legally protected areas and an additional 6,00,000 km2 of habitable landscape for the species.Cheetahs fulfil a unique ecological role within the carnivore hierarchy and their restoration is expected to enhance ecosystem health in India. As a charismatic species, the cheetah can also benefit India's broader conservation goals by improving general protection and ecotourism in areas that have been previously neglected.Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that to date, four of the cheetahs from Namibia have been released from the fenced acclimatization camps into free-ranging conditions in KNP. Two males (Gaurav and Shaurya) have stayed within the park and have not shown any interest in exploring the landscape beyond the borders of the park."A female named Aasha has made two exploratory excursions to the East of KNP beyond the buffer zone but has remained within the broader Kuno landscape and has not ventured into human-dominated areas. Another male (Pawan), explored areas well beyond the boundaries of the park on two occasions, venturing into farmland near the border with Uttar Pradesh during his second excursion. He was darted by the veterinary team and returned to an acclimatization camp in KNP" Ministry addedAll the cheetahs are fitted with satellite collars that record their location twice a day or more depending upon the situation. Monitoring teams have been employed to follow the released cheetahs 24 hours a day in rotating shifts, keeping some distance to allow the cheetah its normal behaviour and range.These teams record any information on the prey hunted by the animals and any other information on their behaviour that may be of importance. It is important that this intensive monitoring continues until the individual cheetahs have established home ranges.The team inspected most of the cheetahs from a distance and evaluated the current procedures and protocols for managing the animals. All the cheetahs were in good physical condition, making kills at regular intervals and displaying natural behaviours. After a discussion with the Forest Department officials in KNP, they agreed on the next steps to be taken going forward."Five more cheetahs (three females and two males) will be released from the acclimatisation camps into free-roaming conditions in KNP before the onset of the monsoon rains in June. Individuals were chosen for release based on their behavioural characteristics and approachability by the monitoring teams. These released cheetahs will be monitored in the same way as those that have already been released" Ministry added.Ministry further added that the remaining 10 cheetahs will remain in the acclimatisation camps for the duration of the monsoon season. Certain internal gates will be left open to allow these cheetahs to utilise more space in the acclimatisation camps and for interactions between specific males and females to take place."Once the monsoon rains are over in September, the situation will be reassessed. Further releases into KNP or surrounding areas will be done in a planned manner to Gandhisagar and other areas as per the Cheetah Conservation Action Plan to establish meta population" Ministry added.Cheetahs will be allowed to move out of KNP and will not necessarily be recaptured unless they venture into areas where they are in significant danger. Their degree of isolation will be assessed once they settle down and appropriate action will be taken to enhance their connectivity to the group.The female who gave birth in March will remain in her camp to hunt and raise her four cubsOn the recent deaths of two cheetahs in the project Ministry said that Sasha, a six-year-old female from Namibia became ill in late January. Her blood results indicated that she had chronic renal insufficiency. She was successfully stabilised by the veterinary team at KNP but later died in March."A post-mortem confirmed the initial diagnosis. Chronic renal failure is a common problem in captive cheetahs and many other captive felid species. Sasha was born in the wild in Namibia but spent a large proportion of her life in captive conditions at CCF. The underlying causes of renal disease in felids are unknown, but generally, the condition progresses slowly, taking several months or even years before clinical symptoms manifest. The disease is not infectious and cannot be transmitted from one animal to another. It, therefore, poses no risk to any of the other cheetahs in the project. The prognosis for the condition is very poor and there are currently no effective or ethical treatment options" Ministry added.Ministry further said that Symptomatic treatment for the condition only provides a temporary improvement, as seen in Sasha's case."Uday, an adult male of uncertain age from South Africa developed acute neuromuscular symptoms on April 23, just over a week after he was released from his quarantine camp into a much larger acclimatisation camp. During the morning monitoring, it was noted that he was stumbling around in an uncoordinated manner and was unable to lift his head," the Ministry said.He was sedated by the KNP veterinary team and treated symptomatically. Blood and other samples were collected to send to the lab to get a better understanding of his condition.He, unfortunately, died later that same afternoon. Additional wildlife veterinarians and veterinary pathologists were brought in to perform a thorough post-mortem, the ministry added."The initial examination revealed that he had most likely died of terminal cardio-pulmonary failure. Failure of the heart and lungs is common in the terminal stages of many conditions and does not provide much information about the underlying cause of the problem. It also does not explain the initial neuromuscular symptoms. The rest of his organ tissues appeared to be relatively normal except for a localised area of potential haemorrhage in his brain. There were no other signs of injury or infection," the Ministry said."The other cheetahs have been closely monitored and none of them have shown any similar symptoms. They all appear to be perfectly healthy, are hunting for themselves and displaying other natural behaviours" Ministry added.ANI09 May 2023

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Care CHL Hospitals brings Cutting-Edge Velys Robotic System For Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Indore

New Delhi, May 8: Dr Vinay Tantuway described the specialties and benefits of Saw-based robotic systems and Attune Knee Implant.

Care CHL Hospitals brings Cutting-Edge Velys Robotic System For Total Knee Replacement Surgery in Indore

Total knee replacement surgery is a complex orthopedic procedure that involves replacing the damaged or diseased knee joint with an artificial implant. Care CHL Hospitals, Indore in association with Dr Vinay Tantuway is making the process simplified with the help of Velys robotics and Attune Knee Implant. The Attune Knee Implant, with its advanced features offering superior stability, mobility, and durability, is widely used for this purpose and its implantation with the help of robotics makes it more precise and durable to give optimum results to our patients. In recent years, the use of saw-based robotic systems in conjunction with the Attune Knee Implant has gained popularity in India due to its numerous benefits.Dr Vinay Tantuway cited that the Saw-Based Velys Robotic System is a highly advanced and cutting-edge technology that has revolutionized the way total knee replacement surgeries are performed. It enhances the accuracy and precision of the surgical procedure, minimizing the risk of human errors and improving patient outcomes. The Velys Robotic System utilizes advanced software that creates a three-dimensional virtual model of the patient's knee joint to create a customized surgical plan for each patient according to their anatomy and needs.Opting for the Velys Robotic System in total knee replacement surgery, the patients of Care CHL Hospitals, Indore will have several advantages.Firstly, it provides real-time feedback to the surgeon during the procedure, continuously monitoring the movement of the surgical instruments and adjusting the cutting tools accordingly. This ensures that the implant is placed accurately and precisely, leading to improved long-term outcomes.Secondly, the Velys Robotic System enables the surgeon to preserve more healthy bone and tissue during the procedure. This is because the system allows for more precise and accurate removal of the damaged or diseased tissue, which minimizes the need of removing the healthy tissues. This results in less pain, swelling, and stiffness after the surgery and a faster recovery time for the patient.Moreover, the Velys Robotic System can improve the longevity of the Attune Knee Implant. By placing the implant with greater precision and accuracy, the system ensures that the implant is stable and secure within the patient's knee joint. This reduces the risk of implant failure or loosening over time, which is a common problem with traditional knee replacement surgeries.Lastly, the Velys Robotic System can lead to a shorter hospital stay for the patient. Since the surgery is less invasive and more precise, patients experience less pain and swelling, and minor discomfort after the procedure. This allows them to begin their rehabilitation and recovery process sooner, resulting in a shorter hospital stay overall.The Velys Robotic System in conjunction with the Attune Knee Implant offers numerous benefits for Indian patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery. The system's advanced technology and precision can improve the accuracy and longevity of the implant, while also reducing the amount of healthy tissue that needs to be removed during the procedure. Additionally, the system's real-time feedback and monitoring capabilities can minimize the risk of human error and improve patient outcomes. Dr Vinay is hopeful that there will be a substantial increase in the number of Indian orthopedic surgeons adopting this innovative technology in the coming years.This story has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Mediawire)ANI09 May 2023

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Russia will be defeated like Nazism was: Zelenskyy

Kyiv [Ukraine], May 8: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed that the evil Russia will be defeated just like Nazi Germany was beaten in World War II, according to the Kyiv Post.

Russia will be defeated like Nazism was: Zelenskyy

In a speech to mark Victory in Europe Day, Zelenskyy said, "All the old evil that modern Russia is bringing back will be defeated just as Nazism was defeated," Zelensky said in a video statement standing in front of a war memorial."Just as we destroyed evil together then, we are destroying a similar evil together now," he added.Zelenskyy also announced that he had submitted a Bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on May 8 and celebrate Europe Day on May 9. This is yet another step to distance his country from the traditions of Russia, reported Kyiv Post.His address comes on the anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender to Allied forces on May 8, 1945, and one day ahead of Victory Day in Moscow, which celebrates the Soviet Union's victory in World War II.Meanwhile, on Twitter, Zerlenskyy tweeted, "It is on May 8 that most nations of the world remember the greatness of the victory over the Nazis. The world admires all those who were protecting and protected life. Who threw down the Nazi flags on the liberated territory and who opened the gates of the concentration camps. Who restored freedom to the nations, who destroyed and condemned Nazi evil.""It is on May 8 that the world honours the memory of all those, whose lives were taken by that war. It is pure history, without ideological admixtures. And it is the history of our people, our allies, the entire free world. Today, we are returning it to our state. Today, I submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine proposing that May 8 be the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War of 1939-1945," he added.The Ukrainian President conveyed his condolences to all those people who died in the Second World War. "Glory to each and every one who fought against Nazism and won! Glory to all our heroes of different times, to whom we equally owe our lives!" he added.Meanwhile, Russia fired eight long-range missiles at the city overnight Sunday, Ukraine's air force said in a statement, CNN reported.At least one person was killed and three were injured in that missile attack which strikes on the southern port city of Odesa on Monday, according to the spokesman for the head of the regional military administration."A guard at the warehouse where an enemy missile hit was killed. His body was found under the rubble," the spokesperson wrote on Telegram."Around midnight, the Russian occupiers attacked Odesa Oblast with Tu-22M3 long-range bombers. A total of eight missiles were launched from the area of Cape Tarkhankut (occupied Crimea)," the air force said, adding "Some of the missiles did not reach their targets," according to CNN.ANI09 May 2023

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Australian PM committed to track those responsible for vandalism of Hindu temples: Envoy

By Ayushi Agarwal, New Delhi [India], May 8: Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell said that his Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ensured that the security forces take action when the vandalism of Hindu temples occurred and also track those responsible and prosecute them.

Australian PM committed to track those responsible for vandalism of Hindu temples: Envoy

In an interview with ANI, Farrell said, "Well, Prime Minister Albanese assured Prime Minister Modi when he visited India in March that in Australia, we believe people have a right to practice their religions without interference. And Prime Minister Albanese committed to ensuring that our security forces, including our police, state police forces, take every possible action when the vandalism occurred to track down those responsible and to prosecute them.""And I'm confident that that will happen. The point I make on perhaps the broader issue is that, as my Foreign Minister said when she was here in March unofficial referendum has no legal standing in Australia and Australia continues to respect and stand by India's sovereignty and its sovereign borders," he added.In the past few months, the attacks on the Hindu temple have increased. In March, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane was attacked. Earlier, in January, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Australia's Carrum Downs was also vandalised with anti-Hindu graffiti.A week before the above incident, On January 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Australia's Mill Park was smeared with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti.During the interview, Farrell spoke about PM Modi's upcoming visit to Australia for the Quad Summit.He said, "Well, the India-Australian relationship is at an enormous high. Indian migration to Australia is the fastest-growing migration from any other country in the world. And that's having a huge impact on our relationship. It's strengthening our trade and economic relationship. It is furthering our people-to-people links through education and through culture. It's ensuring that we're doing more in relation to defence and security.""And, of course, we're working through the quad on a whole range of issues, including climate change and clean energy. And I think all those things are now being boosted in Australia by a growing diaspora that not only opens up the eyes of Australians to opportunities in India but also reminds their friends and relatives in India of the opportunities, particularly in education, that are on offer in Australia," he added.ANI09 May 2023

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Global financial situation is daunting but Indian financial sector is well protected, well regulated: Secretary Ajay Seth

New Delhi, May 8: Ajay Seth, secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, said the global financial situation is daunting but the Indian financial sector is well protected and well regulated.

Global financial situation is daunting but Indian financial sector is well protected, well regulated: Secretary Ajay Seth

The secretary was interacting with media persons after the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) took place in the capital on Monday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the meeting.The meeting was organised for the first time after the announcement of the Budget 2023-24.During the meeting of the Council, it was discussed that the policy and legislative reform measures required to further develop the financial sector may be formulated and implemented expeditiously to not only increase the financial access of the people, but also increase their overall economic well-being.Sitharaman said, "Regulators should maintain a constant vigil as ensuring 'financial sector stability is a shared responsibility' of the regulators. Regulators must take appropriate and timely action to mitigate any vulnerability and strengthen financial stability."She said regulators should adopt a focused approach to reduce the compliance burden further and ensure a streamlined and efficient regulatory environment. She added that Indian financial sector is well protected"The progress achieved in this regard shall be reviewed by the Union Finance Minister with each regulator in June 2023."She also advised the regulators need to be proactive and ensure cyber-security preparedness of the information technology systems to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks, protect sensitive financial data, and maintain overall system integrity, thus safeguarding the stability and resilience of the Indian financial ecosystem.During the meeting, she said, "Regulators should conduct a special drive to facilitate the settlement of unclaimed deposits and claims in the financial sector across all segments, such as banking deposits, shares and dividends, mutual funds, insurance, etc."Action taken report on Budget announcements made since 2019 was discussed during the meeting, the finance minister said.A focused approach should be adopted by the regulators to implement the announcements made in the Budget 2023-24, for which timelines were also decided.The Council, inter alia, also deliberated on early warning indicators for the economy and our preparedness to deal with them, reducing compliance burden on the regulated entities in the financial sector by improving regulatory quality, debt levels of corporates and households in India, simplification and streamlining of KYC framework to meet the needs of Digital India, seamless experience for retail investors in government securities, Bimakrit Bharat - Unique Value Proposition to take insurance to last mile, and support required in terms of resolving inter-regulatory issues for GIFT IFSC to play strategic role in Atmanirbhar Bharat, according to the statement by the finance ministry.The Council also took note of the activities undertaken by the FSDC Sub-Committee chaired by the Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das and the action taken by members on the past decisions of the FSDC.Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Chief Debashish Panda, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Chief Deepak Mohanty, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan, Revenue Secretary Rajesh Malhotra, Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Vivek Joshi, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Ajay Seth and other officials of the finance ministry have taken part in this meeting.ANI09 May 2023

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Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives in India on 3-day visit, to hold talks with EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi, May 9: Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India for his first official visit which would pan three days starting Tuesday.

Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrives in India on 3-day visit, to hold talks with EAM Jaishankar

During the visit, he is set to meet his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.Informing of the Israeli minister's arrival in the national capital today, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi wrote on Twitter, "A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted - partnership."Eli Cohen will also be present at the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Eli Cohen will participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute on May 9 in New Delhi, according to a statement from CII.After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum today, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs.Following his engagements in Agra, the minister will return to Delhi on May 10 before departing for a programme in Mumbai on May 11. Apparently, he will depart for Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory.His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech.During his visit, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANI's question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, "I'm inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people."He further said, "Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have a good history of 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future."In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India.Earlier this month, 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 further said 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year.ANI09 May 2023

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A Buffalo woman has been indicted on criminally negligent homicide and assault charges for hitting three bicyclists, killing one of them, last June, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said.

Additionally, prosecutors have charged Carmen Martin, 34, with filing a false instrument for allegedly hiding a medical condition in learner's permit applications to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Prosecutors said she was suffering from the condition at the time of the crashes.

Martin pleaded not guilty Monday at her arraignment before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller, prosecutors said in a news release.

At the time of the incident, police said they were investigating whether the driver suffered a medical emergency before striking the bicyclists.

Martin was driving a Chrysler sedan westbound on South Park Avenue near Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino at about 8:50 p.m. June 17, 2022, when she hit a 32-year-old woman riding her bicycle, prosecutors said. Martin kept driving and hit two more women on their bikes near South Park and Columbia Street before she hit a parked vehicle near South Park and Mississippi.

The bicyclist who died was Sara Rogers, 29, a jazz musician who practiced music therapy working with children.

The other bicyclists were taken to Erie County Medical Center for injuries including broken bones.

Martin was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, the District Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors declined to identify Martin's health condition.

Martin faces two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Those charges allege she withheld information about a known medical condition in driving permit applications to the DMV on March 24, 2021, and March 26, 2021, with the intent to defraud the agency.

Boller released Martin on her own recognizance.
Haryana to introduce comprehensive skill development programme for districts

Chandigarh, May 9: With the aim to equip youth with industry-ready skills, the Haryana government is mulling over introducing a comprehensive skill development programme in every district, said the State Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Monday.

Haryana to introduce comprehensive skill development programme for districts

The district-level agencies led by Additional Deputy Commissioners will be reconstituted and strengthened for this purpose.The objective is to create training programmes that cater to the needs of the local industry, said the Chief Secretary.During a meeting of the Haryana Skill Development Mission (HSDM) and its implementation strategy, virtually attended by Additional Deputy Commissioners, the Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of engaging class 12 dropout students, particularly in Nuh district in the skill development programme.He directed the officers to launch a unique campaign to disseminate information about various training programmes and encourage students to enrol in them. He said this will also enhance the employability of these students.The Chief Secretary directed the officers to organize functions to distribute skill development certificates to the candidates. This initiative aims to recognize and celebrate individuals' successful completion of skill development programs and acknowledge their efforts towards enhancing their employability.Besides this, he also suggested to the officers to invite successful industrialists and motivational speakers to address the candidates which will instil a sense of confidence and determination in them. This would also provide an opportunity for individuals to learn from industry leaders and gain valuable insights into various industries, he added. Kaushal said that Chief Minister in his Budget Speech for the financial year 2023-24 announced that in order to promote employment opportunities for the youth of Haryana abroad, the government has operationalised the establishment of the Haryana Overseas Placement Cell in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Vishwakarma Skill University and Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department.The Chief Secretary also directed the Additional Deputy Commissioners to also invite the Mayors and CEOs of the Zila Parishad to the review meetings so as to ensure that skill development programmes are responsive to the needs of local communities.While divulging the upcoming industry-specific projects, the officers apprised that Electric Vehicle Training will be started. Machinist Training and 5G technologies training will also commence soon.HSDM is developing a convergence portal. This portal will ensure the integration of HSDM and Skill India Portal.Besides this, letters have been issued to the departments concerned regarding the recognition of the National Council for Vocational Education and Training as Awarding Bodies for skill certification in educational institutions. All higher educational institutions have been asked to facilitate the students to avail of apprenticeship facilities.The Mission initiated a special project 'Specialized Cloud-Based Remote Monitoring Solution' to ensure authenticity in skill centres and active monitoring of candidates to irradiate possibilities of duplicity and fake certification. It was further apprised that a Dual System of training is being implemented in ITIs with the help of Industry partners. On-the-job training programs (OJT) of 3-6 months in one year ITI course and 6-12 months in two years ITI courses are being provided to the trainees.According to the Haryana government statement, in 2022-23 MoUs (Memorandum of understanding) were signed between 62 government ITIs and 189 industries under Dual System of Training (DST) for 290 trade units and over 6,800 DST seats were offered in admission and trainees were enrolled in DST trade units.ANI09 May 2023

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Study finds ability to chew properly helps improve blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes patients

Buffalo (New York), May 9: A researcher at the University at Buffalo, advised medical professionals who treat patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) to examine their patients' teeth.

Study finds ability to chew properly helps improve blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes patients

The findings of the study published in PLOS ONE on April 14, Eskan showed that T2D patients with full chewing function have blood glucose levels that are considerably lower than those of patients with reduced chewing function. Eskan works as a clinical assistant professor in the UB School of Dental Medicine's Department of Periodontics and Endodontics.The data from 94 T2D patients who were seen at an outpatient clinic in a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, were examined in the retrospective analysis. The patients were split into two groups. The first group consisted of patients who had strong "occlusal function"--enough teeth that were correctly positioned and made contact with one another to allow for efficient food chewing. The blood glucose level for that group was 7.48. The second group's blood glucose level was over 2 per cent higher, at 9.42, and they could hardly chew at all due to missing part or all of those teeth.When you sit down at a picnic table with family and friends, mastication--chewing--is the last thing on your mind. However, as you bite into your burger, several things start to happen. Digestion, the process by which your body extracts nutrients from food, begins as chewing stimulates the production of saliva. Nutrients that are important to reduce blood glucose levels include fiber, which is obtained in large part through chewing appropriate foods. Chewing also has been reported to stimulate reactions in the intestine that lead to increased insulin secretion, and the hypothalamus that promote a feeling of satiety, resulting in less food intake. Eating less decreases the likelihood of becoming overweight, which is a major risk factor for developing T2D.Eskan received his DDS at Hacettepe University, a leading medical research center in Turkey, and earned his PhD at the University of Louisville, where he also completed a residency in periodontology. "My special clinical interest is to treat dental patients who are systemically compromised," he said. His research goal is to contribute to the big picture of improving public health. This research notes that, as of 2019, almost half a billion people worldwide had diabetes, and at least 90% of those patients with diabetes have T2D.Addressing oral health has recently become part of the approach to managing diabetes along with encouraging patients to maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, and quit smoking. "Our findings show there is a strong association between mastication and controlling blood glucose levels among T2D patients," said Eskan. This study did not find any independent variables that could affect blood glucose levels among the subjects because there were no statistical differences among subjects regarding body mass index (BMI), sex, smoking status, medications, or infection as indicated by white blood cell count (WBC) at the baseline.The dramatic improvement in one patient's case described in a 2020 study co-led by Eskin illustrates the potential benefit of improving occlusal function through dental implants and appropriate fixed restoration. A T2D patient whose chewing function was severely impaired by missing teeth presented initially with a blood glucose level of 9.1. The patient obtained nutrition by using a bottle and eating baby food. Four months after treatment with a full mouth implant-supported fixed restoration, the patient's glucose level dropped to 7.8. After 18 months, it decreased to 6.2.Research has shown that an increase of just 1% in blood glucose level is associated with a 40 per cent increase in cardiovascular or ischemic heart disease mortality among people with diabetes, according to Eskan. Other complications can include kidney disease, eye damage, neuropathy, and slow healing of simple wounds like cuts and blisters."I'm interested in research that can improve people's health now," said Eskan. He and co-author Yeter E. Bayram, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamidiye Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul, look forward to further studies that explore possible causal relationships between occlusal support and blood glucose levels.ANI09 May 2023

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Georgia to provide financial assistance to WW-II veterans

Tbilisi, May 9: The Georgian government announced that it will provide financial assistance to World War II veterans and family members of the soldiers who died to mark the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Georgia to provide financial assistance to WW-II veterans

According to a statement issued by the government, the one-time financial aid package will include 1,000 lari for the veterans, while family members of those killed during the war will receive 500 lari, reports Xinhua news agency.The statement said the country's social service agency of the Ministry of Health will provide the assistance.To mark the 78th anniversary of the victory of World War II, the Georgian government will also hold a series of celebrations on May 9, which is observed in Georgia each year together with most European countries as Victory Day.Up to 700,000 Georgians served as part of the Soviet armed forces in WWII, with nearly 400,000 killed in armed action, according to the numbers released by the State Service of Veterans Affairs of Georgia.IANS09 May 2023

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Director Shekhar Kapur reveals hes completely dyslexic, AI helps him to love numbers

Mumbai, May 9: It takes a lot of courage to acknowledge diseases in public, especially for celebrities, who are prone to be judged for their choices.

Director Shekhar Kapur reveals he's 'completely' dyslexic, AI helps him to love numbers

Notable director Shekhar Kapur revealed in a tweet that he suffers from 'dyslexia'. He tweeted on Monday, "Lessons of Life I'm completely dyslexic. And finding more and more artists poets musicians suffer from dyslexia too. Are you? With #AI (Artificial Intelligence) I've developed a love for visual mathematics, but in school developed a hatred for Maths...ofcourse ! With #dyslexia numbers made little sense."Shekhar's tweet created a stir among netizens. Many people expressed their views on his post."I am dyslexic, developed love for business math because it had a goal. Traditional maths still gives me nightmare," wrote a Twitterati. Another person wrote, "Kudos for awareness and converting into Unfathomable creativity with rare sensitivity!" Another netizen wrote, "Shekhar, you don't need AI, for that, there are other techniques, too."Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary starrer 'Taare Zameen Par' showcased the disease dyslexia in mainstream movie for the first time and initiated a conversation around it.Shekhar Kapur keeps on posting his observations, musings and reflective thoughts on various aspects of life, creativity and cinema on social media.Shekhar has recently directed the British romantic comedy 'What's Love Got To Do With It'. The film's screenplay has been written by Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith.Shabana Azmi has acted alongside British actor Lily James and Pakistani actor Sajal Aly in this movie.Last year, the film premiered at the prestigious Toronto film festival, where the film received two standing ovations. Shabana, Lily and Sajal attended the premiere and enthralled the audience.ANI09 May 2023

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China expels Canadas top diplomat in Shanghai in reciprocal move

Beijing, May 9: In a tit-for-tat move, China has expelled Canada's consul in Shanghai after Ottawa said it was expelling a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

China expels Canada's top diplomat in Shanghai in reciprocal move

China has decided to declare the consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, Jennifer Lynn Lalonde 'persona non grata', in a reciprocal move to Ottawa's move to send home diplomat Zhao Wei.Lalonde has been asked to leave China by May 13."On May 9, the Canadian government declared a diplomat of the Consulate-General of China in Toronto persona non grata. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged serious demarches and strong protest to Canada," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in an official statement.China said that it reserves the "right to further react.""As a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canada's unscrupulous move, China decides to declare Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata, who has been asked to leave China no later than May 13," the statement added.Earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Canada said that Ottawa's actions violate international law and basic principles of international relations and relevant bilateral agreements between the two nations.Canada has alleged that Zhao Wei was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong, Global Times reported citing The Canadian Press.The Chinese Embassy said that Beijing never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries. It called the claim of "Chinese interference in Canadian domestic affairs" hyped up by some politicians and media "baseless and a blatant slander" against China on the basis of ideological bias and political manipulation.The Chinese Embassy noted Canada's action seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Beijing's diplomatic and consular personnel. Canada's action comes after the Canadian side summoned the Chinese ambassador on Thursday and threatened the expulsion of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.Canada has decided to expel a Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei following an uproar in the country over allegations of political meddling, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement. However, Beijing has fiercely denied any election interference, calling the claims "purely baseless and defamatory"."Canada has decided to declare persona non grata Mr Zhao Wei," read a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly."I have been clear we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home," she added.ANI09 May 2023

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Brand Storii by ITC Hotels continues to grow as it signs three more properties pan-India

New Delhi, May 8: ITC Hotels continue to expand and strengthen its presence across India with the signing of three more properties under brand Storii in Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Brand Storii by ITC Hotels continues to grow as it signs three more properties pan-India

on Brand Storii's expansion in India, Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC Hotels said "We are happy to announce the addition of three new properties under Storii by ITC Hotels at some of the most sought-after destinations in the country. The new properties at Goa, Manali, and Prayagraj highlight our focus on growth and expansion in the boutique hotel space. Storii by ITC Hotels is fast becoming a preferred brand in the experiential segment, welcoming travelers seeking local experiences. Every property under this brand tells its own unique Storii."Soon to open, Storii Moira Riviera, is located in Moira, a pretty village in North Goa known for its beautiful rivulet views, winding lanes and serene sunsets. This 15 keys boutique property follows the Mediterranean style design iamp; architecture. Most rooms offer a plunge pool, fascinating scenic sights and various recreational facilities including the K by Kayakalp spa.Adding to their strength in Himachal Pradesh, ITC Hotels has signed the 23 keys Urvashi's Retreat, Manali for brand Storii. Enhancing the boutique experience, every aspect of the property will be further personaliSed to offer a unique blend of local rusticity and splendor. With around one thousand square feet-large playroom, Urvashi's Retreat is popular with kids.Located in the heart of the city, Storii Prayagraj is rooted in heritage and just 10 km away from the popular pilgrim spot A Triveni Sangam. Built in traditional architecture with sprawling lawns, the property will be extensively refurbished to accommodate a new wing even as the current heritage wing stands a reminder to the eras gone by. The new offering shall offer the K by Kayakalp spa and exciting food and beverage options including a bar, an all-day dining and a speciality restaurant.Storii is a collection of hand-picked boutique properties, designed to satiate the ever-evolving needs of the global traveller. Consisting of intimate-sized properties in the premium segment, Storii by ITC Hotels can be found at both expected and unexpected destinations, breath-taking locales or sites steeped in history, golden untouched beaches or jungles thriving with adventure, quiet scenic valleys or deserts buzzing with folklore. Each property offers a distinct experience, and these unique stays will ensure that the brand tells a story like no one else.IANS09 May 2023

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Adipurush actor Devdatta Nage recalls chanting Jai Shri Ram before shooting

Mumbai, May 9: Actor Devdatta Nage, who will be seen playing Lord Hanuman in the upcoming film 'Adipurush' starring Prabhas, has recalled how the film's unit would star shooting everyday for the movie.

'Adipurush' actor Devdatta Nage recalls chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' before shooting

Devdatta recalled "Every single day before starting the shoot, we used to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. I have to say that Goddess Saraswati resides in the hands of Manoj Muntashir (the dialogue writer). He has breathed life into this epic story with his writing."'Adipurush' is an upcoming 2023 Indian mythological film based on the Sanskrit epic 'Ramayana'. The film is directed by Om Raut.Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu languages, the film stars Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in his Telugu debut and Sunny Singh.'Adipurush', is set to be released theatrically on June 16.IANS09 May 2023

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Rabindranath Tagores thoughts on justice, equality shaped Indias worldview: Amit Shah

New Delhi, May 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary and said that his thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement.

Rabindranath Tagore's thoughts on justice, equality shaped India's worldview: Amit Shah

Shah took to Twitter to express his views before offering tribute at the statue of Gurudev Tagore in Kolkata's Thakurbari Jorasanko area this morning."My tribute to Gurudev Tagore on his birth anniversary. His thoughts on justice and equality shaped India's worldview while his timeless works provided the intellectual foundation for the freedom movement. He remains a visionary poet and beacon of light for us," said Shah.Before leaving for West Bengal on Monday night to attend Tagore's birth anniversary celebration, Shah had also said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's soulful literature remains an ethereal voice that will continue to inspire generations with his benevolence.Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is celebrated on May 9 to commemorate the birth of the great Bengali poet, who was known as the Bard of Bengal and Gurudev and he made significant contributions to art, literature, and music. Tagore received the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his poetry collection "Gitanjali." He also composed the national anthems of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.Shah arrived in Kolkata well past midnight and was received by the senior leadership of BJP Bengal.Besides offering tribute at the statue of Tagore, Shah will participate in several other events that include the laying of the foundation stone and inauguration of various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and Border Security Force (BSF) in his day-long visit to West Bengal on Tuesday.Shah will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various development projects of the Land Port Authority of India and the BSF at noon at Integrated-Check Post Petrapole in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas situated at the India-Bangladesh border.ICP Petrapole, located along the international border between India and Bangladesh, is the largest land port in South Asia. It is situated at a distance of about 80 km from the city of Kolkata, West Bengal.The Home Minister will also take part in an event linked to the release of the full dome film 'Luminaries of Bengal' and the inauguration of various projects at Science City in Kolkata in the evening.The Home Minister's day-long visit to West Bengal will conclude with his participation in Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary celebrations by Khola Hawa at Kolkata's Science City.ANI09 May 2023

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UNSC voices concern over deteriorating situation in Haiti

United Nations, May 9: The UN Security Council (UNSC) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Haiti.

UNSC voices concern over deteriorating situation in Haiti

The Council members condemned the increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which they said undermine the peace, stability and security of Haiti and the region, calling on the perpetrators of the "abhorrent acts" to be brought to justice, reports Xinhua news agency.They stressed the importance of restoring efficient judicial institutions in Haiti in order to strengthen the fight against impunity.The UNSC members noted with grave concern the illicit trafficking flows of firearms and ammunition that enable gangs and other criminal networks to fuel violence in Haiti.They reiterated the urgent need to prohibit the transfer of arms and related materiel of all types to non-state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion.In members reaffirmed their call to all political actors to engage constructively in meaningful negotiations to allow the holding of inclusive, free and fair legislative and presidential elections in Haiti, "as soon necessary conditions are met".Taking note of the ongoing political process, they called for continued progress in the path to restoring Haiti's democratic institutions and encouraged efforts to ensure a wider participation in the political process.IANS09 May 2023

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A man who reportedly made a series of threats to carry out shootings in Buffalo last week has been arrested in Las Vegas, Nev., U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

Daniel Parson, 33, of Charlotte, N.C., was ordered held for a detention hearing in federal court in Nevada and will be returned to Western New York.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, said Parson reportedly called the Buffalo Police A District station early Wednesday and said he would "shoot up" a "fellowship church" on Sunday.

Prosecutors said that Parson also is believed to have called the Buffalo Police D District about 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, saying he was going to "slaughter" a family in Buffalo that afternoon.

He is also accused of calling Buffalo Police C District about 9 a.m. Wednesday and saying he was going to conduct a mass shooting at an unspecified Tops supermarket.

Parson is charged with making threats in or affecting interstate commerce. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His arrest followed an investigation by Buffalo Police and the FBI.
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There were no major cries of "slow your roll" Monday when New York State Thruway Authority officials held a hearing in Cheektowaga to get feedback from the local public on its plans to increase tolls in 2024 and 2027.

In December, the Authority's board of directors authorized the start of a public process to adjust the tolls upward, which includes a series of statewide public hearings and a comment period, after a review of which, the board will make a decision on the proposed increases.

Thruway travel will become more expensive under a rate hike proposal The authority is proposing that for E-ZPass holders statewide, rates in 2024 would increase by 5% anywhere on the Thruway. And in 2027, there would be another 5% increase.

"It's necessary because, like everything else, prices have gone up. If we're going to adhere to our mission of a safe and reliable road, we've got to maintain it, operate it and build on it," said Frank G. Hoare, Thruway Authority interim director, just prior to a sparsely attended hearing at the Authority's Buffalo division headquarters on Cayuga Road

Hoare said it has been 14 years since the last toll increase on the Thruway. He noted that since that time, the cost of asphalt to maintain the roads on the Thruway, the cost of road salt to help keep the roads clear in the winter and the cost of steel to repair bridges have all risen astronomically.

"No tax dollars go toward supporting the Thruway. It comes from our toll revenue," he said.

Q&A: What the proposed Thruway toll hike discussions will cost you (Hint: Not less) Thruway officials blame millions in lost toll revenue due to the pandemic, as well as increasing debt pressures and aging infrastructure, for leading to the need to raise tolls on drivers.

Prior to the Thruway board's final decision on increasing the toll rates, statewide tolls will remain frozen throughout 2023. If the two-phase increase is approved, the first phase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and the second phase will kick in on Jan. 1, 2027. Hoare described the proposed increase as modest.

"If you drive from Buffalo down to the Pennsylvania line of the Erie section, over the next four years, your toll will go up 30 cents from $2.97 to $3.27," he said.

"If you drive from Buffalo all the way to Albany, currently, you would pay $12, Over the next four years, that will increase by 91 cents. So, again, we think these are modest increases to help us maintain and operate and build on the Thruway. And it is modest increases compared to any other state in the Northeast," Hoare added.

During the first two hours of the three-hour public hearing, only three members of the public showed up to speak.

Paula A. Martin, a retiree from Niagara Falls who seldom uses the Thruway, said she understood the need to raise tolls to pay for maintenance and operating costs, but questioned the fairness of the Thruway Authority's plan to increase tolls for non E-Z Pass users to 75% more than what E-Z Pass customers have to pay. Currently, it is 30% more.

New York State speeding cameras are coming to a highway work zone near you If you're driving through a construction zone this summer, you may notice signs alerting drivers that their speed is being monitored by cameras. Here's what motorists need to know.

"I do feel under duress, and I feel it's extremely unfair," Martin said. "Everyone is supposed to be equal. So why do I feel like I'm being penalized for not wanting to get an E-Z Pass?"

Those sentiments were echoed by local resident Charles Dickinson.

"As little as I use the Thruway, I was upset when I heard how much they wanted to charge people who didn't have an E-Z Pass. I was trying to figure out why. I think 30% is a ripoff, but going to 75% is even worse. So I was kind of curious as to why the Thruway Authority is picking on people that don't have an E-Z Pass." Dickinson said.

Meanwhile, Frank DelSignore of Grand Island expressed support for the proposed increases. DelSignore is a vice president of CMJ Consulting, which he said has provided engineering services for the Thruway Authority in the past.

"I feel that this toll increase is very modest. It will benefit all users of the Thruway system by helping the Authority maintain a safe, well-maintained highway that is vital to Upstate New York's economy, and people like me who live on Grand Island," DelSignore said.
The bigger the gig, the more likely it is these days that universities, cities, villages and school districts will hire an outside firm to assist in its search. In this week's money-themed edition of Meeting Minutes & More, we look at 10 local examples from the past year and change, and the price tags for each.
The man accused of killing eight people and wounding several others in a mass shooting at a suburban Dallas shopping mall researched when it was busiest and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately started his attack
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers for the afternoon. High 76F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph.
A decline in New York's childbirth rate is showing no sign of reversing and many women are waiting longer to have children, according to newly compiled data from the Program in Applied Demographics (PAD) in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.

In 2011, about 241,312 were born in New York. In 2021, that number was 210,742  a 13% decline.

New York state's total fertility rate (TFR)  the average number of births a woman would have in her lifetime if current patterns continue  dropped from 1.85 in 2009 to 1.55 in 2021.

The 2021 TFR for New York is below the U.S. average of 1.71, and far below the 2.1 "replacement" rate  the point at which a developed country's population rate would neither rise nor decline.

Women who do have babies are waiting until later in life. The average age of first birth for New York women was 28.9 in 2021, more than a year older than the average age in 2011 (27.2). The fertility rate has increased significantly for women ages 35-44, but not enough to offset the decline in childbirths by younger women.

Other states in the Northeast are also facing declining fertility and an aging population, which has many implications for policy and infrastructure. But since New York has an especially unique and diverse state geography, also paying attention to local and county trends and using them to inform policies is vital." Leslie Reynolds, PAD researcher

In addition to the declining birth rate, other findings include:
As we approach the first anniversary of one of the most horrific acts to ever occur in our city, it seems appropriate to try and assess what we have learned and where we are today, as a society and as a nation, in regard to gun violence.

After the Tops incident, Republican Congressman Chris Jacobs said he would support a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He was immediately kicked to the curb by his party, and Don Jr. said he had caved to the gun-grabbers.

There have been so many mass gun tragedies this year, (208, according to the Gun Violence Archive) that they are simply unacceptable. As I write this letter, a report is coming in from Cleveland, Texas which really sums up where we are as a nation.

A neighbor asked a man shooting a rifle in his front yard Friday night to please stop, as his baby was trying to sleep. The man opened up on his neighbors with his AR-15, killing 5 including an 8-year-old. Is this really America today?

There's also the young black kid shot for going to the wrong house in Missouri, the young girl killed for turning her car around in a driveway in New York, and the 6-year -old and her parents shot in North Carolina for the crime of letting her ball roll into the neighbors yard. This insanity is never ending.

So, what to do? The only thing we as citizens can do is put the blame where it belongs, on the Republican Party. Its refusal to even discuss the gun issue puts the lives of every American at risk. The Democratic Party is far from perfect, but the Republican Party as it exists today is truly life-threatening to all of us. Think about that the next time you vote.

David Frank

Lancaster
Much of the human genome is made of regulatory regions that control which genes are expressed at a given time within a cell. Those regulatory elements can be located near a target gene or up to 2 million base pairs away from the target.

To enable those interactions, the genome loops itself in a 3D structure that brings distant regions close together. Using a new technique, MIT researchers have shown that they can map these interactions with 100 times higher resolution than has previously been possible.

Using this method, we generate the highest-resolution maps of the 3D genome that have ever been generated, and what we see are a lot of interactions between enhancers and promoters that haven't been seen previously. We are excited to be able to reveal a new layer of 3D structure with our high resolution." Anders Sejr Hansen, the Underwood-Prescott Career Development Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering at MIT and senior author of the study

The researchers' findings suggest that many genes interact with dozens of different regulatory elements, although further study is needed to determine which of those interactions are the most important to the regulation of a given gene.

"Researchers can now affordably study the interactions between genes and their regulators, opening a world of possibilities not just for us but also for dozens of labs that have already expressed interest in our method," says Viraat Goel, an MIT graduate student and one of the lead authors of the paper. "We're excited to bring the research community a tool that help them disentangle the mechanisms driving gene regulation."

MIT postdoc Miles Huseyin is also a lead author of the paper, which appears today in Nature Genetics.

High-resolution mapping

Scientists estimate that more than half of the genome consists of regulatory elements that control genes, which make up only about 2 percent of the genome. Genome-wide association studies, which link genetic variants with specific diseases, have identified many variants that appear in these regulatory regions. Determining which genes these regulatory elements interact with could help researchers understand how those diseases arise and, potentially, how to treat them.

Discovering those interactions requires mapping which parts of the genome interact with each other when chromosomes are packed into the nucleus. Chromosomes are organized into structural units called nucleosomes -; strands of DNA tightly wound around proteins -; helping the chromosomes fit within the small confines of the nucleus.

Over a decade ago, a team that included researchers from MIT developed a method called Hi-C, which revealed that the genome is organized as a "fractal globule," which allows the cell to tightly pack its DNA while avoiding knots. This architecture also allows the DNA to easily unfold and refold when needed.

To perform Hi-C, researchers use restriction enzymes to chop the genome into many small pieces and biochemically link pieces that are near each other in 3D space within the cell's nucleus. They then determine the identities of the interacting pieces by amplifying and sequencing them.

While Hi-C reveals a great deal about the overall 3D organization of the genome, it has limited resolution to pick out specific interactions between genes and regulatory elements such as enhancers. Enhancers are short sequences of DNA that can help to activate the transcription of a gene by binding to the gene's promoter -; the site where transcription begins.

To achieve the resolution necessary to find these interactions, the MIT team built on a more recent technology called Micro-C, which was invented by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, led by Stanley Hsieh and Oliver Rando. Micro-C was first applied in budding yeast in 2015 and subsequently applied to mammalian cells in three papers in 2019 and 2020 by researchers including Hansen, Hsieh, Rando and others at University of California at Berkeley and at UMass Medical School.

Micro-C achieves higher resolution than Hi-C by using an enzyme known as micrococcal nuclease to chop up the genome. Hi-C's restriction enzymes cut the genome only at specific DNA sequences that are randomly distributed, resulting in DNA fragments of varying and larger sizes. By contrast, micrococcal nuclease uniformly cuts the genome into nucleosome-sized fragments, each of which contains 150 to 200 DNA base pairs. This uniformity of small fragments grants Micro-C its superior resolution over Hi-C.

However, since Micro-C surveys the entire genome, this approach still doesn't achieve high enough resolution to identify the types of interactions the researchers wanted to see. For example, if you want to look at how 100 different genome sites interact with each other, you need to sequence at least 100 multiplied by 100 times, or 10,000. The human genome is very large and contains around 22 million sites at nucleosome resolution. Therefore, Micro-C mapping of the entire human genome would require at least 22 million multiplied by 22 million sequencing reads, costing more than $1 billion.

To bring that cost down, the team devised a way to perform a more targeted sequencing of the genome's interactions, allowing them to focus on segments of the genome that contain genes of interest. By focusing on regions spanning few million base pairs, the number of possible genomic sites decreases a thousandfold and the sequencing costs decrease a millionfold, down to about $1,000. The new method, called Region Capture Micro-C (RCMC), is therefore able to inexpensively generate maps 100 times richer in information than other published techniques for a fraction of the cost.

"Now we have a method for getting ultra-high-resolution 3D genome structure maps in a very affordable manner. Previously, it was so inaccessible financially because you would need millions, if not billions of dollars, to get high resolution," Hansen says. "The one limitation is that you can't get the whole genome, so you need to know approximately what region you're interested in, but you can get very high resolution, very affordably."

Many interactions

In this study, the researchers focused on five regions varying in size from hundreds of thousands to about 2 million base pairs, which they chose due to interesting features revealed by previous studies. Those include a well-characterized gene called Sox2, which plays a key role in tissue formation during embryonic development.

After capturing and sequencing the DNA segments of interest, the researchers found many enhancers that interact with Sox2, as well as interactions between nearby genes and enhancers that were previously unseen. In other regions, especially those full of genes and enhancers, some genes interacted with as many as 50 other DNA segments, and on average each interacting site contacted about 25 others.

"People have seen multiple interactions from one bit of DNA before, but it's usually on the order of two or three, so seeing this many of them was quite significant in terms of difference," Huseyin says.

However, the researchers' technique doesn't reveal whether all of those interactions occur simultaneously or at different times, or which of those interactions are the most important.

The researchers also found that DNA appears to coil itself into nested "microcompartments" that facilitate these interactions, but they weren't able to determine how microcompartments form. The researchers hope that further study into the underlying mechanisms could shed light on the fundamental question of how genes are regulated.

"Even though we're not currently aware of what may be causing these microcompartments, and we have all these open questions in front of us, we at least have a tool to really stringently ask those questions," Goel says.

In addition to pursuing those questions, the MIT team also plans to work with researchers at Boston Children's Hospital to apply this type of analysis to genomic regions that have been linked with blood disorders in genome-wide association studies. They are also collaborating with researchers at Harvard Medical School to study variants linked to metabolic disorders.

The research was funded by the Koch Institute Support (core) Grant from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, a Solomon Buchsbaum Research Support Committee Award, the Koch Institute Frontier Research Fund, an NIH Fellowship and an EMBO Fellowship.
Results from the Waco COVID Survey have provided needed insights into how the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, health behaviors and COVID-19-related attitudes changed across the first two years of the pandemic in the McLennan County, Texas.

A description of the research  The Waco Covid Survey: A Community Based SARS-CoV-2 Serological Surveillance Study in Central Texas  is available in The Journal of Community Health.

At the start of the 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread across the world, Michael P. Muehlenbein, PhD MsPH, professor, chair and graduate program director in the Department of Anthropology at Baylor University, was uniquely positioned to respond to the once-in-a-century pandemic. As a biological anthropologist, Muehlenbein's research focuses on global health, including emerging infectious diseases and travel medicine.

Muehlenbein and his extended research team (including graduate and undergraduate students and other faculty at Baylor) began collaborating with local health officials in April 2020 to develop a research study to understand the spread of the virus across the community. Funded locally by The Bernard and Audre Rappaport Foundation and the Cooper Foundation of Waco, Muehlenbein partnered with Waco Family Medicine, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District to conduct the Waco COVID Survey.

The survey team recruited 495 participants based on their risk factors to exposure to the virus. Participants came from a variety of high-risk backgrounds, including health care workers and first responders, essential service employees, as well as individuals from families that practiced intensive isolation because of the social distancing recommendations. For 14 months, from July 2020 to late September 2021, participants were asked to provide blood samples for the serological portion of the study and respond to a series of questions on their experiences dealing with the pandemic.

Originally we were trying to calculate the expected frequency of asymptomatic infections among individuals of different risk groups. When we realized there was an opportunity to gather more than serology data, the study was expanded to include information from survey participants on health histories, behaviors and even attitudes about politics." Michael P. Muehlenbein, PhD MsPH, professor, chair and graduate program director in the Department of Anthropology at Baylor University

From assessing the relationships among risk factors and asymptomatic transmission to understanding the social and psychological factors involved in a long-term pandemic response, the Waco COVID Survey expanded from a serological study to become a comprehensive study on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Risk, politics, PPE and stress

The findings from the project have contributed to the understanding of how individual differences in risk perception and political affiliation shape responses to COVID-19 disease risk, how germ aversion and stress decreased over time and the efficacy of both personal protective equipment and vaccinations. For example:

Although individuals who lean Republican tend to express less concern about the pandemic and were less likely to wear masks in public, the research revealed that they were not less likely than those who lean Democrat to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. While these findings may be unique to the sample-;or the local community-;they nonetheless indicate that health behaviors do not always align perfectly with reported perception of health risk.

COVID-19 fatigue grew as the pandemic continued. Attitudes on germ aversion and stress all decreased across the study even though the virus continued to spread throughout the community.

Individuals who reported wearing masks more often in public were less likely to receive a positive COVID-19 test than those who masked less often.

The majority of survey participants who received a positive COVID-19 test during the study (75%) were unvaccinated at the time of infection. While there was only a single case of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in the sample, none occurred among those who were vaccinated.

Looking ahead

The project also provided unique opportunities for community involvement and for training future healthcare workers and researchers. The numerous student volunteers involved in the project were crucial to its success. The tangible and intangible skills students acquired through their involvement in the survey will serve them well on their way to becoming leaders in the local community and beyond.

Ultimately, Muehlenbein and the community coalition he brought together were able to gather important data from a once-in-a-century event that lays the groundwork for future community-focused projects, which may help better understand factors that contribute to local disease transmission.

Enough data were gathered to produce several published research papers:

Unrealistic optimism and risk for COVID-19 disease published in Frontiers in Psychology (June 2, 2021) examined relationships among personal risk for severe COVID-19, risk perceptions and preventative behaviors.

Longitudinal changes in COVID-19 concern and stress: Pandemic fatigue overrides individual differences in caution, published in the Journal of Public Health Research (Aug. 26, 2022) focused on individuals' decrease in COVID-19 concern over time, despite their risk for infection remaining stable, or even increasing.

Exploring links between pathogen avoidance motivation, COVID-19 case counts and immune function, published in the American Journal of Human Biology (Nov. 16, 2022), examined how cognitive, affective and behavioral disease avoidance mechanisms interact with the biological immune system.

Age-Dependent relationships between disease risk and testosterone levels: Relevance to COVID-19 disease, published in the American Journal of Men's Health (Mar. 16, 2023), examined how greater burden of preexisting conditions for severe COVID-19 disease is related to lower testosterone levels in men younger than 40 years of age.

Additional papers are under review for future publication, including political affiliation as a health risk factor during the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships between menstrual cycle phase and immune responses, and even the impact of the pandemic on those with autoimmune diseases.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing "988," or the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741.

A paramedic for about 30 years, Susan Farren knew all was not well with first responders: Eight of her colleagues had died by suicide. Others had grappled with substance abuse or gone through painful divorces.

So, in 2018, Farren founded a nonprofit in Santa Rosa to train and support emergency personnel struggling with trauma and stress. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and other first responders have since availed themselves of the organization's timely help.

"Nobody prepares you to walk into a house where four people have been murdered," said Farren, executive director of First Responders Resiliency, Inc.

Firefighters, paramedics, and police often respond to the worst days of people's lives  accidents, deaths, fires, and other distressing events. After the deadly mass shootings earlier this year in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and countless others across the country, awareness of how such trauma affects first responders has grown.

But there is no national consensus on when and which emergency personnel should be provided workers' compensation benefits.

We wouldnt think twice about taking care of a first responder who broke their leg, and we shouldnt think twice about taking care of their mental health needs," Karen Larsen, CEO of the Steinberg Institute, a nonprofit public policy institute, said in an email.

This year, there has been a push in California by first responders for laws that expand access to workers' compensation for post-traumatic stress injuries among their ranks. But some business groups and local governments want to pump the breaks, citing worries about potential fraud or abuse of the workers' compensation system.

The allegation that some people could take advantage of a more open workers' compensation system should not deter California from providing immediate access to mental health treatment to those who need it, said Farren, who noted that many of the first responders she works with are denied workers' compensation coverage or have to go through many steps to get it approved.

"That shouldn't keep us from getting help to those who really need it. That help should be available often, and affordably, and it should be available immediately," Farren said.

Perceptions about employers' responsibility for alleviating work-related mental stress have changed over time, and that's showing up in workers' compensation. Each state has its own workers' compensation laws, which provide benefits like disability pay and medical care to workers injured or sickened on the job.

More than half have enacted PTSD policies or policy changes since 2018, according to a 2021 report by Optum, a company that creates workers' compensation programs. Coverage varies widely for post-traumatic stress injuries, which can be triggered by a single traumatic event or continued exposure to high stress and traumatic events.

In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation into law to give California firefighters and police officers a stronger chance at earning workers' compensation. The bill, SB 542, authored by state Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) changed state law so that post-traumatic stress "injury," such as PTSD, is legally presumed to be work-related for those first responders.

It was a small step by lawmakers in a state where recognition of work-related injuries for workers' compensation has typically been limited to physical illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Previously, psychiatric conditions were handled differently, with employers and insurance companies long contending that psychological injuries can have many sources and might be too easy to blame on work.

Researchers at the Rand Corporation suggested in a 2021 report that further study is needed to evaluate the financial toll the 2019 law has had on employers  particularly counties and other municipalities that pay for police, firefighters, and other publicly employed first responders. Rand researchers estimated the added costs for local governments and the state to cover post-traumatic stress injuries could rise from $20 million to $116 million annually.

Firefighters and police in most cases now no longer have to prove that work was mostly responsible for their PTSD. But the law sunsets in 2025 and excludes many other first responders, including dispatchers, paramedics, and first responders at state hospitals.

This year, legislation by state Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), SB 623, co-sponsored by an advocacy group representing firefighters in the state  California Professional Firefighters  would extend PTSD workers' compensation coverage until 2032 and open it up to state firefighters, additional law enforcement officers, public safety dispatchers, and other emergency response communication employees who work for public agencies. The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee unanimously approved the bill in April, and it is awaiting a vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Business groups and local governments  many of which opposed the 2019 law  are lobbying against more expansion. In letters to lawmakers, groups including the California Chamber of Commerce, California Coalition on Workers' Compensation, California Hospital Association, and California State Association of Counties warned that pending legislation could "open the door to abuse and fraud."

"There is no evidence that workers are being inappropriately denied the care or benefits that they need," Virginia Drake, a spokesperson for the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation, told KFF Health News. The group represents employers, cities and counties, insurance brokers, and government agencies on issues of workers' compensation.

Legislation that would extend benefits to more first responders would "put taxpayer funds at risk by tying the hands of public employers and forcing them to pay even the most questionable claims," she added in a statement.

In addition, there does not seem to be consensus on which emergency personnel should get covered.

A measure by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, a Democrat from Chino who worked as an emergency medical technician for three decades, has stalled. AB 597 would expand workers' compensation coverage to paramedics and emergency medical technicians, but it didn't get a hearing in the Assembly. Unions representing paramedics and EMTs in California did not return messages seeking comment.

"It's a very stressful job," said Rodriguez, who told KFF Health News that two of his paramedic friends had died by suicide. "It affects people differently."

Clearing a path to speedy mental health recovery, particularly after traumatic incidents, "should be automatic," he added.

It's unclear if Newsom will back Laird's bill extending coverage for groups of emergency responders, amid a projected $22.5 billion deficit. A spokesperson for his office, Omar Rodriguez, said the governor typically does not comment on pending legislation and "will evaluate the bills on their own merits if they reach his desk."

Last year, the Democratic governor vetoed similar legislation, saying in a statement that it would be premature to shift coverage of PTSD before any studies had been conducted on how the current law has worked for those who are covered.

Broadening coverage, Newsom wrote, "could set a dangerous precedent that has the potential to destabilize the workers compensation system going forward."

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Addressing the impact of the House GOP debt-ceiling bill on veterans' programs,"I'm dead serious that we're not cutting veterans, and I mean it."

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in a speech on the House floor, April 26.

House Republicans have set themselves a tough, if not impossible, task in attempting to use a standoff over the nation's debt limit to cut federal spending to what it was in 2022.

Retrenching to those budget levels would require cutting 8% or 9% from the discretionary program side of the ledger, which excludes entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Spending on those programs is required by law. Other spending is dictated by congressional appropriations annually. The latter is up for debate here.

Nevertheless, House Republicans tried to thread the needle with the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which narrowly passed the House on April 26. Its backers say the measure would address the debt ceiling while implementing "commonsense spending reforms." The House GOP leadership promised to spare programs that are popular with Republican voters, such as the defense budget and veterans' health services.

Democrats pounced on these possible cuts, especially those that would affect veterans. Their talking points appeared to infuriate Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. On the House floor, he drew a line in the sand.

Im dead serious that were not cutting veterans, and I mean it, Bost said. The White House and Democrats know that we can get our fiscal house in order while ensuring our service members and veterans are taken care of, and yet, with no regard for the impact of their words, they continue to speak lies about how House Republicans are cutting veterans benefits."

With such an unequivocal statement, we wondered whether Bost was correct. Can the GOP plan dramatically reduce federal spending without taking away funding for veterans' programs?

To understand this fully, two things need to be examined: the budget projections that suggest the GOP plan would result in trims to veterans' programs, and what is spelled out in the legislation.

Digging into the numbers

Democrats and agencies within the Biden administration, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, looked at the GOP bill and did their own math to determine budgetary estimates.

Because the bill is mostly a list of general spending categories, the estimates reflect uniform cuts to discretionary spending. And, because there is no specific language in the House-passed measure to exempt support for veterans' programs, the VA assumed a full, 22% cut for fiscal year 2024 compared with 2023 funding and estimated reductions as high as $29.7 billion.

That could translate to 13 million fewer health care appointments for veterans and significant cuts to benefit payments, staffing, and clinic construction, according to the agency.

Bosts communications director, Kathleen McCarthy, said, however, that Democrats are knowingly making a bogus assumption that cuts will be applied evenly, and pointed to public statements by Republican leaders who have insisted veterans will be spared.

We make sure that our veterans and our service members are taken care of, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said in a speech at the New York Stock Exchange last month.

We will provide for our national defense, take care of veterans, and secure our border  all while reducing overall spending, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) said when Republicans unveiled their plan.

But delivering on that promise would necessitate even deeper cuts to other programs.

Of the $1.7 trillion discretionary budget spent in 2022, a Congressional Budget Office analysis released in March found that $113 billion went to certain veterans' benefits and $751 billion covered defense.

Shielding defense and veterans' programs would force Republicans to concentrate all the cuts on the remaining discretionary budget, which the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found would amount to 23% cuts, an amount similar to the administration's estimate.

Why this debate matters

Veterans' funding has emerged as one of the most hotly contested issues in the debt discussion.

The White House tweeted about Republican cuts to veterans, prompting an angry response from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) echoed Bost's claim in a hearing Thursday, accusing Democrats of "lies." Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) shot back that House Republicans voted down Democratic amendments that would have explicitly exempted veterans.

The GOP also could face opposition from within its ranks. To achieve their goals without affecting veterans, House Republicans would have to find other reductions supported by nearly the entire caucus. Opposition from five or more members would doom the legislation.

The situation is particularly dicey because certain Republicans oppose cutting some of the programs likely to be targeted  such as projects in their districts  and other Republicans favor even deeper cuts.

More than 20 veterans' groups have signed a letter opposing the GOP plan.

The nation's largest veterans' organizations have said they will not take a position on the legislation to avoid the appearance of partisanship. But representatives for some of those groups said although they believe Republican leaders genuinely want to protect veterans, they understand it is hard for such a narrowly divided body to make guarantees.

Mike Bost and the leaders may not want to cut veterans, but they may have to acquiesce to one or two or three or more of their members to get the thing done, said Patrick Murray, director of national legislative service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, referring to raising the debt ceiling while reducing spending.

Though other large veterans' groups declined to comment on the record, representatives highlighted possible cuts to programs they consider worthwhile that some lawmakers have declared unnecessary or wasteful.

Weve heard people say theyre not going to cut spending, but then weve heard people say theyre going to cut wasteful spending, Murray said. Well, thats subjective.

Another potential land mine

Veterans' organizations are also worried about a possible rollback of the landmark  and expensive  Honoring Our PACT Act, which provides for the care and remediation for veterans exposed to toxic substances overseas. The law did not take effect until this year.

Republican lawmakers maintain that they can make the numbers work to preserve the law.

But the House-passed debt-ceiling measure does specifically mandate one significant cut, as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, pointed out. The GOP bill rescinds any unspent funding passed in bills on covid-19 relief, including veterans' funding. When Bost wrote to the VA at the end of March asking about unspent covid money, his office estimated some $4.5 billion was up for grabs.

DeLauro, in denouncing the GOP bill and apparently using more recent numbers, said the rescission would be closer to $2 billion.

That is a straight-up, were-taking-that-back cut, said Murray.

Bosts office stuck to its side of the line in the sand, suggesting the money, once rescinded, could be repurposed for different veterans' programs, but noted that would be up to appropriators.

Our ruling

Bost claimed that Republicans were not cutting veterans' benefits even as the text of their bill to raise the nation's debt ceiling would roll back all discretionary spending.

Drafting a slimmed-down budget that spares veterans is no easy task. Most notably, the VA represents one of the largest pieces of the pie in terms of discretionary spending, and, in the House-passed Limit, Save, Grow Act, no language was included to specifically protect it.

The House GOP plan does include a specific budget rescission for unspent covid relief funds. That translates to $2 billion coming from the VA. While Congress could restore that money in the future  and it is a relatively small portion of the VA budget  it would result in a reduction in spending for veterans as the proposal stands.

House Republicans like Bost have said repeatedly they intend to protect this key constituency. But so far, such protections are not evident on paper.

We rate Bosts statement as Mostly False.
The Japanese automobile giant Honda is ready to woo the Indian market by launching the Honda Elevate on June 6, this year. Well, Australia will soon witness the new ZR-V. It will come in four different variants: e-HEV LX, VTi-LX, VTi L, and VTi X. The upcoming SUV will be ranked above the HR-V and below the CR-V.

It will be powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder hybrid petrol engine, which should be capable of producing 315 Nm of peak torque and 181 horsepower at its highest output. Although Honda has not yet released the 2023 ZR-Vs technical details for Australia, the performance figures listed above apply to all other international markets. A 1.5L four-cylinder turbo VTEC petrol engine powers the Honda ZR-Vs remaining models. The starting price for the base ZR-V VTi X is AU$40,200 (about Rs. 32,85 lakh), while that of the VTi L starts at AU$43,200 (roughly Rs. 35,30 lakh) and rises to AU$48,500 (roughly Rs. 29,63 lakh) for the VTi-LX model.

Also Read: Honda Elevate SUV Showcased To Dealers In Thailand Ahead Of Debut In June

Honda Australia has not yet released the complete standard specifications but claims to have them closer to the ZR-Vs scheduled release date of May 19. Honda has to date confirmed a select number of key features as being standard across the lineup, including a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, and a variety of advanced safety features like autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition.

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Midway through June 2022, the most recent Honda ZR-V that is sold in foreign countries made its debut. It is simply the SUV that is sold in the US and has a platform shared with the Civic. It is known as the ZR-V in places like Japan, China, and Europe. The alternatives for the performance undoubtedly vary depending on the province. all four wheels receive power from the 1.5L turbo four-pot petrol engine via a CVT automatic gearbox. Crystal Black, Platinum Grey, Platinum Crystal Blue, Platinum White, and Premium Crystal Garnet are just a few of the colour combinations that are offered.

Read all the Latest Auto News here
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued in India to its residents. It is one of the largest biometric identification systems in the world and is managed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Aadhaar is based on demographic and biometric information, including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, collected from Indian residents. The Aadhaar number serves as a proof of identity and address for various purposes, including opening bank accounts, applying for government schemes and subsidies, and filing income tax returns.

(Aadhaar-Bank Account Link Status)

UIDAI

UIDAI manages the Aadhaar system in India. UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which was passed by the Parliament. The UIDAI is responsible for issuing Aadhaar numbers, collecting demographic and biometric information from residents, maintaining the Aadhaar database, and ensuring the security and privacy of the information collected.

With the seamless use of Aadhaar has seen a considerable growth for payments through the Aadhaar-based payments system and the document being used in banks and other services, the natural question that many face is the safety of their hard-earned money which they have parked in the bank accounts.

The UIDAI has clarified on the general queries of the Aadhaar card holders. For the query of someone hacking your bank account by knowing the Aadhaar number, the UIDAI has outlined a detailed answer on the official portal (https://uidai.gov.in/)

Can Someone Hack Into A Bank Account If They Know Your Aadhaar Number?

According to UIDAIs Aadhaar Myth Busters available on its official portal, this is absolutely false and just as by merely knowing your ATM card number, no one can withdraw money from the ATM machine; by knowing your Aadhaar number alone, no one can hack into your bank account and withdraw money. Your bank account is safe if you dont part with your PIN/OTP given by banks.

UIDAI has urged card holders to be rest assured and there has not been a single case of financial loss due to Aadhaar. Aadhaar number alone cannot be used for banking or any other service.

UIDAI has data including biometrics, bank account, PAN, etc. Will it track my activities?

Ans: Absolutely false.

UIDAI database has only minimal information that you give at the time of enrolment or update. This includes your name, address, gender, date of birth, ten finger prints, two Iris scans, facial photograph, mobile number (optional) and email ID (optional).

Rest assured, UIDAI does not have your information about bank accounts, shares, mutual funds, financial and property details, health records, family, caste, religion, education, etc and will never have this information in its database.

In fact, Section 32(3) of the Aadhaar Act 2016 specifically prohibits UIDAI from controlling, collecting, keeping or maintaining any information about the purpose of authentication either by itself or through any entity. Aadhaar is an identifier, not a profiling tool.

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Apart from the official online portal, UIDAI operates through various authorised enrollment agencies, which are responsible for collecting and verifying the demographic and biometric information of residents. These agencies are required to follow strict protocols and standards set by the UIDAI to ensure the accuracy and security of the information collected.

Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here
Stocks in Focus on May 9: The Nifty futures contract traded on the Singapore Exchange indicates a negative start to domestic equities. The contract was trading at 18,309.50, down 40.5 points or 0.22% from the previous close.

Q4FY23 earnings: Lupin, Raymond, Reliance Infrastructure, Apollo Tyres, Birla Corporation, Castrol India, Chalet Hotels, Eveready Industries India, Godrej Agrovet, Hatsun Agro Product, Indraprastha Gas, JM Financial, KSB, Latent View Analytics, Matrimony.com, Nazara Technologies, Nuvoco Vistas Corporation, Rain Industries, Shipping Corporation of India, SRF, Suven Life Sciences, and Westlife Foodworld will be in focus ahead of their quarterly earnings on May 9.

Mankind Pharma: Mankind Pharma will make its stock market debut on Tuesday following a successful Rs 4,326-crore initial public offering (IPO). Shares of the countrys fourth largest pharma company in terms of sales are expected to see double-digit gains over its IPO price of Rs 1,080, as per grey market participants.

PNB Housing Finance: Punjab National Bank has infused capital amounting to Rs 498.75 crore in the Rights Issue of PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL), the lender informed the exchanges via a filing.

Kansai Nerolac: The companys Board has approved bonus issue in the ratio of 1:2, subject to approval of the Shareholders of the Company. With this, the authorised share capital will increase from Rs 66.5 crore to 85 crore.

R Systems International: The company announced in an exchange filing that the delisting offer is deemed to be unsuccessful as the post offer shareholding of the acquirer (BCP Asia II Topco II Pte. Ltd and Blackstone Capital Partners Asia II L.P) has not exceeded 90 per cent of the Voting Share Capital.

Kalpataru Power Transmission: The Board of Directors of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited has approved the proposal for issuance of secured/unsecured redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures up to Rs 300 crore by the company in one or more tranches.

JBChemicals and Pharmaceuticals: The companys Board will meet on May 24 to consider and approve financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2023. Besides, it will also consider and approve the proposal to sub-divide/split the equity shares of face value of Rs 2 each to equity shares of face value Re 1 each.

Pidilite Industries: N.K Parekh has stepped down as the non-executive vice-chairman of the company. He, however, will continue as non-executive director on the Board, the company said in a filing. Apurva N Parekh, executive director, shall be designated as the executive vice-chairman, it said.

Separately, the company has decided to discontinue the operations of the Sargent Art Division (based in the US), in a phased manner, over the next year. Revenue from operations and loss before tax pertaining to the division for the year ended March 31, 2023 is Rs 128.8 crore and Rs 5.2 crore, respectively.

Easy Trip Planners: The Board of the company has in-principally approved engaging into all kinds of general insurance business through a wholly owned subsidiary of the company which is yet to be incorporated.

Trident: The Board will meet on May 18 to consider and approve the standalone and consolidated audited financial results of the company for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2023. Also, the Board will consider and approve raising of funds by non-convertible debt instruments.

Canara Bank: Canara Banks net profit rose 90.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) at Rs 3,175 crore for the quarter ended March 2023 (Q4 FY23) on healthy growth in net interest income (NII).

Kansai Nerolac: The paints company, on Monday, reported over 400 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 96.24 crore for Q4FY23. Its revenue from operations surged 12.81 per cent during the quarter under review to Rs 1,733.59 crore. For the entire FY23, its net profit jumped 36.52 per cent to Rs 468.47 crore.

Mahanagar Gas: Mahanagar Gas, on Monday, reported a net profit of Rs 268.8 crore in the March quarter of FY23, which was more-than-double as compared to Rs 131.8 crore clocked last year. The board also declared a final dividend of Rs 16 per equity per share for FY23, in addition to the interim dividend of Rs 10 per equity share paid earlier.

VIP Industries: The company posted a surprise net loss of Rs 4.26 crore in Q4FY23 as against expectations of PAT around Rs 54 crore.The company incurred an exceptional loss of Rs 47.21 crore related to a loss of property, plant and equipment and inventories that were destroyed due to a major fire at a plant of the companys subsidiary in Bangladesh on January 31, 2023.

Aarti Industries: The company has reported total income of Rs 1,656 crore during the period ended March 31, 2023, up 15 per cent against Rs 1,437-crore income seen last year. The companys net profit, too, increased 2 per cent YoY to Rs 149 crore vs Rs 146 crore clocked last year.

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Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here
Often people think that by retiring early, they can spend the rest of their life peacefully and fulfil their wishes like travel, philanthropy and so on. However, not everyone is able to make themselves financially enough to retire by 45-50 and lead a life without financial constraints. Sudheer Koneru is an exception in this case. Despite having a job in Microsoft, one of the worlds largest tech companies, he decided to retire in 2008, at the age of 40 years only.

Usually, at 40, many people in their professions progress in their careers and take up senior roles.

Sudheer Koneru Education

Sudheer Koneru obtained his engineering degree in computer science from IIT Madras. After this, he moved to America and got a masters degree from the University of Texas. He started his career with Microsoft. His talent and dedication led him to reach the post of director in the company. However, he decided to quit the job and start his own company.

Sudheer Koneru Entrepreneur

Sudheer Koneru has founded three companies so far. He sold 2 of these firms a long time ago. After leaving Microsoft in 2000, where he worked for aroung 7 years, he formed the first company Intelliprep Technologies. He was also the CEO of this company for some time. Later this company was merged with Click2learn.

Click2Learn was the company of Paul Allen who was also the co-founder of Microsoft. After this he formed a company named Sumtotal. This company had started generating revenue of around $100 million that in 2007, he left it too. In 2008, he decided that he would retire.

Sudheer Koneru returned once again after almost 2 years and this time his business proved to be much better than the previous two. Keeping in mind the wellness, spa and salon, he created a software called ManageMySpa in 2010. In 2015, the companys name was changed to Zenoti. In 2020, this company became a unicorn. Significantly, a startup with a valuation of more than $ 1 billion is called a unicorn. Their software is used in 50 countries. According to VentureIntelligence, the valuation of his company today is around Rs 12,000 crore.

In an interview to Moneycontrol in 2020, Sudheer Koneru had said, I finished my previous startup, also in enterprise, after running it for eight years and took a break for a couple of years. I spent a lot of time on yoga, meditation, and general wellness. I wasnt planning to go back to work but I invested in a chain of fitness chains, spas and salon centres called Latitudes. I was just an investor. But after two years of them being operational, I realised that if you want to run a multi-store outlet, it is very challenging. There was no software system for that."

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And before I knew it, a lot of people wanted to join me in doing this. So that made me take it seriously and actually start this, although I hadnt planned to do so."

Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here
The use of technology in education has been on the rise in the past few years but the latest development in China has prompted a reaction from AR Rahman. The music maestro shared a video that highlights how schools in China are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor the attention levels of students. This technology, in the form of special headbands, tracks the attention and concentration of students, and then translates the data into reports that are shared with teachers and parents. Tweeting the clip, Rahman raised questions about the ethical use of technology in educational institutions. He wrote: I pity the new generation Are they blessed and cursed at the same time? Only time will tell and added the hashtags ethical use of technology, ethical use of power, AI and messing with nature.

The use of AI in Chinese schools is not limited to just monitoring the attention levels of students. In addition to the headbands, students are required to wear uniforms that are equipped with chips that can trace their location. Furthermore, schools have installed cameras with facial recognition technology that can monitor students behaviour, including how often they check their phones or get distracted during the class.

The video shared by AR Rahman on the use of AI-backed surveillance technology in Chinese schools has sparked a range of reactions online. One user wrote, This looks like the opening scene of a Sci-Fi horror movie!

Another compared the video to an episode of series Black Mirror, This video encapsulates the beginning of unforeseeable adversity regarding technological advancements, much like a Black Mirror episode. Well said AR sir, time will tell whether its a blessing or a curse.

This video encapsulates the beginning of unforeseeable adversity regarding technological advancements, much like a Black Mirror episode  Well said AR sir, time will tell whether its a blessing or a curse Keshav Ram (@KeshavRam_Music) May 6, 2023

One more comment expressed concern about the impact of such surveillance on childrens development, stating, Definitely its a curse. We didnt learn this way and we are doing fine. This will only convince kids to push them doing things in which they arent interested. Let kids be kids. Kids have their own way of growing. They just need good guidance.

Definitely its a curse. We didnt learn this way and we are doing fine. This will only convince kids to push them doing things which they arent interested. Let kids be kids. Kids have their own way of growing. They just need good guidance. The Vendetta  (@vendetta0234) May 6, 2023

Another user had a different perspective and wrote, Technology is great. Life is dull. That is the new generation.

Technology is great. Life is dull. That is the new generation. Misty Art (@mistyartscapes) May 9, 2023

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While people argue that this technology helps improve academic performance, others are concerned about privacy violations and the impact of such intense monitoring on the mental health of young students.

Read all the Latest Buzz News here
The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has officially announced the date for the release of class 10 results 2023. The state education minister will be announcing the class 10 exam results on May 10 at 12 noon. Students who took the exam can view their results on the boards official website, cgbse.nic.in or result.cg.nic.in.

Chhattisgarh Board 10th Result LIVE

On the result portal, students will be required to enter their application number and date of birth to check their results. The CGBSE Exams for class 10 began on March 2 and ended on March 24.

Chhattisgarh Board 10th Results 2023: HOW TO CHECK

Step 1: Visit one of the official websites of CGBSE cgbse.nic.in or result.cg.nic.in.

Step 2: Select the Class 10 result 2023 link on the websites home page.

Step 3: Enter credentials such as application number and date of birth for verification, along with the captcha code displayed on the screen and click on the submit button.

Step 5: The CGBSE class 10 results 2023 will be shown on the screen.

Step 6: Download a copy of the result and take a printout of it for future records.

Chhattisgarh Board 10th Results 2023: HOW TO CHECK VIA SMS

Students who are unable to access the official websites due to high traffic can simply send an SMS to receive their class 10 results. Students must type the word CG10 along with their roll number and send an SMS to the number 56263. The Chhattisgarh board class 10 result 2023 will then be sent to the students registered mobile number via text message in.

Chhattisgarh Board 10th Results 2023: HOW TO CHECK VIA DIGILOCKER

Step 1: Visit the official DigiLocker website or install the application from Google Play Store

Step 2: If not signed in, click on the sign-in option on the upper left corner of the page, and enter your name as per your Aadhaar card, date of birth and other credentials.

Step 3: Once logged in, students must navigate to the Issued Documents section of DigiLocker, where they will find their class 10 results.

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Out of approximately 8 lakh students that registered for the CGBSE board exams in 2022, just over 5 lakh students took the 10th exam. The class 10 exams were passed by up to 74.23 per cent of students.

Read all the Latest Education News here
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans should vote in the defence of their independence in the forthcoming harmonised elections, to protect the legacy bequeathed to the country by national heroes, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.Addressing mourners at the burial of national hero and Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly member and former Mashonaland East governor Abraham Kabasa at the National Heroes Acre, the President urged Zimbabweans to preserve total peace before, during and after the polls."The 2023 harmonised general elections are around the corner. As patriotic Zimbabweans, we must go out in our numbers to vote in defence of the Independence brought about by cadres such as Kabasa. As we prepare for the elections, I once again call upon every Zimbabwean to say no to violence. We want peace before, during and after the election period," he said.In fulfilment of the aspiration of liberation fighters, said President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe would continue deepening economic diplomacy to leapfrog the current socio economic development, modernisation and industrialisation agenda to broaden the country's trade and investment.Events such as his attendance of the coronation of King Charles III in London last weekend and the recent hosting of Transform Africa Summit that drew four Heads of State and Governments to Victoria Falls among other events, was testimony that the Government was embracing everyone in line with its desire to be a friend to all and enemy to none.The President pays his last respects to national hero Abraham Kabasa before his burial at the national shrine yesterday in the company of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe.  Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara."Today, we are masters of our destiny and stand tall within the comity of nations because of those who paid the supreme sacrifice. We, who remain must continue to defend our country's independence and consolidate our democracy. We must honour them by advancing our national interests and the aspirations of all the people of Zimbabwe. Not just for the present generation, but for posterity."Peace, love, national unity and focus, must see us accelerating our quest to lift many more of our people out of poverty and into prosperity. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo. No-one and no place must be left behind. Together, let us work harder with renewed resolve towards Vision 2030," said President Mnangagwa."At the international and continental level, the Second Republic is deepening economic diplomacy to leap frog our present socio-economic development, modernisation and industrialisation of our beloved motherland. Guided by our overarching national interests, we are embracing those who want to move forward with us in support of the realisation of our own national development priorities."Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none. Events such as my attendance of the coronation of King Charles III, over the weekend, as well as the recent hosting of the Transform Africa Summit, coupled with the successful 63rd Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, are set to broaden our country's trade, investment and people to people exchanges."He said Kabasa, who was a certified nurse, participated in the national resistance against colonial injustices of Ian Smith racist Rhodesian regime and contributed to nation building in post-independent Zimbabwe."He belonged to an early crop of ex-detainees, war collaborators and restrictees whose contribution to the attainment of our independence, freedom and democracy accords him this special interment at this sacred shrine, among other luminaries of our nation. He was an unflinching nationalist, gallant war veteran and selfless patriot," said President Mnangagwa."The early years of our armed struggle required men and women of extreme courage, bravery and sacrifice such as the late Kabasa who would in many ways collaborate with the freedom fighters. This included: provision of information and intelligence; mobilising the grassroots; assisting the guerrilla cadres with logistics such as food, boosting of morale and nursing those wounded in battle."Brave cadres such as the late Kabasa, said President Mnangagwa, inspired many young freedom fighters with the will power to challenge the racist settler regime."This crop of pioneering nationalists helped to ignite the second phase of our struggle for independence and black majority rule. Today as we lay to rest Kabasa, we thus, remember these brave cadres for their unwavering commitment and immeasurable efforts towards the peace, independence and freedom we enjoy to this day," he said.Born on 22 December 1932 in Mutoko District in Mashonaland East, Kabasa completed his Standard Six before training as a nurse at the then Salisbury General Hospital.He later embarked on further training as a laboratory technician at the Blair Research Laboratory, trained as a dental technician at Mpilo Central Hospital and worked as a nurse employed by the Ministry of Health for 25 years where he rose to become a principal nurse.The late National Hero Kabasa started his political activism after facing racial segregation in the Rhodesian civil service particularly in the Ministry of Health, where he was an active member of the Nurses Association.At the height of the liberation struggle, Kabasa was in charge of Makosa Rural Hospital in Mutoko where he supplied drugs, clothes and shoes, among other resources, to liberation war cadres, including mass mobilisation towards the recruitment of many sons and daughters of the soil to join the armed struggle.He also facilitated reconnaissance communication.The rural hospital also became a covert food distribution point for the liberation freedom fighters operating in that area and those in transit with Kabasa admitting liberation fighters for treatment disguising them as ordinary members of the community.Due to his revolutionary and anti-colonial activities, Kabasa became a target of the oppressive white colonial regime that burned down his homestead.He was also transferred to far off work stations in a bid to break his will-power and cut off his contact with freedom fighters and he was ultimately, detained at Mutoko prison for three years but that did not deter his spirit.At independence, Kabasa was elected into Parliament and became Deputy Speaker where he held several positions, including Chairman of the Health Portfolio Committee and also represented Parliament at the African Union and in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.He was appointed Provincial Governor for Mashonaland East Province in 1990 and served until 1994 where he supervised several infrastructural projects.In Zanu-PF, Kabasa held various posts, including provincial party chairman, Central Committee member and National Consultative Assembly member among others.Yesterday's event was attended by the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Zanu-PF Second Secretary and Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Government Ministers, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, Service Chiefs, relatives and friends.
Two persons were arrested and offences were registered against candidates who indulged in malpractices during the written examination for the recruitment of constables in Mumbai police, an official said on Monday.

At least 78,522 out of 83,847 candidates appeared for the written examination held at 213 exam centres on Sunday, the official said.

Although no untoward incidents were reported during the exam, malpractices came to light at centres in Bhandup, Kasturba Marg, Meghwadi and Goregaon, he said.

A candidate from Jalna was arrested by Bhandup police, whereas a 20-year-old candidate from Aurangabad was arrested by Goregaon police for indulging malpractices during the examination, he said.

A 24-year-old candidate from Maharashtras Jalna district was caught using a small electronic device while appearing for the examination at the centre in Bhandup, and was taken into custody, the official said.

The two arrested candidates were using a small electronic device, which had a place to insert a SIM card with ear phones, he said.

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A case under section 417 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act has been registered against the accused, the official added.

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Down the lane, there are various instances where National Testing Agencys frisking policies have come under attack from social media. This time as well, two incidents have been reported from Maharashtra and West Bengal during NEET- UG 2023 examination. The incidences have received criticism from students, parents and from social media citizens as well.

During the NEET- UG 2023, some candidates alleged that they were asked to remove their attire or were asked to wear them inside out. Some even shared an instance where the authorities asked them to exchange clothes from their parents. Candidates who sat for the NEET- UG 2023 exam reported on social media and has now complained to the authorities. Some students even purchased cloths from nearby shops to adhere to the dress code mandated by the National Testing Agency.

The National Testing Agency has received various complaints from students. Taking cognizance of the same, NTA said it will issue, comprehensive instructions to staff at exam centres to be mindful of sensitivities involved in frisking female candidates. Some social media posts by medical college aspirants says that there bra straps were checked, and inner wears were asked to opened. A report by Times Of India cited that a girl in an examination centre removed her kurta and was asked to wear it inside out.

The report quoted a doctor couple who said the manner is unacceptable and its not a correct way to treat students as it has the potential to disturb students mentally while appearing for such a critical examination. An applicant from HMC Education Centre, Hindmotor, Bengal, took to social media to report his experience. He said several candidates in the exam were asked to change their pants or open their inner wear. Through his post, the candidate reported that Several girl students had interchanged their jeans with their mothers leggings He wrote that since there were no enclosures or shops around the centre, and as a result, girls had to change their dresses in an open playground along with boys, with their parents surrounding their children to protect them

The student also alleged that some students went inside the examination hall with just inner wear. The principal of the HMC Education Centre, Hindmotor, Bengal, however rejects such instances. She said certain students were not abiding by the dress code and hence asked to change their attire. While a parent representative said that primary class, untrained teachers are taken as invigilators and hence such incidences happens.

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A day ahead of the polling in Karnataka, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday urged over 5.3 crore electors in the state, especially 11.71 lakh first-time voters, to participate enthusiastically in the elections to the 224 assemblies.

In a statement, Kumar urged young and urban electors in the IT capital of the country to take inspiration from elderly voters such as 103-year-old Mahadeva Mahalinga Mali and participate in the festival of democracy, defeating the prevalent trend of urban apathy in the state.

Polling is scheduled across 58,545 polling stations, including auxiliary centres, on May 10.

Last week, Kumar had thanked Mali, who cast his vote from his home at Chikkodi in Belagavi, calling it an inspiration to young voters.

The CEC also thanked over 76,000 senior citizens (80+) and 18,800 Persons with Disability (PwD) voters, who cast votes using Home Voting Facility provided by the Commission, an official statement reads.

There are over 5.3 crore registered electors in the state, with almost equal men (2.66 crore) and women electors (2.63 crore). Further, more than 5.71 lakh PwDs, 12.15 lakh 80+ senior citizens and 16,000+ centenarian voters are registered in the state.

CEO and DEOs have been instructed to provide all facilities across more than 58K polling booths set up across 224 constituencies. Specifically, 996 women managed booths, 239 booths managed by PwD, 286 managed by youths, 737 theme based and ethnic polling stations," the CEC said.

Basic facilities such as drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchair, electricity, volunteers, shades, help desks and parking facilities have been provided at all polling stations.

Earlier during the day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said pre-poll seizures in Karnataka have jumped 4.5 times compared to the 2018 assembly election as several agencies have seized cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth Rs 375 crore.

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Till Monday, cash worth Rs 147 crore was seized, along with precious metals worth Rs 96.60 crore. At least 22 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 84 crore and drugs and freebies worth Rs 24 crore each have also been recovered, the ECI data shows.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Karnataka Elections 2023 updates here
After hundreds of rallies, roadshows, offline and online campaigns for over one and a half months, it all comes to down to voters who will put the final stamp on the fate of Karnataka for the next five years on Wednesday.

The high-octane campaign, which ended on Monday, was marked by a plummeting level of public discourse to the extent that the Election Commission had to issue an advisory asking parties and their candidates to exercise caution and restraint in their utterances and not vitiate the election atmosphere.

Several leaders and candidates from different political parties visited religious places to seek blessings before the final test.

Polling across 224 constituencies will begin at 7 am on May 10. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows as part of BJPs aggressive campaign, gave a video message to the people of Karnataka on Twitter seeking their blessings in the mission to make the state the number one in the country.

However, the Congress objected to PM Modis appeal and approached the Election Commission seeking immediate action against the prime minister for his appeals to Karnataka voters in violation" of the model code.

In a lengthy complaint to the chief election commissioner, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala asked the commission whether it will remain a mute and helpless spectator" or fulfil its constitutional duty and act against the prime minster.

Major Players

Riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity wave, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to retain power in the state while Congress is banking on anti-incumbency and its poll promises to win peoples mandate. Janata Dal (S), like in the last election, is expecting to become the kingmaker.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Punjab and Delhi, has also fielded candidates.

PM Modi led the BJPs campaign with Amit Shah, JP Nadda and other leaders. For Congress, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah among others sought votes for their candidates.

The JD(S) ran a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H D Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda too joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.

Candidates & Eligible Voters

A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across Karnataka, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray. Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 others, while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.

Star Candidates

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Varuna), JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy (Channapatna) and state Congress President D K Shivakumar (Kanakapura) are the among the top candidates in the fray.

Other than Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy, Jagdish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central) is the other former CM, who is in the fray. Shettar had recently joined Congress, quitting BJP.

Will BJP Break 38-year-old Jinx?

The ruling BJP wants to break a 38-year-old jinx  Karnataka has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985, the Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give it a much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

What Happened in 2018 Polls?

In the 2018 elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress 80, JD(S) 37, and an independent, BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party(one each).

With no party having a clear majority and Congress and JD(S) making a bid to forge an alliance, BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa staked claim and formed the government. However, it had to resign within three days ahead of the trust vote, unable to muster numbers.

Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as chief minister, but the wobbly government collapsed in 14 months, as 17 legislators including independents resigned and came out of the ruling coalition, and defected to BJP. This was followed by BJP coming back to power and, in the bypolls held subsequently in 2019, the ruling party dominated by winning 12 out of 15 seats.

In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, Independents two, Speaker one and vacant six.

(With PTI inputs)

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The poll body also issued a notice to the BJP for a newspaper advertisement published on Monday.

Meanwhile, as the campaigning ended and the model code of conduct came into force, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday assured the people of Karnataka saying that he envisioned their dreams as his own. In a video posted on BJPs official Twitter handle, PM Modi said, The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution.

Highlighting Karnatakas significant role in the countrys economy, the PM said, India is the fifth largest economy in the world. Soon we need to make sure that India is among the top three economies of the world. This is possible only when Karnatakas economy develops at a rapid rate.

Highlighting Karnatakas significant role in the countrys economy, the PM said, India is the fifth largest economy in the world. Soon we need to make sure that India is among the top three economies of the world. This is possible only when Karnatakas economy develops at a rapid rate.Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, BJP governments decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnatakas economy.

1.56 Lakh Police Personnel to be Deputed on Election Duty

The Karnataka State Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the May 10 Assembly elections in the state. To ensure no untoward incidents take place, the commission is deputing 1.56 lakh police personnel across the state.

As many as 84,119 police officers from the state have been deputed and the rest are roped in from the neighbouring states.

According to a statement, 304 deputy superintendents of police (Dy SP), 991 inspectors, 20,601 sub-inspectors, and 650 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would be deputed for polling duty in the state.

The 650 CAPF companies would include 101 from the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force (108), Central Industrial Security Force (75), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (70), Sashastra Seema Bal (75), Railway Protection Force (35), and 186 of the Special Armed Police.

In Bengaluru 16,000 police personnel have been deputed for election duties. They will be deployed to 7,916 polling booths and 1,907 hypersensitive polling booths.

Polling to elect 224 members of the Karnataka assembly will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Karnataka Elections 2023 updates here
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackerays tweet regarding the upcoming Karnataka elections has stirred a controversy in the state.

In his tweet, Thackeray urged people to vote for Marathi-speaking candidates of any party. However, the tweet was later deleted from his official account. He later posted another tweet, urging Marathi-speaking people of Karnataka to vote for the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti and their candidates.

ALSO READ | Karnataka 360 | Little Maharashtra: Battle Lines Drawn over Border Brawl in Belagavi

Why did Thackeray delete the earlier tweet? Why did he change his stance within few hours of his first tweet?

These questions are still unanswered.

THE BACKLASH

Thackerays stance that Marathi-speaking candidate of any party should raise his voice for Marathi-speaking people of Karnataka in the state assembly had upset the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti. The youth wing of the samiti expressed their anger on Twitter by replying to it.

The tweet by Maharashtra Ekikaran Yuva Samiti read: We will fight for the dream of Samyukt Maharashtra along with Belgaum. We will also try to get the Marathi-speaking candidates of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti elected. But your tweet suggests that you are supporting a state which is attempting to abolish Marathi culture. You are a seasoned politician and you should understand what is good and bad.

ALSO READ | Maha CM, Fadnavis Should Campaign for Belgaum-based MES in Karnataka Polls: Raut

THE RESPONSE

Within a few hours of his tweet, Thackeray put out a new tweet in support of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti.

The tweet stated: Karnataka will cast votes on May 10. I urge my Marathi brothers and sisters in the border areas to vote unitedly for the candidates of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti. Even if the candidates of other parties are Marathi, after being elected, they will not voice your concerns and issues in the Vidhan Bhavan against the strangulation of Marathi language or the injustice done to Marathi people in the border areas

        .      -             .            Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) May 8, 2023

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I am of the firm opinion that you should respect the language and culture of the state you belong to. The brothers living in the border area for many generations have respected the Kannada language and culture here. But still, if the government there is going to harass the Marathi people, try to strangle the Marathi language, then it will not be tolerated. Let the government of any party come there, there is no difference in their behavior. That is why there should be Marathi-speaking MLAs in the legislature, who will represent the Marathi identity of that area, who will raise voice for the issues of Marathi people, it added.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Karnataka Elections 2023 updates here
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday hit out at the Samajwadi Party, alleging those responsible for riots and curfews in Kanpur were its candidates in the urban local body polls.

On the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the civic polls, Adityanath addressed public meetings in Kanpur, Banda, and Chitrakoot and appealed to voters to make the BJP victorious so that funds allocated by the Central and state governments for development and welfare schemes are utilized fully.

At an election rally in Kanpur, the chief minister said this city used to be known as the countrys textile hub and largest industrial city, but its neglect by the previous government was known to everyone".

Referring to Kanpurs once-booming illegal firearms industry, he said kattas (countrymade pistols) were manufactured in Kanpur under the SP rule, but a new node of the Defence Corridor is being built here now.

As the countrys centre for defence production, Kanpur is establishing a new identity, Adityanath said.

Those who were responsible for riots and curfews in Kanpur and played with peoples faith in the past are today the candidates of the Samajwadi Party. The kind of remarks they have made on women and the holy epic Ramayan are not hidden from anyone," the chief minister said.

The urban local body election is not only (a medium) to elect a mayor but also about making all the BJP candidates victorious in all the wards," he said.

This election is not about hatred and personal comments. This election is about making your city a smart city, a safe city, and one which has all the basic facilities," he said at the meeting.

Adityanath also referred to the work done by his government to clean the river Ganga under the Namami Gange project.

Mother Ganga is our faith and our identity. Due to the neglect by the previous governments, 14 crore liters of sewage were discharged into Mother Ganga through the Sisamau drain. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work on the Namami Gange project started.

At that time, there was a Samajwadi Party government in the state. The SP did not do any work for two years. In March 2017, the double-engine BJP government came to power, and today not even a single drop from the Sisamau drain falls into the Ganga," he said.

The chief minister also appealed to voters to add a third engine" to the double-engine government" and make Kanpur better again with basic facilities.

Double-engine" is a term often used by BJP leaders to refer to the party ruling at the Centre and in a state.

Addressing another rally at Banda, the CM said that the Bundelkhand region has overcome the problem of barren and rugged terrain and is set to become a heaven on earth.

In the next four months, the work of providing pure tap water to every house in Bundelkhand is going to be completed," he said.

Adityanath said the entire Bundelkhand region is writing a new chapter of development today" and recalled that for years the unveiling of Maharana Prataps statue was stalled which he did when he visited Banda last time.

He said that prior to 2017, Bundelkhand faced a lot of problems related to drinking water, agriculture, employment, and security.

Earlier women had to bring water in pitchers from far-off places, but today through the Har Ghar Nal Yojana, tap water is being provided to every house in Bundelkhand and the exercise will be completed in the next four months, he said.

Addressing his last rally of the day at Chitrakoot, the CM said, Chitrakoot has been freed from dacoits criminals and is being re-established as a holy place of Sanatan Hinduism. Taking a jibe at the opposition parties, he added: Dr. Lohia started the Ramayana fairs, but the Samajwadi Party, which does politics in the name of Dr. Lohia, says that Ram did not exist. Its leaders are making unsavory comments on Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas as well. Adityanath also said that the then Samajwadi Party government opened fire on the devotees of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

Adityanath was referring to police firing on karsevaks gathered in Ayodhya on the saffron outfits call in 1990 when SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav was the UP chief minister.

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Their thinking is anarchic, opportunistic, and dynastic. They cant befriend a saint, but would readily garland a dacoit and allow them to exploit common people and traders, he remarked further. The second and final phase of the urban local body polls in UP will be held on May 11. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Karnataka Elections 2023 updates here
Bigg Boss Marathi fame Kiran Mane is an avid social media user and always manages to grab the attention of the masses. Recently, he shared a post in which he talked about the Marathi movie Tendlya and praised Marathi cinema, its producers and artists.

Check out the post here:

Sharing the post, he wrote, The film Tendlya evoked a strong sense of familiarity and comfort as if I were back home. I believe that others of my generation would feel the same way while watching it. The movie reminded me of the lofty aspirations I had as a child, which appeared to be insurmountable challenges at the time. I remembered the intense zeal and determination I had to achieve those aspirations, the obstacles I encountered, the anguish and pain I endured, and finally the joy and satisfaction when I accomplished my goals."

He added, The actor Firoz Shaikh has brought his character to life with incredible attention to detail. Although many Marathi films are being made today, I have not seen any performances that have impressed me until now. I used to feel frustrated when I saw good roles being poorly executed. Watching this film made me feel fulfilled and satisfied, and for the first time in a while, I saw a performance that was genuine, heartfelt and well-researched. It was truly refreshing."

I genuinely admire him for bringing his best on the pitch. While Firoz Shaikh used to be my fan, now I am a big admirer of his. He still has plenty of untapped potential and there is much to appreciate about him, added Mane.

Helmed by Sachin J Jadhav and Nachitket Waikar, Tendlya stars Adwaita Jadhav, Hemant Joshi and Vitthal Nagnath Kale.

Kiran Mane is best known for films including Swarajya, Apaharan and Takatak 2. The actor has also worked in films such as Mulgi Zali Ho and Majhya Mitrachi Girlfriend, and he is soon going to star in Ravrambha.

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Directed by Anup Ashok Jagdale, Ravrambha stars Apurva Nemlekar, Om Bhutkar and Ashok Samarth. Penned by Pratap Gangavane, the film is scheduled to be released on May 12. Touted to be a period romance, the film is backed by Shashikant Pawar under the banner of Shashikant Pawar Productions.

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Tamil actor Ajith Kumar has completed the first leg of his bike tour which has been named Ride For Mutual Respect. In the first part, the actor covered all states of India and a significant part of Nepal and Bhutan. Now the actor has returned to Chennai to start the shooting of Vidaa Muyarchi in the coming months. Ajiths manager Suresh Chandra shared an update on Twitter with a picture of the actor and he can be seen posing for the camera as he relishes rajma chawal at a restaurant in Bhutan.

Suresh wrote in the tweet, Having ridden across Challenging Terrains and facing extreme weather conditions. Ajith has ridden across every Indian state and has covered Nepal and Bhutan as well. The next leg of the world tour is to begin in November 2023.

Havind ridden across Challenging Terrains and facing extreme weather conditions. Ajith has ridden across every Indian state n has covered Nepal n Bhutan aswell.Next leg of world tour to begin in Nov 2023#AjithKumarWorldTour#AKWorldRideformutualrespect pic.twitter.com/aeSuBYDGp9 Suresh Chandra (@SureshChandraa) May 9, 2023

Speaking with the Indian Express, Suresh Chandra shared, Ajith sir is back in Chennai and he will wrap up the shoot of Vidaa Muyarchi in the coming months. He also mentioned after the shooting, the Vedalam actor will be travelling to Australia for the second leg of his bike tour in which he will also cover New Zealand.

The actor was often spotted by his fans during the tour and one such video went viral in which he was seen donning a chefs cap and apron while cooking at a restaurant in Nepal. He was seen behind the counter, cooking with the help of the restaurant staff. He even posed with the staff for a photo op.

Ajith Kumar was last seen in the heist drama Thunivu. The film also featured Manju Warrier and was directed by H Vinoth. It is one of highest grossing films of Ajiths career which earned around Rs 200 crore globally.

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AK62 team, on the other hand, revealed the title of the film on Ajiths birthday and it has been titled Vidaa Muyarchi and is directed by Magizh Thirumeni. It is being bankrolled by Lyca Productions. Other cast and crew details of the project have been kept under wraps.

Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here
CID actress Chandrika Saha has filed a complaint against her husband Aman Mishra for allegedly thrashing their 15-month-old baby boy. Reportedly, Chandrika had to rush to the hospital with her child recently following which she filed an official police complaint against her husband at the Bangur Nagar police station in Mumbai.

Heres What Happened As Claimed By Chandrika Saha:

As reported in the police complaint cited by the Economic Times, on May 5, Chandrika was in the kitchen at her residence when she heard her baby boy crying. She then asked her husband to look after the child following which he took their son to their bedroom. Moments after, Chandrika heard her son crying loud when she allegedly heard a loud thud too. She then rushed to her bedroom only to find her son with some injuries. She then rushed her son to a hospital.

When Chandrika returned from the hospital, she checked the CCTV footage and found out that her husband thrashed their son thrice against the floor. Reportedly, the actress has now also submitted the CCTV footage to the local police.

Reportedly, Chandrikas husband Mishra has now been booked under section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 for assaulting a child in ones custody. Further investigation is now underway.

If a report by Economic Times is to be believed, Chandrika has also informed police that she was a divorcee before getting married to Aman Mishra. She has claimed that after she got pregnant with Aman, he had asked her to abort the child. However, the couple decided to keep the baby when the doctors advised them so. She claimed that even today, Aman has issues with the child.

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For the unversed, Chandrika Saha has worked in several television shows. She is best known for shows like CID, Adaalat and Savdhaan India.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

SECESSIONIST Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has accused South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) and Zanu-PF of perpetuating Zimbabweans' suffering through their 'unholy union'.The remarks were made by MRP president Mqondisi Moyo at a rally in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.Moyo described the relationship between Zanu-PF and ANC as unholy, adding that it had prolonged the suffering of the Mthwakazi people."The people of South Africa are being derailed by visionless leadership. We dislike it when the ANC buries historical facts by entering into an unholy union with Zanu-PF. We hate it when the ANC sings heroic songs for villains like Zanu-PF," Moyo said.He accused the ANC of disregarding the contribution made by Zapu and its armed wing Zipra in South Africa's struggle for independence."The ANC leadership should not forget the comradeship contributions by Zapu and Zipra in South Africa's struggle and fail to defend their descendants who are suffering in their backyards," he said.Moyo said Zanu-PF, which was a product of imperialist systems that hijacked the then Zimbabwe national agenda led by the late former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, worked with the Pan-African Congress (PAC) and the apartheid regime to delay South Africa's independence.He said ANC should remain a beacon of hope for the black community as it understood the struggles the people went through and had a detailed history of the past.Moyo lauded MRP's relationship with Africa People First (APF), saying it will work to liberate its people from repressive regimes."Our comradeship with APF is not by coincidence. It is a result of shared values, interests and objectives: The liberation of our peoples."APF is emerging as one of the organisations espousing a vision that seeks to bring peace and justice to the oppressed. This is why today we are teaming up to demonstrate our desire for the true freedom of the oppressed. This is a shared vision," he said.
Politician and reality television star Archana Gautam might have played small parts in films like Great Grand Masti (2016) and Haseena Parker (2017) but it was Bigg Boss 16 that truly changed her fortune. She might not have carried the trophy home but inarguably, emerged as one of the most popular faces. And now, she is all set to jet off to the jungles of South Africa to shoot for Khatron Ke Khiladi 13, which will begin airing on Colors very soon.

Over the years, the adventure based reality show has grabbed many eyeballs as celebrities have been seen performing death-defying stunts with tasks revolving around reptiles, heights and water. In an exclusive interview with News18, Archana says that though the show is aimed to make the contestants face their biggest fears, she is not yet ready for it.

Talking about her phobias, she says, I made a big mistake by revealing the fact that Ive a terrible, terrible phobia of lizards and thats the only thing Im scared of in my life. Back home in my village, we used to sleep without anything over our heads and lizards would fall on our face and hands and would even bite us. Right now, Im in a mind frame where I really dont know how I will deal with my fears in Khatron Ke Khiladi. All I can do is hope for the best!

Recently, Archana made headlines after content creator-musician Yashraj Mukhate created a catchy song from her statement age is doesnt the matter, which went viral. Reacting to it, she states, I thought I said the phrase correctly but when I saw the reel, I realised that people are laughing. I kept wondering why. Then a friend of mine who knows English told me that my placement of is and the was wrong.

Archana further adds, It was only about two to three days back that I came to know what I said was grammatically wrong. But my wrong English caught everyones attention and Yashraj ji made a song on it (laughs).

Trolls have become an integral part of a public figures life in this day and age. But Archana has no qualms about netizens mocking her for her English speaking skills. Looking at the silver lining, she shares, I dont feel bad when people troll me because I feel that even bad publicity is good publicity. When I see people talking about me, be it in a good way or bad, it gives me joy. I know that, at least, Im the topic of conversation.

However, shes quick to add that negative comments do take a toll on her sometimes. It affects me at times, she says, elaborating, They dont know the kind of childhood that I had, the village I come from and the situations that Ive been though and endured. People say that I dont know English and describe me as unpadh gawaar. That hurts me. Im an Indian and people should be proud of me for speaking in Hindi.

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Urging people to be considerate towards her, she continues, Sometimes when I try speaking in English, I do make mistakes but people shouldnt blow it out of proportion. They dont know about my traumas. I belong to such a poor family and background that we didnt even have enough food to eat. The fact that Ive reached the place that Im in today makes me feel very proud of myself. People should be considerate and not say such things about me.

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Among the varieties offered by the Indian television industry, Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal stands out as an excellent and thrilling show. With a talented cast, including Reem Shaikh, Gashmeer Mahajani and Karan Kundrra, the show has managed to capture the hearts of millions of fans. Set in a fantasy world, the daily soap takes its viewers on an exciting journey filled with drama, romance and action. What makes the show even more intriguing is the fact that it is an adaptation of the immensely popular American series, The Vampire Diaries.

In a previous episode, Tina (Priya Sinha) assisted Daksh (Krip Suri) in abducting Eisha (Reem Shaikh) and bringing her to him. Upon seeing Eisha, Daksh experienced a sense of relief but his mood quickly shifts as he stares at Tina. Daksh accused Tina of apologising not for her mistakes, but for her crime of hiding Kavyas whereabouts all these years.

However, Tina defends herself by stating that her actions were not a mistake or a crime. She reveals that Kavya (Reem Shaikh) had betrayed her by pretending to be her friend before turning her into a werewolf. Furthermore, Tina shares that Kavya was responsible for killing her entire family. In response, grabbing Tina by the neck, Daksh expresses regret that if Kavya had been discovered 150 years earlier, they wouldnt be facing the current situation.

After releasing Tina, who had brought Eisha (Kavyas lookalike), Daksh is informed by her that the Oberoi brothers (Played by Gashmeer Mahajani and Karan Kundrra) will arrive soon to rescue Eisha. Tina then asks Daksh if he can break her bond with Kavya so she can be free. Daksh agrees to her request and breaks the bond, setting Tina free.

As Tina departs, Daksh moves towards Eisha. Despite Eishas fearful pleas and insistence that they have no association, Daksh neglects her requests and continues his actions.

Now, as per a report by Tellychakkar, there is an exciting update in Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal. Fans of the series are well aware that Armaan Oberoi and Veer Oberoi are deeply in love with Kavya, despite her manipulating them for her own advantage. However, things are about to take an even more intriguing turn as the storyline progresses.

In the upcoming episode, Veer approaches Kavya and expresses their willingness to accept her proposal. However, Kavya shocks Veer by saying that she is not interested in striking a deal with him. Instead, she informs him that Sikandar (Rrahul Sudhir) has abducted Cherry (Nalini Negi).

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As the drama unfolds, viewers can expect more surprises and unexpected turns in the plot. With such a talented cast and an intriguing storyline, Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal is definitely a show worth watching.

Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here
Condemning the ban on The Kerala Story", the Producers Guild of India on Tuesday said no one other than the Central Board of Film Certification has the right to decide whether or not a film should be released. The guild issued a statement a day after the West Bengal government ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence".

Multiplexes across Tamil Nadu have also cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response. Meanwhile, some BJP-ruled states have made the viewing of the film tax free.

As the controversy heats up, here are all questions about the film and its various facets addressed:

Q: What is the Kerala Story About?

A: The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani. The movie is about forced religious conversion and alleges that about 32,000 women in Kerala were converted to Islam and many were sent to ISIS-ruled Syria at the pinnacle of the terror groups dominance. Following the release of the films trailer, a petition to the Supreme Court was filed seeking a stay of execution on the basis of worst kind of hate speech" and audio-visual propaganda."

However, the filmmakers have rejected opponents claims, even though the initial description of the film from 32,000 women was changed to three women later. In an interview, actor Adah Sharma, director Sudipto Sen, and producer Vipul Shah all said that the film targets terrorists rather than the entire Muslim community," as per a report by India Today.

Vipul Shah had told the publication, we dont want to get into the debate on the numbers, we want to talk about the issue. We want to bring notice to the human tragedy happening in Kerala and in India."

Q: Is There Any Truth to the Claims Made in The Kerala Story?

A: The threat of ISIS recruitment from abroad, especially Britain, has been documented by some reports and papers. In India, the Islamic State has long sought to establish a Khorasan Caliphate". The terrorist organisation initially came to the attention of Indian intelligence authorities in 2013, when reports from Syria revealed that there were some Indians within the ranks of the IS combatants, who were then making military and territorial gains in Syria, as per a report by Indian Express.

Since then, numerous Indians have journeyed to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State, and approximately 100 of them have been apprehended by the authorities either on their way back from Syria or while preparing to join the fighters there, the report says. Many others have also been arrested for planning an assault in India after being inspired by the IS. In a written reply to Parliament in 2019, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy stated that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police forces have registered cases against ISIS operatives and sympathisers, and have arrested 155 accused from across the country so far."

The Indian security establishment has taken a cautious approach to the question of IS influence on Indians, the report says. Hundreds of IS recruits or potential recruits have been counselled, made to participate in a deradicalization process, and then released with a warning.

As per a 2016 report in the Guardian which documented incidents of groups allegedly being recruited from Kerala by the IS, said that as per most estimations, Indias Muslim population had supplied negligible people to Isis. More have gone from Britain, even the Maldives, than from India," Vikram Sood, former chief of RAW had told the public agency at the time. But the US embassy in Delhi had issued its first Isis-related warning that year, of an increased threat to places in India frequented by Westerners, such as religious sites, markets, and festival venues." Read more on this here

Q: What About Such Recruitments from the West?

A: The threat of ISIS recruitment from abroad, especially UK, has been documented by some reports and papers. As per a 2015 Guardian report, in which author Nabeelah Jaffer talked to women on what had attracted them into the lure of IS, there were an estimated 500 plus western women who had travelled to Syria to join Isis. But she said there were more sitting at their computers at home, voicing their support online.

One of the highly-discussed of a possible trafficking case from the UK is of Shamima Begum. The 24-year-old is a British-born woman who entered Syria at the age of 15 to join the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). She was a pupil at Londons Bethnal Green Academy when she and two classmates, known as the Bethnal Green trio, fled to Syria in February 2015. Begum married a fellow ISIL member 10 days after arriving and had three children, all of whom perished while they were young. According to the Daily Telegraph, Begum had earned a reputation as an enforcer among other ISIL members and had attempted to persuade other young women to join the organisation. You can read more about the case here

There are also a series based on the case, called Caliphate.

Q: What are some Other Shows, Films that Document Similar Accounts?

A: Acclaimed director Hogir Hirori directed, photographed, and edited the 2021 Swedish documentary film Sabaya. It follows a group of people who put their lives in danger to save sex slaves held captive by ISIS in Al-Hawl.

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Caliphate is a Swedish television thriller drama series. It broadcast on Sveriges Television on January 12, 2020. The plot is inspired on the true incident of the Bethnal Green trio, three young girls from London who were approached by jihad recruiters at their school in February 2015. Read about more such films here

Read all the Latest Explainers here
The movie The Kerala Story has ignited an intense political debate, with some states banning the screening of the film while some BJP-ruled states making it tax-free for viewers.

The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani. The movie is about forced religious conversion and alleges that about 32,000 women in Kerala were converted to Islam and many were sent to ISIS-ruled Syria at the pinnacle of the terror groups dominance. However, there have been objections regarding to the inaccuracy of the claim and that it spreads hate speech against Muslims.

However, the filmmakers have rejected opponents claims, even though the initial description of the film from 32,000 women was changed to four women later. In an interview, actor Adah Sharma, director Sudipto Sen, and producer Vipul Shah all said that the film targets terrorists rather than the entire Muslim community," as per reports.

The threat of ISIS recruitment from abroad, especially UK, has been documented by some reports and papers. In India, the Islamic State has long sought to establish a Khorasan Caliphate". The terrorist organisation initially came to the attention of Indian intelligence authorities in 2013, when reports from Syria revealed that there were some Indians within the ranks of the IS combatants, who were then making military and territorial gains in Syria, as per a report by Indian Express. Read more on this here

As per a 2016 report in the Guardian which documented incidents of groups allegedly being recruited from Kerala by the IS, said that as per most estimations, Indias Muslim population had supplied negligible people to Isis. More have gone from Britain, even the Maldives, than from India," Vikram Sood, former chief of RAW had told the public agency at the time.

Lets look at the trafficking stories related to ISIS from other countries:

The Case of Shamima Begum

One of the highly-discussed of a possible trafficking case from the UK is of Shamima Begum. The 24-year-old is a British-born woman who entered Syria at the age of 15 to join the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). She was a pupil at Londons Bethnal Green Academy when she and two classmates, known as the Bethnal Green trio, fled to Syria in February 2015. Begum married a fellow ISIL member 10 days after arriving and had three children, all of whom perished while they were young. According to the Daily Telegraph, Begum had earned a reputation as an enforcer among other ISIL members and had attempted to persuade other young women to join the organisation.

Begum was discovered alive in the Al-Hawl refugee camp in Northern Syria by war writer Anthony Loyd in February 2019. Sajid Javid, the British Home Secretary, revoked her British citizenship the next day. Begum will never be allowed to return to the UK, Javid had stated. The Court of Appeal concluded in July 2020 that Begum should be allowed to return to the UK in order to properly fight the Home Secretarys decision by instructing attorneys.

This verdict was appealed to the UK Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously against her on February 26, 2021, overturning the Court of Appeals decision and preventing her return. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission concluded in February 2023 that Javids move to revoke Begums British citizenship was lawful on grounds of national security.

Despite the decision, the decision was damaging for the government, as per a report by Independent.

ISIS Recruitment

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) established credible suspicion" that she was trafficked to Syria at the age of 15 to be sexually exploited by Isis fighters.

The court also decided that the UKs protective duties" may have been breached when Begums school, police, and local council failed to prevent her from travelling to Isis-controlled territory after one of her companions did so.

Justice Jay expressed worry that MI5 had understated the significance of radicalisation and grooming," whilst accepting that what occurred to Begum was not unusual." According to the court, reasonable people will profoundly disagree" with Sajid Javids decision to strip Begum of her British citizenship in 2019.

But he concluded that the move was not unlawful, because it was in the then-home secretarys power to decide what is in the public interest, the report said.

In the commissions opinion, there is a credible suspicion that Ms Begum was recruited, transferred and then harboured for the purpose of sexual exploitation. She was a child at the time, the ruling had said. It pointed to Home Office documents recognising that female Isis recruits, including children, were married off to act as brides for Isis fighters and give birth to the next generation in the terrorist groups caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

According to one UK parliamentary investigation, as per a 2022 Guardian report, there is compelling evidence" that British women and children presently incarcerated in camps in north-east Syria were transported there against their will. The research aimed to exposes how systemic failures by UK public organisations enabled Islamic State (IS) trafficking of vulnerable women and children as young as 12. Around 20 British families are still being held in camps in north-east Syria, primarily by Kurdish-dominated militias.

According to investigations conducted by the non-governmental organisation Reprieve, the majority of the British women detained are victims of trafficking, based on evidence that they were subjected to sexual and other forms of exploitation and were either transported to Syria as children, coerced into travelling to Syria, or kept and moved within Syria against their will, the report says.

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As per a 2015 Guardian report, in which author Nabeelah Jaffer talked to women on what had attracted them into the lure of IS, there were an estimated 500 plus western women who had travelled to Syria to join Isis. But she said there were more sitting at their computers at home, voicing their support online.

Read all the Latest Explainers here
The Kerala High Court expressed deep shock and anguish over the devastating boat accident that occurred in the Tanur area of Malappuram district, resulting in the tragic loss of 22 lives, including 15 innocent children.

Terming the incident as shocking" and haunting," the court took the initiative to launch a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to investigate why the authorities allegedly allowed the operation of the vessel in violation of regulations.

A bench comprising of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Shoba Annamma Eapen conveyed their profound grief, mentioning that their hearts were deeply pained, and they had experienced sleepless nights upon witnessing the lifeless bodies of the children.

The court attributed the cause of the accident to a combination of callousness, greed, and official apathy," labeling it a deadly cocktail. This compelled the court to take suo motu action and initiate the PIL, with the primary objective of preventing such tragic incidents from recurring in the future.

In a new development, the boat owner, Nasar, has been charged with murder under Section 302 in connection with the accident. Authorities are actively searching for other workers who were associated with the boat to ascertain their involvement.

Drawing attention to the alarming frequency of boating accidents in the state, the bench emphasized that this issue has been a matter of concern since 1924 when Kerala lost the renowned poet Mahakavi Kumaranasan in a boat sinking incident between Kollam and Kottayam at Palana.

The ill-fated boat capsized near the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur area at approximately 7.30 pm on Sunday. District officials reported that among the 22 victims, 15 were minors aged between eight months and 17 years. The boat was carrying a total of 37 individuals when the tragedy struck.

The Kerala High Courts proactive approach through the PIL reflects its firm determination to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and ensure stringent measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Boat Tragedy: Kerala Police Constitutes Special Investigation Team

The Kerala police on Tuesday constituted a special investigation team to probe the tragic boat mishap. State police chief Anil Kant issued an order entrusting Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das S with heading the team, an official statement said.

Tanur DYSP V V Benny, Tanur station house officer Jeevan George and Kondotty ASP Vijay Bharat Reddy are the other members of the special investigation team.

The probe would be held under the direct supervision of Neeraj Kumar Gupta, IG, North Zone, it said.

The DGP directed to complete the probe and submit the report at the earliest, the statement added.

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While announcing a judicial probe into the tragedy on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also said that a special investigation team of the Kerala police would also probe the matter.

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Get high on drugs, watch porn and then walk several kilometres to find his target for sexual assault  this was the horrific routine of a man who was recently convicted by a Delhi court.

Ravinder Kumar, who worked as a labourer in Delhis Karala before his arrest, targeted around 30 children between 2008 and 2015.

According to police, he used to lure kids in the dark with money or sweets when their parents, most of them labourers, went to sleep in their jhuggis. He used to assault minors at an isolated place and kill most of them due to fear of getting caught, Times of India reported.

The court, which has convicted him in one case, will pronounce the quantum of sentence in two weeks time.

Kumar was arrested in 2015 in a murder case of a six-year-old. During his interrogation, the police also rescued a minor boy, who was sodomised by Kumar, from Delhis Begumpur area.

The 32-year-old has confessed to several of his crimes and also took the police to places where he committed sexual assault.

Retired ACP Jagminder Singh Dahiya, who was posted as an inspector at Begumpur police station, arrested Kumar in 2015. He revealed that Kumar is a paedophile and a necrophile as well. Dahiya told TOI that the serial offender killed the girls who proved difficult to control before the sexual assault.

Explaining his modus operandi, Dahiya said Kumar used to visit construction sites after sunset for his target. He kidnapped kids from shanties and raped them in abandoned buildings or isolated places, the retired ACP said.

After consuming alcohol or drugs, Kumar had no control over himself and searched for kids after sunset to fulfil his lust, claimed Dahiya.

Since many of the victims were from rural areas and economically weaker sections, Kumar managed to escape the police net for so long.

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Not only Delhi, Dahiya said Kumar committed crimes in Badaun, Hathras and Aligarh as well. To reduce the chances of getting caught, Kumar mostly walked and took buses to reach other states.

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Top officials, including Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, will convene in Srinagar to conduct a comprehensive review of the security and law and order conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting aims to assess the current security scenario and address potential threats, particularly in light of the upcoming G20 meeting near Dal Lake from the 22nd to the 24th of this month.

In addition to evaluating security arrangements for the G20 summit, the meeting will also focus on preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin in July. The coordination and collaboration among security forces and agencies will be a key aspect of the discussions.

Incidents in Poonch, including the recent attack on security forces, will be a significant topic on the agenda. Key officials from the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Intelligence Bureau, and other relevant entities will provide valuable insights during the meeting.

In response to potential threats posed by terrorist organizations, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified security measures. Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and a National Security Guard (NSG) team have been deployed to counter any potential risks during the G20 meeting in Srinagar.

Intelligence officials have cautioned against possible sensational attacks during high-profile events, with a specific focus on targeting security forces in the Jammu region. The meeting will address these concerns and work towards ensuring the safety and security of the region.

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The meeting serves as a crucial platform for senior officials to strategize and reinforce measures to protect Jammu and Kashmir during significant events and maintain a stable law and order situation in the region.

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Madhya Pradesh Khargone bus accident: At least 22 people were killed, while around 20 others were injured after a private bus fell off a bridge in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone on Tuesday morning. The bus was en route to Indore when it skidded off the bridge and fell beneath.

The incident took place at 8.40 am. The bus broke the railings of the Dasanga bridge and fell on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said.

The vehicle was carrying around 50 passengers when it met with the accident, a police official said.

Twenty-two people were killed in the accident, Mishra said.

The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital in Khargone.

The police were conducting a probe into the incident, he added.

Following the accident, the Madhya Pradesh government announced immediate ex gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased.

The government also announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the Khargone bus accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the loss of lives in the road accident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.

After the bus fell from the bridge, some villagers rushed to the spot. They pulled out people trapped inside the bus from the windows and backside of the vehicle, as per eyewitnesses.

Locals were also seen carrying people and offering water to the harried passengers amid the hot weather, they said.

Khargone Collector Shivraj Singh Verma, Superintendent of Police Dharamvir Singh and local MLA Ravi Joshi were among those who reached the spot soon after getting information about the accident.

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Former Union minister Arun Yadav, who belongs to Khargone, also expressed grief over the incident.

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At least 60 people have been killed and 231 others injured while 1,700 houses have been burned down in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3, according to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. However, the situation across the violence-hit state is now improving, with no fresh reports of any untoward incident in the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

Owing to the improving situation, curfew has been relaxed in all the 11 districts where it was clamped. The situation is improving all over the state, with no reports of violence in the last 24 hours The curfew has been relaxed for four hours in Imphal West and Imphal East from 5 am today. Similar relaxation is being provided in the other nine affected districts, a senior official said.

So far, 23,000 people have been rescued from the violence-hit areas and moved to military garrisons, officials said.

Meanwhile, heart-wrenching scenes could still be witnessed at the Imphal airport which is overcrowded with passengers young and old, many of them ailing and wailing, eager to flee from Manipur which has been shaken by violence since last week.

Patients with catheters just out of ICU, newborn and premature babies with mothers, women with advanced pregnancy, bed-ridden cancer patients, some with bullet injuries, besides people with worry writ large on their faces  all thronged the airport in the past few days to take flights for places outside the state as soon as possible, officials said on Tuesday.

Manipur Violence Latest Updates

Manipur Violence- The clashes broke out on Wednesday after tribals organised a demonstration in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 60 people.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals  Nagas and Kukis  constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.

People Stranded At Airport-Close to 2,000 passengers are stranded at the premises of the airport, the terminal building of which can handle only 750 passengers - 250 for arrival and 500 for departure - at a time.

Airline companies have put in additional flights to take the passengers, with their queue getting longer gradually as the ethnic violence broke out a few days ago and army men have to be deployed.

Doctors of the airport, employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and staff of different airlines have been working hand in hand round the clock to make the distressed people a bit comfortable. The AAI has also been providing all stranded people with food and water.

The airport now is being run with bare minimum support. Since all shops are closed outside the facility, the AAI officials in Imphal had sent SOS messages to nearby airports such as Guwahati, Agartala and Dibrugarh to get supplies  food, water, essential medicines and others for both staff and passengers, another official said.

A special ticket counter has been opened at the airport. A Local Area Network (LAN) network is being used for the purpose as internet services have been suspended since last week in the state, said the officials who refused to be identified for fear of getting targeted.

Sources at the airport said that the gates of the airport have been attacked twice by the rioters but they could not succeed in entering.

An employee said that his colleagues and officers have been staying on the airport premises since the violence broke out.

Curfew Relaxed in Imphal, CM Thanks Shah for Support  The curfew, imposed on Wednesday after the violence broke out, was relaxed from 5 am to 8 am in Imphal West district to allow people buy essential items. People came out in large numbers to buy vegetables, groceries and medicines.

However, drones and helicopters continued a close watch, while personnel of the Army and Assam Rifles held flag marches in different areas that have been rocked by ethnic violence over the last few days.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh said he was thankful to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his supervision and support to help improve the situation in the violence-hit state.

I have been constantly in touch with the office of the Home Minister to monitor the situation and ensure that no further violence takes place in the state," he said.

The paramilitary and state forces have been doing an exemplary job in controlling the violence and bringing the state back to normalcy. I also appreciate the people of the state for their cooperation," he added.

Over 300 Students from Meghalaya Brought Evacuated- Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said more than 300 students from the state, who were stranded in violence-hit Manipur, were brought back in the last few days.

Sangma also said his government had on Monday arranged for a special flight on the Imphal-Shillong route to evacuate students stuck in the trouble-torn state.

Himachal Evacuate 5 Students Stranded in Manipur- Showing his humane side, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu spent Rs 60,000 from his own pocket for the evacuation of five local students stuck in violence-hit Manipur.

A state government spokesperson here said on Monday that the Chief Minister immediately responded to an urgent text message by a stuck student and came up with Rs 60,000 for the students evacuation back home.

25 Maha Students Stuck in Manipur Strife Reach Mumbai Safely-A total of 25 students from Maharashtra, who were stuck in the strife-torn northeastern state of Manipur, reached Mumbai via Guwahati by a special flight, officials said on Monday.

Bihar Sending Special Aircraft to Airlift Students Trapped in Manipur-Amid the violence in Manipur, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday ordered a special aircraft be sent to Imphal to airlift students from the state there.

He has directed the Resident Commissioner of Bihar in New Delhi and the state Chief Secretary to make arrangements for the rescue operation.

The Bihar government will send an Indigo aircraft to Imphal airport on Tuesday to ferry back the students.

Manipur Gets New Chief Secretary- Amid the ethnic violence that has impacted normal lives in the state, the Manipur government appointed Vineet Joshi as the new chief secretary of the state, replacing Rajesh Kumar, who was given a 6-month extension in December last year, officials said here on Monday.

Joshi, a 1992-batch IAS officer, was on central deputation, and served as the additional secretary of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.

A Manipur government official on the condition of anonymity said that Joshi was appointed the Chief Secretary, superseding several senior IAS officers.

He was entrusted to supervise the overall law and order situation and deployment of the Army, and central para-military forces.

Amit Shahs Visit to Assam Postponed due to Manipur Violence- In the wake of Manipur violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Assam scheduled on May 11 has been postponed, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.

Shah was supposed to attend a grand celebration of two years of completion of the Sarma-led government in Assam on Thursday.

However, the visit has been rescheduled to May 26, said Sarma.

Cong Slams Centre Over Manipur Violence- The Congress on Tuesday said the Centre cannot escape its responsibility over the violence in Manipur.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, while citing a report quoting the chief justice of India said, In light of what the CJI has said its astonishing what a single judge of Manipur High Court didtriggering such a human tragedy!".

But the ideological brotherhood, its henchman in Manipur, and his masters at the Centre cannot escape their responsibility," Ramesh said on Twitter.

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He cited a news report that quoted the CJI saying the the high court does not have power to direct changes in Scheduled Tribes list and asked why a Constitution Bench verdict of 2000 noting that courts do not have power to add or subtract the ST List was not shown to the Manipur High Court.

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A state-run school in Tamil Nadus Namakkal district, with an outstanding overall pass percentage of 94% in the Class 12 board exam, has another reason to celebrate the board exam results. The reason is G Shreya, a meritorious transgender student who passed the exams with flying colours

Teachers and management of Krishnaveni Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Namakkals Pallipalayam congratulated Shreya, who managed to score 337 out of 600 in the Commerce stream.

Shreya, 21, is the only transgender student who sat for the Class 12 board exam this year.

Speaking to News18, Shreya expressed her desire for the transgender community to excel in the field of education.

I am proud to have qualified intermediate studies. This would not have been possible without the guidance of my headmistress, parents and friends. I hope that my performance boosts the transgender communitys pride, Shreya said.

All transgender people should study and try to get an education," she added.

Shreyas headmistress, on the other hand, said she would have scored even better grades if it werent for her health.

If Shreya hadnt fallen ill before the exam, she would have secured more than 400 marks. We feel proud that she was able to achieve decent grades despite the illness. Her success has brought pride to our school and district, she added.

Further, she stated that Shreya attended boys school up till Class 10, and before enrolling in their school in Class 11, she underwent surgery for transition. The fact that everyone at the school, including other students, treated her just like any other girl allowed Shreya to concentrate on her schoolwork, Saraswathi continued," the headmistress added.

Shreya, whose mother is a daily-wage worker, also urged the state government to provide her with financial aid so that she would fulfil her ambitions. Her goal is to become a marine engineer.

When I was in sixth grade, I realized the feminity in me. The idea of being accepted if I attended school affected me the most. After completing my tenth grade, it took me 4 years to get back to my mother. Later, when I went to school in a uniform and with double braids like the other girls, the feeling hit me so differently," Shreya told about her journey.

My father left us seven years ago and my mother is the sole breadwinner, who does a weaver job, working around 15 hours a day to meet our expenses. My physical health suffered as the exams for Class 12 drew near. Though it was a harder phase, without the support of my mother and school management, this wouldnt be possible, Shreya added.

The first transgender woman to pass class 12 exams was Tharika Banu in 2017.

Meanwhile, according to the state prison administration of Tamil Nadu, about 77 out of the 88 prisoners who took the Class 12 exams passed.

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At least 88 prisoners, including five women, from several state-wide special prisons for women and central prisons have taken the Class 12 exams in the academic year 2022-23. It is noteworthy that a total of 86.52 per cent of students have passed the board exam.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Gwayi-Shangani Dam should start holding water next month if at all it rains by that time, a senior government official has said.In an interview last week, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Richard Moyo told Southern Eye that the dam will only be fill up if heavy rains are received in its catchment area."This year June, the dam will hold water," Moyo said.The dam's construction, to cost approximately US$121,7 million, was delayed for several decades due to funding constraints.The project - part of an ambitious plan to pipe water from the mighty Zambezi River, which is 452 kilometres from Bulawayo - was mooted in 1912, but was abandoned by successive governments due to the huge costs involved.Earlier this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commended the progress made in the construction of the dam citing it as one of his government's milestones.The dam is being constructed by a Chinese contractor under the supervision of the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.Mnangagwa said the dam's construction fulfilled the government's policy of living no one and no place behind.Many hope that its completion will ensure reliable water supply to the City of Bulawayo which has faced perennial water challenges.
It is a good day for house hunters who are looking to rent a space in Mumbai as the police have made the process hassle-free for you.

The Mumbai police on Tuesday issues an order making police No Objection Certificate non-mandatory to rent out a flat or an apartment.

Earlier, it was necessary to obtain a NOC to rent a house and upload the details of the potential tenant on a dedicated portal for the police.

Notably, while the NOC is no longer required, landlords or flat owners are still required to provide necessary details about their tenants for police records. Here are the guidelines that one needs to follow:

In a public notification, the police said that the citizens can provide information about flat/house rent to Mumbai Police in the following ways -

By applying online, or

By submitting documents directly to the concerned Police Station, or

By sending the application through a registered post to the concerned police station.

The police said that online services have been provided to the citizens to furnish information to the Mumbai Police about the flat/house on rent within the limits of the Mumbai Police.

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Anyone who provides wrong or false information will be liable for legal actions.

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has admitted before a court in Nagpur that there had been an inadvertent" mistake while collating information about pending criminal cases against him due to which two criminal matters were not mentioned in his election affidavit submitted in 2014.

Fadnavis (52), in an explanatory statement submitted to Civil Judge V M Deshmukh on April 15, said there was no intention to deliberately conceal information about the two insignificant" complaint cases and their non-inclusion in the poll affidavit of Form 26 was sheer inadvertence and without any intention".

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA from Nagpur said he had asked his advocate Uday Dable to collect details about pending criminal cases ahead of Assembly elections and there seems to have been an error on the advocates part in the collation of the required information.

Dable also submitted a statement to the court, stating he had made an inadvertent mistake and Fadnavis had trusted him and signed the election affidavit.

The court was hearing a complaint, seeking criminal proceedings against Fadnavis for not disclosing two criminal cases in his poll affidavit.

Fadnavis, in his statement, said when elections for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly were declared in 2014, he was the state BJP president and was shouldering the responsibility of overseeing electioneering in all constituencies (numbering 288) of the state.

I say that Uday Dable is my local lawyer and I had asked him to collect information about pending criminal cases against me to be mentioned in my nomination form. It appears that the collation of information inadvertently left out two complaint cases and therefore only 22 criminal cases were mentioned in the affidavit, the statement said.

I say that there was no intention to deliberately conceal information about the two insignificant complaint cases and their non-inclusion in the affidavit of Form 26 was sheer inadvertence and without any intention, it added.

The deputy chief minister, elected from the Nagpur South West Assembly constituency, further claimed he has mentioned cases of a more severe nature in his election affidavit.

The BJP leader maintained he has been a sitting member of the Assembly since 1999 and has won by a huge margin each time.

I, therefore, most respectfully say that I had no reason to conceal any information in my nomination paper or the documents accompanying it, Fadnavis said in the statement.

Advocate Dable reiterated he had made an inadvertent mistake while collating information about the number of criminal cases pending against Fadnavis.

In his statement, the advocate claimed while filling the form he had mentioned 22 pending criminal cases against Fadnavis, but missed out on two pending matters.

Dable said since he handles all criminal cases of Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister had trusted him and signed the election affidavit.

There was no intention to hide the cases either by me or Fadnavis," Dable said in the statement.

The statements were taken on record by the court and the matter has been kept for hearing on June 7.

The court was hearing the complaint by Satish Uke, an advocate, seeking criminal proceedings against Fadnavis alleging cases of cheating and forgery had been registered against the BJP leader in 1996 and 1998, but he did not disclose this information in his poll affidavit during the 2014 Assembly elections.

Fadnavis had appeared before the court on April 15 to record his statement.

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Uke is currently in jail after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of money laundering.

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Punjab Police Tuesday launched a two-day special checking operation against anti-social elements across the state, said a top police officer.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the operation is a multi-pronged checking and area domination was being carried out across the state.

Additional director general of police rank officers, inspector generals and others are supervising the operation, Yadav said while speaking to reporters in Ludhiana.

The operation vigil is being conducted at bus stands, markets, railway stations and other public places, he said.

Early morning sarai and hotels will be checked. In various phases, this operation will be undertaken in two days  today and tomorrow, the DGP said.

The main aim behind this operation is two-fold. Firstly, to take action against anti-social elements and secondly to build confidence in the public, Yadav said. We have seen in surprise checking that recoveries are made. Earlier, special DGP Arpit Shukla said that with a focus on curbing drug trafficking, anti-social elements and criminal activities, police will be conducting intensive checks, flag marches and strategic deployments.

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Strengthening our resolve to combat crime and ensure public safety, Punjab Police launches statewide OPS Vigil in all 28 districts led by senior rank officers, Shukla said in a tweet.

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India has a rich legacy of traditional crafts, art, and design and with time, creative sensibilities have evolved to become increasingly contemporary and interpretive. Three dynamic women entrepreneurs perfectly exemplify the direction that Indian design is taking currently. Wedding designer Ambika Gupta, fashion designer Anita Dongre, and interior designer Shabnam Gupta have broken away from normative idioms to express their creativity fearlessly and have achieved success on their own terms.

Ambika Gupta

Luxe-event and wedding designer Ambika Gupta is the founder of multiple award-winning firm A-Cube Project and is known for creating unforgettable wedding stories for celebrities such as Kajal Aggarwal and Gautam Kitchlu, Nikki Galrani and Aadhi Pinisetty & Alanna Panday and Ivor McCray. Ambika founded her company in Chennai in 2012 and today is known to create one-of-a-kind design narratives, be it a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the floating flower markets of Dal Lake, the artisanship of Kutch, the art of Van Gogh and Claude Monet, a sun-drenched Italian farmers market or a star-speckled cosmos. She has also worked on destination weddings in Belgrade and Bahrain and what sets her apart is the way she delves deep into local and global artistic and cultural references. She personalizes weddings, be they elaborate or intimate, and is also pioneering collaborative efforts with NGOs and small businesses keeping in mind the concept of sustainability and eco-sensitivity in wedding design. Trained as a master florist in London and Berlin, Ambika today is a multifaceted success story. She is a TEDx speaker and in 2020, won the Young Woman Achiever of the Year Award at The Economic Times Business Leader of the Year Award ceremony.

Anita Dongre

Fashion pioneer Anita Dongres credo of sustainable and yet luxurious fashion reflects her own-rooted and aspirational success story which started with just two sewing machines. Her signature blend of traditional textiles and crafts with modern silhouettes has won over clients like Beyonce, the Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Kim Kardashian, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Dia Mirza, Alia Bhatt, and counting. Her eponymous online label and her fashion store, House of Anita Dongre offer exquisite vegan accessories, fusion wear, wedding couture, and jewelry, and her subsidiary label Grass Roots is all about ethical fashion. Her long list of accolades includes the GR8 Flo Women Achievers Award for Excellence in Fashion Design; and the EY Entrepreneur Award in 2014, among others.

Shabnam Gupta

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Be it the late Irrfan Khans serene and artistic abode or the homes of Rani Mukerji, Raveena Tandon, and Parineeti Chopra, Shabnam Gupta is known to transform brick-and-mortar spaces into jaw-dropping interiors exuding positivity, energy, and vibrancy. Founder of the home decor and furniture store, Peacock Life by Shabnam Gupta and the design solutions firm, The Orange Lane, Shabnam is known for juxta positioning traditional and contemporary elements in her work. A rebel forever, Shabnam gave up Home Science to become a designer and inspired by the Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawas organic work, went on to stamp lifestyle stores, urban hangouts, co-working spaces, opulent manors and homes with her tactile, earthy touch. Her quirky and distinctive designs have got her many accolades including a mention in Forbes Indias list of top ten designers in 2010.

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Tea tree oil is a popular essential oil that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, native to Australia, tea tree oil has become a staple ingredient in many skincare products due to its numerous benefits for the skin. When applied topically, tea tree oil has been shown to help treat acne, soothe irritated skin, fight fungal infections, relieve skin itching, and reduce skin oiliness.

Tea Tree is unarguably one of the most popular essential oils in the beauty industry and has recently gained tremendous popularity among skincare enthusiasts. It is known for its antibacterial properties and medicinal uses for hair, facial skin, body skin, feet and even nails, says Rajat Mathur, DGM, Learning Academy, The Body Shop India.

Over the years, it has gained popularity amongst consumers, and just like any other essential oil, tea tree offers an extensive range of benefits and uses. It has been tried, tested, and clinically proven to treat infections most naturally. This property and many other natural benefits have made tea tree oil a core element in various skincare, make-up and health products. And amazingly, tea tree oil suits all skin types, which makes it inclusive in nature. Its an inexpensive natural alternative to chemical-based skin and nail treatments, personal care products, and disinfectants, among other things. Tea Tree Oil serves many purposes and is an excellent product to have on hand, adds Mathur.

Some benefits of tea tree, amongst others, are that it fights both facial and body acne, it mattifies the excess oil on T-zone, acts as a natural deodorant, works wonders as a hand- sanitiser, gets rid of nail fungus, and controls dandruff. Here are the top 5 benefits of using tea tree oil on the skin:

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Treats Acne

Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that can help fight acne-causing bacteria. It can also help reduce inflammation and redness associated with acne. Soothes Irritated Skin

Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that can help soothe and heal irritated skin. It can be particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis. Fights Fungal Infections

Tea tree oil has antifungal properties that can help fight fungal infections like athletes foot or ringworm. Relieves Skin Itching

Tea tree oils anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce skin itching caused by insect bites, allergies, or other skin conditions. Reduces Skin Oiliness

Tea tree oil can help regulate the production of sebum, the oil produced by the skin, and reduce excess oiliness, making it helpful for people with oily or combination skin.

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Located in the South Eastern province of France, Cannes is a beautiful coastal city in the French Riviera. The city is known for its sandy beaches, luxury hotels, and of course, the famous international film festival that happens every year. So, this time, when you are in Cannes, here are five things you should indulge in to make your visit unforgettable.

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Explore the old town

Cannes charming old town, also known as Le Suquet, is situated high up on a hill that overlooks the city and the sea. Walk through the narrow streets, lined with colourful houses and beautiful cafes, and soak the authentic Provencal atmosphere. If you want to add a little bit of adventure to this, try to climb up to the top of the hill to visit the 12th-century Notre-Dame de lEsperance church, which offers stunning views over the city and the Mediterranean.

Cannes charming old town, also known as Le Suquet, is situated high up on a hill that overlooks the city and the sea. Walk through the narrow streets, lined with colourful houses and beautiful cafes, and soak the authentic Provencal atmosphere. If you want to add a little bit of adventure to this, try to climb up to the top of the hill to visit the 12th-century Notre-Dame de lEsperance church, which offers stunning views over the city and the Mediterranean. Relax on the beach

This has to be the highlight of your trip! Cannes is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, which are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. The most popular beach is La Croisette, a long stretch of sand lined with chic beach clubs and restaurants for the ones who love to chill by the sea. For a more secluded experience, head to Plage du Midi, which is a quieter beach located just south of La Croisette.

This has to be the highlight of your trip! Cannes is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, which are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. The most popular beach is La Croisette, a long stretch of sand lined with chic beach clubs and restaurants for the ones who love to chill by the sea. For a more secluded experience, head to Plage du Midi, which is a quieter beach located just south of La Croisette. Attend the Cannes Film Festival

If you happen to be in the city during May, do not miss the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is considered as one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. If youre lucky enough to be in Cannes during the festival, you can watch movies, attend red carpet events, and spot celebrities from all over the world.

If you happen to be in the city during May, do not miss the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is considered as one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. If youre lucky enough to be in Cannes during the festival, you can watch movies, attend red carpet events, and spot celebrities from all over the world. Take a boat trip

The best way to explore the French Riviera is by boat. If you are in Cannes, you can take a day trip to the nearby islands of Ile Saint-Honorat and Ile Sainte-Marguerite, which is known for its stunning natural scenery, crystal-clear waters, and historical sites.

The best way to explore the French Riviera is by boat. If you are in Cannes, you can take a day trip to the nearby islands of Ile Saint-Honorat and Ile Sainte-Marguerite, which is known for its stunning natural scenery, crystal-clear waters, and historical sites. Shop and dine in style

Lastly, but the most important of them all, Cannes is known for its luxury shopping and dining options. Along the famous La Croisette, youll find high-end fashion boutiques and jewellery stores, as well as some of the best restaurants in the area. For a more hyper local experience, head to Rue Meynadier, a pedestrian street lined with bakeries, cheese shops, and market stalls selling freshly made items.

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Adipurush Trailer Release Highlights: The trailer for Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, is finally out now. The makers dropped the trailer on the official YouTube channel of T-Series this afternoon. Meanwhile, a mega launch event was organised for the same in Mumbai. Prabhas was also in the city to attend the event along with Kriti and director Om Raut.

Saif Ali Khan, who plays an antagonist in Adipurush, skipped the trailer launch event. According to reports, Saif has planned to give Adipurush promotions a miss because he will be off for his annual vacation with his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan and sons Read More
The Yogi-led Uttar Pradesh government has made The Kerala Story tax-free in state. This comes a day after the Mamata Banerjee government banned the movie in West Bengal.

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak hailed the decision and said he wants people of the state to watch the film and understand how our sisters have suffered".

Making The Kerala Story tax-free is a very good decision. I want the people of Uttar Pradesh to watch this film and understand how our sisters have suffered. We will also go and watch the film. The people in West Bengal will not accept the ban on this film," said UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak.

Makers of the film, meanwhile, have moved Supreme Court seeking removal of ban in West Bengal and asking Tamil Nadu government to provide security to theatres to screen movie.

In another development, an unidentified crew member of the movie The Kerala Story reportedly received a threatening message from an unknown number, as per Mumbai Police.

News agency ANI reported that the director of the film, Sudipto Sen, informed the police that one of the crew members had received a message from an unknown number. The message allegedly warned the recipient not to venture outside alone and implied that they had made a mistake by depicting the story in the film. Police are investigating the matter.
However, it should be noted that this is the firs time that the writers are protesting in America. In 1952, the Guild was on a strike for 14 weeks.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday levelled corruption charges against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led municipal corporations, saying that the party has ruined everything" by looting the budget.

Holding a public meeting and roadshow in Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur Nagar on the last day of campaigning for the second phase of civic body elections, Yadav sought votes for his party nominees, a party release issued here said.

The BJP is going to be defeated in these municipal elections. It has done massive corruption in municipal corporations. Lied with the people in the name of smart cities and cheated them. Not a single city of the state is fulfilling the standard of smart city," the party chief said while speaking on the occasion.

The second and final phase of the urban local body polls in UP will be held on May 11. The counting of votes will be done on May 13.

Municipal bodies are being elected for cleanliness of drains, waste management, drainage, reducing costly electricity and costly house tax, construction of roads but the BJP does not talk about public problems and public facilities," he said.

The people of BJP, however, indulged in corruption and looted the budget that came to the municipal bodies. BJP has ruined everything. Thats why the public is angry with the BJP," the SP leader added.

A lot of corruption took place in the name of cleaning Mother Ganga but Mother Ganga is not clean yet. The chief minister is saying that selfie points have been made at two places but drains are still falling into the rivers. There is a lot of bad smell in the water of the rivers and Gomti river is an example of this," he said.

BJP has stopped the work of the Gomti riverfront, Yadav alleged.

This election, BJP will also be wiped out along with the garbage, he said.

Taking a dig at Yogi Adityanath, he said the list of cases against the chief minister is very long, asking, Didnt he withdraw his own cases?" Alleging that the BJP government is only showing the dream of a smart city to the public, he said it has not done any development work in the state.

The BJP does not have a single achievement to tell the public, thats why the chief minister remembers the gun every time. If you ask any question, he speaks about pistols," Yadav said.

Adityanath has been targeting the Samajwadi Party for allegedly harbouring criminals and promoting gun culture during his election meetings.

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Yadavs roadshow started from Jajmau via KDA, Lal Bangla, Harjinder Nagar, Narora Chauraha, Phoolbagh, Birhana Road, Nayaganj, Canal Road, Ghantaghar, Sangeet, P Road, Nala Road and ended at Rupam.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo says he has taken delivery of a brand new 2023 Rolls Royce Cullinan which cost US$850 000.Chivayo has been involved in tender controversies, including a US$5.6 million tender fraud case. He was later cleared in the case.Chivayo's Intratrek company has a US$172.5 million solar project contract."Just received my BRAND NEW 2023 ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN. Normalize LUXURY in your life, SUFFERING is not an ACHIEVEMENT. Learning to remain calm when youre being disrespected is a SUPER POWER. Work hard, stay disciplined and be patient YOUR TIME will come. 850 K USD WELL SPENT," Chivayo posted.
The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Enforcement Directorate arrest Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and probe his role in the alleged liquor scam in the state.

The federal agency on Saturday arrested liquor businessman Anwar Dhebar, the brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, in connection with the alleged scam.

In its remand application filed in a special court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed that there was a massive scam" in the liquor trade in Chhattisgarh by a syndicate, comprising high-level state government officials, private persons and political executives.

It also claimed that the scam generated corruption money of more than Rs 2,000 crore between 2019-22.

Such a massive scam is not possible without a nexus from bottom to top. To run such a syndicate, the blessings of a big political leader are required. The pattern of the scam directly points fingers at the chief minister of the state," Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said at a press conference on Monday.

The role of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Baghel in the scam should be probed, he said, adding that we demand the chief minister be arrested and interrogated".

Bharadwaj also demanded that the ED question Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with the case.

Rahul Gandhi should also be interrogated as the Chhattisgarh chief minister is so close to him," the AAP leader said, alleging, It is not possible that Rahul Gandhi is not aware of such a big scam happening under his nose." Asked why the AAP was attacking the Congress on the issue, days after it extend support to efforts being made to forge an opposition unity against the BJP, Bharadwaj said that people from the Congress have only told us that one should not be scared of facing probe".

Congress leader Ajay Maken has been attacking the AAP over the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam and Rs 45-crore expenditure on the renovation of the official bungalow of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the AAPs national convener.

Maken, a former Delhi Congress chief, had last month launched a scathing attack on Kejriwal, saying that individuals such as him and his associates who face serious corruption charges" should not be shown any sympathy or support.

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The stance by Maken was at variance with his partys central leadership as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had telephoned Kejriwal a day ago after the AAP national convenor was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

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Expressing concern over the current situation in violence-hit Manipur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the BJP government is not providing a clear picture of the death toll in the northeastern state where shoot-at-sight orders are in force.

She also lashed out at the BJP government at the Centre for not sending a single representative to Manipur to review the situation.

Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke anything about what has happened to that BJP-ruled state, the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

I am quite tense with the situation in Manipur. We are not getting a clear picture of the number of deaths in shoot-at-sight (order) as the state government is not giving any information. I am really shocked, Banerjee said.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, however, said later that 60 people have lost their lives in the ethnic riots.

Manipur violence is a man-made problem, Banerjee claimed.

Attacking the BJP-led central government, she alleged that Shah is so busy with the Karnataka assembly elections that could not get one day to visit Manipur, though they have helicopters and planes of the defence forces.

Manipur is burning. But no one is talking about it. Elections may come and go, but peoples lives come first. BJP is not as busy with Manipur as it is with polls. He (Shah) could have spared a day and gone to Manipur. He could have come to Bengal later, she stated.

Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal on Tuesday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Banerjee also said that 25 people including 18 students from the state, who were stranded in Manipur, were brought back on Monday morning.

These students were pursuing BSc, MSc and PhD courses at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, she said, adding that the cost of the travel was borne by the state government.

Banerjee said that 68 students from West Bengal are still stuck in Manipur and several people from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan are being provided with transit accommodation by her government.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.

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Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals  Nagas and Kukis  constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.

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Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Monday criticised the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for not addressing the miserable hygiene and sanitary conditions" that he had flagged at the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant almost two months ago.

Reacting to it, the Delhi government alleged that the LG was trying to divert attention from the illegal sand mining in Haryana and the dumping of industrial waste in the Yamuna river in the neighbouring state.

Delhi gets around 40 per cent raw water from the Yamuna through Haryana and the rest from the Ganga from Uttar Pradesh and Bhakra Nangal from Punjab.

The Wazirabad Barrage on the Yamuna in north Delhi is the primary holding area where raw water is lifted for the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants.

According to a note issued by the LG Office, the DJB submitted a report to the chief secretary on April 6 without addressing the issue of water quality being supplied from the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants.

It said the utility did not submit a plan for the desilting of the pondage area supplying raw water to these treatment plants, nor did it detail any action it intends to take against erring officials.

The shortcomings and directions mentioned in my note have not been addressed in true letter and spirit. Despite my clear direction to expedite de-silting/cleaning of the pondage area at the Wazirabad Barrage, the timelines drawn not only reflect lack of urgency, it also does not fix accountability upon those concerned, the note quoted the LG as saying.

In a fresh note to the chief secretary, the LG said, It is again emphasised that providing potable drinking water of adequate standard to the citizens of Delhi is the foremost responsibility of the DJB, which should never be compromised. Any dereliction in this regard should be immediately identified and exemplary action initiated against the erring officers/officials.

However, from the conclusions, suggestions and actions proposed in the instant report, it is discerned that my concerns have not received the expected response. The reasoning adduced in respect of the grave lapses observed during my inspection are unacceptable, he said.

Lt Governor Saxena said major" penalty proceedings are required to be initiated against all the officers named in the report submitted by the DJB.

The role of other officers should be re-examined to ascertain any negligence on their part and action should be taken, he said, asking the DJB to furnish an action taken report (ATR) within 15 days.

Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the LG should explain why he hasnt acted against the principal secretary, finance, who has been sitting on the DJBs funds for months.

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The LG is trying to divert attention from Haryanas illegal sand mining and industrial waste dumping in the Yamuna. He is resorting to low-level politics on a sensitive matter like drinking water supply, Bharadwaj alleged.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday met his Odisha counterpart and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.

The two Chief Ministers engaged in discussions on various issues during their hour-long meeting over lunch. However, the leaders dismissed speculations about any political alliance.

Addressing the media, CM Patnaik said, I am glad that Nitishji is in Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and we discussed several issues. We have decided to grant 1.5 acres of land in Puri free of cost to the Bihar government for a guest house, so pilgrims and tourists from Bihar can stay there. Ours is a known friendship, and we were colleagues many years ago. No discussion was held on any alliances."

Kumar stated, I came here to meet my old friend. I have been close to his father Biju Patnaik, and we are close friends. I am happy to meet Naveen Babu after a long time.

The Bihar CM has been meeting several opposition leaders to unite them against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Last month, the chief minister of Bihar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, CPIs D Raja, and CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury.

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Kumar would also meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar his visit to Mumbai on May 11.

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Adding to a sea of comments on the movie The Kerala Story, BJP MP Pragya Thakur said forceful conversions of Hindus in the name of love-jihad is also the story of Bhopal, and the film is a must watch for every Hindu woman.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Thakur said that the story of the movie is not just true for Kerala, but also for Bhopal.

In the name of love-jihad, women are being trapped and they have to go through bad things, and people should get awareness of this, even if through the medium of cinema," Thakur said in a video posted by news agency ANI.

Every Hindu women, every girl should see this movie, so that they can protect themselves, their families as well as their children," she added.

#WATCH | This (conversion & love-jihad) is happening not only in Kerala but also in Bhopal, MP. Every Hindu woman should see this film. As per a conspiracy sponsored by Pakistan and other countries, the Hindu women & men are converted and made to stand against the country: pic.twitter.com/3ryreocudW ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) May 9, 2023

Thakur highlighted that the disgusting conspiracy" of love-jihad is being sponsored by nations like Pakistan and the hidden traitors in India."

She also said that not just women, but Hindu men also goes through this torture."

The Kerala Story row

This comes as the movie, directed by Sudipto Sen, has triggered an intense debate and a political row, with the BJP coming out in its support, and the Opposition parties like CPI(M), Congress calling it a propaganda.

Also Read | The Truth Behind Claims of The Kerala Story: An ISIS Threat | Explained

The movie is about forced religious conversion and alleges that about 32,000 women in Kerala were converted to Islam and many were sent to ISIS-ruled Syria at the pinnacle of the terror groups dominance.

However, there have been objections regarding to the inaccuracy of the claim and that it spreads hate speech against Muslims.

Tax-free screening vs bans

Her comments come as Uttar Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that the state will make The Kerala Story tax-free. The announcement comes days after the Madhya Pradesh government said it will give tax-free status to the film in the state.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday had ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the film in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, a senior state government official said.

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Slamming Rajasthan Chief Minister and his party colleague Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday said Gehlots leader seems to be BJPs Vasundhara Raje and not Sonia Gandhi.

The attack by Sachin Pilot comes two days after Ashok Gehlot at a rally in Dholpur praised" BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, saying that she helped in saving his government during the 2020 Sachin Pilot revolt period.

Reacting to this, Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said, After listening to Ashok Gehlots speech in Dholpur, it seems like his leader is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje Scindia."

#WATCH | After listening to Ashok Gehlot's speech in Dholpur, it seems like his leader is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje Scindia: Congress MLA Sachin Pilot pic.twitter.com/Cs6KoMpsbh ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

I have now understood why the CM [Ashok Gehlot] has not acted against corruption," Sachin Pilot said, adding that for the first time he was seeing someone criticise MPs and MLAs of their own party and praise leaders from BJP

For the first time, I am seeing someone criticise MPs and MLAs of their own party. Praising leaders from BJP and dishonoring Congress leaders is beyond my understanding, this is absolutely wrong," Rajasthan MLA Sachin Pilot said.

Raje, however, on Monday had dismissed Gehlots remark, calling it a conspiracy" and also slammed him for accusing Amit Shah of dirty politics.

Gehlot had also accused Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah of political play, adding that he along with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired to topple his government.

The feud between Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot is well known and saw an ugly phase when CM Gehlot accused Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Pilot of conniving to topple his government in 2020.

Since then, Rajasthan Congress has seen several bouts of the never-ending Pilot vs Gehlot tussle.

Sachin Pilot on Tuesday also announced that he will be holding a Jan Sangharsh Padyatra on May 11 from Ajmer towards Jaipur and raise corruption and other issues concerning the youth.

I believe the right decisions are only taken when we have peoples support," Sachin Pilot said.

Last month also, Sachin Pilot had announced he would sit on hunger strike against the Ashok Gehlot-led government in the state, demanding an investigation against scams in the previous Vasundhara Raje government.

Addressing a press conference on April 9, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said he appealed to CM Gehlot to act on the allegations against the previous Vasundhara Raje government but got no response.

Pilot said he and Gehlot levelled those allegations against the government of Vasundhara Raje together, adding that he levelled some charges as the then president of the state unit of the party. I do not believe in revenge politics. But we had some credibility as the opposition and thats why we came to the power," Sachin Pilot had said while announcing a one-day hunger strike on April 11.

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May 2, 2023: This is a date Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and workers wont forget in their lives. Because, on that day, they heard and saw the unexpected  the supreme leader of their party resigning as the National Chief.

The announcement came as a shocker for the party and its cadre. The quitting of a leader, who is the architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and was seen making efforts to get all anti-Bharatiya Janata Party parties on one national platform, from the highest position of the party was not acceptable to party workers who later protested against the decision and forced him to rescind it.

ALSO READ | Pawar-ful Messages from the Boss Move: The Impact of the Resignation Saga on the NCP

From a political angle, the move is a story of how Pawar killed several birds with one stone.

PICTURE PERFECT

Lets play back the day Pawar resigned. After the announcement, leaders and party workers gheraoed him to convince him to change his decision. Visually, it was picture perfect frame for the NCP  the top brass of the party around Pawar. This shows how Pawar again established his control over the party.

MVA, BJP & THACKERAY

After the debacle of the MVA, there were unconfirmed reports about how the BJP is keen to have another partner to win maximum Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Somehow, the BJP doesnt have the confidence in Eknath Shindes Sena, which is still struggling to establish its roots in the state, except Thane. There was a feeling in the MVA that post the split in the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackerays camp will become weaker, but it didnt turn out that way. Rather, Thackeray started getting good emotional support from people. Thackeray and his leaders hit the roads and gained the confidence of people. This didnt go really well within the NCP, because, henceforth, if the MVA comes back to power and wins maximum seats, Thackeray will claim the post of Chief Minister, which is not acceptable to a group of leaders from the NCP. Hence one camp of the NCP, which was in touch with the BJP for a possible tie-up, had approached NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who enjoys a powerful position in the party.

ALSO READ | Pawars that Be? Supriya Sule Should Be Made NCP Chief, Ajit Can Handle Maha: Chhagan Bhujbal

Ajit Pawar, who already has that dark spot of the 2019 early morning swearing-in with Devendra Fadnavis, asked the group to approach Sharad Pawar with their proposal to join hands with the BJP. It was a shock for Pawar to see party leaders coming to him with this proposal. Pawar straightway denied their proposal, but he was aware of what was brewing.

Hence came the next challenge or curbing it.

NO SPLIT

People leaving or joining the party is not a new scenario for Pawar, but not allowing his party to split the Shiv Sena way was a task. With his resignation, he has showed everyone that he still enjoys supremacy in the party, He sent a direct message to leaders who had packed their bags to join the BJP and also indicated to the BJP not to use the strategy they used for the Shiv Sena.

Pawar had admitted that he didnt think about his party workers before taking the decision of resignation, as they may not have allowed it. Ultimately, he took it back due to the pressure from party workers.

COMING UP NEXT

In the coming future, Pawar may distribute the power between his daughter Supriya Sule and nephew Ajit. Sule may get the national responsibility and Ajit may get the responsibility of the state. But from the example of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), it is evident that leaders who have got control over the state, have control over the party. Despite Pawar declining the request of groups of leaders to join hands with the BJP, ahead of the upcoming general elections, some may turn coats at the last moment due the fear of the Central agencies.

With his resignation saga, Pawar has created space in the hearts and minds of young party workers again, with a clear agenda to fight the BJP head-on. Pawar has now got the confidence that the young brigade of his party is with him, which has boosted his energy levels.

He has started his tours of rural Maharashtra and is making speeches against the BJP. The Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana criticised Pawar for failing to groom the next generation of leadership.

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The message which Pawar gave in one of the partys functions in Mumbai, a few days before his resignation, that time has come to turn the bread was clearly not an indication of his resignation, but was for those leaders who have kept their bags ready to board the other bus.

Read all the Latest Politics News and Karnataka Elections 2023 updates here
GSMA, the organiser of tech industrys flagship event Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, has been fined 200,000 euros (about $224,000) by Spains data protection watchdog over the biometric data collection of attendees in its 2021 event

Spanish agency AEPD dismissed an appeal by the GSMA against the infringement finding, saying the MWC organiser infringed Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)" which deals with requirements for carrying out a data protection impact assessment (DPIA), reports TechCrunch.

The GDPR legislation requires that a DPIA is carried out proactively in situations where processing peoples data carries a high risk to individuals rights and freedoms".

GSMA had a facial recognition system in place at the 2021 event, called BREEZZ, which offered attendees the option of using automated identity verification to enter the venue in person.

Only 20,000 people attended MWC 2021 in person (17,462 to be precise) as per GSMA disclosures to the AEPD, as the event happened in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

About 7,585 used the facial recognition system BREEZZ to access the venue. The majority of the attendees opted for the alternative of manual checks of their ID documents. The GSMA had also offered virtual streaming of the event and no ID checks were required.

Several major tech companies had skipped MWC 2021 over Covid concerns.

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MWC Barcelona is an annual trade show organised by GSMA, dedicated primarily to the mobile communications industry. Its annual attendance is generally around 100,000 people, while mobile phone manufacturers often use the conference to unveil upcoming devices.

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Chinese smartphone brand Poco is set to launch its F5 series of smartphones today. The series will include two models - Poco F5 5G and Poco F5 Pro, which will be unveiled globally. The launch event is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM and can be live-streamed on the companys YouTube channel. Interested viewers can live stream the event on the companys YouTube channel.

Get ready to #IgniteYourHyperpower with our latest #POCOF5Pro & #POCOF5 on May 9th!Discover all the upcoming masterpiece products at the Global launch! https://t.co/nwQyz0olTm  POCO (@POCOGlobal) May 5, 2023

Although the company has already revealed some specifications of the Poco F5 Pro and Poco F5, these devices have been in the rumour mill for some time now. The two smartphones have been officially listed, including information about the camera modules, battery, chipset, and display.

Poco F5 Pro, Poco F5: Price (Expected)

In India, the Poco F5 is expected to be priced under Rs 30,000. However, this is just speculation and we suggest our readers to wait for the official announcement from the brand. Also, The Poco F5 5G is expected to launch with two storage options. The base model will pack 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. On the other hand, Poco F5 Pro might not arrive in India. The smartphone will be available in Europe.

Poco F5 Pro, Poco F5: Speficiations (Expected)

The Poco F5 will come in Snowstorm White and Carbon Black colours in India. The smartphone will be equipped with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset and a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a triple camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro lens.

The device has a 16MP front-facing camera for video calls and selfies. The Poco F5 has a massive 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. The smartphone will operate on Android 13 with MIUI 14 and support features such as NFC, IR blaster, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Coming to the Poco F5 Pro, the smartphone will feature a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with WQHD+ resolution, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and 480Hz touch sampling rate. It includes a fingerprint scanner beneath the screen and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top.

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The device will have a 64MP primary camera with OIS+EIS support, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro camera. It will also have a 16MP front-facing camera and a 5,160mAh battery with 67W wired charging and 30W wireless charging.

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Supriya Pathak, also known as the iconic Hansa from Khichdi, has never failed to impress her fans with her unforgettable performances. But guess what? In her early days, she actually shared the screen with none other than British heartthrob Hugh Grant! This unexpected pairing happened back in 1988 when Grant jetted off to Kolkata to shoot a French movie, and Pathak snagged one of the leading roles.

She had a small yet significant part to play in the French film La Nuit Bengali (The Bengali Night). The movie, which was based on the Romanian-language book Bengali Nights authored by Mircea Eliade in 1933, featured Pathak playing the character of Gayatri. Interestingly, rumours swirled that Gayatris character was based on the Indian poet Maitreyi Devi, who allegedly had an affair with the author of the book.

The movies central storyline follows Allan, played by Hugh Grant, who travels to Kolkata in the 1930s for work. While living with Gayatris parents, Narendra (Soumitra Chatterjee) and Indira (Shabana Azmi), Allan falls in love with Gayatri (Supriya Pathak), which leads to an illicit romance. However, their relationship is put under threat when Gayatris sister reveals her forbidden love to the household, causing turmoil and chaos within the family dynamic.

Hugh Grant and Supriya Pathak  pic.twitter.com/gpb1BxYjsy Sukhada (@appadappajappa) May 8, 2023

Meanwhile, the movies release in India was limited due to the controversy surrounding its subject matter. The source material, a novel, had stirred up allegations and counter-allegations, resulting in a lot of heated debate. Gayatris character was said to be based on the authors own affair with the Bengali novelist Devi, who was reportedly unhappy with the books depiction of her private life in an East-meets-West romantic context. The film received a tepid response upon release, and there were reports that Devi was dissatisfied with the novels conclusion. In response, she even wrote her version of the story in the 1974 novel Na Hanyate (It Does Not Die), which won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.

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Isnt it fascinating how cinema never ceases to astonish us with captivating trivia like this?

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News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole

A Guruve-based cattle rustler was sentenced to nine years in jail after stealing two cattle from the grazing lands.Willard Castern (36) was jailed by Magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura after full trial.Prosecutor Albert Charewa told the court that on July 23 Gilbert Vellem drove Tendai Marshal's herd of cattle to the grazing lands and left it unattended.The convict came and stole two cattle which he sold to Kenneth Mureya.Mureya kept the cattle in his kraal.Marshal received a tip-off to the effect of the stock theft and reported to the police.The police acted swiftly and recovered the cattle.
Its never a good idea to try to feed apex predators like tigers, lions or bears. Zoos around the world also have warned visitors to not put their hands inside their cages to touch them or tease them unless they are experienced keepers. A man ended up being injured while he tried to pet a tiger in a zoo as he put his hand in a tigers enclosure. The video has resurfaced on Instagram and opens with the man calling the tiger and the big cat reluctantly going towards him.

In the next few seconds, the man can be seen scratching its neck and the tiger can be seen sniffing the visitors bag. Within a second, the tiger moved towards his hand and bit it hard. The man can be heard screaming in agony while his accompanying female friend can also be heard screaming in fear.

The caption of the post read: Whats your opinion?

The photo and video-sharing app users have condemned the act and reacted to the video in the comments section. One of the users wrote, Good, he deserves this. Another person added, Crazy guyhe is intentionally putting himself at risk. One more user quipped, You offered it meat, and he accepted. Whats the problem.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Earth Reels (@earth.reel)

According to The Mirror, the incident happened at a private zoo in Periban, western Mexico in January, last year. The man was a 23-year-old named Jose de Jesus. He was rushed to hospital but refused to allow medics to amputate his mauled hand. The doctors told local media that complications set in and de Jesus, who was also diabetic died from a massive heart attack during the treatment.

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The tigers owner had paid the medical bills for the man and added that he had all the necessary permits. The private zoo also had a crocodile.

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Canada wont be intimidated by Chinas tit-for-tat expulsion of a Canadian consul, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday, after Ottawa this week ousted a Chinese diplomat accused of targeting a lawmaker critical of Beijing.

The Canadian leader said his administration took the decision to expel the Chinese official to send a very clear message that we will not accept foreign interference."

Whatever next choices they make, we will not be intimidated," he told reporters in Ottawa, after the quickly escalating row saw Beijing accuse Canada of seeking to sabotage" relations with its second-largest trading partner.

Following years of cool relations, tensions flared on Monday when Canada announced the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei at its consulate in Toronto.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said it was a clear demonstration of Ottawas resolve to defend its democracy.

She acted after local media revealed Chinas intelligence agency had planned to target MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions for sponsoring a 2021 motion that condemned Beijings conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide.

A few hours later China responded by expelling the Canadian consul in Shanghai, Jennifer Lalonde, accusing Canadian politicians and media of hyping up the allegations of foreign meddling in Canadian affairs.

This was characterized by Beijing as a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canadas unscrupulous move."

Beijing also said it filed an official protest with Ottawa over breaches of international law and diplomatic norms, and warned that it reserves the right to further react."

Joly said Tuesday that Canadians would be made aware of the different risks" of travelling to China.

- Significant and serious step -

Trudeau acknowledged that declaring a foreign diplomat persona non grata is a significant and serious step."

He said Ottawas move demonstrates firmness" in pushing back. We will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference or fear," he said.

The head of a minority liberal government, Trudeau has faced growing pressure to take a hard line on China following revelations in recent months that it sought to sway Canadas 2019 and 2021 elections in his partys favour.

The diplomatic expulsion followed an outcry in Canada over the fresh allegations of targeting Chong.

Beijing almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions," the Globe and Mail newspaper last week cited a Canadian intelligence document as saying, using an acronym for the Peoples Republic of China.

Zhao Wei allegedly played a key role in the scheme.

Chong said Monday that it shouldnt have taken the targeting of a member of Parliament to make this (expulsion) decision."

He also lamented that Canada had become a playground for foreign interference," including the harassment of diaspora communities.

Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been tense since Canadas 2018 arrest on a US warrant of a top Huawei executive, and the detention of two Canadian nationals in China in apparent retaliation, along with bans on Canadian agricultural exports such as canola and pork.

All three  Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor  were eventually released, and the trade restrictions have been lifted.

But Beijing has continued to blast Ottawa for aligning with Washingtons China policy, while Canadian officials regularly accused China of interference.

The two countries have also traded barbs over tech, with Canada moving to block Chinese firms involvement in the build-out of next-generation communications infrastructure and critical minerals mining in this country.

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In March, Trudeau appointed an independent special investigator to probe all of the China meddling allegations.

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Beijing is wary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor entering volatile Afghanistan and is seeking assurances on security, which neither Kabul or Islamabad will be able to give, sources in the Indian security establishment told News18.

Afghanistans Taliban-appointed foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang held talks on Monday, a departure from recent years when such dialogue had been on hold, indicating Chinas plans to expand its influence in the region.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Qin Gang also met separately at the 4th edition of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue.

In these meetings, the Chinese basically emphasise on security and how to protect Chinese projects, workers and engineers. China wants assurances on security before proceeding into Afghanistan. Neither Kabul or Islamabad can give that assurance the situation there is bad, a top official in the Indian security establishment told News18.

This is the wrong time to invest in CPEC in Afghanistan. The Afghans are not interested in the CPEC corridor. The Chinese are worried about going into Afghanistan. Chins wants to build large scale ports, roads, container depots etc in Afghanistan, but that would not be possible. The Afghans are not interested in it, the official added.

CPEC, also known as the One Road Project, is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, a global endeavour aimed at reconstituting the ancient Silk Road and linking China to all corners of Asia.

Beijing is bankrolling the sprawling package that includes such projects as road and power plant construction and boosting agriculture production. The package is considered a lifeline for Pakistan, which is currently facing one of its worst economic crises amid stalled talks on a bailout with the International Monetary Fund.

China has been demanding more security from Pakistan for its nationals residing and working in the country since 2021, when a suicide bomber killed nine Chinese and four Pakistanis in an attack in Pakistans volatile northwest.

While Pakistan president Arif Alvi assured Beijings top diplomat that his country will boost security for all Chinese nationals, it cant give the same assurance on behalf of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have featured ups and down in the past year. In February, the two sides shut the main Afghan-Pakistan border crossing at Torkham, stranding people and trucks carrying food and essential items.

Pakistan has also lately expressed concern over a surge of deadly attacks across the country by the Pakistani Taliban  an independent militant group that is allied with and sheltered by the Afghan Taliban.

Islamabad has demanded from the Taliban in Kabul that they do more to rein in anti-Pakistani groups such as the Pakistani Taliban  also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP  which have stepped up attacks on Pakistani security forces in recent months.

Indias Objection

Indias main objection to the $60 billion-corridor is that it passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), giving China access to the Arabian Sea through the Gwadar port in Pakistans Balochistan province.

The CPEC going through PoK is a violation. We are against the CPEC because of this reason China and Pakistan say its an economic project but they have used it for their own political gains, the top security official quoted above said.

They are objecting to G20 in Kashmir saying its in dispute. According to them, we cant do a conference in Kashmir, but they can build roads and railways worth crores in PoK, he added.

Speaking at a press conference after the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa on May 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said: On the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, I think it was made very clear, not once but twice in the SCO meeting, that connectivity is good for progress, but connectivity cannot violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity."

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With agency inputs

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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he will lay out the need to defend Ukraine in the war with Russia on Tuesday when he meets Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been critical of arming the Ukrainians.

We need to help Ukraine fight this fight," Rutte told reporters on Monday, the first day of his visit to Brazil.

Rutte said he will explain to Lula why the question of backing Ukraine is existential" for the Netherlands, for Europe and beyond because the Russian invasion has put Western values at stake.

If Putin would be successful in Ukraine, and I dont

think he will be, it wont end there. People are worried for their own safety, in Amsterdam, in Berlin, in Paris and Europe," he said.

Lula, who has tried to encourage countries who are not involved in the conflict to form a group to push for peace talks, has said supplying arms to Ukraine was encouraging the war. The U.S. government accused him of parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.

The Dutch government is considering with its European partners donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

We discussing intensely with Denmark, the UK, some other parties in Europe and also the U.S. on F-16s," Rutte said in Sao Paulo.

But agreement was first needed between all the partners, as they had done in the past before supplying Panzer howitzers and Leopard tanks to Ukraine, he said. The debate is ongoing."

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Rutte is on a three-day visit accompanied by a business delegation for talks focusing on trade and cooperation for sustainable agriculture and the energy transition, especially hydrogen.

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Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khans murder allegations against a top ISI officer have not gone down well with the Pakistan Army which said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chiefs fabricated and malicious allegations are extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.

Imran Khan has alleged that top ISI officer Major-General Faisal Naseer, who allegedly tried to kill him twice, was also involved in the brutal murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. Khans remarks came while he was addressing a rally in Lahore from his bullet-bomb-proof vehicle.

Inter-Services Intelligences Major-General Faisal Naseer tried to kill me twice. He is also involved in the killing of (TV anchor) Arshad Sharif. He also stripped my party Senator Azam Swati naked and inflicted severe torture on him," Khan said.

Arshad Sharif, who was critical of the Army, was killed in Kenya last October as he fled the country citing threats to his life from the security agencies.

Imran Khan, 71, had earlier accused Gen Naseer, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of an assassination attempt on his life in November last year in Punjab provinces Wazirabad wherein he took three bullets to his leg.

Taking strong objection to Khans latest tirade, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, said: This has been a consistent pattern for the last one year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives."

We ask the political leader concerned to make a recourse to legal avenues and stop making false allegations. The institution reserves the right to take legal course of action against patently false and malafide statements and propaganda," the ISPR said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took on Imran Khan for maligning and threatening" the army and intelligence agencies.

Imran Niazis act of routinely maligning and threatening the Pakistan Army and Intelligence Agency for the sake of petty political gains is highly condemnable. His levelling of allegations without any proof against Gen Faisal Naseer and officers of our Intelligence Agency cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated," he tweeted on Sunday.

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With PTI inputs

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Florida Governor and likely presidential candidate Ron DeSantis signed multiple bills Monday aimed at curbing Beijings growing sway  restricting real estate purchases in the southern US state by Chinese nationals and tightening access to video-sharing app TikTok.

The measures were part of a package of legislation that also outlaws the storage of sensitive data on servers linked to the regime of President Xi Jinping and takes aim at Chinese influence in public education.

Florida is taking action to stand against the United States greatest geopolitical threat  the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," said DeSantis, who is weighing a run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The 44-year-old governor signed measures targeting seven foreign countries of concern"  China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela  as he seeks to build his credibility as a global statesman.

Investors who live in China are now barred from owning property of any kind, including homes, anywhere in Florida unless they are a US citizen or permanent resident.

Foreigners from the other six nations cannot buy farmland anywhere in the Sunshine State or property within 20 miles of a military base or critical infrastructure, such as airports or power stations.

China owned 352,140 acres (142,506 hectares) of US land in 2020, according to the Department of Agriculture, just under one percent of the total held from abroad. Canadian investors had about 12.4 million acres.

A second bill banning Chinese-owned TikTok from government-issued devices expands on an executive order signed last September creating a list of prohibited social-media applications considered security risks.

And DeSantis signed a third bill prohibiting public colleges and universities from accepting gifts from or entering into agreements with colleges based in foreign countries of concern," including China.

The governor will be hoping the legislation improves his standing among Republicans worried about Beijings growing influence as he attempts to close a double-digit gap on frontrunner Donald Trump in the 2024 primary, with his official launch expected in the coming weeks.

China and other hostile foreign nations control hundreds of thousands of acres of critical agricultural lands in the US, leaving our food supply and our national security interests at risk," said Floridas agriculture commissioner Wilton Simpson.

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But Chinese-American groups and Democrats in Floridas House of Representatives have voiced fears that measures could lead to increased discrimination.

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Pakistan is unlikely to get the crucial tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) anytime soon, GeoNews reported. GeoNews said that Pakistans loan programme is not on the agenda of the lenders Executive Board till May 17 in its report.

The global lender and Pakistan government have been discussing fiscal policy measures to resume the stalled funding of $1.1 billion due in November. This is part of a $6.5-billion programme agreed in 2019.

If Pakistan unlocks the funds under the ninth review then other multilateral lenders can send funds to the nation in an economic crisis. They have also set the completion of the ninth review as a precondition to unlock funding.

Pakistan needs the IMF funding to avert defaulting on its external debt obligations amid a balance of payment crisis. The forex reserves it currently has is sufficient only for four weeks of imports, that too in a controlled manner.

The IMF is unhappy with the assurances given to it by nations that Pakistan considers friendly, people familiar with the developments told the Pakistan-based news outlet.

The people mentioned above also said that Pakistan has fulfilled the conditions set by the lender for the revival of the loan facility. They said the delay has the potential to affect the budget planning which is expected to be tabled in the second week of June.

The IMF continues to work with the Pakistani authorities to bring the ninth review to conclusion once the necessary financing is in place and the agreement is finalised. The IMF supports the authorities in the implementation of policies in the period ahead, IMF mission chief in Pakistan Nathan Porter was quoted as saying by Reuters last week.

Pakistan has assured the IMF that the balance of payments gap for this year which ends in June will be fully funded.

The Pakistan government announced pledges worth $3 billion in financing support from Saudi Arabia and UAE, but the funds are yet to come through, GeoNews reported. China has refinanced its loans to Pakistan.

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The report also said that it remains unclear if the Saudi, UAE and Chinese financing would be sufficient or if the nations would require more external support. The report also said that it also remains unclear why the IMF wanted to work on the technical preparation of the budget, which is not part of the programme.

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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday by Pakistani Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was taken into custody in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case, for which the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had summoned him multiple times.

Imran Khan Arrested LIVE: Catch all the latest updates here

The former prime minister was in court to renew his bail when the Rangers made the arrest on NABs request.

Imran Khans lawyer badly injured inside the premises of IHC. Black day for our democracy and country. pic.twitter.com/iQ8xWsXln7 PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023

Over 120 cases have been registered against Khan in various courts. He is expected to be presented in NAB courts on Wednesday.

Footage : Rangers breaking into Islamabad High Court to abduct former prime minister Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/vohsNgVhQU Dr. Iftikhar Durrani (@IftikharDurani) May 9, 2023

Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, told Pakistani media outlets that the situation is under control. Meanwhile, the PTI shared photos of Imran Khans lawyer claiming he was injured in a scuffle during the arrest of the PTI chief.

Khan was reportedly picked up by the Pakistani Rangers while he was doing biometric in the court.

Section 144 has been imposed in Islamabad Capital Territory anticipating protests from the PTI.

Imran Khan was in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend hearings of his bail applications for two cases against him at the Islamabad High Court.

However, before he came to Islamabad, he said he was mentally prepared for an arrest and maintained his stance that top ISI officer Major-General Faisal Naseer, who allegedly tried to kill him twice, was also involved in the brutal murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. His remarks came while he was addressing a rally in Lahore.

Inter-Services Intelligences Major-General Faisal Naseer tried to kill me twice. He is also involved in the killing of (TV anchor) Arshad Sharif. He also stripped my party Senator Azam Swati naked and inflicted severe torture on him," Khan said.

Arshad Sharif, who was critical of the Army, was killed in Kenya last October as he fled the country citing threats to his life from the security agencies.

Imran on Tuesday doubled down on his allegations. Before I leave, I want to say two things. Firstly, the ISPR has issued a statement that the institution has been disrespected  the army has been disrespected [by] naming an intelligence officer that has tried to kill me twice, the PTI chief said.

This is my army and my Pakistan. I dont need to lie. ISPR sahib, listen to me carefully. Respect is not [confined] to a single institution; respect should be for every single citizen, Khan said in the video.

There is no case on me. They want to put me in jail, I am ready for it," the former prime minister said before his arrest.

Reacting to his arrest, former Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry said, Former PM Imran Khan has been abducted from Court premises, scores of lawyers and general people have been tortured, Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location.

He further added that the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court has ordered the interior secretary and IG police to appear within 15 minutes in the court.

The Al Qadir Trust case revolves around the former prime minister and his wife, former first lady, Bushra Bibi, obtaining billions of Pakistani rupees from a real estate firm for legalising PKR50 billion.

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The government has yet to comment on Imran Khans arrest. On Monday, Pakistan information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan will solve the problems being faced by the country and accused him of conspiring against the country.

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Israels foreign minister discussed efforts to establish diplomatic relations with additional Middle East countries in a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, the ministry said.

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan had said Washington was working hard to forge ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia ahead of his visit to the kingdom last week, but the Israeli statement did not specify any countries.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen updated the Secretary of State on recent Israeli activity with the goal of promoting regional stability and the two discussed advancing additional normalisation moves, as part of expanding and deepening the Abraham Accords," the statement said.

That referred to the 2020 US-brokered agreements Israel signed with Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The statement added that Cohen met with US envoy Amos Hochstein in Jerusalem on Monday and discussed the advancement of diplomatic steps in the region".

Saudi Arabia signalled approval for the 2020 accords but has held off on following suit, saying Palestinian goals for statehood should be addressed first.

Normalising relations with Saudi Arabia has been a major goal set by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign minister Cohen last month said such a breakthrough was on the table".

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Any such prospects have been clouded, however, by Riyadhs strains with US President Joe Biden, its recent rapprochement with regional foe Iran, and the rise of Netanyahus hard-right Israeli government.

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Israels foreign minister Eli Cohen cut short his three-day India trip and will return to his country after he received a security update. He arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning and was in India for a three-day visit.

I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today, Cohen said in a tweet.

       ,      .   ,                  .   | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) May 9, 2023

It is unclear what the security update was but Israel eliminated three Islamic Jihad commanders in northern Gaza in overnight air strikes.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out Operation Shield and Arrow and eliminated Khalil Bahtini, the commander of the militant groups activities in northern Gaza who was also the most senior official with an operational role; Jihad Ghanam, the secretary of Islamic Jihads military council; and Tareq Izzeldeen, a senior military official in the al-Quds brigade in the West Bank, news agency Haaretz reported.

At least 9 other Palestinians were also killed along with these three terrorists. Israel says the operation was launched by Israel aimed at targeting militants who posed an immediate danger to its citizens.

There are concerns that militants based in Gaza and the Islamic Jihad will retaliate with rocket attacks into Israel, as it promised to take revenge.

According to the ministry in Gaza, women and children were among the 20 people who sustained injuries, and some of them are currently in critical or serious conditions, the BBC said in a separate report.

In multiple rounds of pre-dawn air strikes across Gaza, 40 Israeli warplanes and helicopters struck homes, causing panic among residents. Photos shared on social media showed at least two apartments with their fronts torn apart and others damaged.

Along with targeting the three militants, the Israeli military said that it eliminated 10 sites being used for manufacturing weapons and six military facilities of Islamic Jihad.

The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, confirmed that three commanders were among those who were killed.

Any terrorist who harms Israeli citizens will be made to regret it, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said.

As we mourn our martyr leaders, along with their mujahideen wives and a number of their children, we affirm that the blood of the martyrs will increase our resolve, the al-Quds Brigades said in response.

Cohen was scheduled to meet with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and was expected to participate in the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He was also scheduled to take part in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute in New Delhi.

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(with inputs from Shalinder Wangu)

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If youre visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, the nations most visited national park (take that, Yellowstone!), Knoxville, Tennessee is the easiest access point. The McGhee Tyson Airport is located between downtown Knoxville and neighboring Maryville, but the two gateway cities, about 20 minutes apart by car, are more than just stopovers on your way elsewhere. Or, at least, they really should be.

Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee and was the site of the 1982 Worlds Fair, which earned it the less-than-glowing nickname of Scruffy City. In the decades that followed, it gained a reputation for its crafts, taking on its new nickname, Maker City. Artisans here follow the longstanding traditions of this region through printmaking, pottery, and woodworking. That means a bounty of quirky folk art and Dolly Partoninspired creationstributes to the regions most famous resident.

Some of the most interesting restaurants in the region combine traditional Appalachian ingredients like country ham and grits with white tablecloth presentation. Blackberry Farm, which opened as a hotel in nearby Walland in 1990, is largely to thank for this food cultures focus on seasonal cooking. It encompasses multiple restaurants, a farm, and a successful brewery, all with the same commitment to showcasing regional ingredients. On any given day, the restaurant is turning out rice dumplings made from a heritage grain and pasta made from the farms own eggs. Alumni of the resorts restaurant have gone on to start their own restaurants in Knoxville, Maryville, and across the country. Its nearly impossible to go anywhere in the foothills of Tennessee without meeting someone connected to the resort in one way or another.

But its not just fancy dining around here. The culinary offerings of Knoxville and Maryville include inventive pastries, top-tier falafel, and destination-worthy cocktail bars. Whether youre coming to town for a college football game, or looking for somewhere to stay while exploring the splendor of the Smokies, youre in the right place.

Story continues

The Essentials

Dont forget to packcomfortable shoes for walking through Knoxvilles Market Square or hiking the trails in nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Dont leave town withouta locally made piece of art, like ceramics from McQueen Pottery in Maryville or playful artisan-blown glass from Pretentious Glass Co. in Knoxville.

The best place to stay isthe Oliver Hotel. The eclectic midcentury-inspired hotel is housed in an 1876 building in the heart of Knoxvilles Market Square with rental bikes, two restaurants, and a speakeasy bar.

The Oliver Hotel

$.00, Expedia

Start your day in Knoxville with inventive pastries and deli-style breakfast sandwiches

Get an early start to see as much of Knoxville as possible. But first, of course, grab breakfast. The pastries at Wild Love Bakehouse (1625 N Central St, Knoxville) in north Knoxville arent just pretty to look at. A standout here is the flaky croissant topped with sesame seeds, and a nostalgia-inducing Pop Tartstyle treat filled with jam. At Wild Love, theres a sun-soaked counter ideal for sipping a cappuccino, and an outdoor patio for when the weather is good.

Potchke (318 N Gay St. #103, Knoxville) started as a pop-up in Knoxvilles Old City neighborhood. The restaurant has a brick-and-mortar location now, and quickly gained acclaim for its borscht, which it sold as a fundraising effort for Ukrainian refugees. The restaurant has an airy atmosphere, and features exposed brick walls, a skylight, and lots of plants. The deli-inspired menu changes frequently but includes lox-topped bagels, cinnamon babka, and creamy potato and egg blintzes.

Wander the original Music City

A young gal named Dolly Parton came to the big city of Knoxville at age seven to perform for a local radio station, before going on to make it big in Nashville. While national fans may mostly associate Parton with Nashville, we still show her a lot of love in Knoxville. Her likeness is featured in a mural in a downtown alley and a self-guided Cradle of Country Music Walking Tour provides more information about her path to stardom. On the walking tour, youll learn about her rise to fame, along with that of many other artists. And be sure to pose in front of the huge Dolly painting.

When it comes to great music, theres more than just Dolly fanfare in this town. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, theres a live radio showing of WDVXs Blue Plate Special (301 S Gay St., Knoxville) held at 12 p.m. Running since 1997, its completely free to attend and past artists include The Avett Brothers, Chris Stapleton, and St. Paul & the Broken Bones. You never know who you might see.

For lunch, the best hummus in town or a build-your-own pizza

The falafel and shawarma at Yassins Falafel House (706 Walnut St., Knoxville) has attracted the downtown working set since opening in 2014. But its the friendly atmosphere created by owner Yassin Terou and his staff that earned them the title of Nicest Place in America by Readers Digest. You can dig into the creamy hummus and flaky baklava inside the eggplant-colored dining room, or get it to-go and walk to nearby Charles Krutch Park for lunch.

A five minute walk from Yassins, The Tomato Head (12 Market Square, Knoxville) is a staple of the Market Square area, with a cozy dining room filled with local artwork available for purchase. Fresh-baked bread and produce sourced from local farms are incorporated into the menus sandwiches and pizza, along with options for vegan and gluten free diners. Theres the choice to build your own puffy-crusted pie or let the experts decide, but whatever route you take, be sure to fit the house-made pesto into your order.

After getting your fill, hop in the car and drive about 25 minutes south to Maryville.

In Maryville, sip on local beer or drive a scenic parkway

The Foothills Parkway runs along the Tennessee River and driving it is one of the most beautiful ways to get to know the area surrounding Maryville. Along the roads snaking curves are scenic overlooks of the surrounding mountains. And if youve got extra time to kill before your next meal, its only a short drive further to Townsend, the best point of entry for Cades Cove valley, which is home to historic buildings and, sometimes, majestic groups of elk.

In downtown Maryville, Blackberry Farm Brewery (106 Everett Ave., Maryville) is pouring great craft brews. The resort started a beer brewing operation in 2011 and has become known for its attention to ingredients. Theres Tennessee-grown barley in the pilsner and Belgian yeast in the saison. The tasting room is the best place to try limited runs and take home a special bottle to enjoy back home.

Dine at a cozy inn or a trendy wine bar

The Restaurant at RT Lodge (1406 Wilkinson Pike, Maryville) is set in a 1930s hometurnedRuby Tuesday corporate center, which was eventually reimagined as a boutique inn. Chef Trevor Stockton sources charcuterie from his parents farm, served alongside favorites like smoked trout dip and potato chips, plus red-wine-braised short ribs. Dont miss the fried chicken, served in a cast-iron skillet with honey and homemade hot sauce, and the bread pudding with benne seeds and dulce de leche ice cream.

For a more intimate space, Diamondjack Wine Bar (211 W Broadway Ave.) features worn leather chairs and a warm, welcoming vibe. Opened by a Blackberry Farm alum in 2020, Diamondjack combines top-tier wine from the Loire Valley and closer to home with a rotating selection of shareable dishes like roasted shishito peppers or cantaloupe salad with locally sourced Bentons ham. The restaurant also does a weekend brunch. Whatever you do, order the shrimp and pimento cheese grits, and enjoy it with the wine tour, a flight of wine picked by the sommelier.

A whiskey-loving speakeasy or an Italian-style aperitivo bar

After dinner, its time to head back to Knoxville for a nightcap.

Brother Wolf (108 W Jackson Ave. #1, Knoxville), which opened in 2021, features over 20 aperitivo cocktails, and was named one of the best bars in America by Esquire. The menu includes familiars, like the negroni sbagliato and Aperol spritz, as well as a Fauxgroni, made with nonalcoholic spirits. The bar also serves sustainably made Italian wines and dishes like rigatoni with lamb ragu and breaded oyster mushrooms.

There are no reservations at Peter Kern Library (407 Union Ave., Knoxville), but you can head over early to join the waitlist of this secretive cocktail bar. Enter from the alley behind the Oliver Hotel, following the red globe light coming from Union Avenue, and youll reach the bar. The menu highlights classic and forgotten cocktails as well as staff recommendations from the sizable whiskey and bourbon menu. The speakeasy has cozy leather booths and a fireplacea great place to round out the night with a Manhattan, made with Tennessee rye whiskey and sweet vermouth.

Originally Appeared on Bon Appetit
Donald Trumps absence from a trial where writer E. Jean Carroll accuses him of rape and defamation shows that he did it," a lawyer for Carroll said on Monday, while Trumps lawyer told jurors the case was outrageous."

He never looked you in the eye and denied raping Ms. Carroll," lawyer Mike Ferrara told jurors as the civil trial in Manhattan federal court neared the end of an eighth day. You should draw the conclusion that thats because he did it."

The six-man, three-woman jury was expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday.

Carroll, 79, sued Trump, 76, alleging he raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996 and then defamed her by denying it happened in an October 2022 post on Trumps Truth Social platform.

In that post, he called her claims a complete con job" and a Hoax and a lie."

The former Elle magazine advice columnist is seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021 and is the front-runner for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination in 2024, waived his right to testify at trial and opted not to present a defense, gambling that jurors will find that Carroll failed to make a persuasive case.

He told reporters in Ireland last week that he would probably" attend, but did not show up.

Trump has accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. In a video deposition played for the jury on May 3, Trump denied raping Carroll.

Its the most ridiculous, disgusting story," Trump said in the video. Its just made up."

In his closing argument on Monday, Trumps lawyer Joseph Tacopina said Carrolls inability to recall the date of the alleged incident made it impossible for Trump to defend himself by citing an alibi, and called the case an affront to justice."

This is an absolutely outrageous case," Tacopina said.

The facts in evidence make plain here that E. Jean Carrolls story is not worthy of your belief, not even close," he said.

< h4 > TRUMPS 2005 GRAB EM VIDEO FEATURES AT TRIAL < /h4 >

Earlier on Monday, Carrolls lawyer Roberta Kaplan said a 2005 Access Hollywood" video in which Trump says women let him grab em by the pussy" bolstered the accounts of Carroll and other women who have accused Trump of sexual assault.

He admitted on video to doing exactly the kinds of things that have brought us here to this courtroom," Kaplan said.

During three days of testimony and cross-examination, Carroll said that during the attack Trump slammed her against the wall, put his fingers into her vagina and then inserted his penis.

Two of Carrolls longtime friends testified that she told them about the attack shortly after it occurred and said they believed her. Jurors also heard from two other women who said Trump sexually assaulted them in separate incidents decades ago. Trump denies those claims as well.

Kaplan did not specify the amount of money jurors should award Carroll in compensatory and punitive damages. She said Carroll had been unable to sustain a romantic relationship since the alleged rape, and that Trumps public criticism had harmed her clients reputation.

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For E. Jean Carroll, this lawsuit is not about the money," Kaplan said. This lawsuit is about getting her name back."

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The United States on Tuesday announced a new $1.2 billion security assistance package for Ukraine to boost the countrys air defenses and provide it with additional artillery ammunition.

Ukraine is readying for a highly anticipated spring offensive against invading Russian troops, but the latest assistance will not immediately arrive on the battlefield as it must still be procured from the defense industry or partners.

This avoids depleting US stocks, but means the assistance will take longer to reach Kyiv than equipment drawn directly from existing American military inventories.

The package underscores the continued US commitment to Ukraine by committing critical near-term capabilities, such as air defense systems and munitions, while also building the capacity of Ukraines armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term," the Defense Department said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the new assistance, saying on Twitter that we appreciate this sign of solidarity with Ukraine shown on a symbolic day for us  Europe Day and the Day of Victory over Nazism in WWII."

Together were moving towards a new victory!" he added.

The package features unspecified air defense systems and munitions as well as equipment to integrate Western systems with Ukraines existing gear, which is mainly of Soviet vintage.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told journalists Tuesday that the specific air defense systems have not yet been selected, saying the announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine."

- Anti-drone, artillery ammo -

Ukraines air defenses have played a key role in countering Russias invasion, preventing Moscows forces from gaining control of the skies and helping shield the country against missile and drone attacks.

Secret US documents from late February that were allegedly leaked online by a junior member of the Air National Guard detailed looming munitions shortages for Soviet systems that make up a significant chunk of Ukrainian medium and high-range protection.

Kyivs international supporters have worked to bolster its existing defenses with a mix of cutting edge systems such as Patriot and NASAMS, as well as older equipment.

Ryder confirmed that a Patriot battery had shot down a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile, which Ukraine had previously said took place during a wave of attacks by Moscows forces last week.

The assistance package also includes ammunition for counter-drone systems meant to foil the threat of Iranian-made uncrewed aircraft that Russia has used for strikes in Ukraine, as well as 155 mm rounds  a key type of artillery ammunition for Ukraines forces.

It will also provide commercial satellite imagery services as well as support for training and maintenance.

The latest assistance brings total US military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February 2022 to more than $36 billion.

The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging an international coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in February 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference alongside his British counterpart on Tuesday that Ukraine has what it takes to continue to be successful in regaining territory that was seized by force by Russia over the last 14 months."

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The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a son of former Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo" Guzman, the Treasury Department said.

El Chapo, who was leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.

The sanctions allege Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the four sons to carry on their fathers drug empire after his arrest and extradition to the United States, oversees super labs" to traffic drugs into the U.S.

Guzman Lopez could not be immediately reached for comment.

Guzman Lopezs brothers Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar and Ovidio Guzman Lopez were charged last month in the U.S. with running a fentanyl trafficking operation fueled by Chinese chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Ovidio was arrested this year in Mexico, where he is being held in a maximum-security lockup awaiting extradition.

In recent months, Mexico and the U.S. have sparred over the origins of drugs fueling the U.S. opioid crisis. Washington accuses Mexico of allowing cartels to produce the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and move it across the border.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has denied the presence of fentanyl labs in the country, alleging it comes from China.

The Sinaloa Cartels drug labs are frequently supplied by an organization led by a pair of brothers, Ludim and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma, who were sanctioned this year, the Treasury said Tuesday.

Guzman Lopezs cousin, Saul Paez Lopez, was also sanctioned for his alleged role in coordinating drug shipments.

Raymundo Perez Uribe, was accused of providing precursor chemicals to manufacture the drugs.

Washington also sanctioned Mario Esteban Ogazon Sedano, saying he purchased precursor chemicals from Ludim Zamudio Lerma to operate drug labs.

None of the sanctioned individuals nor representatives for them could be immediately reached for comment.

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The Treasury said the sanctions were coordinated closely with the Mexican government. The Mexican president has long bristled at U.S. involvement in the countrys security matters.

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The United States strongly encourages the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21-30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHOs commitment to an inclusive, health for all approach to international health cooperation, Blinken said in a statement posted on the State Department website.

The United States strongly encourages the @WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at this years World Health Assembly meeting so Taiwan may lend its expertise to the discussions. Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 9, 2023

Blinken said US support for Taiwanese participation is in line with Washingtons one-China policy.

Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged, and responsible member of the global health community and has been invited to participate as an observer in previous WHA meetings," he added.

This development comes as China continues to oppose Taiwans participation in the WHO citing its position on the One China" policy.

China considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and does not recognize it as a separate sovereign state, despite decades of separate rule.

Beijing insists that any international organization or activity involving Taiwan must be conducted under the framework of the One China" principle, which means that Taiwan cannot participate as a separate entity.

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Blinken pointed out that Taiwans isolation from WHA is unjustified and undermines inclusive global public health cooperation and security, which the world demands.

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A viral video showed a Tennessee high school student pepper-sprayed by an unruly student after her phone was confiscated during class. The incident happened last week in Antioch High School where a student was seen confronting her teacher after her phone was seized as part of disciplinary action.

Girl pepper sprays teacher because he took her phone pic.twitter.com/QPAz6c3l4G OnlyBangers.eth (@OnlyBangersEth) May 6, 2023

A Reddit subscriber commenting on the video said that the disobedient student was texting and Googling answers for her schoolwork. The subscriber was the first to share the clip.

The video, which is over a minute, shows the student getting up from her desk, walking out of the classroom and following the teacher who seized her phone. She can then be seen trying to jostle with her teacher in a bid to retake her phone.

Meanwhile, another student, who has been filming the entire incident, follows the action to the hallway. There the female student is seen telling her teacher: Give me my phone!

The teacher denies and then the student holds the pepper spray close to his face and sprays him a second time. She had sprayed him earlier as well.

The teacher starts coughing and falls on his knees and yells due to the irritation caused by the spray.

Students and staff can be seen emerging from the other classrooms to intervene. Meanwhile, the female student continues to demand her phone.

The video sparked a debate on social media sites on behaviour of American children and teenagers, education system and state of schooling in American society in general.

Most people sided with the teacher and pointed out that the female student was out of line to attack her teacher.

In the video, the student can be seen still persistent on getting her phone back. Despite her teacher being in agony due to her pepper-spraying him, she keeps on demanding her phone and other students and teachers are seen telling her that she cannot get her phone back now.

The same teacher was assaulted months ago for taking a different students phone when they were caught cheating in class, the Reddit subscriber, who shared the video, claimed.

People on social media sided with the teacher on both occasions and demanded expulsion of the students.

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(with inputs from the New York Post)

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NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - PhD https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/medi/niper-joint-entrance-examination-niper-jee-phd.htm Details of NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - PhD 2023-5-5 2023-5-16 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - PhD Medical

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Examination 2023- (PhD) - On 23rd June 2023

NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - PhD Category : Medical Admissions 2023 Published : On May 5, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Date of commencement of online registration 17th April 2023 Last date for online registration 16th May 2023 Last date for receipt of filled in registration forms in NIPER, Ahmedabad along with required documents Online Delivery of Admit Card to respective e-mails /Downloads 10th June 2023 Online NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (Computer Based Test) 23rd June 2023 Declaration of result (Websitewww.niperahm.ac.in) 30th June 2023 Interview for PhD at NIPER Ahmedabad 2023 Declaration of result at NIPER Ahmedabad website for PhD 2023 PhD joint counselling( 12.00 pm onwards) 2023 Orientation & Commencement of classes 2023

The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) created as a Centre of Excellence for imparting higher education, research and development in pharmaceutical sciences and management is the first Institute of its kind in the country. The Institute was declared as an Institute of National Importance by Government of India through an Act of Parliament, notified on 26th June 1998. The Institute is a member of the Association of Indian Universities. During the years 2007 and 2008, Government of India established six more NIPERs . Presently there are following NIPERs functioning at different parts of the country:

NIPER, Ahmedabad

NIPER , Guwahati

NIPER, Hajipur

NIPER, Hyderabad

NIPER, Kolkata

NIPER, Raebareli

NIPER S.A.S Nagar( Mohali)

Academic Programmes and Eligibility Criteria :

The Doctoral research programme of the institute is classified into the following three disciplines.

Chemical Sciences :

Includes departments of i) Medicinal Chemistry ii) Natural Products iii) Pharmacoinformatics Iv) Pharmaceutical Technology (Process Chemistry)

Biological Sciences :

Includes departments of i) Pharmacology and Toxicology ii) Biotechnology iii) Pharmacy Practice.

Pharmaceutical Science

Includes departments of i) Pharmaceutical Analysis ii) Pharmaceutics iii) Medical Devices

Discipline of Chemical Sciences

Department Offering NIPERs Eligibility Criteria Medicinal Chemistry Ahmedabad

Hyderabad

Kolkata

Raebareli

S.A.S. Nagar M.S. (Pharm.) (Medicinal Chemistry/ Natural Products); M. Pharm. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry); M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Bulk Drugs/ Process Chemistry); M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry); Natural Products Ahmedabad

Kolkata

SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.) (Natural Products/ Medicinal Chemistry/ Traditional Medicines); M.Pharm. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ Pharmacognosy); M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Bulk Drugs/Process Chemistry) M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry) Pharmacoinformatics Hajipur

Kolkata

SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.) (Pharmacoinformatics/ Medicinal Chemistry/ Natural Products); M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Bulk Drugs/ Process Chemistry); M.Tech. (Bioinformatics); M.Sc. (Organic/ Physical/ Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ Biochemistry/ Biophysics / Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics/ Microbiology). Pharmaceutical Technology (Process Chemistry) SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.); M.Tech. (Pharm.); M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry)

Discipline of Biological Sciences

Department Offering NIPERs Eligibility Criteria Pharmacology & Toxicology Ahmedabad

Guwahati

Hyderabad

Raebareli

S.A.S. Nagar M.S. (Pharm.)/M.Pharm./M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Medicinal Chemistry/ Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Natural Products/ Pharmacology & Toxicology/ Regulatory Toxicology/ Formulation/ Biotechnology/ Pharmaceutics/ Pharmacoinformati cs); M.E./ M.Tech./ M.Sc. (Pharmacology/ Biotechnology/ Nanotechnology/ Computational Sciences/ Biochemistry/ Toxicology/ Zoology/P hysiology /Life Sciences/ Microbiology/ Organic Chemistry /Pharmaceutical Chemistry); M.D. (Pharmacology), M.V. Sc. (Pharmacology/ Pathology/ Biotechnology), MCA. Biotechnology Ahmedabad

Guwahati

Hajipur

SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.)/M.Pharm./M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Medicinal Chemistry /Pharmaceutical Chemistry/ Natural Products/ Pharmacology & Toxicology /Formulation /Biotechnology/ Pharmaceutics /Pharmacoinformatics); M.E. /M.Tech./M.Sc. (Biotechnology /Life Sciences /Computational Sciences; Biochemistry /Botany /Zoology /Physiology /Life Sciences /Organic Chemistry/ Pharmaceutical Chemistry); M.V.Sc.; MCA. Pharmacy Practice Hajipur

Guwahati

SAS Nagar M. Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice/Community Pharmacy/Hospital Pharmacy/Clinical Pharmacy). Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology) SAS Nagar M.S.(Pharm);M.Pharm; M.Sc.(Life Sciences); M.Tech (Pharm.)(Biotechnology)

Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Department Offering NIPERs Eligibility Criteria Pharmaceutical Analysis Ahmedabad

Hyderabad

SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutical Analysis); M. Pharm. (Pharmaceutical Analysis); M.Sc. (Organic/Analytical Chemistry). Pharmaceutics Ahmedabad

Hyderabad

Raebareli

SAS Nagar M.S. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutics/ Biotechnology/ Pharmacology); M.Pharm. (Pharmaceutics /Formulations); M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Biotechnology); M.Tech. (Biomedical Engineering/ Biotechnology /Chemical Engineering) Medical Devices Ahmedabad M.S. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutics/ Biotechnology/ Pharmacology); M.Pharm. (Pharmaceutics/ Formulations); M.Tech. (Pharm.) (Biotechnology); M.Tech. (Biomedical Engineering/ Biotechnology/ Chemical Engineering).

How to apply

Applicants shall register online on www.niperahm.ac.in as per instructions given on the website. The process of online registration shall commence on 17th April 2023 onwards and will continue till 16th May 2023.

Instruction for Registration is available on www.niperahm.ac.in website

Registration Fee for

Gen/OBC/PH - Rs. 3000/-

SC/ST - Rs. 1500/-

Take Printout of the Registration form , put signatures at the bottom of the registration form and attach the following (i) copy of award letter if any pertaining to NET-JRF of CSIR/DBT/UGC/ICMR, DST Inspire etc. (ii) Sponsorship certificate from Industry / Government sponsored candidates (as per format given at Annuxer-2 ) should be sent to Chairman, NIPER Joint Entrance Examination Ph.D, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, NIPER - Ahmedabad, Palaj, Opp. AirForce Station, Gandhinagar, Gujarat -382355, (through speed post/registered post/in person) so as to reach on before 16 May 2023. The Institute will not be responsible for any loss or postal delay. Registration form received after the due date will not be considered. The Institute shall not be held responsible for misplacement of any loose sheet. Therefore, all the documents are required to be submitted properly tied together. Incomplete forms which are not properly submitted will not be accepted.

No correspondence/ inquiry in this regard will be entertained.

Online Admission Test ( Computer based test)

Online test will be held on the 23rd June 2023 at Agra, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada.

Based on the performance in the online test, list of candidates to be called for interview will be displayed on the website www.niperahm.ac.in. No TA/DA will be paid for attending online test and interview. Candidates have to make their own arrangement for stay during online test and interview.

Permission granted to the candidates to appear in online test and interview is merely provisional. Final consideration of the candidature is subject to fulfillment of the eligibility criteria to be verified at the time of Interview.

For more details visit institute website.

Contact Details Address : National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)

Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab 160062 Phone : 0172-2214682, 2214687 Fax : 0172-2214692 Mobile : - E-mail : Contact I Website : www.niper.nic.in

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NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - Master https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/medi/niper-joint-entrance-examination-niper-jee.htm Details of NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - Master 2023-4-25 2023-5-16 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (NIPER JEE) 2023 - Master Medical

National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Examination - (NIPER-JEE 2023) - On 23rd June 2023

Category : Medical Admissions 2023 Published : On April 25, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Date of commencement of online registration 17th April 2023 Last date for online registration 16th May 2023 Last date for receipt of filled in registration forms in NIPER, Ahmedabad along with required documents - Online Delivery of Admit Card to respective e-mails /Downloads 2023 Online NIPER Joint Entrance Examination (Computer Based Test) 23rd June 2023 Declaration of result (Websitewww.niperahm.ac.in) 30th June 2023 Group Discussion and Interview of M.B.A. (Pharm.) - M.B.A. (Pharm.) Joint Counselling (Reporting Time 4 pm ) - NIPER Joint Counselling for admission to Masters Programmes - Orientation & Commencement of classes -

The Government of India through an Act of Parliament, notified on 26th June 1998 , the First National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in the country at S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) as a Centre of Excellence for imparting higher education, research and development in pharmaceutical sciences and management. During the years 2007 and 2008, Government of India established six more NIPERs . Presently there are following NIPERs functioning in different parts of the country:

NIPER, Ahmedabad

NIPER , Guwahati

NIPER, Hajipur

NIPER, Hyderabad

NIPER, Kolkata

NIPER, Raebareli

NIPER S.A.S Nagar( Mohali)

Academic Program : Availability at Various Nipers and Qualifying Degrees

A. M.S. (Pharm.);M.Pharm.);M.Tech. (Pharm.)

Biotechnology: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER: Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, S.A.S.Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; M.Sc. (Biological Sciences)

Clinical Research: M.Pharm.

Offering NIPER: S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B. Pharm.

Medicinal Chemistry; M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER: Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Raebareli, S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; M.Sc.(Organic Chemistry)

Medical Devices: M.S.(Pharm.)

Offering NIPER: Ahmedabad

Eligibility: B.Pharm

Natural Products: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER: Ahmedabad, Kolkata, S.A.S.Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.;M.Sc.Organic Chemistry)

Pharmaceutical Analysis: M.S.(Pharm.)

Offering NIPER: Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, S.A.S.Nagar, Guwahati

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; M.Sc.(Organic/Analytical Chemistry)

Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology): M.Tech. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm./M.Sc. (Life Sciences)

Pharmaceutical Technology (Formulations): M.Pharm.

Offering NIPER- S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.

Pharmaceutical Technology (Process Chemistry): M.Tech. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Hyderabad, S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry); B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering) or equivalent

Pharmaceutics: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Raebareli; S.A.S. Nagar, Guwahati

Eligibility: B.Pharm.

Pharmacoinformatics: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Hajipur, Kolkata, S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B. Pharm.; M.Sc.(Organic/Physical/Pharmaceutical Chemistry); M.Sc./B.Tech. (Bioinformatics); M.Sc. (Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/Microbiology)

Pharmacology and Toxicology: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Raebareli, S.A.S. Nagar, Hajipur, Kolkata

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; B.V.Sc.; M.B.B.S.

Pharmacy Practice: M.Pharm.

Offering NIPER- Guwahati, Hajipur;,S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B. Pharm.

Regulatory Toxicology: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Hyderabad, S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B. Pharm.; B.V.Sc.; M.Sc.(Pharmacology/ Toxicology/Life Sciences/Biochemistry/Medical Biotechnology/Zoology); M.B.B.S.

Traditional Medicine: M.S. (Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm; B.A.M.S.; M.Sc. (Botany)

B. M.B.A. (Pharm.)

Pharmaceutical Management; M.B.A.(Pharm.)

Offering NIPER- Hyderabad; S.A.S. Nagar

Eligibility: B.Pharm.; B.Tech (Chemical Engg. or equivalent); M.Sc. (Chemical/Life Sciences)

Eligibility :

The candidate should have passed the qualifying degree with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate or CGPA of 6.75 on a 10 point scale wherever grades are awarded or equivalent (Percentage of marks or CGPA so calculated will be based on the norms fixed by the concerned University/Institution or aggregate marks or CGPA scored by the candidate for all years of the qualifying degree, in case University/Institution has not prescribed any norm for calculating such percentage or CGPA). Valid GPAT/GATE/NET score card of a candidate should be valid at the time of counseling/Group Discussion and Interview) is an essential qualfication for all programme [including M.B.A.(Pharm.)] except for the following categories of candidates.

Candidates holding B.V.Sc./M.B.B.S./B.A.M.S . degree.

Foreign nationals

Sponsored candidate from public/private sector undertaking, Govt. departments and research and development organizations.

Candidates applying as NRI or their wards [in case of M.B.A.(Pharm.)]



How to apply

Applicants shall register online on www.niperahm.ac.in as per instructions given on the website. The process of online registration shall commence on 17-4-2023, onwards and will continue till 16-5- 2023.

Instruction for Registration is available on www.niperahm.ac.in website.

Registration Fee for

Option-1

M.S. (Pharm.)/M.Pharm./ M.Tech. (Pharm.):

Gen/OBC/PH/ NRI - Rs. 3000/-

SC/ST - Rs. 1500/-

Option-2

Registration Fee for M.B.A. (Pharm.):

Gen/OBC/PH - Rs. 3000/-

SC/ST - Rs. 1500/-

Option-3

Combined Fee for both of above streams viz. M.S. (Pharm.)/M.Pharm./ M.Tech. (Pharm.) & M.B.A. (Pharm.):

Gen/OBC/PH/ NRI- Rs. 4000/-

SC/ST - Rs. 2000/-

Take Printout of the Registration form, put signatures at the bottom of the registration form and attach the following (i) copy of award letter pertaining to GPAT /GATE /NET etc. (ii) Sponsorship certificate from Industry / Government sponsored candidates ( as per format Annuxer2 ) and send to Chairman, NIPER JEE-Masters, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, NIPER - Ahemdabad, Palaj, Opp. Airforce Station, Gandhinagar, Gujarat - 382355, (through speed post/registered post/in person) so as to reach on before 28 May 2018, 5.00 PM. The Institute will not be responsible for any loss or postal delay. Registration form received after the due date will not be considered. Indian nationals residing abroad and foreign nationals have to remit US $ 100 or equivalent through online. The Institute shall not be held responsible for misplacement of any loose sheet. Therefore, all the documents are required to be submitted properly tied together. Incomplete forms which are not properly submitted will not be accepted.

No correspondence/ inquiry in this regard will be entertained.

Exam centres

A written test for all programmes will be held at Agra, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Surat, Rajkot, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada

For more details visit institute website.

Contact Details Address : National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Ahmedabad

Palaj, Opposite Airforce Station, Gandhinagar, Gujarat - 382355 Phone : 079-66745555 Fax : - Mobile : - E-mail : Contact I Website : www.niper.nic.in

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Comments and Discussions
Yes, Peter Thiel has signed up to be cryogenically frozen after his death. No, the billionaire does not seem to have a lot of faith he'll actually be brought back to life someday. Asked on Bari Weiss's podcast last week whether he had actually signed up for the procedure in the hopes that he might be revived one day, the PayPal co-founder and tech investor responded, "Yes, but I think of it more as an ideological statement." He continued, per the New York Post, "I dont necessarily expect it to work, but I think its the sort of thing were supposed to try to do." Asked whether he'd signed up any of his loved ones as well, he said again, "Im not convinced it works. Its more, I think we need to be trying these things. Its not there yet.

The 55-year-old's interest in cryogenic preservation had previously been reported, NDTV reports. Of death, Thiel reportedly said at the time, "You can accept it, you can deny it, or you can fight it. I think our society is dominated by people who are into denial or acceptance, and I prefer to fight it." In the interview with Weiss, Thiel also revealed his pick for 2024 presidential nominee: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Read more Peter Thiel stories.)
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has worked with President Biden before to avoid debt limit catastrophe, but he's yielding to the gentleman from California this time. McConnell told Politico he's informed the president he'll have to negotiate a solution with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. "In the end, the deal will be made between McCarthy and Biden," McConnell said. When congressional leaders meet with Biden at the White House on Tuesday, Sen. Joni Ernst said she doesn't expect McConnell to be all that involved. "He's like: 'I'm here to support McCarthy,'" she said.

If that alliance holds, Democrats who hope McConnellwho's split from McCarthy in the pastjumps in to cut a deal. They include Biden, who has called McConnell a "trusted partner" and said, about the infrastructure bill talks, "He's willing to find common ground." Republicans in both chambers are lining up behind the California speaker to strengthen his negotiating position, per USA Today. Democrats maintain there won't be a deal without McConnell's participation. "McConnell always says hes not involved until he is," said Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen. (Read more debt ceiling stories.)
The eight victims in Saturday's mall shooting in Allen, Texas, included two young sisters as well as another young child who was killed alongside his parents, leaving his older brother orphaned. While authorities have not publicly identified all of the victims yet, relatives, friends, and organizations with which they were involved have come forward to mourn those who were killed, according to the Dallas Morning News, the Guardian, CBS News, and the BBC:

Daniela and Sofia Mendoza: The sisters, ages 11 and 8, were in fourth grade and second grade at a Dallas-area elementary school. "Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students," says the principal in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims and all those affected by this senseless tragedy." The girls' mother was wounded in the shooting and is in critical condition.

The sisters, ages 11 and 8, were in fourth grade and second grade at a Dallas-area elementary school. "Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students," says the principal in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims and all those affected by this senseless tragedy." The girls' mother was wounded in the shooting and is in critical condition. Cho Kyu Song, Kang Shin Young, and their son James: Three of the four members of a Korean-American family were killed, including a 3-year-old boy. His brother, who had just celebrated his 6th birthday, was injured but survived and has since been released from the ICU.

Christian LaCour: The 20-year-old was a security guard at the outlet mall where the shooting took place. Family members were remembering him as a "beautiful soul" and a "sweet caring young man" on social media. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Christian LaCour, our security professional who was tragically killed while protecting the customers and employees of the Allen Premium Outlets," the security company says.

The 20-year-old was a security guard at the outlet mall where the shooting took place. Family members were remembering him as a "beautiful soul" and a "sweet caring young man" on social media. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Christian LaCour, our security professional who was tragically killed while protecting the customers and employees of the Allen Premium Outlets," the security company says. Aishwarya Thatikonda: The 26-year-old was a project engineer from India, and her body will be sent back to her family there. Her boss, whom she had worked with since 2020, describes their special bond: "Shes staying away from her parents, 11,000 miles away, so she found a fatherly figure in me and I found a daughter-like personality in her."

The 26-year-old was a project engineer from India, and her body will be sent back to her family there. Her boss, whom she had worked with since 2020, describes their special bond: "Shes staying away from her parents, 11,000 miles away, so she found a fatherly figure in me and I found a daughter-like personality in her." Elio Cumana-Rivas: No information has yet been released about the 32-year-old.

The shooter may have held neo-Nazi beliefs . (Read more Texas mass shooting stories.)
Seven cows have been found dead with surgical-like cuts across three Texas counties in recent weeks, adding to a larger unsolved mystery of cattle mutilation dating back decades, per the Guardian. In a April 19 statement, the Madison County Sheriff's Office described the discovery of a cow with "the hide around the cow's mouth" removed on one side in "a straight, clean cut, with apparent precision." "The tongue was also completely removed from the body with no blood spill," according to the statement, which noted there were no footprints, tire tracks, or signs of struggle. The sheriff's office also described similar incidents along Texas State Highway OSR in Brazos and Robertson counties and "across the United States."

The other cows found in Texas were also "lying on one side with the exposed side of their face cut along the jaw line" and the tongue removed. The anus and external genitalia were removed from two cows with a precise "circular cut." Each cow came from a different pasture and herd. One cow in Robertson County was found to have died of pneumonia, per the Guardian, but the question of the mutilation remains. In reporting on five dead cows found with the tongue and sex organs likewise removed in Oregon in 2019, the AP noted skin can dry out and split and "the tears often appear surgical." But the removal of organs suggests something unnatural, unless carrion bugs went for the tongue and genitals exclusively.

It "could be a plot from an episode of The X-Files," as the New York Times reports. Indeed, Fox News hosted a UFO investigator who traced cattle mutations back to the 1970s and claimed an investigating officer reported seeing aliens emerge from some sort of spacecraft before following a cow that dropped dead in 1976. But in 2005, the officer himself claimed researchers working from helicopters, not aliens, were responsible, per KOAT. The Times reports "the investigation was eventually closed after failing to turn up any evidence." "The FBI was asked to investigate, but was unable to do so because of a lack of jurisdiction," according to the bureau. In its statement, the Madison County Sheriff's Office said it was "coordinating with other agencies to find answers." (Read more strange stuff stories.)
A report by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority found harpooned whales sometimes took a distressingly long time to die during hunts, with some suffering for up to two hours, per the Guardian . The report , published in the Icelandic language, found that almost 40% of whales struggled for over 11 minutes before dying. Two took more than an hour. A quarter of the whales were harpooned twice. Just 59% died instantly. The report, which Iceland's minister of food agriculture and fisheries Svandis Svavarsdottir described as alarming, has raised concerns about the humane treatment of whales during hunts in Iceland.

Staff from the Norwegian Food Agency (MAST) rode along on the whale hunts and found that 36 out of the 148 whales had to be shot more than once. Five whales took three shots, four whales were reportedly shot four times. MAST believes some whales took far too long to die and are trying to determine whether this violated animal welfare laws. According to the Icelandic report, they do believe whale hunters used the best methods available, so no rules were technically broken. The Guardian quoted Svavarsdottir, who said in part that the report "underscores the need for a discussion in Iceland about the values we want to be known for." In the past, Svavarsdottir indicated Iceland would cease whaling by 2024.

The environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that during the 20th century alone, up to 2.9 million whales were killed for commercial purposes, leading to a catastrophic decline in global whale populations. And despite a moratorium since 1982, some countries, including Japan, Norway, and Iceland, continue to engage in commercial whaling. Senior director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Patrick Ramage, told the Guardian that "both Icelanders and the international community will be horrified by these findings. No animalhowever it is killedshould suffer for such a long time. Whales are sentient, intelligent and complex creatures that suffer both physically and psychologically during this traumatic massacre." (Read more whales stories.)
The Pulitzer Prize for fiction was awarded Monday to two class-conscious novels: Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolvers modern recasting of the Dickens classic David Copperfield, and Hernan Diazs Trust, an innovative narrative of wealth and deceit set in 1920s New York. Its the first time the Pulitzers have awarded two fiction books in the categorys 105-year history, the AP reports. Officials have declined to name a fiction winner several times, mostly recently in 2012. Trust won the Kirkus Prize for fiction, was on the long list for the Booker Prize, and was named by the New York Times and the Washington Post as one of the years best books. Kingsolvers novel, the story of a young boys struggles and persistence as he grows up in southern Appalachia, was chosen by Oprah Winfrey last fall for her book club and named by the Washington Post as a top release of 2022.

Speaking by phone Monday, Kingsolver, 68, said she regards the Pulitzer as an affirmation not just of her novel, but of a misunderstood and overlooked part of the country. Kingsolver is a longtime resident of Appalachia who currently lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia, and set Demon Copperhead close by. Diaz, also interviewed by phone, sees his book and Kingsolver's novel as approaching a similar subject, class, from different perspectives. Demon Copperhead dramatizes life on the lower end of the extreme divide between rich and poor. Trust, which begins with a novel-within-the novel about a financial tycoon and his daughter, explores how such a world is created.

I wanted to talk about the process itself of the accumulation of wealth, said Diaz, 49, whose debut novel In the Distance was a Pulitzer finalist. I wanted to deal with class and money, and how money is really made. Several works with racial themes were honored Monday. Beverly Gages G-Man, her widely acclaimed book on longtime FBI leader J. Edgar Hoover, was given the Pulitzer for biography after previously receiving the Bancroft Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize from the New-York Historical Society. It was the first major Hoover biography in decades and was cited by Pulitzer judges for its deeply researched and nuanced look at Hoover's monumental achievements and crippling flaws, including his persecution of Martin Luther King Jr.

His Name Is George Floyd: One Mans Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice, by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, won for general nonfiction, and Jefferson Cowies Freedoms Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power was honored for history. The Pulitzer for music was given to Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels for the opera Omar, about an Islamic scholar captured and sold into slavery. Sanaz Toossis play English, about four Iranian adults preparing for an English language exam in a storefront school near Tehran, won for drama. The Pulitzer for memoir or autobiography was given to Hua Hsus Stay True. One of the countrys most highly regarded poets, Carl Phillips, won in poetry for Then the War: And Selected Poems, 2007-2020. (See the journalism winners here.)
A jury in New York City is set to begin deliberations Tuesday in a civil trial over advice columnist E. Jean Carroll's claims that Donald Trump raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store in 1996, the AP reports. US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan will read instructions on the law to the nine-person jury for about an hour before jurors begin discussing the civil claims of battery and defamation. If they believe Carroll, jurors can award compensatory and punitive damages. Trump, who did not attend the trial, has insisted he never sexually assaulted Carroll or knew her.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told the jury in closing arguments Monday that Carroll's story is too far fetched to be believed. He said she made it up to fuel sales of a 2019 memoir where she first publicly revealed her claims and to disparage Trump for political reasons. Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, cited excerpts from Trump's October deposition and his notorious comments on a 2005 Access Hollywood video in which he said celebrities can grab women between the legs without asking. She urged jurors to believe her client.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from court during the two weeks of trial. She said much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case. In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll. Tacopina told jurors there was no reason to call Trump as a witness when Carroll can't even recall when her encounter with Trump happened.

(Read more Donald Trump stories.)
(CP) A British woman has joined a growing list of Christians banned from entering Turkey and is now challenging her de facto ban before the European Court of Human Rights, countering the country's unlawful practice of banning foreign Christians and missionaries by designating them as security threats.

Rachel and Mario Zalma resided in Turkey for over a decade; however, they were compelled to return to the UK after Turkish officials designated Mario with an "N-82" security code in 2019 and Rachel in 2020, said the human rights group ADF International, explaining that this code signifies that an individual is considered a "threat to public order and security."

"We are filing Rachel Zalma's case before the ECHR to challenge Turkiye's discriminatory treatment of Christians," ADF International's Legal Officer Lidia Rieder said in a statement. "We hope the court will hold Turkiye accountable so Christians can once again live their lives without the threat of deportation or unchallengeable re-entry bans hanging over them."

The Christian couple discovered that many who had attended a family conference of the Association of Turkish Protestant Churches in 2019 had also been labeled with the N-82 code.

At least one man received proof that he was classified as a security threat because he attended the conference. In documents disclosed during court proceedings in his case, the Turkish national intelligence agency revealed that it was determined that he was operating against our national security because he was one of the foreign nationals who attended the conference.

"Regrettably, Turkish authorities continue to undermine religious freedom by deliberately attempting to stifle the spread of Christianity," Rieder said.

Both Rachel and Mario challenged their N-82 labels up to the Constitutional Court of Turkiye, but their cases were rejected, which forced them to return to live in the UK.

At a high-level event on "Freedom of Religion in Turkiye" held at the European Parliament in October 2022, victims of faith-based discrimination highlighted human rights violations committed by the Turkish government and parts of society against Christian minorities in the country.

Reflecting on his experience living in Turkey, Mario Zalma said, "We love the country of Turkiye and want to work for the good of its people. We are not a threat to the state, the country, or the Turkish way of life."

The number of Christians in Turkey has dwindled from 20% to 0.2% of the population in the last 100 years, ADF International said, attributing this decline partly to the Turkish government's systematic ill-treatment of Christians.

According to Open Doors, the Turkish government expelled at least 60 foreign Christian workers and their families between 2020 and 2022.

In February 2021, a Canadian-American Christian named David Byle was forced to leave Turkey after 19 years because of his evangelistic work and filed a deportation complaint with the ECHR.

Though missionary activity is legal in Turkey, authorities alleged Byle, a street evangelist who had been arrested and previously detained, was a threat to public order and security and imposed a permanent re-entry ban on the Christian.

Turkey has a longstanding history of deporting "active" expatriate Christians categorized as missionaries, but relatively few Christians were expelled, Morning Star News noted in 2021, reporting on the case of a German pastor fighting expulsion from Turkey at the time.

After a coup attempt in the summer of 2016, the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ratcheted up the number of Christians identified for possible expulsion or denied entry into Turkey, added MSN, which monitors Christian persecution.

"Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party also allied themselves with Turkish nationalists who have long seen Christians as secret agents of foreign governments bent on undermining Turkey and a Turkish 'Manifest Destiny' throughout the Middle East and Europe, with adherence to Sunni Islam seen as a crucial element."

 The Christian Post
Israel killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted airstrikes early Tuesday, the military said. Palestinian health officials said 12 people were killed in all, including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby, the AP reports. The strikes hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah. The Palestinian Health ministry said 20 people were injured, and that ambulances were continuing to evacuate people from the targeted areas. Airstrikes continued in the early hours, targeting militant training sites.

In the past, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have retaliated for such targeted killings. In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. The military said the three targeted men had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gaza's ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, Haniyeh said in a statement. The airstrikes came at a time of boiling tensions between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. It is linked, in part, to increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain Palestinians suspected in planning or carrying out attacks on Israelis.

(Read more Israel stories.)
A woman who wrote a book to help children deal with the grief of losing a loved one has been charged with killing the father of her three children on the last of several alleged attempts to poison him over years. Kouri Richins, 33, told police she found husband Eric Richins "cold to the touch" on March 4, 2022. He died of a fentanyl overdose, with five times the equivalent of a lethal dosage in his system, per KSTU. A year later, Richins released the children's book Are You With Me? about a child who loses their father. The story"dedicated to my amazing husband and a wonderful father," per CBS Newshas taken on new meaning since Richins' arrest Monday on charges of aggravated murder and possession with intent to distribute.

Police say Richins, a realtor from Utah's Summit County, had asked an acquaintance to get her prescription pain medication "for an investor who had a back injury." After receiving hydrocodone pills, she allegedly requested "some of the Michael Jackson stuff" and obtained 15 to 30 fentanyl pills, per KSTU. Days later, after a dinner at home, Eric became "very ill" and "told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him," according to court documents. Richins requested and received another $900 in fentanyl pills about two weeks later. Her husband was found dead six days after that. Richins told police that she and Eric had been celebrating the purchase of a home that night, per KPCW.

She said she went to sleep with their children and found her husband cold to the touch when she returned to the couple's bedroom around 3am. Eric's family didn't buy that story. "He warned them that if anything happened to him, she was to blame," a warrant reads, per KPCW. One of Eric's sisters reported that her brother had called her a few years previously, complaining that he'd become violently ill after consuming a drink his wife gave him. In January 2022, Richins had also logged into an account and altered her husband's life insurance policy to make herself the sole beneficiary, according to a warrant. On Valentine's Day the following month, Eric suffered an allergic reaction after a dinner with his wife and passed out, court documents state.

Family members said he ultimately decided to file for divorce and removed his wife of nine years as the beneficiary of his will and his power of attorney, replacing her with his sister. Richins only learned of that fact on the day following Eric's death. According to court documents, she "assaulted" Eric's sister when the woman showed up at the Richins home to find a "large party" where the newly-widowed Kouri was "drinking and celebrating" the purchase of a $2 million home. The sale had been closed that same day. Eric had refused to go along with the purchase, family members said, per KPCW. (Read more murder stories.)
Pulling Triggers and Pulling Corks is "the melding of two amazing worlds," per its website: guns and booze, with a mission of teaching its students firearms skills, as well as holding wine and whiskey events and tastings. What Texas locals didn't find amazing was a promo over the weekend by the Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce, the day after a mass shooting at an Allen shopping mall left eight dead. Per WFAA, the Facebook post on Sunday, which had been previously scheduled, welcomed Pulling Triggers and Pulling Corks to its membership ranks and highlighted a photo of its logo, which features a bottle of champagne being popped open and a firing gun. Backlash was swift, and the chamber's mea culpa went up that afternoon.

Noting that the scheduling of posts is "standard practice," the group nonetheless noted that the post's contents "were insensitive and should not have been published given the tragedy in our community." It also decried the "senseless acts of violence" that had devastated Allen. Sharon Mayer, the chamber's CEO, adds in a statement to the Washington Post that the original post was taken down within minutes, and that the chamber is sorry for "any pain it may have caused." The apology post also featured a plea for politicians: "[W]e pray ... that those who have the power, including policymakers, will find the path to creating a nation where every child and person can spend a day out on the town knowing that their present and future will not be stolen." (Read more Texas stories.)
The UK government had banned the testing of makeup ingredients on animals for more than two decades when it quietly reversed its stance in 2019. It began issuing licenses for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients in line with European Union rules, which don't allow animal testing to determine whether makeup is safe for consumers, but require that manufacturers use such tests as a last resort to ensure the safety of workers during production, per the BBC and Guardian. It continued to do so after leaving the EU in 2020. It was entirely legal, High Court Judge Thomas Linden ruled Friday following legal action by Cruelty Free International (CFI), though he noted it was "regrettable" that the public hadn't been told of the policy change. Legal the move may be, but uncontroversial it is not.

More than 80 brands, including Unilever, TRESemme UK, and the Body Shop, say they're "dismayed" by the position. "We want the UK to uphold its 1998 position as intended, with no new tests on animals allowed," reads a letter signed by the brands. It notes that "the UK was the first country in the world to say no to animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients," which led to "innovation in non-animal safety science and assessment approaches." The industry now has a "'toolbox' of non-animal methodologies with which to assess product safety," yet the European Chemicals Agency is "requiring some widely used cosmetics ingredients (and ingredients used in many other types of consumer products) to be tested on hundreds of thousands of animals."

PETA UK claims rabbits, rats, and other animals are forced to "ingest shampoo or sun cream ingredients for months at a time," per Glamour. Dr. Julia Fentem, head of Unilever's Safety & Environmental Assurance Center, says it's not necessary to use animals in the safety tests. CFI CEO Michelle Thew argues the government "was prioritizing the interests of contract-testing companies over those of animals and the wishes of the vast majority of British people," per the BBC. The organization plans to appeal the ruling. The UK Home Office says it's "pleased" with the decision but remains "committed to the protection of animals in science." Judge Linden noted, however, that there's nothing stopping the government from introducing a complete ban on animal testing of cosmetics. (Read more animal testing stories.)
The owner of Australian luxury jewelry company Germani Jewellery claims to have designed items for Saudi and British royalty, including Princess Diana. But his biggest claim came in January, when the 65-year-old reported suffering a $2.8 million armed heist at one of his Sydney stores. According to New South Wales police, Michel Elias Germani was actually the mastermind of said heist. He told police that two men had demanded access to the store's safe before tying up Germani and another employee and making off with nearly $3 million in valuables. Germani also said one of the two assailants had threatened his employee, a 47-year-old woman, with a knife. Police arrested two men in the case last month, but soon determined something "just didn't seem right," as the Guardian reports.

Germani was arrested Monday on charges including aggravated robbery. On Tuesday, police told reporters he was involved in "planning and coordinating the robbery" at the Hilton Hotel store in an effort "to defraud an insurance company." "There is sufficient evidence that would implicate the store owner in orchestrating the two males to conduct that robbery upon his store," Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said, per ABC Australia. The heist did, in fact, happen. Doueihi said Germani's employee, unaware of the hoax, was left injured and "absolutely traumatized," per the Guardian. Shanel Tofaeono, 37, and Mounir Helou, 57, were charged with aggravated robbery in April. "Doueihi said he does not believe the three men had a direct relationship prior to the robbery," per ABC. (Read more armed robbery stories.)
Every year on May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, a commemoration of the day when Russia defeated Nazi Germany during World War II. NBC News calls the holiday "the most sacred day on the calendar for Putin's Russia," and one that "has held tremendous sentimental value for Russians" since the Soviet era came to a close. It's also one that's typically accompanied by lots of fanfare, including a military parade through Moscow's Red Square. This year, though, things are a little different, amid weaker world support for Russia as its invasion of Ukraine continues:

'Muted' display: The Washington Post notes this year's festivities were somewhat subdued, with only about 50 or so military vehicles featured in a shorter-than-usual 45-minute parade through the nation's capital. For context, in 2021 there were 131 military vehicles. Just one tank made an appearance Tuesday, and the usual military flyover was nixed.

The Washington Post notes this year's festivities were somewhat subdued, with only about 50 or so military vehicles featured in a shorter-than-usual 45-minute parade through the nation's capital. For context, in 2021 there were 131 military vehicles. Just one tank made an appearance Tuesday, and the usual military flyover was nixed. Keeping things safe: Following what NBC calls a recent "wave of explosions" inside Russia's borders, security has been tight, especially in Moscow, with drones banned, ride-sharing services shut down in the city's center, and Red Square also shuttered in the weeks leading up to the big day. Victory Day parades in other Russian cities, meanwhile, were either similarly tamped down or canceled altogether.

Following what NBC calls a recent "wave of explosions" inside Russia's borders, security has been tight, especially in Moscow, with drones banned, ride-sharing services shut down in the city's center, and Red Square also shuttered in the weeks leading up to the big day. Victory Day parades in other Russian cities, meanwhile, were either similarly tamped down or canceled altogether. Putin's words: The Russian president gave a seven-minute speech during the event, in which he noted, per the Post: "A real war has once again been waged against our homeland. Today, civilization is at a critical juncture."

The Russian president gave a seven-minute speech during the event, in which he noted, per the Post: "A real war has once again been waged against our homeland. Today, civilization is at a critical juncture." More Yevgeny Prigozhin rants: The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group waited until the parade ended, then immediately put out a 30-minute video blasting his nation's Defense Ministry again, as he did last week. "Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers," he said. "We did not deserve a single bit of this victory."

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group waited until the parade ended, then immediately put out a 30-minute video blasting his nation's Defense Ministry again, as he did last week. "Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers," he said. "We did not deserve a single bit of this victory." More attacks: In the days leading up to Victory Day, Russia launched a new series of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, reports the Guardian. Kyiv alone was attacked by three dozen drones on Sunday, all of which were destroyed over the capital city. Five people on the ground were injured by debris from the fallen drones.

More on the significance of Victory Day here . (Read more Russia stories.)
One of the young survivors of the mall shooting in Allen, Texas, has evidently struck a nerve among Americans. A GoFundMe page for 6-year-old William Cho had raised more than $1.3 million as of Tuesday morning. William was orphaned in the shootinghis Korean-American parents, Kyu Cho, 37, and Cindy Cho, 35, were killed, as was his only sibling, 3-year-old James, per the AP and Unilad. "An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love, and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting," reads the GoFundMe page.

The family members were only three of the eight people killed, and several others were wounded. A list of verified fundraisers for the other victims is here, and you can read more about the others here. "Words cannot even begin to describe the devastation that our family feels," one relative of 20-year-old Christian LaCour wrote on Facebook, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "There will forever be a void." (The local chamber of commerce has apologized for an ill-timed online post celebrating a group called "Pulling Triggers and Pulling Corks.")
The Metaverse still exists, but Ed Zitron at Business Insider has written an obituary for Mark Zuckerberg's brainchild. Literally: "The Metaverse, the once-buzzy technology that promised to allow users to hang out awkwardly in a disorientating video-game-like world, has died after being abandoned by the business world," Zitron begins. "It was three years old." The tech has never quite worked, and, more importantly, Zuckerberg has never been able to articulate a vision for the Metaverse that went beyond "vague promises" of a brave new world in which businesses could flourish. Zuckerberg and his Meta company have now made clear that their big new focus will be on artificial intelligence, not the Metaverse.

The latter is "headed to the tech industry's graveyard of failed ideas," writes Zitron. It was always a "half-baked idea," but Zuckerberg used his massive wealth and clout to get others in the tech industry to buy into the hype. Those who did should be embarrassed, and Zuckerberg himself would be fired from Meta if the tech world made any sense. He "misled everyone, burned tens of billions of dollars, convinced an industry of followers to submit to his quixotic obsession, and then killed it the second that another idea started to interest Wall Street," writes Zitron. Zuckerberg has no business running a major company, he adds, predicting that Meta is doomed to follow the Metaverse "into the proverbial grave" if Zuckerberg remains in control. (Read the full essay.)
A Louisiana man is facing multiple charges after allegedly opening fire on young people who were playing hide-and-seek on his property. Authorities say David V. Doyle, 58, shot a 14-year-old girl in the back of the head early Sunday, USA Today reports. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and Doyle was charged with aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal discharge of a firearm. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office said they received a report of a shooting in Sparks, a small town near the Texas border.

The sheriff's office said deputies were called to the home around 1am Sunday, KPLC reports. The office said detectives determined that several juveniles were playing hide-and-seek in the area and were hiding on Sparks' property. The only homes on the dead-end road are those of Doyle, the victim's family, and a relative of the victim's family, per KPLC. The sheriff's office said Doyle told investigators that he retrieved his firearm after seeing shadows outside his home. He said he then "observed people running away from his property, at which time he began shooting at them and unknowingly hit the girl." (Read more Louisiana stories.)
The late pop superstar Prince is being honored in Minnesota as the state renames a seven-mile stretch of highway that runs past his Paisley Park recording studios. Minnesota Gov. Tim Waz used purple ink on Tuesday to sign the bill that dedicates the roadway formerly known as Minnesota Highway 5 to Prince. Now, the stretch of road in the Minneapolis suburbs of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie will be named the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway, per the AP.

Princes friends and fans are covering the costs of the purple signs that will soon go up along the road. After touring Paisley Park on Tuesday, Walz described Prince as a "global icon" and "creative genius." The governor said this is the "coolest bill signing" hes ever done. Paisley Park, where Prince lived and recorded, now draws visitors from around the world to Chanhassen. It's also where Prince died on April 21, 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 57. The 65,000-square-foot complex is now a museum run by his estate as well as an event venue and recording studio.

(Read more Prince stories.)
WASHINGTON  The U.S. government could default as soon as next month if Congress and the Biden administration cant reach a debt limit agreement before then, according to a new analysis from the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The updated guidance, which puts the default window between early June and early August, adds pressure to President Joe Biden and the four congressional leaders for an agreement ahead of a meeting later Tuesday. The not-for-profit center works to help leaders arrive at bipartisan solutions.

I still dont think now is the time for panic. But its certainly time to start getting concerned because were possibly only several weeks away from the x-date, said Shai Akabas, the centers director of economic policy, referring to the default date.

And again, I think were really at the early stage of these negotiations between the two parties, he added.

The Bipartisan Policy Center projections, Akabas said, are consistent with the Treasury Departments projections, which put the default date as soon as June 1.

We also see reason for concern in early June, based on the fact that cash flows will be running quite low, Akabas said.

Potential delays in Social Security payments

If the United States were to default for the first time in its history, it would likely mean delays in federal payments for hundreds of programs, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits and federal employee salaries.

Depending on how long a default lasted, a global recession could be triggered as well.

Tuesdays meeting between congressional leaders and Biden will be the first time all five men have sat down together to negotiate on the nations borrowing limit, which pays for deficit spending Congress has already approved.

The group doesnt have much time to work out a deal, with both chambers of Congress scheduled to be in Washington, D.C., a total of seven days during May, though leaders can add days to the calendar if needed.

Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy met at the White House in February but have made no progress since then, opting instead to trade barbs in public as the country inches closer to a default that would roil financial markets.

At the center of the dispute is whether changes in federal spending should be tied to legislation addressing the debt limit, or if talks about how much money Congress spends should be kept on a separate track.

Republicans have insisted that future spending cuts move along with any debt limit bill. Biden and Democrats have rejected their calls, saying that negotiations over spending should be independent of the debt limit.

U.S. House Republicans narrowly passed legislation in late April that would raise the nations debt limit by $1.5 trillion or suspend it through March 31, whichever comes first. But they included dozens of conservative policies and spending cuts that cannot pass the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate.

That has left congressional leaders and the Biden administration in a stalemate over how to address the countrys debt limit, which has accrued over decades.

GOP Senate letter

A group of 43 Senate Republicans released a letter over the weekend saying theyll stand with their House GOP colleagues and oppose a stand-alone debt limit bill.

The Senate Republican conference is united behind the House Republican conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling, Republican senators wrote in the letter.

Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies, Senate Republicans added. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms. Moreover, recent Treasury projections have reinforced the urgency of addressing the debt ceiling. The House has taken a responsible first step in coming to the table with their proposals. It is imperative that the president now do the same.

As such, we will not be voting for cloture on any bill that raises the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms, they wrote.

The letter, however, doesnt detail specific spending cuts that Senate Republicans want to see, a move thats likely designed to give Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell flexibility in closed-door talks with Democrats.

The letter was signed by Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, along with John Barrasso of Wyoming, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Braun of Indiana, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Katie Britt of Alabama, John Cornyn of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Ted Cruz of Texas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, James Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, John Thune of South Dakota, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Todd Young of Indiana.

No certainty on x-date

The estimate from the Bipartisan Policy Center is similar to the timeline Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen detailed for Congress last week, warning of default as soon as June 1 and urging lawmakers to broker a deal.

We have learned from past debt limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States, Yellen wrote.

If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests.

Akabas said during a briefing call with reporters on the Bipartisan Policy Centers projections that specifying a more narrow window or exact day for when the federal government would default is especially difficult.

Were talking about hundreds of billions of dollars of payments that are going in and out, he said. And so neither we, nor Treasury, can know with any certainty when the x-date will arrive. Maybe not even a couple days in advance.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by the Civil Service Council to adopt flexible working hours across ministries and government agencies.

The new policy will provide employees with a three-hour window to begin their workday to increase productivity. The Cabinet directed the Civil Service Bureau to take the necessary measures to implement the policy.

The decision came as the Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, chaired yesterday the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.

Coronation

The Cabinet highlighted the importance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas attendance at the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Head of the Commonwealth, which was also attended by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which reflects the depth of relations between the two countries.

The Cabinet congratulated HM King Charles III on his coronation and thanked the UK for its hospitality. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day and Bahraini Press Day, the Cabinet commended HM the Kings address on the importance of addressing hate speech.

The Cabinet highlighted the contributions of Bahrainis in the press and media and emphasised their pivotal role in supporting the Kingdoms comprehensive development. To mark International Nursing Day, the Cabinet thanked Bahraini nursing professionals for providing immaculate health services to Bahraini citizens and residents.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Ashen Tharaka

The 52nd Bangladesh National Day celebration was held at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel under the auspices of Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dignitaries attended the event, which was hosted by Bangladesh Ambassador H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nazrul Islam. Over the past two years, Bangladesh has made significant progress in the economic and social sectors, achieving a three-billion-dollar economy in less than three years, Dr. Islam said.

He thanked Bahrain for its extraordinary support. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed bin Abdulla commended the development of Bangladeshs food security, business, and pharmaceutical sectors, saying: Development in those industries enhances the strong economic activities in Bahrain and Bangladesh.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa, the Chairman of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), expressed the companys eagerness to establish fresh commercial ties with prominent Chinese corporations.

This announcement was made during a discussion with Ni Ruchi, the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Bahrain, on the Alba premises.

Shaikh Daij further stated that Alba is keen on advancing its proposed Line 7 Expansion Project, which will consolidate its position as the worlds largest smelter outside China.

He added: We are pleased to welcome Ni Ruchi and shed the light on Albas role in in the global aluminium industry and contribution to Bahrains economy.

The meeting was attended by Albas Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, along with officials from the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain, including Li Baoan, Economic and Trade Counsellor, and Wang Zhen, Second Secretary.

The discussion covered a range of topics of mutual interest, including business and partnership prospects between Alba and significant companies in China, which is a prominent exporter/importer of aluminium products and raw materials worldwide.
Local radio personality Rick on Red will also be at the event, and state Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, is also slated to attend.

The event celebrates the groups 25 years in the community raising funds and providing services to those hard-of-hearing. The groups latest project is Feel the Danger, which provides home fire alarms designed to notify those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The club is accepting donations and applications to provide those at no cost to residents in need.
AFP | Gaza City

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Israeli army said it killed three leaders of the Islamic Jihad militant group Tuesday in air strikes on Gaza, which left a dozen dead according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.

The ministry said that women and children were among the dead, publishing a list of names without ages or detailing any affiliations.

An AFP journalist in Gaza saw the top of a building on fire immediately after the strikes as well as ambulances evacuating victims.

The Israeli army said it had targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad, which it considers a terrorist organisation, and had hit "weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group.

Army spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists the force "achieved what we wanted to achieve" in the overnight strikes, which he said involved 40 aircraft.

The militant group confirmed three senior officials were killed, naming them in a statement as Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the Al-Quds Brigades military council, and Khalil al-Bahtini, also of the council and commander of the military wing in northern Gaza.

The third, Tareq Ezzedine, was described by Islamic Jihad as "one of the heads of military action" in the occupied West Bank who operated from Gaza.

In Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, an AFP photographer saw the body of a man identified as Ghannam.

"We mourn the leaders and their wives and a number of their children who were killed in a cowardly Zionist crime," Islamic Jihad said in a statement, vowing "the blood of martyrs will increase (the) resolve" of the movement.

An AFP photographer saw a boy's body in the morgue of Gaza City's Shifa hospital, where mourners had gathered.

Asked by journalists about child casualties, Hecht said: "If there were some tragic deaths, we'll look into it."

Explosions from air strikes, which began a little after 2 am (2300 GMT), could be heard for nearly two hours, according to AFP journalists.

The operation came less than a week after Islamic Jihad announced a truce around Gaza -- brokered with help from Egypt -- following a flare-up in violence after the death in Israeli custody of a hunger striker with ties to the militant group.

On Tuesday, Islamic Jihad said Israel had "scorned all the initiatives of mediators" and vowed it would "avenge the leaders" killed in the latest air strikes.

- 'Treacherous operation' -

In separate statements detailing each of the Islamic Jihad figures killed, the military presented Ghannan as "one of the most senior members of the organisation" who coordinated weapons and money transfers between the group and Hamas.

Bahtini was "responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month", Israel said.

Ezzedine was recently "planning and direction (sic) multiple attacks against Israeli" civilians in the West Bank, where he was from, and which has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Israel for his involvement in suicide attacks in the 2000s, before being freed in a 2011 prisoner exchange and transferred to Gaza, according to the army.

An Islamic Jihad source told AFP that Ezzedine was part of a delegation from the group due to travel to the Egyptian capital Cairo for a Thursday meeting, which has been cancelled in the face of the air strikes.

Hecht said the military was "looking where this thing will develop", with the army instructing Israeli residents within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of the Gaza border to stay near bomb shelters until Wednesday evening.

The army subsequently said its troops had entered Nablus in the northern West Bank, with residents telling AFP they heard explosions during the raid.

In a statement, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said "assassinating the leadership in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but instead greater resistance".

The militant group's spokesman, Hazem Qassem, warned that Israel "bears responsibility for the repercussions of this escalation".

Israel and Gaza militants have fought multiple wars since Hamas took control of the Palestinian enclave in 2007.

A three-day conflict in Gaza last August left 49 Palestinians and no Israelis dead, with Cairo playing a key role in securing a truce.

Tuesday's deaths bring to 120 the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.

Nineteen Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP count based on official sources from the two sides.
An entertainment industry group in Japan is calling on the government to protect the rights and activities of artists in response to the growing amount of content generated by artificial intelligence.

The members of Arts Workers Japan are actors, musicians and other artists. The group announced at a news conference on Monday that it had submitted a request to the government.

The group presented the viewpoints of freelancers working in various fields to explain the impact of AI on artists' activities.

A voice actor said AI can replicate artists' expressions and performances after analyzing their voices for just a few hours.

An artist noted that AI could infringe on copyrights by reusing works without their creators' knowledge. ...continue reading
NEWTOWN  A Danbury resident has died following a single-car crash on South Main Street over the weekend, according to police.

Newtown police identified the victim as 26-year-old Paltin Loja, who they said was a passenger in the Chevrolet pickup truck that crashed.

Police said the crash occurred around 2:10 a.m. when a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado went off the road. Police said the truck had been heading north on South Main Street when it went into the southbound lanes. The car then went off the roadway and struck a tree near the Greenbriar Lane intersection, Newtown police said in a news release Tuesday.

The driver and Loja were taken to Danbury hospital, where Loja was later pronounced dead, police said. They did not identify the driver or say what their condition was as of Tuesday.

Police said the crash remains under investigation by the department's detective bureau and accident reconstruction team.

The fatal crash was among several reported over this past weekend. Authorities so far have said at least eight people have died in Connecticut from crashes that occurred over the weekend.

Anyone with information about the crash can contact Newtown Det. Chelsea Harold at 203-270-4237.
Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

A psychologist, who operates out of her home office in Greenwich, reached a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments to resolve allegations that she received payments from Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not provided, officials said.

Dr. Evelyn Llewellyn agreed to pay $658,294, which covers the period from November 2014 to February 2020, according to U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico's border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach U.S. soil.

The volume was overwhelming the nations busiest border crossing in San Diego. In Tijuana, thousands of Ukrainians slept in a municipal gym hoping for a chance to cross into the U.S.

In response, the Biden administration announced it would admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians for two years  if they applied online, had a financial backer and entered through an airport. At the same time, border officials turned back Ukrainians who arrived on foot at the U.S. border.

The Democratic administration has considered those policies to be so effective that a similar model has become the centerpiece of a broader border policy rolling out in earnest Thursday as coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions that had allowed U.S. officials to quickly turn away migrants crossing illegally come to an end.

The results are sure to be a test for President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection as the border shifts back into the political spotlight and Republicans seek to portray him as soft on security.

Our model is to build lawful pathways and then to impose consequences that the law provides on those that do not avail themselves of those lawful pathways, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last month.

It's a shift away from the more open immigration policies that characterized Bidens first year as president in favor of an approach that pairs beefed-up enforcement with expanded legal pathways and diplomacy.

The policies have been criticized by the left as too much like former President Donald Trump's. Others wonder whether anything Biden does will stop the flow of migrants along the southern border, and whether the new policies can survive expected legal challenges and a lack of resources.

But some immigration experts think it may be a balanced approach that results in fewer illegal crossings while still providing a haven for those fleeing persecution.

I think they have a fighting chance, over time, to turn this into a real system that is both more fair and more controllable, said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, a non-partisan immigration think tank.

This account is based in part on interviews with more than a dozen current and former administration officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Within his first month in office, Biden signed a slew of executive actions to undo Trump-era policies. He backed legislation to provide a path to citizenship for millions in the country illegally. He stacked his administration with immigrant advocates eager to push back against what they saw as anti-immigrant policies by Trump.

But alarms rang almost immediately when nearly 19,000 children traveling alone were stopped at the border in March 2021. Senior officials met twice weekly to strategize, moving children out of badly overcrowded Border Patrol facilities to emergency shelters, including convention centers in California and military bases in Texas.

While the number of unaccompanied children eased, a "daily dashboard" monitored by top officials showed overall arrivals continuing to rise, especially families.

Most of the people coming to the U.S. border illegally are fleeing persecution or poverty in their home countries. They ask for asylum and have generally been allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. That process can take years under a badly strained immigration court system, and it has prompted increasing numbers to come to the border hoping to get into the U.S.

Even though many ask for asylum, the legal pathway is narrow and most do not meet the standard.

By the time Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many officials with close ties to immigration advocacy groups had left the administration, some exasperated that their views werent gaining more traction and feeling that Biden was not as focused on the U.S.-Mexico border as he was on other issues. That left officials with more centrist views in charge.

Mayorkas and others were worried that Ukrainians could be unsafe in their travels and their circuitous route to the U.S. was further straining border resources. That led to the Uniting for Ukraine policy, under which 128,000 people have been allowed into the U.S., with tens of thousands more approved to come. And the number of Ukrainians coming on foot essentially stopped.

We built at incredible speed and it proved successful, Mayorkas said.

The administration turned its focus to other people coming to the border illegally who could not be easily returned to their home countries. Venezuelans had become the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans, and in October 2022, they became the second group where the policy would apply. If they crossed illegally on foot, 24,000 would be returned back over the border to Mexico. If they came by air, with sponsors, the U.S. would take in 24,000.

Meanwhile, Cubans and Nicaraguans had pushed illegal crossings to the highest levels on record in December, as Fox News aired live reports of hundreds of waiting migrants under the banner: Bidens Border Crisis.

Republican-led states had sued to keep the COVID-19 restrictions in place. And Biden officials were waiting to see if a bipartisan immigration bill in Congress could actually pass. It didn't.

So in January, Biden announced the policy would be expanded again to people from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, and they increased the number of people: 30,000 from each of the four nationalities would be allowed in as long as they flew in, met background checks and had sponsors. Mexico agreed to take the same number back from those four countries who cross the border illegally.

We cant stop people from making the journey, but we can require them to come here in an orderly way under U.S. law," Biden said in announcing the policy.

Soon, the administration was reporting that Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans made up only 3% of illegal crossings in March, down from 40% in December.

The U.S. has now declared the COVID-19 emergency over, and the restrictions will end this week that have allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants more than 2.8 million times since March 2020.

The Biden administration has bolstered its centerpiece policy with other moves meant to clamp down at the border and open up other pathways for migrants.

Last week, the administration said it would admit 100,000 people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who come to be reunited with their families in the U.S. New immigration hubs in Guatemala, Colombia and perhaps elsewhere will field applications to come to the United States.

But border officials are also speeding up the process asylum seekers go through, to more quickly expel those who fail. And it's finalizing a new rule  similar to a Trump policy that was blocked in court  to make obtaining asylum extremely difficult for anyone who passes through another country, like Mexico, to reach the U.S. border.

Meanwhile, the number of Venezuelans illegally crossing the border is rising again. Administration officials are waiting to see whether it's a temporary blip related to the end of COVID-19 restrictions.

Mayorkas acknowledged the concerns during a tour of Texas' Rio Grande Valley last week. In the end, he said, nothing is a substitute for congressional action.

We have a plan, we are executing on that plan, Mayorkas said. Fundamentally, however, we are working within a broken immigration system that for decades has been in dire need of reform.

___

Spagat reported from San Diego.
Its been about two years since Kendell Jerome Cook was killed and another man injured in a shooting at the GQ Barbershop on North Hanover Street in Carlisle.

Michael Anthony Baltimore He had worked as a barber for Cook, who owned the shop, until 2019 and also appeared in several episodes of the TLC reality series 90 Day Fiance. He was wanted by the Carlisle Police Department and the U.S. Marshals in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for homicide, assault and parole violation charges in the May 22, 2021, slaying, and was elevated to the U.S. Marshals Services 15 Most Wanted list that June.

On Jan. 13 of this year, Baltimore was arrested in Broward County, Florida, after he fled a bar fight and was stopped by local police. Hes remained in Florida since then.

Its my understanding that the state of Florida wants to deal with his local criminal case before sending him up here for our charges, Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack said.

McCormack said Baltimores next hearing in Florida is scheduled for May 22, and any timeline on Baltimores extradition to Pennsylvania depends on how long it takes for Florida officials to work through his charges there.

If Baltimore is convicted and sentenced to prison on the Florida charges, Chief Deputy Ron Kerr with the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office said paperwork would begin for an interstate agreement on detainers.

Our state and their state [would] work out a written agreement basically, that wed borrow him to come up here to face his charges, and then at some point, we would have to send him back so he finishes his time in Florida if he had to do so, he said.

Extradition process

Cumberland County courts see extraditions an average of more than once a week, with 88 taking place in 2022, Kerr said.

Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Birbeck, who covers Carlisle, said the extradition process in Pennsylvania is much like many other states.

Extradition is when some person is involved in charges either in this state or in another state and theyre requested to go back to the state where the charges are pending to face the charges there, he said. Nothing can be done to those charges in the requesting state until they appear in person.

Birbeck said someone cannot be forced to go back to the requesting state until one of two things happens.

Suspects can waive extradition, meaning they agree to return to the requesting state.

In that case, they would appear before a common pleas judge and sign paperwork saying theyll go back. From there, either the judge can release the person on unsecured bail with the promise to return to the requesting state or law enforcement officers from the requesting state can come retrieve that person, Birbeck said.

Kerr said the method of transport can differ depending on the distance.

It would all depend on how far away [they are]. Florida we would fly, but weve driven to Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, New York, those type of things, he said. But [for] the Californias and the Texases and the Floridas, we fly.

If the person doesnt waive extradition, several things would need to happen.

The governors of both states would each need to sign paperwork and someone from the requesting state would need to appear in the holding state and prove to a court that the person is wanted, according to Birbeck. He said this doesnt determine guilt, just that he or she is the person sought in the requesting state.

This must be completed within 30 days, according to Pennsylvania law. Birbeck said extensions of up to 60 additional days are commonly granted.

If you explain [extradition] to the person, yes, they will usually choose to waive, he said. On the other hand, there have been some that just dig in their heels and say, No, Im not going and you cant make me.

This can delay the court process, and Birbeck said time spent in jail waiting for governors to sign papers and further the process does not count toward a prison sentence if that person is convicted.

He said the cost of extradition is paid for up-front by the county, and anyone who is convicted must pay that back to the county.

[Extradition] is expensive, ranging in the $1,500 to $4,000 range depending on where the person must be sent, and it takes days and days for the transport to get them there, Birbeck said, adding that several stops can be made to pick people up and drop them off along the way.

In Baltimores case, the timeline is up in the air as Florida officials work through his charges there.

I dont know what stages the Florida charges are at, but I know nothing can happen here in Pennsylvania unless or until Mr. Baltimore appears here in person, Birbeck said.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Jill Biden says writing about the crushing grief she felt after her son Beau died of cancer helped give her the emotional strength to carry on as she encouraged young people who have lost loved ones during military service to spill their feelings out onto paper.

It takes courage to write, she said Tuesday, but it's worth it, because it helps us glue ourselves back together. It connects to those who carry their own grief, reminds us that we aren't alone. And you are not alone.

The first lady opened up about her experience with the children and siblings of service members who lost their lives during military service after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The group is participating in a weeklong writing seminar at a ranch in Justin, Texas, sponsored by The War Horse, a nonprofit newsroom that publishes stories about the human fallout of military service.

Biden, a community college writing professor, said that, after President Joe Biden finished up his earlier service as vice president, a publishing company suggested she write a book about her life. She knew everything she wanted to write about, she said.

But there was one thing I did not want to talk about: My son Beau," she said. Beau Biden, who was the son of President Biden and his first wife, died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46.

Although she started writing the book two years after he died, she said "even the best memories were laced with pain. I felt like his loss was crushing me, and I worried that shining a light on it would only make it grow. So I told my team that he was off limits.

But then one day I found myself writing words without thinking. Im shattered, I scribbled on a yellow notebook," the first lady said. She felt like a piece of broken china that that had been glued back together. 'The cracks may be imperceptible, but they're there. Look closely and you can see the glue holding me together.'

She added that there were days when I felt like it took all of my strength to keep my grief inside of me, but when I wrote, I didnt have to. I could let it spill out, messy and melancholy and mad.

It didn't make my sorrow smaller, she said, but it helped give me the strength to carry it.'

The first lady joined the seminar by video as part of Joining Forces, her White House initiative to help support active-duty service members and veterans, their families and their caregivers. She asked the participants what led them to the seminar and about the importance of sharing their stories.

On Wednesday, also as part of Joining Forces and in conjunction with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Biden was hosting a screening of the documentary, Unconditional: When Minds Hurt, Love Heals, to highlight the caregivers of wounded, ill or injured service members or veterans.

Her memoir, "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself," was published in 2019.
BERLIN (AP)  The German government on Tuesday presented a proposal for a law that will make it easier for people to legally change their name and gender, ending decades-old rules that require them to get expert assessments and a courts authorization.

Under the planned self-determination law, adults would be able to change their first name and legal gender at registry offices without further formalities.

We have taken another big step forward with the self-determination act and with it also in the protection against discrimination and the rights of transgender, intersex and nonbinary people, Germanys minister for families, Lisa Paus, said.

This way we can give back some of the dignity to those who have been deprived of it for decades, she added.

The existing transsexual law, which took effect in 1981, currently requires individuals to obtain assessments from two experts  such as physicians  whose training and experience make them sufficiently familiar with the particular problems of transsexualism and then a court decision to change the gender on official documents.

Over the years, Germanys top court has struck down other provisions that required transgender people to get divorced and sterilized, and to undergo gender-transition surgery.

"Transgender people have been affected by discrimination and undignified treatment for far too long  we will finally put this condition behind us, said Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who presented the proposal together with the family minister.

The new government proposal declares that for children under the age of 14, legal guardians have to submit the declaration of change, while teenagers aged 14 and older should be able to submit the declaration of change themselves  but it should include the support of their custodians.

Germany's government isn't the only one trying to make gender changes easier in Europe.

Spain passed a law earlier this year that allows people over 16 years of age to change their legally registered gender without any medical supervision.

Minors between 12-13 years old need a judges authorization to change, while those between 14 and 16 must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

On Tuesday, Spains Constitutional Court said it will consider a legal challenge lodged by the far-right Vox party against the new law.

In Scotland, First Minister Humza Yousaf said last month he will challenge the British government over its decision to block a law that makes it easier for people to change their gender on official documents.

The passage of Scotland's bill in December was hailed by transgender rights activists but vetoed by the British government, which argued it could undermine U.K.-wide equality legislation that guarantees women and girls access to single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters.

The bill would allow people aged 16 or older in Scotland to change the gender designation on identity documents by self-declaration, removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. It would also speed up legal recognition of the change from two years to three months for adults and to six months for people aged 16 and 17.
Skip wants to help Canadians celebrate every moment, including Mother's Day with ease in the most convenient and affordable way possible. Whether consumers are on the hunt for a last-minute gift or just don't want to brave the stores - they can avoid the last minute panic of finding the perfect gift for loved ones thanks to Skip.



Through the wide selection of local flower vendors on the network, you can now choose between same-day delivery within 30 minutes or a pre-order option. Send a gift directly (even to someone in another city) by putting the recipient's address into the app instead of using your own, to have the flowers delivered conveniently straight to their door.

Some of the local favourites on Skip include:

May Flowers Floral Co. ( Toronto )

) Million Rose Flowers ( Toronto )

( ) Fleuriste Brunet Florist ( Ottawa )

) St. Boniface Golden Florist ( Winnipeg )

) McDiarmid Flowers ( Winnipeg )

) Yara Flowers ( Calgary )

( ) Forget Me Not Florist ( Calgary )

) Mayfield Flowers ( Edmonton )

( ) Mei Mei Florist ( Vancouver )

Since launching its innovative grocery and household item delivery service Skip Express Lane in 2021, Skip's retail offerings continue to rapidly expand based on consumer demand.

"Flowers are just the beginning of the many new and exciting retail categories Skip continues to expand into," says Steve Puchala, Interim CEO at SkipTheDishes. "We are excited to continue furthering our commitment to supporting local businesses and providing the best value and choice for Canadians, for all moments and occasions."

Flowers are available directly in the Skip app. Consumers can either click the Flowers icon in the top of their app, or search "flowers" in the navigation bar to find multiple shops in their area to choose from on Mother's Day and beyond. In addition to local vendors, Skip Express Lane fulfilment centres will also be delivering flowers in 25 minutes or less in select markets to celebrate Mother's Day, providing additional options when searching "flowers" within the app.

SOURCE SkipTheDishes

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: SkipTheDishes, E: [email protected]
LONDON, ON, May 8, 2023 /CNW/ - Six French-speaking Montreal journalists have won awards for excellence in reporting on mental health during 2022. The winning pieces, chosen by two independent juries, all come this year from the same two media organizations: Societe Radio-Canada and La Presse. The winners will be celebrated at an event in Montreal on June 1.

Winners in two categories of the 2022 Prix En-Tete are announced. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma)

In the Workplace Mental Health reporting category, Charles-Eric Blais-Poulin and Marissa Groguhe won first place for " Vague de suicides chez les artisans de la scene : Quand le rideau tombe a jamais " (Wave of suicides among stage craftsmen: When the curtain falls forever) published in La Presse on January 29, 2022. Alexis Gacon received a special mention for " Des ateliers d'integration sociale et professionnelle pour schizophrenes " (Social and professional integration workshops for schizophrenics), broadcast on the Desautels le dimanche program on Radio-Canada on March 27, 2022.

In the Youth Mental Health Reporting category, Angie Landry and Rachel Del Fante won first prize for " Les risques de s'autodiagnostiquer un trouble de sante mentale avec les reseaux sociaux " (The risks of self-diagnosing a mental health disorder with social networks) published online by Radio-Canada on August 18, 2022. Ariane Lacoursiere received a special mention for her article " Quand l'anxiete ronge les jeunes " (When anxiety gnaws at young people), published in La Presse on October 2, 2022.

These winners were selected from eight finalist submissions, representing 10 journalists. A total of 32 applications were submitted this year.

"It's really great to receive so many applications," said Cliff Lonsdale, president of the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma. "The awards we give are intended to encourage journalists to take more interest in stories about mental health, and to do so with confidence and understanding, through the use of our En-Tete and Mindset guides."

En-Tete: Reportage et sante mentale and its English equivalent Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health are the only Canadian editorial guides written by experienced journalists for the benefit of other journalists, especially general-assignment reporters.

The prize-giving event on June 1 will be hosted by retired journalist Raymond Saint-Pierre, who will discuss the award-winning stories with the winners. The discussion will be edited into a podcast that will be available on the En-Tete website.

The En-Tete award for reporting on youth mental health is supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association. The award for reporting on mental health in the workplace is supported by Strategies for Mental Health in the Workplace, courtesy of Canada Life.

The Canadian Journalists Forum on Violence and Trauma is a charitable organization dedicated to the physical and emotional well-being of journalists, their audiences and those they report on. The Mental Health Commission of Canada supports the publication of the En-Tete and Mindset guides, although the Forum retains sole editorial responsibility. Certain activities of the Forum, other than these awards, are also supported by the Globe and Mail, CBC News, and KFB Canada, as well as by individual donors. We thank CNW for publishing this press release.

SOURCE Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma

For further information: please visit our website www.en-tete.ca or contact in French Lise Villeneuve at 514-895-2106, [email protected], or in English Jane Hawkes , Executive Producer, Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, at 519-852-4946, [email protected]
Today, Canada has a real-time population estimate (from Statistics Canada) of 39.88 million people. Canada is adding about 260k people ever 3 months. Canada will pass 40 million people in less than 45 days. This will have Canada join 37 other countries with populations over 40 million.

Canada has increased its immigration levels and is increasing its population by 2.5% each year.

If Canada sustains higher immigration levels then they will pass Spain, South Korea, Argentina over the ten years. Canada will pass 50 million people in that time.

In other notable population news, India passed China for the highest population country in the world.

The World population passed 8 billion people six months ago per UN estimates. World population is growing at about 0.84% a year and growth is slowing.

Canadians are currently about one in every 200 people on Earth. There is a Canadian business and leadership effort to reach a population of 100 million by 2100. This goal will mainly be achieved through immigration policy. If the population goal were to be achieved then Canadians would make up nearly one in every 100 people on Earth. The US is heading for a population level around 400-450 million in 2100.

If Canada keeps adding about 2% to its population each year, then it will move up from

less than 1 Canadian to every 8 Americans in 2023 to

1 Canadian to every 7 Americans in 2030

1 Canadian to every 6 Americans in 2050

1 Canadian to every 5 Americans in 2070

1 Canadian to every 4 Americans around 2100.
I, Brian Wang, have started taking Rejuvant time released AKG. AKG is safely used by millions for bodybuilders and athletes. Time-released AKG from Rejuvant is used for healthier aging.

I personally have been taking Rejuvant for a month and half. I also started with an aging biomarker test and a spit test analysis. The analysis found that I had genetics that reduced my absorption of Vitamin B. I am now taking Vitamin B supplements along with Rejuvant. I will taking another aging biomarker tests after the six months of Rejuvant. If I was like the average of a previous study, I would expect to see about an eight year reduction in the aging biomarker.

Rejuvant has human medical studies where aging biomarkers have been reversed to reduce measured biological age. There is more than the single case as the study looked at hundreds of people.

Tom Weldon, the founder and CEO of Ponce de Leon Health, has accomplished longevity escape velocity with one supplement, his own Rejuvant.

This chart shows the measurements. There are error bars but the midpoints indicate that over a three 6 months courses of using Rejuvant every day he has his measured biological age reduce from 52 down to 45. Tom Weldon is 67 years old. If this is accurate, then it would suggest he is squaring the health curve. According to biomarkers he is getting substantially healthier.

I would interpret effect to mean that people can be far healthier up to 80 to 95 but then aging damage still reaches critical levels to cause aging diseases.



I would cite the example of the fitness guru, Jack LaLanne. Jack was fanatical about eating right and exercising. Jack has amazing feats of fitness into his 80s. https://rejuvantsale.com/

Use code BIGFUTURE for a discount.

Antiaging Studies and Investigation

Ongoing studies are being performed in Singapore. Brian Kennedy is working at the National University of Singapore to study this as part of means to achieve a five-year increase in healthspan for all people in Singapore. Kennedy is collaborating with Rejuvant.

Brian Kennedy indicates he agrees with the Aubrey dr Grey / SENS analysis of seven kinds of aging damage.

The first research theme funded under the Hacking Aging initiative is a series of clinical studies to test novel nutritional supplements and repurposed drugs to slow ageing in middle-aged adults (40-60 years).

At least 15 biomarker studies are ongoing, including Project Abios (Ageing Biomarker Study in Singaporeans) which is looking at several hundred biomarkers in 420 to 450 participants.

The second research theme is to use deep omics data to personalize these supplements and repurposed drugs and other interventions for optimal healthspan extension in middle-aged participants.

One of the supplements is alpha-ketoglutarate, which has been shown to increase the healthspan  the period of life spent in good health  and lifespan in mice. The centre will be investigating whether six months of daily supplementation can slow biological aging and initial results are estimated to be available in a years time, said Professor Andrea Maier, the centres co-director. Repurposed drugs include metformin, a well-known drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes, that may be able to slow ageing.

The third research theme focuses on extending healthspan in older adults through strength training exercise, harnessing the Foundations Gym Tonic community of seniors.

Professor Brian Kennedy, internationally recognized for his research into the biology of aging and for his work to translate research discoveries into new ways of delaying, detecting, and preventing human aging and its associated diseases, is helming the Centre with co-director, Professor Andrea Maier, an internal medicine specialist renowned for translational research in aging and age-related diseases diagnostics and pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in aging humans.

The 1,600 square feet Centre for Healthy Longevity (CHL) located at Alexandra Hospital, will conduct trials and execute validation studies with healthy participants from the age of 30 years. The Centre will also develop and test these interventions using newly identified biomarkers of human aging. Once approaches are validated, the Centre will develop strategies that integrate a combination of nutritional and exercise approaches together with supplements and (repurposed) drugs for personalized adoption in the Singapore population. The ultimate goal is to bring the individual closer to his/her state of optimal peak performance during the entire lifespan (e.g. screening to start from 30 years of age).

CHL will be looking at blood-based biomarkers, probably the most investigated group due to the large amount of data accumulated in clinical trials.

Many Well Funded Efforts

There are many well funded antiaging efforts. Saudi Arabia has the Hevolution fund which invests $1 billion every year into antiaging.

There are over 158 companies working on antiaging. There are over 340 clinical trials. They have a market cap of over $6 billion. They have over $10 billion in funding. There are over 5000 employees at the antiaging companies.
NEW YORK (AP)  FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sought a dismissal of criminal charges against him in a court filing late Monday, saying prosecutors have improperly made federal crimes out of civil and regulatory issues that resulted from an industrywide collapse of cryptocurrency markets dubbed the crypto winter.

Lawyers for the onetime head of a multibillion dollar cryptocurrency exchange said in papers in Manhattan federal court that the U.S. government had a dramatic  and troubling response to a broad market crash in cryptocurrency last year that affected every corner of the market.

They said Bankman-Frieds non-U.S. FTX company lasted far longer than others in the industry before it entered bankruptcy in November when the global exchange ran out of money after the equivalent of a bank run. A trial is tentatively set for the fall.

Prosecutors alleged in December that Bankman-Fried cheated investors and looted customer deposits on FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has called it one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history.

In March, new charges added to the indictment alleged that Bankman-Fried violated the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by directing the payment of $40 million in bribes to a Chinese official or officials to free up $1 billion in cryptocurrency that was frozen in early 2021.

The original indictment to which Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty after his December extradition from the Bahamas contained eight vague and non-specific charges against Bankman-Fried, his lawyers said Monday.

The additional charges filed later violated an Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Bahamas, they added.

In the wake of the crypto winter, the Government, in hindsight, may dislike or disapprove of business practices of the cryptocurrency industry, FTX, or even Mr. Bankman-Fried  but this does not give it license to turn them into federal crimes, Bankman-Frieds lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried, 31, has been living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, under a $250 million bail arrangement that has severely limited his ability to communicate on the internet and move money around.

In other papers filed Monday, Bankman-Fried's lawyers sought dismissal of portions of the indictment on other grounds, including with arguments that some charges duplicated others.

They also claimed that FTX debtors had become an arm of the government, casting Bankman-Fried as a villain and providing so much information to prosecutors that defense lawyers must worry that they will be unable to get their hands on documents that might help prove Bankman-Fried's innocence.

A message sent to a spokesperson for prosecutors was not immediately returned.
The Daily Progress newsroom brought home 21 awards from the Virginia Press Associations annual News & Advertising Contest.

Each year, the press association recognizes newspapers around the commonwealth for exceptional writing, photography, multimedia projects, graphics, newspaper design and advertising.

A list of award recipients is below.

First place

General News Writing: Sydney Shuler, Mike Kropf, Greg Madia, Alice Berry, and Hawes Spencer for coverage of the UVa shooting and its aftermath

Breaking News Writing: Hawes Spencer for Search warrants that revealed a stash of guns in a dorm room

Feature Story Writing (excluding Obituaries): Lynne Anderson for Making peace with Jefferson and founders who enslaved people: Is it possible?

Feature Series or Continuing Story: Mike Kropf, Lynne Anderson, Sydney Shuler, Alice Berry, Jane Sathe, Hawes Spencer for The Distinguished Dozen series

Feature Writing Porfolio: Hawes Spencer

Sports Writing Portfolio: Greg Madia

Feature Photo: Mike Kropf for An Unsure Rescue

Personality or Portrait Photo: Mike Kropf for Light and Laughter

Sports Feature Photo: Mike Kropf for V for Victory

Second place

Health, Science and Environmental Writing: Lynne Anderson for Childhood Obesity in Virginia

General News Photo: Mike Kropf for A Flower to Remember

Sports News Photo: Mike Kropf for Toss Up

Third place

Breaking News Writing: Sydney Shuler for Linebacker, DE DSean Perry one of three killed in Sunday night shooting; shooter still at large

Feature Profile Writing (including News Obituaries): Greg Madia for Riding the rollercoaster: Paul Kosanovichs journey from D-II tight end to Virginia pitcher

Sports Writing Portfolio: John Harvey

Breaking News Photo: Mike Kropf for Search Hound in the Night

Feature Photo: Mike Kropf for Magic of Childhood

General News Photo: Mike Kropf for Middle Schoolers Embrace in Wake of Shooting

Picture Story or Essay: Mike Kropf for Spinymussels come home to the James River

Sports Feature Photo: Mike Kropf for Champion Celebration

Sports News Photo: Mike Kropf for Coming Up For Air

The honors were awarded during a ceremony at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa Short Pump on Saturday at the end of the associations annual conference.

The Tennessee Press Association judged the entries.
Contributed Photo / Connecticut

BROOKLYN  A Tiffany Street tenant resisting eviction and armed with a knife was shot during a confrontation with state troopers Tuesday morning, Connecticut State Police said.

The person was flown to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass., state police said. He underwent surgery Tuesday and was listed in stable condition, state police said. Police did not immediately release the person's identity.
HAMDEN  A portable electric burner on a wooden deck was the source of a two-alarm fire that displaced nearly 40 residents of a Town Walk Drive apartment building early Saturday morning, according to local fire officials.

Firefighters responding to the Town Walk Apartments, 100 Town Walk Drive, around 4:30 a.m. Saturday found flames engulfing two decks and the roof, Brian Dolan, fire marshal for Hamden, said Monday afternoon. Working with neighbors, Dolan said, responders were able to alert and rescue multiple families before the fire reached the interior.
NEW HAVEN  Southern Connecticut State University is in the final construction stage of its $52.4 million new building, ready for the faculty to move in less than two weeks from now.

The four-storied, 64,000-square-foot School of Business will be the first state-owned building to leave behind no carbon footprint, thanks to the solar system and the 500-foot-deep geothermal system for air conditioning and green power.

Its about saving money and saving the environment, said Eric Lessne, associate vice president for capital budgeting and facilities operations. Our whole campus is 100 percent green power. We produce, on campus, between our fuel cells and solar, about 60 percent of our power.

School of Business Dean Jess Boronico said the new building and other initiatives are "expected to increase the scope of enrollment to international markets, including China, India, and beyond." The school currently has about 700 undergraduate students, according to the university.

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system is struggling with lower enrollment to the point it plans devastating" budget cuts  including 650 faculty and staff layoffs and the termination of some programs.

The new building features 64 offices, eight classrooms, a 99-seat auditorium, an 85-seat community lounge, a specialty classroom, five conference rooms, 16 team rooms and a boardroom, according to Peter Visentin, who heads the universitys architectural services.

Faculty of the School of Business will move into the new office spaces May 22, three days after the construction company transferred the building to the state. An opening ceremony of the building is set to take place Sept. 15.

The construction is complete, but the universitys still waiting for a certification of occupancy, some final touches on things and furnishing  but nothing detrimental.

Visentin said some of the rooms included in the building were ones that faculty had asked for during the planning process. For example, Visentin said the professors asked for a one-sided mirror room to observe market research happening on the other side.

Some technologies included in the building are motion-sensor water fountains, stock market tickers, scheduling touch screens in front of team rooms and a mechanical room that can be controlled by the universitys building management system being monitored from another building.

The current School of Business is located at the former student center on Crescent Street. Visentin said that the building is undersized, and there are only two classrooms there. He said the registrar had to schedule classes all over campus, which meant students had to meet at different locations.

Now that were in our new 64,000-(square-foot) work at home, we can consolidate the business school into this building, Visentin said.

Victoria Verderame, assistant director of media relations, said the university hasnt determined what to do with the existing building yet.

The building was initially slated to be done in February of this year. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the construction process. The initial plan to open the building to students for classes in the fall of 2023 hasnt been disrupted, however.

The impact from the pandemic wasnt as bad as other projects, Visentin said.

We had some long lead time issues, he said. We had roofing material that took us about a year to get, which usually takes two months. Same thing with the mechanical units.

SCSU got accreditation for its business school just last month from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Other accredited business schools in the area include the ones at the University of New Haven and Quinnipiac University.

That is like pulling teeth; that is a major accomplishment, Lessne said. I hope this building had something to do with it.

The university recently opened the $74 million health and human services building. According to a budget presented last year, SCSU plans to renovate Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, Earl Hall and Moore Field House. It also looks to construct a new, single-story, 10,000-square-foot university police facility on Wintergreen Avenue.
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WEST HAVEN  Vittoria Favia loves watching plants grow and thrive.

"There's something special in caring for a plant, making it live," she said.

Favia, the valedictorian of the West Haven High School Class of 2023, will study plant science at Rutgers University after graduation.

Favia's plant science ambitions mirror the way she approaches relationships. Throughout the stresses of high school, she said it's been planting the seeds of fruitful relationships that have helped the entire school community grow.

"It's important to make friends and to make it fun to deal with the stress," she said.

The experience itself has not been typical, she said, as her classmates abruptly shifted to remote learning in March of their freshman year. Each year since then, she said, has taken on a new texture, but through it all, the class remained united.

Although Favia intends to pursue a career in environmental science, she said her favorite high school subject is history. She believes it's easy to reconcile her two interests.

"The earth is a living history book," she said. "It's nice to think about how it's the same water and the same roads that people used before."

Favia, a lifelong resident of the city, said she loves being in nature and taking in the sounds of the ocean along the city's shoreline.

Favia also attributes her religious upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness for helping to prepare her for high school.

"A big thing is going to doors and knocking, and I've been doing that since I was a little kid. I would be with adults during holidays," She said. "You have to put yourself out there and learn how to express yourself."

Favia's school counselor for the last four years, Norma Merced, said the valedictorian's easy, humble way of communicating is easily apparent.

"It's in her poise. The way she grew up speaking to groups from a young age. She's a great listener and forms an intelligent argument," Merced said.

Merced said Favia's sensitivity is also easy to observe, as she is deeply empathetic and has a quiet maturity, demonstrated by her role as president of the school's academic integrity committee and for having helped launch a tutoring program with Mackrille Elementary School students.

Merced said she's learned from Favia, who does not celebrate holidays for religious reasons, that she has placed a heavy emphasis on celebrating the accomplishments of her friends instead.

"I think we've been a go-with-the-flow type of class," Favia said of the Class of 2023. "You kind of have to be able to deal with how everything changes. You can talk with anybody and just laugh about it."
Yale New Haven Health and Northeast Medical Group, an organization affiliated with the health care system, have agreed to pay more than $500,000 after over-billing for services over a six-year period, officials said Tuesday.

The settlement resolves allegations that medical providers at Bridgeport Hospital submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for six years, officials said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the services "did not satisfy certain billing requirements" and should have been been billed by "mid-level providers."

"As a result, Yale and Northeast Medical improperly received 10 to 15 percent higher in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for the allegedly falsely billed hospitalist physician services," the office said in a news release Tuesday.

Attorney General William Tong's office said the joint federal and state investigation was prompted by a whistleblower's lawsuit that alleged the two organizations improperly billed the federal Medicare and the state Medicaid programs for services that were provided by higher-level medical providers at Bridgeport Hospital. But in fact, those services were provided "only by mid-level providers," Tong's office said Tuesday, meaning they were supposed to be reimbursed at lower rates.

Northeast Medical Group and YNHH allegedly submitted hundreds of thousands of dollars of claims to government health care programs at rates they knew or should have known they were not owed yet failed to correct their inflated billing practices," Tong said in a statement Tuesday. "I thank the whistleblower for stepping forward to report these dubious claims and to protect our public health care dollars."

Northeast Medical Group (NEMG) and Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) are pleased to have reached a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Connecticut Attorney Generals Office," the health organizations said in a joint statement.

"We operate at the highest standard of compliance with health care laws and rules and appreciate the government bringing this issue to our attention. We fully cooperated throughout the investigation and as a result have instituted improvements in our compliance and auditing infrastructure to assure all of our billing is fully compliant.

Federal and state officials allege the improper billings were submitted between July 2014 and June 2020 and violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.

The organizations have paid $560,718 to resolve the allegations, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Under the act, the whistleblower, a former Northeast employee, is entitled to a share of the settlement and will receive $106,536, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The case is the latest medical billing settlement in Connecticut. Last year, the state reached six medical billing settlements over a seven-month span, totaling some $82 million.
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LONDON (AP)  The breathtaking development of artificial intelligence has dazzled users by composing music, creating images and writing essays, while also raising fears about its implications. Even European Union officials working on groundbreaking rules to govern the emerging technology were caught off guard by AI's rapid rise.

The 27-nation bloc proposed the Western world's first AI rules two years ago, focusing on reining in risky but narrowly focused applications. General purpose AI systems like chatbots were barely mentioned. Lawmakers working on the AI Act considered whether to include them but werent sure how, or even if it was necessary.

Then ChatGPT kind of boom, exploded, said Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament co-leading the measure. If there was still some that doubted as to whether we need something at all, I think the doubt was quickly vanished.

The release of ChatGPT last year captured the worlds attention because of its ability to generate human-like responses based on what it has learned from scanning vast amounts of online materials. With concerns emerging, European lawmakers moved swiftly in recent weeks to add language on general AI systems as they put the finishing touches on the legislation.

The EUs AI Act could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence, with companies and organizations potentially deciding that the sheer size of the bloc's single market would make it easier to comply than develop different products for different regions.

Europe is the first regional bloc to significantly attempt to regulate AI, which is a huge challenge considering the wide range of systems that the broad term AI can cover, said Sarah Chander, senior policy adviser at digital rights group EDRi.

Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology to ensure that it improves people's lives without threatening their rights or safety. Regulators are concerned about new ethical and societal risks posed by ChatGPT and other general purpose AI systems, which could transform daily life, from jobs and education to copyright and privacy.

The White House recently brought in the heads of tech companies working on AI including Microsoft, Google and ChatGPT creator OpenAI to discuss the risks, while the Federal Trade Commission has warned that it wouldnt hesitate to crack down.

China has issued draft regulations mandating security assessments for any products using generative AI systems like ChatGPT. Britain's competition watchdog has opened a review of the AI market, while Italy briefly banned ChatGPT over a privacy breach.

The EU's sweeping regulations  covering any provider of AI services or products  are expected to be approved by a European Parliament committee Thursday, then head into negotiations between the 27 member countries, Parliament and the EUs executive Commission.

European rules influencing the rest of the world  the so-called Brussels effect  previously played out after the EU tightened data privacy and mandated common phone-charging cables, though such efforts have been criticized for stifling innovation.

Attitudes could be different this time. Tech leaders including Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have called for a six-month pause to consider the risks.

Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the Godfather of AI," and fellow AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio voiced their concerns last week about unchecked AI development.

Tudorache said such warnings show the EU's move to start drawing up AI rules in 2021 was the right call.

Google, which responded to ChatGPT with its own Bard chatbot and is rolling out AI tools, declined to comment. The company has told the EU that AI is too important not to regulate."

Microsoft, a backer of OpenAI, did not respond to a request for comment. It has welcomed the EU effort as an important step toward making trustworthy AI the norm in Europe and around the world.

Mira Murati, chief technology officer at OpenAI, said in an interview last month that she believed governments should be involved in regulating AI technology.

But asked if some of OpenAIs tools should be classified as posing a higher risk, in the context of proposed European rules, she said its very nuanced."

It kind of depends where you apply the technology, she said, citing as an example a very high-risk medical use case or legal use case versus an accounting or advertising application.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman plans stops in Brussels and other European cities this month in a world tour to talk about the technology with users and developers.

Recently added provisions to the EU's AI Act would require foundation AI models to disclose copyright material used to train the systems, according to a recent partial draft of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press.

Foundation models, also known as large language models, are a subcategory of general purpose AI that includes systems like ChatGPT. Their algorithms are trained on vast pools of online information, like blog posts, digital books, scientific articles and pop songs.

You have to make a significant effort to document the copyrighted material that you use in the training of the algorithm, paving the way for artists, writers and other content creators to seek redress, Tudorache said.

Officials drawing up AI regulations have to balance risks that the technology poses with the transformative benefits that it promises.

Big tech companies developing AI systems and European national ministries looking to deploy them are seeking to limit the reach of regulators, while civil society groups are pushing for more accountability, said EDRis Chander.

We want more information as to how these systems are developed  the levels of environmental and economic resources put into them  but also how and where these systems are used so we can effectively challenge them, she said.

Under the EU's risk-based approach, AI uses that threaten people's safety or rights face strict controls.

Remote facial recognition is expected to be banned. So are government social scoring systems that judge people based on their behavior. Indiscriminate scraping of photos from the internet used for biometric matching and facial recognition is also a no-no.

Predictive policing and emotion recognition technology, aside from therapeutic or medical uses, are also out.

Violations could result in fines of up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

Even after getting final approval, expected by the end of the year or early 2024 at the latest, the AI Act won't take immediate effect. There will be a grace period for companies and organizations to figure out how to adopt the new rules.

It's possible that industry will push for more time by arguing that the AI Act's final version goes farther than the original proposal, said Frederico Oliveira Da Silva, senior legal officer at European consumer group BEUC.

They could argue that instead of one and a half to two years, we need two to three," he said.

He noted that ChatGPT only launched six months ago, and it has already thrown up a host of problems and benefits in that time.

If the AI Act doesn't fully take effect for years, what will happen in these four years? Da Silva said. "Thats really our concern, and thats why were asking authorities to be on top of it, just to really focus on this technology.

___

AP Technology Writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed.
HARTFORD  There's less than a month left in the 22-week legislative session, and while there are several competing proposals for tax breaks, an expected multi-billion surplus in the fiscal year that ends June 30 means that Connecticut families are virtually assured of paying less in 2025 to run government.

Gov. Ned Lamont's two-year, $50.5 billion spending plan that would take effect on July 1 includes a reduction in the middle-income tax rate from the current 5 percent, down to 4.5 percent. The tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, dominated by majority Democrats, recently approved a budget with a personal income tax reduction of 5 percent to 4.75 percent, for the 2024 income year.

Last week, House Republicans offered an alternative budget with $1.1 billion in tax cuts over the biennium, including the governor's proposed 4.5 percent tax rate on middle incomes as well as the governor's proposed reduction of 3 percent for lower incomes, down to 2 percent. While Senate Republicans praised their House colleagues for presenting an alternative GOP budget for the first time since 2017, Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly on Wednesday plans to unveil another alternative spending-and-tax package.

Lamont's plan to stay the course

In recent weeks, Lamont has announced a few of the initiatives, including $20 million in federal funding to cancel $2 billion in state medical debt; a reduction in the rate of the state income tax and expanding the state's Earned Income Tax Credit, at a total savings of $480 million. "The EITC is one of the best anti-poverty tools we can use because it encourages work, boosts working families and uplifts generations to come," Lamont said. "It's about time we increase it."

Currently, tax filers pay a 3 percent on the first $10,000 ($20,000 for joint filers) of adjusted gross income; and a 5 percent tax on incomes up to $50,000 ($100,000 for couples). Lamont proposed to lower the 5 percent rate to 4.5 percent and the 3 percent rate to 2 percent beginning with income year of 2024. This is expected to save taxpayers $440 million annually.

Lamont estimates that some joint filers could receive almost $600 in income tax relief and single filers could save $300. In total, about 1.1 million of the states 1.7 million tax filers would see some amount of relief under the plan, the governor estimates

This is one of several tax relief measures that will be included in Lamonts upcoming budget proposal. In addition to reducing the income tax rate, he has already announced a plan to permanently increase Connecticuts Earned Income Tax Credit from the current rate of 30.5 percent to 40 percent, enabling low-income workers to receive an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits. He has also announced a plan to restore the pass-through entity tax credit to its original level, fully protecting small businesses from being double taxed under President Donald Trumps changes to the federal tax code.

On Tuesday, Lamont made a pitch for his budget at a Vietnamese supermarket in West Hartford, where he reminded people that families could use up to $600 in tax relief to offset the rising cost of household staples like eggs, bacon and rice shipped from Thailand. "That's getting better as well, but not better fast enough and a lot of middle class folks are really getting squeezed," the governor said.

In a nod to the state's long-term obligations, Lamont said that he would prefer phasing in tax relief beginning in 2024, rather than the Republicans' proposal to back-date the start of the cuts to Jan. 1.

"All it means is we're not going to pay down our pensions as fast," the governor said of the proposal.

When asked about the state of the ongoing budget negotiations between his office and both parties in the legislature, Lamont said that the three sides were "pretty close," and that he anticipated getting a deal done by June 7, the last day of the session.

Democrats would provide more relief for lower incomes

Under the Finance Committee plan, those earners currently in the 5-percent tax rate would see their rate reduced to 4.75 percent for single filers making less than $100,000 and joint filers with incomes of less than $200,000, saving them more than $219 million in the 2024 and 2025 tax years, according to support documents from nonpartisan legislative staff.

Lamont had proposed reducing the 5 percent rate to 4.5 percent as part of an overall plan for $267.3 million in tax relief for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and nearly $544 million in the second year of the biennium. The Finance Committee proposes more than $700 million in tax breaks over the biennium, on top of the $615 million already in the current fiscal year that runs through June 30.

In the committee's revenue proposal, Connecticut's lowest earners, eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, would receive an additional $137 million over two years starting in the 2024 tax year, under a plan to increase benefits to 45 percent. According to state officials, the state's Earned Income Tax Credit ranged from $458 for low-income filers with no children to $2,052 for filers with three or more children in 2021.

The draft revenue package includes provisions for cannabis-related businesses to claim business expenses as tax deductions, saving them a projected $11 million over the two year budget.

The budget proposal would also exempt job and personnel training services from sales and use taxes, extending the benefit beyond the higher education institutions that currently enjoy the tax breaks.

Lamont says that the legislative Democrats have too many "gimmicks" in their plans, including off-budget items amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending. The governor said he preferred his reduction of the tax rate for middle incomes down to 4.5 percent, amounting to about $50 a month in savings, as opposed to the Democrats' $30 a month.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, called initial budget talks with Republican leaders "very" productive. "And time is of the essence," Ritter said. "If people don't engage quickly I think we'll find another dance partner."

House Republicans want even more tax breaks

House Republicans, with a 53-98 minority, recently proposed using $300 million of the current surplus to make tax relief retroactive to January of this year. They proposed a first-ever tax deduction of $2,000 per child. The Earned Income Tax Credit would be kept at its current levels and not increased, as proposed by Democrats.

The Highway Use Tax on heavy trucks that has brought in $35 million since it took effect Jan. 1 and is expected to bring in $90 million a year, according to a report on the state's fiscal health this week, would be eliminated under the Republican proposal.

The sales tax on children's clothing under $100 per item would be eliminated. It would establish a phase-out threshold for state taxes on retirement income to save elderly taxpayers $58 million in the first year of the biennium and $45.3 million in the second year.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, agreed Tuesday that preliminary talks with Speaker of the House Ritter, have been positive. Candelora said that the proposed $2,000-per-child tax credit seems particularly attractive to Democrats. "It's a permanent restructure of our tax code that would provide relief for families," Candelora said.

"We continue to have that conversation and our goal is to have a bipartisan budget," Candelora said, stressing that there were more than 32,000 checks for the EITC that went uncashed, and the Department of Revenue Services is spending more than $300,000 in staff and resources to issue new checks. "This type of proposal eliminates that because it is part of your income tax filing."

Staff writer John Moritz contributed to this report.
Rex Taylor, a proponent of affordable housing, and Pamela Vega of Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora stand by an official plan amendment application notice on Green Lane. The duo are concerned about proposed development on Newmarket's borders sparking urban sprawl, land being taken out of the Greenbelt and the impact on Newmarket services.







Over the next three decades, Newmarket residents will see significant development on the towns doorstep in King Township and East Gwillimbury.

That has many people concerned about the impact on Newmarkets services, municipalities inability to pay for amenities through the development charges on which theyve traditionally relied, sewage capacity restraints, and the loss of Greenbelt lands.

Newmarket, with the slowest growth rate in York Region, has a population of 91,500. By 2051, thats projected to be almost 116,000.

Meanwhile, as the fastest growing municipality in Canada, East Gwillimburys population of 37,600 in 2021 is expected to reach 127,700 by 2051.

Much of that growth will take place just north of Newmarket, such as Redwood Properties proposed 3,000-unit development north of Yonge Street and Green Lane.

Kings population of 27,800 in 2021 is forecast to reach 50,300 in 2051.

Last November, the provincial government infuriated many when it announced 15 parcels of Greenbelt lands would now be developed as part of Queens Parks push to build 1.5 million homes over the next decade to address the housing crisis.

That comes as Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, exempts developers from paying some development charges, the fees on new construction to help fund municipal infrastructure and amenities.

One of the Greenbelt parcels is in King at Bathurst Street and Millers Sideroad on Newmarkets western border.

While its not yet known how many homes will be built there and if the site will house the new Southlake Region Health Centre, development on the site will be significant.

The site is far from other King communities so residents could turn to Newmarket for services, Mayor John Taylor said.

And it could rob Newmarket of sewage allocation it needs for new development, making it impossible to meet the provinces mandate to add 12,000 homes to the town by 2031, he said.

Taylor sees a big difference between the long-planned development in East Gwillimbury and the isolated pop-up growth at Bathurst and Millers Sideroad on Greenbelt lands in King.

All the growth concerns longtime Newmarket resident Rex Taylor, a supporter of affordable housing, Pamela Vega, a Newmarket member of Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora, and Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition.

While new housing is needed, they argue planning experts insist there is enough land available within existing urban boundaries to accommodate growth, including intensification that maximizes taxpayers dollars invested in transit and other infrastructure.

Until Premier Doug Ford reneged on his promise not to allow development on the Greenbelt, the environmentally sensitive lands were off limits to large scale urban development and stood as an international model, Taylor said.

People need to remember that the Greenbelt is not some sort of radical, lefty, tree-hugger thing. There are really sound economic reasons for its existence. It saves hundreds of millions of dollars annually in flood mitigation alone. And for these reasons and others, you could say that protecting the Greenbelt from development is actually a very conservative, fiscally responsible thing, he said.

I suspect that a lot of people who voted for the Tories in the last election, in part because of Fords solemn promise, have a case of buyers remorse today.

It makes no sense to build on the Greenbelt and put the environment and farmland at risk when the focus should be on building compact, walkable communities, Vega, a Newmarket resident, said.

Building into the Greenbelt will only build more of the same old, same old and create outdated and unsustainable forms of living, she said.

Malcolmson believes East Gwillimbury is the poster child of urban sprawl and feels the King development is just a new subdivision hiding behind the prospect of a new hospital and will result in a subdivision relying on Newmarket for services.

This is the way you wreck towns and it's the province doing this, not the mayors and councils, she added.

John Taylor, who argues housing of all types is needed as the Greater Toronto Area is North Americas fastest growing area, stressed that if growth is going to happen, its crucial the province ensure municipalities have funding sources to provide transit, roads, recreation centres, seniors housing, rental housing and other services.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We felt it would be meaningful to Newmarket residents to know what development is expected on the town's northern and western borders over the next three decades.

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There are still details to examine but the Ontario governments commitment to emphasizing mental health and wellness within the education system is a good step forward, say Niagara school boards, experts and community partners.

Not only will it address mental health issues exacerbated by the pandemic but will bring awareness to the classroom with a goal of building resiliency to ensure young people grow into healthy adults.

Andrea Bozza, mental health lead for Niagara Catholic District School Board, said curriculum changes and additional investment is excellent news.

Its so critical that students learn those healthy coping strategies, stress management skills, helping seeking behaviours, she said. Its very exciting. Were in a time where, obviously, were happy to have the funding but how we implement that funding is going to be the key.

Last week, Queens Park announced new curriculum for elementary and high school students beginning in 2024. It includes updates to the required Grade 10 career studies course, as well as mandatory resources for teachers and students on mental health literacy for grades 7 and 8.

Students in career studies will learn about identifying signs of distress and mental health resources, and elementary curriculum will include additional activities, videos and information to learn about managing stress, recognizing symptoms and finding support.

While not completely new  in 2019 the province added mental health and wellness expectations into Grade 7 and 8 physical education and health curriculum  Bozza said it is about mental health promotion and awareness. And having School Mental Health Ontario consult and collaborate to develop evidence-informed tools and resources is really exciting.

We are happy about that because it really does ensure that well be getting research-focused, identity-affirming resources implemented in our schools and itll be consistent, said Bozza.

The rollout itself is unclear, but expectations are training will start with board mental health leads, who will bring it to school leadership teams.

We have the support in place already. The hope is that we can grow our team with additional support, that would be fantastic, but its also really to maintain and sustain the team that we have right now with this permanent funding to ensure that they can continue their work with our students, she said.

While it is a positive start, more needs to be done, said Michael Savage, associate professor in the department of education studies at Brock University.

Grade 10 is a good spot to introduce serious mental health issues, as that is the age when symptoms can start presenting themselves. That part of mental health literacy is very, very important to make sure symptoms are understood, recognized and know where to get help, he said.

But Savage also would have liked to see an infusion of mental health and wellness education through the entire school curriculum, in developmentally appropriate ways, to create habits of wellness in students.

Anxiety isnt a bad word. If you dont deal with anxiety or you are overly anxious and it prevents you from doing things or interferes with things (but) a little bit of anxiety is actually good, he said.

He has questions about how the curriculum will be implemented and the support that teachers, some of whom are struggling with their own mental health, will receive from the province and school boards. Savage would like to see an investment in teacher training, both for those on the job and in teacher training programs.

The government also announced it will give school boards funding to provide psychological and mental health services over summer months.

Savage said that is a welcome step, leading to a continuity of care, but it does not address inequities at school boards, with about one in 10 schools in Ontario not having access to a regularly scheduled mental health professional.

More rural areas or racialized areas, more refugees areas, have less supports in the school already. If you dont have them already there, providing them in the summer isnt going to help because theyre not there to begin with, he said.

Niagara Catholic uses a referral-based model with nine regulated mental health professionals serving its eight secondary schools and 50 elementary schools, and 25 child and youth workers. It also works with mental health nurses through a community partnership.

Bozza said funding to assist through the summer months could potentially assist with community wait-lists and address access to services.

The hope is that the funding can help us with support, but also in resources for not only all of our students, but our marginalized students or students who may be at higher risk, she said.

District School Board of Niagara said it is receiving just more than $2.1 million for mental health and well-being. Communications officer Carolyn LoConte said every public school has access to regularly scheduled mental health professionals, such as a social worker or youth counsellor.

These staff are either assigned to support certain schools or are consistently on site, she said in an email. We believe that ongoing work in mental health and well-being is vital and helps ensure that students feel safe, connected and emotionally-regulated so they are empowered to focus on their learning.

Alisa Simon, executive vice-president and chief youth officer at Kids Help Phone, said since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service has supported young people across the country more than 14 million times. The investments from the province to further mental health resources is important, necessary and welcome.

Investments in high school enables ongoing awareness and conversations with young people about mental health, meeting them where they are as they experience change and the world around them, said Simon.

Youth tell us every day they need caring adults, especially at school, to help give their feelings a place to go.

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A former and current deputy with the Warren County Sheriffs Office have been indicted in last years death of a 77-year-old man following a traffic stop near a Front Royal shopping center, according to a release on Monday from special prosecutor Prince William County Commonwealths Attorney Amy Ashworth.

Former Warren County Sheriffs Office Deputy Sheriff Zachary Fadely, 30, of Shenandoah County was indicted on one count of malicious wounding in the April 2, 2022 death of Ralph Ennis, of Gainesville. Fadely faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the prosecutors release.

Warren County Sheriffs Deputy Sheriff Tyler Poe, 25, of Warren County was indicted on one count of unlawfully wounding in Ennis death. Poe faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted, according to Ashworths office.

State police have been in contact with both men's attorneys to arrange for each one to turn himself in to state police investigators as soon as possible, VPS spokesman Sgt. Brent Coffey said in a release Monday night.

Ashworth was appointed special prosecutor last April following Warren County Commonwealths Attorney John Bell recusal in the case. The prosecutors release said both men were innocent until proven guilty.

Ralph Ennis died in hospice care nearly two weeks after being injured during the traffic stop with the two deputies. Virginia State Police launched an investigation into the incident last year, according to the Associated Press.

The sheriffs office previously said deputies began following Ralph Ennis early on April 2 after he was observed speeding and driving erratically. After initially failing to stop during a chase that covered nearly four miles, Ennis drove and parked his truck at a convenience store near Front Royal, according to the AP.

A wrongful death complaint filed in October by the deceaseds son says Ralph Ennis suffered from dementia and cites body camera footage of the incident.

The suit claims the deputies used excessive force against him when they slammed him face-first into his vehicle and then tackled him to the ground after he was already restrained. That caused a traumatic and ultimately fatal brain injury, the complaint states, according to the AP.

A Medical Examiner's report stated Ennis died from natural causes.

A Warren County grand jury on May 8 handed up the two felony indictments related to the investigation into the April 2022 traffic stop, Coffey said in the release Monday evening.

The indictments result from a traffic stop that occurred at 1:20 a.m. when the Warren County Sheriffs Office encountered a vehicle traveling on Winchester Road, according to Coffey. The traffic stop was initiated for a speeding violation of 63 mph in a 55 mph zone, state police said.

During the course of the traffic stop, Ennis was allegedly assaulted by Fadely and Poe, Coffey said. Ennis was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained during the traffic stop.

The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Culpeper Field Office is investigating the case, according to Coffey.
TORONTO - Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. says its earnings for the first quarter were $11.3 million, down 38.5 per cent from $18.4 million a year earlier.

The Toronto-based company says revenues were $206.5 million, largely unchanged from $207.0 million the same quarter a year earlier.

Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended March 31 were 32 cents, down from 49 cents a year earlier.

Sleep Country says same-store sales decreased by 6.2 per cent, but that was partially offset by incremental revenue stemming from a Jan. 1 acquisition of e-commerce retailer Silk & Snow Inc.

President and CEO Stewart Schaefer said it was a solid quarter despite tightening consumer spending and macro-economic uncertainty, especially as compared with the first quarter last year, which was the best first quarter in Sleep Countrys history.

Schaefer said in a press release that the company saw strong in-person sales while e-commerce sales softened.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2023.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ZZZ)

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The canola industry is expressing concern that China will retaliate to Canadas expulsion of its diplomat by blocking agricultural shipments.

China blocked canola shipments from two major Canadian companies in 2019 not long after Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities, and the ban lasted for three years.

The ban lasted for three years before being lifted in 2022.

On Monday, the Canadian government expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, alleging he was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada, said maintaining predictable market access is key for Canadian farmers and that although supportive steps have been taken by the federal government, nothing can replace access to an important market like China.

Chinas block on canola shipments took a toll on the industry as the value of Canadian canola exports dropped from $2.8 billion in 2018 to $1.8 billion in 2021, the last full year under the ban.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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WASHINGTON - Canadas federal government was watching closely and saying little Tuesday as a high-stakes race against the clock got underway in earnest at the White House, with the health of the global economy hanging in the balance.

President Joe Biden met with congressional leaders, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy, his chief antagonist in a protracted standoff over the debt ceiling  a legislative limit on the U.S. governments borrowing power.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that the current ceiling could be reached as early as June 1, at which point the U.S. would not have enough money at its disposal to pay all of its bills.

House Republicans say they wont agree to raise the limit  once a routine procedural matter, now a frequent and all-too-familiar point of political tension  without significant cuts to government spending.

Following their meeting, Biden said the two sides would continue to meet, including another gathering on Friday  but he insisted he would not entertain talk of spending cuts without a clean agreement to raise the borrowing limit.

Im a born optimist, Biden said when asked why he remains convinced a deal can be reached.

Everyone in the meeting has understood the risk of default: our economy would fall into a significant recession, it would devastate retirement accounts, increase borrowing costs ... nearly eight million Americans would lose their jobs and our international reputation would be damaged.

He said its possible but unlikely he would cancel plans to attend G7 meetings in Japan if the dispute persists, describing the impasse as the single most important thing on his agenda.

McCarthys message was more dire: he would not be moved. I was very clear with the president: we have now just two weeks to go, he said.

Politically, Canada is steering a wide berth. In practical terms, though, its in the same boat.

In many ways, we are like a 51st state  we are joined at the hip with the U.S., said Andreas Schotter, a professor of international business at Western Universitys Ivey Business School in London, Ont.

Canadian companies and institutions that sell products or services or lend money to the U.S. government would feel the impact of a default almost instantly, Schotter said, to say nothing of the effect on stock markets in both countries.

Interest rates, already on the rise, would shoot higher, hitting taxpayers and private borrowers hard. Demand for money-market securities like treasury bills would fall, hampering the U.S.s ability to cover its soaring debt costs.

Schotter made clear that he doesnt expect the U.S. to go off a fiscal cliff, although given the current political climate it will likely get close to the edge.

But for Americas number 1 trading partner and a bilateral relationship thats worth C$3.25 billion of business on a daily basis, the impact of a default would be deep and far-reaching, he added.

A U.S. default, no one can afford.

Despite the stakes, protocol demands that the rest of the world, including Canada, maintain a safe diplomatic distance from the fray.

The potential consequences of a U.S. default on its debt would be global and discussions are ongoing among the president and the executive branch and Congress, the Canadian Embassy said in a statement.

Canada is following this issue very closely.

Associate finance minister Randy Boissonnault would only say Tuesday that the standoff is a sovereign issue for the U.S. to deal with itself, although he did note that the G7 finance ministers would be meeting this week in Japan.

The conversation of the finances, post-pandemic, for all of our democracies is an active conversation, so well leave the United States to decide about its debt ceiling, Boissonnault said.

In our case, our fiscal position is the strongest in the G7, and so well be continuing to manage the fiscal frame.

The stage for Tuesdays showdown has been set since January, when Yellen first warned that a default could be in the offing by early summer without raising the debt limit. Republicans who control the House say they wont do it without spending cuts.

Theyve already narrowly passed largely symbolic legislation dubbed the Default on America Act, which would cap discretionary spending at 2022 levels, a reduction of at least $142 billion from 2023.

Biden has vowed to veto it  he called it dead on arrival Tuesday  should it somehow pass in the Senate, where 43 Republicans are standing with their House colleagues, demanding spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point in the talks.

Biden has refused to be drawn into negotiations, insisting that he wont talk about cuts until the House first agrees to raise the limit with no strings attached.

Republicans are holding the entire economy hostage and saying, unless their entire agenda gets done, theyre going to cause an unprecedented default, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

What the president is doing is the opposite of that. He wants to make sure that we take that off the table and have a separate conversation.

Daniel Pfeiffer, a former White House adviser to president Barack Obama, who twice wrestled with debt-ceiling talks during his two terms, offered a glimpse into Bidens hardline strategy in a New York Times essay Monday.

Both Pfeiffer and Biden, Obamas vice-president at the time, had ringside seats when the White House struck a grand bargain with House Speaker John Boehner in 2011, only to watch a renegade GOP caucus break with their leader.

A painful lesson was learned, Pfeiffer wrote. Negotiating with the ticking clock of a global financial collapse was a losing proposition.

Add to that mix the fact that House Republicans these days are dramatically more unpredictable than they were 12 years ago, and its no wonder Biden wont deal, said Duke University politics professor John Aldrich.

McCarthy is stuck with a very small party majority and some real fear that his right wing could turn on him (again) as speaker, Aldrich said.

The president needs to walk a narrow path out of the standoff, one that will likely entail two separate bills, he said: one that raises the debt ceiling without conditions, and another with spending cuts to placate Republicans.

This is a high-wire act, and it could easily go wrong, Aldrich said. The loss of credibility for the U.S. is damaging for all, and for a good while into the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

 With files from David Fraser in Ottawa

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Royal watchers in Canada may not have to wait long for a visit from King Charles III.

The newly crowned sovereign could soon be making his first official trip to the country as King, a Canadian diplomat suggested.

Ralph Goodale, Canadas high commissioner to the UK, said Canadian and UK officials are already looking at possible dates for a forthcoming visit, noting it could occur within the course of the next several months.

Everybody, I think, is anxious to see that visit take place as soon as it can be physically arranged in a proper way, said Goodale, speaking with BBC News outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the Kings coronation ceremony.

Buckingham Palace was unreachable for comment.

Stephane Shank, a spokesperson for the government of Canadas Privy Council Office, could not confirm Goodales remarks and did not share any additional details about a potential visit.

Official visits to Canada by The King and other members of the Royal Family are undertaken at the invitation of the Prime Minister, said Shank in an emailed statement to the Star. The Government of Canada looks forward to welcoming King Charles III and Queen Camilla, but at this time there is no information to share on upcoming visits.

King and Queen have developed strong ties to Canada, expert says

King Charles III has yet to visit Canada since he ascended to the throne last September. As the Prince of Wales, a title he held for more than six decades, he made 18 official visits to Canada. The most recent  a three-day tour coinciding with the late Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee  came in May 2022.

That a royal visit may be coming so soon into the reign of Charles III stands in contrast with the late queens first official visit to Canada, which came in 1957, more than five years after she became sovereign. Elizabeth II would go on to make 21 other official visits to the country, more than any other Commonwealth nation.

Carolyn Harris, a Toronto-based historian, author and royal commentator, said she believes Canada could be one of the Kings first Commonwealth visits as monarch.

Charles and Camilla have visited Canada for key moments in recent years  the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, she told the Star in a phone interview. So, they have developed strong ties to Canada.

Possible visit comes amid rising antimonarchy sentiment in Canada

Buckingham Palace is likely hoping a royal visit from the King could boost his popularity among Canadians and help temper republican sentiments in the country.

Charles III is generally viewed less favourably compared to his late mother. A precoronation survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found a slim majority of Canadians want the country to disassociate from the monarchy. A larger proportion, roughly 60 per cent, oppose recognizing Charles as King.

But an official royal tour does not always guarantee a bump in popularity and a warming of relations between the Crown and the Canadian public. While Charles IIIs latest 2022 visit was generally viewed favourably, other tours  like his first visit with Camilla in 2009  have been received poorly, even drawing notable protests, said Harris.

There are some that have been very successful, some that have been very topical and others that have been comparatively subdued, she added.

Speaking with BBC News, Goodale appeared to brush off concerns about antimonarchy sentiments in Canada.

Its only natural (for those questions to arise) after the previous monarch had been there for so many years, he said on the broadcast. But I think it also provides an opportunity for some very important civic information and education about how a democratic constitutional monarchy works, and why it is important to have separation between head of government, where all the political action is, and head of state.

Expensive price tag a concern for previous royal visits

Questions also remain about what the Kings first visit to Canada as monarch will look like. Some previous royal tours have drawn criticism for their lavishness and expensive price tag. (The King and Queens recent three-day visit in 2022, when they were known, respectively, as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, cost taxpayers at least $1 million.)

Since ascending to the throne, however, Charles III has projected a relatively more modest image of the monarchy compared to his predecessors: his coronation Saturday was significantly smaller than that of his mother, and designs for a new British stamp commemorating his reign, approved by the King himself, drew headlines for its simplicity and lack of a crown.

Although the Kings royal tour would likely include official engagements, Harris expects it to also be comparatively relaxed.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will also be interested in meeting Canadians from all walks of life, said Harris. So, well likely see some more informal moments as well, even though he will now be touring as a reigning sovereign.

Crown-Indigenous relationship will likely play key role in tour

Indigenous reconciliation will almost certainly play a key role in any of the Kings future royal visits to Canada. As Prince of Wales, Charles III spoke often of the importance fostering Crown-Indigenous relationships, which was one of the priorities of his visit last year.

Ahead of his coronation, the King met with Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Metis National Council President Cassidy Caron, along with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.

Archibald, who has previously urged the monarchy to apologize for its role in Canadas colonial history, said the meeting was a chance to evolve the relationship with the Crown, which predates confederation.

One of the issues that is important to us is that nation-to-nation relationship that we have had and continue to have, she said, adding that the meeting was very positive.

She noted the leaders hope to meet with the King again, both virtually and during an eventual in-person visit.

With files by The Canadian Press

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FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government is facing intense scrutiny and some harsh criticism for its decision to review the provinces two-year-old policy on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

Green Party Leader David Coon issued a statement Tuesday saying he was concerned when he learned Education Minister Bill Hogan is considering changes to the policy.

We are talking about some of the most vulnerable young people in our province, Coon said. Their schools must continue to be safe and affirming spaces.

Policy 713 is aimed at ensuring there is a supportive school environment for students, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hogan said the government decided to conduct the review a few months ago after it heard concerns raised by a variety of groups, including teachers.

Teachers were unsure of what to teach and how to do it, and how this applied in their school, Hogan told reporters Tuesday. And I think that what we really need to do is more in-service with our teachers so that they have a clear understanding of how the curriculum works and how the policy applies.

On Friday, Hogan infuriated New Brunswicks teachers union when he issued a statement distancing the provincial government from a professional development session held that day to help teachers implement the policy in the classroom.

At one point, a small group of protesters gathered outside the school where the session was being held. According to the teachers union, some protesters carried signs that said, Shame on teachers and Perverts in education.

At the time, Hogan said the government had received a number of calls with concerns regarding the workshop, and he made a point of saying the session had been organized by the New Brunswick Teachers Association.

Coon said that approach was unacceptable, given the fact that the session was about a government policy.

Instead of standing with his teachers, Coon said, minister Hogan chose to release a statement late Friday afternoon distancing himself from the  workshop that was held for teachers.

Hogan said the protest outside a school had nothing to do with the review, which is expected to wrap up in a couple of months.

I support the rights of all people to live their life the way that they chose to, the minister said Tuesday. The emails I received over the weekend were from both extremes. This is not an attack on any one group fostered by some other group.

Connie Keating, president of the New Brunswick Teachers Association, also took aim at Hogans comments on Friday.

Feelings of dismay and disappointment in our governments leadership would be an understatement, Keating said in a statement Saturday. Teachers needed (Hogan) to step up and support them  to stand with them against hate and misinformation. Instead, we face it alone.

Keating said the Policy 713 workshop was one of 200 sessions offered to teachers Friday. Unfortunately, misinformation and hate that was circulated on social media resulted in protesters appearing at one of our locations.

The union leader said protesters hurled hateful comments at the government, teachers and members of the LGBTQ community.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Susan Holt accused the Progressive Conservative government of abandoning students and teachers.

By initiating this review, the government has put 2SLGBTQIA+ students and educators at risk for targeted harassment, violence and left them wondering if they will have a safe place in our education system, she said in a statement Monday.

Meanwhile, Chief Allan Polchies Jr. of the Sitansisk First Nation issued a statement saying he will not stand by and watch the Higgs government water down these protections.

Polchies, who in 2018 became the first openly LGBTQ chief elected in Atlantic Canada, said he was shocked when he learned about the recent protest. The governments response was the equivalent of striking a match at a fuel spill, Polchies said. Instead of protecting valued but vulnerable members of our families, this government capitulated to a small group of conspiracists.

The six-page Policy 713 says school staff must create a culture where LGBTQ students see themselves and their lives positively reflected in the school environment.

More specifically, the policy calls on all schools to:

 provide professional learning opportunities to school personnel to understand and support the needs of LGBTQ students;

 provide all students with access to washrooms that align with their gender identity;

 report all homophobic and transphobic language, behaviour or discrimination to the principal;

 ensure that classroom materials and activities contain positive and accurate information related to sexual orientation and gender identities;

 strive to use inclusive and gender-neutral language when communicating with members of the school environment;

 choose a member of the school to act as an advocate for students who identify as LGBTQ and their families;

 require school personnel to consult with transgender or non-binary students to determine their preferred first name and pronouns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

 By Michael MacDonald in Halifax

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Abortion providers in three states filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at preserving access to the abortion pill mifepristone, even as the drug is threatened by a separate Texas lawsuit winding its way through U.S. court system.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Virginia on behalf of clinics in Virginia, Montana and Kansas, is the latest legal action over the decades-old pill, which is part of the two-drug regimen used in most U.S. abortions.

A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling last month that would have revoked the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations longstanding approval of the pill, an unprecedented challenge to the federal drug regulator. But the Supreme Court blocked that decision and other limits from a lower court from taking effect while the lawsuit continues.

Abortion-rights advocates and their opponents continue jostling for a legal foothold on the issue across the country.

The clinics in Virginia, Montana and Kansas sued the FDA on Monday in federal court to force the agency to drop several longstanding restrictions on how mifepristone can be prescribed.

But from a practical standpoint, the groups said they are seeking a court order that would shield mifepristone access in their states as the litigation over the drug proceeds. That is what 18 liberal states achieved last month when a federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling ordering the FDA to preserve access to mifepristone in those states, regardless of any conflicting court decisions. The ruling came shortly after the Texas decision, creating confusion for abortion providers and their patients.

The plaintiffs in Mondays lawsuit said they hope to prevent similar chaos as the legal battle over mifepristone accelerates. An appeals court in New Orleans is set to hear arguments in the Texas case later this month.

Plaintiffs cannot retool their practices overnight with no notice  healthcare has no on-off switch. They and their patients require clarity around their continued provision of mifepristone, states the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of the clinics by the Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York-based legal and advocacy group that works to ensure access to abortion.

The group said it included abortion providers in Virginia, Montana and Kansas in the lawsuit because those states are not parties to either the Texas or Washington cases, but they have many lawmakers who are hostile to abortion access and are caught in the middle of this maelstrom.

The FDA approved mifepristone, in combination with a second pill, as a safe and effective means of ending pregnancy in 2000. Mifepristone is sometimes used for alternate reasons, including managing miscarriages.

At the time of the approval, the FDA imposed a number of restrictions on the drug, including requiring that prescribers undergo certification and that women sign an agreement form before taking it.

In recent years, the FDA has made mifepristone easier to get, dropping a two-decade-old requirement that women pick up the pill in person. But the FDA has repeatedly concluded that the remaining requirements  including prescriber certification and patient forms  are necessary.

In their lawsuit, the clinics argue that these restrictions stigmatize and undermine access to medication abortion.

The abortion providers who are suing include: Whole Womans Health Alliance, a nonprofit organization that operates healthcare facilities in Charlottesville and Alexandria, Virginia; Whole Womans Health of the Twin Cities, LLC, in Minnesota, which provides telehealth services for medication abortion in Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico and Illinois; and Blue Mountain Clinic, a family practice in Missoula, Montana, which first opened in 1977 as the first and only abortion clinic in the state.

Other providers named as plaintiffs include: Helen Weems, a certified nurse practitioner licensed to practice in Montana and owner of All Families Healthcare, a sexual and reproductive health clinic in Whitefish, Montana; and Trust Women, which operates clinics in Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP)  Alarm over Myanmars still-unfolding deadly civil strife, including an armed attack on an aid convoy, and Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea are expected to challenge Southeast Asian leaders commitments to non-interference and consensus decision-making as they meet in Indonesia this week.

Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened Tuesday in the resort town of Labuan Bajo to finalize the agenda ahead of the two-day summit of the 10-nation blocs heads of state.

The United States and China are not part of the twice-yearly summit, but their escalating rivalry looms large over the high-profile Asian gathering. Beijing has warned that U.S. efforts to strengthen security alliances and intensify combat-readiness drills with Asian allies would endanger regional stability.

Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN has avoided getting entangled in major-power competition as a bloc. But its diverse members are often involved in partnerships and disputes with superpowers. They range from authoritarian Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which are closely aligned with Beijing, to liberal democracies like the Philippines, which is Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia and recently allowed an expansion of American military presence in the country, to Chinas outrage.

The other members  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have heavy economic and security engagements with both the U.S. and China.

ASEAN wants to remain open, to cooperate with anyone, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, this years ASEAN chair. We also dont want ASEAN to be anyones proxy.

Bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and deciding by consensus have held the unwieldy club of autocrats, monarchs and democracies together for decades. But that approach has also prevented it from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders.

ASEANs principles have been tested since Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. Its become one of the blocs gravest crises since its establishment.

Military airstrikes in April killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an apparent war crime.

Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta said ASEANs inability to persuasively and rapidly address a potential political conflagration like the Myanmar crisis should prompt it to take a second look at its founding principles.

ASEAN can no longer hide under the principles of non-interference and consensus, she told the AP. All of that can work in a non-urgent situation that does not require speed and immediate decision-making to control a crisis.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmars eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

Indonesia had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment but it was very unfortunate that in the middle of the trip there was a shootout, Widodo said Monday.

This will not deter ASEAN and Indonesia from calling for an end to the violence, Widodo told reporters Monday, renewing his call for dialogue among contending parties in Myanmar. Nobody wins in this situation.

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmars military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmars military since assuming the rotating role as ASEANs leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is taking a non-megaphone diplomacy approach to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmars top general in 2021.

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmars top general to their summits after 2020, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmars military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the blocs non-interference policy.

To put it mildly, the organization is now facing nothing short of an existential crisis, said Richard Heydarian, a lecturer on international affairs at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Even regional diplomats who were involved in ASEAN work before have been either guardedly optimistic about the bloc or harshly critical. When asked by The Associated Press to give one word that best describes the blocs current status, one Southeast Asian diplomat replied, Progressing. Another said, Opprobrium.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of clearance to comment publicly on the issue.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders at the summit, they plan to condemn the reported deadly airstrike by the Myanmar military and add that all forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians.

They plan to reissue a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements that does not name China.

Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

At a closed-door session of the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to raise a Feb. 6 encounter in which a Chinese coast guard ship used a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded at least two crewmembers on a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal, a Filipino official told the AP on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Early this year, Marcos granted American forces access to four more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact. Beijing was infuriated by that agreement, which it feared would provide American forces staging grounds to intervene in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

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Associated Press journalists Andi Jatmiko and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report.

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BEIJING (AP)  China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian lawmaker and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it firmly opposes.

It said Jennnifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China reserves the right to take further actions in response.

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.

We understand there is retaliation but we will not be intimidated, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after the Chinese move. We will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference.

Trudeaus government said it is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canadas spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively ripped up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press. China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It wasnt immediately clear if Zhao was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Zhao persona non grata and that Canada would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs.

Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home, she said.

Canadas spy service indicated that in 2021, opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijings human rights record. Canadas spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijings treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uyghur ethnic group in Chinas Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political reeducation camps. China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centers is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies toward Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Chong said Zhaos expulsion should have happened years ago.

I hope that this makes it clear not just to the Peoples Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil, Chong said.

The senior Canadian government official said the week delay in announcing the expulsion was to allow the foreign minister to meet with cabinet colleagues who had trade-related responsibilities so they could prepare for any economic retaliation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Zhaos expulsion was based on rumors of the so-called China Interference hyped up by some politicians and media.

This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, the statement said. It added that all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side.

China never interferes in other countries internal affairs, it said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin doubled down on Chinas rejection of the accusations and threats to take further action against Canada.

China is unwavering in its determination to safeguard its own interests, Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

We urge the Canadian side to immediately stop unreasonable provocations. If Canada does not listen to the advice and acts recklessly, China will fight back resolutely and forcefully, and the Canadian side must bear all the consequences arising from this.

China in recent years has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Party-controlled Chinese state media posted in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare. In 2020, China ordered the closure of the U.S. Consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a center of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former Governor General David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder, at the behest of U.S. authorities who accused her of fraud.

Many countries labeled Chinas action hostage politics, while China accused Ottawa of arbitrary detention. The pair, who were accused of vague national security crimes, were released hours after Mengs lawyers ended the nearly 3-year-long feud embroiling Ottawa, Beijing and Washington with a deal under which she accepted responsibility for misrepresenting the companys business dealings in Iran.

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Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

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BERLIN (AP)  Chinas foreign minister said Tuesday that his country has no intention of benefiting from the war in Ukraine and hopes for further discussions on a peace plan Beijing proposed earlier this year.

Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted the recent talks the government in Beijing had with both Moscow and Kyiv, and said Chinas special envoy for Europe was expected to visit Ukraine again soon.

We wont pour oil on the fire of the war, Qin said, according to an official interpreter.

Western countries have accused Beijing of providing political and material support to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union is currently considering imposing sanctions against companies that supply critical components to Russias arms industry.

Qin denied Chinese firms were doing so. He said China maintains normal trade relations with Russia, not mentioning a significant bump in Chinas purchases of Russian crude oil at a major discount.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged China to use its clout to find a peaceful solution to the conflict but suggested that Beijing wasnt doing enough yet.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China can play a significant role in ending the war, if it decides to do so, she told reporters in Berlin.

Baerbock welcomed recent statements by the Chinese government confirming the sovereignty of countries that once made up the Soviet Union, adding that the position must hold for Ukraine, too.

The German government is currently in the process of adjusting its policy toward China, with some in the three-party coalition government pushing for a tougher line toward Beijing.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday that he favors a de-risking rather than a decoupling of Germanys economy from China.

The distinction did not satisfy Qin, who suggested the German governments eventually policy could hurt trade between the two countries.

Normal economic exchange should not be politicized, he said.

Qin downplayed the recent cancellation of a meeting between China and Germanys finance ministers, saying the visit was postponed for technical reasons and should not be over-interpreted.

A fellow member of German Finance Minister Christian Lindners Free Democratic Party, Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, visited Taiwan in March, prompting criticism from Beijing, which considers the island part of its territory.

Lindner said Tuesday that Germany should have less of a soft touch approach in its dealings with China.

We wont allow our liberal values to be bought in return for good business, he told German news site The Pioneer.

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BERLIN (AP)  A highway collision between a long-distance Polish bus and a truck injured dozens of people in eastern Germany, officials in Poland and Germany said.

The crash happened Tuesday on the A 12 highway between the Brandenburg state towns of Storkow and Fredersdorf.

German police said 52 people were hurt, including 10 with severe injuries, German news agency dpa reported. One person was said to be in critical condition.

Polands health minister, Adam Niedzielski, said later that 56 people were injured and 34 of them were hospitalized in Germany, with two or three of them in serious condition.

Police said the truck, which was traveling in the direction of Berlin, collided with the side of the bus when the driver tried to change lanes.

The highway was closed as helicopters, ambulances and police officers arrived on the scene. Polish police personnel also were deployed to aid the injured.

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A Portland woman and a teenage boy are dead after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Albany on Sunday, May 7.

The Oregon State Police responded to the multivehicle crash near milepost 233 at around 3:17 a.m. Sunday, an agency news release said.

Preliminary investigation revealed 64-year-old Jimmy Davis of Portland was driving an Infinity QX5 northbound when he rear-ended a Nissan Rogue driven by 36-year-old Glenn Stillman of Independence.

The impact forced the Infinity to leave the roadway and collide with several trees on the side of the freeway, according to OSP.

Stillman was uninjured.

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The four occupants of the Infinity all sustained injuries, some fatal. Davis suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, and medics transported him to a hospital. Kimberly Ritter, 56 of Portland, and a teenage boy passenger were declared dead at the scene, the news release said.

A second teenage boy in the Infinity was critically injured and transported for treatment.

The freeway was impacted for around 4 1/2 hours, according to OSP, and the Albany Fire Department assisted. The investigation is ongoing.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Protesters and a large installation representing Russian atrocities in Ukraine blocked the path of Russias ambassador to Poland as he sought Tuesday to place a wreath at a Warsaw memorial to Soviet soldiers on Russias Victory Day holiday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly criticized Poland over the incident, saying the Warsaw government was informed in advance of the ambassadors plan to visit the Red Army cemetery and memorial site, and did not act to ensure that he could pay his respects at the memorial.

The ministry said in a statement that the incident demonstrates the duplicity of Warsaws policy in assessing the events of World War II and trying to forget about the role of our nation in saving European countries enslaved by Nazi Germany. It added that the incident will not remain without a proper reaction.

The installation in Warsaw included hundreds of fluttering blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and crosses serving as symbolic grave markers for Ukrainians killed by Russians during the full-scale war launched by Moscow last year.

A pool of fake blood below the crosses underlined the stark message of the protest, which was put up by Euromaidan-Warszawa, a citizens initiative that supports Ukraine.

Organizer Viktoria Pogrebniak said the installation, set up for the day at the entrance to the Red Army memorial site, was meant to fight back against Russian propaganda, and show the real picture to the world.

We are bombed, we are killed, we are raped, Pogrebniak said. We are killed just because we are Ukrainians.

She said the ambassador and other Russian diplomats would have to walk over the symbolic corpses of Ukrainians or will need to go through the bushes, if they wanted to reach the memorial.

With his path blocked, Ambassador Sergey Andreev instead left a wreath of red carnations in front of the hundreds of Ukrainian flags as loudspeakers blasted the sounds of bombs and air sirens.

The installation also included large mock-ups of bombed buildings and the names of Ukrainian cities where Russia has carried out atrocities against Ukrainians: Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Bakhmut.

The protesters surrounded Andreev and his entourage and yelled Ruscists, an insult that combines the words Russians and fascists.

Andreev was doused with a red liquid at the same place on Victory Day last year.

Some Poles also showed up through the morning and did make their way across the symbolic cemetery or through the bushes to reach the Red Army memorial to leave flowers. That triggered the anger of the protesters who denounced them as provocateurs serving the Kremlins interests.

They are traitors to Poland, shouted one activist, Katarzyna Augustynek. She seized a bouquet of white carnations left by a woman and threw it to the ground, triggering an angry exchange with the other woman.

The Red Army soldiers died in the Allied fight to defeat Nazi Germany during World War II. But many Poles also remember how they carried out rapes and other crimes, and they resent the decades of Soviet control that came next for their nation.

Poland threw off Moscow-backed communism in 1989 and today is a strong ally of Ukraine. Poland is supplying weapons to Kyiv and giving refuge to many Ukrainians, and there are very few who actually support Moscow.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military has systematically evaded accountability in the deaths of 20 journalists over the past two decades, launching slow and opaque investigations that have never resulted in prosecution or punishment, an international press-freedom group said in a report Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued its report ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh  a Palestinian-American journalist with the Al Jazeera satellite channel who was killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

The army has said Abu Akleh was likely killed by Israeli fire, but said the shooting was accidental and not announced any disciplinary action.

The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the failure of the armys investigative process to hold anyone responsible is not a one-off event, said Robert Mahoney, CPJs director of special projects and one of the reports editors. It is part of a pattern of response that seems designed to evade responsibility.

The New York-based CPJ documented the cases of 20 journalists killed by Israeli military fire over the last 22 years. Eighteen of the dead were Palestinians, while the other two were European foreign correspondents. At least 13, including Abu Akleh, were clearly identified as journalists or traveling in vehicles marked with press insignia, it said.

No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths, the report said. The impunity in these cases has severely undermined the freedom of the press, leaving the rights of journalists in precarity.

The report found a routine sequence in the deaths of journalists. Israeli officials typically discount evidence or witness claims while cases are still under investigation, and journalists are accused of terrorism without providing any evidence. Probes can drag on for months or years and clouded in secrecy before they are closed, and families of the dead have little legal recourse.

Israels procedure for examining military killings of civilians such as journalists is a black box, it said. There is no policy document describing the process in detail and the results of any probe are confidential.

It found that the army tends to launch more robust investigations in cases such as Abu Aklehs, when the journalist holds a foreign passport, but even those do not result in prosecution.

It called for criminal investigations into three cases: Yasser Murtaja, a well-known Palestinian journalist killed while covering protests along the frontier with Israel in 2018; Ahmed Abu Hussein, another journalist killed covering Gaza protests in 2018; and Abu Akleh.

Israeli officials claimed without giving evidence that Murtaja was a militant.

In the case of Abu Akleh, the army said there was a very high probability that she was shot by an Israeli soldier who had misidentified her as a militant. But it held out the possibility that she had been shot by a Palestinian militant, though it gave no evidence to support that claim.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it regrets any harm to civilians during operational activity and considers the protection of the freedom of the press and the professional work of journalists to be of great importance.

It said it operates in a complex security reality and does not intentionally target noncombatants, using live fire only as a last resort. It said criminal investigations are typically opened in cases of civilian deaths, unless the incident occurred in an active combat situation or if there is no suspicion of a crime having been committed by IDF soldiers.

Abu Akleh, who was 51, was shot while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on May 11, 2022. The area is known to be a stronghold of Palestinian militants.

The Israeli military frequently operates in the camp and said its soldiers had been involved in intense gunbattles with militants that morning. But it has provided no evidence that Palestinian gunmen were in the vicinity of Abu Akleh.

A number of independent investigations, including one by The Associated Press, concluded that Abu Akleh was almost certainly killed by Israeli fire and found no evidence of militant activity in the area. Witness accounts and amateur videos have also shown the area to be quiet before she was shot.

The United States concluded that an Israeli soldier likely killed her by mistake, but it did not explain how it reached that conclusion. A U.S.-led analysis of the bullet last July was inconclusive as investigators said the bullet had been badly damaged.

The Palestinian Authority, Al Jazeera and her family have accused the army of intentionally killing Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist well known across the Arab world for documenting the harsh realities of life under more than half a century of Israeli military rule.

The report said the shooting has had a chilling effect on press freedom.

Many reporters covering similar raids and tensions  which have risen markedly since Shireens killing  are afraid of being shot, said Guillaume Lavallee, chairman of the Foreign Press Association at the time of the shooting, told CPJ. He said the feeling of vulnerability is especially strong among Palestinian colleagues.

The FPA represents dozens of international media organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including The Associated Press.

In its report, the CPJ called on the Israeli military to reform its rules of engagement to prevent the targeting of journalists, to guarantee swift, independent and transparent investigations and to make their findings public.

It also called on the U.S. to issue an update on the status of a reported FBI investigation into Abu Aklehs killing and to put pressure on Israel to reform its rules of engagement.

___

This story has been corrected to show that CPJ is asking for an investigation into the death of Ahmed Abu Hussein, not Yousef Abu Hussein.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A man convicted of killing and sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman in separate South Florida attacks in 1984 is set to be executed next month under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Duane Owens execution is set for June 15 at 6 p.m. Its the fourth execution scheduled in Florida this year after a break dating back to 2019. Donald Dillbeck was executed in February, and Louis Bernard Gaskin was executed in April. Darryl B. Barwick was executed earlier this month.

The execution would be only the sixth under DeSantis, a far slower pace than recent Florida governors  and ahead of his widely expected presidential campaign.

According to court records, Owen broke into a Delray Beach home in March 1984 and attacked 14-year-old Karen Slattery, who was babysitting two young children. Owen repeatedly stabbed the girl and then sexually assaulted her, investigators said. The young children werent injured.

About two months later, Georgianna Worden, 38, was sleeping in her Boca Raton home when Owen broke in and fatally struck her in the head with a hammer multiple times before raping her, officials said.

Delray Beach and Boca Raton are both in Palm Beach County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Miami.

Owen is also accused of attacking two other women in their homes, but they survived.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden called for a fair deal for Hollywoods striking writers on Monday as he hosted a White House screening of the the upcoming streaming series American Born Chinese to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Biden made his first public comments on the strike, which hits the one-week mark Tuesday, in remarks ahead of the pilots screening. He was joined by an overflow crowd of hundreds of community leaders, elected officials and cast members and producers from the show in the East Room and the State Dining Room.

Nights like these are a reminder of stories and the importance of treating storytellers with the dignity, respect and the value they deserve, Biden said. I sincerely hope the writers strike in Hollywood gets resolved and the writers are given a fair deal they deserve as soon as possible.

He added: This is an iconic, meaningful American industry. And we need the writers and all the workers and everyone involved to tell the stories of our nation and the stories of all of us.

American Born Chinese is an adaptation of a graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, and stars Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. It will premiere on Disney+ May 24.

Biden used his brief remarks onstage to outline his administrations efforts to highlight the accomplishments of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and to speak out against prejudice and violence targeting them.

Hate can have no safe harbor in America, Biden said. Silence is complicity and we will not remain silent

Quan, who introduced Biden, reflected on his journey from arriving in the U.S. as an 8-year-old refugee from Vietnam to making his first visit to the White House months after winning an Oscar.

I do not take this moment lightly, because I know this building is a monument to a country that opened its arms to me, he said.

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The head of a British Columbia-based group that says it is a non-political organization helping Chinese integrate into Canadian society travelled to Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping at a government conference this week.

Chinese state media videos and photos show Canadian Community Service Association president Niu Hua attending the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations, hosted by the state councils overseas Chinese affairs office.

Niu is seen applauding with the group on Monday during Xis entry to the conference, which state media says involved representatives from 130 countries, and is also seen in a group picture with the Chinese leader.

Chinese state media says Shi Taifeng  head of the Chinese United Front Work Departments central committee  told conference attendees that they serve as an important bridge and bond between China and the rest of the world.

Shi told the groups they are fresh troops in Chinas effort to develop a shared future for mankind as part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Niu has not responded to requests for comment, but his Chinese-language WeChat social media account shared state-media depictions of the meeting and photographs of him outside the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, where the meeting with Xi took place.

The Canadian Community Service Association says on its website that it was established in 2002 to promote integration and the spirit of community service among Chinese and other multicultural communities, organizing activities such as fundraising drives for natural disasters.

It says it is non-profit, non-religious, and non-political, and has nearly 20,000 members.

In March, the group hosted a banquet to welcome new Chinese consul general Yang Shu to Vancouver.

In January, it staged a spring festival gala attended by an array of Canadian federal, provincial and municipal politicians, several of whom spoke at the event and posed for photos with Niu.

One of the speakers at the January event, Senator Yuen Pau Woo, questioned whether there was a racial component to any concerns about Nius presence at the meeting with Xi.

Did you hear that hundreds of Canadians met with President Biden on his recent visit to Canada, including numerous heads of non-political organizations? Woo said in a written response.

Would you ask the same question if a Caucasian Canadian head of a non-political organization  say the president of a business group or a university  went to Beijing and met with President Xi?

On Monday, Canada declared Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei persona non grata after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said he was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China responded by declaring Canadian diplomat Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul in Shanghai, persona non grata and asked her to leave the country before May 13.

 With files from Nono Shen

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly said Senator Yuen Pau Woo had written that Niu Huas participation in the conference did not mean his group was political in nature.

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OTTAWA - Canadas expulsion of a Chinese diplomat following allegations of a threat campaign against a Conservative MP marks the first time in five years a foreign representative is told to pack up and leave the country.

Its rare but not unheard of for Canada to expel diplomats.

Declaring someone persona non grata  an unwelcome person  is dictated by a 1961 United Nations treaty called the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

It says a receiving state can at any time, without any explanation, declare a member of a diplomatic mission persona non grata and prompt them to leave the country.

Sometimes a hard date is given, but in general diplomats are expected to leave immediately upon being expelled.

Canada adopted that international convention into its domestic laws through the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act.

Canada last expelled a diplomat in 2018, when Russians were sent home by Canada in solidarity with the United Kingdom over a Russian-led nerve gas attack on a Russian political dissident.

Venezuelas ambassador to Canada was kicked out in 2017, two days after Venezuela expelled Canadas top diplomat in Caracas following political upheaval in the country.

An Eritrean diplomat was expelled in 2013 for inappropriate behaviour. A year earlier, all Syrian diplomats still in Ottawa were booted out in response to the Syrian Civil War.

In 2001, Russian diplomat Andrei Knyazev drove his car onto a sidewalk and killed a pedestrian. He was expelled from Canada and, eventually, found guilty of manslaughter in Moscow before being sentenced to four years in a penal colony.

An Italian diplomat was deemed persona non grata in 1998 for rude behavior, and a Ukrainian consular employee who claimed diplomatic immunity after being accused of trying to lure young girls into his car was told to leave Canada in 1996.

In 1991, Canada expelled Iraqi diplomats connected to Saddam Husseins regime.

Pich-Xuan Ho, a Vietnamese diplomat, was expelled after the RCMP discovered he had been threatening members of the diaspora community in an attempt to gain support in 1979 for the countrys then-socialist government.

That same year a Yugoslavian diplomat was ordered to leave for exerting improper pressures to obtain information on Canadians of Yugolsav origin.

Canada also kicked out Soviet diplomats and other officials over espionage allegations in 1978.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2023.

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OTTAWAIt all came down to the 20-word title of a committee study.

At least, that was the reason cited by Facebooks parent company Meta, when the multinational tech giant explained on Monday why one of its most senior executives was bowing out of a committee appearance on the Liberal governments online news bill.

Metas President (of) Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, had been due to speak later today at a hearing of Canadas Heritage Committee entitled The Response of Companies in the Information Technology Sector to Bill C-18, a statement from the company read.

Late on Thursday, the committee notified Meta that the title of the hearing had changed to Tech Giants Current and Ongoing Use of Intimidation and Subversion Tactics to Evade Regulation in Canada and Across the World. Clearly, it would be a very different hearing to the one Nick Clegg was invited to.

The hefty and highly-charged meeting moniker  and Metas decision to respond by sending two lower-level representatives before MPs  comes as the web giant mounts its latest stand against Ottawas proposed Online News Act.

Bill C-18 would compel tech companies like Meta and Google, which share and direct people to online news content, to strike deals with the Canadian media publishers behind that content. The Liberals introduced the bill last spring, pushing the legislation as an attempt to revive a shrinking journalism industry it says has been hurt by the tech titans domination of the digital advertising market. Torstar, the company that publishes the Toronto Star, has also lobbied Ottawa regarding the bill. In 2021, Torstar struck a deal with Meta to join its News Innovation Test, which pays publishers for the ability to link to news stories not already posted on Facebook.

Meta published the opening remarks Clegg would have issued had he appeared before MPs, in which the former U.K. politician turned tech executive reiterated that the company will end the availability of news content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada should the flawed legislation pass.

Meta has argued it should not be forced to fork over cash to news publishers, stating that news content represents less than three per cent of what users see in their Facebook feeds.

News publishers do find our services valuable. We estimate that Facebook Feed sent registered news publishers in Canada more than 1.9 billion clicks in the 12 months to April 2022. This amounts to free marketing we estimate is worth more than $230 million, Cleggs statement said.

Rachel Curran, Meta Canadas head of public policy and one of the representatives who testified Monday, confirmed that the company has been actively looking at how to prepare for the removal of news on its platform.

Heritage committee members have been probing both Meta and Googles opposition to the bill, following revelations earlier this year that Google had quietly launched a now-completed test that filtered out Canadian and global news content for less than four per cent of its Canadian users.

Meta has also faced questions around its response to similar legislation passed in Australia, which saw Facebook block news sharing in that country. The Wall Street Journal has since reported that Facebook allegedly blocked news in Australia  including content related to government, health and emergency services  in a strategic attempt to influence their legislation.

The way Australia unfolded was not ideal. There were some technical errors made in the way that we removed news from our platform. We fully intend that those errors will not be made in the Canadian context, Curran said Monday.

But it was the committee studys name that took up a sizable chunk of Mondays debate.

Unfortunately, late last Thursday  we were notified by the committee clerk that the title of the hearing was changed to a much more confrontational one,, said Kevin Chan, Metas global policy director.

A source from the company, who spoke to the Star on the condition they not be named, said different language initially accompanied Cleggs invitation from the committee, and it was only an eleventh-hour decision to change the studys title that prompted Clegg to drop out.

Liberal MP Chris Bittle disputed Metas version of events, telling the Star that the committees new title was taken straight from a motion committee members introduced back in March.

Conservative committee member Martin Shields took a similar view, telling Chan and Curran Monday that he felt Meta had the resources to know about the details of the motion in question.

You would have known what that motion was a long time ago when it was passed. You have incredible resources. So for somebody to take that now and say, Oh, Im not coming because of that, it really taints the conversation in the room. It really does, he said.

Tensions between MPs and the company continued into the final moments of the meeting, when committee chair Hedy Fry thanked Chan and Curran for their time.

Seconds later, as the meeting was suspending, Chan was caught on his microphone turning to Curran and saying: So reprehensible.

The Meta source refused to comment on the context of Chans remarks, saying they didnt hear the comment themselves and had nothing more to add.

Bittle said Fry was visibly upset by the remark. Bittle also accused the company for having no regard for Canadian democracy.

Clarification  May 9, 2023: This article was updated to be clear that it was Liberal MP Chris Bittle who accused Meta of having no regard for Canadian democracy.

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OTTAWA - Beijing declared a Canadian diplomat as persona non grata Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a Chinese consular official over allegations of foreign interference.

Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul working out of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, was asked to leave China by May 13.

Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted to its English website early Tuesday that China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it strongly condemns and firmly opposes.

The decision came hours after Canada declared Zhao Wei, a Chinese consular officer in Toronto, as persona non grata in this country. He was asked to leave Canada within five days.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service has alleged Zhao was involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative MP Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is still planning to speak to Lalonde following the decision, but hadnt yet as of Tuesday afternoon. Joly described Lalonde as a respected career diplomat.

Joly said Tuesday the decision to expel Zhao was made considering all factors.

It needed to be thoughtful, it needed to take some time, and we needed to make sure that we did this in a very serious manner.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday his government will stand firm.

We will take whatever action is necessary to continue to protect our democracy and show that were standing up for our values and our principles, Trudeau said, before the regular weekly cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill.

We understand there is retaliation but we will not be intimidated, he added. We will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from interference.

Joly said the federal government will update its guidance to travellers if it perceives the risk to Canadians in China as rising higher than its current level.

The current travel advisory asks Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Global Affairs Canada has asked Zhao to leave Canada by the weekend, and Canadian law allows the department to expel him within 10 days if he does not follow that order. China has set a similar timeline in asking Lalonde to leave that country by Saturday.

Calls for Zhao to be expelled began last week after a report in the Globe and Mail that Canadas spy agency, CSIS, had information in 2021 alleging the Chinese government was looking at ways to intimidate Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong. The federal government has confirmed that report.

Following Jolys announcement on Monday, Chinas embassy in Ottawa issued a statement that accused Canada of breaching international law and acting based on anti-Chinese sentiment.

It said the move sabotaged relations between China and Canada, according to an official English translation provided by the embassy, and promised unspecified retaliatory measures.

Trudeau said Tuesday that his government had taken the potential for retaliation, including economic countermeasures, by China into account when it decided to expel the envoy.

We will always do whatever is necessary to keep Canadians safe, Trudeau said.

Chong said last week that the current national security adviser, Jody Thomas, told him that CSIS informed her predecessor in 2021 about the matter. It is unclear just who that was, as the role was held by different people at different times that year.

Vincent Rigby, who was national security adviser for a good deal of 2021, declined to comment Tuesday, saying he expects to be asked to testify to Parliament or speak to the special rapporteur Trudeau appointed to help craft the governments response to foreign interference.

Im trying to keep my powder dry, Rigby said.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino would not say Tuesday who is at fault for Chong not being notified in 2021 that CSIS believed Beijing might target him and his relatives.

Of course Ive got confidence in CSIS. I mean, these are individuals who work to protect our national security every day, Mendicino testified to the House foreign-affairs committee.

The only people that I think that we need to be united in holding accountable are the hostile actors who are attempting to undermine our democratic institutions.

Mendicino noted that Trudeau has now directed CSIS to always brief the public safety minister and the prime minister when the agency believes a member of Parliament might be targeted by a foreign state. He said Ottawa might expand this to directive to include elected officials at the provincial and municipal levels.

MPs spent most of Tuesday debating a motion to have the House procedural committee study whether Chongs rights as a parliamentarian were breached by a foreign entity.

The debate was temporarily paused late afternoon to allow other House business to proceed but was to resume late Tuesday evening.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner told reporters Tuesday that Ottawa needs to act to restore trust in democracy. She argued tools like a foreign agent registry would add transparency and prevent the public from linking diaspora communities with foreign states.

I hope that across the partisan spectrum in Canada, people understand how serious this is, and this is actually a threat to our sovereignty and our democracy, she told reporters.

Government is causing a threat to our pluralism and this needs to be dealt with really quickly, to restore trust in government institutions.

The government is consulting about setting up a registry but has not provided a timeline for when one may come into existence.

NDP foreign-affairs critic Heather McPherson called for more transparency.

Which MPs have been targeted, have those MPs been informed, do they have the information they need to make the right decisions, she told reporters.

I think its really important for our safety, but also for our democracy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

 With files from Jim Bronskill

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One of the candidates for the seat of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Tuesday, withdrew from the Speakership race

He disclosed this in a press statement, adding that he is now vying for the Office of Deputy Speaker.

The lawmaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, thanked his supporters throughout the period of contesting for the Speakership seat.

He further applauded the All Progressives Congress for nominating him for the position of Deputy Speaker.

The All Progressives Congress, on Monday, nominated Abbas Tajudeen as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

I wish to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all who have tirelessly supported my candidacy for the Speakership position of the 10th Assembly. I believed this position was ideal for the Southeast region, as it has not produced a Speaker in the last 40 years.

However, as a firm believer in Party supremacy, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy for the Speakership Position and fully accept the nomination for the position of Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly in line with the directives of our Party the All Progressives Congress. This decision aligns with the Partys commitment to fairness, equity, and inclusiveness in all of its leadership selection processes.
The Supreme Court in Abuja has declared Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.





The judgement followed an earlier decision by a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Mohammed Shuaibu, which affirmed his victory, nullifying the judgement of the election petition tribunal.









The election petition tribunal had in January this year nullified the governors victory.









Adegboyega Oyetola, the immediate-past governor of the state, had filed a petition challenging Adelekes victory.
Albany police have accused a man of attempted murder, assault and more.

Officers arrested Andres Lara, 34, on Sunday, May 7.

Court documents allege that on Sunday, Lara assaulted a victim using a dangerous or deadly weapon and tried to cause the death of that victim. In court, the assault was described as a stabbing.

Lara also allegedly destroyed, altered, concealed or removed physical evidence.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

He was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Monday, May 8 on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence.

According to prosecutor Ryan Lucke, the assault was a "nearly fatal stabbing." Lucke also alleged Lara had multiple convictions out of California and a lengthy criminal history.

During the arraignment, Judge Michael Wynhausen ordered the Oregon Office of Public Defense Services appoint Lara a defense attorney. Wynhausen set Lara's bail at $250,000. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 22.




The Ebonyi State Police Command has directed the people of the state to disregard the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, scheduled for May 8 to May 11 in the state.





The Commissioner of Police in the state, Faleye Olaleye, described the sit-at-home as unconstitutional.





Olaleyes directive was contained in a statement by the command spokesman, Onome Onovwakpoyeya.





Quoting Olaleye, Onovwakpoyeya said such a directive was unlawful and couldnt stand.





Police are aware of the statement in circulation by a group that called itself IPOB asking people to observe a sit-at-home from May 8 to May11, 2023.





The people of Ebonyi should discountenance the order and go about their lawful business without fear of intimidation as Police is prepared, he said.





He urged people of the state to go about their activities without intimidation and fear.





Olaleye charged members of the public to inform the police of threats to their safety.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement, which affirmed his victory as the winner of the July 16 gubernatorial election in the state.

Adeleke said he will commit to more expanded delivery of good governance.

The governor stated this following his victory at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Recall that the apex court had dismissed the appeal by the immediate past governor of the state, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging Adelekes victory.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court ruled that Oyetola predicated all his allegations against the election on baseless and unfounded hearsay.

Adeleke said he seeks the support and cooperation of all Osun residents and citizens irrespective of party affiliation.

He said: My Lord Justices, your affirmation of the truth and peoples will consolidates and strengthens our democracy. On behalf of [the] Osun people, we appreciate you and we adore your love for justice and equity.

To us, stakeholders in the Osun project, be assured that the revalidation of our mandate is a challenge, a call to duty, and a fresh demand for more dividends of democracy.

I commit myself to even more expanded delivery of good governance. In me, you find the truthful pro-people governor. I seek the support and cooperation of all Osun residents and citizens, irrespective of party affiliation. This is our state, and we must join hands to develop it.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has finally surrendered to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as its industrial action entered day 5.

The Organised Labour announced a strike throughout the state last Wednesday as a result of the disruption of the Workers Day celebration.

A temporary injunction prohibiting the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from taking part in any strike in Imo State was also issued by a national industrial court in Owerri. The directive was given on Thursday by the presiding judge, Nelson Ogbuanya.

However, it was learnt that the Imo State Government has agreed to resolve the issues with NLC.

This was confirmed in a joint statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, signed on the side of the government by the Secretary to the State government, SSG, Cosmos Iwu and the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Cyprian Akolisa.

On the part of the organised labour were Comrade Onyeka Chris, NLC, headquarters, Comrade Tony Ebaho, TUC headquarters, Imo State Secretary NLC, Comrade Anukworji Nduka and Chairman TUC, Imo state, Comrade Amalu Charles.

The resolution states that Tripartite representatives of the state government, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress should expeditiously look into and resolve the areas of disagreement and misunderstanding between the government and labour.

Both parties condemned the circumstances that resulted in the alleged disruptions of the May Day celebrations and pledged to ensure peaceful conduct of all NLC and TUC activities in the state.

Even though it is not at fault, the government looks for solutions to help those who may have experienced losses due to the aforementioned interruptions.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, agree to halt the current strike in Imo state to facilitate the peaceful settlement of any remaining disputes in a spirit of reciprocity.

Both sides promise not to penalise any employee or official for their actions or inactions resulting from their industrial actions.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the Supreme Courts verdict on the July 16, 2022, gubernatorial election in Osun State.

The Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday affirmed the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of the state.

Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, who delivered the judgement, ruled that former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who challenged the victory of Adeleke, based all his allegations against the election on unfounded hearsay.

Reacting, President Buhari said that with the final decision by the court, the political class and its supporters should be reminded that the main task at hand is to make the people feel the impact of good governance, where a prosperous, peaceful, and stable Osun is guaranteed.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, the president urged all citizens and residents of the state to give Adeleke all the support needed to ensure that programmes, policies, plans, and aspirations fashioned to make individuals and businesses flourish succeed.

Buhari said: Elections should be seen as the path to an end, which is the progress of the people in a peaceful environment, rather than unending bickering. This is the time for inclusion and harmony in the state at the end of litigation.
Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says Peter Obis visit to him was not a reconciliation meeting.

Recall that Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, visited Soyinka on Sunday.

Obi had said his visit to Soyinka was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the obidient family.

The development comes days after Soyinka came under criticism on social media by Obis supporters, popularly known as Obidients.

Soyinka had, in a statement, said Obidients wear their refusal to accept constructive criticism as a badge of honour, while addressing criticism he received from supporters of the LP.

Commenting in a statement on Monday, Soyinka said there was no issue to reconcile between him, Obi and the LP.

He described the word reconciliation as most inappropriate and diversionary invocation.

Before it gains traction and embarks on a life of its own, I wish to state clearly that the word Reconciliation, inserted into some reports of Peter Obis visit to me yesterday, Sunday, May 7, is a most inappropriate, and diversionary invocation, Soyinka said.

Let me clarify: I know the entity known as Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party. I can relate to him. I know and can relate to the Labour Party on whose platform he contested elections.

There are simply no issues to reconcile between those two entities and myself.

However, I do not know, and Im unable to relate to something known as the Obidient or Obidient Family.

Thus, albeit in a different vein, any notion of reconciliation, or even relations  positive, negative or indifferent  with such a spectral emanation is simply grasping at empty air.

During that meeting, attended by two other individuals only, the word Reconciliation was never bruited, neither in itself nor in any other form. It simply did not arise.

By contrast, there were expressions of burden of leadership, responsibility, apology, pleading, formal dissociation from the untenable, all the way to the tragic ascendancy of ethnic cleavage, especially under such ironic, untenable circumstances. Discussions were frank, and creative.

The notion of Reconciliation was clearly N/A  Non Applicable. It was never raised.




A former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has disclosed what those expecting justice from the Presidential Election Tribunal should do.





He advised that they should book an appointment with a cardiologist.





The socio-political commentator said those also expecting miracles should do the same thing.





Tweeting, Sani said: There are people expecting justice from the tribunal. There are people expecting miracles from the tribunal.





There are people expecting neither justice nor miracle from the tribunal. The first and second categories should always stay close to a cardiologist.





The Presidential Election Tribunal is currently sitting in Abuja.





Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi, his counterparts from the Labour Party, LP, are challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election at the tribunal.





The duo of Atiku and Obi are challenging the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has stated that the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urged him to step down for Senator Godswill Akpabio in the race for the 10th Senate presidency.

The Governor stated this during an interview with newsmen on Monday on his arrival at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke in Ebonyi.

Umahi explained that he discussed his senate presidency bid with Tinubu and had to accede to his request in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the South-East zone.

I discussed the issue with the President-elect when he was in Paris and he invited me on his return to the country.

It was an honour to be invited by Tinubu and he told me that he had made commitments. It is his right as the President-elect to make commitments and anyone running for such an office makes promises.

So I accepted because I did not want to be a clog in the wheel of his progress.

Speaking on his withdrawal, he said, politics is all about dialogue, give and take, we cannot continue opposing everything.

Considering our efforts to promote the All Progressives Congress, APC, the South-East zone will get a tangible position, he said.




Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has assured the Southeast that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu will compensate the region for missing out on the Senate Presidency.





Umahi assured that Tinubu would compensate the Southeast with other tangible positions for sacrificing the Senate Presidency seat.





He spoke while addressing journalists at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State.





According to Umahi: Let it not be as if we are in opposition all the time.





Politics is all about dialogue; give and take. Since we did not get that, we will get something else that is very tangible.





Umahi also disclosed that most Senators-elect are behind Godswill Akpabio emerging as the next Senate President.





I am not yet a senator, but if you say senators-elect, the majority of them I know are with Akpabio, and I am Akpabios campaign coordinator, he added.





Recall that Umahi had stepped down for Akpabio as the race for the Senate President heats up.





The All Progressives Congress, APC, in an attempt to pave the way for Akpabio zoned the Senate Presidency to the South-south.
Muktar Betara, one of the aspirants for the position of speakership of the House of Representatives, has described the consensus candidate picked by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tajudeen Abbas, as an unknown person.

He stated that the decision of the incumbent speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila to pick Abbas ahead of other popular aspirants is a big surprise to him.

Betara said this on Monday while officially declaring interest in the speakership race. The declaration was attended by six other aspirants that have vowed to work together to reject Abbas.

It would be recalled that the National Working Committee of the APC had resolved to endorse Abbas for Speaker, and Ben Kalu for Deputy Speaker.

However, five of the aspirants, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Ado Doguwa, Ahmed Jaji and Betara have formed an alliance to defeat Abbas.

I was surprised that my friend and my boss (Gbajabiamila) nominated one person outside of all of us here. If today, the Deputy Speaker is contesting, the chairman appropriation is contesting, the Majority Leader is contesting, then who is closer to the Speaker? So nobody. He is picking somebody that members of the 9th Assembly dont know. A lot of us dont know him, Betara said.




Lawmakers of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly are gearing up for a stormy plenary following allegations that the house leadership may have doctored its Standing Rules.





We gathered that over 100 aggrieved members of the House have signed a notice of impeachment to be served on the Speaker at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.





Members have vowed to raise the issue on the floor of the House for immediate retraction of the suspected rigged and doctored document.





The doctored standing rules, referred to as the 10th Edition cited by a newsmen correspondent, allegedly has a new, strange and obnoxious provision for electing the Speaker and Deputy through an open ballot instead of the existing rule of a secret ballot that has been in use since 1999.





Section 2 (f) (iii) of the controversial clause captioned, election of presiding officers, stated that every member voting shall name clearly and in the open the candidate of his choice.





A principal officer of the House, who spoke to DAILY POST anonymously, said, Yes, i can confirm that an alteration has been done and the document has been printed. But i want to tell you that even as a principal officer in the House I am not aware of this. No such amendment has been officially carried by the House.





Also, another member of the House told newsmen, This is a strange departure from our traditional procedure of electing presiding officers in the House, which has always produced Speakers and Deputy Speakers through a secret ballot system.





We have never discussed the issue of amending our rules in this repect in the last four years it must be the gand work of somebody who is trying to be faster than the House. I assure you we will get to the root of the matter immediately so as to save the House from any embarrassment.





The leadership under Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is being accused of single-handedly manipulating the rules of the House to edge out more credible aspirants in favour of his preferred candidate, Hon Abbas Tajudeen.
Court documents allege Baxley forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with a victim on or between Feb. 1 and Feb. 9.

Baxley was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Monday, May 8 on one count of first-degree rape. During the arraignment, Judge Michael Wynhausen set Baxley's bail at $100,000. According to Wynhausen, Baxley was not financially eligible for a court appointed attorney.
The presidential election tribunal has commenced pre-hearing in the suit filed by Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the election of Bola Tinubu as president-elect.

At the pre-hearing session on Tuesday, Chris Uche, counsel to Atiku and the PDP told the court that he has filed necessary processes for pre-hearing.

Uche also told the court that he has filed a motion, seeking to have the proceedings televised due to the national interest around the case.

The senior advocate said the application should be given priority at the commencement of hearing.

Lawyers to the respondents in the suit noted that they had filed their various responses to the petition.

Lateef Fagbemi, counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), also told the court that he has filed two motions seeking to dismiss the petition and to strike out the responses of the petitioners.

Other lawyers for the respondents are Abubakar Mahmoud, for INEC and Akin Olujinmi for Tinubu.

The respondents also said they will file their responses within the time allowed by the rules of the court.

After counsels adopted their various responses, a five-member panel of the tribunal led by Haruna Tsammani, ordered the lawyers to meet and harmonise their positions in respect of documents to be tendered, those they will object to and those to allow.

The panel adjourned further pre-hearing to Thursday by 2 pm.

Earlier, the tribunal also had a pre-hearing session for the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The party, through its team of lawyers led by M. O . Atoyebi adopted answers filed on April 21, in response to a pre-hearing information sheet that was issued by the court.

All other parties adopted their answers and the court adjourned to Thursday for continuation.
Following an outcry from locals, the owners of the famed Nabisco factory in Fair Lawn have decided not to demolish what remains of the structure using explosives.

After extensive dialogue with local communities and businesses, Greek Development has made the decision not to implode the remaining portion of the Nabisco Tower, Greek Development announced in a statement Monday. We will utilize an alternative method of demolition that does not include the use of any explosives.

It was unclear what the new timeline would be for demolishing the tower, a process that was originally slated to take place on April 15 until the developers decided to postpone it about a week earlier.

Ownership is proceeding to undertake the additional time and expense to ensure the well-being and peace of mind of the surrounding residents, the owners added.

During a recent meeting, nearby residents expressed concerns about the potential release of asbestos or other hazardous materials and the associated illnesses people could develop following an implosion, according to a report by NorthJersey.com.

Glen Rock public school officials had announced their buildings would be closed the Monday after the originally-scheduled implosion due to concerns about the health and safety of students and staff.

Demolition of the Nabisco factory began last fall, ending a 60-year run at the iconic site. The building has been a major part of the boroughs identity since the Fair Lawn plant opened in 1958. The factory loomed over Route 208 and beyond with NABISCO written across the top in big red letters.

The Nabisco factory is a landmark in North Jersey. Perhaps even more recognizable than the sign was the factorys distinct aroma. For decades, the smell of freshly baked cookies hung in the air of the surrounding area.

The plant produced popular baked goods, including the brands Oreo, Lorna Doone and Teddy Grahams.

Nabiscos parent company, Mondelez International, sold the property to Greek Development, an East Brunswick company, for $146.5 million. Greek Development is knocking down the plant to make way for redevelopment, although it has not proposed a plan for the property yet.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The three Rutgers University faculty unions that went on strike for five days last month have voted to ratify new four-year contracts, their leaders announced Monday, formally ending a 10-month impasse with New Jerseys largest university.

The union members approved the agreements in voting that ended early Monday. Of those casting ballots, 93% approved the pacts, the unions said.

The contracts include across-the-board raises and additional job security for part-time lecturers, also known as adjuncts, that union officials hope will set precedents nationally for historically underpaid instructors. They also include significant raises and job security provisions for graduate workers and, for clinicians, parental leave, and an end to the controversial practice of replacing Rutgers workers with non-union hires from RWJBarnabas Health, a 12-hospital network.

Under the agreement, adjuncts will receive 44% raises over four years based on a current per-class salary of $5,799. The contracts also provide for a 27.9% minimum salary increase for postdoctoral fellows, some of whom reported making $10,000 to $25,000; the right for graduate fellows to unionize; 10-month salaries of $40,000 for graduate assistants and teaching assistants by the end of the contract; and a 14% raise for full-time faculty and counselors over four years. Full-time faculty without tenure will no longer have to apply for their jobs at the end of each contract.

We are thrilled to have ratified these contracts we bargained together, side by side with our adjunct faculty siblings, faculty union president Rebecca Givan said during a 1 p.m. press conference. This is truly a historic occasion to have all of these contracts and be lifting up the people that do the day-to-day academic work at Rutgers.

The state university said in a statement, We are grateful to all those whose hard work contributed to reaching this agreement, and we thank Gov. (Phil) Murphy, his staff, and state-appointed mediators who helped the university and the unions resolve differences on key issues and enable us all once again to focus on the academic enterprise that is the heart of this remarkable university.

The unions former contracts expired on July 1. After months of negotiations with Rutgers stalled, the unions launched the first faculty strike in the public schools 257-year history.

On the first day of the walkout, April 10, Murphy called negotiators to his office in Trenton and sent his chief of staff and others to work with two mediators, the unions, and Rutgers to reach a settlement.

They reached the framework of a deal April 15 and union leadership voted later to accept a tentative agreement. Union members ratified that Monday.

The striking unions were the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates, and counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents adjunct faculty; and AAUP-BHSNJ, which represents health science faculty in Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences facilities. Together, they represented 9,000 workers.

Union leaders praised the contract but said much work remains to settle labor issues involving nine other Rutgers unions representing 6,000 workers.

Amy Higer, head of the adjuncts union, said she was proud to be part of a movement rebelling against a business model for higher education that puts profit ahead of people.

We pushed back against the extreme levels of income inequality in this university between those who do equivalent work, she said. Theres no reason anybody working at this university should be paid at poverty wages.

She described how the most highly paid faculty walked the picket lines with the least well-paid and most insecure workers.

I hope to see that this happens at other universities and other industries around the country, she said. At Rutgers, weve come out of the shadows.

Christine OConnell, president of the Union of Rutgers Administrators-AFT, which represents 2,500 administrative staff, said her union had taken a strike pledge vote, one step short of a strike authorization, and continues in negotiations with Rutgers over pay, job security, a path to career advancement, and a permanent policy for telework.

Other unions still working towards contracts include Local 5094 of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees, with 2,600 healthcare workers; the Committee for Interns and Residents; and the Communications Workers of America Local 1031, with workers who care for patients. Debbie White, vice president of the latter local, said Rutgers met with them only once last month and once this month and is handing union jobs to private corporations.

In addition, the adjuncts union is taking its fight for health insurance to the legislature, said Thomas Paul Raggio, who noted that a bill that would provide coverage to adjuncts teaching at least 24 credits a year in New Jersey public colleges and universities had stalled in the state Legislature last year.

Weve got a lot of work to do, said Todd Wolfson, general vice president of the faculty union, citing Rutgers original commitment of $250,000 to a community fund the union would also support to address the housing and other needs of Rutgers neighbors.

President Holloway reneged on that, and he is not off the hook, Wolfson said, referring to Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway.

In response to a question about the fund, the university said through a spokesperson, Rutgers has strengthened its commitment to financially help students in need in recent years and will continue to build on a robust program to aid students in need.

Its still unclear how the contracts will be paid for. Murphy suggested in recent weeks that he would be open to using more taxpayer-funded state aid to help cover the increases and stressed he didnt want hikes in tuition.

The contracts were a topic during a state Assembly Budget Committee hearing at the Statehouse in Trenton on Monday, where lawmakers asked Holloway how much the contracts would cost the state.

This is a big issue, Assemblyman Gerald Scharfenberger, R-Monmouth, said.

Holloway in recent days has testified before lawmakers that the state has agreed to increase aid to Rutgers to help cover the contracts, but no official has put a price tag yet on the cost to taxpayers or tuition payers.

Noting that the number of adjuncts changes every semester, he said it is complicated to figure out the cost of the raises for them.

I want to give you precise answers. I wouldnt be doing my job if I were to give you ballparks, Holloway told the committee.

He did say Rutgers is facing a $125 million budget deficit, and the school has asked administrative officers to make 10% spending cuts to save $25 million a year.

Asked by NJ Spotlight News if tuition hikes are possible, Holloway said thats premature and that it would be up to the schools Board of Governors.

Murphys office has also declined to release how much aid the state has agreed to send Rutgers to help pay for the contracts.

Murphy and lawmakers are negotiating a new state budget set to take effect in July. The Legislature has to approve any aid increase, and some lawmakers have expressed reticence at doing so out of fear that it would set a precedent, with more state schools looking for bailouts during contract negotiations.

I wont get into the details of the money, Murphy said last week. The fact of the matter is: We were an important party in this process. Thats not to pat ourselves on the back. Its just a fact. But most importantly, I am relieved. I think everybodys relieved on all sides of this  Rutgers, the labor unions. It was complicated because there were a number of different bargaining units, with some really tricky, complicated issues to deal with.

12 1 / 12 Press Conference on Rutgers Ratification Vote

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is no longer requiring guests to make a reservation for date-based tickets and is reinstating dining plans for hotel guests.

These are just some of the changes Disney World is making starting in 2024, according to a press release from Disney Parks.
A new two-day food festival is heading to the Jersey Shore this summer, promising loads of eats plus music, games, culinary contests, workshops, and more.

The fest, called Boujee FoodieCon, is set to commandeer Fort Monmouth in Oceanport June 3 and 4. The tented area on the grounds surrounding Russell Hall will feature local restaurants, independent eateries, and unique food and beverage providers in the area. Attendees can purchase and taste a variety of food from The Butchers Block, Pancho Mexican Kitchen, Mavs Top Bun, Goodlife Coffee Mobile Barista and many more. See the full restaurant and vendor list here.
A man has been charged with fraudulently obtaining $4 million in government funds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Gbenga Akinbode, 33, of Newark, faces one count of wire fraud, according to a criminal complaint. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in federal court Monday and was released on a $300,000 bond, prosecutors said.

Investigators allege that Akinbode opened a bank account in 2020 and used 120 debit cards to purchase $500,000 in money orders before depositing the funds into the account, according to the complaint.
Two days after a Texas mall shooting left nine dead on Saturday, New Jerseys senior U.S. senator joined the mayor of the states largest city in calling on federal officials to implement a federal background check law signed nearly a year ago in response to another Texas mass shooting.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called on the U.S. Department of Justice and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to finalize rules necessary to put into effect and enforce the Bipartisan Safe Communities Act, federal legislation signed by President Joe Biden last June.

Officials also called on the federal agencies to respond to Bidens recent executive order seeking to close a loophole in the federal regulation of gun sales by clarifying whether sellers at gun shows are engaged in the business of gun sales and, therefore, should be licensed.

New Jersey has some of the countrys toughest gun laws. But officials said the uninhibited movement of guns across state lines renders New Jersey and any state vulnerable to lax regulations of other states.

That makes us safer here, at home in New Jersey, because the enforcement is national in scope, not just New Jersey, Menendez said of the law.

Baraka agreed. He said wherever the weapon may come from, The common denominator in all gun violence is the presence of a gun.

Spokespeople for the ATF and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.

The law was a rare bit of federal legislation approved in response to a mass shooting, this one a massacre of 19 students and two staff members at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by a former student on May 24, 2022, when police waited more than an hour to intervene.

Chelsea Parsons, national director of implementation at Everytown for Gun Safety, one of the nations largest gun control groups, told the gathering the law was truly significant and the first major legislation since the now-lapsed federal assault weapons ban of 1994.

Officials said the measure provides $250 million in federal funding for violence intervention measures like those used in Newark and includes $5.3 million earmarked for New Jersey.

Among its provisions, the bipartisan law extends background checks for gun buyers under 21; funds state red flag laws, which provide notification that someone with a history of mental illness should not be issued a gun permit; increases penalties for arms trafficking and straw purchases of guns; and tightens the so-called boyfriend loophole that allows abusive former domestic partners to buy guns. It was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Chris Murphy, DConnecticut.

The National Rifle Association opposed passage of the Bipartisan Safe Communities Act. The NRAs New Jersey affiliate, the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.

Mondays event, which officials announced last week, was intended to coincide with the Uvalde shootings first anniversary. But officials noted on Monday that since the announcement, another Texas mass shooting had already made national headlines when a 33-year-old gunman killed eight people on Saturday at a mall near Dallas before he was shot dead by police.

Closer to home, in Newark on Wednesday night, a man shot and killed a young boy in front of his mother and wounded the boys aunt before police fatally shot him. In another Newark shooting the day before the press conference, one man was killed, and three others were wounded on Orange Street Sunday morning.

The recent burst of fatal shootings in Newark threatened to overshadow a brighter message that officials hoped to convey on Monday: that Newarks combination of data-driven policing and community-based violence prevention programs targeting violence hot spots as if they were virus outbreaks had contributed to a 6% decline in violent crime in 2022.

For example, the citys 50 homicides last year marked a 60-year low, while the number of shooting victims was down 30%, the citys public safety director, Fritz Frage, told Mondays gathering. As officials have done whenever talking about Newarks fight against crime, they touted city initiatives, and the mayor individually, as state- and nationwide leaders.

Menendez joined the chorus on Monday, calling Newarks approach in incorporating community groups linked under the Brick City Peace Collective umbrella a model for other cities to replicate.

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
A former employee at a Popeyes in northern New Jersey has filed a lawsuit alleging he was forced to work in the kitchen instead of behind the counter because the general manager didnt want Black people visible to customers.

Wesley Hammonds, 32, of Irvington, claims in court papers he was the only Black employee at the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Washington Avenue in Belleville, and that the general manager harassed him over his race and forced him to cook instead of interacting with customers.

The general manager allegedly assigned Hammonds to the kitchen at a lower hourly rate than he would have received had he been managing the restaurant as he was hired to do, states the lawsuit, filed April 11 in Superior Court of Essex County.

The suit was filed against Belleville Chicken LLC and the stores general manager, who is a township resident. Reached by phone on Monday, the general manager said she had no comment.

Belleville Chicken operates eight Popeyes restaurants, including the one where Hammonds worked, the lawsuit says. Media representatives for Popeyes and Belleville Chicken did not respond to requests for comment on the suit this week.

Hammonds, who worked at the fast-food restaurant for nearly two years, was allegedly relegated to the kitchen because they did not want a Black manager visible in front of the house, the suit states.

The lawsuit alleges the general manager regularly made racist comments and sent Hammonds offensive text messages that left the worker feeling humiliated, belittled, and abused.

During most of his employment, plaintiff was the stores only Black employee, the suit says.

On May 8, 2022, Hammonds claims his daughter had a medical emergency that required him to take her to the hospital. When Hammonds told the general manager he needed the day off to care for his child, the woman texted, If u dont show up u out.

As Hammonds tried to make arrangements to have his daughter cared for so he could come to work, the supervisor allegedly fired him by texting: Dont bother showing up for me, you already out from my store, the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, racial discrimination, and a hostile work environment.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com.
Jersey City will pay $500,000 to two New York men who filed a lawsuit after they were injured in a crash with a city street sweeper nearly four years ago.

A resolution authorizing the settlement agreement with Rogelio Cueto and Jose Padilla, who were driving on Highland Avenue near Van Reypen Street when the crash occurred on June 20, 2019, is expected to be approved by the Jersey City City Council Wednesday night.

Under the agreement, Cueto would receive $375,000 and Padilla would received $125,000.

The 10-page lawsuit, filed against the city and the driver of the street sweeper, said Cueto suffered a torn labrum of the right shoulder, a torn medial meniscus of the right knee and a herniated disc, all which required surgical repair. Padilla suffered herniated discs with impingement, necessitating decompressive back and spinal procedures.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said there is no crash report from the incident, but a police report said the van being driven by Cueto was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the street sweeper. She also noted that Cueto and Padilla were taken to the Jersey City Medical Center, but the report did not classify their injuries as serious.

In the lawsuit, Cueto and Padilla say they were in a van traveling east on Highland Avenue at 3:28 p.m. that day when the street sweeper ignored the stop sign on Van Reypen and negligently, carelessly, and recklessly made a left onto Highland and struck the van.

The Jersey City police report said both vehicles sustained moderate damage. Jersey City officials declined to comment on the settlement, one of two before the city council Wednesday night for approval.

Another resolution is asking the council to approved a $175,000 settlement with a woman who got into a dispute with an off-duty police officer over a parking space on Newark Avenue and was arrested. Both settlements will be paid out the citys Insurance Fund Commission account.
A potential scam artist picked the wrong Hoboken doorbell to ring.

Matthew Van Putten, 26, of Brooklyn, New York was arrested for the second time in nine days after he tricked his way into a residential building on May 4 and then assaulted a police officer who confronted him.

Hoboken Police Officer James Barbro was off-duty, in his home that day when Van Putten rang his doorbell, claiming to be from the delivery service FedEx. Moments later, Barbro found Van Putten knocking on apartment doors asking residents about their energy bills, city spokeswoman Marci Rubin said.
When bullets struck the building of a Sweet Home elementary school in March, school was not in session. But for a community that has experienced violence in the classroom, the way the news was communicated has engendered distrust, disturbing flashbacks and has some parents pulling children out of school altogether.

In response, officials have acknowledged they could have done better and are working on ensuring better communication going forward.

For some that isnt enough.

What happened

When an officer heard what might have been a gunshot in the area of 54th Avenue and Quince Street on March 19, the Sweet Home Police Department conducted an area check, according to an agency Facebook post.

Then just a few hours later, the department received a report that someone in the area of Quince Street was experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers responded and put the person in question into protective custody for a mental health hold.

Officers determined the person in custody was likely the person who fired the weapon earlier that day. So, they obtained whats called an extreme risk protection order, which suspends a persons rights to own or purchase a firearm.

Executing a search warrant five days later, March 24, officers seized seven firearms and noticed multiple bullet holes in a window of the residence and corresponding holes in the side of Foster Elementary School, which is across the street from the home, according to Sweet Home police.

But rather than hear about the incident from police or the Sweet Home School District, many people learned about what happened  at least some of what happened  through a private Facebook group on April 24.

The delay and the lack of details created an information vacuum, and misinformation started to circulate, acknowledged City Manager Kelcey Young.

Explaining how communication unfolded  or rather, didnt  Young said because students werent in school and the suspect was experiencing a mental health crisis but was no longer a threat, the city withheld the information.

The incident was resolved before they even found out the bullets had hit the school, Young said in a phone interview.

The Police Department put out its first communique about the incident more than a month after it happened, a day after the social media post spread. An April 25 Facebook post said:

In situations such as this, we must constantly balance the rights of an individual against the publics need to know. Because this situation was resolved and any potential threat to the public was mitigated upon removing this individual from the situation, information was only shared with the people and entities that had an immediate interest in the case.

Sweet Home police Chief Jason Ogden acknowledged in a phone interview that the agency dropped the ball on communication.

Usually mental health crises arent communicated to the public, but matters that involve the schools will be communicated in the future, he said.

When Young learned the bullets had hit the school when no one was inside and the suspect was already detained, she felt a wash of relief. Despite being the city manager, she too, had heard the news a month later.

She has a son enrolled in sixth grade at Foster Elementary and when Young first heard the news, she didnt know exactly what had happened.

She vowed the next time, communication will be different.

The city, school district and police force have a new method of communicating to the public that involves the city manager, chief of police and superintendent coming together to issue statements to the public, Young said.

But for some, that isnt enough.

Concerned parents

A teacher assistant and mother of two, Samantha Sayles wanted answers. An employee of Foster Elementary and with boys enrolled in first and second grades, Sayles was upset she had found out the news from a community Facebook post rather than from the school district.

I felt like my childrens safety wasnt being taken seriously, she said.

To her, it didnt matter that the stray bullets hit the building on a day when no children were at school. She still felt she had the right to be informed. The incident has shaken her confidence that her kids will be safe if a similar instance occurs.

And in the community, theres discourse on improvements to school safety when children are in the classroom. Some of her suggestions were panic buttons in the classroom and heavier protection on doors.

When parents drop off their kids, they want them to feel safe, she said.

But Sayles will no longer be taking her kids to Foster Elementary. She has resigned her position, deciding to home-school them.

David Holmes, a father of a second grader, is also considering pulling his son out of Foster Elementary. Word was, the individual who shot the school might be released soon, he said. And that didnt feel safe.

Now, it seems the neighbor will be held longer.

Hopefully, he gets the help he needs, Holmes said.

The way Holmes sees it, the community wouldnt have even known if the public hadnt demanded answers.

Im glad people stepped up, and we made a difference, he said.

In the aftermath, he believes the city manager and Police Department had taken accountability, but the school district hadnt, he said.

He wants better communication, but he also wants additional security measures at the school.

In sharing his reaction, Holmes wanted to be clear he was a supporter of the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment, but there needs to be something better in place than the revolving doors of the justice system for people dealing with mental health crises, he said.

Flashbacks

For Councilor Angelita Sanchez, hearing about a firearm being discharged and hitting the school building was a triggering experience.

In 1994, two Sweet Home students entered the high school and shot another student in the back. The victim recovered, but there may have been some collateral damage.

Sanchez was in the classroom, sitting at her desk when a student stepped through the door and shot a classmate, she said at the April 25 City Council meeting, her voice strained.

For mother Rae Rhoades, its not just a triggering subject for Sweet Home, but everywhere in the United States, she said. Mass shootings have become all too common.

Rhoades said that she, too, found out on Facebook about the incident. But after connecting with the city manager, she felt more at ease.

I feel it was handled appropriately by the city manager, she said.

She also felt that the senior and disability services responded to the crisis effectively, she said.

Initially, Rhoades, like many other parents, was worried that the suspect who had fired the bullets would be released and pose a danger.

When incidents like this happen, theres a lot of discourse about safety and prevention. Rhoades is a believer in the Second Amendment but believes there needs to be limitations on accessibility based on age, criminal record and mental health status, she said.

Rhoades praised the city manager for her communication and felt more confident about being informed in the future.

Responding

According to Superintendent Terry Martin, school officials also found out about the incident late, after it had already been resolved. There was no ill intent or objective to withhold information, he said.

Student safety is a top priority, according to Martin.

Theres been a lot of anger in the community, and he wishes that some of the energy could be directed toward empathy.

The individual who discharged the gun has unmet needs and is a veteran in crisis, he said.

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Something that is great about the city of Sweet Home is the ability of people to rally together in times of need, Martin said, giving the example of people helping each other after a house fire.

He hopes something similar can happen for this community member, he said.

Martin said there was a lot of back and forth with whether or not to press charges. But after the mental health hold lifts, charges will be pressed, he said. It doesnt seem very likely the suspect will be out in the community again soon, he said.

Moving forward

Young, the city manager, has had to answer a lot of panicked phone calls about the incident, she said. But for the most part, things have started to quiet down.

Going forward, Young said that the city will play a larger role in school security, sending an officer to all the schools in the district on a revolving basis, she said.

The neighborhood did not report any concerns during the time of the incident, she added. She hopes going forward, community reporting can be strengthened and parents can be put at ease.

This is something that we are taking extremely seriously, Young said at the April 25 meeting. I absolutely recognize that this is a sensitive issue. Sweet Home is very, very protective of its children, and we have a strong set of officers, and were going to be doing everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children.







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A history of violence
The body of a 21-year-old New Jersey swimmer who disappeared under the waves at a Maryland beach on Saturday was recovered the following day.

Ocean City, Maryland police and firefighters were called to a beach on 25th Street on Saturday just before 3:30 p.m. for a report a missing swimmer and began searching for him with the help of the local beach patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, according to a statement from Ocean City.

No body was recovered that day.

However, the following morning, at 5:43 a.m., a beachgoer called 911 to report a body in the surf and it was positively identified as the missing swimmer, Praise Ezechibueze, officials said.

Ezechibueze is a 2020 graduate of Edison High School, according to a report by Philly Voice.

His body was taken a local funeral home, authorities said.

The beach where Ezechibueze drowned was not guarded at the time as the city does not staff its beaches until Memorial Day weekend.

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A man has admitted that he inappropriately touched a teenage coworker at a New Jersey restaurant, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

Trinidad Mendez-Romero, 32, of Tinton Falls, pleaded guilty to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly persons offenses of harassment and offensive touching last Wednesday, prosecutors said.

The case involved multiple incidents that occurred at The Boondocks Fishery in Red Bank between June 2020 and February 2021, officials said.

During court proceedings, Mendez-Romero said he touched the victims breasts in an offensive manner, authorities said.

His sentencing is scheduled for July 28. It is expected to include no jail time, but probation, no victim contact and no contact with anyone under the age of 18, prosecutors said.

Criminal cases are still pending for two other defendants, Eduardo Jimenez-Berdejo, 36, and Jesus E. Reyes-Rodriguez, 36, both of Red Bank, officials said.

The Red Bank Police Department is asking anyone with information about the case to call Detective John Camarca at 732-530-2700.

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Bobby Shisler has come home.

Residents in Deptford gathered Tuesday morning to watch a procession of police vehicles accompanying the body of township Police Officer Robert Shisler as he was taken from the medical examiners office in Philadelphia to a local funeral home.

Shisler, 27, died Sunday of injuries suffered in a March 10 shooting in Gloucester County.

Hundreds of area residents gathered at the police station Sunday night to honor the fallen officer and a memorial continues to grow around his patrol vehicle, which is parked in front of the building. Area residents also formed a vehicle procession Monday night to pay tribute to the Shisler family.

Funeral arrangements are still being finalized.

The community rallied around the Shislers in the hours after the shooting and that support never waned. Fundraisers for the family and various displays of solidarity, all emblazoned with the slogan Shisler Strong, have brought the community together in the last two months.

Those expressions of love have only grown since his death on Sunday.

Residents gathered along Delsea Drive in Deptford on Tuesday to watch as the procession made its way into town and arrived at Boucher Funeral Home. Police vehicles lined the route as the procession passed under fire truck ladders arrayed across Delsea Drive.

Deptford Police Officer Robert Shisler, 27, was wounded during a shooting on Friday, March 10, 2023.(Deptford Township Police Department)

Shisler, who grew up in Deptford, joined the department four years ago. His brother, Tyler, transferred to the department earlier this year as a patrolman.

Details about the shooting that ultimately took Bobby Shislers life remain unclear. The state Attorney Generals office is investigating the case, but has released little information.

Investigators said Shisler was on-duty March 10 when he stopped pedestrian Mitchell Negron Jr., 24, of Deptford, shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Delsea Drive in Deptford.

Negron began running and Shisler chased him before both men were shot during a struggle on Doman Avenue, according to the attorney generals office. Negron had a revolver in his possession, authorities confirmed.

Negron died at the scene and Shisler was rushed to Cooper University Hospital with a leg wound. He remained in the Cooper ICU until his recent transfer to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

After Shislers death on Sunday, officers accompanied his body to the medical examiners office and brought him back to Deptford on Tuesday as part of a law enforcement custom for honoring a fallen comrade.

We go out and do what we do knowing that the risk is there, said Tom Gilbert, chief of detectives with Gloucester County Prosecutors Office. And this is what we do when something like this happens.

Officers often go on to serve in towns other than the one where they grew up, Gilbert observed as he waited with hundreds of others for the procession to arrive. Shislers situation was different.

He truly is a homegrown hero. I think thats somewhat unique, Gilbert said. When they say youre going to serve your community, he was serving the community he grew up in.

Gilbert said hes been moved by the widespread show of support for Shisler over the last two months and in the days since his death.

It always hurts, but I think it hurts even to a different level with the fact that he was so well-known and so well-respected and grew up right here in the community, Gilbert said. He served and died here.

Family of fallen police officer Robert Shisler comfort each other after a procession bringing Shisler body to Boucher Funeral Home in Deptford, NJ on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

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The uproar in Roxbury over sexually explicit books in the high school library offers a window into the dysfunction of Americas public dialogue in our era. If everyone would calm down, and assume some good faith on both sides, the conflict can be managed with reason and respect. In fact, the school board in Roxbury has set up a system of review that tries to do just that.

Begin with the parents who are objecting to explicit content. Their concerns are often dismissed as Neanderthal vestiges of a bygone era when sexual taboos stomped out this discussion, leaving kids to figure it out on their own in the dark.

That strategy left kids with a lot of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and unwanted pregnancies. Sex education in the schools has been shown to reduce disease and unwanted pregnancies  and even results in kids having less sex, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

And no, we cant exclude gay sex and gender fluidity from the discussion, even if it freaks out some parents. That would amount to bigotry.

But parents have a right to push back when they feel the material in their public schools is too explicit. They cant be reflexively dismissed as prudes, or right-wing fanatics. Theres a line to be drawn, and no one has a monopoly on the wisdom needed to draw it. Even supporters of sex ed draw lines of their own.

Roxbury is caught in an angry debate over this, complete with insults and lawsuits, as described by Adam Clark in Sundays Star-Ledger and nj.com. It exploded when several parents told the school board they objected to explicit materials in 11 books in the high school library that showed nudity, masturbation, and sexual acts, including oral sex.

Lets take a look. One of the books is Gender Queer, a 2019 graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe that recounts her exploration of gender and sexual identity, and ultimately finding herself as outside the gender binary. Critics and fans of the book called it a heartfelt work that broke ground, providing comfort and guidance to those outside the sexual mainstream, along with wider acceptance of them.

But if you look at the images in the book its not hard to understand why some parents have qualms. In one panel, a 14-year-old Kobabe fantasizes about a scene in which an older man touches the penis of a youth, with an illustration based on an image on a piece of ancient Greek pottery. Another depicts Kobabes girlfriend performing oral sex on Kobabe while Kobabe wears a strap-on dildo. Several of the other books have equally explicit images and texts, which you can review on a web site parents established, Roxbury Parental Rights in Education.

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So how do we resolve this kind of conflict? As it happens, Roxbury has a reasonable policy. To file a complaint, a parent must read the book and fill out a form with 12 questions to spell out their concerns. The superintendent then appoints a review committee that includes the principal, a board member, three school staff members and a lay person, which makes a recommendation to the board.

In one case, parents challenged Lets Talk About It: The Teens Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being a Human, a book that includes illustrations of naked bodies, along with tips on masturbation, butt play and using lube. The board decided to keep the book, but placed it behind the desk and required parental permission to check it out. King Solomon couldnt have done better.

But the public debate spun out of control when activist parents slandered the librarian, Roxana Caivano, saying she was luring children and acting as a child predator. This has become routine in these cases, with lunatics charging that this kind of instruction amounts to grooming children to play sexual roles.

The librarian, Caivano, has now filed a lawsuit, arguing that four parents in the district have damaged her reputation with accusations of deviant behavior. They have the right to challenge the book, she told Clark. But nobody has the right to say these things about me.

The suit seems quite a long shot, given First Amendment protections for free speech, and good libel laws that protect the open discussion at the heart of our democracy. But Caivanos distress is understandable. The attacks on her were way out of line.

Not to be overly dramatic, but I think the country is undergoing a kind of psychotic breakdown at the moment, says Mark Leyner, a North Bergen author and commentator who spoke to Clark. That puts it well.

Right-wing politicians, seeing advantage, have been among the first to demonize educators. In this case, Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris, jumped to support the parents against what he called, this woke sexual indoctrination of our kids. Ugh.

Its important to remember that New Jersey parents can take their kids out of sex education classes they feel go too far, a sensible accommodation. The Roxbury policy that places some library books behind the counter is another.

But we cant stifle the discussion of sexuality and gender, or leave the job to porn sites on the web, which ost of these kids have seen. Our schools can help kids stay safe and learn respect for those who are different than them. If parents want to shield their kids from those lessons, they have that right.

But they do not have the right to ban books or shut down classroom discussions. Parents who want their children to benefit from a free and robust program of sexual education have rights, too.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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Authorities formally installed new leadership at the Paterson Police Department on Tuesday, five weeks after unrest in the city over police shootings and corruption led to a surprise state takeover of the department in New Jerseys third-largest city.

Isa Abbassi, a retired chief of strategic initiatives with the New York Police Department, took the helm as officer in charge of a department that has seen its ranks depleted by an FBI corruption probe and its reputation harmed by police shootings and deaths in custody.

This is a challenge that will be difficult and will take time, but today we prepare for the next generation of policing, Abbassi told reporters during a press briefing at the city campus of Passaic County Community College.

It is both a new and familiar challenge for Abbassi, a matter-of-fact career cop who was hand-picked by NYPD leadership to oversee reform and rebuild community relations in Staten Island after the choking death of Eric Garner in 2014.

State Attorney General Matthew Platkin took the unusual step of taking over the department in March, citing a crisis of confidence that had built over years and culminated in the police killing of Najee Seabrooks, a local violence intervention worker and activist who barricaded himself inside his home during an apparent mental health crisis and was shot by Paterson police following a five-hour standoff.

Seabrooks death, along with other controversial deaths in custody, spurred protests in the city that continue to spill over into raucous city council meetings where residents complain of their treatment by police and local officials squabble over solutions.

On Tuesday, Platkin called Abbassi a transformational leader who was selected because of his experience in New York enacting reform and repairing frayed relations in a community that distrusts its police force, a problem that has vexed local leaders in Paterson.

Abbassi inherits an understaffed department with a morale problem as the rank-and-file on the streets of Paterson face suspicion and hostility in high-crime neighborhoods.

At least a dozen Paterson officers have been charged with corruption in recent years, including several convictions stemming from an FBI probe into a group of officers known as the robbery squad, not because they investigated robberies, but because they would shake down residents and suspects for money.

Abbassi and Platkin outlined plans for an ambitious overhaul during a 30-minute press briefing Tuesday. They pledged transparency, but ducked questions regarding the significant costs and timeline for the takeover, as well as the status of the departments sidelined leadership, who remain on the city payroll.

Theres not going to be a mission accomplished banner in six weeks or six months, Platkin said, declining to predict how long his office would remain in charge of the department.

In the meantime, state authorities say theyve returned to the basics by re-training officers in constitutional policing and motor vehicle stops, upgrading the departments technology and launching a new website, PatersonPD.com, and social media accounts. They are also planning listening sessions for each of the citys six wards.

The schedule for those meetings is:

May 15 at John F. Kennedy High School located at 61-127 Preakness Avenue in the Second Ward

May 17 at Paterson STEAM High School located at 764 11th Avenue in the Third Ward

May 18 at Eastside High School located at 150 Park Avenue in the Fifth Ward

May 24 at Public School #6 located at 137 Carroll Street in the Fourth Ward

May 25 at Public School #25 located at 287 Trenton Avenue in the Sixth Ward

May 31 at Public School #28 located at 200 Presidential Boulevard in the First Ward

Platkin and Abbassi said the state takeover was largely welcomed by city residents, but acknowledged deep-seated issues of trust remained.

Policing can no longer be viewed as a monopoly, where you take the services we provide with no alternative option, Abbassi said. We are a service provider and we must provide that service in a way our customer expects.

Zellie Thomas, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Paterson, said state intervention was necessary. But he took issue with the departments recent attempt to rebrand, highlighting gun and drug arrests in press releases blasted out to the media in an effort to burnish its image.

Do they want to protect Black community members or do they want to protect the image of police? he said in an interview after Abbassis briefing.

Asked to account for how much state money has been spent during the takeover and how much it will cost going forward, Platkin would only say the state budget process is ongoing.

Thomas said state money would be better spent on community resources like the Paterson Healing Collective, the nonprofit where Seabrooks worked and which has called for alternatives to police response to problems like mental health crises, drug addiction and homelessness that plague the city.

How much money is going to go into the Paterson Police Department from the state that could have gone toward reparations, that could have the Paterson Healing Collective, that helps the community and heals the community? he asked.

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The owner of the Totowa Animal Hospital and two of her employees were indicted Monday on a litany charges after she was accused of running the facility without licensed veterinarians, authorities said.

A patient of the now-shuttered animal hospital reported to the Totowa Police Department in July of 2021 that her dog had died following a routine spay appointment there, according to a statement from the Passaic County Prosecutors Office.

Detectives alleged that after the death of her husband, Alia Muslih, 41, of Montclair, continued to illegally operate the facility from December 2020 through August 2021 without a properly-licensed vet on staff. She is also not licensed as a vet.

Her husband, Adel Hamdan, died on Dec. 30, 2020 at age 73 after he contracted COVID-19, according to a report from the Asbury Park Press. He was a licensed veterinarian.

He said, Promise me if something happens to me you will never sell my business to a corporation, and if a pet needs help and they dont have the money you will take care of them, Mulsih said in the article, which was published a little less than four months after his death.

Investigators also alleged two employees, Yaser I. Abdel-Fatah, 50 of Buffalo, New York, and 64-year-old Marco A. Gamarra, of Bronx, New York, were holding themselves out as veterinarians in the course of their employment at the hospital, during which time they conducted surgical procedures and medical treatment on animals, the office said.

It was unclear how long the pair worked at Totowa Animal Hospital.

Muslih was arrested in August 2021, but the offices statement did not say if Abdel-Fatah and Gamarra were arrested at that time.

The trio was indicted on 77 charges including theft by deception, money laundering, animal cruelty, forgery and obtaining a prescription drug by forgery, officials said.

They were all on pretrial release pending the outcome of their cases, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information about the alleged actions of the animal hospital is asked to contact the offices tips line at 1-877-370- PCPO.

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New Jersey has specifically made intentionally threatening health care workers or volunteers while theyre on the job a criminal offense, under a bipartisan law Gov. Phil Murphy signed Monday.

The law, called the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act, also stiffens penalties for those convicted of assaulting such employees.
Family members have identified the 12-year-old boy who was killed in an apartment fire in Maple Shade Sunday night that left his mother and 7-year-old sister critically injured.

A.J. Dupell died of the injuries he suffered in the fire at the Fox Meadows apartment complex, according to a verified GoFundMe.com fundraiser established to raise money for the familys funeral and medical expenses.

A.J.s mother and sister remain in critical condition on Tuesday, according to Lt. Dennis Nolan, a Maple Shade police spokesman.

The state and Burlington County Fire Marshal continue to investigate the cause of the fire, Nolan said.

Sixteen apartments were damaged in the blaze, which broke out around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and took more than an hour to bring under control, police said.

In all, 22 families were displaced, Red Cross New Jersey said. The Red Cross provided food, clothing and temporary housing to 40 people from 12 families, the agency said.

Maple Shade school officials have also organized a fundraiser for the families impacted by the fire. Donation boxes will be placed at all spring school functions as well as in the main office of school buildings, the district said Tuesday.

Ten families with 20 students in district schools reside in damaged apartments, school officials said.

Crisis teams were at schools on Monday.

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A 63-year-old woman with a walker tried to rob a bank, Brown Butter restaurant seeks a new home, a bill to ban certain pronoun usage in schools clears the House, and more.

Here's a look at today's top stories in New Orleans for Monday, May 8.

Did you know that you can now submit your own suggested clues for Clue Dat? Play today, and submit your best ideas!
Cleveland-Cliffs has reached new deals with organized labor and a state government over iron ore leases.

The Ohio-based steelmaker, one of the big two steel producers in Northwest Indiana, reached a new four-year labor agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1943 at its Middletown Works steel mill between Cincinnati and Dayton in Ohio. It will cover 2,100 hourly steelworkers at the former AK Steel mill when it goes into effect on May 15.

A majority of the workers ratified the agreement.

We are pleased to have concluded the process of negotiating and implementing a new labor agreement at Middletown Works," Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said. "The agreement just ratified by our union-represented employees is fair, equitable and beneficial for our employees and for the company.

Cleveland-Cliffs, which has operations in East Chicago, Gary, Burns Harbor, Riverdale and New Carlisle, also reached a pact with Minnesota for new iron ore mineral leases at Nashwauk in the Iron Range.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said it would ask the executive council to approve the company's new leases to mine iron ore in the Iron Range in Upper Minnesota.

Cleveland-Cliffs and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have reached an agreement on a package of state iron ore mineral leases at the Nashwauk mine site for review by the Minnesota Executive Council on May 25," Goncalves said. "I thank Gov. Walz for his support and the great work of his Department of Natural Resources. ... When approved by the MN Executive Council, the leases will be used to provide a long-term extension of Hibbing Taconites mine life, securing the future of Hibbing Taconite and the good-paying, union jobs at HibTac, our flagship operation in Minnesota. I look forward to the Minnesota Executive Councils review and approval of this lease package on May 25.
A new precision machine shop is coming to the Knox Industrial Park in Starke County.

Wakal Machining, LLC broke ground on the machine shop at 205 Kloeckner Drive in Knox. It will make new parts and repair equipment for a number of industries, including the agricultural, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and construction sectors.

Our client base is farmers and any business that has a maintenance department, owner Bill Wakal said. We hope to be able to serve Valparaiso, LaPorte, Walkerton, Plymouth, Culver, Winamac, and surrounding areas initially and branch out further into Northern Indiana and beyond as we grow. The nearest machining shop that can provide the service we will offer is an hour and a half away.

The machine shop will be able to cut, fabricate and finish products at its new facility.

We chose to start our business in Knox because we saw a need for a machine shop in Starke County, Bill Wakal said. The Knox Industrial Park is an ideal location because of the proximity to many of our clients, which will help us to better serve their needs.

Wakal has worked as a tool and die maker for the last 25 years. He's starting the business with his wife, who has a business background, and son, who's about to graduate college. The company will initially have two employees when it opens in September and number the head county by next year.

It plans to work with North Central Careers and Technical Education Cooperative and Ivy Tech to ensure a pipeline of skilled employees as it ramps up its operations in the future.

We hope this opens the door for other small businesses to consider locating in Starke County, Wakal said. The city of Knox and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation have been a positive force behind the success of us starting this business.

Knox and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Monday.

This is a locally owned business, and it could encourage others to build or expand in Knox, Mayor Dennis Estok said. We are pleased to welcome the Wakals to our city.

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation helped find the site, which the city extended utilities to.

We looked at many possibilities in the Knox area, which is where they wanted to locate, SCEDF Executive Director Lisa Dan said. They felt the Knox Industrial Park was the best location, and we were happy to sell them some land so they could build. They indicated some of their customers would be local industries and this would be an ideal spot for their startup business.

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has 51 more acres of land in the Knox Industrial Park it's looking to develop by bringing in similar companies.

Their long-term plans will also create career opportunities for local students and encourage them to remain in Starke County after they graduate, Dan said. That is so important to our county as we continue to strengthen our niche as a best-of-both-worlds destination in proximity to Chicago, South Bend and Indianapolis with an affordable cost of living, unmatched natural resources, and friendly and welcoming communities.
Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle used a first-in-a-decade forum to expand on a once-in-a-century event.

Ogle was the main speaker at the Frankfort Chamber of Commerces State of the Village Event April 27 at Prestwick Country Club.

Its the first time he has presented a State of the Village, and he recalls the last one about 10 years ago, when Jim Holland was mayor. There was a snowstorm that day.

The weather was a lot nicer this time, and Ogle had plenty of progress to report, including an exciting event.

On June 4, the village is hosting a Once in a Century Celebration known as 60423 Day, which stands for the villages ZIP code. It will be celebrated on the sixth month, fourth day in 2023.

It turns out its on a Sunday, and we really needed something to bring our community together, Ogle said. Its post-COVID and with some of the other things going on in our world in general, this is a way to unite and unify our community.

He said the day will start with the usual Sunday farmers market and will have a concert on the green, a car show and an illuminated drone show.

If youve seen it, its very cool, Ogle said of the drones. We are going to be one of the first communities to have it. Highland Park announced they are going to do one for Fourth of July. But we will have this June 4.

They are really, really cool. This is a once-in-a-hundred-year celebration and none of us will be around for the next one.

Ogle added that a drone will take a community photo.

The event will highlight a year of big events including the Bluegrass Fest July 8-9 and the Frankfort Fall Fest Sept. 2-4.

Ogle also hit on a variety of topics including future developments in the village.

An Oasis Senior Living Center is coming to 8531 W. Lincoln Hwy., while Misty Creek Townhomes planned for Laraway Road and 116th Avenue and the Everbrook Academy child care center at 11031 W. Lincoln Hwy. are in the works.

Ogle calls a proposed Olde Frankfort Mall at 15 Ash St. and 22 White St. in the downtown area a game changer. The three-story, L-shaped, 15,122-square-foot addition will wrap around the bowling alley building.

The building will be mixed-use retail, office and residential.

Its in the pipeline right now, and its still being discussed, Ogle said. But this is a major development. There will be more to come as this develops.

Circle K at 7654 W. Lincoln Hwy. will get a facelift as existing structures are demolished and replaced by new ones.

The mayor also said a Sparks Coffee will open in a vacant outlet in front of the Emagine Theater.

He is also looking at a Thrift Home and Restoration facility coming to 21420 S. Harlem Ave. He said that the Orland Park-based Bridge Teen Center filed an application requesting special use for the development.

The Homestead Center on the Southwest corner of Laraway and Wolf Roads is another area that could be filling up soon.

Its a 9,600 square-foot, one-story, multitenant commercial development, which Ogle said is subject of a lot of rumors with no pending announcements.

As soon as we have more information on it, we will release it, he said. We dont like to release information until we are accurate with complete information.
HEBRON  After being caught on camera allegedly attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl for a sexual encounter, Boone Township School Board Member Shawn Ensign has resigned, according to a statement from the school board president.

Ensign was criminally charged with child solicitation, a sex crime, and arrested by the Goshen Police Department after a shocking video posted to Facebook Thursday by the organization Bikers Against Predators became public.

The video shows Ensign being confronted by a member of Bikers Against Predators, which seeks to expose child predators, in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot in Goshen  Ensign reportedly drove from Hebron, where he lives, to Goshen, about 90 miles away. In the video, the person behind the camera says he has evidence that Ensign, who was going by "Mike," had been messaging what he believed to be a child online and was there planning to meet that child for a sexual encounter.

After initially denying the allegation, Ensign eventually admits that he connected with a girl online who told him she was 14 years old. It is eventually revealed the incident was a setup and the organization had called the police, who promptly arrived at the scene to arrest Ensign.

On Monday, Boone Township School Board President John Nilsen released a statement addressing the situation.

"On behalf of the MSD (Metropolitan School District) of Boone Twp. School Board we are devastated at the event that took place on Thursday," Nilsen wrote in a statement sent to district families and the news media on Monday. "As communicated in the previous letter from the School Corporation, we are following the guidance of our legal counsel, as well as the Indiana School Board Association (ISBA). It is incumbent upon us to follow legal procedures when addressing an elected seat, regardless how serious the allegations may be."

He said the board has received Ensign's resignation and forwarded it to the Porter County Elections and Voter Registration office. Once that department processes it, the board will begin the process of appointing a replacement, Nilsen said. He and his colleagues anticipate completing that by the board's next meeting on June 13.

Superintendent Jeff Brooks also issued a similar statement on Friday.

"The MSD (Metropolitan School District) of Boone Township staff and school board are shocked and appalled with behavior a school board member displayed in a video that recently became public," Brooks wrote. "While we all feel it necessary for the district to act immediately upon this information, there are legal considerations that dictate further action at this time."

Brooks also said in his statement that the police investigation and legal aspects of the situation take precedence over the district's decisions and that as an elected board member, state law dictates the procedures for Ensign's removal and replacement. He said the district is consulting with police and monitoring the situation.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week PNW graduation May 2023 PNW graduation May 2023 PNW graduation May 2023 PNW graduation May 2023 PNW graduation May 2023 Baseball's back in Crown Point Baseball's back in Crown Point Baseball's back in Crown Point Crown Point National Day of Prayer Crown Point National Day of Prayer Crown Point National Day of Prayer Crown Point National Day of Prayer Crown Point National Day of Prayer Shriners' Vidalia onions on the Square Mrvan serves food at Hess Elementary Mrvan serves food at Hess Elementary Mrvan serves food at Hess Elementary Mrvan serves food at Hess Elementary Mrvan serves food at Hess Elementary WEATHER'S PAR FOR THE COURSE Golfing at Wicker Valpo open house Eddie Melton/Jerome Prince primary night Eddie Melton/Jerome Prince primary night Eddie Melton/Jerome Prince primary night Eddie Melton/Jerome Prince primary night Voters turn out for municipal elections Voters turn out for municipal elections Voters turn out for municipal elections Indian Medical Association of Indiana gives new heating and cooling system to the Brothers Keeper Indian Medical Association of Indiana gives new heating and cooling system to the Brothers Keeper Tradewinds gala 2023 Books, Brushes & Bands spring tea 2023 Books, Brushes & Bands spring tea 2023 Books, Brushes & Bands spring tea 2023 Gallery HTML code
A firearm with a "switch" or any similar device attached to the weapon to enable fully automatic shooting with a single pull of the trigger met the definition of machine gun  even before the April 20 enactment of a new Indiana law making it explicit.

The Indiana Court of Appeals turned down a request Monday by an Indianapolis man to dismiss the pending Level 5 felony charge against him for possessing a machine gun after police reportedly found a Glock 19 pistol with a loaded, 22-round magazine and an attached switch in his home while executing arrest and search warrants.

Devun York argued in his interlocutory appeal that a handgun equipped with a switch does not make the weapon a machine gun because the switch is a "firearms accessory" permitted under Indiana law.

He also claimed that because the statutory definition of machine gun does not contain such terms as "adapt" or "convert," the Legislature did not intend the definition of machine gun to include devices that have been adapted or converted by accessories.

The appeals court rejected York's reasoning in a 3-0 decision penned by former Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard and joined by former Lake Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tavitas and Appeals Judge Rudolph Pyle III.

Shepard said the straightforward language of the machine gun statute focuses on what the gun can do: Specifically, shooting "automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger"  which Shepard said the switch enables York's gun to do.

York's parallel argument that Indiana's machine gun statute is unconstitutionally vague also failed to persuade the appellate judges.

Shepard said the law is clear for the public and police that any gun capable, for any reason, of continuously firing with a single pull of the trigger is considered a machine gun.

"This statute provides both notice of the prohibited conduct and guidance as to its enforcement. The gun either fires more than one shot automatically without reloading, or it does not," Shepard said.

York still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing his case. Otherwise, he'll likely soon go to trial in Marion County, facing a potential punishment of up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if he's convicted of possessing a machine gun.

Last month, lawmakers added language to Indiana's machine gun prohibition statute through House Enrolled Act 1365 to make even more clear that a gun with a switch attached counts as a machine gun and the possessor is eligible for a variety of state penalty enhancements if the weapon is used in a crime.

Advocates for the measure said the plastic switches, also known as Glock switches, are being purchased or 3-D printed throughout the state and increasingly used to convert regular guns into machine guns  with deadly consequences.

"As a career law enforcement officer and a representative of a district that has seen several instances of gun violence, I know this bill will save the lives of citizens and cops alike and make our streets safer for Hoosier families," said Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis.

The legislation was endorsed 71-23 by the Republican-controlled House and 45-4 in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer, and Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, were the only Northwest Indiana lawmakers to not support the proposal.

Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree
PORTAGE  A 44-year-old Illinois man was charged with driving to Indiana to have sex with an underage Portage-area boy, whom he met online, after the boy's father caught his son sneaking back into the house in the middle of the night, a newly-filed court document reads.

Jason Hammer of Darien was charged with two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor and felony possession of child pornography, records show.

A Porter County police detective said he was called out March 31, when the father reported waking up around 3 a.m. and discovering his son sneaking back into his bedroom through an open window.

The father reportedly found a Snapchat message on his son's phone describing sex between the boy and a man named Jason, and where they intended to meet, police said. They also spoke about having shared explicit photos.

The boy reportedly told police he met Hammer on a mobile dating application and switched to Snapchat in order to swap photos. He said he did not know Hammer's full name.

The boy said he snuck out of his bedroom window and met up with Hammer at a nearby park, according to a charging document. Hammer, who was driving a BMW, allegedly took the boy to a Valparaiso hotel where they spent a few hours having sex before the boy returned home around 3 a.m.

The boy said while he claimed on the dating app to be 16, he told Hammer he was 15, police said.

Intoxicated mom dumped kids along U.S. 6, kicked officer in face, Portage police say "When asked what they were doing by the roadway, (one of the children) informed me their mother had kicked them out of the vehicle on US Hwy. 6 and drove away," officer reported.

"Jason replied, 'I was expecting there to be a whole bunch of cops here,' " the boy told police.

The boy reportedly told police Hammer withdrew $40 from a bank machine and provided it to him to purchase marijuana and alcohol.

Police said they obtained Hammer's identity from hotel records and located sexually explicit messages on the boy's cell phone.

Police travelled to Hammer's office in Downers Grove, Illinois, but he was not on site, a court document says. Hammer called back later and reportedly admitted to communicating with the boy on the dating app.

Prosecutors and defense agreed to a bond for Hammer of $10,000 surety and $5,000 cash, records show. He has bonded out of the Porter County jail and his case is before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer.
PORTAGE  A 28-year-old woman who allegedly dumped her two small children along a busy stretch of U.S. 6 following an argument was found slumped over the wheel of her nearby vehicle and battled with officers while being taken into custody, Portage police reported.

"As I was placing a seatbelt on Ms. (Tanya) Embry, she kicked toward me with her right leg, her knee striking me on the right side of my jaw," an officer wrote in the arrest report. "I took hold of Ms. Embry's right leg and she then kicked out with her left leg, striking me in the right shoulder. I felt pain to both areas which were struck."

Embry, who provided addresses in both Liberty Township and Griffith, was taken to the Porter County jail and has since been charged with felony counts of battery against a public safety official and two counts of neglect of a dependent, and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and public intoxication, records show.

A Portage police officer responded at 8:34 p.m. Saturday to a report of small children, estimated to be first-grade age, walking near U.S. 6 in the area of Castle Subaru, the incident report says.

The officer spotted two small children.

"When asked what they were doing by the roadway, (one of the children) informed me their mother had kicked them out of the vehicle on US Hwy. 6 and drove away," officer reported.

UPDATE: Intoxicated mom at Valpo elementary school more than 5 times legal limit, cops say They learned she had driven a child to a choir event at the school and officers were told she had rubbed the back of one man, grabbed at children and was found yelling at someone else's child in the boy's bathroom.

The children said their mother, Embry, was drunk and driving a GMC truck. The officer reported seeing the vehicle in question a short distance away to the north in the business parking lot.

The officer found the vehicle running and the driver, later identified as Embry, slumped over unconscious behind the wheel, police said. The vehicle was in drive and her foot was on the brake.

The officer placed the vehicle in drive and after being unable to awaken Embry, called emergency medical officials to the scene, according to the report.

When Embry regained consciousness and was asked about the whereabouts of her small children, she pointed south toward the highway, police said.

Drugs overtaking alcohol as culprit in impaired-driving arrests, officials say as crackdown mounts Drug-impaired driving is increasing enough across Indiana and the nation that it is beginning to outpace drunken driving, according to Devon M

"When asked, Tanya informed me they were arguing in the vehicle and she kicked them out as she was on US Hwy. 6," according to police.

Police reported finding an alcoholic beverage underneath Embry's legs on the floor of the vehicle and said she smelled of alcohol.

It was while she was resisting being placed in a police vehicle that she allegedly battered an officer.

The children were taken to the Portage Police Department and turned over to a Child Protective Services official.
HAMMOND  A federal murder trial ended late Monday with the conviction of two 29-year-old Gary men.

A U. S. District Court jury found Taquan Boonie Clarke and Devontae Lil Cuz Martin guilty of armed drug trafficking and a related 2017 homicide.

The six-day trial, which began May 1, took place five years after a federal grand jury first indicted Clarke, Martin and several other individuals five years ago on felony counts alleging they conspired to possess and distribute cocaine.

Clarke and Martin had pleaded not guilty to to the drug trafficking counts as well as a charge of killing Kevin Hood, 43, of Gary during a robbery July 28, 2017, outside the Shine On car wash near 15th and Massachusetts in Garys Midtown neighborhood.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Nozick, Caitlan Padula and Kimberly Schultz laid out the governments case through the testimony of federal, state, county and Gary law enforcement officials.

Prosecutors argued the defendants sold illicit drugs between 2016 and 2018 across Gary, including a rental house in the 2500 block of Jefferson Street and a car wash business, Da Wash, at 20th Place and Broadway.

They identified the ringleader of the drug network as Teddia Teddy Caldwell, who pleaded guilty last summer and agreed to be the governments star witness.

The government alleges Caldwell and his co-defendants armed themselves with semi-automatic firearms and violently protected their illicit drug trade, and even expanded it against perceived competitors.

Caldwell said in open court last summer someone told him Hood had large amounts of cocaine and cash at Hoods Shine On car wash.

Caldwell said he, Martin and Clarke went to Hoods business, where they planned to rob Kevin Hood and split the proceeds with Clarke and Martin.

He said he he saw Hood struggling with Martin. Just as Hood appeared to be getting the better of the fight, Clarke ran up and fatally shot Hood.

Clarkes defense attorneys argued Caldwell was an admitted liar and his eyewitness account of Hoods killing wasnt credible.

Jurors deliberated about 5 hours Monday afternoon and evening. They acquitted the two defendants of possessing and distributing over 100 grams of heroin, the amount punishable by a minimum prison sentence.

U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon will sentence the two men later this summer.

Caldwell and four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. One final defendant, Devonte Hodge, 31, of Gary, is pleading not guilty and set to be tried Feb. 12 next year.
VALPARAISO  Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer has announced his intention to seek reelection next year.

Clymer, a Republican, is the only Porter County judge who regularly livestreams his courtroom proceedings on the internet so the public can watch without attending in person.

"Cameras were prohibited in Indiana courts until 2020, when the Supreme Court allowed 'virtual' appearances, Zoom hearings and livestreaming of court proceedings because of travel restrictions," he said.

"I am proud to allow the public to see what happens in my court by simply watching online. Livestreaming should give the public confidence in what is happening in my court because anyone can watch as it happens."

Clymer was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2017 to succeed then-retiring Judge Bill Alexa. He was elected by Porter County voters to a full term in 2018.

Man held gun to woman's head, threatened 'full shootout,' Region police say The accused reportedly admitted to Hobart police that he pointed the gun at the woman's head, "in an effort to let her know he wasn't playing around anymore."

Clymer presides over major felony cases and civil cases with unlimited jurisdiction.

"I look forward to the opportunity to serve six more years," he said.

His current term will end in December 2024.
Hoosier Republicans trying to decide between the three candidates currently vying for the party's 2024 gubernatorial nomination may rely more than usual on endorsements from prominent GOP officials to guide their selection next May.

If that's the case, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch perhaps has a slight edge over her governor's race rivals, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun and Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden.

Crouch announced Tuesday her campaign has secured the backing of U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, R-Columbus, the brother of former Gov. Mike Pence and one of the seven Republicans representing portions of Indiana in the U.S. House.

"Suzanne Crouch is a proven conservative who will protect Hoosier values, stand up for families, faith, life and will always support law enforcement. I am proud to offer her my endorsement as our next governor," Greg Pence said.

Crouch tweeted in response: "Thank you, Greg Pence. I am honored to have your support."

The other Republican members of Indiana's congressional delegation have yet to publicly endorse a candidate in next year's GOP gubernatorial primary.

Likewise, term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has not indicated who he favors in the race that still could see one or more additional well-funded, politically experienced entrants in the months ahead.

None, however, likely will be able to match Crouch's record of public service, which includes two terms as lieutenant governor, three years as state auditor, five terms as a state representative from Evansville, and several county-level elected posts in southwestern Indiana.

If she wins the nomination, Crouch would be the first woman to lead a Republican ticket in the Hoosier State.

Jennifer McCormick, who was elected state superintendent of public instruction in 2016 as a Republican, so far is the sole candidate seeking the 2024 Democratic nomination for Indiana governor.

Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park
In 2021, 46 states and many other local units of government came together and brought litigation against the three largest pharmaceutical distributors  McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen  and pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The four companies agreed to pay $26 billion to settle allegations that they fueled the deadly opioid crisis. Indiana will receive $507 million from the National Opioid Settlement. Valparaiso will ultimately receive $1.2 million, but the money will be distributed over 18 years.

The idea for a care coordinator grew out of a panel discussion held in January. The panel was convened to discuss potential uses for the opioid settlement money and featured experts versed in the many elements of addiction: those who work in the court system, run halfway houses, lead prevention efforts in the Valparaiso school district and more.

Panelist David Cummins, a physician who specializes in addiction and emergency medicine, said the care coordinator could connect people with resources and could even identify people who may be high-risk for addiction, intervening before the drug abuse begins.

Indiana has been hit hard by the opioid crisis. According to the Indiana Attorney General's Office, the rates of opioid prescribing in the Hoosier state peaked in 2012 when, on average, there were 112 opioid prescriptions for every 100 residents in the state.

The care coordinator position will be hosted through Porter County PACT, which works with individuals referred by the court, offering substance-abuse treatment, case management and community service restitution.
The United States slipped one step closer toward an unprecedented default on its national debt  with unknown global economic ramifications  when Indiana's Republican U.S. senators pledged Monday to oppose a "clean" debt limit increase.

Todd Young and Mike Braun were among 43 Senate Republicans promising to block a vote on any proposal to increase the debt limit, unless the measure includes spending cuts and structural budget reform "as a starting point" for negotiations.

"Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms," they said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Senate rules generally require 60 lawmakers in the 100-member chamber to agree to proceed to a final vote on legislation, which then only requires 51 "ayes" to pass.

If the 43 Republicans stick together, they likely can prevent any proposal that doesn't meet their expectations from getting to a final vote  making a U.S. debt default much more likely to occur.

The United States technically exceeded its $31.381 trillion statutory debt limit in mid-January. The Treasury Department has since resorted to extraordinary measures to keep the nation's debt under that total, although such steps no longer will be possible beginning around June 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.

Raising the debt limit does not authorize any new spending. It merely increases the total amount of money the federal government is authorized to borrow to meet its legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds and other payments.

Democratic President Joe Biden has called on Congress to approve a "clean" debt limit measure that simply increases the limit without risking the possibility of global financial collapse if the U.S. defaults on its debt for the first time in its history.

"Take default off the table, and lets have a real, serious, detailed conversation about how to grow the economy, lower costs and reduce the deficit," Biden said last month.

But the Republican-controlled House, including all seven GOP representatives from Indiana, is insisting that Biden agree to across-the-board spending cuts, mandatory work requirements for public assistance programs, and repealing energy-efficiency laws, among other demands, in exchange for a one-year debt limit increase  setting up another potential crisis in the middle of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Young and Braun believe House Republicans have the right idea, they said in the letter to Schumer.

"The House has taken a responsible first step in coming to the table with their proposals. It is imperative that the president now do the same," they said. "As such, we will not be voting for cloture on any bill that raises the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms."

If the stalemate continues, the Biden administration could try to avoid default by seeking to have the debt limit declared unconstitutional, or it may take advantage of a weird loophole in federal law allowing platinum coins to be minted in any denomination and order the creation of one or more trillion-dollar coins to cover previously approved government spending in place of new debt.

However, Yellen advised that the best course of action is for Congress to simply raise the debt limit as quickly as possible and avoid the worldwide financial calamity that would accompany a U.S. debt default.

"We have learned from past debt-limit impasses that waiting until the last minute to suspend or increase the debt limit can cause serious harm to business and consumer confidence, raise short-term borrowing costs for taxpayers, and negatively impact the credit rating of the United States," Yellen said.

"If Congress fails to increase the debt limit, it would cause severe hardship to American families, harm our global leadership position, and raise questions about our ability to defend our national security interests."

Treasury records show that Congress has acted 78 times since 1960 to permanently raise, temporarily extend or revise the definition of the debt limit  49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents.

Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2
George Santos, whose election to Congress on Long Island last month helped Republicans clinch a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, built his candidacy on the notion that he was the full embodiment of the American dream and was running to safeguard it for others.

His campaign biography amplified his storybook journey: He is the son of Brazilian immigrants, and the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat as a non-incumbent. By his account, he catapulted himself from a New York City public college to become a seasoned Wall Street financier and investor with a family-owned real estate portfolio of 13 properties and an animal rescue charity that saved more than 2,500 dogs and cats.

But a New York Times review of public documents and court filings from the United States and Brazil, as well as various attempts to verify claims that Mr. Santos, 34, made on the campaign trail, calls into question key parts of the resume that he sold to voters.

Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, the marquee Wall Street firms on Mr. Santoss campaign biography, told The Times they had no record of his ever working there. Officials at Baruch College, which Mr. Santos has said he graduated from in 2010, could find no record of anyone matching his name and date of birth graduating that year.
For weeks, little was known about why prominent international consulting firms in China were being raided by the police. Employees had been questioned and even detained for doing what has long been the nuts and bolts of the job: compiling information about Chinese markets, companies and policies for foreign clients working in the worlds second-largest economy.

Now, the motivation behind the raids, which included American firms such as the Mintz Group and Bain & Company and most recently Capvision Partners, a consulting company with headquarters in New York and Shanghai, is beginning to come to light after state media on Monday revealed a multiagency crackdown on the consulting industry in the name of national security.

Beijing has also moved to limit the availability of financial data to foreign customers and expanded an already sweeping counterespionage law. In the business community, concern is growing that more Chinese commercial information could be swept up in the intensifying geopolitical rivalry with the United States that has frustrated China, particularly over losing access to advanced American semiconductors.

Using language that echoed the recent denunciation of the West by Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping, Chinas state broadcaster, CCTV, accused Western countries of stealing intelligence information in key industries, including defense, finance, energy and health, as part of a strategy of containment and suppression against China.
As the civil trial over the writer E. Jean Carrolls allegation that former President Donald J. Trump raped her neared its end, one of her lawyers focused on the man who was missing from the courtroom.

Mr. Trump did not testify on his own behalf or even show up.

He just decided not to be here, the lawyer, Michael J. Ferrara, told the jury on Monday. He never looked you in the eye and denied raping Ms. Carroll.

He added, You should draw the conclusion that thats because he did it.

But Mr. Trumps lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said that there was no reason for his client to appear in court. The rape allegation, he said, was a complete invention.

Mr. Tacopina took an uncompromising line during the two-week civil trial in Manhattan federal court, the first time that Mr. Trump, 76, who has faced years of allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct with women, has had to answer such a claim at trial.
Its like another job, she said. As much as I value companionship and relationships, I dont know that I value it to the point of burnout.

As the days grow longer and the weather warmer, there are some who are opting out of dating apps  at least for now. Of nearly a dozen women interviewed, many said they were reclaiming the time they had spent in the cold winter months swiping through dating apps by prioritizing real-life encounters and focusing on having fun.

Ms. Brown recently decided to take her dating life off the apps this summer and will be doing the things she loves, like going to food and wine festivals or on hikes. In the meantime, she said, she is leaving her dating life to the will of the universe.

Im 39, Ive never been married, I dont have kids  I dont know what the dating pool for the late 30s to the early 40s really looks like, she said. I feel like if someone is interested in me, theyll let me know. And if theyre not, theyre not.

Atoosa Moinzadeh is also on that wave. Ms. Moinzadeh, a 30-year-old Brooklyn resident, has been on dating apps for almost 10 years, after first downloading Tinder in 2014. Shes tried all the apps, including Bumble, OKCupid  even Coffee Meets Bagel for a really brief period. Tinder and Hinge were the two she used most recently, but she deleted them both in March after her frustrations began to mount.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has issued his first detailed legal defense since prosecutors accused him of fraud, seeking to dismiss several of the charges and claiming that the high-powered law firm representing FTX in its bankruptcy has been doing the governments bidding.

In court filings late Monday, lawyers for Mr. Bankman-Fried said FTX and its lawyers at the firm Sullivan & Cromwell had become de facto agents of federal prosecutors building the criminal case against him and might be withholding crucial evidence.

FTXs legal advisors went to the government to accuse Mr. Bankman-Fried behind his back without knowing the full facts, and ultimately forced him to step down as C.E.O., the lawyers wrote.

For months, Sullivan & Cromwell has funneled documents and other evidence to the prosecution, the filings say. Mr. Bankman-Frieds lawyers claimed that prosecutors had been seeking only the most incriminating documents, even though FTX might also be sitting on material that could help the defense.
Why It Matters

The Zone has become a flashpoint in a national debate over how to address the growth of street encampments where residents live in deep poverty and some face mental health challenges or fentanyl addiction.

This isnt a life. Its an existence, Shina Sepulveda, who is homeless and lives in the Zone, told The New York Times recently.

A defining 2018 decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Martin v. Boise, found that people cannot be punished for sleeping outside if they have nowhere else to go. City leaders across the West have grappled with how to handle homeless camps when they do not have enough space at shelters or in supportive housing.

Patience has worn thin in some communities with significant homeless populations, and residents and business owners have asked their city officials to do more to move people off the streets.

The Maricopa County injunction provides one possible path for other communities. However, the issue continues to be litigated from all sides, including lawyers who argue that cities cannot remove encampments because they have still done too little to provide housing. A federal judge reiterated that position last month when San Francisco sought to clear tents from its Tenderloin neighborhood.

Background

The number of unsheltered Phoenix residents has risen dramatically, from 771 in 2014 to 3,096 in 2022, according to the city. As many as 1,100 people have slept outdoors in the Zone on a given night.

Last year, a group of residents and business owners, including the proprietors of a sandwich shop near the encampment whose struggles were detailed by The Times, sued Phoenix and asked the city to clean up the area.

The city contended that it had discretion over how to address homelessness, including how best to move people out of camps.

In late March, Judge Scott Blaney of Maricopa County Superior Court found that the city had, in essence, stopped enforcing laws in the Zone and the area had become a dangerous public nuisance. He ordered the city to remove tents and other makeshift structures from sidewalks, as well as clear human waste and trash, among other requirements.

Stephen Tully, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said that his clients filed suit only after they had spent years trying to work with the city to keep homeless people from blocking business entrances and streets, openly using drugs and defecating on their property.
WASHINGTON  Boiled down, President Bidens argument for running for a second term rather than ceding the ground to the next generation is that he is the Democrat most assured of beating former President Donald J. Trump next year.

But a striking new poll challenged that case in a way that had much of the capital buzzing the last couple of days. Taken at face value, the poll showed Mr. Biden trailing Mr. Trump by six percentage points in a theoretical rematch, raising the question of whether the president is as well positioned as he maintains.

No single poll means all that much, especially so early in an election cycle, and the presidents strategists as well as some independent analysts questioned its methodology. But even if it is an outlier, other recent surveys have indicated that the race is effectively tied, with either Mr. Biden or Mr. Trump holding narrow leads within the margin of error. Taken together, they suggest that the president opens the 2024 campaign facing enormous challenges with no guarantee of victory over Mr. Trump.

The data has left many Democrats feeling anywhere from queasy to alarmed. Mr. Bidens case for being the pair of safe hands at a volatile moment is undermined in their view if a president who passed major legislation and presides over the lowest unemployment in generations cannot outperform a twice-impeached challenger who instigated an insurrection, has been indicted on multiple felonies, is on civil trial accused of rape and faces more potential criminal charges in the months to come.
State of press freedom worldwide 2013-2023. Changes in 180 countries and territories evaluated by RSF since 2013. In 2023, the situation was very serious in 31 countries, difficult in 42, problematic in 55, and good or satisfactory in 52 countries. In other words, the environment for journalism was bad in seven out of ten countries, and satisfactory in only three out of ten. Graphic: RSF

3 May 2023 (RSF)  According to the 2023 World Press Freedom Index  which evaluates the environment for journalism in 180 countries and territories and is published on World Press Freedom Day (3 May)  the situation is very serious in 31 countries, difficult in 42, problematic in 55, and good or satisfactory in 52 countries. In other words, the environment for journalism is bad in seven out of ten countries, and satisfactory in only three out of ten.

Norway is ranked first for the seventh year running. But  unusually  a non-Nordic country is ranked second, namely Ireland (up 4 places at 2nd), ahead of Denmark (down 1 place at 3rd). The Netherlands (6th) has risen 22 places, recovering the position it had in 2021, before crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was murdered.

The World Press Freedom Index shows enormous volatility in situations, with major rises and falls and unprecedented changes, such as Brazils 18-place rise and Senegals 31-place fall. This instability is the result of increased aggressiveness on the part of the authorities in many countries and growing animosity towards journalists on social media and in the physical world. The volatility is also the consequence of growth in the fake content industry, which produces and distributes disinformation and provides the tools for manufacturing it. Christophe Deloire, RSF Secretary-General

There are changes at the bottom of the Index, too. The last three places are occupied solely by Asian countries: Vietnam (178th), which has almost completed its hunt of independent reporters and commentators; China (down 4 at 179th), the worlds biggest jailer of journalists and one of the biggest exporters of propaganda content; and, to no great surprise, North Korea (180th).

Effects of the fake content industry

The 2023 Index spotlights the rapid effects that the digital ecosystems fake content industry has had on press freedom. In 118 countries (two-thirds of the 180 countries evaluated by the Index), most of the Index questionnaires respondents reported that political actors in their countries were often or systematically involved in massive disinformation or propaganda campaigns. The difference is being blurred between true and false, real and artificial, facts and artifices, jeopardising the right to information. The unprecedented ability to tamper with content is being used to undermine those who embody quality journalism and weaken journalism itself.

The remarkable development of artificial intelligence is wreaking further havoc on the media world, which had already been undermined by Web 2.0. Meanwhile, Twitter owner Elon Musk is pushing an arbitrary, payment-based approach to information to the extreme, showing that platforms are quicksand for journalism.

The disinformation industry disseminates manipulative content on a huge scale, as shown by an investigation by the Forbidden Stories consortium, a project co-founded by RSF. And now AI is digesting content and regurgitating it in the form of syntheses that flout the principles of rigour and reliability.

The fifth version of Midjourney, an AI programme that generates very high-definition images in response to natural language requests, has been feeding social media with increasingly plausible and undetectable fake photos, including quite realistic-looking ones of Donald Trump being stopped by police officers and a comatose Julian Assange in a straitjacket, which went viral.

World map showing the 2023 Press Freedom Index per nation. In 2023, the United States (45th) fell three places. The Index questionnaires U.S. respondents were negative about the environment for journalists (especially the legal framework at the local level, and widespread violence) despite the Biden administrations efforts. The situation went from problematic to very bad in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 at 153rd), India (down 11 at 161st), and Turkey (down 16 at 165th). In India, media takeovers by oligarchs close to Prime Minister Modi jeopardised pluralism, while the Erdogan administration in Turkey stepped up its persecution of journalists in the run-up to elections scheduled for 14 May. In Iran (177th), the heavy-handed crackdown on the protests triggered by the young student Mahsa Aminis death in police custody drove the countrys social context and judicial environment scores even lower. Some of the 2023 Indexs biggest falls were in Africa. Until recently a regional model, Senegal (104th) fell 31 places, above all because of the criminal charges brought against two journalists, Pape Ale Niang and Pape Ndiaye, and the sharp decline in security for media personnel. In the Maghreb, Tunisia (121st) fell 27 places as a result of President Kais Saieds growing authoritarianism and inability to tolerate media criticism. In Latin America, Peru (110th) plummeted 33 places because its journalists were paying dearly for the persistent political instability and were being harassed, attacked and smeared because of their proximity to leading politicians. The fall by Haiti (down 29 at 99th) was also due mainly to the continuing decline in the security environment. Graphic: RSF

Propaganda war

The terrain has been favourable for an increase in propaganda by Russia (164th), which has fallen another nine places in the 2023 Index. In record time, Moscow has established a new media arsenal dedicated to spreading the Kremlins message in the occupied territories in southern Ukraine, while cracking down harder than ever on the last remaining independent Russian media outlets, which have been banned, blocked and/or declared foreign agents. Russias war crimes in Ukraine (79th) helped give this country one of the Indexs worst scores for security.

Rises and falls

The United States (45th) has fallen three places. The Index questionnaires US respondents were negative about the environment for journalists (especially the legal framework at the local level, and widespread violence) despite the Biden administrations efforts. The murders of two journalists (the Las Vegas Review Journals Jeff German in September 2022, and Spectrum News 13s Dylan Lyons in February 2023) had a negative impact on the countrys ranking. Brazil (92nd) rose 18 places as result of the departure of Jair Bolsonaro, whose presidential term was marked by extreme hostility towards journalists, and Lula da Silvas election, heralding an improvement. In Asia, changes in governments also improved the environment for the media and accounted for such significant rises in the Index as Australias (up 12 at 27th) and Malaysias (up 40 at 73rd).

The situation has gone from problematic to very bad in three other countries: Tajikistan (down 1 at 153rd), India (down 11 at 161st) and Turkey (down 16 at 165th). In India, media takeovers by oligarchs close to Prime Minister Modi have jeopardised pluralism, while the Erdogan administration in Turkey has stepped up its persecution of journalists in the run-up to elections scheduled for 14 May. In Iran (177th), the heavy-handed crackdown on the protests triggered by the young student Mahsa Aminis death in police custody drove the countrys social context and judicial environment scores even lower.

Some of the 2023 Indexs biggest falls have been in Africa. Until recently a regional model, Senegal (104th) has fallen 31 places, above all because of the criminal charges brought against two journalists, Pape Ale Niang and Pape Ndiaye, and the sharp decline in security for media personnel. In the Maghreb, Tunisia (121st) has fallen 27 places as a result of President Kais Saieds growing authoritarianism and inability to tolerate media criticism. In Latin America, Peru (110th) has plummeted 33 places because its journalists are paying dearly for the persistent political instability and are being harassed, attacked and smeared because of their proximity to leading politicians. The fall by Haiti (down 29 at 99th) is also due mainly to the continuing decline in the security environment.

Press freedom in the worlds five regions in 2023. Europe, especially the European Union, is the region of the world where it is easiest for journalists to work, but the situation is mixed even there. America no longer has any country coloured green on the press freedom map. Even if Africa has seen a few significant rises, such as that of Botswana (65th), which has risen 35 places, journalism overall has become more difficult in this continent and the situation is now classified as bad in nearly 40 percent of its countries (against 33 percent in 2022). The Asia-Pacific continues to have some of the worlds worst regimes for journalists. Last in the regional ranking, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continues to be the worlds most dangerous region for journalists, with a situation classified as very bad in more than half of its countries. Graphic: RSF

The Index by region

Europe, especially the European Union, is the region of the world where it is easiest for journalists to work, but the situation is mixed even there. Germany (21st), where a record number of cases of violence against journalists and arrests have been recorded, has fallen five places. Poland (57th), where 2022 was relatively calm from a press freedom viewpoint, has risen nine places, while France (24th) has risen two. Greece (107th), where journalists were spied on by the intelligence services and by powerful spyware, continues to have the EUs lowest ranking. The Europe-Central Asia regional score is also heavily impacted by Central Asias poor results. Several of its countries  Kyrgyzstan (down 50 at 122nd), Kazakhstan (down 12 at 134th) and Uzbekistan (down 4 at 137th)  have fallen because of increases in the number of attacks against media. Finally, Turkmenistan (176th), where censorship and surveillance were stepped up yet again after Serdar Berdimuhamedow, the outgoing presidents son, was elected president in March 2022, is still one of the Indexs bottom five countries.

America no longer has any country coloured green on the press freedom map. Costa Rica (down 15 at 23rd) was the last country in the region to have a situation classified as good, but its classification has changed following a five-place fall due to a sharp decline in its political score (down 15.68 points), and it is now ranked lower than Canada (up 4 at 15th). Mexico (128th) has fallen another place this year and now has the worlds most disappeared journalists (28 in the past 20 years). Cuba (172nd), where censorship has been stepped up again and where the press is still a state monopoly, continues to have the regions lowest ranking, as it did in 2022.

Even if Africa has seen a few significant rises, such as that of Botswana (65th), which has risen 35 places, journalism overall has become more difficult in this continent and the situation is now classified as bad in nearly 40% of its countries (against 33% in 2022). They include Burkina Faso (58th), where local retransmission of international broadcasters has been banned and journalists have been deported, and the Sahel in general, which is in the process of becoming a no-news zone. Several journalists have also been murdered in Africa, including Martinez Zongo in Cameroon (138th). In Eritrea (174th), the media remain in President Issaias Afwerkis despotic grip.

The Asia-Pacific continues to have some of the worlds worst regimes for journalists. Myanmar (173rd), the worlds second biggest jailer of journalists since the military coup in February 2021, and Afghanistan (152nd), where the environment for reporters continues to worsen and women journalists have been literally erased from public life, are still at the tail end of the Index.

Last in the regional ranking, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continues to be the worlds most dangerous region for journalists, with a situation classified as very bad in more than half of its countries. The very low score of some countries, including Syria (175th), Yemen (168th) and Iraq (167th), is due in particular to the large number of journalists who are missing or held hostage. Although Palestine (156th) has risen 14 places, its security indicator is very low after two more journalists were killed in 2022. Saudi Arabia remains rooted near the bottom of the Index. In the Maghreb, media owner Ihsane El Kadis imprisonment has confirmed the growing authoritarianism in Algeria (136th), which has fallen two places and where the situation continues to be classified as bad. [more]

2023 World Press Freedom Index  journalism threatened by fake content industry
WASHINGTON  In his final debate with Donald J. Trump on Oct. 22, 2020, Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a candidate, excoriated his rival for radically undermining Americas decades-long tradition of welcoming people who seek asylum at the countrys borders.

This is the first president in the history of the United States of America that anybody seeking asylum has to do it in another country, Mr. Biden said, referring to one of hundreds of Trump-era immigration policies aimed at shutting down the border.

Yet on Thursday, Mr. Bidens administration is expected to impose a very similar restriction on asylum seekers by quickly rejecting claims for most people who cross the border but do not seek refuge in Mexico first. Like Mr. Trumps policy, the new approach is likely to lead to many migrants being deported in a swift process that critics say deprives them of due process.

After nearly two and a half years in office, Mr. Biden has struggled to settle on an approach to immigration that satisfies his critics on the right or the left. In some cases, he has embraced his predecessors use of aggressive measures aimed at keeping a surge of migrants at bay along the southern border.
A major diplomatic rift erupted between Canada and China on Tuesday as Beijing expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move just hours after Ottawa said it had ordered a Chinese envoy to leave amid allegations of influence peddling.

On Monday night, Canada said it had declared a Chinese diplomat who had been accused of intimidating and gathering information on a Canadian lawmaker persona non grata, and ordered him to leave. Hours later, China said it was retaliating by expelling a diplomat from the Canadian consulate in Shanghai.

Reports of a Chinese influence campaign have rocked Canada in recent months. The Globe and Mail newspaper and other prominent Canadian news organizations have published a series of articles describing intelligence reports that accuse the Chinese government and its diplomats in Canada of trying to manipulate the last two elections to ensure that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party won.

The goal, according to the reports: prevent a victory by the Conservative Party, which the Chinese viewed as taking a hard line toward Beijing. The reports set off a political firestorm, raising questions about the integrity of Canadas democracy. China has denied the claims.
The Israeli military launched airstrikes against the Islamic Jihad armed group in Gaza on Tuesday, killing three of its leaders, and ending an uneasy weeklong cease-fire between the two sides. Palestinian officials said that the airstrikes had killed at least 10 civilians, including children.

The predawn strikes hit residential buildings across the Palestinian coastal territory of Gaza, roughly a week after an exchange of fire between Islamic Jihad and Israel. The action left both sides bracing for a sharp escalation in cross-border violence.

Islamic Jihad, which Israel, the United States and many other Western countries classify as a terrorist organization, confirmed that three of its senior leaders were among the dead. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said that at least 13 people had been killed and 20 others injured. Among the dead were Dr. Jamal Khiswan, a director of the Wafa Hospital in Gaza, and his wife and son, the ministry said.

Two more Palestinians were killed and two injured in an Israeli strike on a car in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday evening, the health ministry in Gaza said. The Israeli military said that the passengers were members of an Islamic Jihad squad who were on their way to a launchpad and were carrying a number of anti-tank guided missiles.
Geoffrey Holder, who met de Lavallade when they both appeared in the 1954 Broadway production of House of Flowers, saved everything: not just items related to their significant and extensive careers, but also the stuff of their lives. He filled Ziploc bags and traveling trunks with bills and greeting cards, as well as treasures like footage from The Wiz (1975), which won him Tony Awards for direction and costume design; and a frail costume nestled in a suitcase from de Lavallades 1962 tour of Southeast Asia with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, during which she performed alongside Ailey, even appearing on promotional posters as The de Lavallade-Ailey American Dance Company.

Leo had offers to place his parents collection with other institutions, but his decision to work with Emory University came down to the connection he felt with its head curator. Now the collection is kept at Emory, in Atlanta, in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library as the Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade Papers and numbers some 280 boxes with content spanning the years 1900 to 2018.

This put me through my paces, Leo said, recalling the sorting, which took him two years. Sifting through every little thing, and finding gems all the time.

The emotional element connected to these donations is not one that is always considered. Murray noted that when a donation comes from a family rather than a trust or an estate, it can become intertwined with the grieving process  there is a catharsis in letting go when the time is right.

Davis is preparing the Patricia Wilde collection for its send-off, and there is much affection in her familiarity with each photo. At the diner, Davis reached across the table and pointed to an image of her mother in Balanchines Pas de Dix. Wilde gazes directly at the camera, hands beneath her chin, her eyes and tiara shimmering in the studio lights. I love this one of her, Davis said. She looks like shes blowing us a kiss.
LOS ANGELES  Almost two decades ago, the artist Beatriz da Costa designed tiny backpacks for homing pigeons, equipped with sensors to track air pollution in California. Next year, her birds will fly again thanks to a survey of the artists work at LACE  one of about 60 museum shows in PST Art: Art & Science Collide, the 2024 edition of the Getty-organized, regionwide cultural collaboration known as Pacific Standard Time.

On Tuesday, the Getty will announce the participating exhibitions  along with $17 million in grants to support them. PST, as it is known, began in 2011 with the theme of Southern California art history and was reprised in 2017 to focus on Latino and Latin American art. The events will now take place every five years under a new rubric: PST Art.

I was struck traveling to Europe in November by the number of people who heard of PST and thought of it as one of the things that fixed Southern California in their minds as a major art and cultural destination, and Id really like to build on that, the Gettys president, Katherine E. Fleming, said in an interview Monday. It felt important to me to say: Well make this commitment to the L.A. arts scene.
It is an opportunity to talk to the rest of the world about Africa, and also to talk to Africa from here, Lokko said in a series of email and video interviews from Venice, keeping the details under wraps until the press opening May 18. Sub-Saharan Africa is often regarded as the most rapidly urbanizing and youthful population on the planet, she points out, with most people speaking more than one language. The ability to be several things at once  traditional and modern, African and global, colonized and independent  is a strong thread running through the continent and the Diaspora, she said. Were used to having to think about resources, about switching on a light with no guarantee of electricity. Were able to grapple with change. That capacity to overcome, to negotiate, to navigate ones surroundings is going to take center stage.

A shape-shifter herself, Lokko has long been immersed in issues of race, space and architecture  the subject of a pathbreaking book she wrote and edited while still a graduate student at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London, from which she earned a Ph.D. Earlier this year, King Charles III named Lokko an officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for services to architecture and education. In 2015, she founded an influential graduate school of architecture at the University of Johannesburg. A mere four months before the. Biennale came calling, she opened the African Futures Institute in Accra, a postgraduate Pan-African think tank with public programs and an international reach that seeks to fill in sorely-needed gaps in existing architectural education.

Those considered minorities in the West are actually the global majority, she observes. When you are African, you speak to a world that has an existing view of who and what you are, she said. You walk with this kind of label. So for me, the Biennale was an opportunity to both talk about the label, to confront it in a way, but to also show underneath how similar we are.

Although the Biennale is hardly the first major exhibition to focus on Black and diasporic practitioners, the cascading crises of climate change, rapid urbanization, migration, global health emergencies and a deep imperative to decolonize institutions and spaces  starting with the historically Eurocentric Biennale itself  arguably make Lokkos focus on hybrid forms of practice timely, be it planners as policy experts or artist-environmentalists.
The attitude used to be, dont acquire something you know to be stolen  thats a very low standard, said Maxwell Anderson, who has served as the director of institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Dallas Museum of Art. The attitude today is, dont acquire something unless you know its not stolen. Its a 180-degree difference.

Although rules were more strictly observed in later years, museum curators at times took a dealers word that objects had been obtained legally. Or museums found it difficult to confirm an artworks origins when, as in the case of Cambodia in the 1970s, foreign countries were in turmoil and there was no government to check with.

Cambodian officials have said in recent years that at least 45 artifacts at the Met were stolen from ancient sites in the country. The Met has recently removed several items from display in response, but it has refused to show Cambodian officials internal documents that might buttress, or undermine, the museums proper title to the objects. Instead, the Met has requested evidence from Cambodia demonstrating that the works were stolen.

The Mets new approach comes as leading museums around the world are confronting similar challenges. The British Museum has been in talks with Greek officials, who have long sought the return of the Parthenon marbles. The Vatican announced last year that it would give fragments of the Parthenon that were long held in the Vatican Museum to the Greek Orthodox Church. German and U.S. museums have been returning Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

Some critics want museums to do far more than simply ensure that ancient objects were not stolen. Even when no laws were broken, they want museums to place a greater emphasis on social justice, ensuring that objects were not obtained by exploiting societies weakened by poverty, colonialism, war or political instability  and to return them if they were.
BOSTON  There are things that a big-city mayor just has to do. Cut a ribbon here. Plant a tree there. Throw out the first pitch. Play Mozart with the local symphony orchestra.

Hang on a second.

Plenty of politicians might say that they support the arts, but Michelle Wu, a Democrat who became the first woman and the first person of color to be elected mayor of Boston, in November 2021, is one of the few who will court embarrassment to prove it.

At the free Concert for the City on Sunday afternoon, put on by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its sister ensemble, the Boston Pops, Wu took the stage before a nearly full house at Symphony Hall here to perform as the soloist in the dreamy slow movement of Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 21. She may not quite be ready for a world tour, but with the Symphony and its music director, Andris Nelsons, in support, she captured more of the composers characteristic elegance than an amateur might. And she barely missed a note.

I think Michelle did it so wonderfully, Nelsons said during a news conference after the performance.
The P.R. Mallory Campus, a century-old brick building in the Englewood neighborhood in Indianapolis, has long been known for innovation. The companys scientists and engineers had for decades devised new consumer goods, including radios, washing machines and even the Duracell battery.

Now, one of its new tenants, Purdue Polytechnic High School, hopes its students will make their own scientific discoveries.

In 2020, Purdue, a 600-student charter school, took over two floors of the former industrial site, which had sat abandoned for 30 years. The campus was transformed with the help of historic renovation tax credits to help adapt the space for reuse.

The school is an example of adaptive reuse projects for education, which have turned former big-box stores, churches, tortilla factories, office buildings and even a space for laser tag into educational centers. In most cases, these projects have benefited charter institutions that focus on urban neighborhoods, which often start off leasing spare rooms in locations like malls or churches, then turn to adaptive reuse to save money when buying more permanent space.
The News

Ryanair, the European low-cost airline, said on Tuesday that it had agreed to buy 150 737 Max 10 airplanes, its largest-ever Boeing order. The deal includes an option that would allow the company to buy another 150 jets.

At list prices, 150 planes would sell for more than $20 billion, though Boeing and other manufacturers typically agree to deep discounts for such large orders. Ryanair plans to equip the plane, the largest Max model, with 228 seats, just shy of its maximum capacity. The jets are expected to replace older, smaller and less efficient Boeing planes and be delivered between 2027 and 2033.

Negotiations had previously fallen apart over a disagreement on price, but Ryanairs chief executive, Michael OLeary, said that he was willing to pay more after taking into account the benefits of the new plane.

If you look at the fuel performance of this aircraft, well be carrying 21 percent more passengers but burning 20 percent less fuel, he said in an interview on Tuesday. So we have a huge revenue upside, a huge cost upside.

Mr. OLeary said that the most recent round of talks began with a meeting in January between him and Boeings chief executive, Dave Calhoun.

We kind of agreed the outline terms of the deal in about an hour in Dublin, Mr. OLeary said. Once we both decided we want to get this done, it moved pretty quickly  much faster, I think, than our previous aircraft orders.

By the time the planes are delivered, Ryanair expects to fly about 300 million passengers annually, more than double the number it flew before the pandemic. In the fiscal year that ended in March 2022, the airline flew 97 million passengers.

The airline serves more than 230 airports in 36 countries across or near Europe. It flies more than 500 aircraft. The new, larger planes will help to reinforce Ryanairs most popular routes, Mr. OLeary said.
Trucks transport bauxite on a red-dirt mining road in the Boke region of Guinea. Photo: Chloe Sharrock / MYOP / The Washington Post

By Rachel Chason and Chloe Sharrock

27 April 2023

KAGBANI, Guinea (The Washington Post)  One of the poorest countries on Earth has become a crucial player in the worlds green-energy transition.

Guinea, a West African nation of more than 13 million people, is home to the worlds biggest reserves of bauxite  a reddish-brown rock that is the main source of aluminum. That lightweight metal, in turn, is essential for electric vehicles because it allows them to travel farther without recharging than if they were made of steel. And over the current decade, when experts expect global sales of EVs to increase almost ninefold, demand for aluminum will jump nearly 40 percent, to 119 million tons annually, industry analysts say.

Guinea is already seeing an unprecedented boom in its bauxite exports, which increased almost fivefold from 2015 to 2020, according to U.S. government statistics, and analysts predict production will continue to increase dramatically over the next decade. The countrys northwestern region of Boke, at the epicenter of the bauxite fervor, has been transformed by a relentless stream of trucks and trains hauling the precious ore along newly built roads and tracks to coastal ports.

Bauxite mining operations upstream have turned the Fassalywol River in Guinea a reddish-orange color. Local women say they used to spend many pleasant hours on the rivers banks, chatting as they fished and prepared meals from the eggplant, tomatoes and peppers they grew. But they said that since CBG expanded its operations, including opening a bauxite storage site upriver in 2018, sediment has rendered the water uninhabitable for most fish and undrinkable for humans. Photo: Chloe Sharrock / MYOP / The Washington Post

But across Boke, thousands of villagers are paying a steep price, according to dozens of interviews with residents of six villages in the region, nonprofit monitoring groups and industry experts. The Guinean government has reported that hundreds of square miles once used for farming have been acquired by mining companies for their operations and associated roads, railways and ports. Villagers have received little or no compensation, rights activists and locals say. In the next two decades, according to a government study, more than 200,000 acres of farmland and 1.1 million acres of natural habitat will be destroyed by bauxite mining  an area almost the size of Delaware.

The breathtaking demand for EVs  which typically require six times the mineral input by weight of their fossil-fuel-burning counterparts just to make them go  is driving a new gold rush for an array of metals, including bauxite, nickel, lithium, and manganese, needed to build and power them. But while EVs are widely considered essential for global efforts to tackle climate change, the costs and unintended consequences of securing these minerals have often been overlooked. There has been little recognition of the toll this mining is taking, and could increasingly take, on local communities, workers, the environment and even political stability, because much of the activity is occurring in remote corners of the world, from fishing villages in West Africa to far-flung islands in Southeast Asia.

Without a full accounting, the green-energy transition risks repeating the cruel history of previous industrial revolutions.

A village along a mining road that cuts through Boke, Guinea, facilitating the transport of tons of bauxite every day. Palm trees along a mining road are coated with red dust kicked up by trucks transporting bauxite. The dust prevents palm trees in plantations from growing properly, affecting villagers harvests. Photo: Chloe Sharrock / MYOP / The Washington Post

When a Chinese mining firm first arrived in 2016 in this Guinean village near the Atlantic coast, company representatives and government officials offered residents jobs and cash in exchange for hundreds of acres of their farmland, villager Mohamed Sylla recalled. The residents felt compelled to accept.

Soon after, dynamite blasting to forge a road for the bauxite mine shattered the concrete walls of Syllas house, sending his wife fleeing for safety and forcing his family to move. Over the years that followed, he said, he watched as thick layers of dust from trucks hauling bauxite destroyed villagers harvests of eggplant, corn and cashews and as barges transporting the ore abroad chased away once-plentiful fish.

In interviews, women in northwestern Guinea said they now despair over paltry harvests, and fishermen, like 30-year-old Sylla, said they draw in hauls so small they can barely make a living. Villagers said the jobs they were promised by the Societe Miniere de Boke  a consortium including a subsidiary of the worlds largest aluminum producer, China Hongqiao Group  never materialized. The cash payments have proved to be deeply disappointing.

I am frustrated, said Sylla, his eyebrows arched above his dark sunglasses as his voice alternated between agitation and quiet resignation. But even more than that, I have lost hope.

A fisherman passes near a mining port in Guinea. The presence of the port and container ships has considerably reduced the quantity of fish. Fisherman Aboubacar Camara says that his daily catch has greatly decreased and that SMBs security patrol speedboats routinely slash fishermens nets as they pass by. Photo: Chloe Sharrock / MYOP / The Washington Post

Runoff from the mine road rendered water in many of the rivers and streams undrinkable, Sylla and other villagers recounted.Then, last year, the water pump the mining company had built for the villagers broke. Kagbani was out of water.

Sylla said it wasnt hard to rally the locals in response. The villagers headed to SMBs train tracks  which the company added in 2021 as an additional means of transporting the ore  locked their arms and refused to move.

After two days of protest  one of many demonstrations across the region in recent years  the company delivered a new water pump, Sylla said. Villagers left the tracks, but Sylla said the paltry water supply was little consolation for what they had lost. [more]

On frontier of new gold rush, quest for coveted EV metals yields misery
CNBC on Tuesday said it was parting ways with Hadley Gamble, an anchor and senior correspondent who accused the former chief executive of NBCUniversal, the networks parent division, of sexual harassment.

In a brief and effusive statement, CNBC called Ms. Gamble, who worked at the business news network for more than a decade, a distinguished journalist who had developed deep experience in the Middle East and beyond.

Her initiative and drive have secured valuable interviews with several world political leaders. We wish her every success in her future endeavors, the statement said.

CNBC and Ms. Gamble have negotiated a financial settlement worth more than $1 million in connection with her exit, according to a person familiar with knowledge of the decision.
Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman of the Fox Corporation, conceded on Tuesday that a Delaware judges pretrial rulings against the company severely limited our defense at trial and contributed to his decision to settle the landmark defamation case brought by Dominion Voting Systems.

Mr. Murdoch, on a call with investors and analysts, called the $787.5 million settlement  believed to be the largest in the history of defamation law  a decision clearly in the best interest of the company and its shareholders.

In a remark that echoed the trademark defiance of his father, Rupert Murdoch, he also defended the conduct of Fox News personnel, saying the settlement in no way alters Foxs commitment to the highest journalistic standards across our networks, or our passion for unabashedly reporting the news of the day.

His remarks came after Fox revealed a real-world consequence of the landmark settlement: The company swung to a net loss in the first three months of the year, its quarterly revenue erased  and then some  by payments associated with resolving the lawsuit with Dominion, an election technology firm.
A federal jury in Delaware on Tuesday found that the federal government did not have an ownership claim to lucrative drugs to prevent H.I.V. that are sold by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences.

The verdict in an unusual patent infringement case marked a defeat for the government and activists who have pushed it to more aggressively assert its financial and legal rights to medicines developed with the help of public funding. The Trump administration brought the lawsuit in 2019 in part because of concern over the high price Gilead was charging.

The legal dispute centered on who devised the idea of using a Gilead medication for people at high risk of contracting H.I.V., or the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS. The two versions of the drug  Truvada and the newer Descovy  have generated huge profits for Gilead.

Lawyers for the federal government had argued that Gilead had violated three government patents that protected the concept of using Truvada to prevent H.I.V. through whats known as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. The patents were granted to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for inventions stemming from experiments they conducted on monkeys in the mid-2000s.
On a call with financial analysts, Amin Nasser, Aramcos chief executive, said that demand for oil seemed likely to remain healthy this year as the economies of China and India, two major importers, grow strongly. He attributed the recent drop in oil prices to concerns that economic growth would be sapped by central banks raising interest rates, and by the regional banking crisis in the United States. In our view, the markets overreacted, he said.

Aramco is also investing in expanding output, apparently shrugging off concerns that climate change risks might crimp the market for fossil fuels in the coming years.

The company now has to contend with large quantities of Russian oil flowing into key markets like China and India because of Western sanctions that bar most Russian oil from Europe. Mr. Nasser said that the Russian oil rerouted to India and China had no impact on Saudi sales to these countries, but he said it had hurt other unnamed producers.

Aramco is taking steps to lock up these markets for the long term, through refining and chemical deals, mostly in Asia. Recently, Aramco reached agreements to participate in developing a large petroleum complex in China as well as to acquire a 10 percent stake in Rongsheng Petrochemical, another Chinese company, for $3.6 billion. Aramco said that the two agreements give the Saudi company the right to supply a total of 690,000 barrels a day of oil.

Like its Western rivals, Aramco is under pressure to return more money to shareholders  in this case mainly the Saudi government, which is hungry for cash to finance development plans. Aramco said it would pay $19.5 billion in dividends for the quarter, a 4 percent increase over the previous period.
VIZ Media, a publisher devoted to manga and anime, on Tuesday will begin offering translated chapters of popular manga to audiences in North America on the same day they are released in Japan.

The simultaneous publication of titles through the companys VIZ Manga app is part of an effort to get manga more quickly into the hands of fans at a time of booming readership, the company said. And it may also help fight pervasive piracy.

In the last few years, manga became so much bigger, said Ken Sasaki, the chief executive of VIZ Media, which is based in San Francisco and is a subsidiary of the Japanese publisher Hitotsubashi Group. I think readers are finally aware that there are so many other genres.

Manga sales hit $550 million in 2021, said Milton Griepp, the chief executive of ICv2, an online pop culture trade publication, last year at New York Comic Con. Sales jumped 9 percent in 2022, ICv2 reported in March.
Headliner

elNico

You couldnt tell by looking at the Penny Williamsburgs sturdy, Brutalist-adjacent building that its rooftop restaurant is rife with vibrant colors and flavors. Tables in a warmly decorated indoor space spill onto the terrace with 11th-floor views of the skyline. The restaurants approach is mostly Mexican, touching down elsewhere in Latin America, with the chef Fernanda Serrano, who was at NoMad, London, in charge. Served family-style are octopus pibil, whole black bass and carne asada. She breaks boundaries with a tlayuda topped with tzatziki and sumac, a pink mole with tahini and beets, a sikil Pak seasoned with dukkah, and a clam tostada with nduja, calamansi and jasmine. Ms. Serrano, who is Mexican, worked at such top-flight places as El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, and Osteria Francescana, in Modena, Italy. Overseeing drinks is Leo Robitschek, an Eleven Madison Park alumnus who is a partner at the Sydell Group, which owns this hotel, as well as the NoMad London. Cristhian Rodriguez, a native of Peru, will work with him on libations, mostly agave-based.

Penny Williamsburg, 288 North Eighth Street (Havemeyer Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 929-594-2020, penny-hotel.com.

Opening

The Good Good

The latest from Lesly Bernard, who has built and operated restaurants around the city for years, is this Harlem bistro. His partners are Juliet and Justine Masters, who own the Edge Harlem, a casual spot with touches of the Caribbean. For their new restaurant, they have tapped the chef Denzell Washington, named for the actor by his father, who is a fan, but with a varied spelling. Mr. Washington previously worked at the Edge. Here, he is also bringing the Caribbean to the table with jerk mushrooms, roasted yams with honey and peri peri, codfish fritters, coconut fish sandwich, and sauteed shrimp with a pineapple-coconut soubise. The 50-seat room has white brick walls and colorful fabrics.

1694 Park Avenue (119th Street), thegoodgoodnyc.com.

Torch & Crown Union Square

Now through November, the stately pavilion at the north side of Union Square Park will be run by Torch & Crown Brewing Company of SoHo, offering beers like their hazy Almost Famous I.P.A. and the refreshing Share House ale. Theres sheltered and outdoor seating, and the ingredients for small bites are provisioned from the Greenmarket. The brewery also plans to open a seasonal location offering beer and pizza on weekends, starting Memorial Day weekend, at Best Pizza & Dive Bar on the Napeague stretch of Route 27 east of Amagansett, N.Y. (Opens Thursday)

Union Square Pavilion, 20 Union Square West (17th Street), torchandcrown.com.

Angels Share

Having closed a little over a year ago, this venerable cocktail lounge, known for its craft cocktails, plans to reopen in the West Village next month. Last summer, it hosted a pop-up at the Hotel Eventi near Herald Square, and now has a pop-up planned for Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Poster House, which is showing Made in Japan: 20th Century Poster Art. Three cocktails will be served; tickets are $44.52 at posterhouse.org.

Poster House, 119 West 23rd Street, posterhouse.org.
But there have been troubling trends in breast cancer in recent years. They include an apparent increase in the number of cancers diagnosed in women under 50 and a failure to narrow the survival gap for younger Black women, who die of breast cancer at twice the rate of white women of the same age.

We dont really know why there has been an increase in breast cancer among women in their 40s, Dr. Carol Mangione, immediate past chair of the task force, said in an interview. But when more people in a certain age group are getting a condition, then screening of that group is going to be more impactful.

The new recommendation covers more than 20 million women in the United States between the ages of 40 and 49. In 2019, about 60 percent of women in this age group said they had gotten a mammogram in the past two years, compared with 76 percent of women aged 50 to 64 and 78 percent of women aged 65 to 74.

The panel has said there is insufficient evidence to make recommendations one way or the other for women who were 75 and older.
So people noticed when the cube stopped twirling, and not just drunk N.Y.U. students. Petrie said in an interview that the spinning mechanism had separated from the base. He also said that an inspection had found a few small holes in the cubes Cor-Ten steel skin.

Department of Transportation officials said last year that there was another problem: Like the Tower of Pisa, it was leaning.

The repairs will straighten it up and spiff it up with five coats of paint, Petrie said. It will look like a brand-new car, he said. We know its got, say, 500,000 miles on it.

Petrie said the cube had been embraced by people, sometimes literally, for generations. Its not just a piece that you look at and admire, he said.

Rosenthal himself once called it a very friendly object. (He died in 2009.) And Rodriguez said this week that the cube is best enjoyed when it is touched and spun with friends.

It was first called Sculpture in Environment, but Rosenthals wife, Cynthia Rosenthal, renamed it because it was massive in ways that reminded her of the Texas fortress. It was the first of several large Rosenthal installations in the city, among them Rondo (1969), a gleaming bronze circle in front of the New York Public Library branch at 127 East 58th Street, and 5 in 1 (1973), outside One Police Plaza, a name that was said to take into account its five interlocking steel disks as well as the citys five boroughs.

The cube has needed work before. It was taken away in 2005 when it had the same problem it has now  it could no longer be spun easily. The same fabricator that will do the restoration this time tended to it then, and among other things, found that water had collected inside, in the corners of the cube. Workers removed rust and unclogged drainage holes that water was supposed to escape through. Cross beams were added to the base, reinforcing it. It underwent another restoration in 2014.
George Santos has turned himself in to face charges. Follow our live updates here.

Representative George Santos, the New York Republican who has been the target of numerous investigations into his personal and campaign finances since his biography was found to be a web of lies and exaggerations, has been charged by federal prosecutors in New York, three people familiar with the investigation said.

The charges come after months of investigation by the office of the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which has been conducting one of the inquiries into Mr. Santoss financial and campaign activities.

The specific charges against Mr. Santos, 34, are not yet clear. Mr. Santos could appear as soon as Wednesday in federal court, according to CNN, which first reported the charges.

Mr. Santos has been subject to intense scrutiny in the wake of reporting published by The New York Times last year that found he had lied about his biography, education and work history to voters and that raised questions about his personal wealth and campaign finances.
Yet the responses and aftermath of the two cases have been markedly different so far. In San Diego, law enforcement officials arrested Mr. Hilbert within hours. In New York City, more than a week after Mr. Neelys killing and after the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide  a ruling that means that Mr. Neely was killed, but is not a finding of legal culpability  Mr. Penny, 24, has not been arrested.

Mr. Neelys death comes during especially heated debates in New York over how to handle crime, homelessness and mental illness, particularly in the subways, and New Yorkers have been divided in their response to the incident.

Protesters, some political leaders and advocates for homeless New Yorkers and mental health reform have criticized Mr. Pennys actions as the reckless behavior of a vigilante who acted outside the law. They have called the legal process racist.

Conservative commentators and some subway riders have argued that Mr. Penny acted to protect others. A witness who recorded the video of Mr. Neelys death said that just before the confrontation, Mr. Neely screamed that he was hungry, thirsty and ready to die. The police said the witnesses they have interviewed described him as hostile and erratic but said that he did not assault any passengers.

Still, the California case raises the same questions that have swirled around the death of Mr. Neely: Was the chokehold killing a crime, and if so, what charges should the killer face?
The Middle East data centre market has been in the news recently, with plans announced for a massive new data centre in Cairo and the arrival of a new report suggesting impressive growth expected for Omans data centre sector.

The digital solutions provider Benya Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE-based wholesale data centre provider Khazna Data Centres to build a 25-megawatt (MW) hyperscale data centre at Maadi Technology Park in Cairo, Egypts first specialized investment zone, with US$250 million in investments, according to the countrys General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

Described as a first for in Egypt in terms of capacity and size, the project will be built in a 40,000-square metre area.

The project comes within the framework of the countrys plan to localize information technology and data centre industries amid the ongoing development in Egypts infrastructure sector.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, a new research report from Arizton Advisory and Intelligence, a global cloud and data centre advisory firm, puts the size of Omans data centre market at US$247 million in 2022 and suggests it will reach US$428 million by 2028.

The report suggests the sultanates data centre market is being driven by a rise in cloud service adoption, significant growth in digitisation, increasing submarine cable connectivity, and the adoption of technologies such as big data, IoT, and artificial intelligence.

The increasing demand for migration to cloud platforms by various sectors is attracting local and global cloud service providers into Omans data centre market, including big names such as AWS, Microsoft, Oracle and Google.

The Oman data centre market includes local and global operators such as Equinix, Ooredoo, Datamount, Cloud Acropolis and Oman Data Park. Its growth potential is led by Muscat, though other cities such as Barka, Salalah and Sohar have seen data centre investments.
Project Veritas, a conservative group known for using covert recordings to embarrass its political opponents, has agreed to settle two federal lawsuits that accused it of underpaying employees and having a highly sexualized work atmosphere.

The settlement of the labor suit, which accused Project Veritas of failing to pay overtime, was approved on Monday by a judge in White Plains, N.Y., near where the group is based. According to court papers, Project Veritas agreed to pay $270,000 to resolve the claim, with $15,000 to be paid by a human resources and payroll company that worked with the organization. Just over $213,000 will be divided among six former employees and the remainder will go to legal fees.

A sexual harassment suit filed at the same time as the labor suit, on behalf of a former Project Veritas employee, Antonietta Zappier, was voluntarily dismissed, according to a court document dated Tuesday. Her lawyer, Arthur Z. Schwartz, said the parties had reached an amicable settlement but that its terms were confidential.

When publicizing its secret recordings, Project Veritas has typically presented itself as bringing to light information that influential figures and institutions would prefer to keep hidden. The two lawsuits, filed last summer, could be seen as turning the tables, offering an insiders view of an organization that has had powerful political allies and donors.
For example, I remain deeply concerned about the long-term trajectory of our debt to G.D.P. ratio. Yet during the Covid crisis, I publicly supported the $1.9 trillion rescue plan proposed by President Biden and backed by all but one congressional Democrat. Someone with a more absolutist mind-set might see these two positions as mutually exclusive. But I examined the likely costs, did the same with the likely benefits, and then made a judgment that the latter outweighed the former. Performing that kind of analysis  one that doesnt shy away from nuance and complexity  is an essential element of sound decision-making.

Employing the yellow pad also helps one learn the right lessons from the past. Here, the mistake people too often make is to judge a prior decision solely based on the outcome that occurred. Outcomes do matter. But theyre not all that matters.

One common way in which outcomes can be deceiving involves pursuing a course of action with a high potential benefit but a low chance of success. This is what happened during the Clinton administration when the Russian economy fell into crisis and we had to decide whether to support it. We concluded that intervention was unlikely to work. But we also concluded that, in the unlikely event an intervention did work, it would be so beneficial to our efforts to foster political reform in Russia (something that was at the time a realistic possibility) that it was worth trying despite the low odds of success. As it turned out, the higher probability outcome occurred, and we had to abandon our intervention.

A few years later, at the end of my term, the incoming Treasury secretary from a new administration said this proved that the United States and the International Monetary Fund made the wrong call regarding Russia. I remember being frustrated, not by the fact that a new administration disagreed with the previous one but by the argument the incoming secretary employed: that our efforts had not proved successful, so therefore we had been wrong to try. (When asked why he approved of our economic intervention in Mexico, which was similar to that in Russia, he again pointed to outcomes: What I liked about it is that it worked.) Evaluating decisions solely based on outcomes rather than also analyzing the judgments that led to the decision and took place before those outcomes occurred can cause leaders to learn the wrong lessons going forward.

There is no secret that will allow us to overcome the most dangerous and difficult challenges we face. There is, however, a pressing need for leaders of today and tomorrow to make the best possible decisions in an uncertain world. To borrow the spirit of Mrs. Collinss question, what we will become  as individuals, as a country, and even as a planet  is likely to depend on it.
I have not written much about the war in Ukraine lately because so little has changed strategically since the first few months of this conflict, when three overarching facts pretty much drove everything  and still do.

Fact No. 1: As I wrote at the outset, when a war of this magnitude begins, the key question you ask yourself as a foreign affairs columnist is very simple: Where should I be? Should I be in Kyiv, the Donbas, Crimea, Moscow, Warsaw, Berlin, Brussels or Washington?

And from the start of this war, there has been only one place to be to understand its timing and direction  and thats in Vladimir Putins head. Unfortunately, Putin doesnt grant visas to his brain.

Thats a real problem because this war emerged entirely from there  with, we now know, almost no input from his cabinet or military commanders  and certainly with no mass urging from the Russian people. So Russia will be stopped in Ukraine, whether its winning or losing, only when Putin decides to stop.
It rests on false assumptions. Russian nuclear propaganda assumes that the bully always wins. But the bully does not always win. Russian propagandists want us to think that nuclear powers can never lose wars, on the logic that they could always deploy nuclear weapons to win. This is an ahistoric fantasy. Nuclear weapons did not bring the French victory in Algeria, nor did they preserve the British Empire. The Soviet Union lost its war in Afghanistan. America lost in Vietnam and in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Israel failed to win in Lebanon. Nuclear powers lose wars with some regularity.

Some Americans have proposed a nuclear scenario in which Russians will have to use nuclear weapons to head off defeat. But Russia has been defeated in Ukraine, on its own terms, again and again. What it has proved is its ability to change those terms after each defeat. Russia failed to achieve the explicit aim of the special military operation to overthrow Ukraines democratic government. There will be no greater humiliation than that. The defeat at Kyiv was followed by further defeats at Kharkiv and Kherson. Each loss led to cover stories from Russias state propagandists and their believers, to talk of good-will gestures, strategic withdrawals and so on. The escalation has been in the propagandists workload.

Russia can lose without being cornered. It has 11 time zones of space for retreating soldiers and plenty of practice in propaganda refashionings. Indeed, Russian leaders have already indicated what they will do if they believe that they are losing: change the terms of reference and change the subject in Russian media. Mr. Putins kleptocratic state as a whole and its dependencies such as the Wagner mercenary army are public relations projects with a military arm. The assumption in Russian politics is that rhetoric overcomes reality. And the rhetorical preparations for defeat have been made.

Beneath Mr. Putins vague bellicosity is the idea that Russia wins if it avoids (in his words) strategic defeat imposed by NATO. Almost no matter what happens, it will be easy for him to define the war in Ukraine as a strategic victory. Since the Kremlin claims that it is fighting NATO, all Mr. Putin has to say is that Russia stopped NATO from crossing into Russia. The commander of Wagner wrote recently, in this spirit, that Russia can end the special military operation at any time and just claim that its goals have been achieved, so long as Russia does not retreat from any more occupied Ukrainian territory.

By taking nuclear blackmail seriously, we have actually increased the overall chances of nuclear war. If nuclear blackmail enables a Russian victory, the consequences will be incalculably awful. If any country with nuclear weapons can do whatever it likes, then law means nothing, no international order is possible and catastrophe beckons at every turn. Countries without nuclear weapons will have to build them, on the logic that they will need nuclear deterrence in the future. Nuclear proliferation would make nuclear war much more likely in the future.
If Roman Roy were a real person, he wouldnt live on the Upper West Side.

So said a real-life real estate broker recently. Yet, Romans apartment during the fourth season of Succession, the hit HBO show about a trio of mega-rich siblings vying for control of their fathers media empire, is actually a penthouse at 200 Amsterdam Avenue, with panoramic city views. Fans of the show were there with Roman (played by Kieran Culkin) during a recent episode when he solemnly brushed his teeth the morning after a devastating plot twist.

The four-bedroom duplex is on the market for $38 million. Daniella G. Schlisser, the real-life associate broker with Brown Harris Stevens and a listing agent for the apartment, said that if Roman were a real person, she would redirect him south, probably to TriBeCa, where he might receive a warmer welcome. Given his winning personality, shed advise him: No ones going to talk to you here  you wont make any friends in the family-oriented Upper West Side.
When Alia Mahmud visited Westfield Annapolis Mall in February 2022, she didnt go to buy clothes, or to watch a movie or to even meet up with her girlfriends. She was looking for rats.

A week earlier, Ms. Mahmud saw a post online about a pack of rodents at the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, whose shelter opened an outpost at the mall in September 2020. When she arrived at the new location and approached the rat enclosure, she saw Snoofles, Algernon and Ikit, 5-month-old sisters who perked up and pressed their pink noses through their crate to get a better look at Ms. Mahmud and her boyfriend.

They kind of ran up to us and said hi, said Ms. Mahmud, 32, a school therapist in Alexandria, Va. They melted our hearts with how little, affectionate and outgoing they were from the beginning.

But it wasnt until a meet-and-greet days later when Ms. Mahmud finally decided to take them home, where Snoofles proceeded to run down her shirt.
PARISIANS ARE OFTEN caricatured as blase yet, when it comes to their citys cultural treasures, they can be disarmingly sentimental. New Yorkers may dismiss the Empire State Building as kitsch, but Parisians have an unironic love for the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. There is likewise widespread devotion to the capitals artisanal past: Many wouldnt dream, for example, of getting their brass door hardware anywhere but the 19th-century A La Providence on Rue du Faubourg St.-Antoine, or their pencils anywhere but the 136-year-old art supply store Sennelier.

Such loyalty to the citys institutions has a relatively young champion these days: the 38-year-old illustrator Marin Montagut. Raised in Toulouse by antiques dealer parents, he was enamored as a child with images of Pariss Belle Epoque and dreamed of moving to the capital to make art; at 19, he arrived with a single suitcase, a set of watercolors and a few sable brushes.
At Pine Belts central networking hub, a windowless cinder block building in downtown Selma, seven large metal bins recently overflowed with ZTE servers, processors and switches, the gear that moves internet traffic around and connects calls. There were also racks of new Nokia and Microsoft equipment and Dell computers. The Chinese and Western-made technology will operate simultaneously until Pine Belt can completely rid its cell towers of ZTE equipment.

In 2021, Pine Belt applied for $68 million in reimbursements from the F.C.C. for the replacement effort. But last July, the agency said that it could only refund costs of up to $27 million. Pine Belt is about 15 percent into its transition away from Chinese equipment and is already $5 million over the F.C.C.s budget, Mr. Nettles said.

Early this month, Mr. Nettles drove 15 miles to a rusting 300-foot tower where two workers were preparing to tear out Chinese gear. Rigged with ropes and pulleys, they planned to climb the tower to assess if it could hold the weight of an additional three antennas and radio equipment from Nokia.

The workers decided they had to pour concrete under the tower to create a stronger base for the additional load. The tower will have to hold the old ZTE and new Nokia equipment during the rip-and-replace work to prevent any service interruptions.

As Mr. Nettles parked near the tower, a customer in Selma called to complain that his cell service was cutting in and out. The customer was between one tower with ZTE equipment and another with Nokia equipment.
Christina Andersons poetically titled new play, the ripple, the wave that carried me home, lands a number of gut punches like that one. In Tamilla Woodards somewhat blunted production for Yale Repertory Theater, it spans decades to tell the story of one Black familys tiny, Midwestern corner of the fight against racial segregation  both the kind that was once enforced by law and the slippery kind that came later, skulking around legality to maintain all-white preserves.

Janices mother, Helen, was raised a passionate swimmer. Her own father ran a program teaching Black children to swim, and as a teenager Helen took up teaching, too. A few years later, two 8-year-olds she had taught drowned with a white friend in a lake where they went to swim together.

This is the deeply felt tragedy that turns Helen (Chalia La Tour) and Edwin (Marcus Henderson) into local activists for pool integration and access. In a town that would rather close its pools than desegregate them  a Civil Rights-era practice called drained-pool politics, as a program note says  the cause consumes them for years. As a teenager in the 1970s, Janice (Jennean Farmer) comes to see it with some resentment as her parents battle, not hers. But the ripples of racism in American culture are inescapable.

Janice looks back on all this from 1992 Ohio, around the time that four white Los Angeles police officers are being tried in connection with the beating of the Black motorist Rodney King. (The play does not mention it, but 20 years later King will drown in his own swimming pool.)

The catalyst for Janices memories is an invitation  from the comically named Young Chipper Ambitious Black Woman (an excellent Adrienne S. Wells, who doubles in the role of Janices Aunt Gayle)  to return to Kansas for the naming of a pool in her fathers honor. That rankles as an erasure of her mother; her parents did everything as a team.
You are a writer, and you wrote a play about language. What did you learn about words?

I feel incredibly insecure about both my English and Farsi speaking abilities  I feel like I know 50 percent of each language, and I feel like Im always bombing job interviews because the words never come to me in the way that I want them to come to me. This play was, of course, so much about my parents and immigrants and hoping that we can extend grace to people who are trying to express themselves in a language they didnt grow up speaking, but I think it was also a reminder to be kind to myself.

What is it like to watch the play with audiences who are, presumably, mostly not Iranian Americans?

Its light torture to watch your play with an audience around you. I just watch them watch the play. I remember in New York when we did it, it was hard to feel like we were getting the wrong kinds of laughs some nights. But I also have been really moved by the non-Iranian audiences who have come to see the play and have found themselves in it. Thats what you ask of an audience, and thats beautiful.

As the play is done around the country, you are creating more work for Iranian American performers. Was that a motivation?

I grew up watching media in which I was incredibly frustrated by our representation and the roles being offered to us. I know so many actors in our community, and theyre so incredibly talented, and to feel like their talents were not put to good use was frustrating. I wanted to work with them, and I wanted to give them roles that they loved. It was really important to me to make this play funny, because I didnt want to shut our actors out of big laughs.

In previous interviews youve talked about a fear of being pigeonholed.

I dont know if that fear will ever dissipate. I feel so proud to be Iranian, and to be able to tell these stories, and I just remain hopeful that when I turn in a commission thats not about Iran, that it will be equally exciting.
Technological failures, system outages and staffing shortages have caused thousands of flight delays and cancellations in recent months, wreaking havoc for travelers across the country and putting a spotlight on transportation officials. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, around 20 percent of flights were delayed last year. While the weather is often to blame, airlines are also frequently at fault.

President Biden and the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, announced a proposed new rule on Monday to compensate passengers affected by carrier-caused slowdowns. Under the proposal, airlines would be required to cover certain expenses for passengers as well as pay them for the inconvenience of flight delays and cancellations.

I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you get from your U.S. airlines, Mr. Biden said during the announcement at the White House. Your time matters. The impact on your life matters.

What would the change mean for travelers?

Under the new rule, carriers would have to provide passengers with assistance and monetary compensation when the airlines are at fault for cancellations or delays of three hours or more. Beyond free rebooking or refunding the price of the ticket, airlines would have to cover other costs incurred by travelers, such as hotels, meals and ground transportation. Additionally, inconvenienced fliers would be entitled to a payment in the form of cash, miles or travel vouchers.
Not necessarily. Last year, the state task force voted that any reparations should be based on lineage  basically, any descendant of an enslaved African American or a free Black person living in the United States before the end of the 19th century would qualify. How exactly people will prove that lineage has not been completely determined, and would be worked out through any legislation.

The panel considered awarding reparations in the form of tuition or housing grants, but ultimately landed on direct payments instead. What is the most that someone could get under this plan?

In theory, a lifelong state resident who is 71 could be eligible for roughly $1.2 million in total compensation for housing discrimination, mass incarceration and additional harm outlined in the report. These are preliminary estimates, and all of this falls on state lawmakers in Sacramento to create and pass legislation.

Right. So what happens next?

The task force will present its report to the Legislature ahead of a July 1 deadline, and from there, its up to lawmakers to get to work. Constituents here in California, politicians in other states, historians and economists are definitely going to be watching to see what comes about.

California had a budget surplus when the panel was created, but it does not now. How might that affect the outcome?
Florida has rejected dozens of social studies textbooks and worked with publishers to edit dozens more, the states education department announced on Tuesday, in the latest effort under Gov. Ron DeSantis to scrub textbooks of contested topics, especially surrounding contemporary issues of race and social justice.

State officials originally rejected 82 out of 101 submitted textbooks because of what they considered inaccurate material, errors and other information that was not aligned with Florida law, the Department of Education said in a news release.

But as part of an extensive effort to revise the materials, Florida worked with publishers to make changes, ultimately approving 66 of the 101 textbooks. Still, 35 were rejected even after that process.

Mr. DeSantis, a Republican, has campaigned against what he has described as woke indoctrination and a leftist agenda in the classroom. Last year, the state rejected dozens of math textbooks, saying that the books touched on prohibited topics, including critical race theory and social emotional learning, which have become targets of the right.
Fort Hood, the third-largest U.S. military base, was renamed Fort Cavazos on Tuesday to honor a Hispanic American Army leader rather than a Confederate general.

The base is now named after Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos, the first Hispanic American four-star Army general and brigadier general. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, the U.S. Army said in a statement.

General Cavazos was the recipient of a Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in Korea, and a second Distinguished Service Cross for an episode in Vietnam.

Gen. Richard Cavazoss service demonstrates excellence at every level, the Army said. His 20th century service will inspire soldiers as they continue those traditions of excellence into the 21st.
The disclosures of the financial ties between Mr. Crow and Justice Thomas have intensified calls for tighter disclosure and ethics rules on the court, though Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has said the court is capable of policing itself. He declined to take part in a recent Judiciary Committee hearing on possible new ethics rules, citing separation of powers issues.

In the letter, the Democrats said the information they were seeking from Mr. Crow would help the committee correct shortcomings in the courts current ethics and disclosure framework.

Were seeking information on whether individuals with interests before the Supreme Court were able to gain access to Justices through gifts, lodging, and travel from Harlan Crow and his companies, Mr. Durbin said in a tweet on Tuesday. If the Supreme Court wont implement ethics reform itself, @JudiciaryDems will.

Justice Thomas has said he did not believe he was obligated to disclose his travel given his friendship with Mr. Crow and an exemption from disclosure requirements for personal hospitality.

Mr. Durbin has so far held back from threatening subpoenas to obtain information or compel testimony from the justices or others. He was also limited by the monthslong absence for medical reasons of Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, a senior member of the panel. But Ms. Feinsteins office announced on Tuesday that she would return to the Senate this week, restoring a one-vote Democratic majority on the panel that could be pivotal if Mr. Durbin proceeded over united Republican opposition.
WASHINGTON  The United States and its allies have dismantled a major cyberespionage system that it said Russias intelligence service had used for years to spy on computers around the world, the Justice Department announced on Tuesday.

In a separate report, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency portrayed the system, known as the Snake malware network, as the most sophisticated cyberespionage tool in the Federal Security Services arsenal, which it has used to surveil sensitive targets, including government networks, research facilities and journalists.

The Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., had used Snake to gain access to and steal international relations documents and other diplomatic communications from a NATO country, according to CISA, which added that the Russian agency had used the tool to infect computers across more than 50 countries and inside a range of American institutions. Those included education, small businesses and media organizations, as well as critical infrastructure sectors including government facilities, financial services, critical manufacturing and communications.

Top Justice Department officials hailed the apparent demise of the malware.

Through a high-tech operation that turned Russian malware against itself, U.S. law enforcement has neutralized one of Russias most sophisticated cyberespionage tools, used for two decades to advance Russias authoritarian objectives, Lisa O. Monaco, the deputy attorney general, said in a statement.
Then he watched on television while the mob attacked law enforcement, invaded the Capitol and hunted the vice president, she said.

Ms. Cheney also warned:Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trumps presidential campaign, responded by calling Ms. Cheney a stone-cold loser who is now trying to grift her way to relevance.

The advertisement is running exclusively on CNN in New Hampshire, Ms. Cheneys leadership PAC said in a statement. Its debut was timed to precede Mr. Trumps appearance on the network Wednesday night in a town hall devised to reach beyond the conservative news audience that remains in Mr. Trumps camp and address the broader electorate he would need to return to the presidency. That town hall will be broadcast from New Hampshire.

Mr. Trump teased the appearance on Tuesday with a jab at CNN. They made me a deal I couldnt refuse!!! he wrote on his social media site. Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me.

Ms. Cheney hinted that she would return to politics after a crushing primary defeat in August by a pro-Trump Republican challenger, Harriet Hageman, who jettisoned her from the House seat in Wyoming she held for three terms. The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, Ms. Cheney was once considered a potential speaker of the House. But her own party conference banished her from her senior Republican leadership post over her stalwart opposition to Mr. Trump after the Jan. 6 attack. She went on to become one of two Republicans who served on the House committee that investigated the riot at the Capitol.
The coming weeks are critical for assessing the strength of government cash flows, said Shai Akabas, the director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. If a solution is not reached before June, policymakers may be playing daily Russian roulette with the full faith and credit of the United States, risking financial disaster for their constituents and the country.

A default could come sooner than expected because tax revenues have been trickling into the governments coffers this spring. The sluggish pace is due in part to a decision by the Internal Revenue Service to give taxpayers in states that were affected by severe weather more time to file their 2022 taxes.

The brinkmanship has renewed questions about how the federal government might try to prioritize certain payments if it does run out of cash, whether Mr. Biden could ignore the debt limit entirely and order the Treasury Department to continue borrowing, and if far-fetched ideas such as minting a $1 trillion coin could in fact be viable.

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said on Monday that if the debt limit was not raised, then Mr. Biden would have to decide how to proceed.

I would say that if Congress doesnt raise the debt ceiling, the president will have to make some decisions about what to do with the resources that we do have, Ms. Yellen said on CNBC. And there are a variety of different options, but there are no good options.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the American-led invasion of Iraq, the C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, stood in the lobby of the agencys headquarters in Langley, Va., and sought to exorcise the ghosts of the prewar intelligence failures that haunt the building to this day.

Addressing some 100 C.I.A. officials on March 19, Mr. Burns acknowledged how the agency catastrophically blundered in its assessment that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. But he noted, according to two people present, that there was ample blame to go around. The culprits included a hubris-stricken Bush White House as well as the State Department  where Mr. Burns served at the time as a senior official  which he said had unwarranted confidence that it could derail the invasion plans.

Notably Mr. Burns added, Weve learned from that hard lesson. The intelligence the agency and others collected on Russias plans to invade Ukraine, he said, stands as a powerful example of that. It enabled us to provide strong, resolute and confident warning, to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and to help the president cement a strong coalition.

The tableau was a reminder that Mr. Burns, 67, has for decades been a near-omnipresent if subdued actor on the American foreign policy stage, having served every Democratic and Republican president since Ronald Reagan, with the exception of Donald J. Trump. And yet the moment only hinted at how Mr. Burns, a key figure in the Biden administrations support of Ukraine, has amassed influence beyond most if not all previous C.I.A. directors.
Ms. Richins published Are You With Me? on March 7, just over a year after her husbands death. A few weeks later, she appeared on KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City to promote the book, which follows the story of a boy who lost his father but is reminded of his presence.

My kids and I wrote this book on the different emotions and grieving process that weve experienced in the last year, hoping it could help other kids deal with this and kind of find happiness someway or another, Ms. Richins told KTVX. Its comforting for them that theyre not living this life alone. Dad is still here, but in a different way.

A detention hearing is set for May 19. A lawyer for Ms. Richins did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to court documents, on the evening of March 3, 2022, Ms. Richins and Mr. Richins were celebrating the closing of a sale on a house that Ms. Richins, a real estate agent, had sold. She made her husband a Moscow mule, a cocktail, in the kitchen around 9 p.m. and brought it to their bedroom, where Mr. Richins drank it in bed.

Ms. Richins later told investigators that she went to bed and woke up around 3 a.m., because one of the boys was having a nightmare. When she returned to the couples bedroom, Ms. Richins told investigators, she felt Eric and he was cold to the touch. She called 911, according to court documents.
One by one the tour buses descended on the blue collar neighborhood in Hong Kong known as To Kwa Wan  literally translated as Potato Bay  unloading throngs of travelers from mainland China outside large restaurants where a quick lunch awaited them inside.

Outfitted in white, red and orange ball caps to denote which tour they belonged to, the visitors crowded the sidewalks, smoked cigarettes under a No Smoking sign and bumped into the glass storefront of a real estate office where Nicky Lam, a property agent, was rolling her eyes.

Theyre very loud, Ms. Lam said, complaining that some of the tourists used her office bathroom and water cooler without asking.

One tourist came in and asked for restaurant recommendations, she added. I stared at him and said, This is a real estate office.
LinkedIn, the networking platform used by millions of employees and companies, said on Monday it will pare down its operations in China, capping a multiyear pullback that exemplified the challenges of running a foreign business in China.

The company, owned by Microsoft, said it will lay off 716 employees worldwide, including teams dedicated to engineering and marketing in China, because of slumping demand. It did not say how many of those layoffs will be in China.

LinkedIn will also shut its China job posting app, a bare-bones version of its international service, by August. Users of the app, called InCareer, could only search for jobs and not post or share articles the way they can on LinkedIn.

When LinkedIn started a Chinese-language version of its website in 2014, it charted a path that its peers, including Facebook and Google, had shied away from. It partnered with local firms and began censoring the content of millions of Chinese customers in accordance with Beijings strict laws. Several U.S. journalists and activists said their profiles had been blocked because of prohibited content. The company said at the time that while it opposed government censorship, its absence in the country could deprive Chinese professionals of the chance to make professional connections.
A video journalist working for Agence France-Presse, the French news agency, was killed by rocket fire near the town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine, Agence France-Presse said on Tuesday. Some of the heaviest battles of the war are being fought in and around the nearby city of Bakhmut.

The journalist, Arman Soldin, 32, and four colleagues were with Ukrainian soldiers when they came under a Grad rocket attack on Tuesday afternoon, the agency said. Mr. Soldin was killed. No one on the rest of the team, which included a security adviser, was injured.

Mr. Soldin is the 17th journalist to be killed in Ukraine since 2022, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. His death came just two weeks after a Ukrainian journalist was killed and an Italian journalist was injured in an attack on their way to the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine.
Chinas top diplomat set out on a three-nation trip Tuesday to persuade European leaders that they can do business with Beijing, even as the Chinese tried to keep faith with their unlimited partnership with a Russia that has plunged Europe into war.

But arriving in Berlin, Foreign Minister Qin Gang was quickly confronted about the war in Ukraine.

Neutrality means taking the side of the aggressor, and that is why our guiding principle is to make it clear that we are on the side of the victim, the German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, declared at a joint news conference after they met. Beijing, she said, could be doing much more to help bring the war to an end.

Mr. Qin defended his nations approach. The Ukraine issue is of high complexity, he insisted. China did not cause this, nor is it a party, but we are committed to peace negotiations.

He said that China would continue to seek a cease-fire and pledged that it would neither watch the fire from the other bank nor add fuel to the fire.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Tuesday used a scaled-down commemoration of triumph in World War II as a platform to denounce the West and make fictitious claims about Ukraine, equating his war of choice against that country with the Soviet Unions fight for survival against Nazi Germany.

With Russia struggling on the battlefield, the annual celebration of Victory Day, Russias most important and deeply emotional secular holiday, was far more muted than in the past. But Mr. Putin tried to seize on his nations proud memory of what it calls the Great Patriotic War to rally support for the war he launched against Ukraine last year, explicitly comparing the two.

A real war has been unleashed against our motherland again, Mr. Putin said in a 10-minute speech in Moscows Red Square, whose themes were quickly repeated by state media. Battles that decide the fate of our motherland have always become all-encompassing, patriotic and sacred.

From the outset, Mr. Putins list of baseless justifications for his invasion has included echoes of World War II; in addition to claiming that Ukraine was merely a wayward part of Russia and posed a threat to the motherland, he said that Ukraine was ruled by Nazis and committed genocide against ethnic Russians. But his rhetoric has shifted from talk of a limited war  in his telling, one of self-defense  to drawing direct parallels to the colossal fight against Nazism.
The police in London have expressed regret about a small number of the dozens of protesters they detained on the sidelines of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, fueling a national debate about the policing of the event and about the new anti-protest law that officers used in some arrests.

The law, called the Public Order Act 2023, came into effect days before the coronation, giving the police in England and Wales extended powers to detain and charge those they suspect of mounting or of preparing potentially disruptive protests. Saturday was widely seen as the first test for the legislation, which was brought forward last year after a wave of climate protests and has drawn condemnation from rights groups and legal experts.

Leila Choukroune, a professor of international law at the University of Portsmouth, said the new legislation is reflective of a growing trend in democracies around the world where governments have introduced measures to legally justify limits on personal freedoms, including the right to protest.

This is why its really worrying and why the U.K. and whats just happened is an example, a very concrete example, but just one example, she said. There is this trend for the past 20 years to legally justify the limitation on human rights  from freedom of speech to freedom of movement during the pandemic to the right to protest today.
The goods will arrive in Ukraine in the months and years to come, as defense companies produce them. The aid announced on Tuesday is separate from the 37 previously announced aid packages of military hardware taken from the Pentagons existing stockpile since August 2021, which is cumulatively worth at least $21 billion.

A major focus of the $1.2 billion in new funds for Ukraine will go to purchase air-defense missiles for Kyiv to use in repelling Russian aerial attacks, General Ryder said. Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, has been targeted repeatedly by Russian strikes, including on Monday and early Tuesday.

Were going to continue to rush ground-based air defense capabilities and munitions to help Ukraine control its sovereign skies and to help Ukraine defend its citizens from Russian cruise missiles and Iranian drones, he said. This is something that were going to keep after both in the near term and the long term.

General Ryder also confirmed reports that an American-made Patriot air-defense system provided to Ukraine shot down a Russian Kinzhal missile last Thursday.

The Kinzhal, which is an air-launched version of an Iskander ballistic missile, is believed to meet the definition of a hypersonic weapon  namely that it can fly and maneuver at speeds equal to or greater than five times the speed of sound, a feature meant to defeat antimissile defenses.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group based in Gaza, was the target of Israeli airstrikes early Tuesday, and was at the center of a flare-up in violence between Israel and the Gaza Strip last summer.

What is Islamic Jihad?

The second-largest Palestinian armed group in Gaza, Islamic Jihad has often been eclipsed by the larger Hamas movement, which has controlled and governed Gaza since 2007.

Islamic Jihad was founded in the 1980s in the Gaza Strip to fight the Israeli occupation and maintains a presence in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Iran supports both groups with funding and weapons, and Israel and the United States list both as terrorist organizations.
The authorities said the gunman was wearing patches during the shooting that supported Nazi ideology. Hank Sibley, a regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said that the gunman had Nazi-related tattoos and that even his signature indicated that he had neo-Nazi ideation.

The F.B.I. and state police collected his computer and cellphone and began combing through his social media profiles to see whether he had left behind a manifesto. As of Tuesday afternoon, none had been found, Mr. Sibley said.

To me, it looks like he targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people, he said. He was very random in the people he killed. It didnt matter the age, race or sex. He just shot people, which is horrific in itself.

Mr. Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was discharged a few months later over concerns about his fitness, officials said. For a time he was licensed in Texas as a security guard, but the license had lapsed, they said.

Who were the victims?

Eight people were killed in the shooting, not counting the gunman, the police said. At least seven more were injured.
Yash Gad and Adam Schwartzman co-authored this article.

In Arthur C. Clarkes 1953 short story The Nine Billion Names of God, two engineers travel to a Tibetan lamasery to help a group of monks list every possible name of God. The monks believe this project will take them 15,000 years. With the aid of a computer, however, they expect to complete the list in 100 days.

Humanity has spent the better part of a century philosophizing, dreaming and fearing the impact advanced technology will have on our lives. Today, its clear to even the most casual observer: Generative AI has already begun to change the world. ChatGPT stuns users by instantly generating copy on almost any subject, suggesting creative solutions to real-world problems and fixing errors buried deep within complex source code. What does generative AI portend for the future of work? More to the point, will we soon wave goodbye to large portions of the workforce, their jobs forever automated into oblivion?

To answer these questions, we must first clarify terms.

The language of human cognition doesnt apply neatly to generative AI, which neither thinks about problems nor understands subject matter. Tools like GPT string together a series of words, using a probability model to predict the next word in the sequence. Think of your phone suggesting the next word in a text message or the autocomplete function in a search-engine query.

To improve the AIs predictive capabilities, engineers train these systems on large datasetsthink books, articles and webpages full of texttransforming them into Large Language Models. The larger the dataset, the better the LLMs outputs. But what do we mean by better? More truthful? More accurate? In a word, neither. Training a probability model makes it more likely that the next word in any given output will fit logically with the rest of the sequence.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's May '23 PR Firm Rankings Magazine

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Similarly, the humanlike quality of textual outputs produced by generative AI doesnt indicate that these outputs stem from humanlike intelligence, nor do they imply that humanlike judgment played a role in their construction. Although AI may produce an answer that seems thoughtful, this impression is utterly misleading. The effect comes not from the expression of reason but from the calibrated application of randomness (labeled temperature by GPT). The more randomness applied, the less robotic-seemingbut also, less logicalthe output.

These clarifications help us distinguish between what generative AI is and what its not. Generative AI isnt a rational being capable of forming ideas and opinions. Its a powerful technology that can summon up text, images, code and more, which it accomplishes by replacing truth with logic and eloquence with calculated randomness.

How closely related are logic and truth? Logic is a process used to evaluate the truth value of any given proposition, but its not a suitable substitute for truth. A conclusion may be perfectly logical but false if built on faulty premises. Tools like GPT have an innate and powerful ability to perform logical calculus, but they cant determine truth from falsehood.

This point cant be overstated: Because generative AI lacks an intrinsic understanding of truth, its outputs must be verified by an external source. Another tool may arise to fill this need for automated truth assessmentindeed, some startups are already working on this challengebut until then, this responsibility will fall to the user. Woe to the hasty marketer who uses ChatGPT to generate a blog and skips the fact-check, only to discover too late that the AI has built its central thesis on a demonstrable falsehood or misconception.

A wiser content creator might take a piecemeal approach, using one set of prompts to source and organize information (verified against external research, of course) and another to shape the blogs structure, substance and style. Every element of content creation presents its own unique use case for generative AIfrom initial brainstorming to formulating a CTAeach with a clear breakpoint at which a human must step in to validate. Especially when it comes to textual content generation, humans must be able to ascertain whether or not the generated output passes logical consistency, factual consistency and speaks with the appropriate tone and voice.

Todays use case for generative AI requires a human to do more than assess the quality and truth value of outputs. At a minimum, it necessitates a human-in-the-loop system in which users play a key role in model refinement. Particularly, when it comes to training LLMs for domain-specific purposes like drug discovery and financial trading, humans must guide the AI by validating or negating its predictions.

Compare generative AI to another world-changing technology, GPS. GPS can help us tremendously along our journey, but its worthless without a driver who sets the destination and travels the route. The driver may also choose to deviate from the assigned path; perhaps theyll follow the GPS for a complicated leg of their journey and switch it off when cruising the highway.

So too must generative AI be leveraged by a user who sets the end goal, guides progress along the way and judges whenand how successfullytheyve arrived at their destination. The user will determine the ways in which AI can be helpful and the ways in which it may constrain or mislead. A writer may tap ChatGPT to suggest a compelling topic or witty headline and use these outputs as a starting point, rather than prompting the AI to fully conceptualize and generate a final deliverable.

You wouldnt ask a GPS to pick your destination for you. Nor should you look for such guidance, insight or judgment from generative AI. To risk a tautology, human progressthe impetus for generative AI and exactly what it empowerswill always come from humans.

We dont believe tools like GPT will imminently eliminate or greatly reduce the need for a human workforce. As technology advances, job functions and responsibilities will evolve in kind. Already, a new role has emerged, prompt engineer, to train and harness the power of LLMs. Until generative AI can verify truth and validate its own outputs, humans will continue to fulfill these vital roles.

To paraphrase Clarkes third law, generative AI is so technologically advanced as to seem magical. Just as the computer in his short story will aid the monks project, so too can generative AI speed us toward our goals. Both cases help us see the bottom line: that technology can accelerate our progress but wont replace the conditions that drive humanity. Clarkes great rival Isaac Asimov foresaw this future: It may be that machines will do the work that makes life possible and that human beings will do all the other things that make life pleasant and worthwhile.

***

Yash Gad, Ph.D., is CEO and Founder of Ringer Sciences and Chief Data Scientist at The Next Practices Group. Adam Schwartzman is Head of Content at The Bliss Group.
A special supplement marking the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the Union [EU 50] will be published in this Wednesday's editions of the Tullamore Tribune and the Midland Tribune.

The 12 page supplement is published by the Tribune and www.offalylive.ie in association with Offaly County Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Offaly History.

In the supplement foreword Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council and Cllr Frank Moran, Cathaoirleach write that it is widely acknowledged that Irelands 50 years of EU membership has coincided with a period of radical economic and social transformation across Ireland. This publication presents a wonderful opportunity to highlight how our lives have changed for the better because of our active membership.

The supplement features articles from a wide range of contributors, including former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, all of whom provide their unique insight into various milestones encountered because of EU membership.

Topics such as farming, gender equality, environmental issues, the 2004 European Foreign Ministers summit in Tullamore, the Just Transition process and the Leader programme are featured.

In compiling the supplement we invited contributions from all the MEPs for the South constituency and Offaly based Oireachtas members and are grateful to those who submitted articles, explained the Editor of the Tullamore Tribune, Ger Scully.

Two articles from members of the general public with specific interests in farming and policing are also published.

Said Ger Scully: We wish to stress the opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and were not influenced by Offaly County Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Tribune.

This special publication provides an opportunity to reflect on Irelands role in the EU and the partnerships we have developed over the last five decades. We wish to acknowledge the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Taoiseach for raising the profile of Irelands 50th anniversary of EU membership (EU50), outlined Anna Marie Delaney and Cllr Frank Moran.

They added: Irelands membership of the European Union has strengthened Offalys ability to protect our national and local environments with the EU Directives and EU Regulations. These legislative rules mean that Offaly County Council proactively tackle challenges presented by water pollution, waste management and air quality. We promote the conservation of natural habitats and protect local biodiversity. We take positive climate action. We prepare our strategic framework plans to answer our specific circumstances while being cognisant of meeting the demands of a changing environment.

We focus on our economic growth and proactively engage with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) who distribute co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Because of our involvement in the EU, we recognise the importance of engaging with other EU members. There is strength in unity.

Our national voice is strong in Europe. In 2024 we have the opportunity to vote in local and European elections. Your vote is your voice and your voice matters. We look forward to strengthening our friendship and solidarity with the EU and to Ireland hosting the EU Presidency in 2026.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SUPPLEMENT
Logical debates, an impartial Speaker... Dravidian model espousing democratic prosperity!

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Under the DMK regime in Tamil Nadu led by Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, every department is shining like a gem for its two years of excellence. According to political analysts, the events in the Assembly during the two years of Dravidian model of governmence are at the pinnacle to proclaim the prosperity of democracy, which enhances the people's democratic spirit.

The voice of hope from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin echoed more accurately than ever before in the lives of people everywhere two years ago. That voice also governs the Assembly, which is part of the collective voice of the people of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly meeting under the AIADMK regime had been transformed into a place where arrogance and cruelty were displayed. The scenes in the Assembly were extremely distressing during late Jayalalithaa's tenure. It would take half an hour for an MLA or a minister to praise the 'Amma' while humiliating dignitaries. And the Amma would accept the praises with a smile. Following her death, two Chief Ministers - OPS and EPS - ruled during the AIADMK regime, but the same style of functioning continued.

The Assembly is a venue where respectful discussions should take place and public welfare programs should be evaluated and endorsed. However, during the AIADMK's reign, these essential features were lacking. On the other hand, citizens of Tamil Nadu who had been observing the Assembly proceedings live over the past two years have witnessed a significant shift under the DMK's rule, where such characteristics are abundant.

At the start of the DMK 2.0 regime, Chief Minister Stalin provided an opportunity to all the members of Assembly who wished to praise others. On August 27, 2021, during the Assembly proceedings, Stalin emphasized the importance of time and ordered his ministers and members not to praise leaders during discussion on Bills and Question Hour. However, the very next day on August 28, 2021, despite his previous order, excessive praise continued. Stalin reiterated his request to keep praise to a minimum and not waste time.

On the penultimate day also, CM Stalin and minister Udayanidhi Stalin continued to denounce praises in the Assembly as they deemed it unimportant. Senior minister Durai Murugan also expressed his strong views on the matter recently. Finally, MLAs and ministers are now able to make demands and ask questions in the Assembly without wasting time, indicating that the DMK government is committed to upholding a healthy democracy.

The DMK ministers display a high level of intellectualism in the way they present evidence and statistics to criticize the deficiencies of the previous AIADMK government. A prime example of this is when CM Stalin spoke in the Assembly on March 23, 2022, highlighting that out of 537 notifications, 20 notifications amounting to a project value of Rs 9,741 crore were not issued during the previous regime. He further explained that out of the 537 notifications, 491 were issued orders and permissions, and of those, 143 notices with a value of Rs 76,619 crore were issued orders and approvals but no funds were released and no work started. He listed all the details in a clear and logical manner. This type of healthy and logical debate has only been observed during the DMK regime in the Assembly.

An important comparison to make is between the Speakers of the AIADMK and DMK regimes. During the AIADMK's rule, the Speakers acted as if they held the ultimate power. However, the Speakers of the DMK government have repeatedly shown themselves to be individuals who respect the dignity of their position. Speaker Appavu's actions under the leadership of CM Stalin are particularly noteworthy and deserving of praise.

Speaker Appavu is firm in his stance that no offensive language is permitted in the august House, regardless of whether the speaker is a DMK MLA, coalition MLA or minister. As a result of this strict policy, even the alliance party MLAs have expressed their frustration openly in the Assembly.

The leadership of CM Stalin and his DMK government is setting a historical precedent for India as a whole. The government's approach to asserting State rights and taking action against the Governor without violating constitutional norms serves as an exemplary lesson in politics for the entire nation.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 15:46 [IST]
Tamil Nadu  Events that touched the heart in 2 years!

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

M.K. Stalin completed two years as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. During this period, the State witnessed some heart-touching events. These incidents reflect the current administration's responsiveness to the needs and concerns of the common people, with the government taking the lead in addressing their issues.

One such example is the way the DMK government handled the severe second wave of coronavirus that hit Tamil Nadu during the power transition. Amidst challenging circumstances, the government took prompt action and lifted the lockdown in all districts. However, given the financial constraints faced by the State, there were suggestions from the public to allocate more funds to manage the crisis.

Here are some of the significant events wherein the government made efforts to alleviate the hardships faced by the people.

Amidst the curfew, a heartening gesture of support from Madurai's Arapalayam caught CM Stalin's attention of Chief Minister. A boy named Harish Varadhan had donated his entire savings, intended for purchasing a bicycle, to the Corona Prevention Fund along with a letter expressing his willingness to contribute to public service.

Moved by the boy's selflessness, Stalin lauded his spirit and went one step further by gifting him a bicycle to fulfill his dream. This act of kindness and public service garnered praise from all over Tamil Nadu and brought the boy's story to the forefront.

In a similar vein, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stalin announced that the government would bear the education expenses of children who lost their parents to the pandemic. Under this scheme, the government would provide a deposit of Rs 5 lakh and a relief fund of Rs 3 lakh to the caregivers of such children, demonstrating the government's commitment to supporting those affected by the pandemic.

As part of its relief efforts, the Tamil Nadu government has identified the children who lost their parents to COVID-19 across the State, with nearly 500 children being identified in Tiruvallur district alone. In the first phase, the Chief Minister provided Rs 5.1 crore to 166 children, bringing tears of gratitude to the beneficiaries in the Kulithalai area of Karur district.

One such beneficiary, Sukanti, expressed her gratitude towards the government, highlighting the mercy shown by them towards the welfare of the people. The government's assistance has proved to be a lifeline for many children like Sukanti, as it helped them to get back on their feet in these difficult times.

After the second wave of the pandemic, the Tamil Nadu government provided relief funds to affected individuals. In Kalungadi, a small village on the outskirts of Kanyakumari, Velammal Bhatti's photograph holding 500 rupee notes went viral, representing the happiness brought by the government's grant. Chief Minister Stalin himself posted the picture on his Twitter page, calling it "The smile of these poor mothers is the smile of our government."

Upon discovering that Velammal did not have a house, Stalin immediately ordered a government house to be given to her grandmother, who had been raising her. Bhoothalingam, a DMK volunteer, accepted the payment of Rs 75,000 and handed over the relevant documents for the house to the grandmother.

In another heartwarming story, a boy named Abdul Kalam from Chennai gained fame after a video of his speech went viral on YouTube. Impressed by his message of unity, Stalin personally called Abdul Kalam's parents and provided him with a house in KK Nagar, Chennai, as he did not have a place to call home.

In addition, there was an incident where Stalin stopped his vehicle to help an accident victim on Anna road and sent him to the hospital. He followed up on the victim's health the next day.

Next is the story of Tanya, a girl from Avadi with a rare facial disfigurement who asked the Chief Minister for help with her treatment. The government provided her with the necessary medical treatment, and Stalin personally oversaw her progress until she was fully recovered. He even brought her baskets of fruit and visited her after a field survey to check on her health.

Tanya says her peers were treating her with contempt due to her deformity. The government moves quickly to provide the girl with medical treatment, covering all expenses, and Stalin personally monitors her progress until her treatment is completed. Even after her treatment is completed, he continues to check on her well-being, even bringing her baskets of fruit during a field survey.

Tanya has become a part of the Stalin family, a heartwarming gesture that Tamil Nadu has never witnessed before. In another incident, the Chief Minister unexpectedly came to someone's aid. He stopped his car and personally assisted a victim of an accident, sending him to the hospital and inquiring about his recovery the following day. The media made this incident headline news in October 2022.

Another incident involved a student named Divya from Narikuravar Samugam who gave an interview on a YouTube channel, showcasing her impressive English skills. She spoke about how fellow students don't treat them as human beings.

Seeing Divya's interview, chief minister called Divya and had a healthy conversation. Upon hearing Divya's request to be included in the tribal caste list, CM Stalin took action by writing a letter to the Union Government. These incidents demonstrate the unique aspects of the Dravidian model rule in Tamil Nadu over the past two years.

The above two events from the Dravidian rule's two-year history are particularly noteworthy.

Due to his efforts, the Narikuravar people have been transferred to the tribal list. These incidents have helped those people to immediately end the years-long communal problem.

Like her, Ashwini who belongs to the narikurava community, shared her experience in an interview with a YouTube channel, revealing that she was prohibited from participating in the Samabandhi feast at temples. The interview quickly gained widespread attention, prompting Minister Sekar Babu to extend an invitation for Ashwini to attend the Samabandhi dinner.

On that day, everyone could see the happiness on Ashwini's face, as if all the years of suffering had disappeared. What followed was a delightful surprise. On the previous year's Diwali festival, Chief Minister Stalin had visited Ashwini's residence in Pooncheri, where he implemented welfare schemes worth Rs 4.5 crore.

During a field survey, Chief Minister Stalin visited the homes of Ashwini and Divya, where their families welcomed him with garlands and hosted a party. There are numerous such stories that illustrate how emotionally connected Stalin is with the common people.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 17:51 [IST]
Humbled and appreciative is the way Level Plains Police Chief Johnny Summers reacted to an announcement from Gov. Kay Iveys office Tuesday that his city is the only one in Dale County  and one of only three in the state  to receive a grant to provide upgrades to police equipment.

Ivey has awarded a total of nearly $68,000 to provide upgrades to police departments in Level Plains, Headland and Taylor.

The Level Plains Police Department was awarded $20,640 to replace or upgrade worn and outdated equipment. Summers said that, on behalf of his department, he is appreciative to Ivey and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell for the funds. It is a blessing to have lived in this great state my entire life and to know from the very top official in this state, that they care about the police in this state, Summers said.

The two other law enforcement agencies awarded the grant are also from the Wiregrass. The Headland Police Department was awarded $24,000 to purchase computers and printers for patrol vehicles. The Taylor Police Department was awarded $23,273 and will use the funds to purchase new weapons for officers.

Ivey awarded the grants from more than $750,000 in law-enforcement equipment funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Justice and administered by ADECA.

Gov. Ivey realizes that budgets in smaller Alabama towns do not always afford police departments the financial ability to purchase needed equipment, Boswell said. ADECA is pleased to support Gov. Ivey in awarding these grants to support our law enforcement officers.

The funds will be used to help offset the costs of upgrading equipment that needed replacing in order to ensure safety of the police officers, Summers said, adding thanks to Level Plains Mayor Ronnie Thompson, the city council and all the administrative city hall staff. Last but not least, thank you to the police serving Level Plains who put their badge on every day not knowing if they are coming home in an effort and protect and serve the citizens of Level Plains.

Everyones hard work is noticed and appreciated and continues to pay off, Summers added.
OPINION: 'Kerala Story' makes us feel conversion pangs, shames us for not doing enough to protect victims

Feature

lekhaka-Amar Bhushan

Director Sudipto Sen's movie 'The Kerala Story' has used claims of three young Hindu/Christian girls from different parts of the State to expose the dark truth behind conversion practiced by some Muslim groups and the horror victims have to live through in later years. Conversion per say is not bad. It should be an individual's choice whether to convert to marry or live together as separate entities. In fact, a large number of individuals from different religions get married and live happily without embracing religion of their spouse.

But problem arises when religious organisations and radical preachers use love, coercion, deceit, money, brainwashing, etc as part of an agenda to convert people of other faiths for taking part in terrorist activities as 'jehadis' and for changing demography. As a consequence, law enforcement agencies step in to deal with such unlawful activities and affected communities, fearing loss of their religious, cultural and political relevance, become restive leaving social harmony in tatters.

Religious conversion is happening all over India but in Kerala, enormity of the problem is glaring. It is neither new nor recent. In 1981, hundreds of oppressed caste Hindus were converted to Islam at a widely publicised mass conversion event at Meenakshipuram. Muslims run several recognised religious conversion centres like Therbiyathul Islam Sabha in Kozhikode and Markazul Hidiya at Malappuram to lure and radicalise young non-Muslim women.

Though it is generally not acknowledged, Kerala's former Congress Chief Minister Oommen Chandi admitted in 2001 that every year 2,800 to 3,200 girls get converted to Islam. A year later he was more specific with numbers. According to him, 2,667 girls were converted to Islam in 2002, of whom 2,195 were Hindus and the rest were Christians.

Makers of 'The Kerala Story' to move SC, seeking removal of ban in Bengal

Presuming that this trend has continued for last 22 years, the figure of converts to Islam by now should be in several lakhs. Another report places the figure of converts at 5,793 during 2011-15, of whom 50% were women and 76% below 35 years of age. Even V.S. Achuthanandan, the veteran CPI(M) leader, accused radical Islamic groups of tempting young girls outside their community to marry Muslims for increasing their population and trafficking them for terror organisations in gulf countries with State government support led by Congress/UDF.

A State intelligence report also confirmed rumours of a large number of girls missing who were converted, indoctrinated and taken to service Afghan, Taliban, ISIS and Al-Qaeda jehadis. Four of them (Sonia Sebastian @ Ayisha, Raffeala, Mervin [email protected] Mariyam and Nimisha @ Fatima) have since surfaced in Kabul and waiting to be deported to India after their husbands were killed in war.

Instead of showing compassion for traumatised families and chastising PFI and other groups for converting young girls to work for ISIS and as sex slaves, Jamaat Ulema-I-Hind, Congress and CPI(M) are busy contesting a non-issue - i.e. figure of conversion. Their worry is that a public discourse on the subject will cause hatred and enmity between different religious communities.

This is bizarre. The trust among communities you see on the surface is existing purely for reasons of political expediency and existential necessity. Let me explain how. The movie is not going to be screened in Kerala and Tamil Nadu because the State governments have refused to give protection to theatres. The truth is their Chief Ministers do not want to anger Muslims and lose their electoral support.

What about people of other faiths? They are too scared to risk their lives to see what they daily go through. In a State where Muslims convert Hindu and Christian girls rampantly, Christians convert Hindu girls regularly, though not so aggressively, and Hindu organisations like Arya Samajam work overtime to bring back deserters to their roost (7,500 have already come back since 1999), any talk of social harmony is dishonesty.

The situation is deeply troubling and calls for a serious public debate and creating social awareness. Movie has done its bit. The people, media and judiciary have to do the rest and not leave lives of gullible men and women in the hands of radical religious groups and vote-crazy politicians.

(Amar Bhushan worked with the Research and Analysis Wing for 24 years after briefly serving in the BSF intelligence, State Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau. He served as the Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat before he retired in 2005.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
12 dead, several hurt as bus falls into gorge on old Mumbai-Pune highway

22 killed as bus falls off bridge in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone; PM Modi expresses grief

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Twenty two people were killed and more than 20 others injured after a private bus fell from a bridge on a dry river bed in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district on Tuesday morning, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident which took place at 8.40 am, Mishra told reporters.

The incident took place at 8.40 am. The bus fell from the bridge on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village, he said.

The bus broke railings of Dasanga bridge and fell on a dry bed of the Borad river near Dongargaon village, Mishra said. The vehicle was carrying around 50 passengers when it met with the accident, a police official said.

Twenty two people were killed in the accident, Mishra said. The injured persons were admitted to the district hospital in Khargone.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the untimely demise of lives in the tragic accident.

As a gesture of support, he declared an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the deceased, Rs 50,000 for those severely injured, and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries. The state government will also cover all medical expenses for the injured individuals.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the loss of lives in the accident.

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Madhya Pradesh: 15 people lose their lives after bus falls off a bridge in Khargone | Oneindia News

''The road accident in Khargone is very saddening. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. Also, I wish speedy recovery to all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help on the spot,'' Modi was quoted as saying in a tweet by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

''An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the bus accident in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,'' he said.

After the bus fell from the bridge, some villagers rushed to the spot. They pulled out people trapped inside the bus from the windows and backside of the vehicle, as per eyewitnesses.

Locals were also seen carrying people and offering water to the harried passengers amid the hot weather, they said. Khargone Collector Shivraj Singh Verma, Superintendent of Police Dharamvir Singh and local MLA Ravi Joshi were among those who reached the spot soon after getting information about the accident. Former Union minister Arun Yadav, who belongs to Khargone, also expressed grief over the incident.
Delhi to have five dry days as 'Old Excise policy' extended for 6 months

22,270,45 litres of liquor seized in poll-bound Karnataka

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

There has been a 4.5 times increase in the number of seizures ahead of this Karnataka elections this year when compared to 2018.

The seizures have totalled more than Rs 375 crore so far. The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets with Rs 288 crore following the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission of India informed.

In a release, the Election Commission of India said that the thrust on inducement-free elections from the past few elections has continued and led to sustained efforts for election expenditure monitoring in the poll bound state of Karnataka. "The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increases as compared to the elections in 2018. Strict bible, extensive monitoring, coordination with the neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time," the poll body also said.

The commission also informed that drugs worth Rs 26.67 crore have been seized. Further the liquor seizure in terms of litres has been 22,270,45. Precious metals worth Rs 24.21 crore has also been seized the poll body said.

'Record seizures' of cash and liquor as Karnataka heads to polls

The commission also said that the extensive monitoring process began months before the announcement of the elections. The commission has also reviewed the law and order situation and inter-state vigil through border check posts in the poll bound state which votes on May 10. There was also a vidil in the neighbouring states of Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the commission said.

The notable hauls include the seizure of Rs 4.04 crore in cash in Bangarpet in Kolkar, the commission also informed through its release. Sarees and food kits have been seized from Kalaburgi, Chichmagaluru and other districts. Further huge number of pressure cookers and kitchen appliances ere also seized from several districts, the commission said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 13:44 [IST]
BJP does this for 'cheap political gains': Cong on UP making 'The Kerala Story' tax-free

India

oi-Prakash KL

By Pti

The Congress on Tuesday hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over its announcement that "The Kerala Story" will be tax-free in the state and accused the BJP of doing this for "cheap political gains".

Adityanath announced on Tuesday that the "The Kerala Story" will be tax-free in Uttar Pradesh. The announcement comes days after the Madhya Pradesh government said it will give tax-free status to the film. Also, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered an immediate ban on its screening while in Tamil Nadu, multiplexes cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday.

Replying to questions at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "It is very unfortunate for the country that such files are coming out on various states such as Gujarat, Bihar and Kerala whose purpose is to divide, incite and talk about communities. So you can make such things on all states, some states that want to main a stable ground will combat it, while some will encourage it."

"UP has made it (The Kerala Story) tax-free but you are not looking at the all India level as to what is happening to the country. You are not seeing that you are indulging in divisive politics, for cheap political gains. Every right-thinking person in public life should think about that. The BJP does this only for cheap political gains," he said.

Asked about the ban imposed by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, Singhvi said this falls in the domain of the state government and the law in question is at the state level. Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, has kicked up a political storm.
Do laws apply to PM Modi or not? Cong files complaint with EC over poll code violation

India

oi-Prakash KL

A day before the polling in 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, the Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of violating the model code of conduct.

In the complaint, the Congress has highlighted a video shared by the Prime Minister on his Twitter account and referred to the live interviews of other BJP leaders during the "silence period."

"The Election Commission of India must take immediate note of this and initiate appropriate proceedings against Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Amit Shah, Shri JP Nadda, Shri Yogi Adityanath and the BJP party," the letter written by the Congress to the EC read.

"It may be mentioned that if convicted under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, these leaders will stand disqualified from their respective membership in the Parliament as well as the legislative assembly," it added.

Sharing the complaint letter, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned whether the electoral laws do not apply to the Prime Minister.

"If Prime Minister flouts electoral laws & code of conduct for elections with impunity, brazenly and in utter disregard of #ECI directives, If Prime Minister refuses to so much even recognise the authority of Law and the ECI directives, If Prime Minister flouts the "silence period" defined in Law as inapplicable to him, If Prime Minister attempts to influence voters for electoral gains during the prohibited period, Should the ECI remain a mute and helpless spectator or act on its Constitutional Duty under Article 324 of the Constitution of India?" he wrote on Twitter.

Calling it a "litmus test" for the EC, Surjewala said, "Our Complaint to ECI on flagrant and defiant violations by Prime Minister Modi urging them to take action or be historically remembered for inaction and diluting the authority of ECI forever," he said.

If Prime Minister flouts electoral laws & code of conduct for elections with impunity, brazenly and in utter disregard of #ECI directives,



If Prime Minister refuses to so much even recognise the authority of Law and the ECI directives,



If Prime Minister flouts the silence pic.twitter.com/sBG6YYdpSz  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 9, 2023

PM Modi's Video

In a "message to the voters" of Karnataka, the PM in the video said, "You have always showered me with love and affection. It feels like a divine blessing to me. 'Ee Baariya Nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara" this call of the people of Karnataka is still echoing in my ears.

In our Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal, we Indians have aimed to make our beloved country a developed nation. Karnataka is keen to lead the movement to realise this vision. India is the world's fifth-largest economy. Our next aim is to reach the top three. This is possible only when Karnataka rapidly grows to become a $1 trillion economy. You have witnessed the work of the Double Engine BJP government over the last 3.5 years. Our decisive, focused and futuristic policies are imparting momentum to the growth of Karnataka's economy."

The Prime Minister stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Karnataka has received over Rs 90,000 crore annually as foreign investment under the BJP government. He pointed out that it was just around Rs 30,000 crore under the previous government. "This shows the BJP's commitment to Karnataka's progress and to a bright future for the youth," he added.
'Hang 'The Kerala Story' producer': NCP MLA

India

oi-Prakash KL

A NCP leader has triggered a controversy by saying that the producer of controversial film 'The Kerala Story' should be hanged.

"Under the name of 'The Kerala Story', a state and its women were defamed. The official figure of three was projected as 32,000. The person who produced this fictional movie should be hanged in public," ANI quoted NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad as saying.

His statement comes at a time when the West Bengal government has announced that it is banning the movie to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence."

The West Bengal government on Monday announced that the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story' is being banned in the state to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence", ANI reported.

Producers Guild of India objects to state-enforced ban on 'The Kerala Story'

Whereas the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have given tax-exemption for the flick revolves around 3 women who are converted and then sold off as sex slaves to the Islamic State.

Even the screening of the flick in Tamil Nadu has been cancelled from Sunday.

As his comments raised eyebrows, he has withdrawn his remarks.

"I take my statement back, it was an emotional outburst. I didn't mean it. The lies and propaganda are hurting the sentiments of the people of the nation. A man creates fiction and wants some controversy to make his movie hit. The official data is three and he has mentioned 32,000 in the movie. It is maligning the image of one of the best states in India. The movie will create havoc in another 15 days in the country," Awhad told Republic TV.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to list a challenge to the Kerala High Court order that refused to stay the release of the movie.

Days ago, the Kerala High Court refused to stay the release of the film 'The Kerala Story', saying "there is no allegation against the Islam religion."

OPINION: 'Kerala Story' makes us feel conversion pangs, shames us for not doing enough to protect victims

Division Bench comprising Justice N Nagaresh and Justice Mohammed Nias CP had considered a batch of petitions seeking to cancel the censor certificate of the film. After watching the teaser and the trailer of the controversial flick, it said that the movie does not contain anything against Islam or Muslims, according to a report in Bar and Bench website.

"What is against Islam? There is no allegation against the religion. The allegation is against ISIS," the bench said. "Going through the trailers of the movie, we find it does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. None of the petitioners have watched movie," it stated in the order.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 15:26 [IST]
Karnataka set for battle royale as high-octane poll campaign ends

India

oi-Deepika S

The high-voltage campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly election has finally come to an end with all three major political parties - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) - making their last-ditch efforts to woo the voters.

While the ruling BJP has been striving to break the 38-year-old pattern of alternating governments and retain its only southern citadel, Congress is working hard to wrest power back from the saffron party. JDS has put all its might into the campaigning, wanting to emerge as the king, and not kingmaker, by forming government on its own.

BJP's campaign seemed largely dependent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma and 'double-engine' government, while Congress campaign veered around local issues. However, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently.

22,270,45 litres of liquor seized in poll-bound Karnataka

On its part, JDS ran a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.

PM Modi led the BJP campaign with 19 mega public meetings and six roadshows, canvassing votes for BJP candidates across the State with the poll slogan 'Ee Baariya Nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara'. And going by the massive attendance in his rallies, 'Modi magic' seems to be working for the party.

The Prime Minister had visited the State seven times since January to unveil several government schemes and projects and had addressed numerous beneficiary meetings. BJP believes that PM Modi's election rallies will bolster its campaign in a big way and would help the party script history in the polls.

Key BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, Yogi Adityanath and J.P. Nadda, have held a total of 206 public meetings and 90 roadshows, while its State leaders have held 231 public meetings and 48 road shows.

PM Modi and other BJP leaders turned Opposition barbs at him, like Kharge's 'venomous snake' remark, into a successful campaign issue to capitalise on public sentiment towards the PM. It's a well-known fact that people's love for Modi goes beyond electoral politics anywhere in the country.

Congress promise in its manifesto for a ban on Hindutva outfit Bajrang Dal gave fresh ammo to BJP to counter the grand old party by trying to brand it ''anti-Hindu'' and as against Bajarangbali, one of the Hindu's most revered god Hanuman. The move seems to have backfired as BJP has successfully made it a poll plank.

For Congress, a win in Karnataka would be a morale booster amid a decade-long all-round defeats. It is key to reviving its fortunes and positioning itself as the main Opposition player amongst a plethora of regional claimants ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This election is also a litmus test for Congress national president Kharge, who hails from Kalaburagi district. Interestingly, the party has set a high target of winning 150 seats. Its central and top State leaders have held 99 public meetings and 33 roadshows till the end of campaigning.

Muslim quota in Karnataka: SC says no political statement should be made on issue

The Congress campaign mainly focussed on corruption/scams and the 40 per cent commission charge against the BJP government, coupled with the Adani issue. It also highlighted its five key poll 'guarantees' and charged the BJP government of having "failed in fulfilling 90 per cent of its promises" made in its 2018 manifesto.

Hit by desertions as well as internal and family rifts, Kumaraswamy has single-handedly managed the JDS campaign across the State, with his aging father taking the back seat. The JDS campaign mostly focussed on 'Pancharatna' that plans to implement upon coming to power.

It includes quality education, health care, housing, farmer welfare, and employment. Also, Kumaraswamy tried to invoke regional pride and Kannadiga identity in his campaigning, along with issues related to the welfare of farmers and the poor to woo the voters.

Both the national parties - BJP and Congress - have accused the JDS as the 'B-team' of the other, but the regional party is eyeing to get 35-40 seats to play a crucial role in government formation in case of a hung Assembly.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 15:53 [IST]
OPINION: 'Kerala Story' makes us feel conversion pangs, shames us for not doing enough to protect victims

Makers of 'The Kerala Story' to move SC, seeking removal of ban in Bengal

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The makers of 'The Kerala Story' have approached the Supreme Court seeking the lifting of the ban on the film in West Bengal. In addition, they have requested the Tamil Nadu government to provide security to theaters screening the movie throughout the state.

On Monday, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, imposed an immediate ban on the controversial film to prevent any incident of hatred and violence. This makes West Bengal the first state to ban the film.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur expressed his confusion over the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief's sympathies being with terror organizations rather than innocent girls from Kerala. Thakur also watched the film at a cinema hall in Delhi.

The movie 'The Kerala Story' depicts the harrowing experiences of three women who are sold as sex slaves to the Islamic State in Afghanistan. Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen, the film has elicited strong reactions from different quarters, with some calling for its ban. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has denounced the movie as propaganda by the RSS.

'You didnt do right, The Kerala Story crew member gets threat message

The film is based on the NIA's investigation into the conversion of Nimisha and Sonia Sebastin, as well as the case filed against 24 people who left Kerala to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan. However, controversy erupted when the film claimed that 32,000 girls from Kerala were forcibly converted and sold to the Islamic State.

Due to the controversy, the West Bengal government has banned the movie in the state. However, Shah has stated that he will pursue legal remedies to challenge the ban on his film. "If the state government refuses to listen to us, we will explore legal options. However, our actions will be based on legal advice," Shah told news agency ANI.

The lead roles in 'The Kerala Story' are played by Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani.
NIA raids continue across several locations in Jammu and Kashmir

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The National Investigation Agency is continuing with its raids across several locations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The raids pertain to the criminal conspiracy hatched by terror groups operation under various pseudo-names, at the behest of Pakistan's ISI. The raids are taking place in Anantnag, Srinagar, Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara and Kishtwar.

The raids also are taking place in the backdrop of the Rajouri and Poonch attacks by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba in which 10 Army jawans lost their lives.

Weeks after Poonch attack, NIA raids in J&K

Earlier this month the NIA conducted raids in Jammu and Kashmir in a case related to the separatist and secessionist activities of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).

The JeI has been carrying out terror funding activities in Jammu and Kashmir even after it was declared an unlawful association. The NIA carried out searches at the premises of the JeI at 16 locations, including 11 in District Baramulla in Kashmir valley and the remaining 5 located in District Kishtwar in Jammu region. Several incriminating materials and digital devices were seized during the searches and were being examined for more clues in the case.

NIA investigations so far have revealed that JeI (J&K) members had been collecting funds domestically and from abroad through donations, particularly in the form of zakat, mowda and bait-ul-mal, as well as for purported charitable purposes, such as promotion of education and health. The funds were, instead, being used for violent and secessionist activities in J&K. They were also being channelled to proscribed terrorist organisations, such as Hizb- ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and others through well organised networks of JeI cadres, an NIA note said.

Further, as per the investigations, JeI was also engaged in motivating impressionable youth of Kashmir and recruiting new members (Rukuns) in J&K for carrying out violent, disruptive and secessionist activities.

NIA scanner on foreign terrorists involved in Poonch attack: Sources

Previous investigations by the NIA had revealed that one of the four arrested accused, identified as Javaid Ahmad Lone, had been soliciting funds and organising meetings in the name of JeI, J&K. He had been delivering hateful anti-India speeches and exhorting people to make donations at these meetings. Along with Aadil Ahmad Lone, he had also acquired firearms and ammunition with ulterior motives from the other two accused, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Dar and Rameez Ahmad Kondu, the NIA note also read.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 9:33 [IST]
NIA raids continue across several locations in Jammu and Kashmir

PFIs Madurai district president detained by NIA

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The National Investigation Agency has detained the Madurai Regional President of the banned organisation, Popular Front of India.

The arrested person has been identified as Mohammad Qaiser. He was arrested from Pazhani in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, sources tell OneIndia.

The NIA has been conducting raids across various locations and cracking down on members of the PFI.

NIA raids continue across several locations in Jammu and Kashmir

The NIA is conducting raids at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with the PFI. Raids are taking place in Chennai and 10 other districts. Raids are also underway in Madurai, Theni, Coimbatore and Trichy, sources said.

The source also added that a top leader of the SDPI, the political wing of the PFI is also being raided. Over 8 places linked to the leaders of the PFI are being raided, an official also said.

This is part of the ongoing action against the PFI, following its ban in September 2022. The Union Home Ministry had banned the PFI under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

BJP slams Congress' Karnataka manifesto for equating Bajrang Dal to PFI

Last week the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducted raids in Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad and other cities across Uttar Pradesh.

During the raids, two accused identified as Parvez Ahmed and Rais Ahmed carrying a bounty of Rs 50,000 each were arrested from Varanasi, a press note read. The note further added that 70 persons have been detained for their alleged links with the PFI.
The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 31st annual national food drive on Saturday, May 13. Letter Carriers will join forces with community leaders and others to help fight hunger in Dallas and throughout the country. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the countrys largest single-day food drive, provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need in the community.

To participate in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 13. Your letter carrier will take care of the rest.

Life can deal ordinary hard working people very difficult hands. Millions of Americans live in challenging situations, uncertain of where their next meal will come from or if it will come at all. Theyre our customers, our neighbors, our families. They include children and seniors we see along our routes every day. Some household members may have lost a job, are facing a serious medical condition, or are dealing with an unexpected responsibility of caring for grandchildren. Sadly, one in five households needing help with food is home to a military veteran. So often, this food drive makes a positive difference for them.

With over 30 years of letter carriers commitment to the national food drive and over 1.82 billion pounds of food collected, our communities are still in need across the country. On May 13, join your letter carrier in the challenge to end hunger by placing a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox.

Post offices will be collecting food items all across the country to be donated to local pantries in their communities. Volunteers then sort through donated items to distribute them back out to the community to help feed families in need.
'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri sends legal notice to Mamata for defamatory remark

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Vivek Agnihotri, director of the 2022 blockbuster film 'The Kashmir Files', sent a legal notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding her comments on the movie. Agnihotri claimed that Banerjee had referred to his upcoming film about the Bengal genocide and 'The Kashmir Files' as propaganda and alleged that the BJP funds him. "We have sent a legal notice to CM Mamata Banerjee against the statements she made," Agnihotri told ANI.

Agnihotri also stated that he has been facing difficulties in the past year due to politicians, journalists, and fact-checkers trying to silence him. He cited an instance where his daughter's picture was circulated by fact-checkers after they lifted it from her Instagram profile.

Released in 2022, 'The Kashmir Files' depicted the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in 1990 and sparked controversy upon its release. Critics of the film claimed that it had a communal agenda.

Would be happy if BJPs downfall starts with Karnataka Assembly polls: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee had recently banned Sudipto Sen's 'The Kerala Story' in Bengal and criticised 'The Kashmir Files,' claiming that it was intended to humiliate one section of society. Banerjee also suggested that the BJP was funding the film and that the CPI(M) was working with the BJP.

The Bengal government's decision to ban 'The Kerala Story' has resulted in a political battle between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP has accused the TMC of supporting terrorism and claimed that the film was against terrorism and ISIS.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 15:31 [IST]
Two years since anti-conversion law: UP govt registers 297 cases against 507 accused

Allahabad HC orders conduct of urban local body elections in UP without OBC reservation

PFI-Nepal Islami Sangh and the danger of Madrasas along Indo-Nepal border

SC orders release of UP Secys taken into custody in contempt case

'The Kerala Story' declared tax-free in UP

India

oi-Deepika S

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced that the controversial movie 'The Kerala Story' will be tax-free in the state.

"'The Kerala Story' will be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh," Yogi Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi. Yogi Adityanath is expected to watch the movie with his cabinet colleagues at a special screening.

'The Kerala Story' had run into controversy with petitions being filed in several courts including in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on its release. However, the courts have refused to ban the flick.

The story revolves around several women being converted and then sold off as sex slaves to the Islamic State.

The plot follows the story of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and later forced to join terror group ISIS. The filmmakers claim that the movie is a compilation of true stories of three young girls from different parts of Kerala.

The numbers have become a subject of debate as the film directed by Sudipto Sen claims that 32,000 women from Kerala were sold off as sex slaves.

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The Kerala Story to be declared tax-free in UP, CM Yogi Adityanath announces| Oneindia News

On May 6, Madhya Pradesh government had declared the movie tax-free in the state.

Bengal bans film

The West Bengal has issued a ban on the film 'The Kerala Story,' citing the need to maintain peace and prevent incidents of hatred and violence in the state.

This decision makes West Bengal the first state to impose a ban on the film, which portrays the harrowing journey of three women trafficked to ISIS camps after being forcibly converted to Islam through marriage.

The Kerala Story has hit the big screens on May 5.
US President Biden to meet PM Modi in Papua New Guinea later this month

India

oi-Prakash KL

US President Joe Biden will be meeting PM Narendra Modi later this month as the two leaders will join Pacific Islands leaders meet for a "historic" future-oriented meeting, The White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will make a historic stop in Papua New Guinea while travelling from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, Japan to the Quad Leaders' Summit in Sydney, Australia later this month. While in Papua New Guinea, President Biden will meet with Prime Minister Marape of Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island Forum leaders to follow up on the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Island Summit in Washington, DC last fall," the statement said.

The leaders will discuss ways to deepen cooperation on challenges critical to the region and to the United States such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth, the press release stated.

"As a Pacific nation, the United States has deep historical and people-to-people ties with the Pacific Islands, and this visit - the first time a sitting U.S. President has visited a Pacific Island country - further reinforces this critical partnership," it added.

Biden's visit 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, Reuters reported.
You didnt do right, The Kerala Story crew member gets threat message

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A crew member of The Kerala Story has received a death threat, claimed Sudipto Sen, the director of the movie.

Sen told the police that one of the crew members was asked not to step out of the house alone. He also said that the unknown person had also said that the makers did not do a good thing by making the movie.

Meanwhile the police have provided security to the crew member. However an FIR has not yet been registered following the complaint. The police is however yet to receive a written complaint in the case.

'The Kerala Story' declared tax-free in UP

The Kerala Story narrates the ordeal of three women who are sold off as sex slaves to the Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Sudipto Sen, the movie has evoked sharp reactions so far. There is a section that has sought a ban on the film. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the movie is propaganda by the RSS.

The movie is based on the case filed by the NIA which deals with the conversion of Nimisha and Sonia Sebastin. The NIA had filed a case and is investigating the same after 24 persons left Kerala to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan.

A controversy had however erupted after the movie had claimed that 32,000 girls from Kerala were forcibly converted and sold off to the Islamic State.

Owing to the controversy, the West Bengal government has banned the move in the state. Shah said that he would pursue legal remedies to challenge the ban on his film.

Entire state machinery bows down before one person: 'The Kerala Story' producer slams TN govt

"If state government won't listen to us, we will explore legal avenues. However, whatever course we take will be based on legal advice," Shah told news agency ANI.

The Kerala Story stars, Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in lead roles.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 10:02 [IST]
23-year-old woman returns from Canada to marry boyfriend, he murders, buries her in Sonipat

Indian-origin man arrested for yelling slurs at worshippers at mosque in Canada

Canada expels top Chinese diplomat as ties between two nations worsens

International

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

On Monday Canada announced the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat who has been accused of seeking to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing.

This development has worsened the ties between the two nations.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement declaring the diplomat persona non grata said, " we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs."

"We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," she added.

The move has aggravated the already strained ties between the two countries. China has said that the decision was based on 'groundless' allegations.

Avoid non-essential travel to Manipur: Canada tells its citizens

China said that it had filed an official protest against the decision and also added that it breached international law and diplomatic norms. Beijing also accused Canada of deliberately undermining relations with its second largest trading partner.

According to reports Zhao Wei, an official at the Chinese consulate in Toronto was asked to leave Canada within five days.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been under immense pressure to take a hardline with China following revelations in recent months that it sought to sway the elections in Canada.

Genevieve Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa said, "there was a real political risk for the Trudeau government in this affair, which is taking a gamble by showing its muscles in this way."

The relations between the two nations have been tense since Canada's arrest in 2018 of a top Huawei executive and the detention of two Canadian nationals in China in an apparent retaliation.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 9:02 [IST]
Pakistan descends into chaos as ex-PM Imran Khan is indicted in Toshakhana case

Events in Pakistan show public has said enough is enough to the army

It Is A Black Chapter Says Pakistan Army As Country Descends Into Chaos

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested in corruption case

International

oi-Deepika S

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested outside the Islamabad High Court by a paramilitary force, local GEO TV reported on Tuesday.

The former prime minister was in court to renew his bail when the Rangers made the arrest on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)'s request.

"There is no case on me. They want to put me in jail, I am ready for it," said Imran Khan minutes before his arrest.

Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was taken into custody In the Qadir Trust case which concerns allegations that Bahria Town allotted land worth Rs 530 million to Al-Qadir Trust, owned by the PTI chairman and his wife, according to Dawn.

            !!#____ pic.twitter.com/A2pZk8vLfe  PTI (@PTIofficial) May 9, 2023

Former information minister and PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that the court has been occupied by the Rangers and lawyers are being subjected to torture.

"Former PM Imran Khan has been abducted from Court premises, scores of lawyers and general people have been tortured, Imran Khan has been whisked away by unknown people to an unknown location, CJ Islamabad High Court has ordered secretary interior and IG police to appear within 15 minutes in the court," tweeted Fawad Chaudhry.

Another PTI leader Azhar Mashwani alleged that 70-year-old Khan had been abducted from inside the court by the Rangers.

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He said that the party had given an immediate call for staging protests in the country.

"They are torturing Imran Khan right now...they are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib," Cheema said in a video message posted on the party's Twitter handle.

The PTI alleged that Khan was being tortured but it was not confirmed independently.

"State terrorism breaking into IHC premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan and abducted him," tweeted former minister Shireen Mazari, a PTI spokeswoman.

What laws? Courts attacked by Rangers as if invading an occupied land - lawyers & IHC staff also beaten. This is Pakistan today - a fascist State where High Court has been attacked by paramilitary forces. pic.twitter.com/jJkBmCVO0g  Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 9, 2023

"What laws? Courts attacked by Rangers as if invading an occupied land - lawyers and IHC staff also beaten. This is Pakistan today, a fascist State where High Court has been attacked by paramilitary forces," he added.

The arrest comes a day after the powerful army had accused Khan of levelling baseless allegations against a senior army officer.

Khan has been facing a slew of cases since his ouster through a no trust vote in April last year. He has rejected all these cases as political victimisation by the ruling alliance.

with agency inputs
Events in Pakistan show public has said enough is enough to the army

It Is A Black Chapter Says Pakistan Army As Country Descends Into Chaos

Imran Khan arrested: What is Al-Qadir Trust case all about?

International

oi-Prakash KL

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday by paramilitary Rangers in connection with Al-Qadir Trust Case.

"Khan has been arrested in a land transfer case to property tycoon Malik Riaz and is being handed over to National Accountability Bureau (NAB)", a NAB official confirmed to PTI. The arrest warrant, which was issued on May 1, showed that he was accused of corruption and corrupt practice.

So, what is the case all about?

The case is about the setting up of Al-Qadir University for the Sufism Sohawa area of the Jhelum district of Punjab.

Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and close associates Zulfiqar Bukhari and Babar Awan, established the Al-Qadir Project Trust. They created the trust with the objective of delivering "quality education" in the Sohawa Tehsil of Punjab's Jhelum district.

In 2019, Khan's wife signed a memorandum with real estate giant Bahria Town Limited to receive donations. As part of the deal, Bahria Town donated 458 kanals, 4 marlas, and 58 square feet of land to the trust.

The Allegations

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had accused Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi of accepting Rs 5 billion and hundreds of kanals of land from Bahria Town in return for "providing protection" to the real estate firm in a money laundering case during the PTI government.

He had claimed that the said company had "illegally transferred" Rs 50 billion to a Pakistani national in the UK and this was discovered by the UK's National Crime Agency, which then alerted the PTI government about the offence.

Imran Khan had then asked his aide Shehzad Akbar to resolve the matter and the entire issue was settled after the ex-PM was paid Rs 5 billion as his share and Rs 50 billion - which was state property and belonged to the national treasury - was adjusted against Bahria Town's liability, the minister had alleged.

The Interior Minister states that Imran Khan transferred 240 kanals of this donated land to his close friend Farah Gogi. He has also accused the value of the land was underestimated as the former Pakistan Prime Minister received his share in the name of a university.

"The case did not just end here. Bahria Town, after its Rs50bn was protected by the government, entered an agreement and allotted a 458-kanal land with an on-paper value of Rs530 million to a trust owned by Imran and his wife," he accused.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 19:18 [IST]
Imran Khan faces over 120 cases across Pakistan

International

oi-PTI

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who was arrested by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday, is facing 121 cases across the country, including for committing treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism.

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by 70-year-old Khan recently submitted a list of cases to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Imran Khan arrest: Section 144 imposed in Islamabad as PTI workers stage protests

The list states that 31 cases have been registered against Khan in the federal capital and 30 cases and call-up notices have been issued in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

These cases are related to various charges like treason, blasphemy, committing and inciting violence and terrorism. According to the list, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against Imran in Lahore and 14 cases have been registered in Faisalabad. Some 22 terrorism cases have been registered against Imran Khan across the country.

An Islamabad court is set to indict him on May 10 in a case in which he allegedly hid the proceeds from the sale of state gifts. On November 19 last year, the National Accountability Bureau had taken notice of the alleged non-disclosure of the actual value of gifts received by the former prime minister, his wife, and other cabinet members.

Sources privy to the matter said that there was a discrepancy between the actual value of the gifts received by the former prime minister and the sale.

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The inquiry proceedings have revealed that during Khan's tenure as premier, he retained some state gifts presented to him by various foreign dignitaries. The corruption case for whose hearing he was present at the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday is not included in the list.

Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan as saying that Imran had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that Khan and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising Rs 50 billion.

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested in corruption case

The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, are facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals (23.16 hectares) of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.

Imran Khan had previously said more than 140 cases have been filed against him around the country since his ouster as premier last year. PTI chief Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan. Khan, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 17:14 [IST]
Imran Khan arrested: Protests break out in Pakistan, internet service suspended

International

pti-PTI

In unprecedented scenes, supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday stormed the Pakistan Army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander's residence in Lahore after his dramatic arrest in a corruption case.

Photo Credit:

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the Islamabad High Court when the paramilitary Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff. The arrest of the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman comes a day after the powerful army accused him of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI.

As the news of his arrest by the Rangers spread, massive protests broke out in several cities across Pakistan. Protesters at several places turned violent and burned police vehicles and damaged public property. The Rangers, which operate under the Interior Ministry, are usually commanded by officers on secondment from the army. For the first time, Khan's supporters smashed the main gate of the army's sprawling headquarters in Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint.

Pakistan Army Headquarter in Rawalpindi blocked by Imran Khans supporters- A lone woman shakes the gate of Pakistans real power! pic.twitter.com/ty1lAlgE4h  Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) May 9, 2023

The protesters chanted slogans against the establishment. In Lahore, a large number of PTI workers stormed into the Corps Commander Lahore residence and smashed the gate and window-panes. The army personnel present on duty there, however, did not try to stop the enraged protesters who surrounded them and chanted slogans against the 'handlers' of the PML-N led government in the military establishment.

The protesters held a demonstration in the Cantonment area. Lahore was virtually cut off from the rest of the province because of the protest on main roads including the entry and exit points. The caretaker Punjab government called the Rangers to control the law-and-order situation in the most populous province and imposed section 144 under which not more than five people can gather at one point.

According to the Home Department, the ban on gatherings will remain in place for two days. The Punjab government also requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to suspend Internet and mobile services in the areas of the province where violent protests took place. Violent protests also spread to Karachi and Hyderabad in Sindh province and Balochistan's Quetta where PTI protesters assembled outside Army cantonment areas.

In Pakistan after Imran Khan arrest, unruly mob burnt major military sites. Protestors enter many Corps Commander including GHQ Rawalpindi. Civil war in Pakistan. This is the only outcome of military intervention in the politics of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/UPgRJTU3M4  Mohd. Ishaq Chowdhary (@IshaqMChowdhary) May 9, 2023

A spokesman of the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Wasim Baig, confirmed they had received the body of a man with gunshot wounds. "The dead body was brought from the airport road where protests have been taking place since afternoon," he said, adding that several protesters and policemen with injuries were also brought to the hospital. People confirmed that internet and mobile services had been blocked by authorities as PTI workers and leaders took to social media to spread the protests.

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In Karachi, protesters blocked both sides of the main Shahrah-e-Faisal road which remained closed to traffic as police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling and baton charge in which people from both sides were injured.

"The people are coming onto the streets by themselves as the party leadership had made it clear arresting our chairman would be crossing the red line," PTI leader Alamgir Aurangzeb said.

Senior PTI leaders including Members of the National Assembly and Members of the Provincial Assembly were present at the protests. Not only the Shahrah-e-Faisal but violent protests and clashes with police have also been reported from at least six to seven different areas of Karachi including Sohrab Goth which connects the city to upcountry and rural areas.

Protesters have blocked the roads and set police barricades on fire. Angry protesters also broke windows and damaged public transport buses and set on fire a water board vehicle in Golimar area. The significant presence of PTI women supporters was visible at the protests in Karachi and Hyderabad where protesters threw away police barricades and set them on fire. "We are not living in the 70s or 90s Pakistan. Until our leader is released and dates for general elections are announced we will carry on protesting anywhere at any time as the peoplae have had enough now," Zehra Mashidi, a protester on Shahrah e Faisal, said.

Police arrested the President of PTI in Sindh and former minister Ali Zaidi and other local leaders and took them to unknown locations. Murad Saeed, a senior PTI leader, tweeted that people should continue their protests. A senior police official confirmed that the situation in Karachi was getting bad as more and more people including women and senior citizens were joining protests in different areas.

In Peshawar, Khan's supporters set a monument of the Chaghi Mountain inside the premises of the Peshawar Radio Station on fire. The Chaghi mountain model was set up in the commemoration of Pakistan becoming a nuclear power in 1998. The Peshawar cantonment and roads leading to Corps Headquarters and house of Corps Commander in Peshawar were sealed. A large number of PTI workers also pelted stones at the residence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in Faisalabad city. Similarly, protests were held in Multan, Jhang, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Khanewal, Vehari, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Gujrat cities.
As Pakistan descends further into chaos, experts see no hope

Pakistan descends into chaos as ex-PM Imran Khan is indicted in Toshakhana case

Events in Pakistan show public has said enough is enough to the army

It Is A Black Chapter Says Pakistan Army As Country Descends Into Chaos

Ready to die than live under these duffers: Imran Khan before his arrest

International

oi-Deepika S

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday asserted that he was ready to be jailed and insisted that there was no case against him.

Imran Khan alleged that the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition was trying to arrest him to prevent him from campaigning for elections and from mobilising the masses if the government refuse to obey the Supreme Court and violate Constitution on holding elections.

"There is no case on me. They want to put me in jail, I am ready for it," Imran Khan said hours before his arrest.

"My reply to ISPR and attempts by PDM and their handlers to arrest me for two reasons: 1. To prevent me from campaigning because InshaAllah when elections are announced I will be doing jalsas. 2. To prevent me from mobilising the masses for street movement in support of Constitution if PDM govt and their handlers refuse to obey the SC and violate Constitution on holding of elections (sic)," tweeted Imran Khan.

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Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested by rangers from Islamabad High Court | Oneindia News

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested in corruption case

Khan was arrested by paramilitary forces from Islamabad High Court premises in a corruption case.

Videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes outside the court as hundreds of PTI supporters clashed with security officers.

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Story first published: Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 16:31 [IST]
MONTGOMERY  Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a total of nearly $68,000 to provide upgrades to police departments in Level Plains, Headland and Taylor.

The grants will be used to purchase a variety of equipment for those police departments. Ivey awarded the grants from more than $750,000 in law-enforcement equipment funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Justice and administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

In order for law enforcement to successfully keep watch over our communities, they must be well equipped to track and respond to threats as they arise, Ivey said. These grant funds will ensure local law enforcement have the tools they need to better protect the public.

The Headland Police Department was awarded $24,000 to purchase computers and printers for patrol vehicles.

The Level Plains Police Department was awarded $20,640 to replace or upgrade worn and outdated equipment.

The Taylor Police Department was awarded $23,273 and will use the funds to purchase new weapons for officers.

Gov. Ivey realizes that budgets in smaller Alabama towns do not always afford police departments the financial ability to purchase needed equipment, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. ADECA is pleased to support Gov. Ivey in awarding these grants to support our law enforcement officers.

ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
Canada sent the envoy home, saying it would not tolerate foreign interference. That prompted a swift response from Chinas embassy.
A Melbourne woman born with a heart defect has defied the odds, becoming pregnant with her second child.
By John and Nisha Whitehead



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The New York court, however, found that the former US president did not rape the prominent writer in the lingerie dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg. His speech comes as lawmakers celebrate the lasting peace between European Union members that followed the end of World War II in 1945.
German Chancellor Scholz called for "an enlarged and reformed" European Union that is more "geopolitical" in outlook and actions. His speech came as lawmakers celebrate the post-WWII peace among European Union members.
Germany's state governments are demanding more money to support the growing numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. But will Chancellor Olaf Scholz give in?
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8, following European tradition, instead of on May 9, following Soviet tradition. Most Ukrainians support the move.
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Five bedrooms and generous storage space make the Endsleigh floorplan a perfect match for a big or growing family. Not only does the Endsleigh have an impressive great room, it also includes a spacious kitchen with its own convenient breakfast area. The beautiful granite countertops and gleaming cabinets complete the sophisticated look, while the large island in the middle provides room for preparation and entertaining as it is open to the great room. This floor plan features a foyer entrance and flex room that can be used as a formal dining room or office space. The huge master bedroom is located accessibly on the first floor where it connects to a master bathroom complete with separate shower and garden tub along with a double vanity. The master bath then connects to the great walk in closet that is conveniently located near the sizeable laundry room with plenty of space for a washer and dryer along with other cleaning or laundry supplies. A two car garage completes the first floor. Up the staircase to the second floor there is a common area loft that could be used as a sitting or playroom. Bedrooms two, three, and four include huge walk in closets, while the fifth bedroom still has a large closet with plenty of space for clothes, shoes, and more. Two full bathrooms complete the second floor. The Endsleigh is a modern and thoughtful floorplan that caters to privacy and togetherness all in one great house.

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ENTERPRISE  The request of an Enterprise 18-year-old charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of his father for bond remains in the hands of a Coffee County District Judge.

After a one- and one-half hour hearing before District Judge Josh Wilson at the Coffee County Courthouse in Enterprise Monday afternoon, Wilson told Ethan Stuckey that his request for bond is being taken under advisement.

Stuckey has been held in Coffee County Jail on no bond since he was extradited from Colorado where he had been in Colorado Springs Jail since his April 8 arrest by members of the Colorado Springs Fugitive Task Force Police Department and the Alabama Fugitive Task Force in connection with the shooting death of his father Russell Stuckey, 42, who was found shot seven times in a home in the 300 block of Daleville Avenue in Enterprise on Good Friday

The elder Stuckey was found dead at about 6 p.m. April 7 by the Enterprise Fire Department during its response to the call of a gas leak at the home, Enterprise Police Lt. Mark Anderson told the court Monday.

Anderson said that a co-worker of the younger Stuckey had reported to the police the smell of gas when he went to the Daleville Avenue residence to check on his co-worker that he had not been able to contact for a couple of days.

Responding firefighters called police when they discovered the elder Stuckey dead from seven gunshots to the back and side in the home, Anderson said.

Anderson said that initial investigation revealed bullets and casing from a 9-millimeter gun on the floor and a total of seven bullet holes in two nearby walls. All four of the burners on the gas stove were open and emitting gas. Marijuana was found burning in a smoking pipe near the gas burners, Anderson said.

Anderson said that an electrician called to the house discovered that the electrical wiring under the house was cut, apparently deliberately. The house appeared to have been rigged to blow up, Anderson said.

Pings off of Ethan Stuckeys cellphone revealed that he was in Kansas at noon and Colorado Springs by about 9:45 p.m. that same day, Anderson said. Russell Stuckeys cellphone had been found in the median of the roadway near Mayberry subdivision in New Brockton at about 7 a.m. the same morning. Anderson told the court that he believed that it had been thrown out with car window by Ethan Stuckey as he drove out of town to Colorado Springs.

Enterprise Police Officer Amber Darbro and EPD Detective Will Ezell had been sent to Colorado Springs to collect evidence from the car Ethan Stuckey had been driving. They found Russell Stuckeys wallet, the weapon that had been used to kill Russell Stuckey, an AK47, and a bulletproof vest, Darbro said.

Darbro told the court that Ethan Stuckey told Colorado Springs law officers that he had seen his father dead on the floor of the Daleville Avenue home before he left town. Darbro said that he later told his mother during a phone call, recorded by police, from the Colorado Springs Jail that he had killed his father in self-defense.

Twelfth Judicial Circuit District Attorney James Tarbox told the court that Ethan Stuckey was out on bond for a 2021 charge of shooting at a police officer in Conecuh County when this most recent shooting death occurred. He said that Ethan Stuckey had shot at the law officer during a traffic stop, before speeding away.

An overreach is what Stuckeys attorney Lee Knowles called keeping an 18-year-old in jail without bond until a trial that could possibly take up to 18 months to be held. He was just 16 at the time, was Knowles response to Tarboxs report to the court of the two-year-old charge of shooting at a law officer.
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In Australia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy, accounting for around 98 per cent of all businesses.

As such, the annual budget announcement is always highly anticipated by SMEs, as it can significantly impact their operations and bottom line. The Budget 2023 has recently been released, and SMEs are taking note of the implications it has for their businesses. This years budget has received a lot of attention from small business owners due to economic uncertainties. Our experts look at the hits and misses for SMEs in the Budget 2023.

Hit on the funding initiatives

According to AIIA CEO Simon Bush, the 2023/24 budget has included crucial funding for several policy priorities that the AIIA has been advocating for. One of these is the Future Made in Australia Office, which has received $18.1 million in funding.

Bush has also praised the governments efforts to improve procurement processes so that more Australian companies, including SMEs, can access the governments $8 billion+ in ICT each year. The budget has a welcome investment in a number of areas around cyber security uplift, which is vital for our economy, including SMEs and funding to target scams and regulation around data breaches.

The budget importantly makes good on promises to change migration and skills settings so that high-demanddigital jobs and training is funded and supported, including assisting post-study work rights for Temporary Graduate Visa holders for in-demand skills and key sectors that the AIIA has been advocating.

The AIIA welcomes the establishment of the $392m industry growth program aligned to early-stage commercialisation and the NRF priority areas. Whilst not all the funding is new, a significant component is and in particular, the increased grant allocation available to start-ups and SMEs of up to $5 million is welcomed to boost commercialisation of critical tech start-ups in Australia.

Missed opportunity to support local food producers

According to Bianca Tarrant, co-founder of Our Cow, the Australian government missed an opportunity to address one of the biggest issues triggering the cost of living in the country. The Government was clearly focused on delivering cost-of-living relief with this Budget, but it has missed an opportunity to address one of the biggest issues triggering it  the increasing costs associated with producing food in this country, said Tarrant.

Tarrant mentioned the significant increase in prices of electricity, fuel, fertiliser, and animal feed in the last 12 months, which resulted in a rise in the cost of food. This puts local producers at a disadvantage when competing for the shopping baskets of Australians.

While the Small Business Energy Incentive will go someway to help, were disappointed we didnt see spending to support local farmers and the businesses that support them in this Budget, she said.

Tarrant expressed her disappointment in the budgets failure to ease the pressure on the small businesses based on the land, such as farmers and graziers who produce Australias food.

Its hard to make a living on the land, and its why were seeing a worrying trend away from the farming families who support local communities and toward the big corporations who buy up land and drain local communities of support and talent, said Tarrant.

Moreover, Tarrant highlighted the need for telecommunications services in many rural areas, making it difficult to run a small business or bring innovation to fruition. Theres so much innovation in the Bush, but its harder in regional areas to bring an idea to fruition. Telecommunications services are still very poor in many rural areas  we dont have mobile coverage or reliable internet on our farm  which makes it very hard to run a small business, let alone get a new one off the ground, said Tarrant.

Hit on the skill development program

SoHyun Kang, Interim Regional Managing Director of PMIs Asia Pacific region, stated that the Australian Governments allocation of $3.7 billion for a new five-year national skills agreement is crucial for small businesses seeking to enhance their workforces skill development.

Kang emphasised the increasing significance of project management training to ensure that the country has qualified individuals to lead future projects.

We must stress the growing importance of project management training skills to ensure we have the pertinent people to lead the projects that will help the country reach its full potential. Government bodies, large enterprises, small businesses, schools, universities and TAFEs must collaborate to accurately identify gaps in the talent market and effectively equip our workforce with the right skills to prepare for the future of work.

Troy Williams, Chief Executive of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) has welcomed the federal governments investment in vocational training in this years budget, but he believes more could have been done to put students at the centre of the system.

According to Williams, the governments funding commitments that favour public providers limit students options and offer a partial range of courses needed to address the skills shortage.

He argues that the taxpayers investment in skills training should allow students to choose the training organisation that is best able to help them achieve their life and career goals, but this ambition was not delivered in the budget.

Williams stresses that to make the investment more effective, students should be given more choices in selecting the training organisation that suits them best.

Julian Stevenson, Product and Workforce Development Director at RMIT Online explained that the accelerating pace of change in the skills required for work demands more frequent exposure to training across the course of an individuals working life. He added that closing the current skills gap is the first hurdle.

Stevenson highlighted the importance of transitioning towards a mindset of lifelong learning aimed at the future of work, stating that this is absolutely critical for the Australian economy to reap the substantial and long-lasting benefits, and supports the growth of our workforce into the future.

Research conducted by RMIT Online and Deloitte Access Economics found three in five (58 per cent) surveyed Australian employers still lacking one or more of the digital skills they require to do business, costing Australian businesses $3.1 billion annually. The additional investment allocated to the National Skills Agreement is an encouraging recognition of Australias need to improve the skills and training sector.

He noted that the additional investment allocated to the National Skills Agreement is an encouraging recognition of Australias need to improve the skills and training sector.

Missed opportunity to counter anti-money laundering practices

Milan Cooper, the CEO of First AML, notes that more than the Australian governments budget allocation towards anti-money laundering practices are needed. Cooper is very passionate about anti-money laundering practices and believes that stronger measures are needed to combat the increasing problem of money laundering and financial crimes in Australia.

Cooper expressed his disappointment with the governments budget allocation of $14.3 million towards the Australian anti-money laundering framework for FY23-24, stating, We note the Federal Governments budget allocation for Tranche 2 reform and better AML practices, but we are disappointed that it falls short of what is needed to effectively combat the increasing problem of money laundering and financial crimes in Australia.

Cooper pointed out that recent high-profile cases have shown the urgent need for strong and comprehensive measures to be implemented. He said, The governments failure to address this issue adequately in the past has put Australia at risk of being greylisted by FATF, which could have serious consequences for the countrys economy.

Cooper urged the government to take more proactive steps towards preventing money laundering and financial crimes. He welcomed the upcoming consultation process but stressed that the government must commit to simplifying and modernising how Australia addresses this issue.

Cooper added, As an industry leader in anti-money laundering and know-your-customer processes, we stand ready to support the governments efforts to combat financial crime. We believe that a stronger commitment is needed to address this pressing issue and safeguard Australias financial system.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs new bill limiting Chinese land ownership and banning the use of TikTok at schools despite criticism from some groups.
Authorities have released the victims of some of the victims killed in the mass shooting. Also, new details are emerging about the shooter's background.
USATODAY.com 10 May 2023

Liz Cheney slammed Donald Trump in an attack ad airing in New Hampshire ahead of his first town hall with CNN.


Rumble 10 May 2023

Mark speaks with trial attorney Brian Claypool about the evidence used in the Trump civil case and the integrity of the verdict.
Canada on Tuesday said that PM Justin Trudeau's government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada's spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker.
Palestinian health officials said 13 people were killed in all, including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby.
Spain's Civil Guard said Friday it had arrested 26 people in raids on illegal wells in the Andalusia region, as part of a widening crackdown on unauthorized water use amid a prolonged drought. The Civil Guard's environmental crimes division said it had identified 250 infractions by fruit farmers



#spain #civilguard #andalusia #axarquia #malaga #guadalquivir #catalonia #spanish #westernmediterranean #donana
Newsy 11 May 2023

ViewDonald Trump says he plans to appeal the outcome of the case brought against him by writer E. Jean Carroll, after a jury..
Despite his extremist beliefs, the suspect opened fire with no regard for their race or sex, police say.
The Sri Lankan Government has decided to introduce paying wards at state hospitals for both locals and foreign nationals.

The proposal to introduce paying wards at state hospitals in Sri Lanka, presented by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The proposal presented by Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickramasinghe on expansion of paying ward facilities in government hospitals throughout the country while presenting the budget for the year 2023 was approved by the Parliament.

In a press release, the government said that the government has already provided Agrahara health insurance coverage for public sector employees and retirees.
As Sri Lankas creditor nations prepare for their first meeting on Tuesday to co-ordinate restructuring of the Indian Ocean nations debt, the focus is turning to whether China will attend.

The meeting, within a new framework launched in Washington D.C. in April that creditors hope will serve as a model to resolve the debt difficulties of middle-income economies, is to be held online.

Japan, which initiated the launch together with India and France, has invited all bilateral creditors, including the largest, China, though Japanese officials said it was uncertain whether it would join the talks.

The reason was not immediately clear, although one of the officials felt Beijing could be weighing the merit of participation.

Last month France, India and Japan unveiled a common platform for talks among bilateral creditors to co-ordinate restructuring of Sri Lankas debt.

Sri Lanka owes $7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, government data show, with $3 billion owed to China, followed by $2.4 billion to the Paris Club and $1.6 billion to India.

The government also needs to renegotiate more than $12 billion of debt in eurobonds with overseas private creditors, and $2.7 billion on other commercial loans.

Sri Lanka has kicked off talks to rework part of its domestic debt and aims to finalise the deal by May.

(Reuters)
Washington/London/Oslo: For nearly three decades, the Arctic Council has been a successful example of post-Cold War cooperation. Its eight members, including Russia and the United States, have cooperated on climate-change research and social development across the ecologically sensitive region.

Now, a year after council members stopped working with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and as Norway prepares to assume the chairmanship from Moscow on May 11, experts are asking whether the polar body's viability is at risk if it cannot cooperate with the country that controls over half of the Arctic coastline.

An ineffective Arctic Council could have dire implications for the region's environment and its 4 million inhabitants who face the effects of melting sea ice and the interest of non-Arctic countries in the region's mostly untapped mineral resources.

The work of the council, which comprises the eight Arctic states of Finland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Canada and the United States, in the past has produced binding agreements on environmental protection and preservation. It is also a rare platform giving a voice to the region's Indigenous peoples. It does not deal with security issues.

But with the end of cooperation with Moscow, about a third of the council's 130 projects are on hold, new projects cannot go ahead and existing ones cannot be renewed. Western and Russian scientists no longer share climate change findings, for example, and cooperation for possible search-and-rescue missions or oil spills has stopped.

"I am worried that this will really hobble the ability of the Arctic Council to work through these various issues," U.S. senator Angus King from Maine told Reuters.

A Divided Region?

The Arctic is warming about four times as fast as the rest of the world. As sea ice vanishes, polar waters are opening to shipping and other industries eager to exploit the region's bounty of natural resources, including oil, gas, and metals such as gold, iron and rare earths.

The discord between Russia and the other Arctic Council members means that an effective response to these changes is far less likely.

"Norway has a big challenge," said John Holdren, co-director of the Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative and a former science advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama. "That's how to rescue as much as possible of the Arctic Council's good work in the absence of Russia."

Russia argues this work cannot continue without it. The council is weakening, Russian Arctic Ambassador Nikolay Korchunov told Reuters, saying he was not confident it "will be able to remain the main platform on Arctic issues".

Adding to the worries is the possibility that Russia will go its own way on issues affecting the region or even establish a rival council.

Recently, it has taken steps to expand cooperation in the Arctic with non-Arctic states. On April 24, Russia and China signed a memorandum establishing cooperation between the countries' coast guards in the Arctic.

Days earlier, on April 14, Russia invited China, India, Brazil and South Africa - the BRICS - to conduct research at its settlement on Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty where other countries can operate under a 1920 Treaty.

"Russia is seeking to build relationships with some non-Arctic countries, particularly China, and that is a development that is concerning," said David Balton, executive director of the Arctic Steering Committee at the White House.

Russia's Korchunov said Moscow welcomed non-Arctic states in the region, provided they did not come with a military agenda.

"Our focus on a purely peaceful format of partnership also reflects the need of development of scientific and economic cooperation with non-Arctic countries," he said.

How to Engage With Moscow

Norway says it is "optimistic" a seamless transition of the chairmanship from Russia can be achieved as it is in the interest of all Arctic states to maintain the Arctic Council.

"We need to safeguard the Arctic Council as the most important international forum for Arctic cooperation and make sure it survives," Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Eivind Vad Petersson told Reuters.

That will not be easy, given Oslo's own strained relations with Moscow. In April, Oslo expelled 15 Russian diplomats saying they were spies. Moscow denied the accusations and Korchunov said the expulsions undermined the trust needed for cooperation.

Analysts say NATO-member Norway, which shares an Arctic border with Russia, is still well-placed to handle the delicate balancing act with Moscow.

"Norway has been the most outspoken when it comes to the possibility of keeping the door ajar so that Russia could, when politically feasible, be part of the Arctic Council again," said Svein Vigeland Rottem, a senior researcher in Arctic governance and security at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo.

Indeed, said lawmaker Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, the council will eventually need to reengage with Russia even if that moment has not yet arrived.

"I don't see an Arctic Council without Russia in the future," said Larsen, a Greenland lawmaker at the Danish Parliament and the Chair of Arctic Parliamentarians, a body including MPs from across the Arctic countries.

"We need to be prepared for a different time when the war (in Ukraine) one day will be over."
Mass killings across America have prompted calls for the banning of assault weapons designed to cause multiple casualties. This issue once again is in the spotlight after a gunman opened fire with what officials said was an AR-15-style rifle at a popular shopping center in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, last Saturday, where he killed eight people and wounded at least seven others, including at least one child, before a police officer fatally shot him. Let us not forget the incredibly tragic murders that took place in Uvalde, Texas, last year, where 19 children died in a mass school shooting as officers stood by. Numerous other cases of mass shootings exist and each one is a standalone argument as to why mass-casualty weapons should not be available for purchase by the public.

US President Joe Biden renewed his call Sunday for Congress to ban semi-automatic rifles as he called out Republican inaction. "Once again I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers," Biden said in a statement. "I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe." Biden also pointed to the staggering number of mass shootings this year, already nearly 200, and the more than 14,000 firearm deaths, noting that the leading cause of death for American children is gun violence. "Too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables," he said. "Republican members of Congress cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough."

It is inconceivable, especially after so many tragedies, that people with malicious intent are still able to buy such a weapon and then proceed to destroy so many innocent lives. It is time, once and for all, to ban all assault weapons and deprive these sadists from having the ability to acquire any means of hurting or killing others.

And there is progress. In April, a ban on dozens of semi-automatic rifles cleared the Washington state legislature, according to one report. The law would cover more than 50 gun models, including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar-style rifles, which fire one bullet per trigger pull and automatically reload for a subsequent shot. The bill bans their future sale, distribution, manufacture and importation, although some exemptions are included for sales to law enforcement agencies and the military in Washington. According to the same report, "nine states including California, New York and Massachusetts, along with the District of Columbia, have already passed similar bans."

But are such bans enough? Would banning the sale of such weapons truly deter or deprive potential attackers from obtaining and using them to kill many people at once?

John J. Donohue, a professor at Stanford Law School and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, writing in The Atlantic, believes it is not enough and will not prevent mass killings. He notes that mass shootings are not only a serious and worsening problem that cause significant harm to the public, but they are also a national disgrace that exposes the failure of the American political system to adopt popular public-policy strategies that could effectively reduce the frequency and impact of such events. One of the measures that could help in this regard is the federal assault-weapons ban, which was previously in place for a decade, but was allowed to lapse in 2004. However, the gun lobby is opposing all meaningful gun-safety laws across the United States, banking on Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices to safeguard the right to sell deadly weapons to as many Americans as possible.

Donohue also notes that the notion that harsher punishment is a preferable alternative to gun control and can deter potential mass shooters is illogical, given the already severe penalties such offenders face, coupled with their high mortality rates on the scene due to police intervention or suicide. For instance, the 18-year-old Buffalo shooter, who used the same semiautomatic rifle as the Sandy Hook shooter to kill ten people last May, was aware that he would receive an inevitable life sentence if he survived the attack. The gun lobby's proposed solution to the proliferation of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, which involves promoting more gun sales and carrying, is counterintuitive and serves its self-interest. However, this policy is likely to backfire as it will lead to increased gun violence, resulting from more gun thefts, road-rage incidents, and reduced police effectiveness. Available empirical evidence supports this assertion.

Donahue further argues that after the Parkland, Florida, high-school shooting in February 2018 that claimed 17 lives, then-President Donald Trump initially expressed support for gun control and claimed that he was not intimidated by the NRA. However, when NRA head Wayne LaPierre urged him to abandon the push for universal background checks, which had the support of 90 percent of Republican midterm voters, Trump complied.

Any solution that excludes a federal ban on assault weapons, coupled with restrictions on high-capacity magazines, will be insufficient. While state-level bans on these weapons have had some impact, perpetrators have easily bypassed them by purchasing firearms from neighboring states with looser regulations. Similarly, simply closing the gaping loopholes in the federal background-check system would help but is not enough.

A significant overhaul and strengthening of the screening process is needed. In contrast to the American system, European governments and sensible individuals would undoubtedly recognize that individuals like the Parkland, Uvalde, and Sandy Hook shooters, who were respectively 19, 18, and 20 years old, should never have been granted access to firearms, let alone assault rifles. Their dangerous tendencies were so apparent that even a typical European-style screening process would have barred their gun ownership.

Perhaps this is what we need. A European-style screening process that would weed out the killers from the innocents and prevent mass-casualty events. There is no foolproof answer and in a country of nearly 350 million, it is difficult to control and prevent the proliferation of assault weapons. But more can be done. For the sake of our children, we must find a better way to prevent such horrific murders. Let's begin by banning all guns.
During her 2020 campaign, LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz-Franklin presented herself as someone who would be singularly focused so as not to be distracted from addressing issues affecting the students of the District. For example, when I asked her for a statement on an article I was writing about an education issue, she admonished me for asking anything besides "black lives mattering and "racial justice" in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. Also when she was asked for comment on a revelation that she had been kicked off the Del Rey Neighborhood Council for being absent for 61.5% of the meetings, her campaign stated that "she left the neighborhood council regretfully" because she was unable to "commit the time and still fully serve the students of the LAUSD".

Unfortunately, this focus did not follow Ortiz-Franklin into office as she has often left her constituents feeling unrepresented. The most obvious example is her lack of leadership during environmental crises affecting her board district. When the students of Catskill Elementary School were being affected by a long-term "nauseating odor" emanating less than two miles from their campus, she was a no-show at an event where she could have addressed their concerns. Her office was also silent as the Harbor Area dealt with the supply chain crisis that had left trucks idling on neighborhood streets, spewing toxic fumes into the air. Students cannot achieve "Educational Equity" when they are missing school due to asthma attacks and other side effects of being bombarded with truck exhaust.

Even on her signature issues of "black lives mattering and "racial justice" Ortiz-Franklin has fallen flat. This is especially true when these "values" interfered with the needs of her campaign funders from within the charter school industry.

Baldwin Hills Elementary and Orville Wright Engineering and Design Magnet are two highly regarded schools that have among the highest percentages of black or African American students in the LAUSD. According to the California Department of Education School Accountability Report Card (SARC), 77.4% of the students at Baldwin Hills Elementary are classified as belonging to this racial category. At Orville Wright, 60% of the student body is black or African American. The vast majority of students at both schools are considered to be "socioeconomically disadvantaged."

As parents of Baldwin Hills Elementary fought to be free from a PROP-39 co-location with a charter school that stymied its ability to build upon the success of its Community Schools model, Ortiz-Franklin was nowhere to be found. She was also silent as the LAUSD bureaucracy laid plans to shut down Orville Wright and turn its campus over to a charter school. Students cannot achieve "Educational Equity" when their schools are yanked from under them for the benefit of publicly funded private schools.

Even with her lack of accomplishments, Ortiz-Franklin feels that she deserves another four years in office and has filed with the Ethics Commission to run for re-election. Will her constituents even know who she is when they see her name on the ballot?

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs. He was elected to the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and is the Education Chair. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.

Following the trilateral dialogue, the three sides issued a joint statement, expressing their determination to leverage Afghanistan's potential as a hub for regional connectivity.

Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Qin Gang of China, and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari participated in the dialogue.

During the meeting, the three foreign ministers emphasized the significance of ongoing projects such as CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railways, highlighting their potential to boost regional connectivity and promote economic development and prosperity in the region.

CASA-1000: CASA-1000 is an ambitious renewable energy infrastructure construction project that will bring 1,300 megawatts of surplus electricity from Central Asia to high demand electricity markets in South Asia through new energy infrastructure.

The Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have some of the world's most abundant clean hydropower resources.

By connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan through a shared electricity transmission system, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan can sell clean hydropower-produced surplus electricity in summer months. The CASA-1000 system, when completed, will include 1,387 km of high voltage transmission lines.

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline will be a 1,814km trans-country natural gas pipeline running across four countries. Also known as the Peace Pipeline and Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, the TAPI pipeline will begin in Turkmenistan and traverse Afghanistan to enter Pakistan and India.

Construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan section of the TAPI gas pipeline began in December 2015 in Mary, Turkmenistan, near the Galkynysh gas field. The TAPI gas pipeline will transport gas produced from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The pipeline will start from Mary region of Turkmenistan and cover a total distance of 214km up to Afghanistan.

The pipeline will run through Kandhar and Herat highway in Afghanistan, for a length of 774km. It will cover 826km in Pakistan, across the cities of Quetta and Multan, finally terminating in Fazilka at the Indo-Pakistan border.

Trans-Afghanistan railway to further link Central Asia with South Asia

Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed the rail project in February 2021, prior to the Taliban takeover, to connect the former Soviet Central Asian republics with South Asia via Kabul.

According to the latest calculations, the new proposed railway would be 573 km long, cost $5.96 billion and boost Afghanistan's transit to the extent that the railway has been branded "project of the century " by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The line will run from Termez in Uzbekistan to Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul, then onto Peshawar in Pakistan. Uzbekistan had already built a 75-kilometer rail link connecting Hairatan on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan border to the city of Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan back in 2011.

The three foreign ministers emphasized the need to advance "hard connectivity" in infrastructure and "soft connectivity" in norms and standards.

They agreed to explore measures to facilitate the movement of people and trade activities. They also decided to boost transit trade through the Gwadar Port.



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May 9th! Moscow Celebrates Victory Over Nazi Germany's Most Massive and Genocidal Invasion in History, but with incomprehensibly little or no public condemnation of American corporations having earlier heavily rearmed Hitler's Nazi Germany as British and French armies stood down in cooperation and in violation of the Versailles Treaty's prohibition of German rearmament.

With the world of the plundering Colonial Powers deep in the chaos of the Great Depression, a disastrous failure of rule by the banks of the capitalist countries and the United States internally threatened by local organizations of socialists and communists, US capital flowed into weaponizing Nazis.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Seen As a Model for Revolutionaries Everywhere

Except for the socialist Soviet Union, the suffering the Great Depression engendered was world-wide. Between 1929 and 1932, worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) fell by an estimated 15%.[13] Meanwhile, the prospering revolutionary Soviet Union had become an inspiration and model for revolutionary organizing against capitalism and colonialism across the world. Actually, though by 1928, the Soviet Union had made an amazingly rapid recovery from the ravages of the First World War and from a horrible civil war promoted by invasions of twelve capitalist nations, its agricultural production had not recovered from war's devastation and there were still terrible famines throughout the 1930s.

There is an awesome amount of documented history about Hitler's prostate and weak Nazi Germany having been rearmed by US Corporations for War on Russia.

America's Wealthy Put Their Money Where Hitler's Mouth Was

By their intense investing and joint venturing to arm Germany to the teeth, America's wealthy were, albeit mostly silently, showing a positive attitude regarding Hitler's announced hatred of what he believed to be the world's two evils, communism and Judaism.

So why had Soviet leaders and writers, even during the onslaught of much vile, unfair and unfounded anti-Soviet propaganda during the Cold War after the Second World War, never managed to hold the Western colonial powers, the United States in particular, responsible for the Second World War in having rearmed Germany, intending (as Hitler had threatened) the destruction of the USSR? This has remained a mystery to this archival research peoples historian, all efforts contacting various well known historians in the field of recent Russian history in the US, and some in Russia notwithstanding. All the investments and joint venturing of US (and European) corporations building up Hitler's Wehrmacht to the world's number one military in only six years are documented in both business and tax records of US, Germany and other nations, and are in great part documented on the Internet with quite comprehensive statistics, a modest but indicting amount of which are presented in this article.

Below are excepts from British American scholar Anthony B. Sutton's Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler, Chapter One - "Wall Street Paves the Way for Hitler." (Anthony Sutton was a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution from 1968 to 1973.) and an economics professor at California State University, Los Angeles.)

The contribution made by American capitalism to German war preparations before 1940 can only be described as phenomenal. It was certainly crucial to German military capabilities. For instance, in 1934 Germany produced domestically only 300,000 tons of natural petroleum products and less than 800,000 tons of synthetic gasoline; Yet, ten years later in World War II, after transfer of the Standard Oil of New Jersey hydrogenation patents and technology to I. G. Farben, Germany produced about 6 1/2 million tons of oil "" of which 85 percent was synthetic oil using the Standard Oil hydrogenation process.

Germans were brought to Detroit to learn the techniques of specialized production of components, and of straight-line assembly. The techniques learned in Detroit were eventually used to construct the dive-bombing Stukas ". I. G. Farben representatives in this country enabled a stream of German engineers to visit not only plane plants but others of military importance. Contemporary American business press confirm that business journals and newspapers were fully aware of the Nazi threat and its nature.

The evidence presented suggests that not only was an influential sector of American business aware of the nature of Naziism, but for its own purposes aided Naziism wherever possible (and profitable) "" with full awareness that the probable outcome would be war involving Europe and the United States.

Synthetic gasoline and explosives (two of the very basic elements of modern warfare), the control of German World War II output was in the hands of two German combines created by Wall Street loans under the Dawes Plan.[14]

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Khader Adnan, 45, of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, died while on a hunger strike in an Israeli prison.

He started the hunger strike on February 5, when he was arrested and sentenced in an Israeli military court and placed into "administrative detention", which means detention without charges in abhorrent prison conditions.

It was the Israeli common practice of administrative detention that prompted the hunger strike.

Held without charges or trial, this marked the third time Adnan had been on a hunger strike in an Israeli prison, having been arrested by Israel 12 times, spending around eight years in prison and mostly under administrative detention.

Adnan died in his prison cell without any medical treatment, even though Israeli officials were repeatedly urged to transfer Adnan to a hospital, but they refused. It appears, the Israeli prison system was waiting for him to die, while they make room for another prisoner to take his place. It took only 87 days to stop him from his protest.

Adnan was a member of the Islamic Jihad, which is very powerful in Gaza, and they swore revenge for his killing.

"We demanded he is moved into a civilian hospital where he could be properly followed up (on). Unfortunately, such a demand was met by intransigence and rejection by the Israeli prison authorities," said Adnan's lawyer Jamil Al-Khatib.

UN experts declared yesterday in Geneva that Israel must be held accountable for the death of Khader Adnan, and deemed the administrative detention of Palestinians as "cruel" and "inhumane."

"The death of Khader Adnan is a tragic testament to Israel's cruel and inhumane detention policy and practices, as well as the international community's failure to hold Israel accountable in the face of callous illegalities perpetrated against Palestinians," the UN experts said.

Israel holds approximately 4,900 Palestinians in its prisons, including 1,016 administrative detainees who are held for an indefinite period without trial or charge, representing the highest number since 2008, despite repeated condemnation from international human rights groups.

"We cannot separate Israel's policies from the colonial nature of its occupation, intended to control and subjugate all Palestinians in the territory Israel wants to control," the UN experts said. "The systematic practice of administrative detention is tantamount to a war crime of willfully depriving protected persons of the rights of fair and regular trial."

The UN experts called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for war crimes against the Palestinian people who have suffered under a brutal military occupation since 1948. However, we must all face the reality, that the international community, headed by the United States of America, is committed to defending Israel and its apartheid state, including its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Israel attacks Gaza

Three rockets were launched from Gaza toward Israeli border communities, falling in open areas but setting off sirens that sent residents rushing to shelters.

Hashel Mubarak, 58, was killed by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza Tuesday night, and five others were injured.

Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the UN brokered a cease-fire between Gaza and Israel on May 3.

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US Federal Debt Held By Public as of Feb. 2023.

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"House Democrats," CBS News reports, "have taken their first procedural steps to try to force a House vote on a clean debt ceiling increase." Absent such an increase, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen predicts the government will reach the end of its ability to borrow money as early as June 1.

What does a "clean" increase mean? It means no politician has to give up anything. Nobody on Capitol Hill or at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has to make any sacrifices. Congress just votes to increase the limit on a very special credit card, spent by it but billed to taxpayers (including future unborn generations).

It seems like magic. But, of course, magic isn't real. And there's nothing "clean" about the proposed debt ceiling increase. It's a filthy scam played on Americans by politicians who believe -- or at least hope -- they'll be retired or dead before the winds of reality blow down the house of cards they're building.

And the silliest part is that it isn't even remotely necessary -- not even if the standard is "spend enough to continue having insanely large, burdensome, and intrusive government."

"Clean debt ceiling raise" advocates insist that opposition to a rubber stamp on the government continuing to grow its spending faster than its revenues every year, forever, and continuing to borrow larger amounts of money every year than the year before, forever, is some kind of Dickensian scheme to steal grandma's gruel, chain little Jimmy to a machine in a factory, and reduce the size and equipment of the US armed forces to that of a local Cub Scout troop.

But let's look at some numbers.

According to the Office of Management and Budget, the US government took in revenues of about $2.5 trillion and spent about $3.5 trillion in 2019.

Also according to OMB, the US government will take in revenues of about $3.5 trillion and will spend about $4.6 trillion this year.

Why am I leaving out the years in between? Because the COVID-19 pandemic provided at least a fig leaf of "emergency" justification for running large deficits and borrowing lots of money. Now that the pandemic is officially over, it's time to stop playing "emergency" games.

If the US government limited itself to spending THIS year what it spent in 2019, its budget would be balanced.

Not what it spent in 1819.

Not what it spent in 1919.

What it spent four short years ago, when it was still bogged down in the 20-year Afghanistan war and blowing money like a drunken sailor on frippery like Donald Trump's "border wall."

Not that Republicans propose anything as draconian as, you know, spending less than they take in. They just want slight decreases in the acceleration of fiscal stupidity. But that might be a start.
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In late March, I was taken aback by a news story about a drone attack on American troops at a joint base with Kurdish forces in Syria. Though five U.S. soldiers were wounded, there was only one death and, as Eric Schmitt reported in the New York Times, that "soldier" was actually a private military contractor. (Weeks after his death, we still have no idea what company he worked for.) Another contractor was also wounded. Consider that a grim reminder of a reality of American war in this century that it's been all too easy to ignore, one that TomDispatch regular, co-founder of the Costs of War Project, and military spouse Andrea Mazzarino highlights in today's piece. As large and staggeringly well-funded as the U.S. military is, this country also has a humongous shadow military of private contractors who are a crucial component of its ongoing, if ever less noticed, war on terror.

Let me put this in context. If you remember, President Trump actually tried to withdraw American troops from Syria but failed to do so. Since he left office, it's regularly been estimated that about 900 of them remain there. But that figure only counts the official military force in place in that devastated land, not the private contractors who provide them with support, some of it armed. Here's a reality of this American moment: we have no way of knowing how many "troops" are actually in Syria, only that in addition to the official figure, there are at least uncounted hundreds more. At certain moments in this country's little-noticed war there, there could have been four times as many.

Similarly, two decades after George W. Bush so disastrously invaded Iraq, about 2,500 U.S. troops are still officially stationed there "" but again that count doesn't include who knows how many private contractors. (Back in 2006, when the conflict was at its height, there were an estimated 100,000 of them!) In other words, in this century, a Pentagon funded to the teeth by American taxpayers has developed a new form of privatized war that leaves Americans knowing all too little about what's actually being done in their name.

With that in mind, let Mazzarino take you into the nightmarish private world that our post-9/11 conflicts have bred. Tom

The Army We Don't See

The Private Soldiers Who Fight in America's Name

By Andrea Mazzarino

The way mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private army have been waging a significant part of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine has been well covered in the American media, not least of all because his firm, the Wagner Group, draws most of its men from Russia's prison system. Wagner offers "freedom" from Putin's labor camps only to send those released convicts to the front lines of the conflict, often on brutal suicide missions.

At least the Russian president and his state-run media make no secret of his regime's alliance with Wagner. The American government, on the other hand, seldom acknowledges its own version of the privatization of war "" the tens of thousands of private security contractors it's used in its misguided war on terror, involving military and intelligence operations in a staggering 85 countries.

At least as far back as the Civil War through World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the first Gulf War, "contractors," as we like to call them, have long been with us. Only recently, however, have they begun playing such a large role in our wars, with an estimated 10% to 20% of them directly involved in combat and intelligence operations.

Contractors have both committed horrific abuses and acted bravely under fire (because they have all too often been under fire). From torture at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to interrogations at the Guanta'namo Bay detention camp, from employees of the private security firm Blackwater indiscriminately firing on unarmed Iraqi civilians to contractors defending a U.S. base under attack in Afghanistan, they have been an essential part of the war on terror. And yes, they both killed Afghans and helped some who had worked as support contractors escape from Taliban rule.

The involvement of private companies has allowed Washington to continue to conduct its operations around the globe, even if many Americans think that our war on terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere has ended. I tried looking for any kind of a survey of how many of us realize that it continues in Iraq and elsewhere, but all I could find was pollster Nate Silver's analysis of "lessons learned" from that global conflict, as if it were part of our history. And unless respondents were caring for a combat-wounded veteran, they tended not to look unfavorably on sending our troops into battle in distant lands "" so scratch that as a lesson learned from our forever wars.

None of this surprises me. American troops are no longer getting killed in significant numbers, nor are as many crowding the waitlists at backlogged Veterans Affairs hospitals as would be the case if those troops had been the only ones doing the fighting.

At points during this century's war on terror, in fact, the U.S. used more civilian contractors in its ongoing wars than uniformed military personnel. In fact, as of 2019, according to Brown University's Costs of War Project, which I co-founded, there were 50% more contractors than troops in the U.S. Central Command region that includes Afghanistan, Iraq, and 18 other countries in the Middle East, as well as Central and South Asia. As recently as December 2022, the Pentagon had about 22,000 contractors deployed throughout that region, with nearly 8,000 concentrated in Iraq and Syria. To be sure, most of those workers were unarmed and providing food service, communications aid, and the like. Even more tellingly, roughly two thirds of them were citizens of other countries, particularly lower-income ones.

In 2020, retired Army Officer Danny Sjursen offered an interesting explanation for how the war on terror was then becoming ever more privatized: the Covid-19 pandemic had changed the Pentagon's war-making strategy as the public began to question how much money and how many lives were being expended on war abroad rather than healthcare at home. As a result, Sjursen argued, the U.S. had begun deploying ever more contractors, remote drones, CIA paramilitaries, and (often abusive) local forces in that war on terror while U.S. troops were redeployed to Europe and the Pacific to contain a resurgent Russia and China. In other words, during the pandemic, Washington placed ever more dirty work in corporate and foreign hands.

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Date/time: Wednesday 24 May 7pm Event: Virtual Speaker Event Location: Recording at Historic Sotterley, Hollywood MD Individuals available for media interview:  Nancy Easterling, Executive Director, Historic Sotterley Historic Sotterley is welcoming Imani Black, Founder of Minorities in Aquaculture, for a virtual speaker event at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24. Imani will discuss the rapid expansion of the seafood industry, the decrease in our natural seafood resources, and the opportunities presented by aquaculture to 
Nearly three months ago, Hyundai and Kia unveiled software that was designed to thwart an epidemic of thefts of their vehicles, caused by a security flaw that was exposed on TikTok and other social media sites.

So far, it hasnt solved the problem. Across the country, thieves are still driving off with the vehicles at an alarming rate.

Data from seven U.S. cities gathered by The Associated Press shows that the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts is still growing despite the companies efforts to fix the glitch, which makes 8.3 million vehicles relatively easy targets for thieves.

Related coverage

From Minneapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis to New York, Seattle, Atlanta and Grand Rapids, Michigan, police have reported substantial year-over-year increases in Hyundai and Kia theft reports through April. An eighth city, Denver, which was hit early by the theft outbreak, reported a 23% decline from 2022 levels but still endured a high number of thefts.

So far this year, Minneapolis police have received 1,899 Kia and Hyundai theft reports, nearly 18 times the number for the same period in 2022.

The scope of the problem is only expanding and is exponentially worse than it has been in the past, Brian OHara, the police chief of Minneapolis, said in an email. We have some weeks where nearly as many Kias and Hyundais are stolen in a week as had previously been stolen in a year.

The most recent nationwide numbers on Hyundai and Kia thefts arent yet publicly available. The figures for early 2023, as calculated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, will be released until later this year. (Hyundai and Kia are part of the same South Korean corporate family.)

Some U.S. cities have reported that 60% or more of their auto theft reports now involve Hyundais or Kias. Videos on TikTok and other sites that illustrate how to start and steal Kia and Hyundai models  using only a screwdriver and a USB cable  have allowed the thefts to spread across the nation since late 2021.

In New York, the Hyundai-Kia theft problem has grown so worrisome that the city held a news conference last last month to offer owners devices that can track their vehicles if theyre stolen. Police there reported 966 Hyundai and Kia thefts as of April 30  nearly seven times the number in the same period of 2022.

The disturbing theft rate, which authorities nationally have linked to other crimes including at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, has persisted despite the automakers unveiling of their anti-theft software campaign in mid-February.

GLA is driving our crime, New York Mayor Eric Adams said, using an acronym for grand larceny of autos. Kia and Hyundai are driving the GLAs.

Hyundai and Kia have said theyre accelerating their distribution of the software, with Hyundai saying its reached 6,000 installations a day. The company says its using direct mail, phone calls, digital advertising and social media to try to reach the affected owners.

Ira Gabriel, a spokesman for Hyundai, said the company has tried to remove from social media the instructional videos that show how to steal the cars.

But as new ones surface, he said, there have been additional waves of thefts.

Kia said in a statement that it began developing and testing the security software last year.

The process occurred at an accelerated pace and allowed us to begin rolling out the enhanced security software earlier this year in phases, the company said.

Safety authorities say the companies software rollout has been far too slow. Of the 4.5 million Kia vehicles that are eligible for the fix, the automaker says its installed the software on about 210,000  nearly 5%. Kia says it has sent notifications to about 2.8 million of the affected owners and expects to have notified all of them by the end of this month.

For Hyundai, the figure is about 225,000 out of 3.8 million vehicles  roughly 6%. Hyundai said he expects to have contacted all the affected vehicle owners by May 18.

The companies affected cars, many of them lower-cost models from the 2011 to early 2022 model years, were not equipped with a theft immobilizer. Such a device contains a computer chip in the key that must be recognized by another chip in the steering column before the engines will start.

Though most automakers have had the chips for years, Hyundai and Kia have lagged behind the industry as a whole in installing them on many models, thereby allowing thieves to exploit the security gap. In the 2015 model year, immobilizers were standard on 96% of other manufacturers models but on only 26% of Hyundai and Kia models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said.

The automakers service campaign to install the software should have been more aggressively pursued, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety.

Brooks suggested that if the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had managed a recall of the affected vehicles, it would have stood a better chance of alerting owners to the danger and need to seek a repair.

Unless people are really following the news, he said, they might not know about theft issues.

Shakira Ellis, a music instructor from Long Beach, California, is among those who hadnt heard about the thefts  until her 2019 Hyundai Tucson was stolen in front of her home around 4 a.m. on April 25. The car, which contained some of her musical instruments, hasnt turned up.

Ellis, 26, said her Tucson lacked the immobilizer, and she hadnt been informed of Hyundais campaign to distribute the software fix. If she had, Ellis said, she would have immediately taken it in to be fixed. She feels Hyundai should provide her with a new car to replace her stolen vehicle,

I feel like I should be compensated, she said. Its been ruined because its defective. And people know. Its a target.

Even with a s, not everyone takes an affected car to a dealer to be fixed. Recall completion rates, Brooks said, average only around 60% of owners.

Some of the vehicles, about 15% in Hyundais case, cant be fixed with software. But both Hyundai and Kia say theyll pay for anti-theft devices for those owners.

In Minneapolis and other cities, police say teenagers, some of them too young to have a drivers license, have exploited the vulnerability. Often they crash or are involved in other crimes. The Minneapolis police recorded 209 cases of Hyundais or Kias being involved in hit-and-run injury crashes, and theyre investigating 169 reports that Kias or Hyundais were used in other crimes.

Multiple cities, including St. Louis, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Seattle, have sued the automakers, accusing them of failing to install industry-standard anti-theft devices and placing an undue burden on city services.

Kia and Hyundai prioritized profit over people by not installing engine immobilizers in these vehicles, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in announcing his citys lawsuit.

OHara, the Minneapolis police chief, said the thefts are a public safety crisis that is overwhelming communities.

Juveniles are joyriding in these stolen models, and when they are caught by police, he said, theyre rarely held accountable for their behavior by the courts and youth corrections systems.

That can lead to more serious crimes, he said, until they get very seriously injured or killed themselves.

-- Tom Krishner, The Associated Press

Associated Press news researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report from New York.
A Canadian toilet paper manufacturer plans to lay off 45 people at a factory in St. Helens when it closes one of two production lines there in July, the company notified state officials Tuesday.

The company, Cascades Inc., announced last month that it would lay off 88 in July when it closes a plant in Scappoose. It announced the St. Helens downsizing at the same time but hadnt previously disclosed how many would lose their jobs there.

Cascades, based in Quebec, said the Oregon sites and a third factory in South Carolina were underperforming. It expects to spend up to $25 million closing the factories, including severance payments.

After two years with very few layoffs, Oregon has had a spate of job cuts in 2023 at companies ranging from Walmart to Intel. The states jobless rate remains low by historical standards, though, at 4.4%.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699
Bedding provider Tempur Sealy has agreed to acquire Mattress Firm in a cash-and stock-transaction valued at about $4 billion, the companies said Tuesday.

Mattress Firm operates more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail locations and an e-commerce platfom. After the Tempur Sealy acquistion is complete, the two companies will have a total of some 3,000 retail stores, 30 e-commerce platforms, 71 manufacturing facilities and four research and development facilities worldwide.

This combination will accelerate our growth trajectory and enhance operating cash flow, Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson said in a statement. Mattress Firm has been a valued retail partner for more than 35 years, and we look forward to welcoming their talented workforce of more than 8,100 employees to the Tempur Sealy family.

Mattress Firm CEO John Eck added that the transaction will increase the companies ability to better address consumers needs and drive growth.

Tempur Sealy will pay about $2.7 billion in cash and $1.3 billion in stock to Mattress Firm, which is privately held. That reflects the issuance of 34.2 million common shares, based on Mondays closing share price of $37.62.

After the transaction is complete, Mattress Firm shareholders will own about 16.6% of the combined company and Tempur Sealy shareholders will own the rest.

While Mattress Firm and Tempur Sealy have a long history as retail partners, the two have had a rocky relationship in recent years. The companies temporarily ended their partnership in January 2017  in a move that notably removed popular Tempur-Pedic beds from Mattress Firm stores.

The following year, in August 2018, Tempur-Pedic sued Mattress Firm for allegedly selling confusingly similar products under the Therapedic name, and copying the look and feel of the entire Tempur-Pedic brand and consumer experience. Tempur-Pedic also accused Mattress Firm of continuing to sell Tempur-Pedic mattresses beyond the 2017 end of their partnership.

In October 2018, Mattress Firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed hundreds of stores. At the time, the Houston-based company pointed to years of overexpansion that resulted in cannibalization of sales. Mattress Firms then-CEO Steve Stagner later resigned in April 2019.

Months after Stagners resignation, Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm reconciled with a new, long-term supply agreement.

The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2024. After the acquistion is complete, Mattress Firm is set to operate as a separate business unit within Tempur Sealy.

In addition to announcing Tempur Sealys plans to acquire Mattress Firm on Tuesday, the Kentucky-based mattress maker reported a first-quarter profit of $85.3 million on revenue of $1.21 billion.

On a per-share basis, the company said it had a profit of 48 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 53 cents per share.

A year earlier, Tempur Sealy earned $130.7 million, or 69 cents per share, on revenue of $1.24 billion.

-- The Associated Press
A man who arranged for his girlfriend to smuggle heroin into Inverness Jail with the help of a prisoner work crew has been sentenced to two years in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut allowed John Michael Christian, 36, to finish up his college semester before he must surrender in late September to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Hes one of two people prosecuted in federal court for the smuggling of heroin behind bars; another nine people were prosecuted in state court.

In the spring and summer of 2019 when Christian was in jail on a pending heroin possession charge, he arranged for his girlfriend to deposit four packages, each holding 3 to 6 grams of heroin, at a secret drop site near the Multnomah County jail in Northeast Portland.

He instructed other inmates who were part of a work crew to retrieve the ingestible packages of heroin from under rail ties near an equipment shed just outside the jail perimeter. Christian then distributed the drug among the inmates on the work crew, according to prosecutors.

Investigators seized 230 grams of heroin and 251 grams of methamphetamine, some of which was intended for Christians personal use while the majority was to be distributed to other prisoners, according to Sax.

The investigation followed the death in custody of Inverness Jail inmate Richard Forrest, 37, who died from heroin and methamphetamine. None of those prosecuted, however, were convicted in his death.

In federal court Friday, the judge adopted the prosecutors recommended prison term for Christian despite an impassioned plea by his lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Daly, to allow her client to remain out of custody and be placed on home detention with community service, essentially a sentence of time-served.

Christian already spent a year and 19 days in custody since his arrest in the drug smuggling case , plus additional time in inpatient treatment, Daly said. He was released from custody in July 2020, pending trial.

Daly argued that Christians actions were fueled by a drug addiction that he has worked hard to address. Hes attending classes at Portland Community College, where he has a 3.9 GPA toward an associates degree, while living in an Oxford House, a clean and sober residence.

Putting Christian behind bars again would set his progress back, Daly argued.

But the judge pointed out that the prosecutors proposed two-year sentence already fell far below sentencing guidelines for the crime, which on average nationally draws at least a seven-year federal prison term. Christian had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

Christian told the court hes now in control of his life and ready to forge a new path.

Twenty-four months is a very lenient sentence here, Immergut said. Prison may be an imperfect way to deal with addiction but there has to be some increased accountability when smuggling drugs into prison.

Christian violated his supervised release before sentencing in this case by providing the drug suboxone to an inmate. Suboxone is a medication used to treat opioid addiction and has helped Christian fight his own drug abuse, Daly said.

Bringing drugs into the jail puts lives at risk in a way that just dealing on the street doesnt, Immergut said.

Christians sentencing last week came more than a year after his girlfriend, Stephanie Bauer, 37, now the mother of his son, pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute heroin in federal court. In January 2022, she was sentenced to time served with 250 hours of community service. After her arrest, she spent 14 days in jail and four months in residential inpatient treatment.

Bauer and her father attended Christians sentencing hearing. Her father spoke in support of Christian and urged the judge not to send him back to prison, largely for the benefit of his grandson.

Matthew J. Bauer said if he had any doubt about Christians commitment to his grandson and ability to stay sober he wouldnt be in court speaking on Christians behalf. He said Christian is interested in pursuing an information technology career focused on cybersecurity.

Had the case gone to trial, Sax told the court they would have played recorded jail calls between Stephanie Bauer and Christian, in which Christian told her what to do and where to leave the drug packages.

On Aug. 4, 2019, investigators searched Stephanie Bauers residence and recovered about 70 grams of heroin, some of which was intended for her personal use, according to court records.

At her sentencing last year, her father flew in and told U.S. Senior District Judge Anna Brown that he had hoped he would see his daughter in court as a lawyer, following in her grandmothers path as a Harvard-educated attorney. Instead, the family has been watching her battle a drug addiction.

Stephanie Bauer was six months pregnant when she was arrested. She gave birth to her son while she was in residential treatment.

Matthew Bauer thanked the Multnomah County sheriffs deputies who arrested her and the prosecutor for giving me my daughter back.

Her lawyer Edie Rogoway credited Linda Jo DeVlaeminck, a project manager at the nonprofit Community of Hope where Stephanie Bauer lived after she completed residential drug treatment, as well as a peer mentor from Recovery Works for helping her client find her way. Both attended her sentencing.

Community of Hope later helped Stephanie Baer find her own apartment. Recovery Works provided drug treatment.

Stephanie Bauer apologized to the judge, her family and the community.

As an addict, I lived in denial of the harm that I was doing to not only myself, but to other people, she said, adding that she expected to die an addict. Not until she was in recovery, she said, did she realize the harm she was causing.

Brown called Stephanie Bauers strides since her arrest extraordinary, noting that the court even received a letter on her behalf from her Portland Community College professor John Deits, a former federal drug prosecutor teaching criminal justice courses since shortly after he retired from Oregons U.S. Attorneys Office.

As of Christians sentencing last week, Stephanie Bauer said she has been working as a paralegal for more than a year.

Nine others were charged in state court in connection with the heroin smuggling operation.

They are:

-- Stephen Arnell, 35, sentenced in 2020 to three years in state prison for delivery of heroin and conspiracy to to supply contraband.

-- Aaron Bastow, 35, has a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in court on the pending charges of delivery of heroin and conspiracy to supply contraband.

-- Laif James Becherer, 28, sentenced last year to two years of probation for two counts of conspiracy to supply contraband.

-- Jerryd Becherer, 28, sentenced last year to three years probation for identity theft and conspiracy to supply contraband. He was in jail when his brother dropped bags of heroin outside the jail that were stamped stripper girl, according to a probable cause affidavit.

- Delontae Dickinson, 29, was sentenced in 2020 to three years in prison for conspiracy to supply contraband and delivery of heroin.

- Fahad Abdullahi, 29, was sentenced last year to three years of probation for conspiracy to supply contraband and delivery of heroin.

-- Kyleah Hegre, 28, was sentenced last year to 18 months of probation for attempting to unlawfully possess heroin.

-- Candy Loften, 46, was sentenced in 2020 to two years in prison for delivery of heroin and conspiracy to smuggle contraband.

 Charges of delivery and conspiracy to smuggle contraband were dismissed last year against Haley Guengerich, 28.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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A security guard who pepper-sprayed and then fatally shot a man during a trespassing dispute in the parking lot at Delta Park was convicted of murder Monday.

Logan C. Gimbel bowed his head as the jury delivered guilty verdicts on second-degree murder and three other charges in the shooting of 49-year-old Freddy Nelson outside a Lowes home improvement store on May 29, 2021.
Clatsop Community College will become the first higher education institution within the traditional homelands of the Chinook Indian Nation to grant free tuition to tribal members, the tribe said in a news release Saturday.

The tribe called it a historic step that set the bar for other colleges in Washington and Oregon.

The Chinook Nation, whose traditional territory includes southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, is not recognized by the federal government and its 3,000 members have been left out of grant and scholarship offerings extended to members of recognized tribes. Chinook members are not eligible for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant, for example, which covers the cost of college attendance for members of Oregons nine federally recognized tribes.

By providing free tuition, Clatsop Community College will change the lives of so many Chinookans who have already eagerly signed up and will set them up for a future many thought they would never have, Tribal Council member Rachel Cushman said in a statement.

Clatsop comes after the University of Oregon announced earlier this year that it would include the tribe in its Home Flight program, which offers free tuition and other student benefits to Oregonians who belong to any of the 574 federally recognized tribes.

In the news release, Clatsop president Chris Breitmeyer said he saw no other option than to extend free tuition to Chinook members.

Knowing that hundreds of tribes are receiving these incredible opportunities while the Chinook Indian Nation is left to fend for themselves should upset every single Oregonian, Breitmeyer said in a statement. It is our responsibility to do better by our Indigenous communities and we are proud to support the Chinook Indian Nation in this way.

This story was brought to you through a partnership between The Oregonian/OregonLive and Report for America. Learn how to support this crucial work.

Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
Maham Ahmed, Melissa Potter and Connie Clemens are all running for Position 3 on the Beaverton School Board.

Ahmed is a program analyst with the U.S. Forest Service. She is the mother of a preschool-aged child, whom she says will attend Beaverton public schools starting in kindergarten.

Clemens is a retired teacher. Her adult children went through the Beaverton public school system and her grandson is currently a junior at one of the districts high schools.

Potter is a clinical partnership liaison for the college of education at Oregon State University. She has two middle schoolers enrolled at Beaverton public schools.

The Oregonian/OregonLive asked them all six key questions designed to help voters make their choice in the May 16 election. Some of their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Read their responses below.

What do you consider the two most pressing issues in the Beaverton public school system to be and why? How will you address these as a board member?

Ahmed: I believe maintaining academic excellence and student and educator wellness, especially while recovering from the pandemic, are the two most important issues facing the district. As a board member, I will support maintaining a diversity of programs such as art, music, language and STEM education along with career and technical education initiatives so that we provide a high-quality well-rounded education with a high excellence standard for all students. I also will prioritize investing in student and staff access to mental health resources so we support our students and educators who are struggling as we recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Clemens: Scholastic achievement in Oregon, based on test scores and national ratings, is terribly low. As our curriculum has come under scrutiny, we see the narrowing and reduction of core curriculum across all grades. Another issue centers upon whats been added to curriculum and whats disappeared. For example, values education has always included compassion, teamwork, citizenship, etc. Today, districts have expanded this curriculum to include social justice issues. Most parents are unaware of what this includes and unaware of topics dropped to make room. There needs to be much better transparency and communication about changes and supporting data.

Potter: School boards are receiving immense pressure from some adults with personal, political or bureaucratic agendas. Board members need to listen to all constituents and have the discernment, knowledge base and courage to determine what is in the best interest of students. Students will be my number one priority in all decision-making. Also, meaningful collaboration takes thoughtful intention. It requires honoring what we each bring to the table and respecting the perspective of those with whom we disagree. As a board member, I will broaden the in-person collaboration between students, staff, parents and the community. Together, we are stronger.

Do you think that armed school resource offices should be in the districts middle and high schools? Why or why not?

Ahmed: Based on the comprehensive review done by BSD, 43% of students support having SROs in school. Given this information, and because it is important to listen to the voices of young people, I believe we need to reevaluate the exact role and responsibilities of armed school resource officers. There is a fine line between the criminalization of our students and providing resources for our students. I would use my position to advocate for more counselors and mental health resources to ensure we address root causes for those who may be struggling and need support.

Clemens: I do support resource officers in these schools. Officers act as first responders, a trained set of eyes and ears, a support to counselors dealing with abuse, neglect, and drug or alcohol issues. I know some kids are uncomfortable with their presence. I understand that. I believe their presence keeps a lid on trouble, however. Research shows their presence does lower criminal activity, but probably at a price. Students may end up involved in the criminal justice system. Thats unfortunate. However, safety does have a price.

Potter: Schools benefit from a positive relationship with our municipal partners, including our Beaverton Police and Washington County Sheriffs departments. The challenge comes when data indicate some of our students do not learn as well in the presence of law enforcement. As a result, we need to consider how we can improve our service to students. In general, it is best to involve qualified professionals, e.g. counselors and social workers, rather than deferring to law enforcement alone.

How will you balance the needs of students and teachers as represented by their unions, should those be at odds?

Ahmed: Working in the federal government requires me to manage multiple stakeholders regularly. As the only candidate supported by the Beaverton Education Association, I will always listen to students and teachers to ensure our decisions are centered around them. Supporting educators means that our students thrive, because the teachers work environment is the same as the students classroom. Teachers are drawn to the profession because they want to help students reach their full potential. We say that we love teachers, but our actions need to support our teachers working and living conditions because we know that will also directly benefit students.

Clemens: Since we both want the same things  a great education for our students and a productive, fulfilling career for our teachers  this is not an adversarial situation. I am committed to both sides. We know money issues, however, can get divisive. There are ways we can support our teachers, even in times of tight budgets. When teachers are given the support they need to do their jobs well, students will benefit too. As a former teacher, I know the bottom line for both and will respect those needs as much as possible.

Potter: As a former Beaverton science teacher, I have been a proud union member and recipient of the great work they do on behalf of teachers and students. In most instances, there is no conflict between what is good for teachers and what is good for students. However, in the rare instances when this may not be the case, I will always prioritize what is best for students.

Some school districts have been criticized for giving too little information and influence to parents versus to professional educators and district leaders. What level would you say your district gives parents at this time: Too much, too little or just right? Why do you think so?

Ahmed: BSD has made progress on including families in decision making, however we need to reimagine how we survey families. We rely on online surveys which dont necessarily represent all of our families. The new platform called ParentSquare being used to push out updates has easily allowed parents to choose what language they want to receive messages in, which has made information much more accessible to parents that arent fluent in English. The district should focus on creating more opportunities for authentic engagement with families and start shifting to a robust two-way communication method instead of a more top-down approach.

Clemens: I do feel districts havent done an adequate job keeping parents informed and involved. As I said in the voters pamphlet, Communication is, after all, an essential part of maintaining trust and support. Posting meeting minutes on the web or offering live feeds doesnt mean districts are fulfilling their duties in that respect. Choosing not to utilize community volunteers in a school also hinders communication with parents and community. Communication should be before, during and after major decisions. Committees and volunteers should be utilized to provide local data and input. I see a superior board as more democratic and inclusive.

Potter: Our students can thrive to their fullest potential if we support a strong collaboration between the students, the families and the school district. We all play an important role in students success. As a school board member, I am committed to supporting the collaboration already in place (i.e., superintendents listening sessions and public testimony at school board meetings) and encouraging additional opportunities for collaboration (i.e., finding structured ways to hear from parent groups, like the Special Education Parent Advisory Panel).

Enrollment has declined 6.2% since 2019 at the Beaverton School District, but the academic and social/emotional needs of remaining students are no less intense. If budget cuts are necessary in response to the declining in enrollment, what would you propose for cuts? What would you prioritize or protect?

Ahmed: I am proud of endorsements from legislators in the House Education Committee like Reps. Ruiz and Ngyuen because it is important to ensure our schools do not have to suffer from budget cuts. I will prioritize academic achievement including small class sizes so that students are reaching grade level standards for math and reading. I will prioritize mental health resources to support students and educators as they continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic. I believe that creating nurturing and inclusive schools is a budget priority because students make academic progress when they feel safe and cared for.

Clemens: A big priority for me is hiring and keeping excellent teachers. Another, with the reality of learning gaps after school closures from COVID, makes class size even more important than before. Given that 89% of BSDs budget goes towards salaries, prioritizing these two positions is going to be difficult. Therefore, if big cuts must be made, reducing non-teaching staff or the length of the school year for students and/or teachers will probably be on the table. No one wants painful options. Having a former teacher on the board who understands both sides will help make a difficult process more tolerable.

Potter: Board members have a responsibility to use resources wisely by supporting what is working and having the courage to discontinue what no longer produces results. Our district has adjusted practices to address many of the changing academic and social emotional needs of our students. For example, they have made enormous strides building a strong behavioral health and wellness team. Data shows these efforts to be successful, and they should be continued. I will listen to the voices of students, educators, parents and the community to understand what is working. Ultimately, what most benefits students will be my first priority.

Whats your opinion of the performance of Superintendent Balderas? How would you hold him accountable in the future?

Ahmed: I am very hopeful for the innovative ideas and the in-depth experience Superintendent Balderas brings to our highly diverse school district. As a school board member, I will commit to elevating community and student voices and I believe it is important to be transparent with families across the district in our work. I would support having regular performance reviews so that we keep leadership answerable to the people we serve. The strategic plan represents a large body of work that the district is leading and I believe it will strongly inform how we hold district leadership accountable in the future.

Clemens: I dont feel our superintendent has been in the position long enough for me to judge his successes or weaknesses. I do hope he takes a firm, clear stand on prioritizing hard skills. The new mission statement has put students feelings as our priority. Teaching soft skills, which are valuable in the workforce, has always been included in the curriculum. However, it has been expanded and so heavily emphasized in the new mission statement and curriculum requirements that hard skills like math, science, reading and writing are bound to take a hit. Geography, history, and physical health instruction already have.

Potter: Superintendent Balderas has been with the Beaverton School District for less than a year. I am thrilled he came to our district. Although turbulence can happen during any transition, I am optimistic that the school districts new strategic plan will anchor the complex work ahead by prioritizing our students needs. School board members provide oversight for the superintendents performance, and I will diligently seek the input of the staff, students and community to ensure accountability.
Two years ago, candidates for the Beaverton School Board focused their campaigns on the same white-hot issues that were roiling public education coast-to-coast, from masking requirements to how students should learn about race.

This years contests, by contrast, are a more decorous affair.

There are three open seats and only two of them are contested. The results are guaranteed to bolster the existing balance of the power on the board, since the four members of the board not up for election share a similar, Democratic-leaning donor base with anesthesiologist Tammy Carpenter, who is running unopposed for the Position 7 seat.

The two remaining contested races, however, present clear contrasts.

POSITION 3

The race for Position 3 features three candidates: Melissa Potter, a clinical partnership liaison at Oregon State University, Maham Ahmed, a program analyst for the U.S. Forest Services wildfire risk and reduction team, and retired teacher Connie Clemens.

If elected, Ahmed said she will focus on maintaining academic excellence and student and educator wellness. Students and staff alike need mental health supports in the pandemics wake, she said, and the district should do its best to maintain its menu of art, music, language and STEM classes, even amid a 6.2% enrollment decline since 2019.

Creating and nurturing inclusive schools is a budget priority because students make academic progress when they feel safe and cared for, Ahmed added.

She is supported by the Oregon Education Associations political action committee, which gave her $500, and by the Democratic Party of Oregon[JG1] , which made an in-kind contribution of $250. In total, she has raised nearly $12,000 so far, campaign finance records show.

If elected, Potter said she will focus on collaboration between students, staff and parents, while guarding against outside forces with what she called personal, political or bureaucratic agendas.

Board members need to listen to all constituents and have the discernment, knowledge base and courage to determine what is in the best interest of students, she wrote in answers to a candidate questionnaire sent by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Potters key supporters include the BOLD Beaverton political action committee, a group that supports progressive candidates, which contributed $1,100 to her campaign. Shes raised about $7,800 so far, campaign finance records show.

Clemens said one of her chief concerns is the narrowing and reduction of core curriculum classes, including math, English, science and social studies.

Values education has always included compassion, teamwork and citizenship, Clemens wrote in her candidate questionnaire. Today, districts have expanded this curriculum to include social justice issues. Most parents are unaware of what this includes and unaware of topics dropped to make room.

She has not reported raising any money, campaign finance records show.

POSITION 6

The two candidates for Position 6 have very different visions for the districts future.

Justice Rajee, the director of Reimagine Oregon, a racial justice nonprofit, pinpoints declining enrollment and the need for mental health supports for students as the key issues facing the district and its students.

Enrollment impacts our funding and student health impacts every students learning experience, he said.

His notable donations include $1,000 from Planned Parenthood of Oregons political action committee and $500 from the Oregon Education Associations political action committee. All together, Rajee has raised nearly $20,000 so far, the most of any candidate running for a seat on the board, campaign finance records show.

His opponent, Jeff Myers, the director of technology sales operations for a data security and management company, has focused on student safety and discipline issues, and says that if elected, hed work to shift the district away from its focus on Restorative Justice, a mediation program thats an alternative to traditional disciplinary practices.

The district also has made poor curriculum choices, like the Units of Study for reading that was discredited years ago, he wrote in answer to the newsrooms questionnaire. As a board member  I will not be the districts rubber stamp.

His supporters include the Washington County Republican Central Committee, which donated $500. Myers has raised a total of about $5,000 so far, campaign finance records show.

 Julia Silverman, @jrlsilverman, jsilverman@oregonian.com
Jeff Myers and Justice Rajee are running against each other for a seat on the Beaverton School Board.

Myers is the director of technology sales operations for a data security and management company and the parent of a fifth and eighth grader in the district. Rajee is the director of Reimagine Oregon, a racial justice-focused nonprofit. He is the parent of a current high school junior in the district and of another student who has graduated.

The Oregonian/OregonLive asked them both six key questions designed to help voters make their choice in the May 16 election. Some of their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Read their responses below.

What do you consider the two most pressing issues in the Beaverton public school system to be and why? How will you address these as a board member?

Myers: Safety and academics are the top issues. We were seeing increases in classroom disruptions and violence before the pandemic. These issues began soon after the district joined a research study in the 2013-14 school year to test a new approach to discipline. Their own data shows it failed, yet they still use it to this day. The district also has made poor curriculum choices, like the Units of Study for Reading that was discredited years ago. As a board member, I will advocate for changes to proven and effective programs. I will not be the districts rubber stamp.

Rajee: Our two most pressing issues are our declining enrollment and mental health support for our students as they continue to recover from the pandemic. Enrollment impacts our funding and student health impacts every students learning experience. As a board member I will take a solutions-based approach to find the means to maintain our current services and work collaboratively with my peers, our administration, teachers and community to find sustainable solutions.

Do you think that armed school resource offices should be in the districts middle and high schools? Why or why not?

Myers: Yes, absolutely. Our district, like many others around Oregon, engaged with outside consultants to review the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. In short, the final report was light on evidence and heavy on activism. SROs receive additional training on operating in schools and work hard to build relationships, engage positively, and keep everyone safe. They have a tough job, and Im glad they still choose to do it while some in the community have tried to remove them. Finally, just look at the districts that removed SROs. They are already trying to bring them back.

Rajee: No, in my experience working with youth and families involved with the justice system, there is no evidence that officers stationed at schools provide any higher level of protection. Their presence raises the risk that they are asked to operate in ways that are not appropriate for an officer and place students from communities of color, those experiencing mental health crises, and other marginalized communities at risk for unwarranted contact with the criminal justice system. Police should operate in a call-for-service capacity with our schools in the manner they serve and protect us at our homes, public spaces, and businesses.

How will you balance the needs of students and teachers as represented by their unions, should those be at odds?

Myers: The needs of students and teachers are similar  safe schools and classrooms, academics not activism and smaller class sizes. I believe the more relevant question is what to do when teachers needs are at odds with their union leaders. In the last contract negotiation for example, the unions initial proposal had some real head scratchers. They wanted teachers to have complete autonomy for what and how to teach and they demanded the district continue their commitment to the failed student disciplinary approach thats led to classrooms in crisis. How are these truly representative of teachers needs?

Rajee: Parents and teachers are united in the desire to have strong public schools that give every student the opportunity to find their passion and reach their potential. There are no schools without teachers and students. They go together. The conflicts that arise in operations of our schools have more to do with management decisions, operation choices and the larger societal issues that can play out in our schools. The kids want to learn and the teachers want to teach.

Some school districts have been criticized for giving too little information and influence to parents versus to professional educators and district leaders. What level would you say your district gives parents at this time: Too much, too little or just right? Why do you think so?

Myers: This can vary a lot between schools, especially with a larger district like Beaverton. I believe most parents and guardians feel they have good communication with the primary teachers for their children. The criticism often comes when schools or entire districts make it difficult to find information or outright try to hide it. Ive witnessed this first-hand in Beaverton, and all it does is strain relationships and erode trust. I think there may be good intentions behind some decisions to withhold information, but we must acknowledge and deal with the outcomes. More transparency is needed.

Rajee: When I have engaged with the district as a parent and a community member, I have felt heard. Over the years, I have seen growth in the districts effort to find balance between professional educators expertise and parents experience. I think there is a sincere commitment to be more inclusive and responsive to the broad diversity in our district in recent years, and I think there is a lot of room for more growth and improvement. We have to have a collaborative spirit to build the best schools and serve all of our students. I intend to serve in this spirit.

Enrollment has declined 6.2% since 2019 at the Beaverton School District, but the academic and social/emotional needs of remaining students are no less intense. If budget cuts are necessary in response to the declining in enrollment, what would you propose for cuts? What would you prioritize or protect?

Myers: Over the past 20 years in Oregon weve seen steady declines in the percentage of teachers compared to all school staff. De-prioritizing teachers has led to higher class sizes and lower student achievement. Sprinkle in a failed approach to student discipline and poor curriculum choices and its no surprise enrollment is declining at an unprecedented level. We can bring students and their families back to public schools by prioritizing proven, evidence-supported approaches. Restore high expectations of our students and invest in teachers to reduce class sizes and caseloads. This district has tried to prioritize everything, which simply doesnt work.

Rajee: My priority when making decisions about cuts will center what is best for our kids. I will collaborate with my peers on the school board to make sure we are not sacrificing the well-being of kids with higher social, emotional, or medical needs in service to balancing our budget. I will push us to be creative and rigorous, engaging our teachers, classified staff, and parents to find the solutions we can and commit to renewing those commitments as we go forward together.

Whats your opinion of the performance of Superintendent Balderas? How would you hold him accountable in the future?

Myers: I really appreciate how Superintendent Balderas has prioritized connecting with the community, which is something his predecessor failed to do. Throughout the year he has hosted public coffee chats and listening sessions in schools around the district, and Ive attended several as well. As for judging his performance, I think its too early to tell but Im cautiously optimistic. Our school board conducts annual performance evaluations of the Superintendent, but most never see them. I think we need to establish clear goals & measurements, engage families & staff for feedback and share the results publicly.

Rajee: I have gotten to know Superintendent Balderas in the recent months. He has been proactive in reaching out to the community and making decisions that consider the needs and support the success of our diverse student body. As a board member, I would ensure that we engage with direct and clear communication and ensure that the voices of those most directly impacted by our policy decisions are represented and considered. I intend to serve in a manner that honors his professional experience but does not shy away from posing the difficult questions that arise when balancing competing priorities.
Press Release

May 9, 2023 CHIZ PUSHES FOR GENUINE AUTONOMY AND EMPOWERMENT OF LGUS While local governments are cutting red tape, they remain victims of excessive controls by the national government, resulting in inefficiencies that slow down the delivery of public services, Sen. Chiz Escudero said. Escudero is calling for "an audit of this glut of orders from the national government, so the unnecessary ones will be repealed." Drawing from his experience as Sorsogon governor, he has filed bills that will scrap "Made-in-Manila directives" that hinder effective LGU administration, "many of which have been issued by those who have never even served as barangay kagawad." "What these out-of-touch bureaucrats don't realize is that what may look good on paper or in Powerpoint will do bad on the ground," he said. And if there is one official today who has experienced the problems created by "national government overreach on LGUs, it is the President himself, "Escudero said. An Ilocos Norte governor for nine years, President Marcos Jr "is now in the position to help LGU executives get rid of the administrative baggage that the central government has imposed on them," Escudero said. "We can begin by granting LGUs more say on how to utilize their Internal Revenue Allocations and local revenues. Kasi ngayon parang tied grant itong IRA. Eh kung tutuusin, buwis ito ng tao na ibinalik lang sa kanila," he said. Escudero has filed Senate Bill 51 which "prohibits any form of interference by national government ggencies with the use of the national tax allotments and locally generated revenues of LGUs." A more comprehensive checklist of reforms that will strengthen local autonomy and improve government decentralization is contained in Escudero's SB 52. "There are other reforms which can be done administratively like shrinking the areas, cutting the documents, reducing the number of signatories from national government agencies on activities local government are doing, "he said "Halimbawa, ay mga klase ng travel order ng isang ordinaryong kawani na kailangan pang pirmahan ng Secretary of Interior and Local Government, "he said. There also purchases which have to be approved by Manila, "an example of how financial remote control is making life hard for the people below." In contrast, national government is given wider leeway in allocating or obligating funds, or in borrowing money, Escudero said. "LGU ka na uutang ng pera para sa isang trak ng basura, ang haba ng proseso. Pero ang National Government kung uutang, wagas. Bilyon-bilyon, ni ha, ni ho sa Kongreso, wala. No public hearing. But in the end, sino magbabayad ng mga ito? Taumbayan, "he said. He said the memoranda and circulars that the DBM, DILG, COA, CSC, DOF have issued should be reviewed, and those which are too restrictive, those that hamper LGU operations and autonomy should be repealed." "Tapos kung merong bagong fad on public administration, na nakukuha sa seminars abroad, these are experimented on LGUs, ginagawang guinea pigs," Escudero said. "The President has been there, done that. He should champion these reforms. He should free LGUs from red tape by the national government," he said. While local governments are cutting red tape, they remain victims of excessive controls by the national government, resulting in inefficiencies that slow down the delivery of public services, Sen. Chiz Escudero said.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Indonesia's Labuan Bajo. Photo by VNA

Vietnam and Indonesia should strengthen their maritime cooperation and set up hotlines for fishers, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Indonesian President Joko Widodo Tuesday.

At a meeting in Labuan Bajo Town in Indonesia, he said the two sides should foster commercial ties, and called on Indonesia to allow Vietnamese goods better access to its markets.

The leaders agreed to increase official exchanges, utilize bilateral cooperation mechanisms and implement agreements the two nations have signed to achieve deeper and more comprehensive cooperation.

Widodo said he greatly valued Chinh's counsel and that Indonesia highly regarded its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two sides agreed to step up cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation.

On issues related to the South China Sea, both sides reiterated their support to ASEAN's central role and common stance and for all parties abiding by international laws and agreements.

Also on Tuesday Chinh met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

The two leaders agreed to effectively implement bilateral agreements and help each other build their economies.

They agreed to mutually provide opportunities to businesses in the two countries, especially in areas such as border trade.

Chinh is participating in activities within the framework of the 42nd ASEAN Summit being held from May 9 to 11 at Labuan Bajo.

Leaders of ASEAN member countries and around 550 other delegates are participating in the event.
If you missed 65, the epic featuring Adam Driver, dinosaurs and woodsy Oregon locations, when it played in theaters, now you have another chance to watch the action. The film is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Roku and more.

The plot of 65 finds Driver playing Commander Mills, who undertakes a space mission as a means of earning enough money to pay for life-saving medical care for his daughter. When his craft crashes on another planet, it strands Mills and the only other survivor, a girl named Koa (Ariana Greenblatt).

The two must then fight to survive against dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, because it turns out theyve crash-landed on Earth -- as it was 65 million years ago.

To play the role of prehistoric Earth, the production turned to locations in Ireland, Louisiana and Oregon, in such places as Meyers Creek Beach, in Gold Beach; Coos Bay; Whaleshead Beach, in Brookings; Agness; and Elk Creek Falls.

To promote 65, Driver was a guest on late-night talk shows, including an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, during which Driver and Meyers discussed why Oregon and Louisiana were ideal locations for Earth as it was 65 million years ago.

Related: Adam Driver and Seth Meyers joke about Oregon and Louisiana being perfect prehistoric locations for 65

According to the Oregon Governors Office of Film & TV, during filming of 65, the production spent $1.5 million in payroll on Oregon crew members; 528,403 on coastal hotel and accommodations; $39,500 on Curry County location fees; and more than $20,000 on food and restaurants.

The film is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place). The 65 filming happened during the first wave of COVID and, according to Variety, 65 finished production in February, 2021, and opened in theaters earlier this year, on March 10.

On May 30, 65 will be available on 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition), Blu-ray and DVD. Those versions will include special features, such as Creating the world of 65; Primordial Planet; deleted and extended scenes; Final Showdown: Concepts to screen; and more.

 Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

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Eleven attorneys general, including Oregons Ellen Rosenblum, have asked a federal consumer watchdog agency to gather more information on the health hazards posed by gas stoves and establish rules to protect consumers.

In a letter sent Monday, Rosenblum and her colleagues asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop either voluntary standards or mandatory regulations like venting and shut-off valves that will reduce emissions of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter from gas stoves.

Their letter, sent in response to the commissions gas stove fact-finding process, says the emissions disproportionately impact lower-income people who live in smaller apartments with poor ventilation or use gas stoves as a source of heat. Theyre also especially harmful to children, the elderly and people with respiratory illnesses, though that conclusion has generated hot political debate.

Among the findings they cite:

 A recent study conducted in conjunction with the New York Public Housing Authority that found cooking with gas stoves resulted in indoor air concentrations of nitrogen dioxide that exceeded Environmental Protection Agency standards set for outdoor air to protect sensitive groups.

 Studies that show children living in a home with a gas stove are 42 percent more likely to experience asthma symptoms than children who live in homes with an electric stove and a recent peer-reviewed paper that found roughly 13% of childhood asthma (about one in eight cases) in the U.S. can be attributed to gas stove use.

 A Multnomah County report from last November that recommended transitioning away from gas stoves because their emissions can be especially harmful to children.

In January, a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission suggested his agency might take regulatory action on gas stoves, prompting a sharp rebuke from the gas industry, Republican lawmakers and from consumers professing love for their gas stoves.

The commission later said it did not have immediate plans to ban gas stoves.

But the dilemma surrounding gas appliances has lingered as the federal government, states and local governments move toward electric power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions  including requiring consumers or offering incentives to swap gas stoves and furnaces for electric convection ovens and heat pumps.

The consumer commission is charged with protecting the public from dangerous products, including by issuing and enforcing standards or banning products. It has used its authority to develop standards for childrens toys containing lead or portable generators that emit carbon monoxide.

Gas stoves now are not required to meet any safety or performance standards related to emissions, other than curbing carbon monoxide concentrations. The attorneys general say the commission should require more expansive consumer warning labels about gas stove pollution and launch a public education campaign to increase awareness of the emissions associated with gas stoves.

The letter urges the commission to mandate proper ventilation of gas stoves, since many state and local building codes dont require range hoods to vent outdoors. And because studies show that people often dont use their vents, the letter urges the commission to require ones that automatically turn on every time a stove is used.

The officials also ask the commission to require automatic shut-off valves and pollution sensors to prevent stoves from leaking pollution when not in use.

In February, the city of Eugene became the first city in Oregon to ban natural gas appliances in new homes. But the ordinance proved controversial and is now on hold after opponents  funded largely by NW Natural, Oregons largest investor-owned gas utility  submitted enough signatures to put it to a citywide vote. A recent court decision has put another question mark on the future of the ordinance.

NW Natural spokesman David Roy said the utility is aware of the letter and the commissions fact-finding process, but needs more time to evaluate the studies mentioned in the letter.

We agree indoor air quality is an important issue that needs to be thoughtfully researched and assessed with sound science. A focus on objective technical information is key to safety. When assessing air quality and health risks, factors like accurate measurements and well-designed studies are critical, Roy said in an emailed statement.

 Gosia Wozniacka; gwozniacka@oregonian.com; @gosiawozniacka

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Gov. Tina Kotek announced on Tuesday that she plans to wait until after the May 16 election to reveal whom she will appoint as Oregons next secretary of state.

The position became vacant on Monday upon the resignation of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, following news that Fagan had secretly accepted a consulting contract with a troubled marijuana company that paid $10,000 per month. Oregons secretary of state is paid a $77,000 annual salary for the full-time job.

Local elections are already underway across the state and will culminate in Election Day on May 16, Kotek noted in a statement. I do not want to distract from the important work of the staff in the Secretary of States Office and the elections team who are working to ensure the election goes smoothly and without disruption, Kotek said. Therefore, I will announce updates on my plans to appoint a new secretary of state after the election.

The appointee must be of the same party as the previous elected secretary of state and Fagan is a Democrat.

There has been intense speculation about who Kotek is considering for the job and whether she will select a caretaker who will not seek election as secretary of state in 2024, when the secretary of state will oversee Oregons presidential election.

Melissa Unger, the executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 503 who has advised Kotek on political decisions in the past, said the stakes are indeed very high for the 2024 election. Oregonians could benefit from having a trustworthy secretary of state, she said, because we might see a presidential candidate on the ballot who has raised concerns about election results.

An important consideration will be how does (the next secretary of state) lift up the safety and security of voting and really making people trust it, Unger said.

However, Unger said she does not believe that the appointees intention to run for secretary of state in 2024 or not is the most important consideration. Its hard to only choose people who are never going to run because it removes a lot of people from the process who may be good at the job, Unger said. Whether they will run again or not will be asked, but Im not sure its the most important question as the governor chooses someone.

 Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; 503-294-4034; @hborrud
Police tackled and arrested a woman who was experiencing a mental health crisis and was refusing to leave Sherwood High School on Monday.

The Sherwood police department said the unidentified woman entered the school from the front office at 11:55 a.m. and was acting erratic. She did not respond to school staff and had no reason to be at the school, police said.

The schools resource officer, James Wolfer, responded and asked the woman to leave multiple times, but she refused, police said. Wolfer made a physical takedown, and put handcuffs on the woman.

Police said she continued to resist, and more officers responded to the scene. She was taken outside and put in a patrol car. No other force was used during the encounter, police said. School officials put the campus on lockdown out of an abundance of caution and to see if anyone else was with the woman. There wasnt, police said.

Officers called the Washington County Mental Health team to investigate. The team determined the woman should be placed on a mental health hold, and she was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, police said.

Police did not identify the woman, citing the mental health component as the reason.

She also had a misdemeanor warrant for failing to appear in court in Washington County, police said.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
Reflections at the end of a five-year research programme focusing on the future of Aotearoa New Zealands hill country farming sector

Aotearoa New Zealand's hill country sheep and beef farming industry is at a crossroads and many farmers are feeling under immense pressure recognising that todays business as usual is not going to meet the scale of change being requested of them. Building the resilience of hill country farm businesses and the farmers themselves is a priority for the industry.

To tackle this challenge, the Hill Country Futures ( HCF ) Partnership programme was established. It was co-funded by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+ LNZ ), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, PGG Wrightson Seeds and RAGT New Zealand and finished in 2023.

Preliminary research from the HCF programme highlighted industry-wide concerns about perceived declines in farmer wellbeing. Validating these concerns proved difficult due to the limited use of social metrics in farm evaluation tools. This lead the HCF research team to investigate how to evaluate farm-system resilience through the lens of farmer wellbeing. The result was FarmSalus; a tool that enables farmers to evaluate the overall resilience of their farm system whilst simultaneously reflecting on their own health and wellbeing and how this impacts the resilience of their farm.

In this presentation Dr Katherine Dixon and Madison Seymour will give a brief overview of the process that led to the development of FarmSalus and explain how it is being used in the industry.

About the speakers

Madison Seymour

Madison is social scientist and science communicator at Nature Positive where she supports system change through work with New Zealand business and sustainability research. She specialises in agri-food systems and is motivated by the possibilities of collective action for regenerative natural and social ecosystems. Madison is a social researcher for the Hill Country Futures Programme.

Katherine Dixon

Katherine has worked in the sustainability sector for over 20 years. She currently works at Nature Positive where she combines her skills in governance, ecology and social science to deliver the best possible outcomes for business, nature and communities. She is a senior researcher on the Hill Country Futures programme.

Zoom

This seminar will be available to watch live online via Zoom:

Zoom link for FarmSalus sustainability seminar

Zoom password: 532120

Date Thursday, 18 May 2023 Time 12:00pm - 1:00pm Audience Public,All University Event Type Seminar

Campus Dunedin Department Centre for Sustainability Location Toroa Seminar Room, Centre for Sustainability, 563 Castle St, Dunedin, and online via Zoom Cost Free Contact Name Mary-Jane Campbell or Nicki Topliss Contact Phone +64 3 479 5220 Contact Email centre-sustainability@otago.ac.nz

Save this event
We are celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the Schuman Declaration today, called Europe Day. What that meant for Europe at that time and what its significance is today is worth remembering.

The Second World War had left Europe decimated and poor. The Soviet Union was increasing its influence in the Eastern Europe countries it had liberated from the Nazis, to the displeasure of the United States and Great Britain. Just a few years after the end of a horrible war which claimed millions of lives, tensions were brewing again and an arms race was taking place between The United States and the Soviet Union- a cold war had started. There were also fears that France and Germany, perennial archenemies, would start another conflict.

This was the European landscape when Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer entered the scene with a bold move. Jean Monnet was the director of the French National Planning Agency for Modernization and Infrastructure and one of the authors of the Schuman declaration. He insisted that the only way France could be safe and prosperous was by economic cooperation among the countries in Europe. The way he envisioned this cooperation was by integrating key sectors of the economy- coal and steel- in order to create true solidarity. There would be a High Authority, a totally independent and supranational body which would regulate and supervise the pooling of the steel and coal production. He convinced Robert Schuman- the French Foreign Affairs Minister- of this idea, who in turn discussed it with German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and got his agreement. The entire process was secretive, so that Schumans declaration on 9 May 1950 came as a surprise for many. His words were prophetic, the ideas therein transformative.

Very soon after the Declaration, France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux started negotiations for a treaty. Monnets original idea was expanded and the Benelux countries asked for a Council of ministers and a Common Assembly to be added to the High Authority, which were the predecessors of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, respectively. The European Court of Justice was set up at the same time. Almost a year later, in 1951, the European Steel & Coal Community Treaty was signed by the group of six countries in Paris. In 1958, Robert Schuman became the President of the Common Assembly (the European Parliament today) and was named the Father of Europe.

These days, we are desperately in need of visionaries and peace-builders like Schuman, Monnet and Adenauer. War is raging through our continent once again and an innovative, creative solution is needed. We hope and pray for an end to the fighting and for a constructive, democratic way forward. We believe it is possible, as the historical events we are celebrating today have proved.

Monnets original vision, the Schuman plan of creating a common market regulated by supranational institutions worked and has been the foundation on which we built strong, democratic, prosperous European countries. It was a brilliant idea to achieve peace and reconciliation through economic and political integration. For all its faults and shortcomings, the European Union was successful at what it set out to do. And that deserves a yearly celebration.
Tuesday 9 May 2023 12:42pm

The number of people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand last year is encouraging, but there is still work to be done, the head of the AIDS Epidemiology Group says.

Figures released today by the University of Otago group show 135 people were notified with HIV in 2022, of whom 76 were first diagnosed in New Zealand and 53 were reported to have acquired HIV locally.

The number of people diagnosed in New Zealand (76) has increased only slightly from 2021 (67) but continues to represent a 51 per cent drop from the annual average of 138 over the preceding five years (2016 to 2020).

AIDS Epidemiology Group leader Dr Sue McAllister says the results continue to be encouraging.

The low number diagnosed in 2021 was likely to have been impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, therefore, it is encouraging that the number diagnosed in 2022 has not greatly increased since the lifting of COVID19 restrictions.

Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men ( MSM ) are the group most affected by HIV in New Zealand. Of the 76 people diagnosed in New Zealand in 2022, 45 were MSM , 17 were heterosexually acquired (8 men and 9 women), and for 14 people the means of acquisition was reported as other or unknown.

Of the 45 MSM diagnosed in 2022  who were aged from 18 to 86  34 were reported to have acquired HIV in New Zealand  only a slight increase from the 29 reported in 2021.

With the recent release of the National HIV Action Plan for Aotearoa New Zealand that includes a target of 90 per cent reduction in locally acquired infections compared to a 2010 baseline it is encouraging to see the number of locally acquired infections in 2022 has remained relatively stable, she says.

However, there is still work to be done, Dr McAllister says.

 HIV transmission still exists in New Zealand so it is important to continue the main prevention efforts; condom use, uptake and adherence to PrEP, regular HIV testing and testing for other sexually transmitted infections.

With over half (59 per cent) of MSM who acquired HIV in New Zealand aged over 40 years, and of all ethnicities, it is important that prevention efforts are delivered to all MSM and that testing services are culturally safe.

In heterosexual men and women, the numbers remained small and relatively stable during the past 10 years. However, about half of these men and women are diagnosed with HIV late and have not had antiretroviral treatment to control progression of their infection.

Two deaths from AIDS were reported in 2022, but that number could rise due to delayed reporting, and data from Pharmac shows there were 3,033 people receiving subsidised antiretroviral therapy at the end of June 2022.

The AIDS Epidemiology Group is based in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago. It is funded by the Ministry of Health to undertake epidemiological surveillance of HIV infection and AIDS in New Zealand.

Publication details

AIDS  New Zealand newsletter, issue 82, May 2023 (PDF)

For more information, contact:

Dr Sue McAllister

Leader AIDS Epidemiology Group

Tel +64 3 479 7108

Email sue.mcallister@otago.ac.nz

Lea Jones

Communications Adviser, Media Engagement

University of Otago

Mob +64 21 279 4969

Email lea.jones@otago.ac.nz

For comments on preventive measures for HIV in New Zealand, contact:

Rafael Ortiz

Media Liaison, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa

Mob +64 27 573 1740

Email rafael.ortiz@burnettfoundation.org.nz

For comments on findings on sexual behaviour of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in New Zealand, contact:

Dr Peter Saxton

Director, Gay Mens Sexual Health Research Group

Department of Social and Community Health, University of Auckland

Tel +64 9 373 7599 ext. 81434

Email p.saxton@auckland.ac.nz
A Huron County jury found a former resident of the Huron County Medical Care Facility guilty on Tuesday afternoon of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for inappropriately touching a female resident who was mentally incapacitated.

The jury deliberated less than an hour to convict Bruce Bradley Ginther, 67, of groping the 67-year-old woman in a hallway of the facility on Oct. 22, 2021.

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $500.

Ginther, who currently resides in a Detroit-area nursing facility, will also be required to register with the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.

The Huron Daily Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The one-day trial featured testimony from the victim's younger sister, Huron County Sheriff's Department Detective Daryl Ford, care facility employees as well as the head of the Huron County Public Guardian's office

During Tuesday's testimony, the victim's sister told Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Wallace her sister had the mental capacity of a 2- to 3-year-old child.

The prosecution also showed body cam video of Ford interviewing Ginther in his room at the care facility, During the interview, Ginther admitted to touching the woman, telling the detective "I did something stupid and I regret it."

Defense attorney Andrew Lockard argued that Ginther's medical condition  Parkinson's Disease  played a role in the incident and the contact was unintentional and occurred when the victim attempted to hug his client, who was sitting in a wheelchair in a hallway at the facility.

Ginther took the stand as the defense's only witness and testified that the woman, who resided in the room next to his, was his friend and the contact happened when she tried to hug him and he put up his hands to push her away from him.

Huron County 52nd Circuit Court Judge Gerald M. Prill scheduled sentencing for Monday, June 26 at 9 a.m. Ginther remains free on bond.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims.

Monday, May 8

9:17 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township business regarding a 28-year-old store clerk reporting that two unknown males attempted to scam the store for $350. The males didn't get any money and left the store.

8:04 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Greendale Township residence for a larceny complaint. A 22-year-old man said both catalytic converters were taken from his truck. The converters were valued at approximately $1,500. There are no suspects.

6:31 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence for a 76-year-old woman requesting a well-being check on her 77-year-old brother. Deputies contacted the man, who stated he was okay and that he would call his sister.

5:54 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a 33-year-old woman requesting a well-being check on her 33-year-old ex-boyfriend. Deputies called the man, who stated he was okay and didn't need any assistance.

5:53 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township location regarding a private property damage crash complaint. Complainant did not wish for a crash report to be completed.

4:34 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a missing vehicle. It was discovered that the caller's daughter had permission to use the vehicle. Deputies were called off before arriving on scene.

4:38 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to speak with a 63-year-old Lincoln Township man regarding a lost license plate. The license plate was entered as lost and the owner was advised to contact the secretary of state for a replacement.

3:52 p.m. - Police were called to E. Ashman and Washington streets for a property damage crash.

2:51 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a 33-year-old woman stating she was arguing with the 49-year-old female homeowner. The parties were separated, and no physical assault occurred.

12:16 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Mills Township residence for an unlawful entry report. A 41-year-old man alleged that his 64-year-old mother had entered his home without his permission. The woman was trespassed from the venue and a report was submitted to the prosecutor for review.

11:27 a.m. - Police responded to Airport Road and Sturgeon Avenue for a property damage crash.

9 a.m. - Deputies investigated a referral from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding possible physical abuse of two sisters, ages 7 and 8, by their father in Greendale Township. The two sisters were interviewed and did not disclose that their father had been physically abusive towards them. No further investigation was warranted at this time.

3:06 a.m. - A deputy transported a 30-year-old Buena Vista Township woman from Freeland to the Midland County Jail without incident. The woman was arrested by Michigan State Police in Buena Vista for a contempt of court warrant out of Midland County courts.

12:12 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Mount Haley Township residence regarding a verbal argument between a 53-year-old man and a 36-year-old man. The younger man left with his girlfriend prior to the deputies' arrival. The girlfriend returned a while later. At the request of the complainant, the deputies informed the woman she was no longer welcome there.
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. Rep. George Santos, who faced outrage and mockery over a litany of fabrications about his heritage, education and professional pedigree, has been charged with federal criminal offenses, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The charges against Santos, filed in the Eastern District of New York, remain under seal.

The people could not publicly discuss specific details of the case until it is unsealed and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The unsealing would happen when Santos appears in court, which could come as soon as Wednesday.

Reached on Tuesday, Santos said, This is news to me.

Youre the first to call me about this, he said in a brief phone interview.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office declined to comment. The charges were first reported by CNN.

The New York Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street background, college degrees and a history as a star volleyball player. Serious questions about his finances also surfaced  including the source of what he claimed was a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands of dollars in back rent.

Santos has resisted calls to resign and recently announced he was running for reelection. He said his lies about his life story, which included telling people he had jobs at several global financial firms and a lavish real estate portfolio, were harmless embellishments of his resume.

Pressure on him to quit, though, has been intense. Reporters and members of the public hounded him. He was mocked on social media and late-night television. Fellow New York Republicans demanded he resign, saying he had betrayed voters and his own party with his lies.

Nassau County prosecutors and the New York attorney generals office had previously said they were looking into possible violations of the law.

Besides questions about his life story, Santos campaign spending stoked scrutiny because of unusual payments for travel, lodging and other items.

The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center lodged a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and urged regulators to investigate Santos. The mountain of lies Santos propagated during the campaign about his life story and qualifications, the center said, should prompt the commission to thoroughly investigate what appear to be equally brazen lies about how his campaign raised and spent money.

In his filings with the FEC, Santos initially said he loaned his campaign and related political action committees more than $750,000  money he claimed came from a family company.

Yet, the wealth necessary to make those loans seems to have emerged from nowhere. In a financial disclosure statement filed with the clerk of the U.S. House in 2020, Santos said he had no assets and an annual income of $55,000.

His company, the Devolder Organization, wasnt incorporated until spring 2021. Yet last September, Santos filed another financial disclosure form reporting that this new company, incorporated in Florida, had paid him a $750,000 salary in each of the last two years, plus another $1 million to $5 million in dividends. In one interview, Santos described the Devolder Organization as a business that helped rich people buy things like yachts and aircraft.

Court records indicate Santos was the subject of three eviction proceedings in Queens between 2014 and 2017 because of unpaid rent.

Some Republicans, including those in his district, have sharply castigated Santos for his dishonesty. The Nassau County Republican Committee, which had supported his candidacy, said it would not support Santos for reelection.

Santos lost his first race for Congress in 2020 but ran again in 2022 and won in a district that is in the suburbs of Long Island and a sliver of Queens.

A local newspaper, the North Shore Leader, had raised issues about Santos background before the election but it was not until a few weeks after the election that the depth of his duplicity became public.

The New York Times reported that companies where Santos claimed to have worked, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, had no record of him having been an employee. Baruch College, where Santos claimed to have gotten a degree in finance and economics, said he hadnt been a student.

Beyond his resume, Santos invented a life story that has also come under question, including claims that his grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII.

During his campaign, he referred to himself as a proud American Jew.

Confronted with questions about that story, Santos, a Roman Catholic, said he never intended to claim Jewish heritage.

The Times also uncovered records in Brazil that show Santos, when he was 19, was the subject of a criminal investigation there in 2008 over allegations he used stolen checks to buy items at a clothing shop in the city of Niteroi, which is near Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian authorities said they have reopened the case.

___

Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak in New York and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.
Novelist Judy Blume and her straightforward depictions of menstruation, masturbation and teenage sexual desire came along a little too late for me.

By the time her groundbreaking 1970 novel "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" became popular, I was in high school and thought her books were for little kids. My friends and I, after all, had already passed around a dog-eared copy of Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls," in junior high, so we were beyond fretting about when our periods would start and our boobs would pop. We wanted to read about the fraught lives of Hollywood's pill-popping sexpots.

Which is why it took me so long to read Blume's seminal work. Two years ago, I read it with my then-11-year-old niece, who lives with me. She was not interested in all the "our changing bodies" books I kept throwing at her. "Nope," she'd say. "Not gonna happen to me."

Maybe a good novel would help pierce the veil of her denial?

I'm not sure it did, but we did love the book, and we discovered, to our delight, that it delved into topics even deeper than the physiological changes of the adolescent female body.

"Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" was also  and maybe even mostly  a story about an 11-year-old girl caught between the two belief systems of her parents' families: Christianity and Judaism. It was about a girl trying to decide whether God really exists, about her dismay upon learning that her mother's Christian parents disowned their daughter for marrying a Jew. She puzzles over whether she should choose one religion over the other. "But if you aren't any religion," asks Margaret's friend, "how are you going to know if you should join the Y or the Jewish Community Center?"

In her quest, Margaret attends temple with her grandmother, church services with friends and, unwittingly, confession at a Catholic church (which she flees when she realizes she has nothing to tell the priest).

It is not until the end of the book, when she spies blood in her undies, that she has an epiphany: "I know you're there, God. I know you wouldn't have missed this for anything! Thank you God. Thanks an awful lot."

Ah, the perfectly rendered narcissism of youth.

In a case of great timing, one week before the movie version of "Margaret" hit theaters April 28, the documentary "Judy Blume Forever" was released on Prime Video. This is why you have probably been hearing and reading so much about Blume lately. Now 85, she is well overdue for this kind of attention.

After all, her professional trajectory perfectly recapitulates her times. A 1960s housewife raising two kids in suburban New Jersey, she was married to an attorney who "allowed" her to write as long as dinner was on the table when he got home from work.

When her first book made a splash, she says, other moms on her block resented her. As her popularity grew, her books came under fire for their frank approach to adolescent and teen life, and her marriage crumbled. She wanted more. So she kept writing, kept selling books, which kept getting banned. She divorced, remarried and divorced again before finding her soul mate.

The documentary includes many clips of Blume's interviews over the years, including a 1984 appearance on the political show "Crossfire," during which the conservative pundit Pat Buchanan accused her of being obsessed with sex.

"Deenie," her 1973 novel in question, is about a teenage girl with scoliosis whose domineering mother wants her to be a model. At night, to relax and go to sleep, the stressed-out Deenie touches "her special place" and feels much better. That's as explicit as Blume gets.

"Why can't you write an interesting book for 10-year-olds without getting into a discussion about masturbation?" hectors Buchanan.

The generally soft-spoken Blume finally erupts: "Are you hung up about masturbation? One scene in one book!"

I can only think that this kind of attack, this kind of attention, has helped make Blume into one of the bestselling authors of all time: 90 million books sold, and counting.

As the young-adult historian and author Gabrielle Moss, one of many Blume fans interviewed in the documentary, quips: "Come for the female masturbation, stay for the empowerment."

In 2017, Yale University acquired 50 years' worth of Blume's writings and correspondence. At one time, she was receiving between 1,000 and 2,000 letters a month. She seems to have kept them all, and some are excerpted in the documentary.

Touchingly, Blume developed decades-long relationships with her young correspondents, two of whom the documentary tracked down. One, Karen Chilstrom, says Blume saved her life. She wrote to Blume in 1982, when she was 12, to talk about the suicide of her 17-year-old brother. Later, she reveals to Blume that her brother had molested her for seven years.

"I just needed to be able to tell another human being, 'Look what happened to me,'" Chilstrom says. "Judy was my last chance."

Blume's kindness is the emotional high point of the documentary: "Remember, if you do get overwhelmed by your feelings, you can write about them," she wrote to Chilstrom. "Whether it's in letters to me, or your journal or whatever. Keep getting those feelings out."

Blume has helped generations of kids get "those feelings" out. The repressed adults (still) trying to ban her novels should instead sit down, shut up and actually read the books.
Northern Syria is currently the home of some 10,000 former ISIS fighters - the largest concentration of terrorists in the world. About 5,000 of them are Syrians, 3,000 Iraqis, and 2,000 are foreign fighters from 60 countries outside of Syria and Iraq. Most of these men were captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces, with support by the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, in early 2019, as ISIS tried and failed to hold onto the town of Baghuz, its last foothold in Syria.

Today, these men live in the Al Hol detention camp on the outskirts of the town of the same name. Living with them in Al Hol and another camp, the Roj facility, are their families: around 56,000 non-combatants, including young children, some of whom were born in the detention facilities.

These people are waiting to be repatriated to their home countries. However, although the rate of repatriation has picked up over the past year or so, the home countries of these detainees are often unwilling or slow to take back their citizens. Those detainees who were allowed to return home were mostly women and children.

While repatriation of women and children is important and urgent, the hard truth is that countries must also repatriate men and youth in detention and rehabilitation centers, said Ian Moss, the U.S. State Departments Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism with responsibility for Terrorist Detention and Countering Violent Extremism.

We hear time and time again leaders say their domestic publics are opposed to repatriation. They argue that the fighters, if they are successfully prosecuted, could risk radicalizing prison populations. They also express concern that returnees who are unable to be prosecuted could plan future terrorist attacks or promote violence.

There is indeed a risk of radicalization to violence and recidivism. But the alternative  a possible resurgence of ISIS  is worse. ISIS continues to look for new opportunities to replenish its ranks by trying to free these detained fighters, said Mr. Moss. If they escape, they will pose a threat not only to northeast Syria and the region, but to our homelands, he said. The best way to prevent this is to repatriate these individuals so they can be rehabilitated, reintegrated, and where appropriate, prosecuted.

Reducing the populations in both the camps and detention centers not only makes us more secure but also makes the problem more manageable.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Walid al-Lafi, has affirmed the support of all public media - visual, audio, print and digital interfaces - to the upcoming breast cancer screening and early detection campaigns
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade in the Government of National Unity, Mohamed al-Haweij, has decided to ban the import of medicines and medical products in all forms and types after the expiration of one third of their validity period
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government has strongly condemned the latest Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of more than 10 Palestinian citizens and the injury of dozens of others, including women and children
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The number of internally displaced (IDPs) in Sudan has more than doubled in just the last week, since armed clashes erupted on 15 April between rival militaries in multiple cities across Sudan, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the looting of the World Food Programmes (WFP) main offices in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, over the weekend, describing it as violation of humanitarian facilities
Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

A horrific mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas over the weekend has left a community in mourning. The shooting rampage, which occurred on Saturday, May 7, claimed the lives of eight innocent victims, including three young children.

The incident has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for stricter gun laws and increased efforts to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The Shooting Rampage

NBC News reported that the shooter, identified as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, reportedly opened fire inside the Allen Premium Outlets, located about 25 miles north of Dallas.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, and chaos ensued as shoppers and employees fled the scene.

According to authorities, Garcia killed eight people and injured at least six others before being fatally shot by police. Among the victims were three young children, whose lives were tragically cut short.

Kyu Song Cho, 37; Cindy Cho, 35; and their 3-year-old son James were all killed in the shooting. The only surviving member of the family is the couple's oldest child, William, who just turned 6, according to a GoFundMe campaign created to help the family.

The two other children who lost their lives in the shooting were sisters Daniela Mendoza, a fourth-grader at Cox Elementary in Sachse, Texas, and Sofia Mendoza, a second-grader.

According to ABC, two young girls, aged 8 and 11, were among those killed in the mass shooting, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The girls were not identified by name, but their principal, Krista Wilson, expressed her grief, saying that Daniela and Sofia were kind and thoughtful students with bright smiles. The girls' mother, Ilda, was critically injured in the shooting and is receiving medical care.

Aside from the children, the shooting also claimed the lives of Aishwarya Thatikonda, a 26-year-old project engineer; Christian LaCour, a mall security guard; and Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32.

Thatikonda was also a representative of the Telugu Association of North America, an organization that supports the Telugu community. The association is now helping Thatikonda's family with funeral arrangements, including sending her remains to India.

Read Also: Indiana Enacts Anti-Bullying Law 'TB3,' Named for Teen Who Took His Own Life

Possible Motives of Mauricio Garcia

Investigators are exploring the beliefs of the perpetrator of the mass shooting at a Texas outlet mall by reviewing his social media accounts.

According to the BBC, the individual responsible for the mass shooting at the Texas mall showed an apparent inclination towards white supremacist beliefs.

The suspect had a brief stint in the US Army in 2008 but was discharged three months later due to "physical or mental conditions," according to the US defense department.

At the time of the shooting, he was working as a security guard and had no significant criminal history. During the attack, the gunman wore tactical combat gear and an insignia associated with hate groups. The patch had the letters RWDS, which stands for "Right Wing Death Squad," a phrase commonly used by right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

A social media account linked to the suspect and seen by BBC News contained photos of Nazi swastikas and SS tattoos, along with other posts glorifying Nazis and promoting violence.

Additionally, the suspect had posted pictures from previous visits to the outlet mall, as recently as mid-April.

The mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas has left a community in mourning. The mass shooting has once again sparked a national conversation about gun control.

Many are calling for stricter laws to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands and for increased efforts to address the root causes of gun violence.

Furthermore, people are now also calling for improving mental health services and addressing issues such as domestic violence that can lead to such acts of violence.

Related Article: Texas Attorney General Launches Investigation into Dell Children's Medical Center Over Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Photo: (Photo : Leon Neal/ Getty Images )

An 8-year-old boy has been reunited with his family after disappearing for two days in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

The boy, identified as Nante Niemi, was last seen around 1 p.m. on Saturday while collecting firewood near his family's campsite.

USA TODAY reported that the 8-year-old boy disappeared in the wilderness, commonly referred to as "the Porkies," which spans across 60,000 acres of old-growth forest, rivers, waterfalls, trails, and ridges.

A rescue search party was launched, and over 150 search and rescue personnel participated in the search for the boy, which covered 40 square miles of remote and hilly terrain in Michigan's upper peninsula.

Successful Rescue of the 8-Year-Old Boy

After two days of searching, volunteers found Nante Niemi at 1:30 p.m. local time on Monday, two miles away from his campsite.

According to NBC News, the boy found shelter under a log in the Michigan state park, where he was discovered by the rescue team, as confirmed by the Michigan State Police.

Eli Talsma, who helped in the rescue, said that the 8-year-old boy managed to survive for two days without food or water.

Talsma stated that Niemi covered himself with branches and leaves at night and attempted to signal a helicopter when he saw one buzzing overhead, but the pilot appeared not to see him.

Talsma added that the boy avoided drinking the water in the forest, fearing getting sick.

During the two-day period, the 8-year-old boy survived without any food or drink except for a few handfuls of snow, which he consumed for sustenance.

When rescuers found Niemi under the log, they said that he was "just normal" and appeared to be in good health despite surviving alone in the wilderness for two days.

Talsma said that the boy was talking, asking questions, and even stating that he wasn't hungry.

Rescuers gave him a banana, a Cliff Bar, and some water to replenish his energy and hydrate him.

During the rescue search, Colin Gauther, one of the members of the team, reported hearing a sound that they initially thought was a bird and seeing some footprints.

However, after hearing the sound again, it became clear to Gauther that it was a child yelling.

Read Also: Kindergartner's Death Prompts Detroit Officials To Investigate Unidentified Illnesses at Marcus Garvey Academy

Relief and Gratitude

Volunteers from Michigan and Wisconsin aided in the rescue search, which lasted for two days.

Michelle Robinson, a spokesperson for the Michigan State Police, said that while she did not have any information about how the boy managed to survive on his own for two days, she expressed her happiness that he was able to reunite with his family, according to ABC.

The announcement about the safe rescue of Niemi prompted cheers throughout the K-12 school building of the Hurley School District in Wisconsin, where the boy attends elementary school.

Steve Lombardo, the elementary school principal of the Hurley School District, said the entire school was relieved and thankful when they heard about the boy's safe rescue.

Lombardo stated that the entire school lit up in cheers, and everybody was just grateful and happy that the boy was back with his family.

The school had been on edge since the boy's disappearance, and news of his rescue brought joy and relief to the school community.

The Michigan State Police praised the efforts of the search and rescue team, saying that their hard work and dedication resulted in a successful outcome.

They expressed their gratitude to all the volunteers who helped in the rescue search for the 8-year-old boy, saying that their selfless service made a difference in the community.

Related Article: Mass Shooting at Texas Outlet Mall Leaves Three Children Dead
Last week Ford Motor Company's CEO James Farley Jr. says his company will Support CarPlay due to simple market demand. GM, on the other hand recently announced it would not offer consumers the phone projection systems Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on future EVs. Instead, it's developed a system with Google that GM says is more integrated with the vehicle. Ironically, GM hired a former high-ranking executive at Apple to run a new software organization at the automaker starting on May 22.

Mike Abbott, a former VP of engineering for Apple's cloud services division, led a team that developed infrastructure for all of the company's cloud-based services including iCloud, iMessage, mail and account security. He also was a partner at investment firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, focusing on the mobile device and cloud computing areas.

GM and other automakers are looking to software as a major revenue source in the future as fleet and other buyers seek vehicle diagnostic systems, partially automated driving software and other services.

In 2021, GM introduced Ultifi, a new software program rolling out this year that allows customers to personalize their vehicles and interact with them remotely. GM intends to use the Ultifi system as another revenue stream by connecting with third-party developers to use the platform for their applications.

The Detroit automaker expects its annual software and services revenue could reach the $20-$25 billion by 2030.

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra stated in her press release about hiring Abbott that "We have entered the next phase of our technology driven transformation focused on rapidly scaling new EV models and our Ultifi software platform, which will drive faster innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences. Mike's experience as a founder and entrepreneur coupled with his proven track record creating and delivering some of the market's most compelling software-defined solutions for consumers and companies make him an excellent fit at GM.

Abbott said in a statement he's "a product person at heart, so as the transformation of transportation quickly accelerates, I know that software is the catalyst for redefining experiences for consumers and enterprises like never before.

He added that "GM is playing a pivotal role in this shift and Im excited to join the team and bring my experience in software to bear to not only take advantage of the massive opportunities that lay ahead for the company but to help change the world." For more, read GM's full press release.






According to a new report from Taiwan's United Daily News, Apple's new iPhone 15 series will be the first iPhone equipped with a Type C interface. It is reported that Apple has asked Parade Technologies to assist in introducing Paradise's USB 4. The timer (retimer) chip has become a major selling point of the new iPhone 15 series.

USB 4 has data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, almost twice the speed of USB 3.0. This lets you transfer high-capacity files, like 4K movies and graphics, in seconds. It's also an ideal technology for connecting multiple monitors and external video displays.

Parade Technologies, headquartered in San Jose with offices in Taiwan, China and Japan, is already in Apple's supply chain for parts for iPad and the MacBook. Going forward, Parade has won new orders from Apple, becoming a member of the supply chain of the Type C ecosystem of the new iPhone 15 series.

This will add greater momentum to its performance, mainly because the new iPhone 15 series is the first to introduction of the Type C interface on an iPhone.
The United States has designated Wasantha Karannagoda, Governor of North Western Province in Sri Lanka, for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights during his tenure as a Naval Commander. As a result of the designation, Karannagoda and his wife, Srimathi Ashoka Karannagoda are ineligible for entry into the United States.

Wasantha Karannagoda was commander of Sri Lankas Navy from 2005-2009, the last years of the countrys long civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the LTTE. According to the United Nations, that war took the lives of more than 100,000 people, 40,000 of them civilians.

Human rights organizations and others accused Karannagoda of involvement in the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil young people in Colombo state between August 2008 and February 2009, in what is known as the Navy 11 case.

In a written statement announcing the designation of Karannagoda by the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, The allegation that Wasantha Karannagoda committed a gross human rights violation, documented by NGOs and independent investigations, is serious and credible. By designating Wasantha Karannagoda, the United States reaffirms its commitment to upholding human rights, ending impunity for human rights violators, acknowledging the suffering of victims and survivors, and promoting accountability for perpetrators in Sri Lanka.

Secretary Blinken emphasized that the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Government of Sri Lanka is based on 75 years of shared history, values, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. As we continue to build our bilateral relationship, he said, we are committed to working with the Sri Lankan government on advancing justice, accountability, and reconciliation, including promoting security reform that maintains human rights at the forefront while ensuring Sri Lanka has the resources address emerging security concerns.
Im late in calling attention to this brief article, which went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation on Friday, 5 May 2023: Interpreting Interpreter: A Dark Mark, written by Kyler Rasmussen.

This post is a summary of the article Understanding the Lamanite Mark by Clifford P. Jones in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Jones argues that descriptions of the Lamanites dark skin may be best explained as sacrilegious tattoos prohibited by the Law of Moses, potentially aligning with a common Mesoamerican practice and with how the wording used in the Book of Mormon would have been understood anciently.

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Some time ago, my friend Tom Pittman passed on a link to me  to an article in MarketWatch entitled Rise in middle-aged white deaths of despair may be fueled by loss of religion, new research paper argues  that I have been delinquent in sharing. Very plainly, it comes from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

It appears that so-called deaths of despair  such as those from suicide or alcohol abuse  have been skyrocketing for middle-aged white Americans. This spectacular increase has been blamed on various factors, including opioid abuse. But a still relatively new research paper identifies a different potential cause  the concurrent decline in religious practice. The paper in question  Opiates of the Masses? Deaths of Despair and the Decline of American Religion  was written by Tyler Giles of Wellesley College, Daniel Hungerman of the University of Notre Dame, and Tamar Oostrom of The Ohio State University, and is available on a website of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Giles, Hungerman, and Oostrom look at the relationship between religiosity, on the one hand, and mortality from deaths of despair on the other.

They note that many measures of religious adherence began to decline in the late 1980s  and that that large decline in religious practice happens to have been driven by the very same group that is experiencing the subsequent increases in mortality: white middle-aged Americans without a college degree. Moreover, states that experienced larger declines in religious participation over the last fifteen years of the twentieth century also saw larger increases in deaths of despair. Against attempts to blame the epidemic of opioid abuse as the principal driver of the increase in middle-aged white mortality, they observe that OxyContin was first introduced as a prescription drug only in 1996, by which time deaths of despair for middle-aged white Americans were already well above what statistical trends would have suggested. How did the authors measure religious participation? They looked, in particular, at the repeal of blue laws. What are blue laws? They are laws that limit commerce, typically on Sunday mornings. These laws, the authors report, have been shown to be strongly related to religious practice, creating discrete changes in incentives to attend religious services that are plausibly unrelated to other drivers of religiosity. According to their data, the repeal of blue laws had a five- to ten-percentage-point impact on weekly attendance of religious services, and they argue that this seems to have increased the rate of deaths of despair by two deaths per 100,000 people  thus accounting for a reasonably large share of the initial rise in the deaths of despair. The impact on the middle-aged white male mortality rate seems to be driven by actual formal religious participation, rather than only by belief or by personal activities like prayer. These results underscore the importance of cultural institutions such as religious establishments in promoting well-being, say Giles, Hungerman, and Oostrom. They add, further, that they are aware of no other cultural phenomenon that matches the mortality patterns, which are seen primarily for middle-aged, less-educated white individuals but also appear (admittedly with reduced clarity) in the data women in both rural and urban settings, but not in other countries. The decline in religiosity matches mortality trends in all these characteristics, they maintain.

Dr. Lynn Johnson has also kindly shared materials with me from the apparently inexhaustible Hitchens File on the correlation between religion and health, and Ive fallen behind on noting these. Heres one of them: For Boosting Self-Control, the Research Is Clear: Nothing Beats Religious Belief: Fascinating though seldom-drawn-upon research from the field of psychology has demonstrated the unique power of religious belief in fostering self-control

The full academic article on which the shorter piece is based is Religion Replenishes Self-Control, Psychological Science 23/6 (May 2012): 635-642, written by Kevin Rounding, of Defense Research and Development Canada; Albert Lee, of Nanyang Technological University; and Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji , of Queens University.

Framed, conceptually speaking, in terms of evolutionary psychology and on the basis of no discernible religious commitments, the studys findings (in the authors own words) offer strong and direct evidence for the replenishing effect of religious concepts on self-control. Religious beliefs refuel self-control resources, they write, and may provide important psychological nutrients necessary for a variety of socially beneficial behaviors.

It was religious terms alone that did the heavy lifting, says the brief summary article, and the results were striking. It wasnt just that religious concepts had some kind of effect, perhaps tenuous or minor. It was a sizable effecthuge, even.

In the first experiment, which involved subjects ability to exercise willpower (in this case, by enduring discomfort in the form of drinking an intentionally repulsive vinegar-and-orange-juice concoction of the researchers own making!), those who were primed with religious concepts did 91 percent better than those in the control group. (To clarify, priming means surreptitious exposure to certain wordslike God or the divine) Thats almost double the strength of will, from just a moments exposure to a sacred term or concept. The subsequent experiments similarly bore out the positive power of religious terms, such as when measuring subjects ability to delay gratification (another form of self-control) and work away at an impossible puzzle after having first been, by design, mentally depleted. In these two experiments, those being exposed to religious terms did 76 percent and 70 percent better, respectively.

And heres a really surprising result:

[P]erhaps most incredibly, . . . the participants represented a wide swath of beliefs and religious backgroundsranging from Catholics and Protestants to Buddhists, Muslims, and atheists as well as agnostics. The latter two, in fact, made up 34 percent of participants in each of the [four] experiments. In other words, the observed effects werent just a reflection of participants firm religious beliefs or prior commitments. Just the opposite, in fact, the pattern of results did not vary with religious affiliation in any of the studies, the researchers observed. Moreover, results for religious and nonreligious participants showed the same pattern. To put that in other terms, even a self-avowed atheist would experience a near doubling of fortitude or self-control just by being unknowingly exposed to a term like spirit or God.

Moreover, in view of this appalling additional item from the Hitchens File, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a very great deal to answer for: Why Latter-day Saints and mainline Protestants have the highest social capital rates: A new AEI report explores how Latter-day Saint doctrine and Protestant cultural relevancy matter

But even that horror by no means exhausts the ongoing tale of crime and depravity that is chronicled in the Hitchens File. Consider, for instance, this collection of infamies: Relief Society in Action: May 2023: Members celebrate Relief Societys anniversary and International Womens Day

Finally, something that comes from at least the vicinity of the Hitchens File: My friend Bahman Baktiari published an interesting piece in todays edition of the Deseret News. A central figure in it is Dr. John A. Widtsoe, who eventually served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until his death in 1952: Opinion: Despite political tensions, Irans bond to Utah goes back over a hundred years: It all started at a Utah State University graduation ceremony
This is a counter-argument to those who believe that the Hebrews / nation of Israel never spent time in Egypt in bondage. The presence of so many Egyptian names among prominent figures in the Bible (among many other demonstrable parallels) suggests quite the contrary. Eleven such names in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and six outside of it in the Hebrew Bible can be identified as definitely or likely, plausibly Egyptian.

In the Torah

Aaron The origin of the name of Moses older brother, a priest (Exod. 4:14, 30; 7:1-2; 30:30) is uncertain, but it has no obvious Semitic derivation. German biblical scholar and historian Martin Noth (1902-1968) speculated in 1928 that it might be Egyptian. Scholars have been unable to achieve a consensus on this matter, but they generally think that it is probably Egyptian. (1)

Ahira was a leader of the tribe of Naphtali (Num. 1:15; 2:29; 7:78, 83; 10:27). The etymology of the name is unclear. It never appears again in the Hebrew Bible (whereas most biblical names are common and repetitive). Some scholars believe that it may be a hybrid of Egyptian and Hebrew: hi + ra, meaning brother (Heb.) of Re, the sun-god (Egyptian). Examples of such hybrid names include Abdosir, Ahimoth (1 Chron. 6:25), Mut, Asarel (1 Chron. 4:16), and Abdhor.

Assir was a son of Korah (Exod. 6:24), and one of the infamous grumblers and complainers regarding the exodus (Num. 16). Some think that the name is connected to the Egyptian god Osiris (wsir). Others have speculated a relation to the Egyptian isr (tamarask tree).

Hori was from the tribe of Simeon (Num. 13:5) who was a spy in Canaan. This is a name well-known in Egypt, derived from the sky-god Horus.

Hur stood with Moses during the battle with Amalek (Exod. 17:10, 12), and was a stand by leader while Moses and Aaron ascended Mt. Sinai (Exod. 24:24). This could very well be a transliteration of the Egyptian sky-god Horus (hr): of whom the Pharaoh was considered to be an incarnation, or Living Horus (nh hr).

Merari is a name that first occurs with the son of Levi who went to Egypt with Jacob (Gen. 46:11). Later it was a family name of those connected with tabernacle service (Num. 3:17, 20, 33, 35-36). Mrry was a common Middle Egyptian [c. 2055 B.C.c. 1650 B.C.] name. If it were Semitic in origin, we would expect to see the name more frequently in the Bible and in the Levant, but we dont. Therefore, an Egyptian derivation seems more plausible.

Miriam was Moses and Aarons sister and a prophetess (Exod. 15:20; Num. 26:59). Scholars agree that mary came from the Egyptian root mry, meaning love or beloved. As such, it would be one of a number of ancient Egyptian names that have survived into English.

Moses It is thought that this name comes from the Egyptian root msi, meaning drawn out or born. This is reflected in Exodus 2:10 (RSV), where Pharaohs daughter named him Moses, for she said, Because I drew him out of the water.' Msi or ms-type names were very popular during the New Kingdom [c. 1550 B.C.c. 1069 B.C.] (e.g., Amenmose, Thutmose, Ramose, Mes, Mesu). Being named by Pharaohs daughter would obviously suggest an Egyptian name in and of itself.

Phineas was a priest in the wilderness period and grandson of Aaron (Exod. 6:25). Its consensus among scholars that it derives from the Egyptian name p3 nhsy, meaning the Nubian: thought to be a description of a boy with a dark complexion. Nehsy (nhsy) was a Fourteenth Dynasty [c. 1725 B.C.c. 1650 B.C.] Delta king. In the New Kingdom, , the definite article p3 was added to the name.

Puah was one of the Hebrew midwives in Egypt (Exod. 1:15). It possibly came from the Egyptian p3c3, The Great. Others think it derived from the Ugaritic pgy. Since she was born in Egypt, this would seem to favor the Egyptian root.

Putiel was the father-in-law of Phineas (Exod. 6:25). Its thought that its a hybrid name, combining the Egyptian p3-di and the Hebrew el (God), meaning, He whom God has given. The appearance of p3-di-type names occurs in Egypt during the New Kingdom.

Outside the Torah

Ahimoth occurs once (1 Chron. 6:25) in a genealogical list of Levites. The Hebrew mot might be from the Egyptian goddess Mut. Ahimoth, following this line of reasoning, could be Brother of Mut or Mut is Glorious. Akh-mut is an Egyptian personal name.

Harnepher occurs only in a genealogical list (1 Chron. 7:36). The Egyptian etymology is clear: hr nfr, or Horus is Good or Beautiful and is known to be a personal name in Egypt from 2000 B.C. onward.

Hophni was the son of Eli, the priest of Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:3; 2:34; 4:4, 11, 17) and brother of Phineas. The Egyptian origin has long been recognized: hfn(r) (tadpole), which was a name as early as the Middle Kingdom.

Jeremoth According to a genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:7-8, he was a grandson of Benjamin; hence, born in Egypt. Hoffmeier holds that mot might correspond to the Egyptian deity Mut, while the Hebrew yri might be a transliteration of the Egyptian verb iri, meaning begat. This would lead to a meaning of begotten of Mut.

Pashhur was a priest in Jerusalem who arrested Jeremiah the prophet (Jer. 20:1-3). The name is widely regarded as Egyptian, with one of two possible etymologies: p(s)s-hr, meaning Share of Horus, or p3 sri n hr, The Son of Horus, which is a name documented in Egypt. Hoffmeier prefers the first option.

Sheshan was mentioned in a genealogical list (1 Chron. 2:31-35). The name has long been regarded as deriving from ssn, Egyptian for water lily, which was a flower ubiquitous by the Nile, canals and swampy areas, and especially the Delta, and a personal name in Egypt. It represented a man here, but survived into New Testament times (Luke 8:3) as Susanna, and later in English, as Susan.

FOOTNOTE

1) This article is largely derived from (or inspired by) pages 223-228 of Egyptologist James K. Hoffmeiers book, Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition (Oxford University Press, 2005).

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Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,200+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them.

Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart!

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Photo credit: Moses striking the rock (1630), by Pieter de Grebber (c.16001652/3) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: The presence of biblical Hebrew names with an Egyptian etymology refutes the notion that the Hebrews / nation of Israel never spent time in Egypt in bondage as slaves.
And Which Specific Body of Water Did They Cross, According to the Combined Deductions and Determinations of the Bible and Archaeology?

Egyptologist James K. Hoffmeier sets the background for the discussion:

Some passages call the sea in question simply the sea (hayyam) (Exod. 14:2, 9, 16, 21, 23; 15:1-4; Num. 33:8; Ps. 78:13). In other texts, yam sup is used in the Hebrew (MT) [Masoretic Text] of Exodus 13:18; 15:4b, 22; Joshua 2:10; 4:23; Psalm 136:13, 15. Sup clearly means reeds or rushes, as can be seen in Exodus 2:3 when the mother of Moses places him in a basket among the reeds (sup) on the Niles shore. Isaiah 19:6 also mentions reeds (sup) in the Nile. In the Septuagint, the Greek translations of the Holy Bible, sup is rendered as eruthra, red, and this is the tradition followed in the Latin Vulgate, where the sea is called mari Rubro. Most English translations have followed this translation tradition . . . There is no convincing explanation for why the Greek translators did not literally translate sup, although it might have been their aim to locate the sea at the place they thought the text was indicating, that is, the Red Sea, the present day Gulf of Suez w Aqaba. (1)

It is an exceedingly odd thing that English Bibles almost unanimously translate sup (or suph) as red. The lexicons are quite clear as to its meaning. Strongs Concordance literal definition for it is reeds, rushes. (2) Brown-Driver-Briggs states:

reeds, rushes (collective) (probably loan-word from Egyptian . . .);  1 rushes, in Nile Exodus 2:3,5 (E);   Isaiah 19:6 (of Egypt). 2 usually in combination  probably = sea of rushes or reeds ( > sea of (city) Suph), which Greek included in wider name  , Red Sea (. . .name originally given to upper end of Gulf of Suez, extending into Bitter Lakes, shallow and marshy, whence reeds (probably also reddish colour) . . . name applied only to arms of Red Sea; most often a. to Gulf of Suez Exodus 10:19; Joshua 2:10 (both J), Exodus 13:18; Exodus 15:4,22; Exodus 23:31 (all E), Deuteronomy 11:4; Joshua 4:23 (D), Numbers 33:10,11 (P), elsewhere late Nehemiah 9:9; Psalm 106:7; Psalm 106:9; Psalm 106:22; Psalm 136:13; Psalm 136:15. b. sometimes to Gulf of Akaba 1 Kings 9:26, and   Numbers 21:4 (E), probably also Numbers 14:25 (E), Deuteronomy 1:40; Deuteronomy 2:1; perhaps Judges 11:16; Jeremiah 49:21; possibly read  for   Deuteronomy 1:1 . . . (3)

Note: I disagree (for a hundred reasons) with the defunct and decrepit 19th-century Documentary Theory, which is what the letters J, E, P, and D above are referring to. But for the sake of biblical definition, its irrelevant.

Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament never mentions the word red at all in its descriptions for Hebrew word #5488 (sup / suph):

(1) rush, reed, sea weed. . . . Specially  (a) sea weed, Jon. 2:6; whence the weedy sea, i.e., the Arabian gulf which abounds in sea weed, Ps. 106:7, 9, 22; 136:13. It is also called in Egyptian the sea of weed . . . (4)

Other Bible references concur:

Cuph means a rush or seaweed such as abounds in the lower portions of the Nile and the upper portions of the Red Sea. . . . But the name yam-cuph, though applied to the whole sea, was especially used with reference to the northern part, which is alone mentioned in the Bible, and to the two gulfs (Suez and Aqabah) which border the Sinaitic Peninsula, especially the Gulf of Suez. . . . Owing to the lower land levels which prevailed in recent geological times, the Gulf of Suez formerly extended across the lowland which separates it from the Bitter Lakes, a distance of 15 or 20 miles now traversed by the Suez Canal, which encountered no elevation more than 30 ft. above tide. In early historic times the Gulf ended at Ismailia at the head of Lake Timsah. . . . In recent times it was discovered that the Gulf of Suez formerly extended 30 miles northward to the site of the present Ismailia and the ancient Pithom, . . . with an extension of the waters of the Gulf to the Bitter Lakes and Lake Timsah, . . . the narrative at once so perfectly accords with the physical conditions involved as to become not only easily credible, but self-evidencing. . . . Three times the wind is mentioned as the means employed by God in opening the water [Exod. 14:21; 15:8, 10]. The competency of the wind temporarily to remove the water from the passage connecting the Gulf of Suez with the Bitter Lakes, provided it was only a few feet deep, is amply proved by facts of recent observation. Major General Tullock of the British army (Proc. Victoria Inst., XXVIII, 267-80) reports having witnessed the driving off of the water from Lake Menzaleh by the wind to such an extent as to lower the level 6 ft., thus leaving small vessels over the shallow water stranded for a while in the muddy bottom. According to the report of the Suez Canal Company, the difference between the highest and the lowest water at Suez is 10 ft. 7 inches, all of which must be due to the effect of the wind, since the tides do not affect the Red Sea. The power of the wind to affect water levels is strikingly witnessed upon Lake Erie in the United States, where according to the report of the Deep Waterways Commission for 1896 (165, 168) it appears that strong wind from the Southwest sometimes lowers the water at Toledo, Ohio, on the western end of the lake to the extent of more than 7 ft., at the same time causing it to rise at Buffalo at the eastern end a similar amount; while a change in the wind during the passage of a single storm reverses the effect, thus sometimes producing a change of level at either end of the lake of 14 ft. in the course of a single day. It would require far less than a tornado to lower the water at Cheloof sufficiently to lay bare the shallow channel which we have supposed at that time to separate Egypt from the Sinaitic Peninsula. . . . On the explanation we have given the transaction it is what Robinson felicitously calls a mediate miracle, that is, a miracle in which the hand of God is seen in the use of natural forces which it would be impossible for man to command. If anyone should say that this was a mere coincidence, that the east wind blew at the precise time that Moses reached the place of crossing, the answer is that such a coincidence could have been brought about only by supernatural agency. . . . The opening of the sea may have been a foreordained event in the course of Nature which God only foreknew, in which case the direct divine agency was limited to those influences upon the human actors that led them to place themselves where they could take advantage of the natural opportunity. (5)

This explanation was followed almost to a tee by Carl Drews, who has a Master of Science degree in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. He wrote about his theory (written about in scientific peer-reviewed journals) of a wind setdown that could possibly explain the biblical parting of the sea in terms of natural events. I wrote about his theory The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 2023 [read this excerpt]) on pages 110-114.

Drews even uses the example of Lake Erie, like the above article from 1939 does, and mentions the 1882 report of British Major General Tullock. It leads me to believe that the article above likely provided the initial impetus for his theory: now more scientifically corroborated. Drews also holds that the crossing occurred in the lakes north of the Gulf of Suez and south of the Mediterranean Sea, at the north end of the Suez Canal in one of the shallow lagoons . . . Now I have shown in biblical and linguistic reference works (especially Brown-Driver-Briggs) that the biblical description Red Sea can also refer to these lakes. The New Bible Dictionary (6) can be added to the list of these sources:

In the Old Testament, the term yam sup, sea of reeds (and/or weed), is used to cover: (a) the Bitter Lakes region in the Egyptian Delta north of Suez along the line of the present Suez Canal . . . From the sea of reeds, yam sup, Israel went into the wilderness of Shur (Exod. 15:22; Num. 33:8) and then on towards Sinai. Various points suggest that this famous crossing, the Exodus in the narrow sense, took place in the bitter lakes region, roughly between Qantara (30 miles south of Port Said) and just north of Suez. First, geographically, the wilderness of Shur, which Israel entered directly from crossing the yam sup (Exod. 15:22), is opposite this very area. Secondly, geophysically, the reedy waters of the Bitter Lakes and Lake Menzaleh can be affected by strong east winds precisely in the way described in Exodus 14:21 and experienced on a small scale by Aly Shafei Bey in 1945-6 . . . (7)

And another standard source concurs:

In the Old Testament Heb. yam sup is used for the Gulf of Aqabah . . ., the Gulf of Suez . . ., and the sea crossed by the Israelites as they left Egypt (e.g., Exod. 15:4, 22; Deut. 11:4; Josh. 4:23; 24:6; Neh. 9:9; Ps. 136:13, 15). The exact location of the last of these is uncertain, and scholars have variously proposed the bitter lakes region, Lake Menzaleh, Lake Sorbonis, and the Gulf of Suez as possible sites. . . . An Egyptian text refers to the papyrus marsh near the city of Rameses, which is thought by many to be the body of water crossed by the Israelites (cf. Num. 33:5-8). (8)

Kitchen adds, regarding this papyrus marsh that the location par excellence, would be the north-east part of the Delta between Tanis (Zoan), Qantir, and the present line of the Suez Canal north of Ismalia, on the former Pelusiac arm of the Nile. (9)

With this extensive background introduction, lets now see how James K. Hoffmeier brings to the topic fresh archaeological research, in his book, Ancient Israel in Sinai, published by Oxford University Press in 2005. He writes:

Yam sup is situated in the northeastern Delta. Further support for this location is found in the eighth plague of Exodus 10. Locusts infest the land and are only removed when a strong wind from the west drove the hordes of locusts into yam sup ((Exod. 10:19). . . . the starting point of the exodus and the epicenter of the plagues was in the region of Pi-Ramesses/Avaris . . . So when the Bible describes the wind from the west driving the locusts east toward the Sea of reeds, that is, yamma sup, it is referring to the only major body of water east of the Ramesses region, the el-Ballah Lakes, . . . directly to the east. (10) I provisionally suggested [in his 1996 book, nine years earlier] that Lake Timsah might have been yam sup. But . . . Exodus 14:2 [. . . turn back and encamp in front of Pi-ha-hiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon . . .] demands a turn away from the Tjeku (Succoth) and Lake Timsah areas, and requires a movement north, which should eliminate both Lake Timsah and the Bitter Lakes from being candidates for the sea of crossing. (11)

Hoffmeier provides more argumentation for his contention that the el-Ballah Lakes were the place of the extraordinary crossing escape of the Hebrews:

Bietak . . . suggested that p3 twfy corresponded to yam sup of the Exodus tradition. (12) He reaffirmed this interpretation in a recently published map, maintaining that p3 twfy is to be identified with the Ballah Lakes. (13) . . . Today, the Ballah Lakes are gone, and desert sands, especially in the area east of the Suez Canal, cover its ancient depression . . . Beginning in 1995, excavations at this site uncovered the remains of a harbor with quays where boats docked, and a stone corniche that marked the waters edge. These discoveries demonstrate that two thousand years ago a lake large enough to handle trading vessels flourished. The geological research of the east Frontier Archaeological Project in 2001 produced evidence that the lake probably extended six to eight kilometers [3.7 to 5 miles] to the north and east of Tell Abu Sefeh during the second millennium B.C. (14) Clearly, the Arabic elements abu, ab, and bu do represent the ancient Egyptian writing of p3 or pi. And just as Hebrew sup corresponds to Egyptian twf, so does the Arabic suf. Thus the name abu sefeh appears, on solid linguistic grounds, to preserve the ancient Egyptian name ps twfy, and thus it points to the name of the ancient lake on whose shores it was situated, el-Ballah Lake. (15)

Hoffmeier notes after the last citation above that the case would be much stronger if there were evidence as to the locations of the place-names Pi-hahiroth, Migdol, and Baal-Zephon, mentioned in Exodus 14:2 as being near the sea in question. After a fascinating 20-page examination of recent archaeological findings, Hoffmeier renders his professional conclusion:

What this investigation of p3 twfy (yam sup) and the place names associated with it in Exodus 4:2 demonstrates is that the author has a specific location in mind and that the terms correspond best to Egyptian toponyms of the thirteenth century B.C. . . . Here the case of Migdol/Magdalu is germane. It is attested in several thirteenth- and twelfth-century B.C. Egyptian sources, in the Hebrew prophets (sixth century), and in Greco-Roman-period texts. . . . he toponyms of Exodus 14:2 have a specificity that was certainly not necessary for a writer inventing the story . . . If P were historicizing an original mythic version of the sea-crossing episode, he did a remarkable job of identifying toponyms known in New Kingdom Egypt, and they fit into a geographical zone that accords well into the generally wet paleoenvironmental situation of the late second millennium B.C. I conclude, therefore, in the light of the new archaeological and paleoenvironmental data presented here, that the geographical setting of Exodus 14 is the area between the north side of the el-Ballah Lake system and the southern tip of the eastern lagoon (i.e., the proposed location of Migdol). By Ps day (fifth century B.C.), this area had radically changed. The Pelusiac had migrated fifteen to twenty kilometers [9 to 12.5 miles] to the north . . . From a phenomenological perspective, the evidence adduced here demonstrates that the theophany of the sea crossing occurred in a specific geographical location and at a particular time in history. (16)

Manfred Bietak also brings up another important consideration: The only way of avoiding border control was to cross the Ballah Lakes . . .They are the likeliest contender for the Yam Suph . . . (17)

Moshier and Hoffmeier stated with even more confidence in 2015,

The archaeological and geological investigations we conducted in northern Sinai between 1998 and 2008 . . . supports the identifications Gardiner and Bietak proposed, viz., that P3-twfy of Ramesside Period texts and yam sup of the Exodus narratives should be identified with the Ballah Lake system . . . (18)

Hoffmeier further noted in 2008:

While the region east of the Delta today is largely desert, satellite images show the outlines of two ancient lakes. The southern one, Ballah Lake, actually contained water till the mid-nineteenth century when the Suez Canal was dug, draining it of its water. The dimensions of the ancient lake wee approximately 12 miles (20 km) long and 9 miles (15 km) at its widest point. Along with a team of geologists, I have been engaged in recent investigation of these ancient lakes. Study at the north end of Ballah Lake shows that it could have reached a depth of 15 to 18 feet (5 to 6 m). The second lake is situated north-east of the first lake and was fed by recently-discovered Nile channels. This lagoon actually emptied into the Mediterranean, the coast of which was much further south in ancient times than it is today. . . . Ballah Lake is located 21 miles (34 km) directly east of the ancient site of Pi-Ramesses. (19)

At this juncture, my money is on the research and conclusions of Hoffmeier: the Egyptologist with two books published about Israel and Egypt by Oxford University, and who has been doing field research in the Nile Delta for many years.

And he concludes that the Red Sea crossing occurred at the Ballah Lakes. This scenario is perfectly consistent with Drews research on wind setdown natural occurrences that could explain the extraordinary event. It has actually been observed to more or less extent, two times in the region. And Drews scientific observations explain how it works, with other examples from Lake Erie. Everything increasingly fits together with regard to this topic. And it confirms (for the zillionth time) the amazing historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible.

FOOTNOTES

1) James K. Hoffmeier, Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition (Oxford University Press, 2005), 81.

2) Bible Hub, 5488. suph. That is, Strongs Hebrew word #5488. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5488.htm.

3) Ibid.

4) William Gesenius, Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, translated by Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1847; reprinted by Baker Book House [Grand Rapids, Michigan] in 1979), 581; coded to Strongs Hebrew word #5488.

5) George Frederick Wright, Red Sea, in James Orr, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1939). https://www.internationalstandardbible.com/R/red-sea.html.

6) Kenneth A. Kitchen, Red Sea, in J. D. Douglas, ed., The New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962), 1077-1078.

7) See Aly Shafei Bey, Bulletin de la Societe Royale de Geographie d Egypte, XXI, August 1946, 231 ff.

8) Red Sea, in Allen C. Myers, ed., The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), 876.

9) Kitchen, 1078.

10) Hoffmeier, 82.

11) Hoffmeier, 86.

12) Manfred Bietak, Tell el-Daba (Vienna: Osterreichischen Akadamie der Wissenschaffen Wien, 1975), 2: 137. See also Bietak, Comments on the Exodus, in Egypt, Israel, Sinai: Archaeological and Historical Relationships in the Biblical Period, ed. A. F. Rainey (Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University Press, 1987), 167.

13) Manfred Bietak, Avaris: The Capital of the Hyksos: Recent Excavations at Tell el-Daba (London: British Museum, 1996), 2.

14) Hoffmeier, 88.

15) Hoffmeier, 89.

16) Hoffmeier, 108.

17) Manfred Bietak, On the Historicity of the Exodus: What Egyptology Today Can Contribute to Assessing the Biblical Account of the Sojourn in Egypt, pp. 17-38 in Thomas E. Levy, Thomas Schneider, & William H. C. Propp, eds., Israels Exodus in Transdiciplinary Perspective: Text, Archaeology, Culture, and Geoscience (Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2015), 27.

18) Stephen O. Moshier & James K. Hoffmeier, Which Way Out of Egypt? Physical Geography Related to the Exodus Itinerary, pp. 101-108 in Levy, ibid., 107.

19) James K. Hoffmeier, The Archaeology of the Bible (Oxford Lion Book), 55-56.

***

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Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart!

***

Photo credit: [public domain / Wallpaper Flare]

Summary: Much confusion has arisen from an unfortunate relentless biblical usage of Red Sea (should sometimes be Reed Sea). I argue for an exact lake of the crossing.
Hollard Insurancehas emerged the first runner-up, Most Broker Friendly and Supportive Insureras awarded by the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG) in Sunyani.



The Most Broker Friendly and Supportive Insurer Awards was the highlight of the 2023 IBAG Annual Conference & Exhibition held at Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani. Winners were recognised based on criteria such as turn-around time in reasonable quotes and terms; adequacy of commission paid; quality of underwriting and coverage granted; willingness to make concessions in claims settlement and how corporative they are with brokers.



Speaking on the recognition, Managing Director of Hollard Insurancea subsidiary ofHollard Ghana, Daniel Boi Addo, expressed his appreciation to all brokers for the honour done to Hollard. He also thanked the Broker Team, headed by Maame Efua Sackitey-Williams, and all supporting teams forhelping to build impactful relationships with brokers.



At Hollard, we say Long Live the Broker because we understand in a world of growing complexity, we need expert navigators who can point us in the right direction. We understand the unique role of brokers in enabling more people to create and secure a better future and our partnership with them aims to deliver a triple win for all. Thus, a win for the customer, the broker, and us.



Over 200 participants attended the conference. They included Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers, Insurance and Reinsurance companies, Insurance Regulator (NIC), and the press, among others.



The 2023 edition of the IBAG Educational Conference and Exhibition was organised to aidthecontinuing professional development that presents delegates with an opportunity to network and build relations, learn, and share best practices, innovative ideas, and strategies for the progress of the insurance industry.



About Hollard Insurance



The countrys favourite insurer Hollard Insurance combines its deep local knowledge of the market with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customized to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard was previously Metropolitan Insurance which operated in Ghana for over 25 years.Hollard offers various general insurance products including personal accident, motor, business, home, and more; and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance). Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.jumia.com.gh or through their brokersfor all their insurance needs.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A Senior Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo has called on government to establish a National Rehabilitation Center to treat people with mental disorders.



He noted it is about time that mental health challenges were taken into serious consideration by the government and the Mental Health Authority.



The Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana expressed concerns about the inadequate attention given to people with mental disorders.



To him, the needs of these people, particularly those wandering on the streets, have been abandoned for far too long, hence admonishing successive governments to allocate resources to cater for them.



He recounted the dangers involved in one encountering a person with mental problem on the streets as these people, if care is not taken, could inflict bodily harm on drivers and pedestrians.



Prof. Joseph Osafo believed having rehab center across the country to offer both medical and psychological treatments is one significant step to resolving the mental health situation in the nation.



We need a National Rehabilitation Center . . . What we need is governmental commitment that every successive government will take mental health serious and set up a facility to cater for people with these challenges, he told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FMs morning show Kokrokoo.



However, as the nation waits for a National Rehabilitation Center, Prof. Osafo appealed for the establishment of makeshift structures to serve the same purpose.



 . . the truth of the matter is that there is congestion in the two psychiatric hospitals in Accra, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and the one at Pantang, he stated, stressing we can have a makeshift structures to begin with to accommodate these patients.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Former NPP Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North, Issah Fuseini has urged government to place premium on treatment and care for people with mental disorders.



Speaking on Peace FMs Kokrokoo show, Mr. Issah Fuseini raised concerns regarding the behaviour of people with mental disorders, particularly those on the streets, and the neglect on the part of government towards this category of people.



He noted there are lots of dangers involved in leaving mental health disorder patients or victims to swamp the streets.



He feared these people may pose a threat or harm innocent people.



To him, the government should give attention to the health needs of these people as well as provide room to rehabilitate them.



As a nation, we must prioritize it and accord this problem the needed maximum attention, he stressed.













Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The attention Of the General Legal Council has been drawn to the erroneous reportage on some media platforms of His Lordship the Chief Justice's speech given at the enrolment ceremony of 196 Lawyers called to the Bar on Friday, 5th May 2023.



In his speech, (the relevant portion, which is quoted below), the Chief Justice on behalf of the General Legal Council, informed the new Lawyers of an initiative of the General Legal Council, which was impending.



The General Legal Council is constituted as follows:

The Chief Justice who is the Chairman

A Deputy Chairman who is the most Senior Supreme Court Judge after the Chief Justice

The two most senior Supreme Court Judges

The Attorney-General

The Head of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana

Three persons nominated by the Minister who are all members of the Bar

Four members of the Bar who are nominated by the Ghana Bar Association.

The portion of the speech referred to above reads:



"Lawyers in the country will soon be mandated to complete a minimum of a 12-hour professional development programme in a year before the renewal of their licence, This is to help broaden their knowledge and contribute to their growth in the profession. In line with that, plans were far advanced to make the programme, which was enshrined in the Lega/ Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (Legislative Instrument 2423) a prerequisite for the issuance ofa practising licence to all lawyers under the Legal Profession Bill which would soon be made a law"



There was no mention of Lawyers being required to write examinations at all before a renewal of Licence and indeed no such amendment to the Law is about to be made.



The requirement for Lawyers to complete Continuing Professional Development before the renewal of a practicing licence, is a standard requirement in some jurisdictions around the world. This practice is aimed at sharpening the skills of Lawyers and keeping them abreast with recent developments in the Law for the benefit of the clients they serve.



The General Public and Lawyers are hereby informed of the misrepresented reportage and the correction thereof accordingly.



SGD



GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL

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Multiple flights have been cancelled at Nigeria's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the capital Abuja after a plane crash-landed, disabling the runway.



The Max Air 737-400 flight experienced tyre bursts on Sunday as it landed in Abuja, from Yola, in north-eastern Adamawa state.



The management of Max Air said that all the 143 passengers, an infant and six crew members on board were safely evacuated with no casualties.



The incident has triggered many flight cancellations and delays across the country, according to local media.



The aircraft has since been moved and the authorities said they were clearing the runway for reopening.



Many passengers are reportedly still stranded at the airport

Source: BBC









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Police in Nigeria say they have rescued 58 people who had been abducted and held hostage by criminal gangs in central Kogi state.



It was not clear how long they had been held.



A police spokeswoman said the rescue was a joint operation in Udulu Forest which was carried out with local volunteer defence groups.



She said the kidnapping gang escaped with injuries and one of the hostages died during the operation.



The incoming president Bola Tinubu - who is due to be sworn in later this month - faces several serious security challenges including kidnappings for ransom.



They became common across several states during Muhammadu Buhari's time in office.

Source: BBC









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The Kuntunse District in the Nsawam Area of The Church of Pentecost has been declared the overall best-performing district of the Church for the previous year.



The announcement was made by Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church, during the State-of-the-Church Address at the official opening of the 46th General Council Meetings of the Church.



Out of the 1,631 districts in Ghana under The Church of Pentecost, the Kuntunse District emerged as the top performer, surpassing even the well-endowed districts.



The second and third positions were taken by the Wassa Sampa District (Tarkwa Area) and Hwidiem District (Tepa Area), respectively.



The rankings were based on key operational indicators, including membership growth, net tithes paid, missions offering paid, and percentage changes in these metrics between 2020 and 2021.



Other indicators used for the ranking were adult souls won, outreach programs held, converts baptised in water and Holy Spirit, and many more.



The Wassa Afransie District in Bogoso Area, Kofi Badukrom District in Berekum District, Domeabra District in Downtown-Ofaakor Area, Uwumborgnan in Nkwanta Area, Akomadan and Abofour New Town districts, both in Offinso Area, and Nkwaeso District in Techiman Area placed 4th to 10th, respectively on the list.



The Chairman of the Church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, congratulated Kuntunse District and other districts for their impressive performances and encouraged them to continue working hard to maintain or even improve their performances in the coming years.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan, has cautioned opposition party delegates not to vote for a flagbearer who can only serve one term as President.



According to him, voting for ex-President John Dramani Mahama as a candidate, whose term expires in four years, is a risk for the NDC since it will not help them.



Mr. Gyan told NDC delegates at the Lower West Akyem Constituency in the Eastern Region during Dr. Kwabena Duffuors campaign tour that the party should elect a flagbearer who can reign for eight years as President to ensure continuity and sustainability of gains.



He again said the 2024 election is also about the economy, which demands someone with technical expertise.



He asserted that the NDC requires an astute economist like Dr. Duffuor, a former Finance Minister, to lead the party to success, and added that such a person can address Ghanas economic difficulties if the party gains power.



The election in 2024 is about the economy. The economic harm wrought by Akufo-Addo and his brother Ofori-Atta would take years to repair.



So, if we choose someone whose term will expire in four years and Ghanaians are dissatisfied with his performance, they will not allow the NDC to bring any new candidate to begin his term; they will say we wasted their time, Mr. Gyan disclosed.



For him, electing ex-President Mahama to lead the NDC in the 2024 general election would mean gambling with the chances of the party, asserting, In 2016 we lost close to 1 million votes. We gave him the opportunity to go again and we lost by 500,000 votes.



In the 2024 election, we dont have to gamble with it, he emphasised, adding, Many Ghanaians are telling us to change our candidate so that they can vote for the NDC. As a result, we must understand that the voice of the people is the voice of God.



The EIU says that if the NDC is to win the 2024 election, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor must lead the party. We need a candidate who will serve for eight years, not four, he stated.







Source: Ernest Kofi Adu/Daily Guide









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Former Deputy General Secretary of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho has told NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie' that he doesnt trust the National Chairman of his party.



According to him, Johnson Asiedu Nketia is making all efforts to ensure John Dramani Mahama is elected as the partys flagbearer for the 2024 election  a choice he claimed many party members are not in support of.



Koku Anyidoho also claimed the NDC national executives, led by Asiedu Nektia have produced a fraudulent voters' register to be used in their upcoming primaries.



Quote me anywhere, there is a fraudulent register to make sure Mahama wins but we shall stop it, he said.



Koku Anyidoho, however, described his party Chairman as a dangerous individual who can manipulate elections to his favour.



I know Asiedu Nketia very well and the type of dangerous politics he does, he told host McJerry Osei-Agyeman.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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It was all joy when Hon Joe Ghartey met the Greater Accra Regional Executives in Accra on Thursday May 4th 2023.



The meeting commenced with the singing of a repertoire of songs which ended with the gathering singing the NPP Anthem. Joe Ghartey told the gathering that he had come formally to inform them he was contesting to be flagbearer of the NPP. He told them that he had come to solicit their support.



The Presidential Aspirant presented a strong case for himself taking the Regional Executives through the work he had done as the Attorney-General, as Second Deputy Speaker and as Minister for Railways Development.



He said these positions in law and order, Parliament and infrastructure development had prepared him for the position of President. On law and order, he said a country which does not practice the rule of law cannot develop. Equality before the law he said was critical. Joe Ghartey stated that as Attorney General he not only believed in law and order but he also practiced using the law as a tool for social and economic engineering.



He said he was of the firm view that being an experienced legislator and a former Deputy Speaker he was confident that he would as President develop a good working relationship with Parliament for the benefit of the country.



On railways development he said he was glad he was given the opportunity to manage what is arguably the most difficult infrastructure sector to manage. Joe Ghartey explained the by January 2020 the passenger lines form Takoradi to Tarkwa and Accra to Tema were operational. He said their operations were closed due to COVID. The restrictions did not allow for the trains to run at full passenger capacity and therefore operating the trains was not sustainable. In any event the decision had been taken to change all the old lines so it was decided that the service be halted. Hon Ghartey said the development of the Western Line was ongoing and the Tema to Mpakadan line was almost complete. He said that railway development would be a key part of his development agenda when elected as President. Hon Joe Ghartey mentioned other sectors that would receive attention by his government which he said would be lean and efficient with a maximum of 60 Ministers.



Hon Joe Ghartey recounted his long association with NPP Greater Accra. He said he was so active that during the first term of Hon Jake Obetsibi Lamptey as Greater Accra Regional Chairman he was appointed Chairman of the Greater Accra Disciplinary Committee. Hon Joe Ghartey said from 1992 he had always worked tirelessly in the Greater Accra Region for the Party. Contributing resources at all levels and to several constituencies.



The Greater Accra Regional Executive were unanimous in the fact they knew Joe Ghartey and they were aware that he was hardworking and competent and wished him the best. Hon Joe Ghartey told the meeting he was the best person to be flagbearer of the NPP and as President Ghana would prosper.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A political science lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in the Central Region, Mr Jonathan Asante Otchere, has said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have a daunting task defending the records of Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia if he emerges as the flagbearer of the party for 2024 general elections.



Relatively, he said the party will have a much easier task defending the records of former trades minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen should he emerge as the flag bearer because Dr Bawumia, over the years, has spoken with exaggerations and nothing more.



He said the confidence that people reposed in the vice president is not what he had exhibited in office.



Mr Okyere explained that the vice president has tainted his own record stemming from the economic mismanagement that has gone on under his watch as the head of the Economic Management Team (EMT).



"Dr Bawumia should have ensured that the economy did not deteriorate to use that as his launch pad for the presidency," he suggested.



''Some of us believed that the president is an outright politician but the vice president is an economist but he ended up spewing so many lies and spoke with exaggerations," he noted.



"What has gone on with the economy is not something the vice president, especially after being described as the economic whiz kid, can be proud of," he added.



"NPP has no trustworthiness and has lost the moral authority to continue to govern this country and that represents Dr Bawumia as well," he asserted.



"The NPP doesnt know what message they are going to give to Ghanaians when it comes to the economy," he said.



Mr Okyere threw in this assertion while reacting to the vice presidents meeting with the majority caucus at which he announced his decision to run for president.



The university lecturer spoke on Accra 100.5 FMs evening news on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.



According to him, Mr Kyerematen can exonerate himself but the vice president cannot, as far as the management of the economy is concerned.



He said Dr Bawumia has failed in his area of advertised expertise and has jumped ship to digitalisation.



"What is the role of digitalisation in the fight against corruption?" Mr Okyere quizzed, adding: "The vice president continues to champion digitalisation and the country continues to lose GHS27 million to corruption."



"What animal is that digitalisation?" he asked again, saying that the interface is there and has led to huge sums of money being lost to corruption as contained in the Auditor's Report.

Source: class fm









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The Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwa, says recent polls suggest that Ghanaian voters have lost trust in the ability of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to revive the crippling economy and create jobs to tackle the countrys unemployment crisis.



He disclosed on the Big Issue on Saturday, May 6, that, per their latest survey, the Vice President is only slightly ahead of his main competitor Alan Kyerematen when it comes to issues of education but lags behind on issues pertaining to the economy and job creation.



At the moment in the polls, on the economy and jobs, he [Bawumia] is lagging behind. What we have seen with the data doesnt show that people trust him on the economy or job issues and these are the top three election issues facing Ghanaians, that is Jobs, Economy and Education, Mr Dankwa told host Selorm Adonoo.



Mr Dankwa added that We believed Bawumia was miles ahead a year ago, even with the delegates but with time, events in the country on the economy have made the gains somehow erodedHe is slightly ahead with what we have seen, but it is not huge enough to deliver a knockout blow.



The Second Deputy National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Elikem Eric Kotoko, who was a guest on the show said the Vice President doesnt deserve to be elected as the flagbearer of the NPP due to his poor performance in office.



Bawumia has become a contradiction to himself, Bawumia has become a threat to himself, there is no way for someone whose words cannot be trusted be allowed to contest the presidency.



There are people who said so many things about Dr. Bawumia as an economic whizz-kid, but here we are today, we are in a mess. The messiah has led us into a mess.



Dr. Bawumia on Thursday met some NPP MPs at a private meeting in Accra to confirm his intention to contest the flagbearership slot of the party.



The NPP has set November 4, 2023, for its presidential primaries to select a flagbearer for the general elections in 2024.



However, if more than five candidates file to run in the primaries, the party will call a Special Congress on August 26.



The nomination period for the presidential primaries will begin on May 26 and end on June 24, 2023.



So far, the former Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, and Francis Addai Nimo have declared their intention to contest in the partys flagbearership race.



The others include former MP for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey, former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyapong, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko.

Source: citi news









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When I taught CHEM 121 at Great Basin College, the class you would select if going for a science major, it was fun discussing the elements found in the periodic chart. During class I would pull down the roll-up chart for the class to see. It was an old chart, probably leftover from the founding of the school and it didnt have some of the newer discovered and named elements such as tennessine (117), named after Tennessee, and meitnerium (109) named after Lise Meitner, the second element named after a woman.

Some of the old legacy elements such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen stood out because they have only one letter for their chemical symbol and students noticed that. Today we will look at yttrium, a one-letter element from the chart as well.

Although known for 200 years, the element yttrium (Y) is rapidly finding new uses in our modern world such as improving lithium batteries for EVs, high temperature super conductors, and even in cancer-fighting drugs. Its a good bet you are using yttrium-enhanced white LED bulbs scattered around your home as replacements for the incandescent lamps the government says we arent allowed to own.

Some chemists classify yttrium a rare-earth element and group it with the lanthanide series although it is quite a distance from that row of the periodic table. Still, it is a rare element and has an interesting history of discovery which I will tell.

In 1787, part-time chemist Carl Axel Arrhenius visited a feldspar mine in the village of Ytterby on the island of Resaron, Sweden. There he found an unusually heavy dark mineral, later called Schwerstein or heavy rock. Hoping it was tungsten, the mineral specimen was sent to the chemist Johan Gadolin at the University of Abo for chemical analysis.

In 1794 after a long investigation, the university reported that approximately 38% of the sample was a previously unknown earth material; the idea of an element had not yet been established. The compound that was isolated from the sample was actually yttrium(III) oxide  the first rare earth so found.

It wasnt until 1828 when the German chemist of organic fame, Friedrich Wohler, isolated the silvery-white metal by reacting the volatile chloride with potassium. By 1843, Carl Mosander, another Swede, found that samples of impure yttrium oxide contained two oxides of other yet-to-be-discovered elements, terbium and erbium. These strange minerals from Ytterby were quite incestuous indeed!

Today, yttrium is found in most rare-earth minerals and in some uranium ores. About 31 ppm of the Earths crust is yttrium, making it the 28th most abundant element, 400 times more common than silver! Lunar rock samples collected during the American Apollo Space Program have a relatively high content of yttrium. Strangely, yttrium can be found in most edible plants with concentrations up to 100 ppm, cabbage having the largest amount as it goes.

Up until the 1990s the main source of yttrium was the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine in California where bastnasite was mined, which is an ore that contains lanthanum and cerium as well. The mine was closed due to toxic spills but may be now open.

At this point China produces most of the worlds supply of yttrium (99%) from its weathered clay ore deposits in the southern Provinces  primarily Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi. Some deposits of monazite, which as mostly phosphates, are found in India and Brazil and they supply some yttrium as well. World production of yttrium oxide, almost entirely from China in 2018, was estimated to be between 5,000 and 7,000 tons.

As said earlier, yttrium and its compounds have many uses. Major applications include Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped laser rods, yttrium iron garnet (YIG) electronic components for microwave filters, radars, and communications. Also it is a gem stabilizer, especially in cubic zirconia for use in jewelry and oxygen sensors. In 1986 the worlds first high temperature superconductor that could work in liquid nitrogen (77 Kelvin) instead of liquid helium was created from yttrium having the composition of Y1.2Ba0.8CuO4.

Yttrium compounds are also used as a catalyst for ethylene polymerization. As a metal, yttrium is used on the electrode points of some high-performance spark plugs where its resistance to fouling is an advantage. In the realm of outdoor camping, the gas mantle used in Coleman lanterns now utilizes yttrium oxide replacing the radioactive thorium compound that that was once used.

Having a high melting point, yttrium oxide is used in some ceramic and glass to impart shock resistance and add low thermal expansion properties. In addition, these same properties make such glass useful in expensive field camera lenses. The medical industry uses the artificially made Y-90, (with half-life of 64 hours), for the treatment of various cancers. This works by adhering to monoclonal antibodies that in turn bind to cancer cells and kill them via the intense Beta-radiation from the isotope.

Those using lithium iron phosphate batteries that include solar lighting, E-cigarettes, flashlights, R/C models, and portable power tools, will see longer battery life when yttrium is used in the cell cathode. Such electrode chemistry allows for higher charging rates as well.

One last interesting application of yttrium has been discovered by Professor Mas Subramanian at Oregon State University. He found that when yttrium is combined with indium and manganese, an intensely blue, non-toxic, inert, fade-resistant pigment, YInMn Blue dye was created. The first new blue pigment discovered in over 200 years!
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has filed an appeal in a defamation suit he lost against Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako.



Kennedy Agyapong is appealing the case on the basis of the infamous Prof. Frimpong-Boateng galamsey report of 2021 which was only recently leaked to the media.



According to the excerpts of the appeal Among the primary issue in contention on this appeal is a commentary made by the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] about the respondents [Kweku Baako] involvement in galamsey activities by intervening on behalf of a company called C&G Aleska.



The said intervention had to do with the defendant [Kennedy Agyapong] calling on the Minister for Environment Science, Technology and Innovation who was the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) to allow C&G Aleska to go back on site and continue its illegal mining activities although its license had been revoked confirming respondents [Kweku Baako] influence peddling which also amounts to his involvement in galamsey.



It also stated that The said intervention resulted in the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong] commentary that the respondent [Kweku Baako] was also involved in galamsey. That during the trial the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong] effort to get the Chairman of the IMCIM [Frimpong-Boateng] to testify and corroborate the same proved futile, therefore, resulted in the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] unable to prove his defense of true, fair comment and thus justified.



On the 18th day of April 2023, the applicant [Kennedy Agyapong] chanced upon a confidential document from the Office of the President of Ghana with an attached report prepared by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng which intrinsically addressed the applicants [Kennedy Agyapong] concerns and the role played by the respondent [Kweku Baako] on behalf of C&G Aleska which was involved in galamsey activities.



It would be recalled that somewhere in 2020 the court ruled in favour of Baako and awarding him damages to the tune of GHC130,000; which amount he said he was not interested in.



Baako held that being able to clear his name from accusations that he was involved in illegal small-scale mining otherwise known as galamsey as claimed by Agyapong was all he needed even though Agyapong had publicly stated that he was not going to pay the damages awarded.



Three years down the line, Agyapong has appealed the judgment in court dated May 5, 2023.











Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will this Saturday, May 13, hold its presidential primaries to elect the candidate to lead the party into the 2024 elections.



Three aspirants in the persons of former President John Dramani Mahama, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwabena Duffour and former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu are contesting the presidential race.



However, John Mahama stands a greater chance of winning the primaries as he is seen to be the favourite among the three.



As the party gears up for Saturdays elections, the Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has admonished the delegates to desist from violence and anything that may cause mayhem during the primaries.



He advised them to engage in a peaceful elections, bearing in mind the importance of they returning home after the elections without having a scratch on their body nor causing any form of harm to any other person.



I hope that at the end of the elections on Saturday, there will be no drop of blood or hear reports of someone in the custody of the Police for engaging in violence, he said during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show.



He wished the Presidential candidates all the best in the elections.



Meanwhile, in recent development prior to the primaries, Dr. Kwabena Duffour is seeking a postponement of the primaries over what he describes as a flawed register.



A petition has been sent to the Electoral Commission and Election Committee of NDC on May 8, 2023 under the signature Kofi Kukubor, Head of Research and Strategy with the campaign team of Dr. Duffuor stating an extensive review of the voters' register or photo album for 220 constituencies has identified several discrepancies that render the register inaccurate.



Speaking on Agoo FM in Nkawkaw on Friday, May 5, 2023 to wrap up his 4-day campaign tour to the Eastern Region, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor lamented; we are going to the polls on 13th May but we have not received the register which is going to be used for the election. So my campaign team is demanding for the release of the register. We have written to the party so we are waiting for them. There are rules and regulations about any election. My name could be conspicuously missing during the day of the election, what will I do in that situation. Am I going to fight or what, no. Reason we want to get access to the register to ensure that all qualified delegates are on the register.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An argument between two Philadelphia-area campaign workers resulted in one fatally shooting the other on Monday.

The incident occurred at 4:11 p.m. along the 2000 block of Church Lane, according to reports from 6ABC, NBC10, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Police said an argument broke out between a 46-year-old man who was canvassing for Philadelphias upcoming mayoral primary and a 22-year-old man who was canvassing on behalf of the progressive group OnePA.

The two men, both armed, each pulled out their guns at one point. It is not clear what led to the escalation but the 46-year-old man was wounded in the left armpit. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:24 p.m.

Police said the 22-year-old, who has a license to carry, was taken into custody and is cooperating with authorities. No charges have been filed yet.

We believe they were working on the same team, handing out the same flyers, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to 6ABC.

Today, a One PA team member tragically lost their life, OnePA Executive Director Steve Paul said in a statement. We are mourning this senseless loss and continuing to gather the facts and investigate what happened.

READ MORE: Crash between motorcycle and school van leaves one driver dead, one injured
What happened: Educating high school students about the responsibility that goes with auto loans, credit cards and credit scores would become a high school graduation requirement under legislation that passed the state Senate on Tuesday.

By a 44-5 vote, the chamber moved the bill to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The bills sponsor, Sen. Christopher Gebhard, R-Lebanon County, said 21 other states require students to take a financial literacy course. Given the level of debt in this country  $1 trillion in credit card debt, $6 trillion in student loan debt and $1.43 trillion in auto loan debt - he said helping Pennsylvania students avoid making poor financial decisions helps to better position them for a lifetime of success and benefits the commonwealth overall.

These are some alarming and astronomical numbers, Gebhard said in his floor remarks. Im not sure anyone can tell you with a straight face that the idea of teaching our children financial literacy, making it a graduation requirement isnt of the utmost importance.

What it would do: His bill would give high school students at least a half-credit for completing a personal finance course that covers the topics of how to choose and manage a credit card, borrowing money for an auto or large purchase, home mortgages, credit scoring and credit reports, retirement savings, paying for post-secondary education and more.

This proposed high school graduation requirement would apply to public and nonpublic students, starting in 2026-27. It also would require higher education institutions to incorporate information about credit card debt and money management as part of their orientation programming, starting in 2024-25.

Why one senator voted no: Sen. Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, was among those who voted against the bill.

Williams said she is all for teaching students financial literacy but said the State Board of Education is currently updating its academic standards on Career Education and Work, Family and Consumer Sciences and Economics and they will cover this topic.

Im all for improving academic standards, providing guidance, and resources that schools can use, Williams said. However, that is different from mandating a semester course on a single topic. Im simply not comfortable elevating one topic in a vacuum above everything else.

She further was not comfortable mandating a course for the first time ever without providing funding for the additional teachers in the midst of a teacher shortage.

How much it would cost: The Senate Appropriations Committee puts the cost of this proposed new requirement upwards of $4.8 million that schools would incur to cover of hiring additional teachers not including the $330 cost associated with acquiring teacher certification for instructors who are not certified to teach financial literacy.

Why its needed: A recent state ranking released by WalletHub ranks Pennsylvania has the 21st overall most financially literate state but 27th in terms of financial education and knowledge.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
About 100 students and parents from Pennsylvanias charter school community converged on the Pennsylvania Capitol on Tuesday to promote their favored school choice option.

Representatives from three organizations  the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, African American Charter School Coalition and Philadelphia Charter Excellence  formed a coalition to bring their voices together to push for changes to the law and tout the value these independently operated public schools offer.
A couple of notes on last weeks industry program by the New Jersey Winemakers Co/Op, which took place in Princeton, New Jersey.

There were seven sessions in all geared toward improving wine quality, including the following:

Planting with Intention: Vineyard Site Identification, Evaluation, and Development, presented by Mark Chien, a former Pa. state viticulturist who just retired after nearly a decade holding similar roles with the Oregon wine industry

Driving Quality in the Vineyard: From Pruning to Picking, Josh Grainer, MW, managing director and winemaker, RdV Vineyards , in Delplane, Virginia

Premium Wines with a Plan: A Case Study of 2 Virginia Wineries, Tom Payette, winemaking consultant

The Economics of the $50 Bottle of Wine, Orley Ashenfelter, professor of Economics, Princeton University

Around 50 people attended the two-day event, the first one that the eight-year-old Co/Op has tailored to educate industry members rather than promote its wines to the public.

Founding co/op wineries Beneduce Vineyards (Pittstown), William Heritage Winery(Mullica Hill), Unionville Vineyards (Ringoes), and Working Dog Winery (Highstown) have been joined in the last two years by Hawk Haven Vineyard (Rio Grande) and Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery (Pilesgrove Township).

Todd Wuerker, owner and winemaker at Hawk Haven, said feedback from the event was quite positive.

Responses have been 8-10 out of 10, excellent, and very likely to return again. There were a few minor suggestions of how to make it better, but, mostly just suggestion of additional topics they would like to hear, he said Monday.

The two-day session, covering everything from site selection to aging wine, took place in Princeton, New Jersey.

Wuerker said the highlights came out of the discussion that took place between speaker and guests. It was just a very natural and in-depth back and forth of the uppe- level topics I was there to hear, between all of the winemakers and/or viticulturist in the room, he said. Not to mention the overall amount of knowledge, experience, and talent that was there [that] made certain that you were going to feel like you got what you came for.

John Cifelli, general manager at Unionville Vineyards, called the program a watershed moment for the state industry. There was incredible talent and deep, valuable discussion in the room both days. I think we will look back at this conference in a few years as an inflection point for N.J.-grown fine wines, he said.

Chien was the viticulture educator for the Penn State Cooperative Extension from 2000 until 2014 when he left to fill the role of program coordinator for the Oregon Wine Research Institute. He said in an email Monday he was impressed by what he saw in Princeton. Significant improvement since I was last there 9 or so years ago. Its very encouraging, he added.

Now that this program is completed, the co/op is beginning to plan its next event that will aim at raising its profile (and that of New Jersey wines) to the public. Its scheduled for Sunday, June 4, at Unionville Vineyards and will feature a winemakers panel and discussion. It also will include a release of the co/ops next collaborative wine, an Open Source Bordeaux Blend 2019.

The official announcement of the event, with more details and a chance to purchase tickets, should be out in the next several days.

More:

Central Pa. winery adds a new neighbor  pretty much right next store

N.J. winery has its act together, perfectly blending its estate wines with a welcoming venue

Md. winery officially begins writing new chapter in historic space
The Pennsylvania Medical Society has announced its annual list of Top Physicians Under 40.

The annual awards are given out to physicians under the age of 40, nominated by their peers, and selected by a committee of members from the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

We had a lot of great nominations, but these candidates stood out among the rest, Dr. Kristen Sandel, Pennsylvania Medical Society president-elect and chair of the awards committee, said in a news release. With their ambition and innovative ideas, they will shape and shine bright in the future of medicine.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society is an organization representing all physicians and medical students throughout the state. The 175-year organization is based in Silver Spring Township.

The list includes 41 Physicians including eight in Dauphin, Lebanon, York and Lancaster counties:

1. Danish Ahmad, MD, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Philadelphia County

2. Natasha Alligood-Percoco, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Lycoming County

3. John Allison, DO, Family Medicine, Greene County

Dr. Shaili Amatya (Photo provided)

4. Shaili Amatya, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Dauphin County

She is a neonatologist in Hershey and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Westchester Medical Center and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Manipal College of Medical Science.

Her nominator said, She is an excellent physician-scientist who is dedicated to improving health and outcomes of premature newborns in the community.

5. Blake Bailey, DO, Emergency Medicine, Berks County

6. Nicholas Bonazza, MD, Orthopedic Surgery, Mercer County

7. Tara Braithwaite, DO, Family Medicine, Greene County

8. Alan Cherney, MD, Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia County

9. Ryan Collins, MD, Pathology - Anatomic & Clinical, Lycoming County

10. TiffanyDuMont, DO, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Allegheny County

Dr. Abby Geletzke (Photo provided)

11. Abby Geletzke, MD, General Surgery, Lancaster County

She is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in breast surgery. She earned her medical degree at University of Toledo Health Science Campus. She completed her residency at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and a fellowship at the Women & Infants Hospital.

Her nominator said, Patients we have shared say she truly cares about them as a person not just another cancer diagnosis. As a fellow clinician and colleague, it is amazing to work with someone you can trust to do the best thing for the patient and who never hesitates to reach out and discuss cases.

12. Kelly Goodsell, MD, Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia County

13. Nicholas Ierovante, DO, Interventional Cardiology, Lackawanna County

14. Sabrina Islam, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, Philadelphia County

15. Saad Javed, MD, Gastroenterology, Mercer County

16. JoannaKraynak-Appel, DO, Family Medicine, Columbia County

17. Daniel Latta, MD, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Bucks County

Dr. Christina Lawson (Photo provided)

18. Christina Lawson, MD, Dermatology, Lancaster County

She is board certified in Dermatology practicing in Lancaster County. She has a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completed her residency in dermatology at Howard University Hospital, where she served as chief resident during her final year.

Her nominator said, She is very knowledgeable, kind and caring, but most importantly, she is one of the humblest individuals you will ever meet. These characteristics are shown through her patient care, research and service.

19. Hammad Liaquat, MD, Gastroenterology, Lehigh County

Kristen Lutzkanin (Photo provided)

20. Kristen Lutzkanin, MD, Allergy and Immunology, Dauphin County

She is an allergist-immunologist and is affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Her nominator said, Dr. Lutzkanin is an amazing clinician, educator, and emerging leader in her field both locally at Penn State Health and statewide. She is actively involved in developing a penicillin allergy stewardship program for the Childrens Hospital to reduce inappropriate penicillin allergy labeling in pediatric patients.

21. Caitlin Matthis, DO, Family Medicine, Washington County

22. Caitlyn Moss, MD, Internal Medicine, Berks County

Dr. Edmond Obeng-Gyimah (Photo provided)

23. Edmond Obeng-Gyimah, MD, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, York County

He is a board-certified electrophysiologist at WellSpan Health in York. He is also the director of the Ventricular Tachycardia and Complex Ablation Program at WellSpan. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, completed his residency and internship at Boston Medical Center and his fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Electrophysiology.

His nominator said, Dr. Edmond Obeng-Gyimah is a brilliant physician and performing cutting-edge procedures for someone at this stage in their career. He performs challenging procedures that are not readily available in the region and is one of the leading providers for that service.

24. Heidi Ochs, DO, Pediatrics, Venango County

25. Gurleen Pasricha, MD, Hematology & Medical Oncology, Crawford County

Dr. Dustin Paul (Photo provided)

26. Dustin Paul, DO, Child Neurology, Lebanon County

He is a board-certified pediatric neurologist at Penn State Health. He obtained his masters degree in chemistry from State University of New York Buffalo State College and received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then completed his pediatric residency and pediatric neurology fellowship at The University of Texas at Houston McGovern Medical School/MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2018.

His nominator said, Dr. Paul is such a hard-working physician, with a very significant degree of expertise in a field which has literally exploded with new developments and treatments in recent years. His quiet, humble manner puts patients at ease, and allows him to work so well with other members of the health care team.

27. Chaitanya Rojulpote, MD, Internal Medicine, Lackawanna County

28. Riddhi Shah, MD, Hospitalist, Luzerne County

29. Kyle Shilk, DO, Anesthesiology, Venango County

Shane Specht (Photo provided)

30. Shane Specht, DO, Internal Medicine, Lancaster County

He is a board-certified internist and is affiliated with UPMC Community Osteopathic and UPMC Lititz. He received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he also attended residency. He currently serves as the program director for osteopathic education at UPMC Community Osteopathic.

His nominator said, Dr. Specht is a respected and trusted member of the hospitalist team. During the time he spends at UPMC Lititz he is responsible for the care of a wide spectrum of patients, including critical care patients in the open ICU, as well as patients on the acute medical and surgical floors. He goes above and beyond to provide evidence-based and personalized care for his patients while balancing his responsibility as a teaching attending.

31. Dillon Stein, DO, Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Allegheny County

32. Fadi Sweiss, MD, Neurological Surgery, Lycoming County

33. Peter Tomaselli, MD, Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia County

34. Elizabeth Ungerman, MD, Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Allegheny County

35. Ravi Ved, DO, Internal Medicine, Allegheny County

36. Anthony Villano, MD, Surgical Oncology, Philadelphia County

37. Austin Williams, MD, General Surgery, Philadelphia County

38. Vanessa Wookey, MD, Internal Medicine, Philadelphia County

39. Meilin Young, MD, Internal Medicine, Allegheny County

40. Xiao Chi Zhang, MD, Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia County

Dr. Hans Zuckerman (Photo provided)

41. Hans Zuckerman, DO, Family Medicine, Lebanon County

He is a board-certified physician specializing in family medicine. His clinical interests include preventive care, infectious diseases, obesity and womens health. He earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

His nominator said, As a leader, his patient-centric views and encouraging reminders on why we do what we do are contagious throughout his clinics. He inspires everyone from the support staff to the providers to provide the best possible care to patients.

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Dignitaries from across Pennsylvania gathered Monday in the Capitol for an annual ceremony honoring law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty last year.

The event, organized by the Fraternal Order of Police, specifically recognized five officers who passed away in 2022 while also paying tribute to those who had lost their lives in prior years as well as those who died thus far in 2023.

The ceremony stood to honor their life of service and reaffirm that we will never ever forget, as well as to proclaim that policing is a noble profession, Gov. Josh Shapiro said in his opening remarks Monday evening.

I want you to know we appreciate the sacrifices that you make, Shapiro told the families of officers, and to please know that our commonwealth has your back.

Mondays ceremony was attended by dozens of state lawmakers and public officials along with hundreds of law enforcement officers and their families from throughout the commonwealth.

Attorney General Michelle Henry remarked on the unique bond that ties together those who assembled Monday, given that most of us, when we go to work, we do not depend on our co-workers for our lives in the way that police do.

The five line-of-duty deaths in 2022, as recorded by the FOP, were:

Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Branden T Sisca and Martin Francis Mack III: Sisca and Mack were killed on March 21, according to police, as they were helping an errant pedestrian along I-95 in Philadelphia into their patrol car. A driver, who police believe was under the influence of alcohol, crashed into them, killing the two troopers as well as the man they were helping.

Lt. William D. Lebo of the Lebanon City Police Department: Lebo was one of several officers who responded to a call on March 31 in which police said a man was breaking into a relatives home. The man opened fire, according to Lebanon authorities, killing Lebo and wounding two other officers.

Officer Stephen Charles Plum Jr. of the Warrington Township Police Department: Plum passed away from sudden cardiac arrest on May 16; he had responded to several strenuous calls shortly before his passing, according to the FOP.

Cpl. Chad M. Beattie of the Washington County Sheriffs Office: Beattie was called on Aug. 10 to help municipal police pursue a suspect, with whom he engaged in a foot chase, according to the sheriffs office. Beattie collapsed and died of a cardiac event shortly after returning to his vehicle, according to a coroners report.

The number of officers killed in the line of duty was elevated during 2021 and 2022 relative to years past, according to FBI statistics, with 117 officers dying in the line of duty nationwide last year.

Pennsylvania has already seen three such deaths so far in 2023, Pennsylvania FOP President Joseph Regan noted Monday. Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire (Jan. 2), McKeesport Officer Sean Sluganski (Feb. 6), and Temple University Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald (Feb. 18) were all killed in shootings, according to police reports.

For all they have accomplished and sacrificed, they are heroes, Regan said during Mondays memorial. They will live on in our hearts, minds, and actions.

Mondays remembrance was the 28th annual event, but the first to be held in the evening and in the capitol rotunda, Regan said.

More:

Father of 3-year-old boy shot him inside Philly house, then tried to create cover story: police

Crash between motorcycle and school van leaves one driver dead, one injured
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard during Listening to Listeners, an original Today in Pa. segment that occurs every other Friday.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | May 9, 2023

A man stole his ex-girlfriends cat and sent her various messages threatening to kill it. Two state lawmakers want to make parental consent a requirement for minors to use social media. One lucky Sheetz customer will get free gas for the rest of their lives. Finally, a woman visited all 50 states while battling cancer.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
KEMMERER  Bill Gates on Friday made his first visit to Kemmerer, the southwestern Wyoming town where his nuclear development company, TerraPower, plans to build its inaugural next-generation reactor.

After touring the planned site and the adjacent coal-fired Naughton Power Plant, and sitting down with community leaders at the new Fossil Fuel Coffee Co., Gates and several TerraPower executives spoke to a packed room of residents and state officials at a Best Western about their vision for the Natrium project.

This is a pioneering move that will be a big part of how we keep electricity reliable and keep the United States at the forefront of providing energy technology to the entire world, said Gates, who has long been a vocal proponent of modernizing the countrys nuclear fleet.

Were committed to the project, he added. Were committed to work closely with you, committed to listen to the concerns and address those concerns. And being here today is just an early part of that.

Rodger Holt, a Rocky Mountain Power employee who manages the Naughton plant, led TerraPower through the facility. He said Gates seemed genuinely interested in what we currently do and the workforce here.

After the tour, everyone asked if I was relieved, he said. Its like, No, from the moment I heard that TerraPower was looking at this, I spent so much of my own time trying to get everything that I thought they would be looking for to convince them, this is where you want to be.

Its been a year and a half since Holts plant won out.

I figured this day would come, and it was great that it came, he said. Id like to do it again next week.

Gates, for his part, expects to return to the town of roughly 2,400 people  though maybe not quite so soon.

Im sure it wont be my last visit, Gates said. I look forward to coming and seeing this plant as it becomes reality.

The relationship between his company and the state has grown a lot stronger since the company announced its plan almost two years ago to build the reactor at one of four retiring Wyoming coal plants, TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque and Gov. Mark Gordon each told the Star-Tribune on Friday.

Two years ago, Rocky Mountain Power was looking at early retirement for its coal plant, Gordon said. And the state reacted, I reacted, the Legislature reacted: We think there is a big future for coal in Wyoming and theres going to be a lot more of it. Its going to be really tough for communities like Kemmerer to really lose that sort of economics.

Before TerraPower settled on Naughton, Kemmerer faced the likely closure of not only its power plant, but the coal mine that supplies it, with few prospects for the workers who would be left behind. But since TerraPower came to the town, the promise of hundreds of permanent jobs  and the prospect of thousands more in supporting industries  has been transformative. Now developers are everywhere, and all sorts of businesses are coming to a community that had up until now been known for being the home of the nations first JCPenney department store.

We look forward to making power, but also being a part of helping this community pivot, Levesque said. Really, we know theres been some hard times  weve listened to a lot of people here and  we want to be part of creating a new future.

All the interest in Kemmerer has been a welcome change of pace for the struggling coal town. Its also brought with it plenty of new challenges. Top of mind, for many, is the aging local infrastructure, which languished for years as the population that funded it shrank. The town needs a lot more money than it has right now to support the plants estimated peak of 1,600 construction workers and 200 or more permanent employees, along with an unknowable number of others.

The handful of town staff tasked with handling community development, overwhelmed by their ballooning responsibilities, have had to bring on a team of assistants and grant writers to field inquiries from the growing number of interested developers and try to secure the tens of millions of dollars itll take to accommodate them.

TerraPowers primary focus is on the exhaustive federal permitting process its trying to complete in time to start operating the reactor by 2030  still an aggressive target despite the projects two-year delay, Levesque said. But the company is trying to help keep the community its joining informed about funding available at the federal level.

We try and facilitate communication with them, he said. Trying to make sure people here know that fundings available and apply for grants.

Money is on the table at the state level as well, Gordon said, and the states going to try to stand with them to help as they expand. That includes trying to land new customers for the coal mine when the power plant does eventually close, he said, because these jobs are solid and theyre part of this community.

All those efforts have started to have an impact, said Brian Muir, Kemmerers city administrator. Were making progress.

Close Bill Gates, center, stands outside a hotel in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer as Bill Gates looks on. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates speaks with a group of people outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, right, was one of the many officials who were on hand for Bill Gates' visit to Kemmerer. Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates looks on during a TerraPower presentation Friday in Kemmerer. Tara Neider, a senior vice president at TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer to discuss a planned nuclear reactor there. Illustrations of a planned nuclear reactor are displayed at an event Friday in Kemmerer. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Bill Gates speaks with a group of men outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. PHOTOS: Bill Gates visits Wyoming for his nuclear project Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited Kemmerer on Friday as part of his effort to build a nuclear reactor there. Here's a look at his time in Wyoming. Bill Gates, center, stands outside a hotel in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer as Bill Gates looks on. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates speaks with a group of people outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, right, was one of the many officials who were on hand for Bill Gates' visit to Kemmerer. Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Bill Gates speaks to local residents and officials during a meeting Friday at a hotel in Kemmerer. Gates' nuclear development company is planning to build a next-generation reactor at the site of a coal-fired power plant adjacent to the town. This was the Microsoft founder's first visit to the community. Bill Gates looks on during a TerraPower presentation Friday in Kemmerer. Tara Neider, a senior vice president at TerraPower, speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer. Gov. Mark Gordon speaks Friday at an event in Kemmerer to discuss a planned nuclear reactor there. Illustrations of a planned nuclear reactor are displayed at an event Friday in Kemmerer. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Chris Levesque is president and CEO of TerraPower. Bill Gates speaks with a group of men outside a Kemmerer hotel on Friday.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Authorities searched Tuesday for two inmates  one accused of killing four people  who were gone from a Philadelphia prison for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing.

Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center around 8:30 p.m. Sunday by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said.

Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney (right) spoke at a press conference outside the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Monday. Mayor Jim Kenney is behind her, and Xavier Beaufort, deputy prisons commissioner, is on the left, holding photos of the two escapees.TNS

Headcounts conducted at 11 p.m. Sunday, 3 a.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Monday reportedly showed that all prisoners were accounted for, said Philadelphia Prisons Department Commissioner Blanche Carney. The facility became aware of the escaped inmates at about 3 p.m. Monday, Carney said.

We have protocols in place and those protocols were not followed, Carney said. That yard should have been secured, and the fence not breached.

Mayor Jim Kenney said at a news conference Monday evening that they want to find out exactly what happened. Clearly the system screwed up and people didnt do what what theyre supposed to do, Kenney said.

Hurst was arrested in March 2021. Hes accused of shooting and killing a man on Christmas Eve 2020, said Frank Vanore, Philadelphia police deputy commissioner of investigations. The other three shootings happened in March 2021.

Hes a very dangerous individual from what we know, and we are looking for the publics help to get him back, Vanore said at the news conference.

Grant was being held on conspiracy drug charges and conspiracy weapons charges, Blanche said. The inmates were housed in the same unit, but different cells, she said.

More:

Man reported dead at Dauphin County Prison

Father sentenced to prison for 2-year-old sons death: reports
A three-year-old toddler, his 34-year-old mother, and a 30-year-old family member were injured in a drive-by shooting that took place in north Philadelphia Monday night, according to news sources.

It all happened when they were in front of the mothers home, located on the 2200 block of North Gratz Street, around 9 p.m. It was then that gunshots rang out from a car driving by. The young child, his mother, and the man were all hit amid gunfire and were driven to Temple University Hospital, according to reports from 6ABC and NBC10.

The young boy was grazed on the arm, his mother was grazed on the abdomen and the man was grazed on the hand, NBC10 reported.

All three of these shooting victims were suffering from graze wounds and theyre all in stable condition, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to the news outlet.

Authorities believe someone in a white car let off several shots down West Dauphin Street onto Gratz Street, striking the victims. It remains unclear if the trio was targeted or if this was stray gunfire, according to reports.

We dont know if any of the three were the intended target, Small said to NBC10. Of course, we dont believe the 3-year-old was the intended target - nobody would shoot a 3-year-old.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Read More:
By Jill Sunday Bartoli

We dont have a debt ceiling crisis. We are the richest country in the world, with vast possibilities for solving many of our seemingly intractable problems. What we have is a resource collection crisis. The richest 1% in the US have more wealth--and unpaid taxes on that wealththan 90% of our population, most of whom actually pay their taxes.

The same is true of the largest corporations in the United States, many of which pay little or nothing in taxes, compared with small and medium sized family owned businesses who ethically do pay taxes.

When I turn on the radio in Carlisle to a local channel, I hear continual propaganda about the IRS coming to take away everything you own. The truth is that the IRS is so underfunded that gathering the fair share taxes from those who have the money to avoid paying them is nearly impossible.

If you really want to see the roots of our low wages, our poverty and homelessness, and our education and healthcare problems, follow the money. Look updont look down at those who are not to blame. We are encouraged by pundits, media and some unethical politicians to blame and even despise those who are left out and left behind.

What does the highest inequality rate in the world look like? Walk up North West Street in Carlisle and see the condemned sign on a house where a resident died and no family member had the funds to reclaim the home. Ask a nearby community member about the eviction she is facing because a new landlord raised her rent.

Ask the seven veterans who face eviction because Operation Veterans Hope, a Work-to-Stay program with a thrift shop that veterans run in Mt. Holly, is being charged an unsustainable $2,500. a month rent by a new California landlord. Is this how we support successful programs for veterans in Cumberland County, who number nearly 17,000?

When some CEOs get 400 times the paycheck of their workers, we understand why Walmart, Amazon and other corporations fight so hard against their workers who want unions. In the 1960s unions were strong enough to ensure fair, living wage pay, good working conditions, health benefits and pensions. In Matt Desmonds Poverty, By America we learn that, as CEO pay escalated, the paychecks of workers stagnated or went down.

Powerful corporations and 1% of our citizens can afford to make very large donations to legislators willing to keep the status quo, and they can afford to pay lobbyists to advocate for their personal financial interests. Hence, we have lopsided tax rates and continued tax cuts that enrich those who have much, and disadvantage those who have little.

Why do other countries with far less wealth have far fewer children and families in poverty? Why do other countries have far lower eviction and homelessness rates than the US has? Why does the US have the most expensive health care system, and still leave so many families with little support for medical, dental, and mental healthcare? Why does the US lag behind other less affluent countries in educational success?

There is no mystery here. And there is no debt ceiling crisis. We have only to gather the fair share taxes from all of our citizens and corporations, stop demonizing, and instead strengthen the government agencies that can help to do this. This is just as true for strengthening all of our public schools, broadening health care access, and supporting affordable housing.

In 2011 the GOP forced spending cuts to raise the debt ceilingcuts that hurt working families and held back our economy, while those who had plenty got even more. Subsequent tax cuts by Bush and Trump continued to widen the inequality gap, so that half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck while too many individuals and corporations avoid paying their fair share in taxes.

They want to do this again in 2023, and only we the people can stop them.

Tell your representatives to stop faking a debt ceiling crisis and actually earn their excellent paychecks and generous benefits. Tell them to collect our vast resources and invest in our families, not give more tax breaks to corporations and only 1% of our population. Tell them to strengthen the IRS so that fair share taxes can be collected from those who can afford to pay back what they owe.

We are too good a society to let our families and veterans face eviction and our children face poverty, homelessness and despair. Lets work together to solve our most urgent problems, instead of manufacturing a crisis. Tell our elected leaders we need more collaboration, compromise and compassiontraits often attributed to women who lead.

This is what democracy can look like.

Jill Sunday Bartoli is professor emeritus at Elizabethtown College and lives in Carlisle.
Legislation sparked by concerns last year about the handling of communication regarding then-Lt. Gov. John Fettermans stroke won Senate State Government Committee passage on Tuesday.

The bill, approved in a unanimous vote, seeks to ensure a continuity of state government if either the governor or lieutenant governor becomes incapacitated.

It would require the office of each executive to communicate with the other, as well as the General Assembly, should an issue arise that makes them unable to discharge the duties of their office.

The bill also modernizes the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Disability Procedure Law, a 1974 statute dictating the procedures to follow if a governor or lieutenant governor are unable to carry out their duties, by deleting references to using a telegram as the means of notifying the General Assembly and replacing it with email or facsimile. It also swaps out the word disability in that law with incapacitation.

Last May after Fetterman suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot, questions arose over when exactly he alerted Gov. Tom Wolf about his condition, one described by Fetterman himself as being so serious he almost died.

After Fetterman informed Wolf he was going to have a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted, Wolf invoked the 1974 law and issued a written declaration temporarily naming Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman as acting lieutenant governor.

Four days later, Fetterman, who was then a candidate for U.S. Senate, issued a declaration stating he was ready to resume his duties as lieutenant governor.

For weeks afterward, lawmakers raised issues regarding the timing and means that Fetterman used to notify the governor of his health situation. The Senate State Government Committee held a hearing to vet the issue but Fetterman did not attend. He also declined to provide testimony to the committee to help clarify the actions he took after suffering his stroke.

Fettermans situation was only the third time the disability procedure law was put into use. It was the first time it was used for a lieutenant governor.

In 1993 Gov. Bob Casey underwent a heart-liver transplant and handed duties over to Lt. Gov. Mark Singel for six months. In 2014, when Gov. Tom Corbett had surgery for a hernia repair, his lieutenant governor Jim Cawley served as acting governor for 85 minutes.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Family and friends console each other at a vigil for a mother and an 11-year-old child who were killed outside a school in Edmonton on Saturday May 6, 2023. Police say the suspect in a fatal double stabbing outside an Edmonton school has a history of mental health concerns and has been charged multiple times in the last decade with assaulting minors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The exploration, mine development and gold production company i-80 Gold Corp. reported an operating loss of $21.34 million in the first quarter and announced completion of its acquisition of Paycore Minerals Inc., which owns the FAD property near i-80s Ruby Hill Mine in Eureka County.

The operating loss was up from $13.13 million in the first quarter of last year, while revenue was up at nearly $4.55 million, compared with nearly $2.86 million in the 2022 quarter, including the sale of 2,349 gold ounces in the 2023 quarter.

The company is mining underground at Granite Creek in Humboldt County and residual leaching at Ruby Hill and the Lone Tree Mine along Interstate 80, while engineering continues to bring the Lone Tree autoclave into use, exploration is under way at Ruby Hill and at McCoy Cove south of Battle Mountain.

We are encouraged to have achieved the milestone of our first gold sale from Granite Creek, with over 400 ounces sold. We continue to advance development and improve production capabilities at this site and expect a ramp up through 2023, said Ryan Snow, chief financial officer for i-80 Gold.

He said in the first-quarter operating report released after the market closed on May 8 that we continued to advance development at McCoy Cove and exploration at Ruby Hill, spending nearly $9 million during the quarter to further understand the Hilltop and Blackjack zones at Ruby Hill and the CSD Gap orebody at McCoy Cove.

Snow said that with additional capital raised in February the company expects to continue advancing towards are ultimate goal of being a mid-tier Nevada-focused producer.

The Paycore acquisition will provide an exploration boost to Ruby Hill, where drilling in the first quarter focused on further definition and expansion of high-grade polymetallic mineralization along the Hilltop fault structure. Test holes also were drilled in the Blackjack Zone, according to i-80 Gold.

The Reno-based company announced the Paycore acquisition was completed in a plan of arrangement that gives Paycore shareholders 0.68 of an i-80 common share for each Paycore share and provides i-80 Gold with 100% ownership of the high-grade FAD deposit.

Christina McCarthy, president and chief executive officer of Paycore, thanked shareholders for their support since Paycore began trading, and we look forward to participating in the future success of i-80 Gold.

The FAD polymetallic deposit, immediately south of Ruby Hill and adjacent to the Ruby Hill property, is the down-dip extension of the original Ruby Hill Mine and was successfully expanded in a 2022 drill campaign, according to i-80 Gold. Historically, there was mining at Ruby Hill from 1864 to 1966.

Homestake Mining discovered Carlin-type mineralization at Ruby Hill in the 1990s and developed the mine before a merger with Barrick Gold Corp. i-80 Gold acquired the mine from Waterton and is now exploring the site. Open pit mining ended early last year.

The expanded land package at Ruby Hill will allow i-80 to aggressively pursue the optimization of the companys multi-year development plan and to realize its goal of creating one of the largest U.S.-focused diversified mineral producers, said Matthew Gollat, executive vice president of the company.

As we complete work related to the restart of our two processing facilities, Lone Tree for gold and Ruby Hill for polymetallics, the addition of the FAD deposit to our impressive portfolio will be considered in our future sequencing plans, he said.

Tyler Hill, senior geologist for i-80, said in the announcement on Paycore that the FAD deposit represents one of North Americas highest-grade undeveloped deposits that fits perfectly into our 2023 exploration program where we can have an expanded focus on defining polymetallic mineralization in the Eureka District to better assess the economic opportunity.

In the operations report for the quarter, i-80 Gold reported that the company shipped roughly 1,950 gold ounces on loaded carbon from Lone Tree leach pads and continued the engineering study and cost estimate for the restart of the autoclave at Lone Tree.

At Granite Creek, the company continued its efforts to upgrade existing dewatering infrastructure to ensure efficient operations and mined oxide material that was hauled to Lone Trees leach pad. i-80 also reported 1,870 feet of underground development as part of the ramp-up plan.

At McCoy Cove, there was 7,210 feet of core and reverse-circulation drilling during the first quarter for hydrogeologic characterization to support permitting efforts, and i-80 Gold said there was 10,699 feet of core drilled underground.

As of March 31, 1,308 feet of development was completed, so the total of development at that point was 4,403 feet.
CARSON CITY  Beginning May 15, the State Route 306/Beowawe exit 261 on-ramp to eastbound Interstate 80 will close for approximately two and a half months as part of a continuing Nevada Department of Transportation project to add an eastbound truck climbing lane.

Motorists traveling east from Beowawe/Crescent Valley will be required to use an alternate route, traveling seven miles west to access Dunphy exit 254.

Over recent months, approximately three miles of I-80 have been reduced to one lane in each direction as a truck climbing lane is constructed eastbound on I-80 at Beowawe exit 261. Improvements also include bridge surface repair and enhanced interchange lighting. An existing truck parking area on SR 306 will also be improved with resurfacing and lighting.

The lane closures will continue through late 2023. Speed limits are reduced to 45 mph in the eastbound direction and 55 mph in the westbound direction.

With almost half of traffic in the area consisting of large trucks, the lighting and truck climbing lane will enhance travel for all vehicles on this section of I-80.

State highway information is available at dot.nv.gov or by calling 775-888-7000.
PokerStars US Hosting Ballers and Brawlers Events in May for Players in NJ/MI & PA

May 09, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

PokerStars US kicked off the summer in style with Mays Ballers and Brawlers poker series. Ballers and Brawlers bring the familiarity of low, medium, and high-tiered events to a 10-day festival of No Limit Holdem and Mixed Game events.

The Ballers and Brawlers series will kick off this Friday, May 12, and will run through Monday, May 22. The festival will guarantee $2.5 million in prize pools across Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania player pools with a combined Main Event pool of $250,000.

The schedule features progressive knock-out tournaments along with prestigious high-roller events, whether you are a Baller, Brawler, or both  theres something for everyone.

The opening weekend gets underway in style with the $100K Baller Special and Brawler Mini Special with a $40K guaranteed. PokerStars US favorites The Nightly Benjamin and The Jackson Jab have had a B&B makeover as part of the enhanced tournament schedule.

Also featured in the 60+ event schedule are accessible mixed-game Brawler opportunities to play PLO8, Stud Hi/Lo, and more.

Shared Liquidity Highlights

Tournament Buy-in GTD MAIN EVENT BALLER $1,000 $150K GTD MAIN EVENT BRAWLER $100 $150K GTD $100K BALLER SPECIAL $200 $100K GTD BALLER THRILL HIGH ROLLER $1,000 $75K Gtd BRAWLER MINI SPECIAL $50 $40K GTD

Pennsylvania Highlights

Tournament Buy-in GTD MAIN EVENT BALLER $1,000 $100K GTD MAIN EVENT BRAWLER $100 $100K GTD BALLER THRILL HIGH ROLLER $1,000 $75K Gtd BRAWLER MINI SPECIAL $50 $30K GTD

Check out the full Ballers and Brawlers schedule in your PokerStars US lobby.

Best Online Poker Sites for US Players

Ballers and Brawlers Spin & Gos

Special edition Spin & Go tournaments are awarding Ballers and Brawlers Main Event entries and cash.

Find them in the Spin & Go lobby. Theyre available for buy-ins of $1 & $10.

Here's what you could win:

Daily Jackpot Bonus

In addition to the Ballers and Brawlers series, PokerStars players can look forward to another exciting Casino offer throughout the entire month of May.

Thanks to the Daily Casino Bonus Jackpot, there are chances to win every day this month.

Players who opt in and wager $1 every day have a shot at the $5,000 jackpot.

Sharelines The @PokerStarsUSA Ballers and Brawlers series will kick off this Friday, runs May 12-22.
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Former Rep. Liz Cheneys PAC The Great Task will air an ad calling Trump unfit and a national security risk during his CNN town hall.

Video:

Cheney narrates the ad and says:

Donald Trump is the only President in American history who has refused to guarantee the peaceful transfer of power. He lost the election and he knew it to become the president he betrayed millions of Americans by telling them the election was stolen stop this he ignored the rulings of dozens of courts.

Rather than accept his defeat, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and March on the Capitol then he watched on television while the mob attacked law enforcement, invaded the Capitol and hunted the vice president.

He refused for three hours to tell the mob to leave there has never been a greater dereliction of Duty by any president. Trump was warned repeatedly that his plans for January 6 were illegal. He didnt care and today he celebrates those who attacked our Capitol.

Donald Trump has proven he is unfit for office. Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again.

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CNN is trying to normalize Donald Trump by giving him a nationally televised town hall, but Liz Cheney is going to be right there to remind viewers that Donald Trump is a violent insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the United States government.

What Trump did after the 2020 election should follow him around everywhere he goes for the rest of his life.

Donald Trump is unfit for office and voters must always be reminded of the damage that he did to the country.
Some secret military documents of the United States leaked on social networking sites recently showed how the United States has been eavesdropping on the secretary-general of the United Nations as well as the Republic of Korea, Israel, Ukraine and other countries.

These leaks once again prove that the United States is the world's largest "empire of hackers" that's been spying on people around the world in every way possible. The so-called Clean Network and what the United States calls technology that reflects democratic values and interests are extremely hypocritical.

The leaked documents, numbering more than 100 pages, involve nearly every corner of the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

An American media outlet called them "a rare window on the inner workings of American espionage." They revealed how the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited agents or eavesdropped on the closed-door conversations of world leaders.

These documents explain that the United States is still engaged in massive cyber attacks and theft of secrets around the world, which seriously harms other countries' sovereignty and the privacy of global internet users, and severely contravenes international law and basic norms governing international relations.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States is the origin of cyber warfare, the biggest spreader of advanced cyber weapons and the biggest global cyber thief.

The Black Chamber following World War I, the Project SHAMROCK after World War II and the Echelon during the Cold War period were all ironclad proofs of U.S. spying activities across the world.

The United States has been acting more arbitrarily with regard to global surveillance over the recent years.

According to the 2013 disclosure by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, Washington had been spying on the cell phone communications of as many as 35 world leaders and collecting almost 5 billion cell phone records around the world each day.

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation revealed in 2021 that Denmark's secret service helped the United States spy on leaders of Germany, France, Norway and other U.S. allies in Europe.

The WikiLeaks, PRISM, Dirtbox, Irritant Horn, Bvp47 and Swiss encryption machines manipulated by the CIA all exposed that the United States has long been engaged in indiscriminate eavesdropping on the world.

"Do not expect a global surveillance superpower to act with honor or respect. There is only one rule: there are no rules," said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States only values its own hegemony and private interests, rather than its allies.

Former CIA official Philip Giraldi once said that "They should not have been surprised to know that. The United States spies on all its allies. When I was in the CIA working in Europe, we spied on the Germans. We spied on the Italians. We spied on the Spaniards. We spied on the British. We spied on everybody."

The U.S. side claimed that the leak of these classified documents this time did not undermine trust and confidence with its partners, but the international community is clear that the United States was trying to conceal its lack of confidence, and the allies of the United States know that the country is not reliable at all.

New York City-based multinational financial and business news website Business Insider noted that it's not a secret that U.S. intelligence organizations spy on both U.S. allies and enemies.

Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said the leak this time discredited the White House and was a huge blow to the relations between the United States and its allies.

U.S. spying scandals tell the world that the United States is a total hypocrite when it comes to safeguarding cybersecurity.

China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance recently issued a report revealing the typical cyber attacks launched by the United States over the recent years and their negative impacts.

According to the report, the ransomware WannaCry that affected most countries and caused the most severe losses across the world in 2017 was the result of leaked cyber weapons from the U.S. National Security Agency. Ironically, in 2021, the United States put on an act by launching a so-called International Counter-Ransomware Initiative with dozens of countries.

The United States asked nine international internet giants, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google and Apple to cooperate with the U.S. government to secretly monitor information. It has been citing digital security as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies without providing any evidence, and even coerced its allies who were also victims of U.S. espionage to join the gang.

Besides, the United States also launched projects aiming to intrude, divide and suppress foreign cybersecurity vendors and force them to dance to the tune of the United States.

Facts have proved that the United States, which claims to work for a "Clean Network," is not clean at all. It says it aims to develop "technology that reflects democratic values and interests," but is only breaching the bottom line of morality.

What the United States really wants are a network and technologies that enable it to steal secrets, attack other countries and maintain its hegemony.

Safeguarding cybersecurity is a shared responsibility of the international community. The United States claims itself to be a defender of freedom and democracy, yet it has been the champion of hacking by using cutting-edge technology. The United States says it's important to protect information security, yet it has placed information security traps worldwide. The country should stop its hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices, and give a responsible account to the international community.
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Rachel Maddow connected the Trumps courting anti-Semites and the wave of white supremacist mass shootings.

Video:

Maddow said:

They dont just happen to be connected in the news. Theyre connected. The Buffalo white supremacist mass murder, El Paso white supremacist mass murder, the Pittsburgh white supremacist mass murder. Now it appears the Allen, Texas white supremacist mass murder. In a nation recoiling and ashamed and disgusted, there is also these apparent connections, right?

Between these bleeding, ragged right-wing mass violence and the bleeding ragged right-wing edge of politics. The most mainstream possible electoral Republican politics. The most mainstream, most successful right-wing media as well. But also this former president and his family and his former officials, and the way he is currently running for president again. Theyre inviting literal Hitler was right outspoken anti-Semites putting Stars of David, Jewish stars on the heads of their enemies telling people, thats who we need to be going after. Theyre inviting people like that to their events with the highest members of their government, and it is all happening while that person is running for president again.

And it is happening amid this unrelenting wave of white supremacist-motivated mass murder. Are those two things separate? Are those two things just very disturbing parallel tracks that will never meet and that have never met? Or is one of these an anchor for the other? Does the fact that both of these are happening at once in our country frankly accelerate them both? Accelerate the racial radicalism and anti-Seitism as a political tool and just accelerate the violence in the streets. Do they work together, and if so, how? If they do work together, how do we stop it?

While CNN elevates Trump by giving him a national town hall in primetime, Rachel Maddow is telling the truth about Trumps courting of white nationalists and anti-Semites.

CNN is trying to normalize Trump and treat him like just another candidate. CNN would prefer that you please ignore the racism and bigotry that Trump and his kids are literally hosting.

There were anti-Semities and white supremacists in the Republican Party long before Trump, but the failed former president has brought them to the surface and has emboldened them.

Rachel Maddow went to the place that CNN never will by connecting Trump and the white supremacist company that he keeps.
Hong Kong: Health chief inspects dental hospital

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau visited the Prince Philip Dental Hospital today to get a better grasp of its work in training local dental professionals.

Prof Lo and Under Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee visited the hospital's training facilities including the primary care clinic, comprehensive dental clinic and simulation laboratory.

They also received an introduction on the screening arrangements for teaching patients and details of the hospital's training of dentists and ancillary dental workers.

The health chief urged the hospital to enhance the clinical competencies of dentists and ancillary dental workers, with a view to ensuring a sustainable supply of quality healthcare professionals to meet the growing demand for dental services in Hong Kong.

He then spoke to some student dental hygienists and therapists to learn about their training experience.

Prof Lo said: Hong Kong has been facing a shortage of dentists over the years, with a particularly keen demand for relevant manpower in the public healthcare sector. This situation of a dental professionals shortage affects dental care services for our community, in particular the underprivileged.

As such, we are considering to introduce amendments to the Dentists Registration Ordinance, thereby creating new pathways for the admission of qualified non-locally trained dentists to practise in specified institutions, and modernising the regulatory framework for dentists and ancillary dental workers to ensure the adequate manpower support for our public or subsidised dental care services in the long run.

He added that the Government is actively considering the views and suggestions from various sectors for the formulation of a concrete proposal with a target of submitting recommendations to the Legislative Council within this year.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Press Release

May 9, 2023 CHIZ TO NAVY: SHELVE PLAN TO BUY SUBMARINES, PRIORITIZE ACQUISITION OF BOATS FOR DISASTER RESPONSE AND RELIEF Before it borrows money to buy submarines, the Philippines should first acquire locally-made ships, like floating hospitals and rescue boats, that will aid people and towns hit by typhoons, which are getting frequent and stronger, Sen. Chiz Escudero said. "I am for stronger a Navy. I am great fan of our sailors. But the reality is we cannot realize our submarine dreams if what we have is a salbabida budget," Escudero said "Perhaps when our finances improve, then we can give the Navy the ships it deserves. Sabi nga, 'a rising tide raises all ships,'" he said. "With economic buoyancy comes the ability to buy more Navy ships, "Escudero said. The senator said he supports the Navy modernization plan, "and in fact I am of the opinion that the current shopping list should be nudged up a bit." "But insofar as the planned purchase of two diesel-electric attack submarines for a reported total price tag of P70 billion, I think this should be shelved at the moment, "he said And to their credit, the Navy command said the purchase of these assets can wait, he said. In the meantime, the government should increase its inventory of boats which can be used for disaster response and relief. "One good suggestion is to commission the building of multipurpose vessels which can serve as floating hospital, barracks of rescue workers, cargo bay for rescue equipment, emergency power plant, food pantry," he said. "This can be rapidly deployed to areas whose roads and power have been cut off. Yung rescue personnel mayroon ng tulugan, hindi na makiki-compete doon sa lokal," he said. These boats, he said, can be built and outfitted by local shipbuilder, "thus helping the economy by creating jobs. Walang outflow of dollars."
The upcoming China-Central Asia Summit -- the first of its kind, scheduled to be held in Xi'an next week, will witness ties between China and the five Central Asian countries elevated to a new high. Fruitful, comprehensive results are expected to be realized in multiple areas, be it political, economic and security, as participating countries are expected to reach new consensus of cooperation amid new challenges and risks in the region, said observers.

The China-Central Asia Summit will be held on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the summit, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Monday.

At China's invitation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will be attending the summit, Hua said.

Hua also announced that at the invitation of President Xi, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan will pay a state visit to China respectively from May 16 to 20.

The China-Central Asia Summit is the first major diplomatic event to be held in China this year, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a Monday briefing. Being the first offline summit between leaders of the six countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago, Wang said the summit is of milestone significance to China's ties with the five Central Asian nations.

During the summit, President Xi will give an important speech; and leaders are set to exchange views on major international and regional issues, said Wang. He also noted that important political documents will be signed.

The spokesperson said China is willing to join hands with Central Asian countries, using the presidents' visit to further expand cooperation, and push forward ties, as well as contributing to world peace and prosperity.

The highest-level summit between China and those Central Asian countries indicates that the comprehensive strategic partnerships China established with all five Central Asian countries have reached a new high; and that those countries share a new consensus on development amid new challenges and risks in the region, Yang Jin, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Yang noted that the summit carries special significance as previous cooperation between China and Central Asian countries was either bilateral; or under multilateral frameworks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), while this summit focuses only on cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

China shares a special bond with Central Asian countries. For his first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic, President Xi paid a state visit to Uzbekistan in September 2022 and attended the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. Moreover, this year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative proposed by Xi during his visit to Kazakhstan in 2013.

More room for cooperation

Last month, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang chaired the fourth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xi'an. The meeting yielded a consensus as they agreed to adhere to solidarity and mutual assistance, and enhance mutual support; adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and expand security cooperation.

Issues dominating the summit will be wide-ranging, including political, economic, security and people-to-people exchange, Zhao Huirong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. She noted economic cooperation will be one of the key issues at the summit. "Pushing for more collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative will be important  Both sides may also discuss agreements on energy, agriculture, green economy and so forth."

Trade between China and the five Central Asian countries reached $70.2 billion last year, a historic high, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said last month. In 2022, China's imports of agricultural, energy and mineral products from these countries jumped over 50 percent, while its exports of mechanical and electronic products to them increased by 42 percent.

China and Central Asia have kept close collaboration on security for years. Experts predicted cooperation on security will be another focus at the summit because of new risks and challenges in the region. One of these security challenges include the risks the US' hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan poses for regional countries.

Zhao said that to promote regional security and improve global security governance, China has launched various beneficiary initiatives, such as the Global Security Initiative; and has been playing an active role in multilateral mechanism to assuage risks and bring peace.

Last week, Qin Gang attended the fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers'?Dialogue in Islamabad, Pakistan. The three countries have pledged to further strengthen trilateral cooperation on security and counter-terrorism.

Following the US pulling out from Afghanistan, outside forces that interfere with Central Asia's affairs have decreased, which makes the room for cooperation between China and those countries much bigger, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times. Zhu said Central Asian countries' willingness in cooperating with China has also grown stronger in recent years, not only because both sides maintain strong momentum in collaborating on energy, infrastructure and other areas, but because these countries share similar stance on many major international issues.

Working together, not competing

China's cooperation with Central Asian nations has been growing stronger to adapt to the current changes. But some Western media cannot stop smearing China's role in the region, claiming that it competes with Russia's influence in the region.

Yang said the reports are "absurd and harbor evil intention." Such claims disrespect Central Asian countries' diplomatic wisdom, as they are sovereign countries and have the right to cooperate with whoever can bring them concrete benefits, said the expert.

When meeting with Qin Gang in Xi'an in April, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said that the strategic partnership with China remains one of the priorities of Kazakhstan's foreign policy. Nurtleu highlighted the need for joint efforts to implement the agreements reached at the highest level to expand multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and investment, the Astana Times reported.

Li Yongquan, director of the Eurasian Social Development Research at the Development Research Center of the State Council, told the Global Times that "For 30 years, Central Asia has been situated in a complicated geopolitical atmosphere. One of the reasons why regional countries can thrive despite the multiple unstable factors is because China and Russia have cooperated on maintaining safety and stability in the region. China and Russia have a shared interest on this issue," said Li.
Police are investigating after a 60-year-old man was found dead in an abandoned warehouse Monday.

A little after 1 p.m, police responded to the 100 block of Williamsburg Street in reference to a Black male who was found dead in an abandoned warehouse, according to Lt. Jennifer Hayes with Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Aiken County Coroner Ables identified the victim as Alvin Patrick Jr.

The victim was found by a friend who flagged down a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who was traveling on Richland Avenue, Ables said. The trooper then notified authorities with the Aiken Department of Public Safety.

Ables said foul play is not suspected and Patrick's body will be autopsied in Newberry.

The coroner's office and Aiken Department of Public Safety are investigating the case.
The Aiken Municipal Development Commission will be dissolved by June 1 and its assets will return to the city of Aiken.

The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance dissolving the Aiken Municipal Development Commission and deleting Chapter 11 (Title: Aiken Municipal Development Commission) from the city code.

Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz did not attend the meeting Monday.

Andrea Gregory made the motion to approve the ordinance. Kay Brohl seconded her motion.

The AMDC owns the Beckman Building, Hotel Aiken, the building where Taj Aiken is located, the Dr. C.C. Johnson Drug Store, Warneke Cleaners, Newberry Hall and the former Jackson Petroleum property. As of May 1, 2023, it has $123,657.79 in a bank account.

The vote Monday ends a multi-month effort to transfer the AMDC properties to city control.

The effort began on March 13 when the council met as the AMDC and voted to delay transferring properties after allegations of conflicts of interest were made. On March 27, the city council met and voted to approve the first reading of the AMDC dissolution ordinance. However, on April 10, the city council voted to continue consideration of the second and final reading of the ordinance to allow City Attorney Gary Smith to request an informal opinion from the South Carolina Ethics Commission as to whether four council members needed to recuse themselves from voting on the ordinance.

The four council members were Woltz, Mayor Rick Osbon and City Council members Lessie Price and Gail Diggs.

Courtney Laster, general counsel for the S.C. Ethics Commission, said April 26 none of the four council members needed to recuse themselves from voting on the ordinance.

Specifically, she said Osbon and Woltz wouldn't receive economic benefits if the properties changed hands and Price and Diggs didn't have a conflict because they had resigned from the Aiken Corporation board.

"Accordingly, it is the opinion of Commission staff that the four Council Members are permitted to vote on the proposed ordinance," Laster said.

The council also voted to approve the second and final readings of ordinances:

 Rezoning 791 York St. N.E. from light industrial to general business;

 Rezoning 206 Edgefield Ave. N.E. from limited professional to residential multifamily low density to allow for the construction of a single-family home;

 Annexing and zoning a single-family home on Two Notch Road; and

 Granting an easement to Bear Mountain LLC across a city-owned property in Verenes Industrial Park.

The council also approved the first reading of three budget-related ordinances: setting the millage rate for the 2023-2024 fiscal year (it's staying at 60 mills), establishing new water and sewer rates (rates are increasing by around 7% to partially fund a new water treatment plant) and approving the 2023-2024 budget.

The budget ordinances will return to the council agenda in early June as state law requires a minimum of 30 days between readings of budget ordinances.

The council also approved resolutions approving the purchase of a property near Oak Grove Road from Manchester Family LLC and accepting two sewer easements, and the reappointments of Tara Bostwick and Deborah Taussig-Boehner to the Equine Commission and Tina McCarthy to the Accommodations Tax Committee.

The council recognized Nong Von Buedingen, known professionally as Nong Von B, for winning the Aiken Soil and Water Conservation District storm drain mural contest.
The glass fiber produced at AGY Holding Corp.s plant on Wagener Road in Aiken can be found in aircrafts, automobile exhaust and ignition systems, surfboards and electronic handheld devices, just to name a few.

At the facility, we have 1.4 million square feet under roof where we manufacture and approximately 700 employees, AGY President and CEO Al Ridilla told the Rotary Club of Aiken on Monday at Newberry Hall.

We take 30 to 40 million pounds of sand and convert it into roughly 300 million miles of glass fiber, he said. About 94% of what we make, by weight, is sourced domestically. Were an American company.  The only place we source outside the country is Turkey because Turkey supplies certain things.

AGY sells its glass fiber in a twisted form as yarn and a non-twisted form that is known as roving.

From Aiken were shipping product throughout the world, Ridilla said. Last year, roughly 50% of our sales were domestic, 25% were to Europe and about 24% were to Asia.

AGY has around 200 customers for its glass fiber.

One of the most remarkable things that probably isnt publicized is that the site [on Wagener Road]  has reduced its carbon footprint nearly 90% over the last 12 years, Ridilla said. AGY and the team has really been making the business a green business.

Ridilla expects the current year to be a good one for the company.

When we look at 2023 for AGY, for Aiken and for all of our employees, we expect to hire more, we expect to keep who we have, we expect the business to grow, he said.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Santee Cooper's board approved a $23.4 billion plan May 9 to diversify and expand the utility's sources of electricity by 2040 that includes bulking up on solar power and building a new gas-fired plant in the state, possibly with Dominion Energy as a partner.

The vote, taken during a virtual special meeting, was unanimous. The long-range proposal will be sent next week to state regulators, who are expected to issue a decision next year.

The so-called integrated resource plan is the first for Santee Cooper. The purpose is to show how the utility will meet the projected growing demand on its system and its environmental requirements or goals.

The plan, which was developed after numerous public meetings since last year, provides the most cost-effective and least ratepayer risk, according to Santee Cooper.

It would reduce carbon emissions by 56 percent by the mid-2030s compared to 2005 levels, partly by relying less on coal as a fuel source.

South Carolina needs a modern, cleaner energy portfolio that supports South Carolinas growing economy and growing adoption of electric vehicles and other power-dependent technologies across the state, Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said.

This portfolio provides all of that, and it equips Santee Cooper to continue to power South Carolina reliably  and affordably  for decades to come, he added in a written statement.

The plan shows that solar generation will be ramped up to account for 28 percent of the electricity Santee Cooper produces by 2040, or enough to run 500,000 homes, up from 10 percent in 2025.

Over the same period, electricity made from burning coal would decline to 24 percent from 64 percent.

Santee Cooper also is proposing to delay the previously announced closing of the coal units at the Winyah station in Georgetown County to 2031 from late 2027. That would buy it enough time to build a replacement plant elsewhere that will run on natural gas, said Rahul Dembla, chief planning officer.

The Moncks Corner-based utility and Dominion Energy South Carolina are considering working together on that project, which is expected to be constructed at an unidentified site in Hampton County.

Battery storage technology and smaller natural gas generators also would be part of the new long-term energy mix to provide additional electricity during periods of high demand.

The plan is designed to be flexible to allow for additional capacity that Central Electric Power Cooperative  Santee Coopers largest customer  will bring to the system through three confidential purchase agreements with other unidentified suppliers starting in 2029.

While acknowledging some disagreements with Santee Cooper, Central CEO Rob Hochstetler said unequivocally his group wants to work together to ensure the state can meet its energy needs.

Central, which represents 20 electric cooperatives, endorsed the utility's recently announced plan to buy a small power station in Gaffney for $17 million to help it meet short-term demand, he noted.

Hochstetler said his organization agrees with Santee Cooper that a new large gas-fired plant needs to be built in South Carolina and wants to be part of that discussion.

The $23.4 billion estimate is the "all-in cost over 30 years to 2052 of the integrated resource plan, including the resources and fuel," said Mollie Gore, Santee Cooper's communications manager. "The way we will finance the plan is through a combination of revenues collected and set aside for capital projects and bond debt."

The utility must submit the proposal to the S.C. Public Service Commission by May 15. After a series of follow-up proceedings, the agency is expected to issue a ruling by March 8. It could approve it, deny it or request changes.
Singapore Airlines, the first carrier to take delivery of a North Charleston-made 787-10 more than five years ago, took home its first wide-body since the pandemic in April  one of seven deliveries of the twin-aisle jet Boeing Co. recorded last month.

With its delivery flight taking place between April 1 and 2, the 787-10 model  the program's largest variant with room for 336 passengers  is the 16th Dreamliner in the carrier's fleet.

The trip took about 20 hours, including a technical stop in Japan, because the aircraft had to avoid Russian airspace, according to a report by SimpleFlying.

Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the 787-10, taking the first one ever made at North Charleston's assembly campus during a March 25, 2018, ceremony. Boeing's Lowcountry campus is the only place the 787-10 has been built because its fuselage was too large to transport to the original Dreamliner assembly site in Everett, Wash.

Boeing closed the Seattle-area 787 site and consolidated all production in North Charleston in early 2021.

Singapore's national carrier has plans for a fleet of 23 Dash 10s.

Taiwan's EVA Air and British Airways also took delivery of 787-10 jets in April, while a trio of carriers  Air Canada, Gulf Air and Qantas Airways  received midsize 787-9 models.

Boeing also booked 17 Dreamliner orders in April, with a mix of 787-8 and 787-9 models going to unidentified customers.

Deliveries slumped over all of the planemaker's commercial aircraft programs in April because of production problems with the company's popular 737 Max. Carriers took delivery of 17 of the narrow-body jets last month, down from 52 deliveries in March.

All told, Boeing reported 26 commercial plane deliveries in April, with gross orders for 34 jets. Through the first four months of 2023, Boeing has delivered 156 planes, including 17 Dreamliners, and booked orders for 154 planes.

Boeing now has a backlog of 5,343 unfilled commercial plane orders, including 592 wide-body 787s.

French rival Airbus reported 54 deliveries in April, down from 61 the previous month.
ANDREWS  The cause of an early morning fire that tore through a sign store and furniture store on May 9 is under investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Mayor Frank McClary confirmed.

McClary said he is not aware of any indication of foul play as of the early afternoon of May 9, at which point a portion of U.S. Highway 521 Business running directly through Andrews was still closed while the Andrews Fire Department continued to extinguish hot spots on the site. The stores, located at the corner of East Main Street and Railroad Avenue, were destroyed, according to Georgetown County Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis.

Ellis said county first responders were called to the scene at about 5:20 a.m. He commended the collaborative effort between the Andrews, Georgetown County and Williamsburg County fire departments and said Georgetown County has provided its fire marshal to assist with the investigation.

"Unfortunately, whenever the crews arrived, there was pretty heavy fire load, so they were immediately in defensive operations," Ellis said. "They did a really good job protecting the other businesses along that storefront, given the conditions that they encountered whenever they first arrived."

No injuries were reported from the fire.

McClary said he received a call from his fire chief and captain at about 5:30 a.m. on May 9 reporting the fire. Their initial assessment was grim.

"We alerted the public works water tech to open all the wells and make sure that we have sufficient water," McClary said. He said he began controlling eastbound traffic on U.S. 521 Business as the fire blazed.

McClary said there is not yet a timeline for the reopening the road in the vicinity of the fire site. The site must first be made accessible for a SLED investigator, he said.

"We've had some residential fires, but nothing like this," McClary said of his seven years in office.

A fire wall between the furniture store and a business next door saved other businesses in the strip mall from also catching fire, McClary said.

"It's a linear structure and it's pretty deep," McClary said. "So where even with the ladder truck you couldn't reach, you had Williamsburg County on the backside of it spraying from that angle. Georgetown (County) was spraying from east to west, keeping the other buildings from igniting as well."

McClary said it was also fortunate that the town had recently acquired a new ladder truck, calling it "essential" to the early morning firefighting effort. One truck was affected by the heat and was moved back from the burning building, he said.

"Thank God for the ladder truck," McClary said. "We've had some that questioned whether Andrews needed one, and today was an example that yes, (we did)."
Charleston, SC  Both Duane Lewis and Daniel Crooks have dedicated their careers to law enforcement and the pursuit of justice. As the sheriff of Berkeley County, SC for a third consecutive term, Lewis has often considered the duty of the role and its history. Eager to explore a bygone era i Read moreBerkeley County, SC sheriff and retired SC constable shed light on historic criminal investigations within Berkeley County in new book
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Editor's note: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) commences from Kashgar, a city in China's Xinjiang, and terminates at the port city of Gwadar in Pakistan. Covering a distance of 3,000 kilometers, this corridor is a significant undertaking that has benefited over a billion people and serves as a symbol of the Belt and Road collaboration. This year marks a decade since the launch of the CPEC project, which has bolstered trade between Kashgar and China's neighboring countries and had a positive impact on Pakistan and the surrounding regions over the past ten years.

The Sahiwal Power Plant and Port Qasim Power Plant have contributed to one-third of Pakistan's power generation, while the Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission and other power transmission initiatives have significantly alleviated electricity shortages. As a result, the country now has ample installed power capacity to cater to domestic demand. Furthermore, the Sahiwal Power Station project has achieved superior gas emission performance compared to local standards.

Notably, the Karot Hydropower Plant is China's first overseas hydropower project that employs solely Chinese technologies and standards.

The Karakoram Highway Phase II, Peshawar to Karachi Highway, and Pakistan's first urban transit train, the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, are some of the projects that have contributed to increased transport capacity between China and Pakistan, as well as significant improvements to major roads in Pakistan. It's worth noting that the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train serves as Pakistan's first urban transit metro system.

The China-Pakistan cross-border optical fiber cable project has ended the era of no terrestrial optical fiber cables connecting China and Pakistan. In the field of agricultural cooperation under the CPEC framework, China has assisted Pakistan in controlling locust outbreaks by providing locust eradication supplies.

Furthermore, the Rashakai Special Economic Zone is the first industrial park established under CPEC, which has effectively integrated resources, promoted competitive industrial clusters, and bolstered exports.

The CPEC initiative has generated 192,000 job opportunities in Pakistan. The impartation of modern agricultural technologies and skills from Chinese experts to farmers in Gwadar has led to the conversion of over 100,000 square meters of new green land and increased cash crop yields.

Moreover, China's donation of the Faqeer Middle School in Pakistan, equipped with modern teaching facilities, can accommodate 1,000 students, improving the local educational infrastructure.
MYRTLE BEACH  A new apartment complex for international student workers could open as early as 2025 after the City Council gave the green light for the project May 9.

Council members approved rezoning 7.6 acres at the Robert M. Grissom Parkway and Mr. Joe White Avenue intersection near downtown, paving the way for constructing a six-building apartment complex.

The first phase is expected to open by March 2025, officials said.

The project, which is budgeted at about $50 million in total, has been described by officials as dorms for international students who come to Myrtle Beach to work in tourism businesses. More than 1,000 students would be housed in the complex.

The plan sparked monthslong controversy over its proposed location in a historically Black downtown area. While critics warned the layout could price current residents out of the neighborhood, supporters said the complex has been needed for years.

Brian Babbitt, owner of Good Vibes Surf Shop, said he receives hundreds of Facebook messages from students who plan to come to Myrtle Beach needing housing.

"Every year we struggle to find housing to stop these kids from getting scammed," Babbitt said. "This is long overdue."

About 1,000 to 3,000 international college students work throughout the year in Myrtle Beach, starting in February. They sometimes work for up to 10 months of the year, city officials said.

Students travel to the city from countries including Poland, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, Turkey, Romania, the Dominican Republic and Kazakhstan, city and project officials said.

The students are part of the J1 Visa Exchange Visitor program, in which they often come to gain international work experience. They make up about 4 percent of the citys total workforce annually, filling many positions in the hospitality industry, city officials said.

The city does not have enough workers to cover its tourism and hospitality businesses, and international students come to fill in the gaps, Mayor Brenda Bethune said April 25.

"These are good students (who) are coming here, and our businesses rely on these students, Bethune said. We want them to have the best experience they can possibly have."

After the students apply for a nonimmigrant visa from the U.S. State Department to work in the country they are assigned a city and business where they will work. The business becomes their visa sponsor.

Robert Guyton, representing property owner Myrtle Beach Farms Co. Inc., said the students' employers are obligated to provide their housing, and many often contract with hotels or landlords across the city.

However, the housing situation for students can become unsafe when they are left to fend for themselves by their employers, Guyton said. Some international students have been robbed and assaulted, he said.

The complex would offer students the increased security of a gated fence, guards and cameras, Guyton said. Employers would then contract to house the students on site. He said similar complexes have been successful in states like Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Rent at the complex is expected to be about $150 a week for each bed, as well as a refundable deposit, according to Mark Lazarus, one of the project investors.

Lazarus said several downtown properties were considered for the potential complex, but the site along Robert M. Grissom Parkway was chosen because it was within close proximity to downtown and available to be leased.

In the plan, developers have proposed sidewalk widening along Nance Street, installing a publicly accessible Nance Street shuttle bus stop and increasing stormwater drainage to include a portion of Canal Street, Nance Street, Joe White Avenue and Robert Grissom Parkway, according to city documents.

Residents along Nance and Canal streets criticized the plan, saying it could ignore their existing needs, including affordable housing.

Halestine Graham, who grew up in the area, referred to the plan as a form of gentrification, saying it could contribute to higher property taxes, rents and mortgages for existing residents and displace them.

Graham said she believed City Council members were seeking their own interests above the interests of residents.

"You may believe that this is a good development investment," Graham said. "However, it is not. What youre doing is an unethical act."
A barrage of gunfire erupts just seconds into a snippet of footage from a Charleston County sheriff's patrol car that captured the May 7 shootout between the passenger of a stopped vehicle and two deputies.

The passenger, identified by the Charleston County Coroner as 28-year-old James Pierce, was killed.

Deputy Evan Cubbage was wounded. Cubbage, who was shot three times, was released from Medical University Hospital around 9 p.m. that same night.

Only about 20 seconds of the encounter was shown on May 8 to members of the public, including the media, at the invitation of Sheriff Kristin Graziano, who said a full version would be released publicly later this week.

"The officer's life was on the line, and a person is dead," James Johnson, who runs Racial Justice Network, said after watching the clip twice. He applauded Graziano for providing the glimpse at the footage the day after the fatal encounter but added, "Until I see the complete report, I'm going to withhold my judgment."

Cubbage stopped the dark colored sedan at 3:45 p.m. May 7 along a rural stretch of Savannah Highway, about 17 miles west of the Charleston peninsula. The 36-year-old deputy with more then three years on the force called for backup after a "brief interaction" with the driver, a woman, and the passenger, Pierce, according to Graziano. The sheriff described the stop as "cordial, up until this point," when Graziano said Pierce became "squirrelly."

The video clip began just after a second deputy, identified as Alexander Hodge, arrived at a parking lot at 4915 Savannah Highway. It is unclear how much time had transpired since the stop was initiated.

Cubbage stood by the passenger side door, which Graziano later said Pierce had opened because the windows were tinted and the deputy couldn't see inside.

"Hop out," instructed Cubbage. "Don't reach for anything."

As Hodge approached the stopped vehicle, there appears to be a struggle between Pierce and Cubbage.

"He's got a gun," the deputy called.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Andrew Knapp said the passenger first fired at the deputies, who both returned fire as they ducked for cover.

In the video, one deputy, who the Sheriff's Office said is Hodge, is seen retreating to the driver's side of the patrol car parked behind the stopped vehicle. Cubbage dove to the ground and scrambled around the front of the stopped car.

Rapid gunfire, too many volleys to count in the short video, blast from all three weapons. Pierce was armed with a Glock .40-caliber handgun; the deputies fired their 9 mm service pistols, the Sheriff's Office said.

Amid the shootout, the driver jumped from the vehicle and stood just feet away with her hands up, yelling in confusion. She was uninjured.

Pierce fell to the ground outside the car and appeared to continue shooting until he stopped moving.

"He's down, I'm hit," said a deputy, presumably Cubbage, who was off camera at that point.

Hodge was not injured.

It is still unclear what prompted the stop, or the call for another deputy to the scene.

Graziano said there were several reasons for the stop, and that they were captured in the dash camera and body-worn camera footage, though she declined to detail what they were or release the footage May 8.

"We still don't know what was in the car," Graziano said, adding that the car isn't expected to be searched until May 11. "We still don't know why this happened."

Cubbage, who has been with the department since August 2020, and Hodge, who was hired in December 2018, were the only two deputies patrolling the Ravenel area of the county that day, she said.

After the shooting, deputies detained the woman driver, who has not been identified. It is unclear if she faces any charges.

The Sheriffs Office is investigating the shooting internally, and also requested that the State Law Enforcement Division investigate. Both deputies were placed on paid administrative leave, which is department protocol.
A 77-year-old West Ashley man who fired four bullets into his stepson's head in front of the victim's mother was sentenced to 20 years in prison May 8 on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.

"You got away with murder, if you ask me," Circuit Judge Roger Young told Paul Capps in imposing the lengthy prison term. Capps' attorney had asked for a suspended sentence, arguing any prison time would be a life sentence for his elderly client, who is in poor health.

Capps was originally charged with murder. He was released on bail shortly after the Jan. 5, 2019, fatal shooting of 51-year-old Jerry Hancock at the River Front Drive home where they both lived with Catherine Hancock Capps, the victim's mother and Capps' wife.

Assistant Solicitor Benjamin Simpson told the judge May 8 that the fatal shooting was the cumulation of long-simmering hostility Capps held for his stepson after he sold Hancock the River Front Drive home for $210,000. Capps came to believe Hancock cheated him, Simpson said. On Jan. 5, 2019, he said, Capps was also angry because Hancock was eating a sandwich that his wife had left in the refrigerator for him.

Catherine Hancock Capps told law enforcement officers that she had just stepped into the kitchen where her son was sitting at the table when her husband walked up to her son and shot him in the head. After Hancock fell to the floor, Capps shot him in the head three more times, she told the judge May 8.

Capps, who entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter in October, told the judge that he had to shoot Hancock in self-defense, and he kept shooting because Hancock continued to hit him.

Capps apologized May 8, saying, "I wish it had been me. It should have been me."

The solicitor told the judge that Hancock would have been completely incapacitated by the first shot to the head.

Wayne Hancock, the victim's father, said he had known Capps since high school and he was a bully then and he was the bully four years ago, not his son.

Chuck Hancock, a cousin of the victim, told the judge he lost his best friend in what he believed was an execution. Capps' age shouldn't matter, Hancock said, asking that Capps be judged the same as anyone else.

But defense attorney Mark Peper asked the judge to take into consideration Capps' age and poor health. The grandfather who once taught school had no prior criminal record, Peper said. He asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence and probation.

The judge sentenced Capps to 20 years in prison. Young did grant the defense's request for credit for the 1,586 days Capps spent on electronic monitoring.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Town officials will spend nearly $300,000 in federal money to bolster a unique partnership between its police department and a local nonprofit as a means of addressing the opioid epidemic.

The funds come from a $26 billion opioid settlement reached between the nation's three major pharmaceutical distributors and more than 4,000 state and local governments across the U.S.

Mount Pleasant is one of South Carolina's 43 municipalities eligible for the payout, in addition to every county. The state expects to receive more than $300 million over the next 18 years. Money began flowing last year to South Carolina, and the majority of it must be put toward directly addressing its opioid crisis.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department is working with WakeUp Carolina, its community partner and substance-use recovery organization, to spend $299,373.27 awarded to the town.

A five-year plan outlines where the federal dollars will go and highlights the effectiveness of this public-private relationship. The money will help purchase resource kits for those at risk of an overdose and increase the town's supply of Narcan, the name-brand for naloxone. It is an opioid antagonist administered as a nasal spray to quickly reverse the effects of an overdose.

The police department is also funding a "peer support specialist" at WakeUp Carolina who will be responsible for conducting follow-up visits with overdose victims.

Forming a partnership

The settlement money was a welcome surprise to police Capt. Christopher Rosier, who took over the department's criminal investigations bureau in October. Overdose response falls under the bureau's umbrella.

The captain quickly met with Nanci Shipman, WakeUp's founder and executive director, who gave him a list of ideas and needs in the community. Among them was the peer supporter  someone recovering from substance use disorder who can relate to those struggling and guide them toward help.

Shipman understands this gap in resources better than most. Her 19-year-old son Creighton died in July 2016 from a heroin overdose.

Shipman, who grew up in Mount Pleasant, didn't know the drug existed in her community: "To be honest, I thought it was someone else's problem. Like big cities."

Losing Creighton made Shipman realize heroin was "here and beyond," she said. Her grief turned to action. She met with then-Chief Carl Ritchie to better understand the drug's scope within Mount Pleasant and help other families.

That initial meeting has evolved over the years into a trusted partnership. WakeUp helped the police department in 2017 get a drop-off box for disposing of prescription drugs. The groups co-host monthly overdose prevention trainings and an annual overdose awareness day.

This year, Shipman and Rosier decided to focus their efforts on "more proactive measures," the captain said.

A proactive response

The police department recently received its license to distribute Narcan within the community, for instance. Officers plan to partner with WakeUp to train staff members within Mount Pleasant's food, beverage and hospitality industries.

It's important to prioritize employees working in places that could see a "high capacity of people," Rosier explained  including churches and schools. The town also sees a large number of tourists, Shipwell said.

"It's never about a zip code or this restaurant or this hotel," she said. "It's about, 'Where are the numbers coming and how can we help equip them if this has to happen?'"

Police supervisors are also instructed to leave "Link 2 Resources" kits at every overdose scene, fatal or not, and in situations where they think a person might be at risk of overdosing. The small plastic boxes are complete with two units of Narcan, gloves, a CPR mask and a card which victims can scan to visit WakeUp's website and find help.

Shipman and Rosier discussed the importance of having a peer follow up with victims and their family members. No one wants to talk to someone with a badge and gun, Rosier said.

Since Jan. 1, department policy directs one of WakeUp's five employees to contact the person within 48 hours and connect them with whatever help they might need, the captain explained.

But Shipman and Rosier quickly realized they needed to shorten that timeframe. Money from the opioid settlement will help them meet this goal.

WakeUp plans to hire a peer support specialist whose job will be to immediately contact overdose victims and their family members, as well as those deemed at risk.

Seeing success

The specialist, along with other WakeUp employees, will have access to the police department's incident management system, allowing them to document and track overdose incidents in real time.

The department began using the software, developed by a Massachusetts-based company, in late 2022. WakeUp has had access for only about two months, but the approach has already proven effective, Rosier said.

Police officers were called to a scene last week where someone "literally had the needle in their hand and was ready to use it," Rosier said. The officers were able to stop them and contact WakeUp. Within six hours, the victim was receiving in-patient treatment, he said.

Mount Pleasant saw six fatal and 25 non-fatal overdoses in 2022, according to police department data. In 2021, 31 people suffered non-fatal overdoses  the highest number since 2017.

With seven months still left in the year, Mount Pleasant has reported eight overdoses, three of which were fatal.

"Our whole goal was prevention, and it's working," Rosier said.

The downward trend is encouraging both to him and Shipman. But it also suggests a certain willingness and commitment from all levels of the town to help those struggling with substance use.

The police department's focus is on getting people help instead of arresting its way out of the opioid crisis, Rosier said. The county jail is already overcrowded and has limited resources, he said. Handing out criminal charges is akin to putting a bandage on the problem instead of fixing it.

This culture is "embedded into our agency," the captain said.

WakeUp and the police department have a shared mission of diverting these people from jail, Shipman and Rosier agreed. The philosophy has been met with resistance at times, but they just point to the numbers.
RIDGEVILLE  Residents from just outside town have filed a lawsuit in Dorchester County to stop the development of a little over 1,000 acres of land recently annexed into the town's borders.

Barbara Richardson and her daughter Kimberly Marchand, who live outside the town limits of Ridgeville, claim the annexation and rezoning of two tracts of land south of downtown  from agricultural-residential to planned unit development  in February does not conform with Ridgevilles comprehensive plan.

Ryan Homes, part of Virginia-based NVR Inc., is the developer for the Varn Tract. Lennar Construction is the developer for the Appleby Tract. Both are planning to build single-family homes  a maximum 1,200 for Ryan Homes, 1,400 for Lennar Construction  as well as commercial space and parks.

Critics of these plans point out that this planned development will quadruple the towns population and change the rural character of the area.

In the lawsuit, Richardson and Marchand argue that by annexing and rezoning the tracts for development, the town is out of compliance with its 2015 Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Maps, which guide the town in how to develop the area and which, when passed in 2016, did not include plans to develop the two tracts.

The lawsuit goes on to argue infrastructure in the area will not support the plans, pointing out "the Appleby Tract, 446 acres and slated for 1,200 homes, is located on Campbell Thicket Road, most of which is currently an unpaved dirt road."

Andy Gowder, the attorney representing Richardson and Marchand, said its state law that all rezonings must align with comprehensive plans.

Its important to have comprehensive planning and not zoning decisions that are made parcel by parcel, Gowder said. Thats why the law is structured the way it is. These rezonings really undo the comprehensive planning thats been done.

The lawsuit states the comprehensive plan has not been updated since it was first adopted in 2016. While the state does require local governments to review comprehensive plans every five years, the plan only needs to be updated or replaced every 10 years.

Marvin Pendarvis, the attorney representing the town of Ridgeville, said he believes the town is in the right as far as the comprehensive plan, what it represents and how the town intends to grow as a result goes.

The comprehensive plan is the guiding document by which zoning and regulations operate within, Pendarvis said. We believe were on solid, legal ground, so to make the decisions based off of what's best for the town, so well defend it accordingly.

Richardson is one of several area residents who raised concerns during a Feb. 14 town council meeting when the four-member council unanimously voted to annex and rezone the property. While Richardson does live outside the town limits, her house is just outside the southwest end of the Varn Tract. She has expressed concerns that after the development, her property will back up to a busy and traffic-filled neighborhood.

Multiple attendees at the meeting also raised concerns about whether roads, water and sewer would support the influx, as well as whether property taxes would increase on already existing homes and the environmental impact on the town.

Dorchester County has grown quickly in the past two decades, with more than 60,000 people moving in since 2000. The county is projected to have more than 200,000 residents by 2030.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers this afternoon. High 82F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 68F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Critics of efforts to close South Carolinas revolving door criminal justice system say there really arent that many cases where people commit murder or other particularly awful crimes while theyre out on bail, and theyre right, thank goodness.

But to suggest there is no need for legislators to make it less likely for suspects to get a second chance to commit a violent crime is just as ridiculous as saying we dont need to close the Charleston loophole because there arent that many Dylann Roofs out there.

Consider the case of TyQuan Kelly, who was arrested while fleeing the April 29 flash party near Columbia that ended when shots were fired into a crowd of 100 to 200 people, wounding nine with gunshots and injuring two others.

Fortunately, as with other recent mass shootings in South Carolina, no one was killed. And police have not suggested that Mr. Kelly even fired any shots at the Meadowlake Park event. But that doesn't diminish the obvious breakdowns that allowed him that third opportunity to violate South Carolina's woefully inadequate gun laws, at a time when high-profile gun crimes are proliferating.

When police pulled over the car Mr. Kelly was riding in  it was being driven without any lights on  they arrested him for unlawfully carrying a pistol and possession of marijuana. They also found that he was out on $50,000 bail on charges of pointing a gun that had been made automatic with a Glock switch at a womans head and threatening to kill her. He was also out on a separate $2,500 bail for unlawful carry of a pistol and intent to distribute marijuana.

Yet Richland County Magistrate LaTonya Derrick  who had set one of those earlier bails and was aware of the other  let him walk free on a $10,000 bail. Despite being arrested a third time in eight weeks, on a total of seven different charges, three involving guns. Despite there being reason to at least suspect he might have been involved in the mass shooting.

Yeah. Thats a good illustration of a problem. And although judges shouldnt be punished for individual decisions, even when theyre obviously bad decisions  thats why we have an appeals process  we are glad to hear that Richland Sen. John Scott responded to the news by telling Columbias State newspaper that after reviewing this and other bails she had set, he would not recommend Judge Derrick for reappointment. Her term ended the day after she set the Kelly bail.

Circuit Judge Robert Hood revoked the bail a week ago, which eliminated that particular danger before a fourth arrest could occur. But this also demonstrates why we need a law that automatically revokes bail for defendants charged with some gun crimes while out on bail and requires subsequent bond hearings to be heard before Circuit Court judges instead of magistrates, who are appointed based on raw politics, who are not required to have a law degree and whose training requirements are less-than-taxing. Although the governor officially appoints magistrates, local senators effectively pick them. Which also needs to change, but well talk about that again another day.

For today, this case is a reminder that before they adjourn their session on Thursday, the House and Senate need to work out their differences on H.3532 so those changes  which both bodies included  can become law soon.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.
COLUMBIA  A South Carolina Senate panel has approved increased penalties for illegal possession of firearms  one of Gov. Henry McMaster's highest priorities  by attaching it to two different bills, one with near-universal support and the other highly controversial.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on May 9 attached the enhanced penalties for illegal firearm possession to a popular bill that would create the crime of fentanyl trafficking, voting 15-7 to send it to the Senate floor.

Then it attached the same illegal firearm possession penalties to another much more contested bill that would allow South Carolinians to carry a firearm without a permit. The panel voted 12-11 to send that package to the floor.

With little time left in the legislative session, the fentanyl bill appears much more likely to make it to the governors desk as the permitless carry bill missed a deadline for the House to take it up.

The seemingly redundant actions and close votes illustrate the tightrope the Senate is having to walk to advance the illegal possession penalties that McMaster wants.

McMaster is expected to call the Legislature back into session if they don't pass a resolution governing a special session to wrap up work on the budget and bills that have passed both chambers. The 2023 regular session ends at 5 p.m. May 11 by state law.

The enhanced gun penalties are one of the measures McMaster wants to see completed before the Legislature goes home for the year, but he doesn't have a preference on which bill they use to pass them.

"Whether its on the fentanyl bill or constitutional carry, both are excellent bills I think, and Ill sign them," he said.

But the choice isnt so easy in the Legislature.

Law enforcement members strongly support the enhanced penalties for illegal firearm possession but strongly oppose permitless, or constitutional carry, seeing the latter as a threat to officers and the public.

On the other hand, gun rights activists, who have substantial sway in the Republican-dominated Legislature, have been demanding permitless carry for years but are wary of the enhanced penalties for illegal firearm possession because it would also make it illegal for felons to have firearms under state law.

Thus, the Legislatures majority has been torn. To get out of the bind, the House in late February passed a bill that had both permitless carry and the new firearm penalties in it to give something to each side.

But that compromise has gotten a cold reception in the Senate, which has historically opposed permitless carry.

Instead, senators on the Judiciary Committee attached the new gun penalties to the fentanyl trafficking bill that the House passed by a wide margin in February.

Seven Republicans on the committee opposed the combined bill, many because they preferred taking the Houses route of linking the gun penalties to permitless carry.

Sen. Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, then proposed a bill to do so, arguing that permitless carry is a Second Amendment right.

Ive never been comfortable with the government requiring a permission slip on the way to exercising that right, he said.

Democrats vehemently opposed the bill, and Climer went back and forth with Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, who argued it would make the state more dangerous, citing recent incidents of gun violence in South Carolina.

I would feel safer if you were carrying a gun in the workplace, Climer told Kimpson.

You wouldnt be safe if Im (carrying) because I havent been trained, Kimpson responded.

Climers bill would make safety training optional.

The bill passed the committee over the opposition of the panels seven Democrats and three Republicans: Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Luke Rankin, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey of Edgefield and Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms.

Massey opposed both bills with the enhanced gun penalties attached.

South Carolina has witnessed a series of mass shootings in the past few months. Nine people were shot in a Columbia park April 29, five people were shot on an Isle of Palms beach April 11, and a man killed another man and three children before taking his own life in Sumter on March 21.

Though permitless carry is unlikely to advance much further this year, gun-control advocates and law enforcement officials filled the audience and expressed dismay at the approval of the permitless carry legislation.

The constitutional carry Im very disappointed with. I think its a dangerous  I think its reckless law, Don Robinson, the Forest Acres police chief, said after the meeting. Robinson said he hopes the Legislature passes the fentanyl bill with the gun penalties attached.

Gun-rights advocates praised the vote on permitless carry.

"Gun owners have waited long enough," Tommy Dimsdale, executive director of Palmetto Gun Rights, said in a statement. "Enough delays, enough stalling, no more excuses. The South Carolina legislature must pass Constitutional Carry this session or face the music from gun owners at the polls."

If the Senate passes the combined fentanyl and gun-penalty bill, it will still have to go back to the House as the session is set to end May 11 unless McMaster calls lawmakers back.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leaves Hanoi on May 9 morning for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)

He is accompanied by high-ranking officials of the NA and ministries.

The 42nd ASEAN Summit is taking place in Labuan Bajo from May 9-11 with the participation of ASEAN member nations leaders. Prime Minister Timor Leste was invited to attend the summit for the first time as an observer.

Sessions within the summit will focus on the process of building ASEAN Community with the themed ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Dialogue sessions between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Communitys Post-2025 Vision will be also arranged.

The summit is expected to consider and approve many important documents on cooperation in all three pillars: ASEAN political-security community, economy and socio-culture./.
SPARTANBURG  A Spartanburg advocacy group is scaling up its food hub program this summer with the goal of getting more fresh, local produce into the countys schools, restaurants, food charities and hospital system.

PAL (Play, Advocate, Live well) has run a pilot program for the past couple of years and works with a network of small farmers throughout the Upstate, North Carolina and Georgia. PAL serves as a facilitator for getting farmers products to the market without them having to drive around to make deals with each individual restaurant.

Farmers, by far, prefer to spend their time on the farm, said Alissa Duncan, PALs director of strategy, partnerships and evaluation.

The nonprofit gets orders from its customers, which right now consist of a few restaurants and Spartanburg Day School, and then sends the orders to farmers who can supply them.

By July, PAL hopes to have a website to streamline the wholesale process and start adding more customers. Right now, the hub isnt planning to sell to individuals just for the purpose of home cooking.

Itll make it a lot easier for any of our buyers to be able to see all of the producers or farmers that are a part of our hub, said Jasmine Gilliam, PALs coalition and food system coordinator. So they can literally go on there and see whats available according to the needs that they have for their establishment.

The focus is on supporting small farmers who have $350,000 or less in annual gross sales (not gross profits) who often have jobs outside the farm.

The smallest farmer we work with only has about an acre of land, and the largest farmer we work with has about 40 acres, and thats still considered a very small farm, said food hub coordinator Channing Houser.

There are plenty of benefits to buying local, advocates say.

The food is fresher and less likely to have additives and preservatives. It doesnt have to be transported for hundreds of miles by large trucks spewing carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change. Money stays in the Spartanburg economy and helps the community stay connected to its farmers.

But running such a system on a large scale also comes with challenges. Many big customers such as hospitals and school districts require products to meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture's GAP certification, which stands for Good Agricultural Practices.

The USDA audit process costs money, and its not attractive for farmers who are paying attention to their bottom line. But PAL argues that GAP certification can help farmers expand their customer base and make them more money in the long run.

To get more farmers GAP certified, Gilliam said PAL is trying to reach a deal with S.C. State University for seed money to get a handful of local farmers certified. Some farmers might have to adjust their crops or growing cycle to match the needs of the school calendar.
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HAMILTON, BERMUDA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Family-owned spirits company Bacardi has a new Master of Botanicals for its world-famous BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin and MARTINI vermouth brands, as it announces the promotion of Alessandro Garneri to the prestigious role. Alessandro takes the reins from industry-legend, Ivano Tonutti, who will retire this year following an incredible career at Bacardi spanning more than 33 years.An expert agronomist, Alessandro has been part of the Bacardi team for more than 17 years. He has headed up the company's Global Botanicals Center in Geneva since 2017, taking a leading role in installing cutting-edge technology at the plant, as well as pushing boundaries on sustainable sourcing and the latest product innovations in the Bacardi portfolio of premium spirits."Alessandro is the perfect example of our focus on nurturing talent and growing careers at Bacardi," says Dave Ingram, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Bacardi Limited. "After training for years for this role, he has everything it takes to be an incredible Master of Botanicals who will continue to lead the industry in sustainable sourcing of ingredients." In his new role, Alessandro is responsible for overseeing the field-to-bottle journey of every botanical used to craft MARTINI and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, as well as for ST-GERMAIN Elderflower liqueur, NOILLY PRAT vermouth and BENEDECTINE liqueur - ensuring the consistent quality and flavor of each. All of this in a milestone year for MARTINI, as the brand celebrates its 160th anniversary."It's an honor to become the Master of Botanicals for such iconic and well-loved brands," comments Alessandro Garneri. "I have been passionate about science, the natural world and technology for as long as I can remember, and I feel privileged to be able to pursue those passions through my work. As a family-owned company, Bacardi does the right thing when it comes to sourcing and I'm excited to continue that legacy, creating a blueprint for others in the industry to follow." For more than six years, Alessandro has trained under Ivano Tonutti, an industry expert who has shared his knowledge and experience on every element of the botanicals business to ensure a seamless transition.Working closely with Anne Brock, Master Distiller for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and Beppe Musso, Master Blender for MARTINI, Ivano's work is behind the signature flavor of countless successful innovations for Bacardi, now enjoyed by consumers around the world - from super premium gin, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Premier Cru, to the pioneering MARTINI Non-Alcoholic aperitivo.Ivano and his team have spent decades building strong relationships with, and giving back to, the farmers and suppliers of the company's botanicals - looking after their wellbeing and investing in sustainable farming practices to help protect the environment and their livelihoods for generations to come.Ivano has also overseen numerous landmark sustainability milestones for Bacardi. Last year the company announced 100% of the wineries for the entire MARTINI portfolio are certified sustainable, while BOMBAY SAPPHIRE became the first major gin brand to be made with 100% sustainably sourced botanicals.Dave adds, "Ivano's contribution to our business cannot be overstated. During his three decades with Bacardi, his expertise, energy and leadership have transformed the way we source, extract flavor from and ensure the quality of our beautiful botanicals. Everyone at Bacardi joins me in wishing Ivano a very happy and healthy retirement and in saying a huge thank you to him for his incredible impact on our business and the industry." As he begins his retirement later this year, Ivano will continue to work closely with Bacardi as an expert advisor, supporting advocacy efforts and sharing his knowledge and expertise for the years to come."I am immensely proud of the legacy I leave behind at Bacardi," comments Ivano Tonutti, Master of Botanicals, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and MARTINI. "Every day of my 33-year career at Bacardi, I have been able to use my curiosity, my passion and my drive to protect the planet and to have a real impact on the way we source our ingredients and care for those who grow our botanicals. It's been an incredible journey and I look forward to seeing Bacardi continue to take huge strides in this space in the years to come." Through its extensive Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) program, Good Spirited, Bacardi has set itself ambitious targets on sourcing, including a goal of sourcing 100% of its key ingredients from sustainably certified suppliers by 2025. Find out more about the sustainability commitments of Bacardi and its vision to become the most environmentally responsible global spirits company at https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/ About Bacardi LimitedBacardi Limited, the largest privately-held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.Media enquiries:Phillippa Williams, Communications Director, Global Supply Chain for Bacardi, pholmes@ bacardi.com Always drink responsibly.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bacardi Limited on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Bacardi LimitedWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bacardi-limited Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Bacardi Limited
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a human pilot study for a leading European-based generic drug company. BioNxt successfully developed the oral dissolvable ("ODF") narcotics product and managed the comparative bioavailability study."BioNxt is actively building a development pipeline of in-house and contract drug formulation programs," said Hugh Rogers, CEO of BioNxt. "We are very pleased with the recent success of our contract development products. This presents an attractive opportunity for BioNxt to expand its capability from drug development to commercial manufacturing as our in-house and contract products advance towards commercialization." BioNxt's wholly owned subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH, is a German drug development and manufacturing company with narcotics licences located in the district of Biberach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. For over a decade, the company and its team have been leaders in the design, testing and manufacture of innovative, non-invasive drug delivery systems, particularly transdermal patches and sub-lingual strips for the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients for the treatment of pain and neurological conditions. According to Precedence Research, the global pharmaceutical drug delivery market size was valued at USD 1,525 billion in 2022 and expected to surpass approximately USD 2,047 billion by 2030.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug formulations and delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and new active pharmaceutical production and evaluation, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization and clinical evaluation of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets.BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh RogersCEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.com Phone: +1 780-818-6422Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" InformationSome of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.
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ReadTheory, an adaptive reading comprehension platform used by 18 million students in schools worldwide, celebrates the success of their 2023 Teacher of the Year Award winners.WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / The 2022-2023 school year was challenging for teachers, as students entered classrooms at more varying levels than any other school year. With teacher nominations spanning 31 countries, the six awardees come from different regions with varying specialties, but they have one thing in common - they rose to the occasion and made an incredible impact on student achievement - despite ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic's learning loss.The 2023 awardees are:Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Anne Stehly, CAMiddle School Teacher of the Year: Caitlyn Herron, TXHigh School Teacher of the Year: Carrie Kirkland, GASpecial Education Teacher of the Year: Kelly Stehlik, INESL Teacher of the Year: Kevin Jordan, CAInternational Teacher of the Year: Michael Doherty, Spain"This year's reading scores fell by the largest margin in over 30 years, but these teachers were determined to make a difference," said Ron Kirschenbaum, Co-Managing Partner at ReadTheory.Anne Stehly, a 3rd-grade teacher, and awardee from Rio School District in CA, wanted to change the trajectory. While there are many ways to measure students' growth, she started charting her students' Lexile Levels. "My 3rd graders started with a class average of a 275 Lexile Level and we just made our 600 Lexile Level goal on ReadTheory. My students are never discouraged by challenging passages because they've seen so much growth already, they know they will reach their next reading goal," she shares.With such limited classroom time and learning gaps to fill, teachers had to get creative this year. Carrie Kirkland, the Dougherty County, GA awardee, found it necessary to give each student unique intervention and personalized time. "My students spend 30 minutes, three times a week, practicing on ReadTheory. The fact that the system operates on its own allows me the chance to have 1:1s with them." Kevin Jordan, an awardee from Los Angeles Unified School District in CA, also holds 1:1s with his students and uses data to drive instruction, "ReadTheory allows me to have solid metrics, so when I meet with students, we know where to improve their skills for course completion." These educators put immense energy, imagination, and effort into their instruction to leave students feeling inspired and transformed. "While ReadTheory is a powerful tool, it is exceptional teachers like Anne, Caitlyn, Carrie, Kelly, Kevin, and Michael who make the real difference in their students' learning," says Josh Capon, Co-Managing partner at ReadTheory.About ReadTheoryReadTheory's adaptive reading comprehension platform is used by 18 million students across the globe and is tailored for each. For more information on ReadTheory, visit www.readtheory.org Contact InformationCourtney Gacona CiociHead of Marketingcourtney@ readtheory.org SOURCE: ReadTheory
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L) and Speaker of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim (Photo: VNA)

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan made her statement at a meeting with Speaker of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim during an official trip to the country on May 7 and 8. The speaker said Vietnam is one of Qatar's priority partners in Southeast Asia.

Affirming the Consultative Assemblys support for the promotion of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, he proposed the two sides study the establishment of a Vietnam - Qatar friendship parliamentarians association.

The two leaders agreed that in the time to come, the countries parliament will strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences to create a legal framework for the two countries collaboration; increase their exchange of delegations; and closely coordinate and support each other at international parliamentary forums.

While in Qatar, the Vietnamese Vice President had separate meetings with Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI), and President of Qatar University Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and the QCCI Chairman lauded progress made in the nations economy-trade-investment cooperation in the past time, with the former asking the QCCI to work more closely with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar to review cooperation deals, send business delegations on field trips in both nations, and assist Vietnamese firms in exporting their farm produce, seafood, and apparel to Qatar.

Meanwhile, the President of Qatar University told the Vietnamese official that the educational establishment is willing to grant more scholarships for Vietnamese students and proposed cooperation in publishing Vietnamese books in Arabic and books of Qatar and Arab countries in Vietnamese.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L) and Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums (Photo: VNA)

In her two-day trip, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also had a meeting with Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, during which the sides agreed to increase sharing of experience in preserving and restoring relics, conserving cultural heritages, expanding cooperation in the field of museums and organisation of art exhibitions.

The Vice President also met with the Vietnamese expatriate community in Qatar, wishing them grow and integrate well into the host country./.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 14:00:52

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Brean Capital, LLC announced the hiring of Mergers & Acquisitions veteran Gary McNorrill as Managing Director and Head of Mergers and Acquisitions in the investment banking division.Prior to joining Brean, Gary was most recently a Managing Director at Performance Trust Capital Partners who acquired Banks Street Partners in 2019 where he was President and a partner of the firm. He has more than 17 years of investment banking experience predominately in financial services mergers and acquisitions, having begun his investment banking career at JPMorgan in 2005. Mr. McNorrill also practiced law in the Corporate Debt Finance group of Alston & Bird for three years before making the transition to investment banking."We are very pleased to have Gary join the Brean team and lead our M&A effort," said Rob Fine, CEO of Brean Capital. "His financial services knowledge and investment banking experience will be invaluable in expanding Brean's M&A capabilities, and in helping our clients navigate today's challenging financial services marketplace." Peter McNierney, Head of Investment Banking at Brean Capital added, "We know Gary will be able to provide sound advice to our bank and specialty finance clients throughout their lifecycles whether they are considering their first transaction, seasoned consolidators or looking for a successful exit." Mr. McNorrill stated "I am excited to become part of Brean Capital and it's long track record of success. Brean's culture, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to clients will provide the exact environment I need to provide trusted advice on strategic transactions that will define our clients' future success." Gary will work with Brean's financial services clients throughout the U.S. and split time between our Charlotte and New York offices.About Brean Capital, LLCBrean Capital is a leading, independent investment bank. For more than 40 years, the Firm has focused on delivering high-quality investment ideas and investment banking services to institutional investors and corporate clients. Our services include fixed income strategy, corporate finance and advisory investment banking. Our fixed income business provides sales, trading, and banking services on a wide range of mortgage and asset-backed, US Treasury and government agency securities, structured products, loans, corporate bonds and municipal securities. Our investment banking practice specializes in capital raising and advisory services with a focus on private placements, securities underwriting and merger and acquisition-related services to corporate clients. For more information, please visit: www.breancapital.com Contact InformationPeter McNierneyExecutive Managing Directoribanking@ breancapital.com SOURCE: Brean Capital, LLC
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / TriplePunditOriginally published on TriplePunditMastercard is among the leading businesses pushing for a more environmentally sustainable future - and as far as the company is concerned, the momentum for these efforts is coming directly from consumers."Consumers are really the key drivers of change for brands and corporations," Cristina Paslar, Mastercard's executive vice president for ESG Products, told TriplePundit. "We have policymakers, yes, but I would say the strongest voice is actually the consumer point of view and the consumer demand. Consumers can vote with their decisions, with their purchases and with their preferences." Answering consumer calls for more sustainable choicesNearly 65 percent of U.S. consumers see climate change and resource scarcity as serious and imminent threats, with over half willing to take personal action, according to a 2022 survey. Globally, charitable donations at environmentally-focused charities increased by 26 percent from 2021 to 2022, ranking second in year-over-year growth among all charitable causes, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute.To address this growing interest, Mastercard has taken steps such as working with global industry players to develop a sustainable card program for all card issuers globally, including a directory of sustainable materials and vendors for card products. Starting Jan. 1, 2028, all newly produced Mastercard plastic payment cards will be made from more sustainable materials and approved through a certification program, in a first move for a payment network.Mastercard's sustainable card offerings are available to consumers in more than a dozen countries globally. The company has engaged more than 330 financial institutions to issue cards with approved materials, and more than 60 financial institutions have issued cards with approved materials made from recyclable, bio-sourced, chlorine-free, degradable and ocean plastics. Six billion credit and debit cards are produced annually, typically from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which includes dangerous chemical additives including phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to children. These cards are replaced on average every three to four years, with discarded cards going to landfills across the world."We closed last year with more than 170 million sustainable cards ordered to date, which was beyond the 120 million we expected," Paslar said. "That shows that more and more of our customers are thinking, Yes, why not have a card that, instead of being made from virgin plastic, is made of a sustainable material?'"Mastercard also created a Carbon Calculator in conjunction with the Swedish fintech startup Doconomy, which provides consumers with the means to view the estimated carbon footprint of their purchases in order to better understand where their choices have the greatest impact.Card issuers, which include banks, credit card companies, credit unions and other financial institutions, also recognize these shifts in consumer preferences, Paslar said. And they're looking for "natural" ways to inform and empower consumers to make more sustainable choices with the products and services they purchase."We see high engagement from the card issuer side, where they see how they can play this role in informing, inspiring and enabling their consumers," she explained. "But at the same time, we have good signs that consumers are actually engaging with this type of solution." Bringing the public and private sectors together for transformative changeOf all Mastercard's efforts to counter climate change and promote sustainability, the most prominent and potentially far-reaching is the Priceless Planet Coalition, which encourages collective action across the public and private sectors to combat climate change.Launched by Mastercard in January 2020, the restoration effort led by Conservation International and the World Resource Institute aims to restore 100 million trees. The coalition has grown into a global network of nearly 140 partners and a portfolio of 18 high-quality restoration projects on six continents, as well as the island of Madagascar and the Philippines.The projects were selected with an emphasis on those with the most potential for positive impacts on climate, local communities and biodiversity. The 18 projects range in size from a goal to plant 100,000 trees in Martin County, Kentucky, where deforestation from strip mining has degraded water resources, to planting millions of trees on the island of Madagascar, which has lost 25 percent of its tree cover since the turn of the century.Efforts like Priceless Planet are also a way for coalition partners to connect with the public around sustainability, as Mastercard survey research indicates that tree-planting and reforestation efforts are "very relatable" for consumers, Paslar said."We have 136 partners, and the key to maintaining a strong partnership is to always provide assets and ideas about how we can work together in a way that we feel is commercially sustainable," Paslar told us. "By commercially sustainable, I mean that the end consumer - the cardholder who is holding our Mastercard cards that are issued by the banks and used at the merchants - they actually care about the climate. They care about having sustainable choices, and they care about doing business with brands that are truly acting and engaging on sustainable solutions." This article series is sponsored by Mastercard and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.(Image credit: Sabin Ray, World Resources Institute)(Image credit: Aaron Minnick, World Resources Institute)(Image credit: Andrew Wu, World Resources Institute)Launched by Mastercard and made up of nearly 140 global partners, the Priceless Planet Coalition supports tree-planting and restoration efforts around the world. Here, Ernest works at the Four Seasons nursery in Lilongwe, Malawi, which propagates local indigenous trees and other types of plants.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from TriplePundit on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: TriplePunditWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/triplepundit Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: TriplePundit
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LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Curesponse, a commercial-stage precision oncology company, presented preliminary clinical results from a multi-center UK Study at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in Orlando, Florida. The study showed correlation data of the first 15 patients recruited to a pivotal clinical study at major cancer centers located in the UK, demonstrating the predictive power of the cResponse platform, an AI-driven, genomic-functional drug prioritization technology.Curesponse "We are proud to be part of the global validation of the cResponse platform that started in Israel and continues in Curesponse's laboratory in the UK, which is part of the London Cancer Hub's Innovation Gateway," said Dr. Sandra Hanks, UK Laboratory Director. "Our UK operation is looking forward to making the cResponse technology available for cancer patients in the UK in the near future." Combined with results from patients recruited to a predictive clinical study in Israel, the total cohort demonstrates that cResponse has a 96.5% (CI 82.7%-99.8%) sensitivity and 90% (70.8%-98.8%) specificity across various solid cancer types for predicting patient response to cancer therapeutics."We are very pleased with the initial results of the UK study, showing that in the first 15 patients with available clinical follow-up data, the cResponse platform yields very high predictive power. We are looking forward to continuing the clinical research collaboration with Curesponse in the UK and validating the capacity of the cResponse platform to accurately determine the efficacy of oncology therapeutics for cancer patients and make the technology available for cancer patients in the UK and EU," said Dr. Jon Krell, the Principal Investigator of the study at Imperial College.The cResponse platform combines rapid next-generation sequencing (NGS) with a proprietary functional assay that assesses the response of a cancerous tissue to various drugs and drug combinations, while preserving the tumor microenvironment (TME). The combined technology is the first personalized cancer platform that offers patients, oncologists, and pharma partners an empirical test that reflects the response of the patient's tumor to different drugs within 2 weeks from biopsy. The technology works across numerous therapeutic modalities including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.The cResponse platform is CE marked and performed in an ISO 15189-accredited laboratory setting. The test is reimbursed by private payers in Israel for personalized cancer treatment decision guidance. cResponse will be offered to cancer patients in the UK and EU during 2023, and to patients in the USA in 2024.For further information please contact info@ curesponse.tech Contact InformationGuy NeevChief Executive Officerinfo@ curesponse.tech SOURCE: Curesponse
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Kempe takes on the role of Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development, IngredientsMARSHFIELD, WI / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Nelson-Jameson, Inc., a leading distributor in the food processing industry, welcomes Peter Kempe to a new leadership position as Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development - Ingredients, as part of a strategic firmwide expansion. The 75+-year-old family-owned company is the go-to source for food processing supplies and a trusted end-to-end ingredient solutions supplier to the food industry.Nelson-Jameson Welcomes Peter KempePeter Kempe named Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development, Ingredients at Nelson-JamesonKempe brings three decades of experience and in-depth industry knowledge to Nelson-Jameson, including 28 years at DSM, where he rose up through the ranks earning progressively senior positions. In his new role, Kempe's focus will be on further expanding Nelson-Jameson's leadership position through relationship building with business partners and principals across the dairy industry and additional food industry segments. Kempe will lead the development and execution of business growth strategies for the Ingredients division, including strategic sourcing, partnership management, and go-to-market programming. Additionally, he will collaborate with product management and procurement teams in strategic sourcing to ensure supplier integrity, maintain the highest standards of ingredient access and quality, and streamline supply/demand/delivery operations."Peter is a 'triple threat' in our industry. He possesses the rare combination of deep expertise in the global food ingredient and flavor industry, scientific acumen, and a track record of leading high-performance, multifunctional teams," says Mike Rindy, President. "It was clear right away that he embodies the Nelson-Jameson values of collaboration and integrity and fits perfectly into our company culture." As part of its strategic expansion, Nelson-Jameson recognized the need for a new executive-level position to cover high-level business development design and optimize go-to-market strategies based on an understanding of the technological details of its customers' businesses. In addition to nearly 30 years of experience, Kempe's education and professional network presented as the ideal match for this role. Kempe earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bio-Process Technology and obtained post-graduate certifications in Industrial Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He is also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists and The International Dairy Foods Association.Nelson Jameson prioritizes a best-in-class customer experience and solutions as part of its comprehensive distribution services. A culture of innovation and service guides the organization as a golden-rule company, and its leadership is committed to maintaining a culture of honesty, integrity, and kindness and operating ethically with respect for people, the community, and the environment.About Nelson-JamesonNelson-Jameson is a fourth-generation, family-owned distributor to the food and beverage processing industry. From the company's roots in dairy production supplies, it grew to offer a broad range of food processing equipment and services that provide customers with everything they need to keep food organizations running smoothly, safely, and remain in compliance. Representing more than 850 vendors and distributing over 60,000 curated products, Nelson-Jameson offers everything from standard equipment to custom production solutions and equipment repair to safely manufacture high-quality products. The company employs more than 260 people in five distribution centers across the United States and at its headquarters in the heart of dairy country in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The dairy industry leader also operates NEXT Logistics, offering delivery services from Wisconsin, California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Texas distribution centers.For more than 75 years, Nelson-Jameson has supported food and dairy processors with innovative products and solutions that keep pace with changing consumer tastes, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels. The company continues to be the supplier of choice for customers in all 50 states and international markets. For more information, please visit: https://nelsonjameson.com Contact InformationKarolyn RaphaelPR for Nelson-Jamesonkarolyn@ wingermarketing.com 312-494-0422SOURCE: Nelson-Jameson
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 08:45:10

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Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting recently released their most comprehensive study on the global bulk drug intermediates market. This research report provides a detailed overview of the market's drivers and restraints, as well as a thorough analysis of the current trends that are likely to shape its future. To create this in-depth report, the team of analysts used both primary and secondary research methods. The report offers an unbiased perspective on the bulk drug intermediates industry, allowing clients to make well-informed business decisions. The report reveals key insights about the global bulk drug intermediates industry, such as the market's size and potential for growth. It also examines the impact of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and consumer behaviors on the market's performance. Analysts also take a closer look at the market's competitive landscape, highlighting the strategies used by leading players to gain a competitive edge. Additionally, the report outlines potential threats and opportunities that may arise in the near future.Overall, this comprehensive report offers an invaluable resource for those looking to better understand the global bulk drug intermediates market. With the help of the study's data-driven insights, clients can gain a better understanding of the current market dynamics, allowing them to make informed business decisions.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Bulk-Drug-Intermediates-Market/request-for-sample-report The global bulk drug intermediates market was in a state of flux, and the future direction was uncertain. To gain clarity, a comprehensive research study was conducted to analyze the market using Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis. By combining these two methods of analysis, the research could gain a clear perspective of the global bulk drug intermediates market's expected direction.The SWOT analysis focused on identifying the market's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It was a useful tool in determining the potential of the market to succeed and develop, as well as its potential vulnerabilities. The Porter's five forces analysis, on the other hand, provided a detailed look into the competitive landscape, examining the level of competition, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products.The research report delved into the trends that were shaping the market, as well as consumer behavior patterns. It was found that the competition among the existing players in the market was intense, and new entrants posed a major threat. The bargaining power of customers was also strong, and suppliers had to come up with innovative products to keep their customers satisfied. Additionally, the threat of substitute products was also present, and companies had to be prepared to face this competition.Overall, the research study provided a comprehensive understanding of the global bulk drug intermediates market's expected direction. By combining Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the research was able to gain a clear picture of the market's future. The report gave readers a better understanding of the trends and consumer behavior patterns that would shape the market's evolution.Highlights of Global Bulk Drug Intermediates Market ReportThe global bulk drug intermediates market report is a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry and provides an in-depth analysis of its future trends and developments.The report details the market size, growth rate, industry trends, and other noteworthy information. It also highlights key products and services that are driving the growth of the market, as well as their respective market shares.One of the most important aspects of the global bulk drug intermediates market report is the analysis of the competitive landscape. The report details the competitive positioning of the leading players in the market and the various strategies they are using to stay ahead of their rivals.The report also examines the recent technological developments that are disrupting the industry and the effect they will have on the market in the long term. It also covers the impact of government regulations and policies on the industry and provides an insight into the future trends in the industry.The global bulk drug intermediates market report provides an insightful look at the current state of the industry and a comprehensive overview of its future prospects. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the market and its potential.Scope of the ReportBulk Drug Intermediates Market SegmentsThe market by product type is segmented into gmp, non-gmp.The market by application is segmented into antibiotics, antipyretic analgesics, vitamins, others.Regions Covered in the Global Bulk Drug Intermediates Market:North America (the United States and Canada)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America)The bulk drug intermediates market has been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, and the latest report released by the market research division provides a comprehensive overview of the leading players in the industry. The report contains a detailed chapter on company profiles which provides an overview of the strategic objectives of the leading players, their primary products and services, and an in-depth analysis of their strategic initiatives.The report reveals that the leading players in the bulk drug intermediates market are taking aggressive steps to strengthen their position in the industry. Many of the organizations have embarked on R&D activities to stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive. Their strategic initiatives have also been designed to capitalize on the technological advances in the industry.The report also provides an overview of the financial outlooks of the leading players in the industry. An overall analysis of the organizations' financial statuses reveals the current trends in the market. This allows readers to gain a better understanding of the potential of the bulk drug intermediates market and its expected trajectory.It is clear that the bulk drug intermediates market is a highly competitive industry and the leading players have to continuously innovate to keep up with the competition. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and its key players and provides readers with an understanding of the industry's current and future prospects. This research aims to provide readers with an informed assessment of the anticipated trajectory of the bulk drug intermediates market.The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Bulk Drug Intermediates Market Research Report:ABA Chem, Alpha, BASF, Catalent, Chemcon, Ganesh, Granules, Jiujiujiu, Jiuzhou, Jubilant, Lianhetech, Lonza, Patheon, Porton, Tianma, YongtaiContact UsDhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private LimitedContact No: +91 7580990088Email Id: sales@ dhirtekbusinessresearch.com
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 14:01:25

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT", or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT)(OTCQX:CBULF)(FSE:CB82) is pleased to provide the following operational update for its 100% owned Aukam graphite mine and processing plant located 200 km east of the port of Luderitz in Namibia.In April our technical team arrived at the Aukam mine site to advance the plant in order to batch process one hundred tonnes of a high purity graphite concentrate which will be shipped to industry partners in Asia, Europe and USA for integration into end-user applications. This program completes our operational readiness ahead of commercial production and is contemplated to run through mid-August. This work will complete the installation of the polishing mill and the stirred media mill. These two mills are designed to remove minor impurities from the surface of graphite particles to attain the specification required by customers. This circuit should be installed at the Aukam site by mid-June.The processing plant is designed to operate optimally at a graphite feed grade of 35%. From previous programs and test results, we were able to achieve an average grade between 94.8% and 97.3%, with a recovery between 87% and 94% (see Press Release of December 20,2021 with metallurgical results).Within the next sixty days, our engineering team will carry out the following actions to prepare for delivery of the final product:Complete the final assembly of the modified flotation columns and spargersSet up and level the base frames for the flotation columnsInstall a cover for the reagent areaInstall the dosing pumps for the frotherAssemble and install the conditioning tanksConstruct the sumps for the flotation columnsConnect the air lines for the flotation columnsConnect the water feed for the flotation columnsInstall the upgraded cyclones at the mill dischargeInstall the mill feed water control systemInstall the head chute of CV1 conveyor beltRetrofit the CV2 and CV8 conveyor with chevron beltsInstall the spill boards for the run-of-mine (ROM) binAssemble fencing for the core storage and mine access.This work is expected to be completed in approximately 60 days.Arno Brand, President and CEO of Gratomic stated "We are very pleased with the progress at Aukam and look forward to the completion of our final stages and the commencement of production. I'd like to thank our entireGratomic team for their efforts and we look forward to enhancing shareholder value and servicing our global customers".Gratomic wishes to emphasize that no Preliminary Economic Analysis, Preliminary Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study has been completed to support any level of production. In fact, no mineral resources let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam property.The Company is working towards completing a Feasibility Study (FS) on the Aukam Processing plant. The study, its recommendations, and their subsequent implementation, will provide conclusions and recommendation at a FS level of comfort relating to the scale up of the existing processing plant to a commercial scale processing facility capable of producing the desired concentrate grades and production rates.Gratomic wishes to emphasize that the supply of graphite is conditional on Gratomic being able to bring the Aukam project into a production phase, and for any graphite being produced to meet certain technical and mineralization requirements. Gratomic continues to move its business towards production and as part of its business plan, expects to file a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects resource estimate in Q3 2023.Risk FactorsNo mineral resources, let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam Property. The Company is not in a position to demonstrate or disclose any capital and/or operating costs that may be associated with the processing plant until the FS (Feasibility Study) is completed.The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on even the existence of mineral resources let alone on a Preliminary Feasibility Study or FS of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit.Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved.Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability.About GratomicGratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. The Company aims to become a leading graphite supplier and to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle battery supply chain through the development of its flagship Aukam graphite mine and ongoing exploration at the Capim Grosso property. The Company will continue to explore graphite opportunities that show the potential to produce the specific flake size and purity required for active anodes.Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing to confirm its suitability as anode material. Gratomic is confident that the test results will provide a unique competitive advantage in the desired target markets. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will share results as they become available.On the January 25, 2023 Gratomic announced that it had entered into a LOI with Graphex Technologies to supply graphite through existing facilities and develop a downstream processing facility in the continental US.Gratomic has entered into a collaborative agreement with Forge Nano to use its patented atomic layer technology (ALD) to coat of spherical graphite required in lithium-ion batteries.For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:Arno Brand at abrand@ gratomic.ca or (416) 561- 4095Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.For Marketing and Media information, please email: info@ gratomic.ca "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility fo
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 16:04:00

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SURREY, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 8, 2023 / Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSXV:GUG)(OTC PINK:ASWRF) ("Gungnir" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling will start this week at the Company's Lappvattnet high-grade nickel project in northern Sweden. Drilling will continue to focus on upgrading and potentially expanding the Lappvattnet nickel deposit, specifically targeting: (a) the eastern, shallow down-plunge extension of the main nickel zone; (b) additional, thickened high-grade nickel shoots within the eastern half of the existing inferred resource; and (c) grade and continuity of the newly discovered footwall zone."Drilling at Lappvattnet continues to deliver high-grade nickel sulphides with possibly some of the highest-grade nickel drill intersections recorded in Sweden. We had an 80% hit-rate with our drilling in 2021 and 2022 which returned numerous, impressive near-surface nickel intersections including twelve holes with individual assays greater than 5% Ni with a peak assay of 7.38% Ni. We plan to build on these successes moving forward," commented Jari Paakki, CEO.Highlight drill results from 2021/22:10.4 m @ 1.51% Ni including 4.25 m @ 3.19% Ni (ddh LAP21-02, from 45 m)14.0 m @ 1.40% Ni including 5.65 m @ 2.62% Ni (ddh LAP21-05, from 60 m)10.0 m @ 1.74% Ni (ddh LAP21-13, from 21 m)36.0 m @ 0.93% Ni (ddh LAP21-04, from 49 m)9.0 m @ 2.35% Ni including 5.66 m @ 3.02% Ni (ddh LAP22-19, from 66 m)18.28 m @ 1.49% Ni including 5.76 m @ 4.04% Ni (ddh LAP22-25, from 58 m)In 2022, the Company drilled 30 holes for a total of 4,240 metres and 15 holes for 1,300 metres in 2021. The 45 holes were drilled in the western half of the property covering a strike length of 450 metres with nickel intercept points (main nickel zone) to a vertical depth of about 100 metres.The current two-year drill permit at Lappvattnet is valid to the end of this year with further drilling possible with a new work plan submission. The total amount of drill metres in 2023 will be based on continuing positive results and access to planned drill sites. Heavier than normal snowfall this winter and subsequent melt may result in prolonged wet conditions in the eastern parts of the planned drill area. The Company is actively monitoring spring thaw and ground conditions.Please refer to Gungnir's nickel projects slide deck on the Company's website for maps, drill core photos, assay results tables and 3D modelling snap shots (link below):Gungnir's nickel resources in Sweden currently total 177 million pounds (80.5 million kg) of nickel:Lappvattnet: Inferred Resource of 780,000 tonnes grading 1.35% nickel for 23.1 million lbs (10.5 million kg) of nickel.Rormyrberget: Inferred Resource of 36,800,000 tonnes grading 0.19% nickel for 154 million lbs (70 million kg) of nickel.The NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "TECHNICAL REPORT on the LAPPVATTNET and RORMYRBERGET DEPOSITS, NORTHERN SWEDEN" was prepared by Reddick Consulting Inc. Qualified Persons are John Reddick, M.Sc., P.Geo., and Thomas Lindholm, M.Sc., Fellow AusIMM. The Effective Date is November 17, 2020.All lengths noted above are core length; true width has not been determined. The technical information in this news release has been prepared, verified and approved by Jari Paakki, P.Geo., CEO, and a director of the Company. Mr. Paakki is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.About Gungnir ResourcesGungnir Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company (GUG: TSX-V, ASWRF: OTCPK) with gold and base metal projects in northern Sweden. Gungnir's assets include two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, both with updated nickel resources, and the Knaften project which hosts a developing intrusion-hosted gold system, and VMS (zinc-copper) and copper-nickel targets, all of which are open for expansion and further discovery. The Company has also recently added the Hemberget property to its Swedish property portfolio which covers an 11 km long gabbro-ultramafic intrusion, a greenfield copper-nickel target. Further information about the Company and its properties may be found at www.gungnirresources.com or at www.sedar.com On behalf of the Board,Jari Paakki, CEO and DirectorFor further information contact:Head Office/Investor RelationsPhone: +1-604-683-0484Email: corporatecommunications@ gungnirresources.com Jari Paakki, CEOEmail: jpaakki@ eastlink.ca Chris Robbins, CFOEmail: robbinscr@ shaw.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking InformationCertain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (also known as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or industry results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "feel", "intend", "may", "plan", "predict", "project", "subject to", "will", "would", and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: drilling at Lappvattnet has delivered possibly some of the highest-grade nickel intersections recorded in Sweden, which is based on readily available information and current knowledge of nickel projects in Sweden; planned drilling and expected targets; expectations of future resource upgrades and that new drilling and assays will be incorporated into any resource upgrade or expansion; extent of drilling and quantity of drilling holes; planned exploration program including anticipated drilling and the timing thereof; and Gungnir's plan for development of its properties and the timing thereof.Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Gungnir, including, without limitation: expectations of expanding a
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / HanesBrandsOriginally published on HBI SustainsDue to the generosity of HanesBrands associates, children around the globe are equipped to excel in their classrooms."Our associates around the world are living our purpose of creating a more comfortable world for every body," said HBI's Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs and Communications Kirk Saville. "The enthusiasm for strengthening the communities where we live and work is inspiring are inspiring." Here are a few ways the company's associates are taking the initiative to help fulfill HanesBrands' goal of improving the lives of ten million people by 2030.Latin AmericaOver 14,000 school supply kits were delivered to deserving students in El Salvador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Associates also helped refurbish a local school in El Salvador, creating better learning spaces for 400 children with upgraded drinking water and access to volunteer tutors. Additionally, the annual Back- to-School initiative in the Dominican Republic has providing school supplies and essentials to over 135,000 children since 2007.Australia (Victoria, AU)Associates raised funds through sales of donated Champion and Bonds products to purchase an air conditioner for a local school gym and facilitated an underwear drive to support underprivileged students at multiple schools.JapanField study visits for high school students create opportunities to learn about the HBI business and potential career opportunities in the industry.ThailandIn Surin, more than 100 canteen tables and 200 LED light sets were donated to local schools, and HBI associates helped renovate several school bathrooms.United StatesAssociates in Rural Hall, North Carolina, provided supplies to ensure almost 600 local elementary school students were prepared for a successful school year. In Arkansas, innerwear donations helped make back-to-school more comfortable for 4,000 at-risk students and their families. Perris, California associates partnered with a school district to host a drive for essential hygiene products and school supplies.To learn more about HanesBrands' global sustainability goals, and they progress the company is making towards reaching those goals, visit hbisustains.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from HanesBrands on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: HanesBrandsWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/hanesbrands Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: HanesBrands
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As travel returns following the pandemic, Inspiring Vacations is responding to the changing travel habits of Australians with tours to two of the world's most fascinating destinations.MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / The Australian tourism industry is experiencing a shift in travel habits with a preference for domestic destinations and sustainable tourism. Inspiring Vacations, a leading travel company, has responded by offering new tours of Egypt and tours to Cape York, two of the world's most fascinating destinations.Inspiring VacationsInspiring VacationsInspiring Vacations' tours to Egypt offer an unforgettable experience of the country's rich history and culture. The tours cover popular destinations like Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and include visits to iconic landmarks such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. These Egypt tours also provide an opportunity to discover the ancient temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Abu Simbel, among other attractions.As more travellers seek to minimise their impact on the environment and support local communities, Inspiring Vacations has implemented sustainable practices such as using eco-friendly accommodations, reducing plastic waste and promoting responsible tourism activities. By making conscious travel choices, Inspiring Vacations says travellers can contribute to the preservation of Egypt's cultural and natural heritage while also supporting the local economy.The company also offers tours to Cape York, providing travellers with the opportunity to explore one of Australia's most remote and unspoiled wilderness areas. These tours take visitors to the northernmost point of the Australian mainland, where they can discover rugged landscapes, ancient Indigenous cultures and unique flora and fauna. The tours of Cape York include visits to the region's most iconic locations, such as the Jardine River National Park, the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait Islands.Inspiring Vacations recognises that travellers are looking for experiences that are closer to home and provide an opportunity to explore their own country, and caters to this demand while providing a safe and unforgettable experience.With the rise of domestic tourism, small businesses are becoming increasingly important to the tourism industry. Inspiring Vacations is committed to supporting local businesses in Cape York, ensuring that travellers have an authentic and sustainable experience.To learn more about tours on offer from Inspiring Vacations, visit https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au About Inspiring VacationsInspiring Vacations is an Australian-owned, globally operated tour operator offering exceptional travel experiences to customers worldwide. With a range of carefully crafted tour packages, the company takes pride in creating unique and unforgettable trips to the world's most iconic destinations.Contact InformationInspiring VacationsMarketing Managerbookme@ inspiringvacations.com 1300 88 66 88SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations
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RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been against Norfolk Southern Corporation ("Norfolk Southern") (NYSE:NSC). The action charges Norfolk Southern with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of Norfolk Southern's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Norfolk Southern's investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NORFOLK SOUTHERN LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/norfolk-southern-corporation?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=nsc&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERELEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE:MAY 15, 2023CLASS PERIOD: OCTOBER 28, 2020 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field individually and our firm is both feared and respected among the defense bar and the insurance bar. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTFor several years leading up to the beginning of the Class Period, Norfolk Southern took a number of measures which put profits and executive compensation over safety. For example, in October 2018, Norfolk Southern adopted "Precision Scheduled Railroading" or "PSR" which was purportedly aimed at producing better service at a lower cost. In actuality, the company sought to increase revenues by cutting operating costs including reducing staff, running fewer, heavier, faster trains and optimizing the company's networks in order to increase efficiency. Norfolk Southern also began tying executive compensation to achieving PSR goals. For example, in 2021, multiple Norfolk Southern executives received millions of dollars in cash bonuses for reducing costs by achieving "record performance for train length and weight." Industry critics have warned that this type of compensation system incentivizes executives to cut costs at the expense of safety and also leads to longer and more dangerous trains which "have greater damage done, greater, larger pileups, fires and so on." At the same time, Norfolk Southern and its lobbyists played a key role in defeating an Obama-era safety rule that was used following a number of oil train accidents, including the "ECP Brake Rule" which was ultimately repealed in 2018.On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Railway Company general merchandise freight train derailed 38 railcars in East Palestine, Ohio, leaving behind what the Associated Press called "a mangled and charred mass of boxcars and flames." The derailed equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently ignited, fueling fires that damaged an additional 12 non-derailed railcars.On February 6, 2023, responders engaged in a controlled detonation and burn of the vinyl chloride, spewing massive volumes of chemicals into the vicinity. The chemicals released from the derailment entered the air and water of the surrounding residential areas, the closest of which were only 1,000 feet from the site of the accident. Following this news, the price of Norfolk Southern stock fell on February 6, 2023 - down $5.66 per share from its closing price on Friday, February 3, 2023.Then, on February 8, 2023, after lifting a previously issued evacuation order, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern was "the one[] who created the problem. It's their liability. They're the ones who ought to pay for it." Following their return, numerous residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns. Following this news, the price of Norfolk Southern stock fell on February 9, 2023, closing at $238.98 per share - down $7.64 per share from its closing price of $246.62 per share on February 8, 2023.Thereafter, Norfolk Southern's stock price continued to drop in response to several other reports and public officials who spoke out about Norfolk Southern's liability for all of the harm and damage it had caused.On March 4, 2023, another Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near Springfield, Ohio. Two days later, on March 6, 2023, Norfolk Southern announced a 6-part plan to improve operational safety. Following this news, the price of Norfolk Southern stock fell again on March 6 and March 7, 2023, closing at $215.18 per share - down $13.21 per share from its closing price of $228.39 on Friday, March 3, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?Norfolk Southern investors may, no later than May 15, 2023, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPencourages Norfolk Southern investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Norfolk Southern, captioned Bucks County Employees Retirement System v. Norfolk Southern Corporation, et al. and docketed under 23-cv-0982, is filed in the United States District Court for Southern District of Ohio (Eastern Division) before the Honorable Michael H. Watson.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and oth
This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows a roadside store in Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Chen Qingbing)

CHONGQING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Adam Mahmood's story in search of "Ren," a traditional Chinese philosophy of benevolence advocated by ancient Chinese educator and philosopher Confucius, begins in the hustle and bustle of Chongqing, a southwestern Chinese metropolis.

Mahmood was one of the dozens of foreign filmmakers who participated in a documentary-making activity held by Southwest University recently. The activity aims to help young directors experience the charm of China's excellent traditional culture. What Mahmood focused on during the trip to Chongqing is "Ren," a key idea in the thoughts of Confucius.

"Prior to this journey, I have learned a little about the Chinese traditional culture of 'Ren,'" said Mahmood, the 23-year-old British national.

After taking a few hours by bus, Mahmood and his film shooting partner arrived at their final destination -- Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District of Chongqing Municipality. Tucked away in deep mountains, the town bears a history of over 300 years.

After a spring rain, birds were chirping on the local centuries-old trees while the tree leaves fell gently onto roofs of nearby old residential buildings and covered part of the stone walkways. Following the streams winding through the sleepy town, Mahmood and his partner curiously observed the surroundings with mud on their pants and shoes.

"I believe the residents here were more able to show me the culture of Pianyan than the architecture of the old town," said Mahmood as he began his visits to local residents.

Pianyan is known for its intangible cultural heritage, Tangmen Caizha, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The old craft mainly integrates handcrafts, traditional calligraphy, and paintings as well as engraving arts.

Tangmen Caizha's artworks are all structured with bamboo strips. Local craftsmen paste paper on the structures, draw vivid colors and then attach various kinds of adornments on them. The finished products were used for dragon or lion dances and parades on important festive occasions in ancient times.

Tang Qiantai, 80, is a fourth-generation inheritor of the old craft. The senior master now volunteers to teach children in order to better preserve and revive the craft.

Thanks to Tang's efforts, the Tangmen Caizha has drawn more attention over recent years, becoming a major magnet for visitors to the ancient town. During the first seven months of 2022, over 520,000 tourists were received by the Jindaoxia scenic area, which includes the ancient town, up 85 percent year on year.

Deeply touched by Tang's spirit, Mahmood speaks highly of Tang and deems the master's efforts as a vivid image of "Ren" culture. The filmmaker even experienced the handcraft making and dragon dance himself, trying to comprehend the essence of "Ren."

Apparently, the foreigner underestimated the great difficulties of grasping the craft. "My arms ached from long hours of holding the dragon's head in the blazing sun. And I realized that dragon dance was not easy even for a young man like myself," said Mahmood.

After days of practicing the performance, Mahmood had his debut show on a sunny day, dancing with the local dragon dance team for the residents. Rounds of applause that burst from the audience spoke volumes about the success of their performance.

Mahmood recorded the whole process through his lens. The finished film was named "The Dance of 'Ren'" by him, as he began to realize the rich connotation of traditional Chinese culture and philosophy.

"The spirit of 'Ren' is not only a human trait, but also a culture that has been precipitated by thousands of years of history," said the man. "It's not only the insistence on heritage in Master Tang, but also the spirit of selflessness and dedication of Tang and friendliness of all the people in the town." 

This photo taken on April 12, 2023 shows a street in Pianyan ancient town, Beibei District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Chen Qingbing)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, PBC (Cost Plus Drugs) is collaborating with the Battle Back Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit out of Utah to improve access to all medications available through Cost Plus Drugs for our nation's police officers and first responders.The Battle Back Foundation has partnered with world renowned thought leaders, physicians, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers to assist with police officers' mental health. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has become an often overlooked mental roadblock. Many police officers, first responders, and their immediate families must deal with PTSD often leading to challenging mental and financial setbacks. The Battle Back Foundation is positioned to alleviate some stress by covering the costs of the physician visits and medications needed to treat respective disorders, including medications available through Cost Plus Drugs. By easing the burden of expensive medications our heroes and first responders can focus on Battling Back to a life filled with hope and opportunities."I am proud to have formed a relationship between Cost Plus Drugs and the Battle Back Foundation. I am certain that Cost Plus Drugs can help many police officers gain access to affordable medication. Tyler's vision in creating this foundation will provide a critical resource to our nation's first responders." said Mark Cuban."I have seen the impact Cost Plus Drugs has had on myself, family members, friends, and co-workers, relative to gaining access to affordable medication. This company will continue to impact the lives of Americans for good. I am honored that Mark Cuban and Cost Plus Drugs have collaborated with the Battle Back Foundation' to provide affordable medication to those who otherwise could not afford access to these essential resources." - Tyler Beddoes- Utah Police Officer, Best-Selling Author, and the co- founder of the Battle Back FoundationPTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. These symptoms can include nightmares, intrusive recollections, flashbacks, and psychological distress. Someone with PTSD can be triggered by loud noises, smells, or unexpected movements (e.g. feeling jumpy or on edge). They may have difficulty sleeping and feel detached or estranged from the world and their family and friends. One might actively avoid a person or a place that reminds them of a tragic event and brings on overwhelming symptoms. As a result, one's ability to function in social or family life can become significantly impaired. Individuals with PTSD may also develop additional disorders such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, alcohol, and substance abuse, among others which often worsens over time. The treatment often requires medications that help to reduce the anxiety, depression, and disorders associated with it.The Battle Back Foundation will be the #1 resource for our nation's police officers and offer them the much-needed help in 1) Mindset Education 2) Clinical Resources 3) Financial Assistance and 4) Community Involvement with donations going directly to assist in these areas. Our heroes help us in our time of need, let's rise together and help them in their time of need.TESTIMONIALS:"I can openly and honestly say that over my thirty-year career as a physician the biggest positive change I have seen in medicine is the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. My physician colleagues and I often have patients that have been prescribed an essential medication they cannot afford. Cost Plus Drugs has revolutionized the medical world and will save countless lives by lowering the cost of these drugs. Encouragingly, Tyler Beddoes, a respected veteran police officer and a co-founder of Battle Back' has teamed with Cost Plus Drugs. This will be an extraordinary asset to our police officers and the American people." -Dr. Robert Foster- Emergency Medicine PhysicianAbout Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company:Cost Plus Drugs aims to fundamentally change the way the pharmaceutical industry operates. As a public-benefit corporation, its social mission of improving public health is just as important as the bottom line. Cost Plus Drugs transparently charges a standard markup on every drug it sells. Thecostplusdrugs.com online pharmacy launched in January 2022, carries over 1,000 prescription products, delivered by mail to thousands of happy customers every day. Cost Plus Drugs is working with health plans, managed-care organizations, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and self-insured employers to bring these same savings to employer-sponsored benefit plans nationwide.About Battle Back Foundation:Battle Back Foundation launched in 2023, co-founded by Utah Police Officer, Tyler Beddoes. The mission is to provide the necessary psychological, financial, and community resources for police officers and/or their immediate family members who are citizens of the United States. The purpose is to help police officers and their immediate family members cope with the many challenges associated with a career in law enforcement, including assisting families directly impacted by police suicide or death in the line of duty. 'Battle Back' stands ready to help our heroes rise up once again to their best version possible.To donate and find out more information please visit our website:Contact: battlebackfoundation@ gmail.com SOURCE: Battle Back Foundation
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / ViatrisLike many of the other children born in the Singareni community in India, N. Ramesh grew up in poverty. His father was an auto driver and mother a daily wage laborer, and there was little opportunity for him to envision a future that would be any different.An estimated 104 million people, or 9% of India's population, live in densely populated settlements marked by substandard housing, lack of access to clean water and power and severe poverty. Children in these settlements like Ramesh routinely lack support to seek an education and, if they do, often drop out because of lack of access to basic hygiene and toilet facilities.But Ramesh participated in the Akshaya Vidya supplementary education program for children run by Ekalavya Foundation. The program, which is supported by Viatris, provides education both to students in school and those who have dropped out through special learning centers established in their communities. The centers offer evening classes with trained tutors and provide smartphones for groups of students to facilitate continuous learning and monitoring.With the help of Akshaya Vidya tutoring and mentoring, Ramesh achieved 100% marks in his 10th grade standard exam and exceptionally in the Joint Entrance Exam, a required exam for admission to engineering colleges, enabling him to pursue his dream of becoming a software engineer."The Akshaya Vidya program started with just one tutor and four children. But thanks to timely support from Viatris and other organizations, we now have more than 127 Akshaya Vidya Learning Centers with about 4,000 children in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal and Adilabad districts of Telangana," said Vivek Anand, Chairman, Akshaya Vidya Foundation.Viatris initially supported 20 centers covering approximately 600 students. But because of the success of the centers, the program was expanded to 40 centers with approximately 1,200 students. The tutors often hail from the local community to earn trust among the students and showcase local role models. The learning centers also have become safe havens that offer respite to some children and adults."As a global healthcare company, Viatris seeks to foster healthy communities around the world. One of the many ways we do this is by supporting education, which is especially important for the disadvantaged children in India," said Michelle Dominica, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Administrative Services for Viatris in India.Ekalavya Foundation was established in 2006, and its Akshaya Vidya project to promote education for children living in disadvantaged communities was launched in 2011. The program includes academics, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, health, hygiene, culture, nationalism and other topics with the goal of helping children develop and become a part of modern society.Ramesh's story was featured on the Akshaya Vidya Facebook page, and the group hopes his experience will inspire others.Though his economic circumstances were difficult, "Ramesh's achievement is simply stellar and shows that if human beings can persevere they can achieve any great heights with hard work," the group wrote. "We salute Ramesh and his never say die spirit and hope many youth will get motivated to follow his example." View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Viatris on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: ViatrisWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/viatris Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Viatris
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 09:48:23

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Organic gellan gum is a natural thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent derived from a species of bacteria found in soil and water. It is used in a variety of food and beverage products, including dairy, processed fruits, and condiments. It is also used in cosmetic and personal care products.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Organic-Gellan-Gum-Market/request-for-sample-report Market DriversRising Demand for Natural and Organic Products: The increasing demand for natural and organic products is one of the key drivers of the global organic gellan gum market. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits of organic foods and are willing to pay a premium for them. This has resulted in a rise in demand for organic gellan gum, which is used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and thickener in various food and beverage products.Growing Food and Beverage Industry: The growing food and beverage industry is another key driver of the global organic gellan gum market. Gellan gum is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and thickener. It is used in a variety of products, including dairy products, beverages, sauces, dressings, and bakery products.Increasing Health Consciousness: The increasing health consciousness among consumers is also driving the demand for organic gellan gum. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the health benefits of organic foods and are willing to pay a premium for them. This has resulted in a rise in demand for organic gellan gum, which is used as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and thickener in various food and beverage products.Technological Advancements: Technological advancements have also played a major role in driving the demand for organic gellan gum. New technologies have enabled the development of new products and processes that use organic gellan gum as an ingredient. This has helped to expand the application areas of organic gellan gum and has increased its demand.Market ChallengesRegulatory Challenges: The global organic gellan gum market is subject to stringent regulations and standards, especially in the food and beverage industry. The regulations and standards vary from country to country and region to region. This makes it difficult for manufacturers to comply with the regulations in different countries and regions.High Cost of Production: The production of organic gellan gum is a complex and expensive process. This makes the product expensive and limits its use in certain applications.Limited Availability: Organic gellan gum is not widely available in the market, as it is produced in limited quantities. This limits its use in certain applications.Lack of Awareness: The lack of awareness about the benefits of organic gellan gum among consumers is a major challenge in the global organic gellan gum market.Competition from Synthetic Alternatives: Synthetic alternatives to organic gellan gum are available in the market at a lower cost. This poses a challenge to the growth of the organic gellan gum market.Covid-19 Impact AnaysisThe impact of COVID-19 on the global organic gellan gum market has been significant. The pandemic has caused disruptions in the supply chain, which has led to a decrease in production and distribution of organic gellan gum. Additionally, the market has been affected by the decline in demand due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.Furthermore, the pandemic has caused a shift in consumer preferences, with more people opting for plant-based food products. This has resulted in an increased demand for organic gellan gum, as it is used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in plant-based food products.The market is also facing challenges due to the reduced availability of raw materials, especially due to the restrictions imposed on the movement of goods. This has resulted in a decrease in production and supply of organic gellan gum.Overall, the impact of COVID-19 on the global organic gellan gum market has been significant. However, the market is expected to recover in the coming years, as the restrictions are eased and the demand for organic gellan gum increases.Global Organic Gellan Gum Market SegmentationThe segment analysis chapter provides information on the different sub-segments of the market. The chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the market segments and year-on-year growth projections that enable readers to identify potential market growth areas.Based on type, the global organic gellan gum market is segmented into low acyl gellan gum, high acyl gellan gum.Based on application, the organic gellan gum market is segmented into food, daily chemical, pharmaceutical, others.Global Organic Gellan Gum Market Regional AnalysisThe market analysis report includes a comprehensive analysis of the organic gellan gum market by region and country. The regional and country-specific insights provided in the report are valuable for market competitors to make informed decisions about their business strategy. The individualized, country-wise, and segment-wise analyses allow readers to explore the potential of the market in different geographic areas. This section is crucial for understanding the year-on-year growth projections and global market share value, making it an essential part of the report.Organic Gellan Gum Market, by RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaGlobal Organic Gellan Gum Market Competitive AnalysisThe report also features a competitive analysis section that includes a detailed company shares analysis, a list of mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations, as well as information on the introduction of new products to the market. Some of the prominent players in the market are CP Kelco, DSM, Dancheng Caixin, DuPont, Fufeng Group, H &A Canada, Hebei Xinhe, Inner Mongolia Rainbow Biotech, Nanjing Joyfulchem, Tech-Way Biochemical, Teejoy.Reasons for Doing this StudyTo gain a comprehensive understanding of the global Organic Gellan Gum market and its growth prospects.To identify the major players in the market and analyze their strategies.To analyze the market potential and identify the opportunities for growth.To analyze the competitive landscape and identify the major trends in the market.To identify the major drivers and challenges in the market.To analyze the impact of government regulations on the market.To analyze the market segmentation and identify the potential segments for growth.To analyze the market size and growth rate of the global Organic Gellan Gum market.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 10:33:28

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Hardening steel is a type of steel that is heat treated in order to increase its hardness and strength. The process of hardening steel involves heating it to a specific temperature, cooling it rapidly, and then reheating it to a lower temperature. This process results in a steel that is much harder and more resistant to wear and tear than untreated steel. It is commonly used in the production of tools and machinery, as well as in the construction of buildings.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Press-Hardening-Steel-Market/request-for-sample-report Market DriversIncreasing Demand from Automotive Industry: The automotive industry is the major consumer of press hardening steel. This is due to its superior properties such as high strength, good formability, and excellent corrosion resistance. This steel is used in the production of automotive parts such as body panels, door frames, and other structural components. The increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles is driving the demand for press hardening steel in the automotive industry.Growing Infrastructure Development: The growing infrastructure development across the world is driving the demand for press hardening steel. This steel is used in the construction of bridges, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure projects. The increasing investments in the infrastructure sector are expected to drive the demand for press hardening steel.Growing Investment in Renewable Energy: The increasing investment in renewable energy is driving the demand for press hardening steel. This steel is used in the production of wind turbines and solar panels. The increasing investments in renewable energy are expected to drive the demand for press hardening steel in the near future.Increasing Usage in Industrial Applications: Press hardening steel is used in various industrial applications such as oil and gas pipelines, pressure vessels, and heat exchangers. The increasing usage of this steel in industrial applications is expected to drive the demand in the near future.Technological Advancements: The increasing technological advancements in the production of press hardening steel is driving the market growth. The manufacturers are investing in research and development to produce high-performance steel products. This is expected to drive the market growth in the near future.Market ChallengesVolatile Raw Material Prices: The prices of raw materials used in the production of press hardening steel are highly volatile. This is due to the fact that these materials are sourced from different countries and their prices fluctuate with the changing global economic conditions. This makes it difficult for manufacturers to accurately predict the cost of production, which can have a negative impact on their profits.High Capital Investment: Press hardening steel production requires a high capital investment. This includes the cost of machinery and equipment, as well as the cost of raw materials. This makes it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to enter the market and compete with larger players.Complex Manufacturing Process: The production of press hardening steel involves a complex manufacturing process. This includes the use of high-temperature furnaces, as well as a number of other specialized tools and techniques. This makes it difficult for new players to enter the market and compete with established players.Stringent Regulatory Environment: The press hardening steel market is subject to a number of stringent regulations. This includes environmental regulations, as well as safety regulations. This makes it difficult for manufacturers to comply with all the regulations, which can lead to increased costs and reduced profits.Covid-19 Impact AnaysisThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global press hardening steel market. The outbreak has caused a major disruption in the global supply chain, resulting in a decrease in demand and production. This has led to a decrease in the demand for press hardening steel, leading to a decrease in the market size. The decrease in demand has also led to an increase in the prices of press hardening steel, resulting in a decrease in the profits of the manufacturers.The global press hardening steel market is expected to witness a decline in 2020 due to the economic slowdown caused by the outbreak. The automotive sector, which is the major consumer of press hardening steel, has been heavily affected by the pandemic. The automotive industry has seen a significant decline in production due to the disruption in the supply chain and the decrease in demand due to the lockdown imposed by various countries. This has led to a decrease in the demand for press hardening steel, resulting in a decrease in the market size.However, the market is expected to recover in 2021 as the economy begins to recover and the automotive industry regains its momentum. The increasing demand for electric vehicles is also expected to drive the market growth in the coming years. The manufacturers of press hardening steel are focusing on developing innovative products and technologies to meet the changing customer needs. This is expected to provide an opportunity for the market to grow in the near future.Global Press Hardening Steel Market SegmentationThe segment analysis chapter provides information on the different sub-segments of the market. The chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the market segments and year-on-year growth projections that enable readers to identify potential market growth areas.Based on type, the global press hardening steel market is segmented into hot formed boron steel, hot formed non-boron steel.Based on application, the press hardening steel market is segmented into battleship hull, automotive.Global Press Hardening Steel Market Regional AnalysisThe market analysis report includes a comprehensive analysis of the press hardening steel market by region and country. The regional and country-specific insights provided in the report are valuable for market competitors to make informed decisions about their business strategy. The individualized, country-wise, and segment-wise analyses allow readers to explore the potential of the market in different geographic areas. This section is crucial for understanding the year-on-year growth projections and global market share value, making it an essential part of the report.Press Hardening Steel Market, by RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaGlobal Press Hardening Steel Market Competitive AnalysisThe report also features a competitive analysis section that includes a detailed company shares analysis, a list of mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations, as well as information on the introduction of new products to the market. Some of the prominent players in the market are AISI, AP&T, ArcelorMittal, BENTELER, Baowu Group, CECK, DOCOL, Gestamp, LINGYUN INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION LIMITEO, MAGNA, SCHULER, Thyssenkrupp.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 19:05:05

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HORSHAM, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use has donated 233 cases of toilet paper to local Philadelphia nonprofit Maternity Care Coalition (MCC). The families that are currently assisted by MCC will each receive a full case of toilet paper, enough to last a typical family a few months."MCC serves many families through our home visiting and community education programs who live at or below the poverty level," said Lonnese Bodison, Senior Director of Programs, MCC. "We hear first-hand accounts of how our families struggle to meet their basic needs. This causes a great deal of stress that ultimately impacts their overall health and well-being. The donation from Sofidel is especially impactful now, as we are experiencing surges in prices of food and household items." Sofidel is donating its Nicky Elite brand of toilet tissue. This line of products is produced with responsibly sourced materials, FSC pulp fibers and are packed in paper, making Nicky a plastic-free packaging product. The bath tissue is high-quality and embossed, offering maximum comfort and strength. Nicky bath tissue is biodegradable and septic safe."Giving back to the community is extremely important, and this is a valuable way we can help support the future of Philadelphia," said Fabio Vitali, Vice President of Marketing, Sofidel. "Sofidel is committed to enhancing the communities in which we operate, and we're thrilled to provide a few months' supply of essential toilet tissue to deserving families in the Philadelphia area." "MCC is excited about this partnership which supports us with expanding the physical resources we provide to families which include diapers, formula, wipes, books, baby supplies, and now, thanks to Sofidel, paper products," added Bodison.To learn more about MCC, visit maternitycarecoalition.org . For more information about Sofidel, visit sofidel.com/en About The Sofidel GroupThe Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries - Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA - with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development. For more information, visit www.sofidel.com About Maternity Care CoalitionMaternity Care Coalition was founded in 1980 in response to the critical Black infant mortality rates. Since then, MCC has served nearly 150,000 parents and families impacted by racial and social inequities in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The mission of Maternity Care Coalition is to improve the health and well-being of pregnant women and parenting families and enhance school readiness for children 0-3. MCC provides a range of services, including home visiting, center-based early learning, workforce development, behavioral health services, and parenting education. MCC's comprehensive approach also includes a policy and advocacy program and a research program.Media Contact:Brianna FitzpatrickMulberry Marketing Communicationsbfitzpatrick@ mulberrymc.com Angie Bellow, Maternity Care Coalition receiving the delivery View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Sofidel on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: SofidelWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sofidel Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Sofidel
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-10 01:06:41

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FORT WALTON BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / On Monday, May 8, 2023, Step One Automotive Group presented donation checks to Subaru Share the Love Event Hometown Charities, OCSO Sheriff's Star Charity and Healing Hoof Steps Equine Assisted Mental Health Counseling and Therapeutic Riding. In 2022, Step One Automotive Group and Subaru Fort Walton Beach announced the organizations as the hometown charities for the 2022 Subaru Share the Love Event. From Nov. 17, 2022, to Jan. 3, 2023, anyone who purchased or leased a new Subaru had the opportunity to select OCSO Sheriff's Star Charity, Healing Hoofsteps or one of four national charities to receive a $250 donation from Subaru of America, Inc.Subaru Fort Walton Beach Share the Love Event Check Presentation "We are so excited to be able to include two such wonderful charities in Share the Love this year. We are proud to call them partners and help support all the good works they do," said Sarah Cagle, Store Director, Subaru Fort Walton Beach.Representatives from each charity attended the check presentation held at the Subaru Fort Walton Beach dealership where Healing Hoofsteps was given $11,581 and OSCO Sherriff's Star Charity was given $11,212.To learn more about the Step One Automotive Group, visit https://www.steponeautomotive.com/ About Step One Automotive GroupStep One Automotive Group is an American company based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, built on a singular dedication to empowering lives through smarter and easier ways of accessing mobility. Step One Automotive Group owns 20 new car dealerships in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, representing 17 brands, including Chrysler, Dodge Jeep, Ram Fiat, Volkswagen, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Genesis, Ford, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Step One Automotive Group also owns two standalone pre-owned operations, three wholesale parts operations, and one rental car operation. Out of 18,000 dealerships in the United States, Step One ranks in the top 90 dealer groups in the United States and the top 10 in Florida. Step One employs 787 team members across three states and six cities.Contact InformationShantelle DedickePresident, Frances Roy Agencyshantelle@ francesroy.com 307-631-7644SOURCE: Step One Automotive Group
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 18:10:23

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ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Nonprofits around the nation that operate on a calendar tax year, beginning on January 1st and ending on December 31st, have a major annual deadline coming up in less than a week. The IRS requires tax-exempt organizations to file their 990 Series Returns by the 15th day of the fifth month following the end of their tax year. So, for the 2022 tax year, the 990 deadline falls on May 15, 2023.IRS Filing Requirements for Private FoundationsPrivate foundations differ from other tax-exempt organizations in terms of how they are funded. Private foundations are usually the result of a single benefactor or a corporation.Private foundations are required to file Form 990-PF to report their financial information, activities, and certain other information required by the IRS every year. Because the structure and purpose of a private foundation are different from a standard non-profit organization, they have their own specific filing requirements on Form 990-PF.E-filing Requirements for Private FoundationsThe IRS requires all 990 Series Returns to be filed electronically and will not accept paper returns for the 2022 tax year.This has caused a major shift in the way that many organizations, including private foundations, complete and submit their 990 returns electronically.Additional Requirements for Private FoundationsIf a private foundation has received contributions of $5,000 or more from any contributor during the tax year, they are required to report additional information using Schedule B.Apart from Form 990-PF, private foundations may also be required to file Form 990-T if they have generated $1,000 or more in unrelated businesses during the tax year.Tax990 - A Complete Solution for E-filing 990-PFTax990 offers a powerful e-file solution that is simple and secure. With Tax990, filing Form 990-PF for private foundations is efficient and convenient. Tax990 also supports Form 990-T.Tax990 allows the filers to choose how they want to file their returns. Those that are familiar with the 990-PF can choose the Form-based filing option and simply fill out the form. Filers that need more assistance during the filing process can select the Interview-style process, which will prompt them for the required filing information.Tax990 provides a service that is designed to promote the accuracy of 990 filings. All forms are audited using the IRS Business Rules to prevent common errors that can lead to IRS rejections.Tax990 also offers a simple process to allow other team members and board members to review and approve the return before it is transmitted to the IRS. If the private foundation is enlisting several individuals to complete the annual 990-PF filing, they are all able to do so using a single Tax990 account, using the Multi-User Access feature.Some foundations may need to attach Schedule B, this is available from Tax990 and can be completed during the filing process at no additional cost.In case of IRS rejections, Tax 990 shares the rejection code provided by the IRS with the Filers so that they are able to update and retransmit the rejected 990 returns to the IRS at no additional cost. If the organization needs to file an amended 990 return, Tax990 supports this as well.Returning Tax990 filers can easily copy information from prior-year returns. Tax990 also supports the Form 8868 extension, which tax-exempt organizations can file to request an extension of up to 6 months from the IRS.Tax990 streamlines the filing, reviewing, and IRS transmission process, but they continue to support tax-exempt organizations through the entire process, from choosing the correct 990 return all the way until the IRS accepts the return. During the process, they offer dedicated customer support by phone, email, and live chat to ensure that their clients have a smooth e-filing experience.When asked about the major filing deadline on May 15th, the CEO and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises, the parent company of Tax990, replied stating, "May 15th is a major day for nonprofits all over the country, and it is a huge day for our team. We pride ourselves on providing advanced features and technology to take the stress out of nonprofit tax filing so nonprofits can keep doing good in their communities.To begin filing Form 990-PF for private foundations, create a free account today at tax990.com About Tax990Tax990 is the premier, IRS-authorized e-file provider of nonprofit tax forms. Tax990 provides solutions for nonprofits that are required to file Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, 990-PF, 990-T, California Form CA-199, and Extension Form 8868 with the IRS. With advanced features and affordable pricing, the goal of Tax990 is to help nonprofits file easily, so they can continue to keep doing good.About SPAN EnterprisesBased in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN Enterprises has been developing industry-leading software solutions for IRS e-filing and business management tools for over a decade.The SPAN Enterprises portfolio of products includes TaxBandits, Tax990, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics.For any media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer at stephanie@ spanenterprises.com ###SOURCE: SPAN Enterprises
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-10 00:03:30

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Working with an experienced SEO agency can help businesses improve their online visibility, drive more organic traffic to their website and ultimately increase their revenue and profitability.NEW ZEALAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Having a strong online presence is essential for business success in the digital age but achieving a high search engine ranking can be challenging. Working with an experienced SEO agency, like Zib Digital, can make a significant difference for businesses looking to improve their online visibility.Zib DigitalZib Digital An SEO agency has the expertise and resources to help businesses optimise their website for search engines and improve their online visibility. However, not all SEO agencies are created equal and it's essential to work with a reputable and experienced agency to achieve the best results.As the leading SEO company Auckland wide, Zib Digital has a team of experts who can help businesses develop and implement effective SEO strategies that can drive more organic traffic to their website. Zib Digital can offer businesses valuable insights into their target audience's behaviour and preferences, leveraging data and metrics to help develop more effective SEO strategies that connect with their audience and boost conversion rates.By managing SEO campaigns with their expertise, Zib Digital eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive tools and resources while achieving their marketing objectives.With a deep understanding of the importance of SEO for businesses, Zib Digital is committed to helping businesses improve their online visibility through a comprehensive range of digital marketing services. With more than 15 years of experience, Zib Digital has become the SEO agency Auckland businesses rely on to achieve significant growth and success.Providing a range of SEO services including keyword research, on-page optimisation, link building and more, Zib Digital helps businesses improve their search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to their website. The team also keeps up with the latest SEO trends and techniques, ensuring their clients are always at the forefront of SEO.To learn more about the leaders in digital marketing Christchurch and Auckland wide, visit www.zibdigital.co.nz About Zib DigitalAs a leading digital marketing agency, Zib Digital has helped grow businesses in a wide variety of industries, both in New Zealand and internationally, through clever online marketing.Contact Information:Zib DigitalManager(03) 8685 9290SOURCE: Zib Digital
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 07:30:14

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Phase III's primary endpoint will be visual acuity, with secondary endpoints including assessment of cognitive and motor functions,The FDA confirmed that this sole Phase III trial would secure Batten-1 approval for Batten CLN3 disease.LYON , FRANCE and AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Theranexus, a biopharmaceutical company innovating in the treatment of neurological diseases, and the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF), have today announced receipt of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the design and primary and secondary endpoints of the pivotal Phase III trial for Batten disease CLN3, at a meeting with the Division of Rare Diseases and Medical Genetics (DRDMG) held in mid-April." We are delighted with the constructive discussions we had with the FDA on defining the endpoints of Batten-1 and the design of our pivotal Phase III trial. Its valuable guidance allows us to get fully prepared for the trial launch," explained Theranexus' Chief Medical Officer Marie Sebille." We would like to thank the FDA for its support, which is fundamental to the development of our Batten-1 drug candidate, the only asset in active clinical development for Batten disease (CLN3). Our pivotal Phase III trial will enable us to gain approval for Batten-1, and also deliver rich news flow throughout the duration of the Phase III trial thanks to the parallel open-label patient cohort. More generally, we have no doubt that we can deliver a therapeutic response for patients suffering from Batten disease," added Theranexus' CEO Mathieu Charveriat.Theranexus and BBDF worked with the FDA's DRDMG to define the following criteria for the protocol of the Phase III multicenter trial for evaluating Batten-1 in patients with juvenile Batten disease (CLN3):The trial will be a randomized, double-blind study conducted versus placebo in 2 parallel groups to assess the efficacy of Batten-1 at a dose of 15 mg/kg and up to 600 mg/day for a 2-year treatment period,The target population will be a pediatric cohort involving approximately 60 patients aged 4 to 16 years, with randomization stratified into 3 age groups of 4 to 8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13 to 16 years to achieve suitable representation for all age groups assessed,The primary endpoint will be visual acuity, measured using either the quantitative LogMAR[1] scale, or a qualitative scale in the most impaired patients for whom quantitative assessment is not possible,The secondary endpoints will include cognitive function, assessed by the Verbal Comprehension Index from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children according to age, motor function assessed by a selection of motor items from the Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale (UBDRS), and visual function, assessed by OCT scan,An assessment of functional ability in everyday activities and a Quality-of-Life measurement will also be performed.An additional open-label cohort of 9 patients' representative of the different age groups of the target population will be enrolled in parallel. This will allow us to enrich the statistical analysis plan, in particular in comparison with natural history data, for the primary and secondary endpoints on trial completion, and produce interim results every 6 months, including measurements of biomarkers (notably glycosphingolipids given their toxic accumulation resulting in neuronal death) and efficacy data on the same criteria as the main 60-patient cohort.Patient enrollment should begin in the end of 2023. The trial will run in parallel in several centers throughout the United States and Europe. Provided positive results are registered, the FDA confirms that a sole Phase III trial as defined above would secure approval of the Batten-1 candidate in Batten disease. The company's goal is to use the results of this trial to win product approval in both the United States and Europe.As a reminder, the Phase III trial follows on from Phase I/II whose initial results showed good safety and tolerability of miglustat in a population of CLN3 patients over 17 years of age, and a pharmacokinetic profile in line with expectations (see press release of 5 January 2023[2]).In conclusion, Craig Benson, Chair of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation , said: "We are absolutely delighted to have had such a constructive and productive meeting with the FDA enabling us to initiate the Phase III clinical trial for Batten-1 in the near future. Patients and their families are eagerly awaiting the launch of enrollment for this trial in a disease for which there is currently no available treatment. This trial is a source of tremendous hope for them." About Batten-1Batten-1 is a novel and exclusive proprietary drug containing the active ingredient miglustat. The mechanism of action of this substance blocks the accumulation of glycosphingolipids and neuroinflammation. For patients over 17 years of age in the Phase I/II trial, the product is administered in solid form. In the Phase III trial, it will be administered in a liquid form better suited to pediatric patients.Phase I/II trial design: this is an open-label trial involving 6 patients over 17 years of age with CLN3 Batten disease, treated with miglustat up to 600 mg/day for a 2-year period. The primary endpoint is patient safety and tolerability, assessed using reports of adverse effects, biological tests and ECG, as well as the pharmacokinetics of miglustat. The secondary endpoints include efficacy monitoring: Unified Batten Disease Rating Scale, visual acuity, and brain MRI and optical coherence tomography scans. Administration of Batten-1 in escalating doses with a maximum of 600 mg/day was well tolerated, with no severe side effects observed causing treatment discontinuation. The most commonly reported adverse events are reversible gastrointestinal effects of often light to moderate severity, thus demonstrating the good tolerability profile of Batten-1 in this population. Batten-1 will continue to be assessed in these patients treated over a 24-month period. Further information about the trial is available on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05174039 About Batten diseaseJuvenile Batten disease, also known as Spielmeyer-Vogt or CLN3 disease, is a rare, fatal, inherited disorder of the nervous system for which there is no treatment or cure. Juvenile Batten disease belongs to a group of disorders referred to as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). Over 400 different errors in 13 genes have been attributed to various forms of NCL, which differ from one another primarily by when symptoms first appear. The first symptom in the juvenile form, progressive vision loss, appears between the ages of 4 and 6 which is followed by personality changes,
PR-Inside.com: 2023-05-09 14:00:55

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Certificate Program designed to teach best practices for designing a corporate security awareness training program will be offered free of charge for a limited timeMIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / ThriveDX, the global leader in cybersecurity and digital skills training, is excited to announce the launch of its new certificate program exclusively designed for security awareness administrators and managers to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to implement and manage comprehensive cyber training programs inside their organizations.The ThriveDX Awareness Administration Certificate Program is aligned to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines and covers critical elements of employee cybersecurity education, testing and engagement based on the National Institute for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) framework. Participants will cover a range of topics essential to building an enterprise awareness program including aligning security awareness training with an organization's specific needs, customizing employee training material, defining security metrics, and reporting success indicators. To ensure that this important training is available as widely as possible, ThriveDX is offering the program free of charge to qualified candidates through May 31, 2023."We're at a point in our industry where most security professionals understand the need for employee training and awareness. A 2022 ThriveDX Global Cybersecurity Awareness Training Study of 1,900 CISOs found that 97% of those surveyed agreed that cybersecurity awareness training leads to greater corporate security," said Roy Zur, CEO of ThriveDX Enterprise. "What is not always clear for company leaders is the best way to train and truly change employee behavior and build a positive security culture. That starts with educating the security administrators running your program." The ThriveDX Awareness Administration Certificate Program consists of interactive online training, constructed to give participants a mix of both practical knowledge and hands-on experience in developing their own security awareness program. Each unit is covered in a short 5 - 15 minute training, followed with practice content and quizzes. The program also includes a model of ThriveDX's Security Awareness Training platform that each participant can customize to create their own content and establish a timeline to implement training inside their organization."We want to equip every security administrator with the best practices and knowledge they need to create the most successful security awareness training program possible inside their business, effectively cutting down on cyber attacks globally by eliminating human risk," said Zur.To learn more about the ThriveDX Awareness Administration Certificate Program and sign up to take advantage of this free course offer please visit https://thrivedx.com/resources/get-certified/awareness-admin-certificate-program and use code GetCert23.###About ThriveDXThriveDX is the global leader in cybersecurity education, and an expert in providing cybersecurity training to upskill and reskill lifelong learners. Our teams are made up of military trained cyber experts, industry veterans and seasoned educators united to close the worldwide skills and talent gap in cybersecurity. Operating in two divisions - education and enterprise - ThriveDX's award-winning solutions exist to bridge the skills gap and impact the talent shortage in the cybersecurity and overall tech industry.The Education sector partners with top-tier academic institutions, enterprises, and government branches globally to offer advanced, professional development programs in cybersecurity and digital technology. The Enterprise branch (formulated by companies formerly known as Cybint Solutions, Kontra Application Security, Lucy Security, ThriveDX Labs, and HackerU Pro), is a suite of products and services that cater to non-technical employees, developers, IT professionals and anyone in between. For more information, visit https://thrivedx.com/ Press contact:press@ thrivedx.com SOURCE: ThriveDX
This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Pei Cheng/Xinhua)

This aerial panoramic photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Zhang Zhuojun/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Yu Xing/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Cao Qingsheng/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Gu Jihong/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 7, 2023 shows the Jiangdu Water Control Facility in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Located in the juncture of the Grand Canal, the New Tongyang Canal and the Huaihe River outfall waterway into the Yangtze River, the Jiangdu Water Control Facility acts as the source of the eastern route of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The Jiangdu Water Control Facility consists of 4 large-scale electrical pumping stations, 12 middle-large size water gates, 3 ship locks, transmission and transformation project and diversion waterways. (Photo by Wang Yuewu/Xinhua)

Editor: ZAD
A Nigerian woman, Adetokunbo Abosede Brooks, is facing deportation from the United States following her inability to secure a permanent residence permit after residing in the country for 37 years.

Ms Brooks was thrown into the precarious situation after a decision of the US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, affirmed the order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Agency for her deportation.

A three-member panel of the court ruled in its judgement delivered on 4 May that Ms Brooks petition for a review of the concurrent decisions of the immigration court and the BIA was not substantiated.

Ms Brooks entered the US in 1986 legally with a six-month visa, and, three years later, had her status adjusted to that of a conditional permanent resident alien on getting married to a US citizen.

According to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES, she filed a joint petition with her partner for the removal of the conditions for her permanent residency on the basis of being married to a citizen.

Afterwards, she was invited for an interview with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) alongside her spouse concerning the bona fides of their marriage.

But in a show of simmering dispute between the couple, her husband said during the interview that he neither saw nor signed the joint petition, and formally withdrew from the joint application.

Shortly after the incident, the couple filed for divorce.

Ms Brooks went ahead with her application, however, through a different route.

She filed an application for waiver of the requirement to file the joint petition for removal of conditions, claiming that she entered the marriage in good faith, the Court of Appeals ruling obtained by this newspaper, stated.

Her request was, however, denied in April 1992 by the INS, which then formally terminated her conditional permanent resident status and commenced deportation proceedings.

Although Ms Brooks did not appear for any of the deportation hearings, she was ordered removed in absentia in September 1992.

Twenty-three years later (2015), she filed a motion with the immigration court to reopen her case, which the immigration judge granted, because she did not receive notice of her original hearing.

Her case was heard including the circumstances of her marriage, the judge issued a decision sustaining the charge of deportation and upholding the INS denial of Ms Brooks request to waive the filing of the joint petition.

Not giving up, Ms Brooks appealed the decision to the BIA which affirmed the immigration judges decision in 2022.

She again filed a petition for review of the BIAs decision with the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, arguing that the BIA erred in applying the REAL ID Acts credibility framework to the fresh review of her application for relief because it was filed prior to the passage of the Act.

Ms Brooks argued that the provision, which was passed as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 should not be applied retroactively to her final order of removal from 1992. However, that order is no longer final as the immigration judges granting of her petition to reopen vacated her 1992 order of removal.

The document noted that according to federal law in the US, the granting of a hardship waiver for an individual who fails to submit a joint petition for removal of conditional status is reserved to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security, thus not subject to review by the court of appeals.

However, federal law does not preclude review of constitutional claims or questions of law raised upon a petition for review filed with an appropriate court of appeals, the court said.

Ruling on Ms Brooks petition to review the BIAs decision, the Court of Appeals noted that a final order of removal can only be reviewed if the alien has exhausted all administrative remedies available to the alien as of right.

However, petitioners fail to exhaust their administrative remedies as to an issue if they do not first raise the issue before the BIA, either on direct appeal or in a motion to reopen.

In her case, Ms Brooks did not raise this issue before the BIA. She only argued that the REAL ID Acts framework for assessing credibility was controlling, the court said.

READ ALSO: European court orders Russia to pay compensation to Georgia

Nowhere did she suggest to the BIA that her credibility should have been assessed under the pre-REAL ID Act framework, and she concedes as much on appeal, the court said.

As a result of the non-exhaustion of administrative remedies by Ms Brooks, the court said it lacked jurisdiction to consider her appeal for review.

The petition for review is denied, the court said. Therefore, the BIA decision to remove her from the US stands.

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The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to file their responses to all pending applications in the case instituted by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, declared Mr Tinubu winner of the 25 February presidential election.

But the APM, among other opposition political parties with their presidential candidates, is urging the court to nullify Mr Tinubus victory on account of his non-qualification as a candidate of the APC.

At a pre-hearing session of the court on Tuesday, after taking submissions from lawyers to parties in the APMs petition, a five-member panel of the court led by Haruna Tsammani, ordered all parties to file their responses to all pending applications before the next hearing date.

Mr Tsammani adjourned the petition until Thursday for continuation of the pre-hearing session.

Lawyers submissions

On Tuesday, APMs lawyer, Oyetola Atoyebi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court that his client had responded to questions bordering on the pre-hearing session.

INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, said the commission,on 5 May, filed its responses to the pre-hearing questions.

We have three applications listed and we will be moving the applications at the appropriate time, Mr Mahmoud said.

Lateef Fagbemi, a SAN, who represents the APC and Akin Olujimi, another representing the vice president-elect Kashim Shettima and Mr Tinubu, both said they had responded to the preliminary questions raised by the court.

Similarly, Yomi Aliyu, lawyer to Kabiru Masari who was Mr Tinubus running mate, said his client filed responses to the pre-hearing questions on 3 May.

Background

APM is in his petition urging the court to void all the votes scored by Mr Tinubu in the presidential election in view of his non-qualification as a candidate of the APC.

The party wants the court to declare the presidential candidate of a rival party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who is also purrsuing his separate petition, as the winner of the electoin.

The petitioner argued that Mr Tinubus victory will not stand due to the flawed process of nominating his vice presidential pick, Kashim Shettima.

Mr Tinubu while submitting his presidential nomination form to INEC in June 2022, chose Ibrahim Masari, a politician from President Muhammadu Buharis home state Katsina, as a placeholder for the substantive vice presidential candidate who would later be Mr Shettima.

Mr Tinubus initial choice of Mr Masari was a strategy to beat INECs deadline of 17 June 2022, for presidential candidates to submit names of their vice presidential picks.

APM contended that Mr Tinubu nominated Mr Masari and forwarded the latters name to INEC as a vice presidential candidate.

Referencing Sections 131 (C) and 142 of the constitution, the petitioner said Mr Masari withdrew his purported nomination thereby invalidating the nomination of Mr Tinubu as APCs presidential candidate.

The three-week gap between the period of Mr Masaris notice of withdrawal and his actual pull-out from the contest, APM argued that by the time Mr Tinubu picked Mr Shettima as his running mate, the president-elects candidature had lapsed and he was no longer in a position constitutionally to nominate a running mate since he had ceased to be a presidential candidate of the APC.

In its petition, the APM whose presidential candidate, Chichi Ojei, polled 25,961 votes, argued that Mr Tinubu was not properly sponsored by the APC by fielding Mr Shettima as vice presidential candidate for the election.

According to the petitioner, the validity of Mr Tinubus nomination as APCs presidential candidate was hinged on his running mate.

APM contended that Mr Tinubu nominated Mr Masari and forwarded the latters name to INEC as a vice presidential candidate.

In a copious reference to Sections 131 (C) and 142 of the constitution, the petitioner said Mr Masari withdrew his purported nomination thereby invalidating the nomination of Mr Tinubu as APCs presidential candidate.

READ ALSO: Presidential Election Petition Court assures litigants of justice

Stressing the three-week gap between the period of Mr Masaris notice of withdrawal and his actual pull-out from the contest, APM argued that by the time Mr Tinubu picked Mr Shettima as his running mate, the president-elects candidature had lapsed and he was no longer in a position constitutionally to nominate a running mate since he had ceased to be a presidential candidate of the APC.

APM prayed the court to declare Atiku as the president-elect, having polled the second highest votes.

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The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, affirmed the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, sealing the governors victory over his most formidable rival, Adegboyega Oyetola, in the keenly contested 16 July 2022 poll.

A five-member panel of the court led by John Okoro unanimously upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which had earlier on 24 March affirmed Mr Adelekes victory.

The Supreme Courts decision lays to rest the dispute over the outcome of the governorship election, and extinguishes Mr Oyetolas hopes of coming back to office after his momentary victory at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in January.

The court agreed with the Court of Appeal that Mr Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), failed to adduce relevant evidence to prove their case.

Upholding the lower courts decision, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal correctly found that the appellants failed to prove their case against Mr Adeleke and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Specifically, the Supreme Court held that It was imperative that the appellants (Oyetola and APC) produced the BIVAS machines or certified true copies of the BIVAS in evidence to show non-accreditation and over-voting.

Emmanuel Agim, a member of the Supreme Court panel who read the lead judgement, noted: It is the record in the BIVAS machines that can prove the number of accredited voters in a polling unit and nothing else.

The appellant had a primary burden to prove the fact asserted by them in their petition. It is obvious that the appellants case collapsed.

Decision on alleged forgery

Ruling on Mr Oyetolas allegation of forgery levelled against Mr Adeleke, the Supreme Court held that Mr Oyetola and APC did not substantiate their claims.

No evidence was adduced to prove the case of forgery against Adeleke. In the absence of such evidence, the allegation is not proved beyond reasonable doubt, Mr Agim said.

Jurisdiction

On the issue of the tribunals jurisdiction to hear the petition, the Supreme Court faulted the tribunal for refusing to determine Mr Adelekes preliminary objection challenging its power to entertain the suit.

This renders the entire hearing of the case by the tribunal a nullity. It ought to have determined the issue of jurisdiction before going into the substantive petition.

The entire proceedings of the tribunal remain a nullity, the Supreme Court held.

Since it was signed by two members of the panel it is valid. But she ought to have said something.

On the whole this appeal fails and it is hereby dismissed.

Background

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election in an upset that deprived Mr Oyetola, the then incumbent governor, a second term in office.

The INEC Chief Returning Officer for Osun, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who announced the result on the day after the election, said the PDP candidate scored 403,371 votes to emerge victorious.

Mr Adeleke defeated Mr Oyetola, who polled 375,027 votes to come second in the race.

Displeased with INECs result, Mr Oyetola had approached the election petition tribunal in Osogbo, the state capital, to challenge the outcome of the poll.

He anchored his petition on complaints in 744 polling units in 10 local government areas of Osun State.

He alleged that the election in the polling units was marred by overvoting, failing to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act by not using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

The three-member tribunal in a split decision on 27 January ruled in favour of Mr Oyetola, by declaring him the winner of the election, while he sacked Mr Adeleke from office.

The majority two-to-one decision ordered INEC to issue the certificate of return to Mr Oyetola.

In the lead majority judgement read by Terste Kume, the tribunal held that INEC failed to conduct the Osun governorship election in compliance with the Electoral Act.

It noted that the poll was marred by over-voting. It said after deducting the excessive votes that were cast, the figure Mr Adeleke scored came down to 290,666, which was lower than the 314,921 garnered by Mr Oyetola.

Consequently, the tribunal ordered that Mr Oyetola be returned as governor of Osun State.

However, in the minority decision, the second member of the tribunal, P. A Ogbuli said the petitioners  Mr Oyetola and the APC  failed to prove that there were cases of over-voting in the governorship election.

Mr Ogbuli noted that the petitioners witnesses in their testimony before the panel did not convince him that there was over-voting.

He said the petitioners should have brought the total registered voters to court to claim that over-voting occurred.

Adelekes appeal

Mr Adeleke, who remained in office to exhaust his right of appeal, had appealed against the decision of the tribunal.

His appeal was successful.

Upholding Mr Adelekes victory in March, the Court of Appeal held that the tribunals wrong in its conclusion that that the election in some parts of the states was marred by over-voting, the pivotal legal issue thrown up in Mr Oyetolas case.

The court held that the burden of proving the allegations of over-voting lies squarely with the respondents (Mr Oyetola and the APC).

It is inconceivable to assume that the testimonies of the respondents witnesses had any probative value, the appellate court held.

The Court of Appeal noted that Mr Oyetola and the APC did not tender the voter registers and Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS machines, which captured data of eligible voters at the Osun governorship election.

Though the 1st and 2nd respondents (Oyetola and APC) relied on BVAS reports obtained from INEC to prove over-voting, they did not, nonetheless, call petitioners witness 1 to speak to the reports, that is, Exhibits BVR reports from INECs back-end server.

In their pleadings, Mr Oyetola and APC alleged that the results recorded and transmitted directly from the polling units were not taken into account and therefore accredited voters recorded in Form EC8A from the disputed polling units do not tally with the number of BVAS for the same polling units.

Strangely, the tribunal, in its judgment, only relied on the table set out in an address of counsel to hold that over voting occured in an election, the Court of Appeal said.

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Dogo Gide, the terrorist whose gang has been holding 11 pupils of Federal Government College, Yauri, Kebbi State since June 2021, on Monday, released three of the girls.

The release of the three pupils followed the release of four other pupils two weeks ago after the terrorist was paid N80 million.

Salim Kaoje, the chairman of the parents of the abducted children, confirmed the release of the pupils to PREMIUM TIMES in a text message.

Those released were Aliya Abubakar, Esther Sunday, and Elizabeth Nwafor.

Mr Kaoje, whose younger sister, Farida Kaoje, is still being held by the terrorists, said Mr Gide did not request additional ransom before releasing the latest batch of pupils.

Mr Gide and his gang originally abducted more than 100 pupils and some of their teachers.

While many of the girls escaped in the days that followed the abduction, others were released after ransoms were allegedly paid to Mr Gides gang and allegedly in exchange for some of Mr Gides fighters who were arrested by the authorities.

However, the terrorists held on to 11 of the girls.

Yes, its true he has released three students and we did not pay additional ransom this time, Mr Kaojes message reads in Hausa.

Mr Gide decided to release the pupils after further negotiation by his appointed negotiator, simply known as Abubakar and some of the parents of the abducted students.

READ ALSO: Why bandit kingpin released four abducted FGC Yauri pupils

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the pupils have been taken to the Kebbi State Government House.

Parents said they sold their properties plus donations they received from other Nigerians to raise the ransoms paid to Mr Gide and his gang.

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Another Defence witness has claimed before Finlands Turku Court of Appeal in Monrovia that Gibril Massaquoi, a one-time commander with Sierra Leones Revolutionary United Front (RUF), did not fight in Liberias second civil war, as alleged by prosecutors.

Defence 7 [name given him by the Court to avoid retributions], who said he was also a commander for the RUF told the Court that he, Mr Massaquoi and other RUF fighters came to Liberia in 2000 with a delegation for a peace mission at the requests of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), and Charles Taylor, the Liberian President at the time.

The Court has traveled to Liberia for the second time in less than a month to particularly hear defence witnesses after the Sierra Leonean government did not honor its request to go there.

Gibril was selected as head of that delegation, said Defense 7. He said they passed through Lofa County, where they clear the way to come to Monrovia. Rebels from the Liberians United for reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), were battling Taylors forces in the county and prosecutors alleged that the RUF rebels were used to back up Taylors troops against the LURD rebels.

They have alleged it was during that time that Mr Massaquoi committed some heinous crimes, including arresting, torturing, locking up civilians and burning them alive.

Defence 7 denied Mr Massaquoi was involved in what he called a special operation, which he said was carried out on Taylors instructions. He alleged Taylor sent them arms and ammunition through Benjamin Yeaten, one of his trusted military chiefs.

They brought our ammunition via helicopter, he said. It was given to us in Foya and Voinjama.

The witness said Taylor rewarded them at the end of the operation.

Yes, President Taylor gave some money through the leadership of the RUF, said Defence 7. ECOWAS did not tell us thank you.

That portion of his testimony does not corroborate with the testimonies of other defense witnesses, who have made no mention of any special operation, although theyve also claimed Massaquoi and other RUF leaders did come to Liberia for peace talks.

A little over a year ago, the Pirkanmaa District Court of Tampere acquitted Mr Massaquoi of all charges because, it said prosecutors did not prove them beyond a reasonable doubt, including that he sneaked out of a safe house of the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he was a protected witness and came to Liberia to fight in the war.

Defence 7 also challenged prosecutors assertion about the matter.

Since 2002, he was in the care of the UN, said Defence 7.

The hearings continue on Tuesday.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of its West Africa Justice Reporting Project.

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Police in Ebonyi State have urged residents in the state to discountenance the sit-at-home order by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) scheduled from May 8 through May 11.

This is contained in a statement on Monday from the police spokesperson in the state, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya.

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Faleye Olaleye, according to the statement, described the order as unlawful, and that it cannot stand.

We, therefore, enjoin the good people of Ebonyi to discountenance the order and go about their lawful business without fear of intimidation as Police is prepared, more than before to provide them with maximum protection for their safety, Mr Olaleye said.

The commissioner also urged residents to inform the police about threats to their safety in the state.

We assure you that the command shall continue to be resilient in its determination to ensure criminal elements are denied the space to carry out their unlawful activities in the state, the commissioner said.

Increased attacks

Security has deteriorated in Nigerias south-east with frequent attacks by armed persons across the region.

The attacks often target government officials, security agencies, and their facilities.

The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria.

(NAN)

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The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) with funding support from the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is set to hold a three-day workshop for investigative journalists and CSOs on tracking corrosive and constructive capital inflows to Nigeria.

The workshop aims to create a forum for stakeholders to share their experiences and knowledge on the concepts and manifestations of constructive and corrosive capital so that they are better equipped to trace and investigate this in the Nigerian context. Through this, we aim to set the agenda for improved governance of foreign financial flows into the country.

Speaking on the project, CJIDs Executive Director, Tobi Oluwatola, said that foreign direct investment is one of the major potential sources of constructive capital, if well managed, but capital flows to Nigeria often shrouded in opacity may threaten institutions of the state, and foster corruption.

The workshop will create a platform for journalists, CSOs, government and seasoned experts in the sector to exchange knowledge and experiences, and network with other like-minded professionals, he said.

Following the workshop, the journalists will be supported with small grants to produce reports that highlight the nature of foreign financial inflows to Nigeria  whether corrosive or capital. These reports will help set the agenda for improved governance of foreign direct investments into the country.

About the Workshop

The stakeholders networking and experience sharing workshop on corrosive and constructive capital is designed to train Journalists and Civil Society Organisations to better understand and communicate the effects of corrosive capital, setting the agenda for improved governance of foreign financial flows into the country.

Ahead of the capacity building workshop, Mboho Eno, the Deputy Director, Accountability at CJID, said that the workshop was necessary after CJID identified the gap in reporting foreign financial flows to Nigeria.

With the media amplifying the activities of foreign organisations, I believe that we will be able to address governance issues and entrench transparency and accountability surrounding loans in the country.

The workshop will train 23 participants, including journalists and civil society actors and is scheduled to hold from 10th to 12th May, 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.

About the Organisers

Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)

Founded in 2014, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), formerly the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), is a West African media innovation and development think (and do) tank.

Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is a global organisation that works to strengthen democracy and build competitive markets in many of the worlds most challenging environments.

Signed:

Mboho Eno

Deputy Director, Accountability

CJID

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An official of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission at Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Stanley Okwekwe, has reportedly been abducted.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the victim was abducted by four men at the front of his residence in Eket at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The abductors have reportedly established contact with Mr Okwekwes wife.

The victims wife is said to have reported the incident to the management of the regulatory commission on Monday.

The family has accepted to pay the sum of N10 million as ransom, the witness said.

When NAN contacted the police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, he said the police did not have information on the abduction.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has a statutory responsibility to ensure that oil and gas firms in Nigeria comply with the countrys petroleum laws, regulations, and guidelines.

The commission has a field office in Eket which monitors the operations of oil and gas firms in Akwa Ibom State.

Abduction for ransom is now one of the dominant crimes across various Nigerian cities.

ALSO READ: Akwa Ibom teachers suspend strike

Politicians, entrepreneurs, and just anyone with good financial worth, including schoolchildren, are easy targets.

NAN reports that a woman  an entrepreneur  residing in Ata-Idung Afaha Eket in the Eket Local Government Area, was abducted on 9 April.

(NAN)

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A coalition of newly elected lawmakers of the minority parties has set up a committee to produce consensus candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from their ranks.

The members-elect, drawn from the seven minority parties, in a statement on Monday, said they would use their numerical strength to produce the presiding officers of the lower House.

The parties are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated in June.

The members-elect, in the statement, signed by the trio of Dachung Bagos (PDP, Plateau) Afam Ogene (LP, Anambra) and Gaza Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa), said they would use their numerical strength of188 in the 360-member House to create upset against the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has 177 members-elect.

Our position is further buoyed by our dominant numerical strength, which by parliamentary ethos, precedent and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, allows us to contest the Presiding Officers position.

Since emerging as the Greater Majority, with a combined members-elect tally of 183, as against the APCs total of 177, history beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nations democracy, they said.

To find suitable candidates for the two positions, the coalition set up a 13-member committee drawn from different parties. The committee is chaired by the most senior lawmaker in the House, Nicholas Mutu (PDP, Delta), who has been in the lower chamber since 1999.

According to the statement, the committee has the mandate to shortlist, screen and eventually recommend aspirants for the speakership and deputy speaker positions.

Mr Mutu is to be deputised by Abdulmumini Jibrin, a member-elect on the platform of the NNPP from Kano while Mr Ogene will serve as the secretary.

Other members of the committee are Oluwole Oke (PDP) Gaza Gbefwi (SDP), Beni Lar (PDP), Ali Isa (PDP), Kabiru Rurum (NNPP ), Donatus Kuzalio (LP), Yusuf Majigiri (PDP) and Nnabuife Clara (YPP).

Gwacham Chinwe (APGA) and Idris Salman (ADC) are also members of the committee

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that the ruling party adopted Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State as the consensus candidate for Speaker, and Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State, as deputy speaker.

Aside from Messrs Abbas and Kalu, there are still nine other lawmakers that have declared interest in the race in the ruling party.

They are the Incumbent Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase (Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau), Sada Soli (Katsina), Muktar Betara (Borno), Tunji Olawuyi (Kwara), Abubakar Makki (Jigawa), Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara), Ben Kalu (Abia), Ado Doguwa (Kano) and Miriam Onuoha (Imo).

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Senior lawmakers of Nigerias ruling party have vowed to challenge their partys choice for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ruling APC, on Monday, announced its adoption of Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna) as its choice for the position of Speaker of the 10th House, which will be inaugurated next month. The APC said the choice was made after consultations with President-elect Bola Tinubu.

However, five ranking APC lawmakers, who had also declared their intention for the position, said Monday that would work together to challenge their partys candidate.

The current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who is also one of the aspirants for the position, stated this on Monday at the official declaration of Muktar Betara for the position. The event was held at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

Mr Wase said five of the aspirants have resolved to work together to oppose the APCs consensus arrangement. He listed the five to include himself, Mr Betara, Sada Soli, Alhassan Doguwa and Ahmed Jaji.

The Monday event turned out to be a venue of solidarity among the aspirants as they openly rejected the endorsement of Mr Abbas.

Yusuf Gagdi and Miriam Onuoha also attended the declaration but did not openly challenge the arrangement.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that the ruling party adopted Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State as the consensus candidate, and Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State as deputy speaker.

In his speech, Mr Wase said he was opposed to any form of consensus without consultation with the members of the House. He said there is a need for all lawmakers to fight to save the parliament.

He said four of the aggrieved aspirants held a meeting where they agreed to challenge Mr Abbas. Mr Doguwa, the current Majority Leader, later joined the group, Mr Wase said.

We are here for the independence of the parliament. To ensure that we work as a family. What we are witnessing today, I have never seen that kind of moment in the parliament. That is why every parliamentarian must rise to the occasion to defend the institution. It is in the light of that, that five of us sat  we will work as a team to prevent the parliament from being hijacked, to be made a lame duck.

We will not allow this parliament to be disgraced. We will not allow this parliament to be hijacked. We are loyal to our country first, loyal to our party, and loyal to our people. As my leader (Doguwa) did mention, when you say you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is very simple. It means there has been massive consultation. People have been brought to the table for consultation. In this case, we are hearing rumours and speculation that some persons have been made consensus candidates, he said.

We will defeat those forces that think Nigeria is in their pocket, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Doguwa said the business of selecting the leaders of the parliament should be left to the lawmakers, not outsiders that did so without consultation with the lawmakers.

The business of the selection of our leaders should be solely our business. Members that are equal among members must be respected.

In a situation where some other people in whatever guise try to determine how or where or when or who should form leadership without consulting us, that should be seen as a mere failure. Inclusion is very key. I am open to consultation, but until then everyone should bear his fathers name, he said.

Mr Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina State was very direct in his speech. He noted that the sanctity of the parliament must be respected by all. He said the reports the lawmakers are getting regarding the consensus arrangement will spell doom for the legislature.

Mr Betara in his speech expressed willingness to work with the other aspirants in the interest of the parliament.

We are moving as a group to get back the institution, Mr Betara said.

All the aspirants that spoke made it clear that they are still in the race for the speakership.

In what is an indication of the intense politicking to come in the next few weeks, lawmakers elected on the platform of minority parties also said Monday that they would challenge the APC for the position of speaker.

The lawmakers-elect, drawn from the seven minority parties, in a statement on Monday, said they would use their numerical strength to produce the presiding officers of the lower House.

The parties are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

Since emerging as the Greater Majority, with a combined members-elect tally of 183, as against the APCs total of 177, history beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nations democracy, they said.

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Paintings are displayed at the exhibition held at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on May 4, 2023. The exhibition Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, is held here from March 23 to June 25, presenting over 100 works by 59 artists. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Visitors view a painting at the exhibition held at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on May 4, 2023. The exhibition Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, is held here from March 23 to June 25, presenting over 100 works by 59 artists. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Willow Weilan Hai (R), director and chief curator of China Institute Gallery, introduces a painting to visitors at China Institute Gallery in New York, the United States, on May 4, 2023. The exhibition Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting, is held here from March 23 to June 25, presenting over 100 works by 59 artists. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Editor: ZAD
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged senators-elect and members-elect of the 10th National Assembly to engage in discourse that must be unimpeachable.

He made the call during the induction of the first batch of new representatives on Tuesday in Abuja.

While congratulating the members on their election victories, Mr Gbajabiamila called on them to justify the offices held by the quality of endeavours in that office.

For those of us in the legislature, this means that the quality of our law-making and advocacy, the excellence of our constituency services, the thoroughness of our oversight activities and the substance of our discourse in the chamber must be unimpeachable.

I welcome you at this singular moment in our nations history when the talents, perspectives and dedication of all political leaders are required to steer us through present challenges towards the success we desire and hopefully deserve.

As you enter the 10th Assembly, I urge you to remember that nothing of consequence is achieved by individual effort alone in parliament. You will either rise together or fall alone.

Additionally, you have a crucial responsibility of building an effective operational relationship with the executive arm. Your responsibility for overseeing executive actions is not an invitation to conflict for its own sake.

He further said that the 2023 General Elections were the most hard-fought and competitive ever since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

In this election, assumptions about electoral performance based on historical antecedents proved nought.

Rooted political parties and interests were dislodged in places where such had proved impossible for two decades.

Persons who had never aspired to political office or whose previous aspirations had failed, succeeded this time.

Our national politics have been rewritten. We are in a new age of Nigerian democracy. The Nigerian people have awakened to the enormous power of their votes.

This election ended the days when membership of a particular political party conferred on an officeholder a virtually automatic guarantee of reelection.

The speaker also said that Nigerias democratic experience was still very young compared to others across the world and even in Africa.

This dire development imposes on all of us political leaders, an urgent obligation to accelerate the democratic dividends for all our nations people or risk the total loss of legitimacy that can only lead to bad outcomes.

For our democracy to meet the legitimate expectations of the Nigerian people, the institutions of government have to become better than they are.

Declaring the induction open, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said that at the outset, the 9th Senate was mindful of the damaging effect of persistent conflict with the executive and the resultant impact on legislative activities.

However, we were equally aware that a good working relationship is desirable and indeed imperative to achieve effective and efficient service delivery to the people.

Hence, under my leadership, the 9th National Assembly adopted a friendly but professional approach to executive-legislative relations.

This was focused on a harmonious working relationship based on mutual respect, consultation, cooperation, collaboration and partnership.

This approach to engaging with the executive has led to a misperception and misunderstanding which has led many to tag the 9th National Assembly as a rubber stamp Assembly.

Yet, our intention in preferring an engagement with the executive based on harmony and collaboration has been to better serve Nigeria by providing a safe atmosphere for national development.

Mr Lawan said the 9th Senate had performed exceedingly well in terms of the number and quality of bills introduced, passed and assented to.

As of July 2022, a total of 874 bills were introduced in the Senate, out of which 162 were passed.

Remarkably, 104 Bills of the 9th Senate have been assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This made it significantly higher than those of previous assemblies, which recorded 31 for the 4th Assembly, 98 for the 5th Assembly, 52 for the 6th Assembly, 60 for the 7th Assembly, and 74 for the 8th Assembly. 

Also speaking, Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), said the institute has the experience, tools and expertise to support the new members in bill and motion drafting, bill analysis and scrutiny among others.

Mr Sulaiman urged the legislators to engage regularly and constructively with the public, civil society, the media, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders for better legislation.

On her part, acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bill Atkinson, said the commission was proud of the long-standing partnership with the National Assembly.

She said the 10th Assembly would be one of the most diverse with 70 per cent as new members.

While calling on the new members to to hit the ground running, Mrs Atkinson urged them to learn from their predecessors.

(NAN)

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Nigerias first Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Monday called for all hands to be deck to prevent the escalation of the crisis in Sudan.

She made this known at the 10th General Assembly of the mission at the State House Banquet Hall in Nigerias capital, Abuja on Monday.

On 15 April, an armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan began when clashes broke out in western Sudan, in the capital city of Khartoum, and in the Darfur region of the country.

The crisis involves two rival groups: the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group known as the RSF, or Rapid Support Forces. Both groups are reported to be locked in a power struggle which has led to the death of over 500 people.

Reacting to the incident, Mrs Buhari, who doubles as the President of African First Ladies Peace Mission said: another humanitarian window has been exposed with the sudden eruption of violence in Sudan.

All hands must be on deck to ensure that the problems are not allowed to escalate. This mission is open to engaging with all relevant bodies in this regard.

The first Lady further noted that while kinetic approaches have not been successful in ending conflicts, she suggested other approaches to used such as constructive engagement with wealthy individuals to create deliberate opportunities for poverty reduction,

Engaging the media as a key player to be tasked with its agenda-setting role, educational institutions must introduce a curriculum of peace studies and promote the development of peace clubs in secondary schools. All of these companies play significant roles on their own and in various partnerships.

At the event, Mrs Buhari revealed her achievements as her tenure comes to an end on 29 May.

Upon her emergence in November 2021, Mrs Buhari said she would construct a secretariat for the mission in Abuja, a promise she said she has fulfilled.

According to her the realisation and completion of the Secretariat, which Im very proud to note was funded by the support of the Nigerian government, member states and private donors.

She informed that the building, which was done within a year and ready for commissioning, will also be a home and hope for other Africa women-led organisations, and a center of excellence.

Also as the President, She said the African Union permitted her to brief the African leaders on the history and mandate of the AFLPM during the extraordinary session of the assembly of the heads of states and governments in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

I see this as a landmark achievement in line with the mandate of advocacy, sensitization and mobilization. Considering the pressure Cy occasioned by humanitarian crises in many countries, the mission impacts on the distribution of educational materials, food supplements, and nutritional food items aimed at supporting their efforts particularly as they affect women, children and other vulnerable groups in the society, she said.

During her tenure she said she donated rice, books, nutritional packs to malnourished children in Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of Nigeria and Guinea Bissau.

Humanitarian support was also given to the victims of the recent Turkey Syria earthquake with the supply of 10,000 blankets on behalf of the AFLPM.

She also disclosed that her successor is the First Lady of Burundi and the vice president, the First Lady of Niger Republic as she promised to remain supportive as the Chair of the honourary Advisory Council.

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The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they killed two gunmen in the state on Monday.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the hoodlums were killed by police operatives during a joint operation with other security agencies, mainly vigilante operatives.

The police spokesperson said the incident happened at about 8:45 p.m. along Umusiome Nkpor, a community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

He said the joint operations by security operatives in the state followed tips from residents of the state about the activities of the suspected criminals.

How they were killed

Mr Ikenga said the slain gunmen were among a gang of four hoodlums operating in an unregistered black Lexus SUV in the area, but were intercepted by the joint security operatives, who engaged them in a shootout.

The operatives during the gun duel with the criminals, neutralised two of the gang members, while two others escaped, he said, adding that the operatives were making effort to track down the fleeing suspects.

Two locally made explosive devices, one AK-47 rifle, nine live 7.62 ammunition, four AK-47 magazines and charms were among the items recovered from the gunmen during the operation, according to the police.

Arrest of vandals

Mr Ikenga said the police, in a separate operation at about 4 p.m. on the same day, arrested four suspected vandals in Ogbunike, a community in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson said the suspects were caught while they were vandalising a truck suspected to have been stolen in the area.

He gave the names of the suspects as Fidelis Nwusulor, 51, Amobi Iloegbunam, 44, Solomon Akpagu, 51, and Chidiebere innocent, 28  all males.

They all confessed to the crime and they are currently helping the police with information on other syndicate members that dispossess innocent drivers of their trucks before bringing them to their criminal hideout at Azu Ogbunike, Mr Ikenga stated.

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A Nigerian senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, has criticised the president-elect, Bola Tinubu and the All progressives Congress (APC) for their involvement in the zoning of the leadership positions in the National Assembly.

Mr Ubah, who represents Anambra South District in the Senate, spoke when he appeared as a guest on Channels TVs Politics Today on Monday night.

The senator has won re-election in the just concluded general election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the National Working Committee of the APC, on Monday, ratified the zoning formula of the National Assembly positions proposed by Mr Tinubu.

The president-elect had picked former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio (South-south) and Barau Jibrin (North-west) for the senate president and deputy senate president respectively.

He also endorsed Tajudeen Abbas (North-west) and Ben Kalu (South-east) for speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

Senator kicks

Mr Ubah, a member of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), said the president-elect ought not to have meddled into the internal affairs of the Senate.

The senator also said Mr Tinubu and his party did not adequately consult with other senators-elect in making the decision to zone the leadership positions of the assembly.

You dont just enforce these things (leadership positions) on independent people. There should be a proper consultation. I think the ruling party (APC) did not get it right.

Nobody is having anything against the president-elect, but he (Tinubu) shouldnt have been part of this in the first place. He shouldnt have come into this so quickly, Mr Ubah said.

Senate presidency: South-east is being marginalised

Mr Ubah also faulted the zoning of the senate presidency position to the South-south by the APC, insisting that the South-east region deserves the position.

He said the region should be represented in the leadership of the country considering that the president-elect comes from the South-west and his vice-president-elect from the North-east.

We need the senate presidency position in order to balance the equation, he said.

The YPP senator said the South-east caucus in the Senate was not consulted before the APC zoned the leadership positions in the 10th Senate.

He contended that the South-east was being marginalised in the distribution of leadership positions in the country, adding that there are capable senators-elect from the region that can lead the 10th Senate.

He listed Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, and a former APC National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, among senators-elect from the region capable of leading the Red Chamber.

He said the senators-elects from the region would meet to decide on picking a candidate for the position ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Senate in June.

For me and our people from the South-east, we are still very strong in contesting for the office of the senate president of Nigeria for the 10th senate. That is our position for now, he said, when asked if the region would drop their senate presidency ambition after the APC zoned it to the South-south.

Mr Ubah said members of the South-east caucus in the Senate would meet over the decision by the APC and inform the region of their resolution.

But for now, as I am still in this studio, the position of the South-east caucus is that we are going to contest for the office of the Senate president of Nigeria. The Senate Presidency position should be zoned to the South-east or fairly zoned to the South.

The only problem we are having is consultation. If there was a robust consultation among the people from the South by the ruling party, maybe we could have said we will give it back to the South-south. But there was no consultation. It is like they are saying there is nothing you people can do, he stated.

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The presidency has called on politicians and residents of Osun State to support the governance of Ademola Adeleke as the authentic governor of the state.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday settled the dispute over the governorship election, affirming Mr Adeleke as governor of the state.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, the presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari recognised the verdict as well as the role of the judiciary in deepening rule of law and democracy.

President Muhammadu Buhari recognizes the Supreme Courts verdict on the July 16, 2022 governorship election in Osun State, as well the important role of the judiciary in deepening rule of law and democracy, the statement by a presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said on Tuesday.

With the final decision by the Court, the President reminds the political class and their supporters that the main task at hand is to make the people feel the impact of good governance, where a prosperous, peaceful and stable Osun is guaranteed.

He, therefore, urges all citizens and residents of the State, particularly her notable sons and daughters, to give the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke all the support it needs to ensure that programmes, policies, plans and aspirations fashioned to make individuals and businesses flourish succeed.

The president advised the opposition parties in the state to shun bickering, urging them to unite in order to restore peace and harmony to the state.

Elections should be seen as the path to an end, which is the progress of the people in a peaceful environment, rather than unending bickering. This is the time for inclusion and harmony in the State at the end of litigation.

He extended appreciation to the people of Osun for their contributions to the development and preservation of cultural heritages.

President Buhari thanks the people of Osun for contributing immensely to the development of the nation, particularly through the States rich cultural heritage, the several historic sites and tourist attractions, including the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The President trusts that the government will continue to develop the boundless resources in the State of the Living Spring, complementing the roles of the government at the Centre on national development and prosperity.

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A prosecution witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja how a scam suspect allegedly defrauded his victims in 13 countries of $382,000 worth of bitcoins.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Eze Harrison Arinze on 24 March on five counts.

The charges include false pretence and money laundering to the tune of $769,263.

At the resumed trial of the case on Tuesday, EFCCs first prosecution, Ogunjobi Olalekan, who is an officer of the commission, testified before the judge, J. K. Omotosho.

We requested for users on the platform who have deposited crypto currency to the defendants account and their names were provided. About thirty persons on the platforms deposited various sums of bitcoin to the defendants account,

READ EFCCS FULL STATEMENT

EFCC Press Release

$382,000 Fraud: How Suspected Fraudster duped his victims from 13 Countries in a Bitcoins Scam

A 1st prosecution witness in the trial of Eze Harrison Arinze, has told Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, how Arinze received $382,000 (Three Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand United States Dollars) worth of bitcoins from his victims before his account was blocked by his Virtual Asset Service Provider , VASP.

The witness, Ogunjobi Olalekan, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court that Arinzes victims were deceived into withdrawing their funds and deposited them into Arinzes bitcoin accounts, thinking that they were transacting legitimate businesses.

Arinze was arraigned on March 22, 2023, before Justice Omotosho, on five count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of $769,263 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Three United States Dollars).

One of the counts against him reads; That you, Eze Harrison Arinze alias Charlotte Brain, sometimes between April, 2022 and December, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did fraudulently impersonate one Charlotte Brain, a purported owner of Digitrades.Ltd/Digitrades.Net/Swiss-Earnings/Craystal-Trade investment platform on Telegram and in that assumed character obtained crypto currency worth $592,000.00(Five Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand USD) from your victims through your bitcoins wallet address-333. Domiciled with Coinbase, a Virtual Assets Service Provider (VASP) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(b) Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2012 and Punishable under the same Act.

Another count reads: That you, Eze Harrison Arinze alias Charlotte Brain, while being the owner of Digitrades.Ltd/Digitrades.Net/Swiss-Earnings/Crystal-Trade, a purported investment platform on Telegram, sometime between 28th October, 2022 and 7th December, 2022, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with the intent to defraud, obtained 9.771 bitcoins worth $168,000.00(One Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand US Dollars) transferred to your bitcoins wallet address 333, domiciled with a Coinbase, a Virtual Assets Service Provider(VASP) under the false pretence that the said sum is for crypto currency investments, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

At the resumed trial of the case, Olalekan told the court that:

We requested for users on the platform who have deposited crypto currency to the defendants account and their names were provided. About thirty persons on the platforms deposited various sums of bitcoin to the defendants account.

Continuing, he explained that: those that were identified were from thirteen different countries- the total inflow to his bitcoin wallet address based on the response was about 15.5btc valued around $382,000 (Three Hundred and Eighty Two United States Dollars and the defendant has withdrawn about 5btc before it was blocked.

We got the information of these users who deposited the funds, showing their user identities, location, money deposited at different intervals, wallet addresses where these funds were sent to at different intervals, he said. He further stated that other vital information like the amount they sent, dollar equivalent, email addresses of depositors, transaction identities, were also disclosed.

Olalekan told the court that 28 out of the 30 depositors were reached through their email addresses to establish the purpose of the various sums they deposited in the defendants account and what they knew about Swiss-Coin, Swiss earning, Swiss coins and Digitrades.ltd.

After listening to the witness testimony, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter for continuation to June 14, 2023 and ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

09/05/2023

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State after the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld his victory in the July 16, 2022 governorship poll.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Tuesday in Abuja, the party described the court verdict as the ultimate triumph of the will of the people of Osun.

The judgment of the Supreme Court has further restored the confidence Nigerians repose in the institution of the Judiciary and the hope for the sustenance of democracy in our country, he said.

Mr Ologunagba commended the Supreme Court for its courage in upholding justice and reaffirming the saying that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

Our party restate its charge to Gov. Adeleke to continue in his stride to reposition and rebuild the state in line with the people-oriented policies, programmes and manifesto of the PDP, he said.

In Osun, the state chapter of the PDP also applauded the judgment.

The partys spokeperson in the state, Oladele Olabamiji, said the Supreme Court had upheld the wish and mandate of the electorate.

We thank God and specially the good people of Osun for standing by their resolve to elect Senator Adeleke of the PDP as the governor of the state.

It is not good enough to hijack the popular mandate of the people through the courts.

Elections should be won at the polling units and that is what the Supreme Court has just done to the Osun election matter, he said.

Mr Olabamiji said the people of Osun should look forward to enjoying the dividends of democracy as Mr Adeleke settles down in office fully.

Also reacting to the courts decision, Teslim Igbalaye, Secretary to the State Government, applauded the judgment and thanked God for the victory.

Mr Igbalaye said the people of Osun should expect quality governance from the PDP and from Mr Adeleke, now that election litigation was over.

In Lagos State, the PDP spokesperson, Hakeem Amode, told NAN that the chapter was elated that the Supreme Court reaffirmed the mandate given to Mr Adeleke at the election.

Mr Amode said the apex courts ruling had put an end to the legal battles and would allow Mr Adeleke face the task of delivering dividends of democracy to the door steps of Osun residents.

The leadership of the Lagos state PDP and our gubernatorial candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (JANDOR) and members of our party heartily rejoice with Adeleke on his victory at the Supreme Court.

It is heartwarming and morale boosters for our party in the ongoing various cases at the election petition tribunals all over the country, including Lagos state.

We are looking forward to getting justice in all our court cases across the country.

If our judiciary will look at various cases on its merit and be consistent in justice dispensation, hope will be rekindled and our democracy will be deepened.

Justice should not be for sale, it should not be for highest bidders. All election cases must be considered on their merit and adjudicated impartially, Mr Amode said.

Commending the judiciary, Mr Amode said judges were expected to be above board without being intimidated or influenced by corrupt politicians in any matter before them.

According to him, the judiciary is expected to be the hope of the people, but what happens nowadays in our clime worries so many people.

Our society is what it is today because of the compromise in our justice system.

The only way our society can be saner and compete favourably with the western world is when evil people, no matter their influence and affluence, power and position, can no longer evade justice in the law court.

We are happy with this judgment and wish justice will be rightly dispensed in all cases of electoral frauds in the just-concluded general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Supreme Court in Abuja on Tuesday upheld the Court of Appeals ruling of March 24, declaring Mr Adeleke as the rightful governor of Osun.

Delivering judgment, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal correctly reinstated Mr Adeleke as governor.

The panel of Justices led by Justice John Okoro while delivering the judgement prepared by Justice Emmanuel, dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Oyetola, for lacking in merit.

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It was a great privilege to be invited as one of the three keynote speakers on a security management symposium and book launch under the theme Sustaining the Gains of War Against Banditry and Insurrection, held at Ibeto Hotels, Abuja on 4 May. The other two keynote speakers were General Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff and Solomon Arase, retired inspector general of police and chairman of the Police Service Commission, who was ably represented by Ferdinand U Ekpe, the director of Police Recruitment.

The two books presented were, The Nigeria Police Force and the Dynamics of Election Security Management System: Essays in Honour of Habila Joshak  Deputy Inspector General of Police (Rtd) and Countering Banditry in Nigeria edited by Al Chukwuma Okoli and Ikechukwu Kingsley Uzoma. Professor Olayemi Akinwunmi, the vice chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, reviewed both books, which were published by Unilag Press & Bookshop Ltd.

I intend to properly report and interrogate the very robust presentations at the summit soon, especially the highly illuminating speech of General Irabor, which he delivered extemporaneously, on the general theme of the symposium and on the synergies between the Army and the Police in the fight against insurgency, terrorism and banditry.

Today, the focus is on my own presentation entitled, Beyond the Rhetoric of Winning the War Against Insurgency, Terrorism and Banditry: The Task Ahead for the incoming Government. The reason for this is not because of any special intellectual merit of my presentation but more because, with the inauguration of the president-elect less than three weeks away, the incoming government needs to be strongly reminded that the war against insurgency, terrorism and banditry remains unfinished.

What do we understand by insurgency, terrorism and banditry? What are their drivers and manifestations? And what is the relationship between the three concepts?

An insurgency is a violent political struggle for the control of people and resources. It is not a mode of warfare but primarily a political process. Insurgent groups aim to undermine the legitimacy of government and bolster their own standing with the population. They seek to alienate the population from the government by creating alternative social, political and cultural institutions. They are essentially a struggle of the weak against a materially superior ruling power. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba nation agitations are typical examples of insurgencies.

Terrorism is an emotionally charged term, with no consensus in literature on its definition. Broadly speaking, it is the use of intentional violence and fear as tools to achieve political or ideological aims. The term can also be used in a political sense to de-legitimise any group. People also talk of state-sponsored terrorism. There have been several theoretical explanations of terrorism, including David Rapoports waves of terrorism theory, in which he argued that terrorism moves in waves, with each wave lasting approximately 40 years before it mutates into another form. There are equally the poverty, state failure and crisis in our nation building arguments which supposedly force some groups and individuals to de-link from the state into other contraptions they feel offer them better alternatives to negotiate life.

Banditry is a form of organized crime which typically involves the threat or use of violence. In Nigeria bandits famously terrorise communities in the North West region and other parts of the country. Their activities include kidnapping, arson, shooting, rape, cattle rustling, killing, and looting. The prevalence of ungoverned and under-governed spaces where the governments control is ineffective or absent is a major factor giving rise to banditry. Ungoverned and Under-governed spaces coupled with the countrys porous borders have increased the influx of small arms and light weapons from the Sahel region  thus increasing the opportunities for crime. This is facilitated by vast forests which allow the illegal arms trade to fester. Additionally, the challenging socioeconomic conditions in the country leave many of the youths vulnerable to recruitment for criminal activities

There is a nexus between terrorism, insurgency and banditry. While terrorism and insurgencies are driven by forms of ideology, banditry is pure criminality by armed gangs driven primarily by economic gains. The three groups are however increasingly converging on their strategies: just like bandits, terrorists and insurgents are known to have raided communities, looted property (foodstuff and livestock), and abducted civilians. There are also suspicions that the three groups may have established forms of collaboration in some areas.

How far has the Buhari government fared in the fight against Terrorism, Insurgency and Banditry? In his inaugural address in 2015, Buhari vowed to crush Boko Haram within three months and recover all the territories it had seized. While some gains were made in the recovery of lost territories held by Boko Haram, the emergence of a splinter group in 2016 known as Islamic State- West Africa (ISIS-WA), heralded a new dawn of terror. At the same time there was an increase in banditry in the North-west and in insurgencies in the South-east and to a lesser extent the South-west primarily as a result of the governments mismanagement of the herdsmens crisis which led to non-state actors moving in to promise the local populace protection from the rampaging herdsmen.

So what should one recommend to an incoming government?

One, if there is anything the elections of 25 February 2023 and 18 March 2023 showed, it is that the chasms in our traditional fault lines are deeper than previously thought. Since insurgencies and terrorism are rooted in groups feeling alienated from the state and consequently de-linking from it, it will naturally subsidize if faith is restored to the nation through deliberate use of state instruments to wield together the diverse nationalities that make up the country.

Two, healing from the bitterly fought elections cannot work if those who played active roles in promoting ethnic and religious hatred during the elections  the likes of Bayo Onanuga, Fani Kayode, MC Oluomo  are given front row positions in an incoming government. Nasir el Rufai is a smart and courageous man. However, given his role in initiating the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna State and in trying to institutionalize it by making sure his handpicked successor also opted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, any front row position given to him in an incoming government will be viewed as an affront by the Christian community and a tacit endorsement of the anomaly he created and sustained in Kaduna state. In essence, an incoming government must be sensitive to the role of optics in nation-building.

Three, an incoming government must devise a better approach for fighting the herdsmen terrorism. Though the herdsmen crisis has its roots in the struggle for environmental resource, it has become politicized largely because of its total mismanagement by the Buhari government who chose to treat the herdsmen with kid gloves thereby unwittingly creating insurgencies like IPOB and Yoruba Nation agitators who moved in to promise citizens protection from the excesses of the herdsmen.

Four, is the need for not just an increase in the number of policemen but also an introduction of multi-level policing to address the issues of ungoverned and under-governed spaces. Improving the quality of governance and providing well-targeted socioeconomic interventions will reduce the role of poverty and unemployment in pushing people to criminality or alienating them from the state system.

Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841(Text or WhatsApp only).

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Imo State have suspended their indefinite strike in the state.

The national leadership of the NLC and TUC had, on 1 May, declared an indefinite strike over attack by suspected political thugs on their members and disruption of their 2023 May Day celebration in the state.

The labour unions, in a communique jointly issued by the NLC National General-Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja and his TUC counterpart, Nuhu Toro, had alleged that agents of the Imo State Government carried out the attack against the workers.

Suspension of industrial action

But on Monday, six days after, the unions and the Imo State Government agreed to end the industrial action in the state after both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU was signed by some representatives of the labour unions and the state government.

The representatives of the unions who signed the MoU included Onyeka Chris (NLC headquarters), the State Secretary of the NLC, Nduka Anukwuorji, Tony Ebaho (TUC headquarters), and the State Chairperson of the TUC, Charles Amalu.

The Secretary to the State Government, Cosmos Iwu and the State Commissioner for Justice, Cyprian Akaolisa were the representatives of the state government.

The NLC National General-Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, told PREMIUM TIMES, Tuesday morning that the national leadership of the labour unions drafted the representatives to interface with the government and sign the agreements.

Resolutions in the MoU

In the MoU, the parties resolved to set up a committee to expeditiously look into the areas of disagreement between them and resolve the same.

The parties condemned the circumstances that led to the alleged disruption of the NLC May Day Celebrations and pledged to ensure peaceful conduct of all activities of the NLC and TUC in the state.

While government is not culpable, it undertakes to seek ways to remediate those who may have suffered confirmed losses as a result of the aforementioned disruptions, the MoU reads in part.

The leadership of the NLC and the TUC agree to suspend its ongoing industrial action in Imo State to enable peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues in an atmosphere of mutuality, it further read.

The parties also resolved not to punish any worker or official as a result of their actions or inactions arising from the industrial action.

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The Anambra State Government has dismissed as unfounded a report that it had concluded plans to sell the Anambra Newspapers and Printing Company (ANPC), publishers of the state-owned National Light Newspapers.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Paul Nwosu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka on Monday.

Mr Nwosu was reacting to a publication alleging that the Governor Charles Soludo-led government had concluded plans and even prepared disengagement letters for at least 100 staff members of the media organisation without their knowledge.

But Mr Nwosu dismissed the information as untrue, adding that the matter was still being discussed.

He said though the state Executive Council (EXCO) discussed the ANPC issue, no conclusion had been reached.

The issue of National Light is still being intensively considered by Exco and as soon as there is a firm decision, the news will be formally made public, but not through a grapevine or a mole, he said.

He said the management board of ANPC was not dissolved alongside other boards because the prerogative of doing so rested with the governor.

Mr Nwosu stated that Governor Soludo was not at war with journalists and had sent representatives to events organised by journalists in the state.

READ ALSO: Soludo speaks on alleged abandonment of Anambra woman who delivered sextuplet

He said, If the governor hates journalists, members of the NUJ would not have been invited as panellists that interview him during his quarterly Anambra Broadcasting Service phone-in programme, where he interacts with Anambra people.

(NAN)

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Corridor for export of food from Ukraine under Grain Initiative resumes inspections  Turkish Ministry of Defense

The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has resumed inspections of vessels coming from Ukraine with agricultural products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Sabah reported on Tuesday.

The relevant information was previously given to the Turkish media by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.

As recalled by the publication, the UN reported the day before that no vessel inspections were carried out on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense confirmed that on May 10 and May 11, Turkiye, Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the UN will hold talks on the Grain Initiative.

Earlier, Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration reported that on May 8, the Russian Federation again blocked the work of the Grain Initiative, refusing to register inbound vessels and inspect them.

According to the ministry, 90 ships were awaiting inspection in the territorial waters of Turkiye, of which 62 were ships going for loading. Inspections of both inbound and outbound fleets are suspended. The export of Ukrainian agricultural products via the grain corridor in April "did not reach" up to 3 million tonnes.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State says it has resolved to resume its suspended indefinite strike in the state on Tuesday over unpaid salaries and pensions.

In a statement on Monday by its Secretary in the state, Emma Alozie, the NLC said its members unanimously made the resolution to resume the industrial action during the groups executive meeting on Friday.

The labour union explained that the decision was in response to the plethora of problems Abia workers and pensioners are facing in the hands of Abia State Government because of the governments alleged failure to pay them.

The national leadership of the NLC had on 28 February declared an indefinite strike in Abia State to compel the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to offset arrears of workers salaries and pensioners retirement benefits.

The union later suspended the industrial action, about five days later, after it reportedly reached an agreement with the state government.

No payment yet

But in the Monday statement, the NLC in the state said the group would resume the suspended indefinite strike because the state government was yet to fulfil its promises to the workers.

All Abia workers, including those in local government areas, are directed to withdraw their services to Abia State Government and stay at home from midnight on Monday, 8th May 2023, the NLC said.

It directed all chairpersons and secretaries of all affiliate unions to ensure total compliance of all members to the directive.

The Chairperson of the NLC in Abia State, Pascal Nweke, told reporters on Monday that the workers would only resume negotiations with the government whenever they begin to receive their salaries.

They (state government) invited me and our secretary and explained that they had problems with their banks. We gave them time to solve their bank problems and later, nothing happened, Mr Nweke said.

Last week to our surprise, the state government embarked on discriminatory salary payment by paying the local government staff their March salaries, whereas, others are owed more than 36 months salaries, he alleged.

Onyebuchi Ememanka, the spokesperson to Governor Ikpeazu, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the recent fire incident at the commissions Enugu Zonal Office will not affect its operations.

The Secretary of the EFCC, George Ekpungu, disclosed this during an inspection visit to the facility on Sunday, according to a statement by the commissions spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the fire razed a section of the EFCC office on Friday in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria.

Mr Ekpungu told reporters that the fire did not affect critical components of the commissions work, and that no life was lost in the incident.

He explained that the commission did not lose any data about suspects and detainees being investigated because the process of operation initiated by the EFCC Chairperson, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had ensured that all the commissions processes were fully digitalised with back-up at the central server at its headquarters in Abuja.

We thank God that in the records, our armoury, suspects, detainees and every other thing critical to our work are safe, Mr Ekpungu said.

And you know that the EFCC is ICT-sophisticated: Whatever we have here, we have it at head office (in Abuja). So, we have a way of recovering a lot of things. So, since the coming of our chairman, we have been digitalising our processes. What happened here (fire incident), will not affect our operations, he stated.

Cause of the fire incident

An official of the EFCC had said the fire was triggered by a surge in public power supply, but Mr Ekpungu said the commission would not make a categorical statement on the cause of the fire until an investigation into the incident had been concluded.

For now, we dont know the cause of the inferno but the investigation will tell us the cause of the fire and that will be done by professionals, he said.

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Russia's missile attack on May 9 causes no harm to Ukraine's power plants, transmission networks

The missile strikes by the Russian aggressor May 8-9 did not cause any harm to Ukraine's power plants and transmission networks, however, the networks of six regional energy companies [oblenergo]were damaged, NPC Ukrenergo has said on Tuesday.

"The missile attacks mounted by Russia yesterday and today did not cause any damage to the power plants and transmission networks. We are grateful to the defense forces for the reliable protection," the company said.

At the same time, the distribution networks in the border and frontline Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions, which regularly suffer from the enemy's actions, were damaged as a result of shelling, Ukrenergo said.

"In particular, more than 1,200 consumers in Chernihiv region remain disconnected from power supply as a result of shelling attacks. Oblenergo teams are waiting for permission from the military to restore power supply," it said.

In addition, the settlements in Kherson region where power supply was restored on May 8 have been blacked out again on Tuesday morning. Powe engineers are working to restore it.

Ukrenergo said that currently electricity generation in the united energy system of Ukraine fully covers consumption and active repairs continue at all transmission network facilities damaged by Russian attacks.

The Energy Ministry of Ukraine said on Tuesday that power supply was interrupted for part of consumers in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions due to enemy shelling.

"It became possible to resume power supply for 21,500 consumers. The majority of them are subscribers in Zaporizhia and Kherson regions," the ministry said.
LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced that Tim Charters has been appointed Climate Tech Practice Leader for the UK and Ireland (UKI), further strengthening the Chubb Climate+ leadership team.

In his new role, Charters will be responsible for growing Chubb's underwriting portfolio and creating innovative solutions to support Climate Tech companies focused on efficient and sustainable use of resources, products, services and technologies that seek to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Charters joins Chubb from the civil service where he was corporate finance advisor for the UK government's Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) since 2019. In the four years prior to that he worked in other senior roles at BEIS, focused on energy efficiency and innovation. Before becoming a government advisor, Charters worked in the energy sector, including for a renewables start-up.

He will be based in London and will report to Louise Joyce, Head of Industry Practices, UK and Ireland, Chubb.

Matt Hardy, Leader of Chubb Climate+ for the company's general insurance operations in 51 countries and territories outside the U.S., Canada and Bermuda, said: "Tim has years of experience working in the energy and renewables industry and brings with him new perspectives and insights that will help our Chubb Climate+ team drive the growth of our Climate Tech business in the UKI."

Joyce said: "I am so pleased to welcome Tim to Chubb. His background working as an advisor on energy and climate to the UK government, together with the insights gained from his direct involvement in the renewables and energy innovation sector, gives him a unique skillset in insurance that will only serve to benefit our Climate Tech Practice clients and broker partners."

Charters's appointment, which is effective immediately, follows the launch in January of Chubb Climate+, the company's new global climate business unit. Chubb Climate+ will provide a full spectrum of insurance products and services to businesses engaged in developing or employing new technologies and processes that support the transition to a low-carbon economy. It also provides risk management and resiliency services to help those managing the impact of climate change.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo_v2.jpg

SOURCE Chubb
KANAZAWA, Japan, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Kanazawa University report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) high-speed atomic force microscopy experiments that show how ligands associated with stimulating and suppressing activation of the TRPV1 protein increase and decrease the molecule's structural variations. The observations provide insights into how these heat- and chilli-sensing proteins function.

The skin senses heat  both from increased temperature and molecules like capsaicin in chillies  through the activation of protein receptors called Transient receptor potential vanilloid member 1 (TRPV1). However, the mechanisms behind the function of TRPV1 have not been clear. Now Ayumi Sumino at Kanazawa University in Japan and Motoyuki Hattori at the Fudan University in China and their colleagues provide important insights into this mechanism. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy to compare the protein with and without stimulating or suppressing molecules  ligands  bound to it, they obtain what they describe as "the first experimental evidence showing the correlation between molecular fluctuation and the gating state (ligand binding)".

Once activated, the TRPV1 channel opens, allowing ions to permeate and signalling to the nervous system that a noxious stimulant is present. In 2011 researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the US put forward a theoretical basis for the activation of the receptor derived from thermodynamics, a theoretical framework that has since been corroborated by experiment. The idea was that the molecule would respond to heat with a change in heat capacity, which is related to the fluctuations in the molecule's conformation. Structures for the TRPV1 protein were known from previous cryo electron microscopy studies but these did not clarify how the fluctuations in protein conformation might change with stimulating or suppressing molecules, or even whether temperature and chilli sensing shared the same molecular mechanism.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) senses the topology of surfaces through the effect of distance on the forces on a nanosized tip positioned directly above the surface. The microscope was first invented in 1986 but gained a new lease of life through work at Kanazawa University that enabled it to capture topologies at high speed thereby providing a window into the dynamics of structures.

Sumino, Hattori and colleagues used high-speed AFM to image the TRPV1 receptor both in its unbound state and when bound to ligand molecules that either stimulate (agonist) or suppress (antagonist) the protein's activity. They used the molecule resiniferatoxin, which is 1000 times hotter than capsaicin, as the agonist and for the antagonist they used capsazepine, which blocks the pain of capsaicin.

From the structures captured the researchers were able to observe fluctuations in the conformation of both the bound and unbound states of TRPV1. They found that resiniferatoxin increases conformational fluctuations, while capsazepine suppresses them.

Although the conformational fluctuations were very small  at around an Angstrom  the researchers highlight evidence in the literature of conformational changes at this scale being sufficient to affect the ion permeability of a channel. In their report of the work, the researchers conclude, "Overall, this study suggests the importance of structural fluctuation, which would be a key factor for the heat-sensing of TRPV1."

Image

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/figure_AS_EN.jpg

Figure. Schematic illustration of HS-AFM imaging of the TRPV1 (left) and HS-AFM snapshot of TRPV1 channels (right).

Background

TRPV1

In 2021, David Julius shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology for his work in the 1990s, which led to the discovery of the role TRPV1 protein receptors play in sensing heat both from temperature and the capsaicin molecule in chillies. These proteins have been important for studies of pain because capsaicin provides such a well-controlled stimulus for heat pain.

High-speed atomic force microscope

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) "feels" the topography of surfaces by the increase and decrease of surface forces tugging on a nanoscale tip as changes in surface height change the distance between the tip and the surface. The tip is mounted on a cantilever so that the tiny changes in the force can be read out by the resulting deflection in the cantilever.

AFM can resolve structures with subnanometre scale resolution. It has particular advantages for biological studies because it does not require conducting substrates or a current, which are requirements for other primary microscopes with comparable resolutions, such as the scanning tunnelling microscope.

For a long time AFM was limited by the time it takes to capture an image of the surface, but this changed when Toshio Ando at Kanazawa University revealed how the tool could be upgraded to high-speed AFM using various modifications to the scanning, deflection detection and other electronic devices, as well as specifications for the cantilever. With high-speed AFM it became possible to capture dynamics at the nanoscale for the first time.

Reference

Ayumi Sumino, Yimeng Zhao, Daichi Mukai, Takashi Sumikama, Leonardo Puppulin, Motoyuki Hattori, Mikihiro Shibata. Antithetic effects of agonists and antagonists on the structural fluctuations of TRPV1 channel, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 8, 2023.

DOI10.1073/pnas.2301013120

URL: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2301013120

Contact

Hiroe Yoneda

Senior Specialist in Project Planning and Outreach

NanoLSI Administrative Office

WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

Kanazawa University

Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp

Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University is a research center established in 2017 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The objective of this initiative is to form world-tier research centers. NanoLSI combines the foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy to establish 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate biomolecules for insights into mechanisms governing life phenomena such as diseases.

About Kanazawa University

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa  a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

SOURCE Kanazawa University
Transformational Support Fuels Arts, Humanities and Technology

RICHARDSON, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation has made a $40 million gift to The University of Texas at Dallas to support the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology (AHT). The landmark gift  which will name the school the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology  will build upon the school's dynamic foundation to create new and expanded opportunities for students, faculty and the broader community.

"Harry Bass Jr. was a multi-tasker of the first order  running an oil company, investing in a ski resort and fostering an interest in computer science, all the while committed to amassing an unparalleled collection of early U.S. gold coins," said Doris Bass, president and trustee of the foundation. "He believed that to whom much has been given, much is required. This mentality, combined with his eye to the future, pushed Harry to garner resources that the foundation now uses to honor his legacy in significant ways."

The foundation's gift will fuel the Bass School's priorities and generate new avenues for engagement and exploration. Students will benefit from additional scholarships and fellowships, as well as expanded immersive study experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students. Increased faculty support will help attract and retain innovative educators focused on advancing cross-disciplinary work throughout University centers, labs and studios.

"The impact of this gift cannot be overstated," said Dr. Nils Roemer, Bass School dean and the Arts, Humanities, and Technology Distinguished University Chair. "It will strengthen the foundation of our scholarships, research and programming and change the trajectory of our school. It multiplies opportunities for students, faculty and communities to engage in essential experiences of arts, humanities and emerging technologies."

Roemer said this gift will allow leadership to implement critical initiatives more comprehensively across the school and ensure that big ideas already in motion evolve into sustainable efforts embedded throughout the curriculum. He also sees the investment as a catalyst for things to come.

"The Bass School will be a place where students will continue to come in even larger numbers," he said. "Faculty will want to teach here, and the community will want to be a part of this thriving new culture we're creating here at UT Dallas."

In 2022, the University announced the creation of AHT to enhance the arts on campus and establish a strong, single academic presence for the arts. The merger brought together the School of Arts and Humanities, one of the University's oldest schools established in 1975, and the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication, the home of the first arts and technology degree in Texas.

"The convergence of arts, humanities and technology is one of the qualities that makes our institution uniquely UTD," said UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson, the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership. "The Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation's exceptional generosity accelerates our efforts to cultivate the interdisciplinary approach that allows us to be innovators at the forefront of that intersection."

A portion of the gift also provides critical funding to accelerate Phase II of the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, a new cultural district located on approximately 12 acres at the southeastern edge of the campus. Currently under construction, the first phase features a two-story space that will house a second location of the Crow Museum of Asian Art. The second phase includes a two-story, 53,000-square-foot performance venue with a 600-seat concert hall, choral and orchestra rehearsal rooms, classrooms and office space. It will become the home of arts students and Bass School music faculty.

The Harry Bass Foundation was established by petroleum entrepreneur Harry W. Bass Sr. in 1945 to support Dallas charitable and religious organizations. After his father's death, Harry Bass Jr. took over operations of the family foundation. He founded the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation in 1991 as an extension of his passion for numismatics, the study and collection of coins. In 2002, the two entities were merged to operate under the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation name.

"Harry truly believed in maintaining an educated mind," said Doris Bass of her late husband. "What he lacked after only two years of formal education, Harry made up for with a sharp, inquiring mind, an amazing ability to concentrate on any task at hand and a dogged determination to educate himself on issues of interest."

The foundation continues to align with Bass' original mission, funding local education, arts, science, civic and human services initiatives. In recent years, the organization has supported other areas at UT Dallas, including the Edith O'Donnell Institute of Art History.

"One of the most monumental philanthropic contributions to the University to date, this gift from the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation demonstrates the community's continued investment in UT Dallas' evolution into a premier comprehensive public university," said Kyle Edgington PhD'13, vice president for development and alumni relations at UTD. "The impact of this generosity will resonate beyond campus for generations to come."

The gift also supports UT Dallas' ongoing New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas, which aims to raise $750 million for transformative opportunities for students, research and the arts on campus.

A campus celebration for the newly named school is planned for the fall.

About The University of Texas at Dallas

Home to more than 31,000 students, The University of Texas at Dallas is an innovative institution in the heart of North Texas. UT Dallas offers rigorous academic programs, with curricula serving a variety of undergraduate and graduate student interests. With seven schools offering more than 145 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs, UTD also is recognized as an R1 institution  a Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education denoting the top tier of doctoral institutions with very high research activity.

About the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation

The Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation seeks to enrich the lives of the citizens of Texas by providing support to qualified organizations in the areas of education, human services, civic and community, science and research, and arts and culture. It funds public entity projects and other nonprofit 501(c)(3) endeavors.

SOURCE The University of Texas at Dallas
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the U.S., announces today it has been selected as the public relations Agency of Record for the world's largest hiking club, HIGHLANDER.

As Agency of Record, 5W will oversee HIGHLANDER's comprehensive strategic communications program, including media relations and events, measurement and reporting, organic influencer relations, and thought leadership. 5WPR and HIGHLANDER will work together to coordinate exciting new hiking events to further expand within the adventure space.

HIGHLANDER is dedicated to providing transformative adventures and hiking experiences across the globe, and furthering its commitment to sustainability by following the Responsible Stewardship ethics. Throughout each event, all participants are educated on effective nature preservation and safekeeping. In addition to focusing on taking care of ecology, the brand also aims to support a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle for beginners and experienced hikers.

HIGHLANDER joins 5WPR's lifestyle division, which works with a wide array of consumer-focused events and experiences. The division includes clients such as Luna Park, Circle Line, Emerald X, AdColor, and more.

"HIGHLANDER is an exciting new addition to our experiential client roster - it offers an immersive, one-of-a-kind experience for adventure and nature enthusiasts, blending scenic landscapes with physical and mental tests while sharing in 5W's ongoing commitment to sustainability," said 5WPR co-CEO Dara Busch. "We are eager to help propel HIGHLANDER to new heights and help the brand do the same for its growing base of hikers."

"We have waited for a long time to come to the US, and our dream has finally come true. We want to give people the most unique experience in nature and educate them on living sustainably, not just on the mountain but in everyday life as well," said HIGHLANDER CEO Jurica Barac. "Our events are produced at the highest level possible when it comes to professionalism and organization, and we like to partner up and collaborate with companies and individuals that share the same values and goals. That was one of the reasons why we have partnered up with 5WPR so that together we can reach as many people as possible and, hopefully, improve their lives."

5W Public Relations' Lifestyle division utilizes a vast variety of communications tactics with tenacity to deliver top-tier results. 5W clients are taken to the next level within the consumer market, gaining brand recognition and public interest.

About HIGHLANDER

Every great journey starts by taking one small step. Three friends, united by a shared passion for adventure, brought their idea for a global hiking community to life in 2017  seeking to share the life-changing benefits of long-distance hiking with people around the world. The trio searched far and wide for the best trail in Croatia, curated an itinerary for the ultimate mountain experience, and with their first hiking event, HIGHLANDER was born. In just five years, the non-competitive, multi-day hiking event series has grown to become the largest hiking club in the world, with events in some of the most breathtaking and iconic mountains across the globe. Designed to unite people through a common journey, HIGHLANDER gives participants the opportunity to test their physical and mental limits while living in perfect harmony with nature. With sustainability at the forefront of all events, HIGHLANDER prioritizes educating all participants on effectively preserving nature to safe keep it for future generations. From advanced seasoned hikers to novice young adventurers, HIGHLANDER appeals to all walks of life, offering different formats ranging from 100-mile 5-day journeys to 15-mile weekend adventures. For more information, visit www.HIGHLANDERadventure.com.

About 5WPR

5WPR is a full-service PR agency in NYC known for cutting-edge programs that engage with businesses, issues and ideas. With more than 300 professionals serving clients in B2C (Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Nonprofit), B2B (Corporate Communications and Reputation Management), Public Affairs, Crisis Communications and Digital Marketing (Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, SEO), 5W was founded by Ronn Torossian 20 years ago and since was named to Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces 2022 list, awarded 2020 PR Agency of The Year, and brings leading businesses a resourceful, bold and results-driven approach to communication.

SOURCE 5W Public Relations
With its conservative approach, offering a variety of intriguing coffee flavors, and recent top media endorsements, the company is a proven favorite of conservative coffee drinkers and has more than tripled its sales revenue in April from the previous year

LABELLE, Fla., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With its ongoing impressive StartEngine campaign where it has raised more than $1.6 million overall, Blackout Coffee, (https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/), is proving a hit with conservative coffee lovers and has secured a larger facility to meet ongoing customer demand.

With its ongoing impressive StartEngine campaign where it has raised more than $1.6 million overall, Blackout Coffee, (https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/), is proving a hit with conservative coffee lovers and has secured a larger facility to meet ongoing customer demand. This past April, Blackout Coffee more than tripled its sales revenue over 2022 figures after more than doubling its sales in March over last year. The company is on track this year to surpass its $2.4 million in sales in 2022. Blackout Coffee is expanding from its current 5,000-square-foot manufacturing facility into a 35,000-square-foot building in the Florida area. The expansion will enable the company to take on larger retail accounts. After previously raising $1.2 million in a couple of weeks, Blackout Coffee recently relaunched its StartEngine campaign, (https://www.startengine.com/offering/blackoutcoffee), and is already off to a fast start.

The innovative company, with its headquarters in LaBelle, Florida, offers uniquely branded coffee products online featuring whole bean or ground coffee, coffee pods, flavored coffee, tea, and hot cocoa along with branded merchandise. They also provide subscriptions where customers can receive regular deliveries to their homes or business of Blackout Coffee's products.

Blackout Coffee's top coffee brands feature creative names such as "Brewtal Awakening," "Morning Reaper," "Covert Op Cold Brew," "Pitch Black Espresso," "Low Voltage Decaf Coffee," "Smooth Finish," "2A Medium Roast," and "1776 Dark Roast."

After previously raising $1.2 million in a couple of weeks, Blackout Coffee recently relaunched its StartEngine campaign, (https://www.startengine.com/offering/blackoutcoffee), and is already off to a fast start.

This past April, Blackout Coffee more than tripled its sales revenue over 2022 figures after more than doubling its sales in March over the previous year. The company is on track this year to surpass its $2.4 million in sales in 2022.

Blackout Coffee was also recently endorsed by conservative political commentator and radio show host Dan Bongino, and Donald Trump Jr.

In the four years since Blackout Coffee was founded, the company has created more than 40 coffee roasts and flavors and served more than 45,000 customers, surpassing 130,000 fulfilled orders.

The company is expanding from its current 5,000-square-foot manufacturing facility into a 35,000-square-foot building in the Florida area.

"The response and support from our customers and investors have been amazing," said John Santos, founder and CEO of Blackout Coffee. "They have embraced our vision as a community-engaged, small-batch coffee roasting company that actively supports conservative American values. We are growing so fast and have found additional space to meet the demand for our products. Above all, our mission remains to provide the highest-quality, best-tasting, and most impressive cup of coffee to the hardest-working people in America. We have stayed true to our brand unlike many other companies these days."

The expansion will also enable Blackout Coffee to take on larger retail accounts and Santos said they have been approached by two large retail companies in the sporting goods industry.

A significant part of the company's vision is also giving back to the community that supports them. As a proud supporter of the U.S. military, Blackout Coffee created Operation Blackout, (https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/pages/operation-blackout), to send donated coffee to deployed troops.

With increased marketing, investment in branding, and additional employees, Blackout Coffee's roadmap is focused on continuing its growth.

"We have a 40% customer return rate which is higher than the industry average," he added. "Our focus on conservative values, duty, family, and rights, brings us a very different base of people than other companies. This is exciting for us because we get to do business with like-minded people who love their coffee and their country."

About Blackout Coffee

Blackout Coffee was created for all our fellow American warriors who work hard, play hard, and never stop. Please visit, https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/.

Media Contact:

George Pappas

Conservaco/The Ignite Agency

562 857-5680

[email protected]

SOURCE Blackout Coffee
Government software solutions leader wraps 3Q23 with multimillion-dollar, multi-year contract with Dallas, Texas; coveted industry accolades; a record number of customer migrations to the cloud; and launch of 23.1 Product Release

SAN RAMON, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela , the trusted provider of cloud solutions at the heart of government operations, today announced it closed its 13th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth with an 18 percent year-over-year increase in annual recurring revenue (ARR) for the quarter, a 68 percent increase in customer bookings, and net customer retention remaining well above 110 percent.

This past quarter, Dallas, Texas, the ninth largest city in the United States, chose Accela to help its Sustainable Development and Construction (SDC) Department manage building permitting, land use planning, and other land management activities  key aspects of the strategy Dallas has designed to advance the city and fulfill on the potential of positive growth. Accela also announced cloud migrations in five Florida communities, numerous new customer wins, and was recognized with multiple industry accolades, including placing on Government Technology's GovTech 100 list for the eighth consecutive year.

"Accela's record 13 consecutive quarters of double-digit ARR growth stands as powerful testament to our focus on delivering the solutions and services that governments need to accelerate modernization and uplevel their resident experience," said Gary Kovacs, CEO of Accela. "I am proud of our team, our expansive partner network and the trust we continue to build with our customers."

Dallas Selects Accela to Support Sustainable Growth

Leveraging Accela's SaaS environment, Accela will work with the city of Dallas to meet its goal of low-impact upgrades while providing a city-wide transformation to its SDC services. The city will implement Accela Civic Applications for Building, Planning and Licensing; Code Enforcement; Accela Mobile; Accela Citizen Access; and Accela GIS.

"Development Services was searching for a product that would take our customer service experience and permitting turnaround times to a new level," said City of Dallas Director/Chief Building Official of the Development Services Department Andrew Espinoza. "My goal was to find a vendor who had a consistent and proven track record of designing a user friendly, dependable, and timely platform that would ultimately streamline our processes. Implementing a flexible and scalable customer management information tool that encompasses all of our customer permitting, inspection, and reporting needs was critical in our selection process. We are excited to be working with Accela on developing a product that will help us, 'Build a Safe United Dallas!'"

New government agency customers

Accela also recently added several other new government agencies to its customer roster, including the State of Texas - Real Estate Commission; Thurston County, Washington; South Pasadena, California; Wichita, Kansas; Manteca, California; Hollister, California; Bradenton, Florida; Mendocino County, California; and State of Oklahoma - State Fire Marshal.

Five Florida communities migrated to the cloud, improving service delivery

In Florida, Accela successfully migrated five county and local governments to the cloud, including Polk County, Tampa, Weston, Charlotte County, and Hillsborough County. To date, Accela has helped over 37 jurisdictions across the U.S. move to the cloud since 2021 and has 17 more in the migration pipeline.

"Accela's cloud-based services save us time and money. Because our staff doesn't have to worry about maintenance, support, security, and upgrades, we can spend more time engaging with our community," said Building Director of Polk County, Florida Benjamin Dunn. "Accela supported us through the entire migration process and brought our county into the 21st century."

New migrations, go-lives and selections from Salt Lake City to Ontario, Canada

Accela had seven additional migrations go live this quarter, including El Paso, Texas; Kingston, Ontario; Paradise, California; Santa Barbara, California; Fort Worth, Texas; Lenexa, Kansas; and Charlotte County, Florida.

In-progress migrations include Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Indianapolis, Indiana; New York Department of Health; and the New York City Fire Department. Tulare County Environmental Health, California and the New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) also signed migration agreements.

Accela go-lives this quarter included SaaS customers Brownsville, Texas; Pleasanton, California (with Avolve Software); and Livermore, California (with Avolve Software); and Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA), Sharjah, UAE.

New Accela customers with Avolve Software's DigEplan product include Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Manteca, California; Springfield, Oregon; and the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal. Avolve Software and Accela now share over 70 joint customers. Additional partner go-lives with VuSpex happened in Manatee and Pinellas counties, Florida.

New partner-led implementations this quarter included Kings County Environmental Health, California (with SEP Technology Consulting); Greater Sudbury, Ontario (with Avocette and Vision33); San Leandro, California (with VIP); and Portland Cannabis Regulation (with Byrne Software Technologies).

Accela Professional Services go-lives include Arlington, Virginia; Suffolk, New York; Fort Worth, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Kingston, Ontario; Paradise, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; Santa Barbara, California; and Lenexa, Kansas.

Spring 2023 Release enhanced Accela Citizen Access, Accela Mobile, and more

Accela also announced its Spring 2023 Release , which includes enhancements to the Accela Civic Platform, Accela Citizen Access, Accela Mobile, and Civic Applications with a focus on improved user experience, security, and easier implementation. Several updates also ensure agencies have a smooth transition from on-premise and legacy systems to Accela's SaaS solutions.

Accela's govtech leadership recognized with multiple awards

At the start of 2023, Accela was recognized by Government Technology magazine's GovTech 100 list for the eighth consecutive year as one of the top govtech companies accelerating government innovation.

In addition, Accela's marketing team won e.Republic's inaugural 2023 SLEDie Award in March for Marketing & Communications Industry Excellence in the Industry Leadership category. The new award acknowledges the best marketing and communication initiatives that push the govtech market forward with a thought-leadership forward approach. The company was also a 2022-2023 Cloud Awards finalist in the Best Software as a Service - Enterprise category.

Accelarate 2023 dates and location announced

Accela announced Accelarate 2023 the company's annual govtech industry and customer eventwill take place September 24-27 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, situated along the shores of the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The event will span 3.5 days and include optional solution-specific and technical education and training on the 27th (for an additional fee). This year's title sponsor is CSG Forte . To learn the latest, please visit https://www.accela.com/events/accelarate/ .

More than 300 million residents and businesses worldwide benefit from the govtech leader's unified platform of cloud solutions. To learn more about Accela's solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ .

As IT staffing shortages continue and technology strategy becomes even more critical to good government, agencies are turning to modern digital services and support from Accela to build trust among residents. Billions of once-in-a-lifetime funds are still available through the American Rescue Plan to jumpstart municipalities' modernization journeys, yielding long-lasting results. With flexible, cloud-based solutions that eliminate legacy department silos and red tape, cities and counties are armed with the tools to respond to the challenges of today and adapt solutions to emerging challenges, like emergency response and climate resiliency.

About Accela

Accela provides a unified suite of cloud solutions trusted by governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 300 million citizens worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security.

With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. The company is a three-consecutive year Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Accela was honored as a recipient of Inc.'s Best in Business for SaaS and selected by Fast Company for its World Changing Ideas Award. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com .

Contact: Holly Langbein, (916) 769-2199, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela
ZURICH, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital supply chain innovator Nexxiot has released a new AI-enabled product to facilitate contextualized decision-making. Scope AI provides a conversational interface into Nexxiot's unique data on locations, status, conditions of cargo, and supply chain events like delays.

How Scope AI works

'Show me all the containers containing electronics that are exposed to high levels of security risk right now' Tweet this Scope AI for enhancing supply chain operational efficiency

Scope AI extracts and presents key insights from the billions of data points generated every month by Nexxiot's Edge and Globehopper devices traveling on all major trade lanes between Europe, North America, and Asia. Nexxiot's commitment to creating an open ecosystem means Scope AI also works with data derived from any third-party gateway, sensor, or API.

An example of the Scope AI query process could be:

'Show me all the containers containing electronics that are exposed to high levels of security risk right now.'





'From these assets listed, which had their doors opened in Antwerp overnight?'





overnight?' 'Highlight the assets for which we could have avoided demurrage costs in the last ten days?'

"Nexxiot is always focused on delivering more value to our clients," said Akos Maroy, Nexxiot's Chief Data Officer. "Scope AI makes it possible for clients to gain immediate insights into the status of their transport assets based on real-time data from the fleet. We are determined to make our clients' lives easier by adding a simple, intuitive verbal interface to display the data generated by our sensors and gateways. We did this to offer asset intelligence and combine it with shipment intelligence in a way that's never been experienced before. We do this to better deliver on our mission to increase certainty and make clients' operations easier, safer, and cleaner." Maroy said.

Experience the capabilities of Scope AI in person at Transport Logistics 2023 in Munich. The Nexxiot booth is located at hall A3, 125.

About Nexxiot

Nexxiot, a leader in supply chain innovation, is revolutionizing the logistics industry with its cutting-edge Asset Intelligence technology. With its groundbreaking Globehopper, Edge, and Vector products, Nexxiot is on a mission to make rail and ocean supply chains easier, safer, and cleaner.

Nexxiot's technology collects billions of data points each month to drive operational efficiency, meet sustainability targets, and enhance service quality for more than 100 of the largest asset owners in the world. And now, in partnership with logistics innovator project44, Nexxiot is expanding its capabilities to transform the client experience for shippers and other logistics stakeholders worldwide. Joint customers can now enjoy enhanced estimated time of arrivals (ETAs) using carrier milestones, signals, and historical performance data, all with precise GPS tracking.

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Nexxiot is well-positioned to help businesses across the globe optimize their supply chain operations. With client teams in Germany, Sweden, Dubai, Hong Kong, and North America, Nexxiot is committed to providing innovative solutions to meet the unique needs of its customers. For more information on Nexxiot and its cutting-edge Asset Intelligence technology, visit www.nexxiot.com.

SOURCE Nexxiot
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akismet , the popular anti-spam product developed by Automattic , is announcing a strategic partnership with Arwen.ai .

Akismet and Arwen are like-minded companies, each with a similar vision for the future of the web.

Akismet and Arwen.ai logos

Akismet uses AI to intelligently keep spam off of over 100 million websites. Arwen uses AI to intelligently remove harmful and unwanted comments from a brand's social channels. What perfect timing, in light of Mental Health Awareness month, for the two to come together to make the web a kinder, safer place.

This partnership will provide top-tier security and moderation solutions to some of the world's most influential companies and personalities. From ConvertKit, Netlify, and Bluehost to Formula One teams like Red Bull, Alpine, and Mercedes. As well as major media players like ITV and Overtime.tv to superstar drivers like Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Akismet, which works on any content management system, is a service that offers real-time filtering of spam from comments, form submissions, trackbacks, and chat system messages. It is used by approximately 100 million websites, including some of the largest publishers in the world. Since its inception in 2005, Akismet has blocked approximately 542 billion pieces of spam with 99.99% accuracy. It is considered the most accurate, intelligent, and user-friendly anti-spam product on the market today.

Arwen's social media moderation service swiftly removes unwanted comments from social channels before they go public. Its AI detects 24 types of unwanted content, including spam and racism, across different content types (text, emojis, images, gifs, and videos). With the capability to identify toxic content in 29 different languages, Arwen provides global protection that's unmatched. By identifying trolls that deter followers, Arwen helps users take back control of their social channels. Arwen's technology is already available on major platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube) and is coming soon to LinkedIn and Reddit.

Matthew McGrory, CEO and Co-founder said, "It's great to be working with Akismet to bring a full stack solution to our clients across all their digital assets to enhance engagement and ensure brand safety for them and their customers."

David Schwister, Jetpack's Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Global Head of Enterprise Sales at Automattic, said, "We are thrilled to be partnering with the Arwen team. We believe Arwen's technology will be of tremendous value not only to our existing and new Akismet clients' social channels, but also provide Arwen's current and prospective customers the ability to protect all comments, forms, and chat systems from spam on their owned and operated sites using the power of Akismet  keeping the web a safer place."

Learn more about Akismet .

Learn more about Arwen.

ABOUT AUTOMATTIC

Automattic wants to make the web a better place. We're the company behind products including WordPress.com , WooCommerce , WP VIP , Tumblr , Jetpack , Pocket Casts , and Day One , and we're a fully distributed company, with 1,985 Automatticians in 97 countries speaking 123 different languages. Our common goal is to democratize publishing so that anyone with a story can tell it, regardless of income, gender, politics, language, or where they live in the world. We believe in Open Source, and the vast majority of our work is available under the GPL. For more information, please go to automattic.com .

ABOUT ARWEN

Arwen is a UK-based start-up looking to make social media social. Arwen blends AI data models together to help customers remove all types of toxic and unwanted content, including spam, instantly from social media. Customers can tailor their own filters to match their own values so that Arwen hides only what they want to be hidden. Once authorized by a customer, Arwen then securely monitors their social media channels 24/7. Arwen is focused on brand safety and improving community engagement providing safe and inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds to share views and collaborate. For more information, go to www.arwen.ai .

Media Contact:

Chenda Ngak

[email protected]

SOURCE Automattic Inc.
BRISBANE, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate Protection Plans is partnering with Staples Canada, The Working and Learning Company and the largest retailer providing business solutions in Canada, to offer customers Staples Protection Plans by Allstate. Customers will benefit from product protection with seamless, award-winning service and support when they need it most. Allstate Protection Plans will provide and manage the protection plans for Staples customers across Canada.

Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones, and office furniture including desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. All plans cover mechanical and electrical failures and plans for portable electronics and furniture also cover accidental damage. This collaboration allows Staples in-store associates, Staples.ca and Staples Preferred consumers the ability to pair great products with great protection, to deliver a convenient consumer experience.

"Staples Canada offers world-class product assortment and customer service that provides solutions for customers and businesses, so they can thrive in the modern world," said David Boone, C.E.O., Staples Canada, "By partnering with Allstate, we can offer customers peace of mind backed by repair-first service solutions that extend the life of the products they buy while saving them time, money, and preventing unnecessary waste in our landfills."

"Allstate is proud to partner with Staples Canada to provide its customers with innovative product protection that mirrors the level of service they've come to expect at Staples," said Karl Wiley, Allstate Protection Plans President and CEO. "Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are yet another reason businesses and consumers look to Staples Canada for the electronics and furniture they need to succeed."

Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are offered at all Staples Canada locations and at www.staples.ca.

About Staples Canada

Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. The privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands which support business customers: Staples Preferred for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as seven Staples Studio co-working facilities across Canada. Through Solutionshop, Canadians can access a variety of pack and ship options, as well as a broad suite of business services. Staples is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information.

About Allstate Protection Plans

For over a decade, Allstate Protection Plans has transformed the extended warranty industry with service innovation and an obsessive focus on customer experience. Today, Allstate Protection Plans is trusted by over 140 million customers in addition to major retailers and mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Allstate Protection Plans is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation.

Media information / For further information:

Staples Canada: Pamela Kennedy, 905-737-1147 Ext. 578, [email protected]

Golin, for Staples Canada: Noah Gomberg, 647-475-4721, [email protected]

Tandem Marketing Communications for Allstate Protection Plans, 917-306-7270 Ian Twinn [email protected]

SOURCE Allstate Protection Plans
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeles Investors  the investment community on a mission to find, fund, and grow the most promising startup ventures  will recognize the top 100 startups in the U.S. with Hispanic or Latino leadership and Adelante Award honoree at its Q2 Pitch Night Event & Awards in Silicon Valley on May 11-12 , sponsored by Chase Bank.

The Angeles 100 is not a ranked list, but rather a collection of inspiring venture-backed startups driving innovation and whose founder, member of their board of directors, or member of their leadership team is Hispanic/Latino. These startups are building great companies of the exact kind Angeles supports and invests in. This year's honorees exemplify how startup founders drive the business forward and set their organizations up for success.

Angeles Investors is one of the largest and fastest growing groups in America supporting Latino/Hispanic entrepreneurs. Tweet this

The Angeles Investors Adelante Award is an award given annually to a leader who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing entrepreneurship within the U.S. Hispanic and Latinx community - moving the United States of America forward...Adelante!

"We're thrilled to be gathering our world-class members, partners and sponsors for a second year at the Computer History Museum in California to celebrate great business achievements, unlock new partnerships opportunities, and to take part in stimulating discussions on the evolving venture capital landscape," said David Olivencia , Angeles Investors CEO.

The two-day event kicks off on Thursday, May 11 with a members-only private reception with leading venture capital firms sponsored by True Search, a global leader in helping technology companies grow and scale their executive teams. On May 12, members and friends of Angeles will engage with top investors & entrepreneurs from around the world, hear a few of America's top startups pitch for funding, and celebrate the Angeles 100.

Nominations for the Angeles 100 are solicited annually from Angeles members , partners, and the general public. Awardees are evaluated on their accomplishments and their ability to raise funding for their startup venture.

Event tickets may be purchased online .

Angeles Investors is one of the largest and fastest growing Angel Investing groups in America that brings together people from all ethnicities and backgrounds across the country to support Latino and Hispanic entrepreneurs in building the next great companies.

For sponsorship and membership opportunities or to purchase event tables, contact Dahlia Mjarez at [email protected].

Media are invited to attend.

SOURCE Angeles Investors
Ukraine preparing special system to help clear new territories faster after de-occupation  Zelenskyy

Ukraine is preparing a special system of actions that will help quickly clear new territories after their de-occupation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"I held several security meetings with government officials. The first meeting concerned demining... We are also preparing a special system of actions that will help us demine the new territory faster after de-occupation," Zelenskyy said in a video message.

In addition, the President noted, active work is being carried out with partners to increase mine clearance capabilities, in particular, regarding equipment, training of deminers and pyrotechnicians.

"We will cooperate with everyone in the world who has the experience, who has the technology, who has the financial capacity to support us to make Ukraine clear of Russian mines again," he said.

As of now, more than 170,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory are contaminated with unexploded mines and munitions.

As Zelenskyy stressed, their demining should take place much faster than several decades.
PARIS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Artprice by Artmarket's deployment of algorithmic AI via its proprietary Intuitive Artmarket is a tool that can generate highly relevant and personalized recommendations, allowing users to go infinitely further in their discovery of art and the art market.

Copyright thierry Ehrmann - courtesy of La Demeure du Chaos / Abodeofchaos - Organ Museum of Contemporary Art (PRNewsfoto/Artmarket.com)

Serveur Group, the founding shareholder of Artprice by Artmarket, is still by far the largest stakeholder with 45.78% of the voting rights (Ehrmann family not included). Serveur Group is one of Europe's leading pioneers of the Internet, computer graphics, pattern recognition, and professional databases since 1987 (see TIME Magazine 2001) and therefore has a deep-rooted and highly-advanced digital and scientific culture.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072231/Abodeofchaos.jpg

Copyright thierry Ehrmann - courtesy of La Demeure du Chaos / Abodeofchaos - Organ Museum of Contemporary Art

Over the past few decades, Artprice by Artmarket.com and Serveur Group have developed thousands of increasingly powerful and relevant proprietary algorithms that allow the implementation of their own AI, in strict compliance with existing regulations, notably those relative to personal data and intellectual property.

This evolution was made possible by Serveur Group's and then Artprice's subsequent acquisition of innovative companies Like Xylogic, a Swiss company made up exclusively of prestigious scientists (from CERN, WHO, etc.) since 1999. In retrospect, this move (and others) was considerably ahead of its time, and it laid the foundations for our move toward the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the transparency and dynamism of the art market.

It is important to remember that Artprice by Artmarket has twice consecutively (a rare occurrence for companies listed on a regulated market) been awarded France's state-backed "Innovative Company" label which is subject to strict eligibility and is awarded by the Banque Publique d'Investissement (bpifrance).

As regards the current legislative context, we note that quite apart from the battery of legislation regarding General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the proposed European law on artificial intelligence (EU AI Act) and all existing intellectual property laws mean that the use of artificial intelligence in Europe (and probably the rest of the world shortly thereafter) will be subject to a great many constraints.

The principle problem may be expressed as follows: how to deliver a relevant AI result to users without walking all over intellectual property rights? Remember that the outcome of any search using Artificial Intelligence is only, in fine, a result contrived by the algorithmic processing of billions of already existing data.

Then there is the problem of ascertaining who owns the data in order to pay any copyright and related rights to be able to use it legally for commercial purposes configuring a paid service that respects the intellectual property laws of each country that is the challenge (no less!).

According to thierry Ehrmann, founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket.com, Artprice by Artmarket will be able, through its own AI Intuitive Artmarket, to take each of its 7.2 million customers and members "from discovery to revelation".

"...Our algorithms can parse billions of proprietary logs, texts, and hundreds of millions of artworks from Artprice's databases. They can identify semantics that qualify an artist's primary artistic ambitions, his/her universe, inspirations, mediums used, major themes developed, shapes and volumes worked, etc... and then search for corresponding syntonies in our logs of 810,000 artists with their biographies and certified data. In other words, instead of relying on academic visual criteria, the system will make connections based on the neural networks of our artificial intelligence, Intuitive Artmarket."

Neural networks, also called 'artificial neural networks' (ANNs) or just 'neural nets' are a subset of machine learning and are at the heart of deep-learning algorithms. Their name and structure are inspired by the human brain, mimicking the way biological neurons and their synapses send signals to each other along the axons.

Artprice by Artmarket.com's spiking neural networks rely on initial data training that teaches them to learn and improve their accuracy over time. Once these learning algorithms are tuned with high precision, they represent powerful tools in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, and it is these AI algorithms that will allow Intuitive Artmarket to classify and collate multimedia data at a very high speed.

For example, high-definition images or even old fine art engravings can be recognized in seconds rather than tens of minutes in a manual identification process conducted by well-known fine art experts.

If we look a the bigger picture, it has been very interesting to observe the trials and tribulations of one of the best-known neural networks on the planet, Google's search algorithm (which Artprice has been studying and analyzing daily since 1999). Since the beginning of 2023, Artprice Inc., Artmarket's American subsidiary, has been closely watching the development of Bard, Google's prototype chatbot based on its LaMDA language model. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is acutely aware of the opportunities and risks in this project and is reported to have issued a company-wide "code red" for its development. Whether or not this is true, Google, with a global market share of 93%, is the best laboratory for studying AI because it has a colossal existing economic dimension, unlike other AIs, where the risks (and economic profits) are still 'potential'.

Artprice by Artmarket's R&D department is creating spiking neural networks (SNNs) which 'cogitate' differently from human beings, without biases from emotions or 'disorders'. Our ambition is of course to put artificial intelligence at the service of art and art market professionals, institutions, collectors, and enthusiasts.

So, quite apart from its technical and scientific competence, Artprice by Artmarket's overwhelming strength is its capacity to use its own high-value-added data, produced and delivered for 25 years now as World Leader in Art Market Information. Not only does our position guarantee an unmatched level of consistency and relevance with respect to the responses it gives to searches, but it also overrides many of the aforementioned copyright issues, since our data is our data.

Artprice by Artmarket.com is the most important market-info player in the global art market. Its Artprice department has the most comprehensive databases on art prices and art market indices, with more than 30 million indices and sales results concerning works by more than 810,000 artists.

Artprice Images provides unlimited access to the largest art market archive in the world, with its documentary collection of manuscripts and auction catalogs, forming a physical and digital library made up of 180 million images (or engravings) of artworks from 1700 to the present day, all checked and commented by art historians. In this very specific economic sector, no company in the world has such a high volume of ultra-qualified and proprietary data, with the original documentation being a very important asset and representing an almost impregnable barrier to entry.

In addition, Artmarket, with its Artprice department, constantly enriches its databases with data from 6,500 auction houses and it continuously publishes art market trends for the world's main press agencies and 7,200 press titles around the world. This inexhaustible source of continually up to date data will ensure that Intuitive Artmarket will be way ahead of its competitors.

Very few companies in the world can claim to use AI on a proprietary terrain. And yet it is the only way of complying with the various intellectual property laws around the world, which are increasingly vast and complex, with grueling legal procedures taking over several years.

Artprice by Artmarket has registered as a professional beta-tester with Microsoft and its Bing search engine linked to GPT-4. Bing's AI can search on the Internet, whereas ChatGPT (excluding plugins) is currently limited to a database that stops in the year 2021.

The possibilities offered by the tool are therefore immense, hence its popularity: Microsoft Bing Chat now attracts more than 100 million active daily users and comes with a commitment to "responsible AI" that respects copyrights and other related rights.

The fact that Microsoft has just launched a paid subscription of $240/year to use its AI tool confirms the viability of this economic model for Artprice and its own AI, Intuitive Artmarket.

In thousands of beta-test searches with terms related to artists and the art market, Artprice by Artmarket has observed that the responses provided by Bing AI GPT-4 regularly quoted Artprice.com and Artmarket.com URLs as references for their sources. Microsoft's Bing works in partnership with OpenAI to provide an experience that encourages responsible use.

As we have seen, the development and implementation of 'responsible AI' is currently one of the major concerns of the G7 nations (announcement of April 30, 2023), as is the adoption of 'global regulations' on AI in the shortest possible timeframe.

Regarding copyright legislation in the context of artificial intelligence, the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the bloc "should find a political agreement as early as this year" (Reuters News: April 30, 2023), which is very positive for Artmarket.com.

We have also seen the Italian government's reaction to ChatGPT: it is strictly prohibited in Italy. This illustrates the kind of obstacle that AI developers face, regardless of their financial power and their lobbying capacity.

The truth is, in the AI domain, the potential for IP conflict is exponential. Take for example Stability AI, the creator of an AI generating synthetic photos, currently being accused of having extracted millions of images from the databases of Getty Images.

Artmarket's AI (Intuitive Artmarket ) works exclusively within a perimeter of proprietary content and is therefore protected under intellectual property legislation. This proprietary content is an almost infinite data mine built over three decades and covering more than four centuries of art market activity. The net result is that the aforementioned obstacles and potential prohibitions do not concern us because we do not need to look elsewhere for data or answers to very specific searches by people working on or interested in art and/or the art market.

This fact is, therefore, a guarantee not just of the sustainability of Artprice by Artmarket's economic model, but also of our shareholders' peace of mind and of considerable growth in the future of Artprice by Artmarket.com's business, with a constant increase in turnover.

The use of artificial intelligence will increase Artmarket.com's revenue, while ultimately reducing its operating costs. Our Intuitive Artmarket will provide our art market clients and participants with very relevant and truly personalized recommendations, allowing them to deepen their own knowledge of the art market, and de facto, will generate more sophisticated subscriptions and therefore a greater volume of annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Intuitive Artmarket will provide precise answers to users' searches quickly and the time saved will reduce energy consumption, which is fully in line with Artmarket's eco-responsible philosophy. As a result of the reliable, scientific, and sustainable avant-garde energy solutions implemented by Artprice by Artmarket, our CSR report testifies to an extremely positive ecological impact.

At the forefront of digital regulations, Europe is currently drafting laws on AI with its "Artificial Intelligence Act" and Artprice by Artmarket is contributing to this process with its lawyers and advisers. The Act aims to establish a number of specific constraints taking into account personal data protection as well as copyright and exhaustive source citation.

According to the best Anglo-Saxon financial analysts  who are one step ahead of Europe in this area  the only economically viable model that does not expose the economic entity (however big or small) to incessant legal proceedings is an AI-based on an extremely well-defined economic segment where information plays a key role, and where the entity in question has full intellectual property of all the Big Data (including Data mining), and confirmed ownership of the copyrights and associated rights to that data on all its algorithms, databases, machine learning, and neural networks.

In short, the AIs that will triumph with a very substantial economic gain, without major industrial or legal risk, are the economic entities that own the full intellectual property rights to all of the different stages of a proprietary AI in a defined market segment where high value-added information, at a high cost, is vital. This is precisely the case with our AI project Intuitive Artmarket developed by Artprice by Artmarket.com

Many researchers are trying to establish the genesis of AI.

Of the myriad of possible answers to this question, Artprice was intrigued by an article that appeared on the website "The Conversation" (Academic rigor, journalistic flair). Entitled "Blaise Pascal and the beginnings of artificial intelligence", the article offers a judicious answer: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) can be credited with two essential innovations that make it possible to envisage artificial intelligence today: he developed the first mechanical calculator in history and he developed the first rudiments of the calculation of probabilities.

According to thierry Ehrmann (biography Who's Who In France:

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/04/2023_2_Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf), Founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket, the Group's guideline for its AI is very simple: "There can be no artificial intelligence without human intelligence".

Image: [https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/05/AbodeofChaos-thierry-Ehrmann-IMG-3606.jpg]

Copyright 1987-2023 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com

Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: [email protected]

for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

(free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987.

See certified biography in Who's who :

Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 803,000 artists.

Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform.

Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 7200 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 7.2 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.

Artprice by Artmarket's Global Art Market Report, "The Art Market in 2022", published in March 2023:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2022

Artprice releases its 2022 Ultra-Contemporary Art Market Report:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2022

The Artprice 2022 half-year report: the art market returns to strong growth in the West:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/global-art-market-in-h1-2022-by-artprice-com

Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/

Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 6.2 million followers)

twitter.com/artmarketdotcom

twitter.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

 L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o

 www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (over 4 million followers)

 https://vimeo.com/124643720

Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: Thierry Ehrmann, [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1009603/Art_Market_logo.jpg

SOURCE Artmarket.com
Latest six-month data from lead ABCA4 program demonstrate efficient and durable production of full-length ABCA4 protein generated via RNA exon editing in non-human primate retina

ABCA4 program advancing to IND filing, as Ascidian progresses diversified pipeline of programs using its proprietary platform for rewriting RNA by exon editing

BOSTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascidian Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on treating human diseases by rewriting RNA, announced today that Head of Research Robert Bell, Ph.D., will present new data from its lead ABCA4 program at the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT).

The lead program targets ABCA4-related retinopathies, including Stargardt disease, and is currently in IND-enabling studies advancing towards clinical development.

Robert Bell, PhD, Head of Research, Ascidian Therapeutics

The oral presentation, taking place at 9:00 a.m. PDT on May 20, will highlight Ascidian's groundbreaking RNA exon editing platform. Specifically, Dr. Bell will present new six-month data from Ascidian's lead ABCA4 program that demonstrate the production of full-length ABCA4 protein following a one-time treatment with a single AAV-delivered RNA exon editing development candidate in the non-human primate retina. These data are the first to quantify therapeutically relevant levels of ABCA4 protein and represent the most efficient and durable RNA exon editing via trans-splicing ever demonstrated in large animals.

"These data could have therapeutically meaningful implications for patients with Stargardt disease, the most common form of inherited macular degeneration, as well as other diseases that are not addressable by today's gene therapy and gene editing technologies," said Romesh Subramanian, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascidian Therapeutics. "More than a quarter of a century has passed since the cause of Stargardt disease was discovered, and this is the first report quantifying and confirming therapeutically relevant levels of full-length ABCA4 protein produced after a single dose in a large animal. With durable editing now confirmed in non-human primates and replicated in human retinal explants, these findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of Ascidian's proprietary exon editing platform to transform the treatment of genetically defined diseases."

Dr. Bell's presentation at ASGCT will include data demonstrating ABCA4 RNA exon editing in multiple model systems, including a cell line carrying ABCA4 mutations, human retinal explants, and non-human primates at time points extending to six months. In addition to findings relating to full-length protein generation and RNA exon editing durability and efficiency, the presentation will also include data demonstrating the first successful RNA exon editing via trans-splicing in human photoreceptors ex vivo.

Presentation details are below.

Session: Gene Targeting and Gene Correction: CNS

Oral Presentation: Rewriting ABCA4 RNA for the Treatment of Stargardt Disease

Date: Saturday May 20, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m.  9:15 a.m. PDT

Location: Room 515 AB, The Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

Presentation materials will be available upon request via the Publications & Presentations section of the Ascidian website following the live presentation.

About Ascidian Therapeutics

Ascidian Therapeutics, an ATP company, is redefining the treatment of disease by rewriting RNA. By editing exons at the RNA level, Ascidian therapies enable precise post-transcriptional editing of genes, resulting in full-length, functional proteins at the right levels, in the right cells, at the right time. With active discovery and preclinical programs in retinal, neurological, neuromuscular, and genetically defined diseases, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with one dose of an RNA exon editor, opening new therapeutic possibilities for patients in need of breakthroughs. For more information, visit www.ascidian.com.

SOURCE Ascidian Therapeutics
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (NYSE; BYMA; MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) today announced that it will report its First Quarter 2023 results.

Earnings Release

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Time: After market close

Conference Call

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Time: 12:00 p.m. Buenos Aires time  (11:00 a.m. EST)

Quiet Period

From Tuesday, May 9, through Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Executives

Ms. Carmen Morillo Arroyo, Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Ines Lanusse, Investor Relations Officer

Ms. Belen Fourcade, Investor Relations

To participate, please dial in:

1-844-450-3851 (US Toll-Free)

1-412-317-6373 (International)

54-11-3984-5677 (Argentina)

Web Phone: click here

Conference ID: BBVA

Webcast & Replay: click here

BBVA Argentina Investor Relations

[email protected]

ir.bbva.com.ar

About BBVA Argentina

Banco BBVA Argentina (NYSE, BYMA, MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) is a subsidiary of the BBVA Group, the principal shareholder since 1996. In Argentina, it is one of the leading private financial institutions since 1886. Nationwide, Banco BBVA Argentina offers retail and corporate banking to a broad customer base, including: individuals, SME's, and large-sized companies.

Banco BBVA Argentina's purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to everyone, based on our customers' real needs, providing the best solutions, and helping them make the best financial decisions, through an easy and convenient experience. The institution rests in solid values: "Customer comes first, we think big and we are one team". At the same time, its responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society.

SOURCE Banco BBVA Argentina S.A.
A smaller version of The Cuddler, Bearaby's wildly-popular body pillow, The Cuddling provides soothing comfort on-the-go.

NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bearaby, the sustainable home wellness brand dedicated to producing design-forward products for mental, emotional and physical well-being, today announces the launch of "The Cuddling," an ergonomically designed and gently weighted, soothing bolster pillow . The Cuddling provides versatile support by alleviating pressure on the neck, knees, back or shoulders, as well as lumbar support, making it both a solution for back- or side-sleepers and a helpful companion for practicing yoga or traveling. The Cuddling is made from the brand's breathable, plant-based Melofoam material that cradles the shape of the body for supportive comfort. Following the introduction of The Cuddler last year, Bearaby has continued to see an uptick in interest in its ergonomic products that promote relaxation and deep sleep.

Bearaby's newest introduction, The Cuddling

"Thrilled by the overwhelming success of our body pillow, we're excited to introduce The Cuddling  a satisfyingly squashy, breathable bolster pillow that provides ergonomic support and comfort, wherever you need," shares Kathrin Hamm, Founder and CEO of Bearaby. "Its smaller shape allows for easy transport, making it perfect for travel. The Cuddling cover also provides our first foray into a new fabric, organic Belgian flax linen. We're excited to help everyone rest and relax in cooling, stylish comfort. The Cuddling is specifically designed to mold to your body shape, melting away tension, so it's a natural addition to our patented best-selling weighted blankets and sustainable sensory pillows."

The Cuddling's smaller size, 14" x 7.5", makes the pillow ideal for both on-the-go occasions and home use. Like all Bearaby products, The Cuddling is made using sustainably and ethically sourced materials. Its GOLS- certified, proprietary Melofoam is made by tapping sap directly from organic hevea trees in Sri Lanka, which is collected in coconuts and gently steamed to produce a spongey, airy foam. The entire process is completely natural and the rubber trees live for decades. Any waste  such as water and the coconut husks used to collect the sap  is reused in the farming process to help new trees to grow.

The responsive Cuddling bolster pillow is encased in a removable, washable GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton cover in a fresh white hue. In addition to the organic white base, Bearaby Cuddling covers are available in 100% organic Belgian flax linen, the first of its kind for Bearaby, launching in six soothing shades - Asteroid Grey, Moonstone Grey, Magnolia, Evening Rose, Glass Blue and Rosemary. The linen material provides cooling comfort for the satisfyingly squashy pillow. It cradles the shape of the body to ease pain and promotes comfortable relaxation.

The Bearaby Cuddling retails for $89, with Cuddling Covers available for $69, totaling $158 for the bundle. For more information on Bearaby, visit www.bearaby.com.

About Bearaby

Bearaby is a sustainable home wellness brand on a mission to create a calmer, more comforted world: one nap at a time. Every Bearaby product prioritizes holistic wellbeing, sustainability, and exceptional design to bring about revolutionary rest, naturally. To experience Bearaby, please visit www.bearaby.com or @mybearaby on Instagram.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Bearaby
This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" later in this news release.

MONTREAL, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Bell Canada (Bell) today announced the offering in the United States of US $850 million aggregate principal amount of Notes in one series (the US Offering). The US $850 million 5.100% Series US-8 Notes will mature on May 11, 2033 and will be issued at a price of US $99.930 per $100 principal amount for a yield to maturity of 5.109%. The Notes are being publicly offered in the United States through a syndicate of underwriters. Closing of the offering of the Notes is expected to occur on May 11, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by BCE Inc.

Bell intends to use the net proceeds from the US Offering for the repayment of short-term debt and other general corporate purposes.

The US Offering is being made in the United States pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 8, 2023 to Bell's short form base shelf prospectus dated March 7, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of an effective shelf registration statement on Form F-10. The Notes are not being offered in Canada or to any resident of Canada.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Copies of the short form base shelf prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the Notes filed with securities regulatory authorities in the United States may be obtained from the Investor Relations department of Bell Canada at Building A, 8th floor, 1 Carrefour Alexander-Graham-Bell, Verdun, Quebec, H3E 3B3 (telephone 1-800-339-6353). Copies of these documents are also available electronically on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval of the Canadian Securities Administrators (SEDAR), at www.sedar.com , or on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, administered by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov .

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and completion of the proposed sale of the Notes, the intended use of the net proceeds of such sale and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the proposed offering referred to above. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The timing and completion of the abovementioned proposed sale of the Notes is subject to customary closing terms and other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the proposed sale of the Notes will occur, or that it will occur at the expected time indicated in this news release.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company1, providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montreal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

___________________________________ 1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.



Media inquiries:

Katie Hatfield

[email protected]

Investor inquiries:

Richard Bengian

[email protected]

SOURCE Bell Canada
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new publication from the Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) and Deloitte, sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund, offers guidance to board directors interested in mitigating health care's contributions to emissions-driven climate change and climate-driven health disparities.

"Accelerating Health Equity & Business Resilience Through Decarbonization," available to the public, was developed in response to the health sector's material role in the climate crisis. U.S. health care organizations produce 8.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions in turn accelerate asthma, allergies, respiratory diseases and heat-related deaths among Black Americans.

The guide uses real-world examples to illustrate how organizations can adopt a decarbonization plan. Tweet this

Decarbonization as a Boardroom Priority

Reducing an organization's carbon footprint can mitigate the worst impacts of climate change while driving business value. The guide uses real-world examples to illustrate how organizations can adopt a decarbonization plan to realize reputational, financial, operational and supply chain benefits.

"Health care board directors lead the organizations we serve to fulfill their mission to promote health and well-being," said BDHEA Founding Member and Board Member Joe Wilkins. "Reducing health care's emissions footprint is essential to protect our patients and communities against the negative health impacts of our changing climate."

The action guide educates board directors on the relationship between climate impacts and health equity. The physical environment, including climate, is one of the key drivers of health that contribute to health outcomes. For example:

Extreme heat: Communities of color and historically redlined communities are often more vulnerable to extreme heat due to factors such as limited tree canopy.

Communities of color and historically redlined communities are often more vulnerable to extreme heat due to factors such as limited tree canopy. Wildfires: Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals, particularly children, suffer disproportionately from respiratory conditions such as asthma that are made worse by wildfires.

Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals, particularly children, suffer disproportionately from respiratory conditions such as asthma that are made worse by wildfires. Severe weather: Communities of color are more likely to experience displacement during and after hurricanes, which are linked to long-term mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

"The impacts of climate change on human health are very real and happening now," said Deloitte Consulting LLP Managing Director and physician leader Dr. Elizabeth Baca. "We have a responsibility to transform the way we do carereducing redundancies, supporting prevention and forecasting climate-related health impactsto limit the worst effects of climate change and in turn advance health equity."

A Climate Action Framework for Health Equity

The decarbonization action guide outlines key competencies required for board directors to lead on decarbonization:

Strategic Integration: Embed climate considerations into strategic planning in a way that informs decision-making processes and incentivizes enterprise transformation.

Embed climate considerations into strategic planning in a way that informs decision-making processes and incentivizes enterprise transformation. Materiality: Assess the short and long-term materiality of climate-related risks and opportunities for the organization on a regular basis.

Assess the short and long-term materiality of climate-related risks and opportunities for the organization on a regular basis. Talent and Incentives: Ensure that the selection, evaluation and compensation of the CEO and executive leadership is aligned to decarbonization goals.

Ensure that the selection, evaluation and compensation of the CEO and executive leadership is aligned to decarbonization goals. Structure and Governance: Determine the most effective way to integrate climate considerations into board structure, committees and processes.

Determine the most effective way to integrate climate considerations into board structure, committees and processes. Reporting and Disclosure: Ensure that material climate-related risks, opportunities and strategic decisions are consistently and transparently disclosed to all stakeholders.

Ensure that material climate-related risks, opportunities and strategic decisions are consistently and transparently disclosed to all stakeholders. Collaboration: Maintain regular exchanges and dialogues with peers, investors, suppliers and other stakeholders to encourage the sharing of methodologies and collective action.

"The Commonwealth Fund is dedicated to creating an equitable, high quality health care system and mitigating the health care industry's contribution to climate change is an important part of that vision," said Commonwealth Fund Vice President Lovisa Gustafsson. "We hope that health care leaders will join us in forging a more equitable and resilient health system."

Download "Accelerating Health Equity & Business Resilience Through Decarbonization" at bdhea.org/offerings . To learn more about BDHEA membership, visit member.bdhea.org. The action guide builds on the recent BDHEA-Deloitte environmental, social and governance publication "Health Equity's Essential Role in ESG Conversations," offering a framework for board directors to influence the ESG strategies of the organizations they serve.

About BDHEA

The Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) is made up of board directors and senior leaders who are working to eradicate the health disparities and inequities that threaten the individual and collective prosperity of Black families. As change agents, its members across the health ecosystem foster and facilitate board education for up-and-coming leaders, encourage revised business models, spur innovative thinking and action and support policy reforms that advance health equity for Black Americans that will ultimately ensure equal and fair healthcare for all. Learn more at bdhea.org .

About Deloitte

Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of our legal structure.

About The Commonwealth Fund

The mission of the Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high-performing, equitable health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including people of color, people with low income, and those who are uninsured. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy.

CONTACT:

Kimberly Palacios

Purpose Brand

773-853-4794

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Directors Health Equity Agenda
Boostlingo named among best workplaces of 2023 by Inc. Magazine's annual list

AUSTIN, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boostlingo has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

"At Boostlingo, our benefits score was well above other companies of our size," said VP of People Nina Siglin. "This can be attributed to our benefits overhaul last year, where we included things like summer Fridays, a revamp of our medical, dental, and vision offerings, and our hybrid, flexible work schedule."

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"We are so humbled to have been named among best workplaces. We try every day to make Boostlingo a great place to work and build a culture where we care about our employees and allow them to thrive," says Co-Founder and CEO of Boostlingo, Bryan Forrester. "To be recognized for our dedication to building out a great company culture, as well as to see how far we've come since we created the company, is a testament to the hard work of our entire team. We couldn't be more thankful and look forward to seeing what 2023 holds for us."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

About Boostlingo

Boostlingo is a language software and technology company based in Austin, TX. At Boostlingo we are reimagining interpretation through innovative technology that enables language access and improves global communication.

The Boostlingo platform includes video, phone, and on-demand interpreting as well as interpreter management and scheduling tools for language service providers. In 2022, Boostlingo acquired VoiceBoxer, a remote simultaneous interpretation and video conferencing platform based in Copenhagen, and Interpreter Intelligence, an interpreter management and scheduling platform based out of San Francisco.

Learn more about Boostlingo at https://boostlingo.com/

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

Contact Information

Maria Grazia De Donato

512-593-5215

[email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boostlingo

Website: https://boostlingo.com/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/boostlingo

SOURCE Boostlingo
Deal Brings Together Two Premier Data-Driven Organizations

NAPERVILLE, Ill., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The publishing assets of Callisto Media, a leading nonfiction publisher, have been sold in a Sourcebooks-led, Penguin Random House-funded acquisition. As one of the country's fastest-growing independent publishers with 61% growth in the first quarter of 2023, Sourcebooks' expertise in demand-driven publishing makes it the ideal organization to oversee the Callisto publishing program and create the most impactful, data-centric, profitable future for consumer-led books.

Driven by insights, Sourcebooks will oversee the management of Callisto's publishing assets, while Callisto's titles will continue to be distributed by Simon & Schuster Distribution Services.

Dominique Raccah, Publisher and CEO of Sourcebooks, said, "We are excited to continue to build the future of the Callisto publishing program with our partners at Penguin Random House. For four years, Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House have mutually enjoyed an unconventional, highly collaborative partnership, and this deal is another manifestation of our work together. This acquisition brings together two of the most data-driven publishers in the industry to create a consumer-led organization that brings readers books that will change their lives in so many ways. This partnership also allows for an even greater level of innovation that will make an impactful difference for authors. We see data as an enormous creative power."

Founded in 2011 by CEO Benjamin Wayne, Callisto combines the power of big data, technology and lean economics to deliver high-quality, high-value products that help consumers to genuinely improve their lives. Since its founding, the company has taken a data-driven approach to publishing and grown into a top-15 publisher based on sales in the US market, with a robust backlist of titles. Callisto's proprietary algorithms leverage consumer data to determine the content consumers demand and where that demand is not currently met. Callisto's expansive nonfiction publishing list includes workbooks, cooking, health & wellness, relationships & personal growthcontent that can travel globally.

Benjamin Wayne, CEO of Callisto Media, said, "Callisto has been one of the fastest growing publishing companies in history and has reached over 50 million customers. The idea that we could determine through data what customers are really looking for and let them drive the books we create has served us incredibly well the past ten years. I'm excited for Callisto to take the next step in its evolution as part of Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, to continue delivering the kind of content that serves the underserved and helps them transform their lives."

This inventive model is a continuation of Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House's collaborative partnership, which was further strengthened earlier this year with Penguin Random House further investing in Sourcebooks and taking the majority position with no changes in Sourcebooks' leadership, management, publishing autonomy, or entrepreneurial culture, and the running of the organizationincluding all employees.

Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House, said, "Sourcebooks and Callisto have been two of the fastest growing publishers in the US, driven by their data-informed understanding of readers and their market-oriented publishing. Penguin Random House is thrilled to support in bringing these two dynamic publishers together under Dominique Raccah's exceptional leadership. Sourcebooks is known for their innovation and agility, and with this step, we look forward to furthering our unique and successful partnership with them."

Sourcebooks is a thriving entrepreneurial company that brings extraordinary authors to readers in dynamic, data-driven ways. We create books that transcend categories and defy odds, and we have been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. We are a company of enthusiastic booklovers passionate about connecting books to readers in new and innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, we have changed more than 100 million lives. Join us as we change 100 million more. Visit sourcebooks.com for more information.

Media Contact: Liz Kelsch | Director of Marketing | Sourcebooks | [email protected]

Penguin Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children's fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 16,000 new titles, and more than 700 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House's publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world's most widely read authors.

Media Contact: Alexandra Hill | Director of Corporate Communications | Penguin Random House | [email protected]

SOURCE Sourcebooks
Colorado M Series and imagePRESS v 1350 to bring unprecedented features and capabilities to the regional printing and design industry

"Make it GROW" campaign events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai include product demos and workshops

and include product demos and workshops Products will also be showcased at the Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon, the global leader in imaging solutions, has announced the launch its latest flagship products, the Colorado M Series and imagePRESS v 1350, in the Middle East region. The launch of these cutting-edge printing solutions is part of its "Make it GROW" campaign in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that aims to help customers grow their businesses returns with Canon's product portfolio. The campaign showcases their unprecedented features and capabilities that efficiently meet the needs of commercial printers, designers, print service providers, and photography professionals.

Canon has announced the launch of its latest flagship products, the Colorado M Series and imagePRESS v 1350, in the Middle East region

Canon's "Make it GROW" campaign features two product launch events in the UAE. The first was organised at Bab Al Qasr hotel in Abu Dhabi from 1st  2nd May 2023, and the second is a week-long event at Colab, Dubai Design District, from 8th  12th May. The Dubai event hosts a special evening gathering on 10th May, exclusively for interior decor designers, and highlights the unique applications of Canon's new products in this market segment.

The Colorado M Series is a game-changer in the large format printing industry, boasting new features such as white ink printing, modular design options, versatility, and upgradability. With the highest productivity in its class, it empowers print service providers to expand their business horizons and explore new applications on various flexible and rigid media.

On the other hand, the imagePRESS v 1350 sets new standards in Canon's production machines range, offering the highest levels of product automation, volume, and quality. This advanced printing solution is designed to meet the demands of high-volume printing environments, providing unmatched productivity and exceptional print quality.

"At Canon, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that empower our customers to grow their business and achieve success," said Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director at Canon Middle East. "Our two new products are prime examples of our dedication to pushing the boundaries of print technology and providing customers with the tools they need to excel. With Canon's new flagship products, customers in the Middle East can expect unparalleled print quality, productivity, and versatility, enabling them to take their businesses to new heights."

Canon's "Make it GROW" events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai provide an opportunity for customers, enthusiasts, and photography professionals to explore new features and applications of its flagship products. Its experts will be available for consultations on optimizing business returns and driving customer engagement with unique, high-quality printouts.

In addition, Canon will showcase the newly launched products at the upcoming Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition, where visitors can learn about the benefits of Canon's latest offerings, explore new features, and receive free consultations on applications and business opportunities from its experts. As a bonus, Canon is offering a promotion with a chance to win a fully paid trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition.

Media enquiries, please contact:

Mai Youssef

e. [email protected]

Acorn Strategy

e. [email protected]

About Canon Middle East

Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE.

Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation.

Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs, using Canon's products, solutions and services.

Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at www.canon-me.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072010/Make_It_GROW.jpg

SOURCE Canon
- Leading Fast Casual Seafood Restaurant Welcomes Industry Veteran to Sales Team -

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Captain D's, the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant, announced today that Steve Bailey has joined the company as director of franchise development. Bailey has more than 20 years of experience in franchise sales and development with multiple restaurant service brands. Focusing on territories east of the Mississippi River, he will support Captain D's ongoing expansion throughout the country alongside longtime senior director of franchise development Steve Bielewicz, who is responsible for growing the company's presence in the western region.

"Captain D's focus on flexible prototypes and cost-effective conversion opportunities is fueling increased interest from both new and existing multi-unit and multi-concept franchisees throughout the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, and we have welcomed Steve onboard our development team to help us capitalize on this momentum," said Brad Reed, chief development officer of Captain D's. "He is a tremendous asset to us, with a stellar track record from over two decades of experience helping restaurant brands and franchise owners grow."

Bailey comes to Captain D's after six years with Fazoli's, where he was the senior director of franchise sales. During his time there, he helped lead restructuring and revitalization that resulted in record-breaking performance numbers for the brand. Prior to that, he worked in similar development roles for restaurant companies such as Sonic Drive-In, Einstein's Bros. Bagels, Checkers and Dairy Queen. He earned a bachelor's in business from the Indiana Institute of Technology.

"Besides occupying a unique seafood niche in the fast casual industry, Captain D's sets itself apart as a leader in fostering strong relationships with its franchisees and employees. I'm honored to be a part of the future of this brand and to join Brad Reed and Steve Bielewicz in charting the course for expansion," said Bailey.

Captain D's remains focused on corporate and franchise development in target markets throughout the South, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, including Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The company is currently seeking single and multi-unit operators to join in the brand's rapid expansion and is offering franchise owners 0% royalties for the first six months for locations that open 60 days or more ahead of schedule. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit www.captaindsfranchising.com or call 800-314-4819.

ABOUT CAPTAIN D'S

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain D's has more than 540 restaurants in 23 states. Captain D's is the nation's leading fast casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D's has been offering its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for over 50 years. Captain D's serves a wide variety of seafood that includes freshly prepared entrees and the company's signature batter dipped fish. The restaurants also offer premium-quality, grilled items such as shrimp, Tilapia and Salmon, as well as hushpuppies, desserts and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea, a Captain D's favorite. For more information, please visit www.captainds.com.

Contact:

Nicole Hunnicutt

Fish Consulting

404-558-4108

[email protected]

SOURCE Captain D's
Press Release

May 9, 2023 TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Dateline Philippines with Karmina Constantino Q: We're gonna start off the response of the Bureau of Immigration spokesperson, the response that was sent to us because we also invited them today to the program and I want to hear your thoughts about it. This is what they sent. The IACAT or PAOCC may be able to better explain the details of the operation. Support lang po kasi kami. They are supposed to be our first line of defense here. How did these foreigners even end up in the country working in these illegal operations? Your thoughts? SRH: Well precisely, that is one of the biggest questions here. Hindi maiwasang kwestyunin ang BI. Kasi nakakabigla naman talaga- 1000 foreigners, the question really is that which you already said -- pano iyon nakapasok? I mean tiwala ako for the record na ang Bureau of Immigration at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno na gagawin ang lahat para matuldukan na ang human trafficking. But in specific cases like this now, what just transpired in Clark, matatanong pa rin yan sa BI. While we recognize the efforts the BI has undertaken, there is still more that can be done. At umaasa ako na we can have deeper cooperation gaya nga ng cooperation natin doon sa 10 Filipina bound for sex work sa Singapore na na-intercept din naman ng Bureau. Of course, hindi sapat na BI lang ang tagabantay. Lahat ay dapat naka-high alert sa mga kasong ito, pati na ang Coast Guard, bilang hindi lang sa immigration counters nakakalusot ang mga biktima, kundi pati na sa ating mga karagatan. So first line defense and last line of defense ang BI at our counters at ang Coast Guards pari na sa ating Southern backdoors. Q: How deep is the problem and how vast is the network here. I mean we're not just talking about the scamming operations but other so-called businesses that are supported by human trafficking, here you were investigating even rescuing Filipinos from other countries when the very same thing was happening to other nationalities within our own shores. SRH: Exactly and that's what shocking about how indeed vast the scope of the problem is. Hindi lang itong 1,000 human trafficking victims sa Clark na narescue na which by the way show that the Senate Committee on Women hearings have been bearing fruit. May resulta ang ating mag expose at saka imbestigasyon. But as we continued to investigate this, the Senate Committee on Women for the past two going on three years, we've seen first of all that the human trafficking is not just outbound nating mga Pinoy sa mga diumanong disenteng trabaho, pagdating pala nila sa ibang bansa, they will be forced into crypto scamming operations pabalik din pala. Other nationals are also being trafficked here and forced to work as crypto scammers here. We have those 1,000 human trafficking victims gaya din ng ibinahagi ng aming Indonesian witness na si alias Ridwan na higit kumulang may 1,000 foreigners at the Bayport NAIA Residences in Pasay. After Ridwan was able to return home and also testify at our hearing, in fact, another Indonesian national reached out to my Facebook page, asking to be rescued in Pasay. What's disturbing about what happened to this person kontra sa nangyari kay Ridwan, Aafew days later, the person informed my staff that they were suddenly transferred to Cavite because one of them attempted to reach out to the Indonesian embassy to get help, pero nahuli siya noong Chinese bosses nila and you know just speaking of how deep and how big this might be, it actually seems to be actually coming back full circle sa POGOs na nagsimula ng lahat ng aming imbestigasyon. We started with POGO-related prostitution then naging illegal recruitment and detention. Sumabog yung pastillas scam and now we're in the thick of this investigation of human trafficking and crypto scamming. Mukhang posibleng konektado rin sa POGOs because our committee has been discovering that a lot of these crypto hubs are using POGOs as a legal cover. Dati pa, pinanawagan ko na na i-ban sa mga POGOs dahil sa paglaganap ng prostitusyon na dala ng industriya ng online gambling. And magkakaroon pa kami ng pagdinig tungkol dito and I really am convinced that we can make an even stronger case to ban POGOs in the country, kasi walang mabuting naidala, kaya palayasin na. Q: About human trafficking, it's modern-day slavery basically talk about criminal syndicates., all these illegal activities. As you have been immersing yourself and really digging deep into these all problems. How much is it all worth? How much are all these operations worth that it is really hard to choke the money or choke the finances because that's the only way really that it could die? SRH: I could get back to you on the specific numbers of each aspect of this operations as we've seen so ffar,kasi dahil nga sa lawak at lalim nito there may even be bigger numbers underneath accounting for different revenue streams, yung POGO nga lang, ayon sa aming expert resource person noong nakaraang hearing, si. Dr. Alvin Camba, POGOs themselves maybe a manifestation of excess money of Chinese millionaires na sumusubok mag-escape sa Mainland China dahil nga mahigpit ang regulation at pagbabawal ng kanilang gobyerno sa Beijing, especially in terms of gambling and in particular POGOs. These might be excess money seeking investment locations outside their country. So pumunta sa iba't ibang bansa including other countries like Cambodia pero noong binan din ang POGO doon, pumunta dito sa atin. POGOs with all their related social ills with very little of the promise economic gains, and speaking of the social ills, ayun nagmutate na into different forms of crimes against persons hindi lang prostitusyon pati na nga dito sa human trafficking. So it must be worth a lot mukhang malalaking pera ang iniinvest at mukhang kumikita. Q: As in the proliferation of illegal drugs and the syndicates behind it I mean globally you talk to analysts, intelligence officers, they're going to whittle it down to maybe 3 or 4 cartels, right. In terms of the drug trade. For this one for example, talking about human trafficking and modern day slavery, you talk about the Chinese connection, do you have at least an idea as to who is behind this and how many groups there really are there. SRH: We have a general sense na batay sa testimonies and affidavits ng mga victim-survivors they all well bukang bibig nilang lahat so far Chinese bosses daw. Now are we talking about one syndicate or several? It seemed for example sa pastillas scam na iisang halos iisang sindikato yan medyo centralized, it's seeming now on the ongoing investigation that the syndicate or syndicates engaged in human trafficking and cryptoscamming maybe more than one maaring mas decentralized ang operations ito, will that make it easier or harder to rescue the victim-survivors and crackdown on these syndicates. That remains to be seen pero kung intertwined na sila sa iba pang criminal syndicates including those trafficking in drugs edi hindi talaga madali because the operations not just of different countries bureaus of immigration but also law enforcement agencies kasama na yung ating PNP yung ating NBI with whom who I wish to thank no for constantly participating in our hearings helping us stop the super scamming operations that happen even in our own country pero hindi pa ito tapos our committee will call another hearing on this and we will continue to rely on these regulatory and law enforcement agencies to root out the roots of this problem and the syndicates that are creating them. Q: Do you have reason to believe, you have been on this issue for quite awhile now, do you think that this is actually novel, is this a new issue to the authorities who are supposedly following this up and supposedly making sure this is not happening, do you think every single issue that you have unearthed is actually a new thing to them? Or do you think they've known this for quite awhile now? SRH: That's a really good question. Historically, sinasabi for example that we started with POGO-related prostitution that unfortunately they say prostitution is the oldest business in the world, and I stand in solidarity with our sister prostituted women seeking to have better life decent livelihood, healing for themselves and their families but when you link up prostitution with gambling, also not a recent phenomenon at pag idinagdag mo pa yung elemento ng collusion ng government agencies or personnel, it makes it all the more painful and certainly not something new I believe to the eyes of our authorities. Sinimulan naming imbestigahan yung POGO-related prostitution under the previous administration and previous administrations of leaderships, in the agencies including the BI at habang tinalakay namin yung illegal recruitment and detention hanggang sa pastillas scam tumawid na tayo sa kasalukuyang administrasyon where our committee has been unearthing these different terrible aspects of human trafficking and cryptoscamming operations. So imposibleng bago ito sa kaalaman ng ating mga authoridad which makes them all the more accountable at lalong inaasahan dapat to once and for all crack down on this and one important and definitive step that could be taken even by the current administration is simply collect on the taxes owed government by the POGOs, shutdown their operations and kick them out of the country.
The Ukrainian air defense eliminated about 15 enemy air targets in the sky over Kyiv, which were launched by four Russian Tu-95MS bombers from the Caspian Sea region, the press service of Kyiv city military administration reported.

"According to preliminary information, about a dozen enemy air targets were detected and destroyed in the airspace around Kyiv! No hits allowed. Preliminary, without casualties and serious damage as a result of falling debris. The information is being updated and specified," the statement said.

The department noted that this is the fifth air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May.

It is noted that the night attack on Tuesday morning was carried out from four sides of Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Caspian Sea region.

"The fired cruise missiles, most likely of the X-101 (X-555) type, did not reach their targets. The capital's air defense again worked perfectly," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv city military administration, said.
Attendees will see how CDNetworks uses additional beyond rule-based web protection methods and scenario-based risk management to safeguard an organization's cloud infrastructures, applications, and business.

SINGAPORE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CDNetworks, an APAC-leading network to deliver edge as a service, is excited to showcase its industry-leading Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solution, along with a range of innovative products and services for Web Performance and Media Delivery, at the upcoming Cloud Expo Europe Frankfurt 2023, on May 10-11, 2023, at Booth H060, in Hall 8, at Messe Frankfurt.

Introducing the WAAP Solution

Unlike other CDNetworks' cloud security solutions, like Bot Shield, Application Shield, and API Shield, which protect organizations from specific attack vectors, CDNetworks' WAAP solution is a cloud-based solution tailored to real business scenarios, with greater protection efficiencies and broader coverage.

With additional beyond rule-based web protection and advanced scenario-based risk management, CDNetworks' WAAP solution significantly boosts the efficiency and accuracy of an organization's cybersecurity protection. It allows organizations to protect specific business scenarios precisely without compromising the user experience of their online visitors. It also empowers organizations to safeguard their fundamental cloud infrastructures, address application-level threats, and guarantee smooth business operations comprehensively and seamlessly.

Infrastructures Security

CDNetworks' WAAP solution secure fundamental infrastructures with globally distributed network and scrubbing capabilities.

With over 2800 global CDN Points of Presence (PoPs) and a cloud-based scrubbing center with a capacity of 15Tbps, CDNetworks' WAAP solution also offers a DDoS protection service that is designed to deflect even the largest attacks to keep CDN operating at peak performance and helps organizations keep their sites and apps always available.

Application Security

CDNetworks' WAAP solution protects an organization's applications, data, and APIs with its intelligent web application firewall (WAF) protection and full lifecycle API management and protection.

With over 1,000 WAF signatures and policies, CDNetworks' WAAP solution protects an organization's application by detecting and preventing a wide range of web application attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), file inclusion attacks, and other top threats published by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP).

In combination with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and third-party shared threat intelligence library, CDNetworks' WAAP platform updates defense rules constantly and automatically to identify the latest threats before they occur. In addition, WAF Intelligent Analysis Services effectively reduce false positives while improving operational efficiencies.

Leveraging API Discovery features to identify known, unknown, and changing APIs throughout their lifecycle, CDNetworks' WAAP solution fortifies an organization's API security posture by employing multiple detection processes in real-time to thwart attacks before they reach the origin. Our WAAP solution also intelligently detects personal identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive data in API response data where PII may be leaked or used by APIs to notice organizations to take further actions, ensuring the highest availability and protection of your API assets.

Business Security

CDNetworks' WAAP solution protects an organization's business with advanced Bot and risk management services.

CDNetworks' WAAP solution provides a comprehensive AI-powered bot management service that effectively protects an organization's digital business and prevents its sensitive web assets from being exploited for fraudulent purposes. This service helps to eliminate bad Bots, prevent web-asset hijacking, avoid network resource abuse, and eliminate other fraudulent attack behaviors that can have a serious impact on an organization's revenue and brand reputation.

CDNetworks' WAAP solution also provides more scenario-based risk management for specific scenarios, such as fraudulent account logins, promotional activities, and transactions. Its risk management center allows organizations to analyze and handle suspicious requests proactively using anomaly and risk-based scoring techniques that aid organizations in identifying and managing business risks.

CDNetworks' WAAP solution includes even more powerful security services, including Vulnerability Scanning Service, Business Security Analysis, Security Strategy Optimization, and Professional Reporting Service. These security services provide security policy recommendations and optimize configurations aligned with an organization's security infrastructure, security mandates, and business priorities. Backed by a security team that provides proactive monitoring and alert services for major events with reliable 24/7 continuity, CDNetworks' WAAP solution provides organizations with one-stop protection for their business security.

"We are excited to share our Web Application and API Protection solution with industry professionals at Cloud Expo", Doyle Deng, Head of Global Marketing and Product of CDNetworks said. "Our solution represents a significant step forward for us in the field of security. We look forward to demonstrating how our solutions can make a significant impact to companies of all sizes when it comes to accelerating, securing, and controlling their digital business at the edge while delivering the optimum user experiences to users at any scale."

Spurring Your Digital Business Innovation at the Edge

CDNetworks places significant importance when it comes to staying ahead of the curve in today's competitive digital business climate. That's why CDNetworks embraces the new era of Edge, and offers a range of cutting-edge solutions designed to spur your innovation at the edge.

CDNetworks' Web Performance solution ensures lightning-fast website loading times, while our Security solution protects your online assets from cyberthreats. Additionally, our Media Delivery solution enables seamless streaming of high-quality video content to your audience. These suites of innovative products are designed from the ground up to allow you to take your digital business to the next level.

The following related solutions and services will be presented at the exhibition:

Web Performance

- Dynamic Web Acceleration

- Cloud DNS+

Security

- WAAP

- Flood Shield Volumetric DDoS Protection

- Enterprise Secure Access (Zero-Trust Solution)

- Security Services

Media Delivery

- Media Acceleration Live Broadcasting/Video-on-Demand

- Cloud Streaming

- Low Latency Streaming

- Object Storage

We invite you to visit CDNetworks at Booth H060, in Hall 8, at Messe Frankfurt, to learn more about our comprehensive product portfolios. To schedule a meeting with CDNetworks' experts at Cloud Expo, please visit https://www.cdnetworks.com/cloud-expo-europe-frankfurt/#bookMeeting.

About CDNetworks

As the APAC-leading network with over 2800 global Points of Presence and more than 20 years of technology experience, CDNetworks embraces the new era of Edge and takes it to the next level by using the Edge as a service to deliver the fastest and most secure digital experiences to end users. Our diverse products and services include web performance, media delivery, cloud security, zero trust security, and colocation services  all of which are uniquely designed to spur business innovation. To learn more, visit cdnetworks.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact

CDNetworks Co. Ltd

[email protected]

www.cdnetworks.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736512/LOGO_Logo.jpg

SOURCE CDNetworks
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The size of the cement market is expected to grow by USD 94.17 billion between 2022 and 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 4.62% as per the latest Technavio market research report. APAC is going to have lucrative growth during the forecast period. The region will account for 84% of the market growth. The ongoing infrastructure projects across the country will drive the demand for cement during the forecast period. Such projects require cement, which will drive the growth of the market in APAC during the forecast period. The construction industry in several Asian countries is also growing. Developing countries, including India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where residential housing constructions are growing exponentially due to a rise in household incomes and increasing urbanization, are expected to be significant contributors to the growth of the market in APAC during the forecast period. For more insights on the market share of various regions - Download a sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cement Market 2023-2027

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Cement market: The use of energy-efficient technologies will drive growth

The production of cement requires enormous amounts of energy and releases large amounts of carbon dioxide in the process. This carbon footprint can be saved and used in many ways. To save energy efficiently, cement manufacturers have developed new technologies that may yield better results in the future. This will be the driving force behind the future growth of the industry. Moreover, energy-efficient grinding systems are also used in cement manufacturing at present. Thus, the use of energy-efficient technologies will drive the market to focus during the forecast period.

Cement market: The rising demand for green cement is a major trend in the market.

The increase in construction and building activities is the primary factor for the growth of the global market. Moreover, governments promoting green architecture can gain quick footholds in the market to ensure sustainable construction. The durability offered by green cement for various construction projects compared to OPC for a less alkaline mixture is expected to play an important role in the development of the market. Future projects such as nuclear power plants, the construction of bridges and pavements, and other infrastructure projects are expected to lead to high demand for lucrative opportunities across the market.

To learn more key insights about drivers and trends along with challenges - Download a

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Some of the key market players:

The global cement market is highly fragmented, with several companies competing to gain prominence. Vendors have vast geographical presences with huge production facilities located around the globe. Nonetheless, there are a sizeable number of small regional vendors with significant shares in the market. Also, the growing innovation in cement market such as green cement and others will drive the competition in the market. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include:

Adbri Ltd.: The company offers cement through its subsidiary Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd.

The company offers cement through its subsidiary Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd. Al Safwa Ltd.: The company offers cements through its subsidiary UltraTech Cement.

The company offers cements through its subsidiary UltraTech Cement. Cementir Holding NV: The company offers cements such as white cement, oil well cement, sulfoaluminate cement.

The company offers cements such as white cement, oil well cement, sulfoaluminate cement. CEMEX SAB de CV: The company offers cements such as grey and white cement.

The company offers cements such as grey and white cement. Buzzi Unicem SpA

China National Building Material Co. Ltd.

Drake

Epcco Publishing Group Ltd.

Fujairah Cement Industries PJSC

HeidelbergCement AG

Holcim Ltd.

INTERCEMENT PARTICIPACOES SA

PPC Ltd.

Siam Cement PCL

Taiheiyo Cement Corp.

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Cement market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the cement market by product (blended, portland, and others), end-user (residential and non-residential), and geography (APAC, Middle East and Africa, Europe, North America, and South America).

The market growth in the blended segment will be significant during the forecast period. Blended cement can be defined as the uniform mix of portland cement and blending materials such as silica fumes, fly ash, limestone, and slag to enhance its properties for different applications. The consumption of this product is increasing as it can improve the workability, strength, durability, and chemical resistance of concrete. Additionally, water consumption is less, which makes it easy to work with and shape. This product can also be used in functions such as domestic construction, engineering projects, mining applications, and road construction. Therefore, the increase in various infrastructural development projects will drive the demand for blended cement and contribute to the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.

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Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

Related Reports:

The concrete and cement market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to decrease by USD 469.01 billion . The market is segmented by product (cement and concrete), end-user (residential and non-residential), and geography (APAC, Europe , North America , South America , and Middle East and Africa ).

size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to decrease by . The market is segmented by product (cement and concrete), end-user (residential and non-residential), and geography (APAC, , , , and and ). The white cement market is estimated to decline at a CAGR of 3.16% between 2021 and 2026. The market size is forecasted to increase by USD 1.43 billion . The market is segmented by application (residential, commercial, and infrastructure) and geography (APAC, North America , Middle East and Africa , Europe , South America , US, China , India , Saudi Arabia , and Spain ).

Cement Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.62% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 94.17 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.85 Regional analysis APAC, Middle East and Africa, Europe, North America, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 84% Key countries US, Turkey, China, India, and Indonesia Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Adbri Ltd., Al Safwa Ltd., Buzzi Unicem SpA, Cementir Holding NV, CEMEX SAB de CV, China National Building Material Co. Ltd., Drake, Epcco Publishing Group Ltd., Fujairah Cement Industries PJSC, GRUPO ARGOS S.A., HeidelbergCement AG, Holcim Ltd., INTERCEMENT PARTICIPACOES SA, PPC Ltd., Siam Cement PCL, Taiheiyo Cement Corp., Taiwan Cement Ltd., Votorantim SA, Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd., and Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Table of contents:

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global cement market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global cement market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.2 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.3 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Product

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Product

6.3 Blended - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Blended - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Blended - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Blended - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Blended - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Portland - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Portland - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 39: Data Table on Portland - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 40: Chart on Portland - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 41: Data Table on Portland - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.6 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion)

7 Market Segmentation by End-user

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 47: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 48: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 49: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 50: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

7.3 Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 51: Chart on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 52: Data Table on Residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 53: Chart on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 54: Data Table on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 55: Chart on Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 56: Data Table on Non-residential - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 57: Chart on Non-residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 58: Data Table on Non-residential - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 59: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 60: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 61: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 63: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 64: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 65: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 66: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 67: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 68: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 70: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 71: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 83: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 91: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 93: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on Turkey - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 99: Chart on Turkey - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Turkey - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Indonesia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on Indonesia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Indonesia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 103: Chart on Indonesia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on Indonesia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 105: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 106: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 107: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 108: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 109: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 110: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 111: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Adbri Ltd.

Exhibit 112: Adbri Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 113: Adbri Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Adbri Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 115: Adbri Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 116: Adbri Ltd. - Segment focus

12.4 Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 117: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 118: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.5 Buzzi Unicem SpA

Exhibit 120: Buzzi Unicem SpA - Overview



Exhibit 121: Buzzi Unicem SpA - Business segments



Exhibit 122: Buzzi Unicem SpA - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Buzzi Unicem SpA - Segment focus

12.6 Cementir Holding NV

Exhibit 124: Cementir Holding NV - Overview



Exhibit 125: Cementir Holding NV - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Cementir Holding NV - Key news



Exhibit 127: Cementir Holding NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 128: Cementir Holding NV - Segment focus

12.7 CEMEX SAB de CV

Exhibit 129: CEMEX SAB de CV - Overview



Exhibit 130: CEMEX SAB de CV - Business segments



Exhibit 131: CEMEX SAB de CV - Key news



Exhibit 132: CEMEX SAB de CV - Key offerings



Exhibit 133: CEMEX SAB de CV - Segment focus

12.8 China National Building Material Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 134: China National Building Material Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 135: China National Building Material Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 136: China National Building Material Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.9 Drake

Exhibit 137: Drake - Overview



Exhibit 138: Drake - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: Drake - Key offerings

12.10 GRUPO ARGOS S.A.

Exhibit 140: GRUPO ARGOS S.A. - Overview



Exhibit 141: GRUPO ARGOS S.A. - Business segments



Exhibit 142: GRUPO ARGOS S.A. - Key offerings



Exhibit 143: GRUPO ARGOS S.A. - Segment focus

12.11 HeidelbergCement AG

Exhibit 144: HeidelbergCement AG - Overview



Exhibit 145: HeidelbergCement AG - Business segments



Exhibit 146: HeidelbergCement AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 147: HeidelbergCement AG - Segment focus

12.12 Holcim Ltd.

Exhibit 148: Holcim Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 149: Holcim Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 150: Holcim Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 151: Holcim Ltd. - Segment focus

12.13 PPC Ltd.

Exhibit 152: PPC Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 153: PPC Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 154: PPC Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 155: PPC Ltd. - Segment focus

12.14 Siam Cement PCL

Exhibit 156: Siam Cement PCL - Overview



Exhibit 157: Siam Cement PCL - Business segments



Exhibit 158: Siam Cement PCL - Key offerings



Exhibit 159: Siam Cement PCL - Segment focus

12.15 Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 160: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 161: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 162: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 163: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

12.16 Taiheiyo Cement Corp.

Exhibit 164: Taiheiyo Cement Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 165: Taiheiyo Cement Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 166: Taiheiyo Cement Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 167: Taiheiyo Cement Corp. - Segment focus

12.17 Votorantim SA

Exhibit 168: Votorantim SA - Overview



Exhibit 169: Votorantim SA - Product / Service



Exhibit 170: Votorantim SA - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 171: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 172: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 173: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 174: Research methodology



Exhibit 175: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 176: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 177: List of abbreviations

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SOURCE Technavio
MIAMI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Mark Allayev, the CEO of Funders App, Blaze Vapors, and 24 Capital, has recently made a generous donation of over $500,000 to various charitable organizations. These organizations include Chabad of Golden Beach, Chabad Lubovitch of Montana, The Center Aventura, Young Israel of Sunny Isles, Netzach Foundation, and Shaarei Zion. Through these donations, Mark has shown his commitment to supporting charitable causes in his community.

Mark Allayev - CEO, Funders App (CNW Group/Funders App)

Mark's journey over the past five years has been challenging, with events such as the pandemic and global conflicts. Despite the obstacles he faced, Mark was determined to give back to the community as best he could.

The organizations that received Mark's donations provide valuable services and support to those in need, including education, healthcare, and community outreach. Chabad of Golden Beach is dedicated to providing support and guidance to the Jewish community in Golden Beach, Florida. Chabad Lubovitch of Monta aims to educate the local community about the Jewish faith and provide spiritual guidance. The Center Aventura provides counseling services, job placement, and financial assistance to those in need in the Aventura area. Young Israel of Sunny Isles is a synagogue that provides religious services and educational programs for the Jewish community. Netzach Foundation provides support and services to families and individuals affected by mental illness, and Shaarei Zion is a religious organization that provides support to the Jewish community.

"I believe that it is our duty to give back to those who are less fortunate and to help those who are in need," said Mark Allayev. "I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had in my life, and I feel fortunate to be able to support organizations that are doing such important work in our community."

Mark's commitment to giving back to his community despite the challenges he has faced is a testament to his character and dedication to making a positive impact. His generosity has made a significant impact on the lives of those in need and serves as an inspiration to others to give back and support their local communities.

SOURCE Funders App
Leading Dermatological Skincare Brand Supports Non-Profit Established to Express Gratitude to Nurses by Sharing the Story of Two of its Honorees

NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of National Nurses Month, therapeutic skincare brand CeraVe is extending its ongoing commitment to nurses by announcing a new multi-year partnership with The DAISY Foundation, the international leader in meaningful recognition of nurses, to highlight the compassion and dedication represented within the nurse community. This National Nurses Week, CeraVe and The DAISY Foundation have debuted a heart-warming digital documentary short that shares the true story of a family whose lives were forever impacted by two New York nurses.

CeraVe and The DAISY Foundation have partnered together to highlight real stories of DAISY Honorees and the profound, lifesaving impact they have had on a patient and her family. CeraVe x The DAISY Foundation

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:

https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9168551-cerave-partnership-with-the-daisy-foundation-highlighting-nurses/

The short details the story of Maria Vento, a New Jersey mom who welcomed her daughter Sofia prematurely and with a congenital heart defect, and how nurses not only saved her life, but touched the lives of her family. During the long stays at hospitals that followed her birth, Vento and her family crossed paths with nurses Kathryn (Kat) Finley, BSN, RN, CCRN and Gabi Kats, BSN, RN, CCRN who each took special care of her daughter and supported the family through some of their toughest times. Finley's and Kats' above-and-beyond care for Sofia and her family led Vento to nominate them each for The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses, which gives patients, families and colleagues the opportunity to nominate nurses who have created extraordinary relationships with patients through their acts of compassion.

CeraVe's new three-year partnership with The DAISY Foundation will help in their mission of expressing gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize the extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care that nurses provide to patients and their families.

"We at CeraVe have the utmost appreciation for the tireless dedication and profound impact of nurses, and we remain committed to ensuring nurses receive not only gratitude, but support and resources as well," said Jasteena Gill, Vice President of Marketing at CeraVe. "Our partnership with The DAISY Foundation is an extension of our ongoing commitment to this mission, and over the next three years, we'll help them encourage patients and colleagues to thank and celebrate the nurses in their lives."

"Our mission as a foundation is rooted in expressing gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for the extraordinary compassionate and skillful care they provide," said Tena Barnes Carraher, co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Communications of The DAISY Foundation. "We're grateful for CeraVe's support to help us further that mission, starting with the release of this incredible story of the Vento family and how the compassionate care they received from Gabi and Kat inspired DAISY Award nominations."

As a continuation of the brand's support of nurses timed to National Nurses Week, CeraVe has partnered with Little Words Project, the original word bracelet, to provide a portion of sales donation to The DAISY Foundation. From May 9 to May 12, Little Words Project will donate 25 percent of net proceeds from every "Nurse" bracelet sold on their website to The DAISY Foundation, and CeraVe will match the donations generated. Purchase a bracelet by visiting Little Words Project's online store.

Head to CeraVe.com/Nurses to learn more about CeraVe's partnership with The DAISY Foundation and to watch this year's video. To learn more about The DAISY Foundation and how to honor a nurse in your life, visit CeraVe.com/Nurses or DAISYfoundation.org.

About CeraVe

Founded in 2005 and developed with dermatologists, CeraVe is the first and only brand to offer a complete line of products containing essential ceramides and MVE technology to help restore the skin's natural protective barrier. CeraVe has a full line of skincare products to follow the dermatologist-recommended steps of: cleanse, treat, moisturize, and protect. The brand's mission is to provide therapeutic skincare for all. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or at www.cerave.com.

About L'Oreal

L'Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 34 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 25.8 billion euros in 2016 and employs 89,300 people worldwide. As the world's leading beauty company, L'Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 3,870 people, are at the core of L'Oreal's strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L'Oreal's sustainability commitment for 2020 "Sharing Beauty with All" sets out ambitious sustainable development objectives across the Group's value chain. For more information visit www.loreal.com.

About The DAISY Foundation

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. The compassionate care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the creation of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an evidenced-based means of providing nurse recognition and thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. The foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 5,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing and funds nursing research and evidence-based practice studies. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

SOURCE CeraVe
Local Red Robin Franchisee Ansara Restaurant Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary Serving Gourmet Burgers in Michigan with 30% of Daily Proceeds Donation to Make-A-Wish Michigan from all 21 Locations

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 10, 2023, local Red Robin franchisee Ansara Restaurant Group, who owns and operates all 19 Red Robin restaurants in Michigan and two in Ohio, will celebrate 30 years of Red Robin hospitality in the state by donating 30 percent of proceeds* to Make-A-Wish Michigan. Ansara Restaurant Group opened Michigan's first Red Robin location in Novi on May 10, 1993. Today, they own and operate 21 Red Robins locally and employ more than 2,000 people.

Ansara is celebrating 30 years as a Red Robin franchisee and offering 30% of proceeds to Make-A-Wish Michigan on May 10th.

The Ansara Restaurant Group is a multi-generational, family-owned business founded by Andrew and George Ansara, who immigrated to Michigan from a small mountain village in Lebanon in 1951. They came to Michigan with hopes of beginning a new life and living the American dream of owning their own business. Today, Andrew's and George's family continues to build upon their dreams through their many restaurants and concepts. A family tradition since 1961, Ansara Restaurant Group continues to follow the high standards and values established by Andrew and George Ansara more than 60 years ago.

The following Red Robin locations throughout Michigan and Ohio will donate 30 percent of proceeds to Make-A-Wish Michigan:

Ann Arbor, Brighton, Clinton Township, Commerce Township, Flint, Grandville, Holland, Kentwood, Lansing, Livonia, Madison Heights, Norton Shores, Novi, Pittsfield, Portage, Roseville, Southgate, Troy, Westland, Maumee, and Toledo

*30% of proceeds (dine-in, to-go and catering) on May 10, 2023 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Michigan from participating Red Robin locations. Excludes third-party, gift cards, retail, alcohol, tax and gratuity.

PHOTO: Historic photo of 1993 Novi ribbon cutting

Red Robin Signature Whiskey River Burger

Make-A-Wish Flier

SOURCE Ansara Restaurant Group
PLANO, Texas,, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospitals conducting CEO searches should consider Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) because their unique qualifications make them prime candidates for a hospital's top leadership position, according to Community Hospital Corporation.

Stephanie Guidry, CEO, Bayou Bend Health System

CNOs already possess certain traits required to run a hospital. That includes a practical and passionate understanding of ways to deliver quality, a commitment to service-oriented care, skills that attract and engage clinicians, teamwork building, and the resolve to be a firm but compassionate leader. If promoted from within, nurse CEOs have earned the respect of frontline workers, and they understand the challenges through their own experience.

"CNOs have transferable skills that allow them to lead at the highest level," said Stephanie Guidry, a former CNO who is currently the CEO at Bayou Bend Health System in Franklin, Louisiana, a CHC-supported hospital. "Nursing develops excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, the capacity to sort out details, make informed decisions, manage risks, and expertly communicate information and relay difficult news."

Laying Groundwork

To fill the CEO role, hospitals and health systems typically seek candidates with advanced degrees in business rather than nursing, or a combination of those degrees. Those with advanced degrees in nursing can still qualify for a CEO position but should expand their business education through mentorships, certifications and on-the-job experience.

"It's critical for nurse leaders seeking a CEO position to acquire both clinical experience and business acumen in order to run a hospital as effectively and efficiently as possible," said Guidry, who earned advanced degrees in nursing and business,

Taking the Leap

Some of the qualifications CNOs bring to the CEO role also come with challenges. For example, CNOs can relate well with physicians because of their clinical background, but as CEOs they must firmly handle matters such as discharge planning expectations. While remaining open, CEOs are ultimately in charge of operational decision making.

"When I relinquished my CNO position to become a CEO, I felt it was necessary to offer clinical leaders the opportunity to maintain their authority in their practice areas," Guidry said. "But they also understand that the CEO is responsible for making the final decisions impacting the hospital."

Another challenge was adjusting to a new role that doesn't revolve around daily patient care. Nurse CEOs can still interact with clinicians, patients and families, though in a different capacity. They can greatly impact care delivery, and their desire to help people still drives their work.

Nurse CEOs also are expected to stay active in the community to garner support for their organizations through not-for-profit boards and industry associations. Their involvement leverages opportunities to help raise their hospitals' profile. For Guidry, her community involvement includes the local chamber of commerce, the rural hospital coalition board and other community activities. In an ever-changing healthcare environment, CEOs must continue to sharpen their skill sets and further their education in order to stay on top of developments. Most nurse CEOs are keen to refresh their skill sets. As part of their retention and succession strategies, they may offer clinicians advancement opportunities or flexible scheduling to enroll in school to further their education.

"With today's focus on value-based care and patient experience," Guidry said, "the time is ripe to put more nurses at the helm of hospitals and health systems."

Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE.

About Community Hospital Corporation  HELP WHERE HOSPITALS NEED IT

Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE, with the purpose to guide, support and enhance the mission of community hospitals and healthcare providers. Based in Plano, Texas, CHC provides the resources and experience community hospitals need to improve quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and financial performance. For more information about CHC, please visit http://communityhospitalcorp.com .

CONTACT:

Anne Block

[email protected]

972-943-6470

SOURCE Community Hospital Corporation
The Long Island Congenital Heart Walk is part of the nationwide Congenital Heart Walk series which raises money for congenital heart defect research.

KINGS PARK, N.Y. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Children's Heart Foundation is proud to welcome Cohen Children's Medical Center, one of the nation's top children's hospitals and the largest provider of pediatric health services in the state, as the Gold Sponsor of the 2023 Long Island Congenital Heart Walk.

The Congenital Heart Walk is the nation's largest walk series solely dedicated to raising money to fund congenital heart defect research. Congenital heart defects, or CHDs, are America's most common and deadly birth defect. Nearly 40,000 babies are born with a CHD each year in the U.S.; this equates to 1 child every 15 minutes.

The Long Island Congenital Heart Walk will unite supporters to raise funds for research to improve survival, longevity, and quality of life for CHD patients. Join us as at Sunken Meadow State Park (Kings Park, NY) on Saturday, May 13, 2023 for an inspiring event that includes a family-friendly walk, research remarks, kids' activities, games, refreshments, music, and more. Visit events.chfwalk.org/event/longisland to register as a fundraising walker, team captain, volunteer, or to make a donation.

Since 1996, The Children's Heart Foundation has funded more than $16.5 million of CHD research, helping lead to improved diagnostics, earlier interventions, groundbreaking procedures, and life-saving treatments for individuals living with CHDs. The money raised by the Congenital Heart Walk series is helping to fund the groundbreaking research of tomorrow.

About The Children's Heart Foundation

The Children's Heart Foundation is the country's leading organization solely committed to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. The mission of The Children's Heart Foundation is to fund the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects. Since 1996, The Children's Heart Foundation has funded $16.5 million dollars of CHD research. For more information, visit www.childrensheartfoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

SOURCE The Children's Heart Foundation
Indianapolis-based fundraising software market leader invests in a culture of wellbeing, excellence, inclusion, and whole-life engagement.

INDIANAPOLIS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, has been named to Inc. Magazine's list of Best Workplaces for 2023. The recognition acknowledges the company's commitment to supporting employees as they work together to serve their nonprofit customers. After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year.

"Our goal at OneCause is to create a work environment that fosters employee engagement, productivity, and team and personal development alongside company growth. It's an honor to be recognized for our efforts," said Steve Johns, chief executive officer for OneCause. "We support our nonprofit customers in building better tomorrows, which fuels our 'Why' as a company and as people. It connects us, binds us in shared purpose, and ensures that what we do matters."

The company's core values of passion, curiosity, commitment, and helpfulness are the foundation of the purpose-driven culture at OneCause, which offers unique opportunities for every employee to grow and give back. The OneCause Cares Mentor program provides skill development and helps staff take personal ownership for their professional growth, and the Kickstart Your Cause initiative allows each OneCause team member to gift the company's fundraising software to a nonprofit of their choosing each year.

Other initiatives that promote development, open lines of communication, and whole-life engagement include:

Flexible, people-first workplace options

Employee sabbatical program

Employee-led Culture and DEIB committees that work closely with company leadership

Market-leading 401(k) match

Weekly virtual yoga classes

Summer flex hours

Leadership development curriculum

Summer company meeting that brings together distributed work force

Corporate sponsorship of Calm app subscription for all staff members

Commitment to a culture of open feedback

The annual Best Workplaces list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether teams are operating in a physical or a virtual facility. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies has been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

This is the second time OneCause has been named to the Best Workplaces list. In addition, Inc. previously recognized OneCause with a Gold Best in Business Award, honoring companies that positively impacted the community, nonprofit industry, and society during the pandemic.

The Best Workplaces list can be found in the May/June 2023 issue of Inc., with the full list of honorees featured online at: https://www.inc.com/best-workplaces/2023.

About OneCause

OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 10,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $5 billion for their missions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising. For more information, visit www.onecause.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

SOURCE OneCause
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., announces the acquisition of Estrella Insurance to its non-standard national brand Freeway Insurance. Confie's latest acquisition significantly expands its footprint in Florida and their franchise division.

Estrella Insurance operates more than 190 locations across Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, they have provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Estrella will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with their acquisition.

"Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers, and business owners alike. We are excited to welcome them into our ever-growing family," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands."

In 2022, Freeway Insurance introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs. With more than 530 retail stores nationwide, business owners get access to the company's established business model, respected brand, a wide range of national and regional insurance carriers, and back-office resources. Shortly after, Confie acquired Velox Insurance in December 2021. Velox primarily offers franchising to business owners in the Georgia market.

"Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and our growth plan," said Nick Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella."

In addition to its acquisitions, Confie recently announced the expansion of its business process outsourcing division (BPO) with the launch of a new service center in Tijuana, being ranked #1 Personal Lines Leader by Insurance Journal for a seventh straight year and the expansion of their InsureOne brand by way of an agency network for independent insurance agents.

"Confie's expansion plans rely on strategic acquisitions and we welcome that challenge," said Chad Maxwell, SVP, mergers & acquisitions, Confie. "Identifying places where we can strengthen our presence helps us accomplish growth and development, and we are actively seeking great partners to join the Confie family."

If you are interested in selling your agency or exploring a partnership with Confie, visit confie.com. To learn more about our franchises, please visit freewayfranchise.com or estrellafranchise.com.

About Confie

Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are  with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

About Freeway Insurance

Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 500 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620.

About Estrella Insurance

Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information about Estrella Insurance, visit www.estrellainsurance.com.

SOURCE Confie
TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to provide its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 ("Q1-23"). All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Q1-2023 Financial Highlights:

Gross sales 1 for Q1-23 of $965.3 million compared to $673.9 million in Q1-22; an increase of $291.4 million or 43%

for Q1-23 of compared to in Q1-22; an increase of or 43% Gross Profit of $171.6 million compared to $109.0 million in Q1-22; an increase of $62.6 million or 57%

compared to in Q1-22; an increase of or 57% Organic gross profit growth1 increased to 16.5% from 13.9% in Q1-22

Cash flow from operating activities generated $28.8 million , compared to cash used in operations of $30.2 million in Q1-22, increasing by $59.0 million

, compared to cash used in operations of in Q1-22, increasing by Adjusted EBITDA1 of $41.2 million , increasing from $29.6 million in Q1-22 by 39%

, increasing from in Q1-22 by 39% Net revenue for Q1-23 of $678.2 million , an increase of 37% over Q1-22

, an increase of 37% over Q1-22 Product backlog 2 grew by $48M from Q4-22 to $527M at the end Q1-23

grew by from Q4-22 to at the end Q1-23 Adjusted EPS1 of $0.12 per share for Q1-23, increasing from $0.10 per share in Q1-22

per share for Q1-23, increasing from per share in Q1-22 Achieved 103 net new logos in Q1-23

"We are successfully executing against our strategy to demonstrate continued expansion in profitability and cash generation, each reaching new highs during Q1 despite current macro-economic conditions," stated Mr. Shaun Maine, Converge Group CEO. "While the overall market is expected to remain relatively flat in 2023, with particular challenges at the large enterprise customer level, we anticipate that we will gain market share organically, clearly positioning us as the preferred partner among mid-market customers, and that we'll see further organic gross profit growth throughout the remainder of 2023 and beyond."

________________________ 1 This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio) and not a recognized, defined or a standardized measure under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures. 2 Product backlog is calculated as purchase orders received from customers not yet delivered at the end of the fiscal period.



Q1-2023 Business Highlights & Subsequent to Quarter

Announced the conclusion of the strategic review process and the dissolution of the Special Committee

The Board has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share

per share Announced the re-commencement of the Company's normal course issuer bid ("NCIB")

Announced the appointment of Avjit Kamboj to Chief Financial Officer, a finance and technology executive with over 16 years of experience in capital and international markets

Converge subsidiary Stone Group earned Global winner Green World Awards 2023 and Global Silver Winner in Corporate Social responsibility Category; the Company plans on releasing further ESG details at upcoming AGM on June 20, 2023

"With the success of our cross-selling strategy, the Company will be prioritizing organic growth over inorganic growth moving forward," continued Mr. Maine. "The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Avjit Kamboj today as Chief Financial Officer. After leading finance in the early phase of Converge's growth, Mr. Kamboj will re-join the executive leadership team of Converge reporting into myself as Group CEO."

Capital Management Initiatives

In light of the Company's positive net cash flow and on-going cash generation, the Board of Directors has authorized the initiation of a quarterly dividend. The Board has declared a dividend of $0.01 per common share of the Company in respect of the first quarter of 2023. The dividend will be paid on or about June 16, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2023. This dividend is designated to be an eligible dividend for purposes of Section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company also intends to resume purchases under the NCIB that commenced on August 11, 2022. The NCIB terminates one year after its commencement, or earlier if the maximum number of common shares under the NCIB have been purchased or the NCIB is terminated at the option of the Company. As of the date hereof, 6,464,124 common shares of a maximum of 10,744,818 common shares have been repurchased by the Company under the NCIB.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time

Participant Webcast Link:

Webcast Link  https://app.webinar.net/Be13rwz0YGB

Participant Dial-in Details with Operator Assistance:

Confirmation #: 19352249

Toronto: 416-764-8609

North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605

International Toll-Free Numbers:

Germany: 08007240293

Ireland: 1800939111

Spain: 900834776

Switzerland: 0800312635

United Kingdom: 08006522435

You may register and enter your phone number to receive an instant automated call back via https://emportal.ink/41om1Vv

Recording Playback:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/Be13rwz0YGB

Toronto: 416-764-8677

North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541

Replay Code: 352249 #

Expiry Date: May 17th, 2023

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be required to access the webcast. A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call and webcast will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ .

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a services-led, software-enabled, IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions. Converge's global approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)



March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Assets



Current assets





Cash $ 139,028 $ 159,890

Restricted cash 5,105 5,230

Trade and other receivables 784,096 781,683

Inventories 157,608 158,430

Prepaid expenses and other assets 25,139 23,046



1,110,976 1,128,279 Long-term assets





Property, equipment, and right-of-use assets, net 79,897 88,352

Intangible assets, net 446,961 463,751

Goodwill 566,996 563,848

Other non-current assets 12,061 4,646



$ 2,216,891 $ 2,248,876







Liabilities



Current liabilities





Trade and other payables $ 828,000 $ 824,924

Borrowings 460,221 421,728

Other financial liabilities 66,741 123,932

Deferred revenue and other liabilities 60,484 60,210

Income taxes payable 5,402 7,112



1,420,848 1,437,906 Long-term liabilities





Other financial liabilities 64,551 77,183

Deferred tax liability 98,513 102,977



$ 1,583,912 $ 1,618,066







Shareholders' equity





Common shares 599,233 595,019

Contributed surplus 8,767 7,919

Exchange rights - 1,705

Accumulated other comprehensive income 15,881 13,708

Deficit (20,398) (18,441) Total equity attributable to shareholders of Converge 603,483 599,910 Non-controlling interest 29,496 30,900



632,979 630,810



2,216,891 $ 2,248,876

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)





Three months ended March 31,





2023

2022













Revenues









Product $ 536,689 $ 397,392

Service

141,509

96,648

Total revenue

678,198

494,040

Cost of sales

506,610

384,995

Gross profit

171,588

109,045













Selling, general and administrative expenses

132,033

80,412

Income before the following

39,555

28,633

Depreciation and amortization

25,890

14,480

Finance expense, net

9,350

1,818

Special charges

4,284

5,722

Share-based compensation expense

848

1,212

Other expense

2,469

6,403

Loss before income taxes

(3,286)

(1,002)













Income tax expense

75

1,406













Net loss $ (3,361) $ (2,408)

Net loss attributable to:









Shareholders of Converge

(1,957)

(1,794)

Non-controlling interest

(1,404)

(614)



$ (3,361) $ (2,408)

Other comprehensive loss









Exchange (gain) loss on translation of foreign operations

(2,173)

6,587

Comprehensive loss $ (1,188) $ (8,995)

Comprehensive loss attributable to:









Shareholders of Converge

216

(8,381)

Non-controlling interest

(1,404)

(614)



$ (1,188) $ (8,995)













Adjusted EBITDA3 $ 41,208 $ 29,649

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit3

24.0 %

27.2 %



























____________________________ 3 This is a Non-IFRS measure (including non-IFRS ratio) and not a recognized, defined or a standardized measure under IFRS. See the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release for definitions, uses and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.



Summary of Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)









For the three months

ended March 31,







2023

2022













Cash flows from (used in) operating activities











Net loss



$ (3,361) $ (2,408) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operating activities













Depreciation and amortization





27,549

15,340 Unrealized foreign exchange losses





2,463

6,669 Share-based compensation expense





848

1,212 Finance expense, net





9,350

1,818 Income tax expense





75

1,406







36,924

24,037 Changes in non-cash working capital items











Trade and other receivables





(2,441)

(27,773) Inventories





1,328

6,549 Prepaid expenses and other assets





(1,426)

(1,429) Trade and other payables





781

(29,383) Income taxes payable





(6,925)

(753) Other financial liabilities





356

1,917 Deferred revenue and customer deposits





166

(3,385) Cash from (used in) operating activities





28,763

(30,220)













Cash flows used in investing activities











Purchase of property and equipment





(5,106)

(11,356) Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment





68

177 Repayment of contingent consideration





(8,960)

(10,134) Repayment of deferred consideration





(25,654)

(1,740) Repayment of NCI liability





(29,994)

- Business combinations, net of cash acquired





-

(67,926) Cash used in investing activities





(69,646)

(90,979)













Cash flows from financing activities











Transfers from (to) restricted cash





216

(63,493) Interest paid





(7,877)

(956) Payments of lease liabilities





(5,135)

(2,728) Repayment of notes payable





(40)

(121) Net proceeds from borrowings





34,199

162,468 Cash from financing activities





21,363

95,170













Net change in cash during the period





(19,520)

(26,029) Effect of foreign exchange on cash





(1,342)

(5,500) Cash, beginning of period





159,890

248,193 Cash, end of period



$ 139,028 $ 216,664

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This release refers to certain performance indicators including Adjusted EBITDA that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that these measures are useful to most shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders in analyzing the Company's results. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to the consolidated income (loss) or any other measure of performance under IFRS.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income or loss adjusted to exclude amortization, depreciation, interest expense and finance costs, foreign exchange gains and losses, share-based compensation expense, income tax expense, and special charges. Special charges consist primarily of restructuring related expenses for employee terminations, lease terminations, and restructuring of acquired companies, as well as certain legal fees or provisions related to acquired companies. From time to time, it may also include adjustments in the fair value of contingent consideration, and other such non-recurring costs related to restructuring, financing, and acquisitions.

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to provide investors with a supplemental measure of its operating performance and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. The Company believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management also uses non-IFRS measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the ability to meet capital expenditure and working capital requirements.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA will likely differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for or in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's financial statements and disclosures in their entirety and are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-IFRS measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable IFRS financial measures.

The Company has reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Net loss before taxes $ (3,286) $ (1,002) Finance expense 9,350 1,818 Share-based compensation expense 848 1,212 Depreciation and amortization 25,890 14,480 Depreciation included in cost of sales 1,659 751 Foreign exchange loss 2,463 6,668 Special charges 4,284 5,722 Adjusted EBITDA $ 41,208 $ 29,649



Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit

The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Gross Profit is a useful measure of the Company's operating efficiency and profitability. This is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by gross profit.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings per Share ("EPS")

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) represents net income (loss) adjusted to exclude special charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and share-based compensation. The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is a more useful measure than net income (loss) as it excludes the impact of one-time, non-cash and/or non-recurring items that are not reflective of Converge's underlying business performance. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by the total weighted average shares outstanding on a basic and diluted basis.

The Company has provided a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Net loss $ (3,361) $ (2,408) Special charges 4,284 5,722 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 20,208 11,316 Foreign exchange loss 2,463 6,668 Share-based compensation 848 1,212 Adjusted Net Income: $ 24,442 $ 22,510 Basic 0.12 0.10 Diluted 0.12 0.10



Gross sales and gross sales for organic growth

Gross sales, which is a non-IFRS measurement, reflects the gross amount billed to customers, adjusted for amounts deferred or accrued. The Company believes gross sales is a useful alternative financial metric to net revenue, the IFRS measure, as it better reflects volume fluctuations as compared to net revenue. Under the applicable IFRS 15 'principal vs agent' guidance, the principal records revenue on a gross basis and the agent records commission on a net basis. In transactions where Converge is acting as an agent between the customer and the vendor, net revenue is calculated by reducing gross sales by the cost of sale amount.

The Company has provided a reconciliation of gross sales to net revenue, which is the most comparable IFRS financial measure, as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,

2023 2022 Product $ 665,310 $ 453,389 Managed services 40,636 33,983 Third party and professional services 259,312 186,557 Gross sales $ 965,258 $ 673,929 Adjustment for sales transacted as agent 287,060 179,889 Net revenue $ 678,198 $ 494,040



Organic Growth

The Company measures organic growth at the gross sales and gross profit levels, and includes the contributions under Converge ownership in the current and comparative period(s). In calculating organic growth, the Company therefore deducts gross sales and gross profit generated from companies that were acquired in the current reporting period.

Gross sales organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross sales, as reported in the Company's public filings, from current period gross sales for the same portfolio of companies. Gross sales organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross sales.

The following table calculates gross sales organic growth for Q123:

For the three months ended March 31, Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gross sales $ 965,258 $ 673,929 Less: gross sales from companies not owned in comparative period 245,630 188,685 Gross sales of companies owned in comparative period $ 719,628 $ 485,244 Prior period gross sales 673,929 408,100 Organic Growth - $ $ 45,699 $ 77,144 Organic Growth - % 6.8 % 18.9 %

Gross profit organic growth is calculated by deducting prior period gross profit, as reported in the Companies public filings, from current period gross profit for the same portfolio of companies. Gross profit organic growth percentage is calculated by dividing organic growth by prior period reported gross profit.

For the three months ended March 31, Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gross profit $ 171,588 $ 109,045 Less: gross profit from companies not owned in comparative period 44,597 31,808 Gross profit of companies owned in comparative period 126,991 77,237 Prior period gross profit 109,045 67,797 Organic Growth - $ $ 17,946 $ 9,440 Organic Growth - % 16.5 % 13.9 %



Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Converge and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected" "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts". "estimates", "believes" or intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could, "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Converge assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For a detailed description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's filings statement available on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com including its most recent Annual Information Form, its Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements.

Converge Technology Solutions Corp., Email: [email protected], Phone: 416-360-1495

SOURCE Converge Technology Solutions Corp.
Russian occupation troops attacked Ukraine on the night and Tuesday morning, May 9, with sea and air-based cruise missiles, air defense eliminated 23 out of 25 enemy targets, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhny said.

"In total, during the two waves of shelling of Ukraine on the night of May 9, 2023, the Russian invaders launched 25 Kalibr and X-101/X-555 cruise missiles. Some 23 of them were destroyed by air defense of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in cooperation with components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine," his Telegram channel reports.

According to him, at about 22:00 on May 8, the enemy fired eight Kalibr cruise missiles from carriers in the Black Sea, heading for the eastern regions of the country. All eight were destroyed by the forces and means of air defense of the Skhid air command.

Zaluzhny added that closer to 04:00 on May 9, the occupiers launched 17 X-101/X-555 air-launched cruise missiles from strategic aircraft - four Tu-95ms (Caspian region).

"The forces and means of air defense of the Center air command destroyed 14 cruise missiles, and another one - in the area of responsibility of the Pivden air command. In total, 15 cruise missiles X-101/X-555 were destroyed," he said.
Cooleaf has been named among the best workplaces [and in special categories Lean and Mean: under $5MM in gross revenue.]

ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooleaf has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. The list honors American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company cultures.

A leader in the employee engagement space, Cooleaf's platform is transforming employee recognition across top companies. Recently named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle's Best Places to Work in 2022, Cooleaf is pioneering the future of employee engagement for high-performing teams.

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each nominated company took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. Benefits were also audited to determine the overall score and ranking.

"We are honored to have built a culture that our employees are proud to be a part of," says Cooleaf Co-Founder, John Duisberg. "Cooleaf's mission is to transform the employee experience. Knowing that our own people are engaged, happy, and healthy is what it's all about for us. This recognition is an honor that will power our growth tremendously."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

About Cooleaf

Cooleaf is the leading solution for companies looking to drive extraordinary experiences for their employees, customers, and prospects. Through Cooleaf's platform, forward-thinking brands are empowered to listen to sentiment and signals through pulse surveys and SaaS platform integrations, take action to engage stakeholders through recognition, incentives, and virtual experiences, and glean data insights through a powerful suite of analytics tools.

Visit www.cooleaf.com to learn more.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced annually since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Contact:

Melissa Perry, Director of Marketing at Cooleaf

[email protected]

SOURCE Cooleaf
Coyne PR Named Among Best Workplaces in the Medium-Large Category

PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coyne Public Relations has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

Founded in 1991 by CEO Tom Coyne, the agency's mission statement has never wavered: "Our mission is not to be the best agency in America, but the best one to work for. If we are the best place to work, we will attract the best people. If we have the best people, we will attract the best clients. If we have the best people and clients, how can we not be the best agency in America?"

Inc. selected honorees this year after collecting data from thousands of submissions. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"We have worked very hard to maintain our one-of-a-kind culture that has gotten us where we are over the past three decades. We are grateful to have received incredible recognition as a best place to work from across the PR industry this year," said Rich Lukis, President. "But, adding this recognition from Inc. is really the icing on the cake for us in 2023."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

ABOUT COYNE PUBLIC RELATIONS

Founded in 1991, Coyne PR has grown to become one of the top independent public relations firms in the United States. Recognized throughout the industry as "The Best Place to Work," we have wildly creative offices in New York and New Jersey as well as colleagues in 115 cities, 49 countries and six continents through our partnership in The Worldcom Public Relations Group. Our clients include many of the world's most respected companies and those that want to be. Our reputation is built upon three decades of creativity, strategy and service. It is confirmed by more than 1,000 industry awards. For more information, visit www.coynepr.com.

ABOUT INC. MEDIA

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

ABOUT QUANTUM WORKPLACE

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer- to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

SOURCE Coyne Public Relations, LLC
CINCINNATI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Curel Skincare announces partnership with Bobbie Thomas as part of their annual Curel Cares campaign, which benefits the American Nurse Association (ANA). Thomas, an American fashion and beauty journalist well known for her popular style segments on NBC's TODAY show, deeply understands the importance of honoring the invaluable care and compassion provided by nurses and other caregivers. Her family personally experienced their dedication during her late husband Michael's long-term stay in a stroke rehabilitation facility. The nursing community not only aided in Michael's care but also offered unwavering support to her entire family throughout the journey. It is due to their tireless effort that Thomas eagerly agreed to collaborate with Curel Cares and encourage others to honor nurses during National Nurse Awareness Month.

Curel Cares Campaign Gives Back to the ANA CUREL CARES: THE MULTI-FACETED INITIATIVE GIVING BACK TO THE NATIONS NURSES ALIGNS WITH TELEVISION PERSONALITY BOBBIE THOMAS

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9169251-curel-skincare-partnership-bobbie-thomas-curel-cares-campaign-american-nurse-association/

"I am profoundly thankful for the kindness extended by dedicated nurses, patient care associates, and therapists who consistently go above and beyond their responsibilities each day. And I treasure the meaningful bonds formed with the nurses that were there for us, which continue to endure," says Thomas. "I'm forever indebted and grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Curel Cares on this unique program, as it allows us to highlight the indispensable contributions of nurses and caregivers, while also giving back to this very special team."

Curel Skincare is a trusted brand amongst the nurse community, and as a brand that provides therapeutic relief, it's only natural for them to give back to those that passionately provide care to us. To this end, Curel Skincare will be hosting a Grand Prize giveaway for nurses on Instagram to allow the campaign to reach nurses across the country. The lucky winners will receive a gratis deluxe spa day, allowing them to be pampered in the manner they so richly deserve.

Additionally, Curel Skincare and Bobbie are working together to surprise well-deserved nurses with a spa day in order to create an opportunity for them a much-needed time-out and the opportunity to practice a bit of self-care for a change. Through additional facets to the Curel Cares campaign, Curel Skincare will sponsor the National Nurses Month newsletter in conjunction with the ANA.

"We've raised our game this year," says Senior Brand Manager, Emily Spaulding. "It was so important to us to create opportunities for nurses to recharge and hear a heartfelt thank you for their work. If we help them recover even a fraction of their energy, then it's a positive stride."

About Curel Cares

Launched during the pandemic and timed to bring awareness to the many events attached to National Nurses Month in May 2023, Curel Cares is a multi-faceted initiative lending support to the American Nurses Association as well as its charitable arm, the American Nurses Foundation. During its inaugural campaign, Curel Cares made a donation to the American Nurses Foundation and sponsored the half-day American Nurses Association webinar. In addition, there were multiple social media activations, partnerships and product gifting with nurse influencers. A highlight of the first-ever Curel Cares campaign was a Grand Prize Giveaway that gifted four lucky winners with the option of an all-expenses paid pampering trip to New York City that included a stay at a luxury hotel and a spa day or in-home massage therapy.

About Curel Therapeutic Products

Over the years, the nation's nurses have routinely placed their trust in the following therapeutic, ceramide-infused Curel products:

Daily Healing Original Lotion for Dry Skin : Powered by Curel Advanced Ceramide Complex, this non-greasy, quick-absorbing formula offers time-released hydration for 24 hours and is dermatologist recommended.

: Powered by Curel Advanced Ceramide Complex, this non-greasy, quick-absorbing formula offers time-released hydration for 24 hours and is dermatologist recommended. Ultra Healing Intensive Lotion for Extra Dry Skin : Clinically proven to relieve extra-dry skin 2x better than the leading advanced lotion, this non-irritating formula helps even the driest, tightest skin feel soft, supple and restored.

: Clinically proven to relieve extra-dry skin 2x better than the leading advanced lotion, this non-irritating formula helps even the driest, tightest skin feel soft, supple and restored. Itch Defense Fragrance-Free Lotion for Dry, Tight Skin : Granted the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, this allergist-tested formula is fueled by Advanced Ceramide Complex, pro-vitamin B5 and shea butter.

: Granted the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, this allergist-tested formula is fueled by Advanced Ceramide Complex, pro-vitamin B5 and shea butter. Fragrance Free Comforting Lotion for Dry, Sensitive Skin: Hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended, this sensitive skin-friendly formula helps repair the moisture barrier via Advanced Ceramide technology.

Hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended, this sensitive skin-friendly formula helps repair the moisture barrier via Advanced Ceramide technology. Extreme Dry Hand Relief: Soothing, effective and gentle, this cationic formula lasts through several hand washes and contains such key nourishing ingredients as vitamin E, monoi oil and eucalyptus extract.

The Experts Behind It: Kao USA Inc. is a leading manufacturer of premium beauty care brands that are recognized around the world for their innovation and quality. The Kao USA Inc. portfolio includes Molton Brown, MyKirei by KAO, Joy Works, Ban antiperspirant-deodor- ants; Jergens and Curel body lotions; Biore facial care; and John Frieda Frizz-Ease, Luxurious Volume, Sheer Blonde, Brilliant Brunette, Radiant Red, Luminous Glaze Clear Shine Gloss, Precision Foam Colour and Colour Refreshing Gloss. Founded in 1882, Kao USA Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kao Corporation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: LAUREN DONNER | [email protected]

SOURCE Curel Skincare
ARLINGTON, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cynalytica Inc., a leading provider of industrial cybersecurity solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland and its Cyber-AI Hub, an initiative of CSIT supported by UK government funding.

As part of the partnership, Cynalytica will collaborate with CSIT and its Cyber-AI Hub on projects to develop and apply AI and machine learning techniques to enhance the cyber-physical security of industrial control systems (ICS) for national critical infrastructure. The Cyber-AI Hub is a unique research facility that brings together industry, academia, and government to collaborate on cybersecurity research and development in Northern Ireland.

ICS/SCADA and OT systems control the essential operational processes for critical services such as power grids, water treatment plants, and manufacturing facilities. They are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can have potentially devastating consequences.

Dr Kieran McLaughlin, CSIT, Queen's University Belfast commented, "With Industrial Control Systems globally becoming more and more digitally connected, their security is vital for our society. Over the past few years, Cynalytica has provided valuable industrial context to our research in this area. We are excited to explore a collaborative project with Cynalytica through CSIT's Cyber-AI Hub, which will bring new AI-enabled techniques to the cyber security industry."

Cynalytica joins the Cyber-AI Hub's impressive roster of eight industry partners, which includes leading companies in cybersecurity and AI, developing products that service a global export market and represent a diversity of products in the cybersecurity market.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with CSIT and its Cyber-AI Hub to advance the state-of-the-art in ICS cybersecurity", said Richard Robinson, CEO at Cynalytica. "AI is rapidly transforming every industry and being able to better understand what applications and impacts AI will have for machine-to-machine communications is necessary. The combination of CSIT's expertise in cybersecurity and cutting-edge research capabilities make them the ideal partners for us to help answer these questions and help develop innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure."

About Cynalytica

Cynalytica is a leading provider of industrial cybersecurity solutions, helping organizations to protect their critical infrastructure systems from cyberattacks while providing visibility and unique situational awareness to cyber-physical assets. With a range of innovative technologies, Cynalytica is committed to providing comprehensive, effective, and secure solutions for OT and ICS/SCADA systems.

SOURCE Cynalytica Inc.
 Recognition, accepted by DENSO President and CEO Koji Arima, honors outstanding innovation in technical fields 

KARIYA, Japan, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO Corporation accepted the IEEE Corporate Innovation Award during a May 5 ceremony in Atlanta. IEEE,*1 the largest international association for electrical and electronic engineering, awarded DENSO for developing the QR Code*2 and spreading its use globally, enabling the world to benefit from its numerous capabilities. *Please refer to the December 2, 2022, press release for award details. https://www.denso.com/global/en/news/newsroom/2022/20221202-g01

From left: IEEE President-Elect Thomas Coughlin, DENSO President & CEO Koji Arima and IEEE President Saifur Rahman at the IEEE Corporate Innovation Award Ceremony on May 5 in Atlanta.

The IEEE Corporate Innovation Award, one of the most prestigious technical awards in the world, is presented to organizations that have made a significant global impact with innovative technologies and products and contributed to the development of electrical and electronic engineering.

The QR Code was developed in 1994 by DENSO's applied equipment engineering group (currently DENSO WAVE) as an easy-to-read code that can store large amounts of information. The innovative two-dimensional code can store about 200 times more information than barcodes and can be read at high speed. DENSO started to use the code mainly for inventory management at its manufacturing plants, and later made the patent available free of charge, allowing it to spread globally. In the early 2000s, the QR Code became more familiar to the general public as the use of mobile phones with cameras grew. Today, it is widely used in many daily life applications, including electronic tickets and cashless payments. In 2020, the QR Code was recognized as an IEEE Milestone*3 for its outstanding contribution to the world.

To help commemorate that the company invented the QR Code nearly 30 years ago, DENSO recently launched a free online game  DENSO QR Code Maze  and created a new webpage on its North America website detailing the QR Code's history and the IEEE honor.

Guided by its Two Great Causes  Green and Peace of Mind  DENSO remains committed to developing innovative technologies that contribute to society and industry, making for a future that's green, safe and seamless for all.

*1 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Headquartered in the United States, it is the world's largest engineering academy with more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries.

*2, QR Code is registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE Incorporated.

*3 An IEEE Milestone commends a historic achievement which has greatly assisted the development of society and industry in electrical and electronic engineering. 2020/10/07 DENSO receives IEEE Milestone for QR Code https://www.denso.com/global/en/news/newsroom/2020/201007-g01/

2023 IEEE Award Recipients

https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/recipients/current-recipients/#recognition-awards

https://corporate-awards.ieee.org/recipients/current-recipients/#recognition-awards IEEE Corporate Innovation Award Recipients

https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/corp-inn-rl.pdf

https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/awards/recipients/corp-inn-rl.pdf Details of the QR Code

Video featuring the QR Code https://youtu.be/ieAYPNJq1bA

About the QR Code: QR Code.com https://www.qrcode.com/en/

QR Code development story https://www.denso-wave.com/en/technology/vol1.html

Website commemorating the 25th anniversary of the development of the QR Code (released in 2019)

https://www.denso-wave.com/qr2019/en/

Proposal for recognition of the QR Code as an IEEE Milestone

http://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal:QR_Code

About DENSO Corporation

DENSO is a $47.9 billion global mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in its around 200 facilities to produce electrification, powertrain, thermal, mobility electronics, advanced devices to create jobs that directly change how the world moves. The company's around 165,000 employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO spent around 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. For more information about global DENSO, visit https://www.denso.com/global .

SOURCE DENSO
Philip N. Diehl, 35th Director of the U.S. Mint (19942000) and President of U.S. Money Reserve, and Edmund Moy, 38th Director of the U.S. Mint (20062011) and U.S. Money Reserve's Senior IRA Strategist, are joined by Angela Roberts, U.S. Money Reserve CEO; Brad Chastain, U.S. Money Reserve's Director of Education; and host Chuck Woolery. This panel discusses privacy concerns about digital currency and offers their insights into how Americans are reacting.

For more information or to speak with company leadership at U.S. Money Reserve, please contact Christol Farris at 512-568-9991 or [email protected] or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com.

About U.S. Money Reserve

U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of U.S. governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.

Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign governmentissued gold, silver, and platinum legal-tender products, as well as precious metals IRAs. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals.

U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with expert market knowledge to find products that offer the highest profit potential for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas.

Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow on Twitter @USMoneyReserve.

Contact: Christol Farris

[email protected]

512-568-9991

Or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com

SOURCE U.S. Money Reserve
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dolbey is unveiling their newest innovation, CDI Alerts, at the 2023 ACDIS National Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Chicago, May 8-11. CDI Alerts is an add-on feature for the already robust Fusion CDI software, used by hospitals' clinical documentation integrity staff (CDIS) to assist in capturing the most accurate documentation possible. Accurate documentation in a patient chart leads to better healthcare and proper reimbursement for the hospital.

Dolbey's new, patent-pending, CDI Alerts assist the CDIS in prioritizing patient charts for review and pointing them to the evidence markers in each document and area of the patient chart that will yield the most potential for review. Dolbey's new CDI Alerts use proprietary technology to pinpoint possible missed opportunities by identifying clinical findings without a diagnosis, diagnoses without clinical support, diagnosis lacking specificity and conflicting diagnoses. Each of these can lead to claim denials or missed opportunities to capture the appropriate revenue for the care given.

"We analyzed the origins and results of thousands of real-world queries to determine the most successful interactions that led to a more in-depth examination of the patient chart," states Michael Eminger, RN, CRNA and Clinical Lead at Dolbey. "Our new CDI Alerts are unmatched in the industry and present a significant improvement in the tools available to clinical documentation integrity programs."

Dolbey's CDI Alerts are an extension of the AI-powered, medical coding engine that is embedded in Dolbey's computer-assisted coding platform, Fusion CAC, which has been rated Best in KLAS for seven consecutive years. Together, Fusion CAC and Fusion CDI with CDI Alerts brings an unparalleled level of productivity and precision to the business of CDI.

About Dolbey

Dolbey's award-winning healthcare suite of solutions improve productivity while delivering better documentation which improves patient care. Since 1914, Dolbey has consistently evolved its products incorporating the latest technologies available to meet the demands of the healthcare community. Today, our suite of products includes CAC, CDI, speech recognition, dictation and transcription.

For further information, please contact:

Traci Miller, Marketing Director

800-878-7828 x119/ [email protected]

www.dolbey.com

SOURCE Dolbey
DSP International UK Limited to focus on institutions seeking exposure to Indian markets

MUMBAI, India, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DSP Asset Managers opened its first offshore office in London catering to institutions seeking investment opportunities in Indian markets. DSP International UK Limited, situated on 1 St. Katherine's Way, next to London Tower would mainly cater to pension funds, sovereigns, family offices and high net worth individuals.

DSP Asset Management is one of India's oldest financial institutions [ex-Merrill Lynch (1996-2007), ex-BlackRock (2008-2018) JVs)]. It manages ~US$ 15bn in AUM, of which US$ 11bn is in public equities. Of the US$ 11bn in public equities, ~US$ ~2bn is in India dedicated offshore assets.

"DSP's asset management team has managed money for over 26 years and is focused on alpha generation through well-defined and transparent investment frameworks and high standards of risk management. India offers diversity of companies and sectors via more than 200 companies offering high RoEs. We wish to leverage our knowledge and experience of decades to generate long term risk adjusted returns for our investors," says Kalpen Parekh, MD & CEO, DSP Asset Managers.

"India is at the cusp of a structural turnaround and continues to remain one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world. The country has proven to be resilient to global economic downturns, largely due to its robust domestic economy, which is expected to remain strong in the foreseeable future. We believe India should be viewed as a structural allocation (and not just tactical) in investors' portfolios globally," says Jay Kothari, Global Head  International Business, DSP Asset Managers.

About DSP Asset Managers

DSP Asset Managers has an over 25-year track record of investment excellence. Today, we have the honour of managing money for ~ 4 million investors from all walks of life: hard-working salaried individuals, high-net-worth individuals, NRIs, small and mid-sized business owners, large private & public corporations, trusts and foreign institutions.

DSP Asset Managers is backed by the 160+ year old DSP Group. Over the past one and a half centuries, the family behind the Group has been very influential in the growth and professionalization of capital markets and money management business in India. DSP Group is currently headed by Mr. Hemendra Kothari.

Our investors' interests will always remain at the core of our business, and we will continue to maintain a relentless focus on doing what's best for them, as they #InvestForGood.

Visit us on dspim.com or dspindia.com for more.

For More information, please contact :

Arun Rajendran

DSP Asset Managers Pvt. Ltd.

E-mail: [email protected]

M: +919833005393

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072784/DSP_Mutual_Fund_Logo.jpg

SOURCE DSP Asset Managers
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global education nonprofit that ignites the entrepreneurial mindset of the next generation of diverse leaders, is hosting its annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala on Thursday, May 11, in New York City.

Global education nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) hosts a May 11 Annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala to honor alumnus Cody Chang of Product Gym, Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Santander Bank, and NFTE advisory board member Adrienne Palmer. For tickets, visit nfte.com/gala.

Emmy award-winning journalist Myles Miller of WNBC-TV will host the evening. NFTE will honor alumnus and Product Gym co-founder Cody Chang for his leadership and support of the next generation of entrepreneurs; Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and NFTE board member Maxine Clark for her philanthropic efforts and volunteerism; and Santander Bank for its longtime dedication to youth entrepreneurship education. Texas advisory board member Adrienne Palmer will be honored with the Exemplary Board Service Award for her ongoing commitment to NFTE's mission.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to recognize the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of our award recipients this year," says Dr. J.D. LaRock, NFTE's president and CEO. "They are incredible champions of the power of entrepreneurship education to help young people find their passions and turn them into real goals. We are so grateful for their ongoing support of NFTE."

Over the past 36 years, NFTE has helped more than one million young people start their own businesses or pursue careers in entrepreneurship. These young people have gone on to create thousands of jobs, generate millions of dollars in revenue and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Funding raised through this year's gala will support young entrepreneurs, teachers and programs in the U.S. and around the world. The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST followed by dinner and an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. EST. Tickets are available at nfte.com/gala .

NFTE extends a special thank you to Citi Bank, Santander Bank, Mary Beth and Gus Harris, ServiceNow, Susan and Tucker York, and others for their support of this year's benefit.

For media inquiries, please contact Vanessa Hsia at 929-551-3813, [email protected]; or Denise Berkhalter at 917-281-4362, [email protected].

About NFTE

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) ignites the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that empower students to own their futures. A global nonprofit founded in 1987, NFTE provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school and postsecondary students. Visit nfte.com to learn more.

SOURCE NFTE
DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By End User Vertical (Power and Energy (P&E), Oil & Gas, Telecom and IT, Manufacturing, and Others), By Type, By Component, By Solution, By Country, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2017- 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Europe Advanced Energy Management System market stood at USD 11,763.59 million in 2021 and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.42% during the forecast period owing to government policies for sustainable energy usage, growing concerns about pollution & carbon emissions.



The utilization of data and analytics from advanced energy management systems by skilled staff may be utilized to track and manage energy usage, change behavior, and find and document energy savings. These systems incorporate instrumentation for basic input and output, control technology, and control mode classes.

As they help in achieving a competitive advantage, boost production, and save energy costs, advanced energy systems have become increasingly popular. Governments in several European countries have passed legislation and regulations with the aim of promoting energy saving in a range of contexts, including industrial, commercial, and residential ones.



Increasing need to cut GHG emissions and dependency on fossil fuels



In most developed countries, transportation fuel usage accounts for a sizable portion of all emissions connected to energy use, which accounts for a sizable portion of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The development of cutting-edge renewable energy technology globally is considerably aided by the initiatives of the European Union. In 2014, the installed and connected solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power capacity in the world were dominated by the European Union. With its proportion of investments in renewable energy varying between 40% and 50% till 2011, Europe has been at the forefront of subsidising the development of renewable energy sources since 2005. According to the Statistical Office of the European Union, the amount of renewable energy generated in the 28 member states of the EU increased by 64% between 2007 and 2017. A sustainable energy future was made possible by certain European Union programs.



Government initiative on carbon and electricity tax policies



Energy taxes are a financial instrument that may be used to encourage consumers to make greener energy decisions. More than 75% of all environmental levies in the EU-27 are related to energy. As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission wants to match climate targets with energy tariffs. The European Climate Law specified a minimum 55% net reduction in GHG emissions as an interim goal for 2030 in relation to the European Green Deal. On July 14, 2021, the Commission released the ''Fit for 55'' package with the goal of bringing climate, energy, transportation, and tax policies into compliance with the new intermediate 2030 climate objective. Additional objectives for energy efficiency and renewable energy are also included.



Advanced energy management system tools with sensors are becoming more popular



The market for sensor-based advanced energy management systems in Europe is expected to expand as there is a rising requirement for a system that can identify problems with the power supply. Sensor-based advanced energy management system units let end users make wise decisions to enhance the availability of electricity. The collecting of massive volumes of data on power supply and use is made possible by machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Customers will be persuaded to select smart houses with sensor-based advanced energy management systems in the electric grid infrastructure as a result of these considerations. They are putting more money into developing a strong business infrastructure that requires high power voltage.



Research and innovation in energy efficiency



The delivery of solutions and transformation of systems that boost the effectiveness of the whole value chain for renewable energy while embracing sustainability depend on research and innovation. In addition, the European Union has to more than quadrupled its capacity for renewable energy if it is to reach its 2030 renewable energy objectives and decarbonize its energy supply.

For instance, the European Investment Bank Group, working with the European Commission and other partners, encourages the market integration of projects including renewable energy sources and strengthens regional cooperation. The category includes a variety of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen production and integration, renewable heating, and low-carbon fuels.



Report Scope:



In this report, Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market has been segmented into the following categories in addition to the industry trends which have also been listed below:



Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By End User Vertical:

Residential

Manufacturing

Power and Energy (P&E)

Office and Commercial Building

Oil & Gas

Telecom and IT

Others

Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By Type:

Thermal

Gas

Electric

Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By Component:

Hardware

Sensors

Controllers

Displays

Others

Software

Utility Energy Management System Software

Industrial Energy Management System Software

Enterprise Carbon and Energy Management System Software

Residential Energy Management System Software

Others

Services

Monitoring & Control

Implementation & Integration

Maintenance

Consulting & Training

Others

Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By Solution:

Utility Billing and Customer Information System

Demand Response Management

Carbon Management

Others

Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market, By Country:

Germany

United Kingdom

Netherlands

France

Italy

Spain

Poland

Romania

Hungary

Greece

Rest of Europe

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Impact of COVID-19 on Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market



5. Voice of Customer



6. Europe Advanced Energy Management System Market Outlook, 2017-2027F



7. Market Dynamics



8. Market Trends and Developments



9. Competitive Analysis



10. Company Profiles



11. Strategic Recommendations



12. About the Publisher & Disclaimer



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

ABB Ltd.

AGL Energy Ltd.

AutoGrid Systems, Inc.

Comverge, Inc.

Generac Holding, Inc

Enel X S.r.l

General Electric Company

Siemens AG

Limejump Limited

Schneider Electric

Honeywell International Inc.

Johnson Controls International Plc

Ameresco, Inc

Trane Technologies Plc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2t77d9

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
U.S. Ambassador: Russia celebrates May 9 with missiles fired at sleeping civilians

Russia marks May 9 with new launches of missiles and attack drones on Ukrainian cities and sleeping civilians, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

"Ukraine, Europe, and the United States commemorated victory over tyranny yesterday. Russia marks May 9 with more missiles and drones launched toward Ukrainian cities and sleeping civilians," Brink said on Twitter.
DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Nannochloropsis Market by Form, Application - Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe Nannochloropsis Market is projected to reach $4.79 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2023 to 2030, in terms of value. In terms of volume, the Europe Nannochloropsis market is projected to reach 39.93 tons by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period 2023-2030.



The research report titled provides an in-depth analysis of the Europe Nannochloropsis market across eight major countries and emphasizes on the current market trends, market sizes, market shares, recent developments, and forecasts till 2030.



The growth of this market is driven by the increasing demand for algae protein, the rising need for protein-rich and lipid-rich aquafeed, and the growing demand for omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, the growing demand from the biodiesel industry creates lucrative growth opportunities for Nannochloropsis manufacturers in Europe. However, the complex production process of Nannochloropsis restrains the growth of this market to a certain extent.



The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the Europe Nannochloropsis market based on form, application, and geography.



The Europe Nannochloropsis market is segmented by form (frozen, liquid, powder, and afresh pastes), application (aquafeed, extraction companies, and other applications), and geography.



Based on form, the Europe Nannochloropsis market is segmented into frozen, liquid, powder, and fresh pastes. In 2023, the frozen segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe Nannochloropsis market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to its wide range of applications in aquaculture hatcheries to establish the initial step of an artificial food chain, as frozen Nannochloropsis is rich in fatty acids (EPA, ARA). Moreover, this segment is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period as frozen Nannochloropsis biomass promotes easy management in biomass production of lipid-enriched rotifers.



Based on application, the Europe Nannochloropsis market is mainly segmented into aquafeed, extraction companies, and other applications. In 2023, the aquafeed segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe Nannochloropsis market. Nannochloropsis sp. is one of the most extensively used microalgae in aquaculture due to their nutritional value and the ability to produce valuable chemical compounds, such as pigments (zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and canthaxanthin) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA). This segment is also expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the growing aquaculture industry in Europe, the rising aquafeed sector, and the increasing demand for protein-rich aquafeeds.



Based on geography, the Europe Nannochloropsis market is segmented into Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, France, the U.K., Denmark, Sweden, and the Rest of Europe. In 2023, Spain is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe Nannochloropsis market. The large market share of Spain is attributed to the growing aquaculture industry and the necessity for aquafeed, government support to the fishery sector, and consumer inclination toward a healthier lifestyle. Moreover, demand from the biodiesel industry and the growing vegetarian population are expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for Nannochloropsis manufacturers in this country.



Scope of the report:

Europe Nannochloropsis Market, by Form

Frozen

Liquid

Powder

Fresh Pastes

Europe Nannochloropsis Market, by Application

Aquafeed

Extraction Companies

Other Applications

Europe Nannochloropsis Market, by Geography

Spain

Portugal

Germany

Italy

France

U.K.

Denmark

Sweden

Rest of Europe

Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high-growth market segments in terms of type, form, application, and country/region?

What was the historical market for Nannochloropsis across Europe ?

? What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period of 2023-2030?

What are the major drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, and trends in the Europe Nannochloropsis market?

Who are the major players in the Europe market, and what are their market shares?

market, and what are their market shares? Who are the major players in various countries, and what are their market shares?

How is the competitive landscape for the Europe Nannochloropsis market?

What are the recent developments in the Europe Nannochloropsis market?

What are the different strategies adopted by the major players in the market?

What are the key geographic trends, and which are the high-growth countries?

Who are the local emerging players in the Europe Nannochloropsis market, and how do they compete with other players?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Market Definition & Scope



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Insights

4.1. Overview

4.2. Drivers

4.2.1. Increasing Demand for Algae Protein

4.2.2. Rising Need for Protein-Rich and Lipid-Rich Aquafeed

4.2.3. Growing Demand for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

4.3. Restraints

4.3.1. Complex Production Process of Nannochloropsis

4.4. Opportunity

4.4.1. Growing Demand From the Biodiesel Industry

4.5. Challenges

4.5.1. Risk of Nannochloropsis Contamination



5. Europe Nannochloropsis Market Assessment- by Form

5.1. Overview

5.2. Frozen

5.3. Liquid

5.4. Powder

5.5. Fresh Pastes



6. Europe Nannochloropsis Market Assessment- by Application

6.1. Overview

6.2. Aquafeed

6.3. Extraction Companies

6.4. Other Applications



7. Europe Nannochloropsis Market Assessment- by Geography



8. Competition Analysis



9. Company Profiles (Business Overview, Financial Overview, Product Portfolio, and Strategic Developments)



10. Appendix



Companies Mentioned

BlueBioTech Group ( Germany )

) Reed Mariculture Inc. (U.S.)

Necton S.A. ( Portugal )

) Astaxa GmbH ( Germany )

) Proviron Industries NV ( Belgium )

) Allmicroalgae Natural Products S.A. ( Portugal )

) Algatechnologies Ltd. (A Part of Solabia Group) ( Israel )

) Monzon Biotech S.L. ( Spain )

) A4f Algae for Future ( Portugal )

) AlgaSpring B.V. ( Netherlands )

) Archimede Ricerche Srl ( Italy ).

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lxbu3l

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



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SOURCE Research and Markets
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolent Health, Inc. (NYSE: EVH), a health care company that delivers proven clinical and administrative solutions to payers and providers, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Seth Blackley, Chief Financial Officer John Johnson and Vice President, Investor Relations Seth Frank will participate in upcoming investor conferences, including meetings with institutional investors and presentations.

A live audio-only webcast and replay for these events will be available, if applicable, on the Investor Relations section of Evolent's website at http://ir.evolenthealth.com/, unless otherwise noted below.

Messrs. Johnson and Frank will present at the Bank of America Health Care Conference at The Encore Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada , on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 , at 11:40 a.m. ET .

, on , at . Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Seth Blackley and Evolent's executive team will host an Investor Day for the financial community via webcast and in person at the Westin Hotel, Arlington, Virginia , on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 , at 10:00 a.m. ET .

and Evolent's executive team will host an Investor Day for the financial community via webcast and in person at the Westin Hotel, , on , at . Messrs. Blackley and Frank will present at the William Blair 43 rd Annual Growth Stock Conference at The Lowes Hotel, Chicago, Illinois , on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 , at 10:20 a.m. ET .

Annual Growth Stock Conference at The Lowes Hotel, , on , at . Members of management will present at the Truist Securities Healthcare Disrupters and Digital Health Summit Thursday, June 22, 2023 .

. Messrs. Johnson and Frank will meet with investors at the UBS Healthcare Services Conference at The Chatham Bars Inn, Cape Cod, Massachusetts , on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 .

About Evolent Health

Evolent (NYSE: EVH) specializes in better health outcomes for people with complex conditions through proven solutions that make health care simpler and more affordable. Evolent serves a national base of leading payers and providers and is consistently recognized as a top place to work in health care nationally. Learn more about how Evolent is changing the way health care is delivered by visiting evolenthealth.com.

Contacts:

Seth R. Frank

Vice President, Investor Relations

Evolent Health, Inc.

[email protected]

571-895-3919 (W)

SOURCE Evolent Health
New and Expanded Partnerships With Mastercard and SoFi

New Tech Features With Travel OS, Guest Experience Score and Optimized Distribution

New Air Member Only Deals for One Key Loyalty Program

SEATTLE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a strong quarter for Expedia Group's B2B segment where it delivered 55% in revenue growth compared to 2022, the Company announced new partnerships and tech features aimed at expanding its already vast partner network. Expedia Group's White Label Template and API solutions power travel for more than 400 million loyalty members of some of the biggest financial services companies, airlines and hoteliers worldwide. The announcements came as hundreds of leading travel players met at Expedia Group's EXPLORE 23: Connect conference, held for the first time at its Seattle campus.

Inspired Travel Inspired Travel Inspired Travel

"Our growth in B2B is largely due to the pace at which our tech has been adopted by businesses of all sizes who want to either break into travel or expand their current travel offerings. The demand for this business continues to be strong as evidenced by our new partnerships with Mastercard, SoFi, and some of our biggest hotel partners," said Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO, Expedia Group. "The work we've done in building a widespread B2B network that provides travel to millions around the world through leading names in banking, travel and more, will grow as we continue to establish our tech as the primary operating system for the travel industry."

Expedia Group's exciting new and expanded partnerships include:

Mastercard: "Travel with Rewards"

Expedia Group's template technology and Mastercard's digital redemption capability will now power a complete loyalty points redemption program for participating issuers that allows cardholders to redeem credit card loyalty points for travel bookings. Cardholders will access Expedia's high-quality global supply, including more than 700,000 properties, 500 airlines, 100+ car rental companies and thousands of activities around the world.

SoFi: "SoFi Travel"

Expedia Group's template technology powers SoFi Travel, which will soon allow SoFi members to book flights, hotels, cars, packages, activities and vacation rentals through SoFi. In addition to quality supply and customer service, the collaboration enables SoFi to benefit from Expedia Group's vast amount of data and technology, and to take advantage of new features and functionality updates that are integrated automatically.

"Over the last decade, our B2B segment has grown phenomenally as we power online and offline travel programs. We combine the technology assets that power our own travel brands, with our deep B2B expertise, all backed by the strength of our artificial intelligence and machine learning, so our solutions get smarter every day. We enable businesses of all sizes to succeed in the world of travel, and in an industry that is nearly $2 trillion, there is plenty of room to grow," added Ariane Gorin, President Expedia for Business, Expedia Group.

Confirming its commitment to help more companies succeed in the world of travel, Expedia Group announced the following news at EXPLORE today:

Travel OS: Building on Expedia Group's ambition to externalize its tech in the form of microservices to help any kind of travel company use its tech to enhance their business, the Company shared exciting developments in the form of its travel operating system: Travel OS. Today, the Company announced that its first microservice offered through Travel OS, its fraud capability, has now reached commercial status and its best-in-class service tech and revenue management API are now in beta-testing with partners.

Building on Expedia Group's ambition to externalize its tech in the form of microservices to help any kind of travel company use its tech to enhance their business, the Company shared exciting developments in the form of its travel operating system: Travel OS. Today, the Company announced that its first microservice offered through Travel OS, its fraud capability, has now reached commercial status and its best-in-class service tech and revenue management API are now in beta-testing with partners. Guest Experience Score : After a year of success working with hotel partners to create a guest experience score that shows which hotels give great traveler experience, Expedia Group announced today that this score will be made available to travelers in the second half of 2023. Hotel partners can view their Guest Experience Score by logging into Expedia Group Partner Central.

After a year of success working with hotel partners to create a guest experience score that shows which hotels give great traveler experience, Expedia Group announced today that this score will be made available to travelers in the second half of 2023. Hotel partners can view their Guest Experience Score by logging into Expedia Group Partner Central. Optimized Distribution: In two years, Expedia Group has tripled the number of participating chains using Optimized Distribution, an innovative product that provides hotel partners with greater control of their wholesale businesses. Today the Company announced that new rate-management capabilities will be released later this year, allowing for more flexibility for a wider array of partners to leverage.

In two years, Expedia Group has tripled the number of participating chains using Optimized Distribution, an innovative product that provides hotel partners with greater control of their wholesale businesses. Today the Company announced that new rate-management capabilities will be released later this year, allowing for more flexibility for a wider array of partners to leverage. One Key - Member Only Deals for flights: In addition to the Member Only Deals for hotels, cruises and activity partners, One Key will now extend these offerings to air partners, helping them increase visibility to One Key members. Member Only Deals for flights will first be available in the U.S. for One Key members. One Key , Expedia Group's first ever fully unified loyalty program, will launch on July 6, 2023 , in the United States , and additional markets will follow in 2024.

In addition to the Member Only Deals for hotels, cruises and activity partners, will now extend these offerings to air partners, helping them increase visibility to members. Member Only Deals for flights will first be available in the U.S. for members. , Expedia Group's first ever fully unified loyalty program, will launch on , in , and additional markets will follow in 2024. Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP): TAAP powers more than 35,000 travel agencies across more than 30 countries with its booking platform built specifically for their unique needs. Expedia Group continues to invest in TAAP and has launched several new capabilities including, enhanced payment options giving travel advisors more flexibility and improved servicing with Live Agent chat to help travel advisors get answers to their questions faster. The Company is seeing strong usage with 32% of all agent interactions in the U.S. in Q1 2023 serviced through Live Agent chat. A reimagined booking experience which will make it easier for travel advisors to serve their clients will be rolled out in the U.S. this year with the global launch to follow later in 2023.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the group's product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes the following: Expedia, Hotels.com, Expedia Partner Solutions, Vrbo, trivago, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Wotif, ebookers, CheapTickets, Expedia Group Media Solutions, CarRentals.com and Expedia Cruises.

For more information, visit www.expediagroup.com . Follow us on Twitter @expediagroup and check out our LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/expedia .

 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

SOURCE Expedia Group
Funds intended to benefit rehabilitation, home ownership through down payment assistance and affordable housing development in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee

CINCINNATI , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati's Board of Directors has approved a $12.8 million contribution to support the Bank's housing and community investment programs. These funds will increase amounts available in 2023 for the Carol M. Peterson Housing Fund (CMPHF), Welcome Home Program (WHP) and, if available, competitive Affordable Housing Program (AHP) offering.

The CMPHF will open June 1 with funding of at least $5.0 million , an increase of $3.5 million from previously announced levels. The CMPHF offers grants to fund accessibility rehabilitation and emergency repairs for low-income homeowners with special needs or persons over 60.

with funding of at least , an increase of from previously announced levels. The CMPHF offers grants to fund accessibility rehabilitation and emergency repairs for low-income homeowners with special needs or persons over 60. The WHP will open July 6 and will offer at least $7.0 million in grants, an increase of $4.0 million from previously announced levels. The WHP offers $10,000 in down payment and closing costs assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers and $15,000 to honorably discharged veterans, surviving spouses of military personnel, and active duty military.

and will offer at least in grants, an increase of from previously announced levels. The WHP offers in down payment and closing costs assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers and to honorably discharged veterans, surviving spouses of military personnel, and active duty military. Any remaining funds not used under the CMPHF and WHP will be allocated to the 2023 competitive AHP offering.

"The FHLB Board of Directors' clear commitment to affordable housing is evident through this additional $12.8 million contribution. These funds will help supplement two of our most popular programs that address the specific housing needs of the areas we serveaccess to home ownership and quality of housing stock. By getting more homebuyers into homes through our Welcome Home Program and keeping them there as they age through our Carol M. Peterson Housing Fund, these funds will make a difference in communities throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee," said Andrew S. Howell, President and CEO, FHLB Cincinnati.

This allocation is in addition to the FHLB's required 10 percent of net earnings set-aside to fund the organization's AHP. Since the inception of the AHP in 1990, the FHLB has awarded over $849 million in subsidies towards the creation of more than 105,000 units of affordable housing. Details and program guides for all housing programs, including eligibility information, are available at www.fhlbcin.com.

About the FHLB

The FHLB is a AA+ rated wholesale cooperative bank owned by 614 member financial institutions, including commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. The FHLB provides members access to products and services (primarily Advances, which are a readily available, low-cost source of funds, purchases of certain mortgage loans from members, and issuance of Letters of Credit to members) and a competitive return through quarterly dividends on their capital investment in the FHLB. The FHLB funds these products and services by raising private-sector capital from member-stockholders and, with the other Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) in the FHLBank System, issuing high-quality debt in the global capital markets. The FHLB also funds community investment programs that help its members create affordable housing and promote community economic development.

SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The food and beverage warehousing market is estimated to grow by USD 366.29 billion during 2022-2027. Moreover, the growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 18.76% during the forecast period. The market is segmented by application (meat/fish/seafood, dairy and frozen desserts, bakery/confectionery/beverages, fruits and vegetables, and grains and others), end-user (processing factories, distributors, and retailers), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The meat/fish/seafood segment will account for a significant share of market growth during market growth. Meat/fish/seafood products have a very short shelf life, and most of these products are at risk of pathogens. These products need to be stored at certain temperatures to prevent spoilage. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period. The demand for warehouse automation is driving market growth. The use of warehouse control software reduces transportation costs. It helps in managing orders by consolidating different orders from the same retailer or wholesaler. The demand for warehousing in the food and beverage sector mostly stems from large retailers, small stores, e-commerce, and home delivery services. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. To understand more about the market, request a sample report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Food and Beverage Warehousing Market 2023-2027

Food and beverage warehousing market insights -

Vendors : 15+, including Ahearn and Soper Inc., AIT Worldwide Logistics Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Americold Realty Trust Inc., Burris Logistics Co., Cargo partner GmbH, Conestoga Cold Storage, John Swire and Sons Ltd., Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC, Net Logistik S.A. de C.V, Nichirei Corp., Penske Corp., Ryder System Inc., Snowman Logistics Ltd., VersaCold Logistics Services, Walmart Inc., Warehousing Express Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Congebec Logistics Inc., Toyota Industries Corp., Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P, among others

: 15+, including Ahearn and Soper Inc., AIT Worldwide Logistics Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Americold Realty Trust Inc., Burris Logistics Co., Cargo partner GmbH, Conestoga Cold Storage, and Sons Ltd., Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC, Net Logistik S.A. de C.V, Nichirei Corp., Penske Corp., Ryder System Inc., Snowman Logistics Ltd., VersaCold Logistics Services, Walmart Inc., Warehousing Express Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Congebec Logistics Inc., Toyota Industries Corp., Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P, among others Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors

Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and vendor landscape; vendor product insights and recent developments; key vendors; and market positioning of vendors Segments: Application (meat/fish/seafood, dairy and frozen desserts, bakery/confectionery/beverages, fruits and vegetables, and grains and others), end-user (processing factories, distributors, and retailers), and geography ( North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and Middle East and Africa )

In 2017, the food and beverage warehousing market was valued at USD 140.11 billion. From a regional perspective, North America held the largest market share, valued at USD 48.23 billion.

Food and beverage warehousing market - Customer landscape

To help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies, the report outlines 

Key purchase criteria

Adoption rates

Adoption lifecycle

Drivers of price sensitivity

For highlights on customer landscape analysis, download a sample!

Food and beverage warehousing market - Vendor insights

The global food and beverages warehousing market is growing at a moderate rate, with a large number of players. Factors such as the presence of numerous local vendors offering reasonable pricing are driving market growth, which intensifies competition in the market. Innovations in the warehouse management system for better management of stocks are also driving market growth. Leading players are coming up with innovative customization services such as EDI, warehouse management systems, and transportation management systems to survive in the global food and beverage warehousing market during the forecast period. Technavio report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including

Amazon.com Inc. - The company offers food and beverage warehousing through pay-as-you-go service under two divisions, Sortable Fulfillment Centers and Non-sortable Fulfillment Centers.

The company offers food and beverage warehousing through pay-as-you-go service under two divisions, Sortable Fulfillment Centers and Non-sortable Fulfillment Centers. Americold Realty Trust Inc. - The company offers temperature-controlled cold storage warehousing for food and beverages.

The company offers temperature-controlled cold storage warehousing for food and beverages. Conestoga Cold Storage - The company offers multi-temperature cold storage for food and beverage warehousing.

The company offers multi-temperature cold storage for food and beverage warehousing. John Swire and Sons Ltd. - The company offers food, beverage, and dairy warehousing through cold storage and fully automated warehouses.

Food and beverage warehousing market  Market dynamics

Major trends

Business strategies adopted by vendors

Innovations in warehouse management

Developments in space-saver warehousing techniques

Vendors are partnering and collaborating with end-users and distributors to improve sales channels and expand their product portfolios. They are also focusing on expanding storage facilities. Vendors are investing in new technologies and upgrading their storage facilities. For example, in June 2020, Americold Realty Trust announced that it plans to invest about USD 45 million in expansion plans for its Dalgety facility in Auckland, New Zealand. Similarly, Preferred Freezer Services invested about USD 60 million to build its refrigeration facility in Virginia, US. Such strategies can help vendors increase their revenue, which will drive the growth of the food and beverages warehousing market during the forecast period.

Key challenges

Power consumption in cold storage

Food-grade regulation

SKU proliferation

The demand for processed food items, such as meat, fish, frozen food products, and ready-to-eat items, drives the demand for cold storage warehouses. Most market players are developing their storage and transport facilities to cater to the demand. However, high energy consumption and the need for manpower are major concerns for cold storage operators. Thus, power consumption in cold storage can impede the growth of the global food and beverage warehousing market during the forecast period.

Drivers, trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report!

The food and beverage warehousing market report provides critical information and factual data, with a qualitative and quantitative study of the market based on market drivers and limitations as well as future prospects.

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What are the key data covered in this food and beverage warehousing market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the food and beverage warehousing market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the food and beverage warehousing market and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the food and beverage warehousing market across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and Middle East and Africa

, , APAC, , and and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of food and beverage warehousing market vendors

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Related Reports:

The food waste management market size is predicted to surge by USD 7.60 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 3.9%. The growing concern about carbon emissions is notably driving the food waste management market growth, although factors such as the increasing risks of fire accidents may impede the market growth.

The vending machine food and beverages market size is expected to increase to USD 1.84 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.26%. The convenience offered by vending machines is a major factor that will drive the growth of the vending machine food and beverages market in North America during the forecast period.

Food And Beverage Warehousing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 18.76% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 366.29 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 16.98 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 28% Key countries US, China, India, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading vendors, market positioning of vendors, competitive strategies, and industry risks Key companies profiled Ahearn and Soper Inc., AIT Worldwide Logistics Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Americold Realty Trust Inc., Burris Logistics Co., Cargo partner GmbH, Conestoga Cold Storage, John Swire and Sons Ltd., Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC, Net Logistik S.A. de C.V, Nichirei Corp., Penske Corp., Ryder System Inc., Snowman Logistics Ltd., VersaCold Logistics Services, Walmart Inc., Warehousing Express Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Congebec Logistics Inc., Toyota Industries Corp., Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P, and Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Table of contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global food and beverage warehousing market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global food and beverage warehousing market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.3 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Application

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application

6.3 Meat/ fish/ seafood - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Meat/ fish/ seafood - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Meat/ fish/ seafood - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Meat/ fish/ seafood - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Meat/ fish/ seafood - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Dairy and frozen desserts - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Dairy and frozen desserts - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Dairy and frozen desserts - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Dairy and frozen desserts - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Dairy and frozen desserts - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Bakery/ confectionery/ beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 42: Chart on Bakery/ confectionery/ beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Bakery/ confectionery/ beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Bakery/ confectionery/ beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Bakery/ confectionery/ beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.6 Fruits and vegetables - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 46: Chart on Fruits and vegetables - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Fruits and vegetables - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 48: Chart on Fruits and vegetables - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Fruits and vegetables - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.7 Grains and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 50: Chart on Grains and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Grains and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 52: Chart on Grains and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Grains and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.8 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 54: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Market opportunity by Application ($ billion)

7 Market Segmentation by End-user

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 56: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 58: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

7.3 Processing factories - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 60: Chart on Processing factories - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Processing factories - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 62: Chart on Processing factories - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on Processing factories - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Distributors - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 64: Chart on Distributors - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Distributors - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 66: Chart on Distributors - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on Distributors - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Retailers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 68: Chart on Retailers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on Retailers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 70: Chart on Retailers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on Retailers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.6 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 72: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 74: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 75: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 76: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 77: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 78: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 81: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 85: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 87: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 88: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 89: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 90: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 93: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 97: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 99: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 100: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 101: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 102: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 105: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 106: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 108: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 109: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 110: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 111: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 112: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 113: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 114: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 115: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 116: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 117: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 118: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 119: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)



Exhibit 120: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 121: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 122: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 123: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 124: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 125: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 126: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P

Exhibit 127: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P - Overview



Exhibit 128: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P - Business segments



Exhibit 129: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P - Key news



Exhibit 130: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P - Segment focus

12.4 Ahearn and Soper Inc.

Exhibit 132: Ahearn and Soper Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 133: Ahearn and Soper Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 134: Ahearn and Soper Inc. - Key offerings

12.5 Amazon.com Inc.

Exhibit 135: Amazon.com Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 136: Amazon.com Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 137: Amazon.com Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 138: Amazon.com Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 139: Amazon.com Inc. - Segment focus

12.6 Americold Realty Trust Inc.

Exhibit 140: Americold Realty Trust Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 141: Americold Realty Trust Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 142: Americold Realty Trust Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 143: Americold Realty Trust Inc. - Segment focus

12.7 Conestoga Cold Storage

Exhibit 144: Conestoga Cold Storage - Overview



Exhibit 145: Conestoga Cold Storage - Product / Service



Exhibit 146: Conestoga Cold Storage - Key offerings

12.8 Congebec Logistics Inc.

Exhibit 147: Congebec Logistics Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 148: Congebec Logistics Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: Congebec Logistics Inc. - Key offerings

12.9 John Swire and Sons Ltd.

and Sons Ltd. Exhibit 150: John Swire and Sons Ltd. - Overview

and Sons Ltd. - Overview

Exhibit 151: John Swire and Sons Ltd. - Business segments

and Sons Ltd. - Business segments

Exhibit 152: John Swire and Sons Ltd. - Key offerings

and Sons Ltd. - Key offerings

Exhibit 153: John Swire and Sons Ltd. - Segment focus

12.10 Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC

Exhibit 154: Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC - Overview



Exhibit 155: Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 156: Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC - Key offerings

12.11 Nichirei Corp.

Exhibit 157: Nichirei Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 158: Nichirei Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 159: Nichirei Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 160: Nichirei Corp. - Segment focus

12.12 Penske Corp.

Exhibit 161: Penske Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 162: Penske Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 163: Penske Corp. - Key offerings

12.13 Ryder System Inc.

Exhibit 164: Ryder System Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 165: Ryder System Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 166: Ryder System Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 167: Ryder System Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 168: Ryder System Inc. - Segment focus

12.14 Snowman Logistics Ltd.

Exhibit 169: Snowman Logistics Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 170: Snowman Logistics Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 171: Snowman Logistics Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 172: Snowman Logistics Ltd. - Segment focus

12.15 Toyota Industries Corp.

Exhibit 173: Toyota Industries Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 174: Toyota Industries Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 175: Toyota Industries Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 176: Toyota Industries Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 177: Toyota Industries Corp. - Segment focus

12.16 VersaCold Logistics Services

Exhibit 178: VersaCold Logistics Services - Overview



Exhibit 179: VersaCold Logistics Services - Product / Service



Exhibit 180: VersaCold Logistics Services - Key offerings

12.17 Walmart Inc.

Exhibit 181: Walmart Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 182: Walmart Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 183: Walmart Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 184: Walmart Inc. - Segment focus

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 185: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 186: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 187: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 188: Research methodology



Exhibit 189: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 190: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 191: List of abbreviations

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SOURCE Technavio
DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Massive Open Online Courses Market, Trends & Growth Opportunity, by Course Subject, by Provider, by End-User, by Education Level, by Region and Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Market was valued at USD 11.17 Bn in 2022 and is expected to expand to USD 39.71 Bn by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.18% during the forecast period of 2023-2030.



Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are online courses that are accessible to a large number of students simultaneously, without any restrictions on geographic location or academic background. MOOCs offer a range of courses, from beginner-level classes to advanced courses that are designed to offer in-depth knowledge on specific subjects.

MOOCs can be accessed via the internet, and they are usually free of charge, although some courses may require a fee to access additional features or receive a certificate of completion.

MOOCs offer students the opportunity to learn from renowned professors and industry experts from around the world, interact with other students through discussion forums and online activities, and complete assignments and assessments to test their knowledge.



Market Drivers



The market for MOOCs is driven by the increasing demand for affordable and flexible education options, as well as the popularity of distance or online education.

MOOCs offer students the ability to learn at their own pace and on their schedule, without the constraints of a traditional classroom. This makes education more accessible to individuals who may not have the resources or time to attend traditional courses.



Additionally, the growing popularity of distance education and e-learning has led to increased demand for MOOCs as a viable alternative to traditional education. Another driver of the MOOCs market is the increasing adoption of technology in the education sector. With the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices, MOOCs have become more accessible to a wider audience.



Market Restraints



A major restraint to the growth of the MOOCs market is the high rate of attrition, as many students start the courses but do not complete them due to various reasons such as lack of motivation, inadequate academic support, and technical issues.

Another challenge is the lack of accreditation, as many MOOCs do not offer recognized credentials or degrees, which can limit their value for students seeking professional development or career advancement.



Additionally, there are concerns about the quality of instruction and the ability of MOOCs to provide personalized learning experiences. Finally, there is a digital divide where access to the internet and technology is not universal. This lack of accessibility can prevent some learners from participating in MOOCs, especially those in developing countries with limited resources.



Impact of Covid-19



With many educational institutions worldwide forced to suspend face-to-face classes, the demand for online education has skyrocketed. As a result, MOOCs have experienced a surge in demand, as students and professionals look for ways to continue learning and upskilling remotely. This has led to an increase in the number of enrollments in MOOCs, as well as the development of new courses and programs tailored to remote learning.



However, the pandemic has also brought about some challenges, such as the need to ensure adequate infrastructure and connectivity for online learning, as well as issues with accessibility and equity.

Additionally, the pandemic has impacted the financial stability of some MOOC providers, as well as the funding available for MOOC-based initiatives. Overall, while the pandemic has presented both opportunities and challenges for the MOOCs market, it has accelerated the adoption of online learning and highlighted the importance of digital education.



Regional Analysis



The Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) market has been dominated by North America and Europe due to the high adoption rate of e-learning and technological advancements in these regions.



However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth in the MOOCs market due to the increasing demand for quality education, the rise in internet penetration, and the increasing adoption of e-learning platforms by universities and institutions. Additionally, the growing population in the Asia Pacific region and the increasing demand for skill-based education are also driving the growth of the MOOCs market in this region.

Company Profiles

Coursera

edX

Udacity

LinkedIn Learning

Udemy

Simplilearn

Skillshare

Codecademy

DataCamp

Domestika

WizIQ

OpenLearning

FutureLearn

Alison

MasterClass

XuetangX

Cognixia

OpenClassrooms

Market Taxonomy

By Course Subject

Business & Management

Computer Science

Humanities

Health & Medicine

Engineering

Science

Others

By Provider

Private Companies

Not-For-Profit Organizations

By End-user

Students

Professionals

Organizations

By Education Level

Primary Education

Higher Education

Vocational Training

By Region

North America ( USA , Canada , Mexico )

( , , ) Europe ( Germany , France , UK, Rest of Europe )

( , , UK, Rest of ) Asia Pacific ( China , India , Japan , Rest of Asia Pacific )

( , , , Rest of ) Latin America ( Brazil , Rest of Latin America )

( , Rest of ) Middle East & Africa ( Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , Kuwait , South Africa )

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dt983b

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Commercial Cleaning, Household Cleaning, Industrial Cleaning), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global narrow range ethoxylates market size is expected to reach USD 8, 827.8 thousand by 2030.

Companies Mentioned

Nouryon

Sasol

Evonik

Venus Ethoxylates

Univar Solutions

Pilot Chemical Co.

Dow Chemicals

ESTI CHEM

Stepan Company

Oxiteno

The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing demand from narrow range ethoxylates is used in various end-use industries.



Narrow range ethoxylates are sold commercially via B2B channels to various end-use industries, including leather and textile, agrochemicals, and paints and coatings.

The end-use manufacturers include narrow range ethoxylates in their product formulations to develop cleaning products, such as surface disinfectants and sanitizers, for various applications. Companies sell their products directly to end-use companies or through various other intermediaries, such as wholesalers or retailers.



Surface-active substances are used in cleaning products as they exhibit excellent degreasing, emulsifying, wetting, de-gumming, binding, and scouring properties. Such properties enable them to be used in various product formulations, such as laundry detergents, hard surface cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners. In addition, they are used for several end-use applications such as engine cleaning, all-purpose cleaning, vehicle cleaning, and detergents for textiles, machine dishwashing, and microemulsions.



The price is determined majorly by the fluctuating cost of raw materials. The demand for raw materials, such as ethylene oxide, fatty alcohols, and other products, and their availability account for a substantial share of the production cost, thereby influencing the product price. The use of raw materials for alternate applications resulted in a stringent demand for the use in the production of ethoxylates leading to an increase in the price.



Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Report Highlights

Commercial cleaning dominated the market with a volume share of 65.7% in 2022, as they can emulsify soil, aid in suspending particle material, and are widely applicable in multi-purpose cleaners

The demand for goods and services worldwide in 2022 was primarily sourced from North America . Multinational firms and a strong supply chain system serving end-use industries are two features that define the region

. Multinational firms and a strong supply chain system serving end-use industries are two features that define the region Multinational corporations, which have diversified distribution channels through numerous partners, greatly dominate the market. Long-term supply agreements are typically used by businesses to lower the risk of price volatility and maintain acceptable gross margins

Asia Pacific dominated the market with a volume share of 32.22% in 2022, demand in the region is being driven by an increase in public awareness of health and hygiene, as well as the implementation of strict requirements for cleaning and disinfection in both residential and commercial cleaning applications

dominated the market with a volume share of 32.22% in 2022, demand in the region is being driven by an increase in public awareness of health and hygiene, as well as the implementation of strict requirements for cleaning and disinfection in both residential and commercial cleaning applications In 2021, BASF SE and Syngenta Crop Protection AG reached an agreement to create a new class of herbicides. In order to create more efficient herbicides that can assist farmers in increasing crop yields and cutting costs, the agreement aimed to take advantage of BASF's expertise in the development of surfactants and emulsifiers, including NREs

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Market Snapshot

2.2 Segment Snapshot

2.3 Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1 Global Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.2.1 Manufacturing/Technology Trends

3.2.2 Sales Channel Analysis

3.2.3 List of Potential End - Users

3.3 Price Trend Analysis, 2018 - 2030

3.3.1 Factors Affecting Prices

3.4 Regulatory Framework, By Regions

3.5 Market Dynamics

3.5.1 Market driver analysis

3.5.2 Market restraint analysis

3.5.3 Market Challenges Analysis

3.5.4 Market Opportunity Analysis

3.6 Business Environment Analysis

3.6.1 Porter's Analysis

3.6.2 PESTEL Analysis



Chapter 4 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Supplier Portfolio Analysis

4.1 List of Key Raw Material Suppliers

4.2 Raw Material Trends

4.3 Portfolio Analysis/Kraljic Matrix

4.4 Engagement Model

4.5 Negotiation Strategies

4.6 Sourcing Best Practices



Chapter 5 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Application movement analysis & market share, 2022 & 2030

5.1.1 Household Cleaning

5.1.1.1 Household Cleaning (UF) Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)

5.1.2 Commercial Cleaning

5.1.2.1 Commercial Cleaning Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)

5.1.3 Industrial

5.1.3.1 Industrial Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)



Chapter 6 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape

7.1 Recent Development & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

7.2 Company Categorization

7.3 Company Market Share Analysis, 2022

7.4 Company Heat Map Analysis

7.5 Strategy Mapping

7.6 Company Listing (Business Overview, Financial Performance, Application Benchmarking)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eflfxv

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DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Titanium Dioxide Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Grade (Anatase, Rutile), By Production Process (Sulfate, Chloride), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global titanium dioxide market size is expected to reach USD 30.62 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.3%.

Companies Mentioned

The Chemours Company

The Tronox Holdings plc

LB Group

Venator Materials Plc

KRONOS Worldwide Inc.

Evonik Industries AG

ISHIHARA SANGYO KAISHA , LTD.

, LTD. CNNC HUAN YUAN Titanium Dioxide Co., Ltd.

The Kerala Minerals & Metals Limited

Cathay Industries

TOR Minerals International, Inc.

The expanding application scope of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as specialty coating materials in the automotive industry and photovoltaic systems is likely to fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.



The paints and coatings industry has been witnessing significant growth in recent years, mainly on account of the increasing consumption in key end-use verticals, including construction, automotive, aerospace, and energy and power. The growing scope of the product as whitening pigments in paints and coatings is expected to have a positive impact on the future growth of the industry.



The growing awareness among consumers of emerging economies such as the BRICS nations regarding personal hygiene and care has led to the considerable growth of the cosmetics industry. The growing consumption of the product as a UV filter and whitening agent in cosmetic goods is expected to drive the overall industry during the forecast period.



The paints and coatings application segment is expected to expand at the highest revenue-based CAGR over the forecast period. The performance attributes of the paints, including weatherability, whiteness, and opacity, play a major role in the quality and effectiveness of paints & coatings.



Titanium Dioxide Market Report Highlights

The market is driven by the expanding application scope of the product in plastics, paints and coatings, and cosmetics industries

The rutile grade segment led the market in terms of revenue in 2020 owing to its utilization as a carrier in paint applications, producing white color in plastics, and preventing fading of the color in papers. The rapidly growing construction industry is anticipated to fuel the demand for rutile grade of TiO2 during the forecast period

The sulfate production process segment is expected to expand at the fastest revenue-based CAGR during the forecast period. The segment is driven by the growing demand for lightweight paints for the reduction of the overall weight of the vehicle from the automotive industry

The Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 40.0% in 2020, which can be attributed to the rapid growth of the application industries, including paints and coatings, plastics, and cosmetics, in key economies of the region

region accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 40.0% in 2020, which can be attributed to the rapid growth of the application industries, including paints and coatings, plastics, and cosmetics, in key economies of the region Strategic partnerships and acquisitions are among the prominent strategies adopted by the players operating in the market. For instance, in April 2019 , Venator Materials PLC completed the acquisition of the European TiO2 paper laminates business from Tronox Holdings plc

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope

Chapter 2 Executive Summary



Chapter 3 Titanium Dioxide Market Variables and Trends

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.2.1 Raw Material Outlook

3.2.2 Manufacturing Trends

3.2.3 Sales Channel Analysis

3.3 Price Trend Analysis

3.3.1 Factors Affecting Prices

3.4 Regulatory Framework

3.5 Market Dynamics

3.5.1 Market Driver Impact Analysis

3.5.1.1 Rising Demand from Paints & Coatings Application

3.5.1.2 Growing Demand from Various Application

3.5.2 Market Restraint Impact Analysis

3.5.2.1 Stringent Regulations is Expeceted to Restrain the Market Growth

3.5.3 Industry Challenges

3.5.4 Industry opportunities

3.6 Industry Analysis Tools

3.6.1 porter's analysis

3.6.2 Macroeconomic Analysis



Chapter 4 Titanium Dioxide Market: Supplier Portfolio Analysis

4.1 List of Raw Material Suppliers

4.2 Portfolio Analysis/Kraljic Matrix

4.3 Engagement Model

4.4 Negotiation Strategies

4.5 Sourcing Best Practices



Chapter 5 Titanium Dioxide Market: Grade Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Grade Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

5.2 Titanium Dioxide Market Estimates & Forecast, By Grade (Tons) (USD Million)

5.2.1 Anatase

5.2.2 Rutile



Chapter 6 Titanium Dioxide Market: Production Process Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1 Production Process Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

6.2 Titanium Dioxide Market Estimates & Forecast, By Production Process (Tons) (USD Million)

6.2.1 Sulfate

6.2.2 Chloride



Chapter 7 Titanium Dioxide Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1 Application Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2022 & 2030

7.2 Titanium Dioxide Market Estimates & Forecast, By Application (Tons) (USD Million)

7.2.1 Paints & Coatings

7.2.2 Plastics

7.2.3 Pulp & Paper

7.2.4 Cosmetics

7.2.5 Other Application



Chapter 8 Titanium Dioxide Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 9 Titanium Dioxide Market - Competitive Landscape

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i39r1i

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Grove Mountain Partners ("Grove Mountain") announces the sale of Unique Indoor Comfort Holdings, LLC ("Unique" or the "Company") to Ace Hardware. Nate Kukla, CEO, and the entire management team, including the brand Presidents, will continue to lead the Company as it embarks on its next growth phase.

Grove Mountain brought together twelve independent service-providing businesses beginning in June 2021 with the acquisition of three related companies: Moncrief Heating & Air, Unique Indoor Comfort of Philadelphia, and Werley Heating & Air. It added nine other high-integrity companies in the Eastern region of the U.S. including Clay's Climate Control, Detmer & Sons, Canella Heating & Air, A-Total Plumbing, All Phase Electrical, Dick Hill & Son, Carolina Custom, Rye Heating and Air, and Jackson Plumbing and Heating & Air.

Through unrelenting passion and focus on customer service and employee development, Unique experienced organic growth of over 20 percent, Google ratings of at least 4.8 and a Net Promoter Score of 80. All owners remained as Presidents of their respective companies, a hallmark of the Grove Mountain acquisition and management strategy.

"The Unique team has been outstanding, and we are incredibly appreciative of their efforts and accomplishments over the past two years," said Ransom James, Partner at Grove Mountain.

"Since our initial investment in June 2021, the Company completed nine add-on acquisitions and grew total revenue over 6x," said John Koch, Chairman of Unique and Partner at Grove Mountain. "It's incredible what a group of people focused on the customer experience with outstanding cultures can achieve in such a short period."

"We are grateful for our partnership with Grove Mountain and are proud of what we have built and accomplished," said Nate Kukla, CEO. "Now, we are excited to be part of the Ace team which will allow us to leverage their combined financial and operational capabilities and expertise. Since day one, Unique has been passionately dedicated to an employee-centric, high-integrity, and customer-focused culture. Ace shares in our mission and values and brings a plethora of resources to allow us to continue and grow the business."

The transaction closed in April. Cowen acted as a lead financial advisor and Citizens as co-advisor. DLA Piper LLC served as legal counsel to Unique and Grove Mountain.

SOURCE Grove Mountain Partners
Elucirem, a Novel New Macrocyclic GBCA for Use in Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has the highest relaxivity compared to other non-specific GBCAs (gadolinium-based contrast agents) 1

Elucirem requires only half the gadolinium dose of conventional non-specific GBCAs, addressing practitioners' concerns about gadolinium exposure. 2,3

PRINCETON, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Guerbet, a global leader in medical imaging with more than 30 years of experience in MRI, announced today that based on the most recent scientific and clinical evidence, the ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media has classified Elucirem (gadopiclenol) as a Group II agent.6 This next generation GBCA from Guerbet, highly stable macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), has the highest relaxivity in its class for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is indicated for use in adults and children aged 2 years and older.1,4 Elucirem requires only half the gadolinium dose of conventional non-specific GBCAs, addressing practitioners' concerns about gadolinium exposure.2,3

"This new classification from the ACR is a real game changer for the future of Elucirem," said Jared Houk, Commercial Vice President at Guerbet. "This is an important moment for our team as it really shows the benefit of this product and its potential in the market."

The classification states that gadopiclenol "demonstrates kinetic stability and a long dissociation half-life that are comparable to other Group II macrocyclic agents. Based on the most recent scientific and clinical evidence, the ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media considers the risk of NSF among patients exposed to standard or lower than standard doses of Gadopiclenol is sufficiently low or possibly nonexistent such that it has been classified as a Group II agent."6

Elucirem (Gadopiclenol) injection is used to detect and visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues) and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system).1 Guerbet received FDA approval of Elucirem (NDA 216986) on September 21, 2022 after priority review, a designation assigned to applications for drugs that provide significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions compared to available therapies.5

GBCAs improve the contrast between lesions and surrounding tissues by accelerating the relaxation of protons thanks to interaction with gadolinium atoms. Gadopiclenol, the active drug substance of Elucirem, has been designed to enable twice as much interaction, resulting in the highest relaxivity among all non-specific GBCAs.4 This allows use at half the conventional gadolinium dose to reveal high quality images.

Elucirem is manufactured by Liebel-Flarsheim Company LLC, a Guerbet Group company, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

About Guerbet

At Guerbet, we build lasting relationships so that we enable people to live better. That is our purpose. We are a global leader in medical imaging, offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and digital and AI solutions for diagnostic and interventional imaging. As pioneers in contrast products for over 95 years, with more than 2,600 employees worldwide, we continuously innovate and devote 8%-10% of our revenue to research and development in five centers in France, Israel, and the United States. Guerbet (GBT) is listed on Euronext Paris (segment B  mid caps) and generated 732 million in revenue in 2021. For more information, please visit www.guerbet.com.

About Gadopiclenol

Gadopiclenol, initially invented by Guerbet with subsequent contribution of Bracco intellectual property, is a new macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) with high relaxivity. The efficacy and safety of Gadopiclenol have been evaluated in MRI of the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues) and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system) in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older. (refer to the approved USPI for full information). Details on Phase III clinical trials are available on www.ClinicalTrials.gov:

Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Central Nervous System (CNS) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Gadopiclenol is currently in the process of examination by the European Medicines Agency.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature, based on assumptions and predictions made by the management of Guerbet group. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to marked differences between the future results, financial situation, development and performances of the company, and the estimates made here. These factors include those mentioned in the public reports of Guerbet, available on its website www.guerbet.com. The company assumes no responsibility whatsoever in relation to the updating of these forward-looking statements, or how they correspond to future events or developments.

ELUCIREM (gadopiclenol) injection Important Safety Information

WARNING: NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS (NSF) See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning





Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrasted MRI or other modalities. The risk for NSF appears highest among patients with:

Chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), or



Acute kidney injury.

Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (for example, age >60 years, hypertension or diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing.

Indications and Usage

ELUCIREM (gadopiclenol) injection is indicated in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues), and the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system).

Contraindications

History of hypersensitivity reactions to ELUCIREM

Warnings and Precautions

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: GBCAs increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. The GBCA-associated NSF risk appears highest for patients with chronic, severe kidney disease as well as patients with acute kidney injury.

GBCAs increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. The GBCA-associated NSF risk appears highest for patients with chronic, severe kidney disease as well as patients with acute kidney injury. Hypersensitivity Reactions: With GBCAs, serious hypersensitivity reactions have occurred. In most cases, initial symptoms occurred within minutes of GBCA administration and resolved with prompt emergency treatment. Before ELUCIREM administration, assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a hypersensitivity reaction to ELUCIREM.

With GBCAs, serious hypersensitivity reactions have occurred. In most cases, initial symptoms occurred within minutes of GBCA administration and resolved with prompt emergency treatment. Before ELUCIREM administration, assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a hypersensitivity reaction to ELUCIREM. Gadolinium Retention: Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs. Linear GBCAs cause more retention than macrocyclic GBCAs. Consequences of gadolinium retention in the brain have not been established. Pathologic and clinical consequences of GBCA administration and retention in skin and other organs have been established in patients with impaired renal function. While clinical consequences of gadolinium retention have not been established in patients with normal renal function, certain patients might be at higher risk. These include patients requiring multiple lifetime doses, pregnant and pediatric patients, and patients with inflammatory conditions. Consider the retention characteristics of the agent when choosing a GBCA for these patients. Minimize repetitive GBCA imaging studies, particularly closely spaced studies when possible

Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs. Linear GBCAs cause more retention than macrocyclic GBCAs. Consequences of gadolinium retention in the brain have not been established. Pathologic and clinical consequences of GBCA administration and retention in skin and other organs have been established in patients with impaired renal function. While clinical consequences of gadolinium retention have not been established in patients with normal renal function, certain patients might be at higher risk. These include patients requiring multiple lifetime doses, pregnant and pediatric patients, and patients with inflammatory conditions. Consider the retention characteristics of the agent when choosing a GBCA for these patients. Minimize repetitive GBCA imaging studies, particularly closely spaced studies when possible Acute Kidney Injury: In patients with chronically reduced renal function, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

In patients with chronically reduced renal function, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Extravasation and Injection Site Reactions: Injection site reactions such as injection site pain have been reported in the clinical studies with ELUCIREM. Extravasation during ELUCIREM administration may result in tissue irritation. Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of ELUCIREM.

Injection site reactions such as injection site pain have been reported in the clinical studies with ELUCIREM. Extravasation during ELUCIREM administration may result in tissue irritation. Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of ELUCIREM. Interference with Visualization of Lesions Visible with Non-Contrast MRI: As with any GBCA, ELUCIREM may impair the visualization of lesions seen on non-contrast MRI. Therefore, caution should be exercised when Gadopiclenol MRI scans are interpreted without a companion non-contrast MRI scan.

Adverse Reactions:

In clinical trials, the most frequent adverse reactions that occurred in > 0.2% of patients who received ELUCIREM included: injection site pain, headache, nausea, injection site warmth, injection site coldness, dizziness, and localized swelling. Adverse reactions that occurred with a frequency  0.2% in patients who received 0.05 mmol/kg BW

ELUCIREM included: maculopapular rash, vomiting, worsened renal impairment, feeling hot, pyrexia, oral paresthesia, dysgeusia, diarrhea, pruritus, allergic dermatitis, erythema, injection site paresthesia, Cystatin C increase, and blood creatinine increase.

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy: GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. There are no available data on ELUCIREM use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. There are no available data on ELUCIREM use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Lactation: There are no data on the presence of ELUCIREM in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is excreted in breast milk.

There are no data on the presence of ELUCIREM in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is excreted in breast milk. Pediatric Use: The safety and effectiveness of ELUCIREM have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age.

The safety and effectiveness of ELUCIREM have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age. Geriatric Use: This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.

This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Renal Impairment: In patients with renal impairment, the exposure of gadopiclenol is increased compared to patients with normal renal function. This may increase the risk of adverse reactions such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities. No dose adjustment of ELUCIREM is recommended for patients with renal impairment. ELUCIREM can be removed from the body by hemodialysis

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see the full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, for additional important safety information.



1Elucirem [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Guerbet LLC; 2022

2Loevner LA, Kolumban B, Hutoczki G, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Gadopiclenol for Contrast-Enhanced MRI of the Central Nervous System: The PICTURE Randomized Clinical Trial. Investigative Radiology ():10.1097/RLI.0000000000000944, December 19, 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000944

3Data on file (PROMISE trial. GDX-44-011)

4 Robic, C., Port, M., Rousseaux, O., Louguet, S., Fretellier, N., Catoen, S., Factor, C., Le Greneur, S., Medina, C., Bourrinet, P., Raynal, I., Idee, J. M., & Corot, C. (2019). Physicochemical and Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Gadopiclenol: A New Macrocyclic Gadolinium Chelate With High T1 Relaxivity. Investigative radiology, 54(8), 475484. https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000000563

5 US FDA. Priority Review. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/priority-review. Accessed August 22, 2022

6 ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. ACR Manual on Contrast Media. April 2023.

Contacts:

Guerbet

Leeann Essai, Head of Marketing, North America 609-480-9850/ [email protected]

Syneos Health

Edie Elkinson, Media Relations 310-430-6838/ [email protected]

SOURCE Guerbet
Zelenskyy urges to refrain from making any decisions on trade with Ukraine without consultations with it

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on neighboring countries and states of the European Union to refrain from making any decisions on trade with Ukraine without consultations with it.

"We have discussed (with the President of the European Commission) the situation regarding the export of our agricultural products. We have a general agreement on our Ukrainian contribution to global food security ... Unfortunately, we have encountered problems in what we should continue to be strong manifestations of solidarity ... The brutal protectionist measures (on trade) of our neighbors during the war cannot but disappoint," Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

As the president emphasized, any restrictions on Ukrainian exports are now unacceptable, because they increase the capabilities of the aggressor.

In this regard, Zelenskyy proposed the creation of an advisory group with neighboring countries and EU states in order to monitor problematic issues in trade.

"We propose to establish an advisory group to monitor relevant problematic issues and refrain from making any decisions regarding trade without consultations with Ukraine," he said.

The head of state also said that he expects strong decisions from the European Union and the soonest removal of all trade restrictions.

"If there is political will," he said, "and our talks today show that there is such a will. We will be able to find optimal, correct and strong solutions that will protect the interests of both Europe and the Ukrainians who are suffering, in addition to war, also from the export restrictions applied against us."
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The handicrafts market size is estimated to increase by USD 407.15 billion from 2022 to 2027, with a CAGR of 8.87%, according to a recent market study by Technavio. This report also offers a 5-year historical (2017-2021) data projection of market size, segmentation, and region. Discover some more key insights on market size before buying the full report -Request a sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Handicrafts Market 2023-2027

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. The Bargaining Power of Buyers & Suppliers and the Threat of New Entrants, Rivalry, and Substitutes have also been analyzed and rated between LOW-HIGH to provide a holistic view of market favorability.



Find Technavio's Exclusive Analysis of Price Sensitivity, Adoption Lifecycle, Customer Purchase Basket, Adoption Rates, and Purchase Criteria

One of the core components of the customer landscape is price sensitivity , an analysis of which will help companies refine marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage .

, an analysis of which will help companies refine . Another key aspect is price sensitivity drivers (purchases are undifferentiated, the purchase is a key cost to buyers, and quality is not important) , which range between LOW and HIGH.

, which range between Furthermore, market adoption rates for all regions have been covered.

Vendor Analysis

The global handicrafts market and highly competitive with the presence of numerous players. To stay ahead of the competition, vendors are continuously innovating and introducing new and advanced products in the market. They are also investing heavily in research and development activities to improve the quality and functionality of their products. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include:

Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd: The company offers different types of handmade Christmas decoration items which are often used as gift items by the consumers.

The company offers different types of handmade Christmas decoration items which are often used as gift items by the consumers. Crossroads Foundation: The company offers different types of handmade jute farmhouse carry bags which are used to carry multiple things.

The company offers different types of handmade jute farmhouse carry bags which are used to carry multiple things. Divya Exports: The company produces and distributes different types of aluminum ware and beaded glitter handicraft items worldwide.

The company produces and distributes different types of aluminum ware and beaded glitter handicraft items worldwide. Fakih Group of Companies: The company is involved in trading, manufacturing, and exporting different types of handicraft products from small-scale and cottage industries, eco-friendly products, and women-crafted products.

The company is involved in trading, manufacturing, and exporting different types of handicraft products from small-scale and cottage industries, eco-friendly products, and women-crafted products. Craft India Overseas

Earthy Workshop and Co Pty Ltd. and Akkaara

HimalayanMart.com

Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd.

Native Crafts and Arts

Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd.

NGOC DONG HA NAM

Orient Handicraft Ltd.

OSM HANDICRAFT

RTCrafts Enterprise

S.Sundaravadivel and Co.

Sana Hastakala

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Chart & Data Table on 5-Year Historic (2017-2021) Market Size, Comparative Analysis of Segments, and Y-O-Y Growth of Handicrafts market

The market is segmented by product (Metal art ware and jewelry, Woodware, Textile products, and Pottery and others), distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and geography ( North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South America )

, , APAC, and , and ) The market growth in the metal art ware and jewelry segment will be significant over the forecast period. The term metal art includes wall decorations, statues, sculptures, metal furniture, cooking utensils, traditional weapons, frames, decorative mats, lighting products (portable lamps, etc.), religious artifacts, musical instruments, etc. These metal crafts are mainly made from raw materials based on metals and alloys such as iron, brass, copper, gold, silver, and stainless steel. This segment also includes jewelry such as replica jewelry and jewelry made of gemstones and stones. With the increasing verticalization (purchasing by retailers directly from exporters in developing countries) and horizontalization (incorporating retailers and brands in sectors such as stationery, fashion, and furniture), artisans now have direct access to the market. The growing popularity of metalwork is also fueled by innovations in this area, especially in tableware, lighting and ornaments. Additionally, there is a growing market for black and rust-colored metal-based crafts that add a retro feel to the item. Thus, such factors will further drive the revenue growth of the segment during the forecast period.

Market Dynamics

Driver - The need for low-capital investments will drive the growth of the market. A craft business requires only a small initial investment. Small craft stores, individual craft stores, and medium-sized businesses can all produce crafts. The majority of producers in the global market are small agricultural businesses that prioritize profitable production by obtaining the best working capital from local investors or government assistance. Building machinery and leasing/owning land represent a significant portion of the initial investment in various industries. However, since the craft industry relies on manual labor rather than sophisticated machinery, initial costs for machinery and equipment are minimal or low. Hence, lower working capital and initial investment requirements will drive revenue growth in the market during the forecast period.

The need for low-capital investments will drive the growth of the market. A craft business requires only a small initial investment. Small craft stores, individual craft stores, and medium-sized businesses can all produce crafts. The majority of producers in the global market are small agricultural businesses that prioritize profitable production by obtaining the best working capital from local investors or government assistance. Building machinery and leasing/owning land represent a significant portion of the initial investment in various industries. However, since the craft industry relies on manual labor rather than sophisticated machinery, initial costs for machinery and equipment are minimal or low. Hence, lower working capital and initial investment requirements will drive revenue growth in the market during the forecast period. Trend - Increasing demand for social and environmental sustainability of handicraft products is the key trend in the market. Most handicrafts are made from eco-friendly raw materials such as jute, bamboo, teak, metal, and cotton. However, manufacturers are increasingly turning to unconventional materials such as plastic when producing handcrafted items such as face masks, piggy banks, water bottles, decorative flowers, and traditional toys. As a result, there is an increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials to replace these products. For example, US, European and Japanese importers have expressed concerns about certain raw materials used in the manufacture of handicrafts in India . These countries require Indian handicraft exporters to comply with a set of social and environmental standards that ensure sustainability. These demands have led more and more handicraft producers to focus on using safe and environmentally friendly raw materials, further boosting the expansion of the market during the forecast period.

Increasing demand for social and environmental sustainability of handicraft products is the key trend in the market. Most handicrafts are made from eco-friendly raw materials such as jute, bamboo, teak, metal, and cotton. However, manufacturers are increasingly turning to unconventional materials such as plastic when producing handcrafted items such as face masks, piggy banks, water bottles, decorative flowers, and traditional toys. As a result, there is an increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials to replace these products. For example, US, European and Japanese importers have expressed concerns about certain raw materials used in the manufacture of handicrafts in . These countries require Indian handicraft exporters to comply with a set of social and environmental standards that ensure sustainability. These demands have led more and more handicraft producers to focus on using safe and environmentally friendly raw materials, further boosting the expansion of the market during the forecast period. Challenge - The lack of managerial capabilities is a major challenge in the market. Handicraft manufacturers often lack management skills in areas such as workplace management, market research, inventory management, and merchandising. This shortage is often seen as an obstacle to the progress of handicrafts. Artisan manufacturers often do not have access to business development service providers (BDSPs) because they have limited budgets and operate independently of local governments. Even with BDSPs in place, there is a significant difference between the perceived need for managed services and the actual willingness to pay for them. Additionally, arts and crafts manufacturers may lack the financial means to access BDSP services. Additionally, craft producers rarely communicate with importers or other foreign retailers, limiting their exposure to normative business practices in other countries. Therefore, market growth will be limited during the forecast period due to a lack of understanding of the special needs of foreign exporters.

Chart & Data Table on Historical Market Size (2017-2021), Historic Industry Size & Analysis of Vendors and Countries

The market is segmented by region North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America. An analysis of key leading countries has been included.

North America will account for 31% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is driven by the presence of favorable government policies on handicraft imports and increasing demand for handicrafts such as hand-printed textiles, metalwork, and embroidery products. Additionally, the existence of laws that ensure the authenticity of Indigenous or Native American artifacts, such as the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, helps maintain scrutiny of counterfeit artifacts in the United States . Such factors thus drive the growth of the regional market during the forecast period.

In addition to the forecast, the report also highlights the key opportunities by analyzing

drivers, trends, and challenges for the market. VIEW a PDF SAMPLE!

What are the key data covered in this Handicrafts Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the Handicrafts Market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the Handicrafts Market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the Handicrafts Market industry across North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South America

, , APAC, and , and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of Handicrafts Market vendors

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Handicrafts Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.87% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 407.15 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 10.65 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 31% Key countries US, United Arab Emirates, China, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd., Craft India Overseas, Crossroads Foundation, Divya Exports, Earthy workshop and Co Pty Ltd. and Akkaara, Fakih Group of Companies, HimalayanMart.com, Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd., Native Crafts and Arts, Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd., NGOC DONG HA NAM, Orient Handicraft Ltd., OSM HANDICRAFT, RTCrafts Enterprise, S.Sundaravadivel and Co., Sana Hastakala, Ten Thousand Villages, Thar Handicrafts Gallery Pvt. Ltd., The Handicrafts and Handloom Exports Corp. of India Ltd., and Zhejiang Hengtai Crafts Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Table of contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global handicrafts market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on Global handicrafts market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.2 Product Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Product Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.3 Distribution Channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Distribution Channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Product

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Product - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Product

6.3 Metal art ware and jewelry - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Metal art ware and jewelry - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Metal art ware and jewelry - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Metal art ware and jewelry - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Metal art ware and jewelry - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Woodware - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Woodware - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Woodware - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Woodware - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Woodware - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Textile products - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 42: Chart on Textile products - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Textile products - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Textile products - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Textile products - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.6 Pottery and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 46: Chart on Pottery and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Pottery and others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 48: Chart on Pottery and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Pottery and others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.7 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Product ($ billion)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market opportunity by Product ($ billion)

7 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 52: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 54: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

7.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 56: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 58: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 60: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 62: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 64: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ billion)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ billion)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 66: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 67: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 68: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 69: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 70: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 73: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 79: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 80: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 81: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 82: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 89: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 91: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 92: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 93: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 95: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 96: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 97: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 98: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 104: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 105: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 106: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 United Arab Emirates - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on United Arab Emirates - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 108: Data Table on United Arab Emirates - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 109: Chart on United Arab Emirates - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 110: Data Table on United Arab Emirates - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 111: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)



Exhibit 112: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 117: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 119: Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.4 Crossroads Foundation

Exhibit 122: Crossroads Foundation - Overview



Exhibit 123: Crossroads Foundation - Product / Service



Exhibit 124: Crossroads Foundation - Key offerings

12.5 Divya Exports

Exhibit 125: Divya Exports - Overview



Exhibit 126: Divya Exports - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: Divya Exports - Key offerings

12.6 Fakih Group of Companies

Exhibit 128: Fakih Group of Companies - Overview



Exhibit 129: Fakih Group of Companies - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Fakih Group of Companies - Key offerings

12.7 HimalayanMart.com

Exhibit 131: HimalayanMart.com - Overview



Exhibit 132: HimalayanMart.com - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: HimalayanMart.com - Key offerings

12.8 Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 134: Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 135: Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 136: Kathmandu Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.9 Native Crafts and Arts

Exhibit 137: Native Crafts and Arts - Overview



Exhibit 138: Native Crafts and Arts - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: Native Crafts and Arts - Key offerings

12.10 Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 140: Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 141: Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 142: Nepal Craft Shop Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

12.11 NGOC DONG HA NAM

Exhibit 143: NGOC DONG HA NAM - Overview

- Overview

Exhibit 144: NGOC DONG HA NAM - Product / Service

- Product / Service

Exhibit 145: NGOC DONG HA NAM - Key offerings

12.12 Orient Handicraft Ltd.

Exhibit 146: Orient Handicraft Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 147: Orient Handicraft Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 148: Orient Handicraft Ltd. - Key offerings

12.13 OSM HANDICRAFT

Exhibit 149: OSM HANDICRAFT - Overview



Exhibit 150: OSM HANDICRAFT - Product / Service



Exhibit 151: OSM HANDICRAFT - Key offerings

12.14 RTCrafts Enterprise

Exhibit 152: RTCrafts Enterprise - Overview



Exhibit 153: RTCrafts Enterprise - Product / Service



Exhibit 154: RTCrafts Enterprise - Key offerings

12.15 Sana Hastakala

Exhibit 155: Sana Hastakala - Overview



Exhibit 156: Sana Hastakala - Product / Service



Exhibit 157: Sana Hastakala - Key offerings

12.16 Ten Thousand Villages

Exhibit 158: Ten Thousand Villages - Overview



Exhibit 159: Ten Thousand Villages - Product / Service



Exhibit 160: Ten Thousand Villages - Key offerings

12.17 Thar Handicrafts Gallery Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 161: Thar Handicrafts Gallery Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 162: Thar Handicrafts Gallery Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 163: Thar Handicrafts Gallery Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 164: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 165: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 166: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 167: Research methodology



Exhibit 168: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 169: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 170: List of abbreviations

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Gen. John Abizaid, The Honorable Kari Bingen, Rep. Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan bring diverse experiences to HawkEye 360

HERNDON, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkEye 360 Inc., the world's leading defense technology company for space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced today their Advisory Board Class of 2023: General John P. Abizaid, The Honorable Kari A. Bingen, The Honorable Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan.

HawkEye 360 Announces Advisory Board Class of 2023

"HawkEye 360 is proud to welcome an extraordinary class of advisory board leaders for 2023," said HawkEye 360 Chief Executive Officer John Serafini. "Their broad expertise across government and nonprofit sectors will be essential as we continue to expand our RF-sensing satellite constellation to equip the U.S. Government and our partners abroad with crucial, near real-time insights into illegal and illicit activities."

General John P. Abizaid is a retired U.S. Army four-star general, who most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previously, he served on the CIA's External Advisory Board and as the Distinguished Chair (Emeritus) of the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was also the first Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In his thirty-four years of active service, he commanded units at every level, serving in Grenada, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he has also studied at the University of Jordan in Amman, holds a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University, and has received Honorary Degrees from Dartmouth College and Norwich University. Currently, he is the Principal Partner of JPA Partners, LLC, a firm advising private business, government, and academic clients on leadership, national and international strategy, business, security, and military affairs. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as a board member for the Middle East Institute.

"HawkEye 360's work is critical to fostering a safer and more secure world, including in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions," General John Abizaid said. "I look forward to joining this dynamic team who are demonstrating the critical role commercial defense technologies play in our national defense."

The Honorable Kari A. Bingen is the director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer for HawkEye 360. Kari has also served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security for the U.S. Department of Defense, the policy director on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and staff lead for its Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Kari is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University, a member of the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group, and serves on a number of corporate and nonprofit advisory boards. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics.

"I'm thrilled to be back with the HawkEye 360 team in this capacity and to be joining such a distinguished cohort of advisors," Kari Bingen said. "HawkEye 360 exemplifies the contribution that commercial space can make to national defense and global security."

The Honorable Jim Cooper is a recently retired congressman (D-TN) who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years, working on eight different committees including the Intelligence Committee. Jim helped found the U.S. Space Force as the former chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. In 2017, Jim worked with Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL) on a proposal to establish a space corps under the U.S. Department of the Air Force. The proposal passed the House and two years later a bill with very similar language was signed into law, creating the U.S. Space Force. Cooper received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, his M.A. as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and his B.A. as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is writing a book about the beginnings of the Space Force.

"I was impressed by HawkEye 360 and its excellent management team from the start and have been even more impressed by their work overseas this past year," Rep. Jim Cooper said. "They are a company with a great future and I look forward to being a part of it."

Dr. M. Sanjayan is a conservation scientist and CEO of Conservation International, an organization working primarily in the Global South to protect nature for humanity. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in West Africa, Sanjayan holds a master's degree from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in conservation biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has previously served as a visiting researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, a distinguished professor of practice at Arizona State University, and a fellow at the Aspen Institute. Sanjayan also serves as a trustee for The Earthshot Prize and a climate advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative.

"As a conservation scientist concerned with global climate change, including forest restoration and protecting ocean waters, I have built my career around humanitarian and environmental preservation initiatives," Sanjayan said. "I truly believe Hawkeye 360's technologies will benefit our society and our world."

"As HawkEye 360 continues to grow its signals collection and analysis capabilities, these distinguished advisors bring valuable knowledge and experience in how our data can support the national security, defense, space and environmental sectors," said HawkEye 360 Chief Strategy Officer Patrick Zeitouni. "HawkEye 360 is strengthened by their leadership."

These four individuals, forming HawkEye 360 Advisory Board's Class of 2023, will join the board's 18 current members:

Letitia Long (Advisory Board Chair)

(Advisory Board Chair) Honorable Arthur L. Money

David Deptula Lt. Gen., U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Stephanie O'Sullivan

B. Lynn Wright

Scott Swift , Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

, Admiral, U.S. (Ret.) Joan DempseySenator Norm Coleman

Deborah Lee James

John Mulholland , Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (Ret.)

, Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (Ret.) Essye Miller

Representative Mac Thornberry

Kevin Chilton , General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

, General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

(Ret.) Marty Faga

Terry McAuliffe

Paul Zukunft , Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)

, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.) Mike Rogers , Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

For more information on the HawkEye 360 satellite constellation, please visit https://www.he360.com/ .

About HawkEye 360

HawkEye 360 is a defense technology leader providing ubiquitous knowledge of human activity, behavior, and situational trends derived from revolutionary radio frequency (RF) geospatial intelligence. The company's innovative space-based technology was developed to detect, characterize, and geolocate a broad range of RF signals. These RF data and analytics provide an information advantage allowing analysts to detect the first glimpse of suspicious behavior, trace the first sign of enemy activity, and reveal the first sighting of ships attempting to vanish. HawkEye 360's RF intelligence presents a quicker grasp of critical events and patterns of life, providing early warnings to drive tip-and-cue efforts, and providing global leaders the insights needed to make decisions with confidence. HawkEye 360 is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

SOURCE HawkEye 360
Healthgrades announces first-of-their-kind outcomes-based outpatient ratings for joint replacement.

DENVER, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans turn to when searching for a doctor or hospital, has released a new Outpatient Joint Replacement Award and Ratings. Each year, more Americans are opting for outpatient elective procedures, with nearly 500,000 Medicare patients undergoing outpatient hip and knee replacements from 2019-2021. To address this shift and help patients find the best care for their unique health needs, Healthgrades has developed the industry's first outpatient quality ratings. This patent pending methodology is based solely on what matters most to patients: clinical outcomes.

For this inaugural analysis, Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for outpatient total knee and total hip replacement at hospitals across the country.* Healthgrades recognizes superior performance in outpatient joint replacement with three distinctions:

Healthgrades Outpatient Total Knee Replacement Five-Star Ratings - 146 hospitals received this designation

- 146 hospitals received this designation Healthgrades Outpatient Total Hip Replacement Five-Star Ratings - 78 hospitals received this designation

- 78 hospitals received this designation Healthgrades Outpatient Joint Replacement Specialty Excellence Award - awarded to 112 hospitals representing the top 10% in the nation

Just as with inpatient care, Healthgrades's analysis reveals significant variability in patient outcomes across facilities. The recipients of this year's outpatient distinctions provided significantly better-than-expected outcomes for patients undergoing outpatient hip and knee replacement procedures during the 2019-2021 study period:

Patients treated at hospitals that received a 2023 Outpatient Joint Replacement Award have up to a 50% lower risk of experiencing a complication than those treated at non-recipient hospitals.**

than those treated at non-recipient hospitals.** Patients undergoing hip replacement at a hospital with a five-star rating for total hip replacement have a 76% lower risk of experiencing one or more complications than patients treated at one-star hospitals.**

than patients treated at one-star hospitals.** Patients undergoing knee replacement at a hospital with a five-star rating for total knee replacement have a nearly 85% lower risk of experiencing one or more complications than patients treated at one-star hospitals.**

than patients treated at one-star hospitals.** If all hospitals performed as well as those with five-stars in outpatient knee and hip replacements, over 10,000 complications could have been avoided.**

"It is imperative that consumers have the information they need to choose a doctor and hospital that excel in their procedure as the market for elective orthopedic care continues to shift towards outpatient settings," said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. "As a leader in health transparency for over 20 years, Healthgrades is proud to be the first to publish outcomes-based outpatient ratings, and we look forward to expanding our outpatient analysis further later this year."

Through data-driven awards and ratings, Healthgrades empowers patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. To find the best orthopedic care close to home, consumers can visit healthgrades.com for the complete list of outpatient awards and ratings recipients.

*To be eligible for an Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award, hospitals must receive ratings in both outpatient total knee replacement and outpatient total hip replacement. To learn more about how Healthgrades rates hospitals, see the 2023 Outpatient Specialty Excellence Awards & Ratings Methodology.

**Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of SAF data for years 2019 through 2021 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

About Healthgrades

Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering stronger and more meaningful connections between patients and their healthcare providers. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.

Our health system, large group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have been helping our partners reach and engage consumers who are on their way to the doctor for over 20 years.

Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online across its brand portfolio including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central, Bezzy and Platejoy which touch every part of the health and wellness journey. Each month, RVO Health helps more than 100 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives.

SOURCE Healthgrades
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Insurance Brokers, one of the largest full-service, independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States, has acquired Stitz & Associates located in Kirkwood, Missouri. Drew Stitz, President of Stitz & Associates, and the other Stitz team members have joined Heffernan Insurance Brokers' small business division, HeffDirect, effective May 1, 2023.

Founded in 1989, Stitz & Associates focuses on consulting, implementing, and servicing group employer health, individual health and Medicare insurance clients. Serving Missouri and the greater Midwest, Stitz & Associates is a single-source destination for clients providing services that include employee benefits and outsourced backroom solutions for commercial clients, and supplemental and enrollment assistance for individuals.

"Stitz & Associates is fortunate to find such a great partner with the Heffernan team," said Drew Stitz, now a Senior Vice President of Heffernan Insurance Brokers. "I am confident we will be able to add client value from all the additional resources and continue to deliver the same high level of personal service."

"Drew and his team bring experience and expertise in employee benefits and Medicare that are an ideal complement to the services provided by our small business division. We look forward to seeing the continued success and expanded growth for HeffDirect with the addition of Stitz & Associates," said F. Michael Heffernan, President and CEO of Heffernan Insurance Brokers.

As part of the next phase of Heffernan's growth strategy, we are interested in collaborating with privately held independent brokers across the United States. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Matt McKenna, Director of Corporate Development, at 925-746-7962 or [email protected].

About Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides insurance and financial services products to a range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Heffernan has offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Menlo Park, Truckee, Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and Irvine, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Seattle and Olympia, WA; St. Louis, MO; and London UK.

Employee-owned, Heffernan Insurance Brokers was named the Top Mid-Sized Broker in the United States to work for in 2009 by Business Insurance Magazine. The firm has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003.

For more information, visit www.heffins.com. License #0564249

SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers
Home sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Lennar

DENVER, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping a Hero, a non-profit providing support for military personnel severely injured in the war on terror, Bass Pro Shops and Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, broke ground on a wheelchair-accessible home for U.S. Marine Corporal Ryan Garza (Ret.). The new Lennar home is in the master-planned Sterling Ranch community in Littleton, CO, near Denver.

Helping a Hero, a non-profit providing support for military personnel severely injured in the war on terror, Bass Pro Shops and Lennar, one of the nations leading homebuilders, broke ground on a wheelchair-accessible home for U.S. Marine Corporal Ryan Garza (Ret.). The new Lennar home is in the master-planned Sterling Ranch community in Littleton, CO, near Denver.

Hundreds of people lined the streets waving American flags and holding handmade signs cheering "Welcome Home, Cpl. Garza." Garza was greeted by special guests Helping a Hero Executive Director Rhonda Walls Kerby and Colorado Chair Vicki Brentin; Tate Stevens, an American country music artist and National Ambassador for Helping a Hero; Brock Smethills, President of Sterling Ranch Development Co.; and Jason Nazarenus, Denver Division President for Lennar.

The groundbreaking was part of Helping a Hero's 100 Homes Challenge, which was launched by Johnny Morris, Founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops. Lennar has joined the effort and committed to building 10 homes for Helping a Hero as part of the 100 Homes Challenge. Homes by Lennar are being built in Texas, Arizona, Florida and Colorado  with more homes to be added.

Lennar worked with Helping a Hero to adapt the new home  a single-story wheelchair-accessible 2,600-square-foot model featuring four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. The home will have adaptations such as a roll-in shower, roll-under sink, lush thresholds, wider doors and other safety features that will enable Garza to have freedom inside his home for the first time. Sterling Ranch, a master-planned community of more than 12,000 homes, lies just 20 miles south of downtown Denver. This award-winning community of new homes is positioned in an idyllic valley at the gateway to the Front Range  nestled between two state parks, three regional parks, and a national forest.

"It has always been my dream to have a home with a bathroom and kitchen to accommodate my disability," said Garza. "But this home is beyond anything I have ever imagined. I am incredibly grateful to Helping a Hero, Lennar, Sterling Ranch and Bass Pro Shops for making my dream come true."

"Corporal Garza is a servant leader who has never had an adapted home," said Helping a Hero Home founder Meredith Iler. "Helping a Hero is thrilled to partner with Lennar to design a wheelchair accessible home for Ryan  complete with wider doors and hallways, an adapted bathroom and other safety features to ensure he has freedom inside his home."

"Giving back to the communities in which we build is a core value at Lennar and on behalf of our entire Denver Division, we are honored that Ryan chose a Lennar home," said Nazarenus. "Our team is happy to commit our time and resources to create an exceptional home for an extremely deserving American hero."

Ryan Garza joined the Marines in April 2008 and was deployed with Combat Logistics 8 in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Despite the danger, Garza ultimately volunteered for four tours and experienced significant firefights almost daily. During his final mission, Garza was in a seven-ton truck when it was hit by an improvised explosive device. Garza lost his right leg and sustained other injuries requiring intensive rehab. He spent 13 months in the Naval Medical Center and retired in November 2012.

Garza has always been adventurous and loves Colorado  especially its mountains. While visiting his parents a few weeks ago, he thought he was shopping for a kayak at a local Bass Pro Shops when over 30 Bass Pro Shops, Helping a Hero and Lennar team members surprised him with the news he had been selected for this Helping a Hero home. Garza was so surprised by the news that he had tears streaming down his face.

Garza aspires to be a successful author with a focus on children's books. He just completed a book entitled "My Journey from Guilt to Forgiveness" after witnessing a buddy commit suicide and not being able to help him.

About Helping a Hero:

Texas-based Helping a Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization providing support for military personnel severely injured in the war on terror. Our principal activity is to provide specially adapted homes for qualifying service members as well as engage the community to provide services and resources for our wounded heroes and their families. Home recipients include veterans whose permanent injuries from combat have left them paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, blind, with severe burns and other injuries. Helping A Hero provides additional support programs including marriage retreats, caregiver retreats, recreational activities, and emergency needs support. Helping a Hero Outdoors has expanded to serve our heroes through hunting and fishing outings.

About the 100 Homes Challenge:

Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops and noted conservationist, launched the 100 Homes Challenge and committed to fund 25 percent of the cost of the next 100 Helping a Hero homes. Helping a Hero invites the public to join Johnny Morris in the 100 Homes Challenge by making a donation, however large or small, to help to fund the other 75 percent of the cost of these homes.

Helping A Hero is accepting applications from Post 9-11 wounded warriors needing a specially adapted home due to their combat injuries to become part of the 100 Homes Challenge. We also invite the public to Nominate a Hero. Both the home application and the Nominate a Hero form are available on our website at www.helpingahero.org.

About Lennar Corporation

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments.

Media Contacts:



Margaret Cordes, Communications Director, HelpingaHero.org

832-655-5499; [email protected]

Danielle Tocco, Vice President Communications, Lennar Corporation

949-648-1823 mobile, [email protected]

SOURCE Lennar Corporation
The Original Texas Brewery to Distill Craft Spirits

SHINER, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Spoetzl Brewery, the family-owned and independent craft brewer of the iconic Shiner Bock, announces the addition of a new onsite distillery, the K. Spoetzl Distilling Company, which will distill a line of Shiner Craft Spirits.

After over 114 years of crafting unique and innovative brews, Spoetzl is pushing the boundaries of its Shiner family of brands with the introduction of a new line of craft spirits. Now, the storied Texas brewery is opening a distillery to bring spirits fans expertly crafted spirits including Vodka, Gin and Moonshinealso known as "Shiner Shine"with barrel-aged spirits to follow.

"The town of Shiner and surrounding areas have a colorful history of distilling that dates back to before Prohibition and ties into Shiner's rich brewing heritage," says Tom Fiorenzi, Director of Brewery and Distillery Operations. "We believe our brewing experience crafting award-winning beers uniquely positions us to similarly craft the highest quality spirits for the demanding spirits consumer. The entire process  from grain to glass  will all be done by our team right here in Shiner; after all, great beer is the basis for great spirits."

Nestled in one of the oldest cellars of the historic brewery, Shiner commissioned a world-class distillation system, including a copper pot still and copper rectifying columns hand-crafted in Scotland. As an ode to the past, each batch of spirits passes through the collection vessel copper grant designed by Shiner's legendary Brewmaster Kosmos Spoetzl in 1947. "The copper from Kosmos' grant refines the batch prior to its introduction to the still," says Jessica Michalec, Spoetzl Distillery Manager. "From there, each batch receives the same care and attention from our distillers that our brewers would apply to our craft beers."

Visitors are invited to tour the distillery and sample spirits seven days a week. The distillery also has a menu of craft cocktails, each tailored to incorporate the local heritage and flavors. Bottles of spirits are also available for purchase exclusively from the hospitality room for at-home enjoyment.

"The incredible support from Shiner Beer fans over the years led us to this point where Shiner begins a new chapter distilling unique craft spirits that deliver on quality while paying homage to the brewery's historic past," says Nick Weiland, Shiner's Director of Marketing.

About Shiner, the K. Spoetzl Brewery, and the K. Spoetzl Distillery: The K. Spoetzl Brewery was founded in Shiner, Texas (population 2,127), in 1909, by Czech and German immigrants brewing beer with old-world traditions and recipes for South Central Texas. Since then, the brewery has grown to be one of the largest independent craft brewers in the country with beers available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and U.S. military bases around the world. In 2023, the Spoetzl Brewery expanded to include the K. Spoetzl Distillery with its line of Shiner Craft Spirits. To this day, every drop of the award-winning beer is brewed right in Shiner, TX, where it all started 114 years ago.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Shiner
The leading local HVAC service provider shares simple steps for cutting utility costs without sacrificing your family's comfort

SOUTH BEND, Ind., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Comfort Experts, the preferred local provider of high-quality HVAC, indoor air quality and plumbing service in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, offers tips for homeowners who want to cut energy costs and maximize the efficiency of their cooling system this summer.

Home Comfort Experts offers tips for homeowners who want to cut energy costs and maximize the efficiency of their cooling system this summer.

"It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to stay cool," said Brian West, general manager of Home Comfort Experts. "There are many ways to ensure your home stays comfortable, even during the hottest part of the year, without cranking up the AC. Setting some good habits now can have a meaningful impact this summer."

West and the Home Comfort Experts team recommend homeowners adopt the following best practices to effectively manage their cooling systems  and trim their utility bills.

Schedule regular maintenance: West urges homeowners to schedule an HVAC tune-up now, before the arrival of summer heat. Preventive service ensures peak performance and efficiency, helping you save money and reducing the risk of sudden breakdown. Emergency service during summer can be inconvenient and expensive.

West urges homeowners to schedule an HVAC tune-up now, before the arrival of summer heat. Preventive service ensures peak performance and efficiency, helping you save money and reducing the risk of sudden breakdown. Emergency service during summer can be inconvenient and expensive. Install a programmable thermostat: Keep your home cool only when you need it with a smart thermostat that allows you to match the temperature to your family's schedule. With wireless connections, you can even adjust the temperature from your phone, wherever you are.

Keep your home cool only when you need it with a smart thermostat that allows you to match the temperature to your family's schedule. With wireless connections, you can even adjust the temperature from your phone, wherever you are. Clean the filter: Replace your home's HVAC filter at least once every three months. Consider changing it more frequently during seasons when the system is working hard. Regular replacement helps lower your monthly bills and also extends the life of your equipment for long-term savings.

Replace your home's HVAC filter at least once every three months. Consider changing it more frequently during seasons when the system is working hard. Regular replacement helps lower your monthly bills and also extends the life of your equipment for long-term savings. Turn on the fans: Ceiling and floor fans effectively circulate cool air throughout your home, which means the AC doesn't have to work as hard.

Ceiling and floor fans effectively circulate cool air throughout your home, which means the AC doesn't have to work as hard. Close the curtains: Using window treatments will prevent sunlight from heating up your home and keep cool air contained.

"In today's economic climate, with rising prices and an uncertain outlook, we all want to save money where we can," West said. "Our tips can help homeowners in our community protect their financial flexibility and peace of mind. And the best part is they can save on their energy bills without sacrificing their family's comfort."

Since 2006, Home Comfort Experts has specialized in providing residential heating, cooling and plumbing service and maintenance, indoor air quality products and services, and equipment replacement. Home Comfort Experts serves Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Warsaw, South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Plymouth and LaPorte in Indiana and Niles, St. Joseph, Berrien Springs and Dowagiac in Michigan.

For more information about Home Comfort Experts, visit https://www.homecomfortexpertsinc.com/.

About Home Comfort Experts

Home Comfort Experts is the preferred local provider of high-quality HVAC, indoor air quality and plumbing service in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan. Our customers' satisfaction and comfort is our number one goal. Home Comfort Experts serves clients in northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan, including Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Warsaw, South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Plymouth, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Niles, Berrien Springs and Dowagiac. We're the technicians you can trust with your house keys. For more information, visit https://homecomfortexpertsinc.com/ .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Home Comfort Experts
Results Include 12.9 g/t Gold over 36.1 m & 13.0 g/t Au over 6.0 m

RENO, Nev., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive initial results from underground drilling at the Company's 100%-owned McCoy-Cove Property ("Cove" or "the Property") located in Lander County, Nevada. The ~40,000 metre drill program is primarily designed to provide additional delineation to upgrade resources in the Helen and CSD Gap Zones in advance of completing an updated resource estimate and a full feasibility study.

Highlight results from initial 2023 drilling at Cove include:

Figure 1  3D View of the Cove Deposit and Drill Program (CNW Group/i-80 Gold Corp)

6.6 g/t Au over 6.0 m (iCHU23-01)

13.2 g/t Au over 3.0 m And 10.3 g/t Au over 7.8 m (iCHU23-02)

13.0 g/t Au over 6.0 m (iCHU23-03)

12.9 g/t Au over 36.1 m (iCHU23-04)

"Having not drilled the Cove deposit since 2018 as mine permitting was being advanced, many may have forgotten that it is one of the highest-quality deposits within i-80's portfolio.", stated Ewan Downie, CEO of i80 Gold. "Our early results in the CSD Gap Zone confirm high-grade mineralization that makes Cove one of the highest-grade development-stage gold deposits in North America."

Cove is one of three projects currently being advanced to realize the Company's goal of becoming the second largest gold producer in Nevada. In addition to the ongoing underground drill program, that is expected to comprise ~40,000 metres of drilling, the ongoing exploration and development program will also include hydrological and metallurgical test work in advance of completing a Feasibility Study following the underground definition drill program.

Table 1  Highlight Assay Results from Cove Underground Drilling

New 2023 results from McCoy-Cove, estimated true thickness 80-95% Drillhole ID Zone Type From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) iCHU23-01 CSD Gap Core 323.4 329.4 6.0 6.6 iCHU23-02 CSD Gap Core 245.1 248.1 3.0 13.2 and CSD Gap Core 267.3 273.6 6.2 5.2 and CSD Gap Core 281.4 289.3 7.8 10.3 and CSD Gap Core 307.1 308.6 1.5 15.4 and CSD Gap Core 326.0 327.2 1.2 26.6 and CSD Gap Core 330.3 331.9 1.6 13.5 iCHU23-03 CSD Gap Core 309.5 315.5 6.0 13.0 iCHU23-04 CSD Gap Core 295.4 331.5 36.1 12.9















UTM Drillhole ID East m North m Elevation m Azimuth Dip NAD83 Zone 11 iCHU23-01 482203 4465760 1416 047 -88 iCHU23-02 482175 4465774 1417 190 -86 iCHU23-03 482203 4465760 1416 120 -82 iCHU23-04 482204 4465760 1417 126 -78

The ongoing infill and step-out drill program will aide in the advancement of the Company's plan to develop an underground mine at Cove utilizing the current ramp with material anticipated to be trucked to the Company's Lone Tree facility, once operational, for processing in addition to Nevada Gold Mines pursuant to the processing agreement between the two companies. Following the underground drill program, i-80 plans to complete an updated mineral resource estimate and a Feasibility Study.

Cove is one of the Company's primary assets and is host to a resource of:

Mineral Resources2

Tonnage Au Grade Ag Grade Gold Silver

(kt) (g/t) (g/t) (koz) (koz) Indicated 1,007 10.9 29.1 351 943 Inferred 3,867 10.9 20.6 1,353 2,565

Please click here for further information on abbreviations and conversions referenced in this press release.

Investor Day Webcast & Conference Call  May 9 th at 4:30pm ET

The Company will host a live conference call and webcast on May 9, 2023, commencing at 4:30 pm ET, providing the opportunity for analysts and investors to ask questions of i-80 Gold's executive team.

Conference Call

North American Toll-free: 1-888-664-6383 Local: Toronto: 416-764-8650



Webcast Link

https://app.webinar.net/AyeNd3zbxWk

QAQC Procedures

All samples were submitted to ALS Minerals (ALS) of Sparks, NV, which is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through ALS are run through standard prep methods and analysed using Au-AA23 (ALS) (Au; 30g fire assay) and ME-ICP61 (35 element suite; 0.4g 4 acid/ICP-AES). ALS also undertakes their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results.

Qualified Person

Tyler Hill, CPG-12146, Chief Geologist at i-80 is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused, mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected].

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, the expansion or mineral resources at Cove and the potential of the McCoy-Cove Project. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp
Unbiased and Independent Perspective Without Vendor Input Will Help Organizations Evaluate Vendors and Support All Stages of Vendor Lifecycle

BOSTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IANS Research, a Boston-based cybersecurity research and advisory firm, today announced the launch of its Vendor Assessment Community (VAC), an unbiased and independent practitioner perspective on InfoSec domains and vendor solutions. Part of the IANS flagship End-User Decision Support offering, VAC will provide members with immediate access to a robust set of resources covering critical InfoSec domains. Community resources are informed by IANS Faculty and industry peers, and do not include input from vendors.

Finding the right vendor is critical to an organization's information security strategy, but evaluating, qualifying, and managing vendors is a massive challenge. To help organizations filter through the endless options and identify the right fit, IANS' VAC streamlines the security vendor decision-making process with real-world implementation experience, unbiased reports, and guidance for specific use cases, including IT environments, size, and maturity. With research and tools developed from peer and Faculty feedback, VAC members can save time and make better-informed decisions by comparing vendors and maximizing vendor spend ROI.

"The right vendors can significantly influence your cyber resiliency, and the wrong choice can quickly become a nightmare with poor support, hidden costs, or products that promise results but never deliver," said Dennis van Lingen, Chief Product Officer, IANS Research. "IANS launched its Vendor Assessment Community with IANS Faculty and peer-to-peer experience, without vendor input, to help companies easily identify and evaluate the right vendors for their security needs."

"What's exciting about the Vendor Assessment Community is sharing peer-to-peer lessons on the pitfalls and the accelerators of vendor selection, it's transformative," said Wolfgang Goerlich, IANS Faculty member. "Those insights are distilled for the people who need them at the right time and at the right place."

As practitioners, IANS Faculty and the IANS peer community continually evaluate vendor solutions and share these insights in VAC, so organizations are not starting from scratch. Additionally, VAC members provide valuable case studies detailing their experiences in selecting, implementing, and managing cyber solutions that are helpful in the search for the right vendor fit.

IANS VAC provides value-added guidance for the entire Vendor Management lifecycle, from identifying and assessing vendors to onboarding vendors and rationalizing the vendor stack. Tools, policies, and guides are available to help at every stage to meet immediate goals and to prepare for the future.

Additionally, IANS VAC offers many ways to engage with the cyber community to gain helpful insights from vendor successes and/or problems that cause friction, including opportunities to request a call with peers or IANS Faculty.

To become an IANS client and learn more about its VAC and additional resources available to help streamline the vendor process, visit IANS Research Decision Support.

About IANS Research

For the security practitioner caught between rapidly evolving threats and demanding executives, IANS Research is a clear-headed resource for decision making and articulating risk. IANS Research provides experience-based security insights for Chief Information Security Officers and their teams. Its core value comes from the IANS Faculty, a network of over 100 seasoned practitioners. IANS Research supports client decisions and executive communications with Ask-an-Expert inquiries, its peer community, implementation-focused tools and templates, professional development and consulting. Learn more at IANSresearch.com.

Media Contact:

Angelique Faul

[email protected]

(513) 633-0897

SOURCE IANS Research
Global Venture Capital Firm Hires Boatsetter Founder to Play Leading Role in Its Ambitious Growth Plans

MIAMI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IDC Ventures (IDCV) announced the appointment of Jaclyn Baumgarten as a Miami-based Managing Partner and the head of its US operations. Baumgarten, a seasoned tech entrepreneur, will spearhead the Copenhagen-based venture capital firm's expansion into the US market.

Previously, Baumgarten founded IDCV-backed Boatsetter, a technology- and data-driven global marketplace that aims to make on-demand boating accessible and affordable to anyone, anywhere.

IDC Ventures Welcomes Jaclyn Baumgarten as Managing Partner Tweet this Jaclyn Baumgarten

Baumgarten will bring her experience and expertise in scaling this global business to IDC Ventures and its portfolio companies. With her proven entrepreneurial track record, Baumgarten is poised to play a pivotal role in IDCV's growth strategy as the platform expands its operations in the United States.

"I am honored and excited to join the team at IDC Ventures," said Baumgarten. "I have had the pleasure of working with IDCV for years through their investment in Boatsetter, and have seen firsthand how they are focused on adding value for their portfolio companies. I very much appreciate IDCV's win-win approach to long-term partnerships, its founder-first culture, and its global network of top entrepreneurs and investors. I am passionate about supporting innovative startups, and I am eager to contribute my experience and insights to help IDC Ventures and its portfolio companies."

At Boatsetter, Baumgarten led the startup's rapid growth  including M&A activity, multiple rounds of funding, and partnerships with major brands such as Geico. Her vision and strategic direction helped Boatsetter become a leader in the sharing economy, revolutionizing the boat rental industry.

"We are delighted to welcome Jaclyn to our team as a Managing Partner," commented Bobby Aitkenhead, Managing Director of IDC Ventures. "Her entrepreneurial spirit, deep industry knowledge, and strong leadership skills make her the perfect fit for our organization as we continue to drive innovation across the marketplace and fintech sectors. I look forward to working closely with Jaclyn as we grow our funds in the US."

In her role as Managing Partner, Baumgarten will be instrumental in identifying and nurturing innovative startups, developing strategic partnerships, fundraising, and driving value creation for portfolio companies. Her deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and her ability to identify promising investment opportunities will be invaluable as IDC Ventures expands its presence in the United States.

For more information, please visit www.idcventures.com .

About IDC Ventures

By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, IDC Ventures (IDCV) seeks to identify, invest in, support, and propel disruptive companies at the forefront of digital innovation. IDCV backs industry-defining founders from Series A to growth stages in Europe, the US, and Latin America  and primarily in the verticals of fintech and marketplaces. IDC Ventures is the venture capital arm of the IDC Network, a multi-fund platform.

Learn more here .

Media Contact:

Benito Besada

[email protected]

SOURCE IDC Ventures
The European Union should impose sanctions against the nuclear industry of the Russian Federation, in this case the strength of the 11th sanctions package will be proportional to the level of threat from Russia, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"Today we touched separately (with the head of the European Commission) the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation for aggression. We look forward to agreeing on the 11th sanctions package in the near future. It should include powerful sanctions against the nuclear industry of the terrorist state. Then the strength of this package will be proportional to the level of threat," Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Job outlook strong with 80,000 electrician openings projected annually through 2031

Median annual wage for electricians in PA jumped 7 percent over the past 12 months

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IEC Pennsylvania, the state chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), announced it is accepting applications May 24 through June 2 for its next electrical apprenticeship class which starts in late August.

IEC Pennsylvania's apprenticeship program covers residential, commercial and industrial construction and electrical wiring. Individuals accepted into the four-year program work full-time as apprentices for electrical contractors and attend employer-paid instructional classes in-person and online. The program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council.

The job outlook for electricians is strong, as more electricians are retiring than entering the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, about 79,900 openings for electricians are projected each year on average through 2031.

The median annual wage for electricians in Pennsylvania was $73,540 as of May 2022, which is an hourly wage of over $35 not including benefits. This represents a 7.1 percent increase over the median annual wage one year ago.

"Demand for electricians is growing and choosing to become an electrician provides excellent earning potential," said IEC Pennsylvania Executive Director Marissa Bankert. "If you are interested in starting a career as an electrician, or are considering a career change, apprenticeship is a path that offers on-the-job training and enables you to earn a wage while you learn."

Applicants for IEC Pennsylvania's apprenticeship program must be age 17 or over and have a high school diploma or their GED. To view all eligibility requirements and apply, visit the "Apprenticeship" page of IEC Pennsylvania's website. Individuals may also call 717-697-7553 or email [email protected] for more information.

IEC Pennsylvania also offers a state-registered pre-apprenticeship program for high school students and individuals who are interested in the electrical field. Pre-apprentices gain hands-on experience in the field and opportunities to shadow electricians as they prepare for the apprenticeship program.

IEC Pennsylvania represents merit-shop and independent electrical and systems contractors in all but three of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. (Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania are served by IEC Western Reserve based in Youngstown, Ohio.) To learn about IEC Pennsylvania membership, events, apprenticeship opportunities and continuing education programs, visit IECPennsylvania.org.

SOURCE IEC Pennsylvania
New legislation guarantees access to Cambridge International AS and A Level exams for all students across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed HEA1001 into law, providing access to $5.6M in funding for students to take advanced coursework exams, including for the first time Cambridge Advanced (Cambridge International AS and A Level exams). The legislature increased funding significantly by $400k since last year, reflecting the state's firm commitment to expanding opportunities for students across Indiana to access and earn valuable college credit through programs such as Cambridge.

Students may enroll in as many Cambridge courses and exams as possible, with the state of Indiana funding up to three of those course exams. This funding puts Cambridge on par with other advanced academic credit-bearing course exams in Indiana. Any remaining funds after exams fees have been paid for students will be made available for professional development for teachers of advanced coursework, including for Cambridge International.

"Expanding access to include Cambridge International AS and A Level exam helps ensure all Hoosier students have additional opportunities to participate in college credit-bearing courses," said State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis), chair of the House Education Committee. "The next state budget allows students to participate in up to three Cambridge International exams each year, encouraging students all over the state to participate in rigorous classes without worrying about financial barriers."

In 2021, the Indiana legislature voted to allow high school students to receive college credit at all public colleges and universities in the state by earning a score of E or higher on Cambridge International's AS and A Level exams. Cambridge International offers students in Indiana a clear pathway to success in high school through rigorous college preparation courses and exams that lead to an Indiana diploma, college credit, and recognition. Students can also satisfy the state's "Employability Skills" graduation pathways requirements with Cambridge International courses.

"The signing of HEA1001 increases opportunities for students in Indiana to access Cambridge International AS and A Level exams which puts them on the pathway to earn valuable college credit in high school," said Mark Cavone, Regional Director, Cambridge International North America. "We applaud Governor Holcomb and the Indiana State Legislature for their decision to expand access for students across the state to our rigorous academic curricula and exams."

Cambridge International program is offered to schools in over 160 countries, including the U.S. The Cambridge Pathway, a fully integrated and flexible K-12 educational system, brings together globally recognized teaching and learning with meaningful assessments that measure and support student mastery. Each stage of the Pathway builds on learners' development from the previous one. Schools have the flexibility to offer any of the four stages and any of the courses.

More than 900 U.S. colleges and universities recognize the Cambridge program, including all members of the Ivy League, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Duke University, New York University, and the University of Virginia. In addition to Indiana, public institutions in the following states give college credit for qualifying grades on the Cambridge exams: AZ, FL, KS, KY, MD, MS, NC, PA, SC, VA, and WA. Outside the U.S., Cambridge programs are offered at more than 10,000 schools in over 160 countries.

About Cambridge Assessment International Education

As a global organization with a 160-year history as part of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Assessment International Education partners with schools and districts around the world with a shared goal of making education transformation a reality. Schools in the U.S. now utilize the Cambridge Advanced program, an internationally benchmarked program that allows students to earn college-level credit in high school. Cambridge uniquely provides an instructional system across four stages (Primary through Advanced) aligning rigorous curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment for all students in grades K-12.

SOURCE Cambridge International
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 4, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 35, officially making Indiana the 19th state in the nation to guarantee personal finance education for high school graduates. Senate Bill 35 was sponsored by Senator Mike Gaskill (R - Pendleton) and passed unanimously through both chambers of the legislature.

"This is a great bill and a necessary promise to Indiana high school students that guarantees them access to a full semester of 21st century-relevant financial education. This is the class most adults will tell you they wish they had taken," said Yanely Espinal, Director of Educational Outreach at Next Gen Personal Finance. "We specifically applaud the efforts of Senator Gaskill for his passion and determination in achieving this for all Indiana students."

This is the class most adults will tell you they wish they had taken." -Yanely Espinal Tweet this

The legislation requires personal finance to be a separate subject and to provide instruction on a number of content areas including managing credit scores, investing, and filing taxes. This new requirement applies to all graduates in the year 2028 and beyond.

"Indiana's success continues to build upon the strong momentum we've seen across state legislatures over the past two years," said Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance. "There's been a clear parental demand for personal finance education and Indiana enacted a flexible solution that respects local control of schools."

Next Gen Personal Finance is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing the best personal finance curriculum and professional development to teachers across all 50 states, and does so at no cost. They created the Mission 2030 Fund to become involved in advocacy efforts and were a strong supporter of Senate Bill 35.

About Next Gen Personal Finance:

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) is a nonprofit committed to guaranteeing that all high school students receive a personal finance course prior to graduating. NGPF has become the "one-stop shop" for more than 80,000 educators looking for high-quality, engaging personal finance curriculum to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in the future. NGPF invests in teacher professional development with live Virtual PD workshops , Certification Courses , and 40+ asynchronous On-Demand modules . NGPF has been recognized by Common Sense Education as a "Top Website for Teachers to Find Lesson Plans" and "Best Business and Finance Games."

NGPF Mission 2030 Fund

The Mission 2030 Fund is affiliated with Next Gen Personal Finance and focused on advocating for financial education in state legislatures.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Next Gen Personal Finance
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National Hospital Indonesia (NHI) today announced that it has deployed AppSealing , a mobile application security platform, to protect its mobile apps and customers' PHI.

The hospital's mobile applications are used by its staff and patients to access and manage medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers. AppSealing's app shielding platform provides the hospital with advanced security measures to protect its mobile applications and customers' PHI from malicious attacks and thereby achieve HIPAA compliance.

Yohanes, Head Of IT from National Hospital, said, "Data security is of utmost importance in preserving the confidentiality of sensitive information. Authorized personnel must be the only ones to know such data, especially if access is through a public network. Failure to secure this information could lead to hacking and unauthorized parties gaining access.

"At National Hospital , we understand that patient privacy is paramount and have made it our commitment to provide high-quality care while maintaining confidentiality. To achieve this, we rely on AppSealing, which has proved invaluable in securing patient data. Our discussions with AppSealing revealed that AppSealing can effectively address prevalent issues, including the prevention of data breaches via feature-rich mobile applications that are consistently updated. This ensures a strong sense of protection and security," Yohanes (Head Of IT) further added.

James Sungmin Ahn, CEO and Founder, INKA Entworks (AppSealing), said, "We are thrilled to have enabled the hospital to securely digitize its doctor-patient care. AppSealing is committed to providing our customers with the necessary security features, including code obfuscation , anti-tampering, and anti-debugging. These features ensure that the hospital's mobile applications are secure and that patient data is kept safe."

About AppSealing:

AppSealing is a leading mobile app security platform that provides advanced security features, including RASP mobile security, fraud prevention, and malware defense. AppSealing's easy-to-use platform helps organizations protect their mobile apps and provide their users with a secure and seamless mobile experience.

For more information visit AppSealing or email [email protected]

About National Hospital:

National Hospital is a healthcare provider in Indonesia that offers a range of healthcare services, including doctor consultations, medical examinations, and laboratory tests. National Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare services that are accessible and affordable to all Indonesians.

SOURCE AppSealing
Supply management industry leader honored with prestigious ISM award

GRAPEVINE, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Institute for Supply Management (ISM) named John Blascovich, partner at Kearney, the 2023 J. Shipman Gold Medal Award winner in recognition of his distinguished service to the supply management profession.

John Blascovich, Partner at Kearney, honored as 2023 J. Shipman Gold Medalist by Institute for Supply Management at ISM World 2023 in Grapevine, Texas.

Blascovich was honored during the 2023 Shipman Award ceremony at ISM World 2023, ISM's annual international supply management conference, held May 7-10 in Grapevine, Texas. The award, created in 1931, is ISM's most esteemed honor and is presented annually to an individual who contributes to the advancement of procurement and supply management while providing assistance and guidance to other professionals.

"The Shipman award is a great honor; I think of it as the 'Hall of Fame' in the field of supply management. It is a collection of individuals who have contributed in many ways  some with new ideas, some with developing people, and some driving strong organizations or results," said Blascovich. "While it is an individual award, every Shipman winner I know has made others successful and has been a positive force over a long period of time. I am honored and humbled to be selected."

In Blascovich's 27-year career in procurement and supply chain management, he has continually pushed to improve the talent, analytics, and innovation of teams he has advised and led. Since 1995, Blascovich has guided Kearney, a global management consulting team with more than 500 professionals, to set the direction for its procurement research and solution development. As the global leader for Kearney's Procurement and Analytics Solutions group since 2013, he pioneered the use of such advanced analytics as collaborative optimization for supplier engagement and advanced data management to help companies categorize and analyze spend.

With extensive industry and consulting experience in aerospace, consumer products, financial services and utilities, Blascovich is a leading expert in strategic sourcing, procurement transformation and pre- and post-merger value generation. A sought-after procurement speaker across the globe, he has considerable experience managing large, complex global projects and has created prominent client advisory case studies.

He also has been the global leader of Kearney's Assessment of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Study since 1999. AEP codifies eight essential elements of leading supply management functions and has been a yardstick for benchmarking practices, charting improvement agendas and tracking progress.

Another example of Blascovich's push for innovation: He co-developed the concept of Return on Supply Management Assets (ROSMA). As a cross-industry, quantitative gauge for determining the payback of supply management, ROSMA was designed to facilitate better communications between CFOs and CPOs.

"John has served the profession as a member of the ISM Board, the Conference Planning Committee, and even to this day, the Nominating and Governance Committee," said ISM CEO Thomas W. Derry. "In addition to his global responsibilities for Kearney leading the procurement, operations, and transformation practices, he manages to find time to chair the board of directors of The Matthew Foundation (charitable organization). John is an outstanding exemplar of the qualities embodied in J. Shipman Medal honorees."

Blascovich served on the ISM Board of Directors from 2005 to 2009. He was active in multiple committee engagements, where he further served in leadership roles and was a keynote speaker at regional chapter events. His commitment was further underscored when he was one of the first voting Board members to earn the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification. Since 2021, he has continued to give back to the profession by participating in the Nominating and Governance Committee for the ISM Board of Directors.

"John made a point of seeking me out within a few weeks of my appointment as CEO," said Derry. "And for more than 10 years, he has been a consistent and valued partner and supporter of ISM, and I am personally grateful."

Blascovich is a mentor and trusted adviser to CPOs and emerging professionals alike in the field of supply chain management. This includes his support of young professionals as a long-standing sponsor of the R. Gene Richter Scholarship, providing mentorship and monetary support for future supply chain leaders. It's also evident in the contributions he makes to develop educational programs, including helping to introduce procurement projects to MBA students and launching student labs at the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Howard University, among other colleges.

In addition to co-authoring several joint research reports with CAPS Research, Blascovich has contributed to Kearney's Future of Procurement series of white papers (2017-2021) as well as the notable book, Trade Wars, Pandemics and Chaos: How Digital Procurement Enables Business Success in a Disordered World (2021). He also wrote chapters for the McGraw-Hill Supply Management Handbook in 2006 and authored a case study published in the Harvard Business Review (September 2005).

Blascovich earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business.

Beyond his full-time professional endeavors, Blascovich has been a volunteer firefighter in New York, where he's served for more than 40 years. He's the president and co-founder of The Matthew Foundation, which supports the lives of people with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities. The Matthew Foundation supports research at Stanford University as well as at Trisomy 21 Research Society (T21RS), which connects hundreds of global researchers in Down syndrome.

About the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award

Johnson Shipman was a pioneer member of the New York affiliate of the National Association of Purchasing Agents, now Institute for Supply Management, well-known for giving liberally of his time and counsel. The J. Shipman Gold Medal Award was created in 1931, and is presented to those individuals whose modest, unselfish, sincere and persistent efforts have aided the advancement of the procurement and supply chain management field. Those chosen for the award have also assisted and guided members of the profession in their endeavors.

About Institute for Supply Management

Institute for Supply Management (ISM) is the first and leading not-for-profit professional supply management organization worldwide. Its 50,000 members in more than 100 countries manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 by practitioners, ISM is committed to advancing the practice of supply management to drive value and competitive advantage for its members, contributing to a prosperous and sustainable world. ISM empowers and leads the profession through the ISM Report On Business, its highly-regarded certification and training programs, corporate services, events and the ISM Supply Chain Capability Model. The ISM Report On Business, Manufacturing and Services, are two of the most reliable economic indicators available, providing guidance to supply management professionals, economists, analysts, and government and business leaders. For more information, please visit: www.ismworld.org.

Contact: Jessica Boyd, 480.752.6276, ext. 3085

[email protected]

SOURCE Institute for Supply Management
Experience optimization platform, Intellimize, named among best workplaces

SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellimize has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

Intellimize Ranks Among Highest-Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine's Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2023

Intellimize is a remote-first workplace where employees are empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and are valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. The company fosters a supportive environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. From generous benefits packages to opportunities for professional growth and development, Intellimize prioritizes being a workplace where everyone can thrive.

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"We're humbled and thrilled to have received this award for the second year in a row," said Guy Yalif, CEO and co-founder of Intellimize. "It's a true testament to the passion and dedication of our team who live our values everyday. Together, we reinforce a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, supported, and empowered to do their best work."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

About Intellimize

Intellimize is a codeless SaaS platform that uses AI to optimize for 1:1 personalized website experiences across the entire buyer's journey. Marketing teams gain a competitive edge when using Intellimize to drive efficient pipeline and revenue growth in a cookieless world. Leading marketing teams at Gong, Mercari, Okta, Dermalogica, Drift, Sumo Logic, and more trust Intellimize to inspire, test, learn, and drive revenue. Intellimize is backed by Cobalt Capital, Addition, Amplify Partners, Homebrew, and Precursor Ventures. Learn more on the Intellimize website or follow them on LinkedIn , Twitter , or Facebook .

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer- to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

Media contact:

Tracy Sestili

650-761-3064

[email protected]

SOURCE Intellimize
Join the pack, #takeashotta and make summer a whole lot sweeter... and a little spicy, too

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sazerac Company today announces the launch of Mango Shotta  a mango-jalapeno-tequila shot offering that's not afraid to be a little spicy. Inspired by the traditional Mexican "mangonada" recipe, Mango Shotta combines high-quality tequila with the sweet, fruity flavor of mango and the bold, spicy bite of jalapeno for a shot experience unlike any other. And, with lower alcohol content than the average shot, Mango Shotta is the perfect complement to any gathering with friends - day, night or anytime in between.

Mango Shotta combines high-quality tequila with the sweet, fruity flavor of mango and the bold, spicy bite of jalapeno Tweet this Introducing Mango Shotta - a NEW Spirits Brand That Combines Tequila and Mango with a Bite of Jalapeno Introducing Mango Shotta - a NEW Spirits Brand That Combines Tequila and Mango with a Bite of Jalapeno

"We're especially excited to introduce Mango Shotta because it's truly an offering driven by consumer trends and interest - inspiration came in large part from listening to beverage conversations on TikTok!" said Lauren Selman, Global Innovation & Commercialization Lead at Sazerac. "We set out to create something different than anything else on the market today that would appeal to a new and evolving drinker and Mango Shotta delivers  its unexpected flavor profile, lower 26% ABV and arresting orange color create the perfect recipe for Mango Shotta to become the shot of summer."

Bold and vibrant visuals bring the spicy essence of Mango Shotta to life at every touchpoint  take a bite out of the creative here! As part of the launch, a robust 360-degree marketing campaign will be activated to support Mango Shotta that combines online video, paid and organic social media, and social influencer marketing.

"Mango Shotta is all about celebrating the spicy-sweetness of life  sometimes it's sunshine and mangos, and sometimes it bites back a bit. Either way, it's a delicious combination," said Selman.

Those ready to #takeashotta are invited to give the easy, three-step perfect serve a try at home or at their favorite bar or restaurant: 1. refrigerate Mango Shotta until chilled, 2. grab a shot glass and line the edge with lime and Tajin, 3. enjoy with friends.

Beginning in May 2023, Mango Shotta will be available in select markets including Illinois, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, and South Carolina for an SRP of $14.99 per 750ml bottle and $.99 per 50ml shooter (local taxes will apply). Additional nationwide rollout is planned throughout the remainder of the year.

Stay up to date on news and join Mango Shotta's pack by following along on Instagram at @mangoshotta, and visit www.mangoshotta.com to find Mango Shotta near you.

About Mango Shotta

Inspired by the traditional Mexican "mangonada" recipe, Mango Shotta combines high-quality tequila with the sweet, fruity flavor of mango and the bold, spicy bite of jalapeno for a shot experience unlike any other. Mango and jalapeno flavors combine with savory spices to make Mango Shotta the drink that bites back. And, at 26% ABV Mango Shotta can be enjoyed throughout the day (or night) with friends. Join Mango Shotta's pack by following along on Instagram at @mangoshotta and learn more at www.mangoshotta.com.

About Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of America's oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, visit www.sazerac.com.

Please Drink Responsibly. Mango Shotta. Tequila with Natural Flavors. 26% alc/vol. Sazerac Company, Louisville KY

Media contact:

Victoria Zabel-Wirdak

Sazerac PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Sazerac
TEL AVIV, Israel, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OneLayer, a pioneer in providing security for private LTE/5G networks for enterprises, announced today the release of OneLayer Bridge, the first security solution for private mobile networks.

The use of private cellular networks allows organizations to improve IoT and OT device connectivity. As the adoption of these networks increases, organizations must consider the essential aspect of network security.

OneLayer Bridge has been designed to provide seamless and secure connectivity between the enterprise cellular networks and IT/OT networks. Aptly named Bridge, the product serves as a critical link, bridging the gap between cellular networks and the security capabilities required for devices.

The solution enables complete visibility, detection, and remediation of device vulnerabilities, and reduces risks by limiting security breach exposure. OneLayer Bridge makes it easy to discover, assess, and secure IoT device activity. It provides enterprises with a comprehensive view of their security landscape across cellular and IT/OT networks through a single pane of glass and delivers one layer of security.

"As the popularity of private cellular networks grows, so do the risks associated with them. At OneLayer, we're committed to providing enterprises with the latest and most holistic solutions to prevent mobile breaches," said Dave Mor, CEO of OneLayer. "Our solution enables enterprises to treat the new mobile network as another enterprise network without the need to be cellular experts."

For more information about OneLayer Bridge for private cellular networks, please visit https://onelayer.com/.

About OneLayer:

OneLayer brings complete visibility and threat prevention to IoT and other devices connected to a private LTE & 5G network so any activity can be tracked and policies put in place to secure the environment.

With OneLayer's solution, you'll gain full asset management capabilities, get operational intelligence, and protect against cellular breaches through zero-trust segmentation.

OneLayer is dedicated to the private cellular networks' security domain. It enables enterprises to treat the new cellular network as another enterprise network without the need to be cellular experts.

Contact:

Sapir Yarkoni

[email protected]

SOURCE OneLayer
CLEVELAND, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnegie Investment Counsel, a well-respected Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), has recently added a team member dedicated to helping nonprofit clients maximize their development efforts. The company is proud to welcome Megan Lencoski as its new Nonprofit Development Specialist. With Lencoski on board, nonprofit clients of Carnegie Investment Counsel now have access to expert consulting on revenue growth and fundraising strategies to increase their impact.

Megan Lencoski, Nonprofit Development Specialist at Carnegie Investment Counsel

Lencoski's new role at Carnegie Investment Counsel is focused on providing innovative fundraising strategies, specialized tools, resources, and tips to help nonprofits grow and achieve their goals. With nine years of experience as the Development Director and COO of WomenSafe, a nonprofit domestic violence shelter and resource center based in Northeast Ohio, Lencoski has extensive experience and access to resources. Now, she brings that knowledge to Carnegie to help nonprofits build strong relationships with their donors, increase their visibility and impact, and grow their revenue streams.

Even after leaving her position at WomenSafe, Lencoski continues to be involved with the agency as a volunteer, helping with special events, grant writing, and ongoing digital marketing. Her passion for the nonprofit sector and her commitment to helping organizations grow make her an invaluable asset to the Carnegie Investment Counsel team.

Lencoski's addition to the team demonstrates Carnegie Investment Counsel's commitment to providing valuable resources to nonprofit organizations. By partnering with Carnegie Investment Counsel, nonprofit clients can now get access to Lencoski's expertise and resources to help them grow their revenue streams and maximize their impact on communities.

Carnegie Investment Counsel has always been dedicated to the investing success of its clients. As a fiduciary, the company places the client's investing success ahead of their returns. The company tailors an investment portfolio and financial plan aimed at clients' goals with an appropriate level of risk, actively monitoring and adjusting the portfolio as needed to optimize their performance and returns. Carnegie Investment Counsel is 100% fee-only, meaning their only compensation is a percentage of assets managed. This transparent model promotes trust and helps to remove conflicts of interest.

With Lencoski's wealth of experience and expertise in the nonprofit sector, Carnegie Investment Counsel's nonprofit clients can expect even more guidance and resources to help them achieve their goals. The addition of Lencoski to the team demonstrates the company's dedication to providing its nonprofit clients with the best possible service and support.

For more information about Carnegie Investment Counsel and its services, please visit www.carnegieinvest.com/foundations-and-non-profits.

Gary Wagner, Principal & CFO

[email protected]

(216) 367-4106

Carnegie Investment Counsel

30300 Chagrin Blvd.

Pepper Pike, OH 44124

800-321-2322

[email protected]

SOURCE Carnegie Investment Counsel
Influential proxy advisor endorses ValueAct's proposals and determines that change to Seven & i's ineffective board is warranted

ISS recommends shareholders vote AGAINST five of Seven & i's nominees, including President Ryuichi Isaka, "based on the long-term track record of poor performance in several units and poor capital allocation"

ISS recommends shareholders vote FOR all ValueAct's nominees to elect a strengthened board with the "willingness, and a clear mandate, to challenge the status quo"

In order for ValueAct's nominees to be elected, shareholders must vote AGAINST the five Seven & i nominees as recommended by ISS

SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueAct Capital ("ValueAct"), a global investment firm that has been a major shareholder of Seven & i Holdings ("Seven & i" or "the Company") since 2020, today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), a leading proxy and corporate governance advisory firm, has recommended that Seven & i shareholders vote AGAINST five of Seven & i's Director Nominees and FOR all four of ValueAct's highly qualified Director Nominees to elect them to Seven & i's Board of Directors at the upcoming 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("2023 Annual Meeting").

ValueAct issued the following statement:

"We are pleased ISS has recognized that ValueAct's highly qualified nominees are the right choice for the Seven & i Holdings Board of Directors. A vote for ValueAct's nominees will deliver what shareholders have requested for years  an objective Strategic Review, a careful President Succession process, strengthened governance practices, and the appointment of an independent Chair. We believe Seven & i is at a pivotal point in its evolution, with a clear opportunity to create a global champion 7-Eleven company which will grow and create value for all stakeholders. We urge shareholders to follow ISS's recommendation by voting AGAINST five of Seven & i's Director Nominees and FOR all four of ValueAct's Director Nominees."

In its recommendation, ISS noted the following:

"The company can be seen as a strong Japanese C-store business that hides several underperforming businesses... The underperformance at business units has been recurrent for over a decade, while the total returns of the company do not match what could be reasonably expected from a leading retail brand."





"The company's strategic plan, basically designed by insiders and ratified by the full board... leaves execution to the same management under the same corporate culture. Given the long-term track record, this is not reassuring for investors."





"Given that the super store business has been in restructuring mode for 15 years according to several management statements, shareholders might reasonably question why this time will be different."





"The company argues that the strength of the Seven-Eleven Japan operation relies on its links with this division's food business Seven-Eleven Japan is the largest food operation in Japan and three times the size of the superstores business in the food area, so the board's conclusions do not appear intuitive."





and three times the size of the superstores business in the food area, so the board's conclusions do not appear intuitive." "The counterintuitive results of the latest strategic review raise questions about the current board's ability to hold management accountable and instill a sense of urgency into reforms. Strengthening the board's ability to oversee management seems to be a primary goal of this campaign."





"Additionally, there are some potential red flags related to company culture, like the issues with the US FTC on the acquisition of Speedway, perhaps a symptom of weak or unclear reporting lines, and weak employee reviews vs. other Japanese retailers."





"While the new directors elected last year supported the new plan under a process that was far from ideal, a key concern is to what extent the same management team and corporate culture could produce different results."





"Incumbents Isaka, Goto and Yonemura should be held responsible for past underperformance and poor capital allocation."





"While the two new company nominees appear to have good credentials, the fact they were vetted by a nomination committee controlled by insiders and long-tenured directors makes it unclear whether they would bring the necessary willingness to challenge the status quo."





"Dissident nominees Rogers, Gill and Natori bring relevant board, capital allocation and executive experience, while Levinson, as a direct representative of the dissident, would provide a shareholder perspective and the link to ValueAct's extensive research capabilities and experience effecting change."

As Seven & i's Board is limited to 15 members, shareholders are urged to vote AGAINST five of Seven & i's Director Nominees (items 2.1 to 2.5) and FOR all four of ValueAct's highly qualified Director Nominees (items 5.1 to 5.4) to elect them to the Board of Seven & i.

The addition of ValueAct's nominees and the removal of the President and his supporters will allow the whole Board to execute a pro-governance, pro-stakeholder mandate including a careful and deliberate President Succession process, an objective and thorough Strategic Review, and the appointment of an independent Board Chair.

For more information on ValueAct's proposals, please visit https://valueact.com/presentations and/or e-mail [email protected].

About ValueAct Capital

ValueAct Capital, established in 2000, is a global investment firm managing capital on behalf of some of the world's largest institutional investors. The Firm's goal is to transform companies and help them become 21st Century Global Champions. VAC seeks to identify and invest in high-quality businesses that are temporarily under-valued, taking a patient, collaborative and constructive approach to value building for all stakeholders with long-term investments. The firm generally holds 10-18 investments at any given time, and ValueAct Capital's internal team has built a track record serving on over 55 public company board seats. For more information, please see https://valueact.com.

CONTACT: [email protected]

Permission to quote from the ISS report was neither sought nor obtained.

SOURCE ValueAct Capital
Another 59 deputies of Russian Duma, who contributed to Russian military aggression, to be tried in Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has collected unconditional evidence for another 59 deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation who voted for the recognition of the "L/DPR" and contributed to the unleashing of a full-scale war against Ukraine, the SBU reports.

"On February 15 last year, they voted for a resolution to appeal to the President of the Russian Federation with a request to recognize the independence of the temporarily occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. On the basis of the deputy's appeal on February 21, the head of the Kremlin signed the relevant decrees," the SBU said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the SBU, the next day, Russian deputies supported the ratification of the "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance" between the aggressor country and terrorist organizations of the L/DPR."

"After that, the leaders of the terrorists officially appealed to the Russian president with a request to provide them with military assistance in repelling their far-fetched aggression. On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine," the message says.

Thus, as emphasized in the Security Service, Russian deputies contributed to the implementation of the Kremlin's plan for attempts to seize Ukraine.

Based on the collected evidence, the SBU investigators informed the defendants of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine).

"The Security Service has completed the pretrial investigation and submitted the indictments to the court. The lawbreakers face up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment with confiscation of property," the SBU informs.

Comprehensive measures are continuing to bring the perpetrators to justice for crimes against Ukraine.

The investigation was conducted by SBU officers in Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia and Ternopil regions under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor's office.
Six New Beverages Feature On-Trend and Emerging Flavors with Added Health Benefits to Attract and Retain Younger Consumers While Increasing Check Averages

VISTA, Calif. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Meeting consumer demand for healthier and innovative beverages with clean label ingredients, Javo Beverage introduces new lemonade-based energy drinks and premium flavored iced teas for the foodservice industry.

JAVO BEVERAGE LAUNCHES NEW ALL-NATURAL FUNCTIONAL ENERGY LEMONADES AND FLAVORED ICED TEAS FOR FOODSERVICE OPERATORS TO MEET CONSUMER INTEREST, DRIVE BEVERAGE SALES

Now available for foodservice outlets, Javo's new energy lemonades answer the call for the most sought-out attribute in functional beverages, energy, while also providing the added benefit of mental focus. Each 12-ounce serving contains 100 mg of natural caffeine and 100 mg of natural L-theanine and is in trending flavor profiles of pomegranate pineapple, peach honey, and blackberry lemon.

"Our energy lemonades are different from anything on the shelf, we're thinking outside of the can to benefit our foodservice operators," said Chris Johnson, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Javo Beverage. "We offer a hand mix format that delivers flexibility in menu development and the ability to own the beverage at the restaurant or brand level."

Johnson said the company leveraged data from Datassential that shows 80 percent of consumers are interested in functional beverages when determining how to expand its beverage options. "Javo is also introducing three new iced tea flavors to reinvigorate category sales, which have been declining for several years in the foodservice sector," Johnson said. "We recognize that the long-term success of the iced tea category lives in flavor innovation and leaning into the healthy halo of tea to attract younger consumers to the category."

Javo's new iced tea flavors feature black tea from Argentina and Indonesia and hibiscus tea and include an emerging flavor, Blood Orange, a mash-up of on-trend tropical flavors, Mango Guava, and a herbal flavor, Peach Ginger Hibiscus. A recent Datassential menu pricing study revealed that premium flavored iced teas yield a higher median price point compared to traditional, unflavored iced teas.

"We see more and more younger consumers demanding a wider variety of beverages, even replacing alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic options," Johnson said. "Our new products are focused on filling the gap on beverage menus while helping our foodservice operators attract those younger consumers and add profits to their bottom line."

Long known for its premium cold brew coffee extracts, Javo recently joined the Florida Food Products family, which has given them access to a portfolio of all-natural flavors, nutritional inclusions and unique formulation capabilities. Javo's new beverages will be stocked at Dot Foods in 6/32-ounce bottle cases with a 5:1 concentration. They are ambient, which allows for easy storage and use with bubblers, tea urns, or handcrafting individual drinks. Javo also offers a complete line of in-store eye-catching point-of-sale materials to help operators drive trial and sales.

To learn more, visit Javo Beverage's website .

About Javo Beverage Founded in 2001, Javo is an extraction company that uses a patented process to produce fresh, clean-labeled coffee, tea, and botanical extracts for the food and beverage industry. Capitalizing on the expertise of parent company FFP, Javo is a premium one-stop beverage supplier with a full portfolio of natural flavors and human nutrition inclusions. Javo's master extractors use clean ingredients to craft products for global and emerging brands. Javo Beverage operates a 65,000-square-foot production facility at its headquarters in Vista, Calif., and a 240,000-square-foot facility in Indianapolis. Facilities are Safe Quality Foods (SQF), QAI organic, and kosher certified. The company offers ingredients for beverages such as ready-to-drink beverages, coffee (including cold-brew coffee), tea, alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic and functional beverages, and other items like dairy and dairy alternatives, baked foods, desserts, savory items, ice cream, and novelties. In addition to Javo-branded products, the company offers private-label and custom product development solutions.

SOURCE Javo Beverage Company
BOSTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jellyfish , the leading Engineering Management Platform (EMP), today announced the immediate availability of their platform in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Jellyfish customers will now enjoy the streamlined procurement process AWS Marketplace offers through consolidated billing and custom pricing. Additionally, they can retire their Enterprise Discount Program (EDP) commitment when applicable.

"Every company is becoming a software company and is looking to their engineering teams to differentiate the customer experience," said Billy Robins, Head of Business Development and Partners at Jellyfish. "Our platform aligns engineering investment and efforts to business priorities to maximize business impact and outcomes."

Engineering teams are the innovation engines of our society. Companies like Mastercard, Priceline, ZoomInfo, and PagerDuty already use Jellyfish to focus their engineering teams on what matters most to the business and show the impact of their engineering investments. By making the platform available on AWS Marketplace, Jellyfish is making these benefits accessible to all AWS customers.

"We want to meet our customers where they are. By making Jellyfish available in AWS Marketplace, this means less friction and faster implementation for our customers, allowing them to focus on supporting teams and building amazing software, not sorting through procurement rules at their company."

Following Jellyfish's $71M Series C funding round in February 2022, led by Accel, Insight Partners, and Tiger Global, Jellyfish has launched the industry's first comparative Benchmarking tool and a new DevFinOps solution to simplify software capitalization reporting for engineering leaders, while more than doubling its customer base. The company was recently named to the Intelligent Apps 40 list, presented by Madrona, Goldman Sachs, PitchBook, Microsoft and Amazon.

To learn more about the Jellyfish platform, visit https://jellyfish.co/ .

About Jellyfish

Jellyfish is the leading Engineering Management Platform that enables engineering leaders to align engineering work with strategic business objectives. By analyzing engineering signals and contextual business data, Jellyfish provides complete visibility into engineering organizations, the work they do, and how they operate. Companies like Mastercard, Priceline, ZoomInfo and PagerDuty use Jellyfish to optimize the allocation of engineering resources to focus their teams on what matters most to the business. For more information, visit www.jellyfish.co .

SOURCE Jellyfish
Industrial group will contribute expertise in energy-efficient air filtration and air management solutions to several iMasons' committees

RIVERSIDE, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that reinforces its commitment to building sustainable digital infrastructure, K&N Engineering has joined forces with Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) , the global non-profit association of digital infrastructure professionals. As a leading manufacturer of high-performance, sustainable air filtration solutions for providers of mission-critical infrastructure, K&N Engineering is uniquely positioned to contribute to iMasons' efforts to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the path toward net zero in the data center industry.

K&N Engineering has long been committed to sustainability, born out of an unwavering commitment to zero waste and exceptional performance more than fifty years ago. K&N Engineering's first-of-its-kind, high-performance, reusable industrial air filters not only provide outstanding performance with high airflow and low restriction, but they also help data centers and other mission-critical facilities achieve their sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption through filtration efficiency.

"As the world increasingly relies on digital infrastructure, it's essential that we prioritize sustainability in our industry," said Jonathan Fiello, Chief Engineering Officer of K&N Engineering. "Joining iMasons allows us to collaborate with like-minded professionals to develop sustainable solutions that benefit both our customers and the planet."

In addition to joining iMasons, K&N Engineering has also pledged membership to the iMasons Climate Accord , a global initiative to reduce carbon emissions from the digital infrastructure industry. As a member of the Climate Accord, K&N Engineering Industrial Group will join other industry leaders in committing to a set of ambitious goals, including reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. K&N Engineering also plans to take part in several iMasons' committees including Sustainability, Innovation, Inclusion and Technology, as well as participate in local chapter groups.

"I'm proud to welcome K&N Engineering to the iMasons community," said Dean Nelson, Founder and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons. "Applying their half a century of automotive industry expertise to digital infrastructure will help boost the iMasons Climate Accord efforts."

K&N Engineering has implemented a variety of sustainability initiatives, including shipping its air filters in corrugate-free, reusable, returnable crates, which are manufactured from partially recycled materials. By joining iMasons, K&N Engineering brings its expertise and commitment to sustainability to a network of industry experts and thought leaders who are dedicated to advancing sustainable and efficient digital infrastructure.

To learn more about K&N Engineering's Industrial Group, visit www.knfilters.com/industrial or email us at [email protected] .

About K&N Engineering

K&N Engineering is the Industrial Group of the world-famous automotive air filter manufacturer K&N. Expanding on its 50-year legacy of performance and innovation, K&N Engineering is revolutionizing the data center and industrial application markets with sustainability-focused air filtration solutions. The company's high-performance, washable, reusable air filtration products offer a 15+ year life cycle and are proven to reduce power consumption, drive economic efficiency and provide sustainable solutions to data centers and industrial markets across the globe. To learn more about K&N Engineering's Industrial Group, visit www.knfilters.com/industrial or email us at [email protected] .

About Infrastructure Masons

Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, nonprofit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all. Since its launch in 2016, the organization has brought together 6,000 individuals across 130 countries, a community representing USD 150+ billion in infrastructure projects. iMasons provides an agnostic platform for members to connect, grow, and give back across four strategic pillars: Education, Inclusion, Innovation, and Sustainability. To date, iMasons has already contributed USD 1+ million in scholarships, launched Resource Groups including iMWomen, Armed Forces, LatinX, and Millennials-GenZ, and opened regional and local Chapters across four continents. In 2022, iMasons spearheaded the Climate Accord , uniting leaders on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure. To learn more, visit imasons.org or LinkedIn .

SOURCE K&N
 Significantly Expands Consumer Touchpoints and Accelerates U.S. Omni-Channel Strategy

 Simplifies Consumer Purchase Journey and Facilitates Innovation

 Streamlines Operations and Drives Adjusted EPS Accretion

 Tempur Sealy to Host Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter 2023 Results and the Transaction at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time Today, May 9th

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX, "Company" or "Tempur Sealy") and Mattress Firm Group Inc. ("Mattress Firm") today announced that Tempur Sealy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress specialty retailer, in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4.0 billion.

The transaction is expected to be funded by approximately $2.7 billion of cash consideration (subject to adjustments, including the repayment of Mattress Firm's debt and other customary items) and $1.3 billion in stock consideration issued to Mattress Firm shareholders, reflecting the issuance of 34.2 million shares of common stock based on the closing share price of $37.62 as of May 8, 2023. The transaction is currently anticipated to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. Following the close of the transaction, Mattress Firm is expected to operate as a separate business unit within the Company.

Founded in 1986, Mattress Firm is the largest mattress specialty retailer in the U.S., operating over 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail locations and a growing e-commerce platform. Mattress Firm's more than 6,200 highly trained retail sales associates provide personalized service to help consumers choose the ideal bedding products across their robust assortment of market-leading brands.

This combination will complement Tempur Sealy's extensive product development and manufacturing capabilities with vertically integrated retail. Together, Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm's combined global footprint will include approximately 3,000 retail stores, 30 e-commerce platforms, 71 manufacturing facilities, and 4 state-of-the-art R&D facilities worldwide. These combined operations will be supported by more than 21,000 best-in-class employees with a collective focus on providing breakthrough sleep solutions to consumers in over 100 countries.

Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson said, "This transaction advances all four of our key long-term initiatives: to develop the highest quality bedding products, promote brands with compelling marketing, optimize our diverse omnichannel distribution platform, and drive EPS growth. Consistent with our M&A strategy, this acquisition will make Tempur Sealy more competitive by bringing us closer to consumers and facilitating continued innovation."

Thompson concluded, "We are excited by the long-term growth prospects for our global vertically integrated Company. This combination will accelerate our growth trajectory and enhance operating cash flow. Mattress Firm has been a valued retail partner for more than 35 years, and we look forward to welcoming their talented workforce of more than 8,100 employees to the Tempur Sealy family."

Mattress Firm CEO John Eck said, "We know that every customer has unique needs and wants when it comes to a sleep solution that is perfect for them. As part of Tempur Sealy, our customers will benefit from our combined portfolio of highly recognized brands and products, extensive omni-channel capabilities, industry leading innovation and best-in-class teams. Under Tempur Sealy's leadership, our combined company will be in a unique position to take advantage of our shared values and complementary capabilities to better address consumers' needs and drive growth."

Strategic Rationale

The combination with Mattress Firm is expected to enhance Tempur Sealy's ability to meet consumers' needs, expand growth opportunities, and streamline operations.

We expect to leverage the individual strengths of Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm to realize six strategic benefits through this acquisition.

Expanding Consumer Touchpoints. Mattress Firm's and Tempur Sealy's combined consumer touchpoints will create opportunities to keep pace with consumers' evolving preferences. Being closer to the U.S. bedding consumer will also broaden opportunities to develop lifetime relationships with consumers.



Accelerating U.S. Omni-Channel Strategy. Mattress Firm's more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail stores, robust e-commerce capabilities, and sleep education and sleep tracking platforms complement Tempur Sealy's direct-to-consumer operations, enabling a seamless omni-channel ecosystem that meets the needs of more consumers nationwide.



Simplifying the Consumer Purchase Journey. This combination facilitates targeted marketing efforts to drive incremental brand awareness through blended advertising and share of voice, and enhance consumer understanding of bedding innovation, including health and wellness benefits. Further, the combination brings together Tempur Sealy's and Mattress Firm's highly trained retail sales and customer service teams to expand customer service capabilities, facilitate improved consumer outcomes, and simplify the consumer purchase journey.



Facilitating Consumer-Centric Innovation. The alignment of new product development and testing will enable a more targeted, end-to-end innovation approach and enhances opportunities to invest in, test, and refine new sleep technologies.



Streamlining Operations and Enhances Supply Chain Management. Enhanced visibility to consumer demand creates opportunities for more agile and fortified supply chain management. Combined scale and vertically integrated infrastructure across the combined company drives operational efficiencies across logistics, transportation, warehousing, supply chain planning, sourcing, and product development, streamlining the order-to-delivery process for all customers.



Driving Adjusted EPS Accretion. Tempur Sealy has a strong track record of creating long-term value from highly strategic M&A activities. This acquisition is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS before synergies in the first year post close. Adjusted for the impact of run-rate synergies, this acquisition is expected to deliver low double digit adjusted EPS accretion.

Cost Synergies

Tempur Sealy expects to begin realizing synergies by the end of year two after closing and to realize at least $100 million in annual run-rate synergies by the end of year four after closing. The Company expects to achieve synergies by leveraging its global scale and vertically integrated infrastructure to drive efficiencies through logistics, product lifecycle management, manufacturing optimization, and sourcing initiatives.

Transaction Overview

Under the terms of the agreement, Tempur Sealy will purchase Mattress Firm for an enterprise value of approximately $4.0 billion. The transaction is expected to be funded by approximately $2.7 billion of cash consideration (subject to adjustments including the repayment of Mattress Firm's debt and other customary items.) and $1.3 billion in stock consideration issued to Mattress Firm shareholders, reflecting the issuance of approximately 34.2 million shares of Tempur Sealy common stock based on the closing price of $37.62 per share as of May 8, 2023. Following the transaction, Mattress Firm's and Tempur Sealy's shareholders will own approximately 16.6% and 83.4% of the combined company, respectively, based on the Company's shares outstanding at the time of signing. Tempur Sealy expects to expand its existing Board of Directors by appointing two mutually-agreed Mattress Firm directors to the Tempur Sealy Board following the closing of the transaction.

Tempur Sealy plans to fund the cash portion of the transaction using a combination of cash on hand and proceeds from a combination of new secured and unsecured financing, a portion of which will be used to repay Mattress Firm's outstanding debt. The combined company's expected net leverage at closing per the Company's credit agreement after giving effect to the transaction is expected to be between 3.0x and 3.25x adjusted EBITDA. Tempur Sealy expects to return to its net leverage target range of 2.0x to 3.0x adjusted EBITDA in the first 12 months after closing, supported by the increased earnings and free cash flow outlook of the combined company.

Timing and Approvals

The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm. Mattress Firm shareholders holding more than 80% of Mattress Firm's outstanding shares have signed voting agreements in support of the transaction. The transaction does not require Tempur Sealy shareholder approval.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, including receipt of clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

The Company has received a request for additional information and documentary material from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") in connection with the FTC's review of the transaction. The Company expects to work cooperatively with the FTC to complete the acquisition.

Tempur Sealy Conference Call

In a separate press release issued today, Tempur Sealy released its results for the first quarter 2023. The Company's earnings press release can be found on the Company's investor relations website at investor.tempursealy.com.

Tempur Sealy will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter results and the transaction today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be webcast and can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website. After the conference call, a webcast replay will remain available on the website for 30 days. Associated presentation materials and an infographic regarding the transaction will also be available on the Company's investor relations website.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as sole financial advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal counsel to Tempur Sealy. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays, and Jefferies LLC are serving as financial advisors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to Mattress Firm.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may be characterized as "forward-looking" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements might include information concerning one or more of the Company's plans, guidance, objectives, goals, strategies, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words "will," "targets," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "proposed," "intends," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's expectations regarding its share repurchases, adjusted EPS, net leverage, future performance, cost synergies, funding sources, ability to deleverage after the transaction, integration with our business, personnel and the impact of the anticipated acquisition on the Company's brands, products, customer base, results of operations, or financial position. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct.

Numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from any that may be expressed herein as forward-looking statements. These potential risks include risks associated with Mattress Firms' ongoing operations; the ability to successfully integrate Mattress Firm into Tempur Sealy's operations and realize synergies from the transaction; the possibility that the expected benefits of the acquisition are not realized when expected or at all; general economic, financial and industry conditions, particularly conditions relating to the financial performance and related credit issues present in the retail sector, as well as consumer confidence and the availability of consumer financing; the impact of the macroeconomic environment in both the U.S. and internationally on Mattress Firm and the Company; uncertainties arising from national and global events; industry competition; the effects of consolidation of retailers on revenues and costs; and consumer acceptance and changes in demand for Mattress Firm's and the Company's products the factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. There may be other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

About Tempur Sealy International

Tempur Sealy is committed to improving the sleep of more people, every night, all around the world. As a leading designer, manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of bedding products worldwide, we know how crucial a good night of sleep is to overall health and wellness. Utilizing over a century of knowledge and industry-leading innovation, we deliver award-winning products that provide breakthrough sleep solutions to consumers in over 100 countries.

Our highly recognized brands include Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Stearns & Foster and our popular non-branded offerings consist of value-focused private label and OEM products. At Tempur Sealy we understand the importance of meeting our customers wherever and however they want to shop and have developed a powerful omni-channel retail strategy. Our products allow for complementary merchandising strategies and are sold through third-party retailers, our 700+ Company-owned stores worldwide and our e-commerce channels. With the range of our offerings and variety of purchasing options, we are dedicated to continuing to turn our mission to improve the sleep of more people, every night, all around the world into a reality.

About Mattress Firm

Mattress Firm, the nation's largest omni-channel mattress specialty retailer, has been helping solve America's sleep problems for more than 90 years through our family of brands. Every one of our more than 6,200 passionate Sleep Experts are driven by a common purpose: to change people's lives through better sleep. Whether browsing online or in one of our 2,300+ stores, our highly trained team provides personalized service and advice to help customers choose the right mattress and bedding products based on their unique needs. Our expertly curated selection of products include leading brands such as Beautyrest, Nectar, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Sleepy's Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Tuft & Needle, tulo, and Purple.

No matter the time of night, Mattress Firm wants to help people get the sleep they deserve. Our Sleep.com website provides expert advice and helps people explore the health benefits of quality sleep, and the Sleep.com app provides free sleep tracking and personalized insights to improve sleep.

Investor Relations Contact

Aubrey Moore

Investor Relations

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

800-805-3635

[email protected]

Media Contacts

For Tempur Sealy:

FGS Global

[email protected]

For Mattress Firm:

Katie Clark

Mattress Firm Group Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Tempur Sealy International, Inc.
New Leadership Team Announced; Richard J. Lenz Assumes Consulting Role

ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lenz, Inc., has named Mike Killeen its new president and CEO. Mike joined Lenz in 2002 and previously served as Vice President of Marketing.

The new leadership team includes Christine Mahin as Vice President, Ricky Pattillo as Engineering Director, Rachel Cushing as Media Director, and Scott Sanders as Associate Creative Director.

Lenz, Inc., has named Mike Killeen its new president and CEO. As part of the transition, Killeen has become the sole owner of the company.

Richard J. Lenz, the founder and president/CEO for the last 30 years, is stepping away from daily operations and will become a consultant. John Lenz, who joined the company in 1992 and has served as a Vice President for more than 20 years, is departing the company to work with Viral Solutions, a Lenz client.

"It is a privilege and an honor to assume this new role and help lead Lenz towards a very bright future," Killeen said. "Everything I know about business, and much of what I know about life, I learned from Richard and John. They will always be two of my very best friends, and I know they will continue to be there for me and the company when we need them. I am grateful that they took a chance on me 20 years ago, that they invested so much in my development, and for all they have done to set the company and myself up for continued success. They embody not only talent, vision, and hard work, but also generosity."

Richard Lenz said, "The company is in great hands. Nobody is better suited to lead Lenz during its next phase than Mike, and I'm excited to see what comes next for the company, the staff, and our clients. Mike also has a very talented and veteran team to support his vision, and I'm sure under his leadership, he will lead the company to higher heights."

John Lenz said, "Lenz has never been in a stronger position than it is now, and Mike helped make that happen."

As part of the transition, Killeen has become the sole owner of the company.

Killeen has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a Master's In Business Administration from Georgia College. He has taught healthcare marketing at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health since 2016.

Founded in 1992, Lenz is a strategic marketing agency specializing in healthcare marketing.

Contact:

[email protected]

404-721-3983

SOURCE Lenz Marketing
BofA will loan talent to help organization create a culture of data-driven decision making

JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to provide expertise and additional resources to nonprofits across the country, Bank of America is providing Jersey City-based Liberty Science Center (LSC) a senior technology leader for the next 12 months as part of Bank of America's (BofA) Leader on Loan program. BofA TechStart Pathways Program Manager, Pragna Mehta, will fulfill a full-time role at LSC as their interim Data and Analytics Strategist.

Pragna Mehta

Liberty Science Center's rapid growth spurt over the past decadeexpanding its footprint and reaching nearly 1 million visitors annuallyhas led to exciting strategic and operational challenges. Mehta will take on a strategy role at the interactive Science Center, working with an internal team to implement workflows designed to consolidate data management tools. She will help the nonprofit's business tactics by providing suggestions on how to prioritize projects, creating useful dashboards and metric-driven trackers, and building budget-based solutions that cover LSC's full portfolio and scope of work.

"My background in technology, data analysis, and project management gives me the opportunity to use my entire toolbox of knowledge and skills to help Liberty Science Center create meaningful long-term solutions and achieve organizational goals," said Mehta. "I am thrilled to be part of the LSC team for the next 12 months and looking forward to gaining tremendous insights into this inspiring nonprofit and the communities it serves."

The Leader on Loan program is an innovative way for BofA to bring additional resources to local communities and committing to the bank's values of driving responsible growth. Leaders are typically loaned to their nonprofit organization for an average of 12 months, with the bank covering the employee's salary and benefits. Created in 2017 with four organizations, the program has expanded across the country with a variety of organizations to help advance economic opportunity and other philanthropic priorities in the communities where they live and work.

"Liberty Science Center is grateful for the many ways Bank of America has embraced our mission. From preparing high school students for modern STEM careers through our High Schools of the Future initiative to our work together on LSC's SciTech Scity expansion designed to turn leading-edge business ideas into a reality that makes the world a better place, our collaboration has been both long and impactful," said Paul Hoffman, the President and CEO of Liberty Science Center. "We're thrilled to welcome Pragna to our team through BofA's Leader on Loan program and know her focus on business tactic analysis and reporting will propel us forward in our next phase of growth."

"By partnering with Liberty Science Center, Bank of America is committing to the growth, development and success of LSC programs that will inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators," said BofA Market President Alberto Garofalo. "As one of New Jersey's most popular learning centers, the bank understands the importance of STEM and we are confident that Pragna's expertise will make a positive impact within the organization for years to come."

Mehta, a West Windsor native, has more than 20 years of business technology and project management experience in a broad range of public and private sector industries. She is a certified project management professional with extensive experience in leading programs and projects, implementing best practices, and creating process improvement. A critical, strategic thinker, Mehta has skills at analyzing data and processes through reporting, metrics, and dashboards to identify areas for continuous improvement, and recommend opportunities for standardization and optimization. When not performing her role as Bank of America's TechStart Pathways Program Manager, she can be found volunteering her time with local nonprofits such as Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and Womanspace, Inc. in Mercer County.

Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs, and teacher-development programs. Before COVID-19, more than 250,000 students visited the Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participated in the Center's off-site and online programs. Welcoming more than 750,000 visitors annually, LSC is the largest interactive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters May Contact:

AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America

Phone: 1.332.234.8635

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
- First interim Phase 2 data of an IL-23p19 antagonist in pediatric patients

- New analysis from the pivotal Phase 3 LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 studies

INDIANAPOLIS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today new investigational data for mirikizumab in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) that further support the efficacy and safety seen in previous pivotal studies.

Data presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW), held in Chicago from May 6-9, include an oral presentation of an interim analysis of mirikizumab as induction therapy in pediatric patients with moderately to severely active UC from the Phase 2 SHINE-1 study, and a new analysis from LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 studies evaluating the relative association of bowel urgency remission on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) scores, which assess the impact of UC on quality of life in adults.

Interim Phase 2 Data from the First IL-23p19 Study in Pediatric Patients with UC

Lilly reported the first pharmacokinetic (PK), efficacy and safety data in 26 pediatric patients with moderately to severely active UC treated with mirikizumab. These interim results are from the Phase 2 SHINE-1 study (NCT04004611) and include data on all patients through induction at Week 12. The PK, safety and efficacy data were consistent with the adult Phase 3 LUCENT-1 study and support the planned pediatric Phase 3 studies in UC and Crohn's disease starting later this year. Importantly, this is the first data of any IL-23p19 antagonist in pediatric patients. Additional details on these results can be found in the abstract here.

"Ulcerative colitis is a difficult-to-treat disease that can be particularly challenging for children and adolescents given the unpredictable and often burdensome symptoms that can impact them at a critical time in their development," said Marla Dubinsky, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Co-director of the Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This study provides the first data showing the potential of mirikizumab in the treatment of pediatric patients with UC and aligns with the clinical evidence we have seen for mirikizumab in adults. This is a promising step for children, adolescents and their families who to date have had limited treatment options to address this significant unmet need."

New Analysis from the Phase 3 LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 Studies in Adults with UC

In this new analysis, remission of key symptoms of UC, including bowel urgency, was associated with significant improvement in IBDQ total scores among adults treated with mirikizumab. Of those treated with mirikizumab at 12 and 52 weeks, bowel urgency remission directly accounted for a 44.8% and 32.5% improvement in IBDQ total score, respectively; 22.7% and 39.1% improvement, respectively, was mediated by rectal bleeding remission, and 32.5% and 28.4%, respectively, mediated by stool frequency remission. These findings suggest that bowel urgency is a critical and independent symptom that considerably impacts a patient's quality of life. More information can be found on this study in the abstract linked here.

"Lilly's data at DDW support the strong clinical profile of mirikizumab as a potential treatment for people living with UC," said Lotus Mallbris, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of global immunology development and medical affairs at Lilly. "Taken together, these studies underscore Lilly's confidence in both the potential of mirikizumab as a treatment for ulcerative colitis and in delivering new treatment options for patients in the gastroenterology space."

Lilly will present a total of 11 abstracts at DDW, including four oral presentations, that reinforce its commitment to continued innovation for millions of people living with IBD. The studies, along with the times and abstract numbers for the sessions, are highlighted below. All times are listed in Central Daylight Time.

Mirikizumab (marketed as Omvoh in Japan) was recently approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan and was given a positive recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) from the European Medicines Agency. Lilly expects regulatory decisions in the European Union and additional markets around the world in 2023.

Lilly also expects to share topline data from its Phase 3 program for mirikizumab in Crohn's disease later this year.

Oral Presentations

A Transcriptome-Dependent Prognostic Model of Response in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis ( Sunday, May 7 ; 4:30  4:45 p.m. Presenting author: Venkatesh Krishnan ) Abstract: 569

; 4:30  Presenting author: ) Abstract: 569 PK, Efficacy and Safety of Mirikizumab as Induction Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results from the Phase 2 SHINE-1 Study ( Monday, May 8 ; 2:15  2:30 p.m. Presenting author: Jess L. Kaplan ) Abstract: 781

; 2:15  Presenting author: ) Abstract: 781 Bowel Urgency Outcomes are Associated with Improvement in Fatigue in Patients with Moderately-to-Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Pooled Analysis of LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 Phase 3 Trials ( Tuesday, May 9 ; 8:30  8:45 a.m. Presenting author: David T. Rubin ) Abstract: 963

; 8:30  Presenting author: ) Abstract: 963 United States and European Patient Perspectives on the Impact of Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis on Sexual Activity: Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) Survey ( Tuesday, May 9 ; 2:15  2:30 p.m. Presenting author: Marla C. Dubinsky ) Abstract: 1139

Poster/ePoster Presentations

Mirikizumab Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response Relationships in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results from Randomised Phase 2 and Phase 3 Induction and Maintenance Trials ( Saturday, May 6 ; ePoster. Presenting author: Xin Zhang ) Abstract: EP145

; ePoster. Presenting author: ) Abstract: EP145 Relative Association of Bowel Urgency Clinically Meaningful Improvement or Bowel Urgency Remission vs. Stool Frequency Remission and Rectal Bleeding Remission with Improvement in IBDQ Scores: Results from LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2 ( Sunday, May 7 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Bruce E. Sands ) Abstract: Su1796

; 12:30  Presenting author: ) Abstract: Su1796 Treatment Satisfaction Among Ulcerative Colitis Patients with and without Bowel Urgency  A Global Real-World Analysis ( Sunday, May 7 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Theresa Hunter Gibble ) Abstract: Su1801

; 12:30  Presenting author: ) Abstract: Su1801 Early Histo-Endoscopic Response at Week 12 Predicts Clinical Outcomes at Week 52 with Mirikizumab in Ulcerative Colitis LUCENT Trials ( Monday, May 8 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Fernando Magro ) Abstract: Mo1735

; 12:30  Presenting author: ) Abstract: Mo1735 Extended Induction Response in Patients Treated with Mirikizumab with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis in LUCENT Trials ( Tuesday, May 9 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Geert D'Haens) Abstract: Tu1706

; 12:30  Presenting author: Geert D'Haens) Abstract: Tu1706 Effect of Mirikizumab on Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes based on Prior Advanced Therapy Failure in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis ( Tuesday, May 9 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Seyedehsan Navabi) Abstract: Tu1712

; 12:30  Presenting author: Seyedehsan Navabi) Abstract: Tu1712 Fully Automated Histological Classification of Cell Types and Tissue Regions of Celiac Disease is Feasible and Correlates with The Marsh Score ( Tuesday, May 9 ; 12:30  1:30 p.m. Presenting author: Aaron M. Gruver ) Abstract: Tu1352

About Mirikizumab

Mirikizumab is an interleukin-23p19 antagonist being studied for the potential treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Mirikizumab selectively targets the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits the IL-23 pathway. Inflammation due to over-activation of the IL-23 pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of UC.

About Lilly

Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. P-LLY

About Digestive Disease Week

Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW is an in-person and online meeting from May 6-9, 2023. The meeting showcases more than 3,100 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. More information can be found at www.ddw.org.

Disclosure: Dr. Dubinsky has provided paid consulting and advisory services to Eli Lilly and Company and participates on the steering committees for the mirikizumab program.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about mirikizumab as a potential treatment for people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, or that mirikizumab will receive FDA and other additional regulatory approvals, or that it will be commercially successful. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
Volatility Breeds Opportunity to Reconfigure Supply Chains for Growth

CLAREMONT, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expert Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD, known as the Strongest Link in Your Supply Chain and President of LMA Consulting Group Inc., has published a Special Report - The Road Ahead: Business, Supply Chain & The World Order. LMA Consulting Group works with manufacturers and distributors on strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation to maximize the customer experience and enable profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth.

Lisa Anderson The Road Ahead: Business, Supply Chain & The World Order

"While the visible signs of supply chain chaos have dissipated, business volatility and disruptions remain high. With the world order in a state of flux, risk is high. Yet because everything is interconnected, companies have an opportunity to stay ahead of their ideal customers' needs. They can do this by reconfiguring their supply chains, leveraging technology and attracting and continually developing talent to leapfrog their competitors to secure a lead position in their marketplace," commented Lisa Anderson.

The Road Ahead: Business, Supply Chain & The World Order is a special report that captures comments from trusted advisors and experts from various disciplines about what their most successful clients are doing and what companies should do to take advantage of opportunities in 2023 and beyond. "In talking with my colleagues, it became apparent that the same challenges, issues and opportunities resonate among business disciplines. Each discipline requires attention. Making required changes is not for the faint of heart. The opportunity in front of companies today is the greatest since the Great Depression," she said.

From cybersecurity, logistics, insurance and talent acquisition to nearshoring, reshoring and friendshoring, the tasks are many, but the opportunity is significant. "The only question will be whether your company is ready to take advantage of the opportunities to grow profitably or if you'll struggle for survival. I hope that our Special Report sheds light on these opportunities," she concluded.

Ms. Anderson also recently released: SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning): Creating Predictable Revenue and EBITDA Growth to help organizations understand the value of a proven process. The book is complimentary on the LMA Website at: https://www.lma-consultinggroup.com/siop-book/. It can also be found on Amazon digitally and on-demand print at: SIOP at amazon.com and on iTunes: Apple. Ms. Anderson also provides supply chain updates through Supply Chain Chats, a series of short videos that address current topics, issues and challenges related to supply chains.

About LMA Consulting Group  Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD

Lisa Anderson is the founder and president of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., specializing in manufacturing strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation. She focuses on maximizing the customer experience and enabling profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth. Ms. Anderson is a recognized Supply Chain thought leader by SelectHub, named a Top 40 B2B Tech Influencer by arketi group, a Top 16 ERP Expert to Follow by Washington-Frank, in the Top 10 Women in Supply Chain by Warner PR, in the top 55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts by flexport, and a woman leader in Supply Chain by RateLinx. She has been interviewed by Fox News, published the special report: Thriving in 2022: Learning from Supply Chain Chaos  Insights from 22 Trusted Advisors and the eBook, Future-Proofing Manufacturing & the Supply Chain Post COVID-19, Her primer, I've Been Thinking, provides strategies for creating bold customer promises and profits. An expert on the SIOP process (Sales, Inventory Operations Planning), advancing innovation, and making the supply chain resilient, Ms. Anderson is regularly interviewed and quoted by publications such as Industry Week, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal. For information, sign up for her Profit Through People Newsletter or for a copy of her book, visit LMA-ConsultingGroup.com.

Media Contact

Kathleen McEntee

Kathleen McEntee & Associates, Ltd.

760-262-4080

[email protected]

SOURCE LMA Consulting
NEWARK, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic is pleased to share updated information on the LUMIX S5IIX, previously announced on January 4, 2023, and a firmware update for the LUMIX S5II.

LUMIX S5IIX

The LUMIX S5IIX offers BRAW compatibility; in addition to ProRes RAW, Blackmagic RAW is also available. The camera also features expanded compatibility with external devices, plus support for ATOMOS Ninja V, ATOMOS SHOGUN CONNECT and ATOMOS Ninja V+. The Recording Mode can be set as follows:

LUMIX S5IIX



59.94Hz 50.00Hz Full-frame 5.9K 16:9 5888x3312 12-bit 29.97p

23.98p 25.00p APS-C 4.1K 17:9 4128x2176 12-bit 59.94p

29.97p

23.98p 50.00p

25.00p 3.5K 4:3 3536x2656 12-bit 29.97p

23.98p 50.00p

25.00p

For more information on the LUMIX S5IIX, please refer to the January 4, 2023 press release.

*Please refer to the ATOMOS website for the information on the corresponding firmware version of ATOMOS Ninja V+, ATOMOS Ninja V or ATOMOS Shogun CONNECT.

*Software that supports ProRes RAW is required to edit RAW video recorded with ATOMOS Ninja V+ or ATOMOS Ninja V. Apply the LUT (Look up table) available on the following customer supports site to make the same color grading as V-Log/V-Gamut https://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/lut/s1h_raw_lut/

*Please refer to the Blackmagic Design website for the information on the corresponding firmware version of the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR.

*DaVinci Resolve or DaVinci Resolve Studio is required to play back and edit Blackmagic RAW data. DaVinci Resolve Studio is required to deliver projects using Blackmagic RAW data in resolutions over 3840x2160.

*All functions may not be available depending on the situation.

Firmware Update for LUMIX S5II (Version 2.0)

The LUMIX S5II firmware update will offer RAW data output over HDMI (Requires Software Upgrade Key DWW-SFU2). In addition to ProRes RAW, Blackmagic RAW will now be available. Live View Composite, which is pre-installed on the LUMIX S5IIX, is also among the new features included in the firmware update.

The firmware update program for LUMIX S5II will be available on June 13, 2023.

Apple and ProRes are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

and/or other countries. ATOMOS / Ninja V+ / Ninja V / SHOGUN CONNECT are registered trademarks of ATOMOS Limited.

Blackmagic Design' and 'Blackmagic RAW' are registered trademarks of Blackmagic Design Pty. Ltd.

Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2022, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at na.panasonic.com/us

Follow Press Updates for Panasonic Lumix:

Internet http:// us.panasonic.com/news

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lumix

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/lumixusa

SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America
Commission also Issues Request for Applications for Four Funding Programs for July 13, 2023, Deadline

COLUMBIA, Md., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland Stem Cell Research (MSCRF) Commission is pleased to announce over $14.1 million in grant awards to promote innovative research that will strengthen and advance stem cell treatments and technologies in Maryland. This is the largest amount awarded to Maryland-based institutions and companies since 2010 and was made possible as a result of increased funding from the State. This is also the first time that the Commission awarded funding to Maryland-based companies under MSCRF's new Manufacturing Assistance Program, established to boost cell therapy manufacturing capabilities in the State.

39 scientists from Maryland-based research institutions and companies will be receiving awards from this funding round. Tweet this MSCRF Executive Director, Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, MBA

39 scientists from Maryland-based research institutions and companies will be receiving awards from this round of funding to advance research addressing an array of medical conditions, including cancer, eye, heart, bone, blood, digestive, and central nervous system diseases. Awardees include academic scientists from Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and The Geneva Foundation. From the commercial sector, awardees include Vita Therapeutics, Inc., Theradaptive, Inc., Caring Cross, Inc., RoosterBio, Inc. and Reprocell U.S.A., Inc.

Awardees submitted proposals to the Commission in response to its Request for Applications (RFAs) for its second round of funding in fiscal year 2023. Earlier this fiscal year, the Commission awarded an additional $4.2 million in research grants.

"We remain committed to supporting the researchers and companies in Maryland to advance stem cell research and ultimately improve the lives of patients suffering from a wide range of diseases and conditions," said Diane Hoffmann, chair of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission. "With the new Manufacturing Assistance Program, we hope to accelerate the development and delivery of stem cell therapies in a timely and cost-effective manner, and to attract and retain an advanced manufacturing work force in the region."

Dr. Ruchika Nijhara, the new executive director of MSCRF added, "We believe that the funds for manufacturing assistance, which approach $1,000,000 per project, will enable our stem cell businesses to overcome manufacturing challenges they face in today's economy and give Maryland a competitive advantage."

With the support of governor Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly, MSCRF has a current budget of $20.5 million for fiscal year 2024. The Commission has also issued RFAs for its first-round of 2024 funding in hopes of continuing to accelerating cutting-edge research and cures through the various programs of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF). All applications are due by July 13, 2023.

"The MSCRF team is dedicated to supporting advances in stem cell research and will be delighted to work with stem cell researchers and/or businesses in this round of funding and answer any questions related to the RFAs", said Nijhara.

The second round of MSCRF awards for the 2023 fiscal year include the following:

Launch: These awards are to encourage new and new-to-the-field faculty to bring innovative research and technology to the regenerative medicine field. Totaling $2,098,743 , the Launch Award recipients are Dr. Jennifer Erwin from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Dr. Christina Nemeth Mertz from the Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Alexander Ksendzovsky from the University of Maryland, Baltimore , Dr. Daniel Lobo from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County , Dr. Roopa Biswas from The Geneva Foundation/ Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Sangmoo Jeong from Johns Hopkins University .





These awards are to encourage new and new-to-the-field faculty to bring innovative research and technology to the regenerative medicine field. Totaling , the Launch Award recipients are Dr. from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Dr. from the Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. from the , Dr. from the , Dr. from The Geneva Foundation/ of Health Sciences, and Dr. from . Commercialization: These awards are for Maryland -based start-up companies to develop new human stem cell-based products. Totaling $773,657 , the Commercialization Award recipients are Vita Therapeutics (Dr. Peter Andersen ) and Reprocell USA , Inc. (Dr. Gila Idelman).





These awards are for -based start-up companies to develop new human stem cell-based products. Totaling , the Commercialization Award recipients are Vita Therapeutics (Dr. ) and Reprocell , Inc. (Dr. Gila Idelman). Discovery: These awards fund innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures. Totaling $6,206,748 , the Discovery Award recipients include: Drs. Jeff Bulte , Chulan Kwon, Linda Resar , Alan Friedman , Aaron James , Warren Grayson , Norman Haughey , Hee Cheol Cho , Kenneth Boheler , Nicholas Maragakis , Hari Easwaran Lena Smirnova , Gabsang Lee, and Hyesoo Kim from Johns Hopkins University ; Drs. Curt Civin , Maged Harraz ; and Ricardo Feldman from the University of Maryland, Baltimore , and Dr. Steven Jay from the University of Maryland, College Park .





These awards fund innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures. Totaling , the Discovery Award recipients include: Drs. , Chulan Kwon, , , , , , , , , , Gabsang Lee, and from ; Drs. , ; and from the , and Dr. from the . Post-Doctoral Fellowship: These awards support exceptional post-doctoral fellows conducting research in Maryland . Totaling $1 ,170 Award recipients include: Drs. Manisha Kumari , Shuya Li , Zanshe Thompson, Milton Roy , Mansoureh Barzegar , and Sean Murphy from Johns Hopkins University ; Drs. Alejandra Romero Morales and Arthur Feltrin from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development; and Dr. Audra Kramer from the University of Maryland, Baltimore .





These awards support exceptional post-doctoral fellows conducting research in . Totaling ,170 Award recipients include: Drs. , , Zanshe Thompson, , , and from ; Drs. and from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development; and Dr. from the . Manufacturing Assistance: These awards provide company support for manufacturing stem cell therapy products in Maryland . Totaling $3,866,550 , the Manufacturing Assistance Award recipients are Vita Therapeutics ( Douglas Falk ), RoosterBio, Inc. (Dr. Jon Rowley ), Theradaptive, Inc. (Dr. Luis Alvarez ) and Caring Cross, Inc. (Dr. Boro Dropulic ).

More information about all current MSCRF awardees is available at https://www.mscrf.org/awardees.

About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission is focused on identifying and fostering cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of regenerative medicine in Maryland. Our Accelerating Cures initiative comprises programs that help transition human stem cell-based technologies from the bench to the bedside as well as mechanisms to build and grow stem cell companies in Maryland. Visit us at www.mscrf.org to learn more about our funding opportunities.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Contact

Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, MBA, Executive Director, MSCRF, [email protected].com

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, [email protected]

SOURCE Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a new security assistance package to reaffirm the steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine, including to bolster its air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs.

According to respective statement on the website of Pentagon, this package, which totals up to $1.2 billion, is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistanse Initiative (USAI).

The new package of assistance includes committing additional 155mm artillery rounds and sustainment support to enable Ukraine to better maintain its on-hand systems and equipment.

According to the Pentagon, the capabilities in this package include additional air defense systems and munitions, equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems, ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems, 55mm artillery rounds, commercial satellite imagery services; support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

"The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements," the Department of Defense said.
Ruppe to Support Growth Initiatives Throughout the South

FORT MILL, S.C., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Resources Group Investment Services, LLC (Financial Resources Group) announced today that Matthew Ruppe has become the firm's next Director of Business Consulting. Ruppe is the 13th member of the company's business consulting team dedicated to helping independent and institution-based financial advisors grow their books of business. Ruppe will be supporting advisor growth throughout the South.

Matt Ruppe, Director of Business Consulting

Based in San Antonio, TX, Ruppe brings to the table more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry serving in various leadership roles. Most recently, he served as both Program Manager at UW Credit Union and Director of Investment Services of their investment services program, Wealth Management at UW Credit Union, where he's been registered with LPL Financial (LPL) as his broker-dealer since 2012.

Roots that Run Deep

Financial Resources Group and Ruppe's roots run deep where they have worked alongside each other in different capacities over the last 20 years. UW Credit Union partnered with the firm in 2012, and remains one of 90+ institutions Financial Resources Group supports. Financial Resources Group President Steve Lank expresses his enthusiasm of having Ruppe join as Director of Business Consulting. "Matt has been near and dear to our organization for many years and it is such an honor to have him as an official member of the Financial Resources Group family. His core values and passion perfectly align with those of our organization and his commitment to serve our advisors is admirable."

Supporting Business Growth

Working as Director of Business Consulting, Ruppe will work closely with financial advisors to help them lead successful businesses by growing revenue, attracting new relationships, strengthening existing relationships and attracting and retaining top talent. Additionally, he will focus on creating business efficiencies for his advisors through sharing best practices, implementing change where needed, and teaching them how to incorporate new tools into their practice and programs.

The Perfect Partner

Looking to expand upon his advisor reach and deepen client relationships, Ruppe found joining Financial Resources Group was very easy decision. "Financial Resources Group is the quintessential firm for me to be a part of. They were founded on a 'commitment to serve' which echoes my core values to a T," said Ruppe. "I thoroughly enjoy helping advisors better themselves, their practices, and the way they serve their clients and prospects. It excites me to go to work, roll up my sleeves, and help independents and institutions see growth and results."

Ruppe's extensive background in financial services coupled with his passion to serve will no doubt be a valuable asset to Financial Resources Group, according to Lank. "Matt has invaluable experience in the investment services industry, plus is a fantastic leader. We are incredibly excited to have him onboard and look forward to seeing him excel as Director of Business Consulting."

About Financial Resources Group

Based in Fort Mill, SC, Financial Resources Group is LPL Financial's largest enterprise*, providing customized services to financial advisors and financial institutions to help them grow their programs and practices. Representatives are registered through LPL Financial as their broker-dealer. For more information on Financial Resources Group, visit https://www.financialresourcesgroup.net

About LPL Financial

LPL Financial is the nation's largest independent broker-dealer**. They serve independent financial advisors, professionals, and institutions, providing them with the technology, research, clearing and compliance services, and practice management programs they need to create and grow thriving practices. For more information, visit www.lpl.com

* Based on assets (brokerage and advisory), total revenue and affiliated professionals as of December 2022.

** As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2022, based on total revenue.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Resources Group Investment Services, member FINRA/SIPC, is a separate entity.

Contact Information:

Financial Resources Group

Steve Lank

[email protected]

704-816-8018

SOURCE Financial Resources Group Investment Services
MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recently announced the appointment of Monica Wharton, FACHE, to chief operating officer and executive vice president, assuming expanded roles and additional responsibilities within the $2 billion integrated healthcare system. Wharton joined Methodist Le Bonheur in 2017 as its senior vice president and chief legal officer and, in 2020, was promoted to chief administrative officer for the Memphis-based healthcare system.

Monica Wharton, FACHE, named chief operating officer and executive vice president for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

As CAO, Wharton spearheaded several initiatives including reimagining the organization's digitization, and recruitment and retention strategies to stabilize the workforce.

In Wharton's new role, presidents of three of Methodist Le Bonheur's community hospitals will report to her in addition to her system-wide responsibilities over several key operational areas. Her appointment comes as Methodist Le Bonheur embarks on its most transformative work yet with the reimagination of the healthcare system under its most recent five-year strategic plan.

"As we reimagine how we deliver services to the communities we serve, Monica's exceptional track record as a results-driven transformational leader and champion of change, innovation and creativity across the system will help ensure Methodist Le Bonheur is well positioned for continued success," said President and CEO Dr. Michael Ugwueke.

Wharton is active in several community- and charitable-based organizations. She is past chair of the American Heart Association Mid-South and presently serves as co-chair of the Memphis Business Chamber's Chairman's Circle and is on the boards of the American Heart Association Southwest Region, the American Hospital Association, Hospital's Against Violence Sub-Committee and the Tennessee Hospital Association Center for Innovation.

Wharton has received the Tennessee Hospital Association Diversity Champion Award, as well as both Women Who Lead in Healthcare and Super Women in Business recognition by the Memphis Business Journal.

She holds a Juris Doctor from the William and Mary School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton University. She is board certified in Healthcare Management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

SOURCE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Momcozy, the best-selling wearable breast pump brand in North America which is endorsed by over two million moms, released its first TV commercial upon the arrival of Mother's Day as an effort to speak up for moms globally.

Cozy Power by Momcozy

In the TV commercial, four real moms are invited to share their unique journeys of motherhood on which they overcome the hardships and struggles and find within themselves the power to become their true selves with true ego. In the commercial, they say "With Momcozy, I feel powerful, comfy and breezy. I can be who I am, do what I want. That's our cozy power and yours, too." It's their firm belief that they should not only be a "Good Mom", but also be a "Cozy Mom" and a "Cozy Her".

The TV commercial features four moms of different identities: the working mom who finds herself constantly struggling between childcare and work; the single mom who seldom has the energy to focus on herself; the lesbian mom who is going through the hardships of late pregnancy and the older mom who finds it hard to be understood by the outside world about her life choice.

It's a sad reality that the society has always perceived moms to be tender, great and nice while the difficulties and plights of motherhood are often overlooked. This phenomenon has contributed to the fact that moms are falsely maintaining the "good mom" image to the outside world. This TV commercial is a bold attempt to shed some light on such oftentimes hidden-in-the-dark moments that are only known to moms.

To Momcozy, it acknowledges all the struggles and hardships that moms are going through. It never perceives moms as a hero or god; rather, they are recognized as live individuals with their own wills and needs. That's why Momcozy is always respectful to whatever choices moms make and accompanies them through highs and lows in a faithful manner.

The launch of this TV commercial is truly a glorious manifestation of Momcozy's unwavering determination to always put moms first. It calls up for moms to be a "cozy mom" who thinks with her own values, live at her own pace, and carry on in her own path.

In the past, Momcozy has always been paying attention to moms' state of being and is committed to raising societal awareness to support and empower moms by leveraging its brand influence.

Since 2021, Momcozy has been taking an active part in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week by sponsoring products and spreading its brand philosophy to support breastfeeding moms.

In December of 2022, Momcozy launched New Year's Kiss for Moms campaign to call for the care of moms as they work through the exhausting nature of motherhood.

campaign to call for the care of moms as they work through the exhausting nature of motherhood. In February of 2023, Momcozy initiated Parachute Care Program by inviting real moms to share those "lonely unseen stories" which massively helped raise people's awareness on moms' daily yet often ignored pains.

Positioning itself as the best companion for moms globally through pregnancy and early motherhood, Momcozy will continue to speak up for moms, support them and keep them company in the future.

About Momcozy

Momcozy, the renowned maternity and baby brand endorsed by over two million moms globally, has always put moms on top. Through cozy designs born from love and continuous innovation, Momcozy brings a much simpler, more relaxed, and more comfortable experience for moms globally through their pregnancy and early motherhood.

Learn more: www.momcozy.com

CONTACT: Ella Zheng, [email protected]

SOURCE Momcozy
Step into the footprints of giants, and explore the many stops on this one-of-a-kind Montana route

HELENA, Mont., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dinosaurs have been a staple of American culture since the dawn of time, but a lesser-known American staple is Montana's big imprint on Dinosaur discovery and today, the many ways for visitors to get their hands dirty uncovering a piece of the past for themselves. Plan your ultimate dino vacation on the Montana Dinosaur Trail, an extraordinary journey through time, where visitors witness the wonders of prehistoric life.

Winding its way through the state, the Montana Dinosaur Trail takes travelers back in time with 14 locations to learn about Montana's prehistoric residents. While the trail starts along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front and ends in Southeast Montana, dinosaur enthusiasts can explore the sites in any preferred order. As a bonus, many of the stops on the trail are home to fossils and artifacts that were unearthed locally, in Montana. The trail's Prehistoric Passport makes it easy to visit them alljust like the dinosaurs did.

A day at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is a must during a Montana adventure. It's one of the world's finest research and history museums, as well as a Smithsonian affiliate. Ideal for multi-generational visitors, the museum is home to an impressive fossil collection, permanent exhibits and planetarium shows, as well as a chance to view two of Big Sky Country's most famous dinosaurs: Big Mike the T. rex and Big Al, a nearly complete Allosaurus.

Big Mike is one of the most complete T. rex skeletons in the world. While the original bones are on loan to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, a 15-foot bronze cast stands watch over the museum, greeting you upon arrival. A local family discovered the fossil in eastern Montana in 1988, catching the attention of a Hollywood film team who used the excavation to help produce Jurassic Park.

A four-hour drive north from Bozeman, through limestone bluffs carved by the Missouri River and sweeping valleys of farmland, leads to an area known as the Rocky Mountain Front. Nestled here in the shadow of towering mountain peaks are the small communities of Bynum and Choteau, both of which are prime destinations on the Montana Dinosaur Trail.

With a population of 31, Bynum is a small towneven by Montana standardswith a big dinosaur scene. The Montana Dinosaur Center is home to impressive fossils, including remains of a recently discovered dinosaur species, but what truly sets this museum apart is its dig program. Varying from half-day to five-day dig programs, attendees work alongside paleontologists to unearth a piece of Montana's rich dinosaur history for themselves. This unique program runs from May through September. Booking for a summer dig is available online here.

This area is also home to Egg Mountain, which became an important site in Montana's dinosaur history after a Bynum local, Marion Brandvold, found the remains of juvenile dinosaurs. After showing her discovery to Jack Horner, a well-known paleontologist, Horner and his team unearthed 14 dinosaur nests. The original dinosaur fossils found by Brandvold can be seen on display at the Old Trail Museum in Choteau.

Continue along the trail through central Montana for more locally discovered prehistoric treasures. The Upper Musselshell Museum in Harlowton features "Ava," an Avaceratops skeleton that was the first of its kind, as well as American Indian artifacts from ancient bison kill sites. The Depot Museum in Rudyard is home to the "Oldest Sorehead," a fully jointed fossil of a Gryposaurus found nearby. Chinook's Blaine County Museum houses numerous prehistoric discoveries unearthed in the Judith River Formation, a fossil hotbed deposited in this region 75 to 80 million years ago.

Following the Montana Dinosaur Trail east, adventurers will find five additional locations among the sweeping plains, river coulees and badland formations.

The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum features a full-size cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil named Peck's Rex that was unearthed near Fort Peck Lake in 1997. It is one of the most complete fossils discovered in the world.

One of the most compelling communities on the Montana Dinosaur Trail is Glendive, with stops at Frontier Gateway Museum and Makoshika State Park. Today, Montana's largest state park is home to hiking trails, stunning badland views and a chance to see fossilized remains of several prehistoric species, including Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.

There's also plenty of exciting events for all ages along the Montana Dinosaur Trail, including the 11th Annual Dino Shindig this summer at the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka. This family-friendly event attracts attendees from all over the world for fun activities and hands-on fossil digs.

Find more dinosaur adventures and ways to explore Montana's history at visitmt.com.

About Visit Montana

Visit Montana markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences and relaxing hospitality. For more information, visit VISITMT.COM .

SOURCE Visit Montana
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MPW) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: March 1, 2022 to February 22, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: June 12, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in MPW:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39104&from=4

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. NEWS - MPW NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. ("Prospect"), which leases and operates 13 of the Company's facilities, was facing significant pressures affecting the profitability of its Pennsylvania properties; (2) as a result, there was a significant risk that Prospect would be unable to meet its rental obligations owed to Medical Properties Trust; (3) "given the elongated timing of the Pennsylvania recovery," the Company was reasonably likely to record an impairment charge to the real estate value of the Pennsylvania properties; (4) and, as a result of the foregoing, defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Medical Properties Trust you have until June 12, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Medical Properties Trust securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the MPW lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/medical-properties-trust-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=39104&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- News Advisory:

Event: Briefing to mark one year since the murder of Al Jazeera

correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh.



When: Thursday, May 11 at 10:30am EDT



Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW (13th Floor) Washington



Who: Lina Abu Akleh (niece of Shireen) via video:

Eileen O'Reilly, President of the National Press Club;

Abderrahim Foukara, Washington Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera;

Details:

One year ago today veteran American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed as she was covering a raid near Jenin in the West Bank. A correspondent for Al Jazeera, Shireen had been covering events in the region for 15 years and was following all the protocols to maintain safety. She was in plain sight of the Israeli forces. She was wearing a vest clearly marked PRESS, and was wearing her helmet. But, despite these precautions, evidence indicates she was fired upon and killed by the Israeli military.

Shireen is a U.S. citizen and as such her death should receive a full investigation. The Israeli government's cooperation has been limited and insufficient and no one has been held accountable. The National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute, call on the Israeli and U.S. governments to fully investigate and bring Shireen's family and her colleagues justice. Shireen was a well-known and beloved journalist doing her job and she has been killed with impunity. Abderrahim Foukara will discuss the concerns of Al Jazeera as Shireen's employer. Eileen O'Reilly will remind us why the National Press Club honored Shireen in 2022 with the President's Award. Shireen's niece, Lina Abu Akleh will address the concerns of Shireen's family as well as her own personnel loss.

The event is open to National Press Club members and their guests, as well as credentialed press. RSVP to [email protected]

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
MARRAKECH, Morocco, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 100 female business leaders from across four continents gathered in Morocco this week for "Women Connect to Innovate" to forge new business collaborations and explore the role of innovation in empowering women to generate prosperity in the region. The event was co-organized by Start-Up Nation Central, a non-profit organization that promotes Israeli innovation around the world to help solve global challenges, and Morocco's Consensus Public Relations.

RoundTable session in the Moroccan desert, photo courtesy of Start-Up Nation Central (PRNewsfoto/Start-Up Nation Central (SNC))

The event, which brought together women from Bahrain, Benin, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and others, focused on the shared challenges faced in the Middle East and Africa and how they are defined not just by geography, culture or religion, but also by how these impact women's access to financial security, education and the basic infrastructure that enable opportunities for women to lead.

Google, Women in Tech, CESE (Conseil Economique Social et Environnemental), Morocco's Ministry of Soldiery, FRDISI (Fondation de Recherche de Development et d'innovation en Sciences et Ingenierie), UM6P (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University), OMPIC,the Gulf-Israel Women's Forum, and Leaders on Purpose also joined as partners in the event.

The three-day gathering included a series of roundtables, workshops and panels focused on investments and funding, education and infrastructure. The event culminated in the unveiling of a graffiti wall in Marrakech, jointly created by three artists from Israel, Morocco and Senegal. The event ended with a gala dinner with government and business officials.

"The Middle East and Africa regions are growing at a rapid pace and innovation is a key component to that," said Start-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson. "Last year, we held the Connect to Innovate conference in Casablanca which brought together hundreds of Israeli and Moroccan business leaders. This gathering deepens the dialogue among professional networks from across the MEA region and recognizes the important role that women play in the innovation ecosystem. We are proud to provide a platform to encourage further collaboration."

"By bringing together prominent women in business, innovation and technology from the region, we are creating a cohort of women which will help propel our region forward," said Start-Up Nation Central Director of Innovation Diplomacy Aviva Steinberger. During the last three days, the groundwork for new collaborations has been laid and we look forward to seeing the partnerships evolve."

What emerged from the workshops and panel discussions was that the MEA countries are closely aligned in facing personal challenges such as empowering women to facilitate their passions and become leaders in their field. Equally, much of the innovation that is the output of these countries includes solutions in sectors such as water technology, renewable energy, ag-tech, human capital, health tech, etc., all of which are complimentary business opportunities to tackle challenges not only regionally, but worldwide.

About Start-Up Nation Central: Start-Up Nation Central is a non-profit organization that connects Israeli innovation to the world in order to help international entities solve global challenges. Immersed in the Israeli technology ecosystem, we provide a platform that nurtures business growth and generates partnerships with corporations, governments, investors, and NGOs to strengthen Israel's economy and society. For more information, visit: https://startupnationcentral.org/

About CPR: CPR is a public relations firm specializing in the creation and tailoring of high-level impactful events. CPR has a proven track record and is a trusted partner to both private sector and government in Morocco. CPR enables clients to seize opportunities, stand out and be renowned actors in the ecosystem.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072802/SNC.jpg

SOURCE Start-Up Nation Central (SNC)
Easter Seals Greater Houston one of 10 affiliates nationwide to receive grant.

HOUSTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Easter Seals Greater Houston announced today it will receive a grant of $45,000 to support High School/High Tech. The program educates, mentors and helps students with disabilities gain the skills they need to graduate from high school before transitioning to employment or higher education. The grant is part of a national $2.55 million donation CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in managed care, made to Easterseals in late 2022.

"We are honored to be among Easterseals Affiliates benefiting from CareSource's support," said Easter Seals Greater Houston President and CEO Elise Hough. "Only 56% of students with disabilities graduate from high school. CareSource's funding will provide our High School/High Tech students the encouragement, role models, access, and stimulation to pursue challenging technical careers or courses of study."

The funding will support Easter Seals Greater Houston's High School/High Tech Program which encourages students with disabilities to explore the fields of science, engineering and technology. Through High School/High Tech, students with disabilities are presented a mix of learning experiences that promote career exploration and broaden educational horizons.

"CareSource is proud to support the unique and innovative work of Easterseals affiliates across the country to improve the lives of the people they serve and strengthen the communities around them," said Erhardt Preitauer, CareSource president and chief executive officer and a member of the Easterseals national board of directors. "As mission-driven nonprofits, Easterseals and CareSource share a goal of empowering these local affiliates to provide exceptional services to meet the needs of millions living with disabilities as well as veterans, and seniors, all while improving health equity."

CareSource announced a joint venture with Legacy Community Health, the state's largest federally qualified health center, to serve Texas Medicaid managed care recipients. Named CareSource Bayou Health, the joint venture is strategically positioned to provide comprehensive health coverage and access to the best physicians delivering compassion and care.

Annual CareSource grants of $725,000 will support the work of select Easterseals Affiliates nationwide, the work of Easterseals' national office, and the organization's Project on Education and Community Health Equity, an initiative focused on addressing the educational and health care needs of children with disabilities, including children with disabilities of color, so they are kindergarten ready and can reach their full potential.

Another round of funding for Easterseals Affiliates' programs and services will be announced in late 2023.

About Easter Seals Greater Houston

As a lead affiliate in our national network of 67 affiliates in 48 states, Easter Seals Greater Houston impacts people where they need us most  school, work, home, and in the community  from the critical first five years of life onward. Each year we directly serve over 14,500 people, providing early childhood and therapy services, mental health, employment programs, adult day programs, Military and Veterans' services, and more.

For children and adults with disabilities, for veterans and seniors, and for families and caregivers through Harris and 16 surrounding counties, ESGH is leading the way to full equity and inclusion through life changing disability and community services. With the help of our community, we are reducing poverty and addressing financial stability; Improving health care and employment, and empowering people of all ages and abilities to be full and equal participants in our community. Easter Seals Greater Houston operates: Early Childhood Intervention; Respite Services; Toy/Tech & Play Groups, BridgingApps (bridgingapps.org); High School/High Tech; Financial Education and Down Payment Assistance; Children's Therapy Services; The Caroline School, Camps, Case Management, Employment/Transition Services; Adult Recreation, and Military/Veterans Services. For more information about Easter Seals Greater Houston, visit www.eastersealshouston.org or visit us on Facebook and Twitter (@eastersealshou).

SOURCE Easter Seals Greater Houston
38% of Respondents Said They Are More Likely to Watch a Film if They Know it is Produced in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new national poll from Crosswind Media & Public Relations, a leading communications firm based in Austin, Texas, shows that more than a third of Americans are more likely to watch a film if they know its production was in Texas. The poll also shows that most Americans outside of Texas have a positive view of the state (59%).

Despite almost half of those surveyed responding that the film's production location makes no difference whether they watched the film or not, 38% said they are more likely to watch if they know it is produced in Texas. This finding highlights important information for studios and film producers seeking to attract more viewers. The 88th Texas Legislature is currently considering several proposals to incentivize film development in the state.

"These results send a clear message to Hollywood that if a film about Texas is being marketed to the public, it should be produced and filmed here in the Lone Star State," said Thomas Graham, CEO of Crosswind Media & Public Relations.

Specifically, respondents were asked, "If you know a film is produced in Texas, does that make you much more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, or much less likely to watch the film, or does it make no difference?"

A combined 38 percent responded favorably, including:

19% much more likely

19% somewhat more likely

6% somewhat less likely

6% much less likely

47% it makes no difference

4% not sure

Those who say they are most likely to watch a film produced in Texas are young Americans between 18-39 (60%) and Hispanics (61%), according to the poll.

The poll also shows that most Americans believe Texas is a good place to start a business (66%), raise a family (64%), and travel for vacation (69%).

"Texas is viewed favorably by 59 percent of America, and the state is seen as heading in the right direction, our latest national survey reveals," said Graham. "This survey demonstrates the durability of the brand of Texas as being pro-business, family-friendly, and a premier travel destination."

Methodology:

The survey sought the opinion of 845 Americans outside of Texas and was conducted April 11-12, 2023, by Pulse Opinion and Crosswind Media & Public Relations. The margin of Sampling Error was +/- 3.3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Crosswind Media & Public Relations:

Crosswind Media & Public Relations is one of the leading firms in the U.S., ranking in the top 100 nationally. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Crosswind's roots are in Texas and serves clients around the world. The agency specializes in brand management, crisis communication, thought leadership, and event planning and serves clients in the energy, infrastructure, entertainment, education, technology, banking & finance, and health care sectors.

SOURCE Crosswind Media & Public Relations
During National Stroke Awareness Month, United Stroke Alliance and Medtronic are empowering stroke survivors and caregivers to learn more about post-stroke care and prevention

PEORIA, Ill., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A targeted survey released by patient advocacy group, United Stroke Alliance, with support from Medtronic, found that while nearly 80% of stroke survivors and 90% of caregivers were concerned about the risk of a second stroke, only 6% (2 of 30 patients) were prescribed an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM). Inserted just underneath the skin for up to several years, ICMs are able to detect intermittent abnormal heart rhythms in patients, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), which can lead to stroke.

United Stroke Alliance Logo

Approximately one in four stroke survivors will experience another stroke within five years.i In some cases, these patients may have AF, an irregular heartbeat that is associated with a five-fold greater risk of stroke. Long-term, continuous heart monitoring with an ICM can be a critical tool for detecting AF and informing secondary stroke prevention treatment strategies; yet the recent sampling of stroke survivors within the United Stroke Alliance community suggests many are not receiving long-term monitoring  or any heart monitoring  following stroke.

In the survey, 30% of stroke survivors reported they were given some form of short-term heart monitoring after their stroke, only 6% received an ICM for long-term monitoring, while nearly half (43%) did not receive any form of heart monitoring, either short- or long-term.

"Stroke is often a life-altering event, and survivors are not only navigating recovery, but they are also often working with their care team to build a customized treatment plan to prevent a second stroke," says Marylee Nunley, co-founder and national board member at the United Stroke Alliance. "Understanding their individual risk factors and the latest treatment and monitoring options available is not only critical to their long-term recovery, but it can also be a life-saver."

Gaps in the Stroke Care Pathway

These survey findings reveal a critical gap in stroke management care pathways as recent clinical research shows long-term heart monitoring significantly increases AF detection rates that short-term monitoring often does not detect. In fact, in 78% of stroke patients, AF would go undetected if monitored for only 30 days compared to a year (STROKE AF Study).ii Clinical studies have also shown that, compared to conventional cardiac monitoring, long-term cardiac monitoring increases AF detection and enhances the speed with which patients are given treatment, ultimately cutting the risk of recurrent stroke in half.iii

Of the patients surveyed, just over one-third (37%) of stroke survivors report being referred to a cardiologist or electrophysiologist following their stroke, which is consistent with findings from the DiVERT clinical study phase one results that underscored the need for stronger, standardized care pathways. Yet, stroke survivors rank being referred to a cardiologist or electrophysiologist  in addition to participating in survivor patient groups  as the most helpful ways to learn more about AF and heart monitoring, highlighting the need to strengthen the referral pathway.

"We've learned from clinical studies that long-term heart monitoring with a Medtronic ICM following a stroke leads to detecting more atrial fibrillation," said Alan Cheng, M.D., chief medical officer of the Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management operating unit. "Often, the impact of a second stroke is more severe due to the additional damage to the brain. That's why it is important that stroke patients have the right monitoring in place to inform their treatment plan and potentially lessen the risk of a second stroke."

To find more information and resources from the United Stroke Alliance, visit Unitedstrokealliance.org, and to learn more about the connection between AF and stroke, as well as long-term cardiac monitoring, visit medtronic.com/StopStroke.

About the Survey

These results are based on an online survey issued to the United Stroke Alliance community, a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting & educating people about the prevention, awareness and recovery of stroke for survivors, caregivers and their families. Forty-one responses were received from stroke patients (30) and caregivers (11). Of the stroke survivor respondents, 76.6% were female and 23.3% were male, with 73% between the ages of 40-69 and 27% over the age of 70.

About The United Stroke Alliance

The United Stroke Alliance team is made up of passionate individuals who tirelessly strive to make a difference in not only stroke survivors and caregivers, but also for the members of every community. It all began in 2004 when one caregiver wanted to improve the quality of life for local stroke survivors and caregivers through a weekend retreat. From a single person in a single community, the reach has been extended to communities throughout the country educating millions of people on the signs of stroke as well as supporting thousands of stroke survivors, caregivers and their family members in through their stroke recovery.

i https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/preventing-another-stroke

ii Bernstein RA, Kamel H, Granger CB, et al. Effect of Long-term Continuous Cardiac Monitoring vs Usual Care on Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Stroke Attributed to Large- or Small-Vessel Disease: The STROKE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;325(21):21692177. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.6470

iii Tsivgoulis G, et al. Stroke. 2019;50:2175-2180

Media Contact: Kate Worthy

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE United Stroke Alliance
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his support for the creation of a tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and noted that there are 37 states in the group of countries that demand punishment of the aggressor.

Our justice must prove international unity in fairness, as it was in Nuremberg. Unfortunately, the International Criminal Court, whose work we fully support, does not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. That is why the Tribunal is needed - to complement the global legal system, he said in Kyiv on Tuesday, speaking via video link at an online summit of state leaders - Core Group for the creation of a special tribunal.

I am pleased to announce that our joint group working to punish the aggressor - our Core Group - already includes thirty-seven states. And this number will continue to grow - we are constantly working to make our coalition of defenders of justice bigger, he also said.

Zelenskyy reminded that this summer, the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Russian Aggression will start its work in The Hague. This will be a practical step in the processing of evidence for the Tribunal. So, we are moving forward, moving step by step.

According to the president, we can discuss what the model of the Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine should be in order to achieve the main goal  justice  But once again I emphasize that this must be a Tribunal.

Speaking of the Nuremberg Tribunal, Zelenskyy noted that the main culprit of that catastrophe did not make it to the Tribunal. He carried out an obvious sentence for himself in the bunker.

But his accomplices - including the key figures of the aggression - were punished in the legal sphere. They were punished the way humanity punishes any criminals in a civilized manner - through prosecution, trial, sentence and its implementation. And this has served as a strong pillar of peace - a concrete example of how peace violators were punished by the whole world, he stated.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfront has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list . Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

Newfront is building the modern insurance platform for clients, colleagues, and trading partners by combining world-class insurance and technology talent in a collaborative culture. A top-40 brokerage based on revenue, Newfront expanded nationally in 2022 and hired more than 250 employees.

Newfront has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Tweet this

"At Newfront, we believe in building a culture that embraces diverse disciplines  from insurance to technology to operations," said Newfront Head of People Paige Maisonet. "Newfront is the destination for both insurance experts and leading technologists to grow their career and advance an age-old industry. It's rewarding to know that our most important audience, our employees, recognize our efforts to continually improve our culture."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

About Newfront

Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you. Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout the country and is home to more than 850 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Traci Johnson

Newfront

[email protected]

Natasha Koleas

PAN Communications

949-397-7582

[email protected]

SOURCE Newfront
Firm's wealth business thriving with another national accolade

MILWAUKEE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With another prestigious industry recognition, Northwestern Mutual continues to reaffirm its status as a top-tier provider of wealth management strategies.

Northwestern Mutual announced today it has moved up into the top five of independent broker-dealers based on gross revenue, according to the latest ranking from InvestmentNews.1 A 10-percent year-over-year increase in gross revenue lifted the Milwaukee-based firm into the fifth spot.

"Northwestern Mutual's wealth management business is growing quickly  and so is our reputation in the marketplace," said Aditi Javeri Gokhale, the company's chief strategy officer, president of retail investments and head of institutional investments. "We're proud to be named one of the nation's top independent broker-dealers  a recognition that validates our strategy to deliver truly comprehensive financial planning to our clients. Our unique approach  combining investments with insurance and annuities  is helping millions of Americans protect the wealth they have built, generate superior financial outcomes, achieve their life goals, and build generational prosperity."

At the close of the first quarter of 2023, Northwestern Mutual held $243 billion in retail investment client assets.2 The firm and its advisors have earned a variety of awards and accolades in 2023. In April, 134 Northwestern Mutual financial advisors were recognized on Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list. Additionally, Financial Advisor magazine ranked Northwestern Mutual Investment Services as the sixth largest independent-broker dealer by 2022 revenue.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With more than $558 billion of total assets being managed across the company's institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, nearly $35 billion in revenues, and $2.2 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 97 on the 2022 FORTUNE 500.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (investment advisory and trust services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

1Ranking for Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. Measured by 2022 revenue. Source: InvestmentNews, May 2023.

2 Combined client assets of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC). The advisory programs offered by NMWMC are in conjunction with brokerage services from NMWMC's affiliate, NMIS. NMIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual.

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual
Increasing demand for OMAKAI sushi prompts expansion plans across South Florida

MIAMI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OMAKAI sushi today announced that its fine casual, high-quality sushi concept will expand beyond its original restaurants in Wynwood and Aventura by opening in the heart of Coconut Grove on May 17, 2023.

OMAKAI sushi Coconut Grove - 3304 Mary St, Miami, FL 33133

OMAKAI sushi launched in November 2019, thanks to the vision of two brothers, Diego and Pedro Quijada, along with Nicolas Sayavedra and Chef Aaron Pate. The team's combined hospitality experience and passion for gastronomy led them to create this sushi concept, with omakase at the helm. The menu features various tasting options, along with its signature 'Homeakase' boxes, which provide guests the option to enjoy OMAKAI's offerings in sleek packaging from the comfort of home.

Following the highly anticipated Coconut Grove opening, the team plans to launch Miami's first proper hand roll bar, OMAKAI hand roll bar, in Brickell. The menu will exclusively offer a variety of hand rolls with premium cuts of fish, along with a curated selection of sakes. Lastly, OMAKAI's delivery & pickup-only location in Aventura will be converted into a full, sit-down restaurant in early 2024 to serve its growing customer-base.

"One of the key drivers behind our continued growth and expansion is the community's steadfast support and genuine love for our concept," said Diego Quijada. "We look forward to opening our doors to new customers, and we have no doubt that our premium traditional sushi will elevate the offerings in Coconut Grove and beyond."

Recognizing the booming restaurant scene in Coconut Grove, the OMAKAI sushi team plans to join the neighborhood this May. Opening at 3304 Mary Street in Coconut Grove, this new location is 2,182 square feet and will seat approximately 65 guests. Located at Terra Group's headquarters building, the latest OMAKAI sushi restaurant was brokered by Sam Noddle of Comras Company.

Pedro Quijada said, "Our Coconut Grove opening marks the first of several exciting new plans for OMAKAI sushi. As we move into this next chapter, we are committed to innovating upon our concept while staying true to the brand that OMAKAI customers have grown to know and love."

For further information on OMAKAI sushi, email [email protected] or visit www.omakai.com.

SOURCE OMAKAI sushi
 Preclinical data presented shows PL8177 was found to be efficacious in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease

 Clinical data confirms PL8177 oral formulation is delivered and contained in the colon

 Phase 2 clinical study data readout in 2H2023

CRANBURY, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor system, today announced the presentation of the poster "Efficacy of the Melanocortin Receptor Agonist PL8177 as a Potential Therapy for Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases" at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting May 6-9, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. The poster was presented by John Dodd, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Preclinical Research at Palatin. The poster can be found on Palatin's website www.palatin.com.

The data shows the high potency of PL8177, and lack of systemic absorption, which makes a delayed-release microparticle oral formulation of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1r) agonist PL8177 a promising new candidate for clinical development for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

In preclinical studies in rat models of ulcerative colitis, oral PL8177 was found to be efficacious in reducing colonic damage and inflammation. In rats and dogs, data showed that oral PL8177 is released in the lower GI tract where it can exert its effect on inflammation. Clinical data presented in the poster shows that oral PL8177 was released in the GI tract and did not reach systemic circulation.

"This data is a further example of the potential of the melanocortin system as a target for novel treatments for inflammatory diseases," said Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Palatin. "We are looking forward to the data from an ongoing phase 2 study and the potential of PL8177 as a novel treatment for inflammatory bowel disease."

A phase 2 study, PL8177-205, is currently enrolling patients. An interim assessment and topline data is anticipated in the second half of 2023. Additional trial information, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ via the identifier NCT05466890.

Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), the meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. More information can be found at www.ddw.org.

About PL8177

PL8177 is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide with demonstrated efficacy in multiple animal inflammatory bowel disease models. PL8177 is a potent, selective agonist of the human melanocortin-1 receptor, with sub-nanomolar affinity binding and EC 50 functional values. Palatin data demonstrates that the oral formulation of PL8177 was protected from degradation in the stomach and small intestine and delivered to the large intestine and colon over an extended period. In addition, orally administered PL8177 had a significant effect on resolving inflammation in a rat bowel inflammation model.

PL8177 in oral formulations has demonstrated repeated, robust efficacy in ulcerative colitis disease models. MC1r is found on epithelial cells and resident macrophages of the colon which are accessible from the lumen of the colon. Orally administered PL8177 is not systemically absorbed. PL8177 has the potential for excellent efficacy without safety concerns.

About Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine (colon), with inflammation and ulcerations that can cause significant abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, loss of appetite and other symptoms. An estimated 1 million individuals in the United States are affected by ulcerative colitis, with over 350,000 diagnosed with moderate-to-severe disease. Existing treatments are not effective in a substantial portion of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, with certain severe cases resulting in surgical removal of the colon.

About Melanocortin Receptor Agonists and Inflammation

The melanocortin receptor ("MCr") system has effects on inflammation, immune system responses, metabolism, food intake, and sexual function. There are five melanocortin receptors, MC1r through MC5r. Modulation of these receptors, through use of receptor-specific agonists, which activate receptor function, or receptor-specific antagonists, which block receptor function, can have medically significant pharmacological effects. Many tissues and immune cells located throughout the body, including the gut, kidney and eye, express melanocortin receptors, empowering our opportunity to directly activate natural pathways to resolve disease inflammation. Drugs based on melanocortin agonists have been approved by the FDA for treating several conditions, including female sexual dysfunction, inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, and rare forms of genetic obesity.

About Palatin

Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations with industry leaders to maximize their commercial potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin on Twitter at @PalatinTech.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about future expectations of Palatin, such as statements about PL8177 preclinical and clinical results for ulcerative colitis and gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual results to be materially different from its historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials, the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not responsible for updating events that occur after the date of this press release.

Palatin Technologies is a registered trademark of Palatin Technologies, Inc.

SOURCE Palatin Technologies, Inc.
KERN COUNTY, Calif., May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Supervisor Leticia Perez and the Kern County Board of Supervisors will proclaim May 2023 to be Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month at their May 9th meeting at 9:00 am. Bakersfield advocates accepting the resolution are also advocating for medical board reform at next week's Medical Board of California meeting.

Over 53 percent of women who reside in Kern County are Latina with the majority of Kern County babies (63%) being born to Latinas. Kern County has one of the highest pregnancy-related mortality rate (17.8%) than anywhere else in California. Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month and the call for outreach focused on Latinas is a critical step in addressing the growing maternal health crisis in Kern County and throughout our state.

Many of the volunteer advocate families that Consumer Watchdog works with in Kern County have experienced poor pregnancy outcomes and deaths due to pregnancy complications - many linked to medical negligence. These families joined Consumer Watchdog in an educational campaign which targeted Kern County mothers and families encouraging them to engage in their own healthcare, to look for pregnancy complications, and how to work with their providers to address these complications.

Michele Monserratt-Ramos, Consumer Watchdog's Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate, led the Bakersfield Families Call to Action Campaign to address maternal health issues in Kern County. Monserratt-Ramos will discuss the need for Latina Maternal Health awareness at the meeting when the proclamation is introduced, and the educational campaign that she led in Kern County to address maternal health issues.

"After one article in the local paper identifying a young mother who died prior to childbirth, Tracy Dominguez contacted me to discuss her daughter Demi's untimely death," said Consumer Watchdog's Michele Monserratt-Ramos. "That phone call created a domino effect. I continued to receive phone calls from mothers and grandmothers who had all lost their daughters or grandchildren from pregnancy-related complications. I knew then that we needed to focus on the maternal mortality crisis in Kern County."

Tracy Dominguez, Co-Founder of Save a Mom Save a Family, is one of the mothers who played a lead role in the Bakersfield Families Call to Action Campaign. Tracy lost her 23-year-old daughter Demi Dominguez to undiagnosed preeclampsia. Denied care and offered no diagnosis in a Bakersfield hospital, Demi died of a seizure at home leaving her unborn child to be delivered by a post-mortem c-section. Tracy Dominguez will be sharing her daughter's tragic story at the Board meeting, and how it has motivated her to focus on Latina maternal health in Kern County and across the state.

"My daughter did everything she could to seek help for her and her unborn child but her pleas for help were ignored," stated Tracy Dominguez. "We failed her, but I am doing everything in my power to make sure that we help other young mothers get safe care and the help that they need."

Supervisor Leticia Perez will present the resolution announcing Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month to advocate families at the Board meeting. Tracy Dominguez, Monica De La Rosa, and Michele Monserratt-Ramos, Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate from Consumer Watchdog, will be present.

"Health care is a human right. All people, no matter race, gender, or economic status should have access to proper medical care," stated Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez. "I am proud to work with groups such as Save a Mom, Save a Family to help ensure that our mothers, especially mothers of color, receive the best healthcare possible so that their families can thrive."

Kern County has one of the highest infant mortality rates of 6.1 per 1,000 births. The high maternal mortality rate and the high infant mortality rate requires a call for action to save the lives of Kern County families.

"I am here in support of Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month because I lost my daughter to the maternal mortality crisis," stated Monica De La Rosa. "We are working to educate our families on how to engage in their own health care and help provide resources for our community."

Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month is the first step in identifying solutions to the long-term maternal mortality and infant mortality crisis in Kern County.

A connection to the Latina maternal mortality crisis is the lack of accountability and transparency with the Medical Board of California. The Bakersfield advocates will be testifying before the Medical Board of California at their May meeting next week to demand that the medical board administer a family interview before a complaint is dismissed and the need for the Medical Board to investigate death and serious bodily injury complaints like other healthcare-related board are required to do. The reforms that the Bakersfield families are advocating for are intended for the Medical Board's sunset bill. The Bakersfield advocates have put the Central Valley front and center in the fight for accountability. Based on the urging of Bakersfield advocates, the Medical Board will bring their quarterly board meeting to Bakersfield for the first time in August.

Read the stories of the Kern County families and other families who suffered from pregnancy complications and medical negligence here:

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PDO MAX, Inc., a woman-owned aesthetics medical device company based in the United States, in its ongoing efforts to meet the increasing demand for aesthetics products and distribution growth, has hired Jaclyn Luongo to fill the newly created position of Director of Sales and Business Development.

PDO Max has hired Jaclyn Luongo to fill the newly created position of Director of Sales and Business Development. She is responsible for growing the firm's revenues by managing PDO Max's sales function in alignment with the organization's strategic business goals.

An accomplished industry sales veteran and recognized leader, Luongo brings more than twenty-four years of outstanding accomplishments to her position. In addition, she sits on several boards, including the Program Advisory Board at Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics, the Board of Directors for the Melanoma Education Foundation, and The NASNPRO Association. In 2021, she joined The Global Wellness Institute to be part of and create their first mentor program. In addition, she published a book, Successful Selling in the Beauty Industry, which has become a top-selling guide for beauty sales professionals. She has appeared on The Industry Boston as a guest beauty expert, has been a guest speaker for the Dress for Success Organization, and has worked with contestants for the Miss Teen USA pageants.

In this role, as the Director of Sales and Business Development, she is responsible for growing the firm's revenues by managing PDO Max's sales function in alignment with the organization's strategic business goals. Luongo is eager to help PDO Max accelerate to the next level and says: "I am honored to join this amazing organization. I plan to inspire our team and customers to achieve their goals. I thrive in goal-oriented environments where I can lead from example and celebrate our success as we grow!"

"We are thrilled to welcome Jaclyn to our team as Director of Sales," said Juliana Ucchino, Chief Operating Officer at PDO MAX. "Her passion for the beauty industry, her depth of experience, and her knowledge are unparalleled. In addition, she will bring valuable leadership to our sales team, which will fuel the continued growth of our organization."

About: PDO MAX, Inc. is headquartered in Liverpool, NY, and is a woman-owned medical device provider for medical aesthetic needs in the U.S. PDO Max is the trusted provider of hundreds of medical practices utilizing its proprietary FDA cleared (K190245) Polydioxanone (PDO) threads- in-cannula. PDO Max offers hands-on individual instructional courses along with e-Learning courses, which cover the application of PDO thread techniques. For more information regarding PDO MAX threads, to place an order, or to schedule a training, please contact PDO Max at 800-670-0225 or visit https://www.pdomax.com.

Media Contact:

Diana Daly

[email protected]

800-670-0225

SOURCE PDO Max, Inc.
PenFed was honored as the Corporate Advocate for demonstrating an exemplary commitment to advancing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, including military families.

TYSONS, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second-largest federal credit union, was recognized as the Easterseals DC MD VA Corporate Advocate of 2023 for its exemplary commitment to advancing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, including military families.

PenFed Credit Union President/CEO & PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck accepts the Easterseals Corporate Advocate Award for demonstrating an exemplary commitment to advancing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, including military families on behalf of PenFed.

"Easterseals has an incredible history that aligns with our mission. PenFed first partnered with Easterseals in 2004 to support the Little Warriors Child Development Program to provide scholarship for children of wounded warriors to attend early care and education programs when their parents were having surgery at Walter Reed," said PenFed President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck. "We have been supporting their programs for the military community ever since."

Leaders in business, government, and the military attended the awards event that also honored military advocates Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 22nd Chief of the U.S. Air Force, and his wife Sharene Brown and community advocates Robin Portman, past chair of Easterseals DC MD VA, and her husband Tom Portman.

"We are grateful for PenFed's support," said Jon Horowitch, President and CEO of Easterseals DC MD VA. "Their commitment will help us realize the Easterseals vision of creating a hopeful, inclusive community where all people realize their potential and live meaningful lives."

Since 2004, the Advocacy Awards event has generated more than $8 million to fund Easterseals DC MD VA programs. Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through direct and life-changing disability and community services. Since 1945, Easterseals DC MD VA has worked tirelessly to enhance quality of life and expand access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.9 million members worldwide with $35.3 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services. Our mission is to empower members of our community to achieve their financial well-being. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The produced water treatment market size is set to grow by USD 3,200.76 million between 2022 and 2027, and register a CAGR of about 7.93%, according to Technavio's latest market research report. With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by way of synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Produced Water Treatment Market 2023-2027

Get a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with

research methodology. Read our Sample Report

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Aker Solutions ASA, Alderley Plc, Aquatech International LLC, Baker Hughes Co., Enviro-Tech Systems, Exterran Corp., Frames Energy Systems BV, Genesis Water Technologies Inc., Halliburton Co., IDE Water Technologies, Minerals Technologies Inc., NOV Inc., Ovivo Inc., Prosep Inc., Schlumberger Ltd., Siemens Energy AG, SUEZ SA, TechnipFMC plc, Veolia Environnement Group, and Weatherford International Plc are some of the major market participants. The increasing global concerns regarding water scarcity, increased produced water volumes in mature oil fields, and Increase in world energy demand will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Produced Water Treatment Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Application

Onshore: The market share growth by the onshore segment will be significant during the forecast period. The onshore segment has been the major contributor to global oil and gas production.



Offshore

Technology

Secondary Treatment



Primary Treatment



Tertiary Treatment

Geography

North America: North America is estimated to contribute 40% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The US and Canada are the major contributors to oil and gas production in North America. The majority of the oilfields in the US have neared maturity, leading to increased quantities of produced water.

are the major contributors to oil and gas production in North America. The majority of the oilfields in the US have neared maturity, leading to increased quantities of produced water.

Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America



APAC

Detail Insights on the impact of each segment and make informed business

decisions: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR44980

Produced Water Treatment Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope

Some of the major vendors of the produced water treatment market in Water Utilities industry include Aker Solutions ASA, Alderley Plc, Aquatech International LLC, Baker Hughes Co., Enviro-Tech Systems, Exterran Corp., Frames Energy Systems BV, Genesis Water Technologies Inc., Halliburton Co., IDE Water Technologies, Minerals Technologies Inc., NOV Inc., Ovivo Inc., Prosep Inc., Schlumberger Ltd., Siemens Energy AG, SUEZ SA, TechnipFMC plc, Veolia Environnement Group, and Weatherford International Plc.

To help businesses improve their market position, Technavio's report provides a detailed analysis of around 15+ vendors operating in the market. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the produced water treatment market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile & M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

The report also covers the following areas:

Produced Water Treatment Market size

Produced Water Treatment Market trends

Produced Water Treatment Market industry analysis

The produced water treatment market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate. The increasing global concerns regarding water scarcity will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the increasing use of renewable energy sources will hamper the market growth.

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite

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Produced Water Treatment Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist produced water treatment market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the produced water treatment market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the produced water treatment market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of produced water treatment market vendors

Related Reports:

Water and Wastewater Treatment Chemicals Market- The produced water treatment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.93% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 3,200.76 million.

Wastewater Treatment Service Market- The Global Wastewater Treatment Service market is estimated to grow by USD 2,2626.22 million between 2022 and 2027 exhibiting a CAGR of 6.67%.

Produced Water Treatment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.93% Market growth 2023-2027 $ 3200.76 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 6.22 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, South America, and APAC Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key countries US, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Brazil Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aker Solutions ASA, Alderley Plc, Aquatech International LLC, Baker Hughes Co., Enviro-Tech Systems, Exterran Corp., Frames Energy Systems BV, Genesis Water Technologies Inc., Halliburton Co., IDE Water Technologies, Minerals Technologies Inc., NOV Inc., Ovivo Inc., Prosep Inc., Schlumberger Ltd., Siemens Energy AG, SUEZ SA, TechnipFMC plc, Veolia Environnement Group, and Weatherford International Plc Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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SOURCE Infiniti Research, Inc.
Second Annual Pure Leaf "No" Grants Program Doubles 2022 Commitment; Provides Financial Support and Access to SeekHer Foundation's Resources for Moms

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pure Leaf Iced Tea announced the second year of its "No" Grants program, developed to support women who want to say "no" more in life - and dismantle the barriers standing in their way. This year, the brand is partnering with NY Times Bestselling-author, award-winning journalist, TV host, and new mom Elaine Welteroth to address mothers who feel they can't afford to say "no" to the immense pressure of doing it all. From balancing everyday household tasks like packing lunches and folding laundry to tackling daycare drop-off before an early-morning meeting saying "no" as a mother is often discouraged. Nearly 2/3 of moms have questioned their value because they were overwhelmed with "doing it all."1 To help address this issue, Pure Leaf is doubling its "No" Grants commitment from last year, with a total of $400,000 in grants to help support mothers ready to say "no," so they can start saying "yes" to what matters most to them.

Pure Leaf Iced Tea partners with NY Times Bestselling-author, award-winning journalist, TV host, and new mom, Elaine Welteroth to launch the second year of the "No" Grants Program. Photo Credit: Alexis Hunley

To mark this year's campaign, Pure Leaf is debuting a new spot starring Elaine, exposing how the "perfect mom" facade is an unrealistic archetype that pressures women to say "yes" to do it all. In fact, society's expectations don't change when a woman becomes a mother; she is expected to juggle everything that was already on her plate, in addition to her new responsibilities as a mom. The spot, which will be featured on Elaine's Instagram and can be viewed here.

Applying for a "No" Grant

To apply for a "No" Grant, mothers can visit www.PureLeaf.com/NoGrants and share how a "No" Grant would make a difference in their life and what "no" to doing it all and "yes" to what matters most means to them. In addition, each applicant will be granted access to a "No is Beautiful" self-guided resource and online community for moms to celebrate "no" in motherhood.

"Society puts so much pressure on moms to do it all, while not providing enough information or access to support them through the crazy journey of motherhood," said Elaine Welteroth. "Pure Leaf shares a lot of the same values that I do about supporting women, especially mothers, and is bringing awareness to all the invisible labor and the tax of motherhood. I'm grateful to partner with them to give moms actual, tangible resources to help support them with the "No" Grants Program, because we recognize you can't just tell moms to do less or to say no to doing it all. I hope this program will help more moms show up for themselves by giving them an opportunity to get extra financial resources and determine how to free up their time in a way that makes sense for them."

The 2023 program follows the success of Pure Leaf's inaugural "No" Grants program last year, which received over 10,000 applications and awarded over $200,000 in grants to support women saying "no" in the workplace. The "No" Grants are part of Pure Leaf's larger, three-year, $1 million commitment to fund partnerships with like-minded organizations and initiatives to support women.

"When we launched 'No' Grants last year, we heard from thousands of women, many of them moms, who felt they couldn't afford the luxury of saying 'no' to what didn't serve them  especially against the immense societal pressure to do it all," said Julie Raheja-Perera, General Manager, North America, Pepsi Lipton Partnership. "We knew we had to do more to reach more, so we're bringing 'No' Grants back this year and doubling the number of grants to support moms in saying 'no' so they can say 'yes' to what matters most to them. We're honored to partner with Elaine, a force and role model for many, to help us open this dialogue which is crucial in enacting real change. As we continue to embrace the word 'no'  both in our Pure Leaf tea products and in life  we hope to inspire more women to embrace their version of 'no.'"

SeekHer Foundation will again serve as the official non-profit partner supporting the Pure Leaf "No" Grants. Founded by Dr. Monica Mo, PhD, the SeekHer Foundation works to bridge the gender gap in mental health through advocacy, research, and support for emerging leaders impacting change in their local communities and beyond.

Since its launch in 2020, the Pure Leaf "No is Beautiful" platform has encouraged people everywhere to reclaim and embrace the word "no," both in iced tea and in life. In its products, Pure Leaf says "no" to artificial flavors, tea powders, and concentrate, and anything that doesn't make it taste better. Beyond our teas, "No Is Beautiful" aims to inspire women to say "no" to the things that aren't important, so they can say "yes" to the things that are.

For more information on Pure Leaf and "No is Beautiful," please visit www.PureLeaf.com or follow @PureLeaf on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

ABOUT PEPSICO

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com , and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

ABOUT ELAINE WELTEROTH

Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, TV host, and author of the instant New York Times bestselling book "More Than Enough," which won the 2020 NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work.

At age 29, she was named the youngest editor-in-chief in Conde Nast's history. Under her leadership Teen Vogue evolved into a platform that elevates marginalized voices and amplifies political discourse. After spending more than a decade climbing the ranks of magazine journalism, Elaine can now be seen on television weekly doling out fashion industry advice as a judge on Bravo's "Project Runway." Her MasterClass on redesigning your career debuted in 2021 and has helped thousands navigate career transitions. Her popular new advice column "Ask Elaine" appears in The Washington Post, exploring how to navigate pivots in life with more ease and less angst.

In addition to The Washington Post, her writing appears in The New York Times, British Vogue and TIME. She is a new mom living with her husband in Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE SEEKHER FOUNDATION

Founded by Dr. Monica Mo, PhD, the SeekHer Foundation works to bridge the gender gap that abounds in mental health, through advocacy, research and support for emerging leaders who are impacting change in their local communities and beyond. SeekHer works with a community of advocates and allied organizations that are passionate about building a better world for women to thrive in together. SeekHer is an advocacy project powered by WellSeek, a social impact collective that's reimagining communities & workplaces to better support women's mental health.

Media Contact

Chloe Hager| Edelman

[email protected]

1 SeekHer Shift Report

SOURCE Pure Leaf Iced Tea
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the participation of the Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the event on the Red Square in Moscow on May 9 as an immoral and unfriendly step towards Ukraine.

During the event, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who is wanted for war crimes by international justice, justified killings of Ukrainians, destruction of Ukrainian cities and villages, abduction of Ukrainian children and repressions against residents of occupied Ukrainian territories, the MFAs statement reads.

The ministry stressed that this night the Russian Federation fired 25 cruise missiles at Ukraine, including 15 at Kyiv, in order to inflict even more deaths. In addition, the participants of the event were shown Russian military equipment, which has been participating in Russia's unprovoked aggressive war against Ukraine for the tenth year.

We consider the participation of the leaders of the mentioned foreign countries in the public event together with a war criminal, who boasts by unleashing a war in Europe on a scale unknown since the Second World War, as an immoral and unfriendly act towards Ukraine, demonstrating contempt for the Ukrainian people who are fighting for its survival and freedom, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazism 78 years ago, and they do not deserve the fate of being used now by the Kremlin taking part in a fake action that has nothing to do with the feat of the victors over Nazism.
Accelerating the Expansion of a Quebec-Based Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Champion

LEVIS, QC, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - QScale , a leader in world-class sustainable computing infrastructure, today announced a strategic investment by Aligned Data Centers ("Aligned"), with strong support from existing shareholders, including the government of Quebec through Investissement Quebec and Desjardins Capital. The investment enables QScale to rapidly accelerate its development of high-density computing center ecosystems across Quebec. QScale will use the investment proceeds to develop future phases of its flagship Q01 facility and fund the development of other future campuses.

Q01 Campus  Phases 1-2 (CNW Group/QScale)

Today's announcement is a catalyst for QScale's growth strategy, providing key financing and a strong, complementary operating partner in Aligned. Aligned, which is majority owned by funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management, is a leading technology infrastructure company offering innovative, sustainable, and adaptive scale data centers and build-to-scale solutions for global hyperscale and enterprise customers. The strategic investment will enable QScale and Aligned to accelerate their growth strategies through a robust supply chain and an expanded portfolio of readily available and future data center capacity across the Americas  all backed by long-term capital investment. Aligned strongly supports QScale's vision to showcase Quebec's technological talent to the world through its next-generation computing infrastructure.

Headquartered in Levis, Quebec, QScale develops environmentally responsible computing centers supporting applications such as high-performance computing ("HPC") and machine learning. QScale is focused on serving the high-density workload market, a segment for which Altman Solon has validated rapid growth  this is driven by AI processors that Omdia projects will grow at a CAGR above 35% through 2026.

QScale is positioned at the front end of the high-density computing value chain, featuring facilities equipped with cutting-edge technological infrastructure that optimizes energy efficiency and computational power. Leveraging proprietary waste heat recovery systems, QScale's facilities capture heat from high-performance servers and feed the excess thermal energy to adjacent greenhouses, aquaculture projects, and non-profit community organizations, generating significant environmental and social benefits for local Quebec communities. Additionally, QScale's campuses benefit from the region's extensive hydropower and wind resources, offering renewable power at a lower cost.

In addition to providing leading computational capabilities and energy efficiency, each state-of-the-art campus is expected to bring hundreds of lucrative and skilled jobs to its local community. Global companies seeking to meet their growing computational needs while achieving their ESG objectives view QScale's campuses as ideal hubs for business and scientific research.

"We are delighted to welcome Aligned as a strategic partner and investor, supporting our mission to become a foremost sustainable digital infrastructure leader in Quebec. This financing will enable us to accelerate our growth strategy and broaden our world-class high-density computing centers throughout the province, fostering skilled job opportunities and spurring economic development in local communities," said Martin Bouchard, CEO of QScale.

"Aligned is continuously innovating across every aspect of our business to ensure that the future demand for our global hyperscale and enterprise customers will be met in an innovative, sustainable, and adaptive manner. Our investment in QScale is a perfect example of our future-proof approach to expansion, and we are excited to partner with the company to accelerate its growth strategy to build leading, sustainability-focused HPC ecosystems," said Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned.

Timing to Close and Approval

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023 and is subject to regulatory approval.

Advisors

Houlihan Lokey and Scotiabank are acting as financial advisors, Desjardins Capital Markets is acting as special advisor, and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as legal counsel to QScale. TD Securities is acting as financial advisor, while McCarthy Tetrault LLP and Latham & Watkins are acting as legal counsel to Aligned.

About Aligned Data Centers

Aligned Data Centers is a leading technology infrastructure company offering innovative, sustainable, and adaptive Scale Data Centers and Build-to-Scale solutions for global hyperscale and enterprise customers. The company's intelligent infrastructure allows densification and vertical growth within the same footprint, enabling customers to scale up without disruption, all while maintaining industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). By reducing the energy, water, and space needed to operate, Aligned Data Centers' solutions, combined with their patented cooling technology, offer businesses a competitive advantage by improving sustainability, reliability, and their bottom line. For more information, visit www.aligneddc.com and connect with Aligned Data Centers on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook .

About QScale

QScale develops environmentally responsible computing centers specifically designed for high-performance computing, supercomputing, and machine learning. The company's Quebec City area campus (QScale Q01) is the first colocation facility in Canada to receive the OCP Ready recognition, attesting to its energy efficiency and scalability. QScale's technology infrastructure helps meet the growing computing needs of global companies while enabling them to achieve their ESG objectives.

Stay up to date on the latest QScale news and content by following QScale on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook .

SOURCE QScale
SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global regenerative agriculture market size is expected to reach USD 2,900.2 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 15.7% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Regenerative agriculture is a farming approach that prioritizes improving soil health, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and community well-being. This method is becoming increasingly popular worldwide as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming practices that often rely on synthetic inputs and heavy tillage. Governments worldwide recognize this industry's significance in mitigating climate change, promoting soil health, and enhancing food security.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

The service segment is expected to account for the largest revenue share in the overall market by 2030, registering a CAGR of 16.1% over the forecast period.

Over the forecast period, there will be a significant expected increase in demand for regenerative agriculture by farmers, financial institutions, as well as in the advisory bodies end-user segment.

Soil amendments, such as biochar, compost, and other organic matter, can help improve soil health, increase nutrient availability, and promote beneficial microbial activity.

Advances in technology, such as on-farm composting systems, can make it easier for farmers to produce and apply these amendments to their fields.

The agroforestry agriculture type is widely used; however, the aquaculture/ocean farming agriculture type is anticipated to witness high growth over the forecast period.

Read full market research report, "Regenerative Agriculture Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Agriculture Type (Agroforestry, Biochar), By End-user (Farmers, Service Organization), By Component (Solutions, Services), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Regenerative Agriculture Market Growth & Trends

Incentives, subsidies, and support programs are provided to encourage farmers to adopt regenerative practices. For example, in the U.S., the Department of Agriculture has launched several initiatives to promote this market, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Cover crops play a vital role in regenerative agriculture, as they can improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, increasing soil organic matter, reducing soil erosion, and suppressing weeds. Seed blending technology is a technological advancement in regenerative agriculture that allows farmers to create custom cover crop blends.

With seed blending technology, farmers can mix and match different cover crop species and varieties to create a blend tailored to their specific needs and goals. Seed blending technology uses specialized equipment to mix and distribute cover crop seeds evenly across a field. The equipment can handle a wide range of cover crop seed sizes and types, making it possible to create diverse and customized blends. The increasing awareness among consumers about sustainable practices has resulted in a shift in their preferences toward food items produced using these methods.

Nowadays, consumers seek healthy and nutritious food and those that are environmentally sustainable and support local communities. Consequently, several food companies are now promoting their products as being produced using regenerative practices, which has become a potent marketing tool. Consumers are willing to pay a premium price for food products that resonate with their values. As a result, more and more food companies are adopting these sustainable practices, contributing to the greater awareness and adoption of these practices across the food industry.

Regenerative Agriculture Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global regenerative agriculture market on the basis of component, agriculture type, end-user, and region

Regenerative Agriculture Market - Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Solutions

Services

Regenerative Agriculture Market - Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Agroforestry

Silvopasture

Aquaculture/Ocean Farming

No-Till and Pasture Cropping

Holistically Managed Grazing

Biochar

Others

Regenerative Agriculture Market - End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Farmers

Service Organization

Financial Institutions

Advisory Bodies

Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturers

Regenerative Agriculture Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



UK



France

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



South Korea

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico

Middle East & Africa

& K.S.A



U.A.E.



South Africa

List of Key Players in Regenerative Agriculture Market

Vayda

Terramera Inc.

Agreed.Earth

Biotrex

Ecorobotix SA

Ruumi

Continuum Ag

Aker Technologies, Inc.

Indigo Ag , Inc.

, Inc. Tortuga Agricultural Technologies, Inc.

Astanor Ventures

SATELLIGENCE

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Smart Agriculture Market - The global smart agriculture market size is anticipated to reach USD 54.71 Billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The major factors driving the growth of the agtech industry are the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) and the integration of image processing technologies into agriculture. Agriculture has grown significantly in recent years owing to precision agriculture practices. The development plan of several nations, such as India , China , and Brazil , emphasizes digital transformation and digitization across various sectors, including agriculture.

The global smart agriculture market size is anticipated to reach by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The major factors driving the growth of the agtech industry are the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) and the integration of image processing technologies into agriculture. Agriculture has grown significantly in recent years owing to precision agriculture practices. The development plan of several nations, such as , , and , emphasizes digital transformation and digitization across various sectors, including agriculture. Artificial intelligence in Agriculture Market - The global artificial intelligence in agriculture market size is expected to reach USD 2.9 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 25.4% from 2019 to 2025. Artificial intelligence solutions in the agricultural industry are emerging in various forms, such as soil and crop monitoring, agricultural robots, and predictive analytics. Farmers and agribusiness corporations are increasingly using soil sampling and artificial intelligence -enabled sensors for data gathering for better analysis and processing. The availability of these processed data has paved the way for the deployment of artificial intelligence in agriculture and farming.

- The global artificial intelligence in agriculture market size is expected to reach by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 25.4% from 2019 to 2025. Artificial intelligence solutions in the agricultural industry are emerging in various forms, such as soil and crop monitoring, agricultural robots, and predictive analytics. Farmers and agribusiness corporations are increasingly using soil sampling and artificial intelligence -enabled sensors for data gathering for better analysis and processing. The availability of these processed data has paved the way for the deployment of artificial intelligence in agriculture and farming. Plant Phenotyping Equipment Market - The global plant phenotyping equipment market size is estimated to reach USD 276.86 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 10.51% over the forecast period. Global population is projected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, thus posing the challenge of adequate crop production to meet rising food needs. This, in turn, is expected to open up potential opportunities for crop improvement and plant science. However, adequate crop production would be challenging, particularly since crop production has been rising by approximately 1.3% per year on average. This is not sufficient to meet the pace of population growth. Plant phenotyping is emerging as an effective means to overcome this challenge. Thus, the plant phenotyping equipment market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

Browse through Grand View Research's Next Generation Technologies Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

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Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
WOODBRIDGE, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is pleased to announce The Honorable Marlene Lynch Ford (Ret.) has joined the firm as Of Counsel in its Red Bank office. At Wilentz, Judge Ford will join the Alternate Dispute Resolution practice, focusing on internal investigations and mediations for civil, commercial, and family law matters, and will serve as a special master in complex litigation matters.

Hon. Marlene Lynch Ford (ret.)

Angelo Cifaldi, President, and Managing Director of Wilentz, said, "I have the utmost confidence Judge Ford's decades of service to the bench, in addition to her experience as an attorney, legislator, and prosecutor, will be an invaluable asset to all parties. We are thrilled to have her join the firm."

A former Assignment Judge for the Superior Court of New Jersey in Ocean County, Judge Ford draws on 24 years of experience on the bench. In 2007, she was appointed Ocean County Prosecutor by Governor Jon S. Corzine - a position she held until March 2013 when Governor Chris Christie reappointed her to the Superior Court. Chief Justice Rabner appointed her Assignment Judge in July 2015, a position she held until her retirement in February 2023.

Prior to her service to the bench and prosecutor's office, Judge Ford's career includes serving two terms as Assemblywoman representing New Jersey's 10th Legislative District. She also worked in private practice, and founded her own law firm in Point Pleasant Beach. Later, she became General Counsel to H. Hovnanian Industries and Counsel to the Democratic Delegation for the New Jersey General Assembly.

About Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is one of the largest and most successful law firms in New Jersey, offering legal services to corporate, individual and governmental clients in almost every area of the practice of law. Wilentz lawyers have practiced at the forefront of landmark cases, regulatory matters and high-profile transactions since its founding by David T. Wilentz. The firm is based in Woodbridge and has offices in Newark, Red Bank, New York City and Philadelphia. For more information about Wilentz, visit www.wilentz.com.

Contact: Timothy P. Carr,

P: 732.855.6030

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.
Custodial Department Chooses Teamsters Local 322

RICHMOND, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers in the custodial and plant services department at Richmond Public Schools have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 322.

"For the first time in history, public sector workers in Virginia are eligible to join a union and these Richmond Public Schools workers chose to join the strongest union in North America," said Brian Peyton, President of Local 322. "We're thrilled to welcome the first cohort of Virginia public sector workers to the Teamsters and cannot wait to organize more. We look forward to getting these hardworking men and women their very first Teamster contract."

"History has been made in Virginia," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Public sector workers play an instrumental role in keeping communities like Richmond safe, clean, and running seamlessly  and for that, they deserve a strong union contract. On behalf of the 1.2 million Teamster members across the U.S., we are honored to have been chosen by our new members to represent the first group of organized Virginia public sector workers."

"I voted the join the Teamsters because I wanted a voice on the job, fair compensation, and strong representation," said Lawrence Pope, custodian at Richmond Public Schools. "The Teamsters are the best fit to represent Richmond Public Schools workers  and I am thrilled that my colleagues agreed and voted to join the union. I am excited to officially be a Teamster."

Prior to May 2021, public sector workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia were not able to collectively bargain. In February 2023, Local 322 filed a petition with the Richmond City Labor Administrator to initiate an election for the Labor & Trades bargaining unit. This election is the first of many to come for public sector workers in Virginia.

"For the last several months, our team has been on the ground talking with hundreds of Richmond city workers about how to improve their lives," said Dwayne Johnson, Organizing Director at Local 322. "These Richmond Public Schools workers have since decided that a Teamster contract is the best way to ensure higher wages, better benefits, and respect on the job. We couldn't be more excited to welcome more than 200 new members to Local 322."

Teamsters Local 322 represents over 1,600 workers in Virginia. For more information, visit teamsterslocal322.org.

Contact:

Matt Maciejczak, (804) 321-0356

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 322
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

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 law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: 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. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

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.

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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Novel ethical AI health lab and expansion of data ethics team highlight investments

ORLANDO, Fla, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS INNOVATE -- The world has seen unprecedented artificial intelligence (AI) advances since AI and analytics company SAS launched its responsible innovation efforts one year ago. Amid this rapid disruption, SAS has increased efforts to bring trustworthy AI to customers, including a first-of-its-kind ethical AI health care lab in the Netherlands. SAS also expanded its Data Ethics Practice by integrating its successful Data for Good program, allowing the company to consider not just the risks of AI but also its potential to improve the world.

"With the swift advancement of AI, we must remain diligent in keeping humans at the center of everything we do." Tweet this SAS responsible innovation efforts include a first-of-its-kind ethical AI health care lab in the Netherlands.

Ethical health care partnership sparks innovative AI health care lab

As part of its commitment to responsible innovation, SAS partners with organizations globally to explore ways to implement ethical AI within industries. A recent example is a SAS collaboration with two Dutch organizations: Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), one of Europe's leading academic hospitals; and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), home of the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre. The three organizations jointly launched the first Responsible and Ethical AI in Healthcare Lab (REAHL).

The REAHL aims to address the ethical concerns and challenges related to developing and implementing AI technologies in health care. With the rapid advancements in AI, there is a need to ensure that these technologies are designed and used in a safe, transparent and ethical way. The REAHL brings together multidisciplinary teams of experts in AI, medicine and ethics with policymakers to collaborate on developing and implementing AI technologies that prioritize patient safety, privacy and autonomy.

This includes ensuring that AI systems are unbiased, transparent and accountable, and used in ways that respect patients' rights and values. The REAHL seeks to create a framework for ethical AI in health care that will serve as a model for medical centers and regions around the world.

The REAHL was just named an official lab by the Netherlands' National Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI). An ICAI lab is a research collaboration between industrial, governmental or not-for-profit partners and knowledge institutes. ICAI labs must meet requirements for data, expertise and capacity, and have the expectation that outcomes will be operationalized in the real world.

"Together, we are not only building AI technologies, but also shaping the future of health care with a steadfast commitment to upholding ethical principles and prioritizing the well-being of patients in every innovation," said Assistant Professor Michel van Genderen, MD PhD, Attending Intensivist and Initiator and Co-Founder of Datahub at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. "With our pioneering work in establishing the first ethical AI lab in health care, we pave the way for a new era of patient care, where the deployment of AI technology is governed by transparency, safety and equity as fundamental pillars."

Dr. van Genderen will join Reggie Townsend, Vice President of the SAS Data Ethics Practice, on the SAS Innovate main stage during the opening session on May 9 at 9 a.m. ET. Tune in to learn more about the REAHL and how it will improve patient care.

SAS is also a founding member of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), a community of academic health systems, organizations, and expert practitioners of AI and data science. CHAI recently released a blueprint for trustworthy AI for health care, a result of coordination led by CHAI and the National Academy of Medicine with AI experts from academic medical centers and health care, technology and other industry sectors. In addition, SAS and fellow CHAI member Duke Health, a world-renowned academic medical center, recently announced they will explore innovative and collaborative health care solutions with data and analytics.

Also, learn more about how SAS and Microsoft have partnered with Erasmus MC to develop, implement and monitor data-driven applications across the entire hospital to improve patient care and capacity and to optimize the use of operating rooms, intensive care units and bed capacity. https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2023/january/erasmus-mc-data-driven-hospital-of-the-future.html

Expanded SAS Data Ethics Practice to explore promise of AI

The explosion of generative AI in the form of ChatGPT, Google Bard and others has taken to new levels the fierce debate around AI in society. To explore positive AI applications, SAS recently expanded the Data Ethics Practice by integrating the company's Data for Good team.

"With the swift advancement of AI, we must remain diligent in keeping humans at the center of everything we do," said Townsend. "But it's not just protecting the vulnerable, it's seeking out opportunities to use AI to make peoples' lives better."

The SAS Data for Good team will seek out opportunities to partner with organizations to apply AI to causes that improve society. For instance, the team has previously collaborated with nonprofits to fight rainforest destruction in Brazil and explore housing discrimination in New York City. Additionally, announced today, SAS will work with the UNC Center for Galapagos Studies to apply crowd-driven AI and machine learning to help protect endangered sea turtles.

At 9:00 and 10:15 a.m. ET on May 10 at SAS Innovate, Townsend will guide audience-driven roundtable discussions on "Navigating the Ethical Minefield: Building Responsible and Trustworthy AI for the Future."

Putting responsible innovation into practice inside and outside SAS

Some of the many responsible innovation activities at SAS in the past year include:

The company continues to innovate and improve SAS  Viya  , the company's flagship trustworthy AI platform. SAS Viya includes trustworthy AI capabilities like bias detection, explainability, decision auditability, model monitoring, governance and accountability, increasing confidence in government agencies' responsible AI efforts.

Viya , the company's flagship trustworthy AI platform. SAS Viya includes trustworthy AI capabilities like bias detection, explainability, decision auditability, model monitoring, governance and accountability, increasing confidence in government agencies' responsible AI efforts. The Data Ethics Practice has fulfilled more than 200 requests for counsel on responsible innovation questions from around the company.

SAS launched internal training for responsible innovation that teaches data analytics practitioners what it means to innovate responsibly. Attendees learn the principles of responsible innovation and how SAS software helps enable analysts to provide a duty of care in working with data. The training will be offered externally later this year.

At its world headquarters in Cary, NC , SAS hosted a meeting of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, on which Townsend serves. He also serves on the board of EqualAI.

, SAS hosted a meeting of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, on which Townsend serves. He also serves on the board of EqualAI. SAS contributed to the Business Roundtable's Roadmap for Responsible Artificial Intelligence, which guides American businesses, policymakers and regulators on their shared journey toward responsible AI.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Trent Smith

[email protected]

919-531-4726

sas.com/news

SOURCE SAS
UNC Center for Galapagos Studies joins forces with analytics and AI leader to boost conservation and sustainability efforts

ORLANDO, Fla., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS INNOVATE -- As an organization dedicated to responsible innovation and using technology to ignite positive change, SAS will apply crowd-driven artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help protect endangered sea turtles. Similar to SAS' recent project to help track deforestation in the Amazon, the analytics leader is now working with the UNC Center for Galapagos Studies (CGS) to further research in several initiatives on the Islands. UNC CGS joined analytics leader SAS to analyze data and gather insights that will help them understand similarly challenged environments around the world.

Through an app called ConserVision, citizen scientists are invited to match images of turtles' facial markings. Tweet this SAS will apply crowd-driven AI and machine learning to help protect endangered sea turtles.

Through an app called ConserVision, citizen scientists are invited to match images of turtles' facial markings to help train a SAS computer vision model. Once the model can accurately identify turtles individually, researchers will have valuable information more quickly to better track each turtle's health and migratory patterns over periods of time. The goal is that in the future the model can perform facial recognition on any sea turtle image, whether it comes from a conservation group or a vacationing tourist.

"As our challenges as a global community get increasingly more complex, we need dynamic ways to access and use information to ramp up conservation efforts," said Sarah Hiser, MSc, Principal Technical Architect at SAS. "By using technology like analytics, AI and machine learning to quantify the natural world, we gain knowledge to help protect ecosystems and tackle climate change."

In addition to turtles, the Galapagos Islands are home to many unique species not found anywhere else on Earth. An ecological haven for researchers since Charles Darwin first set foot there in 1835, they are also home to the Galapagos Science Center, a research facility jointly run by UNC-Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.

"For over 10 years, the Galapagos Science Center has hosted exceptional scientists doing innovative research that increases our understanding of the environment and results in positive real-world outcomes," explained UNC-Chapel Hill Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Penny Gordon-Larsen. "This innovative public-private partnership with SAS will enhance the center's capacity for analyzing data that will positively impact both the environment and the people who inhabit these magnificent islands."

SAS will initially help UNC CGS with three projects focusing on marine life.

Sea turtle facial recognition. By using computer vision and machine learning, researchers are looking to identify individual turtles as well as create a health index regarding growth rates, health threats and presence data. Information gleaned from this data set could be used to understand temporal and spatial movement patterns of these turtles and to identify health risks due to marine debris, boat strikes, diseases, etc. By creating a base health assessment for each animal, a temporal scale between photo capture can be used to determine health over time. Turtles can also be grouped based on region and travel behavior to provide comparisons for a relative health index and location over time, including the support and participation from citizen scientists and outreach.

By using computer vision and machine learning, researchers are looking to identify individual turtles as well as create a health index regarding growth rates, health threats and presence data. Information gleaned from this data set could be used to understand temporal and spatial movement patterns of these turtles and to identify health risks due to marine debris, boat strikes, diseases, etc. By creating a base health assessment for each animal, a temporal scale between photo capture can be used to determine health over time. Turtles can also be grouped based on region and travel behavior to provide comparisons for a relative health index and location over time, including the support and participation from citizen scientists and outreach. Hammerhead shark patterns. Hammerhead sharks commonly make offshore movements at night and further understanding is needed on what drives these movements. The hammerhead shark project focuses on the presence or absence of these sharks offshore and inshore, and if their movement is synchronous and/or rhythmical. Are there influences from ocean currents, food sources, ocean temperatures or salinity requirements that help direct the movement of these sharks? Insights can help with developing the boundaries of conservation areas as well as sustainable fishing and tourism practices.

Hammerhead sharks commonly make offshore movements at night and further understanding is needed on what drives these movements. The hammerhead shark project focuses on the presence or absence of these sharks offshore and inshore, and if their movement is synchronous and/or rhythmical. Are there influences from ocean currents, food sources, ocean temperatures or salinity requirements that help direct the movement of these sharks? Insights can help with developing the boundaries of conservation areas as well as sustainable fishing and tourism practices. Phytoplankton predictions. As the basic energy and resource foundation of every food web on the planet, understanding the spatial and temporal dispersal and community interactions of phytoplankton populations is imperative for conservation. The goal of the phytoplankton project is to understand the physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence these small but mighty organisms. Changing ocean temperatures, weather patterns and human activity influence the marine environment that hosts them. Being able to predict changes at the bottom of the food chain can provide insights about the impact of climate change on all marine life, and in turn, human populations that depend on them.

As the only university science facility of its kind in the archipelago, the Galapagos Science Center opened in 2011 on San Cristobal Island to support interdisciplinary studies on population, health and environment by examining the social, terrestrial and marine subsystems of the islands. The Galapagos Initiative is designed to foster research, education and outreach programs with the larger goals of advancing conservation efforts in the Galapagos and promoting a better understanding of ecologically sensitive and protected areas worldwide. Ultimately, the Galapagos Science Center aims to ensure healthy island ecosystems for future generations.

Try the turtle matching game to see the ConserVision app in action and learn how SAS uses Data for Good to help solve humanitarian issues across the globe.

About UNC Center for Galapagos Studies

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US) and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador) formed a strategic partnership in 2006 to address the challenges facing the Galapagos Islands  the Galapagos Initiative. In 2011 this strategic partnership was further solidified through the construction of the Galapagos Science Center.

The Center for Galapagos Studies is UNC-Chapel Hill's managing unit for the Galapagos Initiative. The Center coordinates Galapagos programs at the main Chapel Hill campus and all Carolina activities in the Galapagos archipelago itself.

Today's announcement was made at SAS Innovate, the AI and analytics business conference from analytics leader SAS.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

Follow @SASsoftwareNews on Twitter for news, media and company updates.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

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SOURCE SAS
Lottery Analytics and Insights Innovator Joins Elite Group of Global Professionals

ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientific Games Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Welshons has been named a 2023 Lottery Industry Hall of Fame Inductee, joining an elite group of global professionals. A pioneer in the area of analytics and insights, Welshons will be honored at a ceremony this fall during the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries 2023 Annual Conference. The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame is a prestigious recognition honoring those who have made a significant contribution to the global lottery industry and its contributions to good cause programs that positively affect the quality of life in communities around the world.

Jennifer Welshons, CMO, Scientific Games

"Jennifer's innovative marketing vision and committed leadership have impacted the global lottery industry in the areas of analytics, research, products, services, channels, and game categories," said Scientific Games CEO Pat McHugh. "Her leadership, focus and integrity are embedded in Scientific Games' analytical culture  the 'science' inside Scientific Games. Jennifer's deep understanding of consumers, culled from thousands of research projects and sales analyses, has provided the industry with outstanding games and game portfolio performance."

Joining Scientific Games 23 years ago, Welshons helped establish many of the analytical tools, methods, and metrics used across the industry today. Her innovation in market research and consumer insights has established Scientific Games as the global leader in lottery analytics and insights. Her teams have pioneered breakthrough player research studies and developed unique analytics platforms to provide insights on player motivations and behavior, game performance, prize structure, payout, theme, play action and more. These insights are translated into actionable marketing plans to help lotteries generate maximum retail and digital sales.

As CMO, Welshons is responsible for global marketing and communications, including strategic product marketing, analytics and insights, business intelligence, company branding, advertising, customer and winner events, and global proposals  a critical component in the industry's sales cycle to help drive sales performance and growth for the 130 lotteries the company serves worldwide.

Most recently, Welshons was instrumental in the company's sale to Brookfield Business Partners and helped create and launch Scientific Games' new branding as well as 'The Science Inside' analytics initiative to raise visibility for the importance of data-based product marketing and innovation decisions to drive lottery performance.

As a member of Scientific Games' Executive Leadership Team, Welshons takes part in the company's major business operational and organizational decision-making. She is active in Women's Initiative in Lottery Leadership and serves as a mentor to local students through Tech Alpharetta's Women's Forum STEAM Mentoring program.

Welshons holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Florida. She is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Columbia University in New York City.

Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technologies, analytics and services to lotteries in 50 countries. The company is the world's largest creator, producer and manager of instant "scratch" games, with products generating more than 70% of instant game retail sales globally.

 2023 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

About Scientific Games

Scientific Games is a global leader in retail and digital products, technology and services that drive profits for government-sponsored lottery and sports betting programs. From enterprise gaming platforms to exciting entertainment experiences and trailblazing retail and digital solutions, we elevate play every day. We are industry pioneers in instant games, data analytics, retail solutions and iLottery. Built on a foundation of trusted partnerships since 1973, Scientific Games combines relentless innovation, performance and unwavering security to responsibly propel the industry forward. For more information, visit scientificgames.com.

SOURCE Scientific Games, LLC
Following the one-year anniversary of opening downtown Paso Robles Tasting Lounge, Serial Wines announces inaugural estate wine, special events, and programming

PASO ROBLES, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Serial Wines , a part of the John Anthony Family of Wines portfolio, announces the release of the label's inaugural, vineyard-designate estate wine from Deseo Vineyard in Paso Robles' Estrella District. The 2022 Serial Deseo Vineyard Rose is a blend of Tempranillo and Syrah grown exclusively for rose production. It is the latest exceptional addition to the Serial Wines collection, showcasing a series of varietal-specific wines, nuanced blends, sub-AVA designates, and single-vineyard releases from throughout the diverse Paso Robles region.

Part of the second Spring release for Serial's fast-growing The Collective wine club, this rose is bright and clean, featuring flavors of watermelon, blood orange, and just-ripe raspberry. Grapes for this direct-press, vineyard-designate release were grown specifically for this rose at Serial's Deseo Vineyard, a 108 acre, 12 block estate purchased in 2018 by John Anthony Truchard, Founder and CEO of John Anthony Family of Wines. The same vineyard management company that John started in the 1990's farms John Anthony Family of Wines estates in Napa Valley, North-central California, and now also Deseo Vineyard, Paso Robles. It is managed daily by resident Vineyard Manager, Jesus, who has lived on the Deseo ranch for almost 20 years. The vineyard team believes that great wines grow in the farmer's shadow, giving each block its best conditions to produce the highest-quality wines possible by maximizing organic matter through cover crops, planting east to west to minimize dehydration, and maximizing the effectiveness of the vine canopy against the central California sun.

"The release of Serial's inaugural estate wine is a significant milestone in our commitment to the Paso Robles wine region," said John Anthony Truchard, Founder and CEO of John Anthony Family of Wines. "When we first began Serial Wines, our idea was to create a series highlighting Paso's many diverse terroirs and exceptional estates by leveraging our Winemaker's deep experience of the area. From the first release in 2015, to the purchase and replanting of the Deseo Estate, to the opening of our tasting lounge in 2022, and now our first estate release of the Serial Deseo Vineyard Rose, our endeavors here have been rewarding on so many levels."

Inspired by the diverse and fast-growing Paso Robles AVA and its potential to produce exceptional-quality wines, Truchard first conceived of Serial Wines in 2015 in partnership with Executive Winemaker, Jeff Kandarian, who started his career in Paso Robles and has a deep understanding of its terroir and winegrowing community. Partnerships with several Paso Robles growers resulted in the first release of Serial Wines, a red blend in 2015. Since the launch of the series, Serial now works with over a dozen winegrower partners and produces wines from six of the 11 Paso Robles sub AVAs. Sourcing from their partners' meticulously-farmed estates and now the Deseo estate, Serial produces varietal-specific wines, nuanced blends, sub-AVA designates, and single-vineyard releases from Paso Robles' myriad of microclimates. The elegant Serial Wines Tasting Lounge featuring current releases opened in March 2022 in downtown Paso Robles' historic Odd Fellows building and was named one of USA Todays 10Best best new wineries 2022.

In 2023 Serial Wines will also present several opportunities to enjoy these wines beyond its award-winning, downtown Paso Robles tasting lounge:

"Dinner Series at Deseo Vineyard" : A monthly series of intimate, culinary experiences featuring curated pairings of Serial's most highly-allocated wines set at the stunning Deseo private estate residence in Estrella District.

: A monthly series of intimate, culinary experiences featuring curated pairings of Serial's most highly-allocated wines set at the stunning Deseo private estate residence in Estrella District. "Day of Life in the Vineyard." On May 13 th 2023, Serial invites guests to celebrate their inaugural Spring Release at the Deseo Vineyard estate, where attendees will experience the beauty of the place, the passion of the people and the quality of the product they create with a special food and wine pairing and estate vineyard tour.

On 2023, Serial invites guests to celebrate their inaugural Spring Release at the Deseo Vineyard estate, where attendees will experience the beauty of the place, the passion of the people and the quality of the product they create with a special food and wine pairing and estate vineyard tour. "Winemaker Dinner at Jeffry's Wine Country BBQ" May 17 th , 2023: In celebration of Paso Wine Fest , join Serial Wines at Jeffry's Wine Country BBQ on for a mouthwatering experience featuring dry-rubbed, smoked premium meats, sides, and small plates paired with a selection of Serial Wines.

, 2023: In celebration of , join Serial Wines at Jeffry's Wine Country BBQ on for a mouthwatering experience featuring dry-rubbed, smoked premium meats, sides, and small plates paired with a selection of Serial Wines. "Aspen Food & Wine Classic, June 16 th -18th 2023" Serial Wines will pour at the Grand Tasting of this annual event in Aspen, CO alongside releases from the John Anthony Family of Wines portfolio including John Anthony Vineyards, Weather Wines, and JaM Cellars.

For more information on Serial Wines and the above events, to sign up for our newsletter, or to visit the Serial Wines Tasting Lounge, please visit www.serialwines.com .

About Serial Wines

Serial Wines is a series of wines sourced from across the diverse Paso Robles AVA and its 11 Districts, conceived in 2015 by Vintner, John Anthony Truchard and produced by Winemaker, Jeff Kandarianwho started his career in Paso Robles and has a deep understanding of its terroir. Working with like-minded, meticulous winegrowers, the Serial Wines collection includes: varietal-specific, nuanced blends, AVA-designate, and single-vineyard releases which express the best of the region. Part of the John Anthony Family of Wines portfolio, Serial Wines is available at fine wine retailers . An extended selection of limited releases can be purchased online through the winery at SerialWines.com and at the stunning Serial Wines Tasting Lounge within the Historic Odd Fellows Building, downtown Paso Roblesnamed USA Todays 10Best new wineries in 2022.

About John Anthony Family of Wines

John Anthony Family of Wines includes John Anthony Vineyards, Serial Wines, Weather Wines, and JaM Cellars. John Anthony Vineyards produces exclusive wines created from small vineyard sites in Oak Knoll District, Carneros, and Coombsville regions, all available in the winery's downtown Napa tasting lounge. Serial Wines is a collection of wines from Paso Robles and beyondlush, vibrant, and sourced from exceptional vineyards from this largely-undiscovered and exciting wine region. Weather Wines is a curated collection of Burgundian varietal wines grown in their most-perfect Californian microclimates and highlighting the dynamic relationship between vines, terroir, and the elements. JaM Cellars was founded in 2009 in response to the downturn in the economy and experienced triple-digit growth in its early years by offering wines made in the tradition of great Californian winemaking at accessible sub $20 price points. Today Butter Chardonnay by JaM Cellars is the #2 selling chardonnay above $13 in the U.S. (source: Nielsen scan data 2022).

SOURCE John Anthony Family of Wines
LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SoLo Funds, Inc. announces an agreement with the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, to resume operations in the State of California. SoLo is based in Los Angeles with nearly 100 employees, and is bringing a fintech company to the market powered by real people helping people.

"Today's announcement builds upon the momentum of last week's announcement that we will be resuming business in the District of Columbia," said Kyle George, SoLo's Head of Regulatory & Government Affairs. "It was a pleasure working with the consummate professionals at the California DFPI to identify a clear pathway for SoLo to serve our home state of California."

"Back in February, we announced the addition of General Counsel Collin Schwartz, Kyle George, and Former DFPI Commissioner, Manny Alvarez to our team," said SoLo President, Rodney Williams. "We are delighted with the progress this team is making with state attorneys general, legislators, and regulators, to bring community finance to underserved and underbanked communities. This is a win for community finance, which seeks to provide options to borrowers who are otherwise denied opportunities to access small-dollar, short-term capital."

SoLo is the only Black-owned fintech Certified B Corp in the U.S. and Canada, and its innovative business model has drawn over 1 million users to sign up on the platform. SoLo also recently made CNBC's Disruptor 50 list recognizing the world's most disruptive and innovative companies. To date, its users have funded over 800,000 loans, making it the largest black owned personal finance solution in US history. SoLo has accomplished this feat while reaching an all time high repayment rate of 93%, and a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 90.

"In the coming months, SoLo will provide additional details regarding when we will be available to Californians," said George. "More Americans than ever are cash-poor and living paycheck to paycheck, so we are working as quickly as possible to return to California to help our neighbors when they experience financial setbacks."

Founded by two best friends, Travis Holoway and Rodney Williams shared intimate experiences of family and loved ones needing access to short term loans where in most cases they had to go without. They designed a solution that is providing short term access to capital and returns at scale that has never been done. With limited funding, SoLo has emerged as the new financial service leader on track to deliver $1B back into underserved communities by Q1 '24.

For any additional press related questions please reach out to [email protected]. For our members requesting additional detail on our return please reach out to [email protected].

SOURCE SoLo Funds
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna has said that a political signal Ukraine will receive at the NATO Summit in Vilnius is not clear yet.

"Today, we do not understand the political signal that Ukraine will receive during Vilnius [summit]. We understand that we must go beyond the open door policy, we must move away from waiting for an action plan for membership," she said on the air of the national telethon on Tuesday.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that today Ukraine is the main NATO standard.

"We are sure that there are no objective grounds for not inviting Ukraine to NATO. A political invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership is absolutely possible, and we will expect it in Vilnius. We hope that the Allies will be ready to discuss this during the summit," she said.

Stefanishyna also said that most of all Ukraine does not want to bring from the summit in Vilnius "a signal that NATO is weak, that the Alliance itself is weak, that there is no unity in important strategic decisions."
The award is the result of a wide-ranging and comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces.

AUSTIN, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectacle Strategy, a boutique branding agency, today announced it has been named to Inc. magazine's annual list of Best Workplaces for 2023.

After collecting thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in a third-party employee survey which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture.

Spectacle Strategy has been named one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces of 2023, selected from thousands of entrants. Tweet this

Spectacle Strategy is dedicated to investing in the well-being and growth of its employees, and this award recognized its remarkability in initiatives such as:

Hybrid Working That Works: A hybrid working environment with a remote working stipend and flexible working hours

A hybrid working environment with a remote working stipend and flexible working hours Leadership Development & Training: A focus on people development with weekly 1:1s, access to individual learning platforms like Masterclass and Linked In Learning, and employee recognition programs

A focus on people development with weekly 1:1s, access to individual learning platforms like Masterclass and Linked In Learning, and employee recognition programs Quarterly Business Reviews: Spectacle holds quarterly meetings in unique rotating locations, including past destinations like Palm Springs and New Orleans , to review business goals and facilitate team camaraderie.

"Spectacle is truly honored to receive this award as recognition for the culture we've worked so hard to build. We started this firm to do exceptional work in an exceptional culture where individuals can thrive," said Spectacle CEO and Founder, Michael Filippi.

He continued, "When we drafted our core values, Growth Mindset, All Brilliance, No B.S., and Enjoy the Ride, we didn't intend for these to be platitudes on a wall. They are central to how we do business every day."

About Spectacle

Spectacle is the Agency for Change Agents. Offering a range of brand-building services from insights to strategy, design and campaign development; Spectacle helps purpose-led, profit-enabled companies reach their full growth potential. Their headquarters are located in the "Silicon Hills" of Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.spectaclestrategy.com .

About Inc. Media

Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, visit www.inc.com .

Contact:

Lori Reifert

[email protected]

SOURCE Spectacle Strategy
SprintRay launches NightGuard Flex 3D printing resin and ProCure 2 in Canada and Europe , joining their growing portfolio of single-appointment workflows of end-to-end 3D printing solutions

and , joining their growing portfolio of single-appointment workflows of end-to-end 3D printing solutions NightGuard Flex resin is formulated to be the fastest, most comfortable occlusal guard in dentistry, with more than 2X faster print speeds compared to competitor resins

The ProCure 2 post processing unit and cloud-based AI design round out the world's fastest night guard workflow, from scan to delivery in as little as 1 hour

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SprintRay, a global leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, is thrilled to announce the Canadian and European launch of its groundbreaking NightGuard Flex material and workflow. In tandem with the SprintRay 3D printing ecosystem, this revolutionary technology enables dentists across Canada and Europe to design, print, process, and place same-day custom-fit night guards, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing patient experiences.

A Material Revelation in Smile Protection

A game-changing biocompatible material, NightGuard Flex enables the 3D fabrication of comfortable, long-lasting, personalized occlusal guards. With flexibility, strength, and longevity, the formulation of NightGuard Flex shortens delivery time by more than 2 times versus competitor resins, allowing for true same-day night guard delivery.

"We're proud to bring the world's fastest night guard workflow to Canada and Europe, radically changing how dentists deliver occlusal guards for bruxism and teeth grinding," said Amir Mansouri, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of SprintRay. "In the US alone, our dental providers have printed >150,000 night guards using NightGuard Flex material and reported >90% satisfaction. We are pleased to expand the reach of this material to more dentists and patients worldwide."

Custom Night Guard Design, Powered by AI

With SprintRay Cloud Design, dental professionals can access on-demand designers and AI-powered designs for convenient night guard design. Users can access Cloud Design 24/7, and designs are delivered in minutes. Dental professionals can easily upload patient data. Then, AI generates a customized digital design. This end-to-end process speeds up treatments, allowing for print to placement in as little as 1 hour.

Smarter Post-Processing

The ProCure 2 joins the SprintRay 3D printing ecosystem in Europe and Canada, providing efficient and user-friendly features. ProCure 2 technology drastically reduces post-curing times by over 10 times, making chairside 3D printing a viable option in dentistry. Its custom curing engine provides 25 times more light power, allowing dental professionals to cure a night guard in 8 minutes without preheating. The ProCure 2 also has a user-friendly, cloud-connected touchscreen interface that syncs with the printer, further simplifying the chairside 3D printing workflow.

"SprintRay NightGuard Flex combined with the new ProCure 2 is not only set to transform my night guard workflow, but to dramatically improve the way I do things in a remarkable way, providing my patients with the most advanced, efficient, accurate and comfortable process possible," said Dr. Jonathan Ng, Certified Specialist in Prosthodontics practicing in Vancouver.

This announcement marks the expansion of the SprintRay Protect-a-Smile campaign, a program designed to support occlusal health through 3D printing. This campaign provides SprintRay customers with in-office and digital marketing collateral to help patients begin night guard therapy.

SprintRay will showcase these products and more at the Ontario Dental Association Annual Spring Meeting in Toronto, ON, May 11-13, 2023, the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show in Birmingham, UK, May 12-13, the Expodental Meeting in Rimini, Italy, May 18-20, and many other events across Europe. Commercial rollout dates for NightGuard Flex, ProCure 2, and AI design offerings vary by region. For more information, please visit www.sprintray.com or contact [email protected]

About SprintRay

SprintRay is a dental technology company that builds end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems for dental professionals. SprintRay designs and manufactures user-friendly and cutting-edge dental solutions, including 3D printers and post-processing ecosystems, 3D printing software featuring AI technology, and innovative 3D resins. Dental care providers can deliver best-in-class service by leveraging SprintRay's highly-specialized, affordable technologies. For more information, visit www.sprintray.com.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE SprintRay
Based on overall reviews from some of the developers and marketers using the platform as of January 2023, 88% of them would recommend Storyblok

LINZ, Austria, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Storyblok , the content management system (CMS) category leader that empowers both developers and marketing teams to create better content experiences across all digital channels, today announced it is named a Customers' Choice in the March 2023 Gartner Peer Insights "Voice of the Customer": Web Content Management . Storyblok is the only vendor named a Customers' Choice in the report, with 88% of customers willing to recommend it .

Customer reviews have a huge impact on helping companies make smart decisions about which software to purchase. In a global survey of 200 business leaders who purchase software for their 500+ employee companies, Storyblok found that only 1% said customer reviews are of low importance when choosing software.

In fact, 75% regretted buying software without reading enough customer reviews first. 26% spend one month researching software, and 56% read more than 20 customer reviews before purchasing it. All of that research pays off because 94% said customer reviews match their experience using software all the time or most of the time.

As part of its efforts to continue providing an excellent customer experience, Storyblok recently introduced an extended enterprise support offering , a Bring Your Own Cloud hosting option (supporting AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform), and an ROI calculator to help businesses see the economic impact that's possible with modernized content management.

"Focusing on the needs of our customers is at the heart of everything we do at Storyblok. We believe being recognized as the only vendor that's a Customers' Choice is a massive honor, but it's also a responsibility we take very seriously. We're committed to making sure our customers feel this way about us for many years to come," said Dominik Angerer, Co-Founder and CEO of Storyblok.

Storyblok's high customer satisfaction ratings have led to 150,000+ developers and marketers using the CMS to build more than 190,000 projects. Leading brands like Oatly ( built 16 global websites in 2 months ), Mindvalley ( cut development time by 50% ), and Claro ( created personalized experiences for 70 million customers ) continue to succeed with Storyblok.

Disclaimer

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark, and PEER INSIGHTS is a registered trademark , of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences with the vendors listed on the platform, should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Resources

Learn more about Storyblok: https://www.storyblok.com

View Storyblok's press kit: https://www.storyblok.com/press

See case studies: https://www.storyblok.com/case-studies

About Storyblok

Storyblok, the content management system (CMS) category leader, empowers both developers and marketing teams to create better content experiences across any digital channel.

Storyblok's headless CMS architecture enables developers to build anything, publish everywhere, and integrate with any service or technology.

Marketing teams can create and scale content experiences independently using a visual editing interface, collaborative tools, and custom publishing workflows. Additionally, businesses can improve digital experiences everywhere with best-in-class performance, personalization, and optimized, omnichannel storytelling.

Leading brands such as Adidas, T-Mobile, Oatly, Deliveroo, and 150,000+ other developers and marketers use Storyblok to create better content experiences that are faster, more secure, and built to scale.

See why Storyblok was named the #1 CMS by G2 at www.storyblok.com and follow Storyblok on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Press Contact

Brandon Watts

Senior PR Team Manager

[email protected]

404-202-3476

SOURCE Storyblok
Lack of Development Threatens the Ability to Serve Communities

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Government Leadership Solutions has released the results of a first-of-its-kind national research study examining the leadership pipeline needs of local governments in the United States. The 2023 State of Local Government Leadership Pipeline briefing and report highlights the urgent need for leadership development in local governments, as nearly half of those surveyed expressed concern about lacking a strong leadership pipeline.

Register for the Study Executive Briefing

Local Government Leaders reported that lack of trust and staffing issues are greater threats than funding. Tweet this This video by Government Leadership Solutions reveals that 50% of US local governments lack strong leadership pipelines. Only 10% prioritize leadership development and trust and staffing pose bigger threats than funding. Just 1/3 have strong cultures to attract candidates. An upcoming executive briefing will discuss the study's implications and the need for leadership development to attract and retain the right leaders. Without it, local governments will struggle to be effective.

"Local government is the level of government closest to us, impacting all of our daily lives and quality of life," said Dr. Maria Church, CEO and founder of Government Leadership Solutions. "With local governments responsible for managing over $2 trillion in taxpayer dollars annually, the success of stewardship is heavily dependent on the ability to invest and deploy these funds wisely. However, what we found in the study is that only 10 percent of local governments prioritize leadership development."

The study also revealed that lack of trust and challenges in maintaining optimal staffing levels were greater threats than funding. Respondents ranked organizational culture as a top priority for attracting candidates, yet only one-third reported a strong workplace culture.

Furthermore, only 25 percent of respondents rated their leadership pipeline as good or excellent, with just 29 percent having a budget to develop their leaders.

"Not addressing the leadership pipeline is a problem for providing services, resulting in delays in meeting the needs of the public," said Church. "Without an effective culture, investment in leadership development will be undermined, and local governments will not attract or retain the leaders they need."

The study provides valuable insights for local governments to benchmark themselves against the market and formulate a business case for wisely investing their limited time and resources. For a private briefing on the study, contact [email protected].

ABOUT GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS

Government Leadership Solutions is a certified minority-owned, woman-owned consulting firm dedicated to helping local governments develop ready-now leaders and create organizational cultures that support their strategic vision. For more information, please visit https://governmentleadershipsolutions.com/.

SOURCE Government Leadership Solutions
"Until now, customer support and success processes have been siloed and have created challenges due to the inability to access a comprehensive view of customer health signals across various customer-facing functions," said Judith Platz, Chief Customer Officer at SupportLogic. "By being able to proactively identify support signals from SupportLogic directly in Gainsight, customer success managers can better capture the true voice of the customer, act on those insights and elevate their brands."

Now with the integration of SupportLogic and Gainsight, customer success managers can:

Proactively monitor and triage top customer issues

Rapidly identify and reduce product friction

Predict and resolve customer churn before it happens

Stop reghting customer escalations

Quickly understand and act on negative sentiment

SupportLogic's AI analyzes every support ticket to extract customer signals, including but not limited to frustration, confusion, and negative sentiment, to establish contextual scores over time and preemptively predict escalations. Whenever SupportLogic detects a notable event, it is automatically pushed to Gainsight and the customer account where this signal was detected.

"Support health is a critical part of the overall customer health," said Kellie Capote, Chief Customer Officer at Gainsight. "The integration with SupportLogic brings in the most valuable support insights and alerts automatically into Gainsight to help CSMs improve customer outcomes. Just plug it into your existing support ticketing system to continuously monitor and analyze 100% of your tickets."

SupportLogic has built an extensive roster of enterprise technology customers like Salesforce, HPE Aruba, Snowflake, and Palo Alto Networks, who are acting on insights from customer support signals to measurably improve their customers' experiences with reduced escalations, decreased case resolution time, and reduced churn.

"Delivering a unified customer experience across support and success is a key component of customer health. As a customer of both SupportLogic and Gainsight, we're excited about the integration," said Marilyn Lin, VP of Global Customer Support at Delphix. "Giving our CSMs the ability to automatically see and act on support health signals will make it easier for them to maintain industry-leading customer satisfaction, retention and healthy revenue growth."

SupportLogic will demonstrate this capability at Gainsight's Pulse Conference as a Gold Sponsor in San Francisco on May 17-18, 2023.

In June 2023, SupportLogic will host the 2nd annual SX Live conference dedicated to Support Experience. This three-day virtual industry event will bring together senior leaders and practitioners from the support and customer success fields. Registration is now open.

Resources:

About SupportLogic

SupportLogic delivers the world's first support experience (SX) management platform that enables companies to proactively understand and act on the voice of the customer to build healthy relationships and maximize customer lifetime value. SupportLogic SX uses AI to extract and analyze customer sentiment signals from both structured and unstructured data and provides recommendations and collaborative workflows. SupportLogic is helping global enterprises like Databricks, Qlik, Nutanix, Rubrik, and Snowflake to prevent customer escalations, reduce churn and elevate the customer support experience. To learn more, visit supportlogic.com.

About Gainsight

Gainsight's innovative platform helps companies of all sizes and industries drive durable growth through customer-led, product-led, and community-led strategies. It offers a powerful set of customer success, product experience, and community engagement solutions that together enable businesses to scale efficiently, create alignment, and put the customer at the heart of innovation. With Gainsight, it's never been easier to drive acquisition, increase product adoption, prevent churn, and grow with renewals and expansion. Learn how leading companies such as GE Digital, SAP Concur, and Box use Gainsight at www.gainsight.com.

SOURCE SupportLogic
SAN ANTONIO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SWBC Investment Services, LLC, announced it was named Senior Manager and closed on a $25+ Million Tax-Exempt Municipal Bond financing transaction with the City of Del Rio, Texas (Val Verde County). This bond is designated for public improvements.

Issuer: City of Del Rio, Texas

Issue: Combination Tax and Revenue CO, Series 2023

Security Type: Municipal Bond

Tax Treatment: Tax Exempt

Amount $25,175,000

SWBC's Role: Senior Manager

Sale Type: Negotiated Underwriting

Sale Date: 3/27/2023

Settlement Date: 4/19/2023

Use of Proceeds: Public Improvements

If you're issuing bonds in Texas, we are here, we are local, and you should be talking to us. Tweet this John Tuohy, CEO of SWBC Investment Services

"SWBC was founded in Texas in 1976 and has since been building strong relationships across the Lone Star State," said John Tuohy, CEO of SWBC Investment Services. "Our public finance business has been a great addition to our already established municipal bond desk. If you're issuing bonds in Texas, we are here, we are local, and you should be talking to us."

In 2018, SWBC Investment Services launched its municipal underwriting of New Issue Bonds for a diverse number of public entities, including cities and counties; higher education institutions; independent school districts; municipal utility, water, drainage, and special districts; and regional transportation districts. Since, the company has managed over $1 billion of municipal bonds.

About SWBC

As a diversified financial services company, SWBC provides financial institutions, businesses, and individuals a wide range of insurance, mortgages, wealth management, employee benefits, and more. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, SWBC has partners and divisions across all 50 states and manages business around the world. No matter how wide its reach, SWBC always listens to our customers' needs, analyzes their current situations, and recommends customized solutions. For more information about our innovative approach to personalized service, visit SWBC's website at www.swbc.com. Securities offered by SWBC Investment Services, LLC, member SIPC & FINRA. Advisory services offered by SWBC Investment Services Company, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Contact:

Lisa Pinto

210.382.1520

[email protected]

SOURCE SWBC
The Digital Assets Trading Platform Now Supports the Design and Implementation of Systematic Investment Strategies for Institutional Asset Managers, ETF Issuers, RIAs and SMA Providers

NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Talos, the premier provider of institutional digital assets trading technology, has acquired D3X Systems, a developer of institutional technology to support systematic investment strategies. The D3X platform enables investors to apply the advanced portfolio engineering techniques, tried and tested in traditional capital markets, to digital assets. Talos's institutional clients will be able to design, validate, implement and manage highly customized portfolios.

"We are thrilled to welcome D3X Systems to the Talos team," said Anton Katz, Co-Founder and CEO of Talos. "Our mission is to empower institutions to access the digital asset markets across their investment lifecycle, and our acquisition of D3X means additional and powerful pre-trade and post-trade tools for our clients to design portfolios and manage risk."

The portfolio engineering SaaS platform provides a wide-range of applications for systematic portfolio design and implementation, including back-testing, factor modeling, optimization, rebalancing, as well as risk and return attribution reporting. Systematic investors can design and manage customized active or passive investment strategies with unique risk and return characteristics, using institutional-grade techniques pioneered in traditional finance over recent decades. The integration with Talos's trading platform creates a powerful solution for asset managers such as ETF issuers, RIA (registered investment advisors) and SMA (separately managed account) providers to support their entire investment lifecycle for digital assets.

The platform is designed as an open architecture, offering a comprehensive set of APIs to allow clients and partners to extend the core capabilities of the platform to address the needs of each client's bespoke investment process.

"We are honored to join the world-class team at Talos," said Xavier Witdouck, Founder and CEO of D3X Systems. "With our 50+ years of experience in the investment management industry, we share a vision to empower institutional investors through technology, as we look to develop the next generation of data-driven systematic investment strategies."

Under the terms of the deal, the D3X Systems team will bring their extensive expertise from the investment management industry, while existing D3X Systems clients will have integrated access to Talos's award-winning digital assets trading platform and 24-7 white glove service.

About Talos

Talos powers digital asset trading strategies globally. Engineered by a team with unmatched experience in building institutional trading systems, the Talos platform is trusted by the largest and most sophisticated market participants and their end clients for its performance, reliability, and security. Its growing network of services  trading platform, lending marketplace, data and analytics, and portfolio and settlement tools, all offered directly or through service providers on a white-label basis  enable clients of all types to transact end-to-end without concern for unnecessary intermediary risk or potential conflicts of interest. Talos has offices in New York, London, Cyprus, and Singapore. For additional information visit www.talos.com

Media Inquiries

For Talos:

Jed Hamilton

[email protected]

SOURCE Talos
Challenge aims to ensure precise understanding of McEliece cryptosystem with respect to today's computational resources and algorithmic advancements, $75K in prizes

ABU DHABI, UAE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and HeroX , the leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, today launched the crowdsourcing competition, the TII McEliece Challenges . The Challenges seek innovative approaches that may test the McEliece cryptosystem as a leading candidate for post-quantum encryption.

Challenge aims to ensure precise understanding of McEliece cryptosystem with respect to today's computational resources and algorithmic advancements, $75K in prizes Technology Innovation Institute and HeroX logos

The McEliece cryptosystem remains, despite significant cryptanalytic efforts, a secure scheme since its invention in 1978 and a fourth round candidate of the current NIST PQC standardization effort for post-quantum secure schemes, in the form of the Classic McEliece Submission.

In order to ensure a precise understanding of its security potential with respect to today's computational resources and algorithmic advancements, challenge participants will analyze message recovery algorithms and key-recovery algorithms (which have received less attention in the past) from a theoretical and practical lens.

Divided into four tracks (Theoretical Key Recovery Algorithms, Practical Key Recovery Approach, Practical Message Recovery of 70-74-bit Encryption, and Practical Message Recovery of 80-94-bit Encryption), participants have the opportunity to receive up to $75,000 in prizes for solving the most complicated instance in these categories over the course of one year.

Dr Najwa Aaraj, Chief Researcher of the Cryptography Research Center and Autonomous Robotics Research Center at the Technology Innovation Institute said: "The McEliece cryptosystem has a formidable reputation for having endured malicious attacks for over four decades. In our effort to test its weaknesses and confirm its resilience in line with supporting the ongoing standardization efforts, the challenge invites young innovators to solve as many as 30 cryptograms of varying complexity over a year, based on the McEliece system. The participants will through their solutions, further fortify the landscape for a Post-Quantum Cryptography age."

"Our network of innovators continuously pushes technology in exciting directions," said Kal K. Sahota, CEO, HeroX.

The Challenge: The TII McEliece Challenges are open to eligible innovators, start-ups, research institutes, and university students from anywhere in the world, as long as US sanctions do not prohibit participation. Challengers are encouraged to begin working on the challenge as early as possible in order to have ample time to improve their techniques over the course of the challenge. Submissions will be evaluated based on TII-defined criteria and by which team solves the hardest encryption instances.

The Prize: Up to four participantsthose who have the top submission in each challenge trackwill share a total prize purse of $75,000.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, if United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).

To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/TIIMcElieceChallenges

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

About Technology Innovation Institute (TII)

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). TII is a pioneering global research and development hub that focuses on solving tomorrow's challenges, today. It has ten dedicated research centers in advanced materials, autonomous robotics, cryptography, AI and digital science, directed energy, quantum, secure systems, propulsion and space, biotechnology, and renewable and sustainable energy. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions, and industry partners from around the world, TII connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem that reinforces the status of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for innovation.

For more information, visit www.tii.ae or www.crowdchallenge.tii.ae

Media Contact:

Jinan Warrayat

[email protected]

+971 50 471 3552

SOURCE Technology Innovation Institute; HeroX
NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Templum, Inc. ("Templum"), a provider of award-winning patent-pending capital markets infrastructure for alternatives and private securities, announced that it powers Masterworks' secondary market. Masterworks, LLC ("Masterworks") is transforming the art market providing investors direct access to purchase and trade shares in multimillion-dollar works of art by artists like Picasso, Monet and Basquiat.

As investors have looked for better returns and new opportunities outside of traditional markets, alternative assets have risen to meet the demand. According to the most recent Deloitte Art and Finance Report, over the last ten years, art and collectibles have demonstrated their ability to maintain and appreciate in value. [1] Masterworks CEO Scott Lynn pioneered the democratization of the art market in 2017 by securitizing Andy Warhol's Colored Marilyn (Reversal Series). This has paved the way for both small and large investors to gain exposure to art without spending millions on a painting or tens of millions on building a portfolio.

Masterworks is well-positioned to continue its market dominance and growth enhanced by Templum's tech-enabled platform. Tweet this

"With Masterworks' growth, we have seen an increase in investors looking to diversify their asset portfolios with us. As a result, we continue to improve our investor experience offering greater transparency, speed, and scale," said Lynn. "Templum's Alternative Trading System ("ATS"), along with its robust trading platform including a matching engine, order management, and market data, uniquely delivered through its API infrastructure, is the natural next step in ensuring an enhanced investor experience."

Today's investment environment is evolving. Younger investors are exceptionally tuned to recent developments in art investment products and services. As retail investors look to marketplaces like Masterworks, there is a growing shift, and institutional wealth managers will need to consider changing where they have traditionally invested. Masterworks is well-positioned to continue its market dominance and growth enhanced by Templum's tech-enabled platform.

"We are pleased that Masterworks chose Templum to provide its trading solution. The continuous trading model enabled by Templum will increase investor engagement and expand investor opportunities with Masterworks," said Christopher Pallotta, CEO and founder of Templum. "Fractional securities have tremendous potential for investors. As they look to diversify their holdings, marketplaces with tech-enabled platforms backed by sophisticated tools and technology, like Templum, are positioned to take the lead and differentiate themselves."

About Templum

Templum is paving the way for investors to participate in new asset classes through integrated market technologies and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for primary issuance and secondary trading. Templum's award-winning and patent-pending combined solution provides liquidity and distribution in private markets by enabling a continuous trading experience for investors rather than the manual processes currently in place. In doing so, Templum delivers custom trading solutions to power marketplaces.

Templum Markets LLC. is a New York-based broker-dealer, and Alternative Trading System (ATS) approved to trade unregistered private securities in 53 U.S. states and territories and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Templum, Inc., a trading technology company. For more information, please visit www.templuminc.com.

About Masterworks

For press inquiries, please contact Matt Sutherland at [email protected]. To learn more about Masterworks, visit Masterworks.com.

[1]Deloitte, ArtTactic: Deloitte Art and Finance Report 2021. Estimated based on surveys of wealth allocation to art and estimates of total wealth held by individuals. Estimated value of artwork held by individuals.

SOURCE Templum Inc.
GUANGZHOU, China, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 16th 2023, the first International Conference on Single-cell and Spatial Omics (TICSSO-1) has come to a grand conclusion. The conference brings together on site over 2,000 professionals from academia, research and development, investment and other fields interested to the conference topics in Guangzhou. The conference webcasts also garner significant online attention, with a record of over 548,245 live streaming audience around the world, from countries including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia, and other countries. The conference is reported by more than 200 domestic and foreign media outlets, including People's Daily, Southern Daily, Information Times, and Sino-US Times.

Single cell and spatial omics technologies, with a series of significant breakthroughs in recent years ,have been extensively applied in tumor, developmental biology, neuroscience, immunology, infectious diseases, and other areas, acting as one of the hot spots in researches of life science, drug development, and precision clinical medicine. Relevant data analysis expects that the prospective market size for global single-cell analysis will exceed $8 billion by 2028.

5 Academicians from U.S. and Chinese leads TICSSO-1 as honorary Chairmen

Five honorary Chairmen leads TICSSO-1 and they are Dr. Sherman Weissman, Sterling Professor of Yale University, a member of the National Academy of Sciences of USA; Dr. David Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Harvard University, a member of the National Academy of Sciences of USA; Dr. Li Jin, Professor of Fudan University, a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Dr. Qimin Zhan, Professor of Peking University, a member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Dr. Tianming Gao, Professor of Southern Medical University, a member of Chinese Academy of Engineering. The five academicians deliver highly inspiring academic speeches. Professor Dr. Li Ma, the Vice President of Southern Medical University and an official representative of the organizer, along with Mr. Hongqing Li, Associate Counsellor of Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau and the local government representative, make a special visit to congratulate and support the conference. Ms. Fanglin Zheng, the President of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology in the USA (CAST-USA), extends her congratulations through video.

Dr. David Weitz from Harvard University, and a pioneer for high-throughput single cell transcriptomics, highlights that single-cell sequencing is a significant technological milestone in life science. He explains that this technology allows scientists to acquire a more profound understanding of cells and genes, which has in turn enabled them to better comprehend the molecular mechanisms of complicate biomedical processes and diseases at single-cell level. He expects that the participants of TICSSO-1 including academic experts and industry professionals, will be inspired to expand their explorations while collaborating each other to promote new directions and discoveries in variant fields of biomedical research.

According to Dr. Sherman Weissman from Yale University, one of the pioneers in whole genome sequencing and the Human Genome Project, the emergence of single-cell sequencing technology has fundamentally transformed our understanding of molecular biology. New theories in addition with new technologies are emerging in response to the vast amount of data generated in single-cell sequence and spatial analysis. The new tools such as ChatGPT might be utilized to effectively mine, analyze, and interpret the data, which will boost the efficiency of single-cell researches and applications in the future.

During his speech, Dr. Li Jin, Professor and President of Fudan University as well as President of the Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine, who is the pioneer in phenomics, highlights the significant advancements achieved in the single-cell and spatial-omics industry in recent years. He states that these groundbreaking technologies have become widely used in both basic and clinical researches in biomedicine. Dr. Jin emphasizes that the combination of single-cell omics and phenomics in the future will definitely push the life science research to a new height. He expresses his belief that with the efforts of international and domestic experts, the field of single-cell and spatial omics will soon enter a golden era of robust development.

"Single-cell and spatial omics technology is a cutting-edge tool for precision medicine research and application." The comments by Professor Qimin Zhan of Peking University, former Executive Vice President of Peking University, and a top molecular oncologist, is highly encouraging. According to Dr. Zhan, single cell technology has been deployed in the "13th Five-Year Plan" Biotechnology Innovation Special Plan as a promising technology. When combining with spatial omics, it owns the potential to revolutionize the model of medical research and basic prevention and control of diseases, providing innovative solutions to precision medicine strategies and genetic health problems.

Dr. Tianming Gao from Southern Medical University, an top neuroscience expect in molecular mental health study, remarks that in recent years, single-cell sequencing has made continuous advances and has progressed to the stage marked low-cost, high-throughput, high-accuracy and high-automation ability. With rapid improvement in efficiency and application, this technology is now playing an indispensable role in neuroscience, besides other fields, and it has become a central focus in life science, and medical diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Gao believes that this conference provides a top-level academic exchange platform for researchers, which will greatly enhance the cooperation and innovation among single-cell industry experts and lend impetus to its development.

Over 200 keynote presentations share a feast of ideas, building industry-academia-research linkage

Over 200 experts, scholars and industry elites from universities, research institutes and renowned enterprises participate in in-depth discussions around the theme of "Focusing on Academic Frontiers, Accelerating Scientific and Technological Transformation". Multiple forums in parallel are held in the conference, including "the main forum", "multi-omics frontiers", "spatial omics development", "clinical translation and application", "bioinformatics", "technology and equipment",, and "International Forum". A variety of topics are discussed during the conference.

During the main forum, Dr. Fuchou Tang, Professor from the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, presents the technology advancements of single-cell chromatin accessibility analysis based on the third-generation sequencing. These researches bring new discoveries on human early embryo development, germ cell development and carcinogenesis. Dr. Tang explored the single-cell transcriptomic sequencing, marking the beginning of single-cell sequencing era.

Among others, these eminent professors and researchers delivery lectures during the TICSSO-1:. Dr. Bing Su from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Dr. Guoji Guo from Zhejiang University, Dr. Yuehai Ke from Zhejiang University, Dr. Xiaoyang Zhao from Southern Medical University, Dr. Chaoyong Yang from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Dr. Aibin He from Peking University, Dr. Yunlong Cao from Peking University, Dr. Jinxin Bei from Sun Yat-sen University, Dr. Rong Fan from Yale University, Dr. Chengran Xu from Peking University, Dr. Guangdun Peng from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. Gang Cao from Huazhong Agricultural University, Prof, Dr. Guobing Chen from Jinan University, Dr. Ge Gao from Peking University, Dr. Jianbin Wang from Tsinghua University, Dr. Yuxia Zhang from Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center, Dr. Xianting Ding from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Dr. Yong Zhang from Tongji University, Dr. Xianwen Ren from Beijing Changping Laboratory, Dr. Guangchuang Yu from Southern Medical University, Dr. Dong Wang from Southern Medical University, Dr. Kun Qu from University of Science and Technology of China, and Dr. Xinghua Pan from Southern Medical University, who severs as the Director of Guangdong Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application. The organizing committee of TICSSO pledges to keep track of and report on the latest developments of these experts.

The TICSSO-1 also holds an International Youth Forum, focusing on the frontier developments of single-cell sequencing technology and the opportunities and challenges it presents. The forum invites young scholars from overseas to share their recent progress, and to communicate with the attendants for their insight. These raising stars are from esteemed institutions such as Cambridge University, Yale University, UCSD, Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology and Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, New York Genome Center, Weizmann Institute of Science, Wellcome Sanger Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute, Southern Medical University and other institution .During the forum, the discussion fuels creativity and enthusiasm for collaboration for everyone in the event.

During the conference, two sessions of roundtable panel discussions are held on site. "How to promote the high-quality development of single-cell and spatial omics" as the theme of the academic roundtable, and "How to build a healthy ecological environment for the sustainable development of single-cell spatial omics industry" as the theme of the corporate roundtable. This event is attended by prominent exhibitors from both domestic and international companies, including BD, NanoString, Gene Company Limited, 10x Genomics, PacBio, Mission Bio, MobiDrop, Novel Bio, Oebiotech, Cytek Biosciences, Tenk Genomics, Salus Biomed, Dynamic Biosystems, ThunderBio, MemVerge, Sequanta, Capital Bio, Novogene, Anoroad, Biomarker, BioLegend, Illumina, Applied Protein Technology, Abiosciences, Element Biosciences, SequMed, Seekgene, MGI, Singleron.

As a part of the TICSSO-1, TICSSO-1 International Virtual Conference was held during the Covid19 pandemic in November 7 of 2022. Dr. Alex K. Shalek from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Sarah A. Teichmann from Cambridge University, Dr. Jay Shendure from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Washington, Dr. Muzlifah Haniffa from the University of Newcastle, Dr. Steven Henikoff from the University of Washington Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Dr. Siyuan Wang from Yale University, Dr. Kun Zhang from University of California, San Diego, Dr. Rong Fan from Yale University, Dr. Hongjie Li from Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Xiaojiang Xu from Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Junwen Wang from the University of Hong Kong along with other distinguished guests, deliver excellent lectures and discussions. More than 100,000 global peers joined this online event.

Additionally, the ceremony of the Single Cell Pioneer Awards is also held during the conference. More than 30 well known industrial entities win the awards for variants of extraordinary contributions to the development of single cell and spatial omics, and to the event.

As one of the largest and most influential conferences in the field of single-cell omics and spatial omics, the 1st TICSSO Conference wins an great success and public attention. The aim of the conference is to build a high-level international exchange and collaboration platform for researchers and industry members to gather wisdom and power for advancing single cell omics and spatial omics. Through this effort, the conference hopes to further promote technology innovation, theoretical breakthrough, and transformation upgrading in this field. TICSSO is an unprecedented academic feast that allows the frontier scientists in different disciplines associated with single cell omics to communicate and collide with sparks of wisdom, pushing the atmosphere to the new climax. Many participants express that they are full of harvest and are looking forward to play in the next TICSSO conference.

The International Conference on Single Cell and Spatial Omics (TICSSO) is organized by the TICSSO organizing committee, initiated and co-chaired by Dr. Xinghua Pan from Southern Medical University, Dr. Fuchou Tang from Peking University, Dr. Guoji Guo from Zhejiang University and a group of other leaders in this field. The conference are co-organized by Southern Medical University, CSBMB Division of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chinese Association for Science and Technology USA, Tumor Marker Committee of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Guangdong Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Singleseq.com, etc. The preparations for the 2nd TICSSO conference have initiated.

SOURCE TICSSO
The Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili held a meeting with Helena Carreiras, the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Portugal. The information was released by the Prime Minister's press office.According to the office, at the meeting held in the government administration, the dynamics of the existing partnership between the two countries were reviewed. The parties also discussed the prospects of deepening the existing cooperation.During the meeting, the importance of Portugal's support for Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration was emphasized, with the Prime Minister noting that it confirms Georgia's future lies in the European Union.The head of government also expressed gratitude to the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Portugal for their strong support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.The conversation addressed regional and global security challenges. Brigadier General Ana Balthazar, Deputy Director of the National Defense Policy of the Republic of Portugal, and Juansher Burchuladze, Georgia's Minister of Defense, also attended the meeting, according to the press service of the Prime Minister.Shalva Papuashvili, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, led a parliamentary delegation during their visit to the Republic of Malta.Samkharadze said that the objective of their visit was to update their Maltese colleagues on the progress made by Georgia in implementing reforms, including those related to fulfilling obligations under the Association Agreement and implementing the 12 recommendations of the European Union.The delegation also aimed to discuss topics such as the security environment, challenges faced by Georgia in its occupied territories, threats posed by Russia, and the geopolitical significance of attaining candidate status for their country.Samkharadze reported that the delegation received messages of support from the Chairman of the Maltese Parliament. Additionally, he mentioned that they received a guarantee of support from Malta at the end of the year, which will reflect the progress that Georgia has made.
The personal informant of the general of the Russian military intelligence, who was involved in the downing of the Boeing MH-17, was found guilty of collaboration and sentenced to 12 years in prison, the SBU reports.

In a message posted by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on the Telegram channel on Tuesday, it is noted that the Security Service has collected unconditional evidence of the guilt of another collaborator who "leaked" information to the occupiers about the Defense Forces in the front-line areas of Donetsk region.

"SBU officers detained the malefactor in June last year as a result of a special operation in Kremenchuk, where she tried to hide from justice. The court sentenced her to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property  Based on the evidence gathered by the Security Service investigators, the court found her guilty under Part 7 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the SBU informs.

According to the investigation, the aggressor's henchman is the personal informant of a career employee of the Russian military intelligence, Major General Sergei Dubinsky, also known by the call sign Gloomy.

It was he, as emphasized in the message, who was involved in the downing of a Boeing passenger plane operating flight MH-17 in July 2014.

"It has been established that the enemy informant, who lived in the village of Blahodatne, Donetsk region, is personally familiar with the terrorist. After the start of the full-scale invasion, she contacted through an anonymous messenger with Gloomy and offered her help in the war against Ukraine. According to his instructions, the lawbreaker collected intelligence about the locations and movements of the Defense Forces in the areas of Vuhledar, Pavlivka and Velyka Novoselka," the report says.

According to the intelligence service, the malefactor transmitted to the military intelligence of the Russian Federation information about fortifications and engineering barriers of Ukrainian troops on the eastern front.

In addition, the collaborator conducted video recording of the consequences of Russian air attacks on the territory of the region and sent relevant reports to the aggressor.

Another of its tasks was to collect and transfer to the enemy the personal data of resistance members in the temporarily occupied territory in eastern Ukraine.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center in Hendersonville, TN, hosted an event-filled weekend for its donors including a cocktail party, black tie gala, live auction, and art exhibit. The MACC kicked off the festivities at the Standard, in the historic Smith House, with the first Shakers & Breakers silent auction. Guests of the pre-gala cocktail party danced and enjoyed a special guest performance by Nashville's own Jonell Mosser.

The evening's charity auction featured work from world-class artists like Michael Godard. The Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville, TN

On Saturday in the Magnolia Cottage, the MACC hosted nearly 300 guests at the highly successful Moonlight & Magnolias Fundraiser Gala and live auction. Guests placed bids on a variety of sought-after items, including vacation packages, spa days, and a wonderful collection of fine art donated by the Park West Foundation. In attendance were Park West Gallery's Founder and CEO, Albert Scaglione, and his wife Mitsie Scaglione, the Executive Director of the Park West Foundation, Diane Pandolfi, and the event's featured artist, Stas Namin. John Block, Executive Vice President of Park West Gallery was the evening's compere. "Park West has worked with the Monthaven for years, and it's because we believe in their mission," said Block. "Their work introduces so many people to the healing power of art, and I'm honored that we can play a small role in helping them grow for the future."

The MACC closed the weekend out with an Artist Talk & Brunch where guests enjoyed an art exhibit and a Q&A session between Namin and MACC Executive Director, Cheryl Strichik. "We are thrilled to introduce the rock 'n roll portraits of Stas Namin to our Tennessee audience," says Strichik. "Stas has truly lived a rock 'n roll life. So, it's no surprise that his beautiful portraits capture the spirit of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, and other musicians included in this exhibit."

The vision of the Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center is to be a creative town square that inspires everyone to indulge their imaginations and be their best. Learn more about the Monthaven here: https://monthavenarts.org/

About Park West Gallery

Park West Gallery is the world's largest art dealer, bringing the experience of collecting fine art to more than 3 million customers since 1969. Whether it's masterpieces from history's greatest artists or the latest artwork from leading contemporary icons, Park West offers something for everyone through its accessible art exhibitions and auctions all over the world. Learn more about Park West Gallery and its over 50-year history at http://www.parkwestgallery.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Karen Pegg

[email protected]

SOURCE Park West Gallery
Largest independent performance marketing firm in the US, Tinuiti, ranks among highest-scoring businesses for its ongoing commitment to employee happiness.

NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tinuiti , the largest independent performance marketing firm across Streaming TV, Google, Meta, and Amazon, has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. This marks the sixth year the firm has made the list. The annual honor is based on a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture and includes direct employee feedback through the Quantum Best Places to Work survey.

Tinuiti Named to Inc. Magazines Annual List of Best Workplaces for 6th Year; Largest independent performance marketing firm in the US, Tinuiti, ranks among highest-scoring businesses for its ongoing commitment to employee happiness

Tinuiti has broken ground as a workplace that empowers its employees to take ownership of their responsibilities and unique contributions. By treating employees like owners, Tinuiti is able to grow employee happiness as a means of growing its clients' businesses and reinvesting in innovation. This "Culture of Ownership" has driven top-tier performance for client partners, while also attracting diverse talent. Tinuiti's commitment to flexible, remote work options, mental health and physical wellness, has contributed to its streak of award-winning workplace and culture.

Jeff Batuhan, Chief People Officer at Tinuiti, said: "Our talent is the fabric of our culture and this award truly reflects their ongoing commitment to advancing our shared mission of promoting happiness and growth. To be recognized once by Inc. Magazine's List of Best Workplaces is an impressive accomplishment in itself. But to earn this honor for the sixth time is a remarkable achievement. This honor informs us that we are on the right track, but we never rest."

Scott Omelianuk, Editor-in-Chief, Inc. Magazine, said: "Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim. Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

Inc. Magazine is an award-winning business-media brand that reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Tinuiti's previous years on the list were 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, and 2017.

Today's news comes on the heels of an already momentous 2023 for Tinuiti. Last month, the firm welcomed marketing veteran Jeremy Cornfeldt as its first-ever President, to oversee Tinuiti's day-to-day operations and to help guide the strategy of future offerings. Cornfeldt's recent appointment followed a stream of additional milestone moments.

Big Agency Moments in 2023:

- Unilever Digital Marketing Agency of Record: Named Unilever's Health and Wellbeing Division AOR: brands include, Liquid I.V., OLLY, Onnit, SmartyPants Vitamins, and Welly Health PBC

- Ampush Acquisition: Tinuiti acquired the leading growth marketing agency with core focus across social platforms that provide end-to-end performance creative and customer acquisition capabilities.

- e.l.f. & Tinuiti Go To The Super Bowl: Tinuiti and client partner e.l.f. Beauty partnered to release e.l.f. Cosmetics' first-ever television commercial at Super Bowl LVII

About Tinuiti

Tinuiti is the largest independent performance marketing firm across Streaming TV, Google, Meta, and Amazon, with almost $4 billion in digital media under management and over 1,200 employees. With industry-leading expertise in search, social, Amazon and marketplaces, addressable TV, mobile apps, Influencer, Lifecycle, and more, Tinuiti understands that success requires both strategy and channel expertise. Each solution is delivered through Tinuiti's performance planning framework, GAMMA, and is enabled by a proprietary suite of marketing intelligence and media activation technology  Mobius . For more information visit http://www.tinuiti.com .

SOURCE Tinuiti
This new digitally enabled low- to mid-rise elevator reduces energy consumption up to 45% and embodied carbon by 50%.

EOX features a standard in-car multimedia display to inform and entertain passengers.

EOX is delivered with TK Elevator's predictive maintenance solution, MAX, and ready to support future technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TK Elevator, one of the global market and innovation leaders in the elevator industry, is launching EOX in North America. The eco-efficient elevator platform is engineered to meet the demands of two- to 10-story buildings with its space-saving design, advanced technologies and reduced lead times. TK Elevator has answered the call of architects, developers and building owners with a product optimized to fit most budgets and construction timelines, giving them everything they need and more than they expect.

EOX comes standard with features usually reserved for premium products:

Advanced digital services increase uptime and extend product lifespan

increase uptime and extend product lifespan In-car multimedia display entertains and informs passengers with custom content

entertains and informs passengers with custom content Regenerative drive captures energy and feeds it back into the building

captures energy and feeds it back into the building Eco-mode reduces the elevator's speed and acceleration during low traffic times

reduces the elevator's speed and acceleration during low traffic times Enhanced in-car sensors monitor entrance safety and ride quality

monitor entrance safety and ride quality Security features include two-way chat, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and in-car camera connected through IoT platform MAX

"Elevators are an essential part of modern infrastructure and urbanization. To keep up with customer and rider expectations, TK Elevator will continue to ensure our products evolve through innovation," said Jeremy Rainwater, CEO Americas. "EOX is designed to reduce operating costs for our customers and provide them with an affordable elevator that is smart, sustainable and ready for the future."

TK Elevator is committed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to partner with customers to reach their carbon reduction targets. Therefore, a focus on carbon reduction was integrated into the product design, impacting material choices. For example, the elevator's counterweight is 40% concrete, meaning it has less embodied carbon than a steel-only alternative. The elevator is also several hundred pounds lighter than previous models, allowing efficiency without sacrificing durability or safety.

EOX is assembled in the U.S. using 100% renewable energy. It was designed, qualified and tested at TK Elevator's LEED Gold Certified Innovation and Qualification Center in Atlanta. Additionally, TK Elevator has trained more than 200 LEED Green Associates and BREEAM Associates across North America to help architects, general contractors and building owners obtain green building certifications for their projects.

Every EOX comes standard with the cloud-based predictive maintenance solution MAX. It analyzes performance data to inform customers about the "health" of their elevator so building managers and TK Elevator's service technicians have real-time information at their fingertips for faster, more efficient decision making. This data-driven approach has the power to cut elevator downtime by up to 50%. Customers also have the option to enhance their tenant's experience with touchless technology, AGILE Mobile. The digital tool gives riders the ability to request an elevator remotely from their smartphone or smartwatch.

For more information about EOX, go to https://eox.na.tkelevator.com/

PRESS IMAGES

Available here (Photos courtesy of TK Elevator)

PRESS CONTACT

Sasha Bailey

Senior Director, Communications & Inclusion

TK Elevator North America

P +1 469 236 6290

[email protected]

www.tkelevator.com/us-en/

ABOUT US

TK Elevator

With customers in over 100 countries served by more than 50,000 employees, TK Elevator achieved sales of 8.5 billion in fiscal year 2021/2022. We ensure high levels of customer service globally from our extensive network of about 1,000 locations. Over the past several decades, TK Elevator has established itself as one of the world's leading elevator companies and became independent after separation from the thyssenkrupp group in August 2020. The company's most important business line is the service business proudly provided by around 25,000 service technicians. The product portfolio ranges from standardized elevators for low-rise residential buildings to highly customized solutions for skyscrapers. In addition, it covers escalators, moving walks, passenger boarding bridges and stair and platform lifts. Integrated cloud-based solutions, such as the MAX platform, are delivering enhanced services. With these digital offerings, there are no longer any limits to urban mobility. TKE  move beyond.

SOURCE TK Elevator
Premier life sciences consulting firm welcomes Heather Martin

DURHAM, N.C., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Triangle Insights Group, a premier strategy consulting firm that delivers high-impact solutions across the life sciences value chain, today announced the appointment of Heather Martin to Principal.

The hiring of Martin, who has 15 years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare strategy, will strengthen both Triangle's New York City office and its senior leadership team. Prior to joining Triangle, Martin served as Associate Principal at Eversana Consulting and as Director at Syneos Health Consulting in the Value, Access and Medical, and Commercial Advisory groups.

She has influenced executive leadership teams at global Fortune 500 and start-up companies and has provided advisory services for all stages of commercialization and lifecycle management for brands, generics, biosimilars, over-the-counter products, medical devices, diagnostics, and combination products.

Martin holds an AB in Chemistry from Princeton University and an MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. She also completed an MS in Health Care Policy and Management from the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon. She is a noted speaker on career possibilities, workplace inclusion, and the intersection of science, business, healthcare, and diversity.

"Heather is an extremely valuable addition to our New York-based team," said Chris Apolito, one of Triangle's founders. "Her wealth of experience in the healthcare field and impressive skillset will bolster our presence in the Philadelphia/New York/Boston corridor, and she will play an integral role in our continued growth in this region."

To learn more about Triangle Insights Group, please visit https://triangleinsightsgroup.com/.

About Triangle Insights Group

Triangle Insights Group is a premier strategy consulting firm providing guidance on critical business issues to life science industry leaders. The firm's approach combines deep industry knowledge with strong analytical rigor to drive strategic decision-making across client domains. Triangle's expertise encompasses key therapeutic areas (oncology, CNS, and cell and gene therapy) and relevant industry disciplines (pricing and market access, new product planning, and commercial strategy). For more information, visit https://triangleinsightsgroup.com.

About TrialCard

TrialCard Incorporated is an integrated life sciences commercialization company that provides comprehensive solutions that span the entire biopharmaceutical value chain. In addition to a foundation of fully integrated, digitally enabled patient support services, its broader offerings include everything from late-stage clinical trial supply management to post-marketing HCP engagement services and proprietary data-as-a-service payer intelligence and insights. Founded in 2000, TrialCard provides commercialization support for more than 400 life sciences customers and has connected over 36 million patients with more than $23 billion in branded drug savings to date. The company is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. For more information about TrialCard, please visit www.trialcard.com.

Contact:

Landy Townsend

VP, Marketing & Communications

TrialCard Incorporated

[email protected]

SOURCE TrialCard Incorporated
DUBLIN, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Turkey Travel & Tourism Market, By Service Offering, By Destination, By Purpose of Visit (Business, Leisure & Recreation, Education, Medical, Social Activity and Others), By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Turkey travel & tourism market is anticipated to register robust growth in the forecast period, 2023-2027.

Companies Mentioned

G Adventures

Exodus Travels Limited

Explore Worldwide Ltd

Europamundo Vacation

MWM Consultancy ( Scotland ) Ltd.

) Ltd. Cosmos Tours Ltd

Topdeck Travel Limited

Insight Vacations ( Canada ) Ltd.

) Ltd. MacBackpackers Limited

The rising disposable income of the consumers along with the increasing spending capacity of the middle- and upper-class population are contributing to the rise of travel and tourism in Turkey.

Turkey is among the top 10 destinations across the world for tourism. Tourism revenue in Turkey jumped 95% Y-o-Y to USD 7.63 billion in the last quarter of 2021. Out of this, 80.1% of revenue came from international visitors, and 19.9% came from domestic tourism.

The growing political stability across the country regarding gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, racism, and human rights are influencing people's decision to travel and explore a country like Turkey. This eventually is anticipated to propel the growth of the Turkey tour and travel market over the coming years.



Government Initiatives to Propel the Tourism Industry in Turkey Fuels the Market Growth



The growth of tour and travel tourism in Turkey can be attributed to the presence of attractive landscapes, luxury hotel chains, and the availability of a large variety of tourist activities within the country. Furthermore, strategic marketing initiatives taken by the top market players to increase the customer base along with initiatives taken by the government such as ease of convenience in visa offerings are acting as a growth-inducing factor for the tour and travel industry in Turkey.

Moreover, with inflating per capita income, there is a growing preference for personalized services, reliable transportation, and positive and professional interaction with the staff for travel. Furthermore, after Covid-19, Turkey government relaxed many Covid-related restrictions, which resulted in a high number of travelers in the recent quarter.

For instance, according to the tourist board of Turkey, after relaxing the lockdown and visa-related restrictions for India, the country hosted a record-high number of travelers from India in June at over 27,300. The country also made it easy for anyone to access their visa if they had a valid UK or US visa.

Tourism revenues are essential for the Turkey economy, as a result, the government of Turkey is taking great initiatives to propel the travel and tourism industry in the country. Hence, more such initiatives are anticipated to augment the growth of the market over the coming years.



Rising Influence of social media to Propel the Market Growth



The growing influence of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and other blogging sites has increased exponentially. Numerous travel bloggers with millions of followers use social media platforms to generate user-targeted travel content, which is more influential than traditional advertising.

As a result, the rising penetration of the internet, smartphones, and social media platforms are catalyzing the market for tourism and travel. Moreover, the flourishing corporate sector is also adding to the growth of the market. Several corporates organize business trips for their employees to network and make connections internationally.

This, along with the ease of booking hotels and flights via well-renowned booking sites such as Airbnb, Yatra, Travelocity, etc., is anticipated to supplement the growth of Turkey travel and tourism market over the coming years.



Report Scope:



In this report, Turkey travel & tourism market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:



Turkey Travel & Tourism Market, By Service Offering:

Ticket Reservation

Hotel Booking

Holiday/Tour Packages

Travel Insurance

Foreign Exchange

Visa Services

Conference/Trade Fair Services

Others

Turkey Travel & Tourism Market, By Destination:

Domestic Tourist

International Tourist

Turkey Travel & Tourism Market, By Purpose of Visit:

Business

Leisure & Recreation

Education

Medical

Social Activity

Others

Turkey Travel & Tourism Market, By Region:

Eastern Anatolia

Central Anatolia

Black Sea

Mediterranean

Aegean

Marmara

South Eastern

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kx6yx0

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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SOURCE Research and Markets
World's Best Places to Visit and Best Places to Visit in the USA both have a new No. 1.



WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Cruise Lines and Best Travel Rewards Programs , today released its annual rankings of the Best Vacations. The 2023-2024 rankings highlight 16 categories of destinations to help travelers find the best place for their vacation.

For the first time, Glacier National Park in Montana, takes the No. 1 spot in the Best Places to Visit in the USA ranking. The park stands out for offering some of the most majestic landscapes in the U.S., and has several challenging hikes and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Maui, Hawaii, which moved up two spots to No. 2, offers something for everyone, from relaxing on the beach to zip lining and taking in the many sights. Rounding out the top three is Grand Canyon National Park, known for its inspiring views and scenic whitewater rafting routes.

New to the top spot this year in the World's Best Places to Visit ranking is Paris, France. The iconic city is well known for its architecture, museums and cuisine. Bora Bora comes in at No. 2, thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush jungles and luxurious resorts, while Glacier National Park ranks No. 3.

The Turks and Caicos Islands hold on to the No. 1 spot for Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, offering one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world and providing maximum comfort in a tropical setting. St. Lucia remains at No. 2, known for its towering volcanic peaks and upscale resorts, while the British Virgin Islands round out the top three thanks to stunning shorelines and ample boating opportunities.

"After the recent years of uncertainty, we're seeing a trend among travelers being ready to take those bucket list vacations to Europe and remote islands, as well as big adventure trips to African safari destinations, Patagonia and the Swiss Alps," said Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News. "The 2023-2024 Best Vacations rankings offer a variety of destinations for every type of traveler, from those who want to relax on the beach to those who prefer trekking through mountains or exploring culture-filled cities."

U.S. News ranks a variety of vacations, including Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA , Best Places to Visit in Mexico , Europe , Canada , Asia , Africa , Australia and The Pacific and Central and South America . And for those looking to not spend as much on a vacation, U.S. News ranks the Best Cheap Vacations in the U.S. and Europe . The rankings follow a comprehensive, transparent methodology that factors in travelers' opinions, as provided by user votes, with expert and editor analysis. Each vacation destination is scored in 10 categories, from sights, culture and food to nightlife, adventure and romance, offering a complete evaluation of each destination.

2023-2024 Best Vacations Rankings

See the full rankings here .

World's Best Places to Visit

Paris Bora Bora Glacier National Park Rome Swiss Alps

Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean

Turks and Caicos Islands St. Lucia British Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Best Places to Visit in Mexico

Zihuatanejo Tulum Cozumel Ixtapa Isla Mujeres

Best Places to Visit in the USA

Glacier National Park, Montana Maui, Hawaii Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA

Bar Harbor, Maine Telluride, Colorado Monterey, California Nantucket, Massachusetts Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Best Places to Visit in Europe

Paris Rome Swiss Alps London Amsterdam

Travelers considering options for covering their summer vacation expenses  and how to work travel rewards points to their advantage  can check out U.S. News' latest column on the best travel credit cards.

For more information, visit Best Vacations , use #BestVacations on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
CAIRO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a world-leading vaping brand, stole the show at the recent Egypt Vape Expo held at the Cairo International Convention Center, showcased the technical prowess of its latest products. This event marked the first legal e-cigarette expo in the Egyptian market and attracted many players from B2B channels in North Africa and the Middle East. VAPORESSO's new LUXE XR MAX and XROS 3 NANO devices were the main showstoppers at the exhibition.

VAPORESSO's LUXE XR MAX is a small device that packs a big vape punch. The product comes equipped with a GTX COIL to deliver precise flavors using advanced technology that provide a futuristic sensory experience. On the other hand, the XROS 3 NANO is a compact and portable device with extended battery life and exceptional flavor performances. Both products drew an overwhelmingly positive response from those in attendance, with their innovative features particularly appreciated by the crowd.

VAPORESSO 's participation in the Egypt Vape Expo is part of the company's efforts to further strengthen brand awareness in the local and regional market. The event also served as a platform for the company to connect with players from the numerous B2B channels in North Africa and the Middle East, thereby accelerating the company's expansion into overseas markets.

In recognition of VAPORESSO's innovative technology and exceptional product design, the company received the top award at the event - the Best Technology Award. This award highlights the company's commitment to delivering high-quality and innovative vaping products to customers around the world.

VAPORESSO is proud to be a global leader in the vaping industry, with a wide range of products that cater to different consumer preferences. From the TARGET to the ZERO, the XROS series, and the LUXE X family, the company's products have been praised by customers in the Middle East and Africa for their exceptional performance, reliability, and design.

The Egypt Vape Expo serves as another grand success for VAPORESSO at overseas events. The company has been prolific at actively participating in the biggest vaping events around the world, showcasing its latest products and technologies to potential customers. With the success of this event, VAPORESSO is poised to continue expanding into the international market and providing exceptional vaping experiences to consumers worldwide.

For more information about VAPORESSO's products and technologies, please visit the company's website at https://www.vaporesso.com/.

SOURCE VAPORESSO
DON'T WAIT  YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM BY AUGUST 7, 2023

KALAMAZOO, Mich., May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Kroll Settlement Administration regarding the Wayside Church v. Van Buren County Tax Foreclosure Settlement.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

On March 24, 2023, United States District Judge Paul L. Maloney entered an Order preliminarily approving a Settlement in a class action lawsuit called Wayside Church v. Van Buren County, Case No. 1:14-cv-01274, pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. This class action lawsuit alleges that many counties in Michigan violated the rights of property owners or heirs by failing to pay to the former owners or other interest holders the proceeds from the sale of the tax-foreclosed properties that exceeded the unpaid taxes, fees, and other costs associated with those properties. These claims have become known as "surplus-proceeds claims."

WHO IS INCLUDED?

You are included as a Class Member if you owned, inherited, or held an interest in property foreclosed on and sold by some Michigan Counties between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020 by that County. (Common examples of interests in real property include ownership, mortgage interests, and other types of liens.) If the original owner or interest holder is deceased or no longer exists, then heirs or successors are included as Class Members.

Almost all counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the western half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula are participating in this Settlement. For a full list of Counties, visit www.TaxForeclosureSettlement.com.

WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?

Each Class Member who submits a valid claim will usually receive 80% of the surplus proceeds from the sale of the property less the amount the court awards to cover attorney fees. If more than one valid claim is made for surplus proceeds from a property, the total amount available to pay claims connected with that property will be 80% of the surplus proceeds less the court-awarded attorney fees. The deadline to submit a Claim is August 7, 2023.

"This settlement is good news for everyone involved. It will allow thousands of former interest holders in tax foreclosed properties located in Michigan to receive money if their property was later sold and generated proceeds beyond the amount of the unpaid property taxes," said David H. Fink, one of the attorneys representing the Plaintiffs in this lawsuit. "If anyone thinks they might have a claim, they should go to the website or contact us for assistance."

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?

File a Claim : You must complete and submit a Claim to qualify for a payment under the Settlement. You may file your Claim online or download a claim form at www.TaxForeclosureSettlement.com. If you submit by U.S. mail, claim forms should be sent to Wayside Church v. Van Buren County , c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391. Claims must be submitted by August 7, 2023 .





: You may file your Claim online or download a claim form at If you submit by U.S. mail, claim forms should be sent to , c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391. . Opt Out : If you do not want to be bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by July 22, 2023 .





: If you do not want to be bound by the Settlement, . Object : You may submit an objection and explain why you do not like the Settlement. You may still participate in the Settlement by filing a Claim. Objections must be submitted by July 22, 2023 .





: You may submit an objection and explain why you do not like the Settlement. You may still participate in the Settlement by filing a Claim. . Do Nothing : If you do nothing, you will not receive money, but you will be legally bound by decisions of the Court and will give up any right to sue for the claims resolved by this Settlement.

For instructions on how to file a Claim, opt out, or object: visit www.TaxForeclosureSettlement.com or call 1-833-709-0093.

WHEN IS THE FAIRNESS HEARING?

The Court will hold a hearing on November 8, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at 174 Federal Building, 410 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 to hear any objections, determine if the Settlement is fair, and to consider attorney fees of 20% of each Settlement Payment. The motion for attorney fees will be posted to the settlement website after it is filed. Class Members may attend the Hearing, but they aren't required to.

This is only a summary. If you have questions or want more information about this lawsuit, the Settlement, and your rights under the Settlement, visit TaxForeclosureSettlement.com, call 1-833-709-0093, or write to: Wayside Church v. Van Buren County, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.

SOURCE Kroll Settlement Administration
The platform recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt

DUBAI, UAE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recently signed a new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority as part of its efforts to boost tourism in the region.

Egypt

This partnership is aimed at promoting Egypt's rich history, culture, and tourism opportunities. Through this campaign under the theme "In Egypt, your expectations are history", Wego will work closely with Egyptian Tourism Authority to promote this campaign on all its marketing channels and bring travelers the best of Egypt's summer and Eid Al Adha celebrations, including festivals, events, and attractions.

Mamoun Hmedan, CCO and MD, MENA and India, Wego, said: "We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority. Egypt is a perfect destination for travelers looking for a mix of history, culture, and adventure. Summer and Eid Al Adha are the ideal times to visit Egypt. We have recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt between 1 January to 27 April 2023 and we expect to see a surge around the Eid Al Adha period."

Wego will be presenting its users with a comprehensive guide highlighting the best places to visit, things to do, and experiences to enjoy. To reward travelers, a social media competition will run online to give people the chance to visit this must-see destination.

Egypt has a variety of activities and experiences to offer visitors during summer and Eid Al Adha. Travelers can explore ancient monuments as Egypt is home to some of the world's most iconic ancient monuments, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Luxor and Aswan.

Amr ElKady, CEO of Egyptian Tourism Authority, commented: "We are excited to partner with Wego for another year. With Egypt's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscape, and welcoming people, and Wego's large user base in MENA, we are confident that we can attract more visitors to Egypt and provide them with an unforgettable experience."

Suzan Mostafa, General director of Tourism Promotion at Egyptian Tourism Authority, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Wego and promote our country through this joint campaign. We will benefit from Wego's large user base in the MENA region, which will enable us to drive more traffic to Egypt and attract holidaymakers in the summer season."

During this period, Egypt comes alive with music, dance, and traditional festivities. Moreover, tourists can explore Egypt's stunning beaches, desert landscapes, all of which make Egypt a unique and unforgettable destination.

About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Jakarta and Cairo.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2070559/Wego_Egypt.jpg

SOURCE Wego
Newly formed stand-alone platform Suave Brands Company is led by CEO Daniel Alter, experienced consumer goods executive with Unilever

BOSTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yellow Wood Partners LLC ("Yellow Wood"), a Boston-based private equity firm focused on investing in consumer brands and companies, has completed the previously announced acquisition of the beauty and personal care brand, Suave, in North America from Unilever (NYSE: UL).

With the completion of the transaction, Yellow Wood Partners is creating the Suave Brands Company (SBC), a newly formed stand-alone business created to support the Suave brand under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Daniel Alter, a 20-year Unilever veteran with global strategy and operations expertise. The company will be headquartered in New Jersey.

Dana Schmaltz, Partner of Yellow Wood Partners, said, "The widely known Suave brand has a long heritage and strong consumer loyalty, selling over 250 million units annually and is present in 1 out of every 2 homes in America. Our firm's extensive experience working with multi-national branded consumer packaged goods companies, such as Unilever, Bayer and Reckitt, will enable us to successfully transition Suave to an independent company within the Yellow Wood portfolio and accelerate its growth. Our deep expertise in the consumer goods sector and with large mass, grocery, drug, and ecommerce retailers will help us enhance Suave's closeness with consumers and product innovation. In addition to carving out Suave and establishing an independent infrastructure, we are building the Suave Brands Company into a beauty & personal care platform focused on democratizing trends, making them accessible to a broader consumer base. To deliver on this goal, the Suave Brands Company will acquire beauty & personal care brands across multiple categories, including hair, skin, body, and more, that will drive synergies across the platform."

Suave, the foundational brand of the Suave Brands Company, was one of the first brands in the 1930s to bring salon-quality hair care to the general public at an accessible price. The Suave brand sells beauty & personal care products for women, men and kids across mass retailers, grocery stores, drug retailers, and ecommerce platforms. The brand's products include hair care and body care products including shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, body wash, antiperspirants and deodorants, and skin care.

Tad Yanagi, Partner of Yellow Wood Partners, commented, "We are excited about Suave's ability to benefit from the growing consumer demand for value-based brands. There is great opportunity to do more with Suave's leading brand awareness and consumer loyalty and to lead that effort we are pleased to welcome Daniel Alter as CEO. His and Yellow Wood's deep branded CPG experiences will help Suave execute on new growth levers to build the business and identify new personal care brand acquisitions."

Mr. Alter brings to Suave Brands Company 20 years of global strategy, brand development, and general management experience during his tenure in international operating roles across beauty & personal care with Unilever. "I am excited to partner with Yellow Wood to lead the Suave Brands company and set the brand up for its next stage of growth. Our shared vision is to build the Suave Brands Company into an industry leading beauty & personal care platform, delivering high quality products at an accessible price for consumers across North America."

In addition to Suave, Yellow Wood's diverse portfolio of consumer brands includes leading global footcare brand Dr. Scholl's and Scholl International; Beacon Wellness Brands, led by its anchor brand PlusOne, the #1 sexual wellness device brand; beauty brands Real Techniques and EcoTools; self-tanning brands Isle of Paradise, Tanologist and TanLuxe; and skincare brands Byoma and Freeman Beauty.

Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor to Yellow Wood on the transaction. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP provided legal counsel to Yellow Wood.

About Yellow Wood Partners

Yellow Wood Partners is a Boston-based private investment firm that invests exclusively in the consumer industry in the middle market. The firm seeks to acquire branded consumer products that sell into a variety of consumer channels, including mass, drug, food, specialty, value, club and e-commerce. Yellow Wood's Consumer Operating DNA investment and operating strategy is based on utilizing the firm's functional operating resources to help maximize brand performance by driving organic growth and increasing operating efficiencies while acquiring additional brands into a limited number of platform companies in its concentrated investment portfolio. For more information, please visit www.yellowwoodpartners.com.

Contact :

Chris Tofalli

Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC

[email protected]

914-834-4334

SOURCE Yellow Wood Partners
There are 37 countries in coalition for creation of Special Tribunal for crime of aggression, incl G7 countries, EU, Global South  Ukraines MFA

The coalition of countries (Core Group), working on the creation of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, already includes 37 countries, and the participating states at the summit of the group confirmed their determination to hold the top leadership of the Russian Federation accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

Today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy led an important Summit of the Special Tribunals Core Group initiated by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. 37 participants confirmed their resolve to hold Russias top leadership accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Special Tribunal will ensure justice, Kuleba said on Twitter.

In turn, the press service of the Foreign Ministry noted that all participants of the summit unanimously confirmed their support for holding Russia's top political and military leadership accountable for unleashing an aggressive war against Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website that the Coalition countries are convinced that Russian aggression threatens not only Ukraine, but also the world, security and democracy in general. The initiators of atrocities unprecedented since the Second World War, the root cause of which is the crime of aggression, should be punished by creating an independent justice mechanism.

Following the Summit, the Coalition States adopted a joint statement in which they supported the creation of an independent justice mechanism, a Special Tribunal.

Currently, the Coalition includes 37 States, including all G7 countries, European Union countries and a number of countries of the Global South. The result of this work will be the creation of a special tribunal and the beginning of its work.
BEIJING, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Youth on Tech is a brand-new program produced by Science and Technology Daily. In this program, we invite young scientists from around the world to discuss trending sci-tech topics, with the aim to enhance understanding between youth worldwide and work together to make our planet a better place.

Youth on Tech | Preventing the Next Pandemic Youth on Tech | Preventing the Next Pandemic

During the 2023 World Immunization Week (April 24 to 30), four guests in different specializations offered their insights on how to prevent the next pandemic, covering vaccine development, traditional Chinese medicine practice, international scientific collaboration, and guide for individuals.

By ZHONG Jianli

Throughout history, humans have faced an ongoing fight against pandemics. The recent COVID-19 pandemic once again made us realize how vulnerable humans are in face of a pandemic.

Why are there so many pandemics?

Since 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared six public health emergencies of international concern  H1N1, poliovirus, Ebola (twice), Zika, and COVID-19. Since 2014, the WHO has declared an outbreak every two years on average.

"There are many factors that contribute to the occurrence of pandemics, including the climate change and globalization," said Lei Yuqing, a doctoral student in vaccine research and development at Tsinghua University.

Lei stated that the growing interaction between humans and wild animals has increased the possibility of pathogens jumping from animals to humans, leading to the emergence of many infectious diseases.

Lack of preparedness can also lead an outbreak to progress into a pandemic, said Christian Karol Saputra, head of the R&D department of Etana Biotechnologies in Indonesia, adding that outbreaks that are not treated with proper coordination and cooperation among governments, health authorities, and communities can easily turn into pandemics.

How to be better prepared?

Vaccines play an important role in pandemic control in public health and social governance, said Lei, adding that at this time, scientists are aimed at developing universal vaccines, such as pan-variant or even pan-coronavirus vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, to broadly protect people against virus variants.

Susan Bueno, full professor in molecular genetics and microbiology at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, agreed that vaccines are the most cost-effective way to prevent infectious diseases.

She stressed the importance of strengthening research capacities of all countries to quickly develop new pathogen-fighting vaccines and enhance the capacity to produce and test these vaccines in clinical trials.

Having been engaged in the bio-medicine industry for many years, Saputra suggested that it is necessary to promote academic-business-government (ABG) partnerships. Through ABG, public and private sectors can work together to promote collaborative research and development of vaccines.

As for how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) helps fight pandemics, Qi Yingzhou, a TCM doctor, offered his insights.

He said in the past three years, during which COVID-19 was rampant in many countries, TCM relief supplies provided great help to the treatment of patients around the world.

Explaining how TCM works, he said TCM treatment pays more attention to improving patients' internal environment, in order to enhance their own disease resistance.

How to strengthen international cooperation?

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the cooperation between scientists around the world was key for the identification of virus and the development of vaccines," said Bueno, stressing that one of the important things for scientific collaboration was a full sharing of scientific results and knowledge.

Lei also believes collaboration is significant to the progress of scientific research. She hopes universities, research institutes and governments could give more opportunities to the youth to join in sci-tech collaborations and communications.

Regarding how to narrow gaps in vaccine distribution internationally, Saputra proposed several strategies, including increasing production capacities, improving supply chains, and supporting technology and knowledge transfer between countries.

What can individuals do?

Developing a healthy lifestyle eat regularly, live regularly, exercise moderately, and feel good  is the key to reducing the incidence of all kinds of diseases, including transmissible ones, said Qi.

He also mentioned both TCM and the Western medicine theories believe it is very important to cut off epidemic sources and that proper quarantine measures are needed in the early stage of an outbreak.

Lei suggested individuals, especially the youth, to be cautious about disinformation or misleading information on social media when a pandemic occurs.

Getting a better knowledge of what scientific research is doing and what needs to be done is essential for people to address the challenges now and in the future, noted Bueno.

She thus called for young people to join into research careers and learn more about infectious diseases, public health, as well as vaccine development and production.

SOURCE Science and Technology Daily
SHANGHAI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and HKEX: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders ("AGM") on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 2 p.m. (local time), at 9/F, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing each of the Proposed Resolutions as defined and set forth in the notice of the AGM (the "AGM Notice"). An online live webcast of the meeting will also be made available for holders of ordinary shares of the Company as of the Record Date. The AGM Notice and the form of proxy for the AGM are available on the Company's website at http://zto.investorroom.com. The board of directors of the Company fully supports the Proposed Resolutions and recommends that shareholders and holders of American depositary shares ("ADSs") vote in favor of the Proposed Resolutions.

Holders of record of ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on May 10, 2023, Hong Kong time (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on May 10, 2023, New York time, who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying Class A ordinary shares must give voting instructions to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the depositary of the ADSs.

You may obtain an electronic copy of the Company's annual report, free of charge, from the Company's website at http://zto.investorroom.com, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited's website at www.hkexnews.hk or from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.
All NATO countries support the idea of Ukraine joining the alliance, but it is not yet possible to answer the question about the timing, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with the Washington Post on Tuesday.

First of all, all NATO allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance. All allies agree that Ukraine has the right to choose its own path, that it is not for Moscow, but for Kyiv, to decide. And thirdly, all allies agree that NATOs door remains open. Then the question is when, and I cannot give you a timetable on that, Stoltenberg said, answering the question about a realistic way for Ukraine to join NATO.

As Stoltenberg noted, we are now working with them [Ukraine], to help them transition from Soviet-era equipment, doctrines and standards to NATO doctrines and standards, to make their armed forces interoperable with NATO forces, and to help them to further reform and modernize their defense and security institutions.

At the same time, the NATO Secretary General once again stressed that the urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation, because if Ukraine doesnt prevail, then there is no issue to discuss at all.
Coalition of 37 Core Group member countries to create Special Tribunal for Russia calls on world community to support its implementation

A coalition of 37 Core Group member countries to create a Special Tribunal for the Russian Federation for the crime of aggression against Ukraine called on the world community to support its implementation, as stated in a joint statement.

The leaders of 37 states in the document strongly condemned the illegal, unjustified and unprovoked armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, including all crimes and atrocities committed by Russian troops and officials, including attacks against civilians, conflict-related sexual violence and other Russian war crimes on Ukrainian territory.

We therefore reaffirm that those responsible for committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine must not go unpunished, and call on the international community to consider appropriate actions, including through the establishment of an appropriate justice mechanism to ensure effective accountability for the crime of aggression  We call on other states and international organizations to join our collective work, the text of the statement reads.

For their part, the coalition members once again confirmed their full support for the creation of a tribunal to ensure the effective responsibility of the Russian Federation for the crime of aggression.

They also called on Russia to immediately release all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens and return all those deported, including children.

The statement expresses the unwavering support of the Ukrainian people, deep respect for the courage and endurance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as an appeal to the states of the world to help Ukraine.
New York, May 8 : An Indian-origin primary care physician in US' Georgia has been accused of sexually assaulting four of his female patients during routine check-ups over a 12-month period.

Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 68, was indicted last week on multiple counts of violating his patients' constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under colour of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact, a Department of Justice release said.

According to information presented in court, between 2019 and 2020, Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, allegedly assaulted four of his female patients by touching them improperly during routine exams. Investigators believe that Patel may have victimised additional patients.

"Patel allegedly sexually abused his female patients and violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care," US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.

"Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality of healthcare delivered in a safe and accountable setting," Veteran Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal said.

He said that the department has been cooperating the law enforcement to ensure the safety of patients.
Bhopal, May 8 : Chanda (name changed) of Chimka Tola in Mandla skips school for four days in a month citing one reason or the other. A student of class 11, she is restless when she menstruates. The cloth piece that she uses these days adds to the irritability. When the state governments Project Udita was up and running, things were much easier for adolescents like her.

Pooja Yadav Bhopal, May 8 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Chanda (name changed) of Chimka Tola in Mandla skips school for four days in a month citing one reason or the other. A student of class 11, she is restless when she menstruates. The cloth piece that she uses these days adds to the irritability. When the state governments Project Udita was up and running, things were much easier for adolescents like her.

"Walking to school is a problem. The constant rubbing of the cloth piece with the skin can cause rashes, followed by itching and burning sensation. It should be changed frequently, but is also difficult to wash and dry. I do not feel like studying. In fact, the first two days are mostly spent sleeping," said Chanda.

Launched by the Women and Child Development Department in 2016, Project Udita offered a pack of six sanitary pads through anganwadi centres. It also sensitised women on the need to maintain menstrual hygiene, which made Chanda and others switch to sanitary pads.

Some centres sold the pack for Rs 12, while others priced it at Rs 15. As there was no government-fixed price, the vendors took the liberty to tweak prices after considering the cost of travel to a given village from the district headquarters.

Yet, the low rates of sanitary pads were helpful for village women and adolescents who mostly depend on the nominal income of their husbands or fathers. Sanitary pads are priced upward from Rs 35 per pack in shops, whereas good quality products cost anywhere between Rs 60 and 100.

Initially, the department helped coordinate the supply from pad-making agencies to anganwadi centres at the lowest possible price. Later, the agencies and anganwadis started dealing directly with each other. Vendors sell pads to distributors, who then get it to the centres through a commission-based channel. Anganwadi workers made the payments before or after the sales, as per the agreement they made with the vendor. However, this system did not work well in all centres.

In a tweet in April 2016, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had claimed that special corners were set up in 22,000 anganwadis under Project Udita. In reality, only banners and posters provided by the government for the scheme's publicity adorn such corners. Forget villages, even anganwadis in cities do not have fully functional corners.

There was no government allocation to buy pads or install pad vending machines. The scheme envisaged installation of vending machines by the Women and Child Development Department, after taking help from private companies, NGOs and donors. But that too did not take off. Only very few centres got the machines under Corporate Social Responsibility activities of some companies.

As a result, Project Udita came to an abrupt end in the early days of the COVID-19 spread, thereby forcing women and girls to return to cloth use. "There is no risk of leakage or no issue in moving around when using sanitary pads. Moreover, it lasts for more time than the cloth piece, which has to be changed twice or thrice a day. We are not allowed to wash the cloth in the area where men take baths. Washing in the open is another problem. Sun drying of the cloth is also difficult as male members of the family should not see it," said Chanda.

Poor record According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16, rural Madhya Pradesh ranks worst in the country in menstrual health management, with only 26.4% women between the ages of 15 and 24 adopting hygienic practices.

A survey conducted in 2018 by Bhagidari Foundation on the menstrual behaviour of adolescent girls and women found that 88% women use cloth pieces during menstruation, while the rest use sanitary pads. As much as 42% of the surveyed women use the same cloth many times, while 29% use dirty cloth.

According to Bhopal-based Dr RK Badve, women who do not use sanitary napkins during menstruation are at 70% higher risk of contracting reproductive tract infection. White discharge, itching, burning sensation, swelling in the uterus and frequent urge to urinate can be other fallouts. If not taken care of, the infection can reach vagina and enter the umbilical cord. The possibility of bacteria reaching the vagina or urinary tract increases through defecation.

Rachna Dhingra, women's rights activist and member of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, said there was a need to create awareness in rural areas about menstrual hygiene. "Village women and girls use the same cloth for a long time and do not wash and dry it properly, which can lead to many diseases." Nobody has an answer

If handling sanitary pads were much easier, why was its supply stopped? Ask anyone, and the standard reply is "they stopped coming". An Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) supervisor from Betul district told 101Reporters that sometimes the demand was so high that they had to make calls for distribution of more pads. "Even in rural areas, most adolescent girls and women started using pads after Project Udita was launched. Now, it is back to square one." An anganwadi worker from Narmadapuram district confirmed that the pads costing Rs 12 were much sought-after. Another from Narayanganj in Mandla said she used to order as many pads as she thought would be necessary after gauging the demand. "We were told to buy for Rs 60 the sanitary pads that were earlier available at Rs 12. As women cannot afford it, we stopped giving orders," said another worker.

Along with lack of demand for sanitary pads, an anganwadi worker in Kilol Park area of Bhopal had to deal with the problem of rats. "The special corner has proved to be very popular here. In January last year, we had to close it down for two months as rats gnawed the pads stored there. As there was no scope of government help, I had to bear the cost of these unsold pads and pay the price to the vendor," she told 101Reporters on condition of anonymity.

She usually bought sanitary pads by keeping aside a part of her honorarium of Rs 10,000 and adjusted the amount later when buyers gave money. That had to be stopped as her honorarium was not paid for a few months. She has again started receiving the monthly pay on time now, but has no plans to buy pads as keeping them safe from rats is a big task. The pad-making units do not manufacture dispensing units.

Sukarma Foundation chairperson Maya Vishwakarma, better known as 'Padwoman of India', told 101Reporters that Project Udita has remained only on paper. "In anganwadi centres, women did not get pads free of cost. Only a few centres, that too mostly in cities, had special corners. The pads can be cheaper, but 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged on the raw material. In such a situation, how can anyone supply pads at low rates? If anyone still manages to sell cheap, its quality may not be good," she said.

Emphasising the need to provide concession, she added, "No government can distribute sanitary pads free of cost, it should not either. Rather, it should reduce the production cost by giving a GST exemption." Despite repeated attempts, officials in the Women and Child Development Department were not ready to divulge any information regarding Project Udita. On condition of anonymity, one of them told 101Reporters that not a single rupee was allocated for the scheme.

"The government says sanitary pads should be made available to women. From where and how will anganwadis get it done? We do not have an answer when anganwadi workers put forth these questions. Earlier, it could be made available at low rates. Now, the cost of raw materials and production charges have increased. How can any vendor make it available for Rs 12 or 15?" Meanwhile, Shashi Shyam Uike, Joint Director, Women and Child Development Department, Jabalpur Division, told 101Reporters that pads were being made available in the anganwadi centres in his division. "We will take necessary steps if they are not available in any anganwadi." Irony is that Mandla falls under Jabalpur division and girls like Chanda are yet to see a renewed supply of sanitary pads.

( is a Bhopal-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
New Delhi, May 8 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Monday that it has taken the custody of Venugopal S., proprietor of Kechery Enterprises, from the custody of Kerala Police for allegedly collecting illegal deposits from the public to the tune of Rs 240 crore and subsequently cheating them by not repaying their money.

The investigation conducted by ED till date has revealed that the accused person, while accepting the deposits from general public, assured high returns ranging from 15 per cent to 18 per cent per annum and further assured them that Kechery Enterprises had the recognition of RBI and that the investments were secured. He also told the depositors that they could withdraw the investments at any point of time and that his business entity has got all the necessary approvals from the state and Central governments.

Eventually, more than 1,000 persons were cheated in the scam in and around the southern districts of Kerala, while over 500 FIRs were requested against the accused.

A PMLA court has now granted the custody of the accused to ED for a period of four days.

"Further investigation is in progress to trace the proceeds of crime and other beneficiaries who assisted Venugopal in the scam," said an ED official.
Moscow, May 9 : Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov have agreed to deepen military and military technical cooperation in a joint statement issued by the leaders following their talks in Moscow.

After discussing issues related to ensuring security in the Central Asian region, in the context of joint counteraction against external challenges and threats, both leaders confirm on Monday their readiness to further deepen military and military technical cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement.

They agreed on the importance of strengthening the Kyrgyz armed forces and developing Russian military facilities situated in Kyrgyzstan to further ensure the protection of the country's sovereignty and counter terrorism, according to the statement.

Within the statement, the sides also attached importance to trade and economic cooperation, which is set to develop through the implementation of joint projects in the industrial and fuel and energy sectors, as well as in the agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure sectors, among others.

Zhaparov will attend the Victory Day military parade, which will be held in Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 : A minor fire broke out at the Kerala State Secretariat here on Tuesday morning.

The fire, reported in the office of Industries Minister P.Rajeev's additional private secretary Vinod, was brought under control within 15 minutes.

District Collector and top police officials rushed to the spot. A short circuit has been identified as the cause.

However, according to some, there is more to it than meets the eye as the fire broke out at a time when the Congress-led Opposition is up in arms Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and P. Rajeev over the alleged AI camera scam.

The opposition has been questioning the manner in which state public sector Keltron handled the issue, which they allege is around Rs 100 crore.

Incidentally, the fire broke a day after Income Tax officials conducted an inspection at the office of Keltron - which was the implementing agency in the project of installing AI cameras for the Transport Department.

Another reason for the doubt over the authenticity of the fire incident is when the gold smuggling case, in which Swapna Suresh - the prime accused who had alleged links with the high and mighty -surfaced in 2020, a fire had broken out in the general administration department of the Secretariat.

However, police have registered a case against this morning's incident.
New Delhi, May 9 : As part of a major step to protect public health, the government of Australia has banned vaping due to increased usage among teenagers.

Australia has become the 47th country to ban vaping and join countries like India, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Japan, Brazil, which have earlier banned e-cigarettes.

Earlier this month while announcing the ban on what has been seen as an epidemic, Australian Health Minister, Mark Butler said vaping has become a significant behavioural issue in high schools and a growing concern in elementary schools.

The Minister expressed his concern over the marketing strategy of disguising vapes as highlighter pens, which makes it easier for kids to hide and use them at school. He called it a shameful tactic and that the government is determined to eliminate this market.

The Australian government will ban the import of non-prescription vaping products including non-nicotine devices.

As the harmful effects of vaping are becoming more evident and its use among teenagers continues to rise globally, experts from various fields, including doctors, pulmonologists, child experts and psychologists are speaking out against vaping.

Many argue that vaping has become a gateway to smoking and that developed countries are late in banning these devices.

The long-term impact of e-cigarettes is still unknown, but studies have shown serious lung injuries and adverse health effects associated with their use.

Vikas Mittal, Associate Director, Pulmonology, Max Healthcare said: "Vaping and E-cigarettes are relatively new intoxication habits and long-term impacts are yet to be fully understood. However, since 2019, several peer-reviewed journals have reported e-cigarette-related lung injuries, some of which have been serious and required ICU interventions. Such concerns and the rising use of such devices among teens are prompting countries to take action and question the harmlessness of e-cigarettes.

"India has done well to ban e-cigarettes early on and any country not taking such measures is being slow in addressing an issue that will undoubtedly pose a health risk to future generations." Butler believes that the public was promised that vaping would be a pathway out of smoking, not a pathway into it.

Unfortunately, according to the Minister, this is what it has become.

Rajesh Gupta, Additional Director Pulmonology & Critical Care, Fortis Healthcare Noida, said: "It is not scientifically right to claim that a step-down from smoking cigarettes to E-cigarettes will effectively eliminate nicotine addiction. As per current knowledge, this approach is not going to work since E-cigarettes also contain nicotine. When a person uses an e-cigarette, the nicotine vapour is absorbed into the bloodstream and triggers the release of dopamine which is the pleasure chemical in the brain that sustains the addiction. Thus, promoting one form of smoking as a replacement for other form of smoking doesn't make sense.

"E-cigarettes become a step-up activity to smoking conventional cigarettes specially for children. This is because electronic devices which are a key part of e-cigarettes can be used to deliver other higher degrees of addictive substances which can be in the form of sticks or other liquids. I am surprised that developed countries are taking this long to ban e-cigarettes." India's ban on e-cigarettes in September 2019 was aimed at preventing the potential harm that e-cigarettes could pose to future generations.

The decision was made in consultation with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which listed the reasons for the ban in a white paper.

The white paper pointed out that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) contain highly addictive nicotine solutions, as well as other ingredients such as flavouring agents and vaporizers that are harmful to health and can cause adverse effects like cardiovascular and neurological disorders, as well as impact foetal development.

There are two forms of e-cigarettes being promoted: heated tobacco products and vaping devices.

Heated tobacco e-cigarettes heat actual tobacco instead of burning it, resulting in an aerosol that can be inhaled.

While vaping devices do not use tobacco but heat up a liquid usually containing nicotine to create an aerosol.
Washington, May 9 : US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has been calling CEOs and business leaders to discuss the consequences of brinkmanship around the debt ceiling.

The calls come on the heels of Yellen's message to Congress that the US could default on its obligations as soon as June 1, if lawmakers don't address the debt limit before then -- an accelerated timeline that increased pressure on President Joe Biden and House Republican lawmakers to ramp up their talks, CNN reported.

The Congressional Budget Office has also forecast that there is a "significantly greater risk that the Treasury will run out of funds in early June" because of weaker-than-expected tax collections.

In a report published last week, White House economists said that a protracted default would wipe out more than 8 million jobs and cut the value of the stock market in half.

The report estimated the impact under three scenarios: brinksmanship, a short default and a protracted default.

A White House spokesperson said the protracted default scenario envisions a three-month long impasse, CNN reported.

Even a brinksmanship scenario, where a default is avoided, would wipe out 200,000 jobs and knock 0.3 percentage points off annual gross domestic product, according to the Biden administration.

In a short default, the economy would suffer the loss of about half a million jobs and the unemployment rate would rise by 0.3 percentage points, the economists said.

Biden is set to meet all four congressional leaders -- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries -- on Tuesday in hopes of avoiding potential default and catastrophic economic consequences less than a month from now.

The White House has said it will not negotiate over the debt ceiling, CNN reported.
The Ukroliyaprom association of fat and vegetable oil industry participants considers the current situation with access to the grain corridor unfair and unsettled and proposes that the problem with quotas and the queue of agricultural products for export by sea is solved by a government decree that would assign quotas to each sector of the agribusiness and form a transparent queue, understandable to all exporters.

"Logistics issues have come to the fore in the work of the industry. The inability to ship manufactured products leads to the need to stop plants. This should not happen even in the difficult conditions of the war ongoing in the country," Director General of the Ukroliyaprom Association Stepan Kapshuk said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

He said that the oil and fat industry occupies 30% of the Ukrainian agribusiness, 70% of the production of value-added goods, and brings 15% of foreign exchange earnings from the country's total exports.

According to him, India and China have traditionally been buyers of Ukrainian oil. "Because of the confusion in developing the so-called quotas for the export of agricultural products, Ukraine is losing its position in India," Kapshuk said.

The head of Ukroliyaprom said that the industry association would demand giving priority quotas to plants located in ports to export oil and fat products. The situation can be solved by providing the industry with 15 tankers per month, which will export the products accumulated in the ports, he said.

The Allseeds group, one of the largest producers of sunflower oil and meal in Ukraine, cannot resume exports from the Pivdenny port for a week due to this problem, Allseeds group executive director Yevhen Okhrimenko said at the press conference.

"The oil and fat industry and its customers faced the fact that when exporting, preference is given to wheat and maize, that is the export of raw materials, and not the export of value-added products. Different types of oils mean added value. It shows a more significant economic effect on the state budget. It is FX earnings, which is significantly higher than from the sale of grain," he said.

According to Okhrimenko, at present, the enterprise has fully loaded port warehouses, which store the products of both the Allseeds group and the customers who rent these facilities. "The accumulated goods have a shelf life that is significantly shorter than that of the goods of the grain group. They must be promptly exported," he said.

Head of the legal service of Allseeds Black Sea LLC Vasyl Fastovets said that the company sent inquiries to various departments, but all their answers came down to the phrase "the issue is being considered." In particular, Odesa Regional State Administration reported that the issue of organizing a queue of agricultural products that should be exported by sea is handled by the coordination logistics office, which operates under the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

According to him, the Ministry of Infrastructure recommended looking for an answer to the problem in the rules for the operation of ports, which are regulated by a decree of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA). When studying all the provisions on the operation of the Pivdenny port on the USPA website, one would not find there the concept of "quota." At the meetings of the logistics office, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy discusses the basic principle of quota distribution, and "the issue will be further studied," he added.

"Nobody knows and does not understand the very principle of generating the quotas. This proves that there are no rules for organizing a queue of ships, it is only being considered. In fact, the quotas are already working," Fastovets said.

He said it is impossible to work wihtout regulation or with manual regulation according to non-transparent rules.

According to Allseeds representatives, the monthly need of their company, taking into account the accumulated cargo for export within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is five vessels per month for transporting vegetable oil and at least three vessels per month for transporting meal.

Ukroliyaprom and representatives of Allseeds appealed to the government to intervene in the situation and ensure the equality of all port operators when using port infrastructure and exporting by sea.

"Now, 400 employees are unemployed. There is another enterprise nearby, where 170 employees are idle. Since April 5, they have not been able to export even 10,000 tonnes of oil to the UK. It is a general trend that requires urgent intervention," Kapshuk said.

The Allseeds group is one of the five largest Ukrainian producers and exporters of vegetable oils and meal. It owns an oilseed processing plant with a daily capacity of 2,200 tonnes of sunflower seeds (or 1,500 tonnes of rapeseed or 1,000 tonnes of soybeans), located in the Pivdenny port (Odesa region).

Allseeds also provides transshipment services for vegetable oils and oilseed meals at its terminals in the Pivdenny port. The capacity for simultaneous storage of vegetable oils is more than 100,000 tonnes, and that for meal is 30,000 tonnes.
New York, May 9 : Efforts are on to repatriate the mortal remains of the Indian engineer who was killed in a mass shooting at a mall in the US state of Texas on May 6, the Indian Consulate in Houston said.

The Consulate added that two more Indian nationals were injured during the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen near Dallas.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, the 27-year-old engineer from Telangana, was among the nine victims.

"Consulate is facilitating completion of requisite formalities with regard to mortal remains of the deceased. Two other Indian nationals have been injured in the tragic shooting incident," the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Houston tweeted on Tuesday.

"We are in constant touch with the local & hospital authorities, relatives of the injured and Acommunity leaders. Consulate officials are in Dallas to render all possible assistance," the CGI wrote in an update to its earlier tweet.

Expressing condolences, the CGI had said on Monday that it is in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local authorities, and is closely monitoring the situation.

"Our officers are on the ground to render all possible assistance. We are closely monitoring the situation," the CGI said.

A resident of Saroornagar area in Hyderabad, Aishwarya was working as project manager in a company called Perfect General Contractors LLC in Texas.

Her family was in deep shock after receiving the news of her death.

Her father Narsi Reddy works as a judge in Rangareddy district court, IANS reported on Monday.

Aishwarya was shopping with a friend when they were shot by gunman Mauricio Garcia, a 33 year-old who had served briefly in the US army, but was removed because of mental health problems.

He was shot dead by a law enforcement officer who was patrolling the area.

Gun laws are among the weakest in Texas.

The Republican-ruled state has seen some of the worst mass shootings recently, including the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde last May, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed.
Tbilisi, May 9 : The Georgian government announced that it will provide financial assistance to World War II veterans and family members of the soldiers who died to mark the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

According to a statement issued by the government, the one-time financial aid package will include 1,000 lari for the veterans, while family members of those killed during the war will receive 500 lari, reports Xinhua news agency.

The statement said the country's social service agency of the Ministry of Health will provide the assistance.

To mark the 78th anniversary of the victory of World War II, the Georgian government will also hold a series of celebrations on May 9, which is observed in Georgia each year together with most European countries as Victory Day.

Up to 700,000 Georgians served as part of the Soviet armed forces in WWII, with nearly 400,000 killed in armed action, according to the numbers released by the State Service of Veterans Affairs of Georgia.
Geneva, May 9 : More than 4.5 million women and babies die every year during pregnancy, childbirth or the first weeks after birth -- equivalent to one death happening every seven seconds -- mostly from preventable or treatable causes, according to a new report from the United Nations on Tuesday.

The report, improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth, shows that global progress in reducing deaths of pregnant women, mothers and babies has flatlined for eight years since 2015, due to decreasing investments in maternal and newborn health.

Since 2015, there have been around 290,000 maternal deaths each year, 1.9 million stillbirths -- babies who die after 28 weeks of pregnancy -- and a staggering 2.3 million newborn deaths, which are deaths in the first month of life.

"Pregnant women and newborns continue to die at unacceptably high rates worldwide, and the Covid-19 pandemic has created further setbacks to providing them with the healthcare they need," said Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at the World Health Organization (WHO).

"If we wish to see different results, we must do things differently. More and smarter investments in primary healthcare are needed now so that every woman and baby -- no matter where they live -- has the best chance of health and survival," she added.

The Covid pandemic, rising poverty, and worsening humanitarian crises have intensified pressures on stretched health systems.

Just one in 10 countries (of more than 100 surveyed) report having sufficient funds to implement their current plans.

Moreover, according to the latest WHO survey on the pandemic's impacts on essential health services, around a quarter of countries still report ongoing disruptions to vital pregnancy and postnatal care and services for sick children.

"Since the Covid-19 pandemic, babies, children and women who were already exposed to threats to their well-being, especially those living in fragile countries and emergencies, are facing the heaviest consequences of decreased spending and efforts on providing quality and accessible healthcare," said Steven Lauwerier, UNICEF Director of Health.

Funding shortfalls and underinvestment in primary healthcare can devastate survival prospects. For instance, while prematurity is now the leading cause of all under-five deaths globally, less than a third of countries report having sufficient newborn care units to treat small and sick babies.

To increase survival rates, women and babies must have quality, affordable healthcare before, during and after childbirth, as well as access to family planning services.

More skilled and motivated health workers, especially midwives, are needed, alongside essential medicines and supplies, safe water, and reliable electricity, suggested the report, launched at a global conference held in Cape Town, South Africa.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said public statements should not be made in a sub-judice matter, after the court was informed that the Union Home Minister had made statements in connection with Muslim reservation in Karnataka.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the petitioners, cited before a bench headed by Justice K.M. Joseph a statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The bench said the court cannot permit politicisation like this, "when we are ready to hear the matter" and further added, when the matter is sub-judice and before the apex court then such statements should not be made.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, submitted that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional. The Home Minister is reportedly said to have called the Muslim reservation against the Constitution. Mehta denied any knowledge of such a statement, however he stressed that "in the manifesto, one is entitled to".

Dave contended that he can bring on record the minister's statement before the court. The bench emphasized that the court has nothing to do with politics and public statements on this should not be made.

The top court recorded Mehta's statement that no action would be taken on the state government's March 27 decision to scrap the 4 per cent reservation to Muslims.

After the hearing submissions, the bench deferred the hearing on the matter till July.

The petitioners, which include L. Ghulam Rasool and others, have contended that the inclusion of Muslim community in the EWS list is unlawful.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had made some strong observations against the manner in which the Karnataka government scrapped the 4 per cent OBC quota for Muslims and placed them under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, saying the foundation of the decision-making process is highly shaky and flawed.

The top court had observed that the state government's decision was prima facie based on fallacious assumption and was vitiated as it is based on an interim report of a commission. The petitioners moved the apex court challenging the Karnataka government decision to scrap the Muslim quota.
New Delhi, May 9 : Being a parent is difficult enough without having to also work as social media influencers; adding the stress of your professional life as an influencer might seem like an impossible challenge.

Being a professional social media influencer is challenging because you must continuously balance managing your personal life with creating content and thinking about many aspects of communication. Additionally, it can be difficult to decide between real moments and showcasing reels for your platforms.

"Achieving success as a social media influencer requires more than just great content, it takes a time and energy commitment, too. Balancing influencer life with parenting, however, can be a challenge, from finding time to film content to developing engaging posts even when the energy is low. In fact, by learning how to effectively manage your time, you can turn your career into an amazing opportunity for both you and your family. Define an ideal timeline of how you want your day to look and stick to it as much as possible. Not only will this help keep your following engaged but will also make sure you're present when family time comes around," says Pushpal Singh, That Couple Though.

Prioritising Your Commitments to Work and Family It's no secret that parenting is hard work. As a social media influencer, it can feel like you have to constantly choose between advancing your career and meeting the needs of your children. Balancing these commitments requires thoughtful prioritisation, both of yourself and of your family.

Take time for yourself. Self-care is important for maintaining a healthy mental state and for living up to your responsibilities as a parent. It's difficult to be there for those around you if you aren't taking care of yourself first.

You should also think carefully before taking on too many commitments that could prevent you from being emotionally or physically present with your children. For example, if you're tempted to accept an offer that requires long hours or excessive travel, consider if it's worth sacrificing spending time with your kids.

Making Priorities Clear Before accepting sponsored partnerships, be sure your priorities are clear-it's important to protect your brand authenticity and make sure you're representing yourself well. You need to pick and choose what brand partnerships will make sense with your parenting journey and have an impact on your followers. Not every opportunity is right for every parent-influencer, so don't feel obligated to accept every offer that lands in your inbox.

Your family and your career as an influencer are both important and deserving of your attention and efforts. Finding the balance between the two can be a delicate tightrope act, but it can be done. By using your platform to spread positive messages, and being mindful of the content you share online, you can show the world that it is possible to be a parent and a successful influencer at the same time.

Your message will be embraced and it will encourage others to pursue their passions and find the balance between reels and reality. Whether you choose to be transparent or strategic with your content, the most important message to share is that it is possible to be a great parent and an amazing influencer.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 9: With Cambodia as the spur, Beijing is consolidating its hold in the Gulf of Thailand, which can become the gateway for Chinese ships to enter the Indian Ocean.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency is reporting that the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) last week secured a contract from a Cambodian firm to construct a multi-purpose seaport in southwestern Cambodia's Kampot province.

The Kampot deep water port is in southern Cambodia on the edge eastern edge of the Gulf of Thailand.

The contract was signed between CHEC-Cambodia office's managing director Lan Qiuli and Meas Thom, president of Kampot Logistics and Port Company. The Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol was present on the occasion.

The 600-hectare Kampot Logistics and Port project began in May last year, with the Shanghai Construction Group and the China Road and Bridge Corporation also being the contractors.

Chanthol, the Cambodian minister said the 15-year project has an estimated cost 1.5 billion US dollars, and the construction has been divided into three phases.

The first phase from 2022 to 2025 is expected to cost 200 million dollars, he said.

The 15-meter deepwater Kampot port will be able to accommodate vessels weighing up to 100,000 tons and capable of handling 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025 and up to 600,000 TEUs in 2030, Xinhua reported "This mega-project includes a container terminal, a special economic zone, a free trade area, a logistics hub, an oil refinery, and a terminal for tourist vessels, among others," he said.

The Cambodian minister was quoted as saying that the port in Kampot province will be the third largest port after the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in the coastal city of Sihanoukville and the freshwater Phnom Penh Autonomous Port in capital Phnom Penh.

By building the port, China would be bolstering its profile in the Gulf of Thailand, which is separated from the Indian Ocean by a section of the Malay peninsula in the west and the Indo-China pen In fact, the Chinese are upgrading and modernizing the infrastructure at the port of Ream in Cambodia. It includes a new command centre, meeting and dining halls, as well as medical outposts. A drydock, slipway, and two new piers will also be constructed. China will also undertake dredging to prepare the port for hosting larger vessels, presumably naval warships.

In the past the Chinese have also shown interest in the Kra canal which, if constructed can link the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea.

The Thai Canal (previously known as the Kra Canal) refers to a proposed 135-km canal across southern Thailand that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea.

China has long envisaged constructing the 135-kilometer canal across the Kra Isthmus. Keen to avoid the Malacca strait, which the Americans dominate, China hopes to channel some of its shipping through the Canal. Besides, by channelling energy tankers through the Kra canal, the Chinese hope to reduce transit costs by nearly 80 per cent.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Chennai, May 9 : With cabinet reshuffle on cards in Tamil Nadu, high profile Finance Minister, P.T.R Thiagarajan is likely to be divested of the finance portfolio.

He is likely to be given a minor portfolio.

It may be recalled that an audio clip reported to be that of Thiagarajan went viral in which he spoke against the Chief Minister's son, Udayanidhi Stalin and his son-in-law Sabareesan.

The speaker in the audio clip was also saying that the two were involved in swindling huge funds after the Stalin government assumed office.

Thiagarajan had an audience with the Chief Minister Stalin at the latter's Alwarpet residence a week ago and there were reports that the snow had melted. However, sources in the DMK told IANS that Stalin has always been not very happy over the performance of PTR and his attitude towards fellow ministers.

PTR is likely to be replaced by state industries minister Thangam Thenarasu, considered the blue eyed boy of the Chief Minister.

Tamil Nadu Dairy development minister, S.M. Nasser is likely to be shunted out along with Adi Dravidar Minister, Kayalvizhi Selvaraj. Selvaraj is likely to be replaced by Manamadurai MLA, Tamizharasi.

Mannargudi MLA T.R.B.A. Raaja, who is the son of senior DMK leader TR Baalu, is likely to join the cabinet in the reshuffle. State tourism minister Ramachandran is in all likelihood to be removed from the cabinet.

Chief Minister Stalin has already stated openly that non performing ministers would be removed from the cabinet and replaced with fresh blood.

The cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place by the month end after the Chief Minister returns from a foreign trip.
Brisbane, May 9 : The health authority in the Australian state of Queensland issued an alert on Tuesday, warning local communities against taking illegally sourced drugs.

The alert came after the seizure of counterfeit medications containing life-threatening substances, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to Queensland Health, tablets found in various investigations this year have tested positive to protonitazene, a very strong opioid that can be fatal even in small amounts.

The drugs have been branded to appear as genuine medications including Xanax, which is not available commercially in Australia.

John Allan, Queensland Health's Executive Director of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, urged people not to consume counterfeit or altered medications and substances under any circumstances.

He said that unsuspecting users may not notice the counterfeits, as many of the tablets appear genuine in labelled Xanax bottles.

"Protonitazene can lead to respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, coma and death, even if taken in small quantities," said Allan.

"Nitazenes, including protonitazene, are a group of synthetic opioids that can be as strong or stronger than fentanyl. They have been detected in Queensland and other states and territories in various forms including tablets, powders and liquids," he added.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that local police are trying to find the source of the illegal tablets, with an investigation ongoing over whether two deaths in the state are linked to counterfeit pills.
Beijing, May 9 : Chinese authorities appear to be running a targeted espionage investigation of foreign consulting firms operating in the country, according to a state media report, after recent raids on the offices of several international firms The latest known case saw officers raid multiple offices used by the business consulting firm Capvision in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou and Shenzhen, The Guardian reported citing the Chinese state media as saying on Monday.

It followed raids on Mintz Group in March, which saw five employees arrested and the branch shut down.

US management consulting firm Bain & Company said its Shanghai office was visited by Chinese officers in April, and employees questioned.

A report on CCTV on Monday alleged Capvision, which was founded in China and has joint headquarters in New York and Shanghai, had paid employees of Chinese state-owned companies to leak secrets.

It did not say when the raids took place, but reportedly said a multiagency investigation had seen one employee of a state-owned company jailed for six years for providing state secrets to Capvision's overseas clients, the Guardian reported.

The report suggested there was growing suspicions of such firms, as well as domestic companies which work with the due diligence and business research industry.

It said some consulting firms were ignoring national security risks in seeking market share and profit, and becoming "accomplices for overseas espionage, bribery, and extraction of national secrets and intelligence", the Guardian reported.

"In recent years, some western countries have been implementing strategies to contain and suppress China, with increasing rampant activities to steal intelligence information in key areas such as military, military industry, economy, and finance," it said, according to a translation by China analyst Bill Bishop.
Lucknow, May 9 : Uttar Pradesh will now adopt the early warning system (EWS), a mechanism to alert schools about children who are at the risk of discontinuing studies.

The 15-member team led by Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh that visited The Netherlands last month to study their innovative approaches to check school dropouts, will soon submit its reports to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The team was accompanied by UNICEF officials.

Education specialist, UNICEF, Ritwik Patra, said, "While Uttar Pradesh has already introduced EWS in 150 schools of the Devi Patan division, there are some good practices in The Netherlands that can be adopted to enhance the programme." "Any child not attending school is a serious issue there. The country strictly follows legislative commitment of not leaving any child behind and both schools and parents are equally responsible for it. There is virtually no dropouts at the elementary level," Patra added.

Another member said: "The job market there is highly formal. Students are provided maximum flexibility to continue their education with many choices mixed with academic and vocational studies. Students are regularly counselled towards selecting the most appropriate choice of their education. The counsellors work closely with schools, students and parents to ensure that all students have the most suitable opportunities and receive the minimum level of certification necessary for job market." In Uttar Pradesh, the school dropout rate at elementary level is 2.75 per cent which is nearly the same as the national average of 2.96 per cent.

Special efforts are made to ensure that children acquire the skills to fit into the job market. The team also learned about system of leave approval.

According to a UNICEF member, "The Netherlands has the system of excused and unexcused leaves. Children are supposed to take leaves from schools and schools only grant leaves as per government-authorised excused leaves." "Unexcused leaves are considered as absence from schools. Schools are penalised if excused leaves are granted for reasons not authorised by the state. For excused leaves, schools must inform authorities."
Added details (first version published at 10:40)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The 78th anniversary of the historic victory over Nazism in World War II, one of the most devastating wars in world history, is being marked, Trend reports via the statement of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry in connection with May 9 - Victory Day.

On this significant day, we honor with deep respect the blessed memory of all those who fought against Nazism - a serious threat to humanity, including our heroic compatriots who showed unparalleled courage and selflessness during the war years, the statement said.

The role and merits of the Azerbaijani people, who showed courage on the front line during the war, as well as in the rear, who sent more than 600,000 people to the front, who passed a glorious military path from the Caucasus to Berlin, in achieving victory over Nazis, are undeniable. For the courage shown in winning the victory, 123 of Azerbaijani compatriots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and more than 170 thousand soldiers and officers were awarded various orders and medals.

The selfless work of the Azerbaijani people in the rear, and their full mobilization in the name of victory was of exceptional importance for supporting the army fighting at the front, including for winning the war. Azerbaijan's natural resources, especially oil reserves, played a decisive role in ensuring victory in the fight against the Nazis.

In 1941-1945, Azerbaijan accounted for more than 70 percent of the oil produced in the Soviet Union, 80 percent of gasoline and 90 percent of motor oils. Thanks to the invaluable work of Azerbaijani oil workers, who worked around the clock and seven days a week to meet the needs of the front, the made products played a decisive role in the fate of the war.

The modern history of Azerbaijani people who throughout history have been ready to sacrifice in the name of protecting the homeland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, is known for brilliant victories, and in particular for the glorious victory in the 44-day Second Karabakh War won by the resolute Azerbaijani Army led by Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. It was during the 44-day Second Karabakh War that Azerbaijani people mobilized in the name of restoring the internationally recognized territorial integrity of the country, putting an end to almost 30 years of Armenian military occupation, thereby managing to write a glorious victory in the history of Azerbaijan.

The dear memory of Azerbaijani compatriots who gave their lives for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the homeland will forever remain in the hearts of Azerbaijani people. With deep respect and gratitude, we honor our heroic compatriots who have inscribed glorious victories in our history," the Azerbaijani MFA's statement said.
Wellington, May 9 : New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson on Tuesday said that moderation in economic activity is being reflected in the government's books, while the country is facing challenges ahead, including the cost of living, the impact of recent extreme weather and the uncertain global economy.

For the nine months to the end of March, core Crown tax revenue was NZ$2.3 billion ($1.46 billion) below forecast, partly offset by core Crown expenses being NZ$700 million below forecast, Xinhua news agency quoted Robertson as saying.

Overall, the Operating Balance before Gains and Losses (OBEGAL) recorded a deficit of NZ$3.4 billion.

That was NZ$2.5 billion higher than forecast at December's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, and NZ$4.7 billion lower than that for the same period a year ago, he said.

Net debt was 19.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), below the forecast of 20.4 per cent of GDP and well below the government's debt ceiling of 30 per cent, he added.

The Treasury has estimated the cost of asset damage from the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in the first two months of 2023 at between NZ$9 billion and NZ$14.5 billion, with half of that related to infrastructure owned by central or local government such as roads.
Patna: Students from Bihar, studying in Manipur, upon their arrival at Jayprakash Narayan Airport after being evacuated from the ongoing violence in Manipur, in Patna, on Tuesday, May 09, 2023. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Patna: Students from Bihar, studying in Manipur, upon their arrival at Jayprakash Narayan Airport after being evacuated from the ongoing violence in Manipur, in Patna, on Tuesday, May 09, 2023. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Patna, May 9 : Amid violence in Manipur, Bihar government rescued around 170 students from there and brought them back to Patna on Tuesday.

The Bihar government made special arrangements for the purpose. The students felt relieved after they landed at Patna airport. They claimed that the situation was ugly in Manipur last week and now it is limping back to normalcy.

The students said that violence was taking place everywhere but educational institutions were unaffected with it.

"My institute was located near the defence camp. The situation was normal there but we were facing food and drinking water problems. The hostel authority was providing food only two times," said one of the students Ashok Kumar, a student of NIT Manipur.

"Due to violence, firing and bomb explosions, the situation was scary there. Hence, we contacted our parents and the state government of Bihar. The Bihar government made special arrangements for the purpose and we returned home without any cost of airfare," said another student Ravi Sharma.

They also said that the cost of airfare from Imphal to Kolkata and Patna climed three to four times higher.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed state chief secretary to contact the chief secretary of Manipur and make arrangements for it.

Sources said that over 300 students of Bihar are studying in Manipur and around 150 students are still there.
Islamabad, May 9 : A team of Pakistan Rangers arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan from outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman was taken into custody from the courtroom where he had gone to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him, reports Geo News.

The former premier was taken in a black vehicle by the law enforcement agency.

The development was confirmed by PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, while the party's Vice President Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the court has been "occupied by the Rangers" and lawyers "are being subjected to torture", reports Dawn.

"Imran Khan's car has been surrounded," he added.

PTI leader Azhar Mashwani alleged that Khan had been "abducted" from inside the court by Rangers, adding that the party had given an immediate call for staging protests in the country.

PTI's official Twitter account also shared the video of Imran's lawyer, saying that he was "badly injured" outside the court.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police said that Section 144 had been imposed in the capital city and also confirmed that no one was tortured, adding that the police had encircled Khan's car.

The former premier's detention follows several unsuccessful attempts, including a police raid at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, which he had managed to evade successfully.
Tokyo, May 9 : Japan's lower house of Parliament on Tuesday passed a contentious bill to amend an immigration law allowing authorities to deport foreign nationals who apply for refugee status multiple times.

The controversial revision of the immigration law has been heavily criticised by organisations established to support asylum seekers, reports Xinhua news agency.

Such entities believe that should the bill pass parliament's upper chamber and become enacted into law, it could lead to individuals being repatriated to their home countries where they face persecution.

The Japanese government believes the current system, which does not allow for foreign nationals to be deported while their application for refugee status is being processed, may be being abused.

It believes that foreign nationals have been applying for refugee status multiple times in the knowledge that while the status of their application is pending, they cannot be deported from Japan.

The envisioned amendment to the law, set to be debated in the upper chamber of Japan's bicameral parliament, will bring an end to the extended detention in immigration facilities for potential refugees, including foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas and have not complied with deportation orders.

Under the amended law, when applying for refugee status for the third time or later, those who fail the process for not being able to show why their status as a refugee should be granted will be repatriated by the Japanese government.

The amended law would, however, grant quasi-refugee status to individuals from conflict-affected regions, allowing them to stay in Japan even if they do not qualify for full refugee status.

Refugee status was given to a record 202 people in Japan in 2022.

But this was out of 3,772 applicants, with Japan falling far behind some European countries and the US who take in tens of thousands of refugees annually.
Hyderabad, May 9 : Telangana Board of Intermediate Education on Tuesday declared results of intermediate first and second year (11th and 12th class) exams.

The Board announced that the overall pass percentage was above 55. It said 63.85 per cent students cleared the first year exam while pass percentage for the second year is 67.26 per cent.

Education minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy announced the results. A total of 9,48,153 students had appeared in the exams conducted in March and April.

The authorities had set up 1,473 exam centres and deployed 26,000 invigilators. The minister revealed that services of 13,000 evaluators were used.

Out of 4,33,083 students who appeared in the intermediate first year exam, 2,72,208 students passed. Girls outshine boys with 68.68 pass percentage. The pass percentage of boys was 54.66.

For the second year exam, 3,80,920 students had appeared and out of them 2,56,241 cleared the exam. According to the Board, 71.57 per cent girls passed the exam. The pass percentage for boys was 56.60.

The minister said Medchal Malkajgiri district achieved the best result in the first year, while Mulugu district was passed in the second year.

Applications can be made from May 10 to May 16 for recounting and revaluation. Sabitha Indra Reddy announced that advanced supplementary exams will be conducted from June 4.

The minister appealed to students and parents not to get worried. She said that to ease pressure on students, the government has done away with the system under which intermediate marks were given weightage in EAMCET, the annual entrance test conducted for admissions to engineering, agriculture and other professional courses.

While government junior colleges had a poor pass percentage at 54, Telangana State Residential Junior Colleges (TSRJC) recorded 92 per cent pass percentage. Social welfare junior colleges, BC welfare junior colleges, model schools junior colleges, KGBV junior colleges, KGBV junior colleges and Telangana minorities residential junior colleges performed well.

The Board has set up a separate cell to help students overcome any stress, strain and anxiety. This cell called Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking across the State (Tele Manas) works round the clock. The services of psychologists and psychiatrists for counseling and guidance are available. Students can contact toll free number 14416.
Islamabad, May 9 : Based on orders by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.

Khan had travelled to Islamabad earlier in the day from his Lahore residence to appear before the IHC seeking bail in the Al-Qadir trust case lodged by the NAB.

However, upon his arrival at the IHC, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was arrested by the Rangers and took him to the NAB office.

According to NAB officials, arrest warrants for the former premier in the Al-Qadir trust case were issued on May 1.

The arrest was made under the same reference, the officials added.

Confirming the arrest, PTI's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that as soon as Khan arrived at the IHC, a large number of Rangers troops surrounded the court premises.

He also said that PTI lawyers and supporters were assaulted.

"Imran Khan has been arrested by Rangers outside the IHC. Lawyers have been subjected to torture and PTI workers and supporters are also being arrested," said Chaudhry.

IHC Chief Justice has taken notice of the arrest outside the premises, directing the Islamabad police chief, Interior Ministry secretary and additional attorney general to appear before the court immediately, warning that he would summon the Prime Minister if the officials did not appear within 15 minutes.

"Imran Khan has been arrested in Al-Qadir trust case. Situation in under control," said Inspector General Islamabad Amir Zulfiqar Khan.

The arrest comes hours after Imran Khan recorded a video message before leaving his residence in Lahore, stating that his claims against a senior intelligence agency official were true, who he claimed attempted to assassinate him in two different incidents.

The PTI chief had said that he will provide all evidences when required, calling out the military establishment to get ready to be held accountable by the people.

The arrest of Imran Khan has been on the wishlist of the ruling government, who have been piling up cases against the former premier.

In the wake of the arrest, the situation across the country is expected to become tense supporters of Imran khan are expected to take to the streets, which may lead to chaos and unrest in the coming days.
New Delhi, May 9 : A 25-year-old man posing as a dealer was arrested from Thane, Maharashtra, for defrauding people by creating counterfeit Google advertisements for 'OLA electric scooty', an official said on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Rajendra Shivram Panda, a resident of Dombivali East in Thane.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) said that an FIR was registered at Cyber Dwarka police station after the complainant alleged that he was in search of electric scooty and on Google search he found one contact of Raghav Sharma, Ola electric scooty dealer.

The complainant reached out to the accused on his mobile number. The alleged person requested a payment of Rs 499 for booking and subsequently demanded an additional sum of Rs 80,999 to receive the scooty within a week.

"The complainant made a payment of Rs 80,999 into a bank account provided by the accused. When the complainant asked for a receipt of payment, the alleged person insisted on transferring an additional 20,000 to his bank account. Subsequently, the accused person turned off his mobile phone," said the DCP.

During investigation, it is found that Rs 80,999 were transferred to one bank account of HDFC bank and further the amount was transferred from this bank to GP Parsik bank and later withdrawn through ATM.

"The alleged bank accounts were found registered in the name of Panda. A raid was conducted, however, the accused had left the address one year ago," said the official, adding that his location, contact history and call details record were technically analyzed, during which it revealed that he is currently in Dombivali East.

Panda was subsequently arrested, and during interrogation, he revealed that he is involved in creating counterfeit Google ads for OLA electric scooty.

"When contacted by members of the public, he would introduce himself as Raghav Sharma from Ola electric and instruct them to deposit the required amount in order to receive the electric scooty within a week," said the official.
New Delhi, May 9 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested five persons, including two advocates in connection with the Tamil Nadu PFI conspiracy case.

The accused were identified as Abdul Razzak, Advocate Mohamed Yusuf, Advocate M. Mohamed Abbas, Kyzer A. and Sathik Ali.

The NIA said with these arrests, the total number has reached 15.

Earleir in the day, searches were conducted by the NIA at six locations in the districts of Theni, Dindigul, Madurai and Chennai. Places searched included properties of the accused, including mostly houses and farmhouses.

"A host of incriminating material, including sharp edged weapons, digital devices and documents, were seized during the searches, leading to the arrest of the five accused," the NIA said.

The case related to unlawful and anti-national activities of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), was initially registered by the NIA on September 19, 2022.

The NIA had filed a charge sheet against 10 accused persons on March 17.

"Investigations revealed that the accused had conspired and planned to eliminate their 'perceived enemies' who were not aligned to the PFI ideology and were opposed to its plans to establish an Islamic State in India by 2047.

"In pursuance of the conspiracy, the accused persons had radicalised a large number of PFI cadres, especially youth, selected by the outfit's leadership, and had also trained them in the use of different kinds of weapons to assault, maim and kill their adversaries," the NIA had mentioned in the charge sheet.

Further investigations are in progress in the case.
New Delhi, May 9 : Meta on Tuesday announced the launch of #MadeonReels, a programme designed to take the power of Reels Ads to brands across verticals in the country.

The programme is aimed at enabling brands to supercharge business results through entertaining storytelling on Reels, and by leveraging the power of the thriving creator ecosystem in India.

At the start of the year, Meta in India decided to work with leading brands across categories to determine the impact Reels Ads could have on their marketing objectives.

Campaign results from brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk, Meesho, Navi, Maruti Nexa, Snitch, Amazon Prime Video and Tanishq showed that Reels Ads drove strong business outcomes across parameters such as ad-recall, message association, and conversions.

Based on the encouraging results, Meta is now launching #MadeOnReels for the wider ecosystem, inviting briefs from brands across verticals to be a part of this programme.

Selected brands will receive creative support, programme support, and the opportunity to work with three creators each on Reels campaigns around their specific marketing objectives.

Leading creators such as Niharika N.M., Barkha Singh, RJ Karishma, Ayush Mehra, Viraj Ghelani, Ruhee Dosani, and Masoom Minawala are going to be a part of the #MadeOnReels programme.

Arun Srinivas, Director and Head of Ads Business for Meta in India, said: "The results from the brand campaigns done so far demonstrate that the powerful combination of Reels Ads and creators can supercharge growth for brands and address their key marketing objectives. Our goal at Meta is to help businesses build for the evolving consumer behaviour and create a strong ecosystem for the future of digital advertising in the country. #MadeOnReels does precisely that." Meta also announced the India findings of Global Consumer Short-Form Video Survey by Factworks commissioned by Meta.

The findings showed that Reels can spark action, and that after watching Reels, people are more likely to follow, message, or even buy from a brand. 82 per cent of people surveyed in India said that they have followed a business after watching Reels, 74 per cent said they have messaged a business after seeing their Reels, and 77 per cent said they have purchased a product or service after watching Reels.

Ram Suresh Akella, Executive Director Marketing at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said: "As the largest car maker in the country, Maruti Suzuki India has always been at the forefront of driving innovation and capturing the imagination of our customers. We used Reels ads for the launch of our latest car Fronx at the Auto Expo 2023, partnering with creators to showcase different features of the car. Adding Reels to our brand creative mix helped us connect to consumers in their own language, yielding an incremental lift in brand metrics like ad recall and campaign awareness. Overall, the campaign received an overwhelming response from our consumers who watched the Reels." Aseem Sharma, Director, Head of Growth, Navi, said: "A lot of myths were busted for us when we used the combination of Reels Ads and creators that drove an 8 per cent reduction in cost per first-time transactions. The combination of creators and Reels is a powerful one that can unlock massive business growth for brands." #MadeOnReels programme is now inviting briefs from brands across verticals. Selected brands will get creative support, program support and access to three creators each whose costs will be managed by Meta.
London, May 9 : Two Indians are among 10 nurses shortlisted from across the world for the $250,000 Global Nursing Award, organised by a leading healthcare provider in the GCC and India, to recognise their contributions to humanity.

Shanti Teresa Lakra from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Kerala-born Jincy Jerry from Ireland will be evaluated by a judging panel for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, which will take place in London on May 12, coinciding with the International Nurses Day.

Lakra, from G.B. Pant Hospital in Port Blair, is working amongst Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- home to six Scheduled Tribes and of these six tribes, five have been classified as PVTGs.

In her early nursing days, she was posted to the sub-centre, Dugong Creek where one of the Primitive tribes Ongees are settled in the remotest area of Little Andaman.

Lakra is working for tribals in this region who are not well-informed about medical procedures and there is a language barrier. They also have unclear medical histories.

"In 2004 when the Indian Ocean tsunami swallowed the Ongee Island habitat and drove them deep into the jungle, Shanti was perseverant and made her home with them and lived in an open tent," her citation read. She is a recipient of several awards such as the National Florence Nightingale Award in 2010, Indian Red Cross Society Best Volunteer, and Best Health Worker Award in 2011.

India honoured Lakra in 2011 with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri for her incredible service.

Kerala-born Jincy Jerry of Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin serves as Assistant Director of Nursing for Infection Prevention and Control.

"Jerry believes that innovation is a way to increase quality and patient safety and has developed digital, device and service innovations.

"The challenges faced by Ireland's healthcare infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic pushed her to learn and implement these solutions to fulfil repetitive, high-volume tasks. These solutions contributed to enhanced coordination, better workforce management, systematic practices, and a lower burnout rate among the staff," according to the citation.

To cut down on the potential for human error while collating results from laboratories, Jerry also designed an appropriate software solution. She won the Prix Hubert Tuor Innovation Academy Award in 2021.

Over 52,000 registrations from over 202 countries were received for the second edition of the Award. Aster DM Healthcare is one of the leading healthcare providers in the GCC and India, currently operating 30 hospitals, 125 clinics, 496 pharmacies and 177 labs & Patient Experience Centres spread across seven countries.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The next tasks were successfully accomplished during the "Anatolian Eagle - 2023" International Flight-Tactical Exercises, held in Konya, Republic of Turkiye, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

After the general briefing, Azerbaijani pilots clarified on the map the activities to be performed.

On the next day of the exercises, a simulation of the task on entering an imaginary enemys airspace, using the capabilities of modern satellite navigation systems, detecting and destroying small mobile and stationary ground targets camouflaged in mountainous areas was carried out.

Methods of evading the imaginary enemy's air defense means by performing complex combat maneuvers at medium altitude were also worked out.

The assigned tasks were successfully fulfilled by the military pilots.

As part of the mutual exchange of experience, Azerbaijani pilots share the combat experience, gained during the 44-day Patriotic War, with military pilots of other participating countries, and also benefit from their experience.
Mumbai, May 9 : Actor Aashim Gulati, who is gearing up for the second season of the historical fiction streaming show 'Taj: Divided by Blood', has revealed that sharing the screen with an actor of Naseeruddin Shah's stature did make him feel nervous but he overcame the nervousness by tricking his mind into believing that he was just serving a character and drawing from Naseer's character.

Aashim portrays the role of Salim, the son to Naseer's character of Akbar in the series.

The second season will take a leap of 15 years after the end of the first season, and will chart Salim's journey from being the exiled enemy of the Mughal Empire to seeking blood and revenge in an attempt to become the next emperor.

Reflecting on his experience of working with Shah, the actor said, "From the very first reading of the script to the time I finished shooting, I felt a mix of nervousness and intimidation. I knew that I had to bring my A-game to the table and couldn't afford to fumble. However, it was more like Salim standing in front of Akbar, rather than Aashim standing in front of Naseer sir." He further mentioned, "It wasn't Naseer sir who was intimidating, but his body of work that made me feel a bit edgy. To ease my nerves, I hoodwinked my mind to believe that it is 'Salim and Akbar', not Aashim and Naseer sir in a face-off. That helped me stay focused on my character and therefore the performance." He also revealed that he wouldn't have been able to play the role of Salim three years back, but now it's the right place that he is in.

He also shared that the show is not comparable to the Indian epic of 'Mughal-e-Azam', as it's a pure family drama and he has not even touched the surface of the greats, who have played Salim in the past.

Talking about his role as Salim, Aashim said that he wants to bring his own flavours to the character and not make it a caricature.

He said, "We have received so much love for Season 1 and now Season 2 is a progression of many years. I have tried to bring my own flavours to the character while keeping the essence of the history intact. It's my baby, and I have nurtured it till the release. After that, it's for the audience to see and judge. I am grateful for this opportunity and can't wait for the audience to see the show. Also playing a father for the first time in my life was an interesting experience, and I hope to do justice to the character." The actor also opened up about his past choices of working in television, saying that he didn't want to turn down any opportunities and aimed to achieve both financial stability and creative satisfaction.

He also shared that he once lost a job to someone who had a larger social media following than him, and that experience taught him to adapt to the changing times by improving his social media presence.

Season 2 of 'Taj - Divided by Blood', will start streaming on ZEE5 from May 12.
Islamabad, May 9 : Pakistan's Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the failure to sign a staff-level agreement between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan could lead to the country's increased reliance on China, which the US and other Western powers "must take into account", media reports said.

When questioned about the government's approach to the budget in the event of a failure to reach a deal with the IMF, the minister said that the US and other Western powers should bear in mind that Pakistan's dependence on China would intensify, Dawn reported.

The minister also noted that there is a trend of gradually shifting international oil transactions from the US dollar to other currencies, particularly the Chinese yuan, the report said.

Khan said that while Pakistan had met all the technical requirements, there was still a possibility that the staff-level agreement might not be reached due to geopolitical factors, adding that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would be better suited to provide clarity on the matter.

The minister said that in the event the country is unable to complete the staff-level agreement, Pakistan will fulfil all its financial commitments with the assistance of China or other friendly nations, and that the country will still strive to present the best possible budget given the circumstances, for the benefit of the people, Dawn reported.

When asked whether Pakistan is likely to default, as predicted by experts in the Western countries, the minister responded by noting that these experts have been predicting Pakistan's default for over a year now.

However, he emphasised that Pakistan had not delayed a single payment, and after weathering difficult times, the country is slowly but surely moving towards financial stability, Dawn reported.
San Francisco, May 9 : Google and several organisations in healthcare service delivery and research technology are working together to develop personalised hearing aids using artificial intelligence (AI).

The project was first announced earlier this year and involves Australia-based medical device company Cochlear, Macquarie University Hearing Hub members (NAL), Shepherd Centre, and US-based startup NextSense, reports Fox Business.

Google has stated that it intends to create hearing aids that use AI to address individual listening needs.

Such technology, according to the tech giant, will be especially useful for those who rely on hearing aids in noisy environments such as restaurants, live performances, or public transportation.

"With our partners, we look forward to building on this work and designing tools with and for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Because as long as there are barriers, we will have work to do," Google was quoted as saying.

Moreover, the report said that it will be easier for people who use hearing aids to follow conversations with AI, as they will be able to distinguish sound sources, such as people talking, more easily.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 1.5 billion people now living with hearing loss -- and that number could increase to more than 2.5 billion by 2050.

The CDC estimates that the total annual cost of untreated hearing loss worldwide is $980.
Chennai, May 9 : The Tamil Nadu police on Tuesday conducted checks at a special camp for foreign nationals located close to the Tiruchi central prison, and seized three mobile phones, one tablet, one laptop, and a modem in the raids.

Around 300 police personnel were involved in the searches led by two DCP-rank officers.

It may be noted that a similar raid was conducted on July 22 last year during which several incriminating documents linking the inmates to an international drugs cartel, mobile phones, and tablets were seized. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested nine persons during the raids of July 22.

Police sources told IANS that the raids were conducted based on information about the presence of narcotic substances in the camp.

The now defunct LTTE has been trying to regroup itself and Tamil Nadu has become a major hot-spot for its revamping process. A former intelligence operative of the LTTE, Santukam alias Sabesan (47), was arrested in October 2021 after he was linked to smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition which were seized from the Arabian Sea near the Vizhinjam coast in Kerala.
New Delhi, May 9 : Global conglomerate Vedanta on Tuesday said it has appointed industry veteran Terry Daly as advisor for its semiconductor business.

He will be responsible for providing strategic counsel and inputs as the conglomerate looks at setting up a state-of-the-art semiconductor fab unit and semiconductor assembling and testing unit in India.

"We are pleased to welcome Daly to our team. As an industry veteran, he brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience in managing several workstreams that are critical for establishing a world-class semiconductor fab," said David Reed, CEO, Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL).

Daly joins Vedanta from his post as an independent consultant in the microelectronics industry.He was instrumental in establishing a strategic alliance on advanced technology with Samsung and in the acquisition of IBM's microelectronics business.

"India has a generational opportunity to become part of the global semiconductor supply chain and provide geographic diversification to its customers, supply chain resiliency to its partners, and job creation opportunities to its extremely talented population," said Daly.

"I am very impressed by the unique, complementary partnership that Vedanta and Foxconn bring to the opportunity to establish India's first commercial semiconductor fab," he added.

Daly spent 26 years at IBM, the majority in its semiconductor division. Before joining IBM, he spent five years as an officer in the US Army.

Vedanta-Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL) is a joint venture between Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, better known as Foxconn, and Vedanta Resources Limited, a globally diversified natural resources company.

VFSL will establish an integrated semiconductor fab foundry in India. In phase 1, the company will set up capacity of 40,000 wafers per month to cater to applications in displays, consumer electronics, industrial, mobiles, network equipment and automotives.
New York, May 9 : Google will give around $100 million to The New York Times over three years as part of a broad deal to use its content on some of its platforms, the media reported.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Alphabet company will use the NYT content on Google News Showcase and some other platforms.

The NYT in February this year announced an expansion of its agreement with Google.

It "described as an expanded agreement that included content distribution and subscriptions, as well as using Google tools for marketing and ad-product experimentation." The NYT and Google did not immediately comment on the WSJ report.

The deal covers distribution, subscriptions, marketing and ad products.

In late 2020, an online news experience called Google News Showcase was launched. This platform helps participating publishers share their expertise and editorial voice through an enhanced storytelling experience.

The platform is also a global content licensing programme. Google pays participating publishers to curate quality journalism for an improved online news experience that benefits readers and publishers.

To help readers discover new content, Google News Showcase offers no-charge access to select paywalled articles on a participating publisher's site that would otherwise only be available to subscribers.
Ranchi, May 9 : A project coordinator-cum-general manager of a company engaged in coal mining work for NTPC at Barkagaon in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district was shot dead by criminals in broad daylight on Tuesday.

The incident took place at around 12.30 p.m. Deceased Sharad Babu's bodyguard Rajendra Prasad also received gunshot injuries and his condition is stated to be critical.

Sharad Babu was a resident of Hyderabad. His family members have been informed about the tragic incident.

As per reports, Sharad Babu was going to his office in his car when two criminals on a motorcycle chased him and showered bullets on him. Sharad Babu died on the spot. The incident took place at a distance of about 200 yards from the site office of NTPC at Barkagaon. The vehicle was being driven by his driver Amarendra Kumar.

Hazaribagh SP Manoj Ratan Chothe, who reached the hospital after getting the information, said that the police are investigating the matter, adding that various roads have been blocked in the district for checking puropses.

The officers and employees of NTPC and the outsourcing companies working for it in Barkagaon and Tandwa are in panic after the incident.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed issuance of notice to Bilkis Bano case convicts, who remained unserved so far, and also directed publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English.

A bench, headed by Justice K.M. Joseph and comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, deferred the hearing till July 11 on a clutch of petitions against the remission granted to 11 convicts in the case of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The bench directed the issuance of notices to the convicts, who remained unserved, and also directed the publication of notices in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, in relation with the convicts who could not be served notices. It further added that the July 11 hearing on the matter should be published in the notices to be carried in the newspapers.

The bench said this process will not allow any more wasting of the court's time and the hearing in the matter could proceed on the next date of hearing. Justice Joseph will superannuate on June 16 and May 19 would be his last working day, as the apex court will go on summer vacation from May 20 till July 2.

On May 2, the Centre and Gujarat government had told the Supreme Court that they would not claim privilege over the documents in connection with the remission of sentence of convicts in Bilkis Bano case, and agreed to share the documents with the apex court for its perusal.

The 11 men convicted in the case were released on August 15 last year, after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. The convicts had completed 15 years in jail.

A batch of the petitions have been filed against the release of 11 convicts, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano. The other petitions were filed by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, National Federation of Indian Women, Meeran Chadha Borwankar and others, Asma Shafique Shaikh and others.

The top court had issued notice on all the pleas filed in the matter.

--IANS ss/vd

A
New York, May 9 : The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted the unnecessary use of antimicrobial chemicals linked to health problems, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental harm, warn more than two dozen scientists.

A critical review, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology, details how quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are increasingly marketed and used in home, healthcare, education, and workplace settings despite the availability of safer alternatives and in some cases, limited evidence of reduced disease transmission.

"Disinfectant wipes containing QACs are often used on children's school desks, hospital exam tables, and in homes where they remain on these surfaces and in the air," said Courtney Carignan, a co-author and assistant professor at Michigan State University.

"Our review of the science suggests disinfecting with these chemicals in many cases is unhelpful or even harmful. We recommend regular cleaning with soap and water and disinfecting only as needed with safer products." Human studies have found associations between QACs and asthma, dermatitis, and inflammation. Laboratory animal studies also raise concerns about potential links to infertility, birth defects, and more.

Further, there has been evidence dating back to the 1950s that QACs contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making certain bacteria species resistant both to QACs themselves and to critical antibiotics.

"It's ironic that the chemicals we're deploying in vain for one health crisis are actually fueling another," said Erica Hartmann, a co-author and professor at Northwestern University. "Antimicrobial resistance was already contributing to millions of deaths per year before the pandemic. Overzealous disinfection, especially with products containing QACs, threaten to make it worse." QACs are increasingly used in disinfectant solutions, wipes, hand sanitizers, sprays, and foggers, and are also being incorporated into personal care products, textiles, paints, medical instruments, and more.

Since the pandemic, levels of these chemicals in the environment and our bodies have increased in parallel.

One of the most common QACs is benzalkonium chloride, but others can be identified on ingredient labels with names that end in "ammonium chloride" or similar.

However, disclosure and regulation of QACs varies widely. For example pesticide labels are required to list QACs but paint labels are not. Most QACs are not regulated at all, nor are they comprehensively screened for health hazards.

The scientists recommend eliminating uses of QACs that are either unnecessary or where their effectiveness has not been demonstrated. For example, disinfection with QACs often has no benefit over cleaning with plain soap and water.

Other recommendations include requiring full disclosure of QACs in all products and closely monitoring their levels in people and the environment.
New Delhi, May 9 : Incarcerated alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has penned a letter accusing AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of threatening him and his family.

According to Chandrashekhar, who is presently lodged in the Mandoli jail, these threats have been sent through jail officials and Kejriwal's associates over the past two days.

"You (Arvind Kejriwal) have totally no respect for the law of the land and brazenly continue to send threats to me through jail officials and also call my family members threatening them through your associates and their cronies from last two days," said Chandrashekhar in his letter released on Tuesday.

"You really think I will get intimidated with these threats and back out from exposing you? Not at all, come what may, I will make sure all your truth is exposed before the world and you will face them legally... There is no second option at all, so don't dream," Chandrashekhar wrote.

In the strongly-worded letter, Chandrashekhar also accused Kejriwal of resorting to oppressive tactics against a woman journalist.

"Have some shame Kejriwalji, now you stoop down to such levels that you made your Punjab Police arrest a woman journalist, just because she was exposing your true colours? You are now trying to suppress the other leg of democracy (media)," the letter read.

Chandrashekhar also predicted that Kejriwal himself would eventually face legal consequences, seemingly suggesting a potential future imprisonment at Tihar Jail.

"You try to suppress me, but I won't back out. I will make sure you are made answerable. Anyways, you will be joining me here at the Tihar Club some day soon now, and that's for sure reality," he said.

Chandrashekhar also cautioned Kejriwal against underestimating his resolve and implied a readiness to respond in kind if necessary.

"Kejriwalji, don't try all these tricks with me... You know me very well, I am not someone you really want to get dirty with. I will then start answering in my style. Have some shame, have the guts to prove me wrong and if you can't, then resign. I dare you to prove one allegation of mine wrong against you and your gang of fraudsters," Chandrashekhar wrote in the letter.

"I am backing all my allegations against you with proofs before the concern agencies. I challenge you to prove them wrong. Knowing you to be shameless, you won't do both as stated above," the letter read.

"I will make sure you are brought to justice very soon," it added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The Ombudsman Institute was established on the initiative of great leader Heydar Aliyev, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva said on May 9 during a visit to the grave of great leader Heydar Aliyev in the Alley of Honor, Trend reports.

"We always try to justify this great trust in our work," the Ombudsman said.

The commissioner also noted that on May 8, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order "On pardoning a number of convicts on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev."

"This is the largest pardon decree in terms of coverage, which was applied to 801 convicts. While pardoning 59 of them, the Ombudsman's petitions were taken into account," Aliyeva added.
Chennai, May 9 : With job losses and a predicted recession, home mortgage delinquencies are expected to increase in the US, a senior official of mortgage servicing fintech software-as-a-service (SaaS) Sagent said on Monday.

The US-based Sagent, backed by Warburg Pincus, has opened its first non-US centre here with a headcount of about 120.

"The total mortgage delinquency now is under four per cent. In 2020, the delinquency was eight per cent. The mortgage market is stable. In the US market, we predict delinquency rate is to go up," Chief Operating Officer Marianne Sullivan told media here.

According to her, there are regulations concerning the mortgages in the US and Sagent clients have to use the former's software in managing the same.

However, she said the purpose of Sagent opening its first office outside of the US here is not due to recessionary fears in the home country.

According to Sagent's Chief Technology Officer Uday Devalla, the main reason for setting up the centre here is owing to the 2022 partnership deal with Mr Cooper, the third largest mortgage servicer in the US.

Devalla said the mortgage industry in the US is about $13 billion industry and is complex.

According to Devalla, dual mortgage and fintech experience is required to innovate in a sector as complex as mortgage servicing and the company has such a talent.

In the US, the company has a headcount of about 520 and in India, about 120.
New Delhi, May 9 : On the eve of polling in the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress on Tuesday complained to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In a eight-page complaint to the Commission, Congress General Secretary and state unit in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "We write to you with great urgency to bring to your attention the brazen and blatant violation of the MCC as well as the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 by the Prime Minister and other leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)." Surjewala said that on Monday, post 11 p.m., Modi addressed the public through a video message, wherein he appealed to the voters of Karnataka on behalf of BJP and all its candidates contesting in the the elections.

"With due respect, neither the Prime Minister nor this Commission can possibly deny the 'Silence Period' as contemplated under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Elections, 2023 had come into effect from Monday 6 p.m." he said, attaching the video link of the Prime Minister's address.

The Congress leader, who himself camped in the southern state for over two months, said: "In fact, this Commission's attention may even be brought to the live interviews of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda, which were aired on news channels after the declaration of the 'Silence Period'. In these interviews, the said leaders spoke extensively about the Karnataka elections and their respective candidates." He also submitted a copy of the video recording of the live interviews being conducted on news channels after declaration of 'Silence Period' with the Commission.

The Congress leader, in his complaint, also cited the six complaints it submitted with the poll panel in last few days against the speeches given by Modi, Shah, Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as part of BJP's election campaign.

Surjewala said that he was still hoipeful that the poll panel may initiate action against the BJP leaders and not be intimidated by the high offices that they hold.

"The COmmission must take immediate note of this and initiate appropriate proceedings against Modi, Shah, Nadda, Yogi Adityanath and the BJP," he said, adding that it may be mentioned that if convicted under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, these leaders will stand disqualified from their respective membership in the Parliament as well as the Legislative Assembly.

On Monday, the Commission also served a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking to provide clarification and take rectification measures over former party chief Sonia Gandhi's purported 'Karnataka sovereignty' remark.

Polling for Karnataka assembly is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.
Hyderabad, May 9 : Telangana has become the first state in the country to launch a state robotics framework with a vision to create a sustainable robotics ecosystem.

This is aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and research and development to position Telangana as a leader in the field of robotics.

Information Technology and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao launched the robotics framework, the sixth such framework launched by the Emerging Technologies Wing of the ITE&C Department.

He noted that Telangana, from the very beginning itself, realised the pivotal role that technology has to play in the progress of a state, and focused immensely on adopting every latest technological advancements and on becoming a catalyst for technological innovations.

It was in 2017 that Telangana set up a first-of-its-kind dedicated vertical called the Emerging Technologies Wing. "We chose eight emerging technologies which are at the forefront of the fourth Industrial Revolution such as AI, Blockchain, Drones, Additive Manufacturing, IoT, Space Tech, Cloud and Robotics and set to drive ecosystem development and government adoption in these areas," he said.

The state has already released 5 actionable policy frameworks on AI, Cloud, Blockchain, Drone, and SpaceTech. With this Telangana has become a pioneer in embracing emerging technologies and a role model for other states, he said.

The robotics framework is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the state's vision for the development of the robotics ecosystem in the state and contributing to the growth of the industry in the country. The framework has been developed by the Emerging Technologies Wing in collaboration with the All India Robotics Association and inputs from academia, industry experts and stakeholders.

The framework focuses on leveraging robotics technology to drive growth and development across identified four key domains - agriculture, healthcare, industrial automation and consumer robotics.

The key points in the framework are that the state will set up a Robo Park equipped with testing facilities, co-working options, and co-production/manufacturing options either at sites owned by the state or in partnership with the industry, academia, and incubators, at competitive rates. Additionally, the state will establish a world-class robotics accelerator to provide startups with the necessary incubation, infrastructure, authorisation support, market insights, investor connect, and mentorship support.

In order to achieve the vision of the framework, the government has identified five key pillars: infrastructure access, business enablement, fostering research & innovation, human capital enhancement and responsible deployment.

The state will set up a separate body called the Telangana Robotics Innovation Center (TRIC)which will be responsible for the implementation of this framework and will be the nodal point to implement the key pillars of the framework.

The state government also signed MoUs with five organisations, including academic institutions, industry associations, and incubators. They are IIT Hyderabad, ART PARK IISC, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), AgHub (PJTSAU), and the All India Robotics Association (AIRA).

The state government is planning to organise a Global Robotics Summit to showcase its growing robotics ecosystem and attract investments from across the world. The summit will provide a platform for startups, researchers, and industry leaders to showcase their work, network with potential partners and investors, and explore new business opportunities.

Principal Secretary, ITE&C and Industries, Jayesh Ranjan, and Director of Emerging Technologies Rama Devi Lanka also spoke on the occasion.
Bhopal, May 9 : At least 11 persons were detained for their suspected links to radical Islamist group Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT) by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

Out of these, 10 were detained from different locations in Bhopal, while one person was detained from Chhindwara.

State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that all these suspected radicals were under ATS' radar for the last couple of months, adding that some objectionable literature, laptops, pen drives and hard disks have also been seized.

"The ATS was keeping a close watch on them (detainees) for the last couple of months. They were planning to create disturbance in Madhya Pradesh," Mishra saiid.

The detainees include Mohammad Waseem, the son of Bhopal gas tragedy survivor and activist Rashida Bi, and nine others from the Aishbagh area in Bhopal. In addition to the 11 detainees in Madhya Pradesh, five others were held from Hyderabad.

MP ATS Inspector General Anuraag told IANS that the operation was going on in coordination with the central agencies.

"The raids were conducted on Tuesday morning after getting reliable inputs that Hizb-Ut-Tahrir was trying to set up its base in Madhya Pradesh. After collecting evidence, we detained the youth. Mobile phones of their family members have also been seized. They are being interrogated by the ATS at an undisclosed location," the officer said.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said live streaming of court proceedings has taken it to the homes and hearts of common citizens.

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, said the court is trying to use technology to ensure the live-streamed content is made available simultaneously in languages other than English, while hearing arguments on the eighth-day on a clutch of petitions seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriage.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, said that there is a churning in society, which is an important fallout of the court proceedings and people in the country are thinking about the issue because of this debate and live streaming.

The bench - also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, S.R. Bhat, Hima Kohli and P.S. Narasimha - said that live-streaming of court proceedings has really taken the court to the homes and to the hearts of the common citizens.

Dwivedi said the only hindrance is that arguments are in English, which is a language not understood by many people residing in villages. At this, the Chief Justice told him: "You will be surprised that we are working even on that also... even that is not lost on the Supreme Court on its administrative side.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulama i Hind, said that now technology allows a person speaking in English to be heard in different languages including Japanese.

The Chief Justice said that the court is trying to use technology to ensure that the live streaming contents can be made available in languages which the citizens can follow.

The top court will continue to hear a batch of petitions seeking legal sanction for same sex marriages on Wednesday.
Los Angeles, May 9 : Hollywood star Tom Hanks has weighed in on the hunt for the next 007, saying that Idris Elba is the man for the job, reports Deadline.

"Understand this. James Bond has a licence to kill. I would issue that licence to Idris Elba just based on the work that I've seen him do," Hanks told the BBC.

Elba has long been the subject of speculation with many people linking him to Ian Fleming's iconic character. But he has continued to deny any truth to the chatter.

His latest film, 'Luther: The Fallen Sun', released earlier this year and included a scene in which his titular detective refuses a martini. At the time, he told the Radio Times, "My Bond audition? Oh my God, no! I've been saying for years, no... The martini line is a bit cheeky, isn't it?" Elba also told 'The Guardian' around the time Luther released that he remains extremely close to Bond's producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but dismissed the idea of them ever offering him the role.

"I can't speak for them, but from my perspective, there's never been any sort of truth to any of it. It's a compliment and it's an honour, but it's not the truth." As per Deadline, Hanks was speaking with the BBC just as his first novel, 'The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece', hit the shelves.

A fictionalised chronicle of the creation of a Marvel-style movie, it received lukewarm response with the New York Times writing that "charm abounds" but calling the book "too often a maddeningly excursive endeavour".
New Delhi, May 9 : With few hours left for the crucial Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress on Tuesday shared ae fresh letter by the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) to the people of the state and hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to their previous letter over their pleas of alleged 40 per cent commission demanded by the state government.

Sharing the letter, Congress General Secretary and communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said: "The Karnataka State Contractors Association has written another letter - this time to the voters. PM Modi never replied to their pleas against the BJP's 40 per cent Commission government. Tomorrow the people of Karnataka will reply for him." His remarks came after the KSCA wrote another letter to the voters on May 9.

Alleging that the corruption in the state has reached "frightening levels", it urged people to cast their votes in "accordance with their conscience".

"Democracy works when people cast their vote in accordance with their conscience. Corruption deeply hurts our collective conscience," the letter read.

The KSCA had written a letter to Modi in 2021 alleging that they were made to cough up around 40 per cent of the tender amount to elected representatives and others before starting works.

During the election campaigning, the Congress had targeted the BJP government over the 40 per cent corruption allegations.
Washington, May 9 : The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reinstated a grant to New York City-based nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance to resume controversial research on bat coronaviruses, albeit with stricter restrictions, according to a report by the journal Nature.

EcoHealth Alliance had, in 2020, lost the funding to study how coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 jump from bats to humans for its collaborations with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China.

The Donald Trump administration in April 2020, hinted that the SARS-CoV-2, which caused Covid-19 pandemic, originated in the infamous WIV laboratory.

However, the new 4-year, $2.9 million award comes with an extensive list of restrictions.

The rules forbid EcoHealth from "performing any in-country research in China, including with the WIV, or collecting any new samples from vertebrates -- such as bats", the report said.

The NIH will also scrutinise EcoHealth's "finances and accounting practices", as a federal watchdog report in January, claimed finding that the non-profit had misreported about $90,000 in expenses.

"In addition, EcoHealth will be forbidden from performing any work that is deemed by the NIH's parent organisation, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to have the potential to enhance the virulence or transmission of a virus," the report said.

According to experts, such research is essential for developing vaccines and therapeutics against emerging pathogens and to avert the next pandemic.

"I don't know if any other single grantee from NIH has been subjected to this level of oversight," Peter Daszak, President of EcoHealth Alliance was quoted as saying.

Daszak added that he is "positive and optimistic" about the grant restart despite all the restrictions.

The organisation has nearly 300 partial or complete genomes of SARS-related coronaviruses from samples collected prior to the funding halt, which will be a key priority to analyse using the newly released grant funds, he said.

According to Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, it is a pleasant surprise to see the grant renewed. She however, worries about "terrible precedent" that the NIH has set by "arbitrarily" terminating an award based on "unfounded rumours" regarding the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the report said.

Rasmussen said she hopes that these restrictions will not apply to other scientists doing similar work.
New Delhi, May 9 : With the G20 Tourism Working Group's meeting which is scheduled to take place in Srinagar, less than two weeks away, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Tuesday is learnt to have held a high level meeting to review the preparations for it.

Highly-placed sources said that though the meeting took stock of several deliberations taking place across the country under India's G20 presidency, its main focus was learnt to be on the forthcoming meeting in Srinagar, especially in the light of Pakistan's objections to India holding G20 deliberations in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to sources, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra chaired the review meeting, where senior officials from around 12 key ministries were present.

Joint secretary level officials from some important ministries like Finance, Commerce, Environment, and Tourism among others were present in the meeting, sources said, adding that Mishra was briefed about the preparations being made for the forthcoming meeting in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister, who has been busy with campaigning for Karnataka Assembly elections for the past one week, is likely to be briefed about the preparations underway for the Srinagar meeting, sources informed.

The meeting mainly focussed on the preparations for the G20's Tourism Working Group, which is taking place in Srinagar between May 22 and 24.

Sources informed that though the meeting is just part of the several deliberations and interactions which are taking place under India's G20 presidency in various parts of the country, it holds a lot of significance, mainly owing to the fact that last month, Pakistan's foreign office had raised objections to India's plans to hold the above mentioned meeting in Srinagar.

Pakistan had claimed that such events were aimed at perpetuating India's "illegal occupation" of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The meetings and events of G20 are being held across India. They are being organised in every region of India and it is very natural to have these meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had told the media last month following Pakistan's objections.

Bagchi had further said that "these places have always been an integral and inalienable part of India and they are ours. I will only say these meetings are being held in every region. This is our natural response".

In fact Pakistan had even protested last year, when details had started emerging that India plans to hold some G20 engagements in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chennai, May 9 : With about goods and services tax (GST) evasion amounting to about Rs 2,250 crore by some players in the general insurance industry, a major union in the sector has urged the government and the regulator to cancel licences of such entities.

"We demand the IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) take a proactive action in this regard," Trilok Singh, General Secretary, General Insurance Employees' All India Association (GIEAIA) told IANS.

"The evasion of GST by some private players is maligning the entire industry. If the private players are not evading the statutory dues, will they pay the policyholders claims promptly is the question that begs an answer," he added.

The IRDAI conspicuously silent on the issue of huge GST evasion by the private general insurance players.

IRDAI officials do inspect the books of accounts of the insurers and yhe question is how did they miss this huge GST evasion.

Simply put, the insurers had paid their intermediaries over and above what they were to pay legally. The amount has been accounted under various heads on which GST falls due.

According to an industry official, if the books of entries are reversed for the insurers and taxes paid, then they may have to bring in fresh capital to meet the solvency norms.

The Working Committee of the GIEAIA at their meeting held in Pune recently has demanded the Centre, the Department of Financial Services, and the IRDAI should take strict prompt action against the tax evaders.

It has demanded the IRDAI/government to impose huge penalties or even cancel their licences for not paying the GST and Income Tax.

The evasion of tax running into thousands of crore of rupees has raised the questions on the integrity of such insurers which are maligning and defaming the whole sector, the GIEAIA said.

The GIEAIA Working Committee has also urged the government amongst others to refer the proposed amendments to insurance laws to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance for a meaningful and constructive discussion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Roots of Peace humanitarian organization seeks partnership with Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) in order to assist with the mine clearance process in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Heidi Kuhn, Founder and CEO of the organization said during her visit to Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Trend reports.

"I am so grateful to the courage of ANAMA, these brave de-miners who come out each and every day to clear these beautiful lands from mines. Today I have the honor of detonating one more landmine from the face of the earth, one more landmine from Karabakh, so we can restore the beauty of this area," she said.

According to her, this is the second time she visits Azerbaijan's liberated territories. During her first visit, which occurred in March 2022, she participated in the denotation of 10 anti-tank mines.

She also noted the large-scale restoration and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan.

"I am so beyond impressed by this airport and all the construction work going on the site. I look forward to coming back for the third time," Heidi Kuhn added.

Furthermore, Heidi Kuhn also addressed Azerbaijani mothers on the occasion of the upcoming Mother's Day.

"I am standing here today committed to the people of Azerbaijan, the mothers, the sisters, and the grandmothers who hold children, who have lost their limbs, eyes, or arms to the devastation of war. This is the week of mothers, but no mother should have to take care of their children running through minefields," she said.

Today, the visit of Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace Heidi Kuhn (a humanitarian-nonprofit organization founded in September 1997) created for the purpose of de-mining and restoration of territories affected by the war, has begun. The visit was organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF).

During the visit, Heidi Kuhn is accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of the ANAMA Vugar Suleymanov, President of IEPF Umud Mirzaev, and special representatives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation that are part of the Karabakh Economic Region (with the exception of the Shusha region).

Following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands from mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.
Guwahati, May 9 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the government is intending to ban polygamy in the state.

"For that purpose, an expert committee will be formed that will look at whether the state legislature can be empowered to introduce any such law," he stated.

The committee would look into the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act of 1937 in conjunction with Article 25 of the Indian Constitution - the guiding principle of state policy, Sarma said at a presser in Guwahati.

He mentioned that the expert committee will undertake lengthy conversations with all stakeholders, including legal experts, in order to make an educated judgment.

"We are not moving towards implementing Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which requires consensus in the country, and only the Central government can take a decision in this regard," he stated.

However, Sarma made it clear that the state government has been announcing its intention to ban polygamy in the state as one component of the UCC.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that a ban on polygamy will be introduced only after having a consensus among the different sections of the society.

Meanwhile, Sarma also talked about the crackdown of the state government on child marriages.

According to him, many older men marry young girls before they attain the minimum age of marriage taking advantage of the poor family condition of the girls.

"We have noticed this fact during our crackdown on child marriages. That is why, we have decided to ban polygamy to have a more effective outcome to attain zero child marriage in Assam," he added.
Kasauli : , May 9 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Bharti Pravin Pawar, said on Tuesday that the 118-year-old Central Research Institute (CRI) at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh has a long and cherished history in the field of health and education.

Speaking at the CRI's 119th foundation day function here, the minister said the institute has set up several milestones and is continuously contributing to national health programmes.

Also, the institute is working as a teaching and training centre in the field of vaccine manufacturing for newly-emerging diseases, she said.

Pawar said that with the aim of making immunisation accessible for all children, Mission Indradhanush has been launched which focuses on securing children against seven preventable diseases, including tuberculosis (TB).

The Ministry of Health had launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush programme in 2017, which aims to cover children and pregnant women who are left out of routine immunisation programmes. The programme also aims to improve vaccination coverage in high-risk areas and districts.

The minister said the use of digital technologies and innovative approaches in the journey to immunise such a large country has also helped in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the vaccination programmes.

"Today the role of technology in making healthcare accessible and affordable is continuously increasing, so our government is also focusing on the maximum use of drone technology. We are making efforts to provide timely health facilities to the countrymen through the Digital Health ID and the state governments are working shoulder to shoulder to achieve this goal," the minister said.

Col (retd) Dhani Ram Shandilya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Himachal Pradesh, said the discovery of vaccines by the CRI is a major achievement.

"The institute has done commendable work during the Covid pandemic and it is known on the world stage in the field of research," he said.
Rome, May 9 : Barbora Strycova scored her first singles win in nearly three years after defeating Maryna Zanevzka 6-1 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open, here on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Czech will face No.9 seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.

A former World No.1 in doubles and No.16 in singles, Strycova returned to competition at the Madrid Open after a two-year maternity break. There, she played her first singles match since the 2021 Australian Open, losing in straight sets to Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

"To be honest, when I played the match against Cocciaretto, it was a great match. After three years of not playing, I was surprised how I was hitting the ball, how I was moving," Strycova told WTA Insider.

"I was like 'Oh my god, I can still play with these girls.' So it gave me confidence that I did something good during the three months of preparing myself," she added.

Strycova took that confidence into the doubles tournament in Madrid, where she re-teamed with Hsieh Su-Wei to advance to the quarterfinals.

Strycova wore down Zanevska on Tuesday by rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the final set to earn her first singles win since defeating Varvara Lepchenko in the first round of Roland Garros in 2020.

Facing No.77 Zanevska, Strycova looked every bit the wily veteran who had not missed a day of competition. She raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first set before the Belgian began to lift her level. Down a break in the third set, Strycova won four consecutive games to wrench back control.

Strycova's level on both the singles and doubles court has been remarkable considering she only started hitting again in February. It took just two months before she was back in fighting form.

"I had that feeling in April. I was hitting on hard court because I wasn't sure if I would come and play in Madrid. I came home and told my partner that I'm hitting the ball crazy good. I'm winning practice matches. I played well against Petra Kvitova in a practice match. I felt I could do this," said Strycova.
New Delhi/Chennai, May 9 : The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will on Wednesday decide on the admissibility of Go Airlines (India) Ltd's voluntary insolvency petition.

According to the cause list published by the NCLT, the Principal Bench at New Delhi will decide on the two petitions filed by the airline - one under Section 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the other under Section 60(5) of IBC.

Blaming the global aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney of not providing spare engines for defective ones resulting in the grounding of nearly half of its fleet, Go Airlines had approached NCLT with a petition for resolution on May 2.

Hearing the petition on May 4, the NCLT had reserved its orders.

Airline's Chief Executive Officer Kaushik Khona told IANS that the airline promoters -the Wadia group - are interested to be in the business and the purpose of approaching the NCLT is to retain the aircraft as the lessors are taking action to repossess them.

Meanwhile, according to reports, the lessors for Go Airlines are approaching other airlines to lease their planes.
New Delhi, May 9 : IT and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday posted an image on social media with Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the tech giant's headquarters in the US, saying they had a good discussion on India Stack and the 'Make in India' programme.

Pichai last met Vaishnaw during his India visit in December, saying it was important for the government to create regulatory frameworks that help companies innovate on top of those local laws of the land.

"Met @sundarpichai at the @Google HQ. Good discussion on India Stack and Make in India programme," tweeted Vaishnaw.

Pichai replied: "Thank you for taking the time to visit us at the Googleplex, Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw. Enjoyed discussing the many ways we're working together on India's digital transformation, and the opportunities ahead".

In December, Pichai had said that India has a leadership role to play.

"It's important to make sure you're balancing the safeguards you're putting for people and creating innovative frameworks so that companies can innovate on top of certainty in the legal framework," he said in the presence of Vaishnaw, at Google India's flagship event in New Delhi.

Vaishnaw said that the government is working on a range of bills that will safeguard users' data and create a robust legal regulatory framework around the new internet economy.

Pichai had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pledged support for India's G20 Presidency.

"Thank you for a great meeting PM @narendramodi. Inspiring to see the rapid pace of technological change under your leadership. Look forward to continuing our strong partnership and supporting India's G20 Presidency to advance an open, connected internet that works for all," Pichai tweeted after the meeting in the Capital.
New Delhi, May 9 : Hours ahead of the crucial Karnataka Assembly elections on Wednesday, the Congress on Tuesday said that all its party candidates have signed a pledge promising to implement the five guarantees it made to the people.

In a tweet, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: "All our Karnataka Congress candidates have made a solemn promise to deliver on the 5 guarantees for the people of Karnataka. They have pledged to fight corruption and work towards a progressive Karnataka".

He also attached a picture of Congress' five guarantees made to the people of the southern state with signatures of all the candidates.

Congress General secretary and communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said: "All 223 Congress candidates have signed a pledge promising to implement the five guarantees for the people of Karnataka.

"They have taken an oath to fight corruption, defend Kannada pride and dedicate themselves towards developing their constituencies." Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter and wrote, "Yuva Nidhi: Assistance, Anna Bhagya: Sustenance, Gruha Jyothi: Affordability, Uchita Prayana: Accessibility, Gruha Lakshmi: Empowerment. Congress' #5GuaranteesPratigne will relieve people of Karnataka from the pain BJP's 40% Commission Sarkara has inflicted on them".

The Congress in its manifesto promised Gruha Jyothi (200 units of free electricity), Gruha Lakshmi - Rs 2,000 monthly to every woman head of the family, Anna Bhagya - 10 kg of food grains of their choice (among rice, ragi, jowar, millet) to every person in a BPL family and free travel to all women in regular Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses.

Polling for the 224 member assembly is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.

The Congress had held aggressive campaigning in the state against the ruling BJP. It has targeted the BJP over the alleged corruption, unemployment, besides other issues.

Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, state chief D.K. Shivakumar and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala had held several public meetings in the state.
Patna May 9 : In wake of the the Patna High Court on Tuesday rejecting the plea of Bihar government pertaining to caste-based census, RJD state General Secretary Ranvijay Sahu accused the opposition BJP of trying to divert the attention from it.

"We respect the proceedings and judgment of the court but BJP wants to divert the attention from the caste-based survey. BJP leaders were celebrating on the day when Patna High Court put an interim stay on May 4 and they are celebrating now," Sahu said.

"Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is thinking of counting poor people of the state to make policies. It was a great initiative of the Bihar government to implement the ideology of Ram Manohar Lohia who advocated for stake on the basis of the number of the caste and community. Hence, counting of caste was important," he said.

"The BJP is a party that believes in spreading rumours. It is trying to divide the society on the basis of temples and mosques. On the other hand, we are talking about jobs, education, and health," Sahu added.

After the High Court had put an interim stay on May 4, the Bihar government filed a plea for the hearing of the case on May 6. Accordingly, the court has given the date of hearing on May 9.

Advocate General Prashant Kumar Shahi appeared before the court and requested for a speedy hearing in this case. The court, however, was not satisfied with his arguments of Shahi and declined his plea, saying that the next hearing is scheduled on July 3 and that is final.

"The Bihar government failed to put its points before the court on Tuesday. That is the reason why the court has rejected the plea of Bihar government. It is not looking serious. CM Nitish Kumar failed to produce evidence in the court through his lawyer. It shows his dual character. He does not want to conduct caste-based surveys. He is doing picnics in Odisha, West Bengal, Lucknow and Delhi," state BJP spokesperson Arvind Kumar Singh said.
New Delhi, May 9 : India and the European Union (EU), during their fourth strategic partnership review meeting, have underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.

At the meeting held on Monday, they unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border attacks.

Both sides emphasised that the rules-based international order must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, transparency, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Meanwhile, both India and the EU reviewed the wide ranging India-EU bilateral relationship detailed in the 'India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025' agreed during the 15th India-EU Summit in 2020, official sources said.

They went through that extensive review of their successful bilateral relationship also in the context of the meetings organised by India under its G20 Presidency, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The Indian side was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) and the EU side was led by Helena Konig, Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service.

The discussions focussed on a broad range of topics covering climate, clean energy, biodiversity, circular economy, resource efficiency, smart urbanisation, trade, research and innovation, education, mobility and digital issues, including data protection.

India and the EU also discussed cooperation in the sphere of connectivity and emphasised that connectivity projects respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They also took stock of the ongoing negotiations for free trade agreement, investment protection agreement and the pact on geographical indications, and agreed on their importance as well as the need for full cooperation at multilateral level and of a regular bilateral dialogue on economic issues.

The two sides also reviewed the progress and scope of the newly-launched India-EU Trade and Technology Council and looked forward to a successful first Ministerial Meeting under the TTC mechanism on May 16 in Brussels.

The EU and India talked about the perspectives for a safer, prosperous and more democratic world.

They commended the resumption in 2021 of the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue and committed to holding it on an annual basis.

The two sides also expressed their commitment to their increased engagement across all areas with a view of identifying areas to strengthen cooperation, including through the global gateway, and looking into priorities for the next India-EU summit.
Hyderabad, May 9 : The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Madhya Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested five suspects from Hyderabad for their alleged links to the radical Islamist group Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT).

In an operation conducted in coordination with the local police and central agencies, the ATS arrested the suspects, including the head of biotechnology department at a local college, a cloud service engineer and a dentist.

According to sources, the suspects hailed from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and other places and were residing in Hyderabad for some time now. They were picked up from Golconda, Hafiz Baba Nagar and other places in and around Hyderabad.

The arrests were made based on the information collected from 11 other suspects held earlier in the day from Bhopal and Chhindwara in Mdhya Pradesh.

Intelligence agencies reportedly found that Mohammed Saleem from Bhopal was working as a lecturer of biotechnology at a college here. Abdul Rehman from Odisha was working as a cloud service engineer at a firm.

Another suspect, Mohammed Abbas, was working as an autorickshaw driver and was staying at Hafiz Baba Nagar. Mohammed Hamid was working as a daily wage worker and was residing at Maqdum Nagar in Jagadgirigutta. Mohammed Salman was also working as a daily wage worker and residing in Jawahar Nagar.

As per the interrogation of the 11 persons held in Madhya Pradesh earlier in the day, they were reportedly planning to set up a base in Madhya Pradesh.

The ATS reportedly seized jihadi literature, knives and airguns from those arrested.

Hizb-Ut-Tahrir is said to be a radical global organisation with presence in 50 countries.
New Delhi, May 9 : The Delhi High Court has said that it is the responsibility of every judge to act with both an "alert mind" and a "sensitive heart" when recording witness statements and conducting trial in cases of child sex abuse.

Although the state and the administration can give judges access to "necessary and modern infrastructure," including vulnerable witness deposition complexes, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma held that "it cannot generate a sensitive heart of a judge".

"A sensitive heart has to be developed by the judge himself or herself as part of his or her duty to be bound by the oath and service to the citizens of the country.

"It is also the duty of every court to not only have a heart which is sensitive but also a mind which is alert while recording and conducting trial, especially in sexual assault cases, so that the trial is not diverted to a direction which is totally unconnected, uncalled for and causes further trauma or humiliation or brings into public domain, the internal agony and trauma that a child might have discussed or shared with someone she had thought will keep to himself i.e., the counsellor," the court said.

Justice Sharma made the observations while addressing an appeal filed by Sanjeev Kumar, who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2008.

On September 25, 2010, the trial court sentenced Kumar and another to a 10 year jail term after convicting under Sections 363, 365, 376, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Kumar filed the appeal in 2010, but he passed away in May 2021 while it was pending. His wife, though, was given permission to pursue the appeal.

The prosecutrix's repeated claims that the two men had kidnapped her were the foundation upon which the trial court built the conviction. Additionally, it was noted that the two men's Test Identification Parade was unnecessary because they were detained in the prosecutor's presence, and her account was amply supported by circumstantial, forensic, and medical evidence.

Justice Sharma set aside the impugned order of conviction and imprisonment because the prosecutrix had given multiple contradictory accounts of how she had been sexually attacked.

Taking note of certain "disturbing crucial issues" apparent from the record of the case, Justice Sharma said that the trial court record showed that no reasons were stated in the application moved for leading defence evidence as to for what purpose the defence witnesses were being called, except for mentioning their name.

"Be that as it may, this Court notes with strong disapproval that the counsellor, who had been called to counsel the 12 years old sexual assault victim immediately after the incident in question at the request of the SHO concerned, had been not only been allowed to be examined as a defence witness, but the confidential report regarding the counselling and as to what had transpired between the counselor and the victim child was brought in the public domain through an application moved by the accused for leading defence evidence," the court said.

It also observed that the police officer or the investigating agency failed to refer the prosecutrix to the Child Welfare Committee and that nothing was produced on record to explain under what provision the counsellor was called for counselling the entire family and thereafter the prosecutrix.

Justice Sharma said that the material brought on record by the prosecution was insufficient to return a finding of guilt against Kumar and it failed to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt.
CANAKKALE, Turkiye, May 9. The Azerbaijani delegation, which is on a visit to Turkiye, visited the office of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Canakkale, Trend reports.

Head of the party office (Chairman of the regional organization) Naim Makas met with the Azerbaijani delegation.

The meeting was attended by members of the Board of the New Azerbaijan Party, Rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics Adalat Muradov, Rector of the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) Vazeh Askerov, members of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Aydin Huseynov, Elnur Allahverdiyev and Chairman of the Sabunchi district organization of the New Azerbaijan Party Araz Khudadanov, as well as a representative of the Justice and Development Party of Turkiye Ainur Tuna Yavash and other officials.

An exchange of views took place on the current state and prospects of relations between the New Azerbaijani Party (NAP) and the AKP.

Speaking at the meeting, Naim Makas stressed that there are close ties between the ruling parties of Azerbaijan and Turkiye.

"The brotherhood of the two countries will continue to develop in an ascending line," Makas said.

The rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics Adalat Muradov noted that the whole world is closely following the events in Turkiye.

"The Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood will continue in the future. Today we considered it our duty to be close to our Turkish brothers," he said.

Muradov noted that Turkiye is currently a country that the states of the world are counting on.

"But that wasn't the case a few years ago. The current strength of Turkiye was the result of the successful leadership of the current government. The stronger Turkiye is, the stronger Azerbaijan and other Turkic states will be. I think that the Turkish people will make the right choice in the elections on May 14 and vote for further strengthening of the country," he added.
New Delhi, May 10 : In a bizarre turn of events, social media platforms were set abuzz after the arrest of former Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Amongst the flurry of messages flooding the digital realm, one Twitter user managed to capture everyone's attention with a rather unconventional plea for justice.

Twitter user Sehar Shinwari, a self-proclaimed social activist from Karachi in Pakistan, took to the platform to share her 'grievances'. In a tweet that gained rapid attention, she wrote, "Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police? I have to file a complaint against the Indian PM & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claim), then I am sure the Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice." As the tweet circulated, netizens eagerly awaited a response from the Delhi Police to see how they would handle such an unusual request.

Without missing a beat, the Delhi Police's social media team decided to play along, delivering a witty response that left everyone in stitches. "We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!," they quipped, tagging Sehar's tweet.

Sehar, caught off guard by the Delhi Police's response, found herself in a predicament - and the butt of humour.

Amidst the waves of laughter that resonated across the online community, Sehar's tweet became an instant sensation. Memes and jokes flooded social media platforms, with users gleefully sharing the Delhi Police's response, relishing in the hilarity of the situation.

Mobile broadband services in Pakistan had been suspended nationwide upon the directive of the interior ministry amid violent protests against former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest.
New York, May 10 : A Manhattan jury has found former US President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in a New York department store in the 1990s.

The former President, however, was found not liable for raping Carroll.

The jury of six men and three women after less than three hours of deliberations on Tuesday ordered Trump to pay her about $5 million in damages.

Because the trial was in civil court - rather than criminal - the former President will not be required to register as a sex offender, BBC reported.

Trump - who denied the accusations - did not attend the two-week civil trial in the Manhattan federal court.

Carroll held the hands of both her lawyers as the verdict was read in court and smiled as she was awarded damages by the jury, the British news broadcaster reported.

After the verdict, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social in all capital letters: "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is... This verdict is a disgrace - a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!"
New York, May 10 : In a legal setback, former US President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $5 million in damages to a woman who accused him of rape but he does not face prison time because it was a civil case.

A jury gave the verdict on Tuesday in a civil case hinging on an attack in a fitting room in a high-end store decades ago and Trump defaming her by calling her accusations a "hoax".

The jury did not accept her claim of rape, but declared him liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

E. Jean Carroll, 79, brought the case against the front-runner to be the Republican Party's presidential candidate next year, Trump, who she said had raped her decades ago, but was not sure when it happened.

In a post on Truth Social media, Trump characteristically called the verdict a "continuing of the greatest witchhunt of all time" and said he would appeal.

There was a large crowd of demonstrators outside the courthouse denouncing his treatment of women when the verdict came down.

Carroll was a columnist for the Elle magazine at the time she said she was attacked around 1996.

Trump is facing a criminal case brought by a local prosecutor in New York accusing him of falsifying business records to cover up payments made to a woman who claimed to have had an affair with him.

If convicted in that case, he could be sentenced to prison time, although that would not bar him from running for election under the US Constitution.

The first former President to face criminal charges, Trump was arrested and produced in court last month but was released pending the trial that could take place early next year.

The latest opinion poll by ABC News and The Washington Post taken before the verdict showed him six percentage points ahead of President Joe Biden.

Trump, who is busy campaigning for his presidential run, did not take the witness stand to contest Carroll's case.

Several women have accused him of rape and sex abuse, but the thrice-married Trump, who once revelled in the image of a playboy, has not faced criminal charges.

A damning piece of evidence introduced against him related to a video of him using an obscenity and saying, "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, grab 'em by the (genitals)." During a deposition - testimony and cross-examination outside a court to speed up the trial - he defended the statement saying that "historically that is true" when asked about it by Carroll's lawyer.

A video of his statement made during the cross-examination was shown to the jury, a citizens' panel made up of three women and six men, which gave the verdict in less than three hours of deliberations after eight days of the trial.

Carroll herself took the stand at the trial as did two other women who said that they had been abused by Trump, one of them while on a plane.

"I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," Carroll told the jury and gave a graphic description of Trump abusing her with his fingers before raping her.

She said that the encounter took place in the lingerie department of the department store when he approached her on the pretext of trying to find a gift for a woman friend.

He banged her head on the wall of a fitting room before the attack, she said.

Carroll first made the accusations public while the presidential race was heating up in 2019 in a magazine excerpt ahead of the publication of her book, What do We Need Men For"? in which she wrote about the assault more than two decades after the attack.

He was unaffected by the disclosure and he contested the election next year, even as other women made accusations against him.

Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina questioned Carroll's credibility, saying that she did not report the attack to the police, didn't remember the day it took place and brought it up decades later.

Two friends of Carroll testified that she had told them about the assault around the time it took place.

Lisa Birnbach said that Carroll told her about the assault minutes after it happened but declined her offer to accompany her to make a police complaint.

Trump is caught in a web of legal issues.

New York State Attorney General Leitia James has filed a civil case over his and his adult children's business practices.

A state prosecutor in Georgia is looking into allegations that Trump interfered in the election results and a federal special counsel is examining if he had a role in the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supoporters.

Federal prosecutors are also investigating his handling of classified documents that he took from the White House when he left office.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Paul Zorrilla announces the opening of Eucon LATAM in Mexico City Opening our first subsidiary in the Latin American region is a big testament to our commitment to our clients, our team and our partners in line with Eucons Mission and Global Strategy to shape a valuable digital future in the automotive industry. 

As a fully owned subsidiary of Eucon Americas LLC, which is based in Atlanta, USA, the Eucon LATAM office in Mexico City, MX, will focus on providing its customers in Latin America with better and more focused support, while pursuing the development of new business in the region.

Aside from the Atlanta and Toronto office the Mexico City location aims to establish Eucon as the leading provider of market information and data-based solutions for automotive and parts manufacturers in the American region.

Eucon has grown steadily in the Latin American markets for many years now. I am excited to announce the incorporation of Eucon LATAM in Mexico to better service the Central and South American markets.

With Paul Zorrilla as our Regional Director, Fernando Campos as our Manager of Operations & Fulfillment, as well as a team of 20+ Automotive experts, Eucon LATAM will continue as a regional leader for best-in-class null [market information, says David Shanahan, President Eucon Americas LLC.

Opening our first subsidiary in the Latin American region is a big testament to our commitment to our clients, our team, and our partners in line with Eucons Mission and Global Strategy to shape a valuable digital future in the automotive industry. Bringing the future to our Latin American clients will have a positive transforming effect on their product and pricing strategies and thats what we are all about: Driven by Data. Guided by Experts, says Paul Zorrilla, Regional Director Latin America.

Picture:

Paul Zorilla announces the opening of Eucon LATAM in Mexico CityAbout EuconEucon is a digital pioneer for data and process intelligence. As a trailblazer for digital change, Eucon has been supporting companies in the automotive, insurance, and real estate industries since 1997 in digitalizing their processes, leveraging data treasures, and implementing digital business models.

Eucon has comprehensive market data and in-depth expert knowledge and combines this expertise with cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation to create intelligent automation solutions. With over 500 employees, the company serves 250 customers in more than 80 countries from offices in Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.

In the automotive aftermarket, Eucon is a global market leader offering best-in-class market information and data-based systems for effective product management.

Vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers use our solutions built with billions of data points and expert knowledge, to define and implement their market and competitive strategies in aftersales. More information is available at: http://www.eucon.com/en

For more information on Eucon Americas LLC and Eucon LATAM, contact:

USA

David Shanahan

President

Eucon Americas LLC

1230 Peachtree Street NE,

Suite 1900

Atlanta, GA 30309

us.info@eucon.com

Mexico

Paul Zorrilla

Regional Director Latin America

Eucon LATAM S. DE R.L. DE C.V.

Av. Presidente Mazarik 111  1st Floor

Polanco. Ciudad de Mexico 11560

paul.zorrilla@eucon.com
PalTurn - load turning device designed to lift and rotate heavy or bulky loads during a production, inspection, or storage process. Any manufacturer or fabricator that is looking to improve their processes, increase output, and ultimately boost profitability, needs to consider this product. It can be a game-changer.

Tractel, a world leading safety specialist providing reliable, innovative, and cost-effective working-at-height solutions and services, announced the official launch of its PalTurn product in the North American Market this week. PalTurn is a load turning device designed to lift and rotate heavy or bulky loads during a production, inspection, or storage process. The unit helps make these processes more effective and efficient, often taking the place of other lifting devices, such as forklifts or cranes, that can be cumbersome and difficult to navigate in tight spaces.Key features of PalTurn include:



Versatile - Works with virtually any type of load, up to 30-ton capacity.

Efficient - Design requires only one lifting point.

Streamlined - A single unit can be used for several applications, limiting the amount of required floor space needed.

Quality Management - Straps are engineered to eliminate marks or damages to the load.

Solo Operation - Can easily be run by a single operator, instead of a team of workers.

Safe - Control box enables the functioning of the system from a distance.

Given the variety of configurations and uses, we think PalTurn has a lot to offer the North American market  particularly in domestic manufacturing," said Scott Friedman, Head of Sales Tractel Solutions  US. Any manufacturer or fabricator that is looking to improve their processes, increase output, and ultimately boost profitability, needs to consider this product. It can be a game-changer."

Tractel remains dedicated to providing customers with solutions that improve safety and productivity. Established more than 70 years ago, Tractel has significant manufacturing facilities in Europe (France, Germany, Poland, Spain), the USA (Houston), Canada (Toronto, Montreal), China (Shanghai), Singapore and Turkey. These facilities are supported by dedicated centers of excellence in R&D, engineering and safety standards. Tractel has customers in 120 countries, subsidiaries in 19 countries, 10,000 distributors around the world, and employs around 1,100 people.
BlocPower, a national climate tech company focused on decarbonizing aging buildings, and the Town of Peterborough, New Hampshire announced a pilot partnership to help upgrade the towns building stock to more comfortable, energy efficient and all-electric heating and cooling systems.

The pilot program will focus on the electrification of 10-15 buildings by June 30, 2024. BlocPower will manage and help finance the building retrofits  including weatherization, electric panel upgrades and the installation of cold climate heat pump technology. Participants will have access to local incentives via NHSaves, low-cost financing, state and federal incentive programs and expert project oversight to complete upgrades that would otherwise require significant upfront investment and contractor management.

"We're excited to be partnering with BlocPower to make progress on the Town's renewable energy goals," said Peterborough Select Board Member Bill Kennedy. "They bring tremendous experience, expertise, and financing to the job of improving our buildings' energy use."

These projects will deliver more comfortable, reliable and energy-saving heating, cooling and hot water systems to building owners and residents. At the same time, they will reduce the buildings fossil-fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. BlocPower will be working directly with the Peterborough Renewable Energy Planning (PREP) Team and local contractors to execute this work on behalf of the Town.

"We are excited that the Town of Peterborough has shown the conviction to become a regional leader in the race to decarbonize buildings and save the planet," said Donnel Baird, CEO of BlocPower. "The Town of Peterborough cares about residents' health and the environment. This program is a huge step forward in decreasing the town's carbon footprint. We're proud to partner with Peterborough, NH to combat climate change."

The partnership is part of BlocPower's continued efforts to bring clean energy solutions to communities across the country, including the cities of San Jose, CA, Denver, CO, and Cambridge, MA, and city-scale decarbonization projects in Ithaca, NY and Menlo Park, CA. To get started on electrifying your building, interested residents should visit https://www.blocpower.io/electrify-peterborough to learn more about the program.

About BlocPower

BlocPower is a national climate technology company rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed 5,000+ energy efficiency projects nationwide. BlocPower utilizes its proprietary BlocMaps software platform to help municipalities, utility companies, and sustainability experts plan, manage, finance and implement equitable decarbonization strategies. The company is backed by some of the worlds top investors, including Goldman Sachs, Kapor Capital, Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Andreessen Horowitz and American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. In 2022, Fast Company named BlocPower the #4 Most Innovative Company in the World. For more information, please visit https://blocpower.io.
Resistant AI Our focus on enhancing customers existing tech with innovative AI is the ideal response to the rapidly shifting regulatory landscape around money laundering, offering a convenient way to improve a companys capabilities without overhauling their whole system, says Rehak, CEO of Resistant AI.

Resistant AI, the AI and machine learning financial crime prevention specialists, today announces that Bank of Valletta, the largest bank in Malta, is to adopt its Transaction Forensics product for anti-money laundering (AML). It will enable the bank to prevent and detect transactions that are suspected of being involved in money laundering or sanctions evasion.

Traditionally, banks' transaction monitoring processes have consisted of reporting suspicious transactions - values, senders, recipients - to law enforcement or regulatory bodies after they have been processed. As sanctions against the Russian regime increase, forward-looking banks are increasingly seeking to prevent criminals from using their services for illicit purposes by stopping unusual transactions in real time.

Bank of Valletta's use of Resistant AI's innovative transaction monitoring capabilities is one of the first of its kind by a major bank. The AI-powered monitoring takes place in real time, allowing the bank to further its protections against financial crime in line with changing regulations and internal risk assessments. It can receive huge amounts of real-time data and process it in seconds to uncover patterns and anomalies that suggest suspicious activity.

Resistant AIs technology adds sophistication to transaction monitoring capabilities to the bank, without requiring a wholesale overhaul of the banks current systems. Ryan Caruana, Money Laundering Reporting Officer at Bank of Valletta says, We are pleased that our bank is leading the way in innovation in Malta, to remain compliant with regulatory mandates.

We selected Resistant AI based on their ability to provide best in class analytical capabilities.Martin Rehak, CEO and Founder of Resistant AI says, Resistant AI is proud to assist Bank of Valletta in providing truly innovative transaction monitoring capabilities. Our focus on enhancing customers existing tech with innovative AI is the ideal response to the rapidly shifting regulatory landscape around money laundering, offering a convenient way to improve a companys capabilities without overhauling their whole system.

About Resistant AI

Resistant AI was founded in 2019 in Prague by a team with deep expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer security. It was the same team that was behind Cognitive Security, which was sold to Cisco in 2013, and has decades worth of experience in tackling the ever-changing nature of financial crime. Resistant AI has developed start-of-the-art machine learning techniques so that financial services can be protected from manipulation and attack. The companys solutions are already protecting a number of banks, insurers, and fintech companies across the whole customer life cycle, and are being used to detect document forgery, serial fraud, synthetic identities, account takeovers, money laundering, and other evolving risks that threaten financial institutions. For more information go to: https://resistant.ai/
The new Staffing Service USA website emphasizes our commitment to growing our professional recruitment services.

Staffing Service USA, a leading provider of staffing solutions in Central Pennsylvania and direct hire search nationwide, announced the launch of their new website today. The updated site is designed to offer clients and candidates better service and support, making it convenient for job seekers to find opportunities and employers to request talent. The site features separate pages for each specialty: staffing and recruiting for office, industrial, and accounting roles and nationwide professional recruitment. Individual pages for their locations in Lancaster, York, and Harrisburg, PA, make contacting the most convenient location easy.

Job seekers will appreciate the new career portal, where they can search for current jobs and apply or create a saved search to be notified when jobs matching their interests are posted. Professionals can click the skip the search button to submit their resumes to a recruiter quickly.

The new Staffing Service USA website also highlights direct hire recruitment services. The company offers executive search nationwide, focusing on office and accounting professionals, including all levels of management (supervisors, managers, directors and other C-level leaders). Staffing Service USA sources, screens and attracts active and passive talent, even for the most challenging positions.

"Were pleased to see how well the new website highlights our direct hire recruiting services," said Tami Hemler, Director of Sales and Business Solutions. "The new website emphasizes our commitment to growing our professional recruitment services. Overall, the site represents us well with eye-catching design, informative and engaging copy, and our brand colors carried throughout. Theres no mistaking youve arrived at Staffing Service USA!"

About Staffing Service USA

Staffing Service USA has been locally owned and operated since 1985. As one of the most respected professional recruiting firms in Central Pennsylvania, they serve Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, and the surrounding areas and recruit nationwide. Staffing Service USA employment solutions include temporary and temp-to-hire staffing, direct hire recruitment and placement, and on-site management solutions.

If you would like more information about Staffing Service USA, please call 855-655-9675 or email info@staffingserviceusa.com, or visit the new website at http://www.staffingserviceusa.com.
The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), voice of the mortgage industry representing the interests of mortgage brokers and home buyers since 1973, and Freedom Mortgage Wholesale, a division of Freedom Mortgage, one of the largest full-service independent mortgage companies and a top Veterans Affairs (VA) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lender in the U.S., today launched an FHA mortgage loan certification program for mortgage brokers.

This unique partnership fulfills an industry need by providing mortgage brokers with detailed information to better understand the various FHA loan solutions available to their borrowers.

Starting in summer 2023, NAMB and Freedom Mortgage Wholesale will conduct a series of NAMB certified FHA loan courses. The Certified FHA Mortgage Professional or CFMP course is designed to empower mortgage brokers across the U.S. with access to in-depth information about FHA loans. The purpose of this course is to equip mortgage brokers with the knowledge to offer more loan options to help the underserved and those with limited downpayment have access to attain homeownership.

We are thrilled to partner with Freedom Mortgage Wholesale to offer the finest certification course in the industry to mortgage brokers, enabling them to fully understand all aspects of helping their borrowers qualify for an FHA loan, said NAMB President Ernest Jones Jr. Combining Freedom Mortgage Wholesale and NAMBs expertise in FHA lending, were offering one of the most comprehensive FHA courses available in the nation, which in turn will empower mortgage brokers to better serve their borrowers.

Allen Middleman, Senior Vice President at Freedom Mortgage, said, Freedom Mortgage has proudly served mortgage brokers for over 30 years. It is our duty, as one of the largest national FHA lenders, to support and offer educational opportunities to mortgage brokers. We are delighted to design this educational program with NAMB. Offering this course and associated materials is a natural part of strengthening relationships in the wholesale marketplace.

The Certified FHA Mortgage Professional (CFMP) is an eight-hour course, offered in one day, which provides mortgage brokers with an in-depth dive into FHA insured loans and the various qualifications to match borrowers with the best loan. Immediately following the course, a test will be given, and upon passing, attendees will be presented with a certification and all the course materials.

Mortgage brokers interested in the new Certified FHA Mortgage Professional (CFMP) course, please check here soon for more information and to enroll. In addition to the new certification opportunities, Freedom Mortgage Wholesale will be showcased in the fall during NAMB National 2023 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

NAMB National 2023 marks our organizations 50th year in the marketplace. We are excited to share this moment with the industry while highlighting our work with Freedom Mortgage Wholesale during the conference, said Jones Jr.

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About NAMB

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers has been the voice of the mortgage industry representing the interests of mortgage professionals and homebuyers since 1973. NAMB provides mortgage professionals with advocacy, education, and rigorous certification programs to recognize members with the highest levels of professional knowledge and education. NAMBs active lobbying and advocacy efforts focus on national and state issues, protecting the interests of its members and borrowers. As the leading national trade association for the mortgage industry, NAMB is affiliated with state associations throughout the country and represents the interests of more than 993,000 licensed and registered Mortgage Loan Originators and 68,000 licensed Mortgage Broker and Mortgage Lender businesses throughout the US. The Association hosts several meetings throughout the year. Engage the organization via social media: https://www.facebook.com/NAMBPros

About Freedom Mortgage Corporation

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Freedom Mortgage is an independent mortgage company that provides mortgage loans through retail, wholesale and correspondent channels. One of the nations largest non-bank mortgage lenders/servicers, the company is licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Freedom Mortgage is a top VA and FHA (government-insured) lender in the U.S. (Inside Mortgage Finance, Jan-June 2022), and one of the mortgage industrys largest philanthropic supporters of the USO of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company is also renowned for its vibrant work environment where all team members can thrive. Earlier this year, Freedom Mortgage was honored for the third year in a row as a Top Workplaces USA. Last year, the company made it back on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll for the eighth time as one of the fastest-growing companies across the country. Freedom Mortgages mission is to foster homeownership for all consumers across America. Lender NMLS ID: 2767. Equal Housing Opportunity. For more information, please visit FreedomMortgage.com. For more information on Freedom Mortgage Wholesale  Historically, Currently, 4EVER Wholesale  visit http://www.FreedomWholesale.com.
Windsor Group LLC logo and Inc. ranking "This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication and commitment of Team Windsor in delivering excellence. We're proud to stand among the most dynamic and successful businesses in the area. " Ms. Diedre L. Windsor, Founder and CEO of Windsor Group

Maryland based Windsor Group LLC has made its way on the fourth annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Mid-Atlantic list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Mid-Atlantic private companies, based in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Mid-Atlantic economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

Ms. Diedre Windsor, Founder and CEO of Windsor Group and retired US Army Officer, expressed her team's gratitude and humility upon receiving the recognition.

"This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication and commitment of Team Windsor in delivering excellence. Making the Inc. 5000 Regionals list is significant for us, and we are proud to stand among the most dynamic and successful businesses in the area. This achievement inspires us to continue pushing the limits and achieving greater heights in the future."

The companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Mid-Atlantic region. Between 2019 and 2021, these # private companies had an average growth rate of 381 percent and, in 2021 alone, they added 14,439 jobs and $2.66 billion to the Mid-Atlantic regions economy. Companies based in the Richmond, Virginia and the Washington, D.C. areas had the highest growth rates overall.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Mid-Atlantic, can be found at inc.com/mid-atlantic.

About Windsor Group LLC

Windsor is an award-winning professional services company based in Bethesda, Maryland. Windsor provides best-in-class solutions to both public and private sector clients, identifying areas of weakness and helping resolve challenging issues to ensure optimal success and growth. Windsor supports its clients in the areas of program and project management, professional and technical staffing solutions, IT support, training and management consulting. Windsor is a woman, minority and service-disabled veteran owned small business, as well as a SBA 8(a) Business Development program participant and GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) contract holder.

Contact: Marietta Percy, Senior Manager, Operation, Administration & HR, marietta.percy@windsorgroupllc.net

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals

Methodology

The 2023 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2019 and 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2021. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.
Editor's note: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) commences from Kashgar, a city in China's Xinjiang, and terminates at the port city of Gwadar in Pakistan. Covering a distance of 3,000 kilometers, this corridor is a significant undertaking that has benefited over a billion people and serves as a symbol of the Belt and Road collaboration. This year marks a decade since the launch of the CPEC project, which has bolstered trade between Kashgar and China's neighboring countries and had a positive impact on Pakistan and the surrounding regions over the past ten years.

The Sahiwal Power Plant and Port Qasim Power Plant have contributed to one-third of Pakistan's power generation, while the Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission and other power transmission initiatives have significantly alleviated electricity shortages. As a result, the country now has ample installed power capacity to cater to domestic demand. Furthermore, the Sahiwal Power Station project has achieved superior gas emission performance compared to local standards.

Notably, the Karot Hydropower Plant is China's first overseas hydropower project that employs solely Chinese technologies and standards.

The Karakoram Highway Phase II, Peshawar to Karachi Highway, and Pakistan's first urban transit train, the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, are some of the projects that have contributed to increased transport capacity between China and Pakistan, as well as significant improvements to major roads in Pakistan. It's worth noting that the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train serves as Pakistan's first urban transit metro system.

The China-Pakistan cross-border optical fiber cable project has ended the era of no terrestrial optical fiber cables connecting China and Pakistan. In the field of agricultural cooperation under the CPEC framework, China has assisted Pakistan in controlling locust outbreaks by providing locust eradication supplies.

Furthermore, the Rashakai Special Economic Zone is the first industrial park established under CPEC, which has effectively integrated resources, promoted competitive industrial clusters, and bolstered exports.

The CPEC initiative has generated 192,000 job opportunities in Pakistan. The impartation of modern agricultural technologies and skills from Chinese experts to farmers in Gwadar has led to the conversion of over 100,000 square meters of new green land and increased cash crop yields.

Moreover, China's donation of the Faqeer Middle School in Pakistan, equipped with modern teaching facilities, can accommodate 1,000 students, improving the local educational infrastructure.


First version published at 15:45

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, has started today in the cultural capital of Azerbaijan - the city of Shusha, Trend reports.

According to the festival program, presentations of samples of crafts and national cuisine of the participating countries were held.

Within the framework of the festival, thematic corners called "Flag", "Heroism", "Karabakh Majlis", "Poetry", "Dede Gorgud", "Dervishes", "Molla Nasraddin" have been created in various places of the city, where various artistic presentations and performances take place.

Also, various concert programs, exhibitions and film screenings will be held in the framework of the events that will take place on Jidir Duzu, in front of the monument to Uzeyir Hajibeyov, in House-Museum of Bulbul and other places in Shusha.

The city of Shusha in 2023 was also declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).

The current festival is attended by creative collectives of the member countries of TURKSOY, Turkic-speaking states and countries of the region.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, the Autonomous Territorial Entity Gagauzia of the Republic of Moldova (Gagauz Land), Uzbekistan and the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Altai, Khakassia, Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan and Tuva of Russia will be represented along with Azerbaijan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkiye and Turkmenistan at the "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival, which will be held on May 9-11 in the city of Shusha.
The Draper Research Symposium featured students research in space systems in such fields as biotechnology, hypersonics and satellites. Draper has more than 50 years of history bridging government, industry and academia to foster transformational innovation. We bring that experience to our student scholars and university partners through the Draper Scholars Program. Brenan McCarragher at Draper.

Innovation was on the agenda recently at Draper when new research was presented by 17 Masters and Ph.D. students whose graduate study has been supported by the Draper Scholars Program. The research was wide-ranging, and the applications were real-world: heart valves, hypersonics, snowpack detection and astronaut health were among the areas of research.

The event was the Draper Research Symposium, in which Scholars present their thesis research in addressing and solving some of the most challenging engineering, technological and scientific problems.

The 2023 Symposium did not disappoint. Here are a few highlights.



Christine Chang, a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, presented on collaborative planning and negotiation in human-robot teams.

Michelle Nguyen, a Ph.D. student at Boston University, presented on Covids impact on blood vessels.

Thomas Abitante, a Ph.D. student studying health sciences and technology at MIT, presented on a wearable device that could keep NASA astronauts healthier in space.

Erin Shaughnessey, a Ph.D. student at Tufts, described a new approach to drug development that uses organ-on-a-chip human tissue modelsa method that provides more human-like results than animal studies, a potential boon to medical researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Ken Kuppa, a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, earned the top scholar award for his research on spacecraft navigation around small celestial bodies.

New this year, 28 students representing six universities presented research posters as part of the Undergraduate Senior Capstone Student Projects. A team from Olin College earned the top spot for designing and demonstrating in a lab a low-cost plasma thruster for moving spacecraft between orbits and interplanetary destinations.

The keynote, by Dr. Dava Newman, Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics Humanity at MIT and Director of the MIT Media Lab, touched on the importance of nurturing student research. Empowering the next generation of student scholars allows us to investigate dream projects, including those that will enable humanity to become interplanetary.

The 2023 Draper Scholars class includes students from Boston University, Brown, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, Purdue, Tufts, University of Massachusetts, University of Colorado, University of South Florida and University of Washington. The program is aiming to support 75 students in the 2023/2024 class, and has a goal to triple the number by 2033.

Brenan McCarragher, principal director of Science and Technology at Draper, said the program, which he directs, provides an opportunity for students to benefit from not only immersion in their universitys academic research environment, but also from Drapers facilities, collective knowledge and experience. Draper has more than 50 years of history bridging government, industry and academia to foster transformational innovation. We bring that experience to our student scholars and university partners through the Draper Scholars Program to accelerate game-changing, real-world results. These collaborations catalyze solutions to some of the worlds most complex challenges.

Since 1973, the Draper Scholars Program, formerly known as the Draper Fellow Program, has supported more than 1,300 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and the sciences. Draper Scholars are from both civilian and military backgrounds and Draper Scholar alumni excel worldwide in the technical, corporate, government, academic and entrepreneurship sectors.

Details about the program, including how to apply, are available at Draper.

Draper

At Draper, we believe exciting things happen when new capabilities are imagined and created. Whether formulating a concept and developing each component to achieve a field-ready prototype or combining existing technologies in new ways, Draper engineers apply multidisciplinary approaches that deliver new capabilities to customers. As a nonprofit engineering innovation company, Draper focuses on the design, development and deployment of advanced technological solutions for the worlds most challenging and important problems. We provide engineering solutions directly to government, industry and academia; work on teams as prime contractor or subcontractor; and participate as a collaborator in consortia. We provide unbiased assessments of technology or systems designed or recommended by other organizationscustom designed, as well as commercial-off-the-shelf. Visit Draper at http://www.draper.com.


Texas bankruptcy lawyers, Sean Acker and Brandon Warren, recognized by Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Attorneys Sean Acker and Brandon Warren have both been named Rising Star Super Lawyers for the fourth consecutive year. The two attorneys received this prestigious distinction for their work in bankruptcy law. Both attorneys are committed to helping individuals take control of their financial lives through bankruptcy filings, and their skill in doing so has kept them on this distinctive list for years.

Super Lawyers is a highly reputable professional organization that ranks the top attorneys in each geographic region and practice area. The selection process is competitive, and only the top two percent of attorneys will receive this honor. Super Lawyers considers peer recommendations, an attorneys involvement in giving back to the community, ethics, and skill in their practice area.

Being recognized by Super Lawyers for four consecutive years shows that an attorney is not only skilled in their practice area, but an active member of the community and an ethical practitioner.

About Acker Warren P.C.

Acker Warren P.C. is a law firm based in Arlington, Texas. The firm is focused exclusively on bankruptcy law and debtor assistance. Clients may find help with multiple types of bankruptcy as well as issues related to bankruptcy, such as tax help for those declaring bankruptcy.

To learn more about Acker Warren P.C. or to contact the attorneys, please visit: https://www.ackerwarren.com/
ClinEco Welcomes a New Advisor ClinEco plans on leaning heavily on Robs diverse expertise in the management of online marketplaces and startup growth as we work to deliver the best possible experiences of all clinical research stakeholders.

ClinEco, the worlds first online community for clinical trial organizations to explore, engage and exchange capabilities with an ecosystem of partners, announced today that it has named Rob Ristagno, President of International Operations at Vistage Worldwide, to its advisory board. In his role, Ristagno will counsel ClinEco leadership as they plan their next chapter of growth for the clinical trial partnership platform.

We are thrilled to have Rob as one of our advisors. Robs experience is different from the rest of our team, as his background is not in clinical research but rather in helping companies grow. This makes him a great complement to the rest of our advisory board and a valuable member of our team, said Micah Lieberman, Co-Founder and VP of Community and Business Development at ClinEco. We plan on leaning heavily on Robs diverse expertise in the management of online marketplaces and startup growth as we work to deliver the best possible experiences for all our clinical research stakeholders.

In Ristagnos current role with Vistage Worldwide, he is focused on building the companys footprint globally, particularly in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as the Latin American and Asia Pacific regions. His previous experience includes building and growing a tech-enabled consultancy, Sterling Woods, where he and his team created over a half billion dollars of enterprise value for small and medium sized businesses. Ristagnos background also includes time at McKinsey & Company, Americas Test Kitchen and Homesite Insurance in growth-focused executive roles as well as positions at global brands Visa, Pepsi and Comcast. He is a published author, keynote speaker and serves on the board of DRG Holdings. Rob holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in economics from Dartmouth College and has taught at both Harvard and Boston College.

About ClinEco

ClinEco unites sponsors, CROs, service providers and sites on the worlds first B2B clinical trial marketplace, empowering all to expand clinical partnerships. Through creating a platform where all clinical research stakeholders can explore, engage, and exchange capabilities with an ecosystem of partners, ClinEco accelerates the process of vendor selection, leading to faster, more efficient clinical trials. ClinEco is a Cambridge Healthtech Institute Company. The team responsible for ClinEco is also the team behind the Summit for Clinical Ops Executives (SCOPE).

About CHI

Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI) believes bringing together a unique and diverse constellation of innovators, scientists, and life science professionals can hold the key to developing tomorrows cures and diagnostics. We are a life science network for leading researchers and business experts from top pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic organizations.
Craig's passion for AMT and his remarkable leadership skills as COO over the past three years have been integral to our success.

Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North Americas largest independent automation engineering company supporting manufacturers, robot companies, systems integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, today announced the promotion of Chief Operating Officer (COO) Craig Salvalaggio to the position of company president.

"Promoting Craig to the role of president was an easy decision, said AMTs Founder and CEO Michael Jacobs. His passion for AMT and his remarkable leadership skills as COO over the past three years have been integral to our success. Craig has built an incredibly dedicated team, and his unwavering commitment to our company, culture, and values inspires the AMT team. I am certain that Craig will continue to lead AMT to even greater heights in his new role as president."

"Craig's promotion to president is a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional leadership skills," said Louis Finazzo, Vice President of Sales for FANUC America and long-time acquaintance. "He is an industry pioneer and a very strong and capable leader, with remarkable situational awareness and interpersonal skills. Under his leadership, AMT has achieved great success, earning the prestigious FANUC Level V Integrator award and becoming a trusted strategic partner. Craig's dedication to his customers and his team has been critical to the company's growth and reputation, and I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in his new role."

Salvalaggio has served in the role as the Chief Operating Officer of AMT since 2020 which has prepared him to take on the additional responsibilities as company president. Since becoming COO, Salvalaggio has led overall operations of Applied Manufacturing Technologies along with sales, engineering, and talent management. His technical skills in automation and robotics combined with his leadership ability, led to his current role. Salvalaggios strategic mission is to continue driving growth and diversity of both the systems and services market segments at AMT.

With over 20 years of experience in automation and possessing a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Lake Superior State University, Salvalaggio also holds a Master of Science in operations management and an MBA from Kettering University. Salvalaggios impressive rise to the role of president of AMT is a testament to his hard work and extensive experience, starting as a robotics software engineer in 2006 and working his way up the ranks to become Vice President of Engineering, Vice President of Operations, Chief Operating Officer and finally, President. Having climbed the ladder in all aspects of the business, Salvalaggio possesses a deep understanding of the company's operations and clients.

Salvalaggio is actively involved in the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) on the Robotics Tech Sector Board of Directors and has also served on the RIA Membership Committee and as co-chair of the RIA Certified Robot Integrator Program Committee. He is an expert speaker and panelist on topics such as emerging technologies, culture and talent management, and has authored dozens of publications to further the industries progression on knowledge sharing and technology advancement.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to be named the president of this incredible company, said Salvalaggio. Working alongside my leader Mike Jacobs and our exceptional team has been an incredible journey so far, and I'm excited to continue driving our mission forward in this new role. As we look to the future, I am committed to preserving the unique culture and values that have made our company so successful, while also exploring new opportunities for growth and innovation.

About Applied Manufacturing Technologies

Founded in 1989, Applied Manufacturing Technologies is an industry leader in automated end of line solutions, complex material handling systems, and engineering support globally. AMT employs more than 120 experienced and highly-trained controls and automation engineers with over 1,250 combined years of experience engaged in automation projects across an array of industries. With a deep bench of experienced, innovative automation engineers, consultants, and programmers, AMT assists customers with projects at any stage of development, from conceptualization and design to troubleshooting and expansion. From AMTs Orion, Michigan headquarters, the company has engineered more than 25,000 automation systems worldwide on 5,500 projects for more than 600 customers. For more information, visit AMTs website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Energy Resource Center joins the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System The Energy Resource Center invites all potential vendors to register online.

The Energy Resource Center announced it has joined the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. Bidnet Directs Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System connects over 375 participating agencies from across Colorado and Wyoming. The purchasing group provides a transparent bid process through which the bid is available to all vendors at the same time. The Energy Resource Center invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado.

The Energy Resource Center joined the purchasing group in November. The Energy Resource Center will utilize the system to streamline their purchasing process including bid distribution, bid management, and vendor relations. The Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides 389 local government agencies the tools needed to have a transparent bid process while minimizing costs and saving time.

We strive to be as transparent as possible and to give all the information we have about the bid opportunity and the procurement process to all our vendors. By becoming a part of the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, we can provide all the important and necessary information instantly to our vendors, everything they need is in one spot and they dont need to contact us to find out details, they can just log in and view everything in real time. This has allowed us to create a more seamless bid process and has provided more participation from vendors across the state, stated Kevin Kurth, Purchasing Manager of the Energy Resource Center.

As a participating agency of the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, it allows the Energy Resource Center to expand their vendor pool and enhance vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. To be added to the existing list of vendors on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, any suppliers looking to do business with the Energy Resource Center can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado. The Energy Resource Center encourages all interested bidders to register today.

Registered vendors can access open bids, related documents, and files, additional addendum, and available award information from all participating agencies. In addition, the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their business, including all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts.

With one click, the Energy Resource Center can now see how many vendors match a specific opportunity, how many have downloaded documents, responded and more. The Energy Resource Center also has its own, branded page on the public side of the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System in which taxpayers can view all closed bids and any awarded information.

Vendors may register on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado. Bidnet Directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2.

Other local Colorado and Wyoming government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About the Energy Resource Center:

The Energy Resource Center is a non-profit organization with offices in Loveland, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Alamosa. We serve 26,134 square miles across 27 counties. Since 1979, weve helped thousands of Colorado families keep their homes safe, warm and energy efficient.

Our services dont just help families reduce energy usage, they make lives better! ERC energy audits and improvements protect families from risks associated with Colorado winters, such as exposure to dangerously low temperatures or carbon monoxide poisoning. They also make home more comfortable in the winter and summer months, and reduce the energy burden for homes. You can find more details about our services here.

About Bidnet Direct:

Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
The IDentification in a Post-Pandemic World Report was originally presented at the ITRC 2023 Government "Identivation" Summit in March, supported by LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "Our survey shows that both groups are generally uncomfortable sharing personally identifiable information with agencies," said Velasquez. "The transnational criminals who put an unprecedented strain on pandemic programs continue to attack government benefit systems," Talcove added.

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, and  LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a leading provider of data, analytics, and technology to help organizations manage risk  has released its IDentification in a Post-Pandemic World Report. The study highlights consumers, identity crime victims, and government executives' views of identity verification.

Based on responses from 986 consumers, self-identified identity crime victims, and government officials, the IDentification in a Post-Pandemic World Report was originally presented at the ITRC 2023 Government "Identivation" Summit in March, supported by LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

"While consumers and identity crime victims strongly support identity verification efforts by government agencies, our survey shows that both groups are generally uncomfortable sharing personally identifiable information (PII) with agencies," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "For example, 61 percent of consumers are concerned about giving government agencies their Social Security number (SSN). Identity crime victims are very concerned about their information being compromised in a data breach or misused by a government employee. All of these findings give us additional direction for how we can build confidence in the systems that prove people are who they claim to be and reduce the rate of identity fraud."

"We are proud to continue our collaboration with impactful organizations like the ITRC to protect Americans from identity theft and provide secure and equitable access to government services," said Haywood Talcove, CEO, Government, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "The voices of victims are especially important in this study because every statistic represents a real person and potentially a family negatively impacted by identity theft. The transnational criminals who put an unprecedented strain on pandemic programs continue to attack government benefit systems. Studies such as this can help us improve technology, ensure it is equitable, and continue to assist government agencies as they work to provide critical services to deserving citizens."

The IDentification in a Post-Pandemic World Report shows that security is top-of-mind for consumers, victims and agencies, all of which are vulnerable to security risks. Many government agencies have made significant progress updating technologies and processes in the past year. In fact, 58 percent of government executives surveyed say their organization has modernized technologies since January 2022. The primary improvements were to verify one's identity during account setup (19 percent), engage with a private, third-party organization to provide identity verification (16 percent) and verify one's identity each time they log into their account (14 percent). According to the report, consumers support most of the changes that have been made and do not find identity verification a burden.



Fifty-two (52) percent of identity crime victims say it is very easy or easy to verify their identity.

Those who find it difficult say the main reasons include the length of the process, unclear instructions, and a lack of assistance.

The report also found that consumers are generally comfortable sharing their data with government agencies, yet only 16 percent of consumers believe their information is secure. As would be expected, there is an increase in concern among the previous victims of identity crime.

Overall, the study demonstrates that most government organizations have made meaningful improvements, with 63 percent of respondents reporting that their agency has returned to experiencing pre-pandemic levels of identity fraud.

View the full IDentification in a Post-Pandemic World Report here.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries, including insurance, financial services, healthcare, and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit risk.lexisnexis.com and relx.com.

Media Contacts

Identity Theft Resource Center

Alex Achten

Director of Communications & Media Relations

888.400.5530 Ext. 3611

media@idtheftcenter.org

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Paul Eckloff

Mobile: 202.941.6986

Paul.Eckloff@lnssi.com
iHire's What Candidates Want: 2023 Job Seeker Report details the results of iHires survey of 600 working professionals in all industries across the U.S. Our research underscores the importance of a candidate-centric approach to hiring, as themes such as transparency, communication, flexibility, equity, and empathy appeared throughout survey responses.- Steve Flook, iHires President & CEO.

iHire today published a new research report uncovering job seekers preferences when searching for work and offering employers insights into how to recruit more efficiently. The What Candidates Want: 2023 Job Seeker Report details the results of iHires survey of a Qualtrics panel comprising 600 working professionals in all industries across the United States. To download the full report, visit: https://go.ihire.com/ct59n.

The following is a sampling of iHires survey findings:



Candidates want employers to communicate openly and honestly throughout the recruitment process. 95.5% of respondents want employers to acknowledge theyve received their application after applying for a job online, and 81.8% want employers to inform them if they are disqualified from a job. Moreover, 38.7% of candidates said they would be less likely to interact with a brand in the future if they apply for a job and don't hear back from the company.

Candidates want to know salary ranges  and a lack of pay transparency can be a dealbreaker. 78.5% of candidates would be more likely to apply for a job if the salary was listed in the ad, while 44.7% said they would not apply if the salary was not specified.

Candidates want some form of in-person work, but remote work options remain essential. 67.8% of respondents preferred either an in-person work environment (36.3%) or hybrid arrangement (31.5%). However, remote work was still a must-have for many job seekers: 42.7% of candidates said remote work was one of the most important aspects of their job search, and 27.2% said they wouldnt bother applying for a job if remote work was not an option.

Candidates want employers to embrace fair, unbiased hiring practices. Although only 16.8% of respondents said a companys commitment to DE&I was among the most important aspects of their job search, 41.7% said they would be more likely to apply for a job if they knew the employer used blind or anonymous recruitment tools to reduce bias and increase diversity hiring.

Candidates want employers to value their time, especially if they are putting in the work. While 62.6% of candidates want to spend less than 20 minutes on an online application, they are making an effort to get in front of employers: 57.7% customize their resume for the position theyre applying for always or most of the time, and 55.7% include a cover letter always or most of the time even if its not required. Additionally, 74.5% of candidates follow up on their applications always or most of the time.

Candidates want employment options beyond traditional full-time roles, particularly part-time jobs. 57.3% of respondents were interested in part-time work, compared to 51.7% interested in full-time opportunities. A portion of candidates were also looking for temporary jobs (17.8%), gig work (17.7%), and seasonal jobs (17.3%).

Candidates want to work for a company with a positive employer brand  and they want proof. 37.5% of candidates said a companys reputation as a good place to work was one the most important factors in their job search, while 76.0% research the hiring company before applying for a job always or most of the time. Of those who do their research, 65.7% said they want to read employee reviews/testimonials to gauge what its really like to work for the company.

Our research underscores the importance of a candidate-centric approach to hiring, as themes such as transparency, communication, flexibility, equity, and empathy appeared throughout survey responses, said Steve Flook, iHires President and CEO. We found it fascinating that nearly 40% of job seekers would be less likely to interact with a brand if they received a poor candidate experience. Employers who treat applicants well will not only have a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting, but also in their overall success as a business.

Access the full report here: https://go.ihire.com/ct59n.

About the Survey

iHire surveyed 600 job seekers in the U.S. who were seeking work actively and passively across all industries. The survey was fielded to a Qualtrics market research panel of working professionals ages 18 years and older. The survey was conducted in March 2023.

About iHire

iHire is a leading career-oriented platform that powers a family of 57 industry-focused talent networks, including WorkInSports, iHireVeterinary, iHireDental, iHireConstruction, and iHireChefs. For more than 20 years, iHire has combined advanced job matching technology with our expertise in the talent acquisition space to connect job seekers with employers in their desired sector. With an industry-specific, candidate-centric, and data-driven approach to recruitment, iHire helps candidates find meaningful work and employers find unique, high-quality talent  faster, easier, and more effectively than a general job board. Visit iHire.com for more information.
In fact, we don't believe in being ordinary. Our focus remains on creating extraordinary experiences and delivering the unexpected for our clients. -- Cheryl McCants, founder & CEO

Impact Consulting Enterprises (Impact) announced today that Cheryl McCants, the firms founder and CEO, and the Impact team have earned several individual and team achievements. The latest honors include recognition in the 2023 Global 100 as Best Marketing and Communications Strategists  Northeast USA, and a 2022 Media Innovators Award, Best Strategic PR and Communications Firm of the Year-New Jersey.

These awards recognize and reinforce the firms prominence in strategic marketing, community outreach, communication, research, event management, media relations, events, website design, crisis communication, and public relations. With more than 30 years of success, Impact continues to develop and deliver diverse and innovative strategies that transcend trends and turn heads.

"It is with the utmost pride that I share how we've made an impact over the past few years. We're thrilled to become part of the Global 100,  said Cheryl McCants, Impact founder and CEO and host of the Build Your Business podcast. And if that wasn't enough, weve also been recognized as the Best Strategic PR & Communications Firm of the Year in New Jersey as part of the Media Innovator Awards. It's a testament to Team Impacts hard work, expertise, and pure awesomeness. In fact, we don't believe in being ordinary. Our focus remains on creating extraordinary experiences and delivering the unexpected for our clients."

McCants has also positioned the firm for expansion by having leadership complete JPMorgan Chases ASCEND program, as well as the Initiative for a Competitive Inner Citys executive MBA program. Additionally, Impact is cyber ready. They have completed the National Minority Supplier Diversity Councils CyberReadyMBE program and received cyber hygiene and cyber readiness preparation training. The program is designed to align with corporate and federal cyber assessment tools including the Department of Defenses Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the Department of Energys Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (C2M2) program, the finance sectors Sarbanes-Oxley controls, the NIST framework, and others.

Between the Global 100 Award which recognizes 100 leading firms and individuals in more than 163 countries and Corporate Vision Magazines Media Innovator Award, it is clear that the media and advertising industry recognize Team Impacts talents. Global 100 provides a benchmark of the very best of the best industry leaders, exemplary teams, and distinguished organizations in the world. Corporate Vision highlights Impacts agility, creativity, and ever-evolving approaches developing innovative client solutions while communicating with diverse audiences and constituents. They recognize the immense value that Impact, a Black woman-owned firm, derives from its teams diverse approaches, community insights, and research-based strategies, and salutes the teams unyielding dedication to customer satisfaction, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These characteristics help set this full-service agency apart and make it worthy of this latest accolades.

About Impact Consulting Enterprises

Impact Consulting Enterprises, found on the web at https://www.eimpactconsulting.com, is an award-winning Black, woman-owned strategic communication, marketing, public relations, advertising, website design and development firm founded in 1989 by business strategist and communication professional, Cheryl McCants. Foundations, corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, and government agencies who seek to engage with audiences, launch brands, and disrupt industries partner with Impact to tell their untold stories to diverse audiences including women, millennials, genZers, baby boomers, and Latino, Asian, and African Americans. Impact, A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, is HUBZone, WBE, DBE, WOSB, SBE, and MBE certified. Catch our latest business podcast here https://eimpactconsulting.com/podcast/.

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Infoverity has a best-in-class conversion strategy that helps customers automate the MDM configuration onto the IDMC platform as well as considers the full-scope of each customer's needs.

Today, Infoverity, a leading provider of information management solutions, has launched its new MDM Cloud Migration Accelerator for Informatica customers. The MDM Cloud Migration Accelerator provides companies a straightforward and efficient move from Informaticas on-premises offering to its cloud IDMC platform, reducing MDM design and build by 75%. With extensive experience, Infoverity is a trusted and best-in-class partner for Informatica migrations that can tailor a conversion strategy for the individual needs of every customer. The company is a seven-time MDM partner of the year and regarded as one of the premier MDM implementation providers in the world. Infoverity allows companies to realize the full benefits of running Informatica in the cloud (IDMC).

To compete in todays business environment, businesses must leverage the agility, scalability, cost-efficiency, and flexibility of the cloud. By moving to the cloud, customers can gain a competitive advantage and keep up with their competition. They can also cure many of the problems of working with legacy architecture that can be cumbersome and difficult for users. Moving to the cloud also enables companies to improve their data agility and data onboarding processes, while reducing the security risks associated with their existing infrastructure.

Informaticas cloud offers increased automation, interoperability, and speed to market. The result is high rates of user adoption and buy-in across the organization. Businesses immediately realize long-term efficiency and cost improvements. To access these benefits, companies need a smooth and simplified conversion process.

Said Andy Crago, Managing Director at Infoverity, Infoverity has a best-in-class conversion strategy that helps customers automate the MDM configuration onto the IDMC platform as well as considers the full-scope of each customer's needs. Our #1 goal is to ensure the business outcomes are met and stay the priority throughout the modernization effort. The MDM Conversion Migration Accelerator significantly automates the conversion work for the MDM data model, matching, data source, data lookup, entity relationship and hierarchy configuration components on the platform. The MDM Cloud Migration Accelerator is also customizable to meet multi-domain use cases.

By leveraging the Infoverity MDM Cloud Migration Accelerator, companies can see immediate results. This includes migrating legacy MDM configuration to the cloud within a fraction of the time.

Companies ultimately lower their technical debt through the modernization to the IDMC cloud platform, as they have better automation, improved reusability (specifically in the data quality and API layers), and a more intuitive interface that is easier to work with for users.

To learn more specifically about Infoveritys MDM Cloud Migration Accelerator, view this brief demo video: https://bit.ly/Infoverity_CloudMigration_DemoVideo

Or contact us at info@infoverity.com

About Infoverity

Founded in 2011, Infoverity is a leading systems integrator and global professional services firm driven to simplify and maximize the value of their clients information. Infoverity provides Enterprise Data Management, MDM and PIM Strategy and Implementation, Data Governance and Analytics, Content Management, Data Integration, Enterprise Hosting, and Operational Services.

Infoverity is a Platinum Informatica Partner with a deep team of Informatica platform certified experts and a seven-time recipient of Informaticas Partner of the Year Award. Infoverity has delivered more than 500 successful implementations of the Informatica platform at global companies in the retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, financial and healthcare sectors.

Infoverity has also created Informatica based solution accelerators for MDM Cloud Migration, MDM Industry Data Models, Dun and Bradstreet data onboarding, Cloud Data Governance QuickStart, QuickStart BPM Workflows, Priint catalog automation, Healthcare Interoperability and Provider/Patient Data Management, and Adobe AEM direct data integration.

Infoveritys global headquarters is in Dublin, Ohio. The EMEA headquarters and Global Development Center is in Valencia, Spain. Additional offices are located in Germany and India. For more information on Infoverity solutions, visit https://www.infoverity.com/
I am delighted to join the LeaseQuery team. I see tremendous growth opportunities as we build upon an already strong financial and operational foundation.

LeaseQuery, a leading provider of lease accounting software, has hired Justin Smith to serve as chief financial officer (CFO). Justin brings with him nearly two decades of senior leadership experience and will be responsible for LeaseQuery's financial strategy and operations.

Prior to joining LeaseQuery, Justin was a senior member of Goldman Sachs' technology investment banking team, where he helped lead the firm's expansion into the Southeast. He was a member of the Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) coverage group, focusing on a range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity offerings, debt financings and other strategic alternatives.

"Justin's impressive background in finance and technology makes him a great fit for his role as LeaseQuerys CFO, said Joe Schab, LeaseQuery president and chief operating officer. We welcome him to our team and look forward to his contributions as LeaseQuerys rapid growth continues through product innovation, expanding our deeply loyal customer base and establishing new channel partnerships. I believe the depth and breadth of Justins experience will be a significant asset to our organization."

I am delighted to join the LeaseQuery team. I see tremendous growth opportunities as we build upon an already strong financial and operational foundation, said Smith. I am incredibly inspired by the platform that the LeaseQuery team has built, and I believe that their teamwork-driven culture, mission-centric focus on customer success and significant investments in product innovation have been key to their success. I look forward to working in partnership with the entire LeaseQuery team as we focus on the next chapter of growth.

In addition to Justins role at Goldman Sachs, he concurrently served as a founding advisory board member at Engage Ventures, an Atlanta-based venture capital fund, where he sat on the investment selection committee. Justin holds a BA in molecular neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA in finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

For more information about LeaseQuery, please visit http://www.leasequery.com.

About LeaseQuery

LeaseQuery makes accountants lives easier by simplifying the complex with technology. More than 30,000 financial professionals globally rely on our cloud-based, CPA-approved solutions and in-house accounting expertise to comply with confidence across various FASB, GASB and IASB accounting standards. Our software helps businesses minimize risk, increase efficiency and reduce costs. Learn more about LeaseQuerys core platform, which focuses on easing the mandatory transition to ASC 842, IFRS 16, GASB 87 and GASB 96, or explore additional accounting tools. For more information, visit LeaseQuery.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) Gwynne Shotwell on May 9, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The importance of the preliminary agreement to be signed with SpaceX in connection with the provision of Starlink internet services in Azerbaijan was emphasized at the meeting.

Significant achievements in the development of information and communication technologies, including e-government, distance learning and space industry in Azerbaijan were brought to the attention.

The fact that Azerbaijans capital Baku won the right to host the 74th International Astronautical Congress, which will be held in October this year, was assessed as a clear example of the high level of recognition of the country's achievements in this area by the international space community

Moreover, prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and SpaceX were discussed at the meeting.
We are excited and honored to have Liesa on our CSG team says Landis Rossi, CSGs Child Support Practice Lead. Liesas extensive experience and expertise in child support is a great asset to CSGs clients as our teams support their modernization initiatives.

CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that Liesa Stockdale has joined its Child Support Practice.

Stockdale brings over 25 years of experience working in the child support program, including serving 10 years as the IV-D Program Director for the Utah Office of Recovery Services. She has served as a Regional Representative to the National Council of Child Support (NCCSD) Board for nine years, representing Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.

We are excited and honored to have Liesa on our CSG team, says Landis Rossi, CSGs Child Support Practice Lead. Liesas extensive experience and expertise in child support is a great asset to CSGs clients as our teams support their modernization initiatives.

Contact:

Landis Rossi

Practice Lead, Child Support

CSG Government Solutions

180 N. Stetson Ave

Suite 3200

Chicago, IL 60601

Mobile: (208) 954-0429

Lrossi@csgdelivers.com

About CSG Government Solutions:

CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm helping states modernize critical program enterprises. We help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG clients include 47 state and territory governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments. For more information, visit http://www.csgdelivers.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
In 2022, Mothers Milk Bank (MMB) received more than 730,000 ounces of donor human milk, an increase of 8.7% from 2021, and distributed 700,000 ounces of donor human milk which amounts to a 6.5% increase from the previous year as donors from around the country responded to the increased need for donor human milk due to the nationwide formula shortage.

Donor human milk is a critical resource for any new parent needing extra milk for their baby, explains Rebecca Heinrich, director of Mothers Milk Bank (MMB). While we saw an increased need in 2022 due to the formula shortage, we continue to see a demand for donor human milk with requests coming in daily and donors generously giving to meet that need.

During the first quarter of 2023, MMB received 209,083 ounces of donor human milk from

225 donors and distributed 172,029 ounces which is a 14% increase over the first quarter of 2022 according to Heinrich.

For nearly 40 years, MMB, a program of Rocky Mountain Childrens Health Foundation, has provided donor human milk to babies nationwide. The majority of MMBs milk goes to neonatal intensive care units (NICUS) to help support the most fragile babies. The remaining milk, about 10 to 20%, is made available to outpatient families who are impacted by events like the formula shortage in addition to families who dont have access to human milk directly as often happens in cases of surrogacy or adoption; or families who need a little extra supply while moms milk comes in.

For more information about donating human milk or if you need donor human milk for your baby, please contact MMB at 303.869.1888 or visit milkbankcolorado.org.

About Mothers Milk Bank:

A nonprofit program of Rocky Mountain Childrens Health Foundation, Mothers' Milk Bank (MMB) collects, processes, analyzes and provides pasteurized donor human milk to babies across the country. Babies who receive donor human milk are often premature or have severe illnesses and need human milk to thrive. The milk bank, located in Arvada, Colorado, is the nations second oldest nonprofit milk bank and consistently one of the largest sources for donor human milk for hospitals across the nation. In addition, the bank adheres to the strict guidelines of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, HMBANA. For more information visit milkbankcolorado.org.

About Rocky Mountain Childrens Health Foundation:

Throughout the year, Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation provides direct assistance to more than 10,000 pediatric patients and their families in need. Thousands of babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) will receive precious donor human milk, children with serious medical conditions will be matched with loving companion dogs, families will receive non-financial support in difficult times, and pediatric patients in the hospital will receive the love and support of medical facility dog, Posey.
The Korean Invention Promotion Association delegation met with a cross-disciplinary team of Ocean Tomo experts from Valuation & Intellectual Property Strategy, Transaction Advisory & Investment Banking, and from Intellectual Property Disputes, Financial Expert Testimony.

Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held, signs a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the Korea Invention Promotion Association of the Republic of Korea.

At the signing ceremony, Ocean Tomo Managing Director Gregory Campanella, who oversees Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy and Valuation services, represented Ocean Tomo. Singing on behalf of the Korea Invention Promotion Association was Yongook Son, President.

The agreement between Ocean Tomo and the Korean Invention Promotion Association acknowledges both organizations shared goals to: promote exchange in technical areas of mutual interests, including intellectual property management, commercialization consulting, and tech transfer; mutually support inventors by promoting the utilization of intellectual property, supported by valuation, at both regional and international levels; present joint human resources training and exchange programs, among others.

The delegation from the Korean Invention Promotion Association met with a cross-disciplinary team of experts from Ocean Tomo, including representatives from Valuation and Intellectual Property Strategy consulting, including Managing Director Greg Campanella and Director Noor Al Banna and Manager Dan Principe. Representing Ocean Tomo Advisory Services, which includes transaction advisory and investment banking, Trevor Krajewski and from the Intellectual Property Disputes, Financial Expert Testimony group, Managing Directors, Robert McSorley, and Alex Clemons. Greg Campanella highlighted several intellectual property mega-trends impacting the global market for intellectual property and further background on how as part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo is uniquely suited to assist corporations, insurers, law firms, governments and institutional inventors related to complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.

Representatives of the Korea Invention Promotion Association include Yongook Son, President; Su Jung Yoon, Ph.D., Expert Advisor, IP Valuation; Seo Eunkyung, Ph.D., Consultant, IP Transactions, and Ha Young Yoon, Manager, International Cooperation.

About Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held

Established in 2003, Ocean Tomo provides Financial Expert, Management Consulting, and Advisory Services related to intellectual property (IP) and other intangible assets; corporate accounting investigations; regulatory and reporting obligations; solvency and restructuring; and contractual or competition disputes. Practice offerings address economic damage calculations and testimony; accounting investigations and financial forensics; technology and intangible asset valuation; strategy and risk management consulting; mergers and acquisitions; debt and equity private placement; and IP brokerage. Subsidiaries of Ocean Tomo include Ocean Tomo Investments Group, LLC, a registered broker-dealer.

As a part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo works alongside more than 1500 professionals globally and assists clients  corporations, insurers, law firms, governments, and institutional investors  on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm providing technical, scientific, and financial expertise across all assets and value at risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high-stakes events demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.
Former Ramtech VP of Design and Development Roland Brown receives the 2023 Modular Building Institute Hall of Fame award from MBI Executive Director Tom Hardiman Roland Brown has been a mentor and for years has invested in the next generation of industry leaders. This has been driven by his passion for Ramtech, his undeniable love for the modular industry, and above all else, his servants heart

Design-build modular construction firm Ramtech Building Systems of Mansfield, Texas has announced that Roland Brown, the companys former Vice President of Design and Development was inducted into the Modular Building Institutes Hall of Fame at the 2023 MBI World of Modular Conference held March 29 - April 1 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Mr. Brown was honored for his contributions as both an innovative designer of modular buildings for the public and private sectors, along with his career-long efforts in shepherding and helping to define the building codes in support of the commercial modular construction industry.

Mr. Brown began his career as a draftsman in the mobile home industry in his home state of North Carolina. After moving to PFS Corporation in Dallas in the early 80s where he honed his skills on structural design calculations, he then moved on to PBS Building Systems in Alabama where he had the opportunity to help develop the structural concepts required to meet the more complex designs that the burgeoning modular building market was starting to demand at the time. Over the course of his career, Mr. Brown became known for his ability to analytically solve problems and to develop the structural design solutions required to meet the numerous challenges required to construct complex modular building projects. Many of these innovative and unique designs went on to make significant contributions to the technical evolution of the commercial modular building industry. These innovations included: the development of a system consisting of steel-trussed frames with panelized roof and wall panels; Type II building designs utilizing steel deck horizontal diaphragms and light gauge shear walls to allow for large open areas without columns; and Ramtechs award winning slab-on-grade permanent modular construction process, a grade-level permanent modular building approach which allows for the modular sections to be set and attached directly onto a conventional concrete slab foundation.

Initially hired as Ramtechs engineering manager, Mr. Brown was elevated to the Vice President of Design and Development in 1998, leading Ramtechs engineering department for all of his 34 years with the company. Over the course of his five-decade career, he became the first modular building industry representative to become the presiding officer for the Texas Industrialized Building Code Council, the advisory board to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on issues related to the regulation of the industrialized housing and commercial modular building industries. He also previously served as the Government Affairs Chairman and the President of the Board of Directors of the Modular Building Institute, the international nonprofit trade association that serves the commercial modular construction industry. Mr. Brown was also a member of the International Code Council where he was an active advocate for addressing code and compliance issues that affected the commercial modular building industry.

Prior to his enshrinement into the MBI Hall of Fame, Mr. Brown was the recipient of MBI 's outstanding achievement award in 2018, joining long-time Ramtech colleagues Linc Moss, Mike Slater, and Bob Houchin who also had received the prestigious award. At his Hall of Fame introduction, Ramtech President Matt Slataper stated, Roland has been a mentor to me and for years has invested in the next generation of industry leaders. This has been driven by his passion for our company, his undeniable love for the modular industry, and above all else, his servants heart.

About Ramtech Building Systems and Modular Construction

Since 1982 Ramtech Building Systems has been providing innovative relocatable modular buildings and two types of permanent modular construction for commercial companies, educational institutions, government agencies, and healthcare providers throughout the Southern United States. As a vertically integrated design-build construction company, Ramtech provides full in-house design, a manufacturer direct product, and complete site construction services all within a single-source solution. Ramtech can offer facilities built using permanent modular construction on both a pier and beam or concrete slab foundation. Both options combine the best of off-site manufacturing and on-site construction techniques to produce a building faster and with less cost, but identical in the look, functionality, and life expectancy of a completely site-built structure. By emphasizing a value engineering approach, Ramtech has successfully completed over 4,500 diverse projects of all sizes. For more information, visit the company's website at RamtechModular.com.


The Spot Barbershop Expands Rapidly Throughout Florida to Offer Luxury Services in Stylish and Comfortable Settings Our shops are a gathering place where all are welcome and everyone leaves looking and feeling better than when they came in, enjoying a vibe that encourages patrons to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment."

The Spot Barbershop, providers of classic and contemporary haircuts and grooming for the gentlemen of Miami for over two decades, embark on statewide expansion to bring its services to new locations throughout Florida. Known for comfortably blending its barbershop with modern amenities, such as bars and inclusive hangout areas for socializing, over 150,000 customers have pleasantly found their way to one of the luxury spots disrupting the industry and raising the bar for men's barbers.

Were on a mission to elevate the barbershops, offering everything from hot towel shave treatments to hip haircuts and straight razor shaves in an appealing setting for todays men, said co-founder Fredis Perdomo. Weve taken what guys love most about going to the barber and added a lively ambiance, artistic decor and skilled barbers dedicated to their craft. Much more than just a haircut joint, were a gentleman's experience including offering drinks, making us the place to be in Southern Florida.

The business originated when two first-generation brothers, Fredis and Juan Carlos Perdomo, opened their first shop in Little Havana, Miami, in 2001. The edgy decor is the vision of interior designer and lifelong friend Diana Hernandez, who is also a partner. As the creative mind designing spectacular interiors that blend Latin culture and Southern Florida's casual appeal, she has left her mark in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

The Spot Barbershop has 22 established locations. Recent and upcoming grand openings include:

The Spot Barbershop Coconut Creek (March 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Brickell Heights (April 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Kendall (April 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Miami Springs (May 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Wynwood (May 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Aventura 2 (Fall 2023)

The Spot Barbershop Gainesville (Fall 2023)

Additionally, locations on the horizon include Hallandale, Plantation, Miami Midtown and Boca Raton.

Our shops are a gathering place where all are welcome and everyone leaves looking and feeling better than when they came in, enjoying a vibe that encourages patrons to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment," added Perdomo. As we continue our expansion, were always mindful of where we originated and love our loyal customers who are a big part of making our dreams come true.

For more information, visit http://www.thespotbarbershop.com.

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About The Spot Barbershop:

The Spot Barbershop is a modern business with old-school values and dedication to the craft of classic barbering. From hot towel shave treatments to hip haircuts and straight razor shaves, the shop offers traditional grooming services in a modern setting, creating a sophisticated gentleman's experience that's truly a cut above.
Szekely is 101 years young and is the embodiment of the lifestyle of proactive wellness that she has long promoted. 'I didnt expect to live to 100  it just happened.'

In celebration of Deborah Szekely's 101st birthday this month (May 3rd), the Global Wellness Summit is releasing a very special episode (#71) of its Global Wellness Conversations podcast entitled A Mentor, Two Mavens & the Birth of a Movement, which is streaming live on all podcast platforms starting Wednesday, May 10.

The podcast features Szekely, a wellness visionary decades before anyone even began using the term, who is co-founder of Rancho La Puerta and founder of Golden Door, in conversation with Susie Ellis, her mentee, and a leading voice in wellness as chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit and the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute. The two industry veterans discuss their decades-long experiences in the wellness trenches, while Szekely shares insights and philosophies on longevity  one of todays hottest topics.

Szekely walks the wellness walk and, at 101 years young, is the embodiment of the lifestyle of proactive wellness that she has long promoted. I didnt expect to live to 100  it just happened, says Szekely. Theres not going to be a breakthrough that brings you eternal life. Its all very simple. Its about doing what you know is right.

I think Deborah is the best advertisement for the philosophy of the Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta  heathy eating, movement, taking care of your mental health, stress reduction, and the importance of healthy relationships, said Ellis.

The podcast not only sheds light on the wellness practices that have helped shaped Szekelys long and healthy life, but also her successful leadership that enabled her to build a business that continues to thrive, grow and evolve 80 years later.

Ellis began working with Szekely in the 1970s, when she was hired to work at the Golden Door, her first job in the spa and wellness industry. After working at the Golden Door for decades, she went on to obtain an MBA at UCLA and to help launch a number of high-profile spas. This experience led her to the realization that the wellness industry would never be taken seriously without a more evidence-based approach and some serious economic research figures to measure its many sectors. Today, she heads up the leading global research and advocacy organizations for the $4.4T global wellness economy.

Also discussed on the podcast:



Some of the early wellness, fitness and spa practices that were born at Ranch La Puerta

Notable visitors to Rancho La Puerta and why The Golden Door was created as a sister destination spa

How these two female leaders achieved success in a male-dominated business world

The why behind Rancho La Puertas entry into wellness real estate

The ways Szekelys workplace wellness strategies have impacted Ellis own leadership

While being interviewed by Kim Marshall, host of the Summits Global Wellness Conversations Podcast, it became clear that these two powerful women each had a vision and stuck to it.

The episode, which is sponsored by KOHLER, a legendary brand celebrating 150 years of delivering wellness through water, will be available to the public May 10th, but an earlier video cut available is here. Images to accompany the story are here.

About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.4 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference, held at a different location around the globe, GWS also hosts regular virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes and collaborative Wellness Sector Spotlights. Each year, it holds an in-person Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium. The organizations annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness that are oft-quoted in the media. The 17th annual GWS will be held in Qatar from November 6-9, 2023.
We are pleased to receive the NIH award for this project which is expected to lead to improved portable devices for detecting pathogens in food and water and thereby have a huge impact on both human and livestock health, said Dr. Xiaoli Su, VP R&D of VIC Foundry.

The VIC Foundry (VF), in collaboration with the University of Hawaii (UH), has been awarded a Phase I SBIR grant for $259,553 from NIH for the development of a portable instrument capable of extracting and concentrating microbial pathogens or contaminants from a large volume of sample solution. The cornerstone is a patent-pending electroflotation technology. It is an affordable, versatile, reusable, and battery-operated automated device with no moving parts, suitable for on-site or in-field sample preparation.

The proposed technology would significantly improve sample preparation techniques required for distributed environmental or food testing, thereby helping protect the public's health. With early detection and routine surveillance being of paramount importance for effective management of water or foodborne infectious diseases, the proposed microbial concentration and recovery technology would expand the widespread and meaningful use of rapid, portable detection platforms.

We are pleased to receive the NIH award for this project which is expected to lead to improved portable devices for detecting pathogens in food and water and thereby have a huge impact on both human and livestock health, said Dr. Xiaoli Su, VP R&D of VIC Foundry.

The electroflotation technology has a potential substantial impact and commercial promise because it can overcome the bottleneck in rapid environmental or food safety testing. The FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act now requires food producers to ensure that all water used for irrigation meets the EPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria. CDC estimates that about 7.15 million cases of waterborne infectious diseases occur each year in the United States, with 601,000 ED visits, 118,000 hospitalizations, 6,630 deaths, and $3.33 billion in direct healthcare costs.

About VIC Foundry:

VIC Foundry is one element of the VIC innovation ecosystem that includes VIC Tech, the VIC Investor Network, and various associated programs such as the VIC Fellows. VIC Foundry develops technologies that have substantial potential impact and commercial promise but need additional development before private equity funding. Funding for the development is typically from accessing various grant funding opportunities. Upon successfully completing the given grant-funded project, a new company is formed, VIC places an initial executive team, and the VIC Investor Network makes a founding investment into the newly formed company. To learn more, visit vicfoundry.com.
Port Orange Mayor Donald O Burnette receives Tourism Champion Award with Betsy Baker and Debbie Meihls We are so fortunate to enjoy incredible support from the hospitality and tourism businesses and professionals in our area, exclaimed NSBAVB CEO and President Debbie Meihls. Working together, we are poised to thrive and survive whatever may come, she concluded.

More than 100 members of the New Smyrna Beach Area tourism industry gathered to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of National Travel and Tourism Week and to announce award winners.

The celebration began with breakfast served overlooking the Indian River Lagoon at the Brannon Center with Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority Chair Betsy Baker serving as the events emcee. Baker introduced officials from Volusia County and the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Edgewater, and Oak Hill, who read their respective proclamations on the importance of tourism and the visitor economy.

The 2023 Tourism Champion Awards were given to Port Orange Mayor Donald O. Burnette, the Smith Family, owners of the Black Dolphin Inn, and NSBAVB Volunteers Nanci Agett with 17 years of service and Phillip Hall with 10 years of service. The Tourism Champion Awards are reserved for those who have exceeded expectations with their dedication to tourism in the New Smyrna Beach Area.

Two Sustainable Tourism Awards were bestowed upon the Hampton Inn & Suites NSB and Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co for their commitment to the bureaus sustainability program.

In addition, the NSBAVB presented highlights of its Destination Master Plan showcasing results from an 18-month study and community consensus building project conducted by MMGY NextFactor. As a result of input from residents, industry professionals and local government officials, the plan centers on sustainable destination marketing and management. A three-year implementation program will be developed in the coming months.

Keynote Speaker and Director of the University of Central Floridas Institute for Economic Forecasting Dr Sean Snaith, Ph.D. presented an overview of the economy and expectations for the remainder of 2023 for the tourism community in attendance.

We are so fortunate to enjoy incredible support from the hospitality and tourism businesses and professionals in our area, exclaimed NSBAVB CEO and President Debbie Meihls. Working together, we are poised to thrive and survive whatever may come, she concluded.

About the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

The NSBAVB is the destination management organization for the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority. The SVAA is funded by the Convention Development Tax levied on short-term rentals in southeast Volusia County, which includes the cities of Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, and Port Orange and the community of Osteen. The NSBAVB operates a Visitor Center, which is open Monday  Friday, at 2238 State Road 44, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The NSBAVB is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program of Destinations International. The bureau was the first in Florida to join the One Planet Living online eco-system to address sustainability efforts as a destination management organization.

For more information, please visit http://www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. For visitor information when on the go, download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android.

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"Yamaha connects people with music in ways no manufacturer can, and what we plan to share this year ensures every transient and nuance is heard the way it was intended," says Preston Gray, Marketing Director, Professional Audio.

Today, Yamaha announced their 2023 return to InfoComm, the worlds largest professional audiovisual trade show in North America. Yamaha Corporation of America and Yamaha Unified Communications will be displayed side-by-side, showcasing solutions designed to connect the world through sound & music. Whether amplifying a musical performance live on-stage, through installed solutions, or connecting people through conferencing; when it comes to sound, it just makes sense to trust a company that lives and breathes music.

Attendees can stop by and check out the latest audio solution lines and technologies, such as the Yamaha award-winning conference audio solution, ADECIA, the revolutionary VSP-2 Speech Privacy System, the newest compact digital mixing console, DM3, which launched at The NAMM Show to great review, RIVAGE PM Digital Mixing Systems, NEXO solutions, and more exciting announcements closer to the show!

The teams at Yamaha have taken advantage of the time over the past several years to work behind the scenes on new solutions and innovations that are purpose built for those that have turned a love for music into a career amplifying music, says Preston Gray, Marketing Director, Professional Audio. We are excited to share what weve been working on at InfoComm 23. Yamaha connects people with music in ways no manufacturer can, and what we plan to share this year ensures every transient and nuance is heard the way it was intended!

Yamaha will hold five speaking engagements.

Timothy Mackie, MCSA, MCSE, CTS, Deciphering the Technology Differences in Beamforming Microphone Solutions

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 10:00 AM  10:30 AM

REGISTRATION LINK

LOCATION: W311EF

Balasz Boldog, CTS, Resolving the Audio Challenges of the Open Meeting Space

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 3:00 PM  3:30 PM

REGISTRATION LINK

LOCATION: W311EF

Timothy Mackie, MCSA, MCSE, CTS, Main Stage Panel on Trend Forecasting: Learning

Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 4:00 PM  4:45 PM

REGISTRATION LINK

LOCATION: Booth #2260

Timothy Mackie, MCSA, MCSE, CTS, Implementing AI Algorithms with Audio and Video

Thursday, June 15, 2023, 1:30 PM  2:30 PM

REGISTRATION LINK

LOCATION: W314AB

Jeremy Satchell, R&D Manager, Live Event Audio for Beginners

Thursday, June 15, 2023, 11:00 AM  12:00 PM

REGISTRATION LINK

LOCATION: ED76

For the first time in five years, were proud to announce that Yamaha UC and Yamaha Pro Audio will be together again at InfoComm. We have many new technologies to showcase including our recently updated ADECIA audio solution, our VSP-2 Speech Privacy system, and so much more. Our meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of product design and manufacturing, as well as our thorough testing and commitment to innovation will be clearly displayed in every one of our unique products on the show floor," said Tatsuya Umeo, CEO of Yamaha Unified Communications. This year I'm especially proud of the numerous educational sessions and presentations YUC has been chosen to lead in order to showcase what makes Yamaha the leader in audio."

To see Yamaha at InfoComm, please visit Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida from June 13-16, 2023. Yamaha #4671 and Yamaha UC #4773.

Dont miss out! Register for the event today, use the VIP code YAM801 https://www.infocommshow.org/attend

About Yamaha

Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, the world-leading music and sound company, based in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Yamaha team is committed to helping everyone progress, express and connect through music and sound. We offer innovative, finely crafted, award-winning products for your entire musical journey including pianos, brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, electronic keyboards, guitars, drums, professional and home audio equipment.

About Yamaha Unified Communications

Audio and video conferencing solutions from Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc. streamline collaboration and boost productivity wherever people work. Yamahas renowned and rigorous approach to development and manufacturing of enterprise-grade microphone systems, conference phones, and video sound bars ensures superior audio quality, reliability, and flexibility. With both wired and wireless options, Yamahas unified communications (UC) products enable users to have natural, clear conversations in every meeting space.

Yamaha is an AVIXA Global Partner.

Yamaha Corporation of America Contact:

Diana Moeck

Yamaha Corporation of America

dmoeck@yamaha.com

Yamaha Unified Communications Contact:

Peggy Blaze

Bubble Agency

peggyb@bubbleagency.com


BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva has protested against the illegal deprivation of liberty of Azerbaijani servicemen captured by Armenia, the Ombudsman's Office told Trend.

"In April 2023, we strongly condemn the false "trial" in Armenia against the missing and captured Armenian soldiers of the Azerbaijani army, Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov, and the illegal imprisonment of Babirov in the territory of the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic along the border with Armenia

Armenia, which subjected Azerbaijani military personnel to cruel torture in violation of the norms enshrined in the international documents of which it is a participant, has now illegally deprived them of their liberty by organizing a so-called "trial" and grossly violating international and procedural norms.

Earlier, we appealed to international and regional organizations in connection with the illegal arrest of our military personnel in Armenia. It was requested to investigate the videos and photos published in the Armenian media about the inhuman treatment of a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and violence against him. With regard to the fact, a letter on this issue was addressed to the central and the International Committee of the Red Cross office in Baku.

We consider the "decision" made in the so-called "trial" conducted by Armenia unfair, and declare that this decision, which led to a gross violation of the right to freedom, contradicts the norms and principles of international law, and demand the speedy release of our soldiers.

As the Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, I call upon the entire international community to exert serious influence and pressure on Armenia for the speedy release of our servicemen in captivity, as well as to take measures arising from the norms and principles of international law," the statement said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Israel Mukhtar Mammadov has met with Member of the Knesset and Chair of Israel-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group Vladimir Beliak, the ambassador wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports.

"Had a productive meeting with Member of the Knesset and Chair of Israel-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group Vladimir Beliak. Discussed our bilateral ties and stressed the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation," the publication says.
With Mothers Day on the horizon, titles by and about women dominate the April nonfiction bestseller list. Broadside Books' author and Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream's newest title features women's relationships in The Love Stories of the Bible Speak: Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith. It debuted at #1 in March and holds on to the top rank for April. Bream's 2022 bestseller, The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak held that spot last year and her first title, in 2021, The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today was drawn back to the April 2023 list at #6 in April 2023.

For her book, So God Made A Mother: Tender, Proud, Strong, Faithful, Known, Beautiful, Worthy and UnforgettableJust Like You.(Tyndale), Leslie Means curated a collection of "essays from moms of all ages and stages," according to Tyndale v-p and publisher Sarah Atkinson. It's on the list at #4 behind Jonathan Cahn's The Return of the Gods (Frontline) at #2 and the unstoppable Sarah Young's Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence at #3.

Titles from Thomas Nelson offer advice and Bible-based encouragement. Prolific author Lysa TerKeurst's Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are is at #5 and at #7 is QVC star and beauty entrepreneur Kim Gravel's Collecting Confidence: Start Where You Are to Become The Person You Were Meant to Be.

The April list does, however, contain what may be a surprise to anyone who didn't see author, apostolic Bible teacher, and pastor Alexander Pagani featured in a movie, Come Out in Jesus' Name, released last month, about unconventional pastors sparking a national revival. The premise of the film was Pagani's 2018 debut book The Secrets to Deliverance: Defeat the Toughest Cases of Demonic Bondage (Charisma House), according to Charisma marketing manager Margarita Henry, who called it "a publisher's dream." The book, #10 on the list, offers what Pagani calls his keys to detect and drive out demons that hide in people's souls and body parts. Henry said a sequel, The Secrets of Generational Curses: Break the Stronghold in the Bloodline," is planned for September.

The top 10 also include the always-important C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity (HarperOne) at #7 and a photo-illustrated tour of the Holy Land in Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury (Bethany House) by Tara Leigh Cobble at #9.

In fiction, Mitch Albom's 2021 hit title, The Stranger in the Lifeboat (Harper), was released in paperback in April. It jumped to #1 on the religion list, and brought fresh attention back to the hardback version, which is now listed at #9. Another two-fer on the list is ever-popular Francine Rivers. Her new title, The Lady's Mine (Tyndale) at #5, also gave an extra bounce to her 2005 megaseller, Redeeming Love (Multnomah) at #6.

Christian romances have a ready audience. Amish country-focused author Wanda E. Brunstetter's March release, Letters of Trust: Friendship Letters Series Book 1, was #2 on the list in April. And romance + suspense attracted enough attention to pull two Harlequin titles into the ranks. Jacquelin Thomas' Cold Case Deceit is #8 and A Cowboys Justice by Lisa Charles is #10.

Buyers also mined for old gold: Og Mandino's The Greatest Salesman in the World (Bantam, 1983) rose to #3 in the wake of the Easter season. Johnathan Cahn's The Harbinger (Frontline), the first in Cahn's series of prophecy titles, is the #4 April bestseller, and the C.S. Lewis' classic The Great Divorce, reissued by HarperOne in 2015, stands at #7.
In her keynote address at the Association of American Publishers virtual annual meeting on May 8, professor, historian, and author Annette Gordon-Reed said that, between attacks on libraries and books and questions surrounding new technology, we are living in a dicey time. It was a sentiment other speakers endorsed, including Julia Reidhead, AAP chair and chairman and president of W.W. Norton. In her opening remarks, Reidhead declared that publishing is facing its severest set of challenges in a generation, pointing to book bans, the lack of diversity, climate change, and unrelenting challenges to copyright. It is in times like this, Reidhead said, that publishers need groups like the AAP to act in a unified manner to protect the interests of all those in the industry.

AAP CEO Maria Pallante followed up those remarks, saying the unfolding AI developments mark a paradigm shift. We cant go back to the world before AI, any more than we can go back to the world before the Internet, Pallante said. The AAP, she added, is looking at two categories of question surrounding AI: principles and policy.

Pallante said principles come down to a series of ethics questions such as authenticity, accuracy, provenance, and objectives. In trade publishing, Pallante asked by way of example, what would happen if AI-generated works flooded the internet, potentially depressing the value of human authorship? If we cant contain AI generated works, what should be the ethics about disclosing their provenance? she asked.

In terms of policies, Pallante said that there are competing questions about how the law should treat ingestion and output. The first question, Pallante said, is how the law should protect such underlying content as books used as inputs to train AI models. The second concern is how laws should protect the works generated by AI models, the outputs.

One point AAP has made to lawmakers is that the source of material should matter; in other words, Pallante said, AI models should not be trained from collection scans that infringe on copyright. She also said that the U.S. Copyright Office has begun to question its registration practices, trying to determine the degree to which the use of AI should be disclosed by a copyright owner, and if so, whenalways or only when the machine has done most of the creating? In addition, Pallante predicted that AI policy will likely be driven by litigation.

The Big Problems

AI and the questions surrounding it were among the topics that came up in a panel of four women CEOs moderated by Pallante. Kumsal Bayazit, CEO of Elsevier, called AI her number one challenge, and said that while the technology offers many advantages, now is the time to determine what the responsible use of AI is. I think we are going to see a lot of policy and regulation debates around such things as bias and disinformation, Bayazit said, speculating that the uncertainties surrounding AI will reinforce the value of publishing as trusted sources of information.

For Adrienne Vaughan, president of Bloomsbury Publishing USA and AAP board member, book banning and other censorship efforts are at the forefront of issues facing the book business today: Not a week goes by that we arent dealing with some issue of censorship, she noted. While she is grateful for the help of AAP and other organizations in the fight to counter censorship, she argued that those efforts dont match the coordinated attacks mounted against authors, readers, and the industry. She added that Bloomsbury is doing everything it can to help its authors during a challenging time, from taking down personal information on the internet to monitoring bills that would limit the reach of Bloomsbury's academic offerings.

Vaughan said that Bloomsbury challenges itself to be proactive in combating censorship because so much time is spent reacting. We ask ourselves what are we doing to raise readers, to support individuals in the communities hurt by these bans, Vaughan said. It is really a very difficult time.

Between censorship efforts and the rise of AI, publishing leaders are spending more time defending publishing from forces we never anticipated, Christie Henry, director of Princeton University Press and another member of AAP's board, said. And much like during the pandemic, she added, there is no road map on how to deal with all of this. One thing that has Henry particularly concerned is that the proliferation of generative AI tools and content could result in the loss of deep thinking and deep reading, she said.

Despite the challenges, the panelists concurred that publishing will endure, noting the belief of many in the industry in publishings longtime role of spreading knowledge and information. Reidhead said that she sees the broad acceptance of digital materials in the higher education space and the absolute desire for greater attention to student success by publishers is achievable by innovations of digital courseware. For higher ed, she said, this is a very hard moment there is a lot of change, but change is good.

Vaughan said that a priority for publishing should be to harness the passion for reading that arose during the pandemic. This is a challenging time, but one that we have to continue to rise to, she said.

Henry called it essential to stay the course and to continue to make books available in the face of censorship. She also believes that publishing is at the beginning of an evolution in which who is publishing and who is writing the books is changingthe more stories we can tell, the more new readers we can bring in, she said.

Award Winners

The annual meeting also served as the venue to formally present two AAP awards. Via video remarks, California congresswoman Judy Chu thanked the AAP for naming her the 2023 winner of its Award for Distinguished Public Service. AAP cited Chu as a steadfast champion of individual authors and artists, a powerful voice for creative industries, and a tireless advocate for effective copyright protections.

Chu said she was especially proud of her role in creating the copyright claims board, which serves as a place where smaller creators can seek restitution for unlicensed use of their work. She said that, beginning last year, the board officially began to accept claims, and added that early reports show that hundreds of creators have chosen to use this venue. Chu also told the publishers that she looks forward to reintroducing the Smart Copyright Act, which would establish industry wide measures to find and remove pirated copyrighted material from online platforms.

Last year, Sergio Dahbar, founder of the Venezuelan publisher Editorial Dahbar, was named the winner of AAPs International Freedom to Publish Award. In pre-recorded remarks, Dahbar said that winning the award reinforces our commitment to bring the work of our Venezuelan and Latin American authors and journalists to our readers."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. On the occasion of the Victory Day over the Nazis, a group of soldiers visited the grave of Hazi Aslanov [Azerbaijani major-general] and laid flowers at his monument, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

During the WWII, somewhere between 600,000 and 800,000 Azerbaijanis fought for the Soviet military forces. Azerbaijani troops played a large role in the Defense of Brest Fortress, the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk, and the Battle of Berlin. Azerbaijan played a major role in the Battle of the Caucasus with Azerbaijani civilians providing resistance to the Germans.

Also, Azerbaijans oil was a very decisive factor for the Soviet Union's victory.

A total of 128 residents of Azerbaijan were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military valor and feats shown during World War II, of which 42 were ethnic Azerbaijani; 14 of the titles were awarded posthumously. Lieutenant Israfil Mammadov was the first Azerbaijani awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Major-General Hazi Aslanov received the title twice.

After the war, Azerbaijan remained under Soviet control until the new Republic of Azerbaijan became independent in 1991.

Currently, 51 participants of the Second World War live in Azerbaijan.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the largest interstate war in Europe since World War II. Though not a great power warin which two or more of the world's major powers engage directly in combatthe current conflict has caused many to wonder what a true great power war in Europe or the Indo-Pacific would look like, and especially what kind of world would emerge afterwards. We asked RAND senior political scientists Miranda Priebe and Bryan Frederick to discuss how their recent report, Alternative Futures Following a Great Power War, sheds light on this issue.

Your new report is coming out over a year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Was this research a response to the conflict?

Miranda Priebe No. In fact, the Department of the Air Force, which commissioned the research, was thinking about this issue way back in 2019. We conducted the research and wrote the report before the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. Even at that time, the Department of Defense was considering the possibility that a war with Russia could happen. So we thought it was important to include a hypothetical scenario in which Russia and NATO came into open conflict, alongside scenarios involving war with China.

Do you think a great power war with Russia or China is likely?

Bryan Frederick History shows that great power wars are rare. But our research is not about the likelihood of great power war, so much as the consequences of such a war, should it occur.

Priebe We're also not saying that the four scenarios we looked at are the most likely to happen. Since our focus was on the post-war world, we needed to consider a range of conflicts that unfold and end in different ways. For example, three of our scenarios involved conflict with China, and we intentionally designed those scenarios to result variously in a U.S./allied victory, a Chinese victory, and an indeterminate outcome. The point was to consider how those outcomes, should they occur, would shape the post-war world.

So, you're not making predictions here.

Frederick That's right. We made a variety of assumptions about what could cause great power wars, how those wars could unfold, and what could happen afterwards. Although we tried to write plausible scenarios, our work was more about generating a range of possibilities than about precise predictions. Similar starting conditions could plausibly lead to different war outcomes, and the same war outcome could arise from many different possible starting conditions.

What did you learn?

Priebe One major lessonespecially if you look at historyis that great power wars are often far more destructive and protracted than people think they will be going in. For example, in the run up to World War I, leaders on all sides expected a short conflict, but the war dragged on for years.

Frederick That's true even if you win.

Priebe Right. And the winner of the war might not end up looking like the winner in the peace that follows. Victory can provoke a backlash from the losers, or balancing behavior from other states that help to constrain the victor. Battlefield gains could be offset by strategic, diplomatic, political, or economic losses in other areas. Policymakers have to think about those larger issues when considering what a great power war would mean.

Frederick It's also interesting that when we looked at scenarios involving Russia or China, the great power that most consistently benefited from the war is the one that didn't fight in it. A U.S.-Russia war would most directly benefit China, and vice-versaregardless of whether the United States or its adversary wins.

The current Russia-Ukraine conflict has also defied expectations. A lot of pre-war analysis appears to have overstated Russia's military capabilities, given its actual performance in Ukraine. Does that challenge your analysis of a Russia-NATO conflict?

Frederick In some ways, of course. We certainly would have written the scenario differently, given what we now know about Russia's conventional military capabilities and the toll this conflict has taken on them. This conflict has also changed the NATO alliance, not least by expanding its membership. But the Russia-NATO scenario we analyzed is largely about nuclear dynamics, and Russia's nuclear capabilities don't appear to be dramatically affected by the war in Ukraine. Those dynamics would continue to be very important in a Russia-NATO conflict.

Given all the uncertainties involved, what should U.S. policymakers take away from this report?

Priebe Great power wars are obviously very consequential events in world history. The U.S. military invests a lot of time thinking about how to deter adversaries from initiating such a war and how to win one if deterrence fails. But there's very little attention or planning devoted to the aftermath. We think it's important for U.S. policymakers and the public to understand what the aftermath of different conflicts could look like, what the risks are in that aftermath, and what steps might be worth taking to better prepare for what could follow such conflicts.

Miranda Priebe is director of the Center for Analysis of U.S. Grand Strategy and a senior political scientist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. Bryan Frederick is associate director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program within RAND Project AIR FORCE, and a senior political scientist at RAND.
The median Black household in America has around $24,000 in savings, investments, home equity, and other elements of wealth. The median White household: around $189,000, a disparity that has worsened in recent decades.

In the summer of 2020, as American cities echoed with protests following the murder of George Floyd, researchers at RAND decided to take a closer look at America's BlackWhite wealth gap. What would it take, they asked, to close the gap, to give Black households the same opportunities that wealth affords many White households?

Existing economic models, they found, were not enough to answer that; the disparities are just too wide. So the researchers built their own. What they found when they ran the numbers: There is no reason to think the wealth gap will ever close without potentially trillions of dollars in investments in Black households.

The magnitude of the disparity is just mind-blowing, said Pedro Nascimento de Lima, an associate engineer at RAND who specializes in computer modeling and coauthored the study. In 200 years, we could still have problems with racial wealth disparities that are equal to, or worse than, the problems we have today.

In 1924, a man named William Thornton, a veteran of World War I and a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, went looking for a job. He had the skills. He had the credentials. But he could not practice in his hometown, because White customers would not accept a Black pharmacist.

A generation later, his son-in-law, Edward Welburn, Sr., fought in World War II. He came home and, like many Black veterans, could not access the GI Bill's housing and education benefits. His White counterparts got their degrees, moved to the suburbs, and retired years later as corporate managers or directors. Edward opened an auto body shop with his brothers.

The next generation, his son, William Welburnthe grandson of William Thorntonearned a Ph.D. and got a job as a professor. But even then, in the 1980s, there were still neighborhoods where Black families were not welcome, where buying a homethe single most important source of wealth in Americawas just not possible.

You can see how it becomes this baked-in system, with every generation having less to pass down to the next generation, said William Welburn's son, Jonathan Welburna researcher at RAND, an expert in economic analysis, and the lead author of the wealth gap study.

Yesterday's segregation is today's wealth gap. We like to pretend that we live in a race-neutral, merit-based society now, that this is all in the past, but you can't erase history. It shows up in our wealth. Jonathan Welburn Share on Twitter

Yesterday's segregation is today's wealth gap, he said. We like to pretend that we live in a race-neutral, merit-based society now, that this is all in the past, but you can't erase history. It shows up in our wealth. For many, it shows up in the lack of wealth.

White Americans hold ten times more total wealth than Black Americans. They are 28 times more likely to become millionaires. A 2021 study by the Federal Reserve imagined a world in which racial wealth inequality did not exist. It estimated that Black households would hold five times more wealth in that world than they do in the real one.

In 1989, Congressman John Conyers, Jr., of Michigan introduced a bill to study reparations for African-Americans for centuries of slavery, segregation, and racial injustice. He got just 24 cosponsors. Similar bills have been introduced in every Congress since then, but none has made it to a House vote. The most recent version, filed earlier this year, now has 88 cosponsors.

Previous studies have sought to estimate what a fair reparations program would look like. One calculated that the unpaid labor of enslaved people, at 24 hours a day, was worth $14.2 trillion in today's dollars, not including compensation for psychological harm. Experts at the progressive Roosevelt Institute estimated that the 40 acres promised to, and then withdrawn from, newly freed people after the Civil War could have generated economic returns worth $16.5 trillion today.

RAND's study looked to the wealth gap as the present-day manifestation of that history of lost income and lost opportunity. It found that the gap has been widening, year after year, for at least the past 30 years. In fact, it has only meaningfully narrowed in recent years during moments of economic turmoil, when housing and stock prices fell. White households are more likely to hold investment assets like those.

Using data from the Federal Reserve Board, the researchers modeled wealth across millions of Black and White households. Then they tested several funding scenarios to see which could most effectively bring the Black households up to parity with the White households.

One scenario they considered would provide equal allocations of money to all Black households. That closely follows many proposals for reparations. They found that $1.5 trillion would cut median wealth disparities in half. An allocation of $3 trillionaround $168,000 for every Black householdwould eliminate them.

But the researchers also modeled a scenario with a sliding scale of wealth allocations, in which the neediest Black households would get more, and the very wealthiest households might not get anything. Under that more-targeted scenario, it would take $760 billion to halve the median wealth gap, and $1.6 trillion to eliminate it.

Impact of Wealth Allocations on the Median Black-White Wealth Disparity, by Policy This chart shows how Black-White wealth disparities would change under four scenarios the researchers considered. The blue line shows equal allocations to all Black households, a scenario most similar to proposed reparations policies. It would reduce the median disparity to zero at $3 trillion; allocations beyond that would reverse the disparity, as shown in the chart. The red line shows a more-targeted allocation to Black households based on need. The yellow and green lines show allocations to all households, regardless of race. One example would be baby bonds given to all newborn children (or targeted to all children below a certain wealth threshold).

Careful readers may have noticed the word median carrying a lot of weight here. Economists often use the median, or middle, value in a wealth distribution as the measure that best represents a typical household, because it smooths out the extremes at either end. If you imagine three people, with $1, $2, and $10,000 in their pockets, the median is the person with $2.

But some experts point out that using the median erases that person standing there with $10,000. In questions of wealthand especially wealth inequalitythat person at the highest end of the distribution is a big part of the story. To better capture those extremes, the researchers also ran their models using the average, not the medianwhich for those three people is not $2, but a little over $3,334.

Doing so increased the numbers dramatically. The median wealth gap in Americathe difference between the middle Black household and the middle White householdis around $164,000. The average wealth gap? Around $840,000. Using that as the measure, the researchers found it would take $7.5 trillion to halve the wealth gap, and $15 trillion to eliminate it.

It would take $7.5 trillion to halve the Black-White wealth gap, and $15 trillion to eliminate it. Share on Twitter

It is very, very hard to eliminate the gap entirely, Welburn said. But when you look at it this way, you can start to see how some policy directions could go further than others. It's a little more pragmatic: If there were an allocation, how would you do it best?

And how would you pay for it? The researchers suggest in their study that government bondsnot taxescould be used to finance wealth allocations to Black households. Those allocations would propel economic growth, as Black households buy homes or start businesses. There would be tradeoffs, but in theory that would expand the tax base, which could then be used to pay back the bonds.

For now, that's an idea. The researchers hope to turn their attention to it next, to model it, test it, and see if it holds up. There is a significant amount of untapped human capital that gets trapped by not having opportunity, Welburn said. This by all means could lead to future growth by tapping into that economic potential.

Closing the wealth gap could have far-reaching consequences. One 2012 Canadian study, for example, linked wealth inequality with higher infant mortality and shorter life expectancy. The United States was such an outlier, with such an extreme level of wealth inequality, that the study author split it off from other countries for the analysis.

But even eliminating the wealth gap might be only a temporary victory. The same conditions that fed its growth in recent decadescredit, housing, and employment discrimination; steep disparities in incarceration ratesstill exist. Without addressing those deeper drivers of inequity, future generations could eventually find themselves right back where we are now.

It might take trillions of dollars to close the wealth gap. It will take much more than that to keep it closed.

Doug Irving
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. The visit of Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace Heidi Kuhn (a humanitarian-nonprofit organization founded in September 1997) created for the purpose of de-mining and restoration of territories affected by the war, has begun in Azerbaijan, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

The visit was organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF).

According to the bureau, the purpose of the visit is to bring to the attention of the world community the scale of the existing mine problem in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation, the obstacles created by this problem for the Great Return and stability, sustainable peace in the region, to support the transformation of mine-contaminated territories into acreage under the motto "From Mines to Vines", as well as on the occasion of the Mother's Day, together with Azerbaijani mothers, to address the women of the world in connection with the mine problem.

In addition, one of the main goals of the visit is to promote the new Sustainable Development Goals on global humanitarian de-mining, which will be discussed at the 2nd International Humanitarian Conference on Mine Clearance in Azerbaijan at the end of May this year themed "Combating the mine threat - the path to sustainable development", as well as the support for joint cooperation in this direction.

During the visit, Heidi Kuhn is accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of the ANAMA Vugar Suleymanov, President of IEPF Umud Mirzaev, and special representatives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation that are part of the Karabakh Economic Region (with the exception of the Shusha region).
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 99F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low around 60F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Jeremy Williams, an Athens-Clarke County firefighter of over 23 years, took his place behind the pulpit to provide public input during the commissions special called session on Dec. 6, 2022.

Williams, who represented the local Professional Firefighters of Athens-Clarke County union Local 2795  expressed concerns that the ACC Fire Department was understaffed and undercompensated, resulting in burn out and excessive turnover rates.
Convocation and commencement events for most of the individual schools/colleges will take place from Wednesday, May 10 through Friday, May 12, with some having already taken place and the School of Laws set for May 20. Here is a list of all the convocation and commencement events that could be found online via UGA websites.
Its association with India is over 70 years old and spans both civil and military aviation.

Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

The Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft used by the air force beginning the 1940s and the iconic Boeing 747 aircraft flown by Air India, both had Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines.

The Indian Air Forces present-day, heavy-lift C-17 Globemaster III and the yet-to-be-inducted C-295 planes, too, have P&W power plants.

P&W engines have over the years shaped the fortunes and future of airlines and militaries around the world.

But now the US-headquartered engine manufacturer is facing turbulence.

No-frills airline Go First has blamed P&W for its insolvency.

In Europe, Swiss International Airlines has grounded a third of its Airbus A220 aircraft owing to engine issues.

Carriers in Africa are collaborating to mitigate the challenges caused by engine defects.

Pratt & Whitney has been a cornerstone of the global propulsion industry for decades and has powered a range of civilian and military aircraft. In recent years, it has focused on engines for narrow-body aircraft, specifically the A320 family, said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of FlightGlobal, an aviation news portal.

Supply chain challenges are an issue for the entire industry, but the extreme engineering and exquisite materials used in modern jet engines make them particularly vulnerable to hiccups, he added.

In addition, there is a shortage of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity. While the PW1000G series engines (used on A320 aircraft) clearly face supply challenges, the underlying technology is sound and will in the long term help airlines enjoy significant fuel savings.

In India, currently around 1,500 P&W engines and auxiliary power units are in use in 700-plus aircraft and helicopters flown by 135 operators.

These include over 180 Airbus A320/A321Neo aircraft with IndiGo and Go First that have the PW1000G series geared turbofan (GTF) engines.

While the GTF engines have been celebrated for fuel efficiency (P&W sources say the engines have to date delivered more than $1 billion in savings to Indian carriers), they have been equally controversial since their entry into service in 2016.

There have been issues with their low-pressure turbine blades, seals, combustors and other parts.

These led to inflight shutdowns or premature withdrawals of the engines from aircraft.

While most of the issues were fixed, problems persist.

In its insolvency application to the National Company Law Tribunal, Go First said the number of aircraft on ground due to engine failures increased from 31 per cent in 2020 to more than 50 per cent in April 2023.

P&W began losing business in India as problems continued with its GTF engines.

In 2019 and then again 2021, IndiGo opted for rival engine maker CFMs LEAP-1A engine for its Airbus A320Neo family aircraft.

The total number of aircraft covered in these two agreements by IndiGo was 590.

Royal Brunei Airlines and Qatar Airways made the engine switch earlier after initially selecting the P&W product for their Airbus A320/321Neo aircraft.

The P&W GTF engine entered service globally before CFM LEAP-1A but the latter has a higher installed base, Aviation Week magazine said last November.

The magazine has, however, forecast a fairly even market share between the engines over the next decade.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war has impacted the engine original equipment manufacturer (OEM), too.

While the pandemic impacted fresh orders and production, the war limited the supply of key metals used in the manufacture of engines and resulted in increased costs.

P&W did not respond to an email query.

All mechanical components are susceptible to failure and thus it is imperative for airlines to have watertight contracts with the OEMs to cover all contingencies and receive uninterrupted product support, said an aviation expert who did not wish to be named.

Sanjeev Rotkar, aviation consultant and Air Indias former executive director of engineering, recounted, A self-owned fleet allowed the swapping of internal parts.

"Better availability of spares, access to non-OEM repair shops and in-house engineering facility helped in a quicker turnaround of engines for Air India in the past for its legacy fleet of Boeing 707s to Boeing 747s.

Things are quite different for airlines today, Rotkar said.

The fleets are almost entirely leased, which limits the swapping of internal parts between aircraft.

"The new-generation engines are under some form of the Power by the Hour arrangement wherein operators pay an agreed rate per hour/event for maintenance.

He said that while this allows for risk-sharing with OEMs, it also means that engine off-wing repair can only be performed under their umbrella.

In India currently, there is no OEM-approved facility for off-wing repairs of GTF and LEAP engines.

"So, these engines have to be sent to Europe or the US even for quick-turn visits, Rotkar said.

French multinational Safran is building an MRO in Hyderabad for the LEAP engines with an investment of $150 million, and it is expected to be operational by 2025.

A source close to P&W said the company has grown its presence and investments in India.

It has invested $40 million in an engineering centre and a capability centre in Bengaluru.

And, it plans to source production services worth $40 million annually from India within this decade.

Our commitment to India, our customers and Indian aviation is strong and has always been, the source said.

Plane facts
Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) is going all out for a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) play, with passenger vehicles (PVs), e-three wheelers as well as niche e-farm products.

Analysts have predicted a 23 per cent volume growth for the auto segment between FY22 and FY25, riding on the companys differentiated EV and SUV plan.

M&M is already a market leader with a 36 per cent share in electric three-wheelers, and its Zaheerabad plant in Telangana is ready to cater to demand.

In the farm segment, the company plans to focus on niche electric products.

However, M&Ms prime play will be electric SUVs.

It has already started expanding its PV capacities, which is now 39,000 a month.

This is to be scaled up to 49,000 a month by FY24.

Besides, it is setting up a Rs 10,000-crore EV facility in Pune that will roll out its new SUV on the INGLO platform, the XUVe8.

This will be followed by four more EVs on the INGLO platform till October 2026 and beyond.

M&Ms tryst with EVs started with an electric three-wheeler called Bijlee back in 1999.

The 10-seater vehicle was launched at a price of Rs 330,000 in Delhi in 2002.

In 2013 it launched the e2O on the Reva platform that it had acquired in 2010.

M&M discontinued the product in 2019 amidst flagging sales and tightening regulations.

Now with a refreshed EV plan, the company is eyeing 20-30 per cent of its overall sales from EVs by 2027, roughly translating to 200,000 units a year.

But has M&M come a bit too late to the party?

After all, its peer, Tata Motors (TML), has had a head start in EVs.

Rajesh Jejurikar, executive director and chief executive officer of auto and farm sectors, M&M, disagrees: The EV penetration in C segment SUVs is less than 1 per cent, and in B segment SUVs it is around 1.5-2 per cent.

"You cannot be a late entrant in a segment which has such a low penetration.

"We think that by the time our key products are out, the market will be at an inflection point.

"We are not late to the party at all.

Analysts, however, feel that a 20-30 per cent share of overall PV sales coming from EVs is a very ambitious target.

TML, for example, sold 38,322 EVs in retail in FY23 out of its total sales of 484,843 PVs that year, which is around 7.9 per cent of its PV sales, according to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA).

When you see the adoption cycle of EVs, we feel that the SUV customer would adapt to an EV faster.

"Many SUV customers are multi-car households, as are our M&M customers.

"Therefore, we think that while EVs will be 20-30 per cent of our overall portfolio, we dont think the market would have moved that fast, Jejurikar said.

M&M has consciously chosen to focus on only e-SUVs, giving entry-level small electric-cars a miss.

Recently, MG Motors launched the countrys cheapest EV, Comet, at Rs 798,000, which is lower than the price of its nearest rival, the Tiago-EV, priced at Rs 869,000 (ex-showroom).

Nikunj Sanghi, a long-time dealer with M&M said that the decision to buy an electric four-wheeler is seldom influenced by the total cost of ownership (TCO), unlike buying an e-two-wheeler.

Buying an EV is more of a statement, Sanghi said.

Another M&M dealer said that the company has already launched the XUV 400 EV as a filler product to mark its presence.

The real game changer will be the BE range of EVs coming later, he said.

The XUV 400 has more than 15,000 bookings till February, and the company has started deliveries already.

Industry sources say that M&M is not looking at selling more than a 1,000 units of this car every month.

Jejurikar said that with SUVs accounting for 50 per cent of the PV market as of now, they are a mainstream play for every auto-maker.

He added that since M&M has a differentiated product offering, it is able to get volumes.

We are not trying to define our brand purpose by size, we are defining it by a certain design philosophy which is an unmissable presence and adventure capability, he said.

In any case, the utility vehicle (UV) space is heating up  M&M had a 17.8 per cent share of the UV market as of FY23. For the April-January period, Maruti Suzuki had an 18.5 per cent share, while TML had 16.59 per cent.

Experts say that the fight for a share of the electric UV market is going to be a close one.

Partnerships are going to play a key role  M&M has an advantage here with a tie-up with Volkswagen for the supply of MEB (modular electric drive matrix) electronic components for the INGLO platform.

"But it will have to work on a localisation plan soon, one analyst said.
Only five of India's top 20 car models have seen a reduction in wait times over the past year.

Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes.

The maximum waiting periods (MWPs) for half of India's top 20 best-selling car models have increased in the past one year, mainly due to a semiconductor chip shortage that has affected production.

Only five out of the top 20 car models in India have experienced a reduction in their MWPs, whereas the MWPs for the other five models have remained unchanged, according to automotive consultancy firm Jato Dynamics data that has been reviewed by Business Standard (see chart).

India's largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki dominates the list of top 20 car models in India with 10 models.

Out of these, six models including Wagon R, Swift, Ertiga, Dzire, Eeco and Celerio witnessed a rise in their MWPs between April 1 last year and April 1 this year.

Baleno and Alto 800 saw a reduction in their MWPs, while Brezza and S-Presso maintained their MWPs during this period.

According to Shashank Srivastava, Maruti Suzuki India's senior executive officer for marketing and sales, the longer wait times for certain models are mainly due to a semiconductor component shortage, which has led to reduced vehicle availability.

However, other factors such as fluctuating CNG prices and discontinuation of competing models have also impacted the number of bookings and waiting periods.

For example, the discontinuation of the Hyundai Santro has boosted the demand for the WagonR.

Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato Dynamics, explained that demand for CNG versions of certain Maruti cars, including the Wagon R, Swift, Eeco, Celerio and S-Presso, is higher than for their petrol counterparts.

Srivastava added that changes made during different times in the past year to bring models in compliance with BS-VI phase 2 emission norms have also affected the production schedule.

The phase 2 norms -- which were implemented from April 1 this year -- mandated the use of on-board diagnostics systems, which enable real-time monitoring and detection of emissions-related issues in vehicles.

Srivastava said the company has taken various steps to reduce the MWPs, such as making manufacturing more efficient and rationalising the number of car models it produces.

Maruti is also trying to keep more cars in stock to handle any changes in the supply of components.

To help customers understand why there may be a delay in getting their cars, the company is being honest and upfront about the situation, he mentioned.

Hyundai has four among the top 20 best-selling models in India.

While the MWPs have come down for the Creta and i20 during the last one year, they have increased for Venue and Grand i10 Nios, according to the data.

Tarun Garg, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor India, said the company is doing everything it can to shorten the waiting time for their cars.

Owing to the ongoing shortage of electronic components, however, popular SUV models like Creta and Venue still have a waiting period of around two to four months.

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: PTI Photo

Tata Motors has three cars -- Nexon, Punch and Tiago -- among the top 20 best-selling models in India.

The MWP for Nexon has remained the same in the last year, but it has increased for the Punch and Tiago in the same time period, according to the Jato Dynamics data.

The carmaker, however, suggested that the MWP data provided by Jato Dynamics was overstated.

The waiting period for the Nexon, Punch, and Tiago was not more than four months as of April 1, 2023, in contrast to the Jato Dynamics data that showed higher waiting periods -- six months, seven months and nine months, respectively -- for the same models as on April 1, 2023.

A Tata Motors spokesperson said that despite an increase in demand, the company has brought down the waiting period for its products in 2022-23.

"The same has been done by ramping up our production and working with our supply partners judiciously," the spokesperson added.

Kia India has two cars -- Seltos and Sonet -- among the top 20 models.

As per the Jato Dynamics data, the MWP of Seltos had remained the same in the last one year. The MWP for Sonet, however, has fallen in the past one year.

Hardeep Singh Brar, national head of sales and marketing at Kia India, said, "We started our business operations in August 2019, and soon after, we were hit by the pandemic, followed by semiconductor shortages and geopolitical issues. These factors led to longer waiting periods for all of our vehicles last year."

"However, we are now at about two-three months for all editions of the Seltos, the Carens, and the Sonet," Brar added.

According to Brar, the pandemic caused significant disruptions to the global automotive industry, resulting in production limitations and long waiting periods for customers due to supply chain constraints and chip shortages.

"This significantly impacted all OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), but we see some of these issues easing out to some extent," he added.

Brar said the company has expanded its production capacity at its Anantapur facility and is constantly optimising its supply chain.

Consequently, last year, the company was able to produce 358,000 vehicles in FY22-23, up from the 300,000-unit capacity.

"We are further increasing our plant's automation and line speed to boost production this year. During the January-March period of 2023, we achieved 24 per cent more wholesale production compared to the same period last year, as against an industry increase of only 10 per cent," he added.

Mahindra and Mahindra has one car -- XUV700 -- among the top 20 best-selling models in India.

This model's MWP was unchanged over the past year. It was 14 months one year back. And it stands at 14 months as on April 1 this year.

Jato Dynamics's Bhatia called the XUV700 the most in-demand SUV. Mahindra and Mahindra did not respond to queries sent by Business Standard.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
The government is planning to draft rules for the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to deal with Insolvency and Bankruptcy (IBC) cases, according to official sources.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is also looking to fill all vacant posts at various NCLT Benches by August and put in place an IT-enabled system that would use artificial intelligence (AI) for case management.

The NCLT, adjudicating authority for matters related to company affairs, was constituted before the IBC came into effect.

The adjudicating authority has rules for closing down companies which is a Companies Act matter, but the IBC is a very different law, a senior government official said.

The rules under consideration would work as guidelines for the tribunal. For instance, NCLTs could be directed to penalise frivolous applications that end up delaying the corporate insolvency resolution process.

Also, there could be a priority list to ensure certain matters are expedited.

IBC lawyers often rue that the NCLT is a weak link in the IBC due to lack of manpower, infrastructure, and domain expertise.

Since its inception in June 2016, the NCLT has never worked at full capacity, for instance.

To fix this, the government is looking at adopting a two-pronged approach.

While filling up the 22 vacant posts across various benches of the tribunal by August is on the cards, the MCA is planning to start an IT-enabled case management system for IBC cases.

For instance, in cases with the tribunal in which a resolution professional has to be appointed, AI will select and appoint the RP from a list of registered professionals with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

Officials also said the dependence of judges on junior staffers for information about the law, among other things, shall also be reduced with the use of the IT-enabled system.

In the IBC itself, the ministry is planning to introduce an enabling provision to allow the use of IT systems, for sending notices via e-mail for instance.

Law firm Alvarez and Marshal, in its paper titled The Next Phase of the IBC Must Focus on Efficiency, noted there was lack of transparency at the registry level in terms of sequential listing of petitions at NCLT benches which, at times, requires multiple follow-ups.

This is primarily due to lack of any digital mode.

The burden of excessive documentation and procedures has clogged the movement of cases in the NCLT.

"Streamlining of procedures across the NCLT with respect to filing, elimination of unwanted administrative steps, and shifting the process to e-mode or digital as adopted during Covid will help decongest case workload, said Abhilash Lal, insolvency professional.

Between November 2017 and August 2022, the NCLT dealt with 31,203 cases for initiation of insolvency, of which 7,175 were pending in the pre-admission stage and 3,369 were pending after admission, according to the data provided by the tribunal.

Admission of cases in the NCLT has been one of the biggest bottlenecks in current insolvency proceedings, since it takes several months to admit an application in most cases, despite 14 days envisaged in the Code.

To address this, the MCA has proposed mandatory admission of applications filed by financial creditors, once the tribunal is satisfied with the occurrence of default.

The MCA is also proposing that information regarding the occurrence of a default or dispute may be ascertained at information utility (IU), which can be relied on for speedy default verification.

The MCAs consultation paper on IBC amendments has proposed bringing a provision where the IBC is being initiated by financial or operational creditors, the adjudicating authority should rely only on records available with IUs.
The Delhi high court has rejected a government challenge to an arbitration panel award that had ruled in favour of Reliance Industries Ltd in a dispute over gas migration from fields operated by state-owned ONGC in the KG basin.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The government had slapped a provisional penalty of $1.55 billion on Reliance for "unjust enrichment" from gas migrating from the ONGC-operated KG-D5 block to the private firm's adjoining KG-D6 area.

It had sought $175 million in additional profit petroleum from Reliance and its UK partner BP Plc.

Reliance-BP challenged the penalty before an arbitration panel, which ruled that the two firms had produced gas from their contract area and there was no question of "unjust enrichment".

The government challenged the arbitration award before the Delhi high court, which in an order on Tuesday upheld the ruling of the arbitration panel, favouring Reliance.

The court said "factual conclusions arrived at by the arbitral tribunal" on the issue "cannot be second-guessed by this court".

Also, "the factual conclusions are perfectly rational, coherent and logical, especially considering what was comprised in the production sharing contract (PSC) was a purely commercial transaction entered into by two contracting parties," it added.

The order went on to state that it is not persuaded to hold the conclusions drawn by the arbitral tribunal were unreasonable.

"Suffice it to say that the view taken by the arbitral tribunal is most certainly a 'possible view', which calls for no interference," it said.

Dismissing the government petition, the order said the "court finds no ground to interfere with the majority arbitral award, which is accordingly upheld".

Disputes arose when in 2013, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) by a letter dated July 22, 2013, addressed to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) informed the latter that there was "evidence of lateral continuity of gas pools" as between the KG-DEN-98/3 (KG-D6) block of Reliance and the adjacent blocks allocated to the state-owned firm.

In simple terms, this meant that the gas pools of the Reliance block and the ONGC blocks appeared to be connected with possible migration of gas between the two blocks.

ONGC filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court. The petition was disposed of by the court, by directing the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to consider the report produced by the expert agency DeGolyer & MacNaughton (D&M), which was to undertake an independent third-party study to verify the claimed continuity and migration of gas from the ONGC blocks to the Reliance block.

In its final report dated November 19, 2015, D&M concluded that "the integrated analyses indicated connectivity and continuity of the reservoirs across the blocks operated by ONGC and Reliance".

The ministry in the following month appointed a one-man committee of Justice AP Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, to consider the D&M report and to recommend a future course of action.

Based on the Shah committee report, the ministry imposed a $1.55 billion penalty on Reliance along with interest up to March 31, 2016.

It also sought $175 million towards revised additional cumulative profit petroleum from disgorgement of "unjust enrichment".

Reliance challenged the penalty before an arbitration tribunal, which held that the production sharing contract (PSC) does not prohibit but permits the company to produce and sell gas, which migrated into the sub-sea reservoir lying within its contract area from a source outside.

It went on to state that "there was no question of unjust enrichment that requires further determination".
FUZULI, Azerbaijan, May 9. The visit of Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace Heidi Kuhn (a humanitarian-nonprofit organization founded in September 1997) to the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation continues, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports.

According to the bureau, the visit was organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF).

During the visit, familiarization with the site where mine clearance work carried out on the territory of Azerbaijani village of Horadiz of the Fuzuli district took place.

Moreover, information was provided on the level of contamination of this territory by mines and unexploded ordnance, mine clearance operations, types of mines and unexploded ordnance found here.

It was also mentioned that 53 Armenian-made anti-personnel mines and another 208 mines have been found in the area of the village of Horadiz.

Currently, mine clearance work is continuing on the territory. In the course of ongoing operations, mines are found on this territory every day.
The Indian position on the Russia-Ukraine war and the unconditional treaty between China and Russia appear to have caused some ripples in India-US relations and led to a reappraisal of India's usefulness to the US in the eventuality of a conflict with China, notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

IMAGE: Prime Minister N D Modi with US President Joe Biden at the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, November. 15, 2022. Photograph: Prasetyo Utomo/G20 Media Center/Handout via Reuters

Post-pandemic America, engaged in a virtual conflict with Russia and in confrontation with China, has become increasingly conditional and transactional in international relations.

It has begun to evaluate relations of allies and friends in the context of their usefulness in conflict situations.

Even in the case of India-US bilateral relations, which were built brick by brick as mutual interests were identified, a review seems under way and the litmus test is whether India would support the US in the event of a war with China.

As the world's largest democracies, bound by common values and principles, India and the United States should have been natural allies.

But the fears of Western imperialism in India and the US perception of Indian non-alignment as immoral and inimical to US interests were not conducive to a natural and smooth relationship.

During the Cold War, of course, the Indian enthusiasm for Communist China and improvement in India-Soviet relations placed India in an adversarial position with the US, regardless of scientific and educational collaboration, including the Atoms for Peace, PL-480 wheat supply and shipment of weapons to meet the Chinese aggression.

Every step in the development of relations even to the level of strategic partnership has been transactional.

India was quick to build bridges with the United States in the unipolar world that emerged soon after the Cold War by liberalising its economy, relaxing restraints on foreign forces in the Indian Ocean, establishing an embassy in Tel Aviv and generally lowering the rhetoric on issues like the NPT, Palestine and even Pakistan.

The US responded to these gestures, leading to improvement in relations, reflected during Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's visit in May 1994.

Evidently, the US encouraged the changes in Indian positions as the fruits of the new world order.

But on issues like NPT, the US maintained that no concession was possible legally and constitutionally.

President Bill Clinton decided to visit India in 1997 to take the relations forward, but the Indian nuclear tests in May 1998 caused a major setback as the US imposed severe sanctions against India.

The Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott talks for the next two years were the first comprehensive exercise in a detailed examination of mutuality of interests between the two countries, particularly in the field of nuclear energy.

The understanding reached in the talks led to President Clinton's visit to India, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to the US and eventually the nuclear deal signed in 2008.

The nuclear deal was transactional as the agreement dealt with the security interests of both countries and led to fundamental changes in India's nuclear posture.

But the US reneged on the nuclear trade promised under the deal as the US did not consider strengthening of India's nuclear capability in its own interest.

The nuclear deal relaxed the constraints imposed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but the US itself did not budge on its position on nuclear cooperation with India.

IMAGE: Indian and US Army troops during the India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas at Auli, Uttarakhand. Photograph: ANI Photo

China had always been a factor in the development of India-US relations, but initially the US did not envisage India-US cooperation as counter to China.

At one point, President Clinton appeared to count on China to keep the peace in South Asia in the context of an emerging G-2, consisting of the US and China.

But the new architecture of relations established in 2000 and the emergence of the Quad, the US began to apply the litmus test of measuring how much India will be willing to coordinate positions on China with the US.

The Trump administration supported India openly and expanded military cooperation when China violated the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

President Biden was, however, restrained in its support to India.

The growth of strategic co-operation with India was placed in the broader context of international security.

The Indian position on the Russia-Ukraine war and the unconditional treaty between China and Russia appear to have caused some ripples in India-US relations and led to a reappraisal of India's usefulness to the US in the eventuality of a conflict with China.

As a result, the US sharpened its criticism of the erosion of democracy in India and began to wonder whether US investments in India-US relations would be beneficial to the US in the event of a conflict with China.

At least one strategic analyst, who had been a champion of India-US relations, Ashley Tellis, has asserted in a Foreign Affairs article of May 1, 2023 that India was a bad bet for America as 'New Delhi won't side with Washington against Beijing.'

He has said that for the past two decades, Washington has made an enormous bet on India by treating it as a key partner in its geopolitical rivalry with China.

The Biden administration has gone even further by launching an ambitious new initiative to expand India's access to crucial technologies and deepened defense cooperation.

According to Tellis, because of India's military imbalance with China and its long volatile border, 'Washington's current expectations of India are misplaced.'

India will never involve itself with China in any US confrontation with Beijing that does not directly threaten its own security, Tellis says.

IMAGE: Modi and Biden at the G-20 summit in Rome, November 2, 2021. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Apart from the fact that Tellis has changed his traditional position of stressing the mutuality of India-US relations, his new analysis runs contrary to the fundamentals of Indian foreign policy based on strategic autonomy.

Its policy on China may be cautious on account of its proximity to China and the history of its border with China, particularly after the annexation of Tibet and the Dalai Lama's arrival in India, the option of a war with China either alone or together with any other power was never envisaged.

The strengthening of India's military capability, including nuclear, is a deterrent rather than a power projection.

India realises that participation in a military structure or an understanding that India will be a potential partner in a conflict will make India even more vulnerable to aggression.

As Tellis has stated, India seeks to acquire advanced technologies from the US and others to bolster its own military capabilities and defence posture rather than to depend on others on a commitment to wage war for them.

The diversification of its military imports also gives India's strategic autonomy some depth and credibility.

The presumed expectation of Indian support in the eventuality of a war with China appears exaggerated.

India may not be privy to the details of the United States's contingency plans, but it is clear that its capabilities to defend its interests and itself will not be dependent on the Indian position at a critical time.

India's value for the US goes beyond its capacity to wage war.

Bilateral relations at times of peace are as important as times of war and good relations with India will only add to the standing of the United States.

Ambassador T P Sreenivasan is a frequent contributor to Rediff.com and you can read his earlier columns here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Ajit Pawar and some other people felt it was better to be supporting the BJP and have a coalition with the BJP than support the Congress.'

'But Sharad Pawar did not want to be a party to this kind of an opportunistic alliance.'

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar with NCP leaders addresses the media at the Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai, May 5, 2023 after Pawar withdrew his resignation as NCP president. Photograph: PTI Photo

Sharad Pawar resigned as the Nationalist Congress Party president on May 2, 2023. Three days later, on May 5, 2023, he withdrew his resignation.

What made Pawar change his mind?

It is said P C Chacko, the NCP's Kerala state president, played a major role behind the scenes.

Chacko was a prominent Congress MP till he resigned from the party just before the 2021 Kerala assembly election citing groupism in the Congress's Kerala unit.

Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier asked Chacko how he made Sharad Pawar change his mind.

The first of a two-part Must Read Interview:

It was reported that you were responsible for Sharad Pawar changing his decision. How did you convince him to withdraw the resignation?

I also saw the report, but I will have to say that it was an over-statement. It was a collective effort of many leaders, and I was one among them. Of course, I took the initiative.

It was on the 2nd of May that Pawar submitted the resignation. It was at a function organised to release the new edition of his autobiography. Many leaders and his family were there at the function.

Were you present at the function?

No, I was not there. It was a function organised in Mumbai. He spoke about so many incidents in his life.

At the end of an emotional speech, he said he became president of the party in 1999 and that he had been the president for 25 years.

'I had been working hard for the party all these years, and I feel the time has come for me to resign. A new president will come for the NCP now,' he said.

This was totally unexpected for everyone present there. Perhaps his wife and daughter knew, but none of his colleagues including me were aware of this decision.

There was pin drop silence, and everybody was shocked to hear his words.

I came to know about his decision when the media started calling me for my reaction. I told everyone that I had to meet him first before saying anything.

I booked a night flight to Mumbai. The flight got delayed and I reached there only at 8 pm. So, I could not meet him that night.

On the flight, you might have been thinking about the new development. Could you think of any reason why he suddenly decided to resign?

I felt there might have been two reasons. One, his health. He has been suffering from cancer for the last 15 years.

The treatment is going on promptly and that's why he is surviving.

He can't even eat properly and has only liquid food. Despite all this, he has been travelling a lot.

The number two reason is, there is some dissension happening within the NCP in Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar and some other people felt it was better to be supporting the BJP and have a coalition with the BJP than support the Congress.

The basic reason is that there are some MLAs who want to escape investigation from the government.

So, they thought an alliance with the BJP would help them. They thought Ajit Pawar would get a plum post also.

But Sharad Pawar did not want to be a party to this kind of an opportunistic alliance. That may be the reason why he chose to resign.

IMAGE: P C Chacko with Sharad Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo

When you met Pawar, did you ask him why he resigned?

I asked him, 'Are you afraid of any dissension within the party? Is there any pressure from the government? Or is there any investigation on any of your people?'

He told me, 'I don't care about what they do. I fought Indira Gandhi. I opposed Rajiv Gandhi. Why should I be afraid of these people? I have been the leader for 25 years. I thought it was time to have a new leader for the party.'

When he said this, I believed him. Then I told him, 'if this is the reason, the timing is totally inappropriate. You can resign after 11 months. Our agenda should be the 2024 election and you have got a very prominent role to play.'

Do you feel Pawar's presence is needed for a united opposition to take on the BJP?

Nearly 20-22 leaders are personally close to him, and he speaks to them every other day, whether it is Nitish Kumar or Mamata Banerjee or Stalin. So, he is one person who can co-ordinate all these leaders.

That's why I told him to go ahead with the resignation after the 2024 elections if at all he wanted to do it. I told him, 'We are all depending on you and your leadership to play a very important role'.

He can perform this duty only as the party president. That was my argument. And I could convince him even though he argued that a new president could also do the job while he could work from behind.

I told him, a party president is a party president. And we are a president-oriented party. So, only the president of the NCP can do any kind of negotiation.

Finally, he agreed and said, okay. But he wanted me to form a committee to come up with a resolution while he wanted a day to think.

He wanted us to have a meeting while he pondered over the idea.

He said, 'You take a decision at the meeting, and I will go by that.'

I wanted a unanimous resolution asking to Pawar to withdraw his resignation.

So, I took the initiative and met Ajit Pawar and other leaders who were not very enthusiastic about Sharad Pawar continuing.

Finally, I could convince them that it was the time the NCP had to not only survive, but make others respect the party. That was possible only if Sharad Pawar was the leader.

Then, everybody agreed to meet the next morning and we came up with a one-line resolution that the committee unanimously requests Sharad Pawar to continue as president of the NCP.

Did you meet him again after the resolution was passed?

Yes. After passing the resolution, all of us went straight to his house at Malabar Hill.

We argued that it was a unanimous opinion of the committee and there was no second opinion.

He then said, 'I can only obey you as I cannot say 'no' to party leaders and the rank and file. I will withdraw my resignation.'

He then told us that Rahul Gandhi called him the previous day. So also Nitish Kumar, Stalin and Mamata.

I had a meeting at Kozhikode that evening and my flight was at 4 and it was already 3 pm.

Before leaving, I told him, 'Please have a press conference and say categorically that it was not a hotchpotch arrangement. Please say you are continuing as the president going by the advice of the leaders and that there will not be a change in the leadership.'

By the time I reached Kozhikode, the press conference was over. He also spoke to me that he made a very clear statement.

That's what happened. It was not my effort alone, but a collective effort. Yes, I took the initiative in bringing everybody together to the same line of thinking.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Madhya Pradesh police's Anti-Terrorism Squad on Tuesday arrested 11 persons from two cities in the state, while five others were nabbed from Hyderabad for their suspected links with the Hizb-Ut-Tahrir, a radical outfit, an MP police spokesman said.

IMAGE: Persons who have alleged links with radical outfit Hizb-Ut-Tahrir being taken to vehicle after producing in a court in Bhopa, MP, May 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

With these arrests, the police claimed to have busted a module of the fundamentalist organisation.

The MP ATS arrested 11 persons, including a gym trainer, software engineer and teacher, and booked them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other relevant provisions of the IPC, an official said.

Of these, 10 were arrested from Bhopal's Shahjahanabad, Aishbagh, Lalghati and Pipalani areas, while one was nabbed from Chhindwara city, he said.

Following a tip-off from the ATS, the Telangana police arrested five persons from Hyderabad for their alleged links with the outfit, he said.

The official said anti-national documents, electronic equipment and radical literature were recovered from the arrested members of HUT, whose network is spread in more than 50 countries.

The outfit has already been banned in 16 countries, he said.

The MP police spokesman claimed the organisation was aiming to topple the democratic system in India and replace it with Sharia (Islamic law regime).

The outfit was working to create its cadres in Madhya Pradesh and instigate them for violence, he alleged.

The spokesman said those arrested included a gym trainer, teacher, auto driver, tailor, computer technician, businessman and software engineer, and claimed they used to organise secret combat training camps in forest areas.

They received training from skilled trainers from Hyderabad, he said.

Besides, they used to deliver provocative speeches at religious meetings and distribute religious literature to rope in more youths, said the spokesman.

The spokesman said they avoided regular channels of communication and used dark webs for conversation.

He said these HUT members had identified big cities of India to commit violent incidents in crowded areas to create panic.

Last year, several people were arrested from Bhopal for their alleged links with the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, and jihadi literature and electronic devices seized from them.
The Delhi University will issue a notice to Rahul Gandhi cautioning him against making any "unauthorised" visit to the campus in future, an senior official said on Tuesday, days after the Congress leader met students at a hostel.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visits a Post-Graduate Men's Hostel of the Delhi University. Photograph: @INCDelhi/Twitter

The notice will be sent either Tuesday or Wednesday, Delhi University Registrar Vikas Gupta said.

He said the university will tell the leader that this kind of visit "jeopardise" the safety of students and that proper protocol needs to be followed for any such interaction.

Gandhi visited a Post-Graduate Men's Hostel of the university on Friday, interacted with some students and had lunch with them.

"It was an unauthorised visit. Many students were having lunch when he barged in. We cannot tolerate this on our campus. We will send a notice to Rahul Gandhi, telling him that he should not repeat such action and should not jeopardise the safety of students," the registrar said.

Meanwhile, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, has alleged that the administration was under pressure to take action against Gandhi.

The registrar refuted the allegation and said, "There is no such pressure. It is a matter of discipline."

A day after Gandhi's visit, the Delhi University issued a sharp statement, saying the "sudden and unauthorised" entry raised serious security concerns for the hostel inmates and the leader.

"University authorities will take necessary steps to avoid such incidents of this trespassing and will ensure that this does not happen in future again," it had said.
A crew member of the movie The Kerala Story, received a threatening message from an unknown number, according to the Mumbai Police.

IMAGE: A poster of the film The Kerala Story. Photograph: @adah_sharma/Twitter

As per the police, Sudipto Sen, director of the film The Kerala Story informed police that one of the crew members received a message from an unknown number.

"The message threatened the said person not to step out alone from home and that they didn't do a good thing by showing the story," the police said.

Police provided security to the crew member but FIR has not been registered as they are yet to receive a written complaint.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State.

The film, which was released on May 5, has kicked up a political storm.

On the day of the film's release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

Madhya Pradehs and Uttar Pradesh, both BJP-ruled states, have declared the film tax-free in their states.

However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film The Kerala Story in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence.

Multiplexes across Tamil Nadu cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response.

According to the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress in Kerala, the film falsely claims that 32,000 women got converted and radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world.

The filmmakers later changed the figure in the film's trailer.
A female cheetah from South Africa, named Daksha, died in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on Tuesday, following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt, the Union environment ministry said.

IMAGE: A cheetah at the Rooiberg veterinary facility, Limpopo province, South Africa, February 17, 2023, looks on after being sedated, before being flown with 11 others from South Africa to India under an agreement between the two governments to introduce the African cats to India over the next decade. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

This marks the third cheetah death in the park within a month and a half. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, and another cheetah, Uday, from South Africa, died on April 13.

The sudden deaths have conservationists and wildlife experts questioning the carrying capacity of the Kuno National Park and the decision to keep the cheetahs in fenced enclosures.

The ministry said in a statement that Daksha was found fatally injured by the monitoring team at 10:45 am on Tuesday. Although veterinarians gave her treatment, she died at 12 noon.

The wounds found on Daksha seemed to have been caused by a violent interaction with the male during the courtship/mating attempt. In such a situation, the chances of intervention by the monitoring team are almost non-existent and practically impossible, it said.

The ministry said such violent behaviours by male coalition cheetahs towards the females during mating are common.

The cheetah project was reviewed by a team of experts, including from South Africa, on April 30.

The experts have decided to release five more cheetahs into the wild before the onset of the monsoon and keep the rest in their fenced acclimatisation camps until the monsoon gets over. They have also decided to open certain internal gates of the fenced enclosures to give more space to cheetahs and allow "interactions between specific males and females."

A Madhya Pradesh forest department official told PTI that Daksha was released in enclosure number one, and two male cheetahs, Vayu and Agni, were released from boma 7 (enclosure) for mating. "However, it appears that the male cheetahs turned violent during the process, which is a normal thing," he said.

Wildlife biologist and conservation scientist Ravi Chellam said all the three deaths have occurred in captivity.

"Of the four animals which have been released so far, one has been captured twice and is now kept captive. If we are not ready to release them, why did we bring them?"

"People who have been closely involved in conceptualising this project, drafting the action plan and even implementing it are now saying Kuno is not good enough and there are space constraints. Didn't we know this earlier? You should have made sure you had the ground prepared for at least 50 cheetahs before you import your first cheetah because one extra day in captivity is too long," he said.

According to the cheetah reintroduction plan, Kuno holds the potential to sustain up to 21 cheetahs based on its existing prey base.

With restoration, protection and management, the number can go up to 40 individuals.

On Monday, the ministry said the decision to release the cheetahs into their second home will be taken based on a review after the monsoon season. It said the exact carrying capacity of KNP cannot be determined until the cheetahs have properly established their home ranges.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested for causing loss to the national treasury in a corruption case.

IMAGE: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is seen seated in court as security enters to arrest him, Islamabad, Pakistan, May 9, 2023. Photograph: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)/Handout via Reuters

Providing details on the arrest of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) outside the Islamabad high court, he also dismissed reports of torture of the 70-year-old leader during his arrest by paramilitary Rangers.

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was arrested by on Tuesday while he was present at the court for the hearing of a corruption case, a day after he took on the country's powerful army for allegedly hatching a plot to kill him.

"The arrest has been made by the NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case," Sanaullah said, adding that the arrest was made on merit and Khan was in the custody of the anti-graft watchdog.

Sanaullah said that the UK authorities in a money-laundering case had confiscated 190 million pound or Rs 60 billion money of a Pakistani property tycoon with the objective to transfer it to the government of Pakistan.

However, Khan allowed the tycoon to get the money back rather than depositing it in the state and use it to pay a fine imposed by the Supreme Court in another case.

The tycoon in return provided 23.1 hectare (458-kanals) in Sohawa in Jhelum district and 12.1 hectare (240 kanals) in Banigala near Islamabad to the Al-Qadir Trust.

The minister also claimed that the Al-Qadir Trust was registered in the name of Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and her close friend Farah Gogi. He also claimed that the worth of the property was about 6-7 billion rupees. "Khan caused a huge loss to the state treasury," he said, and urged the court to return the same money to the government.

He also accused Khan of playing in the foreign hands and issuing statements against the state institutions. "Khan is an ally of the enemies of the country and trying to damage the country, he said.

The minister said that paramilitary Rangers was legally performing its duty when its officials carried out the arrest. He said that the government had nothing to do with the arrest which was carried out on the orders of the NAB.

He said that there were "dozens" of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier.

"No sort of torture was inflicted on him (Khan)," the interior minister said.

The PTI party led by Khan recently submitted a list of cases to the Islamabad high court (IHC). The list states that 31 cases have been registered against Khan in the federal capital and 30 cases and call-up notices have been issued in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

These cases are related to various charges like treason, blasphemy, committing and inciting violence and terrorism.

According to the list, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against Khan in Lahore and 14 cases have been registered in Faisalabad. Some 22 terrorism cases have been registered against Imran Khan across the country.

Khan has been facing a slew of cases since his ouster through a no trust vote in April last year. He has rejected all these cases as political victimisation by the ruling alliance.

Currently, Khan has said he is facing over 140 cases related to terrorism, blasphemy, murder, violence, inciting to violence.
In unprecedented scenes, supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday stormed the Pakistan Army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and the corps commander's residence in Lahore after his dramatic arrest in a corruption case.

IMAGE: A man crosses a road past a barricade that was set afire by the supporters of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan during a protest against his arrest, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 9, 2023. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the Islamabad high court when the paramilitary Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating up lawyers and Khan's security staff.

The arrest of the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman comes a day after the powerful army accused him of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI.

As the news of his arrest by the Rangers spread, massive protests broke out in several cities across Pakistan. Protesters at several places turned violent and burned police vehicles and damaged public property.

The Rangers, which operates under the interior ministry, are usually commanded by officers on secondment from the army.

For the first time, Khan's supporters smashed the main gate of the army's sprawling headquarters in Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint. The protesters chanted slogans against the establishment.

In Lahore, a large number of PTI workers stormed into the corps commanders Lahore residence and smashed the gate and window-panes. The army personnel present on duty there, however, did not try to stop the enraged protesters who surrounded them and chanted slogans against the handlers' of the PML-N led government in the military establishment. The protesters held a demonstration in the Cantonment area.

Lahore was virtually cut off from the rest of the province because of the protest on main roads including the entry and exit points.

The caretaker Punjab government called in the Rangers to control the law-and-order situation in the most populous province and imposed section 144 under which not more than five people can gather at one point.

According to the home department, the ban on gatherings will remain in place for two days.

The Punjab government also requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to suspend Internet and mobile services in the areas of the province where violent protests took place.

Violent protests also spread to Karachi and Hyderabad in Sindh province and Balochistan's Quetta where PTI protesters assembled outside Army cantonment areas.

A spokesman of the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Wasim Baig, confirmed they had received the body of a man with gunshot wounds.

"The dead body was brought from the airport road where protests have been taking place since afternoon," he said, adding that several protesters and policemen with injuries were also brought to the hospital.

People confirmed that internet and mobile services had been blocked by authorities as PTI workers and leaders took to social media to spread the protests.

In Karachi, protesters blocked both sides of the main Shahrah-e-Faisal road which remained closed to traffic as police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling and baton charge in which people from both sides were injured.

"The people are coming onto the streets by themselves as the party leadership had made it clear arresting our chairman would be crossing the red line, PTI leader Alamgir Aurangzeb said.

Senior PTI leaders including members of the National Assembly and members of the Provincial Assembly were present at the protests. Not only the Shahrah-e-Faisal but violent protests and clashes with the police have also been reported from at least six to seven different areas of Karachi including Sohrab Goth which connects the city to upcountry and rural areas.

Protesters have blocked the roads and set police barricades on fire. Angry protesters also broke windows and damaged public transport buses and set on fire a water board vehicle in Golimar area.

The significant presence of PTI women supporters was visible at the protests in Karachi and Hyderabad where protesters threw away police barricades and set them on fire.

"We are not living in the 70s or 90s Pakistan. Until our leader is released and dates for general elections are announced we will carry on protesting anywhere at any time as the people have had enough now, Zehra Mashidi, a protester on Shahrah e Faisal, said.

The police arrested the president of PTI in Sindh and former minister Ali Zaidi and other local leaders and took them to unknown locations.

Murad Saeed, a senior PTI leader, tweeted that people should continue their protests.

A senior police official confirmed that the situation in Karachi was getting bad as more and more people including women and senior citizens were joining protests in different areas.

In Peshawar, Khan's supporters set a monument of the Chaghi Mountain inside the premises of the Peshawar Radio Station on fire. The Chaghi mountain model was set up in the commemoration of Pakistan becoming a nuclear power in 1998.

The Peshawar cantonment and roads leading to Corps Headquarters and house of the corps commander in Peshawar were sealed.

A large number of PTI workers also pelted stones at the residence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in Faisalabad city. Similarly, protests were held in Multan, Jhang, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Khanewal, Vehari, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Gujrat cities.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Tuesday said he would cut short his three-day visit to India in view of a "security update" he received on his arrival in New Delhi regarding Tel Aviv's operation against a militant group in Gaza Strip.

IMAGE: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter

The visiting Israeli minister, who held wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar focusing on the expansion of bilateral ties in various key areas including trade, investment, defence and agriculture, said he will return home after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

In an address at the India-Israel Business Forum, Cohen said he would raise with Prime Minister Modi the issue of the free trade agreement between the two countries.

"I believe it can boost our relations," he said.

Jaishankar after his talks with Cohen tweeted,"productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership - Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security - are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more."

He also said that apart from discussing cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health, they also noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums.

"Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Initialed an agreement in the area of mobility," Jaishankar added.

Shortly after Cohen arrived in Delhi, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said he will leave for Tel Aviv after calling on Modi.

"Foreign Minister Eli Cohen landed a short while ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and as soon as he landed he received a security update," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"In light of the events in Israel, Foreign Minister Cohen decided to cut short his diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," it said.

According to reports from Tel Aviv, Israel has launched a major military offensive targeting some militants in the Gaza Strip.

At least 12 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, have been killed in the air strikes, they said.

"A short while ago I landed in India for a very important strategic and political visit. I am receiving constant updates from Israel on the situation and I hope to meet today with the Indian Prime Minister, and after that will shorten my visit and go back to Israel," Cohen said.

It is the third high-level visit by senior Israeli officials in less than three months, coming in quick succession after Knesset (Israeli parliament) speaker Amir Ohana's trip at the end of March-early April and also Economy Minister Nir Barkat's visit to India last month.

Cohen is accompanied by a business delegation.

People familiar with Cohen's visit said earlier that his trip is also set to prepare the ground for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to India later this year.

In January, Modi invited Netanyahu to visit India at an early date.

The Israeli prime minister visited India in 2018. His visit to India in 2019 was called off due to scheduling issues. Both sides were working on a plan for his visit to India in 2021 but that did not materialise as he was ousted from power in June of that year.

Netanyahu came back as the prime minister in December after his Likud party formed a coalition with some other parties following the elections

The ties between India and Israel have been on an upswing in the last few years in a range of sectors including defence, agriculture and water management.

In January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu during which both leaders agreed on the potential for further strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation.
The Election Commission on Tuesday said enforcement agencies in poll-bound Karnataka seized over Rs 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and freebies which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the last assembly election in the state.

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar offers prayers at Anjaneya Swami Temple, at KR market area, in Bengaluru, May 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

It said that increased focus on expenditure monitoring was the reason being the seizures, which included freebies such as sarees, 'food kits', pressure cookers and kitchen appliances.

The Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 288 crore after the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct on March 29 in the state. The poll panel has marked 81 assembly seats as "expenditure sensitive" constituencies.

Notable hauls included the seizure of Rs 4.04 crore cash in Bangarapet constituency in Kolar district, a raid on a laboratory illegally manufacturing Alprazolam in Hyderabad using intelligence and trail mapping by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the seizure of 100 kg ganja in Bidar district, the poll panel said.

Significant liquor seizures have been made by all the districts, it said.

"Another striking feature of expenditure monitoring has been huge seizures of freebies. Sarees and food kits have been seized from Kalburgi, Chimanglur and other districts. A large number of pressure cookers and kitchen appliances were also seized from Bailhongal and Kunigal and other assembly constituencies," it said in a statement.

"The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time," the Election Commission said.

While announcing the schedule for Karnataka assembly elections Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had stressed on increased vigil and zero tolerance on the distribution of inducements during the electoral process.

He had remarked that the commission has significantly raised the bar for ensuring inducement-free elections and the continuum of stepping up of efforts and increase in seizures witnessed during recently held assembly elections in five States, would continue, the poll panel recalled.

From the date of the visit of the commission in the second week of March, till the date of the announcement of elections, seizures of Rs 83.78 crore were also made by various enforcement agencies, it said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. A concert program was presented at Jidir Duzu in Shusha within the framework of the "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival, Trend reports.

The concert program included performances by creative teams from the countries belonging to TURKSOY, Turkic-speaking countries and peoples of the region. The artists presented the audience with the musical culture of their countries and regions.

In addition to Azerbaijan, musical groups and performers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Administration of the Republic of Moldova (Gagauz Territory), Uzbekistan, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan of Uzbekistan, the republics of Altai, Khakassia, Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan and Tuva of the Russian Federation, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkiye, Turkmenistan have performed at the festival.

At the end, the soloists of the Turkic world together performed the "Karabakh" song.

The "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, will last until May 11. The festival will include concert programs, exhibitions and various presentations.
Heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the Imphal airport which is overcrowded with passengers young and old, many of them ailing and wailing, eager to flee from Manipur which has been shaken by violence since last week.

IMAGE: Indian Army with Assam Rifles personnel conduct rescue operation in the violence-affected Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Patients with catheters just out of ICU, newborn and premature babies with mothers, women with advanced pregnancy, bed-ridden cancer patients, besides people with worry writ large on their faces  all thronged the airport in the past few days to take flights for places outside the state as soon as possible, officials said on Tuesday.

Some of these passengers with bullet injuries have also been seen in the airport.

You would feel like crying if you see the scene at the Imphal airport, an AAI official told PTI over the phone from Imphal on Tuesday.

Close to 2,000 passengers are stranded at the premises of the airport, the terminal building of which can handle only 750 passengers -- 250 for arrival and 500 for departure -- at a time.

Airline companies have put in additional flights to take the passengers, with their queue getting longer gradually as the ethnic violence broke out a few days ago and army men have to be deployed.

Doctors of the airport, employees of the Airports Authority of India and staff of different airlines have been working hand in hand round the clock to make the distressed people a bit comfortable.

IMAGE: People stay at a relief camp set up in Cachar district of Assam. Photograph: ANI Photo

The AAI has been providing all stranded people with food and water.

The airport now is being run with bare minimum support.

Since all shops are closed outside the facility, the AAI officials in Imphal had sent SOS messages to nearby airports such as Guwahati, Agartala and Dibrugarh to get supplies -- food, water, essential medicines and others for both staff and passengers, another official said.

A special ticket counter has been opened at the airport. A Local Area Network (LAN) network is being used for the purpose as internet services have been suspended since last week in the state, said the officials who refused to be identified for fear of getting targeted.

IMAGE: A family reach at a relief camp in Cachar district of Assam. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sources at the airport said that the gates of the airport have been attacked twice by the rioters but they could not succeed in entering.

An employee said that his colleagues and officers have been staying on the airport premises since the violence broke out.

The handful of AAI employees have not been getting enough rest, an official said.

The Imphal airport used to handle 14 incoming and the same number of outgoing flights a day and the number has shot up, he said. On Monday, the airport operated 80 flights -- 40 incoming and 40 outgoing.

The Regional Executive Director (RED) of AAI's North East region, S Jugani said, The AAI has coordinated with the state government to provide police escort to the people going outside from the airport.

IMAGE: Rapid Action Force personnel conduct a flag march in Manipur's capital Imphal. Photograph: PTI Photo

All our employees are working round the clock in three shifts. The total number of flights (scheduled and additional) operated to and fro Imphal between May 4 and May 6 was 216, the RED said.

A help desk has also been set up at the Imphal airport to assist passengers.

People have been allowed to stay at the airport premises on humanitarian grounds, Jugani said.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burnt in the ethnic violence.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.

The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land which had led to a series of smaller agitations since February this year.
The Supreme Court said on Tuesday it has to be alive to the fact that the concept of marriage has evolved and must accept the basic proposition that marriage itself is entitled to constitutional protection as it is not just a matter of statutory recognition.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Dinesh Joshi/ANI Photo

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, while hearing arguments on a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriage, said it would be "far-fetched" to argue that there is no right to marry under the Constitution, which itself is a "tradition breaker".

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for Madhya Pradesh, argued that heterosexual couples have a right to marry in accordance with custom, personal law and religion. This has been continuing and that is the foundation of their right, he said, while repeatedly urging the court to leave the issue of according legal sanctity to same-sex marriage to the legislature.

"There cannot be any denial of the fact that State has a legitimate interest in regulating marriage. Undoubtedly. That's how the State regulates the forms in which you can enter into a marriage," said the bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, P S Narasimha and Hima Kohli.

"The State has various other interests so it regulates facets of a marriage. But we must accept the basic proposition that marriage itself is something which is entitled to constitutional protection and it is not just a matter of statutory recognition," the bench observed, in the course of the hearing that continued on the eighth day.

Deliberating on the issue whether a person has a right to marry, the bench observed it has to start with the premise that there is no unqualified right.

It said right to free speech, right to association, right to personal liberty and right to life are not unqualified and, therefore, there is "no unqualified and absolute right".

Justice Bhat observed that inter-caste marriages were not permitted and inter-faith marriages were unheard of 50 years ago.

"The Constitution itself is a tradition breaker because for the first time you have brought in Article 14. So if you have brought in Articles 14, 15 and most importantly 17, those traditions are broken," Justice Bhat said.

While Article 14 deals with equality before law, Article 15 pertains to prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Article 17 of the Constitution deals with abolition of untouchability.

"If those traditions are broken, what is held hallowed in our society in terms of caste? We made a conscious break and said we don't want it. We have gone to the extent of encapsulating and outlawing untouchability in the Constitution," Justice Bhat observed.

"But at the same time let us be alive to the fact that the concept of marriage has evolved which you yourself said," he added.

Dwivedi argued that changes were brought in by legislature which can certainly alter the customs.

"Over the years marriage has resulted in a social institution. It is not that overnight something is happening and two people suddenly coming and saying it is a marriage. So, it is a long period of time when the institution of marriage has emerged as a result of society's evolution," he said.

Dwivedi said a lot of evolutions have taken place and the point was that all these reforms were made by the legislature in the interest of women and children and they do not alter the fundamental aspect, the core aspect of the social institution of marriage as they exist.

"What is the core aspect of marriage? You may provide alimony, maintenance, divorce on certain ground and you may provide that there are inter-caste marriages, but ultimately the marriages remain heterosexual marriages," he argued.

The CJI observed, "To state at the extreme that there is no right to marry under the Constitution will be far-fetched."

Referring to the core elements of marriage, Justice Chandrachud said if one looks at each of these constituent elements, each of them is protected by constitutional values.

"Marriage itself postulated the right of two individuals to cohabit together. Marriage accompanies with it the notion of a family, the existence of a family unit because the two people who come together in a marriage constitute a family, something which directly owes its existence or recognition to the constitutional values," the CJI said.

He said it has procreation as a very important ingredient of marriage.

"Though equally we must be cognisant of the fact that validity or legality or social acceptance of marriage is not conditioned only on procreation for the reason that people may not want to have procreation, people may not have an ability or be in position to have children or married at an age when they cannot have children. But we take your point that procreation is a significant facet of marriage, there is no denying the fact subject to these caveats," the CJI said.

He said marriage in a significant way is exclusionary of all others and social acceptance of the existence of marriage is not just confined to that individual but how society looks at that institution.

The CJI said another issue, which is a contested issue, is whether heterosexuality is an intrinsic or a core element of the institution of marriage.

Dwivedi said the core purpose is to bring about a unity of man and woman for a social purpose as the society as well as the race needs to perpetuate itself.

"The generality is that our population has grown from 44 crore to 1.4 billion today is not because of certain people who decide not to produce or were unable," he argued.

"Heterosexual marriages don't depend upon this, no Constitution can take it away. It is a natural right by virtue of our being human beings. To deny that right means to let the nation die. That's the importance of this," Dwivedi said during the arguments which will continue on Wednesday.

He said Parliament can redefine marriage or redefine the relationship between couples in some different manner and the court should not be issuing a declaration that same-sex couples are equal to heterosexuals in terms of marriage.

During the arguments, the bench also heard submissions advanced by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, who appeared for 'Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind', and Arvind Datar, who was representing one of those opposing the pleas.

Sibal said he was "very worried" at the start of the hearing when the counsel appearing for the petitioners said Parliament is not going to do anything about it so the apex court should make a declaration in this regard.

"I am afraid that is a very dangerous proposition. It was said at the outset that we (petitioners) don't expect the Parliament to move forward, don't expect Parliament to pass such a law and therefore, your lordships should do it. I say that is a very dangerous route to take," he said.

Sibal said a declaration by itself on the premise that Parliament is not likely to pass a law would be a "wrong step forward".

"It is a dangerous route to take because a declaration by your lordships will close the debate in Parliament. There will be no scope for debate once you declare, one that it (same-sex union) is a fundamental right, two, that it has to be recognised," he argued.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar met in Bhubaneswar for more than an hour on Tuesday but later claimed that there was no discussion on politics or any alliance for the 2024 general election.

IMAGE: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar addresses the media at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar, May 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kumar, also the Janata Dal-United supremo, callled on Patnaik, who is the Biju Janata Dal president, at his residence 'Navin Niwas' in Bhubaneswar amid speculation that the two non-Bharatiya Janata Party and non-Congress leaders will discuss the proposed partnership among the non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 general election.

The speculation on an emerging alliance at the national level ahead of the poll had its roots in Nitish Kumar's earlier meetings with Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Akilesh Yadav and others.

Kumar had also made it clear that he was in the process of uniting the non-BJP leaders.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is now likely to call on Maharashtra stalwarts Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray later this week, sources in the JD-U said in Patna.

The Bihar chief minister also had his lunch with Patnaik at his home.

However, both the leaders after the hour-long meeting said that being old friends they talked of matters other than politics fuelling curiosity.

The meeting between the two took place ahead of Patnaik's proposed three-day trip to Delhi from Wednesday, while the JD(U) in a tweet later claimed that Nitish Kumar has become the leader of the united-Opposition against the BJP-led NDA.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become the leader of opposition unity, went to Odisha and met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik uniting opposition parties without personal ambition, the JD(U) tweeted in Hindi.

Patnaik, however, refuted speculations about any political understanding between the two leaders. "No discussion was held on any alliance today. I am delighted that Nitish ji came to Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and colleagues ever since we served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet," he told reporters.

He said the Odisha will provide 1.5 acres to Bihar government free of cost in Puri for building facilities for tourists coming for darshan of Lord Jagannath.

He shared some photographs from the meeting and tweeted, "Glad to meet #Bihar Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar in #Bhubaneswar. #Odisha shares a special bond with Bihar and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope he had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha".

Kumar said, "Our relation with his (Naveen) father Biju Babu (Patnaik) and Naveen ji is a very old one. We could not meet due to the pandemic. No political discussions were held (during the meeting). We have good relations and there is no need to discuss any politics."

Earlier in the day, Kumar was welcomed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport by state minister Ashok Chandra Panda and BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra.

Both Kumar and Patnaik lead their respective parties and it was expected that they would discuss politics ahead of the 2024 polls and work towards unity among regional parties.

Kumar is opposed to BJP, with which his party broke its alliance in August 2022, and has claimed that the JD-U maintains an equal distance the saffron party and Congress.

Banerjee had met Patnaik in March in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the meeting between Patnaik and Kumar will not have any impact on the party.

"Naveen Patnaik always does whatever is in his interest. If he thinks that joining the third front will help him, he might do so and if he thinks it won't, he will not join it," he said.

BJD MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said, "Kumar wants a reformative and alternative front in the country. He may discuss the matter with Naveen Patnaik. But Patnaik has already made it cleared that BJD will maintain equidistance from both Congress and the BJP."
IMAGE: National Security Adviser Ajit K Doval, left, with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Photograph: ANI Photo

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday, May 7, 2023, held a meeting with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan, United Arab Emirates counterpart Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed means to strengthen ties between the countries.

Saudi Arabia's ministry of foreign affairs in a statement said, 'During the meeting, they discussed means to strengthen relations and ties between the three countries in a way that enhances growth and stability in the region.'

According to the statement released by the White House, Sullivan met with UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Tahnoon and Doval to discuss bilateral and regional matters. He looked forward to further consulting with Doval on the margins of the Quad Summit later this month in Australia.

The four delegations agreed to maintain regular consultations.

Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India for his first official visit which would pan three days starting Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

Cohen will be present at the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and also participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute in New Delhi.

After his meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum on Tuesday, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening. He will return to Delhi on Wednesday, May 10, before departing for Mumbai on May 11.
Scenes from Ukraine after Russian drones rained fire on its citizens last week.

IMAGE: A drone explodes in the sky over Kyiv. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

IMAGE: People flee as a Russian drone flies over Kyiv. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

IMAGE: People shelter inside a subway station during an air raid alert in Kyiv. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

IMAGE: A teacher conducts a foreign language lesson for students as they shelter inside a metro station during an air raid alert in Kyiv. Photograph: Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

IMAGE: School students attend a lesson as they shelter inside a metro station during an air raid alert in Kyiv. Photograph: Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

IMAGE: A part of a suicide drone Geran, which local authorities consider to be the Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle Shahed-131/136, shot down during a Russian overnight strike on Ukraine in Odesa. Photograph: Press Service of the Opreative Command South of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters

IMAGE: Firefighters at the site of a building damaged by remains of a shot down drone in Kyiv. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

IMAGE: Firefighters at the site of a damaged building in Kyiv. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

IMAGE: Liubov Vasylieva, 77, stands in a yard of her house which was hit by a Russian military strike in the town of Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. Photograph: Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

IMAGE: Participants lower a coffin into a grave during a ceremony to rebury the remains of 193 Red Army soldiers, who went missing during World War Two, in Sevastopol, Crimea. Photograph: Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters

IMAGE: A woman carries a portrait of Fyodor Krivorak, a Red Army soldier killed in World War Two, during the ceremony to rebury the remains of 193 Red Army soldiers in Sevastopol, Crimea. Photograph: Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters

IMAGE: Firefighters at the site of a train station in Kherson hit by a Russian military strike. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: A wounded man is carried away from the train station in Kherson after it was hit by a Russian military strike. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

IMAGE: A police officer at the site of a residential area hit by a Russian military strike in the town of Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. Photograph: Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

IMAGE: Citizens inspect a residential area damaged by a Russian military strike in Kherson. Photograph: Ivan Antypenko/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Azerbaijan plans to launch new satellites into orbit in cooperation with the US SpaceX Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Azercosmos OJSC Samaddin Asadov said, Trend reports.

Asadov made the remark on the sidelines of the ceremony of signing a memorandum of cooperation with SpaceX.

According to him, Azerbaijani satellites will be launched into orbit with the help of the American Falcon launch vehicle.

"Besides, during the visit of President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX Gwynne Shotwell to Baku, we discussed the possibilities of further cooperation and SpaceX's participation in the international congress to be held in Baku," he added.

A cooperation agreement has been signed between Azercosmos and SpaceX, within the framework of which internet services based on Starlink will be provided in Azerbaijan.

Starlink is a global satellite system deployed by SpaceX to provide high-speed broadband satellite internet access.

On October 2-6 this year, the International Astronautical Congress will be held in Baku.
Epsilon Spires and the ArtLords present 'Flee,' a night of Afghan food and film, discussion of LGBTQ rights
Maia McNeill gets Kayli and Lisa Nicholson, of Brattleboro, to sign a petition to provide 16 and 17-year-olds local voting rights in 2018.
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Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
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Elliott Greenblott is a retired educator and coordinator of the AARP Vermont Fraud Watch Network. He hosts a CATV program, Mr. Scammer, distributed by GNAT-TV in Sunderland, VT  www.gnat-tv.org .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Cooperation between Azercosmos space agency and SpaceX will provide access to high-speed internet even in the most remote areas of Azerbaijan, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX Gwynne Shotwell said, Trend reports.

Shotwell made the remark on the sidelines of the ceremony of signing a memorandum of cooperation between Azercosmos and SpaceX.

"Today, SpaceX signed an agreement with Azercosmos, which means that Starlink is now available in your region, too. Azercosmos provides us with multi-level support," she noted.

According to her, in general, the main mission of Starlink is to accelerate the coverage of the entire territory of Azerbaijan with internet services and thereby ensure residents of the country living in remote areas, have access to high-speed internet.

"This is my first trip to Azerbaijan. I look forward to returning here in October to participate in the International Astronautical Congress, in which SpaceX will take part," Shotwell added.

Azercosmos space agency and SpaceX have signed a cooperation agreement.

The document signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Azercosmos space agency Samaddin Asadov and Gwynne Shotwell.
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TORRINGTON  The auto shop at Oliver Wolcott Tech is full of cars and trucks, all in various stages of repair. It's also full of students and teachers working together to get them fixed.

A group of juniors and seniors, students of shop teacher Sean Sarta on May 3 celebrated the completion of a repair job for Howard's Book Store owner John Noelke, who brought his 2002 Nissan Frontier pickup to OWTS. He needed the engine replaced and had been turned down by several garages before he decided to call the high school. "They said it was unfixable," he said.

"I had my furnace replaced by a guy who was also a graduate of OWTS, and I found him after I called some other places, and they said it was too big a job," Noelke said. "This guy was great, and he knocked it down in four days. So I thought, why not call the high school? They do auto repair."

In January, he had the truck towed to the high school's auto shop and ordered an engine from a parts dealer in Massachusetts. But when it arrived, the engine was faulty and had no compression. Noelke said the dealer took it back and sent another engine. "By this time, we're into February, then March," he said.

Then, the OWTS auto shop got busy. The shop students and teachers didn't abandon it, but replacing an engine is a big job, and the truck also needed other repairs. So Sarta and his students continued to work on it between other jobs.

"We spent time figuring out what parts we needed and got those parts," said junior Paul Ledda.

Once the engine was installed, the wiring completed, and the connections made, the truck started, but there was no power. "It just wouldn't go," said junior Adon Burrell. "It had no oomph."

"We tried different things to get it going," said junior Duncan Williams.

"There was no procedure to follow to get John's truck running," Sarta said. "It was trial and error. They figured this out themselves. They didn't want to give up on it.

Noelke said, "There was a point where I thought we were just going to bag it. Then one day about two weeks ago, Sean calls me up and says, 'We got it!' and it was such a relief."

Ray Royals, who retired in 2022 after teaching at OWTS for 34 years, is Sarta's mentor and encouraged him to apply for his job. Sarta was hired, and Royals is still part of the auto shop family, working as a substitute teacher. When Noelke came to pick up his truck, Royals was there, beaming with pride.

Burrell, Ledda and Williams were three of the students who worked on the truck, along with seniors Jace Lyons, Ryland Cardillo and John Alexander.

Ledda, who works for a Goshen fabricating and welding company, said, "I'm a gearhead, and I learned about cars from my dad (the late Paul Ledda Sr.). When I was in middle school, I knew I wanted to come here.

"Mr. Royals is great, and Mr. Sarta's the best thing to happen to this school," he said.

Burrell, a diesel mechanic at Torrington Diesel, believes he's getting the best experience for his career. "The work we get to do is awesome," he said. "It's great experience."

Burrell won second place in this year's Skills USA competition, which is rare for a junior, Sarta said. "He was up against a lot of seniors, and he did really well," he said.

Williams is also a mechanic at Village Service Center, a repair shop in Thomaston. "I started tinkering with cars first, but I wanted to learn more," he said.

Royals, who took the reins from his father, the late John Royals, as a teacher at OWTS, said he sought Sarta out when he decided to retire. "His level of expertise sets him apart," Royals said. "The kids do phenomenal work here."

Mike DiCandia, another shop teacher, said the OWTS students are like a family. Before coming to Torrington, he taught at Platt Tech in Milford and Bristol Tech in Bristol. But OWTS has become home, he said.

"It goes well here because of the students we attract," he said. "They want to do this work as a lifelong career, and it's their passion. There's big interest and big demand for experienced mechanics. Many of our students have family who also came through the program, and they already have that interest."

Sarta's proud of his students. "It's really cool to see how these guys all stepped up," he said.

For information on OWTS and its programs, visit wolcott.cttech.org
H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

A Connecticut man has been accused of fraudulently collecting more than $24,000 in unemployment benefits over a seven-month period amid the pandemic while he was still working full-time, officials said.

Marcus Johnson, 41, of Waterbury, was charged Friday with unemployment compensation fraud and first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, the state Division of Criminal Justice said in a news release.
CCTV: President Xi Jinpings special representative Vice President Han Zheng attended the coronation ceremony of King Charles III in the UK. Can you share more with us?

Wang Wenbin: President Xi Jinpings special representative Vice President Han Zheng attended the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and relevant activities in London upon invitation a few days ago. The UK attached high importance to his attendance, received the Chinese delegation with premium courtesy and made thoughtful arrangements. King Charles III expressed appreciation to President Xi Jinping and his wife Professor Peng Liyuan for their congratulatory messages to him and the Queen, and welcome to Han Zheng attending the coronation ceremony as President Xis special representative. Han Zheng also met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, The Prince of Wales and Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, and attended a welcome dinner hosted by the business community.

During those events, Han Zheng shared Chinas economic situation and policy orientation, highlighting the immense potential in China-UK cooperation and the need for the two governments to respond to businesses call for cooperation, keep bilateral relations stable and provide more policy support for a sound basis for mutually beneficial cooperation. Han stressed the need for the UK to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the UK, and protect the safety of Chinese students and tourists and facilitate their travel and stay. The British side said it values UK-China relations and looks forward to high-level exchanges. It noted the two countries enjoy broad prospects for cooperation in areas such as green economy and sustainable development. It is important to build a stable and constructive bilateral relationship and make Chinese companies, students and tourists feel safe and welcome.

Han Zhengs trip marked the first face-to-face exchange between Chinese and UK leaders since Chinas two sessions. The delegation had deep-going exchanges with people from various sectors in the UK, reached broad common understandings on cooperation and achieved the purpose of the trip. China is ready to work with the UK for the sustained, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations.

Bloomberg: Reports in Japanese media say that the US, Japan and South Korea are planning to link their radar systems to better track missiles from North Korea. So is China concerned that this will also allow greater surveillance of China by the US and its allies? And does this violate the three noes policy that was agreed on by China and the previous Moon administration?

Wang Wenbin: The issues on the Korean Peninsula are essentially political and security issues. They stem from the remnant of the Cold War and the absence of a peace mechanism. Using issues on the Korean Peninsula as a pretext to boost US-Japan-ROK military cooperation will not help remove the remnant of the Cold War or bring about a peace mechanism. It will only drive up the risks of bloc confrontation, take away the already fragile trust among parties in the region and hurt the strategic security interests of other countries. The parties concerned will be culpable if the Peninsula slides into a cycle of tension and arms race.

You mentioned what was agreed to between China and the ROK on THAAD. Let me reiterate that when the Chinese and ROK foreign ministers met in Qingdao in August last year, they agreed that the two countries would properly handle the THAAD issue and make sure it does not become a stumbling block in bilateral relations. We hope the ROK will act on what was agreed to and continue to properly handle and manage this issue to prevent unnecessary disruption to bilateral relations.

AFP: The Chinese foreign ministry declared a consul at Canadas Consulate General in Shanghai persona non grata this afternoon and asked her to leave China no later than May 13. Could you offer more information on the reason behind this decision?

Wang Wenbin: Despite Chinas serious demarches, Canada declared a Chinese diplomat persona non grata based on the false accusation of Chinese interference in Canadas internal affairs. We strongly condemn and firmly oppose this. China has lodged serious demarches and strong protests to Canada.

China never interferes in other countries internal affairs. The interference claims about China are unfounded. They are ideology- and politically driven manipulation designed to slander and denigrate China. Canadas ill-founded decision to declare our diplomat persona non grata is an egregious move that violates the basic norms governing international relations, and a deliberate blow to Canadas relations with China.

For quite some time, Canadian media and senior politicians have cited so-called CSIS classified documents to smear the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in Canada. None of the accusations are based on facts. They are trumped up with hidden agenda.

In reaction to Canadas unscrupulous move, China has decided to take a reciprocal countermeasure by declaring Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai persona non grata, who has been asked to leave China no later than May 13. This is a move to uphold Chinas lawful rights and interests and is fully justified and necessary.

I want to stress that the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions and our diplomats and consular personnel in Canada abide by relevant international conventions and Canadas laws and regulations. They have performed their duty in accordance with the law. The Canadian governments ill-founded and erroneous action seriously harms the lawful rights and interests of Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel. China does not accept this. We will not waver in our resolve to uphold Chinas interests. We urge Canada to stop its provocation at once. If Canada decides to continue its wanton act, China will react firmly and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by Canada.

Kyodo News: Why was the consul from the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai declared persona non grata? Can you elaborate on the reason and background?

Wang Wenbin: This is a reciprocal countermeasure taken in reaction to Canadas provocation to protect Chinas lawful rights and interests. This is consistent with established diplomatic practice and completely justified and necessary. We urge Canada to stop its unscrupulous provocation at once.

CCTV: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Pakistan a few days ago. This is the first foreign ministers dialogue among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past two years. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: A few days ago, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang attended the fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Islamabad. Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the Dialogue and Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan interim government Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the Dialogue. This is the first foreign ministers dialogue among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan since the profound change in the situation in Afghanistan in 2021. It marked the resumption of the trilateral cooperation mechanism. During the Dialogue, the three foreign ministers had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on issues of good neighborliness, mutual trust, security cooperation, counter-terrorism, connectivity, trade and investment and reached a number of common understandings.

The three sides issued the Joint Statement of the Fifth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue, resolving to further deepen and expand their cooperation in the security, development and political domains based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit.

The three sides agreed to coordinate and cooperate on security, organized crimes, drug smuggling, etc. They stressed on the need of not allowing any individual, group or party, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), to use their territories to harm and threaten regional security and interests, or conduct terrorist actions and activities. All three sides underscored the need to refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, and to promote Afghan peace, stability and reconstruction.

The three sides reaffirmed their resolve to fully harness Afghanistans potential as a hub for regional connectivity and their commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. They emphasized the need to push forward the hard connectivity in infrastructure and soft connectivity in norms and standards, and further explore facilitating measures for the movement of people and trade activities between the three countries. The Ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in such fields as agriculture, trade, energy, capacity building, etc.

The Ministers called upon the international community to engage constructively with the Afghan side. The three sides urged the relevant countries that are responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan to lift their unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return the assets overseas for the benefit of the Afghan people, and create opportunities for economic development and prosperity in Afghanistan.

As State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted, China is ready to, through the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation channels, strengthen strategic communication and policy coordination among the three countries, enhance good-neighborliness, friendship and strategic mutual trust, strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation, and deepen the bond and connection of interests among the three countries. By doing so, we can set a good example of cooperation through mini-multilateral engagement among neighbors on hotspot issues, and advance regional stability and prosperity.

Bloomberg: This question is regarding the investigation into Capvision, which was detailed in a CCTV news item extensively last night. My question is, has there been any arrest made at Capvision? Can you tell me what other firms, if any, have been targeted for such raids and investigations?

Wang Wenbin: Recently, Chinese national security authorities and departments concerned have jointly taken public law enforcement actions on relevant company. These are normal law enforcement actions consistent with Chinese laws that aim to promote sound and well-regulated growth of relevant sector and safeguard national security and development interests.

Financial Times: Just following up on Capvision, such a highly publicized investigation, what message is intended to send to the consultancy industry? And how can foreign investors feel confident to conduct due diligence?

Wang Wenbin: As I just said, these are normal law enforcement actions consistent with Chinese laws that aim to promote sound and well-regulated growth of relevant sector and safeguard national security and development interests.

Bloomberg: A question regarding Chinas participation in the inaugural virtual meeting of Sri Lankas creditors. My question is, will China be joining an inaugural virtual meeting of Sri Lankas creditors regarding the nations debt restructuring, which is set to take place this evening at 8pm China time?

Wang Wenbin: We have stated our position multiple times on the Sri Lanka debt issue. Let me reiterate that we support Chinese financial institutions in actively working out the debt treatment with the Sri Lankan side. We have been in close communication with the Sri Lankan side and taken concrete steps. We will continue to play a positive role in this regard. At the same time, we call on commercial and multilateral creditors to take part in Sri Lankas debt restructuring based on fair burden-sharing. As to your specific question, I would refer you to relevant authorities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 9. Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, plans to launch flights between the cities of Denpasar (Bali Island) and Almaty with a transfer at Incheon Airport (South Korea), CEO of the Indonesian national company Irfan Setiaputra said during a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador to Indonesia Daniyar Sarekenov, Trend reports via the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As Setiaputra noted, the flight is planned to be carried out in cooperation with the Kazakh Air Astana airline.He said additional information about the flight will be provided soon.

The launch of this flight is considered a pilot project between the Kazakh and Indonesian sides with the prospect of opening direct flights between the two countries. It is noted that this initiative will create favorable conditions for Kazakh and Indonesian travelers.

Furthermore, the parties explored the potential for an Indonesian airline to use one of Kazakhstan's 11 airports as a transit hub for flights to other countries, using the open skies regime in Kazakhstan with the fifth freedom of the air.

They also discussed increasing passenger traffic by enhancing collaboration between tour operators from both countries.

The open skies regime removes all restrictions on the number of flights and provides foreign airlines with a fifth freedom of the air on routes where Kazakh airlines do not operate. The fifth freedom of the air is the right to fly between two foreign countries on a flight originating or ending in one's own country.
HARTFORD  The state House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to limit or eliminate edible THC-infused products found on the shelves of vape shops, gas stations and convenience stores around the state.

The bill passed by an overwhelming 148-1 vote, including support from many Republicans who still oppose the recreational cannabis environment, but realize that products such as the synthetic Delta-8 widely available in unlicensed locations, may be contributing to youth drug use. The products have also caused confusion among regulators, such as the state Department of Consumer Protection, which does not have the jurisdiction beyond licensed medical and adult-use marijuana businesses.

Synthetic THC products would be prohibited while products that are legal under federal law would be strictly limited in dosage and size.

"I want to be very clear here, the people selling these things are not criminals," said Rep. Mike D'Agostino, D-Hamden, who as co-chairman of the legislative General Law Committee introduced the legislation for debate, stressing that CBD, a chemical associated with cannabis and hemp that does not have psycho-active properties, is not the problem.

"They're actually legal right now. We're actually closing that loophole and yes it's going to take product off the shelves of some of these CBD stores," D'Agostino said. "I would hope their marketplace will adjust, just as our marketplace has adjusted, and that they will package within the limits that we allow, those THC-infused CBD products and continue to sell their CBD products."

Rep. David Rutigliano, R-Trumbull, whose complaints about sales of THC-product sales in his hometown was an impetus for the legislation, reminded lawmakers of the limits of the debate. "We weren't trying to reverse a fight that's already been lost," he said. "We're just trying to repair some damage that was done with the passage of the bill. We're severely limiting children's access to synthetic cannabis that's sold in gas stations and in vape stores and stores maybe where it shouldn't be."

The legislation, which next heads to the Senate, would train local police in identifying the products, which range from candy-like gummies to potato chips and cereals, to remove them from the market. There will be mandatory labels warning of the potential health affects of cannabis consumption. "This bill has so many good things in it," Rutigliano said. "The number of accidental poisonings in the United States amongst young people is at epidemic proportions."

It's part of what lawmakers believe will be an annual review of the 2021 law creating an adult-use retail-cannabis market. "This is a continually evolving regulatory scheme," D'Agostino said. "Sometimes the marketplace adapts faster than we can, but we respond. We're also getting out in front of other issues like those synthetic cannabinoids."

Current law bans cannabis producers from packaging products that look like candies or other products that could appeal to childern.

Other parts of the bill include an expansion of certain Census tracts for inclusion in the areas eligible for participation in the cannabis social-equity program, where people in neighborhoods adversely affected in the failed war on drugs will be eligible for new careers in the legal cannabis market.

During a morning news conference with Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D'Agostino produced a pair of high-THC products that are being sold outside the state's legal cannabis market. "You can currently buy products that have THC levels higher than what you can buy in our dispensaries, and that is something we have to correct," he said. "The problem is we have an issue with the federal law conflicting with our state laws. Federal law allows CBD products, hemp-based products, to be sold with what's called a 3-percent dry weight basis for THC. The problem with that is that it's a door you can drive a truck through."

He opened a container of gummies that were not individually packaged. "One of these, has almost double the milligrams of THC you can buy in our regulated stories," he said, adding that some products look like candy and chips. "The problem is there are no regulations on the milligram units."

He noted that the adult-use cannabis rules limit doses to 5 milligrams serving limit and a 100 milligram packaging limit.
How common is Lyme disease?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention receives reports of about 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease a year, but estimates the number of people treated, including those given precautionary treatment, might reach up to 476,000 cases a year.

In 2017, Pennsylvania had 11,900 cases of Lyme disease, the highest number of reports so far for the state and the most of any state that year.

Incidence rates of Lyme disease, measured in cases per 100,000 residents, have fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic.

They tend to be higher in Pennsylvania counties along the New York border and in counties in the Northwest around Jefferson, which had the highest Lyme disease incidence of 485.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2018.

Rates in Northeast counties that year included Luzerne, 57.2; Lackawanna 59.1, Carbon, 86.5; Columbia, 61.7; Schuylkill 97.5, Wyoming 181.7, Bradford 265 and Monroe, 63.2.
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Ajith Kumar has completed his bike tour. The Thunivu star not just covered Indian states on a bike but also the neighbouring countries Nepal and Bhutan. Actor's manager Suresh Chandra, on his Twitter handle, informed Ajith's fans about the bike tour. He also revealed that the actor will kick-start the next leg of his world tour in November.

"Having ridden across Challenging Terrains and facing extreme weather conditions. Ajith has ridden across every Indian state n has covered Nepal n Bhutan aswell. Next leg of world tour to begin in Nov 2023 (sic)," read the tweet. He also shared a picture of Ajith enjoying the meal. He was dressed in his biking gear.

Havind ridden across Challenging Terrains and facing extreme weather conditions. Ajith has ridden across every Indian state n has covered Nepal n Bhutan aswell.

Next leg of world tour to begin in Nov 2023#AjithKumarWorldTour#AKWorldRideformutualrespect pic.twitter.com/aeSuBYDGp9  Suresh Chandra (@SureshChandraa) May 9, 2023

More about Ajith Kumar's bike tour

Ajith Kumar has been busy with his bike tour. A few days ago, the Tamil star was spotted in Nepal cooking and enjoying a meal at a local restaurant. In a separate instance, he was seen enjoying a meal at a local food joint and even posed with his fans before leaving for his next destination.

Earlier, Pinkvilla reported that the Valimai star wanted to document his world tour on camera. The documentary would reportedly be directed by Nirav Shah. "Ajith Kumar wants to document his world tour on the camera, as its going to be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Every leg of the tour will be captured to perfection by Nirav Shah," a source revealed.



Ajith Kumar's movies

Ajith was last seen in Thunivu, which was released earlier this year. It was helmed by H Vinoth and also starred Manju Warrier, Samuthirakani, John Kokken, Ajay and Veena in pivotal roles. Thunivu received mixed reviews from the audience and critics. However, it was a commercial success.

Next, Ajith will be seen in Vidaa Muyarchi. It is said to be an action-thriller, helmed by Magizh Thirumeni and produced by Lyca Productions. Anirudh Ravichander will compose the music for the upcoming film.
A major storm brewing in the southeast Bay of Bengal has begun gathering steam and is expected to intensify into a cyclone by Wednesday, the weather office said here.

The well-marked low-pressure area concentrated into a depression on Tuesday evening packing wind speeds of 45 to 55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph over the south-east Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department said.

WML concentrated into a depression at 1730 hours IST of 9th May over SE BoB about 510 km SW of Port https://t.co/kPvyqOu5hW intensify into cyclonic storm over the same region around 10th May evening. To cross SE Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts around f/n of 14th May, 2023. pic.twitter.com/khdc3EOqok  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 9, 2023

It said the weather system was expected to intensify into a deep depression by 5.30 am on Wednesday and turn into Cyclone Mocha in the next 12 hours, packing wind speeds of 80-90 kmph and gusting to 100 kmph.

The system is expected to move initially north-northwestwards till May 12 morning and later towards Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts, the weather office said.

Fishermen and operators of small ships, boats and trawlers are advised not to venture into the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal from Tuesday.

The weather office also asked those who are over the east-central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea to return during the day.

The weather system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday morning with wind speeds gusting to 110 kmph and turn into a very severe cyclonic storm packing wind speed of 130 kmph.

"Thereafter, it is likely to cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox's Bazaar and Kyaukpyu around the forenoon of Sunday, the weather office said.

According to the system of naming cyclones, the storm will be called Cyclone Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city Mokha, which introduced coffee to the world 500 years ago.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy precipitation at isolated places is likely over Andaman and Nicobar islands from Tuesday to Thursday, the Met Department said.

In Kolkata, hot weather continued to cause discomfort on Tuesday.

An IMD statement said the city recorded a maximum temperature 38.5 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature settled at 29.5 degrees.

The temperature in south Bengal districts hovered around 38-40 degrees Celsius and is not likely to change in the next 24 hours.

The maximum humidity was 84 per cent in the city and its neighbourhood.

IMD Deputy Director (East) Sanjib Banerjee said the temperature is expected to rise further on Wednesday before rains begin.
The Srinagar-Chhagalnaiya border haat in the South Tripura district reopened on Tuesday, nearly three years after it was shut owing to the pandemic.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of South Tripura Dhanbabu Reang, and ADM of Bangladesh's Feni district Abhishek Das visited the area as normal trade resumed.

Due to the pandemic, two border haats -- Srinagar-Chhagalnaiya in South Tripura and Kamalasagar in Sepahijala district -- were shut. The Kamalasagar border haat is yet to be reopened.

"The resumption of the haat will boost the economic condition of the people living within a 5 km radius of the border. They will come and sell their produce. The government wants the border haats to function as usual for the welfare of the villagers," Das told reporters.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Sabroom Bidhan Chandra Das said the haat will be open every Tuesday from 10 am to 4 pm amid tight security of the BSF.

Twenty-seven vendors from each side of the border will participate in the haat, he said.

The decision to reopen the haat was taken at a meeting between India and Bangladesh last month.
The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has risen to 604 people, including civilians, the U.N. health agency said on Tuesday. The new figures come as representatives of the warring parties are holding talks in Saudi Arabia. More than 5,100 people were also wounded in connection with the fighting, World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. On Monday, the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said that the fatalities had reached 487.

The conflict started on April 15, after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields and displaced nearly 700,000 people on top of the 3.7 million who had already been internally displaced within the country before the conflict began, according to the U.N. migration agency. On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that talks between delegations of both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in the coastal city of Jeddah.

The talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by the kingdom and the United States in hopes of ending the fighting. Meanwhile, Burhan accused the RSF of using residential neighborhoods as their military bases and civilians as human shields. In an interview late Monday with an Egyptian TV channel, Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya, he insisted they must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached. If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations, he said. We wont go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens. The RSF has not responded to Burhan's statement.
China on Monday accused Australia of trying to sabotage the relationship with the South Pacific island nation of Fiji. The latter announced that it is cutting all security ties with Beijing. The development came as the Federated States of Micronesias outgoing president also accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of waging a political warfare in the strategically located Pacific island nation, and announcing that it will recognise the independence of the self-administered island of Taiwan, according to reports.

The Pacific island nations have close ties with the archrival of Beijing - United States, and its ally Australia. They are now expressing concerns about Beijings attempts of forging the trade pacts and trapping the regions in its debt diplomacy policy.

Fiji to scrap 2011 police cooperation agreement with China

On May 8, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced that the country will scrap the 2011 police cooperation agreement with China, without citing a specific reason. China's embassy in Fiji released a statement last week, asserting that the government hopes that the "relevant parties" would "abandon ideological prejudice" and that it will view the partnership as "objectively and rationally," according to ABC News. It, however, did not name China.

Fiji's Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua meanwhile denied that the agreement was scrapped by the government. Since Sitiveni Rabuka came to power earlier late last year, relations between Beijing and Suva had somehow normalised. The country's premier had also reportedly urged Taiwan to downgrade the official title of its diplomatic mission in Fiji.

However, Rabuka, this week noted that he will scrap a 2011 police cooperation agreement which Fiji which was signed by the former prime minister Frank Bainimarama. The minister added that the country aims to limit law enforcement ties with those nations that have "similar systems".

In response, the Chinese embassy in Fiji said that it hopes the Pacific nation will reconsider its decision. "The Chinese side sincerely hoped for relevant countries to make more contributions through concrete actions for Fiji and the PIC (Pacific Island countries) rather than only caring and helping the PICs out of geopolitical needs," the statement cited by the outlet read.

China's Special Envoy to the Pacific, Qian Bo, meanwhile stated in a remark to Samoa Observer that he was "surprised" by Fiji's actions. The latter blamed the "other parties" for "interrupting" the relationship between the two nations, indicating Australia without naming the country.

"We have some patience, but there is a bottom line for us that sees that we meet the core concerns of China," he was reported saying. Fijian Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua was quoted as saying that there has been no termination of the agreement but merely "reviewing" it.
It took a while, but Southeast Asias autocrats found a way to subjugate social media. Whereas Facebooks co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg thought social networks would become a force for peace in the world and build a common global community, his platform is accused of being complicit in censorship on behalf of the Vietnamese Communist Party, a profitable market of 90 million people.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has also jailed critics, but hes largely drowned out rivals by becoming Facebooker-in-chief, swamping critical messages with his own propaganda. At one point, in 2018, he was reported to be the fourth-most followed leader in the world on the platform-although how much of that was paid for is a matter of debate. He has now moved onto Telegram, a messaging app, where his personal channel bypasses traditional sources of information to spoon-feed agitprop to the masses.

A Cambodian man in Phnom Penh browses photos of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the leader's Facebook page. Credit: AFP file photo Its conceivable that the regions autocrats will exert less sweat in taming the new language-learning technologies like ChatGPT. Cambodias Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has said its been using the popular artificial intelligence technology for several months to speed up administrative work. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications has tasked experts to think of ways it can help governance.

Theres a temptation to think adoption of these technologies will be mundane; they'll be used to write up government policy papers and social media updates. Theyll help officials to draft documents appealing for foreign donor support. And it could be democratic; the average Thai or Cambodian could collate all their governments ills with a leading question.

Beijing, after all, has blocked local access to ChatGPT and warned Chinese internet users that its a way for the United States to spread false information. But its difficult to see how ChatGPT increases the amount of information available to netizens when its purpose is to simplify and condense whats already online.

Autocrats cajole technology

But the lesson of social media is that autocrats find a way to cajole the new digital technology. This tool [ChatGPT] is going to be the most powerful tool for spreading misinformation that has ever been on the internet, Gordon Crovitz, a co-chief executive of NewsGuard, a company that tracks online misinformation, has opined.

There are a few paths forward. One is to impose a moratorium on their development. That was the recent open-letter appeal from more than 15,000 tech luminaries, including Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak, the Apple co-founder.

[ChatGPT] is going to be the most powerful tool for spreading misinformation that has ever been on the internet, says Gordon Crovitz, a co-chief executive of NewsGuard, a company that tracks online misinformation. Credit: Reuters But a moratorium will be the decision either of the companies themselves or of the U.S. government since these language-learning technologies are almost exclusively America-based; it seems Beijing is falling behind on this front, which may be the result of Washingtons campaign to deny China the most complicated semiconductors. Another option is let the chips fall as they will and then reassess once the dangers of the technology are manifest, the likely way things will develop.

One result of all of this, it has been suggested, will be the revival of traditional gatekeepers of information, from newspapers to academic journals. Rather than swelling up the sewer of disinformation, it could return us to the status quo ante, of life before social media, when most people got their daily dose of information from newspapers and TV stations. In the future we will not be able to trust any image or video  because of deep-fakes unless its available on Getty Images. There might be greater doubt in the veracity of any news story that isnt published by one of the giants of media, such as Reuters or the New York Times.

Corruption, vice and brutality

That may be a decent outcome for the West. But what about the autocracies in Southeast Asia?

To take just one problem, consider the absence of written truths. So much of what happens in authoritarian countries is not publicly available or, at the very least, is buried beneath an avalanche of counterinformation  even though it is known to many people through rumor and gossip, now spread primarily on social media.

These are the sorts of tales of corruption, vice and brutality that go unreported by state-run or ruling party-aligned newspapers. Its the sort of information that can land you to decades in prison or being branded a traitor for repeating online. Its the sort that autocratic regimes now pressure Facebook or Google to remove from their platforms.

Rumors as unsubstantiated information exist in almost every society, but can be particularly prevalent in authoritarian countries due to their restrictions on independent news media, states a particularly interesting essay on rumors in Chinese politics, published in the British Journal of Political Science. It added: rumors in a non-democracy are an alternative form of media that directly competes with official information and mainstream media, and therefore constitutes a counter-power against official power.

A man in Yangon, Myanmar, looks at a newspaper, which reports "1 year of State of Emergency and Acting President transferred Power to Military Chief" on Feb. 2, 2021. Since then, the ruling junta has shut down all independent newspapers in the country. Credit: Associated Press I asked ChatGPT (not the latest edition) the question, Can ChatGPT detect rumors in authoritarian countries?, and it provided an interesting response. Detecting rumors in authoritarian countries can be a complex task that requires access to a wide range of sources of information and knowledge of the political and social dynamics of the country in question, I was informed. One approach, it added, is to rely on trusted sources of information, like journalists and international organizations. Another, it said, is to use computational methods to analyze social media and other online platforms for patterns of misinformation and disinformation.

Indeed, machine learning techniques can identify and track the spread of rumors and other false information." ChatGPT assumes rumors to be, by definition, false information. But the clincher was its final sentence. Ultimately, the program told me, the most effective way to combat rumors and misinformation is through a commitment to open and transparent communication, and a dedication to upholding the principles of free speech and access to information.

Endless reams of propaganda?

But thats the circular problem. Technology like ChatGPT will lead to less open and transparent communication. Just imagine the opportunities for ministries and propagandists when they can produce endless reams of AI-written content.

These language-learning technologies will allow autocratic regimes to inundate society with their propaganda, swelling the swamp of information that ChatGPT feeds off. After all, the information it processes is mainly that which is published, which in authoritarian states means mostly by state-aligned newspapers or through government social media channels.

The nuance will be lost. Will it know which social media feeds publish rumors that end up being proven true? Will it balance one article from an independent newspaper with one hundred published by a state-run newspaper? How much will a foreign-produced technology understand local sensitivities?

It will also further incentivize authoritarian regimes to close down independent news outlets, so that they simply cannot publish alternative information for ChatGPT to condense for readers.

Intentionally or not, the technologies will end up regurgitating propaganda.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. As a journalist, he has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.
Vice President of Candlelight Party, Son Chhay, waves flags during a campaign rally for the upcoming local elections on June 5, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia May 21, 2022. Picture taken on May 21, 2022.

UPDATED at 10:38 p.m. EDT on 05-08-2023

Cambodias National Election Committee said Monday that 18 parties have officially declared their intent to participate in the countrys July 23 general elections, when more than 9.7 million voters will decide who will represent them in the national assembly.

Monday was the deadline for applications, and the committee said that 11 of the 18 applications have been approved, while some of the other applications are still under review.

Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party is expected to dominate in the election. It controls all 125 seats in the assembly because Hun Sen had the Supreme Court dissolve the previous opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, in the run-up to the 2018 election.

The new main opposition Candlelight Party was among those still awaiting approval, according to the Associated Press.

Deadline registration

The Grassroot Democrat Party submitted its application on the last day, nominating 166 full and reserve candidates in 12 constituencies including the capital. Of these candidates, 36 are women and 20 are relatively young, the partys president Yeng Virak told RFAs Khmer Service.

Yeng Virak, who is himself vying for a seat representing Phnom Penh, said that the reason why the party is contesting few constituencies is because the party maintains a position of not wanting to split the ballot.

The party is also among those still waiting for approval.

RFA could not reach National Election Committee spokesman Hang Puthea for comment as of May 8.

Fairness required

Sam Kuntheamy, the executive director of the Neutral & Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, an elections watchdog, told RFA that some political parties failed to list candidates for the seventh term because they face budget constraints and a restrictive political environment.



However, he believes that the exercise of civil and political rights is key to ensuring that the election process is free, fair and just, so that stakeholders must compete fairly and in accordance with the law.



For all stakeholders, especially political parties, we want them to organize the operation of their political parties appropriately and smoothly, because it is close to the election campaign period, he said. We in the civil society also want to observe.



The National Election Committee announced that the official number of eligible voters in the upcoming elections is 9,710,655 and there will be 23,789 polling places nationwide.



Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

UPDATE: Recasts teaser. Adds information about the Candlelight Party also awaiting approval from the National Election Committee.
Beijing vows to fight back resolutely and forcefully but denies that its diplomat intimidated a politician.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin [left] says Canada has been acting recklessly, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the country will not be intimidated by China.

China expelled a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai on Tuesday, a day after Ottawa announced it would expel a Chinese diplomat accused of trying to intimidate a Canadian politician.

The tit-for-tat expulsions follow years of strained ties between the major Pacific trade partners, and come amid mounting Canadian public concern about Chinese influence operations in the country in the wake of intelligence leaks alleging election interference. The spat also fits a pattern of deteriorating Chinese ties with the U.S. and many of its allies.

Chinas Foreign Ministry issued a statement strongly condemning the expulsion of Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei, and declared Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, persona non grata as a reciprocal countermeasure." She must leave by May 13, it said.

"In response to the Canadian side's unreasonable provocation, China has adopted corresponding retaliatory measures," Wang Wenbin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a regular news conference in Beijing. "This was absolutely just and necessary. We urge Canada to immediately stop its unreasonable provocations."

If Canada continues to "act recklessly", China will "fight back resolutely and forcefully, and the Canadian side must bear all the consequences," Wang added.

Canada would not be intimidated by China's reaction, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday.

We will take whatever action is necessary to continue to protect our democracy and show that were standing up for our values and our principles. We understand there is retaliation but we will not be intimidated, Trudeau said.

Intelligence revelations

Canada's decision to expel Zhao on Monday followed revelations that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) found an accredited Chinese diplomat in the country had been targeting opposition lawmaker Michael Chong and possibly his relatives in China over sponsorship of a successful motion in parliament to condemn Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority group.

The intelligence was first reported by Canadian daily newspaper the Globe and Mail earlier this month, and follows previous revelations that attempted to meddle in Canadas 2019 and 2021 elections that prompted Trudeau to appoint an independent special investigator.

Like many Canadians, I have family abroad," Chong tweeted. "The PRCs targeting of family abroad to intimidate and coerce Canadians here at home is a serious, national threat. It undermines social cohesion, and our cherished fundamental rights and freedoms," he wrote on May 1, after the intel was published. Chong also called for Zhaos expulsion.

Opposition Canadian lawmaker Michael Chong was targeted by a Chinese diplomat over his sponsorship of a motion in parliament to condemn Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority group. Credit: Reuters file

Ottawa will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Monday. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.

Beijing has denied all allegations of interference in the politics of Canada, which is home to a large community of immigrants from China and the territories of Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang.

On the sidelines of the Group of 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia last November, Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to criticize Trudeau over media leaks alleging Chinese interference in Canadian politics.

Ottawa will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs, Canadian Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says. Credit: Pool Photo via AP file

Relations between the Canadian and Chinese governments have been strained since Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, in 2018 at the request of Washington.

Beijing subsequently arrested two Canadians on unsubstantiated spying charges. The standoff ended when the Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, were released on the same day Canada allowed Meng to plead out in her case return to China in 2021.

Canada's fractious ties with China often mirror those of the United States and many of its Pacific and European allies, who are also wrestling with alleged Chinese interference  on.top of long-running concerns about security, trade and human rights.

Western countries are now confronting alleged Chinese secret police stations, which Beijing says are offices to help overseas Chinese with administrative affairs, but which human rights groups say are used to spy on dissidents and try to bring them back to China.
Artist Li Weis exhibition Manifesto in Shenzhen, China, was shut down by authorities. The works included the words "We Are The Last Generation, Thank You." in English and Chinese, according to information posted to Twitter by Mr. Li is not your Teacher.

Authorities in the southern city of Shenzhen shut down an art exhibit that described young people in China as the "last generation," a reference to a viral video from the 2022 Shanghai lockdown, in which a young man tells police officers threatening him that he won't be having kids.

Beijing artist Li Wei was served a "notice of closure" by the venue hosting his work "Manifesto," which consists of the words "We Are The Last Generation, Thank You." in English and Chinese, according to information posted to Twitter by "Mr. Li is not your Teacher."

The work had been part of a contemporary art exhibit in Shenzhen's Nanshan district to mark the anniversary of the 1919 May Fourth Movement of patriotic young Chinese, according to the account, which typically posts reports that would be quickly censored within the Great Firewall of Chinese internet censorship.

On May 6, the Shenzhen Yanhan Highland 404 Space, which hosted the exhibition, announced that it would be closed for maintenance," the tweet said, adding that the exhibit had been open for just four days.

The move comes as President Xi Jinping has been struggling to counter a growing culture of passive resistance among young people, who face dwindling job prospects, a failing economy and scant desire to marry or have children.

Local officials have announced schemes to relocate unemployed urban youth to rural areas to work in agriculture, potential signs of a planned mobilization that was last tried during the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976).

Social justice theme

Li Weis work typically carries a strong social justice theme, said an arts administrator who gave only the surname Li who met him more than 10 years ago.

"He uses his works to speak out at social and artistic events," she said. "He used his installation A Cake to speak out in 2010, when the Beijing Art District was demolished by the authorities.

China's artist Li Wei poses at the Grand Palais on the sidelines of the Paris Art Fair in 2014. Credit: AFP





Censors backed by the Communist Party have been deleting references to a viral video that spawned the "last generation" meme, which emerged as a form of protest over ongoing lockdowns, mass incarcerations and compulsory testing under the three-year zero-COVID policy, which ended in December.

In the viral video, PPE-clad police officials turn up outside a young man's apartment and try to force them to go to an isolation camp even though he had recently tested negative for coronavirus.

"We're negative. You have no right to take us away," the man says, before a police officer steps forward wagging a finger and says: "You know that we will punish you, right? And when that happens, it will have a bad effect on your family for three generations."

"We're the last generation. Thank you." the man replies in the video which began circulating on Chinese social media platforms in May 2022, garnering huge numbers of views and comments.

Some joked online that the era from 1966 onwards was all about the innocence of revolution and justified rebellion, while the 1989 pro-democracy movement felt it was their "duty" to protest.

Saying no to four things

According to online comments, the youth of today are shutting up shop before their lives have properly begun, by referring to themselves as the "last generation," or "the People Who Say No to Four Things": finding a mate, marriage, mortgage and raising kids.

Former Nanjing teacher Gu Fang said local businesses are closing down in large numbers, while foreign investors are fleeing, leaving few opportunities for fresh graduates as unemployment runs at 20% for that age group.

"Their outlook is grim in terms of basic material security," Gu said. "Yet the phrase 'we are the last generation' also shows psychological distress."

"[Li Wei's] artwork expresses dissatisfaction and anger, wondering whether modern life is even worth living," he said.

To try to counter that pessimism, Xi praised young people who had "gone down to the villages and fields" as part of the "rural revitalization" campaign in a letter to students of the China Agricultural University to mark May Fourth.

Similar phrasing was used by late supreme leader Mao Zedong to initiate the mass mobilization of educated urban youth to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution.

"Chinese youth in the new era should embrace this spirit," Xi wrote, in a reply to an earlier letter from the students saying they would be "seeking out hardship" by volunteering for rural manual labor.

His comments came after he gave a speech on "rural revitalization" on Dec. 24, 2022, calling for "orderly guidance" of college graduates, skilled businesspeople, migrant workers and enterprises to "return to their hometowns," with young people being "the most dynamic force" behind his plan, according to state media.

Familiar ring

Wu Chien-chung, associate professor at the National Taiwan Ocean University, said the wording of Xi's letter had a "familiar ring."

"They have used this method of having young people write letters to Xi before," he said. "The Chinese Communist Party's propaganda system is constantly adapting."

"They have recruited a group of young people to act as props to glamorize the Communist Party and act like a united front," he said, adding that Chinese agents in Taiwan had used a similar tactic by getting young Taiwanese people to write to Xi last year.

He said Xi's letter comes after Vice President Wang Qishan warned people to "expect hardship."

"The whole of China and the entire world know that China's economic growth has fallen sharply," Wu said, adding that authorities in the southern province of Guangdong have already launched a scheme to send 300,000 urban youth to rural areas.

Here we go again with those so-called rural volunteers fit to make you blush," Weibo user Gray_Production_Circle wrote in July 2022 above a video clip of a glamorous young woman posing on a tractor [shown]. Credit: RFA screenshot from Weibo





"A lot of people thought it was a scam," Wu said. "Even mainland Chinese websites and Little Pinks [government supporters] thought it was cognitive warfare or fake news."

"Only when the government confirmed that it was a nationwide policy direction did they realize it was an overt conspiracy by the Communist Party ... to try to solve youth unemployment and other issues," he said.

PR campaign

Public perception of the scheme hasn't been helped by the appearance of scantily clad social media influencers posing as rural laborers on Chinese social media in recent months, Wu added.

Here we go again with those so-called rural volunteers fit to make you blush," Weibo user Gray_Production_Circle wrote in July 2022 above a video clip of a glamorous young woman posing on a tractor. "Leave the poor old guy alone!"

A story on the Yiping News Network showed a group of scantily clad young women sitting at a farmyard table, describing the "rural volunteer" phenomenon as a new trend for Chinese social media influencers.

"Many rural villages have become places for Internet celebrities and beautiful women to check in and 'show off their skills," the story said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
They are just a few of the thousands tricked and trapped to work in Myanmar border town

A Chinese national says hes being held in Myanmar in the Dongfeng Park area of Myawaddy, which is a sub-district of KK Park, shown in this Dec. 2023 photo.

Updated at 11:00 pm EDT on May 10th, 2023.

A Chinese man from Hunan province says he and many others have been kidnapped and are being held to ransom by traffickers in prison-like facilities near the Thai-Myanmar border, but their desperate pleas for help have gone unanswered by Chinese officials.

One man who gave only the surname Chen for fear of reprisals said he had been sold to traffickers at the Dongfeng Park guarded complex in Myawaddy township, just across the Moei or Thaungyin River from the Thai border town of Mae Sot.

Thousands of human trafficking victims from all over Asia  and as far away as Africa  are being held hostage by scammers in the area, victims have told Radio Free Asia in earlier reports.

They say they were originally lured by false advertisements and forced to scam other people, then tortured if they refused to comply.

Chen approached RFAs Cantonese service with a plea for help, calling on the media to publicize the plight of "at least 1,000" Chinese nationals trapped in Dongfeng Park by a gang demanding a minimum payment of US$30,000 from their families for their release.

Im in the Dongfeng Park area of Myawaddy, which is a sub-district of KK Park, Chen said via a messaging app, in a reference to a notorious district used by trafficking gangs in the border area.

There are a lot of people in here who have been lured in under false pretenses, he wrote. They beat us if we dont get results.

But Chen, his two companions from Hunan and many like them come from poor families who have no way to raise that kind of cash, he said, adding that the trio has already reported their plight to police in Hunan, who warned them they could face criminal prosecution unless they "returned to China immediately."

"If that was of any use, then there wouldnt be so many people trapped here, unable to leave," he said.

Chens appeal came as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Myanmar, and called on the authorities there to crack down on the gangs responsible.

"Qin Gang pointed out that Myanmar's border areas have long been home to gangs of telecommunications and Internet fraud, which have seriously infringed on the interests of Chinese citizens and are abhorred by the Chinese public," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a May 3 statement on its website.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, at left shaking hands with Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw, May 2, 2023, called on the authorities there to crack down on the gangs responsible for human trafficking. Credit: Xinhua via AP





"The Chinese government attaches great importance to and is determined to crack down on that," it said, adding: "China asks Myanmar to take concrete measures, coordinate efforts with various departments to continue advancing the China-Myanmar-Thailand joint combat operation, and rescue trapped Chinese nationals in a timely manner."

According to the report, the Myanmar authorities said they were ready to work with Chinese law enforcement to crack down on the traffickers in the border regions of the country.

Chinese involvement?

But there is another twist in Chen's story.

According to him, the criminal gangs running the scam complex where he is being held have connections inside the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

You need to understand that the [Chinese] Embassy in Myanmar is in cahoots with [people in] Myanmar, Chen wrote. The park [gang] pays money to someone inside the embassy, so theres no point in contacting them for help.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar called the allegations "nonsense." In a statement to RFA, the embassy said that during Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's recent visit to Myanmar, he pointed out that Myanmar's border areas "have long been home to gangs of telecommunications and Internet fraud, which have seriously infringed on the interests of Chinese citizens."

"China asks Myanmar to take concrete measures, coordinate efforts with various departments to continue advancing the China-Myanmar-Thailand joint combat operation, and rescue trapped Chinese nationals in a timely manner," the statement said.

An official who answered the phone at the Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai said they know that large numbers of Chinese nationals are trapped in Myawaddy, but that the region comes under the remit of consular services in Myanmar.

An official who answered the phone at the Hunan provincial police department refused to respond to a request for help when contacted by RFA Cantonese on Friday.

"Who are you asking? We don't know, we're a separate technical department," the official said.

An official who answered the phone at the foreign affairs ministry declined to assist, saying the case wasn't within the ministry's remit and referring enquiries to the consular protection department, which didn't pick up the phone.

"You need to call the global consular protection office  how can they not pick up?" the foreign affairs ministry official said. "Try again. You need to tell them about this. It's nothing to do with us."

Baiting victims

Many of the scams lure people in with offers of high pay in glitzy casino towns around Southeast Asia  many built with the backing of Chinese criminal syndicates that operate in poorly policed borderlands difficult to reach.

The syndicates that originally ran the casinos switched to phone scams after the pandemic hit business, according to rights activists.

Last month, a court in Taiwan jailed three of the island's citizens for "deceiving people" into modern slavery, handing down sentences of up to seven-and-a-half years to individuals found guilty of involvement in similar scams.

The ring would bait victims to either Cambodia or Thailand through promises of quick money making jobs and schemes guaranteeing benefits while living abroad, the court said in comments reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency.

"Once the victims arrived at their overseas destination, they had their passports confiscated and were put under observation by surveillance cameras and guards carrying firearms while being forced to work shady jobs to scam others online," the agency reported on March 31.

"Victims who disobeyed orders were punished with physical violence or sold to other rings, while those who requested to return home were either forced to secure their own scapegoat as a replacement or have their family pay for their freedom through a ransom."

For Chen, who fears beatings, "water imprisonment" and other forms of torture if he is discovered talking to the media, the lack of help was devastating.

He said he would no longer be able to contact RFA Cantonese, as the situation had gotten more and more dangerous.

Before ending contact, he sent out a warning that nobody should respond to social media messages or friend requests on WeChat, LINE or other social media apps from people claiming to be beautiful women and asking for cash or cryptocurrency for investments.

They may let you withdraw a small amount to start with, to build trust, Chen told RFA Cantonese via a messaging app. But then they wont let you take any out.

Updates to add comment from Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

RFA Burmese contribute to this article.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Lao dissidents living abroad have been harshly punished after returning to the country.

Savang Phaleuth, a human rights activist and member of the Free Laos group, is seen in this June 2022 photo.

A human rights activist and member of the Thailand-based Free Laos group was arrested when he recently returned to Laos to visit his hometown, friends of the activist told Radio Free Asia.

Savang Phaleuth, in his 40s, has worked in Thailand for years, according to a friend. He traveled to Done Sart village in Song Khone district last month and was detained at his familys home on April 20 and later taken to Savannakhet city, the friend said.

Friends had reminded him not to go home because Lao officials have identified him, the friend said. But he insisted on going.

Laos deals severely with dissidents who call for democracy and respect for human rights in the one-party communist state, and Lao dissidents living abroad have been harshly punished after returning or being forced back to Laos.

The rights group Free Laos was set up by Lao workers and residents in Thailand to promote human rights and democracy in their home country.

Savang had posted on social media about those issues in Laos. Its unclear where he is being held or if he has been charged.

A village headman told RFA that someone named Savang was arrested in Done Sart on April 20 but the reason was unknown.

A source who is close to a high ranking police officer in Savannakhet province told RFA that Savang was arrested for his political campaign work.

The police took Savang away but I dont know where he is detained, the source said. First of all, he must be questioned for more details.

Previous arrests of Thai-based Laotians

The co-founder of Free Laos, Khoukham Keomanivong, urged the Lao government to respect peoples rights and to not treat rights activists as traitors.

Khoukham, a U.N.-recognized refugee, was convicted last year in a closed-door Thai trial of overstaying his visa and had been held pending deportation to Laos, where he faced arrest for his advocacy work. He was later released on bail and was finally allowed to leave Thailand for Canada, where he now lives.

We dont like that the government treats people with different opinions as enemies, he said. Its a severe abuse of human rights when people who express opinions different from the government are arrested and then disappear.

Savangs arrest is reminiscent of three rights activists who were arrested in Laos in March 2016.

Somphone Pimmasone, 29, Lodkham Thammavong, 30, and Soukane Chaithad, 32, were arrested after entering Laos to renew their passports from Thailand, where they had been working.

They were charged with criticizing the Lao government online while working abroad and for taking part in a protest outside the Lao embassy in Thailand. The three were handed prison terms described by rights groups as harsh at a secret trial in April 2017.

In another case, democracy activist Od Sayavong, a friend of Khoukham, vanished under mysterious circumstances in Bangkok in 2019 after posting a video clip online criticizing the government.

Listed as a person of concern by the UNHCR because of his advocacy for democracy and human rights, his whereabouts remain unknown. He was 34 at the time he went missing.

Vientiane shooting

Meanwhile, police said on Monday that a preliminary investigation into the April 29 shooting of a Lao political activist in Vientiane indicates it was related to either a business or romantic dispute.

That statement was met with skepticism from Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch and others who questioned whether Lao authorities were serious about investigating the attack on Jack Anousa.

Anousa, 25, has been the administrator of a Facebook group thats uncovered and denounced human rights abuses and has called for the end of one-party rule in Laos.

Security camera footage that was later posted on the Facebook group page showed an unidentified gunman, wearing a cap and beige jacket, firing two shots at Anousa at a Vientiane shop.

The same Facebook page said Anousa died at a hospital the next day, but that report proved to be false after Anousas family and other sources gave verbal confirmation and photographic evidence that he survived the shooting. The identity of the gunman remains unknown and no arrest has been made.

Coming to such a quick, convenient conclusion without doing a thorough investigation is just the sort of pathetically poor performance weve come to expect from the Lao police, Robertson said on Monday. This looks like the start of the Lao government cover-up rather than the sort of thorough and impartial investigation that is truly needed to find the shooter and anyone else connected with him.

Bounthone Chanthalavong-Weiser, president of the Germany-based Alliance for Democracy in Laos, said Anousa was an employee, not a business owner  so a business conflict was unlikely.

He also didnt have a love conflict with anyone, she said. He was shot because he was fighting for democracy and human rights in Laos. The Lao government just doesnt like these people.

Edited by Matt Reed.
A notice with the insignia of the pro-junta Blood Comrades is seen on a street in Myanmar's Tanintharyi region in this undated photo.

The Blood Comrades are back.

The shadowy pro-junta militia sows terror by targeting opponents of Myanmars military for death and leaves a chilling calling card by their victims with their logo  an image of a Burmese warrior holding two swords.

Since emerging about a year ago, the group is believed responsible for the deaths of nearly 60 people, many of them members of the deposed National League for Democracy, or NLD, Aung San Suu Kyis party that ruled the country before the February 2021 coup.

They are neither the police nor the military  they are just the juntas stooges, said a Mandalay resident who spoke to Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity for fear of his life. They emerged because rule of law ceased to exist immediately after the military coup.

After a string of killings last year, the Blood Comrades went quiet for several months.

But in April, they resurfaced, killing three people, including two NLD members.

On April 2, a 40-year-old man was found dead near the U Pwar bridge in the Chan Mya Thar Si township outside Mandalay with a sign bearing the logo of the Thway Thauk, or Blood Comrades.

The following day, the bodies of two NLD members were found at an intersection of the East Amara Htarni ward of Mandalays Aung Myay Thar Zan township. They too bore cards with the Blood Comrades logo.

Attacks by the Blood Comrades illustrate how the conflict that has engulfed Myanmar isnt a clear-cut war between the juntas troops and members of the Peoples Defense Forces, ordinary citizens who have taken up arms against the military, or the ethnic armies such as the Kachin Independence Army and the Karen National Liberation Army, who have been fighting the government for more autonomy for decades.

Numerous pro-junta militias have aided the junta, including the Pyu Saw Htee militia, which has been responsible for some of the most brutal raids on civilian villages over the past two years.

Others include Thway Thitsar, or Loyal Bloods, in the capital Naypyidaw, the Yangon Castigators in Myanmars largest city Yangon, the Patriotic Coalition in Bago regions Pyay township, and the Soon Ye (Kite Force) in Tanintharyi region.

But the Blood Comrades are the most-feared, residents say.

Unclear identity

The group seems to operate mostly in the central region around Mandalay, but its makeup is unclear.

Some members are believed to belong to the Pyu Saw Htee militia, or perhaps were formed by family members of those killed by the armed resistance for allegedly acting as junta informers. Or they may be members of a far-right nationalist Buddhist monk group called Ma Ba Tha or supporters of the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP.

Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun has denied links between the Blood Comrades and the military.

The group appears to have come out of hibernation after the PDF recently began targeting USDP members and other supporters of the junta.

An undated photo of a badge with the insignia of the pro-junta Blood Comrades is attached to a homes door in Mandalay, Myanmar. Credit: Citizen journalist

The Blood Comrades first known act was a April 21, 2021, post to the Telegram social media network that said it was targeting for assassination members of the NLD, PDF fighters and other opponents of military rule in Myanmar.

The group has also threatened reporters and editors working for news outlets in Myanmar including The Irrawaddy, Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and The Irrawaddy Times, as well as their family members.

Photos obtained by RFA show leaflets or cards bearing the Blood Comrades logo left near the corpses of NLD members and supporters.

Operating with impunity

Bo Bo Oo, the NLDs Sanchaung township deputy chairman, told RFA that the Blood Comrades are believed to have killed at least 58 of his partys members.

He said that even if the junta is not directly responsible for forming the Blood Comrades, it likely approves of the groups stated goals and has created an environment in which it can operate with impunity.

These kinds of assassinations often occur in countries with authoritarian regimes, he said. When there are difficulties in directly confronting the resistance forces due to some legal stipulations, the junta raises and financially supports gangs or murderers and thugs to handle the opposition for it.

Justice lawyer Kyee Myint expressed concern that members of groups like the Blood Comrades believe that the only way they can get involved in politics is to kill people.

But he said that the existence of such groups is unsurprising, given that they enjoy the tacit support of the junta.

They kill openly in the middle of the city in broad daylight, he said. There is no reason why law enforcement agencies cannot track them down, but they have failed to take any action.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Civilian deaths are growing in Myanmars civil war amid a jump in airstrikes by the military junta, whose ground forces have faced stiff resistance from rebels and ordinary citizens who have taken up arms.

The military has killed at least 452 civilians in southern Shan and Kayah states in the 26 months since the February 2021 coup, rebel groups said Monday.

The latest death toll sheds new light on the situation in southeast Myanmar, where decades-long conflict between the military and ethnic armies has worsened since the junta began an offensive targeting Peoples Defense Force paramilitaries and the armed groups that harbor them.

The airstrikes often target villages where PDF fighters are believed to be, killing civilians in the process. While the military denies targeting civilians, members of the opposition say the deaths are no accident and instead are a tactic used by the regime to wear down popular support for the rebels.

A new focus by the military on suppressing its adversaries in the southern Shan and Kayah state townships of Pinlaung, Pekon and Mongpai  also known as Moebye  has driven up the number of casualties in recent months, the Progressive Karenni Peoples Force, or PKPF  a local offshoot of the PDF  announced Monday.

Since the coup, civilian casualties have steadily risen. At least 172 people were killed in the region in 2021, 248 in 2022, and 33 in the first quarter of 2023, said an official with the group, who spoke to RFA Burmese on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns.

The official said that while the military has targeted civilians throughout the conflict as part of a bid to undermine support for the armed resistance, the number of casualties has risen dramatically with its pivot to airstrikes.

We saw a lot of civilian deaths due to small arms fire, artillery shelling and landmines in 2021 and 2022, the official said. But in 2023, the major cause of civilian deaths is junta shelling and airstrikes. The junta has been attacking non-military targets where civilians reside with artillery shelling and airstrikes, which we consider a serious war crime.

Casualties mounting

The PKPF said that clashes in the region mostly occur between the military and a joint force of fighters from the ethnic Karenni Army and the Karenni National Defense Force.

Casualties on both sides are mounting, it said.

The group said that 41 members of the defense forces were killed in the fighting in 2021 and170 in 2022. As of the end of April, 48 defense soldiers have been killed in fighting this year, bringing to 259 the total number killed by the military since its coup.

The funeral for two people killed by Myanmar military artillery, Feb. 28, 2023. Credit: KNDF/Baa

An information officer with the KNDF, who also declined to be named, confirmed that more resistance fighters and civilians are being killed by airstrikes, which the military has increasingly come to rely on this year as anti-junta forces enjoy greater success on the ground.

Whenever there is a clash on the ground, it is certain that the junta planes will come to that area to attack us, said the officer, noting that prior to 2023, the military mostly deployed troops without air support.

The junta carried out only two airstrikes in Kayah and southern Shan states in 2021 compared to 182 in 2022 and 179 in the first four months of 2023 alone, according to the PKPF. Since the coup, the group said, the region has seen 663 battles that claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 junta troops  448 in 2021, 1,115 in 2022, and 432 in 2023, as of the end of April.

RFA was unable to independently verify the PKPFs claims. Attempts by RFA to contact the juntas spokespersons for Shan and Kayah states went unanswered Monday.

Junta bluntly violating code of war

Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, which is made up of former military officers, dismissed the PKPF's announcement as propaganda.

Its the nature of war that each side spreads propaganda, he said. For example, if an enemy soldier dies, they report three casualties for propaganda purposes  Since the other party is using this strategy a lot, we have to be very careful.

However, the PKPF claimed that its data was collected systematically from the battleground.

In addition to the number of casualties since the coup, the PKPF also said that military airstrikes and shelling over the same period had destroyed 34 Christian and Buddhist religious buildings and 1,497 civilian buildings, including medical centers.

Banyar, director of the Karenni Human Rights Organization, said the number of destroyed buildings alone is proof of the juntas war crimes.

You are prohibited from attacking certain buildings, even during heated battles, he said. [Belligerents] need to minimize damage. There are codes that soldiers in battle must follow to avoid killing civilians and destroying their buildings, but the junta is bluntly violating all of them.

Since the coup, conflict has forced some 200,000 people to flee their homes in Kayah and southern Shan states, most of whom endure brutal living conditions in the jungles of Demoso and Hpruso townships and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to aid workers.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
As Southeast Asian leaders gather at a scenic spot in Indonesia this week, they face a daunting challenge to resolve the crisis in Myanmar, where a military coup has unleashed a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and ethnic minorities.

Top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met Tuesday to hammer out the agenda for the leaders summit scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Labuan Bajo, a fishing town on Flores island in eastern Indonesia.

Retno Marsudi, the foreign minister of 2023 ASEAN chair Indonesia, said the bloc was instrumental to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

We cannot imagine what will happen in this region if we dont have ASEAN, she said after the meeting. But we cannot be complacent. This achievement should be an asset to build a stronger ASEAN, a more relevant ASEAN.

The summits main topics include the implementation of ASEANs five-point peace plan for Myanmar and the blocs outlook on the Indo-Pacific region, which has become a theater of rivalry between China and the United States.

ASEAN member Myanmar, which will not be represented at the summit after being barred from sending political representatives, has been in turmoil since the military overthrew an elected government in February 2021.

The junta has cracked down on mass protests, killed more than 3,000 people and arrested thousands more, according to human rights groups.

The United Nations said more than 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Myanmar because of the violence.

Civilian deaths are growing amid a jump in airstrikes by the military junta, whose ground forces have faced stiff resistance from rebels and ordinary citizens who have taken up arms, Radio Free Asia reported.

The military has killed at least 452 civilians in southern Shan and Kayah states in the 26 months since the coup, rebel groups told RFA.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch accused the Burmese military of committing a war crime by using a powerful weapon that killed more than 160 people, including children, in an attack on an opposition building in the Sagaing region on April 11.
Iran is implementing modern new payment systems to make it easier for its citizens to use public transportation and get their subsidized daily bread. But Afghans living in the country say they are being left behind due to immigration policies that restrict their access to bank cards.

Afghan migrants are complaining that not being able to have bank cards makes it difficult to use city subways, access mobile phone services, and even to get their daily bread.

Mirwais, who has lived in the southwestern city of Shiraz for over 20 years, says the limitations add to the "pressure" he and other Afghans face every day in Iran.

"All the migrants face this," said Mirwais, who gave only his first name in a telephone interview with RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "Whether in Shiraz, Tehran, or Isfahan, migrants suffer and are under pressure all over Iran."

Digital Divide

The lack of access to basic services can be traced to requirements imposed years ago that effectively prevent many members of Iran's large Afghan community from obtaining bank cards. While Iran has made the leap to Internet banking, online purchases, and digital card readers, migrants must still go in person to a bank to make withdrawals or send wire payments.

Some Afghans living in Iran say they cannot open a bank account at all, while others complain that they face limits on the amount they can withdraw. Getting mobile phone service has also been made difficult due to Iran's crackdown on unregistered SIM cards.

The problem has been compounded by the need for bank cards to purchase transportation tickets or to apply for new smart cards introduced for purchasing subsidized goods from bakeries, meaning Afghans have to rely on workarounds just to put food on the table or travel around.

Mohammad Amiri, 26, has lived in Tehran with his wife and child for more than two years, but still faces difficulties carrying out everyday tasks.

"In the [Tehran] subway, you need to pay with a bank card. They don't accept cash," he told Radio Azadi. "Some [Iranians] buy tickets for us [in exchange for cash], but others don't."

"Unfortunately, as Afghan migrants, we don't have the right to have a bank card or even a SIM card. This is a real problem for us," he said.

Mirwais expressed the same frustration, saying that if fellow passengers are not willing to purchase electronic passes for them, he and other Afghans must take taxis at much greater expense.

He said the same goes for bakeries, which recently introduced a new "smartization" system that uses special cards that allow customers to automatically deduct their purchases from a state-subsidized account.

The initiative has been touted by officials as a way of more effectively distributing subsidies, easing skyrocketing prices for flour and bread, and eliminating graft.

'They Make It Hard'

Officials have denied they are excluding anyone and have pledged to fix any difficulties stemming from the new systems, saying that there are alternatives to using bank cards and that the Tehran subway allows Afghan nationals experiencing payment issues to ride for free.

But Afghans who spoke to Radio Azadi said the reality is much different.

"My wife offered the baker money six times, but the baker would not accept it, saying she must bring a bank card," Mirwais said this week. "There are some [Iranians] who offer their cards, one in 1,000. They give their cards and take cash to resolve the problem."

"We go to the bank, they don't accept our passports; we go to buy a SIM card, they don't accept our passports," Mirwais said. "It should be easy to use the subway, but the government makes it hard for migrants."

Millions Of Migrants

An estimated 3 million Afghans, many of them undocumented refugees and migrants, live in Iran. Many have complained of widespread discrimination and abuse.

More than 1 million Afghans crossed into Iran in 2021, often en route to third countries, as the Taliban advanced and eventually seized power in Afghanistan that year. Iranian authorities have reportedly deported more than half of recent arrivals.

Many Afghan migrants in Iran moved to the Islamic republic decades ago amid political upheaval and war. Iran has also long been a destination country for Afghan migrant workers seeking seasonal jobs.

Migrants are officially divided into two categories in Iran: those who are documented and have passports, residency, or immigration cards, and the undocumented. The latter group includes Afghans who never held passports in their home country.

Iran provides one-year residency permits for more recent arrivals, and has said that full access to banking and social services, including health insurance, are available to all migrants who officially register their names and information with the Interior Ministry. More than 2 million foreign nationals have complied and are on the books, according to the ministry.

But mired in its own economic crisis amid skyrocketing inflation and rising food prices, Iran has often expressed alarm at the number of undocumented Afghans on its soil.

Undocumented Afghans like Amiri have little hope of gaining access to basic services, and even those who have residency permits can only hold bank accounts for the one-year period of their stay.

"We can't open a bank account because we don't have any [identity] documents with us," Amiri said.

"We applied at several banks, but they've told us that we must wait. So, we're just waiting to see what will happen. Having a bank card is essential for us, for our daily lives."

Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Freshta Negah of RFE/RL's Radio Azadi
With their mock-up of prefabricated tower blocks currently on display at a Bulgarian gallery, two twentysomething artists are inviting the Bulgarian public to "come home" and reflect on their country's socialist past and democratic future. Titled Slavic Tales, the exhibit by Anna Ivanova and Kalina Ivanova -- who share a last name but are not related -- is being shown at the Toplotsentrala Regional Center for Contemporary Art in Sofia until May 17.

Sausage, brandy, and dark bread wait on the coffee table. In the kitchen, there are slices of pickles and cheese. A round box is filled with sewing materials instead of biscuits, and a pack of chocolate cigars serves as a pencil holder on the children's desk. Slippers are piled up in the hallway, a TV sits quietly, and crystal glasses are carefully tucked away in the sectional, waiting for a special occasion. Many people in Bulgaria would probably recognize their own homes in this description, which is the goal of the artists behind the Slavic Tales project. The name alludes to popular social media pages that make fun of the Slavic way of life. However, in this instance, the intention is to offer a romanticized view and raise questions about Bulgarian identity. Anna and Kalina make models of the communist-era prefabricated tower blocks and apartments in it, recreating even the smallest details of Bulgarian everyday life. During communism, prefabricated tower blocks were considered the height of architectural and technological progress. Nearly identical two- and three-bedroom apartments included amenities like central heating, private bathrooms, and elevators. The prefabricated buildings were mass produced throughout the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc.

While there are obvious signs of socialism around the miniature home, many of the objects document the change and the introduction of Western culture to Bulgaria. The two artists aim to encourage people to consider how the recent past has affected their lives today. Missing Graffiti Anna and Kalina, who both grew up in Bulgaria, met and became friends while attending college in the small English town of Falmouth. They shared a fascination with the legacy of socialism and a longing for their homeland. In their walks among Falmouth's strictly uniform neighborhoods, the two friends began to feel the absence of the Bulgarian tower blocks that would often have colorful laundry waving over the terraces and the small human footprints that enliven the space. "I missed seeing how some seventh-grader with graffiti expressed his love for some Maria on the facade of her block," Kalina tells RFE/RL. "I never thought I would miss something like that, but in England I realized how much it meant to me." "We found a big difference in how we felt about Bulgaria after we left it," Anna adds. This prompted the two women to ask themselves why Bulgarians have a negative attitude toward their own culture, and what that means. As they describe it, where does "this desire to go somewhere better, to look for what is not Bulgaria" come from? According to Anna and Kalina, the answers are rooted in the recent past, especially in the lives of people born after the democratic changes that took place in the 1990s and 2000s. "We were raised by parents who grew up in socialism," says Anna. Kalina adds that many of them have never answered the most important questions related to trauma and memory. "That's why with the project Slavic Tales, we want to say to people: 'Let's talk about the transition. What's going on there? Are we still in it?'" says Kalina. "We want to give a more concrete vision that a person can look at and say, 'Yeah, this is the way I grew up. I know this tower block, and I know this apartment. This is my Bulgaria," says Anna.

Tower Block 1989 At the University of Falmouth, Anna and Kalina both studied drawing and illustration, so it was natural for them to look at these topics from an artistic point of view. Both worked on theses related to the recent past and the architectural appearance of Eastern Europe. They also sought to incorporate their own memories as "children of the transition" from socialism to capitalism, and ultimately decided to make a model of a tower block as a university project.

In addition to creating a detailed replica of a typical panel block, Anna and Kalina brought it to life with fictional characters. One family lives in each of the 10 apartments, and each has its own story. "We are from different cities, but when we were coming up with the characters we came to the conclusion that people everywhere are the same," says Kalina. "Through these characters, it is much easier to have conversations and imagine scenarios. What would Kolyo take out on his terrace? What would Svetla buy from the store?"

These tales are woven into the layout of each terrace by Anna and Kalina. For instance, the Bulgarian flag draped over the railing reveals the political patriotism of the taxi driver Botyo, who enjoys cognac on his balcony. "I think that many of our neighbors would also recognize themselves in this block, even though it represents Bulgarian reality," says Kalina. "Whether you're from Serbia, Romania, or North Macedonia, you'll recognize yourself as we recognize each other. Only art can do that."

Who Lives In Apartment 2007? The exterior of one tower block was not enough for the two artists. Soon they started to construct a second model, this time of one of the apartments in the block. "We needed more space for the expression of our culture; we wanted to delve deeper and go into the history of the period and our characters," says Anna, adding that a home is "the most unfiltered image of a person." The women's perception of 2007 as the culmination of the change brought on by Bulgaria's EU membership inspired the name of the flat. They drew design inspiration from their grandmothers' apartments for the interior. Through objects that fill the apartment, socialism and democracy collide. Traces of the past intertwine with modern artifacts from the West: a new three-panel painting - or triptych - from Paris ends up above the old piano, and a poster of the rock group Paramore adorns the socialist wardrobe.

"With this mixing of timelines and spaces, we want to emphasize the fact that the past is a big part of us and is the foundation on which we work and develop," says Anna. According to Anna and Kalina, there is a conflict in the lives of people of this generation. "You live in a world that has nothing to do with the world that you are shown as beautiful, important, and cultured," says Anna. "There is culture in the West, but ours is just Bulgarianness." According to her, this explains the feeling of inadequacy among people in Bulgaria: "This is a trauma that must be put under the microscope and thought of critically so that we do not fall into dissonance." A similar traumatic legacy is seen in the other two characters in the apartment: Anne-Marie's parents, who represent two archetypal reactions to the transition from socialism to democracy. While the mother, Tanya, is disappointed with life in Bulgaria and uses it as an excuse for her unhappiness, the father, Kolyo, "represents this traditional Bulgarian that is resistant to any political regimes."
Retired British General Sir Alexander Richard David Shirreff is a former deputy supreme allied commander Europe and author of the novel War With Russia: An Urgent Warning From Senior Military Command, which the author described as "fact-based, entirely plausible."

In that 2017 book, written nearly a decade after Russia's lightning war with Georgia and three years after Russia occupied and annexed Ukraine's Crimea, Shirreff cited growing risks to Russia's neighbors, including NATO, and pleaded for a new Western mindset to respond to those threats.

The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here.



In a wide-ranging interview last week with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, he talked about managing expectations as Ukrainian counteroffensives target dug-in Russian forces, the pressure to succeed given the level of its international support, and his argument that Kyiv's allies must "double down" on war economies -- or else.



RFE/RL: Russia has claimed it downed two drones that were apparently attacking the Kremlin, and they blame it on Ukraine, saying the intent was to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Roughly one month ago, a Washington Post report claimed that for the Victory Day anniversary [on May 9], Ukraine was planning to carry out mass strikes on Moscow and other Russian cities [but] was dissuaded by Washington: Moscow was considered off-limits.



Then Politico reported that Ukraine was unwilling to share counteroffensive details with the Americans after recent U.S. intelligence leaks. Finally, there's the May 3 development in which these two drones were downed, and Russia claimed Ukraine was behind it all, that they wanted to kill Putin and called it a "terrorist" act and is reserving the right to respond in kind. What do you make of all of this?



Alexander Richard David Shirreff: Well, it's frankly a bit rich of Russia to start complaining about attacks on Moscow when Russia has launched multiple attacks against every single Ukrainian city ever since the start of the war on February 24, 2022. I was in Kyiv last week, and I spent most of the night in a bomb shelter because Russia was launching cruise missiles against Ukraine. So frankly, it's a bit rich. Ukraine is fighting a war of national survival, and in a war of national survival you have to be prepared to take your fight to the enemy.



I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Ukraine is reluctant to share details of its counteroffensive plans with America after the unbelievable leak of information, because America is a very leaky sieve, as we saw with a 21-year-old IT consultant specialist in the National Guard having access to an extraordinary array of secrets. So quite right of Ukraine to guard its details very, very closely to those who need to know. And that's a basic principle of war: security. And that applies to security of intelligence as much as security of a force.



RFE/RL: Does it not keep Ukraine at a massive disadvantage, creating a sanctuary on Russian territory like that?



Shirreff: You've got to have a sense of perspective there. Ukraine's military aims are to evict every single Russian soldier from sovereign Ukrainian territory and to protect itself. Now I don't know whether these alleged drone attacks were Ukrainians. I mean, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this was Russian disinformation in order to probably drive a wedge between Ukraine and perhaps America -- because yes, the Americans are, absolutely rightly, determined to avoid further escalation into the nuclear sphere -- so of course they're going to be concerned if Ukraine is attacking Russian soil. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it's Russian disinformation designed to get America to lean on Ukraine to tone it down a bit.

RFE/RL: What do you expect from the [reportedly] looming Ukrainian counteroffensive? Over the last few months, I've interviewed two dozen, if not more, top army generals, and military experts, and the overwhelming consensus is that Ukraine will try to liberate the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions in the south, try to cut off [occupied] Crimea [from Russian-controlled territory] to destroy the land bridge, and so on. Is this a foregone conclusion? Because if it is, surely Russia also has seen that and has prepared accordingly? Is there room for tactical surprises here?



Shirreff: Well, nothing is a foregone conclusion. That's the first point I'd make. The second point is that I clearly don't know what Ukraine's plans are; I don't need to know, I don't want to know, and they wouldn't share it with me anyway. I think we have to understand a couple of points. Yes, I'm sure there has to be a counteroffensive. Ukraine has to retake territory. It's got to be able to demonstrate success after the support that it has been given by NATO countries and other partners.



But I think also we have to remember -- and you've sort of touched on it yourself -- that Russia has the vote, too. The Russians have spent the winter [there], they were able to stabilize the front lines after the catastrophes east of Kharkiv last year, and then, of course, the recapture of Kherson. There has been an incredibly bitter attritional fight over the winter, with a series of Russian counteroffensives which by and large have failed.

They haven't certainly delivered the Donbas to Putin, which was the intent. But at the same time, Russia has been able to build significant defenses, lay significant minefields. So, breaking into those defenses and minefields is going to be a major, major issue, a major challenge for Ukraine. It's one of the most difficult operations of war: a deliberate attack against well-defended positions.



RFE/RL: Which also has numerical superiority. My understanding is that usually it's the party that goes on the offensive that has three to five times numerical superiority against the defenders, and even then, success is not guaranteed. And here we have an offensive force attacking a defensive force which enjoys numerical superiority, correct?



Shirreff: Well, of course, it all depends on where you attack. And what you don't do, as a general military principle, is you do not attack where the enemy is strongest. And that's where deception and surprise are fundamental principles. So, what you aim to do is concentrate your force where the enemy is weakest. And you may not, on the face of it, have numerical superiority. But if you're clever, and you catch the enemy off balance, there are plenty of examples in military history where the inferior numerical force has succeeded.



But as a general principle, I would say that we have to manage expectations here. And my sense is -- and perhaps I sound cautious here, I don't want to sound gloomy; I would love for this coming counteroffensive to achieve a catastrophic defeat on Russia -- but I think the chances of doing that must be quite low.

I think they will succeed, but it seems to me that what we should be looking at, given the amount of Ukrainian territory that has been occupied by Russia, is that this is likely to be a lengthy campaign still, a series of counteroffensives -- concurrent, sequential -- each of which is likely to take a fair amount of time to prepare for to build up troops. And the trick is going to be to launch these counteroffensives as a series of hammer blows that get the Russians off balance. But you need to be able to follow up quickly to keep them off balance. But I still think that's likely to take some time.



Meanwhile, of course, Ukraine still has to defend the front line across over 1,000 kilometers in the east against continued Russian attritional attacks. So rather than assume that there will be a single counteroffensive and Ukraine will achieve all its military ends -- this isn't going to be over by Christmas -- I think we're looking at potentially a two- or three-year campaign here.



And the "so what?" out of all this is the paramount importance of NATO support, Western support, to give Ukrainians the tools to do the job. And this means a fundamental mindset shift in NATO countries, which need to start developing and investing in, effectively, a war economy to manufacture and generate the ammunition, for example, the military equipment, required to sustain Ukraine over a lengthy campaign.



RFE/RL: "With or without warplanes, Ukraine will begin its counteroffensive." This seems to be the official Kyiv position. How costly might that lack of warplanes prove?



Shirreff: It depends on how clever the Ukrainians can be, fighting from the disadvantage of [lacking] the sort of state-of-the-art warplanes that they have asked for and that they absolutely need. I think we have to respect and admire the way Ukrainians have demonstrated that, despite apparent military disadvantages, they've demonstrated they're more than able to overcome them. But, in a sense, you have to do the math.

The reality is that advanced Russian fighter aircraft are more capable, in terms of being able to identify targets at range and then to kill those targets at a range greater than the very best aircraft -- the MiG 28s and MiG 29s -- that the Ukrainian Air Force have got. If Russia understands and can learn how to use its air force, that's going to put Ukraine at a disadvantage. But thus far Russia has not been able to demonstrate it knows how to use its air force properly. And so, I put great trust in Ukrainians' ingenuity.

However, I also think that it is long overdue that the Western alliance delivers precisely what Ukraine needs in the air, which is F-16s. And there's been a lot of talk from our specialists about the time it takes to train a fighter pilot, etc, etc. Of course, if this [training] had started on February 24, 2022, or even, as it should have done, in March 2014, when the Ukraine war started, then Ukraine would be in a very different position now.



RFE/RL: What are the chances of Ukraine successfully pulling off this vaunted combined arms maneuver?



Shirreff: Oh, I think they will do this. I think the Ukrainians will be able to deliver a successful combined arms attack in a counteroffensive, a forthcoming counteroffensive. But I just say again what I said earlier about cautioning people to have reasonable expectations and not expect that this is going to be one round and Ukraine is free. This is going to require sustained campaigning over a longer period of time and sustained support from the West.



RFE/RL: In a piece published in January, you said that "now, more than ever, the West has to ensure Ukraine has all the support to fight," and "we must double down." I have a reasonable suspicion that I know what your answer to this might be, but has the West doubled down?



Shirreff: No, it hasn't. "Doubling down" means giving Ukraine the F-16s, the ammunition they need. And it means implementing a war economy in each Western partner in order to ramp up the ammunition supplies and capabilities and other military equipment. And also, "doubling down" means building up NATO's own military forces. So, I would look to see defense spending going up to 4 or 5 percent of GDP. And that means adopting a mindset that says, "We've got to be ready for the worst case."

I've been saying this since the very start of the war. The West has to be ready for the worst case. What is the "worst case"? It's war with Russia. We are a long way short of that, [but] that [new mindset] is simply not happening.

RFE/RL: How realistic do you think that the prospect of direct confrontation with Russia has become since the Ukraine war?



Shirreff: Either the West doubles down now to give Ukraine the tools it really needs to do the job in a series of sustained counteroffensives, or the West faces -- I think NATO faces -- the very real possibility in two to three years' time of potentially having to intervene to support the Ukrainians [to] achieve final victory. Because there's only one outcome of this; it's got to be victory. This is a war not just against Ukraine; it's a war against the West. And I would include, by the way, the fact that Georgia is firmly part of the West, as is Ukraine part of the West.



And you understand, in Georgia, the reality of Russian offensive operations because 20 percent of your country is occupied by Russia. That penny hasn't dropped in this country yet. We cannot accept a decade of a new Iran-Iraq war on Ukraine's eastern flank, because that is Europe's security. Russia [is] determined to rebuild a second Russian Empire, [and] if it gets a negotiated cease-fire, it will just rest, recover, and start all over again -- and not only will Ukraine be in its sights as a target, but [also] Georgia, Moldova, the Baltic states, eastern Poland. And we have to recognize that once again in Europe there is a bloodstained autocrat prepared to inflict unspeakable suffering on peaceful democratic neighbors to further his own imperious ambitions. We've been here before in 1939 to 1945. And we're here again.



RFE/RL: Do you see [the West] being ready for a direct confrontation against Russia in four or five years' time?



Shirreff: It's going to take three or four years to get ready to fight. And unless that mindset shift changes now, the West won't be ready.



RFE/RL: What happens then?



Shirreff: Then it turns into a long-running, bloody, attritional battle on Ukraine's eastern frontier. Think back to the 1980s, the Iran-Iraq War. Unless, of course, Ukraine achieves military success as a consequence of counteroffensives, which it could still do -- so let's look at the optimistic side, as well. But we have to look at the best and the worst case.

RFE/RL: One could argue that part of a changing mindset in the West, in NATO in particular, would be Ukraine actually becoming a NATO member. I know it's a cause that you're championing. And let me ask you this billion-dollar question: How do you plan to persuade the longtime skeptics?



Shirreff: There is very little to do to persuade people that the only way Ukraine and Europe can be secure is if Ukraine is a member of the NATO alliance, and I would also include Georgia and Moldova in that, as well. That is going to take time. But I think what we would be expecting from the [NATO] Vilnius Summit [scheduled for July 11-12] is a clear signpost that starts with the strongest realistic and effective bilateral security guarantees and leads ultimately to NATO membership, perhaps at the Washington 75th-anniversary conference summit in 2024.



RFE/RL: Let's talk about Russia. According to [Western] estimates, in the last five months alone there have been more than 100,000 casualties for Russia. How sustainable is this? Is there a chance they will kind of replicate the success of World War II, where this sheer disregard of their own troops' lives was actually one of the determining factors as to why the Soviet Union came out on top?



Shirreff: How sustainable?... I think it's infinitely sustainable that Russia will scoop up expendable manpower and pile it into the fight. The question, I think, is how capable they are of equipping them properly. And if Russia is having to dig out T-55s from the 1960s and deploy those from stocks to the front, that tells me that Russia is running out of equipment.

Will Russia be able to replicate what the Soviet Union did? No, no way, fundamentally. Because the Soviet Union fought a war of national survival, which mobilized the population in defense of not only Mother Russia but of Ukraine, of Belarus, of all the [Soviet] republics. This is a war of aggression, and ultimately Russia will not be able to sustain that.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Ukraine's military will not attack Russian territory with the powerful weapons he is requesting from Kyiv's Western allies, during a visit to Germany on May 14.

"We are not attacking Russian territory. We are liberating our lawful territory," Zelenskiy said at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "We have no time, no forces, and no surplus weapons for this," he said.

On the eve of Zelenskiy's arrival, Germany announced a $3 billion military aid package to help Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion.

"Now is the time for us to determine the end of the war already this year, we can make the aggressor's defeat irreversible already this year," Zelenskiy told reporters in Berlin.

He thanked Germany for supporting Kyiv during "the most challenging time in the modern history of Ukraine" on being welcomed earlier by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

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 in Ukraine, click here.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Zelenskiy at Schloss Bellevue, his official Berlin residence.

Zelenskiy is also expected to travel to the city of Aachen to receive the prestigious Charlemagne Prize.

Zelensky expressed his thanks to Germany as he signed the visitor's book at the German president's residence.

"In the most challenging time in the modern history of Ukraine, Germany proved to be our true friend and reliable ally, which stands decisively side-by-side with the Ukrainian people in the struggle to defend freedom and democratic values," Zelenskiy wrote.

On the eve of his arrival, Germany announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion, including tanks, antiaircraft systems and ammunition.

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

The package includes 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 15 Gepard antiaircraft tanks, 200 reconnaissance drones, four additional Iris-T antiaircraft systems including ammunition, additional artillery ammunition and more than 200 armored combat and logistics vehicles.

Germany has been criticized by many in Ukraine for its reluctance to send heavy armaments to Kyiv for its battle against Russian forces. The latest aid package is Berlin's largest since the invasion of February 2022.

Zelenskiy's trip to Germany comes after the Ukrainian leader received vocal support on May 13 from Italian leaders in Rome and at the Vatican, where Pope Francis called for humanitarian gestures toward the most fragile persons, innocent victims of the conflict."

On the war front, at least one Russian SU-34 warplane and a military Mi-8 helicopter had crashed in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, Russian emergency services were quoted by TASS news agency as saying, with several reports claiming the craft had been shot down.

Later, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that a Russian SU-35 jet and a second Mi-8 helicopter also crashed on May 13, but that report could not immediately be confirmed.

Ukraine did not comment on the reports. Kyiv normally does not comment directly on any incidents occurring within Russias borders.

If confirmed that the aircraft were shot down, it would represent a major coup for the Ukrainian military and an embarrassment for the Kremlin.

On the war front, Ukrainian forces intercepted and destroyed three missiles and 25 drones overnight in the latest aerial attack by Russian forces, Ukraine's air force said on May 14.

Russia attacked from different directions with Shahed attack drones, Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea, [and] cruise missiles from Tu-95 strategic aircraft," the air force said in a statement.

Russia has increased the number of missile and drone strikes since the beginning of May, which Ukrainian authorities attribute to Moscow's fear of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Late on May 13, Russian missiles hit the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, which is home to the electro-pop duo Tvorchi, this year's contestants from Ukraine at the Eurovision 2023 Song Contest, local authorities said.

The attack came as the contest was under way in Britain because Ukraine, last year's winners, could not host it due to the war.

WATCH: After Ukraine was unable to host this year's Eurovision competition, Liverpool stepped in to host the annual song contest and is putting Ukrainian artists and culture front and center.

The strike hit warehouses owned by commercial enterprises and a religious organization, injuring two people, local officials in Ternopil reported on Telegram.

Melinda Simmons, Britain's ambassador to Kyiv, praised Tvorchi for their Eurovision entry.

"The staging was brilliant. And poignant as their university home town of Ternopil was targeted by Russian missiles this evening," Simmons tweeted.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested as he appeared in court in Islamabad on May 9 in one of several corruption cases filed against him since he was removed from power more than a year ago. Spontaneous protests in Lahore, Peshawar, and other places aimed to block traffic. In front of a military compound in the city of Mardan protesters chanted death to the Pakistani Army accusing the military of corruption. In some cases police responded with tear gas and water cannons.
Although Moscow is displaying tanks, missiles, and flags today, Russian authorities have canceled May 9 Victory Day parades in at least 24 other cities. The annual event celebrates the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, some residents of the western Russian cities of Krasnodar and Saratov said they understood why events were toned down. Meanwhile, families of fallen soldiers were instructed to change the custom of honoring the "Immortal Regiment" with public gatherings, asked instead to place pictures of the dead in car windows. The change reduces the chance that demonstrators could publicly acknowledge current Russian military deaths in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 9 discussed Ukraine's progress toward integration into the European Union, European ammunition deliveries for the Ukrainian military, and fresh Russia sanctions.

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 in Ukraine, click here.

Von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv after Russia overnight launched another missile attack on the Ukrainian capital -- the fifth since the start of the month and the second in as many days.

Zelensky said after the talks that he told von der Leyen, he told her that the Ukrainian military needs faster deliveries of artillery shells from the EU.

Later on May 9, EU lawmakers on May 9 voted to speed up consideration of a law to boost ammunition production in Europe to the tune of 500 million euros ($550 million), due to efforts to supply Ukraine.

The decision should see the new legislation -- termed the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) -- in place by the end of the year, members of the European Parliament and European Commission officials said.

The spending proposal, initiated by the commission, comes as the bloc seeks to supply one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next 12 months, adding to a stream of military deliveries.

After the meeting with von der Leyen, Zelenskiy also said he criticized the restrictions that some EU nations have imposed on grain exports from Ukraine, saying the measures play to Russia's advantage. The two also talked about a new package of Russia sanctions that the EU is preparing and about Kyiv's progress in EU accession negotiations.

Von der Leyen's visit -- her fifth since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine -- takes place on a day full of symbolism as the European Union on May 9 celebrates Europe Day, a nod to the Schuman Declaration presented by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on the same day in 1950.

The declaration is seen as cornerstone of what was to become the present-day 27-member EU.

Zelenskiy submitted a bill to parliament officially marking May 9 as Europe Day in Ukraine, while Victory Day, May 8, is to be celebrated as a "day of remembrance and victory over Nazism." The move was seen as a snub to Russia, which invaded Ukraine to prevent it from integrating with Europe.



Zelenskiy said Ukraine would mark May 9 as Europe Day "together with all of free Europe," adding that "Ukraine has always been, is, and will be a part of [this Europe]."



Von der Leyen said on Twitter that she welcomed Zelenskiy's decision to make May 9 Europe Day in Ukraine.

Von der Leyen's arrival came hours after Russia launched 25 cruise missiles at Ukraine, 15 of them targeting Kyiv, in a second attack following a wave of drone strikes on May 8.

"In total, during two waves of attacks on Ukraine on the night of May 9, the Russian occupiers launched 25 cruise missiles; 23 of them were destroyed by the air defense of Ukraine," Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement early on May 9.

The United States on May 9 announced a $1.2 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that includes munitions to boost air defenses and provide Kyiv with additional artillery ammunition, the Defense Department said in a statement.



The package provides funding to purchase weapons from the defense industry as opposed to a drawdown from U.S. stocks, but this means the assistance will take longer to reach the battlefield.

Fighting on May 9 in eastern Ukraine took the life of a journalist with the French news agency AFP. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the "bravery" of video journalist Arman Soldin, who was killed by rocket fire.



"With bravery, from the first hours of the conflict he was at the front to establish the facts. To inform us," Macron said on Twitter, adding that he shared "the pain of his relatives and all his colleagues."



The Ukrainian Defense Ministry offered "heartfelt condolences" to his family and co-workers.



"He dedicated his life to informing the world about the truth," the ministry said on Twitter.

Earlier on May 9, the head of the capital's military administration, Serhiy Popko, reported that Kyiv's air defenses had detected and destroyed about 15 missiles above the city.

No casualties or damages were immediately reported, Popko said.

The attack on Kyiv was the second in hours, after Russia on May 8 launched 35 suicide drones and 16 missiles. The missile strikes targeted the regions of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolayiv, and Odesa, and inflicted casualties.

"Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded civilians, and high-rise buildings, private homes, and other civilian infrastructure were damaged," the General Staff said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that five people were injured overnight on May 8 as a result of a drone strike that damaged buildings and infrastructure.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian defenders repelled 42 attacks over the 24-hour period that ended early on May 9 on the Bakhmut-Avdiyivka-Maryinka direction in Donetsk, the military said. The fiercest fighting was taking place in Bakhmut and Maryinka, it added.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin-connected head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, claimed his forces were inching forward in the fiercely contested town of Bakhmut.



But later on May 9, he accused the Russian Defense Ministry of failing to supply his mercenary fighters with enough ammunition and accused Russian troops of fleeing the fighting around Bakhmut. Prigozhin's comments were the latest in his long-running public feud with top Russian military officials.

He blamed a lack of ammunition for his group's inability to capture Bakhmut and just days ago threatened to pull out of the city if a resupply of ammo did not arrive soon.

On May 8, he said that his forces had begun to receive more ammunition.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
TROSTYANETS, Ukraine -- Photos from the newly recaptured northeastern Ukrainian city of Trostyanets in March 2022 showed perhaps the most strikingly ironic image of the Russian invasion. A preserved Soviet T-34 that was part of the battalion to seize Trostyanets from Nazi control in 1943 remained on its plinth above a wasteland of shattered modern Russian vehicles. Now the tank is set to be removed as part of a restoration project currently still in the planning stages. The 2022 images had led to calls from some online to preserve the T-34 as a symbol of this "mad war that had survived two very different conflicts involving the Kremlin.

Trostyanets, a city of around 20,000 that lies 32 kilometers from the Russian border, endured occupation for a month and was heavily damaged by fighting. Local authorities say more than 50 civilians were killed during the Russian occupation. In an apartment block in front of the tank monument that is now charred by fire, Yuri Smirnov survived the intense artillery battle that destroyed the Russian armor. I saw a lot, he says of the battle that led to the Russian retreat in the final days of March 2022. It was very hot. There was a lot of metal flying. None of us were showing our faces. If you walked outside, you would be cut down he says. Even inside the apartment the brick walls were wobbling back and forth from the blasts. I tried to put out the fire [that gutted the apartment block], but there was no stopping it. Smirnov says he supports the decision to remove the tank. Put it somewhere else, he says, adding, We dont need to replace it with anything. Just make the square a nice place to walk through again.

On a bench outside a shop near the tank monument, Nastya Shellest says she doesnt see the reason for its impending removal. I used to bus past it all the time as a child," she says. "I dont understand why it needs to be removed now. Trostyanets Mayor Yuriy Bova told RFE/RL that the tank is likely to be installed in a nearby memorial to fallen WWII soldiers, but it will have to be repaired. He added that the decision to remove the tank was made unanimously by councilors. The T-34 monument suffered a direct hit during the battle for Trostyanets that shunted the tank askew and shattered some of its wheels.
The partnership dynamics between Georgia and Portugal and prospects of deepening the existing cooperation were discussed in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Helena Carreiras, the Minister of National Defence of Portugal, Trend reports with reference to Agenda.

The officials also highlighted the importance of Portugal's support for Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Government Administration said.

Garibashvili said the granting of a European perspective to Georgia in 2022 had demonstrated the countrys future was in the European Union.

He also extended his gratitude to Carreiras for her countrys strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

The officials also reviewed the security environment and challenges in the Black Sea region and the wide world.
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that it will allow its diplomats to resume work in Damascus, more than a decade after withdrawing them over the Syrian civil war, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

Saudi Arabia has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria, the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The Kingdom would seek to develop joint Arab action, it said, two days after Syria was readmitted to the Arab League at a meeting in Cairo.

The Foreign Ministry cited the recent Arab League meetings and decisions to unfreeze Syria's participation in meetings and organizations of the group.

Saudi Arabia said the resumption of services was based on the brotherly ties between the people of Saudi Arabia and Syria and to increase regional safety and security.

The move also comes weeks after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in Damascus with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan -- the first such visit since the war broke out in 2011.
The foreign ministers of Turkiye and Syria will meet under the mediation of Russia and with the participation of Iran in a four-way encounter in Moscow and discuss normalization of bilateral ties, fight against terrorism, Ankara has announced, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News.

Mevlut Cavushoglu, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Turkiye will pay a visit to the Russian Federation on May 9-10, 2023, to attend the quadripartite meeting to be held in Moscow on May 10 with the participation of the Ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation, Iran and Syria, read a statement issued by the ministry on May 9.

Cavushoglu and Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will come together in Moscow accompanied with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The normalization process between the two neighbors started in the last days of 2022 by the efforts of Russia.

The two countries defense ministers and intelligence chiefs discussed security matters and the return of the Syrian refugees to Syria in the meetings. It will be the first time that the parties foreign ministers will attend the normalization talks.

At the meeting, it is planned to exchange views on normalization of the relations between Turkiye and Syria and to discuss counter terrorism, political process and humanitarian matters including the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrians, said the ministry.
Shraddha Walker Murder Case

The next hearing of the case has been fixed on June 1

NEW-DELHI: Aftab Poonawala, who strangled his live-in partner Shraddha Walker, has been charged with murder and destruction of evidence by a court here on Tuesday. Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar said the accused was charged under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (disappearance of evidence of crime) of the Indian Penal Code.

Poonawala, however, denied the allegations and said he would face trial. The next hearing of the case has been fixed on June 1. After this, Shraddha's father said, "We think he should be hanged. I will appeal to the court to start the hearing as soon as possible". The Delhi Police had filed a 6,629-page charge sheet in this case on January 24.

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Poonawala, allegedly killed Shraddha on May 18 last year, then dismembered Shraddha's body and kept it in a refrigerator at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli for nearly three weeks. Out of fear of being caught, Aftab threw these pieces in different areas of the national capital. On April 29, the court adjourned the order to frame charges against Aftab Poonawala as the judge concerned was on leave.

The court had adjourned the hearing till May 9 on a petition filed by Shraddha's father Vikas Walker, in which he appealed to the judge to hand over his daughter's body to the family for cremation as per tradition and culture. Additional Sessions Judge Manisha Khurana Kakkar had on April 15 reserved the decision on framing of charges for April 29 after hearing the arguments of the prosecution lawyers as well as the accused.




Arrest

Among the arrested, seven are men and three are women.

KATHMANDU: 10 Indian citizens, including three women, have been arrested on charges of obtaining Nepalese citizenship illegally by showing fake documents. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravindra Regmi said that the team of Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office arrested Indian nationals from different parts of Kathmandu on Saturday. All of them are from Bihar.

Among the arrested persons, seven are men and three are women. Kathmandu Valley Police Office revealed their identity on Sunday. Regmi said that the Indian nationals obtained certificates of Nepali citizenship from the district administration offices of Rupandehi, Bara and Parsa districts by showing fake documents.

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According to the media reports, the police said that the arrested people had been living in Nepal for a long time and some of them had been settled in the country since 2006. The arrest has taken place after three months of investigation. These persons were doing a business of making sweets and were running a sweet shop in Nepal.
Navjot Singh Sawhney

The Event is hosted by UK PM Rishi Sunak and First Lady Akshata Murty

LONDON: Indian-origin Sikh engineer Navjot Singh Sawhney, who won the Points of Light award earlier this year, is among other community heroes who will attend the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's special coronation lunch on Sunday. The event, hosted by Sunak and First Lady Akshata Murty, is taking place as part of The Big Lunch - a nationwide initiative to bring neighbors and communities together to celebrate the coronation.

"Points of Light award winnersvolunteers who have made outstanding contributions to their communitiesare invited to attend the event," an official statement said. Sawhney won the PM's Points of Light award in January this year for designing an energy-efficient manual washing machine for displaced and low-income communities.

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"His hand-crank washing machine has benefited more than 1,000 families who do not have access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries or refugee camps," the statement said. Sawhney's machines have also helped Ukrainian families who were forced to leave their homes and are currently living in humanitarian aid centers. (Agency)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) reported that its cash net profit after tax from continuing operations for the third quarter was A$2.6 billion up 10% from the prior comparative quarter.

Statutory net profit after tax was A$2.6 billion in the quarter.



Operating income was flat in the quarter, with net interest income down 2%, offset by higher non-interest income.

Net interest income was 2% lower, with volume growth offset by lower net interest margins primarily from continued competitive pressure in home loan pricing and customers switching to higher yielding deposits. This was partly offset by higher earnings on deposits, replicating portfolio and equity hedges from rising interest rates.

For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com

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While reporting financial results for the third quarter on Tuesday, organic and natural products company Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (HAIN) trims its adjusted net sales growth guidance for the full year 2023.

For fiscal 2023, the company now projects constant currency adjusted net sales to be down 4 to 3 percent, compared to the prior guidance for a 1 to 4 percent decline.

On average, 13 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report a sales decline of 2.2 percent to $1.85 billion for the year.

The company also fourth-quarter constant currency adjusted net sales to be down in the low single digit percentages. Analysts expect the company to report a sales growth of 3.3 percent to $472.19 million for the quarter.

For the third quarter, the company posted a net loss of $115.73 million or $1.29 per share, compared to net income of $24.53 million or $0.27 per share in the prior-year quarter. Excluding items, adjusted earnings for the quarter was $0.08 per share, compared to $0.33 per share in the year-ago quarter.

Net sales for the quarter decreased 9.5 percent to $455.24 million from $502.94 million in the same quarter last year. Net sales also declined 6 percent, when adjusted for foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestitures and discontinued brands.

The Street was looking for earnings of $0.16 per share on revenues of $484.13 million for the quarter.

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US President Joe Biden made the decision to extend the regime of unilateral sanctions against Syria for one year more, according to the notice posted by the White House, Trend reports citing TASS.

This refers to keeping in force various restrictive measures introduced by Washington against Damascus from 2004 to 2012. Restrictions provide in particular blocking assets of certain individuals and legal entities and the ban on exports of specific categories of US goods and services to Syria.

"I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria," the US President said.

"The United States will consider changes in policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future," as stated in the notice.
Two satellites designed by NASA to study tropical cyclones, including hurricanes and typhoons, are in orbit after the successful launch on Monday.

The first pair of the U.S. space agency's TROPICS CubeSats (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) lifted off aboard an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 Pad B in Mahia, New Zealand. Team members successfully sent commands to the first CubeSat at 1:48 a.m. EDT, Monday. Subsequently, they established communications with the second CubeSat at 6:31 a.m. EDT.

TROPICS is a constellation of four identical CubeSats designed to observe tropical cyclones in a unique, inclined low Earth orbit over Earth's tropics. This orbit allows the satellites to travel over any given storm about once in an hour. Current weather tracking satellites have a timing of about once every six hours, according to NASA.

"Providing more frequent imaging will not only improve our situational awareness when a hurricane forms," said Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The data will provide information to models that help us determine how a storm is changing over time, which in turn helps to improve forecasts from our partners like the National Hurricane Center and Joint Typhoon Warning Center," he added.

NASA selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to provide the launch service for the agency's TROPICS mission in November.

"Today's launch service marks the first launch completed as part of the VADR contract, a significant milestone as we aim to enable greater access to space for science and missions," said Bradley Smith, director, Launch Services for the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. "We look forward to increasing storm tracking capabilities with another launch later this month to complete the TROPICS constellation," he added.

The second pair of TROPICS CubeSats is planned to launch aboard another Rocket Lab Electron rocket in about two weeks, NASA said in a pres release. The second launch will be timed to insert the next two CubeSats into the TROPICS constellation.

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Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMTOF.PK) reported Tuesday that its fiscal 2022 net income attributable to owners of the parent soared 128 percent to 168.73 billion Japanese yen from last year's 74.04 billion yen.

Earnings per share grew to 113.36 yen from 49.74 yen a year ago. Operating income climbed 118.1 percent to 190.50 billion yen from last year.

Net sales for the year increased 20.6 percent to 2.46 trillion yen from 2.04 trillion yen in the same period last year.

Looking ahead for fiscal year 2023, the company expects profit attributable to be 100 billion yen or 67.19 yen per share, down 40.7 percent from last year. Operating income would be 150 billion yen, down 21.3 percent, while net sales are expected to rise 9.8 percent to 2.70 trillion yen.

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With increasing competition and subsidy exhausted in several states, OEMs are betting on new, affordable variants to boost sales

Premium electric scooters like Ather 450X have been registering robust sales since launch. The combo of central and stage level subsidies has worked to make these electric scooters a viable option in comparison to the standard ICE-based scooters.

However, electric two-wheeler sales appear to be plateauing. MoM growth was negative in April 2023. Moreover, OEMs like Ola and Hero MotoCorp have launched more affordable variants to boost sales. Theres also the threat from upcoming electric two-wheelers such as Simple One, Honda electric scooter and Gogoro. In view of these factors, Ather appears to be right in its decision to launch a new, affordable variant.

Ather new 450S base variant  Where will be cost cutting?

With affordability taking prominence, upcoming Ather 450S variant is likely to miss out on several of the advanced features available with existing 450X Pro Pack variant. But that shouldnt be a constraint for folks with limited budget. Quite a few features are not even necessary such as the full colour 7-inch TFT touchscreen display. Ather has already replaced the colour screen with a grey scale unit onboard the standard 450X.

Similarly, there could be other features that could be axed. Features like 4G connectivity, music and calls access, guide-me-home light, hill assist and park assist may be desirable. However, they cannot be described as a necessity. These features have already been removed from standard 450X variant. The upcoming 450S variant could do away with more features to achieve an affordable price point.

In addition to the missing features and tech, the new Ather 450S base variant is likely to get a tubular frame, instead of the aluminium space frame of the current 450X. It will also get a smaller battery pack along with a less powerful motor. This will help Ather price their new 450S base variant aggressively.

Ather 450S  expected price

As compared to electric two-wheelers like Ather, the bestselling ICE scooters like Honda Activa are relatively cheaper. Activa starts at Rs 75,347 (ex-sh., Delhi), as compared to Rs 98,079 of Ather 450X base variant. It is apparent that people with limited budget will have preference for the Activa. This is why OEMs need to come up with more affordable variants, whose pricing can be at par with bestselling ICE scooters.

Along with removing unnecessary features, OEMs can also think about using lower capacity battery packs. It will lower the range, but the price benefit will be perceived as favourable by most buyers. Moreover, charging infrastructure is improving rapidly in the country. When users know theres a charging station in the neighbourhood, they would worry less about range and getting stranded.

Upcoming Ather 450S variant could be priced below Rs 1.5 lakh. Existing 450X and 450X Pro Pack variants are priced at Rs 1,71,879. Central subsidy available for Ather under FAME II is Rs 55,500, whereas state subsidy applicable on Ather scooters in Delhi is Rs 18,300. Assuming Ather new 450S variant is priced at Rs 1.50 lakh, it could be available at an effective ex-showroom price of approximately Rs 76,000 in Delhi. Thats almost close to that of Activa. Other charges like insurance, road tax and registration will be applicable.
The Republican-controlled House Foreign Affairs Committee threatened Secretary of State Antony Blinken with contempt of Congress if he doesnt turn over a diplomatic cable related to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

In a letter dated May 5, committee Chairman Michael McCaul said the State Departments efforts to comply with a March 28 subpoena seeking an unredacted copy of a so-called dissent channel cable and the official response were insufficient. He gave Blinken until Thursday to hand over the cable.

Should you fail to comply, the Committee is prepared to take the necessary steps to enforce its subpoena, including holding you in contempt of Congress and/or initiating a civil enforcement proceeding, McCaul said in the letter.

The State Department said it had tried to work with McCaul on the issue, giving the committee a classified briefing on the cable as well as a written summary of its contents. Spokesman Vedant Patel called the latest threat unnecessary and unproductive.

The dissent channel allows US diplomats around the world to comment on and criticize US foreign policy directly to superiors in Washington. Blinken has argued that providing the actual cable, rather than summarizing it or briefing on its contents, might discourage diplomats from using the channel in the future.

The exchange is the latest back-and-forth on the highly charged issue of the Biden administrations withdrawal from Afghanistan after the Trump administrations negotiations with the Taliban led to an effective hard end date for the US combat mission there.

As the US readied its departure, Taliban insurgents quickly overran the US-backed national army, while the US and other nations organized last-minute airlifts of nationals and Afghan support personnel. That chaotic operation was captured most vividly by images of desperate Afghans running alongside and climbing aboard a US military transport plane as it taxied along the runway at Kabuls airport.

Since Republicans won the House in midterm elections and took control of the Foreign Affairs Committee, lawmakers such as McCaul have seized on the Afghan withdrawal  as well as a terror attack during the exit that killed US service members  to criticize the Biden administrations foreign policy record. That includes an interim report on the Afghan withdrawal titled A Strategic Failure.
Frank Gaffney Releasing Powerful New Book, 'The Indictment,' Tuesday, May 9

Eye-opening book urges Americans to wake up to the real enemy  the Chinese Communist Party



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Hamilton Strategies

May 9, 2023



WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the United States' mortal enemy. The CCP explicitly seeks America's destruction and has long used devastating, pre-violent, "unrestricted warfare" for decades  with help from their friends among American "captured elites."



Now, the Chinese Communists appear poised to add a shooting war against Taiwan, as well as other American allies and partners. Most Americans are unaware of these facts. There is insufficient public support for those in political life and other leadership positions who do recognize the danger and are committed to countering the CCP and defeating it.



America needs a serious, multifaceted and sustained campaign to inform and mobilize the American people. The model should be Ronald Reagan's 1980 pursuit of a mandate to take down the existential threat of his time: the USSR.



Such an initiative must:

Illuminate the true nature  and illegitimacy  of the Chinese Communist Party as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO);



Document the CCP's war crimes against this nation and myriad other, horrific crimes against humanity;



Prosecute  at a minimum, in the court of public opinion  the Chinese Communists for such criminal conduct and the toll it has taken here and elsewhere.

Frank Gaffney and the Committee on the Present Danger: China (CPDC) released a groundbreaking new book, "The Indictment: Prosecuting the Chinese Communist Party & Friends for Crimes Against America, China, and the World," today, May 9. The book includes a powerful forward from former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. It enumerates:

Nine criminal "charges" that can and must be brought and prosecuted against the Chinese Communist Party and its American enablers.



Twenty specific actions required to punish the perpetrators of its criminal conduct and prevent those likely in the offing, and even worse.

"The Indictment" can  and must  serve as a rallying cry for those across America committed to preserving this country and Constitution in the face of the CCP's and its friends' determined efforts to destroy both. Learn more at theindictmentbook.com.



To interview representatives of the Committee on the Present Danger: China, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.



SOURCE Hamilton Strategies



CONTACT: Beth Harrison, 610-584-1096 ext. 105; Deborah Hamilton, 610-584-1096 ext. 102, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com


Funding for a US and United Arab Emirates-led initiative to advance climate-friendly farming practices around the world has grown to more than $13 billion, a US official said on Monday, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) was launched in 2021 and seeks to unite nations to cut agriculture emissions, which account for about 10 percent to 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from sources like livestock manure, machinery and fertilizer application, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the latest funding figures at the AIM for Climate summit in Washington, DC, on Monday during an appearance alongside UAE Minister for Climate and the Environment Mariam Almheiri and former US vice president Al Gore.

About $10 billion of the $13 billion investment is from governments and the rest is from non-government parties funding initiatives to support smallholder farmers, emerging technologies and methane reduction, a US Department of Agriculture spokesperson said.

Climate change continues to impact longstanding agricultural practices in every country and a strong global commitment is necessary to face the challenges of climate change head-on, Vilsack said in a statement.

The UAE will host the COP28 climate change talks this fall. As of COP27 last November, $8 billion had been pledged for AIM for Climate.

The AIM for Climate summit lasts through Wednesday and will feature officials from Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as well as academics and company executives.
An Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip came into effect at 10pm local time (1900 GMT) on Saturday evening, ending five days of Israeli aggression on the strip.
While conducting a study of Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory uncovered a previously unseen way in which the ice and ocean interact. The glaciologists said their findings could mean that the climate community has been vastly underestimating the magnitude of future sea level rise caused by polar ice deterioration.

Using satellite radar data from three European missions, the UCI/NASA team learned that Petermann Glacier's grounding line -- where ice detaches from the land bed and begins floating in the ocean -- shifts substantially during tidal cycles, allowing warm seawater to intrude and melt ice at an accelerated rate. The group's results are the subject of a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Petermann's grounding line could be more accurately described as a grounding zone, because it migrates between 2 and 6 kilometers as tides come in and out," said lead author Enrico Ciraci, UCI assistant specialist in Earth system science and NASA postdoctoral fellow. "This is an order of magnitude larger than expected for grounding lines on a rigid bed."

He said the traditional view of grounding lines beneath ocean-reaching glaciers was that they did not migrate during tidal cycles, nor did they experience ice melt. But the new study replaces that thinking with knowledge that warm ocean water intrudes beneath the ice through preexisting subglacial channels, with the highest melt rates occurring at the grounding zone.

The researchers found that as Petermann Glacier's grounding line retreated nearly 4 kilometers -- 2 miles -- between 2016 and 2022, warm water carved a 670-foot-tall cavity in the underside of the glacier, and that abscess remained there for all of 2022.

"These ice-ocean interactions make the glaciers more sensitive to ocean warming," said senior co-author Eric Rignot, UCI professor of Earth system science and NASA JPL research scientist. "These dynamics are not included in models, and if we were to include them, it would increase projections of sea level rise by up to 200 percent -- not just for Petermann but for all glaciers ending in the ocean, which is most of northern Greenland and all of Antarctica."

The Greenland ice sheet has lost billions of tons of ice to the ocean in the past few decades, the PNAS paper stresses, with most of the loss caused by warming of subsurface ocean waters, a product of Earth's changing climate. Exposure to ocean water melts the ice vigorously at the glacier front and erodes resistance to the movement of glaciers over the ground, causing the ice to slide more quickly to the sea, according to Rignot.

Ciraci's research was supported by the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Joining Ciraci and Rignot on the project were Bernd Scheuchl, UCI associate project scientist; Valentyn Tolpekin and Michael Wollersheim of Finland's Iceye mission; Lu An of China's Tongji University; Pietro Milillo of the University of Houston; Jose-Luis Bueso-Bello of the German Aerospace Center; and Luigi Dini of the Italian Space Agency.
Scientists have used mitochondrial DNA to trace a female lineage from northern coastal China to the Americas. By integrating contemporary and ancient mitochondrial DNA, the team found evidence of at least two migrations: one during the last ice age, and one during the subsequent melting period. Around the same time as the second migration, another branch of the same lineage migrated to Japan, which could explain Paleolithic archeological similarities between the Americas, China, and Japan. The study appears May 9 in the journal Cell Reports.

"The Asian ancestry of Native Americans is more complicated than previously indicated," says first author Yu-Chun Li, a molecular anthropologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "In addition to previously described ancestral sources in Siberia, Australo-Melanesia, and Southeast Asia, we show that northern coastal China also contributed to the gene pool of Native Americans."

Though it was long assumed that Native Americans descended from Siberians who crossed over the Bering Strait's ephemeral land bridge, more recent genetic, geological, and archeological evidence suggests that multiple waves of humans journeyed to the Americas from various parts of Eurasia.

To shed light on the history of Native Americans in Asia, a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences followed the trail of an ancestral lineage that might link East Asian Paleolithic-age populations to founding populations in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and California. The lineage in question is present in mitochondrial DNA, which can be used to trace kinship through the female line.

The researchers scoured over 100,000 contemporary and 15,000 ancient DNA samples from across Eurasia to eventually identify 216 contemporary and 39 ancient individuals belonging to the rare lineage. By comparing the accumulated mutations, geographic locations, and carbon-dated age of each of these individuals, the researchers were able to trace the lineage's branching path. They identified two migration events from northern coastal China to the Americas, and in both cases, they think that the travelers probably set dock in America via the Pacific coast rather than by crossing the inland ice-free corridor (which would not have opened at the time).

The first radiation event occurred between 19,500 and 26,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheet coverage was at its greatest and conditions in northern China were likely inhospitable for humans. The second radiation occurred during the subsequent deglaciation or melting period, between 19,000 and 11,500 years ago. There was a rapid increase in human populations at this time, probably due to the improved climate, which may have fueled expansion into other geographical regions.

The researchers also uncovered an unexpected genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people. During the deglaciation period, another group branched out from northern coastal China and traveled to Japan. "We were surprised to find that this ancestral source also contributed to the Japanese gene pool, especially the indigenous Ainus," says Li.

This discovery helps to explain archeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan, and the Americas. Specifically, the three regions share similarities in how they crafted stemmed projectile points for arrowheads and spears. "This suggests that the Pleistocene connection among the Americas, China, and Japan was not confined to culture but also to genetics," says senior author Qing-Peng Kong, an evolutionary geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Though the study focused on mitochondrial DNA, complementary evidence from Y chromosomal DNA suggests that male ancestors of Native Americans also lived in northern China at around the same time as these female ancestors.

This study adds another piece to the puzzle that is Native American ancestry, but many other elements remain unclear. "The origins of several founder groups are still elusive or controversial," says Kong. "Next, we plan to collect and investigate more Eurasian lineages to obtain a more complete picture on the origin of Native Americans."
(Photo : Pexels / Shantanu Kumar )

AI-related arrests have now started surfacing. This is the case specifically in China, where a man was held for allegedly using ChatGPT to create fake news regarding a train crash.

Man Arrested For ChatGPT-Generated Fake News on Train Crash

According to Futurism, the fake news falsely claimed that nine individuals died due to a train accident on April 25. Several story versions were reportedly released on Baijihao, a news blog social network that Baidu, a prominent Chinese search engine, runs.

The man was simply identified by his surname "Hong." He was specifically cited for "provoking trouble" and "picking quarrels." Gizmodo notes that this is a catch that is typically used against activists and dissidents. Considering the man's allegations, the police officers presume that Hong may face charges that could run from five to ten years in prison.

According to Gizmodo, Hong allegedly bypassed the restrictions of Baijihao to post repeated content via several accounts and to let ChatGPT go through several trending stories in order to create several versions of the story. Gizmodo also adds that this was done to generate some 15,000 clicks.

Hong reportedly owns a company that works with several outlets of blogs. These platforms are reportedly registered under Shenzhen, a major tech manufacturing and business hub across southern China, as reported by Gizmodo.

ALSO READ: AI Doctor? ChatGPT Nearly Passes US Medical Licensing Exam

China's Efforts to Regulate AI

As per South China Morning Post, this is the first time the public has been notified of an arrest made under the recently implemented deep-fake regulations of the country.

The new law, referred to as the "Administrative Provisions on Deep Synthesis for Internet Information Service," has taken effect since January. According to this law, all content that is AI-generated must be labeled explicitly and have its actual source cited. It also requires consent for using any generative software to modify one's image or voice.

The law also lists roughly 1,300 sites that the government allows to use generative AI for content creation. It also indicates that all AI-generated content must adhere to the correct political stances and maintain the proper orientation of public opinion.

Hong allegedly used ChatGPT specifically, which is not available nor allowed in China, but can be used via VPN. Gizmodo also adds that, just last month, China released guidelines that restricted certain chatbots, including the famous ChatGPT. This was reportedly done to help create an environment that is CCP-friendly surrounding generative AI.

WION reports that Chinese firms are developing their own AI chatbots that align with Chinese guidelines. The country's top digital regulator has cautioned before that AI advancements may make it harder for authorities to tell deep-fake and non-deep-fake content apart and that this may foster defamation and scams.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Doctors Warn Against Using ChatGPT for Medical Advice; AI Chatbot Unreliable, Makes up Health Data

Check out more news and information on Artificial Intelligence in Science Times.
Calm returned to Gaza Sunday as a fragile ceasefire ending five days of fighting held, leaving Palestinians and Israelis to count the cost of cross-border fire which has killed dozens.
Washington's power brokers love playing chicken. But the rest of the world will watch in dread Tuesday when President Joe Biden and Republican leaders meet to negotiate the US debt ceiling -- praying that one side finally blinks.
At least one person was killed and five others injured in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health officials said Wednesday, after hours of fighting between Israel and Palestinian groups in the coastal enclave following the death of a prominent hunger-striking prisoner.

A tense cease-fire held hours after Palestinian armed groups launched around 100 rockets into southern Israel late on Tuesday. The Israeli military said it bombed tunnels, arms production sites and military installations belonging to the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Hashil Mubarak, 58, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. His family said he was injured by falling debris and died at the hospital.

The cross-border fighting was some of the most intense since an 11-day war in 2021 between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza. It came hours after Khader Adnan, a leader in the Islamic Jihad group, died in Israeli custody after a nearly three-month hunger strike, prompting Palestinians to launch a general strike and protests in the West Bank and Gaza.

Adnan is credited with helping introduce the practice of protracted hunger strikes by Palestinian prisoners as a form of protest, primarily against the practice of administrative detention, a measure Israel uses to detain people without charge or trial.

The spike in violence is a test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, its most right-wing ever, whose members have called for a tough line against Palestinians. Far-right extremist government members leveled criticism at their own leadership's response to rocket fire from Gaza. Orit Struck, a Cabinet minister with the Religious Zionism party, told Kan public radio that Israel did not "exact a toll.

We needed to level a few buildings in Gaza, and some chief terrorists needed to join their friend who died in jail, she said.

In the occupied West Bank, the focal point for Israeli-Palestinian violence over the last year, Israeli troops destroyed the houses of two Palestinians who carried out attacks against Israelis in October and November.

Israel says home demolitions are meant to deter future attackers, but critics say they amount to collective punishment against the families of assailants and only exacerbate tensions with Palestinians.

Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank have been locked in an escalating bout of fighting for the past year. About 250 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and 49 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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Israeli forces on Sunday demolished a Palestinian primary school in the occupied West Bank citing safety issues, drawing sharp criticism from the European Union which had funded the project.

Palestinians hurled rocks at Israeli forces who fired tear gas at them, as bulldozers moved in on the site at Jabbet al-Dhib village near Bethlehem.

The EU said it was "appalled" after Israeli forces arrived at dawn at the school site, which a Palestinian Authority official said served 45 students and consisted of five classrooms.

A caravan and classrooms constructed of tin sheeting were cleared out of their contents before the demolition, an AFP correspondent said.

COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body overseeing civilian affairs in the occupied territories, imposed in March a two-month deadline to vacate the premises following an order by a Jerusalem court.

The body had alleged that the school had been "built illegally" and posed a "safety hazard".

Ahmed Naser, a Palestinian education ministry official, told AFP the school had replaced another school demolished by Israel in 2019.

Naser noted its remote location, which he said prevents the "displacement and forced eviction" of local Palestinians, charging that Israel "wants to confiscate these lands".

The EU called on Israel to "halt all demolitions and evictions, which will only increase the suffering of the Palestinian population and further escalate an already tense environment".

"Demolitions are illegal under international law, and children's right to education must be respected," the office of the EU representative to the Palestinian Territories said in a statement.

In January, a group of United Nations experts had called for action to stop Israel's "systematic and deliberate" demolition of Palestinian structures.

"Direct attacks on the Palestinian people's homes, schools, livelihoods and water sources are nothing but Israel's attempts to curtail the Palestinians' right to self-determination and to threaten their very existence," the experts said in a statement.

Mubarak Zawahrah, head of the Beit Tamar local council where the school was located, told AFP Israeli authorities had agreed a stay on the demolition pending a court appeal on Wednesday.

"But the Israeli army ignored that and just demolished it," he said, adding that the students would now have to travel to another village for classes.

COGAT and Israeli group Regavim said the demolition was the result of a petition filed by the right-wing organisation whose mission, according to its website, includes "the protection of Israel's national lands".

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On March 27, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Wayne McLean and Joan Powell in connection with a fraudulent scheme to sell purported shares of Eastern Metal Securities (EMS). The SEC previously charged Roger Nils-Karlsson in connection with the EMS scheme that victimized thousands of retail investors worldwide.

According to the SEC's complaint, from on or about November 2012 to June 2019, Karlsson, using various aliases, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme in which he offered and sold EMS shares, purportedly backed by a "Pre Funded Reversed Pension Plan" that Karlsson claimed to be the world's first online investment of its kind. Karlsson's scheme was allegedly facilitated by McLean and Powell. McLean allegedly offered and sold EMS securities to investors, including by making solicitations through podcasts that made materially false and misleading statements. As alleged, Powell collected and forwarded investor money to accounts controlled by Karlsson, and McLean and Powell retained a portion of the investment funds for their own personal use despite claiming that they were performing these functions without remuneration.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charges McLean with violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Powell with violations of Sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder. McLean and Powell, without admitting or denying the allegations, consented to bifurcated settlements, agreeing to be permanently enjoined from violations of the charged provisions and to the imposition of an officer-and-director bar, with monetary relief in an amount to be determined by the court at a later date upon motion of the Commission. The settlements are subject to court approval.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by John Lehmann, Jordan Baker, Patricia Schrage, Alistaire Bambach, and Lindsay Moilanen of the New York Regional Office. The litigation is being handled by Mr. Lehmann and Chevon Walker. The matter is being supervised by Thomas P. Smith, Jr.
At least 13 Palestinians, including four children and four women, were killed early Tuesday and 20 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry announced.

The pre-dawn air strikes targeted several homes and residential buildings across the besieged Gaza Strip, resulting in the murder of Jihad Ghannam, 62, Khaled Al-Buheiti, 44, and Tareq Izz al-Din, as well as members of their households, including women and children, reported the palestinian news agency WAFA.

An AFP journalist in Gaza saw the top of a building on fire immediately after the strikes as well as ambulances evacuating victims.

In Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, an AFP photographer saw the body of a man identified as Ghannam.

Explosions from air strikes, which began a little after 2 am (2300 GMT), could be heard for nearly two hours, according to AFP journalists.

The Israeli occupation army said the strikes, involved 40 aircraft and had targeted three leaders of the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group based in Gaza, and claims to have hit "weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group.

"We mourn the leaders and their wives and a number of their children who were killed in a cowardly Zionist crime," Islamic Jihad said in a statement, vowing "the blood of martyrs will increase (the) resolve" of the movement.

The operation came less than a week after Islamic Jihad announced a truce around Gaza -- brokered with help from Egypt -- following a fresh flare-up in violence.

Israel and Gaza militants traded cross-border fire following the death in Israeli detention of Khader Adnan, who had been on hunger strike for 87 days following his arrest with any charges.

On Tuesday, the militant group said Israel had "scorned all the initiatives of mediators" and vowed it would "avenge the leaders" killed in the latest air strikes.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned the attack. In a statement, the ministry called the attack a "heinous crime" and stated that it is part of the occupation's ongoing war against the Palestinian people and their legitimate national rights, WAFA reported.

The statement also accused the Israeli government of trying to export its internal crises to the Palestinian arena and resolve them at the expense of the Palestinian people.

The ministry held the Israeli government responsible for the aggression and its consequences, warning that it could lead to a dangerous escalation that threatens the region's stability and called on the international community to take urgent action to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and stressed the need for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict as the only way to achieve security and stability.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said "assassinating the leadership in a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but instead greater resistance".

The militant group's spokesman, Hazem Qassem, warned that Israel "bears responsibility for the repercussions of this escalation".

Tuesday's casualties bring to 121 the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.

In the occupied West Bank, 12 Palestinians were detained early Tuesday in a series of home-raids carried out by Israeli occupation forces, WAFA reported, citing local and Palestinian security sources.

Of the 12 were seven siblings rounded up in the town of Yatta, while two others were detained in the city of Hebron and three others in Ramallah, one detained at a checkpoint outside Ramallah.

In al-Mughayyer, seven others were detained and held for several hours before they were released, sources added to WAFA.

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On May 5, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered a final judgment against former NJ broker, Joseph Orazio DeGregorio, enjoining him from violating certain provisions of the federal securities law and imposing other remedies.

According to the SEC's complaint, between October 2015 and March 2021, DeGregorio solicited just under $1 million from one 80-year old investor and approximately $205,000 from three additional elderly investors for various fictitious investments. DeGregorio allegedly told investors that their funds would be used to purchase promissory notes guaranteeing a 13% annual return and falsely claimed he would invest the funds in two private companies. According to the complaint, the purported promissory notes never existed, and the funds raised in connection with the note were funneled to a companies owned by DeGregorio, that were created by for the sole purpose of facilitating his fraud and did not carry out any actual business activities. The complaint further alleged that DeGregorio did not use any of the investor money for legitimate investments, but instead misappropriated the vast majority of the funds for personal expenses and gambling.

The SEC's complaint charged DeGregorio with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. On March 18, 2022, the Court entered a bifurcated consent judgment against DeGregorio enjoining him from violating the charged provisions. On May 5, 2023, the Court entered a final judgment against DeGregorio by consent in which he agreed to be permanently enjoined from violations of the charged provisions. He agreed to disgorge $1,084,500 in ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest thereon, the payment of which was deemed satisfied by the restitution and forfeiture orders in the parallel criminal proceeding, United States v. DeGregorio, 22 Cr. 030 (E.D.N.Y.).

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Bennett Ellenbogen and Lindsay Moilanen, with assistance from Elizabeth Baier, and was supervised by Sheldon L. Pollock, of the SEC's New York Regional Office. Mr. Ellenbogen and Ms. Moilanen led the litigation. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
On April 26, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin granted the SEC's motion for default judgment, and entered final judgments, against defendants Kay X. Yang and Xapphire LLC, whom the SEC previously charged with violations of the federal securities laws. The court also entered a final judgment against Kay Yang's husband, Chao Yang, who the SEC charged as a relief defendant for improperly receiving proceeds from the fraudulent scheme.

According to the SEC's amended complaint, and the court's findings, between April 2017 and April 2021, Kay Yang engaged in the unregistered offer and sale of securities issued by two entities she owned, AK Equity Group LLC and Xapphire Fund LLC. Yang represented to prospective investors, many of whom were members of the Hmong-American community, that she would invest their money primarily through foreign exchange trading, they could expect annual returns ranging from 20% to 50%, and that her trading was consistently successful. In reality, Yang used less than half of the investors' contributions for foreign exchange trading and had many months with large net trading losses, resulting in negative returns. In addition, Yang misappropriated approximately $4,060,000 of the investors' money to fund her and her family's lifestyle, including spending on casinos, travel, homes, and cars, and to repay investors in a previous venture.

The judgments, entered on the basis of default, enjoined Kay Yang and Xapphire LLC from violating the anti-fraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and (2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In addition, Kay Yang was barred from acting as an officer or director of a public company. The judgments ordered Kay Yang and Xapphire LLC to pay, on a joint-and-several basis, $4,060,212 in disgorgement, prejudgment interest in the amount of $188,787.16, and a civil penalty in the amount of $4,060,212. Chao Yang was ordered to pay up to $830,502 in disgorgement and $38,615.75 in prejudgment interest.

The SEC's litigation was handled by Robert M. Moye and BeLinda Mathie of the SEC's Chicago Regional Office, with the assistance of Kathleen Sweeney.
Google can show your business address in more than one language within Google Maps and the Google local search results. So if you have a hotel, Google might be able to show the address both in English and the local language, like French in our example below.

This was spotted by Stefan Somborac who noticed this on a hotel listing located on the outskirts of Montreal, Canada, where both languages are common, he said. He posted this on Twitter:

As you can see from the screenshot, Google is showing the address both in French and English.

When he dug into the Google Business Profile to edit the hotel listing, he was given the option to change each, in each language. He said, "Using "Suggest an edit" on Google Maps, business owners (or any Maps user) can add variations of a business name in multiple languages. However, Google doesn't show all the translations simultaneously, just the one that matches the user's language settings." "From Canada + English language, "Suggest an edit" on a restaurant in Paris offers an English name field," he added.

Darren Shaw was able to replicate it for a location in Spain:

Oh, cool. Yes, I can see that for a restaurant in Spain.

and if I change the default language in Google's search settings to Polish, I can specify a Place name in Polish too. pic.twitter.com/lSlmDjzg6Q  Darren Shaw (@DarrenShaw_) May 8, 2023

Just to be clear, you were able to edit languages of your address for a while but the display is new. Editing the name in multiple languages has ben around for a while. But only one name was displayed in the profile and that was dependent on the searcher's preferred language. Some are saying that it is new that you were able to see the address in multiple languages, while others said it is not.

Either way, the addresses in multiple languages are not available to be edited, they must be translated automatically by Google.

Forum discussion at Twitter.
Egypt's Pope Tawadros II arrived at Rome International Airport on Tuesday to begin a visit to Vatican City on Wednesday, marking 50 years of relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Tawadros II was received by Egypt's Ambassador to the Vatican Mahmoud Talaat and Egypt's Ambassador to Italy Bassam Rady, along with the Secretary of the Dicaster for the Promotion of Christian Unity Mons. Brian Farrell.

During his visit, Tawadros will attend the weekly public hearing by Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, that will be held in the Paul VI hall, according to a statement released by the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The hearing coincides with the 50th anniversary if the release of a joint statement in 1973 in Vatican City by Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III in the first such meeting in over 1,000 years.

Additionally, delegations of the two churches will perform an ecumenical prayer for peace, unity, and love in the world, according to the statement.

This is Tawadros second visit to the Vatican as head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, having visited the Vatican in 2013 shortly after assuming the helm.

In statements to Al-Ahram, Ambassador Rady explained that Pope Tawadros II will also meet privately with Pope Francis, which will be the fourth meeting between the two pontiffs, at the St. Giovanni Church in Rome.

Pope Tawadros II will deliver a speech about the relationship between the two churches, according to the Coptic Orthodox Churchs statement.

During his visit, Pope Tawadros II is also scheduled to meet with a number of Italian officials at the Egyptian embassy in Rome.

"Pope Tawadros is considered one of Egypt's national symbols who is respected by all Egyptians. He is the author of the timeless historic quote, 'A homeland without churches is better than churches without a homeland,' during a time when Egypt was facing extremely delicate and unprecedented circumstances in its modern history," Rady stated.

Tawadros quote cited by Rady was made in 2013 after a number of churches across Egypt were attacked and burned by terrorists.

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As Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, takes steps to expunge the name Berkeley from its central library, officials at UC Berkeley are confronting the painful legacy behind the moniker  but say they have no plans to drop it.

We acknowledge that the universitys founders chose to name their new town and campus after an individual whose views warrant no honor or commemoration, university spokesperson Dan Mogulof said in a statement, referring to George Berkeleys history as a slaveholder with an ill-fated plan to force Native American children into Christianity.

At the same time, we are cognizant of the fact that over the course of the ensuing 155 years since the universitys founding, Berkeley has come to embody and represent very different values and perspectives, he continued, citing diversity and social equity as chief among those values. Mogulof said he is not aware of any formal effort or request to change the universitys name.

Renaming or denaming has become a way for cities and institutions to denounce or reckon with contentious figures of the past. San Francisco has purged problematic names from streets and a waterfront plaza, while what was previously known as UC Hastings discarded the name of its founder, Serranus Hastings, after historians linked him to massacres of Native American people in Mendocino County.

But most of these decisions met resistance and had myriad associated costs, from replacing building signs to creating new logos and letterhead. Hastings Chancellor David Faigman allowed a six-month transition for the college to adopt its new name, UC College of the Law San Francisco  a process that required an immense amount of preparatory work, Faigman said, including new state legislation.

The law school also faced a $1.7 billion lawsuit from descendants of Hastings, which stalled in December after a San Francisco Superior Court Judge denied the plaintiffs motion to halt the name change. Attorneys representing the college filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which is now being challenged at the California Court of Appeal.

For Berkeley, a top-tier public university that has spent more than a century and a half cementing the reputation of its brand, the risks appear even greater. UC Berkeley consistently ranks among the best public and private universities, known globally for its list of Nobel laureates and inventions, as well as its tradition of political activism.

To some branding experts, the hard costs of a name change  websites, stationery, books, libraries, tests, degrees  would pale in comparison to the incalculable cost of conveying a new brand identity to people across the world, for whom Berkeley is synonymous with academics.

When you analyze a name change, you have to understand the equity you have in the existing name, the cost of changing the name, and the value of changing the name  you have to balance all those things, said David Aaker, a professor emeritus at UC Berkeleys Haas School of Business who specializes in marketing and brand strategy. Right now, he continued, if you poll people in the U.S., Berkeley is among the top 10. It has an enormous reputation.

Aaker has criticized other famous rechristenings, such as Facebooks conversion to Meta, which he saw as a squandered opportunity to tell a new story about the company. He balked at Trinity Colleges decision to strip Berkeley from its library, saying it seemed like an arbitrary moral judgment.

The quandary facing UC Berkeley extends to the city at large, where discussions of a name change are already percolating, but not gaining much traction. In an opinion piece published last year in Berkeleyside, a longtime Berkeley resident advocated for renaming the city: Its time for us to move on from the past. The city of Berkeley, our city, is named after a slave owner, racist, and colonialist.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin declined to comment on whether the city would consider a new name, likely necessitating a charter amendment that would go before voters. Renaming a city might also require state legislation, as the state incorporated Berkeley.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins warned Supervisor Shamann Walton on Monday in a sharply worded letter not to interfere with her offices investigation into the April 27 shooting of Banko Brown.

Brown was shot and killed outside a Walgreens at 825 Market St. in downtown San Francisco; police described the incident as a shoplift that went bad, in which security guard Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony shot Brown outside the store.

The shooting has prompted significant outcry, with Browns loved ones and friends calling on Walgreens to shutter the store where he was killed and stop using armed security guards to watch over its stores. On Monday, signs posted on the outside of the store said it had been temporarily closed.

Bankos supporters described him as a strong advocate for the transgender community and held a vigil in his honor outside of the Walgreens where he died, protested outside City Hall and called for action during the latest meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

Residents and community activists criticized Jenkins decision not to prosecute Anthony, as did several members of the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Aaron Peskin  president of the board  initially said he planned to introduce a resolution calling on Jenkins to reconsider her decision, saying he was deeply concerned  by the district attorneys decision not to charge at least manslaughter.

Peskin later walked back his remarks, and ultimately said he would only request that the citys top prosecutor release video of the shooting and witness statements, a request the district attorney has refused, saying it would be unethical.

Walton also asked Jenkins to reconsider her decision not to charge Anthony, sending her an inquiry via the clerk of the Board of Supervisors on May 3, asking her to reconsider and reevaluate her decision not to prosecute Anthony and echoing Peskins call to release video of the shooting  and to respond to the letter by May 8.

According to a copy of the district attorneys letter, Jenkins informed Walton that while legally there is no requirement to respond to his request, she wanted to help him understand her decision and warn him about interference in the judicial process.

In her letter, sent Monday afternoon, Jenkins repeated her past explanation that after releasing Anthony from jail and deciding not to initially prosecute, she asked police to continue investigating the case and gather more evidence before she made a final decision.

She told Walton that his request that she reconsider the case was wholly inappropriate and dangerous to the interests of justice and a fair criminal justice system for all people.

She said his conclusion was based purely on speculation and conjecture, which should never be the basis for bringing criminal charges against someone.

She also criticized Walton for pointing out Brown was Black  but failing to note that the security guard who shot him is also Black.

She concluded the letter saying she hoped her explanation caused him to take a moment to pause and reflect on the dangers your inquiry posed to a fair and just judicial process.

After receiving the letter, Walton sent Jenkins his own response, saying that he disagreed with her opinions but did not believe his letter amounted to interference at all and said it was not at all unethical.

I do understand that there are several other pieces of evidence to explore and the decisions made by your office do not rely on one source of evidence, a copy of his response said. I also know that videos are released all the time during investigations and in some cases even required.

We are asking for transparency around the killing and release of the video most certainly helps with that transparency, he concluded. I hope (you) will reconsider.
Jacom Stephens/Getty Images

Oakland police seized 80 vehicles Friday night during a chaotic sideshow where a car was set on fire and rammed by a driver, according to authorities.

The incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. at the 1000 block of Oak Street near 10th Street where Oakland police said drivers of at least 250 cars gathered for the illegal stunts.
To misquote Blanche DuBois, I have always relied on the kindness of not-quite strangers. By this I mean the people I recognize but dont actually know. Not friends, but people I recognize in specific contexts, who I run into at the same place at the same time every day or every week without learning their names.

Take the fellows at Daniels Pharmacy. They dont wear name tags, but there are three bald guys there, all very nice, one of whom is named Ed. I know because Ive heard them yell out Ed, but never the names of the other two. Still, my husband Brian and I dont know which one is Ed. And yet when Brian was in the UCSF hospital for a week for his toe amputation, and I spent every minute at Parnassus, one of these unnamed guys drove across town with the two dozen family prescriptions.

Then theres a guy who works in City Hall. Twenty years ago, we were introduced, but the names didnt stick. So, when we pass in the hall, this handsome Black man with curly hair waves and says, Hello, young man. And I say, Hello, young man right back. I think neither of us wants to hurt the others feelings by admitting we dont remember. But he smiles and makes me feel young.

In the Outer, Outer, Outer, Outer Excelsior, we know the dogs, if not the owners. Weve learned that Bingo, the bichon frise, wears a red sweater on foggy days, but have no clue what the name of the Latina lady with the kerchief who walks him is. The white-haired woman who walks Magpie the poodle has given me lemons, and once a book, but never her moniker. And they know me as the guy from the Bedlam Blue Bungalow with the very loud puppy.

The psychic Starbucks baristas know my name and even the fact that I like cinnamon and nutmeg on top of my chai tea latte, and that Brian doesnt drink caffeine during Lent. They are kind, and yet most days I have to guess at their noms de cafe.

I also dont know how to address the waitress at Gentilly. She knows that every Wednesday, Brian always starts with the Sauvignon Blanc, and that I complain every time that they havent brought crostatas back to the menu, and then order Maw Maws Gumbo. The bartender, whose nom de vin we also do not know, sends us wine to sample, like the Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc. This even though he knows that I cannot tell wine apart from beer, whereas Brian can tell you with whom the grapes went to grade school.

Occasionally my inability to remember names is embarrassing. Like on Wednesday, when Dr. Kirschner told me he would be taking a biopsy. I nodded, assured him that this was fine, and the nurse gave me a dose of something to calm me down. Two CAT scans and a very large needle later, he walked into the recovery room, and I said, Im sorry. Doctor ?

I blamed it on the fentanyl-Versed cocktail, but still and all, he looked a little hurt, as if to say, Hey, I just poked a hole in your back and sucked out a piece of your kidney. I thought we had a moment.

Names just get more complicated as we get older. My mother, Nurse Vivian, called me by the real names of my siblings (known here as X and XX) more than she called me Kevin. She also did this with my father, Hap, who shrugged, I dont care what you call me, just as long as you dont call me late for dinner.

I took no offense when she called me Whiskers, our rescue dogs name, as she served Whiskers French toast while I ate Frosted Mini-Wheats. Later, it evolved into a kind of a blend: X-XX-Kevin-Whiskers!, and whichever of us was home answered.

I am as guilty, sometimes combining the names of my sons Zane and Aidan into Zaidan (pronounced Satan), although Ive never called either one of them Queenie. Neither do I make French toast for Queenies breakfast, much to her chagrin. Our other resident canine, Moxie, has not yet learned her own name some eight months into her puppyhood. She does, however, come running whenever I say Queenie, just in case theres the chance of a carrot or a walk.

A rose by any other name, the Bard wrote, would smell as sweet. Even if you or I dont know the name of the rose. No one is a stranger in this city by the bay. We may not know your name, but we know your smile.
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A regular recently made a surprising request of Scott Nishiyama, chef-owner of Ethels Fancy in Palo Alto: Gwyneth Paltrow wanted to eat at his restaurant this week.

The actor and entrepreneur was in town for an event at Stanford University, he said, and is friends with the frequent customer of the restaurant, which opened in downtown Palo Alto in October.
Park Tavern, a cherished San Francisco dining institution, has finally returned after a long pandemic hiatus and extensive renovation.

The restaurant at 1652 Stockton St. will reopen Sunday, in time for Mothers Day brunch, with a refreshed look, including a sleek bar, moody swirled gray marble floor and light-filled front dining room, which overlooks North Beachs Washington Square Park. Famed designer Ken Fulk, known for splashy revamps of prominent restaurants such as San Franciscos Boulevard and a high-end steak house at Chase Center, was behind the remodel.

After owner Anna Weinberg and former chef-partner Jennifer Puccio opened Park Tavern in 2011, it soon became a neighborhood staple. During the pandemic, much speculation had swirled around the future of Park Tavern, which was long closed, briefly reopened and then shut down again for the remodel in 2021.

Ive had to fight for this restaurant. Its a little emotional, Weinberg said.

Park Tavern got a major face-lift, including a brand-new kitchen and gas lines, but in many ways will feel like the former restaurant, especially in terms of the food. The kitchen will continue to serve classics, elevated, Weinberg said, like a whole roasted chicken and a burger with truffle fries.

There is, however, a new chef at the helm: Marco Cerruti, formerly of the Ellwood in Santa Barbara and the Charter Oak in St. Helena, according to his LinkedIn page.

With the redesign, Weinberg said she wanted to retain Park Taverns classic feel. There are dark green banquettes in the dining room, and the airy cafe in the front of the restaurant is decorated with a photograph of famed Bay Area chefs Cecilia Chiang of the Mandarin (who died in 2020) and Alice Waters of Chez Panisse.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

I want it to feel as if it could have been designed in 1950 or it could have been designed today, she said.

Its the last of Weinbergs San Francisco restaurants to reopen in the wake of the pandemic, following the 101-year-old Tosca Cafe and Leos Oyster Bar. (She previously ran Marlowe and the Cavalier in San Francisco as part of the Big Night Restaurant Group, but is no longer involved after a split with her ex-husband and former business partner James Nicholas.)

Park Tavern will be open for limited hours in May and then six days a week starting June 1.
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San Francisco International Airport has become the first in the United States to begin a government program to monitor airplane wastewater samples for new coronavirus variants.

The initiative, created in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will regularly collect combined wastewater flows from international arriving flights using an automatic sampling device and send them off to a laboratory for testing for emergent strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

Coronavirus map: How many COVID cases are in Bay Area and California

As we know from the COVID-19 pandemic, pathogens can spread quickly across the globe, impacting travel and trade, said Dr. Cindy Friedman, chief of CDCs Travelers Health Branch, in a statement. Testing of airplane wastewater can provide early detection of new COVID-19 variants and other pathogens that can cause outbreaks and pandemics.

The program, limited to arriving flights at the International Terminal, is part of the governments early warning system for detecting new variants and began expanding recently in the wake of a COVID-19 surge in China. Scientists have long called for the screening of wastewater from toilet tanks on arriving airplanes as an early warning system for detecting new variants.

Its a little gross when you start thinking about it, said Katelyn Jetelina, a consultant to the CDC. But these are really long flights and we would expect the majority of people would go to the bathroom.

The airport previously supplied wastewater samples from its treatment plant to UCSF to help identify new COVID-19 variants. The new program will be administered by the Boston-based biosecurity company Concentric by Ginkgo.

SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero said, This latest effort represents the most targeted approach to identify, monitor and ultimately mitigate COVID-19 variants.

Studying the amount of virus found in wastewater began early in the pandemic in some places and has become an increasingly widespread surveillance tool across the United States during the past three years as official coronavirus case counts have become unreliable because of the widespread use of home test kits.

Biology doesnt respect borders, and airports and other ports of entry are critical nodes for monitoring the spread of pathogens, said Matt McKnight, a general manager at Ginkgo Bioworks.

Such testing has been used elsewhere. Recently, Canada announced an expanded wastewater pilot program, and Belgium said it would test wastewater from airplanes coming from China during the outbreak there earlier this year.

Brian Feulner/Special to The Chronicle

The airport screening program is based on an unfortunate reality, according to Friedman. Travelers  go across the globe quickly and they can get and spread infectious diseases really fast, she said.

Scientists said as the virus continues to evolve it is critical to keep searching for new variants.

The coronavirus is like a predator stalking humanity, said Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University, and the predator adapts to the prey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Regarding Reparations panel, in historic vote, proposes payments, reforms and apology for Black Californians (Politics, SFChronicle.com, May 6): I am convinced that the best way to make reparations is to pay them forward to improve and enhance the lives of the descendants of the people who suffered from slavery, murder, unjustified incarceration and Jim Crow inequality.

How about increased pay for teachers in predominately Black schools, putting millions into creating better schools for all children, free tuition for those children entering college and technical schools, also mortgage assistance and free health coverage? What about small business loans and assistance that could easily be covered by the sums being suggested for reparation payments?

Young people will make better use of this reparation money, and they will be heirs of the life their families could have provided had they not suffered two centuries and more of slavery, murder and discrimination.

John Hopper, Walnut Creek

Enact gun control laws

Once again, another mass shooting, this time in Allen, Texas, which took eight innocent lives. Once again, legislators in our nations capitol will fail to pass meaningful gun control legislation that would save lives.

These elected officials dont really care if we feel unsafe going to a movie, a mall, a place of worship, a music concert or even dropping our kids off at school without the fear of some deranged individual, armed with a high-powered weapon, taking the lives of children.

The U.S. should be pitied for its inaction in reducing gun violence. These legislators should be pitied for being the cowards that they are in their failure to protect Americans. Yet many of them will continue to wear the U.S. flag pin on their lapels and jackets as if to reaffirm their patriotism. What a joke.

Al Comolli, Millbrae

Protest against killings

A new Fox News poll reveals that 61% of Americans support a ban on assault weapons. That they cant get it is just not right and unacceptable in our so-called democracy.

You can blame our undemocratic government based on minority rule for obstructing what the majority of Americans want. You can blame President Biden for not issuing an executive order banning assault weapons. You can blame a too-powerful, unethical politically motivated Supreme Court that will use the vague Second Amendment to overrule Congress and the president.

It would be best to blame our outdated undemocratic Constitution, a relic of 1787 that is nearly impossible to amend. It is the obstacle to ending the horrific and almost daily mass shootings.

No American is safe in their home, church, park, shopping center or school. Nothing short of a general strike and hundreds of thousands of people marching on Washington, D.C., to demand fundamental change in our undemocratic government will stop the killing that will only get worse.

David De Hart, Oakland

Take the kings advice

Regarding King Charles III crowned with regal pomp (Nation & World, May 7): During the coronation of King Charles, a phrase often repeated was Im here not to be served but to serve. This is a concept that seems foreign to many of our political leaders.

A judge I once knew used to tell his colleagues, We were appointed, not anointed. Although King Charles actually was anointed during the coronation, he pledged to serve not to be served. Our political leaders who were in fact appointed should take heed of the concept that they are not here to be served but instead to serve.

Terry Mullen, Danville

Royal injustice

Queen Camilla? Where is the justice in this fact? King Charles broke every moral rule by continuing his relationship with his mistress Camilla while married to Diana. Now Camilla is queen and Princess Diana was forced to accept her husbands behavior. We all know how that ended.

God save the king indeed.

Barbara Krings, Sacramento
UPDATE: Dianne Feinstein returns to U.S. Senate after months-long absence

Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday after an extended absence from the Senate that led some of her Democratic colleagues to call for her resignation.

Feinstein boarded a chartered private plane Tuesday, according to sources close to the senator, marking the first time she has returned to Washington from California since becoming ill with the shingles virus in mid-February. Feinsteins spokesperson Adam Russell confirmed her departure to The Chronicle. Last week, the New York Times editorial board called on Feinstein to resign if she wasnt physically up to the job.

Its All Political on Fifth & Mission podcast: On Feinsteins Absence

Feinstein has missed 91 votes since getting sick. Democrats have grown anxious because Feinsteins absence means the Senate Judiciary Committee is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, preventing more liberal judicial nominees from moving forward. Reshaping the judiciary with more liberal judges is one of the few things that President Biden and his fellow Democrats can do in a gridlocked government, where Republicans hold the House.

Feinsteins return to Washington in May is seen as critical. The U.S. government is set to reach a limit on how much money it can borrow sometime in early June. Legislation by Congress will be needed to increase that limit. If Congress doesnt act, the U.S. could default on its debts and the countrys economy could go into free fall. Given that Democrats hold only a two-seat advantage in the Senate, Feinsteins vote will likely be critical.

The calls for Feinstein to resign or return to Washington grew louder in recent weeks, as her absence has also imperiled Bidens nomination of Californian Julie Su to permanently lead the Labor Department.

They included public statements from lawmakers, including Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and progressive activists from the liberal grassroots group Indivisible. Ocasio-Cortez said on May 1 that Feinstein should retire. I think criticisms of that stance as anti-feminist are a farce. Her refusal to either retire or show up is causing great harm to the judiciary.

Feinsteins Democratic Senate colleagues have largely declined to call on her to resign or return to the Capitol. Last week, six Democratic senators told The Chronicle that the decision was Feinsteins and declined to say whether she should resign if she was not able to return within a certain time frame.

Im not going to tell another senator what to do about their own health circumstances. Shell make that decision, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., told The Chronicle.

But activists werent that deferential.

Last week, a coalition of Indivisible groups asked Feinstein to provide a formal report from a medical professional  not her staff  about when she would return.

Rather than these vague affirmations and assurances that she would like to get back, we want to hear from her medical professionals to understand what the decision tree is about how she gets back, Patti Crane, a steering committee member of Indivisible South Bay LA, said Friday.

Some California Democrats told The Chronicle in April that they were feeling stuck over the situation because Feinstein wouldnt provide clarity on when she planned to return to D.C. and Republicans wouldnt allow her to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee.

The first indication that Feinstein would return was when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters May 3 he had spoken to Feinstein, and both were hopeful that she can come back next week.

Feinstein has been in regular communication with Schumer, her longtime friend Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and California Sen. Alex Padilla, said a source who has been in touch with Feinstein throughout her illness. The source was granted anonymity in order to speak freely about Feinsteins health, in accordance with The Chronicles policy on confidential sources.

Feinstein has been engaged on other matters as well, including the planning of her granddaughters wedding, according to the source.

She knows whats at stake. She is well aware of the crunch time thats come because of a variety of circumstances, the source said.

A second source who has been in regular communication with people close to Feinsteins family, however, said that some close to the senator are worried about whether she will be up to the rigor of returning to work.

Theyre very concerned, very worried about her, said the second source. Theyre worried about her health holding up.

During Feinsteins absence, the Senate confirmed 20 judicial nominees by a roll call vote, where each senator has their vote recorded, and one by voice vote, where they do not. Voice votes are typically conducted for nominees who have bipartisan support. Ten nominees have advanced out of committee during that time and can be voted on by the full Senate.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has held four meetings to consider judicial nominations during Feinsteins absence. Committee votes have been delayed by at least one week for 16 nominees. Votes have been delayed at least four times for three of those nominees  Michael Delaney, nominee for the First Circuit; Charnelle Bjelkengren, nominee for the Eastern District of Washington; and Marian Gaston, nominee for the Southern District of California.
Adam Pardee/Special to The Chronicle

San Francisco has been in a multiyear stretch of population loss. A large part of that decline has been the result of a dramatic fall in the number of immigrants coming to the city. From 2011 to 2020, an annual average of about 5,500 immigrants moved to S.F., according to data from the California Department of Finance. Those numbers plummeted to 1,500 per year from 2020 to 2022, during the height of the pandemic, with many of the immigrants who came in the last decade leaving the city.

Partly as a result of these pandemic-led changes, the share of foreign-born residents  defined as anyone who was not born in the United States  in San Francisco has decreased. In 2011, an estimated 38% of the citys residents were immigrants. That number dropped to 34% at the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and has since only recovered to 36% in 2021.
San Francisco Fire Department

Two people were injured after leaping from the windows of a multi-unit residential building in San Francisco early Tuesday morning to avoid a fire sparked by a lithium-ion battery, Fire Department officials said.

Firefighters arrived at the building at 6 Locksley Ave. shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to Fire Department Capt. Jonathan Baxter. They found heavy fire and smoke, Baxter said.
Low-pressure systems are cranking up the ebb and flow of clouds and misty weather in the Bay Area, which will spread inland over the coming days. But there are growing signs that a nearby ridge of high pressure will begin to chip away at this pattern. The European, American and Canadian weather models are calling for a ridge to swap places with the low-pressure systems, leading to a shift in the atmospheres winds that will stomp out the marine clouds and veer warmer, drier air to parts of the Bay Area this week.

Cool, moist low-pressure systems will be the main drivers of the Bay Areas marine air on Tuesday and Wednesday, reeling in rounds of cool, moist winds during the afternoon.

Baron/Lynx

The northwest winds set to arrive Tuesday and Wednesday will feel a bit out of place in some of the inland valleys of the Bay Area, where daytime temperatures will be 5 to 7 degrees below average for this time of year. The marine clouds usually stay closer to the bayside and coast  as a result only sometimes inland valleys receive mist and fog.

This cooler-than-average pattern begins to change by Thursday as a high-pressure system approaches the shoreline.

Baron/Lynx

A ridge of high pressure hovering over the Pacific Ocean will drift eastward between Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching California by Thursday. The ridge will act like a convection oven, circulating hot air with its clockwise flow. Its hotter, drier air will push out the cool marine layer from the East Bay, North Bay and South Bay, allowing temperatures there to return to average starting Thursday.

This shift in wind direction will also lead to a more compressed marine layer by Friday. Residents along the coast from Sonoma County to Santa Cruz might be the only ones under the clouds, while warmer air from the Central Valley creeps ever closer to the bayside.

Tuesday breakdown

San Francisco: San Franciscans can expect a display of mostly cloudy skies with a sprinkle or two on Tuesday morning, along with some light winds off Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson. Skies are forecast to gradually clear over the course of the day, allowing just enough sunlight to come through so that daytime highs reach the 60-degree mark on the west side and lower 60s east of Sutro Tower. A few places like SoMa, the Mission and Haight-Ashbury could briefly reach the mid-60s just before winds begin blowing out of the northwest after 2 p.m.

Expect a breezy Tuesday afternoon as winds gust to 30 mph in Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio and Stonestown. Gusts across the rest of the city are likely to run between 20 to 25 mph before winds begin to drop off after 6 p.m. Look for a partly cloudy evening just before some of the coastal fog begins washing over some of the immediate shoreline  including Ocean Beach and the outer Sunset and Richmond districts. Expect nighttime temperatures to stay mildly in the lower 50s.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Residents along the I-280 and Hwy 101 corridors can expect a mostly cloudy start to the day on Tuesday, with drizzles possible from Daly City to Menlo Park. Residents along Hwy 1 from Pacifica and Half Moon Bay will also get in on some of the Tuesday morning gloom, with skies beginning to clear after 11 a.m.

Look for some pockets of fog to continue to flow over some of the San Mateo County hillsides on Tuesday afternoon, though most of it will clear out as winds gust to 25 mph. The cool Pacific air is set to keep daytime highs near the 60-degree mark on the coast and in the lower 60s on the bayside and San Bruno Gap. Temperatures south of Millbrae are also looking to only reach the lower to mid-60s.

Those breezy conditions will die off after 6 p.m., allowing some of the coastal fog to make its return to parts of the Peninsula tonight. Expect nighttime temperatures to only fall to the lower 50s.

North Bay: A mostly cloudy Tuesday morning is on tap for most of Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano counties, with light winds out of the northwest slated for the Sonoma County coastline. This gray pattern could raise a couple light showers in the highlands overlooking the Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Napa valleys, though any rain that does fall will likely only amount to a few hundredths of an inch.

Clouds will gradually clear out Tuesday afternoon as winds increase in intensity  gusts could reach 30 mph in Point Reyes and Bodega Bay. Bayside communities like Tiburon, Sausalito and Vallejo will see some of these cool, breezy conditions. This constant flow of cool, misty air is forecast to keep daytime temperatures in the lower to mid-60s by the water, while a couple more hours of sunshine will raise temperatures to the upper 60s to lower 70s in the inland valleys of Sonoma, Napa and Solano County.

After sunset, expect nighttime temperatures to fall to the lower 50s by the bayside and delta region while inland communities can expect temperatures closer to the mid-40s.

East Bay: Bayside residents in cities like Alameda, Richmond and Hayward are in for a gray Tuesday morning, with fog and mist likely to spread all the way to the Oakland and Berkeley hills by 9 a.m. Expect the foggy conditions to persist through noon while residents east of the Caldecott Tunnel can look forward to partly cloudy skies and a bit more sunshine.

Northwest winds are set to pick up on Tuesday afternoon across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, clearing out any of the fog still lurking over the hills and delta region. That said, these winds will reel in cool air from the Pacific Ocean to most of the region, keeping daytime highs close to the lower 60s by the bayside and delta and upper 60s in the San Ramon and Livermore valleys  including Walnut Creek, Pleasanton and Dublin.

Calmer conditions return after 7 p.m., allowing for some of the fog to resettle portions of the Oakland and Berkeley hills tonight. Look for nighttime lows near the 50-degree mark by the water while inland valleys experience a sharp drop in temperatures  falling to the mid-40s overnight.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: Residents can expect a veil of cloudy skies over the Santa Clara Valley Tuesday morning, with sunshine burning off the clouds after 11 a.m. Low clouds and patchy fog are also on tap for residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains and in Monterey Bay communities like Aptos, Soquel and Capitola. Skies will become bluer by Tuesday afternoon as sunshine prevails across most of the region  save for some patchy fog in some of the valleys of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Look for daytime highs in the mid-60s along Hwy 17 between Los Gatos and Pasatiempo, including the Felton, Scotts Valley and Ben Lomond areas. Upper 60s will be possible in the sunnier Santa Clara Valley and the Hwy 101 corridor between Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Residents along Monterey Bay can look forward to lower 60s for daytime highs as a cool breeze settles over the bayside Tuesday afternoon. Winds will drop off after sunset, allowing some of the coastal fog to settle along Hwy 1 between Davenport and La Selva overnight.

Reach Gerry Diaz: gerry.diaz@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @geravitywave
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Alert: US regulators grants license for proposed spent nuclear fuel storage facility in New Mexico
Egypt is keen to strengthen military with Iraq, Egyptian Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki asserted to his Iraqi counterpart Thabet Al-Abbassi in a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.

According to a statement by the Armed Forces Spokesperson Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib, Minister Zaki affirmed to Al-Abbassi his appreciation for the relations that bind the two countries armed forces.

The two ministers also discussed current regional and international developments and their impacts on security and stability.

For his part, Minister Al-Abbassi expressed his appreciation for Egypt's efforts and support for Iraq in the regional and international community, affirming his keenness for increased cooperation between their two countries, added the spokesperson.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Osama Askar, a number of commanders of the armed forces of both countries, Iraqi ambassador Ahmed El-Dulaimi as well as the military attache of Iraq in Cairo.

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An immigrant worker has filed a complaint with the state of Massachusetts against a seafood business she says subjected her to years of sexual harassment and racial discrimination on the job.

The worker, Paula Fortes, is a Black woman who immigrated to the U.S. from Cape Verde, an island nation off the west coast of Africa. She filed an amended version of her complaint against Eastern Fisheries, a New Bedford seafood harvester and distributor, with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination on Tuesday.

Fortes said she endured repeated and persistent sexual and racial comments while working, including disparaging comments about her hair texture, such as another worker calling her broom hair. She said she was also subjected to unwanted touching while working. Fortes agreed through an attorney to be identified by name on Tuesday.

Fortes said through an attorney that she complained to Eastern Fisheries and BJ's Service Co., a temporary employment agency that placed her at the seafood business as a fish cleaner, and received no meaningful help. Her complaint to the state names both companies.

I have worked with these companies for years and raised concerns about the treatment I was receiving due to my identity. Yet little was done to address the widespread harassment, Fortes said. This experience was scarring and continues to impact my life to this day."

Fortes' complaint states that she worked at Eastern Fisheries from April 2017 to September 2021. While there, she also did custodial work, she said.

Representatives for Eastern Fisheries and BJ's Service Co. did not respond to requests for comment about the complaint.

The employers will have an opportunity to respond, and the commission will do its own investigation, said Mirian Albert, an attorney for Fortes who works with Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston.

A representative for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination did not respond to a call seeking comment about the case. The commission is an independent state agency that enforces Massachusetts' anti-discrimination laws.
BEDFORD, Mass. (AP)  BEDFORD, Mass. (AP)  Novanta Inc. (NOVT) on Tuesday reported profit of $18.3 million in its first quarter.

On a per-share basis, the Bedford, Massachusetts-based company said it had net income of 51 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 74 cents per share.
Legendary Texas songwriter Willie Nelson isnt typically associated with the word sober.

The 90-year-old singer is renown for his idiosyncratic guitar styling as well as immortal ballads like On the Road Again, but in modern pop culture, hes almost equally well-known for his cannabis advocacy. Days before his 90th birthday, he released a new song alongside trending bluegrass picker Billy Strings called California Sober, which celebrates a unique approach to sobriety.

Nelson reportedly gave up drinking alcohol years ago (despite being an unofficial ambassador for Lone Star Beer early in his career), but cannabis is still in his blood. Its also become a big part of his livelihood through the Willies Reserve line of cannabis products.

The term California sober refers to a lifestyle thats devoid of alcohol and stimulants like cocaine, but still includes cannabis and other psychedelics. Like any slang, its hard to definitively confirm the official origins, but its largely credited to Michelle Lhooq, a journalist and author of Weed: Everything You Want To Know But Are Always Too Stoned To Ask who elaborated on the philosophy in a 2019 Vice article.

The music video for California Sober begins with Billy Strings opening the doors to a tour bus  perhaps a subtle throwback to when Nelson was arrested for possession of marijuana in 2010 while aboard his own bus. The video then shows Billy Strings and Nelson recording the song, with a joint dangling from Strings lips. Nelson does not smoke in the video, as he has said that he prefers other methods of consuming cannabis after developing breathing issues.

The pair harmonize through a set of lyrics that describe embracing a slower lifestyle in older age: I cant stay out and party like I did back in the day, so Im California sober as they say.

Watch the full video below.
NEW YORK (AP)  Actor Jonathan Majors was confronted Tuesday with a revised domestic violence charge stemming from a womans allegations that the Marvel star twisted her arm, struck her head and shoved her into a vehicle in New York City in March.

Majors, appearing by video, did not enter a plea to the misdemeanor assault charge and said little else at the arraignment, which lasted all of three minutes.

Prosecutors say the charge was rewritten to reflect the perspective of Majors' 30-year-old accuser, rather than the police officer whose account was used in the original version  an indication she is cooperating with authorities.

Majors, 33, still faces other misdemeanor charges in connection with his March 25 arrest in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood, some of which are punishable by up to a year in jail.

His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, says Majors is innocent. She blasted prosecutors after Tuesdays hearing for pursuing what she called a witch hunt against the actor.

Chaudhry said she provided the Manhattan district attorneys office with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed. The woman, she said, assaulted Majors.

Instead of dismissing the allegations in the face of the womans clear lies, the DA has adjusted the charges to match the womans new lies, Chaudhry said.

Majors had been a fast-rising Hollywood star with major roles in recent hits like Creed III and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. But in the wake of his arrest, the U.S. Army pulled TV commercials narrated by Majors, saying it was deeply concerned by the allegations.

Majors' face was beamed Tuesday onto a flat-screen monitor in front of the judges bench in Manhattans domestic violence courtroom. The room was crowded with reporters straining to catch a glimpse of the celebrity while around them non-famous New Yorkers waited for their cases to be called.

Virtual appearances are an occasional accommodation in the court. But Judge Rachel Pauley warned that Majors must show up in person at a follow up hearing on June 13 or face a possible warrant for his arrest. At that hearing, Pauley said, she will decide on a motion challenging the case that Majors' lawyers have filed under seal.

Majors must also continue to abide by a protection order barring any contact with his accuser, Pauley said.

According to the revised assault charge, Majors accuser alleges that he pulled her finger; twisted her right arm behind her back; struck and cut her right ear; and pushed her into a vehicle, causing her to fall backwards.

The woman, who was not named in court papers, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to her head and neck, police said.

Chaudhry accused police and prosecutors of racial bias against Majors, who is Black. She said a white police officer got in the actors face and taunted him when he tried showing the officer injuries that he said the woman caused.

A message seeking comment on Chaudhrys claims was left with the NYPD and Manhattan district attorney's office.

___

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A New Mexico judge has approved a $1.15 million settlement between a medic who worked on the Rust film set and one of several defendants she accused of negligence in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal.

Court records show the partial settlement between Cherlyn Schaefer and prop master Sarah Zachry was approved during a hearing Monday. Schaefer told the judge there's not a day that goes by when she doesn't think about what happened, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
A downtown San Francisco office building has reportedly sold for roughly 75% less than its previously estimated value, a bad omen for the sagging commercial real estate market.

350 California St., which was first listed for sale in 2020, sold to SKS Real Estate Partners for somewhere between $60 million and $67.5 million, according to a report by the San Francisco Business Times.

The Financial District building is mostly empty  Union Bank, which occupied about 75% of the building, has largely vacated the 22-story tower.

This wasnt the first time the owners of 350 California tried to sell the property. In 2021, bidding for the building never surpassed $180 million and owners took it off the market, according to the Wall Street Journal. In 2019, the property was estimated at around $300 million, brokers told the publication.

Office towers in San Francisco dont trade hands often, with this sale setting new standards for todays market. Were all really on the edge of our seats to see the first office trade in San Francisco, J.D. Lumpkin, executive managing director at real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, told the Journal in April.

SKS Real Estate Partners did not return an SFGATE request for comment as of publication, nor did CBRE, which represented the property. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group confirmed the property has been for sale since Feb. 2023, but did not provide additional comment.

San Francisco-based SKS Real Estate Partners owns numerous properties in the city and Bay Area, including 888 Brannan and 181 Fremont.

San Franciscos office vacancy rate hit a new record high of 29.4% in the first quarter of 2023, according to a recent report from CBRE. That far surpassed the previous pre-pandemic high of 19.1% during the dot-com bust in 2003, and its expected to continue to rise in the coming months. Still, office rental rates havent budged much, which could make it harder to attract new tenants to downtown buildings.

Vacancy will peak next winter, David Smith, head of occupier research for Cushman & Wakefield told SFGATE in April.  Tenants in the market are signing for less space than what they had previously. Well continue to see that through the rest of the year and into 2024. Its a year of rebalancing.
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Alert: Authorities: Mass shooting at suburban Dallas mall lasted 3-4 minutes before police officer shot and killed the gunman
A pandemic-era policy that allowed border patrol agents to prevent migrants seeking asylum from entering the U.S. will end later this week. That policy is known as Title 42.



Now thousands of migrants are seeking shelter in the streets of El Paso, Texas.

Mayor Oscar Leeser declared a state of emergency last Monday ahead of the order set to expire.

Sacred Heart Church has been ground zero for migrants seeking assistance, and the church says they're helping nearly 1,800 migrants near their church, with many of them making make-shift camps on the streets by the church.



Over the weekend, the city closed off a street near the church for safety precautions.

There is a heavy police presence, with El Paso police patrolling the area all day.

Video below: What is being done to manage migrant spike after Title 42 ends?



Our crews have witnessed migrants hiding behind bushes to escape the heat of the day.



There are also porta-potties being set up so people have access to use the bathrooms.

Nongovernment organizations are helping these migrants seek legal help to obtain asylum, but they say it might be even harder to do that once Title 42 expires.



Video below: A group of Democratic senators want President Biden to allow state governments to sponsor immigrants who can fill job openings



"Migrants technically need to go to a third country to apply for asylum before they make it to our country. If they don't do that, there are very dire consequences," said Ken Ferrone, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico.

Migrants who cross illegally could be deported immediately and be banned from entering the U.S. for five years under Title 8.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP)  A federal jury convicted a Cedar Rapids man on Tuesday of seven charges related to the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.

The jury in Washington found Leo Kelly, 37, guilty of charges that included obstructing an official proceeding, entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct, according to the Des Moines Register.
Elnur Enveroglu

The political elite of Armenia claims that Turkiye is an obstacle in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. One of such claims was included in the statement made by Armenian expert Armen Petrosyan to the Russian press. He noted that supposedly Turkiye supports Azerbaijan in pursuing an aggressive policy against Armenia, and this is precisely why the normalization of relations between the two countries has remained frozen.

However, the Armenian authorities have always expressed that they are an extremely interested party in the opening of air and land borders with Turkiye, and most importantly, they understand that all this can be considered acceptable for Turkiye after the normalization of Baku-Yerevan relations. While everything is clear in the middle, the Armenian side continues its chaotic policy.

According to British journalist and political analyst Neil Watson, Armenia itself is looking for excuses to delay the negotiations. In his comment for Azernews, the expert called Armenia a liar, describing Azerbaijan as aggressive.

First of all, I think that it should be emphasised that Azerbaijan is not pursuing an aggressive policy against Armenia. It has made no claims on the territory currently comprising contemporary Armenia, although much of that was originally Azerbaijani. It has only sought to regain control over the 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory that was under illegal Armenian control for nearly 30 years. Furthermore, the rights of the Armenian-speaking Azerbaijani citizens in the liberated territories are being protected in law, he said.

Watson clarified the claim of Armenians about Turkiye in the matter, emphasising that it is more related to historical facts.

One of the central reasons why Armenian politicians regard Azerbaijans alliance with Turkiye as problematic is, of course, historic. They regard the Republic of Turkiye as being the successor to the Ottoman Empire who allegedly committed the so-called Armenian genocide of 1915. Armenias sense of victimhood is central to its national identity and the wilful self-delusion that pervades Armenian national psychology. In the warped Armenian perspective, who regard Azerbaijanis as Turks, occupation of Azerbaijani territory was some reparation for the alleged genocide. Furthermore, Armenia is one of the closest allies of Russia. The Soviet Union always feared collaboration and unification between the Turkic nations and did its utmost to move populations around to negate any possibility of this, including the relocation of Armenians to their current territory. Erdogan is striving to increase collaboration between the Turkic nations, overlayed by some degree of religiosity as part of the Turkic culture. The greatest fear of Armenia and maternal Russia is that the Turkic nations will combine their resources and armed forces, the British journalist opined.

In addition, Neil Watson said that Pashinyan needs Turkiye to get rid of Russia's influence. He added that whether the Armenian Prime Minister wants it or not, he will be forced to restore relations with Azerbaijan first and then with Turkiye.

In my understanding, Pashinyan himself understands completely that normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey is obligatory for his country to survive in the post-war situation. He also realises that it is the only way in which Armenia itself will, finally, achieve some degree of independence away from Russia, particularly as his reflects his own stance. However, the issue is placating the Armenian electorate, fellow politicians and the Armenian diaspora. Pashinyan does not want to provoke unrest and revolution in his country and to totally lose the support of Russia, Iran and the Armenian diaspora. So he has to be seen to be putting up some resistance to Turkic unification even though, ultimately, normalisation of relations with his two neighbours is necessary.

The British political analyst also said that Armenia is watching the elections in Turkey with great interest. In addition, Neil Watson noted that the ruling party will win the elections.

I am of the view that it is more than likely that the incumbent government will win in Turkiye. Obviously Turkiye was the staunchest supporter of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh Conflict, alongside Israel, and I feel that this will help Pashinyan make the argument to his electorate, diaspora and supportive countries that a peace treaty has to be signed. There will be a trepidatious normalisation of economic relations between Armenia and its two Turkic neighbours and this will lead to a normalisation process that will take place over many years. I feel that Russia, although against peace in the South Caucasus, will back down as its challenges emanating from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict predominate, he added.
TACOMA, Wash. (AP)  A company that operates a more than century-old hydroelectric dam near Mount Rainier National Park will pay $1 million after synthetic field turf and its tiny rubber particles spilled into the Puyallup River in 2020.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen approved the amount in fines and restitution last week, with most to go toward restoring salmon habitat, the Washington state attorney general's office said in a statement Monday. The office said $745,000 in restitution will be paid to Puyallup Tribal Fisheries, and $255,000 in fines will be paid to Pierce County.

The rubber particles, made from recycled tires, contain a chemical that is especially toxic to coho salmon, according to the attorney general's office.

Electron Hydro LLC and Chief Operating Officer Thom Fischer each pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court in February to one count of unintentionally violating a permit issued by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fischer was also given a suspended jail sentence of nearly a year.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson initially brought three dozen misdemeanor charges against Electron and Fischer, saying they discharged pollutants and intentionally violated a permit when they used old field turf as a liner during a dam construction project. The dam, built near Tacoma in 1904, provides electricity to 20,000 customers.

The turf was placed in a temporary bypass channel in 2020 and topped with a plastic liner so the river could be diverted, allowing for the construction work on the dam. A tear in the liner sent large amounts of the turf downstream. The rubber particles lined the shore for miles.

Removing the artificial turf has been ongoing since the release. Tribal personnel found and removed more turf as recently as March, Ferguson said.

In a statement through an attorney Monday, the company told The Seattle Times: Thom Fischer and Electron Hydro are thankful that the states case is concluded, and pleased that restitution will be invested in fisheries enhancement on the Puyallup River."

The company previously agreed to pay about $500,000 in a settlement with the state Department of Ecology. Related lawsuits brought by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Puyallup Tribe are set to go to trial later this year.
BOSTON (AP)  A former Massachusetts police officer who reportedly participated in the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been decertified by the state's police standards board, meaning he can no longer work in law enforcement, according to state records.

Documents made public Monday by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission indicate that former Woburn Officer John Donnelly entered into a voluntary decertification agreement on April 13, which was signed by the commission's chair on April 21.

His name will also be included in a national database of decertified officers, according to the records. It's the first time the commission has decertified an officer.

The Woburn Police Department opened an internal investigation into Donnelly in October after HuffPost.com reported his participation in the deadly Unite the Right rally. Heather Heyer died after a car driven by white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr. plowed through a crowd of counterprotesters. Fields is serving a life sentence for murder and malicious wounding convictions.

Woburns police chief in a statement in October said Donnellys alleged role at the rally was in direct opposition to the core values of the Woburn Police Department, to serve all members of our community equally and treat them with dignity and respect.

Donnelly, a reserve officer at the time of the Charlottesville rally, resigned before the internal investigation was completed.

A listed cellphone number for Donnelly, who was also a real estate agent, was not in service. His attorney, Leigh Panettiere, said she had no comment when reached by telephone on Tuesday.

According to state law, once decertified, no law enforcement agency, nor a sheriff, nor the executive office of public safety nor any entity thereunder shall employ him in any capacity, including but not limited to, as a consultant or independent contractor."

Under the voluntary decertification, there is no admission that the allegations he faced were true.

The panel, known as the POST Commission, was created in 2020 partially in response to nationwide calls for police reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
MT. VERNON, Ill. (AP)  A New Mexico motorist was killed early Tuesday and a state trooper was wounded in an exchange of gunfire along an interstate highway in southern Illinois, police said.

Illinois State Police said a trooper stopped about 3 a.m. along Interstate 64 to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder of eastbound lanes. The officer encountered motorist Brandon L. Griffin, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a female passenger.
NEW YORK (AP)  A working photojournalist was among about a dozen people arrested at a protest over last week's chokehold death of New York City subway rider Jordan Neely.

Stephanie Keith was arrested Monday at the protest outside a Manhattan subway station and charged with disorderly conduct.

Video posted on Twitter shows Chief of Patrol John Chell, one of the highest-ranking members of the NYPD, shouting Lock her up as he hands Keith over to two community affairs officers to be handcuffed.

Asked about Keith's arrest at a news conference late Monday, Chell said that the reporter interfered in at least two arrests in the middle of the street" and later interfered a third time.

Videos that have been posted on social media appear to show Keith stepping out into the street to get a good shot of something, not interfering with arrests.

Keith said in a text that she could not discuss the arrest itself while charges are pending.

Keith is a freelance photographer whose clients include Getty Images and The New York Times. The New York Press Photographers Association called her an intrepid photojournalist and said in a statement, "We support our colleague and believe that a review of the evidence and circumstances will compel the Manhattan D.A. to drop any charges against her.

Police officials said at the news conference that about 150 people attended Monday's protest and there were 11 arrests, mainly for disorderly conduct.

Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said that a Molotov cocktail was found on the ground among the protesters.

This is something thats dangerous, Maddrey said. It could hurt members of the department. It could hurt other protesters. It could hurt innocent people who are passing by.

A photograph displayed by officers shows a glass mineral water bottle with a rag inside. It was not clear Tuesday whether a flammable substance was found in the bottle. A police spokesperson did not answer a question about the results of any tests.

The demonstrators were protesting the May 1 death of Neely, a sometime Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental health problems, who was placed in a chokehold by U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny.

Penny said through his lawyers on Friday that he acted to protect himself after Neely behaved in a treatening manner on the subway train.

No criminal charges have been filed over the fatal encounter. The district attorney's office is investigating.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  An 18-year-old accused of firing the shot that wounded an employee outside a middle school building in northeast Las Vegas is facing multiple felonies, police said Tuesday.

The gunfire on Monday took place a few blocks away from the school and a stray bullet struck the victim who was on school property, Las Vegas police said in a statement identifying the suspect as Jessie Rios.
Ted S. Warren/AP

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP)  The University of Idaho will award posthumous degrees and certificates on Saturday to four students who were killed in a nighttime attack at a home near campus last fall.

The stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at a rental home near campus on Nov. 13, 2022 left the close-knit community of Moscow deeply shaken. Mogen and Goncalves were seniors getting ready to graduate.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.

The changes come with the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly turn back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the past three years. Those restrictions are known as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 of a 1944 public health law allowing curbs on migration in the name of protecting public health.

Disinformation has swirled and confusion has set in during the transition. A look at the new rules (and the old ones):

WHAT IS TITLE 42 AND WHAT DID IT DO?

Title 42 is the name of an emergency health authority. It was a holdover from President Donald Trump's administration and began in March 2020. The authority allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants who came to the U.S.-Mexico border on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Before that, migrants could cross illegally, ask for asylum and be allowed into the U.S. They were then screened and often released to wait out their immigration cases.

Under Title 42, migrants were returned over the border and denied the right to seek asylum. U.S. officials turned away migrants more than 2.8 million times. Families and children traveling alone were exempt.

But there were no real consequences when someone illegally crossed the border. So migrants were able to try again and again to cross, on the off chance they would get into the U.S.

President Joe Biden initially kept Title 42 in place after he took office, then tried to end its use in 2022. Republicans sued, arguing the restrictions were necessary for border security. Courts had kept the rules in place. But the Biden administration announced in January that it was ending national COVID-19 emergencies, and so the border restrictions have now gone away.

Biden has said the new changes are necessary, in part because Congress has not passed immigration reform in decades.

SO WHATS HAPPENING NEXT?

The Title 42 restrictions lifted at 11:59 p.m. EDT Thursday.

The Biden administration has put into place a series of new policies cracking down on illegal crossings. The administration says it's trying to stop people from paying smuggling operations to make a dangerous and often deadly journey.

Now there will be strict consequences. Migrants caught crossing illegally will not be allowed to return for five years and can face criminal prosecution if they do.

NEW ASYLUM RULES

Under U.S. and international law, anyone who comes to the U.S. can ask for asylum. People from all over the world travel to the U.S-Mexico border to seek asylum. They are screened to determine whether they have a credible fear of persecution in their homeland. Their case then goes to the immigration court system to determine if they can stay in the U.S., but that process can take years. Usually they are released into the U.S. to wait out their cases.

The Biden administration is now turning away anyone seeking asylum who didnt first seek protection in a country they traveled through, or first applied online. This is a version of a Trump administration policy that was overturned by the courts. Advocacy groups sued to block the new rule minutes before it took effect.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco by the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and other groups, alleges the Biden administration doubled down on the policy proposed by Trump that the same court rejected. The Biden administration has said its new rule is substantially different.

WHOS ALLOWED IN?

The U.S. has said it will accept up to 30,000 people per month from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba as long as they come by air, have a sponsor and apply online first. The government also will allow up to 100,000 people from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras into the U.S. who have family here if they, too, apply online. Border officials will otherwise deport people, including turning 30,000 per month from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba who will be sent back over the border to Mexico.

Other migrants also may be allowed in if they apply through the CBP One app. Right now, 740 people per day have been allowed in using the app, which is being increased to 1,000 per day.

WHAT ABOUT FAMILIES?

Families crossing the border illegally will be subject to curfews and the head of household will have to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet. Immigration officials will try to determine within 30 days whether a family can stay in the U.S. or be deported. Usually the process would take years.

The Biden administration considered detaining families until they cleared initial asylum screenings but opted instead for the curfews, which will run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and begin soon in Baltimore; Chicago; Newark, New Jersey; and Washington, D.C., according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not intended to be public. Families who do not appear for their screening interviews will be picked up by immigration authorities and deported.

OVERCROWDING

Border Patrol stations are meant to house migrants temporarily and dont have capacity to hold the volume of people coming. Some stations are already too crowded. As a result, agents began releasing migrants into the U.S. with instructions to appear at an immigration office within 60 days or face deportation.

Agents were told to begin releases in any area where holding facilities were at 125% capacity or the average time in custody exceeded 60 hours. They also were told to start releases if 7,000 migrants were taken into custody across the entire border in any one day.

Thats already happened, with some 10,000 people taken into custody on Tuesday. This could create problems for Biden administration officials trying to crack down on those entering the country.

Florida filed a lawsuit claiming the releases violate an earlier court ruling. Late Thursday, a federal judge agreed and at least temporarily halted the administrations plan for releases. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that it would comply with the court order, while also calling it a harmful ruling that will result in unsafe overcrowding ... and undercut our ability to efficiently process and remove migrants.

MIGRATION HUBS

U.S. officials plan to open 100 regional migration hubs across the Western Hemisphere, where people can seek placement in other countries, including Canada and Spain.

There will be hubs in Colombia and Guatemala, but it's not clear where others will be or when they will be up and running.

___

Associated Press Writers Rebecca Santana in Washington and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
By Keith Burbank

Bay City News

The stalemate continued in Oakland on Monday between the public school district and teachers who took to picket lines over wages and other items for a third day.

Oakland Unified School District Board President Mike Hutchinson reiterated that district officials will only bargain over wages and working conditions.

Teachers want other items included in the contract, which they call common good items. One item teachers want to see in the contract is the use of vacant school district buildings for housing for homeless students.

Hutchinson some of the items in the teachers common good proposal are already reflected in the district's policies and directives.

"We need this strike over," Hutchinson said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

He emphasized that two narratives are at work. Union officials are saying the district is bargaining in bad faith, and district officials maintain they are not.

Hutchinson said Monday that teachers went on strike before an impasse was called, which is unlike the union.

Both sides on Thursday agreed to let state Superintendent Tony Thurmond mediate the dispute. Thurmond's office did not have any information to share early Monday afternoon.

The end of the school year in Oakland public schools is May 25. Hutchinson said he hopes the strike ends before the district must decide whether to extend the year or call an end to it.

About 35,000 students are affected by the strike.

The Oakland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People weighed in Monday, saying children's education at the end of the school year is the most important thing right now and urged teachers to think about ending the strike.

Students at this time of year are taking exams, and among other things, getting ready for college. Students need the support of teachers and the community to finish the year strong, NAACP leaders said.

The latest wage proposal includes a 10 percent retroactive raise and a $5,000 one-time bonus for union members, according to a Sunday memo by the district. It also provides every teacher with a raise of at least 13 percent and as much as 22 percent.

The offer also cuts the time it takes teachers to reach the top of the pay scale to 20 years from 32 years.

Hutchinson said Monday that the district's proposal will cost nearly $70 million. District Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said Thursday few resources are available to address other issues.

Because of financial pressures, the board of education last year developed a plan to consolidate schools. That plan was reversed.

Copyright  2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
HOUSTON (AP)  The leader of a major anti-abortion group met with former President Donald Trump on the issue, just weeks after raising questions about his commitment to restricting access to the procedure.

Calling her meeting Monday with Trump terrific, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group, said in a statement that he "reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest.

Dannenfelser told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she has been meeting with a number of declared and potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates and that it's her job to work with them on abortion-related issues.

I am not aligning with Trump, Dannenfelser said. Ive had similar conversations with all other GOP presidential hopefuls.

The characterization of the meeting  which Dannenfelser's group said happened at Trump's Florida home  marked a turnaround from more than two weeks ago. Then, Dannenfelser called Trumps contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.

Dannenfelser's group has said it would not support any White House candidate who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban. Her statement about Monday's meeting with the leading GOP contender didn't mention any discussion of proposed confines for a federal ban, aside from Trump's opposition to late-term procedures, which he has long opposed.

Trump has referred to himself as the most pro-life president in American history, as his three nominations of conservative judges to the Supreme Court paved the way for the reversal of Roe v Wade, which had legalized abortion nationwide for nearly 50 years.

But in the early months of his 2024 bid, Trump has often sidestepped the issue of abortion, even as Republicans across the country celebrate the Supreme Court decision stripping federal constitutional rights to the practice.

On Monday, Dannenfelser repeated a description shes previously used, calling Trumps term in office the most consequential in American history for the pro-life cause. Despite the credit Trump received for his judicial nominations, he was criticized after last years elections for saying that Republicans underperformance was due to abortion foes opposition to exceptions for women who became pregnant by rape or incest or whose life was at risk.

Trump's campaign didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the meeting, which Dannenfelser also said included Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  one of Trumps top congressional allies  along with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Christian conservative ally of Trumps.

All the candidates running in the Republican presidential primary or moving toward a bid have supported state bans on abortion. Most have been much more cautious about staking a position on a nationwide ban, though entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamys campaign has said he believes its an issue for the states, not the federal government.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who has launched a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to enter the race later this month, has said he would sign a federal law to prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy if elected president.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last month signed a state abortion ban that, if upheld by the courts, would ban the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, or before many women know they are pregnant. It will take effect only if the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservatives, upholds Floridas current 15-week ban, which is part of an ongoing legal challenge.

The Florida ban would be one of the toughest in the U.S. But DeSantis has not made clear his position on whether such restrictions should be imposed across the country.

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and one-time United Nations ambassador, has called abortion a personal issue that should be left to the states, though has said she supports federal laws on points where there is consensus. Last month, in a speech at SBA's headquarters, Haley said she saw a federal role in the debate but stopped short of endorsing a national ban.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who as governor signed a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, has said he would sign a federal ban but stopped short of saying what timelines he would support as president.

Trumps stance has provided an opening on the right for potential rivals like former Vice President Mike Pence, an evangelical Christian with long-held anti-abortion views. Pences advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has pushed for Congress to pass legislation including a national abortion ban beginning around six weeks.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

___

This story has been updated to reflect Dannenfelser's characterization of the meeting.
Sudan and neighbouring Chad share an intertwined history, the repercussions of which have spilled over into the present crisis in Khartoum, reports Haitham Nouri

Tens of thousands of Sudanese have flocked into Chad to escape the conflict between the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. Now in its third week, the conflict has already claimed hundreds of lives and is likely to linger on.

Even if there is a dim hope that the clashes in Khartoum will be silenced in the foreseeable future, the battle in the westernmost region of Darfur, which shares long borders with neighbouring Chad, will probably last longer.

The UN and its agencies in Sudan and Chad estimate that more than 20,000 Sudanese have fled to Chad following the outbreak of the conflict between the SAF and RSF. The RSF comprises Janjaweed militias and is already charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict that took place between 2003 and 2013.

Sudan shares its borders with seven countries, including South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Central Africa, Eritrea, and Libya. Thus far, Chad has received the largest number of Sudanese refugees as a result of the clashes.

Sudan is a turbulent country in a turbulent region. Its neighbours, save for Egypt, have lived through decades of tension and Civil War. Relations between Chad and Sudan are inextricably intertwined, which has led both countries to interfere in each others affairs, said Amin Magzoub, a Sudanese military analyst.

Magzoub believes the crisis in Sudan, spilling over into Chad, is unlikely to be resolved in the near future. The war in Sudan affects Chad, prompting NDjamena to side with one party in the conflict, which probably in this case is the SAF, he said.

The first crisis between the two countries took place between 1980 and 1988, when late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi used the pastoral Arab tribes of Chad, Niger, and Darfur to fight in Chad.

These forces were popularly called the Islamic Legion and were led by Sheikh Ibn Omar, a Chadian professor of mathematics of Arab origins, who opposed the rule of presidents Goukouni Oueddei (1979-1982) and Hissene Habre (1982-1990).

The Islamic Legion was disbanded with Habres victory in the so-called Toyota War, the last phase in the war between Libya and Chad (1987-1988), and the expulsion of Ibn Omar to Darfur.

The situation in Darfur was not much different. The defeat of Libya and its allies at the hands of the pastoral tribes came in tandem with the spread of drought and desertification in Sudan, Chad, and further north.

Civil War broke out between the north and south of Sudan in May 1983 after late president Jaafar Numeiri violated the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement with the south. The situation was further complicated by Numeiris response to the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood and his announcement of the implementation of Islamic Sharia Law in September 1983.

In the same year, drought and desertification in the region resulted in famine from which Sudan and much of the African Sahel region suffered until the late 1980s.

Numeiris regime fell in April 1985 and was replaced by the democratic rule of prime minister Sadik Al-Mahdi from 1986 to 1989.

Al-Mahdis minister of defence Fadlallah Burmah Nasser armed some Arab tribesmen, creating the nucleus of what was later known as the Janjaweed militias in the Darfur conflict.

The Sudanese used to call these forces the Marahil, or Arab Gathering, and gave them a few other names as well. No one believed they could resolve the crisis. Many thought they had ulterior motives, Magzoub said.

Later years saw the fall of democracy and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan. The group led a military coup planned by their late leader Hassan Al-Turabi under former president Omar Al-Bashir in June 1989.

Al-Bashir used the Bedouin tribes in the war in south Sudan. When the non-Arab tribes in Darfur demanded economic and social equality, they saw the Janjaweeds guns pointed at them.

In Sudanese Arabic, Janjaweed means djinn [devil] on horseback carrying a GM [rapid fire gun].

The International Criminal Court later accused the Janjaweed, their leaders, Al-Bashir, and prominent figures in his regime of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, killing 300,000 people, according to UN estimates, and being responsible for the rape of up to 40,000 women and girls, according to reports of humanitarian organisations operating in the region.

The Janjaweed were used not only in Darfur, but also in the conflict against late Chadian president Idriss Deby who succeeded Habre in 1990.

Together with the Chadian opposition, the Janjaweed carried out two attacks on NDjamena in April 2006. Hundreds were killed before Debys forces were able to take back control.

In 2008, the Janjaweed and Chadian allies carried out a bigger attack on the Chadian capital, threatening the presidential palace and resulting in the deaths of 700 people. However, with French support, Deby was able to emerge victorious.

In response to the moves of the Al-Bashir regime, Debys government supported the Justice and Equality Movement, which was fighting in the Civil War in Darfur, in its attack on Omdurman in the western part of Khartoum in May 2008.

Sudanese forces fended off the attack after the deaths of 200 people.

When Chad gained independence from France in 1960, the number of Muslims in the north and Christians in the south was equal.

Population increases in the following decades tipped the scales slightly in favour of Muslims, though these were divided into Arabs and Africans and were engaged in fighting between the Arabs associated with the pastoralists of Darfur and the herders of Zaghawa, to whom Deby belonged, Magzoub said.

The Zaghawa were heavily present in the Justice and Equality Movement, which stood against the Bedouin pastoralists in Darfur.

Following the killing of Gaddafi in late 2011 and regime change in Libya, weapons spread throughout the region, and neighbouring countries began to intervene in Tripolis affairs.

The first intervention took place at the hands of Al-Bashir, who supported Arab tribes in southern Libya and the Muslim Brotherhood and threatened Deby in Chad.

Sudans moves were not carried out by the army, but rather by the Janjaweed, whom Al-Bashir changed into the RSF in 2013 and had reported to him directly.

Despite pressure on Al-Bashir to take his troops out of Libya, Chadian and Libyan tribes allied with Al-Bashir remained involved in the conflicts in oil-rich Libya. One of these forces attacked Chad, and the conflict resulted in Debys death in April 2021.

According to Magzoub, the tribal presence is a cause of worry for EU countries that want to see an end to the conflict in Libya. This will require the Europeans to stand against the RSF to prevent the sabotaging of the faltering political process in Tripoli, he said.

The Chadian government will not accept the victory of the RSF. If they win, the RSF will not settle unless Debys government is overthrown, he added. Neither will France accept the RSFs victory. France is using Chad for its anti-terrorist Barkhane operation, Magzoub said.

Chad has been home to the French forces in the region since 1987. These played a role in defeating Gaddafis forces, participated in the conflicts in Central Africa, supported governments in Niger and Cameroon, and coordinated with Nigeria to confront the terrorist group Boko Haram.

France fears the spread of terrorism in the African Sahel if Hemedti [RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo] and his militias take control of Sudan due to his close links with tribes that support terrorist groups in the region, Magzoub concluded.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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BANGKOK (AP)  Thailands self-exiled former prime minister said Tuesday he wants to return home by July, making his declaration less than a week before the country heads to polls in which his daughter is a frontrunner.

Thaksin Shinawatra tweeted for the second time this month that he would like to come home to see his grandchildren. He said he is prepared to face justice, including several convictions on charges including abuse of power and corruption.

I have made a decision that Ill go home to raise my grandchildren by this July, before my birthday. Please excuse me. Its been nearly 17 years that I have to be away from my family. Im already old, he said.

Thaksin, 73, was a populist prime minister when he was ousted by a military coup in 2006.

He fled Thailand to escape a prison term in several criminal cases, which he decried as politically motivated. The government of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also toppled in a 2014 coup led by the current prime minister and candidate in the May 14 election, Prayuth Chan-ocha.

If Thaksin follows through on his pledge to return before his birthday on July 26, he could face at least a decade behind bars. Thaksin is a popular but divisive figure in Thai politics, and there are concerns that his return could be destabilizing.

In his tweet, Thaksin said he won't be a burden to his daughter's Pheu Thai Party.

"Ill enter the legal process, and the day I return will still be in a period of Gen. Prayuths interim government. All of this is my own decision from my love and bond with my family, my homeland, and our master, he said. It was unclear whom he was referring to as the master, but it could be a reference to Thailand's king, who is revered by his people.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksins youngest daughter, has consistently topped opinion polls as a favored prime minister candidate. The residual popularity of her billionaire father, especially among poor and working-class Thais, is a major factor behind her rise.

After she gave birth to a baby boy this month, Thaksin tweeted that he would like to come home to see his grandchildren, ending the tweet with See you soon. It prompted Paetongtarn to play down the significance of the message, saying it was just a natural expression of a grandfather who was very happy and excited.

In 2013, Yinglucks government, largely seen as Thaksins proxy, had floated a proposal for a political amnesty bill that could allow Thaksin to escape imprisonment. It triggered a series of protests which turned violent, eventually leading to the coup in 2014.

I am my dads daughter, always and forever, but I have my own decisions, Paetongtarn said during one of her Pheu Thais campaign rallies.
BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union lawmakers decided Tuesday to fast-track legislation to boost ammunition and missile production in the 27-nation bloc to support the war effort in Ukraine.

Members of the European Parliament voted 518-39 with 31 abstentions to trigger an urgent procedure that should allow the adoption of the bill during the EU legislature's next plenary session at the end of the month, after which talks can start up with EU member nations.

Getting badly needed ammunition" to Ukraine quickly is essential, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday during a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv.

We have also discussed the key issues: the speed of the procurement and delivery of these ammunition because they are needed on the battlefield, already now, Zelenskyy said.

The EU Parliament's move came after the leaders of the bloc's member nations endorsed in March a plan for sending Ukraine 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition within the next 12 months. The EU's executive arm, which von der Leyen leads, later announced a plan to assist Ukraine and to replenish European stocks by ramping up the large-scale production of ammunition with a budget of 500-million euros ($548 million).

Ukraine is poised to launch a planned spring counteroffensive to recover Russian-occupied territory, but the country has burned through ammunition at a furious rate, according to analysts. Western allies have provided ammunition, and the government in Kyiv has asked them to supply much more.

Thierry Breton, the EUs internal market commissioner, welcomed the European Parliament's decision to trigger the urgent procedure he called a decisive move.

We are ready to work with co-legislators to find an agreement urgently, he wrote on Twitter. For Ukraine, for our security, for a true European defense.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  A man convicted of killing and sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman in separate South Florida attacks in 1984 is set to be executed next month under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Duane Owen's execution is set for June 15 at 6 p.m. It's the fourth execution scheduled in Florida this year after a break dating back to 2019. Donald Dillbeck was executed in February, and Louis Bernard Gaskin was executed in April. Darryl B. Barwick was executed earlier this month.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Another federal conviction for political corruption in Illinois, another call for tougher ethics laws.

A jury last week slapped convictions on four political insiders in a wide-ranging bribery case involving power giant ComEd's bribery of the once-powerful speaker of the Ilinois House.

While a key House Democrat confirmed Tuesday that discussions about a package of ethical tune-ups were underway, former Gov. Pat Quinn, who has made a career of chasing government reform, delivered a letter to Democratic leaders seeking a special session to adopt more than a half-dozen reforms.

They include the long-sought but elusive proposals to allow taxpayers to put referendum questions on the ballot without legislative intervention  currently possible in 26 states  and to prohibit legislators from voting on issues in which they have a financial interest.

Its pretty clear from the testimony in the trial that jobs were being given out to friends of legislators. Thats a conflict of interest ..., Quinn said in a statehouse news conference. If youre a legislator, your ethical duty is to the voters and the people in your district, not to provide special benefits to you and your friends.

The jury in the so-called ComEd 4 trial found that two former utility executives, a consultant and a longtime political insider arranged for contracts, jobs and money for associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, among the most powerful of the nation's legislative leaders, in exchange for favorable legislation.

Rep. Maurice West II, chairman of the House Ethics and Elections Committee, said his talks on a package are not directly connected to what is known as the ComEd 4 trial.

West credited a 2021 ethics package with nailing the illegal activity confirmed by the ComEd 4 verdict, although that investigation had begun years before. Critics, however, derided that law, driven by 2019 disclosures of legislators lobbying indiscretions and bribery, as insufficient.

I really do feel its been effective, countered West, adding that he plans to tighten up conflicting or confusing provisions in current law. Its time for us to look at what our laws can do in the here and now and beyond  and not look back."

Among other provisions Quinn put in his letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch is an end to double-dipping by legislators on another public payroll besides the state's. Quinn pushed for an end to double-dipping in one of his earliest reform campaigns in 1976.

He would also keep public officials convicted of corruption from receiving taxpayer-funded pensions, restrict campaign contributions from utilities and other monopolies, strengthen revolving door limits on legislators-turned-lobbyists and strengthen the maligned effectiveness of the Legislative Inspector General by providing the office with subpoena power.

Quinn, the state's Democratic governor from 2009 to 2015, was elevated to the post from lieutenant governor when Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office for political corruption, which later landed him in federal prison.

Quinn, who also served as a one-term state treasurer, is best known outside of political office for leading the drive to reduce the size of the Illinois House in 1980 because of anger over a pay raise for the representatives.

West said he had not seen Quinn's letter but was eager to consider the former governor's proposals.

___ Follow Political Writer John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor
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HELENA, Mont. (AP)  Two transgender children, their parents and two health care providers filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that a Montana law that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth is unconstitutional.

The ban on puberty blockers, hormone treatment and surgical procedures applies only to transgender youth being treated for gender dysphoria, but that same care can be provided to cisgender adolescents for any other purpose, according to the complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Montana and Lambda Legal.

The ban serves no purpose other than to intentionally burden a transgender person's ability to seek necessary care to align their body with their gender identity, the complaint states. It asks a state judge to block enforcement of the law, which is to take effect on Oct. 1.

The new law provides commonsense protections for Montana children  who cant even enter into contracts or buy cigarettes or alcohol  from harmful, life-altering medications and surgeries," said Emily Flower, spokesperson for Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Opposition to the bill by Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr  the first openly transgender female lawmaker to serve in the Montana Legislature  triggered a series of events that eventually led to her being banned from the House floor for the final days of the 2023 session.

The Republican-controlled Montana Legislature passed the bill and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed it late last month. Montana is one of at least 16 states with laws to ban such care, despite protests from the families of transgender youth that the care is essential.

It is mentally and physically painful to feel like you are trapped in the wrong body, Jessica van Garderen, the mother of a 16-year-old transgender daughter, said in a statement. Going through puberty for the wrong sex is like having your body betray you on a daily basis. The only treatment we have found to be effective and give our daughter hope again is hormone therapy.

Taking away this crucial medical care is inhumane and a violation of our rights, van Garderen said.

The complaint argues that the new law interferes with parental rights and is unconstitutional because it violates the plaintiffs' right to privacy, their right to seek health care and the right to human dignity.

Supporters of the ban, including bill sponsor Republican Sen. John Fuller, said minors should not be allowed to undergo irreversible, life-changing procedures before they are adults and are old enough to understand the consequences and give legal permission.

Just living as a trans teenager is difficult enough, the last thing me and my peers need is to have our rights taken away," plaintiff Phoebe Cross, a 15-year-old transgender boy, said in a statement. The blatant disrespect for my humanity and existence is deeply unsettling.

Under the new law, health care providers who provide such care could lose their medical licenses for at least a year and be subject to lawsuits for up to 25 years after any treatment was provided.

The bill also prohibits public money, such as Medicaid, from being used to pay for such care.

Federal judges in Alabama and Arkansas have blocked laws that sought to ban gender-affirming care. The Department of Justice joined a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of transgender parents and their children against a similar ban in Tennessee.
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HONG KONG (AP)  The first British minister visiting Hong Kong in five years said his country will not duck its historic responsibilities to people living in its former colony while engaging with China in areas they share common interests.

The remarks by Dominic Johnson, minister of state in the Department for Business and Trade, were published in an opinion piece in the South China Morning Post on Tuesday. He wrote that the U.K. will be clear about its right to act when China breaks its international commitments or abuses human rights.

Johnson's trip this week came after relations between Hong Kong and Britain became increasingly tense following the enactment of a Beijing-imposed national security law, which the U.K. earlier called a clear breach of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The declaration included a promise to retain Hong Kongs rights and freedoms for 50 years after it was returned to Chinas rule in 1997.

Following the introduction of the sweeping security law in 2020, 105,200 residents have started new lives in Britain via a special visa that allows them to live and work in the U.K. and apply for British citizenship after six years, according to U.K. official data.

Johnson said his trip included meetings with the city's leading investors and government officials to foster investment ties between both sides. He tweeted on Monday that he met with CK Hutchison chairman Victor Li, the elder son of tycoon Li Ka-shing, to discuss their investment plans in Britain.

In another tweet, he said he also talked to Christopher Hui, Hong Kong's secretary for financial services and the Treasury, on their works to remove market barriers and increase trade between both sides.

Im in Hong Kong as part of my mission to promote the UK as a leading destination for investment and trade, he wrote on Twitter.

The British consulate in Hong Kong said the visit would allow Johnson to reengage on dialogue including trade and investment, clean growth and future bilateral visits, in addition to promoting collaboration between Hong Kong and the U.K. after the COVID-19 pandemic and the imposition of the security law.

His visit also includes a meeting with Hong Kong Commerce Minister Algernon Yau, a lunch with some members of the British Chamber of Commerce and a visit to local tech hub Cyberport, it added. Johnson is slated to conclude his trip on Tuesday evening.

When asked about Johnson's visit, Hong Kong leader John Lee said he welcomed any foreign officials to visit Hong Kong and encourage the promotion of economic development, commercial exchanges and people-to-people relationship. Lee said the city's success is built on regional and international cooperation.

It's just some countries make some moves to meet their political interest, perhaps due to political reasons, he said, without identifying any countries.

He added he hoped all will act pragmatically in their cooperation and policies for development and the benefits of their people.
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QORQANYA, Syria (AP)  The U.S. military is investigating reports that it killed a civilian in a recent strike in northwest Syria that meant to target a senior al-Qaida leader, a military official said in a statement Tuesday.

Relatives and neighbors of a 60-year-old man killed in the May 3 strike in the village of Qorqanya, a rural area in northern Idlib province, told The Associated Press that he was a farmer who raised sheep, chickens and cattle and had no involvement with armed groups.

In an initial statement released the day of the strike, U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said its forces had conducted a unilateral strike ... targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader. It did not provide any further details.

Maj. John Moore, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said Tuesday that U.S. forces are in the process of confirming the identity of the individual killed in the strike.

We are aware of the allegations of a civilian casualty and the outcome of the confirmation process will inform if further investigation is necessary and how it should proceed, he said.

The local civil defense group in northwest Syria, known as the White Helmets, said in a statement that it had responded to the site after hearing sounds of an explosion and found that a drone strike had killed 60-year-old Lutfi Hassan Masto, a local resident who was tending his sheep at the time. Three of the animals were also killed, the statement said.

Masto's brother, Mohamed Masto, told The Associated Press that reports that his brother was involved in al-Qaida were absolute lies" and that his killing was an injustice and an aggression.

He had nothing to do with the revolution. ... He had nothing to do with the Al-Nusra Front or with the Islamic State or any of the other armed groups involved in Syrias 12-year-old uprising-turned-civil-war, Masto said.

Fayad Jamil Raji, a neighbor, said he had known Lufti Masto  or Abu Hassan, a nickname meaning father of Hassan  for many years.

The man was a civilian. He had a farm with poultry, cows and sheep, he said.

Moore said that CENTCOM's missions are meticulously planned and executed to maximize success and minimize the risk of collateral damage and harm to civilians.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors, who partner with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. They are tasked with preventing a comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory, and sometimes also target other militant groups.

In April, CENTCOM reported it had taken part in 35 missions in Iraq and Syria, killing 13 alleged IS operatives and detaining 28.

___

Sewell reported from Beirut.
In an unusually terse letter Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins ripped into District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton for his response to her decision not to immediately charge a security guard who allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Banko Brown outside a San Francisco Walgreens on April 27.

Walton wrote a formal letter of inquiry to Jenkins office last week after she announced, After careful review, we are not pursuing murder charges at this time because of credible evidence of reasonable self-defense. The supervisor shared on Instagram that hed sent a letter of inquiry requesting them to publicly release the video footage showing the circumstances around the shooting  and requesting the District Attorney to reconsider and reevaluate their decision not to charge the case.

Jenkins reply letter, obtained and reviewed by SFGATE, opens by stating, While legally there is no requirement that I respond to your letter given the nature of your requests, I am responding to ensure that you understand not only my position, but the dangers presented by your interference in the judicial process. What follows is similarly pointed. Jenkins continues the letter by saying that Waltons request to reevaluate the decision is wholly inappropriate and dangerous to the interests of justice and a fair criminal justice system for all people.

Following political pressure, you issued your Letter of Inquiry, which you promptly posted about on social media, Jenkins wrote to Walton. Political prosecution is the enemy of a fair and equitable criminal justice system. Prosecutorial discretion cannot and should not be abused for the sake of political expediency.

The letter then took a personal turn to race (both Walton and Jenkins are Black).

While your social media comments have pointed out that Banko Brown is African-American, they have failed to identify that the suspect in this case is also African-American, Jenkins wrote. As you know, many historic injustices that our community has faced can be traced back to politically motivated prosecutions. As a legislator, and non-lawyer, you may not be aware that as an attorney and prosecutor, I have ethical obligations that I have sworn to uphold  including, to only charge those for whom we believe we have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of their guilt, and to not allow politics, bias or self-interest to influence the handling of any case in this office. I will not deviate from that duty for anything or anyone.

In the letters concluding paragraph, Jenkins states, I hope that what I said above causes you to take a moment to pause and reflect on the dangers your inquiry posed to a fair and just judicial process. We should know and be better as elected leaders.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, Walton said, I disagree with the District Attorneys opinions and have been informed by our Deputy City Attorney that my request has no interference with the investigation and it is not at all unethical.

Jenkins reply to Walton was sent after her office sent out a press release stating that the investigation into the fatal shooting remains open and that she has asked SFPD investigators to locate and interview additional witnesses and gather additional evidence. She said that charges could still be brought, and that if they are not, her office will publicly release a comprehensive report that provides a full accounting of the evidence reviewed and how the decision was made.

Waltons statement further added that Jenkins Monday letter  in which she said the investigation remains ongoing  appears to be a contradiction to her initial announcement charges would not be brought.

In the literal sense, the Monday statement is not a reversal of Jenkins' initial statement, which did say (italics added for emphasis), We are not pursuing murder charges at this time because of credible evidence of reasonable self-defense.

Another portion of the statement, however, was more emphatic as to the review of the evidence, reading, The evidence clearly shows that the suspect believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense.

That initial statement also did not explicitly say that the investigation was ongoing or that the DAs office had requested that the San Francisco Police Department gather more evidence.

Jenkins announced in her Monday press release that she released the suspect without charges because by law, a suspect that is in custody must be charged within 72 hours and can not be held indefinitely as that would violate due process. At that time, we discharged the case, and asked the San Francisco Police Department to gather more evidence before making a final decision.

This story has been updated.
In person, Tommy Wiseau looks and sounds exactly like I imagined.

As he stands behind the protective confines of a plexiglass barrier and takes photos with dozens of fans, Escape  the flirtatious 1970s anthem by Rupert Holmes  unabashedly plays on the overhead sound system. Inexplicably, hes wearing leather gloves and sunglasses indoors, and even though he appears middle-aged, his skin is pearly and smooth, and his hair is still that same drugstore black. Up close, he looks like a wax statue from Madame Tussauds, but with the rock n roll flair of Slash or a late Michael Jackson.

Its a sold-out showing at San Franciscos Balboa Theater on a Saturday night, and Im here to see Big Shark, Wiseaus first feature film since The Room, the 2003 cult masterpiece that he wrote, directed, produced and starred in as its beleaguered protagonist. Perhaps best known as one of the worst movies ever made, Variety cruelly described it as a film whose primary goal, apparently, is to convince us that the freakish Wiseau is actually a normal, everyday sort of guy.

His new horror film, Big Shark, is exactly what its title suggests. It is about a bloodthirsty 35-foot-long shark that wreaks havoc on the streets of Louisiana, the southeastern state where Wiseau claims to have once lived. The idea struck him like a beacon in the night. After Hurricane Katrina flooded the region, the question arrived, he said. What if, you know what I mean?

An international man of mystery

For decades, Wiseau has eluded audiences, in large part because he reveals so little about his past. However, he was thrust back into the spotlight in 2017 after A24 released The Disaster Artist. In it, James Franco portrays Wiseau during the making of The Room in San Francisco and its subsequent cult success.

To date, the facts surrounding Wiseaus country of origin, his source of wealth, and his true age are still murky. Regardless of his shadowy background, it appears as though he may have a bigger footprint in San Francisco than most people realize. I make money in real estate, he said. Do you know I built a few buildings in Bay Area? Thats a fact.

According to Curbed San Franciscos Adam Brinklow, Wiseau shot multiple scenes of The Room in the city  and one of those shooting locations reportedly happened to be the Pizza Zone on 555 Beach St. near Fishermans Wharf. Those who have walked by it know that its impossible to miss  that might be because it has a gigantic poster advertising The Room with Wiseaus face on it, as well as a massive pair of disembodied blue jeans that hover over it like some sort of denim specter. A quick search in the San Francisco Assessor-Recorders Office database shows that Wiseau is listed on the deed from 1992.

Google Street View

Frustratingly, despite the balls-to-the-wall nature of Big Shark, its famous director is still as cryptic as ever. After he cold-called me twice, we finally set up a time to talk, during which we discussed his past in San Francisco and his very human motivations behind the film. Time is going very fast, he tells me one afternoon. I want to make a mark on the world.

Over the phone, Wiseau is friendly, but opaque: He says that he still has a soft spot for Oakland and San Francisco, but wont say where he likes to hang out when he visits for live screenings. He also says that he helped fund The Room and Big Shark through his longtime Bay Area brand, Street Fashions, but no such business appears in the California Secretary of States business database under his name.

When asked to confirm if he really did emigrate from Poland like his IMDb page suggests, Wiseau emphasizes that hes a proud American and will be treated like one before prompting me to move on to the next question (Clerks from the San Francisco District Courts also told me that they couldnt locate his naturalization records, saying that they were physically missing).

Oh, hi shark

But, all this aside, Id be lying if I said I didnt enjoy the audacity of Big Shark.

The film is yet another low-budget gem thats rife with abrupt edits, chintzy CGI, stilted dialogue and, yes, action-packed sequences involving the aforementioned big shark. Once it finally explodes onto the scene, it terrorizes everyone and significantly thins out the population of New Orleans.

Buskers? Gone. Unassuming shoppers? Also gone. Shirtless, muscular boxers sparring in the ring indoors? Didnt stand a chance. The poor TV news reporter who had the unfortunate task of reporting live on the streets of Louisiana that fateful evening also did not survive (RIP). Even though many of the films scenes felt like a slog  and didnt make much sense strung together  Big Shark was practically made for live audience interaction, piggybacking off the arthouse longevity of The Room screenings.

The audience screamed with delight every time the shark made an outrageous, gruesome appearance; they cheered when one of the films cowboy hat-wearing protagonists declared that they needed to blow its ass up with dynamite, and they gleefully sang along with Wiseaus firefighters in charge of killing the bloodthirsty monster. Most of the dialogue is baffling, but every now and then, its wonderfully straightforward.

Come on man, you live in a delusional mind!

Eliminate the shark at any cost.

We got to kill this bitch!

And so forth.

As the credits rolled, fans lined up for the Q&A, trying to unravel the meaning of Wiseaus latest work and, in turn, the enigmatic person behind it. Maybe Big Shark really was a complex allegory like one viewer suggested, or, maybe, it wasnt that self-aware at all. While Wiseaus true identity and motivations are still a persistent question mark, at the screening, one thing remained clear: In Tommys world, were all just audience members watching him play the hero.
LinkedIn is laying off 716 workers and phasing out its Chinese jobs app, according to a Monday announcement from the CEO of the Sunnyvale-based professional networking giant.

The Microsoft-owned firm will cut management positions, close its business productivity team, increase its use of contracted vendors and open up 250 new roles, the announcement said, all part of a reorganization of teams that will leave hundreds out of work at the firm through a reduction of roles.

The firm has more than 19,000 employees, according to its website, and boasts more than 930 million users.

CEO Ryan Roslansky, who has led LinkedIn since June 2020, began his message with a nod to the companys recent 20-year milestone, before writing, Over the years weve had to make hard decisions to ensure we were setting the company up to deliver on our vision, and Im sharing one of those decisions today.

He blamed the phaseout of InCareer, LinkedIns year-and-a-half-old jobs app for China, on fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate. The firm Maimai and local job board sites in China proved difficult competition for LinkedIn, which joins other American tech firms in largely retreating from the country. InCareer, which doesnt have a social feed, is slated to shutter by August 9, but the company said it will still operate some business in China, including corporate training.

Roslansky said laid-off employees who are benefit-eligible in the United States will receive severance pay, continuing health coverage and career transition aid  LinkedIn will try to help employees find new roles at the company, if theres a skill fit. The company did not answer SFGATEs questions on the scale of severance pay or plan to increase the use of vendors, a term which often refers to cheap, contracted labor.

LinkedIns layoff round comes four months after parent company Microsoft said it would cut 10,000 employees by the end of March. LinkedIns recruiting department was impacted by those layoffs, The Information reported, but its unclear how broadly. GitHub, another Microsoft subsidiary, announced it would cut a tenth of its workforce and shutter its San Francisco office in February.

In this tumultuous job market, LinkedIn has, in a way, become a beneficiary. As tech companies laid off tens of thousands of employees, flocks of workers have penned heartfelt corporate goodbyes and pleas for job-finding aid, filling the platforms social feed.

The platforms news editors did not place a story about LinkedIns layoffs announcement on the homepages 10-headline LinkedIn News widget Tuesday, opting to turn the professional worlds gaze toward other corporate turmoil.

Hear of anything happening at LinkedIn? Contact tech reporter Stephen Council securely at stephen.council@sfgate.com or on Signal at 628-204-5452.
Rapid, a San Francisco-based startup given a $150 million cash infusion 14 months ago, just laid off three-fourths of its workforce in less than two weeks, according to former employees.

The company, which has built a hub for developers to work on application programming interfaces, or APIs, laid off about half of its team April 25 and cut at least another fourth of its employees late last week, the workers say. TechCrunch first reported the cuts, which have slashed Rapids workforce from over 200 to less than 50.

The layoffs, which reportedly leave 150 people out of work, come at the end of a pivotal 15 months for the company. In March 2022, Rapid raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, SoftBank and M12, Microsofts venture fund. The firm launched a European headquarters in Berlin in July and rebranded from RapidAPI to Rapid in November. At that point, the firm said in a press release it had doubled its employee count from the prior year to almost 200.

In April, Iddo Gino stepped down as the chief executive at the company, which he had led since he was 17. Gino built Rapid in an age of growing interest in APIs, which allow websites and apps to speak with each other and pull out useful info. On its website, Rapid boasts 40,000 APIs in its hub and 4 million developers using its platform.

When Rapid Chief Financial Officer Marc Friend stepped in to lead the company in Ginos stead, layoffs quickly ensued.

Rapids director of talent in Europe, Tristan Hamish Mackrory, weighed in on the first round of cuts in a public LinkedIn post, writing, It is heartbreaking to share that Rapids journey of people growth has come to an abrupt and unexpected end. With over 50% of employees globally being laid off yesterday.

More cuts arrived the next week, further slashing the tech unicorns workforce. Fewer than 50 employees remain at the company, according to a source who provided details to SFGATE and was granted anonymity in accordance with Hearsts ethics policy. TechCrunch, on Friday, reported a similar statistic. Rapid declined to confirm the cuts or provide comment to SFGATE.

As laid-off employees posted on LinkedIn about the cuts, Mackrory started a list of former colleagues newly open to work  the 73 names already on the Google Sheet range in job title and location, but most hail from the Bay Area or Berlin, and many worked as engineers. The firm has just one posted job opening: accounting manager.

Hear of anything happening at Rapid? Contact tech reporter Stephen Council securely at stephen.council@sfgate.com or on Signal at 628-204-5452.
Connecticut is among the New England states seeing hazy conditions today due to wildfires burning in Western Canada.

Nutmeggers may be seeing opaque skies due to a mix of clouds and smoke from wildfires currently active in Alberta, Canada according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Satellite imagery from the National Weather Service shows the path of the smoke from Western Canada moving east over New England.
WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX

647 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Burnet

County through 730 PM CDT...

At 647 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Briggs, or 12 miles south of Copperas Cove, moving north at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Briggs and Watson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3103 9790 3095 9785 3091 9783 3090 9783

3086 9788 3084 9800 3103 9809

TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 167DEG 4KT 3094 9792

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Callahan County in west central Texas...

Southeastern Taylor County in west central Texas...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 647 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located from Tuscola to

Potosi, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Lawn around 705 PM CDT.

Dudley around 720 PM CDT.

Oplin around 730 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Kirby

Lake.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Smith,

south central Upshur and northwestern Gregg Counties through 715 PM

CDT...

At 648 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

Gladewater, moving northeast at 10 mph. Another strong thunderstorm

was indicated over East Mountain, also moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

Longview, White Oak, Gladewater, Clarksville City, East Mountain,

West Mountain, Liberty City, Union Grove, Warren City and Judson.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio

stations and available television stations for additional information

and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3239 9497 3254 9509 3269 9486 3254 9471

TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 226DEG 7KT 3251 9498

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

North central Kimble County in west central Texas...

Southwestern Menard County in west central Texas...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 650 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over The

Intersection Of Us-83 And Ranch Road 1773, or 8 miles south of

Menard, moving west at 15 mph.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

north central Kimble and southwestern Menard Counties, including

the following locations... The Intersection Of Us-83 And Ranch Road

1773, The Intersection Of Us-83 And Highway 29 and Us-83 Near The

Kimble-Menard County Line.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO BROWNSVILLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southern Cameron County in Deep South Texas...

* Until 145 AM CDT.

* At 1240 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Villa Nueva

Elementary School, or 8 miles south of La Paloma, moving east at 30

mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to

mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...

Los Fresnos, South Padre Island, Rancho Viejo, Los Indios,

Southmost, Olmito, Port Of Brownsville, La Paloma, Cameron Park and

Downtown Brownsville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO BROWNSVILLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Brownsville TX

128 AM CDT Tue May 9 2023

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT

FOR SOUTHEASTERN CAMERON COUNTY...

At 127 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles southwest of

Boca Chica Beach, or 9 miles east of Port Of Brownsville, moving east

at 30 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Wind sensor at NWS Brownsville gusted to 69 mph as storm

passed.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile

homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include...

Los Fresnos, South Padre Island, Rancho Viejo, Southmost, Olmito,

Port Of Brownsville, Cameron Park, Downtown Brownsville, Brownsville

and Lincoln Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

* WHERE...A portion of south central Texas, including the following

county, Frio.

* WHEN...Until 430 AM CDT.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 130 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to

thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin

shortly in the advisory area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain

have fallen.

- Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected

over the area. This additional rain will result in minor

flooding.

- Some locations that will experience flooding include...

Pearsall, Dilley, Derby, Hilltop, Divot and Bluff.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the

dangers of flooding.

The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southeastern Cameron County in Deep South Texas...

* Until 200 AM CDT.

* At 130 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Boca Chica

Beach, or 10 miles south of South Padre Island, moving northeast at

45 mph.

THIS IS A DESTRUCTIVE STORM FOR South Padre Island, Boca Chica

Beach, and Port Isabel.

HAZARD...80 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without

shelter. Mobile homes will be heavily damaged. Expect

considerable damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles.

Extensive tree damage and power outages are likely.

* Locations impacted include...

South Padre Island, Port Isabel City Hall, U.s. Coast Guard

Station, Port Isabel Lighthouse, Beach Access Four, Port Isabel

High School, Port Isabel Fire And Police Department, South Padre

Island Convention Center, Beach Access Six and Garria Elementary

School.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
The French parliament adopted a resolution Tuesday calling on the European Union to formerly label Russian mercenary force Wagner a "terrorist group".

The resolution, which is non-binding and symbolic, passed with unanimous support across the political spectrum.

Its author, ruling party MP Benjamin Haddad, has said he hopes it will encourage the 27 members of the EU to put Wagner on its official list of terrorist organisations.

"Wherever they work, Wagner members spread instability and violence," he told parliament on Tuesday. "They kill and torture. They massacre and pillage. They intimidate and manipulate with almost total impunity."

He said they were not simple mercenaries driven by an "appetite for money" but they "follow a broad strategy, from Mali to Ukraine, of supporting the aggressive policies of President (Vladimir) Putin's regime towards our democracies."

Being listed as a terrorist group means EU members could freeze assets of the Wagner group and its members, while European companies and citizens are barred from dealing with the organisation.

But Wagner and its businessman leader Yevgeny Prigozhin have already been repeatedly sanctioned by the European Union, in February for human rights abuses in Africa and in April for participating in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Prigozhin is a close ally of Putin, and his recruits have been fighting for months to capture the battle-scarred city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

He had his assets in the European Union frozen in 2020 and was placed on a visa blacklist over the deployment of Wagner fighters to war-torn Libya, a decision he unsuccessfully appealed.

He claimed at the time that he had "no knowledge of an entity known as Wagner Group".

The group has been blamed by Paris for running anti-French propaganda operations in west Africa, particularly Mali.

The EU's terrorist list, which is approved by leaders of the bloc's member states at their regular meetings, currently includes 13 people and 21 groups or entities including Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The parliaments of Lithuania and Estonia have also labelled Wagner a "terrorist organisation".

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WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southeastern San Patricio County in south central Texas...

* Until 430 PM CDT.

* At 129 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are

possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban

areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as

other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Portland, Ingleside, Aransas Pass, Gregory and Ingleside On The

Bay.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southwestern Aransas County in south central Texas...

East Central San Patricio County in south central Texas...

* Until 530 PM CDT.

* At 218 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are

possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban

areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as

other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Rockport, Aransas Pass, Palm Harbor, Copano Village, Key Allegro

and Fulton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Duval County in south central Texas...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 403 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 13 miles south of

Freer, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

* Locations impacted include...

Benavides and Rosita.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in League City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northeastern Harris County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 655 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Humble,

moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Northern Pasadena, Deer Park, Humble, Cloverleaf, Highlands,

Channelview, Kingwood, Barrett, Aldine, Crosby, Bush

Intercontinental Airport, Atascocita, Northshore, East Houston,

Lake Houston Dam, Lake Houston, Houston Ship Channel, San Jacinto

State Park, Hunterwood and Sheldon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

If on or near Lake Houston, get away from the water and move

indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 15

miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are

close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do

not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Lubbock TX

812 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Hall County

through 845 PM CDT...

At 812 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7

miles north of Turkey, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Turkey and Plaska Community.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3466 10056 3435 10056 3435 10095 3439 10094

3440 10095 3464 10094

TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 268DEG 7KT 3450 10087

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT

FOR NORTHERN BURNET COUNTY...

At 811 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Victor, or

11 miles northeast of Burnet, moving west at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. At 8:06 PM half dollar size hail

was reported near Bertram.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Burnet, Lake Victor, Inks Lake State Park, Sunnylane, Joppa, Watson

and Shady Grove.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAMPASAS COUNTY

WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM CDT...

The storm that prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire on time.

However, small hail is still possible in southwestern portions of

the county, west of the city of Lampasas.

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southeastern Runnels County in west central Texas...

Northeastern Concho County in west central Texas...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 815 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ballinger,

moving southeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Benoit around 825 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Us-

83 Near The Concho-Runnels County Line, The Intersection Of Us-

83 And Ranch Road 1929 and The Intersection Of Ranch Road 1929 And

Ranch Road 2134.

...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Warning is cancelled for

the San Antonio River at Hwy 72 nr Runge.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 7:15 PM CDT Monday the stage was 24.9 feet.

- Forecast...The river will continue to fall.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Fld Observed Forecasts (7 pm CDT)

Location Stg Stg Day/Time Tue Wed Thu

San Antonio River

Hwy 72 nr Runge 27.0 24.9 Mon 7 pm CDT 13.5 11.2 10.4

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Northwestern Kimble County in west central Texas...

Southwestern Menard County in west central Texas...

Southeastern Schleicher County in west central Texas...

Northeastern Sutton County in west central Texas...

* Until 1115 PM CDT.

* At 815 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are

possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,

urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Fort Mckavett, Camp Sol Mayer and The Intersection Of Us-83 And

Ranch Road 1773.

This includes the following Low Water Crossings...

RM 2291 crossings along Bear Creek and Toe Nail crossing San Saba

River.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX

717 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Pecos County

through 800 PM CDT...

At 717 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 27

miles southeast of Fort Stockton, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Pecos

County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe

shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 3074 10278 3084 10249 3073 10207 3052 10269

TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 297DEG 8KT 3073 10246

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Coleman

County through 745 PM CDT...

At 717 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near

Novice, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Novice, Glen Cove, Silver Valley, Us-283 Near The Coleman-

Callahan County Line, Lake Coleman and Hords Creek Reservoir.

LAT...LON 3208 9927 3178 9961 3201 9971 3209 9963

3208 9953 3209 9946

TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 292DEG 11KT 3204 9962

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Pecos,

east central Brewster and southwestern Terrell Counties through 800

PM CDT...

At 718 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 21

miles west of Sanderson, moving east at 20 mph.

Sanderson.

LAT...LON 2991 10282 3028 10286 3039 10240 2988 10234

TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 261DEG 19KT 3010 10275

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southeastern Lampasas County in central Texas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 720 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Kempner, or 8

miles east of Lampasas, and is moving slowly to the north.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

southeastern Lampasas County, including Rumley.

For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from

windows.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 743 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fisk, or near

Santa Anna, and is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Santa Anna around 830 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Fisk.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR

SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a

threat, however some streams will continue to have running flows for

the next couple of hours or so due to the earlier heavy rains.

Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service San Angelo TX

748 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SCHLEICHER COUNTY

IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning has

been cancelled.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Coleman

County through 830 PM CDT...

At 747 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorms

over Lake Coleman, or near Novice to 10 miles west of Cross Plains,

moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Coleman, Novice, Burkett, Silver Valley, Echo, Us-

283 Near The Coleman-Callahan County Line and Lake Coleman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3182 9921 3186 9961 3199 9971 3209 9964

3208 9920

TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 301DEG 8KT 3202 9956

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT

FOR NORTHEASTERN BURNET COUNTY...

At 749 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Watson, or 10

miles southwest of Copperas Cove, moving northwest at 5 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Watson.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northern Burnet County in south central Texas...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 751 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Sunnylane, or

11 miles north of Bertram, moving west at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Burnet, Lake Victor, Inks Lake State Park, Sunnylane, Joppa, Watson

and Shady Grove.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northeastern McCulloch County in west central Texas...

* Until 1115 PM CDT.

* At 1010 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fife, or

near Lohn, moving southeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Placid around 1040 PM CDT.

Brady and Rochelle around 1105 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Milburn

and Fife.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

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SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Shreveport LA

732 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN GREGG COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has weakened.

Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT

FOR NORTHEASTERN SMITH...SOUTHEASTERN WOOD AND SOUTHWESTERN UPSHUR

COUNTIES...

At 732 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hawkins, or 15

miles west of Gladewater, and is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated. At 720 PM, nickel size hail was reported

in Hawkins. However, this storm has intensified since and

is likely producing quarter size hail or larger.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Big Sandy, Hawkins, Winona and Red Springs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.

Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading

killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to

be struck by lightning.

...FLOOD ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Advisory is cancelled for a portion of southeast Texas,

including the following counties, Harris and Montgomery.

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a

threat, but expect water levels to be slow to recede. Please

continue to heed any remaining road closures.

FOR NORTHEASTERN BURNET COUNTY...

At 734 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Watson, or 11

miles south of Copperas Cove, moving northwest at 5 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

Briggs and Watson.

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Pecos County in southwestern Texas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 734 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 23 miles southeast

of Fort Stockton, moving northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

central Pecos County.

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 272 and 283.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Callahan County

through 815 PM CDT...

At 735 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorms

from Clyde to Rowden to Oplin, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Baird, Rowden, Oplin and Admiral.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 308 and 318.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3208 9921 3209 9963 3210 9964 3238 9950

3243 9920

TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 276DEG 15KT 3220 9938

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY

WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.

Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAMPASAS COUNTY...

At 733 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Kempner, or 8

miles east of Lampasas, and drifting slowly to the north.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

southeastern Lampasas County, including Rumley.

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Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Arab League Resolution 8914 readmitting Syria to the Arab fold is an Arab roadmap that will help to find a resolution to the Syrian crisis in step with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, writes Hussein Haridy

On 7 May, the Arab foreign ministers met in an extraordinary session at the Cairo headquarters of the Arab League and agreed to welcome Syria back into the league effective immediately. The meeting was chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.

The ministers adopted Arab League Resolution 8914 in this regard, spelling out its objectives and setting up a ministerial liaison committee comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and the secretary-general of the Arab League.

The committee will liaise with the Syrian government to discuss ways forward in reaching a political resolution to the Syrian crisis, on the one hand, and following up on the implementation of the Amman ministerial meeting that took place on 1 May, on the other. The latter meeting discussed the question of Syrias resuming its membership of the Arab League after its suspension 12 years ago at the height of what is called the Arab Spring.

The Amman meeting was a follow up to another Arab ministerial meeting in Jeddah on the same question of Syria and the Arab League that the Saudi government hosted last April. This meeting was followed by an important visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Ben Farhan to Damascus, where he had held a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

The visit was the first of its kind since 2011, the year that saw the outbreak of what was called at the time the Syrian Revolution that later morphed into a Civil War that neither brought democracy nor political diversity to Syria. Instead, it ironically gave rise to one of the most brutal terrorist organisations in the history of the Islamist movements, the so-called Islamic State group (IS) that brought havoc and destruction to parts of Syria and Iraq from 2013 to 2017.

Back in 2013, former US president Barack Obama while on a visit to Turkey said that Al-Assad needs to go. He needs to transfer power to a transitional body. That is the only way that we are going to resolve this crisis. And we are going to keep working for a Syria that is free from Al-Assads tyranny, inclusive of all ethnic and religious groups, and thats the source of stability, not extremism.

Needless to say, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan obliged the US president back then. But little did the two presidents know that their mutual interests in overthrowing the Syrian regime would invite Russia in two years later and would pave the way for more Iranian involvement in Syria.

The same year, 2013, saw the emergence of the Islamic State group and its control of Raqqa in eastern Syria, which it turned into the temporary capital of a so-called Islamic caliphate. From there, the group advanced in June 2014 towards Iraq and brought Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city, under its sway.

Arab League Resolution 8914 is a balanced text that can be seen as an Arab road map to work with the Syrian government in order to reach a final political resolution of the Syrian crisis through a step-by-step approach and in lockstep with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 of December 2015.

The Arab League Resolution is a step forward that should encourage the Syrian government to work with the UN and the Arab League through the ministerial liaison committee that it has established in order to accelerate the much-hoped-for democratic transition in Syria in a Syrian-owned process. The Arab world will be watching for political concessions on the part of the Syrian government in the context of a UN-led Constitutional Committee.

The secretary-general of the Arab League was right when he said after the adoption of Resolution 8914 that the Syrian crisis would not be solved overnight.

All eyes are now on what steps the Syrian government will take in the days to come before the Arab Summit meeting to be held in Saudi Arabia on 19 May to demonstrate that the reintegration of Syria into the Arab fold will greatly help in advancing the cause of reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis in the context of the Amman ministerial meeting of 1 May and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

In an official reaction to Resolution 8914, a spokesman for the US State Department said that the US believes that the Syrian government does not deserve to retake its seat in the Arab League. But he conceded that the Arab partners believe that such a step would facilitate a solution to the Syrian crisis.

In the meantime, he said, which was already significant, that the US administration agreed with the ultimate objectives of the resolution, mainly the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

By the adoption of Arab League Resolution 8914, the Arab world has turned a sad page in its contemporary history that has seen instability, insecurity, and widespread misery and destruction spread across the region.

It is now time to rebuild and to transition, gradually and without foreign or regional meddling, to political systems based on the peaceful transition of power, political and religious diversity, and the rule of law.

The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southeastern Wood County in northeastern Texas...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 757 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hainesville,

or 8 miles northeast of Mineola, and is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Mineola, Quitman, Hawkins and Hainesville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT

FOR CENTRAL COLEMAN COUNTY...

At 758 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Fisk, or near

Santa Anna, and is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...Two inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind

damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe storm will be near...

Santa Anna around 845 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Fisk.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT

FOR CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY...

At 758 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 17 miles east of

Fort Stockton, moving northwest at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

central Pecos County.

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 272 and 283.

...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Warning is cancelled for

the Neches River Near Diboll.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...

- At 7:15 PM CDT Monday the stage was 12.0 feet.

- Forecast...The river is expected to remain steady below flood

stage at 11.9 feet.

- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

...FLOOD ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Advisory is cancelled for a portion of south central

Texas, including the following counties, Bastrop and Lee.

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no

longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining

road closures.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Northwestern Smith County in northeastern Texas...

Southwestern Wood County in northeastern Texas...

* Until 930 PM CDT.

* At 833 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located just northeast of

Mineola, moving west at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect

wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Mineola, Quitman, Hainesville, Golden, Lake Fork Reservoir and

Alba.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT

FOR NORTHWESTERN BURNET COUNTY...

At 834 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lake Victor, or

9 miles north of Burnet, moving west at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to

roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...

Lake Victor.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

Severe Weather Statement

National Weather Service Shreveport LA

918 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL WOOD COUNTY IS

CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe

limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.

Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement

agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service

Shreveport.

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southern Coleman County in west central Texas...

* Until 1000 PM CDT.

* At 918 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Mozelle, or

near Voss, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...

Gouldbusk around 925 PM CDT.

Rockwood around 940 PM CDT.

Trickham around 1000 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this severe thunderstorm include Mozelle,

Shields and Fisk.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Mills and Comanche

Counties through 945 PM CDT...

At 917 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong outflow winds,

extending from 9 miles east of May to near Zephyr to near

Brookesmith. Movement was southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

The strong outflow winds will be near...

Comanche around 940 PM CDT.

Goldthwaite and Mullin around 945 PM CDT.

The heavy rain and hail will occur after the strong winds arrive.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3161 9878 3169 9876 3170 9867 3208 9892

3226 9855 3190 9841 3169 9846 3147 9848

3133 9864 3137 9865 3134 9870 3141 9870

3143 9873 3139 9877 3141 9878 3141 9885

3144 9887 3146 9894 3144 9896 3147 9900

TIME...MOT...LOC 0217Z 312DEG 26KT 3202 9877 3171 9881 3151 9908

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern San Saba

County through 1000 PM CDT...

At 920 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over

Cherokee, moving northwest at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

Locations impacted include...

Cherokee, Chappel and Sloan.

LAT...LON 3092 9862 3092 9874 3102 9910 3113 9910

3127 9901 3106 9855

TIME...MOT...LOC 0220Z 112DEG 26KT 3101 9867

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WESTPORT  A new fire chief is taking over May 15, bringing more than 15 years of experience.

Fire Chief Michael Kronick is retiring after this week to take on a state position, with Deputy Chief Nicholas Marsan becoming Westport's new emergency management director and acting fire chief.

Marsan has been a member of the Westport Fire Department since 2007, and has experience in fire safety and emergency operations.

"I acknowledge and thank Chief Kronick for his dedicated service to this department and to the Westport community," Marsan said. "His contributions have laid a firm foundation for us to build upon, and he can be confident that the department will continue to be led with the highest level of professionalism, dedication, and compassion.

Marsan graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy and is a nationally certified fire service instructor and fire officer, as well as a state-certified fire marshal. He also served as fire inspector for Norwalk and Darien.

He also served in the U.S. Army and Connecticut National Guard, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Marsan earned a master's degree in history from Western Connecticut State University, and a master's degree in public administration and emergency management from Sacred Heart University.

Marsan is also a state fire instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

"I joined the fire service because I have a passion for helping people, especially during their darkest moments," he said. "Being able to provide support and assistance when people need it most has been incredibly fulfilling. I never want anyone to experience a bad day, but if they do, I want myself or another member of the Westport FD to be there to make a positive difference in their lives."

He said he now has the honor and privilege to provide tools and resources to those in the town's fire department so they can both enjoy safe and successful careers, as well as deliver the best possible service to the community.

While in the fire department, he has received multiple awards for public safety work, including two Westport Rotary Public Protection and Safety Awards, three unit citations and two department awards.

"The town of Westport and its residents have been very fortunate to be the beneficiaries of both Mikes and Nicks capable and professional expertise for many years," First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said. "As a result, I am confident that this transition will prove seamless.

Kronick has been a member of the fire department since 1998, and was promoted to chief in January 2022. He has received multiple awards during his tenure, including the Edmund Duffy Unit Citation, the Chief Shippey and the Argenio awards for department service.

He earned a bachelor's of science from the University of Connecticut and a master's in fire science from the University of New Haven.

Kronick also serves on the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Rural Fire Council and is a 20-year member of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew. His new position will be a fire control officer with DEEP.



It has been an honor and privilege to serve the town for nearly 25 years," he said. "I am fortunate to have worked with talented Westport firefighters and fire officers over these two decades, and I will leave with many good memories."

"I wish the department and my successor the best," he added. "I will always be proud to have been a Westport firefighter.
Consumers are cutting back on purchases amid growing pressure on the Bank of England to tame inflation. Retail sales increased 5.2% on a like-for-like basis in April compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from the British Retail Consortium and the consultancy KPMG.  Guardian

Royal Mail boss Simon Thompson is expected to step down within weeks, after a turbulent two-year stint at the helm. The chief executive has been accused by unions of inflaming the bitter industrial dispute, and his credibility was put in question after a Commons select committee appearance.  Guardian

Britain's tourist tax has left Heathrow with empty shops that it is struggling to fill, the airport has claimed, as pressure mounts on Rishi Sunak to reverse his raid on travellers. The UK's largest airport said eighteen stores, including those run by British luxury designer Mulberry, jewellery company APM Monaco, watchmaker Rolex and currency exchange business Travelex, had been shut "as a direct response" to the tax.  Telegraph

Energy suppliers should renegotiate tariffs signed at sky-high prices last year or risk the future of more than 90,000 small businesses, a leading lobby group has warned. The Federation of Small Businesses said that more than a tenth of small businesses had fixed their energy prices during the peak of the market in the second half of last year.  The Times

The boss of Mango has been spurred on to open more shops in Britain after being handed an award from the UK embassy in recognition of its expansion in the country. Toni Ruiz, chief executive of the Spanish retailer, is aiming to open 13 new shops in the UK by the end of this year in locations including Bristol, Brighton, Stratford in east London and Manchester. - The Times
US policies under both Republican and Democratic administrations have reflected Washingtons failure to fully support and assist the democratic transition in Sudan, writes Amr Abdel-Ati

Despite the commitment that US President Joe Biden made on his first day in office on 20 January 2021, and that he and other members of his administration have reiterated since, to make democracy and human rights a priority on Washingtons agenda, the US has done little to advance the democratic transition process in Sudan since the overthrow of the Omar Al-Bashir regime in 2019 and since the Sudanese military establishment reasserted its authority over the country in October 2021, reneging on its pledge to transfer power to a civilian government.

This is also despite the US president hosting two democracy summits in December 2021 and March 2023 explicitly devoted to democracy and human rights.

Sudan is in the process of being torn apart by a power struggle between two camps, one led by the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and de facto president, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the other by his deputy, the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), both of whom are variously supported by complex networks of international and regional alliances with conflicting interests.

Yet, the US response to date to attempts to fuel the conflict by members of those networks reveals the limits of its influence in Sudan. The US is no longer the central international actor it was at the time it helped broker an end to the decades-long Civil War between the north and the south of Sudan and supported the referendum on the independence of South Sudan.

The crisis in the democratic transition process in Sudan has not been a priority for the Biden administration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has not visited Khartoum during his African tours, unlike the secretaries of state under previous Democratic and Republican administrations (Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Mike Pompeo, and John Kerry).

Nor has the Biden administration attempted to impose sanctions or otherwise penalise the Sudanese military leaders for reneging on their commitment to transfer power to the civilian authorities and staging a coup against the democratic transition process, despite the demands of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to do so.

The decline in the US role in Sudan has made it possible for regional and international forces, Russia in particular, to strengthen their influence in Sudan, a process that often conforms with the Sudanese military leaderships desire to perpetuate its control over government in a way that conflicts with the US interests and vision. These powers have come to have a greater influence than the US on Sudans future.

As the fighting between the two camps intensified, the Biden administration prioritised two main aims in Sudan. The first was to ensure the safety of US nationals in Sudan and then to evacuate them in order to avert a repetition of previous US failures in conflict zones that could hamper Bidens prospects of winning a second term in the US presidential elections in November 2024. The second was to play down the involvement of the US international rivals, most notably Russia, which are keen to shape Sudans political future in a manner conducive to promoting their own particular interests.

With the decline in the US influence in Sudan, the options available to the Biden administration for dealing with the intensifying military hostilities and the vanishing prospects for putting the democratic transition back on track have been limited to two.

One is to call on Washingtons regional and political allies to intervene and pressure Al-Burhan and Hemedti to return to the negotiating table, end the fighting, and agree on a formula for restoring and sustaining stability and security. The US is aware that the state of stability and security in Sudan affects other areas, such as the Horn of Africa, an area of priority importance to Washingtons influence in the continent which has become an arena of strategic rivalry between the US and its global competitors.

After numerous ceasefire violations by the Sudanese belligerents, the US, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, succeeded in launching the first serious initiative to end the military conflict, bringing together representatives from the SAF and RSF for talks in Jeddah on 6 May.

The second option is to comply with the demands of Congressional lawmakers from both parties, whose more active engagement on the Sudanese question has helped fill their governments diplomatic gap, to impose sanctions on the Sudanese military leaders and their supporters, thereby cutting off the revenues that support their forces and their grip on power and creating an opening for the growth of Sudans budding democracy movement.

Three weeks after the fighting began, Biden issued an executive order to impose sanctions on the members of the combatant forces in Sudan for their use of violence against civilians, jeopardising the countrys stability, and committing gross violations of human rights. The sanctions actually predated the recent flare-up, but Washington hesitated to impose them in 2019 and 2021 for fear of losing its influence on facilitating the fragile democratic transformation process.

It also feared that pressuring Al-Burhan and Hemedti in this manner might rebound negatively on the process and simultanously drive them into the arms of powers rivalling the US for influence in Sudan, especially Russia. The latter has developed close relations with Hemedtis forces through the Wagner Group, and it hopes to establish a naval base in Sudan to facilitate the passage of its ships to the Indian Ocean.

As a whole, US policies under both Republican and Democratic administrations since the overthrow of the Al-Bashir regime in 2019 have reflected Washingtons failure to fully support and assist the democratic transition in Sudan. The consequence has been a decline in US influence in favour of that of regional and international powers whose interests conflict with those of the US.

This, combined with the gap between rhetoric and policies on the ground, has limited the Biden administrations options for responding to the current crisis in Sudan.

The writer is an expert on US affairs at Al-Ahrams Al-Siyasa Al-Dawliya magazine.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The Manufacturing IT Summit is Indias leading Manufacturing conference, bringing together the most influential IT leaders from the Manufacturing industry to discuss todays most pressing technological challenges to foster deeper collaboration and generate new ideas.

The 22nd Edition Manufacturing IT Summit is an event organized exclusively for Technology leaders from multiple leading businesses, institutions and government officials representing Indias manufacturing sector. This summit is a platform for manufacturers, technology providers, and industry experts to come together and discuss the latest trends and technologies in the manufacturing sector.

The summit focuses on the role of information technology in manufacturing and how it can help organizations optimize their processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. The conference covers topics such as Industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and more.

Where is the Manufacturing IT Summit?

Mumbai, India is a thriving city that serves as the perfect backdrop for the Manufacturing IT Summit organized by Exito. It is also the commercial and financial capital of India, with a thriving manufacturing sector that has seen significant growth in recent years.

When is the Event?

The Manufacturing IT Summit will take place on the 23rd of June, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Mumbai, India.

Get ready to hear from these Industry Experts at the Manufacturing IT Summit-

Purushottam Kaushik- Head, Centre For Fourth Industrial Revolution, India World Economic Forum

Hariharan Iyer- Group CIO, Raymond Group

Amar Variawa- Country Director - Public Affairs, Sustainability & ESG, Michelin India Private Limited

Gopi Thangavel Ph.D, CCISO, CISM, PMP, MCSA- Senior Vice President, Reliance Industries Limited

Narendra K Saini- Chief Digital & Data Officer, Lupin Limited

What Exciting Topics Can You Expect to See on the Agenda for the Manufacturing IT Summit?

Digital Transformation: Leadership, Challenges and Opportunities

Revolutionizing India's mobility with Electric Vehicles/ Hastening the mobility growth with EV

Levelling up ICT Technologies: The first step towards Smart Manufacturing

Balancing people, Process & Technology towards Creating an agile organisation

3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing Process

Smart Supply Chain and Logistics Revolution

Infrastructure and Upskilling Labour

End-to-end manufacturing cloud to create future-proof businesses

Who can Attend?

The Manufacturing IT summit in Mumbai is open to top executives and leaders like CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, and Heads of Logistics and IT Infrastructure from a variety of industries, including FMCG, Plastics, Oil & Energy/Petroleum, Food Production, Metal and Metal Products, Medical Device Manufacturers, Wood, Leather and Paper Products, Electricals & Electronics, Textiles and Textile Machinery, Automotive and Auto Components, Pharmaceuticals, and Chemicals and Fertilizers.

For more Information on MITS Mumbai, you can refer our website: https://manufacturingitsummit.com/
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, Christmas Tree Shops (CTS) has announced plans to close 10 underperforming stores across seven states with liquidation sales commencing as soon as this week.

According to documents in the bankruptcy case, states affected by the sudden termination of business include Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Georgia and New York  but the Staten Island location was not listed in this first round of closures.

After careful consideration, we determined that availing ourselves of the Chapter 11 process was the best way to address our burdensome liabilities, CTS chairman Marc Salkovitz noted in a press release. This is strictly a financial restructuring. Our operations are sound. By increasing our financial flexibility, we will be able to focus on continuing to delight our loyal customers with a wide selection of unique goods at affordable prices.

Founded as a small holiday store -- The Christmas Tree Gift Shop  in the early 1950s on Cape Cod, in Yarmouthport, Mass., the small business was transformed into a destination for one-of-a-kind items with astonishingly low prices sometime in the 1970s by a new owner, Chuck Bilezikian.

According to the CTS website, the single Massachusetts store grew into three quaint, treasure-filled spaces: the Barn Shop, the Front Shop and the Back Shop (hence the name Christmas Tree Shops with an s) and became a sort of treasure hunt space for local residents and Cape Cod tourists alike.

Though no longer a holiday store, the name Christmas Tree Shops remained, and additional locations began cropping up throughout New England. In 2003, the brand became part of the Bed Bath & Beyond family and expanded beyond the Northeast. The Staten Island store in Charlestons Bricktown Center opened in 2006.

In 2020, CTS became an independent company owned by Handil Holdings. Led by Pam and Marc Salkovitz, the company currently operates 83 stores in 20 states. The retailer noted in a press release that it hopes to complete its financial restructuring and emerge from Chapter 11 a financially stronger retailer before the end of August.

The news of CTSs bankruptcy filing comes in the wake of other big box closures.

Bed Bath & Beyond, a half-century-old company that once operated 1,500 stores across the United States, including two stores on Staten Island, announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 23. And after struggling with rising prices and decreased consumer spending, Party City, one of the nations largest suppliers of balloons, decorations and other special-occasion goods, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January.

MORE NEWS

As big box chains continue to close, what will happen to vacant Staten Island storefronts?

Staten Islands last remaining Bed Bath & Beyond to close for good

Walmart, Target and more: A look at big box store closures and a shrinking retail landscape
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City public schools expect student enrollment will level off and remain mostly steady following years of significant declines during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to new figures released by the education department.

Department of Education (DOE) numbers show that projected enrollment is expected to drop 0.6% in K-12 grades across public schools in districts 1-32. Thats down from a more than 2% actual decline in the current school year, and a 5.7% decline the year prior.

Overall, the education department expects 767,477 students enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year, slightly down from 772,458 students this year.

The DOE said it expects 190 schools to have increases of at least 5% in student enrollment next year, down from 207 schools that saw gains this year. And 322 schools are expected to see at least 5% fewer students in the 2023-2024 school year  down from the 544 schools that lost at least 5% of students this current school year.

The forecast for the number of students expected to be enrolled at each school on Oct. 31 of the following school year plays a significant role in determining how much initial funding a school receives. The projections dont include homeschooled students, charter school students, or students in District 75 special education schools.

The projections were finalized after a rigorous, months-long review process that involved principals, field teams, superintendents and certain DOE central teams, according to the city. The Office of Student Enrollment (OSE) recently shared the final register projections with principals, superintendents, field teams and certain central staff.

The DOE noted that projections arent the intended or ideal enrollment for a school and dont determine seat availability for any school. Estimates are informed by historical data, as well as principal and superintendent input  serving as a basis for each schools initial funding allocation through Fair Student Funding, as a part of the school budgeting process. Schools are expected to receive their initial funding allocations in late spring.

The Fair Student Funding formula funds approximately two-thirds of community district school budgets and specifically funds schools based on their students needs. Funds are typically used at the principals discretion and can be put toward hiring teachers and staff and for purchasing materials and educational resources for student and family activities.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS:

State budget allocates record $34.5B to education: Heres whats planned for New York schools

Sensory hallway brings underwater adventure to Staten Island students | In Class column

With lockdowns and fear in mind, Staten Islanders call for increased school security, anti-bullying initiatives

Staten Island students perform at Radio City Music Hall | In Class column

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul announced historic education funding in the state budget last week, investing billions in pre-K through 12 and college education for students across New York.

The funding includes a record $34.5 billion in total school aid in the state budget  marking the highest level of state aid ever  as well as significant investments in state and city universities of New York.

All New Yorkers deserve access to a high-quality education, from pre-kindergarten through their college graduation, Hochul said.  ... this unprecedented level of transformational investments will open new doors for more students to build a brighter future for themselves and gain the skills needed for the jobs of the future.

Heres a look at what the budget allocations mean for New York schools, according to Hochuls office.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Full funding of Foundation Aid - $34.2 billion

The budget includes a historic $34.2 billion in total School Aid. This includes $24 billion for Foundation Aid  a $2.6 billion increase from last year  to deliver on Hochuls promise to fully fund Foundation Aid for the first time in history. This ensures New York continues to provide the most education funding per-pupil in the country.

Foundation Aid is the states main education operating aid formula, according to the budget. Its focused on allocating state funds equitably to all school districts, especially high-need districts, based on student need, community wealth and regional cost differences.

Expanding universal pre-K - $150 million

An additional $150 million will expand high-quality pre-K programs to 20,000 children across the state, bringing the states total annual pre-K investment to more than $1.2 billion. With the increase, the state is more than 95% phased-in when it comes to pre-K coverage of 4-year-olds.

Increasing access to free school meals - $134 million

The budget provides $134 million to incentivize qualifying low-income public and non-public schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision program, which allows all students in those schools to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge, regardless of a familys income.

Building a workforce for the future - $30 million

To build a workforce for the future, $20 million will be allocated to Early College High School (ECHS) and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) to allow students to earn college credits in high school, prioritizing those in high-need school districts. An additional $10 million will create a robust high school-to-college workforce pipeline. The funding will be available for school districts, boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), and community colleges to develop strategic workforce plans that promote job readiness.

Reforming special education tuition rate-setting - $2.5 million

The State Education Department will use $2.5 million to study and design a new rate-setting methodology to streamline and improve the timeliness of tuition rates for special education schools. This funding will help ensure special education providers can continue to provide high-quality services to students with disabilities.

22 additional charter schools

The budget authorizes the re-issuance of 22 charters that were originally issued to schools that have since closed. It will allow for an additional 14 charter schools to open in New York City and eight charter schools in the rest of the state.

INVESTING IN SUNY AND CUNY

Funding to State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) schools will help both systems increase enrollment and completion rates, prepare students for in-demand jobs, ensure a world-class student experience, recruit top faculty, and provide a wide range of degrees and credentials, according to the state.

New capital projects at campuses - $2.4 billion

Funding will go toward SUNY and CUNY capital projects to upgrade campus facilities and make strategic investments to support innovation and the growth of both systems. Projects will include: facility improvements across SUNY and CUNY; cutting-edge digital and IT systems; funding for new and renovated research buildings, laboratories and state-of-the-art instrumentation; the maintenance of existing SUNY and CUNY campus facilities in a state of good repair.

The $2.4 billion in funding includes: $1.3 billion for SUNY State-operated campuses, $919 million for CUNY senior colleges, $106 million for SUNY community colleges and $120 million for CUNY community colleges.

Increasing state support - $256 million

The budget includes $256 million in new, recurring general operating aid for SUNY state-operated campuses ($163 million) and CUNY senior colleges ($93 million) and another $125 million ($75 million SUNY, $50 million CUNY) for one-time investments in transformational initiatives at campuses that support innovation, help meet the workforce needs of the future, and provide needed support to students.

It also includes a multi-year commitment to provide SUNY and CUNY with $90 million in general operating aid increases ($54 million for SUNY, $36 million for CUNY) in each of the following two academic years and provides both systems with the flexibility to increase non-resident tuition to generate additional campus operating revenue.

State matching fund for SUNY endowment contributions - $500 million

The budget includes the first-ever New York State matching fund for contributions made to the endowments of SUNYs four university centers: Buffalo, Stony Brook, Albany and Binghamton. The fund will provide $1 in state funds for every $2 contributed to university endowments, up to $500 million in State funds.

Supporting community colleges - $138 million

This will help maintain current community college funding levels, avoiding a loss in formula aid due to enrollment declines.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Fundraiser after fundraiser, the Oakwood Community Church congregation collected the money needed to refurbish all 12 of the churchs stunning stained glass windows over some years. A new type of plexiglass coverage was added that would allow the windows to breathe and protect them. Since the work was completed, each window has included a nearby information note explaining its history, for all to read and understand.

As a hobby, a charter member of the church, Tom W. Harland, created, designed, and executed to installation of all of the churchs stained glass windows from 1936 to 1951. The first window was conceived in 1936 with the encouragement of Kurt Seeler, a church member, who had stained glass panels around his house and offered them to the church to replace the too-bright section behind the choir loft. Ninety percent of the glass used throughout the church is re-purposed and up to 100 years old.

One of the most impactful widows, especially during this time of war in Ukraine, is the War Memorial Window, assembled from a collection of glass from 86 churches and cathedrals damaged in Europe and the British Isles during WWII.

Collecting and securing the glass took seven years. The actual construction took two years. Inscribed at the glass window base reads, In Memoriam and as testimony to the evil and futility of war. The note states that it is a grim reminder and it is the hope of the maker that it may be considered in a small way as a protest by the church of any future warlike thoughts.

The War Memorial Window is made from a collection of glass from 86 wrecked churches and cathedrals from Europe and the British Isles after WWII. Collecting and securing the glass took seven years. The actual construction took two years. Inscribed at the glass window base reads, "In Memoriam and as testimony to the evil and futility of war." Wednesday May 3, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Oakwood Heights Community Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. The church community started assembling in 1924. It was a place for summer visitors to attend church while on vacation. It was then called Church of the Sea and Land and they gathered in a house on Mill Road. The Ladies Aid Society was formed, and the unoccupied home of Mr. Emiel Fox of Fox Beach became the Oakwood Community Church home until the newly built church was ready in 1928.

The brick church gives an impression of a castle with its Gothic-style tower welcoming parishioners. The Oakwood Heights Community Church ladies, Fran Sisto, trustee, and Deacon Jodee Lord, tell the story of Hurricane Sandy and how the water came up the street and around the church, but no water came inside  allowing the church to be a beacon of help for the community.

Recently the church received the Historic Preservation Award for the Sacred Sites category. The church is still standing tall and visually providing a sense of stability in the neighborhood, said John Kilcullen, the vice president of the board of directors of the Preservation League of Staten Island.

71 1 / 71 Cool Spaces| Oakwood Heights Community Church reaches 100 years

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Talk about a first impression.

Former Major League pitcher Kyle McGowin could soon be returning to the Big Leagues after making just one start in the Atlantic League with the Staten Island FerryHawks.

McGowin had his contract purchased by the Houston Astros on Monday, the FerryHawks announced. The former Washington Nationals reliever struck out 11 hitters in five perfect innings on opening day, and seemingly opened the eyes of MLB scouts in the process.

McGowin is the first player in FerryHawks history to have his contract selected by an MLB organization. Its not yet known which affiliate he will report to.

No question that Kyles lights-out performance last Friday caught the eye of major league scouts, but the fact is, Kyle has had previous major league experience and was on a lot of peoples radar coming into training camp, said FerryHawks Manager Homer Bush.

Weve seen first-hand the immense amount of hard work that he put in to get back to the Majors. We are confident that Kyle is going to make the most of this opportunity with the Astros organization and wish him the best of luck, added Bush.

The 31-year-old hurler was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth round in 2013 and played in the organization until 2016 when he was acquired by the Washington Nationals. The Southampton, N.Y. native made 48 appearances with Washington from 2018-21. He tossed 64.2 Major League innings, while pitching to a 5.98 era and racking up 77 strikeouts.

He signed with Staten Island last month before making his first, and only, impression with the club.

Congratulations to Kyle, and his family as they join the Houston Astros, said FerryHawks GM Gary Perone, who was instrumental in his signing with Staten Island. He becomes the first FerryHawk to rejoin an MLB affiliate, and we are happy he chose to be with us on Staten Island to showcase his abilities, we wish him continued success in Houston.

Its a great day for Kyle and for the FerryHawk organization, added team president Eric Shuffler. Were excited the Astros saw what we saw and signed him. There is a lot of talent on this roster and were excited for Staten Island to see what else we have.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Millions of low-income Americans who used TurboTax to file their tax returns for free may soon receive a settlement check from the tax filing company, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced.

An investigation led by James office revealed that Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, found that the company charged millions of low-income Americans for tax preparation between 2016 and 2018 even though they qualified for free tax preparation services through a government program.

Taxpayers making an adjusted gross income of $73,000 qualified for TurboTaxs Free File program.

In a settlement agreement in 2022, Intuit was ordered to pay $141 million to nearly 4.4 million Americans.

Under the terms of the settlement, TurboTax suspended its free, free, free ad campaign.

TurboTaxs predatory and deceptive marking cheated millions of low-income Americans who were trying to fulfill their legal duties to file their taxes, James said. Today we are writing the wrong and putting money back into the pockets of hardworking taxpayers who should have never paid to file their taxes.

The amount each consumer receives is based on the number of tax years for which they qualify, James office said.

Most consumers can expect to receive between $29 and $30; consumers who filed using TurboTax for the three years  2016 through 2018  could receive up to $85.

Intuit released the following statement to the Associated Press in 2022 when the settlement agreement was reached, Intuit is pleased to have reached a resolution with the state attorneys general that will ensure the company can return our focus to providing vital services to American taxpayers today and in the future.

For more information about the settlement visit AGTurboTaxSettlement.com.

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GOVERNORS ISLAND  A first-of-its-kind exhibit in the middle of New York Harbor aims to share some of the history of Staten Island and potential of its waterfront.

Governors Island will play host to the Staten Island Urban Centers We Are a Waterfront: Access, Divide & Potential multimedia exhibition every weekend through Oct. 31.

During a Friday tour given during the exhibitions opening weekend, Kelly Vilar, the Urban Centers CEO, said We Are a Waterfront is the first Staten Island-related exhibition featured on Governors Island, and she hopes it exposes people to all that the borough has to offer.

I believe that Staten Island is a microcosm of the rest of the country, Vilar said. We have a lot to say. Were not all white Americans making $70-$80,000 a year. Were not all firefighters and cops...Were a lot deeper than that and we have a lot of potential.

Staten Island Urban Center CEO Kelly Vilar gives Rich Pravda, a volunteer on Governors Island, a tour of her organization's "We Are a Waterfront" exhibition Friday, May 5, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

Throughout the summer, the Urban Centers exhibition will be on display at Nolan Park, building 5B on Governors Island, and will invite visitors to learn about some of the history and future of Staten Island.

The Urban Center will be one of two dozen arts, culture, educational, and environmental nonprofits in residence on Governors Island throughout the summer in the historic houses around Nolan Park and Colonels Row presenting free public programs, hosting artist residencies and visitor engagements.

Other organizations in residence this summer on Governors Island include the American Indian Community House, the Billion Oyster Project, and an artists residency for graduate students from Syracuse University, according to the official Governors Island website.

Clare Newman, president & CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, recently joined Mayor Eric Adams for an announcement about a new $700-million, 400,000-square-foot campus, called the New York Climate Exchange for the Island that officials expect to bring in $1 billion in investment. She applauded the launch of Governors Island summer exhibitions program.

The exterior of the Staten Island Urban Center's "We Are a Waterfront" exhibition is shown Friday, May 5, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

Governors Island has grown into one of our citys premiere arts and culture destinations, and our 2023 Summer Season offerings showcase just how vital the arts community is to the ongoing success of our island, Newman said. Some of the most compelling arts installations in the world make their home on Governors Island, and we encourage visitors to join us on the Island, enjoy the excellent weather and take in the amazing free arts and culture offerings we are proud to present this season.

Most of the Urban Centers exhibition focuses on social justice issues on Staten Island like the 2013 police killing of Eric Garner, efforts to defends the Islands natural resources against development, and some history about minority communities on the Island.

For instance, one of building 5Bs eight rooms features information about Sandy Ground, one of the nations first free Black settlements established in Rossville, the Islands LGBTQ+ community, including a bit about Alice Austen, and a recollection of the 2018 incident when St. George resident Therese Okoumou scaled the Statue of Liberty to protest former President Donald Trumps immigration policies.

Other rooms at the exhibition feature information about Garner and the protests surrounding his death, a display about the Urban Centers Landfill Fashionista program  under which members of its Young Womens Leadership Group used donated fabric and other materials to construct fashion pieces and other visual art  and information about community-driven ideas for waterfront development on the North Shore.

A view of St. George is seen from the Staten Island Ferry Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

That information comes from a 2020 short documentary the Urban Center produced called Our Urban Town: Reimagining Staten Islands Waterfront Community, but ties into an announcement from the mayor earlier this year about a new effort to bring change to the waterfront.

City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) spent her first year in office, 2022, making the case for a new vision for the area to anyone who would listen.

During a tour of the area with the Advance/SILive.com last fall, the councilwoman pointed to failed developments in the area spanning more than a decade as cause for her push to change course.

I have spent, I would say, 75% of my time since January on untangling what has happened to the development of the North Shores waterfront, she said in October.

Her advocacy on the issue eventually led to the mayors announcement at his State of the City given in January about a new plan for the North Shore.

City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks at St. George's Pier 1 during a Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 tour of the North Shore waterfront. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

Adams said ahead of that speech that focal points of the new plan will be housing, the waterfront and job opportunities. No city officials could offer a timeline of when residents could expect results, and its not clear how the effort will tie into past revitalization efforts in the area, like the Bay Street Corridor rezoning.

Since day one of my administration, I have been clear that the citys housing shortage is driving our affordable housing crisis and that New York City must be a city of yes to more housing. I have also been clear that we would always work closely with communities and elected officials to achieve that goal, and this effort with Councilmember Kamillah Hanks on the North Shore is exactly that, the mayor said. Our administration is going to work on a comprehensive plan to address the needs of this community and make critical investments in the waterfront, housing and job opportunities.

The redesign is in its early stages with now updates announced publicly, but there should be something in the coming months.

For Vilar, she said she hopes the redesign process centers voices in the community, and what they want for their waterfront.

We need to not rely on elected officials to do the work, she said. [Elected officials] have to get their ideas from somewhere and we want them to get them from us. We have a voice. We have ideas.

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Improvements to this century-old community center promise to serve Staten Island children for 100 more years
As the world focuses on the conflict in Sudan, has the Western media given appropriate attention to the humanitarian crisis in the country, asks Azza Radwan Sedky

The Western media began to cover the Sudan crisis by focusing on the history of conflicts in the country and why the conflict had erupted this time round. Very few reporters were on the ground in Sudan since it had become dangerously inaccessible, making reporting on the country something like an historical and geographical documentary.

The country straddles the Nile River, making the nations fate of almost existential importance, downstream, to water-hungry Egypt, and upstream, to land-locked Ethiopia with its ambitious hydro-electric plans that now affect the rivers flow. Sudan borders seven countries in all, each with security challenges that are intertwined with the politics of Khartoum, said the BBC in its coverage of the conflict.

The reporting also covered how Sudan has been severely stressed by the conflict, the pre-existing food shortage in the country, the patchy ceasefires that were never adopted, and what awaits those who are fleeing Sudan to neighbouring countries.

Often, though, the topics alluded to were far removed from the main conflict and the story itself. One crucial topic for the Western media was the evacuation of foreign nationals and later the halting of flights from Sudan.

For days, the focus in the Western media has centred on the evacuations of foreign nationals in the country, said the Washington Post. Commiserating with Canadians in Sudan, the headline to one Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) article read that no one seemed to care about us: Canadians trying to leave Sudan describe chaotic evacuation operation.

It focused on how the Canadian Ambassador Philip Lupul, had feared for his life and how the conflict had taken him and others by surprise. After fleeing from Sudan and speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, Lupul said his staff were trapped for eight days by non-stop fighting in the centre of Khartoum, the heart of the conflict zone.

It was a very intense experience for myself and my staff, there was a lot of fear.

The role of the US in the conflict and what US President Joe Biden had to say were very significant. The media focused on how Biden had warned of sanctions against those threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan, even though these would be almost impossible to implement without harming the Sudanese people in general.

The violence taking place in Sudan is a tragedy  and it is a betrayal of the Sudanese peoples clear demand for civilian government and a transition to democracy. It must end, Biden said.

The Western media has valued the role the US is playing to put pressure on the warring sides to meet to end the fighting. Talks have already begun in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A joint statement by the US and the Saudi government was highlighted as saying that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States urge both parties to take in consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in the talks towards a ceasefire and end the conflict.

However, the conflict has also been an opportunity for the Western media to highlight its own position against its adversaries. It has discussed the role that Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, is playing in supplying Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with missiles against the countrys army.

The US outlet Voice of America (VOA) predicted that Russia could face local resistance against the promised [Russian] naval base in Sudan. Other articles mentioned ties between the UAE and the RSF, which sent thousands of fighters to aid the UAE and Saudi Arabia in their war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, adding that many others have a stake in the conflict.

A thicket of outside actors, from Chadian rebels to Egypts military to a renegade commander in Libya to Russias infamous Wagner mercenary company, are involved, one article said. There is a need to question the validity of the last statement since the 177 Egyptian soldiers who were in Sudan were evacuated earlier on.

The Western media has also cast doubt on the role of many mediators. The US Associated Press said the sheer number of would-be mediators  including the US, the UN, the European Union, Egypt, the Gulf countries, the African Union and the eight-nation group known as IGAD  could render any peace efforts more complicated than the war itself.

The UK Guardian newspaper highlighted how skin colour affects whom to allow into Britain as refugees. The Home Office has been accused of operating an unashamedly racist refugee system after refusing to offer people fleeing the fighting in Sudan a safe and legal route to the UK, in stark contrast to the schemes offered to those escaping the war in Ukraine, it said.

By contrast, almost 300,000 visas have been issued for Ukrainians to leave their war-torn country, including 193,900 for the home sponsorship scheme, launched in March 2022. Another 94,900 have been granted for a family scheme allowing Ukrainian refugees to join relatives in the UK. No other publication spoke of this issue.

The New York Times was one of the few Western media sources that gave a revealing account of how the fleeing Sudanese are suffering. In an article called An Exodus by Bus from Sudan: Sniper Fire, Desert Journeys and Fear the harrowing hours one Sudanese family underwent are depicted honestly and accurately. The family escaped from Khartoum and headed to Aswan in Egypt and maybe Cairo afterwards.

For them and other refugees, it had been a difficult journey north, disorderly and exploitatively priced. Bus tickets on the Sudanese side cost more than five times the prewar norm, workers and drivers at the Aswan bus stop said.

This is one of the very few times that the New York Times has not attacked Egypt. It quoted Egyptian officials who said that more than 53,5000 Sudanese and nearly 4,000 foreigners had crossed the border into Egypt since the outbreak of the fighting, heading for a country that shares a common language and deep historical and cultural ties with Sudan.

It seemed pleasantly surprised by the fact that the Egyptian government has relaxed border controls for Sudanese arrivals, allowing women, children, and older people to enter visa-free, and has sent extra trains and buses to Aswan, the closest major city to the border, to help the refugees move farther into Egypt. People there have been welcoming the refugees, finding them apartments, and bringing them food.

However, the conflict in Sudan took a back seat as other stories came into the limelight. For over a week, the coronation of UK King Charles III overrode all other stories such as the conflict in Sudan, the war in Ukraine, and the floods and disasters occurring around the world. This is not the fault of the media as much as the fault of those who prefer to see the glamour of a coronation to the desperation of the fleeing Sudanese.

Looking at the conflict from the perspective of Sudan is more important than focusing on the sidelines. Alan Boswell of the international NGO the International Crisis Group said that what happens in Sudan will not stay in Sudan.

The writer is former professor of communication based in Vancouver, Canada.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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EDITORS NOTE: Best of Staten Island 2023 is sponsored by Empire State Bank, N.A., Staten Islands only headquartered bank, a member of the FDIC Equal Housing Lender.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  For our latest Best of Staten Island category of 2023, we asked our readers to name their favorite nail salon on Staten Island.

After 54 nominations were submitted on our Instagram and Facebook posts, its time to narrow the field to the top three finalists.

So whether its their manicures or pedicures, its time to vote for who you think is the best nail salon on the borough.

Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, May 15th to vote for their favorite nail salon in the poll below.

Only the top three from our list will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok  and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance.

In case you missed it, this year, Best of Staten Island has a brand new sponsor. Empire State Bank may even join the Advance/SILive.com along the way as it explores Staten Islanders favorite businesses.

HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS

We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature eight different Best Of categories.

For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted.

The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance, all brought to you by Empire State Bank.

In case you missed it, we already featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, best dance schools and best sushi spots on the Island. Take a look at our ultimate guides for a closer look at each of these establishments.

In 2022, readers voted on their top three dance schools, their favorite al fresco dining spots, their favorite places to grab tacos, their top diners and their favorite Chinese restaurants. We also stopped by their favorite Staten Island spots for the best burgers, the best calamari and the best grandma pie.
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I was completely confused when powerhouse Monique Ryan, the federal member for Kooyong, hired powerhouse Sally Rugg. Why would one twinkling star hire another, when there is only so much firmament to go around?

Monique Ryan (left) and Sally Rugg. Credit: Jamie Brown

So when the predictable falling out happened, I had mixed feelings. Should I back the activist whose work I had always admired? Or should I, heaven forfend, back the boss because I admired her, ahem, work ethic?

The story so far. Rugg, charismatic activist and star of the successful marriage equality campaign, sued her boss Ryan, former medical head honcho, over hostile conduct. She launched a legal challenge for unfair dismissal over claims she was sacked for refusing to work unreasonable hours. Late last month, Rugg settled, accepting an offer of about $100,000 to abandon her claim. All sides have agreed to pay their own legal costs.

Depressing. Depressing because there is one part of the case that might have made a difference to all of us  the untried bit which allows employees to refuse unreasonable requests by their bosses to do additional work.
When the producers of reality show The Summit cast their contestants, they gave them little indication of what theyd be in for  apart from the fact its an action-adventure format.

There was one contestant who went and got herself skilled in all kinds of survival techniques, says host Jai Courtney, the Australian actor who has starred in Hollywood blockbusters including Jack Reacher, A Good Day To Die Hard and The Suicide Squad. She loosely tried to put together in her head which ones might apply but of course, none of them did. Then there were those individuals whod barely gotten off the couch for a while.

Contestants on The Summit must tackle a series of adrenaline-fueled challenges. Credit: Nine

A kind of hybrid of Survivor and Out in the Wild, The Summit begins with 14 Australians being dropped at the base of a forbidding mountain in New Zealands South Island. Each is given an equal share of $1 million in cash, which they must keep in their backpacks. They have a fortnight to reach the peak but the catch is they must stick together  if anyone quits, or the group decides to leave them behind, they forfeit the money that team member is carrying.

In the first episode, Courtney introduces a twist: theyre allowed to steal each others cash at one of several predetermined checkpoints along the way. Naturally, all sorts of moral conundrums arise as the participants weigh up who to cut loose and who to support to the very end.
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Review Eating outSurry Hills Dont miss the carbonara at Italian-Filipino fusion restaurant Fauna This blink-and-miss-it restaurant in a Surry Hills terrace might not yet offer a fully polished package, but its definitely one to watch. Terry Durack May 9, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 6 Fauna seats 16 diners downstairs, another 16 upstairs and 14 in the rear courtyard. Wolter Peeters 2 / 6 School prawns with yuzu kosho aioli. Wolter Peeters 3 / 6 Barbecue Hornsby Shire spatchcock with pickled slaw and lime ponzu. Wolter Peeters 4 / 6 Go-to dish: Spaghetti carbonara. Wolter Peeters 5 / 6 Piadina with Berkshire pork cheek. Wolter Peeters 6 / 6 Kalamansi tart. Wolter Peeters Previous Slide Next Slide 13.5 / 20 How we score Italian$$$ For a restaurant named Fauna, there isnt much in the way of wildlife around. Unless you count the hordes of loyal Swans marching down Fitzroy Street bound for the night match at the SCG, I suppose, but they all look pretty well-behaved. Fauna is the latest addition to the burgeoning restaurant scene along this neighbourly stretch, which includes the likes of Chez Crix, Lokal and Sang by Mabasa. If Surry Hills ever decides to secede from Sydney, the local populace probably wouldnt even notice, because they dont need to eat anywhere else. Its a small blink-and-miss-it terrace house, with just 16 diners seated downstairs, another 16 upstairs and 14 in the rear courtyard. This makes for a more personal experience, with everyone in the room happy to join in and sing happy birthday to a complete stranger.

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Co-owner Geraint Coles of Bondis erstwhile Panama House is in tonight, subbing for manager Quentin Touitou, who is on leave. In the tiny kitchen is head chef Ace Espiritu, formerly of Icebergs Dining Room & Bar. But while the Italian-leaning menu is filled with things such as arancini, piadina and pasta arrabiata; its also filtered through Espiritus Filipino heritage, which adds a level of interest and curiosity. Go-to dish: Spaghetti carbonara. Wolter Peeters That piadina ($23), for instance, is whipped away from its Italian roots and served on the side of a meaty, fatty chip-chop of charcoal-grilled pork jowl, in the style of Filipino sisig. Its a dish of full-on flavours that doesnt quite come together, because you want to spoon the stew on top of the piadina and eat it in the hand, but the bread wont bend. An idea worth refining. An entree of school prawns ($19) is great (isnt it always?), coming as a pile-up of head-on, deep-fried pinkies ready to swipe though a mound of aioli flavoured with yuzu kosho. Arrosticini, or skewers of char-grilled lamb (two for $22), come warm rather than hot, with a good green herb sauce. A rocket salad ($12) has a low-impact dressing. Co-owner Julia Quisumbing has made the most of the space, running a mirrored wall and cushy banquette around the dining area. Textures are marble, wood and glass, and the front room, particularly, is a nice place to be.

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The wine list is still a work in progress, with small stocks of hand-picked wines. You might just get someone bringing a few bottles to the table as suggestions for you to try, which is how I found a 2021 Stargazer Rada ($88) a fruity, savoury mix of pinot noir and pinot meunier from Tasmanian winemaker, Samantha Connew. The menu lists three pasta dishes and five main courses, built for sharing. Of these, a heavily brined barbecue Hornsby Shire spatchcock ($28) isnt as straightforward as it might sound, with its Korean-style pickled slaw and salty soy-ponzu dipping sauce. The kitchen is on surer ground with pasta, and a generous dish of spaghetti carbonara ($30) is pretty much what you want when you want carbonara. A well-emulsified sauce brings together guanciale, pecorino, parmesan, egg yolk and pepper, coating the strands of nicely al dente pasta with needy clinginess. While the Italian-leaning menu is filled with things such as arancini, piadina and pasta arrabiata; its also filtered through Espiritus Filipino heritage. To end, a kalamansi tart ($19) is a cute twist on lemon meringue pie, with a strong, pushy tartness that acts in self-defence against a sugary meringue topping and the jug of dulce de leche poured over the top at the table.

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As I said, Fauna is still a work in progress, and a busy night might see a few yawning gaps in service, or a relaxed attitude to the temperature of dishes sent out. The Italian influence is the most promising, with the Asian flavours feeling a bit forced. But were at an intriguing stage in Australia, where young chefs want to express who they are through their own cooking, not just that of others. Which makes Fauna, and other small restaurants like it, very promising. The low-down Vibe: Refined and rustic Italian food with an Asian filter Drinks: A constantly changing if limited wine list Go-to dish: Spaghetti carbonara, $30

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Senior NSW transport bureaucrats will fly to Spain twice over the next two months to check on the states troubled fleet of new passenger trains as a dispute over the botched rail project is set to enter its third year.

With the project entering a critical phase, internal government documents show two Transport for NSW officials are due to spend about two weeks with the Spanish manufacturer responsible for building the trains this month, and are scheduled to fly back to Europe in June for several weeks.

The trips to CAFs production plants in northern Spain by the two officials will cost more than $76,000, according to the internal documents obtained by the Herald under freedom of information laws.

An artists impression of the new Spanish-built trains that will run on interstate rail lines. Credit: NSW government

The latest European trips come after senior bureaucrats flew to Spain twice last year in a bid to limit the fallout from the protracted dispute between Transport for NSW and the CAF-led consortium over modifications to the trains.
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 I share the frustration of the NSW Surf Life Saving chief, Steve Pearce, and your correspondents regarding the tragic loss of life in the surf over summer (Letters, May 9). I completed 60 years of active patrolling on Anzac Day and I have noted the trend for swimmers to ignore the well-publicised advice to swim between the flags. The clubbies do a magnificent job, patrolling flagged beaches and elsewhere in emergencies, as do our fit and experienced surfers, whose rescues often go unrecorded.

Sadly, it is not only lifesavers who are feeling the frustration. Frontline workers, including police, teachers, health, firemen and rescue crews are all suffering from the publics rejection of direction. Eoin Johnston, Alstonville Recognition of rips (among other dangers at the beach) is taught in schools in PDHPE (personal development, health and physical education). One of our local surf clubs, Crowdy Head, also puts a Tuesday Tip on Facebook about dangers at the beach and publishes full information on how to recognise rips. Im sure other surf clubs offer similar information. Colleen Northam, Taree Your correspondent proposes on-the-spot fines to change swimmers behaviour. I would not want to be the cop in a small, remote coastal town who has to fine locals for swimming at the beach they have swum at all their lives. Paul Norton, Highgate Hill (Qld) <p> Credit:Matt Golding I never swim in the ocean without wearing flippers. They have saved me more than once when caught in a rip. They should be a mandatory aquatic accessory. John Swanton, Coogee I agree with your correspondent about the possible dangers of beaches, but dont limit education to our own communities. I believe there is a significant drowning or near-drowning statistic among tourists. Every effort needs to be made to dispel the popular image of the surf as an inviting playground. Joan Brown, Orange It might be more useful to teach people to swim gently across a rip rather than trying to fight it to get back to shore. Once out of the rip, one can use the waves to get back to the beach with relatively little effort. As a body surfer living in Bondi in the 70s, I used the rip as a travelator to get out into the green behind the board riders, so I could swim up north and surf back in. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi

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A hot day and a bunch of year 9s run to the end of Half Moon pier. All the usual Everything not forbidden is compulsory safety signage is on clear display as they peer over the edge at the water. A boy dive bombs, swims to the bottom, roves around and surfaces to pronounce, This sides OK. A girl performs a shallow dive and checks the depth elsewhere around the pier. We responsible adults wonder when she will come up for air. With her blessing, they all let rip, diving off the railings, the boys shoulders, bombing etc. The pier was soaked and adults were overjoyed to see kids having fun. Best of all, every young child present saw these teenagers check the depth before leaping. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic) A drovers dog would be an asset to the Coalition <p> Credit:Matt Golding The Labor government has announced a federal budget surplus, something that has eluded the Coalition for many years, even pre-COVID-19 (Revenue surge to deliver $4b surplus, May 9). As Angus Taylor from the Coalition says that a drovers dog could deliver a surplus, is the Coalition about to preselect a drovers dog? This could also go some way to giving the Coalition some much-needed diversity. Elfriede Sangkuhl, Summer Hill If Jim Chalmers expects legitimacy in owning the budget surplus, he should at least desist from claiming Labor inherited a disaster from the Coalition. George Fishman, Vaucluse The proverbial drovers dog is certainly a smart dog  being able to win federal elections and then, decades later, deliver a surplus budget for the ALP. Marvellous. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga Perhaps drovers dogs, particularly our beloved intelligent kelpies, should be running the country. According to esteemed politicians past and present, they can win elections and deliver surpluses. What is not to like about them? They consume little, run everywhere and live in small houses  the epitome of frugality, just what the country needs. I suggest kelpies should be endorsed candidates next election. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

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If, as Angus Taylor says, a drovers dog could have produced a budget surplus this year, why didnt the Liberals appoint Blueys dad as treasurer instead of Josh Frydenberg, who was predicting a deficit of $78 billion? Richard Mason, Newtown Can someone tell Angus Taylor to update his zingers? No one knows what a drovers dog is these days. How about a hipsters cavoodle could have delivered a budget surplus this year? The drovers dog gag is so Tamie Fraser. Simon Pitts, Riverview Is a blue heeler a better choice? Credit:Tanya Lake Nothing illustrates more clearly how bereft of original thinking the federal opposition is when the shadow treasurer, while attempting to dismiss the governments anticipated budget surplus, has to drag up an ancient Bill Hayden quote from 1983. Drovers dogs countrywide would blush with embarrassment. Bill Young, Killcare Heights Its funny how when we get a budget surplus under a Labor government its created by a revenue surge, but under Liberal governments its because of good economic management. But perhaps Labor is doing something right to have a revenue surplus with the economy facing such slow growth? (Economy faces slowest growth since lockdown, May 9.) Mark Pearce, Richmond Haters couldnt spoil coronation Haters of the monarchy and religion have had their day in the media (Letters, May 9), yet for many of us the coronation and the music in the Abbey and at the Royal Albert Hall have been the highlight of our week. A large number of Australians still respect the monarchy, and the majority religion is still Christianity. Why must our voice be drowned out by the scoffers and haters? Charles is King of Australia and, as our prime minister pointed out, the referendum for a republic was resoundingly rejected. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh

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How much do we want them? Credit:Getty Images I heed not the argument that a constitutional monarchy is the best form of government. Its not the best form of government if one of us cannot be head of our own country. Likewise, Ill disregard the position that a benign monarchy is good for us. Its only good for us if our needs align with those of the United Kingdom; otherwise who will our monarch represent? Having a head of state who gains the position by dint of birth is a closed shop. Australians who aspire to be head of state cannot currently achieve that position. Its wrong. Carn the republic! Peter Butler, Wyongah Though it was scarcely even a nine-day wonder in Australia, for people of faith theres no getting away from the religious nature of the coronation. All the centuries of absurd accretions and monopolising by one entitled family and one particular brand of the Christian church dont detract from the sincerity of the prayers of a great many people. There are no magical properties in the holy oil, yet it has the potential to transform two all-too-human individuals. In the end Charles and Camilla may well have emerged overwhelmed by a genuine sense of awe, responsibility and true humility. Thats the theory, anyway. And its possible to hold that thought and bear them no ill will, simultaneously with the conviction that the strange technicality that thereby made them king and queen of Australia should not continue in perpetuity. Margaret Johnston, Paddington The tumult and the shouting dies, the captains and the kings depart. So says the ancient hymn that may well equally apply to the conclusion of events surrounding the Queens death and Charles coronation. The mood generally has all been one-sided, anti-Britain, anti-monarchy and pro-republican. Ive read some magnificent opinion pieces and letters, all ending with the same mantra. However, the current proponents continue to make the same mistakes as their predecessors. Shouting republic at people as if through a megaphone and denigrating the current system is not as powerful as addressing individuals concerns and outlining viable detailed alternative forms of government. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth Cathy Wilcox is a gem far more dazzling than the oft pillaged sparklers that adorn the Kings crown (Letters, May 9). Her brilliant caricature of Charles crowning achievements and those of his, ahem, wayward family heralds our not-too-distant referendum on a republic. Viva la republic! Viva Wilcox! Gerardine Grace, Leura <p> Credit:Cathy Wilcox Gas tax

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How appalling that the Labor government, elected to take climate action, presides over the worlds most generous tax regime for gas projects (Chalmers takes light option on oil, gas tax, 9 May). All our cost-of-living issues could be addressed immediately by a resources tax more like Texas imposes. The scare campaign by the industry more than a decade ago, and its donations to the big political parties, are crimes against humanity that are paying off for big business. Labor is likely to see neck-breaking electoral swings against it when its disappointing inaction comes home to roost. Barry Laing, Castle Cove Two-legged pests If we are serious about protecting our endangered flora and fauna in our great Snowy Mountains (Alpine species at risk of final extinction , May 9), surely we should cull the most environmentally damaging species  people? We bring pollution to the pristine area, we ski and tramp over areas that house the endangered animals. The horses grazing assists in keeping the chance of serious fire outbreak low. Peter Haggarty, Cranebrook Housing stress Luara Ferracioli (The housing crisis is traumatising our children, May 9) is spot on. Anyone working in child and family welfare will attest to the fact that the majority of their clients are living under housing stress. We have had 40 years of governments allowing the crisis to worsen. The trick is finding ways to expedite construction and secure good housing solutions. Federal and state governments must diversify their approach and engage with all potential players, not least local government and community housing groups, to expedite both the identification of opportunities and construction. Allowing housing insecurity to continue for any child does not bode well for our nations future. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay Cruel trade Dont blame the Indonesians for the cruel and barbaric slaughter of Australian cattle in their abattoirs (Indonesian abattoirs violate live export rules, May 9)  blame us for sending them there. Its chilling to think that today our economy relies so heavily on a trade where the inbuilt cruelty and suffering of sentient and intelligent creatures are inevitable outcomes. Australian abattoirs are by comparison far more humane, with supervision and regulations much more strict by comparison. Its ironic that our participation in this suffering is based on our clients religious needs and beliefs. Peter Bower, Naremburn

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Prominent Sydney jeweller Michel Germani has been charged over an armed robbery at his city store. Its alleged he orchestrated the January robbery as part of an insurance fraud scheme worth more than $2.8 million.

Germani, the 65-year-old founder and CEO of Germani Jewellery, was with an innocent staff member and two male customers inside the store about 6.30pm on January 19 when police allege the violent robbery took place.

Police executed a search warrant at a unit in Canada Bay on Tuesday; Michel Germani (right). Credit:

Germani had arranged for the two men to attend the store, located in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel on George Street, after hours, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi told reporters on Tuesday. Its alleged the pair threatened Germani and his shop assistant with a knife before demanding access to the safe.

Doueihi, commander of the robbery and serious crime squad, said Germani and his assistant had their hands and feet bound with cable ties during the ordeal.
For weeks now Egypt has been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts in the hope of restoring peace in neighbouring Sudan.

The aim is to end the fighting that has continued for nearly a month now, hurting civilians more than anyone and threatening a more large-scale civil war that could lead to the collapse of the state.

Sudan has topped the agenda of nearly all meetings President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi held in Cairo this week, whether with African leaders, top-ranking US Congressmen, or European officials. Al-Sisi has emphasised the need for national dialogue to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

On Monday, 8 May, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri headed to Chad and South Sudan, two of the worst affected countries that have borders with Sudan. Another negatively impacted country with a Sudanese border is of course Egypt itself, which along with Chad and South Sudan has been the largest recipient of Sudanese nationals fleeing the war.

But considering that refugees from Chad and South Sudan had been fleeing to Sudan for years due to conflicts there, the situation in those two countries is significantly worse, with refugees fleeing back to their countries or looking for new places to seek refuge.

South Sudan, part of Sudan until it gained its independence in 2011, has been the country mostly involved in negotiating a truce between the two warring parties in Sudan, along with Kenya and other members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in East Africa. The latest, shaky one-week truce was mediated by Juba, mainly to allow some humanitarian aid to flow to the trapped residents and provide safe corridors for the thousands seeking to flee the country.

The humanitarian crisis to which the Sudanese people are suffering also needs urgent attention and support from Sudans neighbours and the international community. The conflict has thus far killed hundreds, injured thousands others, and forced more than 100,000 Sudanese to flee the country with a lack of basic services such as water, electricity and fuel.

Egypt had stressed the need to intensify coordination and consultation between Sudans neighbouring countries as they are the most concerned with its stability, integrity and the interests of its people. Regional and international efforts to mediate an end to the conflict are welcome, but Sudans neighbours are the most affected as the war casts its shadow over fragile and tense regional conditions. A continuation of the crisis would have dangerous repercussions for the stability of the entire region.

One day before his departure to Chad, Shoukri chaired a meeting of his counterparts at the Arab League that ended with a decision to form an Arab liaison committee to achieve a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian corridors to secure civilians needs, and protect state institutions in Sudan from the threat of collapse.

The decision to form the liaison committee on Sudan reflects the need for Arabs to move immediately and effectively, reaffirming the need to return to dialogue. In this framework, Egypt has also welcomed the start of initial, indirect talks between representatives of the two sides on Saturday, the first since the conflict broke out, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 May, Egypt welcomed the start of talks between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and commended the efforts of the sibling Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and regional and international efforts that contributed to encouraging the Sudanese parties to start a dialogue.

Shoukri had his own direct contacts with the parties involved in Sudans war on 4 May: Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereign Transitional Council of Sudan, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the RSF.

In his communications with the two sides, Shoukri stressed Egypts deep concern over continued military confrontations, resulting in the killing of innocent victims, and gravely jeopardising Sudans security and stability. He called for an immediate ceasefire out of respect for the aspirations of the Sudanese people and the need to uphold the national interests of Sudan.

Shoukri also reaffirmed Egypts steadfast stance on respecting Sudans sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs, stating that all diplomatic efforts Egypt is currently undertaking are based on these principles and aim to help Sudan overcome its crisis and provide an environment conducive to resolving differences through dialogue.

Egypt will spare no effort to back Sudan in this perilous, unprecedented situation. This attitude reflects not only the principled official stand but also the feeling of the Egyptian people, who have been grieving over the suffering of their Sudanese neighbours. The Sudanese people need an immediate, fully effective ceasefire to allow for relief operations, offering humanitarian and medical assistance to those in need as well as protection for civilians.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The battle to stop one of Queenslands biggest projects could be heading back to court, with opponents of the $2.5 billion Waterfront Brisbane appealing a decision to give it the green light.

But the demolition of Eagle Street Pier to make way for Waterfront Brisbane will not slow down, with developer Dexus exercising its legal right to carry on with its plans.

Waterfront Brisbanes two towers (centre), with Riparian Plaza to the right. Credit: Dexus

Neighbouring Riparian Plaza, a mixed-use development that is home to some of Brisbanes most affluent inner-city residents, took issue with the Dexus development and appealed against its approval in the Planning and Environment Court.

That appeal was dismissed in December, when Judge Michael Williamson found Brisbane City Councils decision to approve the development was valid and reasonable.
One of the last people to see Ellie Price alive says he innocently omitted to tell police he was a longstanding brothel owner in two states or that he met the victim at a Melbourne strip club, as another man faces trial charged with the 26-year-olds alleged stabbing murder.

Mark Paul Gray also denied being Prices sugar daddy and told the court that the day before her alleged murder in 2020, she had told him that her boyfriend had recently choked her.

Ellie Price sustained six stab wounds.

Gray, formerly Mark Gdanski, initially told police in his signed statement that he was an accountant who met Price during a night out in Melbournes CBD in 2017 before they developed a close platonic friendship.

The 60-year-old said he felt sorry for Price after learning she was couch-surfing with a baby and offered to provide her a character reference and advanced rent to secure homes over several years.
Former AFL agent Ricky Nixon is being investigated by police for allegedly kneeing a police officer inside a courtroom after a hearing for a different assault charge.

The 60-year-old appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning after being charged on summons with unlawful assault and discharging a missile over an incident in March 2022.

Ricky Nixon outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Credit: James Ross

Police allege Nixon threw a missile, namely [an] Australia Post package to the danger of a man in Port Melbourne on March 12 last year and that he assaulted the man, according to court documents.

Nixons lawyer told the court he was acting in self-defence and will fight the charges at a hearing this year.
A coronial inquest into the death of a Perth teenager will scrutinise the care inmates receive at WA prisons as his family calls for more to be done to prevent an alarming number of suicides of Indigenous prisoners.

Stanley Inman was 19 years old when he was incarcerated for armed robbery in 2020.

Stanley Inman died in 2020 by suicide while on remand at Acacia Prison east of Perth.

Five months later, he took his own life in a store room at Acacia prison east of Perth, with a court on Tuesday hearing how in the lead-up to his death Inman had been self-harming and indicating he wanted to die to family members.

However, counsel assisting the coroner, Jon Tiller, told the court the first day of the inquest that the day before his death psychological wellbeing services staff noted that Inman denied self-harm or suicidal ideation and was recommended to be reduced to low ARMS [at-risk management observations].
Australia will spend almost $2 billion on improving relations with Pacific island nations as it seeks to counter Chinas growing influence in the region.

As well as spending $1.4 billion over the next four years to expand security infrastructure and criminal justice co-operation in the Pacific, the government will increase the number of Pacific islanders migrating to Australia and provide extra support for short-term workers.

Australia will spend $1.4 billion over the next four years to expand security infrastructure and criminal justice co-operation in the Pacific. Credit: ADF

This will come on top of a previously announced US Green Card-style lottery scheme that will offer permanent residency for up to 3000 Pacific islanders.

Described by the government as a transformational package of support for the Pacific, the funding comes on top of an extra $900 million in Pacific aid announced in the October budget.
The taxman plans to raise an extra $3.8 billion in GST by extending a compliance crackdown on businesses as part of the governments efforts to lift tax receipts and repair its bottom line.

Multinationals also face a new minimum tax rate, while gas companies will be taxed an extra $2.4 billion over five years under changes to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax that were announced in the lead-up to the budget.

There are some new support measures for businesses, including a new tax break for small businesses, a perk to encourage investment in energy efficiency, $2 billion to promote the hydrogen sector, and funding to fight scams.

But Tuesday nights budget shows the government expects to raise substantial extra revenue from the business world over the next four years, mainly because of upgrades to its economic outlook and high commodity price assumptions.
Millions of Australians will receive better access to free GP visits under a $3.5 billion budget measure that will triple the financial reward for doctors who dont charge their most vulnerable patients any out-of-pocket costs.

The change will apply to about 11.6 million children, concession cardholders and pensioners, whose GPs will receive a $20.65 bonus if they work in the city and $39.65 bonus in the countrys most rural areas if they bulk-bill.

A $3.5 billion budget measure will triple the financial reward for doctors who bulk-bill. Credit: Tamara Voninski

The boost to bulk-billing incentives  a centrepiece of the Albanese governments budget  paired with a 4 per cent rise in Medicare rebates through indexation will deliver one of the biggest cash injections into the universal healthcare system in 30 years.

The government wants to resuscitate plummeting bulk-billing rates and lower soaring patient gap fees for GP visits, which are discouraging people from seeing their doctor and putting pressure instead on state emergency departments that are free to use.
The top prosecutor who ran the rape trial of former Coalition staffer Bruce Lehrmann told an inquiry into the abandoned case that he may have broken the law when he looked at confidential counselling notes about Brittany Higgins.

Walter Sofronoff, the former Queensland Supreme Court judge helming the ACT government investigation into the handling of the high-profile case, accused the territorys Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold of holding a double standard after the latter ensured the sensitive documents were not disclosed to the defence team.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC (right) and his lawyer Mark Tedeschi KC in Canberra. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Police had sent the confidential notes to Lehrmanns defence team as part of an unredacted brief of evidence in 2021.

Drumgold said in a statement tendered before the inquiry that he was trying to work out whether the actions of police in assessing if the confidential notes had been seen by the defence could be put down to unsophisticated corruption or atomic level stupidity.
NSW will suffer a major exodus of residents to other states over the next five years, as Queensland becomes the favoured destination for interstate moves amid soaring housing prices and low wage growth.

Updated population projections contained in Tuesdays federal budget show NSW will lose more than 124,000 residents to other states over the coming years, bolstering the newly elected Minns governments argument that NSW is struggling to retain workers, especially in essential services.

NSW will suffer a major exodus of residents to other states over the next five years. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Premier Chris Minns repeatedly warned during the election campaign that workers were fleeing NSW, blaming the public sector wages cap and staffing shortages, particularly among teachers and nurses.

Minns argued cost-of-living pressures  particularly mortgage and rental hikes  were making it more difficult to retain essential workers when they could relocate to another state and receive higher pay.
With fresh carpet and plush new leather benches thanks to a controversial $90 million renovation, Australias oldest parliament looked pristine as MPs arrived for the first day of the new term.

On the inside, at least. Much of Macquarie Street remains a construction zone, and the plastic facade which covers the scaffolding at the buildings entrance provides an easy metaphor; for all the lofty talk of a new era of politics in this state after the election, this is still the bear pit.

NSW Premier Chris Minns at the opening of the state parliament. Credit: Kate Geraghty

After 12 years in opposition, it was the first time sitting on the government benches for most of the newly elected Labor government, including Premier Chris Minns. They arrived with a spring in their step and a cunning plan to install a member of the Coalition into a plum job.

As the upper house filled with MPs from both chambers for a ceremony to open the new parliament, there was much bonhomie and back-slapping. First day back at school for students at the University of the Ruthlessly Ambitious. Some new enrolments, a few weighed down by doctorates.
The Louvre Lens Museum is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than with an exhibition on Jean-Francois Champollion, the man who first deciphered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Though Champollion, originally from Figeac in the south of France, had few connections with Lens, a town near the French border with Belgium, the Louvre Lens has been able to call on the resources of mother institution the Louvre Museum in Paris in organising its anniversary exhibition.

It also marks two hundred years since Champollion published his solution to the riddle of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, thereby allowing subsequent generations of archaeologists to substitute fact for fiction when writing about ancient Egypt and also founding the modern discipline of Egyptology.

Unlike the other events that have taken place in France to mark the anniversary, among them a major exhibition at the French National Library in Paris that focused on the hieroglyphics themselves (reviewed in the Weekly in April last year), the Louvre Lens exhibition focuses on Champollion the man as well as his achievements.

Visitors thus come away with a powerful sense of the drive and determination that lay behind Champollions career as he battled the often-indifferent French scholarly community of his time while still managing to produce major contributions on the Egyptian Coptic language, a development out of ancient Egyptian, as well as work on the ancient Egyptian language itself and its various writing systems.

Born in 1790 and dying at a comparatively young age in 1832, Champollion managed to cram the work of several ordinary lifetimes into a career lasting little more than a couple of decades. His comparatively modest origins and provincial background counted against him in the competitive milieu of the French capital, and he lived through a period of tumultuous and what for many must have seemed like bewildering social change.

There was the rise and fall of French general Napoleon Bonaparte, who during the period of political experimentation that followed the 1789 French Revolution managed to have himself declared first consul of the French Republic in 1799 and in 1804 French emperor. Then there was the collapse of the Napoleonic regime and also of Frances republican heritage in 1815 with the restoration of the monarchy.

Champollion retained sympathies with Napoleon even after the collapse of his regime and even more so with the republican heritage of the French Revolution, neither of which helped him under the restored monarchical regime when he could have done with patrons. Fortunately, his talent and application stood him in good stead, and his chosen field of hieroglyphics connected well with Frances early 19th-century fascination with all things ancient Egyptian.

Napoleons decision to take some 150 scholars with him when he invaded Egypt and the Levant in 1798 as part of an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stymie British interests in the Eastern Mediterranean meant that even though the expeditions military and strategic aims did not pay off, with first Napoleon and then his army slinking back to Europe, the same could not be said of its intellectual aims, which were much longer-lasting.

Not only did the French expedition lead to the discovery of the famous Rosetta Stone near the city of the same name, in fact a fragment of a 2nd-century BCE Ptolemaic stelae bearing an inscription in ancient Egyptian and Greek, but it also produced the Description de lEgypte, a massive account of the ancient and modern country from almost every angle that took decades to complete and involved the work of hundreds of scholars.

Anyone working on ancient Egyptian topics in the years after the Napoleonic expedition to Egypt was almost automatically assured of an audience, so fascinated were the French and European publics by ancient Egyptian civilisation. Much older than the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome to which modern Europe traced its heritage, and a source of fascination to the ancient Greek and Roman authors because of its magnificent architectural, artistic, and intellectual achievements, ancient Egypt was still fundamentally mysterious in the early decades of the 19th century.

No one had been able to read ancient Egyptian writing since the late 4th century CE when the last hieroglyphic writings were made at Philae in Upper Egypt, and even before then ancient Egypts cultural and religious heritage, still present under first Greek and then Roman rule from the 4th century BCE onwards, had fallen away as the country became Christian under its late Roman and Byzantine rulers.

What little that was known about ancient Egypt was contained in the writings of often-uncomprehending ancient Greek or Roman authors, who unfortunately never thought to set down what they no doubt could have learned about the countrys language and writing system. Impatient with this situation, and rightly sensing that the inscription on the Rosetta Stone held the key to understanding the ancient Egyptian language, Champollion set to work on deciphering ancient hieroglyphics, eventually publishing his solution in 1822.

This was immediately recognised as a watershed in the study of ancient Egypt, at last giving access to the meaning of the inscriptions that covered tomb and temple walls and that for centuries had been frustratingly opaque to all attempts at interpretation. Just as importantly, it allowed the ancient Egyptians to express themselves in their own words for the first time in some 1,500 years.

While other ancient writing systems have been deciphered since the early 19th century, giving access to their underlying languages, few of these successes have had the resonance of Champollions deciphering of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Cuneiform, used for writing various languages in ancient Mesopotamia in what is now Iraq, was deciphered later in the 19th century, allowing scholars access to ancient Sumerian, Akkadian, and Hittite, among other languages, and Linear B, an early version of Greek, was deciphered in the 1950s.

However, Champollions achievement is still recognised as trail-blazing because of its early date and its effect in opening up a previously almost completely closed ancient civilisation to investigation.

Life and career: The Louvre Lens exhibition opens with Champollions schooldays in southeast France, where he showed his fascination with ancient Egypt.

He was taken under the wing of influential local figure Joseph Fourier, one of the scholars who had accompanied Napoleon on his Egyptian expedition and the author of parts of the Description de lEgypte. Partly as a result of Fouriers help, Champollion soon found himself in Paris studying Arabic and Coptic at the citys famous School of Oriental Languages and working in the French National Library.

Much of this part of the exhibition is taken up with the materials that would have been available to Egyptophiles of Champollions generation. Even though the mystery of hieroglyphics would not be solved until 1822 as a result of Champollions efforts, there was still intense interest in ancient Egypt among multiple audiences.

There was French orientalist Etienne Quatremeres work on Coptic, a copy of which is in the exhibition, and Antoine-Isaac Silvestre de Sacys work on Arabic, including textbooks designed to teach the language in Paris. But modern and especially ancient Egypt were still largely seen through the lens of classical Greek and Latin authors who depicted it as a mysterious, but also especially impressive, civilisation that had provided a stimulus for their own achievements.

The second room of the exhibition bears witness to the ancient Roman vogue for ancient Egyptian sphinxes and obelisks, with Roman emperors, and, centuries later, Roman Catholic popes, shipping obelisks to Rome to decorate the city. Roman sculptors tried their hand at statues of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis and other deities, producing images of her looking like a Roman matron.

Ancient Egyptian artefacts began flooding into European collections in the early 19th century, often with scant regard for provenance. The Mohamed Ali regime in Egypt at the time, eager to call upon European and especially French cooperation in modernising the country, employed the gift of ancient Egyptian artefacts as a tool of cultural diplomacy, with the result that they were uprooted from Egyptian soil to be sent on the long sea voyage to Europe.

The most famous of such diplomatic gifts was the right-hand obelisk from in front of the Luxor Temple in Upper Egypt that now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, a gift to king Charles X of France in 1830. But there were also other artefacts that reached Europe under less happy circumstances, such as the Zodiac Ceiling acquired by French king Louis XVIII in 1821 that was forcibly hacked out of the Dendera Temple.

Champollion worked on a major collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts that formed the core of a museum of ancient Egypt in the Italian city of Turin. Objects from this collection have been lent to the exhibition, including some that Champollion would have worked upon during his time in Italy. He was later appointed head of the new ancient Egyptian section of the Louvre Museum in Paris and was responsible for making many important acquisitions before it opened in 1827.

It seemed for a time, the exhibition says, that Champollions research into ancient Egyptian objects might bring him into conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, since it was thought that such new discoveries, and even more importantly Champollions dating of them, might threaten the established chronology of ancient history given in the Bible.

While the ancient Greek and Roman authors supplied much of the information available at the time about ancient Egypt, for many Europeans the country was associated most of all with biblical episodes such as Moses crossing the Red Sea during the flight of the Israelites out of Egypt, the story of Joseph, sold into slavery and becoming vizier to the Egyptian pharaoh, and of course later the flight of the Holy Family itself at the beginning of the Christian era when Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fled the persecution of king Herod for the safety of Egypt.

Fortunately, nothing in the new discoveries threatened the established dating, with Roman Catholic Pope Leo XII even becoming one of Champollions most influential supporters.

Champollion himself only visited Egypt once, saving his trip until 1828 when he travelled extensively in the country reaching the second cataract of the Nile at Wadi Halfa. He was, as the exhibition notes, the first person in over 1,500 years to visit the ancient tombs and temples who was also able to read the inscriptions on their walls. His record of this visit, Monuments de lEgypte et de la Nubie, was published posthumously from 1833 to 1845, along with his ancient Egyptian dictionary and grammar.

In recounting the life of Champollion, the Louvre Lens exhibition takes visitors on a thrilling intellectual journey not only back to ancient Egypt but also to early 19th-century France and the rediscovery of ancient Egyptian civilisation as a result of the deciphering of hieroglyphics. It includes some well-known objects, such as the famous Old Kingdom sculpture of the Seated Scribe discovered by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette at Saqqara in 1850 and now in the Louvre, and many that are far less so, such as several granitic Roman copies of ancient Egyptian statues and an unlikely painting by French artist Charles Philippe Lariviere of Mohamed Alis heir Ibrahim Pasha posed in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

It ends with a copy of the famous statue of Champollion by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor responsible for the Statue of Liberty in New York City, that has stood in the main courtyard of the College de France in Paris since 1878.

Champollion, la voie des hieroglyphes, Louvre Lens, France, until 23 January 2023.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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~Captain Olivers Marina and Restaurant now falls under French Jurisdiction~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Patrice Gumbs Director of the Foreign Affairs Department on St. Maarten announced on Tuesday that the border negotiations have concluded and the signing of the agreement on the new demarcation will take place on May 26th, 2023 by her person and the French Minister of Interior Affairs. The new treaty has 348 pointers that have been addressed and will be legally binding.

The Prime Minister said that even though announcements were made towards the end of 2022 by various parties both French and Dutch she remained silent on the matter until all procedures have been finalized. She said the border agreement concluded in March 2023.

Jacobs said the announcements made earlier were premature since the proposals had not gone through the proper channels. However, the new treaty that will be signed on March 26th, 2023, will be legal and binding. Prior to the signing of the agreements the Parliament of St. Maarten was apprised behind closed doors. After the signing on May 26th, 2023, the signed treaty will be sent back to the Kingdom Parliament and the French Parliament for finalization. The new treaty will take effect at least one year after the signing.

Jacobs said that the negotiations took some 9 years before an agreement could be reached, she explained that in 2014 the French contested the Dutch claim with regards to Oyster Pond and they had filed a petition with the United Nations indicating there was a border dispute. This she said strained the relationship between the French and Dutch and there was an impasse for several years.

Jacobs explained that the negotiations were led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs on St. Maarten and the Ministry of Defense in The Hague and both sides of Cadasters Offices and various Ministries. The Prime Minister said in June 2022 a proposed text was concluded for political agreement and the outcome has been placed in a treaty that is recognized internationally and is a legally binding document.

In breaking down the agreement that have been reached the Prime Minister said that the road in Cupe Coy shifted to the Northern side meaning it has moved further to the Dutch side, while Marigot Hill was also in favor of the Dutch, Belle Plaine Road was designated to the French all the way to the border.

OYSTER POND  CAPTAIN OLIVERS RESTAURANT AND MARINA.

The water rights were shared equally based on the principle of aqua distance; However, Oyster Pond was designated to the French side which means the Captain Olivers Marina and Restaurant will fall under French jurisdiction. The owners of Captain Olivers are the only ones that have been severely impacted by the new treaty. Negotiations with the business owner still have to take place even though they were officially informed. The Government of St. Maarten are prepared to enter into negotiations with the owners of Captain Olivers restaurant and marina to see if they will commence doing business with the French side or if they would want to continue doing business with the Dutch side, should the business owners decide to continue their working relationship with the Dutch side then the Council of Ministers would have to find another location with Erfpact for the business.

While the government of St. Maarten has lost revenue with the only business affected by the new treaty, Captain Olivers Restaurant and Marina have been in a dilapidated state since the passing of Hurricane IRMA and Maria in September 2017.

With this new agreement, the Dutch side has gained some 7,109 square meters of land but lost water rights. Residents in Marigot Hill that have been affected over the years will now have the opportunity to have all utilities from the Dutch side of the island including a road.

The Prime Minister said both governments shared concerns about the security issues at Oyster Pond since there has never been border control in this area while people and goods have been entering the island for years there.

Prime Minister: Border Negotiations Successful.



PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Ms. Silveria Jacobs accompanied by Interim Director for the Directorate of Foreign Relations, Mr. Patrice Gumbs, held a press conference to inform the public of the developments regarding the negotiations for the border between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin.

Since the end of 2022, reports have been in the media from both the Kingdom level as well as from the side of France that an agreement had been reached on the location of the border between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin. These public discussions were deemed premature as the proposals had not yet gone through the proper channels of approval; the agreement had only been reached at the technical level and still had to be approved at the Ministerial level, on St. Maarten, in the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

The approval process was finalized between both states in March this year. As such, the Prime Minister found it prudent to wait until all documentation and steps were finalized before making any public statements. It is important to note that from the inception, and at every stage, the Government of Sint Maarten was in the lead and wholly involved in determining the mandate.

The negotiations, as per Kingdom law, were led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Defense, as well as both the local and Dutch Cadasters; along with inputs from the various Ministries including VROMI, TEATT, and Justice. The negotiation team consisted of representation from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Foreign Relations.

Prime Minister Jacobs will sign the treaty on Sint Maarten on May 26, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Minister of Interior Gerard Darmanin will sign on behalf of the State of France. More information on the signing event will be shared in terms of place and time in a joint statement with our Northern counterparts.

Background on Negotiations

Since 2014, there have been disagreements related to the border on the island. These disagreements came about when the French contested the Dutch claim over all the water in Oyster Pond. This led to several instances of direct confrontation between authorities from both sides of the island and unfortunately strained the longstanding relationship between both governments.

In December 2017, the French filed a petition with the United Nations, signaling the existence of an international border dispute on the island. This triggered the need to come to agreements, as the deadlock that ensued after the petition would have led to Arbitration, which would not answer the need for a comprehensive approach to the entire border. November 2021, saw the Government of Sint Maarten adopt a more compromise-driven approach, that would prove to advance discussions and move the island closer towards the end goal, hence we are here today.

Following nine years of deliberation, we will finally put to rest the border issue on Saint Martin. Technical experts are working diligently to finalize the new iteration of our map, as there are 348 points that need to be transformed and placed on the map.

Changes to the Border

The border along the road in Cupecoy will shift north in favor of the Dutch. The border along Marigot Hill Road will shift north in favor of the Dutch. We confirm Dutch sovereignty, that is authority over Higher Bethlehem. The border along the road in Belle Plaine will shift west in favor of the French. The border along the road leading to Oyster Pond will shift north in favor of the Dutch. Oyster Pond will be shared on the principle of equidistance, between the French and the Dutch.

The changes mainly concern public areas and as such individuals are not impacted. The largest change is in Oyster Pond; the border runs through the middle of the pond, thereby giving an equal share of the water to both sides. The Southern part of Oyster Pond will be retained by Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the Northern part of Saint-Martin (French Republic). The persons that will be proportionally impacted have been informed. However, the new treaty ensures that the relevant authorities will ensure the rights of anyone impacted by the changes.

The Prime Minister elaborated by stating, I would like to stress that the realization of this treaty legally establishes the boundaries of the Southern and Northern territories of the island but does not undermine the oneness and unity that we speak of among the people that call this island home. The realization of this treaty, in fact, has several benefits for all citizens of our island. Clarity on the borderline removes ambiguity and facilitates our long-term planning and development.

The treaty will be advantageous for cross-border cooperation. Re-engagement on the border has led to the reopening of a broader French-Dutch relationship and cooperation in areas that will benefit the population (education, health, and security agreements are slated to be signed next month, for example). The treaty makes provisions for the establishment of a joint border commission and a cooperation platform to facilitate the continued cooperation between the governments on both sides. The treaty also makes provisions to promote cooperation on all cross-border land and inland waterway connections of common interest. In the negotiations, Dutch Sint Maarten has ensured the right to access, freedom of navigation, mooring, and freedom to conduct artisanal fishing in both Simpson Bay Lagoon and Oyster Pond.

I would like to thank everyone for their attention and those in attendance at todays press conference. A special word of thanks to the technocrats involved over the past years on St. Martin, in its entirety, as well as those in The Hague and Paris. Finally, I promise to share the map as soon as it becomes available. concluded Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Karora Announces Agreement with Kalamazoo Resources to Unlock Lithium Exploration Value Through Creation of Kali Metals Limited

Karora Resources Inc. (TSX: KRR) (\Karora\ or the aCorporation\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/karora-resources-inc/ ) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Kalamazoo Resources Limited (ASX: KZR) (aKalamazooa) to create a lithium and critical metals exploration company to be called Kali Metals Limited (aKalia). Karora and Kalamazoo will vend their lithium exploration projects into Kali with a goal of creating a new, jointly owned but separately run lithium-focused ASX listed exploration company to be led by an experienced board and management team. The proposed transaction will allow Karora shareholders to participate in the significantly enhanced upside potential of a larger, combined lithium-focused investment vehicle that will fund its own exploration and development activities while Karora remains focused on growing its gold and nickel production base at both Beta Hunt and Higginsville.

Transaction highlights:

Agreement entered into with ASX-listed Australian gold miner Kalamazoo whereby at IPO, Karora will vend into Kali its highly prospective lithium mineral rights across an extensive range of projects located south of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (aHigginsville Lithium Projecta) and Kalamazoo will vend into Kali its Australian lithium projects, including Marble Bar and DOMa?s Hill located in the Pilbara and Jingellic and Tallangatta projects located in the Lachlan Fold Belt (New South Wales and Victoria)

At listing, Kali will be a leading Australian critical minerals exploration company, having consolidated significant lithium and critical minerals tenure totaling ~3,833km2

Kalia?s extensive exploration portfolio is adjacent to world-class lithium mines and deposits in the Eastern Yilgarn (1,607km2) and Pilbara (199km2) WA, and prospective greenfields lithium exploration projects in the Lachlan Fold Belt (2,027km2) in NSW and VIC

Kali to raise a minimum of A$10 million, up to a maximum of A$12 million at IPO to fund its exploration and drilling plans across the combined Australian lithium portfolio

Kalamazoo to own 55% of Kali, with Karora owning the remaining 45% (prior to the proposed capital raise)

Kali will be led by Managing Director Graeme Sloan and Non-Executive Chairman Luke Reinehr, both bringing significant existing understanding of the newly combined Kali lithium tenements as well as strong track records of value creation in Australiaa?s mining sector.

Paul Andre Huet, Chairman & CEO of Karora, commented: \After carefully evaluating several different avenues to fully assess, explore, accelerate and crystallize the value of the lithium potential across Karoraa?s Higginsville tenements, we are very pleased to enter into this arrangement with Kalamazoo Resources to create Kali Metals a a leading Australian lithium-focused exploration company. Working with Kalamazoo, we have assembled a top-notch management group with not only an excellent track record of building value in Australiaa?s mining sector, but also an extensive existing knowledge of the tenement base to give Kali a running start.

The creation of a separate lithium-focused vehicle allows Karoraa?s management team to remain laser-focused on our existing gold and nickel production growth strategy, while giving Karora shareholders near-term exposure to the lithium exploration potential on our Higginsville tenements in combination with Kalamazooa?s tremendous lithium projects in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Under the Kali Metals banner these assets form a new large, highly prospective exploration vehicle in the exciting Australian lithium sector that is playing a leading role in the global energy transition. We look forward to participating in the enhanced combined success of the newly formed Kali Metals.a

Luke Reinehr, Chairman and CEO of Kalamazoo commented aWith Kalamazoo\-s primary focus on gold, we have contemplated alternatives for our Pilbara and Lachlan Fold Belt lithium projects for quite some time. When the opportunity arose to join with Karora, into what we consider will be a significant critical minerals exploration company in Australia, the rationale was compelling. We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Karora that will see our lithium portfolio combined with its highly prospective tenement package located in a Tier 1 lithium mining jurisdiction. The transaction will result in the establishment of Kali as a well-funded ASX-listed lithium explorer, with an unrivalled portfolio of assets located in the hottest hard-rock lithium regions, not just in Australia, but globally. The spin-out of Kali will provide our shareholders with ongoing exposure to these expanded assets and strategy.a

Overview

Karora has entered into a Shareholders Agreement (athe Agreementa) with Kalamazoo under which Kalamazoo will vend its non-gold exploration projects and mineral rights into Kali, followed by the undertaking of an IPO pursuant to the agreement.A The proposed transaction will see the establishment of a new ASX-listed exploration company, Kali Metals Limited (proposed ASX Code ASX: KM1), with its own highly experienced board and management team.

Kalia?s lithium exploration tenure at IPO will comprise:

Kalamazooa?s Marble Bar and DOMa?s Hill Lithium Projects in the Pilbara, WA (199km2) which hosts the world-class Pilgangoora and Wodgina lithium mines. Exploration across these lithium projects is currently being undertaken in Joint Venture with Chilean lithium producer Sociedad QuAmica y Minera de Chile S.A. (aSQMa) (NYSE: SQM).

Lithium mineral rights granted across a substantial portion of Karoraa?s Higginsville gold tenement package (~1,607km2) located south of Kalgoorlie, in the Eastern Yilgarn, WA, which hosts the nearby Mt Marion and Bald Hill lithium mines and the Pioneer, Manna and Buldania lithium deposits.

Lithium mineral rights granted across Kalamazooa?s Jingellic and Tallangatta Lithium Projects (2,027km2) located in the Lachlan Fold Belt, NSW, and Victoria.

Kali has established its headquarters in Perth, WA, with an exploration office in Melbourne, Victoria.A Kali intends to be certified carbon neutral for its business operations under the Australian Governmenta?s recognized Climate Active Program. This process will have Kali establishing its carbon footprint, outlining its plans to measure and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions where feasible and offsetting its remaining carbon-generating activity.A Both Karoraa?s and Kalamazooa?s operations are similarly certified under the Climate Active Program.

Board and Management

Graeme Sloan has been appointed as Managing Director of Kali with Kalamazooa?s Chairman/CEO Luke Reinehr as Non-Executive Chairman.A Graeme Sloan is a highly qualified Mining Engineer with over 35 yearsa? experience including as previous Managing Director of Karora.A Paul Adams, John Leddy, and Simon Coyle have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors.A Assisting the Board during the IPO process is Luke Mortimer as Exploration Manager, Bernard Crawford as CFO, and Nick Madders as Company Secretary/Legal Counsel. These appointments will provide a high degree of continuity and understanding of Kalia?s exploration portfolio.A Kali has appointed Grant Samuel as Corporate Advisor and Gilbert + Tobin as legal advisor.

Next Steps

As part of the proposed IPO listing on the ASX, Kali is targeting to raise approximately A$10 million to A$12 million (prior to fees). The closing of the proposed transaction is subject to final Board, regulatory and other conditions precedent.

Kali Projects Overview

Eastern Yilgarn Lithium Projects, WA

The Higginsville Lithium Project is located south of Kalgoorlie within the Eastern Yilgarn, a leading hard-rock lithium region containing major mines and deposits including the Mt Marion Lithium Mine (71Mt @ 1.4% Li2O), Bald Hill Lithium Mine (26Mt @ 1.0% Li2O), Pioneer Dome Lithium Project (11Mt @ 1.2% Li2O), Buldania Lithium Project (15Mt @ 1.0% Li2O) and Manna Lithium Project (33Mt @ 1.0% Li2O) (Figure 2).A Within the Higginsville Lithium Project area, highly prospective lithium targets have already been identified from outcrop and historical reports at Spargos, Mt Henry, Buldania North and East and the Chalice/Sinclair prospects.

Pilbara Lithium Projects, WA

The Marble Bar Lithium Project is located along the margin of the Moolyella tin and tantalum alluvial field and contains numerous local occurrences of mapped lithium-enriched pegmatites (Figure 3).A Located approximately 25km to the north is Global Lithium Resources Limiteda?s (ASX: GL1) Archer Lithium Deposit, also on the margin of the Moolyella tin and tantalum field, with a reported Inferred Resource of 18Mt @ 1.0% Li202. Recent mapping and surface sampling at the Marble Bar Lithium Project, has discovered outcropping spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes associated with high-grade rock chip samples assaying up to 2.8% Li2O.

The DOMa?s Hill Lithium Project, East Pilbara, contains a similar geological setting and target host rocks strongly analogous to that of the nearby world class Pilgangoora (Pilbara Minerals, ASX: PLS) and Wodgina (Albemarle, NYSE: ALB/Mineral Resources, ASX: MIN) pegmatite-hosted lithium deposits. The project covers significant strike extent of Archaean granite-greenstone contact zone, or aGoldilocks Zonea considered highly prospective for Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (aLCTa) pegmatites.

The Marble Bar and DOMa?s Hill Lithium Projects are part of an exploration Joint Venture (aJVa) agreement originally between Kalamazoo and major Chilean lithium producer SQM.A Kalamazoo has, with SQMa?s consent, assigned its interest in the JV to Kali.A SQM has been granted the right to earn an initial 30% interest (to a maximum of 70%) in all mineral rights at the Marble Bar and DOMa?s Hill Lithium Projects, by sole funding a minimum of A$12 million of exploration and development activities over the next four years.A SQM is one of the worlda?s leading lithium producers with its main asset in Australia being its 50% joint venture interest in the Mt Holland Lithium Project.

Lachlan Fold Belt, NSW/VIC

The Jingellic and Tallangatta Lithium Projects are an aearly movera play, covering geology considered highly prospective for both LCT-pegmatites as well as hard-rock tin mineralization (Figure 4). Both projects host highly fractionated S-type granites and related pegmatite dykes that are closely associated with numerous alluvial and hard rock tin-tungsten and tantalum occurrences and mine-workings. These are all critical, favourable features of the LCT-pegmatite exploration model. Additionally, both projects lie within the extension of the same Lachlan Fold Belt geology that hosts known LCT mineralization (including spodumene) at the Dorchap LCT Pegmatite Project located nearby in NE Victoria as reported by Dart Mining NL (ASX: DTM).A

About Kalamazoo Resources Limited

Kalamazoo Resources Limited (ASX: KZR) is an ASX-listed exploration company with a portfolio of high-quality gold and lithium projects in Victoria and the Pilbara, WA.A In Victoria Kalamazoo is exploring its 100% owned projects in the Castlemaine (historical production of ~5.6Moz Au), Maldon (historical production of ~2Moz), and Tarnagulla Goldfields as well as its Myrtle and Mt Piper Projects near the world class Fosterville gold mine in Victoria.A In the Pilbara, Kalamazooa?s extensive exploration program is advancing the 100% owned Ashburton Gold Project to further increase the 1.44Moz Au resource as well as the 100% owned Mallina West Project along strike from De Greya?s 10Moz Hemi discovery.

Kalamazooa?s lithium projects include DOMa?s Hill and Marble Bar Lithium Projects in an exploration joint venture with the major Chilean lithium producer Sociedad QuAmica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM) and the 100% owned Pear Creek Lithium Project.A Kalamazoo also has the 100% owned aJingellica and aTallangattaa lithium exploration projects in the Lachlan Fold Belt of southern NSW/NE Victoria.

Kalamazoo has become the first gold and lithium explorer operating in Australia to be certified carbon neutral for its business operations under the Federal Governmenta?s Climate Active Program, with projected 2022 emissions fully offset achieved with a verified environmental reforestation program in Western Australia.

About Karora Resources

Karora is focused on increasing gold production to a targeted range of 170,000-195,000 ounces by 2024 at its integrated Beta Hunt Gold Mine and Higginsville Gold Operations (\HGO\) in Western Australia. The Higginsville treatment facility is a low-cost 1.6 Mtpa processing plant, which is fed at capacity from Karora\-s underground Beta Hunt mine and Higginsville mines. In July 2022, Karora acquired the 1.0 Mtpa Lakewood Mill in Western Australia. At Beta Hunt, a robust gold Mineral Resource and Reserve are hosted in multiple gold shears, with gold intersections along a 5 km strike length remaining open in multiple directions. HGO has a substantial Mineral gold Resource and Reserve and prospective land package totaling approximately 1,900 square kilometers. Karora has a strong Board and management team focused on delivering shareholder value and responsible mining, as demonstrated by Karora\-s commitment to reducing emissions across its operations. Karora\-s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol KRR and on the OTCQX market under the symbol KRRGF.

Compliance Statement (JORC 2012 and NI 43-101)

The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen Devlin, FAusIMM, Group Geologist, Karora Resources Inc., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains \forward-looking information\ including without limitation statements relating to production guidance, full year consolidated 2023 and longer-term production guidance and the potential of the Beta Hunt Mine and Higginsville Gold Operation.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Karora to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; results of exploration programs; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, projected cash operating costs, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Karora \-s filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although Karora has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Karora disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

For more information, please contact:

A

Rob Buchanan A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

Director, Investor RelationsA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

T: (416) 363-0649A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

www.karoraresources.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch
Discovery Reports Q1 2023 Financial Results and Update

Discovery Silver Corp. (TSX: DSV, OTCQX: DSVSF) (aDiscoverya or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/discovery-silver-corp/ ) is pleased to announce its financial results for the first quarter (aQ1 2023a) ended March 31, 2023, and to provide a summary of key events for the quarter and subsequent to quarter-end. All figures are stated in Canadian dollars (aC$a) unless otherwise noted. Discoverya?s flagship project is the 100%-owned Cordero silver project (aCorderoa or the aProjecta) located in Chihuahua State, Mexico.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q1 2023 & SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:

Completion of our PFS on Cordero that outlined an 18-year mine life with average annual production of 33 Moz AgEq at an average AISC of $12.80/oz AgEq in Years 1 to 12. The after-tax NPV5% was US$1.2 B and the IRR was 28% at base case metal prices of Ag  US$22.00/oz, Au  US$1,600/oz, Pb  US$1.00/lb and Zn  US$1.20/lb.

The appointment of Tony Makuch as the Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Makuch has more than 35 years of development, operational and leadership experience. Most recently he was CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. where, under his five-year tenure, annual gold production grew from 315,000 oz to over 1,400,000 oz and Kirkland Lakea?s share price increased over 500%.

Completion of a amarketeda public offering for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$51.75 million putting the Company in a strong position to deliver on key de-risking milestones as well as the Feasibility Study on Cordero.

The graduation to the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange reflecting the Companya?s maturity and growth with Cordero now having advanced to the feasibility study stage.

As of March 31, 2023, we had a cash and cash equivalents balance of $37 million.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Company is currently focused on advancing its Feasibility Study (aFSa or athe Studya) with the objective of delivering the Study in the first half of 2024. Feasibility Study drilling, consisting of engineering drilling, resource upgrade drilling, and reserve expansion drilling, is progressing well with initial drill results highlighting the potential to further grow reserves within and on the margins of the open pit. The sample selection for the metallurgical testwork program is now finalized. This program will target the potential reduction of reagent costs and improved metallurgical performance through further variability testwork. Work on optimizing bench heights and mine equipment sizing with the objective of reducing mining costs will also get underway shortly. A We also remain committed to the growth potential of Cordero with 9,000 m of drilling planned this year on property-wide targets. This drilling follows on from significant target generation work the Company has completed in recent years including extensive mapping and sampling work and multiple geophysical surveys.

In parallel to the FS work, the Company plans to advance the construction permitting process for Cordero. The submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (aManifesto de Impacto Ambientala or aMIAa) to the Mexican Federal Environmental Department (aSEMARNATa) is currently planned for later this quarter. Assuming a 12 to 24 month permitting timeline, this would position the Company to make a potential construction decision toward the end of 2024. Of note, on Saturday April 29, 2023, the Mexican government approved a bill amending several laws relating to mining and water concessions. The Company is awaiting further details on these amendments, including publication of the approved laws in the Official Gazette, to determine the impact, if any, on the Companya?s operations.

The Companya?s Environment, Social and Governance (aESGa) program continues to be an important area of focus. The 2022 ESG report is scheduled for issuance in 2Q 2023, and key government and international accreditation certifications are planned for completion in the second half of 2023.

Our balance sheet remains exceptionally strong with a current cash balance of over $80 million and no debt. This puts the Company in a strong position to complete the FS as well as other key derisking milestones required to advance Cordero to a construction decision.

Further Information ias attached.
Calibre reports record quarterly revenue on strong sperational performance setting up for a Successful 2023

Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (aCalibrea or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/calibre-mining-corp/ ) announces financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (aQ1 2023a).A Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis for the three months ending March 31, 2023 can be found at www.sedar.com and the Companya?s website, www.calibremining.com . A All figures are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Q1 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Record gold sales of 65,770 ounces grossing $126.9 million in revenue at an average realized gold price1 of $1,891/oz;

Consolidated Total Cash Costs (aTCCa)1 of $1,164/oz; Nicaragua $1,131/oz and Nevada $1,331/oz;

Consolidated All-In Sustaining Costs (aAISCa)1 of $1,302/oz; Nicaragua $1,241/oz and Nevada $1,363/oz;

Generated $26.7 million in cash flow from operations;

Cash on hand of $60.8 million as at March 31, 20232;

Net income of $16.4 million or $0.04 per share;

Consolidated Mineral Reserves increased 370% since acquisition in 2019, to 1,346,000 ounces gold (see press release dated February 14, 2023);

The ore transport team attained an average daily rate of 2,294 tonnes of ore per day to the Libertad mill from the Pavon Norte, Pavon Central and Limon mines, an 11% increase over the Q1 2022 average ore delivery rate;

Delivered high-grade ore from Pavon Central mine ahead of schedule, averaging 1,000 tonnes per day at 7.39 g/t gold in February to the Libertad mill (see press release dated March 15, 2023);

Continued expansion of the high-grade gold discovery at Panteon North and along the VTEM Gold Corridor within the Limon Complex, intersecting 17.45 g/t gold over 4.1 metres (see press release dated March 21, 2023);

New discovery at the Pan Mine in Nevada indicates the potential for resource expansion to the south (see press release dated January 17, 2023)

Phase 1 and 2 drill results from the Golden Eagle Project in Washington State confirm consistent gold mineralization over broad widths, reinforcing the potential of this 2 million ounce Mineral Resource; Metallurgical testing to explore for future gold extraction potential and recovery methods has commenced (see press releases dated January 24, 2023 and April 12, 2023); and

Commenced mining from the Guapinol open pit at Eastern Borosi in April, utilising surplus capacity at the Libertad mill for processing (see press release dated April 18, 2023).

Darren Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: aCalibre had an excellent start to the year, responsibly delivering record gold production of 65,750 ounces. During the quarter we continued to solidify our position as a growing mid-tier gold producer, expanding our hub and spoke operating strategy to include the new high-grade open pit mine at Pavon Central. During Q2 we began mining at our new Eastern Borosi open pit and expect initial deliveries to Libertad in Q2. Cash generation is expected to accelerate during the second half of the year with grade-driven increased production achieving consolidated production guidance of 250,000 to 275,000 ounces and significantly increasing our cash position by year end.a

Gold production in Nicaragua increased 28% in Q1 2023 vs Q1 2022 driven by higher tonnes milled, the Company expects grades to increase through 2023 as high-grade ore sources come online.

CONSOLIDATED Q1 2023 FINANCIAL REVIEW

Total Cash Costs and AISC for Q1 2023 were $1,164 per ounce and $1,302 per ounce respectively, in line with expectations for the period.A The higher production cost quarter over quarter was due to additional tonnes moved, milled, and transported through the hub and spoke network.

Expenses and Net Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, corporate G&A was $2.7 million compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2022. Corporate administration was slightly lower than the comparable 2022 period due to less costs associated with salaries and professional fees.

Share-based compensation for Q1 2023 was $1.7 million. The increase in expenses over the prior year quarter relates to the revaluation of cash settled RSUs and PSUs.

Total finance expense for Q1 2023 was $1.0 million compared to $0.5 million the same period in 2022.A

Current and deferred income tax expense was $10.0 million during Q1 2023, compared to the same period of 2022 of $8.2 million. Q1 2023 saw an increase in current and deferred tax expenses when compared to Q1 2022, from higher pre-tax income partially offset by a lower overall tax rate.A

As a result of the above, net income per share in Q1 2023 was $0.04 for both basic and diluted.

Since acquiring the Nicaraguan assets from B2Gold in October 2019 and Fiore Gold in 2022, the Company has consistently re-invested into the business with demonstrated results of strong production, reserve growth, discovery of new deposits, and identification of new targets, which positions Calibre to unlock additional mill feed sources and grow production both in Nicaragua and Nevada. Calibre continues to invest in new mine development including Pavon Central and Eastern Borosi and a discovery and resource expansion 100,000 metre drilling program, underway in Nevada and Nicaragua.

Calibrea?s 2023 production guidance reflects grade-drive production growth of approximately 20% over 2022 yet 2023 Total Cash Cost and All-in sustaining costs per ounce is anticipated to be in-line or better than 2022 actuals.A Calibrea?s 2023 growth capital and exploration capital is budgeted to be 30% and 40% less, respectively, than 2022, setting the Company up for a strong free cash flow year.

Growth and sustaining capital are anticipated to be higher throughout the first half of the year to unlock value at the new high-grade Pavon Central and Eastern Borosi open pit mines. Growth also includes underground development, Limon Norte and Tigra waste stripping, and land acquisition.

Q1 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

First quarter financial results will be released after market close on Monday, May 8, 2023, and management will be hosting a conference call on Tuesday, May 9 to discuss the results and outlook in more detail.A

Date:A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Time:A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A 10:00 a.m. (ET)

Webcast Link:A A A A A https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/77jbhopx

Instructions for obtaining conference call dial-in numbers:

All parties must register at the link below to participate in Calibrea?s Q1 2023 conference call.

Register by clicking https://register.vevent.com/register/BIcbb8f6f89d254adb83115fe6e956e5f3 and completing the online registration form.

Once registered you will receive the dial-in numbers and PIN number for input at the time of the call.

The live webcast and registration link can be accessed here and at www.calibremining.com under the Events and Media section under the Investors tab. The live audio webcast will be archived and available for replay for 12 months after the event at www.calibremining.com. Presentation slides that will accompany the conference call will be made available in the Investors section of the Calibre website under Presentations prior to the conference call.

Qualified Person

Darren Hall, MAusIMM President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre Mining Corp. is a aqualified persona as set out under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.A

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

aDarren Halla

Darren Hall

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

Notes:

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

The Company believes that investors use certain non-IFRS measures as indicators to assess gold mining companies, specifically Total Cash Costs per Ounce and All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Companya?s performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold: Total cash costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing, and local administrative costs (including stock-based compensation related to mine operations), royalties, production taxes, mine standby costs and current inventory write downs, if any.A Production costs are exclusive of depreciation and depletion, reclamation, capital, and exploration costs.A Total cash costs per gold ounce are net of by-product silver sales and are divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.

All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce of Gold:A A performance measure that reflects all the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of gold from current operations.A While there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the Companya?s definition is derived from the AISC definition as set out by the World Gold Council in its guidance dated June 27, 2013 and November 16, 2018.A The World Gold Council is a non-regulatory, non-profit organization established in 1987 whose members include global senior mining companies. The Company believes that this measure will be useful to external users in assessing operating performance and the ability to generate free cash flow from current operations.A The Company defines AISC as the sum of total cash costs (per above), sustaining capital (capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels), capital lease repayments, corporate general and administrative expenses, exploration expenditures designed to increase resource confidence at producing mines, amortization of asset retirement costs and rehabilitation accretion related to current operations.A AISC excludes capital expenditures for significant improvements at existing operations deemed to be expansionary in nature, exploration and evaluation related to resource growth, rehabilitation accretion and amortization not related to current operations, financing costs, debt repayments, and taxes.A Total all-in sustaining costs are divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.

Average Realized Price per Ounce Sold: Average realized price per ounce sold is a common performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning.A The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is revenue from gold sales.

MARCH 31, 2023 CASH POSITION

Includes restricted cash of $2.5 million see note 13 in the Condensed Interim Financial Statements for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

ADJUSTED NET INCOME

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share a basic exclude a number of temporary or one-time items described in the following table, which provides a reconciliation of adjusted net income to the consolidated financial statements:A please see attachment

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa (collectively aforward-looking statementsa) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as \expect\, \plan\, \anticipate\, \project\, \target\, \potential\, \schedule\, \forecast\, \budget\, \estimate\, \intend\ or \believe\ and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions \will\, \would\, \may\, \could\, \should\ or \might\ occur.A Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibrea?s control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibrea?s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its management discussion and analysis (aMD&Aa) for the year ended December 31, 2022 all available on the Companya?s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibrea?s forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibrea?s forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managementa?s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Residents moved into the New Deal community beginning in 1938.

Design renderings of condos now for sale.

It could be argued, persuasively, that Greenhills, Ohio was the first suburb in the entire U.S. of A.Long before New Yorks Levittown , declared by history books to be the nations first suburb, was built in the early 50s, 375 acres of farmland 15 miles north of the city of Cincinnati was planned, platted, and 676 affordable living units designed and built to encourage urban dwellers to move out to the fresh air and green environs beyond the hubbub of the city.The first residents of the planned community of Greenhills moved there in 1938. The country had already endured 10 years of the Great Depression. FDR, through a series of programs known as the New Deal, was investing huge sums into efforts to put Americans back to work and put money in their pockets. One of these programs was called what today sounds like an almost Soviet-style name: the Resettlement Administration . One of the RAs efforts was a social experiment to build a series of communities with modern, affordable, community-oriented housing, featuring cul-de-sacs, sidewalks, and well-designed public facilities ringed by greenspace.The overall emphasis was on providing a comfortable and convenient living arrangement for lower-income Americans, while offering the amenities and spaciousness commonly associated with upper-income neighborhoods, reads a U.S. Department of Interior history of the town.Greenhills is surrounded by the 2,500 acres of Winton Woods, one of the largest parks in the county. The New Deal plan had a utopian aspect to it. Three towns were built before the project ran out of funds and opposition to the program began forming in Congress: Greenbelt, Md., Greendale, Wisc., and Greenhills, Ohio.Today, the historic legacy of Greenhills is still evident in its narrow, winding streets, quiet neighborhoods, much of its housing, public buildings, and greenspace. Eighty-five years after its settlement, Greenhills is trying to balance that legacy with the changing tastes and demands of early 21century America.We got a tour of Greenhills from Mayor David Moore. Moore is a car guy, and as we toured the village in his Tesla Model 3, he related the story of how he moved to Greenhills in 1972. He had just bought himself a brand new, convertible Fiat roadster but didnt have a garage for it. It so happened that a co-worker at General Electric was moving from Greenhills to neighboring Forest Park and needed to sell. I said, Well, let me see the garage, Moore says. The garage passed inspection, so Moore bought it -- as well as the rest of the house.He quit GE, got a job as the safety-service director for Greenhills, beginning a long career in municipal government. Now 82, Moore has served as mayor for 10 years, and village manager for years before that. He found a niche in a small town, and now knows almost everyone, it seems, and has married many of the residents.Ive always promoted it as Mayberry, he says. A friendly town.A few years ago, one of those list-making publications ranked Greenhills as the safest neighborhood in Cincinnati. When a local TV station came out to interview Moore about it, he mentioned that some residents dont even bother to lock their doors, a comment that drew some rebukes from safety-conscious Greenhillians.While four-lane Winton Road runs through the middle of town, theres really no other through street in Greenhills, and the winding streets and neighbors looking out for each other creates a natural security.Thats exactly why 29-year-old Elliot Kugbe moved there with his wife, Christelle, and his parents about five years ago. They were renting in West Chester and searching for a place to buy. They found a four-bedroom pretty, simple, beautiful, small house built in 1954 in Greenhills, but what really sold him was the reported lack of crime. The real estate website they were using showed no serious crimes in the community for many years previously. None.Like, nothing ever happened there, Kugbe says. I was like, is that even possible?Many real estate companies have since dropped crime rate data from their websites, but information from City-Data.com shows that the overall crime rate in Greenhills is far below the national average.It's very peaceful, he says. Its a very peaceful place.Greenhills core neighborhood, mainly west of Winton Road, is a National Historic Landmark, thanks to its status as a model community of FDRs New Deal. Some of the dwellings built in the 30s are two-, three-, and four-bedroom duplexes that came to be known as the barracks. These were designed in a modernistic, architectural style known as the International Style with flat roofs and linear design. There are also single-family houses with slate roofs designed in more of a Colonial style. The architects in the 30s took pains to vary the styles of the planned community so it didnt look so  planned.The designers also included a village center with a retail center that still stands along Winton Road, and a community building and a public swimming pool, both still recognizable as structures of the Art Deco era.But houses dont last forever, especially those built by the government during the Depression and designed to be affordable to the working class. Some of the original duplexes fell into the hands of absentee landlords and were allowed to deteriorate. The village eventually acquired many of them, tried without success to sell them, and could not afford restoration. Since the early 2000s, dozens of the original apartments have been torn down. Many that are still standing are rentals and in need of rehab and maintenance.They ran over cost, so the government had to reduce the cost, so they reduced the type of housing, the value of the housing, Moore says. The government eliminated basements and cut corners in other ways to save money. If they were units that were owned by landlords there were more potential problems for deterioration.Its a battle to keep the New Deal housing in decent shape, says Ockie Hoffmann. Hes a Greenhills original, born there in 1940, and has served as mayor and on council in the years since. We got rid of some of the blight, but its still a battle.The village found a developer to build infill housing at the sites of the teardowns, but the 2008 financial crisis ended that plan. Now, in the still-hot housing market, Sibcy Cline is selling new, yet-to-be-built condominiums on Dewitt Street that will have the kinds of amenities many buyers want: walk-in closets, open layouts, deluxe primary bathroom. Another selling point  a 15-year property tax abatement. And a sleek design reminiscent of the Depression-era landmarks that once stood on those lots. The list price for a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, two-car garage condo is $325,000.It's the kind of development that could bring in new families while remaining cognizant of the historic nature of the neighborhood. Hoffmann would like to see that happen. The 83-year-old has lived in the community his entire life. His father owned a butcher shop in the West End, and moved the young family out to what was a brand new, green community, with modern, government-built housing. We were called pioneers, he says.They moved into a two-bedroom townhouse, one of the barracks, on Foxworth Lane. Over the years, the family grew to seven children, necessitating a move to a larger home on Chalmers Court. Hoffmann eventually purchased the Chalmers Court property from his parents and moved his family into that house.A few years ago, he moved again, but stayed in Greenhills, in the district. I never thought of leaving, he says. His three grown sons have also stayed in the community, and raised their own families there.Hoffmann still gives his time to the all-volunteer Greenhills Fire Department, as do two of his sons, four of his grandchildren, his wife, who runs the office, and a daughter-in-law, who handles the financial filings. All volunteers. Its sort of a family thing, he says.Greenhills is trying to manage its historic legacy with limited resources. Its main source of revenue is its income tax, but its population has declined over the last 20 years to about 3,700 now. Its in the process of applying to become a certified local government, a National Park Service program meant to demonstrate a commitment to historic preservation and protecting cultural resources. The designation could result in funding and technical assistance to help with preservation efforts. It could also bring a more intangible benefit.I think its a big marketing plus, says Village Manager Evonne Kovach. There are already people moving here who want to be in a historic district, and they can be assured that it will maintain its appearance and its value. I think it will keep us on the right track.
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The local meat market is being hit by the crisis in Sudan, writes Safeya Mounir

After the conflict in Sudan broke out in April, Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi said that it would not affect Egypts meat imports and that talks were underway on ensuring the shipments of the quantities on order.

However, he added that there were concerns regarding supply should the conflict drag on. Accordingly, the government was currently studying the possibility of importing meat from Chad or Somalia. We need to diversify the sources of our meat imports from abroad, he said.

According to Mahmoud Al-Askalani, chairman of the Association of Citizens Against Price Increases, a NGO, 70 per cent of Egypts meat imports, both live and frozen, come from Sudan. Since the crisis in Sudan began, the price of a kg of meat has risen from LE300 to LE350, he said.

If action is not taken quickly to solve this problem, the price could jump to LE500, he warned.

Haitham Abdel-Basset, deputy chairman of the Meat Division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, shares the concern and stressed that the division has long called for the development of domestic livestock and fodder production in order to reduce the dependency on imports and strengthen the countrys resilience to external shocks.

The Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) recently reported that in March the prices of meat and poultry rose 91.5 per cent over the same month last year and that they had climbed five per cent since February.

Abdel-Basset urged agricultural experts to work in concert to find ways to increase the domestic production of fodder and livestock in order to close the gap between production and demand, cut down on imports, and mitigate the impacts of outside shocks on the local market.

No sooner did the crisis in Sudan erupt than meat prices in Egypt shot up, and the cost of fresh meat from Sudan climbed from LE180 to LE200, he said. The government needs to intervene in order to regulate the profit margin for traders and importers, so consumers do not become victims.

Sudan is Egypts number one meat supplier. In 2022, Egypts imports of beef and water buffalo came to $1.622 billion, down from $1.639 billion in 2021.

Sayed Al-Nawawi, a member of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce and a meat importer, attributes the rising price of meat in the domestic market to the increase in the pound-dollar exchange rate. This has affected the cost of fodder and the cost of meat by the time it reaches consumers.

He agreed that the crisis in Sudan had made it necessary to explore alternative sources for importing meat, such as Chad, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. But Sudan still had the competitive edge on lower transportation and shipping costs.

The Minister of Supply agreed that Sudan was Egypts most important source of imported meat, but the crisis it is going through now has forced us to search for alternative sources to import cattle and meat, he said.

MP Karim Talaat Al-Sadat, a member of the parliaments housing committee, petitioned for a briefing from Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi as to whether the government had a plan to realise self-sufficiency in meat and alternatives to Sudan as a supplier in the light of the current conflict.

Al-Sadat noted Sudans importance as the most important supplier of red meat to Egypt and expressed his concern over how the crisis in Sudan would affect supply in Egyptian markets.

He stressed the need to explore alternatives, such as Somalia and Chad and to diversify the sources of meat imports in general, given how the impact of the Sudanese crisis on that countrys meat exports could drive up prices in Egypt.

He urged the government to step up inspections of markets and butchers in order to curb any exploitation of the crisis on the part of greedy merchants. He also called on the government to offer more quantities of meat at reduced prices in Ministry of Supply outlets around the country.

According to the CAPMAS, bilateral trade between Egypt and Sudan rose by 18.2 per cent in 2022, to reach $1.434 billion, up from $1.212 billion in 2021. Egypt imported more than $1 billion worth of meat and live cows and buffaloes from Sudan in the first half of 2022.

Egypts red meat imports during that period came to $1.084 billion, up 52.6 per cent from $645.14 million in the first half of 2021.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The foundation stone for a non-residential building on Garabagh Street of the city of Shusha has been laid.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev was informed of the works to be done in the streets of Garabagh and Sadigjan.

A residential building to be built on Garabagh Street occupies a total area of 5,400 square meters. The 4-storey residential building will feature 25 two-room and 6 three-room apartments. The non-residential building in the street covers a total area of 5,745 square meters. It will have A and B blocks and an office center.

The president laid the foundation stone for the non-residential building.
Egypt strongly condemned the Israeli forces recent escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

The statement denounced the Israeli forces' shelling of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 13 Palestinians, including children and women.

Israel had launched pre-dawn airstrikes targeting multiple homes and residential buildings in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Egypt also condemned the incursion of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli forces.

The statement further criticised the continued invasions of Palestinian cities by Israeli forces, with the latest incident occurring in Nablus.

Egypt stated that such attacks violate international law and principles of international legitimacy, and undermine efforts to achieve security in the region.

"These attacks not only exacerbate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories but also undermine efforts to achieve calm and reduce tension in the region within the framework of the agreements reached at the Sharm El-Sheikh and Aqaba meetings," added the text.

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LinkedIn closes China service, cuts over 700 jobs



Beijing, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2023



Social networking firm LinkedIn announced Tuesday that it will close down its last service available in China, citing "fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate".

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn was one of the few US technology companies to successfully operate a social media site in China, where the internet is heavily regulated and censored.

The company had introduced a unique domestic version of the career networking platform operated locally in order to comply.

In 2021, new sign-ups for the LinkedIn app in mainland China were suspended by the firm, which referenced a "significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China".

Microsoft then replaced it with a simplified version called InCareer, which allowed local professionals to continue to find and apply for jobs as well as stay connected with their network.

"After careful consideration, we've made the decision to discontinue InCareer effective August 9, 2023," the platform said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision of discontinuing the service" in China, LinkedIn said.

An email from CEO Ryan Roslansky published online added that pulling out of China would result in "a reduction of roles for 716 employees".

The US firm once achieved a rapid rise in the country, benefiting from a culture of connections, or "guanxi", in which one's contacts and professional network are essential assets.

However, LinkedIn has been marginalised in recent years as innovative local apps have surged in popularity.

Most US internet giants -- including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube -- have long been blocked in China as they fail to comply with strict and often murky regulations.

Tech firms operating in the country are pressured to block unwanted content and topics considered politically sensitive in the name of social stability.

LinkedIn has come under fire in recent years for removing the accounts of dissidents and erasing content on sensitive issues.

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Meta
Greenpeace sues Italian energy giant ENI



Rome, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2023



Greenpeace Italy is suing Italian energy giant ENI for its contribution to global warming, it said Tuesday, in the latest in a raft of climate lawsuits around the world.

The environmental organisation and fellow green campaigner ReCommon filed the suit along with 12 citizens from areas of Italy severely affected by extreme weather events, Greenpeace said in a statement.

The suit was "for past and potential future damages resulting from its contribution to climate change, of which ENI was well aware but chose to ignore for decades," it said.

The lawsuit also includes ENI's two main shareholders, the economy ministry and Italy's state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), both of which "strongly influence the company's policies".

Greenpeace said ENI's policies were "in blatant violation of the Paris Agreement" signed by Italy, which it said had direct implications for the climate commitments of companies like ENI.

"ENI scored record profits in 2022, yet it continues to invest in expanding its fossil fuels business, dismissing climate impacts and ignoring local communities," said Chiara Campione from Greenpeace.

The plaintiffs have asked the court in Rome to rule on whether or not ENI has caused damages through "violations of their human rights to life, health, and private and family life".

The suit is the first of its kind against a private company in Italy.

In recent years, a growing number of organisations and citizens have turned to the courts to criticise what they say is government inaction on the climate.

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W.House confirms Biden to visit Papua New Guinea after G7 summit



Washington, May 9 (AFP) May 09, 2023



The White House confirmed Tuesday that Joe Biden will visit Papua New Guinea in May, a "historic" first trip for a sitting US president, as Washington vies with Beijing for influence in the region.

Biden will also meet with Pacific Island leaders as he seeks to deepen cooperation on issues "such as combating climate change, protecting maritime resources, and advancing resilient and inclusive economic growth," the White House said in a statement.

The trip will come as Biden travels from the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan to the Quad Leaders' summit in Sydney, Australia later this month.

The South Pacific was seen as a relative diplomatic backwater after World War II, but it is an increasingly important arena for powers to compete for commercial, political and military influence -- and could prove vital in any possible military conflagration over Taiwan.

Last month, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told a news conference Biden would attend bilateral talks with his hosts and is "also having a meeting with the 18 Pacific Island leaders."

The Pacific Island Forum is a regional bloc of mostly small states scattered across the vast swath of ocean.

The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand will also attend.

Last month, US special envoy Joseph Yun said the United States was playing "catch-up" after years of relative neglect in which China's influence soared across the South Pacific.

"Let's face it, it is strategic competition between China and us," he told the Hudson Institute.

"Have we neglected the Pacific? The answer is yes.... We are trying to correct that quite a bit."

China recently signed a secretive security pact with Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea, that could allow Chinese troops to be deployed or based there.

And a state-backed Chinese company won a contract in March to develop the international port in the capital Honiara, a major victory in Beijing's quest to gain a strategic toehold in the South Pacific.

Biden's trip may also put the finishing touches on a US-Papua New Guinea Defence Cooperation Agreement that would allow more joint training and the development of security infrastructure.

Washington is working to establish a joint naval facility at Lombrum on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and South Sudans Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs Tut Gatluak highlighted the need to encourage the Sudanese parties to consolidate truce and move to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

Gatluak handed El-Sisi a message from South Sudans President Salva Kiir to review developments in Sudan, and consult on efforts of settling the crisis in order to preserve the Sudanese peoples security and integrity, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement.

Kiirs message also addressed means of enhancing bilateral relations between both countries.

Reaching a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Sudan would allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and relief, and pave the way to launch a dialogue in order to find a solution to the ongoing disputes as well as settle the crisis, El-Sisi and Gatluak affirmed.

This would prepare the grounds for the continuation of the transitional track and the political process in a way that preserves the unity and coherence of the Sudanese state, fulfills the aspirations of its people, and safeguards the countrys supreme interests, they asserted.

The meeting between El-Sisi and Kiirs security adviser took place as Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry had started his trip on Monday heading to Chad. Shoukry is also expected to arrive shortly to South Sudan for coordination on the Sudanese crisis and to meet with President Silva Kirr.

In Chad, Shoukry delivered a message from El-Sisi to Sisis Chadian counterpart, President Mahamat Idriss Deby, which discussed Chad and Sudans neighbouring countries role in supporting efforts to stop the ongoing fighting.

Egypt, Sudans northern neighbour, has been pushing for a ceasefire to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which killed hundreds since mid-April and caused tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee the country amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Egypt has so far welcomed more than 56,000 Sudanese and nationals of other countries, and has evacuated over 7,800 Egyptians from Sudan who were fleeing the conflict.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt and South Sudan bear a special responsibility towards Sudan, stressing that the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people must be alleviated.

Shoukry's comments came during a press conference with South Sudans Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng in the South Sudan capital Juba on Tuesday.

The two top diplomats talked to reporters after holding a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on both countries and coordinate efforts to end it.

"Egypt and South Sudan are working to achieve stability in the region," Shoukry told reporters.

For his part, Dau Deng said that "the influx of Sudanese people fleeing violence in their country is putting pressures on its immediate neighbours."

All international efforts to end the conflict need to be coordinated for the benefit Sudanese people, Dau Deng said.

The South Sudan top diplomat added that Shoukrys visit is very crucial to his country since "the two countries have a shared focus on reaching peace in Sudan."

Earlier in the day, Shoukry delivered a message in person from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to South Sudans President Salva Kiir.

During the press conference, Shoukry noted that he listened to new ideas from President Kiir on ways to strengthen coordination to meet the challenges arising from the Sudanese situation.

I will convey President Kiir's ideas to President El-Sisi. We will continue to coordinate on ways to resove the crisis as well as deal with its humanitarian impact on both Egypt and South Sudan, Shoukry said.

President El-Sisi stressed in his message to the President Kiir on the need to reach a a permanent ceasefire in Sudan, explained Shoukry.

Meanwile, Dau Deng stressed during the press conference that "any continuation of the war in Sudan will put pressure on our countries."

For his part, FM Shoukry noted that Egypt has received 70,000 Sudanese citizens through its southern borders since the start of the conflict in mid-April.

He stressed that the current conflict requires that Sudans immediate neighbours consult on a continuous basis to work toward ending the ongoing fighting and ameliorate its impacts on them.

The top Egyptian diplomat also highlighted the importance of taking the necessary actions to coordinate politically or economically for the best interest of both peoples of Egypt and South Sudan.

Shoukry's visit to Juba comes a day after he delivered a letter in person to Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby as part of Egyptian shuttle diplomacy to coordinate regional efforts to end the conflict in Sudan.

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A stranger is said to have arrived in East Haddam at some point in the 1700s. No one knows when for sure. His name was Dr. Steal, but in later decades that would be misspelled as Steele. Some said he was an alchemist, others called him a wizard. Whatever he was, it was clear he understood forces beyond this world, and it was those forces that had drawn him to Connecticut.

For some time before the strangers arrival, the town of East Haddam had been plagued by eruptions of strange and haunting noises that sounded to some as though the earth itself were an animal crying out in pain. These sounds seemed to emanate from the area of town now known as Moodus, a name derived from a longer Native American term for place of bad noises.

The cataclysmic cacophony had brought Steal to town. After locals gave him directions to the Salmon River, he searched where it met with the Moodus River and dug out two carbuncles, mystical stones that had infected the land and were the source of the mysterious noises. Dr. Steal departed with the stones but warned that there were seedlings buried in the same wet sand that would eventually grow, and the sounds would return.

This piece of Connecticut folklore explains the Moodus Noises, a phenomenon that has been observed off and on throughout the regions history and which we now know is caused by earthquakes. But the first known version of Dr. Steals story appeared in 1790 in a letter that was published in New Londons Connecticut Gazette. The following year the murmurs in the earth would indeed return, but this time with more fury than they had before or since.

On May 16, 1791, the earthquake started with two very heavy shocks in quick succession, recalled one contemporary witness, according to the Today in Connecticut History website. The first was the most powerful; the earth appeared to undergo very violent convulsions. The stone walls were shaken down, chimnies [sic] were untopped, doors which were latched were thrown open, and a fissure in the ground of several rods in extent was afterward discovered.

The quake, the worst Connecticut has witnessed in recorded history, came on an unusually clear and moonlit night. On a boat in what is modern-day Clinton, a ships captain reported seeing fish jump out of the water. More minor shocks were felt as far away as Boston and New York City.

Seismologists today estimate that the quake would have registered between 4.4 and 5 on the Richter scale. While the epicenter is impossible to identify for certain, many believe it originated in the Moodus area of East Haddam.

As I researched the story of the May 16 earthquake, I came across the story of Dr. Steal. Noting the timing between its emergence and the earthquake, I could not help but wonder: Had the story of Dr. Steal predicted the quake?

The short answer is almost certainly not, though the timing is undeniably eerie. The story of Dr. Steal is fiction, and perhaps more to the point, it follows a folklore motif that predates the version of the tale told in Connecticut. The story of a learned man who enters a river, mountain, or underground chamber to discover a treasure  often a carbuncle  was a notable folk narrative in Europe from the medieval period. It continued well into the age of exploration and colonization, writes University of Massachusetts Amherst folklore professor Stephen Gencarella in his book Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Connecticut. The legend of Doctor Steele presumably hitched a ride with sailors or with immigrants  carbuncle lore was extremely widespread in Ireland, for example. These motifs mixed with regional lore and inspired variants with local flair.

References to the Moodus Noises predate the emergence of the tale of Steal. However, the Moodus Noises are not as clearly connected to Indigenous culture as European colonists depicted. Archaeological evidence and land deeds from the late 1600s suggest that the area served as a seasonal camp and hunting ground for a number of Indigenous people, including the Wangunk, Mohegan, Pequot, and Niantic, Gencarella writes. We do not know with certainty what stories these people told about the noises, but the Mohegan Medicine Woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon once speculated that a culture hero, Moshup, might have played a role.

This lack of certainty about the native traditions associated with the noises didnt stop generations of European settlers from making up supposedly Indigenous legends about the noises that often contained colonial and racist overtones.

As for the story of Steal and his mysterious errand in Moodus, that too would be repeated and take on new forms many times over the years, including in an 1819 poem by John Gardiner Calkins Brainard. The Moodus Noises would also be heard again throughout the years including during quakes in 2011 and 2015. While the story of Steal is only a story, if you happen to hear of a mysterious stranger arriving in Moodus and digging up a stone near where the Salmon and Moodus rivers meet, it might be time to find refuge in a sturdy doorway.
STAMFORD  A former state judicial marshal has pleaded guilty to stealing money from a developmentally challenged client from Norwalk over the course of a year.

Tammy Lynn DiIorio, 42, pleaded guilty to second-degree larceny during a hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford on Tuesday.

In return for the guilty plea, which came as a part of a deal with state prosecutors, DiIorio is expected to receive a fully suspended sentence of five years and five years of probation.

Assistant States Attorney Michael Nemec said during Tuesdays hearing that DiIorio also must pay back the stolen $10,536 to the victim. Under the deal, DiIorio will pay the woman $300 a month until the balance is paid off, according to Nemec.

One missed payment will equal a violation of probation, Nemec warned DiIorio and her attorney, Frank Riccio.

If DiIorio misses any payments, she could face up to five years in prison, Judge Gary White said on Tuesday.

DiIorios deal with state prosecutors comes a little more than month after another Superior Court judge denied her entry into a pretrial probationary program that, if successfully completed, could have resulted in the charges against her being dropped.

In March, Judge John Blawie found that DiIorio, who faced multiple felonies, did not demonstrate good cause for her admission into the program.

DiIorio, a Stratford resident, was arrested by Connecticut State Police on charges of first-degree larceny, third-degree larceny and second-degree forgery in November 2018 on allegations she stole directly from a 55-year-old Norwalk woman with the intellectual level of a 12-year-old, according to an arrest affidavit.

Detective John Kimball wrote in the affidavit that DiIorio stole money earmarked for the woman by the state Department of Developmental Services and signed state documents on her behalf.

Police said the thefts occurred during 2014 and 2015, when Dilorio worked as an aide for the woman and as a state judicial marshal in the now-shuttered state Superior Court in Norwalk. The woman lived alone and had fallen behind on rent by $4,870, according to police.

The Western District Major Crime Squad and the Department of Developmental Services began investigating the case in April 2016 after receiving a complaint.

Over the next two years, authorities conducted interviews and examined financial documents, cell phone data and more.

The investigation revealed DiIorio had used her clients debit card for a number of unauthorized expenditures, including purchases at a Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center in New York, Mohegan Sun and a Norwalk shoe store, the affidavit said.

The womans brother also told investigators that his sisters home was kept in deplorable and dirty conditions with bugs, dirty, spoiled food, excessive dirty laundry, dirty dishes everywhere, according to the affidavit. He said it appeared that no one had been helpingkeep her apartment clean, although DiIorio regularly documented activities such as laundry and clean up on her time sheet, police wrote in the affidavit.

In total, state police determined that a minimum amount of $5,665 was stolen from the state and $4,7870 from the woman, the affidavit said.

I believe they should be punished by the full extent of the law. It is despicable to take advantage of someone so vulnerable, a STAR Inc. employee who worked with the woman told police, the affidavit said.

In her interviews with police, DiIorio denied stealing from her client, who she claimed was family.

I would never, ever steal from anybody OK  let alone someone with developmental disabilities that, like, I took into my home, that I love, DiIorio told police, according to the affidavit.

DiIorio is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. If she fails to appear in court that day, or if she faces any new charges before then, she could face up to five years in prison.
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WATERFORD  Local police say the driver in a one-car crash that killed two people in February was intoxicated at the time.

Robert D. Sewell, 22, of Broomfield, Colo., was charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and several other driving offenses, Waterford police said in a news release posted on Facebook at 1:09 p.m. Monday. Sewell was released on $100,000 bond, police said.
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STAMFORD  The "Hippo Ballerina" has landed.

The 15-foot-tall statue was unveiled Tuesday in front of Ferguson Library in downtown Stamford. The graceful pachyderm weighs more than two and a half tons and was cast in bronze, but wears a copper tutu.

She was created in 2016 by Danish sculptor by Bjorn Okholm Skaarup and was inspired by Edgar Degas' sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen," as well as the dancing hippos of Walt Disney's "Fantasia."

In addition to his career as a self-taught sculptor, Skaarup has written and illustrated numerous books on historical, archaeological and anatomical subjects.

Skaarups unique sculptures draw inspiration from classical mythology, late Renaissance and 20th century American pop culture, while reinterpreting both classical and modern artistic themes, according to art experts.

"Hippo Ballerina" made her New York City debut in 2017 at Dante Park near Lincoln Center. Since then, she has been exhibited all over the city, including in the Flatiron District and in Pershing Square Plaza, near Grand Central Terminal.

This is not even the first time the twinkled-toed colossus has traveled to Connecticut; she was also at the Homestead Inn in Greenwich in 2017.

Skaarup also had a solo exhibition of his animal sculptures at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich in 2015 through 2016.

The statue's sisters can be seen at Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, 175 Greenwich Ave. in Greenwich. Skaarup has sculpted HB in various sizes, positions and contexts  tying her shoes, en pointe, twirling ribbons and balancing on a circus ball.

"Hippo Ballerina" is slated to spend summer and fall in downtown Stamford.
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BERLIN (AP)  China's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country has no intention of benefiting from the war in Ukraine and hopes for further discussions on a peace plan Beijing proposed earlier this year.

Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Foreign Minister Qin Gang noted the recent talks the government in Beijing had with both Moscow and Kyiv, and said China's special envoy for Europe was expected to visit Ukraine again soon.

We won't pour oil on the fire of the war, Qin said, according to an official interpreter.

Western countries have accused Beijing of providing political and material support to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union is currently considering imposing sanctions against companies that supply critical components to Russia's arms industry.

Qin denied Chinese firms were doing so. He said China maintains normal trade relations with Russia, not mentioning a significant bump in Chinas purchases of Russian crude oil at a major discount.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged China to use its clout to find a peaceful solution to the conflict but suggested that Beijing wasn't doing enough yet.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China can play a significant role in ending the war, if it decides to do so, she told reporters in Berlin.

Baerbock welcomed recent statements by the Chinese government confirming the sovereignty of countries that once made up the Soviet Union, adding that the position must hold for Ukraine, too.

The German government is currently in the process of adjusting its policy toward China, with some in the three-party coalition government pushing for a tougher line toward Beijing.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday that he favors a de-risking rather than a decoupling of Germany's economy from China.

The distinction did not satisfy Qin, who suggested the German government's eventually policy could hurt trade between the two countries.

Normal economic exchange should not be politicized, he said.

Qin downplayed the recent cancellation of a meeting between China and Germany's finance ministers, saying the visit was postponed for technical reasons and should not be over-interpreted.

A fellow member of German Finance Minister Christian Lindner's Free Democratic Party, Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, visited Taiwan in March, prompting criticism from Beijing, which considers the island part of its territory.

Lindner said Tuesday that Germany should have less of a soft touch approach in its dealings with China.

We won't allow our liberal values to be bought in return for good business," he told German news site The Pioneer.
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JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military has systematically evaded accountability in the deaths of 20 journalists over the past two decades, launching slow and opaque investigations that have never resulted in prosecution or punishment, an international press-freedom group said in a report Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists issued its report ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of Shireen Abu Akleh  a Palestinian-American journalist with the Al Jazeera satellite channel who was killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

The army has said Abu Akleh was likely killed by Israeli fire, but said the shooting was accidental and not announced any disciplinary action.

The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the failure of the armys investigative process to hold anyone responsible is not a one-off event, said Robert Mahoney, CPJs director of special projects and one of the reports editors. It is part of a pattern of response that seems designed to evade responsibility.

The New York-based CPJ documented the cases of 20 journalists killed by Israeli military fire over the last 22 years. Eighteen of the dead were Palestinians, while the other two were European foreign correspondents. At least 13, including Abu Akleh, were clearly identified as journalists or traveling in vehicles marked with press insignia, it said.

No one has ever been charged or held responsible for these deaths, the report said. The impunity in these cases has severely undermined the freedom of the press, leaving the rights of journalists in precarity.

The report found a routine sequence in the deaths of journalists. Israeli officials typically discount evidence or witness claims while cases are still under investigation, and journalists are accused of terrorism without providing any evidence. Probes can drag on for months or years and clouded in secrecy before they are closed, and families of the dead have little legal recourse.

Israels procedure for examining military killings of civilians such as journalists is a black box, it said. There is no policy document describing the process in detail and the results of any probe are confidential.

It found that the army tends to launch more robust investigations in cases such as Abu Aklehs, when the journalist holds a foreign passport, but even those do not result in prosecution.

It called for criminal investigations into three cases: Yasser Murtaja, a well-known Palestinian journalist killed while covering protests along the frontier with Israel in 2018; Ahmed Abu Hussein, another journalist killed covering Gaza protests in 2018; and Abu Akleh.

Israeli officials claimed without giving evidence that Murtaja was a militant.

In the case of Abu Akleh, the army said there was a very high probability that she was shot by an Israeli soldier who had misidentified her as a militant. But it held out the possibility that she had been shot by a Palestinian militant, though it gave no evidence to support that claim.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it regrets any harm to civilians during operational activity and considers the protection of the freedom of the press and the professional work of journalists to be of great importance.

It said it operates in a complex security reality and does not intentionally target noncombatants, using live fire only as a last resort. It said criminal investigations are typically opened in cases of civilian deaths, unless the incident occurred in an active combat situation or if there is no suspicion of a crime having been committed by IDF soldiers.

Abu Akleh, who was 51, was shot while covering an Israeli raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on May 11, 2022. The area is known to be a stronghold of Palestinian militants.

The Israeli military frequently operates in the camp and said its soldiers had been involved in intense gunbattles with militants that morning. But it has provided no evidence that Palestinian gunmen were in the vicinity of Abu Akleh.

A number of independent investigations, including one by The Associated Press, concluded that Abu Akleh was almost certainly killed by Israeli fire and found no evidence of militant activity in the area. Witness accounts and amateur videos have also shown the area to be quiet before she was shot.

The United States concluded that an Israeli soldier likely killed her by mistake, but it did not explain how it reached that conclusion. A U.S.-led analysis of the bullet last July was inconclusive as investigators said the bullet had been badly damaged.

The Palestinian Authority, Al Jazeera and her family have accused the army of intentionally killing Abu Akleh, a veteran journalist well known across the Arab world for documenting the harsh realities of life under more than half a century of Israeli military rule.

The report said the shooting has had a chilling effect on press freedom.

Many reporters covering similar raids and tensions  which have risen markedly since Shireens killing  are afraid of being shot, said Guillaume Lavallee, chairman of the Foreign Press Association at the time of the shooting, told CPJ. He said the feeling of vulnerability is especially strong among Palestinian colleagues.

The FPA represents dozens of international media organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including The Associated Press.

In its report, the CPJ called on the Israeli military to reform its rules of engagement to prevent the targeting of journalists, to guarantee swift, independent and transparent investigations and to make their findings public.

It also called on the U.S. to issue an update on the status of a reported FBI investigation into Abu Aklehs killing and to put pressure on Israel to reform its rules of engagement.

___

This story has been corrected to show that CPJ is asking for an investigation into the death of Ahmed Abu Hussein, not Yousef Abu Hussein.
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WESTPORT  A new fire chief is taking over May 15, bringing more than 15 years of experience.

Fire Chief Michael Kronick is retiring after this week to take on a state position, with Deputy Chief Nicholas Marsan becoming Westport's new emergency management director and acting fire chief.

Marsan has been a member of the Westport Fire Department since 2007, and has experience in fire safety and emergency operations.

"I acknowledge and thank Chief Kronick for his dedicated service to this department and to the Westport community," Marsan said. "His contributions have laid a firm foundation for us to build upon, and he can be confident that the department will continue to be led with the highest level of professionalism, dedication, and compassion.

Marsan graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy and is a nationally certified fire service instructor and fire officer, as well as a state-certified fire marshal. He also served as fire inspector for Norwalk and Darien.

He also served in the U.S. Army and Connecticut National Guard, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Marsan earned a master's degree in history from Western Connecticut State University, and a master's degree in public administration and emergency management from Sacred Heart University.

Marsan is also a state fire instructor for the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

"I joined the fire service because I have a passion for helping people, especially during their darkest moments," he said. "Being able to provide support and assistance when people need it most has been incredibly fulfilling. I never want anyone to experience a bad day, but if they do, I want myself or another member of the Westport FD to be there to make a positive difference in their lives."

He said he now has the honor and privilege to provide tools and resources to those in the town's fire department so they can both enjoy safe and successful careers, as well as deliver the best possible service to the community.

While in the fire department, he has received multiple awards for public safety work, including two Westport Rotary Public Protection and Safety Awards, three unit citations and two department awards.

"The town of Westport and its residents have been very fortunate to be the beneficiaries of both Mikes and Nicks capable and professional expertise for many years," First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said. "As a result, I am confident that this transition will prove seamless.

Kronick has been a member of the fire department since 1998, and was promoted to chief in January 2022. He has received multiple awards during his tenure, including the Edmund Duffy Unit Citation, the Chief Shippey and the Argenio awards for department service.

He earned a bachelor's of science from the University of Connecticut and a master's in fire science from the University of New Haven.

Kronick also serves on the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Rural Fire Council and is a 20-year member of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew. His new position will be a fire control officer with DEEP.



It has been an honor and privilege to serve the town for nearly 25 years," he said. "I am fortunate to have worked with talented Westport firefighters and fire officers over these two decades, and I will leave with many good memories."

"I wish the department and my successor the best," he added. "I will always be proud to have been a Westport firefighter.
The National Dialogues board of trustees urged all parties and entities to pave the way for a democratic atmosphere for a multi-candidate presidential elections next year.

In a statement on Monday, the National Dialogues board of trustees called all on these parties to "continue their positive efforts toward creating a democratic atmosphere for multi-candidate presidential elections.

The board hailed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis quick response to its previous proposal of renewing legislation that stipulates full judicial supervision over elections and referendums.

Egypt is scheduled to hold its next presidential elections in mid-2024, six years after El-Sisi won a second term in a landslide victory against his sole contender, Ghad Party chairman Moussa Mostafa Moussa.

National dialogue further demands

Moreover, the board said it looks forward to the presidents use of his constitutional powers to pardon more prisoners who received sentences over the coming period.

The board added that it hopes that the Presidential Pardon Committee, reactivated by El-Sisi in April 2022, will intensify its legal efforts to release those who are still being held in detention without trial.

Additionally, the board called for continued support for the National Dialogue and urged all parties to give the dialogue appropriate time to manifest specific proposals on political, economic, and social issues, which will be submitted to the president.

The National Dialogue, initiated by the president last year, kicked off on Wednesday with the participation of several political forces  including the opposition.

The dialogue also witnessed the participation of civil society groups, professional and labour unions, as well as public figures, and is scheduled to continue its public sessions over the coming week.

In a recorded speech at the opening session, the president emphasized his support for the dialogue and promised to "provide all means necessary to ensure its success and activate its outcomes within a framework of democracy and effective political practice."

First week sessions

The board of trustees scheduled public discussions for the dialogues political, economic and social tracks on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday respectively, which will take place at the Cairo International Convention Center in Nasr City.

The political track will hold four sessions on Sunday to discuss topics such as the parliamentary electoral system, eliminating all forms of discrimination, and the challenges facing cooperatives.

Meanwhile, the economic track will hold four sessions on Tuesday to discuss social protection programmes, formulating Egypts tourist map and means of stimulating all forms of tourism investments.

In addition, on Thursday, the social track's sessions will focus on issues of guardianship and national identity.

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R enters who lack savings or financial support from their family can potentially make the jump on to the housing ladder with a new zero-deposit mortgage.

Skipton Building Societys new track record mortgage could give a helping hand to people with a strong history of paying their rent but who have been only able to save a little or nothing for a deposit to buy their first home.

The deal is available for first-time buyers across Britain. Tenants aged 21 and over may be able to take out mortgages at between 95 per cent to 100 per cent of the value of the property they want to buy.

In return, they will need to demonstrate a strong track record of paying their rent, with evidence of a minimum of 12 months of rental history.

This evidence could be provided through bank statements or a letter from a suitably registered letting agent, for example.

Experts said the new deal could help some aspiring homeowners to get off the rental treadmill, although some said that affordable housing remains in short supply.

There are very few 100 per cent LTV mortgages in the market, but even if we were to see more innovative deals surface, affordable housing is very much in short supply

Rachel Springall, a finance expert at financial information website Moneyfacts, said: It is great to see more support for first-time buyers who are struggling to afford a deposit for a mortgage.

There are very few 100 per cent LTV mortgages in the market, but even if we were to see more innovative deals surface, affordable housing is very much in short supply, and there need to be significant changes to the market to turn this around.

There are a few deals that will help first-time buyers get on to the property ladder with family assistance, such as the Barclays springboard mortgage  however, its vital applicants and family members ensure they understand the arrangement before they commit.

It is imperative borrowers compare the overall true cost of a deal and attempt to save on the upfront cost if they have used up most of their savings on a deposit, legal fees, or moving costs.

David Hollingworth, an associate director at broker L&C Mortgages, said: Skiptons track record mortgage is attempting to serve a part of the market that has recently been wholly reliant on help from the bank of mum and dad.

If it can help some accelerate the move from renting to home ownership it could be a significant new product

Renters will have been frustrated by the need to build a big deposit to meet high purchase prices, whilst covering steep rental payments at the same time.

He added: It wont solve all the difficulties for all first-time buyers and there will be affordability limitations on the borrowing amount which may still not meet the required purchase price.

Mr Hollingworth continued: There will always be concerns that no deposit could risk negative equity, but this is a longer-term product for that reason, and if it can help some accelerate the move from renting to home ownership it could be a significant new product.

Andrew Montlake, managing director of mortgage broker Coreco, said: There are many potential buyers who have proved they can afford to pay rent at the current high levels, but just do not have the means to meet ever-increasing deposit levels and feel constantly at the mercy of rising rents.

Whilst I have had some concerns in the past, the time now seems right for a new type of 100 per cent mortgage, one that is underwritten prudently and where affordability is carefully taken into account.

Mr Montlake added: This new product will not be suitable for everyone, but it will help some of the new generation of home buyers get off the rental treadmill and enjoy the security of owning their own home.

There are many potential buyers who have proved they can afford to pay rent at the current high levels, but just do not have the means to meet ever-increasing deposit levels and feel constantly at the mercy of rising rents

People may be eligible if they have paid in full at least 12 months rent in a row within the past 18 months and are looking to borrow up to 600,000.

Renters will also have to pass affordability and credit checks.

In the terms and conditions for the track record mortgage deal on its website, Skipton said that it will not lend on new-build flats.

The Societys definition of a new-build home is one that is being sold for occupation for the first time, which has been newly built or converted within the past three calendar years.

It also said the track record mortgage cannot be used with any other borrowing scheme.

Skipton also said it will be ensuring, when looking at affordability, that buyers will not be paying more on a monthly basis than their current rent.

For example, a tenant paying an average of 800 per month over the past six months will have a maximum monthly mortgage payment of 800.

The fee-free mortgage is a five-year-fixed-rate product with a rate of 5.49 per cent and the maximum mortgage term is 35 years.

It is time for a rethink on these massive barriers to home ownership

Charlotte Harrison, chief executive of home financing at Skipton, said: We need to tackle the UKs housing affordability crisis to enable more people, especially renters who are trapped in renting cycles, to buy their first home.

People trapped in renting is one of the UKs biggest housing challenges, having a massive impact on the fabric of our society.

With escalating rents and the cost-of-living squeeze further impacting peoples ability to save for a house deposit, its making it almost impossible for people get on to the property ladder.

She added: It is time for a rethink on these massive barriers to home ownership.

Ms Harrison said the mortgage has been carefully created with the challenges generation rent is facing in mind, together with the potential risks and challenges they may encounter in the future too.

Property website Rightmove recently calculated that first-time buyers with a 15 per cent deposit face paying nearly 200 per month more for a mortgage typically than they did a year ago.

The website said those in the 15 per cent deposit bracket would pay an average of about 1,056 per month, compared with 865 last year, due to mortgage rates and house prices rising.

Across Britain, the average asking price for a first-time buyer-type property is sitting at a record of 224,963, according to Rightmoves data.

The average asking rent for a first-time buyer type property is 1,120 per month, having increased 11 per cent compared with last year, the website added.
T extbooks giant Pearson is currently taking legal action over the use of its intellectual property to train AI models, chief executive Andy Bird revealed today as the firm laid out its plans for its own artificial intelligence-powered products.

The firm laid out its plans on how it would use AI a week after its share price tumbled by 15% as American rival Chegg said its own business had been hurt by the rise of ChatGPT.

Those plans would include AI-powered summaries of Pearson educational videos, to be rolled out this month for Pearson+ members, as well as AI-generated multiple choice questions for areas where a student might need more help.

Bird said Pearson had an advantage as its AI products would use Pearson content for training, which he said would make it more reliable.

However, he also added that the business was also monitoring the situation regarding other businesses using Pearson content to train its AI. He said Pearson had already sent out a cease-and-desist letter, though did not say who it was addressed to.

Were committed to protecting that IP and were following developments in fields such as music and photography with great interest, he said.

We take great efforts, and will continue to do, to protect our IP. We are in litigation with a company and have sent a cease-and-desist letter, but I wont go into any further specifics.

Weve also been approached to license our IP and at the time decided not to go down that route. But there may be benefits of licensing our IP at certain circumstances.

Bird also said it was usually easy to tell what a large language model such as ChatGPT has been trained on, because you can ask it.

Bird also sought to point out a difference between Pearson and Chegg, which focuses more on homework assistance.

They are in a very different business to us, he said. We see a great differentiator between what Chegg are offering and what Pearson+ are offering.

Were in the business of helping you learn and improve your skills, not in the business of answering.

He added that - as Pearson was in the business of learning - its products would be hard to replace.

If all we had to do was read a set of facts in order to learn, thered be no need for schools, colleges and teachers.

Pearson shares are up 13.3p to 831.6p today. They are currently 3.8% below where they opened this time last week, before the steep slide sparked by Cheggs warning.
T he Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla was an historic moment of huge national significance. We are proud to have successfully ensured its safety and security despite the most challenging, fast-moving and complex policing picture we have ever encountered for a national celebration.

This was the largest security operation the Metropolitan Police has ever led  11,500 officers and staff and volunteers from across the Met, along with those who joined us from across the UK and overseas did an incredible job alongside over 6,500 military ceremonial troops.

Months of planning for Operation Golden Orb, preparation and coordination, together with swift response to escalating intelligence, ensured this event went ahead without disruption.

With 312 of the worlds leaders and dignitaries in the area being protected by 800 Close Protection officers, no practical alternative processional routes in the small footprint of central Westminster and hundreds of thousands looking to enjoy this event we explained in advance that there would be a low tolerance of disruption and zero tolerance of security and safety threats. It is in this extraordinary, almost unprecedented, security context that our officers operated.

The UK, and London in particular, has a long history of policing protest. Last year we policed more than 4,000 events and protests in London, 500 were protest-specific and involving millions of people. Over half of these pass without any arrest being made. We do everything we can to respect protest.

Protest is an important right in any democracy, but it is limited and has to be carefully balanced alongside consideration for the rights of others so they too can go about their normal business  in this case participating in a once-in-a-generation event. Parliament has created laws requiring police to act to bring this careful balance.

By Friday evening, only twelve hours from the Coronation, we had become extremely concerned by a rapidly developing intelligence picture suggesting the Coronation could suffer. This included people intent on using rape alarms and loud hailers as part of their protest which would have caused distress to military horses. We also had intelligence that people intended to extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route.

Adding to our concerns, military colleagues shared their worries about how some of this disruption would significantly unsettle their 160-strong mounted regiments, with the potential of causing multiple serious injuries and compromising public safety. The threat was so concerning that on Friday the Home Secretary and Mayor were given late-night briefings as plans were being put in place.

Clearly, this would not only have been unlawful, but also extremely dangerous. Officers worked around the clock to try to identify the full criminal network, establish the detail of their plans, and make arrests.

While we said that our tolerance for disruption of the Coronation celebrations was low, it was not zero. I must challenge those claiming there was a protest ban around the Coronation. This is simply not accurate. There were hundreds of undisturbed protestors along the route including a large group in Trafalgar Square, although small in comparison to the tens of thousands seeking to enjoy the event.

The intelligence and subsequent investigative work led to officers making arrests across multiple locations. These included arrests made for sex offences, illegal drugs and fighting but also groups who were believed to be involved in the type of criminal activities our intelligence had indicated. Officers have told me how the celebrating crowds applauded and cheered as they made 17 arrests in The Mall area close to the processional route and imminent to the start of the procession.

We are committed to sharing all of the information we can with the public to reassure people about our policing tactics. However, it is frustrating that there are things we are unable to share and investigations are ongoing. It is the hallmark of good policing when it prevents crime that it often goes unnoticed. But while our investigations continue, I can report that we found people in possession of possible lock-on devices and people that appeared to be purporting to be stewards of the event in possession of plastic bottles containing white paint which we believe were specifically to be used to criminally disrupt the procession and resulted in arrests for going equipped to commit criminal damage.

Much of the ill-informed commentary on the day is wholly inaccurate  for example protest was not banned. I want to be absolutely clear - our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality. Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real. 53 individuals have been bailed and most of the following investigations will be lengthy as we work towards criminal charges.

However, on reviewing the evidence we will be taking no further action against the six Republic protestors arrested. Officers searched a vehicle on Saturday morning and found items which at the time they believed could have been used as part of a lock on style protest. As I would expect the arresting officers were vigilant, curious, and proactive. They formed the reasonable suspicion necessary to arrest for the new Section 2 Public Order Act 2023 offence of Being Equipped to Lock On, and these were the only arrests under the new legislation. Having now reviewed the evidence and potential lines of enquiry we do not judge that we will be able to prove criminal intent beyond all reasonable doubt.

While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers actions in this unique fast-moving operational context.

The Coronation was one of the most significant events the Met has ever policed and presented a constantly evolving threat picture. I am immensely proud of the exceptional work of our officers who prevented criminal disruption, damage and danger destroying such a unique occasion.

Indeed, personally, I am immensely grateful to them that I am not currently trying to explain why we failed to prevent the perfect Coronation celebration being significantly disrupted or injury or harm to people witnessed on the world stage. In the coming weeks, months and years we will deal with further challenging events.

While too often polarised public commentary will criticise based more on bias than facts, we will always strive to pursue our responsibilities without fear or favour, acting on the information available on the day, and striving to strike that balance: protecting freedom of expression, as well as the rights of Londoners, and visitors, to enjoy our city.

Sir Mark Rowley is Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service
P aul OGrady is among a host of famous faces appearing in a special short film to mark the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest and welcome the world to Liverpool.

The late comedian and TV stalwart, originally from Birkenhead, Merseyside, took part in the film to show his pride in his home region  which is taking on competition hosting duties in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine.

The project was one of the last things OGrady filmed before his death, and his posthumous appearance has been approved by his family and friends.

He died unexpectedly but peacefully on March 28 at the age of 67.

OGrady appears in the film, titled Welcome To Liverpool, and is seen preparing his home in anticipation of Eurovisions arrival, vacuuming while holding one of his beloved dogs.

Other famous faces include Wirral-born TV baker Paul Hollywood, actor Ricky Tomlinson, Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin and Drag Race UK contestant Sister Sister among others.

The film will open the first Eurovision semi-final and the 2023 contest when it airs tomorrow at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

It begins with the moment a young Liverpudlian boy discovers that his home city is set to host the 2023 contest.

He travels across the city telling his family, friends, neighbours that the world-famous competition is arriving.

The film can now be watched in full online.
T he glitz, the glamour and the gongs come to the Royal Festival Hall this Sunday with the return of British TVs showpiece event of the year: the Bafta Television Awards.

It was a year that marked an emotional farewell to the Peaky Blinders and the Derry Girls, saw searing takes on public services from This is Going to Hurt and The Responder and thrilled audiences with quality dramas from the finest minds in TV such as Sherwood, The Bear and White Lotus.

Bona fide stars from Billie Piper and Kate Winslet to Gary Oldman, Daniel Radcliffe and Lesley Manville are all in the running for honours. So, wholl be winning big on the night, and which deserving nominees will be walking away empty-handed? We break down our top picks for who should win, and our predictions for who really will.

Leading actress

 Sky UK Limited

Billie Piper, I Hate Suzie Too  Sky Atlantic

Imelda Staunton, The Crown  Netflix

Kate Winslet, I Am Ruth  Channel 4

Maxine Peake, Anne  ITV1

Sarah Lancashire, Julia  Sky Atlantic

Vicky McClure, Without Sin  ITVX

Should win: Billie Piper

I Hate Suzie was a critical darling when it was first released in 2020. Written by Lucy Prebble (who is also one of the key writers on Succession), it stars Billie Piper as the washedup teen star Suzie Pickles who starts season two attempting to rehabilitate her public image in a reality show dance competition. Piper was great in season one; in season two, shes even better, giving her Suzie a manic desperation and vulnerability that somehow makes you root so hard for her, despite how awful she can be. Its a virtuoso performance that busts about a hundred taboos in the process.

Will win: Kate Winslet

Kate Winslets muchanticipated return to the small screen saw her unleash a storm of rage, fear and grief as Ruth, the mother to a deeply troubled teen. Their relationship is the focus of this 90minute episode, which requires Winslet to turn on a dime and portray everything from vulnerability to pigheadedness. Released to rave reviews, its award catnip: Winslet looks like the favourite for this one.

Leading actor

Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer in The English / 2022 The English  Drama Republi

Ben Whishaw, This Is Going To Hurt  BBC One

Chaske Spencer, The English  BBC Two

Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders  BBC One

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses  Apple TV+

Martin Freeman, The Responder  BBC One

Taron Egerton, Black Bird  Apple TV+

Should win: Chaske Spencer

The English was a searing, bloody, bloody brilliant take on the Western, and its big coup was bringing Emily Blunt back to the small screen for the first time in more than a decade. Alongside Blunt, much of the heart of the show came from Chaske Spencer, who played the native American tracker conflicted over working with the US army and wanting to claim what is owed. This extraordinary show deserved a lot more recognition at the Baftas (and in general), and hopefully Spencer will spring a surprise on the night.

Will win: Cillian Murphy

This is one of the hardest categories to call, absolutely everyone is doing stellar work and in such different roles. Ultimately the voters may well turn sentimental and award Cillian Murphy for his final turn as Tommy Shelby (on TV at least), one of the great anti-heroes of recent TV history.

Supporting actress

Claes Bang and Anne-Marie Duff in Bad Sisters / Apple TV+

Adelayo Adedayo, The Responder  BBC One

Anne-Marie Duff, Bad Sisters  Apple TV+

Fiona Shaw, Andor  Disney+

Jasmine Jobson, Top Boy  Netflix

Lesley Manville, Sherwood  BBC One

Saffron Hocking, Top Boy  Netflix

Should win: Jasmine Jobson

There are some serious heavyweights in this category, but an actor who definitely deserves the gong is rising force Jasmine Jobson. Jobson has always been an underrated presence on Top Boy as drug dealer Jaq, but the last season gave her a storyline that allowed her to really show her acting chops. Jobsons ability to flick effortlessly between brutality  a woman striving for her place in the male-dominated world of the Summerhouse Estate drug gangs  to vulnerability as she navigates a new romance outside of her comfort zone, is a lesson in subtlety that deserves greater recognition.

Will win: Anne-Marie Duff

Is this the year of Anne-Marie Duff? The actor has been doing consistently excellent work for years, especially in theatre, but its only recently shes been getting the recognition for it on TV. Duff is great in Bad Sisters (in which she plays Grace, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship) imbuing her character with a very believable sense of hopelessness  and with a second season in the works its clear Apple TV+ expects this to be a big winner for them.

Supporting actor

Jack Lowden in Slow Horses / Apple TV+

Adeel Akhtar, Sherwood  BBC One

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses  Apple TV+

Josh Finan, The Responder  BBC One

Salim Daw, The Crown  Netflix

Samuel Bottomley, Somewhere Boy  Channel 4

Will Sharpe, The White Lotus  Sky Atlantic

Should win: Samuel Bottomley

Despite being just 21, Bottomley is a screen veteran, having made his professional debut in Tyrannosaur in 2011. In the extraordinary Somewhere Boy, he plays the shy Aaron, who chaperones Lewis Gribbens Danny, a lad hidden from the world by his father until he was 18. Bottomley ensures it is not just Gribbens show (though he is a real force) and is superb as the teenage boy who just doesnt fit in. A nuanced performance that deserves the award.

Will win: Jack Lowden

Lowden is a bona fide star  and over the past few years has been really stamping his mark on TV. Recently he tore it up in the BBCs excellent The Gold, but it is playing frustrated Bond wannabe River Cartwright in Apple TV+s Slow Horses that really stands out. Two thrilling series about author Mick Herrons group of hopeless intelligence operatives has led to two more on the way, and Lowden, alongside Gary Oldman, is a key component of why it works.

Male performance in a comedy programme

Leny Rush in Am I Being Unreasonable? / Boffola Pictures/Simon Ridgway

Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story  The Roku Channel

Jon Pointing, Big Boys  Channel 4

Joseph Gilgun, Brassic  Sky Max

Lenny Rush, Am I Being Unreasonable?  BBC One

Matt Berry, What We Do In The Shadows  Disney+

Stephen Merchant, The Outlaws  BBC One

Should win: Lenny Rush

Was there more of a scene-stealing performance last year than Lenny Rush in Am I Being Unreasonable? Playing Daisy May Coopers son Ollie in this underrated, and unusual, sitcom the 14-year-old was an absolute joy. He has won at the National Comedy Awards and the Royal Television Society Programme Awards; hopefully hell add a Bafta to his growing collection of honours.

Will win: Jon Pointing

Big Boys caught many off guard, but it won a legion of fans for its deeply moving, yet funny, take on male friendship and grief. Both leads were knockouts in the sitcom based on writer Jack Rookes own life, and Dylan Llewellyn could equally have been nominated, but Pointing shaded it for his fantastic portrayal of a university lad who also suffers from depression. He would certainly be a worthy winner should Rush miss out.

Female performance in a comedy programme

Siobhan McSweeney in Derry Girls / Channel Four

Daisy May Cooper, Am I Being Unreasonable?  BBC One

Diane Morgan, Cunk On Earth  BBC Two

Lucy Beaumont, Meet The Richardsons  Dave

Natasia Demetriou, Ellie & Natasia  BBC Three

Siobhan McSweeney, Derry Girls  Channel 4

Taj Atwal, Hullraisers  Channel 4

Should win: Siobhan McSweeney

Siobhan McSweeney created a bona fide icon out of the character of Derry Girls Sister Michael. The impatient nun-slash-headmistress of the girls convent school is almost synonymous with the show, with her despairing eye-rolls and snappy one-liners. Theres not a whole lot of depth to Sister Michael, but there doesnt need to be: when you steal every scene like that, its comedy gold and McSweeney is surely a shoo-in for the award.

Will win: Siobhan McSweeney

Look, there are no arguments on this one. McSweeney thoroughly deserves every plaudit she gets for this role, many will be cheering her all the way to the podium.

Drama series

Danny (Lewis Gribben) in Somewhere Boy / PARISA TAGHIZADEH/Channel 4/BBC

Bad Sisters  Apple TV+

The Responder  BBC One

Sherwood  BBC One

Somewhere Boy  Channel 4

Should win: Somewhere Boy

Seemingly out of nowhere, this Channel 4 drama was absolutely one of the standout shows of the year. This is a coming of age story with a difference  as the Evening Standard review said, its about love, grief and denial and a fathers desperation to protect his child from the horrors of the real world. Shattering, stunning television brilliantly performed.

Will win: Sherwood

The golden boy of screen and stage writing, James Graham, can do no wrong. And he proved it once again with this show inspired by real life murders in a Nottinghamshire community still fractured by the miners strikes of the Eighties. Starring David Morrissey and Lesley Manville, this was BBC One drama at its finest and may well have the biggest appeal to academy voters.

Mini-series

Ben Whishaw in This Is Going to Hurt / BBC/Sister/AMC/Anika Molnar

A Spy Among Friends  ITVX

Mood  BBC Three

The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe  ITV1

This Is Going To Hurt  BBC One

Should win: This Is Going to Hurt

Has there ever been a drama that made as much of an impact on the way we see the NHS as This Is Going to Hurt? Adapted from the book of the same name by its author Adam Kay, the series features staggering performances from Ben Whishaw as demoralised gynaecologist Adam, and from Ambika Mod as his put-upon junior doctor Shruti. Its a searing indictment of the pressure these doctors are under  overworked and underpaid at a time that theyre striking in real life  and while its funny at times, its also desperately sad.

Will win: This Is Going to Hurt

This seems pretty much sewn up: the show received rave reviews upon release and has stayed in the national consciousness ever since. If This Is Going to Hurt doesnt scoop the Bafta, itll be a shock.

International

The White Lotus Season 2 / The White Lotus

The Bear  Disney+

Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story  Netflix

Wednesday  Netflix

Oussekine  Disney+

Pachinko  Apple TV+

The White Lotus  Sky Atlantic

Should win: The White Lotus

There are some excellent contenders in this years category  but while The Bear and Pachinko both deserve honourable mentions, surely The White Lotus Season 2 should be first in line for the award. Mike Whites two-season run has seen him skewer the rich and investigate subjects including class, race, sex and power with an all-star cast at the top of their game  while also serving up some firstclass drama. A worthy winner.

Will win: The White Lotus

Look, The White Lotus is beloved both by audiences and critics. Its been an awards powerhouse (especially for its star Jennifer Coolidge) ever since it launched and it feels improbable that Bafta will pass it over.

Scripted comedy

Derry Girls / Channel 4

Am I Being Unreasonable?  BBC One

Big Boys  Channel 4

Derry Girls  Channel 4

Ghosts  BBC One

Should win: Derry Girls

Last year marked the final season of the beloved sitcom Derry Girls, and boy did it deliver. Featuring hilarious moments (Liam Neesons cameo as a resigned police superintendent was inspired) to the heart-breaking, it was a send-off that hardly put a foot wrong and tugged on every heartstring. It suffers a bit from Nicola Coughlans packed filming schedule (Claire is hardly present for most of the last season) but thats okay; everything else is perfect.

Will win: Derry Girls

Derry Girls has to be the big winner here. There are some other excellent shows on the list  Big Boys, also starring Dylan Llewellyn, rightly garnered a lot of praise for its nuanced portrayal of male friendship  but Derry Girls has been so beloved during its three-season run that, surely the award is only heading in one direction. Slainte!

The BAFTA Television Awards will take place at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday May 14
C ampaigners and politicians have hit out at the growing number of empty London homes languishing vacant while so many struggle to find affordable  or any  accommodation.

Analysis of latest Council Tax data published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities showed 34,327 vacant residences in the capital in March 2022  an increase of five per cent in a year.

But with sale prices and rents so high in London, why do so many people fail to monetise their assets and bring them into use?

Tip of the iceberg

Chris Bailey, national campaign manager for the group Action on Empty Homes, said the recently published empty home statistics could represent the tip of the iceberg.

The true picture  including second homes, those exempt from Council Tax and properties empty for less than six months  could be closer to 134,000, he said.

The number started rising when the government stopped more active discouragement of the practice he said.

The coalition government allocated 156m between 2012 and 2015 under two rounds of the Empty Homes Programme, which provided cash to bring vacant dwellings back into use.

An additional 60m was allocated as part of the Clusters of Empty Homes Programme, which aimed to tackle concentrations of poor quality uninhabited residences in areas of low housing demand.

But Mr Bailey said this support had dwindled over time and urged a strenthening of powers created decades ago to allow councils to take over properties for fixed periods of time using Empty Dwelling Management Orders. The usefulness of this tool had been diluted over time, he claimed.

On the causes of empty homes, Bailey pointed to a select committee report from 2015 that highlighted claims of 100bn of money laundering in the UK every year  including through London property. One witness to that inquiry asked MPs if a buyer was the second son of a world leader in a country in the middle of South America - how does he have 8 million to buy a flat in Mayfair?

Huge amounts of money are also legally stored in British bricks and mortar to protect them from a range of threats from other countries, Mr Bailey stressed.

Empty homes as investment

With property prices steadily rising over the long term, there was little incentive for many owners to sell or let their assets, he added. Keeping a house empty makes it flexible, removes a layer of responsibility for tenants, and means it stays in good-as-new condition ready to sell, he said.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Hina Bokhari agreed that the ultra-rich often purchase London property with no intention of inhabiting it.

We have seen a rapid rise in the number of properties purchased in London from abroad, including by Russian oligarchs who keep the properties empty as a form of investment, she said. We cannot allow people to continue to extort our city like this while so many are struggling to find an affordable place to live.

Ms Bokhari pointed out that Singapore had recently doubled the amount of tax on foreign home purchases to 60 per cent to try to bring more empty homes back into use by local residents.

In the UK, the equivalent tax is a mere 2 per cent for most purchases and only 12 per cent even on the highest band of properties worth over 1.5m, she said. If we want to protect our vibrant communities and ensure there is a future for young people in their boroughs, we must consider taking stronger action.

However, Marcus Dixon, director of UK residential research at property specialists JLL, said the UK had one of the lowest rates of vacant dwellings in the world.

Figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development suggest less than one per cent of homes nationally are vacant, compared to 11.1 per cent in the US, 7.8 per cent in France and eight per cent in Germany, he said.

Mr Dixon added that the role of overseas buyers in creating empty homes was overplayed.

Investors who buy properties and leave them empty are very much in the minority, with many homes left empty due to owners moving into residential care, lengthy legal wranglings or renovations rather than them being voluntarily unoccupied.

Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman said growth in the number of vacant properties was problematic.

We have families who have been on the waiting list for appropriate housing for years in some cases, and a national crisis of homelessness that has dramatically worsened over the past decade, he said.

While not all second-home vacancies in the borough are the result of asset and investor speculation, many are. This, of course, reflects a London-wide and indeed national problem, and fundamentally requires regional and national solutions.

Any private property in Tower Hamlets left unoccupied for more than two years will have its Council Tax bill doubled, Mr Rahman pledged, adding: We are seriously looking at other measures to reduce second home inoccupancy at a time of such dire need.

Regional context

Savills found that Londons long-term vacancy rate of 0.9 per cent was comparable with other cities such as Bristol and Manchester, and less than half Liverpools 2.2 per cent.

Analyst Toby Parsloe said significantly more new homes were needed in the capital.

However, long-term vacant properties are not the answer, he added. We estimate that London currently needs to build 85,000 new homes a year to address need. Even if all 34,000 properties were brought back into reuse, that translates to less than five months worth of supply.

Around a quarter of Londons vacant properties are in local authority or housing association ownership, Mr Parsloe added.

Empty goals

Anthony Breach, senior analyst at think tank Centre for Cities, said it would actually be good for London to have more empty homes as they create market forces that keep prices down.

Its paradoxical, but healthy housing markets need some empty homes, he said. In countries where housing is much more affordable, vacancy rates are much higher  almost four per cent of homes are long-term empty in Netherlands, as are almost six per cent are in Japan.

Londons housing market is not in good health, by comparison. In London, less than one per cent of the housing stock is empty for more than six months, and many of these homes will be dilapidated and uninhabitable, or stuck in probate.

Breach added: Only a huge increase in the rate of housebuilding will address the UKs backlog of 4.3m homes that are missing from the housing market because the UK has consistently fallen short of housebuilding targets.

A government spokesperson said: Councils have a raft of powers to bring empty properties back into use and we are clear they should be using them to deliver new homes for communities.

They can increase council tax by up to 300 per cent on long-term empty properties, take over empty homes by Compulsory Purchase Orders and Empty Dwelling Management Orders, and convert commercial buildings to residential without the need for a full planning application.

We have delivered over 2.2m homes since 2010 and reduced the number of long-term empty homes by more than 50,000 over the same period.

A spokeswoman for mayor of London Sadiq Khan said last month: [The] statistics show that the number of long-term empty homes is rising across the country, while the rate of empty homes is lower in London than the rest of England. This is a national issue which demands a national response from government.

Decisions taken by ministers to date have taken us backwards, by dramatically weakening councils ability to use Empty Dwelling Management Orders to crack down on empty homes.
A man who attempted to rape a woman during a brutal park mugging for her purse and diamond ring is facing jail.

Bogdan Ungureanu, 41, knocked the victim unconscious and left her nursing cuts and bruises over her body as well as a black eye after the attack in Watling Park, Edgware.

He stole her handbag, purse, keys, and a diamond ring, and used the womans money to later buy alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

The Met Police said the victim has been left struggling to leave the house in the aftermath of the attack, which happened on August 28, 2021.

Ungureanu, of no fixed address, was captured thanks to CCTV, showing him leaving the park carrying a shopping bag with a tassel from the victims purse hanging out of the side.

Bogdan Ungureanu on CCTV after the attack in Watling Park, Edgware / MPS

He pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud, and was convicted at a trial at Kingston crown court of attempted rape. The jury acquitted Ungureanu of a charge of rape.

Detective Constable Arvind Gogna, from the Mets rape and serious sexual offences team, said: This was a horrific attack which has understandably left the victim traumatised, so much so that she now struggles to leave the house.

She has shown tremendous courage in supporting our investigation and giving evidence in this trial. It is thanks to her that this man has been convicted. We hope that this case will encourage others who have been victim to serious sexual offences to come forward and speak to us.

Police said members of the public found the woman shouting for help in Watling Park after the attack.

She was approached by an unknown man who physically and sexually assaulted her, leaving her unconscious, it said.

She also had bruising and cuts across her body, as well as a black eye.

The suspect also stole the victims handbag, including her purse  which he later used to purchase alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets.

Ungureanu was recognised in the CCTV images by a PCSO and arrested in the Stratford area in east London. Forensic testing then linked him to the victims tights.

Ungureanu, whose case came to trial 20 months after he was first charged, is due to be sentenced on July 27.
T wo people arrested in the Metropolitan Polices operation to guard the Coronation appeared in court in the absence of the media after Scotland Yard gave out the wrong day for the hearings.

The Met said on Sunday night that 64 arrests had been made in central London on the day of the Kings Coronation, with charges brought against four individuals.

It did not identify those charged but said two would be appearing in the dock for the first time on Tuesday, facing allegations of a public order offence and possession of drugs.

However reporters sent to cover the court hearings discovered both defendants had been quietly brought before the magistrates court the previous day.

The Mets blunder comes as policing of the Coronation is facing heavy scrutiny as well as demands from MPs for explanations of its handling of the event.

Six anti-Monarchy protesters were arrested near to the procession route on suspicion of plotting to lock-on to cause disruption.

But in a statement last night, the force said it had reviewed the incident and found no evidence to support the earlier suspicion, expressing regret that those arrested had been unable to join the other protesters in Trafalgar Square and along the procession route.

Ministers have defended the Metropolitan Police operation at the Kings coronation after Scotland Yard expressed regret over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters (Labour for a Republic/PA) / PA Media

Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-Monarchy group Republic, was among the six arrested and has said he rejects an apology offered to him by the Met.

The force is also accused of arresting volunteers handing out rape alarms in Soho the night before the Coronation.

An official at Westminster magistrates court confirmed to reporters that a man and a woman had appeared in court on Monday, and he provided basic details of the outcomes of the hearings.

Reza Begi, 51, from Camden, is accused of a public order offence which allegedly caused a PC harassment, alarm or distress, and he faces an allegation of racially aggravated harassment, alarm, or distress by words or writing.

No pleas have been recorded on the file, as the case was sent to Southwark crown court for a further hearing on June 5.

Radia Afzal, 38, from Southampton, admitted possession of crack cocaine and cocaine. She was sentenced to 200 in fines plus an 80 victim surcharge.

Five media organisations attended court on Tuesday to report on the hearings, only to discover the hearings had taken place a day earlier.

No details of prosecution or defence submissions could be obtained from the court for either hearing.

In Sundays press release, Scotland Yard said two other unnamed people have been charged  one with possession of class A drugs and other with a public order offence  with both due in court on May 26.

It said 32 people were arrested on the day of the Coronation on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, with 14 suspected of a breach of the peace, and one person suspected of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and possession of a noxious spray. All have been bailed.

Other arrests made on the day include for a racially aggravated public order offence, harassment, breaching the peace, going equipped to steal, handling stolen goods, sexual assault, and common assault. They were also all bailed.

AP

The Coronation is the first major test of the new police powers brought in by the governments controversial Public Order Act. Police forces have been handed wide-ranging powers to arrest and detain people they suspect of plotting to cause serious disruption.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called the Met to further clarify its use of powers on Coronation Day.

But Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has issued a robust defence of his officers, saying they had worked hard to foil plots to disrupt the procession amid fears of multiple casualties if they had been successful.
A teenage drill rapper who murdered 14-year-old Jermaine Cools in a brutal street attack with a machete has been jailed for life in a landmark televised court hearing.

Marques Walker, 17, stabbed Jermaine seven times in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity during a fight near to West Croydon station in November 2021.

Chilling CCTV captured the moment Walker pulled the large machete out of his coat and plunged it into Jermaines chest repeatedly as the boy lay on the ground, squirming in a desparate bid to save himself.

Police release CCTV of Marques Walker attacking Jermaine Cools

In a victim impact statement, Jermaines mother Lorraine Dudek said they have had to endure a rap song made and posted online by (Walkers) fellow gang members, goading and taunting us about Jermaines murder.

She said: I will never forgive the defendant for taking my baby away from me, robbing me of the opportunity to watch him turn from a boy into a man and ruining our familys lives.

Ms Dudek described being left with a sad and empty home filled with three people suffering pain and mental torment.

She added: Now I fear living into old age having to endure this constant pain.

Jermaines father Julius Cools asked Walker: Why did you do that, to my innocent child who never had a problem with anybody?

He added that Walkers fellow gang members have his blood on your hands.

Marques Walker murdered Jermaine Cools in a knife attack in West Croydon / MPS

Walker, a county lines drug dealer linked to the Shrublands gang in south London, was on bail for possession of a knife at the time of the murder, and wrote drill rap lyrics behind bars boasting about the killing.

At the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Judge Sarah Munro KC sentenced Walker to life in prison with a minimum term of 19 years.

This is yet another case involving the senseless murder of a young teenager, committed for reasons no mature adult could fathom, she said.

Jermaine Cools was only 14 when you killed him, he was the youngest victim of fatal knife crime in London in 2021.

There have been many further murders of young teenagers since Jermaines death.

Nothing seems to deter the likes of you from going on to the streets of London and elsewhere armed with lethal weapons easily acquired on the Internet, intent on serious violence without any thought for the consequences to the victims, their innocent loved ones, nor for the consequences to themselves.

In the words of your own counsel, this was an appalling act of senseless violence.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said CCTV footage and a video shot by a passerby showed that Jermaine Cools did not stand a chance.

He could offer no resistance. He was unarmed, he was on the floor, and he was totally vulnerable, she said.

He was stabbed a total of seven times by Marques Walker in a senseless attack of extreme ferocity.

Jermaine was the 27th fatal victim of knife crime that year, and the youngest victim to die on Londons streets in 2021.

Jermaine Cools was killed in Croydon, south London (Met Police/PA) / PA Wire

The court heard a fight had broken out with Jermaine and his brothers on one side and Walker and friends on the other.

Jermaine stumbled but regained his footing only to fall over onto the pavement possibly as a result of another member of Marques Walkers group pushing him, said Ms Carberry.

It is at this point, while Jermaine was on the pavement, that Marques Walker removed the large knife which he had concealed down the front of his jacket.

He quickly approached Jermaine who was still on the ground and the stabbed him multiple times in quick succession as Jermaine rolled around the pavement in an attempt to avoid the blows.

Jermaine was rushed to hospital by members of the public but he died from the stab wounds inflicted by Walker.

The killer was on bail at the time of the murder, the court heard, and he went on to carry out another attack while on remand in prison.

He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a fellow inmate, 17, which has left the victim with severe brain damage.

The court heard Walker initiated the attack and was heard shouting finish him off. Afterwards he stated thats what snitches get and asked a prison officer: Is he dead?

Also in prison, Walker wrote rap lyrics about the murder of Jermaine which were discovered by one of the guards.

I had young stardawg doing roley poley but den I had to duck from police on me cah I left him deceased and I don high knees, he wrote.

The court heard Walker was convicted of possession of a knife in February 2020, while a year 7 pupil at Meridian High School in Croydon.

He had been caught by the headteacher with a large Rambo knife in his rucksack.

In April 2021, Walker dropped a knife in a police chase when he was being monitored in a County Lines drug operation. However a prosecution for possession of a knife was dropped the following March on the grounds that Walker was a victim of modern slavery.

Six weeks before Jermaines murder, on October 6, 2021, Walker was caught with a fearsome Zombie knife on a bus through Croydon.

After the murder, Walker went back to his family home in Bromley. His mother found messages on his Snapchat account from friends, advising him to get rid of his clothes and phone and suggesting he may get away with murder.

Walker went on the run, and was arrested six weeks later by pure chance when police turned up at an address in Upper Norwood to arrest a different person.

Walker was described as a habitual knife carrier, and told officers when challenged about his behaviour: If you guys grew up when I grew up, me stepping out of my house without a knife, I literally feel like Im walking to my death.

Judge Munro KC agreed that Walker could be named despite being under the age of 18, and ruled that her sentencing remarks could be filmed and broadcast as a deterrent to others.

The welfare of this defendant does not outweigh the public interest in open justice and a reporting restriction is no longer necessary, said the judge.

The serious nature and increasing prevalence of knife crime, knife-related homicide and violent crime; the consequent need for deterrence; the promotion of public confidence that the criminal justice system is addressing the problem; and the proximity of the defendants 18th birthday all outweigh any minimal impact upon the welfare of defendant.

This is the first televised sentencing hearing for a defendant under the age of 18 who has murdered a youth victim.

Judge Munro was forced to restart her sentencing remarks when she was interrupted by a woman shouting he started the fight from the public gallery, aiming her remarks at a man sitting watching.

Walker, from Bromley, Kent, pleaded guilty to murder, possession of an offensive weapon, and causing grievous bodily harm.
The boss of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused a Russian military unit of fleeing positions near Bakhmut in Ukraine and said the state was incapable of defending its country.

Prigozhin, whose influence has risen hugely in Moscow's Ukraine offensive, has in recent days released a series of scathing videos attacking Russia's military leadership.

"Today one of the units of the defence ministry fled from one of our flanks... exposing the front," Prigozhin said in a video.

He has threatened to pull his fighters out of Bakhmut on May 10 if he did not receive badly needed ammunition.

The mercenary group has spearheaded Moscow's fight for the east Ukrainian city.

Prigozhin said soldiers were fleeing because of the "stupidity" of Russian army commanders, who he said were giving "criminal orders".

"Soldiers should not die because of the absolute stupidity of their leadership," Prigozhin said.

He released the video on Russia's Victory Day, when Moscow celebrates the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.

'Unable to defend Russia'

In an unprecedented attack on the Russian army, Prigozhin said Moscow's top generals were trying to "deceive" President Vladimir Putin over the Kremlin's Ukraine campaign.

"If all the tasks are being carried out in such a way as to deceive the commander-in-chief (Putin), then either he will rip your arse or the Russian people will -- who will be angry that the war is lost," Prigozhin said.

As Ukraine prepares for a spring offensive, the outspoken 61-year-old questioned the Kremlin's ability to defend the country.

"Why is the state not able to defend its country?" Prigozhin said in the video, adding that Ukraine was hitting Russian border regions "successfully".

Prigozhin published the video as Moscow celebrated its Victory Day with a grand military parade on Red Square that was televised across the country.

He said Ukraine was preparing for a offensive "that will be on the ground, not on TV".

"So far, in our country everyone thinks that everything needs to be done on TV."

Russia has provided near round-the-clock coverage of its offensive, showing the army in an exclusively positive light.

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A ll bets would be off for guaranteeing patient safety if junior doctors and nurses co-ordinate NHS strikes, MPs have been told.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said it would be incredibly difficult to maintain patient services if the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and British Medical Association (BMA) staged a simultaneous walkout over pay.

NHS leaders were asked about the prospect by the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee but said there are currently no plans for a joint walkout.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said a co-ordinated strike would give NHS hospital bosses fewer options when planning for strikes.

I know a lot of the colleagues I represent would shudder at the thought of a co-ordinated action in that way, given the challenges that would present, he added.

But he said there was no evidence that strikes had led to patients dying.

We have no evidence to support that and I think its incredibly difficult in any way to establish cause and effect.

Certainly theres been major disruption that has been lengthy waits, and of course, when patients are waiting longer for treatment, there are inherent risks in that, but the job of the NHS is to identify and prioritise those patients that are at risk and ensure that their care is dealt with.

It comes as the RCN prepares to ballot members over a further six months of industrial action after members of the union rejected a pay offer.

The ballot  which will include all members in England on Agenda for Change contracts  will open on 23 May and close on 23 June, the Royal College of Nursing announced on Tuesday. To achieve a country-wide mandate, 50% of all eligible members must vote and the majority must say yes to strike action.

The BMA, who are currently in negotiations with Health Secretary Steve Barclay, have a mandate lasting until August. Around 47,000 junior doctors have already taken part in two sets of strikes in the past two months.

Pat Cullen, General Secretary the RCN, told the BBC last month that the union had no plans in place to co-ordinate strikes.

But Dr Arjan Singh, a member of the BMAs junior doctors committee, has refused to rule out the possibility, saying that all options are on the table.

Speaking to MPs, Ms Cullen said that the Government would need to add to the revised pay offer to resolve the dispute.

Weve said to Government, and urged Government as a royal college, to take nothing off the table, please add to it, and thats what we need to do to resolve this dispute.

Asked whether she was hopeful for a successful re-ballot, Ms Cullen added: What Im hoping for is a resolution to the current dispute, thats really, really important.

If we get a resolution to the current dispute we wouldnt have to see our nurses take to picket lines again.

Meanwhile, a BMA representative said she was cautiously optimistic about talks with Mr Barclay but described progress as really very slow.

She said that the dispute was opened in October, but only now are we in a position where we have had talks about talks.

Dr Runswick added: Now that is positive, definitely positive and Im cautiously optimistic about that, but but the pace here is, is painfully slow.
P atients will be able to obtain prescription medicines and oral contraception directly from pharmacies for seven common conditions under plans announced by the Government.

Treatments for illnesses including earache, sore throat and urinary tract infections will be available without seeing a doctor.

Self-referral for key services including physiotherapy, hearing tests and podiatry is set to be rolled out across London over the next two years, the NHS said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes the measures will help end the all-too stressful wait for appointments by freeing up 15 million slots at doctors surgeries over the next two years.

Pharmacists themselves would be able to write the prescriptions under the reform that ministers hope will be introduced this winter after a consultation with the industry.

Backed by 645 million of spending, the number of people able to access blood pressure checks in pharmacies would be more than doubled to 2.5 million a year under the plans.

Self-referrals will also be increased for access to services such as physiotherapy, hearing tests and podiatry without the requirement to see a GP first.

Surgeries in London have already been testing the approach, by providing patients with specialist advice without the need for a referral.

Evergreen Primary Care Centre, in Enfield, has reduced the number of patients with a disorder of the urinary system needing to be referred for specialist appointments by a quarter.

Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director for the NHS in London, said: The care and support provided by local pharmacists and GPs is highly valued by patients and with unprecedented demand for appointments its essential we expand and transform the way we provide care for our local communities and make these services fit for the future.

Todays plan will do just that, by helping Londoners see the most appropriate healthcare professional for their needs, and in many cases, without the need for a referral.

This will in turn help us to free up thousands of GP appointments for those who need them most, as well as supporting staff so that they can do less admin and spend more time with patients.

Industry groups have warned that more pharmacies will close unless ministers provide more funding to the struggling sector.

It is hoped that almost half-a-million women would no longer need to speak to a nurse or GP to get oral contraception.

The other medications that GPs would be able to hand out would treat conditions including sinusitis, infected insect bite, impetigo and shingles.

Thorrun Govind, the chairwoman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, said the plans are a real game-changer for patients.

But shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: Expecting the Conservatives to fix this is like expecting an arsonist to put out the fire they started.

Rishi Sunak is completely out of touch with the problems facing patients and the NHS. He has no plan to address the shortage of GPs, or to reverse the cut in the number of doctors trained every year. The Conservatives announcement is merely tinkering at edges, in contrast to the fundamental reform the NHS needs and Labour is offering.

Labour will abolish the non-dom tax status to train an extra 7,500 doctors and 10,000 nurses every year, so patients are seen on time again.

The Kings Fund health think tank warned some pharmacies will not be able to offer the services because they may not have access to diagnostic tools, or sufficient staff and consultation rooms.

Senior fellow Beccy Baird said that not all pharmacies will be able to offer these services and it will be really frustrating for patients to be bumped from pillar to post, only to end up back at the GP.

Whilst any improvements to make it easier for people to access their local practices are welcome, to make the kinds of system changes needed to reform general practice, it is essential that, over the long-term, primary care is as much of a priority as reducing the hospital backlog, she added.
B roadcaster Stephen Fry and artist Tracey Emin are among dozens of public figures and conservationists urging the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to prevent a grossly opportunistic development of a major London railway station.

In a letter published in The Times, they called on Mr Gove to intervene in proposals by developer Sellar to build offices, shops and a hotel above Liverpool Street station.

Other signatories include comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who is president of the Victorian Society, and representatives of other heritage groups.

The station is used for mainline train connections to destinations across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Elizabeth line and London Underground services.

Sellar says its proposals involve more than 1.5 billion of private investment, including 450 million to double the size of the station concourse and add more lifts and escalators.

Grossly opportunistic and wrong

The station suffers from significant overcrowding as well as poor pedestrian accessibility and connectivity, according to the company.

The plan would involve rebuilding the neighbouring Grade II listed Andaz hotel, which opened as the Great Eastern hotel in 1884.

Network Rail, which owns the station, and transport company MTR are partnering with Sellar in developing the project.

Network Rail, which owns the station, and transport company MTR are partnering with Sellar in developing the project / Sellar

In their letter, opponents to the plans wrote: The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities must call in the planning application for Liverpool Street Station and its terminus hotel.

To plonk 15 storeys of insensitively-designed tower directly on top of the Grade II listed former Great Eastern hotel, thus partially demolishing the listed station and overwhelming the Victorian train sheds, is grossly opportunistic and wrong.

The claim that a cantilevered building directly on top of a heritage asset somehow preserves that asset is nonsense, and sets a dangerous precedent.

A campaign to preserve the station against development was first launched in the 1970s by Sir John Betjeman, then poet laureate.

In October last year, Sellar chief executive James Sellar said the proposal would alleviate the stations chronic overcapacity issues and future-proof it for generations at zero cost to the tax or fare payer.

A Sellar spokesman said: Our proposals aim to deliver the vital upgrades needed at Liverpool Street station to address significant overcrowding and access issues, while protecting and celebrating its remaining Victorian elements.

We would hope that Mr Gove or anyone involved in the decision-making process would assess our proposals in full, and balance the impact of building over and removing less than half of a 1980s concourse roof against the 450 million of privately funded public benefits delivered at no cost to the taxpayer.

Our proposals allow Network Rail to invest in other much-needed infrastructure improvements elsewhere in the country while transforming Liverpool Street station into the accessible, future-fit transport hub that the City of London, as a global centre of business and tourism, deserves.

Network Rail group property director Robin Dobson said the plans would deliver a world-class transport interchange alongside new workspace with a new 24/7 leisure district at its heart.
T he former Tory leader at City Hall has confirmed she is entering the race to become her partys common sense London mayoral candidate.

Susan Hall announced on Tuesday evening that she would fight for the right to challenge Labour mayor Sadiq Khan on May 2 next year  and promised an immediate crackdown on crime if elected.

She also pledged to reverse the Ulez expansion to the Greater London boundary  which is due to happen on August 29 this year  on her first day in power.

She pledged to hunt down and lock up burglars, muggers and thieves, by creating a new Met Police unit dedicated to predicting and intercepting such crimes.

Her candidacy comes as Conservative Campaign Headquarters announced applications were now open for who wanted to run as the partys candidate. The deadline for applications is May 24 and the party will announce its chosen candidate to take on Mr Khan on July 19.

CCHQ said its shortlisting process will present up to three candidates to London Conservative Party members.

Hustings will take place from June 12 to July 3, and members will then vote for their preferred candidate between July 4-18.

The Standard first revealed that Ms Hall was giving serious thought to standing, despite having recently lost the leadership of the Tory group on the London Assembly.

She told the Standard last Friday that she was ideally placed to mount a challenge to Mr Khan, who is seeking a record third term.

So many things are wrong with what Sadiq Khan is doing in London, she said. Somebody has got to sort this bloody mess out.

Eyes on City Hall: Susan Hall wants the Tory nomination / Supplied

Ms Hall is a former leader of Harrow council who has been a London Assembly member since 2017. She also owns a small business in Harrow.

She believes her entry into the race places her as the frontrunner and says she has the strength to beat Mr Khan, whose two victories, in 2016 and 2021, have come with record numbers of votes, first for a new mayor and secondly for an incumbent.

She is the third member of the nine-strong Tory group at City Hall to put their hat in the ring, after Nick Rogers and Andrew Boff. Others who have declared an interest include Minister for London Paul Scully and Samuel Kasumu, a Tory councillor in Hertfordshire.

Ms Hall said there were too few prosecutions of mobile phone thefts. She said a specialist team would tackle such crimes head on and dismantle the organised crime networks that fence stolen goods.

She promised a common sense environment plan that would clean the air without hitting the poorest.

She rejected the idea of holding a Ulez referendum in each borough, giving residents a say on whether to remain within the zone. She said that, at a cost she claimed would be in excess of 3m, this was too expensive.

She warned that simply opposing Ulez would not provide a golden ticket to City Hall and the Tory party had to pitch more widely to Londoners.

Ms Hall said: We need to beat Sadiq Khan, so we can get the police working again, stop punishing people with unfair taxes, and build a lot more homes in the right places.

I am the only candidate with the strength and the experience to take him on and win. If I am chosen as your Conservative mayoral candidate, I will sort this mess out with a common sense plan to fix London.

Not too long ago, London was a safer, happier and more tolerant city. It can be that again. If I am your candidate, we will get there.
R ule changes are needed to ensure Met Police Commissioners are not sacked unfairly by the Mayor of London, City Hall politicians have said.

Writing to Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the London Assemblys police and crime committee said the process for dismissing Met chiefs needs to become more democratic.

A spokesman for Mr Khan said there were already processes in place to ensure any move to remove a Police Commissioner by a Mayor is properly scrutinised, and that the committees proposed changes were not needed.

The committees intervention comes after the departure of Dame Cressida Dick as Commissioner last year, and a subsequent report by Sir Tom Winsor, which found that Dame Cressida "felt intimidated" into stepping down after an ultimatum from Mr Khan.

Dame Cressida quit in February 2022, after clashing with the Mayor on the Mets response to a report exposing misogyny, bullying and harassment by 14 officers at Charing Cross police station, amid growing concern that the force was losing public trust. She said she had to resign after Mr Khan made it clear he had no confidence in her leadership.

But Sir Tom found that Mr Khan did not follow "due process" when he withdrew his support.

Mr Khan went on to call Sir Toms review - commissioned by the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel - "clearly biased", claiming it "ignores the facts". Sir Tom rejected Mr Khans comments as absurd.

At City Hall, the Assemblys cross-party police and committee has examined the findings of Sir Toms review.

In letters to Mr Khan and Ms Braverman, the committees chair Susan Hall said she and her colleagues agreed with a potential reform suggested by Sir Tom, to make the process for dismissing Met Commissioners more democratic.

The reform would require a two thirds majority of the Assembly to approve or refuse a Mayors request to dismiss a Met Commissioner.

The Mayor currently only needs approval from the Home Secretary - whose veto would remain in place even if the Assembly was given its say.

In the case of Dame Cressida, she was said by Sir Tom to have been intimidated into leaving before Mr Khan got to the stage of contacting Ms Patel to request her formal dismissal.

Sir Tom suggested involving the Assembly as one of nine options to improve accountability in the process.

He said: Although this could not prevent the Mayor circumventing the statutory removal process, it would raise the political cost to him of doing so.

If the London Assemblys right to approve or veto the Mayors removal of the Commissioner were denied by circumvention, the Assembly could be required to consider a vote of no confidence in the Mayor.

Susan Hall, a Conservative member of the London Assembly and chair of the police and crime committee / London Assembly

Agreeing with Sir Tom, Ms Hall wrote to Mr Khan: Requiring the approval of the London Assembly (elected by Londoners) in order for the holder of your office (also elected by Londoners) to begin the statutory removal procedure for a Met Commissioner makes sense and seems like a good check and balance.

Responding, a spokesman for Mr Khan said the reform was not required. He added: There are processes in place to ensure any move to remove a police Commissioner by a Mayor is properly scrutinised.

They did not apply in the case of the former Commissioner because the statutory process was never invoked.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman / PA

A Home Office spokesman did not directly respond to the question of whether Ms Braverman agreed with the proposed reform, but said: We are continuing to review the recommendations made in Sir Toms report and will implement any changes necessary to improve accountability arrangements for the Commissioner.
R ichmond council is offering to give residents affected by the upcoming Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion 50 in Oyster card or Zipcar credit.

It claims to be the only council in London to be providing Ulez support direct to residents by discounting their use of public transport, bicycles or car sharing.

The Good Move scheme will be offered to residents considering getting rid of, or replacing, their non-compliant cars when the Ulez expansion comes into effect across all London boroughs from August 29.

Around 200,000 more vehicles will be hit with the 12.50 daily charge when Ulez expands across Greater London, beyond the M25, reaching parts of the Home Counties.

Affected residents in the west London borough have three offers to choose from under the scheme, including a three-month free trial with the Pedal My Wheels Try Before You Bike project, plus a free discount if a bike is purchased after the trial.

Recipients can choose between a standard bike, electric bike, or electric cargo bike. Insurance, accessories, and home delivery are all included free of charge.

Residents can also chose to receive a 50 pay as you go Oyster card for public transport or a one-year free membership with Zipcar with 50 driving credit.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, chair of Richmonds Transport and Air Quality Committee, said the council supports the expansion of Ulez.

But he said the speed at which the Mayor of London has sought to introduce the extension and the lack of financial support afforded to residents remains unacceptable.

Richmond Council has called upon the Mayor to improve his offer to residents, but so far he has not heeded this call. That is why we have made the decision to intervene and support residents through our own new Good Move scheme.

Mr Ehmann said the scheme offers real support to residents who are considering a step-change in their future vehicle choices.

He claimed that Richmond is the only council in London to provide Ulez support direct to their residents.

He added: We hope that many residents will embrace the opportunity and make a Good Move.

The scheme is open to Richmond Upon Thames residents only and is in addition to any support from Transport for London (TfL).

Residents will be able to choose one of the three available options until funds run out.

To be eligible, applicants must commit to scrapping their non Ulez compliant vehicle within 12 months. Applicants do not need to be eligible for TfLs scrappage scheme.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is planning to use traffic cameras that enforce the Ulez in London to help run a future pay-as-you drive scheme, according to reports.

In revolt, several councils surrounding the capital have refused to sign an agreement allowingTfL - of which Mr Khan is chairman - to install street signs and cameras warning drivers they are approaching the clean air zone.

Mr Khan said earlier this week that he has asked TfL chiefs to look into developing a scheme which would use more sophisticated technology to charge road users, according to the Telegraph.
A single yellow box junction in south London made the local council up to 1 million last year.

The junction, located between Croydon Road and Langley Road in Elmers End, saw some 8,118 fines issued by Bromley Council in 2022.

Each fine was for a maximum of 130, meaning that a total of 1,055,340 could have been made by the Conservative-run authority.

The charge is halved if the fine is paid in two weeks, but even if every single one was reduced by 50 per cent, that would still have made the authority 527,670.

In total, the council made 2.59 million last year by fining drivers for stopping in yellow box junctions across Bromley, with a local councillor claiming the authority sees motorists as a cash cow. The councils leader said his administation was not intent on fleecing the motoring public.

Over 70 per cent of the fines - some 18,225 of them - were attributed to just five junctions, a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed.

The council issued 25,425 fines to drivers breaking the rule across the borough in 2022. The number is over ten times more than it was in 2021, when 2,427 fines were issued. The single highest number of fines came from the Croydon Road/Langley Road intersection.

Labour councillor Jeremy Adams, who represents the Clock House ward, said: The LDRSs research highlights how Bromley Council is using Elmers End junction as a stealth tax on motorists - with signposting invisible to oncoming motorists, behind a bus stop.

The Conservatives claim to be on the side of motorists - but this obscene volume of fines from just one camera shows they see motorists as a cash cow."

Colin Smith, the Leader of Bromley Council, told the LDRS: There are 32 Boroughs in London; 21 Labour controlled, six Conservative controlled, three Liberal Democrats, one Independent and one with No Overall Control. Every single one of them has adopted the same power, with Bromley being the 32nd and very last to do so [in September 2021].

Bromley is also one of only four Conservative boroughs to legally challenge the Labour Mayor [Sadiq] Khans outrageous Ulez tax of 12.50 a day. Neither are the actions of a council intent on fleecing the motoring public I would suggest.

Drivers wishing to challenge the charge also had difficulties. Data from the council showed that of the 5,100 fines that drivers opposed, only 1,775 were scrapped.

Following the top spot, 3,229 fines were issued to drivers at the junction on Bromley Road at Shortlands station. The junction between the High Street and the police station beside Bromley South station was next on the list, with 3,050 charges.

The final two spots can be found on Crofton Road at Orpington station and Cray Avenue and Cray Valley junction in St Mary Cray, amounting to 2,072 and 1,786 fines respectively.

Nicholas Bennett, the councils Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways & Road Safety, told the LDRS: The council has no wish to issue any penalty charge notices, with Bromley being the last borough in London to take over this responsibility from the police.

When enforcement commenced just 18 months ago, this was publicised, with information also being published on the councils website and the various rules outlined in the Highway Code.

Mr Bennett said the scheme was enforced to hopefully bring the overall number of fines down, and generally help to reduce congestion and road safety in the borough.

Regarding the junction on Langley Road, he added: Although the boxes are properly signed, following the moving of the bus stop further away from the junction I have approved the installation of an additional sign behind where the buses stop.

There are costs associated with this work but as with parking, any surplus income actually directly supports transport-related work.

The top five yellow box junctions for parking fines in Bromley in 2022:
C omparing policing of protests at the Kings coronation to Russia is an insult to those being oppressed by Vladimir Putin, a Home Office minister has said.

Chris Philp made the remarks following a wave of criticism from opposition MPs about the Metropolitan Polices treatment of anti-monarchy protesters at the weekend.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee is expected to examine the policing of the event, including the use of the Public Order Act to arrest members of the group Republic.

Human Rights Watch has said that what we saw was something you'd expect to see in Moscow, not London

MPs heard 64 people were arrested including six campaigners from Republic, which had liaised with the Met to organise a coronation day protest in Trafalgar Square, who were released without charge 16 hours later.

SNP MP Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) said Mr Philp had a real brass neck to say the police are operationally independent after the Government introduced the draconian Public Order Act 2023, which gave forces greater powers to combat guerrilla protest tactics.

Ms Oswald told the Commons: Human Rights Watch has said that what we saw was something youd expect to see in Moscow, not London.

I wonder if he would agree with me that given only reportedly 6% of those who were arrested for protesting against the coronation were actually charged with anything at all that this new legislation is absolutely nothing but an advert for how to impede peoples right to protest?

Mr Philp replied: I must say, with great respect, I think that is nonsense.

And comparing the policing at the coronation with Putins Moscow or Putins Russia where opposition figures are incarcerated, people like Alexei Navalny in prison suffering the most appalling and inhumane treatment, I think its frankly a bit of an insult to the appalling treatment they are suffering to in any way compare what is happening there to the policing of the coronation.

I dont think it is at all respectful to those being oppressed in Russia at all.

In terms of peaceful protest, hundreds of people did peacefully protest against the monarch. It was a tiny minority but they did protest. The police only made those 64 arrests in total where they had reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence had been committed or was in preparation.

Mr Philp said those people unhappy with their arrest can make a complaint and seek redress.

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson earlier said the Home Affairs Committee, which she chairs, will no doubt want to look at the policing of protests at the coronation, adding: In particular the specific provisions in the Public Order Act brought in just last week and used to arrest members of Republic.

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis acknowledged the coronation was a difficult time for the Met and a difficult task to achieve.

He added: That being said, within one week of the Public Order Bill entering the law and in its first serious use, we end up with the head of the Met having to apologise to people who are wrongfully arrested.

Conservative MPs defended the polices handling of the event, with former minister Michael Ellis saying they did an excellent job in very difficult circumstances.

James Daly, Conservative MP for Bury North, said: It is reassuring that, for once, the Metropolitan Police acted on the side of the hard-working public who want to have the opportunity to enjoy events rather than being the victims of left-wing protest groups.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) claimed morale among police officers is at rock bottom when apologies are issued for them following instructions, saying: Im getting pretty fed up actually with the police apologising all the time.

I can say that ordinary police officers doing a decent job, as they did on Saturday, find their morale is at rock bottom when theyre given the instruction we will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the celebrations  which came from the Met Police on May 3  and then finding someone is apologising for them doing just that.

Several MPs raised concerns over reports of a journalist being detained by police at the coronation given that protections for journalistic freedom are included in the Public Order Act.

Mr Philp acknowledged the protections, adding: There is a complaints process and if an individual or others feel they werent fairly or properly treated, they do have a complaints process they can go through  but Parliament has made its view clear.
F ormer prime minister Liz Truss will visit Taiwan next week to give a speech to show solidarity with the self-governed island in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour from China.

Ms Truss is also expected to meet Taiwanese government officials during the trip.

During her time as prime minister Ms Truss was widely expected to move the UK Government on to a more hawkish footing when it came to dealings with Beijing, wanting to declare China under Communist Party rule a threat to national security.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing

However, her brief time in Downing Street  cut short to only 44 days after her mini-Budget impact on the markets last year saw confidence in her premiership collapse  meant her update to the UKs foreign policy position did not have time to materialise.

Instead, her successor Rishi Sunak chose not to go as far, updating the UKs integrated review on foreign and defence policy in March to describe China as representing an epoch-defining and systemic challenge.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is visiting the US this week, has previously said that isolating China would be a sign of weakness.

On Friday, he said that he raised the issue of Taiwan, and broached what is happening in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, during pre-coronation talks with Chinese vice-president Han Zheng.

It came before it was announced that the first UK ministerial visit to Hong Kong since Beijings crackdown on civil rights began in the former British colony is to take place, with investment minister Lord Johnson due to travel there.

In her speech next week, Ms Truss is expected to issue a rallying cry in the face of Chinese and Taiwanese tension.

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.

Ms Truss said: Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.

Im looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.

She used a speech in the US last month to accuse western leaders meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping of displaying weakness.

It came after French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen met the Chinese leader in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing.

Downing Street, asked what Mr Sunak made of his predecessors decision to visit Taiwan, said it was up to individual MPs where they choose to travel.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Our long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

We have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas. And thats underpinned by our shared democratic values.

For our part, the UK Government will continue to engage with China on the issue of Taiwan. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of a peaceful resolution in his meeting with the Chinese vice-president on Friday.

The spokesman also said it was completely appropriate for the Government to send a minister to Hong Kong given it was home to hundreds of businesses who help sustain a thriving 120 billion a year trade and investment relationship with the UK.

He added: It will again be an opportunity to raise our concerns about Chinas clampdown on freedoms and breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which are directly hurting Hong Kongs people and the economy.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark said he had become extremely concerned by rapidly developing intelligence suggesting some demonstrators had conspired to use rape alarms and loudhailers to cause distress to military horses taking part in the procession from Buckingham Place to Westminster Abbey.

He claimed some intended to extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route.

Others posing as stewards for the event had plastic bottles containing white paint and some were in possession of possible lock-on devices, he insisted.

Sir Mark said the threat was so concerning that Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Mayor Sadiq Khan were given late-night briefings on Friday.

HM King Charles III Coronation Day: Protesters 1 / 16 HM King Charles III Coronation Day: Protesters Activist and doctor Kush, 33, arrested while protesting Reuters Activists in Trafalgar Square ES Protesters at the Coronation REUTERS A protester is lead away by police REUTERS Police approach a Just Stop Oil protester AFP via Getty Images An Abolish The Monarchy flag being erected in the crowds POOL/AFP via Getty Images Police confiscate Just Stop Oil placards PA Not My King protesters POOL/AFP via Getty Images Protesters at the Coronation AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal protesters AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal Protesters AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal protesters POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Sir Mark said: Adding to our concerns, military colleagues shared their worries about how some of this disruption would significantly unsettle their 160 strong mounted regiments, with the potential of causing multiple serious injuries and compromising public safety.

Clearly, this would not only have been unlawful, but also extremely dangerous.

Officers worked around the clock to try to identify the full criminal network, establish the detail of their plans, and make arrests.

Scotland Yard made a total of 64 arrests over the weekend, with 52 of these said to be related to concerns people were going to disrupt the Coronation.

However, the force has been accused of wrongly arresting people, with Mr Khan requesting further clarity from the Yard saying the right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy.

It came as Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy group Monarchy who was held for 16 hours, said a chief inspector and two other Met officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode.

Mr Smith and five others have been told they face no further action after being stopped at 6.40am on Saturday.

Officers arrested the group using new powers under the much-criticised Public Order Act because they believed items found alongside a large number of placards could have been used as lock-on devices to cause disruption, the force said.

Sir Mark added: I must challenge those claiming there was a protest ban around the Coronation. This is simply not accurate.

He also attacked what he described as ill-informed commentary, adding: I want to be absolutely clear - our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality. Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real.

While it is unfortunate that the six people affected by this were unable to join the hundreds of peaceful protestors, I support the officers actions in this unique fast moving operational context.

A minister firmly backed the Met Polices handling of the coronation and blamed protestors for getting themselves arrested.

Health minister Neil OBrien argued that the police stopped silly and irresponsible demonstrations in London which could have led to people watching the procession being trampled by horses if they had been scared by people throwing rape alarms at them.

But former shadow home secretary David Davis, also a Tory MP, tweeted: I dont agree with these Republicans, but their right to protest must be protected.

This is the second time UK police forces have been heavy-handed since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

It is time for them to recalibrate their behaviour.

Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said that something had gone wrong following arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the Kings coronation.
An air strike killed a major drug smuggler and his family in southern Syria late Monday, a war monitor said, attributing the strike to Jordan which has neither confirmed nor denied.

Drug dealer "Marai al-Ramthan, his wife and six children were killed in a Jordanian air force strike" in the eastern countryside of the Sweida province, near the Syrian-Jordanian border, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Ramthan is considered to be the most prominent drug trafficker in the region, and the number one smuggler of drugs, including captagon, into Jordan", said the Observatory, which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria.

When asked about the strike, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told reporters: "When we take any steps to protect our national security... we will announce them at the appropriate time".

"Drugs... are a great threat to the kingdom, the region and the world as smuggling operations soar," Safadi said.

An AFP investigation in November found that Syria has become a narco state, with the $10 billion captagon industry dwarfing all other exports and funding both Assad and many of his enemies.

The main destinations are oil-rich Gulf countries, but Jordan has also become a transit route for trade in the amphetamine-type stimulant that has been sweeping the Middle East for years.

An activist in Sweida province with knowledge of the local drug trade told AFP that "we expect to see a noticeable impact on smuggling operations from Sweida after the strike."

"No one could smuggle anything across the border without Ramthan's knowledge," he said, requesting anonymity for his own security.

Some traffickers in the area have fled their homes following the strike, the activist added.

The rare attack comes on the heels of a May 1 meeting of several Arab foreign ministers in Amman in which Damascus had agreed to "enhance cooperation" with countries "affected by drug trafficking and smuggling across the Syrian border", a Jordanian foreign ministry statement said.

It added Syria would work with neighbours Jordan and Iraq to identify sources of drug production and smuggling, and seek "steps to end smuggling operations".

Jordan's army had said last year drug trafficking from Syria into Jordan had become "organised", with smugglers stepping up operations and using sophisticated equipment including drones, warning of a shoot-to-kill policy.

During the first two months of 2022, the army said Jordanian forces had killed 30 smugglers and foiled attempts to smuggle 16 million captagon pills from Syria -- surpassing the entire volume seized throughout 2021.

Jordan has previously launched strikes targeting drug smugglers in Syria, some dating back to 2014.

On Sunday, the Arab League welcomed Syria back into the bloc after a more than a decade-long suspension, securing President Bashar al-Assad's return to the Arab fold after years of isolation.

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S cotland Yard has expressed regret over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the Kings coronation after being threatened with legal action when no charges were brought.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith said a chief inspector and two other Metropolitan Police officers personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode after they visited him on Monday evening.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had earlier backed the Met over the dozens of arrests of protesters amid concerns they were cracking down on the right to protest.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan requested further clarity from Scotland Yard, saying that the right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy.

The Met issued a lengthy defence as it confirmed Mr Smith and five others have been told they face no further action after being stopped at 6.40am on Saturday.

The force said it had arrested the group using new powers under the much-criticised Public Order Act after it was believed items found alongside a large number of placards could be used as lock-on devices to cause disruption.

Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event, the statement said.

This evening, all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken.

We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route.

Mr Smith said the three officers apologised to him at his home in Reading, Berkshire, before handing back the straps for the placards they arrested him over.

He told the PA news agency: They seemed rather embarrassed, to be honest.

I said for the record I wont accept the apology. We have a lot of questions to answer and we will be taking action.

Scotland Yard said 52 of the 64 arrests made during its coronation operation on Saturday related to concerns individuals were going to disrupt the pageantry.

So far, four charges have been brought.

The force insisted its action was targeted at those believed to be intent on taking this action.

Any suggestion all protest was prohibited is not correct, it added.

The force acknowledged that at least one of the six people arrested while unloading placards from a vehicle in St Martins Lane had engaged with its protest liaison team, but said those officers were not present during the arrest.

Taking into account the information that people were seeking to seriously disrupt the event, and the significance of the security operation, officers had been briefed to be extremely vigilant and proactive, it said.

Mr Smith had told PA the speed in which they dropped any action against the group showed officers were aware they had made a very serious error of judgment.

Im obviously relieved they dropped it so quickly but very angry they even went down this road, robbing people of their liberty for absolutely no reason, he said.

There was no evidence of any ability or intent to commit any offence and they simply decided to arrest us and that is outrageous.

Mr Sunak had defended Scotland Yards operation and denied officers were acting under pressure from ministers.

The police are operationally independent of Government, theyll make these decisions based on what they think is best, he told broadcasters during a visit to Hertfordshire.

Actually, Im grateful to the police and everyone who played a part in ensuring that this weekend has gone so well, so successfully and so safely, that was an extraordinary effort by so many people and Im grateful to them for all their hard work.

But Mr Smith believed officers had every intention of arresting demonstrators and used the straps as a pre-text to detain the group under the new powers making locking-on to an object a jailable offence.

Labour mayor Mr Khan tweeted: Ive requested further clarity from the Met. While its vital the police are able to keep us safe, it must be balanced with protecting the right to peaceful protest  an integral part of democracy.

Londoners will want swift reassurance any lessons to be learned will be learned.

Mr Smith raised fresh concerns about the Public Order Act signed into law last week, which tips the balance against protest, including by lowering the definition of serious disruption.

Labour was not committing to repealing the act despite harbouring concerns about its use.

Ken Marsh, head of the Metropolitan Police Federation representing officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector, said police were acting both lawfully and impartially.

Protesting can take place in this country but its the level to which you want to perform that protest that we have to balance and deal with whats put in front of us impartially. Thats what was done, he told Today.
T he Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has warned British businesses to cut down the amount of alcohol served at work social events to stop people from being inappropriate towards their colleagues.

The warning came after a new CMI poll found that a third of managers (29 per cent) have seen harassment or inappropriate behaviours at work parties, with women 26 per cent more likely to have witnessed it than men.

CMI is the professional body that focuses on management and leadership across the UK.

Its new poll surveyed over 1,000 managers and, according to the BBC, two in five employees (42 per cent) said work parties should be organised around activities that dont involve alcohol. Those aged between 16 and 34 were seen to be the most likely to feel this way.

The Chief Executive Officer of the CMI, Ann Francke, said of the findings that socialising with colleagues was a great team building opportunity but that alcohol doesnt need to be the main event. She said managers had to keep inappropriate behaviour in check.

Ms Francke added: That might mean adding additional activities alongside alcohol, limiting the amount of drinks available per person, or ensuring that people who are drinking too much are prevented from acting inappropriately towards others.

The findings and warning come after the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has been accused of misconduct and rape in recent years.

The first allegation of rape had come after its 2019 work party on a boat on the River Thames. The Guardian exclusively revealed the second allegation and said that another woman had said she was raped by two male colleagues while working for the CBI.

In April, the City of London police launched an investigation into a dozen womens misconduct allegations against CBI managers.

What do you think about the CMIs proposal? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
A 1970s-built mega-barge which will house 500 male asylum seekers has arrived at a British port.

The 222-bedroom Bibby Stockholm was towed into UK waters after it was commandeered by the Home Office and moved from Italy.

The accommodation barge arrived for an assessment and refurbishment in Falmouth, Cornwall on Tuesday morning, before it will be moved into position off the Isle of Portland in the next few weeks.

The Home Office said the barge will provide basic and functional accommodation, healthcare provision and catering facilities.

Around-the-clock security will be in place on board to minimise the disruption to local communities, the Home Office added.

Bibby Stockholm: Three-story megabarge for 500 migrants arrives in Falmouth 1 / 13 Bibby Stockholm: Three-story megabarge for 500 migrants arrives in Falmouth PA Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA

The Bibby Stockholm will be in operation in Portland for at least 18 months and the Home Office is in discussion with other ports with the aim of deploying more vessels.

Liverpool-based operator Bibby Marine Limited says the 93-metre-long barge has been refurbished since it was described as an oppressive environment used for asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

Human rights organisations criticised the cruelty of confining hundreds of vulnerable people on a barge, as they blamed the Government for creating the backlog of asylum claims.

Around 51,000 asylum seekers are currently in temporary accommodation such as hotels as the Government tackles a backlog of claims.

Bibby Stockholm, a 222-bedroom, three-storey accommodation barge, can house up to 506 people / PA

But Spencer Flower, the Tory leader of Dorset Council said the authority remains opposed to the plan and said the Home Office has failed to answer questions about the scheme.

According to The Times, the Portland Port has looked to deter anti-migrant demonstrations, which are expected in protest at the barges presence, from targeting the arrival of tourists coming into the area on cruise ships.

The newspaper said the south Dorset harbour usually advertises the arrival and departure dates on its website of the 40 or more cruises set to dock at the port during the year.

But The Times said that, after criticism of its plans to allow the Bibby Stockholm to moor in its waters, the ports website has removed the dates.

The media outlet cited a source involved in the planning as saying the dates were taken down because of concerns that far-right activists could organise anti-migrant protests on days when thousands of tourists are due to arrive on cruise ships.

A Portland Port spokesman, when asked about the report, said: All cruise calls are proceeding as normal at Portland Port but arrivals and departures are subject to change, as they are at any port.

Therefore, it is best to contact the cruise line involved for the most up-to-date information.

Dorset police and crime commissioner (PCC) David Sidwick has demanded answers from the Home Secretary about funding for the extra policing that will be required.

The Tory PCC said Dorset Police have started the necessary and detailed planning required to ensure both asylum seekers and residents will be kept safe.

Currently though, they also have detailed questions that need answering and that are necessary to ensure the safety of all concerned, he said.

The Home Office has not set out the cost of the lease agreement for the vessel that will be docked at Portland Port, but estimates have put the overall price tag of the charter and the berthing at more than 20,000 a day.

The Home Office has defended the plan, which is part of a series of schemes aimed at moving asylum seekers away from costly hotel accommodation.

A spokesman said: The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable  there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer 6 million a day.

We have to use alternative accommodation options, as our European neighbours are doing  including the use of barges and ferries to save the British taxpayer money.

Portland Ports chief executive Bill Reeves said asylum seekers will be given advice about cultural sensitivities and behaviour before being housed on the barge.

We understand that there are genuine concerns about the arrival of the accommodation facility for refugees at Portland, he said.

We wish to reassure local people that a great deal of effort and co-ordination is being carried out in relation to such issues as security, policing, health provision and other matters.

Mr Reeves said concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour have proven to be unfounded at other accommodation sites and there is no reason to expect any different here.

He added: I cannot think why people who have travelled thousands of miles and have risked their lives to get here would do anything to run the risk of their asylum claim being denied and them being deported.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a man was stabbed to death in Bath.

Officers scrambled to the Southgate Street area of the city at around 3.30am on Saturday following reports of an attack.

Ben Moncrieff, 18, was found with serious injuries at the scene.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Avon and Somerset Police said a 15-year-old boy from south London has been charged with murder.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article.

He is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court today.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to raise 5,000 to give Mr Moncrieff the funeral and send off he desrves.

They described Mr Moncrieff as a hard-working lad who brought endless smiles to everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.
I relands deputy premier has said that the country is not relying on the RAF, and insisted that the air force does not patrol Irish skies.

Micheal Martin was responding to reports that there was a long-standing defence deal between the UK and Irish governments involving the RAF and Irish air space.

Speaking to the media before addressing a group representing Irish soldiers, Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Martin claimed the report was not accurate in terms of interdiction.

I believe that that story is not accurate that was released during the week, he told reporters.

We dont talk about international security, or national security more generally. But as I said yesterday, we need to be clear on this that anything that Government, any agreements that Government enter into, are fully aligned with national sovereignty and sovereign decision-making, and also with military neutrality.

He added: Were not relying on the RAF, as per reports, were not.

We have limitations in terms of capacity without question, thats not an issue. The focus is on improving that capacity over time.

He added: In terms of national security, we will deal with issues as they emerge, but I would point out, go back over the last two, three, four decades, the issues that youre referring to (an incursion) simply have not happened.

So we just need a bit of perspective and a bit of calm about this.

When it was put to him that the British Secretary of State had said in November that RAF jets had been in Irish air spaces on several occasions, Mr Martin said: There may have been occasions in the past, for different reasons, but again, I think a bit of common sense should prevail here.

I'm a bit impatient with that kind of language.

The Tanaiste also said that it was not new news that Russian ships had appeared within Irish waters, and said that the monitoring of various navies and air operations has been happening for a long time.

In response to questions on whether Ireland is the weakest link in Europe, he said that Ireland was investing in its defensive capabilities as recommended by the Commission on Defence Forces report.

He said: Thats what were doing, we are investing in that now and the focus is on procurement now, of radar and so one and all of the necessary and ships and capacity on the equipment side  thats on the way.

Mr Martin acknowledged that it would take time for those defensive capabilities to be procured and delivered.

He added: Again, I think that language, Id have issues with it, quite frankly  its not as if the entirety of Europe is depending on us for its security, lets get a small bit real about all of this.

Im a bit impatient with that kind of language.

Id much prefer a more calmer debate with a degree of perspective, understanding and acknowledging our limitations, then, having acknowledged as we have, enabled Government decisions and the Commission on the Future of our Defence forces, improving our capacity and investing in people and investing in capacity.

He said that it had been outlined in the Commissions report that Ireland did not have sufficient defensive radar capabilities.

Mr Martin made the comments before addressing the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA), in Trim, Co Meath.

During his speech, he emphasised the improved starting pay conditions and announced healthcare provision for enlisted personnel.

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sean Clancy welcomed the announcement.

The health and wellbeing of my personnel has always been one of my key priorities as Chief of Staff and in particular, this initiative clarifying the position with regard to private secondary medical care for all members of the Defence Forces, he said.
T he Public Order Bill has again come under scrutiny after anti-monarchy campaigners were detained at the coronation.

The Met Police have expressed their regret over the protestor arrests after Home Secretary Suella Braverman fast-tracked new anti-protest laws in the days before the Kings coronation in a bid to stop any issues.

Police were given the powers to head off disruption in the lead-up to the event, and were given additional backing to stop and search anyone they suspected of being a protester for items such as padlocks, superglue and digging tools.

As a result, a number of protestors were arrested in the days leading up to the Kings official crowning.

But what exactly is the Public Order Bill? Here is everything we know.

What is the Public Order Bill?

This aims to grant police new powers, allowing them to take a more proactive approach to disruptive protests. This includes making obstructing a major transport network an offence.

The proposed legislation would also create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure, such as airports, railways, and oil refineries. Such an offence would carry sentences of up to 12 months in prison.

The bill would also involve sentences of up to six months or unlimited fines for protesters accused of locking on to buildings, objects, or people.

A penalty of up to three years would be given to those tunnelling under infrastructure to cause damage.

What has Suella Braverman said of the new bill?

The Home Secretary Suella Braverman has long expressed opposition to such protests. She told the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham in October that there was not a human right to vandalise property.

Braverman was referring specifically to Just Stop Oils protests. These involved activists dangling from the Queen Elizabeth II bridge at the Dartford Crossing, causing it to close on October 18, 2022.

In a parliamentary debate, she said: Yes, Im afraid, its the Labour Party, its the Lib Dems, its the coalition of chaos, its the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati, dare I say, the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption that we are seeing on our roads today.

The bill would stop demonstrators from holding the public to ransom, Braverman added.

HM King Charles III Coronation Day: Protesters 1 / 16 HM King Charles III Coronation Day: Protesters Activist and doctor Kush, 33, arrested while protesting Reuters Activists in Trafalgar Square ES Protesters at the Coronation REUTERS A protester is lead away by police REUTERS Police approach a Just Stop Oil protester AFP via Getty Images An Abolish The Monarchy flag being erected in the crowds POOL/AFP via Getty Images Police confiscate Just Stop Oil placards PA Not My King protesters POOL/AFP via Getty Images Protesters at the Coronation AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal protesters AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal Protesters AFP via Getty Images Anti-Royal protesters POOL/AFP via Getty Images

How are people reacting to the bill?

Following a police apology over the arrests at the coronation, campaigners have hit out at the laws, calling for them to be repealed.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith said the anti-democratic laws must be abolished, and dismissed disgraceful suggestions that the dozens of arrests were needed to limit disruption on coronation day.

Former cabinet minister David Davis has also said the law is too broad, with grey areas causing confusion.

He was the only Conservative MP to vote against the changes to the Public Order Bill, and said today: Theres too many elements of the law that are too crude and too broadly defined.

No-one wants a day ruined, but the right to put up placards is virtually absolute in British democracy.

Ministers have defended the Metropolitan Police operation at the Kings coronation after Scotland Yard expressed regret over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters (Labour for a Republic/PA) / PA Media

Former Greater Manchester police chief Sir Peter said he gave evidence in Parliament expressing his concern that the new law was poorly defined and far too broad.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We see the consequences of that, particularly for the poor police officers who have to make sense of legislation that was only passed a few days ago.

In January, Extinction Rebellion (XR) members broke into the House of Lords on January 30 to oppose the new Public Order Bill.

Twelve members of the environmental activist group, who were wearing shirts with the message Defend Human Rights, disrupted the proceedings.

The right to protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but this is not absolute, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on January 15.
T he two top bosses of Thames Water are to give up their bonuses for the last financial year following criticism of its record on sewage discharges into rivers and fixing leaks.

Chief executive Sarah Bentley and chief financial officer Alastair Cochran said it doesnt feel right to accept performance-related payments. In the previous year, Ms Bentley received 496,000 in remuneration linked to performance on top of the base pay of 750,000. Mr Cochran was awarded 298,000 in addition to his salary of 450,000.

Ms Bentley said: We are a relatively new team executing an eight-year turnaround plan to transform Thames Water and we have taken some important steps forward this year. I am proud of the work my team is doing in starting to address the poor state of our asset base and unacceptable standards of service for our customers.

Nevertheless, the turnaround plan is not yet where I want it to be primarily due to significant headwinds from extraordinary energy costs, coupled with two severe weather events.

These have hit our customer and environmental performance. Against this backdrop it simply doesnt feel right to take my bonus this year.

Thames Water is in the second year of its eight-year plan to fix its ageing and deteriorating infrastructure, including a 1.6 billion programme to modernise sewage networks and treatment plants.

Analysis by the Financial Times showed that Britains privatised water and sewage companies paid 1.4 billion in dividends in 2022, up from 540 million the previous year.
H MRC staff will stage walkouts in a row over low pay tomorrow.

More than 400 workers from His Majestys Revenue and Customs will go on strike for 18 days  starting tomorrow (May 10), with more dates slated for later in May and June, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) has said.

The union says it is expecting the action to cause significant problems for businesses and individuals across the UK.

Here is everything we know:

Which HMRC services are striking?

A total of 432 PCS members who are currently working as customer service advisers in the department of Personal Taxation Operations on Employer Service in HMRC will stop work.

The staff members on the walkout are currently based in Glasgow and Newcastle upon Tyne. The team going on strike helps customers with tax issues. Their helplines cover issues such as queries on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), National Insurance, and Self Assessment.

The strike is also expected to impact the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) helpline, the student loans unit, maternity, paternity, and sick pay lines, and Penalties and Expenses.

When is HMRC striking?

This group of workers will walk out from tomorrow (May 10) to May 12 initially. There are further strikes planned for:

May 15 to 19

May 22 to 26

May 29 to 31

June 1 and 2

Why is HMRC striking?

The PCS says the action is part of their national campaign over pay, pensions, job security, and redundancy terms which began in November.

A spokesman said the UK Government needs to take the demands seriously as they are determined to keep the pressure on until the government improves its offer to members.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: Our hard-working members in HMRC are fed up with being treated with disdain by a government that doesnt seem to care about its own staff.

If they did, ministers would be able to stop this strike action tomorrow by making a fair offer to help our members through the cost-of-living crisis and beyond.

The PCS also has called on its members to take e-action and try to arrange a meeting with their local MPs to talk face-to-face about the issues.
S cotland Yard has expressed regret over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters before King Charles IIIs coronation on Saturday.

Police chiefs were threatened with legal action when no charges were brought, with the anti-monarchy group Republic hitting out at the arrests.

The groups chief executive Graham Smith said a chief inspector and two other Metropolitan Police officers on Monday evening personally apologised to him over what he called a disgraceful episode.

But what is the group all about and who is Mr Smith? Here is everything we know:

Who is Graham Smith?

Graham Smith is an activist who has been the chief executive of the UKs leading republican movement, Republic, since 2021.

He has been campaigning against the Royal Family for more than a decade.

Mr Smith believes the monarchy is an ancient idea and regularly calls for it to be abolished.

He has even written a book about this, Abolish the Monarchy: Why we should and how we will, which is due to be published on June 1.

Despite being warned that police would have a low tolerance to protesters in the lead-up to last weekends coronation celebrations, Mr Smith was adamant he would not be silenced.

He said: We will be loud, visible and unmissable, directly challenging the coronation and the monarchy.

We fully expect the police to live up to their assurances that the protest will be allowed to carry on, but these latest actions and previous arrests may well have a chilling effect on what is lawful and peaceful protest.

He and others were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, affray and other offences, but later released without charge. He has since labelled the arrests as a direct attack on democracy.

What is Republic?

Republic is a group that campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, labelling it an outdated organisation that has not moved with the times.

It was set up in 1983 and claims to be a democratic group. It believes the head of state (King Charles III) should be won in an election and not something that is earned through bloodlines.

The group says it has 80,000 members who call themselves republicans.

It held the nationwide protest Not My King in the run-up to the coronation. The Met Police on Saturday morning seized its placards to this effect as it believed these could be used as lock-on devices.

An elected board of directors runs the group alongside Mr Smith.

The board meets every three months to discuss campaign ideas.

As reported by the Guardian, It has previously campaigned at royal events, including the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Dozens of protesters held banners saying citizen, not subject on the banks of the Thames during the pageant, where a flotilla of 1,000 boats sailed down the river and were inspected by the Queen and Prince Philip.

According to the Guardian, Mr Smith in 2018 wrote to Thames Valley Police asking that peaceful protests by the group be allowed in Windsor on the day the Duke and Duchess of Sussex married.
A state of emergency has been declared in Auckland after further flooding in New Zealands largest city.

In the city of Whangarei, 100 miles north of Auckland, a high school student was also reported missing after a school group that was exploring caves got into trouble when floodwaters hit.

Fire and emergency crews said they had responded to more than 200 calls, most of them in Auckland.

Many were for flood waters entering buildings, but they had also responded to landslides, falling trees and trapped cars.

Earlier this year, severe weather on the North Island claimed the lives of four people in floods in Auckland. In February, 11 people died when Cyclone Gabrielle hit.

New Zealands Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a difficult time for the region.

We will get through this. We will support Auckland through it," he told reporters.

We know that it's tough coming on top of everything else that they've been dealing with, but right now my request to people is just to keep yourself safe."

Cars move through water on flooded motorway in New Zealand / AP

Authorities said heavy rain was expected to continue off and on through until midnight, although they hoped the most severe downpours may have already passed.

Some train and bus services were cancelled, and authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Police said a group of 15 students and two adults had been at the Abbey Caves in Whangarei when they got into trouble.

Search and rescue crews tried to find the missing student, police said, while the other students made it out safely.

Police suspended their search Tuesday evening and said they would resume again Wednesday morning.

Local media reported the missing boy had been swept away by floodwaters.

Whangarei Boys' High School Principal Karen Gilbert-Smith wrote on Facebook that an outdoor education class had been on a caving trip when they encountered severe weather.

She said the event was hugely upsetting" for all those involved.

In time we will seek to understand how this situation occurred, but for now I ask that we stay united as a WBHS community and provide support where required," the principal wrote.

Mr Hipkins said: I do want to express my deep concern there and my absolute support for the school community.
Tor Wennesland , the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the recent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip are "unacceptable", adding that he was "deeply alarmed by developments in the strip after Israel launched a military operation."

"I condemn the deaths of civilians in the Israeli airstrikes," added Wennesland, urging "all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and avoid an escalation."

In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel launched airstrikes which struck multiple residential buildings in the Israeli-besieged strip, killing at least 13 people, including eight children and women.

"I remain fully engaged with all sides in an attempt to avoid a broader conflict with devastating consequences for all," Wennesland stressed.

Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sanan Majali called on the international community to act immediately to stop the Israeli aggression and provide protection for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied territories.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperartion (OIC) also said in a statement that this new barbaric massacre" is an extension of the brutal Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people and another flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.

The OIC held Israel fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of these crimes, aggressions and organized terrorism that threaten to undermine security and stability in the region.

It called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and provide international protection to the Palestinian people, and to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for all its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, their land and holy sites.

Earlier today, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in a statement the recent Israeli escalation, describing it as a violation of international law, warning that such attacks on the Palestinians would undermine efforts to achieve security in the region.

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A British teenager was found dead in a forest in northern Thailand with head wounds, according to reports.

Woramet Ben Taota, 16, left home with a teenage girl, also 16, reported to be his girlfriend, on a motorcycle in the Thai city of Lampang on Saturday and was found dead in a grove on Sunday.

The teenagers phone and money were missing from his bag, the Daily Mail reported, citing local media sources, leading police to suggest that he might have been robbed.

His companion, Yam, has not been found. She is described by the police as a key figure in the case as the last known person to see him alive.

Police said that they were not yet ruling out any motives.

Colonel Sittisak Singtongla, of the Mae Tha police, said: We have not yet finalised the issue.

It is still unclear whether it was a robbery, because the phone and cash of the deceased were not found, but we still cannot rule out other issues.

A rubbish collector found Taotas body with his back against a tree at about 10.15am on Sunday, with the teenager wearing a black longsleeved T-shirt and jeans.

Investigative teams from Mae Tha police attended the scene, along with forensics officers, forensic doctors and rescue workers.

Police believe that he may have been killed elsewhere and moved to the forest grove.

Friends have begun to post tributes on the Facebook profile page of Taota, who has a British father.

Police interviewed his mother, Ooy Taota. He left home on Saturday telling her that he was going to work with friends but did not return.

As well as robbery, among the motives being investigated by police are a love affair or a personal dispute of some kind.

Woramets grandmother Lilian Graham said she believed her grandson was lured into the forest where he was murdered. She added that Woramets father, Steve Graham, a UK businessman, is now on his way to Thailand to speak with detectives.

Ben was with a girl and they went to the forest to meet a man. But something must have happened. And the man killed Ben, Ms Graham told MailOnline.

She added: Its been a real shock. We are all devastated. Bens father Steve is going to Thailand tonight.

I wanted to go out there with him to support him. But he wouldnt let me. He said the flight was too long and it would be too upsetting.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.
I srael killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted airstrikes early Tuesday, its military said, while Palestinian officials said nine civilians were also killed.

The strikes hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah.

The Palestinian Health ministry said 20 people were injured, and that ambulances were continuing to evacuate people from the targeted areas.

Israel's military said it targeted three senior commanders of Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful armed group in the enclave, which is controlled by the Islamist militant group, Hamas.

Any terrorist who harms Israeli citizens will be made to regret it, said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

The military said the three targeted men had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel.

An Israeli military spokesman said the army was looking into reports of civilian deaths but had no immediate comment.

We're aware of some collateral and we'll learn more as the day goes ahead, he told a briefing with reporters.

The Palestinian Health ministry said 12 people were killed in total, including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned of repercussions, saying Israel would pay the price for the strike.

Children stand near a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli military strikes / REUTERS

Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, Haniyeh said in a statement.

Airstrikes continued in the early hours, targeting militant training sites.

In the past, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have retaliated for such targeted killings.

In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.

The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gazas ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead.

The airstrikes came at a time of increased tensions between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Gaza militants fired rockets toward southern Israel, and the Israeli military responded with airstrikes following the death of a hunger-striking senior member of the Islamic Jihad in Israeli custody.

The exchange of fire ended with a fragile ceasefire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar.

The airstrikes are similar to ones in 2022 in which Israel bombed locations housing commanders of Islamic Jihad group, setting off a three-day blitz that saw the group lose its two top commanders and other dozens of militants.
U krainian First Lady Olena Zelenska has called for the arrest of Vladimir Putin for suspected war crimes, accusing him and other senior Russian officials of abducting children.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March on charges related to the illegal deportation of about 20,000 Ukrainian children to Russia or Kremlin-controlled areas of Ukraine.

Russia is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction. However, the ICC ruling has the potential to complicate Putins foreign trips, including a planned visit to South Africa in August.

Speaking publicly about the charges for the first time, Ms Zelenska accused Russian leaders of abducting thousands of children in an effort to retrain them into becoming Russians.

She told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Yes, we are all waiting for this [for Putin to be arrested] but its not only him.

There are thousands of people who are undermining the rights of children  human rights. This is scary. 19,000 Ukrainian children have now been illegally taken to Russia.

This is a lot. Theyre not cars, fridges, cattle  theyre people, children. Russia is making efforts to wipe their memories to retrain them into becoming Russians. We have thousands of children traumatised psychologically.

Children see what they are not supposed to see and feel what theyre not supposed to feel  deaths of their relatives, deaths of their parents, torture. This is very scary, especially from the point of view of the child.

Her husband, Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelensky, has vowed Putin will face an international war crimes court when Ukraine wins the war.

via REUTERS

Mr Zelensky was speaking at The Hague, which hosts the ICC, as he said the Russian leader deserves to be sentenced for these criminal actions right here in the capital of international law.

He added: And Im sure we will see that happen when we win. And we will win.

The ICC cannot prosecute the crime of war aggression itself and Mr Zelensky appealed for a fully-fledged tribunal to take that action.

He said: If we want true justice, we should not look for excuses and should not refer to the shortcomings of the current international law but make bold decisions that will correct that shortcomings that unfortunately exist.

Mr Zelenskys speech came a day after he denied Ukrainian forces were responsible for what the Kremlin called an attempt to assassinate Putin in a drone attack on Moscow.

The Kremlin promised retaliation for what it termed a terrorist act.

Putins spokesman accused the US of being behind the alleged attack. Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was well aware that the decision on such actions and terrorist attacks is not made in Kyiv, but in Washington.
T wo young sisters and a three-year-old boy were among the victims of a shooting at a shopping centre near Dallas over the weekend which left eight people dead.

Husband and wife Cho Kyu Song, 37 and Kang Shin Young, 35  the boys parents  were also killed, leaving their six-year-old son an orphan.

Cindy, Kyu and three-year-old James were among those victims that tragically lost their lives and the family is in deep mourning, a GoFundMe post read, written by friends of the family, referring to the family by their American names.

After being released from the ICU, their six-year-old son William is the only surviving member of this horrific event.

Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, 11 and eight, were among those slain Saturday at Allen Premium Outlets. They were remembered as the kindest, most thoughtful students with smiles that could light up any room, Principal Krista Wilson said in a letter to parents.

Only six-year-old William (bottom) survived the massacre / gofundme

Their mother, Ida, remains in hospital in critical condition, according to CBS News.

Also killed was security guard Christian LaCour, whose sister told CNN he was a sweet, caring young man who was loved greatly by our family.

The 20-year-old was the kind of person who would just walk into the store and everyone in the room would light up because he was there, said Max Weiss, a mall store employee.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was about to turn 28, was killed while visiting the mall with a friend.

She moved to the United States about five years ago to pursue her masters degree and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2020.

Aishwarya Thatikonda had moved to the US roughly five years ago / AP

We were deeply saddened to learn this morning that an Eastern Michigan University graduate, Aishwarya Thatikonda, was among those killed in Saturdays shooting at a mall outside of Dallas, Texas, the university said in a statement. Aishwarya graduated from Eastern in Dec. 2020 with a Master of Science in construction management.

And on Monday the Texas Department of Public Safety also identified 32-year-old Elio Cumana-Rivas as a victim in the massacre.

The 33-year-old suspect, Mauricio Garcia, was shot dead by a police officer who was responding to an unrelated call, ending the attack.

Investigators are now reviewing social media to look into the killers beliefs, reports CBS.

He was seen on video with a clothing patch with the letters RWDS, which stands for Right Wing Death Squad.

This is a phrase popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.
D onald Trump sexually abused magazine writer E Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her by branding her a liar, jurors in a civil case have found.

The nine-member jury in Manhattan federal court in New York awarded about $5 million (3.9 million) in compensatory and punitive damages to Ms Carroll on Tuesday.

The jury deliberated for just under three hours following the civil trial.

They rejected the former US president's denial that he assaulted Ms Carroll and ruled in her favor, but did reject her claim that Trump had raped her.

Ms Carroll said her victory is not just for me but for every woman who has suffered because she was not believed.

The verdict is a major blow to the former president as he seeks to be re-elected to the White House in 2024.

He branded the verdict a disgrace as he reacted on his Truth Social platform calling it a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time and saying "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is.

Mr Trump will appeal, said his spokesperson Steven Cheung. The ex-President will not have to pay so long as the case is on appeal.

Ms Carroll held hands with her lawyers as the verdict was read. She left the courthouse with her lawyer Roberta Kaplan, smiling and wearing sunglasses, and entered a car without speaking to reporters.

Donald Trump has promised to appeal the verdict / Truth Social

Mr Trump is the front-runner in opinion polls for the Republican presidential nomination and analysts predict that the civil verdict will have little impact on his core supporters.

The folks that are anti-Trump are going to remain that way, the core pro-Trump voters are not going to change, and the ambivalent ones I just dont think are going to be moved by this type of thing, said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist in Pennsylvania.

Any negative impact is likely to be small and limited to suburban women and moderate Republicans, he said.

Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist, said it remained to be seen whether the verdict in Carrolls case would make Mr Trump unpalatable to Republican voters beyond his base.

Mr Trump has cited the Carroll trial in campaign fundraising emails as evidence of what he portrays as a Democratic plot to damage him politically.

His poll numbers improved after he was charged in New York in March with falsifying business records over a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before his victory in the 2016 presidential election.

That indictment, filed in New York state court, made him the first US president past or present to be criminally charged. Trump has pleaded not guilty and said the charges are politically motivated.

The case

Ms Carroll, 79, testified during the civil trial that Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in either 1995 or 1996, then harmed her reputation by writing in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform that her claims were a complete con job, a hoax and a lie.

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Mr Trump raped, sexually abused or forcibly touched Ms Carroll, any one of which would satisfy her claim of battery. They were separately asked if Mr Trump defamed Ms Carroll.

Because this was a civil case, Mr Trump faces no criminal consequences. Ms Carroll was seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Mr Trumps legal team opted not to present a defence, gambling that jurors would find that Ms Carroll had failed to make a persuasive case.

Mr Trump had said Ms Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist and a registered Democrat, made up the allegations to try to increase sales of her 2019 memoir and to hurt him politically.

Because the case was in civil court, Ms Carroll was required to establish her rape claim by "a preponderance of the evidence" - meaning more likely than not - rather than the higher standard used in criminal cases of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt."

Ms Carroll had to show clear and convincing evidence to prove her defamation claim.

The trial featured testimony from two women who said Mr Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago.

E. Jean Carroll leaves the Manhattan court house / Getty Images

Former People magazine reporter Natasha Stoynoff told jurors that Mr Trump cornered her at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in 2005 and forcibly kissed her for a few minutes until a butler interrupted the alleged assault.

Another woman, Jessica Leeds, testified that Mr Trump kissed her, groped her and put his hand up her skirt on a flight in 1979.

Jurors also heard excerpts from a 2005 Access Hollywood video in which Mr Trump says women let him grab 'em by the p***y.

Historically, that's true, with stars ... if you look over the last million years, Mr Trump said in an October 2022 video deposition played in court. He has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct.

Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, told jurors during closing arguments on Monday that the 2005 video was proof that Mr Trump had assaulted Ms Carroll and other women.

The federal trial began on April 25. Citing the uniqueness of a civil case against a former president, the judge decided that identities the jurors would be kept secret.

A protester outside court following the verdict / Getty Images

Ms Carroll testified that she bumped into Mr Trump at Bergdorf's while he was shopping for a gift for another woman. Ms Carroll said she agreed to help Mr Trump pick out a gift and the two looked at lingerie before he coaxed her into a dressing room, slammed her head into a wall and raped her.

Ms Carroll testified she could not remember the precise date or year the alleged rape occurred.

Ms Carroll faced questions from Mr Trumps legal team attacking the plausibility of her account including why she had never reported the matter to police or screamed during the alleged incident.

Ms Carroll told jurors she decided to break her silence in 2017 after rape allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein prompted scores of women to come forward with accounts of sexual violence by powerful men. She went public with her account while Mr Trump was still president.

She said Mr Trumps public denials wrecked her career and instigated a campaign of vicious online harassment by his supporters including various threatening messages and social media posts.

While Mr Trump did not testify at the trial, a video clip from the October 2022 deposition showed him mistaking Ms Carroll for one of his former wives in a black-and-white photo among several people at an event.

Its Marla, Mr Trump said in the deposition, referring to his second wife Marla Maples. Previously Mr Trump had said he could not have raped Ms Carroll because she was not his type.
T oday marks Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity across the continent.

And for the first time, Ukraine and the European Union are marking Europe Day together.

To mark the occasion, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has made a special trip to Ukraines capital, Kyiv.

As it stands, Ukraine is only a candidate nation, but it has been receiving the political, financial, and military support of Europe since the start of its war against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his nation would from now on celebrate Europe Day together with all of free Europe.

But what exactly is Europe Day and how is it celebrated? Here is everything we know.

What is Europe Day?

Europe Day was first introduced by the Council of Europe in 1964, which marks the occasion on May 5 every year to coincide with the date the Council of Europe was founded.

The EUs Europe Day, however, was introduced in 1985, and is celebrated on May 9 to coincide with the signing of the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, instead.

This was an ambitious plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe, and saw French and West German coal and steel production unite under a common market  the European Coal and Steel Community. It is considered to be the beginning of what has now become the European Union.

What is this years theme?

The theme for Europe Day 2023 is the European Year of Skills. It involves publicising the positives of lifelong learning, green and digital transitions, innovation, and competitiveness.

This year will focus on small and medium businesses to address skills shortages in the EU, promoting reskilling and upskilling to help the economy.

How is Europe Day celebrated?

On Europe Day, European Union institutions open their doors to the public in Brussels and Strasbourg.

This means citizens can visit the key places where decisions about their everyday lives are made. These include:

The European Parliament, Brussels

The European Parliament, Strasbourg

European Council

European Commission

Court of Justice of the European Union

European Central Bank

European Court of Auditors

And many organisations take the opportunity to hold events that honour the days focus on peace and unity.

However, since Brexit, Britain is not taking part. However, you can check out events happening in Europe here.
S pecial constable Penny Lancaster has said she is tremendously proud and honoured to have been part of the police force working on Saturday for the Kings coronation.

The former model and TV presenter, 52, who is married to Sir Rod Stewart, began volunteering with City of London Police after appearing in Channel 4 show Famous And Fighting Crime, in which celebrities swapped their day jobs with those of emergency service professionals.

She later completed her training to become a special constable in April 2021.

Lancaster told ITVs Good Morning Britain (GMB): It was the most fabulous day and of course, tremendously proud and honoured to have been given that opportunity, along with the City of London Police, that Im a special constable for.

There were the regular officers and then the specials (on duty) and, of course, we volunteer our time to help with the duties of policing, and we were stationed on Whitehall, right opposite 10 Downing Street, just behind New Scotland Yard.

In September last year Lancaster took to the streets of central London as part of the policing operation for the Queens funeral procession.

There were around 11,500 police on duty in London on Saturday, with Lancaster explaining her shift ran from 6am to around 4pm.

She told GMB: We got to know the members of the public that were in front of us quite well. And there were people travelling from Miami and Scotland and Wales and all over.

And it was just incredible to see the different generations there were, you know, grandparents with their little chairs out, and there were little toddlers on dads shoulders, and everyone (with) painted faces and waving flags.

So we got to chat and engage with the public and, of course, our priority was to make sure that the ceremony and the passing of the carriages, the procession went smoothly without being interrupted.

Asked about the briefing she had been given for the day, she explained: So all ran smoothly where we were based, we worked very closely with the Met, and they were in full PPE protection.

So they had their armour and batons and handcuffs, whereas myself and the officers that were on the route itself, were in our very smart tunics. We didnt have that type of protection.

So there were two barriers, so the crowd were behind two barriers with the Met officers within the crowd, and they had armed forces, it was well covered.

Our main message to us was to be smart and look smart, and to be alert and just to inform our inspectors and those officers in the crowd if we saw anything suspicious but luckily it was a fantastic atmosphere.

Lancaster added that they had also been briefed about some of the dangers that could occur, including horses getting spooked and said that if someone attempted to come over the barrier, I would have most certainly intervened.

The Loose Women panellist said she was really, really proud of our royal family and the connection that they have around the world.
M ichelle Visage has opened up about her passion for all things Eurovision and her excitement over it being hosted in the UK for the first time since 1998.

As one of the judges on RuPauls Drag Race and Rus right-hand woman, Visage, 54, is more than qualified to judge what makes for a great show.

Speaking to the Standard, she said: Its probably after RuPauls Drag Race, the campest show on television. It is so much fun along with the music, the costumes and the insanity.

When I was young, I knew that Abba came from something called Eurovision, but in America, we didnt get that. We didnt know what Eurovision was because we werent part of the EU and still arent. When I found out Abba was from that it was like a little bit of a mind blow, so then I started digging deeper and then of course Gina G and so many things that we got in the United States have come from Eurovision. Its really exciting! And of course, where else are you gonna get acts like that and artists like that doing music like that? Theres only one place and thats Eurovision.

Michelle Visage is one hundred percent backing the UKs entry Mae Muller / PA Wire

As an honorary Brit, Visage is one hundred percent behind UK entry Mae Muller too.

She enthused: Oh, shes so good and the song is so good! Im really thrilled and excited to see the performance and everything unfold. You know, Im always going to pull for the UK, thats where my heart is. I had a tough time Maneskin year just because he was so hot and being an Italian girl, I was drawn to Italy, but you know, Im always pulling for the UK and Mae Muller is amazing.

The RuPauls Drag Race judge will be teaming up with former Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne to host the ultimate viewing party in London for this years Eurovision Grand Final on May 13.

Only 80 lucky people will be able to attend the event, which is in partnership with Barefoot Wine and will be first come, first served via an online link or competitions run by the drink manufacturers social channels.

Speaking about her hosting gig, she said: Were very, very excited about it, its such an exciting event and then, for us to be there doing it together is even the next level exciting for me.

Im just looking forward to being together with friends and making new ones. Especially since the fact that we havent been able to be together for so long and now were able to so for me, its more exciting to be back and celebrating with humans in one room.

Visage wont have time for a hangover as the very next day, she will be hosting the red carpet coverage at the BAFTA Television Awards with Clara Amfo.

The savvy interviewer isnt fazed by the possibility of awkward interviewees ala Ashley Grahams viral encounter with Hugh Grant at this years Oscars.

Michelle Visage will be hosting this years TV BAFTAs with Clara Amfo / Instagram

While she said she would have handled the situation differently, Visage praised Graham, who she said pulled it off like a champ.

She said: I have a real British sense of humour so I would have been able to handle that differently and I think if you dont understand that, it could easily go awry.

You have to keep in mind that were all just human and all just walking the same earth so we dont know what happens to somebody on any given day and it could be overwhelming and we have to keep in perspective what happened to them? What did they do today? You know, maybe something happened to them. And be patient, be kind and at the end of the day we need to laugh and laugh it off and not get hurt by it.
R ay Liottas cause of death has been revealed almost a year after the Goodfellas actor passed away.

The actor, who was best-known for his starring role in Martin Scorseses 1990 crime classic, died in his sleep on May26, 2022 when he was shooting a new film in the Dominican Republic.

The star, who was 67 when he died, was shooting movie Dangerous Waters.

Officials have now confirmed Liottas cause of death was due to heart and respiratory system issues.

According to TMZ, who obtained official documents, Liottas death was categorized as natural and non-violent, with respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema - fluid in his lungs - and acute heart failure cited as causes of death.

With more than 60 feature films to his credit, the actor excelled at diverse and challenging roles in both comedy and drama.

He found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in the 1986 black comedy Something Wild, going on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field Of Dreams (1989), before his role in Martin Scorseses gangster epic.

Ray Liotta honoured with posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (Chris Pizzello/AP) / AP

In February, he was remembered as an actor of rare calibre as he was posthumously honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Goodfellas actor was praised for his unparalleled capacity for vulnerability and charm and mischievousness at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

The actors daughter, Karsen Liotta, said she was so touched to be accepting the award on her fathers behalf, telling audiences if you have a Ray in your life, youre lucky.

Im so touched to be accepting this honour on behalf of my dad, she said.

I couldnt be more proud of him. He was a one-of-a-kind actor, and the best friend, brother and father anyone could ask for. I lucked out with you.

If you have a Ray in your life, youre lucky. Thank you for your work, and the imprint you left on me and all of those who love you.

Everyone deserves a Ray in their life.
T he future of a universal internet that is available in every location on the planet and affordable to all has a taken giant leap forwards. A cluster of prestigious European technology firms last week confirmed that they will jointly create a new satellite constellation known as Iris2.

If this sounds eerily similar to Elon Musks Starlink space broadband service, thats because its designed so that Europe will have its own viable competing Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite communications service. This can be accessed instantly, even when there is no mobile phone signal in sight.

The EU had already announced Iris2 last year, but what makes this announcement significant is that it brings together the whos who in European aerospace and telecommunication technology.

Huge firms including Airbus, Eutelsat (the owner of UK satellite operator OneWeb), Orange, Deutsche Telekom, and Thale are teaming up to launch hundreds of smaller, low-cost satellites (known as nanosats) into space, backed by 2.4 billion (2bn) in EU funding.

What is satellite internet and how does it work?

Satellites traditionally weigh tonnes and cost billions of pounds to launch. They also need to be far away, orbiting 35,786 kilometres (22,236 miles) above the Earth. Because of this, access to space has always been limited to only a few large companies, meaning that any form of satellite communication has been expensive.

In comparison, nanosats are smaller and lighter, with each just the size of a shoebox.

If you chuck large numbers of them into low-Earth orbit  just 160km-1,000km away  they can provide instantly available, reliable broadband internet connections from anywhere in the world. This includes Antarctic research camps and rural landlocked communities in third-world countries, such as in much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Also, unlike old-school satellites, when youre finished with nanosats, you can either command them to land back on Earth; ask them to self-destruct; or hire a company to retrieve them from space, which gets rid of the space junk and climate change problems.

Elon Musk complained in October that providing critical battlefield internet connectivity to Ukrainian armed forces was costing Starlink $100m and asked the US government to pick up the tab / PA Archive

Last year, Starlink was used to provide critical internet connectivity for the Ukrainian military in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a fact Musk proudly proclaimed on Twitter.

Luigi Scatteia, a space activity manager for consultancy PwC in France and Maghreb, says the EU has much to fear from the controversial space entrepreneur.

At one point Russia cut out connectivity for Ukraine and Musk was the one who restored internet access to Ukraine, he told the Standard.

Weve had a situation with a single guy with the capability to restore access to a whole country  its quite a powerful image. This is clearly a situation you dont want to have. Its not even about fending off competition from the US, its about fending off one guy.

Initially, Iris2 will be used to provide secure space internet connections for EU governments. However, the hope is to make it into a commercial operation to expand Europes space market and create an ecosystem where smaller businesses can join in, Scatteia added.

How big is the satellite constellation market?

Enabling cheap global internet for everyone is a dream tech giants have had for the past decade. Facebook, Google, and Amazon have tested weather balloons and drones galore, but it is Musks Starlink satellite constellation that has been the most successful, Scatteia said.

In December, Starlink announced that it had more than a million active subscribers. It currently has a constellation comprising roughly 3,000 nanosats, and hopes to one day increase that number to 42,000, as its network is already getting congested by too many users.

In contrast, London-based satellite operator OneWeb has just over 580 nanosats in space and customers in 15 countries, according to a BBC article from March.

If OneWeb sounds familiar, its because the UK Government bailed it out of bankruptcy for 400m in 2020  a move that has led to much criticism from MPs. Today, OneWeb is wholly owned by French satellite operator Eutelsat.

While it would make sense for OneWeb to team up with the EU to challenge Musk, British space venture capitalist Mark Bogget told the Standard it is not yet clear whether OneWeb will be included. He said this was particularly because the UK had left the EU, meaning we are no longer privy to continental internal government communications.

What else can satellite constellations do?

British space venture capitalist Mark Boggett says there could be more bureaucracy with an EU satellite constellation, but it could really help the European space market. / Seraphim Space

However, he says its not just about space broadband internet connections. Nanosats mean that many more companies and academics will be able to have access to cheaper space-based communication technologies. This will mean more innovative mobile app experiences for consumers harnessing data collected in space.

According to the EU, data from nanosats could be used to improve farming by monitoring cropland and fisheries from space; combat climate change using data on ocean currents and greenhouse gases; as well as using satellites to detect illegal immigration and stop piracy at sea.

To power these dreams, the IT industry, telecommunications providers and the space industry all have to work together. This includes launching payloads of satellites into orbit and collecting and transferring data from them to 4G and 5G mobile networks, and then to data centres on the ground.

Im really excited to see so many European players coming together with a common goal. If it works it would be incredible, it could be the start of something better [for the European space market], said Boggett, the chief executive of Seraphim Space, which claims to be the largest and most active investor in the global space market.

There are a number of services available today but also future services, this consortium could be a very powerful group to get things done from a European perspective.
The Egyptian government will be accepting official bids for purchasing stakes in the military-affiliated National Company for Producing and Bottling Water (Safi) and Wataniya Petroleum Company in May, according to a statement by Cabinet Spokesperson Nader Saad on Monday.

The two companies are among the 32 state-owned companies Egypt announced in March as private opportunities whether through the government's initial public offering (IPO) or by offering them to strategic investors.

Saad stated that major consortiums of Egyptian and foreign entities are among the contenders for Safi and Wataniya.

The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) assigned advisers from investment banks in March to prepare two companies in order to be offered as investment opportunities whether under the government IPO programme or through offering them to strategic investors.

The TSFE's CEO Ayman Soliman stated in April that the offering advisers had received offers from investors who are willing to invest in the two companies. Since then, the fund has not released any relevant updates regarding the offering process.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly confirmed that Egypt is serious about the implementation of the government IPOs programme and that some deals are being finalised and will be disclosed soon.

Egypt is embarking on a huge privatisation programme to boost its supply of foreign currency and bridge the financing gap the country is experiencing through the FY 2025/26.

The recent updates were announced during a meeting between Madbouly and several high-ranking officials, including the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Hassan Abdalla, Minister of Planning Hala El-Said, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Public Enterprises Sector Mahmoud Esmat, and CEO of the TSFE Ayman Soliman.

The meeting also included a review of the progress made in offering a group of companies and banks, as well as properties and land in new cities, following evaluations by international assessors.

The offering of the Gabal El Zeit wind power plant was discussed during the meeting. Investors have already submitted bids for the acquisition of the plant.

Furthermore, the cabinet meeting is inspecting the situation of a group of offerings, including the Siemens power plant in Beni Suef, the land belonging to the headquarters of the former National Party, the power generation project in Zaafarana in the Red Sea Governorate, and El Nasr for Intermediate Chemicals.

The cabinet spokesperson revealed that the National Party's land deal has reached its final stage.

It is worth noting that Egypt's total foreign liabilities rose by EGP 13.717 billion ($443.26 million) m-o-m to EGP 2.194 trillion ($70.9 billion) in March 2023, including EGP 1.298 trillion ($41.94 billion) owed by the CBE and EGP 896.705 billion ($28.98 million) owed by banks.

The country's debt service is expected to increase to EGP 1.315 trillion ($42.581 billion) in the general budget of the FY 2023/24, compared to EGP 965.488 billion ($31.242 billion) in the FY 2022/23 budget.

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A rtificial Intelligence could take much of the heavy lifting out of teaching, by marking and making lesson plans, the Education Secretary has said.

Gillian Keegan spoke about the transformative change AI could bring to education at the opening of the Education World Forum in London.

We have a lot more thinking and learning to do as we understand the potential here.

In her opening address to the forum of education experts and global leaders, she said: AI could have the power to transform a teachers day-to-day work.

For example, it can take much of the heavy lifting out of compiling lesson plans and marking.

This would enable teachers to do the one thing that AI cannot and thats teach, up close and personal at the front of the classroom.

She likened artificial intelligence to technological innovations of the past, such as calculators and Google, and said people must learn about it and apply it in the same way to maximise positive student outcomes.

Ms Keegan suggested AI could be used to radically reduce the amount of time teachers spend marking, or as an assistive technology to improve access to education.

While she praised the number of schools and universities already using AI, she concluded: We have a lot more thinking and learning to do as we understand the potential here.

Im committed to working hand-in-hand with expert educators  as we do that thinking.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) called the Governments approach to education technology piecemeal and lacklustre.

ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton said: Artificial intelligence and other digital technologies may well have the potential to help in the classroom in the future, but the Governments approach to education technology thus far has been piecemeal and lacklustre and it will need to develop a strategy to turn this into reality.

More importantly, ministers must address the immediate problem of the severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis that schools and colleges are experiencing, and which is caused by real-terms pay cuts and workload pressures driven by the Governments underfunding of the education system.
W e all know the current Hollywood writers strike is about pay, but it might surprise you to find out that its also about artificial intelligence.

One of the key issues in dispute between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and movie studios is whether AI can be used to speed up the process of writing screenplays for movies and television.

Many have been worried about robots taking over our jobs for the past decade but, in many cases, this hasnt happened yet.

However, it is clearly an ever-present worry for up-and-coming screenwriters, claims the WGA, which alleges that movie studios want to discuss using the technology at least once a year.

The argument, as always, boils down to money, in particular, looking at the way credit is assigned when a screenplay is written, and therefore how much the writer should be paid.

If a screenplay contains a lot of source material, it means it is based on an idea that might have come from a novel, another film, a newspaper article, or a play. However, if a writer produces a story, screenplay, sketch, or treatment based on original ideas, it is considered to be literary material.

Since the idea is not an original one, the writer is not allowed to claim they wrote it, meaning they are credited with having written the screenplay and are paid only 75 per cent of the writing fee, as opposed to the full fee for having completed an original piece of work.

But, if an AI system like ChatGPT were asked to write a screenplay, it would do so by using data it has been fed from all over the internet. So can anything written by AI be considered to be original literary material and how would you assign credit?

It is important to note that AI software does not create anything. It generates a regurgitation of what its fed, said the Writers Guild of America West on Twitter.

If its been fed both copyright-protected and public domain content, it cannot distinguish between the two. Its output is not eligible for copyright protection, nor can an AI software program sign a certificate of authorship.

The guild wants to ensure that writers cannot be assigned AI-generated material and told to adapt the content into work. It also wants to ensure that movie studios cannot claim that AI is responsible for literary material.

Jeff Sneider, of movie industry watcher magazine Above the Line, citing multiple insider sources, says that nearly every Hollywood studio is now exploring the possibility of using AI to generate movie and TV scripts based on intellectual property that is in the public domain.

AI has seemingly become the defining issue of this strike, as the very profession of film and television writing is at stake, as is the future of the guild itself, he wrote.

The uncomfortable truth is that real artists arent sweating AI, its the lower-level writers who worry that it could replace them.

Analyst firm Gartners global head of research Chris Howard says Hollywoods writers are right to be concerned that generative AI could be used to reduce the cost of movie production by creating script drafts that are just adequate enough.

However, smart studios will realise that human sensibilities are not so easily replicated, and will engage screenwriters in a new way, he told the Standard.

The big unknown is whether people will accept AI as an integrated part of their lives or will push back on an AI-mediated life. Geoffrey Hinton is right to raise the philosophical-societal flag and we need to have an open discussion about that and how we develop policy to ensure people-centered development of technology.
H ypersonic flights could one day take European passengers to Australia in just over four hours, according to a Swiss startup building hydrogen-powered planes.

Destinus, which was established in 2021, is due to test its third prototype this year. This will put the company closer to its goal of running journeys five times faster than the speed of sound.

Martina Lofqvist, Destinuss business development manager, told CNN last week that the company was aiming to launch a limited-capacity aircraft in the 2030s, which will carry business-class customers. Eventually, a full-scale version could be whizzing customers around the world by the 2040s.

Travelling at Mach 5, a measurement of speed that will make the flights hypersonic rather than merely supersonic, Destinus is relying on its hydrogen fuel to enable longer journeys.

We try to go very, very ultra-long range with our vehicles, Lofqvist told CNN. And that is to fly from Europe all the way to Australia at Mach 5. Using kerosene means that the vehicle would become quite heavy, while hydrogen is very light in comparison.

The company, which is headquartered in Switzerland but employs people across Spain, France and Germany, is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich.

With a background in physics, the Russian national has founded multiple companies in the aerospace sector, including American space infrastructure group Momentus.

Since raising $29 million (23 million) last year, the company has added the likes of Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque and French Major General Michel Friedling to its board. Last month, it struck a deal for projects worth 26.7 million with the Spanish government to expand its hydrogen propulsion capabilities.

Destinus has already conducted successful test flights with its first two prototypes, but the newest model will be much heavier and more complex.

The company is not the only one looking to shake up air travel. Other firms such as the USs Boom Supersonic are also working on reviving supersonic travel, promising London to New York trips that could take as little as 3.5 hours. Meanwhile, French firm Zephalto recently opened booking for a luxury experience on board its stratospheric balloon.
T he Joe Biden adminstration is challenging thousands of hackers to see if they are able to break into artificially intelligent (AI) systems such as ChatGPT. This is part of a series of new actions designed to promote responsible artificial intelligence (AI) innovation that protects Americans rights and safety.

The White House announced last week that leading AI developers in the US, including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia and Anthropic, would in August participate in a public test of their AI systems at Defcon 31. This is one of the worlds largest cybersecurity conferences held annually in Las Vegas.

At the same time, US Vice President Kamala Harris met the bosses of tech firms OpenAI, Microsoft, Alphabet and Anthropic to discuss critical AI risks and opportunities, particularly those pertaining to cybersecurity, biosecurity, and safety.

This independent exercise will provide critical information to researchers and the public about the impacts of these models, and will enable AI companies and developers to take steps to fix issues found in those models, the White House wrote in its briefing.

Testing of AI models independent of government or the companies that have developed them is an important component in their effective evaluation.

OpenAIs large language model (LLM) service ChatGPT gained popularity last year as an educational tool that can speed up writing tasks and even teach people how to code. However, there are many concerns that the technology is biased and makes answers up, as it looks at internet content from the late 1990s until only 2021.

While President Bidens administration recognises that AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time, it also wants to make sure that any possible risks are mitigated.

The US government is therefore placing a fundamental responsibility on tech firms to make sure that their products are safe before they are deployed.

In February, the US president signed an executive order directing federal agencies to ensure that they root out bias in the design of any systems used. The order was to ensure that citizens were protected from computer algorithmic discrimination.

This came following multiple examples showing that the use of AI in courts, academia and commerce could lead computers to making discriminatory decisions. These were due to historical data fed into them that showed a clear bias against certain classes of society.

But the announcement also shows clear recognition from the US government that AI companies do offer great potential value.

Alongside the announcements about risks, the White House also outlined plans to create seven new national AI research institutes, backed by $140 million (111m) in government funding.

The idea is to advance breakthroughs using AI in areas including climate, agriculture, energy, public health, education, and cyber security.

The momentum of AI is enormous right now and is past the point where it can be banned. The smart approach is to learn as much as possible about AI technologies so that they can be governed, analyst firm Gartners global head of research Chris Howard told The Standard.

Education leads to better regulation. Regulation leads to better standards. Standards make innovations practical and useful.

He says that the US governments approach to dealing with AI is a result of a prescedent set by Microsoft in 2018, when the tech giant made the unusual move of requesting that lawmakers come up with legislations to govern facial recognition.

My experience with these tech companies is that they welcome government engagement during the early stages of implementation, Howard added.

An open dialogue is better than finding something down the road and you havent built that engagement. Thats when bad things happen. Understanding a technology like AI from multiple angles will mitigate knee-jerk reactions.
M eta, the owner of WhatsApp, is considering pulling the popular private messaging app from the UK over an ongoing row regarding the contentious proposed Online Safety Bill, ministers have been warned.

Childrens charities and the UK Home Office have in the last few years raised concerns that tech giants need to take responsibility for detecting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and terrorism content in social media networks.

But Baroness Claire Fox told the House of Lords last week that the online safety bill legislation was putting enormous pressure on tech giants and that they could just decide to quit the UK and focus on other markets.

These services, such as WhatsApp, will potentially leave the UK. This is not like threatening to storm off, she said.

We must remember that they are global platforms. They have a system that works for billions of people all around the world. A relatively small market such as the UK is not something for which they would compromise their billions of users around the world.

The tech industry says protecting users privacy is key and that firms shouldnt be able to scan private messages sent by the public. They want a cybersecurity technology called end-to-end encryption to be built into their messaging apps, which prevents anyone outside of the parties receiving messages from viewing them.

Tech giants argue that end-to-end encryption is crucial to fighting online scams, fraud and data breaches.

Meanwhile, some governments and childrens charities claim that paedophiles are using private messaging apps to groom children and share illegal content, completely unnoticed by the service providers. They also say the likes of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter and Tiktok either need to scan photos and messages and inform the police, or build technology for this.

Tech giants say that asking them to break end-to-end encryption would be akin to allowing government mass surveillance of the general public, which would be in breach of our human rights.

A Home Office spokesman told The Standard: We support strong encryption, but this cannot come at the cost of public safety. Tech companies have a moral duty to ensure they are not blinding themselves and law enforcement to the unprecedented levels of child sexual abuse on their platforms.

The Online Safety Bill in no way represents a ban on end-to-end encryption, nor will it require services to weaken encryption.

Where it is the only effective, proportionate and necessary action available, Ofcom will be able to direct platforms to use accredited technology, or make best endeavours to develop new technology, to accurately identify child sexual abuse content, so it can be taken down and the despicable predators brought to justice.

EU plans to scan private messages

At least 10 European countries have backed plans to force Facebook and Instagram to scan every single message, but such a move would enable mass surveillance of billions of users / PA Wire

The UK is not the only country where new rules about social media are being considered.

In May 2022, the European Commission proposed a new Chat Control law. This would make it mandatory for all online services to use artificial intelligence (AI) to scan every single message or email sent for possible child grooming or CSAM content.

This is similar to the online safety bill, except that the UK legislation is written in a more ambiguous way, compared with the EUs proposed legislation.

However, a new leaked document written by lawyers for the Council of the European Union, seen by UK magazine ComputerWeekly, warns that such a bill would be in breach of EU privacy rights.

It appears that the generalised screening of content of communications to detect any kind of CSAM would require de facto prohibiting, weakening or otherwise circumventing cybersecurity measures, the lawyers warned.

While tech firms have continued to champion end-to-end encryption as being crucial to protecting users privacy on the internet, 10 European countries are now backing new rules to enable the blanket monitoring of private messages. These include Ireland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia and Lithuania.

Given that Ireland is where many major tech giants have data centres in Europe, such a law being passed would enable EU governments to have access to billions of users content.
Austrian-Egyptian actress Amira El-Sayed will appear in five of first six episodes of the new Cold War era HBO series Spy/Master.



The series will have its international debut on HBO Max - the American subscription video on-demand streaming platform - with six episodes to be released on 19 May.

El-Sayed grew up as a child in Alexandria before moving to Vienna.

She was previously casted in a number of international productions, including A Hologram for the King which starred Tom Hanks and directed by Tom Tykwer.

El-Sayed appears in episodes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in Spy/Master.

Created by Adina Sadeanu and Kirsten Peter, Spy/Master was produced by HBO Romania and directed by Christopher Smith.

The series is loosely based on a true story which took place in the 1970s during the Cold War era in Romania and West Germany.

According to the Spy/Master brief, the series follows Victor Godeanu, Ceausescu's right-hand man, who has a secret. He is also a KGB agent and must escape before he is discovered, so he will seize a valuable diplomatic opportunity.

The first two episodes of the series premiered in and received a nomination for the Berlinale Series Award (2023).

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EDMONTON - Dozens of people gathered Saturday around a memorial of flowers and stuffed animals in a park as Indigenous drummers sang in honour of a slain mother and her 11-year-old.

Family members identified the victims of the Friday afternoon attack outside an elementary school as Carolann Robillard, 35, and Sarah Miller, who had started using the first name Jayden.

Im really grateful for everyone for being here, said a sobbing Donna Robillard, as others held hands and said prayers.

Carolann, my daughter, she was a beautiful girl  and Sarah was always happy and full of joy. She loved her family very much, and her sisters and her mom.

Why my daughter? Why my granddaughter?

Police have said the woman and child were stabbed about suppertime Friday outside Crawford Plains School in southeast Edmonton.

They said officers responded and shot a man matching a description of the suspect after an altercation. The woman died at the scene and the child later died in hospital.

The suspect was in hospital in critical condition, police said, and Albertas police watchdog was investigating the shooting.

Police said they did not know if the suspect knew the victims.

Max Dow, 13, took a teddy bear to the park. Standing with his parents, he said he had witnessed part of the attack.

It was really graphic, there was blood everywhere, he said. It was like right out of a horror movie.

He said the woman was with two children in a white car, when a man went up to them. The man grabbed one of the children by the head and banged the child against a car door, he said.

Then he started stabbing, said Max. I told the other (child) to run, I came home and told my family and they called police.

Donna Robillard said her eight-year-old granddaughter, who escaped the attack, is going to have a hard time. Shes going to need a lot of counselling since she has seen it all.

Carolann Robillard, a single Cree mother of three, was a kind free-spirit, said her former brother-in-law Dave Miller. He described Jayden as kind and loving.

Dan Lauton went to the vigil with his family and brought a bouquet of flowers.He said his daughter and Jayden both attended Crawford Plains, and he was shocked to hear of the killings.

The crazy thing for me was that it was in broad daylight  a mom and her kid at the park, like it might as well have been at a grocery store, he said.

Edmonton Public Schools said in a statement that staff and students will need support. The divisions Critical Incident Support Services team will be available at Crawford Plains School on Monday morning when classes resume, it said.

United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith spoke about the killings on Twitter. This is utterly tragic and my heart goes out to the entire family of the victims, she wrote.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley also said in an online post that she was heartbroken: I share the shock and sadness of our community.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2023.

___

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Stanislav Vasylchuk is more than 6,000 kilometres from home, and hes the only Ukrainian in the remote Newfoundland mining town of Baie Verte, a community of about 1,300 people surrounded by scrubby northern woods and towering rocky slopes. There are no hip cafes where the 29-year-old engineer might meet people. There isnt even a set of stoplights.

But he loves it. He hikes, he goes to barbecues, he does yoga at the gym and he lives next to the ocean. I dont know how to explain it, he said in a recent interview over Zoom. Its beautiful. Its just beautiful.

Vasylchuk arrived in Newfoundland a year ago Tuesday, part of a provincial government-led effort to bring Ukrainians fleeing the war to a province with a dwindling rural population. But after the company running the Baie Verte gold and copper mine where he worked declared insolvency last month, hes in the same boat as so many rural Newfoundlanders whove had to leave: he needs a job.

Vasylchuk was aboard the first of four planes chartered by the provincial government to transport displaced Ukrainians. It landed in St. Johns, N.L., late in the evening on May 9, 2022, its passengers greeted by a welcoming local crowd.

Newfoundland and Labrador is home to the countrys oldest and most rapidly aging population, driven by decades of out-migration in rural parts of the province. Young people leave in search of jobs when they cant find one at home, and they leave their aging parents behind.

The provincial government is counting on immigration to fill those gaps, and it established a satellite office in Warsaw, Poland, shortly after Russia launched its first attacks on Ukraine. Government employees there worked with citizens, staff and immigration organizations back in Newfoundland and Labrador to help the Ukrainians find jobs and places to stay before they arrived.

More than 2,400 Ukrainians have since settled in more than 30 different communities in the province, according to the Association of New Canadians.

Vasylchuk, who goes by Stan, stepped off the plane with a job as an engineering technologist lined up at the Baie Verte mine owned by Rambler Metals and Mining. For the first few months, he stayed at a hotel in St. Johns with dozens of other newly arrived Ukrainians while resettlement workers helped him get a drivers licence and insurance and set up a bank account.

He then hopped on the bus for a six-hour journey across Newfoundland to the Baie Verte Peninsula. When he showed up for work, there were signs welcoming him in Ukrainian, he said.

People in Baie Verte are still supporting him, he said. They helped him find a cheaper place to rent when he lost his job, and people in the mining industry helped him attend a conference in Gander, N.L., in late April so he could meet more peers and employers, he said. Theyre also helping him get set up to obtain certification as an engineer in training.

I would say Im quite lucky, he said. A lot of people have helped me.

The smallness of his new community, Vasylchuk said, is nothing I need to get used to. He grew up in the village of Dubiivka, in central Ukraine, which is much smaller than Baie Verte, though the land looks completely different. The woods in Ukraine are thicker, with taller trees, he said, and the central region is full of wheat fields.

You know, the flag of Ukraine? If you see it, it is yellow on the bottom and blue on the top, he said. The place where I lived, thats what it looks like.

In Newfoundland, where the blue skies are a little rarer, he said he loves to climb to the 335-metre summit of a popular local hiking trail and look out over the hills.

Vasylchuk has a graduate degree and hes qualified to work in several countries. Hes lived in big cities in Germany and the Czech Republic, but he said he prefers small communities.

He had long dreamed of emigrating to Canada, and hed been living in Prague before he came to Newfoundland, earning money to make the move. When the war broke out in Ukraine, his father urged him to go to Canada rather than return home, he said, but the decision still weighs on him sometimes.

His mother and father are also engineers and theyre still in Ukraine, he said. When he worked at the mine, he sent them money. He said hes particularly worried about his mother, who has a disability. His father volunteered to fight, but Vasylchuk said hes applied to have his mother come to Canada  ideally to Newfoundland.

She has two degrees, actually. Construction engineering and economics, he said, the pride clear on his face. He said his experience being cared for in Canada have convinced him that shed also be looked after here.

But I definitely hope I will be able to find a proper job, he said. Im doing my best here.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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EDMONTON - Alberta United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith declined Tuesday to discuss prior comments equating the COVID-19 vaccinated to Nazi supporters, saying its time to move on from the dark days of the pandemic.

COVID was a really difficult and frustrating time for everyone, including me, and I dont think that there is a single one of us that wasnt deeply impacted in some way, Smith told reporters.

Sometimes I let my frustrations get to me during that time. I clearly shouldnt have.

Albertans go to the polls on May 29.

Smiths comments came a day after she apologized in a written statement for comments she made as a journalist and pundit on a podcast in late 2021, in which she characterized Albertans who took the COVID vaccine as credulous followers of genocidal tyrants like Adolf Hitler.

Smith is also heard on the podcast saying she was not wearing the Remembrance Day poppy out of disgust for the COVID restrictions imposed at the time by political leaders.

Bnai Brith Canada and the Alberta-NWT branch of the Royal Canadian Legion have condemned the comments.

The Calgary Jewish Federation has said it wont weigh in during the election, but pointed to a March 2021 newspaper column that criticized Smith for raising concerns COVID mandates could eventually mirror medical experiments the Nazis did on humans.

Smith declined to answer a question Tuesday on why she was allowed to stay on as a UCP candidate while the party late last year barred Nadine Wellwood from running in Livingstone-Macleod in part for making similar comments.

The Opposition NDP, in a statement, criticized the UCP for disqualifying Wellwood while letting Smith stay on.

Its clear that the UCP has abandoned its principles if its willing to be led by someone who casually compares Albertans to Nazis and refuses to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day, said Gwendoline Dirk, the candidate running against Smith in Brooks-Medicine Hat.

Smith said her goal has been to move on from COVID since she won the party leadership last October to replace Jason Kenney as UCP leader and premier.

I vowed when I got elected that we were going to put it in the past, that we were going to look forward, that we were going to make sure that this was a place where everybody from every walk of life felt valued and respected and optimistic about the future, she said.

Smith ran and won the UCP leadership in part by capitalizing on anger and concerns from party members over COVID restrictions.

On her first day as premier, Smith called the COVID unvaccinated the most discriminated-against group she had seen in her lifetime.

She then fired the board of Alberta Health Services and the chief medical officer of health, blaming both for poor advice and inadequate response that led to hospitals being overwhelmed during the pandemic.

She promised to seek pardons for those charged with non-violent COVID offences, but later backed off, saying she didnt realize premiers dont possess such powers.

She has said she pushes senior justice officials on whether COVID cases are winnable and in the public interest.

She has threatened to sue the CBC for defamation over stories alleging someone in Smiths office was interfering with justice officials on how they pursued COVID court cases. The CBC stands by its reporting.

Smith is under investigation by Albertas ethics commissioner after a leaked recording of a phone call surfaced in late March in which she is heard offering to help COVID protester Artur Pawlowski with his criminal case.

Smith promised to change Alberta human rights laws to ban discrimination based on COVID vaccination status, but hasnt followed through.

In November, Smith announced she was phoning up organizations with COVID vaccine mandates to urge them to change their minds, tying it to government funding if need be. She also asked Albertans to call her government to report on those imposing vaccine mandates.

She banned mandatory masking in schools and has rejected mandatory health rules to combat any future COVID pandemics.

She promised to create her own team of advisers to guide her on public health policy, saying in November she wanted to hear from a former U.S. policymaker who has called COVID vaccines bioweapons. That panel never got off the ground and was quietly scrapped in January.

She has struck a panel led by former Reform party leader Preston Manning to examine any legislative reforms that should be considered coming out of COVID. Manning took the job after agreeing to step aside from his role in a national citizens inquiry into social and economic harm caused by COVID rules.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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Hundreds of seabirds found dead on Africas coast. Remains of endangered condors discovered in California. Dozens of dead Canada geese removed from a Markham park.

Around the world, a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza is killing wild birds in numbers never seen before.

This strain is unfortunately affecting wild birds quite severely and many, many species are getting severely ill and dying from this virus, said Brian Stevens, the wildlife pathologist for the Ontario and Nunavut branch of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, a group of scientific experts that monitor the health of wildlife.

Its very different from most other avian influenza viruses that weve come across.

The current outbreak of avian flu, which began in Europe in 2020 and reached North America a year later, is said to be one of the biggest in history.

Its estimated 200 million birds have died worldwide.

In Canada, the virus has killed an estimated 46,000 wild birds since monitoring began here in December 2021, although many more mortalities have likely gone undetected, said Christopher Sharp, a population management biologist with Canadian Wildlife Service, a branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Wild birds pick up the virus from other birds when migrating in large numbers, but they dont typically die from it.

The key difference from earlier outbreaks is that HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) is circulating broadly in wild birds, said Sharp in an email. In addition, the current virus has led to significantly greater mortality in wild birds than what was previously experienced.

The impact of the virus could be lessened somewhat this year, he said, because its now been circulating for a year, which could give wild birds some immunity. There will, however, likely be infection in young birds that have never encountered the virus before or in older birds whose immunity has waned with time, said Sharp.

Canada has been hit with outbreaks of HPAI before.

But in the past, the virus has been most dangerous for domestic poultry, where it spreads through contact with wild birds or indirectly through fecal matter and contaminated water, soil and feed, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which monitors for the virus on farms.

It can have devastating consequences, according to the agency. Millions of poultry were culled on farms in Canada last year to stop the spread of the virus, which attacks the intestinal and respiratory tracks of the animals and spreads quickly among chickens and turkeys and is more lethal.

Nearly 7.5 million poultry have been affected in the current outbreak, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, although the number of domestic birds affected this year is down more than a third compared to the same time period last year.

However the federal agency notes that Canada is still in the midst of the spring migration period, which lasts until June.

This means that there is still a possibility for the number of affected birds to increase in the coming months, said the agency. Its important to note that the ongoing response is unique in the number of detections, the geographical distribution of outbreaks and its long duration, which has extended beyond typical migratory periods.

Stevens said that avian influenza viruses, like human flu virus, mutate and change.

Presumably at some point this virus is going to change and that is going to lessen the virulence, said Stevens. And its going to be taken over by another strain of the virus that will then move to the population and hopefully not be as severe a strain.

But as I said, we havent come across a virus like this, he said, one that sticks around in the wild population as long as it has.

So I dont know when that is going to happen or how long were in for. But presumably at some point in the future this will lessen and we wont have to worry about it as much.

Scientists dont know the rate that the virus is killing wild birds because they dont know how many are infected.

For instance, more Canada geese died in the GTA this year compared to last year, including hundreds of dead geese that were removed from a Markham park this spring. The city hired a contractor to collect the birds, which were brought to a landfill and incinerated.

Canada geese seem to be more susceptible, said Stevens. We have people that contact us and say theres a handful of Canada geese that have died from this. But theres 50 others in the pond that seem to be fine.

So we dont know exactly how susceptible Canada geese are, said Stevens. But because they are out in parks where people are seeing them, theyre reported to us more than many other species.

There is no evidence that the geese are carriers. Instead, scientists believe dabbling ducks such as mallards are the carriers, because they dont appear to be symptomatic or die from infections.

This makes them more likely to be a key species group for moving the virus around on the landscape, said Sharp.

The strain has however killed other species including snow geese, tundra swans and trumpeter swans. And scavenger birds that feed on remains have also fallen prey to the virus, including bald eagles, red tailed hawks, great horned owls, turkey vultures and crows, said Stevens.

In May, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative diagnosed the death of the first mammals in Ontario, red fox kits.

Across the country, the virus has been found in 110 mammals across 10 species, including scavenging species such as the red fox, striped skunk and mink, as well as in opportunistic marine mammals such as harbour seal and the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, according to Sharp.

Mammals infected with HPAI have been found in all provinces and territories, except for New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, he said.

Its extremely rare for the virus to infect humans, or pets for that matter, although a domestic dog in Canada was confirmed in April this year to have died from the virus.

Pet owners are advised to keep cats indoors and dogs on a leash to limit contact with potentially infected wild birds or carcasses, and to minimize exposure to outside environments such as ponds where birds congregate. Pets shouldnt be given any raw meat from game birds or poultry. And people shouldnt feed or handle any wild bird by hand.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said dead, injured, or sick birds should be reported immediately to the relevant provincial or territorial authority, or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative information line at 1-800-567-2033 or by using their online reporting tool.

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Accused mobster Vincenzo (Jimmy) DeMaria told a GTA deportation hearing he knows nothing of the inner workings of the Ndrangheta strain of the Mafia or any other organized crime group.

DeMaria, 69, a baker, financial services executive and convicted killer, faces deportation to his birthplace of Italy.

He came to the GTA when he was just nine months old but never took out citizenship and is only a permanent resident of Canada.

DeMaria said he just knows organized crime he has read in newspapers. He admitted he knows some people whose names have appeared in news accounts, with names like Commisso and Figliomeni.

Ive actually seen my name, he said, briefly laughing.

For the most part, he was serious and businesslike throughout the hearing.

De Maria didnt laugh when he spoke of a murder that sent him to prison for a decade and made him a lifetime parolee.

He said he shot Vincenzo Figliomeni to death on April 22, 1981, at his College Street fruit business because he feared for his life.

He said that Figliomeni owed him $2,000 and lunged at him with a knife.

Ill always maintain that he attacked me with a knife and I defended myself, DeMaria testified at the deportation hearing.

DeMaria said that he had a social relationship of sorts with the victim  we were friends, acquaintances, friends, he said  and added that the killing still haunts him.

Its remorse, DeMaria said. Im going to have that for the rest of my life.

He said he found the pistol he used to kill Figliomeni in the basement of a pool hall a year before the shooting and hid it in an alley.

DeMaria said that he and Figliomeni were originally from the same area in the southern Italian province of Calabria, and that there is extensive intermarriage between their two families.

DeMaria said that he has no relationship with convicted Ndrangheta member Giuseppe Ursino, who told authorities that DeMaria gained power when he killed Figliomeni.

Thats insane, DeMaria told the deportation hearing, saying he wouldnt know Ursino if Ursino appeared in front of him.

DeMaria added he hasnt communicated with his brother Giuseppe (Joe) DeMaria for the past three years and also hasnt talked in years with his cousin Nicola Cortesse.

The hearing heard that his brother Joe is wanted by Italian authorities on organized crime association charges while Cortesse did prison time for break-and-enter and theft convictions.

DeMaria said hes a distant relative of Cosimo Figliomeni of York Region, who was accused by Italian authorities in 2009 of criminal associations.

DeMaria said that he also knows brothers Cosimo Elia Commisso and Rocco Remo Commiso, both of York Region, as they are all from Siderno Marina in southern Italy.

He said he also knew the Commissos from York Region social events and Millhaven Penitentiary in the early 1980s, after the brothers were convicted of several offenses, including three counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

He said he didnt talk about crime with the Commisso brothers while behind bars.

You dont ask people about charges inside the (penitentiaries), he said. It just isnt done.

The hearing continues.

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Three Toronto teens face more than 50 criminal charges after an armed carjacking and pharmacy robbery in Toronto and Vaughan last week.

On May 4, Toronto police responded to reports of a person with a gun near Finch Avenue West and Weston Road in North York.

In a press release, police allege that the three boys, who range in age from 14 to 17, approached an elderly person sitting in their car.

One boy pointed a gun at the driver, demanded their keys and forcefully removed them from their car, police said.

The three boys stole the victims car and also ripped their shirt and removed their necklace during the struggle, according to police.

A second alleged incident took place the next day near Highway 7 and Marycroft Avenue, in Vaughan.

Police said the boys drove the carjacking victims car to a pharmacy, demanded narcotics and committed an armed robbery.

After fleeing the pharmacy with a quantity of narcotics, police said officers watched the teens car speed away and eventually strike an electrical pole before coming to a stop.

Officers recovered stolen drugs and a sawed-off shotgun during the arrest.

The three teens, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, face more than 50 charges, including robbery with a firearm.

The teens were set to appear in court for bail hearings following their arrest on May 5.

In February, Insp. Rich Harris of the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad said he was concerned about the sheer number of violent pharmacy robberies taking place, in the city, as well as the number of young people allegedly involved in the crimes.

The squads Project Mayhem investigation resulted in the arrest of six people under 18 years of age in relation to armed pharmacy robberies.

Harris said 69 per cent of those arrested in relation to pharmacy robberies in Toronto in 2022 were under 18.

In March, the Ontario College of Pharmacists, which regulates the provinces community and hospital pharmacies, voted to require the installation of time-delayed safes for narcotics and high-risk drugs.

The decision was made in response to a surge in pharmacy robberies across all of Ontario.

According to data provided by the Toronto Police Service in March, the number of pharmacy robberies in the city more than doubled to 123 thefts in 2022 from 49 in 2021 .

With files from Alessia Passafiume and Peter Edwards

MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie

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Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial in New South Wales.

The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death.

Its killing koalas because they become so sick they cant climb trees to get food, or escape predators, and females can become infertile, said Samuel Phillips, a microbiologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast who helped to develop the vaccine.

The scientists initial goal is to catch, vaccinate and monitor around half of the koala population in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales  that means vaccinating around 50 animals.

The safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine, which has been designed specifically for koalas, has previously been tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions.

Now scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating a population of wild koalas. We want to evaluate what percentage of the koalas we need to vaccinate to meaningfully reduce infection and disease, said Phillips.

The first koalas were caught and vaccinated in March, and the effort is expected to last about three months.

Researchers use binoculars to spot koalas in eucalyptus trees, then construct circular enclosures around the tree bases with doors leading into cages. After a few hours or days, the koalas will eventually climb down from one tree to seek tasty leaves on another, and wander into the harmless traps.

Its hard to confuse a koala with any other animals  theyre pretty easy to spot, said Jodie Wakeman, veterinary care and clinical director at Friends of the Koala, a nonprofit that runs a wildlife hospital where the koalas are being brought for vaccination.

After a check-up to make sure the animals are in good condition, researchers administer anesthesia and shots of vaccine, then keep them under observation for 24 hours after they wake up, to confirm there are no unexpected side effects, said Wakeman.

The goal is to vaccinate healthy koalas to prevent them from becoming infected with chlamydia.

Before release, the researchers mark the koalas with a dab of pink dye on their backs, to ensure the same animals arent caught twice.

When the first vaccinated koala was returned to her habitat on March 9, the scientists placed her cage at the base of a tree and opened the door. She quickly emerged and bounded up the tree trunk.

Koalas are iconic Australian marsupials, like wombats and kangaroos. They spend most of their time eating and sleeping in eucalyptus trees, and their paws have two opposing thumbs to help them grasp and climb up trunks.

Australias wild koala populations have declined steeply in the past two decades.

Last February, Australias federal government declared koalas endangered in the eastern regions of New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

Facing compounded threats from disease, habitat loss and road collisions, koalas could become extinct by 2050, according to a 2020 assessment from the New South Wales government.

Around half of wild koalas in Queensland are already infected with chlamydia, scientists estimate.

In deciding to vaccinate, the scientists are balancing the risk of disturbing the animals against the danger of allowing the disease to spread. The trial was approved by multiple government bodies, including Australias agriculture department and New South Wales planning and environment department.

The origins of chlamydia in koalas arent confirmed, but scientists believe its likely the marsupials initially caught the disease from exposure to the feces of infected sheep and cattle. Then its spread sexually, or passed from mother to offspring.

While humans and livestock infected with the bacteria that causes chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics, its not so simple for koalas.

The complex microbes inside the stomachs of koalas are designed to neutralize toxins in eucalyptus leaves that are their main food source, said Mathew Crowther, a conservation biologist at the University of Sydney. But their digestive systems can also neutralize some medicines so that means they dont respond well to antibiotics treatment, he said.

Crowther has been monitoring a population of koalas in northern New South Wales for more than a decade. In 2008, 10% of animals tested there were infected with chlamydia. Today that rate is 80%.

Its been devastating  theres very, very low fertility, he said. You hardly see any babies.

The other threats koalas face  including habitat destruction from land clearing and climate-enhanced wildfires  may increase their stress levels, weakening their immune systems and making them more susceptible to diseases including chlamydia, said Crowther.

Rebecca Johnson, now chief scientist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., previously led the Koala Genome Consortium in Australia. She said that seeing the effects of the disease up close was heartbreaking.

A necropsy of one koala with advanced chlamydia that was euthanized revealed ovaries completely encased in cysts and intestines full of hard lumps of food, evidence that she couldnt properly digest food, recalled Johnson. She was obviously infertile and in pain.

There are only a handful of other examples worldwide of scientists attempting to catch and inoculate endangered wildlife for conservation. In 2016, scientists began to vaccinate Hawaiian monk seals against a deadly strain of morbillivirus. Two and a half years ago, biologists in Brazil began to vaccinate golden lion tamarins against yellow fever.

Vaccination for wildlife is certainly not routine yet, said Jacob Negrey, a biologist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. But whether it should be used more often is a fundamental question that conservation biologists are really wrangling with right now.

The Smithsonians Johnson said the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for koalas. Vaccination is an incredibly resource-intensive thing to do. Koalas live high up in trees, she said.

But because the effects of chlamydia are so debilitating, I think its totally worth it.

___

Follow Christina Larson on Twitter: @larsonchristina

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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The upcoming visit by Pope Tawadros II to the Vatican will draw the Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches closer, reports Amira Hisham

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, is scheduled to visit the Vatican City in Rome from 9 to 14 May. The agenda of the 118th Coptic Orthodox Pope is very full and includes a meeting with Roman Catholic Pope Francis on 10 May.

The visit comes 10 years after Tawadros IIs first meeting with Pope Francis and 50 years after the first meeting between a Roman Catholic Pope and a Coptic Orthodox Pope and Patriarch. A decade ago the two popes agreed that 10 May should be declared Coptic-Catholic Friendship Day.

Pope Tawadros II told the media he will be accompanied by a delegation of 10 priests in Rome. The Egyptian pope will be present alongside Pope Francis for the general audience in St Peters Square at the Vatican, where he will give an address to the crowds.

Pope Tawadros II said the visit will commence with a meeting designed to discuss means for the two churches to draw closer together and a session between the Coptic Orthodox delegation and the Vatican.

On 13-14 May, Pope Tawadros II will visit Coptic Orthodox churches in Rome. Due to the small size of these churches, Pope Francis has allocated the Archbasilica of St John Lateran for Pope Tawadros to preside over the Coptic Orthodox liturgy.

During Pope Tawadros IIs pastoral visit to Rome in 2018, he presided over the liturgy at the St Paul the Apostle Church, the second-largest Catholic church in Italy.

During his meeting with the Egyptian media, the pope told Al-Ahram Weekly that he would share with Pope Francis in an ecumenical prayer, not a liturgical one that follows a certain structure based on the denomination of each group.

It will be just like the prayer we shared at St Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral when Pope Francis visited Cairo in April 2017, he said. We were then a large group of the heads of churches. We were not affiliated to the same denomination, but we were gathered in ecumenical prayer.

Before the announcement of Tawadros IIs visit to the Vatican, rumours had spread on some social-media platforms that the Egyptian pope would take part in a Catholic prayer, with some even accusing him of diverting from the teachings of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

This is not the first time that hardliners have spread disinformation about the popes foreign trips. Six months after Pope Tawadros II visited the Vatican for the first time in May 2013 on a European tour that included Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, rumours spread that he had shared in a Catholic prayer with Pope Francis.

The Coptic Orthodox Church denied the rumours in an official statement.

At times of closer rapprochement between the Coptic Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, similar rumours sometimes spread. However, there were no such rumours when former Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch, visited the Vatican in 1973.

Anba Epiphanius, bishop of the Anba Makkar Monastery, said during one of his foreign visits that those behind the rumours were a group of Coptic Orthodox Christians who feared for their personal interests.

Anba Epiphanius played an important role in the rapprochement between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches until he was murdered by Isiah Al-Maqary, a monk at the Anba Makkar Monastery, who was later sentenced to death.

Waves of rumours also occurred when Pope Francis visited Cairo in April 2017, with hardliners writing on social media that the Coptic Orthodox Church had accepted Catholic baptism.

A church statement said the two churches had agreed to seek to accept the baptism of Catholics rather than accepting the baptism of Catholics.

Anba Epiphanius then delivered a speech at the Friends of Arab Heritage Conference in February 2018 acknowledging the acceptance of the baptism of Catholics based on the writings of the Early Church.

The rapprochement between the Roman Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches witnessed strides in which Anba Epiphanius played a leading role. Pope Tawadros IIs upcoming visit to the Vatican is considered to be a resumption of the warm and amicable relations between the two churches.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  The Bolivian general who captured Argentine-Cuban guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara has been buried, and the ceremony was shunned by Bolivias leftist national government in a gesture that has angered his relatives.

Retired Gen. Gary Prado Salmon, a hero to some compatriots and a pariah to others, died Saturday at 84 from renal complications.

He had been declared a national hero in 1967, but also was accused in 2009 of involvement in a coup attempt against then-President Evo Morales. The Bolivian Army did not bury Pardo with any honors for Sundays ceremony, though he did receive tributes from city and regional officials.

No authority from President Luis Arces government issued any statement on Prados death, nor did any military officials. No active members of the military participated in the wake nor funeral and there were no active duty officers flanking Prados coffin, as is the norm for deceased members of the service  all of which has upset Prados family.

My husband will not be honored. The commanders violate the rules to please the government, Maria del Carmen Morales, Prados widow, told the local El Deber newspaper.

Prados son, Gary Prado Arauz, said a request by the Union of Retired Military Personnel that honors be rendered had been denied. Its a shame, he told journalists at his fathers wake.

The government of Luis Arce, like his predecessor (Morales), sympathizes with Che Guevara, so they wont honor Gary Prado. Thats why theyve chosen silence, said Paul Coca, a political science professor at the Franz Tamayo University. The Armed Forces, for their part, wont do anything that could bother or disturb the government.

In addition, Prado was an activist in the Revolutionary Left Movement of former president Jaime Paz, who is a declared political enemy of the Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, party of Arce and Morales, Coca said.

Prado did receive tributes from local authorities in Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the county where he lived. The government of the Santa Cruz region laid Prado in state and friends and family members as well as retired military officers celebrated a Mass in the citys cathedral before he was buried.

Prado was a captain on October 8, 1967 when he commanded the patrol that captured the legendary guerrilla fighter in the Bolivian jungle.

In his book How I Captured Che and in subsequent interviews, Prado stated he was not responsible for Guevaras execution, which was ordered by higher-ranking officers. I had nothing to do with it. I was looking for the other guerrilla fighters. When I returned to the camp, they had already executed him, he said.

Later in life, Prado was Bolivias ambassador to Great Britain in the early 1990s and to Mexico in 2000-2002. It was during his posting in Mexico that Mexican writer and filmmaker Alberto Hijar threw a glass of wine in his face, shouting, To the health of Che, murderer.

The government substantially distanced itself from Prado during the tenure of Morales, a leftist president in office from 2006 to 2019, who is a recognized admirer of the Cuban revolution and a friend of late Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Prado served 11 years of home detention after he was accused of alleged terrorism as part of a supposed coup plot against Morales in 2009. Morales is the current leader of the MAS.

While Prado was in the opposition, he was admired by supporters for his backing of the leaders of Santa Cruz, the countrys economic engine that has long been at odds with politicians in La Paz.

Former center-right President Carlos Mesa, who was in office 2003-2005, sent a message of condolence. I am deeply saddened by the death of General Gary Prado, an honorable military man and a good person. A protagonist of a historic and fundamental event in our history, the capture of Ernesto Che Guevara, he tweeted.

Guevaras guerrillas fought in the Bolivian jungle for nine months between 1966 and 1967.

Guevara, an Argentine who later became a Cuban citizen, was buried alongside other guerrilla fighters in Valle Grande, near where he was captured. The whereabouts of his remains were kept secret until they were recovered and moved to Santa Clara, Cuba in 1997.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  A prominent GOP candidate roiled the hotly contested primary race for Kentucky governor with a comment that if elected, we will not have transgenders in our school system, angering LGBTQ advocates in a state that has enacted laws limiting the rights of transgender youth.

Former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft made the comment in response to a question during a telephone town hall Monday night. She did not specify what policy actions she envisioned involving transgender students, but her campaign weighed in Tuesday when asked to respond.

Of course Kelly was referring to the woke ideologies being pushed in our schools, her campaign said in a statement. She has been advocating for the best for all children this entire campaign.

Crafts comments were swiftly denounced as desperate and disgusting by Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, a Kentucky-based LGBTQ advocacy group.

Craft is waging a combative contest against state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as part of a 12-candidate field vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the May 16 primary. Crafts running mate, state Sen. Max Wise, sponsored a sweeping law aimed at transgender youth this year.

Her claim that she and Wise will somehow purge transgender kids from Kentucky schools is nothing more than an unhinged political promise she cant keep, Hartman said.

None of the other candidates are railing this hard against LGBTQ youth because it wont work, except to harm trans kids, he added.

The nominee is expected to challenge Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who is seeking reelection to a second term in the GOP-trending state and faces nominal opposition in his partys primary. Other Republican contenders include state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, state Auditor Mike Harmon, retired attorney Eric Deters and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck.

Craft spent an hour fielding questions reportedly submitted by callers across Kentucky, with topics including her stand on gun rights, abortion and fighting illegal drugs.

One question asked Craft how shed combat the transgender agenda in classrooms. Craft noted that Wise sponsored the measure dealing with, among other things, school bathroom policies, curriculum and which pronouns are used to refer to transgender students.

Craft added: Under a Craft-Wise administration, we will not have transgenders in our school system.

She later doubled down in answering the same question, saying: Under a Craft-Wise administration, we will not have transgender.

Throughout the campaign, Craft has railed against what she claims are woke ideologies infiltrating Kentucky public schools, pledging to lead efforts to overhaul the state education department if elected. With her remarks about transgender children, Craft upped the ante in her culture-war messaging.

The question is whether the strategy will pay off against a field of staunchly conservative candidates. Craft has put millions of her familys fortune into a barrage of TV advertising.

Theres no doubt that that issue polls very, very well with core Republican primary voters, GOP political consultant T.J. Litafik said by phone Tuesday. The danger that any candidate faces is going so extreme to win a very small primary vote that you cant get back to the middle for a general election.

The Kentucky legislation is part of a widespread movement, along with Republican state lawmakers in other states who have approved extensive measures that restrict the rights of LGBTQ people.

The debate about transgender issues is likely to continue into Kentuckys fall campaign for governor.

Beshear vetoed the sweeping measure that banned gender-affirming medical care for trans youth  one of many provisions affecting young transgender people. Beshear said the legislation amounted to government overreach into parental rights in making medical decisions for their children.

My faith teaches me that all children are children of God, the governor said in his veto message.

The GOP-dominated legislature overrode the veto.

Other parts of the measure require school districts to devise bathroom policies that, at a minimum, would not allow transgender children to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identities. It allows teachers to refuse to refer to transgender students by the pronouns they use and requires schools to notify parents when lessons related to human sexuality are going to be taught.

Several Kentucky families with transgender children recently filed a federal lawsuit challenging the sections banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youths. The suit didnt take aim at other sections dealing with school policies.

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ALLEN, Texas (AP)  The shooter with neo-Nazi leanings who killed eight people at a suburban Dallas shopping mall brought eight legally purchased guns to the scene, apparently chose his victims randomly and was shot dead by police within four minutes, authorities said Tuesday.

The Allen police officer who shot and killed 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, ending Saturdays attack, acted heroically and saved countless lives through his quick action, Hank Sibley, the regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference. Authorities said the officer is still processing what happened and isnt ready to have his name made public.

If he hadnt have been there, I think wed have had a much more severe situation, Sibley said.

The investigation into Garcias motive is ongoing, but he expressed neo-Nazi beliefs, Sibley said, adding that Garcia had no criminal history before he opened fire at Allen Premium Outlets.

Garcia brought eight guns to the scene, including three that he had on him and five that were still in his vehicle, Sibley said. Garcia obtained all of the weapons legally. President Joe Biden has said the assailant wore tactical gear and fired an AR-15-style weapon.

Sibley said it seems Garcia targeted the location, rather than a specific group of people, adding that, he was very random in the people he killed.

The big question that were dealing with right now is, Whats his motive? Why did he do this? Sibley said. Well, the big question is, we dont know. Thats what the investigation is trying to find out.

Posts by Garcia on a Russian social networking site suggest that he planned for weeks before he launched the attack in Allen, a diverse community of about 100,000 people roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Dallas.

Garcia researched when the mall was busiest  Saturday afternoons  and posted photos on social media in mid-April of a store near where he ultimately began shooting people. Among those killed were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, and a 20-year-old security guard who was hailed for his bravery in the shooting.

The security guard, Christian LaCour, evacuated one individual to safety and was shot while courageously remaining to help others, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said at the news conference.

An Associated Press review of Garcias online activity shows he displayed a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, which he described as sport. Photos Garcia posted showed large Nazi tattoos on his arm and torso, including a swastika and the SS lightning bolt logo of Hitlers paramilitary forces.

The online statements have contributed to an emerging picture of Garcia. He was discharged from the Army in 2008 because of mental health issues and apparently had been working as a security guard, according to neighbors and an Army official.

Aric Toler, director of training and research at the international research collective bellingcat.com, said he identified Garcias profile on the site OK.RU by searching for active accounts with his birthdate located in the U.S. The AP independently verified the account, which also featured an image of a traffic ticket with Garcias name and birthdate as well as paperwork from a motel where he stayed before the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets in one of the Dallas most diverse suburbs.

Federal agents investigating what motivated the shooting have also reviewed the online posts, according to a federal law enforcement official who could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The official also said Garcia had a patch on his chest when police killed him that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad," which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups.

Investigators have also interviewed family members and associates of Garcia to ask about his ideological beliefs and are examining his financial records and other electronic media, the official said.

Garcia joined the Army in 2008 but was terminated three months later without completing his initial training, U.S. Army spokeswoman Heather J. Hagan said.

According to an Army official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues, he was kicked out due to mental health issues.

Garcia received an uncharacterized discharge, which is common for recruits who dont make it through training or the first 180 days, according to a defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues. That type of discharge  which is not dishonorable  would not set off red flags or require any reports to law enforcement.

At a Pentagon briefing Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, was asked about the shooters veteran status.

Hes not a veteran, Ryder told reporters. Again, as you highlight from the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to federal regulations, this individual in terms of the time of service would not qualify as a veteran.

On the Dallas block where Garcia lived with his parents until recently, neighbors said they thought he worked as a security guard but they werent sure where. The company that manages the mall where the attack happened didnt immediately reply to messages seeking further information.

Sibley said Tuesday that as far as he knew, Garcia hadnt worked at the Allen mall, but that he wasnt completely sure. He said Garcia hadnt worked in the security business for some time, and that his private security license in Texas had expired.

A woman who lives next door to Garcias parents house said she didnt know her neighbors well but described them as nice and polite. Garcia was always friendly, waving and honking, she said.

A law enforcement official said investigators also have searched a Dallas motel where Garcia had been staying in the runup to the attack.

The shooting was the latest attack to contribute to the unprecedented pace of mass killings this year in the U.S. Just over a week before, five people were fatally shot in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked a man to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept, authorities said.

The community mourned the dead and awaited word on the seven people who were wounded. Medical City Healthcare said Monday it was treating six patients: Three were in critical condition, two were in fair condition and one was in good condition at a childrens hospital. Police said a seventh wounded person was taken to a different hospital.

Allen is one of the areas most diverse cities. The area saw the largest Asian American growth rate of any major U.S. metro area, according to U.S. Census figures. Those statistics show that Allens population is about 19% Asian, 10% Black and 11% Hispanic.

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Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Lolita C. Baldor and Michael Balsamo in Washington, Gene Johnson in Seattle and Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

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EDMONTONThe wildfires ripping through northern Alberta have generated not only a human crisis but a political predicament.

How do political parties campaign during a general election when the province is under a state of emergency?

This is especially true for UCP Leader Danielle Smith, who is now facing the challenge of being both the leader of her partys campaign in a tight race and the leader of a government facing a crisis.

In crass political terms, this might be a pivotal moment for Smith.

The emergency gives her the opportunity to show herself as a competent leader. Opinion polls have so far indicated many Albertans simply dont see the gaffe-prone Smith as a trustworthy or capable premier.

In fact, she has proven to be so controversial there is growing speculation that if Smith ekes out a small majority government she will be forced out as party leader by an internal party revolt. Alberta conservatives dont just like a winner, they want a Winner with a capital W.

According to a litany of opinion polls, this nail-biter of an election campaign between the UCP and NDP could well end up with a small majority government.

Win or lose on May 29, Smith is going to be gone, says Duane Bratt, a prominent political scientist with Calgarys Mount Royal University. Youre hearing about people going door-knocking in Calgary saying, Vote for the party, not the leader. 

Smith is, to put it politely, a headline-generator. After winning a controversial and divisive leadership race last year, she quickly transitioned into a controversial and divisive premier. She got herself into trouble by, among other things, talking by phone to Artur Pawlowski in January about his criminal charges stemming from the Coutts border blockade in Alberta. Last week, Pawlowski was found guilty on two charges. Because of that phone call, Smith is under investigation by Albertas ethics commissioner.

A succession of opinion polls have pointed to a dead heat provincewide, but diving into the weeds reveals Albertans tend to have a higher opinion of NDP Leader Rachel Notley than of Smith.

A Leger report last week said Albertans see Notley being more honest than Smith (37 per cent to 23), more trustworthy (38 to 24), a better communicator (40 to 26) and best represents Albertans (37 to 31). Leger conducted a survey of 1,000 people April 28-May 1. As an online poll it has no reported margin of error.

So, it wouldnt be surprising to see UCP candidates on the doorstep play up the UCP as a conservative movement while they play down Smith as leader.

Albertans saw a similar tactic in the 2004 election, when Ralph Klein was losing his lustre as provinces Progressive Conservative everyman premier. Facing a tough re-election fight, PC candidate Thomas Lukaszuk told voters on the doorstep that I disagree with the premier on several issues including Kleins disparaging remarks about two disabled women.

Lukaszuk managed to win his Edmonton riding but only by a razor-thin margin, just three votes. While Klein won a majority of seats, his party lost 210,000 votes and 12 seats compared to the previous election. Conservative supporters didnt cross the floor to another party in 2004, they simply stayed at home on election day. If something similar happened this time with disaffected conservatives, it could tilt the election in the NDPs favour in Battleground Calgary.

Of course, the only thing better for the NDP than having conservative voters staying home would be for them to vote New Democrat for the first time. With that in mind, Notley made a plea last week to conservative-leaning voters who have misgivings about Smith.

Maybe youve never voted for me, but this election is different, said Notley who hoped to pull at conservative heartstrings by promising to freeze personal income taxes, produce balanced budgets, create jobs and run a stable government.

For her part, Smith has promised to cut personal income taxes, has already tabled a balanced budget, and is promising more job creation programs.

But the NDPs plea also raised issues where Smith has proved lacking. Its about leadership and trust, said Notley.

A major difference between Notley and Smith is that Notley heads a united party while Smiths party is still recovering from last years divisive leadership race. If Notley squeaks out a small majority, the NDP will be dancing in the streets. If Smith squeaks out a narrow win, the UCP will be dancing on her political grave.

The knives are at the ready. One UCP candidate, who has been canvassing support in Calgary, told me Smith is the number one issue on the doorstep, and not in a good way.

He said there are already rumblings against Smith among candidates who find themselves on the razors edge. A source in the business community told me a cabinet minister expressed to him in so many words, Dont worry about Smith, she wont last.

Alberta conservatives have proven adept over the years forcing out unpopular leaders without the need for a formal leadership review. Ed Stelmach and Alison Reford were, in fact, pushed out after they had won leadership votes.

This time around Smith is facing pressure not only from moderate conservatives in Calgary but by fringe supporters in rural areas. Its the same kind of two-pronged threat that undermined Kenneys leadership, destabilized his government, and ultimately ended his career.

David Parker, leader of the right-wing organization Take Back Alberta, which claims credit for unseating Kenney and crowning Smith, is blunt about Smiths future should she disappoint him after the election: There would probably be a grassroots movement to remove Smith if she didnt do what she said shed do.

To survive, Smith doesnt just need to win, she needs to Win.

Albertas election drama is filled with so much speculation, plot twists and personalities that its impossible to predict the outcome. And now Mother Nature is playing a role, too.

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Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei was handed his walking papers Monday. Finally.

Accused of targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong, he was declared persona non grata by the Canadian government, thus ending his diplomatic status here in the country.

Good riddance, we say.

The action came after drawn-out deliberations as politicians and bureaucrats weighed what to do in the face of inevitable retaliation by Beijing.

As Justin Trudeau said Sunday,the decision whether to expel Zhao was being made very, very carefully. It was not, as the prime minister noted, a decision to be made lightly, especially considering the certainty that China will inflict some price for this action.

Even last week, as Canada contemplated its next steps in this affair, China claimed it was the victim of ideological bias and warned Ottawa not to go further down the wrong and dangerous path.

Should the Canadian side continue to make provocations, China will play along every step of the way until the very end, a statement from the Chinese embassy in Ottawa declared.

Its certainly more than bluster and rhetoric. Remember that the regime held two Canadians  Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor  for more than 1,000 days to use as bargaining chips when Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer, who was wanted in the U.S.

But the alternative, to do nothing, was not an option. It would have signalled to other nations that they could meddle and gerrymander in Canadian democracy and try to intimidate its elected representatives without fear of any consequence.

A necessary step

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly sought to make that point Monday, declaring that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance.

I have been clear: we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs. Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home, Joly said in a statement.

This a welcome assertion and a necessary step. However, the governments action would been more forceful and sincere had it occurred when the activities of the Toronto-based Chinese diplomat first became known.

That was in 2021, when a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service identified a campaign by Chinese operatives. That included actions to target Chong and other MPs connected to parliamentary efforts to condemn Chinas oppression of Uyghurs, according to a report by the Globe and Mail.

The CSIS report cited by the Globe claimed that Zhao was gathering information on Chongs overseas relatives for further potential sanctions in a bid to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-(China) positions.

It was an egregious and unacceptable threat that could not go unanswered.

Yet the decision not to immediately expel Zhao, the inexplicable failure to inform Chong of the apparent threats, even the puzzling move to apparently keep the prime minister in the dark all suggests that senior officials and politicians did not take seriously the real threat of foreign interference and meddling.

As a result, Zhao continued his work for another two years. The Liberal government only acted when his alleged activities became public last week, rightly prompting demands that he be sent packing.

Better late than never, Zhao is headed back to China. Canada will pay a price. But it is a price worth paying to defend democratic principles and the vital role of politicians to represent Canadians without fear of foreign influence and threats. And to remind foreign diplomats that there are clear lines that cannot be crossed.

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OTTAWA The Trudeau government is bracing for more reprisals after Beijing kicked out a Canadian diplomat following the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of targeting the family of a Canadian MP.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced Tuesday morning Jennifer Lalonde, Canadas consul-general in Shanghai, had been ordered to leave the country by Saturday in what he called a reciprocal countermeasure in response to Canadas expulsion of Zhao Wei, a Chinese diplomat based in Chinas consulate office in Toronto.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Tuesday the government considered not only tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions, but also the potential for economic retaliation by China that could invoke safety concerns on Canadian exports.

He said the expulsion of the diplomat was a significant and serious step, and we took a little less than a week to reflect on it, to look at the possible implications, to make sure that what we were doing both demonstrates Canadas firmness, which it does, but also keeps Canadians and our interests protected.

Regardless of whatever next choices they make, he said, we will not be intimidated  and more, we will ensure that China continues to see, along with other countries that are engaging in foreign interference, that we take this extraordinarily seriously.

Expulsion raises the stakes for Canada

The Opposition Conservatives continued to slam the Trudeau government for failing to take the issue seriously until the Globe and Mail reported last week that CSIS assessed in July 2021 that Zhao had gathered information on Conservative MP Michael Chong in order to potentially target his Hong Kong-based family.

That was after Chong sponsored a February 2021 motion that passed the House of Commons condemning China for genocide of the Muslim Uyghur population in northwest Xinjiang province.

The expulsion of the Chinese diplomat  the first such move since the 1970s, according to two government officials  raised the stakes more broadly for Canadians whose jobs rely on all kinds of trade with China.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolys office consulted with other ministers and the Prime Ministers Office in making the decision announced Monday, but not without outside business stakeholders, sources said.

A senior Canadian official, speaking on a background-only basis, said Tuesdays decision by Chinas ruling Communist Party to respond by expelling Lalonde  Canadas most senior trade diplomat in the commercial hub  was not exactly reciprocal, given Lalonde holds a more senior post than Zhao.

China, which did not withdraw Zhao last week as it became clear Joly was weighing his expulsion, was defiant Tuesday.

China denial

The Chinese government denied any of its diplomats had engaged in interference in Canadas affairs, and accused Canadian media and senior politicians of smearing its diplomatic and consular missions in Canada. None of the accusations are based on facts. They are trumped up with hidden agenda, said Wang.

A second Canadian official said the Trudeau government knows China could contrive some other excuse for retaliation  some sort of strain of a crop disease that gets discovered in six months that screws us over  but that at this point, it is not clear what more Beijing might do.

During the long-running three-year dispute over Canadas arrest of a Chinese high-profile Huawei executive, China not only arrested two Canadians and levied tougher penalties against other Canadian-Chinese citizens already imprisoned, it also blocked imports of Canadian agricultural exports of pork, beef, canola and soybeans.

Theyre a big economic powerhouse. And they could inflict pain when they want to, said the second official.

According to an English transcript posted by Chinas foreign ministry, Wang said Lalonde was declared persona non grata based on Canadas false accusation of Chinese interference in Canadas internal affairs.

He warned the Trudeau government to stop its provocation at once. If Canada decides to continue its wanton act, China will react firmly and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by Canada.

Illegal police stations

In the House of Commons, all other parliamentary business took a back seat after the Speaker ruled Monday that Chongs parliamentary privileges were breached by CSIS failure to inform him of Zhaos actions two years earlier.

During question period, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman accused the prime minister of being disingenuous in claiming to take the issue seriously.

We need a foreign agent registry, like the ones that exist in Australia and the U.S. We need a national public inquiry into foreign interference. We need to shut down the illegal police stations operating in Canada that harass innocent civilians that the Minister of Public Safety told Canadians were already shut. They are not, she said.

Trudeau said the RCMP are acting against these suspected stations, and insisted as he has for weeks that his government is tackling foreign interference, and will abide by recommendations forthcoming from outside adviser David Johnston  to ensure that we have all the tools that we need and to create more, including a public inquiry if necessary.

Tonda MacCharles is Ottawa Bureau Chief and a senior reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc

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OTTAWA - The chair of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundations board says the organization has been subjected to unwarranted and unfair attacks over allegations it received a donation that was part of a China-led foreign influence campaign.

Edward Johnson was before a parliamentary committee investigating the circumstances around a pair of 2016 and 2017 donations from Chinese billionaire Zhang Bin and another Chinese businessman, Niu Gensheng, that totalled $140,000.

The donations had been made in tandem with a $750,000 contribution to the Universite de Montreal.

The Globe and Mail reported in February, citing an unnamed source, that the donors were toldby Beijing to offer the money in the hopes of influencing the new Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau.

But Johnson told the members of Parliament there was never an opportunity for the foundation to be part of any foreign interference attempts by China, and he cast doubt on accusations the money was paid to gain political influence.

I have seen no evidence that would support that and based on the evidence thats in the public domain, Im very skeptical of that being the motive behind this donation, Johnson said, adding one of the donors had previously donated to other universities.

He said he was not involved in the signing of the cheque to the foundation and had no knowledge of it.

The prime ministers brother told the committee last week the Trudeau Foundation was not part of any foreign interference attempts by China.

Alexandre Trudeau, who has been involved in the foundation since its early days and was an executive director until 2020, said the donations from Chinese businessmen were negotiated before his brother became prime minister. He defended his signature being on the cheque used to make the donation, saying it was appropriate because the gift was intended to honour his father.

The prime minister has repeatedly said it has been about a decade since he had any involvement with the foundation.

Johnson said when the newspaper raised concerns over the donations, the Trudeau Foundation tried to repay the money and he sought to have the matter reviewed independently.

On the basis of that allegation, whether or not it was true, it was my position that we must repay, he said.

He was not able to say who the cheque was repaid to, or how it was done, but committed to giving that information to the committee.

The foundations former CEO and other board members quit on April 11, citing the politicization of the donations as the reason for their departures.

Pascale Fournier, the former CEO of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, previously told the parliamentary committee she resigned from that position earlier because of a breakdown in trust on the organizations board of directors.

Fournier said tensions arose after she pushed for an independent forensic audit into donations made by Chinese businessmen  and received pushback when she insisted some members of the board recuse themselves from any such investigation.

Johnson said he couldnt say the specific reasons why the board members resigned and said it was unusual, but caused in part by the national attention on the foundation creating pressure on members.

He was not able to provide any information on Fourniers testimony that she discovered the China Cultural Industry Association, a group associated with Beijing, was communicating with foundation employees about omitting information on a donation tax receipt.

The website of the China Cultural Industry Association says it adheres to the total leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and was formed with state approval. It lists Zhang Bin as its president.

The Globe and Mail reported a different company was listed as the donor on the receipt. It says Millennium Golden Eagle International (Canada) was listed as the donor, which also lists Zhang as a chairman. That company, according to the China Cultural Industry Association, is one of its executive board members and was created with the approval of Chinas Culture Ministry.

After Fourniers resignation, Johnson asked the federal auditor general to look into the donations, but the request was denied because private donations and business dealings fall outside of its mandate.

- With files from Mickey Djuric

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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OTTAWA  On Monday, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller joined two of his cabinet colleagues and said a government pledge to fund more than 100 shelter spaces and transitional housing units in Indigenous communities would save lives.

On Tuesday, the NDPs gender equality critic Leah Gazan said the Liberal governments lack of clarity surrounding that money  and its intention to actually spend it  was ending those lives.

This government has been negligent in the fact that theyve been so slow to get the money out the door. Theres no reason for it, Gazan told the Star.

We shouldnt have to beg for safety, and they need to stop with the excuses, she said. They need to get that money out the door. Its been three years. People are losing their lives as a result of gender-based violence.

The government first announced a comprehensive violence prevention strategy in 2020, earmarking $724.1 million to build new shelters and transitional housing for Indigenous women, children, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people experiencing gender-based violence. The money was intended to flow over five years  starting in the 2021-2022 fiscal year  and is split between the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).

This week, Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen and Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu joined Miller in announcing $103 million for the construction and ongoing operational support of at least 178 new shelter and transitional units. The money would go toward 22 projects in 21 communities, the ministers said.

But few of those details are actually new, prompting Gazan to accuse the government of playing games with a crisis that is wreaking devastation in communities like her own.

Its so awful. I would love for you to spend a week in my community and feel the grief, the Winnipeg Centre MP said.

Data from Statistics Canada indicates that more than six in 10 Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetimes, and that Indigenous women are more likely than non-Indigenous women to experience intimate partner violence.

The funding announced Monday comes from the pot of money first unveiled back in 2020. Of the $103 million announced, $4.38 million has been committed to four of the 22 projects. Those projects will start construction soon, while agreements still need to be signed for the remaining 18, a spokesperson from Hussens office said. At that point, its up to applicants to take over the construction of projects.

The decision to fund 22 projects, representing more than 170 units, is also not new: the information is contained in a response to a question Gazan put on the House of Commons order paper back in January.

That response also provides a provincial and territorial breakdown of where each of those projects will be built.

When asked to clarify what was previously unknown information in the three ministers news conference, Hussens office said it was the specific list of 21 First Nations and other communities where the units are to be built.

According to the response to Gazans question, ISC had also spent just $37.1 million of its $304.1 million allotment as of January on culturally relevant violence prevention activities and to support initial start up costs for selected shelter and transition home projects.

That no shelters or transitional housing spaces have opened  or even started construction  prompted Gazan to ask the government in question period on Tuesday why it was not acting with the urgency that this crisis deserves.

Hajdu responded that Ottawa has been working with communities to make sure that these shelters will be appropriate and custom built.

She told reporters earlier Tuesday that capacity to build projects in smaller and remote communities can cause issues, including in situations where the use of seasonal roads is required to bring in materials.

CMHC and government officials have acknowledged there is a detailed process behind getting shovels in the ground, which includes working with Indigenous-led committees to evaluate applications and select projects.

Miller said that while Ottawa was putting its money where its mouth is in areas where it hasnt been in the past, he placed some blame on provincial and territorial governments for failing to step up.

We are in an area that they often say is not our jurisdiction, but yet they are not doing enough or sometimes not doing anything, he said.

The 2023 federal budget committed $4 billion to develop an urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing strategy, along with additional money to work with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to outline shared roles and priorities to tackle the ongoing violence.

But Gazan said theres a whole bunch of bureaucracy when it comes to addressing the situation.

Rates of violence are increasing . we see women, girls, two-spirit plus go missing on the daily, she said.

I think now its not the time to pat themselves on the back.

With files from Alex Ballingall

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Of all the blunders by Doug Fords Tories, one reckless decision stands out for hurting so many Ontarians so needlessly since 2018.

Tens of thousands of renters and landlords were betrayed, year after year, by the premiers early combativeness and cluelessness. They were cast aside by a Progressive Conservative government that played politics with the rule of law by abdicating its responsibilities in adjudicating landlord-tenant relations.

Millions more Ontarians are potentially vulnerable after Fords Tories wreaked havoc on the administrative tribunal that is the last line of defence for defenceless tenants and, yes, vulnerable landlords. They gummed it up and gutted its ranks, by dumping and disqualifying the most expert and experienced adjudicators  merely for the sin of having served under a previous Liberal government.

Unsurprisingly, Ontarios Landlord and Tenant Board fast formed a massive backlog of 22,000 cases. Then came COVID-19  and the backlog grew bigger, faster, nearly doubling with no apparent ability to reel it in or recover.

The pandemic emergency is now over, the World Health Organization declared this month. But the tenancy emergency is never-ending, as Ontarios ombudsman, Paul Dube, made clear in the very same month.

By the fall of 2019, well before the pandemic began, the board had spiralled into a moribund state, Which means the tribunal was on its deathbed even before COVID-19 sent it spinning, and it remains far from recovery.

Dube has just completed an investigation into this morass. His final conclusion is damning, his detailed findings incriminating, his choice of words revealing.

Today, the tribunal is in tatters. And the government is in trouble.

Ive written several columns exposing the iniquity and inequity of this wilful neglect in past years, yet the problem has received relatively little media coverage or opposition attention. Given the outsized impact on peoples lives or life savings  the homes they live in, the properties they depend on  we ignore it at our peril, lest it leave many more Ontarians without recourse if they face eviction without grounds.

The problem is that Fords government turned this tribunal into a testing ground for bizarre theories of political disruption. It allowed nearly half of the adjudicating positions to go unfilled until, desperate to undo the damage, it converted the tribunal into a patronage playground for favoured  and unqualified  Tories.

Perhaps this was a warped right-wing idea to rein in government while ruining the lives of renters. Possibly it emanated from a misconceived Tory notion that the propertied classes are a priority, with tenants treated as second-class citizens left to fend for themselves.

But the tribunal turned into a time bomb until, belatedly, the government got the message. In mid-pandemic, well before the ombudsman delivered his damning verdict, the Tories started to hear from raging landlords that the situation was out of control.

The boards excruciatingly long delays have had immense negative impacts on the thousands of landlords and tenants who depend on it to resolve their tenancy issues, the ombudsman wrote. We heard from many of those trapped in the queue on both sides of the landlord/tenant relationship  some forced to live in unsafe and substandard conditions, and others facing financial ruin.

Whether your apartment is in disrepair, or you are a landlord in despair, this government now has some explaining to do. What was it thinking?

The Tories have never fully accounted for their thoughtlessness. The ombudsman quotes nameless officials implying that this was merely a matter of transitional troubles between Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments, but that explanation strains credulity.

The phrase perfect storm is often overused, but it is undoubtedly apt in the case of the now-endemic delays at the board. A combination of an election, change of government, antiquated technology, a host of inefficient practices, and a global pandemic contributed to a situation in which the board has been overwhelmed by a multi-year backlog of tens of thousands of applications, the report concluded.

But the ombudsman is being far too meteorological about the political calculus of which Ford is culpable. Rather than a perfect storm of unforeseen circumstances, this was a Greek tragedy  which is to say a self-created crisis attributable more to personal hubris than any accident beyond the premiers control.

By late last year, landlords had to wait nearly 342 days  almost a full year  to evict a tenant for legitimate reasons (such as moving in or major renovations). Tenants had to wait even longer  469 days on average  for redress over rights violations; maintenance complaints took 433 days; for a bad-faith eviction, the wait time was 336 days.

While both sides suffer, the ombudsmans report reaches the inescapable conclusion that tenants are forced to wait far longer. Thats because landlord complaints can seem more straightforward and easier to resolve, so the bureaucracy takes the path of least resistance.

But efficiency and equity are two different approaches. In a quasi-judicial system, quasi-efficiency cannot take priority over the quintessential issue of fairness, as Dube notes.

Fair means fast, for both sides. Just as justice delayed is justice denied, so too administrative justice delayed amounts to unfairness for those who can afford it least  for time is money, yes, but waiting is also misery.

As damning as the ombudsmans report sounds, I believe there is more to this mess, and getting out of this morass, than he suggests. More in my next column.

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Border police seizes goods worth over 3.5 million lei.

The border police seized, on Monday, for confiscation, goods worth about 3,580,000 lei, following checks at border crossing points throughout the country, and the value of fines imposed amounts to over 24,000 lei, told Agerpres.

Approximately 171,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 43,550 means of transport, carried out, on Monday, the control formalities, both on the entry and exit ways at border crossing points throughout the country, informs the Inspectorate General of the Border Police (IGPF).

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, 77,864 people entered Romania, including 7,653 Ukrainian citizens.

As regards specific activities, in the areas of competence - crossing points and "green border" - border guards found 50 illegal acts (19 offences and 31 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens.

On Monday, 22 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country, as they did not meet the legal requirements, and 24 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
World War II is considered the bloodiest war in human history. This war, devoured more than 50 million souls, however made thousands of heroes who fought against fascism. One of them is a son of Azerbaijan, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General Hazi Aslanov. If he lived now he would have turned to his 123.

Hazi Ahad oglu Aslanov was born on January 22, 1910 in Garmatuk settlement of Lankaran district. He received his primary education in the city secondary school No. 1. Hazi, who lost his father at the age of 13, worked as a laborer in a brick factory, then was sent to the Transcaucasia military training school. He studied at Baku and Leningrad military schools in 1924-30. In 1929, he entered the Leningrad Cavalry School. After two years of study, he was appointed a platoon commander in the III Bessarabian Cavalry Division named after Kotovsky.

When World War II began, Hazi Aslanov was serving in the Lviv region of Ukraine. On the night of June 23, 1941, Hazi Aslanov's battalion entered into an unequal battle with German armored troops. He writes of his story:

"On the night of June 23, 1941, the German air force attacked. They started dropping bombs. When it was dawn, we were in an unequal fight."

Hazi Aslanov, who crossed the war path from Stalingrad to the Baltic coast, was wounded on January 24, 1945, outside the battlefield near Priyekule (Liepay district) in Latvia, near the commanders' battle observation post, surrounded by about 15 high-ranking officers, by the fire of an anti-aircraft device mysteriously opened from afar. Only 23 hours he survived, a plane was sent to take him to Moscow for treatment, but Hazi Aslanov succumbed to dath on the way.

Azerbaijan's exceptional role in the 5-year bloody war

Azerbaijan's contribution to the defeat of fascism is a story of sacrifice and heroism.

The sacrifices made by Azerbaijan during World War II were significant and should never be forgotten.

However, before understanding Azerbaijan's role in this struggle, we must first know what fascism was and why it was such a threat. Fascism is a political ideology that emphasizes authoritarianism, nationalism, and the suppression of individual freedoms. It was a plague over humanity that swept across Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, fueled by the economic and political instability of the time.

Fascism was characterized by the rise of dictators such as Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Francisco Franco in Spain. These leaders sought to create empires through military conquest and the suppression of minority groups, leading to the deaths of millions of people during World War II. It was a dark chapter in human history, and the defeat of fascism was crucial to the preservation of democracy and individual freedoms.

How Azerbaijan was a driving force in the big battle

Azerbaijan's role in World War II is often overlooked, but it was an undeniable player in the defeat of fascism. At the time, Azerbaijan was a part of the Soviet Union, and its oil reserves were essential to the Soviet war effort, providing fuel for tanks, planes, and other military equipment. Besides that, the country provided soldiers, weapons, and resources to the Soviet Union, which played a tremendous role in turning the tide of the war.

In addition to its military contributions, the small country in the massive empire served as a refuge for civilians fleeing the war. The country gave a hug to refugees from across the Soviet Union, providing them with food, shelter, and medical care. Azerbaijan's contribution to the war effort was a testament to its resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

Over 300,000 of 600,000 Azerbaijanis who differed with their courage were killed in the WW2 which was a big figure in that time taking into account the number of population. Only in the Battle of Stalingrad 100,000 Azerbaijanis were killed. In Stalingrad the Azerbaijani soldiers were instrumental in halting the Nazi advance and changing the fate of the war.

Thus, Azerbaijan's contribution to the defeat of fascism extended beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. The country played a significant role in the liberation of Europe, with its soldiers fighting alongside Allied forces to defeat the Nazis. Azerbaijani soldiers fought in battles in Poland, Germany, and other parts of Europe, contributing to the ultimate defeat of fascism.

Our contribution to the liberation of Europe was a testament to its determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

In a nutshell, in this big struggle against the fascism the country had a significant impact on the world which undeniable. The defeat of fascism ensured that future generations would live in a world free from tyranny and oppression. Azerbaijan's sacrifice and heroism played a pivotal role in achieving this goal and should never be forgotten.

Furthermore, it gave impetus to the development of the former Soviet Union. The country's oil reserves were essential to the Union's post-war economic recovery.

It is worth to remind the history of WWII because of many efforts made by manpower and resources of our country. The struggle against fascism taught us many valuable lessons. It taught us the importance of democracy, individual freedoms, and the value of human life, and most importantly, it taught us that tyranny and oppression can be defeated through sacrifice and heroism.

Moreover, Azerbaijan's involvement in the struggle against the fascism was of great paradigm in terms of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The country faced significant challenges during World War II but remained steadfast in its commitment to defeating fascism.

In conclusion, we must remember and honor Azerbaijan's war heroes and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and heroism are included in history books and many other publications. We must also ensure that future generations are aware of Azerbaijan's role in defeating fascism and the sacrifices made by its soldiers and civilians.
Senior analyst on Sudanese affairs Amany Al-Tawil explains Egypts priorities in the face of the conflict in Sudan to Al-Ahram Weekly.

Fresh from an Arab League extraordinary meeting that discussed the armed conflict in Sudan on Sunday, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri started a two-leg tour to NDjamena and Juba on Monday, the capitals of two neighbouring countries to Sudan.

The top Egyptian diplomat is expected to discuss the crisis in Sudan and ways to secure a sustainable ceasefire.

On Sunday, the Arab League meeting assigned Egypt, along with Saudi Arabia and the Arab League secretary-general, to a contact group that will conduct talks with the conflicting Sudanese parties and concerned regional and international players to promote a ceasefire between the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country.

Prior to heading on his African tour, Shoukri spoke with the two sides of the conflict to stress Egypts commitment to help to find a solution to the crisis in Sudan.

According to Amany Al-Tawil, a senior analyst of Sudanese affairs at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are worried about the impact of the armed conflict that started on 15 April in Sudan between the SAF, under the leadership of Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the RSF, under the leadership of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).

The current crisis in Sudan comes at a sensitive moment in Sudanese-Egyptian relations, given the history of the past few years when different political forces have been blaming Cairo for this position or the other, Al-Tawil said.

However, she added that the people-to-people factor has always been a point of strength in the bilateral relationship between Egypt and Sudan. The keen message of hospitality that the Egyptian state has put forward to Sudanese crossing the border to Egypt to find refuge from the armed conflict and the hospitable attitude that people have been showing were certainly helpful to remedy some grievances.

Since the beginning of the conflict, tens of thousands of Sudanese have escaped Khartoum, some to other parts of the country and some to neighbouring countries, including Egypt, which has so far received 60,000 Sudanese, and both Chad and South Sudan.

It is a very worrying situation, and judging by how things have been unfolding it is hard to see any valid indicators of a sustainable ceasefire, Al-Tawil said. This, she added, was the case despite the talks between representatives of the SAF and RSF that Saudi Arabia has been hosting since Sunday.

According to Al-Tawil, the talks, Shoukris diplomatic mission, and other political interventions, including those conducted by the UN and its agencies, are focused on one objective  a sustainable ceasefire to help contain a humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding.

Traditionally, Egypt would be acknowledging the national armed forces as the party to reckon with. This is both compatible with the countrys foreign policy parameters and with the overall sentiment in Egypt, Al-Tawil said. She added that it is almost an established fact that most Sudanese would be more inclined to side with the SAF rather than the RSF.

This, she argued, was the case despite the conditional alliance of some civilian political forces with Hemedti in the past few months given his announced position in favour of the creation of a civilian government in line with the parameters of the Framework Agreement negotiated between some of the civilian movement leaders and the armed forces of Sudan.

The Sudanese population for the most part, she said, is not at all inclined to accept Hemedti in view of the [RSFs] practices against civilians.

In addition to his association with the crimes against civilians in Darfur during the rule of Sudans ousted former president Omar Al-Bashir, Hemedti has been recently criticised by humanitarian groups working in Sudan for compromising the safety of civilians in Khartoum during the conflict between the RSF and SAF.

The announced figures suggest that over 500 civilians, including 100 children, lost their lives as they got caught up in the armed conflict.

However, Al-Tawil said that for the purposes of realpolitik Egypt cannot overlook the need to talk with Hemedti to facilitate a ceasefire to spare civilians from having to escape the country. It is a complex situation, and the stability of Sudan is crucial for Egypt, she said.

The military balance of power on the ground, Al-Tawil argued, does not indicate a decisive upper hand either for the SAF or the RSF. If this situation continues, both sides might eventually decide to count on some external help, and this would take Sudan into the deep tunnel of regional conflict and proxy wars, she said.

This is a worst-case scenario and if things moved in this direction, it would be a very problematic situation for Egypt.

A best-case scenario, she added, would be one where the many parallel mediations could secure a ceasefire soon and the beginning of a political process. This, however, would require some syncronisation among those initiatives, including the one that Egypt is working on in coordination with South Sudan, the one the US is working on with Saudi Arabia, and the one that IGAD is managing.

According to Al-Tawil, there is also the possibility for the SAF to find a way to have the upper hand in the armed conflict. Should this happen, it would be up to Al-Burhan to move towards the integration of all the recognised militant bodies into one unified army.

He would need to reach out to the civilian forces, diverse and even fragmented as they are, to reach a political solution. This would not be an easy task given the grievances of a good segment of the civilian forces over the move that Al-Burhan, Chair of Sudans Transitional Sovereignty Council, made on 25 October 2021 to sideline the civilian leaders.

For now, Al-Tawil said, the civilian forces have not had much input on plans to end the current conflict. Some of these leaders left Sudan on board the planes that some governments sent to take their nationals out of the country, given that some have dual nationalities, she said.

In a statement issued less than two weeks after the beginning of the conflict, several civilian bodies, including syndicates, political parties, and public figures, appealed for an end to the armed conflict and the resumption of the political process that would allow for a full democratic transition whereby the military would stay out of politics and all political bodies would commit to a strictly national political agenda.

The statement warned against any attempt by foreign players to use the current conflict in Sudan to impose foreign agendas. It also warned against any attempt by the Al-Bashir regime to use the current conflict to relaunch itself.

According to Al-Tawil, there is a reason for the civilian forces to worry about foreign intervention, given the weight that some foreign players had been throwing behind this or that side during the increasing political tensions between the leaders of the SAF and the RSF over the timeline and working mechanism for the integration of the RSF into the SAF.

Moreover, there is certainly reason for worry over the possible attempt of the political block of Al-Bashir to relaunch itself. This, she argued, was not just coming from the prominence that some figures of this block have in most influential state institutions in Sudan, but also from their political presence on the ground that is hard to overlook or to qualify as totally insignificant.

Al-Tawil said that any mediation that aims to address the root causes of the current situation in Sudan needs to address three points. The first is the failure over the past few months to reach an agreement over the Framework Agreement for the remainder of the democratic transition.

Despite the international support, the signing of this Framework Agreement kept getting postponed this was partially due to the fact that the agreement did not have the support of a wide political coalition due to the splits in the civilian front in Sudan, she explained.

The second point is the attempts of the Al-Bashir political block to incite conflict in the country in order to avoid a democratic transition that would eventually bring about the trials of the figures of the ousted regime and the irreversible cancellation of any hope for the block to make a comeback.

The third point relates to the countrys tribal leaders, especially those in the east of Sudan who have been acting against the political process as defined in the Framework Agreement which they thought was not going to serve their economic influence and interests.

They were actually [threatening] acts on the ground to protest against this agreement, and they vowed to block the east of Sudan on the day it was supposed to be signed, Al-Tawil added.

These three points along with the conflict within the Forces of Freedom and Change and the bras de fer between the SAF and RSF have led to an escalation of sentiments of political polarisation in the country, Al-Tawil argued.

She added that the complexity of the problems requires a lot of work before Sudan can get back on the track of a political process towards stability. However, for now the priority should be for a ceasefire and a prompt humanitarian operation before the conflicts get addressed.

On every step of the way, Egypt needs to be there for Sudan, she concluded.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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EconMin Spataru: Construction of civil or military aircraft is one of the industries Romania is mandated to revitalize.

The events in Ukraine represent additional arguments for the attention paid to the defence industry, and the construction of civil or military aircraft is one of the industries which Romania is mandated to revitalize, according to the Economy Minister Florin Spataru.

The minister paid a working visit to Israel, between 7 and 8 May, where he had a meeting, in Jerusalem, with his Israeli counterpart, Nir Barkat, the Minister of Economy and Industry of the State of Israel, and toured two of the important companies in the defence industry, namely the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Elbit System, told Agerpres.

According to a press release issued by the Economy Ministry sent to AGERPRES, the discussions were aimed at deepening the economic partnership between Romania and the State of Israel, by increasing the volume of mutual trade, boosting the presence of Israeli investment in Romania and generating new cooperation projects.

Moreover, at the meeting at the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the State of Israel, the discussions focused on strengthening and developing partnerships in the defence industry, exchange of know-how in the area of digitization and partnerships at the university level.

Florin Spataru toured the production unit of the IAI, the state-owned aerospace company.

"Dozens of Romanians work at the IAI (...) It was a great joy to see that Romanian is the second language spoken at the IAI," minister Spataru mentioned.

He welcomed the intensification of cooperation in the defence area between the two states, through the participation in joint government programmes and partnerships between Romanian and Israeli companies.

"The events in Ukraine represent additional arguments for the attention we pay to the defence industry. The construction of civil or military aircraft is one of the industries that Romania is mandated to revitalize given the strategic significance of this industrial sector," the Minister of Economy underscored.

On the occasion of the working visit, minister Florin Spataru laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem (the Memorial to the Victims of the Holocaust.) in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, committing himself to fight anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination.
Europe Day/ ForMin Aurescu: Romania's contribution to EU opening to the East has been and remains essential.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu sent a message on Tuesday, on Europe Day, in which he underlined that the European Union is currently opening to the East, and Romania's contribution in this process has been and will remain essential, told Agerpres.

"Today we celebrate Europe Day, an occasion to reflect on the benefits of the European project, which has brought us freedom, stability, prosperity and democracy, over time. The unprecedented unity and solidarity shown by the European Union and its member states since the outbreak of Russia's aggression against Ukraine has reconfirmed the value of joint European action and the Union's role as an actor capable of responding to the expectations and needs of partners in the neighbourhood and beyond, affected by this unjust war. The European Union and its member states have mobilised in an exemplary manner to manage the complex consequences of the war within the Union, in relation to global partners, as well as to affected third countries. We have been tireless in our efforts to promote and defend our European model anchored in respect for international law and commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law," said the Foreign Minister, according to the message the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) sent to AGERPRES.

He added that Romania has always acted in line with the vision of European cohesion that defines the profile of the EU member state and has constantly contributed, through its actions, to joint responses to ensure the security of Europe and its citizens.

"Acting in support of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, the region means acting to strengthen our security and that of our citizens," Aurescu stressed.

According to him, Romania has continued to come up with proposals and solutions to give greater consistency to European action, in a very difficult context in which decisions on major European issues are deeply interconnected and require convergent approaches.

Bogdan Aurescu recalled that the past year was marked by important developments in the EU enlargement process both in the Western Balkans and in the Eastern Neighbourhood, proof of the Union's continued commitment to this process with strategic implications.

"Historic decisions were taken at the European level last June by granting the candidate status to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and recognising Georgia's European perspective, objectives for which Romania has consistently and decisively advocated. Romania will continue to actively and concretely support these partners in their accession process. The recent decisions adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of April 24 in support of the Republic of Moldova, at Romania's proposal, confirm our consistent approach focused on concrete actions and instruments to support it. Reaching political agreement in record time on the creation of an EU sanctions regime to counteract the destabilising actions against the Republic of Moldova and its constitutional order, an initiative we launched in February, or our contribution to the decision to establish the EU Partnership Mission to Moldova (EUPM Moldova), at the head of which a representative of the Romanian diplomacy has been recently elected, illustrate this commitment to support our neighbours on the European path, contributing to increasing the security and resilience of the Republic of Moldova, as well as to regional security," the minister added.

Romania's diplomatic decisions and the geopolitical and strategic importance of the Black Sea region have confirmed our country's role as a promoter of stability in the region, as a state that contributes significantly to the internal and external security of the EU, Bogdan Aurescu stressed.
Europe Day/USR's Drula: Romania's major progress would have been impossible without EU membership.

Romania's major progress would not have been possible without the country's membership of the European Union, national leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula said on Tuesday, told Agerpres.

"On Europe Day, it is worth thinking together about Romania's major progress, which would not have been possible without membership in the European Union. Accession to the EU was the great country project of the post-December 1989 era that set us on a path to democracy, the rule of law and development. Today, our duty is to defend these fundamental values and to continue the current version of our country project, which is called PNRR [National Recovery and Resilience Plan]," Drula wrote on social media.

He added that reforms and investment are for the people and to their benefit. "They are for us and future generations, for our children who have the right to live in a modern and fair country. Long live Europe! Long live Romania!"
Minister Burduja - inauguration of European Cybersecurity Competence Centre: A historic day for Romania.

Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitisation Sebastian Burduja underscored on Tuesday the importance of launching the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Bucharest, in the campus of the Politehnica University, showing that it is a historic day for Romania, told Agerpres.

"It is very important that this centre does not remain just a building, just a flag here of the European Union and that it is the centre of an ecosystem of innovation and the stars have aligned to be in a prestigious campus together with the academic environment, together with Romanian Start-ups in cybersecurity, together with the public environment and with all the institutions in the public sphere, those dealing with cybersecurity. The effort is fully complementary to what Romania's Government has been working on over the last year or so. We are talking about the Cyber Security and Defence Law, we are talking about the cloud law and the framework for this strategic investment of the Romanian state, we are talking about new approaches in the area of artificial intelligence," Burduja stated at the University Politehnica of Bucharest, at the launching ceremony of the ECCC activity.

The new European Cybersecurity Competence Centre was inaugurated with the participation of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and high European officials.

The Centre will support innovation and industrial policy in the area of cybersecurity and develop and coordinate EU cybersecurity projects.

The ECCC is responsible for the management of funds for the current EU long-term budget (2021 - 2027), in particular the adoption of cybersecurity work programmes, as well as with the management of cyber projects within the "Digital Europe" and "Horizon Europe" programmes.

It will also manage security operations centre projects as part of the Commission's proposal for a European cyber shield and work with a network of national coordination centres in view of creating an ecosystem for innovation and competitiveness in cybersecurity across the EU.
New European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to be inaugurated in Bucharest.

The new European Cybersecurity Competence Centre will be inaugurated in Bucharest, on Tuesday, in the campus of the Polytechnic University, with the participation of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and some senior European officials, according to a press release of the European Commission Representation in Romania, told Agerpres.

According to the press release, the centre aims to support innovation and industrial policy in cyber security, as well as to develop and coordinate EU cyber security projects.

"The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre is responsible for the management of EU funds for the current EU long-term budget (2021-2027), in particular the adoption of cyber security work programmes, as well as the management of cyber projects under the Digital Europe Programme and the Horizon Europe Programme," according to the release.

In addition, it will manage security operations centre projects under the Commission's proposal for a European cyber shield and work with a network of national coordination centres to create an ecosystem for innovation and competitiveness in cyber security across the EU.

Quoted in the press release, Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton said that cyber security is a key priority and protecting our digital sovereignty requires joint efforts.

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre brings together resources and high-level experts from across the EU to develop innovative solutions to cyber threats and to increase our resilience to attacks. Working together, we can build a safer and more secure digital world for all Europeans, said the European Commissioner.
PM Ciuca: PNL wants to ensure governance, I did not request to take over any UDMR ministry.

Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Tuesday that, formally, the National Liberal Party (PNL) did not request, in the context of the preparation of the government rotation, to take over any of the ministries currently held by the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), stressing that the government will be ensured with responsibility, told Agerpres.

He was asked if the PNL wants to take over the Ministry of the Environment, a portfolio held by the UDMR, and how he comments on a possible departure from the government of the formation led by Kelemen Hunor.

"The National Liberal Party wants absolutely nothing, we want to continue to ensure the governance of the country, as we have done until now. We want to ensure political stability, we need this stability now, more than ever. I want to emphasize that, both together with the coalition partners, and in the meetings we have with representatives of the authorities in the country, but also with representatives of the embassies and in the bilateral meetings we have had, they all ask how we will ensure the governance of Romania and I answer to everyone that we will ensure governance with responsibility," said Nicolae Ciuca.

Asked about the fact that UDMR representatives were officially informed that the PNL wanted a ministry from among those currently held by the UDMR, the leader of the liberals said that, at the moment, no "formal approach" had been taken.

"I understand by 'official' that a paper was formally signed, a request was made in an absolutely formal way. No formal approach was taken, there are no such discussions at the moment that would lead us to a decision. As such, there are discussions. (...) There are discussions that take place in this space of interpretations, on one hypothesis or another. At this moment, please trust the fact that we are people as responsible as possible and we will do it in such a way that to ensure the power-sharing of the government at the end of May," Ciuca also declared.

As for a possible exit from the government of UDMR, he said that it is a decision of each member of the coalition, emphasizing, however, that the agreed solution - of the coalition with UDMR and Social Democratic Party (PSD) - represents a matter of responsibility for the country.

"I think that UDMR, as well as PSD, together we should find that solution that was agreed, and is still agreed, once again, not for someone in particular, not for a party, not for one or two persons. It's a matter of absolute responsibility for the country," Ciuca said.

He pointed out that there are no blockages on the topic of rotation at the level of the Government leadership, when asked about this topic.

Nicolae Ciuca concluded that as long as the coalition parties are concerned "with what we have to solve at the Government, the way in which this power-sharing will be achieved is a transitory matter, which in two or three weeks, from here before, will end and we will continue to do our jobs," Ciuca explained.
Polytechnic University of Bucharest to host SpaceFEST.

The Polytechnic University of Bucharest (UPB) will organise SpaceFEST, an event dedicated to the exploration of outer space and the opportunities it offers, from June 11 to 13, told Agerpres.

"Whether we are talking about intelligent materials, about the process of preparing the body for an extra-terrestrial journey, about astronauts' food or about what we can grow in space, whether we are talking about space tourism, power stations or the energy needed for rockets, about factories, resources, communications or environmental monitoring capabilities, the implications of accelerated exploration of outer space will influence our life on Earth in ways that are impossible to ignore," UPB representatives said in a press release.

According to the source, among the prominent personalities present at the event are Dumitru Dorin Prunariu (Romanian astronaut), Nicole Stott (NASA astronaut) and Sara Sabry (Egyptian astronaut).

SpaceFEST is organised by the Polytechnic University of Bucharest in partnership with the Space for a Better World Foundation and OP Global Events and supports the AIM HIGHER Romania project.

"We are preparing countless special moments, from meetings with NASA astronauts, surprise guests, trajectories for a career in the space area, competitions for students and students or activities for the whole family to innovative technologies, space experiences with VR and AR, robotics demonstrations, rockets or weather balloons," say the organisers.
President Iohannis: The Europe we live in is not a given, we all must protect it continuously.

President Klaus Iohannis says that Europe, "to which whole generations aspired and fought for," is not a given but it must be continuously protected as the values underpinning the world peace after WWII are threatened, and at the global level there is a tendency toward geopolitical fragmentation and resettlement, told Agerpres.

"The Europe we live in, our Europe - to which entire generations aspired and fought for - is not a given. We must all protect it continuously. In these difficult times, fear and uncertainty create fertile ground for misinformation and hybrid attacks, which call into question the democratic principles and values we believe in. In the face of these actions, a rational approach is necessary, a careful analysis of information and sources, unaltered by manipulation, as well as engaging in constructive debates on major European issues of interest to our society. By protecting Europe, we protect ourselves, our security and prosperity. European solutions for current challenges are solutions for the future of our citizens," the Romanian President says in a message issued on May 9, Europe Day.

He points out that Romania can contribute substantially, in the future, to the achievement of these common objectives.

"We are a mature and responsible member state, with a solid and credible European profile, recognised and appreciated by our partners. Internalising these markers, I trust that the support of the Romanian citizens for the European Union and for the fundamental European values will remain unwavering."

According to Iohannis, the consequences of the ongoing war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine have multiplied, and the principles, values and multilateral system that were underpinning world peace after WWII are still threatened, while at the global level the trend of geopolitical fragmentation and resettlement is visible.

"The security of our citizens and the resilience of societies have acquired new values, from protecting democracy and the rule of law and securing economic prosperity, to supporting those who fight for peace and for the values we believe in. Adding up to this is finding quick solutions to climate change - with increasingly dramatic effects on everyday life - and also rapid adaptation to the digital environment we live in. In this global context with many challenges, Europe - a symbol of the values of peace, freedom, democracy and human rights - has an even more important role today. Defending these values is a responsibility that will determine the world in which future generations will develop."

The President goes on to say that Romania is an active part of European efforts and initiatives to implement common strategic priorities to the benefit of the citizens.

"Unity and solidarity remain our main asset, and the last few years have been clear proof that we are stronger only united and standing up," says Iohannis.

The President shows that to Romania the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism is a unique opportunity for modernisation and development along with the cohesion funds.

"We owe it to us, through joint efforts, to take advantage of this opportunity to participate successfully in the process of transformation and modernisation of Romania, geared toward the demands of the future. Our common resilience, and thus Romania's, requires a solid, competitive economy, adjusted for the future , digital transformation, investment in research and innovation, stable and reliable supply chains, guaranteed energy security at affordable prices. Urgent adaptation to climate change should boost the European Union's competitiveness while protecting its citizens. These are all essential themes for the health and well-being of future generations."

Also, Iohannis mentions that the security of the European Union also means an adequate protection of the external borders, and Romania's contribution to securing them is "widely recognised and appreciated in Europe and beyond."

"I am convinced that, in the spirit of the principles of responsibility, unity and solidarity between all the members of the European Union, through dialogue and constructive commitment on the part of all, Romania will receive its well-deserved place within the European space of free movement."

According to Iohannis, strengthening our security is also essential, and that entails close co-operation to increase defence capabilities, in full complementarity with NATO, as well as strengthening resilience in the face of hybrid and cyberspace threats.

"In the face of Russian aggression, we must without hesitation maintain the solid and consistent support to Ukraine, efforts in which Romania actively participates. The strategic stake is clear: guaranteeing that the forced withdrawal of borders between sovereign states cannot be accepted, neither in Europe nor anywhere else in the world."

Iohannis considers that Romania was and will remain a vocal promoter of the firm European response in support of the resilience and security of Moldova.

"The meeting of the European Political Community, which will be hosted in Chisinau on June 1 this year, will send an unequivocal message of solidarity: Europe stands with the citizens of Moldova in their efforts to defend their European strategic option and freedom."

According to President Iohannis, the current global context does not allow limiting external action to the immediate vicinity.

"Global Europe is the right answer to an increasingly polarised world, and Romania's external action in the last year has substantially contributed to the dynamism of contacts with partners around the world to build diversified and reliable partnerships and, at the same time, to objectively exposes the realities of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine."
PSD's Ciolacu: We signed amendments that make it mandatory for at least 30pct of the candidates to be women.

Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu announced that he signed on Tuesday the amendments through which it becomes mandatory for a minimum 30pct of the candidates in all types of political elections in Romania to be women, told Agerpres.

He added that the changes supplement the provisions of the draft law on the establishment of a minimum 30pct representation quota in local elections and in the corporate management of public enterprises.

"Fair representation in elected political offices! Today, on Europe Day, I signed, together with all the PSD deputies and senators, the amendments that make it mandatory for at least 30pct of the candidates in all political elections in Romania to be women," Ciolacu wrote on his Facebook page.

According to him, Romania needs women's expertise through their presence in the echelons of all state powers.

"I would also like to thank Gabriela Firea for her tenacity and energy in promoting public policies for women and families with children in Romania," he concluded.
Roberto Viola: European Cybersecurity Competence Centre in Bucharest, to provide Europe-wide Cyber Shield.

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) will ensure the functioning of the EU-wide Cyber Shield, Roberto Viola, Director-General of the European Commission's department for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), said on Tuesday at the Politehnica University in Bucharest, told Agerpres.

The European official attended the launching ceremony of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre in Romania.

Today we celebrate Europe Day and this is indeed an ideal celebration, the ideal moment to mark the establishment of the European Competence Centre. It has been a long journey, inaugurated more than four years ago during Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, said Viola.

According to him it was no coincidence that the centre is in Bucharest, as the Romanian capital won the competition against five other European cities that wanted to host such a centre.

The EU official also said that Europe is becoming increasingly digitised, and there are risks and benefits during this process.

The risk is that opponents of democracy will attack the foundations of democracy and the way of life of citizens and of Europe. That is why a primary objective for Europe is to remain strong in this area of cyber security. We can only be strong by acting together. (...) Attackers always look for the weakest link. We are always trying to identify the weak points. (...) You cannot say that one part of Europe is better protected than another, one part is more important than another. The whole of Europe must be protected to the same extent, with the same intensity. (...) The Centre has a very important task, to strengthen cyber security competence across Europe and also to become fully operational, Viola said.

He recalled that Russia's aggression in Ukraine has raised both general security and cybersecurity issues in particular.

The feeling of instability that we are facing raises the question of how adequate and prepared we are in the face of these security challenges. That is why, in these circumstances, the Commission's proposal was to create a network of cooperation between centres, providing a security shield that would continuous monitoring of the environment, in order to identify those weaknesses so that we can, at any time, identify and combat an attack, if it occurs, to protect our assets and citizens. The European Centre will guide this development. It is an effort that will involve billions of euros worth of funding. The Centre will be responsible for acquiring, operating and networking these individual operational centres, the EU official went on to say.

He explained that the centre will also involve rapid technical intervention teams.

The centre will ensure that this cyber protection shield works across Europe, and it is not only about having operational centres, but also about having rapid technical response teams that can intervene anywhere in Europe, that can detect and protect during a cyber attack, analyse it and then, based on the findings, improve our systems, understand what has been done, where mistakes have been made and how things can be improved for the future. Creating this team of experts able to react quickly will be part of the centre's mission, working with experts from all over Europe (...) This campus will become a reference point for cyber security not only at European level but also at global level, because Europe is a pillar of stability at global level from a cyber security perspective, too, underlined Roberto Viola, Director General of DG Connect.

The new European Cybersecurity Competence Centre aims to support innovation and industrial policy in the field of cyber security and to develop and coordinate EU cyber security projects.
The regional conflicts of today too often echo those of yesterday, with the same pattern of hopes of democratic change unravelling and a renewed recourse to the gun, writes Ahmed Eleiba

The generation whose consciousness was not shaped by the war the Houthis waged against Aden in 2015 can see a version of it today in the current war in Sudan, commented the Aden-based journalist Abdel-Hakim Mahmoud this week.

He sees this less as an oddity than as a bitter reality, as the consciousness of the new generations is formed by a conflict in this country or that in the Arab region.

These conflicts share many of the same features: the allies of yesterday are the enemies of today, a political transition and democratisation process unravels, and the rising generations hopes and aspirations evaporate as the promise of the simplest democratic process, namely the recourse to the ballot box, gives way to a recourse to the gun.

The current Sudanese and Yemeni crises share a common denominator: the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A large contingent of these, estimated in the thousands, has been fighting on the side of the Yemeni government at the border between northern and southern Yemen, and it does not appear that it will return to Sudan.

The leader of the Yemeni Ansarullah (Houthi) Movement, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, has said that any of them who wish to return to Khartoum may do so. None of them have taken him up on his offer, and it is doubtful that any will. For many members of the RSF forces, staying in Yemen may be their best option, since a ceasefire is in place and a de-escalation process has been started. They are also collecting a decent salary while in Yemen.

Another factor that the Sudanese and Yemeni crises have in common is the huge challenge of military integration. In Sudan, the start of this process almost seemed within reach, as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF were on the verge of finalising an agreement towards that end when the conflict broke out.

In Yemen, integration between the Houthi forces and the Yemeni government forces is virtually mission impossible. Their respective creeds could not be further apart. Whereas the government forces fight beneath the banner of the unified nation-state, the Houthis raise the banner of the Quranic March, a sectarian-ideological movement cloned from the Iranian revolutionary model for Tehrans regional proxies.

With both the RSF and the Houthis, the question of how to merge formations and arms into the official army will present an obstacle to a settlement, given the many structural differences.

It is the very nature of the militia structure of the Houthi forces that was instrumental to their ability to exhaust the governments regular army. The latter also split when a contingent of the army remained loyal to former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh at the time he allied himself with the Houthis, even if a significant portion of it was subsequently reabsorbed into the army after the alliance fell apart.

In Sudan, the army has taken back the soldiers it assigned to the RSF, but the latter retains a considerable attritional capacity as it relies on guerrilla and urban warfare. However, regardless of whatever military support the RSF receives from abroad, it will never find the amount of support that the Houthis have received from Iran.

Another feature of both the Houthi Movement and the RSF is how they set their sights on power. The Houthis set out from their base in Saada in 2014 to march on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, oust the government, and derail attempts to revive a stalled political process. In a similar geographical context, the RSF emerged from the cauldron of the conflict in Darfur in Sudan, entered into an alliance with the regime of former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir, and developed an ambition to gain control of Khartoum.

Both paramilitary forces expanded and grew more powerful as they forged networks of foreign alliances with powers eager to take advantage of the fragility of the state. Both the Houthis and the RSF claimed to support the revolution that overthrew the regime (the Saleh regime in Yemen and the Al-Bashir regime in Sudan), only for the Houthis to subsequently side with Saleh in order to oust the transitional government in Sanaa and for the RSF to turn against the leader of the transitional government in Khartoum.

RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), who had previously turned against his former ally Al-Bashir, now claims he is trying to prevent the return of the former regime. Meanwhile, he is running a parallel economy centred around Jebel Amer, the location of one of the largest gold mines in Africa.

The Houthis can also boast considerable wealth, derived in part from tax and other levies and in part from their own parallel economy.

The Yemeni Civil War has posed a direct threat to the Gulf region, and both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been targeted by Houthi missiles. This may not be applicable to the Sudanese case, but foreign interventions can still have an escalatory effect, sharpening polarisation and generating a cycle of ongoing war.

While Yemen only has two neighbouring countries, Sudan has eight. This greatly increases the chances of outside meddling in Sudan, whether by regional or international actors, but the impacts are likely to be more internal than external.

According to Lieutenant General Shams Al-Din Kabbashi, a commander of the SAF, two of Sudans neighbours support the RSF while the other six have called for non-intervention. Soon after the outbreak of the conflict in Khartoum, the Western media circulated reports that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, was supplying the RSF with weapons. Haftar has denied such claims.

Recalling the Sudanese Civil War that led to the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Cairo is concerned by the implications of a vulnerable central state in Sudan. It does not want to see a Yemeni scenario across its southern borders that could present a national security threat. It is as much in Egypts interest as it is in that of the Sudanese people to put paid to the scenario of a new war in Sudan.

Yemen may be one of the arenas of competition between the US and China, with the latter recently brokering the landmark agreement between Saudi Arabia and China and reviving hopes for peace in Yemen. Yemens coastlines along the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea form a part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

Washington also has longstanding interests and influence in the Middle East, and Yemen lies on the maritime route between the West and the Indo-Pacific region.

In Sudan, on the other hand, the competitor of the US is Russia, which is seeking to develop port facilities in Port Sudan that will make it easier for Russian ships that run on diesel to refuel. The Russian facilities in the Syrian port of Tartus help serve this purpose, but this goal has not yet been achieved in Sudan.

It seems that Russia is also attempting to play the Wagner Group card in Sudan, judging by reports that this is supporting the RSF. Both Wagner and the RSF have denied the claim. Wagner also has relations with the SAF, so it would be a difficult balance to maintain support for both, and ultimately Moscow will have to take sides if the war continues.

The US has been using its evacuation of US citizens from Sudan as a pretext for sending in warships to the area of the sort not normally used for evacuating civilians. Military experts in Egypt believe that the purpose may be to preempt Russia and to establish a military presence there.

Each instance of conflict in the region has its own course and character, but just as the chapters of one conflict often bear an eerie resemblance to the chapters of another, the same thing might apply to their future trajectories.

The crisis in Sudan is clearly deteriorating in terms of the humanitarian situation, and the war will further aggravate the economic straits in the country. Even before the fighting broke out, a third of the Sudanese population needed support from humanitarian relief and aid agencies.

A similar indicator applies to Yemen. Today, the situation in the country ranks as the worst man-made humanitarian disaster in the world.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Romania should have already been part of the Schengen Area, a context in which the economic relations between Hungary and Romania, including those in the cross-border areas, would have more to gain, the Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian Government, Szijjarto Peter said on Tuesday in Oradea.

"I don't think we can talk about illegal migration or the pressure of illegal migration when it comes to Romania and I don't think this is a reason for Romania not to enter the Schengen Area. The economy of Romania, Hungary and the cross-border areas would benefit from following Romania's entry into the Schengen Area. That is why I would like to request that the European Commission reopen Romania's file for accession to the Schengen Area as soon as possible. We hope that the two countries that have expressed their right to veto will change their position. And we hope that we can take advantage of the bilateral relations and this cooperation as much as possible. We will support Romania with all efforts to join the Schengen Area", Minister Szijjarto Peter said in his speech.According to Szijjarto, the cooperation between Romania and Hungary is strategic, the Interreg programs, implemented in seven-year cycles, have an important role in this field."The cooperation between the two nations allows them to be better connected, to have closer relations and to live better together, in the neighborhood. The border is a uniting element, which creates a cultural and economic link between the two nations. This program will gives a new impetus to the economic cooperation between our countries, being a success story. But the event that will crown these successes will be Romania's entry into the Schengen Area," said the Hungarian minister.The Interereg VI A Romania - Hungary (cross-border cooperation) program for the period 2021 - 2027 is the third cooperation program after Romania's accession to the EU and has a total budget of 176 million euros, of which 140 million euros is European funds, the rest - contributions of the two states.The Ro-Hu program is coordinated by the Management Authority within the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, and the Oradea Regional Office for Cross-Border Cooperation (BRECO), director Livia Banu, is the institution that houses the Joint Secretariat and the First Level Control of these programs.The launch event was attended by representatives from the Government of Romania, the Government of Hungary and the European Commission, the ambassador of Romania in Hungary and the ambassador of Hungary in Bucharest, presidents of the County Councils from the eight cross-border counties (four Romanian, four Hungarian), official authorities. On behalf of the Ministry of Development, Minister Cseke Attila was present, who declared that, after the event in Oradea, he would participate next week, in Iasi, in the launch of the new Interereg Program Romania - Republic of Moldova."Today, May 9, 2023, on Europe Day, I can say that the Romania-Hungary cross-border cooperation program, in addition to solving specific problems of the communities, through the strategic character and nature of these projects, creates and strengthens links between the communities in the cross-border area. Links which, without a doubt, increase the value of these investments," said Minister Cseke.The director for European territorial cooperation, representative of the European Commission, Slawomir Tokarski mentioned, in his speech, that European borders, instead of being dividing lines, must be meeting points to achieve common objectives, so that the 30% of European residents living in border areas should benefit from the best possible conditions."The most important element is the strengthening of trust in the cross-border area. Trust is the basis of cooperation, solidarity and the cornerstone of the European project, even more so today, when we live in times of divergence. Let's turn borders into bridges of connection," said the EC representative.
Romanian investors purchased 1.1 billion EUR worth of real estate, in last five years.

The Romanian investors have made, in the last five years, purchases of real estate properties worth 1.1 billion EUR, equivalent of 28pct of the volume traded in this period, becoming the most active buyers of income-generating assets in Romania, according to data from a real estate consulting company.

According to the analysis, in Romania, the ranking is completed by investors from South Africa (with purchases of 600 million EUR, 15pct of the volume), Austria (14pct market share), Israel (9pct) and Hungary (8pct).

The consultants mention that the presence of local capital on the real estate market with project transactions has increased significantly between 2018 and 2022, after the previous "five-year period," when the share of Romanian investors in the volume of transactions varied between 1pct and 7pct.

"The 'locomotive' of Romanian investors in the 2018 - 2022 period was the Dedeman group (Paval Holdings) which, through acquisitions of 850 million EUR, quickly climbed to the second position among office owners in Romania, with a portfolio of about 380,000 square meters. Another local investor with significant acquisitions was One United, which concentrated its investments in the sector of small and medium-sized office buildings, some of which have been resold in the meantime, but also in the area of historic buildings in the centre of Bucharest, with the aim of renovating and converting them into hotel or residential spaces. In terms of the structure of the market segments which have attracted the attention of Romanian investors in the past 5 years, office projects accounted for 81pct of the total volume, the next positions being taken by the retail and hotel sectors (7pct each)," the results of the analysis carried out by Cushman&Wakefield Echinox showed.

The ranking of the biggest players in the market has changed in the last years, mainly on the office segment. Thus, the sale by the South African fund NEPI Rockastle of its office portfolio to AFI Europe opened the series of these changes. Next, followed the exit from the local market of the Austrian CA Immo group, while the S Immo and Immofinanz portfolios were consolidated under the umbrella of the Czech CPI Property group. Following these transactions, Globalworth maintained its position as market leader, followed by Paval Holding, CPI Property and AFI Europe.

"Also on the retail segment, CPI Property's acquisition of S Immo and Immofinanz has propelled the Czech group onto the podium of shopping mall and retail park owners in Romania, alongside NEPI Rockcastle and Iulius Group, in association with Atterbury. The industrial and logistics space market, although being on the radar of investors, has not undergone significant changes at the top. Thus, while CTP and Globalworth increased their portfolios including through acquisitions, WDP, P3 and Logicor opted for organic expansion," the Cushman & Wakefield Echinox consultants noted.

The Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, the exclusive affiliate of Cushman & Wakefield in Romania, independently owned and operated, includes a team of over 80 professionals who provide a full range of real estate consulting services to investors, developers, owners and tenants.
State Independence Day of Romania

PM Nicolae Ciuca to participate in Europe Day, an event organized by the Representative Office of the European Commission in Romania

EXECUTIVE:

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has a meeting with the president of the Council for Audit and Inspection of the Republic of Korea, Choe Jae-hae

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca participates in the launch ceremony of the activity in Romania of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre - ECCC, alongside the general director of DG Connect within the European Commission, Roberto Viola, the Minister of Research and Digitalization, Sebastian Burduja, the ECCC director, Miguel Gonzales-Sancho, the executive director of ENISA (message presented by Marco Lourenco, team leader), the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu

DIPLOMACY:

- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, participates in the Summit in online format of the member states of the Core Group regarding the creation of a special court regarding the crime of aggression against Ukraine

CULTURE:

- Hungarian Music Festival, 19th edition, event organized by the Liszt Institute - Bucharest Hungarian Cultural Centre (May 8 - 11)

ECONOMY:

- The European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, pays an official visit to the Republic of Moldova and Romania, between May 9 and 11

SPORTS:

- The Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2023 tournament is taking place, the first stage of the Grand Chess Tour 2023 circuit (Grand Hotel Bucharest)
The total net amount received by Romania from the European Union, from the moment of accession until now, amounts to 56 billion euros, informs the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE).

Of this amount, the European Structural and Investment Funds (FESI) and the European Aid Fund for the Most Disadvantaged Persons (FEAD) brought in 44.6 billion euros: 16.9 billion represent payments related to the programming period 2007 - 2013, 27 billion euros are the amounts paid through the programs of the period 2014 - 2021 and 716 million euros pre-financing for 2021 - 2027.Also, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania has so far received 6.35 billion euros through the two components of reimbursable and non-reimbursable financial assistance."Congratulations to the team from the ministry, which had a vital role in this process of modernization of Romania. I am convinced that the end of this year will bring us closer to the target of over 95% absorption through the cohesion policy and the implementation of reforms and investments undertaken through Romania's National Resilience and Recovery Program," declared minister Marcel Bolos, according to a press release from the institution sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday.For the period 2014 - 2020, the funds absorption rate is currently at 76% of the total allocated to Romania, through the operational programs related to this period, investments have been made in essential sectors such as the business environment, transport, health, education, water infrastructure and waste water, but also the social inclusion of disadvantaged people.According to the document, through the 16 national and regional programs related to the period 2021 - 2027, 490 calls for projects worth 36.4 billion euros will be opened during this year, the first applicant guides for the calls for projects being put in public consultation starting in April and calls to be launched next month. Also, 44 calls for projects, worth 4.27 billion euros, will be launched this year through the PNRR.
CLAYTON  Ahead of Centenes annual meeting Wednesday, shareholders have executive pay on their minds.

Centenes annual vote includes two shareholder-submitted proposals: one to tie executive pay to maternal health and one to give shareholders more input on how much senior managers are paid when they leave the company.

While the proposals are nonbinding, companies typically feel some obligation to adopt the results, said Kateryna Holland, assistant professor of finance at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Ignoring them, she said, can send bad signals to the market and bring reputational pushback.

Centene did not comment in time for publication. But in regulatory filings, the companys board said it opposed both shareholder-submitted proposals. It detailed its existing limits on severance pay, and said its policies are consistent with market norms. It said its compensation plans already include measures related to prenatal and postnatal care.

The first proposal was submitted by the New York state comptrollers office, which serves as the trustee for the states common retirement fund. The fund covers the majority of state employees, plus some local government and police and fire workers outside of New York City. It owned 953,000 shares of Centene as of Dec. 31, then valued at $78.2 million.

Mark Johnson, spokesman for the New York State Comptroller, said his office filed the proposal because of the rising numbers of reports on the maternal health crisis in the U.S. In the proposal, the comptrollers office cited a 2022 report from Centene rival Anthem (now known as Elevance Health), which said a portion of executives annual incentive compensation is based on improvement in maternal health outcomes for Black communities in Indiana.

The second proposal was filed by John Chevedden, who has made submissions every year since purchasing Centene stock in 2019.

For the 2020 meeting, he targeted a rule that required a supermajority in certain elections. The following year, he submitted a proposal to require Centene directors to stand for election each year, rather than on staggered, three-year terms. For the 2022 meeting, Chevedden submitted a proposal to give some shareholders  those who collectively held 10% of the companys stock  the ability to call a special meeting. All three passed.

In October, Chevedden submitted a proposal to require shareholder approval when senior managers severance and termination pay exceeds certain thresholds. Chevedden said he succeeded with a similar proposal at FedEx, which motivated him to file at Centene and at other companies where he holds stock.

Its just an overall good policy, Chevedden said in a phone interview.

In all but one instance, Centenes board has opposed Cheveddens proposals. And even when it did back his proposal to shorten directors term limits, it did so halfheartedly.

In the briefing materials distributed to shareholders ahead of the 2021 annual meeting, when term limits were on the ballot, the board wrote that three-year terms allow directors to make choices more independently, making them less subject to pressures from management or special interest groups.

Nevertheless, the Board recognizes that, like the proponent, a number of significant stockholders and institutions disagree, they wrote. The board recommended shareholders vote in favor, but added that they believed there was a strong argument to the contrary.

Its typical for shareholders to seek more control over executive compensation, said Holland, the University of Missouri professor. And its not uncommon for shareholders to try to tie executive pay to different metrics. But companies often oppose those efforts because they want to keep their leaders from leaving to work for competitors.

If an executive is good and runs a company well, the board wants to pay this executive really well, Holland said.

In regulatory filings, the company said it planned to announce preliminary voting results at the 2023 annual meeting, and publish final results within the following four business days.
JOE'S POLITICAL FIX

Newly noted for calling the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office "a rudderless ship of chaos," Circuit Judge Michael Noble appears to have emerged as the front-runner to replace outgoing top prosecutor Kimberly M. Gardner.

Under pressure from state officials aiming to remove her from office, Gardner last week submitted her resignation, effective June 1  which will allow Gov. Mike Parson to name a replacement.

Since that announcement less than one week ago, Noble reportedly has made it known to Parson's office that he is interested in taking the job, said one political source, on condition of anonymity.

"Word is that he's already met with some people, and he's had some donors make calls to Parson's office," the source said.

Also mentioned as possible players by political sources were St. Louis Circuit Judge Paula Perkins Bryant; former St. Louis Circuit Judge Michael K. Mullen; former prosecutor Patrick Hamacher; private litigator Raphael O. Morris; and  most curiously  state Sen. Steven Roberts Jr.

Noble garnered headlines in late April when he lambasted Gardner's professional performance, saying evidence suggested that she and an assistant prosecutor were guilty of indirect criminal contempt.

Along with delivering the ship-of-chaos description, Noble also said, "It appears that Ms. Gardner has complete indifference and a conscious disregard for the judicial process."

Noble was appointed to the St. Louis Circuit Court bench in 2013 as an associate judge by Gov. Jay Nixon, then promoted to circuit judge in 2015. He served for two years as the court's drug commissioner.

A 1988 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served as a field artillery officer after graduation. He earned his law degree in 2004 from St. Louis University and worked as a public defender before joining private practice.

As for Roberts, he said on Monday that he was focused on wrapping up the last days of the current legislative session and also added that no one from Parson's office had approached him about it.

"But if someone did approach me, it's something I'd definitely consider," Roberts said.

One political source said Roberts being named as the replacement seems unlikely, given the controversy that has marked his recent past.

Although he successfully moved up to the state Senate after serving in the Missouri House, Roberts has been named in civil lawsuits involving sexual-assault complaints  including one in 2017 that was in connection with a 2015 incident while he was working as a prosecutor for then-Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce.

Whomever is chosen by Parson would serve at least until Jan. 1, 2025. The first election involving the office would be the August 2024 primary, followed by the November 2024 general election.

As for the other possible contenders:

Bryant became an associate judge in 2004 and a circuit judge in 2016. Before that, she worked four years as a public defender and 11 years as an assistant circuit attorney. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a law degree from St. Louis University.

Circuit Court spokesperson Joel Currier said neither Bryant nor Noble had any comment.

Mullen, a former prosecutor, joined the St. Louis circuit court in 2001 and was the circuit's presiding judge for two years. He retired earlier this year to go into private practice with Armstrong Teasdale.

Mullen could not be reached for comment.

Hamacher is a former assistant circuit attorney and ran unsuccessfully for Gardner's position in 2016. A graduate of the University of Missouri law school, he now is a partner at NGK law firm.

He also has been vocal about wanting to become involved in rehabilitating the Circuit Attorney's Office, which he called "a sacred place."

Recently, Hamacher said he and other former prosecutors would be willing to help out in Gardner's office until things were restored to working order.

Morris has been a lawyer for 20 years and operates his own private law firm. He also is a municipal judge for Velda City and Northwoods in St. Louis County.

Currently, he is listed as the attorney for Cedric E. Dixon, who is charged with multiple felonies in the Feb. 26 hit-and-run crash that killed four people in midtown St. Louis.

On Monday, Morris said he had no comment at this time.

For now, the governor's office is keeping all cards close to the vest.
ST. LOUIS  In the first weeks of the Civil War, St. Louis was in a turmoil of divided loyalty. Gov. Claiborne Jackson schemed to add Missouri to the Confederacy. Congressman Frank Blair Jr. and Army Capt. Nathaniel Lyon worked to save it for the Union.

Unionists mustered volunteers to guard 36,600 weapons at the St. Louis Arsenal, on the Mississippi River at Arsenal Street. Jackson ordered state militia Gen. Daniel Frost to seize the guns. On May 8, 1861, a steamboat arrived with four cannons in boxes stamped "marble." Secessionists hauled them to Lindell Grove, a meadow on the western edge of town (now the site of St. Louis University) where Frost's militia was camped.

While strutting militiamen grandly accepted the compliments of ladies, the intense Lyon was busy. Legend has it that he donned a widow's veiled garb and rode through the militia camp. At noon on May 10, Lyon and his soldiers, many of them German immigrants, left the Arsenal for the two-hour march to Lindell Grove. They easily surrounded the militiamen, whose tents were just east of present-day Grand and Lindell boulevards.

Without a shot fired, Frost's troops surrendered and filed onto Olive Street. Hecklers had other ideas. Southern sympathizers mocked the German soldiers as "Hessians." A few threw rocks. Somebody fired shots. Union troops opened fire.

William Sherman, an area streetcar executive and future Union army hero, dove for a gully with his son, Willie, 7. Within moments, at least 28 civilians and seven soldiers lay dead or dying along Olive between Compton and Garrison avenues.

That night, three Germans were murdered downtown. The next day, another clash between soldiers and rioters at Broadway and Walnut Street cost six more lives. Federal reinforcements calmed the city, which stayed uneasily with the Union.

Frost joined the Confederate army. Lyon was killed while leading a Union army in battle near Springfield, Mo. Willie Sherman accompanied his father on the great campaign to capture Vicksburg, Miss., but contracted yellow fever and died.

On May 10, 1928, a statue of Lyon was installed at Grand and Pine Street. It was moved 32 years later to Lyon Park, next to the old arsenal, after Harriet Frost Fordyce - daughter of Gen. Frost - donated $1 million to St. Louis University. She died in 1960.
ST. LOUIS  A man was killed and two people were critically injured in a three-vehicle crash Monday at an intersection in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of St. Louis.

Three other people were stable or suffered minor injures in Monday's 3:20 p.m. crash at Page Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue.

Police haven't identified the man who died or the critically hurt male and female who were riding with him.

The man who died was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Impala east on Page and crossed into the westbound lanes. As the Impala passed through the intersection with Hamilton, it hit an oncoming 2011 GMC Sierra pickup truck that was heading west on Page.

The pickup was then pushed into another westbound vehicle, a 2022 Tesla S, police said.

The 46-year-old man driving the pickup, along with a 34-year-old man riding with him, were stable after the crash, police said. A boy was in the car too, but no information was released about his condition.

A 49-year-old man was driving the Tesla, and police said he declined medical treatment. A woman, 41, who was a passenger in the Tesla, had a minor injury, police said.

The St. Louis Police Department's accident-reconstruction team is investigating the crash.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

After a career of helping people through government service, longtime St. Louis politico and advocate for the homeless Bill Siedhoff will get his name above a door.

On May 18, the north city outreach center of the St. Louis Crisis Nursery will be renamed as the William F. Siedhoff Family Empowerment Center.

A ceremony is slated for 3 p.m. at the outreach nursery, 2433 North Grand Blvd.

Very few people are as dedicated to improving the lives of children and families as Bill Siedhoff, said DiAnne Mueller, chief executive of St. Louis Crisis Nursery, adding that the renaming is a wonderful way to recognize all the good this remarkable man has done.

Saying he was honored and humbled by the renaming, he noted that so many struggling families have been helped here, so much good has been done here, and so many lives have been improved by the people and services in this building.

Siedhoff noted that he has established a foundation which will assist nonprofit agencies, including the crisis nursery, in their efforts to support children and families in need.

Before retiring in 2014, Siedhoff spent 13 years as director of Human Services for St. Louis. Before that, he served as director of the Missouri Division of Family Services and deputy chief of the state Department of Social Services.

While with the city, Siedhoff made news for his battles with the Rev. Larry Rice and the New Life Evangelistic Center over the two mens differing approaches to providing homeless services.
Could mediation by the US and Saudi Arabia end the conflict in Sudan, asks Asmaa Al-Husseini

As media outlets announced the commencement of talks between the delegations of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, facilitated by Saudi-US sponsorship, the two warring factions went on with their battles in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, now in the grip of the fourth week of the brutal conflict.

The city has been subjected to extensive devastation, as though the delegations dispatched to Jeddah to negotiate a truce were completely detached from the situation on the ground.

But the deliberations in Jeddah were not faring much better than the conditions on the battlefield, with the SAF and RSF delegations standing poles apart on the negotiating agenda.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the talks between the warring parties would continue until a sustainable ceasefire was attained. The US and Saudi Arabia have jointly implored both parties to observe the ceasefire, foster a constructive environment for the ongoing discussions, uphold their obligations towards the Sudanese people, and participate earnestly in the deliberations.

The overarching objective is to bring about an end to the hostilities, alleviate the hardships and tribulations of the Sudanese people, facilitate the unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance to the affected regions, and ultimately to hold comprehensive negotiations that involve all parties in Sudan.

The Jeddah negotiations have been met with a favourable response from various quarters within and outside Sudan, as there is a fervent desire to extinguish the flames of war that have raged relentlessly in the country.

The Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), which encompasses eight nations in East Africa including Sudan, has called upon the conflicting parties to seize the opportunity presented by the talks in Jeddah. The civilian signatories to the Sudanese Framework Agreement have also urged an end to the conflict.

However, progress on the negotiations in Jeddah may remain stymied without the exertion of significant and tangible pressure on the warring factions to promptly implement a ceasefire and stop the human tragedy that has engulfed millions of Sudanese people and prevent further destruction of the countrys infrastructure and resources.

According to Sudanese political leaders who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, mediation efforts that lack genuine pressure on the conflicting parties will only result in a temporary ceasefire, allowing them to catch their breath before resuming their hostilities.

The only way for the negotiations to achieve a successful outcome is if the US and Saudi Arabia exert palpable, explicit, and concrete pressure on the warring factions, thereby preventing them from engaging in procrastination, time-wasting, or using the negotiation table as a front while continuing their fighting on the ground.

Al-Hadi Idriss, a member of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and head of the Revolutionary Front, told the Weekly he hoped the Saudi-US initiative would advance and that the Jeddah negotiations would prove fruitful. He emphasised that there could be no winner in the war and that the only viable path forward is through dialogue between the warring parties.

Ending the war in Sudan requires a collective and concerted effort from all the involved parties, Idriss said, adding that the Sudanese people are yearning for an end to the conflict, which is in the interest of all the parties involved.

He warned that if Sudan were to collapse, this would have severe ramifications for the entire region, and the continuation of the conflict would lead to dire consequences for all.

The situation in Sudan is dire. The country has been left in ruins, and the Sudanese people are enduring immense suffering and anguish in the face of the ongoing destruction, chaos, and looting. The war has resulted in significant losses across all facets of Sudanese society, he said.

US President Joe Biden made a statement prior to the Jeddah negotiations, warning that sanctions would be imposed on any party that targeted civilians or obstructed the immediate implementation of a ceasefire and the transfer of power to civilians. It remains unknown whether the US government will impose actual sanctions or if its primary aim is to pressure the conflicting parties to engage in negotiations.

Bidens assertion that the war in Sudan was a matter of national security is noteworthy. Sudan had extensive experience with US sanctions during the rule of toppled former president Omar Al-Bashir. The US classified Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, and subsequently Al-Bashir and several of his regimes leaders were pursued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Sudanese political analyst Khaled Abu Ahmed told Al-Ahram Weekly that Bidens remarks were intended to send a strong message to the warring factions that Washington supports the Sudanese people and their aspirations for democratic and civil rule.

The two warring factions are currently engaged in a frenzied race to secure as many key locations in Khartoum as possible in an attempt to gain a tactical advantage in the negotiations. This has resulted in an intensification of the fighting.

Orwa Al-Sadik, a leader of the National Umma Party, emphasised that the hindrance of civil transformation did not commence with the current conflict, but has instead gone through various stages throughout the transitional period.

The US is now employing a more forceful approach to pressure both parties. This has reached the Sudanese leaders, as well as their civilian supporters, who could potentially face personal sanctions if they persist in impeding the democratic transition in Sudan.

The use of sanctions as a tool to pressure the conflicting parties to end the war and restore democratic civil governance is a double-edged sword. While it may prove effective in achieving these goals, it could also cause the military leaders to entrench themselves further in their positions, leading Sudan down a path of international isolation, similar to what occurred during Al-Bashirs rule, Al-Sadik added.

Additionally, the imposition of sanctions may motivate extremist groups to enter Sudan, whose borders are now open since a significant portion of the Sudanese forces have been withdrawn from the border into the country.

Al-Sadik said that the US-Saudi mediation is one of the most mature and appropriate for the Sudanese situation. The African mediation proposed by IGAD only addressed the military leaders of the two factions, whereas the Saudi-US mediation takes into account all stakeholders, including those invested in the democratic transition, as well as regional, local, and international partners.

If the two [the SAF and RSF leaders] respond to the pressure exerted by the mediation, it could provide Sudan with an opportunity to extricate itself from the ongoing conflict and restore the gains of the democratic transition, which were undermined by the 25 October 2021 coup and the battles of 15 April.

The ongoing war in Sudan has far-reaching ramifications that extend beyond the countrys borders and have the potential to impact neighbouring countries, the wider region, and global security and stability.

The escalation of the conflict has also raised concerns among regional and international powers about their interests, particularly in the light of the ongoing struggle for influence in the African continent and the Arab region.

The current situation in Sudan is undeniably complex, with various domestic, regional, and international factors intermingling. The conflict is driven by struggles over power and wealth, as well as competing visions for the future of Sudan.

There are factions that seek the continuation of military rule, while others demand a civil democratic transformation. The conflict also pits Islamist forces against those who oppose them.

Various regional and international actors are involved in the conflict, and the longer it persists, the more dangerous its repercussions could be for Sudan, the region, and the international community. Egyptian efforts, in particular, could play a crucial role in halting the conflict and preventing further destabilisation in the region.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

ST. LOUIS  Sen. Nick Schroer sought to foment fear.

It was just before the final week of the Missouri Legislatures regular session. The Republican from St. Charles County was tweeting about a weekend spike of gun violence in St. Louis.

More people were murdered over the weekend and the Wild West literally in the streets, he wrote. Blood on your hands if no action taken!

That tweet, which called for having more police on the front lines, accompanied a photo and video of a person walking downtown Saturday night, carrying what looks like an AR-15-style assault weapon.

In a city with a homicide rate that is consistently one of the highest in the nation, it is indeed a frightful image that invokes the Wild West. Coming the day after yet another mass shooting in America, this one at an outlet mall in Texas, the image was even more foreboding.

But before Schroer assigns who has blood on their hands if no action is taken, he might examine his own actions  and those of his fellow Republicans. The Wild West he now laments was predicted by Democrats as far back as 2016, during one of the many years that Republicans in the Missouri Legislature were weakening gun safety laws.

Id like all @MissouriSenate #moleg members to take a good look. Gun laws and crime bills dont matter if you dont have police on the front lines. More people murdered over the weekend and the Wild West literally in the streets. Blood on your hands if no action taken! https://t.co/iPqr7ND4Vs  Nick Schroer    (@NickBSchroer) May 7, 2023

In 2016, then-Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, had vetoed a bill that did away with permits for concealed-carry of weapons and expanded the states already broad stand your ground law. As lawmakers were debating an override of the veto, Democrats predicted a return to the Wild West  using those very words. So did police officers, who supported Nixons veto because the bill would make it almost impossible for them to arrest people walking around with weapons of war.

Kevin Ahlbrand, then the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the law will cost not only citizen lives but will also be extremely dangerous to law enforcement officers.

Republicans didnt back the blue. They passed the dangerous law. Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, called it absolutely erroneous that such a bill would create a Wild, Wild West.

Fast forward to 2023. Brattin is now in the Senate, serving side by side with Schroer.

The Republicans have reaped what they sowed, says state Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis. Merideth doesnt disagree that the city where he lives sometimes looks like the Wild West. But he says the very Republicans pounding the issue are to blame for the laws that allow a person in St. Louis  including a child  to carry an AR-15 down the street, even in broad daylight.

Police have told us on a regular basis that this is a big problem, Merideth says. Theres not anything police can do about it. Its insanity.

The insanity exists because Missouri Republicans  with the support of some Democrats early on  have for decades chipped away at gun safety laws. They got rid of permits, expanded conceal-carry and, two years ago, passed the so-called Second Amendment Preservation Act. That was an attempt to not only nullify all federal gun laws in Missouri but also make local police officers liable for trying to enforce them.

The result, Merideth keeps pointing out, is that theres no law against a child carrying a weapon in public in the city of St. Louis  or anywhere else in Missouri. All session long, hes being trying to get his Republican colleagues to help.

Merideth has tried several times to add an amendment to various bills to make it illegal for children to openly carry guns in public. Even if Republicans didnt want to pass such laws in their communities, thinking they might somehow limit hunting, Merideth has asked them to allow individual cities and counties to pass such laws.

Surely we can all agree that a 15-year-old kid walking down the street with an AR-15 strapped to his shoulder is a bad idea? Merideth asks.

Apparently not. His most recent attempt at passing the amendment didnt get a single Republican vote. Not one.

Its infuriating, Merideth says.

As the session comes to end, Schroer is pushing a likely losing battle for the state to take over control of the police department in the Wild West of St. Louis. And yet he wont even listen to the law enforcement officials who have been asking for help with gun safety laws to make the city a safer place.

Its their fault the Wild West exists, Merideth says of his colleagues across the political aisle, and they wont do anything about it.

Its like Schroer said: If no action is taken, blood will be on somebodys hands.
ST. CHARLES  Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey addressed almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday morning in St. Charles for an annual breakfast that honors officers killed in the line of duty.

The memorial event, hosted by the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association, included representatives from nearly 50 local police departments.

Bailey expressed his support for law enforcement during his speech and said his office would carry out its duties to ensure justice is served.

It is a privilege to be here today, he said. To be here amongst so many heroes, men and women in uniforms who serve our communities and make our streets safer every day and are willing to put their lives on the line to do it. I cant thank you enough.

The breakfast, which has been held for 31 years, featured major civic and police leaders throughout the region, including St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. Both counties prosecuting attorneys, Wesley Bell and Joseph McCulloch, also attended.

As St. Charles Countys new top prosecutor, McCulloch has been on the job for about a week and spoke about his father who was killed in the line of duty almost 60 years ago.

Although I was just a kid at the time, I remember that evening very vividly today, he said. So I also want to recognize the families of those who were left behind.

In addition to expressing gratitude toward the regions fallen officers and their families, Bell alluded to a looming prosecutorial shake-up as Gov. Mike Parson decides who will fill St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners seat. She resigned Friday, effective June 1.

Things are going to be changing very soon in this region, Bell said. But it is going to require all of us coming together to work for the good of this region. And so I hope that we are all on board to make certain we are helping our brothers and sisters in St. Louis city in this transition.

The breakfasts emcee, ESPN sportscaster Joe Buck, also welcomed St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy, who took over the department in January. Buck said he seems like the right man for the job and joked about Tracys support of the New York Yankees.
ST. LOUIS  A doctor pleaded guilty in St. Louis federal court Tuesday to ordering unnecessary medical testing as part of a multimillion-dollar health care scheme.

Dr. Gautam Jayaswal, 64, of Overland Park, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Federal investigators say Jayaswal defrauded Medicare out of more than $15 million by ordering unnecessary items fraudulently, such as 1,400 orthotic braces and medically unnecessary genetic testing for thousands of patients.

His sentencing date has not been set, but he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, in addition to repaying money he acquired fraudulently.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
CLAYTON  A Jennings man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to killing his girlfriend in front of her 14-year-old daughter after she refused to lend him $36.

Brian Clay, 47, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, robbery and two weapons offenses, admitting that on June 13, 2018, he shot his girlfriend, Loreal Goode, 32, of St. Louis, outside a Jennings Family Dollar. He was sentenced Monday by Circuit Court Judge John Borbonus Monday to a life sentence, which is calculated at 30 years in Missouri, plus an additional 10 years in prison.

My daughter didnt deserve this, Goodes mother, Joann Goode told the Post-Dispatch shortly after the killing. She didnt deserve to go out like this.

Joann Goode said her daughter had been dating Clay for about six years.

The couple and Goodes daughter were in a car outside the store at 6440 West Florissant Avenue when Clay asked for a ride to a pawnshop and $36 so he could get his TV back, police said at the time. He killed her when she refused.

My grandbaby was screaming, Please dont do it. Please dont do it, for me if you dont do it for anybody else, Joann Goodes mother said in 2018.

Clay was originally charged with first-degree murder in the case, but prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge to second-degree murder as part of plea negotiations.

Clay spoke before sentencing Tuesday, according to the office of St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.

I dont know what possessed me to do that, he said in an apology. I dont deserve mercy. I dont deserve forgiveness.

Goodes aunt and the daughter who witnessed the killing also made statements to the judge.

Goodes aunt said she accepted Clays apology, But it still doesnt make up for what he did.

Goodes daughter rejected the apology: You knew exactly what you were doing, she said.

Bell said in a statement Monday that the plea deal was supported by Goodes family.

The agreement spares the victims daughter the ordeal of reliving this horrific event before a courtroom of strangers and being confronted by the man who killed her mother before her eyes, the statement read. This cold-blooded killer will have the rest of his life in prison to reflect on why he did what he did.
ST. LOUIS  Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a 25-year-old man with murder after they say he killed a 62-year-old man, wrapped the man in plastic baggies and duct tape, and dumped his body just north of downtown St. Louis last month.

Antonio Mosley, 25, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse in the death of 62-year-old Michael Finocchiaro.

Finocchiaro was found dead just before 8 a.m. April 24 in the 1500 block of North 10th Street, in the city's Columbus Square neighborhood. Police said he died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Surveillance video from the city's Real Time Crime Center caught a car that had been parked near the 10th Street address. Police pulled the license plate and traced it back to someone who lived at 1718 Cass Avenue.

Video surveillance from near the Cass Avenue house showed Finocchiaro going into Mosley's apartment. Later, it showed Mosley loading what appeared to be a body into the trunk of his car, court documents say.

Detectives found a baseball bat with traces of blood and suspected blood in Mosley's trunk and apartment, police said.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 11 with more information from charging documents.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri House on Tuesday approved a plan to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 57%.

The proposal is a compromise between the Republican-controlled House and Senate, which have both approved plans that would make it more difficult to change the state constitution in the wake of progressive wins made through initiative petitions.

The Senate will still need to sign off on the compromise measure before it appears on a statewide ballot, possibly this year as abortion rights supporters move to reverse Missouris near-total abortion ban through a referendum in 2024.

And with legalization of sports betting tangled up in the Legislature, top brass for the Cardinals last week floated an initiative petition for 2024 on sports betting.

House legislators forwarded the constitutional amendment plan to the Senate on a 107-55 vote, with four Republicans opposing the measure and all Democrats voting against it.

Proponents have said constitutional amendments should enjoy wide support, while opponents have described the legislation as an anti-democratic power grab by a Legislature at odds with the public on certain issues.

Former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, working with Republicans opposed to the changes, urged GOP senators to block the higher threshold in the legislative sessions final days.

The initiative process is a power and freedom that we the people have reserved to ourselves as a check on and to be independent of the General Assembly, Bearden said, adding the plan directly infringes upon the constitutional freedoms of Missouri citizens. It is not a conservative policy.

The House earlier this year approved a measure that wouldve lifted the threshold for passage from a simple majority to 60%.

A Senate-approved plan wouldve required a 57% majority statewide or a simple majority and affirmative votes in at least five of eight congressional districts.

The compromise Tuesday keeps the 57% threshold but gets rid of the alternative route that requires approval in a majority of congressional districts.

The problem that we have faced over the last several years with initiative petition ... is we have lacked a broad consensus across the state when we adjust our constitution, said Rep. Brad Banderman, R-St. Clair.

The measure heading back to the Senate also limits the ability of the Legislature to amend voter-approved statutory changes, which would still require a simple majority for passage.

Legislators would not be able to substantially alter a statutory change for three years without 57% support in both legislative chambers.

Legislators would still be able to refer a referendum to voters for approval before the three-year cooling-off period ends.

The measure also limits the Legislatures ability to place constitutional amendments on the ballot by requiring 57% majorities in both chambers to do so.

The measure would also ask if only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote on ballot measures, language that critics call ballot candy, designed to trick voters into approving the measure.

The U.S. citizenship question appears first in the proposed ballot summary. U.S. citizenship is already required to vote.

This is misleading, said Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, calling the proposal dog poop with icing on it.

The ballot summary goes on to ask if the Legislatures power over statutory changes should be limited and whether individuals with disabilities should be ensured access to ballot measures.

The summary ends with the question about raising the threshold to 57%.

In regard to people with disabilities, the ballot measure would empower the Legislature to ensure that voters who are disabled can review, comment on, sign, or decline to sign ballot measures.

The effort to restrict constitutional amendments follows recent voter passage of a recreational marijuana amendment and Medicaid expansion, both of which secured 53% of the vote.

The legislation is House Joint Resolution 43.
ST. LOUIS  Police on Monday released the names of the two teenagers shot and killed in one of several shootings in the city this weekend.

Aaliyah Gillom, 18, of Castle Point and Asia Baker, 18, of Spanish Lake were killed shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of Branch Street in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Two other teenagers were shot but survived.

Officers found Gillom on the ground 2100 block of Branch Street and Baker on the ground in the 2000 block of Branch Street, according to a police report.

One of the teenagers who was shot and survived was found by officers in the 1900 block of Agnes Street. The other was found in a home in the 2000 block of Agnes Street.

Their deaths were two of at least five shootings deaths between Friday night and Monday night in the city. At least 11 people were shot in that time period.
CLAYTON  Opposition is stacking up against a bill pending before the St. Louis County Council that would prohibit people being in county streets. Joggers, walkers, people with disabilities and community groups have all complained that it would unfairly target them.

The measure proposed by Councilman Ernie Trakas, a Republican from unincorporated South County, bars standing, sitting, walking or otherwise moving along roadways in St. Louis County. People could be ticketed for violating the rule, and it would apply throughout the county unless a municipality has a stricter rule in place.

Trakas said he plans to bring it up for a final vote at tonight's council meeting.

But Robyn Wallen, transportation committee chairperson for the Missouri Council of the Blind, said her agency worries most that authorities will enforce the bill inconsistently.

"We're afraid of the demographics that are going to be targeted," she said. "It's always easy to approach the people that you feel are less likely to say anything."

People who jog, push strollers, use a wheelchair, have limited mobility, are visually impaired or live in a place with bad, bumpy sidewalks encounter the same problem: Walking in the street is often a necessity. The bill makes an exception for places where there are no sidewalks, mandating that people use whichever roadway shoulder faces oncoming traffic. It allows for first responders and people getting on and off buses.

Trakas says the bill is a public safety measure that isn't designed to target anyone.

"Really there's not, in my mind anyway, an argument to be made that somehow this measure to make roadways safer for people and drivers is somehow compromising other people's convenience or right," Trakas said.

But the proposed rules are impractical for joggers, says Anne Marie Mosher of Florissant. The 54-year-old community college math teacher runs five or six miles daily, and encounters plenty of situations where she has to hop into the street.

"Anybody who does recreational walking or running would understand that this adds some layer of unnecessary stress to somebody who's just trying to get out and about," Mosher said.

Mosher also worries the bill unfairly targets her students at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. Many don't have a car and walk to class.

"They're focused on trying to get somewhere rather than, 'Oh, I have all the time in the world to think about this rule,'" Mosher said.

The pro-pedestrian group Safer Streets for Kirkwood and St. Louis County sent a letter to council members urging them to vote down the bill. And Trailnet, a St. Louis-based nonprofit that advocates for pedestrians and cyclist safety, also opposed the bill. The organization shared concerns in a letter to councilmembers.

"Mandating people walk on sidewalks that are either bad or nonexistent is not good public policy," the letter stated.

Until all sidewalks in St. Louis County become accessible to people with disabilities, Trakas' bill should not go into effect, said Wallen, who is blind.

"If you want to have something like this, fix that first," Wallen said.

Trakas said he plans to bring up Bill 86 for final passage at tonight's meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

Trakas said he's unsure of how much support he has from his fellow councilmembers. He needs a majority of the seven-member council to favor the bill.

If it passes, it would go to County Executive Sam Page for his signature before becoming ordinance.
CULIACAN, Mexico  In January 2017, days after Mexico extradited the notorious drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to the United States, local cops in his home state of Sinaloa fell under attack.

Some were shot dead in broad daylight. Others vanished and were never found. In all, 13 police officers died or disappeared in the months that followed.

That spree was the start of a shift in tactics within Guzmans Sinaloa Cartel, according to four intelligence and security officials, one that signaled the arrival of a new force inside one of Mexicos most powerful drug syndicates: the kingpins four sons.

Collectively known as Los Chapitos, or the little Chapos, the four siblings were once mocked by adversaries as entitled princelings more concerned with flashing their wealth on Instagram than the grubby work of moving tons of cocaine into the United States. Yet the brothers have resuscitated a drug empire teetering after their father was locked behind U.S. bars and diversified the business by embracing a new line of synthetic drugs.

Their early bet on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin, helped supercharge an opioid epidemic that has placed them squarely in the crosshairs of American anti-narcotics agents.

Last month, U.S. authorities laid out extensive new charges against the brothers in indictments filed in multiple jurisdictions, and upped bounties for two of the siblings to $10 million apiece, cementing their status as some of the worlds most powerful and wanted drug lords. U.S. officials portrayed them as the face of a highly addictive poison thats killing nearly 200 Americans daily.

The Chapitos pioneered the manufacture and trafficking of the deadliest drug our country has ever faced, Anne Milgram, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief, said at an April 14 press conference in Washington. They inherited a global drug empire and made it more ruthless, more violent and more deadly.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned one of the brothers, Joaquin Jr., for his role in the Los Chapitos fentanyl network, alleging that he is involved in the management of "super labs. His three siblings had been sanctioned previously for purported trafficking.

Los Chapitos, for the first time ever, released a public letter last week denying claims that they traffic fentanyl and rebutting allegations made by U.S. officials in the Washington press conference.

We have never produced, manufactured or marketed fentanyl or any of its derivatives. We are victims of persecution and they made us a scapegoat, the brothers said in the letter. Mexicos Milenio news channel aired its contents on May 3, along with an interview of Guzman family lawyer Jose Refugio Rodriguez, who provided the broadcaster with the document.

Denying that they head the Sinaloa Cartel, the brothers said drug traffickers and the media have exploited their fathers fame to implicate them in crimes of which they are innocent.

El Chapo is serving a life sentence in a Supermax prison in Colorado. Mariel Colon Miro, Guzmans U.S.-based attorney, said her client was unable to comment due to restrictions barring him from speaking to the media.

The four brothers, two born to El Chapos first wife, the others to another, range in age from 33 to 40, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Headed by Ivan, El Chapos oldest son, the siblings have emerged as key figures in the Sinaloa Cartel, U.S. and Mexican anti-narcotics officials said. While the syndicate is a loose confederation of trafficking factions that cooperate on logistics and security, the Guzmans bloc is a pillar of the organization, the officials said, and Los Chapitos have quickly consolidated power within it.

To chronicle the rise of this new generation of Narco Juniors, as children of established traffickers are known in Mexico, Reuters spoke with four Sinaloa Cartel operatives and visited a house where gang members assembled pills stuffed with methamphetamine, another cash cow. The news agency also interviewed dozens of sources, including law enforcement, intelligence and government officials in Mexico and the United States, as well as local residents whove witnessed the changing of the guard.

The rapid ascendancy of Los Chapitos, many details of which are told here for the first time, shows how authorities may have underestimated the former party boys.

A 2019 showdown with Mexicos Army in Culiacan, Sinaloas capital, already has cemented their place in narco lore. Soldiers captured Ovidio, the youngest of the four siblings, then quickly released him on the orders of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador after cartel foot soldiers fought troops in shootouts that killed 14 people, including several bystanders.

This new generation is more violent, said one retired Mexican police officer in Sinaloa. Before, they would interrogate and then kill you. Now they kill and ask questions later.

Within the cartel, the brothers have battled elders opposed to them assuming their fathers mantle, including El Chapos former right-hand man Damaso Lopez, according to U.S. and Mexican security sources.

But these young guns have also built a reputation as sharp businessmen. Theyve helped transform Mexico from a transit country for Chinese-produced fentanyl into a major production hub, half a dozen U.S. officials and DEA sources said. To do that, they said, Los Chapitos built a network of clandestine laboratories across Sinaloa and ramped up smuggling of precursor chemicals from China.

The earnings have been astronomical. The cartel can turn $800 worth of precursor chemicals into fentanyl pills or powder that reap profits as high as $640,000, according to one of the April indictments, which was filed in the Southern District of New York. That cash, U.S. prosecutors say, has bankrolled a war chest used by the brothers to bribe politicians and cops, and finance an ever-growing army of sicarios, or hit men, to protect their interests.

The impact on U.S. streets has been devastating. One American dies from a fentanyl overdose almost every eight minutes, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said at the Washington press conference. U.S. overdose deaths, the lions share due to fentanyl, surged to nearly 107,000 in 2021.

Los Chapitos ascent, U.S. and Mexican officials say, has coincided with a decision by Lopez Obrador to turn away from the aggressive anti-narcotics policies of his predecessors.

After assuming office in December 2018, Lopez Obrador restructured Mexicos security forces, eliminating teams that were once at the forefront of probing cartel activity, U.S. and Mexico security sources said. They say the president also curbed security cooperation with the United States and largely eschewed the so-called kingpin strategy that led previous administrations to arrest El Chapo and other high-profile traffickers.

Instead, the president has vowed to concentrate on social programs to tackle crime and violence at a grassroots level, a policy dubbed abrazos, no balazos or hugs, not bullets.

Mexicos presidency did not respond to a request for comment about Lopez Obradors crime fighting approach. He has repeatedly touted his strategy on multiple visits to Sinaloa. Nothing can be solved with the use of force. You cant put out fire with fire, Lopez Obrador told residents in 2019. His supporters note that murders nationwide have stabilized since he took power.

The presidents critics say the number of homicides  above 30,000 a year  is still extremely high, and the production and smuggling of drugs into the United States have increased.

Mexicos Army did ultimately apprehend Ovidio Guzman earlier this year by sending hundreds of troops to raid one of his homes in rural Sinaloa. Hes now in a maximum-security lockup near Mexico City. But that arrest had more to do with the Army trying to restore its battered prestige rather than a shift in Lopez Obradors thinking, four U.S. and Mexican officials said.

Ovidios lawyer and Lopez Obradors office did not respond to requests for comment. The Army did not comment about its motive for the arrest.

U.S.-Mexico security ties have frayed. Lopez Obrador called the recent U.S. indictments against the four younger Guzmans an abusive, arrogant interference that should not be accepted under any circumstances. The Mexican leader said the case was built by DEA agents operating in Mexico, which he has deemed a violation of sovereignty.

While he has not booted the agency from the country, DEA operations have been hobbled on his watch. Mexico in 2021 disbanded an elite police unit that worked closely with the DEA for a quarter of a century; amended a national security law to make it harder for foreign agents to operate inside Mexico; and slow-walked visa approvals for DEA agents, CNN reported.

Those measures were widely viewed as retaliation for the 2020 arrest of former Mexican Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos in Los Angeles on drug trafficking charges, a move that angered Lopez Obrador. U.S. prosecutors later dropped the charges, pointing to sensitive foreign policy considerations.

The Justice Department declined to comment. The DEA did not respond to a request for comment. Rafael Heredia Rubio, a lawyer representing Cienfuegos, said he was not authorized to comment. Cienfuegos attorneys previously had denied that he was involved in drug trafficking.

Ferraris and pet tigers

Born into one of Mexicos most storied outlaw families, Guzmans five sons  Edgar, Ivan, Jesus Alfredo, Joaquin Jr. and Ovidio  grew up in luxury once unimaginable to their father, a semi-literate farm worker from Sinaloas mountains before becoming the head of a drug empire. (El Chapo fathered more than a dozen children, according to local media, not all of whom are reputed to be involved in drug trafficking.)

Minor social media celebrities, they flaunted their pet tigers, Ferraris and a golden AK-47 on Instagram and Twitter. Those accounts were never verified by those platforms, but a social media analyst familiar with cartel communications and two security sources told Reuters they believed the accounts were authentic.

Early on, the general perception was that Los Chapitos were spoiled brats, said Mike Vigil, former head of DEAs international operations.

After El Chapos escape from a maximum-security prison in 2001, reportedly in a laundry trolley, the brothers took a hands-on approach to the family business, security sources said.

Edgar blazed a trail for his brothers by building his own contacts and doing his own deals, the sources said. But he was killed in 2008 in Culiacan in a hail of bullets amid infighting between warring factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.

His four surviving brothers filled the void, U.S. and Mexican security sources said.

Starting in 2009 with Jesus Alfredo, the brothers all have been indicted by U.S. authorities multiple times for alleged offenses including money laundering, possession of machine guns and trafficking of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The U.S. State Department in 2021 put $5 million bounties on their heads, a figure recently doubled for Ivan and Jesus Alfredo, while the DEA set up ChapitosTips@dea.gov to encourage snitches to rat them out. The agency in April placed Ivan on the list of its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, joining Jesus Alfredo and Ismael El Mayo Zambada, a Sinaloa Cartel legend and El Chapos alleged former business partner.

Washington has taken note of Los Chapitos entrepreneurial flair. The State Department in its 2021 bounty notices said Ovidio and Joaquin Jr. began smuggling chemicals from Argentina in 2008 to launch experiments in Mexico on how to produce methamphetamine.

As they built their own crew, the brothers purportedly discarded the shibboleth that Sinaloa kingpins should only sell drugs to foreigners. Los Chapitos placed pushers on street corners in Culiacan, according to cartel members and Mexican media reports.

In what would prove another consequential move, Ovidio in 2014 began to tinker with manufacturing fentanyl in Mexico, according to one of the indictments unsealed last month.

That same year, the brothers faced another major test: Their father was nabbed again, this time by Mexican marines working with the DEA. The sons helped El Chapo stage yet another audacious escape in July 2015 by organizing the construction of a mile-long tunnel to his Mexican prison cell, according to testimony that would emerge later at the elder Guzmans 2019 drug trafficking trial in New York.

Following the tunnel caper, Mexican authorities recaptured El Chapo in January 2016. He tapped his sons to head his portion of the trafficking empire, triggering a power struggle with Lopez, who had run the business during the bosss previous incarceration, according to 2017 Mexican military intelligence documents viewed by Reuters.

Los Chapitos and their posse squeezed Lopezs crew by crimping his finances. Near a Sinaloan dam where both groups filched water to feed their clandestine drug labs, the brothers cut off Lopezs access to this critical resource, crippling his manufacturing capability while keeping the taps open for themselves, according to three serving Mexican marines who spoke with Reuters.

Los Chapitos had an advantage as they kept the production of drugs. They had money to pay sicarios, buy arms, said one of the men, who had worked with the elite Navy unit that helped capture El Chapo in 2016.

The feud escalated into all-out war following Guzmans 2017 extradition to the United States. El Chapos sons targeted the 13 Sinaloan police officers for execution because they were on Lopezs payroll, according to prosecutors and former cops in Sinaloa, as well as military officials and intelligence documents reviewed by Reuters.

Police in Sinaloa did not respond to claims that the targeted officers were in league with Lopez.

One of the U.S. indictments unsealed last month details other grisly violence allegedly meted out by Los Chapitos. Their henchmen allegedly kidnapped two officials from the federal attorney generals office in early 2017, torturing one by inserting a corkscrew into his muscles, ripping it out, then placing hot chiles into his open wounds and nose.

Ivan finished off the victims with gunshots, with Jesus Alfredo pitching in to shoot one in the face, according to the indictment, which said the two brothers also killed some enemies by feeding them alive to the pet tigers they kept at their ranches.

The brothers, in their public letter, denied killing or torturing the officials or feeding people to tigers.

A tiger may kill a person, but eat him? We do not have nor did we have tigers, the letter stated.

Los Chapitos prevailed in their struggle with Lopez, who was arrested in Mexico City in 2017 by the Mexican military and subsequently extradited to the United States. A star prosecution witness in El Chapos 2019 trial, Lopez got his own life sentence for drug trafficking reduced. In 2021, his name disappeared from the Federal Bureau of Prisons public registry of inmates, fueling media speculation that he entered witness protection. Lopez, through his lawyer, declined to comment.

On their turf in Culiacan, meanwhile, the brothers quickly solidified their grip on the local drugs market, a local trafficker told Reuters.

Jesus, an independent operator in Culiacan who ships fentanyl and heroin to the United States with the help of the syndicate, said gunmen working for Los Chapitos told street dealers they had to purchase product from their cartel faction exclusively and pay protection money. He said several friends and family members who were slow to comply were kidnapped and beaten.

Los Chapitos made it clear that now the market belongs to them, Jesus said.

Showing whos boss

On Dec. 1, 2018, Lopez Obrador took office after winning Mexicos presidency in a landslide. Within months, members of UNOPES, the Navys elite special forces unit that had pursued El Chapo and other traffickers, were ordered by superiors to leave Sinaloa and shut down their temporary bases there, according to the three marines and three ex-DEA officials.

The presidents office did not respond to a request for comment.

In October 2019 came the Mexican Armys first capture of Ovidio Guzman in Culiacan. Recalling that day, two Sinaloa Cartel members told Reuters that, within minutes, encrypted radios carried by fellow gunmen began to buzz with the news: The boss has fallen! The boss has fallen!

Hundreds of gang fighters armed with military-grade weapons rushed to the scene, firing on government troops and barricading key city streets to trap them. They also kidnapped eight soldiers and surrounded military housing where wives and children of Mexican soldiers lived, Mexican officials said.

With the pop-pop-pop of gunfire echoing in the background, encircled Mexican troops put Ovidio on the phone with his brother Ivan in an attempt to get Los Chapitos to call off their gunmen. Tell them to stand down I dont want chaos, Ovidio said in video footage released by Mexicos government.

Hell no, we are coming to rescue you, Ivan responded, according to Sinaloan newspaper Riodoce.

Hours later, with Culiacan resembling a war zone and scenes of pandemonium being broadcast across the globe, Lopez Obrador ordered the army to free Ovidio.

The day of terror shocked Sinaloans, whose relationship with the cartel is complex. El Chapo had the reputation of being ruthless to those who crossed him. But locals say he provided jobs, handouts and security by punishing hoodlums preying on poor communities.

It was the first time we saw the Sinaloa Cartel use their armed power to generate  chaos and fear to try to achieve their goals, said Adrian Lopez, publisher of the Sinaloan Noroeste newspaper.

For the brothers, it was a turning point. Mexicos military and its president had bowed to them in front of the entire world. It showed who has power, a cartel member said.

Still, they set out to burnish their public image. One such charm offensive took place in December 2020 in San Diego, a village about 60 kilometers south of Culiacan that is home to several high-ranking cartel sicarios, a resident told Reuters. There Los Chapitos staged a music concert and raffle, whose prizes included new cars, washing machines and refrigerators, all bearing stickers emblazoned with El Chapos initials  JGL for Joaquin Guzman Loera  that person and two other locals said.

A fourth declined to answer questions, saying I dont want them to disappear me.

During COVID-19 lockdowns, the brothers doled out food parcels and built an outdoor school in rural Sinaloa, and they have maintained the tradition of punishing common hoodlums, Sinaloa residents and cartel members said.

Taking control

But like their father, Los Chapitos are at heart violent businessmen with a drive for manufacturing and moving drugs, security officials and cartel members said.

A gang soldier calling himself Guero, a silver pistol tucked into his waistband, last year gave Reuters a tour of a cartel safe house on the edge of Culiacan. There, two young men in white surgical gloves sat at a brown lacquered table carefully stuffing white powder into transparent capsules  methamphetamine samples for a new client looking to ship in bulk to the United States, Guero said.

As fentanyl and meth production have soared, U.S. seizures have likewise skyrocketed. Interdictions of fentanyl alone on the U.S.-Mexico border hit 14,104 pounds in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022, up more than 400% since 2019, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Inside Mexico, meanwhile, the Army had a grudge to settle.

In early January of this year, the Army told Lopez Obrador it planned to mount a top-secret operation to recapture Ovidio, according to a then-senior government official with direct knowledge of the events. The president approved the mission but was not informed of the date and time, the source said.

Mexicos Army and the presidency did not respond to requests for comment about the officials account.

As hundreds of soldiers encircled Ovidios rural Sinaloan compound in the pre-dawn assault, a helicopter strafed targets from the air, video of the incident showed.

Cartel gunmen went on a rampage again, setting cars on fire, blocking roads and forcing Culiacans airport to shut by shooting at passenger jets. The violence left 29 people dead, including 10 armed forces personnel. But the sicarios were too late  a military chopper had already whisked Ovidio out of Sinaloa.

Despite that blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, fentanyl keeps flowing north. In February and March, U.S. border agents seized a combined 5,130 pounds of fentanyl in two of the biggest monthly hauls ever.

Additional reporting by Dave Graham in Mexico City and Jesus Bustamante in Culiacan.
MT. VERNON, Ill. (AP)  A New Mexico motorist was killed early Tuesday and a state trooper was wounded in an exchange of gunfire along an interstate highway in southern Illinois, police said.

Illinois State Police said a trooper stopped about 3 a.m. along Interstate 64 to assist a stranded motorist on the right shoulder of eastbound lanes. The officer encountered motorist Brandon L. Griffin, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a female passenger.

After a second state trooper arrived, state police said, "an altercation occurred during which gunfire was exchanged between Griffin and a responding officer."

Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 16-year veteran trooper was shot and wounded and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The other trooper and the female passenger were not injured, police said.

The shooting happened near Mt. Vernon, the Jefferson County seat, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis, closing the interstate's eastbound lanes for more than three hours.

State police said the agency's internal investigators are handling the case, and no additional details would be released. Once state police complete its investigation the findings and evidence will be submitted to the Jefferson County States Attorneys Office for review, police said.
The Israeli army continued operations in Gaza and the West Bank targeting Palestinian activists whom Israel claims belong to cells that carried out or planned operations against Israelis, reports Mohamed Abu Shaar

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, 40 Israeli warplanes and helicopters attacked Gaza in several waves, hitting homes and causing panic among residents. Early reports showed at least 13 Palestinians, including three commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad, were killed in the air strikes. Meanwhile Israel officials are said to be preparing for days of fighting.

The Islamic Jihad too has vowed revenge and Gaza-based militants are expected to respond with rocket fire into Israel. In fact, military escalation continues in the Gaza Strip after the death of detainee Khedr Adnan in an Israeli jail after a 86-day hunger strike. Rising tensions in the West Bank and Gaza, coincide with warnings of more escalation due to threats by armed Palestinian factions in Gaza that they will respond to Israeli settlers planning a new Flags March in occupied Jerusalem.

The parade takes place on 18 May every year and involves tens of thousands of religious Jews and extremist right-wing political parties mark the anniversary of the occupation of Jerusaelm. The march usually passes through the Old City in Jerusalem, and participants provoke and clash with Jerusalem residents.

On Friday, the Israeli army killed three Palestinians in Nablus in the northern West Bank, claiming they were the perpetrators of an operation in Al-Aghwar that killed two Israeli women. The following day, two Palestinians were killed in a fight with the army at Tolkaram Refugee Camp in the West Bank. Since the beginning of the year, 110 Palestinians have been martyred at the hands of the Israeli army, including 20 children and three women, according to the latest statistics of the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In the Gaza Strip, within hours of the news of Adnans death, Palestinian factions fired more than 110 rockets and artillery shells into Israeli-occupied towns neighbouring Gaza. Israel responded by targeting a large number of military locations belonging to armed Palestinian factions in Gaza. Egyptian and UN efforts managed to reach a ceasefire, even though neither side officially declared it. However, more trouble is brewing as Israel enforces harsher measures against Palestinian prisoners, especially the Secretary-General of the Popular Front Ahmed Saadat, under the pretext that he coordinated with armed elements in the West Bank to form armed cells to attack Israelis.

Israels Channel 14 quoted a senior politician as saying: The decision to enter direct confrontations with armed Palestinian factions in Gaza has been taken. Discussions revolve around timing.

The source said discussions are underway at security institutions between two key approaches. First, a surprise attack in the Gaza Strip that could begin by assassinating one or more officials simultaneously, would be followed by launching military confrontations. However, this would be of questionable legitimacy. Secondly, waiting for an attack from Gaza targeting Israel would enable Israel to respond in a forceful manner to tip the scales. This would have more global legitimacy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing criticism of his response to rocket attacks from Gaza, which have increased since he came back to power five months ago. Netanyahus partners view Israels response as modest, undermining what they describe as Israels deterrence strategy against armed Palestinian groups.

Ibrahim Abrash, a political analyst, stated: Escalation in Gaza and the West Bank continues relentlessly, especially in light of stalled peace talks. We are in a state of no-war, no-peace, which leaves all options open. Under the shadow of Netanyahus right-wing government, there are serious efforts for escalation on the Israeli side, especially by ministers of extremist right-wing parties.

Abrash told Al-Ahram Weekly that what is currently preventing large-scale confrontations is the domestic situation inside Israel, and events on the regional and international stage. Within a few months from now, there will be broad confrontations between Israel on one side, and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on the other. The security calm is temporary and at any moment a major war against Gaza could break out to end the wave of rockets.

He continued that Netanyahus government is facing many crises, but the security issue is the most pressing and could lead to its downfall if it does not work on restoring what Israelis call deterrence power, especially since right-wing parties reached power through promises on security issues.

Abrash asserted that harsher measures against prisoners and tensions inside Israeli jails will serve as an impetus to hasten a confrontation, increase armed operations in the West Bank and the firing of rockets from Gaza. The absence of political prospects will sustain continued security tensions.

As to whether the Arab League could re-propose its peace initiative, with the support of the Palestinian president, Abrash  who is a former member of the Palestinian government  believes Israel will reject the idea since it refuses to return to negotiations altogether. In recent years, Israel has worked on decimating the Arab peace initiative, and destroying any chance of implementing it, he argued.

Aleef Sabagh, a political analyst, agrees that dissent within Netanyahus cabinet, especially recent quarrels between him and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, is a factor in whether or not another military confrontation between Palestinians and the Israeli army is possible.

Sabagh told the Weekly: The dispute between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir will never be resolved unless the former agrees to the latters demands in order to prevent the collapse of the government coalition. This means it is more likely that a broader and greater military confrontation will take place.

While military escalation continues in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel is trying to impose a new status quo in occupied Jerusalem and at Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is another factor in rising tensions between Palestinians and Israelis.

Hamas is holding the Israeli government responsible for continued actions by extremist groups of holding religious lessons near the prayer area of Bab Al-Rahma at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas believes this is part of a plan to impose temporal and spatial separation as a precursor for changing the features and identity of Al-Aqsa.

Israel also approved the construction of 1,200 settlement units in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, while Egypt, Jordan and the US are trying to spearhead efforts to bring the Palestinian Authority and Israel back to the negotiating table as a continuation of meetings in Aqaba, Jordan, and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Lets begin to talk openly not about the elephant in the room but the donkey. President Joe Biden has two gigantic actuarial and electoral challenges in front of him: His age and Vice President Kamala Harris. While he himself cannot change either, Harris could help the ticket and the country by stepping off.

One longtime Missouri Democratic voter told me that, in 2020, she voted for Donald Trump on the basis of the bottom of the ticket. She admitted that she considered both Trump and Biden old and therefore voted for which vice-presidential candidate she would prefer. And that was Mike Pence over Harris. While this is only one voter, this should be a warning to Harris.

In polls, 70% of respondents say that Biden should not run for reelection. When asked in one poll whether Bidens age was a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason for him to bow out of the 2024 race, 49% answered that it was either a major or minor factor affecting their opinion of him. This is a moot point at this point now that Biden has announced he is running for reelection. In the video announcing his 2024 campaign, Harris had a prominent role with multiple clips of her out there on her own, being vice presidential.

There are others who say the quiet part out loud regarding Harris. Former South Carolina governor and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley bluntly stated after Bidens campaign announcement: I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely.

Harsh, yes. But she simply stated what a lot of other people are thinking. Considering this reality, it should be fair then to look at Harris popularity  or lack thereof. In an NBC poll, only 36% of respondents approved of Harris job as vice president, while 53% disapproved.

But it is not just the current situation. Look back at her 2020 Democratic primary bid. Harris dropped out in December 2019 before the first caucus in Iowa. Multiple media reports claimed that Harris 2020 campaign lacked a clear strategy and had a fractured and disgruntled campaign staff.

Gil Duran, a former aide to Harris and now the editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee, reportedly said back in 2019, You cant run the country if you cant run your campaign.

Then there is the question of what exactly Harris policy platforms are. During the first Democratic primary debate in 2019, Harris had raised her hand when a moderator asked which of the candidates supported abolishing private insurance in favor of a government-run single-payer alternative. A day later, she reversed herself, saying a Harris administration would preserve supplemental private insurance.

None of this usually matters, but when the presidential hopeful would be in his mid-80s during his second term, voters should consider such things.

People such as Bidens former chief of staff, Ron Klain, blame Harris lack of popularity on other factors. Klain recently said, I do think sexism and racism are part of the problem, no question about it. While racism and sexism may play a part, and it may not be fair, in politics and in life, you have to play the hand you are dealt.

The current political landscape is murky at best. It is safe to assume that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee and, as of right now, we do not know who his vice-presidential pick would be. We also know that in this highly polarized political climate, general elections are decided by a small number of swing voters. These swing voters are independents and moderate, disaffected Democrats and Republicans, and they do not like the idea of Harris becoming president.

If Harris really thinks Trump is an existential threat to democracy, then she should want to help the country, the Democrats and the president by stepping aside and letting Biden choose her replacement. Someone the country prefers. Someone who the Republicans would have a harder time attacking.

Harris made history as the first woman and woman of color as vice president. All Americans can be proud of that, especially Harris. But perhaps the best thing she could do for the country is to step off the ticket  with her head held high, knowing she is putting the country above her individual aspirations.

Lynn Schmidt is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. lynnschmidtrn@outlook.com On Twitter: @lynnschmidtrn
Within a week or two, Marriott hotels will start to post hotel rates as inclusive of mandatory hotel-imposed fees on its own website. This move represents the end of a minor skirmish in the struggle against deceptive hotel pricing  the end result of an agreement between Marriott and the state of Pennsylvania requiring Marriott to post all-up fee-inclusive rates most prominently on its own search pages.

It's a win for consumers, but not a big win. Although Marriott must provide full fee information to third-party online travel agencies and metasearch systems, it cannot force those third parties to display rates honestly. And, unfortunately, those are the places many of you go to find good hotel deals.

In case you haven't been following my reports  and occasional rants  on the subject, the culprit here is the practice of hotels' featuring untrue low-ball prices and subsequently adding in a mandatory fee. To oversimplify, say a hotel wants to get $160 per night for a room. Instead of posting $160 as the price, it posts $100 and adds the $60 back in as a mandatory fee just before you hit the "buy" button. In some cases, third-party offers such as air-hotel packages don't tell you about the extra until you arrive at the hotel.

The deception started among hotels in popular mass-market and price-competitive vacation centers such as Hawaii and Las Vegas. The hotels called the carved-out portion of the true rate a "resort" fee and posted a list of the services and amenities the fee was supposed to cover. That was nothing more than a smoke screen: If a fee is mandatory, it makes no difference what it supposedly covers.

You probably heard of Gresham's Law in Econ 101: Bad money drives out good money. There's a Gresham's law about advertising too, deceptive advertising drives out honest advertising. I've long contended that in the travel industry, nothing catches on faster than a bad idea, and soon hotels in completely non-resort areas were adding mandatory fees, with names such as "destination" and "facility" fees that basically mean bupkes.

This case serves as an interesting illustration of government action against deceptive advertising. Deceptive hotel pricing is clearly a national problem, involved in interstate commerce  reason enough for the federal government to get involved. And there is a federal agency charged with policing deceptive advertising: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). There's no question that the FTC has previously recognized that the practice, which it calls "drip pricing," is inherently deceptive. Several decades ago  so far back that I can't find any records on the internet  the FTC took action against tour operators who were carving out part of the real price of a package, featuring the remaining low-ball figure as the price, and adding the carve-out separately as "tax and service." Of course, it was neither, and after a two-year study to arrive at a conclusion it should have reached in two hours, FTC took action.

Recently, however, FTC hasn't bothered much to protect consumers. A couple of years ago it sent a "tsk tsk" letter to hotels, with no follow up. It currently has a new investigation going  finally  but the outcome is uncertain.

Meanwhile, other government agencies have taken the lead. A few years back, the Florida attorney general got a cruise line to forego fake splits of "port charges" out of true prices. And Pennsylvania brought the case against Marriott.

So as consumers, here's where you stand. Marriott will list prices honestly on its own website. Period. It can and will still furnish phony prices to search systems and other third-party agencies. No other hotel chain has agreed to similar terms. And no government agency at any level has yet taken any action against any online search system. Fortunately, at least one system lets you compare true all-up costs of what a hotel night will cost from the get-go of your search. If you aren't already using Kayak.com as your primary search tool, switch now.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / CNH Industrial

Tidewater Equipment, a CASE Construction Equipment dealer in the Southeastern United States, has donated equipment and support for Team Rubicon's recent tornado disaster response and recovery efforts in Selma, Alabama.

In January, multiple tornadoes hit the Southeastern United States. One of which was a category F3 tornado that touched down in Selma, Alabama - a city that was still recovering from 2020's Hurricane Zeta, and the tornadoes of 2021. The storm hit the city hard, leaving vehicles overturned in the streets, homes destroyed, and lives lost. Team Rubicon, a veteran-led volunteer humanitarian organization, having already deployed to Selma in recent years on a multi-year rebuilding program, knew that it was time for action.

Tidewater Equipment provided three CASE TV370 compact track loaders, equipped with buckets and root grapple attachments to help Team Rubicon with the intense cleanup operation. The machines ensured that Team Rubicon had the support needed to complete their mission.

"As a company with locations and customers throughout the Southeastern United States, we understand the realities that catastrophic weather can bring," said Kevin Pittman, Manager of Construction Equipment and Equipment Rental Divisions at Tidewater Equipment. "We recognize the noble work of Team Rubicon and the relief they bring to help rebuild communities when disaster strikes. Tidewater Equipment was honored to provide machines to make their tough work just a little bit easier."

Tidewater Equipment has been a trusted equipment dealer for over 70 years, with a commitment to providing quality equipment and service to their customers. The company's newest location in Enterprise, Alabama donated the equipment for this Team Rubicon operation and to support their local community.

"Our partnership with CASE allows us to provide the best equipment to our customers, and to those in need during disaster relief efforts. We appreciate the opportunity to support Team Rubicon and their efforts to rebuild communities impacted by this terrible storm system," said Pittman.

CNH Industrial brand CASE also appreciates Tidewater Equipment's partnership and the support they have given to help provide equipment to disaster relief efforts during hurricane season. With the recent extreme weather and tornadoes that have impacted the region, it is vital to have strong partnerships like the one between Tidewater Equipment and CASE to help support those in need.

"Our dealers are critical partners in helping us provide equipment to those who need it most," said Terry Dolan, Vice President, North America, CASE Construction Equipment. "We are proud to work with Team Rubicon, Tidewater Equipment and our other dealers to support disaster relief efforts and to provide the best equipment to help rebuild communities impacted by natural disasters."

Team Rubicon serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises. Founded in 2010, the organization has deployed across the United States and around the world to provide immediate relief to vulnerable communities who have been impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, COVID-19 and more.

CASE first partnered with Team Rubicon in 2015 to develop a heavy equipment training program for its volunteers for the safe and effective use of construction equipment in disaster operations. For more information on the partnership between CASE and Team Rubicon to support communities in response to natural disasters, visit CaseCE.com/TeamRubicon.

CASE Dealer Supports Team Rubicon Disaster Relief Efforts in Selma, Alabama



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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Since 2007, the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF) has awarded global and regional humanitarian awards to five Herbalife Independent Distributors who embody the mission of our foundation. HNF is proud to have so many supporters who are dedicated to improving the lives of children and communities. Thank you for your commitment and generosity!

The following humanitarians were chosen based on their philanthropic activity, community leadership, volunteerism, and advocacy. Join us in honoring the 16th annual Global and Regional Humanitarians!

Trey & Mamie Herron - Global Humanitarians & North America Humanitarians

Trey and Mamie Herron have dedicated their lives to giving back to communities throughout North America, and they have inspired their network of Herbalife Independent distributors to do the same.

Trey and Mamie have created physical challenges to raise funds, such as the Extortion Memorial Run that raised over $10,000. Last year for virtual Honors - they led a team fundraiser to motivate their organization, helping gather over $125,000 for our Casa Herbalife Nutrition program, and even matching some of those funds themselves. The Herron's also supported the American Cancer Society, coming in at #1 in Mississippi and #7 overall by raising over $66,000 for their Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Through their support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wounded Warriors and all the other organizations they contribute to, Trey and Mamie demonstrate that when you show up for others, your entire world can change.

Giving comes naturally to both Trey and Mamie and a passion for helping others is the reason why they are the 2023 Global Humanitarians.

Katherine Yiu & Felan Yu - Asia Pacific Humanitarians

Katherine Yiu and Felan Yu have been active contributors of their community and supporters of HNF for years. For Hong Kong's 30th Anniversary Event hosted at a theme park, Katherine and Felan sponsored 100 families from a local Casa Herbalife to participate in the festivities. They also organized a 100k virtual run, and even personally matched donations.

Katherine and Felan, who were once educators before joining Herbalife, have donated to schools in rural mainland China to help renovate buildings and students' facilities, and even volunteered as teachers. They also organized a blood drive with the Red Cross for their organization.

Katherine and Felan have continued to share their passion for giving back, and that's why they are the Asia Pacific Humanitarians of the Year.

Adriano Allegretti - Europe, Middle East & Africa, and India Humanitarian

Adriano Allegretti has made it his mission to give back, all while instilling the same selfless values to the members of his organization.

Two years ago, Adriano started an online training called, "Motivation Mondays," where over 300 distributors meet to discuss personal growth. All funds collected during the meetings are donated to HNF to support Casa Oz, a Casa Herbalife partner located in Italy, that serves children who are sick, as well as their families who need support.

Adriano's commitment to being a servant leader has been contagious and his leadership has inspired others to give back in great ways.

Herlinda Quiroz & Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba - Mexico Humanitarians

After years of supporting HNF and the Casa Herbalife program, Herlinda Quiroz & Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba officially became sponsors of Casa Aldeas Infantiles SOS, an orphanage located in Mexico in 2020.

At every event, Herlinda and Juan Carlos are the first to teach other Herbalife independent distributors about the importance of donating to HNF. Over the holidays, they organized volunteer visits for Children's Day and Christmas, delivering gifts and meals to children and families served through our Casa program in Mexico.

Their passion for making a difference truly has no limits and that's why they're the Mexico Humanitarians of the Year.

Sonia Sanabria Paniagua & Jaime Perez - South & Central America Humanitarians

Sonia Sanabria Paniagua and Jaime are big givers who not only donate funds, but also give their time and resources to support those in need.

They regularly visit Fundacion Arco Iris, an orphanage in Bolivia that helps provide children with food, shelter, and education, and frequently help coordinate activities for the children. When resources are short, they cover the rest, so the children don't go without.

In fact, during the holidays, Sonia and Jamie Perez organize a food drive and make sure that the children from Fundacion Arco Iris have a proper Christmas dinner and celebrate together.

Sonia and Jamie spend their time helping most vulnerable and that's why they are the South & Central America Humanitarians of the Year.

Congratulations to all of the HNF Humanitarians. Your support is impacting children and communities around the world!

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LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Curesponse, a commercial-stage precision oncology company, presented preliminary clinical results from a multi-center UK Study at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in Orlando, Florida. The study showed correlation data of the first 15 patients recruited to a pivotal clinical study at major cancer centers located in the UK, demonstrating the predictive power of the cResponse platform, an AI-driven, genomic-functional drug prioritization technology.

Curesponse

"We are proud to be part of the global validation of the cResponse platform that started in Israel and continues in Curesponse's laboratory in the UK, which is part of the London Cancer Hub's Innovation Gateway," said Dr. Sandra Hanks, UK Laboratory Director. "Our UK operation is looking forward to making the cResponse technology available for cancer patients in the UK in the near future."

Combined with results from patients recruited to a predictive clinical study in Israel, the total cohort demonstrates that cResponse has a 96.5% (CI 82.7%-99.8%) sensitivity and 90% (70.8%-98.8%) specificity across various solid cancer types for predicting patient response to cancer therapeutics.

"We are very pleased with the initial results of the UK study, showing that in the first 15 patients with available clinical follow-up data, the cResponse platform yields very high predictive power. We are looking forward to continuing the clinical research collaboration with Curesponse in the UK and validating the capacity of the cResponse platform to accurately determine the efficacy of oncology therapeutics for cancer patients and make the technology available for cancer patients in the UK and EU," said Dr. Jon Krell, the Principal Investigator of the study at Imperial College.

The cResponse platform combines rapid next-generation sequencing (NGS) with a proprietary functional assay that assesses the response of a cancerous tissue to various drugs and drug combinations, while preserving the tumor microenvironment (TME). The combined technology is the first personalized cancer platform that offers patients, oncologists, and pharma partners an empirical test that reflects the response of the patient's tumor to different drugs within 2 weeks from biopsy. The technology works across numerous therapeutic modalities including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

The cResponse platform is CE marked and performed in an ISO 15189-accredited laboratory setting. The test is reimbursed by private payers in Israel for personalized cancer treatment decision guidance. cResponse will be offered to cancer patients in the UK and EU during 2023, and to patients in the USA in 2024.

For further information please contact [email protected]

www.curesponse.com

Contact Information

Guy Neev

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE: Curesponse

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Kempe takes on the role of Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development, Ingredients

MARSHFIELD, WI / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Nelson-Jameson, Inc., a leading distributor in the food processing industry, welcomes Peter Kempe to a new leadership position as Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development - Ingredients, as part of a strategic firmwide expansion. The 75+-year-old family-owned company is the go-to source for food processing supplies and a trusted end-to-end ingredient solutions supplier to the food industry.





Nelson-Jameson Welcomes Peter Kempe

Peter Kempe named Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development, Ingredients at Nelson-Jameson





Kempe brings three decades of experience and in-depth industry knowledge to Nelson-Jameson, including 28 years at DSM, where he rose up through the ranks earning progressively senior positions. In his new role, Kempe's focus will be on further expanding Nelson-Jameson's leadership position through relationship building with business partners and principals across the dairy industry and additional food industry segments. Kempe will lead the development and execution of business growth strategies for the Ingredients division, including strategic sourcing, partnership management, and go-to-market programming. Additionally, he will collaborate with product management and procurement teams in strategic sourcing to ensure supplier integrity, maintain the highest standards of ingredient access and quality, and streamline supply/demand/delivery operations.

"Peter is a 'triple threat' in our industry. He possesses the rare combination of deep expertise in the global food ingredient and flavor industry, scientific acumen, and a track record of leading high-performance, multifunctional teams," says Mike Rindy, President. "It was clear right away that he embodies the Nelson-Jameson values of collaboration and integrity and fits perfectly into our company culture."

As part of its strategic expansion, Nelson-Jameson recognized the need for a new executive-level position to cover high-level business development design and optimize go-to-market strategies based on an understanding of the technological details of its customers' businesses. In addition to nearly 30 years of experience, Kempe's education and professional network presented as the ideal match for this role. Kempe earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bio-Process Technology and obtained post-graduate certifications in Industrial Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He is also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists and The International Dairy Foods Association.

Nelson Jameson prioritizes a best-in-class customer experience and solutions as part of its comprehensive distribution services. A culture of innovation and service guides the organization as a golden-rule company, and its leadership is committed to maintaining a culture of honesty, integrity, and kindness and operating ethically with respect for people, the community, and the environment.

About Nelson-Jameson

Nelson-Jameson is a fourth-generation, family-owned distributor to the food and beverage processing industry. From the company's roots in dairy production supplies, it grew to offer a broad range of food processing equipment and services that provide customers with everything they need to keep food organizations running smoothly, safely, and remain in compliance. Representing more than 850 vendors and distributing over 60,000 curated products, Nelson-Jameson offers everything from standard equipment to custom production solutions and equipment repair to safely manufacture high-quality products. The company employs more than 260 people in five distribution centers across the United States and at its headquarters in the heart of dairy country in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The dairy industry leader also operates NEXT Logistics, offering delivery services from Wisconsin, California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Texas distribution centers.

For more than 75 years, Nelson-Jameson has supported food and dairy processors with innovative products and solutions that keep pace with changing consumer tastes, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels. The company continues to be the supplier of choice for customers in all 50 states and international markets. For more information, please visit: https://nelsonjameson.com.

Contact Information

Karolyn Raphael

PR for Nelson-Jameson

[email protected]

312-494-0422

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NanoDUR and NanoLAV Deliver Outstanding Coverage, Durability, and Washability Without Affecting pH - and Reduce Overall Environmental Impact of Paint and Coating Manufacturing

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Gerdau Graphene, the nanotechnology company pioneering advanced graphene-enhanced materials for industrial applications, has announced the commercial availability of two new cutting-edge additives specifically formulated for the paint and coatings industry: NanoDUR and NanoLAV. The new additives, produced with the company's proprietary G2D technology, utilize graphene nanoplatelets to deliver unprecedented performance improvements for water-based paints and coatings - without altering pH levels. The additives also reduce or eliminate the need for some traditional manufacturing inputs, additives, and processes, which can lower production costs while improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

"Until recently, it has been virtually impossible for coatings manufacturers to upgrade product performance, slash manufacturing costs, and improve sustainability at the same time - it simply couldn't be done. Now, the application of carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene, in commercially available additives has made this possible and will act as a game-changer for the industry," said Alexandre de Toledo Corra, CEO of Gerdau Graphene. "NanoDUR and NanoLAV represent the new performance, economic, and sustainability edge for coatings manufacturers, enabling them to leapfrog competitors across the value chain. These are the newest in our growing portfolio of graphene additives and we're excited to partner with industry leaders to develop even more novel, powerful applications for graphene."

NanoDUR : enhanced durability for low- and high-traffic surfaces - NanoDUR is a water-based graphene additive that demonstrates excellent dispersion and dramatically increases paint and coating durability. NanoDUR -enhanced paints and coatings demonstrate an extraordinary ability to withstand wear and tear, weathering, and other external factors that can lead to degradation over time while maintaining physical and chemical properties, such as color, and adhesion, as well as a strong resistance to chipping, flaking, cracking, fading, and peeling. NanoDUR is a key component of Gerdau Graphene's C-Fix brand of graphene-enhanced paint, launched in 2022. Real-world application of C-Fix on high-traffic factory floors has shown that even with 30% less paint applied, C-Fix was 50% more durable with daily sweeper truck cleaning compared with traditional paint.

: - is a water-based graphene additive that demonstrates excellent dispersion and dramatically increases paint and coating durability. -enhanced paints and coatings demonstrate an extraordinary ability to withstand wear and tear, weathering, and other external factors that can lead to degradation over time while maintaining physical and chemical properties, such as color, and adhesion, as well as a strong resistance to chipping, flaking, cracking, fading, and peeling. is a key component of Gerdau Graphene's brand of graphene-enhanced paint, launched in 2022. Real-world application of on high-traffic factory floors has shown that even with 30% less paint applied, was 50% more durable with daily sweeper truck cleaning compared with traditional paint. NanoLAV: improved washability and moisture-resistance in tropical and subtropical regions - NanoLAV is a graphene additive specifically designed for water-based architectural paints. With excellent dispersibility, NanoLAV increases the washability and moisture-resistance of painted or coated surfaces, enabling them to withstand cleaning or washing without degrading, dissolving, peeling or fading when exposed to water, mild detergents or other cleaning agents. The washability of a paint or coating is important in applications where hygiene is crucial, such as hospitals, schools, and kitchens, and in locations that are prone to stains, dirt, and other contaminants that accumulate on surfaces. Because NanoLAV does not modify the pH of paint or coating products, it can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for high-alkaline washability promoters such as sodium silicate, which can harm aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems.

NanoDUR and NanoLAV join Gerdau Graphene's portfolio of graphene additives for a wide variety of industrial materials and applications. The company recently announced the commercial availability of Poly-G, a collection of graphene-enhanced thermoplastic masterbatches for the plastics industry. Poly-G dramatically improves the durability and sustainability of plastic packaging films, profiles, and sheets formed by extrusion processes. Poly-G will be imported and distributed in Japan in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation.

Graphene, considered to be the strongest material on Earth, is a one to 10 atom-thick sheet of densely compacted carbon that can be modified for various uses and added to industrial materials. Since its discovery in 2004, Graphene's extraordinary chemical, physical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties have captivated the world and led to its inventors winning the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

About Gerdau Graphene

Gerdau Graphene is a nanotech company focused on the production, development, and commercialization of graphene-enhanced products including polymers, paints and coatings, rubber, and more. Launched in 2021 by Gerdau, the largest producer of long steel in the Americas, through its Gerdau Next program, Gerdau Graphene enables businesses to harness the revolutionary properties of graphene to deliver industry-leading products. To learn more, please visit gerdaugraphene.com and follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Contact Information

Aaron Endre

Endre Communications for Gerdau Graphene

[email protected]

SOURCE: Gerdau Graphene

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / HanesBrands

Originally published on HBI Sustains

Due to the generosity of HanesBrands associates, children around the globe are equipped to excel in their classrooms.

"Our associates around the world are living our purpose of creating a more comfortable world for every body," said HBI's Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs and Communications Kirk Saville. "The enthusiasm for strengthening the communities where we live and work is inspiring are inspiring." 

Here are a few ways the company's associates are taking the initiative to help fulfill HanesBrands' goal of improving the lives of ten million people by 2030.

Latin America

Over 14,000 school supply kits were delivered to deserving students in El Salvador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Associates also helped refurbish a local school in El Salvador, creating better learning spaces for 400 children with upgraded drinking water and access to volunteer tutors. Additionally, the annual Back- to-School initiative in the Dominican Republic has providing school supplies and essentials to over 135,000 children since 2007.

Australia (Victoria, AU)

Associates raised funds through sales of donated Champion and Bonds products to purchase an air conditioner for a local school gym and facilitated an underwear drive to support underprivileged students at multiple schools.

Japan

Field study visits for high school students create opportunities to learn about the HBI business and potential career opportunities in the industry.

Thailand

In Surin, more than 100 canteen tables and 200 LED light sets were donated to local schools, and HBI associates helped renovate several school bathrooms.

United States

Associates in Rural Hall, North Carolina, provided supplies to ensure almost 600 local elementary school students were prepared for a successful school year. In Arkansas, innerwear donations helped make back-to-school more comfortable for 4,000 at-risk students and their families. Perris, California associates partnered with a school district to host a drive for essential hygiene products and school supplies.

To learn more about HanesBrands' global sustainability goals, and they progress the company is making towards reaching those goals, visit hbisustains.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from HanesBrands on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: HanesBrands

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/hanesbrands

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: HanesBrands

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN) announces the closing of its non-brokered unit private placement financing (the "Offering") announced on April 24, 2023. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company has issued 7,044,460 units (the "Units") at a price of C$0.25 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of C$1,761,115. Each Unit comprises one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.35 for a period of three years expiring on May 9, 2026. The Company has the right to force conversion of the Warrants, if at any time from and after the date of issuance, the weighted average closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), equals or exceeds C$0.50 for 20 consecutive trading days. The expiry date of the Warrants will then be 30 days from the date of issue of a news release announcing the forced conversion.

Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) ("Teck"), Hannan's largest shareholder has increased its interest in the Company and subscribed for 1,120,000 Units for gross proceeds to Hannan of C$280,000. Prior to the Private Placement, Teck held 9.0% of Hannan. Upon closing of the Private Placement, Teck will hold 9.9% of the issued common shares and warrants of Hannan on a partially diluted basis.

Mr. Michael Hudson, CEO, comments: "In this oversubscribed private placement, we have been able to continue to find alignment of strategy with shareholders, while maintaining a tight share register. Our major shareholder Teck has increased their position, and we have also received strong support from other key shareholders. We are very thankful for this support and see it as a demonstrable vote of confidence in the technical merits of the Company's projects as well as our team. Over the last two years Hannan has recognized the significant potential for large copper-gold-silver deposits in Peru, while retaining optionality for large scale discoveries in Chile (copper) and Ireland (zinc/lead silver). This bold grassroots strategy has attracted some of the largest industry participants to partner with Hannan, with both Teck and JOGMEC involved at equity and joint venture levels, respectively. With drilling ongoing in Ireland, geophysical surveys in Chile and large geological and social team very active in Peru, we are very excited about Hannan's short-, medium- and long-term exploration opportunities."

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month hold period, expiring on September 10, 2023. The Company paid a cash commission of C$2,250 to a finder. The Private Placement is subject to final approval of the Exchange.

The Company plans to use the net proceeds to fund exploration expenditures at the Company's Peruvian, Chilean and Irish projects, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes.

Certain insiders of the Company participated in the Offering and purchased an aggregate of 180,000 Units. Participation of the insiders in the Offering constituted a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61101"), but was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61101, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insider nor the consideration paid by the insider exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. None of the Company's directors expressed any contrary views or disagreements with respect to the foregoing. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of the insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF)

Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Latin America. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru, and has recently optioned a copper-porphyry project in Northern Chile.

On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information

www.hannanmetals.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary,

+1 (604) 685 9316, [email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward- looking information" for the purposes of applicable securities laws. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, market conditions and the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the novel COVID-19 virus; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Hannan Metals Ltd.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Tapestry, Inc.



Liz Fraser, Brandice Daniel and Bowie State students at the kate spade new york x HFR Dinner; Photo Credit: BFA/Sansho Scott

Harlem's Fashion Row (HFR) and kate spade new york hosted an intimate dinner at Renaissance Harlem in New York City to celebrate the Harlem's Fashion Row 2022/2023 HBCU Fashion Summit with Bowie State University. The HBCU Fashion Summit is a program first launched by Harlem's Fashion Row in 2020 and is intended to transform the art and fashion programs at HBCUs across America by providing students with direct design expertise from industry experts.

As part of kate spade new york and Tapestry's ongoing commitment to supporting and uplifting the next generation of diverse fashion talent, the first year of a 3-year partnership offered students at Bowie State University - Maryland's oldest Historically Black University - unique access to engage with kate spade new york's team of executive leaders and designers.

The evening showcased fashion designs from four of the Bowie State University students, which were on display for guests to view. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, emotional intelligence practitioner Tieko Nejon Wilson hosted an interactive fireside chat with HFR's Brandice Daniel, Bowie State University's Professor Danielle Brown and kate spade's Jennifer Lyu, centered around the role that identity and emotions play in mental wellness. kate spade new york has been championing women's empowerment and mental health for over a decade. The brand is committed to using its platforms and channels to destigmatize mental health and provide women and girls with access to culturally competent mental health resources and support.

Photo credit: BFA/Sansho Scott

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Tapestry, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Tapestry, Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/tapestry-inc

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Tapestry, Inc.

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There have been major changes to the traditional alignments on the African continent against the backdrop of escalating competition between the major powers, writes Amr Wagdy

The African continent is becoming increasingly important to the international powers, which seek to control the course of political relations and the economic and military interactions on it.

The competition between these powers has also increased, especially after the world returned to normal with the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. The presence of raw materials, notably gas and oil, as well as large markets and cheap labour are all elements that have intensified competition on the African stage.

In the context of this competition, a decline in the historical French role in the Sahel region has emerged. Mali and Burkina Faso have asked France to withdraw its forces from the two countries in an area of historically strategic importance to France. This coincided with the strengthening of the direct military role of Russia and that of the Russian Wagner Group in this strategic region.

The Russian-Western rivalry is at its most intense in Libya, and Moscow is benefiting from the existence of Western differences with regard to dealing with the Libyan crisis. In the framework of the same competition for influence, Washington expressed its concern and annoyance at the joint military exercises carried out last February by Russia and China with South Africa, a major African power with wide influence in the region and important historical relations with Washington.

China appears, through its economic diplomacy in particular, to have become the most active and advanced international force in Africa in a relatively short time. It is the main trading partner of the African continent and the largest source of foreign direct investment.

Chinas economic and trade strategy is also not subject to political and tax conditions or restrictions. The Chinese policy is more pragmatic than the US one in this field, as it does not link the nature of the existing political system and economic cooperation with it. China has succeeded in presenting a different model from the Western market economy with regard to the issue of development as well as the relationship with different political systems.

China not only came to Africa as an economic and trading power, but also as a military one when it established its first military base in Africa in 2017. This base was established in Djibouti, a Western ally, and has an important strategic location in the Horn of Africa and the confluence area between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

France, which has important historical relations with the African continent, especially in West Africa and the Sahel region, has recently announced a redefinition of its Africa policy away from what was known as France Africa in the past in order to indicate the specificity of its historical relations. French President Emmanuel Macron indicated during his African tour last March that the era of France Africa had ended. This was not a withdrawal or disengagement from Africa, he said, especially its Francophone part, but an adaptation or repositioning to a new Africa that has different priorities and agendas.

This is a new discourse that reflects different priorities that converge with African ones with a view to reformulating relations on new and more solid foundations, without meaning that France or other powers are about to abandon their strategic and political goals on the continent.

Summit diplomacy carries more than one message and is an indication of the strategies of the major powers on the African continent. At the China-Africa Summit held in November 2021, Beijing committed to a financial package of about $40 billion for Africa.

The summit that brought together the EU and the African Union (AU) in February 2022 agreed new foundations and goals for a new partnership that will be more comprehensive than the existing one.

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Summit, which included Japan and the African countries and was held in August 2022, saw Japan commit itself to providing aid within the framework of the partnership with Africa amounting to $30 billion. It came in the context of the new competitive trend in Africa between the international powers.

The US-Africa Summit held in December 2022 gave new impetus to US-African cooperation, as Washington allocated $55 billion to support joint cooperation between the US and Africa over the coming decades.

African policies seem more flexible, realistic, and far from the traditional alignments with regard to the escalating competition between the major powers on the African continent. Most African countries have tended to build diverse relations and not to be attracted to rigid ideological or strategic alignments, as was the case in the past.

They are looking for a form of cooperation based on the principles of common interests and African ownership within a framework aimed at supporting comprehensive and sustainable development on the African continent.

The writer is a human rights officer at the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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"Revolutionizing the Frying Industry: Beyond Oil's Novel Solution May Reduce Cancer Risks Associated with Repeatedly Frying Oils"

VANCOUVER, BC and KIBBUTZ YIFAT, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Beyond Oil Ltd. (CSE:BOIL)(OTC PINK:BEOLF) ("Beyond Oil" or the "Company"), a food-tech innovation company extending the life of frying oil, reducing costs and waste, is pleased to announce the release of a comprehensive health report examining the health risks associated with the repeated use of frying oil and the potential health benefits of Beyond Oil's innovative technology. The Health Report is based on experiments and observations conducted over several years and validated by renowned scientist Professor Nissim Garti of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Data and Experiments

The Health Report includes assessments of the results from experiments carried out in the marketplace and also critically reviews past extended studies published in the scientific literature, patents, American and European Health Agencies and legislation, reports and recommendations in view of the novel Beyond Oil technology. Professor Garti also critically examined Beyond Oil's formulation (the "Beyond Oil Product") and has examined the results from independent analytical labs in untreated and repeatedly heated oils compared to the oils treated by the Beyond Oil Product.

Health Risks of Frying Oil - Including Cancer

In addition to other severe health risks, the Health Report explains that the prolonged use of frying oil can lead to the formation of carcinogenic substances that might lead to cancer compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ("PAH") and acrylamide in fried food, and that these compounds have been linked in literature reports to several types of cancer and pose a significant health risk to consumers.

Observed Health Impacts of the Beyond Oil Product

Professor Garti referred to a set of experiments at a restaurant in Israel that all major PAH compounds were detected after continuous frying after four days without the Beyond Oil Product at a total level of up to 40.29+-0.57 micrograms per kilogram of oil. However, in the same restaurant, oil was filtered with the Beyond Oil Product during the four days of frying and "the result was amazing - all PAH compounds were not detectable, and the total PAH was below 0.5 micrograms per kilogram of oil."

With respect to acrylamide, Professor Garti noted that there are many studies and evidence showing that acrymalide can cause cancer of the pancreas in humans, and it has also been shown to cause central nervous system, mammary, scrotum and other types of cancers. In the cited experiments, Professor Garti noted that acrymalide levels in the untreated oil was very low, but in the oil that was treated with the Beyond Oil Product, "the levels were reduced to non-detectable."

The Health Report also confirmed widely accepted evidence that the Beyond Oil Product reduces other soluble impurities formed during the frying process that can form free fatty acids ("FFA") and total polar minerals ("TPM"). By significantly reducing these compounds in frying oil, the Health Report concluded that the Beyond Oil Product is a technological innovation that redefines the world of frying oils and represents a global breakthrough technological revolution.

"Several studies conducted worldwide in recent years have shown that Beyond Oil's formulation has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality from various types of cancers and other diseases - which is particularly relevant given the direct link between fried food consumption and the development of many serious diseases," said Professor Nissim Garti of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "I am confident in concluding that adopting Beyond Oil's innovative solution will enable restaurants, food producers, and other food manufacturers to offer safer and healthier food to their customers, reducing the risk of severe diseases and improving the general health of the population."

"Beyond Oil is delighted to have one of the world's leading professors in food science and chemistry validating the health benefits of our innovative product," said Jonathan Or, CEO and Co-founder of Beyond Oil. "As an early-stage food-tech company, we have been raising awareness for only one of the three key benefits of our product: providing cost savings for restaurants and food companies. As we continue to grow, we are going to raise public awareness for the other two key benefits: serving healthier food, which leads to improved health for consumers, and reducing environmental waste. We are thrilled to have Professor Garti publishing this comprehensive study on the health benefits of our product."

Professor Garti received a one-time monetary compensation from the Company for his research, as is customary in the industry.

About Professor Nissim Garti

Professor Nissim Garti is Emeritus full professor of chemistry and the former director of the Casali Center of Applied Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Professor Garti was announced as a distinguished professor and entitled Ratner Family Chair of Chemistry of the Hebrew University' in 2011.

In 2013, Professor Garti was recognized as one of the 23 most important inventors and contributors to innovations of the Hebrew University for his contributions in Food Science, Nutraceuticals and Delivery Vehicles of Bioactives. Professor Garti has been awarded with many international and national prestigious prizes, including: the Life-Time Scientific Achievements in Food Science (2015), the K. Mittal Award from the Surfactants in Solution Society (SIS) (2014), Supelco/Nicolas Pelick Award of the American Chemical, Oil society (AOCS),"Chang Award" of the American Oil Chemists Society (2011), "Corporate Research Award" of the AOCS (2012); "The International Food Technologists (IFT) Society Award (2009)", Kaye Award of the Hebrew University (1990 and 2000), the Rockefeller Foundation Award (2004) and the Japan Award for Promotion of Foreign Scientists (2004).

Professor Garti's scientific achievements include over 410 peer reviewed publications, 14 edited books, 85 chapters in books and over 90 patents.

The Health Report is available for download on Beyond Oil's website - click HERE . For more information about Beyond Oil, please visit www.beyondoil.co .

Product Highlights

Frying Oils Recovery : Extensive testing indicates that the Beyond Oil Product extends the usable life of frying oil, improves product quality, and reduces frying oil costs. As a preferential adsorbent, the product reduces soluble impurities formed during the frying process that cause damaging FFA and TPM, undesirable odors, off-flavors, and off-colors. The product is simple to integrate into existing daily filtration processes.

One-of-a-Kind : To the Company's knowledge, Beyond Oil has developed a unique solution that can absorb the FFAs and TPMs generated in frying oil, together with other harmful components and undesired off-flavors, colors, and odors.

Patent Protected : The Company also has a portfolio of registered and patent-pending solutions that extend the shelf-life of produced and used vegetable oils.

Potential Cost-Savings : One of Beyond Oil's unique value propositions is that it can dramatically lower costs for quick-service restaurants by significantly extending the useful life of the oil while meeting food quality and safety requirements. For more information on how the Beyond Oil Product extends the life of frying oil, see the Company's news release dated December 12, 2022.

Distribution Ready : The Company received a non-objection letter from the US Food & Drug Administration ("FDA") in March 2022, on the basis that all the Beyond Oil Product ingredients meet food-grade specifications of the FDA. In May 2022, Beyond Oil received a non-objection letter from Health Canada and a National Sanitation Foundation certification. Beyond Oil is legally permitted to sell its product into the Israeli market according to the processing-aid and filtering-aid regulations.

How the Beyond Oil Product Works

The Beyond Oil Product integrates with most passive filtration systems. The combination of active filtration by the powder and passive filtration by the filter media and filtration machine ensures the best results by removing other degradation particles. The powder remains on the filter media and creates an additional layer which provides the microfiltration benefit.

 Garti, Nissim, "Revolutionizing the Frying Industry: Beyond Oil's Novel Solution May Reduce Cancer Risks Associated with Repeatedly Frying Oils." The Hebrew University in Jerusalem (April 2023) (the "Health Report").

 Health Report, page 6.

 Health Report, page 6.

About Beyond Oil Ltd.

Beyond Oil develops and manufactures an innovative, proprietary, and patented product designed to extend the life of frying oil while preserving the oil's quality and nutritional value. The unique product integrates into the existing filtration systems of both commercial and industrial fryers, reducing oil costs, helping create healthier food, decreasing waste, and increasing sustainability. For more information visit: www.beyondoil.co.

Contacts

Jonathan Or

CEO and Co-founder

1-647-691-9801

[email protected]

Caroline Sawamoto

Investor Relations

1-647-691-9801

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statement and Information

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon management's current expectations, beliefs and projections, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain. Such expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. In addition, we cannot assure that any patent will issued as a result of a pending patent application or, if issued, whether it will issue in a form that will be advantageous to us. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, reference is made to the Company's reports filed from time to time at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References and links to websites have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. The Company is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

SOURCE: Beyond Oil Ltd

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Energy Impact Partners ("EIP") has announced the completion of fundraising for its inaugural Elevate Future Fund I LP ("Elevate"), one of the largest funds of its kind, with $111.9 million of limited partner commitments.

Southern Company was a founding investor in EIP and Chris Womack, current president and CEO-elect of Southern Company, will co-chair Elevate's advisory board.

Elevate is focused on driving diversity in the energy ecosystem by providing capital to underrepresented founders of clean technology companies and supporting diversity and minority-owned businesses in the associated supply chain. The fund also invests in other parties in the larger energy ecosystem in order to achieve the mutual goal of accelerating a clean energy transition while increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the broader venture capital network.

"Together with EIP, we celebrate the completion of fundraising for the Elevate Future Fund," said Chris Cummiskey, executive vice president and chief commercial solutions officer for Southern Company. "Today, less than 3% of venture funding goes to minority entrepreneurs. That must change. We remain exceedingly enthusiastic about the important work of this fund to support diverse entrepreneurs who are creating critical energy solutions for a more sustainable energy future."

Added Cummiskey, "We are steadfast in our commitment to the ongoing success of Elevate, and we are pleased to serve in an advisory capacity."

Underscoring its commitment to advancing clean energy solutions and workplace diversity, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are actively engaged in collaborations with various companies funded by Elevate, including ChargerHelp! and Rheaply.

ChargerHelp! is an electric vehicle charging station and maintenance company. Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power is currently collaborating with ChargerHelp! on a series of local employee trainings and an 18-month pilot focused on electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable technologies.

Rheaply is a cloud-based resource exchange platform that enables organizations to trade materials and resources more efficiently, avoid carbon emissions and reduce spending. Southern Company subsidiaries are collaborating with Rheaply to leverage this resource management solution. Nicor Gas has piloted Rheaply software, and Georgia Power, Southern Company Gas and Southern Company Services are currently working with Rheaply to implement a similar pilot program in Georgia. Additionally, Southern Company is exploring the potential for additional deployments of Rheaply's solution more broadly.

"Having Southern Company's support at the helm of what we're building at Elevate is invaluable," explains Anthony Oni, managing partner at EIP. "Their commitment to helping our companies test, learn and scale provides us with important data, insights and partnerships to better support underrepresented founders. They exemplify the EIP model of collaboration, and we look forward to many more partnerships that support diversity, equity and inclusion within the energy ecosystem."

About Energy Impact Partners

Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP) is a global investment firm leading the transition to a sustainable future. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and the world's most forward-looking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation. With over $3 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally across venture, growth, credit and infrastructure - and has a team of over 80 professionals based in its offices in New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southern Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Southern Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southern-company

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Southern Company

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Verizon

The first time Carlos Abreu designed his own virtual fish, it was too skinny and too small to survive in its environment; the fish quickly perished from starvation. But the experience was hardly a failure for Carlos, an eighth grader at Rubn Dario Middle School in Miami. "What I learned is about the environment, the ecosystem-and that you need certain things to live in that ecosystem," Carlos says.

Carlos designed his fish in Aurelia, an educational augmented reality app available (and free for all educators) on the Verizon Innovative Learning HQ portal. "The Aurelia app goes over the features of fish, including size and shape, discussing adaptation across three different ecosystems in the ocean," says Roberto Padron, Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Mentor at Ruben Dario. The interactive application, he says, helps students learn how sea life adapts to its environment.

Losing a first creation and starting from scratch is exactly the kind of life lesson that Padron hopes to teach in the school's Verizon Innovative Learning Lab, wrapped in a cross-curriculum lesson that teaches students both digital technology and marine biology. "Getting it right the first time is fine, but it not being right is just as good, cause you're going to learn from what's happening," Padron reminds his students.

With their tablets in hand, Padron's students wandered the classroom, enthusiastically exploring the deep-sea world they created through Aurelia. Unlike just reading in a textbook, these lessons jump off the screen, Padron says. "The Aurelia app has such depth to it, yet it's simple. It just kind of constantly keeps catching their attention," he says. "So for me, it's just a win-win."

His students agree. "It's pretty fun," says Gabriella Herrera. "So [the lesson] gets stuck in your mind, and you get smarter-but like, you're also having fun."

And as for Carlos? With a few helpful tips from classmates, on his second try he created a bigger and badder fish. It thrived.

To access free learning apps, lesson plans and professional development courses aligned to micro-credentials, visit Verizon Innovative Learning HQ at www.verizon.com/learning.

Samuel Ramirez and his classmates explore underwater worlds using their tablets.



View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Verizon on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Verizon

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/verizon

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE: Verizon

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Boqii Holding Limited ("Boqii" or the "Company") (NYSE: BQ), a leading pet-focused platform in China , today announced that each of Ms. Noorsurainah (Su) Tengah and Mr. Leaf Hua Li has resigned from their positions as the Company's directors due to personal reasons, effectively immediately. The Company further announced that Mr. Su Zhang has been appointed as an independent director of the Company and a member of the Audit and Nominating committees of the board, effective immediately.

Mr. Su Zhang , with over 28 years of experience in the technology and internet industry, has worked at Microsoft and other international well-known technology enterprises for more than 20 years. He has served as the general manager of Microsoft (China) General Enterprise Business Division in South China. The board of directors welcomes Mr. Su Zhang to the Company and wishes to extend its deep gratitude to Ms. Tengah and Mr. Li for their contributions to the continued growth of Boqii throughout the years. Mr. Hao Liang , Boqii's Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are pleased to have Mr. Su Zhang join our board. His deep expertise in technology, internet and management makes him a perfect fit for our board and our business. As we welcome the new addition to our board, we would also like to thank Ms. Tengah and Mr. Li for their support and services to us over the years. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors."

About Boqii Holding Limited

Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China . We are the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with our broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and our own private label, Yoken and Mocare, offered at competitive prices. Our online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e-commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Our Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Boqii Holding Limited

Investor Relations

Tel: +86-21-6882-6051

Email: [email protected]

DLK Advisory Limited

Tel: +852-2857-7101

Email: [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boqii-announces-board-changes-301819305.html

SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited
BADEN, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The shareholders of Accelleron Industries AG have approved all proposals of the Board of Directors with a large majority on the occasion of the first Annual General Meeting today.

At the first Annual General Meeting of Accelleron Industries AG, the shareholders approved all proposals, including the total maximum aggregate of compensation for the members of the Board of Directors for the period from the Annual General Meeting 2023 to the Annual General Meeting 2024 and the maximum aggregate amount of compensation for the members of the Executive Committee for the financial year 2024, in each case by a large majority.

The proposed dividend for the financial year 2022 was approved by a large majority. Shareholders will receive a distribution in the form of a dividend of CHF 0.73 gross per share.

All the proposed members of the Board of Directors were confirmed. Oliver Riemenschneider was re-elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors with a large majority. A total of 55,863,682 registered shares with voting rights were represented at the Annual General Meeting of Accelleron Industries AG, representing 59.12 % of the share capital entered in the share register with voting rights.

Accelleron is a leading global supplier of turbochargers and optimization solutions for engines from 0.5 to 80+ MW, helping to provide sustainable, efficient and reliable energy to the marine, energy, rail and off-highway sectors. Through its innovative product offering and research leadership, the company is accelerating the decarbonization of the industries in which it operates. Accelleron has an installed base of approximately 180,000 turbochargers and a network of more than 100 service stations in 50 countries worldwide (www.accelleron-industries.com).

Important data May 23, 2023 Ex date for dividend payment May 25, 2023 Distribution of the dividend September 5, 2023 Publication of half-year report 2023

Information for the media

Images and other digital content are available at www.accelleron-industries.com.

Accelleron sharesThe registered shares of Accelleron Industries AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Zurich, under the ticker symbol "ACLN" (ISIN: CH1169360919 / Swiss security number: 116936091).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509006003/en/

Contact for the media:

Martin Regnet

Head of External Communications and Public Affairs

[email protected]

Phone: +41 79 627 63 88

Contact for investors:

Michael Daiber

Vice President Strategy & IR

[email protected]

Phone: +41 79 698 6085

Source: Accelleron Industries AG
NIJMEGEN, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aiosyn, a medical software company that develops AI-powered pathology solutions, has been awarded a EUR 1.300.000 EFRO-OOST grant alongside Radboud university medical center and Pathologie-DNA to accelerate the development of AI technology for breast and skin cancer diagnostics. With the AIRAT project, the three organizations will join forces to introduce CE-marked deep learning algorithms for automated mitosis detection to the market.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005736/en/

Mitotic figures (cells that are in the process of dividing) are identified and highlighted with Aiosyn's algorithm for automated mitosis detection. (Photo: Business Wire)

Wouter Bulten, Chief innovation officer of Aiosyn: At Aiosyn, we recognize the critical role pathologists play in diagnostics. Through close collaboration, this EFRO grant enables us to further develop AI tools that support pathologists and enhance pathology practice.

Close to 20 million patients are diagnosed with cancer every year1. Unfortunately, incidence is expected to increase in the upcoming decades, with a predicted global burden of about 30 million new cancer cases per year by 20402. This underlines the need for new tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the disease diagnosis and treatment.

As part of this project, Aiosyn will further develop and validate AI-powered algorithms for breast and skin cancer diagnosis. One of such algorithms is Aiosyns solution for automated mitosis detection. The quantification of mitotic figures in cancer tissue is an essential part of the diagnosis of multiple tumor types. By leveraging AI-based digital biomarkers, pathologists can more accurately predict tumor growth and understand patient prognosis. This will help reduce observer variability, improve the accuracy and consistency of diagnoses, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Jeroen van der Laak, professor at Radboud university medical center and CSO of Aiosyn: Once you have decided which problem to solve, and have collected all required data, developing AI for Pathology is doable. But collecting high-quality data is tough, and getting the AI to a level that truly creates patient value is even tougher. In our AIRAT project we will tackle those challenges: collect multi-center data and move the developed AI forward to a certified product, ready to support pathologists.

Aiosyns algorithms will be fully integrated in existing digital pathology workflows such as Sectra. The AI-powered solutions will aim to provide major progress in the assessment and disease management of cancer patients worldwide.

We are excited to partner with Aiosyn and Radboud UMC on this project," said Matthijs van Oosterhout, on behalf of Pathologie-DNA, chairman of Pathologie-DNA B.V. "Together, we can leverage our respective strengths to develop AI solutions that will improve patient outcomes and advance the field of pathology. This collaboration is a great example of how start-ups and established companies can work together to drive innovation."

About Aiosyn

Aiosyn is a Dutch medical software company that develops AI-powered pathology solutions that will be integrated into standard pathology workflows. The Aiosyn team has been built upon 20+ years of research experience in the field of pathology and is rooted into the pathology practice.

About Radboud university medical center

Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, research, and education, located in Nijmegen. We mainly concentrate on prevention, meaningful and prudent healthcare, sustainability, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems, the molecular mechanisms of diseases and new treatments, and training the professionals of tomorrow.

About Pathologie-DNA

Pathologie-DNA is a collaboration between three pathology laboratories Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, located in s-Hertogenbosch, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis located in Nieuwegein and Rijnstate located in Arnhem. Pathologie-DNA is the partner in pathology for medical specialists, general practitioners and private diagnostic centres. We work with digital pathology. This makes it possible to provide continuous high-quality diagnostics. Consultation between colleagues and consultation with academic hospitals guarantee this quality.

Sources

1. World Cancer Day 2023: Close the care gap - PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization

2. World Cancer Report: Cancer Research for Cancer Prevention (who.int)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005736/en/

Anna Correas, Marketing & Communications Specialist at Aiosyn

[email protected]

Source: Aiosyn
BlueShore Financial becomes the first Canadian Credit Union to launch a digital vault solution where client experience, information security, compliance, and workflow efficiency are at the forefront.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BlueShore Financial, a full-service boutique financial institution, today announces the launch of the BlueShore Digital Vault in collaboration with FutureVault, an industry-leading provider of secure document exchange and digital vault solutions.

With this offering BlueShore Financial will further deliver on its commitment to providing a premium, world-class digital client experience. As the first mover amongst credit unions in Canada to deliver a secure user friendly digital vault solution for its clients, the BlueShore Digital Vault effectively improves the collaboration between BlueShores trusted advisors and their clients allowing them to manage information and documents digitally on an encrypted platform. In particular, BlueShore Financial clients will be able to securely and efficiently receive, upload and share critical financial, personal, and business documents, leading to significant time savings and the added convenience of collaborating in real-time.

In addition to the web-based platform delivered to Advisors and clients, the BlueShore Digital Vault mobile application will soon be made available to clients, providing them with the convenience of security, efficiency, and peace of mind anytime, anywhere.

Introducing the BlueShore Digital Vault and providing this premium offering to our clients will provide more value, time savings and peace of mind while safeguarding their most important financial, business, and personal documents, said Fred Cook, Chief Information Officer, BlueShore Financial. We have long prided ourselves in our ability to deliver premium client service, expert financial advice, and seamless technology.

Notable features and benefits of the BlueShore Digital Vault include:

Enterprise-grade information security and compliance features

Secure and efficient document exchange tools and features

Downloadable mobile applications (iOS and Android) will be available for clients to access financial and personal documents anytime, anywhere easily and securely

Structured taxonomy to securely and efficiently store, manage, and access enterprise and client documents

We are extremely excited to launch this innovative initiative with BlueShore Financial and the innovative team behind the project, commented Daniel Kenny, FutureVault Chief Executive Officer. They have been incredible partners in building and launching this best-in-class platform for their advisors and clients. Their attention to detail, expertise and thought leadership evidently demonstrates their commitment to delivering a premium client experience, and the prestigious reputation they continue to receive.

About BlueShore Financial Credit Union

BlueShore Financial is a boutique financial institution providing a full range of personal and business banking, wealth management, insurance and commercial lending solutions. With a branch network located across the Lower Mainland and Sea-to-Sky Corridor, BlueShore Financial helps clients achieve financial wellness through personalized solutions and expert advice, delivered in a unique Financial Spa branch environment. BlueShore Financial manages over $6.9 billion in Assets Under Administration and is consistently ranked among the top 10 financial planning firms in Metro Vancouver.

BlueShore Financial is an Imagine Canada Caring Company, contributing at least 1% of pre-tax profits annually to charities and not-for-profit organizations within the communities it serves. BlueShore Financial is the operating name of BlueShore Financial Credit Union.

Follow and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.

About FutureVault

FutureVault is a market-leading provider of secure document exchange and Personal Life Management Digital Vault solutions purposely built for the financial services and wealth management industries. FutureVaults innovative, multi-tiered platform enables firms, advisors, and clients/households to manage information better, together. FutureVault offers a powerful white-label solution that transforms the way organizations manage, store, and deliver documents and statements, meet information security and compliance requirements, and drive material operational efficiencies across front, middle, and back-office functions through automated workflows, integrations, and open APIs. FutureVaults platform supports multiple languages including English, French, and Spanish. FutureVault is recognized as a top 100 most innovative global WealthTech solution provider.

Visit futurevault.com to learn more. Follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005241/en/

BlueShore Financial

Brett Boag, Director, Employee and Corporate Communications

[email protected]

FutureVault Inc.

Kristian Borghesan, Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

Source: BlueShore Financial
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cactus, Inc. (NYSE: WHD) (Cactus or the Company) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2023.

First Quarter Highlights

Closed the acquisition of HighRidge Resources, Inc. (FlexSteel) on February 28, 2023(1);

Revenue of $228.4 million and operating income of $49.7 million;

Net income of $52.3 million and diluted earnings per Class A share of $0.63;

Adjusted net income(2) of $50.7 million and diluted earnings per share, as adjusted(2) of $0.64;

Net income margin of 22.9% and adjusted net income margin(2) of 22.2%;

Adjusted EBITDA(3) and Adjusted EBITDA margin(3) of $79.4 million and 34.8%, respectively;

Cash flow from operations of $60.5 million;

In January 2023, Cactus closed an underwritten offering of Class A common stock for net proceeds of $165.6 million; and

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, the Company paid down the Term Loan debt balance by $60 million.

Financial Summary

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023(1) 2022 2022 ($ in thousands) Revenues $ 228,405 $ 187,774 $ 145,899 Operating income $ 49,688 $ 48,221 $ 30,990 Operating income margin 21.8 % 25.7 % 21.2 % Net income $ 52,288 $ 40,739 $ 27,083 Net income margin 22.9 % 21.7 % 18.6 % Adjusted net income(2) $ 50,682 $ 43,525 $ 22,859 Adjusted net income margin(2) 22.2 % 23.2 % 15.7 % Adjusted EBITDA(3) $ 79,411 $ 66,393 $ 42,333 Adjusted EBITDA margin(3) 34.8 % 35.4 % 29.0 %

(1) First quarter 2023 results throughout include one month of FlexSteel operating results. (2) Adjusted net income, Adjusted net income margin and diluted earnings per share, as adjusted are non-GAAP financial measures. These figures assume Cactus, Inc. held all units in its operating subsidiary at the beginning of the period. Additional information regarding non-GAAP measures and the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are in the Supplemental Information tables. (3) Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See definition of these measures and the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the Supplemental Information tables.

Scott Bender, President and CEO of Cactus, commented, I am very pleased with our performance in the first quarter. The strength of our customer base and our continued focus on execution allowed us to achieve record Cactus Product market share(1) of over 43% during the period. Cactus rigs followed increased by approximately 6% despite the average U.S. land rig count declining by approximately 2%. Additionally, we are pleased to include one month of FlexSteel results in our first quarter following the close of the acquisition on February 28, 2023. FlexSteel revenue exceeded expectations due to increased shipments of its equipment.

Looking ahead to the second quarter, we anticipate revenue to be up over 25% sequentially due to a full quarter's contribution from FlexSteel. While the recent movement in commodity prices is likely to pressure U.S. land activity, Cactus remains well-positioned to outpace the market given our unique product portfolio and customer relationships.

Mr. Bender concluded, We have been pleased with early efforts to integrate the FlexSteel business, and the opportunities between the two businesses are even more apparent post-closing. Both businesses manufacture highly differentiated products, have modest capital requirements, and have attractive growth potential. We expect that free cash flow over the coming quarters should enable Cactus to meaningfully reduce leverage following the acquisition. As always, management intends to operate with a focus on margins, returns and generating value for shareholders.

(1) Additional information regarding market share and rigs followed is located in the Supplemental Information tables.

Segment Performance

Upon completion of the FlexSteel acquisition, we re-evaluated our reportable segments and now report two business segments, Pressure Control (legacy Cactus) and Spoolable Technologies (FlexSteel). For the first quarter of 2023, we have included our Pressure Control results in historical detail as supplemental information in this release. Starting with the second quarter of 2023, we intend to only report our Pressure Control results and Spoolable Technologies results as presented below. For the first quarter of 2023, all corporate and other costs not directly attributable to either segment have been included in Pressure Control results.

Pressure Control

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Pressure Control Revenue $ 194,655 $ 187,774 $ 145,899 Operating income $ 49,439 $ 48,221 $ 30,990 Other non-operating income (expense)(1) 3,417 (1,920 ) (1,115 ) Depreciation and amortization expense 7,992 8,133 8,677 Segment EBITDA(2) 60,848 54,434 38,552 Stock-based compensation 3,091 2,597 2,666 Other non-operating (income) expense(1) (3,417 ) 1,920 1,115 Transaction related expenses(3) 8,581 7,442  Adjusted Segment EBITDA(2) $ 69,103 $ 66,393 $ 42,333 Operating income margin 25.4 % 25.7 % 21.2 % Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin(2) 35.5 % 35.4 % 29.0 %

(1) Represents non-cash adjustments for the revaluation of the liability related to the TRA. (2) Segment EBITDA, Adjusted Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See definition of these measures and the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the Supplemental Information tables. (3) Reflects fees and expenses recorded in connection with the FlexSteel Acquisition and related financing.

First quarter 2023 Pressure Control revenue increased $6.9 million, or 3.7%, sequentially, as sales of wellhead and production related equipment along with associated services improved primarily due to higher customer drilling activity. Operating income increased $1.2 million, or 2.5%, sequentially, with margins decreasing 30 basis points due to higher transaction expenses and rental equipment redeployment costs. Adjusted Segment EBITDA increased $2.7 million, or 4.1%, sequentially, with Adjusted Segment EBITDA margins increasing 10 basis points due to higher operating leverage.

Spoolable Technologies

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Spoolable Technologies Revenue $ 33,750 $  $  Operating income 249   Other non-operating income (expense)(1) 121   Depreciation and amortization expense 5,118   Segment EBITDA(2) 5,488   Stock-based compensation 750   Other non-operating (income) expense(1) (121 )   Inventory step-up expense(3) 4,191   Adjusted Segment EBITDA(2) $ 10,308 $  $  Operating income margin 0.7 % n/a n/a Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin(2) 30.5 % n/a n/a

(1) Represents a $0.1 million gain for the revaluation of the earn-out liability associated with the FlexSteel Acquisition. (2) Segment EBITDA, Adjusted Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See definition of these measures and the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the Supplemental Information tables. (3) Represents amortization of the FlexSteel inventory step-up adjustment due to purchase price accounting.

In the last month of the first quarter of 2023 (acquisition date through March 31, 2023), Spoolable Technologies generated revenue of $33.8 million and segment operating income of $0.2 million. Segment operating margin was 0.7%. Operating income was inclusive of $4.2 million of inventory step-up costs associated with the step-up in value of inventory on hand at acquisition and $3.7 million of intangible amortization expense.

Liquidity, Capital Expenditures and Other

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $155.0 million gross bank debt, $75.4 million of cash, and $193.3 million availability on our revolving credit facility. Operating cash flow was $60.5 million for the first quarter of 2023. During the first quarter, the Company made dividend payments and associated distributions of $9.0 million.

Net cash used in investing activities represented $633.2 million during the first quarter of 2023 due primarily to the FlexSteel acquisition. Net capital expenditures were $14.3 million, inclusive of the $7.0 million purchase of a previously leased facility. For the full year 2023, the Company expects net capital expenditures to be in the range of $45 million to $55 million, inclusive of capital directed toward planned international expansion and the FlexSteel business.

On January 13, 2023, Cactus closed an underwritten offering of 3,224,300 shares of its Class A common stock for total net proceeds of approximately $165.6 million, net of underwriting discounts and selling commissions. The net proceeds from the sale of the Class A common stock in the offering were utilized to fund a portion of the initial closing price for the FlexSteel Acquisition.

As of March 31, 2023, Cactus had 64,448,377 shares of Class A common stock outstanding (representing 81.1% of the total voting power) and 14,978,225 shares of Class B common stock outstanding (representing 18.9% of the total voting power).

Quarterly Dividend

In May 2023 the Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of Class A common stock with payment to occur on June 15, 2023 to holders of record of Class A common stock at the close of business on May 30, 2023. A corresponding distribution of up to $0.11 per CC Unit has also been approved for holders of CC Units of Cactus Companies, LLC.

Conference Call Details

The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results today, Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time).

The call will be webcast on Cactus website at www.CactusWHD.com. Please access the webcast for the call at least 10 minutes ahead of the start time to ensure a proper connection. Analysts and institutional investors may click here to pre-register for the conference call and obtain a dial-in number and passcode.

An archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Companys website shortly after the end of the call.

About Cactus, Inc.

Cactus designs, manufactures, sells or rents a range of highly engineered wellhead, pressure control and spoolable pipe technologies. Its products are sold and rented principally for onshore unconventional oil and gas wells and are utilized during the drilling, completion and production phases of its customers wells. In addition, it provides field services for its products and rental items to assist with the installation, maintenance and handling of the equipment. Cactus operates service centers throughout North America and Australia, while also providing equipment and services in select international markets.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release and oral statements made regarding the matters addressed in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Cactus control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including may, believe, expect, intend, anticipate, plan, should, estimate, continue, potential, will, hope or other similar words and include the Companys expectation of future performance contained herein. These statements discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or state other forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which can be affected by assumptions used or by risks or uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other factors noted in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risk factors and other factors noted therein could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Cactus disclaims any duty to update and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Cactus, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (in thousands, except per share data) Revenues Pressure Control revenue $ 194,655 $ 145,899 Spoolable Technologies revenue 33,750  Total revenues 228,405 145,899 Operating income Pressure Control operating income 49,439 30,990 Spoolable Technologies operating income 249  Total operating income 49,688 30,990 Interest income (expense), net 1,002 (100 ) Other income (expense), net 3,538 (1,115 ) Income before income taxes 54,228 29,775 Income tax expense 1,940 2,692 Net income $ 52,288 $ 27,083 Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest 9,394 6,467 Net income attributable to Cactus, Inc. $ 42,894 $ 20,616 Earnings per Class A share - basic $ 0.67 $ 0.35 Earnings per Class A share - diluted (a) $ 0.63 $ 0.34 Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 63,740 59,288 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (a) 79,155 76,162

(a) Dilution for the three months ended March 31, 2023 includes $9.7 million of additional pre-tax income attributable to non-controlling interest adjusted for a corporate effective tax rate of 24.5% and 15.0 million weighted average shares of Class B common stock outstanding plus the effect of dilutive securities. Dilution for the three months ended March 31, 2022 includes $6.7 million of additional pre-tax income attributable to non-controlling interest adjusted for a corporate effective tax rate of 26.0% and 16.5 million weighted average shares of Class B common stock outstanding plus the effect of dilutive securities.

Cactus, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2023 2022 (in thousands) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 75,422 $ 344,527 Accounts receivable, net 209,442 138,268 Inventories 232,598 161,283 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,993 10,564 Total current assets 527,455 654,642 Property and equipment, net 351,302 129,998 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 22,028 23,183 Intangible assets, net 196,634  Goodwill 201,302 7,824 Deferred tax asset, net 211,460 301,644 Other noncurrent assets 10,086 1,605 Total assets $ 1,520,267 $ 1,118,896 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 56,743 $ 47,776 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 50,766 30,619 Current portion of liability related to tax receivable agreement 27,544 27,544 Finance lease obligations, current portion 7,242 5,933 Operating lease liabilities, current portion 4,521 4,777 Long-term debt, current portion 39,750  Total current liabilities 186,566 116,649 Deferred tax liability, net 2,123 1,966 Liability related to tax receivable agreement, net of current portion 261,607 265,025 Finance lease obligations, net of current portion 8,900 6,436 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 17,429 18,375 Long-term debt, net of current portion 111,967  Other noncurrent liabilities 5,839  Total liabilities 594,431 408,451 Equity 925,836 710,445 Total liabilities and equity $ 1,520,267 $ 1,118,896

Cactus, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Three Months Ended

March 31, 2023 2022 (in thousands) Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 52,288 $ 27,083 Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization 13,110 8,677 Deferred financing cost amortization 291 42 Stock-based compensation 3,841 2,666 Provision for expected credit losses (376 ) (110 ) Inventory obsolescence 576 480 Gain on disposal of assets (1,033 ) (293 ) Deferred income taxes (1,406 ) 1,919 Change in fair value of earn-out liability (121 )  (Gain) loss from revaluation of liability related to tax receivable agreement (3,417 ) 1,115 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (12,883 ) (14,681 ) Inventories 20,565 (16,648 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,151 (463 ) Accounts payable (6,282 ) 6,934 Accrued expenses and other liabilities (6,842 ) 488 Net cash provided by operating activities 60,462 17,209 Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of a business, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired (618,857 )  Capital expenditures and other (15,928 ) (7,652 ) Proceeds from sales of assets 1,633 358 Net cash used in investing activities (633,152 ) (7,294 ) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 155,000  Net proceeds from the issuance of Class A common stock 169,878  Payments of deferred financing costs (6,665 )  Payments on finance leases (1,709 ) (1,438 ) Dividends paid to Class A common stock shareholders (7,353 ) (6,664 ) Distributions to members (1,645 ) (1,654 ) Repurchase of shares (4,343 ) (4,424 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 303,163 (14,180 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 422 337 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (269,105 ) (3,928 ) Cash and cash equivalents Beginning of period 344,527 301,669 End of period $ 75,422 $ 297,741

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net income, diluted earnings per share, as adjusted and adjusted net income margin

(unaudited)

Adjusted net income, diluted earnings per share, as adjusted and adjusted net income margin are not measures of net income as determined by GAAP but they are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of the Companys consolidated financial statements. Cactus defines adjusted net income as net income assuming Cactus, Inc. held all units in its operating subsidiary at the beginning of the period, with the resulting additional income tax expense related to the incremental income attributable to Cactus, Inc. Adjusted net income also includes certain other adjustments described below. Cactus defines diluted earnings per share, as adjusted as Adjusted net income divided by weighted average shares outstanding, as adjusted. Cactus defines Adjusted net income margin as Adjusted net income divided by total revenue. The Company believes this supplemental information is useful for evaluating performance period over period.

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands, except per share data) Net income $ 52,288 $ 40,739 $ 27,083 Adjustments: Other non-operating (income) expense, pre-tax(1) (3,538 ) 1,920 1,115 Transaction related expenses, pre-tax(2) 8,581 7,442  Intangible amortization expense(3) 3,666   Inventory step-up expense(4) 4,191   Income tax expense differential(5) (14,506 ) (6,576 ) (5,339 ) Adjusted net income $ 50,682 $ 43,525 $ 22,859 Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted $ 0.64 $ 0.57 $ 0.30 Weighted average shares outstanding, as adjusted(6) 79,155 76,410 76,162 Revenue $ 228,405 $ 187,774 $ 145,899 Net income margin 22.9 % 21.7 % 18.6 % Adjusted net income margin 22.2 % 23.2 % 15.7 %

(1) Primarily represents non-cash adjustments for the revaluation of the liability related to the TRA. (2) Reflects fees and expenses recorded in connection with the FlexSteel Acquisition and related financing. (3) Reflects amortization expense associated with the step-up in intangible value due to purchase price accounting. (4) Represents amortization of the FlexSteel inventory step-up adjustment due to purchase price accounting. (5) Represents the increase or decrease in tax expense as though Cactus, Inc. owned 100% of its operating subsidiary at the beginning of the period, calculated as the difference in tax expense recorded during each period and what would have been recorded, adjusted for pre-tax items listed above, based on a corporate effective tax rate of 24.5% on income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2023, 25.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 26.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. (6) Reflects 63.7, 60.8, and 59.3 million weighted average shares of basic Class A common stock outstanding and 15.0, 15.1 and 16.5 million of additional shares for the three months ended March 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively, as if the weighted average shares of Class B common stock were exchanged and cancelled for Class A common stock at the beginning of the period, plus the effect of dilutive securities.

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin

(unaudited)

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are not measures of net income as determined by GAAP but are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of the Companys consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Cactus defines EBITDA as net income excluding net interest, income tax and depreciation and amortization. Cactus defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA excluding the other items outlined below.

Cactus management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful because they allow management to more effectively evaluate the Companys operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to financing methods or capital structure, or other items that impact comparability of financial results from period to period. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income or any other measure as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Companys computations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Cactus defines Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue. Cactus presents this supplemental information because it believes it provides useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting the Companys business.

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Net income $ 52,288 $ 40,739 $ 27,083 Interest (income) expense, net (1,002 ) (2,370 ) 100 Income tax expense (benefit) 1,940 7,932 2,692 Depreciation and amortization 13,110 8,133 8,677 EBITDA 66,336 54,434 38,552 Other non-operating (income) expense(1) (3,538 ) 1,920 1,115 Transaction related expenses(2) 8,581 7,442  Inventory step-up expense(3) 4,191   Stock-based compensation 3,841 2,597 2,666 Adjusted EBITDA $ 79,411 $ 66,393 $ 42,333 Revenue $ 228,405 $ 187,774 $ 145,899 Net income margin 22.9 % 21.7 % 18.6 % Adjusted EBITDA margin 34.8 % 35.4 % 29.0 %

(1) Primarily represents non-cash adjustments for the revaluation of the liability related to the TRA. (2) Reflects fees and expenses recorded in connection with the FlexSteel Acquisition and related financing. (3) Represents amortization of the FlexSteel inventory step-up adjustment due to purchase price accounting.

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures

Segment EBITDA, Adjusted Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin

(unaudited)

Segment EBITDA, Adjusted Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin are not measures of net income as determined by GAAP but are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of the Companys consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Cactus defines Segment EBITDA as operating income including other non-operating income and excluding depreciation and amortization. Cactus defines Adjusted Segment EBITDA as Segment EBITDA excluding the other items outlined below.

Cactus management believes Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA are useful because they allow management to more effectively evaluate the Companys operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to financing methods or capital structure, or other items that impact comparability of financial results from period to period. Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income or any other measure as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Companys computations of Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Cactus defines Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin as Adjusted Segment EBITDA divided by total revenue. Cactus presents this supplemental information because it believes it provides useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting the Companys business.

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Pressure Control Revenue $ 194,655 $ 187,774 $ 145,899 Operating income $ 49,439 $ 48,221 $ 30,990 Other non-operating income (expense)(1) 3,417 (1,920 ) (1,115 ) Depreciation and amortization expense 7,992 8,133 8,677 Segment EBITDA 60,848 54,434 38,552 Stock-based compensation 3,091 2,597 2,666 Other non-operating (income) expense(1) (3,417 ) 1,920 1,115 Transaction related expenses(2) 8,581 7,442  Adjusted Segment EBITDA $ 69,103 $ 66,393 $ 42,333 Operating income margin 25.4 % 25.7 % 21.2 % Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin 35.5 % 35.4 % 29.0 %

(1) Represents non-cash adjustments for the revaluation of the liability related to the TRA. (2) Reflects fees and expenses recorded in connection with the FlexSteel Acquisition and related financing.

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures

Segment EBITDA, Adjusted Segment EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin (continued)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Spoolable Technologies Revenue $ 33,750 $  $  Operating income 249   Other non-operating income (expense)(1) 121   Depreciation and amortization expense 5,118   Segment EBITDA 5,488   Stock-based compensation 750   Other non-operating (income) expense(1) (121 )   Inventory step-up expense(2) 4,191   Adjusted Segment EBITDA $ 10,308 $  $  Operating income margin 0.7 % n/a n/a Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin 30.5 % n/a n/a

(1) Represents a $0.1 million gain for the revaluation of the earn-out liability associated with the FlexSteel Acquisition. (2) Represents amortization of the FlexSteel inventory step-up adjustment due to purchase price accounting

A reconciliation of segment operating income to net income is shown below.

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Consolidated Pressure Control operating income $ 49,439 $ 48,221 $ 30,990 Spoolable Technologies operating income 249   Total operating income 49,688 48,221 30,990 Interest income (expense), net 1,002 2,370 (100 ) Other income (expense), net 3,538 (1,920 ) (1,115 ) Income before income taxes 54,228 48,671 29,775 Income tax expense 1,940 7,932 2,692 Net income $ 52,288 $ 40,739 $ 27,083

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Pressure Control Results

Historical Presentation

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 (in thousands) Revenues Product $ 129,779 $ 124,561 $ 94,040 Rental 26,709 27,310 22,343 Field service and other 38,167 35,903 29,516 Total revenues 194,655 187,774 145,899 Gross profit Product $ 52,109 $ 50,529 $ 33,120 Rental 11,207 12,013 7,254 Field service and other 8,813 8,575 4,710 Total gross profit 72,129 71,117 45,084 Gross margin Product 40.2 % 40.6 % 35.2 % Rental 42.0 % 44.0 % 32.5 % Field service and other 23.1 % 23.9 % 16.0 % Total gross margin 37.1 % 37.9 % 30.9 % Operating income $ 49,439 $ 48,221 $ 30,990 Operating margin 25.4 % 25.7 % 21.2 % Depreciation and amortization Cost of product revenue $ 839 $ 783 $ 748 Cost of rental revenue 5,109 5,442 6,167 Cost of field service and other revenue 1,902 1,773 1,673 Selling, general and administrative expenses 142 135 89 Total depreciation and amortization 7,992 8,133 8,677

Cactus, Inc.  Supplemental Information

Estimated Market Share

(unaudited)

Market share represents the average number of active U.S. onshore rigs Cactus followed (which Cactus defines as the number of active U.S. onshore drilling rigs to which it was the primary provider of wellhead products and corresponding services during drilling) as of mid-month for each of the three months in the applicable quarter divided by the Baker Hughes U.S. onshore rig count quarterly average. Cactus believes that comparing the total number of active U.S. onshore rigs to which it was providing its products and services at a given time to the number of active U.S. onshore rigs during the same period provides Cactus with a reasonable approximation of its market share with respect to wellhead products sold and the corresponding services it provides.

Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2022 Cactus U.S. onshore rigs followed 321 304 254 Baker Hughes U.S. onshore rig count quarterly average 742 757 616 Market share 43.3 % 40.2 % 41.2 %

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005790/en/

Cactus, Inc.

Alan Boyd, 713-904-4669

Director of Corporate Development and Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Cactus, Inc.
EWING, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cenlar FSB, the nations leading mortgage loan subservicer, announced today that Michael Biddle has joined the company in the newly created role of Chief Data Scientist. Michael will lead Cenlars just-launched Mortgage Information Factory, an effort that will focus on leveraging the companys large amounts of data and turning that into actionable information and insight for our own operations as well as clients and their homeowners.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005343/en/

Cenlar Chief Data Scientist Michael Biddle (Photo: Business Wire)

Michael brings to Cenlar more than two decades of experience in building and sustaining the highest level of quantitative analysis and research. He will be responsible for procuring and gathering data, establishing processes for converting data to effective reporting and instituting artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, in addition to maximizing portfolio performance through deep learning methodologies.

Michael is an incredibly valuable part of the Cenlar team, said President and CEO Jim Daras. His talent and vision for strategically leveraging data will deliver smart, industry-leading business solutions for our clients, their homeowners and our employees.

Cenlars Data Science initiative will combine math and statistics, specialized programming, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning with extensive knowledge of mortgage performance and servicing operations to uncover actionable insights. These insights can guide decision making and strategic planning and improve operational performance.

I look forward to working with the team and identifying, collecting, and assessing data to create cutting-edge analytical solutions to create an improved work experience for Cenlar that also delivers the best results for our clients and their homeowners, said Michael.

Michael holds a Masters of Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University, a DDE Econometrics from Northern Kentucky/University of Cincinnati Cooperative, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.

About Cenlar FSB

Cenlar FSB is the nations leading subservicer, servicing loans in 50 states and its U.S. territories. Cenlar boasts a loyal and growing client base including banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. Our employees, strategically located throughout the United States, are dedicated to customer satisfaction and teamwork that drives client solutions unparalleled in quality, flexibility and innovation. Headquartered in Ewing, NJ, Cenlar is industry rated and audited regularly by independent third parties.

For more information, visit www.cenlar.com.

Find us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cenlar-fsb/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005343/en/

Adrienne R. Kowalski

Corporate Communications Director

[email protected]

Source: Cenlar FSB
Collaboration will provide Sunflower Bank, N.A. clients access to cross-border payments and foreign currency exchange solutions

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Corpay1, a FLEETCOR (NYSE: FLT) brand and global leader in business payments, is pleased to announce that Corpays Cross-Border business has entered into a new collaboration with Sunflower Bank, N.A. (Sunflower Bank).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005150/en/

Through this collaboration, Sunflower Banks customers and their companies located in the United States, will be able to gain access to and utilize Corpays innovative solutions to help mitigate foreign exchange exposure from their day-to-day business needs. Additionally, Corpays award-winning trading platform will enable their customers to manage their global payments from a single point of access.

Corpay is very pleased to announce our commercial partnership with Sunflower Bank. I have no doubt that Sunflowers customer base, located predominately in the Southwest and Mountain West regions of the United States will benefit greatly from our specialized service and access to our comprehensive cross-border payments and currency risk management solutions, said Andrew Heffernan, VP, Strategic Sales NA, Corpay Cross-Border Solutions. The team at Corpay is excited to build long term business partnerships with customers and power their international payments, execute plans to manage their currency risk and support their growth internationally.

We are excited to partner with Corpay and bring their extensive global payments knowledge and expertise to our Sunflower Bank clients. During our beta phase with Corpay it was quite evident that our clients enjoyed working with their team, closed their transactions as planned and had positive experiences. We look forward to being able to benefit more businesses as a result of this partnership, added Layne Nunes, SVP, Treasury Management Director at Sunflower Bank.

About Corpay

Corpay is a global leader in business payments, helping companies of all sizes better track, manage and pay their expenses. Corpay provides customers with a comprehensive suite of online payment solutions including Bill Payment, AP Automation, Cross-Border Payments, Currency Risk Management, and Commercial Card Programs. As the largest commercial issuer of Mastercard in North America, Corpay handles over a billion transactions each year. Corpay is part of the FLEETCOR (NYSE: FLT) portfolio of brands. To learn more visit www.corpay.com.

About Sunflower Bank, N.A.

Operating as Sunflower Bank, First National 1870 and Guardian Mortgage, Sunflower Bank, N.A. provides financial solutions to the individual communities it serves. With $7.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022, headquarters in Denver, bank locations in five states, and mortgage capabilities in more than 40 states, Sunflower Bank, N.A. provides a full range of relationship-focused services to meet personal, business and wealth management financial objectives. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. First National 1870 and Guardian Mortgage are divisions of Sunflower Bank, N.A. To learn more visit SunflowerBank.com, FirstNational1870.com or GuardianMortgageOnline.com.

1 Corpay (a Fleetcor (NYSE: FLT) brand) in this document primarily refers to the Cross-Border Division of Corpay https://payments.corpay.com/cross-border; a full listing of the companies that are part of the Corpay brand is available here: https://payments.corpay.com/compliance.

* Subject to credit and compliance approval from the relevant Corpay company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005150/en/

Corpay Contact:

Brad Loder

VP, Cross-Border Marketing

(647) 627-6635

[email protected]

Sunflower Bank Media Contact:

Jeanne Lipson

Vice President, Marketing Manager

(915) 881-6785

[email protected]

Source: Corpay
A further devaluation of the Egyptian pound is not in itself the panacea for Egypts economic woes

To devalue, or not to devalue  that is not the question

If Hamlet had lived in Egypt, he might have opened Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeares play with a statement different from his well-known to be, or not to be, that is the question. Back then, Hamlet was contemplating death and suicide, comparing it to the pain and unfairness of life.

But Hamlet does not live in Egypt. Egyptians do. Nowadays, the statement reads something like this: to devalue (the Egyptian pound), or not to devalue, that is the question.

Egyptians have been feeling the brunt of four consecutive rounds of devaluation of the local currency over the past seven years. It started with the first major devaluation in November 2016, but until early 2022 the pound managed to stabilise and even strengthen in 2020, the year that the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

However, it took less than a month for the pound to give in to the pressure exerted by the Russia-Ukraine war. The war broke out on 24 February 2022, and the pound was devalued on 21 March. It suffered from another major devaluation on 27 October before going through the latest major devaluation on 4 January this year.

All in all, the pound has fallen in value by some 70 per cent since 2016, and 70 per cent of that drop took less than a year from March 2022 to January 2023.

Ironically, Egypts chronic trade deficit has not gone away, let alone improved, despite the devaluations. On the contrary, foreign direct investment (FDI) has fallen, and foreign investments in Egypts fixed-income securities and equities have been running out of the door since early 2022.

The only positive signals have come from the relaxation of Covid-19 measures worldwide, helping to stimulate Suez Canal revenues and tourism.

Egypt has fallen victim to two global black swan events that have pressured its finances when this was least expected: Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. However, I do not fully buy the idea that those global black swans were the culprits. More recently, the pound has come under pressure from many international players, led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is not happy with the progress that has been made since it signed the last $3 billion credit agreement with Egypt.

The IMFs call for a flexible foreign-exchange regime continues to be at the top of its prescriptions for the country. Other international players, including top rating agencies, have downgraded Egypts rating and outlook, among them Moodys, Standard & Poors, and Fitch. Meanwhile, global investment banks, the likes of Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and Bank of America, have all been calling for yet another round of devaluation to weather the current storm.

However, I do not think this will solve Egypts economic problems. Even if we assume that there is no need to devalue, the pressure from speculators and doomsayers will eventually lead to the devaluation everyone is expecting. In fact, it is turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Egypt is currently being cornered by almost everyone to make that abhorrent move. But it will not help unless there are sizable inflows of foreign currency into the country, and ironically these inflows will not come unless a sizable devaluation takes place. It has now become a vicious circle.

It is trust in the Egyptian pound that needs to be restored. Yes, genuine supply and demand can lead to imbalances that require currency moves, but is this enough alone? Egypt needs to undertake another Open-Door Policy, or what I would call Open-Door Policy 2.0, the Egyptian version of laissez-faire.

For the Egyptian Hamlet, to devalue, or not to devalue, is definitely not the question. The question is whether investors will trust in the seriousness of the government to empower the private sector once again as it takes long strides towards the competitive neutrality it has been promising.

The writer is a chartered financial analyst and founder of BORSAGY.com, an online financial platform.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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BRAMPTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DATA Communications Management Corp. (TSX: DCM; OTCQX: DCMDF) (DCM or the "Company"), a leading provider of marketing and business communication solutions, will announce its First Quarter 2023 results the evening of Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Richard Kellam, President and CEO of DCM, and James Lorimer, CFO, will present the First Quarter 2023 results followed by a live Q&A period.

Instructions on how to access both the webcast and call are available below. For those unable to join live, a replay of the webcast will be available on the DCM Investor Relations page. DCM will be using Microsoft Teams to broadcast our earnings call, which will be accessible via the options below:

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 228 920 117 001

Passcode: ex4x9Y

Download Teams | Join on the web

Or call in (audio only)

+1 647-749-9154, 820674274# Canada, Toronto

Phone Conference ID: 820 674 274#

The Companys full results will be posted on its Investor Relations page and on www.sedar.com. A video message from Richard Kellam will also be posted on the Companys website.

ABOUT DATA COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT CORP.

DCM is a marketing and business communications partner that helps companies simplify the complex ways they communicate and operate, so they can accomplish more with fewer steps and less effort. For more than 60 years, DCM has been serving major brands in vertical markets including financial services, retail, healthcare, energy, other regulated industries, and the public sector. We integrate seamlessly into our clients businesses thanks to our deep understanding of their needs, transformative tech-enabled solutions, and end-to-end service offerings. Whether were running technology platforms, sending marketing messages, or managing print workflows, our goal is to make everything surprisingly simple.

Additional information relating to DATA Communications Management Corp. is available on www.datacm.com, and in the disclosure documents filed by DATA Communications Management Corp. on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005498/en/

For further information:

Mr. Richard Kellam

President & Chief Executive Officer

DATA Communications Management Corp.

(905) 791-3151



Mr. James E. Lorimer

Chief Financial Officer

DATA Communications Management Corp.

(905) 791-3151

[email protected]

Source: DATA Communications Management Corp.
First Quarter 2023 Highlights:

Consolidated revenues of $214.0 million compared to $308.9 million in the prior year quarter Douglas Ellimans real estate brokerage segment achieved gross transaction value of approximately $7.3 billion compared to approximately $11.7 billion in the prior year quarter. Douglas Ellimans real estate brokerage segment reported an average price per transaction of $1.580 million.

Consolidated operating loss of $20.6 million and real estate brokerage segment operating loss of $14.1 million compared to operating income of $7.9 million and $14.5 million, respectively, in the prior year quarter

Net loss attributed to Douglas Elliman of $15.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $6.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted common share, in the prior year quarter

Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman of a loss of $14.4 million compared to income of $12.7 million in the prior year quarter

Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Ellimans real estate brokerage segment of a loss of $9.7 million compared to income of $17.7 million in the prior year quarter

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE: DOUG) today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Douglas Ellimans team of agents continued to endure a challenging residential real estate market in the first quarter, marked by limited listing inventory and financial market volatility, said Howard M. Lorber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman. "We have begun to see signs of improvement in the market. We believe this indicates market conditions have solidified and we are optimistic Douglas Elliman's key strengths will position us to take advantage of opportunities as real estate markets stabilize. We remain confident that our differentiated platform and approach will enable us to deliver continued growth over the long term."

GAAP Financial Results

First quarter 2023 revenues were $214.0 million, compared to revenues of $308.9 million for the first quarter of 2022. The Company recorded an operating loss of $20.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to operating income of $7.9 million for the first quarter of 2022. Net loss attributed to Douglas Elliman for the first quarter of 2023 was $15.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $6.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2022.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments for stock-based compensation, equity in (losses) earnings from equity method investments and other, net (for purposes of Adjusted EBITDA). Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023 are included in Tables 2, 3 and 4.

Three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022

Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman (as described in Table 2 attached hereto) were a loss of $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to income of $12.7 million for the first quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Ellimans real estate brokerage segment (as described in Table 2 attached hereto) were a loss of $9.7 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared to income of $17.7 million for the first quarter of 2022.

Adjusted Net Loss attributed to Douglas Elliman (as described in Table 3 attached hereto) was $14.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023, compared to Adjusted Net Income attributed to Douglas Elliman of $6.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2022.

Gross Transaction Value

For the first quarter of 2023, Douglas Ellimans brokerage segment achieved gross transaction value of approximately $7.3 billion, compared to approximately $11.7 billion for the first quarter of 2022. For the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, Douglas Ellimans brokerage segment achieved gross transaction value of approximately $38.6 billion and $42.9 billion, respectively. For the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023, Douglas Ellimans brokerage segment reported an average price per transaction of $1.608 million.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Douglas Elliman maintained a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of $123.7 million at March 31, 2023. This significant liquidity places the Company in a position of strength in the market.

Conference Call to Discuss First quarter 2023 Results

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its first quarter 2023 results on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 8:30 AM (ET). Participants should pre-register for the call using the following link: https://conferencingportals.com/event/XyPNvEjm. Registered participants will receive an email with a calendar reminder, dial-in number and conference ID that allows immediate access to the call on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Participants who do not wish to pre-register may access the live webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/320287461. Please join the webcast at least 10 minutes prior to start time.

A replay of the call will be available shortly after the call ends on May 10, 2023 through May 24, 2023 at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/320287461.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman and Adjusted Net Income attributed to Douglas Elliman (referred to as the Non-GAAP Financial Measures) are financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company believes that the Non-GAAP Financial Measures are important measures that supplement discussion and analysis of its results of operations and enhance an understanding of its operating performance.

The Company believes the Non-GAAP Financial Measures provide investors and analysts with a useful measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies.

Management uses the Non-GAAP Financial Measures as measures to review and assess operating performance of the Companys business, and management does and investors should review both the overall performance (GAAP net income) and the operating performance (the Non-GAAP Financial Measures) of the Companys business. While management considers the Non-GAAP Financial Measures to be important, they should be considered in addition to, but not as substitutes for or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as operating income, net income and cash flows from operations. In addition, the Non-GAAP Financial Measures are susceptible to varying calculations and the Companys measurement of the Non-GAAP Financial Measures may not be comparable to those of other companies. Attached hereto as Tables 2, 3 and 4 is information relating to the Companys Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 and the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023.

About Douglas Elliman Inc.

Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE: DOUG, Douglas Elliman) owns Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which is one of the largest residential brokerage companies in the United States with operations in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, the Hamptons, Massachusetts, Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology (PropTech) solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management and settlement and escrow services in select markets. Additional information concerning Douglas Elliman is available on its website, investors.elliman.com.

Investors and others should note that we may post information about Douglas Elliman on our website at investors.elliman.com or, if applicable, on our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube or other social media platforms. It is possible that the postings or releases could include information deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media and others interested in Douglas Elliman to review the information we post on our website at investors.elliman.com and on our social media accounts.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. All statements other than statements of historical or current facts made in this document are forward-looking. We identify forward-looking statements in this document by using words or phrases such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may be, continue could, potential, objective, plan, seek, predict, project and will be and similar words or phrases or their negatives. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Actual results could differ materially for a variety of reasons.

Risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations are described in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K and, when filed, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. We undertake no responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement except as required by applicable law.

[Financial Tables Follow]

TABLE 1

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED COMBINED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 (Unaudited) Revenues: Commissions and other brokerage income $ 202,036 $ 295,109 Property management 8,777 9,199 Other ancillary services 3,169 4,592 Total revenues 213,982 308,900 Expenses: Real estate agent commissions 152,862 223,422 Sales and marketing 21,239 19,306 Operations and support 18,893 18,091 General and administrative 32,295 32,830 Technology 6,012 5,293 Depreciation and amortization 2,039 2,079 Restructuring 1,210  Operating (loss) income (20,568 ) 7,879 Other income (expenses): Interest income 1,105 39 Equity in (losses) earnings from equity-method investments (73 ) 532 Investment and other (loss) income (454 ) 752 (Loss) income before provision for income taxes (19,990 ) 9,202 Income tax (benefit) expense (4,638 ) 2,917 Net (loss) income (15,352 ) 6,285 Net loss attributed to non-controlling interest 216 225 Net (loss) income attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (15,136 ) $ 6,510 Per basic common share: Net (loss) income applicable to common shares attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (0.20 ) $ 0.08 Per diluted common share: Net (loss) income applicable to common shares attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (0.20 ) $ 0.08

TABLE 2

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands)

LTM Year Ended Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (loss) income attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (27,268 ) $ (5,622 ) $ (15,136 ) $ 6,510 Interest income, net (2,845 ) (1,779 ) (1,105 ) (39 ) Income tax (benefit) expense (1,052 ) 6,503 (4,638 ) 2,917 Net loss attributed to non-controlling interest (768 ) (777 ) (216 ) (225 ) Depreciation and amortization 7,972 8,012 2,039 2,079 EBITDA $ (23,961 ) $ 6,337 $ (19,056 ) $ 11,242 Equity in losses (earnings) from equity-method investments (a) 1,168 563 73 (532 ) Stock-based compensation expense (b) 11,309 11,138 2,823 2,652 Restructuring charges 1,210  1,210  Other, net (2,223 ) (3,429 ) 454 (752 ) Adjusted EBITDA (12,497 ) 14,609 (14,496 ) 12,610 Adjusted EBITDA attributed to non-controlling interest 316 342 91 117 Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (12,181 ) $ 14,951 $ (14,405 ) $ 12,727 Operating (loss) income by Segment: Real estate brokerage $ (6,651 ) $ 21,993 $ (14,103 ) $ 14,541 Corporate and other (26,337 ) (26,534 ) (6,465 ) (6,662 ) Total $ (32,988 ) $ (4,541 ) $ (20,568 ) $ 7,879 Real estate brokerage segment Operating (loss) income $ (6,651 ) $ 21,993 $ (14,103 ) $ 14,541 Depreciation and amortization 7,972 8,012 2,039 2,079 Stock-based compensation 4,289 4,195 1,019 925 Restructuring charges 1,210  1,210  Adjusted EBITDA 6,820 34,200 (9,835 ) 17,545 Adjusted EBITDA attributed to non-controlling interest 316 342 91 117 Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ 7,136 $ 34,542 $ (9,744 ) $ 17,662 Corporate and other segment Operating loss $ (26,337 ) $ (26,534 ) $ (6,465 ) $ (6,662 ) Stock-based compensation 7,020 6,943 1,804 1,727 Adjusted EBITDA attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (19,317 ) $ (19,591 ) $ (4,661 ) $ (4,935 )

a. Represents equity in earnings recognized from the Companys investment in certain real estate businesses that are accounted for under the equity method and are not consolidated in the Companys financial results. b. Represents amortization of stock-based compensation. $4,289, $1,019, $925, and $4,195 are attributable to the Real estate brokerage segment for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, and the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively. $7,020, $1,804, $1,727, and $6,943 are attributable to the Corporate and other segment for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2023, the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively.

TABLE 3

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET (LOSS) INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Net (loss) income attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (15,136 ) $ 6,510 Restructuring charges 1,210  Total adjustments 1,210  Tax expense related to adjustments (369 )  Adjusted net (loss) income attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (14,295 ) $ 6,510 Per diluted common share: Adjusted net (loss) income applicable to common shares attributed to Douglas Elliman Inc. $ (0.19 ) $ 0.08

TABLE 4

DOUGLAS ELLIMAN INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF REVENUES

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands)

LTM Year Ended Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2023 2022 2023 2022 Revenues: Commissions and other brokerage income $ 1,006,812 $ 1,099,885 $ 202,036 $ 295,109 Property management 35,600 36,022 8,777 9,199 Other ancillary services 15,847 17,270 3,169 4,592 Total revenues $ 1,058,259 $ 1,153,177 $ 213,982 $ 308,900 Gross transaction value (in billions) $ 38.6 $ 42.9 $ 7.3 $ 11.7 Total transactions 23,988 26,573 4,627 7,212

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Stephen Larkin, Douglas Elliman Inc.

917-902-2503



Benjamin Spicehandler/Columbia Clancy, FGS Global,

212-687-8080 (U.S.)

44(0)2031788914 (Europe)



J. Bryant Kirkland III, Douglas Elliman Inc.

305-579-8000

Source: Douglas Elliman Inc.
Real Estate Banking Veteran Represents Strategic Hire for Eastdil Secured at Pivotal Time for European Capital Markets

Bolsters Collective Expertise While Extending 50+ Year Record of Helping Clients Successfully Navigate Dynamic Capital Markets

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eastdil Secured, LLC (Eastdil Secured or the firm), the global real estate investment bank, today announced that industry veteran Juergen Fenk will be joining the firm as Managing Director.

At a pivotal moment for global real estate, Mr. Fenk brings more than 30 years of expertise in European investment banking and traditional real estate capital markets to Eastdil Secured. Mr. Fenk will leverage his deep financial expertise and longstanding banking relationships to provide clients with creative and effective solutions, including providing credit and special situations oriented restructuring advice. Based out of the Frankfurt office, he will work closely with the firms EMEA group as well as Eastdil Secureds senior teams globally.

For more than 50 years, Eastdil Secured has provided clients with the expertise and insights they need to successfully adapt to and navigate through market cycles, said Roy Hilton March, CEO of Eastdil Secured. An industry veteran, Juergen possesses exceptional strategic acumen, outstanding investment banking relationships and an unparalleled understanding of European real estate and financial capital markets. His appointment is yet another proof point of how Eastdil Secured adds to our team for the benefit of our global clients.

At a time of economic instability, we are pleased to further enhance our EMEA teams collective offering to ensure our clients continue to benefit from global, relevant, and differentiated advice, said James McCaffrey, Managing Director and head of the European business at Eastdil Secured.

Eastdil Secured has established itself as the premier and most trusted advisor in commercial real estate, said Mr. Fenk. This is a pivotal moment for the real estate industry, and I look forward to helping the firms clients identify value-creative solutions and achieve successful investment outcomes. The team-oriented organization and global approach of Eastdil Secured is precisely what real estate investors and managers need to navigate the current unprecedented market environment.

Juergen Fenk brings more than 30 years of experience in global real estate and financial sectors, with a proven track record in real estate management, capital markets, and lending. Most recently, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Primonial REIM, a French wealth and asset manager with 34B AUM that specializes in real estate. At Primonial, he was directly responsible for the companys strategic development, investor relations, business development, and financing. Mr. Fenk successfully transformed the company from a predominantly French real estate platform into a leading pan-European asset management platform. Before his role as CEO of Primonial REIM, Mr. Fenk served as Member of the Group Executive Board at the SIGNA Group, a privately managed international investment and industrial holding company. He has held other management roles across Europe and the U.S. at Helaba, Bawag P.S.K., and HRE Group. Mr. Fenk has an MBA from Ludwig-Maximilian-University.

About Eastdil Secured

As the most relevant and trusted advisor in the commercial real estate capital markets, Eastdil Secured creates value for clients through creative, actionable ideas and flawless execution. With an unrivaled combination of capital markets expertise and in-depth understanding of real estate fundamentals, Eastdil Secured delivers best-in-class advice on mergers and acquisitions, sales, joint ventures, debt placement, structured credit and loan sales to investors around the world. Headquartered in New York, Eastdil Secured has a broad global footprint to support clients with offices across the United States in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., and internationally in Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo. For more information on Eastdil Secured, the global real estate investment bank, please visit https://www.eastdilsecured.com.

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Eastdil Secured

Jon Keehner / Jack Kelleher / Erik Carlson

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212.355.4449

Source: Eastdil Secured, LLC
Ms. Jeffery brings over 25 years of best-in-class people leadership for health technology companies on their journey to establish a culture of growth and sustained excellence

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Element Science, an innovative health technology company pioneering a digital wearable platform for high-risk cardiovascular patients transitioning from hospital to home, announced that Kathy Jeffery has joined as the Companys first Chief People Officer (CPO).

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Kathy Jeffery, CPO, Element Science, Inc. (Photo: Business Wire)

Ms. Jeffery brings more than 25 years of experience in human resources, people development, talent acquisition, and organizational development. As CPO, she will lead Element Sciences people function, developing and executing the companys strategy to attract, develop and retain the best talent. She will also continue driving Element Sciences long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts to support a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people it serves.

With Kathys track record of successfully enabling early-stage organizations to rapidly scale and her approach to leading human resource teams and change management programs, she will be a key driving force in honoring our companys people strategy. Were excited for her to continue growing our culture, one that is built on excellence and trust in people, said Uday N. Kumar, MD, Founder, President and CEO of Element Science.

Prior to joining Element Science, Ms. Jeffery has worked in fast-paced, dynamic, growing companies with multiple locations, domestic and international (Europe, Asia, Canada, and the U.S.). Most recently, Ms. Jeffery served as the Chief People Officer for Pear Therapeutics. Prior to this, she was VP of People at four early-stage businesses and two Fortune 500 companies including Recurly, Sportvision, and TNS/WPP.

I have had both hands-on and strategic experience building and sustaining a positive employee experience and have a consistent track record of successfully partnering with executive and leadership teams to engage and bring out the best in a companys people. I am thrilled to join a team that is redefining the delivery of hospital to home healthcare for patients with cardiovascular disease, and I look forward to working with Element Science to unlock people potential, drive high performance teams, and support a positive and inspiring working environment, says Ms. Jeffery.

About Element Science, Inc.

Element Science, Inc. is a medical device and digital health company focused on developing solutions at the intersection of clinical-grade wearables, machine learning algorithms, and lifesaving therapies in order to address leading causes of death and hospitalization in patients with heart disease, primarily as they transition from the hospital-to-home. By putting the needs of patients and physicians first, our personalized digital devices, which are designed for function, comfort and ease-of-use, aim to redefine the paradigm of care for these patients. Our first product, a wearable patch defibrillator, is initially targeted at treating the more than 500,000 patients in the U.S. with an elevated temporary risk of potentially experiencing a lethal heart rhythm. Based in San Francisco, our funders include Third Rock Ventures, Google Ventures, Deerfield Management, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Cormorant Asset Management, and Invus Opportunities. For more information, please visit www.elementscience.com.

Element Science and the Element Science logo are trademarks of Element Science, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Sharon N. Buechler

Element Science

650-218-6340

[email protected]

Source: Element Science, Inc.
Mastercard cardholders will be able to book travel using credit card loyalty points with Travel with Rewards powered by Expedia.

SEATTLE & PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Expedia Group and Mastercard today expand their partnership for a new joint adventure: Travel with Rewards, a modern loyalty points redemption solution that enables consumers to redeem credit card loyalty points for travel bookings powered by Expedia. A complete redemption system leveraging Mastercards trusted loyalty solutions and Expedias extensive travel supply, Travel with Rewards will make exciting experiences more accessible on a global scale.

Through a participating issuers website, U.S. cardholders can access Travel with Rewards, powered by Expedia, using a seamless single sign-on. From there, the cardholder can see the points to dollars conversion as they search for travel, and will have the option to book using only points, their Mastercard credit card, or a combination of both. With Expedia Groups substantial reach, cardholders will have access to 700k+ properties, 500+ airlines, 100+ car rental companies and thousands of activities around the world. Travelers making bookings will also gain access to Expedia Groups high-quality, end-to-end customer service  whether thats speaking to live agents or leveraging the companys self-serve capabilities such as the Virtual Agent tool  allowing them to make changes or ask questions about their trip.

With Travel with Rewards, were providing consumers choice in how they want to pay and underscoring the importance of building loyalty programs that provide real value, said Stephanie Meltzer-Paul, Executive Vice President of Global Loyalty at Mastercard. Our companies are uniquely positioned to deliver a more effective point redemption experience thats easy to activate for issuers and allows cardholders to transform points theyve already earned from everyday spending into the ultimate reward: their next adventure.

Expedia Groups White Label Template allows issuing banks and merchants to seamlessly integrate the solution to their existing customer interface, providing a frictionless experience for both cardholder and issuer. This strategic partnership unifies the travel loyalty experience into one ideal solution, reinventing redemption functionality and standardizing access for partners seeking to deliver more diverse offerings to their consumers. Together, the companies have united complementary technology, with Expedia Groups template technology and Mastercards digital redemption capability combining to act as a turnkey solution that can be implemented by issuers around the world.

We are proud to partner with Mastercard to ensure their customers can spend their well-earned loyalty points on great travel experiences. Our template technology will power Mastercards global network of issuers, giving their customers access to a broad choice of hotels, flights, car rentals and activities, all backed by our deep customer service expertise. This partnership will also bring more valuable travel demand to our global supply partners, said Ariane Gorin, President Expedia for Business, Expedia Group.

The solution is first available to issuers working with Mastercards proprietary loyalty technology capabilities in North America, with additional technology builds, markets, and merchant program usage planned as fast follows. Mastercards digital redemptions solution currently provides more seamless and rewarding experiences across industries including gaming, retail, online gifting, and more. Expedia Group engages more broadly with Mastercards robust suite of services, leveraging Mastercard capabilities to support initiatives across cyber, loyalty, virtual cards and beyond. This joint solution marks the first entry into a new chapter of the partnership poised for continued growth.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the groups product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes: Expedia, Hotels.com, Expedia Partner Solutions, Vrbo, trivago, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Wotif, ebookers, CheapTickets, Expedia Group Media Solutions, CarRentals.com, and Expedia Cruises.

For more information, visit www.expediagroup.com. Follow us on Twitter @expediagroup and check out our LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/expedia/.

 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

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Media

Courtney Meola, Mastercard

914-306-4428 | [email protected]

For Expedia Group media inquiries, contact [email protected].

Source: Mastercard Investor Relations
WOKINGHAM, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG, LSE: FERG) (the Company) announces today that it purchased a total of 79,354 of its ordinary shares in the period from May 02, 2023 up to and including May 05, 2023 in connection with its $2.5 billion share repurchase program.

Aggregated information about the purchases carried out during this period

Trading day Aggregate daily volume

(in number of shares) Daily weighted average purchase

price of the shares Trading

venue May 02, 2023 20,000 110.700000 XLON May 03, 2023 19,750 111.406226 XLON May 04, 2023 20,000 109.600000 XLON May 05, 2023 19,604 109.850000 XLON

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury. Following the purchase of these shares (including those purchased but not yet settled), the number of shares held by the Company in treasury will be 27,287,925.

Following the purchase of these shares, the remaining number of ordinary shares in issue will be 204,883,257. The figure of 204,883,257 may be used by shareholders (and others with notification obligations) as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation), as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, detailed information about the individual purchases can be found at Ferguson - Investors - Shareholder Center - Share Buy-Back Details - 2023 Share Buy-Back.

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For further information please contact:

Brian Lantz

Vice President IR and Communications

+1 224 285 2410

Pete Kennedy

Director of Investor Relations

+1 757 603 0111

Source: Ferguson plc
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Paul Durban has joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a Partner in the Finance and Restructuring group in its London office, the international law firm announced today.

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Finance and Restructuring Partner Paul Durban Joins Dorsey & Whitney in London (Photo: Business Wire)

Paul Durban will lead the London offices Finance and Restructuring practice, advising clients on restructuring solutions, insolvency and finance matters, including UK and cross-border situations, acquisition finance, and fund finance. He acts for a range of clients, including private equity sponsors, credit funds, and corporates. Paul brings more than 16 years experience in the legal industry, most recently with MJ Hudson in London. He studied at the University of Oxford and BPP Law School.

I am thrilled to be joining Dorsey & Whitney, Paul Durban commented. While the ongoing market turbulence is challenging for many businesses, we are also seeing an uptick in requirements for specialist finance and restructuring support  both from strategic investors and companies trying to sure up against financial headwinds.

Dorsey & Whitney has an exciting and varied client base including world-leading brands in technology and professional services. Its an exciting time to join the firm, and Im looking forward to working with colleagues and clients as we navigate the road ahead.

Fabrizio Carpanini, Co-Head of Dorsey & Whitneys London office, said: We are on course to keep growing our expertise and footprint here in London, and the strategic hire of Paul is another step in that direction.

Pauls appointment ensures that we are best placed to continue to support clients on a broad range of finance and restructuring matters, which no doubt will come into sharper focus as challenging market conditions continue to play out.

About Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Clients have relied on Dorsey as a valued business partner since 1912. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides results-oriented, grounded counsel for its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including banking & financial institutions; development & infrastructure; energy & natural resources; food, beverage & agribusiness; healthcare & life sciences; and technology.

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Carmen Ramson-Herzing

612.492.5194

[email protected]

Source: Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Company delivers first Fisker Ocean Ones in Copenhagen, Denmark and Munich, Germany, establishing delivery process to early customers.

Fisker inaugurated its first two customer locations in April at the Vienna and Copenhagen Centers+, which were followed by the opening of two Fisker showrooms in Munich, one at Motorworld plus our flagship Lounge; the Los Angeles flagship Lounge is expected to open later this month. Additional locations to be opened across Europe and US throughout 2023.

US EPA testing completed for the Fisker Ocean Extreme; Fisker expects to receive EPA and CARB approvals later this month and then start US deliveries in June.

Q1 2023 operational results consistent with company expectations. Ended quarter with a solid cash and cash equivalents balance of $652.5 million. This excludes $22 million of pending VAT receivables.

Fisker Ocean awareness and recognition continues to expand; Fisker recently won the prestigious German Red Dot award for product design. Fisker Ocean and PEAR reservations and orders total over 70,000 as of May 8, 2023.

Four-stage production plan shifts to right based on current homologation and supply chain timelines. Fisker plans to produce 1,400-1,700 vehicles in Q2, provided all partners deliver. Fisker expects to have a steep ramp up in Q3, followed by a monthly run rate of approximately 6,000 vehicles for the rest of the year, and forecasts 32,000-36,000 units produced in calendar 2023.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker), driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

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Company delivers first Fisker Ocean Ones in Copenhagen, Denmark and Munich, Germany, establishing delivery process to early customers. (Photo: Business Wire)

It has been a fantastic weekend to have kicked off customer deliveries and opened our flagship Lounge in Munich yesterday. Now we are entering into a new era, becoming a revenue generating car company! stated Henrik Fisker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fisker.

Recent Updates:

First customer vehicle delivered in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 5, 2023 capitalizing on its dual-homologation strategy in Europe and the US where the class-leading Fisker Ocean has a large global total addressable market. Fisker completed the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) FMVSS self-certification and EPA completed its confirmatory testing; Fisker expects to receive the remaining approvals from the EPA (COC) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB EO) later this month. US deliveries to commence after US EPA certification.

The Fisker Ocean Extreme achieved a combined WLTP range of up to 707 km/440 UK miles with 20-inch wheels/tires equipped, exceeding previous estimates and indicating that the Fisker Ocean Extreme, including the limited edition Fisker Ocean One, has the longest range of any battery electric SUV sold in Europe today.

Four-stage supplier ramp up and vehicle assembly plan shifts to right on current homologation and supplier readiness timelines. 2023-to-date, Fisker has manufactured 55 engineering, marketing, and customer vehicles to start the registration and delivery process in Germany and Denmark. Production will ramp up next week and European deliveries are expected to pick up shortly after. Activated fleet of testing and validation vehicles in many regions of the world, focused on validating customer functions and features to continuously improve the customer experience; vehicles are fully connected and may receive software updates. A significant focus has been preparing for high quality vehicle assembly, with inline commissioning and automated end of line testing, so Fisker can achieve a maximum monthly run rate of 6,000 vehicles towards the end of Q3 into Fiskers stage 4 plan. Fisker adjusts its annual production forecast to 32,000-36,000 units and expects to produce 1,400-1,700 customer vehicles in Q2, provided all partners deliver. This adjustment reflects updated homologation timing, supply chain maturity and ramp readiness progress.

Deftpower named as European public charging platform provider, which complements Fiskers Allego partnership in Europe, and when combined with Chargepoints network in North America, provides Fisker Ocean customers with access to over 600,000 charging points.

in North America, provides Fisker Ocean customers with access to over 600,000 charging points. Fisker partnered with Ample to deliver battery swappable Fisker Ocean vehicles for fleet customers by Q1 2024. Amples battery-swapping system will bring a new level of affordability to the Fisker Ocean and will help further Fiskers long-term strategy to increase scale and adoption of its EVs in the US and Europe.

Fisker Ocean reservations and orders approximated 65,000 as of May 8, 2023. During the first quarter, Fisker was disciplined with its marketing spend amidst the ongoing macro turbulence. PEAR reservations exceeded 6,000 as of May 8, 2023.

Fisker Ocean world tour continued, including events in France (Autonomy Mobility World Expo), Norway (Nordic EV Summit), the United Kingdom (Fully Charged Live UK), and the United States (Qualtrics X4 Summit).

Delivered a new version of our Web application and iOS App, including an updated interactive configurator. The new Fisker Web and Apps offer a more intuitive experience exploring and buying a Fisker EV. These products are available in multiple languages and will be continually updated.

The Fisker Ocean won the internationally recognized Red Dot award for outstanding product design. The Fisker Ocean was evaluated on four key design qualities: product function, aesthetics, ease of use, and responsibility / sustainability  and was awarded Best Electric Vehicle 2023.

Fisker continues to bolster its internal technical capabilities and our global team totals more than 900 as of May 8, 2023.

Fisker will be adding an optional hard core off-road package called Force E, which can be applied to AWD Oceans after purchase. This will move the Ocean into a new market segment, with few direct EV competitors at its price point. The Force E is expected to be available in Q4 this year. Images will be released later today.

PEAR development continues. Fisker has now reduced the parts count by 25% through a new process we call steel ++. As we are finalizing our battery partners, launch of PEAR production will shift into 2025.

Fisker is planning its inaugural Investor Product Day event this summer, where it will showcase several new models that will be part of Fiskers goal to produce 1 million vehicles in 2027.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights:

Cash and cash equivalents of $652.5 million as of March 31, 2023; this excludes $22 million of pending VAT receivables. Approximately $47 million raised from Fiskers $350 million at-the-market (ATM) equity program during the first quarter of 2023.

Loss from operations totaled $121.6 million, which includes higher Q1 R&D expenses milestones that are not expected to repeat.

Net loss totaled $120.6 million and $0.38 loss per share.

Net cash used in operating activities totaled $83.7 million and capital expenditures totaled $45.7 million.

Weighted average shares outstanding totaled 321.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

2023 Business Outlook

Four-stage supplier ramp up and vehicle assembly plan moves to right on updated homologation timing. Fisker expects to produce 1,400-1,700 vehicles in Q2, provided Fiskers suppliers and partners can support this volume and ramp; Fisker also revises calendar 2023 production volume guidance to 32,000-36,000 vehicles. The following information reflects Fiskers expectations for key non-GAAP operating expenses and capital expenditures for full-year 2023. Fisker is projecting the total of these items to be within a range of $535 million to $610 million, consistent with its prior expectations last provided in the Q4 and Full Year 2022 Earnings Release. Fisker anticipates an 8-12% gross margin range for full year 2023 and potentially positive adjusted EBITDA1, provided input costs do not change dramatically.

Key Expense Item USD, millions Research & Development (Non-GAAP)1 $ 160 - 190 Selling, General, and Administrative (Non-GAAP)1 $ 130 - 160 Capital Expenditures $ 245 - 260 Total $ 535 - 610

1Excludes stock-based compensation expense. A reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP amount is not provided as the quantification of stock-based compensation excluded from the non-GAAP measure, which may be significant, cannot be reasonably calculated or predicted without unreasonable efforts. The Non-GAAP adjustment for stock-based compensation expense requires additional inputs such as number of shares granted and market price volatilities that are not currently ascertainable and cannot be reasonably estimated.

Conference Call Information

Fisker Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the results at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time (8:00 a.m. Eastern Time) today, May 9, 2023. The live audio webcast will be accessible on Fiskers Investor Relations website at https://investors.fiskerinc.com. A recording of the webcast will also be available following the conference call.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

This press release and the accompanying tables references certain non-generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) financial measures, including non-GAAP adjusted loss from operations, non-GAAP selling, general, and administrative expense, non-GAAP research and development expense and non-GAAP total operating expenses. These non-GAAP financial measures differ from their directly comparable GAAP financial measures due to adjustments made to exclude stock-based compensation expense. None of these non-GAAP financial measures is a substitute for or superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP.

Fisker believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information to investors about Fisker in understanding and evaluating its operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allowing for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics used by its management in financial and operational-decision making. However, there are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP measures and their nearest GAAP equivalents. For example, other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently, or may use other measures to calculate their financial performance, and therefore any non-GAAP measures Fisker uses may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Therefore, both GAAP financial measures of Fiskers financial performance and the respective non-GAAP measures should be considered together. Please see the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure in the tables below.

Disclosure Information

Fisker uses the investor relations section on its website as a means of complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. It also uses various social media channels as a means of disclosing information about Fisker and its products to its customers, investors and the public (e.g., @fiskerinc on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn). Accordingly, investors should monitor Fiskers investor relations website and these social media channels in addition to following Fiskers press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.

About Fisker Inc.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to become the No. 1 e-mobility service provider with the worlds most sustainable vehicles. To learn more, visit www.FiskerInc.com  and enjoy exclusive content across Fiskers social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play store.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as feel, believes, expects, estimates, projects, intends, should, is to be, or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology and include, among other things, the statements quoted by our Chief Executive Officer, the timing of start of production and delivery of the Fisker Ocean or the Fisker PEAR, the sufficiency of our cash to fund production launch of the Fisker Ocean, and statements regarding Fiskers future performance under 2023 Business Outlook, the reported financial results for the first quarter of 2023, which are subject to completion of Fiskers internal review, and other future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: Fiskers limited operating history; Fiskers ability to enter into additional manufacturing and other contracts with Magna, or other OEMs or tier-one suppliers in order to execute on its business plan; the risk that OEM and supply partners do not meet agreed upon timelines or experience capacity constraints; Fisker may experience significant delays in the design, manufacture, regulatory approval, launch and financing of its vehicles; Fiskers ability to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services; Fiskers inability to retain key personnel and to hire additional personnel; competition in the electric vehicle market; Fiskers inability to develop a sales distribution network; and the ability to protect its intellectual property rights; and those factors discussed in Fiskers Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading Risk Factors, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), as supplemented by Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports and documents Fisker files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Fisker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results Fisker Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 March 31, 2022 Revenue $ 198 $ 306 $ 12 Costs of goods sold 164 238 11 Gross margin 34 68 1 Operating costs and expenses: Selling, general and administrative (1) 44,648 44,802 21,992 Research and development (2) 76,999 133,400 101,460 Total operating costs and expenses 121,647 178,202 123,452 Loss from operations (121,613 ) (178,134 ) (123,451 ) Other income (expense): Other income (expense) (45 ) 433 (371 ) Interest income 6,894 5,685 265 Interest expense (4,601 ) (4,599 ) (4,383 ) Unrealized gain/(loss) recognized on equity securities (730 ) (1,220 ) 5,120 Foreign currency gain/(loss) (401 ) 7,916 746 Total other income (expense) 1,117 8,215 1,377 Net loss before income taxes (120,496 ) (169,919 ) (122,074 ) Provision for income taxes (59 ) (185 ) - Net loss $ (120,555 ) $ (170,104 ) $ (122,074 ) Basic and Diluted net loss per share $ (0.38 ) $ (0.54 ) $ (0.41 ) Basic and Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 320,983,589 314,891,794 296,508,619 (1) Selling, general and administrative reconciliation GAAP selling, general and administrative $ 44,648 $ 44,802 $ 21,992 Stock-based compensation benefit/(expense) 657 (762 ) (1,773 ) Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative $ 45,305 $ 44,040 $ 20,219 (2) Research and development reconciliation GAAP research and development $ 76,999 $ 133,400 $ 101,460 Stock-based compensation benefit/(expense) 985 (1,414 ) (3,292 ) Non-GAAP research and development $ 77,984 $ 131,986 $ 98,168

Fisker Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) As of: March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 652,534 $ 736,549 Restricted cash 4,624 - Prepaid expenses and other current assets 126,305 91,765 Equity investment 2,410 3,140 Total current assets 785,873 831,454 Non-current assets: Property and equipment, net 420,607 387,137 Intangible assets 241,322 246,922 Right of use asset, net 38,680 33,424 Other non-current assets 18,064 16,489 Total noncurrent assets 718,673 683,972 Total assets $ 1,504,546 $ 1,515,426 Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 68,317 $ 58,871 Accrued expenses 310,710 264,925 Lease liabilities (short term) 7,323 7,085 Total current liabilities 386,350 330,881 Non-current liabilities: Customer deposits 15,669 15,334 Lease liabilities 33,587 27,884 Convertible notes 661,250 660,822 Total non-current liabilities 710,506 704,040 Total liabilities 1,096,856 1,034,921 Stockholder's equity 407,690 480,505 Total liabilities and equity $ 1,504,546 $ 1,515,426

Fisker Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 2022 Cash flows from Operating Activities Net loss $ (120,555 ) $ (122,074 ) Stock-based compensation (1,642 ) 5,065 Depreciation and Amortization 9,150 379 Accretion of debt issuance costs 428 204 Unrealized (gain)/loss recognized on equity securities 730 (5,120 ) Change in operating assets and liabilities 25,208 15,402 Other operating activities 2,939 156 Net cash used in operating activities (83,742 ) (105,988 ) Cash flows from Investing Activities Purchase of equity securities - (10,000 ) Purchase of property and equipment (45,748 ) (45,750 ) Net cash used in investing activities (45,748 ) (55,750 ) Cash flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from exercise of stock options 2,788 1,861 Proceeds from stock issuance under "At-the-market" offering 47,986 - Payments for "At-the-market" issuance costs (675 ) - Net cash provided by financing activities 50,099 1,861 Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (79,391 ) (159,877 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 736,549 1,202,439 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 657,158 $ 1,042,562

Source: Fisker Inc.

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Fisker Inc. Communications

Frank Boroch, VP, Investor Relations & Treasury

[email protected]

Matthew DeBord, Sr. Director, Communications Strategy & Storytelling

[email protected]

Source: Fisker Inc.
WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Tuesday, May 9, Granite (NYSE: GVA) published its 2022 Sustainability Report, highlighting the companys advancement on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. Sustainability is central to the purpose of our business as we seek to provide infrastructure solutions that support more prosperous and resilient communities, says Granite President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Larkin. As we look ahead, I feel strongly that our long-term success requires a continued focus on our core value of sustainability. Our goal is to leverage our sustainability program to win work, gain a competitive advantage, and provide value to our clients, investors, employees, and communities.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005002/en/

The report also serves as Granites Communication on Progress as a participant in the United Nations Global Compact. Granite utilizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to inform its reporting, strategy, and initiatives. The report is aligned with standard sustainability reporting frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. Granite has selected industry-specific metrics that align with stakeholder expectations and reflect material impacts relevant to its operations.

The theme of this Sustainability ReportLeveraging Strength, Building Resiliencereflects our intent to leverage the strength of our client relationships, community connections, and home market strategy to be the contractor of choice for building resilient infrastructure projects designed to help society thrive in the face of future challenges, explains Sustainability Lead Raven Adams. This report reflects significant progress in advancing our sustainability efforts.

In addition to providing progress updates on sustainability objectives, the report also reviews the companys efforts in key areas, including safety, diversity and inclusion, community involvement, ethics and compliance, and infrastructure investment.

Highlights from the 2022 report include:

Assessment of Granites carbon footprint, demonstrating progress on emissions reduction targets

Investment of $6.1 million company-wide to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency at materials facilities

Continued advancement of a lower carbon asphalt mix that incorporates engineered recycled plastic

Increased use of recycled content in asphalt production (representing diversion of 1.19 million tons of waste from landfills)

Safety record reflecting the safest year in Granites history

Results of Granites second sustainability materiality assessment

Diamond Achievement Sustainable Commendations from the National Asphalt Paving Association (NAPA) received by 29 asphalt plants

28 projects honored with NAPA Quality in Construction Awards

Growing presence in the solar market, ranking sixth on Solar Power World 2022 Top Solar Contractors List

Recognition by Newsweek as one of Americas Most Responsible Companies for 2023

About Granite

Granite is Americas Infrastructure Company. Incorporated since 1922, Granite (NYSE: GVA) is one of the largest diversified construction and construction materials companies in the United States as well as a full-suite civil construction provider. Granites Code of Conduct and strong Core Values guide the Company and its employees to uphold the highest ethical standards. Granite is an industry leader in safety and an award-winning firm in quality and sustainability. For more information, visit the Granite website, graniteconstruction.com, and connect with Granite on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Granite

Media

Erin Kuhlman 831-768-4111



Investors

Wenjun Xu - 831-761-7861

Source: Granite
Newly rebranded Euna Solutions brings together proven innovative technology solutions for boosting public sectors administrative functions and financial operations

CHICAGO & TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Euna Solutions, a leading provider of purpose-built, cloud-based solutions for the public sector, today announced the rebrand of its corporate identity from GTY Technology to solidify its market leadership driving digital transformation in the public sector. Backed by decades of technology innovation, Euna Solutions provides a suite of leading software solutions that power critical administrative functions and financial operations for the public sector in the U.S. and Canada. These best-in-class solutions and services are proven to complement government ERP systems to increase productivity, efficiency, transparency, collaboration and compliance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005524/en/

The rebranding to Euna Solutions drives home our continued vision of building trust, transparency and ultimately, community, said Craig Ross, CEO at Euna Solutions. The name Euna derives from unity, which is highly relevant to the direction of our company. Not only are we unifying the most proven technologies in the space, but were using this combined power to enable the public sector to deliver better outcomes to the communities they serve.

Eunas executive leadership team combines decades of experience in government technology and the public sector. Ross brings over 30 years of industry and leadership expertise to help propel public sector progress. Ross is supported by an executive team consisting of TJ Parass, chief product and technology officer; James Ha, chief growth officer; Rob Crocker, chief financial officer; Art Elizarov, senior vice president, integrations and delivery; Katerina Goros, senior vice president and head of human resources; Manik Verma, senior vice president, corporate development; and Bill Brunson, senior vice president, sales.

GTY Technology was founded in 2016 with an aim to identify and invest in compelling technologies that could help transform the public sector. Pursuing a strategy of growth through acquisition, GTY brought together Bonfire, CityBase, eCivis, OpenCounter, Questica and Sherpa in 2018, and DemandStar and Ion Wave Technologies in 2022. The emergence of Euna comes at a time of rapid growth as GTY welcomed over 300 new customers in 2022, bringing their total customers served to more than 2,000. The rebranded Euna Solutions brings together a customer-centric employee base of more than 500 and rising.

Euna Solutions offers easy-to-use SaaS technology for procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, permitting and K-12 administration that are purpose-built for public sector organizations. A trusted partner to more than 2,000 government and public sector organizations across North America, Euna ultimately enables higher levels of stakeholder engagement and workflow efficiency through digital government services.

Eunas solutions include:

Euna Budget  Formerly Questica and Sherpa, Euna Budget comprises highly configurable budgeting and performance management systems built to help agencies modernize business processes. These solutions enable data-driven budgeting and decision-making while increasing data accuracy, saving time and improving stakeholder trust.

Euna Grants  Formerly eCivis, Euna Grants is the most widely used and complete grants management software solution. The only grants management solution purpose-built for both grantees and grantors, this solution addresses the unique challenges faced by agencies simultaneously receiving and awarding grant funds.

Euna Permits  Formerly OpenCounter, Euna Permits is a front office permitting guidance solution created by previous city hall employees to improve the process and communication between those applying for and those administering permits. Custom portals are set up for zoning, business, special events, and residential to provide all necessary information to applicants in advance and increase the efficiency of the entire process.

Euna Procure  Formerly Bonfire, IonWave and DemandStar, Euna Procure is the most complete set of eProcurement solutions for the public sector. In addition to offering unparalleled service throughout the customer journey, Euna Procure boasts the largest and fastest growing supplier network consisting of more than 700,000 suppliers and 22,000 agencies.

Euna Payments  Formerly CityBase, Euna Payments is a powerful and convenient payment solution with the most intuitive customer service tools. This solution provides governments and utilities with multiple payment options for their constituents and customers. Organizations have the option to implement one, multiple or all types of payment options including self-serve kiosks, web payments, mobile payments and POS for faster revenue collection.

Euna K-12 Admin  Formerly SpedTrack, Euna K-12 Admin is the most complete and compliant K-12 education solution in North America to simplify the unique set of components required to administer special education programs. Complete with dashboards, reporting, and best-in-class customer support, this award-winning solution is built to simplify administration of K-12 programs and maximize stakeholder confidence in the districts processes.

We recognize the acceleration of digital transformation within the public sector and the gaps that exist connecting the various critical technologies that will enable them to operate efficiently, said Ross. We are committed to helping public sector organizations better serve their constituents and improve their employees experience. With historic levels of funding available, now is the time to modernize the public sector.

For more information about Euna Solutions, visit www.eunasolutions.com.

About Euna Solutions

Euna Solutions is a leading provider of purpose-built, cloud-based solutions that power critical administrative functions and financial operations for the public sector. Formerly GTY Technology, Euna Solutions offers easy-to-use solutions for procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, permitting and K-12 administration that are proven to increase operational efficiency, transparency, collaboration, and compliance. Euna Solutions is a trusted partner to more than 2,000 government and public sector organizations across North America, empowering digital transformation and streamlining business processes through a relationship-centered, service-focused approach. Euna propels public sector progress. To learn more, visit www.eunasolutions.com.

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Jodie Booras

Gabriel Marketing Group (for Euna Solutions)

Phone: 619-564-9306

Email: [email protected]

Source: Euna Solutions
Once upon a time, Eid season  be it Eid Al-Fitr or Eid Al-Adha  was something to look forward to for movie goers. Stars like Adel Imam on one side and Nadia Al-Gendi or Nabila Ebeid on the other would generate real competition, and people would look forward to that time of year. From the late 1980s to the 2000s Imam  often collaborating with screenwriter Wahid Hamed and filmmaker Sherif Arafa  was the iconic comedy megastar whose new work not only Egyptians but Arabs everywhere awaited.

His films would tell a typically simple story while tackling a serious social issue. Nader Galals Salam Ya Sahby (Goodbye My Friend, 1987), starring Said Saleh, Sawsan Badr and Mustafa Metwalli alongside Imam, was a huge hit. So was Mohamed Abdel-Azizs Hanafi Al-Obaha (His Highness Hanafi, 1988), co-starring Farouk Al-Fishawi, Hoda Ramzi and Ragaa Al-Geddawi. Imams major landmark Al-Irhab wal Kabab (Terrorism and Kebab, 1992), co-starring then rising comedians Alaa Walieddine and Ashraf Abdel-Baki alongside Youssra, Ahmed Rateb and Youssef Dawoud, was an unprecedented success. A lesser if no less interesting take on terrorism was Nader Galals Al-Erhaby (The Terrorist, 1994), co-starring Madiha Youssry, Salah Zulfakar, Sherine and Hanan Shawki. But Imam changed tack in Bekheit wi Adila (Bekheit and Adila), opposite Sherine, and the film grossed unexpected revenues. Once again it featured Walieddine alongside then rising comedians Mohamed Henedi and Suliman Eid. Such films relied on the Eid season as much as Imams popularity. Sadly, the current film industry would not support such success.

Since 2010 the quality of Eid films has dropped consistently, and of the seven films available this season perhaps Wael Abdallahs 3D supernatural horror-stroke-murder mystery-stroke psychological thriller Youm 13 (The 13th), starring Ahmed Dawoud and Dina Al-Sherbiny, is the most revealing. Aside from bad 3D glasses at the theatre, which ruined the experience for many viewers besides myself, the film not only disappoints. It also demonstrates just how little of the cache of the traditional Eid season remains today.

After an announcement that it is based on a true story, the film opens with Ezzeddine (Ahmed Dawoud) drowning in the bath, an enormous chandelier dropping over his head. This turns out to be a dream he is having on the plane, on his way back to his homeland from Canada. After a late-night trip from the airport in the company of a humorous taxi driver (Mohamed Tharwat), he reaches his family mansion which, as the doorman tells him, is haunted and cannot be entered at night. He sleeps at a hotel, returning the next day to oversee the space being cleaned by the doorman and his wife, who experiences a frightening incident that leaves her bedridden. Ezzeddine also meets with his lawyer (Magdi Kamel), who was also his fathers best friend, and his wife (Dina Al-Sherbiny). As it gradually  and predictably  turns out that Ezzeddines mother was killed in her room  on her birthday, which happens to be the 13th of the month  the bad luck brought about by that is the only element that holds Abdallas screenplay together.

All the tired tropes of the haunted house thriller are included, but they dont amount to a coherent story or deliver a gripping experience. The cinematography and score do not help, neither does the fact that the characters have no depth whatsoever. A spiritual healer (Sherif Mounir) agrees to spend the night at the house, after which he prescribes a reenactment of that birthday night with the aim of identifying the killer who  spoiler alert!  turns out to be Ezzeddine himself. This is an awkward and absurd ending that is not properly developed in dramatic terms and ends up making no sense. After a film that has failed to move the viewer in any way despite employing all the trappings of the genre  at one point the lawyers wife is glued to the ceiling  it is a truly exasperating denouement.

Few Egyptian horror movies have been any good. Two older ones at least had a coherent story and compelling acting: Al-Ins wel Jin (Humans and Djin, 1985), starring Adel Imam and Youssra and directed by Mohamed Radi; and Al-Taawiza (The Talisman, 1987), starring Youssra and Mahmoud Yassin and directed by Mohamed Shebl. Ahmed Khaleds Abwab Al-Khouf (Fear Doors, 2011) starring Amr Waked, was disappointing but not as much as Yom 13, which has neither vision nor skill, and ends up feeling like a waste of time.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Halifax-area school support staff including Assistive Technology Support Workers, Child and Youth Care Practitioners, Mikmaq and Indigenous Student Support Workers, African Nova Scotian School Support Workers, Schools Plus Community Outreach Workers, Educational Program Assistants, Early Childhood Educators and School Library Specialists announced this afternoon that they will withdraw services at 12:01 AM Wednesday.

Were very disappointed. We came back to the bargaining table today with a strong mandate from our members, hoping that government would be prepared to negotiate, but there was no willingness whatsoever, said CUPE Local 5047 President Chris Melanson. Its clear that government is not prepared to give our members the respect they deserve, and at this point, we have no choice but to withdraw our services.

This weekend, Halifax-area school support staff voted decisively against accepting a tentative agreement negotiated with government. CUPE Local 5047 represents more than 1800 education workers in the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.

Education workers want to be in schools, supporting students and families. We do this work because we love it, not because we want to get rich. But our members cant survive on these wages any longer, and we need to see some changes.

:sm/cope 491

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Mary-Dan Johnston

CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative

[email protected]

902-412-5780

Source: CUPE
Nurse and Allied Health Staffing Firm, LRS Healthcare, to Become Part of the Jackson Healthcare Family of Companies

ATLANTA & OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jackson Healthcare, a family of highly specialized healthcare staffing, search and technology companies, and LRS Healthcare, a leading provider of medical staffing, today announced that the companies have signed a definitive agreement by which Jackson Healthcare will acquire Omaha, Nebraska-based LRS Healthcare.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005785/en/

LRS Healthcare connects nursing and allied healthcare professionals to facilities nationwide, helping people reach their true potential and healthcare employers provide the best patient care possible. The company, which is Joint Commission Healthcare Staffing Services certified, is the recipient of numerous ClearlyRated Best of Staffing honors, and in 2023 was named #1 on the Best Places to Work in Omaha list in the large business category.

Jackson Healthcare is the parent organization of 16 highly specialized healthcare staffing, search and technology companies. Together, its family of companies help thousands of healthcare facilities across the country with their temporary and permanent workforce needs, delivering care when and where its needed and serving over 10 million patients each year. Jackson Healthcare is Great Place to Work certified and consistently named an employer of choice both nationally and regionally.

We are delighted to share the news about LRS Healthcare joining the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. LRS has a proven track record of success in the market, is led by an impressive management team and powered by talented professionals across the business, said Shane Jackson, president of Jackson Healthcare. As part of the Jackson Healthcare organization, LRS will continue to do what it has done best since its inception: serve customers and healthcare professionals with excellence.

Upon closing of the acquisition, LRS Healthcare will become an operating business within the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. It will continue to operate under its current brand from its existing headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska under the leadership of its current president, Jeff Beckmann, executive management team and staff of nearly 500 employees.

In selecting an organization for LRS Healthcare to join, the most important thing to me was to find a partner that would treat our employees, customers and healthcare professionals with the utmost care, added Steve Lawrence, founder and CEO of LRS Healthcare. With Jackson Healthcare, I am confident my work family and those we serve in the market will be in excellent hands.

We are excited about this combination, which is filled with great opportunities for LRS employees and for the business to continue its growth journey. The alignment of the two organizations from a mission, values and culture perspective make this especially powerful, noted Scott LHeureux, group president of nurse and allied health within the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. We look forward to LRS continued success as it delivers quality care to even more patients and positively impacts even more communities.

The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter of 2023.

Bridgepoint Investment Banking has served as an advisor to LRS Healthcare on the business combination.

About LRS Healthcare

LRS Healthcare is a leading provider of medical staffing that connects exceptional nursing and allied healthcare professionals to incredible facilities nationwide. For more than 17 years, its central focus has been to help people reach their true potential and healthcare professionals provide the best patient care possible. LRS is committed to working with the best talent in the industry, while making the healthcare staffing process as simple as possible for both travelers and healthcare clients. To learn more, visit www.LRShealthcare.com.

About Jackson Healthcare

Jackson Healthcare is a family of highly specialized healthcare staffing, search and technology companies. With a mission to improve the delivery of patient care and the lives of everyone it touches, it helps healthcare facilities across the country serve more than 10 million patients each year. Backed by over 2,000 associates and more than 15,000 clinician providers covering all 50 states, Jackson Healthcare is one of the largest U.S. healthcare staffing companies with more than $2 billion in annual revenue. In addition to being Great Place to Work certified, it is consistently named an employer of choice, having been nationally recognized as a best workplace in healthcare, a best workplace for women and a best workplace for millennials, as well as being named among the healthiest employers. Learn more at www.jacksonhealthcare.com.

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[email protected]

Source: Jackson Healthcare
Week highlights importance of safe, reliable drinking water in communities

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In recognition of National Drinking Water Week, Missouri American Water is highlighting the vital role water plays in the health and vitality of a community. Currently about one in four Missourians receive water service from Missouri American Water, and the company is encouraging customers to learn about the critical role system investments have in the delivery of safe and reliable water service every day.

Our local water systems provide a resource that is critical to life, protects communities with fire protection and plays an active role in economic development, said Rich Svindland, president of Missouri American Water. It is our responsibility as the water provider for about 1.5 million people to make needed investments that will allow us to improve and maintain reliable water service for our customers today and for generations to come.

More than $425 million in water system investments are planned statewide in 2023 in communities served by Missouri American Water. These include numerous pipe projects to replace water pipe ranging from 60-90 years old. Planned replacement of aging pipes is safer, more cost-effective and convenient for customers than emergency repairs.

Treatment plant upgrades and improvements scheduled for completion in 2023 include the following:

A new filter and chemical feed building in Jefferson City

Replacement of the ozone treatment system in Warrensburg

A new intake pump station at the South Plant in St. Louis County

Faraon Booster Station upgrade in St. Joseph

Customers can view pipe replacement projects that are planned, in construction and recently completed on Missouri American Waters website missouriamwater.com by clicking on Pipe Replacement Map.

Missouri American Water

Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million people. For more, visit missouriamwater.com and follow Missouri American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Christie Barnhart

Senior Manager, External Communications

Cell: 417-529-9781

[email protected]

Source: Missouri American Water
This certification maintains a quality framework for continual improvement of processes, products, and services as the company expands globally

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global healthy-aging haircare, skincare and wellness innovator, MONAT Global Corp (MONAT), has received ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Certification by NSF for its corporate operations at the companys new global headquarters in Doral, Florida. The Doral campus opened in 2022 to support MONATs expanding domestic and global business.

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MONAT GLOBALs CORPORATE OPERATIONS IN NEW DORAL, FLORIDA HEADQUARTERS EARN ISO 9001 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION (Graphic: Business Wire)

The ISO 9001s focus is on management principles for both service and manufacturing organizations, including a strong customer focus, a process-based approach, risk-based thinking, continual improvement, and top-down management support. MONAT earned ISO 9001 certification in 2021 at its previous facility.

MONAT experienced key growth over the past year by providing quality and natural products and promoting a culture of diversity and excellence. The Miami-based global brand attributes its growth to the companys effective products, its VIP (loyal) customers, and the commitment and entrepreneurship mindset of its hundreds of thousands of passionate independent Market Partners in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Poland, Spain, Lithuania, Australia, New Zealand, and France.

ISO 9001 certification at our new global headquarters in Doral is a significant accomplishment that the entire MONAT team is extremely proud of, said Javier Urdaneta, Chief of Staff, MONAT Global. This certification continues to be an amazing benefit to MONAT as we work on reducing waste, improving quality management, and providing customer satisfaction.

We are committed to a culture of continuous improvement that adds value to our Market Partners and their customers, added Urdaneta. This certification at our new corporate operations in Doral is a foundational building block to ensure a stable and scalable platform for our current and future customers globally.

Follow MONAT on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. Additional information about the company can be found on its website, www.monatglobal.com.

About MONAT Global

MONAT Global is an international healthy aging haircare, skincare and wellness brand founded to help people everywhere enjoy beautiful, healthy, fulfilling lives through exceptional, naturally based products; a fun and rewarding business opportunity; and a culture of family, service, and gratitude. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, MONAT provides ground-breaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. MONAT's product development is led by Chief Science Officer Alan J. Meyers and supported by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of eminent professionals in medicine, cosmetics, haircare, science, and health. MONAT offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Lithuania, Spain, Poland, Australia, and France.

#MONATGlobal

Facebook: /MONATOfficial | Instagram: @monatofficial | YouTube: /MONATOfficial

Twitter: @MONATOfficial | Pinterest: /MONATOfficial

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005945/en/

Ginger Greenberg

Sunwest Communications for MONAT Global

+1 (469) 547-0259

[email protected]

Source: MONAT Global
Compressed Bachelor of Science in Nursing to take nearly half the time

YUMA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Northern Arizona University-Yuma will launch a program in fall 2023 to shorten by nearly half the time it takes nursing students to get through their prerequisites. The Compressed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (CBSN) can be completed in 16 months as opposed to 30 months in a traditional program.

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Community leaders and partners celebrate the grand opening of the simulation labs at the NAU School of Nursing at Yuma. Credit: NAU Archives

A $6.4 million grant from the Arizona Department of Health Services will help pay for scholarships for nursing students in the program. The goal is to get them graduated and practice-ready to help address the states critical need for professional nurses.

Arizona is ranked in the top five states nationwide experiencing severe nursing shortages, Lillian Smith, dean of NAUs College of Health and Human Services said. NAU is positioned to address this critical shortage by increasing access to high-quality accelerated nursing programs which will decrease the time of completion for practice-ready bachelors prepared nurses to enter the workforce.

A recent survey by the National Council for State Boards of Nursing found that 100,000 nurses left the profession because of pandemic-related stress and burnout. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that 275,000 nurses will be needed between now and 2030.

NAU has a rich history of serving rural and underserved communities, Janina Johnson, executive director of NAUs School of Nursing said. The tuition scholarships remove economic barriers for those individuals who may be unable to return to school for financial reasons. With this grant and NAUs School of Nursing strong track record offering quality nursing education, we can support and graduate more nurses and build the nursing workforce across all Arizona communities.

About NAU-Yuma

Yuma has been designated as a Branch Campus of Northern Arizona University by the Arizona Board of Regents. Although located several hours south of the main NAU campus, its standards are the same. The purpose is to provide an outstanding undergraduate education strengthened by scholarship, graduate and professional programs, and innovative methods of delivery in Yuma and the surrounding region.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230505005496/en/

Kimberly Ott

Associate Vice President for Communications

(928) 523-1894

[email protected]

Source: Northern Arizona University-Yuma
NANJING, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On April 22, Neuboron Medical Group (NMG), a leading global Accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT) total solution provider, and Xiamen Humanity Hospital (XHH) collaborated to co-host the Xiamen BNCT Technology Forum 2023 at the BNCT center in XHH. The event agenda underscored various topics, including BNCT clinical research, molecular imaging, nuclear medicine, and the development of next-generation boron drugs. A group of distinguished speakers from renowned research institutions, such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Nanjing University, China Pharmaceutical University, Dalian University of Technology, Tamkang University, and Changhua University of Education, gathered in person to present their latest research findings. The conference was a hybrid event bringing together around 5,000 physical and virtual attendees to discuss the outlooking of BNCT's new drug and clinical development.

The first patient with recurrent head and neck chondrosarcoma at the forum shared his transformative experience with BNCT treatment. In addition, Prof. Dr. Yuan-Hao Liu of NMG presented the latest clinical research findings from the Xiamen BNCT center. To date, the Neuborons NeuPex AB-BNCT System, along with the use of boronophenylalanine (BPA) NBB-001, has demonstrated promising treatment efficacy and tolerable toxicity levels in 14 patients with 18 irradiations, particularly in controlling local tumors for head and neck (HN) patients, as well as demonstrating remarkable safety and efficacy for glioblastoma (GBM) patients. As of now, there have been a few cases where individuals have reached a complete response (CR).

The expansion of clinical indications for BNCT relies heavily on the development of new NCT drugs. Multiple research teams presented their latest findings on potential new compounds during the conference. These groups also carried out preclinical efficacy evaluation experiments on the Xiamen BNCT platform, which included cell and animal studies, in addition to fundamental pharmaceutical research. Their findings provided essential data for future clinical applications.

As a highly multidisciplinary advanced radiation modality, the forum marked an ideal platform for researchers to exchange their insightful perspectives on BNCT research. The Xiamen BNCT center strives to promote open innovation within the global BNCT community to accelerate the clinical application of BNCT research and novel drug development from bench to market in the short future.

Please note that the Neuborons' NeuPex AB-BNCT System and boron drugs are currently in development and are not available for commercial use.

About BNCT

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a targeted radiation oncology therapy in that neutron beams destroy only boron compound-bearing tumors without destroying neighboring healthy tissue. BNCT has significant advantages of delivering highly effective and very cell-centralized radiation therapy in treating patients with recurrent, invasive, and local-regional metastases refractory tumors with a relatively low impact on the patients quality of life. To date, approximately 2,000 patients have been treated with BNCT at research sites worldwide.

About Xiamen Humanity Hospital

XHH is a Class III non-profit comprehensive hospital funded by Xiamen Renai Medical Foundation (a non-public charitable medical foundation launched by Xiamen C&D Corporation Limited, the state-owned enterprise under Xiamen City), which is a modern hospital integrated with medical, first aid, prevention, healthcare, rehabilitation, teaching and R&D and with rich talent advantages and appropriate medical supporting equipment and facilities.

About Neuboron Medical Group

Neuboron Medical Group (NMG) was founded in 2014 in Nanjing and then expanded to Xiamen, China. NMG is Chinas first and only company focused on providing Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) total solutions to hospital users, including hardware, software, and boron drugs. Neuboron is a research and development-oriented enterprise that has built integrative and comprehensive know-how and capability over the whole BNCT technology. Neuboron has deployed Chinas first in-hospital compact AB-BNCT medical system (aka. NeuPex) since August 2021 and has undergone the first-in-human study at Xiamen Humanity Hospital (XHH) BNCT Center in 2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005836/en/

Business Collaboration

Qing-You Luo

Neuboron Medical Group

[email protected]

Public Relations

Chris Yu

Neuboron Medical Group

[email protected]

Source: Neuboron Medical Group
ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. will announce its 1st Quarter 2023 financial results on May 12. The Company will host a conference call on May 15, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. (ET) to discuss the 1st-quarter results.

To pre-register for the call, please email [email protected] to facilitate attaining your individual pin that will allow direct access to the call.

For those who do not pre-register, 15 minutes prior the start time of the Earnings Conference Call, please dial (786) 496 5601 (U.S.) or (866) 571 0905 (toll-free) and when prompted to enter a pin, enter (*0) and request to join the "Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. 1st Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call".

For those who are unable to listen to the conference call live, there will be a replay available through June 14, 2023, which can be accessed by dialing (866) 583-1035 (U.S. Toll Free), passcode 0083073#.

About Prime Healthcare: As an award-winning health system headquartered in Ontario, California, operating 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, Prime Healthcare provides more than 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Please visit www.primehealthcare.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509006222/en/

Elizabeth Nikels / 909-235-4305 [email protected]

Source: Prime Healthcare Services, Inc.
Arnold Reichman Nominated for Small Board Trustee of the Year

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The RBB Fund Complex (RBB), a pioneer of the independent series trust, is proud to announce that Arnold Reichman, Chairman of the Board, has been nominated for Small Board Trustee of the Year by With Intelligence for its Mutual Fund & ETF Awards 2023. Reichman has led the RBB Board since 2005 and is the architect for its vision and unique positioning within the marketplace  specifically being the only multiple series trust completely independent of any bank sponsor or service provider. In addition to being a low-cost provider, RBBs rapidly expanding ETF platform is highly responsive to current marketplace trends, including conversions (mutual funds to ETFs; separately managed accounts to ETFs; limited partnerships to mutual funds), as well as overseeing launches of several ETFs utilizing the various semi-transparent ETF wrappers.

Arnies nomination is well deserved! His vision of an independent structure uniquely positions RBB, better protecting shareholders and our advisers, said Steven Plump, RBBs CEO and President. We are excited that his innovative contributions to the industry, through RBB, are being honored.

Now in their 30th year, the With Intelligence Mutual Fund & ETF Awards recognize the best business leaders, innovators, product development experts, fund directors and fund performers. In addition to Reichmans nomination, several other managers on the RBB platform were nominated for their 2022 achievements, including the following:

Fund Innovation of the Year  F/m Investments  Single Bond ETF Suite

PR Campaign of the Year  F/m Investments with Lyceus Group

Alternative Mutual Fund of the Year  Abbey Capital Futures Strategy Fund (ABYIX)

Newcomer ETF issuer of the year  F/m Investments

Its an honor to be recognized by With Intelligence for consideration as Small Board Trustee of the Year, said Arnold Reichman. We pride ourselves that our success, and our advisers success [F/m and Abbey Capital] is being noticed as leaders by the industry. None of these achievements would be possible without the effort put forth by our incredible independent board.

With Intelligence Mutual Fund & ETF Award 2023 winners will be announced on June 15th in New York City.

About The RBB Fund Complex

The RBB Fund, Inc. and The RBB Fund Trust together are a turnkey ETF and mutual fund solution that permits an investment adviser to focus on its core competency of asset management and shifts most responsibility for the establishment, servicing, and corporate governance of funds to RBB. RBB oversees approximately $21 billion in assets, supporting 13 separate investment advisers, over 20 unaffiliated sub-advisers, and over 50 mutual fund or ETF offerings. For more information, please visit www.rbbfund.com.

PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS

Investors should consider the funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. For prospectuses or other information about the funds, please visit the applicable funds website at www.abbeycapital.com or www.ustreasuryetf.com. Read the funds prospectuses and summary prospectuses carefully before investing.

Investments involve risk. Principal loss is possible.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005889/en/

Lyceus Group

Rex Carlin

206.240.5108

[email protected]

Source: The RBB Fund Complex
Credit union to leverage digital banking platform to strengthen member experience through modern features, financial education and multi-lingual functionality

TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mahalo Banking, a CUSO that provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions, today announced a new partnership with Loves Park, Ill.-based Rock Valley Credit Union (Rock Valley  $150M in assets). The credit union is launching the Mahalo platform to offer a modernized digital banking system and strengthen its member experience.

Rock Valley serves approximately 16,000 members in the Greater Rockford, Ill. area. The credit union intends to leverage Mahalos digital banking platform to offer financial education opportunities, more easily integrate with third-party solutions, strengthen member communications and launch several member-requested features such as card controls, alerts, seamless statement views, credit score access and more.

In addition to the aforementioned tech features, the credit union is also implementing Mahalos multi-lingual functionality. This tool enables greater self-service capabilities for members whose first language is Spanish and can help the credit union attract new prospective members who also speak Spanish.

Understanding the need to upgrade our digital banking platform, we wanted to ensure any new investment in our digital capabilities would empower our members via increased service options, greater inclusivity and improved member experiences, said Tanya Peterson, Executive Vice President of Rock Valley. Mahalo has proven to be a partner whose product and collaborative working style best suit us in working toward achieving our digital goals. We appreciate the teams flexibility and commitment to ensuring we are able to execute on agreed upon deliverables in a timely, streamlined and efficient manner.

Mahalo Banking offers a robust digital banking platform designed to meet the needs of credit unions and their members. The platform offers the industrys first and only online banking solution to fully integrate comprehensive neurodiverse functionality, allowing credit unions to better support all members. Designed by credit union industry natives, the platform offers a modernized digital banking experience that enables credit unions to maintain a competitive edge with a unified omni-experience, deep integrations into credit union cores, streamlined third-party integrations and a highly secure architectural design.

Digital banking technology is advancing quickly, and credit unions must act strategically to continue serving members with progressive functionality that meets their needs, said Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. Improving platform offerings today requires credit unions to consider where there are opportunities to deliver more inclusive options to expand their reach and interact meaningfully with each member. Our team intuitively understands credit unions dedication to serving members well, and we are delighted to play a role in helping Rock Valley leverage a more accessible banking platform for their community.

About Rock Valley Credit Union

Rock Valley Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution owned and operated by its members since 1968. Its field of membership includes Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, DeKalb, Lee and Stephenson Counties, IL, and Green, Rock and Walworth Counties, WI. RVCU prides itself in customized services for each of its 16,000 members and is dedicated to supporting more than 30 community events and organizations each year. RVCU is headquartered in Loves Park, with additional locations in Rochelle and Machesney Park, IL. For more information, visit rockvalleycreditunion.org.

About Mahalo

Mahalo Banking provides online and mobile banking solutions for credit unions. Based in Troy, Mich., the Mahalo platform is designed and built on superior architecture with deep integration to core processing, providing security and a robust feature set across all delivery channels for a true omni experience. Mahalo offers the industrys first and only online banking solution to fully integrate comprehensive neurodiverse functionality directly into its platform. This inclusive approach allows credit unions to support and embrace all members and accommodate their unique needs.

For more information about Mahalo Banking, please visit us at mahalobanking.com, follow us on Twitter or connect via LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005284/en/

Angelo D. Jones II // Gabriela Lumpkin

[email protected] // [email protected]

678.781.7230 // 678.781.7211

Source: Mahalo Banking
Casino veteran leads 1,100+ Team Members at Fishtowns waterfront casino

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rush Street Gaming announced today that casino industry veteran Eric Althaus has been promoted from assistant general manager to general manager at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, effective immediately.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005903/en/

Casino industry veteran Eric Althaus has been promoted from assistant general manager to general manager at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. (Photo: Business Wire)

Prior to being named assistant general manager in 2022, Althaus served as vice president of gaming at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, overseeing all gaming operations, including the recent first-in-Philly launch of Pulse Arena.

Erics leadership and familiarity with Rivers Casino Philadelphia will allow for a seamless transition and continuity with key initiatives, said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming. Our entire Rivers Casino Philly team has been doing a terrific job. Were looking forward to the upcoming unveiling of the much-anticipated Martoranos Prime, along with other exciting projects in 2023.

Before coming to Rivers Philly, Eric was President and General Manager of Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in West Virginia; and earlier served as Vice President General Manager of Gun Lake Casino in Michigan. He began his casino career as a table games dealer and supervisor at several Midwestern casinos.

We have amazing talent here in Philly, and were continuing the strong forward momentum weve gained over the past year, said Althaus. Our success is the direct result of the teams hard work and dedication.

As previously announced, Martoranos Prime, an Italian-American Steakhouse, is opening soon at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. A new Dunkin will also open at the casino this spring. Several other dining options are on the horizon as well.

ABOUT RUSH STREET GAMING

Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates have developed and operate Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Des Plaines, Illinois (Chicago area); Schenectady, New York; and Portsmouth, Virginia. By placing an emphasis on superior design and outstanding customer service, Rush Street Gaming has become one of the leading casino developers in the United States. Rush Streets casinos employ approximately 5,000 Team Members and generate more than $1.5 billion in annual gaming revenue. All Rush Street Gaming casinos have been voted a Best Place to Work or Top Workplace by their Team Members. For more information, visit RushStreetGaming.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005903/en/

MEDIA

Jack Horner

For Rush Street Gaming

[email protected]

412-600-2295

Source: Rivers Casino Philadelphia
It was hours before Hagar was set to leave her familys house in Khartoum to go back to Cairo where she had been living and working for over eight years.

However, suddenly things turned upside down with the start of the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the centre of the Sudanese capital. Hagar had to rush out of Khartoum to the north of Sudan with her family members.

Once in the safety and comfort of the house of relatives in Al-Welaya Ashamalia (Northern State), Hagar had to think of heading back to Cairo. But with flights suspended, she had no choice but to get on one of the buses transferring people out of the armed conflict.

As a result of a career in development work, Hagar had crossed paths many times with people forced into displacement for one reason or another. And while not being personally forced into displacement, beyond the one that took her family from one governorate to another in Sudan, she hated to be perceived as a refugee.

I felt bad about how I felt. Nobody ever chooses to be a refugee, but once put into a situation of forced displacement one becomes aware of what it means to not know where to go or what to do next, she said.

On the bus that took her from a meeting point in the Northern State on a six-hour drive to the Sudanese side of the Argeen Borders Crossing and during the two-hour inspection at the border and the subsequent 12-hour-ride on an Egyptian bus to the heart of Cairo, Hagar could not help thinking that in reality she too had had to leave the city she was born and brought up in as she pursued a career that could be pursued in a place not so far away from family.

Eventually, Hagar made it to Downtown Cairo, where she got off the bus to find an independent ride to her apartment in the east of Cairo. Received by Layla and other Sudanese friends living in the city, Hagar arrived with serious questions and no answers to the curious question of being at home.

In a sense, Layla said, Egypt is home, maybe because of fate but also because of choice. Born in Cairo in the early 1970s to a Sudanese family that had just come to Egypt to allow her father to pursue postgraduate studies, Layla always knew that she was Sudanese even though she had never lived in Sudan.

This identity was something she shared with many Sudanese friends and schoolmates as a child and teenager when she was living in Kuwait, where her father went in pursuit of a rewarding job, just like many Egyptians and other Arabs were doing at the time.

In Kuwait, Layla said, she knew that the country was not home. However, she added, she did not feel that this was a peculiar situation for her and other Sudanese. The simple fact of the matter is that at the time in Kuwait there was an overwhelming majority of non-Kuwaitis living and working in the country, she recalled. This meant that almost everyone was a wafed (expatriate).

Shortly after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Laylas father decided that it was time to go home. Sudan was home for himself, and Egypt was home for his family. He went to work in Khartoum, while the rest of the family went to live in what he believed was the more stable city of Cairo where Layla joined the Engineering Faculty at Cairo University.

It was then that she felt that she was in a minority of expats. It was hard because while I continued to see myself as Sudanese, and while we continued to observe many Sudanese traditions at home, I did not feel that I was out of place in Egypt, she said. It took a bit of an effort for Layla to cross the border of being Sudanese to becoming a Sudanese who was born in Egypt and who comes across just like an Egyptian.

As both Hagar and Layla would admit, the socio-economic background of an expatriate in Egypt makes a lot of difference when it comes to integration. Those, like Layla, who live in a nice apartment building in the west of Cairo, or, like Hagar, who live in a compound in the east, are not perceived in the same light as those economically challenged Sudanese who live in economically challenged parts of the capital or elsewhere in the country, especially as the Sudanese can be among the most disadvantaged of all refugees.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), there are four million Sudanese living in Egypt today. Of these, less than 200,000 are official refugees from Sudan and South Sudan that became independent over a decade ago.

Since the SAF-RSF conflict started in Sudan, some 60,000 Sudanese have found their way to Egypt. This figure is expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks, especially if diplomacy fails to bring the two warring factions to end the conflict.

Some of those forced to leave their homes behind might end up on the lists of the UN refugee agency the UNHCR as the seekers of refugee status, even if they have entered on the visitor visas that the Egyptian authorities have been handing out at the border to those who pass security clearance. Others might have other means or the support of a family living in Egypt to live comfortably or at least decently pending a possible return to Sudan.

But at least some will need help pending the tough hunt for a job in a country whose economy is far from being in the best place, Hagar said. She added that in addition to financial help, which many in the Sudanese community and several Egyptian charities are already involved in, many will need orientation on how to behave without prompting sensitivities about the recent influx of Sudanese.

Hoda, an Egyptian who is contributing to some of the charities, argues for the need for the involvement of Egyptians in the accommodation of the newcomers from Sudan as a buffer against any sense of hostility from either side. It is very important, she said, to be sensitive to the sentiments of those who have had to escape Sudan, or for that matter any other country, under stressful conditions.

They are vulnerable by definition, unlike those who come to work or study, she said.

INTEGRATION: Ahd and Venus, two women from Yemen and Libya, found their way to Cairo and Alexandria through family ties in Egypt that many Yemenis and Libyans had during the heyday of pan-Arabism under the rule of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser or under former president Anwar Al-Sadat when Egypt was a safe destination for the families of the political opposition in both countries.

Ahds in-laws had been living in Egypt since the 1960s, and it was in Egypt that her husband studied and graduated. It was thus to Egypt that he decided to take Ahd and the children when the security situation in Yemen started to deteriorate in the wake of the failure of the protests to establish a democratic regime in Yemen in 2014.

With such an established presence in Egypt and with a family that subscribes to the economically privileged segment of the Yemeni community in Cairo, the family of Ahd had an easy way forward, she said. Overall, there is a base for Yemenis who have been coming to Egypt, even before the sharp security deterioration of the past decade in Yemen, in pursuit of better education or better healthcare.

It is true that not everyone who comes here stays here, as many end up going to a third destination. But with such a stable flow of Yemenis coming to and living in Egypt for close to 60 years, there are many Yemeni-operated facilities, including some Yemeni schools and even Yemeni charities that are funded by the better-off within the community to help those in need, she said.

The successful businesses that many Yemeni residents have launched in Egypt, particularly restaurants and spice businesses, have secured many Yemenis job opportunities, big and small, she added. This has also helped with social acceptance, given that the Yemeni presence in the country is not associated with economic dependence.

For Ahd, however, the Egypt she is living in as a legal and financially well-off Yemeni resident is different from the Egypt her in-laws knew. Today, there are a lot of limitations, especially in terms of visas for visiting friends, the renewal of resident visas, the opening of bank accounts for male children and so on, she said.

She attributes these restrictions to the security situation across the region. One way or another, Egypt remains a much better place for residence than many other Arab countries, she added.

But when it comes to integration it is a totally different story, Ahd said, adding that those who are more comfortable have easier inroads into Egyptian society and that of other Arab expatriates in the country. Otherwise, Yemenis, like other expatriates on the disadvantaged side of life, tend to cling together in the same neighbourhoods and the same segments of the labour market.

According to Venus, who moved with her family to escape the Gaddafi regime in Libya, first to London and then to Egypt, the issue of integration is a two-way issue. She has hardly any recollection of the place she still feels should be called home  in other words, Libya, prior to a late 1980s family visit.

Despite her long years living in Egypt that have included a one-year marriage with an Egyptian citizen and a son that has Egyptian nationality, her circle of mostly Egyptian friends both in Alexandria where she lived first and now in Cairo, and her almost impeccable Egyptian accent, Venus has neither applied for Egyptian citizenship nor is willing to do so.

For her, this would almost amount to treason towards a home country whose only mistake was to suffer from the rule of a dictator.

According to IOM figures, Libyans and Yemenis now account for one million people in Egypt. Very small numbers of them are registered as refugees or asylum-seekers.

SKILLS AND APPEAL: In an elegant flower shop in eastern Cairo, Sami is impressing clients with his new but graceful touch in arranging bouquets.

Very few of them are aware that the smiling 30-year-old Syrian had to drop a promising design career in his home country and join his family once the regime at home decided to quell calls for democracy and provoke a civil war. The decision to come to Egypt, Sami said, had been prompted by what the family had heard from Syrians who had come to Egypt before them about the Egyptian market that could accommodate skilled workers and professionals.

It is not true that all Syrians are out there selling shawerma sandwiches  although those are very successful and much loved. There are also Syrian doctors who have started clinics, Syrian investors, and Syrian designers, he said.

Having been in Egypt for over five years, Sami has still to find an opportunity that fits his degree. It is not easy with the current economic situation, and for now I am happy using my skills to do these flower arrangements, he said.

When one is displaced, one has to have the courage to think and act in a different way. It is never easy  including the inevitable moments of non-acceptance that one is faced with. But this is our fate, and we have to create our luck even if we have to keep rerouting, he said.

Rerouting was also a decision that Ammar, an Iraqi teacher-turned-baker, opted for when he escaped his country upon the US-led invasion 20 years ago. When he first came to Egypt, coming from Jordan that was at the time saturated with Iraqis fleeing the nightmare to join others who had fled to Jordan to escape the dictatorship of Saddam [Hussein], Ammar was hoping that it was going to be for a few years only before he could go back and resume his career.

To avoid living on his limited savings, he agreed to join a few other Iraqi men in starting a small bakery at the far end of Giza where many Iraqis were going. Eventually, with the success of the project beyond the five years of the intense Iraqi presence in Egypt, Ammar and his partners expanded and started to do packaged goods. Later, they got into a sort of flexible partnership with two fast-food restaurants in Cairo and Giza, one Syrian and one Palestinian.

The Syrians have appeal in the Egyptian market, and they have unmatched marketing skills, and the Palestinians, who have been here for decades, know how things work and how to get things done, Ammar explained.

Today, Ammar has not dropped his plans to go back to Iraq, which for him is home today, yesterday, and forever, but he has postponed it indefinitely. I am Iraqi, and when I die I want to be buried in the land of my birth. But for now, I have a very successful business here that is helping me. I am not sure what I would do if I went back home, he said.

For Ammar, the only way for him to leave Egypt would be to head to either North America or Australia. Otherwise, he is perfectly happy to stay in Egypt for a few more years or for as long as it takes to find a way to head to Canada or Australia or America, he said.

Egypt is a good place to be pending a better opportunity.

This was the idea that led Karina to move from Beirut to Cairo to work in a media company for four years from 2006 to 2010 before she headed to Europe and then back to Lebanon and then, in 2019, back again to Egypt.

It was an easy move overall, she said. With good professional skills, a well-paid job, and the appeal of being Lebanese, Karina landed well in her new stay in the country. But at the end of the day an expat is an expat, and there are always issues that one has to deal with, she said. They might be small things like the challenge of being here without my husband who works elsewhere.

However, for Lebanese investors who have expanded their presence in Egypt during the past few years with high-end restaurants or beauty salons, there are more fundamental issues related to the paperwork of their businesses and of needing an Egyptian partner to get them going.

As Lebanese, we are very welcomed in Egypt, much more than the Syrians and certainly much more than the Sudanese, but still when it comes to work, investments, and business, there are always some issues, said Joe, a partner in a beauty salon in the west end of Cairo.

LEGALITIES AND THE ECONOMY: According to Nour Khalil, a founder of the Egyptian Platform for Refugees (EPR), a NGO, managing paperwork is one of the biggest challenges that refugees and expatriates have to deal with while in Egypt. It includes securing a reference number, which amounts to an identity card, from the Egyptian government upon registration with the UNHCR, renewing a resident-status pass, getting a work permit, and more.

Egypt is party to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. However, its signing and ratification came with reservations on the articles that required the state to give refugees equal treatment to that accorded to citizens on education, healthcare, work, social support and personal status.

There have been exceptions accorded at different times to Sudanese and Palestinians, Khalil said. However, the absence of specific laws on the status of refugees has made it difficult to deal with the details.

Meanwhile, he said, there is not enough public awareness about who is a refugee and who is an expatriate. There have been sentiments opposed to the presence of the Arab and African communities in Egypt. In some cases, these sentiments have turned into different forms of aggression. But there have been verdicts issued by Egyptian courts of law in favour of refugees or expatriates, he said.

This is why I joined a group of other lawyers from Egypt and other Arab and African countries to launch the EPR. Our task is to provide help and information, specifically for refugees, and to increase public awareness, Khalil said.

He argued that there is room for an awareness campaign, not just on the status and legal rights of refugees, but also on the economic contribution of expatriates. Not many people know that there are 30,000 Syrian investors in Egypt who operate diverse economic activities including restaurants and textile factories, he said.

According to Amr Adli, a professor of economics at AUC, most expatriates and refugees end up in the informal segment of the Egyptian economy. In a sense, they do get integrated into the informal labour market that constitutes close to 90 per cent of private-sector labour in Egypt, he said.

However, this also means that they lack social protection, just like any Egyptian who works in the informal sector and often a bit more.

A version of this article appears in print in the 11 May, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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GRENOBLE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Spartoo (ISIN code: FR00140043Y1 - ticker: ALSPT), one of the leading online retailers for fashion items in Europe, today announced that it achieved TrustPilot1 ratings above 4 out of 5.

The TrustPilot website is the benchmark for hosting consumer reviews on the Internet. Spartoo has been continuously rated on the site since April 2014, with over 116,000 consumer reviews to date rating it as "Excellent" in its 7 main markets in Europe.

Boris Saragaglia, co-founder and CEO of Spartoo, stated: Our customer-centric approach, which has been the cornerstone of Spartoo's business model since its inception, has once again been recognized and objectified by the ratings we received on TrustPilot, Europe's leading platform for sharing consumer reviews. Through a strategy of local adaptation of our offering, customer service and supply chain, we ensure the experience that best meets the expectations of each country while providing excellent operational execution. 

To receive future press releases from SPARTOO, write to us at [email protected] !

Next financial publication

GMV and 2023 Half-Year Results,

Monday October 2, 2023, after market close

About Spartoo

With 10,000 brands and more than 1.6 million items, Spartoo offers one of the widest selections of fashion items (footwear, ready-to-wear, bags) in more than 30 countries in Europe, thanks to its team of more than 400 employees of nearly 30 different nationalities. In 2022, the Group generated a GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) of 209.6 million, 40% of which was generated internationally. With an integrated logistics platform and after-sales service, Spartoo stands out for its customer-centric approach, as evidenced by a very high customer satisfaction rate. The strategy is based on the strong synergies between the online sales model and the advantages of physical stores, which support loyalty and brand awareness. Capitalizing on its e-commerce know-how, Spartoo has also developed a complete range of services for professionals.

Visit the Group's websites:

www.spartoo.com

www.spartoo-finance.com

1 en.trustpilot.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005118/en/

Spartoo

+33 4 58 00 16 84

[email protected]



NewCap

Louis-Victor Delouvrier

Nicolas Fossiez

Investor Relations

[email protected]

+33 1 44 71 94 94



NewCap

Nicolas Merigeau

Gaelle Fromaigeat

Media Relations

[email protected]

+33 1 44 71 94 94

Source: Spartoo
KATY, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tellus Equipment Solutions ("Tellus"), a leading John Deere Agricultural and Turf dealer with 24 locations across South and Central Texas, announced that it has closed a new $115 million credit facility (the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility will provide the company with additional financial flexibility to invest in operations and pursue strategic acquisitions.

Tellus is a trusted partner to John Deere and operates in an exclusive territory which covers 51 Texas counties. The company provides equipment, parts, and service support to a wide range of customers, including farmers, ranchers, and commercial businesses.

"We take great pride in our reputation as a trusted partner of John Deere and as a leading provider of agricultural equipment and solutions in Texas," said Jeff Donaldson, CEO of Tellus. "This Credit Facility will allow us to make further investments in our employees and facilities while also improving our capabilities and business processes to better serve our customers."

In addition to investing to improve its existing business, Tellus plans to pursue strategic acquisitions to grow its footprint. Investments will include training and development programs for employees, facility improvements, and capability building. The company is committed to providing exceptional customer service, knowledgeable staff, and top-quality agricultural equipment and solutions for its customers.

"Given the recent instability and tight credit conditions in the banking sector, we are thrilled with the closing of this Credit Facility in terms of pricing, sizing and participation achieved. This is a testament to the confidence in our company and growth strategy," said Anthony Willis, Managing Director of Cardinal System Holdings, the parent company of Tellus. "We look forward to building Tellus both organically and through strategic acquisitions.

The Credit Facility has a five-year maturity and an accordion feature to provide additional funding for future acquisitions. The Credit Facility was arranged by Truist Securities, Inc. as Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner. Hancock Whitney and Northern Trust also participated in the Credit Facility.

TELLUS  WE TEND TO TEXAS

About Tellus Equipment Solutions

Tellus Equipment Solutions, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is a family-owned authorized John Deere Agriculture and Turf dealer, operating 24 full-service dealerships across 51 exclusive counties in South and Central Texas. The company provides agriculture, turf and compact construction equipment, parts, and service support to various customers, including farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and commercial businesses. For more information on Tellus, visit www.tellusequip.com and find Tellus on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Cardinal System Holdings

Established in 2014, Cardinal System Holdings ("Cardinal") is a family holding company with operations in consumer goods, heavy equipment, real estate, and other business ventures. Cardinal is a strategic partner with two of the world's most recognizable brands - "Coca-Cola" through its ownership of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida and "John Deere" through its ownership of Tellus Equipment Solutions. As an active owner, Cardinal combines its entrepreneurial approach and operating expertise to build multigenerational family businesses that consistently generate profitable growth and strong returns. In 2022, Cardinal-owned businesses generated more than $2 billion in revenue and employed over 5,000 people.

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TyMesha Marion

[email protected]

281-502-2260

Source: Tellus Equipment Solutions
Think | INNOVATE 2024 Convenes Leading Minds from Across Diverse US Industry and Innovation Ecosystems to Share and Explore Why | How Innovation Roadmapping During Uncertain Economic Times Yields Opportunities that Amplify as Markets Turn Toward Recovery

BALTIMORE & WASHINGTON & ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Think Systems Inc., a national innovation, operational excellence, human capital management and metric + milestone driven advisory firm, is pleased to announce Think | INNOVATE 2024. The one-day event will be held on May 2, 2024 at the stunning Merriweather Lakehouse Autograph Collection property in the newly appointed and expanded Merriweather Innovation District located in the heart of Columbia, Maryland  one of the most consistently vibrant US innovation ecosystems.

Think | INNOVATE 2024 will attract 200+ national C-level executives, business owners and government/public sector leaders to the DMV from a wide array of industry and innovation categories.

Never before has it been more important for leaders to challenge and pressure-test viability and potential growth trajectory as it is in our current economic climate, said Joe Poling, President of Think Commercial Services. We are thrilled to host Think | INNOVATE 2024 where leaders can leverage the power of collaboration to discuss the most pressing issues of today and embrace innovation to grow, scale, and compete in the future.

Over the next 12 months as part of an intentional roadmap to Think | INNOVATE 2024, Think will host a series of Exclusive, Quarterly and Monthly pre-events with some tailored to interests of sponsors/attendees and others available to the public. Registrants of Think | INNOVATE 2024 will have complimentary access to these pre-events as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate with each other and all things Think | INNOVATE 2024 through the Whova mobile conferencing app which was a crowd-favorite for past events. There is no better opportunity to learn about innovation where technology meets business operations, meet accomplished business leader-peers, or have them meet you than taking advantage of these early networking opportunities.

Think | INNOVATE 2024 is a curated gathering for business leaders to meet and explore ideas and strategies designed to spark innovation, transformation and growth outcomes, added Michael Binko, Managing Director for Venture Services, Innovation and Ecosystems. One motto for the conference is: Stop | Think | Innovate as taking a moment to assess situations and activate resources is always an Innovation Roadmapping best-practice. We know change is difficult and while innovation is change, it is often most productive during challenging times. We encourage all Think | INNOVATE 2024 stakeholders to ask themselves: What is My 90-Day Innovation Roadmap? This simple question is intended to cause pause but then quickly empower leaders to think and act strategically with efficiency and intention, added Binko.

The Think | INNOVATE 2024 team will issue an official Call for Speakers in the coming weeks. Topics will include digital transformation, generative AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum computing, supply chain management/Industry 4.0, sustainability, user experience (UX/UI), as well as leadership/talent development among others. Think | INNOVATE 2024 will include keynote speakers, concurrent breakout sessions, a general session and conclude with a creative networking happy hour that will encourage active participation from attendees, speakers and sponsors.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for this event. Innovation-leading brands can view the sponsorship prospectus here https://bit.ly/innovate24_sponsor_prospectus.

During the happy hour, Think will announce Champions of Innovation representing individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated leadership at the forefront of Innovation Roadmapping and Venture Development. Submissions for the Champions of Innovation award will be open soon with a February 2, 2024 deadline. Details to be provided soon. Stakeholders with well-documented Innovation case studies are encouraged to submit them for BOTH conference session AND Champions of Innovation consideration.

For more information about Think | INNOVATE 2024 and to register click: https://www.thinkinnovate.com/

About Think

Founded in 2004, Think is a national management consulting firm serving both the private and public sectors. Think is a transformative partner that helps innovators bridge the gap between the organization they are today and the one they want to become. Founded on the principles of trust and reliability, we approach every challenge with a determined spirit and the resolve required to redefine the standard for operational excellence across sectors and at any life cycle stage of growth. Our team comprises senior executives, operators and subject-matter experts (SMEs) with deep experience in Innovation/Technology, Human Capital, Operations, Program/Project Management, Ecosystems, Capital, Venture Development, Resource Mapping as well as diverse industry sector knowledge, experience and perspective. Simply put, our team of experts supercharge transformation and results using a metric + milestone driven approach. To learn more visit us at https://thinkconsulting.com.

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Bill Atkinson | 443-797-4150 | [email protected]

Source: Think Systems, Inc.
SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Australian renewable energy company Vast is proud to announce its rebrand, effective from 8th May.

The new brand identity is expected to better communicate Vasts position in the market and improve its visibility among stakeholders.

Vasts target markets have broadened from initially focusing on dispatchable renewable electricity to now include process heat for industrial uses, as well as combinations of renewable electricity and heat to power green fuel refineries producing zero emissions methanol for sustainable shipping and aviation fuel.

As part of the rebranding initiative, the company's website, social media accounts, and other marketing materials will be updated with the new brand identity. This will include transferring Vasts website to www.vast.energy, with the www.vastsolar.com site and all existing pages redirected to this domain.

Vasts rebrand follows the recent announcement of a business combination agreement with Nabors Energy Transition Corp. (NETC). The combined entity would be named Vast and is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol VSTE while remaining headquartered in Australia.

Vasts proprietary concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) technology has received significant support from the Australian government. Most recently, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) approved up to $65 million in funding to Vast to construct VS1, a first-of-a-kind 30 MW / 288 MWh CSP plant in Port Augusta, South Australia.

VS1 will be co-located with SM1, a world-first green methanol demonstration plant, which in February was selected to receive AUD$19.48m and EUR13.2m from a collaboration between the Australian and German Governments. SM1 will take zero emissions dispatchable electricity and heat from VS1 to produce green methanol for sustainable shipping and aviation fuel.

Vasts CEO, Craig Wood said, "We are excited to embark on this new chapter for Vast. Our new brand identity reflects our continued growth and, following our anticipated merger with NETC, we are confident this new brand will support our company in deploying our world-leading renewable technology in markets around the world."

About Vast

Vast is a world-leading renewable energy company that has developed CSP systems to generate, store and dispatch carbon free, utility-scale electricity, industrial heat, to enable the production of green fuels. Vasts unique approach to CSP utilises a proprietary, modular sodium loop system to efficiently capture and convert solar heat into these end products. Its CSP v3.0 system is easier to permit, build and maintain than larger central tower CSP systems, and is more efficient. Vast is proud to enable and help drive the change that we all need now  access to affordable, reliable, renewable electricity and heat. Visit www.vast.energy for more information.

On February 14, 2023, Vast announced a business combination agreement with Nabors Energy Transition Corp. (NYSE: NETC). The combined entity would be named Vast and is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol VSTE while remaining headquartered in Australia.

Important Information for the Business Combination and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval.

In connection with the proposed business combination, Vast Solar Pty Ltd (Vast) will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement on Form F-4 (the Registration Statement), which will include (i) a preliminary prospectus of Vast relating to the offer of securities to be issued in connection with the proposed business combination and (ii) a preliminary proxy statement of Nabors Energy Transition Corp (NETC) to be distributed to holders of NETCs capital stock in connection with NETCs solicitation of proxies for vote by NETCs shareholders with respect to the proposed business combination and other matters described in the Registration Statement. NETC and Vast also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the stockholders of NETC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NETC AND VAST ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAINED THEREIN (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about NETC and Vast once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by NETC may be obtained free of charge from NETCs website at www.nabors-etcorp.com or by written request to NETC at 515 West Greens Road, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77067.

Participants in the Solicitation

NETC, Nabors Industries Ltd. (Nabors), Vast and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NETC in connection with the proposed business combination. Information about the directors and executive officers of NETC is set forth in NETCs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 22, 2023. To the extent that holdings of NETCs securities have changed since the amounts printed in NETCs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.

Forward Looking Statements

The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the proposed Business Combination, NETCs and Vasts ability to consummate the proposed Business Combination, the benefits of the proposed Business Combination and NETCs and Vasts future financial performance following the proposed Business Combination, as well as NETCs and Vasts strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words could, should, will, may, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, project, the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on NETC and Vast managements current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, NETC and Vast disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. NETC and Vast caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of NETC and Vast. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the inability to complete the Business Combination or the convertible debt and equity financings contemplated in connection with the proposed Business Combination (the Financing) in a timely manner or at all (including due to the failure to receive required stockholder or shareholder, as applicable, approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions such as the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by NETCs public stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals), which may adversely affect the price of NETCs securities; the inability of the Business Combination to be completed by NETCs business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by NETC; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination or the Financing; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of Vasts shares on a national exchange following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the risk that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Vast, business relationships of Vast or Vasts business generally as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination; Vasts ability to manage growth; Vasts ability to execute its business plan, including the completion of the Port Augusta project, at all or in a timely manner and meet its projections; potential disruption in Vasts employee retention as a result of the proposed Business Combination; potential litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings, investigations or inquiries involving Vast or NETC, including in relation to the proposed Business Combination; changes in applicable laws or regulations and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Vasts products and services. Additional risks will be set forth in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact NETCs expectations can be found in NETCs periodic filings with the SEC, including NETCs Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 22, 2023 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. NETCs SEC filings are available publicly on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

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Vast Contacts

For Investors:

Caldwell Bailey

ICR, Inc.

[email protected]

For Media:

Matt Dallas

ICR, Inc.

[email protected]

Source: Vast
Visa and partners developed a programmable finance platform that allows farmers to securely fund and sell their crop harvests leveraging blockchain technology

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Visa (NYSE: V), a world leader in digital payments, was one of nine finalists tasked with exploring innovative blockchain-based use cases for the Real Digital (Brazils central bank-issued digital currency, or CBDC) as part of the most recent LIFT Challenge. The company partnered with Agrotoken, Microsoft, and Sinqia to develop its submission.

After months of collaborative work between each companys world-class researchers and engineers, Visa and its team are excited to share the results of their LIFT Challenge participation  a programmable finance platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly farmers, that is designed to enable greater access to global capital markets, facilitate interoperability between currencies, improve operational processes, and uncover new growth opportunities.

Small Businesses Drive Global Economies

SMEs are often beholden to localized market structure in negotiating favorable contracts. For example, factoring is a well-known financing method today where a farmer can sell their future receivable at a discount to receive money today to purchase supplies and pay wages. This process routinely leads to a sizable percentage loss of the farmers receivable to the entity providing financing.

Visas prototype is designed to provide local farmers with more timely and greater access to a global pool of investors for financing, allowing the SMEs to get the best price discovery for their goods. By empowering SMEs with additional options to finance their businesses in a secure and frictionless way, Visas prototype platform aims to improve existing money movement operations and alleviate pain points caused by inaccessibility to traditional services.

Small businesses are essential contributors to our local economies, such as in Brazil where they employ over half the population and contribute to nearly a third of the countrys GDP. At Visa, we are committed to help them grow, exploring new technologies that will empower them to more easily maintain and expand their business operations, said Catherine Gu, Global Head of CBDC for Visa.

Brazil is one of the worlds leading markets for innovation, she continues. By contributing our expertise, scale, network, and cutting-edge technologies in this market, we are able to help advance real-world applications of digital currencies  in this case making it possible for a soybean farmer to create and globally auction a tokenized contract on a permissioned version of the Ethereum blockchain, while utilizing different forms of money and interoperating between them.

How Visa can Enable Programmable Finance in CBDCs

With many of the worlds central banks exploring the value of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Visa and its partners have demonstrated how CBDCs can enable new cross-border payments programmatically, as well as provide international investment resources to SMEs. The programmable aspects of digital currencies, which allow delivery and payment of assets and currencies to be automatically settled only when certain conditions are met, open the door for more efficient capital usage and reduced counterparty risks, while leveraging the security, stability, and safety of a central bank liability via CBDC as a reliable settlement currency.

The prototype platform brings existing financial processes and assets on-chain, allowing farmers to tokenize traditional financing contracts. To achieve this, Agrotoken brought its agriculture-based tokenization expertise from their existing solutions in Brazil and Latin America and Visa delivered a tokenization process for turning existing Brazilian legal documents into an on-chain tradeable NFT.

Agrotoken has a mission to democratize agribusiness by making transactions with soy and corn more accessible. To achieve this, we have chosen solid partners, such as Visa, to join us in our journey towards this goal," said Anderson Nacaxe, Director of Agrotoken in Brazil.

Combined with tokenization, Visa implemented a new onchain sealed-bid auction mechanism through smart contracts to enable a global pool of investors on the blockchain to participate in the financing process, achieving competitive price discovery. Additionally, the platform leverages a Visa technology called Universal Payments Channel (UPC), which can interconnect between the Real Digital (CBDC) and other CBDCs, stablecoins or tokenized deposits, to help ensure future interoperability between digital currencies across different markets and networks.

This years LIFT Challenge Real Digital sought innovative tech research projects within the financial sector to assess use cases for the Digital Brazilian Real. Visa developed this Proof of Concept as part of the companys ongoing efforts to work with industry partners, lead exploratory work and apply emerging technologies to creatively solve for well-known real world problems.

Visa works with Central Banks around the world and other players of the payment ecosystem to identify compelling CBDC opportunities that can be scaled and executed through secure, innovative, convenient, and reliable technologies, with the goal of developing innovative digital payment solutions that can help individuals, businesses and governments participate in the digital economy and ultimately thrive.

To learn more about Visas work with CBDC, visit our Digital Currency Innovation Hub. In addition, we have co-published an in-depth final report on the LIFT platform with the Brazilian Central Bank available here.

About Visa Inc.

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at http://visa.com/

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Allee McDermott

[email protected]

Source: Visa Inc.
Customer data insights provider invited 30+ banks and wealth management firms to encourage peer-to-peer dialogues around data-driven engagement

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wealth Access, the leading customer data insights platform that unifies and enriches data to power hyper-personalized experiences for financial institutions, today announced the findings of its annual 2023 Wealth Access Summit. This year, the event was attended by more than 30 industry leaders from a few of the nations largest regional and super-regional banks and wealth management firms, including high-asset organizations such as First Citizens Bank, Baird Trust and BOK Financial, among others.

The Wealth Access Summit is an annual conference centered on the topics of growth and innovation. Participants of the Summit represent a wide range of leaders in the financial space, including, but not limited to, banking and wealth management. This event gathers participants to encourage productive conversations on subjects such as leveraging data and technology to more effectively engage clients, delivering digital experiences to ensure staff and customer satisfaction, evolving innovation at the enterprise level and revenue growth strategies.

Peer-to-peer discussions held during the Summit were led by Doug Fritz and Scott Lamont of F2 Strategy, an operations and technology consulting firm to the wealth management industry. This event offered attendees dynamic opportunities to gain perspective on the experiences of other high-banking organizations and connect with peers on how technology is driving their digital transformation strategies, revenue goals, client engagement and loyalty, etc.

This years Summit focuses on driving engagement through technology and leveraging data to power hyper-personalized client experiences. A key theme of the 2023 Summit discussions was the value of each bank and wealth management firm proactively evolving to effectively capture and engage with the next generations of clients and financial advisors. Several institutions noted facing challenges with addressing the shifting age within the industry workforce, as well as changing expectations of younger generations for their financial experience.

Were honored to once again have the opportunity to bring together several industry-leading banks that are paving the way for greater innovation and digital transformation, said David Benskin, founder and CEO of Wealth Access. By holding this constructive industry event, our aim is to empower our attendees to learn new insights that will benefit their digital strategies, engage with like-minded peers they havent met before and gain a meaningful experience that inspires them to join us once again next year to continue valuably investing their time.

In addition to open discussions on leveraging data-driven insights to build relationships with rising generations, another major theme of the Summit was each banks approach to increasing client adoption of the Wealth Access platform by prioritizing the advisor experience to empower intuitive customer engagement.

The Wealth Access platform unifies financial institution records across multiple systems into a comprehensive dashboard where users can easily share documents, link external accounts and communicate with bankers and advisors in one place through a wide variety of channels. Leveraging the platform, service teams can work across commercial, business, and personal banking lines to gain a full view of clients financial data, while improving customer engagement through meaningful insights and right-timed recommendations.

Comments on the News

Michael Wilson, Managing Director of Wealth Management, First Citizens Bank, said, The Wealth Access platform offers a seamless client display without borders. Ideally, our team aims to have the ability to access all of our client information as needed in an optimized structure for our needs without facing friction. Listening to the other leaders included in this forum openly address the challenges we all face has led to discussions on the inhibitors to creating an omnichannel experience. What Wealth Access offers is a true unified interface that doesnt disrupt books and records, creating a frictionless environment for the end consumer.

Attending the Wealth Access Summit has been an incredible opportunity for our team to meet and learn from a few of our peers within the industry. Weve garnered several valuable insights from listening to the Summit discussions that will help us optimize our client strategy and consider ways to improve our internal processes moving forward, said Sean McCabe, Principal Platform Engineer of Fifth Third Bank.

Within the digital environment were living in today, everyone wants to leverage technology as much as possible. However, its becoming clear that many of our clients still want and need personable human interactions. Working to balance those elements seems to be an emerging barrier to strong client engagement for our organization and peer institutions. As we begin returning to the office and resuming these hands-on interactions, data-driven technology will play a crucial role in powering more meaningful conversations with each of our clients, said Tori Phillips, Senior Manager, Digital Products & Strategy of BOK Financial.

The Wealth Access Summit has led to fantastic open dialogues with industry peers. Our discussions have largely centered around client experience and where there are opportunities for improvement and implementing greater efficiency, said Keith Davis, Executive Director, Trust and Investment Services, Pinnacle Financial Partners. This experience has provided great value and allowed me to learn more about peer perspectives. I am pleased to have the opportunity to be part of this forward-thinking forum of industry leaders.

About Wealth Access

Wealth Access is an enterprise customer data insights platform that works with financial services existing books and records to enrich and unify data, generating deep insights that power hyper-personalized banking experiences. By intelligently unifying records across multiple systems, Wealth Access creates living balance sheets that enable service teams to see each clients complete financial story and work across business lines to improve customer loyalty and drive higher revenue. As a result of its innovative enterprise-class solutions, Wealth Access today supports more than 200 customers with over $571 billion in assets on the companys platform, including several of the largest banks in America.

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Angelo D. Jones II // Gabriela Lumpkin

[email protected] // [email protected]

678.781.7230 // 678.781.7211

Source: Wealth Access
Rich Medical Data Lake and Predictive Analytics Capabilities of Gradient AIs SAIL Solution Enable Western Skies to Tap into New Markets

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gradient AI, a one of the fastest growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) insurtechs in the industry, today announced that Western Skies, a managing general underwriter (MGU), is using Gradient AIs SAIL solution to provide stop-loss insurance access to smaller, self-funded groups.

Western Skies is leveraging SAIL to tap into new markets and offer more affordable insurance plans to small and midsize businesses. The company chose Gradient AIs SAIL solution for its advanced AI and analytics capabilities that leverage its rich industry data lake of medical, lab, and prescription data.

Small and midsize businesses have long desired more affordable, self-funded insurance plans. However, due to limited access to small business claims data that underwriters need to effectively assess group risk, stop-loss insurers have often declined to take on small business clients. This includes Western Skies, which traditionally partners with brokers, general agents, and third-party administrators (TPAs) that represent companies with 150+ employees. Yet, this excludes a the large majority of the market, as recent data from the NAICS Association reveals that over 89% of the more than 18 million businesses in the United States operate with fewer than 100 employees.

With SAILs breadth and depth of data and predictive analytics, Western Skies can now extend its reach to the small business market of 25, 50, and 100 lives. This opens opportunities for Western Skies to exponentially grow its prospective customer pool as well as its partnership potential with brokers, agents, and TPAs that work with smaller organizations. SAILs analytics have also empowered Western Skies to move beyond traditional medical underwriting into the statistical probabilities behind financial underwriting, providing greater accuracy in assessing risk and pricing policies.

Gradient AIs technology is revolutionary and on the leading edge of the industry, said Dave Kesler, vice president of underwriting for Western Skies. It has enabled us to innovate and deliver new insurance solutions to the market. With Gradient AI, we can combine our strengths from our traditional business with SAILs predictive analytics to reach new markets that were previously unattainable. This has been a game changer for Western Skies.

In addition to expanding its target market to large numbers of smaller employers, Western Skies is also expanding geographically. Having found most of its success in the Southeast, the company is now leveraging SAILs vast data sets and capabilities to expand west and northeast, reaching new regions with its services. Western Skies MGU, a division of ManhattanLife  a risk-bearing entity can now accurately assess risk and compete against larger insurance providers as it taps into new markets.

Were excited to partner with Western Skies, offering innovative new insurance opportunities to the small business market, said Stan Smith, CEO and founder of Gradient AI. With this stop-loss insurance partnership, everybody wins. Employers and employees can obtain insurance at more competitive rates, and Western Skies and their partnering brokers, agents, and TPAs can now serve a new market segment.

About Western Skies, MGU - a ManhattanLife Company

As a full-service managing general underwriter specializing in employer funded medical stop-loss solutions, Western Skies enables producers to offer clients both traditional network options and cost-effective, Reference Based Pricing (RBP) reimbursement models. The company offers the value of a direct carrier with the underwriting expertise of an MGU. ManhattanLife is a group of five operating life and health insurance companies: Manhattan Life Insurance Company, ManhattanLife Insurance and Annuity Company, Western United Life Assurance Company, Family Life Insurance Company and Standard Life and Casualty Insurance Company. Since 1850, these companies have provided secure and innovative life and health insurance products and services throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

About Gradient AI

Gradient AI is a leading provider of proven artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the insurance industry. Its solutions improve loss ratios and profitability by predicting underwriting and claim risks with greater accuracy, as well as reducing quote turnaround times and claim expenses through intelligent automation. Unlike other solutions that use a limited claims and underwriting dataset, Gradient's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform leverages a vast dataset comprising tens of millions of policies and claims. It also incorporates numerous other features including economic, health, geographic, and demographic information. Customers include some of the most recognized insurance carriers, MGAs, TPAs, risk pools, PEOs, and large self-insurers across all major lines of insurance. By using Gradient AI's solutions, insurers of all types achieve a better return on risk. To learn more about Gradient, please visit: https://www.gradientai.com.

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Media

Elyse Familant

Results PR

978-376-5446

[email protected]

Source: Gradient AI
- Earnings Call Scheduled for 8:00 a.m. ET on May 24, 2023 -

GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- XPeng Inc. (XPENG or the Company, NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle (Smart EV) company, today announced that it will report its first quarter 2023 unaudited financial results on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, before the open of U.S. markets.

The Companys management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on May 24, 2023 (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on May 24, 2023).

For participants who wish to join the call by phone, please access the link provided below to complete the pre-registration and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon registration, each participant will receive dial-in details to join the conference call.

Event Title: XPENG First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call Pre-registration link: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10030387-tfg8sj.html

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Companys investor relations website at http://ir.xiaopeng.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately an hour after the conclusion of the call until May 31, 2023, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States: +1-855-883-1031 International: +61-7-3107-6325 Hong Kong, China: 800-930-639 China Mainland: 400-120-9216 Replay PIN: 10030387

About XPENG

XPENG is a leading Chinese Smart EV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets Smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, San Diego and Amsterdam. The Companys Smart EVs are mainly manufactured at its plants in Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://heyXPENG.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005137/en/

For Investor Enquiries:

IR Department

XPeng Inc.

E-mail: [email protected]

Jenny Cai

The Piacente Group

Tel: +1-212-481-2050 or +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

For Media Enquiries:

PR Department

XPeng Inc.

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: XPeng Inc.
Dollar General (NYSE: DG) today announced recent expansions in its global supply chain network including the opening of its first ground-up, dual facility in Blair, Nebraska and two permanent regional distribution hubs in Newnan, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas. The Company also announced expansion plans in Jonesville, South Carolina and Amsterdam, New York at existing facilities.

The recent additions to our supply chain network aim to provide greater efficiencies, create additional jobs and drive positive economic impact, said Tony Zuazo, Dollar Generals executive vice president of global supply chain. Were excited to continue growing our distribution center network to further support store growth and to better serve our customers and local communities.

Blair, Nebraska

Dollar General recently opened its Blair, Nebraska distribution center, which is expected to create approximately 400 new careers at full capacity and represents an approximate $140 million investment in Washington County. As the Companys first ground-up dual distribution center, Blair combines the efficiencies of traditional and DG Fresh supply chain networks, which is its strategic, multi-phased shift to self-distribution of frozen and refrigerated products. The DG Fresh network is currently delivering to more than 19,000 stores from 12 facilities. A formal grand opening celebration is scheduled for summer 2023.

Permanent Regional Facilities

The Company recently increased distribution center storage capacity by more than two million square feet through two new permanent regional facilities in Newnan, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas. Each facility will employ approximately 200 individuals at full capacity and serve as an intermediary point between import locations and Dollar Generals distribution center network.

Jonesville, South Carolina

The Company announced an approximately $45 million expansion investment in its Jonesville, South Carolina distribution center, which first opened in 2005. The 250,000 square foot addition was completed in spring 2023.

Amsterdam, New York

Dollar General plans to build a 170,000 square foot DG Fresh facility to complement the Companys traditional distribution center that opened in 2019. The Company currently plans to close on the property by fall 2023 and begin construction in 2024.

Dollar General is also currently under construction on three recently-announced distribution centers in North Little Rock, Arkansas; Aurora, Colorado; and Salem, Oregon.

Distribution center employment opportunities are online at www.dollargeneral.com/careers. Dollar General provides employees with competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility and Dollar Generals Employee Assistance Foundation, as well as health insurance coverage options, 401(k) savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees.

Dollar General believes the addition of each distribution center represents positive economic impact in the communities it serves and takes several factors into consideration when choosing distribution center sites including proximities to DG stores, local business environments and local workforces, among others.
(Updated - May 9, 2023 8:48 AM EDT)

Ryanair Holdings plc today (9 May 2023) ordered 300 new Boeing 737-MAX-10 aircraft (150 firm and 150 options) for delivery between 2027 to 2033. When finalised, and subject to all options being exercised, this deal is valued at over $40bn at current list prices and is the largest order ever placed by an Irish Company for US manufactured goods. Given the size and scale of the transaction, it will be subject to shareholder approval at Ryanair's 14 Sept. AGM.

Boeing's new fuel efficient, B737-MAX-10 aircraft have 228 seats (21% more than the B737NG) and the phased deliveries between 2027 and 2033 will enable Ryanair to create more than 10,000 new high-paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers, to facilitate disciplined traffic growth of 80% from 168m in year end March 2023 to 300m p.a. by March 2034. Ryanair expects 50% of these deliveries will replace older B737NGs, which will allow Ryanair to continue to operate one of Europe's youngest, most fuel efficient, and environmentally sustainable aircraft fleets.

In addition to very significant revenue growth this new order offers Ryanair, the extra seats (coupled with greater fuel and carbon efficiency) will further widen Ryanair's unit-cost advantage over all EU competitor airlines. This new order will enable Ryanair to deliver sustained traffic and tourism growth at lower fares (and lower emissions per flight) across all European countries where Ryanair continues to lead the post Covid traffic, tourism and jobs recovery.

Given the strength of the Ryanair Group's balance sheet, its industry leading credit rating and the approx. 2-year gap between the last delivery of B-8200 "Gamechanger" aircraft in FY25, and the first MAX-10 delivery in FY27, the Group anticipates that capex will be substantially funded from internal cashflows, although the Group will remain opportunistic in its fleet financing strategy.

Boeing President & CEO, Dave Calhoun, said:

"The Boeing-Ryanair partnership is one of the most productive in commercial aviation history, enabling both companies to succeed and expand affordable travel to hundreds of millions of people. Nearly a quarter century after our companies signed our first direct airplane purchase, this landmark deal will further strengthen our partnership. We are committed to delivering for Ryanair and helping Europe's largest airline group achieve its goals by offering its customers the lowest fares in Europe."

Ryanair Group CEO, Michael O'Leary, said:

"Ryanair is pleased to sign this record aircraft order for up to 300 MAX-10s with our aircraft partner Boeing. These new, fuel efficient, greener technology aircraft offer 21% more seats, burn 20% less fuel and are 50% quieter than our B737-NGs. This order, coupled with our remaining Gamechanger deliveries, will create 10,000 new jobs for highly paid aviation professionals over the next decade, and these jobs will be located across all of Europe's main economies where Ryanair is currently the No.1 or No.2 airline.

In addition to delivering significant revenue and traffic growth across Europe, we expect these new, larger, more efficient, greener, aircraft to drive further unit cost savings, which will be passed on to passengers in lower air fares. The extra seats, lower fuel burn and more competitive aircraft pricing supported by our strong balance sheet, will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and competitor EU airlines for many years to come, making the Boeing MAX-10 the ideal growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our people and our shareholders."
The government is raising the cap on gatherings from eight to 10 people and push the business curfew to midnight as COVID-19 becomes endemic in Korea, it said Friday.

The new rules kick in next Monday and last for two weeks.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum in a meeting Friday hinted at completely lifting all restrictions. "We will boldly revamp social-distancing rules should the situation remain stable" over the upcoming two weeks, he said.


Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE: TPX) and Mattress Firm Group Inc. ("Mattress Firm") today announced that Tempur Sealy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress specialty retailer, in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4.0 billion .

The transaction is expected to be funded by approximately $2.7 billion of cash consideration (subject to adjustments, including the repayment of Mattress Firm's debt and other customary items) and $1.3 billion in stock consideration issued to Mattress Firm shareholders, reflecting the issuance of 34.2 million shares of common stock based on the closing share price of $37.62 as of May 8, 2023 . The transaction is currently anticipated to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. Following the close of the transaction, Mattress Firm is expected to operate as a separate business unit within the Company.

Founded in 1986, Mattress Firm is the largest mattress specialty retailer in the U.S. , operating over 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail locations and a growing e-commerce platform. Mattress Firm's more than 6,200 highly trained retail sales associates provide personalized service to help consumers choose the ideal bedding products across their robust assortment of market-leading brands.

This combination will complement Tempur Sealy's extensive product development and manufacturing capabilities with vertically integrated retail. Together, Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm's combined global footprint will include approximately 3,000 retail stores, 30 e-commerce platforms, 71 manufacturing facilities, and 4 state-of-the-art R&D facilities worldwide. These combined operations will be supported by more than 21,000 best-in-class employees with a collective focus on providing breakthrough sleep solutions to consumers in over 100 countries.

Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson said, "This transaction advances all four of our key long-term initiatives: to develop the highest quality bedding products, promote brands with compelling marketing, optimize our diverse omnichannel distribution platform, and drive EPS growth. Consistent with our M&A strategy, this acquisition will make Tempur Sealy more competitive by bringing us closer to consumers and facilitating continued innovation."

Thompson concluded, "We are excited by the long-term growth prospects for our global vertically integrated Company. This combination will accelerate our growth trajectory and enhance operating cash flow. Mattress Firm has been a valued retail partner for more than 35 years, and we look forward to welcoming their talented workforce of more than 8,100 employees to the Tempur Sealy family."

Mattress Firm CEO John Eck said, "We know that every customer has unique needs and wants when it comes to a sleep solution that is perfect for them. As part of Tempur Sealy, our customers will benefit from our combined portfolio of highly recognized brands and products, extensive omni-channel capabilities, industry leading innovation and best-in-class teams. Under Tempur Sealy's leadership, our combined company will be in a unique position to take advantage of our shared values and complementary capabilities to better address consumers' needs and drive growth."

Strategic Rationale

The combination with Mattress Firm is expected to enhance Tempur Sealy's ability to meet consumers' needs, expand growth opportunities, and streamline operations.

We expect to leverage the individual strengths of Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm to realize six strategic benefits through this acquisition.

Expanding Consumer Touchpoints. Mattress Firm's and Tempur Sealy's combined consumer touchpoints will create opportunities to keep pace with consumers' evolving preferences. Being closer to the U.S. bedding consumer will also broaden opportunities to develop lifetime relationships with consumers.

Accelerating U.S. Omni-Channel Strategy. Mattress Firm's more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail stores, robust e-commerce capabilities, and sleep education and sleep tracking platforms complement Tempur Sealy's direct-to-consumer operations, enabling a seamless omni-channel ecosystem that meets the needs of more consumers nationwide.

Simplifying the Consumer Purchase Journey. This combination facilitates targeted marketing efforts to drive incremental brand awareness through blended advertising and share of voice, and enhance consumer understanding of bedding innovation, including health and wellness benefits. Further, the combination brings together Tempur Sealy's and Mattress Firm's highly trained retail sales and customer service teams to expand customer service capabilities, facilitate improved consumer outcomes, and simplify the consumer purchase journey.

Facilitating Consumer-Centric Innovation. The alignment of new product development and testing will enable a more targeted, end-to-end innovation approach and enhances opportunities to invest in, test, and refine new sleep technologies.

Streamlining Operations and Enhances Supply Chain Management. Enhanced visibility to consumer demand creates opportunities for more agile and fortified supply chain management. Combined scale and vertically integrated infrastructure across the combined company drives operational efficiencies across logistics, transportation, warehousing, supply chain planning, sourcing, and product development, streamlining the order-to-delivery process for all customers.

Driving Adjusted EPS Accretion. Tempur Sealy has a strong track record of creating long-term value from highly strategic M&A activities. This acquisition is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS before synergies in the first year post close. Adjusted for the impact of run-rate synergies, this acquisition is expected to deliver low double digit adjusted EPS accretion.

Cost Synergies

Tempur Sealy expects to begin realizing synergies by the end of year two after closing and to realize at least $100 million in annual run-rate synergies by the end of year four after closing. The Company expects to achieve synergies by leveraging its global scale and vertically integrated infrastructure to drive efficiencies through logistics, product lifecycle management, manufacturing optimization, and sourcing initiatives.

Transaction Overview

Under the terms of the agreement, Tempur Sealy will purchase Mattress Firm for an enterprise value of approximately $4.0 billion . The transaction is expected to be funded by approximately $2.7 billion of cash consideration (subject to adjustments including the repayment of Mattress Firm's debt and other customary items.) and $1.3 billion in stock consideration issued to Mattress Firm shareholders, reflecting the issuance of approximately 34.2 million shares of Tempur Sealy common stock based on the closing price of $37.62 per share as of May 8, 2023 . Following the transaction, Mattress Firm's and Tempur Sealy's shareholders will own approximately 16.6% and 83.4% of the combined company, respectively, based on the Company's shares outstanding at the time of signing. Tempur Sealy expects to expand its existing Board of Directors by appointing two mutually-agreed Mattress Firm directors to the Tempur Sealy Board following the closing of the transaction.

Tempur Sealy plans to fund the cash portion of the transaction using a combination of cash on hand and proceeds from a combination of new secured and unsecured financing, a portion of which will be used to repay Mattress Firm's outstanding debt. The combined company's expected net leverage at closing per the Company's credit agreement after giving effect to the transaction is expected to be between 3.0x and 3.25x adjusted EBITDA. Tempur Sealy expects to return to its net leverage target range of 2.0x to 3.0x adjusted EBITDA in the first 12 months after closing, supported by the increased earnings and free cash flow outlook of the combined company.

Timing and Approvals

The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm. Mattress Firm shareholders holding more than 80% of Mattress Firm's outstanding shares have signed voting agreements in support of the transaction. The transaction does not require Tempur Sealy shareholder approval.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, including receipt of clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

The Company has received a request for additional information and documentary material from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") in connection with the FTC's review of the transaction. The Company expects to work cooperatively with the FTC to complete the acquisition.

Tempur Sealy Conference Call

In a separate press release issued today, Tempur Sealy released its results for the first quarter 2023. The Company's earnings press release can be found on the Company's investor relations website at investor.tempursealy.com.

Tempur Sealy will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter results and the transaction today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time . The call will be webcast and can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website. After the conference call, a webcast replay will remain available on the website for 30 days. Associated presentation materials and an infographic regarding the transaction will also be available on the Company's investor relations website.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as sole financial advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal counsel to Tempur Sealy. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Barclays, and Jefferies LLC are serving as financial advisors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to Mattress Firm.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may be characterized as "forward-looking" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements might include information concerning one or more of the Company's plans, guidance, objectives, goals, strategies, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words "will," "targets," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "proposed," "intends," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's expectations regarding its share repurchases, adjusted EPS, net leverage, future performance, cost synergies, funding sources, ability to deleverage after the transaction, integration with our business, personnel and the impact of the anticipated acquisition on the Company's brands, products, customer base, results of operations, or financial position. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct.
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE: WPM) announced today that the Company has renewed its at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program"). The ATM Program allows the Company to issue up to US$300 million (or the equivalent in Canadian dollars determined using the daily exchange rate posted by the Bank of Canada on the date of sale) of common shares ("Common Shares") from treasury to the public from time to time, at the Company's discretion and subject to regulatory requirements. Any Common Shares sold in the ATM Program will be sold (i) in ordinary brokers' transactions on the NYSE or another US marketplace on which the Common Shares are listed, quoted or otherwise trade, (ii) ordinary brokers' transactions on the TSX, (iii) on another Canadian marketplace on which the Common Shares are listed, quoted or otherwise trade, or (iv) with respect to sales in the United States , at the prevailing market price, a price related to the prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. Since the Common Shares will be distributed at the prevailing market prices at the time of the sale or certain other prices, prices may vary among purchasers and during the period of distribution.

Wheaton has not utilized the ATM Program since its inception in April 2020 as a result of robust cash flows and access to debt. Wheaton intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program, if any, where needed for funding precious metals purchase agreements ("PMPAs") and/or other general corporate purposes, including the repayment of indebtedness.

Sales of Common Shares through the ATM Program, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of an ATM equity offering sales agreement dated May 9, 2023 (the "Sales Agreement") entered into among the Company, BofA Merrill Lynch, BMO Capital Markets, RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Scotiabank, CIBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, National Bank Financial Markets, Eight Capital, Raymond James Ltd. and Canaccord Genuity (the "Canadian Agents") and BofA Securities, BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Scotiabank (the " U.S. Agents" and, together with the Canadian Agents, the "Agents"). The ATM Program will be effective until the date that all Common Shares available for issue under the ATM Program have been issued or the ATM Program is terminated prior to such date by the Company or the Agents.

Concurrent with the entering into of the Sales Agreement, the Company's previously announced ATM equity offering sales agreement dated April 16, 2020 , as amended on May 12, 2021 , was terminated. No Common Shares were issued through the Company's previous at-the-market equity program.

The ATM Program is being established pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 9, 2023 (the "Canadian Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's Canadian base shelf prospectus dated April 13, 2023 (the "Canadian Shelf Prospectus") filed with the securities commissions in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 9, 2023 (the " U.S. Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's U.S. base prospectus dated April 13, 2023 (the " U.S. Base Prospectus") included in its registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Sales Agreement, Canadian Prospectus Supplement and Canadian Shelf Prospectus may be downloaded from SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and the Sales Agreement, the U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and the Registration Statement are accessible via EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, any of the following agents participating in the ATM Program will arrange to send you these documents if you request it by contacting, in Canada :

BofA Merrill Lynch by mail at 181 Bay Street , Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5J2V8 Canada , by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 416-369-7400.

BMO Capital Markets by mail at Brampton Distribution Centre, 9195 Torbram Road , Brampton, Ontario , L6S 6H2, attn: The Data Group of Companies, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 905-791-3151 ext. 4312.

RBC Dominion Securities Inc. by mail at 180 Wellington Street West , 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 0C2, attn: Distribution Centre, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 416-842-5349.

Scotiabank by mail at 40 Temperance Street , 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 0B4, attn: Equity Capital Markets, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 416-863-7704.

or in the United States :

BofA Securities by mail at 201 North Tryon, Charlotte, NC 28255, Mail Code NC1-022-02-25, attn: Prospectus Department or by email at [email protected].

BMO Capital Markets by mail at 151 West 42nd Street , New York, NY 10036, attn: Equity Syndicate, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 800-414-3627.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC by mail at 200 Vesey Street , 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098, attn: Equity Syndicate, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 877-822-4089.

Scotiabank by mail at 250 Vesey Street , 24th Floor, New York, New York , 10281, attn: Equity Capital Markets, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 212-225-6853.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Common Shares, nor shall there be any sale of the Common Shares in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
FILE PHOTO: Cars of German manufacturer Porsche are parked outside the stock exchange prior to Porsche's IPO in Frankfurt, Germany, September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) -Porsche will incorporate automated assistance and navigation functions from Mobileye's so-called "SuperVision" technology platform in future models, Mobileye said on Tuesday.

The agreement is the technology provider's second large signing for the platform with a major automotive group after China's Geely.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which was previously going to use technology from Pittsburgh-based self-driving startup, Argo AI for self-driving shuttles and vans, will also partner with Mobileye, a spokesperson said.

Volkswagen pulled out of its planned investment in Argo AI last October and said at the time its commercial vehicles unit would seek a new partnership.

Together with Mobileye, the unit will seek to implement so-called "Level 4" autonomous driving - considered fully autonomous, though humans can still request control - in its ID. Buzz by 2025.

Porsche, by contrast, will implement Mobileye's "SuperVision" system, which allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel in certain road types and enables the car to follow navigation routes chosen by the driver, change lanes and overtake slower vehicles ahead.

Israel-based Mobileye, which went public last October, already cooperates with Volkswagen's software unit Cariad.

The news of the expanded collaboration comes a day after Cariad overhauled its leadership team and said it would broaden its partnership base, as the unit attempts to get back on track after years of delays and overspending.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Jan Schwartz, Editing by Rachel More and Mark Potter)
ZAGREB, CROATIA, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This event allows users to join a growing ecosystem and get their hands on exclusive NFTs, earning multiplicators and bonuses.

The platform uses blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and NFTs to ensure players have a fair, transparent, and user-friendly experience. At the same time, they can monetize their gaming skills and earn real money by playing games.

The Chances to Join a Growing Ecosystem So Early are Growing Thinner

With the whitelisting period now underway, the chances to join this growing ecosystem are quickly thinning. The team has already announced the oversubscription of the whitelist, and the community continues to grow. This means that those interested in participating will need to act quickly if they want to secure a spot.

Crypto enthusiasts may stake their AI NFT to earn up to $1,000 a month and join this fast-growing network. AI GameToEarn allows everyone to compete for a guaranteed $100,000 prize pool in the first month on the leaderboard.

Anyone wishing to join this exclusive network need only buy the AI NFT for $188.88 and join the community of over 50,000 members that came together in the past ten days. With such a competitive and fast-growing ecosystem, crypto fans will probably act quickly before these spots disappear.

The Features that Caught Everyone's Attention

Exordium's AI GameToEarn platform has quickly become one of the most talked-about gaming platforms in recent times. This is due to its unique combination of thrilling gameplay and cryptocurrency rewards.

The platform leverages blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and NFTs to provide users with a secure, transparent, and user-friendly experience.

What stands out about this project are the features that have caught everyone's attention:

AI NFTs with earning multiplicators and bonuses;

Beta Platform Coins (BPC) packages for registered users;

Staking options for BPC tokens;

Five tiers with different opportunities to earn a rate multiplication factor;

Unique attributes for each AI NFT offer players a personalized gaming experience.

All these features make Exordium's AI GameToEarn an exciting yet rewarding gaming platform backed by reliable blockchain technology.

About AI GameToEarn

Exordium, a leading game developer with over ten years of expertise, created AI GameToEarn. This platform AI to enhance users' gaming skills and help them earn money while playing their favorite games.

AI GameToEarn offers PC and mobile players an enjoyable gaming experience within the Web3 sector. With over 15 casual games already released and 100+ prototypes created, Exordium has become a popular name in the field. It even achieved 20 million downloads for one game, showcasing its commitment to delivering top-notch product updates.

The whitelisting event's overbooking shows the team's success in creating an exclusive setting letting customers make money by playing games. This is excellent news for the team, but the time to join this fast-growing group is running out.

Exordium's AI GameToEarn is a must-try for blockchain gamers due to its thrilling gameplay and crypto rewards.

The whitelist application deadline is May 15th at 00:00 CEST, so the time to take advantage of this opportunity is quickly running out. Two hours later, the crypto community will know the whitelist winners and the minting whitelist will begin May 15th at 18:00 CEST.

On May 16th (10:00 CEST), those who did not make it to the whitelist will get a minting chance right before the public round begins. The official round will open on May 17th (02:00 CEST) and close a few hours later, at 18:00 CEST.

With 2,000 seats initially available, AI GameToEarn went well above 4,000 registrations in a matter of days. Anyone wishing to sign up for the whitelist process can refer to the Zealy link shared by the team.

Those wishing to learn more about this project can visit its official website to stay updated on all new developments. The following social media accounts are also useful for staying informed and joining the community.

Twitter | Discord | Telegram | YouTube

Martin Lisak info at aigametoearn.com

Source: Exordium
ASAPP named among best workplaces as it builds powerful global engineering team

NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASAPP , the AI cloud company for contact centers, has been named to Inc. Magazines annual Best Workplaces list. The list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of thousands of companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture. Inc. selected 591 honorees this year.



ASAPP is truly the best company I have worked for in my career. It fosters a great working culture and pursuit of excellence. People want to accomplish things here and apply their creativity and energy towards that. My colleagues are talented and enthusiastic. We also have fun, are valued and cared for. I have learned a tremendous amount here and look forward to learning more as our products and customer base continue to grow, an ASAPP employee said.

Everything we do is a result of our people, said Gustavo Sapoznik, CEO and founder of ASAPP. In the past year, we've opened an office in Bangalore, India, bringing our total count to five office locations where ASAPP employees collaborate to build AI products and solve challenging problems. Im energized by our team and look forward to whats ahead.

ASAPP has over 350 full-time employees, including a large technical organization of leading AI researchers, software engineers, and data scientists. The team includes more than 40 PhDs and currently has 35 approved patents with more than 70 pending. The research-based artificial intelligence company solves how enterprises and their customers communicate within the contact center. ASAPP helps Fortune 500 companies like JetBlue, Assurant, DISH Network, and Ernst & Young deliver a better customer support experience for employees and customers. Leading businesses rely on ASAPP's AI cloud applications and services to increase agent productivity and efficiency, operationalize real-time intelligence, and delight every customer.

To learn about open roles at ASAPP, visit the Careers page .

About ASAPP

ASAPP is a research-based artificial intelligence cloud provider committed to solving how enterprises and their customers engage. Inspired by large, complex, and data-rich problems, ASAPP builds state-of-the-art generative AI technology covering all contact center parts. Leading businesses rely on ASAPP's AI Cloud applications and services to multiply Agent productivity, operationalize real-time intelligence, and delight every customer. To learn more about ASAPP innovations, visit www.asapp.com .




BURBANK, Calif., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avian Law Group is pleased to announce the addition of Brianna Bane, Esq., as an associate attorney and head of operations for the State of Arizona. Brianna brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team, having been admitted to practice law in 2017 and becoming an active member of the State Bar of Arizona on October 25, 2017.

Brianna graduated from Arizona State University's law school and went on to serve in the Army JAG Corps for over four years. Her time in the JAG Corps provided her with invaluable legal expertise and a strong foundation in various aspects of the law.

After her service, Brianna made the decision to relocate to the picturesque landscape of Colorado. She has always been passionate about reading, writing, and surrounding herself with creativity. This passion has led her to create various physical products and digital downloads available on her Etsy shop, aiming to bring joy to others through her creations.

Brianna is also currently working on several writing projects, with more updates to come in the near future.

As an associate attorney and head of Arizona operations, Brianna will be responsible for managing and overseeing the Arizona practice. She will ensure that Avian Law Group's commitment to providing exceptional legal services is upheld while complying with the state's rules, regulations, and ethical standards.

Avian Law Group is confident that Brianna Bane's addition to our team will significantly contribute to the continued growth and success of the firm in Arizona. We look forward to the positive impact she will have on our clients and the community.

For more information about Brianna Bane, Esq., and Avian Law Group, please visit our website at https://www.avianlawgroup.com/

About Avian Law Group

Avian Law Group is a full-service law firm with a focus on providing high-quality legal services to clients in various areas of practice. Our team of skilled and dedicated attorneys is committed to delivering exceptional results, upholding the highest ethical standards, and providing unmatched client service.

Media Contact:

Laura DelgadoContent SpecialistAvian Law Group(760) 713-1493[email protected]

Source: Avian Law Group
TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock) (NYSE: BLK) today announces notional non-cash reinvested distributions (each, a Notional Distribution) for each of the iShares ESG MSCI Canada Leaders Index ETF and iShares ESG MSCI EAFE Leaders Index ETF (each, an iShares ETF).

A Notional Distribution occurs when a distribution is made in the form of units, which are then immediately consolidated with the units held prior to the distribution, so that the total number of units held after the distribution is identical to the number of units held prior to the distribution.

The Notional Distributions have been made to all unitholders of record of each iShares ETF as indicated in the table below:

iShares ETF Name Ticker Record Date Non-Cash Distribution Per Unit iShares ESG MSCI Canada Leaders Index ETF XCLR January 30, 2023 $0.46082 iShares ESG MSCI EAFE Leaders Index ETF XDLR January 30, 2023 $1.37121

As at the record date indicated above, each iShares ETF did not qualify as a mutual fund trust under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act) and more than 50% of its market value was held by one or more financial institutions. It was determined that as at that record date the iShares ETF was considered a financial institution for purposes of the mark-to-market rules contained in the Tax Act.

The Tax Act contains special rules for deeming a tax year end when a taxpayer becomes or ceases to be a financial institution and for determining the income of financial institutions. This includes, but is not limited to, the realization and recognition on income account of all unrealized gains or losses on mark-to-market property held by the financial institution at the end of any given tax year when the mark-to-market rules apply. On the date following the record date indicated above, each iShares ETF ceased to be a financial institution, as such term is defined under the Tax Act. As a result of this change of status, the iShares ETF is required to recognize a deemed year-end for tax purposes and distribute any net income and net realized capital gains earned or realized as applicable by the iShares ETF up until the deemed year end (reflected by the record date indicated above).

In early 2024, the tax characteristics of all distributions for 2023 for the iShares ETF will be reported to brokers via the Canadian Depository for Securities (CDS).

About BlackRock

BlackRocks purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate

About iShares

iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1300+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$3.07 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock. iShares ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

Contact for Media: Reem Jazar Email: [email protected]

Source: BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited
MONTREAL, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boralex inc. (Boralex or the Company) (TSX: BLX) announces that the release of the 2023 first quarter results will take place on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 9 a.m.

Financial analysts and investors are invited to attend a conference call during which the financial results will be presented.

Date and time

Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 9 a.m. ET

To attend the conference

Webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3yfpeptp

To attend the event by phone: Click here to register for the earnings call. Once you have completed your registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link and your personal PIN to connect to the call. If you lose this link and your PIN, you will be able to register again. You must register if you wish to attend the call by phone.

Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the conference and view a presentation which will be broadcasted live and on a deferred basis on Boralexs website at www.boralex.com. A full replay will also be available on Boralexs website until May 10, 2024.

The financial information will be released through a press release and on Boralex's website on May 10, 2023, at 7 a.m.

About Boralex

At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and Frances largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have facilities in the United States and development projects in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has more than doubled to 3 GW. We are developing a portfolio of close to 4 GW in wind and solar projects and nearly 800 MW in storage projects, guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, our discipline, our expertise and our diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralexs shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX.

For more information, visit boralex.com or sedar.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

For more information

MEDIA INVESTOR RELATIONS Camille LaventureAdvisor, External CommunicationsBoralex Inc.438-883-8580 [email protected] Stephane MilotSenior Director  Investor RelationsBoralex Inc.514-213-1045 [email protected]

Source: Boralex inc.

Source: Boralex Inc.
ST HELIER, Jersey, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc (NYSE American, AIM and VFEX: CMCL) (the "Company") announces the results of its annual general meeting of shareholders (the AGM) held at St Helier, Jersey today.

The total number of shareholders present in person or by proxy at the AGM was 70, representing 37.87% of the Companys outstanding voting shares.

The table below shows the proxy votes received on resolutions 1(b)1 to 1(j), which were duly passed by a show of hands, to reappoint the nine nominees proposed for re-election as directors:

Nominee Vote type Voted % Mark Learmonth For 7,231,617 99.80% Against 14,662 0.20% Abstain 19,783 - Steven Curtis For 5,913,726 81.61% Against 1,332,550 18.39% Abstain 19,786 - John Kelly For 7,149,448 98.67% Against 96,510 1.33% Abstain 20,104 - Johan Holtzhausen For 7,147,571 98.72% Against 92,674 1.28% Abstain 25,817 - Dana Roets For 6,291,771 89.84% Against 711,440 10.16% Abstain 262,851 - Nick Clarke For 7,152,756 98.79% Against 87,515 1.21% Abstain 25,791 - Geralda Wildschutt For 7,173,942 99.08% Against 66,606 0.92% Abstain 25,514 - Gordon Wylie For 7,186,216 99.25% Against 53,959 0.75% Abstain 25,887 - Victor Gapare For 7,215,737 99.76% Against 17,636 0.24% Abstain 32,689 -

Further resolutions 2 and 3 were also passed at the AGM so that:

BDO South Africa Inc was reappointed as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and the directors were authorised to fix its remuneration; and

Messrs. Holtzhausen, Kelly and Wildschutt were reappointed as members of the Audit Committee.

The full text of each resolution, together with explanatory notes, are set out in the notice of AGM and management information circular dated March 27, 2023 which are available on the Company's website at www.caledoniamining.com.

Mr Kelly, who was acting as interim chairman of the board of directors (Chairman) following the retirement of Mr Leigh Wilson on May 4, 2023, was appointed as Chairman at a meeting of the board immediately following the AGM. Given the Companys policy that the Chairman shall not be a member of the Audit Committee, another independent non-executive director, Mr Gordon Wylie, was appointed to the Audit Committee in his place.

For further information please contact:

Enquiries:

Caledonia Mining Corporation PlcMark LearmonthCamilla Horsfall Tel: +44 1534 679 800Tel: +44 7817 841 793 Cenkos Securities plc (Nomad and Joint Broker)Adrian HaddenNeil McDonaldPearl Kellie Tel: +44 207 397 1965Tel: +44 131 220 9771Tel: +44 131 220 9775 Liberum Capital Limited (Joint Broker)Scott Mathieson/Kane Collings Tel: +44 20 3100 2000 BlytheRay Financial PR (UK)Tim Blythe/Megan Ray Tel: +44 207 138 3204 3PPB (Financial PR, North America)Patrick ChidleyPaul Durham Tel: +1 917 991 7701Tel: +1 203 940 2538 Curate Public Relations (Zimbabwe)Debra Tatenda Tel: +263 77802131 IH Securities (Private) Limited (VFEX Sponsor - Zimbabwe)Lloyd Mlotshwa Tel: +263 (242) 745 119/33/39

1 Resolution 1(a) would have been to reappoint Mr Leigh Wilson, who retired on May 4, 2023, and therefore this resolution was withdrawn and not put to the AGM

Source: Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
OTTAWA, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Red Cross has opened the 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal to help provide assistance to people across the province who have been impacted by wildfires.

With dry, windy conditions in Alberta, the province is already experiencing an active wildfire season with thousands of people being evacuated from their homes.

Donations to the Canadian Red Cross will be used for immediate and ongoing relief, recovery and resilience efforts in response to fires, and community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Alberta.

Those wishing to make a financial donation to the 2023 Alberta Fires Appeal can do so online at www.redcross.ca, by calling 1-800-418-1111, or by texting ABFires to 45678.

Additional Resources@RedCrossCanada | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blogRed Cross donor inquiries: [email protected] or 1-800-418-1111

About the Canadian Red Cross Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement  which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies  the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

MEDIA CONTACTS:English Media: 1-877-599-9602French Media: 1-888-418-9111

Source: Canadian Red Cross / Croix-Rouge canadienne
Mexico's president said Monday that he would talk with U.S. President Joe Biden by telephone Tuesday about immigration and the fentanyl crisis.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the leaders would also discuss development programs aimed at helping to stem the flow of migrants to the U.S. border. The conversation will come two days before the end of pandemic-era immigration restrictions that allowed U.S. authorities to quickly expel migrants who had crossed the border illegally.

Lopez Obrador appealed to migrants not to use smugglers to travel to the U.S. border.

"Don't allow yourselves to be fooled," he said during his morning news briefing. "Don't allow yourselves to be blackmailed by coyotes, smugglers, who put you at risk."
LONDON, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attensi is delighted to partner with FIDL, a Norwegian company dedicated to providing Fun, Inspiring Digital Learning. Attensis gamified solutions will provide a tech platform from which FIDL will be able to deliver engaging and effective learning courses to users in various industries.

We needed a technology platform that could fulfill the ambition of FIDL, says Kristian A. Hauan, Chief Executive Officer at FIDL. What makes Attensi stand out is the real built-in gaming psychology.

We want to create the best customer experience out there, says Morten Ulriksen, Chief Learning Officer, FIDL. This statement is a reflection of both FIDL and Attensis philosophy when approaching learning and development. The partnership signifies a dedication to changing the way the world views learning, and centering approaches around the user.

An immediate impact

Attensis solutions are intuitive, requiring zero coding and easily adaptable. Having an easy to use, tailored tech platform lets FIDL do what they do best. Employees can pour all of their time into creating high quality learning content without worrying about how that content will be expressed to the user. After partnering with Attensi, FIDL saw an immediate uptick in their completion rates to nearly 100%, with 96% of users saying they like the format and 89% saying they prefer it to traditional learning. Attensi solutions are delivered with powerful tools for in-depth analysis across a range of data points, including completion rates, knowledge gaps closed and time to competence. FIDL can now fully visualize what content works best and make appropriate changes so they can keep delivering the best learning experience.

Attensi is a world leader in gamified training solutions, utilizing the power of game-play to banish the boring and make learning fun, engaging and effective. These innovative training solutions are delivered across multiple platforms and in a range of languages, with the goal of empowering organizations to unlock employees full potential.

With a proven track record of closing the knowledge gap, Attensi is revolutionizing the way organizations approach learning and development.

FIDL is a Norwegian company committed to providing fun, inspiring and accessible digital learning courses for users across various industries. By partnering with Attensi, they have secured a platform that can consistently deliver an exceptional learning experience, and that matches their ambitions to become a leader in the digital learning space.

ABOUT ATTENSI

Attensi is the worlds leading provider of high impact gamified training  the most effective way to upskill your people with significant improvements in your KPIs. Engage your staff with immersive 3D training, powered by the best insights from human psychology, learning, and gaming.

Whether on mobile, desktop, or VR, empower your people to master new skills with training they will want to complete and repeat. Recreate their working environments with immersive 3D graphics, realistic scenarios, and interactive dialogues with voice-acted avatars to test their knowledge. All in a safe, learning-by-doing environment.

Attensi has delivered gamified simulation training in over 150 countries and more than 50 languages. Our customers include Microsoft, Equinor, Circle K, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances, NHS, Accenture, Wagamamas, Hiscox, Scatec Solar and many more. Attensi is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices in London, Koln, Boston and Palo Alto.

You can follow Attensi on LinkedIn for updates.

Are you looking to transform your organization's approach to L&D? Attensis solutions empower your employees to become exceptional. Speak to an expert today to book your demo.

MEDIA CONTACT

Anthony Wong | [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d69393b-be45-4cfe-82b3-fa3fbf15731a
Singapore/incheon City, Korea, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GreaterHeat Pte Ltd (GreaterHeat), a Singapore-headquartered Web3 Infrastructure provider, has announced that it has signed a Letter of Cooperation with Incheon Metropolitan City to transform the city into a blockchain hub and foster Incheons digital economy. The move will see GreaterHeat working closely with Incheon to set up blockchain infrastructure and participate alongside various industry associations and advisory groups, which are working towards the citys evolution as a blockchain centre of excellence.

David Li, Chairman and CEO of GreaterHeat, and Yin Haoyu, Co-Founder and General Manager of GreaterHeat, both attended an official signing ceremony for this Letter of Cooperation in Incheon on May 9. The signing ceremony was held to coincide with Incheon Metanomics 2023.

The representatives of GreaterHeat met with Incheons Mayor, Mr. Yoo Jeong Bok, as well as Incheon's commissioner, Mr. Kim Jin Yoeong, who is Incheon Citys highest ranking civil servant. During this meeting between GreaterHeat and Incheons senior officials it was anticipated that there would be further discussion as to how Incheons cyber objectives would be achieved.

The Incheon Metanomics 2023 event was held by Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on May 9 at the Songdo Convensia Grand Ballroom. Around 150 people were expected to attend this event, including officials from domestic and foreign blockchain companies, such as Binance.

The cooperation agreement with Incheon comes at a time when GreaterHeat continues to expand its strategic partnerships and collaborations throughout Asia. In April 2023, the company announced the launch of the Decentralized Storage Providers Accelerator-Asia (DSPA-Asia), a business incubator designed to empower Asia Web3 storage businesses to learn, grow, and thrive. GreaterHeats plan for 2023 also encompasses establishing partnerships and teams in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

David Li, Chairman and CEO of GreaterHeat, said that GreaterHeats Letter of Cooperation marked a significant milestone in the companys involvement in developing national-level blockchain infrastructure. We are truly delighted that GreaterHeat will play a key role in the development of Incheons blockchain ecosystem, he said. Incheon Metropolitan City has shown itself to be a forward-thinking city, which has enthusiastically embraced the potential of Web3 infrastructure and we look forward to working closely with Incheons senior officials in placing the city firmly on the map where advanced blockchain infrastructure is concerned.

Incheons commissioner Mr. Kim Jin Yoeong said, We believe we have found the right infrastructure partner in GreaterHeat. Their commitment to the latest advanced Web3 decentralized cloud storage solutions and their glowing track record inspire confidence that Incheon will be able to establish itself as a leading cyber hub with GreaterHeats advice, expertise and partnership.

About GreaterHeat Pte Ltd.

GreaterHeat is a Singapore-headquartered Web3 Infrastructure provider, which seamlessly integrates blockchain distributed storage, application software development, cloud computing, and edge computing. Founded in Singapore in 2021 by David Li, GreaterHeat provides customers with compliant, stable, and low-cost cryptocurrency mining technology services. The companys mission is to drive and lead technological innovation, which creates huge incremental resources to enhance the overall welfare of humanity. GreaterHeat boasts an international team in globally distributed offices. This includes a technical team of over 100 blockchain technologists and cryptographers. For more information, please visit www.greaterheat.com

Grace Zhou grace(at)rafflespr.com.sg

Source: GreaterHeat
CHICAGO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LKQ Corporation is proud to announce that Genevieve L. Dombrowski, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, was recently honored at MOVES Magazine Annual Diversity Awards Event. Ms. Dombrowski was recognized for her outstanding work in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) space, which has positively impacted LKQ employees and the broader community. Ms. Dombrowski was joined by other distinguished speakers and honorees, including Marcia Gay Harden, Stephanie Vies, Sandye Taylor, and Tish Mendoza, among others. The awards event was held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at The James Hotel Nomad in New York City.

MOVES Magazine Diversity Awards Event is a celebration of women leaders who use their energy, experience, and expertise to mentor today's millennials into tomorrow's executives. The event featured a panel discussion and Q&A session with DEI experts, followed by a red-carpet reception and awards ceremony.

"We are extremely proud of Genevieve's recognition with MOVES Magazine Diversity Award," said Nick Zarcone, President and Chief Executive Officer of LKQ Corporation. "Her leadership and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion have been instrumental in fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture at LKQ. We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor."

For more information about LKQ Corporation, please visit www.lkqcorp.com. For press inquiries, please contact Joseph P. Boutross at [email protected].

About LKQLKQ Corporation (www.lkqcorp.com) is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles. LKQ has operations in North America, Europe, and Taiwan. LKQ offers its customers a broad range of OE recycled and aftermarket parts, replacement systems, components, equipment, and services to repair and accessorize automobiles, trucks, and recreational and performance vehicles.

About MOVES Magazine MOVES Magazine advocates for womens rights, social fairness and equal opportunity to its readers. The annual Diversity Awards Event is a celebration of women leaders and the energy, experience, and expertise they use in mentoring today's millennials into tomorrow's executives.

Source: LKQ Corporation
Anticoagulant Bleeding Burden Adherence Confidence Assessment Scale [ABBA-CAS] Created to Better Address an Important Treatment Gap in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Bring Patient Issues to the Forefront

Developed with Reference to FDA Guidance for the Development of Clinical Outcomes Assessments

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anthos Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, today presented details of the development of a novel patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessment scale to measure the patient relevant burden of oral anticoagulant treatment at ISPORThe Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Researchs annual meeting, held in Boston, May 7-10, 2023.

Patients who use direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) commonly report experiencing bleeding events, including any types of bleeding or bruising that are concerning to patients, but do not require medical intervention. In contrast to clinically relevant bleeding events, which may be life-threatening, patients who experience these types of patient relevant bleeding events, such as nose bleeds, easy bruising, and heavy menstrual cycles, have reported impacts on their appearance, emotional distress and an overall decrease in their quality of life, and has been associated with medication adherence issues.

Currently, there is no validated patient-reported outcome measure to assess the burden of DOACs on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its effect on adherence. The development of the Anticoagulant Bleeding Burden Adherence Confidence Assessment Scale (ABBA-CAS) was specifically designed to help fill that treatment gap.

Doctors are often so focused on balancing the risks of strokes and major bleeds in patients that they can miss the significant impact of other types of bleeding that are often very important to patients and can  and does  have a negative effect on their daily lives, said Leslie Lake, Volunteer President, National Blood Clot Alliance. Sometimes the bleeding or bruising experienced by patients on DOACs is burdensome enough that they discontinue much needed treatment, putting some patients at a higher risk of stroke. We think the Anticoagulant Bleeding Burden Confidence Adherence Assessment Scale has the potential to help clinicians and their patients better understand and circumvent dangerous underutilization of anticoagulants.

The ABBA-CAS is an 18-item questionnaire intended to assess patients in three categories: emotional/psychological, physical, and lifestyle/activities of daily living; the frequency of bleeding and bruising related to oral anticoagulants; and the severity and frequency of their associated impacts on quality of life and adherence to therapy. It was developed in adherence to the FDAs Patient-Focused Drug Development: Selecting, Developing, or Modifying Fit-for-Purpose Clinical Outcome Assessments Guidance for Industry, Food and Drug Administration Staff, and Other Stakeholders, and will be available as a non-proprietary scale for all researchers.

As physicians, we are hypervigilant about managing major bleeding events but are sometimes less attentive to what we historically refer to as nuisance bleeding, often leaving patients to manage on their own, said Dan Bloomfield, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Anthos. We set out to find a way to give patient relevant bleeding the attention it deserves and provide the basis for a better physician-patient dialogue about their care. Anthos intends to field a revised version of ABBA-CAS in an observational study to evaluate scoring and psychometrics. We hope other study investigators will also utilize it in their AF research as well.

About Anthos TherapeuticsAnthos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of genetically and pharmacologically validated innovative therapies to advance care for people living with cardiovascular and metabolic (CVM) diseases. Anthos Therapeutics aims to combine the agility of a biotech with the rigor of a large pharmaceutical company. Anthos Therapeutics was launched by Blackstone Life Sciences and Novartis in 2019 and has obtained the global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize abelacimab (MAA868) under a license agreement with Novartis. For more information, visit the companys website and follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the initiation, and timing, of future clinical trials and its research and development. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding the companys strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words anticipate, become, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the companys views as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing the companys views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. The company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the companys views to change. However, while the company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Media Contact Caren BegunTellMed Strategies201-396-8551[email protected]

Source: Anthos Therapeutics
Toronto, ON, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honourable Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, announced the reinvestment into the OHBA Job Ready Program at the OHBA Industry Leaders Dinner on Monday, April 24. This funding, provided by the provincial government through the Ontario Skills Development Fund, will provide in-demand residential construction training to a new cohort of unemployed and underemployed job seekers to shrink the skilled trades gap in the province.

The funding will allow the program to build upon its previous success. The first year of the program recruited entry-level employees as well as employers in the construction industry. The employers committed a willingness to mentor and train a new generation of workers, with the program offering engaging financial incentives to employers. The second year placed an increased number of employees, built out additional training opportunities, and provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to set them up for success on the job site.

The programs third year is expected to grow to include two weeks of virtual transferable skills training plus a four-week practical in-person construction training program offering hands-on experience before heading to the job site. After participants have completed their training, they will be matched with employers to work in their area of interest and receive wraparound support throughout their work placement. This years program aims to cater to a variety of job titles in the residential construction industry, from general labour/trades work to roles in decor centers, customer care, and more. At the end of their placement, jobseekers will receive a certificate of completion to market to potential employers.

By 2027, the construction industry will need to hire approximately 72,000 workers in Ontario to replace those expected to retire. And with an estimated 1.5 million additional homes needed by 2030, the OHBA Job Ready Program will help fill this critical gap and provide new workers with a strong training foundation for a fruitful career in homebuilding, said McNaughton. Preparing people for a career in the home building industry gives them a shot at lucrative professions such as general carpenter, construction labourer, drywaller, flooring installer, cabinet maker, or painter.

This significant reinvestment in the OHBA Job Ready Program will allow us to build on the foundational success of the program, expanding employee and employer service offerings, ultimately working to shrink the gap in Ontarios skilled trade shortage, said Sajida Jiwani, COO of the OHBA. Our sector is poised and ready to mentor the next generation of workers, ensuring the sustainability of the new home residential construction and renovation industry for years to come.

For more information, visit the OHBA Job Ready Program website https://www.ohbajobready.ca/

###

About the Ontario Home Builders Association: The Ontario Home Builders Association is the voice of the building, land development and professional renovation industry in Ontario. It is a voluntary association whose primary goal is to positively impact provincial legislative, regulatory and tax policies that affect the industry. The OHBA Job Ready Program was launched in 2021 to help fill the construction skills gap in Ontario and provide the industry with well-trained entry-level workers.

Emma Maynard Ontario Home Builders' Association 4165785800 [email protected]

Source: Ontario Home Builders' Association
Chapel Hill, N.C., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Communicator Awards is the leading global awards program honoring creative excellence for marketing and communications professionals. Founded nearly three decades ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition recognizing the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations, and design.

The 29th annual Communicator Awards honored Rivers Agency with four distinctions for our work with Charles & Colvard, NWS, Autobell Car Wash, and OriZabas Mexican Grill, including the competitions highest honor for Charles & Colvards Made, Not Mined social campaign.

Were thrilled that the accolades span four different categories and just as many media types, reflecting our teams adaptability and strategic rigor. We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work with these visionary clients to conceptualize and execute award winning creative.

These awards are a reflection of our wonderful clients, who entrust us with innovative and exciting opportunities to showcase their brands. None of this work would be possible without collaborative partnerships, common ambition, and the type of authentic creativity that comes out when theres real chemistry in the room.

Our highest distinction was earned by the Made, Not Mined social media campaign with Charles & Colvard, which received the Award of Excellence in the Social category. Rivers Agency helped to pave a distinctive lane for ethical luxury, embracing Charles & Colvards bold aspirations for the future of the brand and the diamond industry. The Communicator Awards awarded distinctions to three additional Rivers Agency projects:

NWS: Brand Guidelines, in the Brand Redesign category

Autobell Car Wash: Brand Guidelines, in the Brand Voice category

OriZabas: Digital Posters, in the in-store category

NWS approached us for a rebrand after acquiring Canadian competitors Gap Wireless and JF Tech. By bringing along subtle brand elements from each of the three companies, we were able to create a dynamic new brand that feels familiar but looks and sounds as modern as the infrastructure solutions the company provides.

Its no secret that fewer Americans are commuting to work in the wake of the pandemic. With aims to reassert their value and double down on their customer promise, our long-time partners at Autobell tapped us to future-proof their brand. Pillars, promises, and personality comprised a resilient brand strategy for the next era of Autobell.

Finally, were incredibly excited to win an award during our first year with OriZabas Mexican Grill. Weve had a blast leading all of their creative marketing activities this year, and were delighted to continue working with OriZabas as their franchise quickly grows into a fast-casual staple.

"I cant express enough gratitude for the hard work of our team members, said founder and CEO Lauren Rivers. Their creativity and ingenuity make Rivers Agency the place it is today. Its not just what theyve accomplished, but what theyre working towards each and every day.

Source: Rivers Agency
Shared Technology Agreement to Accelerate Commercial Deployment of Standard Lithiums Projects on an Exclusive Basis



Performance Guarantees for High Levels of Commercial Lithium Extraction from Smackover Brines

EL DORADO, Ark., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (Standard Lithium or the Company) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Koch Technology Solutions (KTS), an affiliate of Koch Engineered Solutions, to share data and jointly develop and commercialize integrated lithium brine processing flowsheets for Standard Lithiums exclusive use in the Smackover Formation. The agreement will further enhance Standard Lithiums position to build the first U.S. commercial lithium project in several decades and to begin to meet the surging demand for lithium.

Under the JDA, Standard Lithium and KTS will work together to integrate the proprietary KTS Li-Pro Lithium Selective Sorption (LSS) technology into a complete flowsheet solution, and Standard Lithium will have exclusive rights to deploy this technology at any of its projects in the Smackover Formation under a license agreement. KTS will also provide firm performance guarantees for the deployment and operation of the technology at high levels of commercial lithium extraction, allowing Standard Lithium to accelerate the development process cost-efficiently.

Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium, commented, Todays announcement is about greater certainty, speed, and choice. The performance guarantees for the KTS Li-Pro technology license will provide significant risk reduction for Standard Lithium and its shareholders; the partnership will help accelerate the Companys first project to commercial reality; and the exclusivity will allow us to benefit from a second Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology that works with Smackover Formation brines in addition to our own proprietary LiSTR technology.

The joint development relationship will also allow our project execution team to take what we learn from the Demonstration Plant at the LANXESS property in El Dorado, Arkansas, and leverage these insights as we scale to our first commercial facility and continue to develop multiple lithium projects across the Smackover Formation. In addition to the LANXESS Property Project, these include the high-grade brines of our South West Arkansas Project and our expansion into East Texas (see news release dated 28th March 2023). We are delighted to have KTS as a partner and look forward to a productive relationship.

Adam Sackett, President of KTS, said, Standard Lithium has been an incredible development partner, and this Joint Development Agreement signals the acceleration of the collaboration to drive commercial success. Standard Lithium has done an excellent job positioning itself as a first mover supporting broader domestic energy through the application of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, and KTS is excited to be a part of this significant opportunity.

Standard Lithium has been testing the KTS Li-Pro LSS technology since October 2022, alongside its own proprietary LiSTR technology at the Companys pre-commercial DLE Demonstration Plant in El Dorado, Arkansas. Highlights of this integrated testing include:

Over 1.4 million gallons of Smackover brine processed through the LSS equipment;

Over 4,600 cycles of lithium loading and elution; and

Production of high-purity lithium eluates that have been further concentrated and purified using the integrated operations at the Demonstration Plant.



Quality Assurance

Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company with a portfolio of projects in progress. The Companys flagship projects, the LANXESS Property Project and the South West Arkansas Project, are located in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line. The Company is focused on the evaluation and testing of commercial lithium extraction and purification from brine sourced from approximately 180,000 acres of leases across these two projects. The Company operates a first-of-a-kind industrial-scale DLE Demonstration Plant at the LANXESS Property Project. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and Front-End Engineering Study (FEED) for Phase 1A of the LANXESS Property Project commenced in September 2022. A Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) of the South West Arkansas Project commenced in May 2022. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of other projects in the Smackover Formation in East Texas, as well as approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol SLI; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L. Please visit the Companys website at https://www.standardlithium.com .

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to development of a commercial lithium plant, completion of definitive feasibility study, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration and drilling activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stroud Resources Ltd. (TSXV: SDR) (Stroud or the Company) is pleased to provide a summary of its 2021-2022 drilling program, completed at its Santo Domingo Silver Property (Santo Domingo or the Property), located in the municipality of Hostotipaquillo, State of Jalisco, Mexico.

The 2021-2022 exploration drilling program consisted of approximately 9,936 m in 32 diamond drill holes (Table 1) and selected results from this drilling are provided in Table 2. The drilling program was designed to explore the extent of known epithermal vein-hosted silver mineralization on the Property and to begin to define additional silver-mineralized zones and vein systems which were anticipated to run parallel to the existing La Raya and Guadalupe silver vein systems. To date, the Santo Domingo Project has approximately 85 drill holes totalling 18,184 metres (Table 1).

Highlights:

Discovery of third silver-vein system (Zopilote Zone) parallel to the Guadalupe and La Raya zones (Figure 1).

SD-21-49: 625 g/t AgEq1 over 1.55 m (Guadalupe East Zone).

SD-21-74: 680 g/t AgEq over 1.65 m (Guadalupe East Zone).

SD-21-50: 230 g/t AgEq over 10.35 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-71: 159 g/t AgEq over 36.80 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-75: 152 g/t AgEq over 34.70 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-52: 196 g/t AgEq over 15.10 m and 233 g/t AgEq over 6.45 m (La Raya Zone).

SD-21-58: 173 g/t AgEq over 1.05 m (Zopilote Zone).

SD-21-81: 147 g/t AgEq over 32.15 m (Zopilote Zone).

(1AgEq is calculated using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1, US$1,500/oz gold, US$20/oz silver, and recoveries of 100%.)

Figure 1 shows the new Zopilote vein system that is west and parallel to the La Raya and Guadelupe zones. The La Raya vein system is approximately 35 m wide by 300 m down-dip and over 700 m along strike. The Guadalupe vein system is typically 15 to 30 m wide.

Hostotipaquillo Region, Mexico

The Hostotipaquillo region has seen extensive drilling over the last three years. In particular, GoGold Resources Inc. (GoGold) has been drilling their Los Ricos South Project of which their Jamaica II property is adjacent to Strouds Santo Domingo Silver Property.

GoGolds Los Ricos South Project has a mineral resource estimate containing Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources of 10.0M tonnes containing 63.7M ounces AgEq grading 199 g/t AgEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.3M tonnes containing 19.9M ounces AgEq grading 190 g/t AgEq (see GoGold news release dated July 29, 2020).

The Companys NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report on the Santo Domingo Property was issued on November 20, 2017. It comprises Measured & Indicated Resources of 6.0M tonnes containing 25.7M ounces AgEq grading 134 g/t AgEq and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 3.4M tonnes containing 13.3M ounces AgEq grading 120 g/t AgEq. The Mineral Resource Estimate was calculated using a cut-off grade of 45 g/t AgEq over a three-metre true width and a gold-silver ratio of 72:1 Continuity of mineralization was established by drilling on 50 metre centres and using a specific gravity of 2.65.

Table 1. Summary of diamond drilling completed to date on the Santo Domingo Silver Project, Mexico.

Year Company Type of Drilling Drill HoleSeries No. Drill Holes Min. Depth (m) Max. Depth (m) Length(m) 1999 Stroud DDH SD-99-01 to 04 4 18 125.5 382.5 2003 Stroud DDH SD-03-05 to 05B 2 101 190 291 2005 Stroud DDH SD-05-06 to 09 5 49 235.2 702.5 2006 Stroud DDH SD-06-10 to 13 4 192.5 346.5 944 2007 Stroud DDH SD-07-14 to 19 7 71.7 349.4 1119 2008 Stroud DDH SD-08-20 to 30 13 17.1 374 2,331.7 2011 Stroud DDH SD-11-31 to 45 18 23.4 239.6 2,477.7 2021 Stroud DDH SD-21-46 to 84 26 55.5 552 8,090.9 2022 Stroud DDH SD-22-59 to 64 6 128 503 1,844.75 Total: 85 18,184.05

Figure 1. Location of drill hole collars and traces from the 2021 and 2022 diamond drilling and main silver vein trends, overlain on a satellite image, Santo Domingo Silver Project (Stroud Resources, 2021).

Drill Core Assay Results

Geological modelling of the Santo Domingo Silver Project identified additional silver and base metal mineralized zones running parallel to the previously announced Mineral Resource Estimate on the La Raya Silver Vein System.

Focus of the 2021 drilling campaign was to confirm the geological and mineral resource model for the La Raya Silver Deposit, as well as deepen exploration drilling to test expected mineralization of the La Raya vein beyond where historical Spanish miners were active. The 2021 drilling campaign confirmed the extension and geological interpretation of the La Raya and Guadalupe vein systems and identified a new silver-vein system to the west, named the Zopilote Zone.

The 2022 drilling campaign focused on the newly discovered Zopilote silver-mineralized zone, primarily beginning to test the extension, continuity and interpretation of the Zopilote vein system. The location of drill hole collars was limited by the previously approved drilling permit and its planned drill pads which had not accounted for the discovery of the new Zopilote Zone.

Table 2. Selected drill core assay results from the 2021-2022 diamond drilling program.

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) AgEq1 (ppm) Ag (ppm) Au (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Vein System SD-21-46 148.15 149.30 1.15 85 53 0.43 58 352 726 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 160.80 162.70 1.90 156 102 0.73 33 140 355 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 178.95 179.45 0.50 111 68 0.57 43 268 561 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 222.85 223.90 1.05 40 17 0.30 17 106 528 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 236.30 236.70 0.40 406 243 2.17 66 532 703 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 252.40 253.40 1.00 29 20 0.13 816 9,800 1,315 Guadalupe W SD-21-46 306.20 306.85 0.65 72 20 0.70 193 698 1,960 Guadalupe W SD-21-49 87.00 89.15 2.15 94 70 0.32 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 91.30 93.40 2.10 25 14 0.15 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 103.45 105.00 1.55 625 624 0.01 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-49 131.05 133.75 2.70 52 43 0.13 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-50 10.65 21.00 10.35 230 138 1.22 513 7,182 23,193 La Raya SD-21-50 67.80 71.50 3.70 133 62 0.95 784 13,338 29,892 La Raya SD-21-50 106.80 109.80 3.00 35 26 0.12 162 1,289 2,245 La Raya SD-21-50 112.80 113.60 0.80 35 25 0.13 959 1,010 1,175 La Raya SD-21-50 119.25 128.80 9.55 51 31 0.27 559 3,627 5,627 La Raya SD-21-50 168.00 168.40 0.40 75 50 0.33 4,150 38,100 132,500 La Raya SD-21-51 24.00 48.00 24.00 115 105 0.13 42 710 439 La Raya SD-21-51 57.00 58.50 1.50 51 45 0.09 27 196 457 La Raya SD-21-52 10.80 25.90 15.10 196 113 1.11 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 53.10 54.95 1.85 81 68 0.18 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 77.95 83.40 5.45 58 39 0.26 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 100.50 106.95 6.45 233 181 0.69 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 108.10 109.25 1.15 28 23 0.07 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 113.95 114.25 0.30 109 82 0.37 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-52 121.25 122.65 1.40 30 27 0.05 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-57 6.00 20.70 14.70 224 165 0.78 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-57 183.35 184.40 1.05 68 65 0.04 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-57 197.05 252.15 55.10 39 24 0.20 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-57 259.60 260.80 1.20 65 45 0.26 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-58 265.30 267.05 1.75 56 32 0.32 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 279.30 280.95 1.65 34 21 0.18 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 282.60 283.65 1.05 173 96 1.03 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 291.60 293.35 1.75 64 39 0.33 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-58 322.70 324.25 1.55 35 24 0.14 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-68A 222.80 224.45 1.65 26 22 0.05 166 2,090 2,300 Guadalupe E SD-21-68A 227.90 229.60 1.70 34 7 0.36 59 741 1,460 Guadalupe E SD-21-69 97.30 111.85 14.55 37 29 0.10 39 550 1,160 La Raya SD-21-69 125.00 173.90 48.90 72 41 0.42 17 169 402 Guadalupe E SD-21-71 4.20 41.00 36.80 159 141 0.23 130 2,297 1,967 La Raya SD-21-71 41.80 43.10 1.30 25 23 0.03 15 319 781 La Raya SD-21-71 49.60 50.95 1.35 28 21 0.09 16 218 662 La Raya SD-21-71 52.30 120.65 68.35 79 66 0.18 49 356 946 La Raya SD-21-71 130.60 133.00 2.40 37 28 0.12 -- -- -- La Raya SD-21-71 184.15 185.20 1.05 50 29 0.28 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 203.55 204.90 1.35 49 34 0.20 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 221.25 222.75 1.50 59 28 0.42 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 252.65 254.35 1.70 44 10 0.45 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-71 275.10 282.45 7.35 45 18 0.36 197 1,404 3,061 Guadalupe E SD-21-73 288.35 289.55 1.20 33 8 0.33 265 1,920 3,260 Guadalupe E SD-21-74 162.55 167.35 4.80 64 38 0.35 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-74 200.45 202.10 1.65 680 679 0.01 -- -- -- Guadalupe E SD-21-75 60.80 62.20 1.40 26 23 0.04 33 561 1,555 La Raya SD-21-75 65.10 99.80 34.70 152 60 1.23 356 5,751 18,551 La Raya SD-21-75 107.40 108.95 1.55 25 12 0.18 79 866 2,670 La Raya SD-21-75 264.90 265.25 0.35 43 13 0.41 1,190 2,760 45,000 Guadalupe E SD-21-80 264.00 264.35 0.35 63 25 0.51 2,360 69,200 18,200 Zopilote SD-21-81 170.65 202.80 32.15 147 106 0.55 52 133 242 Zopilote SD-21-81 237.00 237.50 0.50 45 34 0.14 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 295.85 320.70 24.85 56 45 0.14 236 7,718 4,857 Zopilote SD-21-81 335.85 336.65 0.80 53 30 0.30 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 389.30 391.20 1.90 74 46 0.37 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 396.90 402.60 5.70 83 74 0.12 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 408.70 409.05 0.35 47 27 0.27 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-81 413.30 413.90 0.60 35 17 0.24 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-21-82 247.80 248.95 1.15 78 38 0.54 26 175 364 Zopilote E SD-21-84 63.30 73.00 9.70 54 37 0.22 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 78.80 81.10 2.30 32 23 0.13 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 86.80 88.70 1.90 39 26 0.17 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 154.25 156.25 2.00 26 6 0.27 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 179.40 180.00 0.60 96 52 0.59 -- -- -- Guadalupe W SD-21-84 330.70 332.25 1.55 61 51 0.14 154 284 707 Zopilote E SD-22-60 54.45 56.00 1.55 26 21 0.07 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-60 81.15 83.70 2.55 140 112 0.38 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 84.05 88.70 4.65 60 52 0.11 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 94.95 96.90 1.95 30 29 0.01 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 104.00 104.40 0.40 61 15 0.62 -- -- -- Zopilote E SD-22-61 271.40 272.90 1.50 46 30 0.22 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 278.60 279.90 1.30 28 12 0.21 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 283.80 285.95 2.15 106 104 0.02 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 336.25 337.70 1.45 37 26 0.15 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 340.60 388.30 47.70 55 42 0.18 141 1,526 4,108 Zopilote SD-22-61 390.05 391.80 1.75 28 10 0.24 268 2,250 11,300 Zopilote SD-22-61 399.90 400.40 0.50 85 71 0.19 3,620 70,900 175,000 Zopilote SD-22-61 406.80 442.25 35.45 60 47 0.17 33 235 905 Zopilote SD-22-61 444.10 444.70 0.60 26 21 0.07 16 62 398 Zopilote SD-22-61 471.50 472.00 0.50 40 32 0.11 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 473.00 474.75 1.75 31 24 0.09 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 480.05 487.00 6.95 63 58 0.06 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-61 493.70 495.55 1.85 62 45 0.23 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 224.35 224.60 0.25 41 30 0.15 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 231.20 232.60 1.40 37 10 0.36 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 235.75 237.15 1.40 35 23 0.16 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-62 238.60 239.75 1.15 130 101 0.39 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 189.85 220.20 30.35 57 51 0.09 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 286.30 288.10 1.80 26 8 0.23 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 323.50 323.95 0.45 281 176 1.40 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 328.50 329.15 0.65 30 18 0.16 -- -- -- Zopilote SD-22-64 380.20 381.00 0.80 131 88 0.57 -- -- -- Zopilote

Note: drill core intervals are not true widths and are reported as core lengths; significant assays are considered >25 g/t Ag over a >0.5 m interval.

Qualified Person

Dr Scott Jobin-Bevans, CEO and a Director of the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

About Stroud Resources Ltd.

Stroud Resources is a TSXV listed company focused on the exploration and development of its Santo Domingo epithermal silver project in central Mexico.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of the drill results, geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits.Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Companys expectations or projections.

For more information, please visit www.stroudsilver.com or contact Mirsad Jakubovic, Chief Financial Officer, Stroud Resources Ltd., Tel: (416) 888-8731, [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1fd120c6-694e-47f3-a3cd-bc65afc6cc21

Figure 1. Location of drill hole collars and traces from the 2021 and 2022 diamond drilling and main silver vein trends, overlain on a satellite image, Santo Domingo Silver Project (Stroud Resources, 2021).

Source: Stroud Resources Ltd.
McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE: MUX) (TSX: MUX) yesterday reported its first quarter (Q1) results for the period ended March 31, 2023. This quarter we completed a series of large financing transactions involving shares of our McEwen Copper subsidiary, which has increased the market value attributable to our copper business to $550 million (for 100%) from $257 million at the conclusion of the prior financing round in August 2022. As 52% owner, McEwen Mining shareholders are benefitting from this value accretion, which validates the strategy we set out in July 2021 to surface value from Los Azules by funding it independently, said Rob McEwen, chairman and chief owner. Our 100% owned precious metal mines generated a gross profit this quarter, although McEwen Copper expenses obscures our improved performance on a net basis. We continue to invest in exploration as the most cost-effective means to extend the life of our operations with positive results.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/AxKBh

About McEwen Mining Inc.

McEwen Mining is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In addition, it owns approximately 52% of McEwen Copper, which owns the large, advanced-stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The companys goal is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the objective of increasing its share price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, chairman and chief owner, has personally provided the company with $220 million and takes an annual salary of $1. To learn more about the company, visit www.McEwenMining.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to MUX are available in the companys newsroom at http://ibn.fm/MUX

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FILE PHOTO: A representation of the cryptocurrency is seen in front of Coinbase logo in this illustration taken, March 4, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Jody Godoy

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Ishan Wahi, a former Coinbase Global Inc product manager, was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in prison in what U.S. prosecutors have called the first insider trading case involving cryptocurrency.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska sentenced Ishan Wahi, 32, in Manhattan federal court after the defendant pleaded guiltyin February to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The scheme involved a "massive abuse" of Coinbase's trust, Preska said during the sentencing hearing, adding that attempts to cover it up showed that Wahi and his co-defendents knew their actions were wrong.

It is one of several high-profile cryptocurrency-related cases brought by U.S. prosecutors in New York, including one against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors have said Wahi shared confidential information with his brother Nikhil and their friend Sameer Ramani about which digital assets would be listed on Coinbase, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

The tipoff allowed the three men to make $1.5 million by trading 55 digital assets ahead of the listing announcements between June 2021 and April 2022, according to prosecutors.

Nikhil Wahi pleaded guilty in September to a wire fraud conspiracy charge, and in January was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Ramani remains at large.

At Tuesday's hearing, Ishan Wahi expressed remorse for his actions and their effect on his friends and family, several of whom were in court.

"I made a huge mistake that will follow me for the rest of my life," Wahi said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Solowiejczyk said during the hearing that Wahi's conduct was "not a one-off mistake" but a stream of tips over 10 months.

Wahi had asked in court papers for a sentence no longer than his brother's, citing other insider trading cases that resulted in little or no prison time.

Prosecutors had called for Ishan Wahi to spend more than three years in prison to deter other cryptocurrency insiders from misusing corporate information.

Prosecutors can charge fraud in instances in which deception was used to seek financial gain, regardless of the kind of asset involved. This gives the U.S. Justice Department more latitude to go after crypto-related wrongdoing than its civil counterpart, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is limited to policing the securities markets.

The SEC has argued in lawsuits, including one it filed against Ishan and Nikhil Wahi over their trades, that many digital assets are securities. Ishan Wahi and the SEC have reached an agreement in principle to settle the claims, while Nikhil Wahi and the SEC are also in settlement talks, court papers showed.

Coinbase has said it does not list any securities.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
The e-commerce industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has shown remarkable growth, with an annual increase of over 32% during the first quarter of 2023.

According to the Ministry of Commerce's business bulletin, the number of commercial registers issued during this period soared to 4,093 from last year's figure of 3,499.

The bulletin stated that Riyadh had issued the most commercial registers at 13,195, followed by Makkah with 8,605, and the Eastern Region with 5,294. Madinah and Al-Qassim issued 1,649 and 1,107 registers, respectively.

The growth of the e-commerce business system is one of the objectives of the National Transformation Program, which supports the realization of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

As one of the top 10 growing countries in the e-commerce field, with a growth rate of 17% in Q1 2023, the Kingdom recognizes the importance of e-commerce in enhancing the national economy, reported SPA.

The Saudi e-commerce system supports entrepreneurs willing to transition from regular trade to e-commerce through entities that offer electronic payment, digital marketing, and technical solutions services.

These entities also provide services related to electronic markets, logistical solutions, and platforms for developing electronic stores, stated the report.

Saudi E-Commerce Council of the Ministry of Commerce aims to strengthen the reliability of e-commerce, boost its contributions to the national economy, and stimulate and develop e-commerce activities in the kingdom, it added.
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that it is resuming flights with a mission this month, its first in nearly two years, and the launch of commercial trips in June.

The Unity 25 mission will take place in late May with four company employees on board, said Virgin Galactic, which was founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, who took part in the firm's last spaceflight in July 2021.

"Unity 25 is the final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commercial service opens in late June," Virgin Galactic said in a statement. Unity 25 will be the company's fifth trip into space, defined as 50 miles (80 kilometers) above sea level.

Unlike other companies that use vertical-launch rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a carrier aircraft that takes off from a runway, gains high altitude, and drops a rocket-powered plane that soars into space before gliding back to Earth.
FILE PHOTO: A visitor looks at a presentation by Teck Resources at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 1, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo

By Divya Rajagopal

TORONTO (Reuters) -Pierre Lassonde, a Canadian mining industry veteran, has made an offer to invest in Teck Resources Ltd's coal business, in a bid to thwart Glencore Plc's hostile attempt to merge with Teck.

Vancouver-based Teck has rebuffed Swiss mining company Glencore's $22.5 billon offer to combine the two companies and is instead pursing plans to separate its copper and coal business.

Teck last month pulled its initial business separation plan at the last minute after failing to secure enough shareholder support. Lassonde said that a separation of the coal and copper business can be done in different forms and does not necessarily have to be a cash purchase.

"We have put forward one model for this, they (Teck) said they like what they see but we don't know what others have offered," Lassonde told Reuters.

Teck declined to comment.

Glencore has offered a cash component for Teck's coal business worth C$8 billion ($5.98 billion). When asked how the deal would be financed, Lassonde said there is no shortage of billionaires in Canada who would come together to ensure that Teck remains a Canadian enterprise.

"There is no shortage of Canadian money to get the deal done," he said.

Canadian government officials have said that Glencore's proposed offer would receive tough scrutiny, and it has faced opposition from some business lobby groups and opposition Conservative leaders. Canada Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland of the Liberal Party in April said that companies such as Teck should remain in Canada.

Glencore said on April 27 that its takeover bid still stands, adding it was willing to engage with Teck's board to improve its proposal structure, but would still make an offer directly to shareholders if there was no response.

A source close to the matter said that an alternative offer for Teck's steelmaking coal business might push the Swiss conglomerate to finally make an improved offer.

Glencore declined to comment.

(Reporting by Divya Rajagopal in Toronto and Sourasis Bose in BengaluruAdditional reporting by Clara Denina in LondonEditing by Denny Thomas and Matthew Lewis)
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Antler Gold Inc. (TSXV: ANTL) ("Antler" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell its 100% interest in certain mineral claims comprising the Crescent Lake Lithium Project located in Ontario, Canada ("Property") to an arm's length private company, Midex Resources Ltd. ("Midex") ("Transaction").

Christopher Drysdale, CEO of Antler stated: "I am pleased to announce the sale of the Crescent Lake Lithium Project to Midex Resources Ltd., a highly regarded lithium explorer, paving the way for the successful development of the lithium potential on this Property. The sale of the Property allows Antler to focus on its existing projects while pursuing other opportunities, along with maintaining a significant equity investment in an active Canadian Lithium explorer."

"We believe this transaction is a win-win for Midex and Antler, as Midex continues to target high quality hard rock (spodumene) lithium acquisitions in Ontario" states David Jamieson, President and CEO of Midex. "We have discovered a number of highly prospective lithium-bearing pegmatites during initial prospecting at Favourable Lake and have now added more spodumene-bearing pegmatites hosting high grade lithium and tantalum values at Crescent Lake. Similar to Midex's other projects at Allison Lake, Onion Lake, and Case Lake, Crescent Lake has excellent road access and proximity to power and rail."

Transaction Details

Antler entered into an asset purchase agreement with Midex on May 8, 2023 ("Midex Agreement") pursuant to which Antler has agreed to sell to Midex its 100% interest in the Property. The Property was acquired by Antler in May 2019 from Sona Nanotech Inc. ("Sona") pursuant to a property acquisition agreement ("2019 Agreement") (see news release dated May 15, 2019).

Under the Midex Agreement, Antler has agreed to sell the Property to Midex in consideration of C$125,000 in cash (the "Cash Consideration") and the issuance of common shares of Midex ("Midex Shares") equal to 12% of the issued and outstanding capital of Midex, subject to certain adjustments (the "Share Consideration"). Midex will also assume Antler's obligations under the net smelter return royalties, which represents a select area of the mineral claims comprising the Property.

Under the 2019 Agreement, Antler will be required to pay to Sona 50% of the consideration received by Antler for the Property, net of Antler's aggregate expenses related to the marketing, selling, upkeep and maintenance of the Property ("Antler's Expenses") incurred between the acquisition of the Property by Antler under the 2019 Agreement and the date of the sale of the Property, to a maximum of $3,000.000. Accordingly, Antler will pay Sona 50% of the Cash Consideration less Antler's Expenses and Antler has directed Midex to register 50% of the Share Consideration in the name of Sona. The remainder of the Midex Shares will be issued in the name of Antler. Each of Antler and Sona entered into an investor rights agreement with Midex in relation to the Midex Shares. The Midex Shares issuable pursuant to the Transaction will be subject to certain resale restrictions and escrow conditions, as well as a two-year standstill and voting support provisions.

Crescent Lake Lithium Project

The 4908 hectare block of contiguous mineral claims contain four spodumene pegmatite occurrences, with the potential for discovery of more lithium bearing pegmatites within the area of the claims. The northeast area of the claims have pegmatite occurrences interpreted to be similar in setting to the Seymour Lake Li-Be-Ta pegmatites. The pegmatites are described as being typically strike-parallel with the regional foliation and showing steep dip components of up to 90 degrees.

The Property is located in the Seymour Lake-Crescent Lake-Falcon Lake lithium belt. All four pegmatites on the Crescent Lake property returned greater than 1% Li2O from surface and drill core sampling completed in 2016. Surface channels from the 2016 program returned up to 3.14% Li 2 O over 1.2 metres in the Chappais pegmatite. Individual spodumene crystals in the Chappais pegmatite were noted by previous workers up to 50 cm long. A 4.0 metre wide section of the L61W areas East Pegmatite assayed 1.64% Li 2 O, 0.078% Ta 2 O 5 , 2270 ppm rubidium, 418 ppm caesium, and 256 ppm beryllium, from surface channel samples.

The Seymour-Crescent-Falcon lithium trend is currently known to host 13 spodumene-bearing pegmatites along a 26 km trend between the South Aubrey and the Falcon East pegmatite occurrences. Green Technology Metals has developed an Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 5.2 million tonnes @ 1.29 % Li 2 O on the Seymour Project pegmatites directly south of the Crescent Lake property.*

* For full details of the Seymour Mineral Resource estimate, see GT1 ASX release dated 23 June 2022, Interim Seymour Mineral Resource Doubles to 9.9Mt.

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this release have been reviewed and approved by David Jamieson, P.Geo. (PGO), the qualified person (QP) under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.

About Midex Resources Ltd.

Midex is a private junior exploration company focusing on lithium, specifically the exploration and development of pegmatite hosted spodumene deposits. Midex's current portfolio of lithium projects are located across Ontario and include the 100% owned Berens Lithium North, Berens Lithium South, Crescent Lake, Allison Lake, Onion Lake and Case Lake properties.

Midex also has a portfolio of gold projects in Ontario, including the 100% owned Berens Polymetallic, Sturgeon Lake, and Darkwater properties.

Cautionary Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the completion of the Transaction and future plans and objectives of Antler and Midex. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions relating to general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including the risks relating to the ability to satisfy the conditions to completion of the Transaction. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. Antler does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings made by Antler Gold with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact Christopher Drysdale, CEO of Antler Gold Inc., at +264 81 220 2439

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165355
Perth, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Besra Gold Inc (ASX: BEZ) ("Besra" or the "Company") announces Binding Gold Purchase Agreement (Facility).

Finance Facility Update

Binding Gold Purchase Agreement (Facility) for up to US$300m signed with major shareholder Quantum Metal Recovery Inc (Quantum), giving effect to the non-binding term sheet previously announced (Refer ASX announcement 21 March 2023).

The Facility provides up to a US$300m deposit, to be paid over 30 months, against future gold production ounces, enabling Besra to fully fund production at Bau and the appraisal of other deposits within the Bau goldfield corridor.

Besra believes the financing to be one of the largest deals of its kind signed by an ASX-listed junior.

The Facility is expected to remove the need for dilutive equity financing and project/corporate debt encumbering Besra with hedging requirements and/or onerous covenants and is expected to be delivered at up to US$10m per month.

Besra confirms receipt of the first US$2,000,000 instalment of the US$5,000,000 Initial Deposit with the balance to be remitted to the Company by no later than 3 business days after the Conditions Precedent has been satisfied.

Besra continues to target a fully operational Facility (including the date of the first drawdown of US$10m) by 30 June 2023 (subject to completion of remaining CPs).

Management Changes

With Bau moving toward the development phase Dr Ray Shaw has agreed to step down as CEO and move into the role of Chief Operating Officer to focus on in-country development and exploration activities.

Acacia Executive Search have been appointed to recruit a replacement CEO for the Company.

Jocelyn M. Bennett has been appointed to assume the role of Besra's Executive Chair.

Besra's Executive Chair, Jocelyn Bennet, commented:

"The announcement of progress this landmark agreement, as well as the accompanying corporate changes, moves Besra's 3Moz Bau Gold Project closer to production. In particular, this extraordinary funding deal should provide ample funding for the development of Bau and allows us to bring the project into production in a way that is uniquely non-dilutive to our shareholders and to retain exposure to gold price movements, free of hedging or other onerous covenants. Whilst we have several Conditions Precedent yet to fulfil we expect the US$300m Facility to be fully operational by June 30, 2023.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ray Shaw for his valuable contribution as CEO of Besra over many years and the work he has led to date on the Bau Project. We feel that the development and exploration potential of the project he has helped unlock should be the envy of our peers."

Binding Gold Purchase Agreement

The Board of Besra Gold Inc (ASX: BEZ) (ARBN 141 335 686) (Besra or the Company) is very pleased to announce that it and its wholly owned Malaysian subsidiary North Borneo Gold Sdn Bhd (NBG) have today entered into a legally binding Gold Purchase Agreement (GPA) with the Company's major shareholder, Quantum Metal Recovery Limited (Quantum), giving effect to the non-binding term sheet announced on 21 March 2023.

Under the terms of the GPA, the Company has agreed to sell to Quantum a quantity of refined gold from Bau (or any other gold project owned by the Company or its subsidiaries at any time) until:

(i) 3,000,000 ounces of refined gold has been received by Quantum; or

(ii) aggregate deposits in an amount equivalent to US$300,000,000 (the Facility) have been received by the Company from Quantum.

Conditions Precedent

The Facility is conditional upon the following Conditions Precedent being satisfied within 85 business days of the after the date of the GPA (or such longer period as may reasonably be required):

completion of security documentation ( Security ) (see below);

) (see below); shareholder approvals in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 10.1 for both the Facility and the Security (BDO has been engaged to provide an independent expert's report on the transactions);

ASX and Canadian Business Corporations ACT (CBCA) regulatory compliance and/or approvals.

Initial Deposit

As announced to ASX on 4 April 2023, the Company advised of the receipt of the first US$2,000,000 instalment of the US$5,000,000 Initial Deposit.

The second instalment of US$3,000,000 of the Initial Deposit is to be remitted to the Company by no later than 3 business days after the Conditions Precedent have been satisfied.

Further Deposits

On and from the satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent, Quantum is to provide cash payments in an amount, or amounts, not exceeding (in aggregate) US$10,000,000 per month to acquire additional refined gold from the Company up to the maximum deposit limit of US$300,000,000.

The funds raised are to be used for the following purposes:

(a) funding the development, construction, operation and commissioning of Bau and/or any other project of the Company or NBG (including associated infrastructure and access) (Project);

(b) renewal of mining leases in respect of any Project;

(c) exploration and mining activities and feasibility studies pursued with the intention of increasing the gold resources available to the Company and its subsidiaries;

(d) mergers and acquisitions undertaken with the intention of increasing the gold resources available to the Company and its subsidiaries;

(e) gold treasury activities; and

(f) corporate and working capital purposes (including the payment of all-in sustaining costs to produce gold).

Offtake Facility Fee

The Company has agreed to pay Quantum an offtake facility fee in the amount of A$1,000,000, to be satisfied by issue to Quantum of 11,111,111 CDIs at issue price of A$0.09c per CDI.

The CDIs are to be issued to Quantum within 10 business days of all Conditions Precedent being satisfied.

As advised on 21 March 2023, the Facility was negotiated on behalf of the Company by Besra shareholder and corporate advisor, Noblemen Ventures Pty Ltd ("Noblemen")[1].

Timetable

Given that shareholder and other approvals are required, it is the Company's expectation that practical satisfaction of the Conditions Precedent will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2023. An indicative timetable is set our below:

Notice of Meeting (NOM) sent to ASX for review - 24 May 2023

despatch of NOM - 1 June 2023

shareholder meeting date - 28 June 2023

fully operational Facility (including date of first drawdown of US$10m) - 30 June 2023

Security

NBG is to provide an upstream guarantee in respect of the obligations of the Company (whose obligations are provided on a limited recourse basis) under the GPA. Subject to the receipt of shareholder approval, Security will be provided to Quantum over the Company's indirect shareholding in NBG, its interest in the tenements comprising the Bau goldfield and a bank account into which deposits in respect of gold purchased will be remitted to by Quantum.

Term

The term of the GPA commences on the date of the GPA, and continues until the earlier of the following:

(a) the date on which the Company has delivered and sold to Quantum, 3,000,000 ounces of refined gold which Quantum has the right to purchase under the GPA and Quantum has purchased and paid for such refined gold;

(b) a party gives notice in writing electing to terminate the GPA as a result of the Conditions Precedent not being satisfied or waived in full on or before the date which is 85 business days after the date of the GPA;

(c) the parties all agree in writing to terminate the GPA;

(d) the Company terminates the GPA if either:

(i) 2 years has elapsed from the date the Conditions Precedent are satisfied, or

(ii) deposits totalling US$240,000,000 have been received by the Company;

(e) Quantum terminates the GPA if the Company fails to deliver refined gold within 5 business days of which the date on which sale and delivery is required;

(f) the Company terminates the GPA if Quantum fails to pay any part of the purchase price for the refined gold;

(g) either party fails to perform any other undertaking or obligation under the GPA and where that failure is remediable, either party (as applicable) does not remedy that failure within 55 business of the giving of notice;

(h) if a provision of a transaction document is or becomes or is claimed by either party to be wholly or partially invalid, void, voidable or unenforceable in any material respect and where remedial, is not remedied within 55 business days;

(i) an insolvency event occurs in respect of the Company or Quantum;

(j) a change of control of the Company or NBG occurs; or

(k) Quantum terminates if Bau doesn't produce gold in mineral concentrate by no later than 31 December 2023.

The Company, during the term of the GPA, has undertaken to:

diligently construct, develop, equip, operate, and maintain Bau in accordance with a good operating practice; and

provide Quantum with a copy of a resource statement annually (or at such other intervals agreed between the parties).

All other terms and conditions of the GPA are considered standard for an agreement of this nature.

Besra's Chair, Jocelyn Bennett commented:

"We are very pleased to have delivered on the definitive documentation contemplated in the term sheet signed with Quantum in March. We regard the Facility as transformational for Besra and the Bau Gold project, and will now turn our attention to satisfying all conditions. I once again thank Quantum for its faith in Besra and its management team, and look forward to developing Bau without further delay."

Quantum's Executive Chairman Dato Lim Khong Soon commented:

"We are most pleased to have taken the next step in long-term involvement with Besra and the Bau Goldfield. This opportunity to secure a material long-term supply of gold for our bullion trading business is very propitious, and we expect to commence deposit of funds following satisfaction of the conditions."

Management changes

Consistent with Besra's objective of moving Bau into production, the Company intends to strengthen its senior management and the Board composition to better achieve that goal. As part of that process, Dr. Ray Shaw will move into the role of Chief Operating Officer to focus his attention on the development of the Bau project, enabling the appointment of a replacement CEO.

Perth-based Acacia Executive Search (www.acaciantl.com), has been appointed as Besra's executive search agent to recruit a replacement CEO. In the meantime, Dr Shaw's former corporate duties will be shared between the Company's Executive Director, John Seton and Chair, Jocelyn Bennett (who has assumed the role of Executive Chair). Besra's Board thanks Mr Shaw for his key role in moving the Company through to this stage and welcomes his continuing involvement in the future development of Bau.

Besra will also look to strengthen its board by the addition of industry-experienced professionals with a proven history of project delivery. Further announcements will be released as appointments are made.

About Besra - www.besra.com

Besra is a gold exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the 3m ounce (JORC) Bau Goldfield in East Malaysia. The Bau Project hosts a total gold JORC (2012) compliant Resource Inventory comprising Measured 3.4 mt @ 1,5 g/t for 166.9k ounces, Indicated 16.4 mt @ 1.6 g/t for 824.0k ounces and Inferred 47.9 mt @ 1.3 g/t for 1989.4k ounces[2].

In addition to the JORC-2012 Mineral Resource, the project has a global Exploration Target[3] of between 4.89 and 9.27m ounces of gold @ 1.7-2.5 g/t Au.

About Quantum Metal Recovery Inc

Quantum Metal Recovery Inc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Quantum Metal Sdn Bhd (QMSB). QMSB is primarily engaged in the supply and trading of precious metal products and is a leading bullion provider specialising in gold.

Founded in Malaysia in 2012, it recently acquired the Quantum Metal Exchange Inc., a company listed on the OTC Markets in the United States.

This announcement was authorised for release by the Chair of Besra Gold Inc.

For further information:

John Seton

Executive Director

Email: [email protected]

North America

James Hamilton

Investor Relations Services

Mobile: +1 416 471 4494

Email:[email protected]

Competent Person's Statement

The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results or estimates of Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Kevin Wright, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a Chartered Engineer, and a Chartered Environmentalist. Mr Wright is a consultant working for Wrightech Engineering, and has been engaged by Besra. Mr Wright has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person under the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'.

Mr Wright has given his consent as to the form and context in which all references to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results or estimates of Mineral Resources disclosed herein.

Disclaimer

This Announcement contains certain forward-looking statements and forecasts concerning future activities, including potential delineation of resources. Such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as other factors which are beyond the control of Besra Gold Inc. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements depending upon a variety of factors. Nothing in this Announcement should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities.

Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral resource estimates and Exploration Targets included or incorporated by reference in this Announcement have been, and will be, prepared in accordance with the JORC classification system of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Australian Institute of Geoscientists.

Disclosure

Prior information contained in this announcement is based on the following publicly available announcements previously lodged on the SEDAR platform:

Besra Gold Inc Bau Gold Project Sarawak Malaysia Exploration Target Inventory. Lodged SEDAR Platform Feb 26,2021;

Besra Bau Project - Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Updated to JORC 2012 Compliance. Lodged SEDAR Platform Nov 22, 2018; and

Appendix 5B Disclosure released to the ASX on 30 January 2023, which are available on https://www.sedar.com/DisplayCompanyDocuments.do?lang=EN&issuerNo=00001815 or on Besra's website www.besra.com.

[1] Noblemen Ventures Pty Ltd is to be paid a 5% commission payable on Besra's drawdown of funds from Quantum. The commission has been agreed by Quantum and will be included in the AISC calculation. Noblemen is a small shareholder ( [2] Refer Appendix 5B, ASX Release 30 January 2023.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165394
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Coho Collective Kitchens Inc. (TSXV: COHO) ("Coho" or the "Company"), a commercial real estate and food technology company that provides private and shared kitchen and food production space to a variety of businesses, is pleased to announce that, subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), the Company intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of convertible debentures of the Company (each, a "Convertible Debenture"). Each Convertible Debenture has a price of CAD$1,000 and the Company has executed a term sheet with an arm's length party for 1,650 Convertible Debentures, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of CAD$1,650,000 (the "Offering").

Each Convertible Debenture will bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum, calculated and payable semi-annually in arrears, with the first payment beginning on June 30, 2023. The Convertible Debentures will mature on March 31, 2026 (the "Maturity Date"). The principal amount of each Convertible Debenture (the "Principal Amount") will be convertible into common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of CAD$0.15 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price") at the option of the holder of a Convertible Debenture (the "Holder") at any time prior to the close of business on the Maturity Date.

At the election of the Company, all interest accrued on the Convertible Debentures will be payable in cash or, subject to approval by the TSXV, Common Shares.

The Convertible Debentures will be unsecured obligations of the Company, and will be subordinated in right of payment of principal and interest to all secured debt and to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and senior to any of the Company's future debt that is expressly subordinated to the Convertible Debentures.

The proceeds received by the Company from the Offering are intended to be used for advancement of the Company's facilities, M&A, and general corporate activities. The closing of the Offering remains subject to receipt of TSXV approval and all other necessary regulatory approvals.

About Coho

Coho is a growth stage, community-driven, commercial real estate and food technology company that provides private and shared kitchen and production space to food companies from start-ups to restaurant groups seeking turnkey solutions and business services. Each of the Company's customers, called "Members", are revenue generating companies that have signed a membership agreement with Coho for an agreed upon term. The concept falls in line with a rapidly growing trend in the food-delivery industry creating a market for delivery-only and/or virtual restaurant concepts. For more information about how Coho is growing and innovating in the commissary space, visit https://www.cohocommissary.com.

Contacts

Andrew Barnes, Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

(778) 877-6513

Investor Relations

[email protected]

(604) 243-7355

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflect management's current expectations regarding future events. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms of the Offering and the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance and that such forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release including, without limitation, that the Offering will close and will do so on the proposed terms; that the Company will be able to utilize the net proceeds of the Offering in the manner intended; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; that applicable regulatory approvals will be received; and assumptions regarding political and regulatory stability and stability in financial and capital markets.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Company may not complete the Offering; the risk that the Offering may not be completed on the anticipated terms; the risk that required regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSXV, for the Offering are not obtained; the risk that the Company may not be able to use the proceeds of the Offering as intended; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements.

This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165455
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - E-Power Resources Inc (CSE: EPR) ("E-Power" or the "Company") announces its intention to complete a private placement, comprised of a flow-through portion of up to $600,000 (the "FT Offering") and a non-flow through portion of up to $600,000 (the "Non FT Offering", and collectively with the FT Offering, the "Offering"), for total gross proceeds of up to $1,200,000.

Securities to be issued pursuant to the Non-FT Offering shall consist of an amount of up to 1,875,000 units of the Company (the "Non FT Units") issued at a price of $0.32 per Non FT Unit, each Non FT Units being comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), each warrant entitling its holder thereof to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.48 per share for a period of 2 years from the closing date of the Non-FT Offering.

Securities to be issued pursuant to the FT Offering shall consist of an amount of up to 1,714,286 units of the Company (the "FT Units") issued at a price of $0.35 per FT Unit, each FT Unit being comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "FT Share") that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)), and one warrant, each warrant entitling its holder thereof to acquire one share at a price of $0.48 per share for a period of 2 years from the closing date of the FT Offering.

Net proceeds from the FT Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures", as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and under section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), related to the Company's Tetepisca Graphite Property, located in the Tetepisca Graphite District of the North Shore Region of Quebec, on or before December 31, 2024. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers to the FT Offering effective December 31, 2023. In addition, with respect to Quebec resident subscribers of FT Shares and who are eligible individuals under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Canadian exploration expenses will also qualify for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) and for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

Net proceeds from the Non FT Offering will be used by the Company for general working capital purposes.

The Flow-Through Shares and the Common Shares will be offered by way of private placement pursuant to applicable exemptions from prospectus requirements. The Offering is expected to close on or about June 5, 2023 (the "Closing Date"), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the customary closing conditions, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company may pay brokers in the context of the Offering.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About E-Power Resources Inc.

E-Power Resources Inc. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of graphite properties in Quebec. Its flagship asset, the Tetepisca Graphite Property, is located in the Tetepisca Graphite District of the North Shore Region of Quebec, approximately 215 kilometers from the Port of Baie-Comeau. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company by email at [email protected].

On Behalf of the Company

James Cross

President & CEO

+1 (438) 701-3736

[email protected]

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165447
The news highlights the urgent need for more consistent, wide scale detection of the disease at an early stage

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd.(CSE: CGN) (OTCQB: CGNSF) (FSE: 1UB)("the Company" or "Cognetivity")is pleased to note Eli Lilly & Co.'s results for its experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, which demonstrated slowing the progress of the disease in a final-stage trial, paving the way for the company to apply for US approval. The drug, donanemab, slowed the disease by 35% over a year and a half in a trial of 1,182 patients with early-stage Alzheimer's. The results represent the second time Alzheimer's was slowed in a final-stage trial by a drug that clears a brain protein called amyloid.

The success means patients and their caregivers could soon have another therapy shown to slow the disease alongside Eisai Co.'s Leqembi, which was approved in January. This announcement aligns with an ongoing successful clinical deployment of CognICA" Platform in monitoring Cognitive Performance in Alzheimer's patients receiving disease-modifying therapy targeting beta amyloid.



Lilly's donanemab trial also looked at a population of 552 patients who were deemed to be at a greater level of disease severity based on brain scans. When that group was combined with the larger, less acute population, the drug showed less impressive results, slowing the progress of the disease by 22% over 18 months. This further highlights the vital importance of early detection and diagnosis, another huge unmet need when it comes to tackling Alzheimer's disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia who are not diagnosed is a significant concern. In fact, WHO estimates that approximately 50% of people with dementia worldwide are not diagnosed or are not aware of their diagnosis, so are unable to benefit from treatment.



On the Lilly results, Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer's Society, said: "Promisingly, the trial demonstrated a 40% slowing in decline of everyday activities such as driving, doing hobbies and managing finances. We need decisions as quickly as possible from the regulators. But that's not the end of the story - we can't end up in a situation where there are new drugs being approved but people can't get access to them early in their dementia journey when they work best - we need more accurate, earlier dementia diagnosis."

This is an area in which Cognetivity's technology is proving to be a game changer. Through the agreement with MS&AD, the ability to screen for early cognitive decline at a large scale has for the first time become a reality, helping to ensure that early signs of disease are detected routinely, when people can be helped and are still functional.

Dr Sina Habibi, CEO of Cognetivity Neurosciences commented: "We are absolutely delighted to see these results as it gives hope to millions of people affected by this devastating disease." He added: "What this highlights even further is the urgent need for early detection of diseases like Alzheimer's to be scaled across the world, which is exactly what we are enabling with our agreement with MS&AD, a major health insurance provider in Japan, and which we hope to continue to roll out across the world."

About Cognetivity Neurosciences

Cognetivity is a technology company that has developed a cognitive testing platform for use in medical, commercial, and consumer environments. Cognetivity's CognICATM uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to test the performance of large areas of the brain to help detect early signs of cognitive dysfunction. CognICA is currently available for clinical use in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East, with regulatory approval in other regions expected in 2023.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Sina Habibi"

Sina Habibi

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this news release, including those identified by the words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should" and similar expressions, to the extent they relate to the Company or its management, constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, the "Forward-Looking Statements"). These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Such statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such statements and information are based on a number of assumptions regarding our current and future business strategies and the environment in which we operate. We assume no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange is not responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please visit: website:www.cognetivity.com or contact: [email protected]; media inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165379
Fort Worth, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Fanboys Cares, a subsidiary of Fanboys Marketplace that focuses on charitable giving and donation, launches a new initiative that uses crowdfunding to help those who are lost or are looking for missing persons.

Fanboys Cares' new initiative is called Find Them Now. Find Them Now uses crowdfunding to source reward money to help those who can't afford to offer a reward. It will also serve as an incentive and motivation for people to seek out the missing or lost in order to bring them back home.

Find Them Now's website offers a landing page where users can both list lost persons and find a list of lost persons as well. Visitors can read the story behind missing loved ones and decide whether or not to donate to the cause and participate in their possible recovery.

"Using the power of social media and crowdfunding we are hoping Find Them Now will get more people looking for missing kids. Find Them Now gives everyone the opportunity to source reward money, not just the historically select few." - Mike Rogers, President of Fanboys Cares

Find out more at Find Them Now's website: https://missing.bz.

About Fanboys Cares

Fanboys Cares is a subsidiary of Fanboys LLP. Initially created to donate toys to Cooks Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Their mission was to get toys into the hands of hospitalized kids. Since then, Fanboys Cares has helped clothe the homeless with their Socks For The Homeless initiative in Winter of 2022-2023. Fanboys Cares has also partnered with the Dallas Mavericks donating socks to their own charitable giving.

About Fanboys

Fanboys Marketplace began in 2018 as Fanboys Comic Con, a series of pop culture conventions that took place at local shopping malls. When COVID-19 forced Fanboys to pause events in 2020, the company opened a storefront along South Hulen Street in Fort Worth to allow vendors to continue selling their collectibles, toys, comics and other pop culture inspired novelties during the pandemic.

Fanboys has since opened 3 new locations across the D/FW metroplex. At the end of 2022, Fanboys opened Fanboys Grill, a restaurant located in Fort Worth's West 7th district. Fanboys also recently signed a 10-year lease on a new headquarters and distribution center located near Ridgmar Mall slated to open in 2023.

Fanboys Marketplace is the Official Toy Store of the Dallas Mavericks. Voted Best Toy Store by Fort Worth Magazine and Gold Winner of Best Collectibles Store in DFW by Dallas Morning News in 2021. Fanboys carries collectible toys from Funko to D&D. Find out more about Fanboys at www.fanboysmarketplace.com or on Facebook and Instagram.

Mike Rogers

682-708-3100

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165257
Operations remain mostly suspended pending restart of the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Forza Petroleum Limited (TSX: FORZ) ("Forza Petroleum" or the "Corporation") today announces its financial and operational results for the three months ended March 31, 2023. All dollar amounts set forth in this news release are in United States dollars.

Financial Highlights

Revenue of $47.8 million for Q1 2023, consisting of an average realized sales price of $54.19/barrel of oil ("bbl") on working interest sales of 738,100 bbl and $7.8 million in recovery of carried costs The Corporation has received full payment in accordance with production sharing contract entitlements for all oil sales to the Kurdistan Regional Government through September 2022

Field operating costs, representing the Corporation's working interest share of operating expenses, of $5.5 million ($7.47/bbl) for Q1 2023 versus $5.6 million ($6.64/bbl) for Q1 2022 Field operating costs per bbl are up 13% versus the comparable period as a result of decrease in sales volumes, partially offset by lower facilities rental rates, as negotiated in 2022

Loss of $1.8 million in Q1 2023 versus profit of $22.2 million in Q1 2022

Net cash generated from operating activities was $18.6 million in Q1 2023 versus $12.6 million in Q1 2022

Net cash used in investing activities during Q1 2023 was $10.1 million, including payments related to drilling and facilities work in the Hawler license area, versus $20.6 million in Q1 2022

$79.6 million of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2023

Operations Update

Average gross (100%) oil production of 12,800 bbl/d (working interest 8,300 bbl/d) in Q1 2023

The Zey Gawra-10H well, drilled late in 2022, was completed and turned over to production early in Q1 2023

As a result of the previously announced shutdown of the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline on March 25, 2023, production during April 2023 was limited to a minimal volume necessary to maintain operational readiness for a restart of production operations. Substantially all production remains shut in

The Demir Dagh-15 well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir of the Demir Dagh field was spudded on January 13, 2023 and total-depth of the horizontal drain was reached on March 29, 2023. The well has been suspended

2023 Forecasted Work Program

Because of the shutdown of the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline and a lack of clarity regarding the restart of operations and collection of overdue and future payments for oil sales, Forza Petroleum has suspended its work program for the balance of 2023.

Forza Petroleum forecasts $24.1 million of capital expenditure for 2023, down from $68.3 million forecast in its news release dated March 16, 2023. Forecast investments for the balance of the year are limited to completion of the West Hawler Gathering System and stimulation of the Demir Dagh-9 well.

Liquidity Outlook

The Corporation expects cash on hand as of March 31, 2023 and cash receipts from net revenues from sales, exclusively made to the Kurdistan Regional Government at the tie-in to the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline, will fund its forecasted capital expenditures and operating and administrative costs through the end of June 2024, including the $76.2 million in deferred purchase consideration owing in connection with the original acquisition of the Hawler license area.

Forza Petroleum's principal shareholder has firmly indicated it will provide up to $10 million until September 30, 2023, if needed, to fund cash outflows.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Forza Petroleum will hold an annual and special meeting of shareholders at the offices of Forza Petroleum Services SA at Route de Pr-Bois 14, 1216 Cointrin, Switzerland on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. (Central European Summer Time). Holders of record of common shares at the close of business on May 1, 2023, the record date for the meeting, will be entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the meeting.

Full details regarding the business of the meeting can be found in the related Management Proxy Circular which, in the coming days, will be mailed to shareholders and published online at www.forzapetroleum.com and on the Corporation's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

CEO's Comment

Commenting today, Forza Petroleum's Chief Executive Officer, Shane Cloninger, stated:

"Forza Petroleum had a productive first quarter, generating more than $18 million from operating activities. A new well in the Zey Gawra field was completed and turned over to production, while another new well, targeting the Cretaceous reservoir in the Demir Dagh field, reached total depth before the end of the quarter. The team also successfully progressed construction of the West Hawler Gathering System, the commissioning of which is expected later this month. The use of these facilities reduce reliance on road tankers, improving the safety, environmental impact, and costs associated with operations in this part of the Hawler license area.

"Unfortunately, the achievements during the quarter were overshadowed with news of the shut-in of the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline at the end of the period. Absent any immediately available alternative sales channels, and with our own storage quickly nearing capacity, we were forced to shut in substantially all production from the Hawler license area.

"We are encouraged by news of progress being made by the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government towards restarting the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline, and consider the pipeline shut-in and related pause in settlement of receivables for oil sales to be temporary. While steps have already been taken to reduce operating costs across the business, Forza Petroleum is maintaining operational readiness and the ability to restart production and deliveries to the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline within 48 hours following the restart of pipeline operations.

"To preserve liquidity, the Corporation's work program for the balance of 2023 has been largely suspended. Our investment plans will be reassessed once oil production and deliveries have restarted, any changes to oil sales terms are clarified, and receipt of payments for oil sales has regularized.

"In the meantime, we remain closely engaged with all stakeholders regarding the pipeline restart and will continue to monitor the situation and take further actions as necessary."

Selected Financial Results

Financial results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and the reporting currency is US dollars. References in this news release to the "Group" refer to Forza Petroleum and its subsidiaries. The following table summarizes selected financial highlights for Forza Petroleum for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, as well as the year ended December 31, 2022.





Three Months Ended

March 31



Year Ended

December 31 ($ in millions unless otherwise indicated)

2023



2022



2022

















Revenue

47.8



82.4



323.8











Working Interest Production (bbl)

747,700



852,600



3,442,000

Average WI Production per day (bbl/d)

8,300



9,500



9,400

Working Interest Oil Sales (bbl)

738,100



851,000



3,445,400

Average Realized Sales Price ($/bbl)

54.19



81.07



78.71











Operating Expense

8.5



8.7



37.2

Operating Expense ($/bbl)

11.49



10.21



10.80

Field Operating Costs ($/bbl)(1)

7.47



6.64



7.02











(Loss) / Profit

(1.8 )

22.2



(138.0 ) Basic and Diluted (Loss) / Earnings per Share ($/sh)

(0.00 )

0.04



(0.23 )











Net Cash generated from Operating Activities

18.6



12.6



112.0

Net Cash used in Investing Activities

(10.1 )

(20.6 )

(65.5 ) Capital Additions(2)

14.2



19.1



58.9











Cash and Cash Equivalents

79.6



16.6



71.1

Total Assets

451.7



612.5



448.2

Total Liabilities

122.7



123.2



117.4

Total Equity

329.0



489.9



330.7

(1) Field operating costs represent Forza Petroleum's working interest share of gross operating costs and exclude the partner share of operating costs carried by Forza Petroleum.

(2) Excludes non-cash additions / (credits) to the decommissioning obligation due to changes in estimates and drilling activity during the period.

Revenue decreased to $47.8 million in Q1 2023 versus $82.4 million in Q1 2022 due to a 33% decrease in average oil sales prices and a 13% decrease in oil sales volumes. Gross (working interest) production and sales of oil in Q1 2023 were 747,700 barrels and 738,100 barrels, respectively, versus 852,600 barrels and 851,000 barrels, respectively, for Q1 2022. The average oil sales price realized in Q1 2023 was $54.19 per barrel versus $81.07 for Q1 2022. In addition to oil sales, revenue includes the recovery of carried costs.

Operating expense, which includes the Corporation's carry of partner costs, decreased 2% to $8.5 million in Q1 2023 versus $8.7 million in Q1 2022 due primarily to decreased facilities costs. The decreased facilities costs were due to a new facilities rental contract which contained lower rates compared to the previous contract. Operating expenses on a per barrel basis increased in Q1 2023 versus Q1 2022 due primarily to a 13% decrease in oil sales volumes.

General and administration expense decreased to $1.6 million in Q1 2023 versus $1.7 million in Q1 2022 due primarily to higher performance related bonuses paid in Q1 2022 than were previously accrued. Of this general and administration expense, 50% is cost recoverable from the Corporation's oil and gas operations.

Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $1.8 million compared to profit of $22.2 million in Q1 2022. The change in result is primarily attributable to a $20.4 million decrease in net revenue resulting from decreased realized sales price, oil sales volumes and recovery of carried costs.

Sales volumes decreased 13% and 10% versus Q1 2022 and Q4 2022, respectively, due to natural declines and the shutdown of the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline on March 25, 2023, partially offset by the contribution of production from new wells.

Net cash generated from operating activities was $18.6 million in Q1 2023 compared to $12.6 million in Q1 2022. The increase mainly reflects higher revenue received during the period and a decrease in cash payments relating to operating expenses, partially offset by an increase in royalties paid during Q1 2023.

Net cash used in investing activities decreased to $10.1 million in Q1 2023 as compared to $20.6 million in Q1 2022 due to decreased drilling and facilities costs.

Capital additions in Q1 2023 totalled $14.2 million as compared to $19.1 million in Q1 2022. In Q1 2023, $13.0 million of capital expenditures related to drilling activities were incurred in the Hawler license area primarily at the Demir Dagh and Ain al Safra fields. Q1 2023 capital expenditures also included $1.0 million of facilities expenditures and $0.2 million on directly attributable support costs.

Cash and cash equivalents increased to $79.6 million at March 31, 2023 from $71.1 million at December 31, 2022, reflecting $18.6 million generated from operating activities partially offset by $10.1 million used in investing activities. Two revenue payments were received during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

The Corporation is obligated to make a further payment to the seller of the Hawler license area in the amount of $76.2 million. Forza Petroleum intends to settle the deferred purchase consideration in full upon receipt of a payment direction and appropriate documentation to comply with settlement regulations.

As at May 9, 2023, there are outstanding: (i) 600,306,357 common shares, and (ii) unvested Long Term Incentive Plan awards which are expected to result in the issuance of up to an additional 13,629,978 common shares upon vesting.

Regulatory Filings

This announcement coincides with the filing with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities of Forza Petroleum's condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the related management's discussion and analysis thereon. Copies of these documents filed by Forza Petroleum may be obtained via www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website, www.forzapetroleum.com.

ABOUT FORZA PETROLEUM LIMITED

Forza Petroleum Limited is an international oil exploration, development and production company. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "FORZ". Forza Petroleum has a 65% working interest in and operates the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has yielded oil discoveries in four areas. Further information about Forza Petroleum is available at www.forzapetroleum.com or under Forza Petroleum's profile at www.sedar.com.

For additional information about Forza Petroleum, please contact:

Kevin McPhee

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 00

[email protected]

Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to forecast work program and capital expenditure, drilling and well workover plans, development plans and schedules and chance of success, future drilling of wells and the reservoirs to be targeted, future facilities work, ultimate recoverability of current and long-term assets, possible commerciality of our projects, future expenditures and sources of financing for such expenditures, expectations that cash on hand as of March 31, 2023 and cash receipts from net revenues from sales, exclusively made to the Kurdistan Regional Government at the tie-in to the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline, will fund the Corporation's forecasted capital expenditures and operating and administrative costs through the end of June 2024 and fund the $76.2 million in deferred purchase consideration owing in connection with the original acquisition of the Hawler license area, the issuance of shares as a result of the vesting of Long Term Incentive Plan awards, future requirements for additional funding, the expected timing for settlement of liabilities including the purchase consideration arising from the acquisition of OP Hawler Kurdistan Limited in 2011, and statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.

Although Forza Petroleum believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. For more information about these assumptions and risks facing the Corporation, refer to the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 available at www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. Further, statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, Forza Petroleum does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Corporation does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Reader Advisory Regarding Certain Figures

Unless provided otherwise, all production and capacity figures and volumes cited in this news release are gross (100%) values, indicating that figures (i) have not been adjusted for deductions specified in the production sharing contract applicable to the Hawler license area, and (ii) are attributed to the license area as a whole and do not represent Forza Petroleum's working interest in such production, capacity or volumes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165452
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Gold79 Mines Ltd. (TSXV: AUU) (OTCQB: AUSVF) ("Gold79" or the "Company") is pleased to share a revised geologic model for the Tyro vein system at its Gold Chain project, northwest Arizona. Recent drilling, geophysics, mapping and sampling provides the following interpretation of the Tyro vein system:

'Bonanza' gold grades of plus 10 g/t Au have been identified along the Tyro mine segment and are hosted by classic low-sulphidation epithermal vein textures over a strike length of 800 metres.

A broad zone of sheeted quartz-chalcedony-adularia-calcite occupying a damage zone from 10 to 60 metres wide defines the emerging resource.

Transverse, intra- to post-mineral faults/veins have displaced the vein system and effectively concealed significant portions of the vein's potentially productive horizon.

Neighboring gold deposits, i.e. Arabian and Katherine veins, have either exploited or explored high gold grades to depths greater than 300 metres below the surface.

Gold79 has been focused on building a plus 2 g/t Au surface mineable resource along the Tyro 'Bonanza' zone. Recent exploration studies have extended the Tyro structural corridor both to the NE and SW (Figure 1). It now appears that the Tyro vein system has a cumulative strike length of 3.4km, greater than 3x the current drilled strike length of approximately 800m. At least 7 vein segments, ranging in length from 300m to over 1km and mineral widths from 20 to 60 metres, have been mapped and sampled.

Derek Macpherson, President & CEO, stated, "Our continued work at Tyro is methodically extending the vein's strike to the northeast and southwest for over 3km. Recent drilling, highlighted by 44.2m at 2.01 g/t Au from hole GC23-24 and 9.1m at 51.09 g/t Au from hole GC23-28, demonstrated to us that Tyro's historical productive zone hosts good continuity of plus 2 g/t Au of low-sulphidation epithermal vein along strike and to depth. Drilling has demonstrated the potential for a from surface resource over the 800m drilled strike length at well above average open-pit grades at the historical Tyro mine, while our work along strike suggests that this could be a much larger gold system."

Summary

The work Gold79 completed has identified 7 vein segments totaling 3.4km of strike length. From NE to SW, these include: 1) NE Tyro Vein/Frisco Mine fault intersection; 2) NE Gap; 3) Tyro Mine; 4) Decimal Hill; 5) SW Gap; 6) Sunrise Vein; and, 7) Sunset Vein, as illustrated in Figure 1. With the exception of the two gap zones, which are under alluvium, Gold79's exploration work has identified broad zones of quartz veining typical of the upper levels of a low-sulphidation epithermal system gold system hosting significant to anomalous gold values.

To date, exploration work has focused on the Tyro Mine and Decimal Hill segments only. Going forward, to support a maiden resource, Gold79 plans to complete a systematic trenching program which will target the NE Gap, Tyro Mine, Decimal Hill and SW Gap segments over the exposed strike length of approximately 1 km and complete follow-up drilling, targeting the gaps between current drill holes and where the Tyro Vein intersects the White Spar fault (Figure 4).





Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the Tyro vein system showing the vein segments defined by WNW- to NW-trending intra- to post-mineral faults and veins.



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Structural Model

Geologic studies, along with drilling in 2021 and 2023 conducted by Gold79, suggest that the historical Tyro vein is a segment of a much more extensive epithermal, gold-rich vein system (Figure 1). The vein system is characterized by abrupt changes in veins styles, vein textures, vein mineralogy and gold grades. Ongoing mapping supports a conclusion that these changes reflect intra- to post-mineral faulting which has dissected the vein system by down-dropping portions of the vein on the SW and NE extensions and relatively elevating central portions (axis of the Katherine Horst) where 'bonanza'-type gold values have been observed along surface vein exposures (Figure 1). The Tyro vein system shares several similarities to the historically productive Katherine and Arabian veins (Arizona Silver), NW and SE, respectively, of the Gold Chain project.

The individual segments comprising the Tyro model include (Figure 1):

NE Tyro Vein/Frisco Mine fault intersection - Extensive argillic alteration along the Frisco Mine fault (>3km) which serves as the SW boundary of the Frisco Graben; gold values

NE Gap - The Tyro structure is concealed for about 400m where it passes beneath a broad alluvium-filled drainage.

Tyro Mine - Shallow mine workings have been developed along the Tyro Mine segment for about 800m. This is a 20 to 40m wide zone of parallel quartz-chalcedony-adularia-calcite veins and hydrothermal breccia hosted in Precambrian granite. Gold grades across the entire zone average about 2 g/t Au and range up to 15 g/t Au.

Decimal Hill - Immediately south of the Tyro pit, vein mineralization occurs as NE- to NW-trending veins, veinlets and breccia in both Precambrian granite and silicified rhyolite. The zone can be traced for about 350m with gold values generally less than 1 g/t Au. The vein package is up to 50m wide.

SW Gap - Veining between Decimal Hill and the Sunrise Vein diminishes in Precambrian granite to nil although widely concealed by talus deposits.

Sheep Trail Ledge and Sunrise Vein - The broad zone of gold-bearing quartz of the Sheep Trail Ledge terminates against the Sunrise Vein which can be traced to the S-SW for about 400m where it terminates against the calcite veins of the Red Hill Ledge. Gold values are typically less than 1 g/t but locally range up to several grams.

Red Hill Ledge and the Sunset Vein - The Red Hill Ledge (RHL) is a broad west-trending zone of silicified rhyolite and Precambrian granite cut by quartz-chalcedony veinlets, stockwork and breccia up to 40m thick and invaded by a late, gray calcite which likely reflects late or post-mineral movement. The broad zones of calcite along the RHL support late-stage, right-lateral movement between 300 to 400 metres (Figure 1). The Sunset Vein is truncated against the RHL and extends to the S-SW for about 1km. The vein/breccia ranges from 20 to 50m wide and consists of mostly banded chalcedony veinlets and breccia. Surface and drill hole samples are generally less than 0.2 g/t Au with a few values up to 11 g/t Au.

These segments collectively comprise the revised Tyro vein system model in Figure1, with a total length of at least 3.4km.

The descriptions of the Tyro vein segments above are presented below in a longitudinal view of the vein system. In summary (Figure 2), the Tyro Mine segment represents the deepest erosion into the vein system where high gold grades can be observed over several hundred metres of strike. Downward displacement of the vein both to the NE and NW has effectively concealed the 'bonanza' zone and the ultimate target of future exploration.





Figure 2. Generalized geologic projection of vein segments into the trace of the Tyro vein system. The section is oriented about N45E and across the Katherine Horst revealing the relative elevation of the Tyro mine segment with elevated gold values.



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The segments of the Tyro vein system are shown in their estimated vertical position in the classic Buchanan epithermal vein exploration model (right side; Figure 3). Both from textural and geochemical perspectives, the Tyro vein segment is the only portion of the vein that is entirely within the 'productive horizon'. This work now suggests that Gold79's Sunset and Sunrise Vein segments are southern extensions of the Tyro vein system and supports more systematic exploration along a major mineralized structural corridor.





Figure 3. Exploration model for low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein systems illustrating vertical variations in quartz textures, structure, alteration and geochemistry along with the estimated vertical positions of the several structural segments of the Tyro vein system. Diagram adapted from: Buchanan (1980), Hollister (1985), Berger & Eimon (1983), Anaconda Corp. (1983), Guoyi (1992) and Corbett & Leach (1996).



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Economic Significance

Studies suggest that no more than one-fourth of the Tyro vein system has been eroded to the 'Bonanza' zone. Two small drilling programs have been completed for a total of 686.1 metres in 10 holes. All holes were designed to establish continuity between surface values to shallow depths. The last hole in the early 2023 campaign, hole GC23-28, identified high grades at about 50 metres below the surface of 9.2m at 51.3 g/t Au at the intersection with the White Spar fault/vein. Table 1 demonstrates that nearly all holes have encountered potentially economic grades and widths at shallow depths. Figure 5 provides a plan view of the Tyro mine and Decimal Hill segments along with planned trenches and drill holes for follow-up exploration work.

Table 1. Summary of drill results from Phases 1 and 2 along the Tyro Mine vein segment.

Hole No. Target Total Hole

Depth (m) Azimuth Inclination Interval (m) Width Gold Comments From To (m)* (g/t) GC21-13 N. Tyro 60.96 320 -50.0 32.0 44.2 12.2 1.67 L1000 GC21-14 N. Tyro 60.96 320 -50.0 29.0 48.8 19.8 1.85 L950 GC21-15 N. Tyro 54.86 320 -60.0 10.7 32.0 21.3 2.00 L900 GC21-16 N. Tyro 45.7 320 -50.0 18.3 30.5 12.2 1.73 L850 Tyro Mine 106.7 305 -50.0 57.9 102.1 44.2 2.01

Line 400 below pit GC23-23 including 62.5 67.1 4.6 5.19 including 85.3 93.0 7.6 4.26 Tyro Mine 67.0 305 -55.0 18.3 44.2 25.9 2.27

Line 300 GC23-24 including 18.3 25.9 7.6 3.93 including 42.7 44.2 1.5 14.53 GC23-25 Tyro Mine 94.5 305 -50.0 24.4 76.6 51.8 0.28 Line 200 GC23-26 Tyro Mine 91.4 305 -50.0 3.0 35.0 32.0 0.54 Line 150 GC23-27 Tyro Mine 18.3 50 -55.0 0.0 18.3 18.3 0.13 Lost hole below void (stope?). Tyro Mine 85.3 50 -55.0 0.0 85.3 85.3 6.23 including 0.0 61.0 61.0 0.51 GC23-28 including 59.4 68.6 9.2 51.30 Strong quartz veining including 73.2 76.2 3.1 151.60 Strong quartz veining including 73.2 74.7 1.5 282.00 including 68.6 83.8 15.2 0.83 Hole lost at fault





Figure 4. Plan-view of the Tyro Mine segment showing the location of Phase 1 and Phase 2 drill holes, proposed drill holes and trenches, surface rock sampling and geologic mapping.



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Figure 5. Geologic map of the central portion of the Gold Chain project showing the segmented nature of the Tyro vein system as it traverses the North Oatman Miocene rhyolite dike swarm. Gold values shown demonstrate distinct populations within the segments suggesting structural juxtaposition along the vein system.



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Qualified Person / Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., the Company's Vice President, Exploration is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release. Mr. Johansing has also been responsible for all phases of drilling programs including sample collection, labelling, bagging and transport from the project to American Assay Laboratories of Sparks, Nevada. Samples were then dried, crushed and split, and pulp samples were prepared for analysis. Gold was determined by fire assay with an ICP finish, over limit samples were determined by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Silver plus 34 other elements were determined by Aqua Regia ICP-AES, over limit samples were determined by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Standard sample chain of custody procedures were employed during field work and the drilling campaigns until delivery to the analytical facility.

About Gold79 Mines Ltd.

Gold79 Mines Ltd. is a TSX Venture listed company focused on building ounces in the Southwest USA. Gold79 holds 100% earn-in option to purchase agreements on three gold projects: the Jefferson Canyon Gold Project and the Tip Top Gold Project both located in Nevada, USA, and, the Gold Chain Project located in Arizona, USA. In addition, Gold79 holds a 32.3% interest in the Greyhound Project, Nunavut, Canada under JV by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.

For further information regarding this press release contact:

Derek Macpherson, President & CEO

Phone: 416-294-6713

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.gold79mines.com.

Book a 30-minute meeting with our CEO here.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release may contain forward looking statements that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business including any future private placement financing, the uncertainty as to whether further exploration will result in the target(s) being delineated as a mineral resource, capital expenditures, operating costs, mineral resources, recovery rates, grades and prices, estimated goals, expansion and growth of the business and operations, plans and references to the Company's future successes with its business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Gold79 does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165307
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NNA) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce the first phase exploration program planned for the Napoleon project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of British Columbia. The exploration program, which will be carried out by Tripoint Geological Services, will be comprised of a grid sampling program (approx. 800 samples), rock sampling and prospecting, in addition to a 70-line-kilometre property-wide airborne magnetic geophysical survey and a 5-line kilometre follow-up IP survey.

"We are excited to commence with the first phase of a planned multi-phase exploration program at the Napoleon project," commented Jeremy Poirier, CEO of Golden Independence. "Given the significant infrastructure and year-round property access, we would be able to quickly advance the project on the back of a successful exploration program."

The Napoleon property occurs along the same northwest trending erosional exposure through Chilcotin basalts as the Bonaparte Mine. The Bonaparte Mine, located to the southeast, is comprised of several en echelon high-grade gold-bearing quartz veins with similar intrusive rocks mapped within the Napoleon property. Exploration within the region dates back to the 1970's and 1980's with the discovery of gold mineralization in several clusters of quartz vein float material over a diorite intrusion with grades varying from 3.4 to 547 g/t gold1. The adjoining Bonaparte deposit has been extensively explored including underground development, open pit mining, and a bulk sampling which yielded grades of 26.5 g/t gold from a 3,700 metric tonne bulk sample2.

Golden Independence cautions investors it has yet to verify the historical information and further cautions mineralization on the Bonaparte deposit is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Napoleon Gold Project.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (BC) a Qualified Person under NI43-101 and a Director and the President of Golden Independence Mining Corp.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the development-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada in addition to the wholly owned Napoleon gold project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of BC and Yukon gold claims in the Watson Lake district of the Yukon. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project is comprised of over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970's with the discovery of high-grade gold. The Yukon gold projects are comprised of almost 8,000 hectares of quartz claims prospective for high-grade gold mineralization with historical grab sampling highlights of 144 g/t gold.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.604.722.9842

Email: [email protected]

This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the commencement of the exploration program at the Napoleon project and the exploration potential of the Yukon Claims. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, inherent risks associated with the mining industry and the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations, general market and industry conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law.

________________________

1 ARIS 32930 BC Geological Survey Assessment Report

2 Bonaparte Gold Technical Report dated April 12, 2019

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The billionaire founder of Foxconn vowed Sunday at a rally that if elected president of Taiwan, he would be able to "preserve peace" between the democratic self-ruled island and China.

Taiwan will elect its next leader in January 2024 to succeed President Tsai Ing-wen, whose two terms in power have been marked by unprecedented tensions with Beijing, which views the island as part of its territory to be reclaimed.

Terry Gou -- the founder of Foxconn which is a key supplier of Apple's iPhones -- had announced in April he planned to seek the presidential nomination of Taiwan's China-friendly opposition Kuomintang party.

During his first-ever rally, in Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung --traditionally a stronghold of Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- Gou urged his supporters to "let me preserve peace."

"The last two years, what I have seen is a government who cannot see the sufferings of the people," the 72-year-old said in a speech to a sea of more than 10,000 supporters. "What do the people worry about the most now? They are most concerned that war will break out anytime."
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Kingsmen Resources Ltd.(TSXV: KNG) (OTCQB: KNGRF)("Kingsmen" or the "Company") is pleased to report that multiyear land access agreements have been signed for its Las Coloradas Project located 30km from Hildago, Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. Kingsmen will commence it's planned exploration program in preparation of a diamond drilling program.

Scott Emerson, President commented: "obtaining land access at Las Coloradas is a key step in the progression of exploration work. Access has been granted over key areas of historic silver-gold mining activities."

The Las Coloradas Project ( 8.5 km2 -3.3 sq miles) represents a consolidation of a historic mining district which covers numerous silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mines previously exploited by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), the U.S. based subsidiary of Grupo Mexico.

Las Coloradas is in the Parral mining district of the Central Mexican Silver Belt, and is located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of the city of Hildago de Parral and 40 kilometers east of the San Francisco de Oro and Santa Barbera mining districts where several old major mines are located, such as La Prieta, Veta Colorada, Palmilla, Esmeralda, San Francisco del Oro and Santa Barbara. As well, new major mining projects are currently being explored in the district; Cordero (Discovery Silver Corp.), 35 kms north of Parral, and La Cigarra (Kootenay Silver Inc.), 35 kms northwest of Parral. Click here to see locator map, https://www.kingsmenresources.com/area-history.

Qualified Person

Kieran Downes, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure set out in this news release.

About Kingsmen Resources

In line with Kingsmen's organic-growth strategy, the Company's focus is on exploration and development, and is currently focused on district-scale exploration for high -margin metallic mineral deposits in the prolific mining districts of Parral Mexico. In addition, the company has a 1% NSR on the Los Ricos North project in Mexico operated by GoGold Resources Inc. The Company's leaders have extensive experience in the mining and financial sectors. Kingsmen is a publicly-traded company (TSXV: KNG) (OTCQB: KNGRF) and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

On behalf of the Board,

Signed: "Scott Emerson"

Scott Emerson,

President & CEO

Phone: 6046859316

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement:

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project and receipt of regulatory approval, are forward-looking statements. Although Kingsmen believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since Kingsmen can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Kingsmen's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: Kingsmen's ability to make the required payments under the definitive agreements; and Kingsmen's ability to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Kingsmen's expectations include risks associated with the business of Kingsmen; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions to the closing of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project; non-completion of the acquisition of the Las Coloradas Project; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Las Coloradas Project; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in Kingsmen's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Kingsmen does not undertake any obligation to update forward looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165306
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - M3 Metals Corp. (TSXV: MT) (FSE: X0V) ("M3 Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a mineral property option agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire up to an eighty (80%) percent interest in the Lakshmi Property (the "Lakshmi Property"), a mineral property prospective for lithium and located in California.

The Agreement, dated effective May 8, 2023, is between the Company and IMEx Consultants Inc. (the "Vendor"). The Agreement provides that the Company can earn a sixty (60%) percent interest in the Lakshmi Property by: (i) issuing 2,000,000 shares to the Vendor and paying to the Vendor the sum of USD$150,000 upon regulatory approval of the Agreement; and (ii) making USD$400,000 in exploration expenditures on the Lakshmi Property within twelve (12) months of regulatory approval of the Agreement.

The Company can acquire an additional twenty (20%) percent interest in the Laskshmi Property by issuing an additional 2,000,000 shares to the Vendor and making an additional USD$2,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Lakshmi Property within thirty-six (36) months of regulatory approval of the Agreement.

The Agreement is subject to the regulatory approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The transactions contemplated in the Agreement constitute a Fundamental Acquisition (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) and, as such, require completion of a technical report on the Laskshmi Property prior to receipt of regulatory approval. No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Agreement and the Agreement is an arm's length transaction. There are no royalties or underlying option or other agreements related to the Lakshmi Property.

The Lakshmi properties comprise 96 staked BLM and County registered lode mining claims covering 2,641 acres (761 hectares). The claims encompass a 9km strike length of exposed Barstow Formation clay-rich sediments containing anomalous levels of lithium.

Trading in the shares of the Company will remain halted on the Exchange pending receipt and review by the Exchange of acceptable documentation regarding the Fundamental Acquisition pursuant to Section 5.6(d) of Exchange Policy 5.3.

ABOUT M3 METALS CORP.

M3 Metals Corp. is a Canadian listed Company, focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of mineral properties in North America. For additional information please visit M3 Metals website at www.m3metalscorp.com. You may also email [email protected] or call investor relations at (604) 669-2279.

M3 METALS CORP.

"Kosta Tsoutsis"

Kosta Tsoutsis, CEO

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, currency risks including the exchange rate of US$ for CDN$, changes in exploration costs and government royalties or taxes in Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165327
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been ranked #4 globally for mining attractiveness by the Fraser Institute. The 2022 Annual Survey of Mining Companies ranks 62 jurisdictions around the world for their geologic mineral potential, policy factors and quality of infrastructure. https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2022.pdf.

Garett Macdonald, President and CEO, commented, "We are not surprised to see the province of Newfoundland and Labrador recognized near the top of all global jurisdictions for mineral exploration and development. Maritime's flagship Hammerdown Gold Project seeks to restart a high grade gold mine in the Baie Verte mining district and benefits greatly from enormous untapped mineral potential, world class infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. A positive feasibility study for Hammerdown was completed in 2022 and the project was released from provincial environmental assessment in only eight months, with the remaining permitting underway. The provincial regulatory framework is straight forward for all stages of mine development. Maritime has been awarded a $1M grant from the provincial Climate Change Challenge Fund to be received in support of future capital costs of sorting technology, demonstrating leadership by the Province in supporting innovative technologies used in industry to reduce carbon emissions."

Maritime is also pleased to announce the inaugural "Young Minds in Mining Career Showcase" on May 25, 2023 at Valmont Academy in the Town of King's Point, Newfoundland and Labrador. Approximately 200 high school students from six participating high schools within the Baie Verte-Green Bay district will have an opportunity to meet with and learn about career options in the mining business from industry participants. Post secondary educational institutions will also be in attendance to inform students of programs and training opportunities which support future careers in the mining industry. Maritime continues to invest in youth and recognizes that this is key to ensuring a workforce for the mining industry in the future.

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime holds a 100% interest-directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership in the Green Bay/Whisker Valley/El Strato Properties. This includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project plus the Whisker Valley exploration project, all located in the Baie Verte Mining District near the town of King's Point, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Hammerdown Gold Project is characterized by near-vertical, narrow mesothermal quartz veins containing gold associated with pyrite. Hammerdown was last operated by Richmont Mines between 2000 and 2004. The Company also owns the gold circuit at the Nugget Pond metallurgical facility in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Lac Pelletier gold project in Rouyn Noranda, Qubec.

On Behalf of the Board:

Garett Macdonald, MBA, P.Eng.

President and CEO

1900-110 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1T4

Phone: (416) 365-5321

[email protected]

www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" "plans" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the low capital intensity and rapid payback of the Project, the exploration upside relating to the Project, the pursuit of mine life extensions, the potential to increase mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, returns and FCF relating to the Project, capital financing processes relating to the Project, development of the next drill program on the Project, exploration and development of the Orion deposit, "Run of Mine" ore scheduled to be mined from the Project, timing of submission of the Project Development Plan and the Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan for Hammerdown, timing of future site construction, timing to first gold production, length of construction period for the Project, timing of completion of required permitting, timing for approvals to be obtained for the closure and development plans relating to the Project, availability of capital financing, the non-equity portion of any construction capital financing, timing of completion of construction capital financing process, amongst other things, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company in good faith as at the date of such information. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, base metal concentrates, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the use of ore sorting technology will produce positive results, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to continue to be able to access the capital markets for the funding necessary to acquire, maintain and advance exploration properties or business opportunities; global financial conditions, including market reaction to the coronavirus outbreak; competition within the industry to acquire properties of merit or new business opportunities, and competition from other companies possessing greater technical and financial resources; difficulties in advancing towards a development decision at Hammerdown and executing exploration programs at its Newfoundland and Labrador properties on the Company's proposed schedules and within its cost estimates, whether due to weather conditions, availability or interruption of power supply, mechanical equipment performance problems, natural disasters or pandemics in the areas where it operates; increasingly stringent environmental regulations and other permitting restrictions or maintaining title or other factors related to exploring of its properties, such as the availability of essential supplies and services; factors beyond the capacity of the Company to anticipate and control, such as the marketability of mineral products produced from the Company's properties; uncertainty as to whether the acquisition of assets and new mineral property interests including the Nugget Pond gold circuit will be completed in the manner currently contemplated by the parties; uncertainty as to whether mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves once economic considerations are applied; uncertainty as to whether inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied; government regulations relating to health, safety and the environment, and the scale and scope of royalties and taxes on production; and the availability of experienced contractors and professional staff to perform work in a competitive environment and the resulting adverse impact on costs and performance and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in each MD&A of financial condition and results of operations. In addition, forward-looking information is based on various assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions associated with exploration results and costs and the availability of materials and skilled labour. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Maritime undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165281
ISPOR 2023 Presentation Shows 33% Lowered Costs with Gleolan Compared to Conventional White Light Surgery

Toronto, Ontario and Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Medexus Pharmaceuticals (TSX: MDP) (OTCQX: MEDXF) today presented data demonstrating a 33% cost savings with Gleolan (aminolevulinic acid HCl) oral solution, compared to conventional white light surgery, in US patients with high-grade glioma. The data were presented at ISPOR 2023, the annual meeting of the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (formerly known as the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research) in Boston, Mass.

"These latest data reinforce that the efficiencies from Gleolan clearly justify the costs in all appropriate patients in whom imaging complete resection, or ICR, is a goal of surgery," commented study investigator Andrew E. Sloan, MD, a neurosurgeon at Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta, Ga.

Use of Gleolan has been associated with improved imaging complete resection (ICR). In the pivotal trial leading to its approval, the ICR rate for Gleolan-guided surgery was 64%, compared to 38% for conventional white light surgery.*

"Although Gleolan is additive to the cost of surgery, its use results in lower cost per ICR, and therefore is a more efficient use of resources in the surgical resection of high-grade glioma," said Mark Fosdal, DHSc, PA-C, Director of Scientific Communications at Medexus.

The study presented at ISPOR 2023 compared the cost per ICR with Gleolan-guided surgery (in conjunction with blue light) to that of conventional white light surgery in patients with high-grade glioma. In reviewing data from facilities representing 80% of all Gleolan utilization in the United States, the investigators calculated an average adjusted total cost savings per ICR of US$38,292 for Gleolan-guided surgery when compared to conventional white light surgery.

* Gleolan (aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride [ALA-HCl]) for oral solution prescribing information. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208630s000lbl.pdf. Accessed May 1, 2023.

About Gleolan

Gleolan is the first and only optical imaging agent approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people with high-grade glioma (suspected World Health Organization [WHO] Grades III and IV on preoperative imaging) as an adjunct for the visualization of malignant tissue during surgery. Its active ingredient, aminolevulinic acid HCl (also known as 5-ALA), is a natural metabolite in the human body that is produced within the hemoglobin metabolic pathway.

When combined with white light and a blue filter, 5-ALA illuminates the brain tumor in a fluorescent pink color, allowing the neurosurgeon to see suspected malignant high-grade glioma tissue in real time. By providing the neurosurgeon with a better view of the surgical field, Gleolan facilitates a more precise and complete resection (removal) of the tumor.

NX Development Corp., the licensor of Medexus's commercialization rights to Gleolan in the United States, estimates that Gleolan has been used in more than 100,000 surgeries conducted in 42 countries worldwide. In pivotal studies in patients with suspected malignant high-grade glioma, use of Gleolan has been associated with decreased need for reoperation, no increased risk for long-term neurological complications, and reduced frequency and time to reintervention.**

Adverse reactions occurring in >1% of patients in the week following surgery were pyrexia, hypotension, nausea, and vomiting. For more information about Gleolan, including additional important safety information and physician training information, see the Full Prescribing Information, which is available on the product's website at www.gleolan.com.

Gleolan, as discussed in this news release, is approved by the FDA for sale and use in the United States only and is not intended for export outside the United States. Medexus makes no representation that Gleolan, as discussed in this news release, is appropriate for, or authorized for sale to or use by, persons who are not located in the United States. Medexus holds exclusive commercialization rights to Gleolan in the United States.

Gleolan, as discussed in this news release, is a registered US trademark of photonamic GmbH & Co. KG. Solely for convenience, trademarks may appear without the "" or similar symbols. Each such reference should be read as though it appears with the relevant symbol. Any such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the holder or holders of the relevant intellectual property rights will not assert those rights to the fullest extent under applicable law.

** Stummer W, Pichlmeier U, Meinel T, Wiestler OD, Zanella F, Reulen H-J. Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid for resection of malignant glioma: a randomised controlled multicentre phase III trial. Lancet Oncol. 2006;7:392-401.

About Medexus

Medexus is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company with a strong North American commercial platform and a growing portfolio of innovative and rare disease treatment solutions. Medexus's current focus is on the therapeutic areas of oncology, hematology, auto-immune diseases, and allergy. For more information about Medexus and its product portfolio, please see the company's corporate website at www.medexus.com and its filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Contacts

Ken d'Entremont | CEO, Medexus Pharmaceuticals

Tel: 905-676-0003 | Email: [email protected]

Marcel Konrad | CFO, Medexus Pharmaceuticals

Tel: 312-548-3139 | Email: [email protected]

Victoria Rutherford | Adelaide Capital

Tel: 480-625-5772 | Email: [email protected]

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (forward-looking statements). The words "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "will", "plans", "potential", and similar words, phrases, or expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words, phrases, or expressions. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential healthcare economic and other benefits of Gleolan. These statements are based on factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions based on historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, and, in particular, Medexus's interpretation and assessment of the data presented by Medexus as summarized in this news release. Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they require making assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Medexus cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material risk factors include, but are not limited to, those set out in Medexus's materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including Medexus's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis. In addition, specific risks and uncertainties relevant to the content of this news release include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research initiatives (including the possibility of unfavorable new data and further analyses of existing data); the risk that data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities and/or other relevant third parties; and whether relevant third parties will be satisfied with the design and methodology of and results from the relevant study, which will depend on many factors, including determinations as to whether the product's benefits outweigh its known risks and determinations of the product's efficacy and cost-effectiveness in the context of a given facility (which varies by facility type). Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this news release. Other than as specifically required by law, Medexus undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

Uniform resource locators

Uniform resource locators, or website addresses, that appear in this news release are intended to be provided as inactive textual references only. Information contained on or accessible through these website addresses is not a part of this news release and is not incorporated by reference into this news release or any of Medexus's public filings.

Additional notes

The information in this news release is provided for informational purposes to investors in Medexus securities only, and is not intended to constitute promotion of any product nor any other activity that would violate any applicable law.

Medexus sponsored the publication referenced in this news release, and Medexus employees and paid consultants participated in the authoring and editing of the publication.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165467
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - MYND Life Sciences(CSE:MYND) (OTCQB:MYNDF) ("MYND" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical research and development company creating innovative precision medicines for patients with relentless neurological diseases, today announced details regarding its Management Cease Trade Order.

In accordance with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203") MYND is giving the following update:

On March 1, 2023, the Company announced that it applied for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada on the basis that the Company would be unable to file its Annual Audited Financial Statement, the Required Filing, for the year ended October 31, 2022 by the applicable filing deadlines. The MCTO was issued on March 1, 2023 and restricted all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Mynd is pleased to announce that under section 164 of the Securities Act the MCTO has been revoked upon the filing of all necessary documentation including the Annual Audited Financial Statements and Q1 Financial Statements. Mynd is now up to date on all filings.

The Company would like to thank all management for their diligence in achieving this timeline.

ABOUT MYND LIFE SCIENCES INC.

MYND Life Sciences Inc. is a medical biotech drug research and development company focused on neuro-pharmaceutical and novel drug development, diagnostics and vaccines. MYND is developing new biological entities (NBEs) and new chemical entities (NCEs) and differentiates itself from other (bio)pharmaceutical companies by unique molecular concepts for the applications of psilocybin analogs for overcoming disease. The Company advances pharmaceutical developments through rigorous science and clinical trials while diligently patenting and safeguarding its intellectual property.

For more information and to subscribe to MYND's mailing list, please visit https://myndsciences.com/contact-us.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Lyle Oberg, MD, CEO

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.myndsciences.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of MYND to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this release.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

None of the securities issued in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165412
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Orestone Mining Corp. (TSXV: ORS) (OTC Pink: ORESF) (FSE: O2R1) (WKN: O2R1)has reevaluated the presence of porphyry dykes intersected within thick sections of gold-copper mineralized altered volcanics in three drill holes C20-03, C21-01 and C21-02 on the Captain Porphyry Project. These highly altered quartz Monzonite porphyry dykes measure from 4 to 110 metres thick grading up to 0.84 g/t gold and up to 1700 ppm copper.

On section line L1220 four porphyry dykes are mapped from 4 to 82 metres thick grading from 0.28 to 0.84 g/t gold and 540-1700 ppm copper. These dykes dip at 45 degrees and lie in close proximity to the outlined MT conductor/porphyry anomaly, to view maps please click here to visit Orestone's website. The closest dyke to the anomaly grades 0.84 g/t gold and 1700 ppm copper over 14 metres with values up to 1.8 g/t gold and 0.22 % copper.

On section line L1320 the drill holes are located 300 metres north of the section line with two dykes mapped in the hanging wall of the MT conductor/porphyry anomaly. The dykes are from 10 to 110 metres thick and grade from 0.18 to 0.70 g/t gold and 200 ppm copper.

The presence of these altered and mineralized dykes both in the hanging wall and dipping into the observed MT conductor/potential porphyry intrusive implies that they are related and it is thought highly probable that the planned drill holes will intersect a gold-copper porphyry intrusive system with values similar to the adjacent dykes.

Gary Nordin, P.Geo, a Director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Nordin has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

Orestone Mining Corp. is a professionally managed mineral exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company's primary asset is the 100 percent owned Captain gold-copper Project which hosts a large gold dominate porphyry system. The property encompasses 105 square kilometres located 41 kilometres north of Fort St. James and 30 kilometres south of the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine in North Central British Columbia. The Captain Project features relatively flat terrain, moderate tree cover, and an extensive network of logging and Forest Service roads suitable for exploration year round. To stay informed of Orestone's latest activities please click here to provide consent and receive news and updates. For more information, please visit Orestone's website at: www.orestone.ca.

ON BEHALF OF ORESTONE MINING CORP.

David Hottman

CEO

For further information contact: David Hottman at 604-629-1929| [email protected]



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this News Release. This news release has been prepared by management and no regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165308
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - ParcelPal Logistics Inc. (OTCQB: PTNYF) (CSE: PKG) (FSE: PT0A) (the "Company" or "ParcelPal") today announced that its annual report filing, including on Form 20-F, due May 1, 2023, was not timely filed due to unexpected delays in completing its audit and the certification of it, and not the result of any financial restatement, disagreements, or other financial reporting issues. Under Canadian regulatory rules, the Company was notified yesterday that its stock trading would be temporarily halted (in Canada only) until the filing of our annual report was completed in compliance with applicable rules and regulations of the CSE and the British Columbia Securities Commission. In addition, on May 1, 2023, the Company filed a form 12b-25, Notification of Late Filing, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which grants the Company an automatic 15-day extension to comply with our reporting obligation. The Company now expects to file its annual report on or by May 15, 2023, prior to the expiration of the extension period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

ParcelPal CEO Rich Wheeless stated: "Over the course of FY 2022, we have significantly expanded and continually addressed operational diversification, which involved a lot of moving pieces, including through a second U.S. expansion, which has in part caused the audit to take longer than expected. Although the delay is not ideal by any means, rest assured the Company is in good shape and we look forward to sharing the FY 2022 annual report and press release highlighting these successes in the coming days. We do not expect such delays to occur again in the future."

About ParcelPal Logistics Inc.

ParcelPal is a Vancouver, British Columbia based company that specializes in last-mile delivery service and logistics solutions. We are a customer-driven, courier and logistics company connecting people and businesses through our network of couriers in major Canadian cities including Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, as well as in the western region of the United States. Some of our verticals include pharmacy & health, meal kit deliveries, retail, groceries and more.

ParcelPal Website: www.parcelpal.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"), the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other securities regulatory authority has reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release that has been prepared by management.

OTCQB - Symbol: PTNYF

CSE - Symbol: PKG

FSE - Symbol: PT0A

Contact Information

Investor Contact

[email protected]

T: (587) 883-9811

Company Contact

Rick Underhill, Director of Investor Relations

ParcelPal Logistics Inc.

[email protected]

T: (587) 883-9811

Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should" or "would" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental, and other judicial, regulatory, political, and competitive developments; and other risks outside of the Company's control.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165427
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A2QQ0Y) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") announces that the Company has been issued a cease trade order dated May 8, 2023 (the "CTO") by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") for missing the filing deadline of May 1, 2023 for the following periodic disclosure documents (collectively, the "Annual Filings"):

annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022;

annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022; and

certification of annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2022.

As a consequence of the CTO, trading of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange has been halted. While missing the May 1, 2023 filing deadline was through no fault of the Company, the Company expects to complete the SEDAR filing of the Annual Filings within the next few days. After the SEDAR filings are completed, the CTO will be revoked; and the Company is coordinating with the TSX Venture Exchange to coordinate a resumption of trading as expeditiously as possible once the CTO has been revoked.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

About Thesis Gold

Thesis Gold is a Vancouver based mineral exploration company focused on proving and developing the resource potential of the 178km2 Ranch Gold Project located in the "Golden Horseshoe" area of northern British Columbia, approximately 300 km north of Smithers, British Columbia.

Further details are available on the Company's website at: https://www.thesisgold.com/

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO and Director

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell

Vice President

The Howard Group Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 403-410-7907

Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

Nick Stajduhar

Director

Thesis Gold

Telephone: 780-701-3216

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165392
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to raise a minimum of $500,000 and up to an aggregate of $1,000,000 by way of a non brokered private placement (the "Offering"). The Offering will consist of up to 4,000,000 Flow Through Units (the "FTU") at a price of $0.10 per Unit, for proceeds of up to $400,000; up to 3,424,658 Charity Flow Through Units (the "CFU") at a price of $0.1168 per Unit, for proceeds of up to $400,000; and 2,500,000 Hard Dollar Units (the "HDU") at a price of $0.08 per Unit for proceed of up to $200,000. All Units (FTU, CFU, HDU) will consist of a common share and a half warrant. Each full warrant entitles the investor to purchase a common share in the Company at anytime for $0.15 for a period of 2 years. The Company may re-allocate among FTU, CFU and HDU depending on market demand. The initial Purchasers of the CFU may subsequently donate such CFU to registered charitable organizations, who may in turn choose to sell such CFU Units (the "Re-Offered Units") to purchasers at a price of $0.08 per Re-Offered Unit (the "Re-Offer Price") or sell such Re-Offered Units to purchasers at the Re-Offer Price. The Company will not be a party to any such arrangements. A finder's fee may be paid in connection with the Offering to finders, as determined by mutual agreement between the Corporation and the finders and subject to regulatory approval. The finders' fee will consist of 6% cash for Units sold to investors introduced by such finders, and non transferable share purchase warrants equal to 6% of such CFU, FTU or HDU sold to investors ("Compensation Warrants"). The Compensation Warrants will permit the purchase of one common share in the capital of the Company for 24 month from closing at a price of $0.15.

Proceeds from the FTU and CFU securities issued in connection with the Offering, will be used to explore and advance critical minerals properties in Ontario (Maude Lake Ni-Cu-PGM and Saturday Night PGM) and the Yukon (Pike Warden Au-Ag-Cu). Completion of the Offering will be subject to all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the Offering will be completed as proposed or at all. HDU securities issued in connection with the Offering are intended for exploration and corporate activities.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the FTUs and CFUs will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in Canada, except Quebec, and/or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). Because the Offering is being completed pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, the securities issued under the Offering will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document relating to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.transitionmetalscorp.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting:

Scott McLean

President and CEO

Transition Metals Corp

Tel: (705) 667-6178

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS PRESS RELEASE, PROVIDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165317
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. (PRWEB) May 09, 2023

Fusus was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award in the Achievement in Technology Innovation category and a Bronze Stevie Award in the Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year with up to 2,500 employees in The 21st Annual American Business Awards.

The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Thought Leader of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Fusus was nominated in the Achievement in Technology Innovation category and the Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year category for the Most Innovative Company of the Year.

"Fusus is proud to have been honored with multiple Stevie Awards," said Chris Lindenau, CEO of Fusus. "We are grateful to be recognized for helping create a truly unified and community-focused public safety ecosystem. Our Real-Time Crime Center in the Cloud (RTC3) platform was designed to bring law enforcement together with business and community leaders to solve everyday issues that impact their citizens. We are committed to this mission which has proven to help lower crime and improve life safety response in approximately 200 communities around the United States, including several foreign countries. Recognition like this amplifies our message and mission, which helps us fulfill our goal to protect those who serve, and those they serve."

More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners.

"It is very gratifying for us to be able to recognize the achievements of such a wide variety of organizations, teams, and individuals in the 21st ABAs, and we look forward to bringing them together in New York on June 13 to celebrate with them," said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards.

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2023 Stevie winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

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Korea's exports of rechargeable batteries are expected to increase by one-third on average every year, boosting the country's growth by 0.3 percent a year, Goldman Sachs predicts.

"Considering the production ramp-ups in the U.S. and Europe, technological advancement and tax credits from the U.S., Korean battery makers have the upper hand to benefit from the burgeoning demand for electric vehicles in the regions other than China," the global investment bank said in a recent report.

But Chinese battery makers are catching up quickly, buoyed by their dominance in their home market.
City of Istanbul and Wienerberger Group reduce emissions and optimize operations with SAS

ORLANDO, Fla. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS INNOVATE -- To support greener business strategies, leading organizations are increasingly turning to AI, machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) analytics. These technologies are helping them become more sustainable, reduce emissions, and develop smarter and more efficient operations.

Istanbul (@municipalityist) and @Wienerberger are applying #analytics from @SASsoftware for a greener tomorrow.

SAS offers AI and advanced analytics solutions that transform data into better decisions. Underpinning these solutions is SAS Viya, SAS' cloud-native, massively parallel AI and analytics platform.

"A sustainable future requires solutions grounded in science and data to address climate change and adapt to its effects," said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight . "Innovative and resilient organizations like the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Wienerberger Group are applying analytics from SAS to support a greener tomorrow. Whether reducing traffic congestion or optimizing energy usage, they demonstrate some of the many ways AI and advanced analytics are also making a difference today."

Istanbul optimizes traffic with AI

The population of Istanbul , the bustling business and financial capital of Turkey , has doubled over the last 20 years, reaching 16 million. This growth puts enormous pressure on the city's transportation network. Some of the world's most congested traffic creates gridlock in a labyrinth of local streets, and on modern highways and bridges.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has turned to SAS to create smart-city digital infrastructure. With SAS analytics, Istanbul's engineers and planners can better understand, forecast and manage the city's traffic challenges.

At its core, the new system is powered by AI and machine learning running on SAS Viya. It analyzes historical traffic data and incorporates live data feeds from a growing network of sources, including traffic cameras, sensors, data readers, mobile applications and payment gateways.

The results of this analysis can optimize bus routes with new traffic and passenger data to improve service and route availability. It can also anticipate traffic anomalies such as accidents, lane closures and sudden areas of congestion in real time by analyzing route densities, driver behavior and journey maps. With analytics models, IMM road operations can better control traffic signals and notify drivers through digital signage and mobile apps.

"With SAS AI and analytics, Istanbul's municipal government can assess traffic conditions in real time, anticipate congestion trouble spots, and intelligently route traffic and guide citizens on their journeys," said Dr. Naim Erol Ozguner, CIO of IMM.

"This helps reduce congestion, lower pollution levels and improve the quality of life for our citizens. The SAS-powered system supports Istanbul's sustainability goals, restores public confidence in mass transit, and ultimately improves traffic flow that leads to better economic opportunities."

Over the last year, EU countries have dramatically cut imports of Russian natural gas and oil, imposing sanctions in response to Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine . The cut  and instability in energy markets globally  has dramatically increased energy costs across Europe .

Wienerberger  from brick plants to data-driven factories

For Austria -based Wienerberger Group, a leading provider of smart and sustainable solutions for the entire building envelope as well as innovative infrastructure solutions and the world largest brickmaker, this instability has meant a search for ways to reduce energy consumption while lowering greenhouse emissions and improving product quality. Wienerberger turned to AI and IoT analytics from SAS, running SAS Viya on Microsoft Azure Cloud, to help optimize energy costs and achieve its ambitious sustainability goals. By 2023, the company aims to reduce emissions by 15% compared to 2020 and be completely climate-neutral by 2050.

Working with SAS, Wienerberger selected a factory in Poland for an initial project. As one of the brickmaker's best performing plants, the successful project now serves as a template for expanding the use of AI to other facilities.

Wienerberger collects data from a wide range of sources, from IoT edge devices and sensors throughout its factories to environmental data on weather and humidity to product spot checks during and after production. All this data reveals fluctuations that can lead to inefficiencies and unnecessary energy use.

With kilns for drying bricks running at 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit (800 degrees Celsius), the goal is to reduce variability to find ideal, repeatable production steps.

SAS helped Wienerberger develop a digital twin of its brick production processes that helps explain the fluctuations. The AI-powered digital twin also offers insights into changes that can lower energy use, improve product quality and reduce emissions.

"We use SAS AI and IoT analytics to link all our data streams together and analyze the entire production process. SAS analytics brings intelligence to the kiln by helping our engineers and frontline workers gain valuable insights into each step and identify specific setpoints to make the drying and firing of bricks more economical," said Florian Zittmayr, Team Lead for Data Science at Wienerberger AG.

Wienerberger is seeking to expand the use of advanced analytics in the cloud across 149 facilities in 23 countries. By optimizing energy consumption and reducing CO 2 emissions through SAS AI and IoT analytics, Wienerberger is turning brick plants into data-driven factories.

Today's announcement was made at SAS Innovate, the AI and analytics business conference from analytics leader, SAS. To keep up with the latest news from SAS, follow @SASsoftwareNews on Twitter.

For more on SAS industry solutions that can help organizations of any size, visit www.sas.com/en_us/industry.html.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Mike Nemecek

SAS

[email protected]

919-531-5140

sas.com/news

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SOURCE SAS
The US company is bullish on the UK marketplace and plans to invest 60m in the region.

ATLANTA , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Argenbright Group, a leader in technology-enabled workforce solutions, grows its UK operations and commits to investing an additional 60 million in the country over the next two years.

The Atlanta -based company has already invested 60 million to date since re-entering the UK in 2022 through its security platform, Argenbright Security Europe Limited. The company rapidly grew its security services portfolio in the country in recent months, beginning with a strategic investment into Amberstone Security in 2022, quickly followed by the acquisition of Protector Group that same year and a partnership with Tailored Fire & Security in early 2023. Argenbright is now looking to expand its footprint, with plans to include aviation services in the UK .

Ernie Patterson , Chairman, International Business for Argenbright Group: "We are deliberate and thoughtful regarding where and how we align ourselves. These three acquisitions and partnerships bring a technology-led approach to the security and safety business. I'm proud to help lead the Argenbright brand in the UK and foster its unique business approach within the British market."

The Atlanta -based Argenbright Group is a privately held family of companies. Its current portfolio includes, among others, Velociti Services, a facilities services company, and Unifi Aviation, the largest provider of aviation services in the United States . Argenbright has a history of operating businesses at scale in the UK , with operations in both the security services and aviation services starting in the early 1990s. The company is now looking to reestablish itself in the UK as it continues to cement its position as an entrepreneurial leader.

Karan Ishwar , Group CEO, Argenbright Group: "The UK is an integral part of Argenbright's story, and it's an integral part of our future growth. We are optimistic about our growth prospects in the country and feel confident about what's in our pipeline. We have also been fortunate to have fantastic partners so far and are committed to continuing to invest in the UK and its people."

Argenbright currently has four offices and a team of 3000 employees in the UK dedicated to its mission of delivering exceptional service and products to its clients.

The Argenbright Group is a privately held family of companies that provides tech-enabled solutions to various industries, including aviation services, facilities management, and commercial and government security. Argenbright Group was founded in 1979 by Atlanta -based entrepreneur Frank A. Argenbright , Jr., and has grown to a $1.4 billion global operation with presence across the U.S. , Canada , the UK , and Europe . The Argenbright portfolio includes Velociti Services, Unifi Aviation, and Argenbright Security Europe Limited (ASEL) among others.

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SOURCE Argenbright Group
PARIS , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Artprice by Artmarket's deployment of algorithmic AI via its proprietary Intuitive Artmarket is a tool that can generate highly relevant and personalized recommendations, allowing users to go infinitely further in their discovery of art and the art market.

Serveur Group, the founding shareholder of Artprice by Artmarket, is still by far the largest stakeholder with 45.78% of the voting rights (Ehrmann family not included). Serveur Group is one of Europe's leading pioneers of the Internet, computer graphics, pattern recognition, and professional databases since 1987 (see TIME Magazine 2001) and therefore has a deep-rooted and highly-advanced digital and scientific culture.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072231/Abodeofchaos.jpg

Copyright thierry Ehrmann - courtesy of La Demeure du Chaos / Abodeofchaos - Organ Museum of Contemporary Art

Over the past few decades, Artprice by Artmarket.com and Serveur Group have developed thousands of increasingly powerful and relevant proprietary algorithms that allow the implementation of their own AI, in strict compliance with existing regulations, notably those relative to personal data and intellectual property.

This evolution was made possible by Serveur Group's and then Artprice's subsequent acquisition of innovative companies Like Xylogic, a Swiss company made up exclusively of prestigious scientists (from CERN, WHO, etc.) since 1999. In retrospect, this move (and others) was considerably ahead of its time, and it laid the foundations for our move toward the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance the transparency and dynamism of the art market.

It is important to remember that Artprice by Artmarket has twice consecutively (a rare occurrence for companies listed on a regulated market) been awarded France's state-backed "Innovative Company" label which is subject to strict eligibility and is awarded by the Banque Publique d'Investissement (bpifrance).

As regards the current legislative context, we note that quite apart from the battery of legislation regarding General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the proposed European law on artificial intelligence (EU AI Act) and all existing intellectual property laws mean that the use of artificial intelligence in Europe (and probably the rest of the world shortly thereafter) will be subject to a great many constraints.

The principle problem may be expressed as follows: how to deliver a relevant AI result to users without walking all over intellectual property rights? Remember that the outcome of any search using Artificial Intelligence is only, in fine, a result contrived by the algorithmic processing of billions of already existing data.

Then there is the problem of ascertaining who owns the data in order to pay any copyright and related rights to be able to use it legally for commercial purposes configuring a paid service that respects the intellectual property laws of each country that is the challenge (no less!).

According to thierry Ehrmann, founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket.com, Artprice by Artmarket will be able, through its own AI Intuitive Artmarket, to take each of its 7.2 million customers and members "from discovery to revelation".

"...Our algorithms can parse billions of proprietary logs, texts, and hundreds of millions of artworks from Artprice's databases. They can identify semantics that qualify an artist's primary artistic ambitions, his/her universe, inspirations, mediums used, major themes developed, shapes and volumes worked, etc... and then search for corresponding syntonies in our logs of 810,000 artists with their biographies and certified data. In other words, instead of relying on academic visual criteria, the system will make connections based on the neural networks of our artificial intelligence, Intuitive Artmarket."

Neural networks, also called 'artificial neural networks' (ANNs) or just 'neural nets' are a subset of machine learning and are at the heart of deep-learning algorithms. Their name and structure are inspired by the human brain, mimicking the way biological neurons and their synapses send signals to each other along the axons.

Artprice by Artmarket.com's spiking neural networks rely on initial data training that teaches them to learn and improve their accuracy over time. Once these learning algorithms are tuned with high precision, they represent powerful tools in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, and it is these AI algorithms that will allow Intuitive Artmarket to classify and collate multimedia data at a very high speed.

For example, high-definition images or even old fine art engravings can be recognized in seconds rather than tens of minutes in a manual identification process conducted by well-known fine art experts.

If we look a the bigger picture, it has been very interesting to observe the trials and tribulations of one of the best-known neural networks on the planet, Google's search algorithm (which Artprice has been studying and analyzing daily since 1999). Since the beginning of 2023, Artprice Inc., Artmarket's American subsidiary, has been closely watching the development of Bard, Google's prototype chatbot based on its LaMDA language model. Google CEO Sundar Pichai is acutely aware of the opportunities and risks in this project and is reported to have issued a company-wide "code red" for its development. Whether or not this is true, Google, with a global market share of 93%, is the best laboratory for studying AI because it has a colossal existing economic dimension, unlike other AIs, where the risks (and economic profits) are still 'potential'.

Artprice by Artmarket's R&D department is creating spiking neural networks (SNNs) which 'cogitate' differently from human beings, without biases from emotions or 'disorders'. Our ambition is of course to put artificial intelligence at the service of art and art market professionals, institutions, collectors, and enthusiasts.

So, quite apart from its technical and scientific competence, Artprice by Artmarket's overwhelming strength is its capacity to use its own high-value-added data, produced and delivered for 25 years now as World Leader in Art Market Information. Not only does our position guarantee an unmatched level of consistency and relevance with respect to the responses it gives to searches, but it also overrides many of the aforementioned copyright issues, since our data is our data.

Artprice by Artmarket.com is the most important market-info player in the global art market. Its Artprice department has the most comprehensive databases on art prices and art market indices, with more than 30 million indices and sales results concerning works by more than 810,000 artists.

Artprice Images provides unlimited access to the largest art market archive in the world, with its documentary collection of manuscripts and auction catalogs, forming a physical and digital library made up of 180 million images (or engravings) of artworks from 1700 to the present day, all checked and commented by art historians. In this very specific economic sector, no company in the world has such a high volume of ultra-qualified and proprietary data, with the original documentation being a very important asset and representing an almost impregnable barrier to entry.

In addition, Artmarket, with its Artprice department, constantly enriches its databases with data from 6,500 auction houses and it continuously publishes art market trends for the world's main press agencies and 7,200 press titles around the world. This inexhaustible source of continually up to date data will ensure that Intuitive Artmarket will be way ahead of its competitors.

Very few companies in the world can claim to use AI on a proprietary terrain. And yet it is the only way of complying with the various intellectual property laws around the world, which are increasingly vast and complex, with grueling legal procedures taking over several years.

Artprice by Artmarket has registered as a professional beta-tester with Microsoft and its Bing search engine linked to GPT-4. Bing's AI can search on the Internet, whereas ChatGPT (excluding plugins) is currently limited to a database that stops in the year 2021.

The possibilities offered by the tool are therefore immense, hence its popularity: Microsoft Bing Chat now attracts more than 100 million active daily users and comes with a commitment to "responsible AI" that respects copyrights and other related rights.

The fact that Microsoft has just launched a paid subscription of $240 /year to use its AI tool confirms the viability of this economic model for Artprice and its own AI, Intuitive Artmarket.

In thousands of beta-test searches with terms related to artists and the art market, Artprice by Artmarket has observed that the responses provided by Bing AI GPT-4 regularly quoted Artprice.com and Artmarket.com URLs as references for their sources. Microsoft's Bing works in partnership with OpenAI to provide an experience that encourages responsible use.

As we have seen, the development and implementation of 'responsible AI' is currently one of the major concerns of the G7 nations (announcement of April 30, 2023 ), as is the adoption of 'global regulations' on AI in the shortest possible timeframe.

Regarding copyright legislation in the context of artificial intelligence, the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the bloc "should find a political agreement as early as this year" (Reuters News: April 30, 2023 ), which is very positive for Artmarket.com.

We have also seen the Italian government's reaction to ChatGPT: it is strictly prohibited in Italy . This illustrates the kind of obstacle that AI developers face, regardless of their financial power and their lobbying capacity.

The truth is, in the AI domain, the potential for IP conflict is exponential. Take for example Stability AI, the creator of an AI generating synthetic photos, currently being accused of having extracted millions of images from the databases of Getty Images.

Artmarket's AI (Intuitive Artmarket ) works exclusively within a perimeter of proprietary content and is therefore protected under intellectual property legislation. This proprietary content is an almost infinite data mine built over three decades and covering more than four centuries of art market activity. The net result is that the aforementioned obstacles and potential prohibitions do not concern us because we do not need to look elsewhere for data or answers to very specific searches by people working on or interested in art and/or the art market.

This fact is, therefore, a guarantee not just of the sustainability of Artprice by Artmarket's economic model, but also of our shareholders' peace of mind and of considerable growth in the future of Artprice by Artmarket.com's business, with a constant increase in turnover.

The use of artificial intelligence will increase Artmarket.com's revenue, while ultimately reducing its operating costs. Our Intuitive Artmarket will provide our art market clients and participants with very relevant and truly personalized recommendations, allowing them to deepen their own knowledge of the art market, and de facto, will generate more sophisticated subscriptions and therefore a greater volume of annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Intuitive Artmarket will provide precise answers to users' searches quickly and the time saved will reduce energy consumption, which is fully in line with Artmarket's eco-responsible philosophy. As a result of the reliable, scientific, and sustainable avant-garde energy solutions implemented by Artprice by Artmarket, our CSR report testifies to an extremely positive ecological impact.

At the forefront of digital regulations, Europe is currently drafting laws on AI with its "Artificial Intelligence Act" and Artprice by Artmarket is contributing to this process with its lawyers and advisers. The Act aims to establish a number of specific constraints taking into account personal data protection as well as copyright and exhaustive source citation.

According to the best Anglo-Saxon financial analysts  who are one step ahead of Europe in this area  the only economically viable model that does not expose the economic entity (however big or small) to incessant legal proceedings is an AI-based on an extremely well-defined economic segment where information plays a key role, and where the entity in question has full intellectual property of all the Big Data (including Data mining), and confirmed ownership of the copyrights and associated rights to that data on all its algorithms, databases, machine learning, and neural networks.

In short, the AIs that will triumph with a very substantial economic gain, without major industrial or legal risk, are the economic entities that own the full intellectual property rights to all of the different stages of a proprietary AI in a defined market segment where high value-added information, at a high cost, is vital. This is precisely the case with our AI project Intuitive Artmarket developed by Artprice by Artmarket.com

Many researchers are trying to establish the genesis of AI.

Of the myriad of possible answers to this question, Artprice was intrigued by an article that appeared on the website "The Conversation" (Academic rigor, journalistic flair). Entitled " Blaise Pascal and the beginnings of artificial intelligence", the article offers a judicious answer: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) can be credited with two essential innovations that make it possible to envisage artificial intelligence today: he developed the first mechanical calculator in history and he developed the first rudiments of the calculation of probabilities.

According to thierry Ehrmann (biography Who's Who In France :

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/04/2023_2_Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf), Founder of Artprice and CEO of Artmarket, the Group's guideline for its AI is very simple: "There can be no artificial intelligence without human intelligence".

Image: [https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/05/AbodeofChaos-thierry-Ehrmann-IMG-3606.jpg]

Copyright 1987-2023 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com

Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: [email protected]

for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

(free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987.

See certified biography in Who's who :

Biographie-thierry-Ehrmann_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 803,000 artists.

Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform.

Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 7200 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 7.2 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

Artmarket, with its Artprice department, has twice been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI), which has supported the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the art market.

Artprice by Artmarket's Global Art Market Report, "The Art Market in 2022", published in March 2023 :

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2022

Artprice releases its 2022 Ultra-Contemporary Art Market Report:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2022

The Artprice 2022 half-year report: the art market returns to strong growth in the West:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/global-art-market-in-h1-2022-by-artprice-com

Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

https://serveur.serveur.com/artmarket/press-release/en/

Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 6.2 million followers)

twitter.com/artmarketdotcom

twitter.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

 L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o

 www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (over 4 million followers)

 https://vimeo.com/124643720

Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: Thierry Ehrmann , [email protected]

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SOURCE Artmarket.com
DALLAS , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BAL has been recognized by Inc. magazine, a premier business publication, as one of the Best Workplaces of 2023.

"This recognition validates BAL's core value of putting people first," said CEO Jeremy Fudge . "Inc. magazine selecting us as one of the best workplaces in the world confirms our people feel that and, in turn, live that out with each other every day."

BAL was chosen from thousands of submissions on the basis of a rigorous selection process conducted by third party Quantum Workplace. Quantum conducted an employee survey covering topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth and overall company culture as well as audited the firm's benefits to score and rank them compared to other companies in the country.

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," said Scott Omelianuk , Inc. editor in chief. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

BAL Chief People and Culture Officer Nicole Dawson noted that BAL stands apart thanks to innovative talent-development programs, including Explorers, where employees shadow colleagues in roles they are interested in; Elite Performance Transformation, which goes beyond traditional performance evaluations to support employees' personal and professional goals; and development programs designed to enhance BAL's culture by strengthening its leaders.

"These unique programs together with BAL's collaborative culture contribute to our exceptional workplace environment and reputation," she said. "This honor by Inc. confirms we are operating at a level far beyond just the legal industry and setting new benchmarks for all companies."

About BAL

Established in 1980, BAL powers human achievement through immigration expertise, people-centered client services and innovative technology. BAL, with 13 offices across the United States and global coverage in more than 185 countries around the world, operates as a single entity through its oneBAL culture  a uniquely holistic approach, intentionally structured as one team, one brand, one P&L, one standard of excellence and one unifying technology. This united approach enables the firm to deliver the highest level of knowledge, insights and resources from across the entire organization.

At BAL, we pursue the exceptional. To learn more visit bal.com.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts and print.

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SOURCE BAL
LOS ANGELES , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, April 1 st, 2023, the California Science Center Foundation hosted its 24th Annual Discovery Ball where 600 guests dined and danced "Under the Maya Sky." This year's theme was inspired by the Science Center's newest exhibit, Maya: The Exhibition. Thanks to the generosity of presenting sponsor United Airlines and many other generous donors, the Discovery Ball achieved its revenue goal of $1.5 million in support of educational exhibits, programs and operations of the Science Center; including more than $200,000 to underwrite education program scholarships for young students facing financial barriers. "We are grateful for the wonderful generosity of our sponsors and guests, particularly United Airlines, our gala presenting sponsor, who have continued to support the Science Center," remarked California Science Center President and CEO, Jeff Rudolph . "Proceeds from our signature fundraiser enable us to provide exceptional science learning and education opportunities for our communities."

Gala guests were among the first to journey through this Mesoamerican exhibit, where they marveled at an impressive collection of over 250 authentic Maya artifacts; many of which are on tour outside of Guatemala for the first time, including a majestic 9-foot-long sculpture of a jaguar warrior, and a stunning jade mask.

Attendees were transported to the Yucatan peninsula to the rhythm of live marimba music accompanied by Maya cultural dance group, Ajpop Tecum. Through an explosion of color, the museum space was transformed with the use of authentic Guatemalan textiles, Mesoamerican-inspired art, picturesque hacienda backdrops, and bright flowers and lights.

Guests enjoyed a decadent dinner for the last gala beneath the wings of Endeavour in its current location of the Samuel Oschin Pavilion  before the space shuttle is moved to its new home in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, currently under construction  and danced under a projection of the Maya night sky to a live 12-piece "Miami Sound Machine" cover band. They also had the opportunity to enjoy a quieter, more soothing environment in a separate area, fully equipped with delectable stations of artisan chocolates, a Mexican Hot Chocolate and Guatemalan Coffee Bar, and a Mezcal tasting with a Mezcal Sommelier.

By the end of the evening, which included guests generously participating in a lively auction and raise-the-paddle, the gala had raised $1.5 million for the Science Center's mission of stimulating curiosity and inspiring science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences  and what a memorable experience this Discovery Ball was!

Among those in attendance were the Honorable Jose Arturo Rodriguez Diaz , Consul General of Guatemala in Los Angeles , as well as respected local, state, and federal US elected officials, including: United States Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove ; Former California Governor Gray Davis ; California State Senators Steve Bradford , Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and former Senator Roderick Wright ; California State Assembly members Wendy Carrillo and Reggie Jones-Sawyer ; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell ; Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price and former Council President Herb Wesson . The evening's Master of Ceremonies was NBC Host and Correspondent, Gadi Schwartz . Among other guests were former NASA astronauts, Danny Olivas and Garrett Reisman ; and NBC LA reporters, Kim Tobin and Conan Nolan .

About the California Science Center

The California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults, and students can explore the wonders of science through hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs, and awe-inspiring movies. The Science Center values science as an indispensable tool for understanding the world, accessibility and inclusiveness, and enriching people's lives.

The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive , Los Angeles . The Science Center is open daily from 10:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m. with free general admission (closed Thanksgiving , Christmas and New Year's Day ). Parking at Exposition Park is $15 .

Media Contact:

Maria Sosyan | [email protected]

(213) 744-2144

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SOURCE California Science Center Foundation
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S. , announces the acquisition of Estrella Insurance to its non-standard national brand Freeway Insurance. Confie's latest acquisition significantly expands its footprint in Florida and their franchise division.

Estrella Insurance operates more than 190 locations across Florida , California , Arizona , Texas , and Colorado. For over 40 years, they have provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Estrella will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with their acquisition.

"Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers, and business owners alike. We are excited to welcome them into our ever-growing family," said Cesar Soriano , Confie CEO. "Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands."

In 2022, Freeway Insurance introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs. With more than 530 retail stores nationwide, business owners get access to the company's established business model, respected brand, a wide range of national and regional insurance carriers, and back-office resources. Shortly after, Confie acquired Velox Insurance in December 2021 . Velox primarily offers franchising to business owners in the Georgia market.

"Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and our growth plan," said Nick Estrella Jr ., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella."

In addition to its acquisitions, Confie recently announced the expansion of its business process outsourcing division (BPO) with the launch of a new service center in Tijuana , being ranked #1 Personal Lines Leader by Insurance Journal for a seventh straight year and the expansion of their InsureOne brand by way of an agency network for independent insurance agents.

"Confie's expansion plans rely on strategic acquisitions and we welcome that challenge," said Chad Maxwell , SVP, mergers & acquisitions, Confie. "Identifying places where we can strengthen our presence helps us accomplish growth and development, and we are actively seeking great partners to join the Confie family."

If you are interested in selling your agency or exploring a partnership with Confie, visit confie.com. To learn more about our franchises, please visit freewayfranchise.com or estrellafranchise.com.

About Confie

Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are  with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

About Freeway Insurance

Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States . The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 500 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620.

About Estrella Insurance

Miami -based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S. , it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information about Estrella Insurance, visit www.estrellainsurance.com.

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SOURCE Confie
ORLANDO, Fla. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Francene Gayle , a renowned family healthcare provider and founder of The Impact Mission, is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Francene Gayle Scholarship for Healthcare Students. This scholarship is aimed at supporting students pursuing a degree in the healthcare field who are committed to making the world a better place through their career.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants must be a student at a university in the United States or a high school student who plans to attend university in pursuit of a degree in healthcare. The scholarship will be awarded based on an essay competition, with one winner receiving a one-time award of $1,000 . The winning essay will be no more than 1000 words in length and must answer the question: "How would you use your healthcare degree to make the world a better place?"

Dr. Francene Gayle has practiced family medicine and has dedicated over a decade of her life to providing quality healthcare services to individuals and families in need. She is deeply passionate about improving healthcare access and equality, particularly for underserved and underprivileged populations.

In addition, Dr Francene Gayle is also the founder of The Impact Mission, a non-profit organization that is committed to advancing healthcare equity and access for all. Through this organization, she and her team have provided free medical services and screenings to uninsured and underprivileged individuals, as well as education and awareness campaigns on various health issues.

"Through this scholarship, I hope to inspire and support future healthcare professionals who are dedicated to improving the world through their work," said Dr. Gayle . "I believe that by investing in the education and training of these individuals, we can make a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of our communities."

To apply for the scholarship, please visit https://drfrancenegaylescholarship.com/dr-francene-gayle-scholarship/ and complete the application form. Applicants must include their essay response, a copy of their most recent transcript, and proof of enrollment at a university in the United States or proof of their intention to attend university in pursuit of a degree in healthcare.

For further information about the Dr. Francene Gayle Scholarship for Healthcare Students, please visit https://drfrancenegaylescholarship.com/.

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SOURCE Dr. Francene Gayle Scholarship
Initiative is Part of Company's Ongoing Commitment to Furthering Transparency in Cybersecurity

ATLANTA , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE: EFX) is furthering its commitment to transparency in cybersecurity by making its security and privacy controls framework public for the benefit of security and privacy teams at organizations of all sizes. By enabling the larger technology ecosystem with the tools to design, build and maintain secure processes, Equifax is helping empower companies to set a cybersecurity and privacy posture that is more adaptable to evolving threats.

"Over the course of several years, we've made unprecedented investments in our cybersecurity, and now, we're open sourcing our security and privacy controls framework to help other organizations who need it," said Russ Ayres , Senior Vice President, Security Architecture and Engineering of Equifax. "The framework we've created is comprehensive enough to protect an entire organization and has the specificity to ensure that it can be implemented swiftly and effectively."

Five core capabilities  cybersecurity, privacy, fraud prevention, crisis management and physical security  are represented in Equifax's unified security and privacy controls framework. Equifax selected the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Cybersecurity Framework ( NIST CSF ) and Privacy Framework ( NIST PF ) as the foundation for its security and privacy controls because these guidelines support a comprehensive, defense-in-depth approach to security and privacy. Their flexible, risk-based structure can also be tailored to meet a company's specific needs.

"This framework is the foundation of our strength in cybersecurity," said Jamil Farshchi , Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer of Equifax. "It has served as the basis for nearly every improvement we made in security and privacy and it was the mechanism we used to establish our strategic priorities, assess risk across our enterprise, navigate regulatory requirements, and drive progress. Our hope is that others will leverage this blueprint to help build or enhance their own cybersecurity programs."

The Equifax security and privacy controls framework can be found on controlsframework.equifax.com . Equifax is among the few, if any, public companies that have made their security and privacy controls framework available to the public. For more information about cybersecurity at Equifax, check out the company's 2022 Security Annual Report.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 14,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America , Central and South America , Europe , and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ben Lord for Equifax

[email protected]

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SOURCE Equifax Inc.
RENO, Nev. , May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") reports its operating and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 . i-80's Consolidated Interim Financial Statements ("financial statements"), as well as i-80's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Operations and Financial Condition ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2023 , are available on the Company's website at www.i80gold.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Unless otherwise stated, all amounts referred to herein are in U.S. dollars.

2023 First Quarter Highlights:

Q1 2023 gold sales of 2,349 ounces, including the first gold sold from the Granite Creek property

property March 31 cash balance of $57 million and $33 million in restricted cash

cash balance of and in restricted cash Continued exploration success at Ruby Hill including multiple new high-grade discoveries and expansion of gold and polymetallic mineralization

6,890 core feet and 320 RC feet drilled to expand monitoring of the hydraulic properties at McCoy Cove

Continued underground core drilling delineation of the CSD Gap ore body at McCoy Cove (10,699 feet)

9,389 tons of oxide mineralized material shipped to Lone Tree from Granite Creek for processing

from for processing Entered into an agreement to acquire Paycore Minerals Inc.

Engineering Class III study of Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment continued on plan

"We are encouraged to have achieved the milestone of our first gold sale from Granite Creek , with over 400 ounces sold. We continue to advance development and improve production capabilities at this site and expect a ramp up through 2023. In addition, we continued to have production from the residual leaching at both Lone Tree and Ruby Hill ", stated Ryan Snow , Chief Financial Officer of i-80. "We continued to advance development at McCoy-Cove and exploration at Ruby Hill spending nearly $9.0 million during the quarter to further understand the Hilltop and Blackjack zones at Ruby Hill and the CSD Gap ore body at McCoy Cove. With the additional capital raise completed in February, we will continue to advance i-80's projects towards our ultimate goal of being a mid-tier Nevada focused producer."



Three months ended

March 31 , (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted) 2023 2022





Revenue 4,548 2,857 Cost of sales (6,542) (1,525) Depletion, depreciation and amortization (1,421) (167) Mine operating income (loss) (3,415) 1,165





Expenses



Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development 8,979 9,254 General and administrative 5,191 3,273 Property maintenance 2,449 326 Share-based payments 1,308 1,442 Operating loss (21,342) (13,130)

Production and sales totaled 2,349 gold ounces for the quarter at a realized gold price of $1,927 1 per ounce sold.

Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development costs were $9.0 million in Q1. This expenditure mainly reflects the exploration and pre-development work at McCoy Cove and Ruby Hill .

Lone Tree

Lone Tree is expected to become the hub of i-80's Nevada operations and the central processing facility for gold mineralization from the Granite Creek , McCoy-Cove and Ruby Hill underground gold deposits. Importantly, Lone Tree is host to infrastructure that, following successful refurbishment efforts, will position i-80 as one of only three companies in the United States capable of processing both oxide and refractory mineralization.

During the quarter, the Company continued leaching the residual material on the pads as planned and shipped approximately 1,950 ounces of gold on loaded carbon from site to further processing. Additionally, the Company continued to advance the engineering study and cost estimate for the restart of the autoclave.

Lone Tree produced and sold from its residual leaching activities 663 ounces of gold during Q1 at a realized gold price of $1,962 1 per ounce sold.

Granite Creek

During Q1 the Company continued its efforts to upgrade existing de-watering infrastructure to ensure efficient operations and have mined 16,648 tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 9.9 g/t, of which 9,389 tons of oxide material was hauled to the Lone Tree leach pad to continue processing. As of March 31, 2023 , 1,870 feet of development were completed as part of the Company's ramp up plan.

Granite Creek produced and sold 444 ounces of gold during Q1, at a realized gold price of $1,938 1 per ounce sold.

McCoy-Cove

There was 7,210 feet of core and RC drilling conducted during the first quarter of 2023 for hydrogeologic characterization to support permitting efforts. Underground delineation drilling continued during Q1 with 10,699 feet of core drilled. Expenditures continued during the quarter on the exploration ramp and hydrology studies, and engineering of de-watering and mining options. As of the end of the first quarter, development footage completed was 1,308 feet. Total footage development of the project life as of Q1 2023 is 4,403 feet.

Ruby Hill

During the first quarter of 2023, drilling at Ruby Hill was primarily focused on further definition and expansion of high-grade polymetallic mineralization along the Hilltop fault structure, successfully extending mineralization over a strike length of approximately 750 metres and resulting in the discovery of additional zones. 13,875 feet of core drilling and 25,750 feet of RC drilling was completed during the quarter. In addition to drilling at Hilltop, multiple holes are being drilled to test the Blackjack Zone and these holes are intended at testing new targets. The Ruby Hill property provides significant optionality as it is host to oxide gold, sulphide gold, polymetallic CRD and skarn base metal mineralization. All deposits are located in close proximity to the underground infrastructure development being planned in 2023.

Residual leaching activities at Ruby Hill produced and sold 1,242 ounces of gold during Q1 at a realized gold price of $1,904 1 per ounce sold.

Investor Day Presentation

The Company will hold an "Investor Day" presentation immediately following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 9, 2023 , being held at Bennett Jones LLP office  100 King St W Suite 3400, Toronto in the Canada Boardroom on the 34th floor. The inperson AGM will begin at 4:00pm EST followed by the Investor Day presentation commencing at 4:30pm EST . The presentation can also be accessed via a conference call and webcast (details below). Investors are invited to attend the event inperson where they can meet and discuss details with members of i-80's Board of Directors and Management Team.

Conference Call Participant Details Webcast URL: https://app.webinar.net/AyeNd3zbxWk Phone Number Information: North American Toll-free: 1-888-664-6383

Local Toronto: 1-416-764-8650

Qualified Persons

Tyler Hill , CPG-12146, Chief Geologist, and Tim George, PE, Mining Operations Manager, at i-80 have reviewed this press release and are the Qualified Persons for the information contained herein and are a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada -focused mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected].

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, actual production results and costs, results of operation outcomes and timing of updated technical studies at the Company's mineral projects, timing to advance mineral projects to production and advance permitting and feasibility work on the on its mineral projects and future production, development and exploration results. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labor unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to i-80's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The Company has included certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under IFRS in this document. These include: adjusted net earnings and average realized price per ounce. Non-IFRS financial performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements.

Definitions

Adjusted earnings / (loss) and adjusted earnings / (loss) per share excludes from net earnings / (loss) significant write-down adjustments and the gain / (loss) from financing instruments.

Average realized gold price represents the sales price of gold per ounce before deducting mining royalties, treatment and refining charges and gains or losses derived from the offtake agreement with Orion.

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. It may not be comparable to information in other gold producers' reports and filings.





Three months ended March 31 , (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)(i)













Nevada production

2023 2022 Revenue per financial statements $ 4,548 2,864 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (21) (7) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 4,527 2,857 Ounces of gold sold ounce 2,349 1,489 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,927 1,918







Lone Tree





Revenue per financial statements $ 1,304 1,631 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (4) (7) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 1,300 1,624 Ounces of gold sold ounce 663 843 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,962 1,926







Ruby Hill





Revenue per financial statements $ 2,382 1,233 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (16)  Gold revenue from mining operations $ 2,366 1,233 Ounces of gold sold ounce 1,242 646 Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,904 1,908







Granite Creek





Revenue per financial statements $ 861  Silver revenue from mining operations $   Gold revenue from mining operations $ 861  Ounces of gold sold ounce 444  Average realized gold price $/ounce 1,938 

(i) May not add due to rounding.

Adjusted Earnings / (Loss)

Adjusted earnings / (loss) and adjusted earnings / (loss) per share are non-IFRS measures that the Company considers to better reflect normalized earnings because it eliminates non-recurring items. Certain items that become applicable in a period may be adjusted for, with the Company retroactively presenting comparable periods with an adjustment for such items and conversely, items no longer applicable may be removed from the calculation. Neither adjusted earnings / (loss) nor adjusted earnings / (loss) per share have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

The following table shows a reconciliation of adjusted earnings / (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, to the net earnings / (loss) for each period.



Three months ended

March 31 , (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)(i) 2023 2022





Net loss for the period $ (13,118) $ (23,263) Adjust for:



Gain / (loss) on warrants 5,568 (3,105) Gain / (loss) on convertible loans 8,366 (6,093) Loss on deferred consideration (427) (844) Loss on fair value measurement of Gold Prepayment Agreement (3,091)  Loss on fair value measurement of Silver Purchase Agreement (857)  Inventory net realizable value adjustment (4,025)  Total adjustments $ 5,534 $ (10,042) Adjusted loss for the period $ (18,652) $ (13,221) Weighted average shares for the period 245,603,313 239,301,138 Adjusted loss per share for the period $ (0.08) $ (0.06)

(i) May not add due to rounding.

1 Specified financial measure which is not a standardized measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar specified financial measures used by other entities. Please see "Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" for the composition of such specified financial measure, an explanation of how such specified financial measure provides useful information to a reader and the purposes for which management of i-80 uses the specified financial measure, and where required, a reconciliation of the specified financial measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp
WESTCHESTER, IL. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA) (the "Company") today announced that with the successful closing of the IAA, Inc. acquisition, the Company is changing its corporate name to RB Global. The Company's common shares will continue to be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker "RBA." RB Global will go-to-market and do business with customers under the Ritchie Bros. and IAA, Rouse and SmartEquip brands, among others, reflecting the brands' strong heritage and significant brand equity. In conjunction with the name change, RB Global has launched a new corporate website at www.RBGlobal.com.

RB Global operates a leading, omnichannel marketplace that provides value-added insights, services and transaction solutions for buyers and sellers of commercial assets and vehicles. Through its auction sites in 14 countries and digital platform, RB Global serves customers in more than 170 countries around the world across asset classes, including automotive, commercial transportation, construction, government surplus, lifting and material handling, commercial accessories, agriculture, among others.

"The RB Global name signifies the transformation of our business into a premier global marketplace and more closely aligns with our strategy," said Ann Fandozzi , CEO of RB Global.

"Over the last several years, we have worked to create a new growth platform that extends beyond auctions by building out our suite of solutions, enhancing our technology offerings and expanding our real estate footprint. The IAA acquisition accelerates these efforts, adding significant scale, reach and capabilities. As one company  RB Global  we have a unified vision for success and value creation. Our employees are excited to be part of this new company, and the progress we are making to advance our integration plan reinforces my confidence in the compelling upside ahead," continued Ms. Fandozzi .

The name change, which was approved by the Company's shareholders, will be made effective upon the filing of the articles of amendment in the coming days.

About RB Global

RB Global (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA) is a leading, omnichannel marketplace that provides value-added insights, services and transaction solutions for buyers and sellers of commercial assets and vehicles worldwide. Through its auction sites in 14 countries and digital platform, RB Global serves customers in more than 170 countries across a variety of asset classes, including automotive, commercial transportation, construction, government surplus, lifting and material handling, energy, mining and agriculture. The company's marketplace brands include Ritchie Bros ., the world's largest auctioneer of commercial assets and vehicles offering online bidding, and IAA, a leading global digital marketplace connecting vehicle buyers and sellers. RB Global's portfolio of brands also includes Rouse Services, which provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system; SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers; Xcira, a leader in live simulcast auction technologies; and Veritread, an online marketplace for heavy haul transport. For more information about RB Global visit RBGlobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, in particular, statements regarding future branding plans, timing with respect to the anticipated name change, financial and operational results, opportunities, and any other statements regarding events or developments that Ritchie Bros . believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan, "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or statements that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Ritchie Bros .' control, including risks and uncertainties related to: the effects of the business combination of RBA and IAA, including the combined company's future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the merger; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; the response of competitors to the merger; the ultimate difficulty, timing, cost and results of integrating the operations of RBA and IAA; the fact that operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected; the effect of the consummation of the merger on the trading price of RBA's common shares; the ability of RBA to retain and hire key personnel and employees; the significant costs associated with the merger; the outcome of any legal proceedings that could be instituted against RBA; the ability of the combined company to realize anticipated synergies in the amount, manner or timeframe expected or at all; the failure of the combined company to realize potential revenue, EBITDA, growth, operational enhancement, expansion or other value creation opportunities from the sources or in the amount, manner or timeframe expected or at all; the failure of the trading multiple of the combined company to normalize or re-rate and other fluctuations in such trading multiple; changes in capital markets and the ability of the combined company to generate cash flow and/or finance operations in the manner expected or to de-lever in the timeframe expected; the failure of RBA or the combined company to meet financial forecasts and/or KPI targets; the combined company's ability to commercialize new platform solutions and offerings; legislative, regulatory and economic developments affecting the combined business; general economic and market developments and conditions; the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes under which RBA operates; unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, pandemics, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as RBA's response to any of the aforementioned factors. Other risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are included in RBA's periodic reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and/or applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the risk factors identified under Item 1A "Risk Factors" and the section titled "Summary of Risk Factors" in RBA's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 , and RBA's periodic reports and other filings with the SEC which are available on the SEC, SEDAR and Ritchie Bros .' websites The foregoing list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Ritchie Bros .' forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Ritchie Bros . does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Investors

Sameer Rathod Vice President, Investor Relations & Market Intelligence

+1 510-381-7584

[email protected]

Media

Matt Ackley , Chief Digital Officer

+1 408-425-5050

[email protected]

Jeanene O'Brien, Sr. Vice President Marketing & Communications

+1 708-492-7328

[email protected]

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SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
A Korean-American couple and their child were among eight victims killed in the latest mass shooting in Texas last Saturday, the Korean consulate in Houston said Sunday.

The couple, who were in their 30s, and their three-year-old son were shot dead by a gunman in a strip mall in Allen, a northern suburb of Dallas. Their six-year-old son, the only surviving member of the family, was also shot and remains in critical condition.

The couple were scheduled to visit a church to meet their friends in the afternoon. When they did not show up, the friends tried to contact them and found their name on the list of victims.

The husband was reportedly a lawyer and the wife a dentist.
Global consulting firm adds four seasoned professionals to enhance its service for aviation clients in the Americas .

CHICAGO , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kearney , a leading global management consulting firm, announced an expansion of capabilities focused on aviation, including the appointment of four senior aviation professionals. These aviation experts will strengthen Kearney's ability to serve airlines and other aviation businesses, coupled with the firm's industry-leading expertise in supply chain, sustainability, maintenance, and operations management.

The aviation team will be situated within Kearney's transportation practice and will complement the firm's global capabilities in guiding aviation businesses through challenges and opportunities during a vital period of transformation. This addition of talent is a demonstration of Kearney's commitment to growing its aviation capability on a global scale and builds on the firm's record of success and high-quality client service to European airlines.

Kearney has announced the appointment of four senior professionals with substantial aviation experience in both consulting and industry: Scott Davidson , Claudia Galea , Umang Gupta , and Chandresh Malkani .

"The aviation sector is in need of a transformation. The sector is experiencing strong tailwinds but is facing even stronger headwinds," said Phillip Bensel , partner and global lead for Kearney's aviation team. "We are supporting our clients to help tackle these challenges by improving the customer experience, developing green products, optimizing network and operations, managing supply chain risk, and reducing cost," he said. "Our investment is meant to bring our global aviation expertise to clients in the Americas , and Scott, Claudia, Umang, and Chandresh represent the core of what we do best: offering world-class experts who can execute client-specific projects and transformations with thoughtfulness and responsiveness."

By combining the strong capabilities that the firm already offers with this enhanced aviation-sector knowledge, the new team will:

Leverage Kearney's multifunctional operations, maintenance, and supply chain expertise across multiple disciplines within the aviation sector

Create a positive global impact by incorporating ESG and sustainability into all decisions and actions

Accelerate the adoption of new digital technologies, business models, and analytics

"Our entire team is thrilled to join such a talented and experienced firm to expand the focus on serving the needs of the aviation sector," said Mr. Davidson "Airlines and other related businesses face significant headwinds due to cost pressures, shifting customer demands, labor constraints, new sustainability expectations, and legacy technology. Our focus is on helping them accelerate change by partnering from strategy design through to implementation at scale."

When considering the sector's sustainability implications, Ms. Galea observed: "Customers, regulators, shareholders, manufacturers, and airlines all agree that as the aviation sector continues to evolve, sustainability and responses to climate change must be front and center. The sector's stakeholders are giving major considerations to operational, logistical, technical, engineering, capital expenditures, R&D, and management decisions. Kearney's global commitment to sustainability reflects how it can assist all aviation businesses in meeting those demands, and I'm excited to contribute to those efforts."

Mr. Gupta added: "Airlines and their partners, such as airports and service providers, are actively seeking to enter a new era of customer service and better management of their assets, routes, and overall operations. Thanks to the firm's deep expertise in providing consulting services in supply chain management and operational excellence, Kearney is a natural fit to help clients navigate these opportunities, and we're excited to begin working with those clients to meet their evolving needs."

Mr. Malkani noted: "Aviation businesses have differing and specialized needs. From low-cost carriers and private jet services to major multinational airlines, shifting operational needs and heightened demands for world-class customer service require partnering with experienced consultants who understand every detail of a client's business. Kearney clearly offers that level of client support, and we're excited to add to that capability in the months and years ahead."

Through its broader transportation practice, Kearney has long demonstrated sophisticated expertise and creativity in helping clients manage their physical assets, customer demands, and new considerations such as sustainability and digital transformation. To learn more about the firm's global efforts, please visit: https://www.kearney.com/transportation-travel

Aviation team expansion: bios

Scott Davidson : Mr. Davidson has more than 15 years of experience as a senior strategic advisor to clients in aviation, aerospace, and next-generation mobility. He specializes in helping clients in the aviation sector pursue transformations related to enterprise-wide profit transformations, restructuring, customer experience enhancements, operations excellence, procurement support, and technology-led innovation. Prior to joining Kearney, he served as a managing director at a large consulting firm and, for more than 10 years, as a partner at a prominent aviation consulting practice. He holds a master's degree in engineering management from Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering as well as a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Fairfield University .

: has more than 15 years of experience as a senior strategic advisor to clients in aviation, aerospace, and next-generation mobility. He specializes in helping clients in the aviation sector pursue transformations related to enterprise-wide profit transformations, restructuring, customer experience enhancements, operations excellence, procurement support, and technology-led innovation. Prior to joining Kearney, he served as a managing director at a large consulting firm and, for more than 10 years, as a partner at a prominent aviation consulting practice. He holds a master's degree in engineering management from as well as a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from . Claudia Galea : Ms. Galea is an industry and functional leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting aviation, aerospace, and industrial clients globally. Over the course of her career, she has supported clients on issues involving sustainability, aftermarket and procurement, flight operations and optimization, manufacturing process improvement and footprint optimization, and air traffic management. Ms. Galea comes to Kearney after serving as the global sustainability lead for aerospace, defense, and industrials at a global consulting firm as well as a senior manager at Global Boeing Services. Earlier in her career, she served in strategy and consulting roles and was a pilot and senior first officer at Air Malta. Ms. Galea is a doctor of business administration candidate at the Warwick Business School , focusing on sustainability and global aerospace supply chain innovation. She holds master of business administration degrees from both Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Warwick Business School as well as a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of Malta .

: is an industry and functional leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting aviation, aerospace, and industrial clients globally. Over the course of her career, she has supported clients on issues involving sustainability, aftermarket and procurement, flight operations and optimization, manufacturing process improvement and footprint optimization, and air traffic management. comes to Kearney after serving as the global sustainability lead for aerospace, defense, and industrials at a global consulting firm as well as a senior manager at Global Boeing Services. Earlier in her career, she served in strategy and consulting roles and was a pilot and senior first officer at Air Malta. is a doctor of business administration candidate at the , focusing on sustainability and global aerospace supply chain innovation. She holds master of business administration degrees from both and as well as a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the . Umang Gupta : Mr. Gupta is a senior aviation executive and advisor with a successful track record in developing and executing strategies, improving revenues, reducing costs, driving operational efficiencies, achieving transformations and turnarounds, and delivering strong results across various functions, business models, and geographies. Before joining the Kearney transportation practice, he served as managing director and global leader for the airline practice at a boutique aviation consulting agency. He also has served as managing director for pricing and revenue management at United Airlines, president of JetBlue Vacations , vice president for travel products at JetBlue Airways, director of market planning and revenue analysis at JetBlue, and manager of operations research at US Airways . He holds a master of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in transportation and airline management, a master of business administration degree from INSEAD , and a bachelor of science degree from Punjab Engineering College .

: is a senior aviation executive and advisor with a successful track record in developing and executing strategies, improving revenues, reducing costs, driving operational efficiencies, achieving transformations and turnarounds, and delivering strong results across various functions, business models, and geographies. Before joining the Kearney transportation practice, he served as managing director and global leader for the airline practice at a boutique aviation consulting agency. He also has served as managing director for pricing and revenue management at United Airlines, president of , vice president for travel products at JetBlue Airways, director of market planning and revenue analysis at JetBlue, and manager of operations research at . He holds a master of science degree from the in transportation and airline management, a master of business administration degree from , and a bachelor of science degree from . Chandresh Malkani : Mr. Malkani's expertise is in transportation, specifically in long-term transformation projects. He has led international projects, with experience in engineering, finance, negotiations, technology, and operations. His unique perspective as an engineer allows him to bring to his client projects true technical knowledge, such as aircraft purchases, engine specifications, and maintenance considerations. Mr. Malkani comes to Kearney from another prominent practice, where he spent the past five years as a principal working with many of the top North American transportation companies. He is also the founder of a specialized consulting firm. Prior to entering the consulting world, he worked at United Airlines, where he moved from finance to become the head of fleet strategy. Earlier in his career, he also served in analysis and engineering roles at Delta Air Lines. He has studied in the executive management programs at both Wharton Business School and INSEAD and holds a master of business administration degree from Georgia State University in finance and international business. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University .

About Kearney

Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with deep-rooted expertise in strategic transformation. We work with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500 as well as with government bodies and nonprofit organizations. As a global consulting partnership in more than 40 countries, our people make us who we are. We're individuals who take as much joy from those we work with as the work itself. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we help our clients break through.

To learn more about Kearney, please visit www.kearney.com .

Media Contacts:

Ellie Johnson and Ryan Dicovitsky

Dukas Linden Public Relations

[email protected]

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SOURCE Kearney
LOS ANGELES , May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST, the weekly series spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists from around the world and all walks of life, announces an episode featuring entrepreneur Satinder Chawla on May 9, 2023 .

MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET /PT on Scientology Network.

Inspired by India's rich architectural history, Satinder Chawla introduced high-end wood flooring to meet the modern design sensibilities of India's 21st century renaissanceand in the process, became a trendsetter in the industry.

ABOUT SATINDER CHAWLA

Growing up in New Delhi, India , Satinder Chawla developed an enduring passion for good design. As India rapidly rose to become one of the 21st century's foremost technology centers, he saw an opportunity to introduce a modern aesthetic to the interior design of the nation's building boom. In turn, he started his own wood-flooring business. Drawing inspiration from the incredible architectural history of his country, he focused on bringing to India the best flooring materials the world had to offer. Traveling extensively throughout Europe , Satinder acquired the highest-quality wood products available, building his company into one of the premier flooring companies and helping to establish new design trends in his homeland.

The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018 . Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology and Founder L. Ron Hubbard , the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization, and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities.

Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles , the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

CONTACT:

Media Relations

[email protected]

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SOURCE Church of Scientology International
MEMPHIS, Tenn. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recently announced the appointment of Monica Wharton , FACHE, to chief operating officer and executive vice president, assuming expanded roles and additional responsibilities within the $2 billion integrated healthcare system. Wharton joined Methodist Le Bonheur in 2017 as its senior vice president and chief legal officer and, in 2020, was promoted to chief administrative officer for the Memphis -based healthcare system.

As CAO, Wharton spearheaded several initiatives including reimagining the organization's digitization, and recruitment and retention strategies to stabilize the workforce.

In Wharton's new role, presidents of three of Methodist Le Bonheur's community hospitals will report to her in addition to her system-wide responsibilities over several key operational areas. Her appointment comes as Methodist Le Bonheur embarks on its most transformative work yet with the reimagination of the healthcare system under its most recent five-year strategic plan.

"As we reimagine how we deliver services to the communities we serve, Monica's exceptional track record as a results-driven transformational leader and champion of change, innovation and creativity across the system will help ensure Methodist Le Bonheur is well positioned for continued success," said President and CEO Dr. Michael Ugwueke .

Wharton is active in several community- and charitable-based organizations. She is past chair of the American Heart Association Mid-South and presently serves as co-chair of the Memphis Business Chamber's Chairman's Circle and is on the boards of the American Heart Association Southwest Region, the American Hospital Association, Hospital's Against Violence Sub-Committee and the Tennessee Hospital Association Center for Innovation.

Wharton has received the Tennessee Hospital Association Diversity Champion Award, as well as both Women Who Lead in Healthcare and Super Women in Business recognition by the Memphis Business Journal.

She holds a Juris Doctor from the William and Mary School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton University. She is board certified in Healthcare Management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee , Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

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SOURCE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Step into the footprints of giants, and explore the many stops on this one-of-a-kind Montana route

HELENA, Mont. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dinosaurs have been a staple of American culture since the dawn of time, but a lesser-known American staple is Montana's big imprint on Dinosaur discovery and today, the many ways for visitors to get their hands dirty uncovering a piece of the past for themselves. Plan your ultimate dino vacation on the Montana Dinosaur Trail , an extraordinary journey through time, where visitors witness the wonders of prehistoric life.

Winding its way through the state, the Montana Dinosaur Trail takes travelers back in time with 14 locations to learn about Montana's prehistoric residents. While the trail starts along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front and ends in Southeast Montana , dinosaur enthusiasts can explore the sites in any preferred order. As a bonus, many of the stops on the trail are home to fossils and artifacts that were unearthed locally, in Montana . The trail's Prehistoric Passport makes it easy to visit them alljust like the dinosaurs did.

A day at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is a must during a Montana adventure. It's one of the world's finest research and history museums, as well as a Smithsonian affiliate. Ideal for multi-generational visitors, the museum is home to an impressive fossil collection, permanent exhibits and planetarium shows, as well as a chance to view two of Big Sky Country's most famous dinosaurs: Big Mike the T. rex and Big Al, a nearly complete Allosaurus.

Big Mike is one of the most complete T. rex skeletons in the world. While the original bones are on loan to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, a 15-foot bronze cast stands watch over the museum, greeting you upon arrival. A local family discovered the fossil in eastern Montana in 1988, catching the attention of a Hollywood film team who used the excavation to help produce Jurassic Park.

A four-hour drive north from Bozeman , through limestone bluffs carved by the Missouri River and sweeping valleys of farmland, leads to an area known as the Rocky Mountain Front. Nestled here in the shadow of towering mountain peaks are the small communities of Bynum and Choteau , both of which are prime destinations on the Montana Dinosaur Trail .

With a population of 31, Bynum is a small towneven by Montana standardswith a big dinosaur scene. The Montana Dinosaur Center is home to impressive fossils, including remains of a recently discovered dinosaur species, but what truly sets this museum apart is its dig program. Varying from half-day to five-day dig programs, attendees work alongside paleontologists to unearth a piece of Montana's rich dinosaur history for themselves. This unique program runs from May through September. Booking for a summer dig is available online here.

This area is also home to Egg Mountain , which became an important site in Montana's dinosaur history after a Bynum local, Marion Brandvold , found the remains of juvenile dinosaurs. After showing her discovery to Jack Horner , a well-known paleontologist, Horner and his team unearthed 14 dinosaur nests. The original dinosaur fossils found by Brandvold can be seen on display at the Old Trail Museum in Choteau .

Continue along the trail through central Montana for more locally discovered prehistoric treasures. The Upper Musselshell Museum in Harlowton features "Ava," an Avaceratops skeleton that was the first of its kind, as well as American Indian artifacts from ancient bison kill sites. The Depot Museum in Rudyard is home to the "Oldest Sorehead," a fully jointed fossil of a Gryposaurus found nearby. Chinook's Blaine County Museum houses numerous prehistoric discoveries unearthed in the Judith River Formation, a fossil hotbed deposited in this region 75 to 80 million years ago.

Following the Montana Dinosaur Trail east, adventurers will find five additional locations among the sweeping plains, river coulees and badland formations.

The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum features a full-size cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil named Peck's Rex that was unearthed near Fort Peck Lake in 1997. It is one of the most complete fossils discovered in the world.

One of the most compelling communities on the Montana Dinosaur Trail is Glendive , with stops at Frontier Gateway Museum and Makoshika State Park . Today, Montana's largest state park is home to hiking trails, stunning badland views and a chance to see fossilized remains of several prehistoric species, including Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.

There's also plenty of exciting events for all ages along the Montana Dinosaur Trail , including the 11th Annual Dino Shindig this summer at the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka . This family-friendly event attracts attendees from all over the world for fun activities and hands-on fossil digs.

Find more dinosaur adventures and ways to explore Montana's history at visitmt.com.

About Visit Montana

Visit Montana markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences and relaxing hospitality. For more information, visit VISITMT.COM .

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SOURCE Visit Montana
WASHINGTON , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- James L. Reuter , associate administrator for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), announced Tuesday he will retire from NASA after 40 years of service. Reuter's retirement will be effective Friday, June 30 .

"Under Jim's leadership, STMD expanded its excellent work developing cross-cutting technologies that support NASA's current and future missions for the benefit of all, demonstrating technologies that provide more efficient ways of sending data, improved propulsion, next-generation landing capabilities, and more," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson . "During Jim's tenure, he created new innovative partnerships with industry and other government agencies to accelerate NASA's technology work, with a special focus on innovating for the lunar surface. Jim also established new initiatives to foster talent within academia and the agency's early-career workforce, all while increasing investment in technology development across the agency."

Reuter has led STMD since 2018. He was STMD's deputy associate administrator from 2017-2018 and deputy associate administrator for Programs from 2015-2017. Before joining STMD, Reuter served in multiple leadership roles in the agency's human spaceflight programs and at Marshall Space Flight Center. His NASA career began at Marshall, where he was an aerospace engineer in the Structures and Propulsion Laboratory. Reuter then took his expertise to NASA's Johnson Space Center, where he served as Environmental Control and Life Support System manager for the International Space Station from formation until the space station was permanently occupied. Over the years, Reuter also has led several offices for the International Space Station , Constellation, and Space Shuttle Programs, including a leading role in managing the shuttle's return to flight after the Columbia accident.

Reuter's work has been recognized many times by NASA, with awards including a 2019 Presidential Rank Award, 2019 Distinguished Service Medal, 2016 Outstanding Leadership Medal, 2013 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, a 2008 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, a 2002 NASA Exceptional Service Medal, a 1998 Silver Snoopy Award, and a 1993 Space Station Award of Merit.

NASA will conduct a nationwide search and open competition for a new associate administrator.

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SOURCE NASA
Easter Seals Greater Houston one of 10 affiliates nationwide to receive grant.

HOUSTON , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Easter Seals Greater Houston announced today it will receive a grant of $45,000 to support High School/High Tech. The program educates, mentors and helps students with disabilities gain the skills they need to graduate from high school before transitioning to employment or higher education. The grant is part of a national $2.55 million donation CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in managed care, made to Easterseals in late 2022.

"We are honored to be among Easterseals Affiliates benefiting from CareSource's support," said Easter Seals Greater Houston President and CEO Elise Hough . "Only 56% of students with disabilities graduate from high school. CareSource's funding will provide our High School/High Tech students the encouragement, role models, access, and stimulation to pursue challenging technical careers or courses of study."

The funding will support Easter Seals Greater Houston's High School/High Tech Program which encourages students with disabilities to explore the fields of science, engineering and technology. Through High School/High Tech, students with disabilities are presented a mix of learning experiences that promote career exploration and broaden educational horizons.

"CareSource is proud to support the unique and innovative work of Easterseals affiliates across the country to improve the lives of the people they serve and strengthen the communities around them," said Erhardt Preitauer , CareSource president and chief executive officer and a member of the Easterseals national board of directors. "As mission-driven nonprofits, Easterseals and CareSource share a goal of empowering these local affiliates to provide exceptional services to meet the needs of millions living with disabilities as well as veterans, and seniors, all while improving health equity."

CareSource announced a joint venture with Legacy Community Health, the state's largest federally qualified health center, to serve Texas Medicaid managed care recipients. Named CareSource Bayou Health, the joint venture is strategically positioned to provide comprehensive health coverage and access to the best physicians delivering compassion and care.

Annual CareSource grants of $725,000 will support the work of select Easterseals Affiliates nationwide, the work of Easterseals' national office, and the organization's Project on Education and Community Health Equity, an initiative focused on addressing the educational and health care needs of children with disabilities, including children with disabilities of color, so they are kindergarten ready and can reach their full potential.

Another round of funding for Easterseals Affiliates' programs and services will be announced in late 2023.

About Easter Seals Greater Houston

As a lead affiliate in our national network of 67 affiliates in 48 states, Easter Seals Greater Houston impacts people where they need us most  school, work, home, and in the community  from the critical first five years of life onward. Each year we directly serve over 14,500 people, providing early childhood and therapy services, mental health, employment programs, adult day programs, Military and Veterans' services, and more.

For children and adults with disabilities, for veterans and seniors, and for families and caregivers through Harris and 16 surrounding counties, ESGH is leading the way to full equity and inclusion through life changing disability and community services. With the help of our community, we are reducing poverty and addressing financial stability; Improving health care and employment, and empowering people of all ages and abilities to be full and equal participants in our community. Easter Seals Greater Houston operates: Early Childhood Intervention; Respite Services; Toy/Tech & Play Groups, BridgingApps (bridgingapps.org); High School/High Tech; Financial Education and Down Payment Assistance; Children's Therapy Services; The Caroline School, Camps, Case Management, Employment/Transition Services; Adult Recreation, and Military/Veterans Services. For more information about Easter Seals Greater Houston, visit www.eastersealshouston.org or visit us on Facebook and Twitter (@eastersealshou).

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SOURCE Easter Seals Greater Houston
Credit Union Becomes First in San Diego to Meet National Bank On Standards for Safe Accounts

SAN DIEGO , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has become the first credit union in San Diego to receive certification by the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) for its checking account product, which can benefit the more than 13% of households in San Diego that are categorized as underbanked or unbanked.

North Island Credit Union's Option Checking account is certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards, bringing a new level of inclusivity, access, and choice to banking and financial education for unbanked, underbanked, and underserved community members in San Diego .

"We believe a core aspect of our cooperative mission is inclusive banking, ensuring everyone in our communities has equal access to safe, affordable banking products and services that build financial stability and long-term financial health. This Bank On certification will support our work in making traditional financial products available to unbanked and underbanked community members outside of the mainstream financial system," said North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell . "We are excited to lead the way in this key initiative in San Diego and look forward to working to ensure all individuals can bank, save, and borrow with a trusted financial partner, supported by financial education tools to assist in life-long financial success."

A key challenge facing unbanked/underbanked individuals has been a lack of safe and appropriate accounts offered by mainstream financial institutions. Without a checking account, many use high-fee alternative services, including check cashers, payday lenders and pawn shops, paying far too much for basic financial transactions and losing the ability to build savings, assets, and a strong credit history.

North Island Credit Union's Option Checking offers safe access to a traditional checking account, with zero fees or overdraft charges to support moving members out of a debt cycle. The account provides a free debit card, along with access to online and mobile banking, individualized financial counseling, financial education tools, and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. Members can sign up for the account online or in any credit union branch.

The CFE Fund certification is the latest step in North Island Credit Union's work to meet the needs of underserved populations in its communities. In addition to its Option Checking account, the credit union has adjusted underwriting guidelines to provide easier access to funds as well as launched credit card products designed for members looking to build/restore credit history. It also offers a full suite of financial education and literacy resources; last year alone, virtual programs reached over 26,000 individuals and in-person events provided over 750 people with financial literacy training.

According to a FDIC 2021 survey, nearly 19% of households in California are categorized as underbanked or unbanked. In addition, 4.5% of all U.S. households are categorized as unbanked, without a checking or savings account, and over 14% of U.S. households are underbanked, meaning they use non-traditional financial services.

"The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to award its national Bank On account certification to North Island Credit Union's Option Checking account," said Jonathan Mintz , President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "Option Checking offers San Diego residents who are looking to improve their finances a safe, affordable, and truly useful mainstream banking product to access and manage their money. North Island Credit Union's offering of this terrific account brings them into the forefront of national banking access efforts, and we thank them."

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The CFE Fund's Bank On National Account Standards certification indicates that an account meets over 25 features for safe and affordable consumer transaction accounts.

About North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union

California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California . With more than 170,000 members and assets of over $4.5 billion , California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles , Orange , and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @northislandcu.

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SOURCE North Island Credit Union
KERN COUNTY, Calif. , May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Supervisor Leticia Perez and the Kern County Board of Supervisors will proclaim May 2023 to be Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month at their May 9 th meeting at 9:00 am . Bakersfield advocates accepting the resolution are also advocating for medical board reform at next week's Medical Board of California meeting.

Over 53 percent of women who reside in Kern County are Latina with the majority of Kern County babies (63%) being born to Latinas. Kern County has one of the highest pregnancy-related mortality rate (17.8%) than anywhere else in California. Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month and the call for outreach focused on Latinas is a critical step in addressing the growing maternal health crisis in Kern County and throughout our state.

Many of the volunteer advocate families that Consumer Watchdog works with in Kern County have experienced poor pregnancy outcomes and deaths due to pregnancy complications - many linked to medical negligence. These families joined Consumer Watchdog in an educational campaign which targeted Kern County mothers and families encouraging them to engage in their own healthcare, to look for pregnancy complications, and how to work with their providers to address these complications.

Michele Monserratt-Ramos, Consumer Watchdog's Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate, led the Bakersfield Families Call to Action Campaign to address maternal health issues in Kern County. Monserratt-Ramos will discuss the need for Latina Maternal Health awareness at the meeting when the proclamation is introduced, and the educational campaign that she led in Kern County to address maternal health issues.

"After one article in the local paper identifying a young mother who died prior to childbirth, Tracy Dominguez contacted me to discuss her daughter Demi's untimely death," said Consumer Watchdog's Michele Monserratt-Ramos . "That phone call created a domino effect. I continued to receive phone calls from mothers and grandmothers who had all lost their daughters or grandchildren from pregnancy-related complications. I knew then that we needed to focus on the maternal mortality crisis in Kern County ."

Tracy Dominguez , Co-Founder of Save a Mom Save a Family, is one of the mothers who played a lead role in the Bakersfield Families Call to Action Campaign. Tracy lost her 23-year-old daughter Demi Dominguez to undiagnosed preeclampsia. Denied care and offered no diagnosis in a Bakersfield hospital, Demi died of a seizure at home leaving her unborn child to be delivered by a post-mortem c-section. Tracy Dominguez will be sharing her daughter's tragic story at the Board meeting, and how it has motivated her to focus on Latina maternal health in Kern County and across the state.

"My daughter did everything she could to seek help for her and her unborn child but her pleas for help were ignored," stated Tracy Dominguez . "We failed her, but I am doing everything in my power to make sure that we help other young mothers get safe care and the help that they need."

Supervisor Leticia Perez will present the resolution announcing Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month to advocate families at the Board meeting. Tracy Dominguez, Monica De La Rosa, and Michele Monserratt-Ramos , Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate from Consumer Watchdog, will be present.

"Health care is a human right. All people, no matter race, gender, or economic status should have access to proper medical care," stated Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez . "I am proud to work with groups such as Save a Mom, Save a Family to help ensure that our mothers, especially mothers of color, receive the best healthcare possible so that their families can thrive."

Kern County has one of the highest infant mortality rates of 6.1 per 1,000 births. The high maternal mortality rate and the high infant mortality rate requires a call for action to save the lives of Kern County families.

"I am here in support of Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month because I lost my daughter to the maternal mortality crisis," stated Monica De La Rosa. "We are working to educate our families on how to engage in their own health care and help provide resources for our community."

Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month is the first step in identifying solutions to the long-term maternal mortality and infant mortality crisis in Kern County .

A connection to the Latina maternal mortality crisis is the lack of accountability and transparency with the Medical Board of California . The Bakersfield advocates will be testifying before the Medical Board of California at their May meeting next week to demand that the medical board administer a family interview before a complaint is dismissed and the need for the Medical Board to investigate death and serious bodily injury complaints like other healthcare-related board are required to do. The reforms that the Bakersfield families are advocating for are intended for the Medical Board's sunset bill. The Bakersfield advocates have put the Central Valley front and center in the fight for accountability. Based on the urging of Bakersfield advocates, the Medical Board will bring their quarterly board meeting to Bakersfield for the first time in August.

Read the stories of the Kern County families and other families who suffered from pregnancy complications and medical negligence here:

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SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Largest turntable manufacturer in the U.S. by volume teams with largest magnesium-injection molder in North America to orchestrate major tonearm tech innovations

Engineering better sound required special expertise in complex product design, engineering and thixomolding

Consolidating three-part assembly into a single, unified part reduced tooling costs, supply chain requirements and assembly time

HUDSON, Wis. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, and a leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug delivery, invitro diagnostic, medtech and specialty consumer devices, has applied its proven prowess in magnesium-injection molding to collaborate with U-Turn Audio, the largest turntable manufacturer in the nation by volume. Together, the companies developed a game-changing tonearm for next-generation turntables.

"The tonearm is basically the heart of the turntable," said Bob Hertig , president and CEO, U-Turn Audio. "It's responsible for so much of the actual audio production. We wanted to simplify what we had by taking multiple components and forming them into one solid piece to reduce resonance and create a more rigid and better performing tonearm."

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), vinyl sales have outpaced CDs for the first time since 1987. In its 2022 annual revenue report, RIAA reveals that vinyl made up $1.2 billion of the $1.7 billion in physical media sales, outselling CDs by nearly 8 million units. The audiophiles and LP loyalists at U-Turn Audio realized that making its new tonearm from magnesium offered improved mechanical and physical properties over conventional materials. The challenge, however, was finding an organization with proven experience in "thixomolding," a unique process used in magnesium injection molding.

To execute on its innovative tonearm concept, U-Turn Audio tapped the unique expertise of Phillips-Medisize, the largest magnesium injection molder in North America . At its Wisconsin -based facility, Phillips-Medisize applies more than a half-century of expertise to provide end-to-end manufacturing services, spanning front-end design, development and manufacturing services for highly regulated industries including medical devices made from magnesium.

Harmonious Collaboration Hits All the Right Notes

U-Turn and Phillips-Medisize worked together to unify various tonearm parts into a single, continuous piece, dubbed the OA3 Pro. Designed for U-Turn Audio's high-end Orbit Theory turntable, the tonearm design was incredibly complex, requiring very thin wall thickness as well as a long, slender core for the tonearm's stem. Extremely high heat and pressure involved in the thixomolding process added another level of difficulty, which was eased by Phillips-Medisize's decades of experience in mold-design and flow analysis.

"The work with U-Turn Audio was a great collaboration as they involved us early in the design phase," said Eric Semingson , advanced development manager for Phillips-Medisize. "They were open and accepting of the design assistance we offered. The value of designing a part that is a single-piece component versus a three-piece assembly is that you reduce tooling costs, supply chain requirements and assembly time. Ultimately, the total cost of the product is reduced."

Widespread Acclaim for Better-Performing Turntable

From concept to completion, the entire planning and development process for the new tonearm took more than a year. U-Turn Audio also took the opportunity to refresh other turntable features, culminating in the September 2022 launch of the Orbit Theory. Widespread acclaim soon followed, with glowing editorial reviews and extremely enthusiastic market response. As a result, U-Turn Audio now is planning to ship the new tonearm on additional turntable models going forward.

Supporting Resources

Phillips-Medisize Brings Possibilities to Life

Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, collaborates with leading pharmaceutical, medical technology and invitro diagnostic companies to design, engineer and manufacture life-saving innovations. In addition, the company's specialty consumer business supports automotive, consumer and defense industries. A contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Phillips-Medisize leverages its 60-years of expertise and globally renowned capabilities to collaborate with customers to deliver products and solutions that annually help millions of patients, healthcare professionals and individuals live healthier, more productive lives.

About Molex

Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.

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SOURCE Molex Incorporated
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is pleased to announce The Honorable Marlene Lynch Ford (Ret.) has joined the firm as Of Counsel in its Red Bank office. At Wilentz, Judge Ford will join the Alternate Dispute Resolution practice, focusing on internal investigations and mediations for civil, commercial, and family law matters, and will serve as a special master in complex litigation matters.

Angelo Cifaldi , President, and Managing Director of Wilentz, said, "I have the utmost confidence Judge Ford's decades of service to the bench, in addition to her experience as an attorney, legislator, and prosecutor, will be an invaluable asset to all parties. We are thrilled to have her join the firm."

A former Assignment Judge for the Superior Court of New Jersey in Ocean County , Judge Ford draws on 24 years of experience on the bench. In 2007, she was appointed Ocean County Prosecutor by Governor Jon S. Corzine - a position she held until March 2013 when Governor Chris Christie reappointed her to the Superior Court. Chief Justice Rabner appointed her Assignment Judge in July 2015 , a position she held until her retirement in February 2023 .

Prior to her service to the bench and prosecutor's office, Judge Ford's career includes serving two terms as Assemblywoman representing New Jersey's 10th Legislative District . She also worked in private practice, and founded her own law firm in Point Pleasant Beach . Later, she became General Counsel to H. Hovnanian Industries and Counsel to the Democratic Delegation for the New Jersey General Assembly.

About Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. is one of the largest and most successful law firms in New Jersey , offering legal services to corporate, individual and governmental clients in almost every area of the practice of law. Wilentz lawyers have practiced at the forefront of landmark cases, regulatory matters and high-profile transactions since its founding by David T. Wilentz . The firm is based in Woodbridge and has offices in Newark , Red Bank , New York City and Philadelphia . For more information about Wilentz, visit www.wilentz.com.

Contact: Timothy P. Carr ,

P: 732.855.6030

E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.
Argentine writer Hernan Diaz has won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, along with U.S. novelist Barbara Kingsolver. Diaz won the award for his novel Trust, which is set between 1920 and 1930, and focuses on the role money plays in human relationships.

The jury defined Trust as a riveting novel set in a bygone America that explores family, wealth and ambition through linked narratives rendered in different literary styles, a complex examination of love and power in a country where capitalism is king.

The award-winning novel  which is in the process of being adapted for an HBO television series  is told from several points of views and voices. It is divided into four parts: a novel-within-a-novel, an autobiographical profile of the billionaire Andrew Bevel, the memoirs of a secretary and fragments from the tycoons wifes journal. The book brings these parts together in an ambitious look at the machinery that moves Wall Street.

Since its publication a year ago, Trust has been praised by critics and leading figures such as former U.S. president Barack Obama. The novel has also sparked interest beyond literary circles, becoming a hit in the world of American high finance as well.

I fell in love with English

Diaz is the son of an Argentine couple who went into exile in Sweden after the 1976 coup. At the time, Diaz was not yet three years old. Upon the return of democracy, the family returned to Argentina, where Diaz earned a degree in Literature before continuing his studies in London and New York, where he has lived for 25 years.

Ive been living here for 25 years, but thats not why I write in English, Diaz told EL PAIS in February. Its the other way around  Im here because of English. Before coming to New York, I lived in London for two years. I started reading literature in English as a teenager, and that tradition inexplicably appealed to me on an emotional level. I fell in love with the language. It sounds corny, but there is no other way to explain it.

Diaz released his first novel, In the Distance, in 2017. The book  which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize  is a play on the Western genre.

For his next book, the novelist decided to focus on the role wealth plays in U.S. national identity. I was surprised to find that in the United States, a country where it has an almost mystical quality, there are really no novels about money. Its tough to think of any examples. The novels that we directly associate with money are really about class differences, he told EL PAIS.

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Company recognized for strong corporate culture, robust benefits, and employee growth opportunities

PALO ALTO, Calif. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Security, the leading API security company, announced today that it has been named to Inc. Magazine's 2023 Best Workplaces list. This list honors American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual capacity.

Salt Security prioritizes a company culture built on collaboration, rapid innovation and flexibility, mutual respect, and distributed decision making. With a rapidly growing team of more than 200 employees, the company enhances its corporate culture and benefits with work-from-home flexibility, an unlimited vacation policy, competitive benefits, regular team gatherings, and programs that support employee well being.

"It is a tremendous honor to have Salt recognized as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces this year," said Roey Eliyahu , co-founder and CEO, Salt Security. "At Salt, we place enormous value on our dedicated and talented employees,who continually deliver exceptional results in technical innovation and building value for our customers. Being included on this list reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a culture based on equity, inclusion, diversity, and winning together."

Thousands of companies applied to be recognized as one of the best workplaces in America, but only a fraction earned this recognition. To achieve this accolade, Salt employees participated in a survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, where they evaluated the company on various topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. In addition, the company's benefits were audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk . "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

To learn more about Salt Security and view current open positions, please visit: https://salt.security/careers.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States . The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Salt Security

Salt Security protects the APIs that form the core of every modern application. Its patented API Protection Platform is the only API security solution that combines the power of cloud-scale big data and time-tested ML/AI to detect and prevent API attacks. By correlating activities across millions of APIs and users over time, Salt delivers deep context with real-time analysis and continuous insights for API discovery, attack prevention, and hardening APIs. Deployed quickly and seamlessly integrated within existing systems, the Salt platform gives customers immediate value and protection, so they can innovate with confidence and accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. For more information, visit: https://salt.security/.

Contact:

Dex Polizzi

Lumina Communications for Salt Security

[email protected]

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SOURCE Salt Security
UNC Center for Galapagos Studies joins forces with analytics and AI leader to boost conservation and sustainability efforts

ORLANDO, Fla. , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS INNOVATE -- As an organization dedicated to responsible innovation and using technology to ignite positive change, SAS will apply crowd-driven artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help protect endangered sea turtles. Similar to SAS' recent project to help track deforestation in the Amazon, the analytics leader is now working with the UNC Center for Galapagos Studies (CGS) to further research in several initiatives on the Islands. UNC CGS joined analytics leader SAS to analyze data and gather insights that will help them understand similarly challenged environments around the world.

Through an app called ConserVision, citizen scientists are invited to match images of turtles' facial markings.

Through an app called ConserVision, citizen scientists are invited to match images of turtles' facial markings to help train a SAS computer vision model. Once the model can accurately identify turtles individually, researchers will have valuable information more quickly to better track each turtle's health and migratory patterns over periods of time. The goal is that in the future the model can perform facial recognition on any sea turtle image, whether it comes from a conservation group or a vacationing tourist.

"As our challenges as a global community get increasingly more complex, we need dynamic ways to access and use information to ramp up conservation efforts," said Sarah Hiser , MSc, Principal Technical Architect at SAS. "By using technology like analytics, AI and machine learning to quantify the natural world, we gain knowledge to help protect ecosystems and tackle climate change."

In addition to turtles, the Galapagos Islands are home to many unique species not found anywhere else on Earth. An ecological haven for researchers since Charles Darwin first set foot there in 1835, they are also home to the Galapagos Science Center, a research facility jointly run by UNC-Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador .

"For over 10 years, the Galapagos Science Center has hosted exceptional scientists doing innovative research that increases our understanding of the environment and results in positive real-world outcomes," explained UNC-Chapel Hill Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Penny Gordon-Larsen . "This innovative public-private partnership with SAS will enhance the center's capacity for analyzing data that will positively impact both the environment and the people who inhabit these magnificent islands."

SAS will initially help UNC CGS with three projects focusing on marine life.

Sea turtle facial recognition. By using computer vision and machine learning, researchers are looking to identify individual turtles as well as create a health index regarding growth rates, health threats and presence data. Information gleaned from this data set could be used to understand temporal and spatial movement patterns of these turtles and to identify health risks due to marine debris, boat strikes, diseases, etc. By creating a base health assessment for each animal, a temporal scale between photo capture can be used to determine health over time. Turtles can also be grouped based on region and travel behavior to provide comparisons for a relative health index and location over time, including the support and participation from citizen scientists and outreach.

By using computer vision and machine learning, researchers are looking to identify individual turtles as well as create a health index regarding growth rates, health threats and presence data. Information gleaned from this data set could be used to understand temporal and spatial movement patterns of these turtles and to identify health risks due to marine debris, boat strikes, diseases, etc. By creating a base health assessment for each animal, a temporal scale between photo capture can be used to determine health over time. Turtles can also be grouped based on region and travel behavior to provide comparisons for a relative health index and location over time, including the support and participation from citizen scientists and outreach. Hammerhead shark patterns. Hammerhead sharks commonly make offshore movements at night and further understanding is needed on what drives these movements. The hammerhead shark project focuses on the presence or absence of these sharks offshore and inshore, and if their movement is synchronous and/or rhythmical. Are there influences from ocean currents, food sources, ocean temperatures or salinity requirements that help direct the movement of these sharks? Insights can help with developing the boundaries of conservation areas as well as sustainable fishing and tourism practices.

Hammerhead sharks commonly make offshore movements at night and further understanding is needed on what drives these movements. The hammerhead shark project focuses on the presence or absence of these sharks offshore and inshore, and if their movement is synchronous and/or rhythmical. Are there influences from ocean currents, food sources, ocean temperatures or salinity requirements that help direct the movement of these sharks? Insights can help with developing the boundaries of conservation areas as well as sustainable fishing and tourism practices. Phytoplankton predictions. As the basic energy and resource foundation of every food web on the planet, understanding the spatial and temporal dispersal and community interactions of phytoplankton populations is imperative for conservation. The goal of the phytoplankton project is to understand the physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence these small but mighty organisms. Changing ocean temperatures, weather patterns and human activity influence the marine environment that hosts them. Being able to predict changes at the bottom of the food chain can provide insights about the impact of climate change on all marine life, and in turn, human populations that depend on them.

As the only university science facility of its kind in the archipelago, the Galapagos Science Center opened in 2011 on San Cristobal Island to support interdisciplinary studies on population, health and environment by examining the social, terrestrial and marine subsystems of the islands. The Galapagos Initiative is designed to foster research, education and outreach programs with the larger goals of advancing conservation efforts in the Galapagos and promoting a better understanding of ecologically sensitive and protected areas worldwide. Ultimately, the Galapagos Science Center aims to ensure healthy island ecosystems for future generations.

Try the turtle matching game to see the ConserVision app in action and learn how SAS uses Data for Good to help solve humanitarian issues across the globe.

About UNC Center for Galapagos Studies

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US) and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito ( Ecuador ) formed a strategic partnership in 2006 to address the challenges facing the Galapagos Islands  the Galapagos Initiative. In 2011 this strategic partnership was further solidified through the construction of the Galapagos Science Center.

The Center for Galapagos Studies is UNC-Chapel Hill's managing unit for the Galapagos Initiative. The Center coordinates Galapagos programs at the main Chapel Hill campus and all Carolina activities in the Galapagos archipelago itself.

Today's announcement was made at SAS Innovate, the AI and analytics business conference from analytics leader SAS.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

Follow @SASsoftwareNews on Twitter for news, media and company updates.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Kris Balic

[email protected]

919-531-0624

sas.com/news

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SOURCE SAS
Core business outperforms, delivering 14% topline growth;

Customer acquisition strength in March drives full-year guidance higher;

Unlevered free cash flow margin of 28% resulting from pricing success and marketing efficiency

NEW YORK , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE: SQSP), the design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 .

"Squarespace had an outstanding first quarter, delivering double-digit revenue and bookings growth," said Anthony Casalena , Founder & CEO of Squarespace. "Our strong results exemplify the value we provide entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses online."

"The first quarter was an excellent start to the year, highlighted by strong demand for our offerings, improved marketing efficiency, and solid free cash flow," said Nathan Gooden , CFO of Squarespace. "The momentum we are seeing supports our increased full-year guidance and positions us well to continue to deliver growth and profitability in 2023."

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Total revenue grew 14% year over year to $237.0 million in the first quarter, compared with $207.8 million in first quarter 2022, and 15% in constant currency.

in the first quarter, compared with in first quarter 2022, and 15% in constant currency. Presence revenue grew 14% year over year to $164.4 million and 16% in constant currency.

and 16% in constant currency.

Commerce revenue grew 14% year over year to $72.6 million and 15% in constant currency.

and 15% in constant currency. Net income increased to $0.5 million , compared with a net loss of $92.9 million in the first quarter 2022, due to operating efficiency and recorded tax benefit.

, compared with a net loss of in the first quarter 2022, due to operating efficiency and recorded tax benefit. Earnings per share of $0.00 based on 134,917,610 basic and 137,182,268 dilutive weighted average shares in the first quarter, compared with loss per share of $0.67 based on 139,423,228 basic and dilutive weighted average shares in the first quarter 2022.

based on 134,917,610 basic and 137,182,268 dilutive weighted average shares in the first quarter, compared with loss per share of based on 139,423,228 basic and dilutive weighted average shares in the first quarter 2022. Total bookings grew 16% year over year to $265.8 million in the first quarter, compared to $228.5 million in the first quarter 2022.

in the first quarter, compared to in the first quarter 2022. Cash flow from operating activities increased 36% to $64.2 million for the trailing three months, compared with $47.3 million for the trailing three months ended March 31, 2022 , due to continued momentum in bookings and a reduction in marketing and sales spend.

for the trailing three months, compared with for the trailing three months ended , due to continued momentum in bookings and a reduction in marketing and sales spend. Unlevered free cash flow increased 47% to $67.1 million representing 28% of total revenue for the trailing three months, compared with $45.5 million for the trailing three months ended March 31, 2022 .

representing 28% of total revenue for the trailing three months, compared with for the trailing three months ended . Adjusted EBITDA increased to $30.9 million in the first quarter, compared with $(2.9) million in the first quarter 2022.

in the first quarter, compared with in the first quarter 2022. Cash and cash equivalents of $239.3 million ; total debt of $504.0 million , of which $40.8 million is current, debt net of cash and investments totaled $264.6 million .

; total debt of , of which is current, debt net of cash and investments totaled . Total unique subscriptions increased 2% year over year to over 4.3 million in 2023, compared to 4.2 million in 2022.

Average revenue per unique subscription ("ARPUS") increased 4% year over year to $212.76 in 2023, compared to $204.18 in 2022.

in 2023, compared to in 2022. Annual run rate revenue ("ARRR") increased 14% year over year to $990.5 million in 2023, compared to $869.0 million in 2022.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures has been provided in the tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Outlook & Guidance

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, Squarespace currently expects:

Revenue of $241 million to $245 million , or year-over-year growth of 13% to 15%

to , or year-over-year growth of 13% to 15% Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow of $49 million to $53 million . This is the result of:

to . This is the result of: Cash flow from operating activities of $47 million to $50 million , minus

to , minus

Capital expenditures, expected to be approximately $3 million ; plus

; plus

Cash paid for interest expense net of associated tax benefit, expected to be approximately $6 million

For the full fiscal year 2023, Squarespace currently expects:

Revenue of $969 million to $981 million , or year-over-year growth of 12% to 13%

to , or year-over-year growth of 12% to 13% Non-GAAP unlevered free cash flow of $192 million to $207 million . This is the result of:

to . This is the result of: Cash flow from operating activities of $179 million to $191 million , minus

to , minus

Capital expenditures, expected in the range of $8 million to $10 million ; plus

to ; plus

Cash paid for interest expense net of associated tax benefit, expected in the range of $23 million to $24 million

Webcast Conference Call & Shareholder Letter Information

Squarespace will host a conference call on May 9, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its financial results. A live webcast of the event will be available in the Events & Presentations section of the Squarespace Investor Relations website. An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call. Additionally, we invite you to read our shareholder letter available on our Investor Relations website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Revenue growth in constant currency is being provided to increase transparency and align our disclosures with companies in our industry that receive material revenues from international sources. Revenue constant currency has been adjusted to exclude the effect of year-over-year changes in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We believe providing this information better enables investors to understand our operating performance irrespective of currency fluctuations.

We calculate constant currency information by translating current period results from entities with foreign functional currencies using the comparable foreign currency exchange rates from the prior fiscal year. To calculate the effect of foreign currency translation, we apply the same weighted monthly average exchange rate as the comparative period. Our definition of constant currency may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures, and these constant currency performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental performance measure that our management uses to assess our operating performance. We calculate adjusted EBITDA as net income/(loss) excluding interest expense, other income/(loss), net (provision for)/benefit from income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and other items that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance.

Unlevered free cash flow is a supplemental liquidity measure that Squarespace's management uses to evaluate its core operating business and its ability to meet its current and future financing and investing needs. Unlevered free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities, including one-time expenses related to Squarespace's direct listing, less cash paid for capital expenditures increased by cash paid for interest expense net of the associated tax benefit.

Adjusted EBITDA, unlevered free cash flow and revenue constant currency are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") and have important limitations as an analytical tool. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should only be used in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for such GAAP results.

Further information on these non-GAAP items and reconciliation to their closest GAAP measure is provided below under, "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Definitions of Key Operating Metrics

Annual run rate revenue ("ARRR"). We calculate ARRR as the monthly revenue from subscription fees and revenue generated in conjunction with associated fees (fees taken or assessed in conjunction with commerce transactions) in the last month of the period multiplied by 12. We believe that ARRR is a key indicator of our future revenue potential. However, ARRR should be viewed independently of revenue, and does not represent our GAAP revenue on an annualized basis, as it is an operating metric that can be impacted by subscription start and end dates and renewal rates. ARRR is not intended to be a replacement or forecast of revenue.

Unique subscriptions represent the number of unique sites, standalone scheduling subscriptions, Unfold (social) and hospitality subscriptions, as of the end of a period. A unique site represents a single subscription and/or group of related subscriptions, including a website subscription and/or a domain subscription, and other subscriptions related to a single website or domain. Every unique site contains at least one domain subscription or one website subscription. For instance, an active website subscription, a custom domain subscription and a Google Workspace subscription that represent services for a single website would count as one unique site, as all of these subscriptions work together and are in service of a single entity's online presence. Unique subscriptions do not account for one-time purchases in Unfold or for hospitality services. The total number of unique subscriptions is a key indicator of the scale of our business and is a critical factor in our ability to increase our revenue base.

Average revenue per unique subscription ("ARPUS"). We calculate ARPUS as the total revenue during the preceding 12-month period divided by the average of the number of total unique subscriptions at the beginning and end of the period. We believe ARPUS is a useful metric in evaluating our ability to sell higher-value plans and add-on subscriptions.

Total bookings represents cash receipts for all subscriptions purchased, as well as payments due under the terms of contractual agreements for obligations to be fulfilled.

Gross merchandise value ("GMV") represents the value of physical goods, content and time sold, including hospitality services, net of refunds, on our platform over a given period of time.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Squarespace's future operating results and financial position, including for its second fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2023 and its fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 . The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, assumptions, and projections based on information available at the time the statements were made. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including risks and uncertainties related to: Squarespace's ability to attract and retain customers and expand their use of its platform; Squarespace's ability to anticipate market needs and develop new solutions to meet those needs; Squarespace's ability to improve and enhance the functionality, performance, reliability, design, security and scalability of its existing solutions; Squarespace's ability to compete successfully in its industry against current and future competitors; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Squarespace, its customers and their users; Squarespace's ability to manage growth and maintain demand for its solutions; Squarespace's ability to protect and promote its brand; Squarespace's ability to generate new customers through its marketing and selling activities; Squarespace's ability to successfully identify, manage and integrate any existing and potential acquisitions; Squarespace's ability to hire, integrate and retain highly skilled personnel; Squarespace's ability to adapt to and comply with existing and emerging regulatory developments, technological changes and cybersecurity needs; Squarespace's compliance with privacy and data protection laws and regulations as well as contractual privacy and data protection obligations; Squarespace's ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights; Squarespace's ability to manage expansion into international markets; and the expected timing, amount, and effect of Squarespace's share repurchases. It is not possible for Squarespace's management to predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Squarespace may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, Squarespace's actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Further information on risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from forecasted results are included in Squarespace's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Squarespace assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons if actual results differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.

About Squarespace

Squarespace (NYSE: SQSP) is a design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online. We empower millions of customers in more than 200 countries and territories with all the tools they need to create an online presence, build an audience, monetize, and scale their business. Our suite of products range from websites, domains, ecommerce, and marketing tools, as well as tools for scheduling with Acuity, creating and managing social media presence with Bio Sites and Unfold, and hospitality business management via Tock. For more information, visit www.squarespace.com.

Contacts

Investors

Clare Perry

[email protected]

Media

Kaitlyn Rawlett

[email protected]

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except shares and per share amounts)

(unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Revenue $ 237,028

$ 207,762 Cost of revenue(1) 42,950

36,649 Gross profit 194,078

171,113 Operating expenses:





Research and product development(1) 58,570

57,328 Marketing and sales(1) 101,672

112,906 General and administrative(1) 32,340

35,981 Total operating expenses 192,582

206,215 Operating income/(loss) 1,496

(35,102) Interest expense (8,094)

(2,449) Other (loss)/income, net (840)

1,511 Loss before benefit from/(provision for) income taxes (7,438)

(36,040) Benefit from/(provision for) income taxes 7,940

(56,820) Net income/(loss) $ 502

$ (92,860)







Net income/(loss) per share attributable to Class A, Class B and Class C common stockholders, basic $ 0.00

$ (0.67) Net income/(loss) per share attributable to Class A, Class B and Class C common stockholders, dilutive $ 0.00

$ (0.67) Weighted-average shares used in computing net income/(loss) per share attributable to Class A, Class B

and Class C stockholders, basic 134,917,610

139,423,228 Weighted-average shares used in computing net income/(loss) per share attributable to Class A, Class B

and Class C stockholders, dilutive 137,182,268

139,423,228

(1) Includes stock-based compensation as follows:



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Cost of revenue $ 1,052

$ 624 Research and product development 10,687

10,168 Marketing and sales 1,871

1,599 General and administrative 8,516

11,706 Total stock-based compensation $ 22,126

$ 24,097

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except shares and per share amounts)

(unaudited)



March 31, 2023

December 31, 2022 Assets





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 239,327

$ 197,037 Restricted cash 38,170

35,583 Investment in marketable securities 

31,757 Accounts receivable, net 11,345

10,748 Due from vendors 3,383

4,442 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 64,240

48,326 Total current assets 356,465

327,893 Property and equipment, net 51,772

51,633 Operating lease right-of-use assets 84,590

86,824 Goodwill 210,438

210,438 Intangible assets, net 38,985

42,808 Other assets 12,151

10,921 Total assets $ 754,401

$ 730,517 Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 5,738

$ 12,987 Accrued liabilities 89,886

64,360 Deferred revenue 300,245

269,689 Funds payable to customers 40,424

38,845 Debt, current portion 40,758

40,758 Operating lease liabilities, current portion 11,821

11,514 Total current liabilities 488,872

438,153 Deferred income taxes, non-current portion 850

788 Debt, non-current portion 463,204

473,167 Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion 107,172

110,169 Other liabilities 12,638

11,231 Total liabilities 1,072,736

1,033,508 Commitments and contingencies





Stockholders' deficit:





Class A common stock, par value of $0.0001 ; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2023 and

December 31, 2022 , respectively; 87,295,014 and 87,754,534 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31 ,

2023 and December 31, 2022 , respectively 8

8 Class B common stock, par value of $0.0001 ; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2023 and

December 31, 2022 , respectively; 47,844,755 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and

December 31, 2022 , respectively 5

5 Class C common stock (authorized May 10, 2021 ), par value of $0.0001 ; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized

as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 , respectively; zero shares issued and outstanding as of

March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 , respectively 

 Additional paid in capital 859,417

875,737 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,191)

(1,665) Accumulated deficit (1,176,574)

(1,177,076) Total stockholders' deficit (318,335)

(302,991) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 754,401

$ 730,517

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 OPERATING ACTIVITIES:





Net income/(loss) $ 502

$ (92,860) Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 7,241

8,058 Stock-based compensation 22,126

24,097 Deferred income taxes 62

 Non-cash lease (income)/expense (466)

328 Other 93

261 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:





Accounts receivable and due from vendors 411

(1,361) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (13,697)

31,896 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 16,960

42,220 Deferred revenue 29,279

21,538 Funds payable to customers 1,580

10,847 Other operating assets and liabilities 64

2,246 Net cash provided by operating activities 64,155

47,270 INVESTING ACTIVITIES:





Proceeds from the sale and maturities of marketable securities 39,664

7,340 Purchases of marketable securities (7,824)

(4,027) Purchase of property and equipment (3,075)

(3,359) Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities 28,765

(46) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:





Principal payments on debt (10,189)

(3,396) Payments for repurchase and retirement of Class A common stock (25,321)

 Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (12,760)

(7,556) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 92

1,141 Net cash used in financing activities (48,178)

(9,811) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 135

(217) Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 44,877

37,196 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 232,620

233,680 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 277,497

$ 270,876







Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 239,327

$ 230,492 Restricted cash 38,170

40,384 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period $ 277,497

$ 270,876







SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW





Cash paid during the year for interest $ 7,985

$ 2,149 Cash paid during the year for income taxes $ 10,163

$ 1







SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCE ACTIVITIES





Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 22

$ 1,332 Capitalized stock-based compensation $ 469

$ 63 Accrued taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards $ 645

$ 116

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

The following tables reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial

measure:



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Net income/(loss) $ 502

$ (92,860) Interest expense 8,094

2,449 (Benefit from)/provision for income taxes (7,940)

56,820 Depreciation and amortization 7,241

8,058 Stock-based compensation expense 22,126

24,097 Other loss/(income), net 840

(1,511) Adjusted EBITDA $ 30,863

$ (2,947)



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Cash flows from operating activities $ 64,155

$ 47,270 Cash paid of capital expenditures (3,075)

(3,359) Free cash flow $ 61,080

$ 43,911 Cash paid for interest, net of the associated tax benefit 6,016

1,624 Unlevered free cash flow $ 67,096

$ 45,535



March 31, 2023

December 31, 2022 Total debt outstanding $ 503,962

$ 513,925 Less: total cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities 239,327

228,794 Total net debt $ 264,635

$ 285,131



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Revenue, as reported $ 237,028

$ 207,762 Revenue year-over-year growth rate, as reported 14.1 %

15.7 % Effect of foreign currency translation ( $)(1 ) $ (2,803)

$ (4,187) Effect of foreign currency translation (%)(1) 1.3 %

2.3 % Revenue constant currency growth rate 15.4 %

18.0 %



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Commerce revenue, as reported $ 72,637

$ 63,817 Revenue year-over-year growth rate, as reported 13.8 %

36.4 % Effect of foreign currency translation ( $)(1 ) $ (489)

$ (722) Effect of foreign currency translation (%)(1) 0.8 %

1.5 % Commerce constant currency growth rate 14.6 %

37.9 %



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Presence revenue, as reported $ 164,391

$ 143,945 Revenue year-over-year growth rate, as reported 14.2 %

8.3 % Effect of foreign currency translation ( $)(1 ) $ (2,314)

$ (3,465) Effect of foreign currency translation (%)(1) 1.6 %

2.6 % Presence constant currency growth rate 15.8 %

10.9 %

(1) To calculate the effect of foreign currency translation, we apply the same weighted monthly average exchange rate as the

comparative period.



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Shares Outstanding:





Class A common stock 87,295,014

91,562,991 Class B common stock 47,844,755

48,344,755 Class C common stock 0

0 Total common stock outstanding 135,139,769

139,907,746



Amounts may not sum due to rounding.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(In thousands)

(unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31 ,

2023

2022 Unique subscriptions (in thousands) 4,264

4,161 Total bookings (in thousands) $ 265,789

$ 228,539 ARRR (in thousands) $ 990,525

$ 869,000 ARPUS $ 212.76

$ 204.18 Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) $ 30,863

$ (2,947) Unlevered free cash flow (in thousands) $ 67,096

$ 45,535 GMV (in thousands) $ 1,534,058

$ 1,574,540

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SOURCE Squarespace, Inc.
World's Best Places to Visit and Best Places to Visit in the USA both have a new No. 1.



WASHINGTON , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Cruise Lines and Best Travel Rewards Programs , today released its annual rankings of the Best Vacations. The 2023-2024 rankings highlight 16 categories of destinations to help travelers find the best place for their vacation.

For the first time, Glacier National Park in Montana , takes the No. 1 spot in the Best Places to Visit in the USA ranking. The park stands out for offering some of the most majestic landscapes in the U.S. , and has several challenging hikes and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Maui, Hawaii , which moved up two spots to No. 2, offers something for everyone, from relaxing on the beach to zip lining and taking in the many sights. Rounding out the top three is Grand Canyon National Park , known for its inspiring views and scenic whitewater rafting routes.

New to the top spot this year in the World's Best Places to Visit ranking is Paris, France . The iconic city is well known for its architecture, museums and cuisine. Bora Bora comes in at No. 2, thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush jungles and luxurious resorts, while Glacier National Park ranks No. 3.

The Turks and Caicos Islands hold on to the No. 1 spot for Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean , offering one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world and providing maximum comfort in a tropical setting. St. Lucia remains at No. 2, known for its towering volcanic peaks and upscale resorts, while the British Virgin Islands round out the top three thanks to stunning shorelines and ample boating opportunities.

"After the recent years of uncertainty, we're seeing a trend among travelers being ready to take those bucket list vacations to Europe and remote islands, as well as big adventure trips to African safari destinations, Patagonia and the Swiss Alps," said Elizabeth Von Tersch , senior travel editor at U.S. News. "The 2023-2024 Best Vacations rankings offer a variety of destinations for every type of traveler, from those who want to relax on the beach to those who prefer trekking through mountains or exploring culture-filled cities."

U.S. News ranks a variety of vacations, including Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA , Best Places to Visit in Mexico , Europe , Canada , Asia , Africa , Australia and The Pacific and Central and South America . And for those looking to not spend as much on a vacation, U.S. News ranks the Best Cheap Vacations in the U.S. and Europe . The rankings follow a comprehensive, transparent methodology that factors in travelers' opinions, as provided by user votes, with expert and editor analysis. Each vacation destination is scored in 10 categories, from sights, culture and food to nightlife, adventure and romance, offering a complete evaluation of each destination.

2023-2024 Best Vacations Rankings

See the full rankings here .

World's Best Places to Visit

Paris Bora Bora Glacier National Park Rome Swiss Alps

Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean

Turks and Caicos Islands St. Lucia British Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Best Places to Visit in Mexico

Zihuatanejo Tulum Cozumel Ixtapa Isla Mujeres

Best Places to Visit in the USA

Glacier National Park, Montana Maui, Hawaii Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA

Bar Harbor, Maine Telluride, Colorado Monterey, California Nantucket, Massachusetts Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Best Places to Visit in Europe

Paris Rome Swiss Alps London Amsterdam

Travelers considering options for covering their summer vacation expenses  and how to work travel rewards points to their advantage  can check out U.S. News' latest column on the best travel credit cards.

For more information, visit Best Vacations , use #BestVacations on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-news-reveals-the-2023-2024-best-vacations-rankings-301818922.html

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
The platform recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt

DUBAI, UAE , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), recently signed a new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority as part of its efforts to boost tourism in the region.

This partnership is aimed at promoting Egypt's rich history, culture, and tourism opportunities. Through this campaign under the theme "In Egypt, your expectations are history", Wego will work closely with Egyptian Tourism Authority to promote this campaign on all its marketing channels and bring travelers the best of Egypt's summer and Eid Al Adha celebrations, including festivals, events, and attractions.

Mamoun Hmedan, CCO and MD, MENA and India , Wego, said: "We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority. Egypt is a perfect destination for travelers looking for a mix of history, culture, and adventure. Summer and Eid Al Adha are the ideal times to visit Egypt . We have recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt between 1 January to 27 April 2023 and we expect to see a surge around the Eid Al Adha period."

Wego will be presenting its users with a comprehensive guide highlighting the best places to visit, things to do, and experiences to enjoy. To reward travelers, a social media competition will run online to give people the chance to visit this must-see destination.

Egypt has a variety of activities and experiences to offer visitors during summer and Eid Al Adha . Travelers can explore ancient monuments as Egypt is home to some of the world's most iconic ancient monuments, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Luxor and Aswan.

Amr ElKady, CEO of Egyptian Tourism Authority, commented: "We are excited to partner with Wego for another year. With Egypt's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscape, and welcoming people, and Wego's large user base in MENA, we are confident that we can attract more visitors to Egypt and provide them with an unforgettable experience."

Suzan Mostafa , General director of Tourism Promotion at Egyptian Tourism Authority, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Wego and promote our country through this joint campaign. We will benefit from Wego's large user base in the MENA region, which will enable us to drive more traffic to Egypt and attract holidaymakers in the summer season."

During this period, Egypt comes alive with music, dance, and traditional festivities. Moreover, tourists can explore Egypt's stunning beaches, desert landscapes, all of which make Egypt a unique and unforgettable destination.

About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Jakarta and Cairo .

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2070559/Wego_Egypt.jpg

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SOURCE Wego
SHANGHAI , May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and HKEX: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders ("AGM") on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 , at 2 p.m. (local time), at 9/F, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong , for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing each of the Proposed Resolutions as defined and set forth in the notice of the AGM (the "AGM Notice"). An online live webcast of the meeting will also be made available for holders of ordinary shares of the Company as of the Record Date. The AGM Notice and the form of proxy for the AGM are available on the Company's website at http://zto.investorroom.com. The board of directors of the Company fully supports the Proposed Resolutions and recommends that shareholders and holders of American depositary shares ("ADSs") vote in favor of the Proposed Resolutions.

Holders of record of ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on May 10, 2023 , Hong Kong time (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on May 10, 2023 , New York time, who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying Class A ordinary shares must give voting instructions to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the depositary of the ADSs.

You may obtain an electronic copy of the Company's annual report, free of charge, from the Company's website at http://zto.investorroom.com, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited's website at www.hkexnews.hk or from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China . ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China .

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China . The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

E-mail: [email protected]

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SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.
PARIS (Reuters) -Arman Soldin, a 32-year-old video journalist for Agence France Presse (AFP) in Ukraine, was killed on Tuesday by Grad rocket fire near Chasiv Yar, in eastern Ukraine, AFP said on Twitter, citing AFP colleagues who witnessed the incident.

The attack happened in the town's outskirts close to Bakhmut, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine for several months, AFP added.

Soldin was with four colleagues, who are all unhurt. They were with Ukrainian soldiers during the attack, AFP said on Twitter.

"All of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones," AFP said.

(Reporting by Dominique VidalonEditing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 15, 2023. Sputnik/Vladimir Gerdo/Pool via REUTERS

By Maya Gebeily

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Having brought President Bashar al-Assad in from the cold, Arab states want him to rein in Syria's flourishing drugs trade in exchange for even closer ties. But as Damascus makes its own demands, the way ahead appears far from simple.

Arab states turned the page on years of confrontation with Assad on Sunday by letting Syria back into the Arab League, a milestone in his regional rehabilitation even as the West continues to shun him after years of civil war.

But Arab leaders are seeking a price for re-engagement, notably a halt to the production and smuggling of the amphetamine captagon, which the West and Arab states say is being exported around the region from Syria.

Alongside the return of millions of refugees who fled Syria, the captagon trade has become a big worry for Arab leaders, on a par with their concern about the foothold established by Shi'ite Islamist Iran in the Arab country.

While denying any role in the trade, for which Syrian officials and Assad relatives have faced Western sanctions, Damascus has sought leverage from the issue.

Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told his Arab counterparts at a May 1 meeting that progress on curbing captagon depended on Arab pressure on the United States to ease sanctions, according to three sources briefed on the meeting.

He also linked the return of refugees to funds for rebuilding Syria, from which more than 5 million people have fled into neighbouring states during the war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. One of them described the meeting in Jordan as "quite tense", saying Arab ministers were disturbed by Mekdads tone.

AIR STRIKES

The meeting attended by ministers from Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan produced a statement in which Syria agreed to help end drug trafficking and to work over the next month to identify who was producing and transporting narcotics.

Underlining deep Arab concern over the issue, Jordan carried out air strikes in Syria on Monday, killing a Syrian narcotics smuggler and hitting a factory linked to the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, local and intelligence sources said.

Hezbollah, which deployed fighters to Syria to aid Assad's war efforts, has denied any role in the drugs trade.

Aided by Iran and Russia, Assad steadily beat back his rebel enemies, some of whom had support from U.S.-allied Arab states that have now restored ties. They include Saudi Arabia, which is also mending ties with Assad's ally Iran.

The war has shattered Syria's once productive economy, demolishing infrastructure, cities and factories.

Captagon has long been a lucrative part of Syria's war economy, estimated to be worth billions of dollars a year.

Jordan has told Syria it views drugs as a threat to its national security, a senior Jordanian official said.

"The pressure on the border is huge and these are not gangs. Its clearly supported by Iran-backed militias entrenched within the state," the official said.

'READY TO INVEST'

A regional source close to Damascus and a Syrian source close to the Gulf with knowledge of contacts said Saudi Arabia, a big market for captagon, had proposed compensation that would come as aid for the loss of the trade in the event it stops.

The regional source said Riyadh had offered $4 billion, based on an estimate of the value of the trade.

On Wednesday, an official source at the Saudi Foreign Ministry denied there was talk of funding between Saudi Arabia and Syria. "The kingdom has not offered $4 billion to Syria," the official said.

The Saudi government's communication office did not respond to earlier emailed questions seeking comment for this story.

The Syrian government did not respond to a request for comment.

A Gulf Arab diplomat in the region said: "They must stop exporting drugs, and they know that the Gulf are ready to invest when there are signs that this is actually happening".

Two Western sources with knowledge of Arab contacts with Syria said a pay-off would be necessary to peel state-linked armed units away from the captagon trade.

The United States, United Kingdom and European Union have all placed new sanctions on Damascus in recent weeks over captagon. They specifically accuse Maher al-Assad  Bashars brother and the head of the army's Fourth Division  of facilitating the production and trafficking of captagon.

The United States has said it will not normalize ties with Assad and its sanctions remain in full effect.

Speaking to reporters last month, U.S. assistant secretary of state Barbara Leaf noted moves by Washington's regional partners to break the ice with Assad and urged them to get something in return.

"I would put ending the captagon trade right at the top alongside the other issues", she said.

Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Assad's dire need for foreign aid would shape cooperation on both the refugee and captagon issues.

But, he cautioned: "The regimes ability to deliver is as limited as its sovereignty which is now shared among a number of actors"  including Russia, Iran and local paramilitary groups.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman and Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh; Timour Azhari in Baghdad; Editing by Tom Perry, Angus MacSwan and Edmund Blair)
FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag is seen near surveillance cameras outside the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court, where Australian journalist Cheng Lei is expected to face trial on state secrets charges, in Beijing, China March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Florenc

By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Politicians, business people and friends of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who will reach 1,000 days of detention in Beijing on Wednesday, called for a faster resolution of her case as diplomatic ties between the trade partners stabilise.

Cheng, 48, has yet to receive a verdict after facing trial more than a year ago in a closed court in the Chinese capital, accused of providing state secrets to another country.

Her arrest by state security in September 2020 came as China widened blocks on Australian exports amid a diplomatic dispute, but the barriers are falling now, with a visit by Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell planned.

"Going this long without being there for her kids is the hardest thing," her partner, Nick Coyle, told Reuters in an interview, referring to Cheng's children, aged 11 and 14, who are being cared for by their grandmother in Australia.

"She has missed her daughter going into high school, these are formative years," added Coyle, who was chairman of the China-Australia Business Council for nine years until he left Beijing in 2022.

The "uncertainty over when this might be resolved" was also difficult, added Coyle, who described Cheng as "this vivacious, glamorous, pocket-rocket Aussie TV anchor" before her arrest, and receives monthly letters.

"Fairness would see a solution and I hope it is resolved this year and she can join her children in Melbourne," said Warwick Smith, an official of the Business Council of Australia, who will travel to China this month. China has previously said Australia should respect China's judicial sovereignty, adding that her legal rights were being upheld.

Australia wanted to "engage constructively" with China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a television interview with News UK host Piers Morgan in London a week ago.

But he added that he would also "say very directly to President Xi, that Australians such as Cheng Lei, need to be given proper justice, and that they're not receiving that at the moment".

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Cheng had shown "great resilience and courage", and the Australian government was concerned by the delay.

Born in China, Cheng moved with her scientist parents to Australia as a 10-year-old.

Later she returned to China to build a television career, first with CNBC, starting in 2003, and in 2012 she joined CGTN, becoming a prominent business anchor.

"No light has been shed on the allegations" against Cheng after three years, said former trade minister Simon Birmingham, whom she interviewed on his visits to China.

"Compassion, as well as justice, should see her allowed to return home to give a mum's love to her children," he said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Participants, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, attend a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2023. Sputnik/Ga

(Reuters) -Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko had to be driven a short distance to an event during Tuesday's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and skipped a lunch hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, looked tired and a little unsteady on his feet, and a bandage was visible on his right hand. His appearance sparked speculation online about his health, though he otherwise showed no obvious sign of being unwell.

Video footage showed the 68-year-old chatting with Putin and army top brass after the annual parade on Red Square and then taking a lift to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier nearby while Putin walked there with the leaders of Armenia and five Central Asian countries.

He rejoined the others to lay flowers at the Tomb beside the Kremlin, only about 300 metres from the spot where they had earlier watched the parade marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

In a rare departure from custom, the Belarusian president then missed the state lunch hosted by Putin in the Kremlin and attended by the other leaders.

Belarusian authorities have issued no statements on Lukashenko's health, but he has appeared at few public events in the past two weeks and at one of them his voice was hoarse.

Lukashenko later on Tuesday resurfaced for the Victory Day wreath-laying ceremony in Minsk but in another departure from tradition he wore civilian clothes - not a military uniform - and made no speech.

Russia used the territory of Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of their common neighbour Ukraine in February last year, and since then their military cooperation has intensified, with joint training exercises on Belarusian soil.

But Lukashenko has insisted that Belarus is not a party to the war and has not sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in what Putin calls a "special military operation".

At Tuesday's Victory Day parade Putin said Russia was engaged in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine.

(Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters, to discuss the Sudan and Syrian situations, in Cairo, Egypt, on May 7, 2023.

The Arab Leagues decision to re-admit Syria after shunning it for 12 years was a significant symbolic victory for Damascus, part of a larger regional realignment and an indication of the United States waning role, analysts say.

But it may not immediately bring the reconstruction dollars that Syrian President Bashar Assad is hoping for. Nor is it likely to bring the changes Syrias neighbors want, such as an agreement on refugee returns and moves to reduce drug trafficking.

Syria is returning to the Arab fold even though there is no sign of a resolution to the countrys uprising-turned-civil war, now in its 13th year. The long-stalemated conflict has killed nearly a half million people since March 2011 and displaced half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. Multiple mediation attempts have failed.

The league approved Syrias readmission at a closed-door meeting in Cairo on Sunday. It means Assad can attend the leagues summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on May 19, further cementing his move out of pariah status.

What is the Arab League and why was Syria suspended from it?

The Arab League is a 22-member organization founded in 1945 to promote regional cooperation and resolve disputes. But it is widely seen as toothless and has long struggled to help solve conflicts, especially in the recent era of wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya and a bitter diplomatic rift between Gulf monarchies and Qatar years ago.

The league suspended Syrias membership in 2011 after Assads government cracked down brutally on mass protests against his rule, an uprising that quickly descended into a brutal civil war. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries funneled support to armed opposition groups trying to overthrow Assad, who was backed by Russia, Iran and militias affiliated with Tehran.

Why let it back in now?

After years of deadlock in the war, Assads government has a secure grip on most of the country, particularly most main cities. Opposition groups or U.S.-backed Kurdish forces control most of northern and eastern Syria  and thats unlikely to change any time soon  but it has been clear for years now that an opposition overthrow of Assad is virtually impossible.

Arab governments that may have once hoped for that outcome are now deciding its better to reach out.

Were not looking for magical solutions, but what we do know is that the current situation is unsustainable. Its going nowhere, Saudi political scientist Hesham Alghannam said. We dont know when the conflict will end, and boycotting the regime didnt lead to a solution.

In recent years, several Arab countries moved towards reestablishing diplomatic ties, most notably the United Arab Emirates in 2018. Jordan and Syria reopened their borders in 2021. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Syria announced they are moving to reopen embassies and resume flights.

The devastating Feb. 6 earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey also sped up rapprochement, bringing sympathy for Syria. More than 6,000 people were killed in Syria and hundreds of thousands lost their homes. Senior officials from once-hostile countries visited Damascus for the first time in over a decade and sent planeloads of aid.

Approaching Assad under the pretext of the humanitarian crisis was a less controversial way to continue improving ties.

Another boost was the Chinese-brokered deal to reestablish ties between Saudi Arabia and regional rival Iran, which is encouraging them to de-escalate conflicts like Syria and Yemen.

Also, the United States de-prioritization of the Middle East and particularly of the Syria portfolio led regional actors to work out their own deals with Damascus, despite Washingtons objections, said Randa Slim, director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Which countries were for and against it?

Saudi Arabia played a key role in pushing for Syrias return to the Arab League, hosting a meeting last month to discuss the topic. Jordan hosted another gathering earlier this month.

Qatar remained the most prominent hold-out. However, after Sundays decision to readmit Damascus, Qatar said in a statement that it will not be an obstacle to an Arab consensus.

Kuwait also has not endorsed normalization, said Bader Al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University.

Kuwait wants to know what the conditions are, what the political solution looks like. Will there be elections? An apology? Anything? he said. Despite these key skeptics, al-Saif said Riyadh will continue to push for Damascus to work for a more robust and integrated Arab order.

One main criticism of the rapprochement is that Assad has made no concessions toward a political deal to resolve Syrias conflict. Without a credible resolution, millions of Syrians who fled abroad  many to neighboring countries  will be too afraid to return.

What will happen on the ground?

On the symbolic level, Syrias return to the league signals to opposition Syrians that they are left on their own, Slim said, and confirms to Damascus that its scorched-earth strategy in the war worked.

But on a practical level, a seat at the Arab League is not that powerful, she said.

U.S. and European sanctions will likely prevent Arab countries from significant investments in reconstruction in the near future.

Many Syrians in government-held areas hope to see a benefit in greater trade with the Arab world to help to offset a crippling economic crisis.

That could happen, Alghannam said. If there is stability, I believe there will be an influx of Gulf investment and trade with Syria. Still, he noted, Saudi-Syrian relations were strained even before the Syrian conflict, so confidence-building will take time.

A statement issued by the Arab League after Sundays meeting suggested that Syrias further reintegration will depend on moving towards a political solution to the conflict, combating drug trafficking and facilitating the return of refugees. Gulf countries have also pushed for Damascus to curb Iranian influence in Syria.

Maha Yahya, the director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center, said it is unlikely that Syria will meet Arab countries demands.

As such, she said, I honestly dont think this move is going to open the floodgates of support for Syria.

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By Andrew MacAskill and Tom Balmforth

LONDON (Reuters) - A British-led group of European countries has asked for expressions of interest to supply Ukraine with missiles with a range of up to 300 km (190 miles) in what would be another step-up in military support for Kyiv against Russia's invasion.

The call for responses from companies who could provide such missiles was included in a notice posted last week by the International Fund for Ukraine - a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden - set up to send weapons to Kyiv.

Britain's Ministry of Defence, which administers the fund, asked companies to get in touch if they could provide missiles that can be launched from land, sea or air with a payload of between 20 and 490 kg (44 and 1,078 pounds).

The notice asked for other desirable requirements including a "low probability of intercept", "mission planning capability", and "air defence penetration methods to increase probability of successful strike". The notice said companies that responded would be contacted from June 5.

Asked about British policy on supplying fighter jets and long-range missiles to Ukraine at a think tank event in Washington, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly declined to detail specific plans.

But he said it was important to keep looking at ways to "enhance and speed up the support we give to Ukraine".

"If we're saving stuff up for a rainy day, this is the rainy day," he said.

A British official said no final decision had been made to send missiles to Ukraine with the capabilities set out in the published notice.

The Washington Post reported details of the procurement notice earlier on Tuesday.

Britain and other Western countries have scaled up their pledges of military aid for Ukraine this year.

Britain said in January it would send 14 of its main Challenger 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. Other nations including the United States and Germany subsequently committed to supply tanks.

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister, told Reuters that Kyiv had no concrete information about the UK-led effort to supply long-range missiles, but that Ukraine had for months been consistently appealing to Western governments to provide long-range weapons.

"We would welcome it if the UK takes on a leadership role with the long-range missiles, in the same way they did with the Challenger 2 main battle tanks," he said.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Tom Balmforth and William James; editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean)
FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a camouflage uniform walks out of PMC Wagner Centre, which is a project implemented by the businessman and founder of the Wagner private military group Yevgeny Prigozhin, during the official opening of the office block in Saint P

(Reuters) -Britain is set to formally classify Russian mercenary force Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation as a way of increasing pressure on Russia, The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Wagner mercenaries have spearheaded Russia's months-long assault on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

The Home Office has been building a case for two months and proscription was due within weeks, the newspaper reported, citing a government source.

The British government declined to comment on its plans.

"The UK sanctioned the Wagner Group in March 2022. While the government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review, we do not comment on whether a specific organisation is or is not being considered for proscription," a government spokesperson said.

Proscription means it would be a criminal offence in Britain to belong to or promote the group, arrange or address its meetings, and carry its logo in public.

There has been no evidence that Wagner or individuals linked to the group are operating in Britain since the war in Ukraine started, the report said.

However the newspaper said, citing a government source, there had been "suspicions" the group helped move money out of Britain after financial sanctions were imposed on Russian oligarchs and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin,

Bakhmut has been under Russian attack for more than nine months, with Wagner Group mercenaries leading repeated attempts to advance on what was once a city of 70,000.

The group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a social media message on Monday that his troops were beginning to receive ammunition needed to press their advance.

(Reporting by Jyoti Narayan and Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru and Sachin Ravikumar in London; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo

By Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said Canada will not be intimidated by China following tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions by Ottawa and Beijing.

Ottawa expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei on Monday over allegations related to foreign interference, and hours later, China asked a Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to leave by May 13 in response to what it called Ottawa's "unreasonable actions".

"We understand there is retaliation, but we will not be intimidated, we will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

A row has simmered since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges. All three were freed in 2021.

Some fear the latest flare-up could have economic repercussions for Canada. Chinese imports of Canadian goods rose 16% last year to a record of C$100 billion ($74.8 billion), and China is Canada's second-biggest trading partner after the United States.

Last year, Beijing lifted a three-year ban on imports of canola, Canada's largest crop, from trading companies Richardson International and Viterra that had been imposed in 2018. China is also a major importer of Canadian potash and wheat.

"With China, theres always a risk" of retaliation, said Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. "(But) it seems the Chinese government is more sensitive about food security than they were years ago and that might mitigate the risk."

Global supplies of wheat and vegetable oil are in tighter supply due to the Ukraine war, which may make it difficult for China to limit its imports of Canadian wheat and canola.

China "took a very measured response," Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said in an interview aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He said the Chinese could have responded by expelling a more senior official or multiple officials.

Saint-Jacques also said he does not expect China to resort to economic sanctions because Beijing is trying to reassure foreign companies that they can work there after draconian COVID-19 restrictions were dropped.

Beijing has this year rolled out the red carpet for Western leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, and China's Premier Li Qiang has reached out to corporate leaders to ensure them the country is now open for business.

Beijing is conducting a "charm offensive (to) convince foreign enterprises to come back to China to invest," Saint-Jacques added. "So putting sanctions on Canada at this stage would have sent a very bad message to foreign companies."

($1 = 1.3372 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa, additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan and Lisa Shumaker)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - From bloody frontlines to buzzing construction sites and even high-end parties, the amphetamine commonly known as captagon - has entrenched itself in the Middle East.

Curbing the captagon trade has become a key demand by Arab states seeking to restore ties with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, whose government is accused of benefiting from the trade.

Here is a look at the drug's history and current use.

FROM FOCUS TO FRONT LINES

Captagon was the brand name of a stimulant first produced in Germany in the 1960s to help treat attention deficit disorders, narcolepsy and other conditions.

It was discontinued but an illicit version of the drug continued to be produced in eastern Europe and later in the Arab region, becoming prominent in the conflict that erupted in Syria following anti-government protests in 2011.

The illicit version - also nicknamed "the drug of jihad" or "poor man's cocaine" - is thought to be made of a mix of fenethylline, caffeine and other fillers. It generates focus and staves off sleep and hunger.

FUNDING A STATE

As early as 2014, Syria was thought to be a major producer and consumer of the drug, and fighters including militants of the Islamic State group were thought to consume captagon to stay awake on frontlines.

As front lines in Syria quieted with the government and its allies retaking most of the country, the production and export of captagon came into focus.

Intelligence sources based in the region say captagon is still produced in small factories along the Syrian-Lebanese border as well as larger ones closer to Syria's frontier with Jordan. Some quantities are also produced in Lebanon, according to security sources.

The United States, Britain and European Union have blamed Syria's government for the production and export of the drug, naming Maher al-Assad - the head of the army's Fourth Division and the president's brother - as a key figure.

Pinning down the trade's value is difficult but diplomatic sources say it is worth several billion dollars a year. The United States, the European Union and Britain have accused the Fourth Division and other Syrian officials of benefitting from the trade, but it is not clear to what extent, if any, it fills state coffers.

FUELLING GULF PARTIES, AND ANGER

One of captagon's most lucrative markets is the Gulf region, where party scenes are flourishing, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Intercepted shipments of the drug are typically headed there, including a recent 10 million-pill transfer from Lebanon.

In 2021, Saudi Arabia put in place an import ban on all Lebanese products over drug smuggling and the issue has become a top concern for Arab countries seeking a solution to Syria's war.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, is seen at their headquarters in downtown Santiago, Chile March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile state-owned miner Codelco and multinational miner BHP Group signed a knowledge-sharing agreement on sustainable mining, Codelco said in a statement on Tuesday.

The "collaboration accord" sets up a commission to share expertise between the two companies over the next five years in "mutual interest areas" like water use, tailings supervision, and application of advanced technologies, the statement said.

"In order to imagine these new ways of doing mining, innovation is one of the main axes of our management, a focus that we can only develop in alliance with players who are equally active in this search, as is the case with BHP," Codelco's CEO Andre Sougarret said in the statement.

The statement says the accord will address technologies that enable the exploitation of low-grade minerals, deep deposits and deposits with complex metallurgical conditions, as well as the design of operations that use less or no water.

Rag Udd, BHP's Americas president, said the alliance with Codelco reflects the company's efforts to fight climate change.

The global mining industry has a track record of environmental abuses, but it is also a key player in the transition to clean energy.

Chile is the world's top copper producer and holds the largest lithium reserves on the planet.

The World Bank has estimated that the production of minerals, such graphite, lithium and cobalt, may increase by 500% by 2050 to meet demand for clean energy technologies.

Chile's government last month announced it would work to transfer control over the country's lithium operations to a state-owned company, with future lithium contracts issued only as public-private partnerships.

President Gabriel Boric tasked copper giant Codelco with leading negotiations with lithium producers currently operating in the country.

Agreements like Tuesday's accord between Codelco and BHP "show how joint work between the public-private sector is essential to making mining an increasingly sustainable industry," Udd said.

(Reporting by Natalia Ramos; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Sarah Morland, Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Teresa Xu speaks to the media outside the No. 3 Intermediate People's Court before a court hearing of her suit against a Beijing hospital for rejecting her request to freeze her eggs on the grounds that she is unmarried, in Beijing, China May 9, 2023. REU

By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) - An unmarried Chinese woman made a final appeal in a court on Tuesday in her bid to sue a hospital for violating her rights by refusing to freeze her eggs because she is single.

Teresa Xu, a 35-year-old freelance writer, lodged her complaint against the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in 2019 in a landmark case in China of a woman fighting for reproductive rights.

Xu's appeal comes as the attitude of authorities to giving unmarried women access to reproductive technologies has begun to soften as China grapples with a falling birth rate that has brought its first population drop in six decades.

"People have been paying lots of attention to the case, and this is very important for single women ... I think this has given people some hope, so I want to carry on," Xu told reporters outside the court in Beijing after the hearing.

She said she was cautiously optimistic about her case.

The verdict will not announced immediately due to the large volume of material presented to the court, Xu's lawyer said.

"If I get the verdict I've been hoping for, I'll act at once," Xu said, explaining that she would freeze her eggs at a hospital.

It is difficult for unmarried women to get access to fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and egg freezing technologies due to a rule that women must be married.

But concerned about a rapidly ageing population, government's advisers proposed in March that single women should get be allowed the treatments.

Some private clinics in places including the southwestern province of Sichuan have already begun letting single women get IVF treatment.

Liberalising fertility treatments could unleash huge demand in what is already the world's biggest market, likely putting a strain on limited services, investors and industry executives say.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Sonali Paul, Robert Birsel)
Opposition assembly members vote on whether to proceed with an impeachment process against Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -Lawmakers in Ecuador's National Assembly voted on Tuesday to continue an impeachment process against President Guillermo Lasso over embezzlement accusations, potentially moving the labyrinthine process toward its final stage.

Lasso has always denied accusations that he turned a blind eye to alleged embezzlement related to a contract at state-owned oil transportation company Flopec, arguing his administration made profitable changes to the deal, which was signed years before he took office.

Under the resolution, which won the approval of 88 of the 116 legislators present, Lasso and his opposition rivals will each testify to the assembly's plenary and then he will face a final vote that could result in his removal from office.

Lasso and Hernan Luque, the fugitive former chairman of the board of the umbrella organization of state companies, allowed "the continuation of oil transportation contracts in favor of third parties, conscious that they represented a loss for the state," read the resolution approved by the assembly. "Consequently the president of the republic knew of the structure of corruption at Flopec EP."

The vote comes despite a report from the assembly's oversight committee, which heard witnesses last month and concluded there is no cause for Lasso's trial or removal.

Just four of the committee's nine members backed that conclusion over the weekend.

Lasso allies have questioned the legality of the impeachment process, the first against a president in decades.

The process is illegitimate and "was born, developed and ended without proof, without arguments and with serious legal vacuums," Government Minister Henry Cucalon said on Twitter. "We stand firm in defense of the right of Ecuadoreans to live in democracy."

The assembly is set to elect new leadership, potentially replacing President Virgilio Saquicela, by Sunday.

Ninety-two votes are needed to remove Lasso. Lawmakers from the party of ex-President Rafael Correa - himself convicted of corruption - have pledged their 47 votes in favor. Other opposition parties are divided on whether to back the removal.

Lasso has an antagonistic relationship with the 137-member legislature. Some opposition members attempted to remove him last year amid intense protests by Indigenous groups.

Under Ecuador's constitution, Lasso could call early presidential and legislative elections rather than face a removal vote.

(Reporting by Alexandra ValenciaWriting by Julia Symmes CobbEditing by Marguerita Choy and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) departs after a Republican conference meeting on Capitol in Washington, U.S. January 10, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against George Santos, the embattled Republican U.S. congressman who has admitted to lying about his resume but defied calls to step down, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing three sources.

Santos is expected to appear as soon as Wednesday in federal court in New York's Eastern District, where charges have been filed under seal, CNN reported.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.

The Associated Press reported that in a brief phone interview Santos said he was unaware of the charges.

"This is news to me," AP quoted Santos as saying. "You're the first to call me about this."

Santos' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and his lawyer could not immediately be reached.

Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would withhold judgment on Santos, saying, "in America, you're innocent until proven guilty."

CNN reported that the exact nature of the charges against Santos were not immediately clear.

However, federal prosecutors have been examining false statement allegations in Santos' campaign filings.

In March, the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee launched a probe looking at a variety of concerns, including whether Santos engaged in illegal activity over his 2022 campaign, failed to properly disclose information required on House statements, and violated federal laws concerning his role in a financial firm.

Santos' office, through his congressional Twitter account, has previously said he is cooperating with the House Ethics Committee's investigation.

Santos was elected in November in a wealthy district of New York's Long Island in a race where concerns about crime weighed heavily on voters' minds. It was a bright spot for Republicans in what was otherwise a lackluster election night for the party.

The race drew outsized attention as both major candidates self-identified as gay, and Santos was the first non-incumbent Republican who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But reporting by the New York Times and other media outlets in December called into question almost every element of Santos' life story.

Among other claims, Santos said he had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite neither institution having any record of him attending. He claimed to have worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which also was untrue.

He said falsely that he was Jewish and that his grandparents escaped the Nazis during World War Two, and he failed to disclose that he was married to a woman for several years ending in 2019.

Following those revelations, Santos apologized for "embellishing" his resume, while defending aspects of the way he had represented himself.

For instance, he has since described himself as "Jew-ish" rather than "Jewish" when discussing his heritage, telling the New York Post he described himself that way because his "maternal family had a Jewish background."

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub, Sarah N. Lynch, Luc Cohen and Gram Slattery; Editing by Bill Berkrot, Lisa Shumaker and Chris Reese)
E. Jean Carroll exits the Manhattan Federal Court following the verdict in the civil rape accusation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Here is a timeline of writer E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Donald Trump that culminated on Tuesday with jurors finding that he sexually abused and defamed her and awarding her $5 million in damages.

June 2019 - E. Jean Carroll publishes an excerpt from her memoir, "What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal," that includes the accusation Trump raped her in a New York department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

June 2019 - Then-President Trump denies Carroll's accusations, telling a reporter at the White House with reference to Carroll: "I'll say it with great respect: Number one, she's not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?"

November 2019 - Carroll sues Trump for defamation in a New York state court in Manhattan.

September 2020 - The U.S. Department of Justice moves the case to federal court, saying Trump spoke about Carroll in his official capacity as president, and the government should be substituted for Trump as the defendant.

October 2020 - U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan refuses to substitute the government as a defendant, saying Trump was not a government employee and his statements were not made within the scope of his job as president.

2021-September 2022 - Carroll's lawsuit is largely on hold while Trump appeals Kaplan's decision. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan hears the appeal in December 2021.

Sept. 20, 2022 - Carroll says she plans to sue Trump a second time for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, citing New York state's new Adult Survivors Act. The law gives adults a one-year window starting on Nov. 24 to sue their alleged attackers, even if statutes of limitations have long since expired.

Sept. 27, 2022 - The 2nd Circuit agrees with Trump that he was a government employee when he first spoke about Carroll, but says it is unsure whether, under local laws of Washington, D.C., Trump had spoken in his capacity as president. It asks the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for guidance. That court schedules oral arguments for Jan. 10, 2023.

Oct. 12, 2022 - Trump repeats his denials of Carroll's claims. On his Truth Social website, he calls the "Ms. Bergdorf Goodman case" a "complete con job," a "hoax," a "lie" and a "complete Scam," and says he had not known Carroll and that she was "not my type!"

Oct. 19, 2022 - Trump is deposed in Carroll's first lawsuit. He denies Carroll's claims and calls her mentally ill.

Nov. 24, 2022 - Carroll files her second lawsuit, accusing Trump of defaming her in his Oct. 12 Truth Social post and accusing him of battery.

Feb. 15, 2023 - Kaplan rejects Trump's offer to provide a DNA sample to compare against a dress Carroll said she wore on the day he raped her.

March 10, 2023 - Kaplan rejects Trump's effort to exclude from trial a 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape of him making graphic, vulgar comments about women, and testimony from two other women who allege he sexually assaulted them.

March 23, 2023 - Kaplan says jurors will be kept anonymous at the trial, citing the threat that Trump supporters and others may harass them.

March 28, 2023 - Kaplan rejects Trump's request to throw out the defamation claim in Carroll's second lawsuit. Trump had argued that he had been merely commenting about Carroll's first lawsuit, making his comments protected speech.

April 13, 2023 - The D.C. Court of Appeals declines to decide whether Trump acted as president when discussing Carroll in June 2019, saying it did not have enough facts. It provides the 2nd Circuit appeals court with guidance on the applicable law.

April 17, 2023 - Kaplan rejects Trump's bid to delay the April 25 trial, saying the alleged "prejudicial media coverage" was largely provoked by the former president.

April 20, 2023 - Kaplan says Trump need not attend the trial but rejects his effort to have jurors view his absence in a positive light by instructing them that it was meant to avoid logistical burdens. Trump had cited traffic and security concerns.

April 25, 2023 - Trial gets under way.

May 9, 2023 - Jurors deliberate for just under three hours before deciding Trump sexually abused and defamed Carroll and awarding her $5 million in damages. Trump, campaigning to retake the White House in 2024, will appeal, says spokesman Steven Cheung.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel killed three senior commanders from Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group, and 10 civilians in surprise strikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, medical officials said.

Following are some facts about Islamic Jihad:

* Founded in the late 1970s by Fathi Shiqaqi and Abdel-Aziz Odeh, Islamic Jihad gained support among Palestinians disillusioned with Yasser Arafats Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Shiqaqi was assassinated in 1995 in Malta, apparently by Israeli agents.

* The group is sworn to destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state spanning what was pre-1948 British Mandate Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

* A recipient of Iranian funding and know-how estimated by Israel to be in the tens of millions of dollars annually, Islamic Jihad has foreign headquarters in Beirut and Damascus and its deployment in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while more limited than in Gaza, has recently grown.

* Islamic Jihad has the second-biggest armed network in Gaza after that of the enclave's governing militant group Hamas. Up-to-date figures on Islamic Jihad's strength are difficult to come by, with 2021 estimates ranging from about 1,000 to several thousand gunmen, according to the CIA's World Factbook. The group also has a significant arsenal of rockets, mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles. Islamic Jihad does not disclose such information.

* Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad has not contested Palestinian parliamentary elections and appears to have no ambition to form a government in Gaza or the West Bank.

* Islamic Jihad is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and European countries.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Alexander Betts, director of the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford, pictured at Brasenose College in Oxford, UK, in 2022. John Cairns (John Cairns)

In an increasingly conflictive and authoritarian world, the number of people fleeing violence and persecution is growing. Climate change, inequality and other factors spur large exoduses of people who escape from natural catastrophes and misery. Meanwhile, in the advanced democracies, more and more restrictive positions on migration are becoming consolidated. In this scenario, Alexander Betts, director of the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford, warns that the principle of asylum is under threat to a greater extent than at any time since the Second World War. The conversation took place recently in Geneva, in the context of the Growth Summit organized by the World Economic Forum.

Question. In just over a year, Europe has welcomed approximately eight million Ukrainian refugees with some efficiency and without great tension. At the same time, some 300,000 irregular arrivals in the EU in 2022 are enough for some to consider it a crisis. Could there be any symptom of racism behind that difference?

Answer. I think we should celebrate Europes response to the Ukraine crisis and recognize the extraordinary wave of humanitarian solidarity. On the other hand, we have to recognize that Europe shows a very different face to asylum seekers and irregular migrants coming from other regions of the world. There is a double standard, and some would say the difference lies in geographical proximity. Of course, we have to open up the doors to those who come from our neighbors. On the other hand, I think there is a lot of truth to the claim that theres an underlying element of hypocrisy and that the difference is in part explained by race, religion and gender. But across Europe we receive many people who are incontrovertibly refugees from persecuting countries. And yet Europe as a whole is not only failing to provide safe pathways and safe passage for those people to arrive in Europe, but also in many cases is engaging in acts of refoulement, forcibly returning people back, whether from boats or having arrived on land, to countries that are not safe, like Libya. So we see these two sides of the coin and race is at the core of it. Religion is also part of it.

Q. What do you think of the plans of countries like the United Kingdom or Denmark to bounce asylum seekers who arrive in their territory to third countries such as Rwanda?

A. The Rwanda proposal is unworkable, cruel and illegal. It builds on precedents like Australias approach to offshoring, processing asylum seekers on the island of Nauru and Papua New Guinea. But it goes a step further. Australia processes asylum claims in Nauru and Papua New Guinea with the intention that those recognized as refugees are ultimately brought back to Australian territory. Whats different about the Rwanda proposal is it takes people who arrive as refugees, denies them access to a legal process to determine whether theyre refugees and sends them on a one way ticket to Rwanda and pays Rwanda to integrate them. In the long term, it is very likely to be incompatible with the international refugee and human rights bill. This is denying people access to the right to seek asylum, which is central to refugee and human rights law. The Home Secretary [Suella Braverman] has said to the media that she dreams of front page news in a national daily, The Daily Telegraph, showing a picture of a plane taking off. In reality, these policies are speaking to domestic political debates.

Q. You point to the British conservative government, but we see that the social democrats in power in Denmark also adopt very restrictive policies. Other parties in the progressive family are toughening up their position on immigration. Do you think we are witnessing a general trend towards the right in addressing these kinds of issues?

A. I think there is a shift to the right on immigration amongst mainstream parties across Europe. In Scandinavia, Denmark is perhaps the most extreme example. Center-left parties across Europe are often in a very difficult position of needing to attract working class voters, and those are groups who often have the most skepticism towards immigration because of the effect that low skilled immigration has on wage levels, house prices and access to public services like education and health services. And increasingly center-left parties stay away from the asylum and immigration debate, leaving the agenda to be determined by the right.

Alexander Betts, director of the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford, pictured in Geneva. Andrea Rizzi

Q. You have referred to return practices, more or less on the spot, that occur in different places. Are these types of actions in accordance with international law?

A. The right to seek asylum is a really important, established principle in international law, going back to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. The core idea is that all states in the world reciprocally commit to admit refugees onto their territory and allow them to remain until its safe for them to go home. If the UK or Denmark say, were not going to take in refugees, well then why should Kenya? Why should Turkey? The principle of asylum is under threat to a greater extent than at any time since the Second World War. And its partly because states are eroding the right to spontaneously seek asylum. Theres a really core principle in refugee law and human rights law of non-refoulement. The idea that you cannot forcibly return someone to a country in which they risk serious harm. What weve done in Europe over a long period of time is shift the virtual border away from the physical border. States have realized that if they can impose restrictions and non entry mechanisms that make it more and more difficult to reach the territory of that state, they avoid their obligations under international law, whether thats posting immigration control officers at the airports or ports of entry of other countries, whether its having joint Coast Guard operations or naval operations that restrict the ability to cross territorial water, in order to establish razor wire fences that stop people crossing from Morocco to Spain.

Q. What are the consequences?

A. Extraterritorial control of the border makes spontaneous movement of asylum seekers more and more difficult. Unless you have a visa, you cant easily get on a plane. What that means is that one of the key actors in asylum are now smuggling networks and criminal gangs, demonized by European politicians in the media. Theyve become the only realistic way in which most refugees can access European territory.

Q. What do you think about the EUs attempts to set up a new pact on asylum and migration? Do you think it is realistic to expect any significant change in the short and medium term?

A. The Common European Asylum System is broken and needs updating. The Dublin system that underlies it is problematic because it allocates the majority of the responsibility to the frontline countries. It means that if you arrive in Greece or Italy or Spain, those should be the countries that assess your asylum application and take responsibility. It creates a perverse incentive for some of those countries to wave through asylum seekers and turn a blind eye to their movements to other parts of Europe. And through that theres suspicion and mistrust between Europe. For a long time, weve had some very sensible, thoughtful proposals put forward by the European Commission [...] but the politics gets in the way. The Visegrad States [a group made up by Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia] are in a very different position from the Mediterranean states, which are in a very different position from Western and Northern European states. There needs to be serious, concerted leadership in order to get collective action.

Q. Many European countries are suffering severe demographic declines, and orderly economic immigration is part of the solution. Germany, for example, is taking steps in that direction, but in many other cases large movements have not been detected. Do you think there will be progress in this segment, or will we continue to be trapped in restrictive logic?

A. Its very clear that Europe needs workers. Demographics and an aging population mean that we need to import labor in order to address that imbalance. And we know that everybody benefits from high skilled migration, and low skilled migration massively benefits businesses, but it has redistributive consequences by putting downward pressure on wages, upward pressure on house prices. But in aggregate, everyone benefits from low skilled labor migration. What we have to do is persuade the public to recognize that there are these labor migration needs and that our economies will benefit, and in the long term that will grow the economic pie for the benefit of everyone.

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FILE PHOTO: A passerby is reflected on an electric monitor displaying the graph of recent moments of the Japanese yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan May 2, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato//File Photo

By Nell Mackenzie

LONDON (Reuters) - Hedge fund launches in 2023 are at their lowest level globally since 2017, data provider Preqin said, against a backdrop of banking upheaval and bouts of market volatility.

So far this year, 180 funds have started or plan to start trading, Preqin told Reuters on Tuesday.

Untried trend managers in particular have found capital raising tough given market turbulence which has forced many established macro and trend-following funds to cut positions from bad portfolio bets.

Managed futures hedge funds using computer-led strategies to follow market trends and firms trading on macroeconomic signals have had three and eight launches respectively this year.

There have been 36 launches of equity strategy funds, making them the most popular strategy, Preqin data showed.

Meanwhile, credit has seen seven new funds launched and multi-strategy firms trading many different kinds of strategies together had six launches so far in 2023, with one further expected in the third quarter.

Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity shrank to its lowest level in more than a decade in the first quarter, and only six new event driven hedge funds have started this year.

"The strong public equity performance this quarter was encouraging for a strategy that correlates highly with public markets. Meanwhile, macro strategies fell out of favor just as quickly as they had come in," Preqin said in its Hedge Funds Q1 2023 report, which was released earlier this month.

(Reporting by Nell Mackenzie; Editing by Alexander Smith)
FILE PHOTO: Migrants gather between the primary and secondary border fences in San Diego as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19 era restrictions known as Title 42, that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 202

By Lizbeth Diaz

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Long lines of migrants have amassed this week in the border city of Tijuana, near the sprawling wall that divides Mexico from the United States, in the final days of a three-year long COVID-19 policy that blocked people crossing from seeking asylum.

The policy, known as Title 42, is set to expire at midnight on May 11, prompting a rush of migrants to the border, now huddled under black plastic or makeshift tents waiting to cross into the U.S.

"Nothing like this has been seen before," said Enrique Lucero, Tijuana's director of migrant affairs.

Activists say that queues of migrants started arriving this week to the city of Tijuana, which borders San Diego, California, hoping to get ahead of a potential rush in asylum applications after May 11.

Some have attempted to cross illegally instead of waiting, they add.

The United States has insisted the end of Title 42 does not mean borders will be open.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday he will hold a video call with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday, with migration among the key topics to be discussed.

The Biden administration and Texas state government are sending reinforcements to the border to prepare for a possible increase in illegal immigration.

(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Editing by Sonali Paul)
By Sonia Rolley

KINSHASA (Reuters) - More than 670 women, or 48 new victims per day, have been treated for sexual violence in displacement camps in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the last two weeks, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Tuesday.

About 600,000 people are sheltering in the camps near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, after fleeing rebel conflict in their home towns in the surrounding region.

Most of the victims reported being assaulted when they left the camps to get food or wood, MSF said.

In three sites - Rusayo, Bulengo and Kanyaruchinya - more than half the victims said they were assaulted by armed men, MSF said, without giving further details.

"For months, our teams have been treating a high number of cases but it has never reached the catastrophic scale of recent weeks," Jason Rizzo, MSF emergency coordinator in North Kivu province, said.

"Our data only reflects people who arrive at our facilities so it's probably underestimated," he told Reuters.

A staff member from another humanitarian organisation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said concerns had been raised with the Congolese authorities about alleged rapes being committed by members of the military and allied proxy groups, and about reports of displaced people being prostituted in brothels run by army officers and local authorities.

Lieutenant General Constant Ndima, military governor of North Kivu province, said he could "not rule out" that members of the military had committed sex crimes.

"The victims speak of armed men. As you know, armed groups are currently scattered around Goma," he told Reuters, adding that investigations were under way.

"Let's wait for the conclusion of the experts' work," said Colonel Guillaume Ndjike, army spokesperson for North Kivu province, when asked to comment on the allegations.

North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province have been governed by the military for the last two years since Congo declared a state of siege to address worsening violence.

Rape has been widely documented as a weapon of war used by armed groups in eastern Congo, where dozens of militias are active. Conflict has simmered and periodically flared up since the end of two regional wars between 1996 and 2003.

Most of the recent displacement in North Kivu province has been caused by fighting between the Congolese army and the M23, an ethnic Tutsi-led rebel group.

(Additional reporting by Ange Kasongo; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alison Williams)
LUCKNOW, India (Reuters) - A court in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday found two Hindu men guilty of gang-raping a Muslim woman during communal riots in 2013 and sentenced them to 20 years in prison.

The woman alleged that three men who resided in her village had beaten her up and raped her while also holding her three-month-old son hostage.

"Three men were accused of the crime, but one died during trial. The others have been convicted," a lawyer representing the victim said.

"The court has sentenced them to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of 10,000 rupees ($122.28) each," the lawyer said.

Lawyers for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, could not immediately be reached.

The 2013 Hindu-Muslim riots in the district of Muzaffarnagar, situated about 130 km (81 miles) northeast of India's capital New Delhi, killed about 65 people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

The violence erupted after the murder of two Hindu men in late August in 2013. Seven Muslim men were sentenced to life in prison for the crime in 2019.

($1 = 81.7800 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Saurabh Sharma, writing by Sakshi Dayal; editing by Barbara Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen talks during a news conference with Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtogl

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Israel's foreign minister on Tuesday said he will cut short his visit to India after receiving a "security update" on his arrival in New Delhi.

"In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on Twitter.

(Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
FILE PHOTO: A view of a test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 14, 20

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and South Korea are set to agree early next month to link their radars via a U.S. system to share real-time information on North Korea's ballistic missiles, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.

Defence ministers from Japan, South Korea and the United States plan to reach an agreement on the sidelines of an Asian defence summit to be held in Singapore early next month, said the person, who declined to be identified because the discussions are not public.

The Japanese government's top spokesperson, Hirokazu Matsuno, said no decision has been made yet on the planned agreement, without elaborating.

South Korea's presidential office said the country would form a group with Japan and the United States to share information about North Korea's missiles, news agency Yonhap reported.

The system was currently in the works, the report said, citing a senior official.

A South Korean defence ministry spokesperson told a briefing earlier that the three countries have been in talks to boost information sharing but nothing had been finalised.

With North Korea launching ballistic missiles at an unprecedented pace in the past year, the three countries in November agreed to speed up information-sharing. Japan and South Korea are independently linked to the United States' radar systems but not to each other.

Ties between the United States' Asian allies have warmed in recent months in the face of the North Korean threat. Resuming their "shuttle diplomacy", Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Sunday, where they confirmed progress in defence cooperation.

Defence ministers from Japan and South Korea are separately arranging to meet on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue to be held in Singapore from June 2-4, in what would be the first such meeting since November 2019.

(Reporting by Yoshifumi Takemoto; Writing by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Gerry Doyle and Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Jay Z attends the ceremony of unveiling a star of DJ Khaled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 11, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A Delaware judge on Tuesday dismissed a shareholder class action seeking to hold Jack Dorsey and other board members at Block Inc liable for approving the payments company's purchase of Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal.

Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick in Delaware Chancery Court said the Florida pension fund leading the case did not show that Block's directors acted in bad faith though the purchase it "seemed, by all accounts, a terrible business decision."

Once known as Square, Block agreed in March 2021 to pay $306 million for an 87.5% stake in Tidal. After adjustments, it paid $237.3 million for an 86.2% stake.

Block's board was faulted for approving the purchase though Tidal was losing money, had lost major contracts, faced a Norwegian criminal probe into its streaming numbers, and had accepted a $50 million loan from Jay-Z to shore up its finances.

The pension fund also said Dorsey, a co-founder of Block and Twitter, was Block's only top executive who supported the purchase, and bought Tidal because he and Jay-Z were friends.

Its complaint quoted a New York University business professor who called the purchase "a $300 million bar tab to hang out with Jay-Z."

But in concluding that Block directors did not breach their fiduciary duties, McCormick said she could not "presume bad faith based on the merits of the deal alone."

Lawyers for the plaintiff, the City of Coral Springs Police Officers' Pension Plan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The defendants' lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Jay-Z, the rapper and music mogul whose real name is Shawn Carter, joined San Francisco-based Block's board after the Tidal purchase and remains a director.

Tidal was known as Aspiro before Jay-Z and other recording artists purchased it in 2015.

By 2020, Tidal had signed up 2.1 million paying subscribers, compared with Spotify's 138 million, Apple Music's 60 million and Amazon Music's 55 million.

The Delaware case was a derivative lawsuit that sought to have Block's directors or their insurers pay damages to the company for shareholders' benefit.

The case is City of Coral Springs Police Officers' Pension Plan v Dorsey et al, Delaware Chancery Court, No. 2022-0091.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol building is seen at night before U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress during the State of the Union address, in Washington, U.S., February 6, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

By Jamie McGeever

(Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever.

A heavy dose of Japanese corporate earnings and a smattering of South Korean economic data give Asian markets a local steer on Wednesday against a backdrop of growing unease surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling crisis.

Full-year Japanese earnings on tap Wednesday include Softbank, Toyota and Panasonic. They follow bumper numbers on Tuesday from some of the country's biggest trading houses, some of which billionaire investor Warren Buffett has gravitated to recently.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index has been on a roll lately, last week hitting a 16-month high. It rose 1% on Tuesday and only four of the last 20 trading sessions have been down days.

(Graphic: Japanese yen and stocks - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/akveqywjyvr/JapanYenStocks.jpg)

South Korean unemployment figures for April and current account data for March are the main economic numbers out on Wednesday, while Japan's FX reserves for April will be released too.

But global markets are getting nervy, inching closer to the X-Date when the U.S. government runs out of cash as stalemate between Republicans and Democrats in Washington deepens the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling crisis.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has repeatedly warned that the X-Date could be June 1, meaning there is barely three weeks between now and a potential U.S. default.

Investors are beginning to wake up to the possibility. One-month U.S. T-bills are yielding 5.50%, the highest in decades and reflecting a premium of around 25 basis points over three-month bills and the upper limit of the fed funds target range.

(Graphic: US 1-month/3-month bill spread - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/zgpoblxyyvd/BILLSPREAD.png)

Famed bond investor Bill Gross said 1-month bills are a screaming 'buy' at current levels because history shows a deal will be done, even if it is at the last minute. But what if it is different this time?

Broader markets are feeling the heat. Wall Street and world stocks closed lower on Tuesday, Asian stocks ex-Japan had their biggest fall in two weeks, while gold and the Japanese yen rose.

Here are three key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Wednesday:

- South Korea unemployment (April)

- South Korea current account (March)

- Japan FX reserves (April)

(By Jamie McGeever)
FILE PHOTO: Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves a cemetery before the funeral of a Russian military blogger who was killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe, in Moscow, Russia, April 8, 2023. REUTERS/Yulia Morozova/Fi

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Tuesday made a cryptic but profanity-laced comment about those in charge of Russia's war on Ukraine that risks getting him into more trouble with the Kremlin.

In a long audio rant about a purported lack of ammunition for his Wagner fighters in eastern Ukraine, Prigozhin referred to a figure he called "a happy Grandfather" who thought that all was well with the military campaign, something Moscow calls a "special military operation."

Prigozhin made the comment in reference to what he said was the continued refusal of the defence ministry to supply his fighters with the number of shells they need to take full control of the city of Bakhmut.

The defence ministry has said it is working to ensure all battlefield units have what they need.

"And the happy grandfather thinks that he is good. If he turns out to be right then may God grant everyone health. But what will the country do, our children, grandchildren who are the future of Russia, and how can we win this war if - by chance, and I'm just speculating here - it turns out that this grandfather is a complete ****head?."

The identity of the grandfather figure Prigozhin referred to was unclear, but sufficiently ambiguous to invite speculation.

Prigozhin has previously poured scorn on Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff, but has avoided all personal criticism of President Vladimir Putin.

Analysts have said his volatile outbursts in recent days - in which he has announced that his forces will withdraw from Bakhmut because of the ammunition problem before saying they will stay and then again suggesting they may leave - looks like an attempt to try to deflect blame for a lack of swift battlefield success.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Migrants gather between the primary and secondary border fences in San Diego as the United States prepares to lift COVID-19 era restrictions known as Title 42, that have blocked migrants at the U.S.- Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020, as seen f

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday he will discuss migration with U.S. counterpart Joe Biden this week, shortly before a U.S. policy shift that is expected to drive an increase of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Lopez Obrador said he would hold a video call with Biden on Tuesday, with topics to also include the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl and economic cooperation.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre declined to confirm the call in a briefing with reporters.

The U.S. on Thursday is slated to end a policy known as Title 42, which since 2020 has allowed U.S. authorities to send migrants back to Mexico without the chance to seek U.S. asylum.

Asked about the policy change, Lopez Obrador urged migrants to seek legal pathways to enter the U.S.

He also asked the U.S. to quickly process visa applications.

"We're making the respectful suggestion ... that they don't take too long to give out permits," Lopez Obrador said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle and Raul Cortes Fernandez in Mexico City, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Dave Graham, Daina Beth Solomon)
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres was awarded the Charles V European Award on Tuesday at the Yuste Monastery in Caceres, Spain. Upon receiving the award from Spains King Felipe VI, Guterres said the recognition held special meaning for him.

When I won the first election [in Portugal, 1995] I went with my wife to Yuste, and I was impressed to see that someone who had been emperor of the world spent the last years of his life, after abdicating, in a very simple monastery, which is a lesson for many politicians today, said Guterres. When he speaks  in a soft and slow Spanish peppered with Portuguese terms  Guterres seems to yearn for a retirement like that of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, far from todays troubled world, where he must address the war in Ukraine, global warming and the refugee crisis. He spoke about these problems in an interview with EL PAIS on Monday.

Question. You have received an award that recognizes European spirit at a time when the continent is once again witnessing a war on its territory. How can Europe and the U.N. stop the war in Ukraine?

Answer. Unfortunately, I believe that peace negotiations are not possible at this time. Both parties are convinced that they can win. This was a Russian invasion against international law, against the United Nations Charter, but I do not think Russia is willing at the moment to withdraw from the territories it occupies, and I think Ukraine is hoping to retake them. What we are doing, as much as possible, is to dialogue with both parties to solve specific problems. The most important initiative has been the export of grain from Ukraine and food products and fertilizers from Russia through the Black Sea.

Q. That agreement expires on May 18. Are you confident it will be renewed?

A. The last thing I did last night [Sunday] and the first thing I did this morning [Monday] was to get in touch with my colleagues who are dealing with the matter. We are completely engaged in trying to save the initiative. Rebeca Grynspan [Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development] was in Moscow and Martin Griffiths [Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs] is in Istanbul [on Tuesday]. We are preparing a meeting of the four parties [Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey] in Istanbul, and we are doing everything possible to better respond to the Russian problems. It is true that the export of food and fertilizers is not under sanction, but there are indirect obstacles that remain, and we are trying to eliminate them; in addition to solving the issues that exist with inspections, which are on hold in the Black Sea. It is a question of achieving an extension of the initiative that is more lasting and perfect.

More information EU fears Russia will use Kremlin drone attack for escalation of Ukraine war

Q. Will peace have to wait until both sides are convinced that neither side can win?

A. At this moment I dont see any possibility of immediately achieving  we are not talking about the future  a global ceasefire, a peace negotiation.

Q. Meanwhile, there is a risk of escalation: the use of tactical atomic weapons by Russia or a nuclear accident in Zaporizhzhia.

A. Zaporizhzhia is a big concern. I hope there is enough care on both sides to prevent a tragedy. And I think the possibility of a nuclear escalation is very small. The Chinese initiative was very important for stating very clearly that a nuclear escalation is unacceptable. The fact that China has taken that position is very important in avoiding a temptation that would be an intolerable absurdity.

Q. Are the mediation offers from China or from Brazilian President Lula da Silva doomed to failure?

A. I already said that a peace negotiation is not going to happen at this time. I hope it will in the future. There was talk of a Russian offensive in the winter and a Ukrainian one in the spring. It is clear that both parties are fully engaged in the war.

Q. Does the delivery of weapons to Ukraine respond to the right to self-defense?

A. I have never made nor will I make any comment on the support that exists or does not exist. It is clear that both parties have tried to acquire weapons, and that is what happens in wars. The objective is to achieve  not immediately but later  a peace that is just, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter. But we are still a long way from that.

Q. You have warned that we are on our way to seeing a 2.8 Celsius (5F) rise in global temperatures by the end of the century. Does this mean the Paris Agreement  which set the goal of keeping the rise below 1.5C  will have to be abandoned?

A. The recent report from the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], the highest scientific authority on the matter, states that it is possible that temperatures will not rise above 1.5C by the end of the century, but [for that to happen] we have to dramatically change what we are doing, because emissions are continuing to rise. I have proposed a solidarity pact between the large developed economies and the large emerging ones, which represent 80% of emissions. My proposal is that the former manage to reach carbon neutrality as close as possible to 2040 and the latter, as close as possible to 2050. But we are not heading in that direction. We have not yet found the political will from governments, and the contributions of the private sector are not enough to avoid a catastrophe with unforeseeable consequences.

U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, during his interview with EL PAIS. Samuel Sanchez

Q. Do we still have time to prevent this from happening?

A. We are very close to the moment of truth. If the necessary measures are not taken, the 1.5C target will be lost forever, and that would be terrible for humanity.

Q. Should the oil companies be held accountable?

A. Oil companies should be at the forefront of decarbonization. Today we are witnessing something that is morally intolerable. We are seeing these companies make exceptional profits that they are using to buy their own shares instead of investing in green energy, which has led us to ask states to implement extraordinary taxes. The current situation is an insult, especially for the most vulnerable populations, who are paying a very, very high price so that these companies can have a very, very high profit.

Q. Since you were U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005-2015, the situation and numbers of displaced persons has only worsened.

A. Back then, international refugee law was respected practically everywhere in the world. Unfortunately, we see that today in the Great South there is willingness to accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees, as in Sudan, but in the developed world many doors have been closed. There is no policy to guarantee that migration is ordered and regulated, which is why traffickers control it, with terrible violations of human rights. I think that Europe has a problem to solve: its demography is unsustainable and immigration is a component to guarantee its survival. But there is no European migration policy. There are national policies  which are sometimes contradictory  and this means that Europe does not have a positive role in the global regulation of population movements. Its a shame.

Q. Europe has welcomed millions of Ukrainians, but has closed the door to other groups.

A. There was a great openness towards the refugees from Ukraine and that is very good, but the same countries had a completely closed attitude towards Syrian refugees, and we witnessed the terrible image of seeing them march through the Balkans in a chaotic situation. And that has a very negative impact on the south. Many wonder why there is not very strong support for Ukraine in those countries, and the truth is that they feel that there are two standards and measures, among other matters, in immigration, and that causes deep frustration.

U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in a Madrid hotel where the interview was held. Samuel Sanchez

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An Indonesian Special Air Force personnel guards at the Komodo International airport, ahead of the ASEAN Summit held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

By Kate Lamb

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (Reuters) - Southeast Asian leaders meeting in Indonesia called on Wednesday for an immediate end to violence in military-ruled Myanmar, in an effort to create a window for dialogue and the delivery of humanitarian aid as fighting intensifies.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit was expected to see wrangling over Myanmar's bloody crisis, with patience wearing thin as its junta demonstrates no intent to pursue a peace plan agreed with the regional bloc after it seized power in a 2021 coup.

"We were deeply concerned with ongoing violence in Myanmar and urged the immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force," the leaders said in a joint statement.

Leaders called for "a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues."

The meeting in the sleepy Indonesian fishing town is being held as Myanmar's military intensifies attacks and air strikes on resistance forces and ethnic minority rebels as it tries to consolidate power ahead of a planned election.

It also comes days after unknown assailants shot at a convoy of regional diplomats in Myanmar that was delivering supplies to some of the more than 1 million people displaced by conflict.

MORE ASSERTIVE

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the current ASEAN chair, earlier called for the bloc to speak up as one about the challenges it faces in the region.

"Will ASEAN only be silent or will ASEAN be able to become the driver or peace or growth?", he said.

ASEAN, which has a policy of non-interference in its members affairs, has become increasingly assertive with Myanmar's junta over its failure to implement a five-point peace "consensus" that its top general agreed to with ASEAN a few months after his coup sparked chaos.

"Malaysia is disappointed that there continues to be a lack of meaningful and real progress in the implementation of the 5PC," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on the sidelines of the summit.

Myanmar's junta leaders are currently barred from attending high-level meetings until they execute the peace plan, which includes ceasing hostilities.

Indonesia has been quietly engaging Myanmar's military, its shadow government and armed ethnic groups to try to kick-start peace talks, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said last week.

"ASEAN is doing as much as it can really because when you are there on the ground it's not that easy," Philippine foreign minister Enrique Manalo said.

But some have called on ASEAN to take a harder line.

"To leave the seat empty at ASEAN summits is actually their comfort zone, they don't have to be held accountable," said former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa.

"Excluding the junta is only part of a series of steps that should be taken."

The leaders meeting was also expected to include talks on a code of conduct for the South China Sea and rising tensions over Taiwan, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said late on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if those were discussed.

ASEAN leaders on Wednesday issued a series of joint declarations, including joint commitments to combat human trafficking, protect migrant workers and support the electric vehicle industry across the region.

(Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Angus MacSwan, Martin Petty and Christian Schmollinger)
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) - More than 50 people sentenced for plotting to overthrow the United Arab Emirates government are being held months and years after their jail terms have ended, family members and rights activists said on Tuesday.

The dissidents are part of the so-called "UAE94" - a group of 94 lawyers, human rights defenders and academics tried in 2013 and whose jail terms began expiring in 2019.

A list compiled by Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) seen by Reuters showed 51 people being held beyond their terms. UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment. They have previously said such allegations were false and unsubstantiated.

Ahmed Al-Nuaimi, whose brother was sentenced to 10 years for his involvement in the alleged plot, told Reuters he was due to be released in March 2023. Instead, his brother remained in detention to receive "counselling", he said.

"We will not accept this injustice for our people. We want those people to be released immediately," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a Geneva event that coincided with a review of the UAE's human rights record at a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council this week.

A small number of countries raised the issue of detainees at the U.N. meeting on Monday, including the U.S. envoy who called for the government to release "all individuals detained for exercising their freedom of expression".

Shamma Sohail Faris Ghanem Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development, told the council that it had made many improvements, such as the creation of a National Human Rights Commission.

Al-Nuaimi said that no family member has been able to visit his brother, now in his 70s, since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I worry for my mother now she's 90 years old...This is making her health very bad," he said. He denies his brother had political aims, saying he was involved in a registered civil society group with social and religious goals.

Jenan Al-Marzooqi who says her father remains in detention after the end of his 10-year sentence, said her family had also been subject to various restrictions as a result. "The UAE not only punishes those who peacefully dissent, but harasses even those related to them," she said.

The UAE is the Middle East's trade and tourism hub and in November will host the COP28 climate conference.

Al-Nuaimi said he was disappointed that Western democracies were not applying more pressure on the UAE.

"They work as pragmatic governments - they don't care that much about this problem," he said.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Dubai; Editing by Alex Richardson)
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis speaks as he attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said that when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires more than a decade ago, the Argentine government wanted "to cut my head off" by backing false accusations that he had collaborated with the military dictatorship of the 1970s.

Francis made his comments on April 29 in a private conversation with Jesuits while he was visiting Hungary. Francis is also a Jesuit and the comments were published on Tuesday in the Italian Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, as is customary after such meetings.

During Francis' visit, a Hungarian member of the Jesuits religious order asked him about his relationship with the late Father Frenc Jalics, a Hungarian-born Jesuit who did social work in a Buenos Aires shantytown and was arrested by the military on suspicion of helping leftist guerrillas.

Jalics was arrested in 1976 along with another Jesuit priest, Orlando Yorio, a Uruguayan. Yorio died in 2000 and Jalics died in 2021.

When Francis was elected pope in 2013, an Argentine journalist accused Francis of having betrayed the two priests when he was Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio and the superior of Argentine Jesuits during the military's "dirty war" against leftists.

"The situation (during the dictatorship) was really very confused and uncertain. Then the legend developed that I had handed them over to be imprisoned," Francis said.

Francis has always denied this and when he was elected pope, Jalics issued a statement saying the arrest was not the future pope's fault.

In 2010, by which time the future pope had become archbishop of Buenos Aires, he testified before a three-judge panel investigating the period of dictatorship.

"Some people in the government wanted to 'cut off my head' ... (but) in the end my innocence was established," Francis said.

The pope did not give details but as archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had an often rocky relationship with the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who served in that role from 2007-2015.

She accused him of taking sides politically, mostly during his visits to Buenos Aires shanty towns, and once avoided him by shunning a traditional Mass in the Argentine capital.

In the conversation with the Jesuits in Hungary, Francis said that after he became pope, he met one of the three judges who had interrogated him in 2010 "and he told me clearly that they had received instructions from the government to convict me".

Francis' uneasy relationship with Argentine politicians is believed to be one reason he has not yet returned to his homeland since he became pope.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
People watch the Victory Day concert in the Russian town of Ivangorod, which is seen from across the river, in Narva, Estonia May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

By Janis Laizans

NARVA, Estonia (Reuters) - After Estonia banned Soviet Victory Day celebrations, several hundred people in the Russian-speaking town of Narva watched celebrations across the river which separates it from Russia.

A large stage and a screen was set up near the river in Russia, 200 meters (219 yards) away from the river promenade where people gathered with binoculars and flowers and clapped to the music.

Thousands would gather in Narva each year on May 9, when Russia celebrates Soviet Victory Day to mark the end of World War Two in Europe, but the events were banned after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, and Soviet war monuments were removed from the town.

Governments in Estonia, like the other Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, see the Soviet victory in 1945 as a renewal of the brutal occupation of their lands, which were annexed into Soviet Union in 1940. Now members of NATO and the European Union, they are among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine and critics of Russia.

Organised public gatherings were banned in Estonia during May 9, and the public display of patriotic Russian symbols such as the orange and black St. George's ribbon was prohibited with a threat of a fine of up to 1,200 euros ($1,316).

A large banner declaring "Putin  War Criminal", depicting a bloodied face of the Russian president, was hung on the Narva castle wall facing the concert stage.

Russian police asked their Estonian colleagues to remove it, but were refused, said Kalmer Janno, Head Of Community Police In Narva Police Station.

"It's our celebration, and of our fathers and of our grandfathers. We are remembering our grandfathers. How can we not come?", Irina, 62, said as she observed the concert on the stage in Russia, decorated in St. George's ribbon colours.

"This is a sacred celebration, to everyone. It's a pity Estonia is not celebrating it this year", she added.

Several people enjoying the Russian concert said they do not wish to live on the Russian side. "I live here for 50 years, my motherland is here", said Nelli, 75.

(Reporting by Janis Laizans. Writing by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
By Valerie Insinna, Padraic Halpin and Tim Hepher

WASHINGTON/DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland's Ryanair sealed a multibillion-dollar deal for as many as 300 Boeing jets on Tuesday, burying the hatchet after an 18-month public feud where prices threatened one of aviation's closest partnerships.

Europe's biggest low-cost carrier said it was placing a firm order for 150 of the largest version of Boeing's narrow-body jet family, known as the 737 MAX 10, with options for another 150.

The larger-than-expected deal delivers a boost to the 737 MAX, Boeing's best-selling jet whose deliveries have been depressed by a two-year safety crisis and post-COVID disruption.

Along with a massive Air India order inked in February for almost 500 jets, it highlights what Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary termed "a dramatic rebound in orders" for Boeing and European rival Airbus as travel recovers from the pandemic.

It also marks a long-awaited truce after O'Leary broke off talks with Boeing last year and unleashed a barrage of criticism over pricing and delays in delivery of previously ordered jets.

O'Leary, whose sharp wit and hard-nosed demands have made the former accountant one of Europe's best-known business leaders, flew to Washington to celebrate the deal but offered an unusually timid summary following months of tough negotiations.

"I was expecting we would get the same pricing as we had the last time. I've had to eat some humble pie on that," O'Leary told Reuters, adding he was still pleased with the final price, which neither side disclosed.

Industry sources said Ryanair may have paid more than it initially bargained for after holding out for a better deal, but one noted O'Leary took pains to avoid bashing Boeing, which had been anxious for the deal not to be painted as over-generous.

Boeing shares rose more than 1% in midday trade. Ryanair closed up at 3.6%.

"I have been told to say there was a competitive discount ... although I didn't think (it) was particularly competitive," O'Leary joked to reporters, adding the order had risen by about 100 planes to help bring the two sides together.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun countered that no premium was high enough for the jet as the two companies patched up their differences in a relaxed press conference.

Despite concessions on price, O'Leary said the new jets would allow Ryanair to almost double its annual traffic to 300 million passengers by March 2034 from the 168 million flown to end-March this year.

Some of that will come at the expense of rival carriers.

O'LEARY ACCEPTS MODERATELY HIGHER PRICES

Ryanair exclusively uses Boeing 737s for its mainline fleet and is one of Boeing's largest customers with more than 600 planes in its fleet or on order, according to its website.

On Monday, Reuters first reported that Ryanair was close to a major Boeing deal. Earlier on Tuesday, sources said the final deal could involve up to 200-300 jets including options.

Ryanair has long expressed interest in the 230-seat MAX 10, which faces runaway sales of the competing Airbus A321neo used by Ryanair rivals such as Wizz Air and has yet to be certified. But O'Leary had pledged not to overpay for the 30 extra seats.

Ryanair said the deal was worth $40 billion at list prices, though experts noted that this included options, which are not booked as orders, and typical discounts for firm orders run at more than 50%.

"We've had to accept a modestly higher price," O'Leary said. However, if Ryanair maintains its 94% or near-full load on flights aboard the larger MAX 10 jets, the extra 30 seats will "pay for the aircraft in their entirety," he said on Tuesday.

Industry sources said any price bump could at least partially be offset by compensation for delays, making it hard to measure who conceded most.

O'Leary has also often blasted Boeing over industrial problems. On Tuesday, however, he praised the catch-up effort and said he expects almost all 51 previously ordered jets earmarked for April to arrive by the end of July.

Newly ordered MAX 10s will be delivered from 2027 to 2033.

While Boeing's relief at winning the order was tangible, analysts said Ryanair had lost some advantage in negotiations and early slots as carriers including United Airlines placed significant orders for the MAX 10.

O'Leary dismissed this but acknowledged Ryanair would have had to wait until 2028-29 if negotiations had drawn out longer.

One person familiar with the deal said Ryanair could not afford to wait much longer as Indian airlines scoop up hundreds of narrow-body jets, threatening to squeeze Ryanair out of the market for in-demand large models for the rest of the decade.

"Ryanair operates a 737 fleet and is pretty locked in," with Airbus sold out for years and China years away from being able to supply the West, Agency Partners analyst Nick Cunningham said.

(Additional reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram, Conor Humphries and David ShepardsonWriting by Tim Hepher, Valerie InsinnaEditing by Louise Heavens, Mark Potter and Lisa Shumaker)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

By Sabine Siebold

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union must work harder to integrate its defence industries and reach agreement on how to tackle migration, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a keynote speech on Tuesday outlining his vision for the bloc's future.

Europe should boost efforts for closer military cooperation, joint procurement and the integration of its defence industries as it will only be heard if speaking with one voice, Scholz told lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Europe Day.

"Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has shown us how essential this realisation is," he added.

Scholz, who is under pressure from some German cities amid a renewed influx of refugees from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, also pushed for a deal on the overhaul of the EU's asylum system before bloc-wide elections in 2024.

"We are united by the goal of better managing and organising irregular migration - without betraying our values," he said, echoing the bloc's goal of finding a solution before European elections.

The European Union's migration and asylum system faced an unprecedented socio-political crisis in 2015 when more than one million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - reached Europe's shores.

The EU has since tightened external borders and asylum laws, but Mediterranean arrivals rose last year, with the bloc's border agency Frontex reporting some 330,000 unauthorised arrivals.

Scholz also called on the EU to fast-track talks on free trade agreements with the South American trade bloc known as Mercosur, as well as Mexico, India, Indonesia, Australia and Kenya.

"Europe must turn to the world. If we continue fruitless negotiations over new free trade deals for years to come, others will dictate the rules - with lower environmental and social standards," the leader of Europe's biggest economy warned.

Echoing remarks in his first major speech on Europe's future in Prague in August, Scholz reaffirmed his commitment to EU enlargement while pushing for qualified majority votes on topics such as foreign and fiscal policy.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Friederike Heine and Bernadette Baum)
FILE PHOTO: Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the swearing in ceremony of Judge Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Rober

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee has asked Texas billionaire Harlan Crow to detail gifts he or his companies have made to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the panel said on Tuesday.

"Recent investigative reporting has identified multiple instances in which you or entities you own or control have made payments, purchased real estate, or provided gifts, travel, or other items of value to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and members of his family," read the letter from committee Democrats including its chairman, Senator Dick Durbin.

"Many of these gifts, transactions, and items of value had not been previously disclosed by Justice Thomas," it said.

Similar letters, dated Monday, were sent to the holding companies that own Crow's private jet and private yacht.

Representatives for Crow did not return requests for comment.

The Democratic-led Senate panel last week explored the possibility of pursuing legislation to impose ethics standards on the Supreme Court amid revelations about luxury trips and real estate transactions by conservative justices, but the panel's Republican members voiced stern opposition.

The news outlet ProPublica has detailed ties between Thomas, a conservative who is the court's longest-tenured member, and wealthy Republican donor Crow, including real estate purchases and luxury travel paid for by the Dallas businessman.

The letter said Crow has acknowledged items of value given to Thomas and his family in public statements.

It asked him to provide the information to the committee by May 22 as the panel works to craft legislation strengthening ethics rules and standards for Supreme Court justices.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis delivers his weekly general audience from the library in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, November 11, 2020. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Sexual abusers are disgusting "enemies" who deserve to be condemned and punished - but also deserve Christian love and pastoral care because they too are children of God, Pope Francis said.

Francis made his comments on April 29 in a private conversation with Jesuits while he was visiting Hungary.

Francis is also a Jesuit and the comments were published on Tuesday in the Italian Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, as is customary after such meetings.

Abuse scandals have shredded the Church's reputation and have been a major challenge for the pope, who has passed a series of measures over the last 10 years aimed at holding the Church hierarchy more accountable, with mixed results.

During Francis' visit, a Hungarian member of the Jesuits religious order asked Francis how it was possible to follow Jesus' commandment to love enemies when the enemy was a sexual abuser.

"How do we approach, how do we talk to the abusers for whom we feel disgust? Yes, they too are children of God. But how can you love them? Its a powerful question," Francis responded.

"The abuser is to be condemned, indeed, but as a brother," Francis said, calling it "a form of loving the enemy", although he acknowledged that such an attitude was difficult to live out because of the effect abusers have on people's lives.

"The abuser is an enemy. Each of us feels this because we empathise with the suffering of the abused ... even talking to the abuser involves revulsion; its not easy. But they are Gods children too. They deserve punishment, but they also deserve pastoral care," he said.

Last week the pope praised the work of an international Vatican commission on sexual abuse prevention and encouraged it to move forward, following the recent acrimonious resignation of a high-profile member who accused it of lacking transparency.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Sudanese refugees, who fled the violence in their country, wait to receive food supplies from a Turkish aid group (IHH) near the border between Sudan and Chad in Koufroun, Chad May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

By Khalid Abdelaziz

KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Residents of Sudan's capital reported heavy air strikes in central Khartoum on Tuesday amid a surge in looting while Saudi Arabia said negotiators were working toward a short-term ceasefire.

Witnesses said the army unleashed intense air bombardment in the centre of Khartoum and around the presidential palace. The rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary said the palace, which it claims to control, was hit by an air strike and destroyed, but an army source denied the claim.

The fighting in Khartoum, which erupted April 15, has prompted hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and triggered an aid crisis. The number of people internally displaced within Sudan more than doubled in a week to 700,000, the U.N.'s migration agency said.

The two forces, which have failed to abide by repeated truce deals, sent representatives to talks in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Saturday.

In the first report on the talks thus far, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the negotiations aimed to reach "an effective short-term ceasefire", Saudi state TV Al-Ekhbariya said.

Amid warnings that Sudan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths proposed the warring parties back a declaration guaranteeing safe passage of aid supplies and the proposal has been discussed in Jeddah, a U.N. spokesperson said.

Griffiths "hopes the declaration can be endorsed as soon as possible so that the relief operation can scale up swiftly and safely to meet the needs of millions of people in Sudan," Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.

The United Nations estimates that 5 million additional people will need emergency assistance inside Sudan while 860,000 are expected to flee to neighbouring states that were already in crisis at a time when rich countries have cut back on aid.

The World Health Organisation on Tuesday raised the confirmed death toll in the conflict to more than 600, with 5,000 injured, though the true figure is thought to be much higher.

Lawlessness has taken hold in Khartoum and the two adjoining cities of Omdurman and Bahri, witnesses said. "The biggest danger is the spread of robbery and looting and the total absence of the police and the law," said Ahmed Saleh, 45, from Bahri.

Homes, shops and warehouses have all been targeted, residents said. Sudan's Banks Union condemned burglary and vandalism at some branches, saying banks were seeking to restore services if conditions allowed.

The eruption of conflict between Sudan's army and RSF risks a prolonged war that could draw in outside powers and unleash a new humanitarian crisis across the region.

The army, under General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, had joined forces in a military coup in 2021, reconfiguring a planned transition to civilian rule.

But the rival military factions fell out over the terms and timing of the transition, leading to the sudden explosion of fighting in Khartoum in April that quickly spread to the Darfur region where a conflict had already rumbled since 2003.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday the U.S. will not give up the goal of putting Sudan back on track to civilian democratic governance, adding that Washington is working in Jeddah for a ceasefire and agreement on humanitarian aid.

Burhan said in a phone interview with an Egyptian TV station on Monday that the talks in Jeddah were aimed at relieving pressure on civilians, not at any political settlement. He accused the RSF of cutting off power and telecoms in areas they controlled.

The RSF has said in statements that it is seeking to keep services running in Khartoum and has rejected reports of looting and other abuses. It said on Tuesday that the army had been hitting residential areas with air strikes.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Additional reporting by Aidan Lewis in Cairo, Emma Farge in Geneva, Omar Abdel-Razek in Dubai, Humeyra Pamuk, Rami Ayyub and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York and Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Writing by Angus McDowall and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Frank Jack Daniel and Lisa Shumaker)
Officers with the Allen Police Department man the mobile command post the day after a gunman shot multiple people at the Dallas-area Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, U.S. May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Jeremy Lock

By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) -The man who shot eight people to death at a Dallas-area shopping mall over the weekend harbored neo-Nazi sympathies but appeared to have targeted his victims at random, without regard for race, age or sex, Texas law enforcement officials said on Tuesday.

Authorities also disclosed new details about the gunman's background. They said he was discharged from U.S. Army basic training 15 years ago, had once worked as a private security guard and suffered from an unspecified mental illness.

The suspect, previously identified as Mauricio Garcia, 33, opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle on Saturday at the crowded Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas.

The carnage ended about four minutes later when a lone police officer confronted and fatally shot Garcia in a swift response that "undoubtedly saved countless lives, said Hank Sibley, a regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The officer was not publicly identified.

The eight people slain in the attack included three children - two young sisters as well as a 3-year-old boy from a different family whose parents were also killed. In addition, 10 other people, ages 5 to 61, were wounded.

Investigators recovered three firearms, including the murder weapon, from the gunman's possession, and five more from his vehicle, and Garcia had legally obtained all eight guns, according to Sibley.

"The big question we're dealing with now is: what's his motive? Why did he do this? We don't know," Sibley said at an afternoon press conference, adding investigators believe Garcia acted alone.

From evidence reviewed so far, including clothing patches and tattoos, "we do know that he had neo-Nazi ideation," but it was too early in the investigation to say whether the shooting could be considered an act of domestic terrorism, Sibley told reporters.

"To me, it looks like he targeted the location rather than a specific group of people," Sibley said. "He was very random in the people he killed. It didnt matter the age, race or sex. He just shot people, which is horrific in itself."

The assailant had enlisted in the Army in 2008 but was discharged before completing basic training over "some questions about his fitness for duty," Sibley said.

Garcia, who had no criminal history before Saturday's shooting, also had once obtained a state security license, since expired, and worked as a security guard for several firms some time ago, Sibley said.

Authorities have given few details about the nature and extent of Garcia's neo-Nazi sympathies.

Multiple news outlets have reported in recent days that the gunman left behind a social media profile filled with white-supremacist ideology, praise for Hitler and diatribes vilifying racial minorities and women.

At the time of the shooting, Garcia also wore a patch bearing an "RWDS" insignia, a symbol associated with violent right-wing extremists, including the Proud Boys, according to news media organizations. RWDS is an acronym known to stand for "Right Wing Death Squad."

The author behind some of the posts under investigation repeatedly suggested he was of Hispanic heritage and as recently as last month included a post saying that "white people and Hispanics have a lot in common," the New York Times reported.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Will Dunham and David Gregorio)
A plume of smoke rises from a fire near Lodgepole in Alberta, Canada, on May 4, 2023. ALBERTA WILDFIRE (via REUTERS)

The Canadian province of Alberta has been battling a wave of forest fires since the weekend. Around 30,000 people have been evacuated due to the blazes, principally in the north and west of the province. On Sunday, authorities reported 110 active fires. On Monday, the number was dropped to 98, although 27 continue to burn out of control. Since the beginning of May, Alberta has broken 34 heat records across the province.

Alberta premier Danielle Smith declared a state of emergency on Saturday to protect the safety, health and welfare of residents affected by the unprecedented situation. Smith has also asked other provincial fire departments for support. Personnel from Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario are already on the ground to fight the blaze. Another contingent from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is expected to arrive this week.

The areas most affected by the fires are Drayton Valley, Big Lakes, Yellowhead and Parkland. The situation in 15 indigenous reserves is of particular concern. Smith announced Monday that financial assistance will be awarded to people who have been evacuated from their homes for seven or more days. Each adult is eligible to receive 1,250 Canadian dollars (about $935). There will also be an additional payment of 500 Canadian dollars ($375) for each dependent minor.

Smith discussed the situation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday. In the telephone call, Smith requested military assistance to help battle the fires. Following the conversation, Trudeau announced that the federal government had contacted the Red Cross in order to set up a matching fund to help Albertans affected by the fires. Canadians stand with the people of Alberta as they deal with these terrible, terrible wildfires, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

Environment Canada has issued air quality warnings for northern and western Alberta, northern British Columbia and northwestern Saskatchewan. According to the provincial government of Alberta, 405 forest fires have destroyed more than 391,000 hectares so far this year. The new wildfires come as Alberta prepares to vote at the May 29 provincial election. Smith has said that she has no intention of postponing the ballot.

In the summer of 2021, a dizzying rise in temperatures  a phenomenon known as a heat dome  wreaked havoc in western Canada. The town of Lytton (British Columbia) reached 49.6 Celsius (121.3F), setting a national record. Alberta  the source of Canadas main oil reserves  was also affected by the 2021 heatwave, which Environment Canada described as prolonged, dangerous and historic.

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FILE PHOTO: 22-year-old British citizen Joseph James O'Connor is lead by Spanish police officers as he leaves a court after being arrested on Wednesday in connection with an alleged July 2020 Twitter hack which compromised the accounts of high-profile pol

(Reuters) - A citizen of the United Kingdom who was extradited to New York from Spain last month has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes, including the 2020 hack of the social media site Twitter, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Joseph James O'Connor, 23, was charged in both North Dakota and New York. The North Dakota case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

O'Connor pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to commit computer intrusions, to commit wire fraud and to commit money laundering.

O'Connor, who was extradited to the U.S. on April 26, will also forfeit more than $794,000 and pay restitution to victims, prosecutors said. He faces a maximum of 77 years in prison at sentencing on June 23.

"OConnors criminal activities were flagrant and malicious, and his conduct impacted multiple peoples lives. He harassed, threatened, and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said in a statement.

Prosecutors said the schemes included gaining unauthorized access to social media accounts on Twitter in July 2020 as well as a TikTok account in August 2020. Along with his co-conspirators, O'Connor stole at least $794,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

The July 2020 Twitter attack hijacked a variety of verified accounts, including those of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk, who now owns Twitter.

The accounts of former President Barack Obama, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg and Kanye West were also hit.

The alleged hacker used the accounts to solicit digital currency, prompting Twitter to prevent some verified accounts from publishing messages for several hours until security could be restored.

(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Li

GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran has executed 209 people so far this year, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday, describing its record as "abominable" and calling for them to halt.

"The U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk today expressed dismay at the frighteningly high number of executions this year in Iran," Ravina Shamdasani told a Geneva press briefing. "On average so far this year, over 10 people are put to death each week in Iran, making it one of the world's highest executors," she added, saying most were for drug-related offences.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
FILE PHOTO: Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides attends a ceremony whereby he presents his diplomatic credentials to Israel's President Isaac Herzog, in Jerusalem, December 5, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

(Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides will leave his post this summer after nearly two years in the country, a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Nides has led the Biden administration's engagement with the top American ally in the Middle East amid political turmoil in Israel and rising violence in the occupied West Bank.

The spokesperson said in emailed comments that Nides had indicated his intention to step down in the summer, but the spokesperson did not specify the reason for his departure.

Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie Hallett will assume his responsibilities until a new ambassador can take up the role, the spokesperson said.

"Tom Nides has worked with energy, passion and skill to further strengthen the unique bond between the United States and Israel, and to advance U.S. diplomatic, economic, and security interests," the spokesperson said.

Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported that Nides had notified senior staff at the Embassy in Jerusalem early on Tuesday that he wanted to return to the United States for personal reasons.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; writing by Simon Lewis and Leslie Adler)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers the Closing Plenary Keynote address at the Cities Summit of the Americas in Denver, Colorado, U.S. April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is encouraging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21 to 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, in remarks that provoked criticism from China.

China, which considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces, began blocking its participation in the WHO's annual assembly from 2017, in a diplomatic campaign to isolate the island, which rejects the Chinese sovereignty claims.

"Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHOs commitment to an inclusive, 'health for all' approach to international health cooperation," Blinken said in a statement.

The U.S. support for participation is in line with Washington's one-China policy, he added.

In a statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked the United States for its strong support for participation, adding that the island's exclusion would be "completely beyond reason" and harm global health co-operation.

Excluded from most global groups due to Beijing's objections, Taiwan says its exclusion from the WHO hampered efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It is allowed to attend some technical WHO meetings, however.

In Beijing, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said the United States' comments were confusing the public, and urged it to avoid using the WHO assembly meeting to "hype up" Taiwan-related issues.

"Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organisations, including WHO, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle," Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference on Wednesday.

"We once again urge the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques," Wang said, urging the United States to implement commitments by its leaders not to support "Taiwan independence".

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Rami Ayyub; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Bernard Orr in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16

OR 15D-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the month of May, 2023

(Commission File No. 1-14862 )

BRASKEM S.A.

(Exact Name as Specified in its Charter)

N/A

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Rua Eteno, 1561, Polo Petroquimico de Camacari

Camacari, Bahia - CEP 42810-000 Brazil

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.



Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F ______

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K

in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1). _____

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K

in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7). _____

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



Yes ______ No ___X___

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _____.

Sao Paulo, May 8, 2023.

To

Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM)

Attn.: Superintendent of Company Relations (SEP)

Company Oversight Department 1 (GEA-1)

Re: Official Letter 136/2023/CVM/SEP/GEA-1

Dear Sirs,

We refer to Official Letter 136/2023/CVM/SEP/GEA-1 (Letter) dated May 5, 2023, in which you requested clarifications from Braskem S.A. (Braskem or Company), as transcribed below:

We refer to news reports published today, especially the one in the Isto E Dinheiro news portal entitled Braskem stock skyrockets after news of interest from Arabian oil company, informing the following:

"(Reuters)  Braskem shares further consolidated their gains this Friday, reaching new peaks during trading and even driving the spike in Ibovespa amid news that the United Arab Emirates-based Adnoc is joining hands with asset manager Apollo to make an offer for the petrochemical company.

According to the article in Folha de Sao Paulo, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), a state-owned company, is preparing an offer to acquire control of Braskem for up to R$37.5 billion.

According to Folha and Lauro Jardim, columnist at O Globo, Adnoc is joining hands with U.S. asset manager Apollo to formalize the proposal. In a note published around noon, Lauro Jardim also states that the general terms of the proposal were presented this Friday to the creditor banks of Novonor, erstwhile Odebrecht, and which hold Braskems shares as guarantee.

According to Folha, it was agreed that Adnoc will exercise control, for which it wants to pay a premium of 135% on the stock price, which would result in R$47 per share.

At around 1:50 p.m., Braskems stock was up 16.29%, trading at R$22.35, entering and exiting the auction as it repeatedly reached the maximum fluctuation allowed, while the Ibovespa was up 2.22%.

In view of the above, we request a statement from the Company about the veracity of the report and, if it is, explain why the Company believed this was not a Material Fact and also provide any other information deemed important on the subject.

1

In this regard, Braskem clarifies that it does not conduct any negotiations of its shareholder Novonor regarding the sale of its equity interests which is why it questioned Novonor on May 5, 2023, which was clarified as described below:

In response to your request, Novonor informs that, since our last manifestations and until the present moment, we have not received any proposal from potential interested parties that would imply material or binding evolution in the discussions we have been having with the five banks that hold the fiduciary alienation of our indirect participation in Braskem S.A.

We remain at your disposal for any further clarifications.

Given the atypical oscillation of the Company's shares recorded on May 05, 2023, the clarifications sent by Novonor to the Company were timely disclosed to the market through a Material Fact on May 05, 2023, with the halting of trading in the Company's securities.

Furthermore, also in the context of the news published in the media regarding an eventual proposal to buy the control of Braskem, the Company received complementary information from Novonor on May 07, 2023, which was disclosed to the market by the Company through a Material Fact on May 08, 2023, as described below:

Dear Sirs, we hereby inform you that, after our last message to you, we received a non-binding proposal that will be analyzed together with other interested parties. We will keep you informed in case of any significant development on the subject.

Being what we had for the moment, we subscribe, making ourselves available for further clarifications if necessary.

Sao Paulo, May 8, 2023.

Pedro van Langendonck Teixeira de Freitas

Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer

Braskem S.A.

2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 8, 2023

BRASKEM S.A. By: /s/ Pedro van Langendonck Teixeira de Freitas Name: Pedro van Langendonck Teixeira de Freitas Title: Chief Financial Officer

DISCLAIMER ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report on Form 6-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on our managements current view and estimates of future economic and other circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, including any potential or projected impact of the geological event in Alagoas and related legal proceedings and of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition and operating results. The words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the potential outcome of legal and administrative proceedings, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of our management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the our control. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors, including the projected impact of the geological event in Alagoas and related legal proceedings and the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our business, employees, service providers, stockholders, investors and other stakeholders, could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC, as well as any subsequent filings made by us pursuant to the Exchange Act, each of which is available on the SECs website (www.sec.gov), for a full discussion of the risks and other factors that may impact any forward-looking statements in this presentation.
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549













FORM 8-K













CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):













Philip Morris International Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





Virginia 1-33708 13-3435103 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)





677 Washington Blvd, Ste. 1100 Stamford Connecticut 06901 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)









Registrant's telephone number, including area code: ( 203 ) 905-2410

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)













Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:













 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)





 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)





 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))





 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

















Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:





Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, no par value PM New York Stock Exchange 2.125% Notes due 2023 PM23B New York Stock Exchange 3.600% Notes due 2023 PM23A New York Stock Exchange

2.875% Notes due 2024 PM24 New York Stock Exchange 2.875% Notes due 2024 PM24C New York Stock Exchange 0.625% Notes due 2024 PM24B New York Stock Exchange 3.250% Notes due 2024 PM24A New York Stock Exchange 2.750% Notes due 2025 PM25 New York Stock Exchange 3.375% Notes due 2025 PM25A New York Stock Exchange 2.750% Notes due 2026 PM26A New York Stock Exchange 2.875% Notes due 2026 PM26 New York Stock Exchange 0.125% Notes due 2026 PM26B New York Stock Exchange 3.125% Notes due 2027 PM27 New York Stock Exchange 3.125% Notes due 2028 PM28 New York Stock Exchange 2.875% Notes due 2029 PM29 New York Stock Exchange 3.375% Notes due 2029 PM29A New York Stock Exchange 0.800% Notes due 2031 PM31 New York Stock Exchange 3.125% Notes due 2033 PM33 New York Stock Exchange 2.000% Notes due 2036 PM36 New York Stock Exchange 1.875% Notes due 2037 PM37A New York Stock Exchange 6.375% Notes due 2038 PM38 New York Stock Exchange 1.450% Notes due 2039 PM39 New York Stock Exchange 4.375% Notes due 2041 PM41 New York Stock Exchange 4.500% Notes due 2042 PM42 New York Stock Exchange 3.875% Notes due 2042 PM42A New York Stock Exchange 4.125% Notes due 2043 PM43 New York Stock Exchange 4.875% Notes due 2043 PM43A New York Stock Exchange 4.250% Notes due 2044 PM44 New York Stock Exchange













Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 













Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On May 3, 2023, Philip Morris International Inc. (the Company) held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Annual Meeting). On the record date of March 10, 2023, there were 1,552,147,867 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. At the Annual Meeting a quorum of 1,256,124,465 shares of common stock was represented in person or by proxy. The matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting and the results of such voting are set forth below:





Proposal 1: Election of Directors of the Company.





Name For Against Abstain Broker Non-Vote Brant Bonin Bough 1,082,778,740 6,141,074 1,908,983 165,295,668 Andre Calantzopoulos 1,069,214,994 20,184,764 1,429,039 165,295,668 Michel Combes 1,083,320,345 5,697,543 1,810,909 165,295,668 Juan Jose Daboub 1,056,177,179 32,889,438 1,762,180 165,295,668 Werner Geissler 1,059,790,224 29,036,004 2,002,569 165,295,668 Lisa A. Hook 1,028,955,730 60,327,460 1,545,607 165,295,668 Jun Makihara 1,074,604,459 14,528,038 1,696,300 165,295,668 Kalpana Morparia 950,373,175 138,884,409 1,571,213 165,295,668 Jacek Olczak 1,083,574,407 5,795,426 1,458,964 165,295,668 Robert B. Polet 1,040,591,121 48,553,503 1,684,173 165,295,668 Dessislava Temperley 1,075,141,795 13,954,413 1,732,589 165,295,668 Shlomo Yanai 1,058,420,942 30,664,272 1,743,583 165,295,668





All director nominees were duly elected.









Proposal 2: Advisory Vote Approving Executive Compensation.





For Against Abstain Broker Non-Vote 803,503,078 283,031,720 4,293,999 165,295,668





The proposal was approved on an advisory basis.









Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes to Approve the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers.









1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain 1,069,965,475 2,238,896 15,235,288 3,389,138

On an advisory basis, shareholders approved holding an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers every 1 year. In light of the result of this advisory vote, and the recommendation by the Companys Board of Directors that shareholders vote to hold future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation each year, the Company will hold such vote each year until the next required vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on named executive officer compensation.













Proposal 4: Ratification of the Selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers SA as Independent Auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.





For Against Abstain 1,244,070,264 10,123,413 1,930,788









The proposal was approved.









Proposal 5: Shareholder Proposal to Make Nicotine Level Information Available to Customers and Begin Reducing Nicotine Levels.





For Against Abstain Broker Non-Vote 34,466,375 1,037,645,879 18,716,543 165,295,668





The proposal was defeated.









SIGNATURES





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL INC. By: /s/ DARLENE QUASHIE HENRY Name: Darlene Quashie Henry Title: Vice President, Associate General Counsel & Corporate Secretary



Date: May 9, 2023













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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas  When Richard Cavazos visited a unit, he always asked to meet with the most junior members of the group, retired Lt. Col. James Tucker said of the Army general.

He would always spend time with the lowest ranking soldier he could find, said Tucker, who served under Cavazos. He loved his soldiers.

Tucker made his comments Tuesday at a ceremony to officially rename Fort Hood after Cavazos, a native Texan who once commanded the base where he developed Army training methods still used today.

Gen. Cavazos has been described by many as a soldiers soldier who earned admiration, loyalty and respect through his warrior ethos, through his selflessness, through his genuine empathy and through his unquestionable love for soldiers, Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, commander of III Corps and Fort Cavazos, said during his remarks at the ceremony outside III Corps headquarters at the base.

Fort Cavazos, which has a soldier and family population of about 53,000, is the fourth 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., Fort Rucker, Ala., and Fort Lee, Va., have already been renamed Fort Barfoot, Fort Novosel and Fort Gregg-Adams, respectively.

The next ceremonies scheduled are Fort Benning, Ga., on May 11, Fort Bragg, N.C., on June 2, and Fort Polk, La., on June 13. Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort A.P. Hill, Va., are also to be renamed but dates have yet to be scheduled.

The service-wide effort is expected to cost more than $62.5 million, according to a Defense Department report.

Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo spoke Tuesday at Fort Cavazos and said the effort of renaming the nine bases, which was mandated by Congress, was done to shine a light on selected people while recognizing their impact on the Army.

Today's change is a fitting one because, in many ways, Gen. Cavazos embodied what has always been great about the Army, which continues to evolve and transform, and it's always been enabled by the incredible talent of our soldiers, he said.

During Tuesdays ceremony, no one mentioned the former namesake of the post, John Bell Hood, who led a Texas unit during the Civil War. The Army established the 280,000-acre post outside of Killeen in central Texas in 1942 to train tank destroying units for combat in World War II. In time, it has been nicknamed The Great Place.

There was also no mention Tuesday of the difficult history that played out at the Texas post during the past eight decades. In 2009, the post experienced a mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 13 people. Again, in 2014, another shooting occurred in which four people died, including the shooter.

In 2020, following the killing of a soldier on post, the Army formed the Fort Hood Independent Review Commission, which found the quality-of-life of soldiers and families assigned to the base had greatly deteriorated because of lack of trust in leadership.

We're focused right now on the future of Fort Cavazos, and what it means and what it represents, Camarillo said. We think that that sends a powerful message not only to the soldiers that are currently serving today, but to those who are yet to serve in the future.

Tucker said he wants to see Fort Cavazos be the place where soldiers have the best care possible.

Cavazos, who died in 2017 at age 88, began his 33-year Army career leading a platoon in the 65th Infantry Regiment, which was known as the Borinqueneers because it was comprised mainly of Puerto Rican soldiers.

Cavazos was the first Hispanic man to reach the rank of four-star general. He was awarded the Silver Star and a Distinguished Service Cross for his service in the Korean War. He received a second Distinguished Service Cross during the Vietnam War.

After retiring in 1984, Cavazos worked for the Army to create the services Battle Command Training Program, which was later renamed to the Mission Command Training Program, retired Lt. Gen. Randolph House said in his remarks. The program focuses on training Army leaders at the highest levels, and Cavazos was an early adopter of incorporating technology and simulators into the training.

The Armys swift victory in Desert Storm showcased Cavazos work to better prepare leaders for battle, said House, who served as the generals aide-de-camp.

He was able to inspire and motivate like no other, he said of Cavazos leadership and communication. Gen. [Cavazos] told me it was during his wartime experiences that he began a lifelong quest to focus on training, leadership and taking care of soldiers. When he talked about taking care of soldiers, he did not mean coddling them. He meant bringing them to standard. He believed in tough love.

With Cavazos name on the post, Camarillo said it showcases the limitless opportunity available to those who serve.
SPRING LAKE, Mich. (Tribune News Service)  There were plenty of tears, but also plenty of smiles and laughter, as family, friends, the community, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard gathered to remember retired Cmdr. Michael J. Smith during his funeral at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Monday morning.

Smith, who served as commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Group Grand Haven from 1990 to 1994, and later was executive director of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival dating back to 2006, died on April 27.

"Dad, Grander, Smitty, Mike, the Commander ... he was truly a larger than life character who treated the most routine events and encounters as meaningful and memorable opportunities for recognition and appreciation," said his son, Matteson Smith, during the eulogy Monday. "His gift giving and party planning are legendary, from his Coast Guard Academy rugby days to our wedding receptions to 16 Coast Guard Festivals and everything in between  he was always continuing to outdo himself at every event.

"If today were up to him, it would feature his signature indoor flares, color-changing LED plastic ice cubes, and patriotic decorations."

There was plenty of patriotism on display Monday. Several retired Coast Guard admirals were in attendance, along with Rear Adm. Jonathan Hickey, who recently took command of the Ninth Coast Guard District, which is responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Great Lakes.

A Coast Guard boat was parked outside the church, and dozens of "Coasties" from Coast Guard Station Grand Haven and Sector Field Office Grand Haven were also in attendance.

The pageantry didn't end there  many people showed up dressed to the nines wearing their red, white and blue in memory of Smith, who was well known around the community for his colorful attire during the Coast Guard Festival.

"His unrivaled ability to navigate between the classy and the tacky led to so many special moments for all of us here today," Matteson joked. "His humor, style and creative gifts brought us all together."

Matteson, a major in the U.S. Army, shared that during a recent change of command ceremony, his dad gave him a personalized caricature drawing.

"Underneath it there was a plaque, and it was engraved, 'To be a man of character you must also be a character of a man.' That was a quote he lived by, and I've always appreciated it," Matteson said.

Smith left behind his wife, Cathy, as well as his six children and 11 grandchildren: Lt. Colonel Maxwell (Cassie) Smith and their kids, Benson and Harrison; Mollie (Alex) Wood and their kids, Claire and Hazel; Moira (Ross) Gray and their kids, Wills, Jacks and Briggs; Maggie Smith, Major Matteson (Erin) Smith and their kids, Finley, Emerson, Madigan and Maeve; and McHale (Katlyn) Smith, who are expecting first child in July.

Maxwell Smith said his dad will always be remembered as a devoted friend and family man, known for zipping around town in his black Jeep.

"In addition to his boundless energy and zest for celebration, we'll also always remember him for his devotion for the community and his family," son Maxwell Smith said. "He was so proud of his service to his local community and our nation, both in uniform and with the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, demonstrated by the mementos completely covering the walls of his office."

"None more special to him than being recognized with the Department of Defense Bob Hope Spirit of Caring Award  a comedian and entertainer who did so much for our military and their families ... I was talking about my dad."

"In closing, we honor our favorite character's character and his legacy by celebrating as much as you can, as often as you can. We love you dad. You really were the grandest. Fair winds and following seas, and we promise to make the most routine events intentional, elaborate and memorable as we honor you every day by celebrating and serving others."

Following the service inside the church, the funeral ceremony moved outside, where hundreds stood huddled against a light drizzling rain, a pair of Coast Guard helicopters flew overhead. A U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute, then folded the flag that had been draped over Smith's coffin and presented it to Cathy.

(c)2023 the Grand Haven Tribune (Grand Haven, Mich.)

Visit the Grand Haven Tribune

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Feb. 28, 1960. It is republished unedited in its original form.

In the dark days of fall 1950, a handful of Republic of Korea civilian and military leaders met in Pusan to discuss measures to stem the tide of the north Korean communist hordes posed in an offensive arc along the famous Pusan perimeter.

It was from this meeting that the first ROK Womens Army Corps was formed. These Wacs, then a small but rugged group of women fighters, provided a boost to the psychological warfare activities of the United Nations Command.

During the Korean War many of the Wacs, standing in bunkers on the mortar-pocked hillsides and the near front-line artillery emplacements, broadcast personal appeals and propaganda material to the communists using giant field loudspeaker systems.

Several times artillery and mortar fire landed so close to me that I couldnt hear myself speaking, Maj. Hi Yui Yoon, an announcer with the early contingent of Wacs said. She is now the training director of the ROK WAC Training Center located near the Seoul Area Command.

One time in central Korea, I was broadcasting from a hillside. The communists were moving in assault position and the air was filled with the sounds of exploding shells.

I kept on speaking, telling them to give up, lay down their arms, not to continue killing their brothers in arms. Later in the afternoon the attack was repulsed.

During that specific incident two of the Wacs were killed. Three are still carried on the rosters as missing in action.

Today, marching side by side with their male counterparts, are some 1,000 WAC officers and enlisted men, under Lt. Col. Seung Won Hyun, ROK WAC commandant.

Generally the Korean Wacs share the same spartan training, food and pay as the male ROK soldier, although some of the men are quick to point out that they get a few little extras like softer mattresses and more hangers for their clothes.

Basic training for the women, given at the Seoul Training Center, is roughly the same as the training undergone by ROK soldiers at Nonsan. Included are courses in first aid, weapons training, squad drill, map reading and typing.

Administrative skills, particularly those of the clerk-typost, are stressed because this is the type of work in which most of the graduates will be placed.

We like to teach our women how to shoot, how to work in an office and how to behave like soldiers, Col. Hyun explained. But we also like them to retain as many feminine graces as possible.

The Wacs are allowed to use a little lipstick, but not too much. They are also required to keep their hair neat and closely trimmed, which is usually done in a fully-equipped beauty shop in the training center.

Like the regular soldier, the Wacs must also have passes to leave the compound. They must get up early in the morning, must keep their barracks area neat, their uniforms clean and their weapons spotless.

Enlisted Wacs live at the training center and at several other ROK Army compounds scattered throughout the Korean peninsula. All their barracks are carefully groomed and, except for an occasional mirror or long-handled comb, differ little in appearance from an ordinary ROK soldiers quarters.

Many of the WAC officers live in off-post dwellings.

The command hierarchy of the Wacs is also patterned after that of the ROK Army  Col. Hyun as commandant; Maj. Duck Soon Kim in charge of administration; Maj. Yoon, training; Maj. Ka Yung Lee, director of subject courses, and Capt. Chin Hack Park, administration and subject courses.

A host of young and alert lieutenants handles such assignments as intelligence, public information, troop information and education as well as the lower troop commands.

During the Korean war, the Wacs near the frontlines carried rifles and grenades and according to the stories told of their exploits, they often had to use their weapons.

I felt like shooting many times, Maj. Yoon said, but I always clung to my microphone and kept on talking.

Perhaps my words were as good as bullets. Never once did I have to run.

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Vladimir Putin has converted the annual May 9 Victory Day celebrations into his great ideological pillar, but that symbolism has now become an inconvenience for the Kremlin against the backdrop of battlefield reverses in its invasion of Ukraine. The Soviet Union, which sacrificed nearly 27 million lives during the Nazi onslaught in World War II and eventually cornered Adolf Hitler in Berlin, forcing him to kill himself, held only four parades in Red Square to mark the defeat of the Third Reich throughout in its entire history  in 1945, 1965, 1985 and 1990. In 1995, former Russian president Boris Yeltsin decreed the annual military parades would take place by law, but it was only from 2008 that they began to feature full displays of Moscows military might. Putin, who was born seven years after the fall of Berlin, will on Tuesday preside over the 17th Victory Day parade of his presidency surrounded by anti-aircraft batteries. The threat hanging over the event is of such concern to Russias security forces that Putin will not even hold the traditional reception for World War II veterans, in theory the main protagonists of the annual commemoration. Nor will the Russian president lead the citizens march as he did last year, when the war in Ukraine had been raging for over two months and appeared to be going largely according to the plans of Moscows military strategists. Most of the events scheduled to take place on Tuesday have been canceled for security reasons, while Russian forces launch wave after wave of air strikes against Ukraine.

The eve of the parade was another day of terror in Ukraine after 439 days of war. A wave of missiles and artillery barrages targeted several cities and regions. At least one civilian was killed and 16 more were wounded, according to the government of Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Ukrainian Red Cross reported that a humanitarian aid warehouse in Odesa was destroyed and one of its mobile hospitals in Mykolaiv was damaged. Meanwhile, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod said that four civilians had been wounded by a Ukrainian attack in the border town of Shebekino, one of the Russian localities hardest hit by the war.

As night fell on Monday, Kharkiv was targeted by at least six missiles, as EL PAIS special correspondents in Ukraines second-largest city can confirm. Just before 10 p.m. the air raid sirens were raised. Shortly afterward, explosions were heard in various parts of the city. The regional military governor, Oleg Sinegubov, confirmed on his Telegram account that at least six S-300 surface-to-air missiles had been launched over Kharkiv, which stands around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Russian territory. There were also explosions in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.

More information How Putin has unleashed the most globalized war since 1945

Let it never be repeated, is the motto that has been passed from generation to generation by those who lived through the Great Patriotic War, as Russia refers to the fight against Nazi Germany. Fewer and fewer survivors remain, and meetings with parents and grandparents who served and suffered in World War II have been gradually replaced by war-related paraphernalia in the streets and in schools, where children and adults wear the pilotka, the distinctive field cap worn by Red Army soldiers, as well as some emblems carried by Russian forces engaged in the Ukraine war today.

The militaristic hyperbole of Victory Day has come to be contemptuously termed pobedobesie by some sections of society. A mock battle was staged next to the Ministry of Defense on Monday, which sought to underline the most spectacular elements of the war, and in some schools  where lessons on the honor of dying for the motherland have been added to the curriculum  children have paraded in military uniforms and been given patriotic songs to sings, in which fallen soldiers become swans.

When asked if the president would receive veterans on Victory Day this year, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered with a brusque no. The last time World War II veterans were given their traditional prominence was in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic further isolated the Russian leader. This year Putin will also not take part in the Immortal Regiment, a march promoted by the authorities in which citizens carry photos of their ancestors. Last year, Putin marched through Red Square in the front row, surrounded by dozens of people, but this year he will not be as visible: the event has been canceled throughout the country for security reasons.

The alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Kremlin a week ago has further heightened tension in Moscow. Police and National Guard officers have shut off the center of the capital. Anti-aircraft batteries have been mounted on the roofs of the main government buildings and the state media has not reported on parade rehearsals in order not to reveal any sensitive information. All necessary measures are being taken to ensure security, Peskov said.

Despite the unpopularity of Moscows war in Ukraine in former Soviet republics, the Kremlin has managed to convince some of their leaders to attend the military parade this year, among them Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Tajikistans leader Emomali Rahmon and President Kasim-Yomart Tokaev of Kazakhstan, whose foreign policy has leaned toward Europe and Turkey over the past year and where Victory Day celebrations have been cancelled due to technical reasons.

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CAIRO  The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has risen to 604 people, including civilians, the U.N. health agency said on Tuesday. The new figures come as representatives of the warring parties are holding talks in Saudi Arabia.

More than 5,100 people were also wounded in connection with the fighting, World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. On Monday, the Sudanese Doctors' Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said that the fatalities had reached 487.

The conflict started on April 15, after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields and displaced nearly 700,000 people on top of the 3.7 million who had already been internally displaced within the country before the conflict began, according to the U.N. migration agency.

On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that talks between delegations of both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in the coastal city of Jeddah.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths proposed "a declaration of commitments" to representatives of the rival Sudanese forces to guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at U.N. headquarters Tuesday.

He said Griffiths made the proposal in Jeddah and "is encouraged" that there were consultations on the declaration, "so that was a step forward."

The talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by the kingdom and the United States in hopes of ending the fighting. Meanwhile, Burhan accused the RSF of using residential neighborhoods as their military bases and civilians as human shields.

In an interview late Monday with an Egyptian TV channel, Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya, he insisted they must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached.

"If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations," he said. "We won't go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens."

The RSF has not responded to Burhan's statement.

Also on Tuesday, the U.N. special envoy for the Horn of Africa said the conflict is "profoundly" affecting Sudan's relations with neighboring South Sudan.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh told the U.N. Security Council that the unstable situation has "the potential for more than 200,000 South Sudanese refugees hosted by the Sudan returning home prematurely to a country where two-thirds of the population already needs humanitarian assistance."

South Sudan is facing violent clashes and increasing disillusionment and frustration as it struggles to implement the most challenging provisions of a fragile 2018 power-sharing agreement, according to the U.N.

Before the conflict in Sudan erupted, Tetteh said, relations between Sudan and South Sudan were stable and there were regular meetings between officials of both countries, including at the highest level.

But she said "the conflict in the Sudan is putting the incremental progress achieved by the two countries in addressing their outstanding bilateral issues in jeopardy."

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.
TORONTO  The Canadian government is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada's spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

A senior government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. It's wasn't immediately clear if he's left yet.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei "persona non grata."

"We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs," she wrote.

"Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home."

Canada's spy service indicated that in 2021 opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijing's human rights record. Canada's spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang province.

It became public after a Globe and Mail report last week. Chong said he learned about it from that report, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied knowing about it earlier.

"This should have happened years ago," Chong said Monday.

"I hope that this makes it clear not just to the People's Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil."

On Monday, China's embassy in Ottawa issued a statement that accused Canada of breaching international law and acting based on anti-Chinese sentiment. It said the move has "sabotaged" relations between China and Canada and promised unspecified retaliatory measures.

China has previously insisted it does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs, but says it will respond to what it calls provocations.

The Canadian government took its time to decide whether to proceed, with both Joly and Trudeau warning about backlash from Beijing.

Last week, Joly said that Beijing could threaten the safety of Canadians and the prosperity of the country in retaliation for any expulsion, but Joly now says that is worth that risk.

"This decision has been taken after careful consideration of all factors at play," she wrote.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former governor general David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  The mayor of Kin town, home of the Marine Corps Camp Hansen in central Okinawa, wants a formal inquiry into the source of toxic PFAS chemicals found in local water.

The towns environmental division discovered elevated levels of PFAS in five of 14 sites sampled near Camp Hansen in November, a town spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday.

The highest levels were found downstream of an industrial waste site where U.S. military waste was also deposited.

As the mayor said, we will keep requesting that the government conduct further research to find the reasons and solutions, the spokesman said. We dont know where the contamination comes from.

However, the Okinawa Defense Bureau does not plan to request or conduct PFAS testing on the islands U.S. military installations at this time, a spokesman said Monday. The defense bureau is an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense.

There is no clear evidence that the contamination comes from the base, the bureau spokesman said. Some government officials in Japan speak to the media on condition of anonymity as a requirement of their employment.

PFAS is short for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which includes the organic compounds PFOS and PFOA. The Environmental Protection Agency refers to them as forever chemicals because they persist in the environment and are difficult to eradicate.

Some manufacturers have stopped using them, but PFAS is common in nonstick coatings and in firefighting foam of the type commonly used on military bases, where its use in Japan is being discontinued.

The effects of PFAS contamination in humans are uncertain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Animal studies indicate PFAS may affect reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system and damage the liver.

Contamination has become a major point of concern on Okinawa where U.S. air bases have used the firefighting foam.

Kin began annual water sampling for PFAS in 2019, the towns spokesman said.

The environmental division tested treated wastewater at Hansen; from two points around a former repository for industrial waste in the Yaka district; from three points around Ryukyu University Hospital; from a small stream in Yaka; and from the Okukubi, Ishikawa, Kura, Ukkaga, Kitaga and Nakouga rivers.

Elevated levels were found at five points around the hospital and the unnamed industrial waste repository, according to the results posted on the Kin town website in April.

The highest levels  780 nanograms per liter, or 300 nanograms per liter of PFOS and 470 nanograms per liter of PFOA  were detected at the waste disposal site, the website said. That is more than 15 times Japans provisional safe drinking water standard of 50 nanograms per liter.

The second highest level  140 nanograms per liter  was recorded upstream of the disposal site.
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Four generations recently stood under a 70-year-old cherry tree at this U.S. airlift hub in western Tokyo that is known for its broad avenues lined with sakura.

The tree has a distinctive history attached to it. It was a gift in the 1950s from leaders of the surrounding Japanese communities to the base and its commander at the time, Col. Fred Stevers, as a sign of friendship.

Just knowing my father had so much to do with Japan and how he loved the Japanese people and then to plant a tree for friendship, its overwhelming to me, daughter Becky Armstrong, 81, told Stars and Stripes on April 23. At my age, its like he is so glad that Ive come back and honored his memory.

Armstrong and a family entourage representing four generations traveled from Nevada to see what is called the Japanese American Community Relations Tree. The group included her son Ray Armstrong; grandson Eli Armstrong and his wife, Jackie; and granddaughter Adeline Armstrong.

The cherry tree on Spaatz Drive near the Route 16 Diner is the oldest tree planted by the U.S. military on the base, according to 374th Airlift Wing historian Lesleigh Jones.

It was planted on April 23, 1953. In exchange for the gift, Stevers gave the Japanese leaders a palm tree, according to photos and documents provided by Ray Armstrong.

A plaque near the cherry tree labels it Historical Site Number 19 and provides a brief summary of its history, stating it represents the ongoing friendship between the people of Yokota and the surrounding community. But it makes no mention of Stevers.

The familys visit to Yokota started when Ray Armstrong posted a message on the bases official Facebook page asking for an escort to the tree. Air Force spouse Crystal Branco offered to help.

Ray Armstrong had made five visits to the tree, the last in 2019. But this was the first for his mother, who did not live in Japan while her father was serving overseas.

My mom has never been to Japan and, since this is the 70th anniversary today of the tree, she really needed to be here, he said.

Branco let base headquarters know about the significance of the Armstrongs visit.

I feel like I am helping to piece together history, she said. I was able to facilitate history. And I know it's just a tree, but it's like the last visual remnant of what impact he made on the base.

Stevers, of San Diego, took command at Yokota on Aug. 21, 1952. He received the key to Tokyo in 1955 from Seiichiro Yasui, governor of Tokyo from 1947 to 1959.

During the Armstrongs visit, the family met Col. Julie Gaulin, vice commander of the 374th Airlift Wing.

I'd really just like to thank the family for coming out here and sharing this special moment and showing us the key to the city, Gaulin said on April 23. You know, that is a testament to the impact that he made here. It's what we can all aspire to, to make those lifelong impacts for people because the relationship between the United States and Japan is so important.

The U.S. Japan Goodwill Community Council, established in 1952 under Stevers guidance, promoted the relationship between the U.S. and Japan through social welfare activities. He also helped establish an orphanage, the Half-Blooded Childrens Home, in Fussa city in 1953, according to a letter of appreciation from Yasui.

Though Stevers is gone, his memory lives in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a cherry tree that is still flourishing.

Becky Armstrong said her fathers military service was a big thing for him.

He had a total dedication to the military, she said.
BEIJING  China announced the expulsion of a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawa ordering a Chinese consular official to leave the country over alleged threats he made against a Canadian lawmaker and his family.

The Foreign Ministry said China was deploying a "reciprocal countermeasure to Canada's unscrupulous move," which it said it "firmly opposes."

It said Jennnifer Lynn Lalonde, the top Canadian diplomat in the business hub of Shanghai, has been asked to leave by May 13 and that China "reserves the right to take further actions in response."

The Canadian Embassy in Beijing had no immediate comment on the expulsion order.

"We understand there is retaliation but we will not be intimidated," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after the Chinese move. "We will continue to do everything necessary to keep Canadians protected from foreign interference."

Trudeau's government said it is expelling a Chinese diplomat whom Canada's spy agency alleged was involved in a plot to intimidate an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

China took control of the former British colony in 1997, and in recent years has effectively ripped up an agreement to maintain its unique political and civil rights for 50 years by gutting its democratic institutions and free press. China regularly uses threats against family members to intimidate critics in the Chinese diaspora.

A senior Canadian government official said Toronto-based diplomat Zhao Wei has five days to leave the country. It wasn't immediately clear if Zhao was still in Canada.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement that Canada declared Zhao "persona non grata" and that Canada would "not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs."

"Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home," she said.

Canada's spy service indicated that in 2021, opposition Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his Hong Kong relatives were targeted after Chong criticized Beijing's human rights record. Canada's spy agency has not released details publicly.

Chong has been critical of Beijing's treatment of members of the Turkic Muslim Uyghur ethnic group in China's Xinjiang region, hundreds of thousands of whom have been detained in prison-like political reeducation camps. China says attendance at what it calls vocational training centers is purely voluntary and aimed at eliminating tendencies toward Muslim extremism while teaching job skills.

Chong said Zhao's expulsion should have happened years ago.

"I hope that this makes it clear not just to the People's Republic of China, but other authoritarian states who have representation here in Canada, that this crossing the line of diplomacy into foreign interference threat activities is utterly unacceptable here on Canadian soil," Chong said.

The senior Canadian government official said the week delay in announcing the expulsion was to allow the foreign minister to meet with cabinet colleagues who had trade-related responsibilities so they could prepare for any economic retaliation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said Zhao's expulsion was "based on rumors of the so-called 'China Interference' hyped up by some politicians and media."

"This has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations," the statement said. It added that "all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side."

"China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs," it said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin doubled down on China's rejection of the accusations and threats to take further action against Canada.

"China is unwavering in its determination to safeguard its own interests," Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

"We urge the Canadian side to immediately stop unreasonable provocations. If Canada does not listen to the advice and acts recklessly, China will fight back resolutely and forcefully, and the Canadian side must bear all the consequences arising from this."

China in recent years has expelled members of the foreign media in retaliation for their reporting or limitations placed on members of the entirely Communist Party-controlled Chinese state media posted in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Expulsions of diplomats are much more rare. In 2020, China ordered the closure of the U.S. Consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu in retaliation for Washington ordering the closure of the Chinese Consulate in Houston, which it said was a center of state-sponsored commercial espionage. China denied the allegation.

The revelation about Chong is the latest in a string of foreign interference attempts allegedly made by the Chinese government in Canada in recent years, including efforts to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Trudeau has appointed former Governor General David Johnston to further study the issue, including whether a public inquiry is needed.

China-Canada relations nosedived after China detained former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, shortly after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecoms giant Huawei and the daughter of the company's founder, at the behest of U.S. authorities who accused her of fraud.

Many countries labeled China's action "hostage politics," while China accused Ottawa of arbitrary detention. The pair, who were accused of vague national security crimes, were released hours after Meng's lawyers ended the nearly 3-year-long feud embroiling Ottawa, Beijing and Washington with a deal under which she accepted responsibility for misrepresenting the company's business dealings in Iran.

Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
IKEGO HOUSING DETACHMENT, Japan  About 30 Cub Scouts and their family members gathered around a fire over the weekend to ceremoniously retire American flags donated to the group over the past two years.

Saturdays ceremony was part of a semi-annual camping trip for Yokosuka Pack 33 at the Ikego West Valley Campground, adjacent to Ikego Housing Detachment. It was a first for many of the elementary school-aged kids in attendance, said Greg Zimmerman, committee chairman for the pack.

I think this gives them a sense of patriotism, he told Stars and Stripes ahead of the event.

Around 2 p.m., the Scouts lined up in front of a fire according to their respective ranks  from kindergarten-aged Lion Scouts to fourth- and fifth-grade Webelos  where they recited the national anthem and learned about the ceremonys importance.

These [flags] are a reminder of our nation and those who defended our freedom, and they have served us well, Zimmerman told the Scouts. The United States Flag Code states that flags, when theyre in such condition that theyre no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way  preferably by burning.

The Scouts and their pack leaders ultimately retired 17 flags, many of which were donated by individual commands, including Yokosuka Naval Hospital, and by families changing duty stations.

The ceremony is one of the ways Pack 33 serves the community, but it doubles as an educational opportunity for the Scouts, said Pack 33 Cubmaster Susan Duenas. The junior branch of Boys Scout of America emphasize a series of values that include being loyal, helpful, courteous and reverent.

Were carrying out our value of a Scouts reverence by showing reverence to the flag, honoring our country and promoting good citizenship, she told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony.

After the flags were retired, the Scouts broke off into groups, where they discussed the ceremony with pack leaders and other adults. When asked by a parent why they thought they were retiring the flags, one of the Scouts replied that they were treating it with dignity because were proud of the flag because it resembles the U.S.

Even the Webelos were a bit surprised at the nature of the ceremony, said their den leader, Navy Lt. Eric Gonzalez.

I think for a lot of them, they had no idea, he said. The idea of burning a flag was really strange to them, even foreign. When I was talking to some of the kids, they said it was kind of sad. So, I think its important to teach them about the symbols of our nation and what this means.
Britain, which has prided itself on being ahead of its Western allies in introducing new weapons systems to Ukraine, now appears poised to send Kyiv the long-range missiles the Biden administration has long denied it.

In a procurement notice posted last Tuesday by the British-led International Fund for Ukraine, a group of northern European counties that have set up a mechanism to send weapons to the battlefield, the United Kingdoms Defense Ministry asked for expressions of interest in providing strike capabilities with a range of up to 300 kilometers, or nearly 200 miles. The notice asked for responses within three days.

No final decision has been made, according to a British official who declined to confirm the type, timing or quantity of weaponry under consideration. But the notice is a substantive step toward Britain itself supplying such munitions, and the requested specifications and capabilities closely match its air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Ukraine has long pleaded with Western nations for longer range missiles, arguing that such weapons could change the course of the war by allowing its forces to target Russian command centers, supply lines, ammunition and fuel dumps deep inside Crimea and Russian-held territory in eastern Ukraine. As Kyiv prepares to launch a major counteroffensive as soon as within the next several weeks, the ability to strike far behind Russias front lines would help clear the way for a ground assault with tanks and infantry troops.

Storm Shadows can be mounted on Ukraines Soviet-made jets and reach into Russian territory. Kyiv has long sought that capability, and tried to ease Western escalation fears with pledges it would refrain from using donated weapons in such attacks.

If we could strike at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, the Russian army wouldnt be able to provide defense and will have to lose, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Europeans earlier this year. Ukraine is ready to provide any guarantees that your weapons will not be involved in attacks on the Russian territory.

Moscow has charged that Kyiv has adapted drones for long range use in what have been sporadic attacks deep inside Russia. Kyiv has not asserted responsibility for any of the attacks, but has claimed its right to hit internal Russian targets with its own weapons.

Concerns that Ukraine would fire missiles at targets in Russia is a key reason the administration has repeatedly rebuffed Ukrainian pleas to supply long-range U.S. munitions.

The United States has provided multiple-launch precision rocket systems, including the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, but only with munitions whose range is limited to about 50 miles. In a weapons package announced earlier this year, the Pentagon said it will send Ukraine Ground-Launched Small-Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) with double that range. They can also be fired from HIMARS, but delivery is not expected until later this year at the earliest.

HIMARS also has the capability to fire the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, a munition with a range equal to that of the Storm Shadows 300 kilometers. But the Biden administration has been unyielding in denying Ukrainian appeals for those weapons, with Pentagon officials, in addition to fears of escalating the conflict, citing short supplies in U.S. arsenals.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dismissed talk among Ukraines benefactors of their depleted stockpiles. If there is a moment in this conflict we can make a difference, why not seize it? What are we waiting for? he asked of European allies at the Munich Security Conference in February. What is the purpose of these stockpiles? If the weapons are degrading Russian armed forces, that is increasing our security.

Weeks before those remarks, according to a previously unreported file included among the classified U.S. documents leaked online through the Discord messaging platform, U.S. intelligence confirmed Britain intended to send Ukraine an unspecified number of Storm Shadow missiles, along with British personnel to aid in targeting.

The United Kingdom will be the first country to provide Ukraine with longer range weapons, Sunak said in his Munich speech.

Being first is something Britain has strove for throughout the war, beginning under former prime minister Boris Johnson. After the United States, Britain has been the second-largest supplier of Ukraine military aid  contributing $2.5 billion worth of munitions last year. Though thats only a fraction of what Washington has provided, the British have claimed the cutting edge, sending some of the first shoulder-launched anti-air and antitank weapons to combat Russias February 2022 invasion, and more recently by training pilots on NATO-standard fighter jets.

In mid-January, Britain broke through allied reluctance to send heavy tanks to Ukraine by unilaterally announcing it would send 14 British-made Challenger tanks. The United States, Germany and others in Europe eventually followed suit in promising to send their own heavy armor.

Its a position the United Kingdom can uniquely do [since] Russia doesnt like us very much anyway, said the British official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about internal alliance issues. We know that if we give something it makes it slightly easier for others.

There is definitely a different risk tolerance among different countries. Were often in an earlier place, the official said, citing the pilot training, even though no country has yet agreed to provide the NATO-standard aircraft, particularly F-16s, that Ukraine has asked for.

While U.S. policy remains unchanged, Pentagon officials expressed no concern when asked about the prospect of Britain sending long range missiles to Ukraine. Each country makes their own sovereign decisions on what types of security assistance and what kinds of equipment they provide, said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder. We commend the significant support that allies and partners from around the world, including the United Kingdom, are providing to Ukraine.

U.S. lawmakers of both parties who support an aggressive stance have repeatedly urged the administration to provide Ukraine with ATACMS and F-16s. In a statement issued after late-January announcements by Germany and the United States that they, too, would send tanks, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) urged the Biden administration and our allies to send more long range artillery, such as ATACMS and fighter aircraft.

Ive long been pushing for the longer range, ATACMS, for example, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a military veteran who served in Iraq, said in comments at the Hudson Institute two weeks ago. I think its time to do that. We see less and less talk about escalation as Russian President Vladimir Putin has crossed every red line, Crow said. The Ukrainians have proven themselves to be responsible partners and have every incentive to abide by restrictions on long-range weapon use, lest they lose Western support.

The distance between Ukrainian-held territory and Sevastopol, Crimeas largest city and the headquarters of Russias Black Sea fleet, is within the range of the Storm Shadow, which was originally developed as an Anglo-French project in the early 1990s and is held in the arsenals of a number of countries in Europe and the Persian Gulf. Used by Britain in Iraq in 2003, and by Britain, France and Italy in Libya in 2011, it has been adapted to fit on a number of different aircraft.

The weapons would allow Kyivs forces to adopt tactics already in use by Russia, which launches cruise missiles [from aircraft] inside their own territory to be beyond Ukrainian air defenses, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser to the Center for Strategic and International Studies International Security Program who has specialized in weapons systems used in the Ukraine war.

All you need to do is give it ten digit coordinates, Cancian said of the missile targeting. Theres nothing else you need to do intel-wise.

The Washington Post Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
BRUSSELS  A top European Union official on Tuesday urged the 27 member nations to take trade measures against countries that help the Kremlin to circumvent the bloc's sanctions against Russia, sparking a warning from China that it would retaliate if targeted.

During a visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measures  which would set a new precedent for EU action  should be part of a fresh round of Russia sanctions which the member countries are discussing.

"We recently see a growth of highly unusual trade flows through the European Union and certain third countries. These goods then end up in Russia," von der Leyen said, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She did not name the countries, but EU officials have raised concerns about certain flows of goods through China and Iran for some time.

"If we see that goods are going from the European Union to third countries and then end up in Russia, we could propose to the member states to sanction those goods," von der Leyen told reporters.

All 27 members must approve any sanctions unanimously. Over the last several months, von der Leyen's commission has become responsible for proposing what sanction action to take, leaving the member countries to thrash out their differences, sometimes over several weeks.

"This tool will be a last resort and it will be used cautiously following a very diligent risk analysis and after approval by EU member states. But there should be no doubt that we work against sanctions circumvention," she said.

China's foreign minister said Beijing would respond strongly if the EU took steps against Chinese companies doing legitimate business in Russia.

Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing has laws forbidding arms deliveries to crisis regions. At the same time, he insisted that "exchange and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies" should not be interfered with.

"We are strictly against some countries using their own domestic laws, their long arm jurisdiction, to impose one-sided sanctions against China," Qin said, according to an official interpreter. "In such a case, we would also react strongly to this and defend the legitimate interests of our country and our companies."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that any sanctions would target specific companies, not countries, that supply Russian arms manufacturers with critical components  including so-called dual use goods.

"This is not directed at any specific country, but rather it is directed in particular at these sanctioned goods," she told reporters in Berlin. "But we expect of everyone, including of China, that they put pressure on their companies accordingly."

The EU has imposed 10 rounds of sanctions on Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Banks, companies and markets have been hit  even parts of the sensitive energy sector. Well over 1,000 officials are subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

Much work has involved closing loopholes so that goods vital to Putin's war effort do not get through. However, it is the first time that plans have been announced to target trade via other countries, apart from sanctions against Iranians alleged to be supplying drones to Russia.

Past sanctions have been agreed in just months  extremely quickly for the EU. But new measures are becoming increasingly hard to endorse as they inflict damage on the economic and political interests of some member countries even as they aim for the Kremlin.

Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
STUTTGART, Germany  NATO put its fighter jets on heightened alert last week after a Russian warplane and a Polish aircraft nearly collided over the Black Sea, the U.S.-led alliance said Tuesday.

The encounter involved a Polish border guard plane that was carrying out a mission in connection with a European Union Frontex border agency initiative, according to Polish authorities.

A Russian Su-35 jet flew within about 15 feet of the Polish plane, carrying out aggressive and dangerous maneuvers causing the Polish air crew to briefly lose control of the aircraft, Polish border guard spokeswoman Anna Michalska said in a statement.

A NATO official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with NATO policy, said the alliance remains vigilant in the aftermath of the episode.

Such encounters have occurred from the Baltics to Syria, where U.S. pilots have had numerous close calls with Russian planes.

Fridays episode near Romania follows a pattern of actions in the Black Sea and elsewhere by Russian pilots that U.S. military officials have deemed dangerous.

Two months ago, a Russian fighter pilot intentionally struck a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, causing the unmanned aircraft to crash.

NATO has a standing air policing mission that calls for allied jets to scramble when there are signs of Russian planes operating in unpredictable ways along its eastern flank.

On Monday, a contingent of U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters was dispatched to Estonia for a quick-reaction deployment to bolster NATOs air policing efforts there.

While Romania serves as a hub for those efforts in the south, allies have a similar mission that covers the Baltics.

The transfer of planes to Estonia highlights the operational readiness of NATO allies, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa said Monday in a statement.

The Romanian Defense Ministry said Monday that the incident last week happened 40 miles from its airspace and involved aggressive and dangerous maneuvers by the Russian fighter that were totally unacceptable.

It slammed the provocative approach of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea.
Hong Kong: Chris Sun calls on central ministries

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today called on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong and Vice Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Yu Jiadong, as he continued his visit to Beijing.

Mr Sun called on Mr Xia in the morning to report the latest labour and welfare initiatives and their way forward, including the work progress of various measures to improve peoples livelihoods.

In the afternoon, Mr Sun and the delegation paid a courtesy call to Vice Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Yu Jiadong and senior officials.

They held a meeting on issues of mutual concern, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments talent attraction and labour policies as well as International Labour Organization issues.

Mr Sun said that the global competition for talent and manpower shortage have escalated after the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that with Hong Kong being the gateway for talent from both the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and overseas, the Hong Kong SAR Government will enhance diversified talent exchange with the Mainland.

Through these efforts, it is hoped the establishment of a GBA talent hub and the promotion of high quality development in the region and the whole nation will be expedited, he noted.

The group also visited an occasional child care facility in Beijing to stay informed about the local infant and child care services.

In the evening, Mr Sun attended a live dialogue hosted by Liepin - one of the Mainlands biggest online service platforms for talent - and introduced Hong Kongs talent attraction policy initiatives and unique advantages.

He took a close look at how the platform conducts job matching, especially trawling for top and overseas talent, to meet the development needs of various sectors.

This story has been published on: 2023-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Armani Group has announced a new partnership between Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio and Sharjah developer Arada for the development of Armani Beach Residences Palm Jumeirah - an ultra-luxury new addition to Dubais skyline.

To be designed by Tadao Ando Architects & Associates, Armani Beach Residences Palm Jumeirah will feature the Japanese Pritzker-Prize-winning architects longstanding emphasis on the association between nature and architecture.

Located on the outer crescent of the iconic manmade islands in Dubai, the project will offer a luxurious spatial experience that also provides a visual and compelling connection between each residence and the sea, said the statement from Armani.

Armani Beach Residences Palm Jumeirah will contain a range of beautifully appointed homes, including a select number of penthouses, as well as a series of world-class amenities carefully designed to allow every resident the chance to enjoy an elegant, productive and active lifestyle.

Sales at Armani Beach Residences will start in the second half of the year and the entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

Chairman and Group CEO Giorgio Armani said: "I am delighted to renew our collaboration with Tadao Ando, with whom the Armani Group has a long association, dating back to the design of Armani/Teatro in Milan in 2001."

"I believe that this new partnership with Arada and Tadao Ando will also result in an exceptional and magnificent place in which to live," he added.

Arada Vice Chairman Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal said: "Armani Beach Residences Palm Jumeirah blends the elegance and luxury for which the Armani lifestyle is so celebrated with the globally renowned contemporary design aesthetic of Tadao Ando."

"With an outstanding location on the hugely in-demand Palm Jumeirah islands, were excited at the prospect of bringing this truly unique residential opportunity to Dubai, the worlds fastest-growing high-end real estate market," he stated.

Tadao Ando, the Founder of Tadao Ando Architects & Associates, said: "Armani Beach Residences Palm Jumeirah will be a special place where residents and visitors will experience art and architecture coming together as a synthesis of the shared passions of Giorgio Armani and I."

"The architecture at this wonderful location is designed to pursue a visual and experiential continuity between the interiors and the seascape that surrounds the project, with the interplay of light and shadow helping to create a dynamic sequence from arrival to the public areas and finally to each impeccable residence," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, a former governor and presidential candidate speaks with the media after meeting with the National Primary Commission in Caracas, on April 27, 2023. Rayner Pena R (EFE)

The Unitary Platform  an alliance made up of Venezuelas opposition parties  is struggling to agree on the mechanisms that will allow it to organize primary elections to choose a candidate of consensus for the 2024 presidential elections.

While all members of the democratic opposition are aware that political unity is critical, certain disagreements are long-standing. The result of these tensions could be a series of defections, which could weaken the alliances strategy of presenting a single candidate to face off against President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013. Maduro succeeded Hugo Chavez, who governed the oil-rich country from 1999 until 2013 with his United Socialist Party, before dying of cancer.

If more than one candidate runs against Maduro from the Venezuela opposition, the resulting vote-splitting could be catastrophic. On top of this fear, the Unitary Platforms leadership is debating whether to organize the primaries with or without the assistance of the National Electoral Council (CNE)  an institution which is controlled by the ruling Chavista government. After so many controversial elections, an important segment of the opposition has deep reservations about working with the authorities.

For the political parties that are hardline anti-Maduro  such as Vente Venezuela (Come along, Venezuela), which is led by high-profile former congresswoman Maria Corina Machado  accepting technical assistance from the CNE is a mistake. Machado has demanded a self-organized consultation with manual counting. Andres Velasquez, of the Causa Radical (Radical Cause) party, has a similar perspective.

These factions insist that the CNE will do whatever is necessary to distort the results. They are particularly distrustful of the biometric mechanism of fingerprint scanners  present in the automated voting systems  which retain the identity of voters. Members of the opposition believe that this stored information can be used against citizens, especially since, as its not a general election, all participants dont support Chavismo.

In the opposition ranks, the memory of a 2004 incident is very much alive. That year, the Venezuelan government stored the data of citizens who promoted a recall referendum to remove Hugo Chavez from power. These individuals were subsequently punished, dismissed from their jobs, or prevented from contracting with the state, in retaliation for being part of this constitutional initiative.

If the [commission organizing the primaries] gives in to the CNE, they wont just be excluding me, but everyone, declared Maria Corina Machado, warning about the consequences that this announcement could bring. Some opposition politicians privately take it for granted that, in the event of this, Machado would continue her candidacy on her own.

If the [opposition] ends up delivering information to the CNE, it will end up being painted on the wall. Theyll kill the election  that will seriously affect unity, Velasquez noted.

The more moderate opposition parties  such as Accion Democratica (Democratic Action), Primero Justicia (Justice First) and Un Nuevo Tiempo (A New Era)  also have their doubts. They understand the points that Machado has made, but overall, they seem willing to agree with the CNEs role in organizing the primaries. Former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, who was defeated by Chavez and Maduro in 2012 and 2013 respectively, is the most prominent voice in favor of CNEs participation.

It has often been argued that self-managed elections by the opposition would be twice as expensive  with the necessary resources currently unavailable  and more exposed to being sabotaged by the Chavista regime. This sabotage could occur in a variety of ways, from the government-controlled judiciary intervening to sort out disputes between candidates, or Chavista militants simply acting violently against the electoral process.

Given the panorama, an important opposition leader  who has preferred to remain anonymous  has affirmed that there is no good decision in this debate, since both options present enormous costs. Were obliged to take the [path] that achieves the greatest unity possible. The group of parties that is inclined to agree with the CNEs involvement will likely be in a position to impose its majority on the Unitary Platform.

The electoral schedule is drawing closer and closer, while logistical efforts are piling up. In order to find a candidate, the decision to organize the primaries with or without the CNE will have to be made very soon. It has already been postponed twice.

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President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the West has unleashed a real war against Russia, reprising a familiar refrain at scaled-down Victory Day celebrations that may reflect the toll the Ukraine conflict is taking on his forces.

Putins remarks came just hours after Moscow fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at targets in Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago. Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of 25 missiles launched.

The Russian leader has repeatedly sought to paint his invasion of Ukraine as necessary to defend against a Western threat. Kyiv and its Western allies say they pose no such threat and that Moscows war is meant to deter Western influence in a country that Russia considers part of its sphere of influence.

Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point, Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. A real war has been unleashed against our motherland.

Putin has often used patriotic rhetoric that harkens back to the earlier war in an effort to rally his citizens and forces  and May 9 is one of the most important dates in the Russian political calendar. But this years celebrations were markedly smaller, at least partially because of security concerns after several drone attacks have been reported inside Russia.

Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade in Moscows Red Square on Tuesday  the lowest number since 2008. Even the procession in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part. There was no fly-over of military jets, and the event lasted less than the usual hour.

This is weak. There are no tanks, said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscows Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. Were upset, but thats all right; it will be better in the future.

The Kremlins forces deployed in Ukraine are defending a front line stretching more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles), presumably thinning the ranks of troops available for such displays.

This is supposed to be a showpiece for Russian military might. But so much of that military might has already been mauled in Ukraine that Russia has very little to show on its parade in Red Square, said Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Londons Chatham House think tank.

As a display of military hardware it was very underwhelming, said Michael Clarke, visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, noting that the T-34, the iconic World War II tank, was the only tank on display. Normally they show off all the really modern stuff, and they didnt have any of those. Nor did they seem to have armored fighting vehicles.  So there was nothing new on display.

Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II  a pillar of the holiday  were canceled in multiple cities.

That seems to be for fear that those people who have lost their relatives in this current war on Ukraine might actually join the processions and show just the scale of the casualties that Russia has suffered in its current war, Giles said.

Russian media counted 24 cities that also scrapped military parades  another staple of the celebrations  for the first time in years. Regional officials blamed unspecified security concerns or vaguely referred to the current situation for the restrictions and cancelations. It wasnt clear whether their decisions were taken in coordination with the Kremlin.

Last week, Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin that it called an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied involvement.

There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it.

On a tribune in Red Square, Putin praised soldiers taking part in the war in Ukraine and urged Russians to stand together.

Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland, Putin said.

The guest list was also light amid Putins broad diplomatic isolation over the war. Initially, only one foreign leader was expected to attend this years parade  Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was one more foreign guest than last year, when no leaders went.

At the last minute on Monday, officials announced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan would head to Moscow as well.

As the celebrations unfolded, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner, said his fighters had yet to receive ammunition promised to them by the military  but that they would continue to fight in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite earlier threatening to withdraw them.

In a video published on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed that Russian army units had fled their positions in the city due to the stupidity of their leadership  a reference to the Defense Ministry  and that it threatened to charge Wagner troops with treason if they, too, pulled out.

Prigozhins allegations could not be independently verified, and the Russian military has not commented on them.

The threat of departure marked another flare-up in Prigozhins long-running dispute with Russias military brass over credit and tactics in the war.

On Tuesday, he contrasted the pomp of the May 9 celebrations, broadcast across Russia, with the reality on the ground.

Victory Day marks the victory of our grandfathers; we did not deserve a single bit of this victory. The counteroffensive will be on the ground, not on television, Prigozhin warned, adding that the Russian state is unable to defend the country.

Prigozhin has become known for such inflammatory, headline-grabbing statements, particularly at key moments when attention is focused elsewhere  but issuing them on Victory Day was remarkably bold.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The missiles came hours before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive branch, arrived in Kyiv.

Von der Leyen urged EU member nations to take measures to prevent countries from helping Russia to circumvent the blocs sanctions. The EU has noticed that certain products that have been banned to undermine Russias war effort are still getting through, she said.

Von der Leyen did not name the countries.

Ukraine is keen to join the EU, but membership is still a long way off. Ukraine is also hoping to join NATO, after moving close to the Western military alliance during the war.

In the latest help from a NATO member, the U.S. was expected to announce Tuesday that it will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses.

Later in the day, Zelenskyy used his nightly address to mark Europe Day, having decreed Monday that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, and join the rest of Europe in celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 8.

In the address, he drew parallels between the brutal aggressions of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

It is only a matter of time before the current aggressor loses, like the aggressor who lost 78 years ago, before Russian revanchism is crushed by the bravery of our warriors and the joint power of the free world, he said.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army "to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation," including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. "Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as "a source of instability." He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtini's home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

"Dania's blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Dania's fiancee left the apartment. "The girls' room was destroyed," she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israel's perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. "We have achieved our goals," he said. "Now the ball is on the other side."

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as "atrocious." The European Union said it was "gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it "condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed."

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a "unified Palestinian response" to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will "pay the price" for the killings. "Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance," said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israel's 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Mauricio Garcia, the gunman in a shooting Saturday at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburbs, was discharged from the Army after three months of service due to a mental health condition, according to Army officials.

Garcia, 33, entered the Army in June 2008 and was terminated three months later without completing initial entry training, said Heather Hagan, a service spokeswoman.

He was not awarded a military occupational specialty. He had no deployments or awards, Hagan said.

The Army discharged Garcia using a 2005 regulation for separations, citing other designated physical or mental conditions.

Garcia was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., to take part in infantry training, but he was removed due to a mental health condition, according to an Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Sunday identified Garcia as the shooter who killed eight people, including children, and injured seven others at the Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, Texas. Garcia was killed at the scene by a police officer.

Investigators have said Garcia was active on social media, including neo-Nazi and white supremacist-related posts.

Garcia had a patch on chest when he was killed by police that read RWDS, an acronym for the phrase Right Wing Death Squad, which is popular among right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

He used an AR-15-style weapon and wore tactical gear during his killing spree. In addition to the weapons found on his body, investigators discovered five additional handguns in his car parked nearby.

Garcia also was approved to work as a security guard in Texas from April 2016 to April 2020 until his license expired, according to the Texas Online Private Security database. The database also showed he had firearm proficiency training.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Tribune News Service)  Saying that China posed a threat to Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed three bills targeting Chinese influence in Floridas schools, universities and agriculture.

During a news conference in Hernando County, DeSantis signed legislation that would ban the use of TikTok and other Chinese apps on school and government servers, limit land purchases by Chinese citizens and prohibit universities from accepting funding from China.

Today, were really recognizing the threat, and were taking action, DeSantis said.

The three measures were passed with bipartisan support by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which ended its annual session Friday.

The bills also target other nations labeled countries of concern by Florida  Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria.

SB 258, which takes effect July 1, orders DeSantis administration to create a list of apps created by, or hosted by, countries of concern that should be banned on state and local government-issued devices and servers.

Students, for example, would not be able to access TikTok on their personal devices if theyre on a school or government Wi-Fi network. More than 150 million Americans are regular users of the video-sharing social network.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration banned TikTok on government-issued devices over data collection concerns.

SB 846, effective July 1, forbids colleges and universities and their staff from accepting gifts or grants from, or signing agreements with, colleges based in countries of concern.

The ban includes student and faculty exchange programs and dual-degree programs. The ban could be waived by the university system Board of Governors.

The (Chinese Communist Party) has done a really, really effective job at identifying some of the soft underbelly of American society and really focusing on academic infiltration and influence, DeSantis said.

By far the biggest effect on Floridians could come from SB 264, also signed Monday, which limits land purchases by residents of countries of concern.

Residents and companies of countries of concern will be prohibited from owning agricultural land, and any land within 10 miles of a military base or critical infrastructure facility, such as seaports, airports and wastewater treatment plants.

Current owners would have to register the property with the state by Jan. 1 or face $1,000-a-day fines and having the property seized by the state.

We believe protecting our food supply is a security issue, DeSantis said Monday, referring to concerns about foreign actors buying agricultural land.

The bill singles out people and companies from China by forbidding them from owning land anywhere in the state if theyre not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

During the legislative session, hundreds of Chinese Americans and permanent residents, including university professors and businesspeople, protested the measure. They said it would cause people to avoid selling to anyone with a Chinese-sounding name. Under the bill, closing agents could face civil or criminal penalties if they have actual knowledge the sale would violate the law.

During a floor debate on SB 264 last week, the Democratic and Republican co-sponsors claimed the speakers were bused in from Texas and do not have our countrys best interests in mind. Nearly all of the speakers listed a Florida address, and many were easily verifiable through land-purchase records.

Lawmakers later amended the bill to allow an exception to the land-buying restrictions. Anyone, including from China, could buy one property up to 2 acres if its not within 5 miles of a military base and the land is in the name of someone with a nontourist visa.

Lawmakers have justified SB 264 by citing reports of Chinese people buying land around the country and federal charges being filed against two men accused of running an unauthorized Chinese police outpost in New York City.

Many state legislatures are considering similar restrictions.



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BOSTON (Tribune News Service)  Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira is set to return to court this week, as the 21-year-old IT tech tries to get released from federal detention after he allegedly leaked military secrets.

Teixeira, of North Dighton, is expected to be in federal court Thursday afternoon.

Continued detention hearing for Army National Guardsman Jack Teixeira has been set for this Thursday, May 11 at 2pm in federal court in Worcester, the Massachusetts U.S. attorneys office tweeted Monday.

During the previous detention hearing, Teixeiras lawyers said he should be free before trial and offered that he could remain under home confinement at his fathers home in North Dighton.

Federal prosecutors argued that Teixeiras access to firearms and the potential that he is still in possession of classified information makes him a risk to release. The judge, David H. Hennessy, took the arguments under advisement.

The E-3/airman first class stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod is accused of leaking classified documents on the war in Ukraine and other national security issues. He allegedly posted the military secrets on Discord, a social media platform.

Teixeira is charged with unauthorized removal and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials. He could face 25 years in prison.

Meanwhile, The New York Times over the weekend reported on Teixeiras online world after the Times reviewed more than 9,500 messages.

Teixeira was fixated on weapons, mass shootings, shadowy conspiracy theories  and proving he was in the right, and in the know, the Times reported.

Teixeira posted a debunked conspiracy theory that the U.S. orchestrated mass shootings. He wrote on Discord after a mass shooting last year, The FBI and other 3 letter agencies contact these unhinged mentally ill kids and convince them to do mass shootings.

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NEW YORK  Donald Trump should be held accountable for sexually attacking an advice columnist in 1996 because even a former president is not above the law, a lawyer for the columnist told a jury Monday in closing arguments in the lawsuit that accuses Trump of rape.

A lawyer for Trump responded by calling the accuser's account "unbelievable" and "outrageous."

Once the final arguments were complete, the judge sent the jury home with instructions to return Tuesday to hear about an hour of instructions before beginning deliberations. Jurors will be asked to decide whether Trump committed battery and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll and whether damages should be awarded.

In recapping Carroll's case, attorney Roberta Kaplan showed jurors video clips of Trump from his October deposition and replayed the "Access Hollywood" video from 2005 in which Trump said into a hot mic that celebrities can grab women's genitals without asking.

Kaplan recalled Trump's comment that "stars like him can get away with sexually assaulting women."

"That's who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And that's what he does," Kaplan said. "He thinks he can get away with it here."

Kaplan used Trump's words to support Carroll's claims that Trump raped her in early spring 1996 in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store in Manhattan across the street from Trump Tower.

Trump's attorney, Joe Tacopina, attacked the allegations as absurd, saying they were an "affront to justice" and minimized "real rape victims."

He agreed with Kaplan that no one is above the law, but he warned that "no one's below it" either.

Tacopina told jurors they won't have to "let her profit to the tune of millions of dollars" because they will see that it is impossible to believe the "unbelievable."

"This is an absolutely outrageous case," he said, arguing that Carroll sued to raise her status and for political reasons.

He said even Carroll had testified that it was an "astonishing coincidence" that a "Law and Order" offshoot aired an episode in 2012 in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman.

"What is the likelihood of that?" Tacopina asked. "One in 20 billion? One in 10 billion?"

Tacopina said the claims were too absurd to call his client as a witness, noting that Carroll expected jurors to believe Trump would risk everything to attack a woman in a busy department store even though she couldn't remember exactly when the assault happened.

"What could I have asked Donald Trump? Where were you on some unknown date, 27 or 28 years ago?" he said.

In a rebuttal argument, Carroll attorney Mike Ferrara mocked Trump's decision to skip the trial, saying jurors could use his absence to conclude that Trump committed the attack because Trump "never looked you in the eye and denied it."

Kaplan told jurors that it wasn't a "he said, she said" case but rather one in which jurors should weigh what 11 witnesses, including Carroll, said versus what they heard from Trump in his video deposition.

"He didn't even bother to show up here in person," Kaplan said, referring to Trump's absence from the proceedings in federal court. She told jurors that much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements "actually supports our side of the case."

"In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself," she said. "He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll."

Kaplan recounted the testimony of two women who say they too were attacked sexually by Trump.

Jessica Leeds, 81, said he grabbed her chest and ran his hand up her skirt on a 1979 airline flight. Natasha Stoynoff said he forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion in 2005 as she worked on a story about his marriage for People magazine.

Trump has insisted in public statements and in the deposition that Carroll made up the claims to boost sales of a 2019 memoir. He has called Carroll "mentally sick" and a "disgrace."

Carroll, 79, who is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, testified for more than two days. Kaplan praised her testimony as "credible."

"It was consistent, and it was powerful," the lawyer said.

She contrasted that testimony with Trump's deposition, noting that a man who had derided Carroll as not his "type" was shown a photograph of Carroll from over three decades ago and twice misidentified her as his second wife, Marla Maples.

"Carroll, a former cheerleader and Miss Indiana, was exactly Mr. Trump's type," Kaplan said. "She is smart. She is funny. She is beautiful. And, most of all, she is courageous."

Carroll said she was leaving the Bergdorf Goodman store through a revolving door in spring 1996 when Trump was entering the store and stopped her to help him shop for a gift for a woman.

Carroll, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer, said they took escalators to the store's desolate sixth floor, where they teased each other about trying on a piece of see-through lingerie.

She said she entered a dressing room with Trump before the flirting turned violent, with Trump slamming her against a wall, pulling down her tights and raping her. She said she kneed him after an encounter that lasted several minutes and fled the store.

Carroll blames the encounter in part for never having another intimate relationship in her life.

Trump's public comments are the basis of Carroll's defamation claim. Kaplan labeled the comments as lies and said they ruined her client's reputation and forced an end to her 27-year employment as an Elle magazine advance columnist.

Kaplan urged jurors to find in favor of "my brave client, E. Jean Carroll," but she put no number on the damages being sought.

"Consider the evidence and pick a number you think is right," she said. "This lawsuit is not about the money. This lawsuit is about getting her name back."
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh chapter President Ali Zaidi was taken into custody by the Karachi police on Tuesday after protests erupted in the metropolis following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Islamabad in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Although the police havent provided the reason behind the detention, a video of the arrest circulating on social media showed that police forced Zaidi into a white-coloured Toyota vehicle near the citys Kala Pul area.

PTIs leadership has asked the workers to take to the streets against Khans arrest and an emergency committee  which was formed in case of his arrest  is set to announce the next course of action.

Subsequently, PTI workers held protests in several cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.

In Karachi, demonstrators clashed with the police near Nursery area on Shahrah-e-Faisal. They threw stones at and set fire to police vehicles, tore down street lights, and damaged a bus. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters.

Protesters also caused damage to public property in other cities, including Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Meanwhile, 23 PTI workers have also been arrested for protests at Sharea Faisal.
An investigation into Donald Trumps handling of classified documents has intensified in recent weeks, with prosecutors summoning a broad range of witnesses before a federal grand jury and zeroing in on questions of whether the former president or others obstructed government efforts to recover the records.

It remains unclear when the investigation led by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith might end or whether Trump might face charges over documents found at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate. But as probes in Washington and Atlanta proceed, Republican critics of Trump see an opportunity for intensifying legal woes to knock him off his frontrunner mantle in the 2024 presidential race in a way that an earlier indictment in New York failed to do.

The ongoing investigations are the ones that have the meat, said Bobbie Kilberg, a longtime Republican donor who has become a vocal Trump critic.

Its very, very serious, she said. It ought to have a real impact on the American people. And if it doesnt, all I can do is shake my head in bewilderment.

A grand jury in the Mar-a-Lago case has heard testimony over the last few months from numerous Trump associates. Prosecutors have put before the panel a lawyer who helped respond to Justice Department demands for the documents last year, and have also been interested in Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage. At least one witness was asked to testify a second time, suggesting prosecutors may be looking to lock in particular testimony they view as useful, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss secret grand jury proceedings.

In a message Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Smith of harassing and threatening my people over the documents investigation, which he called a hoax. His lawyers have similarly sought to pre-emptively attack any indictment, telling the House Intelligence Committee in a letter last month that the Justice Department should be ordered to stand down from the probe.

Investigators have cast a wide net over the last year, interviewing witnesses about Trumps handling of classified documents as president and trying to determine whether, more recently, hes tried to hide any records that were taken to Mar-a-Lago or shown those documents to anyone, people familiar with the matter have said.

Prosecutors have focused on the question of potential obstruction, including the response to a subpoena they issued in May 2022 seeking the return of classified records in Trumps possession. Among the witnesses who testified last week was Matthew Calamari Jr., the director of security at Trump Organization, Trumps company, according to one of the people.

Calamaris testimony could be relevant to the case since prosecutors subpoenaed the Trump Organization last year for surveillance footage from the Palm Beach property. Footage they reviewed showed a Trump associate moving boxes of documents out of a storage room after the subpoena was issued. Other media organizations reported that Calamaris father, also named Matthew Calamari, a Trump organization executive vice president, testified last week as well.

A moment that underscored the gravity of the case came in March when Smiths team secured the testimony of Trump lawyer M. Evan Corcoran after convincing a judge in sealed proceedings that Trump had used Corcorans legal services in furtherance of a crime.

Corcoran helped draft a letter last June to the Justice Department attesting that Trumps team had conducted a diligent search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in response to the governments subpoena. At that time, the Trump team produced roughly three dozen classified documents, on top of 15 boxes of records returned in January 2022 to the National Archives and Records Administration.

But prosecutors suspected that even more classified records remained, and they obtained a search warrant last August to seize more than 100 additional records.

In their letter, Trumps lawyers said that Corcoran expected investigators to return to Mar-a-Lago to go through any boxes of documents that remained and that he and Trump understood this to be the beginning, not the end, of working cooperatively. Though the letter was addressed to lawmakers, it presumably includes arguments the lawyers would make to try to head off any indictment.

Prosecutors on Smiths team have simultaneously pressed forward with a separate probe into efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, winning court orders to question key advisers and aides before the grand jury. Among the witnesses to appear was former Vice President Mike Pence, who two weeks ago spent hours inside the Washington courthouse.

Georgia state prosecutors are investigating whether Trump or anyone else committed crimes in trying to undo his narrow loss in that state to Democrat Joe Biden.

The investigations are in addition to the March indictment from the Manhattan district attorney arising from hush-money payments during Trumps 2016 presidential campaign to a porn actor who alleged an extramarital sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Though a blow legally, the indictment seemed a boon for Trump in the Republican Partys evolving presidential primary contest ahead of the 2024 election. Trumps standing in the GOP had been slipping until he was charged, when suddenly, Republicans across the political spectrum rushed to defend him against what they framed as a questionable, politically motivated prosecution.

Today, polling suggests that Trump is the dominant frontrunner in the GOPs growing 2024 field.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trumps chief primary rival, has struggled to maintain the same level of strength he wielded prior to Trumps indictment. But as the governor prepares to launch his campaign officially, his allies are quietly confident that Trumps baggage will eventually catch up to him.

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a frequent Trump critic, described the New York indictment as somewhat of a swing and a miss.

Yet any further indictments prosecutors might bring, Duncan said, are going to be a whole different amplitude that hes gonna have to deal with.

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Pakistan has one of the lowest internet speeds in the world, while a huge chunk of the population still lacks access to the internet, said a new report on the digital landscape and human rights in the country on Monday.

The report prepared by Bytes for All, Pakistan, a prominent digital rights organisation, stated that while Pakistan has made some gains in terms of internet access and overall governance, there was still a lot more to be desired as the country remained among the worst performers, even within Asia.

Despite increased internet penetration, around 15 per cent of the population has no access to internet and telecom services, while the rest suffers through slow speeds and erratic service, said the report titled Internet Landscape Report 2022

As of December 2022, Ooklas Speedtest Global Index saw Pakistan ranked 118 out of 141 countries in terms of mobile internet speed, and 150 out of 178 countries for fixed broadband speed, with an average speed of 10.15-15.5Mbps, according to a press release.

Around 15pc people still lack broadband access; cybercrime rises, net banking sees boom

The gender gap in terms of mobile ownership also widened in Pakistan with just half of women owning a mobile phone, as compared to over 75pc men.

Cybercrime, blasphemy, disinformation

The report also stated that cybercrime was on the rise with over 100,000 complaints registered by December 2022, marking the highest number in the last five years.

Women continue to make up the majority of victims facing harassment and blackmail online.

The online environment remains perilous, with the threat of blasphemy allegations, online campaigning, mob organising, and subsequent violence, including lynching, according to the report.

No meaningful action was taken by the authorities over cases originating from accusations in the digital space, it added.

The report stated over 0.3m cybercrime complaints were registered between 2020 and 2022, but only 124 people were convicted, as per the interior ministry data.

Meanwhile, the state continued with its alleged attempts to muzzle criticism and control online spaces, including filing cases against journalists, activists and political opponents for expressing unfavourable views on social media.

Attempts were also made to pass stricter defamation laws to suppress dissent, the report added.

Internet banking boom

The local e-commerce and fintech sectors experienced negative trends due to the global economic downturn and Pakistans crises, the report said, adding that funding for startups significantly declined in the second half of 2022.

Despite the decline in funding, Pakistans startups managed to secure $348 million in funds.

On the other hand, internet banking transactions witnessed a steep rise of 51.7pc in 2022, as internet banking users increased by almost 60pc to 3.1 million.

The State Banks move to issue a licensing framework for digital banks will further accelerate the progress towards digital banking, the report said. The report also featured analysis from IT and Telecommunication Minister Syed Aminul Haq; Bytes for All, Pakistan Senior Program Manager Haroon Baloch and other stakeholders.
The complaint was also sent to President of High Court and Judicial Council

Solicitor Ammi Burke has filed a formal complaint against a High Court judge who dismissed her challenge of an unfair dismissal claim due to her unruly conduct in court.

Last week Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger granted an application from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and Arthur Cox to dismiss the case in its entirety due to Ms Burkes conduct.

It came after she was forced to leave the courtroom four times during the hearing last Thursday in which Ms Burke persistently spoke over the judge and counsel.

Ms Burke filed a complaint to Justice Minister Simon Harris, the President of the High Court and the Judicial Council.

In emails and registered letters sent on Monday, May 8, to Mr Harris and the President of the High Court, she stated:  I believe that Ms Justice Bolgers conduct constitutes a serious breach of the judicial principles of independence, impartiality and integrity, and my right to a fair hearing under Irish and European law has been infringed.

I ask that you review this complaint and investigate the matters raised therein as a matter of urgency. I await hearing from you, she wrote.

In a separate email and registered letter to the Judicial Council, she wrote in a summary of her complaint: It is not lawful for a judge to advise and assist one side against the other. I was representing myself in the proceedings, and a team of approximately ten lawyers was opposing me.

"This makes the actions of Ms Justice Bolger all the more egregious, unprecedented, and unacceptable. 

I submit that the actions of the judge show clear prejudgment of the proceedings on her part.

Ammi Burke. Photo: Collins   Collins Courts

"She organised, on her own initiative, the printing and distribution of case law favourable to my opponents which she obviously intended to rely on in deciding the case.

"I submit that her intervention was an unlawful descent into the arena of conflict in the case.

I further submit that the behaviour of Ms Justice Bolger in this matter is a serious departure from acknowledged standards of judicial conduct.

"Her behaviour brings the administration of justice into disrepute. It is wholly contrary to the role and function of a court of law.

The judge also had no right to dismiss my case on the application of parties who were in open defiance of a direction of the court to give back the copies of the case.

Ammi Burke   Collins Courts

Ms Justice Bolger, meanwhile, told the court last week that she would provide a written ruling explaining her decision at a later stage, but she gave an indicative view that the WRC and Arthur Cox were entitled to their full legal costs

The judge apologised to lawyers representing the WRC and Arthur Cox for having to endure the unacceptable, appalling situation.

The court is horrified that any litigant, and in particular a qualified solicitor, would conduct themselves in this manner before the court, she said.
Really drunk Lance Corporal Shane Ritchie, who has two young kids and a long-term partner cupped the womans bottom

A soldier from Northern Ireland has been dismissed from the Army for groping a female colleagues bottom at the after-party of a St Patricks Day parade attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Really drunk Lance Corporal Shane Ritchie cupped the womans bottom after sliding his hand down her back as he squeezed past her to go for a cigarette.

As he was sentenced for the sexual assault, a judge told him the harassment of women in the Armed Forces must stop.

LCpl Ritchies trial heard that, in what was the Irish Guards first regimental day celebration since the pandemic, the 25-year-old was slurring his words before grabbing the complainants behind.

Earlier in the day, the regiment had welcomed the royal couple  then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  as guests of honour for a traditional ceremony where Kate had presented sprigs of shamrock to members of the battalion on parade.

After the celebrations at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in March last year, LCpl Ritchies creeping hand grabbed the bottom of his fellow soldier.

LCpl Ritchie, a father of two from Belfast, denied the charge, claiming that only his shoulder brushed her and, if there had been contact, it was accidental and therefore not sexual.

However, he was convicted at the end of a two-day trial and has now been dismissed from the forces and handed a two-year service community order.

Sentencing LCpl Ritchie, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England told him his behaviour was inexcusable.

She added: Not everybody [in this regiment] welcomed the widening of combat roles to females.

She had suffered harassment, but you were not part of it.

She went to the St Patricks Day parade to fit in. Unfortunately, she suffered more harassment from you.

This is not the first time female service personnel have been made to feel unwelcome. Such behaviour must stop. Females should be treated with the same respect.

This was unsolicited, drunken sexual conduct.

During the two-day trial, prosecutor Captain Daniel Lawlor opened the case saying: On March 17 last year, the complainant attended a St Patricks Day function at a bar at Mons Barracks.

At the bar, she was introduced to [the defendant].

The complainant will tell the court that, as she was standing, she felt someone touching her from behind  down her shoulder, on her back and down.

The two had a verbal interaction and she confronted him for grabbing her bottom.

Giving evidence, the female soldier, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had been introduced to LCpl Ritchie at the St Patricks Day celebration.

She said: He was really drunk. He looked like he couldnt really stand up properly, couldnt really focus his eyes on anything, and when he spoke he slurred his words.

After I shook his hand, he said, Ive got a missus, but I wasnt interested so I left.

She told the court she returned to some nearby sofas in the room to talk to a friend when she felt the sexual assault take place.

I felt someone come behind me and put a hand on my shoulder, slide their creeping hand down my back and then I felt them cup my bum, she said.

As soon as I felt that, I turned to the side and saw it was [LCpl Ritchie] and just pushed him away.

I said something like, Get the f*** off me. Dont you dare touch me.

It felt really deliberate. I could feel the pressure. It was a firm touch, a grab.

The court heard the complainant left the bar with a friend and immediately reported the incident to her chain of command, having texted the Regimental Sergeant Major personally and asked to see him the following week.

When it was put to her that not everyone in the Irish Guards  which has only accepted women in full-time combat roles since 2018  was not particularly enlightened or welcoming to women, she agreed.

Such were these attitudes, she told the court she was unhappy in her unit and considered it a hostile environment in which to work.

The court heard she had been told by a different colleague that the Army is a mans world.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant said: My mental health suffered after the incident. I battled with suicidal thoughts.

I feel like the whole regiment turned its back on me.

In mitigation, defence barrister Matthew Bolt said: LCpl Ritchies life is destroyed.

Hes lost his job, his career and his good name.

This could be characterised as a moment of madness.

He has two young children and a long-term partner... He has now secured an apprenticeship as a sprayer.

Ritchie was also ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard Davin Tinton went to Store Street garda station on May 19, 2022, to report alleged harassment of himself on Facebook

According to prosecutors, Davin Tinton (31) had reported that he was being harassed on Facebook when gardai found five images on his phone

A Dublin man has denied possession of child abuse images that were allegedly found on his phone when gardai investigated a complaint that he was being harassed.

According to prosecutors, Davin Tinton (31) had reported that he was being harassed on Facebook when gardai found five images on his phone.

The accused, with an address at Northbank, Castleforbes Road, Dublin 1, is pleading not guilty to possession of child pornography.

Dublin District Court has heard Mr Tinton went to Store Street garda station on May 19, 2022, to report alleged harassment of himself on Facebook.

He handed his phone to the gardai for analysis in this investigation.

Images of child abuse were on the phone when it was analysed, it was alleged.

He admitted he was aware they were on his phone, and had been for some time; he remembered seeing them, a garda sergeant alleged.

The case was adjourned and when it came back before Judge Bryan Smyth, defence solicitor Matthew De Courcy said Mr Tinton was seeking a date for the contested hearing.

The court heard there would be five prosecution witnesses in the non-jury trial.

Judge Smyth remanded the accused on continuing bail to a date later this month, for mention to set a trial date.

The charge against the accused is under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.

The DPP directed that the case could be dealt with at district court level.
The gangs operation emerged at the Special Criminal Court where Barry Young had pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation.

MOBSTER Barry Young ran a drug dealing gang with 20 members that sold massive amounts of cannabis all over the west of Ireland.

Details of the Sligo criminals operation emerged at the Special Criminal Court where he had pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation.

The garda investigation into the mobs activities resulted in 500,000 worth of drugs and 110,000 cash being seized and 16 arrests.

The 37-year-old with an address in Sligo previously admitted the charge at the non-jury court that he led a crime gang between October 4, 2019 and January 15, 2022.

The three-judge panel said they will deliver their sentence on July 31 after hearing the evidence against him today.

Although Young is considered a major player in Irelands underworld the court heard he was wracked with anxiety, feared for his life over debts due to other criminals.

While it emerged that he sent a man described in phone messages as a mental headerball to smash up a house over a 500 debt, he was sometimes unable to leave his own home because of his anxiety.

He was caught after gardai recovered thousands of messages from his phone which revealed his extensive involvement in crime.

They included damage limitation exercises after gardai intercepted one of his couriers in the west of Ireland and and also messages directing another to pick up drugs and cash for collection and delivery.

Detective Inspector Ray Mulderrig said that the investigation of the phone messages revealed how Young was at the top of the gang which was divided into cells, each with their own leadership.

He said Youngs outfit was one of four gangs operating in Sligo who answered to a layer of criminals above them based in Dublin.

They co-operated with each other and could call on outside contacts for services such and enforcing debts.

Messages found on Youngs phone included one case where another dealer asked for help in collecting a debt.

Young told the man not to the tell the mental headerball sent as an enforcer that it was over 500 or he would just laugh and that it was now more than just about money.

Photos of smashed up home were later sent to show the acts of intimidation had been carried out.

DI Mulderrig said that using such violence was Youngs least preferred option and would rather negotiate the repayment of debts.

Evidence was also heard how Young had no trappings of wealth, was driven around in non-descript cars and had been looking for a way out of drug dealing.

His defence counsel handed in letters from Young and said that since 2018 Young had been trying to get away from the situation he was in and had considered ending it all.

He said the day he was arrested in January 2022 was a happy day and he thanked the arresting officers.

Young has 81 previous convictions that includes one for drugs possession that led to a six year sentence and two others for assault causing harm.

The Sunday World previously revealed how Young had also been identified by the PSNI as being part of a plot to killer Dublin gangster Robbie Lawlor, who was murdered in Ardoyne in Belfast in April 2020.

Criminal Robbie Lawlor was murdered in Belfast three years ago

Detectives in the North believe that accused Adrian Holland met with Young at the Sligo Park Hotel to arrange the hit which took place 19 days later.

Barry Young has had long-time connections with Northern Ireland drug dealers and has been based in Spain organising shipments of drugs and weapons to his own network and those across the border.

Young muscled in on the lucrative turf of Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim after the demise of the rival Irwin gang.

They were put out of business when Patrick Irwin landed a seven-year sentence for cocaine dealing.

Young and his network of dealers took control and even managed to bribe a disgraced garda to leak sensitive information over a five-month period.

Patrick Irwin (41). Photo: James Connolly

Former Garda Jimell Henry was jailed for 18 months after she accessed the forces Pulse system from her base in Sligo and passed on details to Youngs crew in Sligo.

Young was a close associate of Mark Guinea Pig Desmond for years and the West Dublin enforcer moved to Sligo to work as a heavy before his murder in a park in Lucan in December 2016.

He has never been arrested or charged in relation to any role around the Lawlor murder.
Graham McEvoy (25) is serving a life sentence for the murder of a man in 2017

Justice Minister Simon Harris has condemned the assault on the prison officer   Gareth Chaney

A prison officer was stabbed in the face by a convicted killer during an attempted escape in Dublin yesterday.

Graham McEvoy (25) is suspected of attacking the officer with a homemade shiv while being brought to a medical appointment in the city.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the matter. The attack has been condemned by Justice Minister Simon Harris.

McEvoy is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Paul Curran (23), who was stabbed to death in Crumlin in 2017.

He had claimed the victim was his best friend. After being jailed for life, he told family members: Dont worry, its only a few more years.

McEvoy, of Captain's Road in Crumlin, has been described as highly disruptive inmate who is regularly disciplined behind bars.

He is suspected of attacking the prison officer yesterday morning while being brought to a medical appointment.

The officer's injuries have been described as significant and he is currently undergoing treatment in the Mater Hospital for stab wounds to his cheek.

Sources praised the efforts of his colleagues to restrain McEvoy and assist the injured officer following the violent attack.

This is an extremely serious incident involving a disruptive prisoner who is currently serving a life sentence for murder, a source said.

The officers colleagues have to be commended for how they handled this situation to subdue the inmate, to prevent any danger to the public, and to provide immediate assistance to the injured individual.

It shows the dangers prison officers can face on a daily basis.

Authorities are treating the incident as an attempted escape and suspect the attack on the prison officer was planned.

Justice Minister Simon Harris has condemned the assault on the prison officer   Gareth Chaney

Mr Harris said his thoughts were with the injured officer as well as his family and colleagues.

We must never forget the very dangerous circumstances in which prison officers carry out essential work on behalf of the public, and assaults such as today must be condemned in the strongest terms, he said.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said they are "aware of an incident that occurred with an escort from Mountjoy Prison.

An Garda Siochana have been informed and therefore the Irish Prison Service cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

A Garda spokesman said: An Garda Siochana is conducting an investigation following report of an incident from the Irish Prison Service Mountjoy.

A prison officer received facial injuries in the course of this incident which occurred earlier today. An Garda Siochana has no further information available at this time.

Last month, the Prison Officers Association (POA) raised concerns about the increase in attacks on prison staff at jails around the country.

Figures indicate that there has been a 63pc increase in injuries to staff as they try to control violence behind bars.
The challenge against the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) is being brought by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.

The High Court has directed that an application for permission to bring a challenge over the ethics watchdog's refusal to investigate a claim Taoiseach Leo Varadkar leaked a draft GP contract should be heard on notice to both the watchdog and on Mr Varadkars solicitors.

The challenge against the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) is being brought by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.

Mr Murphy initiated the challenge last February and it was adjourned until last month when Mr Justice Charles Meenan said he first wanted certain legal points clarified before he permitted Mr Murphy to pursue his challenge.

The judge, in doing so, pointed to the preliminary nature of Sipos decision not to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the alleged April 2019 conduct.

There is a considerable amount of case law saying that usual features of fair procedure rules dont apply to the same extent at a preliminary stage, he said.

Among the Dublin South-West TD's grounds of challenge is a claim his right to fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice was breached by Sipos decision.

Footage from Coronation shows Leo Varadkar picking his nose

Read more Over 10,000 patients left waiting on trolleys in Irish hospitals during April alone

He further seeks an order remitting the matter back to Sipo for reconsideration.

Mr Murphy made a complaint in November 2020 to Sipo that Mr Varadkar, then Tanaiste, now Taoiseach, provided a copy of the confidential proposed GP contract agreement in April 2019 to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP).

The agreement had been negotiated between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).

Dr O Tuathails NAGP was a rival to the IMO and was not party to the negotiations.

Mr Murphy says the document was confidential and had not been released publicly.

Mr Varadkar, following publicity about the alleged leak, denied it was confidential by the time he passed it on to Dr O'Tuathail.

The case returned before the judge on Monday when he directed that the hearing of the application for leave to bring the challenge be heard on notice to Sipo and that Mr Varadkar's solicitors also be served with the papers.

He put the case in for mention again next month.
President Joe Biden would veto a House GOP bill that aims to restrict asylum, build more border wall and cut a program that allows migrants a chance to stay in the U.S., including Ukrainian refugees, the White House said Monday.

Republicans are looking to capitalize as immigration trouble surges into a national spotlight this week with the ending of COVID-19 restrictions that allowed border authorities to quickly return many migrants who crossed the border illegally.

GOP lawmkers aim to vote on their Secure the Border Act on Thursday  the same day the emergency expulsion powers expire. Officials have already seen an increase of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and are bracing for more.

The legislation represents the GOPs first major immigration policy proposal since the Trump era, when immigration opponents controlled the White House. The 213-page bill resurrects a slew of former President Donald Trumps policies, such as building barriers along hundreds of miles of border country, and in some cases pushes beyond his efforts.

It faces strong headwinds from some Republicans representing agricultural areas over requirements that businesses verify employees legal immigration status, and even if it passes the majority-Republican House, it stands little chance of passing the Democratic-held Senate. But if it were to end up on the presidents desk, hed veto it.

The Biden administration regularly argues that Congress needs to act significantly on the border in order to fix major problems that have led to record numbers of people illegally crossing. But this isnt the way to do it, in the view of the White House.

While we welcome Congress engagement on meaningful steps to address immigration and the challenges at the border, this bill would make things worse, not better, says a statement from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Because this bill does very little to actually increase border security while doing a great deal to trample on the nations core values and international obligations, it should be rejected.

In the absence of legislation, the Biden administration has adopted policy shifts beginning this week that pair stricter enforcement at the border with a growing avenue for migrants to apply for asylum, as long as they come legally, have a sponsor and pass background checks. The decisions are an effort to persuade immigrants to skip the dangerous journey north and to apply for asylum through a new app, or at regional hubs opening in Guatemala and Colombia.

Congress in past decades has traditionally tackled overhauls to border security and immigration law by coupling stronger border-enforcement measures with policy changes that expanded legal pathways or provided legal status for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.

The House GOP is applying the same logic  pairing a border security package with changes in immigration reform rules  in hopes of uniting mainstream and far-right lawmakers. But instead of expanding legal pathways for migrants, the package restricts them.

Joe Biden sent a message that Americas border is open, and millions of people answered that call and started coming across our border illegally, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said at a news conference, adding, Were going to show the president how to solve the problem.

The bill would expand border wall building, which was a major focus of Trump, who claimed he was going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. It would also essentially choke off asylum, requiring migrants to cross legally, pay a $50 fee and meet more stringent requirements to show in initial interviews that they are fleeing political, religious or racial persecution.

It would also cut the program that has allowed U.S. officials to accept or quickly turn away some migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua. The program is a cornerstone of Bidens immigration efforts, allowing migrants from those countries to apply to come to the U.S. for two years legally and work. It could also, in theory, bar Ukrainian refugees since they are in the U.S. under the same type of agreement.

The statement from the management and budget office said the Republican bill stands to cut off nearly all access to humanitarian protections in ways that are inconsistent with our nations values and international obligations. It would also cut necessary funding.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Sens. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, and Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, have proposed legislation that would give federal officials the power to quickly expel migrants for another two years. The pair are also working on a Senate proposal that would expand legal immigration while increasing border security.

Some House Republicans hope their bill could offer a start to negotiations with the Senate.

As lawmakers began forming the proposal last month, Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican who has pushed for years for immigration rule changes, said, We have to in the House, get the votes to pass a serious border security bill to make sure that this issue doesnt just go away.

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Browne, data analyst David Egan from Galway, and Emmanual Lavery of Rear Cross, Co Tipperary, have claimed the Covid-19 vaccine inserts nanochips into recipients and forms part of a plan by billionaire Bill Gates to depopulate the world.

Limerick woman, Sharon Browne (l) is one of three people who applied to the High Court to have their legal costs covered by the taxpayer in a case they are taking contesting the legality of the Covid 19 vaccination programme. Also in the picture, data analyst David Egan (r).

A woman taking a legal action against the State and seeking the mass exhumation of people who died after being vaccinated against Covid-19 reported her own mothers death to gardai as murder by vaccine.

Limerick woman Sharon Browne is one of three people who applied to the High Court to have their legal costs covered by the taxpayer in a case they are taking contesting the legality of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

As part of their case, Browne, data analyst David Egan from Galway and a third man, Emmanual Lavery of Rear Cross, Co Tipperary, have claimed the Covid-19 vaccine inserts nanochips into recipients and forms part of a plan by billionaire Bill Gates to depopulate the world.

Browne previously appeared in a video recorded outside Henry Street Garda station in Limerick in the company of Egan in which she confirmed she had reported her own mothers death as murder.

Im here tonight at Henry Street, she stated on the video.

Ive just reported my mothers death as a murder by vaccine. Im actually looking for them to investigate it.

Vaccine. Stock image

Read more Angry scenes in court room in action over use of Covid-19 vaccines in children

She had her vaccine on the 12th of April and she had serious problems afterwards.

She died of a catastrophic brain bleed on the 17th May.

So, Ive had evidence since that her batch was a toxic batch and that 41 people died from that toxic batch and 595 people were injured.

So, I have evidence now and thats why I am here tonight. I want it to be investigated.

Egan then tells the camera that he assisted Sharon in preparing her statement.

There will be a garda detective assigned to the case to investigate it in the next few days and a superintendent will be supervising the investigation, he said.

So, hopefully this will be the start of many more criminal cases around Ireland, of people coming forward and making criminal statements to the gardai and starting criminal investigations into these people who are killing people through vaccines.

As part of the civil case being taken against the State, Browne, Egan and Lavery are seeking the mass exhumation of all people under 80 years who died suddenly after getting the Covid-19 vaccination, so that autopsies can be performed.

The trio also want the court to make orders preventing children aged between 5 and 11 years from receiving future Covid-19 vaccination, while all bodies exhumed should undergo a post-mortem examination by pathologists who specialise in understanding the nature and causes of disease.

The court proceedings had been sought against An Taoiseach, the Health Service Executive and the Minister for Health, each of whom oppose the action, claiming same as being alarmist and scandalous.

Details of their case were made public when they applied for a protective order on costs at the High Court last month. The granting of such an order have meant that they would not have to pay the legal costs of taking their proceedings, if they were unsuccessful in their upcoming legal action.

However, High Court judge, Mr Michael Twomey, ruled that the Irish taxpayer will not be required to bear the burden of legal costs by the three. The judge, presiding at the pre-trial application, said he deemed the action, which includes baseless claims of mass killings and comparisons to Nazi Germany, as an abuse of legal process.

Adjourning the matter, Mr Justice Twomey said he was taking the provisional view that the costs of the one-day, High Court preliminary hearing should be measured and paid for by the three claimants.
Being made of plastic the weapon did not ring any alarms when he was brought through a metal detector.

Justice Minister Simon Harris has condemned the assault on the prison officer   Gareth Chaney

A prisoner who made a violent and daring escape attempt in Dublin yesterday used a sharpened toilet brush handle to stab a prison officer in the face, it can be revealed.

Convicted killer Graham McEvoy (25) is suspected of attacking the officer with the weapon while being brought to a medical appointment in the city.

Sources say McEvoy had concealed the weapon on him before being brought from Mountjoy jail, and being made of plastic it did not ring any alarms when he was brought through a metal detector.

Read more Prison officer stabbed in face by convicted killer Graham McEvoy during escape bid

McEvoy is believed to have been in a row in the prison some days earlier and was shifted from his landing cell to the C Base area of the jail, and had been due to attend a medical appointment yesterday before being transferred back to his landing.

But when the medical appointment in the Smithfield area was finished McEvoy is believed to have told the prison officers escorting him that he wanted to take off his jacket before the return journey to the prison began.

There are strict protocols around how such requests are granted and McEvoy had one arm freed from his handcuffs but was still cuffed to another officer when he pulled the weapon and tried to escape the prison van.

But the quick-thinking officers managed to control him because one of his hands was still cuffed to an officer, and he was eventually restrained after a brief but violent struggle in which one officer received a stab wound to the cheek below one of his eyes.

The prison officers are said to have been shaken by the incident and the suddenness of the violence, but their professionalism meant McEvoy failed to escape.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the matter. The attack has been condemned by Justice Minister Simon Harris.

McEvoy is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Paul Curran (23), who was stabbed to death in Crumlin in 2017.

He had claimed the victim was his best friend. After being jailed for life, he told family members: Dont worry, its only a few more years.

McEvoy, of Captain's Road in Crumlin, has been described as highly disruptive inmate who is regularly disciplined behind bars.

He is suspected of attacking the prison officer yesterday morning while being brought to a medical appointment.

The officer's injuries have been described as significant and he is currently undergoing treatment in the Mater Hospital for stab wounds to his cheek.

Sources praised the efforts of his colleagues to restrain McEvoy and assist the injured officer following the violent attack.

This is an extremely serious incident involving a disruptive prisoner who is currently serving a life sentence for murder, a source said.

The officers colleagues have to be commended for how they handled this situation to subdue the inmate, to prevent any danger to the public, and to provide immediate assistance to the injured individual.

It shows the dangers prison officers can face on a daily basis.

Authorities are treating the incident as an attempted escape and suspect the attack on the prison officer was planned.

Justice Minister Simon Harris has condemned the assault on the prison officer   Gareth Chaney

Mr Harris said his thoughts were with the injured officer as well as his family and colleagues.

We must never forget the very dangerous circumstances in which prison officers carry out essential work on behalf of the public, and assaults such as today must be condemned in the strongest terms, he said.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said they are "aware of an incident that occurred with an escort from Mountjoy Prison.

An Garda Siochana have been informed and therefore the Irish Prison Service cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

A Garda spokesman said: An Garda Siochana is conducting an investigation following report of an incident from the Irish Prison Service Mountjoy.

A prison officer received facial injuries in the course of this incident which occurred earlier today. An Garda Siochana has no further information available at this time.

Last month, the Prison Officers Association (POA) raised concerns about the increase in attacks on prison staff at jails around the country.

Figures indicate that there has been a 63pc increase in injuries to staff as they try to control violence behind bars.
The POA has expressed concern about the level of assaults after an officer at Mountjoy was stabbed in the face yesterday

The President of the Prison Officers Association (POA) has expressed concern about the level of assaults in prisons after an officer at Mountjoy was stabbed in the face yesterday.

The officer's injuries have been described as significant and he is currently undergoing treatment in the Mater Hospital for stab wounds to his cheek.

President of the POA, Tony Power, said it was a traumatic time for the prison guard but medics are hopeful he will make a full recovery.

Mr Power also blamed overcrowding as the primary reason for a surge of assaults behind bars.

Were really concerned about the level of assaults, he said.

Convicted killer Graham McEvoy

The levels of assaults dropped dramatically during Covid because prisoners were being kept locked up longer.

Since Covid has finished, basically, were looking at an increase of about 46% in the assaults on prison officers by prisoners.

Were looking at over 52% of an increase on the figure of assaults [by] prisoners on prisoners and over 39% of the increase in the levels of injury received by staff members trying to break up these assaults.

With many prisons in Ireland operating at full capacity inmates are often forced to sleep on the floor due to a lack of bedspace.

Mr Power said this was fuelling violence.

Its an issue really starting off with overcrowding, he said.

Weve highlighted overcrowding, weve continued to highlight overcrowding.

Unfortunately, the Minister has announced the building of four new units but these four new units are on a five-year-plan.

We have a crisis with overcrowding at the moment.

It has emerged that the prisoner who made the violent and daring escape attempt in Dublin yesterday used a sharpened toilet brush handle to stab the prison officer in the face.

Convicted killer Graham McEvoy (25) is suspected of attacking the officer with the weapon while being brought to a medical appointment in the city.

Sources say McEvoy had concealed the weapon on him before being brought from Mountjoy jail, and being made of plastic it did not ring any alarms when he was brought through a metal detector.

McEvoy is believed to have been in a row in the prison some days earlier and was shifted from his landing cell to the C Base area of the jail, and had been due to attend a medical appointment yesterday before being transferred back to his landing.

Mountjoy Prison

But when the medical appointment in the Smithfield area was finished McEvoy is believed to have told the prison officers escorting him that he wanted to take off his jacket before the return journey to the prison began.

McEvoy is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Paul Curran (23), who was stabbed to death in Crumlin in 2017.

He had claimed the victim was his best friend. After being jailed for life, he told family members: Dont worry, its only a few more years.

McEvoy, of Captain's Road in Crumlin, has been described as highly disruptive inmate who is regularly disciplined behind bars.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the attack that has been condemned by Justice Minister Simon Harris.

Mr Harris said his thoughts were with the injured officer as well as his family and colleagues.

We must never forget the very dangerous circumstances in which prison officers carry out essential work on behalf of the public, and assaults such as today must be condemned in the strongest terms, he said.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said they are "aware of an incident that occurred with an escort from Mountjoy Prison.

An Garda Siochana have been informed and therefore the Irish Prison Service cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.

A Garda spokesman said: An Garda Siochana is conducting an investigation following report of an incident from the Irish Prison Service Mountjoy.

A prison officer received facial injuries in the course of this incident which occurred earlier today. An Garda Siochana has no further information available at this time.
He is being held for drug production and trafficking, and aggravated homicide and illegal possession, as well as the manufacture and acquisition of weapons and explosive substances

A Croatian criminal known as Poison, who was on Europols most wanted list, has been captured in Colombia.

Manuel Vulicone is the alleged leader of an international crime gang that has been involved in drug trafficking, and the purchase, sale and manufacture of weapons and explosives from its base in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 37-year-old native of Zagreb was captured in an operation coordinated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol (Dijin) in Colombia alongside the Prosecutors Office and the United States Marshals Office in Pereira, the capital of the countrys Risaralda department.

Vulic, also known by the alias of Poison was detained following a request from the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime of the Government of the Republic of Croatia (Uskok).

He is being held for drug production and trafficking, and aggravated homicide and illegal possession, as well as the manufacture and acquisition of weapons and explosive substances.

In addition to the manufacture of weapons and explosives, it is claimed that between 2019 and 2022, Vulic also know by the alias Veneno, was in charge of the organisation and had financed multiple drug shipments camouflaged as food.

He is also said to be responsible for hiring people, supervising the transport route and monitoring the movement of the containers that carried the drugs.

Vulic was celebrating his birthday in a luxurious hotel in Pereira with his family when Dijin agents carried out an arrest operation.

He was found in possession of a Slovakian passport and a Slovenian identification card as well as a drivers license and a card that accredited him as an agent of the Slovenian Police in the name of another person.

Local media reported that Manuel Vulic was reportedly working in Colombia as a supposed international police officer who had been tasked with conducting investigations by diplomatic missions.

However, it was discovered that he had falsified documents and passports as part of his cover.

Vulic was transported to Bogota, where the Prosecutors Office directed authorities to hand him over to Colombian Migration officials.
It looks like a mermaid with two silicone breasts and, above all, a huge arse never seen before on a mermaid

A buxom depiction of a mermaid in fishing village in Puglia, Italy, has caused a stir amongst locals for being too provocative.

The voluptuous statue was placed in one of Monopolis squares after being designed and created by students at the nearby Luigi Rosso art school.

It looks like a mermaid with two silicone breasts and, above all, a huge arse never seen before on a mermaid. At least not any I know, said Italian actor Tiziana Schiavarelli.

The towns local council had commissioned the artwork which has caused apparent perplexity in some quarters.

Ms Schiavarelli said many of her friends were surprised by the monument but that it may bring benefits to the small city.

But I am very amused by this thing, who knows if it will become a further attraction for tourists, she said, after social media uproar in Italy over the curvy nymph.

Tail (Image: Monopoli Times)

Despite some of the more conservative reactions, the local art school head teacher made a fantastic point.

Adolfo Marciano said the statue is a tribute to the great majority of women who are curvy.

Adolfo explained that the students were tasked by the mayor of Monopoli to create several statues for the town, including one on the theme of the sea.

The students got together and came up with the idea of a mermaid, Marciano said. The council was shown the scale model and said it was good, and then decided the completed sculpture would be placed in the square.

Marciano said he did judge the students source of inspiration but that he viewed the work as a representation of reality, in this case of the female body.

You see adverts on television with models who are very thin, but the mermaid is like a tribute to the great majority of women who are curvy, especially in our country.

It would have been very bad if we had represented a woman who was extremely skinny. Its a shame as the art students deserve to be praised instead of criticised, he said.

The mermaid controversy in Puglia has echoes of the Anna Livia statue which used to sit in the centre of OConnell Street.

Anna Livia statue

Designed by the sculptor Eamonn ODoherty, the monument was commissioned by businessman Michael Smurfit for the Millennium celebrations in 1988.

The woman was a representation of the River Liffey and named after a character in Finnegans Wake.

The river was represented as a young woman sitting on a slope with water flowing past her and it caused a stir at the time.

Dubliners nicknamed it the "Floozy in the Jacuzzi", but this was encouraged by the sculptor.

The monument was removed from its site on O'Connell Street in 2001 to make room for the Spire.

In late February 2011, partly reworked and refurbished, the statue was relocated to Croppies Memorial Park near Heuston Station.
There is huge public support for it - weve seen other countries going in this direction

A ban on cars from College Green will transform the Dublin space into a world class plaza, a Green Party councillor has claimed.

Dublin City Council has announced that private cars will be banned from the College Green area of the city in three weeks time and that an enhancement project will commence at nearby Foster Place.

The decision was made in order to create more space for cyclists, walkers and public transport in College Green and to reduce carbon emissions.

Green Party councillor for the South East Inner City, Claire Byrne, said this is something her party has been pushing for a really long time.

Its a really important project for the city in terms of reaching our transport climate emissions [targets], she told Newstalk Breakfast.

But its much more than that, we have to stop framing it as banning cars and look at it for what it is - ultimately, creating a world class plaza that we see in cities all over Europe.

However, Irish Parking Association Chairman Keith Gavin said the decision would negatively impact business in the city centre.

The economic impact of it has already been seen, he said.

From the introduction of the bus gate, in the space of five years, the footfall figures in the city centre dropped off a cliff and the impact of all of these continuous measures - which are anti-car and anti-motorist - are reducing access to the city centre as a retail destination.

Cllr Byrne argued that it is not a massive change given 97pc of traffic in the area is either public transport, cyclists or walkers.

There is huge public support for it - weve seen other countries going in this direction, she said.

Look whats happened in Paris, in London, in New York and they havent seen a massive impact in terms of retail in the city.

In Dublin, at the moment, were back to pre-Covid levels almost.

But Mr Gavin said that those cities have a very effective public transport network which Dublin lacks.

That is changing, Cllr Byrne said. There are unprecedented levels of investment going into public and active transport under Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan and were seeing public transport usage go up again over the last while since we reduced fares.

There is a lot of work to do, I do accept that, but that work is ongoing at the same time.

Current College Green bus corridor hours, which ban private cars from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, will be extended to a 24/7 bus corridor on May 29 as part of the College Green Pathfinder Project.

The council has said that an average of more than half a million pedestrians and two million passengers on public transport go through College Green each week, compared to just 27,000 private vehicles.

However, this small number of vehicles causes significant delays to public transport journey times in the area, particularly in the evenings and at weekends when there are no restrictions.

These new traffic management measures will reallocate the road space exclusively to sustainable modes of transport which account for 97% of current journeys through College Green, the council said.

This Pathfinder project will enhance the often overlooked area of Foster Place, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, said.

The traffic management measures will improve public transport times, as well as creating a more relaxing and inviting environment to enjoy our historic city centre. This is in accordance with the objective for College Green in the development plan 2022  2028.

Foster Place, which sits between the Bank of Ireland and the Irish Stock Exchange will have its taxi ranks reduced in favour of planters and public seating.
The former Sinn Fein leader appeared on an episode of The Rest Is Politics podcast, presented by Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, this week.

Stakeknife (far left, moustache) and Gerry Adams at the funeral of Brendan Davison

Gerry Adams carefully dodged a question about notorious British spy Stakeknife, who allegedly infiltrated the Provisional IRA during the Troubles, during a recent podcast interview.

The former Sinn Fein leader appeared on an episode of The Rest Is Politics podcast, presented by Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, this week.

The hosts quizzed Adams on the conflict in Northern Ireland as they mentioned the mole known as Stakeknife, who allegedly became head of the IRAs internal security unit known as the nutting squad where he facilitated the murders of dozens of IRA informers.

Freddie Scappaticci pictured in west Belfast in 2003.

The double agent is believed to be the late Alfredo Freddie Scappaticci, who denied being Stakeknife and left Northern Ireland in 2003 after he was identified as an alleged mole.

The west Belfast former bricklayer, aged in his 70s, died and was buried last month.

Adams was speaking on the podcast about the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement when Stakeknife was mentioned by co-host Rory Stewart.

There have been half a million people born in this state since the Good Friday Agreement. Unless they have personal family connection to conflict, they have no memory (of it), Adams explained.

Stakeknife (far left, moustache) and Gerry Adams at the funeral of Brendan Davison

All these young kids have no memory of it. Theyre living conflict-free. Thats the big, singular achievement for those young people.

And then there are other people who would otherwise be dead if the conflict continued.

Former soldier and Tory MP Stewart then jumped in to ask: You did say not that long ago that the conflict could have gone on forever, and weve had recently the death of so-called Stakeknife, the infiltrator from security services. Whats your sense of how deeply your organisations were infiltrated by the security services?

In his response, the 74-year-old avoided directly referencing Stakeknife or his alleged alias Scappaticci, whom he publicly backed in 2003 after several newspapers accused him of being the army informer.

We always worked on the basis that the special branch was set up in Britain against the Fenians and one of their tactics was to recruit agents and informers, Adams said.

So, you always worked on the basis that there were people there who have been tricked, blackmailed, coerced, or theyve been paid to work for the British or intelligence services. Thats the life that you live.

Adams was then asked if he was ever shocked or surprised by the measures security services resorted to during this time and said that "everyone assumed that the buildings at Stormont Estate in Belfast were wiretapped.

You get to know as you go along. Our car was bugged. We famously brought a bug back to Leeds Castle to get back to Tony Blair. We found it at Connolly House.

Interestingly, everyone assumed Castle Buildings are bugged. Even Government Ministers would take you to one side. Its just part of where you are and that's the way it works.

In the same interview, Adams claimed that very few tears would have been shed if the 1984 IRA Brighton bombing killed Margaret Thatcher.

Thatcher was uninjured in the attack on the Grand Hotel during the Conservative Party conference which killed MP Sir Anthony Berry, along with party chairman Eric Taylor, and the wives of three Tory MPs.

There would be very few tears shed for Margaret Thatcher in Republican Ireland, or in many villages in Wales and working-class Scotland and England, Adams said.

Asked if he would have been happy if she had died, he replied: Happiness or happy is not a term I would use. The fact is, there was a war.

Margaret Thatcher was notorious, not just for her presiding over the deaths of the hunger strikers which could have been easily resolved, by very simple improvements in the prison regime. But also because she was up front, and she was being the Iron Lady, and she was masquerading as being somebody who was indomitable, and so on.

But, its done, its over, its gone. All of that was in the past.
The hospital said this was a 30 per cent higher attendance rate than average, which put services under severe pressure

Mayo University Hospital has issued a warning of long wait times at the Emergency Department today after more than 170 patient arrived for treatment yesterday.

The hospital said this was a 30 per cent higher attendance rate than average, which put services under severe pressure.

In a tweet this afternoon, the Saolta University Health Care Group, which comprises hospitals in Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Ballinasloe, Letterkenny and Sligo said Mayo University Hospital is extremely busy today with long wait times at the Emergency Department.

Yesterday, over 170 patients attended the ED which is a 30% higher attendance rate than average, they tweeted.

Our apologies to patients and their families for the upset the delays are causing

In an earlier statement to Midland Radio, the hospital said that the high number of people attending the ED who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment had put pressure on bed availability.

This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the Emergency Department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward, the statement reads.

There are currently a very high number of patients on trolleys in ED awaiting admission to in-patient beds.

All available beds are in use. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready and safe to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.

The hospital added that it is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department.

People who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer, they added.

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They also requested that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, Tallaght University Hospital has activated its Full Capacity Protocol as it said it is experiencing a very high number of attendances at its emergency department.

The protocol includes a range of measures including placing extra patients in other areas of the hospital, including wards.

Dublin's Beaumont Hospital

The hospital said it is committed to treating everyone who presents to the emergency department but does so strictly in order of medical priority.

It said that given the volume of patients attending the department, it regretted there are lengthy delays and long wait times for those who do not need urgent treatment.

Yesterday, the emergency department at Dublins Beaumont Hospital was described as like a war zone, with no locks on toilet doors and no food, according to one recent patient.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was unable to get an appointment with her GP after trying for two weeks.

On the advice of D-Doc, she presented at Beaumont Hospital on Dublins northside at 9pm last Friday night, April 28.

After a 15-hour wait on a plastic chair in a prefab area, she was diagnosed with a gut infection and given antibiotics. She left the hospital at 12pm on Saturday, April 29.

https://www.sundayworld.com/news/irish-news/dublin-hospital-emergency-department-like-a-war-zone-says-patient-in-15-hour-wait/a532334065.html

The word that springs to mind the most is a war zone. That sounds dramatic, but it felt like that. Its a tent, kind of like a prefab area before you get to wait in A&E, she said.

Im luckily young and relatively healthy, Ive never really had to go into hospital before this. I consider myself lucky after seeing what goes on there.

I wasnt prepared for what I experienced first-hand. The wait was one of the worst parts, it was at least 12 to 16 hours and longer if you needed to be kept in.

The Dublin woman said staff were working hard, but they were limited. Because of this, a lot of people decided to go home.

One man said there was no dignity in this and left, she said.

I got there at about 9pm on Friday night and I didnt leave until 12pm the next day. I got seen at about 11.30am. When you get seen its so quick, then youre out.

Nobody came to check on anyone. I understand that nurses and doctors were held up. What if somebody took a turn if you were there alone?

Nobody came to see if anyone had deteriorated or not, we were told to go and ask for painkillers if we wanted some. But if youre not well enough to do that, what happens? she added.

Yesterday, it was revealed that more than 10,000 patients spent time waiting on trolleys during the month of April.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) TrolleyWatch, figures show that a total of 10,119 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed, including 297 children under the age of 16.

This is an increase of 1,402 when compared with the same period last year.

The top five most overcrowded hospitals in April were University Hospital Limerick with 1,596 patients, Cork University Hospital with 1,256, University Hospital Galway with 827, St Vincents University Hospital with 647 and Tallaght University Hospital with 642.
It looked like a floating acorn or something.

An amateur photographer has captured an image of an unidentified flying object hovering above eight RAF jets during the Coronation of King Charles in London at the weekend.

Simon Balson, 59, was taking pictures of the Red Arrows aerial display when he spotted the unusual object.

I enhanced the image and tried to increase the spec to see what it was, it looks like a floating acorn or something, Mr Balson said.

Close up

Due to bad weather, Simon didnt check the photos until Monday when he spotted the unusual object in one frame. He gave Wales Online a detailed description of what happened on the day.

"I was shooting some photos from the 13th floor of my apartment building in Limehouse while the red arrows did their fly-over.

"The weather was bad so there were no birds in the air, and I couldn't really see the planes so I didn't check the photos until later. When I did though I spotted this weird object and just thought 'what the hell is that'?

Charles and Camilla

Mr Balson had no idea what the object was but said there have been a lot of unexplained sightings recently in the area.

The Red Arrows aircraft were flying towards the Mall in London when the slightly red coloured object appeared.

All I could get is that it had a little bit of a red top, but I just have no idea what it could be.

"There have been lots of strange 'UFO' sightings recently, so I thought other people might be able to guess what it was, Simon added.

Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon have become common news stories worldwide since 2017.

That year, the Pentagon was forced to admit the objects are real, after three videos were leaked and a secret programme - AATIP - or Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Programme came to light.

US President, Joe Biden, recently signed into law legislation which will allow service personnel - who have worked on secret programmes related to UAP- to testify freely to Congress.

UAP programmes within the US Air Force have been historically deemed special access programmes or SAPs, requiring high levels of security clearance and as such, are shrouded in secrecy.

Chris Mellon, Assistant Sec. Defence in Clinton and Bush Administrations

It has been reported that over two dozen personnel have already testified to Congress so far this year, as the public searches for answers in relation to what these objects are.

Chris Mellon, Assistant Secretary of Defence in both the Clinton and Bush administrations, wrote about the issue last month in advance of the most recent UAP Senate hearing.

Since the first famous American sighting of UAP by Kenneth Arnold in the 1940s, tens of thousands of witnesses have reported UAP appearing to move silently at supersonic speeds, Mr Mellon wrote on his personal blog.

Such reporting is commonplace. These vehicles also generally do not appear to issue exhaust or have air intakes.

Further, there is typically no evidence of plasma from the intense temperatures generated by the friction we would normally expect to observe at such extreme speeds - as observed when rockets return from space at extreme velocities.

In other words, many UAP do not appear to be powered by combustion engines and the technology they are using seems to negate sonic booms and friction, Mr Mellon added.
Singer Conor ODonoghue chats about representing his country and the incredible impact The Script had on the four-piece

When singer Conor ODonoghue of Wild Youth takes to the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest in next Tuesdays semi-final, hell be remembering two special people he loved and lost.

Firstly, theres his mother, Jackie, who died from a brain tumour in 2011 at the age of 56. ODonoghue was just 17 years old, and the youngest in the family.

He also lost an idol, mentor and friend with the shock passing of The Scripts Mark Sheehan.

It was The Script who took fledgling pop stars ODonoghue and his Wild Youth cohorts Dave Whelan, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam under their wing, when they first emerged on the scene.

As Wild Youth, who are also from Dublin city, said of Sheehan following his death: We loved writing with you, touring with you and laughing with you. Every performance we ever do will be dedicated to you. You believed in us when nobody else did.

In life, Sheehan achieved success beyond his dreams as a musician and songwriter, but he never forgot where he came from and was determined to give the next generation of kids a leg up the ladder.

Glen Power, Danny ODonoghue, and the late Mark Sheehan

The Script had a huge impact on our early life, ODonoghue tells Magazine+. Being young, being from where Im from, sometimes theres a tendency for people to shoot down certain things, and they gave us the opportunity to go to London to write with them.

As a writer, for me it was like going to college to get to go into the studio every single day with them for three or four years. I got to learn so much because they were just incredible pros, and their way of writing was phenomenal.

I think being surrounded by that every day and being like a sponge and absorbing everything was a huge learning experience for us. We also picked up on their work ethic because sometimes wed start at 11 in the morning in the studio and finish at three the next morning.

Mark will always be in our hearts. We will never forget what he did for us, along with Danny and Glen.

ODonoghues mother was a huge fan of Eurovision, and would have loved her sons moment in the spotlight on that stage when he sings the Irish entry, We Are One.

Through good times and bad times its what stays with me  that hopefully shell be looking at what I do as a performance, he says.

This is an incredibly special event because it was our thing to watch the Eurovision together, and to go full circle now and be performing on that stage, that alone for me is everything and more.

The ODonoghues are a united family. I have an amazing family, the best dad and three amazing brothers, ODonoghue acknowledges.

Wild Youth arrival at Eurovision Song Contest 2023

To do something like this is also for the joy you give your parents, to make them proud  and its payback. For me personally, its why I do almost everything. Dad loves this, and when I go back to where my musical roots came from, it was my mam and my dad who were incredibly encouraging.

While flying the flag for Ireland is an honour hes relishing, ODonoghue reveals that hes not the first member of his family to do it.

My brother, Paul, used to play rugby, Conor reveals. He represented Ireland in rugby Under 20s and actually won a Grand Slam. So, Im the second brother to represent Ireland and Im reminded of that all the time.

Hes put his jersey hanging up over my bed to remind me Dont you f**kin forget! he laughs.

Like our rugby team preparing for the Six Nations, Wild Youth are leaving nothing to chance. They have spent weeks performing on the Eurovision circuit, honing their performance for the main event.

I think Ive spent more time in an airplane than I have in my apartment, and thats not even a joke, Conor says, as he talks about performing everywhere from London to Tel Aviv, and Stockholm to Barcelona.

We feel so incredibly lucky visiting these countries and doing what weve done. And you get a feel for the format and how the Eurovision all works.

Were used to going on stage for an hour and 20 minutes, but Eurovision will be two minutes and 50 seconds. Youre on, youre off, theres no warming into it  its all go from the second youre on. So the tour weve been doing gets you into the routine of doing a two minutes and 50 seconds performance.

Conor ODonoghue of Wild Youth

We are a different group now than when we went into it a couple of weeks ago. We have become closer than ever and it really feels like now, as a band, we are tighter because you dont get a second song, there is no room for errors.

You have to be super focused on the night, so we got the magnifying glass out and youre looking through every single harmony, every note, making sure everything is perfect.

We Are One has been revamped a little bit and the performance will be on a much grander scale than what we did in Eurosong. Its very ambitious. A lot of thought, effort and hours have gone into it.

The Eurovision stage in Liverpool is phenomenal and the opportunities we have on that stage to do things that we want to do is so exciting. Its what I would imagine the stage to look like if we were to get an opportunity to play Croke Park. They have runways and theres moving screens and everything, its insane.

What an opportunity to get to perform with a production like that! We are working as hard as we possibly can to give the best performance that we can be proud of. After that, its out of our hands.

Wild Youth represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest, with the semi-final on May 9
In this courtroom sketch, Roberta Kaplan, attorney for E. Jean Carroll, presents her closing arguments to the jury in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 8, 2023, in New York.

Donald Trump should be held accountable for sexually attacking an advice columnist in 1996 because even a former president is not above the law, a lawyer for the columnist told a jury Monday in closing arguments in the lawsuit that accuses Trump of rape.

A lawyer for Trump responded by calling the accusers account unbelievable and saying nobody is below the law either.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, representing writer E. Jean Carroll in her claims against Trump, showed jurors video clips of Trump from his October deposition and replayed the Access Hollywood video from 2005 in which Trump said into a hot mic that celebrities can grab womens genitals without asking.

Kaplan recalled Trumps comment that stars like him can get away with sexually assaulting women.

Thats who Donald Trump is. That is how he thinks. And thats what he does, Kaplan said. He thinks he can get away with it here.

Kaplan used Trumps words to support Carrolls claims that Trump raped her in early spring 1996 in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store across the street from Trump Tower.

Trumps attorney, Joe Tacopina, attacked the allegations as absurd, saying they were an affront to justice and minimized real rape victims.

He agreed with Kaplan that no one is above the law, but he warned that no ones below it.

Tacopina told jurors they wont have to let her profit to the tune of millions of dollars because they will be left with no doubt about how this story, this scam of a lawsuit, came together.

Repeatedly, Tacopina labeled Carrolls claims as unbelievable, saying she brought them to raise her status and for political reasons.

And he said even Carroll had testified that it was an astonishing coincidence that a Law and Order offshoot aired an episode in 2012 in which a woman is raped in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman.

What is the likelihood of that? Tacopina asked. One in 20 billion? One in 10 billion?

Kaplan told jurors that it wasnt a he said, she said case but rather one in which jurors should weigh what 11 witnesses, including Carroll, said versus what they heard from Trump in his video deposition.

He didnt even bother to show up here in person, Kaplan said, referring to Trumps absence from the proceedings in federal court in Manhattan. She told jurors that much of what he said in his deposition and in public statements actually supports our side of the case.

In a very real sense, Donald Trump is a witness against himself, she said. He knows what he did. He knows that he sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll.

Kaplan recounted the testimony of two women who say they too were attacked sexually by Trump.

Jessica Leeds, 81, said he grabbed her chest and ran his hand up her skirt on a 1979 airline flight. Natasha Stoynoff said he forcibly kissed her at his Florida mansion in 2005 as she worked on a story about his marriage for People magazine.

Trump has insisted in public statements and in the deposition that Carroll made up the claims to boost sales of a 2019 memoir. He has called Carroll mentally sick and a disgrace.

Carroll, 79, who is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, testified for more than two days. Kaplan praised her testimony as credible.

It was consistent, and it was powerful, the lawyer said.

She contrasted that testimony with Trumps deposition, noting that a man who had derided Carroll as not his type was shown a photograph of Carroll from over three decades ago and twice misidentified her as his second wife, Marla Maples.

Carroll, a former cheerleader and Miss Indiana, was exactly Mr. Trumps type, Kaplan said. She is smart. She is funny. She is beautiful. And, most of all, she is courageous.

Carroll said she was leaving the Bergdorf Goodman store through a revolving door in spring 1996 when Trump was entering the store and stopped her to help him shop for a gift for a woman.

Carroll, a former Saturday Night Live writer, said they took escalators to the stores desolate sixth floor, where they teased each other about trying on a piece of see-through lingerie.

She said she entered a dressing room with Trump before the flirting turned violent, with Trump slamming her against a wall, pulling down her tights and raping her. She said she kneed him after an encounter that lasted several minutes and fled the store.

Carroll blames the encounter in part for never having another intimate relationship in her life.

Trumps public comments are the basis of Carrolls defamation claim. Kaplan labeled the comments as lies and said they ruined her clients reputation and forced an end to her 27-year employment as an Elle magazine advance columnist.

Kaplan urged jurors to find in favor of my brave client, E. Jean Carroll, but she put no number on the damages being sought.

Consider the evidence and pick a number you think is right, she said. This lawsuit is not about the money. This lawsuit is about getting her name back.

Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who is unrelated to Roberta Kaplan, told jurors that they would begin deliberations Tuesday after he spends about an hour reading them the law that will pertain to battery and defamation, the two allegations they must decide. If they find in Carrolls favor, they can award damages too.

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Two severely disabled people in residential care were sent home from hospital still seriously ill, with one readmitted within 24 hours, later dying in hospital.

Disability advocates and families fear vulnerable people are falling through the gaps in the health system because no-one wants to pick up the tab for their care.

The woman with multiple disabilities was taken to Tauranga Hospital's emergency department on April 6 because she was having trouble breathing.

New Zealand Health Group chief operating officer Veronica Manion says despite the pleas of her caregivers, she was sent back at 4.30am on April 7 by ambulance.

"She was readmitted within that 24-hour period. She subsequently passed away in hospital."

Two weeks later, a client from another facility was discharged from Wairarapa Hospital on April 19 even though the on-call nurse had strongly advised against it.

"He arrived at 9pm with an IV lure still in and his evening medications hadn't been given and he's an insulin-dependent diabetic," Veronica says.

His blood sugars were low and the provider's nurse had to seek advice from the hospital about the right dose to give him, she said.

The New Zealand Health Group had done internal reviews of both cases and was considering making complaints to Te Whatu Ora, says Veronica.

Unfortunately, they are not isolated cases, with emergency departments "over-flowing" everywhere, she says.

"I feel that because of their disability - and they're not always able to speak up for themselves - they're not always being made a priority.

"They're being discharged far too early and they're coming home very unwell."

She suspects in some cases hospital staff assumed residential care providers were better equipped to look after people.

"But in many cases they're not nurses, they're caregivers."

In a statement, Wairarapa Hospital's acute services manager, Gemma Askew, says no complaint has been received from a patient or a residential care provider regarding a premature discharge from the emergency department.

She admits, however, that the ED and wider hospital occupancy has been under strain.

"The demands on isolation spaces due to Covid-19 positive inpatients and challenges to timely discharge can have an impact on hospital flow that can result in higher ED occupancy."

Te Whatu Ora in Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty Tauranga Hospital coordinator Julie Williams says due to patient confidentiality, it's unable to comment on individual cases.

However, at the date and time given, Tauranga Hospital had low occupancy and beds were available if required.

"As a general comment, patients who are brought to hospital via ambulance will first be assessed in the Emergency Department. A decision and plan will then be made for that patient's further management, based on clinical need, and this may or may not require a hospital admission."

-Ruth Hill/RNZ.
Malaga drought crisis: 250 illegal wells discovered by police in Axarquia water theft investigations Seprona investigations began after environmentalists and farmers in the Benamargosa area alerted the authorities to the problem

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An operation being carried out by the Guardia Civil's nature protection branch (Seprona), under the coordination of a court in Velez-Malaga and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office to eradicate illegal irrigation of subtropical crops, has detected 250 illegal wells in the Axarquia area of Malaga province.

SUR has learned that the Seprona officers, who have been working in the area for months, have detected at least 250 clandestine uses, mostly wells, but also some ponds, which are creating "significant damage to the water reserves" in the area.

The investigation started as a result of reports from environmentalists and farmers in the area around the village of Benamargosa, who alerted authorities to the illegal use of irrigation water for subtropical crops, which in addition to the risk of "water collapse" was also affecting those growers who do comply with the regulations.

The first investigations by Seprona confirmed that the reports were accurate and this resulted in an extensive report. The Environmental Prosecutor's Office drew up a written complaint which, as SUR reported on Monday 8 May 2023, was handed to the court in Velez-Malaga in September 2022.

In the original report, the public prosecutor's office identified 114 people, including farmers, business people and heads of irrigation communities, who may have had some involvement in the illegal wells, which would constitute a crime against natural resources and the environment (article 325 of Spains penal code) and another of water diversion (article 247 of the penal code).

Warning

The list of those under investigation has continued to grow, as during the course of the operation new suspects and possible infractions have been brought to light, which is why the Andalusian High Court of Justice (TSJA) has reported that the list of names appearing in the proceedings now exceeds 180 people.

Of these, Seprona officers have focused their investigations on 36 farmers and irrigators, of whom 26 have already been taken to a police station to make statements, but have since been released, with a warning that they will probably be summoned to court. Sources close to the case explained that for the time being, action has been taken against those mainly responsible for the illegal wells.

The court has sent injunctions to both the irrigation communities and individual farmers named in the Public Prosecutor's report, one of which orders them to "refrain from extracting water from illegal wells and boreholes, and from illegally diverting water from the irrigation communities to unauthorised plots of land". And it warns them that, if they do not heed the injunction, they will be found guilty of disobedience under article 556 of the penal code.
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 13:51 | All, Japan

Japan's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that would amend an immigration law to enable authorities to deport individuals who repeatedly apply for refugee status.

The passage by the powerful lower chamber came despite strong opposition from supporters of asylum seekers who claim that the envisioned revisions could result in the return of people at risk of persecution in their home countries. The bill is now set to be debated in the House of Councillors.

Japan currently cannot deport foreign nationals to their home countries while their refugee status applications are pending and the government suspects many have abused the system by applying multiple times on the same grounds to remain in the country.

By amending the immigration law, the government led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to end the extended detention in immigration facilities of foreign nationals who do not comply with deportation orders issued for overstaying and other reasons.

The bill would allow the government to repatriate those who fail to show why they should be granted refugee status when applying for the third time or later.

The planned amendment also includes granting individuals from conflict-affected regions quasi-refugee status to allow them to remain in Japan even if they do not meet the criteria for refugees.

As part of efforts to prevent long-term detention, the government would allow individuals applying for refugee status to live outside immigration facilities under the supervision of their supporters.

During the deliberations of the lower house committee on judicial affairs, the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan called for the establishment of a third-party body to screen the refugee recognition process, which is currently conducted by the immigration authorities, to ensure the fairness of the procedure.

But the ruling bloc, led by Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party, rejected the request and only introduced minor changes to the bill, including training immigration officials on how to screen asylum seekers, as proposed by the opposition Japan Innovation Party.

In 2021, the government shelved an amendment bill for the immigration law amid a growing backlash after a 33-year-old Sri Lankan woman died while being held at an immigration facility in Nagoya, central Japan, that year.

She had been complaining of stomach pain and other symptoms for a few months and eventually died due to a lack of necessary medical care. Her family maintains she was illegally detained and has filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government.

Earlier this year, the government submitted to parliament the latest bill, which largely retains the contents of the one that was previously withdrawn.

In 2022, Japan gave refugee status to 202 people, a record high since it began granting it in 1982. But the number lags behind the figures for European countries, where refugee and asylum claims are often accepted in their tens of thousands annually, as well as the United States.

Related coverage:

Japan split over parliament debate on Constitution revision: poll

Japan ruling bloc, 2 opposition parties to revise immigration law

Japan mulls expanding scope of skilled worker visa with no stay limit
Sum 41 breaking up

Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 is splitting up after 27 years, frontman Deryck Whibley and his bandmates announced Monday. We are forever grateful to our fans both old and new, who have supported us in every way, a statement said. Sum 41 will be disbanding. We will still be finishing all of our current upcoming tour dates this year, and were looking forward to releasing our final album Heaven :x: Hell, along with a final worldwide headlining tour to celebrate. The group, known for songs like Fat Lip and In Too Deep, is scheduled to perform at Darien Lake Amphitheater near Buffalo on Aug. 20 with The Offspring and Simple Plan.

Rapper Young Lo dead

Billboard reports rapper Young Lo is dead at 37 after a shooting at a Miami Beach nightclub. Lo, who worked in A&R at Makasound Records with longtime friend and Grammy-nominated producer Christian Hitmaka Ward (aka Yung Berg), had collaborated with big name artists like Drake, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne. We go as far back to when Ray J and I were doing Sexy Can I and all these different records, Hitmaka said. Lo was just a great people person who knew how to put the right people together... he was also very selfless, putting a lot of people before himself. According to multiple reports, Lo (born Lowell Grissom) was among three people shot early Sunday morning at the nightclub Gala in Miami; two women are expected to recover from gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.

Meg 2 trailer

Live every week like its Shark Week: The first trailer for Meg 2: The Trench shows Jason Statham taking on a prehistoric megalodon again -- plus more ginormous sharks. In the sequel to 2018s The Meg, an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean is threatened by a malevolent mining operation and merciless underwater predators in a pulse-pounding race against time. Meg 2, also starring Wu King, Cliff Curtis, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Shuya Sophia Cai, Skyler Samuels, and Page Kennedy, opens Aug. 4.

MORE BUZZ:

The Weeknd plans to kill off his stage name ( BB

The Bear season 2 coming to Hulu in June ( ET

S.W.A.T. renewed for 7th and final season ( Variety

Britney Spears life after conservatorship to be investigated in Fox special ( BB

Pete Davidson makes secret cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ( ET

HBO suspends The Wire creator David Simons deal after 25 years ( SF

The Kelly Clarkson Show moving from L.A. to NYC ( ET

Game of Thrones spinoff on pause amid writers strike ( SF

Machine Gun Kelly allegedly disses Jack Harlow in new song ( ET

Thirty Seconds to Mars to release first album in 5 years ( BB

Cole Swindell gets engaged ( ET

Please Dont Destroy movie headed to Peacock instead of theaters ( SF

Nick Cannon says he makes $100M a year, slams deadbeat dad claims ( ET

Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news about movies, TV, music and celebrities.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Three people were injured Monday when a stolen vehicle driven by a Liverpool man crashed into a bus shelter in Syracuse, police said.

The man was spotted driving the stolen white Jeep Wrangler in the 300 block of Burt Street at 2:58 p.m., police said.

Two police officers were on the same street, in a marked patrol vehicle, investigating an unrelated call when one of the officers realized the Jeep driving toward them had been reported stolen, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Blake said in a news release.

One of the officers got out of the patrol car and ordered the man to stop. Instead, police say the man put the Jeep in reverse and drove backwards at a high rate of speed.

The Jeep jumped over a curb, continued through a grassy tree and crashed into the Centro bus shelter where there were several people, Blake said.

The man put the Jeep in reverse, crashed into a tree and tried running away, but police caught him after a brief foot chase, Blake said.

Three people in the bus shelter were injured, according to police. American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance took those injured to area hospitals for treatment. All three were in stable condition Monday night, Blake said.

The driver, Ejarias Burgin, 20, was chaged with first-degree reckless endangerment, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was arraigned on the charges and sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center.

Its the second time in seven months that Burgin has been charged with stealing a car.

Related article: Syracuse and Camillus men arrested after a multi-county, two-car, police chase, troopers say

Police ask anyone with information about the case to call investigators at (315) 442-5222.
Potsdam, N.Y.  A college student was swimming in an Upstate New York river when he disappeared.

The Clarkson University student jumped into the Raquette River in Potsdam shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning, the university told North Country Public Radio in a statement. When he struggled to swim to shore, his friends called 911, NCPR said.

One day later, the student was found dead in the river.

First responders searched the Raquette River above and below West Dam, reported the Watertown Daily Times. New York State Police divers found the students body on Saturday afternoon, the newspaper reported.

Clarkson University identified the student as an aerospace engineering student from Greensboro Bend, Vermont, the Watertown Daily Times reported. He was expected to graduate in December.

Counseling has been offered by the university to students and other community members.

READ MORE

Central New York 5-year-old dead after getting stuck in farm equipment, deputies say

Baby hit by box truck as dad runs from CPS in Upstate NY, reports say

Passenger dies after being ejected from truck that hit trees in North Country, troopers say
Fulton, N.Y.  A Fulton teen has died, more than a week after he was critically injured in a crash that killed his school sweetheart.

Brady Niver, 16, of Fulton, died Monday from injuries suffered in the crash, Fulton School Superintendent Brian Pulvino confirmed.

His 17-year-old girlfriend, Rylee Bartlett, was killed when the car she was driving crossed into oncoming traffic at 5:35 p.m. April 30 on state Route 48 near Chesbro Drive in the town of Granby. Brady was a passenger in the car and badly injured.

For the past week, the Fulton community has rallied together and prayed for Brady as he underwent surgeries and remained at Upstate University Hospital in critical condition.

The couple, who had been dating since seventh grade, was looking forward to going to the junior prom, A Night Under the Stars this Friday.

Related article: School sweethearts 12 days from first prom when Central NY crash kills 1, badly hurts other

On Monday night, Pulvino sent families in the school district a message letting them know Brady had died from his injuries earlier in the day. The school districts crisis response team will be available for students and staff again starting Tuesday at G. Ray Bodley High School.

Rylee and Brady were juniors at the school.

Here is the letter Pulvino sent to the school community:

Dear FCSD Community:

I regret that I have more sad news to share with our school community.

Despite a valiant effort, our student who was severely injured in the motor vehicle accident last Sunday succumbed to his injuries and died earlier today.

Our crisis response team will be available for students and staff at G. Ray Bodley High School throughout the day tomorrow, and in the days ahead.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if any student, staff or community member needs individual support as we grieve this tremendous loss.

We appreciate your ongoing kindness and support. We extend our deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of all involved.

Sincerely,

Brian T. Pulvino

Superintendent

***

Brady Niver fundraiser

***

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
New Hartford, N.Y.  An intoxicated driver from Utica crashed her car into a cemetery, damaging several headstones in a New Hartford cemetery Tuesday morning, police said.

Nicole Washington, 30, was driving a 2015 Honda sedan at 3 a.m. west on Seneca Turnpike when she went across the eastbound lane and over the curb, according to a news release from the New Hartford Police Department.

Washingtons car went through a chain-link fence and hit several headstones in Green Lake Cemetery at 8472 Seneca Turnpike before stopping, police said.

Washington was arrested for driving while intoxicated, aggravated driving while intoxicated, failure to keep right and moving from lane unsafely, police said. Police did not say what she was intoxicated with, or how far over the legal limit she was.

The monetary value of damage to the cemetery has yet to be determined, police said.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
A new concert site in Central New York is set to make its grand opening this summer with a 50th anniversary celebration of Summer Jam, one of the largest concerts in U.S. history.

Summer Jam 50 will take place July 28-29 at Wonderland Forest, a brand-new 500-acre venue in LaFayette, N.Y. The nature-focused location, located 15 miles south of Syracuse, features rolling hills and a variety of camping options.

The two-day concert will pay tribute to Summer Jam, which featured the Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead and The Band at Watkins Glen on July 28, 1973. An estimated 600,000 people attended; approximately 150,000 tickets were sold, but an additional 450,000 fans were admitted for free after overwhelming the small Finger Lakes site and creating a miles-long traffic jam. (By comparison, the original 1969 Woodstock festival drew more than 400,000 people to Bethel.)

Summer Jam 50 wont include the original artists, but it will highlight their music. The lineup includes Dark Star Orchestra (Celebrating the Grateful Dead Concert Experience), Daniel Donatos Cosmic Country (A Celebration of The Allman Brothers), and The Weight Band (Celebrating the Music of The Band) performing on both nights.

Deadheads especially wont want to miss Saturday, July 29, when the Dark Star Orchestra plays a full two-set recreation of the Grateful Deads original show at Watkins Glen.

Tickets for Summer Jam 50 at Wonderland Forest go on sale Thursday, May 11 at 10 a.m. ET through wonderlandforest.com. Prices have not been announced; camping options will also be available.

We are honored to be hosting our first event at Wonderland Forest by recreating this iconic music festival. Wonderland Forest promises to be an amazing new venue experience for music lovers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, Wonderland Forest promoter Dan Mastronardi said in statement.

This is a bird's eye view of some of the estimated 600,000 music fans who turned up for the Watkins Glen Summer Jam at the Watkins Glen, N.Y., Grand Prix Raceway, July 28, 1973. (AP Photo)

Note: Summer Jam 50 is a separate event from Summer Jam 23: Celebrating 50 Years since Watkins Glen, scheduled to take place Saturday, July 29, at Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua, N.Y. That event, promoted by DSP Shows, will similarly feature tribute performances by Friends of the Brothers (Tribute to Allman Brothers Band), Terrapin Flyer (Tribute to the Grateful Dead), and The The Band Band (Tribute to The Band).

Fans of the Grateful Dead can also see Dead & Company (featuring Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and John Mayer) on their farewell tour, which incudes two final Upstate New York concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, June 17, and Sunday, June 18.

For more on Wonderland Forest and Summer Jam 50, see this video:



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NY Cannabis Insider is hosting a full-day problems and solutions summit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany on May 18. Learn more and buy tickets here.

The Service-Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association (SDVICA) is a not-for-profit organization created by and consisting of service-disabled veterans whose mission is to advocate for service-disabled veterans in cannabis, including priority for licensing, seats on regulatory bodies, and workforce development.

We are submitting this letter in response to the NY Post article, dated April 9, that criticized Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration for prioritizing those impacted by the War on Drugs over service-disabled military veterans in the awarding of cannabis dispensary licenses.



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Some service-disabled veterans felt disproportionately affected by the CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) license roll-out. It is essential to present a broader perspective and to emphasize the importance of unity within the cannabis community in New York. As the industry evolves with new laws and regulations, we must stand together to achieve a fair and equitable cannabis market.

Members of the Service-Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association (SDVICA) and other cannabis advocacy organizations feel that the article may have portrayed divisions in New Yorks nascent adult-use cannabis community, and we want to make it clear that is NOT the case.

The Service-Disabled Veterans of New York support the states efforts to ensure a successful execution of their social and economic equity plan, including those persons and communities that have been impacted by cannabis criminalization. The interconnectivity between the Service-Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association and the New York CAURD Coalition is a powerful force that stands united to bring stability to the cannabis market.

Social equity, social justice and the MRTA

Social equity and social justice emerged as key themes in marijuana legalization throughout several states in recent years. States where marijuana is legal have increasingly tried in recent years to ensure theres a place in the market for people who were prosecuted because of a now-legal product. But the efforts have been slow-moving in many states.

The MRTA created a unique opportunity for New Yorkers. The law prioritizes 50% of all licenses for social and economic equity applicants, which Service-Disabled Veterans are a part of, just like minority- and women-owned businesses, individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis prohibition; to include persons convicted of cannabis offenses, and distressed farmers.

New York is showing that theyre willing to try and theyre willing to do things differently by opening access to entry for both social equity and social justice applicants, exemplifying true strides towards achieving equity.

The CAURD application

When the OCM released the CAURD application, justice-involved individuals (persons previously convicted of cannabis offenses) had to also demonstrate that they had at least two years of profitable business ownership experience, proven through tax documents.

Service-disabled veterans are social justice and social equity; to include CAURD

There is no disputing that the War on Drugs has had a disproportionate impact among New Yorks Black and brown communities. These communities bore the brunt, while also being treated as collateral damage from stop-and-frisk abuses to mass incarceration and generational trauma. This bureaucratic violence took away these citizens ability to access housing, employment opportunities, and other vital services.

What many people dont realize is that countless veterans and service-disabled veterans were disproportionately impacted when they returned home to their communities, because they too were incarcerated for cannabis offenses.

Service-disabled veterans must also be included in any conversation about the CAURD program. According to multiple sources, like the Vietnam Veterans of America, nearly 200,000 US veterans are incarcerated and held behind bars each day. In late 2022, the ACLU released a report stating that in fact, almost one third of Americas war veterans have been arrested or booked into jail  nearly double the rate among civilians.

The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) is currently in the midst of a multi-year study, and they have identified that veterans justice involvement ranges from combat-related risk factors to bad-paper discharges that bar VA benefits; such as access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, ineffective procedures to identify veterans on arrest, and inconsistent diversion mechanisms.

The chair of the CCJ, former US Defense Secretary and US Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), has stated that, Service-related trauma and other legacies of deployment push too many veterans on a path toward incarceration.

So, when we think of CAURD, we realize that service-disabled veterans are also in these ranks. By working together, the New York CAURD Coalition and the Service-Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association are committed to advocating for policies that support recreational cannabis research, education, and access.

Ensuring fairness, equality and opportunities for all

The cannabis industry has the potential to create economic opportunities for communities disproportionately impacted by drug laws. By building bridges, maintaining positive relationships, and creating a unified approach, we can establish true opportunities for service-disabled veterans, women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, returning citizens, farmers, and persons from communities disproportionately impacted to own a cannabis business or have true living wage jobs within the industry.

While promoting social justice and social equality, it is important to maintain and promote fairness and equality. The cannabis industry has the potential to create economic opportunities for the social justice and social equity applicants defined in the MRTA, but only if there is a concerted effort to ensure that they all have a fair chance to participate. By promoting fairness and equality, New York State ensures that the industry remains sustainable and successful in the long term.

When some segments of the community feel excluded or discriminated against, it can create resentment and mistrust, and this can ultimately harm the industry as a whole. By promoting social justice and social equity, the industry can help to build trust with the broader community, and this can lead to greater support and legitimacy.

The cannabis industry has the potential to create new economic opportunities for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by drug laws, and promoting fairness and equality can help to ensure that social justice and social equity applicants have a fair chance to participate and benefit.

This is why social justice is just as important as social equity. Promoting fairness and equality is the right thing to do, and it helps to ensure that all members of the community  regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, or justice involvement  are treated with dignity and respect. We believe that promoting social justice and social equality within the industry will help build public trust and legitimacy and is also critical for the long-term success and sustainability of the cannabis industry.

A call for unity and fairness in New Yorks cannabis market

One of the worst things that the cannabis community can do right now is show division. From social equity to social justice, our communities need to work together to create a fair and equitable cannabis industry here in New York. This partnership fosters a sense of community, support, and empowerment for disabled veterans in the cannabis industry.

Let us all work together to ensure that all members of the cannabis community, including service-disabled veterans, have a fair chance to participate in, and benefit from, this growing industry.

By embracing unity, fairness, and opportunities for all, we can create a sustainable and successful cannabis market in New York, reflecting the diversity and resilience of our community.

SDVICA stands with the New York CAURD licensees

As members of the SDVICA, we support the CAURD applicants and licenses as they embark on their journey in the cannabis industry. We celebrate every justice-involved individual receiving a CAURD license, as we know that the ranks of CAURD licensees also include service-disabled veterans and other social equity and social justice applicants.

We fought together for our country, and we fought together to legalize cannabis; now we continue the fight for an equitable cannabis industry together. By promoting fairness and equality, New York can ensure that the legal cannabis industry remains sustainable and successful in the long term.

Thank you to New York State and the Office of Cannabis Management for including service-disabled veterans in the original MRTA bill and for your time and efforts in creating a sustainable, equitable cannabis industry for New York.

The SDVICA looks forward to continuing a productive and informed dialogue with the OCM to ensure a fair and equitable rollout of the cannabis industry and its social and economic equity efforts.

Signed,

Service-Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association

New York CAURD Coalition

Cannabis Association of New York, Veterans Committee
Syracuse, N.Y.  What goes on inside the Friends of Ours Lounge in Eastwood?

Just a bunch of potheads, stoners, sitting around smoking weed and watching sports, is how Michael Lannie describes it. Were not hurting anyone. Were not bothering anyone. Were just hanging out, minding our own business.
NY Cannabis Insiders first-ever cannabis summit will be at The Desmond Hotel in Albany on May 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details and tickets are available here.

As part of NY Cannabis Insiders commitment to equity, weve secured a sponsor  the NY Medical Cannabis Industry Association  to pay the way for 40 cannabis industry entrepreneurs to attend the 2023 Albany cannabis summit at no cost.

The medical industry associations president, Bryan Murray, said the group is excited to be the Social Equity Sponsor and provide free registrations for critically important social equity cannabis professionals.

The NY Cannabis Insider 2023 Summit will bring together New Yorks top cannabis minds to outline the problems with the current cannabis programs, and collaborate on meaningful solutions, Murray said.

The Albany conference will host industry professionals  from growers, processors and retailers to attorneys, consultants and politicians  for a day of venting and problem-solving.

It will be mediated by both NYCI and Mediation Matters, an organization that empowers individuals and communities to manage and resolve conflict.

In the two years since adult-use cannabis was passed in New York, very little has been done to build out a robust market, said Murray.

As a result, neither the medical nor the adult-use programs are living up to their full potential under the MRTA. Events like this summit provide an important opportunity to address these shortcomings and help realize the promise of a well-regulated, safe, equitable, and economically viable cannabis industry, he said.

If youd like to be considered for a free ticket, please email lwickham@advancemediany.com with a few lines about yourself and what youd hope to gain from the summit.

A neighboring conference room during the day-long event in Albany will host panel discussions focused on retail operations, regulations, timelines, medical accessibility, compliance and other topics.

Some of the speakers include: Katie Neer of Dickinson Avella; Joe Rossi and Tom Buchan of Park Strategies; Hal McCabe of CANY; Sheri Tarr of 68 Partners; Michelle Fields, Esq.; Jenny Argie of Jennys Baked Goods; Warren Harasz and Tracey Kauffman of Cannaspire; and several MSO leaders who will discuss the state of the medical program.

NY Cannabis Insider will kick off the program by interviewing Freeman Klopott, whose former positions include:

Office of Cannabis Management , Director of Communications.

New York State Division of the Budget , Communications Director.

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), Communications and Marketing Director.

Journalist for The Keene Sentinel, The Washington Examiner and Bloomberg News.

Lightning-round business consultations will be available for attendees, in addition to multiple networking opportunities, lunch, a happy hour, a vendor fair, on-site networking and access to thought leaders and experts in the cannabis industry.

We organized this conference in response to our readers and industry stakeholders whove repeatedly urged New Yorks brightest minds to come together and get to work, said NY Cannabis Insider Editor and Publisher Brad Racino.

And heres the thing  well be dedicating months of news coverage to the problems and solutions identified on May 18, Racino said.

Event details

Date: Thursday, May 18, 2023

Time: 9 a.m.  6 p.m.

Location: The Desmond Hotel (Crowne Plaza) | 660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany, NY 12211

Price: $195 general admission, includes access to all sessions & vendors, coffee, lunch, and networking reception; tickets available here

Space is limited at each event and sponsorships are available. Contact Lindsay Wickham at lwickham@advancemediany.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities to reach this audience.

NY Cannabis Insider events are attended by industry professionals, entrepreneurs and key stakeholders in the states nascent industry, as well as those from cannabis-adjacent businesses such as legal, security, retail, banking, finance, construction, engineering, business consultation and medical expertise.

Our next industry meetup will be held on June 8 at Beak & Skiff (tickets and details). There will also be two additional full-day conferences happening in Buffalo (September 21) and White Plains/Greater NYC (November 15).
NY Cannabis Insider is hosting a full-day problems and solutions summit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany on May 18. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Sackville & Co. co-founders Lana Van Brunt and Hayley Dineen spoke to NY Cannabis Insider about building their company, the obstacles women in cannabis  and in general  face when embarking down the path of growing a brand, and words of wisdom theyd impart to their younger selves.

Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the states social and economic equity plan.



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NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing, quoting and visual layouts, balanced representation in our People to know and Behind the story series, and prioritized guest column submissions.

This series will last for as long as submissions come in.

Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it?

Lana: When we started I didnt know anyone who was working in cannabis. I also didnt know anyone personally who even had their own business. It was a complete leap of faith jumping into the cannabis industry and deciding to bet on ourselves.

When we began talking about the idea of starting Sackville it was 2017 and the cannabis industry was exploding but no one was reimagining the smoking experience. And no one was focused on the female market, so it was a no brainer for us to dive in because we knew the power the female market holds as cannabis consumers, which today still continues to be the highest-spending demographic as well as the fastest-growing demographic in cannabis.

Hayley: Like Lana said, when we started, the idea of working in cannabis felt pretty niche. I wasnt really thinking about changing my career to focus on cannabis; instead, I saw the opportunity to use my skill set that I had from working in fashion to fill a clear market gap in the cannabis industry. Both of us came from creative industries and we both bonded over the fact that we felt the burgeoning legal cannabis market was missing more diverse voices and aesthetics.

What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry?

Lana: There are endless barriers to women in business and even more for women trying to excel in their field and lead. Its a patriarchal society after all, so women feel the scope of discrimination at all turns. Whether its being sexualized and objectified in the workplace, not being taken seriously no matter the extent of your experience and education (which as we know women are far and wide more educated than their average male counterparts), being tasked with significantly more and paid less, and the endless demand on women to prove themselves in a way that men have never been required to do.

These are just a few of the constant issues women face in business and leadership and it doesnt even begin to speak to the lack of access to funding  including the scrutiny from institutional lenders at a level that our male counterparts do not experience. It also doesnt speak to the relationship with success and being disliked that women are thrust into as the more successful women get, both their female and male subordinates dislike them more, as opposed to men who see an opposite correlation with success and likeability growing together.

If youre a woman in business you have to face adversity at every step. But cannabis has a unique opportunity for women to change the future narrative as the industry itself is still at its infancy.

Hayley: I think there are many barriers to female leadership opportunities across industries. Cannabis is particularly glaring as it is such a male-run industry at this point and there are only a handful of women in top leadership positions. Women are often overlooked for leadership positions so it will really take the current leadership to make a concerted effort to bring women up the ranks.

In cannabis particularly, the female audience has long been overlooked and underrepresented, which makes it even more vital now to have more women in leadership who can relate to and speak to the female demographic (We have all seen the pink-ification of cannabis branding that spawns from all-male boardrooms.) I think its vital to have diverse voices in leadership to ensure there are more points of view representing the consumer.

Whats the most common behavior or trait that you have seen derail women leaders careers, or at least negatively impact them?

Lana: I think the biggest behavior or trait that derails women is their self doubt. Because we have grown up in a society that values us less, we have built a sense of self worth that mirrors that at times, and its at those times that we second guess ourselves when our male counterparts do not. So, unfortunately we take ourselves out of the race by assuming someone else in the room is smarter, better, more experienced, etc.

Its a constant effort to reprogram our internal value system to match that of our male competitors to say why not me, of course I can do this, I can figure it out just like everyone else, I know what Im doing.

Hayley: Women have been taught for decades that to be professional and respected, you need to stay quiet. It is so important, now more than ever, for women to voice their opinions and be heard. We need women to stand up and speak freely and be open about their perspectives. I think for many women, it feels like speaking up means you will be seen as pushy, unlikeable and bitchy, and that unfortunately promotes the cycle of women staying quiet in work places.

What are the benefits to having women in leadership? What benefits have you received from your leadership experiences?

Lana: There are endless benefits to women being in leadership from increased employee engagement to increased financial performance, and so much more. Its a no-brainer to have women in charge! The benefits Ive experienced personally are endless. Being able to see women excel in their own fields allows women like me to know its possible and thats really everything.

Hayley: Having women in leadership positions broadens your perspective and understanding - leadership roles across all industries have been dominated by men and that leads to a very narrow perspective for the growth as a whole. The more diverse a team is the better chance they have to connect with the community they are looking to serve. In cannabis particularly, there is such a massive gap in understanding of the diverse female market, which is quickly overtaking men as the highest demographic for cannabis consumption, but is routinely underserved. Female consumers deserve to be spoken to with respect and inclusion and I think that starts from having women in leadership positions.

Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry.

Lana: Its hard to nail down a fave, any woman who is out there hustling, getting up everyday and not f*cking quitting when the going gets tough has my complete admiration and respect. Its tough out there and I am beyond happy and inspired to see other women killing it.

Hayley: Like Lana said  this industry is hard, and any women-owned business out there that is working to bring their vision to life gets our respect. Whether youre a big VC-backed brand or a one-person shop, we love to see more women creating diverse brands in the space.

Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry?

Lana: We have established an incredible network of creatives that support our brand, which truly is the life blood of a brand like ours. Being able to have a team that so accurately takes your vision and helps you turn that into a graphic representation is so valuable. Shout out to the graphic designers of the world!!

Hayley: I think that the fact that there are so few women in the industry has actually led to many of us becoming a tight network that are always connecting to help each other out.

What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

Lana: I think Id take some of the pressure off of my 25-year-old self and let her know that you dont actually have to have the plan completely worked out, leave space for opportunity to reveal itself!

Hayley: At 25, I definitely thought I needed to know exactly what my career path was, and the truth is the best thing you can do is try as many things as you are interested in, fail, and try again. Failure is so important to figuring out how to succeed  so 25 year-old self: dont be hard on yourself when something doesnt work out, be thankful for the lesson and get up and try again.

Lana: Youre not in competition with anyone but yourself. Keep a set of blinders on, dont worry about what anyone else is doing (if youre seeing it on social media its not an accurate representation of whats going on anyways) and just focus on outdoing the last thing you just did  for yourself  and the fulfillment you will get out of that is definitely worth it.

Hayley: Agreed, there is an inherent part of society that likes to pit women-owned businesses against each other, as though there can only be one. Remember that your vision is unique because its coming from you; dont get too caught up in what other people are doing or comparing yourself to their paths because your path will always be different, and thats a good thing.

Is there anything we left out that youd like to add?

Hayley: If you have an idea you think needs to be out in the world  try and build it. You will learn 100% more by trying and iterating.

If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact (email, phone, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).

Lana + Hayley: hello@sackvilleandco.com , Follow us on instagram @sackville.and.co, TikTok @ sackville.and.co
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 23:16 | All, Japan, World

(EDS: FIXING FORMAT IN 5TH GRAF, NO CHANGE IN CONTENT)

Japan and France pledged on Tuesday to remain committed to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, where China has been expanding its economic and military clout.

The two nations' foreign and defense ministers also confirmed during their "two-plus-two" talks that their basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, apparently in light of French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial remarks last month in relation to the self-ruled democratic island.

Macron drew criticism from Western partners when he said in a media interview that Europe must not be a "follower" of either the United States or China amid an intense rivalry between them over the Taiwan issue.

Their teleconference also comes as Japan has been deepening security ties with France and other European states in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years, amid vigilance against Beijing's maritime assertiveness in the East and South China seas.

In a joint statement issued after the virtual security talks, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and their French counterparts, Catherine Colonna and Sebastien Lecornu, aired "grave concerns over the situations in the East and South China seas."

They also reaffirmed their opposition to "any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force or coercion," according to the statement.

China has been building up military pressure on Taiwan, regarding the island as its own to be reunited with the mainland, possibly by force.

The ministers also agreed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "indispensable" for global security and prosperity and called for a peaceful resolution of the cross-strait issue, according to the statement.

Japan and France held such ministerial security talks six times before, the last one taking place virtually in January last year.

Japan cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established them with mainland China in 1972, recognizing the Communist leadership in Beijing as the sole legal government of China. Japan-Taiwan relations have been maintained on a nongovernmental basis.

The four ministers also said they directed their officials to accelerate discussions on setting up frameworks such as a Reciprocal Access Agreement to ensure a smoother deployment of their forces to each other for joint exercises or disaster relief efforts.

Japan has signed the RAAs with Australia and Britain.

The four have also agreed to promote the two countries' joint research on next-generation technology to detect underwater mines.
NY Cannabis Insider is hosting a full-day conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany on May 18. Buy tickets here.

Mike Dulen is a co-founder and CEO of A Walk in the Pines, a licensed Adult-Use Conditional Cultivator focused on genetics and its PINES brand of flower, pre-rolls, vapes, gummies and concentrates. Dulen answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insiders People to know series.



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Should you or someone you know be featured in our series? Fill out this form and we may publish your story.

What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?

Im the co-founder and CEO of A Walk in the Pines and were a licensed AUCC focusing on super-premium genetics & our PINES brand. Passion for the plant is what separates us apart. The PINES ownership team (Jake Rayburn, Jason Barnum, & myself) have made it our lifes work to source and pheno-hunt for coveted flavors. Our control and attention to detail over the entire grow process makes our strains a true experience. We then try to pass that experience to the consumer through our PINES brand.

How long have you worked in the cannabis space?

Ive been in the legal cannabis space since 2016 when I was on the corporate strategy team at Constellation Brands. I was their first employee dedicated to cannabis strategy full-time and helped pioneer the first investment by a Fortune 500 company into the cannabis industry.

After Constellation Brands invested $4 billion into Canopy Growth and took a controlling stake, I became one of Canopys first employees in the US. During my time at Canopy, I wore many different hats helping build out their US infrastructure. I worked in strategy, operations, finance, innovation, brand marketing and sales.

What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?

I started working at Constellation Brands in 2013 across numerous departments eventually landing on its corporate strategy team. On this team, I essentially worked as an internal consultant working on project-based initiatives across virtually every department in the company. More specifically, I spent a lot of time working in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, brand strategy, distributor strategy and various finance projects.

What led you to the cannabis industry?

I have legacy roots dating back to my teenage years both as a consumer and operator, but it was my time at Constellation Brands that led me to the legal side of the industry. At Constellation Brands, we were tasked to assess the legal cannabis industry and how itll affect the beverage/alcohol industry. We ultimately came to the conclusion that legal cannabis is going to be a force and its going to affect the beverage/alcohol industry. However, unlike other big alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies, we decided to look at cannabis as an opportunity and not a threat. The rest is history.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?

Network and read anything and everything related to the industry. Dont just read about the success stories, read about the failures as well. Once you have a solid understanding of the industry and the market, start to formulate a plan on not just how you can enter the market, but how you can carve out a niche and win in the market.

Once you do enter the market, operate as lean as you can to save on overhead costs and limit your cash burn. Yes, youll have to work a lot more hours, but theres always curveballs in this industry and preserving capital is pivotal at the pre-revenue, start-up phase. In my eight-plus years in the legal cannabis space, its my opinion that the ones who enter the space just to make money fail more times than not.

The ones who are passionate and put the consumer first succeed at some scale. When working in CPG, understanding your consumer is of the utmost importance.

What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

I always prefer to look at these scenarios from two different lenses, the CONSUMER and the SUPPLIER: From a CONSUMER standpoint, I truly believe that this market can be the cannabis mecca of the world. New York City is an animal unlike anywhere else. Its such a densely populated city and attracts double the amount of tourists as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami. That means itll be the primary focus for every cannabis brand.

I believe the quality of product, innovation, and brand building has the potential to be the best in the industry. If you can build a winning brand in New York, you can build a brand anywhere.

From a SUPPLIER standpoint, the market will become more and more competitive each year, making it extremely important for current license holders to dial-in their right-to-win now. The unfortunate truth is the ones that cant find a niche will struggle financially and exit. Whether youre a retailer, processor, or cultivator, you dont have to be the biggest to find success, you just have to find your niche and keep innovating and building relationships. Never become complacent.

Do you use cannabis? If so, whats your favorite method (flower, dabs, edibles, tinctures, etc.), and why?

Absolutely, and daily. I love to try new formats and always look for innovation, but 90% of my consumption is on the inhalable side (flower, vapes, & dabs). I love the art of the process, the final product, and of course the consumption of it. Consuming the plant in its truest form is what excites me, and the quick onset is always key!

Who should contact you, and whats the best method (i.e. email, phone number, LinkedIn handle, etc.)

Anyone looking to learn more about our operation, the brand, team members, or just want to talk about industry strategies and the plant in general, dont hesitate to email me or hit me up on LinkedIn.
By Tim Balk | New York Daily News

Gov. Hochul said Monday that Jordan Neelys death in Manhattan a week ago offered a wake-up call to government officials on the urgency of the mental health crisis gripping New York and the nation.

Hochul said the fate of the homeless 30-year-old  who found himself in a Marine veterans deadly chokehold on an F trains floor last Monday  underscored that people like Neely need more help.

His death is clear evidence that we need support, we need alternatives for these individuals so theyre not relegated to that kind of life, Hochul, a Democrat, said at a news conference in her hometown of Buffalo.

Society is frayed right now, the governor said. Our people are hurting. And shame on us if we dont step up and say, no, were here to help.

The governor did not lay out specific new mental health investments in the wake of Neelys attention-grabbing death, though she highlighted mental health investments she secured this spring in the states budget.

The budget, which passed the Legislature last week, set aside $1 billion to boost mental health services in the state.

The budget provides for an expansion in the states supportive residential unit capacity and inpatient and outpatient services, according to the governors office. Among the commitments are 500 residential units with services for people at the highest risk of homelessness.

Hochuls office has billed the mental health investments as the states largest since the 1970s.

They come as many New Yorkers struggle to recover from the challenges and isolation of the COVID pandemic, and with New York City grappling with historic levels of homelessness inflamed by a wave of migrants from Central and South America.

The governor said the states mental health crisis has hit too many New Yorkers  it is too painful.

The surgeon general is now giving advice on how to feel less lonely, Hochul said. Usually, the surgeon general is saying: Dont smoke, get vaccinated, get your flu shots.

This is clearly symbolic of the fact that this is a national crisis, the governor added.

This year, the state will triple its number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which offer 24/7 mental health services, Hochul said.

Neelys death at the hands of the Marine veteran, Daniel Penny, has set off protests and explosive debates. Penny, 24, has not been charged with a crime in the caught-on-video killing.

Neely, a Michael Jackson impersonator who spiraled after the 2007 killing of his mother, had cycled through the states mental health and criminal justice system before his death.

He had been behaving erratically on the F train before his struggle with Penny. The exact details of the moments before Neely was restrained have proved elusive.

Hochul drew criticism for an initially restrained reaction to the death; she told reporters last Wednesday that theres consequences for behavior.

The governor appeared to recalibrate a day later, describing the incident as horrific and saying that Neelys family deserves justice.

It became very clear that he was not going to cause harm to these other people, Hochul said. No one has the right to take the life of another person.

2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com
NEW YORK (AP)  The Republican leaders of two suburban counties have declared states of emergency in an effort to block a plan by New York Citys Democratic mayor to use their communities to house hundreds of international migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

We are not equipped to humanely assist these individuals, said Rockland County Executive Ed Day, who over the weekend declared a state of emergency and has vowed to impose fines to stop the citys plan to put migrants up at hotels in the county for up to four months.

In nearby Orange County, County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus ordered all hotels, motels and short term rental facilities not to accept any migrants as he declared a state of emergency Monday.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan Friday to bus up to 300 single adult male migrants to the two counties north of the city on a voluntary basis.

Under the program, the men would be provided with meals, counseling and other services during their city-paid hotel stays. Adams said the program would help the city handle the more than 37,500 asylum seekers in the citys care.

The Democrat announced the plan as cities across the U.S. prepare for an increase in migrants seeking asylum when a pandemic-era policy that permitted the expulsion of many migrants ends. Officials anticipate that the end of the immigration limits under Title 42 of a 1944 public health law will mean more migrants trying to cross the southern border.

Adams has for months been criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, for offering free bus rides out of his state to migrants crossing the U.S. southern border. Thousands of those migrants have chosen to go to New York City.

The Adams administration has been using hotels within the city to house some migrants, mainly families with children. Plans to house others at sites including a cruise ship terminal and a beach parking lot in the Bronx have been scrapped.

Adams press secretary, Fabien Levy, said Monday that the city has cared for more than 61,000 migrants and we have done so largely without incident.

Levy said in a statement that the federal government should do more to help the city house migrants, but until they do, we need other elected officials around the state and country to do their part and emulate the humane and compassionate approach New York City has taken over the past year.

Republicans in the suburbs objected to being asked to take in the migrants.

Day said the mayors plan was the same as throwing people out to the middle of the ocean who cant swim and saying go to shore. It cant work.

Adams news release did not name the hotels where migrants would be sent, but Day and Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny said they had learned that the Armoni Inn and Suites in the hamlet of Orangeburg had been selected.

Kenny said housing migrants there for four months would violate the towns ordinance limiting hotel stays to 30 days.

Im sorry, Mr. Mayor, you dont trump our laws, said Kenny, who joined Day at a news conference in New City, the county seat. We have our own town code, so the town is prepared to commence legal action.

A message seeking comment was left with the Armoni.

Day announced a state of emergency Saturday that he said will prohibit other municipalities from bringing people to Rockland County and prohibit hotels and motels from housing immigrants without a license.

He said the state of emergency will remain in effect for at least 30 days and will be enforced through fines of $2,000 per migrant per day for the hotels and for any municipality that sends migrants to Rockland.

It was unclear what authority Rockland County would have to fine New York City for sending migrants there. A spokesperson for the citys legal department declined to comment.

Orange Countys executive, Neuhaus, said he had questions about who these immigrants are and remain concerned if they were properly vetted. He blamed the Federal governments failed immigration policy and inability to control the border.
STARKS, La. (AP)  A Louisiana man has been charged with aggravated assault and battery after shooting at children who had been playing hide and seek outside his home, striking a 14-year-old girl, officials said.

The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head early Sunday, and was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office said in a statement posted on social media Monday.

Investigators learned that several children were playing hide and seek in the Starks neighborhood and were hiding on the neighbors property.
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 16:56 | All, Japan, World, 3/11 Fukushima

The Japanese government hopes to pitch the safety of a planned release of treated radioactive water into the sea from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear complex when South Korean experts visit the site later this month, the industry minister said Tuesday.

"We hope the inspection will help deepen understanding in South Korea of the safety of the release," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a press conference after the two countries' leaders agreed Sunday to dispatch the experts amid concerns among the South Korean public over the issue.

But Nishimura noted that the purpose of the inspection is "not to evaluate or certify the safety of treated water."

The process of the water release, which is planned to begin around summer and continue for decades, as well as its possible environmental impact, is currently being reviewed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Radioactive water has accumulated at the Fukushima Daiichi plant on the Pacific coast amid the ongoing cleanup efforts following the nuclear disaster triggered by a massive quake and tsunami in 2011.

The water has been kept in over 1,000 tanks installed at the site after significantly reducing the radiation level of the liquid by running a treatment system that can remove most radioactive substances, except tritium. But the tanks are nearing capacity.

Nishimura said the South Korean experts, who will visit on May 23, will be offered explanations on the storage tanks and the progress of construction of the equipment used for dumping the water.

With the IAEA expected to release a comprehensive report about the findings in its review missions by June, the minister said Japan will continue to communicate with the international community, including South Korea, to increase transparency and seek support over the water release.

Japan has accepted inspections by officials of foreign delegates before, such as from the United States, Taiwan, and Pacific island nations, according to Nishimura.

The Japanese government and plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. plan to eject the treated water by diluting it with seawater to below one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards and release it 1 kilometer off the plant via an underwater pipeline.

Tritium is known to be less harmful to the human body than cesium and strontium. Nuclear power plants worldwide routinely release treated water containing low-level concentrations of tritium and other radionuclides into the environment as part of normal operations, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Related coverage:

Japan, South Korea leaders to cooperate on security amid North Korea threat

FEATURE: Fukushima seafood businesses adapt as treated water release looms

South Korea seeks scientific analysis before Fukushima water release
AD Ports Group announces purchase of vessels

AD Ports Group announces purchase of vessels following strategic agreements

Abu Dhabi, UAE  01 May 2023: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics and industry, has announced plans to expand its fleet with the purchase of five bulk carriers and three crude oil tankers.

These vessel acquisitions will follow the recently signed agreements as part of the Groups strategic global expansion objectives to enhance the shipping division under AD Ports Groups Maritime Cluster.



The five bulk carriers, to be purchased for AED 459 million, form part of the long-term agreement with Saif Powertec, signed in April 2022, for the movement of general cargo and dry bulk cargo between Fujairah Port in the UAE and Bangladesh, the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and other global destinations.



The purchase of three crude oil tankers, with a total transaction value of AED 496 million, will form part of the seven-year vessel pooling agreement formed in December 2022 with KazMorTransFlot (KMTF), a subsidiary of Kazakh National Oil Company (KazMunayGas), for the transport of crude oil internationally.



Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: AD Ports Group consistently seeks opportunities to contribute to the development of comprehensive solutions for customers and partners in the energy and maritime sectors. The extension of our fleet with the purchase of another five bulk carriers and addition of an initial three crude oil tankers is a remarkable milestone for our Maritime Cluster and will further enable us to equip our business with the right assets and logistics capabilities to adapt to the evolving global demand within the industries in which we operate.



More importantly, the vessel acquisitions are part of a larger expansion strategy by our Group aimed at broadening our portfolio of services and taking our experience and service excellence to the wider bulk shipping and offshore oil markets. We firmly believe that by challenging ourselves and looking beyond our horizons through dynamic strategic partnerships, we will not only benefit our current and future customers, but also our commitment to the objectives of our wise leadership.



Under the terms of the strategic partnership agreement between KazMunayGas and AD Ports Group, the two companies will review opportunities to collaborate on a broad range of projects, including the development of a new fleet of shallow-water vessels to support offshore operations in the Caspian Sea and the development of a tanker fleet to support the export of Kazakh oil.



Under the terms of the agreement between Saif Powertec Limited and AD Ports Groups feeder service, SAFEEN Feeders, the two companies will work closely together to facilitate global trade and cargo services over a period of 15 years.



The continuation of each agreement solidifies AD Ports Groups collaborative ventures across the Central and South Asian region supporting international trade and enhancing connectivity, providing a solid foundation for growth in some of the most important markets.




The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 20:07 | World, All

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has held talks with new Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun before going fishing with him and welcoming him at a reception, the two countries said Tuesday.

Wang, who arrived in North Korea in late March, told Choe on Monday that China is willing to work with the North to implement the "important consensus" the two countries' leaders have reached, strengthen strategic coordination and promote regional peace and stability, the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang said.

Choe and Wang "expressed their steadfast stand to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation" between the two countries, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said.

The foreign minister also noted that Monday marked the fifth anniversary of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian and hailed the continued deepening and development of bilateral relations, according to the embassy.

Wang is believed to be the first foreign diplomat to be accepted by Pyongyang since it implemented strict border controls in January 2020 to prevent COVID-19 infections. He filled the post vacated by his predecessor about 15 months ago.

China is North Korea's closest and most influential ally in economic terms.

Related coverage:

Japan, South Korea to resume finance dialogue amid improving ties

U.S. carrier George Washington to return to Japan in 2024

North Korean leader orders final preparations for spy satellite launch
lsjey BHPian

Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 412 Thanked: 850 Times

State of Automation in the Indian Car Industry Ive always aspired to see Indian auto industry, compete globally through products designed and manufactured in India. Now that India in herself a big (3rd largest) market, this aspiration of mine has only been stoked more.



In order for a country to develop a new industry that can compete globally, a few key components are required:



1. Visionary business leaders: We can find examples of many auto companies from countries which were nothing in auto industry, but have become greats in global auto industry. Some of such companies are Hyundai, Toyota, Honda etc. All these companies were lead by visionaries during the key phase of growth.

2. A protectionist government policies to support the weak local players. Korea and Japan had protectionist policies to support their Auto industry during their development phase. IMO in India too, there are many supportive policies right from the liberalisation times. We have had many export promotion schemes like EEZs. Now we have FAME, PLI, make in India and more.

3. Availability of quality workers and engineers, who can learn newer technologies and business management best practices, adapt to our conditions and make them work.



India does have all these components. But still our auto companies are not selling products that can compete globally. I searched around for some data to refine the question that I had and to shed some light on answers.



I found some data on industrial robots, which Im putting in the next post. Without automation, we cannot increase productivity, quality and reduce costs. Without these aspects nailed down, IMHO we cannot compete globally.



While government policies helped Japan and Korea, protect that nascent auto industries, no amount of policy interventions in India seem to be able to push our Auto industry to compete globally.



Regards,

Lsjey Last edited by lsjey : 7th May 2023 at 18:11 .
A survey of 1,600 chief information security officers found that more than two-thirds of them (68%) expect a material cyberattack on their organizations in the next 12 months.

The survey, which is the basis of the annual Voice of the CISO Report by Proofpoint, an enterprise security company, showed a pronounced shift in attitude among the security chiefs toward future threats to their organizations. Just 12 months earlier, less than half the CISOs (48%) saw a cyberattack on their horizon.

This pronounced shift suggests that security professionals see the threat landscape heating up once again, the report noted, and have recalibrated their level of concern to match.

As we emerged from the pandemic, security leaders felt they had been able to implement more long-term controls to protect their work environment, so there was a sense of calm, explained Proofpoints Global Resident CISO Lucia Milica Stacy.

However, as the volume of attacks continued to increase, coupled with geopolitical tension and global economic uncertainty, a lot of that optimism wore off, she told TechNewsWorld.

Reasons for Pessimism

According to security experts, a number of factors could be contributing to the CISOs concerns about increased cyberattacks.

New vectors of attack continue to emerge  software supply chain compromise, API-connected third parties and SaaS systems, AI-related security risks  each requiring new defensive strategies and skills, observed Karl Mattson, CISO of Noname Security, a provider of a cloud-native API security platform, in Palo Alto, Calif.

Meanwhile, traditional threats never go away, such as ransomware or web application attacks, he told TechNewsWorld. With security budgets and staffing levels largely remaining flat, the stage is set for more risk exposure this coming year.

A proliferation of endpoints in the enterprise also gives CISOs increased reason for alarm.

IT leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to gain comprehensive visibility, security, compliance, and control to protect every employee, on every device, from every location, said Darren Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security, a password management and online storage company, in Chicago.

The expanding attack surface is particularly concerning with cyberattacks on the rise and IT security teams competing for talent as macroeconomic conditions are tightening budgets, he told TechNewsWorld.

Adoption of as-a-service models by threat actors also increases the likelihood of an organization coming under attack in the next 12 months. Phishing-as-a-Service and Ransomware-as-a-Service enable a significant increase in the number and scale of cyberattacks, explained Avishai Avivi, CISO of SafeBreach, a provider of a breach and attack simulation platform, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

At that point, it becomes a statistical reality, he told TechNewsWorld. The more attacks, the higher likelihood of an attack succeeding.

Insider Threat to Data

Proofpoint also reported that CISOs believe employee turnover has become a risk to data security. More than eight out of 10 of the security chiefs (82%) told researchers that employees leaving their organization has contributed to a data loss event.

Resource constraints and the great reshuffle of employees are a potential underlying cause of the high percentage of CISOs being concerned about the loss of sensitive data because of employee turnover, Stacy said.

The two sectors affected the most by turnover were retail (90%) and IT, technology, and telecoms (88%), the report noted.

These trends leave security teams with a near-impossible challenge, it continued. When people leave, stopping them from taking data is difficult.

Some organizations require written guarantees from former employees that they will delete all company data, it added. Others threaten new employers of potential liability if an employee shares any data from their old job. But neither is close to being a satisfactory solution.

Many employees, upon their departure, attempt to take some aspect of their work with them, said Daniel Kennedy, research director for information security and networking at 451 Research, which is part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, a global market research company.

For salespeople, that can be contacts or customer account information. For other employees, it can be a form of intellectual property, models they worked on or code, for example, he told TechNewsWorld.

When I was a CISO, he recalled, I definitely correlated hits on our various data loss platforms and employees departing. I could generally predict when someone was going to give a resignation based on their behavior.

Changing Narrative

The increased concern of CISOs about insiders contributing to data loss represents a departure from past thinking on the subject.

What has changed recently is a shift in thought from its wrong to distrust employees or we hire the best to we have to secure ourselves from all kinds of threats, observed Sourya Biswas, technical director for risk management and governance at the NCC Group, a global cybersecurity consultancy.

Recent U.S. defense leaks by insiders Jack Teixeira, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden may have helped shape this narrative, he told TechNewsWorld. Its not the prevalence of the malicious insider that changed, but rather the awareness around it.

The level of distrust of employees displayed in the survey probably says more about a companys overall culture than anything else, maintained Daniel Schwalbe, CISO of DomainTools, an internet intelligence company in Seattle.

But it can also be attributed to the increase in remote work, which makes some CISOs feel like they are losing visibility into where their data ends up, he told TechNewsWorld. The current realities of a remote workforce throw the pre-pandemic corporate network with tight edge controls out the window.

Call for Cyber Resilience

Proofpoints report also found that most organizations are likely to pay a ransom if impacted by ransomware. Three out of five CISOs surveyed (62%) believed their organization would pay to restore systems and prevent data release if attacked by ransomware in the next 12 months.

The report added that the CISOs organizations were increasingly relying on insurance to shift the costs of their cyber risks, with 61% saying they would place a cyber insurance claim to recover losses incurred in various types of attacks.

Over the past five years, there has been general encouragement by cyber insurance companies to pay ransoms and for the cost to be covered by their premiums, said Chris Cooper, CISO of Six Degrees, a cybersecurity consulting company, in London and a member of the ISACA Emerging Trends Working Group.

This is, fortunately, changing, as paying ransoms only further excites incidents, he told TechNewsWorld.

There is also increasing evidence that some groups are coming back for a second bite at the cherry, he added.

Proofpoint Executive Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy Ryan Kalember urged security leaders to remain steadfast in protecting their people and data, despite trying challenges.

If recent devastating attacks are any indication, CISOs have an even tougher road ahead, especially given the precarious security budgets and new job pressures, he said in a news release. Now that they have returned to elevated levels of concern, CISOs must ensure they focus on the right priorities to move their organizations toward cyber resilience.
Every member of a group can communicate with other members in real time using both audio and video. All that is needed is a microphone and a web camera.

Here is a list of the main features:

Real time audio and video conversations

Share desktop applications

File sharing

Instant text messaging

Private rooms/channels for every group of users

High quality audio codecs with both mono and stereo

Push-to-talk and voice activation

Record conversations to disk

Standalone server for both LAN and Internet environments

User authentication with accounts

Accessibility for visually impaired

Having these features available makes TeamTalk an excellent choice for online presentations, attending meetings or just do every day chit-chat with friends or collegues, whether they are next door or around the globe.

What's New

Default Qt Client

Support for verifying authenticity of encrypted TeamTalk servers using certificates

Setup server verification in "Connect to a Server" dialog

Official and unofficial servers can automatically provide certificates

Generate .tt files with Certificate Authority (CA) certificate, client certificate and private key

Accessible Windows Client

Android Client

Bluetooth headset working again on Android 11 and lower

iOS Client

Force playback using Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)

Support for Indonesian language

Headset TX toggle moved to General section in Preferences

Toggle TX on/off using AirPods when using A2DP

Fixed crash issue when loading server list

Server
In context: It's hard to imagine that a platform with over 3 billion users would be considered past its best or only for 'old people,' yet this is the situation that Facebook finds itself in. But Mark Zuckerberg and its other execs insist this isn't true.

Teens have been moving away from Facebook in favor of other social media sites for years. It was happening as far back as 2014 when Instagram started becoming more popular among that demographic. Insta and Snap proved bigger draws in 2017, and the most recent survey (2022) found that Facebook was the least popular site/app among teens, with YouTube on top, followed by TikTok.

However, as AP points out, Facebook could be preparing a comeback among the younger generation, thanks to the increased scrutiny over TikTok's alleged spying/ties with the Chinese government, leading to calls for the app to be banned. The rise of AI is playing a part, too.

But one of the most difficult things to get rid of is a reputation. AP talked to 24-year-old Devin Walsh, who said she hasn't logged into Facebook for years, but she checks Meta-owned Instagram five or six times each day. Big rival TikTok, meanwhile, holds her attention for an hour each day, its algorithm showing her content "I didn't even know I was interested in."

The idea of Facebook returning to the platform that was once so popular with youths that it helped kill Myspace doesn't resonate with Walsh. "It's the branding, right? When I think of Facebook, I think ugh, like cheugy, older people, like parents posting pictures of their kids, random status updates and also people fighting about political issues."

Statista's data shows that while Facebook is still adding user numbers  there were around 3.74 billion in Q4 2022  the rate at which people are joining has stagnated in recent times.

Zuckerberg himself said in 2021 that Facebook was refocusing its efforts toward serving younger users, even if that came at the expense of its older, long-time ones. The news came just as the company faced reports that it misled investors over declining teen and young adult user numbers. The company was accused of misrepresentation after spending years showing huge growth but leaving out details of key demographics.

"We used to have a team at Facebook that was focused on younger cohorts, or maybe there was a project or two that was dedicated to coming up with new ideas," said Tom Alison, head of Facebook. "And about two years ago we said no  our entire product line needs to change and evolve and adapt to the needs of the young adults."

Just like TikTok, Facebook hopes a new focus on AI will help attract younger users by showing them content they're interested in, especially the TikTok-like Reels videos. Zuckerberg recently talked about an AI-powered chat for Messenger, too  he seems to have taken the hint about disinterest in the Metaverse.

With more than a third of the world's population using the platform, it's unlikely that Facebook will disappear anytime soon. But Zuckerberg knows that attracting younger people is critical to ensuring it sticks around for another 20 years.

Masthead: Andrea Piacquadio
In context: Every year, the Def Con conference brings together computer security professionals, journalists, lawyers, US federal government officials, researchers and code wizards. The target: hardware, software or anything else that can be "hacked." This year's edition will have a major focus on AI algorithms.

Scheduled for August 10-13 in Las Vegas, the 2023 edition of the Def Con conference will host a major event entirely devoted to attacking large language models (LLM) employed by generative AI algorithms. The popular hacking convention will host an AI Village (AIV) initiative, with the first public generative AI red team event.

Def Con organizers are expecting thousands of security professionals, students, and white hat hackers interested in putting LLM services to test, with AI models provided by Anthropic, Google, Hugging Face, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Stability. Microsoft will support the AI Village as well, while testers and code wizards will use an evaluation platform developed by Scale AI.

Participants will use the laptops provided by Def Con, which will also manage timed (and likely unlimited) access to multiple LLMs. A capture the flag-style point system will promote testing for a wide range of issues, with red teams expected to abide by the "hacker hippocratic oath"  whatever that actually means. The individual who will get the highest number of points will win a "high end" (albeit unspecified) Nvidia GPU.

LLMs bring an unprecedented explosion of creativity, AI Village's official blog stated, helping people getting their ideas out faster, lowering barriers to entry in creative fields, and allowing for "new kinds of creative content." However, with great powers come even greater security issues, which we are only beginning to understand as LLM technologies are being automated at scale.

Hallucinations, jailbreaks, bias, and a drastic leap in capabilities are the new issues "security professionals and the public have to deal with," AI Village said. Sven Cattell, the founder of AI Village, stated that a traditional way to solve these issues reckons on specialized red teams, mostly working in private organizations.

Def Con will provide a way to find more issues within LLM services, Cattell said, as bug bounties, live hacking events, and other "community engagements in security" can be adapted for testing against machine learning model-based systems. The August AI Village event will be a "collaborative effort," bringing together hackers, partners from community groups, non-profit groups and even (US) government supporters.
A hot potato: Destroying the TSMC factories to keep them out of China's hands were it to invade Taiwan isn't likely the US's first action plan. However, that hasn't stopped the saber-rattling. In response, Taiwan recently said it would defend itself from anyone who tries to harm TSMC, whether China or the US.

Taiwan defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng recently stated that his country's military would defend itself from anyone who tried to bomb its industrial facilities, implying the US is no exception. The comments push back against recent US suggestions of destroying TSMC fabs if China were to invade.

China considers the self-governing nation a rogue province and repeatedly expresses ambitions to annex Taiwan by force if necessary. As the global leader in building and supplying transistors that power most computerized devices, any attack on TSMC would ripple across the entire global economy.

At a May 3 conference organized by the California-based think tank the Milken Institute, US Democratic congressman Seth Moulton said the US should make China understand that it would destroy TSMC if China invaded. The threat followed a warning from former National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, who noted in March that China would control the world's economy if it took over TSMC.

Responding to press inquiries about Moulton's comments before a Monday session of the Legislative Yuan, Chiu said Taiwan's military wouldn't tolerate any attempt to bomb the country, even for defensive actions. Former US Defence Policy Under Secretary Michele Flournoy also expressed disagreement with Moulton, saying that losing TSMC would put a $2 trillion hole in the global economy within a year and halt manufacturing worldwide.

Arguments over the idea of forcefully keeping TSMC out of China's grasp have occurred before. The US has also proposed evacuating TSMC engineers from Taiwan as a less violent option during a Chinese invasion which could still be a $1 trillion hit to the world's economy. The US knows this, so much of the rhetoric is just saber-rattling.

Taiwan has previously noted that such actions would be unnecessary to achieve the US's goal of preventing a Chinese TSMC takeover. Last year, Taiwan National Security Bureau director-general Chen Ming-Tong said the company's facilities rely on resources from other countries. Chinese-controlled TSMC facilities would be useless if the US, or anyone else, cut off access to ASML's lithography equipment, for instance.
Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, has made massive strides since its initial launch in 2019. A total of 12,000 satellites is intended to reach orbit, with a potential addition of 30,000 later into its existence, but as of yet, the service has a total of 4,023 Starlink nodes, 3,988 of which are operational, making it the single largest satellite operator in the world. Despite its reach, popular reviews haven't exactly been positive.

One review out of Tom's Guide notes that Starlink has both a "Sporadic connection" and a "High monthly fee," while Forbes highlights its unavailability in most rural spots and a pricey $599 to $2,500 hardware buy-in. Beyond its faults, however, Elon Musk's ISP is one that has seen massive growth over the past several years, most notably in its acquisition of 1.5 million users as of May 5, 2023.

SpaceX's @Starlink is seeing hyper growth, adding over ~3,600 new customers per day.



Customer total now stands at 1.5 million per SpaceX. pic.twitter.com/WLTN7l2rz4  Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 6, 2023

How do these subscribers feel about the ISP's overall service? Ookla, a data research firm, set out to ask this very question, relaying in a recently published paper how Starlink users in both metro and nonmetro counties in the US generally appreciate the service. The data tracks Starlink Net Promoter Score (NPS) ratings in the US, as well as year-over-year data for the internet service across Chile, Mexico, Canada, and the US.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Now Available in the Philippines! Price & Other Details

Starlink speed tests, when compared with rival providers, show a stark contrast and a clear winner in performance, with an average Mbps of over 30 in metropolitan areas and over 40 in nonmetropolitan areas. As Ookla's Josh Fromon puts it, "Starlink users are more than willing to recommend the service and love the internet they are getting."

Ookla's data also shows how Starlink in Canada has become the fastest satellite provider in North America, with impeccable download and upload speeds of 93.97 Mbps and 9.60 Mbps, respectively. The runner-up, Starlink in the US, took home all but a mere 66.59 Mbps average download speed and 7.74 Mbps upload.

Starlink showed incredible promise elsewhere across the globe as well, with Ookla highlighting its blazing-fast speeds in Chile and Jamaica, making it both the fastest satellite provider in South America and the Caribbean. In Chile, the service was recorded with 84.62 Mbps download and 13.90 Mbps upload speeds, whereas in Jamaica, Starlink showed download speeds of 83.79 Mbps and 13.45 Mbps upload.

As Starlink trailblazes, similar offerings across the globe are soon sprouting life, including the likes of the EU's new multi-orbit constellation. Amazon itself is vying for dominance in the new-age space race, with its Project Kupier making headwinds with a green light from the FCC to launch 3,236 satellites. The firm recently showed off its terminals, which boast a potential performance of 100 Mbps to 400 Mbps, with an additional 1 Gbps offering for specific use cases, such as government bodies and enterprises that "require even more bandwidth."

Read Also: SpaceX Starlink Users Nearly Hits 500,000, Elon Musk Says

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple faced a major defeat after failing to convince the US Court that Corellium is infringing its copyrights by simulating its own operating system to help developers find security flaws in its devices. Apple and Corellium have been battling in court for over four years now.

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 28: The Apple company logo hangs above an Apple retail store on November 28, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Apple is currently facing shortages in iPhone supplies due to COVID-19 restrictions in China and unrest at one of Apple's major Chinese suppliers.

Facing Defeat

The United State Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Corellium's CORSEC simulator made fair use of Apple's iOS code without infringing its copyrights under the copyright doctrine of fair use. According to a report from Reuters, the district court already dismissed the claims against Corellium's iOS simulator in 2019, which Apple appealed in 2021.

Apple claims that Corellium simply repackaged iOS in a different format for profit, which harms their own market for its operating system and security-research programs. This also helps hackers find ways to attack users of iPhones and iPads.

But Corellium's software was believed by the court to add new features only to help security researchers and developers do their work in a way that their smartphones can not do. The US Court ruled that Corellium's CORSEC simulator is protected by the fair use of the doctrine of copyright law, which ensures copyrighted works can be replicated in some situations.

Because of this, Corellium can continue to provide virtual machines to its customers, without experiencing lawsuits from Apple. This software allows its users to run Apple's operating system on non-Apple devices and inspect and modify the OS in ways that allow researchers to secure and determine vulnerabilities more effectively.

The iOS virtual machines of Corellium are available through a subscription for both enterprise and individual customers. But before accessing or subscribing, the company will have to review each request to prevent the use of software for malicious purposes. The subscription costs from $99 to $295 depending on the hardware used by the consumer.

Also Read: Apple Sues Rivos, a Chip Startup that Allegedly Stole Employees, Trade Secrets from the Big Tech

Aside from the iOS, the appeals court's assessment also covered other aspects of the lower court's rulings, including the direct infringement of Apple's icons and wallpapers and contributory infringement. The panel that consists of three judges remanded them to the district court to independently consider them.

Apple Insider reported that this refers to the process of sending a case back to a lower court to continue the action, which can only happen when an appeals court decides that the court made a mistake or did not fully address an issue in the case. Through this process, the lower may take additional evidence, reconsider issues, and issue a new ruling with the court's decision.

Battling for Years

9To5Mac reported that the battle between Apple and Corellium was opened in August 2019, alleging that their products violated copyrights for iOS, iTunes, and other Apple-owned technologies. This almost reached an agreement as Apple already agreed to settle in August 2021.

However, the Cupertino giant later filed an appeal as they believed it was a complete replication of iOS and was used as an alternative to its security research products.

Related Article: Apple Files Appeal Amidst UK Watchdog Privacy Concern

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
US senators have taken it to their hands to call out the chief executive of one of the most famous electric vehicle companies in the world, Tesla, for their resorting to "arbitration clauses" that allow the company to get away from complaints. The senators have sent a letter to Elon Musk which details their complaints, demanding a statement or response from him that would answer these issues.

The senators cited that many employees complain about the workplace, alongside the Autopilot lawsuits where users have cited the company's misleading campaign of its safety based on reviews.

(Photo : ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

US Senators Call Out Musk for Tesla's Arbitration for Employee Complaints

Seven US senators have signed a letter that was addressed to Elon Musk, detailing the complaints against his company, Tesla, that centers on multiple issues against the company. The undersigned include Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Edward Markey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Jeffrey Merkley, Sen. Richard Durbin, Sen. Bernard Sanders, and Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The complaints are compelling Musk to release a statement regarding the operations at Tesla, centering on employee discrimination in different situations.

One complaint cited by the senators center on racial discrimination against black employees of the company, with supervisors using racial slurs and graffiti to send a hateful message. Another claim is that female employees in the company are experiencing harassment and gender discrimination.

"Tesla's confidential arbitration agreements-which appear to be mandatory for workers-significantly limit the extent to which the details of discriminatory conditions at the company may come to light," the senators wrote.

As per the lawmakers, Tesla's arbitration clauses have impeded these complaints from workers.

Read Also: Tesla Sentry Mode Extinguishes Model S Fire! Turns Out, Battery Not to Blame

Autopilot Reviews and Customer Lawsuits Also Face This Move

According to Ars Technica, the senators also mentioned the company's autonomous driving features, and went as far as to call it a "sham."

The senators are also claiming that there is consumer arbitration from within, with Tesla's safety reviews from the regulatory board being misleading or not as transparent to the public regarding its cars' capabilities.

Tesla and the Many Scrutinies it Faces Now

"You win some, you lose some," this is the state of Tesla now as it faces many complaints regarding its self-driving features including the Autopilot, with many users raising their problems with the company in court. In one incident, Tesla won a lawsuit that claims its Autopilot is the culprit that led to serious injuries to the victim, Justin Hsu with their Model S.

Amidst the many complaints against the company's allegedly flawed driving system, the Tesla CEO still promises autonomy for its cars that would improve its technology. In his promise, this autonomous feature would arrive by 2023 for Tesla, giving drivers a chance to experience a higher level of self-driving features to arrive, speculated as Level 4 or 5 autonomy.

Cases and complaints are still piling up against Tesla, and this is not only for the company's autonomous driving systems which sees many claims of fraud or misleading the public. The US senators have also raised the issues that employees have against the company, one that centers on workplace discrimination, where its chief is yet to release a statement.

Related Article: Tesla Deepfake Claims Rejected, To Ask for Elon Musk's Deposition on Autopilot Claims in Crash Investigation

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The release of Windows 11 is imminent, and Microsoft isn't passing up an opportunity to make some extra money by promoting its services with advertisements. While the ads have been spotted before in the Start Menu of the preview builds, the latest test build for Windows 11 has now included notices for a Microsoft 365 trial and more in the Settings menu.

Can Users Disable the Ads in the Latest Test Build of Windows 11?

According to the story by Gizmodo, as Microsoft looks to increase its revenue and enhance customer satisfaction with its services, it has left some people questioning whether they can disable the ads.

Microsoft is slowly but surely treating Windows 11 more and more like a billboard bus, finding ways to stick advertisements for its services to any nook or cranny of its operating system.

This latest test build for Windows 11 includes notices for Microsoft 365 trials, OneDrive, and more scattered around the Settings menu. Beta testers and leakers spotted several notices, such as "Try Microsoft 365" and "Sign in to your Microsoft account," which appear as soon as users access the Settings page.

Microsoft's Rebranding of the Older Office Monicker

These advertisements are also seen in the Start menu, which asks users to "Use Microsoft 365 for free". Of course, users have to provide their credit card information to access the trial for the Office apps suite.

Users can see screenshots of the ads as uploaded on Twitter by Albacore. These screenshots came from the latest Insider Preview build 23451.

Microsoft has yet to comment on these ads, leaving users uneasy about how far the company can go with the ads for its own services. Recent Windows 11 updates have focused on introducing AI features to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with a refreshed Microsoft Office suite and rebranding of the older Office monicker.

Microsoft's Push to Windows 11 Brings Increased Ads - Rightfully Causing Concern for Users

Microsoft encourages users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, as the company will no longer provide security updates or new features to the earlier OS. The problem is that Microsoft is making the transition to Windows 11 much harder by adding numerous ads along the OS.

Users have a right to be cautious and concerned, as Microsoft is clearly looking to boost its own sales while not providing any significant benefit to users. It is also unclear if users can disable the ads like they can in the Start menu, though Windows 11 has yet to offer an option.

Read Also: Microsoft Partners with Another Company, AMD, to Boost its AI Tech to Rival NVIDIA

The Impact of Microsoft's Advertising Strategy on Windows 11

Overall, Microsoft's attempt to sell Windows 11 with advertisements has been poorly received by users, and many are encouraging the company to focus more on the user experience rather than its own financial gain.

Regardless of how Microsoft chooses to proceed, one thing is certain: Windows 11 looks less appealing with each passing day. Only time will tell whether or not Microsoft's aggressive ads will sabotage its own success.

Related Article: Microsoft Introduces Bing Chat, Features More than AI Text Generation, Available for Open Preview

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KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 19:16 | World

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday the island will strengthen global partnerships to ensure cybersecurity, with the territory often subject to cyberattacks suspected of being launched by the mainland.

"In the face of ubiquitous cybersecurity challenges, it is necessary to continuously strengthen the resilience and management mechanism," Tsai said at the opening of CYBERSEC 2023, a three-day international conference and exhibition in Taipei.

Taiwan will build a joint defense system for information security at home and abroad and deploy a national-level expert team to ensure homeland cybersecurity, she added.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the Cyber Taiwan Pavilion, which brings together dozens of leading cybersecurity companies from Taiwan and showcases their response to threats and attacks, Tsai said.

Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano called for cooperation in mitigating the risks posed by cyber threats.

"We all have a role to play, to keep our communities and our networks safe," she said at the event.

The annual event, now in its ninth year, has registered participants of 18,000 people and over 300 companies, according to organizers.

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According to Ben Goertzel, a US-Brazilian researcher and founder of SingularityNET, artificial intelligence (AI) could replace 80% of human jobs in the near future.

However, Goertzel claims that this is not necessarily a bad thing. He envisions a future where AI will be capable of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) - with human-like cognitive abilities - that will revolutionize many industries.

Thoughts on AGI

During the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Goertzel gave an interview to AFP where he shared his view that AGI could be achieved in a few years.

He stated that for machines to attain human-like intelligence and agility in handling the unknown, they should be able to go beyond their programming and training, which is beyond the current capability of AI systems. Nevertheless, Goertzel remains optimistic about the progress being made in AI research.



Goertzel also discussed the ongoing debate surrounding the risks related to AI, particularly ChatGPT. While some have called for a six-month research halt, Goertzel does not share that opinion.



He acknowledges that AI systems can propagate misinformation, but he believes in a free society and does not endorse banning AI research. He compared this to the internet, which has not been banned despite its capacity to spread misinformation.

Replacing 80% of Human Jobs

According to Goertzel, AI has the potential to replace up to 80% of jobs without AGI, with jobs that can be automated, such as paperwork, being particularly susceptible. He does not view this as a threat, but rather as a potential benefit, as it could allow individuals to explore more meaningful activities beyond their work.

"I don't think it's a threat. I think it's a benefit. People can find better things to do with their life than work for a living... Pretty much every job involving paperwork should be automatable," he said in an interview with AFP.

While he acknowledges that the transition period during which AI replaces human jobs may create social problems, he admits to having no solution to this issue.

Read Also: OpenAI's ChatGPT Will No Longer Train on Customer Data, According to Sam Altman

Benefits of AI

During his interview, Goertzel discussed the potential benefits of AI for society, particularly if AGI is achieved. For instance, he suggested that humanoid robots could assist in nursing homes by providing companionship to the elderly, who may not have enough people to fulfill that role.

Additionally, he highlighted education and domestic work as areas that could benefit from the use of humanoid robots.



Goertzel also recognized the importance of regulating AI development to ensure its positive usage. He advocated for a participatory governance approach, where the public has a say in AI development and companies prioritize the ethical use of AI over increasing shareholder value.



While AI technology is progressing rapidly, there are still many questions about its future impact on society. Goertzel's vision of AGI may offer new opportunities for human advancement, but the transition period of AIs obsoleting human jobs will likely present new social challenges that require thoughtful consideration and planning.

Related Article: ChatGPT Trained on Copyrighted Books! Memorized Harry Potter, Other Novels, New Study Claims

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A man in the northwestern province of Gansu, China, has been detained for allegedly using the viral chatbot ChatGPT to generate fake news and publishing them online, according to a report by SCMP.

This is likely the first instance of detention related to the use of artificial intelligence in the country.

ChatGPT Generates Fake News

The misuse of AI chatbots including how it could proliferate misinformation online has been a concern for many, and China's internet regulator has also raised worries about using synthesis technology, including deep fakes for online scams.

It has implemented measures such as "clear labeling" of videos and images created using AI and published in the public domain.

According to the report from SCMP, the fake news of a train accident that killed nine people was discovered by officials from a county police bureau. The article was published by more than 20 accounts on the blog platform Baijiahao, which is operated by Baidu.

Following the news gaining more than 15,000 clicks, authorities managed to track it down to a company owned and run by the suspect.

The company owned personal media platforms in Southern China, and while searching for the suspect's residence, the police discovered a computer and took him into custody.

The suspect is believed to have committed the offense of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. However, if the crime is deemed severe, the penalty could be extended to 10 years, and additional penalties may also be imposed.

It is worth noting that ChatGPT is not directly available to users in China due to internet censorship and the Great Firewall. However, users in China can still access ChatGPT through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that bypasses the restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on internet access.

Read Also: ChatGPT Trained on Copyrighted Books! Memorized Harry Potter, Other Novels, New Study Claims

ChatGPT's Ability to Write News Articles

ChatGPT's large language model enables it to generate various responses to prompts and it has consistently shown that it can create news articles. For example, German magazine editor, Anne Hoffmann, was fired for publishing an AI-generated interview with former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.

The tabloid's front page carried the headline, "Michael Schumacher: The first interview!" accompanied by a photo of the retired racing driver. A smaller headline on the same page reads, "It sounds deceptively real."

During April Fools, TechCrunch reported a story about Krablr, a real-time crab pricing engine, developing a generative AI tool that supposedly communicates to crabs and encourages them to breed more and boost yields.

However, the story was generated by ChatGPT and it was meant to be an April Fool's joke.

The case in China highlights the potential dangers of using artificial intelligence for malicious purposes, such as creating and spreading fake news. This highlights the need for better regulations and standards regarding the use of AI technology in journalism and other fields.

Related Article: OpenAI to Introduce New Subscription to ChatGPT-Here's Everything You Need to Know!

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Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new method for determining parts of the genome that are crucial to understanding how species traits of species evolved.



Under the leadership of Andreas Pfenning, an Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science, the Zoonomia Project aims to sequence the entire genomes of 240 mammals.



The aim of this endeavor is to shed light on essential features of genes and traits that carry considerable importance in safeguarding human health and preserving the diversity of species.

The TACIT

To gain a better understanding of how enhancer regions of the genome function, the research team developed a machine-learning approach known as the Tissue-Aware Conservation Inference Toolkit (TACIT).



Enhancers, which are noncoding DNA regions, control the activation of specific genes, playing a crucial role in the evolution of species. Since enhancers account for a significant portion of the genome, their study is essential to understanding evolution.



"TACIT provides an unprecedented opportunity to predict the function of parts of the genome outside of genes in species for which we cannot get primary tissue samples," said Irene Kaplow, a lead author on the paper and a postdoctoral associate and Lane Fellow in CBD.

"As ML methods and methods for identifying enhancers from specific cell types improve, I anticipate that we will be able to broaden the functions of TACIT to provide new kinds of insights into mammalian evolution."

Read Also: Researchers Develop Machine Learning Prescriptions and Reduce 'Antibiotic Resistance' By Half

Genomic Sequences in 240 Mammals

The research team used TACIT to predict the function of genomic sequences in the 240 mammals and subsequently applied it to detect the genomic regions that have evolved for bigger brains in these animals. Their findings revealed that these regions were often located near genes known to be associated with brain-size disorders in humans.



Additionally, the team identified an enhancer linked to social behavior in mammals, which is specific to a particular type of neuron known as the parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneuron.

"We think this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Andreas Pfenning, senior author of the study.

"We found interesting relationships by applying TACIT to a small number of tissues and a small number of traits, but there is still a lot more to discover."

This breakthrough in using machine learning to identify enhancer regions has important implications for conservation biology, as it allows scientists to make predictions about how enhancers function in endangered or threatened species where controlled laboratory experiments are impossible.



By identifying which parts of the genome have evolved for certain traits, scientists can better understand how species have adapted over time and develop new strategies for protecting biodiversity.



The team's findings were published in the journal Science.

Related Article: Biotech Startup Uses Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict the Progress of Cancerous Tumors | How Does it Work

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Is it an eye? Or is it a painting that deserves to be hung at the Louvre? Well, get ready to be amazed by the stunning image of the human retina that looks like an absolute work of art!

Researchers from ETH Zurich and the Universities of Zurich and Basel have created a new method to collect and organize information about organoids, which are small three-dimensional tissues that resemble human organs. They used this method to study the organoids of the human retina.

4i Technology

The scientists used a technique called 4i technology to see many proteins in a small piece of tissue at a high level of detail using fluorescence microscopy. This technique helped them see and study 53 different proteins in a tissue sample, which showed them how the cells in the retina, like rods, cones, and ganglion cells, work.

"This new imaging technique can visualize several dozen proteins in a thin tissue section at high resolution using fluorescence microscopy," said Barbara Treutlein, Professor of Quantitative Developmental Biology at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel.

"We can use this time series to show how the organoid tissue slowly builds up, where which cell types proliferate and when, and where the synapses are located. The processes are comparable to those of retinal formation during embryonic development," said Gray Camp, a professor at the University of Basel and a senior author of the study.

Professor Treutlein explained that the researchers created a series of images and genetic information that shows how retinal organoids develop over 39 weeks. They can change their growth and test drugs on them to learn about healthy tissue and diseases.

The researchers aim to use this approach on other tissues, like different parts of the brain and various tumor tissues, in the future.

Read Also: Researchers Use Machine Learning to Detect Flaws in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Process

Healthy Retina

Currently, the team is examining the development of a healthy retina. However, in the future, they plan to disrupt the development of retinal organoids using drugs or genetic modifications.

This will allow them to gain a better understanding of diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, which causes the light-sensitive receptors in the retina to deteriorate, leading to blindness. The team aims to determine when this process begins and how it can be halted.

The comprehensive map of human organoids and tissues is expected to give crucial knowledge on how human tissue types develop and provide an understanding of the cause and progression of diseases, leading to potential treatments.

The study titled "Multimodal spatiotemporal phenotyping of human retinal organoid development" was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Related Article: The First 'Vagina-on-a-Chip' May Aid Researchers in Testing Drugs for Bacterial Vaginosis

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Marine archaeologists have made a stunning discovery off the coast of Croatia. They found a 7,000-year-old road submerged underwater, connecting the sunken prehistoric settlement of the Hvar culture to the coast of the island of Korcula.

The remains of the road were discovered in undersea mud during underwater archaeological research of the submerged Neolithic site of Soline on the island of Korcula by the University of Zadar.

7,000-year-old Submerged Road

The discovery of the carefully placed stone slabs, which formed a four-meter-wide path connecting the artificial island to the coast, left archaeologists in awe.

The recent radiocarbon analysis of preserved wood uncovered in the last campaign helped to date the entire settlement to approximately 4,900 years before Christ.

The road is incredibly well-preserved, offering an exceptional glimpse into the past when people walked on it nearly 7,000 years ago.

The team also found Neolithic artifacts such as flint blades, stone axes, and fragments of millstones from the underwater ruins, which provide insights into the mysterious Hvar peoples who settled on the islands and coasts of the northeast Adriatic Sea some 7,000 years ago.

The Hvar peoples left behind ornaments, pottery, and evidence of subsistence farming and burial rituals.

Archaeologists are conducting research both underwater and on land near Gradina Bay, which is located near Vela Luka. During the underwater survey at the Soline site, the head of the research, Igor Borzic, observed unusual structures in the sea of the bay.

The archaeological team then inspected the central area of Gradina Bay and discovered a settlement that closely resembled the one at Soline, located 4 to 5 meters below the surface. At this site, the team also uncovered Neolithic artifacts such as flint blades, stone axes, and fragments of millstones.

Read Also: 2,000-Year-Old Cave Art May Suggest that Ice Age Hunter-Gatherers Were the First to Use a Calendar - New Study

Ancient Hvar Culture

The discovery of the submerged road provides crucial insights into the ancient Hvar culture and could change our understanding of prehistoric societies. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and persistence in scientific research, which could lead to further discoveries in the future.

The Hvar people were a Neolithic culture that lived in the area of the eastern Adriatic Sea around 5000 BC. They were known for their advanced skills in agriculture, pottery, and metallurgy.

The Hvar people were skilled farmers, cultivating crops such as wheat, barley, and beans. They also practiced animal husbandry and fishing.

Their settlements were typically located near the coast and were built from stone and wood. The discovery of these underwater ruins near the island of Hvar provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of this ancient culture and its advanced civilization.

The underwater research was a collaboration between multiple scientists and institutions and was led by archaeologist Mate Parica from the University of Zadar, who has been investigating the site for several years.

Related Article: Archaeologists May Have Discovered the Earliest Known Narrative Scene Carved in an 11,000-year-old Neolithic Bench

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A new iPhone battery drain issue has been affecting many Apple users after iOS 16.4.1a arrived.

Affected iOS smartphone owners shared their complaints on Twitter and other social media platforms. Many of them said that their iPhone battery units dropped by 22% in just 46 minutes of usage.

Others complained that their iOS smartphone's power lost 30% after 30 minutes.

Aside from the battery drain issue, iPhone owners also experience overheating issues. Because of these problems, numerous Apple consumers are now considering ditching iPhones for good.

New iPhone Battery Drain Issue Appears After iOS 16.4.1a Arrives!

According to the Daily Mail UK's latest report, the latest iPhone battery drain and overheating issues are allegedly caused by the iOS 16.4.1a update.

Also Read: Samsung's Galaxy F54 5G Runs on Android 13 OS, Exynos 1380 Chipset: Report

"Bro, this last IOS update is actually BLEEDING my battery," said one of the affected iOS smartphone users.

Another iPhone owner tagged the official Apple Support Twitter account on his tweet. He said that ever since the release of iOS 16.0.1 and the latest update, iOS 16.4.1a, iPhones have suffered from device overheating and battery drains.

The iPhone complained that Apple should already know these problems by now, and yet the company hasn't made any efforts to fix these issues.

CNET reported that the new iOS 16.4.1a is Apple's first iPhone Rapid Security Response update. It provides important security fixes, which are really recommended for all users.

Because of this, many experts concluded that this latest update triggers lots of changes within the iPhone's software. This means that it will require a lot of power to complete all the updates.

Why iOS 16.4.1a Consumes Lots of Power?

The latest iOS 16.4.1a is not the only iOS software update that requires lots of battery power. Tech experts stated that new iOS software versions would install lots of changes on an iPhone. Some of them could take hours or even days just to complete the entire change.

Aside from software changes, new iOS versions also tend to recalibrate iPhone batteries. This could give the impression that the battery is draining more rapidly than usual.

However, if the battery drain problem lasts for weeks, then it is definitely an issue that should be resolved by Apple.

In other news, experts claimed that some users could be scrolling iPhones the wrong way. We also reported about the Apple trade-in value increase for iPhones and other gadgets this 2023.

For more news updates about iPhones and other Apple devices, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Apple Launches Rapid Security Responses for iOS, iPadOS, macOS-but Why?

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The Australian government has recently proposed a multibillion-dollar defense budget for the fiscal year 2023, allocating AU$ 4.5 billion (US$3.5 billion) over the next decade for procuring nuclear submarine capability.

This has been one of the most important discussions recently held in the nation's capital, where thousands are already protesting the procurement of nuclear submarines.

Why Is Australia Considering Purchasing Nuclear Submarines?

Nikkei Asia tells us that the move is part of a three-way security agreement between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia called AUKUS.

With the agreement, the Australian government intends to purchase three Virginia-class submarines from the U.S. by the early 2030s and has the option to purchase two more if necessary.

It also plans to increase its state-of-the-art equipment, including nuclear submarines and long-range missiles, to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The government intends to boost its defense capabilities as part of the Defense Strategic Review by introducing long-range missiles with a range of roughly 500 kilometers.

The public, on the other hand, is concerned about where the extra defense spending will come from. The government intends to spend 0.15% of Australia's GDP to acquire nuclear submarines.

Australian officials have also lately commented on how the country should respond to China's expanding influence in the region, which has heightened political tensions between China and the United States.

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Alex Bristow, "Effective deterrence is expensive but necessary because China is destabilizing our region with its rapid, non-transparent military buildup and coercive conduct."

New Defense Purchase Faces Opposition

Reuters reports that thousands of people rallied against a potential nuclear-powered submarine station at Port Kembla, the Defense Department's choice site for a new east-coast submarine port, despite the government's desire to acquire nuclear submarines.

Read Also: UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Renews Alarm Over 'Potentially Dangerous' Situation at Ukraine Nuclear Plant

The protest is part of a series of protests against the AUKUS military treaty signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The defense minister, Richard Marles, has attempted to alleviate concerns regarding acquiring nuclear submarines and the government's defense budget.

In parliament, he stated that "almost 99 percent of our trade by volume passes by sea." While the Australian government claims that AUKUS will create 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years, it will also strengthen Australia's reliance on nuclear submarine technology developed in the United States.

Australia is the world's fourth-largest importer of arms, purchasing over 70% of its weapons from the United States, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Nikkei Asia tells us that since the country lacks nuclear power plants and nuclear engineers, it will have to rely on professionals from other countries to cover capacity gaps, particularly early on. The government intends to address this issue by teaching Australians in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: UK Royal Navy Starts Probe as 'Hunter Killer' Submarine Secrets Found in Public Toilet

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Tesla has already begun construction on its new lithium refinery in Texas, with the goal of producing enough battery-grade lithium to generate one million electric cars (EVs) per year by 2025, making the company the largest North American processor of the material.

What the Massive Lithim Refinery Means for Tesla

Tesla will be able to refine its lithium at the factory, making it the only major manufacturer in North America to do so.

It is also important to note that the United States was once the most prominent lithium refinery force in the 1990s before economies like China eclipsed its production.

Reuters tells us that the decision represents a substantial divergence from Tesla's core emphasis on automotive manufacturing and demonstrates its ambition to fulfill its lofty EV sales targets.

CEO Elon Musk noted at the groundbreaking ceremony, "As we look ahead a few years, a fundamental choke point in the advancement of electric vehicles is the availability of battery-grade lithium."

He went on to say that the corporation planned to finish building the factory next year and begin full production a year later.

According to WEF data, China, the third-largest lithium producer, has a firm foothold in the supply chain.

In addition to developing domestic mines, Chinese corporations have acquired approximately $5.6 billion in lithium assets in Chile, Canada, and Australia over the past decade. It also holds 60% of the world's lithium refining capacity.

How Tesla Will Handle the Lithium Refining Process

Texas Governor Greg Abbott attended the ceremony and expressed his support for the project, saying, "Texas wants to be able to be self-reliant, not dependent upon any foreign hostile nation for what we need. We need lithium."

Although Musk did not specify how much lithium the factory would handle each year, he did state that the automaker would continue to purchase the metal from its vendors.

Read Also: Tesla Unveils New Teaser for Cybertruck, Equipped with New Tool Rack

One of these is Albemarle, which plans to develop a lithium processing facility in South Carolina to refine 100,000 tonnes of the metal annually. Construction is planned to begin next year, and the project is expected to open later this decade.

Reuters reports that Tesla will forego the lithium industry's traditional refining process, which depends on sulfuric acid and other harsh chemicals, in favor of environmentally friendly materials such as soda ash.

Musk claims that Tesla's approach uses fewer dangerous reagents and produces useable byproducts compared to the standard procedure.

Tesla Brings the Business to Texas

CNBC tells us that the business intends to build "facilities to support other types of battery materials processing, refining, and manufacturing, as well as ancillary manufacturing operations in support of Tesla's sustainable product line."

Tesla's refinery is part of a larger goal to create a closed-loop supply chain for its batteries.

This is not Tesla's first attempt to enter the lithium production market. Musk told shareholders in 2020 that Tesla had won the rights to 10,000 acres in Nevada, where it planned to mine lithium from clay deposits, which had never been done commercially before.

Tesla has been growing its activities in Texas in addition to the new lithium plant. In 2021, the firm relocated its headquarters from California, and Musk's other companies, including SpaceX and The Boring firm, also have operations in Texas.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Tesla: US Senators Call Out Elon Musk for Using Arbitration on Employees and Customer Complaints Alike

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A groundbreaking IVF procedure known as mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT) has led to the birth of the first UK baby created with DNA from three people, The Guardian reports.

What is MDT?

MDT uses healthy tissue from female donors to develop IVF embryos free of dangerous mutations that biological mothers possess and may pass on to their children.

MDT includes merging the biological parents' sperm and eggs with tiny structures called mitochondria from the donor's egg, resulting in a kid with DNA from the mother and father and a small amount of genetic material from the donor.

The mitochondrial genes must function properly for any cell to work properly. Mitochondria with gene mutations can result in severe medical conditions known as mitochondrial disease, hence the need for the procedure.

Pioneering MDT Research

Doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre pioneered MDT research to assist women with faulty mitochondria to bear babies without the risk of passing on hereditary illnesses.

Only Newcastle Fertility Centre currently has a license to perform research and treat patients using mitochondrial donation procedures.

Read Also: New Gene Discovery May Lead to Reversible, Non-hormonal Male Contraceptive

Natural conception is frequently a gamble for affected women since dangerous mutations in the cell's powerhouse can impact all of their children.

Mitochondria provide energy to the cells that comprise our organs. Mutations that disrupt the mitochondria are more likely to impair energy-hungry tissues such as the brain, heart, muscles, and liver. These can worsen inexorably as a youngster grows.

According to research, the minimum point prevalence of clinically affected adults with mitochondrial disease caused by either the mitochondrial or nuclear genome is 12.5 in 100,000. In contrast, the prevalence of all pathogenic mutations in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA is 23 in 100,000.

Is the procedure legal in the United Kingdom?

The Guardian tells us that the operation was approved on a case-by-case basis by the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which approved at least 30 cases.

Because of concerns regarding patient confidentiality, doctors at the Newcastle clinic have not revealed information about births from their MDT program. However, the HFEA acknowledged that a small number of babies had been born in the UK following MDT.

The epidemic significantly slowed the treatment program, discouraging some donors and affecting couples wanting to proceed with the therapy.

Risks of the Procedure

The treatment, however, is not without danger. A recent study has discovered that in some situations, the small number of defective mitochondria that are unavoidably passed over from the mother's egg to the donor egg might increase in the womb and cause a condition in the child.

Women who have mitochondrial mutations can prevent passing on illnesses by adopting or using donor eggs in IVF. Alternatively, affected mothers can have their IVF embryos checked for mitochondrial abnormalities to have genetically related offspring.

Though helpful in many situations, this lessens the risk rather than eliminating it, and it cannot help when all of a woman's embryos have significantly altered mitochondria.

Although clinical experience with MRT has been positive, the number of documented cases is insufficient to draw firm conclusions on safety or efficacy.

Related Article: Scientists Engineer Cells to Stop Aging-Steps Toward Immortality?

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KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 18:44 | All, Japan, World

Japan is arranging a visit by the Group of Seven leaders' partners to a museum dedicated to documenting the 1945 U.S. nuclear attack on Hiroshima, and a meeting with atomic bomb survivors on the sidelines of the G-7 summit starting next week in the city, government sources said Tuesday.

A similar program is also being arranged for the G-7 leaders, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hoping to use the summit, to be held in his home constituency of Hiroshima in western Japan, to add fresh impetus to nuclear disarmament efforts toward achieving his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.

The sources believe that the visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum are important for creating momentum toward nuclear disarmament, as the leaders' decision-making could be influenced by their partners' views.

The museum displays belongings of the atomic bomb victims, photos and other materials to show the devastation of the world's first nuclear attack. The atomic bomb that was dropped on Aug. 6, 1945, killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of that year.

Kishida's wife Yuko, a native of Hiroshima Prefecture, will guide her counterparts, hoping to demonstrate their "desire for peace" to the international community, according to the sources.

It is customary for a G-7 host nation to prepare a program for the leaders' partners.

A visit to the Hiroshima museum was not included in an earlier version of the itinerary for the leaders' partners on the sidelines of the three-day summit from May 19.

On the first day, the spouses will experience a traditional tea ceremony and take part in a symposium to discuss peace issues with young people, according to the Foreign Ministry.

They will also take part in a makeup event with traditional Kumano brushes produced in Hiroshima Prefecture.

On the following day, the leaders' partners will visit Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island that has a torii gate built in the Seto Inland Sea which appears to float during high tide.

Regarded as one of Japan's three most scenic places, Itsukushima Shrine was registered by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1996.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: Japan's "sherpa" key negotiator for G-7 summit success

Hiroshima, Nagasaki: Apocalyptic Moments

FEATURE: Young Hiroshima activists challenge lawmakers to back nuke ban
Recipes for Berlanga paellas, one of the most famous in Madrid

Elon Musk has hired a woman to replace him at the head of Twitter

INFO EUROPE 1  The French in the sights of the Chinese crooks of Sihanoukville, Eldorado of the online scam

"Reduced by more than half in a century and a half": Russian scientists have found out the speed and scale of melting of Altai glaciers

Elon Musk gives up his place as CEO of Twitter to advertising Linda Yaccarino

The week of God Tweeter: from the beginning of the electoral campaign to Pablo Motos in gayumbos

Security drills in the waters around the venue ahead of the start of the G7 Hiroshima Summit

Work styles after the transition to Class 5 Some companies are returning to the office while penetrating remotely

Woman with Disabilities Determined to Start a Business and Chase Her Dreams Drive Nearly 500 People with Disabilities to Employment-China News Network Video

He ascended the throne of the Mamluk state at the end of its life and ended up hanged at the gates of Cairo. Mamluk Sultan Tuman Bey

Blanca Paloma, after the Eurovision disappointment: "This is a contest that depends on factors that escape us"

Soft or hard? Daily or monthly? Keys to get the most suitable contact lenses right

What it means to dream of spiders, according to psychology

Kenta Maeda is expected to return in a few weeks and talks about future plans

Face value ceiling? From the workplace to the professional arena, football changed her life

One-sided CBA Finals, you can even take time out to listen to a concert

Riding the east wind of the Asian Games, how far will the Glory of Kings event fly?

A click on the nose: "Russia 25" won all the matches against Belarus in Krasnoyarsk and Tula in the May tournament

The town that gave birth to two yokozuna First women's sumo tournament in four years Fukushima, Hokkaido

Debate on the significance of the Olympics and Paralympics: Mr. Kunieda "An opportunity to learn about parasports"

The expert on Lindgren's start: "I really believe in Fredrik this year"

Criticism of the World Cup organizer  saws the mood: "Like in a church on a Sunday"

Hammarby's August Mikkelsen on which country has the best supporters: "Never experienced before"

Three times less than in Europe: annual inflation in Russia for the first time in three years fell to 2.31%

The Cabinet of Ministers submitted to the State Duma for ratification an agreement between Russia and China in the field of gas supplies

Gather consensus and pool strength The three provinces of Xiang, Zhejiang and Lu jointly explore regional cooperation in construction machinery

"Five female doctors" at the bottom: advertisements have been "counterfeited" by Peking University

How to learn children's programming in the AI 2.0 era? Spark programming gives the answer

Truce between Israel and Gaza after five days of war and 35 dead

Tourism: the French are already preparing their summer holidays for the happiness of professionals

Foreign companies invest in Zhejiang and deepen development, and the Chinese market continues to release the "gravitational effect"

When will the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections be announced in Turkey?

Ayuso will give aid of 3600 euros to the parents of twins and 5,400 to those of triplets

From the general secretary to the field, look at the "addition and subtraction" of food security

Rogov called the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny about plans for Crimea and Donbass auto-training

Al-Quds Brigades issues a list of the names of its martyrs and their positions during the Israeli aggression on Gaza

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong condemned the US "report" to smear the Hong Kong National Security Law and the SAR's judicial system

220 booster measures have been implemented in ten years Zhejiang united front has boosted the construction of "double demonstration" in Jiashan Province

Thousands of demonstrators protest in Seville against the regularization of irrigation in the surroundings of Donana

INFO EUROPE 1 - A drone intercepted just before flying over the Lantern where Emmanuel Macron was

Lucy, the blind and neurodivergent pianist who played at the coronation of Charles III

Express route through Malagadir, the megacity in southern Spain that has it all

Malagadir, the European California where we all want to live: "It doesn't make you feel like a tacky nouveau riche"

Russia returned to the top ten largest world economies for the first time since 2014

The European Parliament called on the EU to reconsider the amount of subsidies to Serbia because of Russia's support

"Mohammed" becomes the most popular name for male babies in Berlin. So what about female names?

How you will be affected if there is a train strike  Oresund trains worst affected

US Time magazine Prime Minister Kishida is introduced on the cover of "I hope my country becomes a military power"

Virginia von Furstenberg, granddaughter of Agnelli, dies after falling from a high floor of the Palace Hotel in Merano

Its effectiveness does not exceed 40%. This is how the resistance rockets destroyed the legend of Iron Dome

Thousands of demonstrators protest in Seville against the regularization of irrigation in the surroundings of Donana

Battles continue in Khartoum and expectations of the resumption of Jeddah negotiations today between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support

Blanca Paloma, after the Eurovision disappointment: "This is a contest that depends on factors that escape us"

When will the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections be announced in Turkey?

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

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China warns Europe against sanctions on its companies over Ukraine war

Highlights: The European Union is set to impose new sanctions on Russia. The sanctions are in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea. The move is seen as a threat to the sovereignty of the Russian Federation. The EU is also set to introduce new sanctions against Russia for its annexation of the Crimea peninsula. The new sanctions are expected to be imposed by the end of the year. The European Commission is expected to announce the new sanctions in mid-January. The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis, with a view to a possible extension of the sanctions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang has warned that China will "retaliate" any EU sanctions imposed on Chinese companies over their dealings with Russia.
The 31st edition of Samoter construction machinery exhibition ended on a successful note at Veronafiere after attracting more than 40,000 specialist visitors from 91 countries during the five-day event, with Germany, Spain and France clinching the top three places in terms of number of arrivals.

There was also good attendance from Asia, Africa, North and South America, said the event organisers.

Business, innovation, internationalisation and training were the key topics at Samoter this year.

The event brought together 536 exhibiting companies at the Verona Exhibition Centre, 115 international from 23 countries, with the return of major players in the sector such as CGT Caterpillar and Hitachi.

The 31st edition of Samoter had a strong focus on the implementation of new technologies in the construction world to help it become increasingly competitive and sustainable.

Visitors therefore had the chance see the machinery of the future at work in the new dynamic exhibition area that made its debut this year: Il Cantiere Digitale-The Digital Construction Site within the scope of the Samoter LAB project, said the statement.

In addition to business that included more than 500 B2B meetings set up by companies with more over 106 foreign top buyers from 36 countries selected by Veronafiere and ICE-Trade Agency, Samoter confirmed its status as a trade fair with great content, thanks to more than 80 training initiatives and educational activities organised with high-profile technical-scientific partners.

The central role of Samoter in Italy's industrial site and construction machinery and equipment value chain, in addition to the excellent attendance and operator satisfaction, was also confirmed by institutions: the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, inaugurated the event, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, highlighted how Samoter is a full part of the integrated promotion strategies abroad for Italian companies.

The next edition of Samoter is scheduled to be held from May 6 to 9 in 2026.

On the overwhelming success, Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, said: "Returning successfully to the field after 6 years of absence because of the pandemic was not so obvious for a triennial event. Nonetheless, Samoter 2023 achieved its goal with an edition that proved to be a full-scale tool for doing business, opening up new markets and getting to know the latest news for companies and many operators arriving from abroad."

"It means that we worked well as organizers, as a team with Institutions, the local area, the ICE-Trade Agency, all the most important associations in the sectors covered by the show and our exhibitors who understood the value of being part of the Samoter community," stated Bricolo.

Maurizio Danese, Managing Director of Veronafiere, said the very positive results posted by the 31st Samoter is proof that exhibitors and buyers have understood and appreciated the new format of the event.

"Innovation was the central theme of this edition, which also welcomed the debut of two new areas dedicated to the technological revolution that represents the future of construction machinery," he noted.

"We wanted to put the exponents of this sector and their needs even closer to the heart of the event by designing Samoter to ensure it was worth every euro and minute invested by exhibitors and visitors," remarked Danese.

"We are already working with Unacea on the next edition - which will certainly build on this experience, especially as regards the digital construction site and the world of sustainability," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 20:38 | All, World

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused the West of sowing discord and unleashing a "real war" against his homeland during his speech at an annual event marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

In a public address during Victory Day celebrations at Red Square in central Moscow, the second since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, Putin said the war has placed the world at a "turning point" that will determine his country's fate as he called on his people to unite.

Putin stressed his intention to persist in the invasion of Ukraine, saying Russia's future depends on those engaged in the military operation.

Russia's presidential office said last week that the Kremlin had been the target of an attack by two Ukrainian drones, condemning it as an assassination attempt on Putin.

Moscow was on high alert this year, with road closures beginning in central areas from the morning. Military parades were canceled in over 20 Russian cities amid heightened security concerns over possible Ukrainian counterattacks, according to local media.

A military parade featuring over 10,000 personnel and a display of military equipment, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and other state-of-the-art weaponry, were also part of the ceremony.

But the traditional flyover was reportedly scrapped for the second year in a row. Russia canceled it last year, citing unfavorable weather.

The parade was attended by the leaders of five other post-Soviet states in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance.

Victory Day is considered one of the most patriotic dates on the Russian calendar, with events held nationwide. It has been celebrated with increasing fanfare under the Putin administration.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that his country will henceforth celebrate Victory Day on May 8 in line with other European countries rather than on the same day as Russia.
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 21:41 | All, Travel/Tourism

Visiting Japanese actress Haruna Kawaguchi was named Taiwan's latest goodwill ambassador Tuesday to attract more tourists from Japan after COVID travel curbs were lifted, according to the island's Tourism Bureau.

Commending the food in Taiwan and the friendliness and kindness of the Taiwanese people, Kawaguchi said at a press conference in Taipei she is "very happy and honored" to be the island's tourism ambassador to promote its charms to Japanese people. She was on her second visit to the island.

With entry restrictions lifted and tourists back in Taiwan after more than two and a half years of border controls, the Tourism Bureau's Deputy Director General Trust H.J. Lin said Kawaguchi will work on an approximate five-day video shoot in Taiwan for the Japanese market.

"While in Taiwan, I hope she tries all the food she wants to eat, sees beautiful sights and scenery, and is involved in the activities she likes, so she can send to Japan through video footage the emotions she experienced," Lin said.

The actress will promote Taiwan in commercials to be aired in Japan from July, according to the bureau.

In 2019, over 2.16 million trips were made by Japanese visitors to Taiwan. Between January and April this year, about 1.63 million trips in total have been made by international visitors to the island, with South Korea and Japan being the top two sources of overseas tourists, data from the bureau showed.

Kawaguchi is known for starring in Japanese TV drama "Ouran High School Host Club" and horror film "P.O.V. - A Cursed Film." Past goodwill ambassadors to promote tourism in Taiwan include Japanese actress Masami Nagasawa and Taiwanese model and actress Lin Chi-ling.
Franciscan High School in Baton Rouge shown here Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. The Catholic high school known for its work-school model announced on May 5 it is closing after seven years in operation. For six of those years it was known as Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School.
Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, who's trying to become the next House clerk when current House clerk Butch Speer retires at the end of the year, appears before the Board of Ethics scheduled monthly meeting in the Labelle Room of the Lasalle Building Friday April 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. Landry was accompanied by her attorneys Alesia Ardoin and Gray Sexton.
The Bott family has their child safety seats checks by Daisy Trimble, left, and Shelby Gale, second from left, the annual Back the Blue Family Fun Day at Cajun Harley-Davidson Motorcycles on Saturday, September 21, 2019 in Scott, La.. Residents came out to support the men and women that protect and serve and there was face painting, fun jump, LoweOs build and grow clinic for the kids, safety seat checks, dunk-a-cop, finger printing with LPSO, Lafayette PD mounted patrol, units from all departments.
I'm a big movie fan. I'm not an obsessive film buff who can recall the year, producer, director and cast of every movie I've seen. And I can't recite movie lines other than the obvious, everyone-knows lines such as "I'll be back," "I'll have what she's having," or "Bye Felicia."
KYODO NEWS - May 9, 2023 - 21:30 | Sports, All

About 90 skaters from 14 countries are scheduled to take part in a new international skateboarding event, Tokyo Uprising, at Tokyo's Ariake Arena for three days from May 26, Rakuten Group Inc. said Tuesday.

The event is a collaboration between Olympic men's street champion Yuto Horigome and the e-commerce company, which said Tokyo Olympic women's street gold medalist Momiji Nishiya and bronze medalist Funa Nakayama will be among those taking part.

Amateur skaters from around the world will also compete.

With fashion and music events also planned, senior Rakuten official Takafumi Oba said, "We want this to be a cultural event, rather than just a skateboarding meet."
With his steadily deteriorating hearing, Robert Christie of Cleveland (Qld) considers himself a bit of a lip-reader. All the talk of what Charles was saying in the royal carriage set me a challenge. It looked like he was singing along to Android Carriage-Play, and by my best estimation he was singing either Werewolves of London or Do Wah Diddy Diddy. Its a close call; I could stand corrected.

Also trying to get a read, Joy Cooksey of Harrington reckons, The long wait before reaching the top of the line to the throne would be the reason for any new monarchs strained expression.

Correspondents calling for the return of the Stuarts to the British throne (C8) raise an interesting prospect, thinks Oliver Brown of Maroubra. The 1701 Act of Settlement barred Catholics from the throne, but without that, the Jacobite heir would be Franz, Duke of Bavaria: an 89-year-old German (interned in World War II as the family was opposed to the Nazis, to their credit) in a same-sex relationship and avowedly not pursuing any claim to the British throne. Would there be enough ink on Earth to print the frenzy royal-watchers would go into if that came to pass?

Readers are continuing to dish up cheap meal memories (C8). Phil Devitt of Normanhurst recalls: While at university in the 70s, the meals provided at one of the venues were quite cheap and always filling. There were very few leftovers. Breakfast was spaghetti on toast. Lunch was meatballs and spaghetti, and dinner was curried meatballs and spaghetti.

Helen Lyons-Riley of Springwood continues the spaghetti trend: Forty-five years ago my brother was in Manly Hospital. One Sunday the menu offered spaghetti bolognese or spaghetti with meat sauce.
The development lobby is pushing Premier Chris Minns to abolish or dramatically overhaul the Greater Cities Commission, accusing the planning body of being obsessed with jargon and slamming it over inaction and accountability.

Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest  a former Labor staffer will unleash a tirade against the commission at an event on Wednesday, saying that instead of focusing on the core business of housing targets, it has established a utopian agenda of sweeping cliched platitudes such as the 30-minute city, liveability and celebration of the arts.

Planning Minister Paul Scully, outgoing chief commissioner Geoff Roberts and Urban Taskforce boss Tom Forrest. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer; Louie Douvis; Nikki Short

The attack comes as the new state government debates what to do with the commission, which was formerly called the Greater Sydney Commission and was created by the former Liberal government (with Labors support). Chief commissioner Geoff Roberts, who replaced Lucy Turnbull in the role, will step down on June 30.

Urban Taskforce  which represents large developers  asked two academics to analyse the commissions Three Cities plan for Sydney. Leslie Stein and Evan Jones, both former government planners, found the plan was stymied and confused, used vague language and lacked the necessary government support to accomplish its vision.
Owners of Melbournes legal e-cigarette stores say they could be forced out of business by the federal governments proposed vape ban.

Council data shows there are at least 58 vape businesses in metropolitan Melbourne. Some of those business owners say their livelihoods will be ruined by the new laws, which could leave them holding thousands of dollars worth of suddenly illegal stock.

There are up to 30 dedicated vape stores in the City of Melbourne, including this outlet on Swanston Street. Credit: Penny Stephens

Other than pharmacists, retailers will not be able to sell any vape products  whether disposable or non-disposable, containing nicotine or not  under a ban announced by federal Health Minister Mark Butler last week.

Nicotine vapes are already illegal without a doctors prescription, but legal loopholes and weak enforcement have allowed sales to flourish under the counter as well as online.
A favoured maxim of the generally very sound Justice Antonin Scalia, late of the Supreme Court of the United States, was that the rule of law is the law of rules.

There is no compendium of laws or rules more important than our Constitution.

Credit: Simon Letch

Australias basic law, operating since our Federation in 1901, is a monarchical and federal compact, with important democratic aspects. Our Constitution is for the governance of an enormous country and its territories.

Structurally, our Constitution provides for an elected parliament in Chapter I to make our laws, for the Crown and its ministers and officials in Chapter II to administer our laws, and for the judiciary and courts in Chapter III to adjudicate our laws.
Islamabad: Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan is due to appear at an anti-corruption tribunal on Wednesday after his dramatic arrest sparked violent clashes and prompted his supporters to protest outside the militarys headquarters.

Khan was arrested on Tuesday by paramilitary troops on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, an autonomous anti-corruption agency, relating to a case involving a land deal. He was moved to its headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi for questioning late into the night as angry protests erupted across the country.

Angry Imran Khan supporters set fires during a protest against his arrest on Tuesday. Police used tear gas to disperse them. Credit: AP

The Islamabad High Court said late on Tuesday that the arrest was legal, according Khans lawyer, Intazar Hussain Panjutha. Khans legal team intends to challenge his detention and any request from the NAB to keep him in custody, Panjutha added.

Khans arrest comes a day after the powerful military rebuked him for repeatedly accusing a senior military officer of trying to engineer his assassination and the former armed forces chief of being behind his removal from power last year.
Kyiv: Russia fired cruise missiles at Kyiv on Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin paraded troops across Moscows Red Square to mark the annual celebration of victory in World War II.

In a fiery 10-minute speech in front of the Kremlin, Putin thundered against Western global elites and said civilisation was at a decisive turning point.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his Victory Day speech on Red Square. Credit: Kremlin pool photo via AP

A real war has been unleashed against our homeland, said the Russian leader, who last year ordered what the West calls an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, destroying cities and killing thousands of civilians.

Underlining how the war has isolated Russia from most of Europe and pushed Ukraine closer to the West, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was visiting Kyiv, where she called Ukraine the beating heart of todays European values.
New York: Donald Trumps friendship with ex-Fox News giant Roger Ailes has been thrown into the spotlight in the rape case against him and used to portray the former president as a serial liar whose denials should not be believed.

At the end of a two-week trial that could upend Trumps chances at the 2024 election, lawyers for writer E. Jean Carroll also told the jury that her alleged assault was consistent with his alleged modus operandi  to flirt with women in a friendly way and then force himself on them without their consent.

E. Jean Carroll (centre) leaves federal court in New York on Monday. Credit: AP

Thats who Donald Trump is, said lawyer Roberta Kaplan, reminding the court of Trumps now infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which he was caught on a hot mic bragging about grabbing women by the pussy.

Trump has consistently denied Carrolls allegations, which centre on claims that he raped her in Manhattan department store Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s and then defamed her by accusing her of a hoax when she went public with the allegations in 2019.
Driving and Smoking

We all have our own idea of what relaxation looks like.

Of course, going on holiday to your favourite getaway destination is a great way to relax, as well as a great opportunity to really pamper yourself and indulge in all of your favourite vices.



Naturally, you'll need a way to get around, and expensive taxis and crowded public transport isn't always the best option.



A rental car opens up plenty more opportunities to enjoy your holiday.



A long, relaxing drive through a new country is a great way to get to grips with the culture. Even a slightly overwhelming journey through a busy city brings the opportunity to learn new road signs, immersing yourself in new road etiquette.



However, if you enjoy a cigarette, these scenarios might sound like the perfect time to light one up, but is it?



Of course, putting the cigarettes away until you've parked the car is the best choice, as having your hands preoccupied with a cigarette can become dangerous when you're behind the wheel!



The last thing you want is a brush with law enforcement in a foreign country.



To help you avoid this, so you can relax in peace, we decided to do the hard part for you and delve into the complicated laws and policies surrounding smoking and driving across the world.



So if you're planning your next getaway, or you booked your own rental to get to your international business meetings, read on to find out which countries are cracking down on smoking and driving.



Not all countries have an easy-to-follow, strict no smoking policy. Some have different specifications that are important to remain mindful of before sparking up at the wheel. You might want to blast the air conditioning if you're considering lighting up behind the wheel in Singapore. Their laws dictate that whilst smoking is allowed in private vehicles, no secondhand tobacco smoke can be expelled. So, get winding up those windows before smoking if you want to avoid a brush with the law.



Driving in a stressful environment, such as a new country, can really make those nicotine cravings spike. But, if you're in France, remember to keep those cigarettes tucked away if you have any passengers under the age of 12.



If you do happen to feel the need for nicotine, and you fancy having a quick bite to eat to keep the cravings at bay, be prepared for an on the spot fine of 50. Motorists in France are forbidden from eating whilst driving!



France isn't the only country that specifically says 'no smoking with any passengers under 12'.



Greece and Luxembourg both specify that drivers cannot smoke behind the wheel with any passenger who is under the age of 12 in the car.



In fact, Luxembourg law dictates that smoking is prohibited in playgrounds and sporting venues in which children under the age of 16 are playing. It also says that you cannot smoke in private vehicles in which children under the age of 12 are present. Of course, if you're smoking in a car, it's not always just you who's breathing in cigarette fumes.



Several countries across the world have implemented strict laws that dictate when you can and can't smoke in your car.



It's not always completely clear, and the age cut-off for passengers you can smoke around often varies from country to country.



In fact, in Poland, their laws forbid smoking for drivers with passengers, with the exception of passenger cars and trucks. But, there is no age limit for these passengers.



However, in Cyprus, the ban on smoking in cars applies when people under the age of 16 are travelling in the vehicle. Make sure you follow these rules if you're looking for a family trip to the idyllic island, as you'll face a fine of up to 85 euros if you break the law.



Keeping on top of the new laws is also key. The age limit is much higher in New Zealand, in comparison to Cyprus, as in June 2020, the country banned smoking in any vehicle carrying a person under 18 years old.



Here is a complete list of countries whose laws restrict smoking in cars that are carrying passengers, including minors:



South Africa

Luxembourg

Poland

Cyprus

Greece

Italy

New Zealand

Australia

Mauritius

France

Ireland

Belgium

Denmark

Austria

Malaysia

Qatar

Well, some countries have gone the extra mile, and completely banned the smoking of cigarettes behind the wheel, no matter the circumstances.



The penalties for breaking this law varies from country to country.



In Argentina, smoking while driving is illegal, as well as listening to music through headphones and using a mobile phone. So make sure you keep your hands on the wheel if you're planning a car journey in this country!



Jordan has the same laws, as new traffic laws dictate that drivers may not smoke or use a mobile phone at the wheel.



Some countries ruled out smoking behind the wheel a long time ago; for example, Iran has had a smoking ban for all car drivers since 2006



Other countries, including Armenia, Turkmenistan, Honduras and Burkina Faso, all have a complete ban on smoking behind the wheel, no matter the circumstances.

Smoking and driving in the United States

Of course, whilst many of these countries have issued a nationwide ban, or restricted when you can smoke whilst driving, it can vary depending on which area of the country you're in.



All 50 states in America have their own state laws, which can cause trouble if you're not up to date on which state you're in and what their rules dictate.



So, whilst a road trip across America has probably featured on the majority of people's bucket lists, you might want to double-check where you can spark one up.



Some states do allow smoking behind the wheel, regardless of the circumstances. These include West Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska and Iowa.



They're not the only states that allow you to spark up whilst driving, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Indiana, South Dakota, Indiana and Ohio do as well.



Of course, much like other countries, the US has states that have brought in laws to protect passengers from second-hand smoke.



The following states have specifications in their laws that dictate you can't smoke when carrying underage passengers:



Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Utah

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

New York

Texas

Virginia

Hawaii

California

Washington

Arkansas

Oregon

Vermont

Maine

So, if you're in a traffic jam and you're starting to feel those nicotine cravings, make sure you're up to speed before grabbing your lighter.



If you're planning a road trip and you know you're going to have a few drinks in the evenings, why not start studying the drink driving limits from around the world, here?



The smoking and driving laws and regulations were correct when this research was carried out between the 15th-19th of March 2021.
Nasrullah Khan, a 42-year-old Pakistani mechanic who worked in Sudan, experienced the real adversity of life when sitting anguished and penniless in Port Sudan in recent days.

Now safely in his home in Swabi, Pakistan, he recalled the intense and moving experience, saying that the Pakistan-China ironclad friendship helped him out of danger.

According to China's Ministry of National Defense, 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.







Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Palestinians mourn at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 9, 2023. Israeli drones bombed two targets early Tuesday in Gaza city and the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, killing at least three Islamic Jihad militants, Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses said.

Primary medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that at least three people were killed in the airstrikes on the two buildings. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli drones bombed two targets early Tuesday in Gaza city and the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, killing at least three Islamic Jihad militants, Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses said.

The two targeted buildings, they said, belong to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. And two explosions were heard, and Israeli army drones kept hovering over the coastal enclave.

Ambulances arrived and transported victims, the sources said, adding that big damage occurred in the two buildings and flames were seen rising from the targeted places.

Primary medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that at least three people were killed in the airstrikes on the two buildings.

They said the first target was a residential apartment in the "Dawood" tower in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, and the other was a building in Rafah town. 

Palestinians inspect a damaged house following an Israeli airstrike, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A fire breaks out at an apartment following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A fire breaks out at an apartment following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the looting of the main compound of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, over the weekend, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"The secretary-general reiterates the need for parties to protect and respect humanitarian workers and facilities, including hospitals," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for Guterres, said in a statement.

"Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in order to save lives," he added.

In the statement, Haq noted that the looting of the WFP compound was the latest violation of humanitarian facilities since the start of the crisis in Sudan, which is in its fourth week.

Most, if not all, UN agencies and its humanitarian partners have been impacted by large-scale looting, said Haq. 
Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

The health ministry in Gaza said in a statement that the killed in the attack also include women, children, and additional individuals who were in the vicinity of the airstrikes.

JERUSALEM/GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets on Tuesday morning intensified airstrikes on military targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 20 others, said the Palestinian health ministry.

Palestinian security officials in Gaza told Xinhua that the airstrikes were carried out against buildings, military facilities, and posts mainly in the towns of Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip and in Gaza City.

An Israeli army spokesman said in a press statement that the Israeli army launched the military operation "Shield and Arrow" against the PIJ militants in the Gaza Strip, which is ongoing.

In a joint operation of the army and the General Security Service, "PIJ commander in northern Gaza, a PIJ leader responsible for directing activities in the West Bank from Gaza, and the secretary of the military council of PIJ were all eliminated," the statement said.

A relative of a Palestinian child, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, mourns at the morgue of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the three PIJ leaders who were killed in the operation were "an undermining factor for security stability."

The Israeli army also said that according to an assessment of the situation, the army had ordered Israeli residents living close to the Gaza Strip to stay near bomb shelters at a distance of 40 km for fear of rocket fire from Gaza.

Citing possible retaliatory rockets from Gaza, Israel suspended the train service in the southern cities near Gaza. In many communities, local municipalities opened shelters, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized a call-up of reserve soldiers.

Palestinians mourn at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

The health ministry in Gaza said in a statement that the killed in the attack also include women, children, and additional individuals who were in the vicinity of the airstrikes. At least 20 other people were injured as the airstrikes hit the top floor of a residential building in Gaza City and a house in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the PIJ movement in Gaza, said in a statement that it mourned the three leaders "who were assassinated as a result of a cowardly Zionist crime at dawn today."

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) also mourned the death of "a group of distinguished resistance leaders" of the Islamic Jihad Movement.

PIJ sources told Xinhua that among the dead were Tareq Izel Dein, the spokesman of PIJ in the Palestinian territories, his wife and two children, and two other senior PIJ military leaders.

The airstrikes came less than a week after over 100 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel following the death of PIJ official Khader Adnan, who had been on hunger strike for 86 days while under Israeli custody. 
The Wyoming Arts Council will be hosting an inaugural Performing Arts Fellowship Showcase at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

This showcase will be highlighting the Arts Councils 2022 Music, Theatre and Dance, and Native Art Fellowship recipients.

The event will take place June 10, 2023 at the Grand Teton Music Festival in the heart of Teton Village at the base of the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the performance starting at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The showcase performance includes:

Ron Coulter (Performing Arts, Music)

Julie Huebner (Performing Arts, Music)

Christian Wallowing Bull (Native Art)

Francesca Romo (Performing Arts, Theatre and Dance)

Michaela Ellingson (Performing Arts, Theatre and Dance)

"For over a decade the Wyoming Arts Council has been looking for the best possible way to highlight the amazing artistry of the Wyoming performing arts fellowship recipients. After conversations with the great team at the Grand Teton Music Festival, we recognized our alignment of supporting Wyoming artists and presenting performances of high artistic quality," says Michael Lange, Executive Director for the Wyoming Arts Council. We couldn't be more excited to work with the Grand Teton Music Festival to present the first ever Wyoming Performing Arts Fellowship Concert at Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village.
Patrick Edwards prides himself in going after big fish in Wyoming. The Riverton angler took that to a new level during a two-week span earlier this year. On April 2 Edwards broke the state record for longnose sucker when he caught a 3-pound, 15.6-ounce fish. The old record was set in 2022 by Christopher Bobo of Casper at 2 pounds, 11.3 ounces. It marked the third consecutive year the longnose sucker record was broken. Then on April 17, Edwards broke his own state record for white sucker with a 6-pound, 8.45-ounce fish. His old record from March 2020 was 5 pounds, 6.45 ounces.

Living in Wyoming my whole life and being an avid angler, I never thought I would have one state record  let alone two, Edwards said.

Both record fish were caught along the same stretch of the Wind River. Edwards said he used a pickerel rig for both fish, which consists of a slip sinker, hook, another section of line and another hook. Each hook was baited with a piece of worm.

Edwards didnt know right away his longnose sucker was a record because he wasnt sure what he caught. He knew it wasnt a white sucker. He took pictures of the fish and sent them to some people he knew. They confirmed it was a longnose sucker  and a big one.

Edwards went to the Wyoming Game and Fish Departments website and looked up the state record for longnose sucker, and knew his fish was bigger. That was confirmed after it was weighed on a registered scale at a post office in Riverton.

The white sucker record may also tie a world record. According to the International Game Fish Association, the world record white sucker of 6.8 pounds was caught out of the Rainy River in Minnesota in 1984. Edwards said his fish is still being considered by the IGFA for its record books.

The only world-record fish Wyoming boasts is the golden trout when C.S. Reed of Omaha, Nebraska, landed an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish from Cook Lake in Sublette County in 1948.

Catching a state-record fish of any species is quite an accomplishment, but to break two state records is incredible, said Alan Osterland, Game and Fish chief of fisheries.

Rules for submitting a state-record fish and lists of the current Wyoming fish records can be found online.
Workers transfer trolleys of flowers at the Kunming International Flora Auction Trading Center in Dounan, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

World-renowned business school the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has launched China Initiative aimed at supporting multinational corporations in growing their footprint and impact in China.

by Martina Fuchs

ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND, May 9 (Xinhua) -- World-renowned business school the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) said its newly launched China Initiative is aimed at supporting multinational corporations in growing their footprint and impact in China.

"We are very much looking forward to intensifying our activities in China" and also aim to bring Chinese companies to the world in a bid to build bridges between China and the rest of the world, IMD president Jean-Francois Manzoni told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 52nd St. Gallen Symposium, the world's leading platform for cross-generational dialogue and collaboration.

"If you want to be a global school, you have to understand who is innovating and then you have to try to codify these practices and explain them to everybody else," said the head of the institute, a prestigious independent business school with campuses in Lausanne and Singapore.

"Our activities in China are not just a distribution channel to other participants. They're also a way to connect with the incredibly vibrant innovation that is taking place there," Manzoni said.

The new China Initiative based in Shenzhen is led by Mark Greeven, CEO of IMD China, and aims to work with multinational corporations and top Chinese companies to provide insight into a thriving China.

Manzoni said the aim is to assist multinationals in demystifying China and improve their growth and impact in the country while enabling Chinese companies to thrive globally.

A China-Europe freight train is pictured at Xi'an International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

"We initially had activities in China that were mainly focused on state-owned enterprises and particularly banks, and those organizations were very happy to come to Switzerland occasionally," he said.

"There's also a vibrant tech and innovation sector in China which we had not touched at all. What we're going to do now is we will continue to have a few of us focused on state-owned enterprises, but then we have this new organization that will work more closely with tech companies," he added.

"We're also there to learn and document their practices and to explain to the rest of the world what's happening in China," he said.

The IMD has been ranked among the top three of the Financial Times's executive education rankings since 2012. 
This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

A tourist rings the bell at the Jianfu Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Jianfu Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Xi'an Museum located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 27, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Jianfu Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Xi'an Museum located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Xi'an Museum located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Jianfu Temple in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Xi'an Museum located in the Small Wild Goose Pagoda scenic area in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 8, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a view of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This photo taken on March 15, 2023 shows the Small Wild Goose Pagoda amid blooming flowers in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Located at the Jianfu Temple, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong Period (701-710) during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to store the Buddhist sutras brought by Monk Yi Jing. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

A tourist poses for photos with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 18, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows a music fountain show at the north square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows a music fountain show at the north square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows a view of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 18, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows a music fountain show at the north square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows a view of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This aerial photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows a view of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

This photo taken on May 1, 2023 shows a view of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the night view of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Tourists visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 18, 2023.

Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a true monument to Buddhist culture and architecture, was originally built in 652 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and extensively repaired during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pagoda currently stands at a height of 64.1 meters with seven stories. (Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua)
12 Federal Cases Filed Against Fentanyl Dealers Who Allegedly Caused Overdose Deaths

LOS ANGELESLaw enforcement officials on May 9 announced a dozen new federal cases targeting fentanyl dealers whoin all but one caseallegedly sold fentanyl and fake pills containing fentanyl that directly resulted in the death of at least one victim.

The 12th case charges a person who allegedly distributed fentanyl to teenage girls who suffered overdoses and required hospitalization, said Thom Mrozek of the United States Attorneys Office.

Authorities also announced that a man who sold fentanyl through several dark web marketplaces has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges, admitting that his products caused the death of three individuals and that he sold fentanyl-laced pills to two others who died soon afterward.

The announcements were made at a Tuesday morning news conference at the U.S. Attorneys Office in downtown Los Angeles, where federal and local law enforcement leaders discussed their ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of the deadly drug.

We are fully committed to combating the fentanyl crisis, which is wreaking so much destruction across this nation, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said.

Those who traffic in fentanyl should be on notice that our office will hold you accountable and the consequences will be severe. The deadly risks of fentanyl are well known. The cases announced today charge drug dealers who have caused the death or injury of others, and thereby prioritized greed over human life, Estrada continued. These cases that focus on fentanyl distribution resulting in death are the result of an unprecedented level of cooperation between federal agents and local authorities throughout our district.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Bill Bodner said the two main drivers causing fentanyl-related deaths are accessibility and deception.

Social media platforms have made fentanyl widely available to anyone with a smartphone and made every neighborhood an open-air drug market, Bodner said.

The deceptive marketing tactics used by the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels have created a vast pool of victims who unknowingly ingested fentanyl and did not make a choice to be harmed or die, Bodner said.

The 12 new cases resulted from the ongoing efforts of the Overdose Justice Task Force, a DEA-led project designed to investigate fatal fentanyl poisonings and identify the individuals who provided the fentanyl that directly caused the deaths.

Under the Overdose Justice program for the DEAs Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents established collaborative relationships with local law enforcement agencies across the seven counties that make up the Central District of California.

Mrozek noted that local authorities are almost always the first to respond to an overdose death, and DEA agents have provided training to dozens of local agencies to help them analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to federal criminal prosecution.

Since the projects launch in 2018, and including the cases announced Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office has filed charges against 64 defendants who allegedly sold drugs that resulted in a fatal fentanyl poisoning, Mrozek said.

The 12 cases announced Tuesday involved charges against 13 defendants, most of whom have entered not-guilty pleas to the charges contained in indictments issued by federal grand juries, Mrozek said.

The following are some of the defendants charged.

U.S. v. Benavides-Schorgi

Adrian Benavides-Schorgi, 22, of the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, is accused of selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that led to life-threatening overdoses of two 15-year-old girls in Santa Monica who thought they were buying ecstasy. Benavides-Schorgi was charged by a federal grand jury with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury for the alleged narcotics sale on May 24, 2022. Benavides-Schorgi was arrested on April 27, and he was ordered held without bond at a hearing the following day. A trial in this matter is scheduled for June 20. The DEA and the Santa Monica Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Beecher of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

U.S. v. Galvan

Heriberto Galvan, 24, of North Hollywood, was arrested last week on charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, distribution, and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm and a short-barrel rifle in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of an unregistered firearm. The indictment alleges that Galvan distributed fentanyl on December 4, 2021, to a 19-year-old man from La Canada Flintridge who was found dead in his car the next day. Galvan allegedly distributed fentanyl in another transaction on January 19, 2022. A subsequent search of Galvans residence led to the discovery of more fentanyl and cocaine, along with a short-barrel AR-type ghost gun. Galvan was named in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 5, and he was arrested later that day. Galvan was arraigned on Monday and was ordered held in custody without bond pending a trial scheduled for July 11. The DEA and the Glendale Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Alix McKenna of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

U.S. v. Gutierrez

Juan Carlos Gutierrez, 32, of Montebello, was arrested on May 2 after being indicted on a charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. On December 9, 2022, Gutierrez distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 34-year-old man at a Long Beach drug treatment facility the next day. At his arraignment on May 5, Guiterrez was ordered held without bond, and a trial was scheduled for June 27. The DEA and the Long Beach Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda B. Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Jeremy Beecher of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

U.S. v. Alvarado

Dominick Kingdiamond Alvarado, 22, of Tarzana, was arrested on May 3 on charges of distributing fentanyl in the form of fake Percocet pills that caused the deaths of an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl. Alvarado allegedly sold fake pills laced with fentanyl to a group of young people in a transaction in Valencia on July 11, 2022. Two days later, an 18-year-old Santa Clarita resident was found dead by his brother. Ten days after the first death, Alvarado allegedly sold fake pills containing fentanyl to another group of teenagers at the same mall in Valencia where the prior transaction took place. Following this second sale, a 17-year-old girl died of fentanyl poisoning after ingesting the narcotics and suffering an overdose in a Santa Clarita park. Following his arrest, Alvarado was ordered held without bond, and a trial was scheduled for June 27. The DEA and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department are conducting the investigation into this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Alix McKenna and Jme K. Forrest of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

U.S. v. Villegas

Joshua Villegas, 25, of Torrance, was arrested on April 21 pursuant to a federal grand jury indictment charging him with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. On May 30, 2020, Villegas allegedly distributed fentanyl, which resulted in the death of a person who lived in the same apartment complex. The investigation revealed that Villegas used Instagram to negotiate the drug deal. Following the arrest, a United States magistrate judge ordered Villegas jailed without bond. A jury trial in this matter is scheduled for June 13. The DEA and the Torrance Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Declan T. Conroy of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
A man holds up a sign denouncing gun violence during a memorial for victims of a mass shooting at Monterey Park City Hall, California, the United States, on Jan. 23, 2023. Hundreds of people gathered at the Monterey Park City Hall Monday evening for a memorial for the loss of the shooting which killed 11 and wounded nine. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Gun violence is engraved in U.S. genes, ironically with a shimmer of "glory." In modern times, the "glory" is turned into a political tool.

Sadly, the United States will continue to experience mass shootings until there is a concerted effort to address the root causes of the problem.

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Once again, Americans mourned deaths caused by gun violence.

Three shootings rocked Mississippi, California, and Texas on Friday and Saturday, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens. As a mark of respect for the victims in Allen, Texas, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered on Sunday that the country's flags be flown at half-staff until sunset of Thursday.

"The United States has gotten no reprieve from its epidemic of mass shootings," wrote the New York Times earlier this month. But why?

Gun violence is engraved in U.S. genes, ironically with a shimmer of "glory." As the Washington Post put it, "The Wild West, with its righteous cowboys and soulless desperadoes. Patriotism and manhood ... these elements form part of the mythology of firearms in America."

People participate in a demonstration to seek age raise for AR-15 sales in Austin, Texas, the United States, Aug. 27, 2022. (Photo by Bo Lee/Xinhua)

The colonists' use of guns was brutal, American historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz wrote. "Settler-militias and armed households were institutionalized for the destruction and control of Native peoples, communities, and nations."

In modern times, the hunting element in the U.S. gun culture has been politicized to "an expression of freedom, individuality, hostility to government, and personal self-protection," Robert Spitzer, a gun-policy expert, was quoted by U.S. news website Vox as saying.

And that's when the "glory" was turned into a political tool. Gun rights organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) keep defending with ferocity the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives Americans the right to bear arms.

With a large lobbying arm in Washington, the NRA can pressure the U.S. Congress to resist any anti-gun legislation. While the vast majority of Americans support gun control restrictions, including universal background checks, legislation to limit firearms remains deadlocked for decades due to a divided Congress.

This pro-gun organization holds sway partly because "more than half of congressional incumbents" got money from it, with many having financial relationships with the NRA for quite some years, CNN reported.

The reality is that "Americans who oppose gun control are more likely to contact public officials about it and to base their votes on it," said Matthew Lacombe, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University and former researcher at Barnard College.

Even worse, the Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that Americans "have a broad right to arm themselves in public." The New York Times commented that the decision "will make it harder for states and localities to restrict guns outside the home."

Another bleeding reality is that a massive number of guns are circulating in America, and studies have found a clear link between gun ownership and gun violence. According to a report by the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss research project, there were approximately 120.5 firearms per 100 residents in 2018, meaning there are more guns than people in the United States.

People display photos of victims of gun violence during a march to the Capitol to protest for a ban on assault weapons, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 17, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)

Bloomberg noted that gun ownership is likely growing after a "gun buying spree" began in 2020. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, four in 10 U.S. adults say they live in a household with a gun, including 30 percent who say they personally own one.

Meanwhile, the intensifying racial conflicts and rising living pressures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, have also played a part in causing a surge in violent crimes, especially shootings with racist tendencies.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group, the United States has suffered 199 mass shootings and lost at least 14,671 lives to gun violence so far this year.

In a nation under guns, the cycle of violence persists. Sadly, the United States will continue to experience mass shootings until there is a concerted effort to address the root causes of the problem.
7 Die as Fires Rage in Swaths of Russias Urals

Russian Emergency Ministry employees and local citizens work at a side of fire in Tyumen region, Russia, in a handout photo released on May 8, 2023. (Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP)

Raging fires have consumed swaths of Russias Urals mountains, killing at least seven people, razing hundreds of homes, forcing evacuations and spurring investigations, officials said on Monday.

Wildfires are common in late spring and summer across Russias vast forests and grassy steppes, but some recent blazes have fanned suspicions of negligence.

The fires spread to some settlements in the southern region of Kurgan near the border with Kazakhstan, prompting a visit by Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov early on Monday.

So far six people have died in the fires in the [Kurgan] region, 14 were injured, the TASS state news agency said, citing medical officials.

A seventh person died in the village of Krasny Yar in the Tyumen region while trying to extinguish a fire, and two others were injured, TASS reported.

Investigative authorities in Kurgan have begun a criminal inquiry.

The spread of the fire became possible due to potential negligence on the part of responsible officials, they said in a statement.

The authorities will support those affected by the wildfires, Kurenkov said after briefing President Vladimir Putin, adding that they no longer posed a threat to settlements in the region.

Massive fires have also engulfed the regions of Sverdlovsk and the Tyumen region in the Urals, to the north of Kurgan.

Authorities managed by late Sunday to contain a gunpowder depot fire that had forced the evacuation of a small village in the Sverdlovsk region.

But 53 more fires are still blazing, they said.

TASS said more than 54,000 hectares (209 square miles) of forests were still burning in the Sverdlovsk region on Monday, with about 4,800 responders attempting to douse the flames.

Independent news site SOTA blamed explosions and arson for some of the fires. Reuters was not able to independently verify the report.

At the end of April, a fire of unknown origin killed one and left hundreds in the area homeless.

By Lidia Kelly
A Serbian Perspective Into the Belgrade Mass Shootings

A woman lights candles outside the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on May 5, 2023, two days after a 13-year-old suspect shot dead eight fellow students and a security guard after allegedly drawing up a kill list. (Oliver Bunic/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

The two recent mass shootings in Belgrade, Serbia, have taken the world by surprise. Hence, it is necessary to look into the reasons which may have contributed to or facilitated these tragedies.

One of the co-authors of this commentary lives in Belgrade and, thus, is able to provide a Serbian perspective on these tragedies.

The first shooting occurred at an elite elementary school. The students in this school mainly come from wealthy families. Their parents are predominantly former athletes, politicians, doctors, lawyers, and successful entrepreneurs, but some work in less socially accepted professions.

Although the schools students lead a privileged life, bullying behaviour by classmates and even teaching staff is very common. The child, who shot and killed nine people, was regularly bullied.

At the request of his parents, he was moved from one class to another to distance himself from his tormentors.

His father is a prominent doctor and a founder of a university clinic for ophthalmology; his mother is a doctor of microbiology.

The child is a talented student who participated in numerous competitions in mathematics and history. Some called him a nerd.

People lay flowers and candles for the victims outside the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in Serbias capital, Belgrade, on May 5, 2023, two days after a 13-year-old suspect shot dead eight fellow students and a security guard after allegedly drawing up a kill list. (Oliver Bunic/AFP via Getty Images)

In Serbia, due to overcrowding, school classes are split into two shifts: one group of students attends morning classes and another in the afternoon.

The shooter arrived at the morning shift after the first class had already started, and he killed two fifth-grade girls in the hallway and a security guard from 14 metres (46 feet) away.

He entered his history class and shot the teacher, then turned to shoot the students in the front row. Two boys tried to confront him and got shot in the legs.

Thirty-seven bullets in total were fired. He had two guns with six clips and four Molotov cocktails, and a kill list with 15 names on it.

Eight students were fatally shot, six from the list and one adult, a security guard. Four students were critically wounded.

Of the eight students killed, seven were girlsthe majority of students on his kill list were girls.

When he exited the classroom, he went to the schoolyard and called the police; he identified himself and said that he killed someone.

This horrendous tragedy occurred in a mere five minutes.

Incompetence Brings Schools to a Halt

The shooting incident is evidence that the Serbian education system has failed. The school was aware of the bullying charges but barely did anything.

The school principal still has not made a public announcement regarding the incident.

On the third day after the shooting, in multiple schools around Serbia, children were already replicating the shooting on social media. The schools that discovered this behaviour informed the police, who arrested the fathers of these children.

A cameraman films memorial placards of five young men killed in a drive-by shooting in the village of Malo Orasje near the town of Mladenovac, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Serbias capital Belgrade, on May 6, 2023. (Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images)

At the moment, all schools in Belgrade are closed because school staff do not know how to handle the disaster.

So, the education system is being mismanaged, and the managers have no clue how to proceed. The system failed because people who are responsible for its management were appointed to their positions on the ground of political allegiance, not merit.

The second shooting occurred a day later. A 21-year-old male started shooting with his semi-automatic rifle out of a car south of Belgrade.

He shot eight people, including children, and wounded 15. The rampage started after 10 p.m. and he was caught the following morning dressed in a Nazi shirt.

Interestingly, the father of the shooter is a high-ranking military officer.

The carnage has not resulted in the resignation of the Minister of Education.

A Failed System

The President of Serbia addressed the nation on national television to inform viewers of the measures the government would be introducing to combat youth delinquency.

Among the measures are lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 years and reviewing all gun permits.

There are about 400,000 registered weaponsthere are two gun permits in Serbia, one to own and the other to carry a gun (the permit to carry is not obtained easily and is usually reserved for police officers and security personnel).

However, the proposed lowering of the age of responsibility is incompatible with international best practice, which sets the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years.

Also, the number of guns and weapons in Serbia is extremely large; this is due to the multiple wars in the 1990s and internal migrations from the conflict regions.

Demonstrators march during a rally to call for the resignation of top officials and the curtailing of violence in the media, just days after back-to-back shootings, stunned the Balkan country, in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 8, 2023. (Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images)

Many people in Serbia believe that the shooting incidents were tragedies waiting to happen. This is because Serbian society has become bitterly divided into two groups.

On one side, you have the ruling party and people around them who live well; their businesses are successful, they earn good money, and they flaunt their wealth.

On the other side are the people who struggle, work multiple jobs, carry heavy bank debt, and are treated abominably.

For example, the government sector employees have an average net monthly salary of 700 (US$770), whereas it is 500 in the private sector. This difference is even bigger in Belgrade.

The current politicians, the ruling party, and government bureaucrats perpetuate this demographic disequilibrium with their meaningless rhetoric.

Meanwhile, the media is sensationalising incidents like the shootings, contributing to an escalation of social tensions in a divided Serbia.

Media networks use bombastic headlines, make accusations, and destroy peoples lives without checking facts. There is no investigative reporting agency to keep a check on the media.

Several television channels are fully dedicated to reality programmes with quasi-stars, starlets, and even crooks, creating the illusion of the existence of a nirvana, an unreal world. This has been detrimental to impressionable people.

The reality is that these programmes often generate and glorify crime, prostitution, and drugs.

This situation is exacerbated by a seeming inability to introduce and implement much-needed reform to tackle the entrenched inequalities that lead to social alienation and discord.

Demonstrators march behind a banner reading Serbia against violence in Belgrade on May 8, 2023, as they call for the resignation of top officials and the curtailing of violence in the media, just days after back-to-back shootings stunned the Balkan country. (Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images)

Where Are the Answers?

The people of Serbia are outraged by the two mass shootings. They are asking questions, but the government is still not providing answers.

The blame game has not yet started. From a political point of view, it can be reasonably expected that no one will take responsibility for what happened.

Of course, the shooters are responsible for their actions, and they should be tried. But its also important to understand the reasons that led to these tragic incidents.

It is even more tragic when one keeps in mind that, from a historical perspective, Serbian people are not violent and have selflessly helped others.

Serbians fervently hope that these horrendous recent shootings are an aberration. They do not want Serbia to become like the United States.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Actor Chris Pratt Says He Draws Inspiration From Jesus to Deal With Criticism Over Christian Faith

U.S. actor Chris Pratt attends the premiere of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" at The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 12, 2018. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Actor and star of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World Chris Pratt has spoken out about the criticism he has faced due to his Christian faith, revealing how he handles the hate he receives.

In an interview with Page Six on May 8, the 43-year-old actor was asked about the backlash he has dealt with due to being outspoken about his faith.

Quoting a biblical scripture, Pratt said: If I was of this world, they would love me just like that, but as it is, Ive chosen out of this world. Thats John 15:18 through 20.

Pratt added that when it comes to dealing with the hate he receives, he has developed a thick skin and often turns to the life of Jesus Christ for inspiration.

Thats the way it is, nothing new; 2,000 years ago, they hated him, too, he said.

Pratt told Esquire in 2014 that he was introduced to religion when he was 19 while waiting for somebody to buy him and his friend alcoholic drinks in Hawaii, as they were too young to purchase the drinks themselves.

The actor said that a man approached him and asked what he planned to do that day, before telling Pratt that he was destined to achieve great things in life, which ultimately saw him embark on a new path.

Pratt on Discovering Christianity

In Maui, about four weeks before I was discovered to go to California, I was hanging with my buddy. I wasnt quite old enough to drink, so we got somebody to go in and buy us some alcohol, he said.

This guy came by and was like, What are you doing tonight? I was like, Oh, I dunno. I was just gonna wait out here. My friends are gonna buy me a bottle of Carlo Rossi and a sixer of Milwaukees Best Ice.

He was like, I stopped because Jesus told me to stop and talk to you. He said to tell you youre destined for great things. My friends came out, and I was like, Hey, Im gonna go with this guy. I gave my soul to Jesus within, like, two days. I was stuffing envelopes for his organization, Jews for Jesus. Im not even sure, at that ageI was nineteen years oldI knew what Jewish was, he explained.

A month after discovering God, Pratt was discovered by a director and moved to California to star in the 2000 horror comedy Cursed Part III, kicking off his Hollywood career.

Pratt has regularly been outspoken about his religious beliefs throughout his career, telling a packed MTV Movie & TV Awards crowd in 2018: God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe thatI do.

During that same speech, in which he accepted the Generation Award, Pratt revealed his nine rules for life, featuring Christian guidance.

You are imperfect. You always will be. But there is a powerful force that designed you that way, and if you are willing to accept that, you will have grace. And grace is a gift, he said.

Like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody elses blood. Do not forget that. Dont take that for granted.

Fans Attempt to Cancel Pratt

Pratt has often faced criticism due to his beliefs. In 2019, he faced calls from Marvel fans to be replaced as Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies when fellow Hollywood star and transgender Ellen Page claimed that Pratts church, Hillsong Church, was infamously anti-LGBTQ.

At the time, Pratt released a statement saying that Pages claim couldnt be further from the truth.

I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone, the actor wrote on his official Instagram account, NBC News reported.

In 2020, Pratt faced backlash again when he decided to opt out of a virtual Q&A held by several Avengers stars to raise money for Joe Biden and Kamala Harriss campaign, which led some fans to believe he may be a supporter of former President Donald Trump.

Pratt has not publicly spoken about his political affiliation and has donated to both Democratic and Republican parties in the past, Vox reports.

The Avengers director, Joe Russo, subsequently defended Pratts no-show at the virtual event, telling NowThis News in an interview that the actor was not asked to take part in the Q&A due to an issue with the time zone, as Pratt had been filming in the UK.

Russo said that fans assumptions about Pratts politics, integrity, and who he is as a person were false.

Speaking to Page Six in the May 8 interview, Pratt credited his previous job as a door-to-door salesman for helping him to learn how to deal with rejection.

You cant turn me away; theres no stopping us, he said.
After 1,000 Days of Detention, Calls Continue for CCP to Release Detained Australian Journalist

Australian journalist Cheng Lei is seen in Beijing, China, in this still image taken from undated video footage. Australia Global Alumni-Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Handout via REUTERS

After 1,000 days of detention, public calls continue for the release of Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei.

Today marks 1,000 days since Ms. Cheng was unjustly detained in China in August 2020, said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham.

It is impossible for any of us outside this situation to imagine the physical and emotional trauma of being detained for such a long period of time, they said in a statement on May 9.

After 1,000 days of unjust detention, it is time the Chinese government closed Ms. Chengs case, restored her freedom, and allowed her to return home to her family.

Dutton and Birmingham also said that Jan. 19, 2023, marked four years since the detention of another Chinese-Australian, Dr. Yang Hengjun.

Their comments come after an article from Chengs partner, Nick Coyle, was published to mark the 1,000-day mark of her detention.

We still dont know why she was taken, why she was charged with deliberately vague national security breaches, or when she might be with us again, he wrote in The Australian newspaper.

The other victims of the opaque Chinese legal system, in this case, have been her two children, then nine and eleven.

Coyle said Cheng was finding ways to pass time while in detention.

In true survivors style, my friend suggested [Cheng] get the most out of her time in the twilight zone. To read, reflect, study, meditate, and imagine that she has chosen to go on a monastic digital detox retreat, he wrote.

Lei is doing all of that and more. Wasting time and not making the best of any situation is not in her DNA. They may have taken her out of the world, but they cant take the world out of her.

Efforts Continue to Free Cheng

Diplomatic efforts from Australian officials continue in the quest to free Cheng.

Australia has consistently called for Ms. Cheng to be afforded basic standards of justice, procedural fairness, and humane treatment in accordance with international norms, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.

Cheng was arrested by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities in 2020 on charges of illegally supplying state secrets overseas.

She had been working at the time of her arrest as a news anchor for China Global Television Network and was in prison for 19 months prior to her closed-door trial last year. Cheng is still awaiting the outcome of those proceedings.

Chengs two young children and family reside in the southern Australian city of Melbourne in Victoria. But, according to Chengs partner, Coyle, she has not been able to contact them regularly.

CCP authorities have regularly denied Australian consulate staff contact with Cheng, with Coyle revealing that the journalist has only had two face-to-face consular visits during her 31-month detention.

Victoria Kelly-Clark contributed to this article.
Alan Dershowitz: No Way Case Against Trump in Fulton County Can Be Successful

Former President Donald Trump raises his fist while walking to a vehicle outside of Trump Tower in New York on Aug. 10, 2022. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

There isnt anything for former President Donald Trump to worry about with a potential lawsuit coming from a Georgia district attorney, although he might have more serious trouble with some of his other cases, said Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz.

Speaking to EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program on May 8, Dershowitz was asked about the $250 million civil fraud lawsuit brought by New Yorks Democrat Attorney General Letitia James, who accuses Trump and three of his children of overvaluing the familys real estate assets by billions of dollars. This case, according to Dershowitz, will likely be resolved by settlement.

Thats a civil case and it will be resolved civilly, probably by some kind of a settlement. he told host Jan Jekielek. I dont think [Trump] has anything to worry about with that, except time.

The interview will premiere on May 13 on EpochTV.

Trump doesnt have to worry about the investigations launched in Georgia and Washington either, Dershowitz said.

One case is being pursued from Georgias Fulton County, where District Attorney Fani Willis has been investigating whether Trump and his associates illegally meddled the 2020 presidential election. Willis, a Democrat, announced last month that she plans to formally unveil the charging decisions between July 11 and Sept. 1.

Theres no way he can be prosecuted successfully there, Dershowitz said of the Fulton County investigation, referring to a conversation between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021. What he said on the recorded tape was, I need to FIND 11,000 votes. He didnt say invent or concoct.'

He said find, which means that theyre there, and you just have to look hard to see if you can find them, the law professor continued. I think thats a complete defense there.

Dershowitz told Jekielek that the same logic can be applied to a potential DOJ lawsuit against Trump over his role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Justice Department has been conducting a sprawling investigation into Trumps actions around the events of Jan. 6. Attorney General Merrick Garland has since left open the possibility that Trump could be prosecuted in connection with inciting what Democrats on the House Jan. 6 Committee claimed was an insurrection.

Theres a complete defense to the Jan. 6 investigation thats occurring in Washington. Because in his speech, he said explicitly that he wanted the people to go to the Capitol, to exercise their First Amendment right, to protest peacefully and patriotically, Dershowitz explained. Thats a perfectly constitutionally protected speech.

Read More Facebook, Twitter Lock Trump Out of His Account for the First Time

With that said, Trump might still find himself vulnerable in his home state of New York, where he faces an unfriendly jury eager to convict, according to Dershowitz.

In New York, you can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich; and in Manhattan, you can probably get a petty jury to convict a ham sandwich if its name is Donald Trump, Dershowitz said. So hes at risk there. But I think that case will be reversed on appeal if there is a conviction.

Trump did complain about the Manhattan jurors who indicted him of 34 counts of falsifying business records, saying that they come from a very unfair venue where people overwhelmingly vote for Democrats in elections.

This case should be moved to nearby Staten Islandwould be a very fair and secure location for the trial, the former president posted on Truth Social. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The greatest vulnerability lies in the Mar-a-Lago case, which involves dozens of classified documents Trump allegedly took to his private home from the White House after his first term ended, Dershowitz said. He added that the risk is not about the documents themselves, but has to do with Trumps response to the FBI search.

I think his greatest vulnerability now may lie in the Mara Lago case in Florida; not for possessing classified material but if they can prove that he obstructed justice after he received a subpoena and after he was aware that the government was interested, the professor said. If there is proof that he moved, or ordered removing or hiding of classified material, that would present a serious problem for him.

When asked about columnist E. Jean Carrolls civil battery and defamation lawsuits against Trump, Dershowitz said cases like these never should have been allowed to be brought, as theyre way beyond the statute of limitations and only serve the purpose to disrupt Trumps 2024 campaign.

Its a case that normally would be thrown out. But again, its Donald Trump, he said. Its not criminal. He would have to pay some money and go through the appellate process, which would take several years. So its the piling on.

Its the fact that we have all these cases coming together at a time when hes trying to get the Republican nomination for president, he continued, adding that he believes that such disruptions would help Trump in the Republican primary, but not in the general election.

I think they hurt him in the general election. I think that independent voters will look at some of these charges and say, Gee, where theres smoke, theres fire.

But of course, where theres smoke, sometimes theres arson. A lot of these fires have been set politically in order to get Trump.

As the first Republican to announce a 2024 White House bid, Trump remains the leader in the still-forming presidential field in almost all polls. In a potential Trump-President Joe Biden matchup, a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll showed that some 44 percent of respondents said they would probably or definitely vote for Trump, while only 38 percent said the same thing for Biden. Some 12 percent are undecided, the survey revealed.

When the undecideds are asked how they lean, its 49-42 percent, Trump-Biden, an accompanying ABC News article stated.

Notably, among those who say Trump should face criminal charges in the investigations into whether he illegally tried to overturn the 2020 election results, 18 percent are inclined to vote for him over Biden anyway, ABC noted, citing the poll. Seventy-one percent in this group take Biden.

Biden also trails Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not officially declared his 2024 candidacy. The ABC poll found that some 42 percent said they would definitely or probably vote for DeSantis, while 37 percent said they would vote for Biden, and 21 percent were undecided.
ANALYSIS: Can Fox News Recover From the Post-Carlson Ratings Crash?

A Fox News channel sign is seen at the News Corp. building in New York on March 20, 2019. (Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

News Analysis

Fox News prime-time ratings have crashed since the network parted ways with host Tucker Carlson on April 24.

Between April 24 and May 4, an average of about 1.45 million total viewers, with 156,625 viewers in the key 25-54 demographic, tuned in to Fox News 8 p.m. ET hour, which Carlson had anchored as the most-watched show in cable news.

For comparison, in his final week on air, Carlson averaged 3.42 million viewers. In 2022, Carlson averaged 3.3 million viewers per episode.

Not only has Fox News suffered with the 8 p.m. ratings, it has also dealt with a decline in prime-time ratings for all of its one-hour slots since Carlson left the network.

In the critical 25-54 demo, the 6 p.m. hour experienced a 42 percent drop, while the 7 p.m. slot went down 62 percent.

The 8 p.m. slot saw a 75 percent decrease, while the 9 p.m. hour experienced a 70 percent dip among that demographic.

And the number of 25-54 viewers in the 10 p.m. slot dropped 66 percent, while the 11 p.m. hour saw a 49 percent decline.

A major question since Carlsons departure is whether Fox News can recover the big-time ratings.

Jon Nicosia, a media analyst who was an editor for Mediaite, told The Epoch Times that the answer is no.

What is so devastating about the Tucker situation was that he, unlike others on the network, drew a huge audience in the demo 25 to 54, which for Fox was a great sign, he said. And, as you can see, the people that are rotating through there are not delivering the same numbers.

The fill-in anchors so far have been Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones. This week it will be Kayleigh McEnany.

Tucker, I believe, is his own brand, and I dont think that Fox can replicate his energy, legacy, and passion. I think when we look back at this Fox decision, for whatever reason they did, it will be kind of the beginning slide for Fox as the audience fragments more, added Nicosia. I also think that in general, every other network will see the same type of decline.

After all, the ratings of Fox rivals CNN, MSNBC, Newsmax and NewsNation have mostly trailed Fox News ratings even with Carlson no longer on air. A notable exception was on April 26 when MSNBCs All in with Chris Hayes led the 8 p.m. slot with 1.38 million viewers, or 500,000 more than Fox News Tonight.

Fox News declined to comment on the record regarding whether it expects to rebound in the 8 p.m. hour but cited last weeks Nielsen ratings and that advertisers have come back to that slot.

Since Carlson left, according to the Nielsen ratings, CNN has averaged just over 619,555 viewers, while MSNBC has averaged almost 1.36 million viewersfalling short of Fox News average of 1.45 million viewers between April 24 and May 4.

But former Fox News stars decried Carlsons ouster.

This is a terrible move by Fox, and its a great thing for Tucker Carlson, said Megyn Kelly on her SiriusXM show, The Megyn Kelly Show, on April 24.

I dont know what drove Fox News to make this decision. And it was clearly Fox News decision because theyre not letting him say goodbye, she said. Thats my supposition. Thats not inside knowledge  talk about misjudging your audience yet again.

Bill OReilly remarked that Carlsons exit from Fox News is about more than the network.

Because the Republican Party, most of it, paid attention to Tucker Carlson, said OReilly on his show, No Spin News, on April 24.

But the Republican profile in the media is much less now. And that will have an effect on mostly independent voters. Because, you know, the word wont get out as fast, whatever the word may be, added OReilly. So Carlson had a very successful run at Fox and was very influential among committed conservatives. Theyre different than casual conservatives. Theyre right there every day.

Curtis Houck, the managing editor of the conservative media watchdog NewsBusters, previously told The Epoch Times that Fox has shown it can recover when one of its prime-time stars departs.

Fox shouldnt be counted out quite yet because when Bill OReilly left [in 2017] for far different circumstances, at least we know as of now, under a cloud of repeated [alleged] examples of sexual harassment  there were concerns, What are we going to do? OReilly had been the most-watched person in cable news for many, many years, nearly an entire generation or at least half a generation, Houck said.

A few days into the week before OReilly was fired, while he was on vacation, the ratings in that 8 p.m. hour decreased 26 percent. About 3.6 million viewers tuned in to OReillys final show.

But Tucker was then moved from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., and they ended up not missing a beat, Houck said. And even going beyond that, you could say in terms of reach across the ideological spectrum.

Carlson attracted around 3.2 million viewers following that switch, so history will repeat itself with Carlsons replacement, right?

Nicosia said not so fast.

Back then, you saw an uptick in other conservative sites and networks, but it went back to Fox. Because at the time it was Trump/Fox versus the rest of the [mainstream media], he said. The playing field is very different now. The audience has a lot more options, and its also happening as cable viewers get older.

Kevin Tober, a news analyst at Media Research Center, noted that OReilly and Carlson were not the only prime-time stars to leave Fox News, which he expects to recover from the ratings dip.

Fox News has been through this twice before with Glenn Beck and Bill OReilly, and each time people thought Fox was in trouble because they parted with a wildly popular host, Tober told The Epoch Times. But each time Fox recovered because they were able to find a replacement with the talent to attract a massive audience. Fox also always recovers because the liberal networks suppress all the news that Fox reports.

So who can succeed Carlson?

I think Jesse Watters would be the most natural choice. He was Bill OReillys longtime producer. Fox could move him to 8 p.m. and find someone else for the 7 p.m. slot, said Tober. You want someone experienced in the 8 p.m. hour. Fox could easily try out people for the 7 p.m. time slot.
Australian Farmers Bracing for Bigger Biosecurity Bill in Budget

This photo shows sheep feeding on lush grass on the property of Australian farmer Kevin Tongue near the rural city of Tamworth in New South Wales, Australia, on May 4, 2020. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian farmers are concerned the federal government is about to hit them with extra biosecurity fees and have called for importers to pick up the bill instead.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has previously flagged a change to how biosecurity is funded, with a commitment to a sustainable funding source.

Ahead of Tuesday nights budget, Tony Mahar from the National Farmers Federation said any move to charge producers more for biosecurity would be a kick in the guts.

Farmers are paying their fair share already, Mahar told AAP.

They pay hundreds of millions of dollars in terms of a whole range of levies and fees and charges that go towards maintaining a strong biosecurity regime.

The ministers office gave no comment when asked by AAP whether the budget will include farmers being asked to pay more for biosecurity services.

Farmers have been lobbying for the budget to deliver a sustainable funding model for biosecurity, but not if it means more costs for producers.

Mahar said it should be importers rather than farmers who pick up any tab.

I dont care whether thats (importers of) cars or whether thats refrigerators or whether thats boxes of stainless steel screws, he told AAP.

These people are the risk creators, so they should be identified, and they should be helping pay for a strong biosecurity system.

Farmers are only one of the beneficiaries of the biosecurity system, but were its biggest financial backer by a country mile.

In last years budget, $134 million (US$90.8 million) was committed to new biosecurity measures including extra frontline staff, 20 new detector dogs, and stronger defences against foot and mouth disease and other emerging threats.

Senator Watt told a biosecurity conference in April that biosecurity is a shared responsibility.

Everyone has a role to play in protecting and improving Australias biosecurity system, he said at the conference held in Canberra.
Australias Largest Super Funds Invest $34 Billion in Fossil Fuels in 2022: Report

New research has found that the 30 largest superannuation funds in Australia invested $34 billion in fossil fuel companies, both domestic and overseas, in 2022.

Market Forces, an environmentalist organisation that wants financial institutions to go green, has released an analysis indicating that Australias biggest funds have raised their investment in companies developing coal, oil and gas projects by 50 percent in the past year.

Specifically, it said those super funds had around 9.3 percent of their members share investments in fossil fuel companies on average in 2022, up from 6.3 percent in the previous year.

Applying this data to the entire super industry, Market Forces estimated that companies directly involved in expanding fossil fuels were now holding over $140 billion worth of Australians retirement savings.

AustralianSuper, the largest super fund in the country, topped the list of financial institutions investing in fossil fuel with around $8.8 billion in investment, followed by Aware Super and Rest at $2.72 billion and HESTA at $2.39 billion.

Meanwhile, the funds with the default investment options most exposed to fossil fuel were Commonwealth Super Corp (11.5 percent), MLC (11.4 percent) and Russell Investments (11 percent).

Market Forces said the war in Ukraine had caused the share value of fossil fuel companies to rise, partly resulting in super funds increased investment exposure.

However, it noted that the analysis showed some super funds had bought millions of shares in fossil fuel companies.

Super Funds Criticised for Investing in Fossil Fuels

Following the reports release, Market Forces superannuation funds campaigner Brett Morgan criticised super funds for their increased investments in fossil fuel.

Super funds are making a mockery of their own commitments to net-zero by buying up wholesale in companies expanding fossil fuels and letting them get away with trashing our climate, he said.

The campaigner also singled out AustralianSuper for buying 30 million shares in petroleum producer Woodside and demanded the fund provide explanations to its members.

AustralianSuper needs to explain to its millions of members why its actively buying shares in Woodside while failing to address this companys reckless fossil fuel expansion plans, Morgan said.

An aerial shot of Woodsides North-West Shelf gas plant in Karratha, Australia, on April 17, 2008. (AAP Image/Rebecca Le May)

Meanwhile, AustralianSuper defended its decision, saying it had increased its exposure to Woodside after the company merged with the oil and gas portfolio of resources giant BHP.

The gas sector is an important part of the orderly energy transition over coming years, a spokesman for the fund said in comments obtained by AAP.

As an active and responsible owner, we will continue to proactively engage with Woodside to understand how the company plans to transition its operations to deliver long-term value to members in a low-carbon environment.

New Super Reform

The research comes after the Australian government announced new requirements for businesses to pay super to their workers on payday.

From July 1, 2026, businesses of all sizes across the country will be required to pay super on fortnightly cycles instead of every three months at the minimum currently.

The policy is the governments latest crackdown on super underpayments, which are a common issue in many industries.

The federal government said the super reform would help an average 25-year-old income earner get an extra $6,000 or 1.5 percent in super payments when they retired.

It also noted that workers who were in lower-paid, casual, and insecure work would benefit more from the policy as it made it harder for employers to exploit them.

It will strengthen the system and will boost retirement incomes, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

The main reason for that is it will make it less likely that people will miss out on the super that theyve earned and that theyre entitled to.

At the same time, the government said it would provide more resources for the Australian Tax Office to help it crack down on super underpayments, as well as set up new internal targets for recovery payments for the agency.
BC Premier Says He Met CSIS Regional Director Over Alleged Chinese Interference in Vancouver Election

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during an announcement in Delta, B.C., on May 2, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he has met with the regional director of Canadas spy agency over allegations of Beijing meddling in the 2022 Vancouver municipal election.

Speaking at a press conference on May 8, Eby said he was told that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) could not share information with him as he is not a direct client of theirs. Eby said he found this frustrating but that the spy agency took a constructive approach to their meeting.

[They] said they were putting themselves in a position to be able to provide information to Elections BC if they receive notice of foreign interference in B.C. election, Eby said.

Very Troubled

The meeting with CSIS was called after The Globe and Mail published an article on March 16 alleging the Chinese consulate in Vancouver interfered in the citys politics by using proxies in diaspora community groups and grooming certain candidates to run in the October municipal election.

Eby responded the next day, saying he was very troubled by the allegations. He said at the time he had asked for a briefing from CSIS, as Canadians deserve a thorough and independent investigation into the claims made in the Globes article.

Citing a report by CSIS, the Globe detailed how in mid-November 2021, Chinas then Consul-General Tong Xiaoling talked about orchestrating some in the local Chinese community to help elect a mayor and a city councillor favoured by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

With regards to the 2022 City of Vancouver mayoral election, Tong stated that they need to do all they could to increase the ethnic voting percentage. They needed to get all eligible voters to come out and elect a specific Chinese-Canadian candidate, according to the CSIS document, dated Jan. 10, 2022, viewed by the Globe.

The document, however, did not name the consulates favoured mayoral and council contenders, the media outlet reported.

Reactions

Current Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, who unseated his predecessor Kennedy Stewart in the 2022 municipal election by nearly 37,000 votes, had pushed back against allegations of Chinese interference in the media report.

At a press conference on March 16, Sim said his ethnicity was a factor behind the allegations he described as a bunch of insinuations.

Stewart confirmed he was informed of Chinese interference in the citys election during his appearance on an episode of the podcast This is VANCOLOUR on March 24.

The former mayor said the Globe told him that CSIS suggested there was active communication between Vancouver city councillors and Tong, although that detail was not included in the Globes report.

Stewart said his relationship with Tong turned sour after Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arbitrarily detained by the CCP for over three years. He added that if the alleged communication between city councillors and the Chinese consul general is true, it would constitute illegal behaviour.

Advance Notice

Eby told reporters on May 8 that an agreement had been struck with CSIS whereby the agency will give advance notice to his government and Elections BC on issues related to foreign interference so that we can have legislation in place, laws in place that Elections BC can respond quickly to that type of information.

The premier added he has requested a future meeting with CSIS Director David Vigneault in order to get more information needed for his government to act against such interference.

Andrew Chen, Peter Wilson and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Biden Administrations Immigration Policy Pleases Beijing

U.S. immigration policy undermines national security

President Joe Biden speaks with a member of the Border Patrol as they walk along the U.S.-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

Since January 2021, the Biden administrations policy actions have undermined U.S. national security vis-a-vis China, including plans to reduce Navy ships and aircraft, shrink the Army to fewer than 1 million soldiers for the first time in 20 years, divert military training focus from foreign threats to ideologically motivated personnel policies, and elevate mitigating climate change as a military priority.

But nowhere is the ongoing diminishment of U.S. national security more disastrous as the damage being wrought at the open U.S.-Mexico border.

Border security is absolutely a key component of national security. Secure borders directly affect the sovereignty, security, and well-being of the United States over time. Policies that promote tight immigration controls facilitate assimilation and stability over time. Such policies also minimize the entry of criminals, terrorists, sleeper agents from hostile countries, spies, drug runners (loaded with fentanyl produced in China), human traffickers, and disease-ridden people.

Unfortunately, the Biden administrations open borders policy implemented after Inauguration Day in 2021 was a complete reversal of the Trump administrations policies that emphasized border security and a return to the enforcement of preexisting U.S. immigration laws.

The Biden administrations immigration policies have included the diversion of border wall funding to other uses, the directed nonenforcement of existing U.S. immigration laws by the Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement directorate, the acceleration of amnesty processing at the border, the coordinated dispersal of asylum seekers into the U.S. interior at taxpayer expense, and the repeal of Title 42 restrictions (an action that will clear legal objections and lead to an enormous wave of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the southern border).

The results have been predictably disastrous. As announced by the president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in October, some 2.7 million migrantsthose who illegally entered or were otherwise inadmissible at a port of entrywere encountered at our borders in FY 2022, bringing the total under President Biden to a whopping 5.5 million. And these numbers do not include 1.2 million illegal immigrants who avoided detection and incarceration when they crossed the border, as estimated by Customs and Border Patrol officials and reported by Fox News in January.

It gets worse. As reported by Axios, in January and February, nearly 2,200 Chinese nationals have crossed into Panama through the thick jungle of the Darien Gap, according to migration data from Panamas government.

The United Nations and U.S. State Department are providing funding to support the Darien Gap camp in Panama, a transit point for people whose ultimate destination is the United States. The U.N. agency that supports the camp is the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which facilitates emigration from communist China and third-world countries to the United States and other Western countries. According to independent journalist Michael Yon, The Chinese are coming through here [the Darien Gap camp] in large numbers, about 200 per day and increasing, heading to the U.S.

Haitian migrants cross the jungle of the Darien Gap, near Acandi, Choco department, Colombia, heading to Panama, on Sept. 26, 2021. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)

And most of these Chinese are reported to be military-age men. According to a Twitter post by Kyle Bass, founder of Conservation Equity Management, a Texas-based private equity firm, the Texas Department of Public Safety is now apprehending as many as 530 Chinese nationals (almost entirely military-aged males) EACH WEEK. Over 2,000 per month at todays catch rates. These are the illegal entries [who are caught] (clearly there are many more).

How many of these people are spies or future saboteurs? No one knows, but the number is certainly not zero.

Various nonprofit organizations are involved in assisting the Biden administration in supporting illegal aliens (asylum seekers and migrants in the lefts softer vernacular) and dispersing them throughout the United States. For example, the American Red Cross openly advertises on its website: The American Red Cross is providing relief suppliessuch as cots, blankets, hygiene items, first aid kits, and towelsfor use by local nonprofits caring for migrants. As reported by the New York Post, FEMAs Emergency Food and Services Program board includes Catholic Charities and United Way, which pass the money to local nonprofits serving illegal immigrants as a way to hide the use of taxpayer funds being used to support the administrations illegal immigration policies.

Even more deadly to Americans has been the unchecked flow of illegal narcotics into the United States from Mexico, particularly Chinese-manufactured fentanyl and other opioid precursor chemical precursors. The result has been an average of 100,000 dead Americans annually with no end in sight. It should be noted that there were 58,220 Americans killed during the Vietnam War.

On April 29, the Daily Mail (UK) reported a match made in hell between Chinese triad gangs and Mexican cartels. The triads are helping the cartels launder millions in illicit drug money made by flooding the US with killer drug fentanyl. The article further quotes Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), chairwoman of the subcommittee on healthcare and financial services, who stated that the State Department estimates that $154 billion in illicit [money-laundered] funds pass through China each and every year. Thus, the Chinese regime is making money off the death and destruction from the fentanyl crisis in the United States, in which they are directly complicit!

Particularly troubling is the impending end of Title 42 restrictions on May 11, which could bring close to 400,000 border crossers and illegal aliens to the border every month, according to Breitbart. Title 42 is a clause of the 1944 Public Health Services Law that the Trump administration used to quickly expel illegal aliens from the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the high probability of them introducing communicable diseases into the country.

The flood of illegals into the United States that will ensue in a few short days will create a major crisis on the border and divert scarce resources needed elsewhere. As reported by Military Times in October, Federally-activated National Guard troops are expected to continue to deploy along the U.S. southern border through summer 2023, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed. Almost certainly, more troops will be needed to stop the flow when Title 42 ends.

Concluding Thoughts

The Biden administrations immigration policies diminish U.S. national security and benefit communist China directly by exacerbating political tensions between pro-immigration Democrats and pro-border security Republicans, destabilizing the United States through the dispersion of millions of illegal aliens throughout the country, diverting public resources from other important priorities, and killing Americans through fentanyl and opioid abuse. The Chinese also make money from those fentanyl deaths, as noted above.

According to a new study from the FAIR, illegal immigration costs American taxpayers at least $151 billion each year, including education, welfare, medical costs, and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels. This is money we can ill afford to spend when federal deficit spending is out of control.

Whatever weakens the United States directly benefits the Chinese regime as it seeks to replace America as the worlds superpower. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) generals in Beijing must be smiling as they watch the United States willingly diminish its own national security and erode deterrence against future PLA aggression.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Saudi Arabias Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has signed a key finance agreement with Shada Real Estate Development and Investment Company to set up a 4-star boutique hotel featuring 110 hotel rooms in Jeddah.

Announcing the strategic partnership today (May 9) at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHIS) in Riyadh, TDF said the hotel will be characterised by its design, inspired by the local style mixed with architectural touches specific to the Makkah region.

Through this deal, Shada Development and Real Estate Investment aims to revive, preserve and highlight the essence of the cultures of the various regions in the kingdom, especially the architectural cultural heritage of the city of Jeddah.

TDFs agreement with Shada will contribute to the growth of the kingdom's economy and achieve the goals set out within the National Tourism Strategy, said a top official.

"Our purpose is to be the main enabler for investors, in order to serve the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy," remarked its CEO Qusai bin Abdullah Al Fakhri.

"This agreement with our partner Shada is one of the ways in which the fund is helping to activate tourism destinations in the kingdom, which will contribute to supporting investment and motivating investors in the private sector through financing tourism projects," he added.

Lauding the agreement, Shada Hospitality CEO Reem Garrash said the private sector was playing a vital role in the kingdom's economic development through projects that enriched the tourist experience.

"Jeddah is a top tourist destination due to its geographical location between Makkah and Madinah, in addition to the richness of its urban features and its urban development distinction, which makes it an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday announced the appointment of Herve Lecoq of France as the new deputy head of mission at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lecoq, who succeeds Jack Christofides of South Africa, will also serve as director of political and civil affairs at the UNIFIL, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres, told a regular press briefing.

The spokesman said that Lecoq, who will take his new job shortly, brings over 30 years of experience in peace operations, political affairs and development.

Most recently, Lecoq has served as deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia division of UN departments of political and peacebuilding affairs and peace operations from 2019 to 2023.

UNIFIL was first established in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. After the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, UNIFIL's mandate was expanded to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to accompany the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws its troops.

UNIFIL currently has around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 48 troop contributing countries, according to information on the mission's website. 
Border Patrol Union Criticizes Feds for Broadcasting Plans for Enforcement Operation in El Paso

Illegal immigrants wait to be processed by U.S. border agents at the U.S.-Mexico border on March 30, 2023. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been criticized by the Border Patrol union for publicly announcing that its agents and officers will be conducting a targeted enforcement operation in El Paso, Texas, amid the ongoing border crisis.

In a May 8 press release, CBP said the operation would begin the following day and would target immigrants who crossed the southern border illegally and were not processed for entry into the United States.

CBP agents, along with law enforcement partners from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would be processing the immigrants for vetting and placement under either Title 42 expulsion or Title 8 removal proceedingsthe latter takes longer than the formeras applicable, officials said.

Title 42, the Trump-era public health policy that allows Border Patrol agents to turn illegal immigrants back to Mexico immediately due to public health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to end on May 11.

CBP officials said that noncitizens who pose a threat to national security or public safety will be transferred to ICE for detention.

Venezuelan and Nicaraguan migrants are transferred by agents of the Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande river from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico to El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 27, 2022. (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)

They noted that enforcement actions will not take place in or near a location that would restrain peoples access to essential services or engagement in essential activities to the fullest extent possible.

As we have said repeatedly, individuals who do not have a lawful basis to remain will be removed, said Acting Commissioner Troy Miller in a statement. Individuals should not listen to the lies of smugglers and instead use lawful pathways to protection.

Backlash Over PR Stunt

The announcement was quickly condemned by the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents about 18,000 Border Patrol agents and support personnel.

On Twitter, the union accused the agency of pulling a PR stunt while simultaneously tipping off migrants ahead of the operation.

Nothing like publicly announcing that dangerous people will be arrested, while warning them ahead of time exactly where to run and hide to avoid arrest, the union wrote on Twitter.

This entire operation is a sad joke  another pandering PR stunt. Serious law enforcement leaders dont behave this way, the union added.

The announcement of the enforcement operation comes as hundreds of migrants have gathered at the southern border ahead of Title 42 expiring, according to Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin.

Drone footage circulating online shows a long line of illegal immigrants who recently crossed into Brownsville, Texas, Melugin said on May. 8.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Chief Paul Ruiz said in a May 8 Twitter post that 26,382 illegal immigrants were apprehended over the weekend, while another 7,399 others got away.

The surge in arrivals at the border has prompted concern among lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has warned that up to 700,000 migrants in Mexico are bracing to cross the border when Title 42 is lifted, and she criticized the Biden administrations handling of the border crisis.

Migrants are coming because Joe Biden opened our border to the entire world and the American people have to pay for it all and live with the national security implications and dangerous consequences, she wrote.

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) told the Washington Examiner on May 8 that he supports Title 42 being extended.

I am for the extension of Title 42, at least for a little while longer, Gonzalez said. And the reason is because I think that would give us an opportunity to build much more infrastructure to assure that its a smooth transition from Title 42 to ultimately Title 8.

Migrants from Central and South America take part in a caravan attempting to reach the U.S.-Mexico border on April 23, 2023. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

There Wasnt a Crisis Until Now

Humanitarian workers in the Rio Grande region have also raised concerns over the policy coming to an end, calling the situation a growing crisis.

There wasnt a crisis until now, Sister Norma Pimentel with Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley told NewsNation on May 8. I think that Title 42 is causing a crisis because its sending the wrong message and letting people think that the border is open and everybody can come and because of that, were starting to see a crisis.

Miller told Congress in April that about 10,000 migrants a day will likely cross the border when the policy is lifted.

Ahead of the restrictions coming to an end, President Joe Biden has deployed 1,500 extra U.S. troops to the border.

According to Pentagon press secretary Gen. Pat Ryder, the troops will fill critical capability gaps, such as ground-based detection and monitoring, data entry, and warehouse support until CBP can address these needs through contracted support, but the troops will not directly participate in law enforcement activities.

Despite growing concerns over the upcoming removal of Title 42, Bidenwho has been widely criticized for only visiting the southern border once during his time in officehas argued that recently announced opportunities for immigrants to enter and live and work in the United States legally will help deter illegal immigration.

In the announcement of the special enforcement operations, CBP officials said that the Office of Field Operations would temporarily reduce processing lanes and passenger operations at the Paso del Norte Bridge in Downtown El Paso, in the interest of border security and to protect the traveling public, infrastructure, and CBPs workforce.

In announcing the temporary reduction, the agency also urged travelers to use other ports of entry.
Calamitous Collaboration: Outrage Grows Over NIHs Renewal of Grant Giving Millions to Wuhan Lab-Linked EcoHealth

Security personnel stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Lawmakers have condemned the U.S. National Institutes of Healths (NIH) decision to reactivate a controversial federal grant to EcoHealth Alliance that was suspended three years ago over concerns about grant term violations.

EcoHealth, the nonprofit organization that for years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic used NIH funds to conduct coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Chinathe Chinese facility under scrutiny for its work on dangerous bat coronavirusesannounced in a May 8 statement the new four-year grant, which is to be used to study the risk of bat coronavirus spillover emergence.

Under the terms of the grant (pdf), EcoHealth, which is headed by British zoologist Peter Daszak, will receive a total of $4,325,005 via NIHs National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which was led by Dr. Anthony Fauci until December 2022. The award amount for 2023 is $576,290.

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health, said the news was shocking and disappointing.

EcoHealth Alliance not only has documented negligence, ignorance, and failures in following the rules of a taxpayer-funded grant but also is the subject of a congressional investigation on its research with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, he told The Epoch Times. Were going to get answers on behalf of the American people why their money is being awarded to EcoHealth Alliance.

EcoHealth is currently the recipient of 17 active U.S. government grants that total more than $50 million.

Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoV) represent a significant threat to global health, as demonstrated by the emergence of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, the statement reads.

The nonprofit went on to state that its prior work has demonstrated that bats in this region harbor an extraordinary diversity of SARSr-CoVs, some of which can use human ACE2 for cell entry, and can infect humanized mouse models to cause SARS-like illness and evade available therapies or vaccines.

Yet salient questions remain on the origin, diversity, capacity to cause illness, and risk of spillover of these viruses to people, EcoHealth stated, noting that the renewed grantamounting to roughly $2.3 million in taxpayer fundingwill help address those questions.

The nonprofit, which is expressly forbidden from conducting any research in China, is also barred from collecting any new samples of bats or humans and must implement additional oversight measures.

Peter Daszak, right, president of EcoHealth Alliance, is seen in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Unforced Error

Several U.S. agencies and independent scientists have concluded that a Wuhan lab leak most likely caused the COVID-19 pandemic. A new Senate report in April arrived at the same conclusion, saying that the preponderance of information supports the plausibility of an unintentional research-related incident that likely resulted from failures of biosafety containment during SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related research.

Amid concerns over the reinstated grant, EcoHealths Daszak, who has dismissed the lab leak theory, praised the move in a lengthy Twitter thread. He said the funding will help the nonprofit conduct work that will benefit public health and suggested that the previous grant termination seemed to have been hastily prepared and ignored appropriate norms.

Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist and Board of Governors professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, disagrees.

Termination of the grant was an appropriate response to EcoHealth Alliances possible role in the origin of COVID-19 and to EcoHealth Alliances definite violations of grant terms and conditions, he told The Epoch Times.

The grants reinstatement is a show of contempt from NIH officials toward Congress and the public, he said.

It is an unforced error that will damage congressional and public support for the NIH.

Related Coverage How the West Abetted Beijings Censorship of the Lab Leak Theory

The NIH has agreed to bolster oversight to mitigate risks in its future research into potential pandemic-causing pathogens and use appropriate biosafety precautions. EcoHealth has made modifications to the program, such as using computer modeling and amino acid sequence analysis to conduct analyses of the viruses. It noted that it wouldnt use recombinant virus technology, which involves modifying viral genomes.

The changes havent strengthened Ebrights confidence in the organization.

They promise their future research will be less reckless than their previous research, promising they will stop constructing enhanced potential pandemic pathogens and will start using appropriate rate biosafety precautions, he said of EcoHealth. But these promises do not erase their previous recklessness, obstruction, and violations.

Elsewhere, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) also expressed alarm at seeing the suspension lifted on the EcoHealth grant.

From funneling taxpayer dollars into Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology for risky experiments on bat coronaviruses to enhancing dangerous pathogens, EcoHealth has hidden what was really happening with this project, violating federal laws in the process, she said.

NIH even acknowledges we may never get answers. Giving EcoHealth another penny of taxpayer money, particularly for this notorious project which could have caused the COVID-19 pandemic, is absolutely batty.

Then-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci listens to President Joe Biden (out of frame) speak during a visit to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 11, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Calamitous Collaboration

NIAID awarded a number of grants to EcoHealth Alliance between 2014 and 2019 amounting to more than $3 million to study bat coronaviruses in China in collaboration with the Wuhan lab; the agency put the grants on pause over compliance concerns in April 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While NIH has denied that bat coronavirus studies conducted by EcoHealth under its grant led to the COVID-19 pandemic, it stated in an October 2021 letter to Republican lawmakers that the experiments it funded had the unexpected result of creating a coronavirus that, when injected into mice, made them sicker than those injected with another naturally occurring bat SARS-like coronavirus called WIV1.

The White Coat Waste Project (WCW), which has been highlighting EcoHealths calamitous collaboration with the Wuhan lab since April 2020, condemned the grant renewal, pointing to the Wuhan labs risky experiments in the past.

The batty taxpayer-funded grant that bankrolled EcoHealth Alliances dangerous animal experiments in Wuhan that probably prompted the pandemic should be defunded, not refunded, Justin Goodman, senior vice president of advocacy and public policy at the taxpayer watchdog group, told The Epoch Times.

Goodman noted that a recent audit by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that the NIH had failed to effectively monitor EcoHealth Alliances research despite identifying potential risks associated with research being performed under the EcoHealth awards.

The report confirmed that EcoHealth misspent tax dollars on this grant and grossly mismanaged its oversight of the Wuhan animal lab, he said.

No one should believe anything that comes out of the mouth of this government-funded grifter who never prevented a pandemic and probably caused one, Goodman said, describing EcoHealth as a reckless, rogue lab contractor that wastes money, breaks the law, abuses animals, and places public health in peril.

This aerial view shows the P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The Energy Department concluded in February that the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a laboratory accident, The Wall Street Journal reported. The FBI arrived at a similar conclusion regarding a possible lab leak in 2021, noting that the agency had moderate confidence in its assessment, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed following the news of the Energy Department report.

He told Fox News that the agency is still investigating the origins of the virus.

Here youre talking about a potential leak from a Chinese government-controlled lab that killed millions of Americans, Wray said.

The NIH and Daszak didnt respond by press time to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
Canada Pension Plan Acknowledges Risk of Dual Use Technology in Chinas Tencent, but Maintains Investment

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) says it is monitoring Chinas Tencent, in which it has invested over $1 billion, for possible use of dual use technologies. Security experts have warned that Tencents social media app, WeChat, widely used in China and by overseas Chinese, is under surveillance by the Chinese Communist Party.

Michel Leduc, senior managing director and global head of public affairs at CCPIB, told a House of Commons committee on May 8 that the Crown corporation still maintains investments in Tencent after being questioned about it by Liberal MP Jean Yip.

We recognize that the organization has evolved and changed, and the issues associated with their operations. One example might be dual-use technologiesthey were built for a particular intention, and then over time, they may be used for intentions that were not contemplated at the time, Leduc said while testifying before the Commons Special Committee on the CanadaPeoples Republic of China Relationship (CACN).

So it is something that were seized with and monitoring very, very closely.

Yip asked, as the CPPIB knows that certain parts of [Tencent] may be engaged in surveillance, how does the board come to the decision that this is not acceptable and move on?

Leduc said the board hasnt reached any conclusion on the issue yet.

It is an exposure that we have that were monitoring very, very closely and continue to understand the risk, he said.

The Epoch Times has inquired about CPPIBs investments in Tencent since 2020, but the board has not responded to any requests for comment.

The House of Commons cybersecurity team warned MPs back in 2019 to avoid Tencents WeChat, according to a 2019 report by iPolitics. The security team reportedly noted at the time that information on the popular messaging app continues to be stored on servers located outside Canada even after its been deleted, and that the platform doesnt provide end-to-end encryption.

The board owned around $1.2 billion in shares in Tencent as of March 31, 2022, the latest date on which the board has published the list of its foreign publicly traded equity holdings.

A 2020 study by the University of Torontos Citizen Lab said that communications on WeChat are subject to pervasive content surveillance.

Documents and images transmitted entirely among non-China-registered accounts undergo content surveillance wherein these files are analyzed for content that is politically sensitive in China, the study said.

CPPIB also has private equity investment in Bytedance, another Chinese tech company, whose TikTok video-sharing app was recently banned from government-issued devices by Ottawa and the provinces due to security concerns.

The Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that it [TikTok] presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security, according to a Feb. 27 statement from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Forced Labour Concerns

The CACN meeting in part focused on national security and human rights concerns surrounding pension funds in Canada, an issue highlighted by a report from the UK-based NGO Hong Kong Watch. The NGO said in a report last year that Canadian pension funds are passively invested in at least 13 China-based companies where there is credible evidence of involvement in Uyghur forced labour programs and construction of internment camps in Xinjiang.

According to Hong Kong Watch, the exposure is due to those companies inclusion in certain indices. An updated version of the report, released in December 2022, said CCPIB is still exposed to seven companies involved in forced labour and six companies involved in constructing internment camps or repressive infrastructures in the Xinjiang region.

Eduard van Gelderen, senior vice president and chief investment officer for Canadas Public Sector Pension Investment Board, in his testimony before the CACN on May 8, acknowledged that his fund invests in some of the indices named in the Hong Kong Watch report.

In our passive investment approach, we do have exposure to the MSCI Asia index funds. So yes, there will be some names, he said.

Omid Ghoreishi and Peter Wilson contributed to this report
Chicago Police Advise Business Owners to Install Shatter-Resistant Glass Shields Amid String of Break-Ins

A Chicago police plaque fixed unto the Chicago Police Department headquarter building in Chicago, Ill. on May 26, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

The Chicago Police Department recently advised businesses in its 14th District to install special shatter-proof glass window protectors to keep their stores safe after a recent series of break-ins.

This alert gives notice to businesses in the 14th District of recent burglaries in the overnight hours, the April 30 police alert states.

The Offender breaks the front/side glass windows of said businesses by means of rock/brick/crowbar to gain entry. Once inside they steal money from cash register, the cash register itself, safe, and liquor.

The CPDs community alert said that one storefront was targeted in this smash-and-grab fashion on four different occasions between March 17 and April 15.

This same suspect also targeted two other storefronts, with police describing him as wearing dark clothing, green gloves, and a dark jacket with fur around the [hood]. The police added that there was an unknown black male getaway driver with a red Nissan Murano.

The CPD community alert advises local businesses to be aware and watch out for one another, quickly call police if they see a possible break-in, check that security cameras are functioning properly, and if possible, use ArmorPlast, an unbreakable shield that fits over existing glass.

ArmorPlast is a series of products made from polycarbonate plastic that can be installed over windows and glass doors to prevent break-ins. ArmorPlast was developed by a company called Riot Glass. The company describes its products as a means of protecting against storm damage, smash-and-grab theft, rioting and looting, and active shooter situations.

We want to keep the bad guys outside the buildingand thats what the product does, Riot Glass founder Brad Campbell told CBS.

It was not immediately clear if Chicago police have advised installing Riot Glass products in other city areas. NTD News reached out to CPD for comment, but they did not respond by the time this article was published.

Crime in Chicago

The recent break-ins at stores in Chicagos 14th District are part of a larger trend in crime in the city.

Instances of robbery, theft, and burglary are on the rise throughout the city, according to CPD crime statistics. By the end of 2022, Chicago had recorded 14 percent more robberies, 14 percent more burglaries, and 56 percent more thefts than it had the year prior.

Instances of robbery, theft, and burglary in Chicago in 2023 are already outpacing 2022 crime rates. According to the most recent CPD crime figures, the number of robberies recorded in the city is 17 percent higher so far this year than it was at the same point last year, while burglary is eight percent higher and theft is 22 percent higher.

In Chicagos 14th Police District, robbery is 16 percent higher so far this year than it was by the same point last year. Burglary is up 31 percent, and theft is up 36 percent compared to this point in time last year.

Tamer Jaradat, an employee at Western Food & Groceryone of the businesses targeted in the recent string of smash-and-grabs in the 14th Districttold CBS that police are becoming less responsive when the store reports some crimes.

Now, if you call the cops like too much, every day, for stealing a bag of chips or pop, theyre not going to show up in 10 or 20 minutes like before. It takes time, Jaradat said.

From NTD News
China Conducts a Maximum Pressure Campaign Against Taiwan

Customers dine near a giant screen broadcasting news footage of aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese military taking part in a combat readiness patrol and "Joint Sword" exercises around Taiwan, at a restaurant in Beijing on April 10, 2023. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

Commentary

The period from December 2022 to the present date has seen unprecedented Chinese Communist Party (CCP) challenges to the sovereignty of Taiwan. This should be called the Fourth Taiwan Straits Crisis, keeping with the naming convention of two different crisis periods of the 1950s and one during the 1990s.

This period of tension is far more concerning. In the previous crisis, China didnt have long-range hypersonic missiles that could target moving surface vessels such as American aircraft carriers. Nor did the Chinese regime face the largest mass protests ever across China as in the Blank Sheet Rebellion, causing immense concern that simultaneous civil unrest could cause instability within China.

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed by President Joe Biden on Dec. 23, 2022, was replete with support for Taiwan. The most important element of the NDAA was the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (TERA), a World War II-style Lend-Lease program that America provided to Great Britain to ensure a growing flow of weapons, munitions, food, and other supplies.

There were numerous other Taiwan-related parts of the NDAA in addition to TERA. Chinese state television claimed these legal authorities were turning Taiwan into a military outpost. The CCP reactions translated into aggressive air and naval challenges from December 2022 to April 2023, including a naval feint towards Guam, concurrent carrier operations in the South China Sea, almost daily air surges challenging the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), amphibious landing demonstrations, the Chinese spy balloon drama over the Continental United States (preceded by Chinese spy balloons over the new American base camps in the Philippines), and also a Chinese carrier operating to the east of Taiwan demonstrating a complete encirclement of Taiwan.

China Is Pivoting to New Tactics

Military surges of aircraft, ships, and other equipment require maintenance and logistics. This is an art form the United States has perfected. American military mastery of maintenance and logistics sets them apart from all other militaries in history. China has studied this closelybut so far has not perfected it.

There are noticeable and almost predictable down times as Chinese Air and Naval forces reset their equipment and perform maintenance. Interestingly, as American, Philippine, and Australian forces (along with Japanese observers) implemented Balikatan 2023, the Chinese forces began implementing a new tactic and capability. As their Air and Naval forces reset, the CCP introduced long-range, high-endurance drones around the perimeter of Taiwan.

These drone patrols have been traveling the eastern coast of Taiwan. This could be helpful for reconnaissance of the fallback airfields, ports, bases, and bunker complexes in the high hills and coasts of the eastern shore of Taiwan. These high-endurance drones are clones of Western models such as the well-known American Reaper, and the Israeli Heron drones. These Chinese drones can very likely be armed, which sends a message that not only are they conducting reconnaissance, but they also potentially have a sting to attack these eastern Taiwanese facilities or strike ocean vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan from the east.

How Will Drone Encirclement Influence the Taiwanese Population?

If the CCP can sustain and project an enduring drone presence around Taiwan, this is a new chapter in the CCP pressure campaign. The drones are simpler, more reliable, and have a longer dwell time than crewed aircraft. They dont place a pilot at risk either. A downed Chinese pilot on the eastern side of Taiwan would be difficult to recover. An important question is how an enduring encirclement of Chinese drones will affect the morale and resilience of the citizens of Taiwan.

One strong data point is Ukraine where months of coordinated attacks by low- and high-end Iranian drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles may actually steel and rally the Ukrainian population. The Ukrainians appear defiant and are emboldened to carry out very creative counter-attacks that have allegedly struck targets in Moscow in addition to asymmetric bombardment of targets deep inside Russia that have rendered ports, airfields, and bridges unusable. The simple answer is that if conflict starts, two can play this game. In addition, these Chinese drones are vulnerable to interception by aircraft or surface-to-air missiles, so an encirclement may be short lived.

American involvement in training with Taiwan is becoming more visible and regular, as reflected by the hard landing of a Taiwanese F-16 in Hawaii that turned out to have an American pilotperhaps a resurrection of the Flying Tigers? Although a different target, the possible successful use of a Patriot missile against a Russian hypersonic missile, if true, will give confidence to Taiwanese citizens and the Taiwanese military who have a robust Patriot missile system network. All of these factors favor a spirit of endurance and resilience in Taiwan in the face of any attempt at a drone encirclement.

The Key Upcoming Event

The critical upcoming event the CCP is likely interested in influencing is the Taiwanese presidential elections in January 2024. President Tsai Ing-wen is ineligible for a third term, and William Lai will be the candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The flamboyant businessman Terry Guo again appears to be the lead presidential candidate for the KMT. With the experience of Hong Kong clearly in their minds, the continuation of a CCP pressure campaign leveraging the specter of a drone encirclement of Taiwan will likely be counterproductive. The Ukrainians have shown great resilience and the Taiwanese have been watching and studying the Ukrainians closely.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
China Expels Canadian Diplomat in Retaliation for Ottawa Declaring Chinese Diplomat Persona Non Grata

A security guard stands on duty as residents pass by the Canadian Embassy in Beijing on June 19, 2020. (The Canadian Press/AP-Ng Han Guan)

Beijing announced early Tuesday morning that it would expel a Canadian diplomat from China as a retaliatory measure after the Canadian government announced the day before that a Chinese diplomat who reportedly targeted an MP and his family is no longer welcome in Canada.

Beijing declared Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, consul in the Canadian consulate in Shanghai, persona non grata on May 9 and ordered her to leave China by May 13.

Chinas Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the regime took the action as it strongly condemns and firmly opposes Canadas move to expel Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei on May 8.

Beijing called the expulsion of Lalonde a reciprocal countermeasure in reaction to Canadas unscrupulous move and said it reserves the right to further react.

The Chinese regime had threatened retaliatory measures after Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced that Zhao would be sent back to China.

The move to expel Zhao came after a May 1 report by the Globe and Mail said that Zhao and a PRC spy service had targeted Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family living in Hong Kong after Chong sponsored a motion declaring Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities a genocide. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) later confirmed the allegation.

Opposition parties had demanded the expulsion of the Chinese diplomat earlier.

Joly told a House of Commons committee on May 4 that the delay was because the government needed to consider how Beijing would react if Zhao were expelledespecially considering how it retaliated after Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant to have her extradited on fraud charges in 2018.

According to the Globe, the information about the threat to Chongs family was known in 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier said he wasnt briefed on the issue and only learned about it through media this month, and that the assessment didnt leave the CSIS. However, National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas, whose office reports to the prime minister, told MP Chong that her office had received the report, though she wasnt at the helm at the time.

Beijing arbitrarily detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor after Mengs arrest in December 2018, and did not release them until September 2021.

House of Commons Motion

Ottawas expulsion of Zhao came within hours of the House of Commons voting 170 to 150 in favour of a Conservative motion calling on the Liberal government to immediately act on four specific issues relating to Beijings reported interference in Canadian affairs.

The motion, introduced by Conservative MP Michael Cooper several days earlier, called on Ottawa to immediately shut down the PRC-run police stations operating in Canada, expel all Chinese diplomats responsible for and involved in interference measures, immediately create a foreign agent registry, and establish a national public inquiry on foreign election interference.

All opposition parties voted in favour of the non-binding motion, while only Liberal MPs and Independent MP Han Dong voted against.

Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
Chinas Revised Anti-Spy Law Frightening Prospect for Foreign Firms There: Expert

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 25: (L-R) Yu Bin, Vice President Development Research Center of the State Council, Han Wenxiu, Executive Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central Financial, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates LP, looks on during China Development Forum (CDF) 2023 at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on March 25, 2023 in Beijing, China. CDF 2023 will focus on topics such as the global industrial chain and supply chain, the strategy of expanding domestic demand, reform of the fiscal and taxation system, high-level opening-up, green transformation and forestalling and defusing financial risks. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Chinas newly revised anti-espionage law will have a scary impact on foreign firms doing business there, according to former chief convergence officer for British Telecom and author Jon Pelson.

On April 26, the Chinese communist regime passed the new version of its anti-espionage law, which will take effect on July 1.

The revision has expanded the definition of espionage, making it broader and vaguer, which increased the range of information and resources that Beijing considers relevant to national security.

For example, the scope of the subject 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.

Pelson, author of Wireless Wars, pointed to the new legislative move, noting that the term national interest has even broader implications than national security.

What is not national interest? Beating a local national champion at their own competitive game, I suppose, harms the national interest. And you could be accused of violating that, Pelson told NTDs China in Focus.

If you harm a company through legitimate business competition, and theyre considered important to the security of the country, youve now violated the national intelligence law, national security law, he added.

That is a really frightening prospect for people that are businessmen and women and are there to make money and are not part of the intelligence community or the military. Theyre not playing that game.

No recourse

When it comes to the broader impact, if foreign firms are targeted over alleged violations of these laws, they will not get a fair shake as they could in free countries like the United States, according to the expert.

Theres no recourse in China  Its completely at the whim, ultimately, of the Chinese Communist Party, so people know that you can be held, detained, without access to consular resources, which happens all the time, he said.

Pelson pointed to a March raid of the Beijing office of Mintz Group, a due diligence firm headquartered in New York. Five Mintz employeesall Chinese nationalswere reportedly detained on suspicion of engaging in illegal business operations, and the regime confirmed those charges.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, a Mintz executive said the company had no idea who was detaining its employees, when they might be released, or why the raid was carried out.

Due to the arrests, Mintz closed its sole office in Chinas mainland. The companys closure is a setback for Chinas global business community, which depends on it for trusted international corporate investigations as part of hiring, transactions, and litigation in China.

The incident came just days before the country welcomed Apple CEO Tim Cook, which the expert believed was not a coincidence.

That was a message they were sending. In my view, it was an arrogant message to say, Here you are coming to our country. And while youre here, look, what were gonna do, were gonna hamper your ability to carry out business in your fashion of open information and shared data, and so on, were gonna do it right in front of you, and what are you going to do about it?

The escalating clampdown on foreign companies will further prompt their withdrawal from the country, in his opinion.

Theres a trend in that direction, certainly to lessen strategic reliance on China. And this is just speeding it up faster even than the motivated parties were going to, because now theyre saying we dont, we literally cant, even send people over there to help clean up operations, were just gonna start pulling things out. And Im hearing that kind of talk already, he said.

And they see friends that have their passports or their phones and laptops seized and are not allowed to leave the country, theres going to be a great reluctance for any of the prime companies to send their people into China.

Alex Wu contributed to this report.
Chinese Militia Boats Cross Indian, ASEAN Warships Exercising in South China Sea

Ship tracking data shows Brunei, Thai, and Vietnamese ships that are set to be passed by a group of Chinese ships headed south toward the vicinity of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise formation inside Vietnam's exclusive economic zone on May 8, 2023. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times/Ray Powell/Twitter)

Boats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia approached an area where navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea, reports said on Monday.

An independent expert in Vietnam said Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval exercise.

Beijing has not responded to Reuters queries about the alleged incident and its possible motives. The Indian and Vietnamese governments declined to comment.

The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) began on Sunday with naval ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei taking part.

They were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone when the Chinese boats moved towards them, two Indian sources said. However, the militia boats and naval vessels crossed each other without any face-off.

Indian authorities were tracking the movements of at least five militia boats, according to the sources, who did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

A Chinese research vessel was also following these boats towards the same area, they said.

Ray Powell, who leads Project Myoushu on the South China Sea at Stanford University, said the boats belong to the Qiong Sansha Yu militia fleet in the area.

1/Yesterday a flotilla of #China maritime militia ships moving SE executed an unusual 90deg turn, spread out & began moving SWon a course that would intriguingly lead them directly into the #ASEAN#India Maritime Exercise group headed NE from Singapore.

But wait [1/5] pic.twitter.com/Bs3aPxZ6CD  Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) May 8, 2023

EPILOGUE: It now seems very possible that the primary purpose of this flotilla of #Chinas maritime militia ships is to escort the survey ship into contested waters (#Vietnams EEZ?). The fact that it went directly into the path of the ASEAN-India exercise  coincidence? https://t.co/siK27cWpTK  Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) May 8, 2023

Such militias consist of commercial fishing boats, which work in coordination with the Chinese authorities for political objectives in the South China Sea. The Chinese government, however, in the past rejected the existence of any such militia.

Van Pham, manager of The South China Sea Chronicle Initiative (SCSCI), an independent non-profit which monitors vessel-tracking data, said this was not the first time Chinese so-called fishing vessels were around and intimidated warships of other countries.

So its likely that the exercise was interrupted  the pattern was broken and some had to change their directions, she told Reuters.

Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 had come as close as 10 miles to the participating Vietnamese warship at one point, Pham said.

#China Coast Guard 4303 and #Vietnam fisheries ship Kiem Ngu 414 now separated by ~100m as the Chinese ship tries to push the Vietnamese ship away from the flotilla escorting survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 10. Both ships moving SW at slow speed (2-3kts). https://t.co/BMnKKL9FdH pic.twitter.com/OVCvW5j1wc  Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) May 9, 2023

The drill is the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) and is co-hosted by the Indian and Singaporean navies.

Several of Chinas littoral neighbours have accused it of using its official and militia vessels to harass and intimidate their fishing and military boats in the South China Sea.

China has for years claimed sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, and has been sensitive to the presence of other militaries in the region.

Relations between India and China have also plummeted since a clash between their armies in the Himalayas in 2020 in which 24 soldiers were killed.

By Krishn Kaushik and Francesco Guarascio
CNBC Shakeup After Anchor Accused NBC CEO of Harassment

Anchors Hadley Gamble and Dan Murphy at the opening of CNBCs studios at Nasdaq Market Site Dubai within the Dubai International Financial Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Oct. 28, 2018. (Darren Arthur/Getty Images for CNBC International)

CNBC said it parted ways with anchor Hadley Gamble after she filed a complaint against NBCUniversals former chief executive for alleged sexual harassment and discrimination.

Gamble has been a distinguished journalist for more than a decade for CNBC, undertaking highly visible and challenging assignments, and developing deep expertise in the Middle East and beyond. Her initiative and drive have secured valuable interviews with several world political leaders. We wish her every success in her future endeavors, a CNBC spokesperson told news outlets on Tuesday.

It did not elaborate on why she left the network. Other than Tuesdays statement, no other details were provided.

In late March, Gamble lodged a complaint that accused Jeff Shell, the former NBCUniversal chief executive, of sexual harassment, and it also alleged that she was harassed and bullied at CNBC. It also named managers at the companys international division.

Weeks later, Shell was fired by NBC over what it said was an inappropriate relationship with a co-worker. A late April statement said that Shells firing was effective immediately.

The Company and Jeff Shell, Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal, have mutually agreed that Mr. Shell will depart effective immediately following the Companys investigation led by outside counsel into a complaint of inappropriate conduct, Comcast, the owner of NBC, said in a statement.

In a statement, Shell expressed regret over the matter and said that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with an employee.

I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret, Shell said. Im truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege.

But Shell also told media outlets that Gambles claim wildly misrepresents the facts of what happened.

Lawyer Suzanne McKie of Farore Law said that her client, Gamble, issued a complaint against Shell that triggered an internal investigation.

The investigation into Mr. Shell arose from a complaint by my client of sexual harassment and sex discrimination, the lawyer said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. Given these circumstances, it is very disappointing that my clients name has been released and her privacy violated.

McKie did not immediately respond to an Epoch Times request for comment about her clients departure from the network.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing last month, Comcast wrote that after the complaint against Shell, the multinational media conglomerate retained outside counsel to investigate the allegations.

During the investigation, evidence was uncovered that corroborated the allegations, the filing added. As a consequence, on April 23, 2023, the Company terminated Mr. Shells employment With Cause under his employment agreement, effective immediately.

According to a profile on CNBCs website, Gamble covered financial markets, energy markets, and geopolitics. She was the anchor of CNBCs Capital Connection, which broadcast daily from the United Arab Emirates.

Notably, Gamble interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2021, which was reportedly the last interview that Putin had conducted before the RussiaUkraine war erupted. Shes also interviewed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Other Shakeups and Layoffs

In recent weeks, the corporate news landscape has been rocked by recent firings and layoffs. Notably, two weeks ago, former CNN host Don Lemon was fired from the network on the same day that Fox News host Tucker Carlson parted ways with the network under unclear circumstances.

Ex-CNN moderator Don Lemon speaks to the crowd attending the Democratic Presidential Debate in Detroit on July 31, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Carlsons departure was far more notable, however. The Fox News replacement show, Fox News Tonight, has seen its ratings crater since it went on the air, especially in the important 2554 age demographic.

Both Lemon and Carlson have reportedly hired high-powered Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman. In a statement to Axios, Freedman responded to reports that Carlson would be going on the offensive against Fox.

The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous, he said. The Epoch Times has contacted his office for comment.

Before Lemons ouster, there were allegations that he was abusive towards female CNN staffers during his career at the network. Lemon has denied those allegations.

Earlier this year, he drew more negative headlines when he suggested that Republican 2024 candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime during an on-air segment. Right before his ouster, Lemon engaged in a lengthy, on-air argument about black gun ownership with GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as his morning co-hosts looked on in silence.

Outside of the ousters of Lemon and Carlson, MTV News, Vice News, ESPN, BuzzFeed News, Business Insider, and more have seen major shakeups in recent days. Vice Media, a once-ascendant media outlet targeting millennials, reportedly signaled that it was going to declare bankruptcy in the near future and will lay off about 100 of its 1,500 staff.

The head of ESPN, meanwhile, said in a memo that it would cut an unspecified number of employees, while BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti confirmed that its news division will be shut down. A spokesperson for Insider, too, said that it will cut about 10 percent of its staff to keep our company healthy and competitive, Forbes reported.
Debt Limit Meeting With Biden Yielded No New Movement: McCarthy

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House in Washington on May 9, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Heading into his May 9 debt ceiling talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other congressional leaders, President Joe Biden joked, Were going to solve all the worlds problems.

But when the meeting was over, the world still had problems, and according to McCarthy, the national debt was very much still one of them.

Everybody in this meeting reiterated the positions they were at, the House Speaker told reporters outside the White House. I didnt see any new movement.

The president said the staff should get back together. But I was very clear with the presidentwe have now just two weeks to go [until potential default].

Not Negotiable

Currently, the United States federal borrowing cap sits at $31.4 trillion. And although the nation has never defaulted on its debt before, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other economic experts, that may change as soon as early June if the debt limit is not raised.

Heading into Tuesdays meeting, McCarthy said that it was time for Democrats to come to the table and negotiate on spending cuts.

Ninety seven days ago, I met with President Biden to discuss how he can avoid defaulting on our national debt, McCarthy noted in a tweet. For 97 days, he has ignored the crisis.

House Republicans are the only ones in Washington who have passed a responsible debt limit increase that avoids default, he added.

Today is a new opportunity for Democrats to find common ground and act responsibly for future generations.

After the summit, McCarthy said that the president had conceded there were some areas where he would consider budget cuts, but did not offer any specifics.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House in Washington on May 9, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Noting that he was hopeful that the two sides could find those areas of common ground, the speaker added, I think the best thing that we can do is find places where we can eliminate waste, find places that we can grow this economy, and thats exactly what the House bill does.

In April, House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which would cap federal spending for fiscal year 2024 at 2022 levels to help offset raising the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion, or through March 2024.

But during a press briefing earlier that day, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not appear to take that plan seriously, accusing Republicans of manufacturing a crisis and failing to do their job.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 9, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

If House Republicans get their way, it could  trigger a recession, and weve listed over and over again what this could be if they continue to hold the American economy hostage, she said. Thats going to be our focus, thats going to be the presidents focus todayto make that clear to the leaders that they have to do their congressional duty.

Default, she added, is not negotiable.

The Senate majority leader echoed the White Houses position later, holding that Republicans were holding default hostage by refusing to take it off the table, and that budget cuts should be negotiated at a later date.

To use the risk of default, with all the dangers that has for the American people, as a hostage, and say, Its my way or no way,  is dangerous, Schumer said. So, we repeat our plea to Speaker McCarthy: Take default off the table, and lets resume negotiations in the budget process and the appropriations process.

Manufactured Crisis

Despite the White Houses assertions that the debt dilemma was created by Republicans, Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said she feared that both sides political posturing over the issue was an illustration of how broken Washington is.

The debt ceiling has, for decades, in fact, been increased without huge drama, without thinking were going to default, MacGuineas told The Epoch Times sister outlet, NTD News. But its also often been attached to policies that would help improve the fiscal situation. In many ways, its one of the only times that it forces policymakers to stop, pause, and look at the fiscal trajectory and see whether its safe or not. And right now, it clearly isnt.

Both Democrats and Republicans, she contended, appeared to be more focused on political narratives and elections than governing the country.

We dont hear much about compromising, she noted.

However, MacGuineas also stressed that simply allowing the country to default, as has been proposed by some Republicans, would be irresponsible.

We have to lift the debt ceiling, she said. It merely reflects commitments weve made in the past.

And if what you want to do is be really fiscally responsiblewhich I would encourage our lawmakers to dowhat they should do is promise not to pass any more legislation that includes additional borrowing. Unless its an emergency, theres no reason that the country should be borrowing more. We should be working to get the borrowing thats already on the books under control.

No Quick Fix

One matter both camps were able to agree upon Tuesday was that a short-term debt limit hike to extend the time for negotiations was not on the table.

No, we shouldnt kick the vote, McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill prior to the meeting. Lets just get this done now.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (L) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (R) speak to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House in Washington on May 9, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Likewise, when asked about McCarthys comments, Jean-Pierre said: A short-term extension is not our plan, either.  This can be easily resolved. This is a man-made crisis that the speaker is leading.

But reaching that place of resolution, McCarthy noted after the meeting, could be difficult if Democrats are unwilling to compromise.

I want the American people to understand: Is it too much that we ask that we simply spend what we spent five months ago? Is it too much to ask that we find waste in government?  If thats too much for the Democrats, tell me what they think is right.

However, McCarthy added that just the fact that Biden was willing to meet with him was progress. And with another meeting set for May 12, perhaps additional progress will follow.
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Looters raided the main offices of the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum over the weekend, days after looting 17,000 metric tons of food from WFP warehouses in the country, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the UN chief strongly condemned the looting.

"This is the latest violation of humanitarian facilities since the start of the crisis, which is in its fourth week," Haq said. "Most, if not all, United Nations agencies and our humanitarian partners have been impacted by large-scale looting."

Haq said the secretary-general reiterated his call to protect and respect humanitarian workers and facilities in order to save lives.

"The needs of the Sudanese people, who are caught up in a humanitarian catastrophe, must come first," the spokesman said.

He said the latest looting involved office equipment and supplies, including laptops. No value was given. The food looted from warehouses was valued at more than 13 million U.S. dollars.

However, the spokesman said, the UN and its partners are working to expand humanitarian operations. "This includes efforts to move supplies into and around the country, as we respond to rapidly growing needs."

Haq said that in Blue Nile State, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners are supporting health and nutrition programs, including immunizations, screening and treatment for malnutrition, as well as pregnancy care and reproductive health services.

In North Darfur, he said humanitarian partners are supporting health facilities with medicine, water and other items. Twenty healthcare facilities received water, sanitation and hygiene support, with at least 100,000 liters of water brought in by truck.

The spokesman said that in Port Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Arab Emirates delivered 30 tons of medical supplies containing essential medicine and emergency surgical items to reach 165,000 people through 13 major health facilities. It is WHO's first air delivery to Sudan since the conflict erupted.

Officials authorized customs clearance for 80 tons of medical supplies offloaded in Port Sudan last week, he said. The shipment includes intravenous fluids and supplies for treating traumatic injuries and severe acute malnutrition.

"With more humanitarian shipments expected to arrive in Sudan in the coming days and weeks, we call for customs clearance to be expedited to ensure that life-saving assistance can reach people in need as quickly as possible," said Haq,

He said WFP restarted its operations in Sudan last week to meet the needs of 384,000 pre-existing refugees, host communities and both pre-existing and newly internally displaced people across Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala and White Nile states. It marks the first time WFP provides emergency food assistance in Gezira, where freshly displaced Khartoum families fled the conflict. 
Democratic AGs Urge Federal Regulators to Take Action on Gas Stoves

In the wake of New Yorks ban of gas stoves in most new buildings, attorneys general of several Democrat-led states are asking federal regulators to do more to explore regulatory options and warn Americans about the kitchen appliances potential health hazards.

Gas stoves, unlike furnaces and water heaters, are not required to meet any voluntary or mandatory safety or performance standards related to emissions, other than requirements related to CO concentrations, they wrote in a May. 8 letter (pdf) to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The 21-page letter was co-signed by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as New York Citys top lawyer Sylvia Hinds-Radix.

Specifically, the legal officers urged the CPSC to implement uniform mandatory standards for gas stove ventilation, including requiring gas stoves to be sold with a range hood that turns on automatically when a gas stove is in use. They argued that this is necessary for keeping indoor pollution levels in check, citing federal data that estimates less than a quarter of American households use their range hoods while cooking.

Without such measures, voluntary standards cannot claim to be effectively eliminating indoor air pollutants sufficiently to be health protective, they claimed.

The officials also asked the federal agency to increase consumer awareness of the harms posed by gas stoves by forcing manufacturers to put more informative warning labels on their products.

The idea is that combustion pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NO2) are linked to respiratory illnesses, especially among children. Particularly, the letter pointed to a 2013 study, which found that children living in a home with a gas stove are 42 percent more likely to experience asthma symptoms than peers who live in homes with an electric stove.

Manufacturers should be required to list all the potential gases emitted from a gas stove, the potential health risks associated with those gases, and that emissions can cause concentrations of indoor air pollution to reach levels above what is allowed by EPA for outdoor levels, the letter reads.

In January, the CPSC already issued a request for public input regarding the alleged hazards associated with gas stoves and potential solutions. The agency also said at the time that it is open to a federal level ban on gas stoves.

This is a hidden hazard, CPSC head Richard Trumka Jr. said in an interview with Bloomberg. Any option is on the table. Products that cant be made safe can be banned.

New York Passed First-in-Nation Ban

On May 5, New York became the first U.S. state to ban gas stoves after the Democrat-dominated state Legislature approved a budget proposal that includes a ban that applies to any new construction of buildings less than seven stories high in 2026, with few exceptions.

The ban covers more than just stoves, but a range of fossil fuel- and gas-powered appliances such as furnaces and water heaters. There are some big exceptions for facilities like restaurants and factories, and for buildings like hospitals and laboratories that require backup generators.

The move was applauded by environmental activists in favor of an aggressive agenda to phase out the use of fossil fuels to combat climate change. However, opponents of the ban have argued that it takes away consumer choice and will increase the cost of utilities since electricity is more expensive than natural gas in much of the Empire State.

A first-in-the-nation, unconstitutional ban on natural gas hookups in new construction will drive up utility bills and increase housing costs, said New York Senate minority leader Rob Ortt.

The least transparent budget in recent memory failed to address the affordability crisis, does nothing to improve public safety, and imposes more big government mandates that threaten our economy, Ortt added, questioning Gov. Kathy Hochuls priorities.

Lee Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from Long Island and a former candidate for governor, also argued that the government should make it easier, not harder, for New Yorkers to use gas to fulfill their everyday needs.

New Yorkers are struggling to heat their homes and put gas in their cars, he wrote on Twitter. Instead of approving new pipeline applications and reversing the states ban on the safe extraction of natural gas, Kathy Hochul and her allies are tripling down on kicking this state off the cliff.

Federal Regulators Eye on Dishwashers

Amid the debate over gas stoves, the Biden administration has announced new efficiency regulations for dishwashers as part of its efforts to phase out the countrys reliance on fossil fuels.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the new standards would help lower expenses for Americans due to lowered energy consumption.

This Administration is using all of the tools at our disposal to save Americans money while promoting innovations that will reduce carbon pollution and combat the climate crisis, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a May 5 statement.

Under the proposed rules, new conventional household dishwashers made in or imported into the United States would have to consume 27 percent less power and use 34 percent less water, while more compact models would need to have a 22 percent power reduction and an 11 percent water use reduction, starting three years after the publication of the final rule.

The change, according to an estimate by the DOE, means that people would have to spend $15 more for a new dishwasher but would see three times as much in energy savings over the machines lifetime. The agency said that the new rules would save consumers nearly $3 billion in utility bills over 30 years.

Carbon dioxide emissions over the time period in question would be cut by about 12.5 million metric tons, which is roughly the combined annual emissions of 1.6 million homes, while saving about 240 billion gallons of water, the DOE said.

The dishwasher rule comes alongside new requirements for electric motors and beverage vending machines, which the DOE stated would reduce carbon emissions by an additional combined 94.7 million metric tons over 30 years.

The DOE stated that it will hold an online hearing on the proposed rules on June 8, while opening the proposal for public comment.

Tom Ozimek of The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
DeSantis Signs Bills Fighting Chinese Communist Party Influence in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed three bills on May 8 limiting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in Florida.

In a ceremony in Brooksville, the governor signed a measure prohibiting the CCPor other foreign countries of concernfrom buying agricultural land anywhere in Florida, or making land purchases within 10 miles of sensitive locations such as military bases, ports, or power plants.

We believe protecting our food supply is a security issue, he said.

A second bill he signed bans state universities and colleges from accepting any grant or participating in any agreement or partnership with a foreign country of concern.

Michigan State Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) speaks to NTD near the farmland, which is slated for a Ford electric vehicle battery plant partnered with a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, in Marshall, Mich., on March 11, 2023, objecting to using taxpayer dollars to fund the Ford project. (NTD/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Nor may their officials accept gifts from the CCP or countries of concern.

DeSantis noted the state had already banned the Chinese Communist Partys Confucius Institutes.

We had one at Miami Dade College. Its put out as more goodwill, but in reality its a way to put CCP propaganda onto our college and university campuses. And we clearly do not want [that].

And a third bill he signed prohibits using the social media platform Tik Tok at government or educational institutions.

DeSantis said the softwarepopular with young people and others for its videosspies on its users, mining data from them, and gives it to the CCP.

Today Florida makes it very clear. We dont want the CCP in the Sunshine State. We want to maintain this as the Free State of Florida, DeSantis said.

Historical References

DeSantis injected language resonating with international history into his remarks. His accusing the Chinese Communist Party of trying to establish industrial hegemony was rich with irony: the CCP for decades accused the United States of doing just that.

The CCP has done a really, really effective job in identifying some of the soft underbelly of American society and really focusing on academic infiltration and influence, DeSantis said.

The governor was echoing a term used by Britains World War II prime minister Winston Churchill to describe attacking Nazi-occupied Europes soft underbelly in the Mediterranean first, before a Normandy invasion.

And theyve been able to expand their influence in academia tremendously, DeSantis said, because theyre throwing a lot of money around. And so in Florida we say, Not here. Not on our watch.

Still undeclared as a presidential candidatebut recently returned from a global tourDeSantis took on a foreign policy issue with domestic effects a state government, if so inclined, can address.

He discussed how Communist China had become an adversary.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Americans dependence upon China. Almost anything you needed for COVID  I think almost 100 percent of it was produced in China.

Ships are shown offshore at the port of Long Beach as supply chain problems continue from Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 22, 2021. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

There are so many things that our economy is dependent on China for, and its given them more leverage and more power as a result. So we do need to assert our economic sovereignty. Part of that is bringing supply chains home.

The Chinese Communist Party, he said, has established a position of economic might, of industrial hegemony, and their military is far stronger today than it was 20 or 25 years ago, he said.

They have a leader whos very ideological and is intent on expanding CCP influencenot just in their region but  around the globe.

Part of the reason were in this predicament is because elites in our own country, for a generation, have sought short-term profits over long-term U.S. interest.

They thought people were making money, and that was good for some, and they didnt have a long view of how that would work in terms of Americas industrial base here at home. Or American security abroad.

DeSantis said: And so whats developed, I think, is a relationship that really lacks symmetry and reciprocity.

China does not trade with us. China dumps products here, and its very difficult for our businesses to be able to access their market. Thats completely at the whim of the CCP. So you really have an unfair trading relationship.

During its Cultural Revolution China relentlessly attacked the United States for hegemony. Here Chinese youths in that period walk past several revolutionary placards, in February 1967 in downtown Beijing. (Vincent/AFP via Getty Images)

They do dump products, they take our copyrights and they take our patents, and yet a lot of people have not done very much about it, whove been in positions of authority to do so.

DeSantis decried the folly of prior American policies, including those to admit China to the World Trade Organization.

Remember, they told us if you put China in the World Trade Organization and grant them most-favored trade status, that they would end up becoming a capitalist democracy. Thats what the elites were saying would happen.

In reality, China got much richer. They created a massive industrial base. And theyve used that to fuel more military and, really, to fortify Xi Jinpings ambitions.

So thats just the reality of what happened. The elites in this country let us down.

A speaker to follow DeSantis to the microphone was Charles Chou, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami.

Chou said Taiwan enjoyed close trade ties with Florida and has been in a sister-state relationship since 1992.

As Taiwan continues to face growing military pressure and threat from [the] Chinese Communist Party, we highly appreciate the governor and the government of Floridas unwavering and solid support to Taiwan.

Taiwan will continue to stand tall and defend our homeland, he said, and Taiwan will continue to advocate for its right to participate in international organizations such as the World Health Organization, which excludes it.

DeSantis noted afterward Floridas legislation to invalidate any such WHO mandates was not also supported by state law.
Chinese Canadians Distrust Elected Officials Due to Perceived Beijing Links, MPs Hear

The Parliament Hill Peace Tower is framed in an iron fence on Wellington Street in Ottawa on March 12, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Some members of the Chinese community have a lack of trust towards elected officials due to their perceived close links to Beijing, a Chinese democracy activist told MPs during a committee hearing.

Despite being afraid to voice their concerns publicly, many community members distrust elected officials due to their perceived close relationships with PRC [Peoples Republic of China] officials and pro-Beijing organizations and proxies, said Cherie Wong, executive director of the Alliance Canada Hong Kong.

Wong was testifying before the House of Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 9, in relation to its study on foreign interference.

A main theme in her testimony related to the lack of trust not only toward politicians but also security agencies which she criticized as being non-responsive.

Wongs group advocates for democracy in Hong Kong and for the protection of groups persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It also speaks out against PRC interference in Canada.

Wong didnt specifically name any elected officials perceived to be close to Beijing, but two politicians have recently left their parties at the federal and provincial level after they were linked to foreign interference in national security leaks reported in the media.

Cherie Wong, executive director of the Alliance Canada Hong Kong, testifies before the House of Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations on May 31, 2021. (Screenshot via parlvu.parl.gc.ca)

Wong identified the main driving force behind the interference as the PRCs United Front Work Department, which specializes in infiltrating countries to further Beijings interests.

She said the United Fronts interference operates on interconnected dependencies between politics, economics, culture, technology, academia, governance and community, which most Western governments fail to grasp.

The United Front also disguises its work to appear as advancing the interests of the community, Wong said, and that it presents the community as a monolithic bloc to actively discredit dissenting voices.

This has taken the form of creating fabricated grassroots campaigns, she said. Years of astroturfing has made it difficult for the diaspora to mobilize without Beijings interference.

She spoke of being threatened herself in relation to her advocacy and lamented that her complaint to police was not taken seriously.

Wong told the committee that at the time of founding her group three years ago, she had received a threatening phone call that she reported to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), but she said police have not met with her on the matter.

The Epoch Times contacted VPD for comment but didnt immediately hear back.

Wong says events like these have led to some community members losing trust in security agencies ability to deal with foreign interference.

Many of the diaspora dont believe in intelligence or security agencies anymore, because when we do report incidents, they fail to inform us of any progress or anything, she said.

Interference

If trust is reportedly shaken at the popular level, recent events on the political scene have also raised questions about how the government machinery operates when it comes to communicating key information on foreign interference threats.

The Globe and Mail reported on May 1 that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) produced an assessment in 2021 speaking of a Chinese spy service intent on targeting Canadian MPs.

A national security source told the Globe that Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family were being specifically targeted.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initially said the information had never left CSIS, but it was later clarified it had been sent to his National Security and Intelligence Adviser (NSIA), which sits within the Privy Council Office (PCO).

The PCO told The Epoch Times that the acting NSIA at the time, Mike MacDonald, did not recall having seen such material during his brief time in the role, hence it was never briefed to the prime minister.

The Globe revelation led to events culminating on May 8 with the Chinese diplomat in Canada reportedly involved in targeting Chong being declared persona non grata.
Embracing Freedom in the Storm: Commemoration of Hong Kong Victims Continues in North America

On April 30, 2023, Hong Kong escapee survivors from all over the world visited Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery to participate in commemorative activities and bowed for the deceased. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

On the morning of April 30, Eastern Time, in the cold wind and rain, about 120 Hong Kong survivors and their relatives from all over the United States, Canada, and Australia came to the Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery in New Jersey, USA to participate in the remembrance activities, to commemorate for those who escape from mainland China during the Culture revolution.

The commemorative activities started every May 1 since the year of 2014, a group of gray-haired elders and their family members went to the outlying islands of Hong Kong to hold commemorative activities for the educated youth who tried to escape (from China) to Hong Kong and died.

After 2019, due to pressure from many local groups, it could not be held anymore in public.

To continue the public commemoration activities, survivors residing in North America who escaped from Hong Kong in the earlier days erected a Monument in Commemoration to the Educated Youth Escaping to Hong Kong engraved 346 names at the Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery in New Jersey.

It serves as a promise to continue Hong Kongs May Day Remembrance tradition and let the lost generation of Chinese people rest in peace on the free land of the United States.

On April 30, 2023, Hong Kong escapee survivors from all over the world visited Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery to participate in commemorative activities and bowed for the deceased. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

From the 1960s to the end of the 70s, young people in mainland China, known as educated youths, were told to participate in the Down to the Countryside movement (dispatched from cities to work within the countryside, one of the several hallmark events of the Cultural Revolution).

To break free from the shackles of the Cultural Revolution during the period, quite a number of them tried to escape to Hong Kong but unfortunately lost their lives in their pursuit of freedom. Some were buried at sea, starved to death en route, shot dead, or died during imprisonment.

To continue the commemoration activities of the educated youths who tried to flee to Hong Kong, a group of North American survivors and their relatives established the  Monument in Commemoration of the Educated Youth Escaping to Hong Kong to continue the May Day Remembrance tradition overseas. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

105-year-old Zhang

On the morning of April 30, Eastern Time, they brought with them flowers and other sacrificial offerings and offer their deepest condolences to the relatives and friends who died.

The oldest among them is 105-year-old Zhang Wuzhou, who came to commemorate his brother-in-law. The names of the deceased are engraved on the second monument erected recently.

On April 30, 2023, 105-year-old Zhang Wuzhou, in complete disregard of the days wind and rain, came to the Eternal Sunset Memorial Park and Cemetery to commemorate his brother-in-law, who died while fleeing to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng /The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, 105-year-old Zhang Wuzhou visited the monument with the support of his family. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, Liu Yuxi, the second generation of Hong Kong escapees, spoke at the commemorative ceremony. (Jenny Zeng /The Epoch Times)

A Bamboo Pole

Some second and third-generation family members came to this event. Among them were more than 20 people from the Bob Lau family.

Lau recalled his experience of fleeing China to Hong Kong three times in the past. The images engraved on the stone tablet are the true portrayal of himself and his wife fleeing to Hong Kong together. Walking until the edge of a cliff, at the very moment when his life was hanging by a thread, he found a fishermans bamboo pole and successfully waded to the seaside in the end.

Liu Yuxin, a member of the second generation, said, My elders have not forgotten those companions for a single day. They were all passionate young people full of pride and ambition. Although they were swallowed by darkness, they and their deeds are worthy of being remembered by future generations. Today, my elders and their friends finally realized their long-cherished wish: to erect a monument in the land of freedom to commemorate their companions.

They proved once again that the state machine can dictate ones body, but it can hardly annihilate human conscience! added Liu.

On April 30, 2023, Hong Kong escapee survivors and their families participated in commemorative activities. On the front of the Monument to the Educated Youth Who Escaped to Hong Kong were engraved maps and commemorative photos of those who escaped to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng /The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, the survivors who escaped to Hong Kong held a commemorative ceremony and offered tea to the deceased who, many years ago, tried to escape (from China) but did not survive. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, Hong Kong escapee survivor Lou Peng made a special trip from Sydney, Australia, to the United States to participate in the commemoration of the victims of the Great Escape to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

Six Attempts to Escape

Lou Peng, who came to the United States from Sydney, Australia, to participate in the event, once attended Guangzhou No. 29 Middle School. He experienced five failed escape attempts and nine times in detention centers.

He finally managed to escape to Macau on the sixth attempt and later settled in Australia.

On the second monument of, the Monument to the Educated Youth Who Fled to Hong Kong, he found the names of six of his former colleagues and neighbors. He wanted to come to the commemorative event last year but was unable to do so due to the pandemic and other reasons.

This year, he planned to participate in the activities early in the morning: Rainy day or sunny day, even if only one person comes, that will be me! he said.

On April 30, 2023, George Choi, former president of the New York Overseas Chinese Writers Club, came to participate in the commemoration of the victims who fled to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

No Trust in the Communist Regime

George Choi, former president of the Overseas Chinese Writers Club in New York, wrote the human smuggling literary work Escape to Hong Kong and Macau Before and After the Cultural Revolution.

He was asked by the reporter: You were a college student in the 1960s, and during the Cultural Revolution, you could enjoy a monthly salary of more than 50 yuan (US$ 7), you could be called a diamond bachelor (a super-wealthy single man), how could you risk your life to flee to Hong Kong and Macau?

Chois reply is very simple: There is nothing worse than heartbreak, when you have no trust in the communist regime anymore, you have all the courage to fight.

On April 30, 2023, Yu Luo Kes younger brother, Yu Luo Wen, specially came to participate in todays commemorative activities for an escape to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

Pursuit of Freedom and Democracy

Yu Luo Ke, who was purged because of his writing The Birth Theory, was executed during the Cultural Revolution. His younger brother Yu Luo Wen also came to participate in the commemorative activities.

Yu said that the persecution of people by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) created a deep wound among all Chinese worldwide, so it is invaluable to be able to erect a monument to commemorate our pioneers and not forget history.

He believes that the actual number of victims far exceeds the current statistics suggest, and the pursuit of freedom and democracy is extremely valuable.

He hopes that in the United States and even other regions, monuments of the same kind to commemorate the Chinese who died in their pursuit of freedom can continue to go up one after another.

On April 30, 2023, Jello Tan, a member of the US East Monument Construction Team, made a speech, hoping to continue to collect the names of victims who fled to Hong Kong. (Zeng Lian/The Epoch Times)

Rest in Peace

Jello Tan, a member of the U.S. East Monument Construction Team, expressed the hope that the collection of names of victims who escaped to Hong Kong can continue. And through the Hong Kong Educated Youth Network (U.S. East) and the continued erection of small monuments, more and more people can learn about Chinas past. May the victims rest in peace in a free land.

On April 30, 2023, Jello Tan, a member of the U.S. East Monument Construction Team, explained the escape route to Hong Kong in the past. (Zeng Lian/The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, event participants lay flowers for the deceased and search for the names of relatives and friends. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, flowers and candles in front of the Monument to Educated Youths Who Escaped to Hong Kong. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)

On April 30, 2023, Hong Kong escapee survivors and their families participated in commemorative activities, and participants brought flower baskets and elegiac couplets. (Jenny Zeng/The Epoch Times)
Ex-Neo-Nazi Guilty in 2017 Slayings of Florida Roommates

A former member of a neo-Nazi group pleaded guilty Monday to fatally shooting his two Florida roommates in 2017, abruptly avoiding the start of a murder trial in which he had planned to use the insanity defense, according to court records.

Devon Arthurs, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and will serve a 45-year prison sentence. The plea deal with prosecutors means Arthur will not face a possible life sentence.

This defendant committed a cold and calculated crime and for that he will spend the majority of his life in prison, said State Attorney Suzy Lopez in a statement. The victims families are satisfied with this outcome which allows them to avoid a painful trial while knowing the defendant will have to dwell upon the pain he has caused for the next several decades behind bars.

Arthurs admitted killing the roommates, Andrew Oneschuk, 18, and 22-year-old Jeremy Himmelman, nearly 6 years ago at the Tampa apartment they shared. Arthurs told police after his arrest that all three had been part of a small, mostly online neo-Nazi group called the Atomwaffen Division and that he shot the pair with a rifle because they ridiculed his conversion to Islam.

(LR) Family members of 18-year-old murder victim Andrew Oneschuk, mother, Chris; father, Walter; and sister, Emily, stand for a portrait at their home in Wakefield, Mass., on Aug. 9, 2017. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

Inside the apartment the men shared, authorities said they found guns, ammunition, and bomb-making material, along with a framed picture of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh on a bedroom dresser. Atomwaffen is German for nuclear weapons.

A third roommate and Atomwaffen co-founder, Brandon Russell, was not home when the slayings happened but found the bodies when he returned from duties with the National Guard, investigators said. Russell pleaded guilty in September 2017 to federal charges of possessing illegal firearms and a destructive device, as well as storing explosives illegally.

The bomb-making materialsincluding the highly explosive substance HMTD, several pounds of ammonium nitrate and homemade fuseswere discovered during the murder investigation. Arthurs told police the group planned terrorist attacks, possibly against nuclear plants.

I prevented the deaths of a lot of people, Arthurs said in a rambling statement after his arrest. Asked why his roommates would plan such an attack, he responded, Because they want to build a Fourth Reich.

Russell was sentenced to five years in prison on the weapons and bomb charges. After his release, he was charged in a new case earlier this year with plotting with a Maryland woman to attack Baltimores power grid in an attempt to stir racial unrest. Prosecutors said that plan was to target five substations situated in a ring around the majority-black city. No attack took place.

Russell and his co-defendant, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, have both pleaded not guilty in Maryland federal court and are awaiting trial.

As for Arthurs, his case was delayed several times while he received mental treatment after being declared incompetent to stand trial in 2018 and again in 2020. Finally, in June 2022, a Hillsborough County judge determined Arthurs had restored his mental capacity sufficiently to stand trial.

I feel I can be an advocate against extremism, Arthurs said in court on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Id like to take this moment to tell the world to stay away from extremist groups  Im very sorry for everyone that was involved. Im very sorry for everything that has happened.

Arthurs was first arrested shortly after the shootingswhich police did not yet know aboutwhile holding several people at gunpoint and making rambling statements at a local smoke shop. Doctors diagnosed Arthurs with schizophrenia, autism, and other mental illnesses.

By Curt Anderson
EXCLUSIVE: Marine Veteran Injured Fighting ISIS in Syria Says He Was Betrayed by the Service, Part 1

A former Marine artilleryman says he was neglected and unjustly treated by the branch after suffering brain injuries during a 2017 campaign to defeat ISIS in Syria

This is part one of a two-part series.

Javier E. Ortiz wanted nothing more than to become a Marine. And after a humble beginning, he quickly devoted himself to the Corps. In return, he says he was stripped of his dignity and left to fight an uphill battle alone.

Ortiz was born in the Dominican Republic on Dec. 22, 1994. He was a boy when his father left the family to build another. In search of the American dream, Ortiz moved with his mother and older brother to New York in November 2003. A month later, they moved to New Jersey and Ortiz entered the American school system. His mothers cash stockpile slowly deteriorated as she cared for Ortiz, an older brother, and other family members in the home.

Taking the opportunity to live closer to his grandparents, Ortiz moved with his mother and brother to Kissimmee, Florida, in 2005. As his mother continued to struggle financially, he eventually was adopted by an aunt and uncle in 2007 who began to provide the stable environment he longed for.

Distancing himself from the familys rocky start in America, Ortiz began to cultivate the idea of serving in the United States Marine Corps as one of the few, the proud. I decided to do everything I had to do to be able to join the Marines, he told The Epoch Times.

With frequent visits to the local recruiting station between 2012 and 2015, Ortiz grew increasingly motivated to join the Corps. In 2014, he gained naturalization for work, which allowed him to apply for a Social Security card. And in 2015, he was able to do what he had always wanted to do: join the Marine Corps.

Ortiz traveled to Parris Island, South Carolina, for boot camp during the fall-to-winter cycle of 2015. The first night I arrived, there was a meteor shower, a complete affirmation I was doing the right thing, he said. Thirteen long weeks of training were good, he said. I adapted well due to my long-awaited goal of protecting my new homeland.

Deployment

Not only did Ortiz earn the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, he became a U.S. citizen shortly after completing boot camp. And with that, he was ready to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, even to the point of death. In 2016, Ortiz was attached to the Headquarters element of the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California.

I was in Headquarters for only a couple of months before 1st Battalion, 11th Marines [1/11], Alpha Battery was rumored for deployment to Syria, he said. I was eager to perform, and I was eager to deploy, he added.

A fellow service member was recovering from a personnel incident and another was attending to an ill family member, opening the door for Ortiz as the next in line to join a combat element he had long desired to be part of.

Alpha Batterys reputation was that they were extremely accurate [and] the tip of the spear, he said. And within a couple days, I was in formation with Alpha Battery, ready to take that deployment.

His performance and willingness to deploy on short notice also led to a meritorious promotion from the rank of Private First Class to Lance Corporal in October 2016.

Enter Alpha Battery

Ortiz found himself aboard an amphibious assault shipthe USS Makin Islandin October 2016. 1/11 Alpha Battery was deployed and served as the artillery unit for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

For the remainder of the year, Ortiz was on the ship on the other side the world, he recounted. At the end of 2016, he said, there were finally talks about artillery batteries being dispatched into Syria as ISIS continued to gain large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.

Aboard the USS Makin Islan in December 2016, Sergeant Major Ronald Green told those on the ship, We are here to impose our will onto our enemiesto change their minds or their zip code! Ortiz recalled.

Prior to Ortizs deployment, Special Operations troops had already been in the country since early 2016, training and advising local forces in the fight against ISIS in northern and eastern Syria.

In March 2017, the Washington Post reported that an undisclosed number of Marines assigned to the 11th MEU had secretly entered Syria to fire artillery in the fight for Raqqa, the self-identified capital city for ISIS. Ortiz was among that groupand the deployment was said to have marked a new escalation in the U.S. war in Syria against hardened terrorists.

It was the first time American forces, other than Special Operations, had entered the Middle Eastern country; and by May, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis would be calling U.S. involvement an annihilation campaign.

Ortiz and Alpha Battery began conducting training exercises in Kuwait in early 2017. Prior to being transported to the deadly fight ongoing in Syria, MEU Commander Col. Clay C. Tipton told 1/11 Alpha that not all of us will make it back, Ortiz recalled.

At that point, it clicked, and I began to understand the sacrifices we were all about to make, Ortiz said. Shortly after, he and his fellow artillerymen were flown into Syria on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster, a massive military transport aircraft.

1/11 Alpha was tasked by the 11th MEU to provide direct and indirect fire in support of the mission to defeat ISIS, dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve, in February 2017. We were some of the first Marines in Syria, literally the first artillery battery with a mission task, Ortiz said. I was part of a series of artillery batteries, being the initiating force to overtake Raqqa.

I was the ammo driver for Gun 4, responsible for chucking rounds, ramming rounds, and providing powders [into an M777 howitzer], he explained. And the first time he pulled the lanyard, he had confirmed kills. To this day, he still has the primer from that round he fired.

Ortiz recalled at least three different occasions where he also was threatened by incoming fire from high explosive rounds. But we were obliterating ISIS, he said. And after about two weeks, Alpha Battery pushed outside the wire beyond the perimeter of a secure base of operations. His unit was required to sign the equivalent of a nondisclosure agreement while outside the wire, stating they would not discuss anything, about their mission in Syria or otherwise, on social media and other channels. This was, and remains, unprecedented, according to service members who spoke to The Epoch Times.

Unsafe Exposure

Marine Corps officials were once tight-lipped about the 11th MEUs contributions to the campaign in Syria in 2017. Many of its missions during its deployment were not discussed publicly. But reports quickly surfaced about powerful 155-millimeter shells from M777 howitzers beginning to rain down on Raqqa. One of the secretive details of the onslaught, the number of artillery rounds fired in Syria, was disclosed a year later.

According to Army Sgt. Major John Wayne Troxel, the artillery battalion fired more rounds in five months in Raqqa, Syria, than any other Marine artillery battalion, or any Marine or Army battalion, since the Vietnam War. During a Marine Corps Times roundtable discussion in 2018, the former senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said 35,000 artillery rounds were used to kill ISIS terrorists by the dozens.

For comparison, 60,000 rounds were fired by the Marines and the Army during the First Gulf War. And during the initial invasion of the Iraq War, over 34,000 artillery shells were fired.

In the time period Ortiz was confirmed to be there, MEU spokesman Maj. Craig Thomas was quoted by USNI News, saying, The task force executed over 400 fire missions and fired more than 4,500 rounds from M777 howitzers to support our coalition partners fighting to isolate and then liberate Raqqah from ISIS.

Between March and May 2017, Ortiz participated in the Battle of Raqqa. At one point, a howitzer was fired every hour for 47 consecutive days, Ortiz said. During that time, there was also a 14-hour fire mission where all four [1/11 Alpha howitzers] were active.

We were shooting a lot, he said.

The numbers appear to have exceeded what is safe for service members to be exposed to.

Gun 4the specific howitzer Ortiz was assigned to for Alpha Batterywas the first to fire over 1,000 rounds within the first few weeks of landing in Syria. During one particular mission, his gun ran out of ammunition and had to be resupplied from Kuwait and other countries that held ammo points to continue.

Considered some of the most destructive and powerful artillery rounds in the Marine Corps arsenal, Ortiz said, Gun 4 averaged 25 rounds per day with 12 to 17 of these rounds being charge 5 [the maximum level].

According to the Fort Sill Public Affairs Office, subject matter experts at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School said at maximum charge, when all prescribed personal protective equipment [PPE] is used, 12 rounds in 24 hours is a safe number of rounds for human exposure. All field artillerymen of the Marine Corps are trained at Fort Sill.

Reported and Ignored

After the initial, unprecedented bombardment of Raqqa, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines (2/10) Fox Battery replaced 1/11 Alpha in May 2017.

On Oct. 20, Raqqa was publicly declared liberated.

The damage was donenot only to the terrorist stronghold and its inhabitants, but also to artillerymen like Ortiz and his fellow Marines.

A few of us were not feeling well and we brought it up as we noticed, Ortiz said. But at the end of the day, none of us wanted to stop, nor could we stop during an active battle; we just wanted to let the officers know we shouldnt be shooting that much.

The order to go above standard operating procedure was above everybodys pay grade on the ground there, he continued, adding that we couldnt afford to lose anybody, so we just continued to exhaust all our ammo until things went back to normal.

Early on, Ortiz said he experienced nothing more than a daily headache as a result of the constant firing. Three weeks later, however, abdominal pains began to emerge; all of which he reported. Some of the other soldiers were experiencing the same. Four of the eight artillerymen assigned to his howitzer had problems, he said.

All that exposure to the blasts messed up our stomachs, our hands were swelling, and nosebleeds were happening, he said, adding that as a result, he and others were lining up for doses of ibuprofen to combat the growing number of symptoms. None, however, were evaluated to find the root cause.

Even though we knew something was wrong, each of us continued to give all for the Marines, he said. We had trained hard to be there, and nobody wanted to leave.

On May 16, 2017, Alpha Batterys deployment came to an end. When we left, some of us were not well mentally or physically, Ortiz said. The cause of the psychological and physical issues were unknown, but he began to associate them with the number of rounds he and others were firing.

Invisible Long-term Consequences

According to protocol, the symptoms experienced by these artillerymen should have been addressed by the Marine Corps.

The U.S. Marine Corps Traumatic Brain Injury Program (MARADMINS 294/12), states that TBI [traumatic brain injury], including mild TBI (also referred to as concussion), is a leading combat injury in conflicts.

These injuries can have a significant operational readiness impact as well as potential long-term health consequences, the document adds.

But when asked, Ortiz said the Marine Corps had not followed through with their protocol. He became confident that the headaches, which were not random, were directly related to the injurious effects of blast overpressure. This, along with other problems, like abdominal pains, nosebleeds, and swelling, were not addressed by the Corps.

Due to repeated exposure to artillery blasts, the men were exposed to an excessive number of concussive events. A concussion is recognized as an invisible injury and requires careful management by leadership and medical personnel, the protocol states. One of the Marine Corps primary preventative measures includes limiting exposure to potentially concussive events through the proper provision and use of PPE [personal protective equipment]. A second preventive measure includes minimizing the adverse impact after a concussive exposure occurred, especially by limiting additional exposures during the recovery period.

According to the policy, commanders will also ensure that all Marines exposed to a potentially concussive event, whether in garrison or deployed, are placed in a 24-hour SIQ [sick in quarters] status and referred for a medical evaluation; direct their Marines to a medical evaluation in any other concerning circumstance such as repeated exposures to potentially concussive events or patient concerns or behavior that could be related to a concussion or TBI.

It also states that all units are required to ensure a post-deployment face-to-face clinical follow-up for all Marines diagnosed with a concussion or TBI during a deployment within one to four months of redeployment.

But none of that happened for Ortiz or the men of 1/11 Alpha.

Blast TBI and PTSD

In an unclassified report (pdf) released by the Marine Corps in 2019, a blast overpressure (BOP) injury is defined as an injury caused by the effect of the blast wave on a body. Gas-filled organs such as the middle ear, lung, brain, and bowel are most susceptible to primary blast injuries, the report states. Its similar to having repeated concussions over and over again.

The Epoch Times spoke to Dr. Robert Beckman, co-founder and executive director of TreatNOW.org, an organization that has had success treating concussion, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The former Air Force KC-135 pilot and veteran of the Vietnam War said, the rapid compression and decompression, ricochet and rebound, of air emboli [gas bubbles] from the effect of a blast wave cause damage to the bodyeven to the point of death.

Dr. Mary Lee Esty, a leading researcher in the field of neurotherapy, agreed, describing the blast wave injury as the pressure wave pulsing with lightning speed from zero to massive pressure, as it passes through the entire body, damaging all body tissues. The repetitive pressure causes cavitation, a process that produces tiny bubbles that damage all body tissues, she explained.

The longer each exposure, and with multiple exposures, Esty said, the more damage occurs in our veterans bodies and brains. And according to her, The symptoms of damage are invisible, unavoidable, but explainable. Based on years of neurofeedback treatment and research, she said, recovery of function is possible with appropriate treatment of the symptoms.

For thousands who survive an explosion, blast overpressure injuries that go untreated can lead to long-term behavioral, psychological, and physical degradation, Beckman said. This typically manifests as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he explained. To say that a blast and TBI and PTSD are related is axiomatic, he added.

Incidents of TBI, sensory, and musculoskeletal injuries have steadily increased since 2015. In collaboration with the Navy Marine Corps Public Health Center in 2018, Headquarters Marine Corps Force Preservation Directorate began to examine the health of 56 service members from 2/10 Fox  the battalion that took over when Ortiz and his battalion ended their tour in Syria.

Like those in 1/11 Alpha, service members from 2/10 Fox fired an unusually high number of artillery rounds during their Apri to September 2017 deployment to Syria. Unsurprisingly, according to the study, initial analysis revealed that these [service members] suffered a higher rate of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) than the rest of the artillery community.

The service members post-deployment medical encounters increased exponentially. According to the report, 25 percent were for conditions or illnesses related to overpressure and/or noise exposure. Considering the force as a whole, approximately 7.5% of the force experiences at least one TBI, and 3% experience multiple TBIs.

Over 25 percent of combat-deployed Marines will have a previous diagnosis of a sensory injury or TBI. Once these artillery Marines suffer a TBI, they will suffer, on average, 1.2 additional TBIs per year of service after their initial TBI, the study indicated.

Ortizs Ongoing Battle

Years later, Ortiz continues to experience multiple symptoms and ailments, including abdominal pain, bilateral hearing loss, chest pains, chronic aching, double vision, and posttraumatic headaches. The Epoch Times has viewed Ortizs medical file and documentation corroborating his claims.

I have a lot of physical pain, more than someone 28 years old should be experiencing, he said.

But the vigor of his ambition to serve his country came at an additional cost. Like thousands of other soldiers before him, he was haunted by the atrocities of war which were vastly underreported at the height of the conflict. Media interest was waning, and the experiences of these men were being forgotten.

In addition to the physical pain caused by his time in Syria, Ortiz said, he soon began to suffer mentally from the experience. Post-deployment, he said, is when things got a little different and he had come to the realization that a lot of people died. At the time, it was easy for Ortiz to engage in warfare because he was driven to be the best, even if his best would mean others would have to die. He was determined that nothing would stand in the way of the deadly job he was called to do.

Despite decreasing interest in the war after 2016, according to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a London-based nonprofit, 2017 became the deadliest year for civilians in Syria from explosive weapons. The deaths are partly attributed to artillery shells fired by U.S. forces. The group discovered that online reporting captured but a small fraction of the wars violence.

A photograph taken in March 2017, and subsequently posted by the Pentagon in May, exhibited Marine M777 howitzers in Syria with a pallet of white phosphorus munitions. According to the Washington Post, footage shows [white phosphorous] munitions bursting relatively high off the ground over a cluster of buildings [in Raqqa].

At the time, it was unclear how many ISIS terrorists were in the area, but it is apparent that thousands of civilians were present.

When it comes in contact with flesh, the Washington Post reported, white phosphorous can maim and kill by burning to the bone. The use of this artillery-delivered agent in a populated area raises serious questions about the protection of civilians, whose deaths clearly contribute to a service members mental stability and more.

Seeing the burning city, those visuals stuck with me, Ortiz said. A lot of innocent people passed away and theres a lot of anger towards me because of it, he added. Its one thing to have PTSDbut its another thing to have people communicate things to you.

As in many other documented cases, hallucinations related to PTSD are commonplace with people returning from war. People that I killed have communicated to me, Ortiz said.

I began seeking therapy when I returned from Syria, but it wasnt categorized as PTSD right away, he said. I was diagnosed with PTSD in September 2017. According to the National Center for PTSD, up to 20 percent of veterans may experience PTSD, particularly affecting those with a history of war zone deployment. But the diagnosis of PTSD still did not address all the physical health issues he experienced.

To help Ortiz ward off the effects of PTSD, a doctor prescribed multiple medications for Ortiz in 2017. He reports taking a cocktail of five medications at one point in time.

I do not recall very well, but I was definitely on some of them for one or two or three months, he said. But my time was coming for eligibility to reenlist, and I couldnt reenlist if I was on profile [with psychological limitations].

Making a decision he would later regret, Ortiz began using alcohol in early 2018 to cope with his struggles and open the door to continuing his service to the country. I started drinking a lot and reenlisted as a functioning alcoholic, he added.

So just 13 months post-Syria, in July 2018, he reenlisted for four more years. A few months later, he received a Good Conduct Medal. Roughly one year later, in August 2019, Ortiz was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. And years later, he received orders to the Marine Corps esteemed Officer Candidate School.

But while showing signs of improvement externally, Ortiz continued to suffer on the inside.

Ive had meltdowns with occasional thoughts of suicide, Ortiz said. More than anything, I was detaching myself from reality, living in a constant daydream and experiences of constant episodes of deja vu.

At the prompting of a combat veteran in the family, Ortiz, rather than seeking medical help that wasnt working, continued the path of self-medicating. He began experimenting with cannabis on Oct. 31, 2020. Cannabis never interested me and was never in the picture, but I didnt know any safe way to keep myself grounded, he said.

I needed guidance and help from the Marine Corps, but I didnt get that, Ortiz said. People knew something was going on, but they just kept ignoring it, he said.

In November 2020, just three days after the initial use, Ortiz felt compelled to report to his healthcare provider for experimenting with cannabis. In reality, he said, I just needed treatment for PTSD. With the help of therapy, he was holding strong at the turn of the year.

But things came tumbling down again. Ortiz was presented with administrative separation proceedings in February 2021. It blind-sided me, because thats not what I expected at a time I was back giving everything I could to the Marine Corps.

I knew I did something wrong, and I tried to make it right, Ortiz said. But they presented me with involuntary separation anyway and eventually stripped me of my rank. There was no positive urinalysis, only his verbal report. And now, officer candidate school (OCS) was also off the table.

In March, after a related failed surgery, I had relapsed, Ortiz said. And now I didnt know who to trust, and I didnt know who to talk to.

At this time, he began to recall what he had given to the Marine Corps. I risked my own life; my own marriage was at risk while I was deployed, he said. I felt betrayed, knowing I gave everything, but the Marine Corps took a different approachan approach Ortiz considers unjust and abusive.

The Marine Corps didnt return inquiries from The Epoch Times.
EXCLUSIVE: Science Journal Editor Defends Fawning Emails to Fauci

The editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals is defending fawning emails he sent to Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Science Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp said in messages to Fauci from 2020 to 2022 that Faucis family was the first family of science and offered to print an op-ed about whatever you want, including what its like to be an action figure or a bobblehead.

I know now that your focus is on trying to get your message out to the public about COVID, and were all deeply appreciative, Thorp said in one email in October 2020. I know you have a lot on your plate, but your legions of fans who read our journal every week would love to hear from you.

It could be after the election and you can talk about whatever you want: thank scientists for all the work theyre doing, give words of reassurance, stress the importance of peer-reviewed publications during COVID, tell us what its like to be a bobble head and an action figure, etc. Totally up you.

Thorp owns at least one Fauci bobblehead and has repeatedly praised Fauci on social media and in the magazine.

I stand by my emails to Dr. Fauci, Thorp told The Epoch Times via email, in responding to whether he felt the emails reflected badly on the magazine. It is entirely appropriate for the EIC of Science to have collegial relationships with our authors.

The emails were obtained by independent journalist Jimmy Tobias.

False Statements

Fauci was the head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser before he stepped down around the end of 2022. Fauci was a chief architect of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting harsh restrictions such as business closures and urging virtually all Americans to wear masks and get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Fauci has acknowledged lying about masks out of concern there would be a shortage early in the pandemic. He has also made other false statements.

Fauci falsely said on CBS in May 2021 that, after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, one would become a dead end to the virus.

The randomized clinical trials did not evaluate whether the mRNA Covid vaccines prevents transmission, Martin Kulldorff, a professor of health on leave from Harvard Medical School, told The Epoch Times via email. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology.

The vaccine may reduce the spread of the virus, but vaccinated people can spread the virus, so Fauci did not tell the truth when he stated that vaccinated people become a dead end to the virus,' Kulldorff said.

Fauci has also claimed that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes the institute he headed, didnt fund gain-of-function experiments at a laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the first COVID-19 cases appeared in 2019.

However, documents from the institutes show U.S.-funded experiments at the lab increased the function of a virus. Those experiments clearly constituted gain-of-function, Jonathan Latham, executive director of The Bioscience Research Project, told The Epoch Times previously.

Both Thorp and John Travis, Sciences managing news editor, disputed the facts.

I disagree that Dr. Fauci was lying about the matters you mention; that is a misreading of how science works, Thorp said. He declined to provide any citations or other evidence to support his position.

Holden Thorp, then-chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Oct. 12, 2012. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Op-Ed Published

Thorp followed up with Fauci after Biden took office, asking again for an editorial while praising him for his appearance in the White House briefing room.

I join with all of science in expressing our joy in seeing you in the briefing room yesterday sharing scientific information unimpeded, Thorp wrote. Hallelujah!

Faucis editorial ran in April 2021, after the 2020 election. It called the COVID-19 vaccines a remarkable success.

The speed and efficiency with which these highly efficacious vaccines were developed and their potential for saving millions of lives are due to an extraordinary multidisciplinary effort involving basic, preclinical, and clinical science that had been underwayout of the spotlightfor decades before the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci wrote, detailing efforts to develop the mRNA technology prior to the pandemic.

Fauci has since acknowledged the COVID-19 vaccines dont work well, writing in a different journal that as variant SARS-CoV-2 strains have emerged, deficiencies in these vaccines reminiscent of influenza vaccines have become apparent. SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19.

Like other mucosal respiratory viruses, Fauci added, COVID-19 hasnt been effectively controlled by vaccines.

Wont Make Your Lives Any Easier

Thorp later messaged Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, the head of NIH at the time, with an apologetic email about publishing a piece calling for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Fauci and Collins both promoted the theory that COVID-19 originated in nature, the former not disclosing he was involved with a paper that claimed to clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus.

Wanted to let you know we are running this letter tomorrow. I realize it wont make your lives any easier, but given these authors, we felt we should run this, Thorp wrote.

In reply, Collins said that the idea that the NIH supported gain-of-function research in China was misinformation.

Thanks and agreed, Thorp wrote. I just wanted you to be aware of the letter in case the misinformation forces try to use it to create more confusion, which I worry they will.

The primary recipient of an NIH grant, EcoHealth Alliance head Peter Daszak, said in an earlier message that the research was gain of function. The NIH sent money to the Wuhan lab through EcoHealth in a grant that was just renewed.

Thorp later penned an editorial titled Thank you, Tony! that summarized an interview Thorp conducted with Fauci as the doctor left his positions. Thorp didnt ask about Faucis false statements or the funding controversy.
Trump Lawyer Says Trump Will Appeal Verdict in E. Jean Carroll Civil Lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump appears in court at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on April 4, 2023. (Steven Hirsch/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Joseph Tacopina, attorney of former President Donald Trump, told The Epoch Times that the former president is planning to appeal the verdict that found him liable for battery and defamation charges in the E. Jean Carroll trial.

It came as a Manhattan grand jury on Tuesday ruled against former President Donald Trump on one count of defamation and one count of battery in a civil case launched against him by Carroll, an advice columnist.

The verdict will not result in jail time because it is a civil case. The jury found that Trump should pay a total of about $5 million in damages to Carroll, including about $3 million for the defamation charge and about $2 million for the civil battery charge.

Judge Lewis Kaplan, a Clinton appointee who oversaw the trial, announced the verdict after a 9-member jury panel deliberated on the cases merit for less than three hours.

It concluded a one-week-long civil trial in the Southern District Court of New York, in which Carroll, 79, claims Trump, 76, raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in 1995 or 1996committing a battery offenseand, in his denial of the incident, committed libel, a type of defamation in written words.

Trumps denial of the incident, Carrolls attorney alleged during the trial, hurt Carrolls career prospects as a journalist and a writer.

Because the case was brought in civil court, Carroll was required to establish her battery claim by a preponderance of the evidencea legal standard meaning more likely than notand establish clear and convincing evidence for her libel claim. Both standards here are lower than the proof beyond a reasonable doubt requirement to establish a guilty verdict in criminal cases.

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether Trump raped, sexually abused, or forcibly touched Carroll, any one of which would satisfy her claim of battery. They found that Carroll did not prove that Trump raped her but instead found that Trump sexually abused her. They also found that Trump defamed Carroll.

Strange verdict, Tacopina told reporters outside the courthouse. It was a rape case all along, and the jury rejected that.

Well obviously be appealing those other findings, Tacopina said, referring to the defamation and battery counts.

At the time of the alleged offense, she did not report the incident to authorities for fear of backlash from Trump and his supporters, Carroll said during the trial. Tacopina, however, said during closing arguments that the reason Carroll didnt call the police was that the allegation would never make it through a police investigation in a million years.

Carrolls lawsuit traces back to 2019 when the writer accused then-President Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s. After Trump denied Carrolls allegations in 2019saying that shes not my typeCarroll filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of defaming her in the same year, citing those words. That lawsuit bounced around state, federal, and appellate courts in New York and Washington, D.C., without material consequences.

In 2022, the New York state legislature passed the Adult Survivor Act, which amended state law to give victims of certain sexual offenses a one-year window, beginning on Nov. 24, 2023, to file a civil lawsuit against alleged offenders. Carroll filed a second lawsuit on Nov. 24, 2022, under this Act, which went to trial and resulted in Tuesdays verdict.

Trump has, until the present day, denied all of Carrolls allegations.

I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace  a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time! Trump wrote on Truth Social after the verdict came out on Tuesday.

The Democratic Partys never-ending witch-hunt of President Trump hit a new low today. In jurisdictions wholly controlled by the Democratic Party our nations justice system is now compromised by extremist left-wing politics. We have allowed false and totally made-up claims from troubled individuals to interfere with our elections, doing great damage, a Trump campaign spokesperson told The Epoch Times in a statement on Tuesday, referring to Carrolls case.

Make no mistake, this entire bogus case is a political endeavor targeting President Trump because he is now an overwhelming front-runner to be once again elected President of the United States, the spokesperson wrote.

The Epoch Times contacted Carrolls attorney for comment.

Key Question: Credibility

A central question to the case is whether Carrolls claim that Trump had sexually assaulted her is credible.

Carroll testified during the trial regarding the alleged incident. Carrolls attorney, Roberta Kaplan (unrelated to the judge), said that Carrolls testimony during the trial was credible, and that every single aspect of what she said is backed up or corroborated by other evidence.

The testimony by two other women at trial, who also alleged that Trump sexually assaulted them, established a pattern of misconduct, Roberta Kaplan said. Trump has denied those allegations.

But Tacopina disagreed. He said that Carroll could not recall key details of the alleged offense, and that makes her story unbelievable.

Now she claims she didnt say the day of the week because she wasnt 100 percent certain. She tailored her testimony right in front of you, right in front of you, Tacopina said during the closing argument. We know reality from fiction.

A key moment in the trial was when a video of Trumps deposition was played, whereby the former president was asked about the Access Hollywood tape that featured his words: when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

Carrolls attorney argued during the trial that these statements showed Trumps attitude toward sexually assaulting women.

What is Donald Trump doing here? Telling you in his very own words how he treats women, Kaplan said. Its his modus operandi, M.O.

But Tacopina disagreed, saying that Trumps words do not play into Carrolls credibility and the cases merit.

Its crude. Its rude, Tacopina said. Id knock my boys teeth out if he talked like that, honestly.

But that doesnt make Ms. Carrolls unbelievable story believable.

During the closing argument on Monday, Tacopina doubled down on his statement that Carrolls case was motivated by political reasons, a claim that Carrolls attorneys denied.

What E. Jean Carroll has done here is an affront to justice. She has abused this system by bringing a false claim for amongst other things money, status, political reasons, Tacopina said.

Legal Expert Weighs In

Alan Dershowitz, a professor who taught at Harvard Law School for 50 years, told The Epoch Times on May 8 that he believes that Carrolls case fails based on procedural considerations alone.

Those cases never should have been allowed to be brought, Dershowitz told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program in an interview, referring to the two cases Carroll brought against Trump.

The historical purpose of a statute of limitations is to make sure you dont have to stand trial for something that occurred 25 years agoin this case, even more than that, he explained. How do you remember things? How do you know where you were? Maybe he was in Europe at the time. She hasnt even given the dates and the times of the year.

Its a case that normally would be thrown outbut again, its Donald Trump, Dershowitz said.

The scholar said he believes that Carrolls case, along with other legal challenges that Trump is facing, are bolstering Trumps prospects in the primary election, but will hurt the former president when he goes up against the Democratic nominee in the general election.

I think that independent voters will look at some of these charges and say, gee, you know, where theres smoke, theres fire, but of course, where theres smoke, sometimes theres arson. And I think a lot of these fires have been set politically, in order to get Trump, Dershowitz said, echoing the name of his book, Get Trump, in which he argues that Trumps political enemies have been targeting Trump in a politically motivated campaign.

Jan Jekielek and Reuters contributed to this report.
FBI Denies Request for Nashville Shooters Manifesto, Writings

Government also denies expedited release of documents because there was not 'widespread and exceptional media interest'

Despite multiple requests for the release of Nashville Christian school shooter Audrey Hales manifesto and writings surrounding her March 27 attack that left three 9-year-olds and three adults dead, the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation denied a request from The Epoch Times for those documents.

The reason the FBI cited in a letter to an Epoch Times reporter based in Tennessee is that U.S. Code exempts from disclosure records or information compiled for law enforcement records or information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings

Those enforcement proceedings were not cited in the letter. It is unclear what the enforcement proceedings could be in reference to, as the main suspect, Audrey Elizabeth Hale, died at the scene of the attack.

The FBIs letter further stated the records responsive to your request are law enforcement records; there is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding relevant to these responsive records, and release of the information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings.

The request was then administratively closed, the FBI noted in the letter.

A letter to an Epoch Times reporter denying a request for the release of records related to The Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale. (The Epoch Times)

Additional Request Denied

An additional request by The Epoch Times for those documents to be processed on an expedited schedule was also denied by DOJ standards for expedited processing.

For expedited processing to be granted, the letter stated a request must meet one of four situations.

Those situations include circumstances in which the lack of expedited treatment could reasonably be expected to pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual.

Another situation listed states an urgency to inform the public about an actual or alleged federal government activity, if made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information.

The third situation listed mentioned the loss of any substantial due process of rights.

While the last situation states expedition could be granted if there were A matter of widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exists possible questions about the governments integrity which affects public confidence.

In the request to the FBI sent in April, The Epoch Times requested expedited processing due to the public interest to the citizens of Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and the United States writ large.

You have not provided enough information concerning the statutory requirements permitting expedition; therefore, your request is denied, the FBI added in their May 1 letter.

It is unclear what the DOJ and FBI consider to be widespread and exceptional media interest or what it determines to be a perceived lack of integrity or confidence with the agencies.

A letter to an Epoch Times reporter denying a request for the expedited release of records related to The Covenant School shooter, Audrey Hale. (The Epoch Times)

Has Media Coverage Been Widespread?

The nearest street to The Covenant School was lined with news media vans the day after the massacre, as well as the second day, according to an Epoch Times reporter that was on-scene. This included English-speaking reporters and foreign language outlets.

A simple Google search for Audrey Hale Manifesto brought up 2,910,000 results as of Monday, May 8.

Just in the past week, after the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reversed course from when a spokesperson told The Epoch Times the manifesto was being readied for public release, a large number of media outlets reported just on the latest development. This does not include thousands of articles written prior to those written in the past week.

Outlets writing about the manifestojust near the top of that Google searchinclude The Epoch Times, Fox News, The Daily Mail, The Independent, Newsweek, Yahoo News, The Nashville Tennessean, The Daily Beast, The New York Times, AOL News, One America News Network, The New York Sun, The U.S. Sun, Sky News, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, WZTV, Fox 8 TV, and more.

Those news stories that pop up on just the first page of a Google search include local media in Tennessee, national news from all over the United States, and international news outlets.

The Epoch Times plans to appeal the decision and reached out to the DOJ and FBI for comment, but did not hear back before this article was published.
Florida Will Lower Graduation RequirementsAgain

'They're just pushing students through and we've got graduates who are not prepared for life'

Graduates of Matanzas High School receive their diplomas on the track in their cars at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 31, 2020. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Despite having graduation requirements lowered two years ago, Florida superintendents are again pleading with the states Department of Education to delay a scheduled increase in graduation requirements.

On April 20, 2021, then-Florida Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued an emergency order (pdf), waiving required state assessments for graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two years later, superintendents across the Sunshine State are again pleading with the Florida DOE to keep the states graduation standards low, claiming thousands of students would fail due to learning loss during the pandemic.

In May 2018, Floridas State Board of Education (SBE) eliminated the Post Education Readiness Test (PERT) as an alternative option for students who didnt pass their state exams. It also raised the bar on ACT and SAT scores and added the PSAT. As the Orlando Sentinel reported, educators and students pleaded with the board not to raise the standards back then, claiming the tougher requirements would prevent students from graduating. The SBE unanimously voted to adopt the new higher standards anyway.

Now superintendents from some Florida school districts are again pleading with state lawmakers to delay the increase in graduation requirements to prevent thousands of high school seniors from failing. This time, superintendents are blaming their students lack of academic achievement on learning loss during the pandemic.

In an April 23 letter (pdf) to Florida Sen. Dennis Baxley, Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay said, Floridas District School Superintendents are collectively requesting that the Legislature correct a potentially serious issue before it unfairly and irrevocably keeps thousands of our high school seniors from graduating this year.

We believe in accountability and stretch goals, and we have no issue with a gradual increase in the concordant scores, but someone has to stand up for these students before its too late, Kornegay insisted.

In an April 13 letter (pdf) to the Florida Legislature, Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna pleaded with Floridas lawmakers to correct a problem before it unfairly and irrevocably prevents thousands of high school seniors from graduating with their Class of 2023.

Other reports show an April 20 letter from Broward Countys interim Superintendent Earlean Smiley who claims, These changes have created an undue burden on our educators who are already facing significant challenges in delivering quality education.

They are being forced to devote more time and resources to help students meet the increased standards rather than focus on other critical aspects of their education and post-secondary opportunities, Smiley asserted.

In his letter to legislators, Palm Beach County Superintendent Mike Burke said, Without your intervention, this increased expectation will result in a potential 11 percent drop in our Districts graduation rate.

On May 2, four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Senate unanimously approved HB 1537 (pdf), which includes provisions to delay the requirement for higher passing scores. On May 3, the bill passed the Florida House. On May 8, it was presented to Gov. Ron DeSantis along with four other education bills. He has until May 23 to sign the bills.

Miami-Dade Superintendent Jose Dotres said, This step by the Florida House will open the door for thousands of students impacted by the pandemic to walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma.

No One Cares

In February 2022, the Florida DOE announced (pdf) that the graduation rate for the 20202021 school year increased by 0.1 percentage points. A Jan. 13, 2023 press release from the Florida DOE showed Floridas 20212022 high school graduation rate was 87.3 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the 20182019 pre-pandemic school year.

Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. heralded the graduation numbers as the culmination of the hard work and dedication of Floridas teachers, students, parents and school leaders, along with Governor Ron DeSantis decision to keep schools open for in-person instruction.

Sarah Calamunci, the Florida state director for Citizens Defending Freedom, contends, As requirements and standards drop, graduation rates will naturally increase.

You can see the steady increase over the years as requirements diminish and no one cares that the standards are dropping, Calamunci told The Epoch Times, because at the end of the day, what are they really recording? Oh, look at our graduation rates. Look how many more students are graduating. There is no quality control, and theyre just pushing students through, and weve got graduates who are not prepared for life.

An August 2021 report by the Brookings Institute revealed that roughly 60 percent of high school graduates are unprepared to take college-level coursework. More concerning is that most of those ill-prepared students have skill levels far below established benchmarks: 88 percent are far below in math, and 76 percent are far below in English.

Data released by the Nations Report Card in 2022 showed that assessments in reading and mathematics decreased five points between 2020 and 2022, the largest average score decline in reading since 1990, and the first-ever score decline in mathematics.

Although the National Center for Education Statistics reported in May 2021 that the graduation rate for high schools in the 20182019 school year was 86 percentthe highest recorded since 2010a November 2022 Post Graduation Readiness Report by YouScience revealed that 75 percent of the 2019 through 2022 high school graduates surveyed were not ready to make college and career decisions.

But after graduation, it isnt the school systems problem anymore because now theyre graduates, Callamunci chided. Thats the root of it. Schools are nothing but mills, and we have far too many students advancing into the next chapter of their lives ill-prepared for success.

A 2020 Gallup analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education revealed that around 130 million adults in the United States have low literacy skills. More significant is that 54 percent of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 possess reading skills below that of the sixth grade.

Sarah Calamunci, state director of Florida Citizens Defending Freedom. (Courtesy of Sarah Calamunci)

Keith Flaugh, the co-founder of Florida Citizens Alliance, says the learning loss suffered by Floridas students has less to do with the pandemic and more to do with a deliberate choice by educators to push liberal ideology rather than teaching math, science, and reading.

Delaying elevated graduation requirements is just one more example of Florida superintendents failure to support quality education in Florida, Flaugh told The Epoch Times.

They led the charge to mask the students and fought against reopening schools. Furthermore, they focus on indoctrination, including CRT, SEL, and sexual grooming, instead of academics. Its past time for Florida parents to demand the high-quality education our kids deserve.
TEHRAN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's police smashed a three-member "terrorist" team accused of being involved in the assassination of a county police chief in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province in late April, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

The team members were the main suspects for the assassination of Saravan County's Police Chief Alireza Shahraki and his wife in an armed attack on April 30, Tasnim quoted provincial police commander Doostali Jalilian as saying.

He added the team comprises the main members of the Jaish al-Zulm "terrorist" group.

Shahraki and his wife were killed in an armed attack while traveling in their car along a county street, Jalilian told Tasnim at the time. 
Former Apple Daily Journalist Starts New Media Platform to Fill The Void In Hong Kong Journalism

Even if you are not interested in politics, you might have heard of the dire situations Hongkongers struggle with due to the National Security Lawor how the Beijing and Hong Kong governments violate the fundamental rights of their people.

Hong Kong has experienced a tremendous loss of many talents in a few short years, from medical experts to prestigious professors. They left Hong Kong with their loved ones because they feared what could happen next: what else could the national security law strip away aside from their freedom of speech and universal suffrage?

The media industry became a battlefield and suffered the worst after the implementation of the National Security Law. The government raided pro-democracy news outlets and ceased their operations; the National Security Bureau froze organizations assets while arresting and throwing the founders, staff, and executives in jail.

Many reporters and journalists left before the police caught up with them. Some migrated to places as far away as possible, the United Kingdom, Australia, or the United States, to find their freedom, safety, and future. Others, like Shirley Leung Ka-Lai, picked Hong Kongs neighborTaiwan.

With the departure of those who once fought for freedom and democracy, the governments mouthpieces remain the loudest.

In such chaotic times, some reporters began to preserve history as the government rewrote it by reprinting books and re-educating the young.

A Silver Lining

Let us fulfill our duty as Hongkongers to light up hope in the era of darkness. That is a motto of an independent media outlet, Photon Media.

A group of journalists from Hong Kong founded Photon Media in Taiwan, including editor-in-chief Shirley Leung.

Leung has been in the media business for over 15 years. She was with Apple Daily for three years until its final days.

She witnessed the news outlet being raided by the police and being forced to shut down by the government.

Reporters Reunion in Freedom

Many newly established and independent news outlets consist of groups or former Hong Kong reporters. Photon Media, however, is different since it only reports on Hong Kong news.

Although Stand News and Apple Daily were forced to close, the former staff members continue to contribute to Hong Kong, regardless of where they are physically.

Founded on April 10. Photon Media gained 10,000 followers In less than a week.

Filling the Void

After mainstream pro-democracy newspaper agencies closed, Leung and her friends felt something was missing; a void in the news industry: a lack of diversity of opinion.

Shirley recalled conversing with her friends and realized they wanted to start an online media outlet.

The news the Hong Kong public receives is monotonous: the same pro-government tone. Newspapers in the city became a tool of propaganda

From what Leung described, the journalism industry in the old day comprised harmonies of political voices, opinions, and beliefs. Newspapers were free to publish and debate their viewpoints.

Even if we were reporting the same news, each agency had its individual angles and styles, Shirley added.

That was until the National Security Law invaded the once-free atmosphere.

Photon Media reached 10,000 followers less than a week after its launch. (Photon Medias official Facebook page)

Hongkongers Versus. News Fatigue

During the Anti-extradition Protests in 2019, Hongkongers faced police brutality, violence, and arrests of protesters and politicians on the news daily. People started to experience fatigue from watching the traumatizing news every day.

The news was full of helplessness and absurdity. It was understandable why some Hongkongers would rather ignore it.

Soon, some chose to escape it to avoid feeling suffocated.

That, unfortunately, was not an option for Hong Kong journalists.

Leung noted the public atmosphere and discussion forums have become different. There is an emptiness.

Hongkongers become concerned about being monitored by the governments potential surveillance for their online activities. So they stopped sharing Hong Kong news.

Leungs mission is to lead more open discussions and awareness of the happenings in Hong Kong by using her new online news platform, Photon Media.

There is only a little space left in Hong Kong for diverse topics and discussion from the media. Whether monitoring the government or private institutions, our duty as reporters is to return to our rightful post, no matter the circumstance.

Leungs determination to keep Hong Kong in the limelight is clear.

Walking away is not always bad

After the closure of Apple Daily, Shirley became an independent journalist and continues to write stories on Facebook, mainly related to protesters during the Hong Kong Protests in 2019.

Like citizens in any dictator-run country, the Chinese regime has wrapped Hong Kong and its people in the thick smog of white terror, as the society lives in constant fear and unease. People are confused as they worry about stepping on the red-hot land mines laid down by vague clauses under the National Security Law.

It is incredibly challenging for people who remain in Hong Kong, especially journalists.

Leung admits that compared to a year ago, the situation has become more difficult, Instead of staying in Hong Kong, I choose to go somewhere where I can continue to write and enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Like many journalists, she left Hong Kong after the governments targeting of media outlets, pro-democracy organizations, and nonprofit groups.

Hongkongers scattered all over the world.

Dedicated to reporting news on Hong Kong, Leung settled in its neighboring city, Taiwan, because of the similar time zone.

Journalism is a 24-hour job.

After the targeting and closure of Apple Daily, Leung started her own Facebook page to continue her news reporting. (Shirley Leungs Facebook Page)

The Drive to be a Journalist

When the police openly raided Apple Daily and arrested its former founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, in front of millions of Hongkongers, its staff members lost more than a job. They felt defeated and hopeless; some young journalists decided to quit the industry altogether, while the older generations decided early retirement.

Seasoned writers and enthusiastic front-line reporters could not escape the governments wipeout.

The Cure for Loss of Power

When the path of freedom of the press becomes so narrow that you are walking on a thin wire, there is no choice but to step down for survival. Hong Kong journalists not only lost a career they were passionate about, but they also lost a sense of control over what they could write.

If you want to overcome the sense of powerlessness, you have to become a person who is able and perseverant, even if it means taking one small step at a time to rediscover your purpose, Leung affirmed.

Keep the Fight Going

Shirley hopes everyone can do a little and whisper a little more to keep standing with Hong Kong.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, What you do may feel insignificant to you, yet it is important that you do it anyway.

Because, in the end, Hongkongers all need someone to lean on.
Former Military Chaplain Assistant Says, Pen Not Always Mightier Than the Sword

As Memorial Day approaches, Vietnam veteran remembers sad task writing death notices to families of fallen soldiers

The South Dakota Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team transfers the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Arthur F. Jewett at Rapid City Regional Airport, S.D., Sept. 22, 2009. (Sgt. Lance Alan Schroeder/US Army Photo)

There were things U.S. Army chaplain assistant Arnold Swift wished he could have said to Johns widow as he typed the mans death notice in Vietnam more than half a century ago.

Personal things, like how much John loved his wife and children and was a good man who felt deeply and drank himself to death over an incident that likely wasnt his fault.

But the U.S. Army had rules and protocols for notifying next of kin when a soldier died in Vietnam.

One never mentioned particulars.

Arnold Swift works with children at Tan Mai orphanage in Vietnam. (Courtesy Arnold Swift)

You would not go into detail as to how they died, said Swift, 72, a Vietnam veteran who lives in Missouri. I had to make 11 carbon copies of the letter. If you made one mistake, you started all over again.

Swift said he must have written 20 death notices during two year-long tours in Vietnam with three military chaplains, each letter a tragedyeach one using the same pre-approved language and impersonal tone: It is with deep regret 

Substance abuse among the soldiers was one of the many legacies of Vietnam, Swift recalled, and a prime reason why military chaplains were considered vital in the spiritual realm of the war.

Only five letters he wrote to next of kin were for soldiers killed in action. The rest were for drug overdoses or deaths related to alcohol.

Doing Gods Work

As the military chaplain assistant, Swift ensured the soldiers had access to worship services, counseling, and information and accompanied the chaplain into the field when necessary.

For the most part, again, chaplains were there for if people needed to talk or help or to contact their families, Swift told The Epoch Times.

The downsideno computers, no telephones. The only communication we had with the home was letters. We could mail them for free.

More than 600 chaplains served in uniform at the peak of the Vietnam War, according to Vietnam Veterans of Americas (VVA) Online Veteran. The U.S. Army Chaplaincy was known as Military Occupational Speciality 5310.

About a dozen military chaplains died on the battlefield in Vietnam, two received the Medal Of Honor, and more than a few came back with PTSD.

Bound by moral conviction none of them carried a weapon.

Members of the California rock band Castle. Arnold Swift was a guitarist in the group. (Courtesy Arnold Swift)

Vietnam was far from the first war zone in which chaplains feared not to tread, the VVA article Faith On Trial added.

On the surface, chaplains and soldiers have little in commonthe former being trained to save souls, the latter to take lives. But they are all human, which may explain why a tour of duty in Vietnam apparently could have much the same effect on you whether you carried a weapon or scripture.

At 15, while growing up in southern California, Swift said he had never thought much about going to Vietnam to fight in a foreign war.

He dreamed of becoming a pop rock guitarist playing with a neighborhood group called Castle. The young band members would even cut a record, Castle Doors.

It never went anywhere, but we went into the studio and recorded it, Swift said.

Through the bands drummer, Swift said he grew closer to his Christian faith as he approached draft age. By 1970, the draft had ended, and the birthday lottery replaced it.

They threw all the different birth dates into a big tumbling thing and drew a number. The unlucky winners received a notice in the mail, Swift said.

My birth date number was 97. On May 20 [1970], I went to the recruiting station to sign in and join the army.

He was 19.

Fit For Duty

Swift said he had hoped to be spared the lottery with a student deferment while attending a junior college. Then he became sick with an ulcer and could not complete a semester.

Once again, he was a 1-A prospective recruit in the eyes of the military lottery.

They said, Weve got food. We can take care of that [ulcer]. Youre going.'

Swift remembers a serviceman in boot camp asking if he wanted to go to Vietnam and work on helicopters.

Johns Huey helicopter after it crashed in Vietnam in 1971. (Courtesy Arnold Swift)

My mind is going, Thats cool.' Swift said. My dad worked on Aerojet General and McDonald Douglas [aircraft]. He was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base when they were test-flying the X-15.

OK.

After basic training, Swift reported to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for what he thought was helicopter armament training. His orders were for a helicopter door gunner.

No, it says I work on helicopters, Swift told the recruit. I wont have to go to Vietnam.

The other soldier grinned. Where do you think all the helicopters are [kept]?

Crazy Prayer

Before deployment in Vietnam, Swift said he made a crazy prayer.

If God made him go to Alaska or Germany, he would become a chaplain assistant and serve his faith that way.

But if Vietnam was his destination, he would work on helicopters.

On Dec. 22, 1970, while boarding the last military transport aircraft to Vietnama 22-hour flightSwifts plane stopped in Anchorage to refuel, then Japan, and finally, Vietnam.

At a military base in Bien Hoa, Army Chaplain Kenneth Robertson from Arkansas needed an assistant. Swift got the job because he could type 54 words per minute. And that started the journey with Chaplain Robertson.

In a roundabout way, Swifts prayer had been answered.

Tragedy of War

However, Swift said tragedy and bizarre accidents would tarnish his duties as chaplain assistant.

One of the first services we did wasdo you know what a Huey is? he asked, referring to the helicopter gunship used in Vietnam.

Inside the helicopters cockpit, several smoke grenades had gone off by accident, and the only reason the helicopter didnt crash and burn was the copilot had a gas mask with him, Swift said.

The sad thing was the door gunner and crew chief both ran out of the helicopter at altitudefalling almost 1,000 feet to their deaths.

It took the squads about two days to find their bodies. Yeah, Swift said.

Swift said it was his first memorial service and first time typing letters to families of deceased soldiers.

Arnold Swift of Missouri now serves veterans as a member of Vietnam Veterans of America. (Courtesy of Arnold Swift)

In those days, he said official death notices often followed Western Union telegrams the military hand-delivered to a soldiers next of kin by cab drivers.

Dear  The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your [name] was killed in action.

They would get the notification first from Western Union. Then our letters would come behind, Swift said.

Today, the military policy is for notification teams to contact the next of kin, usually in person with a solemn knock on the door.

Swift said the facts surrounding a Vietnam soldier who died an ignoble death wouldnt appear in the official death notice.

We had another guy who was a [helicopter] crew chief. Hed been smoking a joint. He jumped off the berm and didnt realize the helicopter was running. He walked into the tail rotor and was decapitated, Swift said.

In the notice, Swift wrote: Dear  Your [name] died serving the highest of military standards.

Blame Rolls Downhill

Swifts friend John was a crew chief for a Huey helicopter that crashed in Vietnam.

The military blamed John for the crash, even though it could have been a pilot failure or something [else] that happened.

Arnold Swift (L) and U.S. Army Chaplain Capt. Kenneth Robertson in Vietnam circa 1970. (Courtesy of Arnold Swift)

Without seeing the report, I dont know what it was. I do know that I watched a guy who drank himself to death. He couldnt deal with the guilt.

While preparing to write Johns death notice, Swift grappled with his personal feelings and things he wished to express to the family.

I wanted to share with his family because I knew this guy. I wanted to share his love for [his wife] and kids and his struggle knowing they blamed him for the crash.

But rules were rules as Swift began typing a brief summation of Johns service to his country:

Dear  Your [name] died serving the highest of military standards. It was an honor to serve with him.
Frank Gaffney Says Fox News Willing to Pay Handsomely to Keep Tucker Carlson Off the Air

Gaffney warns of CCP Subversion in New Book

Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy, testifies during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on July 24, 2013. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Fox News may be willing to keep paying Carlson millions of dollars to keep him under contract despite taking him off the air, at least according to foreign policy analyst and political commentator Frank Gaffney.

It seems as though Tucker is still under some constraints from Fox, at least as best I can tell for the moment, Gaffney told NTD News.

Gaffney said the end of the Carlson-Fox News relationship is most significant because his primetime show Tucker Carlson Tonight was arguably the most important platform that conservatives have had, certainly in the past few years. And it comes at a moment when thats deeply injurious to the effort to wage the war of ideas.

Gaffney, the executive chairman of the Washington D.C.-based Center for Security Policy, said he didnt always agree with Carlsons views, but the fact that he brought that platform to bear and gave large numbers of thoughtful, informed individuals an opportunity to communicate far beyond the normal reaches of the conservative movement, losing that is a body blow.

Other political commentators, including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, believe that while Carlsons Fox News shows have ended, he hasnt technically been fired and will continue to pay out Carlsons current contract in a way that prevents him from taking his talents elsewhere. Gaffney shares this belief.

Gaffney said he believes Fox executives ended Carlsons shows as a way to keep him or others enabled by him from talking about ideas or policies, or, you know, the direction of the country in ways that the networks owners dislike.

[Fox News] seem to be willing to pay handsomely for the privilege of keeping [Carlson] essentially, incommunicado, Gaffney said.

Its not entirely clear what contractual constraints still tie Carlson and Fox News together. NTD News reached out to the network for comment but did not receive a response by the time this article was published.

Carlson appears to have retained Bryan Freedman, a lawyer who previously represented Kelly during her split with NBC News. On Sunday, Axios reported that Carlson may be preparing to challenge Fox News after Freedman told the publication that the idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.

Chinas Unrestricted Warfare With US

Gaffney also warned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is subverting the United States through a combination of economic warfare, information warfare and efforts to sway influential figures in Americas government, business sector, pop culture, and academia. These alleged subversion efforts by the CCP form the basis of nine rhetorical charges that Gaffney lays out in the book he co-authored with Dede Laugesen called The Indictment: Prosecuting the Chinese Communist Party & Friends for Crimes against America, China, and the World.

Gaffney said these efforts at subversion are part of what China calls unrestricted warfare.

Gaffney said the different charges against the Chinese regime will give readers a pretty strong picture of what we call the war crimes that have been conducted against this country, again, by the CCP itself, and by its friends inside our country.

The first charge Gaffney lays out against the regime in his book details human rights abuses throughout Chinese society, including tens of millions killed and as many as 500 million babies killed in the womb over the course of the 20th century in China.

The reason we think this is the first crime that needs to be indicted is that this is what they have in mind doing to the rest of us, if they can get their hands on us, Gaffney said. So that sort of sets the stage for what they are doing to try to get their hands on us.

From NTD News
Fresno County Sues State Over Squaw Valley Name Change

The California State flag flies outside City Hall, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2017. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Fresno County has filed a lawsuit against the state in the Superior court of California claiming the states decision to change the name of Squaw Valley to Yokuts Valley was unconstitutional.

The state changed the small, unincorporated communitys name earlier this year after declaring the term squaw offensive.

In August, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill [AB] 2022, banning the term and paving the way for the name change. The move was made after the U.S. Department of the Interior banned the use of squaw in the federal government.

More than 100 place names in more than 25 counties in California use squaw, including Squaw Valley, Squaw Creek, Squaw Peak, and Squaw Hollow.

In its lawsuit against the state, filed April 11, Fresno County claims it doesnt have to comply with the state law because its invalid.

The compelled name change is, fundamentally, an erasure of its very existence and long history, the county wrote in the lawsuit filed April 11. Squaw Valley is also known to the hundreds of thousands of people who traverse Highway 180 to and from the Fresno area to the Sierra Nevada and places in between.

The unincorporated community in Fresno County affected by the name change is home to about 3,000 people. It has been recognized as Squaw Valley since at least 1871, according to the countys court filing (pdf).

Changing the name would also create an extraordinary financial and cultural burden on the residents and business owners of the community, the lawsuit claims.

Fresno County voted March 14 to sue the state over the new law, saying the community was not in favor of changing the communitys designation.

A consultation of residents in the community never took place by the state or federal government, County Supervisor Nathan Magsig told The Epoch Times in March. Residents in the community have communicated to me they dont want their name changed, and if it is changed, they want to be part of that process.

This is the first time California has ordered any city or community to change its name, the county contends.

The county is asking the court to find that the state has no authority to order the county to change the name of any community, or to dictate what the new name should be, or to order the replacement of sings, markers, or any other materials with the new name.

The county also alleges that the new state law is void. It is asking for a permanent injunction, or order, to stop the state from imposing any new name on the community and mandating sign or maker changes.

Most people wouldnt get upset if they wanted to change a creek, the countys attorney Brian Leighton told The Epoch Times. This is a whole community.

Residents and businesses in the town would have to change drivers licenses, insurance, business names, placards, and redo other paperwork to comply. This can be costly and time consuming. The state law said it would reimburse the countys costs for any changes, but it doesnt cover residential and business costs, according to Leighton.

It takes a lot of time, especially for people who may be older and cant do it online, he said.

The two sides are expected to meet in the Superior Court of California in Fresno County on Aug. 10 but that date may be rescheduled. The Attorney Generals Office has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit and did not return a request for comment.

The movement to cancel the word squaw started two years ago when Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, an indigenous cabinet member from New Mexico, signed an executive order declaring the term derogatory against Native American women. She banned it from all federal communications and ordered the federal Board on Geographic Names to remove the term from federal usage.

Over the next year, the board changed nearly 650 geographical places and five unincorporated towns.

In California, 70 state locations and geological features, as well as Squaw Valley and Squaw Hill, a town in Tehama County, were renamed.
GB News Interview With Naomi Wolf Deemed Potentially Harmful By UK Media Regulator

Ofcom sanctioned channel for second time over breach of rules

GB News has been sanctioned by Ofcom for the second time after the UKs media regulator found that an interview with Naomi Wolf on the Mark Steyn show breached broadcasting rules.

On Tuesday, an Ofcom investigation into the Mark Steyn programme, which first aired on GB News on Oct. 4, 2022, ruled Wolfs comments had the potential to impact viewers decisions about their health and were therefore potentially harmful.

GB News did not take adequate steps to protect viewers from this content, so we have found the channel in breach of the Broadcasting Code, it added.

During the interview, Wolf made claims about the COVID-19 vaccine, including that its rollout amounted to mass murder and was comparable to the actions of doctors in pre-Nazi Germany.

Ofcom received 422 complaints that alleged these comments were dangerous and included misinformation that went unopposed.

In light of this, we are requesting that GB News attends a meeting with Ofcom to discuss its approach to compliance, it wrote.

The Ofcom (Office of Communication) logo on the front of their headquarters in London, on Jan. 18, 2007. (Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

A Hero

Wolf told The Epoch Times by email that she was appalled, rejected Ofcoms findings, stood by her claims, and said that Mark Steyn was a hero.

The widely published journalist and bestselling author of books such as The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women and The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot is the co-founder of the DailyClout website.

As a journalist, I am appalled that Ofcom censured me for primary source evidence directly from Pfizers own documents released under court order, presented in reports compiled by 3,500 medical and scientific experts, including oncologists, radiologists, medical fraud investigators, RNs, biological scientists, and a range of other physicians and clinicians, she said.

She has been critical of vaccine passports, lockdowns, and media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has reported on mRNA vaccines impact on fertility and womens reproductive health.

Ofcom should not penalise reporters or news platforms for presenting the truth, especially if that truth is of grave public significance, she added.

Of course, I will consult my attorney to take action against this damaging censorship and this baseless reputational attack, which is the second one from a national government (the first was from our own White House and CDC) in relation to this important story, said Wolf, referring to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last year, Wolf told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders that a handful of bad actors including the Chinese Communist Party, Big Tech, and the World Economic Forum used the pandemic to exploit the crisis in such a way as to reengineer our free democratic open societies, especially in the West, especially in the United States, into a post-free society, a post-humane society.

Mark Steyn told The Epoch Times by email that he believes Ofcom is exceeding its statutory authority in a way none of its predecessor entitiesthe IBA, the Radio Authority, etc.ever did.

It has become a kangaroo court, micromanaging UK media coverage on critical aspects of public policy in ways that deeply damage free and open discourse in a land that was once the crucible of liberty, he said.

I am already taking Ofcom to court over their previous decision, and we will add this to the charge sheet, he added.

Misleading Interpretation

A GB News spokeswoman told The Epoch Times by email that it accepted the ruling and would not be challenging it.

We take Ofcom compliance seriously and we also take freedom of speech seriously. The balance between these two is not always clear cut and presents vital issues for our democracy, she said.

She said that the Communications Act of 2003 and the Ofcom Code which stemmed from it were not framed with channels like ours in mind, nor did they fully envisage the current mix of news and opinion in broadcast, or indeed the online and social media world.

We welcome the opportunity to meet Ofcom and to work with them in ensuring that our legal freedoms to speak freely are robustly protected, while remaining aligned with some of the best journalism and broadcasting standards in the world, she added.

It is the second time that the news channel, which features presenters such as Calvin Robinson, Lawrence Fox, and Andrew Doyle, has been found in breach of broadcasting rules.

In March, Ofcom ruled that a Mark Steyn show, which aired on GB News on April 21 last year, presented a materially misleading interpretation of official data without sufficient challenge or counterweight, risking harm to viewers.

Steyn was a presenter at the channel, but he left in February amid a dispute over contract terms he claimed could have made him personally liable for Ofcom fines.

In its ruling (pdf), Ofcom said that the programmes presentation of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data and the way it used the data to draw conclusions materially misled the audience.

It had received four complaints about comments made by the presenter that, the complainants said, drew dangerous and fatally flawed conclusions from UKHSA statistics.

Careful Assessment

Ofcom said that to date, GB News has received 4,560 complaints. Of these 1,714 were related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After careful assessment, the majority of complaints made against GB News have not been pursued, wrote Ofcom.

Ofcom added it is currently investigating whether a GB News episode of Saturday Morning with Esther and Philip, featuring husband and wife duo Esther McVey and Philip Davies, both serving Conservative MPs, broke rules requiring news and current affairs to be presented with due impartiality.

In March 2020, the regulator issued a Note to Broadcasters (pdf), reminding them it will consider any breach arising from harmful Coronavirus-related programming to be potentially serious and will consider taking appropriate regulatory action, which could include the imposition of a statutory sanction.
Goodfellas Star Ray Liottas Cause of Death Ruled as Heart Failure: Report

Ray Liotta attends the 22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival at The Balboa Bay Club And Resort in Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2021. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

The cause of death for Ray Liottathe tough-guy actor who starred in Goodfellas and Field of Dreamshas been revealed one year after he died in the Dominican Republic, according to a report. He was 67 at the time of his death.

According to documents from the country obtained by TMZ, Liottas death was due to acute heart failure and respiratory issues. The documents categorized the actors death as natural and non-violent, and the result of heart failure, respiratory insufficiency, and fluid in the lungsofficially known as pulmonary edema.

The report also noted that Liotta suffered from atherosclerosis, a serious cardiovascular condition in which the walls of the arteries narrow and become stiff because of plaque accumulation.

While mild to moderate atherosclerosis doesnt cause symptoms, the situation can escalate to a point at which the affected arteries are severely blocked, a condition that can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Jennifer Allen, the actors publicist, stated in May last year that Liotta died in his sleep while he was in the Dominican Republic filming a movie called Dangerous Waters. Allen did not provide any additional details at the time.

Liotta, best known for starring as mob associate Henry Hill in Martin Scorceses 1990 classic, is survived by his daughter, Karsen, and his fiancee, Jacy Nittolo.

Along with Goodfellas, the actor also appeared in Field of Dreams, Blow, Unlawful Entry, Hannibal, Cop Land, The Place Beyond the Pines, John Q, Identity, among many others. Most recently, he notably appeared in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, which was released in 2021.

Liotta also starred as Ray Sinclair in the 1987 action comedy Something Wild, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination.

Born in New Jersey in December 1954, Liotta was adopted at the age of six months after he was left at an orphanage. The actor grew up in New Jersey before he moved to New York. He eventually pursued an acting career in Los Angeles. His first film was The Lonely Lady in 1983.

His biggest film was Goodfellas, where he appeared alongside Joe Pesci and Robert de Niro as an up-and-coming mob associate based on the real-life story of mobster Henry Hill, who eventually became a federal informant. After a number of prominent roles in the 1990s, Liottas star began to fade, although he continued to make films.

In the 2010s, however, he garnered considerable attention and praise for films such as Killing Them Softly, Marriage Store, and The Place Beyond the Pines.

Tributes

His death was mourned by many celebrities, including acclaimed Goodfellas director Scorsese, who said in a statement to People magazine that Liotta was a uniquely gifted and adventurous actor.

Director Martin Scorsese (L), actress Lorraine Bracco (C), and actor Ray Liotta (R) attend the Vanity Fair and Richard Mille celebration of Martin Scorsese in support of The Film Foundation at Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 24, 2012. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for VF)

Playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas was a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot. He absolutely amazed me, and Ill always be proud of the work we did together on that picture. My heart goes out to his loved ones, and it aches for his loss, way too early, Scorsese said.

Lorraine Bracco, who starred alongside Liotta in Goodfellas, said she was utterly shattered after hearing the news of her co-stars death.

I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas, Bracco wrote in a post on Twitter. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same  Ray Liotta.

Liottas daughter paid her respects to her father the week after he died in a post on Instagram, sharing a photo of her father carrying her as a child.

Those who knew him, loved him, Karsen wrote in the caption. You are the best Dad anyone could ask for. I love you. Thank you for everything.

Piers Morgan also paid tribute on social media, saying: RIP Ray Liotta, 67. Brilliant actor, loved him in Goodfellas. Sad news.

Very sad to hear the news this morning about the passing of #RayLiotta. An extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen. Our deepest condolences to his family. RIP Ray, wrote actor Cary Elwes.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Government Let Gas Companies Lead the Way on Changes to Petroleum Tax: Greens

Greens Treasury spokesperson Senator Nick McKim and Senator Dorinda Cox have alleged that the federal government is letting the gas industry lead the way on its proposed changes to the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), accusing the government of simply appeasing the gas industry.

PRRT is a profits-based tax that only taxes profits of petroleum projects above a specified rate of return. It is paid when a petroleum projects total assessable receipts exceed the total deductible expenditure level set by the federal government.

The federal government changes will now place a cap on tax deductions from July 1, the changes will see LNG companies now only able to offset by deductions 90 percent of their tax-assessable income.

The Albanese governments changes to the PRRT are expected to bring in $2.4 billion (US$1.6 billion) over the forward estimates.

Labors changes to the PRRT have been designed by the gas industry, McKim said.

The government considered two models that would likely have brought in more revenue and discouraged more gas development.

Meanwhile, Senator Cox called for more transparency around resource policy.

We all heard Woodsides Meg ONeill warn the government about tax overreach during her Press Club address, but [Treasurer] Jim Chalmers must have pretty short arms if this is considered overreach, she said.

Australian taxpayers expect transparency and integrity in parliament, not the insidiousness of state capture becoming standard practice.

Considering theres $284 billion in unclaimed tax deductions that gas giants have accumulated under the PRRT, the Treasurer prying only $3 billion from them is a pitiful drop in the ocean.

Woodside Energy Chief Executive Meg ONeill told the National Press Club last month that compounding regulatory interventions, including the possibility of lifting or altering the petroleum resource rent tax, risked future investment, energy security, and future revenue.

We need confidence in stable regulatory outcomes, or we risk choking our energy industry, impacting both domestic and international supply, she said.

This concerns our regional partners, who depend on current Australian gas projects to help them meet their decarbonisation commitments and to keep the lights on in Asian mega-cities.

We urge the government, in any changes to the tax framework, to consider the long-term and preserve Australias ability to attract the next generation of investment, jobs and energy supply, she said. Overreaching now could risk undermining future revenue.

Review Argued For Earlier Tax Revenue

The changes to PRRT were a key recommendation of the Morrison governments Treasury Gas Transfer Pricing (GTP) Review (pdf), which argued that the existing GTP Regulation resulted in a structural undervaluation of gas at the PRRT taxing point for integrated LNG projects, particularly when resource prices are high.

Modifying the existing safe harbour transfer pricing methodthe Residual Pricing Method (RPM)to ensure gas is more fairly priced at the PRRT taxing point for integrated LNG projects would address this under-valuation, the department said.

The cap will also bring forward tax revenue from LNG projects, most of which are not expected to pay significant amounts of petroleum resource rent tax until the 2030s under current rules.

These sensible changes see the offshore LNG industry pay more tax sooner, Chalmers said in a statement on May 7.

They also deliver a fairer return to the Australian people from the resources they own, provide certainty to industry and ensure Australia remains a reliable trade and investment partner.

Additionally, he said that the governments changes were supported by the gas industry.

The reason why weve been able to get an element of agreement from the industry is because we worked with them, we worked closely with them, we consulted them to work out how could we get more revenue for Australians from their resources sooner, to help fund our cost-of-living package and other priorities in a Budget, but in a way which recognises we want to see investment, we want to see supply, and we want to make sure that we honour our international commitments, he said.

Prime Minister Pushes Back on Greens Party Criticism

However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pushed back on the criticism saying the Greens are not supportive of the resources sector.

The Greens, of course, are people who dont support that industry. They want to, theyd be quite happy to shut it down. We want to support that industry, Albanese said.

The gas industry is an important industry for Australia, for our national interest. And thats why we worked with APPEA and with individual companies as well on this modest change, which provides for a bring forward of taxation revenue, which would have been in later years; were bringing that forward so its available, which is appropriate.

The prime minister said he would make no apologies for working through the issue with the industry and called upon the Coalition to support the changes.
Harlan Crow Refuses to Answer Democrats Questions About Justice Thomas, Casts Probe as Illegitimate

Texas billionaire Harlan Crow refused to answer questions from a Democratic senator who is examining whether gifts such as luxury vacations that Crow gave his friend Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas violated U.S. tax law.

The relationship between Crow and Thomas has generated outrage on the left as well as calls for Thomass impeachment from Democratic lawmakers. The highly publicized outpouring of anger followed an April 6 article by ProPublica, a left-wing nonprofit funded in part by the preeminent Democratic Party donor, financier George Soros, through his Foundation to Promote Open Society, that disclosed the trips. Later, it was revealed that Crow purchased some real estate from the Thomas family and paid private school tuition for Thomass grand nephew.

The article stated that Crow, a large Republican donor, has been treating Thomas and his wife to expensive trips for years. Thomas said on April 7 that he was advised that he didnt have to report the trips but said hell follow new reporting requirements imposed on the federal judiciary.

Legal experts point out that there is no actual conflict of interest because Crow has not had business before the Supreme Court and because it is not against the law for a member of the judiciary to have wealthy, generous friends. Republicans say Democrats are conducting a witch hunt against Thomas and the court in general because, after years of liberal dominance, it now has a 63 conservative majority.

Last month Senate Finance Committee chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) demanded that Crow provide a complete list of gifts he has made to Thomas, as The Epoch Times reported. Wyden also asked Crow for evidence he has complied with federal tax law regarding the gifts.

Wyden said in his April 24 letter that the unprecedented arrangement between a wealthy benefactor and a Supreme Court justice raises serious concerns related to federal and ethics laws.

The secrecy surrounding your dealings with Justice Thomas is simply unacceptable, the letter reads.

On May 8, Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee separately sent a similar letter to Crow. The letter seeks information on any gifts or payments that exceed $415 that were given to any Supreme Court justice or family member as well as an itemized list of vacations and real estate transactions.

But Crows attorney Michael Bopp of Gibson Dunn fired back at Wyden in a May 8 letter (pdf), suggesting the senators inquiries were both illegitimate and politically motivated.

Wydens committee is putting forth an unnecessarily broad request that amounts to an impermissible congressional intrusion into executive and judicial functions, Bopp wrote.

We have serious concerns about the scope of and authority for this inquiry, he added.

Given the Letters timing and focus, this inquiry appears to be a component of a broader campaign against Justice Thomas and, now, Mr. Crow, rather than an investigation that furthers a valid legislative purpose, Bopp wrote.

As you are aware, the Committees powers to investigate are not unlimited. Indeed, the Committee must have a legitimate legislative purpose for any inquiry, and the scope of the inquiry must be reasonably related to that purpose.  Moreover, issues that implicate the separation of powers require a heightened showing.  The Committees letter meets none of those standards here, the lawyer wrote.

The committee effectively seeks to conduct a gift tax audit in an effort to expose private facts, something the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 it has no authority to do.

Congress has no authority to engage in law enforcement investigations or to conduct investigations aimed at exposing citizens private affairs for the sake of exposure, Bopp wrote.

The committee also lacks the authority to conduct a tax audit for the purpose of determining whether Justice Thomas complied with ethics standards the Chairman believes should apply in this instance.

By targeting Thomas, the committee appears to be violating the separation of powers doctrine, he wrote.

Any congressional inquiry about Thomas requires a heightened showing of legitimate legislative purpose and authority, and must be no broader than reasonably necessary to achieve legitimate legislative goals.  The Committee cannot satisfy that heightened burden, Bopp wrote.

Wyden said in a statement that Bopps letter left him disappointed but unsurprised.

Mr. Crow is relying on the same baseless arguments that failed Donald Trump in his attempt to stonewall Congressional oversight. I have used my Chairmanship of the committee to shine a bright light on tax schemes undertaken by the ultra-wealthy, including untaxed transfers of wealth. The assertion that the Finance Committee lacks a legislative basis for an investigation of the abuse of gift taxes by the wealthy is simply preposterous, Wyden said.

In fact Mr. Crow takes this position to an even more absurd level. He implies that the specter of public corruption created by his own unreported gifts to Justice Thomas somehow insulates the details of those gifts from Congressional investigation. This argument is, on its face, a joke.

In reality, its obvious that Congress needs to evaluate compliance with the gift tax, and as Americans learn more about Crows largesse toward Justice Thomas, theres a strong argument for stiffening reporting requirements for gifts given to public officials, Wyden said.

The war of words between Wyden and Crow came a day after Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and 13 other GOP senators sent a letter (pdf) to Wyden expressing concern over unprecedented attacks by Democrats on the Supreme Court.

Demanding tax return information from a private citizen like Crow is part of a smear campaign against Thomas that also attempts to bully the Supreme Court into acting as a super legislature to implement progressive policies.

We reject this manufactured ethics crisis at the Supreme Court as a ploy to further Democrats efforts to undermine public confidence and change the makeup of the court, the letter stated.

The senators also took aim at a Democratic proposal to hold back $10 million in security funding for the court to pressure it into doing what Democrats want.

It is shocking that the Democrats would try to leverage the physical security of Supreme Court justices and their families to force the Court to bend to its demands, the letter stated.

The Republican lawmakers also defended Thomas as an honorable man, a principled jurist, and one of our nations greatest justices who is under attack by the left because he refuses to compromise his principles.

These attacks on the Supreme Court and the justices must end. They are undermining the rule of law, endangering the security of the justices and their families, and inflicting incalculable damage on our country, the letter stated.
A new study found that spending just 30 minutes talking on a mobile phone per week is linked to a greater risk of blood pressure, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.

The study published May 4 in the European Heart JournalDigital Health examined the relationship between making and receiving phone calls and new-onset hypertension.

The research team said: In recent years, mobile phones have become a device of everyday life worldwide, with an estimated 8.2 billion subscriptions worldwide in 2020. This raises important questions about the safety of using a mobile phone to make or receive calls, especially for heavy users.

Researchers found that those who spent half an hour once a week, even hands-free, were 12 percent more prone to higher blood pressure, also called hypertension.

Furthermore, six hours of weekly phone chats raised the risk to 25 percent. The study found that those with the highest risk were participants who had a high genetic risk of hypertension. Spending at least 30 minutes on the phone for them led to a 33 percent higher chance of hypertension.

The reason behind the link is not yet known, and more research is needed. However, mobile phone usage emits low levels of radiofrequency energy, which has been linked to higher blood pressure after short-term exposure, the researchers said.

Its the number of minutes people spend talking on a mobile that matters for heart health, with more minutes meaning greater risk, study author professor Xianhui Qin of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China, said in a press release.

Years of use or employing a hands-free set-up had no influence on the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. More studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Additionally, the professor also suggested that chatting on the device may not affect the risk of developing hypertension as long as weekly calls are kept below 30 minutes.

More research is needed to replicate the results, but until then, it seems prudent to keep cell phone calls to a minimum to maintain heart health, Qin said.

Researchers analyzed data on 212,046 UK adultsall of whom reported using cell phones at least once a weekwithout hypertension between the ages of 37 and 73.

They were tracked for an average of 12 years. The study found that 13,984, or 7 percent, of participants developed high blood pressure.

Information on the use of mobile phones to make and receive calls was gathered through a self-reported touchscreen questionnaire that included years of use, hours per week, and the use of a hands-free device or speakerphone.

The participants who used a phone at least once a week to make or receive calls were defined as mobile phone users in the study.

Almost three-quarters of the global population aged 10 and over own a cell phone.

Hypertension

Hypertension, often dubbed the silent killer, is one of the main causes of premature death in the world. The condition can damage arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases blood and oxygen flow and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Nearly 1.3 billion adults aged 30 to 79 worldwide have high blood pressure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of adults in the United States, 116 million people or 47 percent of the population, have hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or are taking medication for hypertension.

Michael Sam-Yorke, pharmacist, clinician, and independent prescriber from PG Cert MPharm, told Daily Express, More often than not, a person with high blood pressure would tend to not show any symptoms.

Sam-Yorke added: In cases where people with high blood pressure do experience symptoms, the ones to look out for include:

1. Headaches

2. Chest pain

3. Shortness of breath

4. Blurred vision

5. Nausea

6. Nosebleeds.

The most reliable way of determining your blood pressure levels is to have a doctor or other health professional measure it.
Victorian Housing Tower COVID-19 Lockdown Reaches Settlement

A general view of the Public Housing tower in Alfred Street North Melbourne on July 11, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Thousands of residents forced into a sudden COVID-19 lockdown in public housing towers in Melbourne in 2020 are eligible for $5 million (US3.3 million) in compensation.

The Victorian Government settled a class action over measures intended to stop an outbreak of the virus in nine towers at the height of the second wave.

The plaintiffs claim people were wrongly detained for up to 14 days and threatened with physical harm if they tried to leave the towers. However, legal documents show the government denies those claims.

Notice of the settlement was posted to the Department of Healths website last week.

The settlement still needs to be approved by the Supreme Court.
A man runs on a road in Auckland, New Zealand, May 9, 2023. New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)

WELLINGTON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday.

Traffic was at a standstill in Auckland, as the country's largest city entered its third state of emergency due to severe weather this year. The meteorological agency has issued weather warnings and watches for many parts of the North Island.

The North Island was affected by severe floods in January and Cyclone Gabrielle in February which killed at least 11 people.

The government will step up support for those affected by flooding in Auckland, said Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty.

The National Emergency Management Agency's National Coordination Centre has been activated, and the government stands ready to provide any support that is needed, McAnulty said.

Auckland Emergency Management has opened a Civil Defense Centre to assist those that have been displaced or need assistance following Tuesday's severe weather.

The government has estimated the cost of asset damage from the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle in the first two months of this year at between 9 billion and 14.5 billion NZ dollars (5.71 billion-9.19 billion U.S. dollars), with half of that related to infrastructure owned by central or local government such as roads. 

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a landslide site in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a supermarket amid heavy rain in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a view of Auckland in downpour in New Zealand. New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows a rising river in Auckland, New Zealand. New Zealand's Auckland declared local state of emergency following floods and torrential downpours on Tuesday. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)
How Much More Can a Security Service Do for Canada?

Commentary

The Old Testament is full of stories of prophets who tried to warn their populations of impending disasters. Jeremiah is a good example. All these accounts tend to follow a pattern: prophet sees something about to happen, tells local leadership about it, is criticized and jailed/punished for doing so, and sees his warnings shunted aside. In the end the bad event transpires anyway. Had the early admonitions been heeded, things would have turned out quite differently.

Are we in Canada living through a similar situation today? Do we have 21st-century prophets? Perhaps we are facing an analogous threat when it comes to what the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is getting away with in our land (except that life-altering disasters are already here and have been for some time). The prophet is CSIS, while those dismissing the warnings is the Canadian government (with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the starring role as king).

Maybe I am pushing the religious angle a little but the parallels are startling. The Trudeau governments claims that CSIS has not been giving it adequate intelligence (i.e., warnings) about Chinas activities in our country (actions such as threatening the families of MPs like Michael Chong, harassing Falun Gong, Uyghur, and Tibetan Canadians, etc.) and that the spy agency has for some reason decided that direct interference and threats in our society against citizens did not warrant telling anyone outside the organization. So, it paints CSIS at fault for letting the PRC get away with blatant foreign influence (which, by the way, CSIS investigates undersection 2 (b) of the CSIS Act).

Although I retired from CSIS back in 2015, and thus have not had access to any intelligence proffered to government clients in close to a decade, I cannot accept the Liberal governments claims at all. The CSIS I worked for took its responsibilities seriously. Yes, it collects and analyzes intelligence carefully and verifies/corroborates to the best of its ability before it sends information out to the client base (which most definitely includes the PM), but it does not sit on information indefinitely. And, trust me, what the PRC has been doing here for decades has most assuredly been passed up the chain to senior decision-makers, so that appropriate action (up to and including the expulsion of diplomats) can be taken. (Note that CSIS itself does not take such actionit is an advisory body.)

Many of my former colleagues share the frustration I experience with the ongoing denials by the Trudeau government when it comes to what the PRC is getting up to on Canadian soil. The government is trying to shift ownership for its lack of action to the messenger, in effect shooting him/her. This is not how a responsible government acts.

Whether we are talking about threats to the family of a sitting MP or to ethnic communities, theft of our technology, or setting up police stations to monitor Chinese Canadians, CSIS has been doing its job as its mandate requires and providing the best product it can for those in charge. What the recipients do with itand this would encompass how and to whom to share within the upper echelonsis not something CSIS would or could dictate.

Canadians are seeing incompetence at the highest level. A major power which is not an ally (i.e., China) has been allowed to do just about whatever it wants for many years with little to nothing to worry about. Our security service (i.e., CSIS) tries and tries to sound the alarm bells but does not seem to be getting the required response. So now what?

Some would say CSIS has to try harder. Ok, sure, but what does this mean? It can identify officials in positions to make decisions and seek to ensure they are on the distribution list for intelligence assessments, but it cannot force them to read their product and act on it (you can take a horse to water). Imagine the hue and cry if CSIS were to demand action by the government!

No, what we are witnessing is a series of coverups, badly framed. Minister after minister is trying to shed responsibility for not doing what they should have to stop Chinese interference after having been handed evidence of such on a silver platter by CSIS. Note that this would also mean ensuring that the PM is in on the matter (CSIS rarely briefs the PM directly in my experience). The fault lies with them, not with CSIS.

I cannot imagine what this is doing to morale within CSIS. It is bad enough to learn that your efforts are cast aside; now you are blamed for not making the efforts in the first place. I feel for the prophet who is seldom accepted in his own land. Welcome to Canada in 2023!

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Hunter Bidens Coming Indictment?

Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, attends the ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on July 7, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

This week, the nation could finally get more insight into the allegations against Hunter Biden, whose infamous laptop sparked allegations that the Biden family is involved in a scheme to peddle political power for profit.

A congressional press conference on May 10 is set to release its findings, which include whistleblower statements, bank documents, and other information. They claim that it shows evidence of crimes not just involving Hunter Biden, but other members of the Biden family.

Of course, were still waiting to see the evidence. So innocent until proven guilty.

His father, President Joe Biden, was asked about this during an interview with MSNBC, during which he said he stands by his sons word that hes innocent: It affects my presidency by making me feel proud of him.

But contrary to what MSNBC says, theres evidence that Joe Biden is potentially tied to his sons scandals. At least, this is the allegation.

This comes on the heels of a letter by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray on May 3.

Their letter states that it has come to their attention that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI possess an unclassified form that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions. It has been alleged that the document includes a precise description of how the alleged criminal scheme was employed as well as its purpose.

They note that the FBI and DOJ not disclosing this to the public appears to show political bias regarding which cases they choose to go after. And they said that, given that the evidence isnt being shown to the American people, Congress will proceed to conduct an independent and objective review of this matter, free from those agencies influence.

The question now is whether the FBI will release the document. They have until May 10 to do that.

Comer, meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News, said: My message to the Department of Justice is very loud and clear: Do not indict Hunter Biden before Wednesday when you have the opportunity to see the evidence that the House Oversight Committee will produce.

With respect to the web of LLCs, with respect to the number of adversarial countries that this family influence peddled in.

A statement from the House Oversight Committee hints at what we could see. It claims that the committee recently revealed one of the alleged deals, where it states that the Committee revealed one deal that resulted in several members of the Biden family and their companies receiving over $1 million in more than 15 incremental payments from a Chinese company through a third party.

Well see whats shown on May 10 during the press conference. And well also see what charges, if any, Hunter Biden faces. And most importantly, well see whether its just Hunter Biden wrapped up in this, or whether its, as Comer suggests, several members of the Biden family.

This would be significant, as it could have serious implications for national sovereignty and national security.

Then theres also the case of classified documents being found at Joe Bidens home, from both his time as a senator and as vice president. Many questions remain, such as why he took the documents home and if his son had access to them at any point in time.

This case could also directly affect the ongoing special counsel investigation into former President Donald Trump, which deals with a similar issue of classified documents being found at his home in Florida. Trump took them home as president; Joe Biden took them home as a senator and as vice presidentwithout executive privilege.

In addition to potential crimes having been committed, there are also new claims of how the Biden presidential campaign tried covering these up by spreading disinformation ahead of the 2020 election, as well as allegations that witnesses are being threatened.

The main piece of evidence that dropped ahead of the elections was Hunter Bidens now-infamous laptop. In it are scandalous photos of Hunter Biden, but also emails that prompted inquiries into his business deals. News on the laptop was framed as Russian disinformation, and even major media outlets were censored for reporting on it ahead of the 2020 elections.

Of course, the laptop is real, and many of the stories have since been shown to be accurate. And it turns out that Joe Bidens campaign had a hand in the coverup.

Former Acting CIA Director Mike Morell is now claiming that Joe Bidens presidential campaign prompted him to help organize the 50 former intelligence officials who published a public letter in October 2020 falsely claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop story looked like Russian disinformation. And this is getting even bigger.

Morell testified before the House Judiciary Committee and claimed that it was none other than Antony Blinken who contacted him. Blinken is currently Joe Bidens secretary of state. At the time, however, Blinken was a senior campaign official for Joe Biden. Morell said this was around Oct. 17, 2020, just days after the New York Post published an email from the laptop that suggested that Hunter Biden introduced then-Vice President Joe Biden to his Ukrainian business partner in an alleged deal.

A part of the transcript of Morells testimony is as follows:

Q: But, prior to [Secretary Blinkens] call, youyou did not have any intent to write this statement? A: I did not. Q: OK. So his call triggered A: It did, yes. Q: that intent in you? A: Yes. Absolutely.

Morell also admitted that he helped organize the coverup of the laptop to help Joe Biden because I wanted him to win the election.

Q: What was the intent of the statement? A: There were two intents. One intent was to share our concern with the American people that the Russians were playing on this issue; and, two, it was [to] help Vice President Biden.

And then House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked this:

Q: You wanted to help the vice president; why? A: Because I wanted him to win the election. Q: You wanted him to win; thats why? A: Yes, sir.

Polling data suggest that had voters known about the Hunter Biden laptop, it could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election.

We should be finding out within the next few days whether Hunter Biden faces charges. But keep in mind that the key point will be whether the charges include the full range of crimes were now being told exist.

Watch Crossroads on weeknights at 7 p.m. ET on EpochTV.com
Illinois Defends Assault Weapon Ban at Supreme Court

Justice Amy Coney Barrett recently requested more details from state regarding bans

The state of Illinois has filed a brief with the Supreme Court defending its ban on assault weapons, insisting that such a ban does not violate Second Amendment rights.

The case revolves around an ordinance passed by the Naperville City Council in August last year that was set to come into effect Jan. 1. The ordinance bans the sale of assault weapons as well as large capacity magazines with 15 rounds in case of a handgun or 10 rounds for long guns. People who violate the ordinance would be subjected to penalties. In September, the National Association for Gun Rights, a gun store, and the owner of the gun store filed a complaint against the ordinance, claiming that the prohibition violated their Second Amendment rights.

In January, an amended complaint was filed, which added a claim that the Protect Illinois Communities Act signed into law in the state on Jan. 11 also violated the Second Amendment. The Act bans the sale and unauthorized possession of assault weapons.

A district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit refused to block the law from getting enforced, following which, the National Association for Gun Rights approached the Supreme Court. An emergency application for injunction was filed by plaintiffs on April 28. On May 3, Illinois filed its response brief.

In its 44-page filing (pdf), the state of Illinois argued that the high court should not block the law from enforcement while a lawsuit is ongoing in lower courts, insisting that it is unclear whether a 2022 Supreme Court precedent upholding gun rights applies to the ban on assault weapons.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court judged in a 63 decision that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the rights of a law-abiding citizen to carry handguns publicly for self-defense. The judgment came as part of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen case and struck down New Yorks concealed carry law.

The Bruen Criteria

The state of Illinois argues in the filing that the applicants have not shown that it is indisputably clear that they will prevail under the two-step test developed in Bruen.

The first step of the test places a burden on applicants to prove that assault weapons are bearable arms that are in common use today for self-defense. In the second step, the government must prove that its regulation to ban assault rifles is consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The filing points out that the Bruen judgment accepts that the rights guaranteed under Second Amendment is not unlimited and that such rights extends only to certain types of weapons. The Second Amendment only protects firearms that are commonly used for self-defense. As such, firearms that do not fit within such categories, like those used in military service, may be banned, it argued.

Assault weapons derive from military-grade weaponry which renders them uniquely suitable as weapons of war but not commonly used or suitable for personal self-defense.

Assault weapons are designed to allow high-velocity rounds to be fired at a high rate of delivery and a high degree of accuracy at long range. But these features are unnecessary in the civilian self-defense context, where most confrontations involving gunfire are at close range, and therefore do not require the long-distance accuracy of assault weapons.

The filing went on to give examples where jurisdictions have banned certain advanced firearms in the past deemed to be a threat to public safety. For instance, in the 19th century, several states prohibited revolvers, pistols, and other concealable weapons, it said. Between 1925 and 1934, at least 32 states enacted anti-machine gun laws.

By prohibiting the manufacture and sale of weapons and magazines increasingly used in the deadliest mass shootings, the Act (Protect Illinois Communities Act) comfortably fits within this pattern of regulation in response to new forms of violent crime perpetrated with technologically advanced weapons, the filing said.

The public safety justifications underlying the Act are nearly identical to those that prompted 18th, 19th, and 20th-century legislatures to regulate categories of weapons associated with an increase in homicides attributable to specific weapons and other criminal misuse.

Financial Loss Argument, Ignoring Bruen Ruling

Applicants also claimed that the gun store and its owners will suffer from financial losses due to the prohibition of assault rifles. The filing pointed out that the gun store does not exclusively sell assault weapons but also firearms that are not covered by the Protect Illinois Communities Act.

The filing argued that the Protect Illinois Communities Acts restrictions on assault weapons promote a compelling interest in protecting the public and saving lives.

In their emergency application (pdf) for injunction filed at the Supreme Court, plaintiffs argued that the lower courts are ignoring the Bruen ruling.

Many of the lower courts did not get the message. This action is a case in point. In the teeth of this Courts precedents, the district court refused to address the evidence that the arms banned by the challenged laws are held by millions of law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes. The district court did not dispute the evidence; it simply ignored it, it said.

The case could pressure the Supreme Court to take a stance on the legality regarding laws that restrict the sale or possession of assault weapons.
IN-DEPTH: North Carolina Medical Schools See Children as Young as Toddlers for Gender Dysphoria

They aren't prescribing hormone blockers and surgery for children that young, they say

Gender neutral signs are posted in the 21C Museum Hotel public restrooms in Durham, North Carolina, on May 10, 2016. (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

Gender clinics affiliated with three North Carolina medical schools are seeing patients as young as 2 for gender dysphoria, according to documents reviewed by The Epoch Times.

The medical schools at Duke University, the University of North Carolina (UNC), and East Carolina University (ECU) referenced providing treatment for toddlers and grade-school-age children with gender dysphoria on organization websites, in documents, and in news articles.

After information about the programs sparked backlash on social media, all three universities stated that they dont prescribe cross-sex hormones or provide gender-modification surgery on toddlers.

The medical organizations didnt deny that their doctors see preschoolers for gender dysphoria.

Transgender Treatment for Toddlers

Sloan Rachmuth, president of Education First Alliance. (Courtesy of Sloan Rachmuth)

Sloan Rachmuth, president of Education First Alliance (EFA), a watchdog group in North Carolina, first exposed the universities policies in an article on EFAs website.

Rachmuth is a proponent of North Carolina legislative proposals SB 639 and HB 808. If enacted, the measures would ban transgender procedures, puberty blockers, and other hormones for youths under the age of 18 in the state.

She said she hopes her article and the attention it received will help push the bills forward.

That toddlers who couldnt have any semblance of what it means to be gendered are receiving a clinical diagnosis and subsequent treatment at North Carolinas teaching hospitals is reason enough to pass a complete ban on all psychological, medical, and surgical treatments for gender reassignment on minors, she wrote to The Epoch Times.

When Gender Assigned at Birth Doesnt Align

According to the Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care Clinic website, transgender youth can receive a broad array of treatment and education at the facility.

We provide treatment, support, education, and counseling to transgender youth who are exploring their gender identity and gender expression, as well as their families, the Duke University website reads. We also treat people with gender dysphoria, which occurs when sex and gender assigned at birth do not align with a persons gender identity.

The founder of the Duke Clinic, Dr. Deanna Adkins, was cited in a North Carolina newspaper discussing a toddler patient, according to EFA.

Pro-transgender protesters in Chicago on Feb. 25, 2017. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A May 10, 2016, post on Duke Childrens Facebook page also quoted the newspaper article.

Dr. Deanna Adkins, director of the Duke Center for Child and Adolescent Gender Care, said she has transgender patients as young as 2. They are not old enough to consciously just choose to do that.  It is not a choice in any of my patients,' the post reads.

Adkins also indicated treatment of young children in her expert declaration filed in a federal district court in North Carolina concerning a proposal to restrict the use of public bathrooms to biological sex.

In that court document, signed in 2020 by Adkins, she reiterates her belief that toddlers can experience gender dysphoria. Her declaration said the gender clinic treated patients as young as 7.

Most people have a gender identity that aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth, she stated in her declaration.

However, for some people, their deeply felt core identification and self-image as a particular gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. This lack of alignment can create significant distress for individuals with this experience and can be felt in children as young as 2 years old.

Adkins didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Care Decisions Clarified

On social media, Duke Health denied that toddlers were starting gender transitioning.

Care decisions are made by patients, families, and their providers and are both age-appropriate and adherent to national and international guidelines, reads a May 4 Twitter post by Duke Health.

Hormone therapies are explicitly not provided to children prior to puberty and gender-affirming surgeries are, except in exceedingly rare circumstances, only performed after age 18.

The University of North Carolinas Gender Initiative Clinic also evaluates toddlers, according to a document obtained by The Epoch Times.

The referral form, now removed from the website of the psychology department at the universitys Chapel Hill campus, shows age brackets for patients as young as 3.

Students walk through the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Aug. 18, 2020. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Another deleted UNC website page for the Psychiatry Gender Equity and Wellness Initiative, recovered from archives on the Wayback Machine, said the programs goal was to provide care for diverse individuals ages 4-30 years and their families exploring or undergoing gender-affirming treatment.

The clinic would provide letters of support for initiation of gender-affirming hormone care or referrals for surgery, according to the now-deleted page of the clinic website.

Part of the clinics mission is to train the next generation of providers on gender-affirming care, according to the website.

UNC Health posted a clarification on Twitter on May 4 about how the organization treats children identifying as transgender.

UNC Health provides age-appropriate, gender-affirming care to our patients and families based on national guidelines and standards of care. That includes behavioral health support, the organization stated.

It does not include any surgical procedures for any patients under 18. It does not include any research or clinical trials involving children.

Samantha Weiss, media contact for the UNC Department of Psychiatry, didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Affirming Providers

In 2022, ECUs Brody School of Medicine developed the ECU LGBTQ+ Health Clinic, as reported by The East Carolinian.

In the article, Dr. Colby Dendy, clinical assistant professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at ECUs medical school, was listed as one of the clinics directors.

Dendy and her colleague, Dr. Angie Matthai, a clinical associate professor at ECU, wanted to create the new clinic because there were no other LGBT primary care facilities in Eastern North Carolina for people across age groups who dont attend ECU, according to the article.

The idea to create the clinic was pitched to the Sexual and Gender Diversity Committee at ECU, Dendy was quoted as saying in the article.

Children can recognize gender identity at about age 4, so pediatrics should not be excluded from treatment, Dendy said, according to the article.

Detransitioners and their supporters hold a rally on the steps of the California State Capitol in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

ECU referenced Health Pride Clinic services for the LGBT community, listing Dendy and others as providers.

Dendys specialty under LGBT affirming providers included gender-affirming hormone therapy for both adults and adolescents.

In a May 4 Twitter post, ECU Health denied offering gender-affirming surgery to minors or gender-affirming care to toddlers.

It is important to note that the comments and opinions of employees, including those published, in any organization, do not necessarily reflect policies or services provided by that organization, the ECU Health post reads.

Dendy didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Radical Experimentation Rooted in Marxism

Andrew Brown, associate vice president of policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a conservative think-tank. (Courtesy of TPPF)

According to Andrew Brown, associate vice president of policy at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), gender treatment for toddlers is no less than radical experimentation.

Still, he said, I am completely unsurprised.

The medical community in the United States is following the model of affirming gender dysphoria in minors, even as Europe pulls away from it, he said.

Yet theres no evidence children benefit from gender-altering procedures, and emerging evidence shows that those modifications are more harmful than beneficial, he said.

Transitioning children is based on Marxist ideology, Brown said. Its aimed at destroying fundamental systems essential to the prosperity of the United States, such as the family, he added.

But people are starting to push back.

The number of Texas voters who support a ban on gender modification for children has increased by 14 percentage points over the past year, TPPF polls show.

Gender Dysphoria Often Disappears

Gender dysphoria eventually resolves itself in 87 percent of those who experience it, according to Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, M.D., board chairman of the Do No Harm medical watchdog group.

The problem is the U.S. medical community has adopted the idea of affirming gender dysphoria instead of helping the patient figure it out or letting it go away on its own, he said.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, board chairman of Do No Harm. (Courtesy of Do No Harm)

Parents intuitively understand that toddlers and young children dont know what they are saying when they express the desire to be the opposite sex, he said.

Yet, many in the medical community are ignoring that, based on their belief in gender ideology, he added.

Doctors-turned-activists have taken the position that if people dont support a childs idea of gender, they are transphobic, Goldfarb said.

Many youths with feelings of gender dysphoria also may suffer from psychological problems, he said.

Once children have been affirmed in their expressed desire to live as another gender, they often are on a one-way street to transition, he said, and what starts as social transitioning often leads to cross-sex hormones and surgery.

Then to maintain the transition, children have to remain on hormones or undergo further medical procedures.

Its really quite tragic, Goldfarb said. Theyre starting them down this path where theyll never be normal.
Indonesia President Says ASEAN Should View AUKUS Security Pact as Partner

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, wearing traditional Baduy outfit, delivers his annual State of the Nation Address ahead of the country's Independence Day, at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 16, 2021. (Achmad Ibrahim/Pool via Reuters)

Indonesias president said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should view the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) pact as a partner instead of a competitor to ensure peace in Asia.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who holds the presidency of the 10-member regional bloc this year, said that ASEAN is open and inclusive by nature and will not serve as a proxy to any nation.

ASEAN is the only regional organization that offers various forms of diplomacy. ASEANs principle is collaboration, cooperation, and active involvement, he told Malaysian broadcaster Media Prima on May 8.

When asked about his plan to boost ASEANs role in the Indo-Pacific amid the emergence of AUKUS and the Quadboth excluded ASEAN nationsWidodo said ASEAN should view these groups as partners in ensuring stability in the region.

Widodo said they share the common goal of rejecting conflict in the Indo-Pacific and noted that ASEAN does not want isolation in international efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

To me, we should view the Quad and AUKUS as partners and not competitors. With regard to anything that happens in this region, ASEANs aim is to make the region a stable and peaceful one, he said.

Without these two elements, it is unlikely for the people of ASEAN to achieve prosperity, the Indonesian leader added.

The AUKUS pact, announced in September 2021, saw the United States and the United Kingdom commit to assisting Australia with acquiring nuclear-powered submarinesa move likely to shift the power balance in the Indo-Pacific region significantly.

U.S. President Joe Biden (C) participates in a trilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) and Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) during the AUKUS summit at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif., on March 13, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

AUKUS is primarily viewed as a counterweight to Beijings ongoing aggression and militarization in the region, including building bases in the South China Sea, incursions into Taiwanese airspace, and support of illegal fishing fleets.

The Philippines foreign ministry said in March that it hoped the AUKUS pact could reinforce an international rules-based order that underpins regional security and development in the Indo-Pacific.

For the Philippines, it is important that partnerships or arrangements in the Indo-Pacific region, such as AUKUS, support our pursuit of deeper regional cooperation and sustained economic vitality and resilience, which are essential to our national development and to the security of the region, the ministry stated.

Chinas ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has strongly condemned the AUKUS pact, saying the arrangement is fueling military confrontation in the Asia-Pacific and is driven by Cold War thinking.

ASEAN Push for Stability in South China Sea

Widodo said that ASEAN member states seek all parties adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

All claims that have no basis should not take place, the ASEANs chair said. [The key is to] obey the international law. ASEAN will continue to push toward stability in the area.

Beijing claims much of the South China Sea as its own territory under its so-called nine-dash line despite competing claims from neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.

Indonesia is not a party to the dispute, but Beijings claims of sovereignty over the sea overlap Indonesias exclusive economic zone.

The Hague Tribunal ruled in favor of legal action taken by the Philippines in 2016. Still, the ruling did not see the CCP change its behavior, with Chinese vessels repeatedly intruding into the Philippines maritime zones.

Ray Powell, who leads Project Myoushu on the South China Sea at Stanford University, said on Monday that Chinese maritime militia boats approached an area where navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea.

Such militias consist of commercial fishing boats, which coordinate with the Chinese authorities for political objectives in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, in the past rejected the existence of any such militia.

Daniel Y. Teng and Reuters contributed to this report.
Iran Hangs 2 in Rare Blasphemy Case as Executions Surge

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesIran hanged two men Monday convicted of blasphemy, authorities said, carrying out rare death sentences for the crime as executions surge across the Islamic Republic following months of unrest.

Iran remains one of the worlds top executioners, having put to death at least 203 prisoners since the start of this year alone, according to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights. But carrying out executions for blasphemy remains rare, as previous cases saw the sentences reduced by authorities.

The two men executed, Yousef Mehrad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare, died at Arak Prison in central Iran. They had been arrested in May 2020, accused of being involved in a channel on the Telegram message app called Critique of Superstition and Religion, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Both men faced months of solitary confinement and could not contact their families, the commission said.

It is of extreme concern to us. I dont believe this is just a one-off event, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, a member of the Congressionally mandated commission, told The Associated Press. I think that there is a sense that Iran is increasingly desperate. And when we know authoritarian theocracies are desperate, they often turn to very, very extreme acts.

The Mizan news agency of Irans judiciary confirmed the executions, describing the two men as having insulted Islams founder Muhammad and promoted atheism. Mizan also accused them of burning a Quran, though it wasnt clear whether the men allegedly did that or such imagery was shared in the Telegram channel.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, who leads Iran Human Rights, decried the executions as exposing the medieval nature of Irans theocracy.

The international community must show with its reaction that executions for expressing an opinion is intolerable, he said in a statement. The refusal of the international community to react decisively is a green light for the Iranian government and all their like-minded people around the world.

It wasnt immediately clear when Iran carried out its last execution for blasphemy. Other countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, also allow for death sentences to be imposed for blasphemy.

The streak of executions, including members of ethnic minority groups in Iran, comes as monthslong protests over the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the countrys morality police have cooled. Already, at least four people charged over alleged crimes from the demonstrations have been put to death. The protests, which reportedly saw over 500 people killed and 19,000 others arrested, marked one of the biggest challenges to Irans theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Kleinbaum called on the White House to condemn the execution and further sanction Iran, as well as push for Russia and China to allow the United Nations Security Council to refer Tehran to the International Criminal Court.

This level of cruelty indicates that Irans government is desperate to maintain power through force, and we condemn it, she said.

State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington that the United States condemned the executions. These latest executions are a grave reminder of the Iranian regimes penchant for abusing and violating the human rights of the Iranian people, he said.

In 2022, Iran executed at least 582 people, up from 333 people in 2021, according to Iran Human Rights. Amnesty Internationals most-recent report on executions put Iran as the worlds second-largest executioner, behind only China, where thousands are believed to be put to death a year.

While some executions are publicized, others are not in Iran.

Many have been for drug-related offenses, but there also have been executions of a British-Iranian accused of spying and another of a Swedish-Iranian convicted of masterminding a 2018 attack on a military parade that killed at least 25.

A GermanIranian who lives in California, Jamshid Sharmahd, also faces a looming execution as tensions remain high between Tehran and the West over its accelerating nuclear program. The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he spoke Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian about Sharmahd and asked Iran not to execute him.
Ireland, Once a Magical Place, Is Fast Becoming a Monstrous One

Commentary

I was born and raised in the west of Ireland. I have fond memories of long evenings playing in the fields, weekend getaways to places such as Clare, Cork, and Donegal. I also have fond memories of watching my parents laugh with the neighbors, looking on as they engaged in some good old Irish banter. Sadly, though, those days are long gone. Banter is no longer permissible. Speech is no longer free. Im no longer a proud Irish citizen. Heres why.

Today, the term Orwellian gets thrown around recklessly, with an increasing number of individuals using it to refer to something that they dont particularly like. However, Orwell used the term in a very specific manner. It describes a political system that sees a government attempt to control every aspect of citizens lives, including the language they use.

Which brings us on to the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offenses) Bill 2022, the Irish governments latest attempt to silence free speech. The bill, extreme in nature, will make it a criminal offense to deny or dismiss the Holocaust. Moreover, the bill seeks to amend the law relating to the prohibition of incitement to violence or hatred against a person, or a group of persons, on account of certain characteristics of the person, or the group.

The bill also seeks to protect individuals who dont subscribe to more traditional gender roles. Worryingly, the bills definition of gender goes as follows:

The gender which a person expresses as the persons preferred gender, or with which the person identifies, and includes transgender, and a gender other than those of male and female.

The inclusion of the Holocaust and gender protections in the same bill might strike some as oddand it should. In many ways, the bill, erratic in nature, is a reflection of the Irish government. Its a mess. Although the vast majority of Irish citizens vehemently oppose the legislation, the government looks likely to plow ahead anyway.

Ireland, once a magical place, is fast becoming a monstrous one. This, perhaps, explains why very few Irish people actually live in Ireland anymore. In 2019, the number of people leaving Ireland overtook the number of people returning. Last year, rather staggeringly, due to the number of foreigners entering the country, the Irish population reached a record high of 5.10 million. This year, the Irish government has taken in over 75,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraineand were not even halfway through 2023.

Now, before Im accused of being a racist, xenophobic, or something equally horrific, let me state the following: Any government that chooses to take in tens of thousands of foreigners should only do so if it has its own house in order. In other words, take care of your own citizens first. Then, and only then, consider opening the door to outsiders.

Instead, the Irish government, never known for doing things the easy way, opted to open the door to foreigners after closing the door on its own citizens. Now, because of its shortsightedness, the Irish government has backed the country into an entirely avoidable corner. Ireland is in the midst of an absolutely devastating housing crisis. In short, there simply isnt enough accommodation available to house the number of refugees continuing to enter the country. To compound matters, there isnt enough accommodation available for Irish citizens either.

As two well-respected academics, Padraic Kenna and Mark Jordan, recently noted, the struggle to afford accommodation in Ireland has been many years in the making. Due to multiple decades of dire policies and disastrous leadership, Irelands property strings are now being pulled by a handful of incredibly powerful individuals and organizations.

To make matters worse, the housing crisis has created a homelessness crisis. In fact, homelessness levels are at an all-time high. Many of those now classed as homeless, according to the academics, were evicted from the private rented sector and have been unable to find affordable housing again. Instead of helping Irish citizens get off the streets, the Irish government continues to pump inordinate amounts of money, time, and effort into getting more outsiders to enter the country.

James Joyce, arguably Irelands greatest-ever writer, famously referred to his homeland as an old sow that devours her farrow. Looking at the state of Ireland today, its difficult to disagree with the statement.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
It Was My Fathers First Instinct to Believe the CIA Killed JFK: Robert Kennedy Jr.

Robert Kennedy Jr. attends the "Anthropocene: The Human Epoch" Premiere during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at Temple Theater in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 25, 2019. (Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, said his fathers first reaction to the news of the 35th presidents assassination was to question the CIA about its potential involvement.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, Kennedy recalled the day his uncle was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. He said the first call his father, Robert F. Kennedywho was the U.S. Attorney General at the timemade was to a CIA desk officer in Langley, Virginia, to ask, Did your people do this?

Kennedy said his next call was to Enrique Ruiz-Williams, who was one of the Cuban leaders involved in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, which was organized by the CIA. Kennedy said his father also called then-CIA Director John McCone to pose the same question: Was it our people who did this to my brother?

This is not the first time this week Kennedy, who is now running for president as a Democrat, publicly alleged CIA involvement in his uncles assassination. In an interview with John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AMs Cats Roundtable on Sunday, Kennedy said, There is overwhelming evidence that the CIA was involved in his murder. I think its beyond a reasonable doubt at this point.

Kennedy doubled down on the accusation during his Fox News appearance on Monday and said his views aligned with those of his father, who was assassinated five years after his uncle on June 6, 1968.

It was my fathers first instinct that the agency had killed his brother, Kennedy told Hannity.

JFK Assassination Controversy

The JFK assassination has been the subject of decades of speculation and theorizing, including claims that the CIA, then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, the mafia, agents of the Soviet Union, or a combination of organizations played a role.

The federal government concluded in its Warren Commission Report that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin and that he acted alone.

Oswald was arrested about two hours after the JFK assassination. Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later. Ruby, who was an alleged Chicago mob associate, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Ruby appealed the sentence and was scheduled to get a new trial in February of 1967 but was diagnosed with lung cancer and died of a pulmonary embolism on Jan. 3 of that year.

During his Fox News interview on Monday, Kennedy cast doubt on the Warren Commission findings, noting that former CIA Director Allen Dulles had been on the commission. JFK had replaced Dulles a few months after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.

The Warren Commission was run by Allen Dulles, who was the head of the CIA, whom my uncle fired, Kennedy said. And then [he] insinuated himself onto the Warren Commission and essentially ran the Warren Commission and kept this evidence from the Warren Commissioners.

Kennedy noted subsequent congressional investigations of the JFK assassination conflicted with the Warren Commission conclusions and raised the possibility of a broader assassination conspiracy.

The CIA has long denied any involvement in the JFK assassination. A 2001 article (pdf) shared by the agency credits Orleans Parish, Louisiana District Attorney Jim Garrison with mainstreaming the idea of CIA and government involvement in the assassination and argues Garrisons theories were themselves fed by Soviet-linked publications spreading disinformation. The 2001 article said unfounded assertions of CIA complicity were bolstered inadvertently by subsequent congressional investigations.

In 2014, the CIA decided to declassify a report by CIA historian David Robarge, which alleges McConeDulless replacement as the head of the CIAwithheld information from the Warren Commission as part of a benign cover-up. Robarges report states this cover-up was meant to keep the Warren Commission from learning more about the CIAs activities in Cuba, including its plans to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro with the help of the Mafia.

The CIA told Politico that it released Robarges report to highlight misconceptions about the CIAs connection to JFKs assassination, and show that the CIAs withholding of information from the Warren Commission was not meant to conceal an agency link to the presidents assassination.

NTD News reached out to the CIA for further comment, but did not receive a response by the time this article was published.

From NTD News
Japan Considers Requiring EV Makers to Disclose Carbon Emissions For Battery Production: Report

A charging device for a Nissan Leaf vehicle is seen in Melbourne, Australia, on July 11, 2019. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Japan is planning to make carbon footprint declaration mandatory for electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, following the lead of the European Union, Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is looking to implement the rule in 2024, the same year that the EU will begin requiring battery manufacturers to disclose their carbon emissions.

EV makers in Japan will be required to disclose the amount of carbon dioxide emitted when producing batteries for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids if the plan goes ahead, according to the report.

The report states that the rule will help to determine companies subsidy eligibility. Japan intends to make the carbon footprint data available to consumers and establish a third-party body to validate the data.

This follows Japans announcement earlier this year of subsidies for companies to develop lithium-ion battery production facilities in the country as part of the governments effort to secure the countrys battery supply chain.

EVs generate less carbon than gasoline cars, but manufacturing lithium-ion batteries used in EVs is more material-intensive than combustion engines, Yang Shao-Horn, a mechanical engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in a report last year.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.s Universal Powertrain Mounting System with a two-layer pallet structure, compatible with EV, e-POWER (HV), and gasoline vehicles is pictured in Kawachi-gun, in Tochigi prefecture, Japan, on Oct. 8, 2021. (Maki Shiraki/Reuters)

Currently, most lithium is extracted from hard rock mines or underground brine reservoirs, and much of the energy used to extract and process it comes from CO2-emitting fossil fuels. Particularly in hard rock mining, for every tonne of mined lithium, 15 tonnes of CO2 are emitted into the air, the report reads.

To synthesize the materials needed for production, heat between 800 to 1,000 degrees celsius is neededa temperature that can only cost-effectively be reached by burning fossil fuels, which again adds to CO2 emissions, Yang said.

Yang said the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the lengthy process of making a battery differs based on the materials used, how they are sourced, and what energy sources are used in manufacturing.

The vast majority of lithium-ion batteriesabout 77 percent of the worlds supplyare manufactured in China, where coal is the primary energy source. (Coal emits roughly twice the amount of greenhouse gases as natural gas, another fossil fuel that can be used in high-heat manufacturing), the professor said.

The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that this uptick in EV adoption and increased demand for lithium batteries presents a significant environmental challenge.

As demand for lithium increases and production is tapped from deeper rock mines and brines, the challenges of mitigating environmental risk will increase, UNCTAD states.

US-Japan Trade Deal

In March, Japan struck a trade deal with the United States on EV battery minerals to strengthen their battery supply chains. The deal will grant Japanese automakers wider access to a new $7,500 U.S. EV tax credit.

The agreement prohibits the two countries from enacting bilateral export restrictions on the minerals most critical for EV batteries, according to senior Biden administration officials. The minerals include lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese.

The deal also aims to reduce U.S.-Japanese dependence on China for such materials by requiring collaboration to combat non-market policies and practices of other countries in the sector and on conducting investment reviews of foreign investments in their critical minerals supply chains.

As the demand for electric vehicle batteries is expected to grow significantly, securing important minerals essential for their production is an urgent issue, Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters.

Katie Spence and Reuters contributed to this report.
Jim Jordan Presses Alphabet on Subpoena Compliance Related to Censorship Collusion Concerns

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, attends the committee's "Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan" field hearing at Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter on May 8 to Alphabetthe corporate parent of Google and YouTubestating that the company has not fully complied with a subpoena that the committee issued in early mid-February and demanding that it turn over all the information the subpoena ordered in relation to censorship concerns.

The committee sent subpoenas to the CEOs of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Twitter as part of a probe the committee is conducting into communications between the tech companies and the Biden administration to determine if they colluded with the White House in censoring and blocking the release of information that should be protected under the Constitution yet was detrimental to the administration.

Jordan cites in the letter that Alphabet flouted the subpoena by sending redacted documents to the Judiciary Committee and holding back other information.

Jordan set a deadline of May 22 for Alphabet to produce the documents demanded in the subpoena. Alphabet could face a contempt of Congress charge if it fails to provide the information by the deadline.

Alphabet has produced just 4,049 pages of material in response to the Committees subpoena, wrote Jordan in the letter. Moreover, despite explicit instructions enclosed with the subpoena to produce unredacted documents, Alphabet has frustrated the Committees review of the responsive material by unilaterally redacting key information necessary to understand the context and content of the material.

These redactions do not appear to be based on any applicable privilege because Alphabet has asserted noneand the Committee requires this material to be produced without redactions.

A Google spokesperson issued The Epoch Times a comment on Jordans letter, saying: Since December, we have been producing relevant documents in response to the committees requests and will continue to work constructively with them. 

Probing Claims of Big Tech Collusion

Jordan has been stewarding the effort of the Judiciary Committee looking into whether, at the request of the Biden administration, Big Tech squelched and banned lawful speech.

Information that Republicans allege that the tech power players helped in blocking, including data and findings related to the origin of COVID-19 that were at odds with the narrative that Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden pushed, and also ties that then Vice President Biden may have had to shady business dealings of his son Hunter Biden.

President Joe Biden with son Hunter Biden arrives at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan began to put pressure on the tech companies back in December after the GOP took back the House in the 2022 midterm elections but prior to the next Congress being seated in January.

On Dec. 14, as Jordan, a lawmaker who is known to be tenacious and blunt, readied himself to soon take on the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, he sent letters to the CEOs of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, voicing concern that they worked with the Biden administration to suppress the exercise of the First Amendment.

Big Tech is out to get conservatives, and is increasingly willing to undermine First Amendment values by complying with the Biden Administrations directives that suppress freedom of speech online, Jordan wrote in his Dec. 14 letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

This approach undermines fundamental American principles and allows powerful government actors to silence political opponents and stifle opposing viewpoints. Publicly available information suggests that your companys treatment of certain speakers and content may stem from government directives or guidance designed to suppress dissenting views, he wrote.
OTTAWA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Canada on Monday strongly condemned Canada for asking one Chinese consular official to leave Canada.

According to a news release from the Chinese embassy, the Canadian side blatantly declared one consular official from the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto persona non grata based on rumors of the so-called "China Interference" hyped up by some politicians and media.

It said that this has seriously violated international law, basic norms governing international relations and the related bilateral agreements, and sabotaged the China-Canada relations, and that the Chinese side strongly condemns and firmly opposes this, and has lodged stern protest with the Canadian side.

"The Chinese side will take resolute countermeasures and all consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the Canadian side," the release said.

China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, the Chinese embassy said. The so-called "China Interference" is totally groundless, which is the out-and-out smear of China and the political manipulation driven by ideological bias. Such provocations by the Canadian side have severely undermined the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel.

It must be pointed out that Chinese diplomatic and consular personnel to Canada always perform their duties in accordance with related international conventions and bilateral agreements. Instead of protecting China's diplomatic and consular personnel's legitimate rights, the Canadian side has chosen to condone and echo the anti-China forces' hype-up and conduct extreme actions against a Chinese consular official. China does not accept this completely, it said.

"We urge the Canadian side to step back from the brink and refrain from moving further down the wrong path," the release said. "If the Canadian side acts wantonly and arbitrarily, it will be met with China's resolute and strong reactions." 
Judge Fast-Tracks Hearing on Kari Lakes Final Election Challenge

Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake addresses the media outside the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona, on Dec. 22, following two days of testimony in a civil case she filed seeking to overturn the Nov. 8 general election. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

A Maricopa County judge on Monday scheduled oral arguments for Friday about whether or not to hold a trial on a claim made in GOP candidate Kari Lakes lawsuit that contests the 2022 midterm election results.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson on Monday directed attorneys for both parties to file arguments this week to debate in court on Friday, May 12.

In March, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Lake, a former broadcast journalist for a Fox affiliate station, should receive new consideration on one of several election-related claims. The legal claim that was allowed to proceed alleged that Maricopa County erred in its signature verification process during the November election.

Previously, Thompson dismissed the signature verification claim due to a legal doctrine that prevents delayed lawsuits and bars challenges to election procedures after an election was conducted. A two-day trial that was held in late December resulted in Thompson dismissing Lakes entire election lawsuit, saying that her team didnt provide enough evidence.

Thompson also stated that a three-day trial could start May 17 if needed, reported the Arizona Republic. But if the remaining count is dismissed, no trial would be held.

Lake, a rising star in the Republican Party and supporter of former President Donald Trump, has claimed that the November election was fraught with problemsnamely in Maricopa County. She has pointed to ballot printer problems that resulted in long Election Day lines that she claims led to the disenfranchisement of Republican voters in the county, while Maricopa officials have dismissed her allegations.

Following a March Arizona Supreme Court ruling, Stephen Richer, the countys recorder, stood by behind how he and the county handled the midterm election.

Since the 2020 general election, Maricopa County has won over 20 lawsuits challenging the fairness, accuracy, legality, and impartiality of its election administration, he said in a statement at the time. This case will be no different, and will simply add another mark to Lakes impressively long losing streak.

And last week, the Arizona Supreme Court ordered Lakes lawyers to pay a $2,000 fine for making allegedly unequivocally false claims connected to 35,000 ballots that were injected into the final Maricopa County results. In the same ruling, the high court ordered a hearing in connection to the signature verification issue.

Lakes attorneys said the chain of custody for ballots was broken at an off-site facility where a contractor scans mail-in ballots to prepare them for processing. The lawyers asserted that workers put their own mail-in ballots into the pile rather than returning them through normal channels, and that paperwork documenting ballot transfers was missing. Maricopa County disputes the claims.

Not only is that allegation strongly disputed by the other parties, this Court concluded and expressly stated that the assertion was unsupported by the record, and nothing in Lakes Motion for Leave to file a motion for reconsideration provides reason to revisit that issue, the order said, rebutting their arguments

Although Lake may have permissibly argued that an inference could be made that some ballots were added, there is no evidence that 35,563 ballots were and, more to the point here, this was certainly disputed by the Respondents, it added. The representation that this was an undisputed fact is therefore unequivocally false.

An attorney for Lake, Kurt Olsen, disputed the $2,000 fine. We respectfully disagree with the Courts holding but look forward to presenting our case at trial, Olsen told the news website Axios, referring to the upcoming trial.

In response to the court ruling last week, Lake suggested that the main story was that the challenge to signature verification in procedures on early ballots can be probed.

The Kari Lake War Room Twitter wrote that the medias narrative is about (minor) sanctions over a semantic dispute and not Karis huge victory, adding: The Arizona Supreme Court has given us the go ahead to start our investigation of the signature verification process. We will expose Maricopa Countys House of Cards.

Future?

Last month, Lake suggested that she may pursue another election campaign and signaled that she may aim for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). Sinema has not publicly announced her reelection campaign but recently told media outlets that she wouldnt join the Republican Party, coming months after she left the Democrats.

People keep asking me about my future. But I am laser-focused on seeing my court case through to the end. Thats my present. As for the future? I can promise you that Im not stepping out of the political arena anytime soon. Not until I put the people of Arizona First, she wrote on Twitter several weeks ago.

But in an interview with OANN, Lake told the network that she is seriously considering a run for Senate, yes absolutely. She added, Just because they stole an election  were so dangerous to them, Im so dangerous to the status quo and this rotten swamp that theyre willing to steal an election to stop me and our movement. Im not letting them get away with that. Were not going away.

Lake has claimed that internal polls show that she would defeat Sinema and the Democrat challenger, Rep. Reuben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
Locals Fear Refugee Barge Will Impact Tourism and Income: Dorset Campaigner

Dorchester mum Julie Croley, who is leading a campaign against the asylum seeker barge accommodation, said residents' concerns are not 'far right.'

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge arrives into Falmouth docks, Cornwall, to undergo inspection on May 9, 2023. (Matt Keeble/PA Media)

A leading campaigner against the governments plan to moor a barge housing 500 refugees off a small English isle says the area has been let down by the government.

Julie Croley said concerns from residents in the coastal areas of Portland and Weymouth are being completely ignored by officials.

The 58-year-old from nearby Dorchester is behind a recent leafleting campaign urging locals to convince the country that Dorset is not tolerating the government dictating to us.

The flyers, titled Stop The Invasion, also state that local MP Richard Drax, Dorset Council, and local residents were not consulted before this decision.

Croley spoke to The Epoch Times on Tuesday as the Bibby Stockholm barge arrived in UK waters.

The 222-bedroom, three-storey vessel will stop in Falmouth, Cornwall, where it will undergo inspection and refitting.

It is expected to move to its final position in Portland Port off Dorsets coastal town of Weymouth in the coming weeks.

It was reported on Tuesday that the port had looked to deter far-right demonstrationswhich are expected in protest at the barges presencefrom targeting the arrival of tourists coming into the area on cruise ships.

The Times of London said the south-Dorset harbour usually advertises the arrival and departure dates on its website of the 40 or more cruises set to dock at the port during the year.

But the newspaper said that, following criticism of its plans to allow the Bibby Stockholm to moor in its waters, the ports website removed the dates.

The port said it expects around 130,000 tourists to arrive in the harbour over the coming months.

Tourism Fear

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Croley said she wasnt aware of any far-right protests due to take place at Portland Port.

I am being asked by a few residents to arrange a protest and many say they will show up. [But] I wont be arranging a protest: I believe the majority have to protest, or it will be futile, she said.

The campaigner said concerns from residents in the area were in no way far-right, but instead were centred primarily on the impact the presence of the barge may have on tourism and income.

Were on the Jurassic Coast [World Heritage Site], Weymouth and Portland is inundated by tourists, hundreds of thousands every year come down here, Croley said.

A lot of us feel that the nationwide publicity surrounding the barge would affect tourism hugely so, therefore, income would be affected.

The 58-year-old said there were also concerns surrounding the screening of the migrantswho will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm for a period of up to 18 months.

This is not about race, creed, or colour, she said.

There was no consultation in the area for anybody, the council is saying they didnt know.

I would say maybe two percent of people are not against it. We feel like we arent being listened to, and we feel let down.

Stand Up To Racism, a UK-wide activist group with a chapter based in Dorset, says it plans to hold a solidarity march and protest at the port this week.

A social media post from the groupwhich states it welcomes refugees but is against the prison barge profiteering from asylum seekerssays the demonstration will take place on Saturday, May 13.

The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge arrives into Falmouth, Cornwall, to undergo inspection on May 9, 2023. (PA Media)

Fingerprints Recorded

In a statement released last week, Portland Port chief executive Bill Reeves moved to ease locals fears.

Acknowledging genuine concerns, he said asylum seekers will have their fingerprints and identities recorded by the Home Office before going aboard.

Migrants will also receive health screening for medical conditions, Reeves said.

A Multi-Agency Forum (MAF) has also been established locally involving government agencies, police, and emergency services.

Reeves said the Home Office is working closely with Dorset Police to ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place.

Discussions were also taking place with the NHS about the potential range of on-site medical facilities to help mitigate the impact on local health services, the statement said.

Communal recreational and exercise facilities would be made available for asylum seekers, with the Home Office in talks with the local voluntary and community sector about providing activities, including English language training.

Reeves, who said he did not believe there would be any impact on tourism, added that housing the migrants was the right thing to do.

There is a strong incentive for the refugees to be law-abiding because they are in the latter stages of their asylum assessment, he said.

They have no greater ambition than to be accepted in the UK after fleeing sometimes horrific situations.

Criticism

Last month, MP Richard Drax criticised the Home Office on its asylum seeker barge plans for Dorset.

He said the council, community, and local authorities had not been consulted before the vessel accommodation was imposed on us.

He said that Home Secretary Suella Braverman revealed in a written answer to Drax that migrants living on the self-contained site  would be free to come and go.

If an asylum seeker were not back on site by 11 p.m., the team would make a call to check on their welfare.

This would not be under curfew conditions; it would be based on following up on the safety and welfare of the individual, Braverman said.

Drax said the reason residents were objecting is simply that we do not have the resources to cope with this.

Addressing the Minister for Immigration, Robert Jenrick, Drax said: The Minister is putting a potential landmine into a highly restricted port, where young men will be trapped in a barge for many hours a day, with a few being let off God knows where.

Where are they going to go, Minister? What are they going to do? What happens if they do not come backa telephone call?

I hardly think that that is going to work. It is just totally impractical, and the health services cannot provide the resources.

Drax added: These are the sort of questions that should have been asked before the decision was made to put this boat, or barge, in the port.

Minister of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick delivers a speech on sovereign borders in an age of mass migration at the Policy Exchange in central London, England on April 25, 2023. (Jordan Pettitt/PA Media)

Extra Policing Call

In a statement to The Epoch Times over the decision to remove cruise ship arrival times from its website, a Portland Port spokesman said: All cruise calls are proceeding as normal at Portland Port but arrivals and departures are subject to change, as they are at any port.

Therefore, it is best to contact the cruise line involved for the most up-to-date information.

The barge is part of a series of schemes devised by the UK government and aimed at moving asylum seekers away from costly hotel accommodation.

The Home Office says asylum-seeker hotels cost the British public 6 million a day.

However, the leader of Dorset Council and the countys police and crime commissioner (PCC) have voiced concerns about the ports decision to allow the barge to dock.

PCC David Sidwick last week called for funding talks with Braverman for the extra policing that will be required when the vessel arrives.

It comes after more small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel arrived at Dover, Kent, on bank holiday Monday.

A group of people were pictured on the docks after being rescued by a Border Force vessel.

The Home Office has not yet declared how many arrived on Monday, but Saturday saw 135 people arrive on three detected boats, with a further three carrying 134 coming across the strait on Sunday.

At least 6,500 migrants have arrived via the unauthorised route this year.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Man Killed Near Marina del Rey in Suspected Road Rage Shooting

LOS ANGELESA man was fatally shot May 8 just outside of Marina del Rey in what may have been a case of road rage, and the gunman remained at large.

The shooting was reported about 12:15 p.m. at Lincoln Boulevard and Maxella Avenue, near the terminus of the Marina (90) Freeway, and the victim died at the scene, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported.

The westbound Marina 90 Freeway was closed in the area while an investigation was conducted, with police saying two drivers may have gotten into some type of road rage confrontation on the freeway, eventually exiting the freeway and stopping at Lincoln and Maxella, where one apparently got out of his vehicle and shot the other before driving away, police said.

It does appear at this time that this incident could have a road rage nexus, LAPD Capt. Michael Applegate told reporters at the scene.

Police said the gunman was last seen driving away north on Lincoln Boulevard in a four-door black vehicle, possibly a Kia.

The 90 Freeway was reopened by mid-afternoon, but a stretch of Lincoln Boulevard was blocked to accommodate the investigation.
Met Police Expresses Regrets Over 6 Coronation Arrests

Graham Smith, leader of campaign group Republic, attends an anti-monarchy protest prior to the Commonwealth Service, outside Westminster Abbey in London, on March 13, 2023. (May James/Reuters)

Scotland Yard has expressed regret that six people, who were arrested on May 6, were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square.

The police issued an updated statement on May 8, confirming that the bail for six people had been cancelled and no further action will be taken.

The six protesters were arrested on the day of the coronation, as part of a policing operation that saw a total of 64 arrests made. Scotland Yard said it was prompted by concerns people were going to disrupt the event and to prevent a breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

The Metropolitan Police, acting under the newly passed Public Order Act, said they had reasonable grounds to believe the six were arrested for possession of lock-on devices.

However, the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use the seized items to lock on and disrupt the event.

The arrested stated that the items would be used to secure placards, the police added.

Crowds gather outside of Buckingham Palace at the conclusion of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London on May 6, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Apology Not Accepted

Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, has called for an inquiry into police actions.

Smith, who was among those arrested, took to Twitter on May 8 to say Met police officers visited him on Monday evening to apologise.

This evening three Met police officers visited my home to hand back my phone and the luggage straps. They apologised while wearing a body cam. I made it clear the apology is not accepted as we will be taking further action, Smith said.

He called the events a disgraceful episode and confirmed he will be speaking to lawyers about taking legal action.

I also expect a full inquiry into why they repeatedly lied to us and who authorised the arrests, the Republic chief said.

Republic has argued in an official statement that the arrests have destroyed whatever trust might have existed between peaceful protesters and the Metropolitan Police.

What is the point in being open and candid with the police, working with their liaison officers and meeting senior commanders, if all their promises and undertakings turn out to be a lie? the organisation said.

The anti-monarchists have argued that the arrests were not about protecting people from harm, but about protecting the King from embarrassment.

The Met Police said they had received information that protesters were determined to disrupt the coronation procession.

It was not our intention to prevent protest and whilst the vast masses of the crowd were there to celebrate, it is very clear a number of protests took place across the footprint both before, during and after the event with no police intervention. Any suggestion all protest was prohibited is not correct, the Met said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended Scotland Yard ensuring that the coronation weekend had gone so well, so successfully, and so safely.

He told broadcasters at a Big Help Out volunteering event in Hertfordshire, The police are operationally independent of government, theyll make these decisions based on what they think is best.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on May 6 to witness the coronation of King Charles III. Ahead of the coronation, the government gave the green light to the Public Order Bill, under which the police were given extended stop and search powers.

Britain has faced a number of protests in recent years, staged by climate activists such as Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, and Insulate Britain, some of which have resulted in the blocking of main roads and motorways across the UK.
Military: Contractor Error Caused Hawaii Toxic Foam Spill

Rear Adm. John Korka, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), and Chief of Civil Engineers, leads Navy and civilian water quality recovery experts through the tunnels of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 23, 2021. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Luke McCall/U.S. Navy via AP)

HONOLULUAn investigation found that a spill of about 1,300 gallons of fire suppressant at a fuel facility in Hawaii was caused by a maintenance contractor improperly installing an air vacuum valve, U.S. military officials said Friday.

Aqueous Film Forming Foam, which is used to suppress fires caused by flammable liquids, contain PFAS, a class of chemicals that are slow to degrade in the environment.

The firefighting foam liquid concentrate was spilled in November at the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor. The concentrate pooled on the floor inside the facility and then seeped under a door and onto a paved access road and soil, the military said.

The contractor improperly installed an air vacuum valve to the foam system in April 2022, the military said in a statement. The individual also failed to disable the foam concentrate pumps from automatically starting prior to conducting fire suppression system testing on Nov. 29, 2022, which cause the uncontrolled discharge.

The statement said, stricter safeguards and more assertive Navy oversight should have been in place to reduce the risk of this type of mishap.

In 2021, jet fuel spilled from a drain line at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. It flowed into a drinking water well and then into the Navys water system, which serves 93,000 people in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Nearly 6,000 people sought medical attention, complaining of ailments such as nausea, headaches and sores. The military put about 4,000 families in hotels for several months.

The spills have contributed to distrust of the military in the community.

Navy Vice Adm. John Wade apologized at a news conference announcing the findings of the investigation into the firefighting foam spill, Hawaii News Now reported.

Navy groundwater monitoring sample results in the affected area after the November spill showed no exceedances of PFAS based on state and federal screening levels, the military said.

PFASan abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substanceswere developed as coatings to protect consumer goods from stains, water and corrosion. Studies of lab animals given large amounts of PFAS have found that some of the chemicals may affect growth and development, reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system and the liver.
National Police Association Joins Others in Suing for Nashville Shooters Manifesto

A young girl moves toward the items left in front of the photo of Hallie Scruggs, one of three nine-year-olds killed along with school staff at The Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27. (Chase Smith/The Epoch Times)

The National Police Association (NPA) has joined the groups suing the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for all records related to the March 27 shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville.

We have asked for any manifestos, emails, and any communications related to the case, Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, told The Epoch Times.

Tennessee resident Clata Renee Brewer working with the NPA, filed the lawsuit on May 5. Theirs is at least the second lawsuit filed over the shooting.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) reportedly has a manifesto and other writings by the woman who killed three children and three adults during the March 27 shooting.

The police department has waffled on releasing the documents. Shortly after the crime, the police indicated the writings would be released. Then the department claimed that the writings would be held as part of an ongoing investigation, even though no criminal charges were expected to be filed since the police had killed the shooter on the day of the shooting.

This image shows bodycam footage of police responding to an active shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023. The former student who shot through the doors of the Christian elementary school and killed three children and three adults had drawn a detailed school map. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department via AP)

On May 1, the Tennessee Firearms Association filed a lawsuit against MNPD over a previously denied public records request for the Hale documents to be released. Then, MNPD claimed its lawyers had advised withholding the writings because a lawsuit had been filed.

In its lawsuit, combined with the TFA action, the NPA claims the police department has a history of finding creative ways to avoid releasing public records.

Metro Police Department has a demonstrated history of willfully failing to comply with the Public Records Act by creating its own policies and procedures directly contrary to the Public Records Act, the lawsuit reads.

Brantner Smith said the request would do more than require a local agency to comply with its states Public Records Act. She said the writings could contain essential information that could be used to address or prevent future shootings more quickly. With rumors that the FBI may have taken the writings, Brantner Smith said the lawsuit could clarify if and why a federal agency got involved.

All Communications Requested

We believe that American law enforcement deserves to know, and the American people deserve to know, she said.

That is why the NPA has asked for all emails, letters, and any other communications related to the writings and the writings themselves.

We believe it will help law enforcement deal with these situations better, Brantner Smith said.

The combined lawsuits ask the court to order MNPD to turn over the requested records and pay all the attorney fees.
Navy Veteran Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

A Navy veteran has been sentenced to four additional years in prison for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Justice announced.

Virginia resident Hatchet Speed was sentenced on May 8 in the District of Columbia by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee.

The 42-year-old was convicted on misdemeanor charges for obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Additionally, McFadden sentenced Speed to three years of supervised release once his prison term is over. He must also pay a $10,000 fine plus $2,000 in restitution.

In April, in an unrelated case, U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff sentenced Speed to three years in prison for three counts of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm silencer.

Speed will serve the latest four-year sentence after he completes the three-year term for the unlawful possession offense.

According to court documents (pdf), Speed was a petty officer first class in the U.S. Naval Reserves and was assigned to the Naval Warfare Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office, part of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

More recently, he was employed as a software developer and technical lead for Vienna-based defense contractor, Novetta Solutions LLC, which conducts advanced analytics for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and numerous other federal agencies.

Protesters gather at the police line on the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Special to The Epoch Times)

Speed Enters Capitol

In other court documents (pdf), prosecutors said that Speed drove to Washington, D.C. from his home in Vienna on Jan. 6 and attended the Stop the Steal rally at the Ellipse, where President Donald Trump addressed his supporters.

After leaving the rally, Speed joined some members of the Proud Boys group, of which he had allegedly been a member since June 2020, in marching to the Capitol, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Speed was wearing a tactical backpack and a Make America Great Again hat when he approached the Capitol from the west, walking past downed fencing and bike racks pushed aside.

Speed arrived at the West Plaza at 1:30 p.m. in an area where a brutal battle between rioters and a vastly outnumbered police force was underway, prosecutors said, noting that Speed was hit with tear gas when he arrived in the area.

Approximately an hour later, Speed made his way under a tarp, through scaffolding erected for the inauguration, and to a staircase leading to the Northwest Courtyard, closer to the Capitol, prosecutors said. Nearby, rioters climbed on the banister and stood in decorative pots. He knew the staircase was off limits. He arrived at the Northwest Courtyard, where he saw rioters commandeer a window-washing platform, ascend to an upper-level window, and try to break in. He also stood at the base of a small staircase and watched another rioter use a large crowbar to bash through the window of the door at the top.

Prosecutors said that once that door was opened, Capitol Police rushed forward to defend the doorway but rioters rushed the stairs and overtook them.

A Capitol Police security camera captures the breach of barricades on the Capitols east side on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. Department of Justice/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Ballot Validations A Betrayal

Once he reached the Northwest Courtyard, prosecutors said that Speed heard that Vice President Mike Pence had validated certain ballots he considered invalid and that he viewed the validation as a betrayal.

At around 3 p.m., Speed then entered the building through a glass-paned emergency-exit door to the Senate wing of the Capitol that had been shattered after other rioters breached it.

He remained inside the Capitol for roughly 40 minutes before exiting the building through a window and walking around the outside of the Capitol building, taking photographs of riot gear-clad police and the inaugural stage, officials said.

Roughly 20 minutes after leaving the Capitol building, Speed was contacted by a military friend who asked him: Are you okay? I heard protesters stormed the capital and someone got shot?? court documents state.

Prosecutors said that Speed responded to the message, writing: We made it to the crypt with sheer force of numbers. Then we heard that the capitol had been evacuated, the vote postponed. So I backed out, but some are still in there, riot cops are streaming in on the south side.

In another message to his military friend, Speed stated that protesters had entered the Capitol building and its surroundings to put pressure on Congress to do the right thing, because if they dont, they wont like what happens next.

Speed was arrested on June 22, 2022, in Virginia.

The Navy said in an emailed statement to NBC News that Speed was not with the National Reconnaissance Office at the time of Jan. 6 and was instead assigned to a reserve unit with the Navy Criminal Investigative Service.

A Navy spokesperson added that Speeds enlistment contract ended in November. He was not in classified spaces due to a loss of his clearance from not complying with the COVID Vaccine mandate, the spokesperson said.

Nearly 1,000 people have been arrested for crimes related to the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. An investigation into the breach remains ongoing.

A lawyer for Speed told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: I am filing an appeal. No further comment at this time due to the ongoing litigation.
New Zealand Prime Minister Cancels Club Dinner Hosted by Pro-China Group

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks during a tree planting ceremony at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 26, 2023. A ceremonial tree planting was held at Parliament to mark the beginning of "He Ra Rakau TitapuKing Charles III Coronation Plantings." (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins canceled his plans to attend a dinner party with a pro-China group last week.

According to the New Zealand online news publication Newsroom, the dinner was hosted by the New Zealand Chinese Business Club (NZCBC) and presented by a major Chinese liquor brand. The NZCBC was founded by former Member of Parliament (MP) Yang Jian, who stepped down from office in 2020. Posters promoting the dinner showed Hipkins and MP Ginny Anderson as guest speakers and the Auckland Business Chamber as co-organizer.

On May 3, four hours after receiving an inquiry from Newsroom, the prime ministers office said Hipkins would not attend the event. He accepted the invitation assuming that the event was hosted by the Auckland Business Chamber.

He accepted on that basis but subsequently is unable to attend. We have informed the chamber, the prime ministers office replied.

According to Newsroom, the Chinese Business Club includes the Australasia Cultural Education Trust, which is a leading disseminator for Beijings official mouthpiece, the Peoples Daily, in New Zealand, and has a partnership with the Chinese Consulate in Auckland and the Chinese Embassy in the capital city of Wellington.

Both the Australian and New Zealand governments are sensitive to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) United Front activities. Canberra and Wellington see the importance of preventing Beijing from gaining commercial and political influence in other countries through overseas Chinese organizations and proxy groups.

Chinas United Front Work Department is an agency responsible for carrying out influence activities abroad.

Yang, a former New Zealand National Party member, was exposed by the media in 2017 as a former lecturer at the CCPs spy institute. He brought the partys leader to China in 2019 to meet with Guo Shengkun, secretary of the CCPs Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and to be interviewed by the Chinese state media.

On the eve of the 2020 New Zealand election, Yang and a pro-CCP MP in the Labor Party, Raymond Huo, announced their retirement from politics due to the intervention of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).

The Newsroom article also reveals that Andrew Kirton, Hipkins chief of staff, was criticized by crown prosecutors from the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office when he appeared as a key witness in a 2022 Auckland High Court case concerning political donations made by a wealthy New Zealand Chinese businessman, Zhang Yikun.

The case involved Zhang and two co-defendants who fraudulently donated to both of New Zealands major political parties, the National Party and the Labour Party.

In the year following his retirement from politics, Yang founded the New Zealand Chinese Business Club. In March 2021, the club was officially launched by former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, and it has hosted many politicians, including former National Party leader Simon Bridges, who is now the CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, at its 2022 event.

Janice Liu contributed to this report.
NIH Renews Controversial Grant to EcoHealth for Coronavirus Bat Study

National Institutes of Health (NIH) officials have re-activated a previously terminated $576,290 federal grant to EcoHealth Alliance to study how outbreaks of deadly viruses like SARS, MERS, and now COVID-19 originate from wildlife and transfer to humans.

The move has prompted one Republican lawmaker to demand that NIH explain the decision he described as absolutely reckless.

Most emerging human viruses come from wildlife, and coronaviruses in particular represent a significant threat to public health and biosecurity in the U.S. and globally, as was demonstrated by the SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 outbreaks, is how the NIH describes the purpose of the renewed grant.

The renewed grant is to be administered through the NIHs National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the research arm headed for several decades by the recently retired Dr. Anthony Fauci. The description was made public by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committees Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

This project seeks to understand what factors allow bat-origin coronaviruses, including close relatives to SARS, to jump into the human population by studying their evolutionary diversity, the patterns of spillover in people that live in high-risk communities, and analyzing characteristics of bat coronaviruses that could allow them to emerge, the grant description continues.

EcoHealth issued a celebratory statement declaring that the NIH decision reflects a reversal of the previous termination and suspension of a [grant] awarded in 2019, but halted in April 2020 due to concerns about continuing collaborative laboratory research with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIH).

Several U.S. agencies and independent scientists have concluded that a leak from within the WIV lab is the most likely source of the COVID-19 pandemic that, to date, has killed more than 1.1 million Americans since January 2020 and in excess of six million people world-wide.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 14, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

EcoHealth defenders, including Fauci, have argued that the most likely origin of the COVID-19 virus is through a transference from bats to humans via sale of the creatures meat in a market near WIH.

The WIH lab has been the scene of extensive gain-of-function research by Chinese scientists, much of it funded in whole or part prior to the pandemic by NIH grants through EcoHealth. The NIH has awarded seven grants totaling more than $4.1 million to EcoHealth to study various aspects of SARS, MERS, and other coronavirus diseases.

Fig. 1. Risky research methodology used by EcoHealth Alliance, WIV, and their collaborators to attempt to create bat vaccines. Theres no way of knowing in advance the pandemic potential of unnatural, chimeric SARS-like viruses created in this workflow.

EcoHealth said in its statement that its agreement with NIH requires researchers to conduct all of their studies outside of China and in conjunction with a Singapore-based health facility, as well as other measures designed to address concerns about the lack of proper safety procedures at WIH and its connection with the Chinese military.

The specific aims have been revised in consultation with NIAID and NIH staff, and respond to any ongoing concerns by removing all on-the-ground work in China and all recombinant virus culture or infection experiments. We have also agreed to all additional oversight mechanisms applied by NIH, EcoHealth said.

The renewed work will involve collaboration only between EcoHealth Alliance and the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, with the following specific aims: (1) identifying high-spillover risk bat SARSr-CoV sequences in southern China and assessing drivers of recombination; (2) conducting community- and clinic-based surveillance of archived pre-COVID-19 human samples to identify SARSr-CoV spillover events, routes of exposure, and potential public health consequences; and (3) characterizing SARSr-CoV binding, ability to evade therapeutics/vaccines, and identifying spillover hotspots, the EcoHealth statement continued.

Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Those revisions may not satisfy congressional critics of NIHs decade of funding for such research by EcoHealth.

Its absolutely reckless that the NIH has renewed a grant for EcoHealth Alliance given their negligence and the breach of their contract with the NIH on the coronavirus research done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It is now believed likely that COVID-19 was the result of a lab incident at the Wuhan Institute, Griffith said in a May 8 statement.

From my observations, EcoHealth Alliance has not been contrite about their failures. And even worse, they have refused to cooperate with Congress in our attempts to get information about the research they were doing at the Wuhan Institute, Griffith said.

Until they can demonstrate a willingness to work with Congress to resolve outstanding questions and fulfill all of the terms of their federal contracts, paid for with American taxpayer dollars, all funding should remain suspended, and no new contracts should be awarded, he said.

Griffith, alongside House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Subcommittee on Health Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), pushed NIH in an April 25, 2022, letter to Acting Director Lawrence Tabak to investigate EcoHealth President Peter Daszak for multiple alleged failures to comply with federal grant regulations and stipulations.

Peter Daszak, right, the president of the EcoHealth Alliance, is seen in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Our review of EcoHealth Alliances reports about its humanized mice experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) using funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows pervasive discrepancies, inconsistencies, and omissions in its progress reports and renewal application that raise serious questions about scientific and ethical misconduct, violations of NIH policies and regulations, and possible false statements and fraud.

A NIH spokesman did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment.
Nome in Alaska Experiences 5th Coldest April Ever

A giant gold pan welcomes visitors to Nome, Alaska, on Sept. 29, 2006. The discovery of gold by Norwegian Jafet Lindeberg and Swedes Erik Lindblom and John Brynteson in 1898 in nearby Anvil Creek led to the founding of Anvil City, later renamed Nome. (Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images)

The Alaskan city of Nome has seen the fifth coldest April on record, with temperatures on April 8 hitting an all-time daily record.

Nome registered an average temperature of 8.4 degrees Fahrenheit in April.

That is 14 degrees below the normal, Rick Thoman, from the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said in an interview with Knom Catholic community radio station. On April 8, Nome airport did get to 30 below, and that tied the all-time record. Temperatures were not as far below normal (during) the second half of the month, so that pulled up the average some. It really was quite a cold April.

However, its not the coldest April that weve ever had; 1985 was significantly colder. The average temperature is only about one degree above zero that month, Thoman pointed out. Back in 1985, the month of April registered an average temperature of just 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Before 1985, the coldest April was in 1924, when the average temperature was 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless youre almost 100 years old now, this (April 2023) was either the second coldest or coldest April that youve lived through, Thoman said.

In an April 13 post at Substack, Thoman wrote that, though April average temperatures have warmed up significantly across most of Alaska in the past five decades, the trend has changed in recent years.

In the past three years, April has seen historical level cold outbreaks in somewhere in Alaska: in 2021, extreme cold April 4-12 was centered over the central and eastern Interior and eastern Gulf of Alaska coast; in 2022 the cold snap was shorter but still locally record-setting, primarily in the western Interior. This April, the record cold has been centered over western Alaska.

Snowfall Record

Snowfall in Nome this winter season has also broken records. Between December and April, the region received around one-third more snowfall than in the same period during 20212022.

Between December of 2021 and the end of April of 2022, there was 6.28 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation thats melted snow. From Dec. 1 of 2022 to the end of April of 2023, there was 9.36 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation, meteorologist Ryan Metzger with the National Weather Service in Fairbanks told Knom.

Other parts of Alaska have also seen record snowfall. In an April 10 interview with Alaska Public Media, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Brettschneider called the cold snap in the western part of the state a historic one.

Nome recorded their lowest April temperature on record, in any year. Kotzebue has set four or five record daily lows. McGrath has, too. Bethel, King Salmon, and Anchorage have set record low high temperature, so coldest high temperaturesand day after day, he said.

So, its been really remarkable the intensity and the duration. For some of these locations, this is the coldest start to any April on record. And these are some long periods of record.

In Nome, the typical chance of rain or snow in April on an average day is around 9 percent. And when it does rain or snow, the region receives 12.5 mm of precipitation on an average day. The wettest month in Nome tends to be August, while April is usually the regions driest month.
BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have conducted a 10-day aerial integrated observation experiment to accurately monitor the quality and condition of black land in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to Tuesday's China Science Daily.

In order to monitor the location, degree, and speed of black land degradation, the researchers carried out sky-ground monitoring on a farm covering 900 square kilometers.

They completed the ground survey of almost 200 quadrats by collecting the scanning images and designed six types of observation quadrats, including black soil, sandy soil, white slurry soil, and meadow soil.

During the observation experiment, black land topography, soil nutrients, soil temperature and humidity, crop properties, and cultivated land quality were diagnosed accurately, facilitated by 15 homemade satellites achieving more than 50 images, according to the report.

Totally 16 organizations, including both the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology and the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, participated in the observation. 
Nonprofit Battling Sex Exploitation Continues Fight in Los Angeles

Women stand in "The Blade" area of Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

As sexual exploitation increases on the streets of Los Angeles after the passing of some recent California laws, a local nonprofit continues to search for women in need of help.

For outreach, consistency is key, After Hours Ministry Executive Director Mari Clark told The Epoch Times. The victims out there need to know that there are people who care, and that there are options for them.

Clark has been working with the organization for five years in an area of South Los Angeles known as The Blade a prostitution hub near the intersection of Figueroa and 69th streets where girls appearing to be as young as 15 prostitute themselves.

The area is teeming with local crime syndicates involved in pimping, and is no stranger to drive-by shootings and axe-wielding mad men, according to Clark.

There were two recent shootings that happened right after we left the area, Clark said. But the situation is getting worse due to the recent legislation changes of the state.

Clark points to the passage of a recent state law that prohibits police from questioning sex workers on the basis of loitering.

With laws changing, the pimps and johns are on The Blade declaring that they own the streets, Clark said. The importance of positive voices for the girls has never been more vital.

Clark and others working for the nonprofit hand out gift bags to girls and women they encounter filled with chapstick, hand sanitizer, mints, condoms, and most importantly, a business card with a telephone number to their hotline.

If called, the nonprofit can refer those in need to counseling, medical help, and even housing.

The nonprofit is also planning to soon provide a mobile drop-in center which would have a bathroom, sink, first aid, clothing, and donations, as well as a space for conversation.

According to the nonprofit, such would be the first of its kind.

At an estimated cost of $40,000, the organization has begun a fundraising effort that will kick off with a gala and silent auction on May 19 in La Mirada, California. On hand will be several women the organization has helped rescue from sexual exploitation.

We have three survivors attending the gala, and it takes such bravery to be open about their experiences, Clark said.

To volunteer, donate, or attend the gala, visit www.afterhoursministry.org
NYC Mayor Begins Busing Illegal Immigrants to Neighboring Communities, Prompting Backlash, Emergency Declarations

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a New York City Police Academy graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York on April 24, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials in two New York counties have denounced Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams for relocating illegal immigrants to their communities and have declared an emergency over the situation.

New York City has become one of a number of receiving points for illegal immigrants being bused from Texas border communities to other parts of the country. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been sending busloads of illegals to other states as a way to alleviate Texass own burden caring for and housing them.

On Friday, Adams announced his own plan to bus them out of New York City and into neighboring communities.

Despite calling on the federal government for a national decompression strategy since last year, and for a decompression strategy across the state, New York City has been left without the necessary support to manage this crisis, Adams said on Friday. With a vacuum of leadership, we are now being forced to undertake our own decompression strategy.

Adamss decompression strategy calls for sending illegal immigrants away from his city to two hotels, located in Orangeburg in Rockland County, and Orange Lake in Orange County respectively. Adamss administration will provide up to four months worth of shelter, food, counseling, and other services at these hotels.

County officials in Rockland and Orange County have both declared emergencies over New York Citys decompression strategy.

As he announced his emergency declaration on Friday, Republican Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he had learned New York City would be relocating 340 adult males to Orangeburg.

This County already has a housing crisis due to the lack thereof and lack of affordable housing options, Day said on Friday. This crisis is so extreme that Rockland has been unprecedently deputized by the State of New York to take over Building and Fire Code enforcement in the Village of Spring Valley. Sending busloads of people to this County that does not have the infrastructure to care for them will only compound that issue tenfold while straining support systems that are already at a breaking point.

The Rockland County emergency declaration prohibits other municipalities from bringing and housing people in the County and bars hotels and motels from housing illegal immigrants without a license. The order also requires any municipalities that may bring illegals into Rockland County to ensure they will fully cover the costs for them.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus announced his own emergency declaration on Monday.

Neuhaus declared that theres no reason to believe that these migrants or asylum seekers will leave Orange County once New York City stops financially supporting their relocation after four months. He also said Orange Countys Department of Social Services has no legal basis to eventually take on responsibility for the arriving illegal immigrants because of their age and immigration status.

Local zoning codes do not allow the use of temporary residence hotels or other temporary residence facilities for use as long-term residential housing and therefore New York Citys transportation of migrants and asylum seekers to Orange County for that purpose is illegal, the Orange County emergency declaration added.

Like Rockland County, the Orange County emergency declaration prohibits hotels, motels, and other short-term rental facilities from taking in illegal immigrants arriving from New York City.

NYCs Sanctuary City Status

Abbotts strategy of busing illegal immigrants away from Texas has targeted self-described sanctuary cities, which are cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities that might arrest or deport illegal immigrants.

While New York City is one such sanctuary city, Adams has criticized Abbott for sending illegal immigrants to his city as well as to Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, and Washington.

Not only is this behavior morally bankrupt and devoid of any concern for the well-being of asylum seekers, but it is also impossible to ignore the fact that Abbott is now targeting five cities run by Black mayors, Adams said of the Texas governors busing strategy. Put plainly, Abbott is using this crisis to hurt Black-run cities.

Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, and Washington are self-described sanctuary cities, just like New York City.

Abbott has said his busing strategy has put a spotlight on the hypocrisy of sanctuary cities when they balk at the prospect of having to actually take in illegals.

Day joined in accusing New York City of hypocrisy for sending them to Rockland County.

We have a situation where the Mayor of New York decided he wanted [to be] a sanctuary [city], and he got it. And now he realized he bit off more than he can chew and he cant handle it, Day told Fox News on Monday.

NTD News reached out to Adamss office for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

From NTD News
One Dead in Fiery, Wrong-Way Crash on 101 Freeway in East Hollywood

LOS ANGELESOne person was killed May 8 morning in a fiery crash on the Hollywood (101) Freeway in East Hollywood that authorities said involved a wrong-way motorist.

The crash was reported at about 4 a.m. on the southbound Hollywood Freeway near Alvarado Street, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

Witnesses called CHP dispatchers before the crash to report a wrong-way motorist northbound in southbound lanes, the patrol agency reported.

CHP Officer Roberto Gomez told reporters at the scene that a red Toyota Prius was northbound in the southbound lanes when it sideswiped a southbound Honda car. The Toyota then collided with a southbound pickup truck, and both vehicles were engulfed in flames, Gomez said.

A person believed to have been the driver of the Toyota died at the scene. Information on the persons identity was not immediately available.

One patient was trapped inside a vehicle when firefighters arrived, according to the Los Angeles Fire Departments Margaret Stewart. The person was freed by firefighters and was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. Two patients suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and declined transport to a hospital, Stewart said.

The CHP issued a SigAlert shutting down all southbound lanes of the Hollywood Freeway at Melrose Avenue, with traffic diverted off the roadway at Santa Monica Boulevard. All lanes reopened about 8:30 a.m., the CHP reported.
Orange County Declares State of Emergency to Stem NYC Illegal Immigrant Relocation Plan

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus declared a state of emergency on May 8 in response to a New York City plan to bus illegal immigrants to upstate hotels.

The executive order prohibits hotels, motels, and other short-term rental facilities in the county from housing any illegal immigrants, or asylum seekers, arranged by the New York City government.

Im a child of immigrants  I understand these folks are for a better life, and most of them are, Neuhaus said in a May 9 video address. But there has got to be a better way.

He said he was concerned with whether these individuals were properly vetted and who would care for them after New York City weaned them off temporary assistance.

According to the executive order, the countys Department of Social Services has no legal basis to provide services to these individuals because of their age and immigration status.

By state law, a state of emergency declaration by a local government is effective for 30 days and can be extended for no more than 30 days.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus delivers the State of County address in Goshen, N.Y., on April 19, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

On May 5, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a new plan to send single, adult men who have crossed the border illegally and come under the citys care to temporary shelters in upstate counties.

Two pilot sites were chosen to start the program: the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, Orange County, and the Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg, Rockland County.

About 60 individuals were planned for the Newburgh hotel, according to Neuhaus.

The move is part of New York Citys new strategy to bus out illegal immigrants as it runs out of money, staff, and space to care for them, according to a city blueprint report published in March.

Since last spring, more than 60,000 illegal immigrants have come through the citymany with the aid of Texas Gov. Greg Abbottand about 37,500 are currently under the citys care, according to a May 5 press release.

As of March, the Adams administration has spent $650 million on temporary assistance to illegal immigrants, who accounted for 40 percent of the citys total homeless population, according to the blueprint report.

The city expects an even larger influx due to the looming expiration of Title 42a border policy established during COVID-19 that allows for expelling illegal immigrants to protect public health.

To ease the mounting burden, the Adams administration plans to divert illegal immigrants out of the city boundary, with the end goal of securing them long-term housing and job opportunities as they work on their legal proceedings, according to the report.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a news conference in New York on Oct. 11, 2022. (Mary Altaffer/AP Photo)

To boost participation in the voluntary, four-month pilot hotel programs, New York City workers had circulated a three-page flyer advertising the benefits of moving upstate among immigrant shelters, according to Neuhaus.

Located near the Hudson Valley, just outside New York City, these shelter options will include a warm environment, nutritious meals, and case workers to help adults over the age of 18 access what you need to care for yourself and transition to a new home, the flyer reads.

Laundry services, housekeeping, and medical consultations are also provided.

Now, with a state of emergency in place, these individuals are expected to be refused by hotels in Orange County and return by buses to New York City, according to a statement provided to The Epoch Times by the county executives office.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day also declared a state of emergency on May 6 in response to the New York City plan, demanding that local governments be reimbursed for related expenses.

Day said in a press release that the county was already struggling with the migration of people from the city and that its infrastructure couldnt take care of the additional influx planned by the Adams administration.

About 340 adult men were said to be sent to the countys Armoni Inn and Suites.

The New York City Mayors Office didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Patients to Get Prescription Medicines From Pharmacies to Cut Waiting Times

NHS aims to 'free up millions of GP appointments'

Patients across the UK will be able to get prescription medication directly from a pharmacy, without a prior appointment with a GP.

Millions of patients will receive quicker, more convenient access to care from their high street pharmacy, the NHS announced on May 9, along with a major new GP access recovery plan.

Patients will be able to buy prescription medication for seven common conditions including earache, sore throat, or urinary tract infections, straight from their local pharmacy. Half a million women will no longer need to speak to a practice nurse or GP to access oral contraception.

NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard praised the new ambitious package of measures, saying it will ease the unprecedented demand for GP appointments.

This blueprint will help us to free up millions of appointments for those who need them most, as well as supporting staff so that they can do less admin and spend more time with patients, Pritchard said.

The NHS has long suffered from long waiting lists and backlogs in primary and secondary care, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new measure is meant to alleviate the pressure of the 8 a.m. rush to ring the GP or book appointments online for common conditions.

I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP practice when you or a family member desperately need an appointment for a common illness. We will end the 8 a.m. rush and expand the services offered by pharmacies, meaning patients can get their medication quickly and easily. This will relieve pressure on our hard-working GPs by freeing up 15 million appointments, and end the all-too-stressful wait on the end of the phone for patients, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

The conditions covered by the new plan also include sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, and infected insect bites.

The Chief Executive of The Patients Association, Rachel Power, welcomed the expansion of services within pharmacies. She said it would enable pharmacists to prescribe more and initiate treatments, expanding the choice for patients.

Having been part of the transformation board that supported the development of the plan, Im pleased to see how patients concerns have been addressed in it. Its roll out across the UK will make a big difference to so many people, Power said.

The new policy also provides better phone technology for GP teams to increase patients ability to get through to their doctor, and extra training for staff.

Half a million people a year will be able to self-refer for key services, including physiotherapy, hearing tests, and podiatry, without seeing their GP first.

Completely Out of Touch

The new policy has been criticised by the opposition in Westminster, with Labours shadow health secretary Wes Streeting suggesting Sunak was completely out of touch.

Expecting the Conservatives to fix this is like expecting an arsonist to put out the fire they started. Rishi Sunak is completely out of touch with the problems facing patients and the NHS. He has no plan to address the shortage of GPs, or to reverse the cut in the number of doctors trained every year. The Conservatives announcement is merely tinkering at edges, in contrast to the fundamental reform the NHS needs and Labour is offering, Streeting said.

In 2022, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) reported that the number of GPs had fallen by 5 percent between September 2015 and 2021, while the population is 4 percent larger and health problems are becoming more complex. At the same time, 42 percent of GPs say that they are planning to quit the profession in the next five years, RCGP reported.

At the same time, in 2022 the government stuck a 7,500 cap on medical and dentistry places for students. This is compared to 10,000 places in 2020 and 2021.

Downing Street, however, attributed the cap to the high public cost for each medical or dental school place (230,000), as well as the cost of training and national training capacity.

Affected by long waiting times for GP and hospital appointments, staff shortages, and a view that the government doesnt spend enough money on the NHS, public satisfaction with the service slumped to a record low level in 2022, as reported by the British Social Attitudes survey.

The NHS turns 75 years old on July 5. The governments GP plan, coming ahead of this milestone, committed to further reducing bureaucracy, cut NHS waiting lists, and secure an increase in the workforce.
Popular Metaverse App Bondee Fades Fast as CCP Ties Are Revealed

A social networking app that went viral in Southeast Asia has seen downloads plummet after its links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were revealed.

Bondee, a social networking app with a variety of trendy avatars, was officially launched on Jan. 17. Bondee users can connect with others through personalized images and express their moods and situation.

Bondee lets users customize 3D avatars with various hairstyles, clothes, shoes, and accessories. They can also build their own virtual spaces, invite friends to visit their virtual homes, and indulge in camping, dancing, sailing, and other virtual activities.

Bondee soon became immensely popular among young people. In the last week of January, Bondee topped the weekly downloads charts in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan, according to data.ai. In less than a month, the app was downloaded more than 5 million times on Google Play.

According to its website, the app was developed by Metadream, an independent technology company based in Singapore. Its product development and operations teams are based in Japan and South Korea, with three separate data centers in Singapore, Japan, and the United States. The company also plans to set up regional operations centers in Thailand and the Philippines.

Secret CCP Connections Disclosed

Bondees relationship with Chinese developers and the CCP has been investigated.

Some netizens noticed a resemblance between Bondee and a now-defunct Chinese app called Zheli, more frequently known as Jelly. Jelly was a metaverse app developed by a Chinese company.

To users of both apps, it became apparent that Bondee is highly similar to Jelly in terms of interface, characters, roles, and style.

Launched in China on Jan 19, 2022, in less than a month, Jelly overtook WeChat to become the number 1 social app on Apple Store.

However, on Feb. 13, the firm behind Jelly announced that it was pulling the app from the App Store, citing technical issues like crashing, lagging, and outages caused by the surge in demand. Chinese news aggregator Yidian Zixun, which operated Jelly, announced that in order to make its user experience smoother, the company had chosen to remove the app from the app store pending a system upgrade.

The app went from overnight boom to sudden disappearance in less than a month.

Social media apps on a smartphone in this file photo. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

However, it was speculated that there were other reasons for the apps disappearance. After registering to use the app, some netizens noticed an uptick in spam calls and messages and alleged that Jelly violated users privacy. On Feb. 11, Yidian Zixun responded that the allegation was untrue and called it slander by its competitors.

Notably, Yang Yuxiang, the legal representative and chief executive of Yidian Zixun, once worked for Citic Group and Ping An Securities Group, both backed by the CCP.

Jelly Repackaged

The sudden boom of Bondee has raised suspicions that the app is essentially Jelly, renamed to disguise its origin. In response, Metadream, which is based in Singapore, explained that Metadream had acquired the full intellectual property rights to Jelly from its developer, True.ly of China. Metadream claims to have developed the creative concept further and to have internationalized the app.

It seems that there is more to the story. According to an April 26 Bloomberg report, while Metadream is indeed incorporated in Singapore, the majority of the companys staff are based in China.

As of February, Metadream shared legal and financial staff with the Chinese owners of Jelly, according to the Bloomberg report. Whats more, Metadream is led by Chinese financier Yang Yuxiang. Yang was listed as a director in Metadreams Singapore regulatory filings but was recently removed.

The Epoch Times reached out to Metadream for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

Expert: Chinese Companies Should Distance Themselves From the CCP

As Metadreams ties to the CCP continue to come to light, the number of downloads of Bondee has plummeted. According to data.ai, downloads of Bondee on the Apple store and the Google store dropped from 2.6 million in February to 400,000 in March. Many users not only abandoned Bondee but also took to social media to share how they deleted their accounts and uninstalled the app.

In addition, some users in Taiwan noticed that Bondees terms of use adopted the CCPs terminology, referring to Taiwan as the Taiwan region of China, and that users in Taiwan must accept an additional clause. The clause is closely related to personal information and has deterred many Taiwanese users, while users in other countries do not need to accept it.

Metadreams concealment of its ties to China was probably deliberate, Li Jixin, a Japan-based electronics engineer, told The Epoch Times on May 3. Although it is not clear what the companys intentions were, Li said the concealment looked suspicious.

The logo of Chinese social media app TikTok is shown in a picture taken in Paris on Dec. 14, 2018. (Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images)

In Lis opinion, in recent years, the trend of decoupling the CCP from Western societies has become more and more obvious, and Western societies have become more aware of Chinas unscrupulous and unethical tactics.

For their part, warned by the criticism of TikTok, Chinese start-ups often adopt a localized approach or emphasize their global nature when they go abroad, in order to avoid being ostracized by Western societies.

The problem with this is that by hiding the relationship with the CCP and not being honest, [Bondee] has already lost the trust of some users, Li said.

And since the CCP is behind all the companies in China, there is no way to dispel the fear that the CCP will force companies to share sensitive data [with it]. There is no way to dispel the fear of Western society about the security of personal information. This is also an embarrassment for all Chinese companies.

Ellen Wan contributed to this report.
Pressure for Compromise Mounts as Biden, McCarthy Resume Debt Limit Talks

President Joe Biden shakes hands with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) before delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 7, 2023. (Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images)

As President Joe Biden prepared to welcome House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to the White House on May 9 to resume their debt ceiling negotiations, the pressure for the president to bend on the issue was on the rise.

The meetingwhich will also involve Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)comes as Biden faces disappointing poll numbers and a united Republican front.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll published on May 7, Bidens disapproval rating has climbed to 56 percenta three-point increase since Feb. 1, which was both the first and last date he met with McCarthy to discuss the debt limit.

In more than three months since, Biden has repeatedly declined to negotiate with the House speaker, insisting that Congress pass a clean increase to the federal governments borrowing cap with no strings attached.

Meanwhile, McCarthys position was bolstered on May 6 when 43 Republican senators, including McConnell, vowed to oppose any debt limit increase without concessions from Democrats on budget cuts.

As House Republicans have already passed a plan that accomplishes both parties primary objectives, the Republican leaders will enter the May 9 talks from a position of strength.

Mounting Pressure

The national debt is currently set at $31.4 trillion. When the United States reached that limit in January, the Treasury Department was forced to take extraordinary measures to create additional room for borrowing, thereby temporarily avoiding default.

While the United States has never defaulted on its debt before, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that the federal government may break with that precedent as soon as June 1 if the debt ceiling is not raised.

That projection aligns with the latest analysis (pdf) of the Bipartisan Policy Center, which estimates that the X datethe date when the federal government is unable to pay all of its bills on time and in fullis likely to occur between early June and early August due to the unexpected extension of tax filing deadlines for those in designated disaster areas in California, Alabama, and Georgia.

The coming weeks are critical for assessing the strength of government cash flows, said Shai Akabas, Bipartisan Policy Centers director of economic policy, in a statement. If a solution is not reached before June, policymakers may be playing daily Russian roulette with the full faith and credit of the United States, risking financial disaster for their constituents and the country. Even now, the looming deadline is raising costs to the government, and therefore to all taxpayers.

But with the potential for default drawing nearer, House Republicans have been quick to remind Biden and the Democrats that they alone have acted to address the issue.

Not only did we show you a plan, were the only ones to pass a plan, McCarthy said during an April 26 news conference. So, I think its up to [Biden] now.

American Action Network, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group, agreed. On May 8, the group launched a $250,000 TV ad campaign in the Washington media market urging Biden to negotiate.

President Biden is driving America to its very first default, and there will be no one but him to blame, American Action Network President Dan Conston said in a statement.

Republican Plan

The Republicans Limit, Save, Grow Act would raise the debt ceiling by about $1.5 trillionor through the end of March 2024, whichever occurs firstbut would pair that increase with future spending cuts.

Biden criticized that plan on May 8 in a series of tweets, asserting that it slashes support for families, students, and veterans and that it would cut 60,000 teachers across America to help fund tax giveaways for the already-rich.

But Republicans on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce pushed back on that claim, noting that state and local governments provide most education funding and that the GOP plan only reduces spending to fiscal year 2022 levels.

The presidents tweet is classic partisan spin, where any attempt at budget discipline is met with apocalyptic claims about reductions in popular government services, the committee added.

Finding Common Ground

Although mixed with criticism, Biden also gave his first indication on May 8 that he might be willing to consider some spending cuts, noting in another tweet that he was all for cutting wasteful spending, but that he differed with Republicans on what counts as wasteful.

Attached to that tweet, he shared a diagram indicating that Democrats would support cutting $160 billion in wasteful spending on Big Pharma.

Whether that option will be discussed remains to be seen, but with Biden set to speak on May 10 in New York on why Congress must avoid default, the White House does not seem optimistic that an agreement will be reached on May 9.

The president has also yet to close the door on the possibility that he might invoke the 14th Amendment to circumvent Congress and raise the debt ceiling himself.

The amendment states that the validity of the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned. However, given that the law has never been invoked for that purpose before, doing so would likely raise a swift and lengthy legal challenge.

And with the clock ticking down to the so-called X-date, business leaders noted on May 9 that its not just money the government is running out of, but also time.

There are principled men and women serving in government in both political parties who understand the country cannot continue to prosper if we continue to govern from the edge of a cliff, budgeting from crisis to crisis without meeting our long-term obligations and setting a course of stability, Michael Hanson, Retail Industry Leaders Association senior executive vice president of public affairs, told The Hill.

Likewise, in a statement, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley stressed: The full faith and credit of the United States government should never be placed at risk, which is why it is essential that Congress and the Administration quickly reach a bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling.

Specifically, Bradley highlighted permitting reform and discretionary spending as areas for potential compromise, noting that there has been bipartisan support for adjustments in those categories that could reduce the deficit.

We urge the president and the congressional leaders of both parties to quickly resolve the current debt limit impasse, and there are no two better places to start than permitting reform and an agreement on spending caps.
Protesters Confront Doctors for Using Puberty Blockers, Cross-Sex Hormones on Minors

Detransition advocates protest outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredicks/The Epoch Times)

A crowd of more than 50 people protested outside the annual conference of the Pediatric Endocrine Society in San Diego this weekend over the organizations gender-affirming policies and use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children.

The demonstrators marched peacefully on the sidewalks bordering the Sheraton Hotel & Marina, carrying signs and shouting biology not ideology, puberty blockers dont stop suicide and kids cannot consent to puberty blockers, among other chants.

Our Duty, an international support group for parents who oppose transgender ideology, led the Rally for Evidence-Based Care on May 6.

Erin Friday, the western U.S. regional co-leader of Our Duty, told supporters gathered in a park near the hotel that the organization represents thousands of parents.

Medical professionals attending the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference listen to detransition advocates in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

We are all non-affirming parents, she said. We believe in reality and boundaries. None of our children committed suicidenot a one. I cant say the same for the children who have started puberty blockers and cross sex hormones.

Our Duty and other allied groups seek to ban the experimental and off-label use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers on children because they present several health risks and lead patients down a path to cross-sex hormones that cause sterilization.

The narrative pushed by transgender activists that these medical interventions and transgender surgeries prevent suicide in gender dysphoric youth is a fallacy, Friday said.

Detransitioners Stories

Running counter to the trans activist narrative are several horrific accounts of irreversible damage from those known as detransitioners who deeply regret proceeding with varying stages of gender transition. Among them are Cat Cattinson, Chloe Cole, Layla Jane, Abel Garcia, Laura Becker, Daisy Strongin, and David Bacon.

Cattinson damaged her singing voice due to testosterone but still hit some high notes in her song, Stardust, and a few others she performed at the rally. She recounted her gender transition experience and regret, but said she was grateful she changed her mind before undergoing surgery.

Detransitioner Cat Cattinson speaks outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Two other detransitionersCamille Kiefel and Madison Juddwerent as fortunate. Both women shared at the event how they were affirmed by their doctors and therapists to believe they were transgender and had their healthy breasts surgically removed.

Im a womanbeen one the whole timeno matter what I told myself or anyone else, said Judd. I hated my body, and doctors didnt ask me why or [say] maybe your reasoning might be a little off, [or] maybe youre not seeing yourself for how beautiful you might be.

She regrets listening to friends and activists and not her parents.

My parents were right the whole time, she said. All they wanted me to do was slow down. They wanted me to pump the brakes.

Judd spent thousands of dollars on her transitionfunds from family, friends, and strangerspeople who wanted to be kind, and do what they thought was right, she said. And, I dont blame them for that, because if I do that, I cant forgive myself either.  Weve all got things to regret but this one feels bigger than me.

In the age of the Internet, when you dont know what to believe, she said, its easy for people to lose ones sense of reality, especially children.

Judd said she became more aware of this after the events of Jan. 6, 2020, and she realized she had become radicalized in her beliefs. This self-discovery and regret, she said, led her to detransition.

Detransitioner Madison Judd shares her transition experiences outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Camille Kiefel speaks outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Kiefel said she sued a social worker and therapist in Oregon for allegedly overlooking her mental health problems and fast-tracking her towards a non-binary double-mastectomy in Oregon.

Gender-affirming care is a shocking abuse of trust by a medical system captive to ideology, not biology, she said. The treatments are experimental, risky, and inconsistent. Not only did my providers affirm an identity that did not exist, they removed healthy body parts as a solution.

Abigail Martinez shed tears as Friday retold the story of how Martinez was bullied by social workers who told her to hold a funeral for her daughter, Yaeli, and affirm her as a son. When she hesitated to use her daughters preferred male name and male pronouns, Martinez lost custody of Yaeli, who ended up in a foster care group home, started taking testosterone, and later committed suicide.

Several speakers blamed Big Pharma and the health industry for raking in billions in profits at the expense of gender-confused children who become life-long patients.

A parental rights activist who goes by the pseudonym Ben Richards for fear of retaliation, who is a local leader of the Dad Armya national group affiliated with the Mom Army that empowers men to fight against child trafficking and the sexualization of childrenand founder of a social media group called SoCal Parent Advocates group on social media, urged more parents and other supporters to stand up and speak up against the trans medical industrial complex.

This is in every institution. Its in the schools. Its in the medical industry. Its in the government. And they have made these systems to discourage people from speaking out for fear of reprisal, he said. For instance, in the medical industry, they encourage and monetarily incentivize these harmful, irreversible procedures on children. And were here united from all walks of life, standing up courageously saying this is not right, and this must stop now.

Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

The so-called sex reassignment surgery market reached $2.1 billion last year in the U.S. and is expected to more than double to $5 billion by 2030 according to a 2022 report by business consulting firm Grand View Research.

More research released by Acute Market Reports released last month indicates that North America holds at least half of the global market share for sex reassignment surgeries.

According to the Gender Mapping Project, there were only a handful of gender clinics for children operating in North America a decade ago, but there are now more than 400 involved in what has become a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. alone, even as parts of Europe move away from the affirmative care model.

The Pediatric Endocrine Society did not respond to an inquiry about its policies supporting so-called gender-affirming care for children preceding its weekend-long conference.

Posters made by detransition advocates who met outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Affirmative Care Model

The United States is the most permissive country for medical gender transitions of children according to a report released in Jan. 16 by Do No Harm, a group that opposes the radical, diverse, and discriminatory ideology in the health care industry. The report compares the U.S. with 11 European countries on metrics related to gender transitions.

In the United Kingdom, the Cass Review (pdf), chaired by Dr. Hilary Cass, a leading British pediatrician, linked the lack of safeguards for children at the Tavistock gender clinic London to the affirmative model of care which originated in the USA.

The independent systematic evidence-based review cited safety issues over the long-term effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The report, released in February 2022, prompted Britains National Health Service (NHS) to announce last July that it would close the now infamous clinic this spring.

An article published by the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) on April 18 points out that after assessing whether the benefits of youth gender transition outweigh the risks, public health authorities in England, Finland, and Sweden concluded they dont, and have since revised their policies and practices to substantially restrict medical and surgical transitions of children and adolescents.

SEGM states that long-term studies of adult gender transitioners have repeatedly failed to show lasting psychological improvements and further indicate the possibility of treatment-associated harms.

A review of the studies published April 14 concluded that systematic reviews of evidence from Europe failed to demonstrate the hoped-for meaningful improvements in youths mental health functioning and exposed significant risks, including demonstrated risks to bone development, and suggest doctors may have erred in their assessment of how to treat gender dysphoria in youth.

Doctors may be incorrect in their assumptions about the causes, persistence, and future trajectory of adolescent gender dysphoria. The rapidly rising numbers of gender dysphoric youth treated with hormones and surgeries and the delayed onset of regret mean that the scale of possible  harm will not be known for several years, according to the review.

Additionally, the review authors recommended that when faced with questions about the causalities of gender dysphoria clinicians are ethically bound to honestly represent the uncertainty of the current state of knowledge, rather than asserting that body modification is the best, safest, and most effective treatment. When a concerned family seeks our counsel, they are seeking our knowledge, not our political ideation and beliefs.

Transgender activists hold signs in front of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

But, in Democratic blue states such as California, the push for gender-affirming care among many progressive politicians has never been stronger, with several legislative bills passed over the last year to support the practice.

PES Positions

In 2018, the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) declared its opposition to the Trump administrations push for the establishment of the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The division was intended to protect health care providers who refuse to perform, accommodate, or assist with certain health care services on religious or moral grounds, but PES accused the Trump administration of discriminating against patients based on their reproductive history and gender identity.

As medical providers for youth in the LGBTQ community and those born with a difference of sex development, we have seen the discrimination and safety concerns that these populations face in the medical setting. Refusal to provide medical treatment for these youth may lead to physical or mental illness that may have been preventable, and could augment their already high risk of suicide, PES stated.

PES argued the establishment of the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division would serve to legitimize discrimination. The organization claimed that it could potentially deny vulnerable youth access to healthcare as well as violate human rights and the ethical principles of beneficence and justice.

In March 2021, then PES President Madhu Misra issued a letter opposing pending legislation in Alabama, Arkansas, and other states that sought to ban puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone interventions for gender dysphoric children who identify as transgender.

Our job is first to do no harm, and based on available scientific evidence to date, we continue to support the guidelines for care of transgender and gender diverse youth as laid out by the Endocrine Society and the PES, she wrote.

The next month the PES released a position statement (pdf) denouncing legislation it described as seeking to criminalize health care professionals who provide gender-affirming care such as puberty

suppressing medications and gender-affirming hormone therapy.

A transgender activist wearing all black stands near detransition demonstrators in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Dissenting Views

Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist who treats adults, told The Epoch Times he doesnt support the gender-affirming model nor using puberty blockers and opposite-sex hormones on children, but is skeptical that the debate over such controversial practices could ever be settled in the U.S. in a Cass Review fashion. Ultimately, he said, the issue will probably be decided in the courts.

I dont believe that an objective review is possible at the federal level. Too many agencies have been captured by radical trans ideology, he said. Its likely that this will be decided by pending federal lawsuits against the states which are outlawing this treatment for minors.

Laidlaw belongs to the Endocrine Society whose members include both adult and pediatric endocrinologists, but he isnt a member of PES which is exclusive to pediatric endocrinologists. He did not attend the conference nor protest.

Claims by PES that the effects of puberty blockers are reversible are unfounded and untrue, and even if they were true it wouldnt matter, because almost all children who take puberty blockers end up on cross-sex hormones which are not reversible anyway, Laidlaw said.

Once you use the puberty blockers to stop pubertal development, youre also going to cause an infertility problem, he said. And then, once you add the opposite sex hormones, youre going to continue infertility and potentially sterilize the person.

Puberty blockers, such as Lupronknown to cause chemical castrationwere first used to treat cancer. Doctors realized that because the drug worked to block the pituitary gland from producing testosterone in men with prostate cancer, it could also be used to stop the production of estrogen in young girls who experience puberty too early, according to Laidlaw.

Doctors began using Lupron to treat girls with a rare condition called precocious puberty, or early puberty, which can cause breast development and even menstruation in girls as young as four years old.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lupron to treat this condition, which was halted before the onset of female puberty at age 11 or 12, but the drug has never been approved to treat gender dysphoria in children.

Its not FDA approved. Its off-label. Its really experimental, and thats where the problems come in, Laidlaw said. Its never been studied. There are no randomized controlled studies. Its never been proven to eliminate gender dysphoria. Its really a way to stop puberty so that they can eventually start cross-sex hormones.

A sign for the Food and Drug Administration is displayed outside their offices in Silver Spring, Md., on Dec. 10, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

Laidlaw is also concerned about a lack of medical studies to determine how puberty blockers affect developing brains during puberty.

Its pretty much unknown, he said.

Because pubertal years are a critical time for bone development, when pediatric endocrinologists use drugs to inhibit the pituitary gland and drastically lower the production of natural sex hormonestestosterone in boys and estrogen in girlsthere is a risk they wont develop healthy bone density, thus putting them at risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life, Laidlaw said.

Girls taking high doses of testosterone, which can range from six to 100 times above normal levels, can also become aggressive, and sometimes behave recklessly, which can also have lasting consequences on their lives, he pointed out.

Its a real concern, he said. As I see it, its equivalent to using anabolic steroids.

People who take high doses of steroids are known to develop hyperactivity, irritability, anger issues, depression, anxiety, and a small percentage can develop psychosis, Laidlaw said.

Dr. Andre Van Mol, a board-certified family physician who co-chairs both the Council on Adolescent Sexuality at the American College of Pediatricians and the Sexual and Gender Identity Task Force at the Christian Medical & Dental Association, agrees.

Thats one of the possible side effects of testosterone. Thats even true in in men who have male hypogonadism, and you put them on testosterone. Thats one of the things you warn them about: If your family, your workmates, your friends say youre getting aggressive, you better believe it, he said.

Aside from mood swings, girls who take testosterone face increased risk of heart attack, stroke, breast and uterine cancer, high blood pressure, severe acne, and other problems, he said.

Van Mol didnt attend the protest but told The Epoch Times he also objects to the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children.

There is always a more honest answer to gender dysphoria than the chemical sterilization and surgical mutilation of what are otherwise very healthy young bodies and doing it all for what is a mental health issue that overwhelmingly desists by adulthood, he said. So why in the world would you permanently medicalize somebody for something that the odds are is going to go away?

Decades of medical research, some that predates the recent surge in gender dysphoria among youth, shows that the condition resolves by adulthood 85 percent of the time, Van Mol said.

A 7-year-old transgender child plays with an iPad at home in Melrose, Mass., on May 9, 2017. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)

More recent evidence indicates an overwhelming probability that the cause of gender dysphoria stems from underlying mental health problems from adverse childhood experiences by which we mean trauma, less than great family dynamics, and a great overrepresentation of autism spectrum disorder, he said.

Its the problems that came before the gender dysphoria, not the gender dysphoria and stigma leading to the mental health problems, he said. They are misdiagnosing the problem. This is a mental health issue, not the biologic impossibility of being born in the wrong body.

Medical disclaimers in the packaging of Lupron one of the leading puberty blocking agents used in the U.S. and other generic brands say patients should be warned about potential side effects of depression and suicidal thoughts, he stressed.

It doesnt sound like the kind of thing you put a problem child on to improve the mental health, Van Mol said.

For as long as puberty blockers have been around, those who claim theyre effects are reversible should be able to prove their case, he said, but so far havent.

Van Mol agrees with Laidlaw that the national debate will be decided in the courts through lawsuits as more health insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and biotech companies are sued by the people theyve harmed.

Thats when this is going to turn aroundwhen this quits being a cash cow for the medical industrial complex, when they see that permanently medicalizing kids to no good end is something thats going to cost them, he said.

Van Mol said Chloe Coles pending lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente could be Americas Bell versus Tavistock decision. Kiera Bell is a British detransitioner who brought a case against the now infamous UK clinic and increased public attention toward the issue.

Chloe Cole shares speaks about her detransition story in front of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Deceptive and Dangerous

After PES released a position statement (pdf) in October 2019 claiming the effects of puberty blockers are reversible, Laidlaw condemned the practice in an article published in January 2020 in Public Discourse, the Journal of the Witherspoon Institute.

The Pediatric Endocrine Societys Statement on Puberty Blockers Isnt Just Deceptive. Its Dangerous, he wrote in the title.

Laidlaw suggested it was unethical to continue such medical interventions on children and questioned how PES could make such claims without FDA approval, scientific evidence, and rigorous long-term studies.

Puberty is more than just a process of genital maturation. It is also a critical time for bone, pelvis, brain, and psychosocial development. All of these processes are adversely affected by puberty blockers. Studies have shown the effects on the pituitary are not immediately reversible, Laidlaw wrote.

Hormone levels dont normalize for a year or more after children stop taking puberty blockers, and the overwhelming majority of adolescents on puberty blockers decide not to reverse course, but instead move on to cross-sex hormones, and some pursue sterilizing genital surgeries, he said.

PES stated puberty suppression is a reversible treatment that decreases the distress of having the wrong puberty, and that treatment alone does not cause infertility, but that hormone therapy in later adolescence has permanent effects and may affect future fertility.

The national organization consisting of more than 1,600 members claimed that minors are mature enough to consent to gender transition treatments and chastised dissenting members for public discourse on the issue.

The adolescent, with maturity to understand the consequences of this treatment, can initiate hormone therapy that induces the physical changes of puberty that are consistent with their gender identity, PES stated. As pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists, we strongly oppose public discourse that misrepresents and contradicts evidence-based standard of care recommendations and risks the well-being of transgender youth and their families.

In 2017, PES adopted guidelines similar to those of Endocrine Society, which was heavily influenced by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a transgender advocacy group with its own set of guidelines, to which several authors of the Endocrine Society guidelines belong as members, Laidlaw said.

So, the way I look at is basically WPATH wrote the Endocrine Society guidelines, he said.

Since then, other medical associations have signed off on the same or similar guidelines as WPATHs controversial Standards of Care, Laidlaw said.

Detransition advocates meet outside of the annual Pediatric Endocrine Society conference held in San Diego, Calif., on May 6, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Just because WPATH calls its guidelines standards of care, doesnt make them so, according to Van Mol.

All of these pro-transitioning so-called standards come from WPATH which is not a scientific organizationnot medicalnot legal, Van Mol said, stressing that WPATH removed all age recommendations for cross-sex hormones and gender transition surgeries in the eighth version of its guidelines released last September.

WPATH also has been heavily scrutinized in British Medical Journal articles for its lack of qualitative evidence to support its recommendations.

Laidlaw, who testified before British Parliaments House of Lords, said leading British psychologists have called for a new model of care that would involve taking a deeper look at a patients life and events that may have led them to the point of seeking medical interventions and sex reassignment surgery.

When you listen to these detransitioners, theyve had trouble in their lives. Theyve had mental health issues, Laidlaw said.

The San Diego protest is the latest in a series of recent Our Duty demonstrations in Anaheim, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, among other cities in California and other states.

Last October, in Anaheim, Our Duty protested against the transing of children and the policies of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at its annual conference.
RCMP Will Not Hesitate to Act Against Suspected Chinese Police Stations Operating in Canada, Trudeau Says

The Chinatown gate is seen in Montreal on March 9, 2023, where one of two Quebec community groups is located that is under investigation for allegedly operating as secret police stations for the Chinese regime. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the RCMP will not hesitate to take action against the unofficial Chinese police service stations suspected to be operating in various locations across the country that are under investigation.

Conservative MP and public safety critic Pierre Paul-Hus asked the prime minister during question period in the House of Commons, on May 9, if the Liberal government plans on shutting down the covert stations in the near future. Trudeau replied that the RCMP is following up on it.

Our police operate independently, Trudeau said. We expect the police to do their job, to ensure Canadian safety, and they will continue to do that.

Foreign actors attempting to monitor, intimidate, or threaten Canadians is completely unacceptable, Trudeau later added. The RCMP have said that they are actively investigating these suspected stations and, as they have done before, they will not hesitate to take action again.

The prime minister was referring to the RCMP sending uniformed officers and marked police cars to three of the unofficial Chinese police stations in Toronto and one in Vancouver this past winter, according to then-RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki.

Lucki told the Commons Standing Committee on Canada-China Relations on Feb. 6 that the RCMP did a disruption by going in uniform with marked police cars, to speak with the people involved in those police stations.

Current RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme, who was at the time its deputy commissioner of federal policing, told the Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in March 2023 that four of the unofficial Chinese police service stations in Canada had ceased operations.

Our understanding is that theyve ceased and were continuing investigation, Duheme told the committee on March 2, adding that a Chinese embassy official expressed displeasure at the RCMPs actions against the stations.

I think thats a sign that we did our job, Duheme said, acknowledging that police had not laid any criminal charges in relation to the issue.

Police Stations

Other suspected unofficial police stations remain under investigation, as the RCMP said it was looking into two presumed Chinese police stations in Montreal, having received over a dozen serious tips about them.

Both suspected Montreal-area organizations in questionthe Service a la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montreal based in the citys Chinatown district and Centre Sino-Quebec de la Rive-Sud in the suburb of Brossard, Que.said in a joint statement in late April that the RCMP hadnt given them any closure requests despite the investigation.

Our activities are proceeding normally, they told The Canadian Press on April 28.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told a House of Commons committee that the stations were shut down.

The RCMP have taken decisive action to shut down the so-called police stations, he told the Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on April 27.

The House passed a non-binding motion on May 8 calling on the Liberal government to immediately take steps to shut down the unofficial police stations still in operation.

Andrew Chen and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Rep. Burlison Reacts to Whistleblower Alleging Criminal Scheme Involving Biden

Republican U.S. Representative-elect Eric Burlison of Missouri arrives at the Hyatt Regency in Washington on Nov. 13, 2022. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

An FBI file the House Oversight Committee is demanding is just one piece of the information a whistleblower gave two top Congressional Republicans regarding an alleged criminal scheme involving President Joe Biden, according to Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.).

The Republican-led House panel on May 3 subpoenaed the FBI for a file alleging that a whistleblower linked the president to a criminal scheme that involved money for policy decisions while he was the vice president.

This person is a credible witness. They clearly have in-depth details about the inner workings of the FBI and the Department of Justice, Burlison, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said on the NTD program Capital Report aired on Monday.

Burlison said the unidentified whistleblower gave very specific information to Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) about a document they are now demanding from the FBI.

Last week, Comer filed a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray seeking an internal form, called an FD-1023, that was created in June 2020.

The two Republicans said the whistleblowers disclosure indicated the Department of Justice and the FBI possessed an unclassified FD-1023 form that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions, according to a May 3 letter to Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

This specific document goes into great detail, the pay-for-play agreement between Joe Biden as vice president, and the policy outcomes that this foreign national wanted, Burlison told The Epoch Times sister media outlet NTD.

This is just one piece of information this whistleblower is providing, the congressman added.

Ian Sams, the White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, responded on Tuesday.

For going on five years now, Republicans in Congress have been lobbing unfounded, unproven, politically-motivated attacks against the President and his family without offering evidence for their claims or evidence of decisions influenced by anything other than U.S. interests, Sams said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

When it comes to President Bidens personal finances, anybody can take a look: he has offered an unprecedented level of transparency, releasing a total of 25 years of tax returns to the American public.

Comers committee is investigating Biden and his alleged involvement in his son Hunters foreign business deals. In March, the oversight committee chairman said financial documents indicate that the Biden family received more than $1 million from an associate linked to Hunter Biden between 2015 to 2017, a period that includes the time Biden serving as Obamas administrations vice president. The panel said most of the payments to the Biden families were transferred after the associate, John Robinson Rob Walker, received a wire from a Chinese energy firm.

House Oversight Committee was granted to financial records after Comer issued a subpoena to Bank of America in February.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, on Feb. 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Comers subpoena instructed Wray to produce all FD-1023 forms, including within any open, closed, or restricted access case files, created or modified in June 2020, containing the term Biden.'

The FBI must supply relevant information by noon on May 10, according to the subpoena.

The fact that the FBI has been sitting on this is a story in and of itself, Burleson said.

The congressman described these documents they are seeking as an unclassified document.

Congress has every right to see it, he continued.

If they deny it, then it really tells a lot more. It tells us that the deep state truly has no respect for the Constitution, no respect for the rule of law. And were now in a totalitarian regime.

The FBI said it has no comment on the matter.
A Palestinian woman looks out from her damaged window following an airstrike in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out simultaneous and surprising airstrikes against buildings and apartments that host senior military leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza-based Ministry of Health said in a press statement that 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH/GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Tuesday condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed at least 13 Palestinians.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a press statement that the Palestinian presidency "condemns the dangerous Israeli escalation against our people, which targeted children, women and homes in the Gaza Strip."

He held the Israeli government "fully responsible for this dangerous escalation that drags the region into the square of violence, tension, and instability."

Abu Rudeineh said the U.S. should not allow the Israeli authorities to continue their "ongoing crimes" against the Palestinian people, especially as they affect children and women.

On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out simultaneous and surprising airstrikes against buildings and apartments that host senior military leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza-based Ministry of Health said in a press statement that 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes.

"The surprising attacks on Gaza are a practical translation of the ideology of killing," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said in a press statement.

Ishtaye called on the United Nations "to condemn the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the massacres against our people." 

Palestinians inspect a damaged building following an airstrike in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out simultaneous and surprising airstrikes against buildings and apartments that host senior military leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza-based Ministry of Health said in a press statement that 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians inspect a damaged building following an airstrike in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets and unmanned drones carried out simultaneous and surprising airstrikes against buildings and apartments that host senior military leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza-based Ministry of Health said in a press statement that 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 20 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Republicans, Democrats React to Verdict Against Trump in E. Jean Carroll Lawsuit

Advice columnist E. Jean Carroll leaves a Manhattan courthouse on May 9, 2023, after a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing her in a Manhattan department store in 1996. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Republicans and Democrats reacted to the May 9 news that a jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexually assaulting advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, resulting in an award of $5 million in a judgment that could plague the former president as he campaigns for reelection.

Trump, who did not attend the trial, has asserted that he has never sexually assaultedor even knownCarroll. Trump posted to Truth Social in response to news of the verdict, saying, I have absolutely no idea who this woman is. This verdict is a disgrace  a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time!

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) responded to The Epoch Times question about the verdict by saying, I congratulate Jean Carroll on her victory. This is Donald Trumps first conviction, but I dont expect it to be his last conviction. I think this Trump on trial journey is just beginning.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) was asked by reporters his thoughts on whether the ruling shouldor wouldmake it difficult for Trump to continue his campaign. Shortly after the news broke, the senator responded by saying that is up to voters as to whether they think he should be president.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) also answered reporters questions about the jurys finding on battery and defamation, saying, You never like to hear that a former president has been found in a civil court guilty of those types of actions  we are looking for an individual to lead this party forward in a united method.

Rounds also said he is looking forward to Tim Scott as a possible presidential candidate, and that he believes Scott is someone who could reunite the party.

When asked by The Epoch Times whether he thought the allegations against Trump were credible, Rounds said, I dont know anything more about it than what the jury does, and the jury says they were.

Former Republican congressional candidate Robby Starbuck reacted to the news, posting, ANY jury has ordered President Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll $5 Million after finding him liable for battery & defamation but NOT GUILTY of rape. To me this seems like a horrific new standard where partisans can not only smear you with false claims but shake you down after too.

Not all Republicans were fully behind Trumps claim. Mychael Schnell, congressional reporter for The Hill, quoted Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) as saying, If he was found guilty of sexually assaulting anybody, my strong opinion is that thats troubling, right. I dont condone sexual assault or any nature of sexual assault against anybody.

Former Republican presidential candidate Joe Walsh weighed in: Some legal analyst on CNN just said this verdict will hurt Trump politically. [Expletive]. Stop with that nonsense. This verdict, like the others, will only HELP Trump politically. Hes a cult leader. He can do no wrong.

Democrats were also vocal, with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) posting, The leader of the republican party Donald Trump was just found liable for sexually assaulting a woman and ordered to pay $5,000,000. A civil jury just found the leader of the republican party committed sexual assault.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also reacted, including with misinformation, saying Trump was convicted of sexual assault. In reality, the former president was found civilly liable to Carroll.

The verdict was announced on the first day of jury deliberations in a New York federal courtroom. The jury dismissed Carrolls allegations that she was raped but found Trump responsible for assault.

Earlier in the morning on May 9, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan instructed the nine-person jury on the law before the panel began discussing Carrolls allegations of battery and defamation around noon.

Kaplan instructed jurors that the first question on the verdict form was to determine whether Trump assaulted Carroll in a department store dressing room with a probability greater than 50 percent. If they responded affirmatively, they would then determine whether to award compensatory and punitive damages.

If they answered no to the rape question, they could then determine whether Trump subjected her to lesser forms of assault, such as sexual contact without her consent, forcible stroking to denigrate her, or sexual gratification. If they answered yes to either of these inquiries, they will determine whether or not damages are warranted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U | 1h 46 min | Drama | 1937

Director King Vidors Stella Dallas is about exchanging dreams: those we choose to exchange and those were compelled to. His film draws on Massachusetts-born Olive Higgins Proutys novel of the same name.

The daughter of a mill worker in 1919 Massachusetts, Stella (Barbara Stanwyck) dreams of the high life: dressing up, clubbing, and dividing her time between manicures at salons and dancing at concerts.

Stephen Dallas (John Boles) talks with Stella (Barbara Stanwyck), in Stella Dallas. (MovieStillsDB)

Stella snags a husband, Stephen Dallas (John Boles), who is wealthy all right, but wants less of high society than it wants of him. He ignores Stellas obvious lack of social graces. But hes put off by her insistent clutching at the trappings of wealth and her back-slapping bonhomie with low-class buffoon Ed (Alan Hale). Never mind that Ed has a heart of gold.

With not much to hold the couple together, their beloved daughter, Laurel (Anne Shirley) becomes the binding tie for a while. Stephen eventually reunites with his wealthy one-time fiancee Helen (Barbara ONeill), but continues to shower affection on Laurel. Meanwhile, Stella repeatedly sacrifices her own interests for her daughters. So, Laurel is torn between the promise of pomp and privilege with her father, and relative obscurity and ostracism with her mother.

Proutys story has no villain. Theyre all good people, giving up some dreams for others. If anything, education, assets, and a classy upbringing separates people and families, defining who belongs and who doesnt.

Vidor doesnt quite flesh out Stephens interiority; he ends up looking more incidental than he is to Stella and to Laurel. After all, Stephens the one insisting that Stella be herself, not pretend to be like someone in the movies, refined but ultimately dull.

Barbara Stanwyck with Alan Hale in a scene from Stella Dallas. (MovieStillsDB)

Still, Vidor makes a moving script come alive with his sensitive camera placements and imaginative choreography. Some scenes are comic: Ed pranking train passengers with itch powder, or drunkenly foisting a Christmas turkey dinner on Stella. At other times Vidors characters are silent, thinking and feeling, while others talk. Once Laurel, on the night train overhearing others ridicule Stella, looks down from her bed-bunk, hoping her mother is asleep. Stella, pained at hearing it all, feigns sleep to avoid hurting Laurel.

To hurry Proutys plot along, Vidor uses cinematic devices such as a handwritten note, typed letter, or newspaper report to show passing years, and growing affection or distance. His film proved so popular it was adapted into a radio serial that ran for eight years.

Stellar Stanwyck

Shirley, only 19 at the time, is superb as conflicted young Laurel, aghast that her adopted high social circle views her mother as an impostor, faking fine breeding. Shirley has some great moments, does them justice, and secured an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Stella Dallas (L) and Laurel (Anne Shirley), in Stella Dallas. (MovieStillsDB)

But Stanwycks the star. Her performance secured the first of her four nominations for Best Actress. She plays a woman (first young, then aging), yearning for the pleasures of an elite league that wants her out more than she wants in.

Stanwyck plays Stella like a double role, morphing into and out of the character of aristocratic wife and mother that she wants to be, but isnt. She discovers that, despite her resourcefulness, shell only ever be a caricature, never the real thing. Yet, she places Laurels joys and interests above her own.

Stellas head is in the clouds. Shes fixing her clothes and tossing her hair even when shes just standing around, far from mirrors. Alone in Stephens office, she steals a moment to feel the texture of his suit on a hanger. She hankers after fake jewelry, trinkets, and fur coats, imitation or not. All she wants is to get in with the right people, only later realizing that staying in isnt as easy as getting in.

For all her clinging, Stellas maternal instincts are giving and freeing. And Laurel isnt the only one who sees it. In a touching scene, Helen, who in any other movie wouldve been a scoffing rival, hears Stella struggling to explain what a wonderful young woman Laurel is. Helen nods, I know that it hasnt come only from her father.

Stella Dallas

Director: King Vidor

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Alan Hale, Anne Shirley, Barbara ONeill

Not Rated

Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes

Release Date: Aug. 6, 1937

Rated: 4 stars out of 5
Sanctioned Lawmakers Condemn UKs 1st Ministerial Visit to Hong Kong Since 2018

Former Conservative Party leader, MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, is pictured speaking at a rally commemorating the two-year anniversary of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement in London, England on June 12, 2021. (Yanning Qi/The Epoch Times)

The British government has come under renewed criticism from lawmakers as a government minister is visiting Hong Kong this week for the first time since 2018.

A number of parliamentarians who have been sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) condemned the government for sending the minister for trade talks, with former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith saying the government was set to prostrate itself before the Chinese regime.

The visit comes after lawmakers lambasted the government for inviting Chinese deputy leader Han Zhengwho was in charge of Hong Kong affairs during the CCPs supression of the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kongto the coronation of King Charles III.

Business and Trade Minister Lord Dominic Johnson of Lainston commenced a two-day trip to Hong Kong on Monday to woo investors and renew trade ties.

Johnsons Twitter feed showed that he has met with Christopher Hui, the regions Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, to discuss the ongoing work to remove market barriers and increase UK-Hong Kong trade.

Johnson also met with Victor Li and Canning Fok, executive directors of CK Hutchinson, toured the Cyberport in southern Hong Kong, attended an investment talk hosted by Boston Consulting Group, and spoke to other British business leaders in Hong Kong.

Speaking to TalkTV on Tuesday, Duncan Smith said he found the visit appalling.

Im absolutely astonished that a British minister could be sent to Hong Kong, he said. Bear in mind that the Chinese government trashed the agreement, the Sino-British agreement, an international treaty, which guaranteed certain rights for the people of Hong Kong.

Since then its imposed the [National] Security Law, its arrested peaceful democracy campaigners, he said.

Theyve trumped up charges  [against Apple Daily owner and journalist] Jimmy Lai. He is now languishing in prison. Hes in his 70s, he is a British citizen, a British passport holder. The British government has absolutely failed to publicly state that he is a British citizen with a British passport, he added.

Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai is escorted to a prison van before appearing in court in Hong Kong, on Dec. 12, 2020. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

Lai, the founder of Apple Daily and the Next Media group, was arrested in 2020 and charged under the National Security Law with colluding with foreign powers. The Hong Kong National Security Bureau also shut down all of the operations of Lais newsgroup and froze his assets in 2021.

On a separate charge, Jimmy Lai was found guilty of lease fraud for breaching a condition in Apple Dailys rental contract, and given a sentence of almost six years in prison.

Lais son Sebastianwho has been lobbying the British government to secure Lais releaseand Lais British lawyers have also been threatened with extraterritorial prosecution under the National Security Law, one of the lawyers revealed last month.

Duncan Smith said Johnsons trip was appalling after Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent the man that was responsible for the crackdown in Hong Kong to the coronation on his behalf.

I think that was spitting in our faces, frankly, and I just dont understand why we are sending a minister to, particularly, Hong Kong, when we know all thats going on, with  slave labour being used in China, when youve got genocide taking place in Xinjiang. Its a shocker really.

Duncan Smith also told Politico that the Chinese regime has trashed and humiliated the UK, asking, Why is it that we are about to prostrate ourselves in front of a government that treats us like dirt?

Conservative MP Tim Loughton told the publication that the visit is not a good look, noting that it followed hard on the heels of the architect of suppression of the people of Hong Kong being feted at the coronation.

Riot police deploy pepper spray toward journalists on the 23rd anniversary of the citys handover from Britain to China as protesters gathered for a rally against the new National Security Law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020. (Dale De La Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

Crossbench peer Lord David Alton of Liverpool accused the British government in a Twitter post of trying to have your cake and eat it.

How can you legitimately seek to boost trade with a country that breaks international treaties, imprisons lawmakers & democracy advocates, uses slave labour, and commits genocide? he asked.

How do you reset a relationship [with] those who destroy democracy in Hong Kong, threaten Taiwan [and] are accused of genocide. Or doesnt that matter to the [UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]? the peer asked in another Twitter post.

In an article published in the South China Morning Post, Johnson defended his visit, saying the UK will not duck its historic responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong.

As a co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, we will continue to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their freedoms, and to hold China to their international obligations, he wrote.

He also referred to the recent update to the UKs defence and foreign policy strategy, saying the government will engage robustly and constructively with China and Hong Kong where our interests converge, and that his visit is an opportune time to reinforce the UKs willingness to engage.

According to a fact sheet published by the British government (pdf), trade between the UK and Hong Kong was worth 28.5 billion in 2022, including 18.2 billion of British exports and 10.2 billion of imports to the UK.

In 2021, investments between the two jurisdictions were worth almost 94 billion. British investors invested around 77.6 billion in Hong Kong, while 16.3 billion of foreign investment into the UK came from Hong Kong.

Johnson said he would use the trip to capitalise on Hong Kongs commercial success and further the UKs investment relationship with the territory.

But he also acknowledged that the former British colonys commercial success was rooted in its high degree of autonomy, as outlined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and that the rights and freedoms in Hong Kong have been undermined.

Following Beijings imposition of the national security law, former British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab declared that it was a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The UK has also opened a bespoke visa route for holders of British National (Overseas) status in Hong Kong, allowing them to resettle in the UK.
Tennessee Governor Sets Date for Special Session on Public Safety and Gun Legislation

Gun rights activists gather for a rally at the Michigan State capital building in Lansing on Sept. 23, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced on Monday a date for convening a special session of the Legislature, which is currently adjourned, in order to discuss possible gun legislation and public safety, will begin Aug. 21.

The Republican leader has decided to call in all lawmakers for the special session, even after his proposal for an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) law failed to gain enough support to be debated before the General Assembly adjourned in late April.

Lees call for an ERPO law, which proposes allowing law enforcement to take guns from citizens who are deemed a danger to themselves, was met with criticism from Second Amendment and gun rights groups, such as the Tennessee Firearms Association, which said Lees call was essentially a call for a red flag law.

Lee called for an ERPO law to be passed shortly after the March 27 mass killing at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Regardless, his own party in the state House posted on Twitter in early April that red flag laws were a nonstarter and many Republican members of the legislature said that such a law would never pass in Tennessee.

Many legislators were also hesitant to debate Lees proposal voiced opposition due to a lack of time to properly discuss the legislation put forward by the governor.

While Lees Republican colleagues in the state capitol didnt take up his calls during their regular session, many of them signaled they were open to coming back for a special session.

Lee tried to soften qualms about the proposed restrictions by stating any Tennessee law would ensure due process and involve local law enforcement in any decision to take away firearms from any individual.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the state Legislature called on legislation to be passed. When some Democrats in the House realized a plan was not moving forward in the state Senate, they requested the special session to be held almost immediately.

Gov. Lee has since acted. After speaking with members of the General Assembly, I am calling for a special session on August 21 to continue our important discussion about solutions to keep Tennessee communities safe and preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee gives the command to start engines prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on July 15, 2020. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

There is broad agreement that action is needed, and in the weeks ahead, well continue to listen to Tennesseans and pursue thoughtful, practical measures that strengthen the safety of Tennesseans, preserve Second Amendment rights, prioritize due process protections, support law enforcement and address mental health.

Special Session Announcement

Gov. Lee used his authority on April 23 to call for the special session, less than two hours after both chambers of the state legislature had adjourned until January 2024although he didnt set a date for the sessions.

Special sessions are interim days outside of the Legislatures scheduled sitting days that are called by the governor or two-thirds of members elected to each body. Special sessions are specifically restricted to a specific number of days for matters specifically mentioned in the call.

At the time, Lee issued a brief statement announcing that the special session would focus on the Legislature debating and passing legislation that will strengthen public safety and preserve constitutional rights.

There is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons, he said when he first announced the special session. We also share a strong commitment to preserving Second Amendment rights, ensuring due process and addressing the heart of the problem with strengthened mental health resources.

Tennesseans Feedback Requested

Lee said in a short release about the special sessions that his office is inviting Tennesseans to share feedback on public safety and preserving constitutional rights.

A website was set up, which went live on Monday, that offers a chance for citizens to engage in the conversation by sharing feedback.

Lee said he will meet with legislators, stakeholders, and Tennesseans throughout the summer to discuss practical solutions ahead of the special session.

His office added he will issue a formal call for the session ahead of the actual date.
Texas State Rep. Bryan Slaton Resigns Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Screenshot from video on social media page of State Representative Bryan Slaton (R-Texas) where he presents Amendment 1 to House Bill 567 on April 1, 2021, which would ensure that Child Protective Services cannot remove a child from a parent due to the parent not supporting genital mutilation surgery. (With permission from Representative Bryan Slaton)

Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton resigned as a member of the Legislature on Sunday following allegations of sexual misconduct.

In his resignation letter, Slaton, a Republican, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent his community but said that his resignation was necessary to ensure his constituents expectations are met by a new representative.

This is to inform the people of my legislative district, The Governor of the State of Texas, and the House of Representatives, that I hereby resign my position as a member of the legislature effective immediately, Slaton wrote.

It has been an honor to represent my friends, neighbors and the great people and communities of House District 2. They voted overwhelmingly to send me to the Capitol as their representative in two elections, and I worked daily to meet their expectations. My decision today is to ensure that their expectations will continue to be met by a new representative who will also work hard on their behalf, he wrote.

Slatons resignation comes after he was accused by an investigative committee of giving alcohol to female staffers under the age of 21 on the night of March 31 and into the morning of April 1. According to a report into the allegations, Slaton also had sex with a 19-year-old female staffer from his own office, referred to by a pseudonym.

The staffer told the investigator that she consumed a lot of alcohol and felt pretty rough, really dizzy, and had split vision that night. She later described the situation as inappropriate, according to the report (pdf).

The report also claimed that the staffer felt intimidated and threatened to, in her words, stay quiet along with her friends.

The Republican lawmaker resigned before he was expected to face a resolution to expel him that would have been introduced on May 9 by Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, chairman of the Committee on General Investigating.

Investigation and Claims

The investigative committee unanimously decided to expel Slaton after receiving the report from Catherine Evans, a former judge and lawyer in private practice.

Murr appeared emotional at times when delivering a statement from the committee on the state House floor on Monday. He said the committee held a hearing with Slaton on May 4 after which they provided their report.

We conducted the hearing and provided Rep. Slaton the opportunity to provide the committee with any exculpatory evidence and information, including arguments of counsel, that he and his attorney deemed appropriate, Murr said on the House floor.

Those facts and findings are undisputed and uncontroverted and are supported by independent and credible evidence, he continued. This morning the committee unanimously adopted the committee report, which in accordance with the committees rules, contains findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation for discipline.

The committees report (pdf) would be distributed to members on Monday before being released online.

We find that Rep. Slaton has engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate. That behavior was induced by alcohol that Rep. Slaton provided to that 19-year-old subordinate, Murr said. Rep. Slaton then acted systematically to influence that subordinate and multiple witnesses and obstruct the investigation into the matter to the detriment of our chamber and those who work here.

The committee unanimously recommended that Slatons expulsion was the only appropriate discipline in this matter, according to the report.

The expulsion of a fellow member is a level of punishment we dont take lightly. It is not meant to punish the member. Rather, it is intended to protect the integrity and dignity of this legislative body and to provide accountability to everyone that works and serves in this building, Murr said.

Outrageous Allegations

Slatons attorney, Patrick Short, previously denied the allegations on April 10, calling them outrageous and false.

We are aware of outrageous allegations circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Rep. Slaton, said Short. As a result, he has been advised to forward all inquiries in this matterincluding any that may relate to a possible complaintto his legal counsel.

Slatons allies in the House may have turned against him. According to the report, a fellow Republicans urged him to resign.

Representative #2 stated that when he next saw Slaton on the floor that he told Slaton that its bad for everyone. I think you should resign,' the report states. The report claims that representative later contacted the investigative committee to inform them of the allegations against Slaton.

On Sunday, the Texas House Freedom Caucus, a conservative group typically aligned with Slaton, called on Slaton to resign in a statement.

The factual report from the House General Investigations Committee regarding Rep. Bryan Slaton is appalling. The abhorrent behavior described in the report requires clear and strong action. He should resign. If he does not, we will vote to expel him Tuesday, the group wrote on Twitter.

Slaton was elected to the Legislature in 2020 and was serving his second term representing Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt counties in East Texas.
He knelt there beside the emperors bed, forehead pressed into palms, as the murmuring of the prayers for the dying filled the stillness of the room. And as his lips moved in supplication for his granduncle, his thoughts drifted to the overwhelming possibility of what could soon be.

As Emperor Franz Joseph Is worsening condition became clear, the weight of immense responsibility settled on the 29-year-old heirs shoulders like a shadow. The earnest young archduke wrestled with the reality that he would soon be emperor of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Charles von Habsburg never expected to rule the Austrian Empire, shown here at his coronation at Holy Trinity Column outside Matthias Church, Budapest, Dec. 30, 1916. (Public Domain)

Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria. Library of Congress. (Public Domain)

When he rose to his feet beside the monarchs deathbed, he was rising to face a world wracked with woe and seemingly insurmountable challenges: His own country was torn by nationalist and ethnic tensions, while the wider world was engaged in the bloodiest and most destructive war humanity had ever seen, World War I, or, as it was then called, simply, The Great War.

The Chain of Command

Charles von Habsburg (18871922) was never meant to be monarch. Growing up, he remained several layers removed from the throne, but a series of tragedies brought him rapidly to it. First, the Crown Prince Rudolf (son of the reigning emperor Franz Joseph) committed suicide in 1889, thus making his cousin, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir. Franz Ferdinand contracted a morganatic marriage, which meant his children could not inherit the throne. Instead, once the future emperor Franz Ferdinand died, his nephew, Charles, would become ruler.

Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary (nee Duchess of Bourbon-Parma) in 1911. (Public Domain)

But Charles still believed he had many years ahead of him before he would be called on to lead the empire since Franz Ferdinand was still a relatively young man. Then came the bullet from the Serbians gun, the heat of which set the world ablaze and changed Charless lifeand the lives of millions of othersforever. Franz Ferdinand was killed, World War I had broken out, and Franz Josephs health was declining. Charles was suddenly on the brink of assuming the crowns of Austria and Hungary, with their ancient traditions, expectations, and responsibilities.

The Emperors Greatest Wish

Franz Joseph died in 1916, and Charles became Charles I, emperor of Austria and king of Hungary. That was no easy year to become a head of state. Along with the throne, Charles inherited a war, of which he had personal, front-line experience. From the first moment of his reign, Charles, almost alone among European leaders at the time, desired peace.

As the official website for Charless canonization puts it, As emperor he understood peace to be his absolute, kingly duty. In his ascension manifesto, therefore, he named peace as his central goal. Only [Charles] took up the peace proposal of Pope Benedict XV, incorporating its principles in a set of proposed peace accords (which historians have evaluated as thoroughly realistic and having had great potential). Charles further made peace overtures to the Allies through his brother-in-law, Prince Sixtus von Bourbon-Parma.

Tragically, these attempts proved unsuccessful due to the peace-through-victory policy of Charless German allies and because of the anti-peace factions among the Entente (the international military coalition of countries led by France, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, Italy, and Japan). As Charles Coulombe describes in his 2020 biography of the emperor, Charless liaison Sixtus waited for some time in Westminster for a response from the British, which was not forthcoming. Eventually, he had to return to his regiment.

Charles was a dedicated father to his eight children, shown here with Zita in exile at Hertenstein, Switzerland, 1921. (Public Domain)

As related in A Heart for Europe by Joanna and James Bogle, Sixtus later recalled, The young emperor was innocent of his predecessors faults and had come to the throne with only one desire, which was to put an end to the universal slaughter.  He could not uselessly sacrifice his people to the obstinacy of an ally [Germany] whose pride was causing his coming destruction. Had Charless peace attempts been successful, writes Sixtus, The lives of thousands, nay millions of men would have been saved.

Charless desire for the good of his subjects extended beyond peace efforts. Coulombe tells us that the young monarch created a ministry of social welfare in his domains to address hunger and disease, as well as child and youth protection, family rights, and social insurance. This ministry was the first of its kind in Europe. Charles also planned to transform part of the empire into a federated state to give his peoples more independence and help resolve nationalist problems in the multinational empire, but faced too much opposition from his cabinet, according to Coulombe.

The emperor and king was also a dedicated husband and father. He remained deeply in love with his wife, the lively and loyal Zita of Bourbon-Parma, and they had eight children together. He discussed important matters of state with her, relying on her advice and support as he labored for his peoples. After Charless death, Zita wore black for the rest of her life.

All he ever wanted was peace. Charles I of Austria, 1919 (Public Domain)

The young emperor had an appealing character, according to Coloumbe:

[H]e was both logical and practical, with a well-developed sense of right and wrong.  He was not intellectual rather, his empress recalled, he would arrive at conclusions by instinct and common sense.  Charless tastes were quite simple; he preferred folk music to symphonies and operas, and histories and travel books to fiction.  Charles was an avid hunter and horseman. He was particularly attentive to other peoples views, attempting to understand them even if he disagreed.

In 1918, after the armistice, the Austrian parliament demanded Charless abdication. He refused, instead renouncing participation in state affairs without formally abdicating. The Allies exiled him first to Switzerland, then, after he attempted twice to recover the throne, to the island of Madeira. The royal couple and their children lived in poverty and poor conditions on the island. Charles contracted pneumonia and died on April 1, 1922, at the age of 34. His last words to Zita were I love you so much.

Assessments of Charles and his accomplishments vary. Some call him weak and ineffective. Some call him a villain. Others see him as a hero who tried to save his country from the horrors of war; in the Catholic Church, for instance, he is considered Blessed.

One thing we know for sure: With his death came the end of the centuries-old Habsburg dynasty, and perhaps something more. The old monarchies of Europe had once been associated with tradition, custom, and old-fashioned European culture. Old Europe was bound up with the monarchies. The death of the young emperor marked the end of that Europe.
The Long Road to Confronting Chinas War on Religion, Part I

News analysis

In 2016, when Chinese leader Xi Jinping delivered a speech calling for the Sinicization of religion in a nation of one billion, he was espousing a century-old impulse among his people while also inadvertently underscoring a persistent paradox that Chinese Communists brought with them when they took over the country in 1949and have never shaken.

The impulse is that the major faiths observed in China are not indigenous to the worlds oldest civilization. Buddhism was imported from India and Tibet. Islam arrived in overland trading routes and human migration from the Middle East, while Christianity, another Abrahamic faith, came across the ocean from Europe and America. To Communist leaders, and many Han Chinese civilians, these traditions represent potentially destabilizing foreign influence.

The paradox, of course, is that Marxism was also a foreign import, one imposed on Chinese societyin Mao Zedongs own wordsfrom the barrel of a gun. It not only destabilized Chinas existing social structures and spiritual traditions, but as Marxist-Leninism morphed into Maoism, also became a kind of national religion itselfwith Mao Zedong in the role of savior.

This was not an accident. Worshiping Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin is correct, Mao said at a 1958 party conference, because truth is in their hands. In 1970, the Great Helmsman told Edgar Snow, an American journalist and Mao apologist, that the cult of personality was necessary strategy to overcome the habits of 3,000 years of emperor-worshipping tradition.

But the ascendant faith in China when Mao and his troops embarked on The Long March that would put them in power wasnt found in Chinas ancient temples. It came from the Christian Bible, which was embraced by the western-educated modernists whod helped overthrow the Qing dynasty in the early years of the 20th century.

When he came to power in 1912, the Hawaiian-educated, English-speaking Sun Yat-sen went to a village in Guangdong Province and smashed the statues in the local temple. Kuomintang Party leader Chiang Kai-shek went further, actually converting to Christianity. This wasnt always popular. Among some Han peoplethe vast majority of Chinesea folk saying emerged in response to such conversions: One more Christian, one less Chinese.

This, then, is the historic precedent for Xis call for Sinicization of religious observance. Its an appeal, albeit a cynical one, to his peoples shared nationaland ethnicidentity. It is necessary, Xi explained in a December 2021 Beijing conference on religion, to improve the democratic supervision of religious leaders, and push for the rule of law in religious work.

Leaving aside the Orwellian use of the word democratic, Xis statement reveals its true motivation: Tighter government control over the citizenry. And though supervision is an anodyne word, the practice of this policy of supervision has translated into strict control over the Catholic church in China, stepped-up repression against Chinese Protestants, a continuation of the regimes harsh treatment of Tibetan Buddhists, and cruel suppression of both Uyghur Muslims and followers of Falun Gong.

It is a persecution with an ominous precedent.

Land of a Million Temples

At the dawn of the 20th century, the worlds oldest civilization was probably its most spiritual. It wasnt a land of denominational faiths with strict liturgical delineations, as is the case with Christians, Jews, and Muslims. In China, three great traditions were intertwined in ways that defied sectarian definitions: Buddhism, brought from India before the birth of Christ, was interlaced with the rituals of two homegrown Chinese traditions, Taoism and Confucianism. Doctrinal differences were so unimportant as to be little-discussed. Theological texts, even clergy, were rare. What was common was ritual and behavior.

Chinese philosophers, in the description of historian David Johnson, were more concerned with how people should act, and what counted as good actions than with using logic to prove propositions.

In such a society, notions of a separation of church and state didnt compute. They were one and the same. Ian Johnson, author of the 2017 masterpiece The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao, notes that religion was at the center of Han society. But religion was more than a method for running China; it was the political systems lifeblood, Johnson wrote. The emperor was the Son of Heaven, who presided over elaborate rituals that underscored his semi-divine nature.

Beijing, a city of fewer than 800,000 people, had 1,000 temples, according to the research of Princeton historian Susan Naquin. She estimates that in 1911, the year before Sun Yat-sen came to power, China had some 1 million temples, some huge and glorious, some in peoples backyards. Most of them are gone now, victims of the two modernizing movements: the 10-year purge by Chiang Kai-sheks Kuomintang Party and the succeeding reign of its Communist successors.

Both regimes made it clear that they believed Chinas homegrown faith traditions were responsible for making the country weak and leaving it vulnerable to conquest from much smaller nations, most notably Japan and Great Britain. The Kuomintang, long ago consigned to Taiwan, favored western religions, while Mao and his followers were committed atheists. From the beginning, Maos intent was to marry Marxism to Han nationalism. Religion had to go, especially if it originated outside China, which is where Mao differed from Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek.

As early as 1939, Mao denounced Christian missionaries as agents of imperialist powers sent to poison the minds of the Chinese people. In a 1949 meeting with a Soviet official, Mao amplified on this theme, suggesting that missionary activity represented a dirtiness in China that would be subject to sweeping and cleansing. Mao went on to describe American missionary and charitable endeavors in China as spiritually aggressive activities. Five years later, in a visit with the Dalai Lama, Mao whispered that religion was poison, and pointed to Tibet and Mongolia as examples.

This is the historic example Xi is imitating when he inveighs against religious freedom. We must resolutely guard against overseas infiltrations via religious means, Xi proclaimed in an April 2016 speech. Mao never bothered to try and rationalize the obvious irony here, which is that Communism came from Germany and Russia, not China. Neither has Xi.

In any event, after 1949, the imperatives of state-imposed atheism necessitated the closings of churches, mosques, and temples. Religious symbols were destroyed, Catholic priests and nuns were forced to renounce celibacy and marry. Thousands of clergy and other religious officials were sent to re-education camps. Some 6,000 monasteries were burned in Tibet alone, and thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns were arrested and killed. This campaign of terror was supercharged in 1966 with the onset of the Cultural Revolution. Mere possession of religious texts was criminalized, and anyone keeping copies could be arrested and executed, which is what happened to many Catholic priests and bishops.

As a replacement, the Chinese people were forced to read and recite a new Bible, officially known as Quotations of Chairman Mao Zedong, but unofficially as The Little Red Book. Some 800 million editions were printed, suggesting that every adult in the country had a copy. Included were hoary revolutionary phrases (Every communist must grasp the truth, Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun, while others were messianic, If you confess your sins Mao [the Party] is faithful and just in forgiving your sins.)

The Cultural Revolution ended upon Maos death. The Chinese people experienced feelings of collective relief, but felt disoriented nonetheless. There was one problem with Mao as a living god: he died, wrote Ian Johnson. When that happened in 1976, the country went into shock . With traditional religion dead, where could one channel ones faith?

It took the moderating policies of President Deng Xiaoping, who imprisoned Maos widow and the rest of the Cultural Revolutions Gang of Four, to get the Chinese people on solid footing once again. One way Deng accomplished this was to relax the prohibitions against people of faith and organized religion. It helped the Chinese regain their equilibrium.

Its not a lesson Chinas current strongman has absorbed. A creepy, and eerily familiar, megalomania has reappeared in the 21st century as Xi has directed another crackdown on religion: One of the edicts going out to Protestant and Catholic churches today is to remove crosses from their altars and the likeness of Jesus from their sanctuaries. Portraits of Mao or Xi are acceptable replacements.

First, They Came for Falun Gong

In the 1980s, Dengs economic and political reforms, which mirrored similar easing of control in the Soviet Union, led to more openness to the West. The period also marked broader state tolerance of religious practices, albeit ones operating within a prescribed party framework. Official churches, temples, and mosques were allowed to exist, but presumably only if they operated under rules imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

After the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989when soldiers and tanks took to the streets to quash student demonstrations, killing at least hundreds and possibly thousands of pro-democracy protestorsthe CCP kept most of Dengs economic reforms but reasserted the governments control over freedom of expression and political activity. Among those specifically targeted for repression were Tibetan Buddhists and, by 1997, Falun Gong. On the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, Falun Gong supporters protested in Beijing.

This would spell doom for the new movement.

In 1999, CCP general-secretary Jiang Zemin created an extralegal department to target members of Falun Gong. On July 20 that year, CCP security forces arrested thousands of Falun Gong organizers and began a campaign of violent persecution and arbitrary detention that has continued ever since.

This turned out to be a template. Under Xi Jinpings rule, which began in 2012, state campaigns against all forms of religion have escalated. Xi has called on CCP members to act as unyielding Marxist atheists in pursuit of his goal of Sinicization, the absorption of any autonomous entities into the Communist Party apparatus with demands of total loyalty to party rule and ideology. In December 2021, top CCP officials held the National Conference on Religious Work in Beijing. Afterward, several government agencies passed new legal measures imposing greater restrictions on clergy, religious schools, and religious content on the internet.

Recent headlines around the world have focused mainly on the more than 1 million Uyghur Muslims forced into labor camps, which Beijing cynically calls vocational training centers.

Meanwhile, Xi has continued the decades-long persecution of the Falun Gong and Tibetan Buddhists and stepped up the partys attacks on Christians. Catholic churches refusing to comply with state mandates have been torn down or had their crosses removed, and pastors of underground churches have faced arrest.

In Hong Kong, local authorities, following orders from Beijing, last year arrested and prosecuted Cardinal Joseph Zen, a widely revered bishop emeritus. Zen and other prominent Catholic and Protestant leaders supported the 2019 uprising in which millions of Hong Kong residents took to the streets to oppose a proposed extradition law allowing Chinese leaders to arrest dissidents and hand them over to the mainland government for prosecution.

Over the last several years, the United States and other international bodies have shown more willingness to confront Chinas war on religion. Xis large-scale persecution of the Uyghur Muslims has gained worldwide acceptance and widespread condemnation. A watershed moment came in 2021 when both the Trump and Biden administrations officially labeled what the CCP is doing to Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide.

Those determinations were partly influenced by a 2020 Jamestown Foundation study by Chinese data scholar Adrian Zenz, who documented a sharp decrease in Uyghurs population growth rate. The plummeting population backed up testimony that the CCP had forced Muslim women to undergo sterilization and abortions.

Falun Gong followers have faced even worse. For more than 20 years, the CCP has targeted its adherents for elimination, demonstrating a determination to crush the movement, which was once 70-million strong. The CCP has subjected its members to mass detention, torture, and executions. In large part, Chinese leaders have succeeded in their goals. The U.S. State Department now reports that Falun Gong practitioners have been reduced to between 7 and 20 million.

Declaring Falun Gong to be an evil cult that preached heretical mind-controlling fallacies, the regime went to extreme lengths to suppress the spiritual discipline. The measures they have employed are almost too gruesome to contemplate.

Read part 2 and part 3 here.

From RealClearWire

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Yes Vote Argument Misses the Mark

Big crowds are seen outside South Australias parliament in Adelaide, Australia, on March 26, 2023. (AAP Image/Matt Turner)

Commentary

On May 2, The Epoch Times published an opinion piece entitled Yes Is for Bringing Australia Together and Moving Forward.

The article argues that opponents of The Voice claim that the proposed entrenchment of The Voice in the Constitution repudiates a central tenet of liberalismthe idea that we should be treated equally.

The articles author argues that this claim by the NO camp presents an ideological and unrealistic conception of liberal democracy.

The central tenet of liberalism that they refer to is presumably the principle of political equality or equal citizenship.

This is the principle that burdens and benefits should not be distributed on the basis of involuntary characteristics over which people have no control, such as race, as this leads to group-rights thinking instead of liberalisms focus on the individual.

Yet, the article argues any reliance on this core notion of political equality as being rich, given the history of unequal treatment suffered by Indigenous people.

We disagree.

The sweeping claim that Australias history is one of unequal treatment is, in our opinion, misleading at best and false at worst.

Indigenous men make spears during Garma Festival 2022 at Gulkula in East Arnhem, Australia, on July 30, 2022. (Tamati Smith/Getty Images)

Since World War II, governments around Australia have established hundreds of Aboriginal institutional bodies, which maintain and nurture a burgeoning and expensive Indigenous bureaucracy.

Billions of dollars have been pumped into determined, and good-faith attempts at closing the gap.

Native title and land rights have been entrenched in Australias legal system.

Aboriginal men acquired the right to vote in the 1850s under the constitutions of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. As such, Aboriginal men had the same right to vote as other male British subjects over the age of 21.

Voting rights were then extended to all Indigenous Australians in 1962. Even in the 19th century, white Australians were hanged for killing Aborigines.

Meanwhile, the fact remains that the articles emotive and passionate plea for The Voice carries with it a breach of the principle of political equality today, right now, in order to atone for the systemic violations of the principle in the past.

The Indigenous Voice to Parliament Is a Bad Idea

Regardless of how you view the past, in our opinion, this is a very bad idea.

Lock in an institutionalised Indigenous Voice body, and Australia will be locking in governing arrangements that violate the principle of equal treatment of all citizens.

But the article argues that you fix past discrimination with big dollops of future discrimination. We do not.

We believe the Indigenous Voice will undermine the long-term future of Australias liberal democracy (which, on any comparative basis, has been one of the worlds most successful).

Australia Day revellers pose for photos at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2018. (Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)

The articles author also argues the highly contentious view that Indigenous Australians were not counted.

They were excluded from the Constitution of 1901 under a clause that said they should not be counted, the author writes.

We suspect that in making that claim, they were relying on Section 25 of the Australian Constitution, which is often pointed to as proof that our Constitution contemplates a denial of the franchise on racial grounds.

This Section reads:

If by the law of any State all persons of any race are disqualified from voting at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of the State, then, in reckoning the number of the people of the State or of the Commonwealth, persons of that race resident in that State shall not be counted.

Things are nowhere near as clear as that.

Two of the co-authors of this piece have argued elsewhere that this Section was included in the Constitution because, in the 1890s, Queensland and Western Australia practised racial discrimination by not allowing people of exclusive Aboriginal ethnicity to vote in state elections.

The framers were opposed to this practice and wanted to bring those states into line with all the others, the ones where Aborigines already had the franchise.

Accordingly, Section 25 is more plausibly understood as an anti-racist provision designed to penalise those Australian states that still discriminated against Aboriginesby reducing their representation in the newly created Commonwealth Parliament if they continued with what they were doing.

Many Disagree the Voice Will Improve Outcomes in Indigenous Communities

The article goes on to claim that The Voice would improve practical outcomes in Indigenous communities.

This is an assertion, nothing more. Many, including many Indigenous Australians, disagree.

And, of course, no one in the YES camp traces out how, precisely, this will happenhow the constitutionalising of the Indigenous Voice will make things better on the ground for those Aboriginal people presently doing badly.

Instead, many in the YES camp make amorphous appeals to symbolism and moral virtues.

An Aboriginal flag is held aloft during a Black Lives Matter protest to express solidarity with U.S. protesters and demand an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody in Perth, Australia, on June 13, 2020. (Trevor Collens/AFP via Getty Images)

Let us be clear.

We believe the evidence points clearly to the Indigenous Voice being more likely to lead to bad outcomes, not good onesfor Indigenous Australians as well as the rest of us.

It seems likely to create a highly political body that deals in rent-seeking, that soon will be seen as a political body by the rest of us, that splits even the Aboriginal community.

A body that soaks up huge amounts of money and demands a purpose-built bureaucracy of its own, that makes passing laws in this country even harder than it already is, and that makes considerably more likely than not judicial adventurism and judicial activism somewhere down the road.

That might be a benefit to some small section of Australian society. But it will be a pretty big cost to more of us.

The article also argues a profoundly elitist view of democracy, and it implicitly rests on an identity politics view of the world, one where group rights matter at least as much as individual rights.

We think that the governments proposed entrenchment of The Voice in the Constitution will not unite Australia.

Instead, it will perpetuate divisiveness.

It will force Australians to see the world through the prism of race and, worse, further divide Australians along the lines of race and ancestry.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith Launches Leadership Bid for Ontario Liberal Party

Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Nov. 15, 2022. (The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle)

Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith says hes running for the leadership of Ontarios Liberal Party, making him the first person to officially announce a bid.

The Liberal MP for the riding of Beaches-East York has been elected at the federal level three times since 2015 and says hes running to rebuild the provincial party.

The Ontario Liberals will announce a new leader on Dec. 2 to replace Steven Del Duca, who resigned after the party did not win enough seats in last years election to have official party status at the legislature for the second campaign in a row.

Erskine-Smith, a former lawyer, says in a video announcing his leadership bid that he will focus on issues such as access to health care, senior care, mental health and addictions, climate change and wealth inequality.

The Ontario Liberals have said the party will soon announce the opening date for official candidate registration, but a deadline of Sept. 5 has been set and candidates must have an entry fee of $100,000 and a refundable $25,000 deposit.

Party members will cast their votes by ranked ballot on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, with the Liberals set to announce round-by-round results the following weekend.

Erskine-Smith says he plans to kick off his leadership bid at a rally in east Toronto on Tuesday evening.

Others who have said they are exploring leadership bids include former Ontario cabinet minister Yasir Naqvi and current provincial caucus member and former MP Ted Hsu.
Trudeau Calls Metas Opposition to Bill C-18 Dangerous to Democracy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to reporters at the Liberal party convention in Ottawa on May 5, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Metas opposition to Bill C-18 dangerous to Canadas democracy and economy during a press conference on May 9.

Trudeau characterized the companys reasoning for its opposition as journalism having social value, but not really an economic value.

That argument that the internet giants are putting forward is not just flawed, its dangerous to our democracy and to our economy, Trudeau said. Putting aside the jobs and communities that are supported by local journalism, by professional journalists, understanding whats going on in the world around us, is an essential service.

Trudeaus quoted reasoning didnt make it clear that Meta representatives meant economic value to their company, rather than to the broader public.

Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act, would require companies like Google and Meta to negotiate deals with Canadian media outlets and pay them for the content they link to on their websites and platforms. Bill C-18 passed in the House of Commons and is currently before the Senate.

Tech giants Google and Meta have said they plan to block access to Canadian news content on their platforms if Parliament passes Bill C-18.

In order to comply, we have to either operate in a flawed and unfair regulatory environment, or we have to end the availability of news content in Canada. With a heavy heart, we choose the latter, Kevin Chan, Metas global policy director, told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on May 8.

On May 8, Metas head of public policy in Canada, Rachel Curran, told the committee, If we are being asked to compensate these publishers for material that has no economic value to us, thats where the problem is.

Chan also told the committee that news makes up just 3 percent of the content users see in their Facebook and Instagram feeds, while Meta provided news outlets with worth more than $230 million in free marketing in the 12 months from April 2021 to 2022.

Publishers choose to share their content because it benefits them to do so, whereas it isnt particularly valuable to us at all, he said.

Trudeau said the ability of journalists to challenge authorities in both democratic and non-democratic countries is a fundamental part of creating a better and fairer society.

Rigorous, challenging, independent journalism is essential, and the fact that Facebook is still saying that it doesnt want to pay journalists for the work they do, shows how deeply irresponsible and out of touch they are with how we need to ensure were protecting our democracies.

His comments were part of a response to a question about the Liberal Party members on May 6 adopting a non-binding resolution, dubbed combating disinformation, that could force journalists to reveal their confidential sources. Trudeau said on May 9 that his government wont be adopting the policy.
TEHRAN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran welcomes Syria's return to the Arab League (AL), said the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday.

At a weekly press conference in Tehran, the ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani congratulated Syria in regaining its place and its seat in the AL. He attributed the success to the "decisive victory" of Syria and the resistance front in the fight against "terrorism" in the country and people's support for the Syrian government.

Kanaani expressed hope that the countries of the region would be able to prepare the ground for greater regional cooperation and convergence based on common interests and through resolving their differences.

Kanaani added that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will, heading a delegation, travel to Moscow to take part in a quadrilateral meeting on Wednesday about Syria and the resolution of the differences between the Arab state and Turkiye.

He noted that in early April, a meeting on Syria was held in Moscow at the level of deputy foreign ministers among Turkiye, Russia, Iran and Syria, adding Iran has always highlighted the necessity of resolving the differences between Syria and Turkiye and has held talks with Damascus and Ankara within the same framework.

Arab foreign ministers decided in an AL extraordinary meeting held in Cairo on Sunday to restore Syria's membership in the league after 12 years of suspension.

Turkiye cut relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the conflict began in the Arab state.

The Turkish army has launched four large-scale operations in northern Syria since 2016. The most recent operation was launched in 2020.

Turkiye says Kurdish militants in northern Syria compromise its security through carrying out "terrorist" attacks. 
Trump and DeSantis to Hold Competing Iowa Events on Same Day

(Left) Former President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a 2024 election campaign event in Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 28, 2023. (Right) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to guests at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, 2022. (Logan Cyrus, Scott Olson/Getty Images)

As 2024s Iowa GOP caucus slowly approaches, two likely frontrunners are preparing to talk past each other from across the Hawkeye State.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump will hold competing events on May 13 in Iowa.

Trump will hold a Make America Great Again rally at Lauridsen Amphitheater, Water Works Park, in Des Moines, the states capital.

I am heading to Des Moines this Saturday to rally with the Great People of Iowa! Unlike Joe Biden, I protected Iowas First-in-the-Nation Caucuses, and always will, Trump said in a May 8 Truth Social post.

The Democratic Party has revised its caucus and primary schedule for 2024, making South Carolina its first-in-the-nation contest.

South Carolina was the first primary election won by current President Joe Biden in 2020.

Democratic presidential candidate former vice President Joe Biden speaks to the audience during a town hall in Greenwood, S.C., on Nov. 21, 2019. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Pete Buttigieg won the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus but lost the popular vote to Bernie Sanders. Sanders won the subsequent New Hampshire and Nevada primaries before Biden finally claimed South Carolina at the end of February.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said he did more for Iowa than anyone else in historyand will again!

The former commander-in-chief is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. on May 13. The event itself kicks off at 2 p.m.

DeSantis will appear at Rep. Randy Feenstras (R-Iowa) Iowa Family Picnic at Sioux Center, in the states northwest corner.

In Iowa, like Florida, freedom is valued, parents rights are protected, and faith comes first, he said when the event was announced in April.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, another 2024 contender, and former Vice President Mike Pence, a possible 2024 entrant, have also appeared at the picnic in past years.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event in the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 17, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

That same day, DeSantis will speak at an evening fundraiser for the Republican Party of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, almost three hundred miles east of Sioux Center.

Head to Head

Trump declared his candidacy in November 2022 shortly after the midterms.

DeSantis, by contrast, hasnt formally thrown his hat in the ring, though he is expected to do so in the next few days or weeks.

He has said he would decide after the Florida legislative session that ended May 5.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) waves to journalists as his wife Casey (left) looks one after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the latters official residence in Tokyo on April 24, 2023. (KIMIMASA MAYAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the final acts of that body was to alter the states resign-to-run law, clearing a key hurdle for the self-branded anti-woke state executive in his prospective bid for the presidency.

In recent weeks, DeSantis has toured early caucus and primary states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

He has also traveled internationally, visiting Japan and Israel.

During his visit to Israel, he signed a law to curb anti-Semitism in the state.

While some argue the law is needed and appropriate because of an uptick of anti-Semitic flyering and expression in Florida, others claim the law is too restrictive of free speech.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023 in Waco, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Trump held his first big 2024 rally in Waco, Texas, on March 25a venue that some characterized as controversial because it came three decades after the Branch Davidian compound siege in 1994.

Local Trump fans who spoke with Epoch Times reporter Janice Hisle rejected that comparison.
Trump Breaks Silence on Bud Light Controversy

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on August 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the Bud Light transgender influencer controversy for the first time over the weekend, suggesting people perform more boycotts of companies that pursue left-wing agendas.

Its time to beat the Radical Left at their own game, Trump wrote in a post via Truth Social on Sunday. Money does talkAnheuser-Busch now understands that.

Trump made the remark while promoting The Great Patriot BUY-Cott Book by Wayne Allyn Root, a conservative radio host and author, and Nicky Billou. The book offers a strategy to DEFUND Leftist Woke Companies and fund patriotic and Christian firms.

Great new Book by Wayne Allyn Root, Trump, the current leading GOP candidate for president, continued to say in what appears to be his first public comments on the issue. Buy your copy today!

The 45th president was responding to a highly visible public backlash against Bud Light after a transgender activist, Dylan Mulvaney, announced a partnership with the beer company. On social media, Mulvaney posted a Bud Light can that featured the activists likeness, although parent company Anheuser-Busch has since tried to distance itself from the controversyand Mulvaney.

Anheuser-Busch CEO Michael Doukeris told investors on a conference call last week that just one can of Bud Light was produced to feature Mulvaneys face, and he denied claims there would be an advertisement campaign. Mulvaney, however, wrote on TikTok that the two were involved in a partnership.

Going a step further, Doukeris told the Financial Times that the boycott was spurred by social media misinformation and confusion, adding: You have one fact and every person puts an opinion behind the fact. And then the opinions start to be replicated fast on each and every comment. By the time that 10 or 20 people put a comment out there, the reality is no longer what the fact is, but is more [about] what the comments were.

Last month, Donald Trump Jr. provoked criticism from some conservatives when he suggested consumers pull back from the boycott during a podcast. The eldest son of the former president appeared to be worried that Anheuser-Busch has been a significant donor to GOP candidates in the past and that a boycott might imperil future funding initiatives.

Then-President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up after arriving for Christmas Eve dinner at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Fla. on Dec. 24, 2019. Donald Trump Jr., his son, is pictured in foreground. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

So heres the deal. Anheuser-Busch totally [expletive] the bed with this Dylan Mulvaney thing. Im not, though, for destroying an American, an iconic, company for something like this, Trump Jr. said during his Triggered podcast. The company itself doesnt participate in the same leftist nonsense as the other big conglomerates. Frankly, they dont participate in the same woke garbage that other people in the beer industry actually do, who are significantly worse offenders when I looked into it.

Other 2024 Responses

Former Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, has spoken out about the Bud Light partnership with Mulvaney. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is expected to announce his 2024 run in the near future, told RealClearPolitics that a boycott was merited.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a possible 2024 candidate, has also been vocal about supporting the Bud Light boycott.

Why would you want to drink Bud Light? DeSantis asked in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, I mean like honestly, thats like them rubbing our faces in it, and its like these companies that do this, if they never have any response, they are just going to keep doing it.

He added that conservatives have power as consumers to make their voices heard on cultural issues. Not on every company, because sometimes conservative consumers arent going to make a dent in some companies, DeSantis added. This one is one if you dont have conservative beer drinkers, youre going to feel that.

Although some consumers might opt to look past the Mulvaney partnership, DeSantis argued its part of a larger thing.

Corporate America is trying to change our country, trying to change policy, trying to change culture, DeSantis added. Id rather be governed by We the People than woke companies. I think [the] pushback is in order across the board including with Bud Light.

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has not directly responded to the controversy over Mulvaney. But his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, alleged that the boycott has [led] to bomb threats and has to stop, without providing direct evidence.

We should be able to speak out and others should be able to speak out, against hate and discrimination, she told reporters at a briefing last month.

Bud Lights overall sales for the week of April 17 plunged by 26 percent, according to reports citing industry data. That came after a 21 percent drop the week prior, and an 11 percent decline the week before that.

The firm will triple its planned investment around Bud Light over the summer, Doukeris told investors last week, adding that it was offering more support to wholesalers and other frontline workers.
Trump Issues Warning Ahead of CNN Showdown: Could Turn Into a Disaster for All

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City on Aug. 9, 2022. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Former President Donald Trump promoted his Wednesday night CNN town hall in New Hampshire but issued a word of caution about what might happen.

Ill be doing CNN tomorrow night, LIVE from the Great State of New Hampshire, because they are rightfully desperate to get those fantastic (TRUMP!) ratings once again. They made me a deal I couldnt refuse!!! Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Lets see what happens? Wednesday Night at 8:00!!!

The former president did not elaborate on the deal he made with CNN, a network that was highly critical of Trump when he was president and after he departed the White House.

After CNN announced the Trump event, Democrats and corporate media commentators criticized the networks decision. They repeated often-used claims CNN shouldnt host Trump because of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

CNN parent company and Warner Brothers CEO David Zaslav pushed back against those allegations, saying that it is an opportunity to allow both voices to be heard before the 2024 election. Hes the frontrunner, he has to be on our network, Zaslav told CNBC last Friday.

We are a divided government. We need to hear both voices. Thats what you see. Republicans are on the air on CNN, Democrats are on the air. All voices should be heard, Zaslav stated.

The Warner Bros chief executive did not elaborate on whether the network would have a system in place to edit or censor Trumps comments. Last month, Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. accused ABC News of editing his remarks about COVID-19 vaccines and placing a disclaimer in a move that he described as censorship. ABC later confirmed editing Kennedys statements that were critical of vaccines.

A CNN spokesperson told news outlets last week that our job despite his unique circumstances is to do what we do best: Ask tough questions, follow up, and hold him accountable to give voters the information they need to sort through their choices.

Zaslav, who took control of the media giant and installed Chris Licht to replace Jeff Zucker as the head of CNN last year, added to CNBC that the town hall will be an opportunity to show CNN is a network about the facts  great journalism and not just politics, either. He added, When we do politics, we need to represent both sides.

But on Monday, multiple MSNBC hosts targeted CNN for allowing Trump, who polls show has a wide lead on the other GOP candidates, on one of its programs.

It feels to me like this is a pretty open attempt by CNN to push itself to the right and make itself attractive and show its belly to MAGA and to conservatives hoping that they will tune in, leftist MSNBC host Joy Reid said.

Her guest, the editor-at-large of anti-Trump publication The Bulwark, Charlie Sykes, claimed that CNN will not be able to filter for misinformation and suggested that the network should control the questions and the answers.

In journalism, you actually will control the questions and the answers, and youll have some sort of a filter for misinformation. CNN will not be able to filter or control the disinformation that Donald Trump puts out on the air live and CNN will not even be able to control the kinds of issues that are talked about, he claimed.

In recent years, CNN has often lagged behind both Fox News and MSNBC in terms of primetime ratings, including in the all-important 25-54 age demographic. But in a news release issued last year, the channel said that it reach[ed] more people in the U.S. in 2022 than any other cable news channel.

(L-R) Donald Trump, who was then a Republican presidential candidate, gestures as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz looks on during the Republican Presidential Debate, hosted by CNN, at The Venetian Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 15, 2015. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Zaslav took over the company after Discovery took control of HBO, CNN, and Time Warner in a merger last year. After naming Licht as CEO of CNN, the network severed ties with several of its top on-air personalities, including Brian Stelter and Don Lemon.

When you take a job like this you know you are giving of yourself and this is all youre going to do in the foreseeable future, Licht said last month about his tenure at CNN. The one part of the job that has proven itself to be a little bit more of a smack in the face [more] than I probably would have prepared myself for is just the absolute level of scrutiny, he continued.

Poll Numbers

It comes as an ABC News-Washington Post poll showed Trump besting President Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 matchup, with Trump leading the current commander-in-chief by about 6 percentage pointsalthough about 12 percent of respondents are undecided. Bidens approval rating, handling of the economy, and perceptions about his age were all underwater in the poll, released over the past weekend.

The poll results, aired live ABC News Sunday, drew a sharp response from host George Stephanopoulos, a former White House press secretary under the Clinton administration. He admitted that this poll is just brutal for President Biden.

You see real weaknesses in the coalition that powered Joe Biden to the presidency back in 2020. Biden carried independents by 13 points against Donald Trump. He is now trailing Trump by 9 points among those same voters, ABC News analyst Rick Klein said in response, adding that Biden has seen drops in his support amongst black voters, too.
Tucker Carlson Announces Hes Launching New Show on Twitter

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson released a video on Tuesday afternoon saying he will bring a new show to Twitter.

Starting soon, well be bringing a new version of the show to Twitter, Carlson said in his first remarks about his future post-Fox plans. Its the show weve been doing for the last six and a half years but will come to Twitter, he added.

We bring some other things, too, which well tell you about. But for now, were just grateful to be here. Free speech is the main right that you have. Without it, you have no others, Carlson said.

Carlson also praised Twitter, which was bought by Tesla owner Elon Musk late last year, for being one of the few platforms left that allow free speech. He noted that in the U.S. media business, there are rules governing what you cant say, which he said undermines the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment.

Speech is the fundamental pre-requisite for democracy. Thats why it was enshrined in the first of our Constitutional amendments, he added. Amazingly, as of tonight, there are not that many platforms left that allow free speech. The last big one remaining  is Twitter, where we are now.

Because of limits that are imposed on media figures and journalists, if one bumps against those limits often enough you will be fired for it, saying, Thats not a guess, thats guaranteed.

In the video, he did not elaborate on how long the show will be, when it will start, or if he came to an agreement with Musk. There were unconfirmed reports this week claiming that Carlson spoke with Musk about a possible program on the social media network.

Carlsons video has since racked up millions of thousands of views and impressions a few minutes after it was posted. A previous video that Carlson released on his account days after he left Fox generated nearly 100 million impressions.

On this platform, unlike the one-way street of broadcast, people are able to interact, critique and refute whatever is said. And, of course, anything misleading will get @CommunityNotes . I also want to be clear that we have not signed a deal of any kind whatsoever, Musk wrote.

Tucker is subject to the same rules & rewards of all content creators. Rewards means subscriptions and advertising revenue share (coming soon), which is a function of how many people subscribe and the advertising views associated with the content. I hope that many others, particularly from the left, also choose to be content creators on this platform.

The former Fox News host did not say anything about his former network, coming just over two weeks after the company released a statement saying it parted ways with him. Few details about his departure have been given so far, although there has been rampant speculation on why he left.

Bolstered by former Fox host Megyn Kellys allegations, there have been rumors that Carlson is looking to take action against his former network amid claims that he is still under contract until early 2025. A lawyer for Carlson, Bryan Freedman, responded to those reports by saying that the idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.

I dont know what drove Fox News to make this decision. And it was clearly Fox News decision because theyre not letting him say goodbye, Kelly said last month on her podcast. Thats my supposition. Thats not inside knowledge  talk about misjudging your audience yet again.

A potential public battle between Carlson and Fox News would shake up the broadcasting world even more, coming just two years after the networks viewership temporarily dropped after it called the 2020 presidential election contest in Arizona for Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump. The former president, in the meantime, has repeatedly criticized Fox and claimed it is veering to the left.

If Carlson publicly criticizes Fox, it could pare down the channels viewership even further. Since his departure, Fox News primetime ratings have seen a sharp decline across the board, sparking questions from analysts about whether it will be able to recover.

Ratings

The video comes just hours after Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch told investors on a conference call that the network has no plans to change its programming strategy, responding to a question about Carlson.

Australian-born media magnate Rupert Murdoch (C) flanked by his sons Lachlan (L) and James (R) in central London on March 5, 2016. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

Fox News has obviously a successful strategy, he said, suggesting that Carlsons exit was merely a tweaking of its strategy and wouldnt represent a major change of plans. As always, we are adjusting our programming and lineup and that is what we continue to do, Murdoch said, according to multiple news reports.

Since leaving, Fox News primetime ratings have dropped significantly. A replacement show, Fox News Tonight, too, has seen a sharp decline in ratings.

Viewership figures for the night of May 5 show that Fox News Tonight attracted only 90,000 people in the 2554 demographic coveted by advertisers, while MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes attracted 145,000. In comparison, Carlsons final show on April 21 obtained more than 270,000 in the 2554 demographic and drew about 2.6 million overall viewers.

Across all of March 2023, Carlson averaged well more than 3 million viewers per show, in part buoyed by his coverage of new footage of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

Morning host Brian Kilmeade was the first to take over Carlsons timeslot on Fox News Tonight, followed by Lawrence Jones. Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump White House press secretary, is hosting the show this week.

A Fox News spokesperson told news outlets Tuesday that the cable news network continues as the highest-rated cable news network in primetime and total day. The network also continues to be the most-watched cable news channel at 8 p.m. ET with Fox News Tonight.
US Crypto Exchange Bittrex Seeks Bankruptcy After SEC Complaint

Representations of virtual cryptocurrencies are placed on U.S. dollar banknotes in this illustration, on Nov. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex filed for bankruptcy protection three weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused it of operating an unregistered securities exchange for years.

On May 8, the crypto firm made the filing in a Wilmington, Delaware, court after announcing in March that it would wind down operations in the United States by the end of April.

Court filings also show that related entities Desolation Holdings LLC, Bittrex Malta Holdings Ltd., and Bittrex Malta Ltd. had also filed for bankruptcy.

The exchanges U.S. branch had already laid off 83 employees in February.

Bittrex was the latest crypto exchange to file for bankruptcy, joining FTX and other rivals like Celsius, Voyager, and BlockFi.

Several companies in the crypto industry have filed for bankruptcy over the past year, led by falling asset prices, increased regulatory crackdowns, and criminal charges in the case of the failed crypto exchange giant FTX.

Despite the impending shutdown of its American operations, the SEC decided to sue Bittrex in federal court in mid-April for allegedly violating regulations from 2017 through 2022, which was immediately denied at the time.

Bittrex was accused of failing to register with the SEC as a brokerage, exchange, and clearing agency, while bringing in at least $1.3 billion in revenue during that period.

Another Crypto Exchange Winds Down Its Operations

Richie Lai, co-founder and CEO of the American branch of Bitrrex, posted a tweet on May 8 that the bankruptcy filing was the cleanest way to bury the baby, but that the company still has 100 percent of all customer funds.

The Seattle-based exchange ceased its U.S. operations on April 30, and said that the bankruptcy filing would not impact Bittrex Global, which still serves customers outside the United States from its base in Liechtenstein.

Bittrex said that it was still holding crypto assets of American customers who failed to withdraw their funds before the end of April deadline.

The company declared those assets safe and secure and that it intended to ask the bankruptcy court for a limited reopening of customer accounts so that the remaining funds could be returned to customers.

According to court documents, Evan Hengel, Bitrrexs co-chief restructuring officer, promised customers a 100 percent like-kind cryptocurrency distribution under its liquidation plan that would enable them to access the platform to withdraw their crypto assets.

The crypto exchange said it had more than 100,000 creditors, with estimated assets and liabilities both worth between $500 million and $1 billion, according to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, which was shared on Twitter by Randall Reese of Chapter 11 Dockets, a bankruptcy tracker.

The company faced an untenable regulatory and economic environment given the lack of regulatory clarity in the U.S. [which] created a substantial negative economic impact on the digital asset industry and resulted in overlapping regulatory burdens and soaring regulatory costs, according to Hengel.

SEC Continues to Pursue Its Crackdown on Electronic Currency Sector

The SEC charged Bittrex Global and former CEO William Shihara on April 17 for allegedly encouraging cryptocurrency issuers who wanted to list their tokens on the exchanges platform to delete public statements that could lead regulators to investigate those token offerings as securities.

Todays action, yet again, makes plain that the crypto markets suffer from a lack of regulatory compliance, not a lack of regulatory clarity, SEC chair Gary Gensler said in a statement at the time.

The crypto exchange denied those allegations, saying that none of the digital assets on its platform were either securities or investment contracts. Oliver Linch, the current CEO of Bittrex Global, told Coindesk last month that it was a separate entity with no American customers and that it would fight those charges in court. Bittrex was an entirely separate legal entity and only provided services in the U.S. and only served U.S. customers. And theyre the ones that have had to shut down their operations  Global continues on providing the services to rest-of-world clients as it ever has, he said. However, the latest bankruptcy proceedings may make the parent companys fight more difficult.

Meanwhile, Bittrex had previously agreed to pay $24 million and $29 million, respectively, in a separate dispute with the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) for apparent violations of sanctions on certain countries and breaking anti-money-laundering laws. The exchange was accused of not preventing individuals located in the sanctioned jurisdictions of Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, and the disputed region of Crimea from using its platform between March 2014 and December 2017, according to the OFAC. Bittrexs court filing listed OFAC as its largest unsecured creditor, with more than $24 million owed to the Treasury Department. Other major creditors listed were mostly customers of the crypto exchange, with 16 unnamed entities maintaining at least $1 million in their accounts. Bittrexs largest remaining customer account has $14.6 million in assets, according to the bankruptcy documents. European Union Passes Crypto Regulations

Gensler demanded last year that any companies which help facilitate transactions in the cryptocurrency market must register with the SEC.

Last month, Gensler was grilled by the House Financial Services Committee over his handling of the crypto sector at the same time the European Parliament passed landmark new crypto-licensing regulations.

The European Unions Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation will apply to its 27 member states, along with the three additional states of Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland, which are within the European Economic Area.

The new rules sets out requirements for crypto-service providers and issuers that must be implemented on a national level.

In addition to the European Union, cities and nations from Dubai to Hong Kong are looking to supervise the industry in a more methodical way, said Linch. What were seeing is a growing realization that the most successful regulatory regimes are ones that have created a framework for crypto on a bespoke basis, Linch added. Now, thats why were regulated in Liechtenstein, in Bermuda, because what those jurisdictions did really early on is really get to grips with crypto, what the product is, what services, what the risks are, and say to people, OK, well, we can identify and manage. Heres how you do it safely. He said that years of experience as a financial regulatory lawyer in the Unite Kingdom taught him that agencies formulating their own regulation negatively stretch the boundaries of their legal authority.
US Efforts to Crack Down on Fentanyl Trafficking Face Resistance From the CCP

The ongoing fentanyl crisis is having detrimental effects on American society. Recently, federal law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on drug trafficking networks and prosecuting various Mexican drug cartels, showing their determination to dismantle the fentanyl trafficking chain. However, dismantling the ultimate source of the U.S. fentanyl crisis, namely, the supply of Chinese-made precursor compounds, still faces significant resistance from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin, has been a leading cause of death among Americans aged 1849 in recent years.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) worked with law enforcement agencies at all levels to seize more than 50.6 million fake prescription pills containing fentanyl in 2022, more than double the amount seized in 2021. In addition, law enforcement seized more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The total amount of fentanyl seized is enough to kill 379 million people, which is more than the total U.S. population of nearly 335 million.

According to data released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 107,735 people died from drug overdoses in the United States from August 2021 to August 2022, with two-thirds of those deaths involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl. Between 2019 and 2021, 196 Americans died from fentanyl poisoning every day.

The severity of the situation has made combating fentanyl trafficking a top priority for U.S. law enforcement. On May 2, the DOJ and its Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team and international partners announced that a multi-agency SpecTor enforcement effort in the United States, Europe, and South America resulted in 288 arrests, 117 firearms and 850 kilograms of drugs (including 64 kilograms of fentanyl products) seized, and $53.4 million confiscated in cash and cryptocurrency. The operation resulted in the largest number of arrests in JCODEs history.

DEA official Anne Milgram said drug cartels in Sinaloa and Jalisco in Mexico and the global networks they operate are killing Americans by delivering fentanyl to communities in the United States in a variety of ways. Milgram emphasized that the DEA will relentlessly pursue these drug trafficking networks wherever they may be hiding.

On April 14, the DOJ announced criminal charges against several leaders of a Sinaloa-based transnational drug trafficking ring and their associates around the world. Prosecutors alleged that the group used cargo planes, private jets, submarines, container ships, supply ships, speedboats, fishing boats, buses, railcars, trailers, cars, and interstate or foreign carriers to deliver the drugs. The group is believed to maintain a distribution network of couriers, tunnels, and stash houses throughout Mexico and the United States to engage in drug trafficking.

Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies: A Link in the Chain

Prosecutors said Sinaloa drug trafficking organizations purchased precursor compounds from China and manufactured drugs such as fentanyl in Mexico before shipping them to the United States for distribution. Before reselling, drug traffickers often mix fentanyl powder with other drugs such as cocaine and heroin; or sell fentanyl pills as fake prescription painkillers, resulting in many Americans unknowingly ingesting the opioid.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland told a budget hearing of the House Appropriations Committee on March 29 that Chinese-made precursor compounds are the ultimate source of the fentanyl crisis in the United States, and that the DOJ is confronting the issue on multiple fronts.

Also on April 14, the DOJ announced criminal proceedings against two Chinese suppliers of fentanyl precursors to Mexican drug cartels, as well as four related individuals. On the same day, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (DOT) also placed two Chinese entities and five related individuals on its sanctions list.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin claimed on April 17 that repeated U.S. sanctions have severely undermined U.S.-China bilateral cooperation on counter-narcotics.

In reality, however, the CCP had announced a moratorium on cooperation with the United States on drug enforcement after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August of 2022.

Chinas Dual Enforcement Standard

Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, a U.S. think tank, spoke at a March 23 hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on The CCPs Business Model Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis.

Felbab-Brown said that the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations have devoted diplomatic focus to induce and impel China to tighten its regulations vis-a-vis fentanyl-class drugs and their precursor chemicals and to more diligently enforce these regulations.

However, she said the CCP has always viewed cooperation on drug control as political leverage, and as tensions between the United States and China have increased, the likelihood of stronger cooperation between the two countries has diminished.

Felbab-Brown explained that in practice, the CCPs international law enforcement cooperation has often been highly selective, self-serving, limited and subordinate to its geopolitical interests. At the same time, the CCP rarely takes action against the top brass of Chinese criminal organizations; and the CCPs systemically corrupt environment even provides a party umbrella for criminal organizations.

Also at the March 23 hearing (pdf), former CIA intelligence officer and DOT agent John A. Cassara told Congress that the CCP is a dictatorship that controls Chinas internet and routinely removes websites that do not meet its strict censorship standards. Therefore, the fact that the Chinese regime has allowed hundreds of websites promoting fentanyl and its precursors to operate, allowing the illegal fentanyl network to grow, is deeply troubling.

For example, Yuancheng Group, a chemical company in Wuhan, China, has registered on at least 112 websites and publishes fentanyl advertisements. Its records show that the group has sent fentanyl products to 43 countries.

In addition, despite its strict penalties for drug trafficking within China, the CCP usually imposes only civil penalties and small fines on Chinese companies that falsely label drug precursor chemicals for export. This constitutes a dual enforcement standard for drug sales within China and those that have an external impact, Cassara testified.

Is CCP Inc. using or permitting narcotics trafficking to the West as a form of asymmetric warfare to advance its long-term strategic goals? Cassara asked. The CCPs fentanyl trafficking kills tens of thousands of people and destroys countless families and communities in the United States and around the world each year. It costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually in lost productivity, health care, and criminal prosecutions. If the CCP sees this as a silent war with the United States, the impact is undoubtedly clear.
US Sanctions Additional Sinaloa Cartel Members for Alleged Role in Illicit Fentanyl Trade

The US Department of State building is seen in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2019. (Photo by Alastair Pike / AFP) (Photo by ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)

The United States announced on May 9 it has sanctioned four members of the Sinaloa Cartelincluding the son of druglord El Chapofor their alleged role in illicit trade of fentanyl and other drugs.

The U.S. Treasury Department also announced it has sanctioned two Mexico-based companies.

Financial sanctions were levied against JoaquIn Guzman Lopez, Saul Paez Lopez, Raymundo Perez Uribe, and Mario Esteban Ogazon Sedano. JoaquIn Guzman Lopez, who was not in custody, is a member of the Chapitos, who are the sons of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

El Chapo himself is serving a life term in the federal supermax prison near Florence, Colorado, after being convicted in 2019 on drug, firearms, and money laundering charges.

In a DOJ press release in April, Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, explained the poisonous nature of the Sinaloa Cartel and the work her agency did against the group.

The Chapitos pioneered the manufacture and trafficking of fentanylthe deadliest drug threat our country has ever facedflooded it into the United States for the past eight years and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, she said.

In a May 9 statement, the Treasury Department explained the significance of the latest actions it has taken in the fight against fentanyl.

Todays action continues to disrupt key nodes of the global illicit fentanyl enterprise, including the producers, suppliers, and transporters, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson in a statement. Treasury, in close coordination with the Government of Mexico and U.S. law enforcement, will continue to leverage our authorities to isolate and disrupt Los Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartels operations at every juncture.

The two Mexico-based firms sanctioned over their alleged involvement in the illicit fentanyl market were Sumilab, a chemical and lab equipment company, and real estate business Urbanizacion, Inmobiliaria y Construccion de Obras. The latter is allegedly connected to Sedano, according to the department.

The production and trafficking of illicit drugs is a global health and security threat that exacerbates the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

Todays action is part of the United States ongoing effort to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that facilitate the illicit supply of fentanyl and other narcotics. The United States is leading this effort at a global level.

The State Departments Narcotics Rewards Program is offering up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who is under multiple indictments by the United States on federal drug trafficking charges.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against more than two dozen individuals of the Sinaloa Cartel for alleged illegal trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs.

According to the DOJ, fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1849, and it has fueled the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging families and communities across the United States for approximately the past eight years.
IN-DEPTH: Virginia Congressman Leads Effort to Reform the Public Education System

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) speaks during a news conference with the House Freedom Caucus on the debt limit negotiations at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 10, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A Virginia Congressman said recently that the education system in the United States is undermining American values and threatening the countrys very survival by promoting an anti-American curriculum.

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) has made it his priority to empower parents and get the government out of education completely.

Were literally losing our country through our K12 government education system and on our college campuses, Good said during a May 8 webinar on school choice. What Im trying to do, of course, is to reduce the federal [governments] role in education and the harm thats being done by the policies that are already enforced.

Goods office has led the charge to reign in federal policies that he said targeted parents via the Department of Justice (DOJ), when U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland authorized the FBI to investigate parents who criticized school district official and spoke out at school board meetings, as in the case of Loudoun County, Virginia.

Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington on May 2, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Parents Bill of Rights

Republicans introduced the Parents Bill of Rights Act in the House in March and passed the bill in a vote of 213208, mostly along party lines.

The act addresses the education issues that were highlighted at the Loudoun County School Board meetings beginning in 2021. Good worked to give teeth to the original bill, which he said did not address the issues parents were most concerned about.

Goods office worked via the Education Subcommittee to strengthen the bill.

We really led the fight in amending that bill and making it stronger to deal with some of the issues that parents are most concerned about or that are negatively impacting our kids, said Good.

Even his own party members told Good not to take the bill too far in the conservative direction, because it might lose support, but Good was clear that the legislation had to address major issues, like transgender ideology in schools, vaccine mandates, and masking, he said.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthys lengthy battle for the top spot in the chamber when Republicans took back the House was worth it, Good said.

One of the benefits that came out of the speaker battle that we had four months ago was empowering regular order, where you work with committees of jurisdiction, and empowering regular members of Congress to have input on legislation, he said.

House Republicans Parents Bill of Rights screenshot (Rep. Kevin McCarthys website).

Good said five amendments were added to the parental rights bill, including a provision to ensure that parents know what their child is being taught and how they are being treated by requiring schools to notify parents if their child is being treated as the opposite gender from their biological sex.

The bill also ensures that parents have the sole authority to decide vaccine compliance and that they have access to all curricula without paying high fees for copies.

In addition, the bill ensures that law enforcement cannot target parents for voicing their concerns at board meetings or at their childs school.

Legislative Road Blocks

The parental rights bill will likely die when it reaches the Senate, where Democrats have the majority.

Progressive lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) criticized the bill as being anti-transgender, calling it heinous.

Therefore, Republicans have to find other ways to improve the current education system and prevent anti-American and anti-capitalist curriculum, critical race theory ideology, and anti-merit policies from continuing to ruin education, Good said.

While the GOP tries to enact these education reform laws, parents need to push back against anti-American curriculum and dangerous transgender ideologies by getting involved at the local level, particularly with their school boards, Good added.

Craig DiSesa, president of the Middle Resolution policy alliance, also spoke during the webinar.

Thats how we enforce getting rid of divisive teachings in the schools, DiSesa said, referring to parent involvement.

Virginia lawmakers have filed four 2023 school choice related bills, which Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid (R) fielded questions about when meeting with parents at Langley High School in McLean, Va., on Jan. 10, 2023. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

School Choice

Virginia does not score well on school choice because the state has zero options for parents, including crossing zip code boundaries to attend a better school, said Good.

Most parents understand that school choice is important because many conservatives homeschool their children, and many whose children attend failing schools want better choices. Good introduced the Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere (CHOICE) Act in January to provide more options for families.

DiSesa said school choice is a key element in empowering parents in their childs education and well-being.

According to the congressman, Democrats do not support school choice because they want to control what is taught to children, and they also want the money that comes with those state and federal dollars based on the enrollment.

However, because so many parents across the country want school choice, Republican lawmakers have introduced a number of bills to give parents more options for improving their childs educational outcomes.

According to a 2022 RealClear Opinion Research poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 registered voters, school choice was supported by a majority of respondants, with 72 percent in favor compared to 18 percent opposed.

This held across party lines, with 68 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of Republicans, and 67 percent of independents saying they support such policies.

The School Choice Act would allow Title 1 federal funds (which are typically a fraction of local school funds) to follow the student by being deposited into a savings account, and parents or guardians would be permitted to use the funds for private school or alternative public schools.

Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah) helped introduce another bill called The Educational Choice for Children Act, which would allow tax credits for corporations or individuals who make charitable contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

The Department of Education in Washington on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images)

Education Reform

Good wants to completely dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Good have sponsored a bill to immediately and completely eliminate the agency, which has a budget of nearly $175 billion.

Until that happens, Republicans have been trying to improve public education with bills like the Empowering Local Curriculum Act (pdf) and the Defending Students Civil Rights Act (pdf), introduced during the 117th Congress, which would have paved the way to remove critical race theory from school lessons and given parents the final say in what their children learn.

The Empowering Parents Act (pdf), also introduced in the last Congress, would have allowed parents to bring legal actions against schools that violated those laws.

Good also introduced the Championing Our Parents Act, which would have prohibited federal dollars from being used to fund law enforcement to carry out Garlands 2021 directive to investigate parents.

The federal governments money, while a small percentage of what states put toward public education, comes with lots of strings attached, and the federal agencies bully and intimidate school officials to comply with the DOEs agenda, said Good.

According to DiSesa, Congress only provides between $1,000 and $2,500 per student. The federal government provides only 7.9 percent of public education funding, according to Education Data Initiative.

We ought to tell the federal government to take that meager amount and shove it, said Good. Its really not worth it to suffer under the heavy, oppressive hand of the federal government for the meager amount of education dollars that come from the federal government.
Virginia Jail Escapee Captured After Seeking Medical Help

FARMVILLE, Va.A second inmate who escaped from a Virginia jail last week was apprehended Monday after he showed up at a local university and asked for medical assistance.

The inmate, identified by jail officials as Bruce Callahan, was detained by Longwood police after he walked into Lancer Parka 50-acre residential community owned by Longwood Universityand pulled an outdoor fire alarm, university officials said in a statement.

Callahan, who was injured and in poor health, surrendered to police and asked for medical treatment, the officials said. School officials did not disclose the nature of his injuries. Farmville police assisted in the arrest.

Callahan and another inmate escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville on April 30. The other inmate, 26-year-old Alder Marin-Sotelo, was captured in Mexico on Thursday. Marin-Sotelo is charged in the 2022 killing of a North Carolina sheriffs deputy. Callahan was being held on federal drug and weapons charges.

Both Marin-Sotelo and Callahan were federal detainees with no affiliations to the area, the sheriffs office said.
White House Urges Israel, Palestinian Islamic Jihad to De-Escalate Amid Violence

A fire burns after the Israeli military struck Islamic Jihad targets, it said in a statement, in Gaza on May 9, 2023. (Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

The White House on May 9 called on Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to de-escalate amid tensions between the two groups, with the latter launching hundreds of rockets in the past month.

We are closely following Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that killed three leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a National Security Council spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

Israel has the right to protect itself and defend its people from indiscriminate rocket attacks launched by terrorist groups, continued the spokesperson. We are also aware of reports that 10 civilians were tragically killed in the Israeli strikes. We call for all parties to de-escalate the situation. The U.S. commitment to Israels security remains ironclad.

Israel launched Operation Shield and Arrow on May 8.

Terrorism is a threat to civilians everywhere. [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad and its leaders have been threatening the security of Israelis for too long. The IDF has launched a targeted campaign against Islamic Jihad in Gaza, posted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Twitter with a video explaining who PIJ is and stating that Israel will stand against terrorism.

On May 9, Israel took out three top leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is a U.S.-designated terrorist group: Khalil Bahitini, Tarek Az Aldin, and Jahed Ahnam.

Bahitini was entrusted with approving and carrying out all terrorist activities from northern Gaza as well as, planning and directing terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and planned shooting attacks against Israel in the immediate future, he was also responsible for the rocket fire toward Israel in the past month, according to the IDF.

Az Aldin was the director of Palestinian Islamic Jihads operations in the West Bank from Gaza, according to the IDF.

He was entrusted with planning and directing multiple attacks against Israeli civilians, the coordination between the Islamic Jihad in Judea and Samaria, as well as transferring funds for terrorism from Gaza to Judea and Samaria, according to the IDF.

Az Aldin was also responsible for disturbing inciting content of the terrorist organization in Israel meant to promote and encourage terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, the IDF said.

According to the IDF, Ahnam entrusted with coordinating weapons and money transfers between the Hamas terrorist organization and the Islamic Jihad.

In addition to the three senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad members, 10 others were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh warned of retaliation for the strikes.

Assassinating leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, he said in a statement.

In a statement, Palestinian Islamic Jihad threatened that the Palestinian response to this heinous aggressive massacre will not be delayed.
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Ethnic clashes in India's northeastern state of Manipur have claimed about 60 lives, according to a senior official.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh told media that a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the violence to identify people responsible for the violence. He put the death toll at 60.

"Around 60 people have lost their lives so far, while 231 have suffered injuries in the violence. Also, about 1,700 houses were burned down in the unfortunate incidents (rioting) on May 3," Singh said, while appealing to restore peace and calm in the northeastern state.

Singh also informed that people stranded at different locations were being provided with all possible care and support.

"Till now, 20,000 such persons have been evacuated and about 10,000 remain stranded," he said.

Large-scale violence broke out in the state last week during a tribal protest demonstration over the inclusion of the non-tribal Meiteis community for a scheduled tribe status.

Scheduled tribes in India are officially designated as disadvantaged socio-economic groups. They are given reservations in education and jobs with the aim to improve their lives.

Thousands of people took part in the rally during which violence broke out between tribals and non-tribals.

Reports said schools, houses, churches, vehicles and public properties were set ablaze by protesting mobs in the state.

Photographs and video footage captured during violence showed buildings set on fire, thick black smoke emanating from the streets.

The authorities deployed over 100 columns of the army and paramilitary forces in a bid to put the violence under control.

On Sunday, the army increased its surveillance in violence-affected areas through aerial means such as drones and the deployment of military helicopters.

In addition, a shoot-at-sight order was issued in "extreme cases".

India's federal home minister Amit Shah Monday told a local television channel that the situation in Manipur was under control.

Internet services remained suspended in the state and curfew continued to remain in place at various places.

On Monday, the authorities relaxed the curfew at a few places to allow people to purchase daily essentials. Some shops reopened in Imphal and cars were seen plying on roads.

Although life appears to be back to normalcy, locals said the tension remains palpable.

Officials said efforts to recover looted arms and ammunition from police armories were underway. 
Applications invited for TiE Nagpurs TiE Women Pitching Competition Year4





Business Bureau

TiE Nagpur organised the launch of TiE Women Pitching Competition Year4, on May 6 at Laburnum Hall, Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur. The launch of TiE Women Year-4 was done by Poonam Lala, Chairperson, Lady Entrepreneurs Wing, Vidarbha Industrial Association (VIA) and Bhagyashree Deshpande, Director (Academics), Abhyudaya Global Village School.

Poonam Lala shared her experiences and entrepreneurial journey inspiring and motivating all entrepreneurs to promote women entrepreneurship. Bhagyashree Deshpande shared her experience from a corporate, well-paid job to being a Director at Abhyudaya Global Village School, which works for 22 villages around Nagpur, teaching and imparting knowledge through practical and live examples. TiE Nagpur thanked its Core Committee Dr Tejinder Singh Rawal, Chairperson, Convener Poonam Khandelwal and Neeraja Kartik for their support. TiE Nagpur invites applications for TiE Nagpurs TiE Women Pitching Competition Year4. The competition will be held in 2 phases  chapter level and global level. At the chapter level all the shortlisted candidates will be provided with masterclasses, 1-1 mentoring and feedback sessions, followed by a chapter finale.
BJP seeks Congs derecognition, FIR against Sonia over Ktaka sovereignty remark





BENGALURU/NEW DELHI,

THE BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and derecognition of her party for her use of the term sovereignty for Karnataka during the State poll campaign. The party also demanded an FIR against her. A BJP delegation headed by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in Delhi over the issue. Karnataka is a very important member State in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member State of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous and pernicious consequences, the party said. Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh, who was part of the delegation besides BJP MP Anil Baluni and leader Om Pathak, cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised. The BJP also submitted a copy of the Congress tweet quoting Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson, on the issue.
Bundelkhand scaling new heights





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

Aiming to push the boundaries of Bundelkhands identity beyond famous temples, MP and BJP State Head VD Sharma is making strides for 360 degrees development of the region. The region which is tagged with unemployment, poverty and labour migration issues is emerging as a tourist hub, religious centre of the country, moreover, mitigating labour migration. It is MP Sharmas efforts that Khajuraho station will now be known for its world class station facilities. While Khajuraho is internationally recognised for its rich architectural grandeur of the Western Group of temples that UNESCO recognises as world heritage, the districts of Chhattarpur and Panna have lesser-known destinations that can serve as model local tourist destinations. Vision of the Member of Parliament V D Sharma and BJP State President is going to add many feathers to this area.

Talking to The Hitavada, State Head of BJP Sharma who has vision for the region has said that since it is bestowed with natural beauty, near to Uttar Pradesh, religious importance, it has huge scope of development. This in turn proved to be a boon for the locals by creating employment prospects for them. E.g. Railways will fund farmers for setting up solar power units in Khajuraho. We are working to increase road, rail and aviation connectivity. It will give impetus to economic progress.

Facilities will also be augmented at Maharaja Chhatrasal Railway Station in Chhattarpur. Now, I feel there should be some reflection of Great Maharaja Chhatrasal Ji in here. Either there should be his statue or other art piece which will depict his life. There is an ample scope to increase rail connectivity. It is my wish to start a train connecting Varanasi and Bundelkhand. Since the belt has natural beauty as well as religious significance. Notably, the influence of Bageshwar Dham has increased in the region in a short span of time and people from other parts of the country arrive and stay here. When we asked, the region is marked with droughts, short-term rain, intermittent dry spells, flooding in fields and abrupt change in temperature. It all adds to the uncertainties and seasonal migrations. When will work on countrys first river linking project Ken-Betwa project begin on ground?

Replying to The Hitavadas query, he said it is on fast track. The Centre has earmarked Rs 14,000 crore for the implementation of this project. In two-three months foundation stone will be laid done. It will be proved of great importance to fulfill irrigation and drinking water requirement of Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Datia, Damoh, Raisen, Vidisha, Sagar, Shivpuri regions. It will turn agriculture scope in the region to a brighter one. It will enhance agriculture and industrial activities in the region. more major projects on natural farming will soon be kick started. The region has hosted a series of international events whether it is global investors summit where crores rupees MOUs were inked or G-20 meeting. Visitors were enthralled with the beauty of temples. Administration has started work on war footing in Khajuraho Constituency. Work on expansion on residential (From 52 hect to 189 hect), Trade (( From 30 hect. to 153 hect.) and Industrial (1.13 hect to 16.63 hect) and Creational area is going on. This will benefit Rajnagar and adjacent eight villages namely Achnar, Lalgunwa, Jatkara, Kharohi, Lalkhedi, Tikuri and Bameeta.
Date for admissions under RTE extended till May 15





Staff Reporter

The Department of Education, Government of Maharashtra, has given further extension to the 25% admissions done under Right to Education Act (RTE). The process was to complete on Monday. Now, parents have chance to confirm admissions of their wards till May 15, 2023. The process of children taking admissions to various schools began on April 13, and was to end on April 25, but it got extended to May 8. Because of poor response from parents to confirm admissions, the Education Department has extended it further.

In Nagpur, there are 653 schools with a total of 6,577 seats. The department received applications from 36,490 students, of which 6,513 students have been selected. Till now 2,423 students have confirmed their admission.

According to district-wise statistics, except a few districts, the response from the parents is not very good. In Akola of the selected 1,924 wards, 1,249 confirmed admissions. Similarly, in Amravati of 2,287 selected students, 1,293 confirmed; in Bhandara, of the selected 763 candidates, 443 have confirmed; in Buldana 1,449 confirmed of the selected 2,203 candidates; in Chandrapur, of the 1,456 selected candidates, 720 have confirmed; in Gadchiroli, 260 wards have confirmed the admissions of the selected 433 ones. Of the selected 863 wards, 554 have confirmed their admissions in Gondia; in Wardha 668 of the 1,111; in Washim 442 of the selected 775; and in Yavatmal, 1,026 wards confirmed of the selected 1,917 students.

Sharad Gosavi, Director of Education (Primary) said, The selection process is being conducted in a transparent manner so parents should not fall prey to any agents or institution. The students selected under 25% quota will not get any step-motherly treatment. Schools have to take care that these students should not be deprived of education. The parents of the wards whose names are selected for the admission must have received the SMS to this effect. If parents have not received any SMS, they can check on official website. Secondly, if the name of child appears in list that does not mean the students would get admission in desired school.
Ensure security, relief toviolence-hit in Manipur:SC to Centre, States





NEW DELHI :

CONCERNED over the loss of lives and properties, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Manipur Government to take necessary steps for raising security and relief and rehabilitation efforts for those hit by ethnic violence in North-Eastern State, after taking note of submissions that no untoward incidents have been reported there in the last two days. Terming the aftermath of theviolencehumanitarian issues, a bench headed by Chief JusticeDY Chandrachud emphasisedthat due arrangements mustbe made in the relief campsand the people sheltered therebe provided with basic amenities like food, ration and medical facilities. We are concerned verydeeply about the loss of livesand properties, the apex court observed.

The bench, also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, directed all necessary steps be taken for rehabilitation of those displaced and adequate efforts for protecting places of religious worship. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the state government, informed the bench aboutthe steps taken to deal withthe situation.He said 52 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, besides Army and Assam Rifles contingents have been deployed in the violence-hitareasofManipur. Flag marches are being conductedindisturbedareas, he told the bench. Meanwhile,ManipurChief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religiousplacesburntintheethnic violence that rocked the Northeastern State for the past few days. Addressing a press conference here, the CM said that the state cabinetresolvedtoprovideexgratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased.
Farmers break through barricades to join wrestlers protest in Delhi





NEW DELHI,

SEVERAL farmers broke through police barricades on Monday to join the wrestlers protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh here even as Delhi Police denied any untoward incident at the site. Purported videos showed farmers climbing the barricades and even dragging and pushing some of them away in a bid to enter the protest venue. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said the incident occurred when some farmers were in a hurry to reach the dharna site. The barricades were removed to escort the farmers into the site and the meeting was being held peacefully, he added.

A group of farmers were escorted to Jantar Mantar. At entry barricades they were in a hurry to reach the dharna site and some of them climbed the barricades which fell down and were removed by them. Policemen kept the barricades aside to facilitate their entry, the DCP said in a tweet. The protesters have reached the dharna site and the meeting is going on peacefully, he added. Police insisted that there was no clash with the protesters and that the cops at the site were facilitating the protesters and ensuring a peaceful gathering.
IAFs MiG-21 crashes in Raj, 3 villagers killed





JAIPUR :

Pilot ejected from plane and is undergoing treatment at the Suratgarh military hospital

A MIG 21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on a house in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on Monday, leaving three women dead and as many others injured on the ground, police said. The pilot ejected from the plane and is undergoing treatment at the Suratgarh military hospital, IG, Bikaner range, Om Prakash said. The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of a village, he said Three women have died in the incident and three others are injured, he said. In a statement, the IAF said, A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning.

The pilot ejected safely, sustainingminorinjuries.An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident, it said. The Suratgarh AirForce stationis in Ganganagar district which is close to Hanumangarh. SP, Hanumangarh, Sudheer Chaudhary saidthe plane crashed on the house of one Ratti Ram, killing his wife Basho Kaurandt wo other women identifiedas Leela Devi and Banto Kaur. Burn injuries led to the deathofthewomen,he said, addingthreepeoplewerealso injured.Accrording to initial reports, the house of Ratti Ram was completely damaged besides some nearby houses.

A local resident said he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Within seconds, the plane crashes on the house ofRattiRamandwoodstored in the house caught fire. Local people immediately started efforts to douse flames with the help of water and sand. Fire brigade and police reached the spot and the women were taken to a hospital, the local resident told reporters in Hanumangarh.
IAF working on phasing out remaining three squadrons of MiG-21s





NEW DELHI,

THE crash of a MiG-21 jet in Rajasthans Hanumangarh on Monday has once again put the spotlight on the Indian Air Forces aging fleet of Soviet-origin aircraft which have been involved in around 400 accidents since their first induction in the early 1960s.

The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time. After its induction in the early 1960s, the Indian Air Force procured over 870 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess. However, the aircraft has a very poor safety record. According to official data, the MiG-21s were involved in 400 crashes in the last six decades.

At present, the IAF has three MiG-21 squadrons with a total of around 50 aircraft, according to officials. The IAF last year finalised a timeline of three years to phase out the remaining Mig-21 fighter squadrons. The IAF also plans to start the phasing out of the three squadrons of Mig-29 fighter jets in the next five years, they said.

The plan to phase out the Soviet-origin aircraft fleet is part of the IAFs modernisation drive. The MiG-21 phase-out plan is on track, said a military official. The official said the phase-out plan is not linked to the recent accidents involving the platforms. As part of the IAFs modernisation plan, the Defence Ministry in February 2021, sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 83 Tejas jets. The IAF has already procured 36 Rafale jets to enhance its combat capabilities. The IAF is also in the process of acquiring 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). In March last year, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhat said in Rajya Sabha that 42 defence personnel were killed in accidents involving aircraft and helicopters of the three services in the last five years. The total number of air accidents in the last five years was 45 out of which 29 involved IAFs platforms, according to official data.
Kamal Nath promises development of Seoni





Our Correspondent

SEONI,

Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President and former Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, who reached Udepani village of Seoni Assembly to address Congress workers, said that every election has a lot of meaning and the elections that are held after five months have great significance. Today in this election, it is in front of us how to keep our culture alive. There is no country in the world where there are so many religions, so many languages, so many castes. There are people of different religions in every village. So, brotherhood is the culture of our country. We connect hearts, connect relationships, keep the village connected. Today the attack on this culture has started, how to spread hatred, divide people.

The former Chief Minister further added, The Constitution of India is respected all over the world. But what will happen if Constitution goes into wrong hands? Hindi controversy in Tamil Nadu, Khalistan slogans in Punjab. What is happening in Manipur for the last seven days is know to all. Disputes, violence between different castes. So many people died in Manipur. Where is the culture of our country going? We all have to become protectors, this is the challenge before us. Addressing the general assembly, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that in the 15-month Congress Government, two-and-a-half month had passed in the code of conduct of the Lok Sabha. The Congress did the work of waiving off the loans of 27 lakh farmers of the State in the first instalment.

Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath said I have an old relation with Seoni. It is very disappointing to see this today. There are no means of irrigation, no industries here. Not even engineering colleges. Youth are wandering jobless in Seoni, this is the biggest challenge. Seoni is my neighboring district, if I get support from here, I will connect it with Chhindwara. Seoni people lives on in hearts and minds. When the Machagora project was being made, I had asked how much water Seoni would get from the project. Many people of Chhindwara are also angry about this. Seoni did not get the benefit it was supposed to get from Machagora. He alleged that the condition of the canals is bad, corruption has been done in the construction. Earlier, Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath was warmly welcomed by a large number of Congressmen on the dais. Kamal Nath welcomed people who took membership of Congress into the party.

On this occasion, District Congress In-charge General Secretary, District Panchayat Vice President Brajesh Singh (Lallu) Baghel, Acting President Sevakram Chandravanshi, Rajesh Manathakur, Aishwarya Sumit Mishra, Nitin Shukla, Mandalam President Sardar Singh Baghel, Tikendra Bintu Deshmukh, Tarsingh Uike, Bhishmapratap Singh Appu Thakur, Dupendra Amule, Vijay Uike, Khelansingh Rahangdale, Ghanshyam Daheria, Sardar Baghel, Ganesh Uike, Mahendra Parte, Birsingh Uike, Shailendra Harindrawar, Vinod Marskole Bhurkal Khapa, Roopsingh Yadav, Ismail Khan, Anil Marskole Bhurkalkhapa and a large number of Block Congress Committee Seoni rural along with the office bearers and villagers were present.
Kerala Govt orders probe into boat tragedy, toll 22





MALAPPURAM :

A DAY after the tragic tourist boat accident that claimed the lives of 22 people including women and children, the Kerala Government on Monday announced a judicial probe into the matter and decided to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased. The boat capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur area around 7.30 pm on Sunday. According to district officials, 15 of the deceased are minors aged eight months to 17 years.There were 37 persons onboard the ill-fated boat, Revenue Minister K Rajan said. Tanur police said a case was registered on Sunday itself against the owner of the boat, which reportedly did not have a licence to function. The owner, who was absconding, was apprehended by the police in Kozhikode on Monday. The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) also took a suo motu (on its own) case based on media reports. Addressing the media here after visiting Tirurangandi Taluk hospital and meeting the Kunnummal family that lost 11 members, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the accident a tragedy and said the Government would bear the treatment expenses of those receiving treatment Vijayan announced the probe and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to be given to the families of each of those who died in the boat capsizedafteranall-partymeeting held at Tanur in which senior Opposition leaders also participated, The all-party meeting has decidedona judicial inquiry in this matter.

The probe will cover technical issues related to the boatssafety,among other matters.A Judicial Commission comprising technical experts will be formed. A Special Investigation Team of the Kerala police will also probe the matter,Vijayan told the media. TheChiefMinistersaidthe Government had earlier set upasafetyprotocolfortourist boats and would examine whether the laid down protocols were followed or not in connection with the incident. He also informed the media that two out of the 10 people admitted to the hospital had been discharged, and currently there were eight under treatment.
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council, in a press statement issued on Monday, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Haiti.

The council members condemned the increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which they said undermine the peace, stability and security of Haiti and the region, calling on the perpetrators of the "abhorrent acts" to be brought to justice.

They stressed the importance of restoring efficient judicial institutions in Haiti in order to strengthen the fight against impunity.

The council members noted with grave concern the illicit trafficking flows of firearms and ammunition that enable gangs and other criminal networks to fuel violence in Haiti.

They reiterated the urgent need to prohibit the transfer of arms and related materiel of all types to non-state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion.

In the press statement, the council members reaffirmed their call to all political actors to engage constructively in meaningful negotiations to allow the holding of inclusive, free and fair legislative and presidential elections in Haiti, "as soon necessary conditions are met."

Taking note of the ongoing political process, they called for continued progress in the path to restoring Haiti's democratic institutions and encouraged efforts to ensure a wider participation in the political process. 
MASSACRES AND GUNS





BY GWYNNE DYER :

Americas problem is very bad, but its mostly cultural and political. Those who own guns own lots of them, but only three out of ten American adults own a gun at all. Gun ownership is almost twice as high in the southern states (the old Confederacy) as it is in the urban north-east.

H ERES how to sound wise when writing a story about mass killings and gun control. Last week saw two such massacres in Serbia (eight deaths and nine deaths respectively) and only one in the United States (eight killed in a mall in Allen, Texas). There was another mass killing in Texas on Saturday in the border city of Brownsville, but it was by car, so it doesnt count. Never mind.We still have enough to work with. Start with striking quotes from the relevant authorities. We walked around like zombies for 24 hours, not believing what has happened and looking for reasons, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who began his political career as a far-right Serbian nationalist during theYugoslav civil wars. Those wars were horrific, but they ended thirty years ago. Vucics shock was real, because the last mass killing in Serbia was ten years ago, and because one of the mass murderers was only 13 years old. By contrast, the official response in Texas was routine, almost perfunctory. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the shooting an unspeakable tragedy, but proposed no steps to prevent the next one. The local mayor, Ken Fulk, said that Allen is a proud and safe city, which makes today's senseless act of violence even more shocking. Really? There are safe cities in Texas? Having established Americans as habitual offenders and Serbs as shocked innocents, we now contrast the sane and serious Serbian proposals for stopping more gun massacres with the Americans fatalistic shrug. PresidentVucic is promising to do at once all the things that US gun-control campaigners have failed to get on the political agenda for decades.

In a nationwide TV broadcast, Vucic announced an almost complete disarming of the country: We will conduct a revision of all people who posses firearms, around 400,000 of them. [Serbias total population is about 6.6 million.] After these checks, there will be no more than 30,000 to 40,000 weapons legally owned. Penalties for illegal possession of firearms will be doubled. The remaining licensed gun-owners will face frequent psychiatric tests and random drug tests. So much for the permit-holders and their legal weapons. However, Serbia isalso awash with military weapons that soldiers took home with them after the Balkan wars of the 1990s  m aybe a million of them. There will be a onemonth amnesty to turn them in, but what will happen to those who dont? If they do not hand them over, we will find them, and the consequences will be dire for them, Vucic said. What a man! Why doesnt America have somebody like Vucic to end the gun slaughter? (American gun deaths are running at around 50,000 a year, although half of them are suicides.) What the United States needs is a hero to just sweep the guns aside! Etc., etc. The opinion piece practically writes itself. Indeed, ten thousand versions of it are being written by ChatGPT right now. But its all nonsense. Vucic is just saying what he thinks people want to hear right now. When he worked for the monster Slobodan Milosevic and Serbs wanted to hear that the massacres their own people were committing in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo were justified, thats what he told them.

His own history shows that his words and his deeds rarely match. There will be no mass disarmament in Serbia: thats not how Vucic plans to spend his political capital. But while Serbs come second in the world for gun ownership (58 guns per hundred residents, compared to 120 per hundred in the United States), they only kill a quarter as many people per capita with guns. The Serbs problem is not really all that bad. Americas problem is very bad, but its mostly cultural and political. Those who own guns own lots of them, but only three out of ten American adults own a gun at all. Gun ownership is almost twice as high in the southern states (the old Confederacy) as it is in the urban north-east (where the gun murder rate is almost down at the Canadian level). And while Americans (or at least some Americans) obsess about the high gun murder rate, they ignore the fact that most Latin American countries, from Mexico to Brazil, have even higher rates. So do many English-speaking islands in the Caribbean. Is there some common factor, current or historical, that drives up gun ownership rates in the Americas? And why dont the Latin Americans have much by the way of gun massacres by random crazies, even though they have more guns around. We know far less about the relationship between guns and murder than we think we do, and a little humility would go a long way on both sides.
MP Rakesh Singh, senior party leaders, workers watch movie The Kerala Story





Staff Reporter

Member of Parliament Rakesh Singh, along with senior party leaders and a number of workers watched the film The Kerala Story on Monday. Singh stated that the film illustrates an internationally organised conspiracy of religious conversion and love jihad. He believes that there is a need for massive public awareness to stop such activities.

During an informal talk with media after watching the film, Singh emphasised that the exploitation of women in India, including Kerala is not a new phenomenon. It has been happening for years, but now it is taking place in an organised way. The film depicts how all the limits of atrocities are being crossed in planned way of instigating women in the name of love jihad, wooing them and then taking them towards terrorism.

Singh explained that the film shows how people are conspiring to convert women on the basis of Islam and the brutal atrocities committed on them are clearly depicted. The film also highlights that about 32,000 girls have gone missing from Kerala State and this is the official figure. The number can be more than this and the work of increasing terrorism has been going on in the country for years.

The Member of Parliament also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for making the film tax-free in the State. He has appealed to the public to watch this film with their families. Singh believes that films like The Kerala Story play a key role in creating public awareness. He said the government and security forces are doing their work to curb terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, public awareness is also crucial and films can directly reach more and more people.
NHM work hits as thousands of contract staff go on strike





Staff Reporter

On Monday thousands of contract health workers of Madhya Pradesh went on indefinite strike called by the National Health Mission (NHM) Employees Union. Over 32,000 contractual employees of NHM along with their families and children protested State-wide demanding regularisations of jobs. For the last 20 days protesters are on strike which hit the vaccination, distribution of medicines, testings, medical support services across the State from primary health centre (PHCs) to hospitals. Protestors have demanded that the outsource contract practice should be abolished by removing it from the National Health Mission. The support staff employees should be merged again in the National Health Mission or adjustments should be made on the vacant posts in the department. Expelled employees should be taken back hundred percent.

Contract employees of National Health Mission should be regularised on vacant posts in the department. For other employees, the policy passed by the General Administration Department on June 5, 2018, should be implemented immediately at ninety percent pay scale equivalent to regular employees. CHO cadre should be regularised under MLHP. The employees on whom police cases have been registered during the indefinite strike from December 5 to January 3 should be taken back immediately. Meena Shukla, State President of Madhya Pradesh Community Health Officers Association, said that the protesters will continue with their strike untill all the demands are met. We want Government to fulfill our demands and regularise our jobs:, she said.
NIA team arrives in city to probe case of threat call to Gadkari





Staff Reporter

A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in the city for the investigation of threatening phone calls made to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The calls were made by a murder convict named Jayesh Pujari alias Kantha, who was arrested from a jail in Belgavi, Karnataka. While the NIA has registered a case at Bangalore in Karnataka, its Mumbai team has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Accordingly, a team of NIA Mumbai arrived in Nagpur, and started collecting documents and crucial leads in the case.

The NIA investigation will be crucial in uncovering the full extent of the terror network involved, and bringing the culprits to justice. Exploring the role of Lashkar-E-Taiba and the underworld will be the focus of the probe. On January 14, Pujari had made a threat call to Gadkari's public relations office, demanding Rs 100 crore and claiming to be a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. He made another call on March 21, threatening to harm Gadkari if Rs 10 crore was not paid to him. Pujari was brought to Nagpur on March 28 from a jail in Belagavi, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked against him.

After receiving green signal from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA officials launched an investigation into the terror angle as Pujari was found to have links with dreaded terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's South Division chief Captain Naseer. Pujari had also taken arms training in the North-East parts of the country. During Pujari's interrogation, it was revealed that he had met Naseer in jail and received training in bomb making. He also came in contact with other terrorists in the jail, including Fahad Koya, Afsar Pasha, as well as 'D' Gang members Rashid Malabari and Ganesh Shetty. These accused were supporting finance to Pujari in the jail. The police received information that Pujari gave a 'contract' to Shakeel to kill former Karnataka DCM Ishwar Appa. Shakeel was first arrested in 2018 for carrying drugs, and then in 2019, he was caught in the same crime. In 2021, he was arrested in a kidnapping and rape case. He met Pujari in jail, and Pujari helped him get bail.
Not in touch with Ajit Pawar, never contacted him, says Mah BJP chief





PUNE,

THE Bharatiya Janata Party never contacted NCP leader Ajit Pawar and certain imaginary news is being spread, State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed on Monday. He said, in fact, the junior Pawar is being targeted by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party, and Congress. Speaking to reporters in Pune on the sidelines of a conclave of BJPs in-charges of poll booths, Bawankule claimed Sharad Pawars decision to resign as NCP chief and subsequent U-turn was nothing but a nautanki (drama). He said the entire resignation episode was scripted.

Neither I nor Ajit Pawar have been in contact with each other for the last four months. In fact, the junior Pawar is being targeted by MVA. We (BJP) never contacted Ajitdada and imaginary news is being circulated, he said. Intense speculation about Ajit Pawars future political steps started doing rounds last month after Sharad Pawar reportedly told Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray that NCP will never join hands with the BJP, even if anyone takes an individual decision to do so.

On his part, Ajit Pawar had scotched such speculation and said he would remain in NCP till he lives. Queried about the churn caused by Sharad Pawars announcement to step down as NCP President and subsequent withdrawal of that decision, Bawankule said the developments in NCP over three days were a script and everyone knew about it.

I strongly believe so though some people may differ. But the pertinent question is how will a big leader like (Sharad) Pawar who became president of several cooperative bodies including Rayat Shikshan Sanstha by altering their constitutions, can allow anyone to become the president of the party founded by him? the BJP leader questioned. Bawankule said he knew about the recent game in the NCP. This episode was nothing but a vagnatya (folk drama).
Protests at Morarji Textiles turn violent, two policemen injured





Staff Reporter

The peaceful protests of over 2,000 workers of Morarji Textiles Company turned violent on Monday as the workers pelted stones at police officers on bandobast. In response, the police resorted to mild lathi charge, resulting in two officers being injured. The injured have been identified as DySP Bhimrao Tele and PSI Jagdish Paliwar of Butibori police station. The officers received head injuries in the stone pelting, police said.

On Monday, the situation reached a critical point when some workers drank poison and climbed onto a water tank, taking a Sholay style posture in a dramatic and desperate attempt to draw attention to their plight. The workers got angry when the management did not move even after some workers consumed poison, and they began throwing stones at the police, which injured the two officers, said police. The workers have been protesting for the past 13 days pressing for various demands. The demands include salaries, bonus, and layoff pay to workers, as well as reinstatement of suspended workers. The workers have not received their wages for four months, and many are struggling to support their families.

On May 1, 2022, the then Labour Minister Bachhu Kadu attended a Kamgar Anand Mela and ordered company officials to accept and fulfill the workers' demands. However, the company is yet to take any action, which has led to the workers starting the protests. Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishal Anand told The Hitavada that the workers were expecting a peaceful resolution of the issues whic could meet the needs of all parties involved. Police bandobast has been intensified in the company premises after Mondays incident, he said.
Rajnath opens IAF Heritage Centre in Chandigarh





CHANDIGARH :



This Centre depicts IAFs role in various wars, including in 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war, and the Balakot air strike through murals and memorabilia. This Centre will be a big attraction not only for the people of Chandigarh but also for the people living in other States, says Rajnath Singh

DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first-of-its-kind Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage Centre here on Monday and said it is a testament to the courage and dedication of all those who served in the force and a reminder of their invaluable contributions in protecting the nation. He further said this initiative will help in preserving the rich heritage of the IAF and also inspire the youth to join the Armed Forces.

The centre has been set up under a memorandum of understanding between the Union Territory of Chandigarh and the IAF which was signed last year. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher were present on the occasion. On this occasion, Defence Minister Singh sat in the MiG-21 aircraft on display at the centre. He also sat in a flying simulator. The centre is spread over 17,000 square feet. Its exhibits will be a source of inspiration for future generations and will showcase the indomitable spirit of the Indian Air Force, officials said.

tweeted the countrys first IAFHeritageCentrehasbeen dedicated to the nation. This centre isatestament to the courage and dedication of all those who have served in the IAF and a reminder of their invaluable contributions in protecting the nation, he tweeted. This Centre depicts IAFs role in various wars, including in 1965, 1971 and the Kargil war, and the Balakot airstrike through murals and memorabilia.This Centre will be a big attraction not only for the people of Chandigarh but also forthe people living in other States, he stated.

This wonderful initiative will help in preserving the rich heritage of the Indian Air Forceandalso inspire the young minds to join the armed forces, Singh said in another tweet. Theministeralsounveiled a plaque for the centre for cyber operation and security (CenCOPS). Speaking to reporters later, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari saidontheopening ofthe heritage centre, It is a proud moment for us. I am sure it will draw a lot ofyouths tojointheIAFonce they visit this, he said. Divided into various sections,theheritagecentre has several attractions such as aircraftmodels,aeroengines and weapons, including Gryazev-Shipunovtwin-barrelled guns.
Sutraa Exhibition at Hotel Tuli Imperial from today





Business Bureau

Its time for one of Nagpurs most anticipated events, the Sutraa Exhibition. It will be from May 9 to 10 at Hotel Tuli Imperial. This years edition will present a wide canvas of products in fashion, jewellery, lifestyle and gourmet, an impeccably curated showcase for women entrepreneurs from across the country who dont have their own retail presence. Their passion and unique individual stories give the exhibition a distinctive flavour. In the fashion segment of the exhibition, Riwaaz will present a delightful selection of footwear.

Usman will give you fashionable jewellery collection while Chintam will come up with Lucknovi Kurties and Plazo and Anchal will bring delightful selection of Chikankari. As people get ready to dress up their houses for the festive season, the exhibition presents an elegant curation of home wear and lifestyle products. For modern, out of the box home accessories, visit different stall at the exhibition.

Experience a remarkable business networking event where thousands of quality B2B trade visitors from Nagpur buys products from largest, newest and best brands and manufacturers, spread across different stalls. The customers may watch out for the years latest trends, designs, colors, innovations and technologies, all under one roof, beautifully crafted by leading manufacturers, artisans, designers and brands. It is the oldest and original trade platform for everything, says a press release.
Tajbagh Trust plots sold to 400 persons





Staff Reporter

After arresting former City President of Congress, Sheikh Hussain Abdul Jabbar on fraud charges, the Economic Offences Wing (EoW) is investigating another alleged gift deed fraud committed by Sheikh during his tenure as Chairman of the trust. A police official prvy to the investigation said that the land of trust in Tajbagh was allocated to around 400 families under a gift deed. The police are suspecting illegal financial transactions in the land allotment. Minimum Rs 1 to 2 lakh were charged to each family while allocating the land, the official said. Once the investigation is complete and the police laid hands on some concrete evidence, the police would proceed to register one more FIR against Sheikh, he added.

Sheikh is cooling his heels behind bars for his alleged involvement in a scam of Rs 1.5 crore in the Tajbagh Trust. The case was registered at the Sakkardara police station in connection with the embezzlement of funds without obtaining the permission of the Charity Commissioner or conducting an audit during his tenure as the chairman of the trust from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016. A police official said that Sheikh Hussain and former secretary Iqbal Ismail Velji were accused of embezzling Rs 1.5 crore in a span of five years during their tenure. Taj Ahmed Ali Ahmed Syed, who took over as Secretary after their tenure, discovered the alleged scam during an audit.

The investigation in gift deed fraud is likely to uncover names of other accused persons who were supporters of Sheikh. Notorious goon Abu was also involved in the allocation of the plots to the residents who is known as close aide of Sheikh Hussain. The police are likely to quiz Abu in this regard.
With cutting methane emissions key to keeping global warming below 1.5 deg C, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is launching an initiative to lower methane emissions from agricultural and small-scale farming.

Announced at the AIM for Climate Summit, the new programme will receive $3 million in support from the Global Methane Hub and $1 million in support from the US State Department.

Approximately 42% of methane emissions come from the agriculture sector, with emissions primarily originating from livestock through enteric fermentation and manure management, flooded rice cultivation and the burning of crop residues. While small-scale farmers contribute far less emissions than large-scale and industrial farming, they can nonetheless make a contribution to mitigation efforts.

A priority

The short atmospheric lifetime of methane means that acting now can rapidly reduce the rate of global warming, said Juan Carlos Mendoza, Director of the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division at IFAD. Reducing methane emissions is a priority and IFAD is investing with partners to make it happen in a way that generates global benefits but also leads to better livelihoods for rural communities.

This funding will provide smallholder farmers with the right policy and financial support to reduce their methane emissions while also increasing their food production and incomes. We are thrilled to be working with IFAD to make this programme a reality and help achieve the goals of the Global Methane Pledge, said Rick Duke, the US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate.

We have observed that when it comes to agricultural methane mitigation, international climate and development finance is insufficient in scale and poorly aligned to those regions where emissions occur, said Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Programme Director at the Global Methane Hub. We are confident that IFADs new programme will demonstrate how to successfully mainstream methane mitigation into agricultural development projects and unlock climate finance, and we fully expect other development partners will follow suit.

Requiring support

While over 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, established in 2020, and agreed to take voluntary action to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% no later than 2030, several countries require support to develop the right strategies and processes to achieve their goals in methane reduction.

The IFAD initiative will support the preparation of a guidebook to help countries integrate methane emission reductions in their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), mainstream methane reduction in their national planning, budgeting, and public investments procedures, and advance a pipeline of bankable interventions that pioneer methane reduction in the agricultural sector and food systems.

IFAD will provide technical assistance to 15 countries to support integrating methane reductions in their updated NDC for submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2025. The Fund will also assist these countries to design projects and blended finance solutions, to reduce methane emissions in agriculture and food systems.

Multiple advantages

The initiative will help to highlight the multiple advantages of a variety of solutions to reduce methane emissions. For example, approaches that introduce better feed, also promote animal health and husbandry. Specific techniques to use less water to grow rice, or using improved rice varieties that reduce the time between planting and harvesting, can also lead to increased rice production.

Reducing methane emissions doesnt mean producing less, on the contrary many agricultural practices are win-win solutions and can lead to emissions reductions and increased production and incomes for farmers. This is essential as many farmers live in poverty or are on the brink and many countries need to increase domestic production for local consumption, said Mendoza.

Last November, IFAD and the US State Department announced a new partnership to support small-scale farmers in developing countries to better adapt to climate change and further reduce highly polluting methane emissions and prioritise methane mitigation in upcoming IFAD projects valued at an estimated $500 million.-- TradeArabia News Service
BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- "A letter from family worth ten thousand in silver." This line from ancient poet Du Fu (712-770) reflects the deep emotions that the Chinese people have for their family and homeland.

More than a century ago, when emails and WeChat did not exist, overseas Chinese had to find ways to send messages back home. "Qiaopi", a unique form of mail that serves as both a letter and a remittance, emerged and exhibited overseas Chinese's love for their family and native country while recording history. Today, these yellowed pieces of mail have become a national cultural treasure.

In 2004, a museum dedicated to Qiaopi opened in Shantou City. Even with a tight schedule during his inspection tour in the southern province of Guangdong in 2020, President Xi Jinping visited the museum.

Lin Qingxi, then curator of the museum, introduced the history of Qiaopi and the culture of overseas Chinese from Chaozhou and Shantou regions to Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Shantou is the hometown of a significant number of overseas Chinese. The Opium War of 1840 and ensuing wars of aggression launched by Western powers plunged China into a tragic state of turmoil, and many people in the coastal areas of southeast China sailed abroad to make a living, mainly to countries in Southeast Asia. Then the special correspondence featuring both text and money was born.

In the museum's exhibition hall, Xi carefully examined the letters from a bygone era and listened to Lin's explanation about how they were transported from overseas to a distribution center in Shantou, and ultimately delivered to their intended recipients. Lin also shared touching stories associated with the letters.

The letters sent by the overseas Chinese spanned over a century, encompassing China's revolution, construction and reform periods. Through their letters, these individuals and households shared their concerns during times of peril and expressed their joy as the country grew stronger.

"These letters recorded the strenuous efforts of the old generation of overseas Chinese and their profound love for the hometown and the motherland, and embodied the credibility and integrity of the Chinese nation," Xi said during the visit.

He emphasized the importance of preserving these precious materials and strengthening study in this regard, calling for efforts to remind people of the nation's humiliating sufferings in modern history and promote integrity in society.

After his visit to the museum, Xi was warmly greeted by residents of the neighborhood as he walked down the street.

"The contributions of numerous overseas Chinese are an inseparable part of the reform, opening up, and development of the country," he told the crowd.

Overseas Chinese endured enormous hardships and worked very hard to survive in a foreign country, and after gaining a firm foothold, they sent every dime saved back home, Xi said. "It represents the Chinese people, Chinese culture, Chinese spirit and Chinese heart."

The motherland cares about its overseas sons and daughters, too. "The tens of millions of overseas Chinese across the world are all members of the Chinese family," Xi had once said.

"We need to expand our ties with overseas Chinese, overseas Chinese nationals who have returned to China, and relatives of overseas Chinese nationals who live in China, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, encourage them to actively participate in and support the modernization and peaceful reunification of China, and support their efforts to promote cultural exchange between China and other countries," Xi said in a speech in 2014.

In the report delivered at the 20th National Congress of the CPC last year, Xi pledged to improve and strengthen the work related to Chinese nationals overseas to give shape to a powerful joint force for advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

On Monday, Xi welcomed representatives to the 10th Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese around the world. 
WEST HARTFORD  Martin Kenny was standing in the lobby of the former Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery convent on a recent Friday morning when a new tenant walked past him.

"Its so nice to see people walking through here," said Kenny, principal and owner of Lexington Partners, the firm that purchased and redeveloped the sprawling property into One Park Road, a 292-unit housing development sitting at the edge of the West Hartford and Hartford border.

The person Kenny had just said good morning to is one of the dozen or so residents of the new development, which offers guests a mixture of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, complete with modern amenities, a swimming pool, a gym, a rooftop lounge and more.

Right now, the project's first 92 units have come online, with another 200 to follow later this year.

It's a rehabilitation of a property that served its use, Kenny said, and can now find a new purpose as a much-needed influx of rental housing units in a town that needs them, particularly during a time where home ownership in West Hartford is exceedingly difficult due to a low inventory of houses.

"A project like this is transformative for other things happening," Kenny said, pointing to the property's presence on Park Road  which he describes as the Brooklyn of West Hartford  and the growing Parkville neighborhood of Hartford.

Michael Walsh / Hearst Connecticut Media

In developing the property, Kenny and Chris Reilly, Lexington's president, wanted to retain the building's character on the outside, but fully modernize the interior.

"Everything is basically new in the renovation," Reilly said. "We stripped right down to the walls. The only thing original here in the brick exterior. The windows are new, it's insulated, it's high efficiency. Everything is brand new."

Old meets new

One Park Road is truly a case of old meets new. Standing outside the convent's chapel  which could someday become a brewery or another modern attraction  one can get a glimpse of the new construction going on behind it, which will hold 200 units of housing once its complete later this year.

"The vision was that you have this beautiful property on Park Road," Kenny said. "But in order to make the economy the scale we wanted, we needed to build a bigger community. We designed an addition that wouldn't try to simulate what was done here, but it would sort of match up."

The sisters of the convent first lived on the property in 1890, Kenny said. Some remain on site in their own section of the property, which could become part of the development should the sisters ever fully leave the site, Kenny said, citing a dwindling number of sisters.

Michael Walsh / Hearst Connecticut Media

"They've been an integral part of the West Hartford community since that time," Kenny said. "There are a lot of people that wanted to knock the building down and do a commercial industrial building. The fact that we were able to retain [the sisters'] space was really cool."

Some touches from years gone by remain, including a religious statue from the convent that sits prominently in one of the property's courtyards. And even though residents enter by accessing a high-tech front door security system, they're still passing under the carved words of "Convent of Mary Immaculate."

That, combined with a modern addition that will become the new building's new front entrance, helps the past meet the present and future of the site.

An influx of housing

Bringing with it 292 units of housing, Lexington Partner's development is the biggest influx of housing West Hartford has seen through one project in quite some time. It serves as the first few hundred of nearly 1,000 new housing units that could come online in town over the next few years.

"It's needed," Kenny said. "We're by far the biggest project that's occurred since Blue Back Square. When I was first looking at this, and thinking about the scale in the Park Road business district...it's more for the younger demographic, which this building sort of is for."

Thirty of the units will be made available as "affordable" housing at 80 percent of the area median income, with rents of the market value units ranging from $1,590 to nearly $3,400 depending on the size and bedroom count of the units.

Affordable housing is something West Hartford town leaders and Town Council members have started requiring developers include in their proposals as they try and find ways to encourage more affordable housing options in town. Among those strategies are the $6 million in COVID relief funds used to start a grant or low-interest loan program developers can access when building affordable housing.

Kenny said the 10-year tax abatement granted to them by the Town Council in 2020 helped them secure the affordable units.

"That was a critical thing," Kenny said. "For us, also, to take on this undertaking, we got a tax abatement. Without it, this would never have happened. This is a pivotal location in town, right on the gateway to Hartford. To me, that's smart policy. We couldn't have done this."

West Hartford is looking to get closer to having 10 percent of its housing units be considered affordable. In December, Town Manager Rick Ledwith said West Hartford has around 2,000 "affordable" units, good for 7.8 percent of the total housing stock. Ledwith said recently that the town is getting closer to finalizing its updated affordable housing plan, which it still needs to submit to the state.

The demand for One Park Road is already there, Kenny said. Move ins started on May 1, with 41 of the development's initial 92 units already leased. They are filling up fast, Reilly said, as there are no more two-bedroom units available in the first phase  the rest of those will come online when the new construction is done later this year. There are still studio and one-bedroom apartments available right now.

Kenny said crews are working hard to get the rest of the units done by later this summer, fulfilling a vision he and his colleagues have had for several years now that he said will help support both West Hartford and Hartford.

"We're real Hartford people," Kenny said. "We recognize that if Hartford isn't in a good place, nobody else will be either. Not only did you get an affordable element, you saved an iconic historic building that anchors this neighborhood, and now you've got renters by choice who have disposable income to support the local businesses."
Royals rule this weekso Shonda Rhimes has created a new Netflix series youre gonna want to binge. Spinning off Bridgerton, theres Queen Charlotte.

Part of a political pact, 17-year-old Charlotte (India Amarteifio) is dispatched from Germany to England to marry King George III (Corey MyIchreest). Since Charlotte has no idea if hes a troll or a beast, shes understandably reluctant.

Conveniently, they "meet cute" as shes trying to climb a wall to escape, so the lavish nuptials go as planned. But instead of consummating their union on their wedding night, George departs for his observatory to watch the night sky.

Persistently followed by her aide Brimsley (Sam Clemmett)  whos dawdling with the kings aide Reynolds (Freddie Dennis)  bewildered young Queen Charlottes only confidante is conniving Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas).

I am born for the happiness or misery of a great nation, and consequently must often act contrary to my passions, George fumes. (That evokes a contemporary connection to King Charles contrived marriage to naive Diana to produce an heir and a spare, while he canoodled with his long-time mistress Camilla.)

Interspersed are glimpses of the mature, Regency-era Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), familiar from Bridgerton, coping with the kings debilitating illness as she poignantly prods her 13 progeny to preserve the dynasty.

Narrated by gossiping Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews), the romantic plot is filled with clever gamesmanship, as many of the characters are deliciously duplicitous. (Even my action-oriented husband was intrigued.)

Shonda Rhimes has perceptively dedicated this historical prequel In Memory of Jacqueline Avant. Mrs. Avant, mother of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wife Nicole, was shot and killed in a home invasion in 2021.

Renown as an activist/philanthropist in Los Angeles, Jacqueline was married to music executive Clarence Avant, called the Godfather of Black musicand she was fascinated by historical Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1774-1818).

According to historian Mario de Valdes y Cocom on PBS Frontline, Queen Charlotte was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a Black branch of the Portuguese royal house. Even in varying accounts, her African roots are apparently verifiable, which brings us back to King Charles III coronation.

If Queen Charlotte had Black ancestry, that would affect the entire lineage of her granddaughter, Queen Victoria, whose offspring occupied many European thrones.

Another contemporary connection is the fanciful "Great Experiment" in which titles and land were bestowed on people of color to equalize interracial marriages  evoking thoughts of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, Queen Charlotte is a tantalizing 10  with all six episodes now streaming on Netflix.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois State Police say any high capacity magazines or firearms the state deems as assault-style weapons will be illegal after Jan. 1, 2024, if they were purchased during this spring's six-day injunction against Illinois gun ban.

That ultimately depends, however, on just how the courts rule, in the end, on the state's new limitations on ownership of certain firearms.

In January, Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted the law that includes a ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities. Part of the law includes a registry of some already owned guns starting Oct. 1 with the deadline to register being Jan. 1, 2024.

When the Southern District of Illinois federal court issued a preliminary injunction against Illinois gun ban in late April, gun stores were busy. Those sales ended six days later on May 4 when the appeals court put a stay on the injunction.

After the injunction was reversed while lawsuits continue, state police said firearms purchased during the injunction will be illegal because they were possessed after the Jan. 10 effective day of the Protect Illinois Communities Act.

Persons who possess a banned firearm or firearm attachment are required to endorse an affidavit by January 1, 2024, stating that any banned firearm or firearm attachments were possessed prior to the enactment of PICA (January 10, 2023) pursuant to 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(d), a public information officer with Illinois State Police told The Center Square in an email.

Penalties for possession of banned magazines is a petty offense with a $1,000 fine per infraction. Possession of prohibited firearms could be up to a Class 2 felony.

What prompted laws

An ordinance from Naperville, as well as the state's new PICA, are at issue in the ongoing court battle over gun control in Illinois.

The Naperville measure was passed not long after a gunman used an assault-style rifle at the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, killing seven people and leaving 48 injured. Naperville banned the sale of high-powered rifles, in addition to high-capacity magazines and similar accessories, like the one used in the Highland Park mass shooting.

A local businessman and national gun rights group are leading opposition to the city ordinance. Defending the ban in court, attorneys said potential danger to the public related to assault-style weapons outweighs potential financial loss to a gun shop owner.

"A single businessperson claims he may, as this litigation proceeds, suffer financial losses because he cannot sell a limited category of extremely dangerous assault rifles of little practical use for self-defense," lawyers for Naperville wrote.

"At the same time ... the residents of Naperville and Illinois will be placed at additional risk of mass murder. Those consequences far outweigh applicants' speculative and purely monetary business concerns."

2nd, 5th amendments cited

Thomas Maag of Wood River was the first attorney to file a lawsuit challenging the state law a week after it was enacted in January. He challenged the law on both Second Amendment and Fifth Amendment grounds protecting against self-incrimination. Arguments against the registry were put on hold when his case was consolidated with other plaintiff groups in the Southern District.

I think that these statements from the Illinois State Police are exactly the kind of thing that shows the Fifth Amendment arguments need to be brought to a head sooner rather than later, Maag told The Center Square.

A registry puts those persons at risk of the state taking that exact information and using it against the owners of those firearms to try to obtain a criminal conviction for what have you, including but not limited to persons that may have acquired firearms during this six-day window, Maag said.

Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said the ISP statement is yet another issue that the courts will have to address.

Because the way I read it, and the way almost everyone else read it, was that [Southern District of Illinois Judge Stephen McGlynn] said the injunction stopped all that, Pearson told WMAY in Springfield. So I believe theres going to be another suit that deals with this.

McGlynns injunction was stayed by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Frank Easterbrook on Thursday. Plaintiffs are to reply Tuesday, May 9, to the stay that Easterbrook issued in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

While the Illinois Gun Dealer Licensing Act enacted several years ago could have state police looking to inspect gun store records, Pearson said theyll be ready to continue challenges in the courts.

I think that they are showing that the state wants to put the bootheels of power on all the necks of the gun owners in this state, and I dont think theyre going to stand for it, Pearson said.

Multiple challenges launched

Other litigation against the ban continues in state and federal courts.

Separately, cases brought by attorney Thomas DeVore had a status hearing Friday in Effingham County. DeVore is seeking documents from legislative leaders and third-party associations about the passage of the law. A county judge has taken the motions to dismiss and quash subpoenas under advisement.

State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, brought a challenge out of Macon County. Arguments there include that the law violates equal protections by carving out police, retired police and others in the law enforcement and security sectors.

Both Caulkins case and Devores cases have thousands of named plaintiffs with temporary restraining orders against the state from enforcing the law. Its unclear how ISPs statement Friday to The Center Square impacts those plaintiffs with TROs in place. The agency didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The current Macon County judgment and any TROs entered in other actions are only applicable to the specific Plaintiffs and Defendants in those actions, the ISP said in a frequently asked question section of the agencys website. More information will be forthcoming as additional rulings transpire through the state and federal courts and when the Illinois Supreme Court rules on the matter.

On Monday, the state and the city of Naperville responded in the U.S. Supreme Court to an emergency motion plaintiffs made for an injunction of the gun ban while that case proceeds through the federal appeals court.

Illinois argued that its law poses no conflict with precedent because the Second Amendment does not protect AR-15s and similar weapons.

By prohibiting the manufacture and sale of weapons and magazines increasingly used in the deadliest mass shootings, the Act comfortably fits within this pattern of regulation in response to new forms of violent crime perpetrated with technologically advanced weapons, Illinois Solicitor General Jane Elinor Notz wrote in a brief filed Monday.

By Thursday, litigants from cases in the Southern and Northern district federal courts are to respond to an order from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to consider consolidation.

In state-level court, the Illinois Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments May 16 in the challenge brought by Caulkins.

Penny Weaver contributed to this story.
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Linkedin Ruth Dea Juwita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 9, 2023

ASEAN countries have agreed to accelerate the start of ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) negotiations in the third quarter 2023, according to Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Initially, ASEAN countries planned to launch negotiations on DEFA in 2025 but the recent development would mean the process begins two years earlier.

[Negotiations on] ASEAN DEFA are targeted to be launched this September 2023, and the first round of the discussion will be completed this year, Airlangga said in a press conference after attending the 22nd ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting on Sunday.

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Linkedin Anindito Ariwandono (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Tue, May 9, 2023 08:57 5 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05624612 1 Food culinary,culinary-experience,afghan-food,restaurant Free

During my visit to Yogyakarta back in October 2021, a friend, who is an art curator, told me that her artist husband was holding scheduled naan (leavened, oven-baked flatbread) workshops at the Jogja Biennale XVI as a collaborative project with another artist, who happened to be an Afghan refugee that had been living in Yogyakarta for a couple of years then.

Sadly, the steel tanoor (the artists referred to the apparatus this way), or tandoor, which is the naan oven that the artists DIY-ed together, was sitting idly as an installation at the exhibition when I was there. It was not meant to be, I thought. I left the city without meeting the Afghan artist, let alone tasting the naan bread he made.

Under the drooping branches

In August last year, I found myself back in Yogyakarta with my wife, soaking in the sun's warmth in our curator friend's backyard as we stared at whatever plants were growing on a row of three plant beds made of iron sheeting. I noticed the steel, three-wheeled tanoor sitting idly underneath the shades next to the kitchens entrance. It had the word naan spray-painted in Arabic on its side.

Alright, said my curator friend as she pulled out her phone and started messaging someone. She was making a dinner reservation at a place called The Tannoor, an Afghan cuisine restaurant where the Afghan artist sometimes helped out.

As it turned out, the restaurant might be one of the lesser-known, best-kept secrets of todays Yogyakarta dining scene.

A short walk south from the junction where Jl. Prawirotaman and Jl. Tirtodipuran branched away, The Tannoor is a well-hidden place located near one end of Jl. Sartono.

Private dining: The Tannoor's humble physical establishment, which Amelia and Mumtaz settled into a year after operating online. (Courtesy of The Tannoor) (Archive/Courtesy of The Tannoo)

On top of the nonexistent signage board, in exchange for stacks of stone blocks underneath a towering tree to serve as a gate, its entrance was further nestled through a stone-paved alley lined with fairly lush greenery around a wooden, walled gazebo.

As I made my way around the pavilion, a stocky, bearded man in shorts and sandals stood at the entrance. He waved his hands with a hint of unsureness, seemingly uncertain of the unfamiliar face approaching the entrance.

Ah, a friend of Timbil and Riksa! he said. Neither of them had arrived. The man was Mumtaz Khan Chopan, an Afghan artist and a refugee. Mumtaz spent most of his life as a refugee living in Pakistan since 1996, then moved to Indonesia in 2013.

Gustatory bliss

Mumtaz served a pot of sheer chai, a sweet, thick milk tea with a decent tang of cardamom and cinnamon but not overwhelmingly spicy. Have you tried Afghan cuisine before? he asked. I was raised in a family that fonded Middle Eastern food, but reckoned that the term would not fit Afghan cuisine well. Qabuli palav [kabuli rice], maybe? But thats about it, I said.

The menu? I was entirely at the mercy of Riksas ordering ahead of our arrival, utterly unaware of anything I would eat before each of the dishes was neatly served, bow-tied, metaphorically, of course, in front of me.

A pair of chicken shawarmas arrived in tandem with a pair of potato samosas as hors d'oeuvre on rectangular plates. The sauce, served in a dessert glass, towered over the shawarmas and samosas. I was expecting a mint chutney to come with the samosas, but I realized it might be outside of the Afghan configuration.

Plates of beef qabuli palav and chicken biryani then arrived in turn. The presentation was relatively simple and humble, but the flavor was complex and foreign enough to the Indonesian tongue, due to the contrasting set of spices that Afghan cuisine uses compared to Indonesian cuisine. Everything that arrived on the table was delightfully piquant.

This one here is mantu, said Mumtaz as he served a finely arranged plate of what seemed to be dumplings. The mantu is ground beef dumplings filled with minced tomato and split peas. A gyoza-like dish drenched in tomato red struck me as remarkably Eastern Asian and European at the same time.

I pondered the origins of dumplings and how the dish may be an offspring of the Eurasian trade route Silk Road when Mumtaz served another, this time chive-based dumplings and a tall glass of salted yogurt that was blended with cucumber and mint called doogh.

The dish was not experimental, however, nor was the gustatory experience unique, outside the well-defined notion of Afghan cuisine. It was simply authentic Afghan recipes delivered in an almost no-frills approach.

The agent and the refugee

The loft house that The Tannoor resides in was peculiarly decorated. The walls were aptly lined with Mumtazs rather-harrowing paintings and illustrations. A reclining Buddha figure peeked out of a hole in the horizontal/vertical-patterned exposed brick wall painted in beige, looking over a golden Ganesh hanging on a string strewn horizontally across.

At the far end from the entrance was one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, placed within a wall niche with ornaments in front of it that made it look like a shrine. I gawked at the terrifyingly accurate details of the statue, which I pointed out when I spoke to the owner, Amelia Destari, back in November 2022.

It was printed fabric, Mas, Amelia said with a chuckle. Amelia, a member of the Faculty of Psychology from the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII, class of 2000), who owns the establishment also doubles as The Tannoors chef. The authentic Afghan dish served at The Tannoor are products of Amelias self-taught hands. She ran a travel agency, Tunas Indonesia, and was out of a job when the pandemic hit in 2020.

I still got dressed and went to work [back then], but only to [delay] or cancel my clients plans and reservations, Amelia said with a dry laugh. I didnt have anything to do after that.

Authentic: The dish at The Tannoor are based on the Mumtaz's family's dishes as an Afghan household. Pictured is vegan aashak dumplings. (Courtesy of The Tannoor) (Archive/Courtesy of The Tannoo)

Amelias run-ins with Mumtaz went as far back as 2015, during an art exhibition in the city, well before he moved there in 2016. Their communication got more intense after that.

Why dont you try cooking? Amelia imitated what Mumtaz said to her in 2020 when she had nothing to do. Amelia could cook, but not Afghan food, and was unsure how they would sell the food they would cook. Online? Mumtaz mused.

But honestly, I never cooked in a professional setting before, Amelia laughed.

[Mumtaz] joined an expatriate community group on Facebook, remembered Amelia. Once he posted their new venture there, Amelia immediately started receiving Whatsapp notifications. It was a lot. We did it non-stop for a year. Amelia initially cooked lunch and dinner twice a week. She prepared at least 40 portions of food each session (lunch or dinner). It ballooned to the point where people started asking why they had no restaurant.

When Mumtaz was looking for a space for his art studio, Amelia thought it might be time. They then shared the space, where Mumtaz used the upper story for his art studio and the lower to accommodate dine-ins.

Now she runs The Tannoor as a restaurant with Mumtaz, who acts as an outside consultant. He gives her Afghan cuisine recipes that his mother cooked him in the past during his days in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He even called his mother and sisters, Amelia said.

The Tannoor is located at Jl. Sartono No. 827, Mantrijeron, Yogyakarta
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Linkedin Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, May 9, 2023 15:58 5 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05630eea 1 Politics 2024-elections,2024,#2024-presidential-election,2024-presidential-election,Sandiaga-Uno,#SandiagaUno,PKS,#PKS,anies-baswedan Free

Less than a month after leaving pro-government Gerindra Party, former vice-presidential candidate in 2019, Sandiaga Uno, hinted at his interest in joining the opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as the latter welcomed the possibility of pairing him with its presidential candidate Anies Baswedan in 2024.

"I have been [working] with PKS numerous times. [My] colleagues at PKS have proven to be fighters who work wholeheartedly, unyieldingly and tirelessly. I feel like I want to fight again with [my] PKS colleagues, Sandiaga said on Sunday as quoted by kompas.com.

"PKS has an extraordinary commitment to Indonesia, so hopefully, God willing, a path will be opened [for us] to fight together," he added.

Sandiaga, who currently serves as the tourism and creative industry minister in the Cabinet of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, ran as Prabowo Subiantos running mate in the 2019 presidential race, which they eventually lost to Jokowi and Vice President Maruf Amin by a wide margin.

The politician departed last month from Gerindra, which helped him win the Jakarta vice governor post in 2017 after he submitted his resignation letter and apologized to the party chairman Prabowo.

Speculations of a strained relationship between Sandiaga and Prabowo arose earlier this year as the former appeared to harbor the political ambition to run in the upcoming presidential race and get cozier with the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP).

Read also: Gerindra dismisses claim of Sandiaga joining PPP for 2024 bid

Sandiaga has not announced his future plan as he said he was in no rush in deciding his next move.

When asked about the possibility of Sandiaga joining PKS, also a Muslim-based party but with a different voter base, chairman Ahmad Syaikhu said on Monday he would welcome him into the party.

While the PKS has previously pushed for former West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan to run with Anies, Syaikhu raised the possibility of making Sandiaga the running mate of Anies in the coming presidential race, in a repeat of the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. PKS already formed an electoral alliance with the opposition Democratic Party and the pro-government NasDem Party, named the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP), a political vehicle for Anies in 2024.

[The possibility] is very open. If Sandiaga and Anies can find chemistry and the results of our analysis in the survey also the chances of winning for 2024, it's not impossible; maybe we'll nominate [him] again," Syaiku said.

The alliance has yet to reveal who will be Anies running mate, but it already has five names in mind, with the final decision left in Anies hands.

Of course, politics is dynamic and it is still very possible [the Anies-Sandiaga pair] could happen. Therefore, we, in the alliance and as agreed in its charter, will hand over this vice-presidential issue to our presidential candidate, Anies," Syaikhu said.
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Linkedin Agencies Jakarta  Tue, May 9, 2023 18:10 5 96f72165d1db80845b6b1c241c71d133 2 Politics Indonesia,drug,trafficking,police,corruption,Teddy-Minahasa,Court,life-sentence Free

A high-ranking police officer was given a life sentence on Tuesday for trafficking five kilograms (11 pounds) of methamphetamine that was originally confiscated as criminal evidence.

A court in Jakarta found Insp. Gen. Teddy Minahasa Putra guilty of ordering his subordinate to swap the seized methamphetamine with potassium alum in a plot to illicitly sell drugs.

Teddy, who was previously the police chief for West Sumatra province, then trafficked the methamphetamine through a civilian intermediary, the court heard.

His lawyer told reporters outside the court that an appeal would be filed, local media reported.

Prosecutors had sought a death sentence for Teddy, but the judge found his 30-year service on the police force as a mitigating factor.

Teddy will instead remain behind bars until his death.

Indonesia has some of the world's toughest anti-narcotics laws, including the death penalty for drug traffickers.

The country handed out at least 114 death sentences in 2021, with 82 percent of those given for drug-related offences, according to an Amnesty International report.
A man mourns during the funeral of a Palestinian killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on May 9, 2023. Israeli fighter jets on Tuesday morning intensified airstrikes on military targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 20 others, said the Palestinian health ministry. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets on Tuesday morning intensified airstrikes on military targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 20 others, said the Palestinian health ministry.

Palestinian security officials in Gaza told Xinhua that the airstrikes were carried out against buildings, military facilities, and posts mainly in the towns of Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip and in Gaza City.

An Israeli army spokesman said in a press statement that the Israeli army launched the military operation "Shield and Arrow" against the PIJ militants in the Gaza Strip, which is ongoing.

In a joint operation of the army and the General Security Service, "PIJ commander in northern Gaza, a PIJ leader responsible for directing activities in the West Bank from Gaza, and the secretary of the military council of PIJ were all eliminated," the statement said.

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the three PIJ leaders who were killed in the operation were "an undermining factor for security stability."

The Israeli army also said that according to an assessment of the situation, the army had ordered Israeli residents living close to the Gaza Strip to stay near bomb shelters at a distance of 40 km for fear of rocket fire from Gaza.

Citing possible retaliatory rockets from Gaza, Israel suspended the train service in the southern cities near Gaza. In many communities, local municipalities opened shelters, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant authorized a call-up of reserve soldiers.

The health ministry in Gaza said in a statement that the killed in the attack also include women, children, and additional individuals who were in the vicinity of the airstrikes. At least 20 other people were injured as the airstrikes hit the top floor of a residential building in Gaza City and a house in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the PIJ movement in Gaza, said in a statement that it mourned the three leaders "who were assassinated as a result of a cowardly Zionist crime at dawn today."

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) also mourned the death of "a group of distinguished resistance leaders" of the Islamic Jihad Movement.

PIJ sources told Xinhua that among the dead were Tareq Izel Dein, the spokesman of PIJ in the Palestinian territories, his wife and two children, and two other senior PIJ military leaders.

The airstrikes came less than a week after over 100 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel following the death of PIJ official Khader Adnan, who had been on hunger strike for 86 days while under Israeli custody. 
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Linkedin Christopher Botsford Hong Kong, China  Tue, May 9, 2023 03:58 5 96f72165d1db80845b6b1c241c65bb83 2 Academia EU,deforestation,law,palm-oil,certification,farmer,market,SMEs Free

At the end of March, hundreds of oil palm farmers from across Indonesia rallied outside the European Union Embassy in Jakarta to protest a new regulation that bans the import of products made from agricultural commodities produced on recently deforested or degraded land.

The new law will mean that from 2024 the EU will require companies and smallholder farmers working in Indonesia, and other countries in Southeast Asia, to certify that their agricultural products  including palm oil, rubber, coffee, and timber  are not linked to recent deforestation and to provide data to prove it.

However, due to the strict requirements for traceability and geolocation data that the regulation imposes, Indonesias SMEs and smallholder farmers are likely to struggle to comply and therefore risk being excluded from EU markets.

This new EU regulation poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of farmers and risks exacerbating the very economic and social conditions that encourage encroachment into adjacent forests  already a major cause of deforestation and biodiversity loss. To help meet the new demands set by the EU, Indonesias farmers need more financial support and access to training and new technologies to help them increase yields, while transitioning to more sustainable practices.

Among ASEAN nations, Indonesia is among the most critical in the international fight against climate change. It is home to the third largest expanse of rainforest globally, which acts as an invaluable carbon sink. Just as importantly, its rainforests provide a habitat for vast biodiversity, including unique species like the Sumatran tigers, Borneo elephants, Sumatra and Javan rhinos, and more than three-quarters of the worlds orangutans.

Indonesia is also one of the worlds biggest producers of agricultural commodities  palm oil, timber, rubber, and coffee  for which global demand continues to grow at around 3 percent per year. These industries are critical to Indonesias economy, employing around 10 million people and accounting for around 5 percent of gross domestic product.

Indonesia stands out in ASEAN as having made strides in reducing deforestation. Yet while these commodities remain favored by consumers in Europe and globally, and while there is limited financial incentive to change growing practices, we will continue to see production coupled to forest and biodiversity loss.

Growing awareness among consumers in Europe, and other parts of the Global North, that their demand for agricultural commodities may be linked to deforestation and climate change has created a powerful momentum for change. Standards and regulations have proliferated to try to create cleaner and greener supply chains and encourage the transition of production to more sustainable practices.

This is welcomed and is supporting real improvements in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. However, there is a need to address the growing perception that regulations are being imposed on Indonesia and other producing nations, with limited dialogue or financial support for the farmers and smaller companies directly involved in production. This can lead to unintended consequences for communities, for farmers and the forests that the regulations are meant to protect.

Sustainable finance is a force for change.

Sustainable debt finance offers one potential solution. Sustainable financing  including green bonds  is debt that comes with environmental, social and governance commitments for the company receiving the finance. Investment in sustainable finance instruments issued by entities involved in agricultural commodity supply chains in Indonesia, offer an important way for European stakeholders to support sustainable production and protect rural livelihoods.

For example, sustainable debt financing could be used to help small farmers and SMEs adopt more sustainable practices and comply with the new EU Regulation on deforestation-free products. Land used to sustainably produce agricultural commodities can also act as buffer zones to protect surrounding forests from illegal logging and hunting.

Currently limiting the flow of sustainable finance into Indonesia is the lack of one clear and standardized framework that enables overseas investors to have clarity over the environmental impact of their investments. Today, there exist many international guidelines and voluntary standards for assessing the sustainability of projects, but the space remains fragmented.

Through our experience working in Indonesia, we have seen that debt finance can be a powerful force for change. Indonesias farmers and forests cannot wait for a common framework to be created. Finance is needed now if they are to adapt to meet the new EU standards.

Governments, companies, investors, and financial institutions in Europe, and other parts of the Global North, need to work together to mobilize resources to support Indonesias farmers and their sustainability transition.

Sustainable finance is not the silver bullet, but it is a force for change. It can help to stimulate greener growth, protect forests and biodiversity, and support the transition of Indonesias farmers to a more sustainable future.

***

The writer is co-founding partner and chief investment officer, ADM Capital.
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Linkedin Birsen Altayli and Ezgi Erkoyun (The Jakarta Post) Reuters/Istanbul  Tue, May 9 2023

Turkish university student Yunus Efe has known only one leader of his country: Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As he prepares to vote for the first time in elections this month, the 22-year-old says it is time for change.

Efe is one of more than 6 million first-time voters expected to cast ballots in the May 14 election. Roughly 10 percent of the electorate, their votes could prove critical in deciding whether Erdogan's rule continues into a third decade or comes to an end.

A toddler when Erdogan came to power in 2003, Efe said his vote would go to the opposition's Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who he believes will strengthen rule of law, human rights and freedom of expression, which critics say had suffered under Erdogan.

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Linkedin Deborah Cole (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Berlin  Tue, May 9 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron will make his first state visit to Germany in July, the two countries said on Monday, amid persistent tensions on issues ranging from energy policy to China.

Macron will visit Germany from July 2 to 4 at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier "to honor the close friendship of the two countries in the 60th year of the Elysee Treaty" on bilateral relations.

It would be the first state visit by a French president in 23 years, Steinmeier's office said.

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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 10 2023

Indonesia and Singapore have condemned an armed attack on a humanitarian convoy on a road between Myanmars Shan State capital of Taunggyi and Hshihseng city. The act of violence seems to have been intended as a warning for ASEAN not to try to meddle in Myanmars internal affairs.

The incident also indicates ASEAN will not be able to achieve meaningful progress anytime soon in convincing the Myanmar military to end its atrocities against its own people. Initially, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi had expressed her belief that ASEAN, under Indonesias chairmanship, could step up pressure on the junta to end the crisis that has plagued Myanmar since the Feb. 1, 2021, military coup against the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has given no sign of respecting ASEANs Five-Point Consensus of peace restoration, which he accepted during an emergency summit with the blocs leaders in Jakarta in April 2021. Myanmars military has been known for its defiance against pressure from outside.

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Linkedin Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 10 2023

Members of the governing coalition have dismissed accusations that President Joko Jokowi Widodo has engaged in political activity unbefitting of his office ahead of the 2024 general election, saying the President should not be neutral and that his involvement in political discussions with party leaders cannot be avoided.

On May 2, the President hosted a private meeting with the leaders of six pro-government parties, excluding the NasDem Party, at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Jokowi reportedly briefed the group on a possible alliance for the 2024 presidential election, which drew a flurry of accusations that the President was meddling in the upcoming elections.

Former president Jusuf Kalla has advised Jokowi to steer clear of politics in the final years of his presidency and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Megawati Soekarnoputri to allow for free competition in the presidential election.

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Linkedin Anindito Ariwandono (The Jakarta Post) Contributor/Bandung  Wed, May 10 2023

During my visit to Yogyakarta back in October 2021, a friend, who is an art curator, told me that her artist husband was holding scheduled naan (leavened, oven-baked flatbread) workshops at the Jogja Biennale XVI as a collaborative project with another artist, who happened to be an Afghan refugee that had been living in Yogyakarta for a couple of years then.

Sadly, the steel tanoor (the artists referred to the apparatus this way), or tandoor, which is the naan oven that the artists DIY-ed together, was sitting idly as an installation at the exhibition when I was there. It was not meant to be, I thought. I left the city without meeting the Afghan artist, let alone tasting the naan bread he made.

Under the drooping branches

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Linkedin Daniel Awigra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, May 10 2023

Ahead of the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, the Indonesian government announced its commitment to prioritizing the regional socio-cultural pillar, aiming at strengthening cooperation in the protection of migrant workers, regional health architecture and enhancing the development of rural regions.

However, Indonesia, the chair of ASEAN 2023, has so far omitted engagement with civil society and the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples Forum (ACSC/APF), which is recognized in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Blueprints 2015 as an annual forum for civil society engagement in ASEAN.

One of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) was adopted during the 14th ASEAN Summit in 2009 with a vision of building an "ASEAN Community that is people-centered and socially responsible with a view to achieving enduring solidarity and unity among the countries and peoples of ASEAN.

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Linkedin Agencies Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara  Tue, May 9, 2023

Southeast Asian nations are at a "crossroad", a senior minister warned Tuesday, as escalating violence in junta-controlled Myanmar loomed over a regional summit.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis.

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Linkedin Reuters New Delhi, India  Tue, May 9, 2023 12:50 5 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc635d71 2 Asia and Pacific India,Indonesia,ASEAN,tension,exercise,military Free

Boats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia approached an area where navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea, two Indian sources said on Monday.

An independent expert in Vietnam said Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval exercise.

Beijing has not responded to Reuters queries about the alleged incident and its possible motives. The Indian and Vietnamese governments declined to comment.

The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) began on Sunday with naval ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines,Indonesia and Brunei taking part.

They were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone when the Chinese boats moved towards them, the Indian sources said. However, the militia boats and naval vessels crossed each other without any face-off, they said.

Indian authorities were tracking the movements of at least five militia boats, according to the sources, who did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

A Chinese research vessel was also following these boats towards the same area, they said.

Ray Powell, who leads Project Myoushu on the South China Sea at Stanford University, said the boats belong to the Qiong Sansha Yu militia fleet in the area.

Such militias consist of commercial fishing boats, which work in coordination with the Chinese authorities for political objectives in the South China Sea. The Chinese government, however, in the past rejected the existence of any such militia.

Van Pham, manager of The South China Sea Chronicle Initiative (SCSCI), an independent non-profit which monitors vessel-tracking data, said this was not the first time Chinese "so-called fishing vessels" were around and intimidated warships of other countries.

"So its likely that the exercise was interrupted...the pattern was broken and some had to change their directions," she told Reuters.

Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 had come as close as 10 miles to the participating Vietnamese warship at one point, Pham said.

The drill is the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) and is co-hosted by the Indian and Singaporean navies.

Several of Chinas littoral neighbours have accused it of using its official and militia vessels to harass and intimidate their fishing and military boats in the South China Sea.

China has for years claimed sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, and has been sensitive to the presence of other militaries in the region.

Relations between India and China have also plummeted since a clash between their armies in the Himalayas in 2020 in which 24 soldiers were killed.

Topics : India Indonesia ASEAN tension exercise military
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Linkedin Nina A. Loasana and Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Labuan Bajo, Flores  Tue, May 9, 2023

The fallout from the 2021 Myanmar coup will loom large over the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia this week despite the juntas absence, with President Joko Jokowi Widodo expressing regret over an attack on a diplomatic convoy delivering humanitarian relief in the conflict-ridden country.

As chair of ASEAN and host of the regional summitry this year, Indonesia has sought to implement a five-point peace plan agreed with Myanmar two years ago that called for the cessation of violence and the granting of access to humanitarian assistance, following a pandemic-era putsch that has sparked violent clashes between the junta forces and a multi-headed resistance.

Now, just days before he is set to open the summit, Jokowi had to get tough with the warring sides after a mission involving regional humanitarian relief agency the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) got caught in crossfire.

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NANJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said Tuesday China stands ready to deepen practical cooperation with Pacific island countries in agriculture and fishery to make new contributions to building an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific island countries.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when speaking at the opening ceremony of the China-Pacific island countries agriculture and fishery ministers meeting in Nanjing.

Liu said under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two sides, China and Pacific island countries have achieved fruitful results in agriculture and fishery cooperation. This meeting is of great significance for the two sides to ensure food security, strengthen marine protection and sustainable use, and accelerate agricultural modernization.

China stands ready to deepen practical cooperation with Pacific island countries in agriculture and fishery, enhance economic and trade cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, jointly boost economic development, and improve people's livelihood, Liu added.

Taking the meeting as an opportunity, China hopes to push the agriculture and fishery cooperation with Pacific island countries to a new height to contribute to building an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific island countries, said Liu. 
Shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC (LON:MONY  Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Buy by the six ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 250 ($3.15).

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MONY. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 260 ($3.28) price objective on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Numis Securities restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 260 ($3.28) target price on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Monday, February 20th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Barclays upgraded shares of Moneysupermarket.com Group to an overweight rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.90) target price on the stock in a report on Monday, January 30th.

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Moneysupermarket.com Group Price Performance

MONY stock opened at GBX 271.40 ($3.42) on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of 1.46 billion, a PE ratio of 2,073.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.68. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 249.28 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 219.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.81, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Moneysupermarket.com Group has a 1 year low of GBX 162.30 ($2.05) and a 1 year high of GBX 282.60 ($3.57).

Moneysupermarket.com Group Increases Dividend

Moneysupermarket.com Group Company Profile

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be paid a dividend of GBX 8.61 ($0.11) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.66%. This is a positive change from Moneysupermarket.com Groups previous dividend of $3.10. Moneysupermarket.com Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9,230.77%.

(Get Rating)

Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides price comparison website in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Insurance, Money, Home Services, Travel and Cashback segments. It offers online and app-based tools to save money on their household bills across insurance, money, and home service channels under the MoneySuperMarket brand; and compares travel deals, including holidays, car hire, flights, and hotels under the TravelSupermarket brand.

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Shares of Virgin Money UK PLC (LON:VMUK  Get Rating) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the seven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 206 ($2.60).

Several analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Virgin Money UK from GBX 180 ($2.27) to GBX 200 ($2.52) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 170 ($2.15) to GBX 195 ($2.46) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a GBX 205 ($2.59) price objective on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a report on Wednesday, February 1st.

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Virgin Money UK Price Performance

Shares of LON:VMUK opened at GBX 148.40 ($1.87) on Tuesday. Virgin Money UK has a 1 year low of GBX 1.46 ($0.02) and a 1 year high of GBX 200 ($2.52). The company has a market cap of 2.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 401.25, a PEG ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.97. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 152.79 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 166.16.

Virgin Money UK Cuts Dividend

About Virgin Money UK

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of GBX 3.30 ($0.04) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a yield of 2.15%. Virgin Money UKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3,055.56%.

(Get Rating)

Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products.

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Berenberg Bank reaffirmed their hold rating on shares of Ibstock (LON:IBST  Get Rating) in a research report released on Friday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a GBX 180 ($2.27) target price on the stock.

Separately, Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.90) target price on shares of Ibstock in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th.

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Ibstock Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Ibstock stock traded up GBX 0.52 ($0.01) on Friday, hitting GBX 175.12 ($2.21). 572,900 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 956,258. The firms 50-day moving average price is GBX 169.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 163.80. The stock has a market capitalization of 687.95 million, a PE ratio of 796.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.37. Ibstock has a one year low of GBX 144.97 ($1.83) and a one year high of GBX 209.80 ($2.65). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 32.03, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Ibstock Increases Dividend

Insider Activity at Ibstock

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 20th will be given a GBX 5.50 ($0.07) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.39%. This is a boost from Ibstocks previous dividend of $3.30. Ibstocks dividend payout ratio is currently 4,090.91%.

In other news, insider Nicola Bruce acquired 5,939 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 168 ($2.12) per share, for a total transaction of 9,977.52 ($12,589.93). In related news, insider Chris McLeish sold 2,950 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 172 ($2.17), for a total value of 5,074 ($6,402.52). Also, insider Nicola Bruce acquired 5,939 shares of Ibstock stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 168 ($2.12) per share, with a total value of 9,977.52 ($12,589.93). 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Ibstock Company Profile

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Ibstock plc manufactures and sells clay and concrete building products and solutions primarily in the United Kingdom. Its principal products include clay bricks, brick components, concrete roof tiles, concrete stone masonry substitutes, concrete fencing, pre-stressed concrete, and concrete rail products.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD  Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) had its price objective decreased by BMO Capital Markets from C$91.00 to C$85.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on TD. Cormark cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$105.00 to C$98.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. CSFB cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$102.00 to C$101.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. National Bankshares cut their price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$102.00 to C$98.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Fundamental Research set a C$104.14 price objective on Toronto-Dominion Bank and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Toronto-Dominion Bank has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$97.88.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of TD opened at C$82.30 on Friday. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 52-week low of C$76.40 and a 52-week high of C$97.13. The company has a market capitalization of C$150.61 billion, a PE ratio of 9.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$82.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$86.83.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Announces Dividend

Toronto-Dominion Bank ( TSE:TD Get Rating ) (NYSE:TD) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported C$2.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$2.16 by C$0.07. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 14.29% and a net margin of 31.78%. The business had revenue of C$12.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$12.12 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 8.9498364 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th were given a dividend of $0.96 per share. This represents a $3.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 5th. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.43%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$89.01, for a total value of C$3,367,426.32. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Toronto-Dominion Bank

(Get Rating)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases.

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NTV Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,016 shares of the retailers stock after selling 500 shares during the period. NTV Asset Management LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $2,129,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in WMT. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Walmart by 1,519.2% during the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,129,341 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,054,376,000 after purchasing an additional 7,627,286 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings 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. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Walmart by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 130,176,496 shares of the retailers stock valued at $16,883,890,000 after buying an additional 1,832,388 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Walmart by 34.2% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,258,231 shares of the retailers stock valued at $783,056,000 after buying an additional 1,340,328 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its holdings in Walmart by 85.3% in the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,399,536 shares of the retailers stock valued at $357,339,000 after buying an additional 1,104,427 shares in the last quarter. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart

In other news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total value of $122,940,535.90. Following the sale, the insider now owns 266,841,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,494,543,249.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Walmart news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.00, for a total transaction of $660,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 286,617 shares in the company, valued at $43,279,167. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, 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 directly owns 266,841,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,494,543,249.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 21,044,002 shares of company stock worth $2,981,168,308. 47.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Walmart Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE:WMT traded down $0.27 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $152.45. 1,564,679 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,068,984. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $145.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $145.05. Walmart Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $117.27 and a fifty-two week high of $154.64. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company has a market capitalization of $411.21 billion, a PE ratio of 35.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.48.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 20.45%. The firm had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $158.67 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is presently 53.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Walmart in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Gordon Haskett upgraded shares of Walmart from an accumulate rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays started coverage on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 price target for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Walmart and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $165.13.

Walmart Profile

(Get Rating)

Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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The China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative is very important as it "tends to connect people, different civilizations, different religions, and different societies," said former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.





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As students of the law, it is refreshing that a report by a patient-centered non-governmental group leading a campaign to bring justice to victims of medical negligence in Ghana has recorded 60% success in medical negligence suits brought against health facilities and medical staff.

The group, Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims, has been championing justice for medical malpractice victims through the payment of compensation, and promotion of high competence among healthcare givers, among others. It receives and investigates between 25 and 30 cases of alleged medical negligence nationwide every week.

The 60% success in medical negligence suits brought against health facilities and medical staff means that the adage of Doctors knowing everything is a thing of the past.

In this article, we justify from the legal point of view by examining the common law perspective, academic legal studies, statutory provisions, and court decisions to buttress our argument on why the assumption that doctor knows it all is a thing of the past in the health system.

Medical Negligence?

A simple definition of the subject was espoused in the Ghanaian case of The State v Tsiba (1962) 2 GLR 109 at p.111, per Akufo Addo J.S.C (as he then was) as: "the omission to take care where there is a duty to take care".

In Frimpong V Nyarko [1998-99] SC GLR 734, where the Supreme Court was confronted with the issue whereby applying the law would have severe consequences on the party, Wiredu JSC (as he then was) said at page 742 that:

 The justice to be dispensed is justice within the law and not one of sympathy. Judicial sympathy, however plausible can never be elevated to become a principle of law. The appellants are out of court, and their case would deservedly be put out of court in accordance with law. Again taking a cue, in my respectful opinion, no matter how strong the sympathies I may feel for the Plaintiffs that cannot override the principles of law that I have applied".

Prof. Justice Date-Bah also noted that Medicine and the Law is a battle area and we need to bring the rule of law into that area. In Ghana, it is said that health professionals never testify against themselves and therefore there is a real hurdle to litigation of medical malpractice cases. It is important that health professionals should put the public interest first. On the other hand, we do not want to go the other way such as in America where doctors may fear to touch patients for fear of malpractice. There has to be a middle way somewhere.

Bolam (1957) Covering Doctors-History

The adage of doctors knowing it all in the healthcare industry was a shield under the Bolam principle. This principle, which saves the medical profession held that when a doctor engages in a negligent act and it goes to court, once a colleague doctor testifies that the doctor's practice or act is accepted by a reasonable body of medical opinion in that act the doctor could not be held as negligent.

The Bolam principle has long been the traditional test governing how much information is necessary to avoid liability in negligence. Doctors would rely on their professional judgment to determine the amount of information to be disclosed.

Before that, Hunter v Hanley [1955] S.C. 2000 permitted the medical profession to decide what information a patient could receive about options for treatment and the risks and benefits of those options. Information delivery to patients was filtered by the practice of the profession.

During this period, the courts in the UK were content to permit the medical profession through the evidence of expert witnesses on professional practice to dictate what information patients were entitled to receive.

The focus was not on the rights of the patient and the disclosure of risks inherent in a proposed treatment was seen as a product of the doctors duty of care rather than as a product of the patients right to self-determination.

The Bolam principle was subsequently adopted in the Ghanaian case of Gyan v. Ashanti Goldfields Corporation 1 GLR 466 (1990), the plaintiff took his one-year-old son to the defendant companys hospital with a complaint of high body temperature. A senior nurse who believed that the childs presenting history was suggestive of malaria infection administered a chloroquine injection without prior test or consultation with the doctor on duty. As a result of the injection, the child suffered paralysis of his right leg. It was later confirmed that the child rather had polio and the chloroquine injection complicated the condition thereby causing paralysis.

The defendant denied liability on the ground that under normal conditions where there was no polio epidemic, as was the case at the material time, the incidence of polio was so low as compared with that of malaria because of the small risk of paralysis from polio. Therefore, there was nothing irregular about the decision of the nurse to administer the chloroquine injection which was the proper remedy for malaria.

Both the trial court and the Court of Appeal accepted the defendants explanation that where there was no polio outbreak, the incidence of polio was very low when compared to malaria and that given the high mortality rate in children suffering from malaria, a medical officer would not normally withhold an injection for the treatment of malaria even though there was a small risk of paralysis if it turned out to be polio. The core of the defendants argument was that, had a doctor been informed, he would likely have administered chloroquine since malaria was a common cause of admission of infants at the material time.

The trial court held that the plaintiff failed to prove that the paralysis was attributable to any omission or negligent act of the defendant as he failed to lead any evidence to substantiate his allegation that the nurse had failed to follow the medical regulations in place. In the Court of Appeal, however, the nurse was found negligent for playing the role of the doctor. The hospital was also held vicariously liable.

In this case, we found some interesting legal principles: Bolams test; practicing out of scope; res ipsa loquitur. This means that any health workers must practice within their scope of practice.

Also, in Darko v Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Suit No. AHR 44/06 [2008], a young male reported for treatment at the defendant hospital with a history of pain in his right knee, which on assessment was diagnosed as torn patella ligament. He was requested to sign a consent form to allow a surgical repair of that ligament. Instead of the right knee being operated on, the surgeons operated on the left knee of a patient. The hospital refused to further attend to the patient as a protest over a medical negligence suit the patient had initiated against them.

The court adopted the Bolam principle and found that the hospital had not been negligent when the left knee was rather operated on. It was observed by the court that the patient had signed a broad consent form that empowered the surgical team to take any necessary measures for the operation. Accordingly, if there was a medically justifiable indication for the operation of the left knee, the hospital could not be found negligent in treating it. The court also pointed out the failure of the plaintiffs lawyer to advance arguments on the scope of the consent given vis-a-vis the medical complaint reported by the boy. However, the hospital was found in breach of its duty to provide the boy care when it refused to honor his review and physiotherapy appointments during the pendency of the suit as a protest to his legal action.

The court did not find the doctors or the hospital liable for negligence in operating on the left knee instead of the right but did find that the hospital was liable for refusing the claimant further treatment after the legal action had been initiated. The legal principle in this case we found is that a medical personnel'srefusal to treat the patient may be a ground for negligence though Bolam was acknowledged.

Roger v Whitaker (1992): A patients right

There came Roger v Whitaker, an Australian case, that was celebrated for departing from doctors know it all in Bolam and Sidaway. Roger's case reasoned that instead of cementing medical opinion, even on patients decision-making, the court is willing to re-examine the appropriateness and the propriety of the standard adopted by doctors.

In the Ghanaian case of Somi v Tema General Hospital, (1994- 2000) CHRAJ 196, a 36-year pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital with an antepartum haemorrhage. The doctor on night duty had finished earlier than expected at 4.00 a.m. instead of 8.00 a.m. and the morning doctor on day duty did not report until 10.00 a.m. The nurses tried to keep the patient alive, but they could not hear the heartbeat of the unborn child. Neither the mother nor the baby survived the operation.

CHRAJ found the defendant hospital to have unjustly caused a patients death in violation of Article 218(a) of the Constitution. It was held that the failure of a public hospital to ensure that an emergency cesarean section operation was carried out on a patient, thus leading to her death, constituted a violation of her human right to life.

As students of the law, the legal principle we found here is that where a medical person abuse official time or is absent from work or lateness to duty without justification is a ground for negligence, and would be held liable.

Also in Elizabeth Vaah v Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre, HRCM 69/10 [2010], A client who was under the care of the defendant hospital sued the hospital, relying on the right to information guaranteed under Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana (the Constitution), when she sought to recover her medical record to clarify the cause of death of her stillborn baby. The applicants case is that her fundamental human rights have been violated by the respondent when the latter refused to release her medical records to her. The respondent argued that it was justified in refusing the applicants request for medical records because by speaking to the press about the circumstances in which she gave birth at the respondent's hospital, she had evinced an intention to abuse the records. It was held that the plaintiff was entitled to a copy of her medical record from Lister Hospital. The legal principle we also found, in this case, is that a medical facility cannot violate or prevent a patient from accessing their records.

Finally, in Jehu Appiah v Nyaho Healthcare Limited [2021],where the plaintiff accused the facility of allegedly damaging her fallopian tube, which nearly led to her death. According to the case, the plaintiff, upon conception utilized antenatal care services at the respondent hospital. But at a point, she claimed she had to undergo a life-saving surgery at a different health facility due to the actions and inactions of the Nyaho hospital. After the life-saving surgery, she made a formal complaint to Nyaho Healthcare Limited, after which she was promised investigations into the matter and the results communicated to her. The plaintiff noted that all efforts to compel the respondent hospital to release her medical documents (including scans, tests, diagnosis, and treatment) proved futile. The court held that the complete medical records be released to the patient.

Bolitho (1997): Judges have the power to think for medical people

In the Ghanaian case of the State V K. Nkyi [1962] GLR 197, a student nurse mistakenly injected a baby with arsenic instead of mepacrine. The childs condition immediately deteriorated and died within a few hours. A post-mortem examination revealed that the death of the sick child was caused by arsenic poisoning.

The court found that the student nurse was practicing without possessing the requisite registration as a nurse or under the supervision of a qualified practitioner when he administered a drug to the sick child. The court held the student nurse liable for the charge of manslaughter. The legal principle, in this case is that, since the law proscribed the practice of medicine without license, then any health worker practicing without a license will constitute a crime.

Bolitho v City and Hackney HA , 1996 helped to clarify what was meant by a responsible body, defining it as one whose opinion had a logical basis in the medical profession.

This means that the Bolam Test and the Bolitho Test are used in combination in medical negligence. Bolitho test is saying that the doctors decision, though appears sound in the medical community has to be logical. Combining the two cases means that a doctor is not negligent if he or she acts in accordance with a responsible body of medical opinion, provided that the Court finds such an opinion to be logical.

For instance, the Evidence Act 1994 of the Gambia, Section 75 which is in pari materia with section 112 of the Evidence Act of Ghana,1975 (NRCD 323) permits expert opinion to be given in evidence before the court in matters relating to medical, science, pathologists report, and many others. There are instances where the court is confronted with a conflict in what is regarded as expert opinions.

For instance, in the Gambian case of Babourcarr Touray v MRC and 2 OR GCA CIV.APP. 55/94, where medical experts presented diverse explanations as to the cause of gangrene(death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection) which led to the loss of the plaintiff's two hands. When this happens, the court is not bound to accept the opinion of an expert or anybody else. It is the duty of the court to describe what is logical, not the medical profession. The court has to examine all the issues that are put before it.

Thus, Bolitho questioned the authenticity of expert knowledge given the Bolam test to the extent that opinion among expert groups may not be based on sound current knowledge. But where the opinion is sound, the case listens.

Another case worth discussing is the Ghanaian case of Asantekramo, alias Kumah v. AttorneyGeneral [1975] 1 GLR 319, where a nineteen-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ruptured ectopic pregnancy underwent an urgent surgical operation at the Komfo Anokye Government Hospital. While the surgery was successful, her right arm became swollen and gangrenous after being transfused an amount of blood by the nursing staff through a vein in that arm. To save her life, her arm was amputated. Two years later, the woman sued the State, seeking damages for negligence on the part of the hospital staff.

The defence raised by the testifying surgeon that the occurrence was a mystery was rejected by the court. The expert evidence showed that the bacteria that caused the gangrene was either transmitted through the blood transfusion needle or a dextrose infusion administered to the woman. The Court held the State liable for the negligence of the hospital and awarded damages to the plaintiff.

In Pearce v. United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 1999, theCourt of Appeal established that the standard adopted in Bolitho was equally applicable to cases dealing with the duty to inform.

Chester v Afshar (2004): Courts protecting doctors

In Chester v Afshar, Lord Hope said the function of the law is to protect the patients right to choose. If it is to fulfill that function, it must ensure that the duty to inform is respected by the doctor. Based on this statement, some commentators held that the courts have been lenient on doctors and have not been robust enough to hit the nail on the head to protect the rights of patients. Probably, those affected by alleged medical negligence in the Gambia are not testing the law.

Foo Fio Na v Dr. Soo Fook Mun, 2007: Millennial Approach

In this Malaysia case, Foo Fio Na v Soo Fook Mun and Anor. (2007), the Court viewed the Bolams as being over protective and deferential to the medical profession. The judges reasoned that the law is indeed in their bosom, and they can disagree with medical opinion. The court determines the reasoning behind doctors conduct and not the profession. The Federal Court opined that the Rogers v Whitaker test would be a more appropriate and viable test of this millennium.

Sidaway & Montgomery: doctors are not superior

Even before the development in Montgomery in the modern era, in 1985 the House of Lords in Sidaway v Board of Governors of the Bethlem Royal Hospital adopted the test to be employed in case a doctor fails to advise a patient of the risks involved in a particular treatment.

Sidaway became the first test for information disclosure to patients that recognized their right to self-determination in the context of decisions about their medical treatment. The case was recognized in Montgomery.

The Montgomery case has called on doctors to consider material risk or significant risk and the doctor has a duty to provide all useful information or all possible options. Hence, failure on the part of the doctor to provide the patient with other possible options available is suicidal on the part of the doctor.

Reasonable patient rather than Reasonable doctor.

In Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board, UKSC 1, 2015, has raised the standard of a reasonable test as the focus is now on reasonable patient rather than reasonable doctor. The law defines material risk as either a risk to which a reasonable person in the patient's position would be likely to attach significance or a risk that a doctor knows or should reasonably know is perceived to be of significance by this particular patient.

The issue of concern is this particular patient. Bismark et al. (2012) explained that many jurisdictions have moved towards legal standards for risk disclosure, prioritizing the preferences of patients. The Ghana Health Service Patients Charter thus, gives a patient the power to make decisions as well.

This was the case in Cantebury v Spencer in 1972 in the District of Columbia Court of Appeal, the court rejected the traditional approach of what reasonable practitioner would do to a patient-centered standard: what would a reasonable person want to know?

Montgomery applicability in Ghana

Montgomery, Pearce and Roger v Whitaker concerning a doctor's duty to take reasonable care to ensure patients are aware of any material risks involved in recommended treatment and the alternatives were applied in Dr. E.L.A. Chinbuah and Attorney General case, 2021, when the deceased was due to deliver, she opted for a Cesarean Section, but her request was turned down. Instead, the doctors decided to take her through normal delivery. This caused her to bleed profusely and died in the process. The Ghanaian court adopted a more patient-centered approach here.

Are Doctors in Danger?

Some commentators believe the new law appears to be harsh on doctors as the courts have decided to tell doctors how to practice medicine instead of doctors making changes in their profession. Another school of thought are also of the believe that the new law will help doctors to sit up instead of believing that they are superior and know it all in the medical profession. However, the unlettered man in the street will think that the new law is the way to go judging from recent allegations of incessant medical negligence.

The law even went further to state that when a doctor knows there is another doctor who is more experienced to take a certain case and failed to do so could be held to be negligent. This was manifested in an Australian case, Chappel v Hart [1998]. Theattending doctor failed to disclose the availability of a more experienced surgeon for a particular procedure, the factual causation must be followed by a second aspect of causation, the scope of liability that the patient would only claim if the risk materializes, as in Wallace v Kam [2013] HCA 19.

Other commentators assert that Wallace could pose a great challenge as some patients could demand highly expensive treatment, disregarding the cost-effectiveness issue or opting for alternative medicine without strong scientific evidence. For instance, Strauss and Thomas (2009) held that in modern health care, responsible bodies of medical opinion mean judicious use of the best current evidence in making decisions about the care of patients, and also a strong emphasis on patient-centered care. This would bridge the gap between the two different standards (professional vs reasonable person) and also the legal and medical perspectives regarding disclosure and consent.

Conclusion

It is evident from the report by the group, Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims, that many clients are seeking legal opinions on health issues and negligent acts can affect the image of the doctor and the facility.

We found that malpractice cases include access to patientsmedical records, practicing without a license or out of scope, refusal to treat, and the development of complications following surgical interventions.

Also, there are two typical situations where a doctor might be held liable for negligence: the first is negligence in the performance of a medical procedure (The old Mantra-Bolam Test); and the second is failure to disclose the risk of a medical procedure to the patient for the purpose of getting consent (The new mantra- Montgomery test).

This notwithstanding, as students of the law, it is encouraging to know that doctors know it all is no longer an option as the court has the power to disregard this and they can no longer hide under the Bolam test as a defence.

We recommend that the healthcare industry should start looking at how to avert negligence in their practices. We propose Medico-legal training for healthcare staff in the area of duty of care and devotion to the Ghana Health Service Patient Charter.

Prof. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a Barrister At-Law(BL) candidate at the Gambia Law School, Banjul, The Gambia, and Daniel Sackey is a Part Two student of the Ghana School of Law, Accra, Ghana. E-mail: [email protected]
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the election of Ademola Adeleke as the governor of Osun state.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the court of appeal correctly reinstated Adeleke as governor.

more to come


TUNIS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Saied on Monday called for strengthening economic ties with Spain and the implementation of cooperation programs between the two countries.

During a meeting between Saied and visiting Spanish Deputy Minister for Commerce Xiana Mendez Bertolo, the two officials discussed the progress made under the existing cooperation programs and ways to further implement them in the next stage, especially with regard to investment and partnership, Tunisia's Ministry of Economy and Planning said in a statement.

Saied underlined the importance of facilitating high-level exchanges between Tunisia and Spain, especially in promising sectors with high added value.

"These sectors include the pharmaceutical and food industries, research and innovation, renewable energies, ways to confront climate change, mobilization of water resources, environmental protection, logistics services, and support for emerging enterprises," reads the statement.

The Spanish official reaffirmed her country's commitment to further enhancing bilateral relations with Tunisia in order to achieve common development goals and open new horizons for a fruitful partnership. 
Nearly 69 years old, Jamie Stringer says he was so busy for nearly 40 years, he never had a chance to stop and think about his career.

In most times in life, busyness doesnt allow much reflection, said Stringer, founder and former president of FCI Windows in Peterborough.

Hes now retired from the business, due to a cancer diagnosis two years ago, though its given him a chance to think back about all hes been able to accomplish.

But the last year and a half, with the health issues Ive faced and the pandemic  I do think about it more than I ever did before, he said.

The number of years left, regardless of what happens in my life, are going to be short. So you tend to get a little more concise in your thinking, but I wouldnt have done anything different.

Stringer is being honoured for his contributions to the community by being inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. Thats another reason why he says hes now reflecting on his career and how he got started in Peterborough.

However, his original career had nothing to do with manufacturing windows. Stringer grew up in Bancroft and graduated from McMaster University. His first major career step was in the photography business, taking on a franchise.

In 1986, Stringer says he met someone who connected him with a window manufacturing business in Europe that was looking for a franchisee to take over the rights for Canada.

So I went to the U.K. and Italy and saw their operations and decided Id make that change and sell my photo business and go into the window business, said Stringer.

With no knowledge of the industry, he says he leapt into this new field. He admits he was young and enthusiastic and didnt really do my due diligence.

I guess thats where the ignorance of youth will take you, he said with a chuckle. But like many young people, he jumped into it based more on emotion than experience.

So he launched into it, beginning operations in 1987. He was already living in Peterborough, having moved there while in the photography business.

Our original mandate was to set up small manufacturers across Ontario and eventually Canada, he said.

But three years into owning the business, something unforeseeable happened. The Soviet Union fell, the Berlin Wall was torn down and the Iron Curtain collapsed.

Many of the European companies Stringer says he had been working with sold out their manufacturing facilities, because they could ship to the Eastern Bloc and they could manufacture 24 hours a day and it was just an endless amount of business.

Those franchisees who bought into certain countries, like Stringer who had taken over the rights to Canada to plot a Canadian expansion, were left stranded.

At that moment, he was left with a difficult choice: continue the business on his own or cut his losses.

We had seven manufacturers set up at that time and it was obviously not going to go anywhere and there was a lot of indebtedness at the time, he said.

Several of his employees chose to stay in the business and together they spent 10 years trying to right the ship and turn the industry around.

We started manufacture in Peterborough and it took quite a while to get things on track again, he said. He adds that over the next decade, the business overcame that financial hurdle and found success.

Those werent easy years, which combined with his lack of experience in the industry.

You add turbulence with ignorance and you end up with misery, he said.

But this is all said while looking back, and it took a lot of hard work and resilience to build a business that hes now proud to see prosper.

I dont know whether Id change anything, he said, adding he was satisfied to raise a family, have five children and grow a business in Peterborough.

The business now has 28 employees, manufacturing vinyl products, windows and doors alongside an installation service.

Theres much to be thankful for, but it wasnt much of a straight path, he said, adding Peterborough has provided a great quality of life for his children.

I wouldnt have done anything different, I couldnt ask for anything better, he said.

He no longer formally presides over the business, but three of his children, who have taken over his role, continue to refer to their father for counsel and keep him involved.

With a tenth grandchild on the way, Stringer says hes thankful for all he could accomplish in Peterborough, and how hes been able to build something special.

And thats a lot of goodness you tend to appreciate when you get older, he said. The greatest joys now arent so much the engagement I have with the business, but the fact the business has provided the resources so I can have some time now with my grandchildren and my family.



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Lori Beavis is a museum curator and art educator who helped bring 13 quilled baskets that were gifted to the Prince of Wales back home temporarily.







Thirteen quilled birchbark baskets, or wiigwaasi makakoons, sit in a circle on the land of the Miichi Saagiig Anishnaabeg for the first time in over 160 years.

Theyve been brought back home and put on exhibition at the Peterborough Museum and Archives. Hiawatha First Nation Chief Laurie Carr was there when they were uncrated, saying it was an incredible experience to have the Ancestors come home.

There is such an emotion, a feeling attached, its so hard to describe, said Chief Carr.

These baskets were gifted to the Prince of Wales, in 1860, during a cross-country tour of Canada. They were not stolen, but were gifts on a nation-to-nation basis.

For that moment, when the baskets handmade by the Michi Saagiig women at Rice Lake Village (now Hiawatha First Nation) were handed to Albert Edward, heir of Britains royal monarch, they stood as equals.

Those gifts symbolized the intent of the Treaties, and of the relationship between First Nations and the Crown.

They were about sharing, not taking, describes Chief Carr.

But the respect wasnt mutual, and First Nations had to live with the impacts of colonialism into the next century.

The Makakoons are now on display at the museum for an exhibit titled, To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales, 1860.

Lori Beavis is a curator, art educator, executive director for Centre dart daphne in Quebec and a Citizen of Hiawatha. According to Beavis, during the Royal Tour of 1860, the prince visited Indigenous First Nations  both formally and informally. It was a formal meeting when the prince met with Chief George Paudash at Rice Lake.

It was then the Makakoons were gifted to the Prince of Wales. A speech was given by Chief Paudash, but no record of what was said has been found to date.

REDISCOVERING THE MAKAKOONS

My grandmother always had a great love for quillwork and the braid of sweetgrass that often surrounds outside edge of the little baskets, said Beavis.

Beavis recounts she often heard stories of the princes visit as she grew up. When she was doing her doctorate research in 2016, she read about the princes tour of Canada and the gift of the 13 Makaks.

And so I thought that Id really like to see them, said Beavis. And so after I defended my doctorate in February 2016, I did get there.

The items, which are now more than 160 years old, have sat in Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in the U.K., conserved by the Royal Collections Trust.

There, she was able to see the baskets outside of their cases.

He (the curator) lifted them out for me and I was able to start to look at them and turn them around, turn them over and open their lids, said Beavis.

Thats when she discovered the names of each of the baskets makers attached to them. After more than a century, the names of the women had survived.

The fact this work was all kept together, and all identified and known as coming from Rice Lake Village. And then also the fact it has a womens makers name attached to it as well, is just so  I cant think of anything other than to say its explosive, its so important, said Beavis.

All but three baskets still had the makers names attached, so their descendants could be found.

Each basket is a different size, shape and style, imbued with the taste of its creator. Some are more traditional baskets, while others resemble something like a shoebox or a ladys handbag, describes Beavis. One was designed to store maple sugar.

They are all decorated with unique dyed porcupine quill designs. Most are in amazing shape, but some have deteriorated to different degrees over the century-and-a-half.

After seeing the Makaks and leaving the British museum, Beavis asked herself, How can other people see these?

THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

These were nation-to-nation gifts, so they were not stolen. There is no malicious or nefarious history to them, so they are coming for a visit and they will go back again, said Beavis.

At the time the Makaks were gifted, many Indigenous communities were living in difficult situations  during an era of colonialism. Many objects and materials were taken away by the Canadian government and the church. Because of that, there is an extensive history of Indigenous artifacts being stolen and not returned.

But these were handed to the Crown by Chief Paudash and the Women of Hiawatha, and even if the prince didnt see it from the same lens, that meant something.

He (the chief) was making a presentation as a person on an equal basis, as one person from a position of power as well, said Beavis. By that time, the People of Hiawatha had been on that reserved land on Rice Lake since 1818. But nevertheless they were still making announcements, addresses and demands upon the government, both Canadian and British, to recognize the Rights of First Nations Peoples and the Treaties that had been made.

Those gifts were handed over on a Nation-to-Nation basis, even if one of those Nations didnt necessarily fully understand the other.

Chief Carr is a direct descendant of Chief Paudash, and while his speech has never been found, Carr says she believes he would have talked about the relationship that we were supposed to have with the Crown, and how that was failing at that point.

He would have likely spoken about the relationship intended by the Treaties and how they were not being honoured. He also would have spoken about what was happening to the People of Hiawatha at the time.

To this day, Indigenous Peoples continue to give gifts to represent their relationships, and these gifts have immense meaning.

When First Nations come together and have meetings, youre always gifting the other Nation with something, something representative of your Community, your Nation and of the relationship between the two.

But with the Makaks, I dont believe those gifts were seen as that (a building of relationships and mutual respect) on the Crowns behalf, she added.

The Makaks were put on display by the royal family at Queen Victorias summer home on the Isle of Wight. One explanation for the three missing name tags is the queens children played with them and lost them.

Whats also significant about the Makaks is how they represent Women in Indigenous history. In documentation about the princes tour, women were rarely present, but on Rice Lake, the Michi Saagiig Women were there, standing at his side, offering him gifts.

There is a watercolour painting of the women presenting a basket, which is significant because it shows the women werent just dancing partners or making food, but were presenting their gifts to the prince themselves.

That is such a wonderful, powerful message, said Beavis.

BRINGING THEM HOME

During Beavis visit to the artifacts in the U.K., she took photos to bring back to Canada. Later that summer, she spent a week in Hiawatha talking about the Makaks and their history.

Knowledge came together during that week, and citizens of the community talked about how they would have been made. They discussed how the baskets were likely made during the summertime, and how they were all made from one womans cache of quills.

Around that time Beavis began researching each of the makers, finding out when they were born and how old they would have been.

She also met Dr. Laura Peers, a historian, former professor and curator at the University of Oxford, and currently a museum and heritage consultant. Peers had experience bringing artifacts from the U.K. to Canada, and in 2018 joined the project as co-curator. The two began to plan for the Makaks to come home for a visit.

In April of 2023, after years of planning with the Royal Collections Trust, the Makakoons were packed up and finally sent to Canada.

When they finally arrived, there was a small ceremony as they were being uncrated.

The first part of that initial ceremony was having them spoken to in Anishinaabemowin, the language of the Michi Saagiig, added Carr.

These Makaks arent just objects of historical importance, says the First Nation Chief. We are calling them our Ancestors, she says, describing how they have spirits living within them.

For those who see the Makaks, Beavis says she wants people to recognize the beauty of the work and the importance of the Indigenous Women makers.

And she also wants people to see the ingenuity of the makers, and wants Indigenous people to feel welcome in the exhibit space, to see the exhibition as an example of the resiliency of Indigenous Peoples and Culture.

In the last 10 to 15 years there has been a renaissance of quillwork, beadwork at Hiawatha but also everywhere across the country, added Beavis. Its fascinating and wonderful to see people going back to that.

For Chief Carr, having the Ancestors come home is an opportunity to reflect and learn, and shell be returning to them soon to learn more.

I have so many questions for them, so many questions I want to ask, said Carr. So, I do need to just sit there with the Ancestors and listen.

This article has been written with the collaboration of Chief Laurie Carr and Hiawatha First Nation as part of our ongoing series of stories related to Indigenous issues and history.

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A new 12-bed drug detox and treatment facility  for which the city received operating funding from the provincial government last week  now appears to have a prospective location in the citys northeast end.

The address is 24 Paddock Wood, a large house off Armour Road where the Canadian Mental Health Associations Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge branch has run its Safe Bed program for years.

Its a non-medical program allowing people a temporary stay  usually between three and five days  in times of mental health crisis.

It serves people in Peterborough city and county, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County and Haliburton County residents.

Participants aged 16 or older, who may be staying at the facility on the recommendation of a health professional or could be self-referred, work on their recovery with the assistance of CMHA HKPR staff on-site.

But now the house may soon have medical detox options.

On Monday night at City Hall, councillors voted in a committee meeting to support a request from CMHA  HKPR for a provincial ministers zoning order (MZO) to rezone the property from a residential designation to a public service designation to allow medical detoxification as an additional use.

The rezoning would allow a maximum of 12 beds in the building.

All councillors and Mayor Jeff Leal voted in favour of supporting the MZO request, though two city councillors didnt vote: Coun. Dave Haacke had left the meeting early and wasnt in the room while Coun. Kevin Duguay had declared an interest since a relatives planning firm had worked on the file.

The funding announced last week by PeterboroughKawartha MPP Dave Smith and by Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo was for $1.138 million to operate six detox beds and six residential treatment beds as a two-year pilot program.

The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs can issue MZOs to help expedite development projects.

MZOs achieve quick turnaround rezonings because they skip consultations with the public, neighbouring municipalities or First Nations.

The house on Paddock Wood had a fire in August 2020, but resumed the Safe Beds programs (albeit with three beds instead of six) in October 2020.

No one was hurt in the fire, which had been confined to an exterior part of the north side of the building.

The cause was believed to have been discarded smoking materials, the fire service reported at the time.

On May 2 at the CMHA offices on George Street, Smith and Tibollo announced the provincial funding for six detox and six treatment beds in Peterborough.

No prospective location was revealed at the time.

Along with the $1.138 million in provincial government funding, Peterborough city and county are each offering $200,000 to cover a funding shortfall.

The idea is to provide beds where area people can get medical help as well as start their recovery. Stays are expected to be 35 days.

Meanwhile, the opioid crisis is ongoing: Peterborough Public Health reported three suspected drug poisoning deaths in April, bringing the local death toll in the first four months of 2023 to 26.

If the pace continues, the number of deaths in 2023 could far outstrip the record 59 drug poisoning deaths in 2022.

 with files from Taylor Clysdale.

joelle.kovach@peterboroughdaily.com

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A 19-year-old man with schizophrenia sought help at four Ontario hospitals, including St. Marys General Hospital in Kitchener, in the months before he killed a random pedestrian in Orillia.

The killer, Justice Snache, was found not criminally responsible (NCR) of second-degree murder in the November 2020 unprovoked knife attack on Derek Simmerson, 34.

Mr. Snache needed help, Superior Court Justice Cary Boswell said in finding him NCR last month. He knew it. He sought it. But he did not get it, at least not the help he needed.

The case is a sad example of what happens when our mental health system fails to follow up with people who are seeking mental health assistance, as Mr. Snache did, over and over again, Snaches lawyer, Jay Herbert, said in an email to The Record.

Snache is a member of Rama First Nation.

This lack of real mental health assistance and followup in Ontario is of great concern for Indigenous people in particular, Herbert said, and should be a great concern for all Canadians so that we dont see preventable tragedies like the death of Mr. Simmerson repeated.

Snaches medical history shows he was suffering significantly with mental illness throughout 2020, Boswell said.

He appears to have been homeless and transitory through much of that time and lacking in supports, partly, I would think, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nine months before the murder, Snache went to Toronto Western Hospital complaining of auditory hallucinations.

He was admitted and spent two days in hospital, said the judge, sitting in Barrie.

Snache was diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and substance-induced psychosis. He was prescribed a months supply of Abilify, an antipsychotic, and released from the hospital.

Two weeks later, Snache called an ambulance because he was hearing voices, Boswell said. At Brampton Civic Hospital, he was diagnosed with an unspecified psychosis.

His Abilify prescription was renewed and he was released, given the absence of concern that he was a risk to himself or others, the judge said.

One month later, on May 14, 2020, Snache went to the emergency department at St. Marys General Hospital in Kitchener.

He was vague about what brought him to the hospital, the judge said. He mentioned seeing things. No further diagnosis was made. His prescription for Abilify was extended and he was released.

(St. Marys General Hospital cant comment on specifics related to a patients history of care with the hospital due to privacy issues, spokesperson Dayna Giorgio said in an email to The Record.)

Two weeks later, on May 29, Snache went to the emergency department at Bluewater Health, a hospital in Sarnia.

He was homeless at the time and had no supports in Sarnia, Boswell said. He was vague about his health situation. He spoke about having some paranoia and homicidal ideation. He said he thought people were watching him and out to harm him.

He requested a refill of his Abilify and also asked that something else be prescribed.

After complaining about headaches, Snache underwent a CT scan, the judge said. He got a referral to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and was released.

Near the end of July 2020, Snache was apprehended by the Ontario Provincial Police while walking on the shoulder of a highway near Puslinch.

He reported that voices had told him to walk there, the judge said.

About four months later, on Nov. 19, Snache murdered Derek Simmerson, who had been walking on Coldwater Road in Orillia.

He died of multiple stab wounds, in particular one wound that penetrated his left lung and heart, the judge said.

Snache said he believed Simmerson wanted to kill him.

He thought he had to stab Mr. Simmerson to survive, Boswell said. His killing was random and senseless.

I expect that nothing I say today will make any sense of Mr. Simmersons death, nor bring much comfort to those impacted by it.

Snaches first contact with the mental health system apparently was in Ottawa in February 2019.

He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act after talking about killing himself on a train. Snache was held in a hospital overnight.

The next day he asked to be discharged, the judge said. The attending psychiatrist did not diagnose any psychosis nor assess that Mr. Snache presented a risk to himself or others. He appeared cognitively intact. He was accordingly discharged.

After being found NCR due to a mental disorder, Snache is now being held in a psychiatric hospital under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board, which balances protection of the public with the need to reintegrate people into the community.

The board will likely hold a hearing soon to determine Snaches future. He could spend years in a psychiatric hospital.

Robert Mancari, partner of Simmersons mother Lynda Malec, spoke to an Orillia Today reporter about Snache.

Were glad he got the help he needed, but it cost (her) sons life to get it, he said.

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Souring relations between Ottawa and Beijing could affect Canadian companies in China, potentially tarnishing the appeal of Canadian brands for some Chinese consumers, experts said on Tuesday.

Companies like Canada Goose, Roots, Lululemon and Tim Hortons have expanded in China in recent years, leaning into Canadas reputation as a source of quality goods and often featuring the red maple leaf in store and product branding.

China is central to the growth plans of many Canadian companies eager to tap into the countrys compelling consumer market, retail analyst Bruce Winder said.

If you look at the drawing boards of those companies, Chinas a big factor in the growth strategy, he said. Its a huge market. There are over 1.4 billion people and folks in China are getting rich, so you have a massive middle class.

But a diplomatic spat between Ottawa and Beijing could spur a soft boycott of Canadian brands in China, Winder said.

Canadas supply chain is very dependent on China, but consumer-facing Canadian brands in China could be at risk too, he said. Its something that could potentially impact the future growth prospects of Canadian companies in China.

Beijing declared a Canadian diplomat as persona non grata on Tuesday in retaliation for Ottawas expulsion of a Chinese consular official over allegations of foreign interference.

Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted to its English website that China was deploying a reciprocal countermeasure to Canadas unscrupulous move, which it said it strongly condemns and firmly opposes.

Sarah Kutulakos, executive director of the Canada China Business Council, said diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained for years but the economic relationship has remained.

These sort of diplomatic issues happen and theyre playing out right now, she said. We are always hopeful that trade doesnt get thrown into the mix of other complications in the relationship.

The bilateral non-profit business council, which has seven offices in Canada and China, encourages both governments to resolve their differences and where there are irreconcilable differences, understand the other sides perspective, Kutulakos said.

She added that Canadas reputation in China remains strong, and hostilities between the two countries have not impacted the impression of Canada in the past.

Tim Hortons in China looks more Canadian inside than any Tim Hortons in Canada, Kutulakos said, noting the abundant red maple leaves and other Canadian decor inside the coffee shops in China.

Tims China chairman Peter Yu said in February that the coffee and doughnut chain had 600 locations in China, with plans to grow to a thousand by the end of 2023.

Lululemon had 117 stores in China as of the end of January, according to the companys most recent annual report.

Calvin McDonald, Lululemon CEO, said during the companys fourth-quarter earnings call last month that the retailers potential in China is significant.

The company is planning to open up to 35 new stores in international markets this year, with the majority planned for China, Lululemons chief financial officer Meghan Frank said during the call.

Meanwhile, Roots has more than 100 partner-operated stores in Asia, including many in China, the retailer said in its annual report in January.

Our focus on international expansion continues to remain in the U.S. and China, where we see long-term potential for the brand, Meghan Roach, Roots CEO, said during a recent earnings call.

Canada Goose appointed Larry Li as president of its China operations last year, part of what it called a new phase of expansion in China.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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CNN cant quit Donald Trump.

Its an abusive relationship. The former president has ridiculed the network as fake news more times than Paris Hilton has purred, Thats hot. Trump once retweeted a meme in which CNN appeared in blood on the sole of his shoe. He shared a video in which he body slams CNN outside a wrestling ring.

This liar honestly hates CNN. Yet, CNN longs for his love.

On Wednesday, the network will pretend all past black eyes came from walking into a door. Trump will make his first appearance since 2016. He will field queries from Republican primary voters in New Hampshire. The town hall, moderated by Kaitlan Collins, is CNNs latest gambit to reverse a ratings free fall.

If thats the only impetus, give CNN points for offering Trump, as he wrote Tuesday on Truth Social, a deal I couldnt refuse!!! Details were not disclosed. But dont be stunned if Wolf Blitzer is ordered to don a red cap and moonlight this summer as Trumps caddy: Mr. President, shall I kiss your putter for good luck?

Speaking of red, CNN also smells blood in the cable waters. The sudden and still unexplained firing of Tucker Carlson by Fox News has given CNN something it has not felt in years: hope. Conservatives are boycotting Fox. The network is now in a race with Bud Light to see who can lose the most customers the fastest.

Fox is feeling something it has not felt in years: vulnerable.

But if ratings are not the only consideration, CNNs decision to air a town hall with Donald Trump amounts to journalistic amnesia. CNN? Based on your past coverage, I thought Trump was a pathological liar, charlatan, criminal conspiracist and existential threat to democracy. Whats next? A CNN town hall with Vladimir Putin?

This is not a shot at Ms. Collins. She is a mere 31 in human years but about 150 in political savvy. She is as sharp as a Ginsu. She has perfect recall. She knows the file, as we say in this business. But not even GPT-4 could moderate this debate in real time.

Trump breathes in oxygen and exhales lies. He cuts off people more than a drunk driver in Belarus. He lives in a fantasyland where his ego writes the laws while the rocks in his head rewrite history.

He is an unreliable narrator saddled with disfiguring narcissism.

That may make for good TV. But, unchecked, it is a nightmare for journalism.

CNN will argue this event is newsworthy since Trump is the Republican presidential front-runner. A Washington Post-ABC News poll this week found Trump would trounce Joe Biden by seven points in a hypothetical 2024 rematch. While political polling is not exactly an exact science, Trump is defying the odds by grabbing the GOP by the p-y.

The man is a force of nature. An evil force, in my opinion. But his fans do not care about his actions. Rape allegations, criminal indictments, impeachment, more looming charges, the red hats are unbothered. This lunatic broke the most sacred covenant of American democracy  the peaceful transfer of power. But the red hats lapped up his Big Lie and now many are in jail for insurrecting. He spent his presidency watching cable news under a spray-tan nozzle, mean tweeting and then hitting the links. His daily briefings were pictures because he has the attention span of a fruit fly. But the red hats love that hes not a snooty elite into book learnin or actual governance. Trump could auction off Americas nuclear codes and the red hats would blame Hunter Bidens laptop. Trump makes libs cry and that makes them laugh.

The red hats are in a doomsday cult. They cant be helped.

But CNN should know better. There is a difference between covering Trump and giving him cover. Unless fact-checker Daniel Dale is onstage Wednesday at Saint Anselm College and ready to bang a gong every time Trump lets fly with a whopper, this town hall is a slap in the face to every CNN journalist who documented the ex-presidents grifts, incompetence, malevolence, mendacity and violation of all norms and decency.

CNN spent years telling viewers Trump was unfit to lead a Shake Shack, let alone the free world. But that grim proclamation is now null and void if he can get them boffo ratings? Give your head a shake, CNN. You argued Trump tried to steal the 2020 election. Now you are offering him a showcase in advance of the 2024 election?

Isnt that like giving an arsonist a flame-thrower?

On Tuesday, Trump did something once unimaginable: he urged supporters to watch CNN. It was like seeing Wendel Clark in a Panthers jersey. As Trump wrote: Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me. Lets see what happens? Wednesday Night at 8:00!!!

The pressure is now on Kaitlan Collins to save CNN from itself.

She needs to provide shelter for the monsoon of lies. She needs to keep the trains from derailing, a bleak assignment when the conductor is Agent Orange. That she must do this in an auditorium full of red hats only complicates the high-wire act.

On Tuesday afternoon, in breaking news on CNN, a Manhattan jury sided with E. Jean Carroll in her defamation suit against Trump for allegedly raping her and lying about it. She was awarded $5 million for sexual battery and defamation.

Now, CNN is back in bed with an abusive Donald Trump.

CNN, desperate for ratings, is courting disaster.

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BEIRUT (AP)  The diplomatic mission of Saudi Arabia in Syria will resume its work 11 years after it was closed as the two countries relations have improved recently, the kingdoms news agency reported late Tuesday.

The announcement came nearly a month after Syria and Saudi Arabia said they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming airline flights. Last months development followed a visit by Syrias top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012 and a visit by Syrias foreign minister to Riyadh.

On Sunday, the 22-member Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing Syrian President Bashar Assad, a long-time regional pariah, back into the fold.

Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over the Assad governments brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League.

After the conflict started, Saudi Arabia backed the Syrian opposition.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the reopening of its embassy in Damascus aims to strengthen security and stability in the region. It did not say when the embassy will reopen, adding that the move follows the Arab Leagues decision to reinstate Syrias membership.

There was no official comment from Damascus.

In recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syrias neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement.

The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit on May 19 and Syria is expected to attend.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United States and Britain voiced dissatisfaction with the weekend decision by the Arab League to re-instate Syria as a member.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said they opposed the move. But they also allowed it was up to the Arab League to determine its membership.

Also on Tuesday, Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Moscow where he will attend a meeting on Wednesday that will include his counterparts from Iran, Turkey and Russia.

It will be the first time that Syrias foreign minister will meet his Turkish counterpart in more than a decade, as Turkey has been a main backer of opposition fighters trying to remove Assad from power.

Meetings between the defense ministers of Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were held in Moscow in late April.

Syrias 12-year conflict has killed half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million.

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Phuket boats ordered to ready for heavy weather fallout

PHUKET: Phuket Marine Office Chief Nachapong Pranit has ordered all boat operators to check their vessels for seaworthiness ahead of heavy weather forecast for the region from Thursday through Sunday (May 11-14).

weathermarineSafetytransporttourism

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 9 May 2023, 10:56AM

All vessels less than 13 metres in length are banned from putting to sea during the period, Mr Nachapong said plainly in an order issued yesterday (May 8).

All boat operators must strictly follow all order by authorities during the period, he added.

The Meteorological Department has issued an announcement on the low pressure cell covering the lower Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone, Mr Nachapong explained.

It is expected to move through the central Bay of Bengal and the upper Andaman Sea. After that, it will move closer to the coast of Myanmar.

As a result, the southwestern monsoon that blows moisture from the Andaman Sea to cover Thailand is stronger. Such characteristics will cause continuous rain and some heavy to very heavy rain in Thailand during May 11-14, Mr Nachapong continued.

Wind waves in the Andaman Sea are getting stronger. The upper Andaman Sea will have waves 2-4 meters high and more than 4 meters in thunderstorm areas, while in the lower Andaman Sea the waves will be about 2 meters high and more than 2 meters in thunderstorm areas, he warned.

Therefore, we have issued a warning notice and requested that all ships in the Andaman Sea sail with caution and avoid the risk of sailing in thunderstorm areas.

Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should refrain from leaving the shore during the said days, and we ask the public to closely follow announcements from the Meteorological Department in order to comply with the safety measures in navigation, Mr Nachapong said.

In addition, the Phuket Regional Harbor Office is emphasising that the ships master and the ships commander increase caution when at sea, and avoid sailing far from shore and in areas prone to thunderstorms.

Small boats in the sea in the area of Phuket. with a length of less than 13 meters are not to leave shore to the open sea during May 11-14, and all boat controllers must check the readiness of the hull, boat engine along with providing tools and safety equipment for the ship.

Life-saving equipment, life vests, fire-fighting equipment and communication devices must be readily available and ship captains must assess the weather along their sea route and keep track of the news and alerts from the Meteorological Department and government agencies that are closely related and strictly follow the instructions of the supervisor and officials for safety, Mr Nachapong concluded.
Thailand women win LPGA International Crown

GOLF: Thailand captured the LPGA International Crown on Sunday (May 7), blanking Australia 3-0 in the championship match to complete a near-perfect run in the global team event at Harding Park.

Golf

By AFP

Tuesday 9 May 2023, 09:00AM

Team Thailand members hold the trophy after winning the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco on Sunday (May 7). From left: Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul. Photo: AFP

Patty Tavatanakit defeated Hannah Green 4&3 and Atthaya Thitikul beat Stephanie Kyriacou 4&2 in singles to clinch the trophy before Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn downed Minjee Lee and Sarah Kemp 4&3 in foursomes to complete the sweep.

It means a lot for all of us, said Thitikul. Its incredible work we put in this week to get this trophy for our country.

Were one of the best teams in the world and I think we can beat every team in the world.

Sixth seed Thailand went 11-1 in all matches during the week, making a perfect streak through round-robin play before ousting top seed United States 2-1 in a Sunday morning semi-final.

The seventh-seeded Aussies beat Sweden 3-0 in the other semi but had no answer for the Thai stars.

It means so much and for us to come all the way this far its so great for our country, Tavatanakit said.

You can already see there are a lot of rookies this year from Thailand. You know this is going to keep making it growing and keep inspiring young people.

Im just so proud of all of us to be able to play and give it all we got and just try to make our home country proud.

Thitikul and Kyriacou were level at the turn. Thitikul won the 12th hole with an eight-foot birdie putt, took the 14th with a par and got up and down from a bunker for par to win the 15th for a 3-up lead.

When Kyriacou missed a 12-foot birdie putt, she conceded to hole and the clinching point.

Tavatanakit birdied the par-3 second, par-5 third and par-4 fourth to jump 3-up, Green won the next two holes with birdies but Tavatanakit birdied seven, 11 and the par-3 13th to seize a 4-up lead. She won the match by tying the 14th and 15th.

I was really patient out there, Tavatanakit said. I knew it was going to be tougher because everyone is tired, just tried to be as consistent as I can and that helped.

The Jutanugarn sisters, who won the deciding point over the US women and went unbeaten for the week, birdied four holes in a row starting at the par-4 seventh to seize a 4-up lead.

Ariya, named the Crowns Most Valuable Player, chipped in for par at 15 to tie the hole and complete the team sweep.

Its such an honour to represent our country, Moriya said. Everyone just gave 100% for every match. We tried to play as solid as we can.

Kemp took some consolation in the Aussies managing a best-ever finish by reaching the final.

I think we made everyone in Australia proud by finishing second, she said. Weve done the best ever Australia has done in this tournament. Its obviously a little disappointing, but its still a big win for us.

The United States defeated Sweden 2-1 in the third-place match.

Launched in 2014, the International Crown is a biennial team event that returned this season after a five-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A relative of a Palestinian child, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, mourns at the morgue of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. At least nine people were killed and more than 10 were injured early Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in the Gaza Strip, medics said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and more than 10 were injured early Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in the Gaza Strip, medics said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that seven bodies were brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and the other two bodies to the hospital in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a press statement, the ministry said that more than 10 Palestinians, including women and children, were injured in the Israeli airstrikes on several buildings in Gaza City and Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip.

PIJ sources told Xinhua that among the dead were Tareq Izel Dein, the spokesman of the organization in the Palestinian territories, his wife and two children, and two other senior military leaders.

Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses said that Israeli drones bombed several buildings at predawn Tuesday in Gaza City and the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

They said that the first building was a residential apartment in the "Dawood" tower in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, and the other target was a building in Rafah town.

The PIJ militants were in the two buildings which were bombed by the Israeli drones' missiles, the sources said, adding that several explosions were suddenly heard in Gaza as Israeli army drones kept hovering over the coastal enclave.

Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman said in a brief statement that the Israeli army was bombing Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip without revealing more details.

The Israeli army later said that, according to an assessment of the situation, the army had ordered Israeli residents living close to the Gaza Strip to stay near bomb shelters at a distance of 40 km for fear of rocket fire from Gaza. 

A relative of a Palestinian child, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, mourns at the morgue of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. At least nine people were killed and more than 10 were injured early Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants in the Gaza Strip, medics said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Virus curbs set to return to schools

BANGKOK: The Education and Public Health ministries have been told to ramp up COVID-19 control measures in schools due to concerns over a potential spike in infections when students begin returning to class later this month.

healthVaccineCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 9 May 2023, 02:19PM

Youngsters at Banbangkapi School in May last year. Photo: Bangkok Post

Traisuree Taisaranakul, deputy government spokeswoman, said yesterday (May 8) that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the ministries to start preparing for the start of the new school semester next week, reports the Bangkok Post.

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise since the Songkran festival last month, and the numbers look set to increase as Thailand is about to enter the rainy season, which is also known as the start of the flu season, she said, noting cases have been increasing because pandemic controls have been lifted.

To prevent cases from spiralling out of control, Gen Prayut asked the Education and Public Health ministries to bring back preventive measures at schools and other educational institutions.

Last Friday (May 5), the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency of international concern, effectively ending the three-year pandemic.

While the disease is no longer considered a major danger to public health, all members of the public are still advised to get a COVID-19 booster shot annually, especially those who are considered vulnerable to catching the disease, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

As COVID-19 has yet to be classified as a seasonal infectious disease, the public must remain cautious and follow preventive measures to prevent another uptick.

According to the Public Relations Department, there were 1,699 new infections between Apr 30 and May 7, an average of 242 per day, and ten deaths.

Since Jan 1, 10,081 COVID-19 cases have been reported, along with 298 deaths.

Tares Krasanairawiwong, chief of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), on Monday called on the public to get both a COVID-19 booster shot at the same time as an influenza shot as the rainy season is arriving. The jabs are free at public hospitals.
KHARTOUM/ANKARA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council and commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Army, said on Tuesday that the Sudanese government is open to any initiative that may help relieve the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Al-Burhan made the remarks on Tuesday during phone conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azali Assoumani, president of the Union of the Comoros and chair of the African Union(AU), Sudan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Al-Burhan expressed the Sudanese government's openness to any initiative that would help relieve the Sudanese people of the atrocities committed by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF)," it said.

According to the statement, Assoumani underlined the importance of maintaining stability in Sudan and supporting the ongoing talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah to stop the fighting and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Assoumani was quoted as saying that he would send a special envoy to Jeddah to help reach an agreement to end the conflict and restore stability in Sudan.

While expressing his concern over the increasing number of fatalities and injuries in the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF, Erdogan offered to host peace talks, his office said in a statement.

Turkiye is "ready to host the talks if they decide to start comprehensive negotiations," the statement quoted Erdogan as saying. Ankara will continue its contact with the United Nations to ensure that the urgent humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people are met, Erdogan added.

Erdogan also discussed with Al-Burhan the evacuation and safety of Turkish citizens in Sudan, the statement said.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in the capital city of Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.

According to UN statistics, thousands of Sudanese citizens have been displaced or forced to seek refuge in safe areas in Sudan and neighboring countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad.

So far, the deadly clashes have left at least 550 people dead and 4,926 others wounded, according to the Sudanese health ministry. 
KITCHENER  A request to allow fireworks on Lunar New Year was turned down as Kitchener councillors voted to restrict fireworks displays to three days a year.

People will only be allowed to set off fireworks on Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali, and the displays must end by 11 p.m.

Previously, fireworks were also allowed on the day immediately before and after those three holidays.

Council voted for the change Monday night despite appeals from industry representatives; in a recorded vote, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and Coun. Ayo Owodunni opposed the change to the bylaw.

Vrbanovic said he agreed with the time of day restriction, but didnt support removing the days before and after the holidays.

I think what were attempting to do is respond to a very small group of people, he said, referring to the number of complaints received by the city.

Fireworks complaints peaked in 2021, when the city received 203; it got 170 last year.

Most complaints are about noise, impacts to families and pets, and fireworks being set off on public property, including in parks.

Aleem Kanji of the Canadian National Fireworks Association and local retailer Shawn Miller both spoke of the advantage of having days around the holiday available as rain dates.

Were never going to make everyone happy, so lets think of the 99 per cent of the population that didnt complain, Miller said.

Kanji said he would like to have seen more consultation, and said the associations fireworks education and vendor certification program could be embedded in the bylaw.

Education is the key to compliance, and people should know the right ways to use the product.

While Kanji said the vast majority of fireworks users are responsible and considerate, Coun. Paul Singh said there are still a lot of troublemakers  being disrespectful of your neighbours.

A few years ago, Diwali was added to the list of permitted days after a request from the community.

At a committee meeting last month, Coun. Aislinn Clancys request to add Lunar New Year was turned down, and councillors heard there had been no similar requests from the community.

RELATED STORIES Council Bylaw changes would limit fireworks to three holidays a year in Kitchener

That changed with a letter submitted by the Waterloo Region Chinese Canadian Association ahead of Mondays meeting, prompting another proposal to permit fireworks for Lunar New Year.

While councillors were split, the suggestion was voted down. Waterloo and Wilmot Township permit fireworks for Lunar New Year.

Coun. Bil Ioannidis said he was still interested in the idea of sanctioned community events in an effort to reduce individual complaints.

If were not going that way, and were looking at adding more dates, then Id be more in favour to ban fireworks, period.

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WATERLOO REGION  Police have arrested a man in connection with a series of vehicle thefts from dealerships in Waterloo Region.

Waterloo Regional Police investigated three separate break and enters to dealerships between the end of January and April 1.

In each case, police said the suspect damaged the exterior of the businesses and then stole vehicles.

Officers arrested a 38-year-old Kitchener man on Monday afternoon in the area of Homer Watson Boulevard and Ottawa Street South in Kitchener.

Hes been charged with three counts of break and enter  commit vehicle theft and three counts of driving while disqualified.

Police said all of the stolen vehicles were recovered during their investigation.

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Today

Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 57F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 44F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 73F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the container terminal at Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade grew at a faster pace in the first four months of the year amid uncertain external demand, trade risks and other challenges.

China's total imports and exports expanded 5.8 percent year on year to 13.32 trillion yuan (about 1.92 trillion U.S. dollars) in the period, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said Tuesday. The growth rate accelerated by 1 percentage point from the pace recorded in the first quarter.

Exports grew 10.6 percent year on year while imports rose 0.02 percent in the first four months, it added.

From January to April, the growth rate of China's trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union stood at 13.9 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, the data showed.

China's trade with Belt and Road countries jumped by 16 percent year on year to 4.61 trillion yuan in the period.

In particular, the country's trade with five Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- surged 37.4 percent, partly making up for the weak demand in traditional markets.

Private enterprises saw a fast growth rate as imports and exports increased by 15.8 percent to 7.05 trillion yuan in the first four months, accounting for more than half of the country's total.

In terms of types of goods, exports of mechanical and electrical products expanded by 10.5 percent to account for 57.9 percent of the total exports.

Driven by robust exports of new energy vehicles, automobile exports soared 120.3 percent year on year during the period.

A monthly customs survey showed that the proportion of enterprises with growing export orders had increased for four consecutive months.

In April alone, foreign trade increased 8.9 percent year on year, according to the GAC. 

This aerial photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the container terminal at Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Wang Chun/Xinhua)

(230509) -- YANTAI, May 9, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo shows cars to be loaded for export at Yantai Port, east China's Shangdong Province, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Tang Ke/Xinhua)

This aerial photo shows cars to be loaded for export at Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua)
Ontarios police watchdog has cleared a Hamilton police officer of wrongdoing after a 52-year-old man suffered a fractured nose during his arrest earlier this year.

In the early afternoon of Jan. 9, Hamilton police pulled over a vehicle in the area of Robins and Campbell avenues, according to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report.

The vehicle, which the officers followed from a suspected drug house, had front-end damage.

As officers were ticketing the driver of the vehicle, a passenger  later identified as the 52-year-old man  got out and started walking north on Robins Avenue.

A search of police records showed he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for allegedly violating his probation, according to the report.

Police followed the man, tracking him down at the intersection of Robins and Barton Street East. The officers parked their cruiser on Barton, as the man made his way westbound on the street.

The SIU said one of the officers got out of the cruiser, caught up with the man and told him he was going to be detained. When the officer tried to grab the man, he fled west along the grassy boulevard in the area of Barton and Ellis Avenue, near the Centre on Barton.

Again, the officer caught up with the man and this time, tackled him to the ground. A struggle ensued between the two of them, in which the officer punched the man in the head several times, the SIU said.

The man was eventually handcuffed and arrested by officers. He later complained of pain to his face and was brought to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured nose.

SIU director Joseph Martino concluded that the force used during the arrest was reasonable.

Martino wrote in his analysis that the officers were within their rights in looking to take the man into custody as he was wanted on a warrant.

He noted that there was a version of events in the evidence that alleged the officer punched the man in the head a handful of times prior to the struggle, however, that statement was at odds with the information provided by the officers.

Martino later wrote that the punches were effective in subduing the man, who allegedly refused to be handcuffed.

As it seems as likely as not on the totality of the evidence that the officers story is closer to the truth of what happened, the evidence is insufficiently cogent to warrant criminal charges, Martino said.

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Dr. Kassia Johnson says Hamilton is sick.

Her diagnosis is direct and stark: Hate is making the Hammer ill.

Hate is a cancer and we have to get rid of it, said Johnson, the senior medical director of equity, diversity and inclusion for Hamilton Health Sciences and a board member of the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HAARC).

Johnsons diagnosis is not just a metaphor. Hate, in the forms of bigotry and racism, doesnt just create hurt feelings. She said those who have been impacted by hatred suffer from stresses and trauma, which can compound other problems such as financial distress  all of which has deleterious effects on a persons physical health.

So, as a doctor, Johnsons says HAARCs latest effort to combat hate in Hamilton  a new online hate-incident reporting tool called We Support Hamilton  is a treatment to help heal the city.

Healing does not happen through comfort. It is uncomfortable, said Johnson during a Monday news conference at city hall to reveal the website. We Support Hamilton is an opportunity for all us of to participate to improve the health and well-being of Hamilton.

Launched in conjunction with the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, the website allows people to report a hate incident, connects residents with resources and ultimately helps provide a clearer picture of hate in the city.

We Support Hamilton website. WeSupportHamilton.ca

Your reports can help community partners better target prevention, education and outreach initiatives in our community, said Lyndon George, the executive director of HAARC. Reports can also help identify social trends and prevent escalation to violence.

The website was five years in the making, with work beginning after the 2019 anti-Pride riot in Gage Park, as well as Hamiltons consistently high rate of hate incidents and hate crime reported by the Hamilton Police Service.

There were 174 hate incidents in the city last year, according to Hamilton police, including 26 that resulted in hate crime charges being laid. Members of the Black, Jewish and LGBTQ communities the most frequent target.

The 174 incidents reported to police last year marked a jump from 108 incidents reported to police in 2021.

However, the actual number of hate incidents in Hamilton is unclear because some communities do not call police after an incident.

We know these conversations are going in churches, in synagogues and mosques, and community groups, people telling each other what they experienced and seeking help and support, said George. But they are not always calling the police.

He said the websites data will eventually be used to create a database that will help paint a clear picture of hate in Hamilton. However, he said when that data is released to the public, it will be done in a way that is responsible and reflects that the victims of hate are not merely statistics.

The website itself is also an evolving project, George said, and will be tweaked as they get feedback from users.

He said when someone reports an incident, they will be connected with a HAARC staff member who can direct them to resources, including legal help and counselling. The website also contains a comprehensive list of community resources and supports.

Johnson said the website will also help address the stresses that being the victim of a hate incident causes. The trauma from an incident is made worse is a person suffers in silence or believes there is no one to talk to about it.

Being able to report the incident and having direct contact with someone who can help provides a degree of validation for the person, which helps them along the path to healing.

The website can be reached at WeSupportHamilton.ca.

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WASHINGTON - Heavy spring flooding has made Line 5 an imminent threat to Lake Superior and a key Indigenous watershed, lawyers argued Tuesday in an emergency motion to shut down the controversial cross-border pipeline.

Lawyers for the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa filed their emergency motion Tuesday and asked District Court Judge William Conley to make a decision on it before the end of the week.

The motion comes after a joint status report by both the band and the pipelines owner, Enbridge Inc., acknowledged extensive erosion last month that has brought the edges of the Bad River ever closer to the pipeline.

That erosion has only continued with alarming rapidity in recent days, the motion says, with the river less than five metres away in several spots  and just 3.5 metres away in one specific area.

Erosion continues to progress  and important factors suggest that further bank loss could be significant, resulting in the exposure and rupture of the pipeline, it reads.

These circumstances present an imminent threat to the Bad River watershed and Lake Superior, and hence to the rights of the band and the public, and they warrant immediate action by this court.

In a statement, Enbridge said it was extremely disappointed to see the motion, which it was not expecting, and played down the potential threat of a breach.

Enbridge and band officials toured the area on Monday and saw no evidence of an emergency, the company said.

The pipe is not exposed, it is completely covered by multiple feet of soil; there is no pipeline safety issue and certainly no cause for alarm, said spokesperson Juli Kellner.

To be clear, the bands leadership seems determined to shut down this piece of critical, North American energy infrastructure regardless of who will be impacted by their actions.

Enbridge has repeatedly offered plans to shore up the riverbank and install an additional valve, but the band insists theres nothing that can be done. Nothing could be further from the truth, Kellner said.

A disruption in any one part of Line 5 has an impact on the entire pipeline, effectively terminating Line 5s operations in whole. This presents severe consequences for people and industries in the United States and Canada.

The two sides have been in court since 2019 as the band tries to compel Enbridge to not only reroute Line 5 around its traditional territory, but to shut it down in the meantime.

Enbridge has already agreed to the relocation project, and that work is well underway. The dispute now revolves around whether the company should be required to shut down and purge the section of line on Bad River land in the meantime.

Late last year, Conley  having already rejected calls to shut down the pipeline immediately  ordered both parties to submit contingency plans in the event the risk of a rupture grew too great.

Neither plan was triggered by the flooding, which began April 11 after an abrupt spring melt and persisted for days, worsened by heavy rains, until the floodwaters finally receded fully on April 23, the report says.

Conley has already indicated that hes reluctant to shut the pipeline down wholesale, citing the potential economic impact in both Canada and the U.S.

The motion suggests Bad Rivers lawyers believe the current circumstances might change his mind.

The band is sensitive to the courts economic concerns about enjoining the pipeline, it reads.

The far graver threat at present is of a rupture that not only would shut down Line 5 but would devastate the Bad River watershed and Lake Superior in the process.

Environmental concerns about Line 5 have long been top of mind in Wisconsin, where the pipeline runs directly through the Bad River Reservation, more than 500 square kilometres of pristine wetlands, streams and wilderness.

Enbridge has plans for a 66-kilometre detour of Line 5 around the reservation, which are already more than two years along.

Late last month, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a UN advisory body, recommended that Canada rescind its support for the pipeline, citing the potential risk of a disaster in the Great Lakes.

The forum called Line 5 a real and credible threat to the treaty-protected fishing rights of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and Canada.

Line 5 is also under legal siege in neighbouring Michigan, where the state wants the line shut down for fear of a disaster in the Straits of Mackinac, the ecologically delicate area where it crosses beneath the Great Lakes.

Business groups and chambers of commerce on both sides of the border, provincial governments and Ottawa have all rallied behind Enbridge in its effort to portray Line 5s survival as a mission-critical matter of continental energy security.

Allies have argued in court filings as well as public forums that Line 5 is a vital source of energy for several Midwestern states and an essential link for Canadian refineries that fuel some of Canadas busiest airports.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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MONTREAL - Police in Montreal have cancelled an Amber Alert after locating a five-month-old child who they said had been abducted.

Police say the suspect and child were found about 25 minutes after the emergency alert was sent to mobile phone users and television viewers across the region.

According to authorities, the infant was reported missing at about 1:35 p.m.

Police spokeswoman Veronique Dubuc says she was en route to the scene, a few blocks east of Angrignon Park, when the alert was lifted.

Police wrote on their Twitter account that the child was safe and sound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2023.

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THE PAS, Man. - Manitoba RCMP have caught one inmate who escaped from a correctional facility in northern Manitoba and are searching for another.

Mounties in The Pas say Xander Tardiff is in police custody after officers located the 19-year-old and safely arrested him.

Police are still searching for Kelly Castel, who is 21, and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the detachment in The Pas.

The two men, along with a third, escaped from the correctional centre shortly before 7 p.m. on Monday.

A search involving additional police resources, including police dogs, resulted in the apprehension of one of the inmates, who was returned to custody.

Alert Ready messages have been issued for residents of The Pas, Flin Flon and surrounding areas in Manitoba, and Saskatchewan RCMP have issued a Sask Alert message to residents in Creighton, Sask., and nearby areas.

RCMP say Castel has a history of violence and should not be approached.

Residents are being told to lock all doors and windows and to immediately report anything suspicious to the RCMP.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said inmate Kelly John Castel is two years old.

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A child was rushed to hospital Tuesday afternoon with serious injuries after being struck by a car in North York.

Toronto police said they received reports of a child being hit by a vehicle while crossing the road around 3:30 p.m. near Banbury and York Mills Roads.

The intersection at Banbury and York Mills was blocked off for the investigation but has since reopened.

It is unclear whether the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and the circumstances around the collision.

MH Mahdis Habibinia is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mhabibinia@thestar.ca

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On Wednesday, people across the country, except for those in Alberta and Quebec, will receive emergency alerts as part of a nationwide test.

Alert Ready, Canadas emergency alerting system, has scheduled the tests to ensure the program works in the event of an actual emergency. Only authorized government agencies can issue alerts.

In Ontario, the alarms will sound at 12:55 p.m. through television, radio and LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices.

There may be alternative alert formats for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or partially sighted, Alert Ready says, although not every alerting authority or device is able to receive or produce such formats.

Broadcasters may use text-to-speech software to create an audio version of an alert message, the website reads. Emergency alerts may be read to the recipient if your device supports this feature. The vibration feature that accompanies emergency alerts is available to alert Canadians.

The system advises those who need it to contact their wireless provider for more services that may be available.

The next scheduled test will be on Nov. 15 of this year.

Emergency alerts can be issued in the event of fires, a significant decrease in air quality, drinking water contamination, tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes and more natural disasters, among others.

In February, an emergency alert was issued just southwest of Ottawa as police searched for armed suspects in Lanark County and Sharbot Lake. Residents were told to shelter in place and lock their doors and windows.

Several partners, including federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers collaborated to develop Alert Ready.

RELATED STORIES Canada Arrest made after emergency alert in rural central Alberta community

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Toronto lawyer Scott Rosen was no stranger to heated litigation, representing business clients and acting as counsel in shareholder, real estate and commercial lease disputes for more than 25 years.

And while the 52-year-old did not shy away from forceful advocacy, even his most contentious matters stayed courteous and civil.

So when an assailant poured phosphoric acid on his head as he descended the stairs to an underground parking lot near his midtown Toronto office on March 28, 2018, Rosen figured it was a random attack by someone who was mentally ill. This, despite the fact the culprit resembled Anh Chiem, whom he was suing on behalf of her former son-in-law.

I suppose there is a small chance its her, we are in litigation and court proceedings. Thats the only person I can think of, Rosen told the police officers investigating the acid attack.

Twenty-one months later, at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2020, Chiem, fuelled with rage, ran over the civil litigator walking to his vehicle in a parking garage at his 234 Eglinton Ave. East law office. He suffered catastrophic injuries and died almost instantly. Prosecutors called it a calculated and extremely violent act that was captured by surveillance video.

It showed a U-Haul pickup driving directly at Rosen, dragging him along the cement wall, before bending like a piece of paper to the ground, the jury was told. After squealing the tires in reverse, the truck accelerated again before passing over his body.

On Tuesday afternoon, after about eight hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Chiem of first-degree murder. Truly the most overwhelming case I have ever seen, Justice Peter Bawden said while commending defence lawyer Naomi Lutes for her work on Chiems behalf.

After the verdict, court officers guided the quietly sobbing defendant out of the courtroom. Rosens wife, Elise Middlestadt, grimaced looking at the woman who suggested during the trial that she had suffered more than Rosen. All I can say is there was nothing more important to Scott than justice and today the right person was held to account, said Middlestadt, who attended court every day. She and other family members will return to court on May 24 when Chiem will receive an automatic life sentence.

Jurors were not told about the earlier acid-throwing incident, which remained unsolved and the suspect unidentified.

But those closest to Rosen have little doubt it was Chiem who showered him with the burning substance demonstrating what the Crown described as her long-standing and undaunted resolve to cause him harm.

Chiem continues to maintain she had no reason to hurt Rosen.

During the trial, prosecutors Bev Richards and Corie Langdon presented evidence that litigation, her bankruptcy and unfounded complaints to the legal regulator about Rosen clearly established motive.

Rosen acted as counsel in three types of court proceedings involving Chiem. There was a protracted real estate dispute involving a parcel of property owned by her mother, Chau Chiem, over a development agreement with her son-in-law Peter Voongs home-building company, Castleform Development Inc. Voong sued the Chiems in 2016 and they countersued.

Rosen was also representing Voongs interests in a child and spousal support court fight with Chiems daughter, Sandra Vo, although the jury did not hear about that feud.

But what sent Chiem over the edge, the prosecutors alleged, was Rosen taking steps to prevent her bankruptcy discharge. Chiem was on the hook for costs related to the Voong lawsuit and also owed $350,000, most of that to Ontario casinos that sued her (a detail not shared with jurors.) She declared bankruptcy in 2018 hoping to wipe out her debts and end the civil litigation.

Rosen, acting in his role as counsel to a numbered company, had purchased two-thirds of her debt and was intending to seize assets including a house occupied by Chiems elderly mother.

Lutes tried, however, to convince jurors to reject the Crowns theory that those legal imbroglios amounted to motive.

Theres no doubt she felt aggrieved and unfairly treated, Lutes said during her closing arguments last week. She may have been angry but she complained to the Law Society, which is what people are supposed to do when theyre angry with lawyers.

As well, by December 2020, Chiem still had protection from creditors, and there was no imminent transfer of assets, said Lutes.

She also argued the Crown had failed to prove the critical issue at trial: who was driving the white U-Haul pickup truck that ran over Rosen  the same vehicle Chiem had rented for three days prior to the killing. Lutes called to the stand a woman present in the parking garage who testified the driver was a man, a witness the Crown said was unreliable.

On the prosecution witness list was a police officer who gave Chiem a ticket while she sat parked near Rosens office  the pickup trucks licence plate had been covered with duct tape; she denied placing it there.

The Crown also relied on the testimony of a man who was driving on Bathurst Street around 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 18  about 15 minutes after Rosen died. He saw a woman behind the wheel of a heavily damaged U-Haul truck. He exchanged words with the driver and later recognized her as Chiem when her photo appeared on a TV newscast.

Chiem was on the stand for several days where she acknowledged renting the truck on Dec. 15, 16 and 17 and parked close to Rosens law office. The jury also heard she was loitering near his office earlier that month.

She has not provided any explanation why she was there those days, Richards said Friday during her closing address.

During lengthy cross-examination, Chiem remained calm and didnt raise her voice while being grilled by veteran prosecutor Richards.

Chiems language skills became an issue at trial.

Using a Vietnamese interpreter, Chiem suggested her English was such that she had no understanding of her legal predicament nor the effect of Rosens opposition to her bankruptcy discharge.

If the jury believed her, it would substantially weaken Crowns case as it relates to motive, Bawden said in a midtrial ruling when the jury was absent.

He allowed the prosecution to recall several witnesses to tell of interactions with Chiem that demonstrated her proficiency in English. They included a bankruptcy trustee who testified he witnessed an angry confrontation between Chiem and Rosen on Sept. 23, 2019, outside bankruptcy court.

She knew full well what was going on and what her jeopardy was and she knew it was entirely as a result of Scott Rosen, Richards said during her closing address.

The jury heard few personal details about Chiem, who turns 65 in November.

Born in Vietnam, Chiem came to Canada with her parents and a son in 1980. The family settled in Halifax, where she worked as a seamstress and had two more children. When she moved to Toronto with three kids in 1989, their father stayed behind in Halifax. By then, Chiem was a Canadian citizen, according to defence documents filed with her bail application. (A judge turned down her release in the summer of 2021.)

While raising her sons and daughter in Toronto, Chiem worked on and off as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. Missing was the detail that in 1999 and 2001, she was convicted of operating body rub parlours without a licence, contrary to city bylaws. Chiem was fined $2,000 and given two years probation.

Chiems later years were filled with trouble.

She suffered from depression and lived with her boyfriend, with whom she had a volatile relationship, along with her daughter and mother, and sometimes lived on the street, according to her bail application. Her nomadic lifestyle put a strain on her relationship with her children, yet they remained supportive and respectful, Lutes wrote.

At the time of her arrest, Chiem was receiving income through the Ontario Disability Support Program.

Two days before Christmas, with the city under lockdown, Emergency Task Force officers executed a search warrant at her sons house where they found Chiem under a blanket on the floor beneath a bed.

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CAIRO (AP)  The death toll from the ongoing clashes in Sudan has risen to 604 people, including civilians, the U.N. health agency said on Tuesday. The new figures come as representatives of the warring parties are holding talks in Saudi Arabia.

More than 5,100 people were also wounded in connection with the fighting, World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told reporters. On Monday, the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said that the fatalities had reached 487.

The conflict started on April 15, after months of escalating tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The fighting has turned urban areas into battlefields and displaced nearly 700,000 people on top of the 3.7 million who had already been internally displaced within the country before the conflict began, according to the U.N. migration agency.

On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that talks between delegations of both warring sides were expected to continue for a few more days in the coastal city of Jeddah.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths proposed a declaration of commitments to representatives of the rival Sudanese forces to guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at U.N. headquarters Tuesday.

He said Griffiths made the proposal in Jeddah and is encouraged that there were consultations on the declaration, so that was a step forward.

The talks are part of a diplomatic initiative proposed by the kingdom and the United States in hopes of ending the fighting. Meanwhile, Burhan accused the RSF of using residential neighborhoods as their military bases and civilians as human shields.

In an interview late Monday with an Egyptian TV channel, Al-Qahira Al-Akhbariya, he insisted they must withdraw all their troops from the capital, Khartoum, before any truce agreement can be reached.

If this is not achieved, there will be no point in going to Saudi Arabia, or engaging in any negotiations, he said. We wont go ahead with any initiative that does not bring back normalcy and ensure the safety of our citizens.

The RSF has not responded to Burhans statement.

Also on Tuesday, the U.N. special envoy for the Horn of Africa said the conflict is profoundly affecting Sudans relations with neighboring South Sudan.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh told the U.N. Security Council that the unstable situation has the potential for more than 200,000 South Sudanese refugees hosted by the Sudan returning home prematurely to a country where two-thirds of the population already needs humanitarian assistance.

South Sudan is facing violent clashes and increasing disillusionment and frustration as it struggles to implement the most challenging provisions of a fragile 2018 power-sharing agreement, according to the U.N.

Before the conflict in Sudan erupted, Tetteh said, relations between Sudan and South Sudan were stable and there were regular meetings between officials of both countries, including at the highest level.

But she said the conflict in the Sudan is putting the incremental progress achieved by the two countries in addressing their outstanding bilateral issues in jeopardy.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

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Palestinians inspect a damaged building following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday have killed 15 Palestinians and wounded 22 others, said the Gaza-based Ministry of Health run by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The ministry said in a press statement that among those killed included four children and five women, while seven of the 22 injured were in serious condition.

During predawn hours of Tuesday, Israeli unmanned drones and fighter jets carried out simultaneous raids on several buildings in Gaza, killing three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement's armed wing.

Palestinians inspect a damaged building following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)



The joint chamber of military operations of Palestinian factions said in a press statement that it "mourns a constellation of martyrs of our people, including leaders, children, and women who died as a result of the treacherous Zionist aggression launched against their homes."

The chamber comprises several Palestinian militant groups, including the armed wing of PIJ, known as the Al-Quds Brigades, and the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.

So far, neither the PIJ nor Hamas has responded to the Israeli airstrikes.

Ibrahim Koueider, a political analyst from Gaza, said that "not responding to the assassination of (PIJ) leaders, even after many hours have passed, aimed at keeping the Israeli government and people in a state of great uncertainty and confusion."

"The Jihad and the rest of the factions' armed wings, led by Hamas, are managing the battle with high military skill without emotional responses, and they know how and when to start their battle so that it keeps Israel standing on one foot," Koueider said.

A man mourns during the funeral of a Palestinian killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A Palestinian woman looks out from her damaged window following an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A relative of a Palestinian child, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, mourns at the morgue of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on May 9, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
BAJO CHIQUITO, Panama (AP)  The long wooden boats packed with migrants in orange life jackets arrived one after another, pushed down the Tuquesa river by outboard motors. By days end, authorities had registered some 2,000 migrants at this remote riverside outpost on the edge of the Darien jungle that links Panama and Colombia.

Some had vague information  from relatives, social media, smugglers  about coming border policy changes by the United States government and were hustling to make it to that distant border.

On May 11, the United States government will end pandemic-related restrictions on people requesting asylum at the border  also known as Title 42, under which migrants have been expelled from the U.S. more than 2.8 million times since March 2020.

The uncertainty around what happens after the end of the restrictions, as well as the prospect of new limits on asylum, was fodder for migrant smugglers to create an unnecessary sense of urgency for people making decisions with imperfect information.

Fearing a rush of arrivals, U.S. officials have expanded legal pathways, urged would-be migrants to register before making the journey and proposed severely restricting asylum for people who travel through Mexico. They will deport those deemed not qualified with a five-year ban on reentry.

As migrants made the Darien crossing, there were no visible signs on either side that efforts the U.S., Panama and Colombia promised a month ago would stem migration at this bottleneck between regions. If anything, the flow seemed to have increased during a year already on a record pace.

Maria Chirino Sanchez, 34, left Venezuela one month earlier in a group of 10 relatives, including her husband, four children and dog Toby. Despite her job with a transportation company and her husbands as a dental technician, they could not make ends meet.

At the urging of relatives in the U.S., they sold their house for $4,000 and set out, having heard that they are not going to let us enter after (May) 11, she said. They ran out of food and had to beg for crackers to feed their children before exiting the jungle. Like others, she said if she were sent back, she would not try this route again.

Chirinos sentiment was nearly universal despite signs the well-trod route from Colombia has become more established than ever before. Venezuelans make up the largest group of those crossing Darien now, but AP journalists also saw Haitians, Chinese and Ecuadorians among others.

In Necocli, Colombia, between 1,000 and 1,200 migrants a day board boats that ferry them across a gulf to Acandi on the Colombian side of the Darien, according to local human rights authorities.

There, mototaxi drivers wait to zip them to the trailhead  a route that is now being paved.

Camps have cropped up early in the route where migrants can pitch their tents and buy provisions. For those with the means, porters can be hired.

The journey is punishing. Migrants hike for several days over mountains in dense jungle contending with biting insects, venomous snakes, torrential rains and mud-slicked mountain passes. Swollen rivers sweep away those who slip. Bandits rob and sexually assault migrants.

Still, nearly 250,000 people did it last year and the United Nations projects another 400,000 could attempt it this year.

Some migrants said they could just no longer sustain their families in their countries. They fled political instability, unemployment or crime.

Many fled Venezuelas political and economic crisis  now or years earlier  but others come from more distant countries.

Yu Tian traveled from Wuhan, China, to Hong Kong, and then to Ecuador where he boarded a bus to Colombia. Hundreds of thousands are leaving China, said the tourism guide turned migrant.

At the Ecuador-Colombia border, migrant trafficking groups recruit customers by telling them right now you can go cross to the United States, said Pedro de Velasco, a member of the KINO initiative, a binational nongovernmental organization at the U.S.-Mexico border, who traveled to the Ecuador-Colombia border to see why so many were arriving.

The smugglers charge $10,000, but dont tell them theyre going to be expelled, he said.

In Panama, as 34-year-old Oriana Serra neared the end of her Darien crossing with her two teen children, several men with pistols blocked their path, stealing the last of their money.

So when the family arrived at the river bank where boat operators waited to carry migrants downriver, she had no way to pay. They started the long walk to Bajo Chiquito, but somehow became separated from her 14-year-old son. Hoping he arrived before her, she desperately searched for him among the arriving throngs.

At dusk, the boy finally arrived on a boat sent back upstream to look for him.

In Bajo Chiquito, migrants make their first registration with Panamanian authorities. Under the blazing tropical sun they pitch tents in any open space along the dirt streets or beside the river. Smoke from their wood fires hangs in the heavy humidity.

Children are everywhere, resting in tents, holding mothers hands, riding fathers shoulders. Migrants pause before setting out again the next day for camps farther downriver. From there, Panama buses them across the country to its border with Costa Rica where they will continue north through Central America and eventually to Mexico.

Mexican border cities are reporting increasing arrivals, many of whom are not waiting to see what happens after May 11. On Monday, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said that over the previous 72 hours, agents had made about 8,800 apprehensions per day  up from about 5,200 in March.

The U.S. government for months has encouraged migrants to register with their online application CBP One rather than make the dangerous and expensive journey to the border. If applicants appear eligible for asylum and can line up a financial sponsor in the U.S., they receive an appointment at the border for further screening.

Back in Bajo Chiquito, with six more countries still to be traversed, migrants struggled to digest the ordeal they survived. As physically brutal as the crossing was  some migrants arrived on stretchers  many said they would carry more lasting memories.

Angel Garces, a 28-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela remained shaken.

If I had known it was like that, I wouldnt come, Garces said. Not just the physical exhaustion  what you see. Garces said he averted his eyes when he smelled a body alongside the trail. The remains of 36 migrants were recovered from the Darien last year, but the real death toll is believed to be significantly higher. In March, the Red Cross donated 100 tombs in a local cemetery for the bodies of those who perish.

Garces said he would advise anyone considering the journey, dont come, look for another route, try to do it the legal way, because the Darien isnt for just anyone. __ AP journalists Ivan Valencia in Acandi, Colombia, Eduardo Hernandez in Bogota, Colombia and Maria Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.

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PARIS (AP)  French international news agency Agence France-Presse says its Ukraine video coordinator was killed Tuesday during a rocket attack near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Arman Soldin, 32, was with a team of AFP journalists traveling with Ukrainian soldiers when the group came under fire with Grad rockets, the agency said. The rest of the AFP team was uninjured.

The late afternoon attack took place in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, a town near Bakhmut, the agency said. Russian forces have been trying to capture the city for nine months, making Bakhmut the focus of the wars longest battle.

His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine, said AFP chairman Fabrice Fries.

Soldin was born in Sarajevo, now the capital of Bosnia, and a French citizen, according to AFP. He arrived in Ukraine to cover the war the day after the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and had traveled regularly to the front lines in recent months.

AFP said it was devastated at Soldins death and all of our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.

AFP journalist Arman Soldin snaps a selfie with a cat on his shoulder during an assignment for AFP in Ukraine. Arman was killed by a rocket strike as he reported with AFP colleagues from Ukrainian positions in Chasiv Yar on May 9, 2023. Arman, who was 32 and born in Bosnia, began his career as an AFP intern in the Rome bureau before moving to London in 2015. He was formally appointed as Ukraine video coordinator for AFP based in Kyiv in September 2022. Arman's death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers of covering this war. Our thoughts tonight are with his family and friends, and with all AFP people on the ground in Ukraine.







In May 2022, French journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, who was working in Ukraine for BFM-TV, was killed near Severodonetsk in the east.

At least 10 media workers have been killed while covering the war in Ukraine, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

RSF Director Christophe Deloire praised the daily courage of those covering the war and called Soldins death a tragedy of all those who defend the independence and reliability of information.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a speech Tuesday night in Washington, expressed condolences to Soldins family and loved ones.

Countless journalists are working to expose and report on the truth in extremely dangerous settings, Blinken said. Today, we were devastated to learn of the death of AFP video journalist Arman Soldin in eastern Ukraine.

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QORQANYA, Syria (AP)  The U.S. military is investigating reports that it killed a civilian in a recent strike in northwest Syria that meant to target a senior al-Qaida leader, a military official said in a statement Tuesday.

Relatives and neighbors of a 60-year-old man killed in the May 3 strike in the village of Qorqanya, a rural area in northern Idlib province, told The Associated Press that he was a farmer who raised sheep, chickens and cattle and had no involvement with armed groups.

In an initial statement released the day of the strike, U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said its forces had conducted a unilateral strike ... targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader. It did not provide any further details.

Maj. John Moore, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said Tuesday that U.S. forces are in the process of confirming the identity of the individual killed in the strike.

We are aware of the allegations of a civilian casualty and the outcome of the confirmation process will inform if further investigation is necessary and how it should proceed, he said.

The local civil defense group in northwest Syria, known as the White Helmets, said in a statement that it had responded to the site after hearing sounds of an explosion and found that a drone strike had killed 60-year-old Lutfi Hassan Masto, a local resident who was tending his sheep at the time. Three of the animals were also killed, the statement said.

Mastos brother, Mohamed Masto, told The Associated Press that reports that his brother was involved in al-Qaida were absolute lies and that his killing was an injustice and an aggression.

He had nothing to do with the revolution. ... He had nothing to do with the Al-Nusra Front or with the Islamic State or any of the other armed groups involved in Syrias 12-year-old uprising-turned-civil-war, Masto said.

Fayad Jamil Raji, a neighbor, said he had known Lufti Masto  or Abu Hassan, a nickname meaning father of Hassan  for many years.

The man was a civilian. He had a farm with poultry, cows and sheep, he said.

Moore said that CENTCOMs missions are meticulously planned and executed to maximize success and minimize the risk of collateral damage and harm to civilians.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors, who partner with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. They are tasked with preventing a comeback by the Islamic State group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory, and sometimes also target other militant groups.

In April, CENTCOM reported it had taken part in 35 missions in Iraq and Syria, killing 13 alleged IS operatives and detaining 28.

___

Sewell reported from Beirut.

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ISTANBUL (AP)  The trial of 36 people accused over a deadly bombing in central Istanbul last November began Tuesday, Turkeys state-run news agency reported. On Nov. 13, 2022 an explosion tore through Istanbuls popular Istiklal Avenue  a busy thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants  killing six people, including two children, and injuring 99 others. Fifteen of the defendants, including the alleged bomber Ahlam Albashir, were in court for the start of the trial. Another 12 defendants participated via video link from prison. The whereabouts of the remaining nine are unclear.

Albashir faces a number of charges related to terrorism. If convicted, she faces up to seven life sentences and an additional 1,900 to 3,000 years in prison. Because the indictment was not read to her in her native Arabic, the presiding judge allowed her to postpone her defense until the next hearing. According to indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutors office, Albashir and a man named as Bilal el-Hacmaus were intelligence operatives of the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia group, and its political branch, the PYD. Turkey regards the YPG as the Syrian arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency within Turkey. According to the indictment, the two suspects were given special training by the YPG/PYD and sent to Turkey along with explosives, where they traveled to Istanbul with the help of a network established by the organization. El-Hacmaus managed to flee the country. Arrest warrants have also been issued for several PKK and YPG leaders with regards to the case, including PKK leader Cemil Bayik. It is not known whether he is in Turkey, Syria or Iraq.

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If you watched the coronation ceremony on Saturday, youll know it wasformal, to say the least.

Oaths were made, hymns were sung, the King was anointed with a top secret oil blend behind privacy screens, and a treasure trove of ancient regalia was gingerly maneuvered around a 750 year old abbey. Solemn and meaningful, yes, but going by the very serious expressions of everyone in the audience, a lively old time it was not.

The coronation proper was all about harking back to the (literal) majesty of monarchy, acknowledging the weight of a thousand years of tradition and inherited privilege that led to a 73-year-old man, wearing his grandfathers cape, dedicate himself to service after waiting his whole life for this moment. The looks of faint overwhelm on both Charles and Camillas faces indicated the magnitude of this moment. The world was certainly watching: In Britain, it was the most watched event of the year, although it missed the numbers set by Queen Elizabeth II's funeral by a wide margin.

After crowns had officially been placed on heads, however, the royal family instantly shifted gearsnot quite back down to earth, but certainly back into the 21st century. For Prince Harry, it was even quickerhe was back to California on the next flight out, not even pausing for a mini quiche and awkward small talk at a post-coronation lunch with the rest of The Firm.

All of the other events that came after it seemed expressly designed to move us swiftly onward, lest we start to think too hard about all of that divine right stuff. Republican protests over there? Look, its Lionel Richie, belting out All Night Long at a special concert as the royal family bops along!

In fact, it felt like the royals couldnt throw off their velvet robes fast enough, dedicating the remainder of the weekend to convincing us that, archaic rites aside, theyre really just like us, celebrating a long weekend with a cheeky sing-along, a meal with neighbours and a touch of volunteer work.

Hear ye, hear ye: The best bits from the post-coronation events.

The immediate aftermath

The Prince and Princess of Wales, as always, were tasked with leading the relatability charge. Even before they circulated among the hoi polloi on Sunday, Will and Kate released a behind-the-scenes video of their family heading off to the big event, showcasing Princess Charlotte's and Prince Louiss very sweet excitement, and making the Prince and Princess look like any other harried parents trying to wrangle everyone into the car for a special occasion. (Will has big Dad rushing everyone to the airport five hours before a flight energy, no?)

The big lunch

When we were watching the coronation, all we could think of were all the women standing on that stone floor in stiletto heels. Fast forward to the day after, and Kate rolled up at a Big Lunchbasically, street parties organized all over to celebrate the coronationin a pair of Vejas sneakers.

For the walkabout, where they surprised folks whod gathered on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle, Kate looked a world away from her custom Alexander McQueen finery in a blue Reiss blazer (ticking off another of her go-to British brands) and a white T. She and William chatted, mingled, took selfies and even drank out of paper cups, making William kneeling before his father and promising to be his liege man of life and limb an increasingly fuzzy memory.

The coronation concert

Despite rumours that several high-profile acts (Harry Styles, Adele) had turned down an invite to perform, sparking fears itd be a right royal flop, the Coronation Concert looked like a pretty fun night, featuring performances from the likes of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Nicole Scherzinger. (Not quite A+ list acts, well acknowledge, but maybe the palace was just really inflexible in accommodating riders?) It even attracted a respectable television audience, with around 10 million tuning in to the BBC broadcast.

It was also a chance for the royals to toss the mystique out the window and reveal their humanity through that universal mechanism: Awkward concert dancing, complete with singing along, whether you know the words or not.

As with the Platinum Jubilee concert last year, it was the youngest royals who stole the show, looking every kind of adorable as they bopped along to the music, waving Union Jack flags.

Kate continued to cycle through her patriotic palette, this time wearing a red Alexander McQueen suit shes worn before. Continuing a theme set by their coronation ensembles, Princess Charlotte was dressed to match her mother, in that she wore a dress by Kate-fave British brand Self Portrait.

William was, once again, tapped to play a pivotal role, paying tribute to his father and grandmother with a brief speech that tugged at royal heart-strings. "I know she's up there, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother," Will said, also concluding with, "Pa, we are all so proud of you." Charles seemed chuffed, and Kate got visibly emotional as he spoke.

RELATED STORIES World Prince Louis steals the show (again) at the coronation

Was she thinking of the late monarch, whose absence made the occasion particularly bittersweet? Proud of her man? Desperately clinging to the dregs of her social battery? Either way, it might be the evenings most relatable moment.

The big help out

This coronations theme was service, hence a nationwide invitation to spend the public holiday Monday volunteering in the community. Pitching in and doing their part, we once again had the Prince and Princess of Wales out and about, who brought the whole family along to volunteer with the Scouts, including Prince Louis on his first ever public engagement.

The little prince did not shirk his duty. He was snapped shovelling dirt into a wheel-barrow, and even driving some heavy machinery, albeit with a hand from his dad. Later, Princess Charlotte tried her hand at archery, and she and Prince Louis made smores.

Literally getting their hands dirty alongside the common folk, the entire family was as dressed down as we ever see them. Katethis time in a blue shirt, lest the Scottish part of the Union Jack feel neglectedwore cargo pants and Blundstone boots, for goodness sake.

A woman who'll one day have her own coronation? Yes, but for now, she's just like us...ish.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Supreme Court has authorized the execution of an inmate this summer as the state attempts to resume lethal injection s following a series of troubled executions.

The Alabama Supreme Court last week issued a death warrant for James Barber, 54, authorizing the state to carry out his execution sometime after June 2. It is the first execution scheduled in the state after Gov. Kay Ivey paused executions last year to conduct an internal review. The exact date of the execution will be determined later, under new rules established during the review.

According to the Alabama Supreme Courts order, the execution time frame set by the governor must begin sometime after Friday, June 2, 2023, and Governor Ivey will work with the Alabama Department of Corrections to establish this time frame, Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola wrote in an email.

Barber was convicted of the 2001 beating death of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps. Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman who knew Epps daughter, confessed to killing Epps with a claw hammer and fleeing with her purse. Jurors voted 11-1 to recommend a death sentence which a judge imposed.

Ivey in November ordered the Alabama Department of Corrections to conduct an internal review of execution procedures after the state called off two lethal injections because of difficulties establishing IV access and another execution was delayed for several hours because of IV line problems.

Ivey rejected calls by several groups to have an outside group, or person, conduct the review. Faith leaders and other groups cited the example of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who authorized an independent review after acknowledging that the state failed to ensure its lethal injection drugs were properly tested.

Ivey announced in February that the state would resume executions. Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said then that prison system is adding to its pool of medical professionals, ordered new equipment and has conducted rehearsals. The Alabama Supreme Court also changed procedures to give the state more time to carry out a death sentence. Previously, the court issued a death warrant authorizing the state to carry out the execution on a single day.

The letter cited the May 2022 example in Tennessee where Gov. Bill Lee authorized a third-party review of its procedures after acknowledging the state failed to ensure its lethal injection drugs were properly tested. A former U.S. attorney took over the review and found the state had not complied with its own lethal injection procedure ever since its revision in 2018, resulting in seven executions from 2018 to 2022 that did not follow the states protocols.

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BALTIMORE (AP)  After Maryland lawmakers recently eliminated the statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits amid heightened scrutiny of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced plans Tuesday to bring a series of civil claims on behalf of victims.

The threat of litigation comes as the the archdiocese faces continued fallout from a state report released last month that found more than 150 priests and other clergy in the archdiocese sexually abused over 600 children with impunity. The report, which the Maryland Attorney Generals Office produced after a yearslong investigation, paints a damning picture of the nations oldest Catholic diocese.

Days after the reports release, Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation to end Marylands statute of limitations for child sex abuse lawsuits effective Oct. 1. Previously, victims couldnt sue after turning 38.

Crump, best known for representing victims of police brutality, held a news conference Tuesday outside the Baltimore Basilica with attorney Adam Slater, his partner on some earlier high-profile sex abuse cases. Several potential plaintiffs shared their stories of abuse; some overlapped with findings of the attorney generals investigation while others presented new allegations.

You cannot outrun the trauma that was inflicted, no matter how hard they tried, Crump told reporters. Many of them  for years, for decades  believed it was their fault.

A spokesperson for the archdiocese didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Marc Floto, one of the potential plaintiffs, said the attorney generals investigation inspired him to come forward and speak publicly about childhood abuse he said caused so many problems in his life.

Still to this day, I have so much anger, so much hate, he said, sobbing silently between sentences. The church needs to be held accountable.

Floto displayed a printed photo of himself  in suit and tie, his blonde hair neatly combed  from around the time he said the abuse occurred.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly.

This little boy had his innocence stolen, Crump said.

Floto said he wasnt interviewed for the attorney generals investigation but his abuser, Father James Dowdy, is named in the report.

Ordained in 1969, Dowdy served in several Maryland parishes before abuse allegations surfaced in 1991, according to the report. He denied the allegations, saying it was nothing more than horseplay with boys, and apparently he faced no consequences.

Two years later, another man reported Dowdy had sexually abused him in the 1970s and 80s. Dowdy was then placed on leave and his ministerial faculties were removed, the report says. Church officials agreed to pay the victims counseling and medication costs while simultaneously bankrolling Dowdys therapy, health care and living expenses for years. His expenses cost the church well over $100,000, more than 10 times what the victim received, according to the report. During therapy, Dowdy disclosed many more instances of abuse. Finally, in 1977, his church employment was terminated.

The Baltimore archdiocese has already paid more than $13.2 million for care and compensation for 301 abuse victims since the 1980s, including $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements.

But the recent law change, including a provision making it retroactive, could allow for a deluge of additional lawsuits.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, representing the three dioceses serving the state, opposed the measure, arguing the retroactive window was unconstitutional and citing potentially devastating impacts on the Baltimore archdiocese and other institutions. Anticipating a court challenge, lawmakers included language in the bill that would further delay lawsuits until the Supreme Court of Maryland can determine whether its constitutional.

Several other states have passed similar legislation in recent years, and in some cases, resulting lawsuits have driven dioceses into bankruptcy.

Also present at Tuesdays news conference, former Maryland Sen. Tim Ferguson said he was 13 or 14 when a priest asked to take him fishing for the weekend. The guest bedroom was being renovated, the priest claimed, so they would have to share his bed.

Ferguson said he froze during the assault, then laid awake all night. He was afraid to report the abuse to his parents, worried what his father might do.

Joe Taylor said his abuser, Father Thomas Smith, would take boys on beach trips and make them swim with him in dark waters.

Smiths name appears multiple times in the attorney generals report, which said he both perpetrated abuse and helped protect other abusers in congregations across the Baltimore area. He died by suicide in 1993, not long after a second victim accused him of assault and filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese. The claim was later dismissed because of the statute of limitations, but a judge found the archdiocese committed a possible dereliction of duties in its handling of abuse cases.

The lawsuit came five years after Smith admitted to church officials that he had abused multiple boys in the 1960s  a revelation that was brushed under the rug, according to the report. Shortly after learning of the abuse, then-Archbishop William Borders wrote Smith a letter praising his many fine years of priesthood and ordering him not to engage in any form of youth work, according to the report.

Dozens more victims came forward after Smiths death.

Taylor, who grew up in a devout Catholic family, said his own relatives didnt believe him when he reported Smiths abuse, believing priests to be infallible.

Just a lifelong battle, he said. No amount of money can bring back 45 years of lost friends and family.

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If Canadas broadcast regulator does end up kicking Fox News off this countrys airwaves, I expect the decision will be quite popular.

Hardly anyone in Canada actually watches Fox News but most people have heard only terrible things about it, especially recently. Ive added to that pile of negativity myself, given the revelations about lying and disinformation that came out during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit that ended up costing Foxs parent company a whopping $875 million.

So banning Fox from Canadian cable packages would be emotionally satisfying for many people, especially those who have very strong opinions about it while swearing they would never be caught watching such a right-wing, biased, etc. outlet.

Nonetheless, it would be wrong  for reasons of principle, for the effect it would have on our already polarized politics, and for the precedent it would set for further restricting what Canadians are allowed to see and read.

The issue arises because the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is seeking public comments about the idea of banning Fox from our airwaves. The agency is responding to a request from the LGBTQ advocacy group Egale Canada, which in April complained that Fox promotes hatred and violence against LGBTQ communities, and in particular trans people.

Egales complaint to the CRTC was based on a segment hosted by Tucker Carlson, the network star since fired by Fox. It argued, among other things, that Carlson made the inflammatory and false claim that trans people are targeting Christians  a claim it said amounted to an incitement to violence.

Now, the CRTC didnt have to open a public hearing in response to the complaint. But it chose to do just that, and however it rules, its decision is bound to be highly polarizing.

As far as I know, the commission has banned only one broadcaster before. In March, 2022, it removed Russia Today and RT France from its list of foreign services that can be offered by Canadian cable providers. That was right after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the CRTC argued it was in the public interest to ban a network that seeks to undermine the sovereignty of another country and undermine democratic institutions within Canada.

There was hardly a peep about that decision, given the emotions raised by war, but its clear the CRTC was setting a high bar for banning a service. It would be very hard to argue that Fox News as a whole (as opposed to a particularly outrageous segment) comes close to that level.

On the issue of principle, didnt Voltaire famously say back in the 18th century, I dont like Fox News but I will defend to the death your right to watch it (or something along those lines)? We should think long and hard before we start banning news outlets, even those we find offensive. Surely, Canadas democracy is not so feeble that it cant stand exposure to this one network, and surely its up to Canadians to decide what they watch.

No Canadian, of course, is forced to watch Fox or to pay for it. It isnt part of basic cable packages. You have to pay extra, and the solution for those who hate it is 1) dont pay for it and 2) persuade others to do the same. You could even pressure your cable provider to delist Fox (which would be a private commercial decision, not a mandate from a federal agency).

Already, the possibility of banning Fox is being cited on the right as a plot to silence conservative voices. Kicking it off the airwaves would fan those flames. It would also give credence to the view, which is becoming worryingly common, that only news outlets approved by the government are allowed to operate in this country.

The fact is anyone who truly wants to see Fox News, or news outlets even further to the right, can do that simply by going online and using a few easy workarounds. Trying to ban Fox by expelling it from the cable world is futile as well as wrong-headed. The CRTC should not go down that road.

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KHARTOUM, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes still raged in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Monday as negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Supportive Forces (RSF) have so far yielded no major progress.

The situation in Sudan is stable in all states except for the capital Khartoum, SAF Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan told Egypt's Al Qahera News in a phone interview on Monday.

"We can discuss a settlement after we reach a permanent ceasefire in Khartoum," Burhan was quoted as saying, warning that war could spread to the rest of Sudan if a division happens in Khartoum.

"Our forces clashed with a group of the rebel militia in Bahri (Khartoum North) and destroyed four armed vehicles, while the enemy fled," the SAF said in a statement on Monday.

Gunfires and shellings can still be heard in Khartoum early in the morning. Fighter jets of the armed forces flew above the city and the RSF fired anti-aircraft guns in response, according to a Xinhua correspondent at Khartoum.

The SAF accused the RSF fighters of robbing banks and shops, as well as storming citizens' houses and looting their properties in the residential neighborhoods where the RSF fighters are stationed.

The SAF warned citizens to keep away from the clash areas and avoid approaching any unknown metal objects until the technical crews arrive to deal with them.

Meanwhile, an anonymous Saudi Arabian diplomat told media on Monday that as the dialogue between the two warring parties in Jeddah entered its third day, no significant progress has been made, noting, "The topic of a permanent ceasefire is not on the table."

Since the conflict began, the war-torn areas in Khartoum have been cut off from electricity, water supply, and communication. People who had to hunker down in their houses are in dire shortages of basic living necessities and medical services.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the SAF and the RSF in the capital city of Khartoum and other areas since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.

According to UN statistics, thousands of Sudanese citizens have been displaced or forced to seek refuge in safe areas in Sudan or neighboring countries.

According to the latest number of casualties provided by Sudan's health ministry in early May, the conflict killed at least 550, and injured another 4,926 people. 
At the turn of the 21st century, we see how political marketing has grown in support of political campaigns. The means of obtaining political information have changed since the emergence of technology and the electronic revolution. The transition from newspapers and magazines to Twitter and Facebook has been remarkable.

Twitter is the dominating forum for political parties, politicians, and journalists to express ideas, shape public opinion, and exchange points of view in todays world. It is now easier to reach out to the masses for political support in order to energize voters. People were not as active in sharing their views, ideas, and opinions in the 1980s as they are now.

Currently, everyone has easy access to large volumes of information. This provides political advertising with enormously accessible leverage to appeal to voters as well as influence their opinions through various communication strategies. It is one of the core functions of political marketers to alter behaviors and attitudes of voters for the selection of a desired political party through the electoral process.

Therefore, in order to make sure that people vote for a specific party, political advertisers use different types of advertising  issue-based and image based advertising, etc. Issue-based advertisements tend to highlight social issues that the political party promises to resolve.

This includes policy matters, matters involving public good and societal values. It shows the party in power resolving critical issues and striving for the public good. Image-based advertisements tend to focus on the personality traits and aura of political people in order to charm people into thinking how virtuous and humane they are and on that basis to choose them.

Opposition parties advertise differently. They may market those elements of the government in power that are controversial.

They point out shortcomings in a ruling party in order to persuade people that they are unfit to lead the government because they cannot properly develop and carry out policy decisions.

The major concern of political marketing has become the platform from where the voters get their information. As more people have abandoned conventional media, they tend to acquire information via digital platforms.

Digital platforms can be misused into campaigning for the desired political party in order to ensure voter support and public cooperation. Moreover, social media is widely used for pre-election impression building.

Candidates create images or videos to display a positive image of the political party or its leader. This helps in shaping the behavior of voters. Consequently, political marketing creates a space on digital media where political parties, candidates, and government officials can lead the opinion of masses into desired direction in order to generate desired results.

Another factor to consider is the budget allotted to political advertisements for self-promotion. As a result, the political party with more assets may better market its cause.

The media, being the frontline source, easily takes a stance to criticize one party while fully supporting another. As a result, because people prefer to go to digital media for any and all guidance rather than learning facts and history through their own investigation, this prejudiced media dramatically influences public opinion.

Furthermore, the media is never neutral in its coverage of political campaigns. Current political models widely used by political parties follow the three-stage marketing model introduced by Robert Keith in the 1960s. The first stage is identifying public expectations in order to create a very selective, refined product.

The second stage introduces the product to the public in order to highlight the publics reducing issues. The third and final stage concentrates the refined product to meet customer demand, which leads to the capture of desired votes for the candidate when the media becomes successful in changing voter behaviour.

To summarize, political marketing has grown into a significant tool for influencing voter behaviour. The ways of obtaining political information and shaping behaviour have altered as a result of open access to digital platforms.

Furthermore, the strategies utilized by advertisers to promote their preferred political party ultimately results in the success of their preferred political party. In short, political marketing has become more sophisticated and intelligent than ever before.

The irony is that despite having free access to all information, the public is drawn into the tactical attempts of political advertisers to achieve desired political outcomes.

(The writer is a Research Scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi pursuing research in consumer neuroscience.)
About fifty years ago, the topic for the essay in the Civil Services Examination, was Computerise or Perish. One of my seniors, a literature student, wrote a beautiful essay on why mindless computerisation would lead to extinction of essential human characteristics.

Contemporary thinking being that computerisation, like plastics, was a panacea for the worlds ills, not surprisingly, the senior received below-average marks for his efforts.

Recently, things seem to have come a full circle with a number of countries and educational institutions banning Chat GPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbot, built on a Large Language Model ~ the ultimate product of computer technology ~ because of concerns ranging from intrusion in the privacy of netizens, providing misleading answers that appear to be correct, but mainly for its potential of replacing humans in hundreds of millions of jobs.

Significantly, technology honchos like Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak have called for a temporary halt to the further development of Chat GPT. On the brighter side, OpenAIs Chat GPT, is free, easily accessible, capable of self-supervised learning on large data sets, which enables it to write essays, search answers to questions, create computer applications, write computer code, build a resume, write Excel formulae, summarize content, write cover letters, etc.

Within four months of its release, on 30 November 2022, Chat GPT is in its fourth version. The popularity of Chat GPT can be gauged from the fact that it amassed 100 million active users within two months of its release. Additionally, Chat GPT has 1 billion visitors to its website every month.

Microsoft has integrated Chat GPT in its chat bot Bing Chat, which has a long waiting list, and Google and Meta have developed similar chatbots; Google Bard and Meta LLaMA. No wonder Bill Gates has called Chat GPT the most revolutionary technology in the last forty years or so.

Two great visionaries, Dr Homi Bhabha and Jawaharlal Nehru, inspired the development of Indias first computer, TIFRAC (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator), re-christened as Apsara, in 1956. TIFRAC was massive with 2,700 vacuum tubes, 1,700 germanium diodes and 12,500 resistors, housed in a steel rack measuring 18 feet x 2.5 feet x 8 feet, but had only 1 KB of RAM.

Things plodded along till Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1984. Rajiv Gandhis resolve of lifting India into the 21st century with the help of technology, saw the Government liberalising its import policy, allowing foreign technology tieups and cutting import duty on vital computer components. Resultantly, computer prices crashed and computer sales trebled, opening a new avenue for Indian entrepreneurs.

Within three years of Rajiv Gandhi becoming PM, India had more than 100,000 computers in factories, offices, schools, and homes, triple the earlier number, and software exports had jumped to $100 million. Computers modernised Indian society, speeding up the working of notoriously slow banks, businesses and Government offices.

Initially, the computer revolution was dogged by constraints like faulty telephone lines and erratic power supply, which were overcome by subsequent telecom reforms and Indian jugaad, like use of generators to power computers. Currently, the service sector, of which IT is the major component accounts for 59 per cent of Indias GDP and generates about 28 per cent of the total employment in India.

The services sector clocked a growth of 9.1 per cent, in FY 2022-23, exports were $322.72 billion, as compared to $254.53 billion in FY 2021-22. Computers have provided prosperity to Indian businesses and employment to educated youth, but at a cost; computers have taken over most of the ministerial jobs in offices.

There is a historic shortage of around 30 lakh clerks and peons in Central and State Government offices, but the work of these persons is now being done by computers. Manufacturing jobs have also taken a hit because computers control most manufacturing processes, and very few humans are required, even in large factories.

Now, Chat GPT and similar AI technologies, with their speed and accuracy, attention to detail, mathematical skills, fact checking, creativity and writing capability are predicted to take away even more white-collar jobs. The likely targets are jobs related to data entry, software development, web development, computer programming, journalism, customer service, copywriting, market research, transcription etc.

Another likely outcome of widespread adoption of Chat GPT, and similar technologies, could be loss of human intelligence and creativity. For example, Associated Press produced twelve times more stories by training AI software to automatically write short news stories, freeing reporters to write more in-depth pieces.

Newsquest, one of the biggest publishers of regional newspapers in England is recruiting an AIpowered reporter who would use artificial intelligence to create national, local, and hyper-local content. A company called Real Fast Reports, with at least a thousand subscribers, uses AI to create end of the year reports for students, at 10 a year. Teachers have only to provide some basic details of the pupil, and Real Fast Reports compiles the report, in seconds, in perfect prose.

According to Varsity, the Cambridge University student newspaper, almost half of the Cantabrigians used AI chatbots to complete work for their degree. A small minority (7.3 per cent) of Cantabrigians said that they will use Chat GPT in their online exams also.

Thus, as pocket calculators (later mobile phones) killed arithmetical ability in children, AI chatbots are threatening to do the same to analytical and writing skills. Which student would willingly spend hours reading bulky tomes or trawling the internet to identify relevant content, another few hours in summarising the content, some more hours in writing a worthwhile essay or paper, when all these tasks could be accomplished by giving some simple commands to Chat GPT?

Even highly specialised business reports that would readily pass muster with higher-ups can be generated by Chat GPT in seconds. No wonder, there is a move to ban AI chatbots in academic institutions. According to the Cambridge University Rule Book: Content produced by AI platforms, such as Chat GPT, does not represent the students own original work so would be considered a form of academic misconduct to be dealt with under the Universitys disciplinary procedures.

There is also an opposite view which acknowledges that the time for AI platforms has come; instead of banning their use, teachers and students should find ways to use AI for better learning outcomes like using Chat GPT to get model answers or use it to understand course content.

Realising its immense potential, Governments have warmed up to AI. Last year, the US National Security Commission on AI asked for $40 billion to expand and democratise federal AI research and development. The UK, has made a more modest commitment of 1 billion.

Addressing a post-Budget webinar, PM Modi asked participants to identify ten problems of society that can be solved by AI. This is a welcome beginning because Governments have the resources, data and responsibility to take charge of this critical technology, ensuring that it remains focused on addressing the needs of society. On a positive note, AI can be used to create new jobs, bridge language divides, transform government working by reducing paperwork, quickening responses, resulting in a more efficient bureaucracy.

AI can also be used to deliver health care; Deep Patient, an AIpowered tool built by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, enables doctors to identify high-risk patients even before diseases are diagnosed. Deep Patient analyses a patients medical history to predict almost eighty diseases, up to one year prior to their onset.

Briefly put, artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly changing our world and powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Yet the intelligence of AI platforms, like Chat GPT, is frightening.

According to an Ethics professor: If a worm with 302 neurons is conscious, then I am open to the idea that GPT-3 with 175 billion parameters (GPT-4, the latest version, has 1 trillion parameters) is conscious too, which raises fears of mans own creation becoming smarter and more intelligent than man himself.

However, Chat GPT has no such pretensions. Talking about itself, Chat GPT said: To be clear, I am not a person.

I am not selfaware. I am not conscious. I cant feel pain. I dont enjoy anything. I am a cold, calculating machine designed to simulate human response and to predict the probability of certain outcomes (Will Peach on LinkedIn). Let us hope Chat GPT does not go beyond this.

(The writer is a retired Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax)
As the influence of the West on the Middle-east wanes, several signs of the countries in the region seeking areas of agreement, rather than zones of disagreement, are emerging. The decision this week by the foreign ministers of the Arab League to re-admit Syria to the fold is another chapter in this story that in a sense began with the resumption of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The decision by the League is significant because Syria was one of the six founders of the grouping, formed in 1945 to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of members, and to bolster ties between them.

But the Arab world, in part because of its vast reservoirs of oil, had become a battleground for covetous countries outside the region; a process that was aided by the ambitions of its own leaders. This was also one of the reasons why the League never seemed to reach its enormous potential for regional cooperation. The re-admission of Syria after 12 years and the possibility of President Bashar-al-Assad attending the summit of the Leagues heads of state in Saudi Arabia later this month must be viewed as important developments. Not surprisingly, the West is not pleased.

The US State department said Syria did not deserve readmission, while the United Kingdom said it was opposed to engagement with President Assads regime. Syria has been embroiled in a bitter civil war that has lasted more than a decade and claimed more than 300,000 civilian lives. While the conflict was initially internal, it soon drew in Western powers and some Gulf nations on the side of the rebels and countries such as Russia and Iran in support of the Assad regime. The West had initially provided arms and ammunition to some of the rebel groups but scaled down such support after finding these had landed in the hands of jihadists owing allegiance to the Islamic state.

Two major regional players on either side of the conflict were Iran and Saudi Arabia, the former backing President Assad and the latter offering support to the rebels. Another player in the Syrian power play has been Turkey, which has been providing support to Mr Assads opponents with the objective of reining in Kurdish groups. In sum therefore, Syria has over the past decade been a battleground where foreign forces have played a major role.

The easing of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the recent visits of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Damascus, and the restoration of diplomatic ties between Syria and Tunisia ~ all within the past few weeks ~ suggest the major realignments that are taking place in the Middle-east. Each of these developments has been a blow to the West, and unravels its security prescription for the region which has traditionally exploited internal fault lines.

The coming together of Arab nations will also force Israel to reconsider its security imperatives; Washingtons diminishing influence in the region should force Israels leaders to reconsider alliances with at least some nations in the neighbourhood.
The recently concluded SCO foreign ministers meet was overshadowed by exchanges which took place between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan during the summit as also subsequent press conferences. There was no handshake and no bilateral between them, which was anyway expected. Since the SCO charter does not permit raising bilateral issues, both highlighted their concerns without taking names, but clearly hinting at each other.

Major disagreements between the nations were raised in press conferences and media interactions. The event was held in the backdrop of the terrorist encounter in Rajouri in which five Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Bilawal Bhuttos final press conference in Goa was barred to Indian journalists, while both Indian and Pakistani media attended Jaishankars meet. Bhutto held his press interaction prior to Jaishankars, enabling the latter to respond.

Addressing the media on his return to Karachi, Bhutto announced his visit a success. While India continued to call out Pakistan for its support to terrorism, Pakistan attempted to project itself also as a victim of terrorism and insisted that India must create conditions for talks by reversing the abrogation of article 370, which Jaishankar rejected.

Bilawal was the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India since Hina Rabbani Khar, the current deputy foreign minister, visited New Delhi for talks in 2011.

Pakistan projected Bilawals visit as a display of its commitment to the SCO charter, aware that there would be no bilateral and that relations would be frosty. Bilawal had stated, My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistans strong commitment to the charter of the SCO. Pakistan attended the meet not due to its commitment to the SCO charter but on the insistence of Beijing, which has sought to project the SCO as a counter to Western-led groupings such as G7 and G20. Further, the Bilawal-Jaishankar clash would offset negative discussions between the Indian and Chinese foreign ministers.

For Pakistan, Bhutto interacting with his counterparts was termed as a measure of success. In his multiple media interactions including an interview with a leading daily and TV discussion, Bilawal chastised India for continuously raising the bogey of terrorism.

Simultaneously, he reiterated Kashmir was the focal point of the dispute. Jaishankar was compelled to counter by claiming that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor violates Indian territory and that the only discussion on Kashmir would be when does Pakistan vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

There were reports that Bilawal agreed to his media interaction and TV interview on condition that they were broadcast post his departure from Goa. With India no longer present in Afghanistan and the world being aware that the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) is backed by the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan cannot accuse India of directly fomenting terrorism on its soil.

Its recent emergence from the FATF Grey List only adds credence to this fact. Thus, Bilawal harped on Kulbhushan Jadhav as an example of Indian involvement. India, on the other hand, has direct evidence of the involvement of Pakistan on terrorism. India stuck with its rhetoric of talks and terrorism while Pakistan refused to budge from its stand that unless India reverses its decision on abrogation of article 370 and adheres to UNSC resolutions there can be no dialogue.

However, neither side has even sought dialogue. An internal angle was also at play during the summit in both countries. Had Jaishankar shaken hands, the opposition would have had a field day and with the Karnataka elections around the corner, the BJP could not take chances.

Political instability in Pakistan ensured that Bhutto played to his domestic gallery, especially as he mentioned his political party, PPP and himself, rather than the coalition, PDM, in his media comments. Harshly worded media interactions by both foreign ministers, countering comments of the other, displayed that the two nations look at the other through blinkers and in the present environment, raproachment is distant.

The summit, overshadowed by comments from Bilawal and Jaishankar, relegated most other issues, including discussions between the foreign ministers of India and China to the sidelines, unlike the defence ministers meet, where it dominated headlines. It also pushed Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs London visit, to attend the coronation and meet his party head, Nawaz Sharif, to the background.

Well before the summit, differences between both nations were evident as neither had suggested a bilateral, apprehending a refusal by the other. The language used by both foreign ministers was harsh and unexpected. The battle centred largely around terrorism and Kashmir. India insisting that terrorism must be eradicated with Pakistan claimed terrorism continues to threaten global security.

Bhutto added, Lets not get caught up in weaponizing terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring. At the end of the day, there was no mention of a joint statement at the conclusion of the meet. Both foreign ministers in their press interactions defended their stands and accused the other of being responsible of deteriorating relations.

Bhutto claimed India was insecure due to its false narrative, propaganda and blatant lies. Jaishankar claimed, He came as a member of a SCO country, and (we) dont see it more than that. Bhutto speaking to the media on multiple occasions shifted focus of a multilateral summit into a bilateral one. It was Bhuttos multiple press interactions which resulted in Jaishankar dedicating his final interaction to counter him.

The summit generated discussions in media and political circles in both countries, with Bilawal coming in for criticism from Imran Khans party members, less SM Qureshi, his predecessor, who supported his attendance at the SCO.

For some in Pakistan, Bhutto was insulted and ignored in India, while for others he conveyed Pakistans message in a firm and resolute manner. Jaishankar, as expected, was praised by Indian media for his approach and strong words against Pakistan.

The summit occurring at the time of increased terrorist activities in J and K as also the forthcoming G20 Tourism meet in Srinagar added flavour to the debate. Whether the summit would pave the way for the visit of Shehbaz Sharif for the leaders conclave in early July remains to be seen.

What is certain is that there will be little change in relations between the two countries. Differences currently appear irrevocable. (The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army
With prompt intervention of the chief minister Mamata Banerjee, 18 students from Bengal were brought back to their home state on Monday from the violence-ravaged Manipur.

All the students studying BSc, MSc and PhD at the College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University in Imphal were flown into Kolkata in flight 6E 3219 by the Mamata Banerjee government and they landed at the NSC Bose airport around 10.15 am.

The students, stranded in Manipur, had contacted the state secretariat Nabanna requesting to rescue them, the sources said. Sources at Nabanna said the Manipur administration cooperated with its counterpart in Bengal by providing safe passage and transport arrangements to the students to reach Imphal airport from their university campus.

Nabanna also took necessary measures like arrangements of cars so that students could reach their residences in respective areas from the NSC Bose airport in the city.

Miss Banerjee on Saturday had expressed deep concerns over the ongoing violence in Manipur and instructed her state administration to take steps to evacuate people stranded in the violencehit north eastern state.

For the past few days, Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence leading to killings of several people including government personnel. Expressing deep concern over the Manipur situation the Bengal chief minister had tweeted on Saturday saying, Deeply anguished by the kind of messages and SOS we are receiving from Manipur.

I am concerned about the safety of the people of Manipur and others hailing from different parts of the country, now stranded there. Government of Bengal is committed to stand by the people & has decided to make every effort to evacuate people stranded there in coordination with Govt of Manipur.
The Mamata Banerjee-led government banned screening of the controversial film The Kerala Story in Bengal amidst strong criticism from the opposition parties in the state. While speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday the chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee said, I have asked the chief secretary to ban screening of The Kerala Story in our state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence.

Strong action would be taken if anyone screens the movie in cinema halls or multiplexes in Bengal. Several scenes shown in the film could disturb peace in the state. BJP is doing the politics of divisions and hatred. Our decision to ban it is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state, the chief minister said. Nabanna issued a directive banning the film later in the day soon after the instructions from the chief minister.

The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, claims to portray the story of some women from the state, who were converted to Islam and recruited by terror outfit ISIS. The movie has been the subject of fierce online debate and criticism with strong objections raised by many political leaders who have termed it to be a propaganda film.

Miss Banerjee banned the movie in Bengal at a time when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled it, saying, The Kerala Storywould expose terrorism. He said this couple of days ago while addressing in an Assembly election rally in Karnataka. Tamil Nadu government has already banned the movie in the state while the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh has decided to make the film tax-free to promote screening.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also called the film out for being nothing but a clutch of blatant lies, and said that at first glance, the film appears to peddle lies aimed at creating communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda against the state.

However, with the banning of the film in Bengal many owners of cinema halls and multiplexes in the city and districts got upset fearing huge loss.
There is good news for the Vintage and Classic Car owners as the state government is going to put up special stickers to honour them, state Transport minister Snehashis Chakraborty said.

 We will put up stickers on them. We have great for the vintage cars and their owners and how they maintain them is admirable, he said, adding If we respect old monuments and structures, we should love and respect old cars also. They are part of history and need proper preservation. The state transport department is working on the design of the stickers.

This is for the first time that such a venture has been taken by the state government. It may be mentioned that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation ( KMC) has started giving heritage tags to heritage buildings.

The initiative to show respect for vintage and classic cars was taken by the state Transport minister. Through the globe vintage cars are given heritage status. The Statesman started the Vintage and Classic Car Rally in the country five decades ago. Calcutta ( now Kolkata) was a haven for big cars.

There were British cars like Rolls Royce, Morris, MG, and Austin, which were seen on Kolkata roads. Minerva, a rare Belgian car was seen in Kolkata. American giants like Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, Packard, Oldsmobile, and Studebaker among others were seen in Kolkata in great numbers.

There were French cars like Renault and Peugeot and German cars like Mercedes Benz.

Till the early 1990s, the Commissioner of Kolkata Police had used Dodge Kingsway while the Director General of Police used to travel in an Opel, a German car. Dr BC Roy, second chief minister used to come to the Writers Buildings in his Buick.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had left the city in Wanderer, a not-sopopular German car. To date, Kolkata houses some of the very rare cars like a Renault owned by Srivardhan Kanoria while Ananda Chowdhury has a rare German car Stoewer, the only piece that has survived in the whole world. Subrata Sen has a Mercedes Benz fitted with a rare engine, a very rare car.

Amitava Saha has a rare British car Lanchester. Hemanta Mukherjee had used a Plymouth for quite some time and is now maintained by SK Lahiri. A Triumph, once used by Jackie Shroff is now found in Kolkata.

There is a Panther Slope motorcycle that is celebrating its centenary. Welcoming the move of the state government, Prasun Hazra, owner of a classic car said  We appreciate the move and it is good I thank the Transport minister for his gesture.
Assam Government on Tuesday signed the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 10 leading companies expecting investments worth Rs 8200 crores in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, Today, we have signed MoUs with various organisations, which will bring investment worth Rs 8,200 cr to Assams economy. The CM said that this investment will create 6100 jobs in the state.

Our flourishing economy takes yet another stride on the eve of State Govts 2 anniversary. These efforts will bring investment worth Rs 8,200 cr and create 6,100 jobs. Many more in the pipeline. Thank you all for reposing faith in Assams growth story, CM Sarma said.

According to an official statement of the Assam CMO, the investment will cover sectors ranging from Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), cement, glass and Electric Vehicles (EVs).

The companies that signed MoUs are  PepsiCo India, Varun Beverages, Calcom Cement India, Star Cement NE Ltd, Century Float Glass Ltd, Taj Cement Manufacturing Pvt. Limited, Star Cement India Limited, DS Group and Centre for Perishable Cargo (Adani Groups), the statement read.

The event was organised as part of the 2-year anniversary celebrations of the CM Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government in Assam.

Earlier on Monday CM Sarma said that his government has decided to celebrate the second anniversary of the current state government from May 9-11.

Addressing a press conference held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Monday the Assam Chief Minister said, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam on May 26 to attend an event to distribute jobs appointment letters and lay the foundation stone of the National Forensic Science University.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held delegation-level bilateral talks with Israels Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen and inked an agreement in the area of mobility.

During the meeting both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen India-Israel relationship. The two foreign ministers held productive and wide-ranging discussions on the main pillars of India and Israels strategic partnership  agriculture, water, defence and security.

Meanwhile, Cohen said has decided to cut short his three-day visit to India in view of security matters in his country. He tweeted that he will return to Israel after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today.

Following their meeting, Jaishankar tweeted, Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership  Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security  are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more.

Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart also discussed cooperation in high tech, digital and innovation, as also connectivity mobility tourism, finance and health. They also took cognizance of the progress in I2U2, and cooperation in multilateral forums.

I2U2 is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

The two leaders also held discourse on respective regions, Ukraine and Info-Pacific and also inked an agreement in the area of mobility.

Jaishankar tweeted, Discussed cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health. Noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral forums. Exchanged perspectives on our respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Initialed an agreement in the area of mobility.

Meanwhile, Cohen took to Twitter to post Excellent meeting with the Foreign Minister of India  @DrSJaishankar We are strengthening ties with the most populous country in the world, and expanding cooperation in the fields of cyber, agriculture and water. Our cooperation will strengthen Israels position in the world and stability in the Middle East.

Cohen arrived in India today for his first official visit which was expected to pan three days starting Tuesday, however, he decided to cut short his India visit due to a security update amid action by the Israel Army against members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.

Cohen is likely to return to Israel after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

I landed a short time ago in New Delhi, the capital of India, and immediately upon landing I received a security update. In light of the events in Israel, I decided to cut short the diplomatic visit to India and return to Israel after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will take place today, the Israeli Foreign Minister said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed by the Israeli army in an early Tuesday morning bombing in which explosions ripped through Gaza under Operation Shield and Arrow, The Times of Israel reported.

The Israeli army began hitting targets in the Strip just after 2 am in what appeared to be a coordinated surprise attack on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movements senior leaders.

Prior to the operation, Israeli residents of areas within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of Gaza were instructed to enter or stay near bomb shelters amid fears of retaliatory attacks, as raids continued to thunder across the Strip.

According to The Times of Israel, previous strikes on Islamic Jihad leaders sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians and intense battles with Israeli troops, some lasting several days.

At least 12 people including the three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed in the latest air raids on Gaza Strip by Israels military on Tuesday.

His visit came after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech. (
In the latest gun battle between security forces and Left Wing Extremists (LWEs), at least three Maoists were killed and a police officer was injured in an encounter in the forested area in Kalahandi district on Tuesday, a senior official said.

The shootout took place in the wee hours when a combing operation against the LWEs was underway. During the exchange of fire, three Maoists were killed and a deputy superintendent of police rank officer suffered injuries, Director General of Police Sunil K Bansal said on Tuesday.

The injured DSP has been rushed to the government-run Bhima Bhoi Medical College & Hospital in Bolangir. The combing operation is still underway in the forest areas along the border of the Kalahandi-Kandhamal districts, the DGP said.

Details of the combing operation are still awaited.

In the wake of Chhattisgarh naxal attack in which 11 persons, including ten security personnel, were gunned down on 26 April, the Odisha Police had sounded an alert in several districts, including Kalahandi, anticipating Naxal offensive in these areas.

It is pertinent to note here that Odisha witnessed a marginal dip in Maoist activities or LWE in 2022 in comparison to 2021, according to a white paper presented in the State Assembly.

In 2022, seven Maoists of outlawed outfits were killed in anti-naxal operations across the state. The state recorded 27 cases of violence involving Maoists, in which seven red rebels were killed while 12 others were arrested in police action. At least eight civilians and three security personnel were killed, and three Maoists surrendered in 2022.

In 2021, the state had reported 28 incidents of violence involving the red rebels in which seven Maoists were killed and one security personnel was slain. Two civilians were also killed while 36 red rebels were arrested and 21 had surrendered.
Marking International Thalassemia Day, Bristol Myers Squibb, a global pharmaceutical company, has joined hands with the Thalassemia International Federation and several UAE entities to raise awareness about the disease.

The entities are UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA), Sheikh Zayed Centre for Genetic Research, and the Emirates Thalassemia Society. The event aimed to support the patient community and empower the society with the prevention tools, under the theme, Be Aware. Share. Care.

The International Thalassemia Day on May 8, organised by the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), encourages the global community to work together to improve knowledge and care around the disease that impacts over 80 million people worldwide.

Inherited disorder

An inherited blood disorder, thalassemia is characterised by the production of an abnormal form of haemoglobin, the protein within red blood cells that the body needs to carry oxygen. The disorder leads to anaemia and other conditions, such as bone abnormalities and growth deficiencies.

Patients living with thalassemia are often required to receive lifelong red blood cell transfusions and a therapeutic programme to support average growth and development, maintain quality of life and increase life expectancy. A small percentage of patients may recover entirely with an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

To strengthen awareness of the condition and to support the thalassemia warriors, Bristol Myers Squibb has also partnered with several content creators across the region, including the first Emirati figure skater and content creator, Zahra Lari, to raise awareness of the condition and celebrate thalassemia warriors. In Egypt, the company partnered with movie and TV star and Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Amina Khalil, who shared a video with her Instagram followers to raise awareness about the condition. And in Saudi Arabia, the company collaborated with UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and content creator Muna Abu Sulayman who shared important thalassemia information with her Instagram followers.

Worldwide challenge

Thalassemia is a worldwide challenge and is prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa region. Highlighting the UAEs efforts and success stories in addressing it, Dr Maryam Mattar, Founder and Chairwoman of the Emirates Genetic Diseases Association, said: With the support of the UAEs government, the partnership of government authorities and the active participation of community members from more than 200 nationalities in programs to empower the community with tools for early detection, treatment, and prevention, we reduced the prevalence of thalassemia patients from one new birth a week in 2004 to one new birth every two years in 2016.

The programmes began in 1998 with a mandatory examination for thalassemia before securing the financial grant for marriage from the Marriage Grant for Citizens. I had the honour of volunteering for the National Campaign to reduce thalassemia in 2001 in cooperation with the authorities to pass the pre-marriage examination law. The Sheikh Zayed Center for Genetic Research conducted the first field survey to examine genetic blood diseases in the country for 11,282 Emiratis aged 18-28 years in 2007. We documented the reality of carriers of the beta-thalassemia mutation, with their percentage at 2.9%. To drive prevention, a compulsory premarital examination was approved in 2007, accredited centers for early detection during pregnancy and umbilical cord blood storage centers were established, and more than five UAE citizens have fully recovered through marrow transplantation with stem cells extracted from the umbilical cord.

Abdul Basit Merdas, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, said: "We are proud to partner with Bristol Myers Squibb on International Thalassemia Day. Through this partnership, we will work together towards our shared goal of raising awareness and improving the quality of thalassemia patients lives. Through our joint efforts, we can amplify our efforts to provide better care and support to those affected by this condition and, ultimately, positively impact the lives of individuals and families affected by thalassemia."

Care gap

Dr Androulla Eleftheriou, Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) Executive Director, said: As we mark International Thalassemia Day, it is crucial that we recognise the urgent need to bridge the thalassemia care gap through education and awareness. We have chosen Be Aware. Share. Care: Strengthening Education to Bridge the Thalassemia Care Gap to be this years theme for the international day. With a prevalence rate of 1 in 12 individuals carrying the thalassemia gene in the Middle East, this condition poses a significant public health challenge for the region. However, through targeted awareness initiatives such as this, we can improve early detection and timely intervention, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden of thalassemia on families and healthcare systems. In the Mena, we are delighted to partner with Bristol Myers Squibb to launch a series of awareness activities across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Together, we are committed to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by thalassemia through advocacy, education, and access to quality healthcare.

Oscar Delgado, General Manager - Middle East & Africa, Bristol Myers Squibb, said: We are committed to support the needs of patients with thalassemia in the region and their families. This International Thalassemia Day, we want to further highlight the immense burden that the condition places on individuals, families, and healthcare systems in the Middle East. We will continue to help close the thalassemia care gap through strategic partnerships and initiatives that improve access to quality care and drive awareness about the condition. By working together, we can empower healthcare professionals, families, and individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to manage thalassemia effectively.

The UAE government has made great efforts to increase screenings, and access and raise awareness around the need to identify the thalassemia carrier population and enhance disease care. The UAE launched a nationwide campaign to promote premarital screening, and since 2007, it has been made compulsory for all couples planning to get married. The disease continues to burden patients, healthcare services, and society significantly, highlighting the ongoing need for continued public awareness, prevention programmes, and enhanced access to innovative care.-- TradeArabia News Service
COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers approved a proposal to start discussions with the World Bank to obtain 200 million U.S. dollars for social security programs, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena told journalists that President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the proposal in his capacity as the finance minister.

Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka has agreed to implement a robust social security network to protect the most vulnerable groups in the country as a part of the International Monetary Fund-supported 48-month Extended Fund Facility.

He said the World Bank has already agreed to provide a loan of 200 million dollars to support social security programs, and the discussions with the World Bank will be to finalize the funding.

Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers also endorsed a proposal in April to authorize the finance ministry to proceed with negotiations seeking a 350 million dollar loan and another 1.5 million dollar grant from the Asian Development Bank. 
The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) will hand over a three-storied building to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) for the proposed model rural health research unit (MRHRU) on 15 May.

There have been allegations against the NBMCH authorities that the process of handing over the facility to the ICMR-NICED was delayed even after completion of the necessary formalities.

The first-of-its-kind project in the state will help create infrastructure for transfer of technology to the rural level for improving the quality of health services to the rural population.

According to officials, following the handover, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will undertake infrastructure development work.

NBMCH patient welfare committee chairman Gautam Deb held a meeting with clinical pharmacologist and the nodal officer of the MRHRU, ICMR-NICED, Dr Sandip Mukhopadhyay, consultant engineer of NICED Swapnil Biswas and NBMCH authorities today

MRHRU will be an important development for health research oriented works in the region. There was a slight delay in handing over the building, since there was a record room of the NBMCH. We will hand over the building on 15 May. The CPWD will carry out the civil work. We are expecting it to be functional before Durga Puja. We will provide all necessary cooperation, Mr Deb said.

Meanwhile, Dr Santanu Hazra of the department of microbiology, who was acting as the nodal officer of the unit for NBMCH, has been transferred to Swasthya Bhaban in Kolkata recently.

According to Mr Deb, he would hold discussions with the principal secretary of the health department to appoint someone as the nodal officer at the earliest.

Sources at the ICMR-NICED said the tripartite agreement between the department of health research (DHR) under the Union health and family welfare department and NICED, the state health department was signed in December last year. The state government has already given the no-objection certificate.

Dr Mukhopadhyay and Mr Biswas visited the proposed facility today.

The reconstruction and remodelling of the building will be done by the CPWD as it has been used for other purposes, the sources said.

At the initial stage, there will be eight posts in the MRHRU, including two scientists and technical staff.

Sources said the dedicated unit, once set up, will deal with common diseases in the region like acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), and alcoholic liver diseases, which are generally found in tea plantation areas, diarrhoeal and other localised diseases.

According to a microbiologist, AES, alcoholic liver diseases, diarrhoeal and other localised diseases had been common in the region.
The Joint Action Council (JAC) today marked the golden jubilee of the historic tripartite agreement of 8 May 1973 at Singtam. The agreement between the erstwhile Chogyal (king), Government of India and political parties of Sikkim was the beginning of the transition of the former kingdom of Sikkim as an Indian state.

The agreement firmly established a democratic framework, keeping in mind all ethnic groups of the state.

A section in the agreement also establishes the term Sikkimese, and the rights and interests of the Sikkimese of Bhutia-Lepcha origin and of the Sikkimese of Nepali origin, which includes Tsongs, and Schedule Castes origin are fully protected, a JAC office bearer said today.

The agreement, among other things, provided for a Legislative Assembly for Sikkim elected on the basis of an adult franchise, an Executive Council responsible to the Assembly and safeguards for minorities.

Under the agreement, India was to provide the head of administrator (Chief Executive) to ensure democratization, good administration, communal harmony and social development. The elections for the new Assembly were to be held within a few months of the signing of the pact.

Todays programme was attended by former prince and head of the Namgyal Royal house, Wangchuk Tenzing Namgyal, president of Hamro Sikkim Party Bhaichung Bhutia, Vice-president of JAC Passang Passang Gyali Sherpa, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Convenor and BJP leader Tseten Tashi Bhutia, JAC Vice President Duk Nath Nepal and other JAC members.

A high level delegation of the JAC led by senior Vice President Duknath Nepal, VP Pempo Dorjee Lepcha, VP Passang Gyali Sherpa and Spokesperson Sonam Gyatso Sherpa had recently visited the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and held a meeting with the Joint Secretary and the Director (TPL-l), Department of Revenue, CBDT.

The delegation apprised the officials of the discontentment and apprehensions arising in Sikkim after the passing of the Finance Act 2023, mainly the expansion and distortion of the term Sikkimese, the JAC office bearer said.

It is held that the insufficient and incorrect representation by the State Government of Sikkim in the Supreme Court is the root cause of distortion of the definition of the term Sikkimese vis a vis dilution of Article 371F, he added.

The delegation further learnt that the errors arising out of the Finance Act 2023 can be corrected by adopting a political and judicial approach.

JAC (Joint Action Council) is happy to share with our fellow Sikkimese brothers and sisters that a path of negotiation has finally started with the Government of India and we are optimistic in correcting the distorted Sikkimese definition as guaranteed under Article 371F of the Constitution of India, said the JAC VP, Passang Sherpa.

Meanwhile, addressing a separate programme at Yuksam, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) also said that the 8-May Agreement had secured the rights of the Sikkimese people.

The tripartite agreement led to creation of Article 371(f) in the constitution which has safeguarded the rights of Sikkimese people. The protection enjoyed by the Sikkimese people is because of the 8-May Tripartite Agreement, Mr Golay said.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the states Director General of Police (DGP) to tighten security arrangements in jail and while gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari is produced in court.

The court also stated that the media should be banned from interviewing the undertrial prisoner.

The direction assumes significance in light of the killing of jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, in full media glare, while being brought for a medical check-up in Prayagraj.

The court said: It was not averse to the media taking interviews of undertrial prisoners. But in view of the recent incident of the murder of undertrial prisoners by criminals disguised as media personnel, this restriction has to be imposed in the interest of the safety of the prisoner, which is being heard by the Supreme Court.

The order was issued by the division bench of Justices K.J. Thakar and Shiv Shankar Prasad on a plea filed by Ansaris wife Afsan.
Security forces need to launch another Sarp Vinash type successful operation to eliminate terrorists in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch where Pakistani agencies have shifted their focus to revive terrorism.

At least 20 soldiers and nine civilians have been killed in the past few months in the two districts along the Line of Control (LOC) with the Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) where most of the terrorist training and launch pads operated by the Pakistan Army and ISI are located in Bhimber, Mirpur, Kotli and Rawlakote.

The ongoing Operation Trinetra that has been launched to flush out the terrorists who have killed 10 soldiers of the Indian Army in two attacks since 20 April, has not been that

successful as the security forces have so far succeeded in eliminating only one Pakistani terrorist.

The situation is turning serious although Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit here on 13 January after the targeted killing of seven persons including two children, in the Dhangri village of Rajouri on 1 January, announced that within 3 months the security agencies will cast a 360-degree net to wipe out terrorism from the Jammu division and also provide safety to the people.

Poonch-Rajouri districts have since October 2021 witnessed five targeted terror attacks. But what is worrying is that terrorists have managed to escape after targeting the Army personnel or civilians. Movement of a group of terrorists involved in the civilian killings in Dhangri was reportedly recorded on camera while they were having food in a house days after the civilian killings.

After the targeted attack by terrorists at an Army truck on 20 April when five soldiers were killed, J&K DGP Dilbag Singh said that such attacks cannot happed without local support to the terrorists. Several civilians have been questioned and a couple arrested for having given shelter to these terrorists.

Operation Sarp Vinash was undertaken by the Army in April 2003 to flush out terrorists who had made concrete bunkers in Hilkaka of the Poonch district. As many as 64 terrorists of various outfits were killed during the Operation. Thereafter, the two districts witnessed peace during the past 20 years as terrorism was wiped out in the Pir Panjal range.

However, the situation is taking a U-Turn with highly trained terrorists recording their presence by indulging in innocent killings and managing to escape from the highly guarded districts. Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi and DGP Dilbag Singh have made several visits to the two districts to supervise the ongoing Operation to track down the terrorists.

However, the inhospitable topography of the area that has dense foliage, rocky, steep cliffs and also natural caves has made the task of the Army difficult. The difficult terrain is posing a challenge for the Indian Army and other security forces. Ten soldiers including 5 elite Paratroopers, were lost in two terror attacks within a fortnight although the Romeo Force of the Rashtriya Rifles was relentlessly conducting operations to flush out the terrorists from the forest area. The terrorist attacks in Bhatta Durian and Kandi

forest area have come almost back to back.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik here on Tuesday amid ongoing efforts to forge a united opposition front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

It is pertinent to note here that Patnaik has been persistently maintaining equidistance from the Congress and the BJP but has all along supported the BJP-led NDA government inside and outside Parliament.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had met Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. After the meeting, they said to have discussed the need to strengthen the federal structure.

Kumar had earlier met prominent opposition leaders in Delhi, including those from the Congress and the Left parties in an attempt to unite opposition parties.

Kumar also met West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav in the last week of April.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will arrive in India on Tuesday for a three-day visit. He will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Eli Cohen will also attend the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) India-Israel Business Forum. The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute is organizing a special interaction with Eli Cohen scheduled to be held on May 9 in New Delhi, CII said in a statement. After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

After his engagements in Agra, he will return to Delhi on May 10. He will travel to Mumbai on May 11 to attend a programme. He will return to Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory.

His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat 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. In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India.

Earlier this month, 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.

Ive 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year.

During his visit in April, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANIs question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, Im inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people.

He further said, Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have good history for 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future.

Speaking about the ties between India and Israel, Barkat said both the governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu are friendly. He said that India and Israel should focus on business growth. He also attended the India-Israel Business Forum where he said that Indian people are good friends of Israel.

Both governments, Modi and Netanyahu, are friendly. We both understand how to take our economy to the next level. So, Im inspired by the opportunity. Naturally, what I believe we should do now is focus on business growth and see how our technology, were tiny, a little country, less than 10 million people, but we have good ideas, Nir Barkat told ANI.

In late March, Israeli Knesset speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation visited India where an MoU on the first cooperation and exchange of information agreement between the parliaments of Israel and India was signed. During his visit, Ohana called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at the Parliament House.

Israels Knesset, Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi and discussed bilateral ties between the two countries. The two sides discussed strengthening India-Israel ties and promoting cooperation in I2U2.

Notably, India and Israel celebrated 30 years of the upgradation of bilateral ties to full diplomatic relations in 2022, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. India and Israel have established bilateral consultation mechanisms in all sectors of collaboration, including water, agriculture, counter-terrorism, and defence.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held talks with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen hours before the latter decided to cut short his visit to India because of certain security-related developments in the Jewish nation.

Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our Strategic Partnership  Agriculture, Water, Defence & Security  are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more, Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

He also said that apart from discussing cooperation in high tech, digital & innovation, as also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance, and health, they also noted the progress in I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and US alliance) and cooperation in multilateral forums. The two ministers also exchanged perspectives on their respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.

The Israeli minister said he would return home after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was decided by the Israeli side after the minister received the information on his arrival here this morning regarding Tel Avivs operation against a militant group in Gaza Strip.

During his brief visit, Cohen also addressed the India-Israel Business Forum, he pitched for expediting a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. I believe it (FTA) can boost our relations, he said.
As many as 15 persons died and 25 others sustained injuries after a private passenger bus fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone district on Tuesday, a police official said.

The incident occurred at Dongargaon bridge near the Dasanga area under the Oon police station in the district on Tuesday morning. Soon after receiving information about the incident, the police administration and ambulances rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation.

Khargone Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharamveer Singh said, 15 people dead and 25 injured after a bus falls from a bridge in Khargone. Rescue operation is underway.

The state government announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the accident.

Further information on the matter is awaited.
The police on Tuesday said murder charges were slapped on Nasser, the owner of Atlantic, the boat that overturned at Thooval Theeram in Thanur on Sunday, killing 22 people.

According to the police, Nasser kept on providing boat services to tourists despite being fully aware of the risks involved and the legal implications.

Speaking to media persons, Malappuram SP Sujith Das said the incident has been considered a case of murder and Nasser has been booked under IPC section 302. The SP said Nasser is not cooperating with the interrogation.

Nasser, who had gone missing since the accident, was taken into custody from Elathur in Kozhikode on Monday, after the police received a tip-off that he was hiding inside a house in the area.

The police have intensified the search to arrest the boat driver Dineshan, who is still absconding.

The police have sought the technical help of Cusat to find out the age of the boat.

Meanwhile, a special police team has been constituted to probe the Thanur boat mishap. Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das S will head the team with Thanur Deputy SP V V Benny as its investigating officer. Kondotty ASP Vijay Bharat Reddy and Thanur Station House Officer Jeevan George are the other officials who are part of the team.North Zone IG Neeraj Kumar Gupta will oversee the probe.
A three-day long National Legislators Conference (NLC), scheduled to be held in Mumbai from June 15 to 17, will be attended by MLAs/MLCs from across India. the conference will focus on leadership, democracy, governance and peace building.

On the occasion, over 2,000 MLAs and MLCs from almost all state assemblies and councils will come together for the first time to exchange their views on legislation and good governance, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Dr C P Joshi told a press conference here on Tuesday.

The elected representatives cutting across the party lines from the states and Union territories (UTs) will get a unique opportunity to interact with each other on a number of issues pertaining to legislative assemblies and councils, Dr Joshi said, adding about 100 MLAs from Rajasthan would attend the NLC.

The conference will be conducted with the objectives of cross-learning and enhancement of legislative effectiveness at its core, the speaker highlighted.

Besides, the legislators would have experiential learning and thematic discussions through a mix of thoughtfully curated large-format plenary sessions, brainstorming parallel sessions amongst the legislators, a showcase of States and UTs pavilions and commendable practices, and extensive informal interactions amongst the legislators, party leaders and business industry leaders, Joshi further elaborated on the three-day session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former speakers Sumitra Mahajan, Dr Meira Kumar, Dr Manohar Joshi, and Shiv Raj Patil will be attending the events.

Rahul Karad, vice-president of MIT World Peace University, Pune and the chief organiser, said out of 4300 MLAs/MLCs, about 2000 have confirmed their participation in the conference.

Present challenges of casteism, communalisation, corruption and criminalisation in the current scenario of politics and society would be taken up for a healthy debate, Karad said.

A brochure of the NLC was also released on the occasion at Vidhan Sabha.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met his Odisha counterpart Naveen Pattanaik at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. However, both the leaders categorically said no discussions were held on alliance today.

Nitish Kumar, as per his schedule, visited Bhubaneshwar to meet his old friend and a colleague, Naveen Pattanaik, at noon. He was accompanied by JD-U president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh and state Water Resources Development Minister Sanjay K Jha.

According to sources, both of them held a talk for nearly one-and-a-half hours followed by lunch at the Odisha CMs residence. After the meeting, Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik held a joint press conference in which both of them recalled their old association from Vajpayee days.

Talking to reporters, the Odisha CM announced that his government has decided to provide 1.5 acres of land free of cost in the holy city Jagannath Puri for the construction of a Bihar bhavan for tourists as well as pilgrims coming for darshan of Lord Jagannath.

Thousands of tourists as well as devotees from Bihar visit Odisha particularly Puri each year. With the construction of the Bihar bhavan in Puri, the visiting tourists will have no accommodation problem. A lot of Bihari tourists today face problems finding suitable accommodation during the peak season.

Recalling his old relationship with the Pattanaik family, CM Nitish said: I used to visit Odisha frequently since the days of his late father Bijuji. I had not been regular since the outbreak of covid.

However he said, Dont compare my association with him to any other leader. We both served in Vajapyees cabinet.

It is known among the political circles that the Odisha CM maintains equidistance from BJP and Congress. So, he avoided talking anything regarding the discussion related to the Opposition unity. However, Pattanaik has a cordial relationship with all the major political leaders cutting across the party lines.

Kumar is scheduled to meet his counterpart in Jharkhand Hemant Soren in Ranchi on Wednesday. He is likely to fly to Mumbai on Thursday to meet Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar. Both these meetings are considered important politically.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday addressed the World Thalassemia Day programme organised at Sir Gangaram Hospital here.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the International Thalassemia Day (ITD), 2023 theme of Be Aware, Share, Care: Strengthening Education to Bridge the Thalassemia Care Gap helps people affected by it, by ensuring availability of up-to-date information about thalassemia to doctors and other healthcare professionals.

He said public representatives at all levels from Parliament to panchayat should make efforts to prevent thalassemia by organising mass movements through collective efforts. He said that it is only through such efforts that the idea of Thalassemia-free India will be fulfilled.

Speaking about the lack of awareness among the general public with regard to serious diseases, Birla said that efforts should be made to prevent this ailment by spreading information about thalassemia to the public through better health services, education and collective efforts.

Referring to blood donation, he said that through education and collective efforts, people understood the importance of blood donation, which eventually led to greater benefit for the general public. He said that similarly the challenge of Thalassemia can also be tackled with the help of collective will and mass movement.

Referring to research and innovation, Birla said that scientific research provides new information everyday about the treatment of various diseases. Through disease screening, illnesses are detected in time and treatment can be started at the right time, he said.

Emphasizing on screening, Birla said that public representatives, hospitals and common people should make efforts for prevention and treatment of serious diseases like Thalassemia by setting up screening camps at different places from time to time.

On this occasion, Birla paid tributes to the founder of the hospital, Sir Gangaram, and appreciated the all round efforts of the institution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Rajasthan tomorrow to address a BJP rally at Abu Road.

Soon after landing at Udaipur, Narendra Modi will visit Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara at 11 am to pay his obeisance. He, then, will dedicate and lay the foundation stone for various development initiatives in Nathdwara.

After addressing the party rally at Abu Road, the prime minister will visit the Shantivan Complex of Brahma Kumaris there.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will attend the official functions lined up for the prime minister at Nathdwara, a CM-OSD-Media said on Tuesday.

Modi will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs. 5,500 crore. The focus of these projects will be on bolstering infrastructure and connectivity in the region. The projects of the road and railway sector will also facilitate the movement of goods and services, thereby boosting trade and commerce and improving the socio-economic conditions of the people in the region. He will lay the foundation stone for road construction projects for upgradation to two-lanes in Rajsamand and Udaipur.

He will lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of Udaipur railway station, to provide enhanced amenities for the public. He will also lay the foundation stone for the gauge conversion project and for setting up of a new line from Nathdwara to Nathdwara town in Rajsamand.

Further, the prime minister will dedicate three national highway projects to the nation, including 114 km long six lane Udaipur to Shamlaji section of NH-48; 110 km long widening and strengthening to 4 lane with paved shoulder of Bar-Bilara-Jodhpur Section of NH-25; and 47 km long two lane with paved shoulder section of NH 58E.

At Shantivan he will lay the foundation stone of a Super Speciality Charitable Global Hospital, second phase of Shivmani Old Age Home and extension of Nursing College. The Super Speciality Charitable Global Hospital will be set up in Abu Road, spread across an area of 50 acres. It will offer world-class medical facilities and will prove especially beneficial for the poor and the tribal people in the region.

During his one-day hectic tour to Rajsamand and Sirohi districts on the polling day in Karnataka assembly, the PM will address a public BJP meeting to be attended by party workers and senior leaders including all MPs from Rajasthan and MLAs at Abu Road.

Twenty-two assembly seats of four districts are the BJPs major bastion, despite having 17 sitting MLAs from this region, the party would try to snatch three seats from the Congress and two of Independents by holding regular meetings of the national level party leaders, a Media Coordinator Pankaj Joshi said. The State BJP President C P Joshi and other senior leaders camping in the region are mobilising party workers from four districts of Udaipur, Pali, Jalore, and Sirohi in view of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Earlier, the prime minister has a number of party events in Rajasthan which included BJP public meetings near Dausa after laying foundation stone and dedicate roads projects, flag off Vande Bharat train via video conference in Jaipur, attended Gurjars Bhagwan Shree Devnarayan Mahotsav at Malseri Dungri in Bhilwara district, and addressed the rally at Mangarh Dham in tribal belt of Banswara district.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached Mount Abu in Rajasthans Sirohi district to take part in the Sarvodaya Sangam training camp.

The former Congress president will hold a training and interaction session with Congress party workers in Mount Abu. Rahul Gandhis visit to the Congress-ruled state comes just a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled visit to Rajasthan.

He flew down to Udaipur from Delhi and was received by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other senior Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi went to Mount Abu in a chopper.

The Congress leaders visit comes a day after a high-octane poll campaigning for May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka came to an end. He camped in the state for 12 days. The state will go to Assembly polls on May 10.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan tomorrow. At around 11 am, he will visit Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara. At around 11:45 am, he will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Nathdwara.

Thereafter, at around 3:15 pm, Prime Minister will visit the Shantivan complex of Brahma Kumaris on Abu Road.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has appointed former chief secretary Somesh Kumar as his chief advisor in the rank of Cabinet minister for three years after the latter took voluntary retirement from service following his allocation to Andhra Pradesh cadre by the high court.

Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer was appointed as the chief secretary by Rao in 2019 superseding several senior officers and his tenure would have come to an end in December this year, around the time elections are slated to be held in the state.

Although he was allocated to Andhra Pradesh in 2014, he stayed put in Telangana, thanks to a favourable order from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). However, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) challenged the order in the high court which reallocated him to the Andhra Pradesh cadre in January this year quashing an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

Somesh Kumar then was immediately ordered by DoPT to report at Vijayawada. Rao, in the meantime, was forced to choose his successor for the post of chief secretary. Although the IAS officer had the option to move Supreme Court against the order of the High Court he chose to instead report to the Andhra Pradesh chief secretary who is junior to him before seeking voluntary retirement for service.

On 24 April, when the chief minister and BRS supremo, visited Aurangabad in Maharashtra to hold a public rally, Somesh Kumar was spotted in the meeting. He held discussion with political leaders from the state on the expansion of BRS in the neighbouring state. Earlier, Rao had appointed Rajiv Sharma the first chief secretary of the newly carved out state as his advisor when he retired in 2016.

Veteran leader Marri Sashidhar Reddy, who is currently in BJP after leaving Congress, had alleged that as commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Kumar had been instrumental in the large scale deletion of names from the voters list in Hyderabad before civic elections in 2016. He had termed Somesh Kumars exit from Telangana government as good riddance.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on May 15 an appeal against the interim order of the Kerala High Court refusing to block the release of the film The Kerala Story.

The Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha said that the case will be listed for hearing on May 15 after senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter for an early listing.

Sibal appeared for the petitioner who, while seeking the stay of the release of the film, challenged Censor Board of Film Certificationss (CBFC) nod to the film.

This is pertaining to the Kerala story. This has some sort of urgency. The High Court has passed the order and refused the interim stay, Sibal told the bench in his mentioning.

The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on May 5.

Declining to stall the release of the film, the High Court had observed that there was no allegation against a religion, but only against the organisation Islamic State or ISIS. The High Court had also said that there was nothing offensive to any particular community.

The high court had watched the trailer of the film before refusing to interfere with the screening of the film. The High Courts refusal to stay the release of the film came on a batch of petitions challenging CBFC certification granted to the film.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had declined to interfere with the release of the controversial film and had asked the High Court to decide the pleas in the first instance.

The top court had then said, Think about the labour of actors, producers who put in a lot of work. A filmmaker invests a lot of money and time in making the film. Leave it to the market, the market will decide if it is not up to the mark.

Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind had approached the Supreme Court seeking stay on the release of the film in theatres and on OTT platforms saying that the controversial film is likely to cause hatred and enmity between different sections of society.

The Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind had said that the film demeans the entire Muslim community and it will result in endangering the life and livelihood of entire Muslim community.

Seeking direction to not allow the release of the film, the plea also sought direction that its trailer be removed from the internet.

Alternatively, it had sought direction that the movie The Kerala Story be released with a disclaimer stating that it is a work of fiction and the characters in the movie bear no resemblance to any person living or dead.

The message the movie imparts is that non-Muslim young women are being lured into converting to Islam by their classmates and subsequently, trafficked to West Asia where they are forced to join terrorist organisations. The movie gives the impression that apart from extremist clerics who radicalise people, ordinary Muslim youngsters, their classmates, also play an instrumental role in luring non-Muslims and radicalising them by posing as friendly and good-natured, in accordance with instructions given by extremist scholars, the Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind plea had stated.

It had said that the film promotes the view that love jihad is being used to lure non-Muslim women into converting to Islam and also joining ISIS.

However, an investigation by the State police carried out in 2009 revealed that there was no evidence of love jihad in the State of Kerala, the Jamiat had said.
Coming down heavily on his advice to Congress MLAs to pay back the money they allegedly received during horse trading and praising former BJP chief minister, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots words clearly show that Vasundhara Raje is his leader, not Sonia Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, Pilot said, For the first time I am seeing someone criticising MPs and MLAs of his own party. Praise of BJP leaders and insult of Congress leaders is beyond my comprehension.

As the chief minister has not taken action against Raje over grafts during her tenure despite his representation in this regard and one-day maun satyagrah on April 11, Pilot announced a Jan Sangharsh Pad Yatra from Ajmer to Jaipur to be launched on May 11 to highlight corruption, competitive examination paper leak and on youth issues in the state.

I will take out the five-day Padyatra (foot march) of 125 kms, from the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (symbolically to highlight that its member was arrested in a paper leak case). The Yatra will culminate at Jaipur, he added.

My protest is not against any person or my own party, it is against the corruption cases and mass paper leak cases which spoiled the career of the youth in the last two-three years, Pilot argued.

He further said, On one hand it is being said (by Gehlot) that the MLAs did topple the government, while on the other, it is being said Vasundhara Raje was being credited with saving his government. I want to make it clear that we wanted a change of leadership.

He recounted how he, along with his supporters, had taken up the matter with late Ahmed Patel that resulted in the formation of a three-member committee. But unfortunately, a CLP meeting convened on the direction of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the then Congress president, on September 25 last year could not be held under the guidance of Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Makan.

As regards mass resignation of MLAs, he called it a gross indiscipline and Gaddari (treason) committed by the Congressmen under pressure. He asked Gehlot why he put his own government in crisis.

Many people indulge in gossip to please their leaders. Some say the resignations were at the instance of Amit Shah-NaMo. Such things are also said about me. But if I say this on stage, it wont be justified, Pilot averred.

He asked who has caused the indiscipline in the party and put the government in turmoil. We have not indulged in any indiscipline in the last three years. This is unbecoming of a leader of the stature of Gehlot to indulge in character assassination by calling me nikkama, naakara and gaddar and Corona, he lamented.

The senior Congress leader said he came to know why Gehlot did not take any action against former CM Raje after hearing his speech at the Dholpur event. If he (Gehlot) has any proof of corruption against his own MLAs, he should take legal action against them. By making baseless allegations of horse trading, he is insulting the senior party leaders who have a long political career and the Congress base of 30-40 years like Hemaram Choudhary, he said.

On May 7 at a public meeting at Rajakhera, Gehlot had asked the MLAs that if they received a amount in the range of Rs 10-20 crore for toppling his government in 2020, and if they have not yet returned it to Amit Shah, the Union home minister, they should do it now.

On the occasion, Gehlot credited Raje, another BJP leader, Kailash Meghwal, for the smooth running of his government during the crisis.
A reusable uncrewed space vehicle returned to Earth on Monday morning after spending 276 days in orbit, according to a media report.

There is not much information about the space vehicle as Chinas space authorities have not released any pictures or technical data, and experts suspect it could be used to gather intelligence, South China Morning Post reported.

The reusable experimental spacecraft, was launched with a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan satellite centre in Inner Mongolia in 2020.

Space defence contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said the classified mission is a complete success and marks an important breakthrough in Chinas research into the technology.

The reusable spacecraft will provide a more convenient and cost-effective way for peaceful use of space, the company was quoted as saying.

The spacecraft resembles the US Air Forces Boeing X-37B, Xinhua news agency had reported earlier.

The X-37B is an unmanned space plane that operates like a smaller version of the Space Shuttle, which is launched by a rocket and cruises back to earth for a runway landing. It has flown four classified missions to date, carrying secret payloads on long-duration flights in Earth orbit.

According to some experts, the Chinese craft could be equipped with advanced imaging and sensing equipment to gather intelligence on potential targets or monitor sensitive areas of interest, the report said.

Another potential use is the deployment of small satellites or other payloads into orbit. This could include communications satellites, navigation systems, or other types of sensors that could be used for military or government purposes.
Israels Foreign Minister Eli Cohen arrived in India for his first official visit which would pan three days starting Tuesday.

During the visit, he is set to meet his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Informing of the Israeli ministers arrival in the national capital today, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Arindam Bagchi wrote on Twitter, A warm welcome to FM @elicoh1 of Israel on his first official visit to India. Looking forward to the visit further strengthening the multifaceted  partnership.

https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1655758555734220800?t=aj70hbS8TtCl5U3neOk5eg&s=19

Eli Cohen will also be present at the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Eli Cohen will participate in a special conversation organised by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute on May 9 in New Delhi, according to a statement from CII.

After his meeting with Jaishankar and attending the CII India-Israel Business Forum today, Cohen will depart for Agra in the evening to attend a programme scheduled to be held on May 10, according to a media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Following his engagements in Agra, the minister will return to Delhi on May 10 before departing for a programme in Mumbai on May 11. Apparently, he will depart for Israel on May 11, according to a media advisory.

His visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit aiming to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech.

During his visit, Nir Barkat said that he is inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the economies of Israel and India. In response to ANIs question regarding his India visit, Barkat said, Im inspired by the opportunity of collaborating between the Israeli economy and the Indian economy. But prior to that, I want to mention the friendship between the people.

He further said, Israelis love Indians and thank God, Indians love Israelis. We have a good history of 2000 years, while Jews had challenges all over the world, we always felt safe and secure living and doing business in India. And I think this is very important looking into the future.

In late March, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the parliamentary delegation too paid an official visit to India.

Earlier this month, 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 further said that the cooperation between the two countries is built on deep trust which is evident by the cooperation in the most sensitive fields.

Ive 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, Naor Gilon also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year.
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the town of Labuan Bajo in eastern Indonesia, with both sides pledging closer cooperation on trade and investment.

They met on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit of leaders to be held on May 10-11 in the tourist town in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters that during the meeting, they expressed optimism about their two countries meeting the bilateral trade target of 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2028 with all trade barriers reduced if not completely eliminated.

They called for early negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty as both sides have seen the investment in each other has been on the rise, and agreed to increase cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy.

According to Marsudi, President Widodo also held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Taur Matan Ruak, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Widodo said the roadmap for Timor-Leste's full ASEAN membership will be adopted on Wednesday, which is the first day of the two-day ASEAN summit of leaders.

Last November, ASEAN agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste to be its 11th member.

On Tuesday, an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting was held in the final preparations for the ASEAN summit of leaders.

The summit under Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship this year is themed "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth." Indonesia has expressed hope that the bloc will remain a center of regional and global growth, laying focus on efforts to make ASEAN a fast-growing, inclusive and sustainable economic region in the long term.

Marsudi said earlier that eight meetings in plenary and retreat formats are scheduled to be held at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, seven of which will be chaired by President Widodo.

The last time Indonesia chaired ASEAN was in 2011, after hosting the summits in 1976 and 2003. The archipelagic country has scheduled the 43rd summit and the East Asia Summit to be held on Sept. 6-7 in Jakarta.

The ASEAN summit is held twice a year. 
FILE - Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is illuminated in rainbow colors, Sunday, June 26, 2022. The German government on Tuesday presented a proposal for a law that will make it easier for transgender people to legally change their name and gender, ending decades-old rules that require them to get expert assessments and a courts authorization.
Authorities say the mass shooting at a suburban Dallas shopping mall lasted three to four minutes before a local police officer shot and killed the gunman
Texas mall victims include several members from two families

The eight people killed in a shooting at a mall near Dallas over the weekend represent a multicultural cross-section of the area's increasingly diverse suburbs
EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man was charged after allegedly attempting to take an Alton police officers Taser on Sunday.

Harold W. Denninger, 40, was charged May 8 with disarming a police officer, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 7 Denninger allegedly attempted to take a Taser from an Alton police officer.

Bail was set at $75,000.

In an unrelated case, Zavier G. Coffman-Gill, no age given, of Godfrey was charged with three counts of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, after allegedly attacking the same victim over three consecutive days.

The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department.

According to court documents, on April 27 Coffman-Gill allegedly strangled a household or family member. On April 28 he allegedly slammed the same victims head into the ground, causing a concussion. And on April 29 he allegedly strangled the same victim.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Other felony charges filed May 8 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Matthew S. Harris, 34, of Bethalto, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Bethalto Police Department. According to court documents, on May 6 Harris allegedly pushed a household or family member to the ground, causing an injury. He has a conviction for domestic battery out of St. Clair County in 2015. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Dakota A. Willman, 18, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and resisting arrest, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on May 6 Willman allegedly pushed a Collinsville Polie officer and attempted to resist the officer from placing him under arrest. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Nia A. Rhodes, 22, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on May 7 Rhodes allegedly stabbed a person in the arm with a pair of scissors. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Nicholas M. Gegg, 34, of Alton, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on May 7 Gett allegedly struck a physically disabled man in the face. Bail was set at $75,000.

 Jacob B. Gallup, 25, of Alton, was charged with aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on May 6 Gallup allegedly displayed an airsoft gun then gestured in a manner suggesting he intended to use the weapon. Bail was set at $50,000.
ALTON  Riverbend diners can enjoy great local dishes while helping kids sharpen their reading skills, have a safe after-school site and attend summer camp.

This year Salvation Army Week will feature Dine to Donate, a program May 15-21 that will raise money for The Salvation Army through the generosity of eight area businesses.

On each specified day, Riverbend restaurants and coffee shops will donate a percentage of their proceeds to The Salvation Army. Guests also will be able to donate through the businesses.

The funds received will help youth in The Salvation Army's After School Program, its Summer Reading Program and summer camps.

Participating business include:

 Monday, May 15: Scooters in both Godfrey and Glen Carbon

 Tuesday, May 16: Martins Tunes and Eats in Wood River

 Wednesday, May 17: Brown Bag Bistro in Alton

 Thursday, May 18: Santinos in Alton

 Friday, May 19: Josephines Tea Room in Godfrey

 Saturday, May 20: My Just Desserts in Alton

 Sunday, May 21: Bakers & Hale in Godfrey.

For more information, contact Capt. Cassy Grey at 701-955-4556 or cassondra.grey@usc.salvationarmy.org.
ANKARA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has killed a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who was allegedly designing and manufacturing drones for the group, in a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

Turkish intelligence "neutralized" Tekin Okan, also known by the codename "Deniz Bahri," in the Gara region of northern Iraq, the TRT quoted anonymous security sources as saying.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply that "terrorists" are killed, wounded, or captured in security operations.

Tekin reportedly carried out the drone attacks in Turkiye's Sirnak province in 2018, and two others on Diyarbakir and Batman Airports in 2021. He designed and manufactured the drones used in the PKK's attacks on Turkish security forces and was travelling between Syria and Iraq, the TRT reported.

The MIT has intensified its cross-border operations in Iraq recently, particularly in Gara, and killed at least three other senior PKK members in the region last week.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
EDWARDSVILLE  Stephen Hansen, PhD, has been presented with the Distinguished Service Award from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Hansen joined SIUE in 1984 as associate dean of graduate studies and research and associate professor in the Department of History. Over the course of his career, he has served as dean of graduate studies and research, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and interim chancellor.

SIUE is where ambition meets opportunity, Hansen said to the graduating Class of 2023 during the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering commencement ceremony. It is where you have access to excellence. Thank you for coming and graduating from SIUE. We need your skills, ambition and drive to make the world a better place.

Upon his retirement in 2012, Hansen was named emeritus professor and dean. He went on to found the Emeritus Faculty Association (EFA) and the Emeritus Faculty Endowment, which provides grants to faculty for projects that strengthen the academic quality of programs and enhance the universitys reputation. With the assistance of emeriti professors Julie Hansen, PhD, Rosemarie Archangel, PhD, and Ellen Sappington, PhD, Hansen established an endowment for the Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education program that provides annual funding, in perpetuity, for new initiatives in graduate studies.

Hansen remains an active scholar of history and, with the support of grant funding, brings history to life for the community. He developed a project to renovate the Madison County History Museum and established a collaborative relationship between the museum and SIUE that provides students with internship opportunities. This collaboration has resulted in additional grants to support the development of museum exhibits, driving tours and community events.

Hansen holds a bachelors degree from MacMurray College, and masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He has held several executive positions on boards, including the National Council of University Research Administrators and the Illinois Association of Graduate Schools.

Through his leadership, commitment to scholarship, and generous contributions of funds and time, Hansen has a distinguished record of service that will have a lasting impact on SIUE and the surrounding communities.




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DALLAS (AP)  The people killed in a shooting at a mall near Dallas include two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, a young engineer and a security guard. The victims represent a multicultural cross-section of the area's increasingly diverse suburbs.

Cox Elementary School students Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, grades four and two, were among those slain Saturday at Allen Premium Outlets, according to officials in the Wylie Independent School District. They were remembered as the kindest, most thoughtful students with smiles that could light up any room, Principal Krista Wilson said in a letter to parents.

Also killed at the outdoor shopping center were three members of a Korean American family: a couple and one of their sons, who was 3. Another son was wounded, said Myoung-Joon Kim, head of mission at the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Dallas. The parents were identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as Kyu Song Cho, 37, and Cindy Cho, 35.

Porter Legal Group said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that they were shocked and crushed to learn that Kyu Cho, a managing attorney, was among the victims.

Although Kyu has only been with our firm for a year, it was immediately apparent that he is one of the most thoughtful, caring and considerate people we have ever had the pleasure to know and work alongside. He was that way as a leader, mentor, and friend at our organization too. He was loved and respected by his and our entire team, the post said.

Andria Gaither, assistant manager at the mall's Tommy Hilfiger store, said she was devastated to learn that one of the dead was Christian LaCour, a 20-year-old security guard who previously worked at the clothing store and often stopped in to chat. Gaither herself had run for her life when shots rang out.

Just a few nights earlier, she had called LaCour when a customer wanted to come inside after hours. He came and asked the man to leave, then offered a security escort to her and two teenage employees.

He wanted us to feel safe, Gaither said.

Im just in shock, she added. "He was very young, very sweet, came in all the time to visit with us.

Also killed was Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, who was from India, held a graduate degree in construction management and worked as a civil engineer at the Dallas-area firm Perfect General Contractors.

She was always prepared to give her very best, company founder Srinivas Chaluvadi said in an email.

He said her parents live in Hyderabad, India, where her father is a judge.

She came to the United States with a dream to make a career, build a family, own a home and live forever in Dallas, Chaluvadi said.

Chaluvadi said Thatikonda would have turned 27 next week and that she had become like family: She attended birthday parties at my home, we celebrated festivals together and we had family dinners.

An aunt of the Mendoza sisters said their mother was still hospitalized and asked for prayers.

"Please pray for our now broken family. The girls have left a void that nothing in the world could ever fill. Please pray for their mom, my sister, and her broken heart," wrote Anabel Del Angel in a fundraising post verified by GoFundMe. She also asked for prayers for the girls' father.

Jena Blue, who lives down the street from the Mendoza family, has been to their garage sales and seen Ilda Mendoza walk her two daughters to school.

She just seemed like a mom just like me, Blue said.

For Halloween, she said the Mendozas would have a screen playing movies while another neighbor would serve snacks and drinks.

Whenever you would round the corner right by their house, youd get like a hot dog, a treat and chips. And watch a movie, Blue said.

Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, was also killed, authorities said. His brother, Gregory Smith Cumana, said that Cumana-Rivas, who was from Venezuela, had moved to the U.S. in search of the American dream, ABC News reported.

Authorities are investigating Garcia's motive for the attack, which ended when the suspected gunman  33-year-old Mauricio Garcia  was fatally shot by police.

An Associated Press review of his online activity shows he had a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, and large Nazi tattoos.

Official have cautioned that the investigation is ongoing and in its early stages.

___

Alvarez reported from New York and Reynolds from Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington, Terry Tang in Phoenix and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.

___

The contribution line has been corrected to reflect that Alvarez reported from New York, not Los Angeles.
When I read about four adults and one child being killed last month in a shooting rampage in Cleveland, Texas, I just cringed.

We live in a society where gun violence has become commonplace. Mass shootings have become weekly occurrences. During the first 18 weeks of 2023, our nation experienced 20 shootings that have each taken the lives of at least four people.

The five killed in Cleveland were just ordinary folks, immigrants from Honduras. Their next-door neighbor was reportedly outside late firing his rifle into the sky. They asked if he could stop because the gunfire was keeping their baby awake.

It would seem a reasonable request. Instead, police say Francisco Oropeza, 39, took his AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle and killed five people, including an 8-year-old child.

The Washington Post reported three children survived the shooting. Two of the women who were killed were found lying on top of the young children in a bedroom. They were trying to protect the children, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told The Washington Post. Its horrific, Capers said. No one should ever have to look at this scene, the blood, the trauma that went on in that house.

A massive manhunt ended May 2 when a law enforcement team found Oropeza in a closet hiding under some laundry. Brave fellow.

When I read that story, I couldnt help but remember when I was in Cleveland, Texas, five years ago. Oddly enough, I was investigating a different murder.

When I was a young reporter, fresh out of graduate school, I covered a shooting at a day care center near Galveston, Texas. A man walked into the nursery with a gun and shot two teachers in front of two dozen screaming kids.

I covered his trial. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Thirty years later, I found myself in a state prison in Cleveland sitting across a table from him as he awaited his release. He tried to write-it off as a big misunderstanding. I have never had such a strong desire to slap someone I was interviewing.

I had spent the preceding days with the family of the teacher he killed, talking to the worker he shot three times but survived and listening to one of the children whose earliest memory was his act of violence.

After I finished the interview in the prison, I did what I always do when I visit a small town for the first time. I ate at the local diner, sat at the community table and learned about the town. Two cops sat across from me eating their breakfast.

When I told them why I was in town, they invited me back to their station and regaled me with stories of cases they had investigated over the years. After a few hours of listening, they took me to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. (Nothing is better than TexMex in small town Texas.)

When I learned of the recent violence in Cleveland, I thought about the cops I met and wondered if they were working the case. I also thought about the killer I interviewed in the Cleveland prison.

Hes proof that this senseless gun violence is nothing new. Its an ongoing American tragedy. I dont like to write about gun rights because I dont have much new to say.

The U.S. Supreme Court has said that the Second Amendment gives Americans a right to own firearms. Im a gunowner. I spend November and December weekends shivering in a deer blind with a gun on my lap.

But Im the first to acknowledge that no constitutional right is an absolute. Freedom of speech doesnt protect perjury. Freedom of the press doesnt include child pornography. Free exercise of religion doesnt cover human sacrifice.

When I reported on the daycare center shooting 35 years ago, I learned the killer had purchased a cheap handgun in a pawnshop shortly before the crime. In those days before the federal waiting period, he was able to leave the shop angry and fully armed.

I cant help but wonder if a whole lot of heartache could have been avoided if he had had two days to cool off and wait to pick up his firearm like he would today. Thats an example of a gun control measure that has worked and saved lives.

I have never understood why some people feel the need to go outside and fire their gun into the air. According to the New York Times in many areas of rural Texas a person can stand in their front yard and fire a gun repeatedly and not violate so much as a village ordinance.

The night of the Cleveland massacre, Oropeza reportedly had been drinking alcohol, waving a rifle in his front yard and firing off bullets with his military style rifle. His neighbors called the police five times to complain. Each time, a dispatcher told the callers the officers were on their way.

Such calls are a pretty-low priority, particularly when the complaint doesnt involve someone violating a law.

After hours of hearing a crying baby kept awake by gunfire and finding the police unresponsive, the mother of the child walked next door to ask her neighbor to quiet it down. In the moments afterward, five people ended up dead.

It seems to me that Texas lawmakers ought to consider banning the recreational firing of guns in neighborhoods. And we dont allow people to drink while driving cars, how about banning drinking and firing guns?

If some measures such as these had been on the books, police officers may have had a pretext to intervene and prevent the tragedy that ensued.
MOSCOW, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov agreed to deepen military and military technical cooperation in a joint statement issued by the leaders following their talks in Moscow on Monday.

"After discussing issues related to ensuring security in the Central Asian region, in the context of joint counteraction against external challenges and threats, the presidents confirm their readiness to further deepen military and military technical cooperation," the statement read.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening the Kyrgyz armed forces and developing Russian military facilities situated in Kyrgyzstan to further ensure the protection of the country's sovereignty and counter terrorism, according to the statement.

Within the statement, the sides also attached importance to trade and economic cooperation, which is set to develop through the implementation of joint projects in the industrial and fuel and energy sectors, as well as in the agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure sectors, among others.

Zhaparov will attend the Victory Day military parade, which will be held in Moscow's Red Square on Tuesday. 
Job Title: Legal Officer (Maternity Cover)

Organisation: ALIGHT

Duty Station: Rwamwanja, Uganda

Salary: UGX 2,500,000  3,000,000 /=

Reports to: Protection Manager

About US:

ALIGHT, formerly the American Refugee Committee (ARC), is an international non-profit, non-sectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 40 years. In 2011, Alight helped nearly 2.5 million people get essential services to regain their health and take back control of their lives. Alight works with its partners and constituencies to provide opportunities and expertise to communities of refugees and internally displaced persons in seven countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, including Iraq, Kosovo, and in the Darfur region of Sudan and is currently providing for emergency relief and recovery in Haiti. Alight provides shelter, clean water and sanitation, health care, skills training, microcredit education, protection to help survivors of war and natural disasters to rebuild their lives with dignity, health care, security and self-sufficiency.

Job Summary: Reporting to the Protection Manager, the Legal Officer -Maternity cover will identify legal needs in the field; provide counseling, information and legal options. He/She will be responsible for conducting legal information sessions, legal case management and follow ups, detention facility visits, awareness creation on rights and obligations of refugees under Ugandan Laws. She/he will work with communities particularly Paralegals to ensure access to legal assistance is accessible by all. You will be part of an integrated protection team, working on issues on general protection and sexual and gender based violence issues in Rwamwanja Settlement.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Monitor prisons within or around the Refugee settlement monthly in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to interview imprisoned asylum seekers and/or refugees to establish reasons for their imprisonment and offer legal counseling. A report shall be submitted to UNHCR on all imprisoned asylum seekers and/or refugees;

Liaise closely with other implementing partners and ALIGHT program Services staff on reported cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) to ensure these incidents have been reported to the police in the settlement, and they have been followed up with district police, and actions have been taken to led to prosecution;

Conduct training and provide legal advice to refugees and asylum seekers in Rwamwanja in liaison with relevant local authorities as necessary on their rights and obligations in Uganda, importance of obtaining documentations from relevant national authorities such as birth certificates for the newly born children, marriage certificates, death certificate, and custody documentations; liaise with relevant local authorities as necessary to facilitate the issuance of these documents to the UNHCRs persons of concern.

Prepare a weekly, monthly, bi annual, annual protection report and any other reports based on a UNHCR and ALIGHT formulated themes.

Provide stationery, police forms and facilitate community policing by police.

Follow up on charges filed either by the State authorities or the victims against the SGBV perpetrators  as per UNHCR Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for victims of SGBV;

Work in liaison with OPM, UNHCR and other stakeholders; conduct peace building sessions between the refugees and host communities to enhance peaceful co-existence.

Monitor and support Community Paralegals in alternative dispute resolution activities and legal case management.

Together with GBV and CP officers support community leadership structures, especially the Neighborhood watch committees in their crime prevention and response functions.

Undertake regular monitoring and visits of detention and prison facilities

Provide legal counseling, information and available legal options to refugees and other persons of concern.

Conduct legal information sessions on human rights and key Laws relating to protection of refugees and other persons of concern.

Conduct case management and follow up on legal cases with relevant authorities.

Closely work with Police to provide necessary assistance to survivors and witnesses.

Submit daily and weekly data, including narrative of high risk cases to inform appropriate actions.

Participate in legal trainings for state and none state actors as directed by the Protection Manager.

Analyze data, highlight trends and legal protection needs of refugees and other persons of concern and share with Protection Manager

Work and manage sector budget- quality implementation and spending.

Participate in external meetings aimed at promoting access to justice for refugees and legal assistance such as district coordination committee meetings, Zonal meetings involving UNHCR, OPM and partners.

Work closely with the GBV and CP sectors to ensure linkages and referrals are done in a safe, effective and timely manner.

Perform any other duties assigned to you.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant must hold a University degree in Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

At least three years of experience working with IDPs, Asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons on legal matters.

Ability to conduct comprehensive interviews and provide accurate assessments.

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to write clear and concise reports

Must be fluent in written and spoken English

Fluency in Swahili and ability to ride with a valid license (Class A) is an added advantage.

Prior experience working at the community level, with thorough understanding of how to communicate clearly

Understanding of human rights and issues relating to gender equality

Ability to work individually and within a team.

Ability to write clear, detailed, and concise reports on computer and consistently able to meet deadlines.

Willingness to travel throughout communities and work in a participatory manner with a variety of populations.

Strong knowledge of the local population and language.

Ability to handle stressful working conditions with limited supervision.

I have understood my responsibilities as stated above and hereby agree and sign to adhere and to execute them to the best of my ability.

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 10th May 2023

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Job Title: Social Media Manager (Brand Lead)

Organisation: The Simba Group

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About US:

What started out as Patrick and Carol working late into the night in their first shop in Uganda turned into the largest airtime distributor, mobile phone retailer, and mobile money distributor in East Africa. While Simba Telecom achieved continuous success in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, Patrick chose to continue to follow the entrepreneurial philosophy he had developed at a young age: find a real customer need, take a calculated risk, and deliver the best possible quality of goods and service possible. This entrepreneurial spirit coupled with the understanding that the Group needed to find new waves to ride, led Simba Group to make key strategic investments in a number of areas, including property development, power generation, agriculture, micro- finance and media.

Job Summary: The Social Media Manager will lead projects across a range of social media channels, producing engaging content, analyzing usage data, building client relationships and facilitating online customer service.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Brand lead of various brands within Simba Group

Community manager of various online communities such as Facebook and Instagram

Perform research on current benchmark trends and audience preferences

Design and implement social media strategy to align with brand goals

Set specific objectives and report on ROI

Generate, edit, publish and share engaging content daily (e.g. original text, photos, videos and news)

Monitor SEO, Facebook Pixel and web traffic metrics

Collaborate with other teams, like sales and customer service to ensure brand consistency

Communicate with followers, respond to queries in a timely manner and monitor customer reviews

Oversee social media accounts design (e.g. Facebook timeline cover, profile pictures and blog layout)

Suggest and implement new features to develop brand awareness, like promotions and competitions

Stay up-to-date with current technologies and trends in social media, design tools and applications

Weekly meetings with the marketing team and respective brand.

Daily correspondence in the marketing team

Ensure the existence and ongoing adherence to the policies, procedures, methodologies and standards within the Digital Marketing function

Advise management on issues pertaining to risk management, internal controls and corporate governance processes.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant must hold a BSc degree in Marketing, Business or relevant field.

Professional certification in Google Analytics strongly preferred will be an added advantage.

Three to five years of social media management experience

Proven work experience as a Social media manager or digital marketing manager.

Hands on experience in content management.

Strong understanding of marketing strategy and how to effortlessly utilize these concepts throughout various forms of outreach.

Knowledge of online marketing channels

Excellent copywriting skills

Ability to deliver creative content (text, image and video) using digital editing software such as Adobe Suite (Photoshop & Premiere), Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Canva

Basic knowledge of SEO, keyword research and social media Analytics such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining a World Class Hotel with great ambitions, submit your application letter and CV (5 pages Max) only on kusain.kabugo@simbatelecom.com

Document size limit: 5MBs

Deadline: 12th May 2023 by 5:00pm

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
If you're new to Forex trading and looking for a reliable broker, you may need help navigating the crowded market and finding the right one for your needs. Entering the world of Forex trading as a beginner can be overwhelming, with many brokers to choose from and numerous factors to consider.

TU analysts announced the best brokers for Forex trading. This guide aims to help you make an informed decision by offering insights into how brokers work, how to find the best ones for beginners, and how to ensure they are legitimate.

How do Forex brokers work?

Traders Union experts say Forex brokers are intermediaries between traders and the foreign exchange market. They provide trading platforms and tools for traders to access and trade currency pairs, stocks, commodities, and other financial instruments. Depending on their business model, brokers generate income through spreads, commissions, or a combination.

How to check if a broker is legit?

TU analysts stress the importance of knowing how to check if a broker is legit , as not all brokers are trustworthy. To determine the legitimacy of a broker, consider the following factors:

 Regulatory information: Ensure the broker is registered and regulated by a reputable international or regional regulatory body.

 Website database and quality: Legitimate brokers maintain high-quality websites with comprehensive and transparent information.

 Guaranteed high immediate returns: Avoid brokers that promise unrealistic returns on investment.

 Responsiveness to queries: Trustworthy brokers offer prompt and efficient customer support.

 Client reviews: Check third-party websites and forums for unbiased reviews from real clients.

Best Forex Brokers For Beginners

TU has listed the following best brokers for beginners:

1. RoboForex: A reputable broker founded in 2009 with a wide range of favorable trading conditions, a unique investment program (CopyFx), and competitive affiliate payouts. However, it has limited currency pairs and lacks cryptocurrency tools on the R StocksTrader platform.

2. Pocket Option: Launched in 2017, Pocket Option offers access to various trading assets, a unique trading platform, and an array of educational resources. It also provides bonus programs, trading signals, and a beneficial affiliate program. However, it has a minimum withdrawal of $10 and limited licensing.

3. Tickmill: Known for its innovation and minimal spreads, Tickmill is favored by scalpers and traders using Expert Advisors. The broker offers a mobile app trading platform and protection against negative balance, but its selection of currency pairs is relatively small and does not offer a cent account.

4. Exness Group: Established in 2008, Exness is a globally recognized Forex broker with multiple licenses and an extensive selection of trading assets. It offers narrow spreads, instant withdrawals, and segregated accounts. However, its customer support is only available 24/7 after depositing, and its educational resources are only available in English.

5. AMarkets: An established ECN broker offering fast order execution speeds, low market spreads, and a proprietary laboratory for algorithmic trading. They also provide a compensation fund of up to EUR 20,000 per client and a new passive investment platform. However, their high minimum deposit and offshore regulation could be potential drawbacks, and it's recommended to test expert advisors before launching them.

Conclusion

Finding the best broker for Forex trading requires thorough research and consideration of various factors. By understanding how brokers work, knowing what to look for in a broker, and checking for legitimacy, users can make an informed decision and choose a suitable broker that meets their needs. The brokers listed above offer low minimum deposits, demo accounts, comprehensive educational resources, user-friendly trading platforms, and responsive customer support, making them excellent for beginners. However, conducting thorough research and due diligence is crucial to ensure the broker is legitimate and trustworthy. Traders Union's website offers additional resources and insights to help traders navigate the Forex market and select the best broker.
This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War, II in Vladivostok, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

People watch the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 9, 2023 shows the military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

A veteran participates in a celebration marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

A woman and a girl in Soviet military uniforms during World War II dance in a celebration marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)

A wedding in the style of the World War II period is reenacted during a celebration marking the 78th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II, in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Guo Feizhou/Xinhua)
Following the footsteps of tech giants like Amazon, Google and Meta, Microsoft-owned social media platform LinkedIn is slashing over 700 jobs citing "slowing revenue growth and changing customer behaviour."

The company will also do away with its services in China. The company's China app, called InCareer, will shut down on August 9, 2023. Following the move, LinkedIn will join the bandwagon of countries like Google, Facebook and Twitter without a platform in China.



In a letter to employees on Monday, LinkedIn Chief Executive Ryan Roslansky said the company would cut 716 jobs. "In an evolving market, we must continuously have the conviction to adapt our strategy in order to make our vision a reality, Roslansky said.



However, Roslansky said 250 new roles will be created and some teams integrated. Other changes include reducing management roles and broadening responsibilities to make decisions more quickly. "As we turn 20, we are entering a new decade for LinkedIn, one that will perhaps be the most consequential weve experienced to date," he said.



"AI is just beginning to accelerate changes in the global economy and labour market, and LinkedIn is more essential than ever to help our members and customers navigate the changes to access economic opportunity," Roslansky added.



According to LinkedIn spokesperson, the employees affected by the cuts would be eligible to apply for the new roles. LinkedIn has 20,000 employees and has reportedly grown revenue each quarter during the last year.



On shutting down InCareer, Roslanky said the decision was taken due to "fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate."



InCareer was launched in 2021 to help professionals within China network, find and apply for jobs, but faced stiff challenge from Maimai, the networking giant with over 120 million users.



However, the company ill retain a presence in China to help companies operating there to hire and train employees outside the country, LinkedIn spokesperson said. This means it will continue to have Talent, Marketing and Learning businesses in China.

In last few months, the tech sector witnessed large companies embarking on massive layoffs. While Amazon.com Inc cut 27.000 jobs, Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc shed 21,000, and Google parent Alphabet Inc has laid off 12,000.



According to Layoffs.fyi., 5,000 technology jobs had been in eliminated in May alone, excluding LinkedIn.


After Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri sent a legal notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that she defamed his film The Kashmir Files, the BJP claimed that people who want to watch the movie, The Kerala Story, are being assaulted in her state.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared a video that showed the police taking away two people by force from what appears to be a theatre.

On Monday, Banerjee claimed that some "stars nominated and funded by the BJP" are working on a film called "Bengal Files".

"They came to Bengal also with some distorted, concocted stories. They are preparing a film 'Bengal Files'. If they can prepare The Kashmir Files to condemn Kashmiri people... Now they have defamed Kerala people and the Kerala state also," she had said in Kolkata, referring to the recent controversy over The Kerala Story.

The CM ordered a ban on the screening of The Kerala Story and criticised The Kashmir Files as a movie made to humiliate one section of society.

In the legal notice, the director claimed that the chief minister made the remarks to "gain easy popularity among the so-called seculars in the country" and to see that the Bengal genocide does not see the light of the day and to keep the public at large in dark on the said issue.

Malviya backed the move by Agnihotri saying it was "much needed." He shared a tweet by the filmmaker in which he disclosed that he sent a legal notice to the CM "for her false & highly defamatory statements made with malafide intention to defame us & our films."

"This was much needed. Mamata Banerjee is trampling on civil liberties and freedom of speech with impunity in West Bengal. People are getting assaulted for wanting to watch a movie. Filmmakers are being threatened and ascribed motives to. We need to move urgently to restore some semblance of rule of law in Bengal, the BJP leader said in a tweet.
A female cheetah  Daksha - brought in from South Africa to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh in February this year died on Tuesday, apparently due to injuries sustained during violent mating interaction with two adult cheetahs, also brought from from South Africa.



She is the third cheetah, from among the 20 big cats brought in from Namibia and South Africa to KNP as part of an ambitious inter-continental translocation project, to die in six weeks.



Sasha, a six-year-old female brought in from Namibia along with seven others on September 17, had died on March 27 due to renal infection. On April 23, a male renamed Uday, who was brought in with 11 others from South Africa on February 18, died after being seen staggering in his enclosure.



On the bright side, a female cheetah from Namibia, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs on April 29. However, now only 17 of the 20 translocated cheetahs remain in the KNP.



An official release said Daksha was found in an injured condition in enclosure number 1 of the KNP on Tuesday by the monitoring team at around 10.45 am. She was provided treatment by veterinarians but succumbed around noon.



The note further said in a meeting held on April 30 at the KNP, attended by Amit Mallick, inspector general of forests (IGF) of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Qamar Qureshi of Wildlife Institute of India and South African experts Adrian Todriffe and Vincent van der Merwe, a decision for mating between Daksha and adult two males Vayu and Agni  all brought in from South Africawas taken.



In keeping with the decision, the gate between enclosure 1 where Daksha was kept and enclosure 7 where the two-male coalition was kept was opened on May 1. The males entered enclosure number 1 on May 6, the note said.



The injuries found on the female cheetah Daksha prima facie appear to be the result of violent interaction, likely during mating. Violent behaviour toward females by male coalition during mating is common. In such a situation, the chances of intervention by the monitoring team are close to nil, the official release said. It added that the postmortem of the dead cheetah was being performed by a team of veterinarians as per protocol.



Male cheetahs are often known to form coalitions or partnerships with their brothers, or other unrelated males, to hunt together. They stick close and often compete for mating with females too.
A delegation of Congress leaders in Gujarat, led by its state president Jagdish Thakor, on Tuesday demanded that a complaint be filed against BJP leader Manikanta Narendra Rathod for allegedly threatening Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and his family.

Rathod is pitted against Kharges son Priyank in the Chittapur constituency in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Priyank is the sitting MLA. Karnataka votes on May 10.

Recently an audio clip of a purported conversation between Rathod and a local BJP leader had gone viral in which Rathod is allegedly heard saying he would finish off Kharges wife and children.

Chief spokesperson of Gujarat Congress Manish Doshi told THE WEEK that it is strange that none from the BJPs top leadership have come out against Rathod but instead are defending him.

The application was made as part of the Congresss plan to meet police chiefs in various states with regards to the threat. The Congress leaders reached the Police Commissionerate office and submitted the application.

Rathod has denied the allegations against him.

Doshi averred that if a case can be filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Surat then a representation can surely be made in Gujarat to take against Rathod.

Gandhi is facing a two-year conviction for his remarks how come all thieves are named Modi uttered during a rally in Karnataka in 2019. He was disqualified as a Parliament member after the conviction. The Gujarat High Court is to pronounce a verdict on Gandhis plea for a stay against the sentence.
In what is being seen as a counter to the Laadli Behna scheme of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, the state Congress on Tuesday launched Nari Samman (respect to women) scheme that promises Rs 1,500 monthly cash assistance and domestic gas cylinder for Rs 500 when the party comes to power in the state.

Workers of Congress and its other frontal organizations will be going home to home to get forms of the Nari Samman scheme filled up and issue receipts, and the benefits will start immediately after the Congress government is formed in the state, the party has said.

With state assembly polls only six months away, both the major parties in the state are trying their best to lure women voters who make up for about 48 per cent of total votes. The BJP governments Laadli Behna scheme, which will provide Rs 1,000 monthly cash assistance to married women of economically weaker section from June, is being seen as a game changer on the lines of the Laadli Laxmi scheme for girls.

Though the Congress is trashing copycat allegations that the party had already promised similar cash assistance to women ahead of the Himachal Pradesh polls, well before the Laadli Behna scheme of Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in MP, it is widely perceived that the Congress is looking to nullify the likely impact of the BJP scheme through its own scheme for women.

Nath highlighted that while BJP government has promised to pay Rs 12,000 per year to women, Congress when in power, will be providing a benefit of Rs 25,000 per year in the form of Rs 1,500 monthly cash assistance and Rs 600 subsidy per cylinder that will add up to Rs 7,200 for 12 cylinders in a year.

The scheme was formally launched by MP Congress chief Kamal Nath at Parasia in Chhindwara district, following which other senior leaders launched the scheme across the state, with former CM Digvijaya Singh launching it at Barkhera in Bhopal.

Speaking at the Parasia launch programme, Kamal Nath launched scathing attack on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan calling him a machine of lies and announcements, and a minister for groundbreaking and foundation stone laying ceremonies rather than a CM.

Nath said that through the Laadli Behna scheme, Chouhan was trying to wash off his sins of 18 years of corruption and price rise. Chouhan is remembering the sisters after 18 years, just a few months ahead of the elections, Nath said. He added that during his long tenure, Chouhan has only given price rise, corruption, liquor at doorstep, rapes and atrocities against tribals.

He also said that whenever questions are raised on the BJP government, it asks what the Congress gave in 70 years. Modi ji (PM Narendra Modi), if you have gone to school, that school was made by the Congress and Shivraj ji, if you have gone to college, that college was made by Congress.

He urged the women to get more active in the matters of the country and become the protectors of the culture and constitution of the country. Along with homes, they should also think of what form of country do we want to leave for the future generations, Nath said.

Former women ministers of BJP attack Congress

The Madhya Pradesh BJP brought forth three former women and child development ministers to attack the Congress concept of Nari Samman. Interestingly, among them was Imarti Devi, who was WCD minister in the Kamal Nath-led Congress government but defected to BJP in March 2020.

Addressing a press conference, Devi said, Kamal Nath ji should answer to the women of the state before making hollow claims about women's respect. Why did he stop the women-friendly schemes of the BJP government? Women's respect cannot be expected from those who use uncouth words against women.

Another former minister Ranjana Baghel said, Congress had made many attractive promises to the women of the state, but as soon as they came to power, they turned away from their promises. There is no doubt that Congress has now become a symbol of deceit, fraud and forgery.

Ex-WCD minister Archana Chitnis said, Congress has once again started a big hoax in the name of respect for women. Similarly, five years ago, farmers were cheated to grab power. Congress's method of cheating is new, but the way of deceiving the people of the state is the same. Congress leaders constantly insult women by using foul words against them. Now they are engaging in hypocrisy of women's respect."

Meanwhile, in a joint press conference, MP Womens Congress chief Vibha Patel and senior leaders Suresh Pachouri and Deepak Joshi highlighted the failures of the Chouhan-led BJP government in the state vis-a-vis womens issues. They also highlighted the numerous conditions put in the Laadli Behna scheme, which they said would lead to only a few women benefitting from it.
After meeting his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is now likely to call on Maharashtra stalwarts Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray later this week, sources in the JD(U) said.

Kumar, who has caught the national imagination with his pitch for a united opposition which, he believes, can take on and defeat the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha polls, is likely to visit Mumbai on Thursday.

The JD(U) chief, who had stunned the BJP last year when he snapped ties and stripped it of power, would be in Maharashtra at a time when the western state is witnessing political turbulence.

Pawar, who heads the NCP, recently shocked all with his sudden announcement of giving up party presidentship, a decision he withdrew under pressure from the cadre.

It is being widely speculated that with the deft move, the wily octogenarian has stymied pro-NDA elements in the NCP, led by nephew Ajit Pawar, who were said to be toying with the idea of joining hands with the government to have another shot at power.

The NCP had lost power last year following a split in the Shiv Sena which caused Uddhav Thackeray, its then president, to give up the chief minister's post.

Thackeray also lost out the name of the party, founded by his legendary father Balasaheb, and the poll symbol, to the rebel faction headed by current chief minister Eknath Shinde who formed a new government with the BJP.

All eyes in Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, next only to 80 of Uttar Pradesh, are now on the Supreme Court's verdict on a plea for disqualification of the Shinde faction.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar's former deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader who has become a strident critic of his ex-boss, mocked the JD(U) supremo and dubbed the Odisha visit a failure.

In a statement, he claimed that Naveen Patnaik's averment that no political discussions took place at the luncheon meeting with Kumar in Bhubaneswar was a big jolt to Nitish Kumar's opposition unity drive.

He also ridiculed Kumar for claiming that he had gone to Odisha to seek land for setting up a Bihar Bhavan.

Suppose he were speaking the truth, would he meet Eknath Shinde to seek land for a Bihar Bhawan in Mumbai, before calling on Pawar and Thackeray, Modi asked mockingly.

Nitish Kumar's opposition unity drive has been a non-starter. He has met leaders like Mamata Banerjee, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Arvind Kejriwal and H.D. Kumaraswamy, none of whom is comfortable with his new-found pro-Congress stance, claimed Modi.

After quitting NDA, Kumar joined the Mahagathbandhan which includes RJD, Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation, CPI and CPI(M).
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday, called on his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and held a discussion for around an hour at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar.

However, both the chief ministers claimed that no discussion on any political alliance between the JD(U) and BJD for the Lok Sabha elections next year was held in the meeting.

Patnaik and Kumar had lunch at the Odisha chief minister's residence and then jointly addressed the media, stating they share a very old relationship.

"No discussion was held on any alliance today. I am delighted that Nitish ji came to Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and colleagues ever since we served in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet," Patnaik told reporters.

Patnaik said the Odisha government will provide 1.5 acres of land to Bihar government free of cost in Puri for building facilities for tourists coming for darshan of Lord Jagannath.

Patnaik shared some photographs from the meeting, and tweeted: "Glad to meet #Bihar Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar in #Bhubaneswar. #Odisha shares a special bond with Bihar and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope he had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha."

Kumar said, "Our relation with his (Naveen) father Biju Babu and Naveen ji is very old. Due to the Covid pandemic, we could not meet. No political discussions were held. We have good relations and there is no need to discuss any politics."

The denial of both leaders of discussing politics comes amid talks of unity among non-BJP parties ahead of next year's polls.

Earlier in the day, Kumar was welcomed at the Biju Patnaik International Airport by state minister Ashok Chandra Panda and BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra. He is scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar during the day.

Both Kumar and Patnaik lead their respective parties and it was expected that they would discuss politics ahead of the 2024 polls and work towards unity among regional parties.

Kumar is opposed to the BJP, while Patnaik's party has claimed that it maintains an equal distance from both the Congress and the saffron party.

The Bihar CM, who is trying to unite anti-BJP politicians, have so far met leaders of various parties including his West Bengal counterpart and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with the aim to form an opposition front.

Banerjee had met Patnaik in March this year.

Odisha BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the meeting between Patnaik and Kumar will not have any impact on the saffron party.

"Naveen Patnaik always does whatever is in his interest. If he thinks that joining the third front will help him, he might do so and if he thinks it won't help, he will not join," he said.

BJD MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said, "Kumar wants a reformative and alternative front in the country. He may discuss the matter with Naveen Patnaik. But the CM has already cleared that the BJD will maintain equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP."
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday announced that he will undertake a padayatra from Ajmer to Jaipur starting on May 11 to take up people's issues. The announcement marks an intensification of the tussle for power between Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and is seen as Pilot's counter to Gehlot's allegations against his own party's MLAs with regard to purported efforts to topple his government in 2020.

Pilot, at a press conference at his Jaipur residence, announced that he will undertake the Jan Sangharsh Yatra125-km-long padayatra from Ajmer to the state capitalover paper leak in competitive exams, corruption and other people's issues. He linked the decision to the Gehlot government's inaction with regard to his demand for action on issues such as the alleged corruption during the erstwhile Vasundhara Raje government or exam paper leak.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of Gehlot's speech at a recent event in Dholpur, Raje's stronghold, where he alleged that party MLAs had taken money from the BJP to topple his government in 2020 and said Raje had opposed the move. The obvious reference was to the rebellion mounted by Pilot and his supporters against Gehlot in July 2020.

Pilot strongly rejected the allegations made by Gehlot, saying they were baseless and false, and attacked him by saying, After hearing the speech in Dholpur, it became clear that the chief minister does not consider hon'ble Sonia Gandhi ji as his leader but his leader is Vasundhara Raje Scindia ji.

He admitted that he and other MLAs had gone to Delhi in 2020 seeking a leadership change in the state government. He said he and the group of legislators that had sought a leadership change in the state had not violated party discipline in the last two-and-a-half years and had in fact worked hard to strengthen the party.

I was called many things  Corona, Gaddar (traitor), Nikamma (useless). But I never crossed my limits. I did not respond because I did not want to cause any harm to the image of the government,Pilot said.

He hit back at Gehlot with regard to the allegations he made about MLAs having taken money from the BJP to bring down his government, saying it was for the first time that a leader had spoken against his own government and legislators and praised the BJP.

I reject these baseless and false allegations. If there is any truth in the allegations, why was no action taken against the MLAs for there years, he said.

He further said, People whose political career is based on money power see money angle everywhere.

Linking the decision to go on a padayatra with Gehlot's allegations, he said, Character assassination was done from a public platform. Now, people will give a befitting reply.

In another strident attack on Gehlot, Pilot said the act of not allowing the meeting of the legislature party to take place on September 25 and forcing MLAs to tender their resignation was in fact an act of betrayal.

The sequence of events make it clear as to who is guilty of indiscipline and who is working to strengthen the party and the government and who is making them weak, Pilot said.

He said for the past one-and-a-half years, he has been writing to Gehlot, seeking action on the alleged corruption in the former Raje government, and even sat on a day-long Anshan on April 11 to press for action.

Taking a potshot at Gehlot over his Dholpur speech where he said Raje helped save his government in 2020, Pilot said, When I heard the speech in Dholpur, I understood why no action was taken against Vasundhara Raje.
Delhi Court on Tuesday framed charges of murder and disappearance of evidence against accused Aftab Poonawala in the Shraddha Walker case.

Accused denied the charges against him and claimed for a trial. The matter was set for trial and listed to record prosecution evidence on June 1, ANI reported.

Details on the Delhi court order is awaited.

Earlier on April 29, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Pahuja had adjourned the order on framing of charges against Poonawala noting that the judge was on leave.

The application by the victim's father Vikas Walkar urging the judge that his daughter's remains be handed over to the family for the last rites required by tradition and culture was also adjourned till May 9.

Poonawala has been booked by the Delhi Police under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence).

On January 24, a 6,629-page charge sheet in the case was filed by the Delhi Police.

Walkar was allegedly strangled and murdered by Poonawala on May 18 last year, following which he cut her body into pieces and stored in a fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli. Later the body pieces was disposed in different locations in Delhi to mislead the Police and get away with the murder.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who actively campaigned in Karnataka for the upcoming Assembly elections, left a message for Kannadigas, a day before they headed out to the polling stations. In a tweet posted on the BJP Karnataka's official handle on Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister said he wanted the state to be the forerunner in investment, industry and innovation.

"The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution," the Prime Minister said in his video message.

He also highlighted Karnataka's role in the development of India's economy, stating that India can become one of the top three economies only when Karnatakas economy develops. "BJP governments decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnatakas economy," Modi said while praising the double-engine government in Karnataka.

"Even during Covid, under the leadership of Karnataka BJP, foreign investment of 90,000 crores was witnessed yearly. However, during the previous governments, Karnataka saw a yearly foreign investment of approximately 30,000 crores. This is the BJPs commitment to the youth of Karnataka," the PM added.

Promising that the BJP will work towards developing the state, he said: "BJPs government will work with utmost loyalty to improve the infrastructure in cities, advance the transport system, improve quality of life in villages and cities, and ensure that new opportunities are created for women and the youth."

Modi added that he wanted Karnataka to be number one. "We want Karnataka to be number one in investment, industry and innovation. We want Karnataka to be number one in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. BJP is also trying to make Karnataka number one in agriculture too. Karnatakas heritage and cultural competence have been revered," he added.

"For making Karnataka number one, I request you all to cast your vote as responsible citizens on May 10," PM Modi further remarked.

The 40-day-long high-octane campaign in the state ended on Monday with all three major parties -- the BJP, Congress and JD(S) -- leaving no stone unturned to ensure maximum votes.

The last day also saw parties and lines crossing the line of public discourse, as both BJP and Congress were served notice by the Election Commission on Monday.

The state witnessed a high-octane campaign with leaders of major political parties camping in the state for many days.

The ruling BJP rode on the Modi juggernaut, putting the focus mainly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 'double-engine' government, national issues and programmes or achievements of the union government coupled with just a few from the state.

The Congress by-and-large focused on local issues and its campaign also was run by its state leaders initially. However, its central leaders such as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently.

The JD(S) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was seen putting all its might into campaigning, wanting to emerge as "king" and not "Kingmaker". It an a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H D Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda too joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.

(With inputs from PTI)
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attend a joint press conference in Berlin, Germany, on May 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

BERLIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China supports the development path chosen by the European people and supports Europe in achieving strategic autonomy, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said here on Tuesday.

Qin made the remarks while meeting with the press along with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock after their talks in Berlin.

Noting that Tuesday is the "Europe Day" and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-European Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnership, Qin said China has always maintained a stable and continuous EU policy.

As a key partner for Europe in addressing risks and challenges, China welcomes Europe to continuously share Chinese market opportunities and development dividends, so as to promote the joint development of China's modernization and Europe's integration, he said.

Qin said that China and Germany, as major economic powers in the world and all-round strategic partners, should uphold strategic autonomy, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen solidarity and cooperation to serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the long-term livelihood and welfare of all mankind.

The two sides agreed to make every effort to prepare for the upcoming seventh round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation and map out a comprehensive plan for practical cooperation in various fields in the coming period. The two sides also agreed to increase coordination in multilateral fields and strengthen cooperation in COP28 and biodiversity, Qin said.

"China is willing to work with Germany to play as the promoters of global economic recovery, the maintainers of world peace and stability, and the defenders of the post-war international order," Qin said.

He called on the two sides to maintain and develop the existing cooperation, create a favorable environment and stable expectations for the enterprises of the two countries to cooperate, and provide stronger growth momentum for the global economy.

Europe has gone through two world wars and the Cold War, Qin said, noting that to achieve perpetual peace is the dream of German philosopher Immanuel Kant, while lasting peace remains an important goal in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and Europe should work together to build a better tomorrow with lasting peace and universal security, Qin said.

Taiwan's return to China is part of the international order after World War II, Qin said, noting that any party who sincerely hopes for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and is sincerely committed to maintaining the international order should strictly abide by the one-China principle and resolutely oppose any act of "Taiwan independence."

The Ukraine issue is highly complex, simplicity and emotionalism are not the solution, Qin said. The only way out is to remain calm and rational and create conditions for a political solution, he noted.

"China is neither the creator of the crisis, nor a party directly concerned, but an advocate of peace and a promoter of peace talks," Qin said, voicing the hope that German will play a leading role and put forward concrete proposals for building a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework.

Qin is on a visit to Germany, France and Norway from May 8 to 12 at the invitation of his German, French and Norwegian counterparts. 
A convoy including diplomats representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a mission to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people in strife-torn Myanmar has been ambushed, state media and a member of an ethnic minority militia said on Monday.

State-run television MRTV reported that the attack on the convoy with delegates from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and the Indonesian and Singaporean embassies occurred on Sunday in eastern Shan state and was carried out by terrorists.

The report did not say which organisation the terrorists were from. The military government uses the term terrorists for a wide range of forces opposed to military rule.

The report said the gunmen opened fire with small arms and the security team accompanying the convoy returned fire. A security vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, it said.

The 'heinous' attack made it more difficult for displaced people as the government tries to improve relations with other countries to alleviate the situation, the report said.

MRTV said the government is cooperating in providing humanitarian assistance under a Five Point Consensus reached by ASEAN in 2021 in an effort to help restore peace in Myanmar after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

The military government has not implemented most parts of the consensus, which calls for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, humanitarian assistance by ASEAN, and a visit by the special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties. Its failure to carry out the agreement has caused ASEAN to bar Myanmar's military leaders from its top-level meetings.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the National Unity Government, an underground group that calls itself the country's legitimate government and serves as an umbrella organisation for opponents of military rule, denied that its armed wing, the People's Defence Forces, had carried out the attack.

He said the convoy was going to the office of the Pa-O National Liberation Organisation, an ethnic group living in the area, to distribute aid to displaced people. We condemn those who carried out this attack on a convoy that came to give aid and support to people fleeing the war," Nay Phone Latt said.

"It is believed that this attack was carried out by a group that did not want this aid to reach the PNLO-controlled area. It is only the terrorist military council and their subordinate factions who do not want humanitarian aid and diplomats to reach the PNLO, which is deeply involved in the revolution against the military government, he said.

Khun Tun Tin, vice chairman of the Pa-Oh National Liberation Organisation, confirmed that the attack took place five miles (eight kilometres) before the convoy reached the PNLO's office in Shan state's Hsi Hseng township and that the group's secretary was in the convoy.

The PNLO signed a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the previous military-backed government in 2015 and recently joined peace talks with the head of the ruling military council, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

The township is about 128 kilometres (80 miles) northeast of Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw. The area is part of the self-administered zone of the Pa-O ethnic minority. It is governed by the Pa-O National Organisation, which is allied with the military government. Other Pa-O groups support the resistance.

Since early 2022, over 5,000 people have taken shelter in Hsi Hseng due to fighting between the army and the resistance forces. The latter include the Karenni National Progressive Party an ethnic minority militia battling the army and their allies in the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and the National Unity Government-affiliated People's Defence Forces.

The Karenni have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy. The People's Defence Forces were formed by the pro-democracy movement after the 2021 military takeover, and are allied with groups such as the Karenni.

The 2021 military takeover prompted nationwide peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that UN experts now characterise as civil war.

Urban guerrillas are active in major cities, and the loosely organised People's Defence Forces, along with their allies in ethnic minority guerrilla groups, regularly strike military columns and outposts.

Civilians have borne the brunt of brutal military offensives in the countryside, including the use of artillery and airstrikes, which have displaced more than a million people, causing a humanitarian crisis.
When Che Guevara made the last run for his life, he scrambled up a steep ravine in a rough gorge where the Andes become valleys, and straight into the command post of the Bolivian Army unit led by Colonel Gary Prado Salmon.

In that very moment, the tides of fate held the balance between revolutionary momentum and state power in a global clash of ideologies that played out in that remote Bolivian canyon. What happened next was Prado's call.



His decisions and what followed kept him one of the central figures in a battle that sealed the fate of the continent for decades to come. Prado died this week at 84 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in the Bolivian east.



One of the most iconic figures of the Cold War, Che would die that next day in 1967. In the 55 years that followed Prado was hailed for capturing "one of the most wanted men in the world," and vilified by others for the controversy around the CIA's role and Guevara's execution without a trial, both decisions made by others.



Prado received many accolades, was named a Bolivian national hero by the Bolivian Congress and was protected by the armed forces; he eventually became a general and a diplomat. But the political winds blow hot and cold, they blow hard and in complicated ways, and they were not gentle on Prado.



He became a target of leftist groups and some later political leaders saw him as a liability. His name remained a raw point at the hinge between the fluttering of the red banner of communism and those who fought against it.

At his death, the current Bolivian High Military Command under leftist president Luis Arce banned all military personnel from even standing as honour guards at his wake, an honour given to all military veterans.



Prado's role in the defeat of Guevara's guerilla forces marked the end of the first significant and most public attempt to spread Castro's Cuban revolution in Latin America. His role in this pivotal moment cemented a legacy as a key figure in the struggle between left and right forces in the continent.



On October 8, 1967, the noontime sun bore down upon the rugged terrain at La Quebrada del Yuro in southeastern Bolivia. Che Guevara and his ragtag band or guerillas had been spotted by night before by a potato farmer. By daybreak, the Bolivian army held all high points along the hills rising from the canyon.

Ambushed and vastly outnumbered by troops against jagged rocks and steep inclines, Che and his meagre fighters were caught off guard and scattered, and Che himself was wounded early in the battle. Also wounded was his comrade in arms, Willy Cuba. The two of them alone, isolated and bleeding attempted to evade the troops by climbing what locals describe as a "chimney" a tight, nearly straight ravine.

At the top in quiet gasps, they found themselves stunned, facing Prado and his men. There was a brief exchange of fire.



According to Prado's book "The Bolivian Diary," the unrecognizable Che identified himself by saying "Don't shoot! I am Che Guevara and worth more to you alive than dead."

Prado's decision to take Guevara alive, rather than kill him on the spot had significant reverberations. The first Bolivian version of Che's death to the world was that he was killed in battle.



But the truth was more complicated.

After the battle, Prado walked the wounded-at-the-knee Che along the mule that carried the worse-wounded Willy Cuba to the hamlet of La Higuera where Prado turned him over to his superiors and Che was held for a day in a one-room schoolhouse.



There, Che smoked a cigarette offered to him by Prado, was interrogated, had a meal of a traditional Bolivian peanut soup, and was executed on October 9 under orders of La Paz.



The events marked the end of Che's attempt to spread the communist revolution to Bolivia and the rest of South America. Of course, the real story is far more complicated than that. But the capture and execution and the way they happened solidified Che's status as a martyr and revolutionary icon for leftists around the world.

Some twenty-thousand days later, in a vastly different world, General Gary Prado died of renal failure from complications of pneumonia which developed on top of a recurrent infection that had him hospitalised since April. Prado was wheelchairbound since 1981 when a misfire from one of his men hit his spine.



Born in Rome, Italy to Bolivian diplomat parents, Prado grew up in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia. A cousin of then-Bolivian President General Rene Barrientos, Prado moved through the military ranks from Captain to Colonel at the time of the Guevara-led guerilla incursion in Bolivia.



After his defining role in the guerilla war, he rose to the rank of General and became a university professor and a diplomat. He served as Bolivian ambassador to Great Britain and Mexico as well as Planning and Coordination Minister for President David Padilla and advisor to President Jaime Paz Zamora.



His death was announced on social media.

"The Lord has just called my father, General Div SP Gary Augusto Prado Salmon, to His Kingdom. He died surrounded by his wife and children. He leaves us a legacy of love, honesty, and strength. He was an extraordinary person," wrote his son Gary Prado Arauz in a Facebook post.



"For him the capture of Che was the most important thing he did in his life," said his son in declarations to EFE after his death, stressing that his father "experienced imprisonment, exile, and clandestinity while fighting for his democratic principles."



During the government of Evo Morales, General Prado served 11 months of home detention on charges of terrorism for which he was later cleared.



Max Prado, a first-cousin to the general recalled him as "very straight, a correct man who was a source of huge pride for him and for Bolivia," stressing in comments to THE WEEK that he did his job as a military man, he did it well and honourably.



"He captured Che and handed him to the CIA. That they killed him was not his decision. He turned him over alive."



In his writings, General Prado was critical of the Bolivian government's handling of the aftermath of the capture of Che. He often spoke publicly against what he saw as corruption and incompetence in the military and political leadership. In later years he was known for his outspokenness on a variety of issues and was aligned with right-wing politics but was always known as the man who captured Che.



As perhaps a prominent figure in the communist revolutionary movements of Latin America during the 1960s, Che advocated for the use of guerrilla warfare to jumpstart "focos," focal points of revolution, that he strategised would turn the entire continent communist as they had in the Cuban revolution.



The defeat of his guerrilla effort that began with Prado's capture was a significant turning point in the1960s intense ideological and political tug-of-war between the United States and the Soviet Union, Che's differences with Moscow notwithstanding.



The 1967 event defined Prado's life but it also marked the end of Che Guevara's revolutionary life. And that had significant implications for the broader Cold War context in Latin America.
The Canadian government has expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei who allegedly involved in intimidating an opposition lawmaker and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Joly in a statement declared Wei as "persona non grata".

"We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs," she wrote.

"Diplomats in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behaviour, they will be sent home."

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Ottawa condemned the explusion of its diplomat. There will be "consequences arising from the action", said the Chinese embassy.

"The Chinese side strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has lodged stern protest with the Canadian side," read a statement on the embassy website.

The decision of expelling was made after a Canadian intelligence report in the Globe and Mail accused of Wei involved in intimidating and gathering information about Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.

Chong has criticised of Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims minorities. Chong has put forward a motion in 2021 saying that the treatment of Uyghur's is a genocide. China had denied the accusations and sanctioned Chong later.

The federal agency confirmed Wei's involvement. Joly said that the decision to expel the dimplomat was taken after "careful consideration".

Chong on Monday said that the decision should have been taken years ago.

China last week accused Canada of "slander and defamation" over the claims Beijing targeted Chong and his family, reported BBC. Earlier, China has said that they do not interfere in other countries internal affairs.

While attending the coronation of King Charles III, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the decision was not to be taken lightly. "This is very serious and significant," said Trudeau.

Trudeau has appointed former governor David Johnston to investigate and dig deeper to the issue.
Former prime minister Imran Khan has been arrested by a paramilitary force from outside Islamabad High Court.

PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) Vice President Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the IHC has been occupied by the Rangers and lawyers are being subjected to torture. Imran Khans car has been surrounded, he added. PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry confirmed the development to Dawn.

PTI leader Musarrat Cheema, in a video message on Twitter, said: They are torturing Imran Khan right now  they are beating Khan sahib. They have done something with Khan sahib.

Khan was at the Islamabad High Court to renew his bail when the Rangers arrested him at the NAB's (National Accountability Bureau) behest. There are at least 140 cases registered against Khan in various courts related to terrorism, blasphemy, murder, violence, inciting to violence. He is expected to be present at NAB courts on Wednesday. Section 144 has been imposed on Islamabad, which means all kinds of corner meetings, jalsa, public gatherings and congregations have been prohibited.

"Mr Khan has been arrested in a land transfer case to property tycoon Malik Riaz and is being handed over to National Accountability Bureau (NAB)", a NAB official confirmed to PTI.



He said that Khan has been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case. "His arrest warrants were issued today morning and subsequently he is arrested," he said.

The Islamabad Police, on May 6, had summoned Khan to the citys Police Lines Headquarters on May 10 and 11 to record his statement on four terror cases regarding unrest outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Dawn reported.

On March 18, when the PTI chief appeared at the FJC, PTI workers and the police clashed. Following this, he was booked in two more terror cases by the Counter-Terrorism Departments police station and Golra police station for allegedly attacking police and causing unrest outside the court.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed on March 23 to probe terrorism cases registered against Khan and other miscreants relating to the clash outside the FJC.

On April 20, the Lahore High Court observed that the proceedings of the JIT would be subject to the decision on the PTIs petitions challenging the JIT, on which a verdict was reserved on May 5, ANI reported.

In the meantime, a Pakistani court on May 5 turned down Khan's to dismiss a Rs 10 billion defamation lawsuit against him filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The sessions court directed PM Nawaz Sharif to present evidence against Khan in the next hearing on May 20. The case has been pending for the last six years.

Sharif in 2017 filed a defamation suit against Khan for accusing him of offering the latter Rs 10 billion through a common friend in exchange for withdrawing the Panama Papers case from the Supreme Court.

Sharif sought a decree for recovery of Rs 10 billion as compensation from Khan for the publication of defamatory content.
Israel killed three senior commanders of the militant Islamic Jihad group in targeted airstrikes early Tuesday, the military said. Palestinian health officials said 13 people were killed in all, including the commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby.



The attacks in densely populated residential areas set the stage for a new round of heavy fighting. They hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern town of Rafah.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were injured, and that ambulances were continuing to evacuate people from the targeted areas.

Airstrikes continued in the early hours, targeting militant training sites, Israel said.

In the past, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have retaliated for such targeted killings. In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometres) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.

Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings.

The military said the three targeted men had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel.

It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council. Their funerals were planned for later in the day.

The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad, which is smaller than Gaza's ruling Hamas group, confirmed the three were among the dead. The Palestinian Health Ministry said that along with the three commanders, their wives, several of their children and others nearby were also killed 13 in all.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and the Egyptian government, which often brokers between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said that there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of its choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, Haniyeh said in a statement.

The airstrikes came at a time of boiling tensions between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. It is linked, in part, to increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain Palestinians suspected in planning or carrying out attacks on Israelis.

Last week, Gaza militants fired several salvos of rockets toward southern Israel, and the Israeli military responded with airstrikes following the death of a hunger-striking senior member of the Islamic Jihad in Israeli custody.

The exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire mediated by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar.

The airstrikes are similar to ones in 2022 in which Israel bombed locations housing commanders of Islamic Jihad group, setting off a three-day blitz that saw the group lose its two top commanders and other dozens of militants.

Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israel's 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future independent state.

So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them are militants or alleged attackers, were killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel in the same period.
The Indian Consulate at Houston has said it is helping the family of 26-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda, who was killed in Saturday's shooting at the Texas Mall, in facilitating the completion of requisite formalities to bring back her mortal remains and also confirmed that two Indians were also injured in the tragic incident.



26-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda was one of the victims of the shooting that took place at a Texas mall. Thatikonda, a resident of Mckinney was shopping with a friend when they were shot by gunman Mauricio Garcia at the Allen Premium Outlets in Dallas. The gunman was later shot dead by a police officer.

The gunman opened fire at a crowded mall in Texas, USA on May 7, killing eight people. His victims included two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their 3-year-old son, a young engineer and a security guard.



Thatikonda worked as a civil engineer at a Dallas-area firm Perfect General Contractors.



Her parents live in Hyderabad and her father Ranga Reddy is a district judge. The Indian Consulate in Houston is in touch with the families of the other two Indian nationals, who were injured in the shooting. Thatikonda's supervisor Srinivas Chaluvadi said she was loved and adored by all, "not because she was killed under tragic circumstances, but because of who she was personally."



Texas lawmakers are investigating a possible motive behind the shooting.

 With PTI inputs
Russia celebrated its annual Victory Day on Tuesday with President Vladimir Putin giving a 10-minute speech at Red Square, where he lashed out at the West for "unleashing the real war on Russia."

Victory Day is celebrated in Russia to mark the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The highlight of the day is the Victory Day parade which displays Russia's military might. Reports say this year the celebration is muted due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.



Addressing the country before the Victory Day parade, Putin said the world was at a key turning point and Russians were "engaged in a patriotic struggle for the future of their country."



"Today, civilisation is again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our homeland. We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security," Putin said.



He said Russia had no unfriendly nations in the West or the East, adding that he wanted a peaceful future. "As the majority of people on this planet we want to see the future peaceful, free and stable," he said. "We believe any ideology of supremacy due to its nature is repulsive, criminal and deadly.



He blamed the West for sowing seeds of "hatred and Russophobia" and said that Moscow was defending its sovereignty while praising the soldiers engaged in the special military operation



"Today here today, participants of the special military operation they are professional soldiers and those who have come to the ranks of the army as part of the partial mobilisation () I welcome you friends," Putin said.



"I greet all of you fighting for Russia on the battlefield. All those on duty now, during the Great Patriotic War, our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing mightier and stronger than our unity."



The President, however, did not mince words when attacking Ukraine, stating that the country has become a hostage to its Western masters. "The Ukrainian nation has become hostage to a coup which led to a criminal regime led by its Western masters. It has become a pawn to their cruel and selfish plans," Putin said.



Amid the preparations, Russia rained missiles on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Ukraine's air defences destroyed 23 of 25 missiles fired, including at the capital Kyiv, Reuters quoted Ukrainian officials.



"Overnight into the 'sacred' May 9, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine," Ukraine's air force said on its Telegram messaging app. Sergei Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, said the Russians were trying to kill civilians. "As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed."



According to Kyiv officials, debris, however, fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv but caused little damage.


BANGALORE, India, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Slick App, the social networking platform for GenZ, is disrupting the market and revolutionising how young people connect and engage online. Slick was founded by IIT Bombay graduates Archit Nanda and Rachit Bansal, on the belief in the positive impact of social networks. "One of the fundamental problems seen with today's social networks is their business model of ads, which dilutes networking and shifts users' focus to consuming content. These platforms ultimately want more timeshare from their users, in ways that are not networking, which defies the very idea of a social network," said Slick CEO, Archit Nanda.



Slick seeks to bridge this gap by creating a platform that prioritises networking. Their goal is to become GenZ's ultimate platform to discover social connections through multiple innovative features. Slick aims to eliminate the frustrations with the current social media landscape and bring back the true essence of social networking.



Since launching in December, with a small team of 15 members, Slick has amassed over 1 million users spread across 5000+ schools and colleges in India which is a testament to the demand for a more authentic and engaging social networking experience.



Slick has raised $1.6M in this funding round led by WEH Ventures with participation from iSeed, Titan Capital (an existing investor), and All In VC. The Round also saw participation from a clutch of renowned Angel Investors - Sumit Gupta (Founder, CoinDCX), and others. The funding will be used to enhance Slick's user experience, drive innovation, and develop cutting-edge features to attract more users.



Last year, Slick raised $500k in a pre-seed round led by Unacademy's founders (Gaurav Munjal, Roman Saini, and Hemesh Singh) and other renowned angel investors - Kunal Shah, Sujeet Kumar, and early-stage VCs, Titan Capital, and Blume Founders Fund.



Unlike existing tech giants, Slick does not aim to offer the same old digital ecosystem that has been saturated by the rise of passive media, and diluted social interactions among their users to the point of pretense.



Current Two Features:



1. Anonymous Compliments: Their current product offers youngsters the opportunity to anonymously exchange compliments with their peers. By eliminating hesitations and inhibitions, every poll prompt is a positive and flattering compliment, boosting the confidence of its users.



2. Candid Profiles: Currently live exclusively in select institutions, Slick's profile system is curated by friends, allowing for more authentic moments. The feature is unique in that your profile is curated by your friends rather than yourself. Your friends can snap pictures and tag you in them. If you find it worthy, it can be added to your profile after your acceptance. The vision is to create a positive feedback loop of memorable moments and experiences.



Redefining Social Networking for GenZ



Slick's aim is to redefine social networking for GenZ by providing an innovative platform where users can connect, engage, and discover content tailored to their interests. "Today's generation hasn't seen that side of social networks where Insta used to be more about photo sharing with friends and you could 'poke' friends on Facebook. We believe in eliminating the frustrations with the current social networking landscape and creating a platform that prioritizes networking," said Slick CTO, Rachit Bansal.



Rohit Krishna, WEH Ventures said "Driven by TikTok, all other major platforms have prioritised algorithmic feeds over social/chronological feeds and now with the advancement in GenAI, we think soon even content would be created algorithmically. However, there's a still a strong innate need to keep in touch with people & that's why we believe this is the right time to build new social products, where the paradigm for monetisation could be very different from when Snap/Facebook started."



About WEH Ventures (Lead Investor): Launched in 2017, WEH Ventures is a sector-agnostic early-stage venture fund with a primary focus on startups solving India-first problems. The fund is very often the first institutional investor in a company and aims to support it through the early years and beyond. In its six year journey, the fund has already backed several category-leading companies such as smallcase, Jar, Masterchow, Appsforbharat and Pratilipi which have been subsequently backed by top tier institutional investors.



For more information on Slick, please visit: https://www.slickapp.co/



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072588/Slick_founders.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi (India), May 9: Star Estate, a leading real estate services company, is mandated to sell around 2000 unsold flats of the erstwhile Amrapali group with missing owners' including Mahendra Singh Dhonis flat. The court receiver has previously cancelled the allotment of flats due to the non-submission of documents and dues despite several notices.







The Supreme Court, which is attempting to raise funding for the blocked projects, then asked the state-run NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation) to complete the Amrapali Group's stalled projects. The state-owned NBCC will complete various residential projects in Noida and Greater Noida under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India and the Amrapali Stalled Projects and Investment Reconstruction Establishment (ASPIRE). The information provided on the website includes information about the cancelled flats from the court receiver.



Star Estate and NBCC will work together to sell 2000 flats in Amrapali, NCR. According to estimates, there is approximately 40,000 inventory that has yet to be assessed for possible purchasers. The Amrapali group's project delays have been a pain in the real estate market in Noida. Long-term bank borrowings and equity inclusions, as well as being stuck and facing delays in project completion by Amrapali builders, prompted buyers to turn to the courts. Customers are now hopeful and still waiting for possession of the flats after years of fighting and obtaining positive assistance from SC.



Commenting on the announcement, a spokesperson for Star Estate said, "We are delighted to be collaborating with NBCC to facilitate the sale of 2000 Amrapali flats in NCR." This is a significant step towards delivering relief to the thousands of purchasers who have been waiting for years for their apartments. Our staff will work relentlessly to ensure that the sale process is transparent, efficient, and customer-friendly."



The spokesperson Mr. Sachin Maheshwari added, "At Star Estate, we are dedicated to providing high-quality real estate services to our clients throughout India. We think that every homeowner deserves a home that they can call their own, and we are honoured to be a part of making this a reality for Amrapali's homebuyers."



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) Air India has given more time to pilots to accept the revised compensation structure, which has been opposed by two pilot unions, according to a source.

The decision to provide more time to pilots who are yet to sign the new contracts also comes days after Air India organised a town hall meeting with many pilots to discuss their concerns.

The source said the airline has given time till the end of this week for signing the new contracts apparently due to requests from people who had not earlier accepted the revised compensation structure.

There was no comment from Air India on extending the deadline.

Initially, the deadline for accepting the new contracts had ended on April 30.

The move to extend the deadline also comes at a time when crisis-hit Go First has stopped flying and its future remains uncertain, a scenario that has also resulted in many of the budget carrier's pilots seeking job opportunities elsewhere.

The source said that nearly 800 pilots who had not accepted the new compensation structure had attended the town hall on May 4 that was addressed by Air India's Chief of Operations Captain Rajwinder Singh Sandhu, who is also a pilot.

On May 4, a pilot, who had attended the town hall, said Sandhu had assured that all issues can be sorted out and that no clause in the revised contracts would be misused.

Issues related to seniority, career progression and roster rules, among others, were discussed.

Air India has around 1,800 pilots and a significant chunk of them are yet to sign the revised contracts, according to another source.

On April 28, Air India chief Campbell Wilson said that a majority of pilots have accepted the new compensation package offered last week.

Campbell had said the airline is making investments in workplace technology and training as well as in new and improved employee benefits.

"On the latter front, I'm pleased to report that 90 per cent of cabin crew and a majority of pilots have received and accepted the new compensation package offered last week, which will be back-dated to 1 April 2023," he had said.

On April 17, Air India rolled out a revamped compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew. However, the same was rejected by two pilot unions -- Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) -- on grounds that the airline, in alleged violation of labour practices, did not consult them before finalising the new contracts.

Tata Group took control of loss-making Air India from the government in January last year.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (L) and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attend a joint press conference in Berlin, Germany, on May 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu)

BERLIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China resolutely opposes unilateral sanctions, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said here on Tuesday.

Qin made the remarks at a joint press conference along with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in response to a reporter's question about possible European Union (EU) sanctions on Chinese companies for alleged cooperation with Russia.

China does not sell weapons to parties involved in the Ukraine crisis, and handles the export of dual-use items prudently and in accordance with laws and regulations, Qin said.

Normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian enterprises should not be affected, he noted.

China resolutely opposes long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions against other countries based on one's own laws, and will take necessary actions to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, said Qin.

Qin is on a visit to Germany, France and Norway from May 8 to 12 at the invitation of his German, French and Norwegian counterparts. 
Islamabad, May 9 (PTI) Pakistan, China and Afghanistan have agreed to forge closer economic ties by extending the Beijing-backed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan to fully harness the country's potential as a hub for regional connectivity.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang and Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue, where they also underlined the need to prevent any group from using their territories for terror activities against any nation.

The three countries reiterated their resolve to fully harness Afghanistans potential as a hub for regional connectivity and reaffirmed "their commitment to further the trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, according to a joint statement issued on Monday, two days after the meeting here on May 6.

The USD 60 billion CPEC aims to connect Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan with Chinas Xinjiang province. India has objected to the CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The CPEC is officially regarded as the flagship project of China's multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - the pet project of President Xi Jinping.

The three foreign ministers stressed the importance of existing projects, including CASA-1000, TAPI, Trans-Afghan Railways etc., to enhance regional connectivity and ensure economic uplift and prosperity for the region's people.

While agreeing to enhance transit trade through Gwadar Port, the three parties emphasised the need to push forward hard connectivity in infrastructure and soft connectivity in norms and standards while further exploring the facilitating measures for the movement of people and trade activities between the three countries.

In the statement, they stressed the need to prohibit any individual, group or party, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) etc., to use the territories of the three nations to harm and threaten regional security and interests.

They also underscored the need to refrain from intervening in Afghanistan's internal affairs and promote peace, stability and reconstruction there.

The three sides asserted the need to tackle security challenges posing a serious threat to regional and global security, directly impacting the entire region's stability and economic prosperity.

The ministers stressed the importance of exploring realistic pathways towards the revival of the Afghan economy, agreeing to consider further supporting its reconstruction and exploring trilateral investment possibilities for industrialisation and job creation.

They also stressed the importance of sustained and urgent humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan, underlining that it must remain delinked from any political situation.

The three sides reaffirmed continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest like economic development, capacity building, and improving livelihoods and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields such as agriculture, trade, energy, capacity building, and border management, among other areas.

The three countries also urged the international community to assist Afghanistan to counter the cultivation of narcotics effectively and develop alternative crops to enhance its capacity for independent and sustainable development. They called on relevant countries to lift unilateral sanctions against Kabul, return the assets overseas for the benefit of the Afghan people, and create opportunities for economic development and prosperity in the country.

The three sides emphasised their commitment to continuing the trilateral cooperation mechanism, including the Director-General Level Practical Cooperation Dialogue and forging closer, good-neighbourly relations and partnerships.
Jerusalem, May 9 (PTI) Israel and India on Tuesday inked an agreement that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, a move expected to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who reached New Delhi on Tuesday morning for a three-day visit but announced cutting it short because of the security situation arising out of Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip, held talks with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.

The ministers discussed ways to strengthen Indo-Israel ties by "adding direct flights, continuing cooperation in agriculture and water management, and expanding cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and cyber defence", according to a Hebrew press statement from the Israeli foreign ministry.

"The ministers also signed agreements to allow the arrival of 42,000 Indian workers in the fields of construction and nursing," it added.

The addition of workers from India is expected to help deal with the rising cost of living in Israel and help thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

According to the statement, 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction field and another 8,000 for nursing needs.

In reference to the proposed rail and port link, the Israeli foreign minister said that it would shorten the route between Asia and Europe and make Israel a commercial, technological and transportation hub in the changing trade routes in the Middle East.

Emphasising the significant role India can play in expanding the scope of the landmark Abraham Accords, Cohen said that the strategic partnership with New Delhi strengthens Israel and also contributes to the stability in the Middle East.

"India can play a significant role in expanding the Abraham Accords and promoting regional projects with countries, and countries that do not yet have relations with Israel," the press statement quoted Cohen as saying.

The Abraham Accords of 2020 was the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years and is the popular description for the normalisation of Israel's ties with the Islamic world.

Officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and India met earlier this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and discussed a rail and port network linking the Gulf states and India.

It is believed that the same may be extended on the other side to include connectivity with Israel, local media reports earlier said.

India and Israel have seen an intense last few months of engagement starting with the visit of Knesset's (Israeli parliament) Speaker Amir Ohana at the end of March followed by the visit of Minister of Economy Nir Barkat in April and now comes the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister in quick succession.

The visits are being seen as a build-up to the much-anticipated visit of Netanyahu towards the end of this year.
Mumbai, May 9 (PTI) Actor Rakhi Sawant's brother has been arrested in an old cheque bouncing case in Mumbai after a warrant was issued against him by a local court, police said on Tuesday.

Rakesh Sawant was arrested on Sunday. He was produced before the metropolitan magistrate court in Andheri which remanded him to judicial custody till May 22, a police officer said.

A complaint of cheque bouncing was lodged against Rakesh Sawant by a businessman in 2020, following which he was arrested by the police. He was later released on conditional bail on assurance that he will return the money of the complainant, but he failed to do so, the officer added.

''Rakesh Anand Sawant is arrested after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by Andheri metropolitan magistrate's court. He was produced before the court which remanded him to judicial custody,'' he said.
Lucknow, May 9 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra, who recently hosted a screening of the controversial film "The Kerala Story" for college girls at a theatre, on Tuesday said those aiming for "Ghazwa-e-Hind" (holy war against India) are being unmasked.

Mishra also shared an illustration on Twitter, insinuating that the Congress and some opposition leaders were taking instructions from "terrorists" to get the film banned.

The illustration carried images of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. It showed these leaders being told to get the movie banned by "any means" and they responding to the instruction via speech bubbles.

"Wake up India wake up. #kerla_story. Those who conceptualised Ghazwa-e-Hind are getting exposed. The intention of those opposing the film is that the daughters of the country remain unsafe," Mishra tweeted.

The film, starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on Friday and deals with the events behind the alleged disappearance of thousands of women from Kerala. It depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terrorist group Islamic State.

The film has generated a political storm as some parties, including the Congress and the CPI(M), have accused it of false portrayal against a community and the BJP has asserted the film depicts the "truth".

The West Bengal government has banned the screening of the movie it in the state, but Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have announced it will be tax-free.

Over the weekend, Mishra organised a screening of the film at a theatre in Lucknow for college girls. He said the film should be shown to young girls to prevent them from love jihad.

'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

Mishra said the movie is based on "true events" and shows how gullible girls are manipulated and then converted. "The message which I want to convey to these girls, through this movie, is that they need to be aware and should not fall into any kind of traps, and focus on their studies," he said.

A plea has also been moved in the Supreme Court against a Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the release of "The Kerala Story". The top court is set to hear the plea on May 15.
Dehradun, May 9 (PTI) Uttarakhand Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj has said the controversial film "The Kerala Story" will be tax-free in the state.

The film, starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on Friday and deals with the events behind the alleged disappearance of thousands of women from Kerala. It depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terrorist group Islamic State.

While a formal announcement about it is yet to be made by the Uttarakhand government, Maharaj told reporters on Monday that the film will be tax-free in the state soon.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said "The Kerala Story" depicts "the truth" and everyone should see it. "The Kerala Story is a film depicting the truth of how terrorism is being spread without using arms and ammunition. I think everyone should see the film," Dhami told reporters here.

Dhami said he will watch the film with his colleagues.

The movie has generated controversy as some political parties have have accused it of false portrayal against a community. West Bengal has banned the screening of the movie in theatres and multiplexes in Tamil Nadu have cancelled shows from Sunday.

The BJP has supported the movie and its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have decided to allow its screening tax-free.
Washington, May 9 (PTI) Americas strength is its diversity, President Joe Biden has said, as he hosted one of the largest gatherings of Asian Americans at the White House attended by several prominent Indian-Americans.

The gathering on Monday was organised for the screening of the American Born Chinese movie as part of a celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

You embody the truth that our diversity is our strength as a nation. That's not hyperbole. That's a fact. That's why we rebuild our economy, invest in America, Biden told a packed gathering of the AANHPI community from various parts of the country including several Indian-Americans in the East Room of the White House.

Biden said the AANHPI represents diverse community culture that is reflected in every part of American life, including in the government.

I'm determined to remind everyone and we're doing it again tonight that our strength lies in our diversity, he said.

Biden has appointed a record number of more than 150 Indian-Americans in his administration.

This is for the first time in Americas history that a US administration is as diverse as this led by Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and African heritage.

We see the community in all of you here tonight, leaders of business technology, philanthropy, media and so much more. And most of all, we see the possibilities of the community and all the young people here, all of you, what an attractive group of kids you represent. The most gifted and tolerant generation in American history, he said before the special screening of the movie.

Just remember when one of you becomes President of the United States and your staff tells you Joe Biden's out in the waiting room to see you promise me, you will not say Joe who. All right, You promised me to remember, he said amidst laughter in the room.

Along with Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su; Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative, lawmakers Al Green and Judy Chu, the event was attended by the cast, producers, and partners of American Born Chinese.

Community leaders and builders, elected officials, and activists who are working to combat hate-fuelled violence.

Biden was introduced on the occasion by Vietnamese American actor Ke Huy Quan, also known as Jonathan Ke Quan.

Quan is one of two actors of Asian descent to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the first Vietnam-born actor to win an Academy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
Washington, May 9 (PTI) US-based senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda has expressed serious concern over the "alarming situation" in Manipur and called for an immediate end to violence in the northeastern state.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burnt in the ethnic violence that rocked the northeastern state for the past few days.

IOC (Indian Overseas Congress) leadership is concerned about the alarming situation in Manipur where our Christian community has suddenly suffered due to the burning of 25 churches and 500 homes," Pitroda said in a statement on Monday in his capacity as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC).

This must stop immediately. Peace must prevail to assure the safety, security, and well-being of all the people in the area, he said.

"Our sympathies are with the people of Manipur and the families and friends of the people affected by this violence and tragedy, Pitroda said.

Addressing a press conference in Imphal, the Manipur chief minister said: These are very very unfortunate incidents. I appeal to people to bring peace together at the earliest.

Singh said that 1,700 houses including temples and churches have been burnt down during the violence.

The chief minister said that Rs 2 lakh will be paid to those whose houses were destroyed and the government will rebuild them.

Expressing the strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, George Abraham, vice-chair of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA alleged that it is the repeat of the same BJP strategy of exploiting differences and targeting minority communities to gain political advantage.

In a statement, IOC USA said that Manipur borders Myanmar and is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Meiteis, who are a numerical majority in the state and are predominantly Hindu, and various tribal communities, who are largely Christian.
London, May 9 (PTI) Sixteen people, including a number of Indian-origin men and women, have been convicted following a major investigation into a west London based organised crime group involved in international money laundering and people smuggling, the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Tuesday.

Members of the criminal network smuggled in excess of GBP 42 million in cash out of the UK, making hundreds of trips to Dubai between 2017 and 2019. NCA investigators believe the money was profit from the sale of banned Class A drugs and organised immigration crime.

This has been a long and complex investigation into an organised crime group involved in money laundering on a commercial scale and organised immigration crime, said NCA senior investigating officer Chris Hill.

Over a two-year period, working together with partners in the UK and abroad, NCA investigators were able to uncover the evidence to secure these convictions. This case demonstrates the continued commitment by the NCA to protect the public and target the criminal networks involved in both people smuggling and money laundering, he said.

We will continue to use the full range of tactics at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle them, he added.

The individuals arrested and charged as part of the operation were prosecuted in two trials at Croydon Crown Court in south London starting in January this year.

In the first trial, ringleader Charan Singh, Valjeet Singh, Jasbir Singh Kapoor, Jasbir Singh Dhal were found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property or money laundering. While Swander Singh Dhal was found guilty of conspiring to remove criminal property and also conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law; Diljan Singh Malhotra was found guilty of conspiring to facilitate a breach of immigration law. All six, in their 30s and 40s, have been remanded in judicial custody pending their sentencing in September.

In the second trial, Amarjeet Alabadis, Jaginder Kapoor, Jackdar Kapoor, Manmon Singh Kapur, Pinky Kapur and Jasbeer Singh Malhotra were convicted of removing criminal property and bailed pending sentencing in four months time.

The NCA said around GBP 1.5 million was seized from couriers leaving the UK but flight analysis, evidence from cash declarations in Dubai, and other material seized by the NCA showed the group had succeeded in transporting far more.

As part of the investigation, NCA officers also uncovered a plot involving members of the criminal gang to smuggle 17 migrants, including five children and a pregnant woman, into the UK in the back of a van carrying tyres in 2019.

The van was intercepted by Dutch police, who were working with the NCA, before it could reach a ferry at the Hook of Holland. In November 2019, following weeks of surveillance, communications and flight data analysis, NCA officers moved in to make arrests. "Gang ringleader Charan Singh, 44, from Hounslow, was among those detained in a series of early morning raids across west London," the NCA said.

Investigators were able to prove that Singh, who was formerly resident in the UAE, paid for flights to Dubai for other members of the network so they could carry cash. He also kept a ledger showing how much had been transported and when. It showed that at least 58 trips to Dubai were made by Singh and his couriers during 2017 alone.

Midway through the second trial, six of the accused changed their plea to guilty in relation to money laundering offences and as a result, reporting restrictions on the case were lifted last week.
Jerusalem, May 9 (PTI) Expressing "great satisfaction" at the achievements of 30 years of full diplomatic ties between India and Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that it is time for the two nations to "re-accelerate" their relations in various fields to strengthen the strategic partnership.

Just ahead of his three-day visit starting on Tuesday, Cohen told PTI that the visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in 2017 and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to India in 2018 helped bring the bilateral relations to "new heights of cooperation, understanding and even deepened the friendship not only between the governments but also between the peoples".

"We expect that Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit to India later this year will continue the momentum in relations both in the areas in which I will be engaged during my visit and in other areas", he said.

India and Israel have seen an intense last few months of engagement starting with the visit of Knesset's (Israeli parliament) Speaker Amir Ohana at the end of March followed by the visit of Minister of Economy Nir Barkat in April and now comes the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister in quick succession.

The visits are being seen as a build-up to the much-anticipated visit of Netanyahu towards the end of this year.

"Indeed, we are at a stage where we are re-accelerating relations between the two countries after certain delays during the COVID period. Last year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. We are greatly satisfied with our great achievements during this period and now is the time to look forward and strengthen the strategic relations between the countries," Cohen said.

This visit is an opportunity to promote economic and cultural issues and even inaugurate the Jewish path in Mumbai, he listed as the main issues on the agenda of his visit.

The Jewish Path, or the "Jewish Trail", is an initiative under which important Jewish monuments in Mumbai have been identified and will be opened to tourists around the world.

Jewish people have been living in Maharashtra for more than two thousand years and have always taken pride in the lack of anti-semitism in India.

Looking to utilise both the countries' proven track record as knowledge economies with robust start-ups ecosystem, special emphasis in discussions will be given to the field of innovation with an emphasis on water management, agriculture, health, climate, and education.

"Agreements are expected to be signed in the field of water technologies and the centers of excellence that Israel operates together with the Indian authorities", the Israeli Foreign Minister noted.

"The potential for growth in the field of innovation between Israel and India is immense," he said.

"Further, there is a great potential for cooperation on cleantech technologies and renewable energy on a bilateral level as well as multilateral forums like the I2U2," Cohen emphasised.

Israel has played an important role in India's agricultural sector by opening Centers of Excellence and has recently appointed a dedicated water attache at its mission in Delhi realising the huge potential for collaboration in these fields.

Beyond bilateral cooperation, the two countries have also been working with the United Arab Emirates and the United States in a grouping termed I2U2, looking to harness the partner members' strength to promote their global footprint together.

Cohen said that "India has a significant contribution to this important platform that supports peace and stability in the region".

The I2U2 was launched during Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Israel in October 2021 when the foreign ministers of the four countries laid down the basic principles of taking this alliance forward with the Foreign Ministers of UAE and the US participating virtually.

"The I2U2 is a central platform for regional and international cooperation. We believe that the shared knowledge of Israel and India in the fields of food security, water management and treatment in space, and of course agriculture, can allow many I2U2 projects to get underway," Cohen believes.

He pointed out that "Israel recently proposed cooperation in a new satellite project that utilises all four strengths of the partner countries" and is excited to "imagine what the future holds in this regard".

"The connection between Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates connects Asia and Europe and creates opportunities to strengthen the relationship between Israel and India. It brings significant achievements for all the partners' economies", Cohen asserted.

Acknowledging India's fast-growing economy making it the fifth largest economy in the world, the Israeli leader said that forecasts predict that it will climb to the third spot and so Israel attaches great importance to the economic ties between the two countries.

Asked about the long pending Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, he said that it will be brought up for discussions during his visit and that there is a "strong desire to finalise it".

"The scope for trade opportunities between our countries is huge and there is a strong desire to finalise an FTA that hopefully will further strengthen our economic ties. I am intending to raise this topic during my high-level meetings, as I believe the scope of the FTA is far larger than trade numbers. We should discuss it with the vision of Bilateral relations in mind", he stressed.

From a humble beginning of USD 200 million in bilateral trade (primarily in diamonds) in 1992 when full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries, merchandise trade has diversified and reached USD 7.86 billion (excluding defenCe) during the period 20212022.

In addition, bilateral trade in services in 2021 was USD 1.1 billion and in FY 2022-23 bilateral merchandise trade from April to December 2022 stood at USD 8.09 billion (excluding defence).

With air traffic between the two countries getting a boost with the Gulf countries agreeing to open their airspace to Israeli airlines, Cohen described it as a "game changer" which also brings out India's importance in the region.

"Although the Corona epidemic temporarily reduced the number of direct flights, now we are talking about increasing the number of flights and increasing the destinations," Cohen noted.

"This clearly symbolises the importance of India in the context of the Abraham Accords and the relevance of India to strengthening the atmosphere of regional cooperation," he pointed out.

"The launch of more direct flights will increase the connectivity between our nations to facilitate the movement of tourists, business people and students. This boost to regional connectivity has also benefited the people of India. The thriving Indian diaspora throughout the Gulf can now fly directly from the UAE to Israel or from Israel to Bahrain," the minister said.

He also highlighted the immense impact it has on boosting trade relations in the region.

Cohen also intends to bring in more students from India to Israel as academic cooperation between the two countries has "inexhaustible potential".

"We need to make a greater effort to be attractive to a larger number of Indian students. Professional officials are examining the issue with the universities and the Council for Higher Education. We are very interested in a large number of foreign students coming to Israel, and certainly students from India. This will bring the scientific communities of the two countries closer together in the long term", he said.

Asked as to how India's Presidency of G20 and an invite for New Delhi to the G-7 summit can be helpful in strengthening Indo-Israel ties, he said, "We are confident that the agenda that India promotes in these forums is for the benefit of the global economy, of which Israel is a part".

"The frequent consultations between various parties in Israel and India touch on many areas, but in issues of the G20 and G7 India has a unique role also due to its size and economic strength and its international importance", he asserted.

On India's role in the Middle East, the Israeli foreign minister said: "Regarding India's role in the MEA (Middle East Area), we see a growing involvement of India in many places in the world, including in the MEA, including getting closer to the United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and more. This is definitely a positive process because, as mentioned, India has a positive influence on the atmosphere of cooperation in the region."

On the question of defence ties and Israel's participation in the flagship Make in India programme, Cohen said that the defence ties have been "a key pillar of the growing partnership between the two nations".

"Our relations are based on three basic foundations: shared values, mutual interests and common challenges. With such well-synchronised defence cooperation, Israel was among the first countries to take up the call for the Make in India initiative and start joint projects with a manufacturing base in India", the Israeli FM emphasised.

"We have no doubt in Israel, that R&D serves as a growth engine for the local industry. That is why we are willing to create more platforms of joint R&D to pinpoint shared challenges, discuss and find solutions together, and even manufacture them together. Both sides have a lot to gain from this collaboration," he added.
Colombo, May 9 (PTI) Sri Lanka's main Tamil political party will meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe here on Tuesday for "constructive" talks to address the long-pending demand for political autonomy for the minority community within a specified time limit.

The representatives from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), an alliance of parties who represent Tamils from the North and East regions will meet Wickremesinghe to discuss a peaceful resolution to their demands.

A TNA release said that the main Tamil party was ready to constructively engage in talks with the government to settle the Tamil national question within a specified time limit.

North and East are the areas of historic habitation of the Tamil speaking people which is acknowledged locally and internationally.

The party stresses that the North and East have been recognised by the Indo-Lanka Accord as one unit.

We are not prepared to hold any discussions that go contrary to that basis," the release said.

Sri Lanka has had a long history of failed negotiations with the Tamils.

An Indian effort in 1987, which created the system of a joint provincial council for the Tamil-dominated North and East, faltered as the minority community claimed it fell short of full autonomy.

However, in 2006 the two provinces were separated via a Supreme Court ruling following interventions by the Sinhalese majority nationalist groups.

Sinhalese, mostly Buddhist, make up nearly 75 per cent of Sri Lanka's 22 million population while Tamils make up 15 per cent.

The meeting on Tuesday will be a sequel to an announcement by Wickremesinghe on May 1 in which he said he was keen to settle the islands long-standing ethnic issue with the Tamil community by the year's end.

Wickremesinghe, who took over as the president last year amidst the unprecedented economic crisis and political turmoil, earlier, underlined the need to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to grant political autonomy to the minority Tamils in the country.

The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13A which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.

In December last year, Wickremesinghe's effort to initiate talks with the minority Tamil political groups in order to achieve reconciliation by February 4 - the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence did not meet success as the country was grappling with the economic crisis.

Several all-party meets held between December last year and January this year also didnt reach a conclusion.

India has been consistently calling upon Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments to protect the interests of the Tamil community and preserve the island nations character as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

Over the years, the Sri Lankan government has been aggressive against Tamilian groups following its war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The LTTE ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

According to Sri Lankan government figures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various conflicts including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

International rights groups claim at least 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages of the war, but the Sri Lankan government has disputed the figures.
MEXICO CITY, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday urged U.S. decision-makers to adopt effective policies to stop gun violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border.

Speaking at his daily press conference, Lopez Obrador called in particular on Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to pursue gun control and slow arms trafficking across the border.

"That is a good initiative to prevent these unfortunate murders, these shootings that are constantly taking place" in the United States, Lopez Obrador told reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City.

"Why don't they get involved in that and stop accepting money from weapons manufacturers, from the war industry, for their campaigns?" he asked rhetorically, adding that was one of the factors "behind" the problem.

Some politicians in the United States "don't say a word" about lax arms sales as they receive money from weapons manufacturers to finance their re-election campaigns, he said.

The Mexican government has filed lawsuits in the United States against manufacturers and distributors of weapons there, accusing them of negligent business practices that fuel gun violence in Mexico.

Mexican authorities have estimated that at least half a million firearms flow illegally from the United States to criminal groups in Mexico each year.

Lopez Obrador said he is going to have a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday to address bilateral issues. 
Washington, May 9 (PTI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intends to travel to China as soon as the conditions allow, his spokesperson said Monday.

Blinken was scheduled to travel to China early this year. This was cancelled days before his visit after the US detected a Chinese spy balloon in its skies.

"He intends to go, and he intends to go as soon as conditions allow and we're able to get that trip back on the books," State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference. Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing.

"We maintain important lines of communications with a number of officials across the PRC (People's Republic of China). Obviously, that will relate to the respective individual and who their appropriate counterpart was. As you know, when Secretary Blinken was secretary and obviously when Foreign Minister Qin Gang was ambassador to the United States, they had a number of opportunities to engage as well," he said.

"The important thing here is that we would like there to continue to be open lines of communication between our two countries," Patel said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference that Blinken will reschedule his visit to China when conditions allow.

"When we believe the time is right. We anticipate that there are a number of engagement that US officials have in due course -- we've talked about secretary of Treasury, the secretary of Commerce also visiting China at some point when we believe the time is right," she said.

"And we have always called for reliable channels of communication between the United States and the PRC," she said.

Patel told reporters at the State Department that maintaining open lines of communication with China has been a key tenet of the United States' approach as it relates to this very complicated bilateral relationship.

"You have seen even the secretary speak about the importance of that, even after his trip was postponed, you saw him talk about the importance of these open lines of communication remaining open and being used as a way to discuss things that are critical and important to the bilateral relationship," he said.

"And just as the secretary does when he speaks to his counterparts, the ambassador spoke in his meeting about the areas where our two countries can cooperate, such as addressing the challenge of the climate crisis, such as addressing cooperation when it comes to global health and public health, as well as important opportunities on food security and other things," Patel said.
Labuan Bajo (Indonesia), May 9 (AP) Alarm over Myanmar's still-unfolding deadly civil strife, including an armed attack on an aid convoy, and China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea are expected to challenge Southeast Asian leaders' commitments to non-interference and consensus decision-making as they meet in Indonesia this week.

Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened on Tuesday in the resort town of Labuan Bajo to finalize the agenda ahead of the two-day summit of the 10-nation bloc's heads of state.

The United States and China are not part of the twice-yearly summit, but their escalating rivalry looms large over the high-profile Asian gathering. Beijing has warned that US efforts to strengthen security alliances and intensify combat-readiness drills with Asian allies would endanger regional stability.

Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN has avoided getting entangled in major-power competition as a bloc. But its diverse members are often involved in partnerships and disputes with superpowers. They range from authoritarian Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which are closely aligned with Beijing, to liberal democracies like the Philippines, which is Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia and recently allowed an expansion of American military presence in the country, to China's outrage.

The other members  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have heavy economic and security engagements with both the US and China.

ASEAN wants to remain open, to cooperate with anyone, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, this year's ASEAN chair. We also don't want ASEAN to be anyone's proxy.

Bedrock principles of non-interference in each other's domestic affairs and deciding by consensus have held the unwieldy club of autocrats, monarchs and democracies together for decades. But that approach has also prevented it from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders.

ASEAN's principles have been tested since Myanmar's army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. It's become one of the bloc's gravest crises since its establishment.

Military airstrikes in April killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an apparent war crime."

Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta said ASEAN's inability to persuasively and rapidly address a potential political conflagration like the Myanmar crisis should prompt it to take a second look at its founding principles.

ASEAN can no longer hide under the principles of non-interference and consensus, she told the AP. All of that can work in a non-urgent situation that does not require speed and immediate decision-making to control a crisis.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmar's eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

Indonesia had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment but it was very unfortunate that in the middle of the trip there was a shootout, Widodo said on Monday.

This will not deter ASEAN and Indonesia from calling for an end to the violence, Widodo told reporters Monday, renewing his call for dialogue among contending parties in Myanmar. Nobody wins in this situation.

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmar's military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmar's military since assuming the rotating role as ASEAN's leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is taking a non-megaphone diplomacy approach to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmar's top general in 2021.

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmar's top general to their summits after 2020, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmar's military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the bloc's non-interference policy.

"To put it mildly, the organization is now facing nothing short of an existential crisis, said Richard Heydarian, a lecturer on international affairs at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Even regional diplomats who were involved in ASEAN work before have been either guardedly optimistic about the bloc or harshly critical. When asked by The Associated Press to give one word that best describes the bloc's current status, one Southeast Asian diplomat replied, Progressing. Another said, Opprobrium.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of clearance to comment publicly on the issue.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders at the summit, they plan to condemn the reported deadly airstrike by the Myanmar military and add that all forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians.

They plan to reissue a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements that does not name China.

"Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

At a closed-door session of the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to raise a Febzyear, Marcos granted American forces access to four more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

Beijing was infuriated by that agreement, which it feared would provide American forces staging grounds to intervene in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary. (AP) PY

PY
Brussels, May 8 (AP) European Union lawmakers investigating the use of Pegasus spyware against opposition politicians and journalists on Tuesday raised deep concern about abuses in Hungary and Poland and lamented a lack of cooperation with their inquiry.

The spyware developed by developed by Israeli cyber-intelligence company NSO has been used around the world to break into the phones and computers of political figures, human rights activists, reporters and even Catholic clergy. It was allegedly only made available to government agencies.

Cybersleuths have found traces of Pegasus or other spyware in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Greece. But after a year-long investigation, members of the European Parliament said they had been unable to come up with a smoking gun.

Do we have evidence? No, because none of the authorities are cooperating, said Dutch Liberal lawmaker Sophie Int Veld, who helped lead the probe.

In't Veld said the lawmakers suspect, but cannot prove, that Greece exported Predator spyware to Cyprus, which then delivered it to Sudan, where more than 600 people have been killed since April 15 in fighting between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group.

Dutch conservative lawmaker Jeroen Lenaers said the refusal of Poland's far-right government to cooperate appeared to be part of a wider approach to silence any kind of dissent in Poland and it's extremely concerning.

In their final report, the lawmakers said that Poland's use of Pegasus was part of a system for the surveillance of the opposition and critics of the government -- designed to keep the ruling majority and the government in power.

They argued that the use of spyware in Hungary was part of a calculated and strategic campaign to destroy media freedom and freedom of expression by the government. Hungary's justice minister refused repeated requests for talks.

The lawmakers said they sent questionnaires to authorities in the EU's 27 member countries but that very few came back with relevant information.

Some, including the Netherlands, did not reply at all. Others refused to provide information due to what they said were national security grounds.

The abuse of spyware has nothing to do with national security, In't Veld said. She also raised concern about where the victims might turn for help when the authorities are accused of doing the spying. In not one single case has justice been done so far. Not one, she said.

NSO has been subject to export limits by the US federal government, which has accused the firm of conducting transnational repression. Major technology companies, including Apple and Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, also have brought NSO to court. (AP) PY

PY
Kolkata, May 9 (PTI) West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his 162nd birth anniversary.

A poet, author, playwright, music composer, painter, philosopher and social reformer, Tagore was the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in literature for his collection of poems-Gitanjali.

"Dr CV Ananda Bose remembers Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the literary giant, philosopher, & Nobel laureate on his birthday. Gurudev's timeless works continue to resonate with us, inspiring generations to embrace life's complexities with grace & dignity and celebrate the beauty of life," the Raj Bhavan said in a tweet.

Remembering the Nobel laureate, Banerjee said that Tagore's contribution to literature and art has shaped the rich cultural heritage of the state and inspired many across the globe.

"I pay my humble tribute to Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary. His great contribution to literature and art has shaped our rich cultural heritage and inspired many across the globe. May his teachings and philosophy continue to guide us all," Banerjee tweeted.

Tagore was born on the 25th day of Boisakh in the year 1348, as per the Bengali calendar.
Bhawanipatna (Odisha), May 9 (PTI) At least three Maoists were killed and a policeman was injured during a gunbattle in a forest in Odisha's Kalahandi district on Tuesday, a top official said.

The incident took place in the morning when a combing operation was underway near Tapareng-Ludengarh reserve forest, he said.

Three Maoists have been killed a DSP rank officer has suffered injuries in the exchange of fire, DGP Sunil K Bansal told PTI.

The policeman, who suffered bullet injuries in the leg, was rushed to Bhima Bhoi Medical College & Hospital in Bolangir, he said.

The injured officer is out of danger and he is being brought to Bhubaneswar for better treatment, Bansal said.

The combing operation is still underway in the forest areas along the border of Kalahandi-Kandhamal districts, the DGP said, adding, one AK-47 rifle was also recovered from the encounter site, indicating that the deceased could include an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).

The Maoists have been observing a week-long mass outreach programme Jana Adhikar Abhijan from May 8, and the operation was launched in view of the campaign, police said.

The Odisha Police has sounded an alert in bordering areas of the state following Tuesdays incident.

In neighbouring Chhattisgarh, 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and a civilian driver were killed on April 26 in a Naxal attack in Dantewada area.
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday said the Centre cannot escape its responsibility over the violence in Manipur.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, while citing a report quoting the chief justice of India said, "In light of what the CJI has said it's astonishing what a single judge of Manipur High Court didtriggering such a human tragedy!".

"But the ideological brotherhood, its henchman in Manipur, and his masters at the Centre cannot escape their responsibility," Ramesh said on Twitter.

He cited a news report that quoted the CJI saying the the high court does not have power to direct changes in Scheduled Tribes list and asked why a Constitution Bench verdict of 2000 noting that courts do not have power to add or subtract the ST List was not shown to the Manipur High Court.

Concerned over the huge loss of life and property, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Manipur government to step up relief and rehabilitation efforts for those hit by ethnic violence in the north-eastern state, besides protecting places of worship, many of which were targeted during the mayhem.

More than 50 people have been killed in violent clashes between the tribals living in the Manipur hills and the majority Meitei community residing in the Imphal Valley over the latter's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Over 23,000 people have been rescued and sheltered in military garrisons and relief camps.
Srinagar, May 9 (PTI) National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday launched searches at 15 locations across Jammu and Kashmir in a Pakistan-backed terror conspiracy case, an official said.

Searches in the house of suspects at four locations in Anantnag, three in Shopian, two each in Budgam, Srinagar and Poonch and one each in Baramulla and Rajouri were underway, the official said.

According to the official, the case, registered last year, relates to hatching a conspiracy, both physical and in cyberspace and plans by proscribed terrorist organisations to execute violent militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms.

The plans are part of a larger conspiracy by the terrorist groups to commit terror acts in association with local youths and overground workers to create communal disharmony in the Union Territory, the official said.

The official said the terrorist outfits involved in the conspiracy were Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Badr, and al-Qaeda, besides their offshoots such as The Resistance Front, United Liberation Front Jammu and Kashmir, Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind, Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters, Kashmir Tigers and People's Anti-Fascist Front.

According to the NIA, the initial investigations by it indicated that the workers and cadre of the outfits were involved in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs or magnetic bombs, IEDs, cash, narcotics and small weapons.

These weapons, bombs and narcotics were being pushed in India by Pakistan-based handlers and commanders of proscribed terrorist organisations using drones to the terrorists active in Kashmir, the federal agency said.
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) India and Israel are strategic partners which don't compete with each other but complete each other, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Tuesday.

The Israeli foreign minister arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday morning on a visit to explore ways to expand bilateral ties and prepare the ground for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to India this year.

At the India-Israel Business Forum organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Cohen said India-Israel trade volume will surpass the USD 20-billion mark

Terming India "the gate from the east to the west", Cohen said trades from India will sell everywhere.

"It is very important to emphasise that Israel and India are strategic partners. We are not competing with each other. We definitely complete each other," he said.

The Israeli foreign minister said agreements would be signed later on Tuesday for having more employees from India in Israel.

"We also like to take this opportunity to have students from India to Israel. Our countries should and have a lot in common. Both of us have a vibrant democracy. We are working together with the Jewish people and the Indian people for more than 2,000 years. But right now, I believe that in the coming 2,000 years, we can do much more," he said.

Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the foundation of the relationship between India and Israel has deep roots and a long history. "As the world underwent important changes, the strategic importance of the India-Israel relationship has only increased," he said.

"We are committed to addressing some of the world's biggest challenges by joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transport, space and technology through the India-Israel-UAE-US network," the minister said.

Shekhawat said the defence sector is an important area of cooperation between India and Israel. "And both countries have made significant progress (in it). It is appropriate to mention that to further our relationship today we are signing a joint statement of intent to establish India Israel's central water technology at IIT-Roorke," he said.

The Jal Shakti minister called on countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector.

"It is more pertinent for countries to come together and cooperate in the water sector in view of climate change. The role of the private sector and business leaders is vital in providing the solutions and in addressing the water security problems," Shekhawat added.
Bahraich (UP), May 9 (PTI) A local court here sentenced a 75-year-old temple priest to life imprisonment for killing a married woman with whom he had an alleged illicit affair.

In May 2020, Sripal, a resident of Badrauli village under Kaisarganj, lodged a complaint regarding the disappearance of his 55-year-old wife Shivaka, district government counsel Munnu Lal Mishra said.

Sripal alleged that Ramsaran, the priest of the Santridas Kutti temple near the village, had an illicit relationship with his wife and visited their house frequently.

When the family members confronted him, the visits stopped.

However, on May 23, 2020, Shivaka went missing from her house, and her body, partially eaten by animals, was found near a pond in the vicinity of the temple on May 28, he said.

In the charge sheet filed in court, police said Ramsaran killed Shivaka by hitting her on the head with an iron rod.

After hearing both sides, the court of District Judge Utkarsh Chaturvedi on April 29 convicted Ramsaran of murdering Shivaka and hiding the body. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and asked to pay a fine of Rs 51,000, Mishra said.

In case of non-payment of the fine, the court said, Ramsaran will have to undergo additional imprisonment of 15 months.

The court ordered that 50 per cent of the fine amount should be given to the family members of the deceased.
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) Asserting that the sick or infirm have the right to adequate and effective treatment, the Delhi High Court granted bail to businessman P Sarath Chandra Reddy on medical grounds in a money laundering case related to the Delhi government's alleged excise scam.

Although "good basic treatment" can be given to the accused in jail, the court cannot expect specialised treatment and monitoring which is required in the present case, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said on Monday.

The judge said Reddy was in a "bad state" and qualified as "sick/infirm" in order to be released on bail in the money laundering case and there was no material on record to show that he was a flight risk.

The court clarified that the order was passed in view of the accused's medical condition without going into the merits of the case and asked him not to travel without permission or tamper with evidence.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, said the law on admitting an accused on bail on the grounds of being sick or infirm was well settled and an appropriate order may be passed if the court was satisfied with the medical record in the present case.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Reddy, said medical records showed he was "sick and infirm" and was entitled to bail under Section 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

"The petitioner is admitted to bail on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court," the court said in its May 8 order.

"It is also a settled proposition that right to life is facet of Fundamental Right enshrined by the Constitution. Right to live with dignity includes right to live a healthy life. The person who is sick or infirm has a right to have adequate and effective treatment. Though jails and designated hospitals provide good basic treatment, but we cannot expect them to provide specialised treatment and monitoring as required in the present case," the court said.

It clarified that the order was passed in view of the medical condition of the petitioner and therefore shall not be taken as a precedent.

The court also asked Reddy to surrender his passport, appear before the investigation officer whenever asked and keep his mobile phone in working condition.

Reddy, whole-time director and promoter of Aurobindo Pharma, was arrested by the ED in November last year.

Reddy was earlier granted interim bail by the trial court.

The ED is investigating alleged irregularities in the implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy of the Delhi government.

The money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR.

According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were extended to licence holders. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.
Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who famously climbed Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953, passed away on May 9, 1986. Today marks the anniversary of his death. Tenzing Norgay was a celebrated mountaineer and adventurer, who made numerous expeditions to the Himalayas during his lifetime. He was also a skilled climber and guide, and played an important role in the successful ascent of Mount Everest by Hillary and himself. His legacy continues to inspire mountaineers and adventurers around the world.

Tenzing Norgay, born on May 29, 1914, was a Sherpa mountaineer from Nepal who, along with Sir Edmund Hillary, became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, on May 29, 1953.

Norgay was born in the Khumbu region of Nepal, which is near Mount Everest, and spent his early years as a yak herder and a porter for expeditions in the region. He later became a member of several British expeditions to Mount Everest, including the 1953 expedition that made him famous.

After his historic climb, Norgay continued to work as a mountaineering guide and became involved in various environmental and humanitarian causes. He received numerous awards and honors, including the George Medal from the British government and the Padma Bhushan from the Indian government.

Some interesting things related to Tenzing Norgay's experience: Tenzing did his first mountaineering at the age of 16. He then climbed a mountain named Talambota in the Kumaon region of the Indo-Nepal border.

His father had already inspired him about mountaineering. His father was a very experienced mountaineer.

Tenzing had also done a job in his life to keep his family happy. He worked in a school.

Tenzing created history in 2015 by climbing to the top of Everest. During this, he hoisted the flag of India.

Tenzing was determined to fulfill his dream. He never lost his courage.

Norgay passed away on May 9, 1986, in Darjeeling, India, at the age of 72. His legacy lives on as a symbol of the strength, resilience, and bravery of the Sherpa people and as a pioneer of mountaineering.

Birth Anniversary of Maharana Pratap, Looking at the the legacy of 13th King of Mewar

Remembering Gopal Krishna Gokhale On His 157th Birthday
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) A Delhi court has dismissed the application of Raghav Magunta, son of YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, seeking interim bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.

Special Judge M K Nagpal dismissed the application Magunta had moved for bail on account of his wife's failing health, saying it cannot be ignored that the accused was being prosecuted for the offence of money laundering which is a serious economic offence.

The court also said it was not satisfied with the alleged history of the ailment of Magunta's wife as nothing special or serious was stated about her condition in the documents placed before it.

Other family members of the accused can also take care of his wife, the court said, adding Magunta has not contended nobody from the family was available to discharge the liability.

Hence, in light of the above discussion, the present application moved on behalf of the applicant seeking his interim bail in the case is dismissed, the judge said in an order passed on May 8.

Senior AAP leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is also and accused in the case and is currently lodged in jail.
Chennai, May 9 (PTI) National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Tuesday held searches at different locations in Tamil Nadu, police sources said.

Sources said the searches were being held including in this city. They did not divulge details.
New Delhi, May 9 (PTI) Three have been arrested for allegedly firing in the air following a fight in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area, police said on Tuesday.

Police received a PCR call at 11.08 pm on Sunday informing them about the fight and the firing incident.

During the investigation, it was revealed said that some people, who were known to each other, were engaged in a fight in Seelampur's K-Block. After the fight stopped, some men came to the spot and fired in the air, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said.

No one was injured in the firing incident, the police officer said.

The accused have been identified as Adil (23), Faisal (23) and Asgar (23) -- all residents of Seelampur. The accused do not have any criminal history, police added.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered and three accused have been arrested, police said, adding two firearms have been seized.
Kaushambi (UP), May 9 (PTI) A 45-year-old widow was allegedly hacked to death by an unknown person in the Pipari area of this Uttar Pradesh district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Sunday night when the woman, Sita Devi, was sleeping outside her house in Muradpur village, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samar Bahadur Singh said.

The police lodged an FIR on being informed about the incident by the victim's family, they said.

The deceased's body has been sent for post-mortem, the police said, adding that efforts to nab the accused are underway.
Mumbai, May 9 (PTI) The civic body of Mumbai has set up a solar power generation plant atop Asia's largest sewage pumping station at Mahim Causeway, officials said on Tuesday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in a press release, said the 230 kw capacity solar power plant has been generating more than 30,000 units of power every month, bringing savings of Rs 2.40 lakh for the civic body.

The plant, set up with Rs 1.5 crore cost, has a life of 25 years and the expense incurred on it will be recovered in the next 6 years, said the release.

"The project will help curb more than 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 25 years. Its environmental impact is equal to planting 11,000 trees," the BMC stated.

The Mahim Causeway-based solid waste pumping station, touted to be Asia's largest, was built in 2003. Sewage from the city, its western and eastern suburbs is pumped from the facility which has eight pumps.
SOPHIA GOUVEIA, Wheeler, Girls Lacrosse, Sophomore; Gouveia scored the winning goal with less than a minute remaining to beat St. Bernard. Gouveia finished with six goals in that game and also scored eight times in a win against Griswold-Norwich Tech.

WILL FRENCH, Stonington, Boys Lacrosse, Senior; French won 62 of 66 faceoffs in three Stonington victories. French also scored six goals and contributed an assist in the wins.

RYDER CASADY, Westerly, Boys Lacrosse, Junior; Casady made 30 saves in goal for the unbeaten Bulldogs. Casadys best performance of the week was 13 saves in a win against Burrillville.

KODY POPLASKI, Chariho, Boys Volleyball, Sophomore; Poplaski had 95 assists in two wins for the Chargers. Poplaski contributed 51 in a victory against Classical and 44 against Cranston East.

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In an unforseen move, Israeli Police have halted all buses heading to Meron for Lag BaOmer celebrations, a move that has dampened the excitement of thousands.

It isnt yet clear whether the buses were stopped due to concerns of overcrowding at the kever of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai or due to an Israeli strike that targeted top Islamic Jihad leaders in Gaza in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Due to the strikes, Israels Home Front Command has issued an alert to residents in the countrys south to remain near a shelter all night.

But there are also fears that another Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, will launch retaliatory rockets from Lebanon in the north, some of which might target Meron, hence the stop to all buses heading there.

Israeli military officials have named the ongoing strikes Operation Shield and Arrow.

Islamic Jihad terrorists who have been killed in the air strikes thus far include Khalil Bahitini, the commander of the al-Quds Brigades in the northern Gaza Strip, Tareq Ezz al-Din, a spokesperson for the movement who also manages terrorist activities in the West Bank and Gaza, and Jihad Ghannem, secretary of the movements military council.

Of note, Ezz al-Din had previously been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in suicide bombings in the early 2000s, but was released in the prisoner exchange to free Gilad Shalit.

DEVELOPING.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, the Israeli military said, killing multiple senior terror commanders.

Witnesses said an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza City and a house in the southern city of Rafah. Airstrikes continued in the early hours, targeting terrorist training sites.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said a number of people were killed and injured in the airstrikes but did not elaborate. The Islamic Jihad said the wives of the three commanders and a number of their children were also killed.

The Israeli army said the aerial bombings were directed at the residences of three senior commanders of the Iranian-backed group. It added the three were responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel.

The bombings, codenamed Operation Shield and Arrow, targeted Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihads military council.

In anticipation of Palestinian rocket attacks in response to the airstrikes, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters.

(YWN World headquarters  NYC / AP)
Despite a global trade slump, non-oil trade between the UAE and India reached $45.5 billion in the first 11 months of the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa), a 6.9% increase from the previous 12-month period.

This was revealed by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, during the launch of Cepa Beyond Trade, a special event held on the opening day of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the first anniversary of the UAE-India Cepa. He also stated that bilateral trade surged ahead in Q1, 2023, climbing 24.7% on the previous quarter, with UAE non-oil exports to India climbing an impressive 33%.

Dr Al Zeyoudi said: One of the central goals of the UAE-India Cepa is to increase the flow of goods and services between our nations  and, by doing so, stimulate key export sectors, drive industrial output and kick-start an exciting new era of prosperity. These figures underline the pace of our progress. The UAE and India have created an alliance for growth, a platform for deeper cooperation and economic integration that will reap considerable rewards over the long term.

Over the last year, our nations have recognised that our economies work better when we remove barriers, facilitate cooperation and build trust, and we must constantly work together to strengthen our partnership to create more opportunities for our private sectors  and deliver more prosperity for our people, he added.

Good attendance

Hosted by the Ministry of Economy in partnership with AIM, Adnoc, Adnec, The Indian Peoples Forum (IPF) and Texmas, Cepa Beyond Trade was attended by a number of senior government officials, trade representatives, business leaders and entrepreneurs from the UAE and India.

It featured panel discussions, cultural and culinary exhibitions and networking sessions, all which underscored the positive impact of the deal on both nations over the last 12 months.

Dr Al Zeyoudis address was followed by remarks from Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of Indias Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, who commended the openness and transparency of the UAE-India relationship since the beginning of Cepa negotiations, which he reiterated are the essential ingredients for a successful, long-term partnership.

Opportunities ahead

Singh was accompanied by a 20-member delegation to the UAE, reflecting the significance of the Cepa and the enormous opportunities ahead.

The first panel discussion, titled UAE and Indias historic and future trade bond, underlined this message, with contributions from Salah Sharaf, Vice President of the Sharaf Group; Paras Shahdadpuri, Chairman of Nikai Group; and Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of Lulu Financial Holdings.

There then followed panels on the growth of the regional fashion industry, featuring Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of the Dubai Design District; Shatha Essa Al Mulla, CEO and Creative Director of Shatha Essa; Mahesh Advani, Founder and Managing Director at Blossom Trading; and Atinirmal Pagarani, Owner and Managing Director of Yogi Group and Fashion Curator at Vesimi Dubai, and the art industry in which the audience heard the insights of Aisha Alabbar, Founder and Owner of Aisha Alabbar Art Gallery; Vikram Divecha, Artist and Adjunct assistant professor of Art and Art History at NYUAD; and Huzefa Goga, Founder of Look Beyond 360, Architect and Aquascape Artist.

Cepa Beyond Trade concluded with a discussion on the food industry, featuring Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Founder of Danat Food Industries; Bojan Milenkovic, Head of Sales and Marketing at Al Rawabi; Faizal Haris, Executive Director of Bismi Wholesale; and Hritikesh Datar, Director, Al Adil Trading, with attendees staying on to enjoy live music performances and a street-food festival.

Cornerstone

The UAE-India Cepa, which came into effect on May 1, 2022, was the UAEs first ever bilateral trade deal and a cornerstone of the countrys new foreign trade agenda, which seeks deeper ties with strategic allies around the world to both accelerate economic recovery and secure vital supply chains.

The deal removed or reduced tariffs on more than 80% of product lines, eliminated unnecessary barriers to trade, promoted investment flows into priority sectors, and offered a platform for SME cooperation and expansion.-- TradeArabia News Service
Yahoo en Espanol Originales

Camaras de seguridad en calles de la alcaldia Tlalpan en la Ciudad de Mexico, grabaron el pasado 8 de mayo, alrededor de las 15:11 horas, a un sujeto robando con toda calma autopartes de un automovil estacionado en esa demarcacion, cuando un ciudadano que acompanaba a un menor se percato y lo encaro. En el video se puede observar al sujeto abriendo el capo del coche para extraer las piezas. Entonces un hombre que caminaba junto con su hijo que portaba mochila y uniforme escolar, se acerco para enfrentarlo. Otro peaton comenzo a grabar con su telefono la discusion; mientras tanto, el menor se dirigio hacia la casa aledana y toco el timbre para alertar de la situacion. Tras una breve discusion, un segundo testigo salio corriendo, mientras que el primero hizo senas a alguien para que se acercara, momento que aprovecho el ladron para golpear en el rostro al ciudadano quien termino por caer y una vez en el suelo el ladron comenzo a patearlo. Al sitio se acerco un hombre de camisa blanca en actitud amenazante hacia la victima, quien termino por huir junto al ladron. El 11 de mayo, por medio de su cuenta de Twitter, la alcaldesa de Tlalpan, Alfa Gonzalez Magallanes, informo que el sujeto habia sido detenido: Ayer por la manana me compartieron este video, donde se observa como la persona que ahi aparece esta robando la computadora de un vehiculo en Tlalpan centro. A partir de la informacion que proporciono la alcaldia, se logro identificar al sujeto y esta tarde se ubico y fue detenido en la alcaldia Benito Juarez. Gracias al director regional Urano por su actuacion pronta y oportuna. Por su parte la Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana de la CDMX emitio un comunicado en el que dio a conocer que entre las calles Plateros y Felix Parra, de la colonia San Jose Insurgentes, en la alcaldia Benito Juarez, un ciudadano pidio auxilio a los policias luego de que un criminal le robara un reloj con valor aproximado de ocho mil pesos y dinero en efectivo. Los uniformados lograron interceptarlo y le decomisaron los objetos, por lo que fue arrestado. La dependencia tambien informo: Cabe mencionar que, tras realizar un cruce de informacion, se tuvo conocimiento que el detenido posiblemente esta relacionado con un evento de robo de autopartes y agresiones a un ciudadano, ocurrido el 8 de mayo del presente ano en la alcaldia Tlalpan. De acuerdo con datos del Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Publica (SESNSP), con corte al 31 de marzo de este ano, en la capital del pais se han registrado un total de 2,752 denuncias por robo de autopartes. El ano pasado se contabilizaron un total de 8,866. En redes sociales hay varias denuncias en video donde se da cuenta de la rapidez y habilidad con la que operan los delincuentes en este tipo de ilicitos.




Tens of thousands joined Reb Meilich Biederman at his Hadlakah in Meron.

The massive event began at 2:00am and ended at around 5:30am, with the energetic Reb Meilich leading the participants in singing and dancing, and infusing the masses with words of Chizuk, Mussar, and inspiration.

See the videos below of the event:

(YWN Israel Desk- Jerusalem)




A 26-year-old Jewish woman disguised herself as an Arab and ran toward the IDF soldiers at the Metzadot Yehuda junction in Har Chevron while brandishing an airsoft gun and yelling Allahu Akbar.

The security forces returned fire and neutralized the woman, who was apparently attempting to commit suicide. Tragically, she was declared dead at the scene.

Prior to the incident, the woman had taken a selfie of herself dressed as an Arab and holding an airsoft gun. She sent the photo to a friend and asked: If someone wants to be shot because he wants to die and feigns a terror attack at a checkpoint in the territories, will he go to jail if he only gets shot in the legs and remains alive?

The friend understood that the woman was likely referring to herself and sent the photo to the police and reported the incident. The police reportedly sent notices to various checkpoints but apparently, not all of them received them in time.

She sent me a photo of herself wearing a hijab and the gun and asked me what would happen if she was only shot in the legs, the friend told Channel 12 News. I didnt know if she was serious but I said I would report anyway.

She said she was on a bus on the way to the checkpoint to carry out an attack and kill herself. I called the police and sent them the photo she sent me an hour and a half before the attack. Maybe her life could have been saved.

The woman was later identified as Sapir Livnat Green, ah. Sadly, she has a long history of severe mental health issues and has been hospitalized several times. She had a difficult and traumatic background and spent most of her childhood in boarding schools.

Despite her difficulties, she insisted on serving in the IDF, advocating for herself to be drafted despite her background, and served as a lone soldier (without parental support) as a combat soldier in the Israel Border Police.

The Defense Ministry stated: An investigation of the shooting incident at Metzudat Yehudah a short while ago revealed that it was apparently a young Jewish woman who arrived at the crossing from the Israeli side. The suspect arrived on foot from the Yatir yishuv wearing black clothing and approached the security guards. At one point, she pulled out a weapon and started running toward the guards, shouting Allahu Akbar. The guards neutralized her before she could shoot.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The organizers of the left-wing protests against the government have decided to cancel the weekly National Disruption Day this Thursday in the wake of the poor turnout at the protests last week.

The media is also growing tired of the constant protests and the National Disruption Day this past Thursday received minimal coverage.

A Channel 14 News reporter publicized a message from one of the protest groups that said that after organizers ordered five buses to transport participants to the weekly protest this past Motzei Shabbos, they were forced to cancel all of them as they only had enough people to fill a minibus.

In an interview with Channel 12 News on Sunday, the protest organizers attacked opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz. Theyre already in negotiations for two months, they said. Theyre living in their own world  disconnected.

They then completely veered from the topic and began talking about violence in the Arab sector, noting that every 32 hours a person is murdered in Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The European Union on Monday announced that it has canceled its Europe Day celebration in Tel Aviv due to the scheduled attendance of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) as a representative of the government.

The EU Delegation to Israel is looking forward to celebrating Europe Day on May 9, as it does every year, the EU said in a statement. Regrettably, this year we have decided to cancel the diplomatic reception, as we do not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the values the European Union stands for. 

However, the Europe Day cultural event for the Israeli public will be maintained to celebrate with our friends and partners in Israel the strong and constructive bilateral relationship.

Ben-Gvir responded to the statement by writing: Its a shame that the EU, which claims to represent multiculturalism instead practices silencing. It is an honor for me to represent the Israeli government, the heroic IDF, and the people of Israel in every forum. Real friends know how to voice criticism and how to hear it as well.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Iran hanged two men Monday convicted of blasphemy, authorities said, carrying out rare death sentences for the crime as executions surge across the Islamic Republic following months of unrest.

Iran remains one of the worlds top executioners, having put to death at least 203 prisoners since the start of this year alone, according to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights. But carrying out executions for blasphemy remains rare, as previous cases saw the sentences reduced by authorities.

The two men executed, Yousef Mehrad and Sadrollah Fazeli Zare, died at Arak Prison in central Iran. They had been arrested in May 2020, accused of being involved in a channel on the Telegram message app called Critique of Superstition and Religion, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Both men faced months of solitary confinement and could not contact their families, the commission said.

The Mizan news agency of Irans judiciary confirmed the executions, describing the two men as having insulted Islams Prophet Muhammad and promoted atheism. Mizan also accused them of burning a Quran, Islams holy book, though it wasnt clear whether the men allegedly did that or such imagery was shared in the Telegram channel.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, who leads Iran Human Rights, decried the executions as exposing the medieval nature of Irans theocracy.

The international community must show with its reaction that executions for expressing an opinion is intolerable, he said in a statement. The refusal of the international community to react decisively is a green light for the Iranian government and all their like-minded people around the world.

It wasnt immediately clear when Iran carried out its last execution for blasphemy. Other countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, also allow for death sentences to be imposed for blasphemy.

The streak of executions, including members of ethnic minority groups in Iran, comes as monthslong protests over the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the countrys morality police have cooled. Already, at least four people charged over alleged crimes from the demonstrations have been put to death. The protests, which reportedly saw over 500 people killed and 19,000 others arrested, marked one of the biggest challenges to Irans theocracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 2022, Iran executed at least 582 people, up from 333 people in 2021, according to Iran Human Rights. Amnesty Internationals most-recent report on executions put Iran as the worlds second-largest executioner, behind only China, where thousands are believed to be put to death a year.

While some executions are publicized, others are not in Iran.

Many have been for drug-related offenses, but there also have been executions of a British-Iranian accused of spying and another of a Swedish-Iranian convicted of masterminding a 2018 attack on a military parade that killed at least 25.

A German-Iranian who lives in California, Jamshid Sharmahd, also faces a looming execution as tensions remain high between Tehran and the West over its accelerating nuclear program. The European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he spoke Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian about Sharmahd and asked Iran not to execute him.

Human Rights Activists in Iran, another group monitoring the Islamic Republic, warned last week about the alarming surge in executions.

Iranian authorities have an absolute obligation to uphold international human rights standards and instead, there is ongoing impunity for grave violations of the right to life  and more, said Skylar Thompson, the head of global advocacy and accountability at the group.

(AP)




Border Guard officers thwarted two terror attacks in Jerusalem and the Shomron within a few hours of each other on Monday night. BChasdei Hashem, there were no injuries among Israeli security forces.

Border Guard officers stationed near Huwara in the Shomron noticed a man standing at the Yitzhar junction with his hands in his pockets and looking confused. The officers detained him and found two knives in his possession along with a letter of forgiveness to his parents and a promise that they would receive a large sum of money for his intended actions.

The 21-year-old suspect was transferred to the Shin Bet for further investigation.

Earlier on Monday evening, Border Guard officers detained an Arab in the Old City of Jerusalem whose behavior aroused their suspicion. A search of the suspect revealed that he was carrying a pair of sharp scissors in a bag. He was arrested and admitted during an interrogation that he intended to carry out a stabbing attack with the scissors.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The IDF confirmed on Tuesday evening that the IDF struck a terrorist squad in the Gaza Strip preparing to fire anti-tank missiles at Israel.

A short while ago, an IDF aircraft struck a terrorist squad belonging to the Islamic Jihad terror organization, the IDF spokesperson stated.

The squad was taking anti-tank guided missiles by car to a launch pad in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. IDF soldiers monitored the squads activity and struck its members while they were on their way to the launch pad.

Two terrorists were killed in the strike and two were wounded, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Israel on Tuesday is girding itself for retaliatory strikes from Gaza following the launching of Operation Shield and Arrow overnight Monday, with airstrikes in Gaza eliminating three Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders and killing ten Gazan residents

Palestinian sources on Tuesday morning claimed that the three PIJ leaders who were eliminated had been in hiding since launching rockets at Israel and were preparing to travel to Cairo as part of a PIJ delegation. They had just received approval from Egypt for the trip and had briefly emerged from hiding to say goodbye to their families when they were eliminated.

The Hamas terror group threatened retaliation despite the fact that the IDF made it clear that the operation is directed against the Islamic Jihad. Top Israeli security officials reportedly fear that hundreds of rockets will be launched toward cities in central Israel once Gazan leaders recover from the unexpected attack. One minister said that Israel is currently in the quiet before the storm.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a situational assessment on Tuesday morning. The full-political security cabinet will be convened at 5 p.m. The cabinet was not convened prior to the operation as Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara authorized Netanyahu to launch the strikes without convening the cabinet, which meant that many top Israeli officials were just as surprised by the operation as Gazan officials were.

All schools in the Negev and in Gaza border communities were closed on Tuesday.

Hospitals in the south, including Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva have transferred their patients to fortified areas.

Cities in southern Israel and numerous cities in central Israel opened their bomb shelters, including Raanana, Hertziliya, Kfar Saba, Rishon LTzion, Bat Yam, Yavneh, Ashkelon and Beer Sheva.

The Sderot train station was closed and train service was suspended between Netivot and Ashkelon.

The IDFs Home Front Command has instructed residents of the south to stay near bomb shelters and banned gatherings of over 10 people in open areas and over 100 people in buildings.

A statement from Hamas said: We see the Zionist occupation and its extreme fascist government as fully responsible for this heinous crime and its serious consequences. We confirm that Israel will pay a heavy price for its increasing crime and terrorism against our people in the Gaza Strip and across the West Bank, in Jerusalem, at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Zionists will not succeed in achieving their goals and their aggressive plan. Were committed to our gaol until the occupation is defeated.

Islamic Jihad responded to the operation by stating: The Zionist enemy bears full responsibility for this treacherous and abominable terrorist massacre that crossed all borders and is a serious violation of the ceasefire. The Palestinian response will not be delayed, we will not be complacent and the enemy will not achieve its goals. The resistance has united ranks.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday afternoon held a round of talks with the heads of regional authorities in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the outbreak of Operation Shield and Arrow overnight Monday and warned about the possibility of a prolonged operation.

Gallant said that the IDF and Shin Bet have been prepared for an operation since last Tuesday. Already last Tuesday, I instructed the IDF and the Shin Bet to be prepared for the elimination of the three terrorists who were killed overnight, who were responsible for the firing of rockets into Israel and directing many attacks in Israel.

We must be prepared for every scenario, including a prolonged operation and the expansion of firing ranges. It is very important that Israeli citizens under your leadership be disciplined, attentive and heed life-saving instructions. The IDF and security forces are prepared with all means on all fronts.

Israeli security officials fear that Gaza terror groups will launch hundreds of rockets into central Israeli cities. Cities in south and central Israel have opened their bomb shelters in preparation for a major escalation.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The U.S. will provide $1.2 billion more in long-term military aid to Ukraine to further bolster its air defenses as Russia continues to pound Ukraine with drones, rockets and surface-to-air missiles, U.S. officials said Monday.

The aid package is expected to be announced on Tuesday and the money will be provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Unlike the U.S. equipment, weapons and ammunition that are more frequently sent to Ukraine from Pentagon stocks  so they can be delivered quickly  this money is to be spent over the coming months or even years to ensure Ukraines future security needs.

The assistance initiative will fund HAWK air-defense systems, air-defense munitions and drones for air defense. It will also buy artillery, rockets, satellite imagery assistance, and funding for ongoing maintenance and spare parts for a variety of systems, according to the officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been formally announced.

Including this package, the U.S. has provided Ukraine nearly $37 billion in military aid since Russia invaded in February 2022.

The decision comes as Ukraine prepares to launch a spring offensive against Russian forces, with air defense a persistent issue.

Ukraines air defenses shot down 35 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv in Russias latest nighttime assault, officials said Monday. Wreckage from a drone struck a two-story apartment building in Kyivs western Svyatoshynskyi district, while other debris struck a car parked nearby, setting it on fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a Telegram post.

Russian shelling of 127 targets across northern, southern and eastern parts of Ukraine killed three civilians, the Ukrainian defense ministry said.

Facing economic sanctions and limits on its supply chains due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has routinely turned to Irans Shahed drones to bolster its firepower. And U.S. aid packages  including more immediate military weapons and support  have included systems to shoot down and otherwise defeat the drones.

(AP)




US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides is leaving his post this summer less than two years after he entered his position, Axios reported on Tuesday.

Nides told Secretary of State Tony Blinken and White House National Security about his decision last week on a working visit to Washington, citing personal reasons as he has been away from his family since December 2021.

Nides informed the office of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu about his decision on Monday evening, hours before the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow, and informed the senior staff at the US embassy on Tuesday morning.

Nides will be temporarily replaced by Stephanie Hallett, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, who will serve as charge daffaires after Nides steps down.

It is unknown if Nides sometimes tense relationship with the Netanyahu government was a factor in his decision.

After entering his position, Nides toured Bnei Brak and visited the homes of Gedolei HaDor HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanivesky, ztl, and  HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein.

Tom has worked with characteristic energy and skill to further strengthen the special bond between the United States and Israel, and to advance U.S. diplomatic, economic, and security interests, Blinken told Axios. We will all miss having him represent us in Israel, but I know he is looking forward to some well-deserved time with his family.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
PC Photography / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The kitchen is known as the heart of the home as it's often where friends and family gather to share meals and make memories. Since it's a room we spend a lot of time in, it's usually worth giving it a little TLC.

Find Out: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill

Read: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

While full-blown kitchen remodels can get really pricey, there are small renovations and improvements you can make to give your kitchen a luxurious feel without having to spend too much. Here are a few expert-approved, budget-friendly ways to make your kitchen look expensive.

Bogdan Kurylo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Upgrade Your Cabinet Hardware

"Upgrading cabinet hardware totally changes the look and feel of a kitchen," said Tomas Satas, founder and CEO of Windy City HomeBuyer. "I have renovated many outdated cabinets simply with a coat of paint and a hardware upgrade."

For homeowners on a budget, Satas said that you can find great-looking modern pulls and knobs for around $10 to $20 per piece.

"For someone looking to make their kitchen luxurious on a budget, staying within this price range will do the trick," he said.

Take Our Poll: Are You Planning To Buy or Sell a House This Year?

Chiociolla / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Replace Your Backsplash

"Replacing your backsplash is a great way to modernize your kitchen and add texture or color," said Brian Worthman, a Brooklyn-based real estate agent with the Corcoran Group. "Tile starts at around $10 per square foot, with very nice options available for $30 to $40 per square foot."

For an upscale backsplash, Worthman estimates the total cost at $1,500 to $2,500, including the tiles and installation.

YinYang / Getty Images

Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinets

"Repainting kitchen cabinets can be done inexpensively," said Scott Wheeler, a realtor with Mizner Grande who specializes in luxury home sales. The average cost to paint kitchen cabinets is around $856, according to Angi. For a luxurious look, Wheeler recommends painting cabinets navy blue for contrast, especially in an otherwise white kitchen.

Story continues

bukharova / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Install Granite Countertops

"One of the best ways to make your kitchen look more expensive is by adding granite countertops," said Bill Gassett, realtor and founder of Maximum Real Estate Exposure. "While some granite can be very expensive, on the lower end, you can pay around $50 to $60 per square foot installed."

JR-stock / Shutterstock.com

Replace Outdated Lighting

"Lighting styles have changed over the years," said Michael Valente, CEO and co-founder of Renovation Sells. "Updating light fixtures is like putting a nice watch on a cheap suit. It's achievable within an affordable budget but has a big impact."

Valeriy_G / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Add Crown Molding

"Adding some crown molding to your kitchen is a great way to make it look more luxurious," said Shaun Martin, owner of We Buy Houses Denver. "This is a fairly simple project that you can do yourself, and it will really make a difference in the overall look of your kitchen."

The average cost to install crown molding is around $1,244, according to HomeAdvisor.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Repaint the Walls and Ceiling

"One of the quickest and easiest ways to make your kitchen look more expensive is to simply paint the walls and ceilings," said Matt Teifke, founder and CEO of Teifke Real Estate in Austin, Texas. "A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a space, making it look brighter and more finished. When choosing paint colors, opt for light and airy hues. This will help make the space feel larger and more open."

The average cost to paint a kitchen ranges from $600 to $1,300, according to HomeAdvisor.

gollykim / Getty Images

Opt For Chic Kitchen Accessories

"Small details in a kitchen can matter significantly," said Sal Dimiceli, Sr., owner of Lake Geneva Area Realty. "Pour dish soap into a chic dispenser so that your guests don't have to look at an ordinary bottle with an uninspiring logo every time they go to wash their hands. Replace the raggedy dish towels and put out some fresh ones instead. These aesthetically pleasing yet functional changes can make your kitchen look more sleek and elegant."

PC Photography / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Replace Stools or Chairs

"Stools can bring a uber-chic bar look and make your kitchen look expensive," said Gunner Davis, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Realty in Tampa, Florida. "Additionally, they can provide functionality to a small or large kitchen by adding extra seating and making lovely design statements."

A good quality, aesthetically pleasing stool can cost as little as $150, Davis said. If you don't have the space for stools, consider upgrading your current kitchen seating to chairs with modern designs and luxe materials.

Shutterstock.com

Add or Cover a Range Hood

"One of the key details that make a luxurious kitchen stand out is the range hood," said Bill Samuel, a residential real estate developer with Blue Ladder Development. "In very high-end kitchens there is often a custom high-end range hood cover that is a major focal point of the space. However, you can get the same high-end look by installing a custom-built cover over your existing dated-looking range hood or [by adding] a new basic range hood."

If you install the range hood or cover yourself, you can make this upgrade for under $500, Samuel said.

Extreme Media / Getty Images

Convert an Existing Cabinet Into a Wine Cabinet

Adding a wine cabinet will give your kitchen a hint of luxury, and it doesn't require much work. Simply replace one of your cabinet doors with a glass door to showcase bottles of wine inside.

"This small renovation is an easier and cheaper alternative to adding a bar station," said Nick Good, real estate broker and investor with eXp Realty. "Each glass door should cost approximately $100 to $300."

jodiejohnson / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Switch Out Your Kitchen Faucet

"Many large manufacturers are now offering kitchen faucets in a variety of shapes, finishes and configurations," said Kerry Sherin, consumer advocate at Ownerly, a home valuation company. "Swap your standard version for a unique kitchen faucet with a decorative finish that matches your cabinet hardware to give your space a high-end look."

You can find modern faucets for as little as $35, she said.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Affordable Renovations That Make Your Kitchen Look Expensive




One of the three senior Islamic Jihad commanders who was eliminated in the Gaza Strip overnight Monday following the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow was responsible for the 2004 attack in which Tali Hatuel, hyd, and her four daughters, hyd were killed.

The attack occurred in the Gaza Strip in May 2004, over a year before the disengagement. The terrorists opened fire at the car driven by Tali, 34, who was eight months pregnant. They then approached the car and shot Tali and her four daughters, ages two to eleven, at point-blank range.

Overnight Monday, 19 years and a week after the attack, Islamic Jihad senior commander Jahed Ahnam, 62, who was involved in planning the murderous attack, was killed in the first airstrikes of Operation Shield and Arrow.

Dovid Hatuel, the husband and father of the victims, responded to the attack by saying that this sends a clear message to the murderers that the people of Israel will always reach those who harm them. They wont have a safe place on earth as long as they harm us.

In my name and in the name of the entire family, I thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu and the security forces for the elimination of those who were responsible for planning the murderous attack of my wife Tali and our four daughters, Hila, Hadar, Roni and Meirav, exactly 19 years ago. We act according to eternal values and not out of revenge.

Dovid later remarried and Baruch Hashem has six children with his second wife.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the top-level security cabinet on Tuesday evening at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv following the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow overnight Monday.

Netanyahu spoke at the start of the meeting, saying: Last night, we began Operation Shield and Arrow. In a joint IDF-ISA effort, three senior Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Gaza Strip were eliminated. These arch-murderers were responsible for firing rockets from the Gaza Strip at our territory and for directing terrorism from Judea and Samaria against our citizens.

On the day on which the rockets were fired last week, I ordered  together with the Defense Minister  the preparation of an operation to target the arch-terrorists that would, in effect, hit the senior leadership of the organization in the Gaza Strip.

Our principle is clear: Whoever harms us  we will strike at them and with great force. Our long arm will reach every terrorist at a time and place of our choosing.

We are in the midst of a campaign. We are prepared for all possibilities. I suggest that our enemies not test us.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
My brother was left disabled following a road traffic accident and recently received compensation.

We decided to invest 2 million of his money in the National Savings & Investments Guaranteed Income Bonds and Guaranteed Growth Bonds while we decided what to do with it long term.

We sent two completed account opening forms to NS&I in March, together with two cheques for 1 million each.

Lost millions: National Savings & Investments customer service staff hung up on a disabled man after managing to lose his two 1m cheques

The cheques were cashed on March 24. But we still haven't received confirmation that these accounts have been opened. NS&I told me it couldn't trace the cheques.

My brother, who has a brain injury, has also pleaded for NS&I to help trace his money by phone. Call handlers were unhelpful and rude and hung up the phone on him.

Please can you help? Anon.

Sally Hamilton replies: I'm disappointed, but sadly not surprised, to hear of your poor treatment by NS&I.

The state-backed savings providers' customer services appear to be buckling, with complaints about NS&I pouring into our mailbag, as Money Mail reported last week.

You and your poor brother have had enough to contend with without the stress and inconvenience of NS&I seemingly losing track of two 1 million cheques.

As background, you explained how your brother tragically became disabled a few years ago after being hit by an ambulance.

It took four-and-a-half years to obtain compensation from the ambulance service involved in the accident, and you were determined to get his finances organised.

You decided to save the money with NS&I for now, so that it would be safe while you sought advice on where to invest for the benefit of your brother's long-term future.

You calculated that 1 million saved into NS&I's one-year Guaranteed Income Bonds would provide a regular income of 3,250 a month and help towards these costs.

Straight to the point I wanted to access Asda Rewards but I am 95 and do not have a smartphone so I cannot download the supermarket's app. I was told that I could also access the rewards with an Asda credit card but my application was rejected. J.C., London. An Asda spokesman says the rewards programme and money credit card require customers to use its smartphone app. Your application was unsuccessful based on the information you provided and your credit reference. *** In January, I was involved in a car accident and my taxi was scrapped. I sent the registration certificate to the DVLA and explained what had happened. It sent back a letter addressed to the executor of 'the late Mr PE', declaring me dead. I contacted the DVLA to correct the mistake but it has not replied. P. E., Haywards Heath. The DVLA says it was notified by your bank that your account had been closed as the account holder had passed away. It apologises for any distress caused and will be writing to you to correct the mistake.

The other 1 million saved in the Guaranteed Growth Bonds account would generate a return of 40,000 after a year and pay for other bills.

Unfortunately, neither account was generating anything by the time you contacted me. NS&I had yet to set them up and you were having to find the cash from other pots to pay for carers.

You went around in circles for weeks trying to track down the money. At one point, you were told the cheques could not be traced.

You felt particularly enraged when you were informed by call handlers that they were unable to go to higher management to help sort out the problem. Instead, they told you to raise a formal complaint, which should be a last course of action.

I intervened and asked NS&I to hunt down your missing 2 million asap and explain why the accounts weren't in place after weeks of nervous waiting.

After a few days of investigation, it emerged that the application forms you filled in and posted were missing crucial information. They should have contained boxes for you to tick to state who the income and maturity payments should be made to.

NS&I realised the mistake, and should have contacted you immediately to rectify it, but failed to.

Following my intervention, an executive phoned you to explain how to download fresh forms containing the correct boxes, which you quickly completed. A few days later, you contacted me to say the accounts were finally up and running. Hurrah!

An NS&I spokesman says: 'We would like to apologise to your Money Mail reader for the difficulties they experienced when investing money with us.

There will be no loss of interest and, in recognition of us not delivering the level of service that they should expect, a goodwill payment of 300 has been sent.'

Can't renew our European Health Insurance Cards

I have been trying to renew European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) for me and my wife, but without success.

I have found it impossible to do this by phone with the number given  0300 330 1350.

A friend tried to renew for us online as we don't have a computer, but could not progress without our National Insurance numbers, which we don't have.

I don't recall this being a requirement when the cards were issued in 2015. Residency was the only requirement.

We have lived at our address for 14 years.

M. E., Doncaster, S. Yorks.

Sally Hamilton replies: EHICs are invaluable. They are free to UK holidaymakers travelling temporarily to EU countries and Switzerland and give access to the same state healthcare available to locals for free or at a reduced cost.

Cards need to be renewed every five years to maintain cover. Since Brexit, they have been replaced by the UK Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs).

A National Insurance (NI) number is required when applying for a card online. For anyone who doesn't know theirs, it can be found in various places, including in an online personal tax account or on a P60 end-of-year certificate (issued by employers), a payslip or a self-assessment tax return.

Or, try calling the HM Revenue & Customs National Insurance registrations helpline on 0300 200 3500. To apply for an NI number for the first time, visit gov.uk.

You can apply for or renew a GHIC without an NI number on the phone. Phone applicants only require a passport number and NHS number. The latter can be found on prescriptions or hospital letters. However, you say you couldn't get through when you tried this approach.

Fortunately, after my intervention, the Overseas Healthcare Services team, which oversees EHIC and GHIC cards, was able to complete an application for you and your wife with the information you had provided in your letter, which I forwarded on with your permission. You've now received your cards.

It is free to apply for a GHIC via the NHS website. Do not be taken in by impostor websites.
An investigation has been launched into Deloitte's audit of retailer Joules for the year ending 30 May 2021.

The accounting giant signed off the embattled retailer's accounts before it filed for bankruptcy last year.

The Financial Reporting Council said on Tuesday the investigation will be conducted by its Enforcement Division under the Audit Enforcement Procedure, following a decision its Conduct Committee on 20 March 2023.

Probe: The FRC has launched an investigation into a Deloitte audit of Joules

A spokesperson for Deloitte said the group would 'co-operate fully with the Financial Reporting Councils investigation' and remained 'committed to the highest standards of audit quality'.

Joules was rescued from bankruptcy by high street stalwart Next in a 41million move which saved around 1,450 jobs.

But, while Next is looking to relaunch the brand later this year through its Total platform, last month it announced that it had launched a fresh consultation on job cuts.

As part of the deal to save the retailer in December, founder Tom Joule, who set up the group in 1989, took a 26 per cent stake in the company.

Leicestershire-based Joules struggled to survive as the pandemic hit the retail sector sector hard and triggered a major drop in footfall.

Stricken: Joules struggled to keep its finances and footfall afloat

In December, Deloitte was fined over 900,000 by the accounting watchdog after failures in its audit of the building materials group SIG.

The FRC also handed a fine of 36,250 to Simon Manning, who was the audit engagement partner working on the account.

Deloittes initial fine was 1.25million but the figure was reduced after the firm admitted the breaches. Mannings fine was trimmed from 50,000 to 36,250.

Jamie Symington, deputy executive counsel for the FRC, said: 'These breaches concerned two discrete areas of the audit of a particular subsidiary of SIG plc.

'They involved contraventions of requirements which are fundamental to the role of the independent auditor, and were associated with material misstatements in SIG plcs accounts which had to be corrected.

'The breaches in respect of supplier rebates were made all the more serious by the fact that the FRC had highlighted these complex supplier arrangements as requiring particular attention from auditors.'

In September 2020 Deloitte was fined 15million and severely reprimanded for failings in its audits of the software company Automated between January 2009 and June 2011.
Saudi Aramco profits fell at the stat of the year amid lower oil prices, an update today has revealed.

The oil giant saw its net profit fall by 19 per cent to $31.88billion in the first quarter, or around 25billion, beating forecasts of $30.8billion and roughly 4 per cent higher than in the final quarter of last year.

The company, which is the world's biggest oil exporter, made a record profit of over $161billion for 2022 amid higher energy prices and production.

Lower profits: Saudi Aramco saw its first quarter profit slip amid lower oil prices

Saudi Aramco said it will pay $19.5billion in dividends for the first quarter, in line with the previous three months.

Boss Amin Nasser said Saudi Aramco was looking at introducing performance-linked dividends, in addition to its base distribution.

Upping payouts would boost the coffers of the Saudi government, which owns around 90 per cent of Saudi Aramco shares.

The additional payouts would target 50 per cent to 70 per cent of annual free cash flow, net of the base dividend and other amounts including external investments. Revelations of the additional payouts sent the group's share price up over 7 per cent.

Last month, Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ producers announced surprise oil production cuts from May, initially driving up prices, but global economic uncertainty and an unclear demand outlook continue to weigh on the commodity.

Crude petroleum and natural gas contributed 32.7 per cent of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product last year, with petroleum refining making up another 6 per cent.

The kingdom's oil revenue slipped 3 per cent in the first quarter, while non-oil revenue was up 9 per cent.

The production cuts and lower oil prices are expected to weigh on Saudi growth, with the International Monetary Fund projecting GDP growth to more than halve this year to 3.1 per cent from 8.7 per cent in 2022, among the highest in the G20.

Saudi Aramco reached deals to expand its downstream business abroad in the first quarter, including investments in China and completing a $2.76billion acquisition of Valvoline Inc's products business.

The company's compression projects at the Haradh and Hawiyah fields are also expected to begin initial production and achieve full capacity later in 2023.

'We are also moving forward with our capacity expansion, and our long-term outlook remains unchanged as we believe oil and gas will remain critical components of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future,' Nasser said.

Yousef Husseini, head of materials at EFG Hermes Research, said there was no material surprise in Saudi Aramco's results, 'with the company performing in line with its ability at prevailing oil prices and taking into account production cuts.'

He added: 'But, the real positive surprise, which we think will be well received by the market, is that Aramco finally decided to up its dividend policy and include a clear link to its performance.'

In 2019 Saudi Aramco sold a portion of its shares to external investors via an initial public offering, in a move raising over $25billion.
Simon Thompsons departure from Royal Mail may be the only way to draw a line under a bitter industrial dispute that has battered the business, observers have warned.

The beleaguered chief executive looks set to leave the 507-year-old delivery firm within days following a long-running spat with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and a humiliating appearance in front of MPs.

A City analyst said it would be very difficult to move forward without a change in personnel after Thompson saw his reputation shredded by attacks from both union bosses and MPs.

Exit: Royal Mail chief exec Simon Thompson looks set to leave the 507-year-old delivery firm within days

Royal Mails parent company, International Distributions Services (IDS), is expected to announce his departure before its annual results on May 18, ending a mostly unhappy tenure of just over two years.

IDS shares fell 0.5 per cent, or 1.1p, to 244.7p as speculation swirled about Thompsons imminent exit.

The dispute between Royal Mail and its workers dragged on for nearly a year before a deal  which included a 10 per cent raise for staff  was struck last month.

It followed a bruising period for the company that saw posties walk out on strike for 18 days last year.

The action caused chaos in delivery offices across the UK. And Royal Mail warned it was losing over 1million per day and would need to call in administrators if the situation did not improve.

While a semblance of calm has descended as workers decide whether to approve the peace agreement, the analyst predicted Thompson would need to leave before the wounds began to heal.

The deal is going to be difficult for Thompson to lead the organisation out of this, they said. Theres too much bad blood between him and the staff.

A lot of the rank and file hate him. And its going to be very difficult for him to be an effective leader of those people. After the war its very difficult to forgive and forget.

Andy McDonald, a member of the Commons business select committee, said Thompsons handling of the company has been rocky to say the least and hoped his departure would mark a new approach for the firm.

McDonald and other members of the committee accused Thompson earlier this year of either an unacceptable level of incompetence or an unacceptable level of cluelessness in his running of the business.
Goldman Sachs will pay 170million to settle a long-running lawsuit that alleged women were consistently paid less than men and deprived of promotion opportunities.

The gender discrimination lawsuit, which started in 2010, said female employees were undervalued and blocked from progressing in their careers because of company-wide bias.

The two sides agreed to the settlement yesterday before the case went to trial in New York next month.

Leading the fight: The original claimants were former Goldman employees Cristina Chen-Oster (right) and Shanna Orlich (left) , who first sued the company in 2010

The payment will be shared among the 2,800 female former associates and vice presidents who brought the claim against the Wall Street bank. These women primarily worked across the investment and securities divisions.

After more than a decade of vigorous litigation, both parties have agreed to resolve this matter, said Jacqueline Arthur, Goldman Sachss global head of human capital management. We will continue to focus on our people, our clients and our business.

Under the terms of the agreement, the bank will hire independent experts to analyse its gender pay gap and to conduct an additional analysis on performance evaluation processes. Adam Klein, a lawyer at Outten & Golden who represented the women in their claim, said the settlement offers meaningful relief to our clients.

The original claimants were former Goldman employees Cristina Chen-Oster and Shanna Orlich, who first sued the company in 2010 and won the right to lead a class-action lawsuit in 2018.

The pair argued that men had better prospects for promotion with performance reviews they said were driven by a tap on the shoulder system where men backed each other to climb the ranks.

Allison Gamba, a woman represented in the class action, said she was proud of the final settlement.

Gwen Rhys, chief of campaign group Women In The City, said it was disappointing the action took so long. We are nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century and women are still having this fight, she said.

Jamie Fiore Higgins, former Goldman managing director, also published a memoir last year about her time at the bank, which detailed a sexist and outdated culture.

Examples include the mother-of-four, who was one rank behind partner, being told to stop talking about her children at work because it was too motherly and colleagues making mooing noises at her and making crude gestures after she used breastfeeding rooms at work after giving birth.

Goldman said it strongly disagrees with the characterisation of its culture described in Higgins book.
The long-term future of British car making is under threat because of the failure to develop an electric battery industry, MPs were told yesterday.

More than 800,000 people are employed in the sector which faces a transformation over the next few years as petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles are phased out.

Key to the switch to electric will be the development of so-called gigafactories producing batteries for plug-in electric cars.

Yet Britain is falling behind in the race to make the change amid a global scramble for raw materials such as lithium that are needed for the process, the business select committee was told.

Plugging in: Battery electric vehicles represent the future of motoring, but Britain is falling behind because it has failed to develop a battery industry, MPs have been told

Meanwhile, Make UK, the manufacturing body, claimed that Britain was being let down by the lack of a broader industrial strategy.

Darren Jones, chairman of the business select committee, suggested that if the battery industry fails to catch up, car companies will over time make decisions to relocate new production lines in other countries where these supply chains exist triggering a decline for the industry.

I sadly think thats true  and thats 800,000 peoples jobs on the line and we just cant accept that, said Jeff Townsend, founder of the Critical Minerals Association, an industry body.

Simon Moores, chief executive of the Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a consultancy, warned of the scramble for materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite. He said: We can catch up, most definitely. We are very far behind.

The UK at the moment doesnt have a strategy, doesnt have a runner in this race, he said.

Even if it comes up with a strategy to help attract the industry it will take until 2030 to build a battery supply chain, Moores warned.

City veteran blasts UK The former chairman of BT has sparked outrage after claiming a narrow British way of life is stifling the City of London and called for executive pay to be raised to lure firms back to the UK. Jan du Plessis, chairman of the accountancy watchdog, said resistance to change and lower pay compared to other financial hubs was causing the UK to lose out to rivals in Europe and the US. Du Plessis told Bloomberg: The reality is that across the pond, you go to the US, and they are paid multiples of what people are paid here, stratospherically different levels, and they are being very successful. And no one seems to care. Andrew Speke of the High Pay Centre said firms should be looking to boost staff salaries rather than offering big pay hikes to their already affluent executives.

Paul Lusty, director of the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, told MPs: I dont think we can currently be confident that we are going to be able to fulfil the raw material demands of the UK for building out gigafactories.

Jeremy Wrathall, founder of Cornish Lithium  which is exploring the region for the potential to extract the metal  pointed to the difficulty of competing for funds at a time when the US as well as Europe are offering huge incentives.

Liam Condon, the boss of UK chemicals giant Johnson Matthey, went further, claiming on Sky News that the race for the battery industry was over.

But he said Britain could still become a global champion in green hydrogen, another net zero technology, but must move with a sense of urgency to avoid squandering its lead.

A report from Make UK yesterday called for a new plan for the UK to create high-skilled manufacturing jobs.

Chief executive Stephen Phipson said: A lack of a proper, planned, industrial strategy is the UKs Achilles heel.

Every other major economy, from Germany, to China, to the US, has a long-term national manufacturing plan.
Regulators are investigating Deloitte over its audit of retailer Joules, which collapsed last year.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched a probe into an audit of financial statements of the High Street chain for the year to May 30, 2021.

The Big Four accountancy firm could face a significant fine from the regulator if it is found to have failed to meet standards.

Botched audit: Fashion retailer Joules collapsed into administration last year after struggling with rising costs and waning customer demand

London-based Deloitte said it would co-operate fully with the investigation.

The firm added that it was committed to the highest standards of audit quality. Joules was rescued out of administration when retail giant Next bought the majority of the companys assets for 34million in December.

The beleaguered retailer, known for selling colourful wellington boots and floral dresses, has struggled with rising costs and waning customer demand.

Deloitte is the latest firm to be probed by the FRC over an audit of a firm that has collapsed, with a slew of active investigations including into EYs audit of online sofa-seller Made and PwCs audit of shopping centre giant Intu.

Deloitte is also being investigated for its audits of GoAhead Group, which owns the GTR franchise that operates Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express trains, and car dealership Lookers.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating)  Zacks Research boosted their FY2023 EPS estimates for shares of Las Vegas Sands in a report released on Wednesday, May 3rd. Zacks Research analyst H. Ray now expects that the casino operator will post earnings of $1.29 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $0.96. The consensus estimate for Las Vegas Sands current full-year earnings is $1.82 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Las Vegas Sands Q1 2024 earnings at $0.52 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $2.49 EPS.

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Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on LVS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. CBRE Group raised Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Roth Mkm increased their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.54.

Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance

Shares of LVS opened at $62.20 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $47.54 billion, a P/E ratio of -86.39, a PEG ratio of 7.46 and a beta of 1.16. Las Vegas Sands has a twelve month low of $28.88 and a twelve month high of $65.58. The firms 50 day moving average price is $58.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a current ratio of 1.79.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.83 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a negative net margin of 10.42% and a negative return on equity of 10.21%. The businesss revenue was up 124.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.40) EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MGO One Seven LLC increased its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 46.6% in the first quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 12,206 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $701,000 after purchasing an additional 3,881 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 235.0% during the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 868,774 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $49,911,000 after buying an additional 609,444 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 22.3% during the 1st quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 13,887 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $798,000 after purchasing an additional 2,528 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 346,839 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $19,926,000 after purchasing an additional 10,838 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sigma Planning Corp bought a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 1st quarter worth $216,000. 39.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Las Vegas Sands

In related news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total value of $947,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 205,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,012,009.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.91% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Las Vegas Sands

(Get Rating)

Las Vegas Sands Corp. engages in the development of destination properties. The firm operates through the Macao and Singapore geographical segments. The Macao segment handles the operations of The Venetian Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Macao, and Sands Macao.

Further Reading

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In this article, we take a look at the 20 biggest toy companies in the world. For more companies, go to 5 Biggest Toy Companies in the World.

Play has a significant role in a child's mental development and cognitive abilities, alongside providing them with harmless entertainment. While seemingly small, the toy industry is one of the biggest contributors to the world economy.

In 2021, the toy industry was valued at approximately $140.8 billion and is expected to reach $230.4 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2021 to 2028. The global toy industry has shown resilience and growth in recent years, despite changing consumer preferences and challenges from the digital world.

The biggest toy company (and the most widely known one), The Lego World, banks the most significant share of this industry's revenue. This key player made nearly $8.5 billion in 2021 and continues to hold its position in the market. A Japanese toy industry mogul, Bandai Namco, closely followed The Lego Group by making $7.3 billion as the fiscal year 2022 ended.

While trends in the toy industry can shift, key drivers for its growth are increasing disposable incomes, rapid urbanization, and a growing preference for educational toys. Although purely entertainment-focused toys are seeing a surge in popularity, the 'pure play toys' still lead this sector.

Even when the pandemic negatively impacted most businesses in the category, The Lego World' 's growth stayed unwavering because of its consumer demand, e-commerce expansion, and strategic investments in product innovation.

How Have Demographics Impacted the Global Toy Industry?

An industry's success/growth gets impacted by its target market stratum, as significant changes in it can increase/decrease a certain product's demand. For instance, the target customer stratum of The Lego World is children between 1-15 years, and this demographic's stability or upward trajectory will affect The Lego World's sales revenue. Since the children population in the USA has stayed between 73-74 million in the past decade, the country is rightfully the primary importer of kids' toys. Other leading toy importers in the most recent fiscal years have been Germany, Japan, France, and the UK, owing to their stable economic states and child populations.

Story continues

The Competitive Nature of The Toy Industry

Another aspect that kept this industry's market share stable during the pandemic and in the ongoing recession terror is its competitive nature. Since credibility is an undeniable factor in doing business in any sector, the names that have earned impressive credibility in the 'play' world are winning on the financial aspect.

Majorly owned by The Lego World, Hasbro Inc., and Mattel Inc., the world's toy industry hasn't seen an unworldly shift in recent decades. Although digital evolution has taken over the traditional world of toys, the leading toy manufacturers have promptly adopted it. Bandai Namco, the 2nd biggest toy company in the world, makes multimillion games like Tekken, Dark Soul, Ace Combat, and more.

Kidults Driving the Toy Industry

The 'kids-at-heart adults' also contribute to the toy industry's annual sales revenue. A Toy Association survey says that 58% of adult respondents had purchased toys and games for themselves, like building kits, board games, and collectibles. While the survey sample was limited, it indeed depicts that the sales of toys aren't limited to a specific age group. Those who grew up in the 80s and 90s can now find their beloved childhood characters/games across multiple toy brands, which is, again, a reason why kidults are purchasing toys.

20 Biggest Toy Companies in the World

Pixabay/Public Domain

Methodology

We have ranked the 20 biggest toy companies worldwide based on their annual revenue in the fiscal year 2021-2022. For private companies in our list, we've estimated their revenue for 2022 based on aggregators like ZoomInfo and others. We also undertook factors like market expansion, number of employees, and market value for these companies.

Here are the 20 biggest toy companies in the world:

20. PlanToys

Revenue in 2022: $2.5 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 20+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Trang, Thailand

PlanToys, established in 1981, has carved a niche in the global toy market through sustainability and high-quality craftsmanship. This eco-friendly toy brand made sales of $2.5 Million in 2022 and continues on an upward trajectory. With the primary focus on fostering a child's development through creative play, this company's products are thoughtfully designed to promote cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being.

19. Epoch

Revenue in 2022: $3-4 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 30+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

As of the end of 2022, Epoch boasted a strong balance sheet with $3-4 million in sales and a stable target stratum. This company reports the most consistent growth in revenue from its Sylvanian Families line and has successfully penetrated markets in over 70 countries, including countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its strategic partnerships with international distributors and local retailers ascertain the availability of its toys to consumers, thereby maintaining a strong presence in the global toy industry.

18. Green Toys

Revenue in 2022: $6 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 24 (estimated)

Headquarters: Sausalito, California

With 40 tons of plastic waste for every $1 million in revenue, the toy industry is one of the leading contributors to environmental pollution. Names like Green Toys aim to counter this hazard with creative, imaginative playthings from recycled materials that influence learning minds. Green Toys stands by the fact that repurposing plastic waste into safe, durable, and educational toys can significantly minimize its environmental impact. This company has expanded its distribution to Target in the recent past to become an accessible name in all age groups. The company's revenue in 2022 was estimated to be $6 million.

17. McFarlane Toys

Revenue in 2022: $20 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 75+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Arizona, United States

Under the creative force of Grammy and Emmy winner producer/director Todd McFarlane, McFarlane Toys is a company admired for its artistic creativity. After its recent launches like the DC Multiverse collector figure line in 2020, McFarlane Toys reached a collective sales revenue of $20 million by the fiscal year 2022. This toy companys best-seller is its DC Multiverse lines, The Walking Dead, and the NBA, that bring actionable figures, DC comic books, and video games to life.

16. Playmobil

Revenue in 2022: $27.4 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 75+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Zirndorf, Germany

Playmobil is a German giant that banked approximately $27 million worldwide in 2022. As a subsidiary of the German conglomerate Geobra Brandstatter Stiftung & Co. KG, Playmobil benefits from expanded manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia and distribution centers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Moreover, according to a Statista report, Playmobil has 91% brand recognition in Germany in the category of toys and baby products, further solidifying its market standing.

15. Mellisa & Doug

Sales Revenue in 2022: $348 Million Number of employees: 200+ (estimated) Headquarters: Wilton, Connecticut Mellisa & Doug, a leading American toy manufacturer, has been making innovative, high-quality educational toys for children across all age groups since 1988. In 2022, the company reported a robust revenue of approximately $348 million, securing its place among the top toy companies. As demand for its products continues to rise, Mellisa & Doug has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt and expand to meet the needs of its growing customer base. In 2022, the company made a significant strategic move by opening a world-class distribution center in New Jersey, designed to optimize its operations and streamline its supply chain.

14. Ravensburger

Sales Revenue in 2022: $650 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 400+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Ravensburg, Germany

Ravensburger is a German toy manufacturing giant that has become synonymous with puzzle games. Most recently, this company earned Europe's prestigious toy industry performance award in the Arts & Crafts category for its revolutionary 'CreArt - Paint By Numbers' set. Ravensburger has made a revenue of $650 million in the fiscal year 2022. This impressive performance can be attributed to the company's strategic expansion into acquiring shares in the burgeoning puzzle markets of the United States and Canada.

13. Pop Mart

Revenue in 2022: $670 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 500+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Beijing, China

This toy company has earned raves because of its blind boxes that attract young girls and women who admire collectibles. Since one out of 144 blind boxes has a special minifigure (a precious collectible), this toy series' admirers are enthusiastic shoppers. Reports suggest that Pop Mart's sales revenue was $670 million in 2022, and it was ranked first amongst the leading pop toy players in China in 2019.

12. Mega Brands

Revenue in 2022: $678 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 400+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec

Another Mattel Inc. subsidiary, Mega Brands (formerly called Mega Bloks), completed the fiscal year 2022 with massive sales reserves. This company's peak sale revenue in 2022 was approximately $678 million in 2022. Mega Brands' expansion is backed by an efficient supply chain, which includes a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Montreal, Canada, and distribution centers strategically located worldwide.

11. JAKKS Pacific

Sales Revenue in 2022: $700 million

Number of employees: 500+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Santa Monica, California

JAKKS Pacific is a US-Based toy industry mogul in business for over two decades. Ever since its conception in 1995, this manufacturer has developed multiple lines like the World of Nintendo action figures, inspired by the legendary video game company's most popular characters, such as Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong, etc. The company had a revenue of roughly $700 million in 2022.

10. Simba-Dickie Group

Sales Revenue in 2022: $800 Million (estimated)

Number of employees: 700+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Bavaria, Germany

Simba-Dickie is the fourth largest toy manufacturer in Germany that has garnered $700-800 Million per annum since 2021. Today, this 1971 toy company now exports to over 100 countries through its well-established distribution network. This prized manufacturer covers everything between advanced RC toys and sound cars to stay in par with market demands. The company's 2022 revenue is estimated to be $800 million.

9. Fisher-Price

Revenue in 2022: $1.03 Billion

Number of employees: 700+ (estimated)

Headquarters: East Aurora, New York

Owned by Mattel Inc., Fisher-Price is widely popular for its series of Little People Toys, which was introduced in the 1960s and has remained a staple in playrooms across the globe ever since. In the fiscal year 2022, Fisher-Price generated a revenue of $1.03 billion.

8. Funko

Sales Revenue in 2022: $1.32 Billion

Number of employees: 1000+

Headquarters: Washington, USA

Funko is an American toy company that builds licensed limited pop culture collectibles like vinyl figurines and Funko Pops. This manufacturer earned a whopping sales revenue of $1.32 billion in 2022, despite speculations about its popularity and market credibility. In 2023, Funko is already experiencing a strong start because of its cost-cutting strategies and product innovations.

7. Tomy Company

Revenue in 2022: $1.5 billion (estimated)

Number of employees: 1000+ (estimated)

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan

Tomy Company's financial health is evident through its robust annual revenue. This manufacturer's extensive product lineup features iconic brands like Transformers, Pokemon, and Furby that have achieved tremendous success worldwide. Moreover, Tomy Company and Hassbro have partnered to bring Peppa Pig, Transformers, and My Little Pony to new territories. This company operates through its consolidated subsidiaries that develop merchandise for Pokemon, Beyblade, and more.

6. Spin Master

Revenue in 2022: $2.02 Billion Number of employees: 1000+ Headquarters: Ontario, Canada

Inclusive culture in play fosters a sense of community in growing brains, which is precisely what Spin Master stands up for. Banking an impressive $2.02 Billion in sales has given this company a place besides industry maestros like Mattel. Besides sufficient sales, Spin Master vows to reduce its plastic packaging by 50% by 2025, and 99% of its manufacturing facilities underwent the Ethical Toy Program in 2022, which shows its adherence to ethical practices

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Biggest Toy Companies in the World.

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Disclosure: none. 20 Biggest Toy Companies in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Integra Resources Corp. (NYSEMKT:ITRG  Get Rating)  Equities research analysts at HC Wainwright issued their FY2023 earnings estimates for Integra Resources in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, May 8th. HC Wainwright analyst H. Ihle anticipates that the company will earn ($0.16) per share for the year. The consensus estimate for Integra Resources current full-year earnings is ($0.12) per share.

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Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. National Bank Financial increased their price objective on Integra Resources from C$1.00 to C$1.05 in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Desjardins reduced their price objective on Integra Resources from C$1.75 to C$1.60 in a research report on Monday.

Integra Resources Trading Up 2.4 %

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Integra Resources

Shares of ITRG opened at $0.58 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in Integra Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. UBS Group AG acquired a new position in Integra Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its holdings in Integra Resources by 96.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 60,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 29,400 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Integra Resources by 162.1% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 83,801 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 51,830 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Integra Resources during the 1st quarter worth $55,000. Institutional investors own 40.83% of the companys stock.

About Integra Resources

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Integra Resources Corp., a mineral resources company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the Americas. It primarily focuses on the development of DeLamar project that consists of DeLamar and Florida Mountain gold and silver deposits comprising 790 unpatented lode, placer, and millsite claims, as well as 16 tax parcels covering an area of approximately 8,673 hectares located in the Owyhee County, south western Idaho.

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Trex (NYSE:TREX  Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Bank of America from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

TREX has been the subject of a number of other research reports. B. Riley lowered their target price on Trex from $65.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. StockNews.com upgraded Trex from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Credit Suisse Group restated an underperform rating and set a $43.00 price target on shares of Trex in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Barclays boosted their price target on Trex from $53.00 to $57.00 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Trex from $52.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Trex currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $60.27.

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Trex Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of TREX stock opened at $56.30 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $50.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.75. Trex has a 12-month low of $38.68 and a 12-month high of $67.78. The firm has a market cap of $6.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.41 and a beta of 1.49.

Institutional Trading of Trex

Trex ( NYSE:TREX Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The construction company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.01. Trex had a return on equity of 32.97% and a net margin of 16.69%. The company had revenue of $192.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $185.46 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.55 EPS. Trexs revenue for the quarter was down 36.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Trex will post 1.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Covestor Ltd grew its stake in shares of Trex by 178.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 382 shares of the construction companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Trex by 175.9% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 549 shares of the construction companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Trex by 1,346.0% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 723 shares of the construction companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 673 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Trex in the 1st quarter worth approximately $67,000. Finally, Ossiam grew its stake in shares of Trex by 36,666.7% in the 4th quarter. Ossiam now owns 1,103 shares of the construction companys stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.64% of the companys stock.

About Trex

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Trex Co, Inc engages in the manufacture of wood-alternative decking and railing. Its products include deck framing and drainage, outdoor lighting, furniture, pergola and outdoor kitchens, fencing, collections, and accessory hardware. It operates through the following segments Trex Residential Products and Trex Commercial Products.

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SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE:SXC  Get Rating)  Stock analysts at B. Riley upped their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for SunCoke Energy in a report issued on Monday, May 8th. B. Riley analyst L. Pipes now expects that the energy company will earn $0.77 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $0.76. B. Riley has a Buy rating and a $12.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for SunCoke Energys current full-year earnings is $0.76 per share. B. Riley also issued estimates for SunCoke Energys Q1 2025 earnings at $0.15 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.59 EPS.

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Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $10.00 price objective on shares of SunCoke Energy in a report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on SunCoke Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock.

SunCoke Energy Trading Up 1.0 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of NYSE SXC opened at $7.79 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.62. SunCoke Energy has a 1-year low of $5.72 and a 1-year high of $10.43. The firm has a market cap of $652.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.56 and a beta of 1.24.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of SunCoke Energy in the third quarter worth about $420,000. Lido Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of SunCoke Energy in the third quarter worth about $269,000. PDT Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of SunCoke Energy in the third quarter worth about $90,000. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System grew its stake in shares of SunCoke Energy by 1.8% in the third quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 320,430 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,862,000 after purchasing an additional 5,645 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ninepoint Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of SunCoke Energy in the third quarter worth about $56,300,000. 88.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at SunCoke Energy

In related news, SVP Phillip Michael Hardesty sold 13,778 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.97, for a total value of $137,366.66. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 206,050 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,054,318.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.26% of the stock is owned by insiders.

SunCoke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.11%. SunCoke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.07%.

About SunCoke Energy

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SunCoke Energy, Inc is engaged in the production of coke through heating metallurgical coal in a refractory oven. It operates through the following segments: Domestic Coke, Brazil Coke, and Logistics. The Domestic Coke segment consists of the Jewell facility located in Vansant, Virginia, the Indiana Harbor facility located in East Chicago, Indiana, the Haverhill facility located in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, the Granite City facility located in Granite City, Illinois and the Middletown facility located in Middletown, Ohio.

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Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI  Get Rating) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 44,168 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,345 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement Systems holdings in Black Knight were worth $2,727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BKI. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Black Knight by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 3,969 shares of the companys stock valued at $230,000 after buying an additional 282 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Black Knight by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 53,242 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,102,000 after buying an additional 3,701 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Black Knight in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $176,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Black Knight by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 712,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,318,000 after buying an additional 20,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of Black Knight by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 386,731 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,417,000 after buying an additional 52,572 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.73% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Black Knight from $69.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Black Knight from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd.

Black Knight Trading Down 0.7 %

BKI opened at $53.68 on Tuesday. Black Knight, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $53.15 and a fifty-two week high of $72.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.52, a PEG ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.49. The companys 50 day moving average price is $56.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $59.23.

Black Knight (NYSE:BKI  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 28th. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by ($0.06). Black Knight had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 14.85%. The business had revenue of $383.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $389.65 million. As a group, research analysts predict that Black Knight, Inc. will post 1.97 earnings per share for the current year.

About Black Knight

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Black Knight, Inc engages in the provision of software solutions. It operates through the Software Solutions, and Data and Analytics segments. The Software Solutions segment offers software and hosting solutions that support loan servicing, loan origination, and settlement services. The Data and Analytics segment caters to the mortgage, real estate, and capital markets verticals.

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Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Get Rating) by 958.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 315,179 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 285,405 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $29,264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 655.8% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 393 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. RFP Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 275.5% in the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 398 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.23% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com cut Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Barclays decreased their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $105.00 to $99.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $100.00 target price for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $100.78.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of ADM stock opened at $75.40 on Tuesday. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 12 month low of $70.02 and a 12 month high of $98.28. The firm has a market cap of $41.07 billion, a PE ratio of 9.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $78.64 and a 200-day moving average of $85.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.38. The business had revenue of $24.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.09 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 18.39% and a net margin of 4.36%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.90 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 6.8 EPS for the current year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 17th will be paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.39%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is 22.58%.

About Archer-Daniels-Midland

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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.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ trimmed its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP  Get Rating) (TSE:CP) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 106,141 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 6,079 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City were worth $7,917,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 31,907,941 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,128,897,000 after buying an additional 993,916 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 3.6% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 31,506,840 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,102,137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,102,126 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 26.8% in the third quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 23,729,613 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,785,454,000 after purchasing an additional 5,020,078 shares during the period. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 417.5% in the third quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 15,237,044 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,016,616,000 after purchasing an additional 12,292,785 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1,151.2% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,157,741 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $591,239,000 after acquiring an additional 6,585,655 shares during the last quarter. 72.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Performance

CP opened at $81.02 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 1.02. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $77.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $77.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited has a 12-month low of $65.17 and a 12-month high of $82.96.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm 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 $0.141 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.70%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is 18.54%.

A number of equities analysts recently commented on CP shares. Scotiabank upgraded Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Barclays cut their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $90.00 to $89.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $78.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. CIBC decreased their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$128.00 to C$125.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.21.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. provides rail freight transportation services. It offers rail services linking Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company was founded on June 22, 2001 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ cut its holdings in shares of Raymond James (NYSE:RJF  Get Rating) by 5.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 78,574 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,758 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Raymond James were worth $8,396,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in RJF. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Raymond James by 80.5% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,629,875 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $618,780,000 after purchasing an additional 2,510,966 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Raymond James by 1.9% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,689,564 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,383,900,000 after buying an additional 410,025 shares during the period. Renaissance Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Raymond James during the first quarter valued at about $27,163,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Raymond James by 23.0% during the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,117,897 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $99,951,000 after buying an additional 209,221 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in shares of Raymond James by 128.6% during the first quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 331,913 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,481,000 after buying an additional 186,725 shares during the period. 74.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on RJF. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on Raymond James from $119.00 to $116.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Raymond James from $120.00 to $126.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $130.00 to $100.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $127.00 to $125.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $121.00 to $114.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $119.43.

Raymond James Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of RJF opened at $86.14 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $18.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.35 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $93.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Raymond James has a 1 year low of $82.00 and a 1 year high of $126.00.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.17 by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $2.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.89 billion. Raymond James had a return on equity of 18.62% and a net margin of 14.01%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.55 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Raymond James will post 9.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Raymond James Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 31st. Raymond Jamess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.13%.

Raymond James Company Profile

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Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments.

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BOOM! Texas A&M has landed its sixth commitment in the 2024 recruiting class, as four-star safety Jordan Pride out of Florida is tied with four-star defensive lineman Dealyn Evans as the highest-rated player in the class, and the first defensive back for the Maroon and White this cycle.

Pride chose the Aggies over six other SEC programs, including Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, and Alabama, all after de-committing from his first choice, Florida State, where he was committed for almost two years.

After spending a short time at the prestigious IMG Academy before transferring back to Blountstown High School in Blountstown, Florida, where Pride went on to record 20 tackles and 2 interceptions, including a pick-six on defense, and caught 22 passes for 667 yards and 6 TD as a receiver on offense.

BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Jordan Pride has Committed to Texas A&M! The 62 175 S from Blountstown, FL chose the Aggies over Florida, Alabama, & Tennessee. Not no changing this one, Gig Emhttps://t.co/QozboMiuLq pic.twitter.com/M12HvhMjZo  Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 9, 2023

Ranked as one of the 100 ranked players in the 2024 cycle, Pride is the 6th ranked safety and the 18th-ranked player in Florida, and while former Aggie safety/nickel corner Antonio Johnson essentially broke the mold of versatility as one of the best hybrid safeties to play for the Maroon and White in the last decade, Prides 6-2, 175-pound frame and experience at multiple positions in the secondary, and ball skills on offense puts him in a great position to make an instant impact as soon as he steps foot on campus in 2024.

Congratulations, Jordan! Gig Em!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

Story continues

More Football!

Everything Aggies football head coach Jimbo Fisher had to say at the Houston A&M Club 2024 4-star Safety Jordan Pride set to commit on Tuesday Former Boston College, Colorado State Running back David Bailey commits to Texas A&M

Story originally appeared on Aggies Wire
This story has been updated.

FOND DU LAC - One person was killed and two people were seriously injured in a shooting Sunday night at a Fond du Lac apartment complex, the Fond du Lac Police Department said in a Facebook post, and the suspects are still at large.

At around 6:50 p.m. Sunday, the Fond du Lac County dispatch center received multiple calls about a shooting at Maplewood Commons, near Martin Avenue and E. Pioneer Road.

Officers, who arrived within minutes, located three people who had been shot: A 20-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man and a 49-year-old man, Fond du Lac Police said. The 18-year-old man had initially been misidentified as a woman, Assistant Chief Jason Laridaen said Sunday night.

Police said the 20-year-old woman, who was identified Monday morning as Tatyanna PM Zech, has died from her injuries. As of Monday morning, the other two victims were in stable condition, with the 18-year-old man being classified as "critical but stable."

Laridaen also said the victims were shot in a parking lot outside the complex.

In a post shared shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday, Fond du Lac police said two suspects fled on foot from the area and have not yet been located. Multiple agencies are assisting in the search, including the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin State Patrol and the state's Department of Natural Resources.

"The community is reminded this is an active investigation and we are requesting that citizens stay out of the immediate area," the post said.

Laridaen also said Sunday night police were investigating neighborhoods further north, as they believe the suspects fled in that direction.

The two people of interest in this case are a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old. Both have been issued temporary felony warrants for their arrest. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin does not identify suspects unless they have been charged.

If anyone has information regarding the shooting, they're asked to contact Fond du Lac Police at 920-906-5555 or call 911.

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Fond du Lac Police are also asking residents in the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds area  west of County V, north of Pioneer Road, east of Martin Avenue and south of Ninth Street  to review their residential camera footage from 6:50-8 p.m. Sunday to see if it captured any suspicious activity or unknown individuals.

If anything suspicious is found on the footage, residents are asked to contact Detective Nick Hahn at 920-322-3721 or call 911.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: 3 people shot at Fond du Lac apartment complex, suspects at large
In this piece, we will take a look at the 35 best thriller movies on Netflix. For more thriller movies, head on over to 10 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix.

The coronavirus pandemic dealt a devastating blow to a wide variety of industries. Sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and cruising all were sapped out of economic activity, since lockdowns and stay at home orders prevented people from engaging in the usual leisure activities. Another sector that was devastated was the film industry. Theaters and cinemas all over the world were shut down due to fears of the virus spreading. According to a report from The Motion Pictures Association (MPA), the Global Theatrical and Home Entertainment market was comfortably growing from 2016 to 2019. The sector had stood at $77.8 billion in 2016, grew to $83.7 billion the next year, and then went on to further grow to $92 billion in 2018 and $98.3 billion in 2019. In its final year of growth, the three sectors of the market, namely Physical, Digital, and Theatrical, had stood at $8.8 billion, $47.2 billion, and $42.3 billion, respectively. However, the very next year, the worst of the coronavirus would dawn on the sector, as it would go on to drop by 18% to $80.8 billion. However, this figure marked an internal shakeup within the industry, as while the Theatrical segment was nearly slaughtered to $12 billion, the Digital segment boomed to $61.8 billion.

Zooming in on America, the country continued to be the largest geographical sector in the market, as its share was worth $32.2 billion. Within this segment, a whopping 82% was accounted for by the Digital segment, with Physical and Theatrical accounting for a mere 11% and 7%, respectively. In 2020, two of the top three movies were family films, as Frozen II and Jumanji: The Next Level took the top two spots. Courtesy of the virus, the online media industry maintained its boom from 2016, and went on to grow from 88.6 billion views in 2016 to a whopping 265.9 billion by the end of 2020. Surprisingly (or perhaps not), online television shows accounted for 92% of the total views. Compare this to the 78.9 billion views that online television shows brought in in 2016 and the difference that the pandemic made becomes clear.

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Researchers from StrategyR show that the global box office industry was estimated to be worth $28.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow by a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9% by the end of 2030 when it is expected to be worth $92.6 billion. StrategyR believes that within this market, the Action and Adventure subsegment will outpace the broader market in terms of growth, as its growth rate is expected to sit at 18% to make this section worth $49 billion in 2030. Geographically speaking, China is the fastest growing region, with a growth rate of 20.8%.

Another report, this time from Gower Street, estimates that the global box office market can grow to $29 billion by the end of this year if it maintains a 12% growth rate, which will still be slower than the 21% growth rate achieved last year. At the same time, Gower Street points out that even if the global box market does grow to $29 billion, it will still be significantly less than the $42.3 billion that it was worth in 2019. The research firm also shares that the U.S. will continue to be the largest market in 2023, with an estimated value of $7.65 billion.

The online content delivery market has risen to become of the dominant players in the industry, particularly since it was fueled by the coronavirus. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global video on demand market was worth $69.55 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $82.77 billion in 2022. From then until 2029, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.6% and sit at $257 billion by the end of the forecast period. This growth has made the market quite competitive as well, with Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) sharing a glimpse of the competition in its investor letter for the fourth quarter of 2022:

We continue to operate in a highly competitive market as consumers have a vast number of entertainment choices. Beyond our direct streaming competitors, we also vie for consumers time against linear TV, YouTube, short form entertainment like TikTok, and gaming, to name just a few. The silver lining is that the market for entertainment is huge and Netflix is still very small by comparison. For example, in the more than 190 countries we operate in, our $30B+ of annual revenue compares against the combined annual estimated ~$300B pay TV/streaming industry, $180B branded TV advertising spend and $130 billion consumer spend on gaming .5 Its not easy to build a large and profitable streaming business. But were competing from a position of strength, as we lead the industry in terms of engagement, revenue and streaming profit. As a pure-play streaming company, were also not anchored to shrinking legacy business models, like traditional entertainment firms, allowing us to lean hard into the big growth opportunity ahead of us.

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some top thriller movies on Netflix.

Best Thriller Movies On Netflix

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Our Methodology:

We compiled our list by first narrowing down the top fifty thriller movies according to critics as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes. Then, to also evaluate them through user preference, we took a look at their IMDB scores and listed the top 35 thriller movies available on Netflix below.

Best Thriller Movies on Netflix

35. Sentinelle

Latest IMDB Score: 4.8

Sentinelle sees a French soldier adjust to civilian life by tracking her sister's murderer.

34. The Old Ways

Latest IMDB Score: 5.4

The Old Ways is a riveting tale of a journalist held in a jungle by a witch doctor.

33 . Borderland

Latest IMDB Score: 5.6

Borderland is a Mexican American film that revolves around college friends whose trip to Mexico takes a frightening turn.

32. Bad Match

Latest IMDB Score: 5.6

Bad Match sees an online playboy bite off a bit more than he can chew in his quest to date women.

31. Alien Raiders

Latest IMDB Score: 5.6

Alien Raiders is an American film that sees a group of vigilantes take over a supermarket to battle an alien invasion.

30. Hold the Dark

Latest IMDB Score: 5.6

Hold the Dark sees a wolf expert find dark secrets after investigating the death of his children.

29. Unfriended

Latest IMDB Score: 5.6

Unfriended is an internet thriller that sees a dead person come to life - on the surface at least.

28. Most Beautiful Island

Latest IMDB Score: 5.7

Most Beautiful Island is a story about a woman who battles her past as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S.

27. Blood On Her Name

Latest IMDB Score: 5.7

Blood On Her Name sees an accidental killer trying to cover up her actions only to find her conscience standing up against her.

26. The Domestics

Latest IMDB Score: 5.7

The Domestics is a thriller featuring a couple that faces off against gangs in a post apocalyptic era.

25. Sweetheart

Latest IMDB Score: 5.8

Sweetheart sees a woman fight supernatural elements while stranded on an island.

24. Manson Family Vacation

Latest IMDB Score: 5.8

Manson Family Vacation is a comedic thriller following two brothers who decide to visit Charles Manson's murder sites.

23. The Guilty

Latest IMDB Score: 5.8

The Guilty is about a detective who finds there's more than meets the eye as a 911 dispatcher.

22. We Go On

Latest IMDB Score: 5.8

We Go On follows a man who goes on a horrifying adventure trying to discover if there really is life after death.

21. Last Shift

Latest IMDB Score: 5.8

Last Shift sees an unsuspecting police officer discover that his station is haunted by a cult leader who had committed suicide.

20. Piercing

Latest IMDB Score: 5.9

Piercing is a tryst between a serial killer and his victim, who turns to be a bit more than he can handle.

19. Sleight

Latest IMDB Score: 5.9

Sleight is a tale of a magician that turns to a life of crime when faced by financial difficulties.

18. The Vanishing

Latest IMDB Score: 5.9

The Vanishing stars Gerald Butler as a lightkeeper who discovers gold on an island.

17. The Heart Machine

Latest IMDB Score: 5.9

The Heart Machine is a tale about romantic deception as it follows a man looking for his online girlfriend as he believes she's lying to him.

16. The Aggression Scale

Latest IMDB Score: 5.9

The Aggression Scale is a rather unusual, but not unheard of, tale of a kid taking on a gang that has come to rob his house.

15. Harpoon

Latest IMDB Score: 6

Harpoon centers on the conflict between friends as they find themselves stranded in the middle of the ocean.

14. I Came By

Latest IMDB Score: 6.1

I Came By sees a graffiti artist bite off a bit more than he can chew by targeting wealthy people.

13. A Land Imagined

Latest IMDB Score: 6.2

A Land Imagined follows the journey of a police officer investigating the death of a construction worker.

12. The Perfection

Latest IMDB Score: 6.2

The Perfection is about two musicians who see their fates intertwined.

11. Lost Bullet 2: Back for More

Latest IMDB Score: 6.3

Lost Bullet 2: Back for More is a French film about police fighting against a drug cartel.

Click to continue reading and see 10 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix.

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Disclosure: None. 35 Best Thriller Movies on Netflix is originally published on Insider Monkey.
ALBANY  More than three years after the United States reached an unemployment rate of 14.7 percent, the highest number since the Great Depression, recovery efforts remain underway nationwide to reverse the effects of a pandemic-induced economic crisis.

But some states have been slower than others at gaining back what was lost.

The unemployment rate in New York, for example, has hovered above the national average since the onset of the pandemic. While the states unemployment rate has fallen significantly since April 2020, when it rose to a whopping 15.6 percent, labor force participation remains a pressing concern. Meanwhile, layoffs and business closings afflict workers throughout the state.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the Empire State had the ninth-highest state unemployment rate in March. Nevada had the highest rate at 5.5 percent, followed by Washington at 4.5 percent and then a four-way tie between California, Delaware, Illinois and Oregon at 4.4 percent.

New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli wrote in November that the pandemic dealt a harsher blow to New Yorks labor force than in other states. The size of the workforce declined more rapidly than the rest of the nation in 2020 and continued to shrink in 2021 when other states recovered, he said, adding that recovery has lagged in industries with high shares of low-wage workers.

Some say New York's employment woes can largely be explained by demographics.

There is an aging workforce and some population change that is factoring into the higher unemployment rate weve been seeing compared to some other areas, New York State Department of Labor Analyst Kevin Alexander said.

But the aforementioned population change includes an exodus of New Yorkers to states like Florida, where the unemployment rate sits significantly lower (2.6 percent in March). Some say Floridas employment rate is due to its growing population, thriving tourism industry and increased business investment.

So what does that mean for New York?

In November, New York was still down over 400,000 workers from its peak in December 2019, according to the comptrollers office. The state lost an estimated two million jobs in the wake of the pandemic. But recent months have provided a glimmer of hope; in March, data from the Department of Labor showed a slight decrease in the states unemployment rate, and the agency reported that the state added 19,100 private sector jobs.

While some areas suffer from an aging, less diversified workforce  like Watertown and Fort Drum where the state sees its highest unemployment rate of 4.5 percent  data from the Capital Region paints a different picture.

The areas unemployment numbers are among the lowest for all New York cities, with the combined region of Albany, Schenectady and Troy having an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in March compared to the national average of 3.6 percent.

The public sector and government workforce is very large in the area as well as education, health care, sectors that for the most part have stable employment and broaden the economy, Alexander explained. There are great opportunities in areas like retail and leisure hospitality, so its really that kind of diversity of the workforce and industries that are part of our economy.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Bedding provider Tempur Sealy has agreed to acquire Mattress Firm in a cash-and stock-transaction valued at about $4 billion, the companies said Tuesday.

Mattress Firm operates more than 2,300 brick-and-mortar retail locations and an e-commerce platfom. After the Tempur Sealy acquistion is complete, the two companies will have a total of some 3,000 retail stores, 30 e-commerce platforms, 71 manufacturing facilities and four research and development facilities worldwide.

This combination will accelerate our growth trajectory and enhance operating cash flow, Tempur Sealy Chairman and CEO Scott Thompson said in a statement. Mattress Firm has been a valued retail partner for more than 35 years, and we look forward to welcoming their talented workforce of more than 8,100 employees to the Tempur Sealy family.

Mattress Firm CEO John Eck added that the transaction will increase the companies' ability "to better address consumers needs and drive growth.

Tempur Sealy will pay about $2.7 billion in cash and $1.3 billion in stock to Mattress Firm, which is partially owned by Steinhoff International Holdings NV. That reflects the issuance of 34.2 million common shares, based on Monday's closing share price of $37.62.

After the transaction is complete, Mattress Firm shareholders will own about 16.6% of the combined company and Tempur Sealy shareholders will own the rest.

The companies expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2024. After the acquistion is complete, Mattress Firm is set to operate as a separate business unit within Tempur Sealy.

Tempur Sealy received a request frm the Federal Trade Commission for additional information and documents related to the transaction. The company plans to work cooperatively with the FTC to complete the acquistion.

Piper Sandler said in a note Tuesday the prospect of Tempur Sealy acquiring Mattress Firm has been discussed for many, many months within the industry. The investment banking and research firm expects a long FTC review process, noting that the transaction marks a seismic deal for the mattress industry.

Neil Saunders, managing director of data analytics company GlobalData, said selling Mattress Firm has been a priority for Steinhoff as the parent company looks to pay down debt.

Saunders added that the deal will allow Tempur Sealy to expand its distribution and reach more consumers at a crucial time for increasing sales.

Tempur Sealy will also hope that Mattress Firm helps them to buck the current slowdown in sales which is being caused by the cost-of-living crisis and many households having upgraded their mattresses during the pandemic," Saunders said.

But the full impact of the acquistion is still unknown. Saunders points to the high purchase price and other challenges retailers like Mattress Firm face today  including the disruption from a raft of specialist new entrants to the market, most of which sell directly to consumers and pressure from the expansion of home players like IKEA.

While Mattress Firm and Tempur Sealy have a long history as retail partners, the two have had a rocky relationship in recent years. The companies temporarily ended their partnership in January 2017  in a move that notably removed popular Tempur-Pedic beds from Mattress Firm stores.

The following year, in August 2018, Tempur-Pedic sued Mattress Firm for allegedly "selling confusingly similar products under the Therapedic name, and copying the look and feel of the entire Tempur-Pedic brand and consumer experience." Tempur-Pedic also accused Mattress Firm of continuing to sell Tempur-Pedic mattresses beyond the 2017 end of their partnership.

In October 2018, Mattress Firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed hundreds of stores. At the time, the Houston-based company pointed to years of overexpansion that resulted in cannibalization of sales. Mattress Firms then-CEO Steve Stagner later resigned in April 2019.

Months after Stagner's resignation, Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm reconciled with a new, long-term supply agreement.

In addition to announcing plans to acquire Mattress Firm on Tuesday, Tempur Sealy also reported a first-quarter profit of $85.3 million, or 48 cents per share. Ecluding one-time items, earnings were 53 cents per share.

The Kentucky-based mattress maker said revenue slipped 2.5% to $1.21 billion from $1.24 billion.
The ricotta bread arrives alone on a plate. The ciabatta boule has been cut into segments we prise apart like a fortune-telling paper flower; the garlic ricotta piped inside resembles the neat centerline frosting of a cake. Its been dunked in garlic-Parmesan butter, rolled in sesame seeds and oven-heated for an extra crispy shell. As unassuming as bread may be, its epic and could easily derail your meal.

For a restaurant that has neither had complimentary bread nor put any on the menu since its December 2021 opening, the $9 appetizer feels like a sea change at Green Islands Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill. A creative shift is evident, scattered across the spring menu in tweaks from Executive Chef Cody Nguyen, that draw influences from his Vietnamese heritage and more global persuasions. Last seasons ahi tuna tartare came with a superb madras curry aioli, radish and chives; its now more salty, tossed with ponzu-soy sauce and neatly formed over edamame puree with wakame and crisped shallots. Even a squad of grilled oysters riff on oysters Rockefeller but use a Japanese motoyaki preparation with miso mayonnaise at its base and panko for crust. Elsewhere, Tunisian harissa honey graces a pork belly appetizer, and zaatar spice puts a subtle Middle Eastern twist on the main course lamb rack.

Restaurant Review Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill Address: 10 Starbuck Drive, Green Island

Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. Happy hour: 4 to 6 p.m.

Prices: Apps, raw bar, soups and flatbreads, $9 to $24; mains, $25 to $65; desserts, $9 to $15; cocktails, $14 to $15.

Info: 518-326-4164 and seasmokegrill.com

Etc.: On-site lot. ADA-accessible. See More Collapse

That $9 ricotta bread might be the least you spend here with all else, from corn-and-clam chowder to fried calamari, in the double digits, appetizers circling the $20 mark and a $140 caviar set with an ounce of osetra caviar, creme fraiche, buckwheat blinis, onions, capers and egg. But the restaurant, in the Starbuck Island development, has already lived up to my former predictions of a waterfront destination with an impressive view of the Hudson River and silver Green Island Bridge, a raw bar with a seafood tower like at Sea Smokes Albany sibling, 677 Prime, as well as lobster rolls, $25 Champagne splits and a dedicated oyster shucker boothed in the center of the room like an in-house DJ.

At the end of another dinner, General Manager Quang Tran arrived tableside to perform the ultimate in dinner theater: flambeing crepes in butter and dripping the juices from squeezed oranges into the pan. Its the sort of service that puts joy back in fine dining and, though this dish just rotated off the spring menu, its worth inquiring, as theyll try to accommodate requests on less busy nights.

A rapid rotation of chefs is often a red flag, and Sea Smoke Grill is on its third in under 17 months, though Nguyen has recently celebrated his first year. Owner Jamie Ortiz must have recognized talent and drive in the young chef who joined the JO Group of restaurants as a line cook at 677 Prime straight from culinary school at 21 years old. After working up to sous chef and chef de cuisine at 677, Nguyen segued into a temporary lead at Sea Smoke Grill before being named executive chef at age 27.

If the mix of ocean art, swagged fishing rope and varied pendant lights in styles from crystal chic to medieval still feels hectic as a design choice, overall the modern furniture and flow deliver polished transitions from the dim blue LED glow of the bar to banquettes hugging a centralized faux tree in a dining room where clear retractable doors afford killer views of the lights of Troy across on the Hudson. Its a mellow vibe with Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Anita Baker fitting a mostly mature crowd, and its not hard to see the appeal of a reasonable $22 Angus beef burger that includes Parmesan fries, or $25 wild mushroom tagliatelle for the residents of Starbuck Island, and many well beyond. Dont get me wrong: A 7-ounce filet mignon is still going to set you back $65  but not the triple figures of a steakhouse  and intentionally sourced ingredients like fresh seafood flown overnight twice a week come at a necessary market cost. Beautifully Frenched Australian lamb rack ($52) the size of two mastodon ribs is smothered in whole-grain mustard cream, resting on a buttery layered potato pave worth a shout-out to the kitchen and a dinner visit in itself.

If the Chilean sea bass with fregola ($47) has survived unchanged since the start, the huge, bronzed diver scallops ($54) are now nestled in a swoosh of parsnip puree with griddled leek and a touch of sweetness from pomegranate molasses. Only the shaved parsnip crisps taste slightly burnt, and broccolini with the lamb rack is crunchy from too high heat.

Nguyens delicate appreciation for bright contrasts shows up in not one but two crudo plates, a thin-sliced hamachi yellowtail with blood orange, pea shoots and lime vinaigrette, and the creaminess of snow-white raw scallops carrying off piquant aleppo pepper and wasabi vinaigrette. Together, cucumber, ginger and lime foam cool off Patriot oysters, while the chefs signature apple-and-aleppo pepper mignonette is a zippy accompaniment for shucked oysters.

Wines by the glass remain a modest selection, but a collaborative overhaul of the cocktail menu headed up by bar supervisor Elaine Russo means youll find a new smoky scotch and drambuie Sea Smoke or frothy, pisco-based Galateas Whisper as stylish aperitifs. The Espress Yo Self and caramel sea salt espresso martinis make worthy liquid desserts, though you should still get the Candy Bar, a clever impression of an oversized chocolate bar filled with chocolate brownie, caramel, sponge cake, toffee and more. Its huge  all the better to share.

In short, Sea Smoke Grill has found its pace. The pairing of Tran and Nguyen has replaced the early strained efforts with more relaxed, and frankly successful, energy, where service is streamlined, small plates are fun, and Ngyuen and kitchen staff often appear as servers presenting plates. Check-ins from managerial staff reflect an upscale tone, yet theres something less formal, too, befitting a waterfront restaurant. This is still a place to splurge when the occasion strikes, but with the patio now officially open, who wouldnt be content with a smashburger by the water, or oysters and Champagne? If you share a few lighter plates from the raw bar, dont skimp on the ricotta bread.
POUGHKEEPSIE  Hudson & Packard in Poughkeepsie has earned the title of one of the best pizzerias in the world for the second year in a row.

The Detroit-style pizzeria finished third in the pan division at the 39th annual International Pizza Expo & Conference in Las Vegas in late March. In addition, Hudson & Packard team member Brandon Bryant finished ninth among 91 competitors in the non-traditional category with his Jamaican Me Crazy pie, made with house jerk chicken, jerk barbecue sauce, jicama pineapple salsa, crumbled tostones and green onion.

Third in the world is great, and its really awesome to be back-to-back top three. I think thats pretty hard to achieve, said owner Charlie Webb.

In the pan division, Hudson & Packard was surpassed only by winner DTown Pizzeria in Los Angeles and Oleys Pepperoni Cannoli from De Pere, Wis. That followed last years second-place finish on the strength of a pan pizza dubbed Hole Mole, a love letter to Latin cuisine inspired by Poughkeepsies Oaxacan restaurants. The pie featured mole negro, habanero salsa, avocado puree, red onions, Oaxacan cheese and duck confit.

Another local pizzeria also finished with a top-three finish: Romos Pizza in Glenmont, which finished third in the traditional division.

For Webb, while the anxiety of competing for the first time was high last year, this time his focus was on having fun and showing the judges something unique. His creation for this years expo, A Taste of Home, was made specifically for the competition and featured Halloumi cheese crust with brick cheese blend, roasted root vegetable hash, lamb and beef kofta, baba ghanoush, roasted garlic hummus with spicy tomato oil and pickled turnip. The colorful pie paid homage to Webbs hometown of Dearborn, Mich., its large Lebanese community and the numerous Mediterranean restaurants there.

You go to these places, and we go with my family, and theres like 12 of us and theyve always got these big family platters, so Ive tried to make the pizza just as if you were eating through one of those, said Webb, who has also visited the Middle East during his time in the military. It was probably one of the most beautiful pizzas Ive ever made, and it also tasted amazing. It reminded me of eating at one of those restaurants back home.

The love that Webb has for Michigan extends far beyond his award-winning pizza, but Hudson & Packard is a culmination of his training at the Culinary Institute of America and a tribute to his roots. After a year and a half of hosting pop-ups in the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, Webb opened Hudson & Packard at 29 Academy St. in October 2020, the only Detroit-style pizzeria in the Hudson Valley.

The International Pizza Expo is a three-day event and one of the largest gatherings of pizza makers and enthusiasts. Pies compete in four categories  pan pizza, traditional, non-traditional and Neapolitan  and are judged on crust, sauce, cheese and toppings, as well as overall taste, visual presentation and creativity.

I went in and thought we had a very strong pizza and definitely happy to be top three, but were going to keep going until were standing number one, said Webb, who is already thinking about next years pizza.

Webb said the pizzeria has been busy, with many people requesting the award-winning pies. While those arent regular menu options due to their complexity, Webb said Hudson & Packard is planning a pizza party sometime in June or July for a chance for people to try the unique pies.

The two pizzas may have won awards, but Hudson & Packard is already a winner in the hearts of Hudson Valley residents.

We put our heart and soul on a plate and give it to people to judge you, and thats a very hard thing to do, he said. To do that, and then come home and see how well it was received  how many people are telling you that it doesnt matter what the judges think, they know that we make the best pizza. Just doing it for the city of Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley is very important.
Hundreds of migrants from New York City are expected to arrive this week in Orange and Rockland counties as part of the citys plan to ease stresses caused by a steady influx of migrants over the past year and an expected surge when a pandemic-era immigration policy expires next week. But leaders in both Hudson Valley counties have pushed back against the plan derived by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Of the 400 migrants planned for relocation to the Hudson Valley, 340 would be sent to a hotel in Rockland Countys Orangetown, while 60 would be sent to a hotel in Orange Countys town of Newburgh. But Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Rockland County Executive Ed Day have both declared states of emergency in an attempt to thwart the migration altogether  though its unclear if their maneuvers will work.

This may be just the start. Adams office formally announced the temporary shelter programs launch on Friday, with the potential to expand, according to a news release. For this launch, the plan is to house migrants, all of whom are adult men, in the Crossroads Hotel in Orange Lake, a hamlet in Newburgh, and the Armoni Inn & Suites in Orangeburg, a hamlet of Orangetown, for up to four months. Migrant participation in the program is voluntary.

More than 60,800 asylum-seekers have traveled through New York City since last spring, many bused from Texas to New York by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. More than 37,500 asylum-seekers are currently in the citys care, according to Mayor Adams office.

Title 42, which lets the U.S. reject asylum-seekers without a hearing, will end on May 11. Though Title 42 has existed as a public health services law since 1944, it was invoked for the first time by former President Donald Trump during the early days of the pandemic to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The federal government has warned of an increase in immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border in the lead-up to the policys expiration.

The hotels in Orange Lake and Orangeburg will free up additional space in New York City for the hundreds of asylum seekers continuing to arrive in the five boroughs every day, according to a news release from Adams office.

Its unclear when New York City will move the group of 400 to the Hudson Valley, especially after Day and Neuhaus enacted states of emergency on Saturday and Monday, respectively.

Days emergency order forbids any hotel or motel in Rockland to house migrants without a county-issued license. It also bars municipalities from housing migrants without a contractual agreement with the county. Violations of the emergency order will cost $2,000 per migrant per day.

Neuhaus order also forbids all hotels, motels and/or facilities that allow short-term rentals from housing migrants and asylum-seekers sent by Adams temporary shelter program. The text of the order also claims that Adams has sought to house additional hundreds of migrants and/or asylum seekers at additional locations without notifying Orange County, therefore causing the county to no longer trust communications from New York City officials.

Neuhaus office did not respond to interview requests from the Times Union on Monday. But a joint statement from him and Newburgh Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio issued over the weekend called the immigration crisis a self-induced problem created by the federal government due to a lack of planning and criticized Adams relocation plan.

We have questions about who these immigrants are and remain concerned if they were properly vetted, the statement reads. It is another example of the federal governments failed immigration policy and inability to control the border.

Piaquadio noted the Newburgh hotel the migrants would stay in is not within walking distance of local resources. According to the statement, Piaquadio asked Adams to hold off on sending migrants there, and that request was granted, but the mayor did not offer a timetable.

Days objections to the plan by Adams  whom he has referred to as a former colleague in the New York Police Department  have been even more intense.

Day, flanked by local elected officials and U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, said at a news conference on Monday that the influx would further burden current residents and drain already taxed resources for vulnerable populations, including people who are unhoused, seniors, disabled and low-income earners.

Overcrowding already is an issue here, Day said. And sending busloads of people to this county will not only compound that issue but put more lives at risk and have no choice than to move into unsafe and over-crowded homes.

In March, Day and Lawler called for federal assistance with the local migrant crisis. At that time, they said migrant arrivals over the prior six months caused pantries to run out of food, school systems to be overloaded with new enrollees and a 35 percent increase in the number of children in the countys foster care system.

Day said busing migrants to Rockland when the county is unfit to support their needs is akin to throwing them in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to swim.

New York City has said it will pay for the migrants travel and hotel accommodations and provide the same city-funded services available at Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Centers. According to the citys announcement on Friday, staff placed at the hotels will also connect asylum-seekers with community and faith-based organizations to support their integration.

This is going to be a New York City-run shelter in the town of Orangetown, Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny said Monday.

Kenny said Orangetown is prepared to sue New York City over violations of the towns code that bar people who are transient from staying at a hotel for more than 30 days.

I dont know why the mayor thinks he can come and pay for people for four months or a year without checking if its even legal with the municipality, Kenny said. So, Im sorry, Mr. Mayor, you dont trump our laws.
KINGSTON  Since New York ended its COVID-19 eviction moratorium in January 2022, eviction rates in this Ulster County city have spiked. The states eviction dashboard shows that in 2019, Kingstons 12401 zip code clocked 332 eviction orders. During the first two years of the pandemic, with the moratorium in place, that number dropped by two-thirds. But in 2022, even with a local good-cause eviction law in place, Kingston was back up over 300 evictions. So far, 2023 is just behind that pace.

Many factors are displacing renters in Kingston and across the Hudson Valley: bureaucratic construction delays; not-in-my-backyard objections to affordable housing; wages that havent kept up with costs; downstaters snapping up homes; the under-funding of public rental subsidies for low-income people; corporate owners in search of higher profits; and the proliferation of vacation rentals.

But eviction numbers dont tell the whole story. For every official proceeding, there are an unknown number of self-evictions in which renters are pressured to leave.

Newlywed, pregnant and displaced

In late 2020, John and Emily Kane moved into one of two rental apartments at 438 Abeel St., an old house on Rondout Creek. The newly married couple, both in their 30s, paid $1,150 and planned to stay there even as they expected their first child.

One hot and humid day last May, John returned home from his work as a landscaper and saw a stranger in their side yard  just sitting there on the picnic table, watching me, he recalled.

John approached the stranger and asked if he was looking for anyone. Just so you know, this is private property. This is a residence, John told him. Thats when he said, Well, I own the place.

The new owner, Giordano Gio Rodriguez, had bought 438 Abeel St. plus the adjacent marina from Robert Iannucci, who owns large swaths of the Kingston waterfront. The next day, Rodriguez sent the Kanes an email demanding they vacate. John quickly came to learn that he didnt have much leverage. Rodriguez told the Kanes they didnt have a valid lease  in fact, he called me stupid for not realizing that, John said.

They called to confirm this with Iannucci, who admitted that he had never counter-signed their lease because he knew someone had an interest in the property. (Reached by phone, Iannucci declined to comment on the record.) According to Marcie Kobak, litigation director for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Iannuccis action wasnt strictly illegal under New York law.

The big takeaway is that you can be evicted for no reason, Kobak said.

The Kanes asked Rodriguez if they could stay on another year, through their babys birth. They were up to date on their rent, keeping it together despite the pandemic. But Rodriguez said no.

For his part, Rodriguez said he had no choice. Hed bought the property for $850,000 and there was no way to cover the mortgage unless he could do short-term rentals. I have a lot invested  so for me to potentially lose the property, I cant have that happen, he said.

Rodriguez, 34, grew up with nothing, the son of a single mom in the Bronx. He joined the Coast Guard and saved enough for his first rental house in Rockland County six years ago, then used creative financing to buy more. He started out renting only to long-term tenants, but after getting burned by a long eviction battle that put him $9,000 in the hole, he began converting everything he owned to short-term.

At least with short-term rentals, I have more control, he said. And yes, ultimately, it comes down to more income.

Knowing they had to move, the Kanes looked for another rental. But Hudson Valley housing prices had blown up during the pandemic, and there was intense competition to rent anything.

The Kanes also learned from local activists that even without a lease they had rights and could fight an eviction order. But they felt that a fight meant more stress.

We didnt want to spend our whole pregnancy in an eviction battle, Emily said.

So when a friend offered John and Emily a rough cabin in the woods a few miles outside of Kingston, they left.

Michael Solow / Special to the Times Union

The Airbnb-ing of Kingston

The economics of short-term rentals are compelling. Consider: As of this writing, you can rent an Airbnb at 438 Abeel St. these days. On a weekend in May, John and Emily Kanes former one-bedroom will run you $599 for two nights. To rent the two-bedroom unit in the same house is $688. Prices for short-term rentals can fluctuate based on demand, but if Rodriguez were to rent both apartments every day in May at the prices listed at the beginning of the month, hed make $20,000 before costs.

According to research firm AirDNA, Kingston had 314 active vacation rental listings at the end of 2022, or 100 more than at the start of the pandemic, with an average one-night rate of $230. Airbnbs dominate, making up 73 percent of those listings. Nearly 9 in 10 short-term rentals are entire homes, not spare rooms inside a house, meaning that hundreds of homes in Kingston are not being rented to long-term tenants, which suggests that many people have been displaced in recent years.

Kingston officials and residents are hotly debating how to handle the citys growing short-term rental market. Kingstons upcoming change to its zoning code seeks to limit the number of short-term rentals to 1 percent of the current housing stock, or about 100 units. Once the code is in place, it will freeze new short-term rentals. In addition, existing short-term rentals will be subject to new enforcement and compliance procedures, said Bartek Starodaj, the citys director of housing initiatives. He said the zoning code could be approved as early as June.

The activist group For the Many has fiercely weighed in on the debate with its Homes Are Not Hotels campaign, which goes further than what Kingston plans to do.

If you want to rent out a room in your house as an Airbnb, thats great, said spokesman Aaron Fernando. But when someone doesnt even live here, buys an entire house, evicts tenants and turns it into Airbnbs, is that helping anybody? No, its taking housing away from people.

When local good-cause isnt good enough

At the same time as the Kanes faced displacement, across the city a building was sold to an outsider who also seemed to want higher profits. The seller, Michael Sanders, had owned the grand seven-unit Victorian at 58 Fair St. since 1980. The rents were reasonable, even though tenants complained of poor insulation, leaks, roaches and mice.

In early spring 2022, rumors began to fly of a new owner. The tenants say they werent notified of the change, but Sanders had sold to Uptown Kingston LLC for $935,000 on March 7, according to REMAX.com. Shortly afterward, a notice told everyone they had to vacate because they owed back rent in the same amount: $2,500. Tenants said that wasnt at all accurate. They were not told where to send their rent money.

Soon, a man who would only identify himself as Isaac came by to offer tenants modest, one-time payments to leave, or face eviction. Several tenants took the deal, but the renters in apartments No. 1 and No. 3 decided to stay and fight.

Chanell Marshall, 36, was in apartment 3. She grew up in public housing and graduated from Kingston High School. She loved cosmetology and planned to get certified but never did, due to her struggles with sickle-cell anemia and asthma. Also, at that time, her mother broke her leg in a bad fall. Marshall began to provide part-time home care for her.

Life just threw me a monkey wrench, she said.

Marshall moved to 58 Fair St. in 2016 and paid $850 a month until her mother, Ann-Marie, moved in a few years later. Sanders bumped up the rent another $100, but there it stayed. Marshalls daughter, LaShay, could walk to George Washington Elementary while Marshall worked, mainly at the Big Bubble Laundromat on Broadway. When the laundromat closed due to the pandemic in 2020, Marshall made ends meet with nanny work and hair styling. She fell behind on rent but had a payment plan worked out with Sanders.

But fighting to stay in her apartment was a losing battle. Marshall sought legal aid and help from the city. She and her mother met Kingston Mayor Steve Noble at a hearing, who had them talk with a city staffer, a self-described problem solver. They explained their problem but never heard back.

Nor did they find recourse in court, despite good-cause eviction having passed in Kingston in January 2022. Good-cause ordinances passed in five cities, but local judges have struck down three of them, citing a conflict with existing state law. To avoid a costly court battle, Kingston voted to repeal its own good-cause measure while urging the state Legislature to pass it statewide.

Marshall did win a stay in order to apply for New Yorks Emergency Rental Assistance Program. She eventually was approved, but the landlord continued to refuse any rent payments. A final eviction order was issued in March. She and her family left on April 3.

Who owns Kingstons rental housing?

In addition to 58 Fair St., Uptown Kingston LLC owns four other rental properties in the city, according to city official Starodaj.

Efforts to get in touch with the company were unsuccessful. However, less than two months after buying 58 Fair St., it was listed for $1.1 million, or $165,000 over the price Uptown Kingston LLC had just paid. The listing was later removed with no sale recorded.

According to For the Many organizing strategist June Nemon, the owners of Uptown Kingston LLC are the same owners as E&M Management, a notorious group from New York City that buys rent-stabilized apartment buildings and tries to deregulate and flip them.

Corporate ownership of rental houses in the U.S. has exploded since the 2008 Great Recession, when about 3.8 million homes entered foreclosure. Investors scooped up hundreds of thousands of these homes at distressed prices and turned them into rental properties.

Large institutions currently own only about 5 percent of the nations 14 million single-family rentals. But the action has ramped up with investors buying more than 20 percent of all homes for sale in recent years. If current trends hold, investors may own as much as 40 percent of all rental homes by 2030. Its already the case that where corporate owners dominate, they drive up rent prices, forcing more prospective first-time homebuyers into perpetual tenancy.

The city of Kingston doesnt keep track of corporate housing ownership, according to Starodaj. But Kwame Holmes, a professor at Bard, and his class did a deep dive on a chunk of Midtown Kingston in 2020, which led to some revealing findings. Of 481 Midtown properties, non-locals owned 275; most owners were from New York City, but some were from as far away as California, Texas and Florida. Limited liability corporations owned 87 properties, 10 of which shared names with corporate landlords operating in states across the country.

These dynamics illustrate the extent to which land in Kingston is a site of profit extraction, and very little of that capital directly benefits local residents, the Bard report states.

Bard College CCE Program

Glimmers of change

For decades, Kingston took a hands-off approach to housing regulation. Why regulate if most people could afford a decent place to live?

But thats no longer the reality. Kingston was named the hottest real estate market in the country in 2021, and the median two-bedroom rental is currently $1,615  25 percent more expensive than just three years ago.

Last summer, Kingston became the first upstate city to opt into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, declaring a housing emergency after a survey showed that the vacancy rate was below 5 percent. The declaration has been challenged by a landlord group but upheld in court, though an appeal is currently before the Appellate Divisions Third Department.

The ETPA protects tenants, but only in buildings built before 1974 with 6 or more units  about 1,300 apartments in Kingston. Under the ETPA, an independent board sets rent increases and tenants cant be denied lease renewals or be evicted without cause. At the state level, although the state Senate and Assembly put statements of support for good-cause eviction in their budgets, it fell away in this years final budget, along with other major housing legislation.

Even so, Ulster County Legislator Phil Erner, who represents Kingston, finds grounds for cautious optimism. Kingston and Ulster County now have staff members who advocate for affordable housing, and Erner hopes that the new zoning code will move the housing needle, such as allowing accessory dwelling units to be built. He points to the city promising grants of up to $125,000 to help moderate-income homeowners build an ADU, like converting a garage to an apartment, so long as they agree to rent it below market for at least 10 years.

Erner tempered his optimism with a call for greater individual ownership. Were still trying to build housing using the conventional paradigm, he said. Well incentivize the for-profit developer, and theyre going to own what they build. But Im more interested in models where the housing belongs to the residents.

Erner tried to press that point on the developer of Golden Hill, currently the only large-scale affordable housing development in the works in Kingston. It will have 160 units of senior and workforce apartments  but all rentals, no owners.

On the ownership side, theres the initiative to renovate zombie properties by the Kingston City Land Bank. Thus far, 15 houses have been renovated and sold well below market price to moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Far more are needed, with only a few on the way.

Kingstons Starodaj said the city is also putting in place a right to counsel program that will connect tenants with outside lawyers, and pay for them. The city will use $500,000 of pandemic recovery funds to get the program started, and the Ulster County Legislature recently granted $200,000 to Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to hire two employees for eviction services.

Legal counsel is the number one factor in a tenant being able to prevent eviction, Starodaj said.

Voices of the displaced

Some argue that efforts like these, no matter how well-intentioned, are nibbling around the edges of a much larger problem.

The way our society allocates housing to people is problematic, said Jason Mays, an attorney with the Hudson Valley Justice Center. A tenant is basically buying short-term access to property because they couldnt afford to buy the place outright. Its a poverty trap. If they live out their lives as renters, theyre going to pay far more than they would have paid for a house.

Putting aside the bigger picture of how our economy is structured, the reality on the ground is painful for many.

John and Emily Kane moved to that cabin in the woods, grateful for their friends offer. They put in a wood stove to heat the place. In December, a healthy John Junior was born. Then, in February, an opportunity to work on a construction project in northern Maine came up. The Kanes took it, though they miss the Hudson Valley and hope to be back by the summer.

I think whats happening is motivated by pure greed, by a lack of any concern for the other persons well-being, John said. Thats what has run rampant in the housing market. Its just a total cash grab on the part of people who arent a part of the community in any way, shape or form. And theyre just ruining peoples lives.

Kane has some advice for what citizens should do. We need to start being NIMBY about Airbnb. I mean, were NIMBY about homeless shelters. Lets NIMBY out on every house getting turned into a hotel.

When last contacted, Chanell Marshall, her ailing mom and her daughter were sleeping on the floor of a friends apartment in another part of Kingston.

Since the whole world got shut down by COVID, its like everybody lost their minds, she said. And some never got it back. I literally feel like one morning I woke up and yesterday was 20 centuries ago. Because when I compare where I came from to where Im at now  its totally different. Im used to having block parties. Im used to, when things go wrong on one side of the fence, the whole block is there for one another. Not this division that we have in this community, where its not caring about the next person. Im not used to this.

Chanells daughter, LaShay, a third-grader, said she was nervous and sad about having to attend a different school.

But thats not all: And Im a little mad.

Michael Solow is a freelance writer in Kingston. His last article for the Times Union was about the struggle to build a home for people without homes in Kingston.
Living in the southern Adirondacks is a star among black metal fans. In the next couple months, his profile within that genre is about to rise even further.

Blackbraid, the stage name for Capital Region native and solo indigenous American artist Sgahgahsowah, recently announced his second LP will be released on Friday, July 7. Blackbraid II comes on the heels of his first-ever national tour, which starts this week. Both the tour and new album build off the buzz he gained for his 2022 eponymous debut, a surprise hit that had a run as a top seller on Bandcamp last summer and was named the 14th best metal album of the year by Rolling Stone.

When he first started recording material as Blackbraid a couple years ago, this type of success wasnt on Sgahgahsowahs mind. He was working full time as a carpenter and just looking to have some fun and exercise his creativity.

Its pretty nuts, Sgahgahsowah said. Ive been a musician my entire life, playing guitar is my bread-and-butter, but it had been five-to-10 years since I had been playing music at all, before this I was in smaller, (crummy) things when I was young. Then I met my wife, got married, traveled, bought a house, all that (stuff).

For more info Blackbraid You can order Blackbraid I and other items, and check out tour dates here: https://blackbraid.us/

To stream Blackbraid I and the single from the impending Blackbraid II, visit: https://blackbraid.bandcamp.com/ See More Collapse

By summer 2020, music was more a hobby at that point, he continued. I was messing around on some instrumentals and liked them so much, I knew I wanted to do a full album. It was supposed to be a side endeavor that Id put on Bandcamp, maybe print some CDs. Then it ended up being number one on Bandcamp for quite some time, it was insane. Now theres this tour, which is really wild. Im in my 30s and, until now, I had never planned on doing music for a career.

And its definitely become a full-time career for Sgahgahsowah. Hes an independent artist, unsigned by a record label and looking to keep it that way. Blackbraid business is a two-person enterprise; he handles the music end of the operation, while his wife manages the logistics and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Much like he didnt expect music to become his primary occupation, Sgahgahsowah didnt know that maintaining it was going to be quite so intense.

Ive turned down every metal label under the sun and Im really sticking by being independent, he said. A label is unnecessary to me. Were in a very unique position where me and my wife handle everything a label would do. Shes the other half of Blackbraid and makes everything functional. She handles the merchandise, design elements, really spearheaded the business side. Anything a label would do, she does.

Its still definitely extremely stressful; I quit my job around this time last year as a carpenter  building houses, doing handyman stuff  as Blackbraid became substantial income, Sgahgahsowah added. I thought, Oh man, Im a career musician now, life is going to be so great. Its so much more stressful than working 40 hours a week. Blackbraid is my baby and on my mind 24/7. Orchestrating everything, from the store, shipping, recording, its very hard to not just work.

Sgahgahsowahs workload continues to increase. He had wanted to keep Blackbraid as a studio project and until recently, continued to turn down shows until he received offers he couldnt refuse. His current tour is sponsored by Metal Blade Records and Decibel Magazine, key brands in the metal world, and features major black metal acts Dark Funeral and Cattle Decapitation as headliners. On June 15, in what he describes as an I made it moment, Blackbraid will be playing on the same bill as Kiss at HellFest just outside of Paris, France.

Since Blackbraid is a solo affair in the studio, Sgahgahsowah had to assemble a band for these performances. To accomplish that, Sgahgahsowah reached out to Eduardo EDO Mora, who runs the Los Angeles-based, all-indigenous Night of the Palemoon black metal label.

The guys I use live are all friends from L.A., Sgahgahsowah explained. Once Blackbraid got to the point where we had to do live shows, I talked to EDO to put the lineup together. It was kind of nerve-wracking, but I trust him with my music.

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.

All of the other members have their own solo thing, which honestly its pretty standard for black metal to be solo projects, he continued. These dudes are all great and not unfamiliar to the dynamic (of being accompanists for a solo project), they understand my thing and it works out great. Were really pumped to play.

Putting together an all-indigenous black metal band was, all things considered, pretty simple. Black and death metal are thriving subcultures in Native American communities and Blackbraid joins artists like Lamp of Murmuur and Of Feather and Bone as indigenous acts to become breakout genre acts.

Black metal and its themes are rooted in Scandinavian culture. As Sgahgahsowah explains, the music translates seamlessly to indigenous peoples and their cultural experiences.

Ive listened to black metal for many, many years, since I was a teen. Its kind of my default, he said. Im a very nature-oriented person and spend a lot of time in the wilderness, which goes hand-in-hand (with black metal). If you look at the origins of black metal in Scandinavia in the 1980s and 90s, theres pagan, anti-Christian, nature-worshipping themes. That goes hand-in-hand with the Native American experience; the themes are interchangeable with both cultures.

Pagan religions in Scandinavia were oppressed and subjected to rape and murder by White Christians, its a pretty bloody history, Sgahgahsowah added. Most Native Americans I know would say they experienced that same treatment from White Christians. Black metal is about the divinity of nature. Its more based on oppression than rebellion, which is more relevant to indigenous culture and experience.
Pardue brothers bombing

Danbury, 1970

In an attempt to rob the Union Savings Bank in Danbury, brothers John and James Pardue planted a series of bombs around Danbury as a distraction on Feb. 13, 1970. Three bombs went off in different locations around the city, including the parking lot of the old Danbury Mall and the police department inside of the converted Main Street School building. No deaths were reported from the bombings, but 26 people were injured.

The duo made away with $26,346 from the Danbury bank.

Over the following weeks, the two brothers were connected to the explosions and robbery, with police tracking down John to a Crane Street home, and James all the way in Maryland. While in custody, the two were connected to other robberies and holdups that ranged from Missouri to New York. They were also responsible for five murders, including the deaths of their father and grandfather, according to the Associated Press.

In 1971, John confessed to the crimes on his deathbad after being mortally wounded in a prison escape attempt in Bridgeport. James was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was transferred to a psychiatric facility. After a brief stay at the facility, James was released; he subsequently was arrested and served a 14-year prison sentence for the kidnapping and rape of a Kansas City woman. In 1991, James took his own life in his jail cell while serving a separate 25-year prison sentence for his role in the bank robberies.
NewGlobe

EkoEXCEL Situation Room

EkoEXCEL Situation Room

LONDON, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African education leaders travelling to London to showcase NewGlobe-supported transformational public educational programs at the prestigious Education World Forum (EWF), May 8 - 10.

Harnessing education data to drive learning transformation will be a key takeaway for the global education community at EWF, the biggest gathering of education ministers in the world.

They face what World Bank Education Director, Jaime Saavedra, calls, the most serious crisis in education in 100 years.

Data from the World Bank shows global Learning Poverty  defined as the percentage of 10-year-olds unable to read a simple sentence  in low and middle-income countries has increased from 50% to 70% while in Sub-Saharan Africa it is 90%.

Despite such enormous challenges, NewGlobe-supported programs in Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, and Manipur (India) are leading the way in the use of education data-led solutions to Learning Poverty.

The success stories of the EKOEXCEL, EdoBEST, BayelsaPRIME, KwaraLEARN, Bridge Liberia, RwandaEQUIP, and STAR Education programs will be on display at EWF. All are seeing huge improvements in learning outcomes.

Underpinning their success is a data-driven structured pedagogy, independently assessed in Kenya in a study led by Nobel Prize winning economist Professor Michael Kremer. It confirmed learning gains among the largest ever measured in international education.

The EKOEXCEL program in Lagos State, Nigeria is an exemplary case of using data-driven solutions to reverse Learning Poverty. One of the program's initiatives, the Situation Room will be on display at EWF.

The Situation Room visualizes data from all 1012 primary schools in Lagos State, offering powerful insights. Using NewGlobes Spotlight software, gives education leaders access to key data in real time  empowering the government to make informed interventions.



Lagos State Education Commissioner, Folashade Adefisayo said:

Story continues

If there are any problems in schools, we are able to track them, so people going there to solve the problem have a lot of data in their hands; they would know how many children and teachers there are, whether the head teacher is at school and whether students are having learning difficulties in a subject.

Within eight weeks of EKOEXCELs launch, literacy learning rates measured three times faster, and numeracy two times faster, than schools not in the program.

EWF promises to inspire governments to harness education data to reshape education and overcome Learning Poverty, with visionary African governments leading.

For additional information, contact: marek.pruszewicz@newglobe.education




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ALBANY  The man accused of threatening staff and barricading himself with his 97-year-old mother in her hospital room at Albany Medical Center Hospital in March now faces a murder charge in his mother's death.

An Albany County grand jury returned a three-count indictment that charged Dino Savoca, 61, with second-degree murder, attempted murder of a police officer and possession of a weapon.

His attorney, Martin Bonventre, declined to comment on Monday.

The indictment does not lay out exactly how investigators believe Savoca killed his mother, Rosemary Appel.

Police confirmed Appel died a day after the incident, but did not clarify her cause of death at the time.

Savoca is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The news was first reported by WTEN.

The standoff started on March 27 when Savoca became upset after he learned his mother was going to be moved to another facility.

Police said Savoca came to the hospital and threatened a person with what appeared to be a handgun; the worker had arrived around 2:30 p.m. Monday to transport Savoca's mother. Savoca then barricaded himself in the hospital room with a recliner chair and medical stands with his mother on the third floor of Building C, police said.

Police tried for several hours to negotiate with Savoca but he did not appear to respond to them. When the city police department's Emergency Services Team entered the room they found Savoca sitting upright on the bed next to his mother, who was slumped over and unconscious, a city police detective testified at a preliminary hearing.

Next to Savoca was a BB gun and a shotgun, cocked and ready to fire with a single 12-gauge round inside, according to police. Albany police initially told the media Savoca was only armed with a BB gun.

Savoca allegedly did not respond to commands, and other officers had to drag him from the room, according to police testimony.

Police later went to the residence he shared with his mother on Ahl Avenue in Colonie and found the gas stove had been left on and there were candles and incense lit in the trailer.

Savoca was initially charged with second-degree kidnapping and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, as well as second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor.
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SCHOHARIE  Another juror and an alternate were dismissed Tuesday. Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery took heat for failing to disclose the criminal histories of her witnesses. The judge reminded the remaining jurors they cannot use marijuana before court.

It was Day Two of testimony in the Schoharie limousine crash trial and things are already messy.

Medical problems prompted the exit of a second juror from the trial of Nauman Hussain, the limo company operator on trial for allegedly failing to properly maintain the vehicle involved in the Oct. 6, 2018, crash that killed 20 people.

The juror, a woman, did not appear for the resumption of testimony Tuesday after telling a court official she was suffering from allergies and asthma. State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch reached her by phone and, using a speaker phone in court, questioned her about her absence in open court.

I cant catch my breath, the woman said, wheezing as she told the judge she had asthma. I think I could make it in tomorrow as long as I can bring my medication and take it as needed, she said later.

But the woman was dismissed. An alternate juror took her place. She is the second juror to leave the case. Another juror was dismissed Monday with an alternate filling that vacancy.

On Tuesday, one of the alternate jurors was also dismissed by the judge, leaving the jury with just one alternate available to step in if another juror leaves a trial that is expected to take at least five weeks.

I found her to be wholly unqualified for this case, Lynch said about the alternate, without specifying the reason for her dismissal.

However, when the jury was finally allowed into court Tuesday, Lynch told the remaining jurors: I will not tolerate any juror smoking marijuana before they come to court for the day.

The upheaval among the jurors occurred after the judge and the attorneys spent five days last week vetting potential jurors for a trial four years in the making.

Sign up for the Justice in Schoharie newsletter Stay up to date with the latest developments in the Schoharie limo crash investigation and the trial of Nauman Hussain with our free newsletter. Sign up here.

And the loss of two jurors and the alternate was not the only thing to complicate the early days of the trial.

On Monday, Hussains attorney, Lee Kindlon, asked Lynch to declare a mistrial after revealing that Mallery did not disclose the criminal history of Larry Macera, one of the first witnesses called by the prosecution. Lynch denied the request.

Witness trouble surfaced again on Tuesday. Overnight, Mallery sent Kindlon information about Maceras criminal history  and the criminal history of two other prosecution witnesses. Such disclosures are usually made before testimony begins at trials.

Lynch struck the testimony of Macera, a Rensselaer man who was the original owner of the 31-foot stretch Ford Excursion involved in the crash. Macera custom-ordered the party limo in 2001 for Royale Limousine, his now-defunct limo company in Troy, from a Springfield, Mo., company that specialized in stretching SUVs and other cars into limos.

Jurors will not be allowed to consider Maceras testimony when they deliberate.

After all those issues were sorted out, Chad Smith, the state Department of Transportation investigator who pursued limousine operator Nauman Hussain for more than a year before the 2018 limo crash in Schoharie, returned to the stand for a second day of questioning.

Smith is one of the most important witnesses in Mallerys case against Hussain, who is on trial in county court on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the deadly crash next to the popular Apple Barrel Cafe, which is located just down the road from the courthouse.

 A timeline of events surrounding the Schoharie limo crash

Smith's interactions with Hussain have been widely documented in the press as well as in a 2020 National Transportation Safety Board report on the cause of the crash, which was blamed on catastrophic brake failure by both the NTSB and and a consultant hired by State Police investigators.

Smith did two "roadside" inspections of the Excursion in the presence of Hussain in the months leading up to the crash in the Saratoga Springs parking lot where Hussain kept the Excursion parked when not in use. Smith didn't get under the vehicle or put it on a lift, but he would bend down and look under the vehicle the best he could, turn on the ignition and open the hood looking for common safety issues.

In both cases, Smith uncovered problems serious enough to affix a large "out-of-service" sticker on the driver's side of the Excursion's windshield that alerts the public that the vehicle isn't safe for commercial use.

Such DOT stickers can only be removed once the required repairs are made.

"I did explain I was affixing an out-of-service decal and what that meant," Smith said of his conversations with Hussain after the March 21, 2018 inspection.

One of several safety violations that Smith testified about involved a vice grip secured with zip ties that had been attached to a brake line near the left rear brake caliper.

"It appeared to be crimping the rubber hydraulic brake line," Smith told special prosecutor Fred Rench, who has been leading much of the questioning of witnesses for Mallery.

Smith said the vice grip "rendered the brake to be less than effective," triggering an automatic out-of-service violation, one of several Smith had uncovered that day.

Smith said Hussain told him he didn't know how the vice grip had gotten there, which Smith found troubling.

"If you didn't do it then somebody did, and you need to check it out," Smith said he told Hussain.

Smith told the jury that two months later he decided to do an informal "spot check" on the Excursion and was glad to find that the vice grip was missing and it appeared that some parts had been replaced on the rear driver's side caliper.

"The parts appeared shiny," Smith said. "It appeared they could be replacement parts."

The next time Smith inspected the Excursion in September 2018, a month before the crash, he did order the Excursion off the road for safety repairs, but the issue with the rear brake was not one of them.

"Some progress had been made," Smith testified.
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Although they are grateful that the man accused of killing James Edward Knapp Jr. of Newtown has been convicted, his loved ones said they are still left with a hole in their hearts.

Patrick Griffin, the New Fairfield man charged in the May 2022, stabbing death of 65-year-old Knapp, is facing up to 20 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of intentional and reckless manslaughter last week at state Superior Court in Danbury.

This guilty verdict is a step toward justice, but it will never bring our father back, the victims son, Ryan Knapp, said after Griffins recent conviction. He wont be there to enjoy his retirement, travel with his wife or see his grandchildren grow up.

James Knapp  a lifelong Newtown resident and former educator, remembered as a kind, caring and compassionate person  was fatally stabbed at Griffins New Fairfield residence.

Griffin was found guilty of two first-degree manslaughter charges last Tuesday, after an eight-day jury trial and is scheduled to be sentenced July 10.

Though his attorney, Alexander Schwartz, said hes disappointed with the guilty verdict and intends to appeal the outcome, Ryan Knapp said he and his family are grateful.

While the video evidence was difficult to watch, we feel any reasonable person would have come to the same conclusion: there was no justification for killing our father, Knapp said, noting that his family was there every day of the trial.

Police said they responded to the Griffins house on Hillview Drive East around 9:30 p.m. May 7, 2022, and found James Knapp in the kitchen with a large stab wound in his stomach. He was transported to Danbury Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police said Griffin claimed to have no choice but to stab James Knapp, who he said had his foot on his throat.

According to his arrest warrant, Griffin told authorities he got into a fight with Knapp after returning from a bar in Patterson, N.Y., and said Knapp dragged him into the house and stomped on him.

We believe the story presented by the defendant was frankly absurd, Ryan Knapp said, noting that a hospital physician who examined Griffin the night of the incident testified in court that he had no neck injuries that would be consistent with stomping on his neck.

And Knapp also said it doesnt make sense that his father  who he said went to check on Griffin that night  would suddenly snap on him.

That day, our father had been attending a fundraiser for one of his former students, he said. That afternoon, (he) told us that he was going to check on Mr. Griffin, who was drinking alone and gambling on the horse race.

Knapp said Ring video footage presented in court showed his father helping Griffin into his house that night.

The video showed our father helping Mr. Griffin into his house, while Mr. Griffin was falling over from being intoxicated, he said. The last images of our fathers life, as captured on the Ring camera, were of him walking Mr. Griffins dog.

That a fight occurred inside the residence is predicated on Griffins inconsistent accounts, Knapp said, and due to Griffins actions, his father is no longer alive to tell his side of the story.

Mr. Griffin is a sad, desperate case, and we feel pity for him because he has to live with the guilt of killing one of the only people who cared enough to help him when he was struggling, Knapp said.

Knapp said he and his family are grateful for the diligent work that Senior Assistant States Attorney Russell Zentner put into reviewing hours of video footage and building a winning case.

We were confident the state presented compelling evidence that contradicted Mr. Griffins multitude of inconsistent stories, he said. We also want to thank Kristine Kellas from the Office of Victims Services and everyone at the nonprofit Survivors of Homicide for all their support through this difficult and confusing process.

In addition to the manslaughter charges, Griffin is facing a criminal possession of firearm charge stemming from a search warrant of his house after the May 2022 stabbing death.

While police were executing a search warrant, they claimed to have found a firearm in the house, Schwartz told Hearst Connecticut Media last week. The state tried to add the firearm claim to the case, but I was successful in convincing Judge (Robin) Pavia not to allow it in.

Court records show Griffin  who is currently held at the Cheshire Correctional Institution, according to the state Department of Correction  has a disposition hearing on that charge scheduled for the same day as his July 10 sentencing.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS  The police departments release of the expletive-laced video of the mayor verbally attacking the deputy commissioner of Public Safety in the corridor at City Hall after the mayor claimed the deputy didnt respond to his concerns over a perceived threat is causing more anguish.

The video, which has been up on the city police Facebook page since Friday night, names the person whom Mayor Ron Kim said allegedly threatened him and his family. Now the accused person wants his name redacted from the video and denies that an email he sent to Kim telling him to just resign, it will be better for you in the end, was a threat.

He also said he never threatened Kims family.

I do not know who Ron Kims family is, and even if I did, I would never threaten him or his family, the accused man said. The Times Union is not naming the man because no charges have been filed in the incident.

Kim said the posting of the video has resulted in endangering my family even more and that the person who threatened him only lives two blocks away.

By late Monday afternoon, the mans name had not been redacted from the video, even though Commissioner of Public Safety Jim Montagnino said it would be.

The video in question shows an angry encounter between Kim and Jason Tetu in which Kim hurls the f-word at Tetu and calls him lazy for not responding to his emails about what he perceived to be a threat. Tetu shot back that he would arrest Kim if he ever banged on his office door like that again.

Kim said Tetu and Montagnino never responded to his concerns and thats why he was angry. He apologized on Friday night and did meet with a city police officer to file a report.

Yet police spokesman Lt. Paul Veitch said they will not investigate.

The email does not contain any threat to the mayors safety or that of his family, Veitch said. As no crime occurred regarding the email, there is no active case to investigate. There is a case report on file with the police department for documentation purposes.

Kim said the release of the video violates the city polices policy to not use body cameras to record conversations between employees without their knowledge during routine, non-emergency activities.

On Monday, Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino said he disagrees with Kims interpretation.

I am at a loss to understand why you chose to cite this provision, Montagnino said. The encounter began with Rons loud and repeated banging on the glass of my office door.  It is likely that the noise of the banging was the reason for the activation of the body cam. Ergo, as the camera was not activated to surreptitiously record a conversation, the provision is inapposite.

Montagnino also said that Tetu will not press charges against Kim.

All this has triggered the citys Republican Committee Chairman Michael Brandi to release a statement about Kims use of the f-word," which he said Kim used against another employee, as seen in an email obtained by the Freedom of Information and shared with the Times Union.



This disturbing pattern has to stop, Brandi said of the Democratic Mayor. Mayor Kim has shown no ability to control his temper and it is completely inappropriate to direct this kind of vitriol and threats towards an employee in any context. If this was corporate America, Kim would lose his job.



In the end, Kim said the video release flabbergasts him.



To put it up on the website, there was no justification for that, Kim said. Jim is weaponizing police department body cam video. Hell say its transparency. I say it dangerous.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS  Saying that the current public safety commissioner is antagonistic to social justice advocates, the chair of the citys Civilian Review Board is seeking to enter November's election.

Kristen Dart, a vice president of political affairs with Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts and the granddaughter of a decorated Tuskegee Airman lieutenant colonel, said she was inspired by public comment at the May 2 City Council meeting.

I was really inspired by the idea that there are enough people to show up on a Tuesday night to talk about the goals and ideas they have and they deserve an option sitting at the City Council representing them in that way," said the 40-year-old, who identifies as biracial. "I dont feel the other two candidates present that option to the city.

However, to enter the race, she needs 631 petition signatures by May 30 for a third party line she wants to create called Community First. If she achieves that, she will be running against incumbent Democrat Jim Montagnino and a Democrat running as a Republican, Tim Coll.

Montagnino said he welcomes the challenge.

I think the voters should be empowered to choose their leaders, Montagnino said. Im deeply disappointed that three of the City Council members are running without a challenger. Voters deserve a choice.

Coll also said on Tuesday that he commends her for running, but did not say where he stands on social justice issues. He said his focus is on homelessness, saying the city is facing a humanitarian crisis.

Dart is a Saratoga Springs native who worked as an organizer for Planned Parenthood in Providence, RI. After working in city and state government in Rhode Island, she moved back to Saratoga in February 2020 and was appointed to sit on the city's Police Reform Task Force. That body designed the 50-points of police reform plan that includes the Civilian Review Board.

I have some background in doing this work, Dart said.

Among her priorities would be to train all police in de-escalation practices. "Why wouldn't we do that in a robust way?" she asked.

As for the continued Black Lives Matter protests at City Council meetings, Dart said that will dissipate if the City Council does what it promised to do, mainly adopting the 50-point plan for police reform, which she had a hand in crafting. She said the situation is fraught because Montagnino is opposed to apologizing for the city's history of systemic racism. He also does not believe the police, who are currently under investigation by the state Attorney General for alleged civil rights violations when dealing with Black Lives Matter protesters, are implicitly biased.

Its naive to think that Saratoga is a place where racism doesnt exist and we cant improve our own system, Dart said. I think if I am in that role, I will work with the council to move along what the community has expressed support for.

Coll has remained mostly silent on social justice. He says, however, he hopes "to repair and restore relationships that have been damaged by the current City Council.

Dart, who just decided on Friday to run, finds that response inadequate.

Tim Coll hasnt defined himself, Dart said. He is a registered Democrat running on a Republican line. For me, a person who has had a lifetime dedicated to Democratic principles, I cant image in this moment being on a Republican line.  I believe in reaching across the aisle, but that partys values do not align with my values.

Dart said she would step down from the Civilian Review Board if elected. She said she would do it sooner if a case came before the board, saying it would be a conflict of interest.
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QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Ecuadors opposition-led National Assembly voted Tuesday to move forward with impeachment proceedings against President Guillermo Lasso over embezzlement allegations, while his defense team argued that the procedure violated the legislative body's own rules.

The vote to move forward with the impeachment process required a majority of lawmakers present, and 88 of the 116 lawmakers at the session voted in favor. The debate came three days after a majority-led legislative committee declined to adopt a report produced by its own members that had cleared Lasso of the allegations.

Assemblywoman Viviana Veloz, a member of the opposition, urged lawmakers to allow the process to continue so that once and for all, it is absolutely clear, this trial has a political nature.

Tuesday's vote means that Lassos accusers and his defense will be allowed to present evidence before the National Assembly. To remove the president, at least 92 of the Assemblys 137 members  more than two-thirds  would have to vote in favor later this month.

At any time during the process, Lasso could move to dissolve the Assembly and govern by decree with the control of the Constitutional Court for up to six months, after which he would have to call for new presidential and legislative elections.

Lasso told foreign press in April that he would not hesitate to dissolve the Assembly if his removal were imminent. Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities, the largest of its kind in the country, ruled out protests should the Assembly be dissolved.

Julio Echeverria, a professor at the campus in Quito of the Latin American Social Sciences Institute, said Lasso's presidency reached this point because of his confrontational style, and now, we have a president who is desperate to find allies to save himself from impeachment.

Echeverria added that if Lasso manages to keep his job, he will likely change his style and be more flexible with economic policies, including being more open to investing in education and health programs that would benefit the poor.

The last time Ecuadorian lawmakers removed a president from office was in 1997, when without an impeachment trial, medical report or psychiatric evaluation, they declared Abdala Bucaram mentally unfit to govern.

While lawmakers accuse the president of embezzlement, they have not offered proof of the accusation, and on Saturday, the Legislative Oversight Commission issued a report that cleared Lasso. But five of the nine commision members voted to not approve the report.

Edgar Neira, Lassos lawyer, told the Teleamazonas television network that the lawmakers move has no legal basis. The Assembly cannot exercise a power that is not established in the constitution and the law, Neira said.
ALBANY  The U.S. attorneys office has filed for a protective order that would bar three Rensselaer County government officials from disclosing any information they receive through pre-trial discovery in their criminal cases with other potential targets or subjects of the investigation.

The filing confirms that the ballot fraud investigation, which has been ongoing for more than a year, could result in additional arrests. The order would prevent the three officials  Richard W. Crist, James R. Gordon and Leslie A. Wallace  or their attorneys from sharing any details of the government's evidence with anyone else pending a trial or other court action in the case.

Federal prosecutors last month raised concerns that the three defendants, who are influential figures in both county government and local politics, might try to intimidate county employees who had cooperated in the investigation, including confirming that they had allegedly been coerced into applying for absentee ballots in the 2021 elections.

 A timeline of the ballot fraud probe in Rensselaer County

When the three were arraigned on April 27, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett asked a U.S. magistrate judge to allow prosecutors to disclose only Board of Elections records that would reveal all county employees who applied for or voted by absentee ballot in 2021. The government raised concerns that Crist, Gordon or Wallace might seek to influence or intimidate any witnesses they supervise in their county positions.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter, while acknowledging he was very concerned about the prospect of witness tampering or coercion, rejected Barnett's request  but cautioned the defendants that any misconduct could result in a change in their pre-trial release.

U.S. District Judge Mae A. DAgostino, who is assigned the case for trial, approved the Justice Departments request for a pre-trial discovery protective order on Tuesday.

The charges include allegations that the trio conspired to use their official positions to violate the constitutional rights of subordinate county employees to intimidate them into requesting and filing absentee ballots, according to federal prosecutors. The FBIs investigation focused on campaign work and voting by county employees who work under the direction of Gordon and Crist, who has served as a political consultant for local and state officials, including several judges.

Sign up for the Rensselaer Now newsletter Keep up with the latest happening in Troy, Rensselaer, East Greenbush and other communities throughout Rensselaer County. Sign up here.

The unusual circumstances of the case have also prompted Democrats on the county Legislature to introduce formal resolutions calling for Crist, Gordon and Wallace to resign. Crist is the countys director of operations; Gordon is director of the countys Bureau of Central Services; Wallace is an assistant for constituent relations in the office of county Executive Steve McLaughlin.

I know first-hand the atmosphere of intimidation and fear created by these individuals, having been a witness and victim of their harassment on more than one occasion, Cindy Doran, the Legislatures deputy minority leader, said in a statement Monday announcing the resolutions. I want the employees of Rensselaer County protected and free of having to endure continued offensive conduct as a condition of their employment.

The Democrats' motions calling for the resignations were scheduled to go before the Legislatures Special Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon. But Democrats said they did not expect that committee, which has a GOP majority, to authorize their motions to go to the floor for a vote.

There is no indication that McLaughlin or Republican legislators in the majority will call on the three defendants to resign or be placed on administrative leave while their criminal case is pending. McLaughlin had remained in his position after he was indicted in December 2021 on unrelated state felony charges alleging he stole from his campaign account. He was acquitted in January following a brief jury trial in Rensselaer County Court.

Crist is a former news reporter and longtime GOP political operative in Rensselaer County who has wielded enormous influence in local politics, and for many years has been McLaughlins political confidant. Wallace is a former Republican legislative aide in the state Assembly and Senate who also has a private political consulting business. Gordon is a former Troy mayoral candidate and a member of the North Greenbush Town Board.

In addition to the single count civil rights conspiracy charge, Gordon was charged with one count of witness tampering and Wallace was charged with one count of making false statements.

Crist, Gordon and Wallace each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to violate constitutional rights. Gordon faces up to 20 years in prison if hes convicted of witness tampering; the charge against Wallace for making false statements carries a five-year maximum sentence.

The ongoing investigation has focused on the actions of multiple Republican officials and has been led by the U.S. Justice Department and special agents with an FBI white-collar crime and public corruption unit in Albany. It had already led to the guilty pleas of former Troy Councilwoman Kimberly Ashe-McPherson and Jason T. Schofield, the countys former Republican elections commissioner.

Schofield pleaded guilty in January to 12 counts of unlawfully using the names and dates of birth of voters to fraudulently apply for absentee ballots for elections held in 2021. He resigned before pleading guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in September. He testified before the grand jury that indicted Crist, Gordon and Wallace.

Ashe-McPherson pleaded guilty 10 months ago to a single felony count in which she admitted to fraudulently submitting absentee ballots in the 2021 primary and general elections as she sought reelection to the city council. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 13.

McLaughlin, the highest-ranking county official, has not been implicated in the federal voter fraud case, but he was among the candidates who allegedly benefited from the ballot fraud during his successful 2021 reelection campaign.

The investigation, led by the FBI, revealed numerous instances in which county employees were enlisted to do political campaign work  much of it related to securing absentee ballots at times when they allegedly were being paid to work for the county. FBI agents also had interviewed individuals, including county employees and others, who may have had absentee ballots submitted without their knowledge.
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The owner of Tengu Asian Bistro, open since September 2018 at 1343 Central Ave. in Colonie, is developing a new restaurant a mile down the road at 1133 Central, an A-frame building that for 25 years was home to TJs Cafe before it closed in July.

The restaurant will be called Hey Chef. The owner, Ruby Liu, said the concept and menu are still being finalized but said it will be an Asian restaurant with a different focus than at Tengu. While a new sign with the Hey Chef name has been installed, an opening is not expected until some time this summer, Liu said. A liquor license is pending, according to the State Liquor Authority database.

The sale, which closed in August, included the restaurant and a multi-unit apartment building behind it. The selling price was $900,000, said Philip Sabatino of Hanna Commercial Real Estate, who represented Liu. His father, Anthony Sabatino, also of Hanna, represented TJs owner Todd Leach.

In other news, the new owner of Bliss Cafe in Delmar said she hopes her story of becoming a business owner inspires other immigrants to strive for dreams of success in America.

Shilpi Debuka, who took over Bliss Cafe this spring, three years after its founding, said that when she first moved to the United States in 2006 she was lonely in a one-bedroom Chicago apartment while her husband worked. After they moved to the Capital Region and she obtained a work visa, Debuka found employment with a state agency but began planning with her daughter, now 15, to open a small, cozy cafe where they could offer authentic India chai, coffee, healthy fare and spiritual programming related to Debukas work as a meditation facilitator.

Bliss Cafe will host a grand-opening event starting at 10 a.m. Friday, May 12, with business and local officials. Free samples will be offered throughout the day of menu fare including smoothies, bowls, snacks called Bliss Bites and what Debuka described as the only truly authentic Indian chai available locally.

Located in a standalone building at 278 Delaware Ave., Bliss Cafe is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday. Call 518-439-0739.

Also, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church on May 19-21 brings back its annual festival for a full three days of in-person activities and celebrations of Greek culture. It returned last year after being conducted in a drive-through format in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

The largest Greek festival in the Capital Region, the St. Sophia weekend annually attracts more than 25,000 people, who consume more than 10,000 pieces of pastry and 10,000 gyro and souvlaki sandwiches.

Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 19; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 20; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the church, 440 Whitehall Road. Admission is $3 per day, free for younger than 12. Additional parking with a free shuttle service will be at the Center for the Disability Services, 314 S. Manning Blvd., across from St. Peters Hospital.

There will be a variety of traditional Greek foods, savory and sweet, available for purchase, as well as more than 20 local vendors and live Greek music and dancing throughout the weekend.

Full details are on the churchs website.

Finally, a Mexican restaurant called Taqueria Tren Maya opened in late March in the Green Village shopping plaza on Lower Hudson Avenue in Green Island, near the Watervliet/Green Island exit of I-787. See the menu on Facebook. Tacos cost $9 to $12 for three; burritos, $10 to $12; main plates, $10 to $19.99. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Call 518-244-5119 for pickup orders or order pickup via DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats.
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service San Angelo TX

438 PM CDT Mon May 8 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Nolan

and northwestern Taylor Counties through 515 PM CDT...

At 437 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms 8

miles south of Trent and 3 miles south of Merkel, moving east at 10

mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Merkel, Tye, Trent, View, Dyess Afb and Camp Butman.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 254 and 278.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3230 10030 3252 10025 3252 9985 3230 9986

TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 261DEG 9KT 3242 10004

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Fayette County in south central Texas...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 440 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near La Grange,

and is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect

wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

La Grange, O'Quinn, Plum and West Point.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Large hail, damaging winds, and continuous cloud to ground lightning

are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is

one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder,

you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
SEATTLE, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines has promoted Tiffany DeHaan to vice president of strategy, analytics and transformation. DeHaan assumes the role currently held by Sandy Stelling, who will retire from Alaska Airlines in July after 23 years.

Tiffany DeHaan

DeHaan will oversee the execution of company strategy, development of all strategic initiatives and overall project execution for Alaska. She is responsible for Alaska's data strategy to drive improved decision-making and value creation, while also providing leadership across the enterprise through successful collaboration and disciplined execution to deliver results for guests, employees and the airline.

"Tiffany is a big-picture strategic thinker who knows how to drive results and get things done," said CEO Ben Minicucci. "We are well positioned to execute on our strategic growth and we are fortunate to have someone with Tiffany's expertise and skills lead this work."

DeHaan joined Alaska in 2018 as managing director of culture, learning and inclusion. In that role, she provided strategic and operational leadership for diversity, equity and inclusion, employee engagement, recognition and events, people communications, and leadership and organizational development to elevate Alaska's culture and enhance the employee experience across Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. She launched Alaska's 2025 DEI Commitments, developed a vision and strategy for the Leader Academy to equip leaders to effectively lead in alignment with the company's values and expectations of their role, redesigned the talent management strategy, and launched employee engagement programs including Leader Immersion and Flight Path.

Prior to joining Alaska, DeHaan spent 12 years at Point B, a global business consulting firm, leading the strategic execution of critical initiatives for major organizations.

DeHaan earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in management information systems from Oregon State University. She and her family reside in Sammamish, Washington. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Story continues

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-names-a-new-vice-president-of-strategy-analytics-and-transformation-301819132.html

SOURCE Alaska Airlines
WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southwestern Jones County in west central Texas...

* Until 545 PM CDT.

* At 502 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Noodle, and

is nearly stationary.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of

southwestern Jones County, including the following locations...

Stith and Truby.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a

Central Fayette County in south central Texas...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 505 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

extending from near La Grange to Muldoon, moving north at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail

damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect

wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

La Grange, Muldoon, Floy, Swiss Alp, Plum, Rutersville,

Ammannsville, O'Quinn, Colony, West Point, Mullins Prairie and

Holman.

Large hail, damaging winds, and continuous cloud to ground lightning

are occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning

is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear

thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, May 8, 2023

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

East central Smith County in northeastern Texas...

West central Marion County in northeastern Texas...

Northwestern Harrison County in northeastern Texas...

Southern Upshur County in northeastern Texas...

Central Gregg County in northeastern Texas...

* Until 400 PM CDT.

* At 252 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Big Sandy, or

near Gladewater, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Longview, White Oak, Gladewater, Gilmer, Clarksville City, East

Mountain, Diana, West Mountain, Union Grove, Warren City, Pritchett

and Judson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Hardin

County through 330 PM CDT...

At 255 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8

miles north of Sour Lake, moving south at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around

unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is

possible.

Locations impacted include...

Sour Lake.

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

LAT...LON 3034 9448 3031 9427 3017 9426 3017 9428

3014 9428 3012 9429 3013 9455

TIME...MOT...LOC 1955Z 007DEG 14KT 3026 9439

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN

MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Attending the Kings coronation was the right thing to do, the Sinn Fein vice president has said.

Michelle ONeill attended the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey on Saturday alongside other party leaders from Northern Ireland, including the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Ms ONeills presence at the coronation was seen as another demonstration of the markedly improved relations between the republican movement and the royal family since the peace process.

Having attended todays Coronation service at Westminster Abbey, it was a pleasure to come together with our President Michael D Higgins. Working in common cause we value the importance of advancing reconciliation, and good relations between Britain and Ireland. pic.twitter.com/HjJHHNzmC9  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) May 6, 2023

At the partys 2023 local election manifesto launch in Newry on Tuesday, Ms ONeill said differing political aspirations should be respected.

I attended the coronation event, because I believe that that was the right thing to do, she said.

I believe that if were going to build a better society, and look towards the future, and a better future for our children and our grandchildren, then we have to have the confidence in ourselves and who we are, and to respect our differences.

And we all have equally legitimate political aspirations and outlooks, and thats OK. But lets be comfortable enough to be respectful of each other. Lets be comfortable enough to build that better future.

And lets keep our eyes on the next 25 years, and weve just celebrated 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, and whats been achieved is amazing, despite all the political ups and downs, whats been achieved is amazing.

And Im focused on the future, and weve talked about change and the changing political landscape, and where we want things to go in the future  lets make sure that everybody feels comfortable, and feels valued and is treated equally in our society, because then wed have the recipe for something better for everybody.

Sinn Fein is standing a record number of candidates across the North, giving people the opportunity to endorse positive and progressive leadership. Today we launched our manifesto, which sets out a vision for a brighter, better future, and how we can work together to deliver pic.twitter.com/8abMxZNtNu  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) May 9, 2023

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that Ms ONeills representation of the party at the coronation was a show of respect for Unionists.

I just wanted to say very clearly that Michelles attendance, Sinn Feins attendance at the coronation, was a mark of recognition and respect for our Unionist citizens, for British people who are British now in a partitioned Ireland, and who will be British in the United Ireland, and its an explicit recognition of that, she said.

She added: We all live here together, for goodnesss sake, when there is an act of, of respect, kindness, inclusion, lets take that. Thats what I think we should do for each other.
[May 09, 2023] Hamilton and Biosero Announce Co-Marketing Agreement to Optimize Automated Liquid Handling Workflows Hamilton and Biosero, Inc., developer of laboratory automation solutions to orchestrate scientific discoveries, today announced a strategic co-marketing agreement aimed at streamlining automated liquid handling workflows. The partnership builds on Hamilton's state-of-the-art automated platforms and Biosero's innovative Green Button Go Software Suite to increase lab efficiency. Under this agreement, the companies will jointly promote and market one another's products, providing laboratories with a proven, comprehensive solution for automation. Laboratories incorporating Hamilton and Biosero technologies will benefit from Hamilton's industry-leading liquid handling solutions and Biosero's intuitive software. "We are tremendously excited to partner with Biosero," said Hamilton Vice CEO Matt Hamilton. "Highlighting the combination of Biosero's advanced scheduling software and Hamilton's time-tested automated platforms allows us to offer customers a straightforward solution to complex, large-scale workflows. This collaboration underscores Hamilton's unwavering commitment to delivering the most advanced automated solutions that allow scientists to focus on what matters most - research and discovery." Ryan Bernhardt, Chief Commercial Officer at Biosero, commented: "At Biosero, we are dedicated to streamlining operations and increasing lab efficiency for scientists around the world. Teaming up with Hamilton, a leader in automated liquid handling solutions, allows us to showcase how our respective technologies can be seamlessly integrated into the lab to increase productivity and inspire future breakthroughs." The co-markting agreement marks an important milestone for Hamilton and Biosero as the companies combine their expertise to deliver an unmatched automated workflow solution. The integration of Hamilton's liquid handling platforms and Biosero's Green Button Go Software Suite will provide laboratories with a powerful and user-friendly system that can be customized to meet their specific needs while delivering consistent and accurate results.





About Hamilton Hamilton is a leading global manufacturer, providing automated liquid handling workstations and laboratory automation technology to the scientific community. With a focus on innovative design, Hamilton products incorporate patented liquid handling technologies into a portfolio that includes liquid handling platforms, standard application-based solutions, small devices, consumables, and OEM liquid handling solutions. Known for advancing life science, clinical diagnostics, forensics, and biotechnology industries, Hamilton products offer reliability, performance, and flexibility. Ensuring a continuous commitment to quality, Hamilton utilizes state-of-the-art manufacturing at production facilities in Reno, Nevada, and Bonaduz, Switzerland and has earned a global ISO 9001 certification. Privately held, Hamilton maintains headquarters in Reno, Nevada; Franklin, Massachusetts; and Bonaduz, Switzerland, along with subsidiary offices throughout the world.

www.hamiltoncompany.com/robotics About Biosero, Inc. Biosero, a member of the BICO group, develops science-centric software and laboratory automation solutions that enable researchers to orchestrate their discoveries at every stage. Biosero's Green Button Go Scheduler software and integration services match laboratory automation to science, creating a cohesive technology ecosystem that accelerates operations and increases productivity. Additionally, Green Button Go Orchestrator applications provide an end-to-end laboratory management solution, directing workflows and operations in life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic research. Biosero is passionate about partnering with organizations dedicated to enhancing life by addressing the world's most significant needs. For more information, please visit www.biosero.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005128/en/

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Updating the Vision: To Drive Channel Growth, Nextiva Expand its Leadership

Renowned conversation platform Nextiva was built on an understanding that so many businesses deserve better, in this day and age. So, Nextiva works on building the future of how businesses and technologies new and old can work seamlessly  One platform, one workspace, zero friction, as the company says.

To be in the best-possible shape to help myriad businesses, Nextiva itself is consistently honing its own team. That is why the company has officially announced the appointment of four new channel leaders to its ranks.

Via this expansion, Nextiva aims to further develop its partner channel, bringing several strategic initiatives to life; this includes driving visibility and demand for the company's multi-site, distributed enterprise customer segment.

The new team members include Scott Forbush as Vice President of Channel  West, Jolynn Antonacci as Vice President of Channel Marketing, Ed Pearce as Vice President of Channel  North, and Brandon Ackert as Strategic Partner Director.

Nextivas Head of Channels Olen Scott, expressed excitement about the strengthened channel team, stating, "We're building the channel dream team at Nextiva. Nextiva has the innovative technology portfolio millions of businesses need to solve their greatest communication challenges, and the mission now is to get that information into the hands of our partner community."

Heres some bite-sized information about each new individual:

Scott Forbush brings more than 25 years of sales leadership experience in the channel. Before joining Nextiva, Forbrush served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales at PPT Solutions, LLC, and Telarus; the latter was where he drove significant growth and went on to expand the company's Cloud, UCaaS, and SD-WAN practices. In terms of Nextiva, Forbush acknowledged the potential here, saying, "The next chapter in our customer communications is currently being written, and it extends beyond traditional unified communications. Nextiva is leading this charge."

Jolynn Antonacci, with 15 years of experience in technology operations and marketing, will be responsible for amplifying Nextiva's channel brand and driving demand through various channel marketing programs and activities.

Ed Pearce, who has more than two decades of experience in channel and commercial sales leadership, will focus on channel sales and development for the North region. Per Pearce, he is confident in the opportunity ahead, remarking, "Nextiva has all the pieces in place to transform the world of business communications, and our partner community is on the front line of this change."

Brandon Ackert, a channel veteran with experience at Mitel, Five9, and UJET, will leverage his technical vantage point and partner relationships to drive visibility and demand around Nextiva's multi-site, distributed enterprise customer segment.

In addition to investing $50 million into its partner channel in recent years, Nextiva has accelerated its product roadmap to deliver greater impact for partners and customers. Last year, the company launched its next-gen work hub, NextivaOne. It also acquired Simplify360, a leading AI customer experience platform, to expand its core offerings.

Overall, its clear that Nextiva is committed to innovating, and with that comes growth. And so the company will grow as it continues to transform business communications and support its partner community.

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Edited by Greg Tavarez
[May 09, 2023] Leading Automotive and Sustainability Executives Join eTukTuk as Advisors to Promote Sustainable Transport

Executives from Capital Maharaja Group, InnoSolve Lanka, and SLACMA join eTukTuk's advisory board, bringing decades of knowledge to further platform development ahead of launch in Sri Lanka LONDON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- eTukTuk, a blockchain-based electric vehicle (EV) and charging station ecosystem, today announces the appointment of three prominent executives to its Board of Advisors. Joining the Board of Advisors is a group of leaders in the automotive and sustainability spaces including Niro Cooke, Group Director on the Main Board of Capital Maharaja; Sheran Fernando, Co-Founder of InnoSolve Lanka; and Dimantha Jayawardena, President of SLACMA, the Sri Lankan Automotive Component Manufacturers Association. The advisors boast unmatched professional experience across multiple disciplines and industries including the development of large-scale government infrastructure and energy projects, the formulation of mobility policy in Sri Lanka, and at the highest levels of government. The advisors will be responsible for working directly with the eTukTuk team as it continues to develop its sustainable and accessible network of charging stations and electric vehicles within Sri Lanka, where the project is set to launch later this year. Niro Cooke, Group Director on the Main Board of Capital Maharaja, will provide the team with knowledge in navigating Sri Lanka's current electric vehicle infrastructure. Cooke said: "eTukTuk is redefining transportation in the developing world. Creating incentives for people to make the switch from Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) to EVs is the next step in ahieving wide-scale EV adoption. At Capital Maharaja, we believe in having the courage to be different; working with a company like eTukTuk which shares this ethos aligns well with our values."



Sheran Fernando, Co-Founder of InnoSolve, will bring expertise in the digitalisation of mobility and a distinguished voice in the formulation of mobility policy in Sri Lanka. Commenting on his appointment, Fernando said: "Having worked in both the mobility and sustainability industry for many years, I'm looking forward to bringing my knowledge of the local transport sector to eTukTuk as it rolls out its sustainable and accessible transportation solution in Sri Lanka." Dimanta Jayawardena, President of SLACMA, the Sri Lankan Automotive Component Manufacturers Association, will support the team with his prior experience in navigating the Sri Lankan transport and manufacturing system, thus delivering an improved one. Jayawardena commented: "eTukTuk and I share a vision for Sri Lanka's transport and manufacturing system and together we're committed to delivering the best transportation and manufacturing system possible to the drivers and users of TukTuks - and electric vehicles across the country. I believe this journey with the eTukTuk team will make a real difference to the transportation system as we know it."

eTukTuk's Chief Information Officer, Seth Ward said: "Cooke, Fernando, and Jayawardena's participation in the development of eTukTuk will help contribute to the expansion of the project, and be of tremendous value to our team as we gear up to launch our network in Sri Lanka later this year." Seth Ward, Chief Information Officer at eTukTuk, Niro Cooke, Group Director on the Main Board of Capital Maharaja, Sheran Fernando, Co-Founder of InnoSolve Lanka, and Dimanta Jayawardena, President of SLACMA, are available for interview. About eTukTuk eTukTuk is building an open network of charging stations and a proprietary three-wheeled electric vehicle on the blockchain to scale EV adoption and make sustainable transportation accessible for developing economies that need it most. The first automotive project built on Cardano, eTukTuk represents a real-world use case for blockchain technology. The eTukTuk team has spent years on the ground in Sri Lanka accruing first-hand knowledge of the market and building a network of prominent government and industry partners to ensure a successful launch in its first region. You can find the eTukTuk community on Telegram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. For more information, visit www.etuktuk.io. For media enquiries:

Lauren Fetherston

Wachsman

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/leading-automotive-and-sustainability-executives-join-etuktuk-as-advisors-to-promote-sustainable-transport-301818301.html

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[May 09, 2023] Tanium Earns Protected B Status by the Government of Canada

Tanium, the industry's only provider of converged endpoint management (XEM), announced today that it has successfully completed the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Protected B assessment. This distinguished classification demonstrates that the Tanium XEM platform meets the required security controls applicable to the processing of highly sensitive Protected B information in the cloud for the Government of Canada. This announcement marks a major first step toward providing Canadian government departments greater certainty around federal IT and security systems tasked with safeguarding sensitive information, assets, and work sites. By consolidating point-solution capabilities into a single platform delivered via the cloud, XEM will enable the government to mitigate risks from cyberattacks and ensuing data breaches while reducing complexity and cost across its many environments. "In an age of digital transformation and work-from-anywhere organizations, it has become more critical than ever for governments to deploy cybersecurity solutions that protect federal systems while reducing risks to national security," said Nick Matejuk, Canadian vice president at Tanium. "Research shows that 94% of organizations miss 20% or more of their endpoints, and the lack of visibility into and control of their environments means most departments are literally in te dark. Tanium XEM provides real-time visibility and data from every endpoint: The platform delivers comprehensive control for hardening the environment and remediating issues with minimal network impact, allowing government entities to respond quickly and effectively to the growing threat landscape."



Recent regulations and requirements have placed an emphasis on government organizations to retire outdated hardware and software, creating a need to leverage cloud technology and embrace digital transformation. The Canadian government can now tap into the power of Tanium Cloud with no additional infrastructure. The single Tanium agent deployed on the endpoints and managed via the cloud platform converges multiple point solutions spanning asset discovery and inventory, endpoint management, certificate management, unified policy configuration, digital employee experience, risk, compliance, and incident response. These solutions, with built-in automation, will enable departments to improve their security posture, ensure compliance, reduce complexity, decrease costs, and improve efficiency and collaboration among IT, risk, and security teams. "As threats continue to evolve, governments and their departments must become more sophisticated in the ways they protect themselves and the highly targeted information entrusted to them," said Tanium CEO Dan Streetman. "Tanium stands as a trusted and integral partner to defense and government agencies around the world. As part of our commitment to provide technology that enables real-time visibility and remediation across important and mission-critical environments, we remain dedicated to meeting stringent certifications such as the CCCS Protected B assessment."

Regardless of size or complexity, government departments can spin up a Tanium instance in just hours with critical IT operations, risk, and security solutions. Tanium Cloud technology will allow the federal government to deploy new operations and security capabilities out of the box, from thousands of endpoints to scaling beyond a million. To register for a customized demo and experience the visibility, control, and trust Tanium XEM can provide, visit www.tanium.com/see-a-demo. About Tanium Tanium, the industry's only provider of converged endpoint management (XEM), is the reference platform of choice to manage complex security and technology environments. Only Tanium protects every endpoint from cyber threats by integrating workflows across IT, Risk, Compliance, and Security into a single platform that delivers comprehensive visibility across devices, a unified set of controls, real-time remediation, and a common taxonomy for a single shared purpose: to protect critical information and infrastructure at scale. Tanium has been named to the Forbes Cloud 100 list for seven consecutive years and ranks for the second consecutive year on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. In fact, more than half of the Fortune 100 and the U.S. armed forces trust Tanium to protect people; defend data; secure systems; and see and control every endpoint, team, and workflow everywhere. That's The Power of Certainty. Visit www.tanium.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005479/en/

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[May 08, 2023] President Pepe Token Launches, Pledges to Make Web3 Great Again

MIAMI, FL, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- President Pepe, the viral meme token that pokes fun at the political establishment, has officially launched on the Ethereum network with a fair launch event held at 5 PM EST on Monday. With its tongue-in-cheek manifesto and ambitious roadmap, President Pepe aims to build an ecosystem focused on total internet freedom, targeting the meme-loving, internet-savvy audience. The token has already gained significant attention, with a former US President following the project on Twitter. President Pepe's utilities include plans to create a decentralized social platform that allows users to interact with each other without fear of censorship or government interference. This platform will use blockchain technology to ensure that all user data is secure and private. Additionally, President Pepe will serve as a cryptocurrency for political donations, allowing supporters to contribute to the campaign without interference from traditional financial institutions. The project also pledges to create a secure and decentralized voting system using blockchain technology. This system will ensure that all votes are counted accurately ad without interference, with potential applications in political elections and other types of voting.



Tokenomics for President Pepe ($PPepe) include a 2% tax on buys and sells, with the funds allocated to the Campaign Fund, which consists of marketing, development, and stimulus checks for the community. The project's ambitious roadmap begins with the token's creation and deployment, marketing, and the formation of President Pepe's DAO. The next phases include team expansion, partnerships, merchandise releases, and more.

President Pepe will be available for trading on Uniswap, with Ethereum required for purchase. For more information about the project and to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, visit presidentpepe.org, follow @presidentpepe24 on Twitter, and join the official Telegram channel at t.me/presidentpepe24. "Make Web3 Great Again!" - President Pepe About President Pepe President Pepe is a meme-based cryptocurrency that aims to disrupt the political establishment and make Web3 great again. With a focus on internet freedom and a decentralized ecosystem, the project targets the meme-loving, internet-savvy audience with a blend of humor and cutting-edge technology. For more information, visit presidentpepe.org. Website | Twitter | Telegram

Disclaimer: The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

James Szie President Pepe Contact at PresidentPepe.org

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Catherine Walker Wins $10,000 Cash Prize for Positive Impact on Her Students and School

ARLINGTON, Va., May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shell USA Inc. and the National Science Teaching Association today announced that Catherine Walker, a science and engineering teacher at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska, is the recipient of the 2023 Shell Science Teaching Award. During an award ceremony at the NSTA National Conference in Atlanta in March, Walker was formally recognized for her achievement.

"Science teachers who demonstrate exemplary instructional methods and engage students in inquiry-based practices improve student interest, achievement, and attainment of technical degrees," said Dr. Frazier Wilson, VP, Shell USA Company Foundation, Director, Workforce Development and Diversity Outreach "They promote creativity and innovation skills that support critical thinking, exploration, and discovery  all needed for future careers."

The foundation of Walkers educational philosophy is to give students opportunities to fail forward in a safe, productive environment. She aims to provide opportunities for students to struggle with tasks and ideas so they learn to collaborate to find solutions. She teaches students how to give one another constructive, effective feedback and how to reflect on feedback to improve their work. Her students are exposed to career connections in a variety of ways and are given power over their learning to pursue interests and see meaning in the professional and technological skills they are developing at school. Walker communicates openly with students and their caregivers and reflects on their feedback so she can grow and improve as a teacher.

In 2015, Walker was honored with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She is National Board Certified and has earned National Geographic teacher certification. She also has received the Alaska SeaLife Centers Marine Science Outreach Award, which is presented to a person, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ocean literacy via formal or informal education, media, or other communications.

Story continues

Walker received the Shell Science Teaching Award for her positive impact on her students and school through exemplary classroom science teaching. She was awarded a $10,000 cash prize from Shell USA Inc. and expenses to attend NSTAs National Conference in Atlanta, which took place March 2225.

"Congratulations to all the outstanding NSTA award winners. NSTA Teacher Awards are one of the highest honors any educator can receive. We are extremely proud of the work these incredible educators have accomplished. Each one of them is an exemplary role model for their colleagues and an inspiration for their students," said NSTA President Elizabeth Mulkerrin.

In addition to Walker, two finalists were selected. Crystal McDowell, a science teacher at Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia, and Jennie Warmouth, a teacher at Spruce Elementary School in Seattle, Washington, received expenses to attend NSTAs National Conference in Atlanta, and were recognized for their achievements at the award ceremony that took place during the conference.

More information about the Shell Science Teaching Award and the NSTA Teacher Awards Program can be found online at https://www.nsta.org/awards-and-recognition-program.

About Shell USA Inc.

Shell USA Inc.s commitment to community and social responsibility has been in place for more than 50 years. During this time, we have contributed more than a billion dollars to support community, health and welfare, environmental, arts and cultural activities, various educational initiatives, including minority education, and diversity and inclusiveness programs in Houston and the U.S.

FOR INQUIRIES CONTACT: Shell USA Inc. Media Line 832-33-SHELL

About NSTA

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or following NSTA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005287/en/

Contacts

Kate Falk, NSTA

(703) 312-9211

kfalk@nsta.org
[May 08, 2023] Zinnov's leaders, Amita Goyal and Namita Adavi, have been recognized globally for their exceptional client services, cementing one of India's first homegrown management consulting firms as a customer-centric brand in the global Consulting industry

~ Amita Goyal was named Global Leader in Consulting in 2023 followed by Namita Adavi being named one of the top Women Leaders in Technology in 2023 ~ BANGALORE, India, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zinnov, a leading global management consulting and strategy advisory firm, has been recognized by Consulting Magazine, a global platform covering all aspects of consulting, as part of its award for the second year in a row. Amita Goyal, Partner, Zinnov, was awarded Global Leader in Consulting in 2023, and Namita Adavi, Principal at the firm, has been recognized as one of the top Women Leaders in Technology for 2023  both under the 'Excellence in Client Service' category. Since 2017, every year, Consulting Magazine's Global Leaders Program honors leaders such as Amita who strive to bring growth and success to their clients and firms while exhibiting outstanding work ethic, service delivery, and innovative thinking. Amita's accolades have been founded on her deeply customer-centric approach, which has resulted in her being instrumental in accelerating the setup time of new global centers to less than a 3-month timeframe  from design to operationalization. Her exceptional customer empathy has been key to the firm's development of new frameworks, metrics, and engagement models that provide customers with a hyperpersonalized experience. The Women Leaders in Technology Award celebrates the impact caused by women consultants in the field of technology. With over a decade of experience, Namita Adavi is highly regarded for her deep subject matter expertise and problem-solving abilities across clients. Her advice has been adopted into long-term roadmaps within GCC clients, resulting in clearer business outcomes  from a revenue, growth, talent, transformation, and optimization perspective. Nitika Goel, CMO at Zinnov, stated, "Our unrelenting pursuit of doing what is right for our customers is reflected in these global accolades. Consulting Magazine is a highly respected platform, and we are delighted that our leaders were the only Indians (from India) recognized and celebrated at a global level. This is a true testament to the organization we are striving to build. Both Amita and Namita embody a customer-first approach and have consistently earned the love of our customers. They are truly deserving of this recognition from Consulting Magazine."



Amita said, "At Zinnov, we prioritize customer empathy and leverage a proven playbook to make their journey as seamless as possible. Our 20+ years of experience have shown that globalizing customers need more than just strategic advice; they need a trusted partner to implement the strategy, pivot when necessary, and mitigate risks. This recognition is a testament to our clients' support and trust in us and our approach. I am both humbled and grateful for this recognition." Namita commented on the recognition, "A leader is only as good as their team. I am proud to be part of a team that is driven to continuously learn and push boundaries, challenging the status quo to make a meaningful impact. This award is a validation of the hard work and dedication of every member who supported me, including our valued customers, team members, and inspiring leaders who have set an example through action. I'm truly grateful for this recognition."

About Zinnov Founded in 2002, Zinnov is a global management and strategy consulting firm, with presence in New York, Santa Clara, Houston, Seattle, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Pune, Japan, and Paris. Over the past 21 years, Zinnov has successfully consulted with over 250+ Fortune 500 enterprises to develop actionable insights to help them accelerate their technology journeys to create value  across dimensions of revenue, transformation, and optimization. With core expertise in Digital Engineering Talent, Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Outsourcing Advisory, Zinnov assists clients by: Enabling global companies to develop and optimize a global engineering talent footprint through center setups and accelerators - in an as-a-service model, as well as optimizing their global portfolios, to achieve higher R&D efficiencies, innovation, and productivity;

Advising global PE firms in asset shortlisting and target evaluation, commercial due diligence, and value creation;

Growing revenue for companies' products and services in newer markets through account intelligence, market entry, and market expansion advisory;

Helping global companies outline and drive their open innovation programs, design and operate accelerator programs, and enable collaboration with start-ups across specific use cases and predefined outcomes;

Structuring and implementing Digital Transformation levers enabled by technologies like AI/ML, Intelligent Automation, Cloud, IoT, etc. With their team of experienced consultants, subject matter experts, and research professionals, Zinnov serves clients from across multiple industry verticals including Enterprise Software, BFSI, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, and Telecom in the US, Europe, Japan, and India. For more information, visit http://zinnov.com. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/694742/2315386/Zinnov_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/zinnovs-leaders-amita-goyal-and-namita-adavi-have-been-recognized-globally-for-their-exceptional-client-services-cementing-one-of-indias-first-homegrown-management-consulting-firms-as-a-customer-centric-brand-in-the-global-co-301818372.html

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[May 08, 2023] CYBERSEC 2023 makes its grand opening today.

Featuring "Bring Security to" as its theme, the international cybersecurity event gathers over 200 experts and 300 companies at home and abroad to show considerable cybersecurity prowess. TAIPEI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CYBERSEC 2023, organized by iThome for the 9th year, kicked off at Nangang International Exhibition Center in Taipei today, which is expected to attract the participation of 18,000 cybersecurity professionals, several heavyweights, and well-known companies at home and abroad from May 9 to 11 with unprecedented scale as international exchange resumes after the pandemic. CYBERSEC is not only an annual event that cybersecurity professionals cannot miss but also an event whose profile has been raised in the international community over the years, said Ann Gu, Managing Director of iThome and founder of CYBERSEC. World renowned cybersecurity experts have been invited to CYBERSEC, including Bruce Schneier, the widely acclaimed cybersecurity guru. As international exchange resumes after the pandemic, a record-breaking number of world renowned cybersecurity leaders and experts have been invited to CYBERSEC 2023, including former Secretary of Homeland Security and Founder of the Berkeley Center for Security in Politics Janet Napolitano, Sr. Director of Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) Shane Huntley, creator of the Cyber Defense Matrix Sounil Yu, Trend Micro Chief Technology Strategy Officer David Chow, and Fortinet Chief Security Strategist Derek Manky. According to Gu, CYBERSEC has become increasingly significant in the past nine years since its inception as more importance has been attached to cybersecurity. The incredible resilience at all levels nationwide in recent years has allowed CYBERSEC to take place during the pandemic and develop into a world-class large-scale cybersecurity conference and exhibition. Gu pointed out that the scale of this year's expo has grown by 30% compared with last year, with 18,000 participants signing up and over 300 companies participating, which take up nearly 900 booths. In addition, 15-paralel sessions have been planned every day during the three-day event, where over 200 cybersecurity experts at home and abroad have been invited to share their views.



President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony along with high-level ministers and officials, including Secretary-General to the President Lin Chia-lung, Secretary-General of National Security Council Wellington Koo, Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, Minister of National Science and Technology Council Wu Tsung-tsong, Minister of Digital Affairs (moda) Audrey Tang, and Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua. Gu extended her gratitude to President Tsai for attending CYBERSEC five years in a row, which not only gives a boost to the cybersecurity industry but also shows that cybersecurity is national security. She also expressed thanks to American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Acting Director Jeremy Cornforth and the foreign representatives in Taiwan for their attendance, making CYBERSEC 2023 the best platform for international exchange. CYBERSEC 2023 features "Bring Security to" as its theme. Merton Wu, Chief Editor of iThome and Chairman of CYBERSEC, said that as digitization accelerates worldwide, cybersecurity threats are ubiquitousin chips, codes, and where connectivity exists. Rampant ransomware, mis- and disinformation and fraud, innumerable software vulnerabilities, frequent infrastructure attacks, and even the cyberwar triggered by Ukraine-Russia War are a wake-up call. If a democratic, free, peaceful, and sustainable future is what we aim to pursue, cybersecurity should be high on the agenda in all sectors, making it the DNA of corporations and people's lives, to ensure a safe and secure future.

CYBERSEC 2023 features the following sessions, activities, and exhibitions: Over 30 cybersecurity forums look into the cybersecurity industry and industrial cybersecurity. More than 30 forums have been planned this year, including blue team, red team, DevSecOps & SecOps, Web3, Cyber Leadership, CISO, CMMC, AI security, supply chain security, FINSEC, ransomware, zero trust, software security, cloud security, governance, threat research, vehicle security, security awareness training, and emerging cybersecurity issues. Cyber Taiwan Pavilion showcases 48 Taiwan cybersecurity companies and focuses on four major themes. Cyber Taiwan Pavilion has been an exclusive platform for Taiwan's cybersecurity brands to showcase their solutions. This year's Pavilion brings together 48 leading cybersecurity companies from Taiwan to display Taiwan's abundant cybersecurity R&D capabilities as well as diverse and pioneering solutions centering on four major themes: zero trust, semiconductor, 5G, and IoT. Cyber Talent serves as a platform for talent recruitment, training, and career development. Cyber Talent is arranged at CYBERSEC to enable exchange in career development, skills training, and talent cultivation through Cyber Talent Forum, Cyber License Day, and on-site recruitment and skills assessment. Asia Cyber Channel Summit supports Taiwan cybersecurity companies to expand overseas and connect with international markets. Leading cybersecurity agents from Southeast Asia have been invited to this year's expo to have a face-to-face exchange with Taiwan's outstanding cybersecurity vendors, optimizing business matching and assisting Taiwan companies to expand overseas. CYBERSEC 2023 https://cyber.ithome.com.tw/2023/en View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cybersec-2023-makes-its-grand-opening-today-301815569.html SOURCE iThome

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[May 08, 2023] OTM Mumbai emerges as the leading travel trade show in India as well as Asia, in a survey carried out by Ipsos

MUMBAI, India, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OTM Mumbai has achieved preeminence as the top travel trade show in India and Asia, breaking records in size and quality in the post-pandemic era. Fairfest Media Ltd., the largest and oldest travel trade show organizer in India and the owners of OTM Mumbai, commissioned Ipsos, the third largest market research company in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people, to carry out the study. The study aimed to assess the satisfaction of Exhibitors, Buyers, and Trade Visitors who participated in OTM 2023, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The survey revealed that OTM has surpassed its competition, with 62% considering it to be the leading travel trade show in India and 50% considering it to be #1 in Asia, surpassing SATTE at 34% and 26% respectively. ITB Asia was voted by 20% as leading in Asia. Among those who said OTM is better than SATTE, the same was reflected in all the predefined attributes such as ambience, location and cleanliness of the venue; profiles of the visitors and the exhibitors, relevance of the sessions, and food service, by a huge margin. Among those who attended both OTM '23 and SATTE '23, majority (52%) of te respondents felt that OTM gave them better ROI than SATTE; only 22% felt SATTE gave them better ROI, in terms of money or time invested.



OTM Mumbai was also rated positively in comparison to the leading travel trade shows in the world, like ITB Berlin and WTM London, with 77% rating it as Good or Better, by those who have attended both OTM '23 and SATTE '23. The next OTM Mumbai is scheduled from 8 to 10 February 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre.

You can find a detailed presentation of the survey here . About OTM: OTM Mumbai - The Leading Travel Show in Asia is the gateway to India's travel markets. Each year, OTM brings together India and Asia's travel community under one roof. Over 30,000 travel professionals and businesses from over 50 countries attend OTM. OTM is organised by Fairfest Media Limited. OTM 2024 is scheduled to be held at the world-class Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on the 8th, 9th and 10th of February 2024. For more information:

About OTM - https://otm.co.in

About Ipsos - https://www.ipsos.com/en-in

Please reach out to us at [email protected] Media Contact:

Payel Roy

[email protected], +91 83340 24060

Corporate Communications, Fairfest Media Limited View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/otm-mumbai-emerges-as-the-leading-travel-trade-show-in-india-as-well-as-asia-in-a-survey-carried-out-by-ipsos-301818972.html

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[May 09, 2023] In the anniversary year 2023 - Phoenix Contact is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the company's founding

BLOMBERG, Germany, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A century full of passion for technology and innovation: In the past 100 years, the family-run company Phoenix Contact has evolved from a commercial agency for industrial products founded in Essen, Germany, into a global manufacturing company. With products and solutions for the electrification, networking, and automation of all sectors of the economy and infrastructure  and with a passion for innovation and technology. Phoenix Contact continues to drive all of this forward  together with a commitment to the sustainable development of habitats and economic spaces on our planet. "We have achieved a great deal over the years together, remaining true to the values and culture of our family business even as we have grown and evolved. This anniversary is a special moment for us. We have built the foundation upon which we can now continue on our path into the future. Together with our customers and business partners, we will drive forward solutions for the energy revolution that are the basis for a sustainable world," said Phoenix Contact CEO Frank Stuhrenberg, describing the significance of the 100th anniversary. Connections between people and technologies Good connections are more than just an elementary feature of Phoenix Contact products. They were also the basis for transforming the idea of businessman Hugo Knumann into a globally active industrial company. With the founding of Phonix Elektro- und Industrie-Bedarfsgesellschaft in Essen in 1923, the company initially started out as a pure sales company. In 1928, the business connection to RWE led to the inventionof the first terminal block on a DIN rail. This gave Knumann the idea of separating the blocks and arranging them individually to form terminal blocks on a DIN rail. Another far-reaching personal and entrepreneurial connection was established in 1949. Knumann met Josef Eisert, a development engineer at Siemens, who took over the company in 1953 after Knumann passed away.



From Blomberg to the world With the arrival of Eisert, the company underwent a fundamental change. The pure sales company became a company with its own production. At the Blomberg location, where the company had to be relocated during the war, a tool shop, plastics production, screw turning shop, assembly facilities, metalworking shop, warehouse, and logistics were soon established.

After the relocation, many new products were being developed and the portfolio increasingly expanded in the direction of electronics. With the innovative Interbus fieldbus system, the basis for industrial networking followed in 1987. The decisive step towards automation was taken. After the establishment of the first foreign subsidiary in the USA in 1981, further subsidiaries followed. Today, the sales markets are not just in Germany, but all over the world. Together for the future Today, Phoenix Contact employs around 22,000 people and generated revenues of 3.6 billion in 2022. "In recent years in particular, we have experienced especially dynamic growth, which shows us that we can provide answers to the key questions of our times with our solutions," stated Stuhrenberg as he assessed the revenue growth. Worldwide, Phoenix Contact manufactures in a production network spanning 11 countries in which the level of vertical integration varies. More than 50 international subsidiaries are part of the Phoenix Contact Group. In this way, the company is always close to the markets and customers. Together with customers and partners, Phoenix Contact develops solutions for the world of tomorrow using pioneering connection and automation technology. The integrated concepts, which include engineering and services, are applied in transportation infrastructure, e-mobility, for clean water, renewable energy and intelligent supply networks, and in energy-efficient machine building and systems manufacturing. Social responsibility With its integrated actions, Phoenix Contact is committed to empowering the "All Electric Society," a future in which energy from renewable resources is provided in sufficient quantities and in an economically sustainable manner throughout the world. In addition to the consistent generation and use of renewable energies, reducing primary energy demand through efficiency measures and applying sector coupling in order to create intelligent and networked systems are key to this sustainable future. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072444/PHOENIX_CONTACT.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072452/PHOENIX_CONTACT_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/in-the-anniversary-year-2023--phoenix-contact-is-celebrating-the-100th-anniversary-of-the-companys-founding-301819047.html

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[May 09, 2023] Canon's "Make it GROW" campaign brings new flagship products to the Middle East

Colorado M Series and imagePRESS v 1350 to bring unprecedented features and capabilities to the regional printing and design industry

"Make it GROW" campaign events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai include product demos and workshops

and include product demos and workshops Products will also be showcased at the Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon, the global leader in imaging solutions, has announced the launch its latest flagship products, the Colorado M Series and imagePRESS v 1350, in the Middle East region. The launch of these cutting-edge printing solutions is part of its "Make it GROW" campaign in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that aims to help customers grow their businesses returns with Canon's product portfolio. The campaign showcases their unprecedented features and capabilities that efficiently meet the needs of commercial printers, designers, print service providers, and photography professionals. Canon's "Make it GROW" campaign features two product launch events in the UAE. The first was organised at Bab Al Qasr hotel in Abu Dhabi from 1st  2nd May 2023, and the second is a week-long event at Colab, Dubai Design District, from 8th  12th May. The Dubai event hosts a special evening gathering on 10th May, exclusively for interior decor designers, and highlights the unique applications of Canon's new products in this market segment. The Colorado M Series is a game-changer in the large format printing industry, boasting new features such as white ink printing, modular design options, versatility, and upgradability. Wih the highest productivity in its class, it empowers print service providers to expand their business horizons and explore new applications on various flexible and rigid media.



On the other hand, the imagePRESS v 1350 sets new standards in Canon's production machines range, offering the highest levels of product automation, volume, and quality. This advanced printing solution is designed to meet the demands of high-volume printing environments, providing unmatched productivity and exceptional print quality. "At Canon, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that empower our customers to grow their business and achieve success," said Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director at Canon Middle East. "Our two new products are prime examples of our dedication to pushing the boundaries of print technology and providing customers with the tools they need to excel. With Canon's new flagship products, customers in the Middle East can expect unparalleled print quality, productivity, and versatility, enabling them to take their businesses to new heights."

Canon's "Make it GROW" events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai provide an opportunity for customers, enthusiasts, and photography professionals to explore new features and applications of its flagship products. Its experts will be available for consultations on optimizing business returns and driving customer engagement with unique, high-quality printouts. In addition, Canon will showcase the newly launched products at the upcoming Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition, where visitors can learn about the benefits of Canon's latest offerings, explore new features, and receive free consultations on applications and business opportunities from its experts. As a bonus, Canon is offering a promotion with a chance to win a fully paid trip to Saudi Arabia to attend the Saudi Print & Pack 2023 exhibition. Media enquiries, please contact:

Mai Youssef

e. [email protected] Acorn Strategy

e. [email protected] About Canon Middle East??

Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE. Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation.???? Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs, using Canon's products, solutions and services. Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at www.canon-me.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2072010/Make_It_GROW.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/canons-make-it-grow-campaign-brings-new-flagship-products-to-the-middle-east-301818492.html

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[May 09, 2023] New Research from Abnormal Security Shows the Rise of Business Email Compromise Attacks Sent from Israel

Abnormal Security, the leading behavioral AI-based email security platform, announced today a new threat report that reveals a number of business email compromise (BEC) attacks linked to a threat group based in Israel-a historically unlikely location for BEC threat actors. The report is based on Abnormal research surrounding more than 350 BEC campaigns from these attackers dating back to February 2021. Most BEC attacks have historically originated in West Africa, with 74% of all attacks analyzed by Abnormal over the past year based in Nigeria. And while many BEC actors found in other countries are connected to Nigeria, there are no indications that the threat group examined in this report has any direct Nigerian ties-making it a notable outlier in the BEC threat landscape. The research provides a view into how the Israel-based group executes an attack across two phases, each employing a different persona-one internal and one external. The primary pretext is that the organization is working through the confidential acquisition of another company, and the targeted employee is asked to help with the initial payment required for the merger. The attackers start by impersonating the targeted employee's CEO before handing off the correspondence to a second external persona, typically a mergers and acquisitions attorney, whose job it is to coordinate the payment. In some campaigns, once the attack has reached this second stage, the group asks to transition the conversation from email to a voice call via WhatsApp, both to expdite the attack and to minimize the trail of evidence.



Key findings from the report include: Targets are primarily large and multinational enterprises with more than $10 billion in average annual revenue. Across these targeted organizations, employees from 61 countries across six continents received emails.

The average amount requested in an attack by this group is $712,000, more than ten times the average BEC attack.

Most emails from this threat group are written in English, but they are also translated into Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese.

The frequency of campaigns follows a cyclical pattern, with 80% of attacks occurring during three periods of the year: March, June-July, and October-December. "Ultimately, the motivation here is no different from any other BEC attack: to make money as quickly and as easily as possible," said Mike Britton, chief information security officer at Abnormal. "What is interesting is that these attackers are based in Israel, which is not a country historically connected to cybercrime, and which has traditionally been a location where cybersecurity innovation is prevalent."

The research shows how BEC is continuing to spread, and how attackers are employing more sophisticated, multi-phase attack tactics as they set their sights on massively larger sums of money than we've seen before. To prevent these attacks, enterprises will need an intelligent cloud email security solution that can precisely detect and block attacks before they reach email inboxes. The Abnormal platform uses behavioral AI to baseline known-good behavior across employees, vendors, applications, and tenants in the email environment. By understanding what is normal, Abnormal can then detect anomalies and remediate malicious emails in seconds, before employees ever have an opportunity to engage with them. This risk-adaptive approach enables Abnormal to prevent emails sent from attackers like this Israel-based group and others, so organizations can stay safe from evolving email attacks. To learn more about this Israel-based threat group, download the full report here. About Abnormal Security Abnormal Security provides the leading behavioral AI-based email security platform that leverages machine learning to stop sophisticated inbound email attacks and dangerous email platform attacks that evade traditional solutions. The anomaly detection engine leverages identity and context to analyze the risk of every cloud email event, preventing inbound email attacks, detecting compromised accounts, and remediating emails and messages in milliseconds-all while providing visibility into configuration drifts across your environment. You can deploy Abnormal in minutes with an API integration for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and experience the full value of the platform instantly, with additional protection available for Slack, Teams, and Zoom. More information is available at abnormalsecurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005256/en/

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[May 09, 2023] GTY Technology Rebrands to Euna Solutions as Market Leader in Powering Digital Transformation in the Public Sector

Euna Solutions, a leading provider of purpose-built, cloud-based solutions for the public sector, today announced the rebrand of its corporate identity from GTY Technology to solidify its market leadership driving digital transformation in the public sector. Backed by decades of technology innovation, Euna Solutions provides a suite of leading software solutions that power critical administrative functions and financial operations for the public sector in the U.S. and Canada. These best-in-class solutions and services are proven to complement government ERP systems to increase productivity, efficiency, transparency, collaboration and compliance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005524/en/ "The rebranding to Euna Solutions drives home our continued vision of building trust, transparency and ultimately, community," said Craig Ross, CEO at Euna Solutions. "The name 'Euna' derives from 'unity', which is highly relevant to the direction of our company. Not only are we unifying the most proven technologies in the space, but we're using this combined power to enable the public sector to deliver better outcomes to the communities they serve." Euna's executive leadership team combines decades of experience in government technology and the public sector. Ross brings over 30 years of industry and leadership expertise to help propel public sector progress. Ross is supported by an executive team consisting of TJ Parass, chief product and technology officer; James Ha, chief growth officer; Rob Crocker, chief financial officer; Art Elizarov, senior vice president, integrations and delivery; Katerina Goros, senior vice president and head of human resources; Manik Verma, senior vice president, corporate development; and Bill Brunson, senior vice president, sales. GTY Technology was founded in 2016 with an aim to identify and invest in compelling technologies that could help transform the public sector. Pursuing a strategy of growth through acquisition, GTY brought together Bonfire, CityBase, eCivis, OpenCounter, Questica and Sherpa in 2018, and DemandStar and Ion Wave Technologies in 2022. The emergence of Euna comes at a time of rapid growth as GTY welcomed over 300 new cstomers in 2022, bringing their total customers served to more than 2,000. The rebranded Euna Solutions brings together a customer-centric employee base of more than 500 and rising.



Euna Solutions offers easy-to-use SaaS technology for procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, permitting and K-12 administration that are purpose-built for public sector organizations. A trusted partner to more than 2,000 government and public sector organizations across North America, Euna ultimately enables higher levels of stakeholder engagement and workflow efficiency through digital government services. Euna's solutions include:

Euna Budget - Formerly Questica and Sherpa, Euna Budget comprises highly configurable budgeting and performance management systems built to help agencies modernize business processes. These solutions enable data-driven budgeting and decision-making while increasing data accuracy, saving time and improving stakeholder trust.

Euna Grants - Formerly eCivis, Euna Grants is the most widely used and complete grants management software solution. The only grants management solution purpose-built for both grantees and grantors, this solution addresses the unique challenges faced by agencies simultaneously receiving and awarding grant funds.

Euna Permits - Formerly OpenCounter, Euna Permits is a front office permitting guidance solution created by previous city hall employees to improve the process and communication between those applying for and those administering permits. Custom portals are set up for zoning, business, special events, and residential to provide all necessary information to applicants in advance and increase the efficiency of the entire process.

Euna Procure - Formerly Bonfire, IonWave and DemandStar, Euna Procure is the most complete set of eProcurement solutions for the public sector. In addition to offering unparalleled service throughout the customer journey, Euna Procure boasts the largest and fastest growing supplier network consisting of more than 700,000 suppliers and 22,000 agencies.

Euna Payments - Formerly CityBase, Euna Payments is a powerful and convenient payment solution with the most intuitive customer service tools. This solution provides governments and utilities with multiple payment options for their constituents and customers. Organizations have the option to implement one, multiple or all types of payment options including self-serve kiosks, web payments, mobile payments and POS for faster revenue collection.

Euna K-12 Admin - Formerly SpedTrack, Euna K-12 Admin is the most complete and compliant K-12 education solution in North America to simplify the unique set of components required to administer special education programs. Complete with dashboards, reporting, and best-in-class customer support, this award-winning solution is built to simplify administration of K-12 programs and maximize stakeholder confidence in the district's processes. "We recognize the acceleration of digital transformation within the public sector and the gaps that exist connecting the various critical technologies that will enable them to operate efficiently," said Ross. "We are committed to helping public sector organizations better serve their constituents and improve their employees' experience. With historic levels of funding available, now is the time to modernize the public sector." For more information about Euna Solutions, visit www.eunasolutions.com. About Euna Solutions Euna Solutions is a leading provider of purpose-built, cloud-based solutions that power critical administrative functions and financial operations for the public sector. Formerly GTY Technology, Euna Solutions offers easy-to-use solutions for procurement, payments, grant management, budgeting, permitting and K-12 administration that are proven to increase operational efficiency, transparency, collaboration, and compliance. Euna Solutions is a trusted partner to more than 2,000 government and public sector organizations across North America, empowering digital transformation and streamlining business processes through a relationship-centered, service-focused approach. Euna propels public sector progress. To learn more, visit www.eunasolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005524/en/

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[May 09, 2023] Nusano to Participate in the 2nd Annual Guggenheim Securities Radiopharmaceuticals Day

NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nusano, Inc., a company reshaping the production of cancer-fighting radioisotopes, today announced it will participate in a fireside chat at the 2nd Annual Guggenheim Securities Radiopharmaceuticals Day in New York City on Monday, May 15, 2023.

WHAT: Guggenheim Securities Fireside Chat WHO: Chris Lowe, CEO, Nusano Howard Lewin, COO and Co-Founder, Nusano WHEN: 3:55  4:20 p.m. EDT WHERE: New York, NY



About Nusano, Inc.

Nusano is a privately held medical technology company committed to bringing stability and innovation to the rapidly emerging and critically undersupplied medical radioisotopes market. Nusanos proprietary ion source is smaller and more efficient than existing production methods. This results in significantly greater yields and allows for the simultaneous manufacturing of multiple radioisotopes. Nusanos technologies will supply the fight against cancer and support diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical development. The companys state-of-the-art production facility opens Q1 2025 in West Valley City, Utah. For more, please visit www.nusano.com .

Contacts: At Nusano:

Scott Larrivee, Head of PR & Communications, 608-345-6629, [email protected] Investor Relations:

Joyce Allaire, LifeSci Advisors, LLC, 212-915-2569, [email protected]



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[May 09, 2023] Funding Opportunity for American-Israel joint projects focused on Clean Energy Innovation through the BIRD Energy Program

TEL AVIV, Israel, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIRD Energy announced its next funding cycle for U.S.-Israel joint project proposals with a focus on Renewable Energy, Efficiency, and technologies that reduce carbon emissions. The maximum funding per project is $1.5 million. To be considered, a project proposal must include joint R&D cooperation between two companies or between a company and a university/research institution (one from the U.S. and one from Israel). The proposal should demonstrate significant commercial potential and the project outcome should lead to commercialization. Examples of research and development topics within the scope of this call are Solar and Wind Power, Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Alternative Fuels, Natural Gas and other associated technologies that reduce climate impact, Smart Grid, Storage, Water-Energy Nexus, Advanced Manufacturing, AI for energy management and any other Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency technology. Additional topics considered include scaling-up carbon-free technologies that reduce carbon emissions. This is part of an effort by both the U.S. and Israeli governments to address the global climate emergency and grow a clean energy and carbon-free economy. Applicants should refer to BIRD Foudation's web site for submission details, and the application process is web-based, with the deadline for submission of the executive summary on June 29, 2023. If approved, the deadline for proposals is September 10, 2023. Projects will be selected for funding in November 2023.



Ms. Limor Nakar-Vincent, Deputy Executive Director of Business Development and BIRD Energy, said: "The BIRD Energy program, which was established in 2009 by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Israeli Ministry of Energy, and the Israel Innovation Authority, funds collaborations between companies from Israel and the United States. The program was established with a shared goal to promote the development of sustainable renewable energy sources that will support the energy needs of countries around the world, encourage energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We invite Israeli and American companies and research institutions to contact us to discuss the program and help find potential partners." For more information, contact, in Israel: Ms. Limor Nakar-Vincent, Deputy Executive Director of Business Development and BIRD Energy, Tel: +972-3-698-8315, [email protected]. In the U.S.: Ms. Andrea Yonah, Director, Business Development, East Coast/Midwest, Tel: +1-609-356-0305, [email protected], Ms. Shiri Freund-Koren, Director, Business Development, South, Tel: +1-512-436-1609 or Ms. Anat Bujanover, Director, Business Development, West Coast, Tel: +1-650-752-6485, [email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/funding-opportunity-for-american-israel-joint-projects-focused-on-clean-energy-innovation-through-the-bird-energy-program-301819225.html SOURCE The BIRD Foundation

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[May 09, 2023] NJ technology entrepreneur's ex-girlfriend submits notarized affidavit recanting all domestic violence allegations

COLTS NECK, N.J., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The ex-girlfriend of a NJ-based technology firm's founder, Brian Ignomirello, former CEO of Symbolic IO, recanted her allegations from a 2017 domestic violence complaint. The accuser stated that she made false claims to authorities about Ignomirello assaulting her at their Monmouth County home, where they resided with their two children. According to the notarized affidavit, the woman recanted all her claims of the assault, noting it was a misunderstanding and admitted she was forced into falsely accusing Ignomirello by an individual who was trying to take over his company. Ignomirello's ex-girlfriend also confessed that she was pressured by outside parties to purue legal action against him.



Ignomirello is a technology entrepreneur and was the founder and CEO of Symbolic IO, a technology company that was based in Holmdel, NJ at the Bell Works facility. The company developed a system that allows businesses and consumers to store more data quickly, efficiently and less expensively. With over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, Ignomirello has held senior leadership positions at several prominent technology companies, including EMC and HP. He has also been recognized as one of the Jersey Shore's top technology innovators as part of the Asbury Park Press' Small Business Innovator of the Year program. Ignomirello now resides outside of New Jersey and is the custodial parent of his two aforementioned children.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nj-technology-entrepreneurs-ex-girlfriend-submits-notarized-affidavit-recanting-all-domestic-violence-allegations-301819187.html SOURCE Symbolic-io

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Despite reporting another loss in the first quarter, Allbirds still unveiled better-than-expected results while executing on its transformation plan.

In the first quarter of 2023, the San Francisco-based footwear company said net revenue decreased 13.4 percent to $54.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2022 but increased 9.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2021. Allbirds posted a net loss of $35.2 million, or $0.23 per basic and diluted share.

More from Footwear News

Allbirds said in a release that this decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in average selling price, driven by promotional activity and a higher mix of third-party sales, and an estimated $1.2 million negative impact from foreign exchange.

These results still beat analyst expectations, however, which predicted the company would achieve $47.9 million in revenue with 0.24 per share in the period. The news also sent Allbirds stock rising nearly 12 percent after the bell. The stock has since come back down closer to the end of market day average.

Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and CEO of Allbirds, said in a statement on Tuesday that the companys teams are executing well against its strategic transformation plan designed to reignite growth, improve capital efficiency and drive profitability.

The dedication and hard work of our flock resulted in a quarter that demonstrated good progress on our strategic initiatives while exceeding our expectations, Zwillinger said. Our mission to create better things in a better way, guided by our Super Natural Comfort northstar, remains at the forefront of everything we do at Allbirds as we advance our vision to build a 100-year brand.

These results mark the first quarter to include the efforts Allbirds has taken under its new strategic transformation plan. Announced in March, the plan includes initiatives to reignite the product line, fully transition the companys footwear production to a new manufacturing partner in Vietnam, move toward a distributorship model in international markets and put the brakes on the brands retail rollout.

Story continues

Allbirds said it incurred restructuring expenses of $3.2 million, or 6.0 percent of net revenue, as a result of executing the plan.

We are really optimistic, Zwillinger told FN in March. He added that 2023 will be a bit of a transition year and the situation is not expected to turn around immediately. But by recalibrating its assortment to once again attract its core consumer, cleaning up the inventory and introducing some new marketing initiatives and partnerships later this year, the future looks much brighter.

Looking ahead, Allbirds is expecting net revenue in the second quarter of $64 million to $69 million, a decrease of 18 percent to 12 percent versus the same time last year.
[May 09, 2023] Dragon Edge Group recognized as one of Best Places to Work in Philippines for 2023

MANILA, Philippines, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dragon Edge Group, a leading FMCG manufacturer in the Philippines, has been recently awarded the Best Place to Work certification for 2023. During the company assessment, over 70% of employees recommended the organization illustrating the company's focus on creating a stand-out employee experience where everyone can do their best work. The certification was based on anonymous ratings provided by employees and an HR Assessment evaluating the company people practices. Close to twenty workplace culture categories were measured, from work-life balance, leadership, and professional development opportunities to compensation, and perks and benefits. "At Dragon Edge Group, our mission is to infuse every aspect of our work with Joy, Excellence, and Positivity. We believe that by cultivating these values, we can make a positive impact on the world," said Dennis Balajadia (CEO) and Emily Balajadia, founders of the organization. They added, "That's why we pour our hearts and souls into creating and developing global brands that enhance the lives of our customers, employees, shaeholders, and partners alike. Through our passion and dedication, we strive to leave a lasting impression on the world and inspire others to do the same."



Kdy Corduva, Head of Human Resources & Admin, commented on this achievement, "At Dragon Edge Group, having a strong workplace culture and living the same set of core values makes our company one of the best places to work. We value open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning. We have an innovative culture that encourages and empowers employees to share their wild ideas and work towards common goals. By doing so, we have seen our employees' attitudes towards their work, co-workers, and productivity improve significantly. We believe that investing in our employees' well-being and fostering a positive work environment ultimately leads to a more successful and thriving company." Best Places to Work is the most definitive 'Employer of Choice' certification that organizations aspire to achieve. Our Best Places to Work Assessment model is built on over 30 years of research in workplace excellence along with the best practices collected annually from over 10 000 certified companies worldwide.

Companies named Best Place to Work know how to build a competitive advantage regardless of potential barriers, including company size, geographic dispersion and industry characteristics. For its first participation, DEG scored high in the leadership trust and talent focus. For more information about Dragon Edge Group and its brands, visit their official website: www.dragonedgegroup.com For more information about the program, please visit http://www.bestplacestoworkfor.org View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/dragon-edge-group-recognized-as-one-of-best-places-to-work-in-philippines-for-2023-301819438.html SOURCE Best Places To Work

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[May 09, 2023] CesiumAstro Expands Advisory Board with Appointment of the Honorable William "Mac" Thornberry as Strategic Advisor

CesiumAstro, an industry leader in active phased array communications technology for space and airborne systems, announced today that the Honorable William "Mac" Thornberry, former U.S. Representative to the 13th Congressional District of Texas, joined the company as a Strategic Advisor and will provide counsel on issues related to U.S. national security. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005225/en/ The Honorable William "Mac" Thornberry (Source: Mac Thornberry) A former chairman and member of the House Armed Services Committee for 26 years, Congressman Thornberry also served as a member of the House Intelligence Committee for 14 years. Widely respected across the political spectrum as an innovator and a strategic thinker, Congressman Thornberry led on critical issues across nuclear posture, homeland security, cyber, and space, as ell as enhancing innovation and implementing acquisition reform to benefit the men and women serving our nation.



"We are honored to welcome Congressman Thornberry to our advisory board," said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. "His considerable expertise in national security, as well as the immense impact he has had on the state of Texas, will be an enormous asset to our company as we continue to scale our capabilities and expand our reach. CesiumAstro looks forward to working closely with the Congressman to advance our technologies within the U.S. government." As a Strategic Advisor, Congressman Thornberry will provide CesiumAstro with guidance and insight as it extends its products and capabilities to better support the intelligence community and Department of Defense.

"I am excited to join the CesiumAstro team," said Congressman Thornberry. "CesiumAstro is a leader in vital airborne and space technologies that will make the decisive difference in this increasingly competitive time, and I look forward to assisting to see that our nation benefits from these important capabilities." With the addition of Congressman Thornberry to its advisory board, CesiumAstro remains well-positioned to continue its leadership in the space connectivity domain and make valuable contributions to the evolving commercial and government space ecosystems. About CesiumAstro Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Broomfield, Colorado; El Segundo, California; and the United Kingdom; CesiumAstro builds high-throughput, software-defined phased array communications payloads for airborne and space platforms, including satellites, missiles, UASs, and more. CesiumAstro's full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software solutions enable a range of commercial, civil, and defense objectives. CesiumAstro provides full in-house design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities based on the ISO AS9100 standard. Visit cesiumastro.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005225/en/

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[May 09, 2023] ORYZON to Give Updates on Corporate Progress in May-June

BioEquity Europe 2023

Foro Medcap BME 2023

VI Ibero-American Congress CEAPI 2023

BIO International Conference 2023

Jefferies Healthcare Conference 2023

MidCap Paris 2023 MADRID and BOSTON, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oryzon Genomics, S.A. (ISIN Code: ES0167733015, ORY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging epigenetics to develop therapies in diseases with strong unmet medical need, announced today that its management will give an update on corporate progress at several international events on May-June. Oryzon will attend BioEquity Europe 2023, which will be held at the Spencer Dock in Dublin (Ireland) on May 14-16 and virtually on May 22-23, where the company will hold one-to-one meetings with pharmaceutical companies and global investors. Click on link for more info about BioEquity Europe 2023. Oryzon will participate at the Foro Medcap BME 2023, which will be held at the Palacio de la Bolsa in Madrid (Spain) from May 30 until June 1. The company will provide a brief corporate update as well as hold 1x1 meetings. Click on link for more info about the Foro Medcap BME 2023. The company will also attend the VI Ibero-American Congress CEAPI 2023, for company presidents, business families, investors and family offices from all over Ibero-America, which will take place in Madrid (Spain) from May 31 until June 1. Click on link for more info about the VI Ibero-American Congress CEAPI 2023 The company will also attend the BIO International Conference 2023, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston (USA) on June 5-8, where it will hold one-to-one meetings with pharmaceutical companies and global investors. Click on link for more info about the BIO International Conference 2023. Oryzon will attend the Jefferies Healthcare Conference 2023, to be held in New York on June 7-9, where the company will hold meetings with pharma companies and investors. Click on link for more info about the Jefferies Healthcare Conference 2023. Oryzon will also attend the MidCap conference, which will be held in Paris on June 22. About Oryzon

Founded in 2000 in Barcelona, Spain, Oryzon (ISIN Code: ES0167733015) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company considered as the European leader in epigenetics. Oryzon has one of the strongest portfolios in the field, with two LSD1 inhibitors, iadademstat and vafidemstat, in Phase II clinical trials, and other pipeline assets directed against other epigenetic targets. In addition, Oryzon has a strong platform for biomarker identification and target validation for a variety of malignant and neurological diseases. For more information, visit www.oryzon.com



About Iadademstat

Iadademstat (ORY-1001) is a small oral molecule, which acts as a highly selective inhibitor of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 and has a powerful differentiating effect in hematologic cancers (see Maes et al., Cancer Cell 2018 Mar 12; 33 (3): 495-511.e12.doi: 10.1016 / j.ccell.2018.02.002.). A FiM Phase I/IIa clinical trial with iadademstat in R/R AML patients demonstrated the safety and good tolerability of the drug and preliminary signs of antileukemic activity, including a CRi (see Salamero et al, J Clin Oncol, 2020, 38(36): 4260-4273. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.03250). In a recently completed Phase IIa trial in elder 1L-AML patients (ALICE trial), iadademstat has shown encouraging safety and efficacy data in combination with azacitidine (see Salamero et al., ASH 2022 oral presentation). Iadademstat is currently being evaluated in combination with gilteritinib in the Phase Ib FRIDA trial in patients with relapsed/refractory AML with FLT3 mutations. Beyond hematological cancers, the inhibition of LSD1 has been proposed as a valid therapeutic approach in some solid tumors such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), neuroendocrine tumors (NET), medulloblastoma and others. In a Phase IIa trial in combination with platinum/etoposide in second line ED-SCLC patients (CLEPSIDRA trial), preliminary activity and safety results have been reported (see Navarro et al., ESMO 2018 poster). Iadademstat is being evaluated in a collaborative Phase II basket study with the Fox Chase Cancer Center in combination with paclitaxel in R/R neuroendocrine carcinomas, and the company is preparing a new trial in combination in SCLC. Oryzon has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) to collaborate on potential further clinical development of iadademstat in different types of solid and hematological cancers. In total iadademstat has been dosed so far to more than 100 cancer patients in four clinical trials. Iadademstat has orphan drug designation for SCLC in the US and for AML in the US and EU. About Vafidemstat

Vafidemstat (ORY-2001) is an oral, CNS optimized LSD1 inhibitor. The molecule acts on several levels: it reduces cognitive impairment, including memory loss and neuroinflammation, and at the same time has neuroprotective effects. In animal studies vafidemstat not only restores memory but reduces the exacerbated aggressiveness of SAMP8 mice, a model for accelerated aging and Alzheimers disease (AD), to normal levels and also reduces social avoidance and enhances sociability in murine models. In addition, vafidemstat exhibits fast, strong and durable efficacy in several preclinical models of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oryzon has performed two Phase IIa clinical trials in aggressiveness in patients with different psychiatric disorders (REIMAGINE) and in aggressive/agitated patients with moderate or severe AD (REIMAGINE-AD), with positive clinical results reported in both. Additional finalized Phase IIa clinical trials with vafidemstat include the ETHERAL trial in patients with Mild to Moderate AD, where a significant reduction of the inflammatory biomarker YKL40 has been observed after 6 and 12 months of treatment, and the pilot, small scale SATEEN trial in Relapse-Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS, where antiinflammatory activity has also been observed. Vafidemstat has also been tested in a Phase II in severe Covid-19 patients (ESCAPE) assessing the capability of the drug to prevent ARDS, one of the most severe complications of the viral infection, where it showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in severe Covid-19 patients. Currently, vafidemstat is in two Phase IIb trials in borderline personality disorder (PORTICO) and in schizophrenia patients (EVOLUTION). The company is also deploying a CNS precision medicine approach with vafidemstat in genetically-defined patient subpopulations of certain CNS disorders and is preparing a clinical trial in Kabuki Syndrome patients. The company is also exploring the clinical development of vafidemstat in other neurodevelopmental syndromes.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains, or may contain, forward-looking information and statements about Oryzon, including financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, capital expenditures, synergies, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally identified by the words expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates and similar expressions. Although Oryzon believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Oryzon shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Oryzon that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the documents sent by Oryzon to the Spanish Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which are accessible to the public. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and have not been reviewed by the auditors of Oryzon. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to Oryzon or any of its members, directors, officers, employees or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. All forward-looking statements included herein are based on information available to Oryzon on the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, Oryzon does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Oryzons securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of Oryzons securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from Oryzon or the selling security holder, as applicable, that will contain detailed information about Oryzon and management, as well as financial statements. IR, US IR & Media, Europe Spain Oryzon Ashley R. Robinson Sandya von der Weid Patricia Cobo/

Saikat Nandi Daniel Foley LifeSci Advisors, LLC LifeSci Advisors, LLC Atrevia Chief Business Officer +1 617 430 7577 +41 78 680 05 38 +34 91 564 07 25

+1 917 208 8293 + 34 672 447 094 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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[May 09, 2023] HawkEye 360 Announces Advisory Board Class of 2023

Gen. John Abizaid, The Honorable Kari Bingen, Rep. Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan bring diverse experiences to HawkEye 360 HERNDON, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkEye 360 Inc., the world's leading defense technology company for space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced today their Advisory Board Class of 2023: General John P. Abizaid, The Honorable Kari A. Bingen, The Honorable Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan. "HawkEye 360 is proud to welcome an extraordinary class of advisory board leaders for 2023," said HawkEye 360 Chief Executive Officer John Serafini. "Their broad expertise across government and nonprofit sectors will be essential as we continue to expand our RF-sensing satellite constellation to equip the U.S. Government and our partners abroad with crucial, near real-time insights into illegal and illicit activities." General John P. Abizaid is a retired U.S. Army four-star general, who most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previously, he served on the CIA's External Advisory Board and as the Distinguished Chair (Emeritus) of the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was also the first Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In his thirty-four years of active service, he commanded units at every level, serving in Grenada, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he has also studied at the University of Jordan in Amman, holds a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University, and has received Honorary Degrees from Dartmouth College and Norwich University. Currently, he is the Principal Partner of JPA Partners, LLC, a firm advising private business, government, and academic clients on leadership, national and international strategy, business, security, and military affairs. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as a board member for the Middle East Institute. "HawkEye 360's work is critical to fostering a safer and more secure world, including in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions," General John Abizaid said. "I look forward to joining this dynamic team who are demonstrating the critical role commercial defense technologies play in our national defense." The Honorable Kari A. Bingen is the director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer for HawkEye 360 Kari has also served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security for the U.S. Department of Defense, the policy director on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and staff lead for its Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Kari is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University, a member of the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group, and serves on a number of corporate and nonprofit advisory boards. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics.



"I'm thrilled to be back with the HawkEye 360 team in this capacity and to be joining such a distinguished cohort of advisors," Kari Bingen said. "HawkEye 360 exemplifies the contribution that commercial space can make to national defense and global security." The Honorable Jim Cooper is a recently retired congressman (D-TN) who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years, working on eight different committees including the Intelligence Committee. Jim helped found the U.S. Space Force as the former chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. In 2017, Jim worked with Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL) on a proposal to establish a space corps under the U.S. Department of the Air Force. The proposal passed the House and two years later a bill with very similar language was signed into law, creating the U.S. Space Force. Cooper received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, his M.A. as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and his B.A. as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is writing a book about the beginnings of the Space Force.

"I was impressed by HawkEye 360 and its excellent management team from the start and have been even more impressed by their work overseas this past year," Rep. Jim Cooper said. "They are a company with a great future and I look forward to being a part of it." Dr. M. Sanjayan is a conservation scientist and CEO of Conservation International, an organization working primarily in the Global South to protect nature for humanity. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in West Africa, Sanjayan holds a master's degree from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in conservation biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has previously served as a visiting researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, a distinguished professor of practice at Arizona State University, and a fellow at the Aspen Institute. Sanjayan also serves as a trustee for The Earthshot Prize and a climate advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative. "As a conservation scientist concerned with global climate change, including forest restoration and protecting ocean waters, I have built my career around humanitarian and environmental preservation initiatives," Sanjayan said. "I truly believe Hawkeye 360's technologies will benefit our society and our world." "As HawkEye 360 continues to grow its signals collection and analysis capabilities, these distinguished advisors bring valuable knowledge and experience in how our data can support the national security, defense, space and environmental sectors," said HawkEye 360 Chief Strategy Officer Patrick Zeitouni. "HawkEye 360 is strengthened by their leadership." These four individuals, forming HawkEye 360 Advisory Board's Class of 2023, will join the board's 18 current members: Letitia Long (Advisory Board Chair)

(Advisory Board Chair) Honorable Arthur L. Money

David Deptula Lt. Gen., U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Stephanie O'Sullivan

B. Lynn Wright

Scott Swift , Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

, Admiral, U.S. (Ret.) Joan DempseySenator Norm Coleman

Deborah Lee James

John Mulholland , Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (Ret.)

, Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (Ret.) Essye Miller

Representative Mac Thornberry

Kevin Chilton , General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

, General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

(Ret.) Marty Faga

Terry McAuliffe

Paul Zukunft , Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)

, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.) Mike Rogers , Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) For more information on the HawkEye 360 satellite constellation, please visit https://www.he360.com/ . About HawkEye 360 HawkEye 360 is a defense technology leader providing ubiquitous knowledge of human activity, behavior, and situational trends derived from revolutionary radio frequency (RF) geospatial intelligence. The company's innovative space-based technology was developed to detect, characterize, and geolocate a broad range of RF signals. These RF data and analytics provide an information advantage allowing analysts to detect the first glimpse of suspicious behavior, trace the first sign of enemy activity, and reveal the first sighting of ships attempting to vanish. HawkEye 360's RF intelligence presents a quicker grasp of critical events and patterns of life, providing early warnings to drive tip-and-cue efforts, and providing global leaders the insights needed to make decisions with confidence. HawkEye 360 is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawkeye-360-announces-advisory-board-class-of-2023-301819103.html SOURCE HawkEye 360

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[May 09, 2023] WAVR Prototypes Consumer-Sized Wave Energy Converter

Modular design allows scaling up, expanding into hybrid applications HONOLULU, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WAVR LLC has introduced a prototype of its modular Wave Energy Converter (WEC) concept. The technology transforms the energy naturally produced by ocean waves into electricity. The prototype is a consumer-size unit, but the technology is expandable to larger applications. The design also allows for easy integration with other renewable energy technologies. Although the first prototype produces less than 3 watts per square foot, less than a quarter of what new solar panels typically achieve, the company believes the technology holds great promise. Whereas peak solar averages less than seven hours per day, wave energy is nearly constant. Therefore, the WAVR device does not suffer from the intermittency issues that plague other renewable energy technologies. The need for batteries to balance the electrical load during dormant periods is significantly reduced, as are the environmental concerns related to battery systems. However, WAVR's patent pending technology does not have to compete with other renewable energy technologies - it can be used in conjunction with solar, hydroelectric and wind technologies, as illustrated on the company's website: https://www.thewavr.co/index.html. Solar panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric water turbines can be incorporated into the WAVR design to make hybrid systems.



"We believe that there is a place for a technology that can generate a reliable source of electricity without over-reliance on batteries," said WAVR founder Clyde Igarashi. "Obviously we'd like the output to be competitive with solar from the outset, but we're happy with the first prototype. We expect future devices to have greater output as we upgrade components and continually improve the design." Early on, low power ocean applications that rely on a steady flow of electricity, such as data buoys and internet of things (IOT) devices, would be well suited for the WAVR technology. However, applications that require more electricity can also be accommodated because of the modular design - which facilitates expansion by increasing the number of modules used. If the number of modules is doubled, the electricity produced will also roughly double. The current prototype has five modules, but that number can be increased for applications with larger energy requirements. Furthermore, multiple WAVR devices can be set up in arrays to generate even more electricity, similar to solar farms.

The WAVR concept went from idea to prototype in a little over a year. The company accomplished this without the assistance of large partners or government grants, but it has already attracted the attention of prominent political and business leaders. WAVR's project advisor, former Hawaii Governor John Waihee, said: "Because we all realize the potential impact of the technology, I recommend that we prove the concept and disseminate the information as soon as possible. The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative aims to achieve a 100 percent clean energy portfolio by 2045.  We may be late to the party, but we can play an important part in achieving that goal." Media Contact:

Michelle Lee

WAVR LLC

[email protected]

Tel: (808) 206-8674

website: https://www.thewavr.com/index.html View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wavr-prototypes-consumer-sized-wave-energy-converter-301819552.html SOURCE WAVR LLC

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[May 09, 2023] Accredible Ranks Among Highest-Scoring Businesses on Inc. Magazine's Annual List of Best Workplaces for 2023

Accredible, the world's leading digital credentialing platform, has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility. Accredible is a remote-forward, global technology company that manages, issues, tracks, and verifies more than 65 million digital credentials across the globe. Founded in 2013, the company maintains a culture rooted in ambition, expertise, and humanity, empowering its teams to produce the best results while enjoying rewarding career opportunities and a supportive environment. Accredible offers employees a vast suite of innovative workplace benefits, including an annual learning budget, unlimited bereavement, and flexible sick days for those with critical illnesses, in addition to baseline benefits that include flexible and remote work, generous PTO, top-line tech and fully paid healthcare. "At Accredible, we know the best innovations come from a team that feels supported, included, and empowered. With humility and curiosity as our guiding values, we are committed to providing a work environment where every employee is respected and valued and successes are celebrated together," says Danny King, CEO and co-founder of Accredible. "We would not be the industry leader we are today without giving our people the support they need. To be selected to Inc.'s annual list of Best Workplaces is a true testament to the extraordinary culture we've built - and will continue to build - as we chart a course for further growth." After collecting data from thusands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.



"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement." For more information about Accredible's award-winning culture, visit accredible.com/careers.

About Accredible Accredible is the industry-leading digital credentialing platform that securely issues, manages, tracks, and verifies millions of high-stakes credentials across the globe. Accredible integrates with leading learning software including Canvas, D2L Brightspace, Kajabi, Kryterion Webassessor, Moodle, Thinkific, and more. Over 2,000 leading universities, associations, and technology companies such as Google, Skillsoft, Slack, the Association of Corporate Treasurers, Chartered Banker Institute, University of Cambridge, AMPP, Hootsuite, IEEE, Cengage, MIT, Rutgers, INSEAD, IAPP, UC Berkeley, AMBA, and The Digital Marketing Institute rely on Accredible to create, deliver and manage digital certificates and open badges. Learn more at accredible.com. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. About Quantum Workplace Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005504/en/

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[May 09, 2023] Applied Information and JSF Technologies Partner to Deliver Sustainable Connected Vehicle Safety Solutions for Pedestrians and School Zones

Applied Information, Inc., the leading provider of intelligent transportation infrastructure technology, announced today a partnership with JSF Technologies Inc., to provide sustainable, Internet of Things (IoT) safety solutions for vulnerable road users (VRU). Initial products are solar-powered school zone safety beacons and mid-block crossing beacons. School zone safety beacons notify drivers to slow down when students are arriving and leaving school. Mid-block crossing beacons warn motorists that a pedestrian is crossing the road. Both products are solar-powered and are IoT connected to provide traffic engineers with the ability to monitor and control the devices. The IoT enabled devices also communicate with connected vehicles in the vicinity providing an extra layer of safety for VRUs. The first large-scale deployment of school beacons is in Toronto where more than 500 school zone safety beacons are deployed with more to come in 2023 and 2024. "Our partnership with Applied Information represents a cohesive approach in meeting the growing demand for intelligent transportation infrastructure," said Phil Eastmn, General Manager of JSF Technologies Inc. "We look forward to collaborative innovation and development with Applied Information to achieve mutual goals for a sustainable and safer future."



"Our partnership with JSF Technologies, represents the future of the industry - sustainable and connected," said Peter Ashley, Vice-President of Business Development for Applied Information, Inc. "We look forward to a successful partnership by providing proven, safety enhancements for communities across North America." About JSF Technologies -

JSF Technologies, is an industry leading manufacturer and supplier of renewable and energy-efficient intelligent signaling devices and illumination systems for the global transportation industry. For the past 20-years, JSF Technologies has designed cutting-edge, eco-friendly solutions that make roadways safer for vehicle and pedestrian traffic and have earned a reputation for delivering quality, cost effective, energy-efficient solutions to cities and communities around the world. About Applied Information - Applied Information is the industry-leading developer of Smart Cities, Connected Vehicle (C-V2X), and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solutions for the surface transportation sector. Key products are smart traffic signals, school zone safety beacons, emergency vehicle preemption, transit, and school bus priority, asset security, and intelligent street lighting. Applied Information's Glance Smart City Supervisory platform enables cities to manage all their traffic and ITS assets on one web-based application. Applied Information's TravelSafely Connected Vehicle Messenger Engine connects smartphones, vehicles, and navigation apps to the transportation infrastructure providing a safer mobility experience for motorists and vulnerable road users. Applied Information's core values are to develop products that save lives, improve traffic, drive commerce, and help the environment. Applied Information, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Company also operates the Infrastructure Automotive Technology Laboratory (iATL), an incubator and developer of Connected Vehicle Applications. Applied Information's products are deployed in more than 1,000 jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.appinfoinc.com. EDITORS: Images may be found at: https://bit.ly/42kv0ib View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005742/en/

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[May 09, 2023] Cenlar Appoints Michael Biddle as Chief Data Scientist and Launches Information Factory

Cenlar FSB, the nation's leading mortgage loan subservicer, announced today that Michael Biddle has joined the company in the newly created role of Chief Data Scientist. Michael will lead Cenlar's just-launched Mortgage Information Factory, an effort that will focus on leveraging the company's large amounts of data and turning that into actionable information and insight for our own operations as well as clients and their homeowners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005343/en/ Cenlar Chief Data Scientist Michael Biddle (Photo: Business Wire) Michael brings to Cenlar more than two decades of experience in building and sustaining the highest level of quantitative analysis and research. He will be responsible for procuring and gathering data, establishing processes for converting data to effective reporting and instituting artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, in addition to maximizing portfolio performance through deep learning mthodologies.



"Michael is an incredibly valuable part of the Cenlar team," said President and CEO Jim Daras. "His talent and vision for strategically leveraging data will deliver smart, industry-leading business solutions for our clients, their homeowners and our employees." Cenlar's Data Science initiative will combine math and statistics, specialized programming, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning with extensive knowledge of mortgage performance and servicing operations to uncover actionable insights. These insights can guide decision making and strategic planning and improve operational performance.

"I look forward to working with the team and identifying, collecting, and assessing data to create cutting-edge analytical solutions to create an improved work experience for Cenlar that also delivers the best results for our clients and their homeowners," said Michael. Michael holds a Masters of Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University, a DDE Econometrics from Northern Kentucky/University of Cincinnati Cooperative, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. About Cenlar FSB Cenlar FSB is the nation's leading subservicer, servicing loans in 50 states and its U.S. territories. Cenlar boasts a loyal and growing client base including banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. Our employees, strategically located throughout the United States, are dedicated to customer satisfaction and teamwork that drives client solutions unparalleled in quality, flexibility and innovation. Headquartered in Ewing, NJ, Cenlar is industry rated and audited regularly by independent third parties. For more information, visit www.cenlar.com.

Find us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cenlar-fsb/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005343/en/

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[May 09, 2023] North Carolina's Largest Community College, Wake Technical, Selects YuJa Enterprise Video Platform to Serve Students at Seven Campuses

North Carolina's largest community college, Wake Technical Community College (Wake Technical) has selected the YuJa Enterprise Video Platform to provide a comprehensive video and media creation, hosting, storage and distribution solution across its seven campuses and associated learning facilities that serve more than 70,000 students each year. YuJa will replace VidGrid, the institution's former video enterprise learning platform, which is phasing out its education offering. Wake Technical leadership was seeking an all-in-one solution that integrates with both Blackboard and Moodle learning management systems, as well as that supports student recording and media creation and provides a variety of ways to share and deliver content. Leaders also wanted a tool that enables simple sharing, management, and organization of media and other digital resources. In addition to these features, YuJa's Video Platform supports captions, video quizzing, comprehensive nalytics, gradebook integration, and more that help create an engaging, collaborative learning environment.



"YuJa is proud to serve a growing number of institutions in the North Carolina Community College System with ed-tech solutions that help enable all learners to succeed," said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. "YuJa's suite of tools is designed with educational institutions and ease of use in mind, so instructors can focus on doing what they do best." ABOUT WAKE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Wake Technical Community College is North Carolina's largest community college, serving more than 70,000 adults annually, with seven campuses, two training centers, multiple community sites and a comprehensive array of online learning options. Wake Tech is accredited and offers more than 250 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs that prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment. The college also offers short-term, non-degree programs. ABOUT YUJA, INC. YuJa is a leader in ed-tech solutions. Our platforms provide organizations of all sizes with the tools to educate, engage, inspire and collaborate. We serve learning enterprises within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005856/en/

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[May 09, 2023] Mobi Taps Into T-mobile's 5G Network to Enhance Customer Experience

TMCnet News Hawai?i-based wireless carrier Mobi has signed an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) agreement with T-Mobile (News - Alert). This exclusive, multiyear relationship will allow Mobi customers to use the T-Mobile network both at home throughout the islands and across the mainland United States.



Mobi's partnership with T-Mobile will combine their friendly customer care team and welcoming Hawai?i stores with T-Mobile's 5G speeds, consistency, and coverage, allowing Mobi to deliver an even better experience for their customers. With this agreement, Mobi customers will have access to T-Mobile's national network, including its super-fast Ultra Capacity 5G. Mobi is launching its modern, cloud-native mobile core that was built by Working Group Two, a trailblazing telecom startup, and powered by Amazon Web Services (News - Alert). By integrating the scale of AWS and the innovation of WG2 with the T-Mobile network, Mobi is able to supercharge their first-of-its-kind, app-first digital customer experience.

'T-Mobile has fought passionately to advance competition in the wireless industry. Supporting fellow Competitive Carriers Association wireless providers members like Mobi is important,' said Dan Thygesen, Senior Vice President of T-Mobile Wholesale and head of T-Mobile's growing wholesale business. 'The team here at T-Mobile is committed to delivering an unbeatable level of network service to the communities we are proud to serve. Extending access to the incredibly fast speeds, vast coverage, high consistency, and incredible performance of our network to Mobi customers is one of the many ways we are able to harness the industry-leading investments we are making in 5G and leverage the capacity of our nationwide network.' Mobi's recent agreement with T-Mobile, one of the largest wireless carriers in the country, is a significant milestone for the company. By partnering with T-Mobile, Mobi gains access to a nationwide network that covers more than 325 million people across 1.9 million square miles, more than any other carrier in the country. This partnership will allow Mobi to provide its customers with industry-leading 5G speeds, coverage, and consistency, enhancing their mobile experience both at home in Hawai?i and while traveling on the mainland. 'As a smaller wireless provider, we have seen remarkable progress across wireless over these past two decades, and we were proud to have pioneered a few of those positive changes ourselves here in Hawai?i when we launched our no contract, no credit check, affordable unlimited plan way back in 2005," said Mobi's CEO Justen Burdette. "As the Un-carrier, T-Mobile has proven time and again that they will never settle for the status quo in our industry, and their phenomenal work building out a 5G network that is leading in just about every measure is only the latest example of their commitment to pushing wireless forward. I can tell you that the passion T-Mobile has for innovation is extraordinarily contagious, and while I know both of our teams will always fiercely compete to better serve our customers and our shared communities, all of us here at Mobi are honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Dan and his incredible team at T-Mobile.' Mobi is a wireless carrier that was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Hawai?i. The company has a no contract, no credit check, affordable unlimited plan that has proven to be popular with customers. In addition to its friendly customer care team and welcoming stores, Mobi is known for its commitment to pushing wireless forward and improving the customer experience. According to their website, Mobi's mission is 'to provide superior wireless communications services to the people of Hawai?i by offering a comprehensive array of products and services at an exceptional value.' The company's partnership with T-Mobile will allow them to further that mission by providing access to a larger network with faster speeds and better coverage. The agreement between Mobi and T-Mobile represents a significant milestone for both companies. It allows Mobi to provide its customers with enhanced mobile services, while also helping T-Mobile to expand its reach across the country. The partnership is a testament to the commitment of both companies to providing their customers with the best possible mobile experience.





Edited by Greg Tavarez



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Ras Al Khaimah and China have discussed the best ways to enhance bilateral ties between them and the possibility of opening commercial markets on both sides.

Trade exchange between Ras Al Khaimah and China in 2022 totalled AED41 billion ($11.17 billion), a growth of 42% compared to the previous years AED707 million. Imports from China made the larger share of the trade exchange at AED810 million and e-exports to China totalling AED130 million. Export to China was AED101 million.

Discussions between the two sides took place when Mohamed Mosbbeh Al Nuaimi, Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry received Zhang Yiming, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to UAE.

Cooperation framework

The meeting, which discussed creating a cooperation framework, was held at Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce headquarters in presence of Youssef Ismail, Head of the Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Project Development, Eman Al Hayyas, Assistant Director General of the Commercial Services and Business Development Sector and Ahmed Al Shemeili, Assistant Director General Supporting Commercial Services Sector.

Al Nuaimi highlighted the incentives provided by Ras Al Khaimah to foreign investors, the business-friendly environment, efforts of the departments and authorities in Ras Khaimah to provide attractive business environment.

Yiming stressed that the bilateral relations were growing at a fast pace in all fields. He pointed out that the Chinese school which has been established in Dubai with Chinese teachers, is considered the first Chinese school abroad with support of the Chinese Government and efforts of the leadership of the UAE. He further noted that UAE accommodates the largest Chinese community with over 300,000 Chinese citizens living here peacefully.-- TradeArabia News Service
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Amenities Group, a full-service, global provider of wellness, amenity management and meeting services for commercial and residential properties, hotels, private clubs and pools, today announced the launch of its proprietary survey and salary benchmarking tool, Wage Insightssm.

Wage Insights logo

Wage Insights obtains and leverages data across the hospitality and wellness sectors to enable hotels and wellness centers to better formulate their employee compensation and growth strategies.

Barry Goldstein, Arch Amenities Group chief executive officer, called the Wage Insights survey and reporting tools "some of the most defined and confident ways companies can inform their hiring strategies and react quickly to today's dynamic labor market using current market data that is both internally equitable and externally competitive."

Wage Insights surveys are conducted, certified and interpreted by secure, third-party partners to capture and collate national, regional and state-level data from across the hospitality and wellness industries. All subscribers, from C-suite leaders to general managers, can select from several tiers of subscription-based continual reports or choose individual reports via one-time downloads.

Wage Insights reports include comprehensive visual tools to support the budgeting and forecasting process. Reports are generated as spreadsheets and data fields in PDF format, providing wage benchmarking information specific to job type, category and location.

Goldstein credited Michael G. Tompkins, managing director of Hutchinson: An Arch Company, with conceiving the benchmarking survey and insights tool. "With fast-changing economic shifts and the post-pandemic hiring climate, the ability to leverage hyper-current survey data to benchmark salaries and wages is a game-changer for businesses looking to maximize efficiencies for growth," Goldstein said.

Tompkins added that as demand for wellness services and amenities increases, "we know that more informed recruiting practices lead to better talent acquisition and propel business forward," adding: "The Wage Insights benchmarking tool helps employers zero in on hiring the best talent in the market, ultimately leading to longer-lasting, more engaged teams."

Story continues

About Arch Amenities Group

Arch Amenities Group, based in Rockville, Maryland, is a leading provider of amenity management, hospitality consulting and recruiting services for commercial and residential properties, hotels, spas, private clubs and pools. Arch provides preopening and sustaining strategy and support for leading wellness and amenity spaces in the United States and across the globe. Arch is a portfolio company of private equity firm CI Capital Partners.

Click HERE to learn more about the Wage Insights survey and subscription-based insights report.

Arch Amenities Group (PRNewsfoto/Arch Amenities Group)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arch-amenities-group-introduces-wage-insightssm-a-tool-that-provides-salary-and-wage-benchmarking-data-for-hotels-and-wellness-centers-301819400.html

SOURCE Arch Amenities Group
[May 09, 2023] Chiron Investigations Offers Effortless Recovery Solutions for Stolen Crypto Assets

DARTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chiron Investigations, a leading company specializing in cryptocurrency and asset recovery, has unveiled its specialized services aimed at assisting individuals who have lost their bitcoin assets due to theft. With a proven track record of success and having handled hundreds of cases, Chiron Investigations is recognized for its swift and effective cryptocurrency recovery services. Victims of bitcoin theft can now rely on Chiron Investigations to recover their lost digital assets, including how to get their stolen crypto back.

In a recent interview, the IT head of Chiron Investigations emphasized the company's commitment to providing competent and efficient recovery services, recognizing the significance of these assets to their clients. The company specializes in assisting victims of both Forex trading and cryptocurrency crimes, ensuring swift response and direct case management for timely and practical results. With a focus on client satisfaction, Chiron Investigations remains dedicated to offering reliable and effective recovery services for those impacted by asset theft. Chiron's aim is to support its clients in regaining control over their lost property and bringing the criminals to justice, especially helping those impacted by crypto trading platform crimes. Additionally, Chiron Investigations' bitcoin recovery services are not only dependable and safe but also highly effective. With a global network of investigators, the company is equipped to assist clients anywhere in the world. Customers who choose Chiron to recover their lost assets stand to benefit greatly from the company's expertise andexperience. As one of the top providers of cryptocurrency and asset recovery services, Chiron Investigations has a team of professional investigators with a proven track record of success and a deep understanding of the crypto recovery process. In addition to its professional recovery services, the company also provides guidance and support to victims on how to recover their stolen cryptocurrency.



Chiron is committed to providing its clients with exceptional and efficient recovery services, recognizing the importance of these assets to their clients. Overall, Chiron Investigations' crypto recovery services to help get stolen bitcoin back are revolutionizing the sector by offering the crucial backing and help needed to do so. Visit Chiron Investigations' website at https://www.chiron-investigations.com to learn more about their cryptocurrency recovery services. About Chiron Investigations:

Chiron Investigations is a leading provider of investigation services that help businesses recover from the effects of online crime. The company offers customized solutions to suit each client's unique needs, including custom analysis of cases, detailed investigations into transactions, closer interaction with stakeholders to assess the methods used by perpetrators, drawing a trail of events to establish root cause analysis, and protection from future occurrences through the deployment of robust security systems. Chiron Investigations' team of experts has years of experience in investigating and preventing online crime and works closely with law enforcement agencies and financial institutions to bring perpetrators to justice. Media Details: Organization: Chiron Investigations Crypto Recovery Solutions Contact Person: Julie Spencer Website: https://chiron-investigations.com/

Email: [email protected] City: Dartford Country: United Kingdom



Julie Spencer Chiron Investigations Crypto Recovery Solutions Admin at chiron-investigations.com

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[May 09, 2023] Vonage and the New Paradigm of Customer Experience in the Digital Age

TMCnet News In the rapidly evolving world of digital business, providing a seamless and positive customer experience (CX) has emerged as a critical component of successful operations. Vonage (News - Alert), a global cloud communications leader, is at the forefront of this trend, championing a new paradigm of customer experience that has been recognized within the industry for its innovative approach.



Vonage recently earned the Top Customer Sentiment Award for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) from Metrigy, a research and strategic advisory firm known for its analysis of enterprise success metrics. The MetriStar Awards rely on the insights of CX and IT leaders, offering a customer-centric evaluation of providers in the highly competitive CCaaS market. Customer Experience: The New Competitive Battlefield

The era of customer experience as the key brand differentiator is upon us. A Walker study predicted several years ago that, by 2020, CX would overtake price and product in this regard, and recent data only underscores that this shift is, indeed, taking place. A PwC report indicated that 73% of all people point to customer experience as an essential factor in their purchasing decisions, only second to price and product quality. However, a gap exists, with only 49% of U.S. consumers saying that the brands they deal with provide a good customer experience. The ramifications of poor customer experience are stark. According to Vonage's own research, after a negative customer service experience, 39% of customers would avoid a company for two years, while an astounding 58% would sever ties with the company indefinitely. Setting the Bar High in CCaaS Founded in 2001 and based in New Jersey, Vonage is a global presence in the cloud communications space, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel, and Asia. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson (News - Alert), the company is dedicated to aiding businesses in their digital transformation journeys. Vonage's recognition in the MetriStar Awards reflects its commitment to customer experience. Vonage Contact Center, built on the Vonage Communications Platform, offers an array of features, including visual engagement features, robust CRM integrations, and AI capabilities, all designed to enhance and streamline customer interactions. The platform's microservices architecture, which allows for swift integration of new features and robust integration with Vonage's CPaaS and UCaaS platforms, is particularly noteworthy. This agility meets the growing demand among CX leaders for flexible, scalable, and integrated communication solutions. Vonage's fully programmable communications platform integrates video, voice, chat,messaging, AI, and verification into existing products, workflows, and systems. This comprehensive approach enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences, boosting sales, and increasing customer satisfaction. The Market Outlook and the Future of CCaaS The increasing reliance on digital platforms for business operations is expected to continue growing, with Grand View Research predicting the global digital transformation market to reach $1,759.4 billion by 2027. To navigate this landscape successfully, businesses need reliable, flexible, and integrated communication solutions. Vonage's recognition by Metrigy underlines the company's commitment to customer experience and demonstrates its ability to lead in this ever-evolving space. With a focus on innovative and adaptable solutions, Vonage is well-positioned to help businesses meet the challenges of the digital age. As the shift towards digital platforms continues to reshape the business landscape, prioritizing customer experience is no longer optional - it is vital. With its robust, reliable, and feature-rich CCaaS solution, Vonage is showing how an industry leader can shape the future. Impact of Vonage's Technology on Business Operations Vonage's technology doesn't just enhance customer experience - the company says it revolutionizes business operations. By enabling the integration of various communication methods into existing products, workflows, and systems, Vonage allows businesses to streamline their processes and foster more efficient and effective communication. These capabilities facilitate seamless collaboration within teams and between departments, enhancing overall productivity. When front office and back office staff can work together more effectively, businesses can deliver faster, more personalized customer service, which, in turn, boosts customer satisfaction. Moreover, the artificial intelligence capabilities of the Vonage platform allow businesses to automate routine tasks, freeing up their human resources to focus on more complex issues. This not only enhances efficiency but also enables businesses to provide more personalized customer experience. Commitment to Security In an era of increasing digital threats, security is a paramount concern for businesses. Vonage's platform includes robust security capabilities that help protect sensitive customer data and ensure business continuity. This not only provides businesses with peace of mind but also enhances customer trust - a crucial factor in delivering a positive customer experience. With the ever-increasing number of data breaches, brands are seeing firsthand how quickly their reputation and loyalty erode when they don't take security seriously enough. The Importance of Customer Experience in the Post-Pandemic World The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation trend, with businesses around the world forced to adapt quickly to a remote work environment. As businesses continue to navigate this new landscape, providing a positive customer experience has become even more crucial. In a remote work environment, communication and collaboration tools play an essential role in maintaining productivity and delivering a high-quality customer experience. Vonage's platform, with its various communication capabilities and robust security features, is perfectly suited to meet these needs. Vonage's recognition by Metrigy underscores its commitment to providing superior customer experience in the digital age. With its robust, reliable, and feature-rich CCaaS solution, Vonage is demonstrating how businesses can successfully navigate the digital transformation trend and meet the evolving expectations of their customers. In a world where customer experience is increasingly becoming the key brand differentiator, businesses can't afford to lag behind. Choosing the right technology ensures they are well-equipped to deliver a seamless, positive customer experience, thus securing their success in the digital age.





Edited by Erik Linask



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Ah, F1 racing, where drivers blast around a racetrack in a cat-and-mouse-like game as they try to outmaneuver each other and gain an advantage on the track. In 2022, those F1 racers sped their way down to south Florida to race in the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, where fans got to cheer on their favorite racers, who reached breakneck speeds, at Hard Rock Stadium.







Shifting gears to a more technological side when it comes to the fans, Verizon (News - Alert) customers who attended the event in 2022 used 19 TB of data as they took advantage of Verizons 5G Ultra Wideband-powered experiences. Verizon fans benefitted from peak download speeds of 2.8 Gbps and average download speeds of more than 1 Gbps, and a network team of at least 30 engineers staffed Verizons network Command Center to ensure a reliable network experience for fans, first responders and public safety teams.

Just as with event organizers constantly looking for ways to improve the overall experience for attendees, Verizon enhanced the network across the stadium to deliver a more seamless private wireless experience for 2023 race.

To do that, the company deployed a private managed wireless solution at the track that enabled venue management solutions including ticket scanning, digital sign management, multiple point of sale terminals for various merchants and immediate uploads for photographers looking to cover the action as it unfolds.

Private networks provide enhanced location flexibility at large-scale events eliminating the need to run fiber cabling inside and around venues to support network connectivity. This wireless venue platform allows stadium operators and the infrastructure providers they work with to reduce infrastructure costs and increase efficiency.

Verizon also had portable private wireless network at the race to showcase various real-time communications applications that can be used in racing, whether its race team communications or venue operations.

With private networks, venue operators are improving existing operations, allowing fans to quickly get into the venue, purchase merchandise, and get to their seats, said Kyle Malady, CEO of Verizon Business (News - Alert). In a sport like racing, no one wants to miss a second of the action, and 5G Ultra Wideband network blanketed the Hard Rock Stadium area so attendees can stream, tweet and share their experiences quickly and reliably.

Verizon engineers also took the necessary steps to prepare the vicinity for enhanced cellular services. The Bowl, back of the house, parking area and the Miami International Autodrome were outfitted with additional 4G and 5G capabilities utilizing a diverse range of frequencies.

For the 5G services, Verizon utilized a combination of C-band, its mid-band frequency with extensive coverage, and mmWave, its premium, high-band spectrum that provides tremendous capacity. The fiber that feeds the area was upgraded to increase bandwidth.

Verizon also added 864 count fiber strands to the northeast, southwest and northwest corners of the Distributed Antenna System at Hard Rock Stadium and in the west lot. Fiber was also extended throughout the outdoor areas to boost the capacity of the Outdoor Distributed Antenna System.

In the parking area, Verizon implemented a performance enhancement technology that segregates crowds into sectors or "slices of pie." Each sector was individually adjusted to handle wireless traffic, providing Verizon engineers with greater flexibility to adjust performance based on customer movement and data usage within the stadium.

The result of these enhancements? According to Verizon, Verizon customers used 42.9 TB of data over the three-day event, up 26% from last year, and the equivalent of streaming a feature length movie almost 12,000 times.

Our 5G Ultra Wideband network is there when our customers need it and built for these types of crowded events, providing reliability and massive capacity so fans can always capture and share all of the racing action, said Joe Russo, EVP and president of global networks and technology at Verizon. Our engineers and technicians worked to upgrade the network and ensure our customers had the best possible experience while at the race.

Edited by Alex Passett
A tragic trend that we want to call out . . .

KANSAS CITY BECOMES MORE DANGEROUS AS WEATHER GETS WARMER!!!

There is just a bit of statistical proof to back that up . . . Sadly, the uptick in local violence doesn't really end until around January.

And so tonight we share deets on court cases, police action and all manner of crime reporting . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Woman accused of injuring pedestrian, multiple crashes in KC area KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman is in custody and accused of injuring a pedestrian and causing two other hit-and-run crashes in three cities Monday. According to Kansas City police, a woman driving a black Chrysler 200 was speeding on U.S. 71 Highway. The driver allegedly hit a pedestrian walking on the highway ramp.

25 percent of Kansas City's homicides happen in its most historic neighborhood About one-fourth of the homicides in Kansas City happen in one of its original and most historic neighborhoods.KC 360, a new crime prevention organization, selected the Santa Fe neighborhood as part of its Village Initiative to help the area with desperately needed resources.To understand why it was selected, you have to look into its rich history.Marquita Taylor has owned her home for over 30 years in Kansas City's oldest, most historic neighborhood.

Mission police warn residents of scam phone calls MISSION, Kan. (KCTV) - The Mission, Kansas, Police Department is warning residents of phone calls where scammers claim to be with the police department. The police department said several people have called them saying they received such calls. The scammers claim to be calling regarding a "legal matter."

Video shows hit-and-run driver go airborne, strike Kansas City couple's garage KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department is looking for the driver who struck the garage of a Northland home and left the scene. Ring doorbell camera video from 2:30 a.m. on April 7 shows the car blow through the intersection of N.W. 66th Terrace and N.

Victim named in NKC deadly double shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - North Kansas City Police say they are investigating the deadly shooting of two people as a murder-suicide. It took place in the 1100 block of Fayette St. just after 10 a.m. Friday.

Kansas City man found guilty of leading cyberstalking conspiracy that led to murder A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been convicted by a federal jury for leading a cyberstalking conspiracy that led to the murder of another KC man in front of his 8-year-old daughter. According to court records, Lester E.

Family of man allegedly poisoned by ex-Missouri hospital worker speaks on plea CHILLICOTHE, Mo. - Jennifer Hall is currently in jail awaiting her sentencing on involuntary manslaughter charges for two deaths that happened at the Hedrick Medical Center in 2002. "If she's still walking around, ya know, and all these families have suffered," Sherri Harper, the widow of David Harper, said in an interview with FOX4.

DNA sample to genealogy site leads to arrest in 2007 Kansas rape case WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Police in Kansas have arrested and charged a man in a 2007 sexual assault by matching a DNA sample to data submitted to genealogy websites. Ted Foy, 52, of Augusta, is jailed on $500,000 bond after he was charged last week with rape, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated criminal sodomy.

Corvette driver ejected during crash in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person is hospitalized with critical injuries after an overnight crash in Kansas City, Missouri. Police responded to a single-car crash at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Cleveland Avenue around 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. Officers said the driver of a Chevrolet Corvette was speeding and lost control of the car as the street curved.

Kansas City police investigate 3 separate shootings that occurred within 26 minutes KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - In less than 30 minutes, Kansas City police responded to three separate shootings Sunday during an already deadly year. Kansas City is on track to surpass the deadliest year in the city's history, which was 2020. That year, 179 people were killed.

Developing . . .
Tonight we take a minute to share links from throughout the community. It's not all good news and there are a couple of items that are are kinda heartbreaking. Still, all of the stories are relevant to Kansas City life and those of us who attempt to try to search for meaning in all of it.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

'I'm still grieving': Manager recalls her 42-year career at stadium Denny's after it was destroyed by fire KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It was a landmark off of Interstate 70, and before the charred sides, it was a pit stop after a good time at our Kansas City staples. Rose Clopton was the reason that Denny's off of Stadium Way was well managed.

Rose Brooks Center - Cabaret Brynn Williams was the featured performer for the 36th anniversary of Cabaret, a benefit for Rose Brooks Center. Jane and Mike Kress served as the chairs for the event, which was held at Loews Kansas City Hotel on March 5th. Cynthia Newsome was the emcee, and Yve Rojas served as the auctioneer.

Overland Park woman's front yard food pantry serves over 2K people per month OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Just west of 71st Street and Metcalf Avenue sits a tiny food pantry in Jennifer Parker's front yard. Tiny Pantry Times, Parker's second full-time job, started out as a tiny library. "When we started this, I thought it would last through COVID only a couple of months," she said.

Tiny food pantry in Overland Park fundraising to help traffic concerns A popular tiny food pantry in Overland Park is facing criticism for the amount of traffic it's bringing to the street. Tiny Pantry Times opened up during the pandemic and has only grown since then. But with recent road construction, it's forced more and more traffic down 71st Street off Metcalf.

KCK food kitchen worried downtown KCKCC campus could force them out KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Kansas City Kansas Community College plans to break ground on a new downtown campus next year. But a longtime food kitchen is worried the project could force them out.

Blue Valley Schools cuts bus payrider program for middle, high school students KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Blue Valley Schools Board of Education voted Monday to eliminate the payrider school bus transportation program for middle and high school students beginning in the 2023-24 school year, citing a shortage in bus drivers in making the decision.

Kansas City Public Schools announces details of graduation ceremonies KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Public School District announces details about upcoming graduation ceremonies. All of the district's graduation ceremonies will take place the week of May 15. It will be a busy week for the school district and its graduating seniors.

'I never stopped wondering': Family wants KCPD to revisit 1994 missing persons cold case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - June 6, 1994, is a date etched in the hearts of Jonathan "Joe" Williams' family. Twenty-nine years later, the same question remains - what happened to him? Joe was last seen at a home near The Paseo and east 39th Street on that day.

Hollis Renewal Center in Wyandotte County has five miles of trails open to the public to explore. Hollis Renewal Center in Wyandotte County has five miles of trails open to the public to explore.

Eight-run sixth inning propels Royals to 12-5 victory over White Sox It was a back and forth game until it wasn't. The Kansas City Royals ultimately got their revenge on Dylan Cease by tagging him with seven earned runs, using a rocket ship sixth inning to zoom past the Chicago White Sox for good in a 12-5 victory over the Southsiders.

Missouri lawmakers pass tax breaks for seniors JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri's senior homeowners would be spared from rate hikes on property taxes under a bill passed by state lawmakers Monday. If signed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson, it would be up to counties to approve the property tax breaks.

Virtual Job Fair for Kansas state agencies - Newstalk KZRG TOPEKA - Jobseekers are encouraged to attend the upcoming State of Kansas Agencies Virtual Job Fair from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. This virtual fair, which is hosted by KANSASWORKS, will focus on highlighting employment opportunities within many of the state's 98 government agencies.

Chiefs Hall of Famer looks to connect students to growing number of tech jobs A Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer is trying to get more kids into a growing field. Computer Coding, repair, and even building high-end apps are all a part of the high-tech industry and some high-paying jobs for those interested in getting into the field.

Slain NKCPD Ofc. Daniel Vasquez added to Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial Wall of Honor KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Eleven fallen officers were honored Saturday in Jefferson City as their names were added to the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial Wall of Honor. Daniel Vasquez, 32, was among those remembered. The slain North Kansas City police officer was killed in July 2022 during a traffic stop.

Developing . . .
An alternative way to think about this argument . . .

This is really a fight over access to technology.



History shows us that tech always wins . . . Even if that tech has HORRIFIC implications for the future of humanity.

Here are more deets and info about the legal discussion . . .



Trust Women, an abortion clinic in Wichita, joined providers from Montana and Virginia in the lawsuit against the FDA filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.



"The recent attacks on Mifepristones legal status are nothing but bad politics, said Rebecca Tong, co-executive director of Trust Women, said in a statement. "The consequences of restricted access will be significant: our ability to meet the overwhelming demand for services will be challenged and patients will experience devastating wait times for appointments.



"All people should have meaningful local access to the fullest range of medical care supported by science  their ability to access quality care should not depend on where they live but on the principles of good medicine."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
As weather gets warmer and shootings become rampant . . . Here's a peek at the conversation that hopefully earns more cooperation to help public safety . . .



The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of addressing crime statistics and steps to be taken for slowing the rash of violent crimes.



The meeting will be held in association with Partners For Peace.



Then on Thursday, KCPD chief Stacey Graves will deliver a State of the City address and hold the first of quarterly listening sessions, focusing on violence in the area.



The two events will be held at the following:

- Partners for Peace Governing Board Meeting  May 9 at 3 p.m. on the 10th floor of City Hall



- State of the City/Listening Session  May 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. at United Believers Community Church (5600 East 112 Terrace)





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Let's remember that just last week we heard repeated complaints about Kansas City residents endangered by poor design and bad planning of bike lanes on Armour Blvd.



It's also worth remembering that earlier this year on Truman Road, residents united to push back bike lanes that also endangered the neighborhood and devastated local small biz.



And yet . . .

MORE SKETCHY BIKE LANES MIGHT BE COMING SOON TO EAST SIDE KANSAS CITY DESPITE NEIGHBORHOOD RESISTANCE!!!

Thanks to the unilateral actions of a council dude seemingly emboldened by a slight lead in the primary and despite ongoing outcry from residents against bike lanes . . . Here we are . . . Under the threat of even more sketchy amateur urban planning on the East side.

Take a peek . . .



District Councilman Eric Bunch, was created last Thursday, May 4, and assigned to the councils Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee, which is set to review the item at its regularly-scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 10.



Several bike lanes have already been installed in the area, and the stretch along Cleaver II Boulevard would help connect that network further west to Main Street and the eventual opening of the southern expansion of the Kansas City Streetcar, which includes a stop at the Country Club Plaza.

What this shows us . . .

COUNCIL DUDE BUNCH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT COMMUNITY RESISTANCE TO BIKE LANES AND SEEMS CONTENT TO PUSH HIS AGENDA DESPITE COMPLAINTS!!!

What's worse is that hundreds of Kansas City residents oppose how bike lanes are thrust upon them and a smallish but vocal group of bike lane enthusiast supporters of this tech are content to ignore neighborhoods and move forward simply because they win fights on Twitter.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City considering expansion of bike lanes on Cleaver II Boulevard Bike lanes in Kansas City could get a key expansion under a new city ordinance being considered. The ordinance, if passed, would install new bike lanes from Troost to Main Street. A new plan would upgrade some existing lanes to be safer and install new lanes on seven blocks of Cleaver II Boulevard.

Kansas City set to consider expansion of bike lanes on Cleaver II between Main Street, Troost Avenue KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council is set to take an initial review Thursday of a proposal that would install bike lanes on a stretch of Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard between Troost Avenue and Main Street.

Developing . . .
A large selection of important works of contemporary art from the D. Daskalopoulos Collection has been donated to four museums in three countries on two continents, creating an innovative network

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An artistic evening was held at the residence of the Consul General of Greece in New York on May 7 for the art collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos on the occasion of the Guggenheim Museum event on May 8 honoring the Greek collector for his significant donation.

It should be noted that a large selection of important works of contemporary art from the D. Daskalopoulos Collection has been donated to four museums in three countries on two continents, creating an innovative network of synergies.

During his greeting, Consul General of Greece Dinos Konstantinou expressed his deep gratitude to the collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos, a brilliant businessman and collector, a visionary who decided to donate a large part of his collection of modern art to the public, world-class institutions around the world. With the donation of his private collection, 350 works by 142 international artists will be given to several leading global institutions. Of these, 100 works will be given jointly to the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, 110 to the Tate Modern in London, and 140 to the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens.

Daskalopoulos fascinating collection includes works by Louise Bourgeois, Marina Abramovic, Helen Chadwick, Sarah Lucas, Matthew Barney, Vlassis Caniaris, Stathis Logothetis, and Jannis Kounelis, as well as other renowned artists.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Jim.henderson
Bitove Method's relationship-centred care and the arts create safe spaces for people with dementia in Toronto
Archlynk has acquired fellow supply chain solutions consulting firm WCS Consulting. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Supply chain solutions consulting firm ArchLynk announced Tuesday it has acquired a fellow player in its field, Boise, Idaho-based WCS Consulting, to keep pace with the growing demand for cloud-based integrated business planning (IBP) solutions.

According to a McKinsey study of 54 senior executives, 25% felt their current processes helped facilitate decision-making effectively but that turning to IBP solutions to become up to 20% more productive.

The pandemic exposed the lack of true IBP across the supply chain. This is a critical set of business processes that enable an organization to respond to changing demand while managing product flow to ensure high customer service, Sekhar Puli, chief executive officer of ArchLynk, told FreightWaves. Implementation of these enabling technologies drives timely decision-making based on real-time data aligned on strategic, operational and tactical levels.

This acquisition comes six months after San Jose, California-based ArchLynk emerged from the fusion of two leading SAP providers, Krypt and Novigo, a merger backed by BV Investment Partners for an undisclosed amount.

Watch now: Can You Ever Have Too Much Technology? With Kyle Ingraham

By bringing together the unparalleled expertise of Krypt, with its global trade expertise, and Novigo, with its supply chain expertise, ArchLynk disrupted the global trade and supply chain consulting industries by providing customers with the worlds leading experts and efficiency-driving technology under one roof, said Puli. Now with WCS Consulting, ArchLynk has formed a global powerhouse, providing customers with unmatched end-to-end digital supply chain solutions.

As part of the deal, Simon Tunmore, chief executive officer of WCS, will take on the new role of senior vice president of business consulting and planning at ArchLynk.

The combined companies now service enormous global supply chains, including those of Toyota, Paccar, Halliburton, Apple, Sony, 3M, Colgate, Red Bull, Nestle, Coca-Cola EuroPacific, Graybar and Honeywell.

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With each FreightTech consulting company bringing its expertise to the table, Archlynk leadership is looking forward to meeting the technological demand of global shippers.

There is a wide disparity of systems integrators in this industry. You have large global players who have broad generic experience and small regional niche players who have deep functional expertise. There are very few, if any, who can bring both deep domain expertise combined with a global presence, and ArchLynk will be the first to be able to fill that gap. This acquisition is a foundational step towards our future growth and our strong commitment towards providing unsurpassed end-to-end supply chain solutions to our customers, Puli said.

Articles by Grace Sharkey

Read more

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Scheduling Standards Consortium grows ranks, readies API release

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The post Archlynk acquires WCS Consulting to raise bar on supply chain solutions appeared first on FreightWaves.
Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it.
Bata Shoe Museum will be free to the public as part of this year's Doors Open event in Toronto on May 27 and 28. - City of Toronto/Cass Rudolph photo
The exhibit "The Last Day of Work" can be viewed on the exterior of the Mount Dennis Library for the month of May. - Mount Dennis BIA photo
Mike Adler is a reporter with toronto.com and Metroland Media Toronto who covers Scarborough and other overlooked parts of Toronto. He worked previously for Metroland in York Region.
Toshi, a ground-breaking restaurant, is thrilled to announce the opening of its doors in the heart of Dubai, offering a sensational Pan-Asian dining experience that will transport diners on a culinary journey like no other.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - May 9th, 2023 - Toshi, a ground-breaking restaurant, is thrilled to announce the opening of its doors in the heart of Dubai, offering a sensational Pan-Asian dining experience that will transport diners on a culinary journey like no other. With its unique concept that combines the finest choices of all-you-can-eat buffet, a la carte, family-style sharing set menus, and live cooking stations, Toshi promises to redefine the way Dubai residents and visitors experience Asian cuisine.

Located in a vibrant setting, Toshi's contemporary look and feel capture the invigorating flavours of Asian culture and cuisine. The restaurant's ambience immerses diners in an atmosphere that reflects the diverse and captivating essence of Asia. From the moment guests step foot into Toshi, they are greeted with an ambience that combines modern elegance with traditional Asian influences.

What sets Toshi apart is its vast range of culinary offerings, carefully curated to cater to all preferences and tastes. Diners will have the opportunity to embark on an extraordinary culinary adventure, sampling an extensive selection of Asian delicacies from various countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and more. The menu boasts an impressive fusion of flavours, skillfully prepared by talented chefs who have mastered the art of Pan-Asian cuisine.

Toshi's all-you-can-eat buffet is a feast for the senses, allowing guests to savour an array of delectable dishes from different regions, each reflecting the authentic flavours and ingredients of their respective origins. For those seeking a more personalized dining experience, the a la carte menu offers an extensive selection of signature dishes, ensuring that every palate is satisfied.

Additionally, Toshi introduces family-style sharing set menus, perfect for groups and families who wish to enjoy a communal dining experience. These set menus showcase the best of Asian cuisine, featuring an assortment of carefully crafted dishes that can be shared and savoured together, creating a sense of togetherness and connection. At Toshi, live cooking stations take centre stage, where talented chefs showcase their culinary expertise and entertain guests with their skilful techniques. Guests can witness the artistry of Asian cuisine unfold before their eyes, as chefs prepare dishes right in front of them, enhancing the overall dining experience and adding an element of excitement.

Toshi invites residents and visitors of Dubai to embark on a culinary adventure, tantalizing their taste buds with the exotic tastes of Asia. Whether it's a romantic dinner, a family gathering, or a casual meal with friends, Toshi promises an unforgettable dining experience that combines exceptional food, attentive service, and a captivating ambience.

Toshi is a leading Pan-Asian restaurant located in the heart of Dubai. Offering an exceptional dining experience, Toshi combines the finest choices of all-you-can-eat buffet, a la carte, family-style sharing set menus, and live cooking stations. With its contemporary ambience and diverse culinary offerings, Toshi invites guests to indulge in the exotic flavours of Asia, right in the heart of Dubai. Toshi also takes great pride in its exceptional service, with a team of warm and friendly staff dedicated to providing each guest with a memorable dining experience. From the moment guests enter the restaurant, they are welcomed with genuine hospitality, ensuring that their every need is catered to throughout their meal.

The team's passion for Asian cuisine and culture is evident in their attention to detail, as they go above and beyond to make sure that every guest's dining experience is nothing short of exceptional. With its unique blend of delicious food and attentive service, Toshi is poised to become a top dining destination in Dubai. For more information, reservations, and menu details, please visit Toshi Dubai!

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Moldova is a small country located in Eastern Europe that offers a unique travel experience for tourists. With its rich history, beautiful natural landscapes, and delicious cuisine, Moldova has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure



(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - May 9th, 2023 -

Moldova is a small country located in Eastern Europe that offers a unique travel experience for tourists. With its rich history, beautiful natural landscapes, and delicious cuisine, Moldova has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure. And with the introduction of the Moldova e-Visa, it is now easier than ever for tourists, including Indians, to explore the country's many attractions.

The Moldova e-Visa is available for citizens of many Moldova e-Visa-eligible countries, including India. The e-visa program has made it easier for travellers to obtain a tourist visa and visit famous places in Moldova. To check the list of Moldova e-Visa-eligible countries, you can visit the official Moldovan government website.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the top tourist attractions to visit with your Moldova e-Visa and discover what makes this country such a special place to visit.

Orheiul Vechi

Orheiul Vechi is a unique tourist attraction in Moldova that attracts visitors from all over the world. It is located in the central part of Moldova, just 60 km north of the capital city of Chisinau. This site is home to a complex of caves, monasteries, and fortresses that have been carved out of the rocky cliffs. Visitors can explore the ancient ruins of the fortresses and churches, and marvel at the breathtaking views of the Raut River valley below. The complex is easily accessible by car or bus and can be visited on a day trip from Chisinau.

Cricova Winery

Moldova is known for its wine production, and the Cricova Winery and Milestii Mici Winery are two must-visit places for wine lovers. Cricova Winery is located in a vast network of underground tunnels, and visitors can take a tour of the tunnels and taste some of the winery's best wines, including their famous sparkling wine. Milestii Mici Winery, on the other hand, is home to the largest wine collection in the world, with over 2 million bottles stored in underground tunnels that stretch for over 200 km.

National Museum of History of Moldova

The National Museum of History of Moldova is located in the heart of Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. It is one of the best places to learn about the country's rich history and culture. The museum has a vast collection of artifacts and exhibits, including ancient weapons, traditional clothing, and artwork from different periods in Moldova's history. Visitors can spend hours exploring the museum and learning about the country's past.

Capriana Monastery

Capriana Monastery is a historic monastery that dates back to the 15th century and is located in a beautiful forested area. Visitors can explore the monastery's chapels, towers, and walls and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Soroca Fortress

Soroca Fortress is located in the town of Soroca in northern Moldova, close to the border with Ukraine. It is a historic fortress that dates back to the 16th century and was built to defend against Ottoman invasions. The fortress is one of the best-preserved in Moldova and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can explore the fortress walls and towers and learn about the history of this important landmark.

Saharna Monastery

Located in a scenic valley in Moldova, Saharna Monastery is a notable religious destination. Its construction dates back to the 17th century, and the monastery is renowned for its breathtaking architecture and picturesque environs. The impressive structure showcases a typical Moldovan architectural style, along with influences from Byzantine and Gothic styles. Visitors can enjoy a stroll around the monastery's premises and marvel at the natural beauty of the area, which boasts towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls.

Moldova is a beautiful and unique country that offers an unforgettable travel experience. With its rich history, picturesque landscapes, and delicious cuisine, Moldova has something to offer for every type of traveller. The introduction of the Moldova e-Visa program has made it easier for tourists, including Indian citizens, to obtain a visa and explore the country's many attractions. Whether you are interested in wine tasting, history, or nature, Moldova has it all. So, what are you waiting for? Apply for your Moldova e-Visa today and discover the beauty and charm of this hidden gem in Eastern Europe.

For more information visit @ https://visadone.com/contact-us/

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Trading Symbol: TSX-V: ARTG

VANCOUVER, BC, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - Artemis Gold Inc. (TSXV: ARTG) ("Artemis Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following corporate updates:

Artemis Gold Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Artemis Gold Inc.)

Appointment of Dale Andres as Independent Director in place of retiring Bill Armstrong

Mr. Dale Andres has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Artemis Gold effective immediately, replacing Mr. Bill Armstrong who is retiring from the Board for personal reasons.

Mr. Andres has more than 30 years' experience in the resource industry and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Gatos Silver, Inc. Prior to this, Mr. Andres also enjoyed a distinguished career of increasing seniority within Teck Resources Limited where he served as Senior Vice President, Base Metals, Senior Vice President, Copper, Vice President, Copper Strategy and North American Operations, Vice President, Gold and International Mining, as well as General Manager, Underground Mines. Mr. Andres holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from Queens University, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Simon Fraser University.

Appointment of Meghan Brown as Vice President Investor Relations

Ms. Meghan Brown has been appointed as Vice President Investor Relations, effective June 1, 2023.

Ms. Brown is a highly regarded investor relations professional with more than 25 years experience in the mining industry. During this time, she advanced through the ranks of Suncor Energy, Placer Dome Inc., Endeavor Silver Corp. and Leagold Mining Corporation and was most recently Vice President Investor Relations of Aris Gold Corporation. Ms. Brown is a past recipient of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute ("CIRI") Award of Excellence in Investor Relations, is a former Chair of the CIRI Board, former Chair of the CIRI BC Chapter Executive and Vice Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society BC/Yukon division. Ms. Brown holds a BA degree from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Queens University. She will be based in the Company's Vancouver head office.

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Steven Dean, Chairman and CEO of Artemis Gold commented, "I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Bill's tremendous contributions to the Board and each of the Board Committees that he served on with distinction. We are also grateful that the quality of our Blackwater asset allows us to attract a mining professional of Dale's technical, development and operating acumen as an independent director.

Mr. Dean added, "I am very excited to have Meghan join us. Her experience and expertise in investor relations will be key to expanding awareness of Blackwater and its value opportunity within the capital markets."

ARTEMIS GOLD INC.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Steven Dean"

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

+1 604 558 1107

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Artemis Gold Inc.

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Police officers were out in their numbers.. at the TTPS Sports Day today.., after a three-ye
The Dutch government is considering the possibility of providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and is negotiating with partners to this end.

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to Reuters.

"We are discussing intensively with Denmark, Great Britain, some other parties in Europe, as well as the United States on the F16s," Rutte said in Sao Paulo on the first day of a visit to Brazil.

However, according to him, an agreement must first be reached between all partners, as was the case in the past before the supply of howitzers and tanks to Ukraine.

The debate is ongoing, according to the prime minister.

Rutte also said he would discuss the need to protect Ukraine in the war on Tuesday during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The world must help Ukraine in fighting off Russia because, if Putin succeeds in Ukraine, which Rutte believes wont happen, he will not stop there.

People in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and all over Europe are concerned about their safety, Rutte noted when speaking with reporters on the first day of his Brazil visit.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on May 4, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, during a joint press conference in The Hague with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Belgium, Mark Rutte and Alexander de Croo, said Ukraine continued work on ensuring that partners eventually provide Ukraine with F-16 warplanes, adding that he expected these efforts to succeed.
MACOMB, Mich., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascent Aerospace, a leading provider of aerospace tooling systems, factory automation and integration services, is thrilled to announce its partnership with True Position Robotics (TPR) at the upcoming Automate 2023 trade show in Detroit, MI. The show will take place from May 22-25 and will bring together the world's premier robotics and automation suppliers and buyers.

Visit Ascent Aerospace and TPR in booth 5207 at Automate 2023.

TPR is a leading provider of high accuracy robot metrology and End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) technology. In the Ascent Aerospace booth at Automate, TPR will be showcasing its cutting-edge technology, demonstrating its capability in delivering high-quality, value-added services to customers. The TPR technology, coupled with the advanced integration capabilities of Ascent, proves to be a powerful solution for automated aircraft assembly applications. Experienced engineers from both teams will be on hand to discuss the cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities and automated assembly technology of this system.

"It is an honor to be partnered with Ascent Aerospace at the upcoming Automate 2023 trade show," says Roger Holden, Director at TPR. "We look forward to showcasing our advanced manufacturing capabilities and expertise along with our partner and demonstrating how we can save time and money for our customers while enhancing their overall productivity."

This partnership is a testament to the teams' commitment to excellence and innovation in the aerospace, defense, and space industries. Visit booth 5207 at Automate to see this solution in action.

About True Position Robotics (TPR)

True Position Robotics (TPR) is an independent UK SME formed in 2018. TPR specializes in high accuracy robot metrology and End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) technology, focused on aerospace and high value manufacturing. Visit https://www.tpr.solutions/ for more information.

About Ascent Aerospace

Ascent Aerospace is a world renowned, single-source provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace, defense and space industries. As the industry's largest tooling group, Ascent produces a full suite of both mold and assembly tooling required for the aerospace manufacturing market, including the largest Invar molds ever made for aerospace. As an automation provider and production system integrator, Ascent works with airframers to develop their project and see it through from process engineering, to build and installation, to ensure it is an efficient and cost effective solution. Visit www.ascentaerospace.com for more information.

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Media Contact

Marisa Bennett - Marketing Manager

Marisa.Bennett@ascentaerospace.com

Tel: +1-586-464-4122

www.ascentaerospace.com

Ascent Aerospace (PRNewsfoto/Ascent Aerospace)

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SOURCE Ascent Aerospace
Mykolaiv is developing a new master plan to revive the city with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The project was presented at a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome.

That's according to the Mykolaiv City Council, Ukrinform reports.

"In Mykolaiv, with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, a new master plan is being developed, which will become the basis for the revival of Mykolaiv and will determine the direction of the city's development for the coming decades. The results of the team's work were presented at a bilateral conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine held in Rome," the statement said.

It is noted that Italy has officially joined the group of states that are preparing to help Ukraine in its recovery. At the invitation of the Italian government, projects to restore Mykolaiv were presented at the meeting.

"The city's master plan today can be an extraordinary catalyst for responding and setting priorities to guide policy and investment nationwide. The better we use the time available, the more effectively we can build a model of an inclusive, integrated, and sustainable city that guarantees a better future for its residents," said Giulio Di Carli, Managing Partner of One Works.

He also noted the high level of Mykolaiv's digitalization expertise. A few years ago, the city developed a geographic information system, the data of which is successfully used by Italian specialists.

According to Giulio Di Carli, Mykolaiv can become an ideal model for rebuilding on the principle of "better than it was" and infrastructure development, which will then spread to other Ukrainian and European cities.

As reported, the Italian architectural company One Works, together with a team of international and local experts, is developing a new Master Plan for the city of Mykolaiv.

Photo: mkrada.gov.ua
Russian assets frozen abroad must be used to pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine.

This is noted in the statement released by the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada Chrystia Freeland following her meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland, Mariusz Baszczak.

The Deputy Prime Ministers discussed how to continue holding Russia accountable for its illegal and barbaric invasion, including through further sanctions and using frozen Russian assets to pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine, reads the statement.

As noted, Deputy Prime Minister Freeland thanked Deputy Prime Minister Baszczak for Polands leadership and significant military, financial, and humanitarian support for Ukraine.

The two reiterated their steadfast commitment to continue supporting the people of Ukraine until they are victorious, the statement says.

As of the end of 2022, about $330 million of Russian assets were frozen in Canada.
Russian propaganda continues to create false stories about Ukrainian tankers and German military equipment

Russia's z-telegram channels are circulating a photo showing the German-made Marder IFV stuck in the river. Propagandists claim that it was Ukraine's military who managed to "drown" the German armored vehicle that Ukraine received from its allies.

As "evidence" of the IFV belonging to the Ukrainian army, the Russians point to a white cross, allegedly painted on the submerged vehicle. Ukraine's military marks equipment with similar crosses.

However, the photo is fake as it is already 13 years old. It was taken in Afghanistan in May 2010.

There was no white cross in the original photo, but it was "photoshopped" by propagandists.

Earlier, Russian propaganda was spreading fake news that Ukrainian tankers who learned how to operate Leopard 2 tanks in Germany asked for political asylum in Germany.

Andriy Olenin
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba is heading to Guatemala, where he will participate in the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States and make the first bilateral visit to this country as head of Ukraines Foreign Ministry.

The chief of Ukrainian diplomacy reported the news on Instagram, Ukrinform saw.

"The best way to spend Europe Day... is to be on my way to Latin America to open new horizons for European Ukraine. A long way is ahead to a distant, but sincerely friendly Guatemala, where, at the invitation of my colleague Mario Bucaro Flores, I will participate in the Council of Ministers of the Association of Caribbean States (ACC) and make a bilateral visit," Kuleba wrote.

He noted that this trip is historic for three reasons: it is the first-ever visit to Guatemala by a Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the first-ever participation in the ACC Council of Ministers, and the first visit of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to Latin America in a decade.

Kuleba recalled that the Association of Caribbean States includes 25 Caribbean nations.

"Its an important region that has significant resources and is interested in Ukrainian goods, the experience of government digitalization, and mutually beneficial political cooperation in international organizations. My visit to Latin America is part of the Foreign Ministry's course to open new horizons for Ukraine, Ukrainian businesses, and citizens," emphasized the head of the Foreign Ministry.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on May 5, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, visited Ukraine for the first time since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in July 1992.
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Published May 9, 2023

photos courtesy of Kellie Belgard

MONROE, LA  Students and faculty from the four colleges of the University of Louisiana Monroe recently traveled to the Dominican Republic for a service-learning trip from April 8  14, 2023. Twenty-seven students and faculty from physical therapy/kinesiology, social work, political science, education, and pharmacy traveled to the Dominican Republic to engage in service learning centered around Abbas House Childrens Center, located in the barrio of Cienfuegos, a nonprofit organization that educates, feeds, and provides medical care for 125 children living in extreme poverty. Students were also engaged in various learning and practice experiences related to their specific areas of study in Santiago.

The purpose of the trip is for these students to gain an international perspective of their programs of study  how pharmacists are trained in the Dominican Republic, for example, or what social work entails there. Simultaneously, students shared their skills with impoverished people living in the Cienfuegos area, said Dr. Sandy Watson, Associate Professor in ULMs School of Education.

According to Watson, a cross-college service-learning experience is one that involves students and faculty in multiple colleges and programs of study. She added that service-learning is a teaching strategy that involves students completing social service to improve or eliminate problems in communities while gaining practical experience related to their programs of study. Students and faculty who participate in service-learning become more socially responsible, gain a greater focus on social justice, increasingly engage in reflective practices of such experiences, and become more empathetic.

Watson said all students on the trip were able to gain experience in their specific fields of study. For example, physical therapy and pharmacy students treated patients while social work students interviewed residents and collected information for a Dominican Republic governmental report. Political science students engaged in discussions with Dominican Republic political leaders about politics in the Dominican Republic versus politics in the United States, she said. All of the students engaged in activities with the children at the Center  some organized games, others taught English, and still others led craft activities. ULM students were able to gain access to governmental offices and officials, hospitals, pharmacies, and other locations not normally open to U.S. citizens, added Watson.

CAPTION: ULM pharmacy students and faculty visit Hospital Periferico de Cienfuegos with local pharmacy professionals. Photo courtesy of Kellie Belgard

The experience that I gained from this trip will benefit me in the rest of my college career but will also follow me long after into my future career, said Marissa Martin, a junior Kinesiology major.

International experiences can be transformative, and I hope that this experience has enriched the lives of our students and given them a larger sense of their own potential impact, said Dr. Hanna Rotundo, Clinical Assistant Professor in ULMs College of Pharmacy. I hope that students walked away from this trip with a broader perspective on issues that affect their discipline beyond the United States as well as a greater sense of their own potential to make a positive difference in the world, said Rotundo.

Shylon Francis, a P3 Doctor of Pharmacy student said, This trip revealed to me that places not too far form the United States can be completely different when it comes to laws, culture, and how others see the world.

Dr. Ashanti Jones, Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor in ULMs Doctor of Physical Therapy program described the trip as a life-changing experience for herself and her students. It was a great opportunity to show our students a different physical therapy perspective encompassing a multicultural experience, said Jones.

The faculty planning team for the service-learning trip was led by Dr. Sandy Watson (School of Education) and Dr. Hanna Rotundo (College of Pharmacy), and included Dr. Ashanti Jones (Physical Therapy), Dr. Gaby Andonie (Pharmacy), Dr. Jennifer Dumas (Political Science), and Dr. Valerie Fields (Vice President for Student Affairs).

Students participating in the trip included, from kinesiology: Marissa Martin (Junior), Keaton Authement (Junior), Tucker Tarjick (Junior), Adrianna Humes (Junior), Briana Primm (Senior); from social work: Leslie Rockhold (Senior), Reaianna Winston (Senior), Francis Carter (Junior); from Psychology: Tyeisha Brooks (Sophomore); from Political Science: JohnNise Nichelle Peoples (Junior), Caitlin Slavich (Junior); from Doctor of Pharmacy: Falene Nunez (P3), Kellie Belgard (P3), Antoinette Leo (P3), Logan Dugas (P3), Layne Dishman (P3), Brooke Bourgeois (P3), Shylon Francis (P3), and Jennifer Eubanks (P3).

Schools and programs from all four colleges at ULM participated in the trip including: from the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences  School of Education, from the College of Pharmacy  School of Clinical Sciences, from the College of Health Sciences  Physical Therapy program, from the College of Business and Social Sciences  Social Work program. The ULM Office of Student Affairs also participated in the trip.

Dr. Rotundo says the faculty planning group hopes this trip will be the beginning of a long-term partnership with the community in Santiago. Our team began a dialogue with local leaders and health care providers about how we can help to serve the needs of the Cienfuegos community, said Rotundo. For example, our students participated in a project where they interviewed local residents to identify what they perceived as the communitys greatest health needs. This information will be used to guide our work in partnership with the Cienfuegos community through future service-learning trips. We hope to have a true bilateral partnership that benefits both of our communities and addresses unmet local needs, she added.

CAPTION: Political Science students and faculty visit Santiago City Hall. (L-R): Yaniris Espinal, of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Culture; Political Science student Caitlin Slavich; Hilda Ovalles, Santiago City Hall official; Dr. Valerie Fields, ULM Vice President of Student Affairs; Political Science student John'Nise Peoples; Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Jennifer Dumas Photo courtesy of Dr. Jennifer Dumas
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Dublin, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Asia-Pacific (APAC) Medical Devices Industry Outlook 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

APAC medical devices outlook report analyses macroeconomic factors, the latest trends, revenue forecasts, and predictions. The study period is 2022-2027 and the forecast period is 2023-2027, with 2022 as the base year.

While the United States and Europe medical device markets face backlash from the economic slowdown, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the cost-of-living crisis, the APAC medical devices market continues to record phenomenal growth. However, 2023 will be challenging for APAC Medtech due to uncertainties arising from the anticipated market slowdown and other macroeconomic factors. Bank failures in the United States also continue to create ripple effects in APAC, with Credit Suisse being the latest.



We also provide country-specific analyses for China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the rest of APAC. Medical device segments covered include orthopedics, cardiology, respiratory, diabetes, wound care, and others. The study excludes the refurbished medical devices market in APAC.



Our analysis shows that a long-term change that will impact the industry is sustainability. Although lagging in sustainability efforts compared to global counterparts, medtech players in APAC are getting back on track to achieve 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, some even aiming for 2025 or 2027 to achieve carbon neutrality.



The digitalization of medical devices will continue, with original equipment manufacturers digitalizing their devices and operations. This also pushes Medtech participants to deliver value for providers and patients with devices and digital data, leading to new business models and disruptive technologies.



As APAC transitions conventional approaches to healthcare innovation, it involves an extensive coalition of healthcare stakeholders. This enables the exploration of new methods that combine diagnostics, devices, digital tools, emerging technologies, and medication to deliver improved patient outcomes.



The publisher offers stakeholders insights into opportunities that arise from the increased inclusiveness of underserved patient populations, robotics adoption, and the transition of care from hospitals to home-based models.

Story continues

Key Topics Covered:

1. Analysis Highlights

Market Highlights

Global GDP Growth Snapshot

Top Predictions for 2023

2. Strategic Imperatives

Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the APAC Medical Devices Industry

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

3. Growth Environment

Scope of Analysis

Market Segmentation

Growth Environment

4. Macroeconomic Factors

Impact Analysis - Supply Chain Disruptions

Impact Analysis - Sustainability Initiatives

5. Revenue Trends, 2022

Revenue Forecast by Segment

6. Top 5 Predictions, 2023

7. Segment Outlook, 2022

Snapshot - Orthopedics

Companies to Watch - Orthopedics

Snapshot - Cardiology

Companies to Watch - Cardiology

Snapshot - Respiratory

Companies to Watch - Respiratory

Snapshot - Diabetes

Companies to Watch - Diabetes

Snapshot - Wound Care

Companies to Watch - Wound Care

Snapshot - Others

Companies to Watch - Others

8. Country-specific Analysis, 2023

Revenue Forecast by Region

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Rest of APAC

9. Growth Opportunity Universe

Growth Opportunity 1 - Robotic Surgery

Growth Opportunity 2 - Transition of Care to Outside the Hospital

Growth Opportunity 3 - Screening Solutions for Cervical and Ovarian Cancers

10. Conclusions

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tbvca3

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Atherectomy Devices Market can experience faster growth and more opportunities with the use of advanced atherectomy devices. Percutaneous revascularization techniques that involve therapeutic concepts like optical coherence tomography and interventional radiology can aid atherectomy devices.

New York, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2022, Atherectomy Devices Market was valued at USD 1.2 Billion and is expected to reach USD 2.5 billion in 2032. This market is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 8% between 2023 and 2032.

A surgical treatment called an atherectomy uses a catheter with a sharp blade to remove plaque and atherosclerosis from the blood arteries in the body. Essentially, it is a local anesthetic-assisted endovascular minimally invasive surgical treatment. Atherectomy works by removing plaque and hardened lesions from the artery to create a substantial lumen, which aids in reviving blood flow in the arteries. They are frequently employed in peripheral, neurovascular, and cardiovascular applications.

Atherectomy Devices Market

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Key Takeaway:

By product, in 2022, the market for atherectomy devices is expected to be dominated by the directional atherectomy segment in terms of revenue.

By application, the market for atherectomy devices is expected to be dominated by peripheral vascular applications with a share of 45%.

By end-user, the hospitals and surgical centres segment is anticipated to contribute a significant revenue contribution to the global atherectomy devices market

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 36% .

APAC is anticipated to have the highest CAGR among all the regions.

APAC is expected to grow at a greater pace owing to affordable prices, increasing medical tourism, as well as hospitals and clinics, among other factors.

Story continues

Factors Affecting the Growth of the Global Atherectomy Devices Market

The global atherectomy devices market is expected to grow in the coming years due to several factors including:

Increasing prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD): The growing incidence of PAD is driving demand for atherectomy devices, which are used to treat blockages in the arteries. The incidence of PAD is increasing due to the aging population, the growing prevalence of diabetes, and increasing sedentary lifestyles.

Technological advancements in atherectomy devices: Technological advancements in atherectomy devices are driving the growth of the market. For example, the development of atherectomy devices that use laser technology, such as the Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System, has improved the efficacy and safety of atherectomy procedures.

Increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures: Atherectomy devices are used in minimally invasive procedures, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their reduced recovery times and reduced risk of complications compared to traditional surgical procedures.

Increasing healthcare expenditure: Healthcare expenditure is increasing globally, as governments and private healthcare providers invest in new treatments and technologies. This is driving the demand for atherectomy devices, which are increasingly being used in a range of medical procedures.

Favourable reimbursement policies: Favourable reimbursement policies can have a significant impact on the growth of the market. Companies that can secure reimbursement for their products are more likely to be successful in the market.

Regulatory approvals: Regulatory approvals are important for atherectomy device manufacturers, as they must meet strict safety and efficacy standards to be approved for use. Companies that can secure regulatory approvals for their products are more likely to be successful in the market.

Increasing awareness about the benefits of atherectomy procedures: Increasing awareness about the benefits of atherectomy procedures, such as their ability to remove plaque without damaging the arterial walls, is driving demand for atherectomy devices. This increased awareness is due to growing patient and physician education efforts.

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Top Trends in the Global Atherectomy Devices Market

Growing demand for minimally invasive procedures: Atherectomy devices are minimally invasive, which means they offer several advantages over traditional surgical techniques. Patients generally experience less pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times. This has led to an increasing adoption of these procedures, particularly in developed countries.

Advancements in device technologies: The market is witnessing a constant influx of new technologies aimed at improving the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of atherectomy procedures. These include new materials, delivery systems, and imaging techniques, as well as the development of new devices and applications.

Emergence of new market players: The market is experiencing an increasing number of new entrants, particularly in emerging markets. These players are expected to offer low-cost, locally-manufactured devices, which could expand access to these procedures in areas where they are currently limited.

Increasing adoption of image-guided procedures: The use of imaging technologies, such as fluoroscopy and ultrasound, is increasing in atherectomy procedures. This presents an opportunity for manufacturers to develop devices that are optimized for use with these imaging technologies.

Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning: The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to play a growing role in the development of atherectomy devices. These technologies can help improve the accuracy and precision of procedures, as well as patient outcomes.

Increasing focus on patient safety and outcomes: Patient safety and outcomes are becoming increasingly important in healthcare, and there is a growing focus on improving the safety and effectiveness of medical procedures. Device manufacturers can capitalize on this trend by developing devices that are optimized for safety and outcomes.

Market Growth

The primary drivers of the market's growth include the world's aging population, peripheral artery disease (PAD), atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. The market's optimistic prognosis is further influenced by the increased demand for MI atherectomy surgical treatments among patients and healthcare professionals. These tools lessen the risk of infection, lessen the patient's suffering during surgery, and speed their recovery. Other commercial advances, such as the creation of balloons coated with pharmaceuticals, are additional elements that drive expansion (DCB). DCBs are used instead of permanent implants in directional atherectomy and anti-restenosis therapy (DAART), which is used to treat lesions with severe calcifications and supply anti-proliferative medications.

Regional Analysis

With a market share of 36%, North America is predicted to be the most lucrative region for atherectomy devices. There is a sizable patient population with peripheral and coronary artery diseases, more clinical trials are being undertaken, and atherectomy systems are becoming more well-liked among medical professionals. The American Heart Association estimates that CVD caused 18.6 million deaths globally in 2019. As a result of the strain it puts on the country's healthcare system, the demand for atherectomy devices is anticipated to increase over the course of the projected period. The market's growth is additionally supported by a favorable reimbursement environment and a wide range of FDA-approved devices.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 1.2 billion Market Size (2032) USD 2.5 billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 8% North America Revenue Share 36.0% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

With the growing demand for less intrusive surgery, rising disease incidence, growing older population, and higher success rates vascular problems are becoming more common among people everywhere (peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease). More than 200 million people worldwide are thought to be affected by peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to the NCBI. The number of old people has likewise significantly increased. 18.5% of Canadians will be 65 or older in 2021, increasing their risk of developing coronary heart disease. The need for atherectomy devices has increased as a result.

Atherectomy is one minimally invasive technique that has become more popular recently among patients and doctors alike. Atherectomy devices are becoming more necessary as a result, which considerably fuels the market's expansion. According to a study by the American Heart Association (AHA), atherectomy devices were successful in 94.7% of patients. It is projected that as a result, market growth will quicken and have a higher success rate.

Market Restraints

Due to the high cost of atherectomy, patients must select alternative means of treatment. According to an NCBI study, the average cost of an angioplasty is about USD 7300. On the other hand, an atherectomy normally costs USD 9300. The high costs affect atherectomy demand and restrict market growth. Despite the high success rate of atherectomy, the high rate of restenosis leads patients to select alternative therapies, which restrains the market's growth. The rate of restenosis after atherectomy was 37.7%.

Market Opportunities

By using more advanced atherectomy devices, the industry's growth can be sped up and more growth opportunities created. Percutaneous revascularization techniques, which use optical coherence tomography and interventional radiology as therapeutic concepts, can help atherectomy devices. Atherectomy techniques like thrombectomy and vitrectomy are also an option. Healthline reports that the success rate for vitrectomies is 90%, even for patients over the age of 60.

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Report Segmentation of the Global Atherectomy Devices Market

Product Insight

The directional atherectomy accounted for the largest market share in 2021 at over 21%. It is expected that this will continue to rise through the forecast period. This is mostly due to technological developments in the field of guided atherectomy that are best suited to the therapeutic advantages offered. Orbital atherectomy systems are a promising new method for treating various artery problems like CAD and PAD. As the world's population ages and the danger of coronary and peripheral artery calcification rises, surgical procedures to address arterial plaque are becoming more and more common. As a result, more people are buying orbital technology, which will support market growth in the future. Because of the low procedural challenges and low rates of restenosis, orbital implants are also in higher demand.

Application Insight

According to the application channel, Peripheral Vascular Applications are anticipated to hold a 45% share of the market for atherectomy devices. Clinically referred to as "peripheral artery disease," occlusive or stenotic lesions caused by thromboembolic or atherosclerotic disease. Patients with peripheral artery disease typically require invasive procedures to remove blockages and prevent the illness from worsening. Balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty are common treatments for localized lesions. However, the likelihood of rebound and the inadequate patency rates for longer lesions limit the market for these treatments. Furthermore, the presence of hard calcifications may lead to incomplete or partially completed stent expansion and persistent stenosis.

End User Insight

The end-user sector of hospitals and surgical centers is predicted to have the largest share of over 27% in terms of revenue over the forecast period among all end-user segments, contributing a sizeable amount of revenue to the worldwide atherectomy devices market. This may be a result of atherectomy becoming more and more common during the expected time period as a treatment for peripheral and cardiac vascular disease. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) offer high-quality care at a low indirect cost of care. They are affordable. ASCs provide specialized surgeons, cutting-edge surgical technology, and well-appointed operating rooms without the need for time-consuming administrative procedures, which is likely to boost the segment's growth.

Recent Development of the Atherectomy Devices Market

In August 2022- Angio Dynamics revealed that the FDA has given the green light for the sale of its more complex Auryon-Atherectomy System. The 2.35 mm and 2.0 mm catheters from Auryon System will also be made available by AngioDynamics for the treatment of arterial thrombosis. Both catheters are excellent atherectomy conducting devices and can be used to treat ISR/In-Stent Restenosis.

In February 2022- develop a wide range of cutting-edge thrombectomy tools. Innova believes that by collaborating with CSI, it will be able to benefit from that business's competitive positioning in the thrombectomy device market and speed up the sale of its products after they have obtained regulatory approval. Some of the biggest names in the bio-based surface disinfection market are listed below.

For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/atherectomy-devices-market/request-sample/

Market Segmentation

Based on Product

Directional Atherectomy Devices

Rotational Atherectomy Devices

Orbital Atherectomy Devices

Laser Atherectomy Devices

Photo-Ablative Atherectomy Devices

Support Devices

Others

Based on the Application

Peripheral Vascular Applications

Cardiovascular Applications

Neurovascular Applications

Based on End User

Hospitals & Surgical centres

Ambulatory Care Centres

Research Laboratories

Academic Institutes

By Geography

North America

The US Canada Mexico



Western Europe

Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe



Eastern Europe

Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe

APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC



Latin America

Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America



Middle East & Africa

Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA



Competitive Landscape

The existence of a select few major players distinguishes the consolidated nature of the global atherectomy devices market. The industry's vendors are employing a variety of techniques to widen their regional reach and boost their market shares. Also, they are heavily investing in research to create effective products and obtain regulatory clearances for their market introduction. Other sellers are also implementing the idea of premium pricing to sell their goods in order to thrive in this market.

Some of the major players include:

Abbott Laboratories

Boston Scientific Corporation

Medtronic

Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD Interventional)

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Avinger Inc.

Rex Medical

AngioDynamics

Cardiovascular Systems Inc.

Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc.

Spectranetics St.

Jude Medical Inc.

Straub Medical AG

Terumo IS

Volcano Corporation

Others Key Players

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Texas State journalism senior Sarah Hernandez smiles with her Editor of the Year award, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at The Star Awards in Wimberley, Texas.
Performance and production senior Amber Gipson sits in her cap and gown, Saturday, Apr. 22, 2023, at the Performing Arts Center.
Cadet Austin Salyers urn on display during a celebration of life ceremony hosted by the Texas State Army ROTC and the Military Science Department, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Performing Art Centers Recital Hall. Salyer was killed on Sept. 16 after negligent gunfire struck through his room at The Lyndon apartments in San Marcos. He was a junior studying criminal justice and military science at Texas State.
EDMONTON, AB, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - Go Auto was recognized for its industry-leading performance, customer-focused approach, innovative technology, and best in class corporate culture by receiving the prestigious 2023 Canada's Best Managed Companies award for the 5th consecutive year.

Go Auto Logo (CNW Group/Go Auto)

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Canada's Best Managed Companies program awards excellence in private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or greater. To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in the areas of strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities, and innovation, governance, and financial performance.

"We are extremely proud to be named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for the 5th consecutive year," said Phil Abram, President of Go Auto. "To receive this award is a testament to all we have done to make Go Auto the trusted automotive leader in North America. We owe this honour to our incredible team of 3,300 employees, whose unwavering commitment to excellence continues to push the benchmark higher for the automotive industry."

"The 2023 Best Managed winners exemplify the highest Canadian business standards of innovation, adaptability, and resilience," said Derrick Dempster, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada's Best Managed Companies program. "Over the past year, Go Auto has accelerated by continuously adapting and successfully responding to challenges, seizing new opportunities, leveraging industry leading competencies to maximize their investments, and driving sustainable growth."

About Go Auto

Go Auto is a Deloitte Best Managed company recognized for its industry-leading performance, customer-focused approach, innovative technology, and best in class corporate culture. The company represents 61 dealerships and 28 new vehicle brands across Canada and the United States. With headquarters in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Go Auto is one of Canada's largest dealer networks and operates in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Northwest Territories, and Washington State. A one-stop shop, Go Auto dealerships offer sales, service, finance, insurance, and collision repair for automobiles and RVs. Go Auto is committed to providing a great work environment to over 3,330 employees and operating as a devoted community-minded organization with multiple charitable giving programs and community partnerships. More information about Go Auto group can be found at GoAuto.ca or following @GoAuto on LinkedIn.

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About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for private Canadian owned and managed companies. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce, and TMX Group. For more information visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

SOURCE Go Auto

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Impact of Corruption on Development and how States can Better Tackle Corruption Under the Spotlight at UN Anti-Corruption Conference in Morocco

The Fourth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Marrakech (24-28 October 2011)

More than one thousand delegates from 129 countries, as well as representatives of civil society, international organizations, parliaments, the media, anti-corruption authorities and the private sector attended the United Nation's Anti-corruption Conference held in Morocco from 24-28 October 2011. A large number of senior level company officials were present demonstrating their commitment to build strong corporate compliance cultures and acknowledging that the Convention is a key instrument for building a level-playing field for global competition, requiring action by multi-national enterprises and by Governments. Iranian's delegation lead by H.E. Mr. Valiollah Khobreh, Vice President of the General Inspection Organization and representatives of the Ministry Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary participated in the Conference. The Iranian Permanent Representative in Vienna also participated in the Conference as head of the Group of 77 and China.

The Fourth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) met to review the implementation of the Convention and assess worldwide efforts to combat corruption. The First Session of the Conference of the States Parties was held in Amman, Jordan in 2006; the Second Session in Nusa Dua, Indonesia in 2008 and the Third Session in Doha, Qatar in 2009. The Fifth Session will be held in Panama in 2013.

In Marrakesh, the Conference has resolved the complex question of observer participation in the review mechanism and has taken steps towards ensuring that civil society can begin to effectively and appropriately contribute to the maximization of the benefits to be derived from the review mechanism. Addressing the opening session, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Fedotov stressed the importance of having governments, the private sector, parliamentarians, anti-corruption authorities, civil society organizations, young people and the media cooperating in rejecting corruption at every level of society.

The recovery of stolen public assets has also been widely discussed and the conference agreed to work to removing barriers to asset recovery. This is a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies.

Mr. Fedotov said that the Conference had established itself as the main event of the anti-corruption movement, as was shown by the well-attended 20 side events on the margins of the conference. At the general discussion, there were 84 speakers including high level representatives from more than 30 countries.

Various topics were addressed during the side events including the 10th principle of the Global Compact; the Open Government Partnership; the UNCAC and global competition; engaging citizens to counter corruption for better public service delivery and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; the role of parliamentarians in the UNCAC; the impact of corruption on the environment; gender and corruption; estimating illicit flows from drug trafficking and other transnational organized crime; and human rights and the fight against corruption.

Corruption and development

Corruption is a global phenomenon found in all countries - but evidence shows it harms poor people more than others, stifles economic growth and diverts desperately needed funds from education, healthcare and other public services. An estimated one trillion US dollars get siphoned off through bribes every year according to the World Bank.

"Corruption is a global threat. It is a serious roadblock to economic development," said the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov. "Corruption aggravates inequality and injustice, and undermines stability, especially in the world's most vulnerable regions."

The General Assembly has also recognized that corruption is a barrier to development and diverts resources away from poverty-eradication efforts and sustainable development and has urged States which have not yet done so to ratify and accede to the UNCAC.

The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) came into force in December 2005 and has been ratified by 155 States, more than two third of the United Nations Member States. It is the only international legal instrument to fight corruption. The Convention obliges States to prevent and criminalize corruption; to promote international cooperation; to recover stolen assets and to improve technical assistance and information exchange in both the private and public sectors.

The Convention introduces ground-breaking measures in four areas: prevention, criminalization, international cooperation and asset recovery.

Preventing Corruption

An entire chapter of the Convention is dedicated to preventing corruption with measures directed at both the public and private sectors. These include model preventive policies, such as the establishment of anticorruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficient, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Public servants once recruited should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted and specific requirements are set up for preventing corruption in critical areas of the public sector such as the judiciary and public procurement. Preventing corruption also requires the involvement of non-governmental and community-based organizations and other elements of civil society.

Criminalization of corruption

The Convention requires countries to establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts of corruption, if these are not already crimes under domestic law. The Convention goes beyond previous instruments of this kind, criminalizing not only basic forms of corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Private sector corruption is also covered as are money-laundering and obstructing justice.

International cooperation

Countries agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation and the prosecution of offenders. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, and to extradite offenders. Countries are also required to undertake measures which will support the tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption.

Asset recovery

Asset recovery is a fundamental principle of the Convention. This is a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies.

In the case of the embezzlement of public funds, the confiscated property would be returned to the state requesting it; in the case of proceeds of any other offence covered by the Convention, the property would be returned providing the proof of ownership or recognition of the damage caused to a requesting states; in all other cases, priority consideration would be given to the return of the confiscated property to the requesting state, to the return of such property to the prior legitimate owners or to compensation of the victims. Effective asset recovery supports countries' efforts to redress the worst effects of corruption while also sending a message to corrupt officials that there will be no place to hide their illicit assets.

Implementation Review Mechanism

States agreed to a mechanism to monitor the Convention's implementation at the Third Session in Doha, Qatar, two years ago. In the first year 26 countries have participated in the new peer review mechanism, the first of its kind for such a Convention. In the second year a further 41 countries will undergo review. The executive summaries of each country review reports once finalized, are published. All the States parties will be reviewed in two five-year cycles, covering all chapters of the Convention, to assess how they are living up to their obligations under the Convention.

The reviews aim to identify good practices and challenges in national anti-corruption laws and practices. This analysis will also enable more effective delivery of technical assistance to countries that need and request it.

Corruption in the private sector

Corruption is not just a problem in government. The private sector suffers too, where corruption erodes corporate identity, undermines confidence between business partners and can destroy the reputation of once-trusted companies. The contribution of the private sector in fighting corruption is essential.

There are four concrete steps businesses can take to proactively tackle corruption: firstly adopt anti-corruption policies in line with the UN Convention and put in place the checks and balances necessary for strengthening accountability and transparency; secondly establish their own credible review mechanism to audit businesses' probity, as States Parties are doing; thirdly invest in developing the public integrity infrastructure of developing countries by helping them implement the Convention; and fourthly create an environment so internal wrong-doing can be reported and whistle-blowers protected.

The message to the private sector is clear - it is good business to fight corruption, and business cannot expect governments on their own to create a level playing field - there is a role for business too.

UNODC's action against corruption

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports States in the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption and provides technical assistance and training.

TRACK (Tools and Resources for Anti -Corruption Knowledge)

UNODC has a web-based anti-corruption portal known as TRACK (Tools and Resources for Anti-Corruption Knowledge) which includes an electronic database of legislation and jurisprudence relevant to UNCAC. The TRACK portal brings together legal and non-legal knowledge on anti-corruption and asset recovery enabling Member States, the anti-corruption community and the general public to access this information in a central location.

STAR - Stole Assets Recovery (StAR) Initiative

UNODC's work in the area of asset recovery aims at encouraging and facilitating systematic and timely return of assets stolen through acts of corruption, under the framework of UNCAC. For this objective, UNODC established a partnership with the World Bank Group under the joint Stolen Assets Recovery (StAR) Initiative. The StAR initiative is focusing on lowering the barriers to asset recovery; building national capacity for asset recovery; and providing preparatory assistance in the recovery of assets.

Corruption surveys

Corruption/integrity surveys carried out by UNODC target civil servants to capture their perceptions and attitudes towards work environment as well as their experiences with crime and corruption. Specific surveys are conducted within the judiciary and the police. Survey results help to assess needs and expectations of officers in terms of their relations with the public and job satisfaction, as well as their knowledge of codes of conduct, anti-corruption rules and reporting mechanisms.

Global Compact's 10th principle

UNODC contributes actively to the implementation of the 10th principle of the United Nations Global Compact, which states that "Business should work against corruption in any form, including bribery and extortion".

Conference website of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Conference website of the Host Country

More information on UNODC's work against corruption
Climate Change Could Mean More Terrorism in the Future

24 October International Day of Climate Action: As the world warms and the climate changes researchers are increasingly concerned that, in addition the many environmental, meteorological, and economic challenges this will bring, it will also mean an increase in political violence and instability around the world, and perhaps even an increase in terrorism.

The impact of climate change and environmental collapse can already be seen in a number of conflict zones around the globe. A 2010 report prepared by the US Joint Forces Command warned of the dangers that can result when natural disasters "collide" with existing structural challenges like urban sprawl and civil unrest.

The relationship between resource competition and civil conflict is well-established, and, in regions like the Lake Chad Basin, climate change has clearly exacerbated competition over increasingly scarce resources. In the language of security studies, climate change is a potential "threat multiplier".

As the waters of Lake Chad recede, fish stocks are reduced, cultivatable land disappears, and other economic opportunities are also diminished. The African Union has noted that the loss of traditional livelihoods has encouraged some individuals to turn to explore membership of armed groups as a potential alternate source of income.

Increased insurgent activity can also feed into a negative spiral of increasing environmental collapse as agricultural infrastructure is destroyed, environmental management expertise is lost, and the natural environment is further degraded. Northern Nigeria is currently losing an estimated 1,350 square miles - roughly the equivalent of Lagos State - to desertification every year.

As early as 2007, the United Nations Security Council started debating the potential impact that climate change could have on global security, and in September 2009 the Secretary General presented the first major UN report on Climate Change and its Possible Security Implications (A/64/350) to the General Assembly.

The Secretary General's report highlighted five main threats arising from climate change: the vulnerability of food supplies and public health; the reversal of development gains; migration and internal unrest; statelessness and the loss of habitable territory; and, finally, international conflict over scarce resources.

The report's predictions have proved prophetic. In recent years, environmental factors have been mentioned more and more frequently in the Security Council deliberations, especially in relation to Africa, where approximately 250 million people in Africa are projected to suffer from water and food insecurity during the 21st century as a consequence of climate change.

In March 2017 Security Council Resolution 2349, which addressed the predations of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, specifically recognized "the adverse effects of climate change and ecological changes among other factors on the stability of the Region, including through water scarcity, drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity."

Regional concerns have only continued to grow since. In February 2018 the Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Countries issued the Abuja Declaration to raise global awareness of the dramatic shrinkage of Lake Chad and the expected impact that this will have on sustainable livelihoods, security, and development efforts in the region.

Addressing the conference, President Buhari soberly noted: "The 'oasis in the desert' is just a desert now Farmers and herdsmen struggle over the little water left; Herdsmen migrate in search of greener pastures resulting in conflicts; Our youths are joining terrorist groups because of lack of jobs and difficult economic conditions."

A further potential "threat multiplier" is the rise in global temperature itself. The relationship between heat and aggression is well established in psychological research. As the temperature rises so do people's tempers, and violent crime increases. A recent academic study drawing on data from 159 countries over a forty-five year period actually found a positive correlation between higher temperatures and terrorism.

But there is cause for hope. The Secretary General's 2009 report also identified "threat minimizers" that could offset the potential for global unrest. These include climate mitigation and adaptation, economic development, democratic governance, strong local and national institutions, international cooperation, and preventive diplomacy and mediation.

In August 2018 Lake Chad Basin Commission and African Union Commission presented its Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region, which has been adopted by the Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Countries.

The Government of Nigeria is doing its part too, both with its Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, and by implementing the Buhari Plan for Rebuilding the North East, which includes climate change mitigation, peace-building, and economic development initiatives.

The United Nations is working to support of Government's strategies to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism in a manner that aligns with our efforts to tackle climate change and to pre-empt and mitigate its effects.

There are many excellent reasons why we should all be doing more to combat climate change, and making the world a safer and more secure place is one of them.
May 9 2023

A formal planning application to deliver 288 student flats on the corner of Osborne Street and Old Wynd in Glasgow city centre has been filed by Ambassador Group.

Nova has been drawn up by Mosaic Architecture + Design to enhance the student experience with a community lounge, co-working space and gym all on hand.

Ahsan Afzal, head of development for Nova Living at Ambassador Group, said: The site has lain vacant for many years, and we are keen to reinvigorate the area and radically improve Old Wynd Lane currently deemed locally to be unsightly and unsafe.

We are seeing 23% less available rental stock than pre-covid times which is making it very challenging for all renters, including students, to secure accommodation.

Tenants will also have access to a private rooftop dining facility as part of a landscaped amenity deck with discussions underway with arts charity WASPS to commission site-specific artwork.
Beijing, May 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th May, 2023 ) :China said on Tuesday a raid on US consultancy Capvision's office in eastern Suzhou city was aimed at safeguarding its "national security and development interests".

"China's national security agencies and relevant departments have recently carried out open law enforcement actions against the relevant company in accordance with the law," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said when asked about an investigation into the firm.

"This aims to promote healthy development of the industry and safeguard national security and development interests," he said.

State broadcaster CCTV said on Monday that Chinese authorities had launched an investigation into Capvision, a consulting firm based in the United States.

Official media in Jiangsu province reported the investigation involved the raid of Capvision's Suzhou office.

China has recently stepped up its scrutiny of foreign firms in the consulting and business research sector, detaining staff and closing the Beijing office of US-based due diligence firm Mintz Group in March.

In late April, Chinese authorities questioned staff at Bain & Company's Shanghai office, the US consultancy giant said.

Bain, which provides strategy and management consulting services worldwide, said its employees had been questioned but did not specify why.
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BEIJING, May 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th May, 2023 ) :Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin on Monday urged giving priority to nurturing highly-skilled talents in manufacturing to support the building of a modern socialist China in all respects.

Shen made the remarks at a symposium on highly-skilled talents held in Beijing. On behalf of the State Council, she congratulated the winners of China's top skills awards.

The country should improve the evaluation system for skilled talents and make it contribution-oriented, in order to better incentivize innovation, Shen said.

Efforts should be concentrated on developing highly-skilled talents in key areas, including manufacturing, rural revitalization and modern services, according to Shen.

She also emphasized creating an environment of esteem for hard work and skills, and called on skilled talents to inspire more people to follow in their footsteps.
(@Abdulla99267510)

The Interior Minister,however, says if the PTI Cheif Imran Khan intends to force and intimidate Parliament to hold elections earlier, he will not succeed in it.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 9th, 2023) Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that negotiations continue with PTI, and there are individuals in PTIs camp who are striving to steer things in a positive direction.

Talking to a private news channel, the Interior Minister however said if the PTI Cheif Imran Khan intends to force and intimidate Parliament to hold elections earlier, he will not succeed in it.

Rana Sanaullah reiterated that the government would not engage in any dealings tainted by Imran Khan's dishonesty and obstinacy.

He said Imran Khan has already employed various tactics, but they have proven futile.
(@Abdulla99267510)

Moody's warns of severe economic crisis and poverty for Pakistan if debt obligations are defaulted.

KARACHI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 9th, 2023) Moody's Investor Service has warned that Pakistan risks default on its debt obligations without an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, according to reports. The ratings company's sovereign analyst in Singapore, Grace Lim, has stated that Pakistan's ability to secure financing beyond June is highly uncertain. If Pakistan defaults on its debt, it could lead to a severe economic crisis, affecting individuals and businesses across the country and increasing poverty levels.

Although Pakistan is expected to meet its external payments for the remainder of the current fiscal year ending in June, Moody's has cautioned that without an IMF program, the country could default given its weak reserves. The country's foreign-exchange reserves, currently at $4.5 billion, are insufficient to cover even a month of imports.

Pakistan's government is facing difficulties reviving a stalled $6.5 billion bailout program from the Washington-based lender due to unfulfilled loan conditions. The situation is further complicated by political tensions ahead of upcoming elections, with former premier Imran Khan showing no signs of backing down against the government and military, raising concerns of a possible delay in the loan.

An engagement with the IMF beyond June, according to Lim, could help Pakistan secure additional financing from other bilateral and multilateral partners, reducing the risk of default. S&P Global Ratings estimated that Pakistan's gross external financing needs as a proportion of current-account receipts plus usable reserves will rise to 139.5% in fiscal year 2024 from 133% in 2023.

Andrew Wood, a sovereign analyst at S&P in Singapore, believes that the IMF program is essential for implementing fiscal policy reforms, which could increase confidence among other lenders to Pakistan. However, the IMF's schedule of board meetings does not include Pakistan until May 17, indicating that funding from the IMF will not be available until the agreement is reached.

Pakistan's economy is at risk of a severe economic crisis without the much-needed support from the IMF. The government's inability to meet the loan conditions and political tensions pose a significant threat to the country's finances. An engagement with the IMF beyond June could help Pakistan secure additional financing from other lenders, reducing the risk of default.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th May, 2023) All issues related to consular access to Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who is accused of espionage, are being considered by the Russian side, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday.

"All requests for a consular visit to Evan Gershkovich are considered by our relevant services, structures, in a calm working manner, regardless of the attempts of the Americans to exert pressure," Ryabkov told reporters, adding that Russia sees "only attempts to put pressure and make threats" from the US side.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th May, 2023) The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 12, a total of 20 other people were injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

"The death toll has risen to 12 and the number of those injured in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has reached 20," the ministry said.

Earlier, the ministry said nine people were killed in Israeli shelling.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th May, 2023) Istanbul will host a high-level meeting on the Black Sea Grain Initiative on May 10-11, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Tuesday.

"Yes, we have a high-level meeting in a four-party format in Istanbul tomorrow and the day after tomorrow," the diplomat told reporters.
ACCRA, Ghana, May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, AZA Finance released a brief unveiling critical insights in the Ghanaian fintech landscape, emphasising the crucial roles of banks, regulators, and fintech in driving global investment into this thriving market.

Authored by Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO and founder of AZA Finance, and Nana Yaw Owusu Banahene, Country Manager (Ghana) at AZA Finance, the report provides insight into Ghana's regulatory environment, key statistics, and a promising outlook for businesses seeking to establish a presence in this burgeoning market.

The report reveals Ghana's digital transformation, fueled by tech-savvy regulators, robust banking infrastructure, and the responsible expansion of fintech, as key factors contributing to its attractiveness for international fintech, multinational corporations, and investors.

Notable highlights from the report include:

Increasing fund flows from the United Kingdom and Europe are attributed to Ghana's growing international reputation and interest in money transfer operators to enter the country.

Mobile money's dominance in Ghana, with nearly 60% of foreign exchange conversions paid out to mobile money accounts, reflects this technology's importance in the country's financial landscape.

Rossiello shares her enthusiasm for Ghana's success and potential: "We are thrilled to be part of Ghana's present success and eagerly anticipate the bright future that lies ahead."

This report is a valuable resource for businesses and investors looking to explore opportunities in Ghana's flourishing fintech sector. It offers compelling evidence that the nation's forward-thinking regulatory approach, strong financial infrastructure, and innovative spirit create an ideal environment for businesses to thrive.

To access the full report and gain exclusive insights into the Ghanaian fintech landscape, visit the AZA Finance website here.

Story continues

About AZA Finance

AZA Finance is an African fintech company offering secure and efficient financial infrastructure for payments, foreign exchange, and settlement. With more than a decade of experience, AZA Finance is committed to helping your business thrive in Africa. With our API and web platform, it has never been easier to transact, exchange, payout, and settle in all major African and G20 currencies. Our global infrastructure is a trusted gateway for leading remittance providers, multinational corporations, and innovative enterprises worldwide. Visit them at www.azafinance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005406/en/

Contacts

Rachel Pipan, rachel@azafinance.com
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VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th May, 2023) The Russian embassy in Vienna said on Tuesday that it will send a protest note to the Austrian Foreign Ministry after a Soviet military burial was vandalized in the town of Ebensee.

"The embassy became aware of the desecration of a Soviet military burial in Ebensee. Unknown vandals damaged the bas-relief on the monument to the soldiers who gave their lives for the liberation of Austria from Nazism," the embassy wrote on its Telegram channel, adding that the fact that the incident occurred during the time of the World War Two Victory Day is "especially cynical.

"

The Russian side plans to inform local authorities about the incident.

"We will send a note of protest to the Austrian Foreign Ministry demanding that comprehensive measures be taken to establish the circumstances of the incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, ensure the inviolability and preservation of the memorial in accordance with the provisions of the State Treaty on the Restoration of Independent and Democratic Austria of May 15, 1955," the ministry said.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th May, 2023) The United States urges the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow Taiwan to participate in its decision-making body's annual meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

The WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) will hold its annual meeting May 21-30 in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss global public health priorities.

"We strongly encourage the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at this year's WHA meeting so it may lend its expertise to the discussions," Blinken said in a statement.

Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify WHO's commitment to an inclusive approach to international health cooperation, the statement said.

Taiwan is a "highly capable, engaged and responsible" member of the global health community and has been invited to participate as an observer in previous WHA meetings, the statement also said.

The United States will continue to advocate for Taiwan's return to an observer at the WHA, as well as its participation throughout the United Nations system, the statement added.

The United States support for Taiwan's participation in appropriate international fora is consistent with its One China policy and other US-China-Taiwan relational standards, according to the statement.
KaLon Duncanson Serves USMs Gulf Park Proudly as SGA President

Tue, 05/09/2023 - 01:28pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie

From Freeport, Bahamas to Long Beach, Miss., KaLon Duncanson has made the most of his time as a student at The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) Gulf Park campus and most recently as Student Government Association (SGA) President.

Duncanson always had a passion for community service. He was involved in his junior high schools local government junior council and his passion for helping others and his community flourished.

Im big on community service, said Duncanson.

In high school, Duncanson was gathering groups and working on small projects around school. He would help clean up campus and paint bathroom walls that were spray painted with graffiti. His leadership role did not stop there, especially when deciding where to attend college.

When looking for schools, he said USM felt like family.

This is where I want to be, said Duncanson. I didnt even want to look at any other universities. The southern hospitality was it for me.

Even though he didnt know anyone at USM, he knew right away that he wanted to enroll as a student. He first toured the Hattiesburg campus. Later, touring Gulf Park, he fell in love with the proximity to the coast. His drive to campus helps him to feel at home with the beach and sunset views.

He came to USM pursuing a bachelors degree in marketing, but his freshmen year started with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, that didnt stop Duncanson from making big waves on campus.

He started off as the Vice President of Judicial Affairs, then later making his way to president.

I didnt expect to be president. I really wanted to make a difference on campus, said Duncanson.

Duncanson did just that by starting a student group called Fins and Flippers which is a student organization focusing on scuba diving, snorkeling, marine conservation and community service. The group also participates in monthly beach clean-ups.

In the Spring of 2022, Duncanson was awarded the Student Employee of the Year dedicated for his hard work at the Office of Student Affairs. His organization, Fins and Flippers was awarded the Outstanding Student Organization.

Duncanson also took advantage of USMs study abroad program, traveling to London in the Summer of 2022. There, he learned about international business and cultural changes. USM has provided him with endless possibilities and his time as a Golden Eagle has allowed him to grow professionally and personally.

I would describe my time here as a growth period in my life, said Duncanson.

With a smile on his face, Duncanson continues to thrive as SGA President.

Being an SGA president for me is an honor, said Duncanson. I love being an advocate for students, being their voice.

Duncanson enjoys what campus has to offer. Events such as the end-of-the-semester block parties, harvest picnics and commencement are what makes Gulf Park feel like a community.

This summer, Duncanson has plans to participate in an exciting internship for Caterpillar in Washington DC. He said working in the Office of Student Affairs has inspired him to pursue his future career. He graduates in December 2023.
USM Professors Book Examines Iroquois Impact on American and New York History, Culture, Politics

Tue, 05/09/2023 - 03:24pm | By: David Tisdale

A new book by a faculty member in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Humanities challenges popular notions about the history of Indigenous people in the U.S. in looking at how one group in New York state resisted, through their cultural and political influence, colonial intent to erase their culture and history.

Dr. John Winters The Amazing Iroquois and the Invention of the Empire State (Oxford University Press, 2023) examines the strong connections between the Haudenosaunee native peoples- more commonly known as the Iroquois - and New Yorks modern, democratic culture.



From the Iroquois confederacy serving as a model for the U.S. Constitution, connections between the matrilineal Iroquois and the womens suffrage movement, to the living legacy of the famous "Sky Walkers" - the steelworkers who built the Empire State Building and the George Washington Bridge - the Iroquois established an image of being essential in the shaping a unique and forward-looking history and image of the state.



Because the periodization extends from the American Revolution to the Cold War, this book encourages readers to break away from that ill-conceived, yet stubborn belief, that the only era in which eastern indigenous peoples had any impact on American history was before Indian Removal in the 1830s, Dr. Winters said.



The Amazing Iroquois does not simply foreground indigenous historical figures or their resistance to settler colonialism Dr. Winters further noted, but also shows how the members of this Seneca family were historical agents who shaped aspects of white colonial culture in their own peoples image and on their own terms.

Dr. Winters book project began as a history of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) empire in the 18th century, but his initial research led him to conclude that what he originally sought to examine had already been accomplished in Francis Jennings classic work The Ambiguous Iroquois Empire.



However, his work proved not for naught. Upon further review, he found exits on his research path to places in the Iroquois story worthy of his exploration.

I repeatedly encountered Seneca researchers from the past who had asked similar questions of Haudenosaunee history: Arthur Parker, Harriet Converse (a Seneca adoptee), and Ely Parker, Dr. Winters explained. Curiosity drove me to pursue their stories, and without knowing it at first, they became the basis for this book. In pursuing their histories, I then realized that their story extends even further into the American founding era through the family's patriarch, Red Jacket, who was perhaps even more important to this story than the generations that followed.

Once these pieces fell in place, I realized I had stumbled onto a story that was nothing like the indigenous histories I was used to reading: a 150-year story of a Seneca family who influenced New Yorkers through everything from diplomacy to pioneering museum exhibitions and who intentionally left a legacy that defied the myth of the vanishing Indian," he said. I was hooked.

Dr. Winters is a public historian who joined the USM faculty in 2022 and is director of the Universitys Graduate Certificate in Public History program; his areas of expertise include Public History, Native American History, American History, Memory Studies, and Museum Studies. An ITPS Research Associate in New York History at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College, he has also worked in historic homes, museums, and other institutions. Learn more about Dr. Winters work at USM's website.
NWC Educators and UW Researchers Come Together in Inclusive Excellence Student Showcase

More than 70 students at Northwest College (NWC) recently came together to present their research and creative works at the NWC Student Academic Showcase.

Following best practices of inclusion, eight University of Wyoming graduate and undergraduate researchers, along with two faculty members and a representative of the Innovation Wyrkshop and mobile makerspaces, traveled to NWC April 28 to engage with each student presenter. They asked questions, gave feedback and offered to connect with every NWC student as they worked to consider the next steps in their academic journey. Moreover, each UW science graduate or undergraduate showcased the many appearances and identities of a scientist.

Imagine multimodal displays of students scholastic passions thoughtfully organized such that two chemistry students and their professor showcased atomic absorption right next to a display in which a student from Colombia debunked myths about the stereotypes of Colombian women. From the room next door, the sounds of a ragtime piano performance can just be made out, says Rachel Watson, co-program director of the Wyoming Inclusive Excellence effort, a program supported by a grant to UW from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science Education Program. The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary emphasis of the student showcase was a purposeful design inspired by the knowledge that disciplinary boundaries form the silos of exclusion. Instead, the showcase aimed to value every type of scholarship, placing unlikely exhibits side by side. It showed value for every discipline, avoided disciplinary othering and, in doing so, nurtured inclusion of all students.

After a networking lunch, the UW researchers formed further connections with the NWC students and faculty. The NWC Student Academic Showcase also was attended by community members, high school students, friends and, in several cases, community partners who had worked with the students to make their authentic inquiry projects possible. For example, the owners of a local cafe provided an authentic business partnership for students doing an entrepreneurial design project.

What stood out to me was the camaraderie between the NWC students and faculty and the UW partners. We have planted a seed that can now germinate, says Eric Atkinson, a member of the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team and head of Biological Sciences at NWC. Some very authentic steps were made. Now, we just need to sustain these relationships.

The level of scholarship by many of the NWC students was truly inspiring. Their work was a credit to both themselves and the faculty advisers, says Christi Boggs, a Wyoming Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team member focused on digital and inclusive teaching and learning, I look forward to welcoming these students to UW in the future.

As a former attendee of Northwest College, it was inspirational for me to return and discover such a dynamic, varied and flourishing community of student researchers at the conference, says Jeremy Chappell, a UW engineering undergraduate student from Powell. NWC was a place where I experienced immense personal growth, and it filled me with joy to see the gifted faculty members persist in guiding new students toward their fullest potential, just as they did for me. I was overjoyed to see so many familiar faces and places again, and its truly heartening to witness the incredible progress and achievements made by the college community.

Other participants have praise for the experience as well.

I was struck by the enthusiasm of the NWC student presenters -- every person I interacted with was excited to share their research, says Megan Szojka, a UW Ph.D. candidate in botany and the Program in Ecology and Evolution. Further, through a diversity of presentation styles, the students showcased their transdisciplinary interests -- for example, science communication -- through graphic art.

I found the commitment of the students to their research to be out of this world. Learning that a good number of them were presenting a courses final project was astonishing, says Benjamin Romanjenko, a UW Ph.D. student in botany. Their knowledge and ability to convey and discuss the concept from all angles really showed they owned the research material.

Rebecca Austin, UWs Innovation Wyrkshop makerspace coordinator, says the connections made with NWC students and faculty were inspiring.

At the Innovation Wyrkshop and mobile makerspaces, we believe in nurturing inclusion and valuing every type of maker from every background. We were thrilled to be a part of the inclusive excellence student showcase at Northwest College, where we witnessed the awe-inspiring display of celebrating the diversity of student research and creativity, Austin says. We look forward to seeing the seeds of this event germinate into sustained relationships and opportunities to provide resources that will benefit students for years to come.

This NWC Student Academic Showcase was envisioned, designed and developed by a group of educators committed to inclusive excellence. Over the past year, eight educators from NWC and three from UW formed an inclusive excellence learning community. Within this community, the educators learned about inclusive teaching and research practices that best nurture all students.

The NWC learning community got its start when Watson and several others from the UW Learning Actively Mentoring Program visited NWC in summer 2022 and had an informal dinner the first evening, followed by an all-day session with about eight NWC staff and faculty members at a local hotel. In the current academic year, the group has had one or two hourlong Zoom sessions per week, led by Watson, the principal investigator of the Wyoming Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) Initiative grant to UW from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Our discussions have centered on effective, inclusive pedagogy. We have discussed articles and excerpts from several books, including Eli Clares Brilliant Imperfections, says Deepthi Amarasuriya, NWC liaison for the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team and Jones Family Endowed Chair for Science. We also have had some special sessions, including a recent one on implicit bias conducted by Dr. Michelle Jarman of UW. Several of our conversations have been on the theme of transdisciplinary research.
UW and Wyoming Community Navigator Program to Discuss Small-Business Resources for Veterans May 16

Veterans can learn about the local, state and national resources available to them as they begin or continue their entrepreneurial journeys Tuesday, May 16.

Jordan Belser will present a Wyoming Community Navigator Program (CNP) webinar titled Small Business Resources for Veterans from 11 a.m.-noon. To register, go here. Registration is free.

The Wyoming CNP, through the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network at the University of Wyoming, provides small-business resources and assistance for traditionally underserved entrepreneurs throughout Wyoming.

Belser will discuss U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed loans, free resources, business planning and networking.

Belser is the public affairs specialist for the U.S. SBA Wyoming district office. He is a previous active-duty Marine and has managed social media accounts for U.S. Central Command, the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, small businesses and nonprofit organizations across the Southeast.

For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu.
UW and Wyoming SBDC Network to Host Virtual SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshop

Small-business owners can learn about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal preparation and cost proposal accounting during a two-day virtual workshop Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16-17.

Jim Greenwood will lead the discussion during a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network webinar titled SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposal Preparation and Cost Proposal Accounting Virtual Workshop from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. To register, go here. Registration is free.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Greenwood will begin the workshop with a comprehensive overview of the SBIR/STTR programs, which covers all participating agencies. He then will cover planning for SBIR/STTR proposal strategies; discuss a process for developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal; and outline the proposal review process.

During the workshops second day, Greenwood will lead participants through -- and make sense of -- the perplexing world of the SBIR/STTR cost proposal and how to keep records to the governments satisfaction when a small business wins an SBIR award. Additionally, Greenwood will show how to develop an indirect rate; discuss what to expect in the way of government audits; and help participants with government accounting terminology.

While aimed at SBIR/STTR competitors, this is a one-of-a-kind workshop that has proven valuable for any applicant for or recipient of government contracts and grants.

Greenwood, co-owner of Greenwood Consulting Group Inc., is a nationally recognized trainer and proposal reviewer for the SBIR and STTR programs. He has taught SBIR/STTR workshops in 48 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., offering training through local and regional economic development groups, universities, federal laboratories, SBDCs and Manufacturing Extension Partnerships.

Small-business owners also will have the opportunity to meet with Greenwood one-on-one for strategy sessions. Preference for scheduling with Greenwood will be given to Wyoming small businesses. For one-on-one scheduling, email Kelly Haigler Cornish, Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative manager, at haigler@uwyo.edu.

For more information, call Maureen Johnson, marketing, communication and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu.
UW Names Interim Director for Technology Transfer

An expert in business development, strategy, startups and new venture development has been selected as the interim director of the Wyoming Technology Transfer and Research Products Center at the University of Wyoming.

Arundeep Pradhan, a Registered Technology Transfer Professional, will support UW faculty, staff and students, and Wyoming entrepreneurs in the protection, marketing and transfer of their intellectual property to industry.

I am pleased to have Arun and his team working with us as we reimagine our tech transfer office and the critical role it plays in building UWs and the states innovation ecosystem, says Steve Farkas, associate vice president for economic development in UWs Research and Economic Development Division. We are looking forward to building increased opportunities to collaborate with our researchers and private-sector partners.

Pradhan is the president of Apio Innovation Transfer (APIOiX), a company that accelerates innovation and entrepreneurship through business development, training and technical assistance. APIOiX provides programs and strategies to help innovators and inventors at universities, small businesses and government entities throughout the world.

The University of Wyoming has unique resources and capabilities that can be leveraged to utilize and commercialize the results of its research activities, Pradhan says. As we look at these opportunities, my role is to assist in building the capacity of UWs technology transfer efforts and to structure them in a manner that has impact for the university and for Wyoming.

Previously, Pradhan was the director and associate vice president for technology transfer at Oregon Health & Science University, where he managed technology transfer and business development functions resulting in the launch of 48 startup companies. He also created the Springboard Fund to assist startup companies and mentor faculty and student entrepreneurs.

Pradhan also served as the director for technology transfer at the Colorado State University Research Foundation, now known as CSU STRATA. While there, he developed the Commercial Opportunity Fund to advance commercially promising research. He also worked on the Colorado BioScience Association task force to create a statewide strategic plan for bioscience industry.

Pradhan has worked with more than 30 companies on research, product development and commercialization strategies for startup and small-business proposals for funding from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. He has helped launch more than 100 university startup companies in various fields by assisting with business plans and product development plans and identifying sources of funding.

Additionally, he served as a board member and president of AUTM -- formerly the Association of University Technology Managers -- the leading association in technology transfer.

Pradhan earned his masters degree in pharmacy administration from the University of Utah. He received his bachelors degree in pharmacy from Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, Rajasthan, India.
(Bloomberg) -- Frenzied trading in stocks of Chinas state-owned enterprises fizzled Tuesday afternoon as sentiment soured on the nations weak import data.

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An index tracking some of Chinas largest state-owned enterprises erased a gain of as much as 1.5% to finish the day 0.9% lower. The broader CSI 300 Index dropped by a similar amount. Brokerage stocks pared earlier surges.

Fresh data showed Chinas imports slumped in April while export growth slowed, adding to pressures on an economic recovery thats already been called into question. The latest print has cooled investors who have been bidding up the nations stocks on bets that Beijing will let state-owned firms to have access to more capital. Chinas diplomatic spat with Canada also stoked fears of rising tensions with the West.

The weakness is probably because SOE and financials run out of gas, as the strength was purely supported by that in the previous sessions, said Willer Chen, a senior analyst at Forsyth Barr Asia Ltd, adding trade numbers were also not helping.

Government-controlled banks had seen a surge in the past few trading sessions as traders seized on policy support for the state sector to re-energize a market faced with fresh growth concerns. Skeptics were wary that the latest gains looked frothy in the absence of strong business fundamentals. Chinas so-called great ball of money tends to cause trading frenzies as it rolls among financial assets.

Investors should be careful of profit taking in the short term, said Kakei Lam, fund investment officer at Metaverse Securities in Hong Kong. He said the rally didnt look healthy as the fundamentals of the sector havent really changed much.

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READ: Chinese Bank Stocks Soar, Adding $166 Billion in Trading Frenzy

JPMorgan Chase & Co. also believed the rally was cyclical, not structural, as analysts including Katherine Lei expected the tangible impact of SOE reforms to be muted.

High trading volumes had accompanied the latest rally before it fizzled on Tuesday. Volume on the CSI 300 Index on Monday was the highest since June. Options activity also had spiked on Chinese banks listed in Hong Kong, pointing to a rally driven more by momentum than fundamentals.

Chinese lenders posted a tepid set of first-quarter earnings as they faced deeper margin woes despite being sheltered from the recent global banking jitters.

--With assistance from Lianting Tu, Zheng Li and Zhu Lin.

(Updates with analyst comments and more data)

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Settling Business Disputes: Commercial Arbitration in Vietnam

Business partnerships can sometimes encounter disputes. To resolve such conflicts, commercial arbitration can be utilized as an effective solution. We discuss commercial arbitration procedures in Vietnam.

Commercial arbitration is a mechanism for resolving disputes between businesses. The process typically occurs at an arbitration center under the direction of an independent arbitrator. During arbitration proceedings, both parties present their respective cases, and the arbitrator endeavors to facilitate a mutually agreeable resolution.

In Vietnam, commercial arbitration is governed by the Law on Commercial Arbitration 2010. The law stipulates that to engage in commercial arbitration, parties must first establish an arbitration agreement. This agreement can be formed either before or after the dispute has arisen.

Commercial arbitration agreements

An arbitration agreement can take the form of an arbitration clause in a contract or a separate agreement entirely, but it must be in writing and agreed to by both parties.

Invalidating an arbitration agreement

The Law on Commercial Arbitration 2010 identifies circumstances under which commercial arbitration agreements will be considered invalid. These include the following circumstances:

The dispute is not under the jurisdiction of the arbitrator.

The person making the arbitration agreement lacks the authority to make the agreement.

The form of the arbitration agreement is inconsistent with the law.

One of the parties is deceived, threatened, or coerced in the process of establishing the agreement and requests for it to be declared invalid.

The arbitration agreement violates the law.

Dispute settlement by commercial arbitration

Where are commercial arbitration proceedings held?

The parties involved in commercial arbitration are at liberty to mutually agree upon a venue, either within or outside the territory of Vietnam. If the parties fail to reach an agreement on the venue, the arbitration council will make the final decision.

Are arbitration proceedings accessible to the public?

The resolution of disputes through arbitration is not typically a public process, unless agreed upon otherwise by the parties involved.

Can foreign laws be applied to commercial arbitration in Vietnam?

In the context of commercial arbitration disputes in Vietnam, the parties involved hold the authority to choose the law they wish to apply to the matter at hand.

For instance, a dispute involving a Vietnamese enterprise and a US enterprise can be settled under either Vietnamese or US law, subject to mutual agreement. If no consensus is reached, the arbitral tribunal will make the determination.

In circumstances where the chosen law lacks explicit provisions regarding the dispute, the arbitration council may apply international law, provided it aligns with the fundamental principles of Vietnamese law.

If the parties have agreed to settle a dispute through commercial arbitration, can they still file a lawsuit in court?

In the event that parties have agreed to resolve a dispute via commercial arbitration, they may still have the option to file a lawsuit in court under certain circumstances, as outlined in Resolution 01/2014/NQ-HDTP. These conditions include:

A court has nullified the arbitral award;

Dispute settlement through arbitration is suspended;

The agreed-upon arbitration location has ceased operations, and parties cannot reach a consensus on an alternative venue;

The arbitrator is unable to participate in the proceedings, or the court cannot find an arbitrator agreed upon by the parties;

The arbitrator or the arbitration center refuses to participate; or

Parties initially agreeing to arbitration decide not to resolve the dispute through this method after a dispute has arisen.

How long is the statute of limitations for initiating a lawsuit to settle a commercial arbitration dispute?

Unless specified otherwise by law, the statute of limitations for initiating a lawsuit to settle a commercial arbitration dispute is two years from the time the infringement took place.

Commercial arbitration awards

What is an arbitral award?

An arbitral award is the decision rendered by the arbitration council.

The guiding principles for an arbitral award are:

The arbitral tribunal shall make the award based on a majority vote.

If a majority is not achieved, the decision shall be decided by the chairperson.

How are commercial arbitration awards enforced?

The parties are encouraged to voluntarily comply with the arbitral award. However, in the event that the award fails to comply within the time limit imposed, a written request can be made to the authorities to enforce compliance.

In what cases can an arbitration award be annulled?

An arbitral award can be annulled upon request of a party under the following grounds:

If there is no arbitration agreement or the agreement is deemed invalid;

If the arbitral tribunals composition and procedures are inconsistent with the parties agreement or contrary to the provisions of the law;

If the arbitral award contains content that exceeds, or the dispute is not within, the tribunals jurisdiction;

If the evidence provided by the parties is falsified, or if the arbitrator receives material benefits from a party that affects the fairness and objectivity of the award; or

If the arbitral award contravenes Vietnamese law.

When a party files a request for the annulment of an arbitral award, the burden of proof is placed on the requesting party. Additionally, the court is responsible for actively verifying and collecting evidence in the case.

Commercial arbitration fees

Is there a fee for commercial arbitration?

Yes, there are commercial arbitration fees. These are composed of the arbitrators remuneration, travel expenses, and other relevant costs, as well as fees for expert consultations. Moreover, administrative charges, fees for appointing ad hoc arbitrators, and fees for utilizing other services are also included.

In principle, the losing party in a commercial arbitration proceeding is responsible for paying the arbitration fee unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties or stated in the arbitration rules.

Who sets arbitration fees?

The arbitration fee may vary depending on the chosen center. However, if the dispute is resolved through ad hoc arbitration, the arbitration council will determine the applicable fee.

Investor-state disputes (ISDs) involving Vietnam

A summary of cases from 2004 to 2018 can be found here: Permanent Court of Arbitration Opens New Office in Hanoi

Some ISDs involving Vietnam 2019-2022

Vietnam has been involved in several investor-state disputes with various outcomes ranging from in favor of the investor to in favor of the state, and some cases that have been discontinued or settled.

The proceedings in these disputes are conducted under relevant international investment agreements depending on the parties involved or as per arbitration rules laid down by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Below we spotlight three such ISDs in brief.

ITACO and Dangelas v. Viet Nam

The ITACO and Dangelas v. Vietnam dispute involves claims arising from the conduct of the government in relation to bankruptcy proceedings against ITACO. Specifically, it is over an alleged debt owed to a third party by an ITACO subcontractor involved in an industrial park construction project. The case falls under the US-Vietnam Trade Relations Agreement. The case is being conducted under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.

PowerChina and China Railway v. Viet Nam

This dispute is over a construction project. The investors, PowerChina HuaDong Engineering Corporation and China Railway 18th Bureau Group Company Ltd, both from China, have claims against Vietnam. The ASEAN-China Investment Agreement is the international framework being used to settle the dispute.

Dangelas and Others v. Vietnam

The case of Dangelas and Others v. Vietnam involves a dispute between Maya Dangelas, U.S. Global Institute Inc. and Angels Company Inc., and Vietnam. The case concerns investments made in the Kien Luong Thermal Complex Power Project.

The US-Vietnam Trade Relations Agreement is the international investment agreement being used to settle this case. The arbitration process is being carried out under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.
IP in Vietnam: One Little Pig and a Big Bad Lawsuit

Intellectual property (IP) law reform and enforcement in Vietnam has been at the center of a broad range of trade agreements the country has signed onto. But change has been slow, and enforcement has been lacking. Heres how a spat between a cartoon wolf and a cartoon pig could change that.

The owners of the UKs Peppa Pig, EOne, are suing Vietnams Sconnect, the owners of popular YouTube cartoon Wolfoo, alleging trademark and copyright infringement. More specifically, EOne is alleging Sconnect created Wolfoo to look and feel like Peppa Pig to imply the two cartoons were connected.

In its complaint, EOne claims that parts of Wolfoos audio have been taken directly from episodes of Peppa Pig and that images of Peppa Pig herself appear on items like clocks and watering cans in the background of Wolfoo videos.

This is currently before the courts in the UK.

But the courts have not been EOnes only means of recourse.

YouTube, for example, took down 2,000 Wolfoo videos from August to October this year for copyright infringement at the request of EOne. This cost Sconnect US$2 million in lost revenue up to October, according to their own estimates.

In response, Sconnect has made overtures to the Vietnamese government looking for support. It has also countersued in Vietnam and has launched a lawsuit in Russia where, earlier in the year, a copyright infringement case brought by EOne was dismissed in response to sanctions imposed over the war in the Ukraine.

The big test, however, will be in the England and Wales High Court, the birthplace of modern intellectual property law.

Though a negative outcome for Wolfoo could mean a blow to concentrated efforts by Vietnam to clean up its IP image, it could also serve to raise IP awareness among the greater population, which could pay dividends for IP owners.

IP reform in Vietnam: The story so far

Vietnam has historically been known as an epicenter for cheap knockoffs and fakes.

In Hanois Old Quarter, a pair of Converse All-stars costs around US$20considerably cheaper than the US$80 they cost in genuine Converse retail stores. Fake handbags the likes of Gucci and Prada can also be bought for a fraction of the cost of the real thing from blue tarpaulins laid out on the side of the capital citys streets.

But this may be the twilight of Vietnams love affair with finding ways around paying full price. A broad range of agreements are giving international brands and content producers the means to push authorities to act against intellectual property theft.

Digital piracy in Vietnam, for example, was dealt a blow when the Office of the US Trade Representative listed Vietnamese unauthorized movie and TV streaming site, Phimmoi in its 2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.

Helped along by a number of film distributors petitioning the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information to take action against the site, Phimmoi was subsequently taken down.

Notably, this has not put an end to Phimmoi in its entirety with the site reappearing under a slightly different domain name shortly thereafter and continuing to reappear each time it is removed.

Vietnam is also still on the Office of the US Trade Representatives Special 301 Report Watchlist with the use of piracy devices and applications to access unauthorized audiovisual content, [remaining] a significant concern.

But it is still a step in the right direction.

Furthermore, last year alone, of 24 accusations of intellectual property infringement in Vietnam, 19 made it to court. For contrast, there were just 30 accusations made for the entire period between 2011 and 2020, of which 21 made it to court, according to the Ministry of Science and Technologys Inspectorate.

A slew of new amendments to the Intellectual Property Law were also ratified earlier this year, which are set to further strengthen the legal framework applied to cases of IP infringement.

These amendments clarify: copyright ownership, industrial design protections, and enforcement of intellectual property rights and have been structured to bring Vietnams IP management more inline with international standards. (Our sister publication ASEAN Briefing has a detailed breakdown. See: Vietnams Intellectual Property Law: New Amendments)

Attitudes toward IP protections in Vietnam

But truly resolving Vietnams IP issues may take more than simply prosecuting and punishing offenders.

Intellectual property infringement, in Vietnam, has in many ways become normalized.

An Asia Video Industry Associations Coalition Against Piracy survey conducted by YouGov in 2021 found that 60 percent of Vietnamese admitted to streaming pirated content.

Likewise, the creative directors of a video clip for Vietnamese pop-star AMEE copied very deliberately from Taylor Swifts Blank Space video clip.

We thought: Why not? a spokesperson for AMEE told Zing.

Changing these attitudes will be crucial to strengthening IP protections in Vietnam and high-profile cases like EOnes case against Wolfoo may help to do just that.

We believe this case has attracted the attention of content creators in Vietnam and has also increased their IP awareness, Yen Pham, trademark head and senior IP attorney at Schmitt & Orlov Southeast Asia, told Asia IP.

Notably, the learning outcomes from this lawsuit will likely extend beyond IP protections and impact Vietnams creative industries and businesses engaged in cross border trade in services as well.

This is made all the more important by the fact that Vietnam is determined to transition its economy from a low-cost manufacturing base, to a high-tech, innovation powerhouse which will require strong IP protections.

Vietnams IP future

Regardless of the outcomes of EOnes case against Sconnect in the UK, the fact that action has been taken will have an impact in and of itself. That international rules will be applied and that an outcome will be rendered will serve to promote greater understanding of IP law in the Southeast Asian nation.

Moving forward, content producers in Vietnam will be following the case closely and reassessing their business models and processes to ensure they are not ensnared in a similar conflict.

And for foreign firms this can only be a good thing, greater awareness and understanding serving to prevent IP infringement before it occurs, reducing the need for prosecution and reassuring IP owners that their films, brands, and designs alike are protected in Vietnam.
U.S. President Joe Biden is again appealing to Congress to take concrete action against gun violence after the latest mass killing. Ukraine remains defiant after the destructive aftermath of one of the largest Russian drone attacks against Kyiv in months. South Africans are embracing the first professional cuddling service.
After meeting in Beijing with U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang criticized the U.S. for what he described as an ongoing effort to "suppress" his country, saying that improved communications between the two superpowers will depend on the U.S. changing its policies.



In a readout of the Monday meeting, Qin said that U.S.-China relations have worsened since a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November, saying "a series of erroneous words and deeds by the U.S. since then have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-U.S. relations."



Qin described relations between the two countries as having "hit the ice," and he criticized U.S. policy toward Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own.



Burns, for his part, was more reticent about the talks, posting a brief update on his official Twitter account that said, "I met State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang today. We discussed challenges in the U.S.-China relationship and the necessity of stabilizing ties and expanding high-level communication."



Possible thaw

Despite the tone of Qin's comments, some viewed the meeting, one of the first high-level meetings between American and Chinese officials in several months, as a positive step.



Relations have been particularly strained since early February, when the U.S. spotted a Chinese espionage balloon flying over the U.S. mainland. That incident caused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel what had been expected to be an in-person visit with Qin earlier this year.

Last week, Burns seemed to signal an interest in greater dialogue between the two countries.



"Our view is we need better channels between the two governments and deeper channels, and we are ready to talk," he said last week in a virtual appearance at an event hosted by the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank.



"We've never been shy of talking, and we hope the Chinese will meet us halfway on this," Burns said.

Critical comments

The Foreign Ministry's readout of the meeting depicted Qin as sharply critical of the U.S., urging Washington to "correct its understanding of China" and to "return to rationality."



Appearing to refer to Burns' comments about being willing to talk, Qin said, "It is not possible to talk about communication on the one hand, but to keep suppressing and containing China on the other hand. You cannot say one thing and do another. We must respect China's bottom line and red line, and stop undermining China's sovereignty, security, and development interests."



He added, "In particular, we must correctly handle the Taiwan issue, stop hollowing out the one-China principle, and stop supporting and condoning 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."



In what appeared to be a reference to the espionage balloon incident, Qin said, "It is necessary to persist in handling unexpected incidents in the relationship between the two countries in a calm, professional and pragmatic manner, so as to avoid another impact on Sino-U.S. relations."



He said any future talks should be based on "mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit."

State Department reacts

In a press conference Monday afternoon, Deputy State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel commented on the meeting, saying, "Maintaining open lines of communication with the PRC [People's Republic of China] has been a key tenet of our approach as it relates to this very complicated bilateral relationship."



Asked whether the U.S. had anything to "correct" in its position on Taiwan, Patel said it did not.



"There has been no change to our policy with China. There has been no change to our 'One China' policy, which is guided by more than four decades of the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiques and the six assurances. We have been very clear-eyed about that. And we're also going to continue standing with our friends and allies across the Indo-Pacific to advance our shared prosperity and security and values."

Room for progress

Zuri Linetsky, a research fellow with the Eurasia Group Foundation, told VOA that he saw the dialogue between Qin and Burns as a positive sign, and said that the language in the Chinese Foreign Ministry's readout was clear about the policy changes Beijing wants the U.S. to make, in particular toward Taiwan and trade.



"One thing that stands out to me is this discussion of 'security and development interests' which is, I think, a call out to the restrictions on Chinese access to semiconductors," Linetsky said.



The Biden administration has pressured countries that use U.S. technology to make semiconductors and the machines that fabricate them to restrict sales to China. Though the U.S. has branded this as a very narrow ban, applying only to military technology or items that could be repurposed for military use, the Chinese appear to view the ban as part of a broader strategy to restrict the country's overall development.

Linetsky said that the meeting between Qin and Burns appeared to signal that more talks might be on the horizon, though he warned that it would be a mistake to expect progress to be smooth.



"This isn't going to happen in a straight line," he said. "It's going to happen in fits and starts."



Coming investment guidance

As soon as next week, the Biden administration is expected to release new guidelines that will restrict the investments U.S. firms can make in China, to prevent technology that can be used for military purposes from being transferred to Beijing.



The policy will be part of a broader administration plan to insulate the U.S. from China without fully breaking ties, a process that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a recent speech referred to as "de-risking" rather than the more commonly used term "decoupling."



"De-risking fundamentally means having resilient, effective supply chains and ensuring we cannot be subject to the coercion of any other country," he said in remarks delivered at the Brookings Institution on April 27.

In that same speech, Sullivan pushed back against Chinese claims that the U.S. was trying to freeze China out of new technologies and to hinder its overall development.



"These are tailored measures," Sullivan said. "They are not, as Beijing says, a technology blockade. They are not targeting emerging economies."

VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching contributed to this article.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday discussed border security measures as they prepare for a potential migrant wave when a key U.S. border policy ends this week, the White House said.

The Biden administration and Texas state authorities are sending reinforcements to the U.S.-Mexico border to prepare for a possible increase in immigration when COVID-19 restrictions known as Title 42 end on Thursday.

The order, in place since 2020, allows U.S. authorities to quickly expel migrants to Mexico without giving them the chance to seek U.S. asylum. The policy shift is expected to lead to a rise in border arrivals.

In a phone call on Tuesday, Biden and Lopez Obrador "discussed continued close coordination between border authorities and strong enforcement measures," the White House said in a statement.

They discussed the urgency of reducing crowding in northern Mexico and affirmed their commitment to address the root causes of migration from Central America, the statement said.

Lopez Obrador said on Twitter they had discussed their commitment to work together on migration, as well as on drugs and arms trafficking.

They also discussed "cooperation in caring for the continent's poorest," Lopez Obrador added.
Canada on Monday expelled Toronto-based Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target a Canadian lawmaker critical of China's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority.

"We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Monday.

The expulsion escalates already tense Sino-Canadian relations and is likely to prompt China, Canada's second-largest trading partner, to respond.

China's embassy in Ottawa said it condemns the expulsion and that it has formally protested the move to the government.

"China will resolutely take countermeasures," an embassy spokesperson said in a statement posted on its website.

Roland Paris, a former foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa, said China is most likely to respond by expelling a Canadian diplomat.

Spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) authored a report in 2021 about Chinese influence in Canada that included information about potential threats to Conservative parliament member Michael Chong and his family.

"It shouldn't have taken two years for the government to make this decision," Chong told reporters after the announcement.

China has said it has never interfered in Canada's internal affairs and has no interest in doing so. China's Toronto consulate-general said the report on Chong has "no factual basis and is purely baseless."

Details of the CSIS report came to light on May 1, when Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported that China sought information about Chong and his family in China in a likely effort to "make an example" of him and deter others from taking an anti-Chinese government position.

Genocide declaration

The Globe, citing an unnamed national security source, said Zhao was involved in gathering information about Chong, who in 2021 sponsored a successful motion declaring China's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority genocide.

Chong said he was "profoundly disappointed" to find out about the potential threat to his family in Hong Kong from a newspaper and criticized Trudeau's government for inaction. He repeatedly called for Zhao's expulsion since the Globe report.

Trudeau said he found out about the intelligence report from the newspaper, and on Wednesday blamed the spy agency for not passing it on to him at the time.

The agency has now been directed to immediately pass on information about threats to members of parliament and their families.

Canadian media outlets have published several reports citing anonymous intelligence sources alleging schemes run by the Chinese government to interfere in Canada's last two elections. Beijing has denied those allegations.

Trudeau has previously said China attempted to meddle in the 2019 and 2021 votes, but that the efforts did not change the outcome. He has appointed an independent special investigator to probe the allegations.

Diplomatic tensions between Canada and China have been running high since the detention of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 and Beijing's subsequent arrest of two Canadians on spying charges. All three were freed in 2021.

Last year, Beijing lifted a three-year ban on imports of canola, Canadas largest crop, from trading companies Richardson International and Viterra. The restrictions followed Meng's arrest, but China cited concerns about pests in the crop shipments as its reason for the ban. China is also a major importer of Canadian potash and wheat.
Canada has expelled a Chinese diplomat accused of attempting to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker who has been critical of Beijing.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly issued a statement Monday saying Zhao Wei had been declared persona non grata in response to a series of reports in Canadas The Globe and Mail newspaper that Zhou sought information about Conservative Party lawmaker Michael Chong, who sponsored a motion to declare Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide.

The reports said Canadas intelligence agency had uncovered information that China planned to target Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions and possible threats.

Foreign Minister Joly said Ottawa will not tolerate any form of foreign interference. She said foreign diplomats working in Canada have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home.

Chinas foreign ministry in Beijing announced early Tuesday that it had declared Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, the consul for the Canadian consulate in Shanghai, persona non grata and ordered her to leave China by May 13. Lalondes expulsion came hours after Chinas embassy in Ottawa said China will take resolute countermeasures in response to Zhous expulsion.

The allegations about Zhou came amid a series of reports by The Globe and Mail and other news outlets on Chinas alleged attempts to influence the 2018 and 2021 Canadian general elections. Both stories were based on information gathered by Canadas intelligence agency.

China has denied the allegations.

Zhous expulsion will likely worsen already tense bilateral relations between Beijing and Ottawa, which turned sour in 2018 when Canadian authorities arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinas Huawei Technologies, on a U.S. warrant. Two Canadian nationals were detained in China in apparent retaliation.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
Beachfront

Distinction reflects Beachfronts commitment to culture, employee welfare, and excellence in the marketing and advertising technology industry

NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beachfront , the sell-side ad server built for convergent TV, has been named to Inc. magazines annual Best Workplaces list. Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

The recognition reflects Beachfront's strong commitment to creating a workplace environment that values, nurtures, and empowers employees. With generous benefits and perks, a transparent management team, and highly-supportive policies for career growth, Beachfront truly puts employees first. The company frequently holds team gatherings, offers free in-office meals, and provides training opportunities for professional development. Above all else, Beachfront strives to create a culture of empathy and afford employees a healthy work-life balance.

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organizations benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

At Beachfront, we take great pride in our culture. Our commitment to team welfare and career growth is unwavering, and our employee-focused approach to the business is what makes us unique, said Chris Maccaro, CEO at Beachfront. As a company, we value integrity, collaboration, innovation, and the constant pursuit of excellence. Our goal is always to provide our employees with opportunities to grow and learn and to ensure teams are empowered to do their best work, day in and day out.

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Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. Proving to the world that youre a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement.

Beachfront is an employee-first organization that prioritizes team welfare, career growth, and top-down transparency. Notable benefits available to Beachfront employees include:

Flexible working accommodations, including work-from-home, hybrid, and in-office options

Unlimited paid time off (PTO), with a minimum number of required days

Generous 401k matching and retirement savings plans

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous maternity and paternity leave policies

Beachfront is delighted to be recognized for this award and remains committed to supporting the success and well-being of its team. To learn more, visit beachfront.com/careers .

About Beachfront

Beachfront is the sell-side ad server built for convergent TV. Our technology enables real-time, unified ad serving and monetization across all TV and video endpoints, including connected TV (CTV), set-top box VOD, spot linear, and national addressable television. Leading media owners, programmers, and distributors, such as AMC, CW, Dish, LG, Pluto, Univision, Vevo, and VIZIO, utilize Beachfronts TV-first tech stack to drive advertising revenue, improve ad operations, and deliver premium ad experiences to their viewers. Founded in 2007, Beachfront is an independent, private equity-backed company based in New York City. In 2017, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, through her investment firm PSP Partners, acquired a majority stake in Beachfront along with Growth Catalyst Partners. Learn more at beachfront.com.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer- to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

Media Contact:

Kyle Kuhnel

kyle@broadsheetcomms.com












The government of Canada says it is determined to reach its target of admitting at least 40,000 Afghan refugees by the end of the year.

More than 30,600 Afghans have been resettled in Canada since August 2021 when Ottawa announced it would admit thousands of Afghans whose lives could be at risk under the new Taliban regime.

Canada "is firm in its commitment to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals by the end of 2023, which remains one of the largest programs in the world," a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told VOA.

Among those resettled, over 10,000 are individuals who worked for Canadian agencies and programs in Afghanistan while more than 16,000, particularly women and civil society activists, have been admitted under humanitarian considerations.

More than 18,000 applications are still under review by Canadian and international nongovernment organizations and the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for resettlement in the next several months.

Resettlement operations are executed via chartered and commercial flights from Afghanistan and third-party countries.

"The current situation is complex and the challenges are extraordinary," the spokesperson said. "How quickly any Afghan arrives in Canada once their application is approved depends on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, and often directly relate to where Afghans are located.

"There are significant challenges chartering flights in some regions and each country sets its own entry and exit requirements and determines when and if these requirements are changed," the spokesperson said.

While Canada has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, a network of Canadian visa officers across the world are tasked with processing applications expeditiously to achieve the target by the end of the year.

Canada's government allocated more than $80 million to fund its Afghan program in the 2022-2023 financial year, according to IRCC, which has a total annual budget of nearly $3 billion, a portion of which is also used to support various resettlement programs.

Women

Half of the Afghan refugees taken by Canada are women who are admitted primarily because of the Taliban's systemic denial of basic rights for women.

Human rights groups say Afghanistan is suffering a gender apartheid under the hardline Islamist regime.

Women leaders, religious and ethnic minorities, journalists and LGBTI individuals are prioritized under Canada's humanitarian resettlement program, which only accepts applicants referred by UNHCR and two European human rights organizations.

"It would actually be helpful if it was just women generally," Lauryn Oates, executive director of a nongovernmental organization Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, told VOA.

"All women are at risk in Afghanistan," Oates said, adding that Canada and other countries that admit Afghan refugees should accept women "on the basis of gender alone."

The United States and European countries have also taken tens of thousands of Afghan refugees over the past 20 months.

In the immediate aftermath of the Taliban's return to power, the U.S. military evacuated more than 124,000 individuals from Afghanistan. More than 77,000 of those evacuees were admitted into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons and offered a two-year entry parole, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

A DHS spokesperson did not answer questions about the gender-based breakdown of the Afghans given paroled entry into the United States.

"For the average Afghan woman, there are no pathways to resettle to the U.S.," Devon Cone, a women's rights advocate at Refugees International, told VOA.

Cone said the U.S. Department of State's P-1 and P-2 resettlement programs for Afghans do not specifically target women.

Managed through the U.S. Refugees Admission Program, the P-1 offers resettlement pathways for any individual of any nationality with compelling protection needs, while the P-2 program is for "qualified Afghans" who worked for U.S. agencies in Afghanistan.

"Even though these P-1 and P-2 programs exist, they are not really functioning, especially in places like Pakistan," said Cone. "There are very few options for Afghan women at risk to resettle to the U.S. and the options that do exist are not working."

Addressing a House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee in March, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he is "personally committed to keeping our promises to those who stood by us in Afghanistan."

"The efficient processing and ultimate resettlement of these individuals continues apace and remains among the administration's highest priorities," a State Department spokesperson said.

VOA immigration reporter Aline Barros contributed to this report.
A group of Chinese international students studying in Washington has established an independent student union, hoping to provide a safe space and platform for other Chinese students and scholars at their university to express political dissent without harassment by pro-Beijing students and organizations.

Students from George Washington University (GWU) call the organization Torch on the Potomac.

A statement by the organization on April 25 said, "We want to provide Chinese students and scholars at George Washington University, as well as their peers in the diaspora, with a platform, social support and community independent from the Chinese Communist Party and its puppets. In addition, we welcome students from all backgrounds interested in Chinese culture, politics and identity."

The organization has more than 12 members. All have chosen to remain anonymous for security reasons, according to Luo Qiu, one of the organizers who uses a pseudonym.

"Before this organization was established, we were sporadic, said Thomas, who also uses a pseudonym. Many of our Chinese students had engaged in some resistance activities, including putting up posters or organizing candlelight vigils. But because there is still this kind of fear on campus - that is, fear of C.S.S.A. and of people who are pro-Chinese Communist Party who may report us."

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association has long been linked to the Chinese government.

"[We want to] let the school, including people outside, know that C.S.S.A. is not the only representative of our Chinese students, Thomas said. We also have many Chinese students who oppose the CCP and support democracy. They should also have their own voices.

The members expressed their disappointment with GWU in their statement, believing that the university has not done enough to protect the freedom of speech of international students who criticize the Chinese government.

The statement reads, "As Chinese students and scholars by the Potomac River, by the Lincoln Memorial, and at the foot of Capitol Hill, we are thousands of miles away from the People's Republic of China but still under the shadow of fear: we find ourselves facing systemic repression. We and our families have faced intimidation, surveillance, harassment, blackmail, and other forms of coercion. We are denied true academic freedom and civil rights despite studying at a university that claims to promote and defend rights."

VOA contacted GWU for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

GWU reaction

Axios reported that during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, some Chinese students put up multiple posters on the school campus criticizing China's human rights issues. Other Chinese students ripped them down, and some Chinese student organizations who are pro-Chinese-government took the matter to the president of the university, Mark Wrighton, claiming that the posters were racially discriminatory, Axios reported.

At first, Wrighton expressed support in an email for the position of the pro-government Chinese student organizations and promised to investigate the matter, according to Axios.

But after discussing with faculty and staff familiar with human rights issues in China, he pivoted to express his support for the students who put up the posters and promised to protect their freedom of speech, Axios said.

In October, some Chinese students at the university also put up posters on campus opposing Chinese leader Xi Jinping's re-election. But those posters were also torn up.

Torch on the Potomac said in its statement that not long ago, the "Democracy Wall" on campus, which includes posters put up by students from China, Iran, Russia, Taiwan and Ukraine, was vandalized. The wall is in a hallway on the outside of a school building.

Luo said, "We tried to get the school involved in the investigation before, but the response from the school police and the dean is almost nothing."

In a screenshot of an email obtained by VOA Mandarin, police told the students who had called them, Unfortunately, [when] you post a poster you relinquish ownership to the poster and as long as there is zero damage to the building it will not be a destruction of property.

VOA Mandarin contacted GWU police for specific information on the damage but did not receive a response.

'Silencing' of students

Rory O'Connor, president of the U.S. student organization Athenai Institute, told VOA Mandarin the vandalism of the Democracy Wall "amounts to the silencing of students who have few other means to safely speak out."

The Athenai Institute website says the organization is a non-partisan, student-founded nonprofit devoted to educating American students, scholars and the public about the dangers posed by the genocidal, anti-democratic Chinese Communist Partys influence on our college campuses, and about the tools universities can use to financially disentangle themselves from the CCP and its human rights abuses.

The Athenai Institute supported the establishment of Torch on the Potomac, according to the organizers statement.

O'Connor said, I can think of few, if any, better uses of our time and resources than supporting pro-democracy Chinese students who, simply by trying to authentically express themselves, are now facing down the proxies of a fascist party-state.

Other student organizations at GWU have also supported Torch on the Potomac, including the campus organizations for the Democratic and Republican parties, GW Chinese Feminists, GW Uyghur Human Rights Initiative and GW Russian Speaking Association, according to the Torch on the Potomac statement.

Sarah McLaughlin, scholar at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, told VOA Mandarin, Universities can do more, too. They can make an effort to educate international students about their rights in the U.S. and on campus, and what they can do if theyre facing threats to their ability to speak freely on campus.

Torch on the Potomac said that the school's C.S.S.A. is behind the suppression of its political demands, and "our top priority remains to protect George Washington University students from being influenced by the C.S.S.A. at the school and the Chinese Communist Party.  For a long time, the C.S.S.A. and similar organizations have maintained a monopoly on Chinese students' cultural and political representation."

A report by Foreign Policy in 2018 said that C.S.S.A. organizations across the U.S. had organized international students to welcome visiting Chinese leaders and paid them a fee for being among the gathering of greeters.

The close relationship the C.S.S.A. maintains with the Chinese government is no secret. In 2017, Liu Chen, president of the C.S.S.A. at George Washington University, said in a video that the C.S.S.A. was "the only official Chinese student union. It is directed by the Chinese Embassy and operates in every international university."

Domination of C.S.S.A.

William, who belongs to Torch on the Potomac and uses a pseudonym, said, "There was no organization like this before. In the past, C.S.S.A. dominated the public domain of Chinese international students."

Another Torch of the Potomac member, Sally, said, "I think the goal of the organization is to show there are alternative forms of representation and that not all Chinese students are monolith.

"Because right now we see a lot of anti-Chinese sentiment and a lot of people who are talking about how they are spies in U.S. campuses," she said. "And we realize these discussions are real, and we want to show that most Chinese students are not supporting the government, and most Chinese students are not here to be Chinese spies. But we dont have an outlet for our voice to be heard, so we were trying to ... provide those students with support so that they do not feel alone, and they dont feel alienated and isolated."

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Israeli airstrikes early Tuesday killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian health officials said the Israeli operation killed at least 12 people and injured 20 others.

The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad militant group confirmed the deaths of its senior members, identifying them as Khalil Bahtini, Tareq Izzeldeen and Jehad Ghanam.

A spokesman for the group said the attack would be met with retaliation.

Israel said the targeted militants were responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel.

"Any terrorist who harms Israeli citizens will be made to regret it," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

Tuesdays airstrikes marked the latest round of actions amid increased tensions. Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids in the occupied West Bank that Israel says are necessary to prevent attacks, while militants have used rockets to target Israel.

At least 105 Palestinians and 19 Israelis have been killed in the violence this year.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the area struck by Israel in recent, near-daily raids.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Jordan carried out rare airstrikes on southern Syria on Monday, hitting an Iran-linked drugs factory and killing a smuggler allegedly behind big hauls across the two countries' border, local and intelligence sources said.

The sources said one strike hit an abandoned drug facility in Syria's southern Daraa province linked to the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is allied to Syria's government.

Another strike on the village of Shaab, in the adjacent province of Sweida near the Jordanian border, killed Syrian drug kingpin Marie al-Ramthan and his family while they were at home.

"Both Ramthan's home and the facility were left in ruins," said Ryan Marouf, a Syrian researcher tracking the drug trade.

The drugs factory in the Daraa town of Kharab al Shahem was believed to have been a meeting point for Hezbollah-paid smugglers, Marouf said, corroborating accounts by local sources familiar with the matter.

Ramthan, a major drug dealer in southern Syria, has recruited hundreds of Bedouin transporters who join the ranks of Iran-linked militias that hold sway in southern Syria, Jordanian and regional intelligence sources say.

He had been sentenced to death on several occasions in recent years in absentia by Jordanian courts for drugs trafficking, judicial sources say.

Two regional intelligence and a Western diplomatic source who tracks the situation in southern Syria confirmed that Jordanian war planes had hit the two drug-related targets in a rare raid inside Syria since the more than a decade-old conflict began.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi declined to confirm his country had carried out the strike when he was asked during a news conference.

"When we take any step to protect our national security or confront any threat we will announce it in the right time," he said.

Jordan is both a destination and a main transit route to the oil-rich Gulf countries for captagon, a cheap amphetamine that Western and Arab states say is produced in and exported by war-ravaged Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government denies involvement in drug-making and smuggling. Iran says the allegations are part of Western plots against the country.

Hezbollah also denies involvement in the drugs trade and says Jordan's allegations echo Washington's campaign to undermine Iran's influence in the region.

The incident comes only days after Safadi threatened to strike inside Syria if Damascus would not rein in smuggling. The Iran-linked drug war posed a threat not only to Jordan's national security but also to Gulf countries, Safadi said.

The strikes were a message to Damascus that it should not mistake Amman's resolve at a time it was leading an Arab effort to end Syria's estrangement, two officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Jordanian officials say their concerns about the rise in drug smuggling had been raised in recent months in security meetings with Syrian authorities, where they received pledges but had not seen any real attempt to clamp down on the trade.
New developments:

United States to provide $1.2 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, including air defenses and ammunition

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on Tuesday.

Moscow's famed Red Square parade Tuesday on Russia's Victory Day took place amid ramped-up security due to Russian fears of Ukrainian attacks

Russia paraded troops and weaponry across Red Square in Moscow on Tuesday in commemoration of its victory over Nazism in World War II, but it was a celebration that was sharply curtailed from years past because of battlefield setbacks in its 14-month invasion of Ukraine.

In a fiery 10-minute speech in front of the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin railed against "Western global elites," Russias allies in the world war 80 years ago, and said civilization was at "a decisive turning point."

"A real war has been unleashed against our homeland," the Russian leader said.

The Red Square parade had its traditional pomp but it was unmistakably scaled back from previous May 9 celebrations of the Allied victory in Europe. In place of phalanxes of modern battle tanks, a single World War Two-vintage T-34 rolled across the square. The usual fighter jet flyover was canceled.

On the battlefront in Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities said their air defenses had shot down 23 of 25 Russian cruise missiles fired chiefly at the capital, Kyiv, overnight, and there were no reported casualties.

Russian military difficulties were also underscored by a new profanity-laced tirade aimed at Russian defense leaders from the chief of the Wagner mercenary group fighting alongside Moscows troops, claiming his fighters were not being supplied with enough ammunition.

"A combat order came yesterday which clearly stated that if we leave our positions [in Bakhmut], it will be regarded as treason against the motherland," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an audio message. "[But] if there is no ammunition, then we will leave our positions and be the ones asking who is really betraying the motherland."

Ukraine has embraced the West in its fight against Russia, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visiting Kyiv, where she called Ukraine "the beating heart of today's European values."

The United States said it was providing Ukraine with another $1.2 billion security package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Twitter, said the new aid was a "sign of solidarity with Ukraine shown on a symbolic day for us -- Europe Day and the Day of Victory over Nazism in WWII. Together we're moving towards a new victory!"

Von der Leyen welcomed Zelenskyys move to make May 9 Europe Day in Ukraine to note Europes support in Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion.

"Today, I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity  the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ruscism," Zelenskyy said Monday.

The term "ruscism" was coined by Ukrainians to describe the Russian state under Putins current rule  roughly, Russian fascism.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are to meet next week in Brussels, the European Union said Monday, the latest attempt to secure a durable peace accord and resolve long-standing differences over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The meeting on May 14 between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev follows talks between their two foreign ministers that prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to suggest a breakthrough was possible.

An announcement on the EU Council's website said a three-corner meeting with Council President Charles Michel would take place at EU headquarters.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet states, have fought two wars over 30 years focusing on Nagorno-Karabakh, recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by Armenians.

In a six-week conflict in 2020, ended by a Russian-brokered truce, Azerbaijan recovered territory lost in the first war dating from the collapse of Soviet rule. Border skirmishes erupt periodically between the two sides.

Pashinyan and Aliyev have held several rounds of talks, generally organized by the EU or Russia, but have failed to resolve outstanding difficulties, including border demarcation and access to areas across each other's territory.

The latest EU announcement said the two leaders would also meet on June 1 in Moldova during an EU-sponsored development meeting to be attended by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.

"The leaders have also agreed to continue to meet trilaterally in Brussels as frequently as necessary to address ongoing developments on the ground and standing agenda items of the Brussels meetings," the EU statement said.
Kenyan investigators exhumed 21 more bodies on Tuesday as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult, who the interior minister described as victims of a "highly organized crime."

Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, is in custody accused of ordering followers to starve their children and themselves so they could go to heaven before the end of the world, which he said would come on April 15.

The latest figures on bodies exhumed, announced by regional official Rhoda Onyancha, bring the death toll to 133. The exhumations are expected to resume on Wednesday.

The search operation in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya had been suspended for a few days because of bad weather, with hundreds of people still reported missing.

"We have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organized crime," Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told reporters during a visit to the forest, where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves.

Kindiki said earlier on Twitter that post-mortem examinations on 112 bodies that had been exhumed or recovered had ended. Search and rescue efforts for people "suspected to be holed up in the thickets and bushes have been going on."

President William Ruto on Friday announced an inquiry into the mass deaths, while a court kept Mackenzie in detention pending further investigations.

Mackenzie has not yet been required to enter a plea. His lawyer, George Kariuki, said he was cooperating with police.

Mackenzie wants the investigation not to be "one-sided" by focusing on him, the lawyer said. Police should keep an open mind in order to unravel the "mess," Kariuki told Reuters, providing no further clarification.

Last week a court released on bail prominent televangelist Ezekiel Odero, who authorities say they suspect of being involved in the mass killing of his own followers.

Unlike in Mackenzie's case, police and authorities have not said anything about any bodies being found.

Odero is also suspected of helping launder money for Mackenzie, according to court documents seen by Reuters in which police say "huge cash transactions" thought to be linked to the sale of houses belonging to Mackenzie's followers were traced to Odero's bank accounts.

Reuters could not immediately reach a lawyer representing Odero.
Australia says a new government agency that will guide coal-dominated areas away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy will start work in July. The Net Zero Authority will support workers in finding new jobs and training, coordinate official policy and advise businesses.

Australia has some of the highest per capita rates of greenhouse gas emissions in the developed world.

The government says the new Net Zero Authority will proactively manage the transformation to a clean energy economy, adding that the global transformation to a net zero economy is a massive source of economic opportunity for Australia.

Business groups, conservationists and academics have been calling for an overarching body to help co-ordinate Australias energy transition.

The new agency is supported by trade unions, which are eager for their members in the mining and energy sectors to be retrained in the new green economy.

Anna Skarbek, chief executive officer of the Climate Works Center, an independent non-profit organization, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that the Net Zero Authority will have a positive impact.

It is right for a national government to set this up especially in an economy like Australia that has a federal government and state governments, Skarbek said. But also, it is right to give it three focus areas and that is to support the workers in emissions-intensive areas and it is also to coordinate government policies and programs across many governments and to coordinate with investors and the companies who will be doing much of the investment.

Australia has a target to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Electricity generation in Australia continues to be dominated by coal and gas.

However, the shift to renewable sources of power in Australia appears unstoppable.

An April 2023 report by the Clean Energy Council, an industry association, reported that clean energy accounted for 35.9% of Australias total electricity generation in 2022.

This was an increase from 32.5% in 2021.

The report stated that there was still a significant way to go if Australia is to meet its ambition of 82% renewables by 2030 but there has nevertheless been encouraging progress.

Solar and wind power dominate Australias green energy sources.

The Clean Energy Council has estimated that about 3.4 million Australian households now have rooftop solar systems.
Authorities in Pakistan Tuesday arrested former prime minister Imran Khan, the leader of the largest national political party, outside a court in the capital, Islamabad.

The 70-year-old politician was taken into custody as he prepared to attend a hearing on the dozens of charges against him ranging from alleged terrorism and corruption to treason and other criminal offenses.

Khan's attorneys claimed that paramilitary forces physically assaulted him before taking him into custody and handing him over to anti-graft authorities accompanying them.

Khans party denounced their leaders arrest.

State terrorism - breaking into IHC (Islamabad High Court) premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan, and abducted him, tweeted Shireen Mazari, a close aide to the opposition leader, along with a purported video of security action.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed Khan's arrest, rejecting charges of physical assault and telling local media about a corruption case against the opposition politician.

Nationwide protests



PTI supporters immediately took to the streets in Islamabad and other parts of the country to protest the arrest. Police in Islamabad dispersed protesters and detained dozens of them in the process.



Protesters and eyewitnesses reported firing by security forces at men and women outside army and ISI installations in several cities, injuring many protesters.



A large number of Khan supporters gathered outside the military headquarters in Rawalpindi and chanted slogans against the army, something that has not been seen in the recent history of Pakistan.



Meanwhile, provincial authorities in Lahore deployed paramilitary forces to assist police in controlling the situation after protesters there assaulted the residence of the regional military corps commander.



Angry protests and demonstrations also erupted across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province abutting Afghanistan.



There was a complete media blackout of the protests on dozens of local news channels in and around Islamabad, but officials were not immediately available to respond to opposition allegations the government was responsible. The violence prompted authorities to immediately ban all gatherings in major cities

Adam Weinstein, a researcher at Washingtons Quincy Institute, said, The arrest of Imran Khan takes an already escalating political firestorm & douses it with petrol as the nation inches off an economic cliff.

Watch related video by Sarah Zaman:

It will harden negative views toward the military & PDM and unleash chaos in the streets. But it is also a blow to IK, he wrote on Twitter.

The arrest came just hours after Khan added new details to his allegation that a senior general within the Pakistani military spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, is plotting to kill him.

The opposition leader warned such an eventuality could plunge the South Asian nation of about 220 million people into a turmoil worse than Sri Lanka's political unrest last year.

The head of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party first made the claims in a video statement a day after the powerful military warned Khan against making what it condemned as "fabricated and malicious" allegations.

Khan was injured in an assassination attempt last November while leading an anti-government protest march near Lahore, the capital of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province. The attack killed one person, while the PTI chief received bullet wounds in his legs.

Khan accused ISI's Major-General Faisal Naseer of being one of the planners of the assassination attempt.

Government officials have said the assassination attempt was the work of a lone gunman, who is now in custody and confessed in a video controversially leaked to the media.

Former prime minister Khan was removed from office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April 2022, a move he rejected as illegal and orchestrated by the now-retired chief of the Pakistani military, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Pakistan is mired in an economic and political crisis, with the Khan-led PTI pressuring Sharif's embattled coalition government to hold early elections.

The military has a long history of direct and indirect political intervention, with political parties and independent analysts blaming the institution for the fragility of the country's democracy. Army generals have staged several coups and arrested politically popular prime ministers on trumped-up treason and other charges, ruling the country for nearly half its 75 years.

"Today it appears the Pakistan army has reached an "enough is enough" moment re Khan. After several false starts/unsuccessful arrest attempts by the police, this time the mil took matters into its own hands. What a mess," tweeted Michael Kugelman, the South Asia Institute director at the Wilson Center.

Maleeha Lodhi, the former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, while responding to Khan's arrest, described the current crisis facing the country as unprecedented.

"Of total political chaos and economic breakdown. This is untenable, and the people of the country don't deserve this. This must change," Lodhi wrote on Twitter.
Coverage of Russias war in Ukraine and reporting on restricted access to abortion in the U.S. featured in the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes.

Announced Monday, the annual awards recognize the best in journalism.

Coverage by The Associated Press of Russias weekslong siege of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol last spring was recognized with the top award for public service journalism.

AP journalists Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Lori Hinnant were recognized for their courageous reporting from the besieged city of Mariupol that bore witness to the slaughter of civilians in Russias invasion of Ukraine, said Marjorie Miller, administrator of the prizes, in announcing the award.

The AP also took the Pulitzer for breaking news photography for [its] urgent images from Mariupol during the first weeks of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Miller said.

Ukrainian officials estimate that more than 20,000 civilians were killed during the siege. Chernov and Maloletka  the last international journalists left in the city  later recounted their escape in an article for the AP as Russians moved closer, seeking out journalists.

Several other finalists and winners were cited for their coverage of the war in Ukraine, including The New York Times, which won the international reporting category for reporting, including its monthslong investigation into the killing of civilians in the city of Bucha.

Administered by Columbia University in New York, the Pulitzer Prizes are considered the most prestigious awards in American journalism. They recognize work in 15 journalism categories and seven arts categories.

The winner of the public service prize is honored with a gold medal. The awards in the other categories carry a prize of $15,000 each.

In awarding the Pulitzer Prizes, we celebrate the value of journalism to help us make sense of the world, Pulitzer Prize Board co-chair Neil Brown said at the ceremony streamed online. The finalists and winners remind us that journalism is not an optional component of our democracy. It is absolutely essential.

Coverage of the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade and access to abortion in the U.S. also featured prominently.

The Washington Posts Caroline Kitchener won the national reporting prize for her reporting on American life after Roe v. Wade.

Local media outlets were recognized for coverage that exposed shortcomings of government officials from local to federal levels, police wrongdoing and issues around racism.

The Wall Street Journal won the prize for investigative reporting for accountability reporting on financial conflicts of interest among officials at 50 federal agencies, and Caitlin Dickerson, a staff writer at The Atlantic, won the explanatory reporting prize for her coverage of the Trump administration policy that forcefully separated migrant children from their parents.

Mona Chalabi of The New York Times won the illustrated reporting and commentary prize for her work documenting the wealth and power of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post.

Before the winners were announced, Brown highlighted the plight of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is detained in Russia on espionage charges that he and his paper deny.

Journalists pay a substantial price for holding the powerful to account. Too often they are harassed and threatened and even violently attacked and held hostage, Brown said. The Pulitzer Prize Board joins the many organizations around the world demanding Evans immediate release. He, like so many others, is doing his job.
Beyon, the largest communications and information technology company in Bahrain, has announced net profit attributable to equity holders of the company for Q1 2023 of BD18 million ($47.7 million), a 1% increase from BD17.9 million ($47.5 million) for the corresponding quarter of 2022.

Earnings per share (EPS) are 10.9 fils for the first quarter of 2023 compared to 10.8 fils in Q1 2022, the company said.

Total comprehensive income attributable to equity holders in Q1 2023 was reported at BD20.8 million, a 61% increase from BD12.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, due to higher profit and foreign currency translation differences.

Revenues for Q1 2023 were BD103.5 million compared to BD98.5 million in Q1 2022, up by 5%, mainly due to increases in mobile, wholesale and digital services. Operating profit for the first quarter of 2023 increased by 15% to BD25.5 million from BD22.1 million in Q1 2022. EBITDA stood at BD42.7 million in Q1 2023 compared to BD40.6 million in Q1 2022, an increase of 5%. The company maintained a healthy EBITDA margin of 41% in Q1 2023.

Beyons balance sheet remained strong with total equity attributable to equity holders of the company of BD483.8 million ($1,283.3 million) as of 31 March 2023, 3% lower than BD496.4 million ($1,316.7 million) reported as of 31 December 2022. Total assets of BD1,101.5 million as of 31 March 2023 are in line with total assets of BD1,101.2 million as of 31 December 2022. Net assets as of 31 March 2023 which stood at BD526.9 million are 3% lower than BD542.3 million reported as of 31 December 2022.

The companys cash and bank balances are a substantial BD234.1 million, which are 8% lower than BD253.8 million reported as of 31 December 2022, it said.

Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa announced the financial results for the first quarter of 2023 following a meeting of the Board of Directors on Tuesday (May 9) at Beyon Campus, Hamala, Bahrain.

The Board of Directors is pleased with the strong start to the year with improved revenues, operating profit and EBITDA, up by 5%, 15% and 5% respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2022. The positive set of financials reflects the successful execution of Beyons digital growth strategy and vision, as well as the team members commitment and focus to deliver the plans, Shaikh Abdulla stated.

Digital growth will continue to be the key theme of our strategic plans for the year, building on the progress being made with the development of the Beyon digital companies and the ongoing focus on strengthening the Companys core services, he added.

Growing shareholder value is a priority for the Board of Directors and we remain committed to delivering attractive returns on their investment. We appreciate our shareholders ongoing support and the trust they place in us.

Beyon CEO Mikkel Vinter said: Im pleased with the solid performance delivered for the first quarter which was supported by increases in mobile, wholesale and digital services, achieved in line with our commitment to advancing both our core business and digital growth ambitions.

The Beyon digital companies continue to roll out their respective plans and during the quarter a number of partnerships were signed to support their goals, including enhancing remittance channels for Beyon Money and Beyon Connects plans to introduce new e-Invoicing technology to meet emerging business requirements.

Meanwhile, Beyon Cyber was recognised at the 8th annual Cyber Security Excellence Awards, as the gold winner of the best Cyber Security start up in the Middle East for 2023, he added.

On the telco side of the business, adding value for consumers is important, and as part of that Batelco recently announced a partnership with BMW Middle East to enable eSIM technology for the latest BMW models available in Bahrain. We are proud of this achievement which positions Batelco as the first in Bahrain and the GCC, and amongst only nine operators worldwide to enable the service.

Looking ahead, we have a strong strategy in place to support our ambitions to achieve further growth in the digital space, gain traction on our growing range of digital products and solutions, while maintaining our leadership in the telecoms sector in Bahrain, Vinter concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
WILL OLIVER / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock.com

Sen. Bernie Sanders isnt against any particular billionaire, but thinks that the United States government should confiscate some wealth over the billion-dollar threshold. In a recent CNN interview with Chris Wallace, Sanders said, I think people can make it on $999 million. I think they can survive just fine.

See: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally  and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It

Find: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

The long-time Vermont senator has been outspoken about tax reform and has stated a desired emulation of the Eisenhower administration  when the country had a very progressive tax policy. That way, the ultra-rich are forced to pay their fair share.

Whats Happening Now

Currently, the 25 wealthiest people in America are paying little to no tax relative to their fortune. The non-profit investigative journalism organization ProPublica conducted research into this and published these statistics in 2021:

Investor George Soros paid no federal income tax for three years in a row.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk paid no federal income tax in 2018.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos paid no federal income tax in 2007 and 2011.

ProPublica also revealed that the billionaires true tax rate during the period studied was 3.4%. And world-renowned investment guru Warren Buffetts true tax rate came in at just 0.1%. Meanwhile, the typical wage-earning American household paid 14% in federal income taxes.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

How You Can Benefit From Tax Loopholes

Fortunately, you can reduce what you pay in taxes. Did you know that the average person can benefit from the same tax loopholes as the members of the billionaires club? While the term loophole may sound dishonest, discovering ways to make the countrys tax code work for you is perfectly legal.

You can lower your tax liability and build wealth by:

Story continues

You can also invest in real estate using crowdfunding platforms like Realty Mogul.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Bernie Sanders Wants To Make It Impossible To Be a Billionaire: How the Ultra-Rich Legally Pay Less Tax Than You
Russian President Vladimir Putin told attendees at the annual Victory Day parade Tuesday that a real war was being waged by Western nations against Russia.

In a brief speech in Moscows Red Square at the event celebrating the former Soviet Unions defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, President Putin said civilization is again at a decisive turning point, and that war has been unleashed against our Motherland.

Putin used the speech to equate the defeat of Nazi Germany with Russias 15-month-old invasion of Ukraine. He has repeatedly used the de-Nazification of Ukraine as a justification for the war. He ended his speech by cheering on the soldiers in attendance who have been fighting in Ukraine, who he said were key for the countrys future.

For Russia, for our armed forces, for victory! he said.

The leaders of six former Soviet republics accompanied Putin to the Victory Day parade.

Tuesdays parade was the highlight of an annual commemorative event with celebrations normally held across Russia, including marches of the Immortal Regiment, where ordinary Russians march through the streets of various cities holding photos of relatives killed in World War II.

But at least 20 cities either canceled or scaled back Victory Day events citing unspecified security concerns likely tied to Moscows accusations that Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Kremlin last week in an attempt to assassinate Putin. Ukraine has denied the accusations.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans to send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help fight rebels in the country's east.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi arrived in Botswana's capital on Tuesday and is expected to discuss details of the deployment with the regional bloc's leaders. He also will talk with Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Addressing the media at the end of a special SADC meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, Namibian President Hage Geingob said the security situation in eastern DRC is cause for concern.



"The summit reiterated SADC's solidarity to assist the government and people of the Republic of Congo in its efforts to restore peace and stability in the eastern part of the country, particularly in light of the upcoming national elections scheduled for December 2023," said Geingob, who serves as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Security and Defense.

Reading out the Windhoek Summit's resolution, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said the meeting resolved to send troops to the DRC to assist in ending hostilities.



"Summit approved the deployment of a SADC Force within the framework of the SADC Standby Force as a regional response in support of the DRC to restore peace and security in Eastern DRC. Summit approved a SADC Common Position to have a more coordinated approach, given the multiple deployments under multilateral and bilateral arrangements in the eastern DRC, and urged the Government of the DRC to put in place the necessary conditions and measures for effective coordination amongst sub-regional forces and bilateral partners operating in the DRC," said Magosi.

South Africa, an SADC member, already has 1,184 soldiers deployed in the DRC under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONESCO.

Security expert Willem Els at the Pretoria-based Institute of Security Studies said there is a need for clarity on the deployment of the SADC force.



"They want to send troops but they did not give any details. We do not know if they are going to complement the troops that are currently deployed in the DRC under MONESCO or whether they will be separate," said Els. "We know that Kenya as well as Uganda have already deployed some troops there."



Conflict has heightened in the DRC's North Kivu province, where hundreds have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced in fighting between M23 rebels and government forces.

Els said any SADC troops deployed in the DRC need sufficient backup in order to be effective.



"If these troops are going to be deployed without the necessary air support and also to provide them with air dominance, they are going to face a similar outcome like we currently have in Cabo Delgado," said Els.

Troops in Cabo Delgado have been unable to stop an Islamist militant insurgency in that energy-rich Mozambican province.
Drought-stricken Spain says last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961.

The State Meteorological Agency, known by the Spanish acronym AEMET, said Monday that the average daily temperature in April was 14.9 degrees Celsius (58.8 Fahrenheit), which was 3 degrees Celsius above the average.

AEMET said average maximum temperatures during the month were up by 4.7 degrees Celsius.

Rainfall was a fifth of what would normally be expected in the month, making it the driest April on record in Spain.

Last year was Spains hottest since record-keeping started in 1961, and also the countrys sixth driest.

Three years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put the country officially into long-term drought earlier this year.

A flash study by a group of international scientists last week found that record-breaking April temperatures in Spain, Portugal and northern Africa were made 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change and would have been almost impossible in the past.

The government has requested emergency funds from the European Union to support farmers and ranchers whose crops are being affected by the situation.
Sudanese citizens are cautiously optimistic about the Saudi- and U.S.-brokered peace talks in Jeddah between their country's warring generals amid reports of a lull in the fighting.

But thousands of Sudanese are still trying to flee the country, and analysts are skeptical that any deal between the two sides will bring long-term peace.

The mediation talks continued for a third day Monday, with no word on whether the negotiations were making progress.

Representatives of the military and the Rapid Support Forces were invited to Jeddah to discuss a proposed cease-fire so humanitarian aid agencies can access people who are wounded, hungry or displaced after more than three weeks of fighting.

The Sudan Tribune reported Sunday that the army negotiators have made three demands: unconditional withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from Khartoum, an extension of a humanitarian truce, and the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese army within two years.

The newspaper said, "It's not clear how the RSF negotiators will respond to these demands."

Renewed gunfire

A truce between the sides remains officially in place, but eyewitnesses in Khartoum told VOA they heard renewed gunfire and an airstrike in the city Monday in and around the downtown area.

Sudanese citizens are watching the talks in Jeddah with a mix of hope and skepticism.

Sumeya Musa, who fled to Al Jazirah state from the violence in Khartoum, said she was optimistic that the talks would bear fruit and allow her to find a safe route to escape Sudan.

Our hope from these talks is that the guns will be silenced and we move out of this country," she said. "Practically, we are suffering. We just want to see that airstrikes, bombing and guns stop for a while.

Another woman, Amira Saleh, arrived in Port Sudan a week ago and is living in an open area within the town.

Saleh said she doubted that the warring parties were ready to stop hostilities.

There is no consensus among them, and they will not reach any agreement, or at least a basis to draw a road map that can take these talks to a stage of negotiations, she said.

Sudanese writer Mekki Al Mograbi said that the majority of Sudanese citizens support the military and that there was no way they would allow the Rapid Support Forces to remain as a separate armed group.

He said he thought the only solution at the moment would be for the RSF to get a safe route and leave the city.

Granting the Rapid Support Forces safe passage or their exit out of Khartoum could be a possible solution, he said.

An Arab foreign ministers summit on Sunday in Cairo called for a complete cease-fire in Sudan. The ministers also formed a committee to try to find a way to halt the fighting.

In a statement, the African Union urged parties to the conflict to immediately cease fire for humanitarian reasons and urgently open humanitarian corridors.
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Syria will hold their first official meeting on Wednesday since the start of Syrian civil war more than a decade ago, officials said.

The talks in Moscow will also involve the top diplomats of Russia and Iran, Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The announcement delivers a diplomatic boost to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just days before he faces the toughest general election of his 21-year rule on Sunday.

Erdogan supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, keeping a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country that angers Damascus.

But Erdogan reversed course after Turkey plunged into an economic crisis two years ago.

The Turkish leader has made up with former rivals across the region and is now courting a presidential summit with Assad.

Syria had refused, insisting that Turkey first pull out its troops.

A reconciliation with Syria is also supported by Erdogan's opponents and plays an important part in Turkey's election campaign.

Erdogan has pledged to speed up the repatriation of nearly four million Syrian refugees and migrants who fled to Turkey to escape poverty and war.

An agreement with Damascus is seen as a prerequisite for this process.

Iran and Russia have been helping mediate talks between the two sides.

Ankara said the repatriation will be discussed at the talks.

The sides will "exchange views on the normalization of relations between Turkey and Syria, discuss humanitarian issues ... and the voluntary, safe and dignified return of asylum-seekers," the Turkish foreign ministry said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu exchanged a few words with his Syrian counterpart on the sidelines of a regional summit in 2021.

But both sides insisted that this did not mark a resumption of formal talks.

Erdogan turned into one of Assad's fiercest opponents when the violent repression of protests set off Syria's civil war in 2011.

The Turkish leader called Assad a "murderer" in 2017, saying he should be brought to justice before an international tribunal.

But reversing course, Erdogan this year said that a presidential summit could help "establish peace and stability in the region."

The Moscow meeting follows several rounds of lower-level talks in Moscow involving the four countries' defense ministers.

The last one in April ended with Damascus insisting on "the withdrawal of Turkish forces" from Syria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says its still searching for 20 people abducted by gunmen from a church during a Sunday service. CAN says gunmen invaded the church in a remote Kaduna state village and took more than 40 people but later let some go. Kaduna is among Nigerian states most affected by groups of armed bandits that frequently kidnap for ransom.

The Kaduna state chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria Tuesday said about 42 people were in the church on Sunday morning before the attackers invaded and took all the worshipers away, including women and children.

He said the bandits later released 22 of them and have been holding the remaining 20.

It's the latest attack on a church in Nigeria.

Reverend Joseph Hayab, secretary general of the Christian Association of Nigeria, spoke to VOA by phone.

"Up till now, the people are with the bandits. The bandits have not called. The [remaining] in fear have left the village. The bandits for some reason just selected some and allowed them to come back. Sometimes when they pick a large number like that, they select those who they think are strong enough that they can use to bargain for money," he said.

CAN said the state police have been told about the abduction. Police have yet to issue a statement, and spokesman Mohammed Jalige did not take calls for comment.

Armed gangs known locally as bandits have been carrying out kidnap-for-ransom raids in Northern Nigeria for years. Local villages, schools and churches are often targets.

Gangs have been especially active in Chikun district where the church is located.

CANs national spokesperson, Luminous Jannamike, said this latest kidnapping is one too many.

"It's a deeply disturbing development. The Christian Association of Nigeria is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with the families of the victims, as well as with the authorities to obtain more information on the incident. While security agents are making efforts, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect places of worship from criminals and terrorists," said Jannamike.

Nigeria is facing numerous security challenges, but kidnap-for-ransom attacks are rampant.

Experts say a declining economy and increasing hardships are fueling the rise in insecurity and criminality.

Jannamike said to address the problem, authorities must fix some fundamental issues.

"To put an end to the incessant attacks on churches and other places of worship, it is important government takes a comprehensive approach that involves addressing the underlying socioeconomic and political factors that contribute to insecurity in the country," said Jannamike.

In May 2022, the prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria was kidnapped. He was freed after a huge ransom was paid.

In July, hundreds of clergymen protested attacks on priests in Kaduna after a clergyman was gruesomely killed by gunmen while on his farm.
The United Nations refugee agency says more than 700,000 Sudanese have fled their homes since violence broke out last month between two armed factions fighting for control of the northern African nation.

The updated figure, provided Tuesday by the U.N. International Organization for Migration, is more than double the 334,000 the agency reported to be internally displaced last week.

The IOM said an additional 100,000 Sudanese have fled the country.

The new figures were released a day after envoys from both warring factions met for a third day of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The talks are aimed at allowing humanitarian aid to reach hundreds of thousands in need of food, shelter and medical care in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities after more than three weeks of fighting.

The Saudi kingdom has already pledged that it will provide Sudan with $100 million worth of aid.

Fighting between Sudans military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, erupted on April 15.

Repeated cease-fire agreements have failed to end the conflict or even do much to reduce the violence. Eyewitnesses in Sudans capital, Khartoum, told VOA they heard renewed gunfire and an airstrike in the city Monday in and around the downtown area.

A Saudi official told Agence France-Presse Monday that the talks in Jeddah have yielded "no major progress so far. The official said "a permanent cease-fire isn't on the table. Every side believes it is capable of winning the battle.

The Sudan Tribune reported Sunday that the army negotiators have made three demands, including unconditional withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from Khartoum, an extension of a humanitarian truce, and the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese army within two years.

The newspaper said, "It's not clear how the RSF negotiators will respond to these demands."

Sudanese citizens are watching the talks in Jeddah with a mix of hope and skepticism.

Sumeya Musa, who fled violence from Khartoum to Al Jazirah state, told VOA she hopes the talks produce a truce that will allow her to safely escape Sudan.

Our hope from these talks is that the guns will be silenced, and we move out of this country. Practically, we are suffering. We just want to see airstrikes, bombing and guns to stop for a while, she said.

Most aid operations have been suspended or severely scaled back due to the lack of security. Several aid workers have been killed in the fighting.

Looting also has hampered aid operations. The World Food Program said nearly 17,000 tons of food worth between $13 million and $14 million have been stolen from its warehouses across Sudan.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said recently it has launched an emergency appeal to support the Sudanese Red Crescent Society in its effort to deliver assistance to 200,000 people.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Unrest in Myanmar is likely to dominate the agenda at the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

Top diplomats from each of the 10-nation bloc known as ASEAN gathered in the resort town Tuesday to finalize the agenda of the leaders two-day summit that will begin Wednesday.

The leaders will likely focus attention on Myanmar, which has been in chaos since the military overthrew the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

The coup immediately triggered anti-junta demonstrations across Myanmar that have led to the deaths of more than 3,000 civilians and upwards of 18,000 arrests at the hands of the military, according to an independent monitoring group. The unrest has also evolved into a deadly rural conflict between the military and several ethnic rebel groups who have been fighting for decades for greater autonomy.

ASEAN has issued a five-point plan aimed at ending the violence that was reached by the bloc with Myanmars military rulers. But the junta has yet to follow through in implementing the plan, which has led to criticism of ASEAN as useless.

ASEANs founding charter established the groups principles of consensus and non-interference into its members affairs. But it has barred Myanmars leaders from attending its summits due to its failure to implement the peace plan.

A convoy of vehicles carrying diplomats from ASEAN nations and delivering humanitarian aid to displaced residents in Myanmars eastern Shan state came under fire Sunday, prompting an angry response from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who vowed the war would not deter efforts to seek a lasting peace.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the violence is a result of the regimes violence and disregard for the rule of law. The spokesperson called on Myanmar to implement in a meaningful way the Five-Point Consensus and respect the democratic aspirations of the people who have demonstrated they do not want to live another day under the militarys tyranny.

The junta released a statement saying security forces will continue to undertake appropriate counter-terrorism operations in accordance with the law with the top priority being the maintenance of law and order, community peace and stability.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.
Nearly one year into a 3-year prison term, Georgian journalist Nika Gvaramia says he's doing OK.

"I'm good. I met all this very prepared," he told VOA from a prison in Rustavi, Georgia, through written messages shared with VOA via his lawyer. "I knew it was going to happen and I knew I would have to endure it."

Gvaramia is a former member of the Georgian parliament and founder of the pro-opposition broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi. Last May, a court convicted him of abuse of power related to his work in 2019 as the director for a separate broadcaster, Rustavi 2.

Gvaramia denies the charges and is appealing his case at the Supreme Court. His colleagues and press freedom advocates believe the conviction is retaliatory.

The case "is purely political," said Tamar Kintsurashvili, executive director of the Tbilisi-based Media Development Foundation. "There's no legal grounds for his detention. He was critical of the current government."

"It actually reflects recent developments in this country," she said. "Nika's detention is just an illustration of their goals."

Gvaramia is the only journalist jailed in Georgia over his work, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the first jailed in Georgia over his work since at least 1992, when the press freedom group started keeping track.

EU diplomats and others see his case as a red flag for press freedom. Some have said that Gvaramia's trial was linked to apparent efforts to undermine the country's candidacy for European Union membership.

Gvaramia's lawyer, Tamta Muradashvili, believes that his case is "directly linked to Georgia's European future." The fates of Gvaramia and his country are intertwined, she said.

His colleague at Mtavari Arkhi, Eka Kvesitadze, went further, saying that the arrest "was a clear sabotage, and it was done to hinder this process with the EU, and it was done deliberately."

A September 2022 poll from the National Democratic Institute found that 75% of Georgians support EU membership, with the government's lack of political will listed as the main barrier.

Georgia was expected to receive EU candidacy status last June, alongside Ukraine and Moldova.

Ukraine and Moldova were granted candidate status. But Georgia was denied, with the EU listing 12 reforms  including on press freedom  needed before the country can be granted candidacy status.

Georgia was once lauded as among the freest former Soviet countries. But in recent years, concerns have deepened over whether the country is moving away from the West amid corruption issues, democratic backsliding, and the apparent influence of billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling Georgian Dream political party in 2012. Critics say he still exercises significant influence despite no longer holding a formal position.

Still, others say that Georgian Dream may be trying to walk a fine line with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine out of fear of angering its neighbor.

The Georgian Embassy in Washington told VOA that the country is committed to EU integration.

"Georgia is closer than ever to its goal of becoming a full-fledged member of the EU," the embassy said, adding that claims that Gvaramia was jailed to block the country's EU candidacy "is based on absolutely false information."

"Georgia has a free, independent, and pluralistic media environment," the embassy email read.

This year, Reporters Without Borders ranked Georgia 77 out of 180 countries in the world, where 1 shows the best media environment. In 2022, Georgia ranked 89.

Double blow

On May 16, 2022, the day that Gvaramia was sent to prison, the journalist sent his children to school like normal. It was windy and drizzling in Tbilisi.

"They left to school, and we went to the courtroom," his wife, Sofia Liluashvili, told VOA.

After the decision was announced, "the only thing he asked me was not to cry," Liluashvili said. The tears flowed after she left the building.

"As Nika's partner, as his friend, and as a person who shares Nika's values, I'm trying to do all I can for Nika  of course personally, but for my country," Liluashvili said. "Georgia's future is at stake."

Gvaramia's jailing has also taken a toll on the broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi, especially financially. "Nika's channel is in constant survival mode," Liluashvili said.

Kvesitadze, a presenter at Mtavari Arkhi, has worked with Gvaramia since 2013.

"I have been missing him so much," she told VOA. "We're the two hosts for prime time, and I'm the only one now. And it's a horrible, horrible feeling, and still it's so hard to operate without him."

Gvaramia, too, is well aware of the challenges for his channel.

"It is not a question of optimism. It is a question of struggle and dedicated work. My fantastic team proves every day that they can do it, and every day they win against the system," he said. "Georgian media is the most outstanding fighter in this country."

EU dreams

Among the EU's recommendations for Georgia is that it should "undertake stronger efforts to guarantee a free, professional, pluralistic and independent media environment, notably by ensuring that criminal procedures brought against media owners fulfil the highest legal standards."

Releasing Gvaramia is a clear step to achieving that, advocates said.

"We called on the Georgian president [Salome Zourabichvili] to release Gvaramia and hope that she will do that soon," said Gulnoza Said, who covers violations in Georgia at the CPJ. "Otherwise, the stain on Georgia's reputation will remain unwashed."

Georgia has until the end of the year to implement the EU's recommendations.

But some analysts told VOA they believe failed attempts this year to pass a foreign agent law is another sign that the government is trying to move away from Western values.

The proposed bill required all nonprofits and media groups to register as foreign agents if they received more than 20% of funding from abroad. Met with widespread protests, the bill was withdrawn.

The foreign agent law was another attempt by the government to establish control over the media, according to CPJ's Said, adding, "It was unsuccessful. For now."

From cell 212, Gvaramia is waiting for updates or any information on his appeal at the Supreme Court, which has until June to issue its decision.

Until then, he has established a routine: He watches TV in the morning and spends much of the rest of the day reading, adding, "I have a lot of books in my cell."

"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end with the discipline to confront your current reality, whatever it might be," Gvaramia said. "You must retain your fortitude and freedom, but you must also be able to find tranquility. This is the most important thing, and I was able to do it."
ISLAMABAD  Authorities in Pakistan Tuesday arrested former prime minister Imran Khan, the leader of the largest national political party, outside a court in the capital, Islamabad.

The 70-year-old politician was taken into custody as he prepared to attend a hearing on the dozens of charges against him ranging from alleged terrorism and corruption to treason and other criminal offenses.

Khan's attorneys claimed that paramilitary forces physically assaulted him before taking him into custody and handing him over to anti-graft authorities accompanying them.

Khans party denounced their leaders arrest.

State terrorism - breaking into IHC (Islamabad High Court) premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan, and abducted him, tweeted Shireen Mazari, a close aide to the opposition leader, along with a purported video of security action.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed Khan's arrest, rejecting charges of physical assault and telling local media about a corruption case against the opposition politician.

Nationwide protests



PTI supporters immediately took to the streets in Islamabad and other parts of the country to protest the arrest. Police in Islamabad dispersed protesters and detained dozens of them in the process.



Protesters and eyewitnesses reported firing by security forces at men and women outside army and ISI installations in several cities, injuring many protesters.



A large number of Khan supporters gathered outside the military headquarters in Rawalpindi and chanted slogans against the army, something that has not been seen in the recent history of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, provincial authorities in Lahore deployed paramilitary forces to assist police in controlling the situation after protesters there assaulted the residence of the regional military corps commander.



Angry protests and demonstrations also erupted across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province abutting Afghanistan.



There was a complete media blackout of the protests on dozens of local news channels in and around Islamabad, but officials were not immediately available to respond to opposition allegations the government was responsible. The violence prompted authorities to immediately ban all gatherings in major cities

Adam Weinstein, a researcher at Washingtons Quincy Institute, said, The arrest of Imran Khan takes an already escalating political firestorm & douses it with petrol as the nation inches off an economic cliff.

It will harden negative views toward the military & PDM and unleash chaos in the streets. But it is also a blow to IK, he wrote on Twitter.

The arrest came just hours after Khan added new details to his allegation that a senior general within the Pakistani military spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, is plotting to kill him.

The opposition leader warned such an eventuality could plunge the South Asian nation of about 220 million people into a turmoil worse than Sri Lanka's political unrest last year.

The head of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party first made the claims in a video statement a day after the powerful military warned Khan against making what it condemned as "fabricated and malicious" allegations.
The transaction expands patient access to chronic pain treatment across the Midwest

CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce a new partnership between Capitol Pain Institute (CPI), a leading interventional pain management provider and a portfolio company of Iron Path Capital, and Nura Pain Clinics (Nura). BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences investment banking team acted as the exclusive financial advisor to CPI. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction builds upon BGL's market leadership position in advising physician practices and related ancillary services.

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce a new partnership between Capitol Pain Institute (CPI), a leading interventional pain management provider and a portfolio company of Iron Path Capital, and Nura Pain Clinics (Nura). BGLs Healthcare & Life Sciences investment banking team acted as the exclusive financial advisor to CPI. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This new partnership allows CPI and Nura to expand access to care while remaining committed to their mission of improving the lives of people living with chronic pain.

"As leaders in neuromodulation and advanced therapies, the synergies between Nura and Capitol Pain Institute were undeniable," said Capitol Pain Institute Founder and CEO Dr. Matthew Schocket. "Together, we will be even stronger, and more people living with chronic pain will benefit from our innovative and integrated approach to care."

Founded in 2007 by Dr. Schocket, CPI is an interventional pain management provider focused on providing the highest level of quality, evidence-based pain management care. CPI offers a broad range of services with an emphasis on advanced interventional pain management including spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation, interspinous stabilization and fixation, SI joint fusion, Intracept, and other innovative pain management procedures. With clinics and ambulatory surgical centers across Texas, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, CPI is focused on expanding its quality patient care across the West and Midwest to build a leading national platform.

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nura was founded in 1995 by Dr. David Schultz, a pioneer in interventional pain management. Nura became the region's first multidisciplinary pain management clinic, coordinating high tech interventional procedures with in-house physical therapy and psychology services. Nura is nationally recognized as a center of excellence for implantable pain control and one of the leading research centers in the U.S. for trials and implants of neuromodulation services.

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BGL's Healthcare Provider Services Group is one of the most experienced and respected financial advisory teams in the U.S. for physician practice M&A, interventional pain management M&A and related technical services, with a long track record of expertise in physician practice valuation and in successfully advising physicians and alternate site providers through strategic transactions like selling a physician practice. BGL previously served as the exclusive financial advisor to CPI in its recapitalization by Iron Path Capital in June of 2022.

About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.

(PRNewsfoto/Brown Gibbons Lang & Company)

Cision

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JOHANNESBURG  A wind farm in Namibia and a floating solar farm on Zimbabwe's massive Kariba Dam are among the new green energy projects Chinese companies are looking at investing in this year after Beijing pledged to help African countries address their energy problems with renewable sources rather than fossil fuels.

"Chinese overseas renewable energy investments aim to deliver China's international climate commitments of accelerating the energy transition away from fossil fuels in Africa, China's largest trading partner," Lei Bian, a policy fellow at the The London School of Economics and Political Science, told VOA.

Making good on its green energy priority, China is the world's biggest producer of solar and wind power.

"China is clearly showing some leadership here, and they should be commended for that," Tony Tiyou, CEO of clean energy company Renewables in Africa, told VOA.

But, analysts noted, Chinese companies also benefit financially from Africa's need for such projects.

Africa's need for energy

African countries contribute the least to global warming, and only about half of the continent's population has access to electricity. Many countries also have huge power deficits.

South Africa, for example, is experiencing a power crisis due to aging coal power stations and an overstretched grid, and it experiences daily rolling blackouts that are crippling the economy.

The country already has several Chinese-backed green energy projects, including the Northern Cape's De Aar wind farm, which is managed by a subsidiary of China Energy Investment Corporation.

One of the first actions by new Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa was to meet last month with Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong to discuss how China might help.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington referred VOA to a statement about the meeting that said the men had discussed "the provision of emergency power equipment, dispatch of technical experts, technical consultation and personnel training and other support to South Africa."

According to the statement, Ramokgopa told the Chinese ambassador that "South Africa looks forward to learning from China's experience in power development, strengthening cooperation in the power field between the two countries, and helping South Africa to get rid of the power crisis as soon as possible."

'Small is beautiful'

Many of the latest green energy projects China has announced in Africa are relatively small investments, analysts noted, compared with the large Belt and Road infrastructure initiatives (BRI) of the past, such as ports and railways.

This is in keeping with Beijing's shift to what leader Xi Jinping described as "small is beautiful" projects, which in part focus on China's so-called Green Silk Road.

SEE ALSO:

For example, in April, Namibia's power utility NamPower and a joint Namibian-Chinese venture signed a deal to develop a 50-megawatt wind power plant in the town of Luderitz for about $100 million, according to a statement sent to VOA by NamPower.

"The Namibia project  makes a lot of sense in that scale. One hundred million is roughly in this kind of 'small is beautiful' range that the Chinese are interested in at the moment. [As] part of that pivot they've also stipulated they're particularly interested in working on projects relating to green energy," said Cobus van Staden, the managing editor of The China Global South Project.

"These are relatively small [but green] projects compared to mega hydro and coal power stations or railway projects in the previous era of BRI," Wei Shen, a political economist at Britain's Institute of Development Studies, told VOA.

One not-so-small project that has yet to be signed off on is a 1,000-megawatt floating solar farm on Zimbabwe's Kariba Dam. China Energy Engineering Corp. has proposed the $1 billion idea to Zimbabwean authorities, saying it will install 1.8 million photovoltaic panels over 146 modular floating units if the project goes ahead.

Zimbabwe has very large lithium reserves and is obliging companies that extract it to also refine it in Zimbabwe.

"So this is, of course, very energy intensive, and the companies that are doing that refining and extracting are Chinese, so there is potential there for collaboration between Chinese companies to provide the kind of energy solutions" lithium mining needs, Van Staden said.

Zimbabwean officials referred questions about the project to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, which did not respond to VOA.

No to coal with exceptions

Beijing's focus on green energy comes after it faced criticism for its previous projects in Africa. Environmentalists have accused Chinese companies of polluting the environment and damaging wildlife habitats with their mining operations and infrastructure projects.

While Xi has been praised by some analysts for his 2021 pledge to not build any more coal plants abroad, van Staden noted that Xi is still working hard on securing oil and coal flows into China itself to make sure the world's second-biggest economy is energy secure.

"While the Chinese on the one hand have the world's biggest solar capacity and solar production and it installs more renewables than any other country in the world, it's also installing more nonrenewable conventional energy capacity than anywhere in the world," he said.

China has been investing in exploration and production of oil and gas in Africa. Reports say more than 25% of China's imported oil and gas come from the continent, making Africa the second-largest regional source behind the Middle East.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation and France's TotalEnergies are the major investors in a crude oil pipeline project in East Africa, despite concerns about displacing residents and damage to the environment. Supporters of the project point to Africa's need for electricity.

"However, the majority of projects that are under planning are low-carbon energy sources, including 11 GW of hydropower and 5 GW of solar and wind power," a 2022 report by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center stated.

China, US and beyond

"For some African countries, such as Zimbabwe, China is largely the only available bilateral lender and developer at the current stage," Wei said. "But there are African markets that Chinese companies have to compete with other foreign companies, such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, among others."

Van Staden said that while China and the U.S. are both involved in the space, their approaches to the demand for African renewable energy differ.

"While the Chinese companies have a very close working relationship with the Chinese government, which means that it's relatively easy for them to arrange funding for these projects  on the U.S. side that relationship isn't nearly as close," he said.

"The U.S. government has a lot of plans for expanding renewable energy in the Global South, but U.S. companies aren't necessarily always so interested in working in those markets," said van Staden.

Bian, of The London School of Economics and Political Science, told VOA that China and other international development partners need to work together to scale up renewable energy investments in lower-income countries.

"No country alone can close the tremendous climate financing gaps, meaning that collective efforts from all countries with all sources of finance are much needed to achieve the net zero transition globally and in Africa," she said.
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday told mourners at the National Heroes Acre that Zimbabweans should not be involved in political violence ahead of the 2023 general elections. He was speaking at a burial ceremony of the late veteran politician Abraham Kabasa.
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The celebrations of May 6 in London and May 9 in Moscow were staged to manifest two worlds alien to each other.

The staging of the United Kingdom

In England, on May 6, we witnessed the coronation of the greatest of all kings. The British press preemptively assured us that he had no political rights, only a representative function. Is that so? Then how did the Prince of Wales manage to change the agenda of the House of Commons a hundred times during his mothers reign and have subjects removed that displeased him? Experts assure us that these were only minor bills, but what right did the Prince, not the MPs, have to deem them unimportant?

As Prince of Wales, Charles has become a patron of the Muslim Brotherhood, a secret political organization created by MI6 during the colonization of Egypt. It is banned in many Muslim countries because of their pro-British terrorist activities. In 1993, he became the head of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, from which the Brotherhood and MI6 would radiate throughout the Middle East in the tradition of Lawrence of Arabia. The zeal of Prince Charles is such that London is transformed into Londonistan, hosting many leaders of the Brotherhood, including the Saudi Osama Bin Laden. The prince went 120 times to meet Gulf monarchs supporting the organization.

The end of a world

Under the name of Charles III, the Prince of Wales had just been crowned monarch of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the United Kingdom, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. Detachments from the armies of his kingdoms marched to escort him to his palace.

About a hundred heads of state and government came or were represented. The official BBC images did not show them. They were guests, nothing more.

The North Koreans, Syrians and Russians were not welcome at the coronation. The Chinese were invited, but caused a scandal by sending Vice President Han Zheng, who was portrayed in the United Kingdom as the man responsible for the anti-British crackdown in Hong Kong.

The ceremony had not changed much since the decolonization of the Empire on which  the sun never sets . At most, a few gems stolen from India were removed from the Crown Jewels.

It is, of course, foolish to evaluate an old-fashioned ceremony by the standards of another era. But the British chose ancient symbols as if they were still acceptable in the 21st century. For example, a beautiful embroidered screen masked the king when he was anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, so that the light of God would not blind the audience. Was anyone really afraid of being dazzled? After the coronation, King Charles III was proclaimed "Gods lieutenant on earth. How could ministers of many religions join in this masquerade?

These pompous events did not seem to correspond to the advent of a king, but rather to the funeral of a world. That of the West dominating humanity.

Fatherlands Day

Today, May 9, Russia celebrates the victory of the USSR over Nazism. The Soviet population suffered as much as the Polish population during the Second World War. 27 million people died, including more than half of its armies. In total, thats 1 in 7 Soviets (compared to 1 in 10 Germans, 1 in 83 French and 1 in 655 Americans).

To face the enemy, the country came together. First Secretary Joseph Stalin freed the prisoners of the Civil War (the gulags were populated by dissident communists, the Mensheviks). He ended religious persecution and made an alliance with the Orthodox Church. So that this tragic period is also the crucible of reconciliation and national unity.

The May 9 celebrations are therefore both a remembrance of the horrors of war and the ability to save each other. In this period, Russians are aware that the "integral nationalists" they are fighting in Ukraine are the heirs of those who joined the Nazis to massacre as many Jews, Gypsies and Slavs as possible (According to the current official Ukrainian doxa, Ukrainians are not Slavs as such, but descendants of a Viking tribe, the Vareg, mixed with Slavs).

The Immortal Regiment

Traditionally, since 1965, Russians also march on Victory Day, May 9, in honor of their grandparents and great-grandparents killed fighting the Nazis. From 2012, this parade became widespread throughout the country and was organized under the name of the "Immortal Regiment". Today it is not so much to celebrate the dead, but to pose as his successors, to say that we are ready to die to defend others. Russians are patriotic, not chauvinistic, but capable of sacrifice.

Given the Ukrainian attacks, most of these parades will not take place this year. Vladimir Putin will preside over the events, including the traditional parade of armies on Red Square. In the West, he is described as a dictator living in luxury, far from his people. His fellow citizens know that this is not true. He is of Russian culture and therefore considers, like them, that luxury should not make him forget that he is a man.

The two worlds

If the subjects of King Charles III are fascinated by the magnificence of the Crown, the citizens of President Putin consider that there is no nobility in adorning themselves with stolen jewels. For them, only what one has earned oneself has value.
Winner. Photo: New York Magazine

New York and Vulture readers know: Andrea Long Chu has a one-of-a-kind mind. She dives as deeply as anyone possibly can into her subjects work, interview history, and life, and she comes out the other side with big opinionated swings that you will encounter nowhere else, delivered in prose that swoops and soars like an Olympian. This afternoon, the Pulitzer committee up at Columbia University recognized what we have known for a while, awarding her the 2023 prize for criticism.

The pieces of writing for which she was recognized include:

 Hanyas Boys: When reading Hanya Yanagihara, known for excruciatingly evocative fiction, Chu discerned that the most interesting relationship in the work was not among the characters but between the author and her characters  whom Yanagihara makes ill so she can nurse them back to health.

 The Mixed Metaphor: Chu took the opposite approach to the recent trend of the mixed-race Asian character in literature, exploring how an archetype can become an idea for the authors who use it, in this case considering what it means to be Asian American enough.

 Ottessa Moshfegh Is Praying for Us: The author has been hailed as a high priestess of filth. Really, Chu argues, she wants to purify her readers.

 The Velveteen Rabbit Was Always More Than a Childrens Book: A celebration and deep reading of Margery Williams Biancos storybook at its centennial.

 Misreading Octavia Butler: Debunking the widespread idea that Butlers groundbreaking science fiction was an extended slavery parable.

More recently, she also reminded us all just how shlocky Andrew Lloyd Webbers musicals can be  and how influential they are nonetheless.

Part of the pleasure of reading Chu comes from her fearlessness; her pieces are often celebrated on Twitter with lines like I would like to report a murder. She uses a scalpel, though, not a blunt instrument: Those exquisitely crafted sentences articulate fundamental truths about the work as precisely as possible. This is the problem with writing to wake people up: Your ideal reader is inevitably asleep, she writes of Ottessa Moshfeghs books. And there, you see that Chu is revealing herself, too: You can start to discern how she gravitates toward authors she doesnt fully agree with, where there might be a little friction inherent to the critical project. Out of that friction comes a review whose arrival is always an event. We are proud to be her colleagues, and offer our excited congratulations.
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

President Joe Biden wants WGA writers to get a fair deal during the ongoing negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. During a screening of the upcoming series American Born Chinese on Monday night, President Biden took a moment to discuss the ongoing writers strike and show solidarity with the workers. I sincerely hope the strike gets resolved, and writers are given a fair deal as soon as possible, he said Monday night. This is an iconic, meaningful American industry, and we need the writers  and all the workers  to tell the stories of our nation, and the stories of all of us. Biden isnt the only politician supporting the writers; Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent food to strikers in New York on Monday. Representative Bernie Sanders also expressed support for the WGA online last week, and the leader of the free world, Jennifer Coolidge, shouted out the WGA at the MTV Movie Awards. Below is the video of President Bidens full statement.

"I sincerely hope the strike gets resolved, and writers are given a fair deal as soon as possible. This is an iconic, meaningful American industry & we need the writersand all the workersto tell the stories of our nation, and the stories of all of us." - @POTUS #WGAStrong #1u pic.twitter.com/cyH7HrTK6G  Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) May 9, 2023
Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

The writers room wasnt getting paid enough to define the WGA strikes terminology, so we took a stab at it. With the Writers Guild on strike, observers are catching up on the industry jargon that comes along with the coverage and negotiations. Most of us know that union film and TV writers are fighting for better compensation, AI regulations, and protections from exploitative new streaming practices like mini-rooms, but what are mini-rooms? Glance at the full document of WGA proposals and the AMPTP counteroffers, or the expired union contract, and youll be left wondering what a span is  and maybe even AMPTP and WGA. Get the 411 on the 6/5/5 below.

First, lets start with the basics.

AMPTP

Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is a trade association that represents over 350 American film and TV production companies in negotiations with labor unions, including the WGA, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), and the Directors Guild of America (DGA).

Staff Writer

An entry-level TV-writing position. This role is protected by the WGA, unlike the junior support staff, including writers assistants and writers production assistants, who are represented by separate collective bargaining agreements or are nonunion. Staff writers develop and break a story in a writers room. They are not often assigned to write an episodes script, so their work is unlikely to result in a teleplay by credit. As a staff writer moves up in the writers-room ladder, the next role is story editor, followed by executive story editor, co-producer, producer, supervising producer, coexecutive producer, and then showrunner.

WGA

The Writers Guild of America. The WGA is a labor union representing writers in film, TV, documentaries, news, animation, video games, and new media.

Writers Room

An office where TV writers develop and break a story. Writers brainstorm and pitch ideas, outline episodes, and workshop seasons. Writers rooms vary in size and duration based on the needs of the show and financial decisions made by studios. Rooms are staffed, on average, by around seven writers with extended contracts.

And now, heres language youll see in the negotiations.

2nd Step

A screenplay deal where the writer is hired for the first draft and one rewrite. Screenplay deals can be broken down into categories based on how many times a writer touches the script. A one-step deal is where a studio hires a writer to produce a single draft of a project. Writers are wary of one-step agreements because they are less profitable unless a studio calls them back and agrees to pay for revisions. Two-step deals, on the other hand, pay the writer for two drafts, giving them the opportunity to have more control over the finished product  and a better paycheck. The WGA demands include a guaranteed 2nd step provision for feature films if a studio hires them to write for less than 250 percent of the minimum compensation for a screenplay. The AMPTP rejected the WGAs proposal.

6/5/5

The percentage minimum increase demanded. The guild is asking for a 6 percent5 percent5 percent increase on all minimum bases (see below), including residuals, over the course of the three-year contract  meaning the minimum would increase by 6 percent the first year the contract is ratified, 5 percent the second year, and 5 percent the third year. Studios came back to the table with a 4 percent3 percent2 percent increase on minimums and a onetime raise of residual bases by 2 or 2.5 percent.

Appendix A

The rates and guarantees for episodic television outside of prime time, quiz shows, comedy-variety programs, documentaries, and news programs. The WGA proposes extending Appendix A terms to high-budget shows made for SVOD (subscription video on demand), including weekly minimums, 13-week employment guarantees, and residuals based on aggregate. The AMPTP countered with the offer to only apply Appendix A terms to SVOD comedy-variety programs with no aggregate residuals or 13-week guarantees. Under this agreement, writers would be paid a daily rate  a proposal that does nothing to defend against the criticism that writing is now a gig economy.

Artificial Intelligence

As Hollywood adopts the faddy-technology frontier that is artificial intelligence, writers fear studios eager to cut costs and line shareholders pockets will not hesitate to replace them with machine learning. To combat this reality, the guild asks to regulate the use of AI in union-covered projects. The WGA demands that AI cannot produce original material, rewrites, and source material, nor can union-covered material be used to train machines. The AMPTP rejected the WGAs proposal and countered with an offer to hold annual meetings to discuss technology.

AVOD

Advertising-based Video on Demand. Platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Freevee TV, and Crackle function like broadcast television, and writers would like to be compensated as such. For high-budget programs made for AVOD, the WGA demands that union members get TV weeklies, script fees, and improved residuals. The AMPTP rejected the proposal.

Development Room

A writers room established before a series or season order. The WGA proposed that greenlight rooms are paid at a 25 percent premium. The AMPTP countered with a 5 percent premium for development rooms, the terminology it used to describe a green-light room. Its premium applies when three or more writers are hired for ten weeks or fewer before the first season of a series.

ESE

Executive story editor. ESEs are mid-level TV writers who receive a per-episode fee and payment for any story by or teleplay by credits. 6/5/5 increases would apply to ESE weekly rates if the studios agree to demands.

Financial Core

Nonunion members who pay reduced WGA dues in exchange for union benefits. They cannot vote or hold guild positions. Also known as fi-core, these writers are excluded from awards consideration and are not called to strike due to their nonunion status. During the 200708 strike, 28 writers opted to resign from the WGA and apply for fi-core status to keep working. The WGA publicly identified the writers at the time, who mostly worked on soap operas.

Force Majeure

A clause in the contract that frees one or both parties from their contractual obligations if an extraordinary event prevents them from performing their duties. Ahead of the writers strike, the Association of Talent Agents sent its members a 22-page summary of the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and the DGAs force majeure provisions in anticipation of the clause being used to suspend or terminate deals while shows are on pause. The report notes that, in the event of a WGA strike against any company, a writers own employment contract is automatically suspended. Upon termination of the strike, the writer may resume their duties with the same terms and salary at the request of the company.

HBSVOD

High-budget subscription video on-demand programs. These programs stream on services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. In the expired contract, HBSVOD residuals are fixed residuals, meaning the amounts are set in the MBA and calculated by the size of the streaming services subscriber tiers. Residuals are paid annually and decline over time, with an additional payment for internationally licensed programs. The WGA demands new tiered HBSVOD residuals based on a streaming services foreign-subscriber count.

The AMPTP counteroffer bases HBSVOD residuals on foreign-subscriber counts for only the biggest streamers, while Max and Paramount+ continue to pay the lower license-fee-based residual. The two parties agreed to pilot and backup script premiums for HBSVOD programs.

MBA

Minimum basic agreement. The MBA is the collective bargaining agreement, or the contract, that the WGA enters with studios (i.e., the AMPTP) to cover the benefits, rights, and protections of guild members and their work. Deadlocked negotiations over the current MBA, a deal that is ratified every three years, led to the strike. Because the two parties were not able to agree on terms, the WGA allowed the contract to expire and called for a strike.

Minimums

Refers to the minimum rates stipulated by the union contract. Minimums vary based on the type of media, budget, and job title. Ninety-eight percent of TV staff writers work for the union minimum, up 12 percent from the 201314 season. Around half of all showrunners are paid at the minimum, up 16 percent. The WGA demands that studios agree to an across-the-board minimum increase.

Mini-rooms

This is a relatively new industry practice of shrinking writers rooms by employing two to three writers to work with a showrunner on a short-term basis in advance of the production of a TV series. Though streamers typically take advantage of this model today, it was smaller budget cable television that birthed the practice with series like AMCs Mayfair Witches or Kevin Can F*** Himself to outline a story before a show is green-lit, per Variety. Because mini-rooms often break down a season and structure before a show is green-lit or renewed, writers are paid the union minimum (and not their typical fees) over a short period  and sometimes may not return to the series even if the studio okays a series order. Writers rooms, on the other hand, typically have longer employment durations and are staffed by seven or more writers. The mini-room reality led to criticism that TV writing has become a gig economy where writers are not compensated for their efforts and spread thin. As mini-rooms continue to proliferate, even mid-level staffers cannot find stable work or gain significant experience to move up the ladder. The WGA hopes to halt this practice by establishing guidelines for what they call pre-green-light rooms, which appear to be the more equitable version of mini-rooms.

Options

Refers to the deal that a company may not hold an exclusive writer unpaid for 60 days from the last payment. After the 60-day period ends, a writer may look for other work if the company does not pay one-third of the weekly minimum. The company can either pay up and exercise the option to return the writer to work or lose out.

Overall Deal

An agreement between a creator and a studio where the former party exclusively develops projects for the latter until the contract expires, with the studio owning the rights to any IP produced in the duration of the agreement. Studios typically reserve these incredibly lucrative agreements for name-brand TV auteurs  think renowned showrunners Issa Rae (Warner Media/HBO Max), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Amazon), Shonda Rhimes (Netflix), Ryan Murphy (Netflix) and Donald Glover (Amazon)  or industry leaders who have consistently proven their chops. As the strike wears on, studios might use the force majeure clause to terminate these deals or renegotiate smaller contracts, thereby saving money in the immediate aftermath of the walkout.

P&H Diversion

Stands for pension and health diversion. The WGA and AMPTP have tentatively agreed to divert .5 percent minimums increases to the pension or health fund.

Post-Green-Light Rooms

A writers room established after a studio orders a series. For post-green-light rooms, the WGA wants to require one writer per episode on series with up to six episodes, then one additional writer for every two episodes, maxing out at 12 writers. The WGA proposes writers on staff must be employed for at least three weeks per episode, maxing out at 52 weeks, while half the minimum staff must be employed through production. One writer must be employed through postproduction, the guild demands. The AMPTP rejected the proposal.

Pre-Green-Light Rooms

A writers room established before a studio orders a series. The WGA demands that studios require a minimum of six writers for pre-green-light rooms, including four writer-producers. Under the WGAs proposal, staffers are guaranteed at least ten consecutive weeks of work and paid a 25 percent premium on their weekly services fee for their efforts. The offer addresses both the rise of understaffed mini-rooms that leaves writers underpaid and quickly out of work. The AMPTP rejected the proposal.

Premium

The additional compensation required for select circumstances.

Residuals

The compensation earned from reuse of material. Residuals for theatrical releases, daytime serials, free TV programs, basic cable programs, made-for-DVD projects, and other classifications are calculated differently. Streaming residuals are not at the same level as broadcast nor rewarded for success. If a show has one million viewers and is a streaming hit or bombs with zero, the writers residuals remain the same. The WGA demands an increased fixed residual and the establishment of a viewership-based residual to reward successful shows. The AMPTP rejected the proposal.

Script Fees

Up-front payment received for writing the script. While writers earn minimum script fees for SVOD programs, AVOD programs do not currently have provisions for script fees, a fact that the WGA hopes to change. The AMPTP rejected the proposal, though the parties did agree to expanding script fees to staff writers on some programs in addition to their weekly services fee.

SE

A story editor. This position is a step up from staff writer and does not get paid additional per-episode fees or credit fees. 6/5/5 increases would apply to SE weekly rates if the studios agree to demands.

Span

The provision that protects overscale pay for TV writer-producers. The union contracts span provision ensures writer-producers are paid above their rate for short-order dramatic episodic series that take an above-average time to produce. Any writer-producer who spends more than 2.4 weeks on one episode must be paid overscale, according to the current MBA. A ten-episode series counts as a short order. The provision has an earnings cap and excludes multipart, closed-end series. The WGA and AMPTP agreed to increase the span cap from $400,000 to $450,000 (excluding basic cable programs, which remain at $375,000 cap) and extend the span protection to limited series.

Writer-Producer

TV writing roles that combine development, writing, and producing duties. These roles span the lower-level co-producers all the way up the ladder to showrunner. Since 2018, writer-producer pay has shrunk by 23 percent. The WGA proposes the establishment of a new writer-producer tier with a weekly rate 25 percent above story editors and executive story editors. Studios countered with a rate 27 percent above SE/ESEs depending on the term of employment.
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new publication from the Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) and Deloitte, sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund, offers guidance to board directors interested in mitigating health care's contributions to emissions-driven climate change and climate-driven health disparities.

Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (PRNewsfoto/Black Directors Health Equity Agenda)

"Accelerating Health Equity & Business Resilience Through Decarbonization," available to the public, was developed in response to the health sector's material role in the climate crisis. U.S. health care organizations produce 8.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions in turn accelerate asthma, allergies, respiratory diseases and heat-related deaths among Black Americans.

Decarbonization as a Boardroom Priority

Reducing an organization's carbon footprint can mitigate the worst impacts of climate change while driving business value. The guide uses real-world examples to illustrate how organizations can adopt a decarbonization plan to realize reputational, financial, operational and supply chain benefits.

"Health care board directors lead the organizations we serve to fulfill their mission to promote health and well-being," said BDHEA Founding Member and Board Member Joe Wilkins. "Reducing health care's emissions footprint is essential to protect our patients and communities against the negative health impacts of our changing climate."

The action guide educates board directors on the relationship between climate impacts and health equity. The physical environment, including climate, is one of the key drivers of health that contribute to health outcomes. For example:

Extreme heat: Communities of color and historically redlined communities are often more vulnerable to extreme heat due to factors such as limited tree canopy.

Wildfires: Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals, particularly children, suffer disproportionately from respiratory conditions such as asthma that are made worse by wildfires.

Severe weather: Communities of color are more likely to experience displacement during and after hurricanes, which are linked to long-term mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Story continues

"The impacts of climate change on human health are very real and happening now," said Deloitte Consulting LLP Managing Director and physician leader Dr. Elizabeth Baca. "We have a responsibility to transform the way we do carereducing redundancies, supporting prevention and forecasting climate-related health impactsto limit the worst effects of climate change and in turn advance health equity."

A Climate Action Framework for Health Equity

The decarbonization action guide outlines key competencies required for board directors to lead on decarbonization:

Strategic Integration: Embed climate considerations into strategic planning in a way that informs decision-making processes and incentivizes enterprise transformation.

Materiality: Assess the short and long-term materiality of climate-related risks and opportunities for the organization on a regular basis.

Talent and Incentives: Ensure that the selection, evaluation and compensation of the CEO and executive leadership is aligned to decarbonization goals.

Structure and Governance: Determine the most effective way to integrate climate considerations into board structure, committees and processes.

Reporting and Disclosure: Ensure that material climate-related risks, opportunities and strategic decisions are consistently and transparently disclosed to all stakeholders.

Collaboration: Maintain regular exchanges and dialogues with peers, investors, suppliers and other stakeholders to encourage the sharing of methodologies and collective action.

"The Commonwealth Fund is dedicated to creating an equitable, high quality health care system and mitigating the health care industry's contribution to climate change is an important part of that vision," said Commonwealth Fund Vice President Lovisa Gustafsson. "We hope that health care leaders will join us in forging a more equitable and resilient health system."

Download "Accelerating Health Equity & Business Resilience Through Decarbonization" at bdhea.org/offerings . To learn more about BDHEA membership, visit member.bdhea.org. The action guide builds on the recent BDHEA-Deloitte environmental, social and governance publication "Health Equity's Essential Role in ESG Conversations," offering a framework for board directors to influence the ESG strategies of the organizations they serve.

About BDHEA

The Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) is made up of board directors and senior leaders who are working to eradicate the health disparities and inequities that threaten the individual and collective prosperity of Black families. As change agents, its members across the health ecosystem foster and facilitate board education for up-and-coming leaders, encourage revised business models, spur innovative thinking and action and support policy reforms that advance health equity for Black Americans that will ultimately ensure equal and fair healthcare for all. Learn more at bdhea.org .

About Deloitte

Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of our legal structure.

About The Commonwealth Fund

The mission of the Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high-performing, equitable health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including people of color, people with low income, and those who are uninsured. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy.

CONTACT:

Kimberly Palacios

Purpose Brand

773-853-4794

kpalacios@purposebrand.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/black-directors-health-equity-agenda-deloitte-and-the-commonwealth-fund-elevate-decarbonizations-role-in-health-equity-and-business-resilience-301819959.html

SOURCE Black Directors Health Equity Agenda
Nope. Photo: Universal Pictures

This list is regularly updated as movies rotate on and off of Prime Video. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.

Who wants to be scared tonight? While there are fantastic streaming services dedicated to horror nuts, theres also a wealth of genre hits and indie darlings on Prime Video. In fact, they have one of the most diverse arrays of horror hits, including films by vets like Tobe Hooper and Dario Argento, alongside newer films from indie studios. This regularly updated list will keep Prime Video subscribers in the know on what are the best horror movies they can watch right now. Turn the lights off and lock the doors.

The Black Phone

Year: 2022

Runtime: 1h 43m

Director: Scott Derrickson

One of the biggest hits of the Summer of 2022, this horror film stars Ethan Hawke as a sociopath who kidnaps and murders children in the late 70s. Hawke is terrifying, but the lead is actually Mason Thames as his latest victim, who discovers that he has a special ability that could save his life. Taut and tight, this is a solid old-fashioned horror movie that echoes the early work of Stephen King in a good way.

The Black Phone

Year: 1992

Runtime: 2h 7m

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppolas 1992 epic retelling of the classic novel is one of the most lavish and ambitious Hollywood productions of its era. Gary Oldman gives one of his best performances as the title character, but it is Coppolas incredible craftsmanship and unforgettable design that make this Dracula an underrated horror classic.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

Carnival of Souls

Year: 1962

Runtime: 1h 20m

Director: Herk Harvey

An independent filmmaker who had made his career doing industry safety videos just happened to direct one of the most essential horror flicks of all time in this absolute classic. Candace Hilligoss stars as Mary Henry, a woman who barely survives a car accident and starts seeing ghostly, zombie-like figures in the new city shes trying to call home. As the figures draw her to an abandoned carnival, some of the best horror imagery of the 1960s surfaces in a film that didnt get much attention on its release but has gone on to be recognized as a genre masterpiece.

Carnival of Souls

Coherence

Year: 2013

Runtime: 1h 29m

Director: James Ward Byrkit

Eight friends get together for a dinner party in Northern California as news of a passing comet overhead can be heard. What starts as a traditional character-driven drama becomes something very different when the power goes out and, well, things stop making sense. An incredibly smart script anchors this study of alternate universes that plays out in a disturbingly relatable way.

Coherence

Hell House LLC

Year: 2015

Runtime: 1h 23m

Director: Stephen Cognetti

Were all tired of found footage movies but this flick can be one of the exceptions. So popular that it spawned a franchise (there have already been two sequels), this is the story of a documentary crew that captures the creation of a Halloween haunted house that becomes all too real, ultimately killing 15 ticket buyers and staff. Structured both in a what happened that night and in-the-moment found footage doc, this is a truly clever indie horror film.

Hell House LLC

Hellraiser

Year: 1987

Runtime: 1h 34m

Director: Clive Barker

The horror author Clive Barker directed this adaptation of his own novella The Hellbound Heart and made genre movie history. Introducing the world to the iconic Pinhead, who would go on to appear in so many sequels, the original film here is still the best, the tale of a puzzle box that basically opens a portal to Hell. The sequels have kind of lost the thread, but the original is still incredibly powerful. Its one of the few films from the 80s that would still shatter audiences if it were released today.

Hellraiser

High-Rise

Year: 2016

Runtime: 1h 58m

Director: Ben Wheatley

The director of Kill List helmed this adaptation of the infamous novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard, a study of opulence and inequity that devolves into a gruesome nightmare. Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, and Elisabeth Moss star in a film that unfolds in a luxury high-rise in the 70s that gradually becomes cut off from the rest of the world, becoming its own crumbling society. Its stylish and unforgettable.

High-Rise

Honeymoon

Year: 2014

Runtime: 1h 27m

Director: Leigh Janiak

Before she made Fear Street, Leigh Janiak directed this indie gem, a film that stars Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) and Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful) as a couple who are honeymooning in a rustic cabin. One night, well, something happens, and it seems like Leslies Bea is changing. An allegory for how we sometimes dont know our partners as well as we think we do, its an effective little experiment with two great performances.

Honeymoon

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Year: 1978

Runtime: 1h 55m

Director: Philip Kaufman

Theres a reason that Hollywood keeps returning to Jack Finneys novel The Body Snatchersit strikes at a common fear that our neighbors and loved ones arent who they were yesterday. The best film version of Finneys tale is the 70s one with Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy. A riveting unpacking of 70s paranoia, this is a truly terrifying movie.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Jacobs Ladder

Year: 1990

Runtime: 1h 53m

Director: Adrian Lyne

Adrian Lynes 1990 horror film has developed an increasingly vocal fan base in the three decades since its release (helped in part by a horrible remake in 2020 that reminded everyone how much better the original was.) Tim Robbins stars as Jacob, a man who starts having increasingly terrifying visions and hallucinations, many of them related to his time in Vietnam. A stunning journey into Hell, its also an anti-war film thats given weight by Robbinss genuine, in-the-moment performance.

Jacob's Ladder

Let the Right One In

Year: 2008

Runtime: 1h 54m

Director: Tomas Alfredson

Based on the 2004 novel of the same name, this is one of the best vampire movies ever made. Its the tale of an ordinary pre-teen who is bullied at school and has a lonely life at home. Thats the case until a new child moves in, one with a secret. Shes a creature of the night, and her connection with this new friend will change both of their lives forever. Moody and moving, this is a modern classic.

Let the Right One In

The Machinist

Year: 2004

Runtime: 1h 50m

Director: Brad Anderson

The big story around this indie hit was the physical transformation that Christian Bale went through to star in it. Losing a dangerous amount of weight, Bale played a deeply paranoid young man who has been unable to sleep for an entire year. His grip on reality starts to shift in a way that would make movie history.

The Machinist

Year: 2022

Runtime: 2h 10m

Director: Jordan Peele

The genius behind Get Out and Us delivered his most controversial film in 2022, a story that blends an alien invasion with a commentary on movie-watching and spectacle in general. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are fantastic in this story of people beset upon by an alien species that likes to watch. Brilliantly structured and gorgeously shot, Nope is blockbuster horror filmmaking at its finest.

Nope

Rosemarys Baby

Year: 1968

Runtime: 2h 16m

Director: Roman Polanski

Psychological horror films would change forever with Polanskis classic. His first American film, Rosemarys Baby tells the tale of a young, pregnant woman in Manhattan, played fearlessly by Mia Farrow. She comes to suspect that the people in her seemingly ordinary high rise might be members of a Satanic cult, and they want her baby. This movie is still terrifying, but it must have truly played like a shock to the system to less-numb audiences in the late 60s. They never looked at their neighbors the same way again.

Rosemary's Baby

Run Sweetheart Run

Year: 2022

Runtime: 1h 44m

Director: Shana Feste

Ella Balinska is excellent in this thriller that sat on the shelf from Sundance 2020 until a spooky season drop in October 2022. Its also been recut a bit and come out as a really solid little genre exercise about a woman who is forced by her boss (Clark Gregg) to go to dinner with a client who turns out to be a sociopath (and maybe something even scarier). As she flees through the Los Angeles night, RSW gets crazier and crazier.

Run Sweetheart Run

Year: 2019

Runtime: 1h 24m

Director: Rose Glass

Morfydd Clark is fearless as a hospice nurse who converts to Roman Catholicism and becomes convinced that only she can save the soul of her latest patient, a former dancer (Jennifer Ehle) who is in the final days of her life. Is Maud a true vessel for miracles or could she be going insane? Rose Glasss debut stunner plays with audience expectations until its final unforgettable shot.

Saint Maud

*Shutter Island

Year: 2010

Runtime: 2h 18m

Director: Martin Scorsese

In 2010, Martin Scorsese released his adaptation of Dennis Lehanes best novel, the story of a U.S. Marshal (Leonardo DiCaprio) who investigates a missing patient at a legendary mental hospital. Scorsese is in full command of his skill as a craftsman in this riveting thriller that also co-stars Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, and Michelle Williams. Its one of the most underrated films of the last decade.

Shutter Island

Year: 2022

Runtime: 1h 55m

Director: Parker Finn

Paramount has been regularly funneling some of their biggest theatrical hits to their streaming service for a small window of time before they roll over to Prime too. That was the case with Parker Finns debut feature film that was in theaters just last summer and made a fortune worldwide (over $200 million). One of the biggest commercial and critical horror hits of 2022, Smile is about a therapist who discovers something supernatural stalking her patients. It will get under your skin.

Smile

Train to Busan

Year: 2016

Runtime: 1h 58m

Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Prime Video isnt the best place for foreign films of any kind, and definitely not horror. So take the chance to watch something from another part of the world in this international smash hit about a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan in the middle of the undead apocalypse. Incredibly well-directed, this movie flies from beginning to end with the speed of the bullet train at its center. Theres a reason its become a smash hit on every streaming service that houses it, including Amazon Prime.

Train to Busan

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Year: 2010

Runtime: 1h 28m

Director: Eli Craig

This horror/comedy hardly made an impact when it was released in 2010 but has become a true cult hit in the decade since on DVD and streaming services. The main reason is that Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk have perfect comic timing as a pair of lovable hillbillies who get caught up in a crazy horror movie situation that leads to a lot of laughs and buckets of blood. Now give us a sequel!

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

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Photo: Jess Gleeson/Netflix

In 2021, Hannah Gadsby posted a scathing message on Instagram for Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos: Fuck you and your amoral algorithm cult. The streamer, which released the Australian comics groundbreaking 2018 special Nanette and incisive 2020 follow-up Douglas, had just been accused of signal boosting hate speech in the fallout from Dave Chappelles cold war with the LGBTQ community. Sarandoss frosty, dismissive memo addressing the internal and external backlash for the divisive commentary on queer and trans people in Chappelles 2020 special The Closer name-checked both Gadsby and Chappelle to highlight its commitment to diversity after asserting a strong belief that content onscreen doesnt directly translate to real-world harm.

This was an affront to Gadsby; Nanette was, among a few things, a venting session about trying to find the humor in your own oppression: Do you understand what self-deprecation means when it comes from somebody who already exists in the margins? Its not humility. Its humiliation. It was tacky using Nanette, which features a harrowing account of a gay-bashing, as a shield for fending off criticism about homophobic and transphobic commentary elsewhere in the Netflix roster. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelles fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial worldview, Gadsbys note retorted. You didnt pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted.

A year later, Gadsby struck a multi-title deal with Netflix to share the follow-up to Douglas and produce and host a second special featuring an international cast of gender-diverse comics. Did Gadsby, a genderqueer lesbian comic who now uses they/them pronouns, turn the screws, advising the Netflix man to put his money where his mouth is and fork out funding for a wider raft for marginalized comics? And what did the comedian make of Chappelles clapback on Instagram? You must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny, he said in a clip from his 2021 arena tour advising the trans community of his conditions for peace talks.

None of this comes up in Something Special, Gadsbys third Netflix hour filmed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, same as Nanette. Theres no knowing, triumphant introduction imparting on the viewer the sense that someone had to be made a little uncomfortable in order for this thing even to come into existence, like Aprils My Name Is MoNique, the uplifting conclusion to a protracted legal battle with Netflix over fair pay for women. Strolling out to Birdhouse in Your Soul, alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants 1990 celebration of the quiet, reliable glow of a nightlight, Gadsby immediately flashes a ring: I got married! If you were looking for more of the caustic social commentary of the last two specials, circle back to the last two specials. Ive dragged you through a bit of my shit over the years, the comic explains, and youve stuck with me. For our reward, Something Special offers a bit of ta-da. Yes, the world is terrifying, but Gadsby doesnt feel equipped to shovel us out of our rut: For the next hour, were gonna feel good together, and then we can head back out there and be the mass-extinction event that we are.

Just as Nanette and Douglas open with a kind of table of contents, outlining in elaborate detail whats coming next, Something Special promises to recount the story of Gadsbys proposal and marriage to producer Jenney Shamash, who dutifully lurks at the side of the stage. Like Nanettes interrogation of the merit of comedy as a medium and Douglass braiding of Renaissance-art criticism, dog-park banter, and childrens-cartoon exegesis, Something Specials romantic-comedy structure turns Gadsby loose in the halls of another institution lorded over by the hysterical gender-normals Nanette warned us about.

The pledge to keep the new stuff light is a setup for a series of feints throughout the show where a story gets grim and Gadsby chuckles, noting that its a feel-good show but also that this doesnt mean were the ones meant to feel good. It seems like a new balance being worked out. Douglas advised at the start not to expect another outpouring of trauma like Nanette; Something Special doesnt seem as interested in sociopolitical pith as Douglas, although it does gesture loudly and routinely to present-day and historical injustices. Early on, Gadsby explains why the cake at their wedding depicted a great white shark with two otters holding hands inside its mouth; it was the easiest way to trick a Christian baker into playing a part in a gay wedding. Planning was daunting because they didnt grow up dreaming of the big day: You gotta remember I grew up in a time when us gays werent even allowed to adopt a fucking highway, much less marry someone we wanted to touch. Cis-hetero men get some ribbing  Say yes, we get married; say no, I stalk ya!  but otherwise, Something Special delivers the heaps of wholesome romance it promises, pushing much further than Douglas in its close-ups of the daily dilemmas Shamash solves for her wife and offering a tantalizing taste of intimacy while still preserving a great deal of privacy and distance.

The new special charms as an affecting queer love story and slice of life on the spectrum, but what its best at is threading a long, involved yarn where tiny, offhand details turn out to be seeds for a plot twist soon to sprout. Everything is a storytelling device: The paper rabbit onstage comes into play at the climax of a story. The comics exhausted delivery reinforces jokes about injuries and aging. The hour primes its audience for the lurid, unusual circumstances of Gadsbys proposal, which is teed up with a grisly recollection of an ex skinning a rabbit they hit on a drive, and Something Special gets a little bit of blood on its hands (and/or in its mouth). An examination of Gadsbys parents relationship as disciplinarians and raconteurs  My parents parenting style was very much bad cop/asleep cop  seems long in the tooth until the moment half an hour later where the parents habits snap in line with the quirks of the comics own married life, driving home how, in spite of everything setting this generation of the family apart from the previous one, the old ways, dynamics, and personality clashes endure. Without spelling it out or taking direct aim at the minefield of anti-LGBTQ figures in public life right now, Something Special deflates the notion that relationships and marriages that fall outside of the man one and lady-born norm are upending and diluting age-old cultural institutions. Douglas-era Gadsby would have called for peoples heads, though, and reviews of the Body of Work tour note Chappelle, Netflix, and others did come up, which is to say that there was a point where this set found the time to get out of its head and into the mounting troubles outside.

It feels like pulling a punch not to address the 2021 dispute and the rights struggles queer couples around the planet face when Something Special lingers on the subject of same-sex marriage and sidestepping prefab roles in relationships. Theres something powerful about creating a space hate doesnt dominate (and something very deeply tiring about having to cut into memories of meeting and marrying the love of your life to address beef and bigotry for the benefit of the streaming service that paid for the stuff). But the instinct to coddle your audience, the tsunami of messaging in art and discourse that avoids the worst thats happening right now  Is it a noble instinct? Should we be counter-programming divisive rhetoric with defiantly uplifting messages, or should we be pressing people about what theyre getting wrong and how to do better?

Gadsbys special, in its calculated push toward (somewhat) breezier subject matter, feels like a savvy career play. Douglas addressed the charge Nanette faced  that Gadsby was a TED Talker masquerading as a comic  by piling on jokes. The new work seems equally eager to torch the portrait of the artist as woke scold  the better, youd think, to smooth the process of presenting edifying life stories to international audiences, to avoid the humiliation Nanette described, and maybe to reach more viewers without upsetting too many of the fans who related to the weary resignation in the first special, a balance the new hour strives toward admirably.

Something Special feels like the closer in a trilogy in its nods to the past  the recurring perineum bit calls back to the pouch of Douglas bit, the hands where you can see them line references the opening of Nanette, and the riff about telling rom-com legend Richard Curtis I dont like the way the kissing sounds expounds on a joke that mightve flown under the radar in Douglas  and the quest for a more wholesome relationship with comedy in the future. That seems to mean keeping us at arms length right now, sharing snapshots of peaceful and occasionally awkward days, revealing only a trickle of unresolved trauma. Were treated to a warm, uplifting experience that feels not just insular and private but also cloistered. The darkest moments in this recollection of the onset of a pandemic are the macabre things happening to rabbits.

Is Something Special a charm offensive, a pointed display of mundane everyday domesticity and the endurance of learned behaviors and psychologies, a rebuke to the lie that queer and trans people pose an existential threat to tradition because marriage made the comic who made Nanette hyperfocus on board-game nights and dog-walking capers, just like Dad? Is it weaponizing its platform by swatting away the spiderweb of phobias destroying lives globally and defanging them one hearty slice of country living at a time? Or has it shrunk from controversy and dialed back the abrasiveness of the old stuff, taking to heart the idea that to be the best celebrity is to always be the perfect hang, a bottomless well of grace, comfort, and likability? This is a feel-good review.
Photo: Jason Mendez/Getty Images for BAFTA

In Bridgerton, were introduced to Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) as a fabulous anomaly for the time period: a widowed doyenne who commands fear and respect from the ton with nary a man in sight. She seems happy. Fulfilled by being alone, even. Netflixs Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story gives her a further backstory, and after six episodes, we learn her life has been a tale of survival despite her position as a trusted member of the queens court. The younger Agatha, played by American actor Arsema Thomas, endured a loathsome marriage to a man she was promised to at the age of 3, and even though he dies halfway through the prequel series  much to her delight  it presents a new set of problems on par with those of Succession. Is Agatha still a member of the nobility amid the Great Experiment? Does her son inherit the title of lord? And does she have to immediately remarry?

Bridgerton already gave us the answers, but that doesnt diminish Thomass intrepid portrayal of the character as she angles her way to a better life. I never want to be married again, Lady Danbury explains in the finale. I spent my life birthing someone elses heir. I dont know any other way. Now its time that I learn to breathe all on my own. She may be making mistakes, but theres a sense of pride in knowing she has the autonomy to make them  whether shes sparring with the kings mother over titles, rejecting a princes marriage proposal, or having an affair with a married man. And even if that married man is, in fact, the father of her dear friend.

How much did you talk to Adjoa Andoh to get a better sense of Lady Danbury? Were there mannerisms of hers that you wanted to incorporate into your performance but also, say, things you eschewed?

Initially, the director, Tom Verica, told me, We dont want you to emulate or mimic anything your Bridgerton counterparts are doing. There was clearly something they saw in each one of us that was similar. We didnt know what we were auditioning for; I only got scripts for Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton from season one of Bridgerton for the audition, so it was all quite secretive at the beginning. But then when I got the Queen Charlotte script, I reached out to Adjoa because I wanted us to build the same history  I could take her through her 20s, and that could maybe inform what Adjoa does with her in the Bridgerton era.

Adjoa was really generous and gracious. When she did seasons one and two of Bridgerton, this script had not been written. There are decisions she made that dont align with what Queen Charlotte is about now, so she had to change that, which meant we could build her together. We had a long chat. It was nice to recognize that were similar naturally. We have a similar cadence, a similar fire in our bellies for justice, and were also both daddys girls. Both of our fathers are West African, so there was stuff that was effortlessly similar in the way we breathe life into Agatha.

What did you two find yourselves changing about the character?

Adjoa thought Lady Danbury was in love in her marriage. When we see Herman Danbury, thats obviously not the case. So then she had to think, Okay, where did that love she fights for in the Bridgerton era come from? Where does she see that in her life? We were able to say maybe its a love of friends, or maybe theres a love that we dont know yet in between.

The introduction to your character is from the vantage point of an unsatisfying sex scene, and we quickly discover how equally dispiriting Lady Danburys marriage is. Was it difficult to reckon with the state of her younger life, knowing what weve seen of her in Bridgerton?

I didnt expect it, but when you see it all, it makes sense why shes the impactful woman she is in Bridgerton. She went through such a long time being shut up. Shes had to suppress so much in her life, so she understands why freedom is such an invaluable thing to have and to hold. Its the reason she chooses to be alone. Its a beautiful choice to have. If she was in love and a widow, and sad  I mean, thats a different woman. Thats Violet Bridgerton. Theyre two different flavors of very strong women who hold their families down, but you can see theyve had different journeys in life.

Whats the reason for her endurance in her marriage?

She doesnt really have a choice. When you grow up in a society where theres only one road ahead of you, you dont know what another road could look like. I think of it in the way our world is now. We dont know what a world would be without capitalism. What does that look like? Its been so ingrained in everything that we cant even fathom another option. Agatha will always be a second-class citizen in this society. She will always be seen and treated like an ornament to be looked at, something to churn out babies and heirs. The options are not great for the single woman in the Georgian era. Its only when given the title, the freedom, and the space as a lady-in-waiting to the queen that shes able to recognize her agency. She doesnt even fight against Herman at the beginning, but then she starts to, a little bit, and then he dies and she fully blasts off.

What are her dreams and desires? And can she attain them without the help of men?

You see her attain them without the help of men in the Bridgerton era. That is her fully formed self. Now that shes found herself, her dream is to just enjoy herself. To find every bit and crevice of herself and excavate it, and bring it out into the light and let it have its time to shine because its been locked away for so long. Thats why you see her have the den of iniquity she mentions in Bridgerton season one, this space where people can just be and no one is there to judge. Her dream is to have that be her life  to be Agatha and not have that world look upon her or judge her.

Lady Danburys conversation with Augusta in the finale is significant  they recognize each other as admirable adversaries but only after she breaks down and cries. Can you tell me about filming that scene and why you think it was a necessary jolt for the character?

That scene does a lot for what a lot of people hope for feminism, which is that were able to, as women, regardless of race, realize our similarities rather than focus on our differences. That tends to be the largest issue with a lot of different waves of feminism: Its been focused on the plight and struggles of white women. To see a Black woman and a white woman see each other as women first and their race second was so impactful to the narrative and for viewers to see. But filming it was very daunting. The script had changed to a new route for the scene. I was having to conjure up a lot of what Agatha was feeling from the very moment I stepped into the room. It was so much she had on her chest. Usually, this is a woman that can keep it down, suppressed, and locked away. Maybe small bits come out to her maid, Coral, but usually no one knows. She has no one to really turn to.

So to have it all build up and to turn on the heat so it bubbles over while listening to Michelle Fairley deliver her lines  thats what youre supposed to do as an actor. It was one of the most challenging moments on set for me. I was like, How do I cry without making it seem like Im joking? How do I feel all of these things and let them out at the right time? Michelle was so generous by giving me the space and the lines again if I needed them. She also came in even harder so my natural impulse would be to just release it all.

Do you recall the scenes original route?

I cant remember. It might have been something that was reversed.

Augusta implores her not to lose control of your fate. What is Lady Danburys fate?

What she was saying was Dont lose control of your choices because our fate inevitably is the choices and decisions we make. For Agatha, what she hopes for is that idea of being able to choose her fate. That moment is also what causes the spark of saying no to Adolphus. Because in that moment, she wouldve lost control of her fate. He was telling her what the rest of her life would look like. It was like seeing sparks  you connect things and then they explode. Red flags are coming up; alarms are blaring in her head. This is what losing control of your fate would look like.

Lady Danbury continues to live her life without a romantic partner, as Bridgerton has shown us, but I was still surprised she rejected the princes marriage proposal.

I dont think theres ever a world where she would have agreed to that. In that moment, she realizes it wasnt specifically Herman she needed to get away from; it was the institution that is treating women as second-class citizens. It was marriage she needed to get away from. It was men and their thinking that they needed to be there for her that she needed to get away from. It becomes very clear to her that in order for her to discover herself, she cannot be with somebody. Not just yet. And probably, as you see, not ever. Its not in her style. Its not her portion.

Do you view her affair with Lord Ledger as being about empowerment, or was it morally ambiguous? Im curious about the intentions behind it.

Lord Ledger is on that same intellectual island Agathas been on her whole life. Hes talking to her the way she speaks, and hes engaging with her and her mind in a way no one has done before. Hes talking to her like a human being. Theres still a power dynamic that doesnt allow Agatha to be 100 percent honest with Coral; that same dynamic exists between Agatha and the queen. But with Lord Ledger, its different. Because of their walks and their chats, shes able to engage and oil the cogs in her mind again. She realizes what she actually wants. I dont know if its empowerment, but rather that moment allows her to recognize and realize who she is. Its like a mirror is being held up to her and shes like, I love this person. Its a self-love moment.

What was your understanding of Violet and Lady Danburys final scene together as adults? Is there a knowledge of the affair in their silence?

For sure. They also know why theyre both probably not going to talk about it. The power of silence is magical.

Im curious about how Lady Danbury views the idea of friendship. Even in the future, I kept debating whether she, Violet, and Charlotte are actually friends or if their relationship is more transactional. Has this woman experienced true friendship?

I dont really think she has. Theres something so isolated about Agatha but not in the same way as Charlotte, where shes physically isolated. Agathas mentally isolated. She thinks very differently than a lot of other people around her, and that makes her feel like she cant talk in the way she wants to. Shes really good at holding back or putting on a friendly face, and that might be the way shes had a lot of friendships. Theres the friendship she has with Violet, and you start to see it become a true friendship when they flash to Bridgerton in the show; they start to become much more honest with each other. Thats what a lot of the relationships or friendships, at least in our older counterparts, are lacking because what people are saying, thinking, and writing about you means so much in society. People are inevitably closed off because they cant truly be their authentic selves.

Do you like to think Lady Danburys garden remains in bloom in the interim between Queen Charlotte and Bridgerton?

I 100 percent think so. Lord Ledger is definitely not the last person. Shes clearly a woman who, as you see over the course of the season, knows what she wants when it comes to sexual pleasure. When its awakening her, she realizes she doesnt need to be in a marriage to seek that. I think she finds her own community where she can be that person. But for sure, hes not the last.
Key Insights

Boston Beer Company's estimated fair value is US$429 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of US$312 suggests Boston Beer Company is potentially 27% undervalued

Analyst price target for SAM is US$314 which is 27% below our fair value estimate

Does the May share price for The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE:SAM) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Boston Beer Company

The Model

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. 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, 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) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$67.8m US$106.9m US$153.7m US$191.5m US$230.7m US$259.9m US$284.5m US$305.1m US$322.6m US$337.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 12.62% Est @ 9.47% Est @ 7.26% Est @ 5.72% Est @ 4.63% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% US$63.5 US$93.6 US$126 US$147 US$166 US$175 US$179 US$179 US$178 US$174

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.5b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after 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 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.9%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$338m (1 + 2.1%)  (6.9% 2.1%) = US$7.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$7.3b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= US$3.7b

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$5.2b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$312, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 27% 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. 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 Boston Beer Company 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 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. 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 Boston Beer Company

Strength

Currently debt free.

Weakness

No major weaknesses identified for SAM.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the American market.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Boston Beer Company, we've compiled three fundamental items you should explore:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Boston Beer Company you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SAM'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 NYSE 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.

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Italian jogger was killed by male bear, not female, new DNA test claims.

Animal rights activists have called for the immediate release of the female bear accused of killing a jogger in Italy's northern Trento province on 5 April after a new DNA test revealed the man was killed by a male bear.

The forensic report claims that the bite marks on the body of 26-year-old Andrea Papi, who was killed by a bear on Mount Peller near his home in Caldes, are not compatible with the female bear captured by forest rangers on 17 April.

The bear, known as JJ4, was separated from her cubs and is being held in a wildlife facility in Castellar amid an uncertain future, after initial tests concluded that the animal was responsible for killing Papi.

The region's right-wing governor Maurizio Fugatti ordered that the 17-year-old bear be killed however the sentence was suspended by courts following an appeal by animal rights groups.

The new expert study, whose findings were presented by animal welfare association LEAL on Monday, claims that Papi was killed by an adult male bear and not by JJ4.

"The teeth of an animal, for forensic veterinary medicine, have the same value as human fingerprints and therefore science in this report denies the lies told by Fugatti", LEAL wrote on Facebook.

The report also said the nature of the attack could be characterised as being "a protracted attempt by the bear to distance and dissuade the victim", concluding that it could not be classified as either a deliberate or predatory attack.

Claiming that the new study "unmasks the farce artfully constructed by Fugatti", LEAL has demanded the governor's "immediate resignation" along with the release of JJ4.

The development comes amid a heated debate over whether to cull the bears whose population has risen to roughly 100 since the animals were reintroduced to Trentino from Slovenia in 1999 as part of the Life Ursus project.

Fugatti claims the project has "got out of hand" and has repeatedly called for bear numbers to be reduced to "an adequate level" to guarantee a peaceful coexistence with local communities.

Photo La Stampa
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesdays airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclaves southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

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At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Childrens coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response, he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israels Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

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The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the groups intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihads military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israels chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtinis wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeens two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

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Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeens home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gazas main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris, said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls room was destroyed, she added.

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Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned. France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

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Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the groups choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israels existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

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Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihads rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

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Tuesdays airstrikes recalled Israels similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant groups two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

___

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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Joseph James O'Connor was arrested in Spain in 2021

A British national extradited to the US last month has pleaded guilty in New York to a role in one of the biggest hacks in social media history.

The July 2020 Twitter hack affected over 130 accounts including those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Joseph James O'Connor, 23, known as PlugwalkJoe, pleaded guilty to hacking charges carrying a total maximum sentence of over 70 years in prison.

The hacking was part of a large-scale Bitcoin scam.

O'Connor, who was extradited from Spain, hijacked numerous Twitter accounts and sent out tweets asking followers to send Bitcoin to an account, promising to double their money.

O'Connor, from Liverpool, was charged alongside three other men over the scam.

US teenager Graham Ivan Clark pleaded guilty in 2021. Nima Fazeli of Orlando, Florida, and Mason Sheppard, of Bognor Regis in the UK, were charged with federal crimes.

US Assistant Attorney-General Kenneth Polite Jr described in a statement O'Connor's actions as "flagrant and malicious", saying he had "harassed, threatened and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm".

Celebrities including US boxer Floyd Mayweather and the singer Wiz Khalifa also lost control of their accounts

"Like many criminal actors, O'Connor tried to stay anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth accounts and aliases from outside the United States.

"But this plea shows that our investigators and prosecutors will identify, locate, and bring to justice such criminals to ensure they face the consequences for their crimes."

In 2020, an estimated 350 million Twitter users saw suspicious tweets from official accounts of the platform's biggest users. Thousands fell for a scam, trusting that a crypto giveaway was real.

Cyber experts agreed that the consequences of the Twitter hack could have been far worse if O'Connor and other hackers had more sophisticated plans than a get-rich-quick scheme.

Disinformation could have been spread to affect political discourse and markets could have been moved by well-worded fake business announcements, for example.

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The hack showed how fragile Twitter's security was at the time. The attackers telephoned a small number of Twitter employees with a believable tale to convince them to hand over their internal login details - which eventually granted the hackers access to Twitter's powerful administrative tools.

Essentially, the hackers managed to use social engineering tricks more akin to those of conmen than of high-level cyber-criminals to get access to the powerful internal control panel at the site.

Mike Bloomberg and Kanye West were among those hacked

It was, and still is, a hugely embarrassing moment in Twitter's troubled history.

O'Connor's admission has not come as a shock though as there was a wealth of evidence in the public domain thanks to the hackers making some bad mistakes or being too loud in their celebrations in the aftermath of the hack.

O'Connor also pleaded guilty to other hacking crimes including gaining access to a high-profile TikTok account.

He posted a video to that account where his own voice is recognisable and threatened to release "sensitive, personal material" related to the owner of the account to people who joined a Discord group.

The US justice department said he had also used technology to stalk a minor.
Billionaire Guo Guangchang was sipping baijiu when he decided to kick off a $US2 billion ($3 billion) sale, his biggest in recent years.

His choice of liquor  from Shede Spirits Co., a brand under his Fosun International portfolio  was particularly momentous: she de means let go in Chinese.

Billionaire Guo Guangchang has seen his fortune jump on the back of Fosuns turnaround. Credit: Bloomberg

Pummelled by Chinas credit crisis and a 95 per cent profit plunge last year, Fosun has offloaded some $US4.8 billion of assets over the past year, including the sale of its holding in the parent of Nanjing Iron & Steel Co. that was renegotiated this month. And the process is far from over: The conglomerate is in search of buyers for billions of dollars of assets ranging from European financial businesses to an Indian pharma firm.

Disposals on such a scale can be a sign that a company is in a death spiral. But Guos pragmatism in parting with once-prized companies seems to be working. Fosuns shares and bonds have rebounded from their September lows, with the conglomerate looking less likely to default, an outcome that once seemed inevitable.
In August 2021, Iranian asylum seeker Ned Kelly Emeralds waited at a bus stop outside the Perth Immigration Detention Centre, the meagre possessions he had collected during eight years in onshore detention bundled in a small bag.

It was a day of jubilation for Emeralds. After years of fighting to escape Australias immigration system, several suicide attempts and countless court appearances, a Federal Court order allowed him to stay at a friends house in Perth while waiting for his immigration status to resolve.

Ned Kelly Emeralds in immigration detention in Perth.

But his bus never came.

Waiting for that bus was like my time in detention, he tells this masthead from detention this week. On the one hand, I had some hope that it would come. On the other hand, I knew that it wouldnt.
The ruling comes weeks after Trump was indicted in Manhattan over alleged hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Loading He is also facing a string of other legal problems, including a Georgia investigation into election interference, a federal probe into the handling of classified documents and another investigation into his role in the January 6 Capitol attack. At the time of the sexual abuse, Carroll was well known in Manhattans media circles for her long-running Ask E. Jean advice column for Elle magazine. She claims the incident took place one evening when she bumped into Trump at Bergdorf Goodman, an upscale department store in Manhattan.

The jury heard that Trump asked her to help him pick out a present for another woman (he was married to Marla Maples at the time) and then assaulted Carroll in a lingerie dressing room, where he allegedly knocked her head against a wall, pulled down her tights and briefly penetrated her before she pushed him off and ran out. She also claimed that years later, Trump defamed her and damaged her reputation when she finally spoke out publicly about the attack. Carrolls legal team had called 10 other witnesses, including two women who claim they had also been attacked by Trump, and two friends who claim that Carroll told them about the attack soon after it happened. Trump was free to attend the trial but did not appear and the only expert witness he was planning to call, a psychiatrist, was withdrawn at the last minute over health issues.

Loading In his absence, the jury relied on a video deposition from October last year, in which he was questioned by Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan about the case. During the deposition, Trump was asked about the now infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which he was overheard bragging to TV host Billy Bush about groping women without their consent. When youre a star, they let you do it, he said, unaware that there was a hot mic. Grab em by the p---y. You can do anything. Asked by Kaplan if this was true, Trump replied: Well, if you look over the last million years, I guess thats been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately  or fortunately.

His claim that Carroll was not his type was also undercut when he mistook a photograph of his accuser for Maples, his second wife. Its Marla, he said, before being told the blonde woman in the photo he was examining was Carroll. Is that Carroll? Because its very blurry. Trumps lawyer, Joe Tacopina, on the other hand, described the allegations as an unbelievable work of fiction and an affront to justice. He pointed to gaps in Carrolls evidence, such as the fact that she couldnt remember the exact date, month or year she was assaulted, or that she did not report the attack to police or mention it until many years later, as signs that her allegation was a lie. Its not a coincidence all of them cant narrow down the time frame because they dont want to give Donald Trump the opportunity to present an alibi witness, Tacopina told the jury.

Loading Ultimately, after three hours of deliberations, the jury found Trump liable, awarding Carroll $US2.7 million ($4 million) in compensatory damages, as well as $US280,000 in punitive damages for her defamation claim. Jurors awarded Carroll $US2 million in compensatory damages and $US20,000 in punitive damages for her battery claim. Total damages awarded amount to $US5 million. Speaking after the verdict, Tacopina said there were plenty of issues to appeal. While he was happy the jury rejected the claim of rape, Im not happy that he was found liable for anything whatsoever based on the evidence.

Its a bit inconsistent because all along she has claimed it was a rape  and the jury rejected it, so its hard to sort of square that with the rest of the verdict, he added. Trump is due to be interviewed on CNN on Thursday morning (AEST) for a two-hour town hall in New Hampshire. The live event was announced a week ago. Until recently, the statute of limitations for civil claims by sexual assault survivors in New York was generally three years. However, in 2021, the state passed the Adult Survivors Act, which created a one-year window  from November 24, 2022, to November 24, 2023  in which the statute of limitations was lifted, allowing people to make claims. Activists and sexual assault survivors hope the move will result in more women coming forward with allegations  particularly against powerful men. When youre raped by a person who was effectively a global brand, the fallout envelopes every aspect of your life, said survivor Drew Dixon from the victim assistance organisation Safe Horizon.
Key Insights

The considerable ownership by retail investors in Bursa Malaysia Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

A total of 8 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Institutions own 40% of Bursa Malaysia Berhad

If you want to know who really controls Bursa Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:BURSA), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 40% stake, retail investors possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

And institutions on the other hand have a 40% ownership in the company. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Bursa Malaysia Berhad.

Check out our latest analysis for Bursa Malaysia Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Bursa Malaysia Berhad?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Bursa Malaysia Berhad. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Bursa Malaysia Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Bursa Malaysia Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Capital Market Development Fund with 19% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 11% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 10% by the third-largest shareholder.

Story continues

We did some more digging and found that 8 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are 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 Bursa Malaysia Berhad

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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that Bursa Malaysia Berhad insiders own under 1% of the company. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own RM1.9m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 40% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Bursa Malaysia Berhad. 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

It seems that Private Companies own 19%, of the Bursa Malaysia Berhad stock. 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:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Bursa Malaysia Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Bursa Malaysia Berhad has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter 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
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme funded by the European Union, held a workshop on e-certification and self-certification in Accra, Ghana, from 2 to 5 May 2023. The workshop also saw the participation of origin and IT experts from the ECOWAS pilot countries, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. The European Union delegation to Ghana took part in the opening session and parts of the discussion sessions. The workshop is building on the needs expressed by ECOWAS and its members during consultations with the RoO Africa Programme in October 2022.

Mr. Felix Kwame Kwakye, Principal Programme Officer-Tariff & Customs Procedures of the ECOWAS Commission highlighted in his opening remarks the importance of the digitalization of customs procedures which would engender increased confidence in Customs, He stressed that self-certification of origin would raise the facilitation of trade as well as the level of compliance within the supply chain.

Mr. Raffaele Quarto, Trade Counsellor at the EU delegation to Ghana opened the meeting, emphasising that the correct implementation of the ECOWAS and AfCFTA rules of origin will enhance intra-regional and intra-continental trade thereby leading to sustainable development. The EU finds it critical to support the enhancement of understanding, implementation, and application of rules of origin and free trade agreements and to facilitate trade for compliant traders by ensuring a certain streamlining of origin procedures.

Participants discussed the state of play and progress for the two projects. The automation status of each pilot country was presented as well as the detailed overall process of exchange of electronic certificates. Member countries also presented the list of companies pre-selected for the pilot project on self-certification and discussed the challenges in the selection process.

The workshop concluded with the adoption of the road map for the go live of the e-certification and the road map for the implementation of self-certification in ECOWAS.

The participants also discussed needs for technical assistance in relation to self-certification and e-certification and how the RoO Africa Programme can contribute. The Programme will continue to support ECOWAS and its members with the aim to provide meaningful and targeted capacity building and technical assistance.

For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org
A World Customs Organization (WCO) National Workshop on Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, from 24 to 28 April 2023. The Workshop was financed by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Korea (CCF/Korea).

The Director of the Post-Customs Control Department of the State Customs Service (SCS) of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ismailov Marat Nurbekovich, welcomed all the participants and made some opening remarks, expressing his gratitude to the WCO, the CCF/Korea, and the experts and facilitators for providing PCA support to the SCS.

By promoting interactive discussions, encouraging the sharing of experiences between the experts and attendees, and conducting practical exercises, the facilitators assisted the participants throughout the Workshop. As a result, the main outcome of the Workshop was that participants enhanced their knowledge and skills in the field of PCA, in line with international standards.

The successful completion of the Workshop is expected to play a significant role in strengthening the PCA system within the SCS.
At the invitation of the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, visited Mbabane, Eswatini, on 8 May 2023, to review the progress in Customs modernization and meet with political and business leaders.

Dr. Mikuriya had a meeting with the ERS Commissioner General, Mr. Brightwell Nkambule, and his management team to review ERS priorities, explore further avenues for cooperation with the WCO, and the way forward. They identified the reactivation of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, with the assistance of the WCO, both of which would improve the business environment. He also met with the Eswatini Minister of Finance, Mr. Neal Rijkenberg, and the CEO of Business Eswatini, Mr. E. Nathi Dlamini. Both political and business leaders appreciated the progress in Customs modernization and the support provided by the WCO.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister of Eswatini, H.E. Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, Secretary General Mikuriya talked about the importance of coordination between border-related government agencies and partnership with business, as well as the importance to promote integrity to strengthen trust among the relevant actors along the trade supply chain, which will enhance connectivity at borders. The Prime Minister expressed his thanks for the capacity building support given by the WCO and also raised the issue of border congestions. Dr. Mikuriya suggested an enhanced collaboration with the relevant parties, using the NCTF and the WCO Time Release Study. He expressed his thanks for the strong political support from the political leaders.

Dr. Mikuriya seized the opportunity to visit Ngwenya Border Post to observe how Customs functions, and he also crossed the border to meet with the South African Revenue Service officers at Oshoek border post. He appreciated that Customs officers at the adjacent border posts of the two countries work together to reduce traffic congestions and facilitate trade.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / May 8, 2023 / Cablevision Holding S.A. (BCBA:CVH)(LSE:CVH) will host a webcast presentation on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:00am Eastern Time (12:00pm Buenos Aires time) to discuss its First Quarter 2023 Earnings Results.

Presentations will be in English, based on the earnings release, which will be distributed on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, after the markets close.

To access the live stream and slide presentation, visit:

https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=ehdyB8br

The webcast presentation will also be available at: https://www.cablevisionholding.com/Investors/Presentations

About the Company

CVH was founded as corporate spin-off from Grupo Clarin S.A. and it is the first Argentine holding company that engages in the development of infrastructure and the provision of convergent telecommunications services, focusing on Argentina and the region. CVH's subsidiaries specialize in the provision of cable TV, broadband and mobile communications services; and their brands are well known in the telecommunications and content distribution industries.

Investor Relations Contacts

In Buenos Aires: In London In New York Cablevision Holding S.A Jasford IR Fig Corporate Communications Samantha Olivieri, Head of Investor Relations

Tel: (+54 11) 4309 3417

Email: ir@cvh.com.ar

www.cvh.com.ar Alex Money

Tel: +44 20 3289 5300

Email: alex@jasford.com Camilla Ferreira/Marcella Ewerton

Tel: +1 917 691 4047

Email: fig@fig.ooo

SOURCE: Cablevision Holding S.A.





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Credit Union's Checking Account Meets Robust National Bank On Standards for Safe Accounts

GLENDALE, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Credit Union has received certification by the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) for its checking account product, which can benefit the nearly 19% of California households that are categorized as underbanked or unbanked. California Credit Union is among only four credit unions in Los Angeles, and 15 credit unions in California, offering accounts certified as meeting the benchmark Bank On National Account Standards.

California Credit Union Logo (PRNewsfoto/California Credit Union)

California Credit Union's Option Checking account is certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards, bringing a new level of inclusivity, access, and choice to banking and financial education for unbanked, underbanked, and underserved community members in Southern California.

"We believe a core aspect of our cooperative mission is inclusive banking, ensuring everyone in our communities has equal access to safe, affordable banking products and services that build financial stability and long-term financial health. This Bank On certification will support our work in making traditional financial products available to unbanked and underbanked community members outside of the mainstream financial system," said California Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell. "We are excited to lead the way in this key initiative in Southern California, and look forward to working with local coalition partners to ensure all individuals can bank, save, and borrow with a trusted financial partner, supported by financial education tools to assist in life-long financial success."

A key challenge facing unbanked/underbanked individuals has been a lack of safe and appropriate accounts offered by mainstream financial institutions. Without a checking account, many use high-fee alternative services, including check cashers, payday lenders and pawn shops, paying far too much for basic financial transactions and losing the ability to build savings, assets, and a strong credit history.

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California Credit Union's Option Checking offers safe access to a traditional checking account, with zero fees or overdraft charges to support moving members out of a debt cycle. The account provides a free debit card, along with access to online and mobile banking, individualized financial counseling, financial education tools, and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. Members can sign up for the account online or in any credit union branch.

The CFE Fund certification is the latest step in California Credit Union's work to meet the needs of underserved populations in its communities. In addition to its Option Checking account, the credit union has adjusted underwriting guidelines to provide easier access to funds as well as launched credit card products designed for members looking to build/restore credit history. It also offers a full suite of financial education and literacy resources; last year alone, virtual programs reached over 26,000 individuals and in-person events provided over 750 people with financial literacy training.

According to a FDIC 2021 survey, nearly 19% of households in California are categorized as underbanked or unbanked. In addition, 4.5% of all U.S. households are categorized as unbanked, without a checking or savings account, and over 14% of U.S. households are underbanked, meaning they use non-traditional financial services.

"The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to award its national Bank On account certification to California Credit Union's Option Checking account," said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "Option Checking offers Southern California residents who are looking to improve their finances a safe, affordable, and truly useful mainstream banking product to access and manage their money. California Credit Union's offering of this terrific account brings them into the forefront of national banking access efforts, and we thank them."

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The CFE Fund's Bank On National Account Standards certification indicates that an account meets over 25 features for safe and affordable consumer transaction accounts.

About California Credit Union

California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 with assets over $4.5 billion, more than 170,000 members, and 24 retail branches. The credit union serves community members and businesses in the California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura as well as school employees throughout the state. The credit union operates in San Diego and Riverside Counties as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. The credit union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Visit ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram or Facebook @CaliforniaCreditUnion.

Cision

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SOURCE California Credit Union
A man smokes an e-cigarette. In 2022, 16.5% of high school and 4.5% of middle school students reported using a tobacco product in the last 30 days. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has issued warnings to two tobacco companies, stating that they may be in violation of the states ban on flavored products, a measure upheld by nearly two-thirds of voters last year.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and ITG Brands received letters dated April 25 from the Tobacco Unit of the California Department of Justice notifying the companies that packaging and promotional materials for nine reformulated versions of Camel, Newport and Kool cigarettes violated the state law and were presumed to be flavored.

As part of Atty. Gen. Bonta's fight to protect the health and safety of California's youth, and to carry out the will of the people, our office continues to investigate tobacco products that may run afoul of that law, a spokesperson for Bonta said in an email statement.

The companies have 60 days to respond to the letters, and they indicated they would, according to the spokesperson.

The 2022 law banned the sale of certain flavored tobacco products in stores and vending machines, aiming to deter use among children by eliminating kid-friendly flavors such as bubblegum, cotton candy and cherry.

Lawmakers approved the statewide ban despite lobbying by the tobacco industry. The campaign against the flavor ban raised millions of dollars, including funds from R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris USA.

According to the law, a tobacco product could be presumed flavored if it appears that the manufacturer has made such claims through the labeling or packaging of its items.

The letter sent to R.J. Reynolds stated that the company used brand names, text and colors traditionally associated with menthol-flavored tobacco products. The reviewed products also included a non-tobacco capsule that the labeling indicated would produce a different taste.

Promotional material for the products suggested that these cigarettes would taste or smell differently from a solely tobacco-flavored product, the letter stated. The products were targeted at users of menthol-flavored tobacco products and promoted as an alternative, the letter said.

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An R.J. Reynolds spokesperson said in an email statement that the letters were issued in error and that the products listed by the state attorney general did not have any distinguishable taste or aroma other than tobacco.

We market these products to clearly indicate that they are nonmenthol, according to the statement. The letters merely presume that the products have a characterizing flavor based solely upon the review of packaging and promotional materials, not the products themselves."

"We stand by our products and will respond to the letters appropriately to ensure these lawful products remain available for sale.

ITG Brands did not respond for comment.

In 2022, 16.5% of high school and 4.5% of middle school students  or 3.08 million  reported using a tobacco product in the last 30 days, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Most of the students used flavored e-cigarettes, with fruit flavors being the most popular.

Massachusetts became the first state in 2019 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have banned flavored e-cigarettes.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Niagara Health hospitals now have more nurses working at them than ever before, but its still not enough.

As a result of recruitment and retention efforts, the hospital systems nursing practice director, Janice Feather, said 2,561 nurses are now working at all levels of front-line care and management at Niagara Health facilities.

Considering the ongoing shortage of nurses across Ontario and beyond, Feather said she was surprised to learn a record number of nurses are now working at local hospitals.

However, she said at least 100 more nurses are still needed to meet Niagaras needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think a lot of it has to do with perhaps some of the work that was on pause during our COVID response. We know there is an increased community need for mental health services and we need to hire more nurses and be able to provide new and different services, including numerous services with virtual care and having various care options, she said.

And the other part, I think, is the pandemic shed light perhaps on some of the areas where we were under-resourced to begin with. So, I think now what were seeing is the matching of having the right resources to do the right work effectively.

Feather said the number of nurse vacancies at Niagara Health hospitals is a bit of a moving target.

Although we have over 2,500 nursing positions, there are times that we are short. Generally vacancies are about 100-plus in terms of nursing, and that could be full time, part time and casual positions, she said.

She said having nurses in leadership roles has helped retain staff, while also encouraging front-line nurses to contribute to the decision-making process, too.

The people on the front lines are the best source of innovation at times. They have the most creative solutions and the best outlook for the work that they do, Feather said.

A lot of the work that Ive been doing in terms of nursing practice is ensuring that were honouring those lived experiences of people doing this great work and how were reflecting that in how we make decisions.

Feather said Ministry of Health initiatives have contributed to the recent increase in nursing staff, such as the Nursing Graduate Guarantee program as well as a program to increase internationally educated nurses approved to work in Ontario.

Weve honestly experienced some really meaningful retention and recruitment recently. Its been able to stabilize our workforce, she said.

Were welcoming a large number of internationally educated nurses to our workforce, so that has been super helpful in terms of filling our vacancies but also to increase the diversity and the skill level within our organization.

Arbitration that awarded retroactive wage increases for registered nurses might also be helping retain nurses in the wake of Bill 124, which had limited wages increases in the past three years.

Feather said shes looking forward to the next phase of how were going to look at nursing compensation and ensuring that theyre value is actualized in terms of salary.

In addition to helping guide decision-making at Niagara Health, she said the experiences of nurses will earn 25 of them additional recognition on Thursday.

Feather has been reviewing peer-submitted nominations from her colleagues, sharing stories of nurses who have gone above and beyond while caring for patients.

The nominations are these really beautiful stories of great patient interactions and how our nurses really demonstrate extraordinary care in the work that they do.

She said 155 nurses were nominated for Nursing Excellence Awards this year, and it was extremely difficult to select the winners.

After reviewing the nominations, she said, she felt incredibly blessed to work with the people I have the privilege of working with.

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Natasha Roberts sold her first piece of vintage clothing when she was six years old. She made the sale at Space Vintage, owned by her mom, Ashlene Roberts. I practically grew up in the store, says Natasha, who is now 26. Ashlene remembers her helping with labels and customers ever since she was a little girl. Natasha would even promote the store by handing out flyers throughout Mirvish Village, our original neighbourhood, while wearing true vintage outfits, Ashlene says. She was under 10 years old at the time, and had to identify who our client was and make a connection with them.

Today, Natasha and Ashlene co-own Space, which now has two locations, on Queen St. W. and in Kensington Market. Natasha has unlimited potential to do great things in many fields, and for her to choose fashion and work alongside me is a great honour and has been very fulfilling, Ashlene says. Having her daughter as a business partner has been an asset, as it allows the pair to reach a wider range of customers, whom they refer to as stars, and understand their fashion needs. If I was operating Space Vintage alone then I may not be focusing on our stars who are 30 and under and vice versa, Ashlene says. We complement each other.

Their work benefits from a sort of mother-daughter telepathy. We fill in each others blanks. Working together for so long has somehow conjoined our brains, Natasha says. When theyre pulling looks for a client who has filled out a styling questionnaire (a free service thats in high demand for prom season right now), theyll often discover that they were thinking of the exact same piece. This isnt very easy to do considering theres pounds and pounds of clothing to choose from, but somehow we are always on the same page.

The pair are one of Torontos most stylish mother-daughter duos, often drawing double-takes and compliments on the street for their eye-catching vintage ensembles. Ashlene provided Natasha with some of her first fashion inspiration  at school pick-up. Shed arrive in amazing outfits. I remember this 1970s leather coat with a big fur collar that shed always wear with big sunglasses, eclectic vintage jewelry, funky boots and box braids. It was fabulous! Natasha says. I was always stunned and thought, Wow, I want to look like that one day.

Even at a young age, Natasha impressed her mom with her fashion chops. Ashlene remembers her daughters first school formal, when the 13-year-old insisted on getting her hair and makeup done professionally. Her process was very organized. She booked an appointment at M. A. C, selected a hair stylist and I styled her look. It was a team effort, Ashlene says. I recognized her professionalism and attention to detail from a young age. I thought to myself, I could learn something from this girl...

While they have similar fashion principles  they both fall into what Ashlene dubs the unusual category  their approach to getting dressed is different. Ashlene says shell wear basic black pumps and let her outfit do the talking, while her daughter is more of a head-to-toe type of girl. (Natasha always wears heels unless shes working out. She doesnt own a pair of flats other than her gym shoes.)

My mom is resourceful with fashion and gives dresses that would most likely be dated a chance; she knows how to bring dresses to life and give them new meaning, Natasha says. She is an artist first and foremost. She uses vintage as one of her creative mediums. So shes more likely than I am to wear a piece that is rare and unusual. We both wear unique pieces, but my mom is more willing to wear things that others may consider to be strange.

Ashlene is wild about dresses, particularly gothic or Victorian tea-party dresses, 1970s prairie dresses, colourful 1960s print dresses and even heavy polyester dresses that people tend to disregard: unusual, crazy, 80s dresses  I love them! she says. I try to wear clothing that makes people happy. I like pieces that evoke a good feeling or unusual pieces that people havent seen before.

Natasha shares her moms love of dresses: she never, ever wears pants. Theres so much range with dresses, from the fabrics to the colours to the silhouettes. I can go from puffy 80s princess gowns to sleek 90s dresses to 40s workwear dresses depending on the day, the mission and my mood.

So, has she pilfered her mothers legendary closet? Natasha has worn things that I was rocking at her age, Ashlene says. Its great to see the longevity of vintage pieces and how clothing travels through time and reinvents itself.

One especially precious hand-me-down is the piece Natasha considers her coming-of-age dress. She always loved it when her mom would wear a 1970s orange-and-blue, patchwork-print maxi dress with a ruffle collar and ruffle trim, and dreamed of the day when shed be able to wear it, too. When she turned 16, Ashlene finally let her take the dress for a spin. I remember feeling very sophisticated in this dress. I also felt honoured that I had reached a level of style where I was trusted to wear the dress, Natasha says. I felt liberated and this dress gave me more confidence during the awkward teenage phase of my style journey.

Now, the pair are coming up on 20 years of working together, side by side at Space Vintage, and Natasha is just as excited to connect with fellow vintage lovers as she was at age six. I always wanted to be an asset to this business, but also make an impact on my community, my country, and the world, Natasha says. But working alongside my mom is the most special thing.

Briony Smith is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for The Kit. She writes about style and culture.

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Camplify Holdings is AU$3.03 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of AU$2.00 suggests Camplify Holdings is potentially 34% undervalued

Analyst price target for CHL is AU$2.82 which is 7.1% below our fair value estimate

How far off is Camplify Holdings Limited (ASX:CHL) 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. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Camplify Holdings

The Method

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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) -AU$1.20m AU$2.10m AU$4.60m AU$6.84m AU$9.21m AU$11.5m AU$13.6m AU$15.4m AU$16.9m AU$18.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 48.68% Est @ 34.66% Est @ 24.85% Est @ 17.98% Est @ 13.18% Est @ 9.81% Est @ 7.46% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.6% -AU$1.1 AU$1.8 AU$3.7 AU$5.1 AU$6.4 AU$7.4 AU$8.1 AU$8.6 AU$8.7 AU$8.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$58m

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 (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$18m (1 + 2.0%)  (7.6% 2.0%) = AU$330m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$330m ( 1 + 7.6%)10= AU$159m

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$217m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$2.0, the company appears quite good value at a 34% 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

The 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 Camplify Holdings 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 7.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.943. 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 Camplify Holdings

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Weakness

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.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Next Steps:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. 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?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Camplify Holdings, we've put together three fundamental aspects you should consider:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Camplify Holdings (1 is potentially serious) you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does CHL'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.

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LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia (AP)  Alarm over Myanmars still-unfolding deadly civil strife, including an armed attack on an aid convoy, and Chinas aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea are expected to challenge Southeast Asian leaders' commitments to non-interference and consensus decision-making as they meet in Indonesia this week.

Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened Tuesday in the resort town of Labuan Bajo to finalize the agenda ahead of the two-day summit of the 10-nation blocs heads of state.

The United States and China are not part of the twice-yearly summit, but their escalating rivalry looms large over the high-profile Asian gathering. Beijing has warned that U.S. efforts to strengthen security alliances and intensify combat-readiness drills with Asian allies would endanger regional stability.

Founded during the Cold War in 1967, ASEAN has avoided getting entangled in major-power competition as a bloc. But its diverse members are often involved in partnerships and disputes with superpowers. They range from authoritarian Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, which are closely aligned with Beijing, to liberal democracies like the Philippines, which is Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia and recently allowed an expansion of American military presence in the country, to Chinas outrage.

The other members  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have heavy economic and security engagements with both the U.S. and China.

ASEAN wants to remain open, to cooperate with anyone, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo, this years ASEAN chair. We also dont want ASEAN to be anyones proxy.

Bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and deciding by consensus have held the unwieldy club of autocrats, monarchs and democracies together for decades. But that approach has also prevented it from dealing swiftly with crises that spill across borders.

ASEAN's principles have been tested since Myanmars army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and plunged the country into deadly chaos. It's become one of the bloc's gravest crises since its establishment.

Military airstrikes in April killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony by opponents of army rule, according to witnesses. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday described the strike as an apparent war crime."

Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta said ASEANs inability to persuasively and rapidly address a potential political conflagration like the Myanmar crisis should prompt it to take a second look at its founding principles.

ASEAN can no longer hide under the principles of non-interference and consensus, she told the AP. All of that can work in a non-urgent situation that does not require speed and immediate decision-making to control a crisis.

Over the weekend, a convoy delivering aid to displaced villagers and carrying Indonesian and Singaporean diplomats came under fire by unidentified men armed with pistols in Myanmars eastern Shan state. A security team with the convoy returned fire and a vehicle was damaged, but no one in the convoy was injured, state-run television MRTV reported.

Indonesia had arranged for the delivery of the aid after a long-delayed assessment but it was very unfortunate that in the middle of the trip there was a shootout, Widodo said Monday.

This will not deter ASEAN and Indonesia from calling for an end to the violence, Widodo told reporters Monday, renewing his call for dialogue among contending parties in Myanmar. Nobody wins in this situation.

More than 3,450 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmars military forcibly took power, and thousands more remain imprisoned, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps tallies of casualties and arrests linked to repression by the military government.

Indonesia has considerably eased its fierce criticism of Myanmars military since assuming the rotating role as ASEAN's leader. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is taking a non-megaphone diplomacy approach to encourage dialogue and end violence, which are goals of a five-point peace plan Southeast Asian leaders negotiated with Myanmars top general in 2021.

Under international pressure to do more to address the violence, ASEAN leaders stopped inviting Myanmars top general to their summits after 2020, allowing only non-political representatives. Myanmars military rulers have protested the move as a violation of the blocs non-interference policy.

"To put it mildly, the organization is now facing nothing short of an existential crisis, said Richard Heydarian, a lecturer on international affairs at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Even regional diplomats who were involved in ASEAN work before have been either guardedly optimistic about the bloc or harshly critical. When asked by The Associated Press to give one word that best describes the blocs current status, one Southeast Asian diplomat replied, Progressing. Another said, Opprobrium.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of clearance to comment publicly on the issue.

In a post-summit communique to be issued by Widodo on behalf of the ASEAN leaders at the summit, they plan to condemn the reported deadly airstrike by the Myanmar military and add that all forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians.

They plan to reissue a call for self-restraint in the disputed South China Sea, repeating language used in previous ASEAN statements that does not name China.

"Concerns were expressed by some ASEAN member states on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, said a draft of the communique, which was obtained by the AP.

At a closed-door session of the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to raise a Feb. 6 encounter in which a Chinese coast guard ship used a military-grade laser that temporarily blinded at least two crewmembers on a Philippine patrol vessel off a disputed shoal, a Filipino official told the AP on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Early this year, Marcos granted American forces access to four more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact. Beijing was infuriated by that agreement, which it feared would provide American forces staging grounds to intervene in territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary.

Associated Press journalists Andi Jatmiko and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden and congressional leaders confronted each other on the debt limit impasse Tuesday, ending their meeting with no breakthrough but agreeing to meet again this week to try to avert the looming risk of an unprecedented government default.

Speaking at the White House, Biden described the talks as productive even though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said after the high-stakes Oval Office meeting that he didnt see any new movement toward resolving the stalemate.

Lawmakers and their staffs were to continue discussions on the annual federal budget at Bidens encouragement. Biden and the congressional leaders are to meet again Friday.

After the hourlong discussion in the Oval Office, Biden said he was absolutely certain that the country could avert a default, declaring that failure to meet America's obligations is not an option.

Still, time is short. The government is bumping up against its legal limit for borrowing and will not be able to pay all of its bills as soon as June 1 if Congress doesnt agree to raise the debt ceiling. That failure would send the country into default with wide-reaching economic impact at home and around the world.

Republicans came to the White House hoping to negotiate sweeping cuts to federal spending in exchange for allowing new borrowing to avoid default. Biden, on the other hand, reinforced his opposition to allowing the countrys full faith and credit to be held hostage to negotiations  while affirming his willingness to hold talks on the budget only after default is no longer a threat.

I told congressional leaders that Im prepared to begin a separate discussion about my budget, spending priorities, but not under the threat of default, Biden said.

Outside the White House, McCarthy said, I asked the president this simple question: Does he not believe theres any place we could find savings?"

As the president welcomed McCarthy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, he quipped to reporters, Were going to get started, solve all the worlds problems.

Biden later described the meeting's tone as very measured and low-key, adding, Occasionally there would be a little bit of an assertion that maybe was a little over the top from the speaker.

He especially took issue with McCarthy's branding as a lie the Democrats' assertion that the Republicans' budget restraints would hurt veterans.

Still, Biden added, I trust Kevin will try to do what he says.

There seemed to be at least a bit of daylight between McConnell, who has let his House counterpart take the lead in negotiations and backed him up ahead of the White House meeting, and McCarthy.

The Senate leader said: The United States is not going to default. It never has and it never will." The speaker, though, simply said, Ive done everything in my power to make sure we will not default.

Democrats said there is room to come together on spending cuts as part of the budget process, but quickly jumped on McCarthy's refusal to rule out the possibility of default, with Schumer saying the Republican is greatly endangering America.

To use the risk of default, with all the dangers that has for the American people, as a hostage and say its my way or no way, are mostly my way or no way, is dangerous," Schumer said.

McCarthy said Biden had directed their staffs to continue discussions, and said the leaders themselves would convene again in person Friday at the White House.

While Biden ruled out default, he also all but dismissed trying to unilaterally prevent it. He said he didn't believe invoking the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says the validity of the federal debt shall not be questioned, was a solution to the current impasse.

White House lawyers will pursue the idea further, he added, but "the problem is it would have to be litigated.

Before the White House meeting, both McCarthy and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted it would be simple to avert default  if only the other side capitulated.

The chasm between these opposite postures had fomented uncertainty that is roiling financial markets and threatens to turn into a tidal wave that swamps the countrys economy. Default, officials say, threatens to disrupt Social Security payments to retirees, destabilize global markets and tilt the nation into a potentially debilitating recession.

Last month, House Republicans passed a sweeping bill to slash spending, an opening offer in negotiations. But that legislation has no chance in the Democratic Senate and the White House has threatened to veto it. Republicans hope that bill would achieve $4.5 trillion in deficit savings through cuts in spending, eliminating tax breaks for investing in clean energy, and reversing Bidens plans to reduce the burdens of student loan debt.

Referring to the House bill, McCarthy said, We both said default is not an option  but only one of us took action.

Already looking past the meeting, Biden on Wednesday is to go to Westchester County, New York, where he plans to deliver a speech on how proposed spending cuts approved by House Republicans could hurt teachers, older adults needing food aid and veterans seeking health care.

It's part of a broader campaign by Biden to try to paint the Republican cuts as draconian. Aides believe that message both strengthens his position in talks with the GOP and boosts his nascent 2024 reelection effort. His Wednesday visit will be to a congressional district won by Biden in 2020 but now represented by a Republican, Rep. Mike Lawler.

Because the House Republican bill does not specifically spell out which federal programs would be cut, Democrats have gone on offense warning of steep hits to popular programs. The Democratic-aligned group House Majority Forward announced a $1 million campaign Tuesday amplifying such cuts, while the House Republicans' campaign committee countered with its own effort portraying Democrats as addicted to spending.

McCarthy said his caucus would take steps to increase funding for veterans despite their overall proposal. First of all, cutting the veterans is a lie, he said.

While calling for a clean increase to the debt limit, Biden has said he is open to discussion about how to reduce the federal deficit. His budget plan would trim deficits by nearly $3 trillion over a decade, mainly through tax increases on the wealthy and changes such as letting the government negotiate over prescription drug prices.

In response to McCarthys demand to claw back some unspent funds from his sweeping COVID-19 relief package, Biden said he would take a hard look at doing so independent of the talks to raise the debt limit.

We dont need it all, but the question is what obligations were there made, commitments made, money not dispersed, etc., Biden said, adding, Its on the table.

Biden added the debt limit should be raised for more than a year, so that we can move things along. The House GOP bill raised the possibility of another showdown over the governments borrowing authority in the heat of a presidential election next year.

While the financial markets have started to show some jitters, the business community has thus far largely avoided backing either side in the showdown and instead called for a deal to be struck.

Securing a bipartisan path forward to raise the debt ceiling could not be more urgent, said Josh Bolten, the head of the Business Roundtable, a group that represents CEOs. The cost of a default, or even the threat of a default, is simply too high.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggested its own priorities for a swift deal Tuesday, saying "there are no two better places to start than permitting reform and an agreement on spending caps.

Biden's refusal to negotiate on the debt limit is informed by his firsthand experience in 2011, when he was Barack Obama's vice president and the administration made painful concessions to Republicans in an effort to avoid default. Biden has told aides it's an experience he refuses to repeat, not just for himself, but for future presidents.

Notably, though, the administration has not ruled out a short-term increase in the debt limit that would align the deadline to increase federal borrowing authority with the talks on government spending that must be resolved by Sept. 30.
READING, Pa.  Reading's mayor and chief of police commented at a City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night on three different shooting incidents which occurred over the weekend.

Chief of Police Richard Tornielli offered the details of the incidents:

On May 6 at 6 p.m. in the area of Birch and Greenwich streets, a 16-year-old male was shot dead on the sidewalk.

On May 7 at 8:30 p.m., the police responded to a reported shooting in the 1000 block of Patton Avenue. Jarelle Baez, an 18-year-old male, was deceased, and a 21-year-old male  who was walking in the area  was struck by gunshots and transported to the hospital.

In the early morning hours of May 8, a 27-year-old male victim sustained gunshots to the arm and leg at Sixth and Spruce streets.

"We have been able to determine that (May 8) incident, like the other two, involved a confrontation between individuals prior to the shooting," Tornielli said. "At this time, we don't believe any of these incidents are connected."

Tornielli said the police are pursuing the investigations as quickly as possible to make sure there are not any further acts of violence.

2:20 Trio of weekend shootings leaves 2 teens dead, 2 others wounded, in Reading These shootings follow a news conference on Friday where police said gun violence in the city is down compared to last year.

"One of our biggest concerns is getting the information that we have, comparing it with intelligence that we know, and getting ahead  trying to disrupt any further acts of violence related to these incidents," he said.

"While we don't believe these are connected at this time, there always is the potential for retaliatory incidents taking place," Tornielli added.

Council asked how members of the community can help.

"It looks like all of these incidents this weekend occurred following some type of dispute," Tornielli said. "I encourage folks to call in to the police when those incidents are happening."

"If you see a dispute on the street, or you see folks arguing or about to fight on the street, call them in before it turns to this level of violence," he said. "And again, those reports to our communication center can be anonymous. And we can collect that information anonymously, and send our officers out there to deal with it."

Tornielli also warned community members to not rely on information posted on social media.

"The information that's coming out on social media isn't vetted, and it's extremely unfortunate in some instances," Tornielli added. "It doesn't serve any interest to public safety; it's self-serving to those individuals, and it's unfortunate."

Mayor Eddie Moran said the city cannot rely on the police for everything.

"I don't care if I turn blue saying what I'm about to say, but I'm going to continue to say that our kiddos  kiddos are dying, and we cannot allow that," Moran said.

"We have to play our part," he continued. "We need to get our community involved. I keep saying it, and lately  unfortunately  I've been saying it more than ever that it takes a village to raise a child. I need this village to come together."

"I'm hurting seeing those kiddos losing their lives," Moran added. "I will continue to advocate accordingly, not only with our city, but of any resources in the county and state."

"I'm going to continue to reach out for grant opportunities that are available," he said. "We cannot depend on law enforcement alone."

Youth violence prevention website

Also Monday, council authorized an amendment of the American Rescue Plan Act budget to appropriate $50,000 for the creation of a website to provide visibility and access to information for a consortium of nonprofit groups working to create safer streets and neighborhoods throughout the city.

The funds will provide coverage for the first three years of having the website up and running.

"There's so many great organizations in Reading, and we really need to touch those individuals, our kids that are involved in gangs," said Councilwoman Melissa Ventura.

At a news conference on Friday, Reading police had said that gun violence in the city is down when compared to last year. Police are asking anyone with information on these recent shootings to contact them.
Pennsylvania State Police are hosting two upcoming car seat events.

Troopers will be available to install or check car seats next week in Bath, then the following week in Dublin.

No appointment is necessary.

1. Monday, May 15, 2-6 p.m.

Bath Borough Municipal Building - 121 S. Walnut St., Bath, Northampton County

2. Tuesday, May 23, 2-6 p.m.

Bucks County Auto Care - 232 Dublin Pike, Dublin, Bucks County
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Police in Bethlehem say a Florida man scammed a Chinese citizen studying at Lehigh University out of $50,000.

Bowen Lyu, 24, is charged with theft by deception and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, according to court paperwork.

The Bethlehem Police Department received a report of wire fraud from the Lehigh University student in May 2022. The student said that in late April he got a phone call from a person claiming to be a law enforcement official from China.

The person, later identified as Lyu, told the student that he had intercepted a package the student had sent to China, which contained items related to money laundering, court documents say. The student was told he would be arrested if he didn't return to China as soon as possible.

The student was directed to send $150,000 via wire transfer to resolve the issue, according to court paperwork. The student said he ultimately wired $50,000 to Lyu.

The student said that during a Skype conversation with Lyu he began to realize it may be a scam, but the $50,000 had already been transferred, court documents say.

The student provided police officers with banking information Lyu provided him, which indicated the money was transferred to an account in Lyu's name, according to city police. Authorities obtained search warrants for the bank records and confirmed the account was in Lyu's name, according to court paperwork.
The federal government is taking an interest in little Upper Mount Bethel Township (population 6,700), but not to try to stop the River Pointe Logistics development.

The National Park Service and UMBT plan to hold talks about Lou Pektor's industrial development along the Delaware River, just not about whether Pektor can move ahead with the project.

"We don't have jurisdiction and we certainly don't want to do stop the project in any way," John Harlan Warren, a communications specialist with the Park Service, said Tuesday.

The service's interest lies in the "viewshed" from federal open space along the river. The term viewshed, as Warren said, means "you can see it from there."

The Park Service has land on both sides of the Delaware River near RPL. The federal land includes the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Appalachian Trail and the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River.

"It's going to be very large and it's right on the river, which means our visitors will be able to see it," Warren said, explaining the NPS's interest in River Pointe.

RPL has been in the works for years, and for just as long, a dogged band of opponents has opposed, contending it will bring traffic, warehouses, noise and pollution to their rural community.

The opposition keeps running into the same problem: Pektor owns the land and the property is zoned for industrial development. Some of it is "brownfield," or formerly used for industry, and some is open space, but it is zoned for industry.

Pektor declined to comment Tuesday, on the grounds that the issue is between the Park Service and the township.

Pektor has not announced any tenants yet, but he has said the land near Route 80 and New York-area markets is too valuable for just warehouses. His goal, he contends, is to bring in manufacturers, such as food companies.

Warren said the Park Service wants to provide advice that can help RPL be a better development.

"We have expertise in some matters that could help this project become even more successful," he said. "We would like to contribute that expertise."

He reiterated: "We have no intention of stopping this. We only have the intention of making this even more successful with perhaps a lighter environmental footprint."

Township Manager Ed Nelson said meetings will be set up, but they will be administrative, not public. Nelson is a supporter of RPL, saying the township needs a tax base. More than 80% of UMBT land is protected from full taxation because it is open space, preserved farmland or otherwise shielded from property tax. UMBT covers 44 square miles. The RPL land covers just 3% of the township's 28,000 acres.

"They just want to be part of the conversation," Nelson said of the Park Service. Nelson said he has tried to contact the NPS before, about cleaning up the river when the COVID-19 pandemic increased use of the Delaware.

Nelson said the NPS land does not extend to Portland or Upper Mount Bethel, and that the service has not tried to involve itself in local matters. In Pennsylvania, land-use decisions are decided by municipalities.

Now that the federal government is interested, Nelson suggested another task.

"Maybe they can fix the road," he said, noting the closing of Route 611 because of fallen rocks.
SALISBURY TWP., Pa.  Edward P. Cullen, the former leader of the Catholic church in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties, died Tuesday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital, according to the Diocese of Allentown. He was 90.

Cullen, who was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Yeadon, Delaware County, served as the diocese's third bishop for 11 years before he retired in 2009.

"Bishop Cullen lived his life as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and His Church," the diocese's current bishop, Alfred Schlert, said in a statement. "He was visionary in spiritual, pastoral, and temporal matters."

Cullen was known for his work to protect children, care for victims of abuse, and work with law enforcement in the 5-county diocese.

"He enhanced protections for children and young people. He enhanced care for victims of abuse, and he forged bonds of cooperation with law enforcement," said Matthew Kirby, the diocese's media relations director.

Cullen worked to remove offending priests from ministry and advocated for a zero-tolerance policy for church law, the diocese said.

"He was very easy to speak with," said The Rev. Stan Moczydlowski of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church. "He was very kind and very humble. I think in his years since he retired, he's had a lot of time to pray."

In 2002, Cullen became the first bishop in Pennsylvania to call a meeting of the district attorneys of the diocese's five counties  Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill. At the meeting, he turned over the personnel files of all priests with abuse allegations against them, the diocese said.

He also expanded criminal background checks for priests, deacons, employees and volunteers, and created the diocese's sex abuse policy and code of conduct.

Also as bishop, he created a review board to deal with abuse cases, and created the position of victim assistance coordinator.

Cullen resigned in May 2009 at the age of 76. In retirement, he wrote literature and helped officiate confirmations.

"When we speak of someone passing," Moczydlowski said, "there's a sadness in letting them go but there's also joy in the fact that they're going to heaven."

Before becoming bishop, Cullen spent his life in and around Philadelphia, where he was born on March 15, 1933, the second of five children in a traditional Irish-Catholic family.

He attended West Catholic High School, where he excelled in athletics, especially football and track. After high school, he enrolled as an engineering student at Drexel Institute of Technology, now Drexel University.

Cullen then entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, to prepare for the priesthood. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1958 and a master of divinity degree in 1974. He was ordained a priest on May 19, 1962, by Cardinal John Krol, then the archbishop of Philadelphia.
A federal judge has granted a motion allowing settlement talks between four women and a Schuylkill County commissioner.

The women accuse Commissioner George Halcovage of violating sexual harassment policies. The women are all Schuylkill County workers.

There's no word yet when settlement talks will begin.

The workers suing Halcovage turned down a settlement offer earlier this year. Halcovage denies the allegations.

He is up for re-election in next week's Republican primary.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - A Warren County, New Jersey man is being accused of stealing three vehicles collectively valued at over $10,000.

Christopher Gordon, of Alpha, is being charged with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief, according to a news release from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

The Phillipsburg Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Liberty Street in Alpha on May 4 for the report of a burglary and theft. Somebody had broken into the victim's shed, and stole three off-road vehicles, which were collectively valued at over $10,000, the prosecutor's office said.

Police canvassed the area. Video footage was obtained, leading to the discovery of a suspect vehicle, according to the prosecutor's office.

After an investigation, authorities brought charges against Gordon.

The Phillipsburg Police Department is continuing the investigation to locate the stolen vehicles.
Bahrains Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) is set to host the second of its quarterly Business Law Forum for 2023 on Thursday (May 11) at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain.

With these forums, the Bahrain EDB aims to establish a platform to facilitate a space for stakeholders and experts to regularly discuss and debate topical issues, learn about the latest development in the realm of business law and assess the need for improving existing laws or the introduction of new laws to improve the ecosystem for doing business in the kingdom, a statement said.

In view of the Bahrain EDBs mandate to attract investment opportunities and enhance Bahrains investment climate, it champions regularly reviewing existing business legislation and establishing dynamic business laws, with a particular focus on addressing potential issues in ICT and priority sectors outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan, as this is considered vital to support the development of a business-friendly environment.

Moreover, it helps to enhance the ecosystem to attract investment and further diversify the economy, thereby stimulate economic growth and increase high-value opportunities for employment, said the statement.

Among several topics to be discussed, this forum will focus on knowledge exchange and discussion of digital markets, digital services, and data governance.

This focus will be the subject of a presentation titled Recent EU Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act and Data Governance Act: Should the GCC be inspired? delivered by Dino Wilkinson of Clyde and Co, whos one of the leading technology lawyers in the region with 20 years of experience and respected contributions to IT, media and telecommunications law.

Luca Castellani, Legal Officer in the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), will discuss the most contentious issues in the international sale of goods.

The forum will also discuss recent developments in company law and commerce law together with other topical legal issues. The forum will feature other speakers including Noor Radhi, a Deputy Senior Partner at Hassan Radhi and Associates, Izabella Szarkowski, Partner in the Corporate Structuring Team, and finally Jameel Al Alawi, Senior Legal advisor at Bahrain EDB.

Dr Jameel Al Alawi, Senior Legal Advisor at the Bahrain EDB, said: We in EDB are proud to organize these quarterly business law forums. Through these forums, we hope to build on Bahrains pioneering strides towards enriching the business ecosystem, by enabling discussion and debate and providing relevant insights to further elevate Bahrains competitiveness on a global map.  TradeArabia News Service
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 08, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capstone Copper Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS)

The Company announces the appointment of Mr. Peter Meredith as Lead Independent Director, and the resignation of Mr. George Brack, who had previously served as Capstones Board Chair and most recently, Lead Independent Director. "I have greatly enjoyed my time serving on the Capstone Board over the past 14 years. I believe the company is in the best shape it has ever been in and has all the necessary ingredients to thrive and seize on the opportunities that lie ahead of it. I am extremely confident with the leadership of the management team and the Board of Directors." Mr. George Brack commented. Mr. Darren Pylot, Chairman of the Board, commented, "Mr. Brack has been a valued board member for over fourteen years. On behalf of Capstone's Leadership Team and Board of Directors, I would like to thank George for his strong leadership and invaluable insights, which have helped Capstone grow into a leading mid-cap copper company with peer-leading growth. We all join in wishing him the very best in the future."

Mr. Meredith has been a Director of Capstone since 2019 and has served as Chair of the Audit Committee and Chair of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. Mr. Meredith also serves on the Board of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. He has previously been a Deputy Chairman and Director of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., and a former Chairman of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation as well as several other corporate board roles. He spent thirtyone years with Deloitte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants. Mr. Meredith is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Capstone also welcomes Patricia Palacios as a new Independent Director. Ms. Palacios brings to the Company over 30 years of experience as a lawyer, advisor, director, and senior corporate executive in the renewable energy industry. Ms. Palacios has also served as a board director for 12 years. She is recognized for her expertise in corporate governance, people management and risk management. Patricia Palacios becomes the first Chilean member of the Capstone Board.

Story continues

"We are very pleased with the addition of Patricia Palacios as a new member of the Board of Directors. Her strategic vision for Chile, legal background, extensive experience in matters of sustainability and community liaising, and strong comprehensive approach to the various areas of the Company will be an essential contribution to Capstone Copper," said Darren M. Pylot, Chairman of the Board.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005770/en/

Contacts

Jerrold Annett, SVP, Strategy & Capital Markets

647-273-7351

jannett@capstonecopper.com

Daniel Sampieri, Director, Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis

437-788-1767

dsampieri@capstonecopper.com
A worker was killed Thursday when a powerful explosion tore through a pharmaceutical chemical plant in Massachusetts. The fire department did not publicly identify the person who died, but said crews recovered the body from the building. A U.S. senator is calling for increased accountability. The explosion happened around 1 a.m. at the Sequens/PCI Synthesis plant in Newburyport. Video shows most of the roof torn off the building. The company says four workers were released from the hospital uninjured. It isn't yet known what caused the explosion, but the company has been cited with previous safety violations.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel launched targeted airstrikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing three senior commanders of the Islamic Jihad militant group in their homes and at least 10 civilians, Palestinian health officials said. Two of the commanders' wives, several of their children and civilian neighbors  including a hospital director, his wife and son  were among the dead.

The attacks set the stage for what is likely to be a new round of fighting a week after an exchange of fire between Israel and Islamic Jihad. Tuesday's airstrikes targeted an apartment and house in Gaza City and a third house in the southern town of Rafah. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20 people were wounded.

Israel also targeted Islamic Jihad training sites before the airstrikes halted at daybreak. After an hourslong lull, the military said it struck a vehicle carrying anti-tank guided missiles to a launchpad in enclave's southern city of Khan Younis. Two people were killed in that attack, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, without providing their identities. No militant group immediately claimed the two as members.

At midday, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets for two giant funerals, with at least 10 bodies carried on stretchers in a mass procession in Gaza City. Children's coffins were carried next to those of their parents.

Such targeted killings are rare, and in the past, Palestinian militant groups have retaliated with intense barrages of rocket fire.

In a prime-time televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country would need to be patient in the coming days and that he had instructed the army to prepare for every possible scenario of escalation, including the likelihood that this could be on multiple fronts. Tonight I say to our enemies, every escalation by you will be answered with an overwhelming response," he said.

In anticipation of rocket fire, the Israeli military advised residents of communities within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of Gaza to stay close to designated bomb shelters. Israel's Home Front command ordered the closure of schools, beaches and highways in cities and towns in southern Israel, and limited public gatherings. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the call-up of reserves.

The Israeli military alleged that the three militants it targeted had been responsible for recent rocket fire toward Israel. It identified them as Khalil Bahtini, the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza Strip; Tareq Izzeldeen, the group's intermediary between its Gaza and West Bank members; and Jehad Ghanam, the secretary of the Islamic Jihad's military council.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, described the three militants as a source of instability. He alleged that Izzeldeen, for instance, had been trying to establish a rocket-manufacturing operation in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 13 killed in the predawn strikes included four women and four children. That included Bahtini's wife and 4-year-old daughter and Izzeldeen's two young children. In the southern city of Rafah, Ghanam and his 62-year-old wife were killed in their home, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza.

Other uninvolved civilians who happened to live nearby were also killed. The strike on Izzeldeen's home killed three members of a family living upstairs  Jamal Khaswan, a prominent local dentist and chairman of Al-Wafaa Hospital, his wife and his 19-year-old son, Yousef, who was studying to be a dentist like his father, the rights group reported. Russian diplomats in the West Bank said Khaswan had Russian citizenship. A widely shared video showed their distraught young daughter, Miral, arriving alone at Gaza's main hospital and crying out for her father.

A simultaneous airstrike on Bahtinis home in eastern Gaza City killed two teenage sisters living in the apartment next door, the rights group said.

Danias blood was on her desk and bed. Eman was covered in debris," said their cousin, Ihab Adas. She said the sisters had gone to sleep shortly after Danias fiancee left the apartment. The girls' room was destroyed, she added.

Hagari expressed regret over the civilian casualties, but said they were impossible to avoid because Islamic Jihad operates inside residential areas.

From Israels perspective, Hagari added, the operation was over. But he said it would react to further attacks by Islamic Jihad or any other militant group. We have achieved our goals, he said. Now the ball is on the other side.

The Israeli airstrikes drew condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, which often mediates between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. The Arab League denounced the airstrikes as atrocious. The European Union said it was gravely concerned." France issued a stronger statement, saying it condemns all attacks that target civilians, and specifically those ... in which several Palestinian civilians were killed.

Palestinian militants in Gaza vowed revenge. Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said there would be a unified Palestinian response to the strikes at a time and place of the group's choosing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that Israel will pay the price for the killings. Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance, said Haniyeh.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are both Iranian-backed groups that oppose Israel's existence and possess large arsenals of rockets and other weapons. Over the past year, the larger and more powerful Hamas has stayed mostly on the sidelines, while allowing Islamic Jihad to carry out attacks.

Islamic Jihad bombarded Israel with over 100 rockets last week after one of its senior members in the West Bank died from an 87-day hunger strike while in Israeli custody. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes and the exchange of fire ended with a fragile cease-fire.

Hagari said Israel had been planning the operation for the past week following Islamic Jihad's rocket fire but waited until Tuesday for what he said were the right conditions.

If Hamas joins the fighting, it would likely trigger an even heavier Israeli response. Two years ago, Israel and Hamas fought a brief war that killed over 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.

The sudden airstrikes come at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been conducting near-daily raids for months to detain suspected Palestinian militants, including many from Islamic Jihad. Israel says the raids in the West Bank are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the attacks as further entrenchment of Israels 56-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for a future state. So far, 105 Palestinians, about half of them affiliated with militant groups, have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the start of 2023, according to an Associated Press tally. At least 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel.

Tuesday's airstrikes recalled Israel's similar targeted attacks that killed Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza in the summer of 2022. The surprise strikes set off a three-day blitz that led to the deaths of the militant group's two top commanders and other militants. Some two dozen Palestinian civilians  who have paid a high price over the years in Israeli attacks on Gaza  were also killed.

Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre, Josef Federman and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Donald Trump's defense lawyer told jurors in New York City that they would have to believe the unbelievable to accept a columnist's claims that the former president sexually attacked her in a department store in 1996. Attorney Joe Tacopina urged jurors during closing arguments in the Manhattan federal court civil trial to reject writer E. Jean Carroll's claims. Her attorneys say they have proven that the attack occurred. They criticized Trump for never attending the trial or taking the witness stand. During the two-week trial, jurors saw a deposition in which Trump said Carroll made up the claims to boost sales of a 2019 memoir.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden predicted Tuesday that the U.S.-Mexico border would be chaotic for a while" when pandemic-related restrictions end, as 550 active-duty troops began arriving and migrants weighed whether or when to cross.

The restrictions have been in place since 2020, and allowed U.S. officials to quickly return migrants over the border. They are ending later this week and the U.S. is putting into place a set of new policies that will clamp down on illegal crossings while offering migrants a legal path to the United States if they apply online through a government app, have a sponsor and pass background checks.

Biden said his administration was working to make the change orderly. But it remains to be seen," he told reporters. "It's going to be chaotic for a while.

Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke for roughly an hour Tuesday to discuss the border. Mexico shares a 1,951-mile border with the United States, so the nation is key to the success of any plans by the United States to control immigration at the southern border.

Migrants are already arriving. About 100 people  mostly from Colombia  came across the border before dawn Tuesday and walked nearly two hours through remote, boulder-strewn mountains east of San Diego to a sandy plateau where Border Patrol agents watched over them.

Andres Barra, 39, left Colombia on Friday, flew to Tijuana, Mexico, and paid a smuggler $300 to guide him to a mountain peak near the agents, to whom they surrendered. He fled Colombia because frequent robbery and extortion made it difficult to live.

He said he wanted to enter the United States while the restrictions were still in effect, because he heard it would be more difficult after Thursday.

It wont be so easy anymore, he said.

Agents in the U.S. Border Patrols relatively quiet El Centro, California, sector stopped about 260 migrants a day over a four- or five-day period through Sunday, up from about 90 a day the previous week, said Gregory Bovino, the sector chief. On Monday, agents found migrants from 22 countries.

In the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas, groups handed out fliers Tuesday that explained in English and Haitian Creole how to register for the CBP One app that the U.S. has been using to allow migrants to schedule an appointment to try to gain admittance to the U.S.

Standing in Reynosas central square Tuesday, Phanord Renel of Haiti said he would not risk deportation to cross. We dont want to go back there (Haiti) because the situation is very complicated there, he said. If we cant cross, we have to put up with it here, maybe the government will do something for us, but cross illegally  no.

U.S. and international law give migrants the right to seek asylum. However, the U.S. has used Title 42 of a public health law to expel migrants with no chance at asylum 2.8 million times since March 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The Biden administration has said it is ready to deal with whatever happens after Title 42's use ends, although it has also repeatedly criticized Congress for not making changes to the country's immigration system.

We believe we have a robust process to deal with what is going to occur after Title 42 lifts. Again, were using the tools that are available to us because Congress refuses to do their job as it relates to the border," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

The movement of troops is part of efforts to beef up security along the southern border, but they will mainly be used to help monitor and watch the border, or do data entry and support, and are not there in any way to be interacting with migrants, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary. The goal is to free up U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel to do law enforcement activities.

At least some of the active-duty troops will be used near El Paso, Texas, he said, while adding that CBP will decide where forces will go. More than 900 additional soldiers, Marines and airmen will follow around the end of May.

Roughly 2,500 National Guard members are already spread across all sectors of the border, providing an array of support to CBP, including monitoring, detection and air transportation. Separately, Texas National Guard troops are also working along the border under state authority.

Even with the COVID-19 asylum restrictions still in place, the administration has seen record numbers of people crossing the border. The Biden administration's plan is meant to crack down on those who cross illegally and by creating new pathways meant to offer alternatives to a dangerous and often deadly journey.

Some migrants have been spurred by false information from smugglers or widespread rumors about what the changes will mean for their chances of being able to remain in the U.S.

Its a very complicated legal system and its becoming increasingly difficult to communicate the realities of our clients, Daniel Berlin, of the International Rescue Committee, said. While we try to communicate the most accurate and up to date information that we have, smugglers and traffickers and other bad actors are communicating false information.

Effects have also been felt far from the southern border. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in response to a tenfold increase in the number of asylum-seekers arriving in the city in need of temporary shelter and other help.

Chicago officials have warned for several weeks that its shelters can't accommodate the larger number of migrants arriving daily since late April. Migrants have been sheltering inside city police stations or airports because city-run shelters are full.

Associated Press reporters Rebecca Santana, Elliot Spagat in Imperial, California, Mark Stevenson in Mexico City, Katie Foody in Chicago, Gerardo Carrillo in Reynosa, Mexico contributed to this report.
Local Red Robin Franchisee Ansara Restaurant Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary Serving Gourmet Burgers in Michigan with 30% of Daily Proceeds Donation to Make-A-Wish Michigan from all 21 Locations

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 10, 2023, local Red Robin franchisee Ansara Restaurant Group, who owns and operates all 19 Red Robin restaurants in Michigan and two in Ohio, will celebrate 30 years of Red Robin hospitality in the state by donating 30 percent of proceeds* to Make-A-Wish Michigan. Ansara Restaurant Group opened Michigan's first Red Robin location in Novi on May 10, 1993. Today, they own and operate 21 Red Robins locally and employ more than 2,000 people.

Ansara is celebrating 30 years as a Red Robin franchisee and offering 30% of proceeds to Make-A-Wish Michigan on May 10th.

The Ansara Restaurant Group is a multi-generational, family-owned business founded by Andrew and George Ansara, who immigrated to Michigan from a small mountain village in Lebanon in 1951. They came to Michigan with hopes of beginning a new life and living the American dream of owning their own business. Today, Andrew's and George's family continues to build upon their dreams through their many restaurants and concepts. A family tradition since 1961, Ansara Restaurant Group continues to follow the high standards and values established by Andrew and George Ansara more than 60 years ago.

The following Red Robin locations throughout Michigan and Ohio will donate 30 percent of proceeds to Make-A-Wish Michigan:

Ann Arbor, Brighton, Clinton Township, Commerce Township, Flint, Grandville, Holland, Kentwood, Lansing, Livonia, Madison Heights, Norton Shores, Novi, Pittsfield, Portage, Roseville, Southgate, Troy, Westland, Maumee, and Toledo

*30% of proceeds (dine-in, to-go and catering) on May 10, 2023 will be donated to Make-A-Wish Michigan from participating Red Robin locations. Excludes third-party, gift cards, retail, alcohol, tax and gratuity.

PHOTO: Historic photo of 1993 Novi ribbon cutting

Red Robin Signature Whiskey River Burger

Make-A-Wish Flier

Story continues

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews (PRNewsFoto/Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cheers-to-thirty-years-granting-local-wishes-one-yummm-at-a-time-301819705.html

SOURCE Ansara Restaurant Group
(Bloomberg) -- China has launched a nationwide anti-espionage crackdown on consulting firms, according to state media, accusing one global company of leaking state secrets and having ties with foreign intelligence agencies.

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On orders from Chinas central government, authorities carried out synchronized operations in cities including the financial powerhouses of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, a provincial TV channel in Jiangsu province reported Monday night. The state broadcaster didnt say where it got the information or provide a timeframe for the raids.

State security officials visited the Suzhou branch of Capvision, a consulting firm with headquarters in New York and Shanghai, the broadcaster said. Capvision employees in the city that neighbors Shanghai were questioned and some items were searched and seized, according to the report, which didnt identify whether other firms were also targeted.

Security officials have found Capvision accepted consulting projects from overseas companies with close ties to foreign governments, military and intelligence agencies, according to a Tuesday report shared by the official WeChat account of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Communist Partys top legal body.

Capvision said in a statement posted to its WeChat account on Monday evening that it will resolutely stick to national-security policies and take the lead to guide the healthy development of the consulting industry.

Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called the probe normal law enforcement actions designed to develop a well-regulated sector, at a regular briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Story continues

Beijing has taken several steps in recent months to tighten foreign access to sensitive information amid growing tensions with the US, despite Premier Li Qiangs recent vow to establish a broad space for foreign companies in China. The government last month passed a vague new counter-espionage law that expanded the list of activities that could be considered spying, intensifying the risks for foreign firms.

US consultancies  often used by overseas investors and multinational companies to conduct due diligence and research in China  are particularly in the spotlight. In recent weeks, authorities have questioned staff at the China offices of US consultancy Bain & Company and targeted New York-based due-diligence enterprise Mintz Group.

Foreign companies need to assess whether the work theyre doing in China might be viewed as supporting a hostile agenda, said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at advisory firm Teneo Holdings LLC in New York. Information that on its face doesnt appear sensitive or relevant to national security might be viewed as such if its used in the context of providing advice in service of an anti-China or pro-decoupling agenda.

Its not clear where the red lines are, so any work that sits in a gray area should probably be performed outside China, Wildau added. My sense from the recent incidents is that Chinese staff and long-term expatriates are at greater risk than visiting executives, he said.

State Secrets

Chinese authorities have recently found that overseas institutions with complex backgrounds have relied on domestic consulting companies to steal state secrets, according to the Tuesday report shared by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

The report cited a police officer from Shanghais national security bureau as saying Capvision also accepted consulting projects in sensitive fields such as national defense and cutting-edge technology. This compelled its staff members to call military enterprises and sensitive research units for information  both areas where Washington has imposed trade restrictions on China in recent months.

In that environment, Beijing has pushed to curtail access by overseas firms to Chinese data sources, in part, in response to a series of reports written by US research institutions that have reinforced Washingtons hard line on China, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Chinese services such as Wind Information Co. in recent months stopped providing detailed data on the nations companies to overseas clients. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the countrys powerful internet overseer, also notified data providers in March to restrict overseas access to sensitive information such as patents and statistics, the Journal reported, citing people who have consulted with Chinese authorities.

Registry databases at Qichacha and TianYanCha  companies that provide similar services  have also been inaccessible for some time to users outside mainland China, according to several people familiar with the matter.

--With assistance from Li Liu, Jacob Gu, Lucille Liu, Jon Herskovitz, Rebecca Choong Wilkins and Sarah Zheng.

(Updates with Chinese foreign ministry comment in sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's imports contracted sharply in April, while exports rose at a slower pace, reinforcing signs of feeble domestic demand despite the lifting of COVID curbs and heaping pressure on an economy already struggling in the face of cooling global growth.

China's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged and the latest trade numbers point to a long road to regaining the pre-pandemic momentum at home.

Inbound shipments to the world's second-largest economy fell 7.9% year on year in April, extending the 1.4% decline seen a month earlier, while exports grew 8.5%, easing from the 14.8% surge in March, customs data showed on Tuesday.

Economists in a Reuters poll had predicted no growth in imports and an 8.0% increase in exports.

"At the beginning of this year, one would assume that imports will easily surpass 2022 levels following the reopening, but that hasn't been the case," said Xu Tianchen, an economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

"While China's post-COVID rebound has been swift and sharp, it has been largely self-contained and not felt by the rest of the world," he added.

Government officials have repeatedly warned of a "severe" and "complicated" external environment in the wake of mounting recession risks for many of China's key trading partners.

The sharp deterioration in last month's trade flows will only renew worries about the state of external demand and risks posed to the domestic economy, especially given the frail recovery from a year earlier when inbound and outbound shipments were severely disrupted by China's COVID-19 restrictions.

"Given the gloomy outlook for external demand, we think exports will decline further before bottoming out later this year," said Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics in a note.

Story continues

The data appeared to push Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks lower, although global factors were also at play. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 1.11% in the early afternoon while China's blue chip CSI300 Index was 0.26% weaker, after climbing 0.5% before the lunch break.

Sharp shrink in China's April imports, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CHINA-ECONOMY/TRADE/gdpzqajjgvw/chart.png

IMPORT STRESS

The downturn in imports suggests the world economy won't be able to count much on China's domestic engine of growth, and as the nation re-exports some of its imports, it also reinforces the extent of weakness in some of its major trading partner economies.

A 15.3% drop in the import of semiconductors indicate the scale of the demand-pullback in the re-export market for such parts.

Analysts say the sharp global monetary policy tightening campaign of the past 12-18 months and recent Western banking stress remain concerns for revival prospects of both China and worldwide.

Shipments growth to ASEAN - a block of Southeast Asian countries - slowed to 4.5% in April from 35.4% last month. The region is China's largest export partner.

Other recent data also showed South Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, were down 26.5% in April, continuing 10 consecutive months of decline.

China's coal imports fell in April from a 15-month high in the prior month, snapping back as demand weakens in Asian giant. Imports of copper - a proxy for global growth - and natural gas were also down in the same period.

The recent official manufacturing purchasing managers' index for April showed new export orders contracting sharply, underlining the challenge facing Chinese policymakers and businesses hoping for a robust post-COVID economic recovery.

China's first quarter GDP data last month, while offering some relief, also raised doubts about the demand outlook due to property market weakness, slowing prices and surging bank savings.

The government, which has stepped up a range of policy support measures, is aiming for a modest GDP growth target of around 5% for this year, after badly missing the 2022 goal.

"The global economy is deteriorating and will weaken China's manufacturing sector," said Iris Pang, chief China economist at ING.

"It is looking more likely that, in response, the government will step in to support the manufacturing sector's labour market through fiscal stimulus."

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

4/26/2023  Nabors Industries had its maintains rating reaffirmed by analysts at 888 Holdings plc.

4/26/2023  Nabors Industries was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating.

4/26/2023  Nabors Industries had its price target lowered by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $195.00 to $176.00.

4/26/2023  Nabors Industries had its price target lowered by analysts at Susquehanna from $135.00 to $110.00.

4/18/2023  Nabors Industries was upgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating. They now have a $165.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $175.00.

4/3/2023  Nabors Industries had its price target lowered by analysts at Susquehanna from $215.00 to $135.00.

3/16/2023  Nabors Industries is now covered by analysts at StockNews.com. They set a hold rating on the stock.

3/14/2023  Nabors Industries had its neutral rating reaffirmed by analysts at Susquehanna. They now have a $215.00 price target on the stock.

Nabors Industries Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NBR traded down $1.19 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $95.91. The companys stock had a trading volume of 243,083 shares, compared to its average volume of 231,594. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $121.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $146.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 1.87. The company has a market cap of $914.98 million, a P/E ratio of -6.41 and a beta of 2.76. Nabors Industries Ltd. has a 12-month low of $91.11 and a 12-month high of $193.88.

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Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly 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 business had revenue of $769.34 million during 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%. On average, analysts forecast that Nabors Industries Ltd. will post 8.77 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nabors Industries

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NBR. ClariVest Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 214.2% in the first quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 17,611 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,149,000 after purchasing an additional 12,006 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Nabors Industries by 103.0% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 17,995 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,194,000 after acquiring an additional 9,130 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in Nabors Industries by 127.6% in the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,488 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $790,000 after acquiring an additional 3,637 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC lifted its stake in Nabors Industries by 328.4% in the first quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 29,627 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,612,000 after acquiring an additional 22,711 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lifted its stake in Nabors Industries by 41.6% in the first quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 8,457 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,031,000 after acquiring an additional 2,486 shares during the last quarter. 71.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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Alaska Permanent Fund Corp increased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) by 9.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 233,390 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,552 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corps holdings in Pfizer were worth $11,959,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 493,584,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $21,599,270,000 after buying an additional 5,139,634 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 13.2% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,097,341,000 after buying an additional 6,972,650 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 56,659,179 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,479,407,000 after buying an additional 317,858 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 2.5% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 41,242,414 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,804,896,000 after purchasing an additional 1,009,399 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 4.4% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 36,467,989 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,595,840,000 after purchasing an additional 1,529,779 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc acquired 1,811,594 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at $16,428,245.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Price Performance

PFE traded down $0.18 on Tuesday, hitting $38.49. 2,832,057 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,436,527. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $40.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.94. The firm has a market cap of $217.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $38.02 and a one year high of $54.93. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. Pfizer had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 31.25%. The business had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.62 EPS. The companys revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS 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 issued a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.26%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PFE has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Barclays cut their target price on Pfizer from $43.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Pfizer from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $51.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 target price on Pfizer in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $48.20.

Pfizer Profile

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Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases.

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Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT bought a new stake in Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,236 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $269,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 417.3% in the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 1,288 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $253,000 after buying an additional 1,039 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 1.5% in the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 103,472 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $20,364,000 after acquiring an additional 1,539 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International by 6.1% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 14,059 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,767,000 after acquiring an additional 804 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its holdings in Charles River Laboratories International by 3.0% during the third quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 29,592 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $5,824,000 after purchasing an additional 856 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pallas Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 10.2% in the third quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 7,289 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,583,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.80% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO James C. Foster sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $5,000,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 216,594 shares in the company, valued at $54,148,500. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Charles River Laboratories International news, CEO James C. Foster sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $5,000,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 216,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $54,148,500. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Shannon M. Parisotto sold 4,558 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.41, for a total transaction of $1,159,600.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,010 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,529,004.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 27,763 shares of company stock worth $6,974,921. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Charles River Laboratories International Stock Down 0.7 %

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Charles River Laboratories International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Charles River Laboratories International from $241.00 to $230.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price target on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $280.00 to $260.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Guggenheim upgraded shares of Charles River Laboratories International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $255.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $264.82.

Shares of NYSE CRL opened at $189.88 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.08. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has a 12-month low of $181.22 and a 12-month high of $262.00. The company has a market capitalization of $9.72 billion, a PE ratio of 20.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.34. The firms 50-day moving average is $200.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $219.90.

Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.98 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by $0.23. Charles River Laboratories International had a return on equity of 20.98% and a net margin of 12.23%. The firm had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.49 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 21.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will post 10.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles River Laboratories International Profile

(Get Rating)

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc is an early-stage contract research company, which provides research models required in the research and development of new drugs, devices, and therapies. It operates through the following segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions.

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Alpha Family Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 76.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,925 shares of the retailers stock after purchasing an additional 1,695 shares during the quarter. Alpha Family Trusts holdings in Walmart were worth $557,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WMT. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $443,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $536,000. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Walmart by 77.9% in 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 during the last quarter. PFS Investments Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $355,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky bought a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $17,529,000. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WMT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Cowen upped their price objective on Walmart from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Walmart from $159.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Barclays started coverage on Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Walmart from $168.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $165.13.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Walmart Stock Down 0.2 %

In other Walmart news, Director S Robson Walton sold 157,406 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total value of $21,722,028.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 260,926,943 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,007,918,134. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.37, for a total transaction of $1,382,127.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,371,994 shares in the company, valued at approximately $195,330,785.78. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 157,406 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.00, for a total value of $21,722,028.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 260,926,943 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,007,918,134. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 21,044,002 shares of company stock valued at $2,981,168,308 in the last three months. Insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock.

NYSE:WMT traded down $0.36 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $152.36. 1,711,999 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,070,125. The firm has a market cap of $410.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.77, a P/E/G ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a twelve month low of $117.27 and a twelve month high of $154.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.82. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $145.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $145.05.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) last issued its 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 company had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $158.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Walmarts payout ratio is currently 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.

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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).

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Alpha Family Trust cut its stake in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Get Rating) by 12.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,400 shares of the companys stock after selling 355 shares during the period. Alpha Family Trusts holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $364,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC bought a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 39.9% during the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Finally, Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 487.2% during the 4th quarter. Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 276 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the period. 62.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Procter & Gamble Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE PG traded down $1.38 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $153.92. The company had a trading volume of 1,913,478 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,511,754. The stock has a market cap of $362.78 billion, a PE ratio of 26.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.41. The Procter & Gamble Company has a one year low of $122.18 and a one year high of $158.11. The firms fifty day moving average price is $147.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $145.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Procter & Gamble Increases Dividend

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $20.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.32 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.18% and a net margin of 17.69%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.33 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st will be paid a $0.9407 dividend. This is a boost from Procter & Gambles previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is 65.51%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Andre Schulten sold 1,311 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.34, for a total transaction of $180,052.74. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,142 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,826,402.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 8,000 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.84, for a total transaction of $1,254,720.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,343 shares in the company, valued at $1,465,356.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Andre Schulten sold 1,311 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.34, for a total value of $180,052.74. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 35,142 shares in the company, valued at $4,826,402.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 99,424 shares of company stock valued at $15,416,750 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently weighed in on PG. StockNews.com raised Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Citigroup began coverage on Procter & Gamble in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $160.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $139.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, April 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $162.13.

Procter & Gamble Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Procter & Gamble Co engages in the provision of branded consumer packaged goods. It operates through the following segments: Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers hair, skin, and personal care. The Grooming segment consists of shave care like female and male blades and razors, pre and post shave products, and appliances.

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PARIS (Reuters) - Chinese-made electric vehicles pose the greatest threat to Europe's carmakers, the CEO of French brand Peugeot, part of Stellantis, said on Tuesday.

"For me the biggest danger [for electric vehicles prices] is the Chinese coming in (...) because they are coming with quite competitive prices and with very good vehicles," Linda Jackson told the FT "Future of The car" conference.

"So what we need to do is make sure that we have the technology and not necessarily trying to get the cheapest car, but get the best value for money."

She said recent price cuts by Tesla were adding the pressure faced by the auto industry and lowering the residual value of cars.

(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume, writing by Silvia Aloisi, editing by Tassilo Hummel)
AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 2nd, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.485 per share on Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th.

AmerisourceBergen has increased its dividend payment by an average of 5.2% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 18 consecutive years. AmerisourceBergen has a payout ratio of 15.3% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect AmerisourceBergen to earn $12.48 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.94 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 15.5%.

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AmerisourceBergen Stock Performance

Shares of ABC opened at $168.21 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $34.02 billion, a PE ratio of 21.62, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.52. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $160.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $161.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.13, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.53. AmerisourceBergen has a 1 year low of $135.14 and a 1 year high of $174.63.

Insider Buying and Selling

AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $3.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.21. AmerisourceBergen had a return on equity of 809.53% and a net margin of 0.65%. The firm had revenue of $63.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.22 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that AmerisourceBergen will post 11.8 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $1,574,850.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,695,050. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other AmerisourceBergen news, EVP Gina Clark sold 1,924 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.22, for a total transaction of $300,567.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 26,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,176,229.26. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $1,574,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at $38,695,050. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,922 shares of company stock worth $3,632,320 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 20.10% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AmerisourceBergen

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. United Bank raised its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 3,632 shares of the companys stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 518 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 29.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,193 shares of the companys stock valued at $803,000 after acquiring an additional 1,194 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp raised its holdings in AmerisourceBergen by 123.4% during the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $975,000 after acquiring an additional 3,480 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 22.5% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,767 shares of the companys stock valued at $430,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL grew its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 12.4% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 8,124 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 899 shares in the last quarter. 84.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ABC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on AmerisourceBergen in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Mizuho upped their price objective on AmerisourceBergen from $170.00 to $174.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays boosted their target price on AmerisourceBergen from $182.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. TheStreet raised AmerisourceBergen from a c rating to a b+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on AmerisourceBergen from $174.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $181.62.

About AmerisourceBergen

(Get Rating)

AmerisourceBergen Corp. engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products and business solutions that improve access to care. It operates through the Pharmaceutical Distribution Services and Other segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment distributes an offering of brand-name, specialty brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, and long-term care and alternate site pharmacies.

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Benchmark lowered shares of Arconic (NYSE:ARNC  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Friday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on ARNC. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Arconic from a neutral rating to a sell rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $23.00 to $21.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on Arconic in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on Arconic from $23.00 to $21.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered Arconic from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.67.

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Arconic Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ARNC opened at $29.12 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.90 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.27 and a beta of 1.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $26.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $23.51. Arconic has a twelve month low of $16.33 and a twelve month high of $31.24.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arconic

Arconic ( NYSE:ARNC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The basic materials company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. Arconic had a positive return on equity of 8.21% and a negative net margin of 2.29%. Arconics revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.39 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Arconic will post 1.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Arconic by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,311,764 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $520,389,000 after buying an additional 991,281 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Arconic by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,898,182 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $202,745,000 after buying an additional 111,451 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Arconic by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,239,379 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $211,093,000 after buying an additional 2,765,816 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Arconic by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,826,023 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $80,959,000 after buying an additional 228,875 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Arconic by 22.6% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,287,944 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $69,573,000 after buying an additional 606,506 shares during the period. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Arconic Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Arconic Corporation manufactures and sells aluminum sheets, plates, extrusions, and architectural products in the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Russia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Rolled Products, Building and Construction Systems, and Extrusions.

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Brookfield Asset Management (TSE:BAM  Get Rating) (NYSE:BAM) will post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, May 10th. Analysts expect Brookfield Asset Management to post earnings of C$0.44 per share for the quarter.

Brookfield Asset Management (TSE:BAM  Get Rating) (NYSE:BAM) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The company reported C$0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.41 by C$0.01. The company had revenue of C$1.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.38 billion. Brookfield Asset Management had a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 52.80%.

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Brookfield Asset Management Stock Up 1.8 %

TSE:BAM opened at C$44.07 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of C$17.46 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 629.57. Brookfield Asset Management has a one year low of C$36.65 and a one year high of C$48.19. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$43.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$47.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.62, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 2.80.

Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.426 per share. This is a boost from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.87%. Brookfield Asset Managements payout ratio is presently 2,471.43%.

Separately, TD Securities restated a buy rating and set a C$47.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Thursday, February 9th.

Brookfield Asset Management Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. It serves institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, endowments, foundations, financial institutions, insurance companies, and individual investors. The company was incorporated in 2022 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

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China BlueChemical Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CBLUY  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $11.19 and last traded at $11.19, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $11.19.

China BlueChemical Price Performance

The company has a fifty day moving average of $11.19 and a 200-day moving average of $11.19.

China BlueChemical Company Profile

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China BlueChemical Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells mineral fertilizers and chemical products in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company operates through Urea, Phosphorus and Compound Fertiliser, Methanol, and Others segments. It offers urea; mono-ammonium phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate, and compound fertilizers; methanol; and bulk blending fertilizers, and polyformaldehyde and woven plastic bags.

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Guggenheim upgraded shares of Cloudflare (NYSE:NET  Get Rating) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $67.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Cloudflare in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Cloudflare in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Cloudflare in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. They issued a sell rating and a $51.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Cloudflare from $50.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Cloudflare has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.04.

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Cloudflare Price Performance

NYSE NET opened at $46.31 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20, a quick ratio of 4.40 and a current ratio of 4.40. The firms 50 day moving average price is $57.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.63. Cloudflare has a 52-week low of $37.37 and a 52-week high of $80.99. The company has a market cap of $15.30 billion, a PE ratio of -78.49 and a beta of 1.01.

Insider Buying and Selling

Cloudflare ( NYSE:NET Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.09). Cloudflare had a negative net margin of 18.05% and a negative return on equity of 25.10%. The firm had revenue of $274.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $274.29 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that Cloudflare will post -0.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In related news, CFO Thomas J. Seifert sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.62, for a total transaction of $1,252,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 86,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,412,434.46. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Cloudflare news, CFO Thomas J. Seifert sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.62, for a total transaction of $1,252,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 86,433 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,412,434.46. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Matthew Prince sold 52,384 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were 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. Insiders have sold a total of 411,007 shares of company stock valued at $25,110,698 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 15.99% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Cloudflare

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Kovack Advisors Inc. raised its position in Cloudflare by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 5,485 shares of the companys stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems raised its position in Cloudflare by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 47,762 shares of the companys stock worth $2,642,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in Cloudflare by 45.4% during the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 682 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Westpac Banking Corp raised its position in Cloudflare by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 18,006 shares of the companys stock worth $814,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC raised its position in Cloudflare by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC now owns 7,735 shares of the companys stock worth $477,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.97% of the companys stock.

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.

Further Reading

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CMC Markets plc (LON:CMCX  Get Rating) insider Euan Marshall purchased 164 shares of CMC Markets stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 182 ($2.30) per share, for a total transaction of 298.48 ($376.63).

CMC Markets Stock Down 0.8 %

LON:CMCX traded down GBX 1.53 ($0.02) during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 181.67 ($2.29). The stock had a trading volume of 224,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 220,192. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 200.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 224.75. The company has a market capitalization of 508.36 million, a PE ratio of 704.62 and a beta of 0.54. CMC Markets plc has a twelve month low of GBX 165 ($2.08) and a twelve month high of GBX 323.50 ($4.08). The company has a current ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 2.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.86.

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CMC Markets Company Profile

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CMC Markets plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online retail financial services to retail, professional, stockbroking, and institutional clients in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and internationally. The company offers its clients with the ability to trade contracts for difference and financial spread betting on a range of underlying shares, including indices, foreign currencies, commodities, cryptocurrencies, shares and ETFs, and treasuries through its trading platform.

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Cohen Lawrence B acquired a new stake in Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 22,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,614,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Brunswick by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,426,552 shares of the companys stock valued at $519,843,000 after purchasing an additional 46,519 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Brunswick by 20.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,662,239 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,693,000 after purchasing an additional 622,720 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Brunswick by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,121,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $171,612,000 after purchasing an additional 53,083 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Brunswick by 16.4% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,408,445 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,188,000 after purchasing an additional 198,631 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its position in Brunswick by 179.2% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 1,085,451 shares of the companys stock worth $71,043,000 after acquiring an additional 696,744 shares during the last quarter. 93.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 327 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.23, for a total value of $28,197.21. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 20,499 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,767,628.77. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Brunswick news, VP Christopher F. Dekker sold 7,353 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.29, for a total transaction of $649,196.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,660,061.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Nancy E. Cooper sold 327 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.23, for a total value of $28,197.21. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 20,499 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,767,628.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 26,390 shares of company stock valued at $2,239,672. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Brunswick Stock Down 1.9 %

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on BC shares. B. Riley boosted their price objective on Brunswick from $88.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on Brunswick from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Brunswick from $104.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on Brunswick in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Brunswick in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Brunswick has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $102.25.

BC stock traded down $1.57 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $81.11. 144,412 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 569,664. The firms 50 day moving average is $82.34 and its 200 day moving average is $78.74. Brunswick Co. has a twelve month low of $61.89 and a twelve month high of $93.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firm has a market cap of $5.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.82 and a beta of 1.53.

Brunswick (NYSE:BC  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.21. Brunswick had a return on equity of 36.65% and a net margin of 8.97%. The business had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.53 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Brunswick Co. will post 10.37 EPS for the current year.

Brunswick Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Brunswicks dividend payout ratio is currently 19.28%.

About Brunswick

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Brunswick Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of recreational marine products, including marine engines, boats, and parts and accessories for those products. It operates through the following segments: Propulsion, Parts and Accessories, Boat, and Corporate/Other. The Propulsion segment manufactures a full range of outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines, as well as propulsion-related controls, propellers, and rigging parts and accessories.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Get Rating).

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FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS  Get Rating) EVP Jonathan Reeve sold 783 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $404.82, for a total transaction of $316,974.06. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 92 shares in the company, valued at $37,243.44. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Jonathan Reeve also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, April 11th, Jonathan Reeve sold 720 shares of FactSet Research Systems stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $407.87, for a total transaction of $293,666.40.

FactSet Research Systems Stock Down 0.8 %

FactSet Research Systems stock traded down $3.18 on Monday, hitting $402.67. 162,028 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 232,886. The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of $15.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.83. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $409.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $420.12. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a 1 year low of $345.92 and a 1 year high of $474.13.

FactSet Research Systems Increases Dividend

FactSet Research Systems ( NYSE:FDS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The business services provider reported $3.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.65 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $515.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $510.79 million. FactSet Research Systems had a return on equity of 40.18% and a net margin of 22.30%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 19.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.27 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 14.63 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. This is a positive change from FactSet Research Systemss previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. FactSet Research Systemss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.90%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On FactSet Research Systems

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. raised its position in FactSet Research Systems by 66.9% in the 3rd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 4,479 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,792,000 after buying an additional 1,795 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 693 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $278,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 23,566 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,429,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,932 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,373,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp increased its position in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 82.8% during the 4th quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 1,605 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $644,000 after purchasing an additional 727 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.98% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on FDS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems from $477.00 to $454.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 24th. Redburn Partners upgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $500.00 target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Friday, March 24th. CICC Research began coverage on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a report on Friday, March 17th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of FactSet Research Systems from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $485.00 to $500.00 in a report on Thursday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $448.86.

FactSet Research Systems Company Profile

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FactSet Research Systems Inc (the Company or FactSet) is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and services for the investment and corporate communities. Since inception, global financial professionals have utilized the Companys content and multi-asset class solutions across each stage of the investment process.

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Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. (OTC:FKKFF  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $17.36 and last traded at $17.36, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $17.36.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Fukuoka Financial Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th.

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Fukuoka Financial Group Stock Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $17.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.36. The company has a market cap of $14.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.14 and a beta of 0.03.

Fukuoka Financial Group Company Profile

Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts various deposits, such as current deposits, ordinary and other demand deposits, time deposits, and negotiable certificates of deposit, as well as provides loan products.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Friday.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on IR. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ingersoll Rand currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $59.30.

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Ingersoll Rand Stock Performance

IR stock opened at $58.94 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $56.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Ingersoll Rand has a 12 month low of $39.28 and a 12 month high of $60.39. The company has a market capitalization of $23.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.38 and a beta of 1.42.

Ingersoll Rand Dividend Announcement

Ingersoll Rand ( NYSE:IR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.13. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 10.69%. The company had revenue of $1.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.54 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.64 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Ingersoll Rand will post 2.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.14%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 23rd. Ingersoll Rands payout ratio is 4.94%.

Insider Transactions at Ingersoll Rand

In related news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,171,360. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.75% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ingersoll Rand

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Ingersoll Rand by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 23,061 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $998,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the period. Keybank National Association OH boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 7,805 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $408,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 8.0% during the 4th quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 2,671 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $140,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,976 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, South Dakota Investment Council boosted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 7,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $303,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 99.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ingersoll Rand

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Ingersoll Rand, Inc provides a broad range of mission critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies, providing services and solutions to increase industrial productivity and efficiency. It operates through the following segments: Industrial Technologies and Services, Precision and Science Technologies, High Pressure Solutions, and Specialty Vehicle Technologies.

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Indianapolis-based fundraising software market leader invests in a culture of wellbeing, excellence, inclusion, and whole-life engagement.

INDIANAPOLIS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, has been named to Inc. Magazine's list of Best Workplaces for 2023. The recognition acknowledges the company's commitment to supporting employees as they work together to serve their nonprofit customers. After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year.

"Our goal at OneCause is to create a work environment that fosters employee engagement, productivity, and team and personal development alongside company growth. It's an honor to be recognized for our efforts," said Steve Johns, chief executive officer for OneCause. "We support our nonprofit customers in building better tomorrows, which fuels our 'Why' as a company and as people. It connects us, binds us in shared purpose, and ensures that what we do matters."

The company's core values of passion, curiosity, commitment, and helpfulness are the foundation of the purpose-driven culture at OneCause, which offers unique opportunities for every employee to grow and give back. The OneCause Cares Mentor program provides skill development and helps staff take personal ownership for their professional growth, and the Kickstart Your Cause initiative allows each OneCause team member to gift the company's fundraising software to a nonprofit of their choosing each year.

Other initiatives that promote development, open lines of communication, and whole-life engagement include:

Flexible, people-first workplace options

Employee sabbatical program

Employee-led Culture and DEIB committees that work closely with company leadership

Market-leading 401(k) match

Weekly virtual yoga classes

Summer flex hours

Leadership development curriculum

Summer company meeting that brings together distributed work force

Corporate sponsorship of Calm app subscription for all staff members

Commitment to a culture of open feedback

Story continues

The annual Best Workplaces list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether teams are operating in a physical or a virtual facility. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies has been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

This is the second time OneCause has been named to the Best Workplaces list. In addition, Inc. previously recognized OneCause with a Gold Best in Business Award, honoring companies that positively impacted the community, nonprofit industry, and society during the pandemic.

The Best Workplaces list can be found in the May/June 2023 issue of Inc., with the full list of honorees featured online at: https://www.inc.com/best-workplaces/2023.

About OneCause

OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 10,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $5 billion for their missions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising. For more information, visit www.onecause.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Cision

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG  Get Rating) insider Daniela Barone Soares acquired 150 shares of InterContinental Hotels Group stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 5,428 ($68.49) per share, with a total value of 8,142 ($10,273.82).

InterContinental Hotels Group Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of InterContinental Hotels Group stock traded up GBX 70 ($0.88) during trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 5,482 ($69.17). The companys stock had a trading volume of 404,645 shares, compared to its average volume of 543,560. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 5,431.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 5,203.94. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC has a one year low of GBX 4,174 ($52.67) and a one year high of GBX 5,796 ($73.14). The stock has a market capitalization of 9.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,240.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.95.

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InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 30th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. This is a boost from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. InterContinental Hotels Groups payout ratio is currently 6,826.35%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

InterContinental Hotels Group Company Profile

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Peel Hunt reissued a hold rating and issued a GBX 5,750 ($72.56) price target on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,200 ($78.23) to GBX 6,000 ($75.71) and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 5,500 ($69.40) to GBX 6,200 ($78.23) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Numis Securities restated an add rating and issued a GBX 5,550 ($70.03) price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Barclays downgraded InterContinental Hotels Group to an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, InterContinental Hotels Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 5,777.78 ($72.91).

(Get Rating)

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, avid, Staybridge Suites, Atwell Suites, Candlewood Suites, voco, and Crowne Plaza.

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Levy Wealth Management Group LLC trimmed its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 4.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,700 shares of the retailers stock after selling 74 shares during the quarter. Levy Wealth Management Group LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $241,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WMT. Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter valued at about $443,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. purchased a new position in Walmart during the third quarter worth approximately $536,000. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 8,840 shares in the last quarter. PFS Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at $355,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky acquired a new stake in Walmart in the 3rd quarter valued at $17,529,000. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Walmart Price Performance

NYSE:WMT traded up $0.11 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $152.83. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,054,381 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,063,083. The company has a market capitalization of $412.24 billion, a PE ratio of 35.68, a PEG ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a 52-week low of $117.27 and a 52-week high of $154.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.82. The businesss 50-day moving average is $145.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $145.05.

Walmart Announces Dividend

Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 20.45%. The company had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $158.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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 of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. Walmarts payout ratio is presently 53.27%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays began coverage on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 target price for the company. Gordon Haskett upgraded Walmart from an accumulate rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Walmart from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the company from $145.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $160.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $165.09.

Insider Activity

In other Walmart news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.00, for a total value of $660,625.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 286,617 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,279,167. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Walmart news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 9,708 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.37, for a total transaction of $1,382,127.96. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,371,994 shares in the company, valued at $195,330,785.78. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of Walmart stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.00, for a total value of $660,625.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 286,617 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,279,167. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 21,044,002 shares of company stock valued at $2,981,168,308. 47.06% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Walmart

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Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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Lyons Bancorp Inc. (OTCMKTS:LYBC  Get Rating)s share price dropped 0.4% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $50.30 and last traded at $50.30. Approximately 550 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 7% from the average daily volume of 516 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.50.

Lyons Bancorp Price Performance

The business has a 50-day moving average of $53.32 and a 200 day moving average of $53.94.

About Lyons Bancorp

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Lyons Bancorp, Inc provides financial and banking services. Its offers products within the personal and business banking realms, including direct deposit, online banking, cash manager, remote deposit capture. The company was founded on August 4, 1987 is headquartered in Lyons, NY.

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NTV Asset Management LLC lessened its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,733 shares of the companys stock after selling 192 shares during the period. NTV Asset Management LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $3,077,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2,671.4% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,099,334 shares of the companys stock valued at $418,400,000 after buying an additional 4,915,334 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 256.3% in the first quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,882,173 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,582,000 after buying an additional 3,511,900 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 224,134,448 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,302,459,000 after buying an additional 3,081,402 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can purchased a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the third quarter valued at about $243,240,000. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 48.1% in the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 5,840,313 shares of the companys stock valued at $503,115,000 after buying an additional 1,897,517 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.89% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.00, for a total transaction of $535,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 34,900 shares in the company, valued at $3,734,300. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, VP Rita A. Karachun sold 15,875 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.53, for a total value of $1,865,788.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 45,710 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,372,296.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Steven Mizell sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.00, for a total value of $535,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 34,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,734,300. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 500,073 shares of company stock valued at $57,755,134. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Down 0.4 %

MRK has been the subject of a number of research reports. SVB Leerink upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Wolfe Research upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $127.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Merck & Co., Inc. from $125.00 to $126.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. BTIG Research downgraded Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Sunday, April 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a buy rating and a $125.00 price target on the stock. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $120.75.

Shares of NYSE MRK traded down $0.43 on Tuesday, hitting $117.95. The company had a trading volume of 1,458,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,017,307. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $83.05 and a 12-month high of $119.65. The business has a 50 day moving average of $110.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $108.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $299.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.12, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.34.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $14.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.81 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 38.40% and a net margin of 22.52%. Merck & Co., Inc.s revenue for the quarter was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 6.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Company Profile

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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.

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Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 26th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of 0.41 per share by the biopharmaceutical company on Friday, June 9th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th.

Pfizer has increased its dividend payment by an average of 3.3% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 12 consecutive years. Pfizer has a payout ratio of 46.1% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Pfizer to earn $3.40 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.64 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 48.2%.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of PFE opened at $38.67 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $218.27 billion, a PE ratio of 7.61, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.63. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $40.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $44.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Pfizer has a 1 year low of $38.02 and a 1 year high of $54.93.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 38.46% and a net margin of 31.25%. The businesss revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.62 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer will post 3.35 EPS for the current year.

Several brokerages have issued reports on PFE. Berenberg Bank set a $40.00 target price on Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Atlantic Securities decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $48.20.

Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In other news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc acquired 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,428,245.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PFE. Stamos Capital Partners L.P. raised its position in Pfizer by 56.4% during the 1st quarter. Stamos Capital Partners L.P. now owns 158,100 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $8,185,000 after purchasing an additional 57,000 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 12,319,740 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $637,793,000 after acquiring an additional 151,311 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 178.2% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 17,916 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $926,000 after acquiring an additional 11,476 shares in the last quarter. Wimmer Associates 1 LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 19.0% in the 1st quarter. Wimmer Associates 1 LLC now owns 27,910 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,445,000 after acquiring an additional 4,455 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,460,000. 67.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Pfizer Company Profile

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Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases.

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Shayne & CO. LLC cut its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,099 shares of the companys stock after selling 291 shares during the period. Philip Morris International makes up 0.5% of Shayne & CO. LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Shayne & CO. LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $820,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of PM. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 22.7% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 35,468,228 shares of the companys stock worth $2,944,500,000 after purchasing an additional 6,558,762 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 652.1% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 6,894,453 shares of the companys stock worth $572,309,000 after purchasing an additional 5,977,719 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 132,480,611 shares of the companys stock worth $10,997,216,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451,582 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 122.0% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,632,467 shares of the companys stock worth $247,294,000 after purchasing an additional 1,446,567 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 646.7% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,174,660 shares of the companys stock worth $97,509,000 after purchasing an additional 1,017,353 shares in the last quarter. 75.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at $101,057,266.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Philip Morris International news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $101,057,266.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 20,308 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.30, for a total transaction of $2,036,892.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,248,525.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 117,064 shares of company stock valued at $11,738,763 over the last 90 days. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

A number of research firms have recently commented on PM. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $86.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.60.

Shares of Philip Morris International stock traded up $0.15 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $95.71. 408,655 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,351,656. The stock has a market cap of $148.56 billion, a PE ratio of 17.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.68. The stocks fifty day moving average is $97.34 and its 200 day moving average is $98.48. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12 month low of $82.85 and a 12 month high of $109.81.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 128.55%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.56 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 23rd were issued a $1.27 dividend. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 90.88%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

Further Reading

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of PLDT (NYSE:PHI  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Friday morning.

PLDT Stock Performance

PLDT stock opened at $21.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.33. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $23.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.11. PLDT has a fifty-two week low of $20.20 and a fifty-two week high of $39.00. The stock has a market cap of $4.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.38, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.57.

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PLDT (NYSE:PHI  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 24th. The technology company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter. PLDT had a return on equity of 24.42% and a net margin of 5.09%. The firm had revenue of $962.71 million for the quarter. As a group, analysts expect that PLDT will post 2.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PLDT Cuts Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PLDT

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 8th. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th were issued a $0.825 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 6th. This represents a yield of 4.9%. PLDTs payout ratio is currently 136.05%.

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new stake in PLDT during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PLDT in the 1st quarter worth $48,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PLDT in the 4th quarter worth $46,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in shares of PLDT by 1,869.6% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 2,265 shares of the technology companys stock worth $80,000 after purchasing an additional 2,150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PLDT in the 3rd quarter worth $72,000. 2.59% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PLDT Company Profile

(Get Rating)

PLDT, Inc engages in the provision of telecommunication services. It operates through the following segments: Wireless, Fixed Line, and Others. The Wireless segment focuses on driving data services while managing business of voice and SMS. The Fixed Line segment offers fixed line telecommunications services throughout the Philippines, servicing retail, corporate, and SME clients.

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Prospera Financial Services Inc cut its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN  Get Rating) by 31.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 94,749 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 44,371 shares during the quarter. Prospera Financial Services Incs holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF were worth $1,945,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BKLN. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 6.7% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 27,311 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $595,000 after acquiring an additional 1,726 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 3.0% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,398,684 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $30,449,000 after buying an additional 40,338 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 186.1% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 752 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 647.6% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 646,667 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $14,078,000 after buying an additional 560,164 shares during the period. Finally, Equitable Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF in the first quarter worth $224,000.

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Invesco Senior Loan ETF Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSEARCA BKLN opened at $20.82 on Tuesday. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a 52 week low of $20.06 and a 52 week high of $21.49. The firms fifty day moving average is $20.82 and its 200 day moving average is $20.86.

Invesco Senior Loan ETF Profile

The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Moreno Evelyn V increased its stake in shares of Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP  Get Rating) by 104.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,035 shares during the period. Moreno Evelyn Vs holdings in Roper Technologies were worth $4,260,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ROP. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Roper Technologies by 752.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 620,910 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $223,304,000 after purchasing an additional 548,070 shares during the last quarter. Durable Capital Partners LP increased its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 51.3% in the 1st quarter. Durable Capital Partners LP now owns 1,395,525 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $659,009,000 after acquiring an additional 473,168 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 22.8% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,019,718 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $366,732,000 after acquiring an additional 189,362 shares during the last quarter. CCLA Investment Management bought a new stake in shares of Roper Technologies in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $62,405,000. Finally, Brown Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 17.9% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 1,131,866 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $407,065,000 after acquiring an additional 172,176 shares during the last quarter. 92.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Roper Technologies Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:ROP traded up $1.79 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $460.04. The company had a trading volume of 87,503 shares, compared to its average volume of 540,350. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.80. Roper Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $356.21 and a 1-year high of $463.70. The firm has a market cap of $49.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $436.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $431.71.

Roper Technologies Increases Dividend

Roper Technologies ( NYSE:ROP Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $3.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.85 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.45 billion. Roper Technologies had a return on equity of 11.00% and a net margin of 50.48%. Roper Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 14.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.77 EPS. Research analysts predict that Roper Technologies, Inc. will post 16.27 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, April 6th were paid a $0.683 dividend. This is an increase from Roper Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.73 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 5th. Roper Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 10.38%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ROP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wolfe Research upgraded Roper Technologies from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $480.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Robert W. Baird reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $476.00 price target on shares of Roper Technologies in a report on Monday, March 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $528.00 price objective on shares of Roper Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Roper Technologies from $525.00 to $540.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Roper Technologies from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $490.00 to $525.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Six 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, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $498.08.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Robert D. Johnson sold 250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $436.00, for a total transaction of $109,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,153 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,682,708. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Richard F. Wallman purchased 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $424.95 per share, with a total value of $424,950.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $424,950. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert D. Johnson sold 250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $436.00, for a total value of $109,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,153 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,682,708. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

About Roper Technologies

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Roper Technologies, Inc is a diversified technology company, which engages in the provision of engineered products and solutions for global niche markets. It operates through the following segments: Application Software, Network Software, and Technology Enabled Products. The Application Software segment includes Aderant, CBORD/Horizon, CliniSys, Data Innovations, Deltek, Frontline Education, IntelliTrans, PowerPlan, Strata, and Vertafore.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Rating) had its target price boosted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $65.00 to $71.00 in a research note released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on RCL. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research report on Friday, April 28th. They set an overweight rating and a $94.00 price objective for the company. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $88.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Friday. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $80.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating for the company. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Royal Caribbean Cruises has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.77.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Up 3.6 %

RCL stock opened at $78.35 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $20.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.25 and a beta of 2.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.41. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 12 month low of $31.09 and a 12 month high of $78.38. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $65.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $61.62.

Institutional Trading of Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises ( NYSE:RCL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.71) by $0.48. The company had revenue of $2.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a negative net margin of 9.72% and a negative return on equity of 25.86%. Royal Caribbean Cruisess quarterly revenue was up 172.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($4.57) EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. MGO One Seven LLC purchased a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the first quarter worth about $201,000. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 0.3% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 445,226 shares of the companys stock worth $29,073,000 after buying an additional 1,183 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 7.1% during the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 36,105 shares of the companys stock worth $2,358,000 after buying an additional 2,393 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 50.7% during the first quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 6,927 shares of the companys stock worth $452,000 after buying an additional 2,330 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 7.1% during the first quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 169,076 shares of the companys stock worth $11,041,000 after buying an additional 11,242 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.27% of the companys stock.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises

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Royal Caribbean Group is a cruise company, which engages in the ownership and operation of the following global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. The firm also holds interest in TUI Cruises GmbH, which operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

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Cowbell recognized for exceptional workplace culture and employee satisfaction

PLEASANTON, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cowbell, the leading provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), today announced it has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list. The list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

Cowbell's exceptional workplace culture and commitment to employee satisfaction have been integral to the company's continued success and growth. Cowbell's employees are its most valuable asset, and the company strives to create an environment that promotes innovation, collaboration, and personal and professional growth.

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the best workplaces in America for the second year in a row, and this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our people," said Sahar Sabouni, head of Employee Success at Cowbell. "At Cowbell, we recognize that our greatest asset is our people, and we are committed to driving engagement through fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning."

Cowbell's unwavering commitment to creating an outstanding workplace culture and promoting employee success is evidenced by this achievement. By placing emphasis on a positive work atmosphere and employee contentment, Cowbell has created a corporate culture that draws in and retains top talent.

Story continues

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

To find out more about Cowbell, please visit https://cowbell.insure/.

About Cowbell

Cowbell is a pioneer of Adaptive Cyber Insurance, a leader in providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) coverage adaptable to today's and tomorrow's threats and the advanced warning of cyber risk exposures. In its unique AI-based approach to risk selection and pricing, Cowbell's continuous underwriting platform, powered by Cowbell Factors, compresses the insurance process from submission to issue in less than 5 minutes. Cowbell is backed by 20 prominent leading global (re)insurance partners and serves SMEs in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 2019, Cowbell is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with employees across the U.S., Canada, India, and the U.K. For more information, please visit https://cowbell.insure/.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Media Contact

John Kreuzer

Lumina Communications for Cowbell Cyber

cowbell@luminapr.com

408-963-6418

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TELUS (NYSE:TU  Get Rating) (TSE:T) had its price objective hoisted by TD Securities from C$31.00 to C$32.00 in a report published on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on TU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of TELUS from C$36.00 to C$33.00 in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Desjardins reduced their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$32.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. CIBC raised shares of TELUS from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 12th. National Bank Financial reduced their price target on shares of TELUS from C$31.00 to C$30.00 in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of TELUS in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company.

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TELUS Trading Down 1.7 %

NYSE TU opened at $20.68 on Friday. TELUS has a one year low of $18.85 and a one year high of $25.50. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.74 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.74.

TELUS Increases Dividend

TELUS ( NYSE:TU Get Rating ) (TSE:T) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.21 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.68 billion. TELUS had a net margin of 7.65% and a return on equity of 9.10%. On average, equities analysts forecast that TELUS will post 0.85 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of $0.268 per share. This is a boost from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $1.07 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.18%. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is currently 130.38%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TU. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new position in shares of TELUS in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new stake in TELUS in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. CWM LLC raised its position in TELUS by 44.5% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,989 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 613 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in TELUS in the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in TELUS by 533.7% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,573 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $51,000 after buying an additional 2,167 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.42% of the companys stock.

About TELUS

(Get Rating)

TELUS Corp. is a telecommunications company, which engages in the provision of telecommunication services and products primarily for wireless and wireline voice and data. It operates through the following segments: TELUS Technology Solutions (TTech) and Digitally-led Customer ExperiencesTELUS International (DLCX).

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Cohen Lawrence B raised its stake in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,151 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. Cohen Lawrence Bs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,903,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,993 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $374,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. FORA Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $2,705,000. InterOcean Capital Group LLC increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. InterOcean Capital Group LLC now owns 2,288 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $429,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. LSV Asset Management increased its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 92,672 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $17,375,000 after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Simmons Bank bought a new stake in shares of Travelers Companies in the 4th quarter worth about $326,000. Institutional investors own 81.59% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies

In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.31, for a total value of $3,706,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,107 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,687,618.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $185.31, for a total value of $3,706,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,107 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,687,618.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Alan D. Schnitzer sold 150,829 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.53, for a total transaction of $28,435,791.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 196,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $37,124,196.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 228,051 shares of company stock worth $42,423,406. 1.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Travelers Companies Price Performance

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on TRV. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Friday, April 21st. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $212.00 price objective for the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $181.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $191.73.

Shares of NYSE:TRV traded up $1.45 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $184.02. The company had a trading volume of 390,829 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,467,105. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.50 billion, a PE ratio of 15.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.60. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $149.65 and a twelve month high of $194.51. The firms fifty day moving average is $174.70 and its 200 day moving average is $182.08.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.64 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $9.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.98 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.41% and a return on equity of 13.41%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.22 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.31 EPS for the current year.

Travelers Companies declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Wednesday, April 19th that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the insurance provider to reacquire up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Travelers Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This is a positive change from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 31.71%.

About Travelers Companies

(Get Rating)

The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds.

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Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, May 8th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.70 per share by the business services provider on Friday, June 16th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%.

Waste Management has increased its dividend payment by an average of 8.2% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 20 consecutive years. Waste Management has a dividend payout ratio of 41.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Waste Management to earn $6.71 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 41.7%.

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Waste Management Stock Performance

NYSE WM traded up $0.60 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $169.03. 884,202 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,797,765. Waste Management has a 1 year low of $138.89 and a 1 year high of $175.98. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $159.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $158.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.33% and a return on equity of 33.23%. Waste Managements revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.29 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Waste Management will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Monday, April 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $190.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James decreased their price target on Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. They set an outperform rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Waste Management has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $175.67.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In related news, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 6,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $1,054,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 57,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,915,135. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total value of $2,357,076.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 30,743 shares of company stock worth $4,762,320. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings 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 in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Waste Management by 0.7% during the first 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 shares of Waste Management by 0.6% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,624 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $56,842,000 after purchasing an additional 2,309 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Waste Management by 83.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 680 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in Waste Management by 44.8% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,030 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $5,234,000 after acquiring an additional 10,212 shares during the period. 78.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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Sales for CURV in downtown Vancouver will launch May 27

VANCOUVER, BC, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the award-winning team behind CURV, a development by Canadian developer Brivia Group, were joined by industry professionals and partners of the project at a special event and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official launch of the much-anticipated new residential tower, expected to break ground in 2024. At 60-storeys tall, CURV will be the tallest residential tower in downtown Vancouver and set records as the world's tallest passive house building, establishing a new benchmark for design and environmental performance as Vancouver marks a significant milestone in the pathway to net zero.

From left to right: Jacky Chan, BakerWest, Doug Mcfarlane, ITC Construction Group, Andres Escobar, LAtelier Bespoke Masterpiece, Mike Beg, Real Estate Finance, BMO, Mr. Kheng Ly, Brivia Group, Mr. Xuexin Liu, Henson Group, Pehlaj Malhotra, HSBC Bank Canada, Tom Wright, WKK Architects, Gwyn Vose, Acardis (CNW Group/Brivia Group)

Passive House is an international energy-based standard considered to be the most rigorous in the design and construction industry today. Far ahead of the City of Vancouver's push for the carbon-neutrality of new buildings by 2030, CURV, the most energy-efficient structure of its kind, will meet expectations set for higher buildings in Vancouver to be developed with 50% less carbon pollution compared to already advanced requirements for rezoned developments, and up to 90% less carbon pollution compared to towers built in 2014.

"Brivia Group is committed to innovation and setting a new standard for both luxury and sustainable real estate development in Canada," said Kheng Ly, President and CEO, Brivia Group. "CURV is one of our most ambitious projects to date and when we embarked on this incredible journey, we knew we had to do it right with a team of leading professionals in a fitting and visionary city. CURV is a symbol for what is possible for future developments around the world, showcasing how buildings will help cities achieve their green goals through elevated sustainability, comfort and design. Along with our partner on CURV, Henson Group, we're proud to be contributing to the advancement of the industry."

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Casting eyes for generations to come with CURV's unique and elegant design and ethos, the award-winning team behind the project includes world-renowned British architect, Tom Wright, best known for his design of the iconic Burj al Arab in Dubai, and celebrated architectural designer Andres Escobar in collaboration with design studio Lemay_id. Both were in Vancouver today to commemorate the significance of CURV.

"CURV will be a trailblazer, setting a global standard for what's achievable with Passive House. I am truly excited to see the positive impact this high performance, decarbonized building design will have on its occupants, the city of Vancouver  and indeed, the building industry everywhere. I look forward to a time when every high-rise that comes after CURV strives to emulate its success," said Chris Ballard, CEO of Passive House Canada.

The CURV presentation gallery, located on 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, will officially open its doors to the public on May 27, 2023, and it is currently booking private tours by appointment.

Learn more or book a viewing at www.thecurv.ca.

About Brivia Group

Brivia Group is a real estate development and investment company with an expanding portfolio of major projects in Greater Montreal Area, Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver, Quebec City and other regions of Quebec province. Founded in 2000, Brivia Group has the expertise, track record and business networks needed to fulfil bold projects such as Curv, 1 Square Phillips, Mansfield, YUL, QuinzeCent and LB9, meeting the expectations of its diverse clienteles.

About Henson Group

Founded in 2015, Henson Group is a real estate development and investment company in Greater Vancouver. Henson's Founder, Mr. Xue Xin Liu, is committed to pushing the limits of engineering and architecture to create extraordinary living spaces. Along with its partner Brivia Group, Henson's current priority is to develop CURV in downtown Vancouver and another major real estate development project in West Vancouver.

Brivia Group Logo (CNW Group/Brivia Group)

SOURCE Brivia Group

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/09/c4079.html
XI'AN, May 8 (Xinhua)  Xi'an, a city with over 3,100 years of history, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. It is also home to the world-renowned Terracotta warriors created in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC).

The city's long history can still be traced from its historical landmarks and archaeological sites.

Ancient City Wall

Xi'an boasts well-preserved ancient city walls used as fortifications for military defense. The best-known city walls were built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with a total length of 13.7 kilometers.

This aerial photo taken on April 30, 2023 shows tourists visiting the ancient city wall scenic spot in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This aerial photo taken on April 25, 2023 shows a night view of the south part of the ancient city wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Shao Rui]

This aerial photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows a view of the southeast corner of the ancient city wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This aerial photo taken on April 15, 2023 shows a view of the southwest corner of the ancient city wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This aerial photo taken on April 15, 2023 shows a view of a scenic moat area along the ancient city wall in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

Xi'an Bell Tower

The Xi'an Bell Tower was built in 1384 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The 36-meter-tall tower, a typical brick-and-wood structure, has been well preserved as the largest and oldest bell tower of its kind in China.

This aerial photo taken on May 1, 2023 shows a view of the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This aerial photo taken on May 2, 2023 shows a night view of the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

A tourist enjoys the view near the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 2, 2023. [Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua]

Tourists visit the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This photo taken on May 1, 2023 shows a view of the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua]

Xi'an Drum Tower

The Drum Tower was initially built in 1380 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). For centuries, it has worked with the Bell Tower about 200 meters away to the east to announce time.

This aerial photo taken on April 25, 2023 shows a view of the Drum Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

Tourists visit the Drum Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

This aerial photo taken on May 2, 2023 shows a night view of the Drum Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [Xinhua/Liu Xiao]

Tourists watch a performance at the Drum Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2023. [Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua]

Tourists visit the Drum Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2023. [Photo by Zou Jingyi/Xinhua]

(Source: Xinhua)
Traditional Chinese operas are treasures of fine Chinese culture. In other countries, there are countless overseas Chinese who love performing traditional Chinese operas. With their performances, they help ease the homesickness felt by many overseas Chinese, including themselves, and they perform a role in inheriting traditional Chinese culture.

Sense of Mission

"The song of tea is floating in the air, and in my heart. You are the wind blowing from the mountains, with the fragrance of earth" In a video, a group of girls perform a Huangmei Opera. They are students of North America Xiaofang Huangmei Opera Art Troupe. The troupe was established by Chen Xiaofang, a Huangmei Opera artist, in 2015 in New Jersey, the United States.

Chen Xiaofang

"Five years ago, I started a Huangmei Opera class for children only. It was because my adult students sometimes brought their children to the troupe when they attended classes or rehearsed plays, and the children gradually became interested in Huangmei Opera. This is a kind of inheritance. Some parents think by letting their children learn to sing Huangmei Opera, the children not only learn the Chinese language, but also get close to traditional Chinese culture," Chen says.

Chen began learning Huangmei Opera when she was a teenager. Even though she has lived in the US for more than two decades, she has never lost her passion for Huangmei Opera. It is her mission, and she believes it is her responsibility, to spread Chinese culture overseas, and especially to help people enjoy Huangmei Opera.

Yu Xiaomei

Yu Xiaomei, deputy head of Houston Huaxing Art Troupe, in the US, shares Chen's sense of mission and responsibility. "I think I am a lucky woman," Yu says of her experience of learning Peking Opera.

She studied modern Peking Opera, and vocal music, in Shanghai at a young age. After she moved to the US, more than 30 years ago, she became interested in traditional Peking Opera. In 2015, she began studying under Wang Rongrong, a master of the Zhang school of Peking Opera. She was also taught by several other Peking Opera masters, including Yan Guixiang, Liu Mingzhu, Li Li and Zhao Xiujun.

"Every time I returned to China, I visited and sought advice from my master, Wang, and the other teachers, to improve my Peking Opera skills. I also sent videos of my performances to them online, and I asked them for advice and instruction. They are nice to me, and they always give me detailed instructions. I think I have the responsibility to learn and perform Peking Opera well, so more people will enjoy the national opera of China," Yu says.

Yu always agrees to perform Peking Opera whenever her American friends invite her to perform. "They love my performance. When I finish performing, they will come backstage and ask me, 'How did you do this makeup?' 'How did you put on this headdress?'  I am really glad that I can let them appreciate the beauty and charm of Peking Opera through my own efforts," Yu says.

Cheng Jie

Deep Bond

Cheng Jie is one of the founders of Sydney Huaxing Peking Opera Troupe, in Australia. His father, Cheng Zhengtai, was a student of Yang Baosen, master of the Yang school of Peking Opera. Cheng Jie practiced the basic skills of Peking Opera at a young age, but he stopped practicing after a few years.

"My father passed away in 2000. The next year, I moved to Australia. When I was away from home, I realized Peking Opera was an indispensable part of my life. I met some Peking Opera fans in Australia. I felt at home when I heard them playing huqin (a family of traditional Chinese bowed string instruments) and singing Peking Opera. One of the fans was a former colleague of my dad," Cheng Jie recalls. He started practicing Peking Opera again in 2001.

"We now have more than 10 members in our troupe. We often perform Peking Opera and attend cultural activities, leading fulfilled and meaningful lives," he says.

Qin Zhu

Qin Zhu, who moved to Australia in 2006, has been fond of Yue Opera since she was a child. "I came from Nanjing (capital of East China's Jiangsu Province), where Yue Opera is popular among the locals. My mother is a fan of Yue Opera, and I started to learn Yue Opera at 8. After I arrived in Australia, I joined Sydney Yue Opera Troupe. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our troupe performed in communities twice a year, in April and October. We were also invited to perform on various occasions," Qin says.

"Many people were excited after they watched our performances. They would thank us for bringing Yue Opera overseas, and for giving them opportunities to enjoy Yue Opera. That made me feel warm, and touched," Qin says.

Wu Rongying

Wu Rongying had worked with an art troupe, and a Yue Opera troupe, before she moved to Brazil in 1988. She studied and practiced hard, and she was good at performing Peking Opera and Yue Opera. "I have been living in Sao Paolo since 1995. Given my love for traditional Chinese operas, I joined Sao Paulo Huaxing Art Troupe. I am grateful for what I have learned in China. That's what makes me capable of performing Peking Opera and Yue Opera for audiences in Brazil," Wu says.

Lasting Passion

It is not easy to perform traditional Chinese operas overseas. "As we lack professional teachers overseas, we have to learn from videos when we rehearse operas. We often put on facial makeup ourselves, as we don't have professional dressers. When we fail to find proper costumes for our performances, we have to buy tailor-made outfits from China. People are willing to spend energy and money on their hobbies. As we are passionate about traditional Chinese operas, we will never give up," Qin says.

"There are three things you need to have as an overseas opera performer  passion, time and money. You need to buy costumes and all the other things you need for your performance. I have made many friends in Australia because of our common interest in Peking Opera. I can also give full play to my professional skills, in art design, when we make background boards for our performances," Cheng Jie says.

"It is not easy for us to perform traditional Chinese operas overseas, as we lack performers and financial support. It is a pity some members of my troupe had to quit, because of changes in their work or family. But I never thought of giving up," Chen says.

Various cultural-exchange activities, between China and other countries, also give them the confidence and courage to persist. "In 2017, our troupe cooperated with Tianjin Youth Peking Opera Troupe to stage Peking Opera performances in Tianjin. I performed with Peking Opera artists Tan Xiaozeng, Li Hongtu and Zhang Ke on stage. I was excited I had the opportunity to perform with these masters, and I learned a lot from them," Yu says.

"Overseas fans of traditional Chinese operas also communicate with each other frequently. We have held several online-exchange activities in the past several years. We will organize more activities this year," Yu adds.

"By performing traditional Chinese operas, we have become ambassadors of cultural exchanges between China and other countries. One of my students once performed Huangmei Opera for her classmates. When she asked her classmates what kinds of traditional Chinese operas they knew, they said they only knew Peking Opera, and had never heard of Huangmei Opera. Her performance opened a window for her classmates to understand Huangmei Opera," Chen says.

Chen's troupe organized an online lecture on June 25, 2022, to introduce Huangmei Opera to a foundation under the New Jersey Historical and Cultural Commission. As a cultural project supported by the commission, the troupe will stage a Huangmei Opera show in May this year. "I hope, through our efforts, more people will understand the charm of traditional Chinese operas," Chen says.

Photos Supplied by Interviewees and VCG

(Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition/Women of China English Monthly April 2023 issue)
BERLIN (Reuters) -Daimler Truck reported on Tuesday a rise in first-quarter return on sales but maintained its 2023 outlook due to instability in the supply chain for semiconductors which it said was partly due to cyber attacks at its suppliers.

The automaker itself had not been attacked, Chief Financial Officer Jochen Goetz said on a media call, but more and more suppliers were affected, with some taking months to recover the stolen data.

Goetz did not elaborate on where attacks were coming from or which suppliers were affected.

The truck and bus maker reported an adjusted return on sales of 8.8% in the first quarter of the year, up from 5.9% last year and towards the top end of its annual outlook for 2023, on a rise in revenue of 25%.

It kept its outlook from earlier this year unchanged, forecasting 55-57 billion euros in revenue for the year and 7.5-9% adjusted returns, citing ongoing instability in the supply chain.

"It's not stable, but it's getting better," Goetz said, adding the company was "basically sold out" for 2023.

It confirmed preliminary results released late April of a 78% jump in operating profit to 1.162 billion euros ($1.28 billion), with unit sales up 15%.

Its Asia business, which struggled in 2022, yielding just a 2.6% margin, saw some improvement in the first quarter, reaching a margin of 4.6%.

Its North America and Europe divisions saw returns of 11.6% and 8.8% respectively, in line with long-term targets.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Ilona Wissenbach, Editing by Rachel More, Miranda Murray and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
A passer-by walks near the front of a Tempur-Pedic mattress store location, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Dedham, Mass. Tempur Sealy, the parent company of Tempur-Pedic, has agreed to acquire Mattress Firm in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at about $4 billion. The companies said Tuesday they expect to complete the transaction in the second half of 2024. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Kent Nishimura /Los Angeles Times via Getty Image

The debt-ceiling crisis is adding stress at an already difficult period, Austan Goolsbee said.

"This whole ... argument about the debt ceiling comes at the worst possible time  worst possible time."

Even a last-second deal could cause doubt in Treasurys, he told Yahoo Finance.

The debt-ceiling impasse on Capitol Hill is adding uncertainty to an already troublesome set of economic conditions, Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said.

"This whole ... argument about the debt ceiling comes at the worst possible time  worst possible time," he told Yahoo Finance on Monday.

"We're trying to figure out what is a very strange business cycle coming out of the pandemic, weighing off against the tightening that's coming from these bank failures and uncertainty. And to add on to it this uncertainty about whether the government is going to pay its bills, it just makes it extremely difficult to figure out what will be the conditions for economic growth in the job market."

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden remain deadlocked on a deal to lift the government's debt limit. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the government could run out of money and trigger an economic crisis as soon as June 1.

Goolsbee  having witnessed 2011's debt standoff as the Council of Economic Advisers' former chairman  noted that even a last-second deal severely risks hurting consumer confidence, which could stir doubt in US Treasurys.

In turn, this could reignite banking turbulence as some lenders may be dependent on Treasurys as collateral. At the same time, borrowing costs could jump.

"Let us hope they can just get past this and raise the debt ceiling, so this isn't a self-inflicted wound of the most grievous kind," he said.

Already, yields on short-term notes have risen drastically as investors are less willing to buy Treasurys that would mature around a possible default date.

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Despite sensing a lending crunch, Goolsbee also said it was too soon to determine whether to pause monetary tightening in the next FOMC meeting.

But he emphasized that the Fed should pay attention to coming data on credit conditions, which may apply the same strain as higher benchmark rates would. However, such effects wouldn't be distributed evenly.

"The sectors that are more bank dependent are going to be more directly affected by that kind of credit tightening," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The 16th Australian Medical Association (AMA) annual Public Hospital Report Card shows a hospital system in crisis. Overcrowding and under-resourcing is resulting in extended waiting times for both emergency medical services and elective surgeries.

NSW nurses protesting during a one-day strike on March 31, 2022. [Photo: WSWS]

AMA president Professor Steve Robson said essential indicators of hospital performance were at their lowest ever. The numbers paint a grim picture for the future of our public hospitals and with them our patients if no action is taken, he stated in a media release.

Robson said wait times for essential surgeries had blown out in the past financial year. Its wrong to think of these as elective surgeries, they are essential and only 63 percent of patients referred for semi-urgent planned surgery are being treated within the recommended [90] days. Thats more than one in three patients waiting longer than the clinically indicated time for essential surgeries, often in terrible pain and unable to work.

The report stated that emergency departments had experienced their toughest year since the AMA began tracking performance. For patients who attended an emergency department and were assessed as urgent, only 58 percent were seen within the recommended 30 minutes. One in three patients had to stay longer than four hours in the emergency department because beds were not available in the hospital to admit them.

The public hospital system was experiencing increasing pressures on services well before the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video summary to launch the report card, Dr Sarah Whitelaw said, while we know the pandemic has impacted the ability of hospitals to respond, the impact on emergency departments in public hospitals has been worsening for a decade.

The number of public hospital beds available for people aged over 65, a demographic most in need of health care due to advancing age, has dropped by more than half over 30 years, from 32.5 beds per 1,000 people in this age bracket to only 14.7 per 1,000.

Federal and state governments, both Labor and Liberal-National, have under-funded the public health system over these decades. They have driven down expenditure for essential services, such as health and education, in order to cut corporate taxation and make Australia more attractive to investors.



Disregard for the needs of public health and its subordination to profit were most nakedly seen with the let it rip scrapping of evidence-based measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. As reported in the BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal) last month, COVID is Australias third leading cause of death, following ischemic heart disease and dementia.

There were 20,200 more deaths in 2022 than if the pandemic had not happened, with a total excess mortality of 12 percent. Most excess deaths occurred in people older than 65 years, whom big business largely regards as expendable, no longer able to work, and a burden on the health and welfare budgets.

Robson commented: In just over 10 years, Australia is expected to have more than 1 million people who will be over 85 years of age and we know older patients are more likely to require an admission to a public hospital. We should be planning for this. But we will remain on the path to failure if we keep doing the same thing over, and over, and over again.

The report highlighted a hidden waiting list where some patients wait years to get on an official waiting list to see a specialist. The report estimated that around 100,000 fewer people were added to the essential surgery list in 202122, showing this hidden waiting list.

The report came just a week after the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) analysed public specialist outpatient waiting times in four states: Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. New South Wales, the Northern Territory and the Australia Capital Territory did not make their data public.

The ABC found some patients are waiting longer than six years to see specialists for an initial appointment, warning that people could die waiting for care.

The ABC said people needing a consultation with a brain surgeon are waiting longer than two years for urgent appointments, while the recommended time frame is 30 days. In Victoria, it can be more than eight years to see ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons, and longer than seven years to see immunologists and dermatologists.

In Tasmania, it can take longer than six years to see a neurosurgeon. In parts of South Australia, specialists such as gastroenterologists and ophthalmologists can take as long as five years to be seen. In some major South Australian hospitals, maximum wait times for routine and non-urgent care range from 3 to 5 years in ophthalmology, ENT, gastroenterology and orthopaedics.

Professor Graeme Stewart, from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, described the ABC figures as unconscionable. He said: The word heartbreaking comes up after 50 years as a doctor to think that weve got to this stage.

If theyre not dying while theyre waiting, the delay may alter the outcome to be the difference between life and death, he told the ABC. This is not what Australians were told their health system was going to be.

If nothing changed, more people would fall through the cracks. It will progressively get worse, Stewart said. But its bad enough as it is. It doesnt have to get worse for people to take notice that we have to act now.

In early 2020, the Morrison Liberal-National government announced a 50-50 shared health funding deal with the states and territories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of 2022, the Albanese Labor government ended this equal funding partnership, despite the AMAs Robson warning that the log-jammed hospital system was at breaking point and no longer had any capacity to surge and meet increased demand.

The Daniel Andrews Labor government in Victoria now plans to cut up to 10 percent of civil servants in the states health department. Rural Doctors Association of Victoria president Dr Dan Wilson said: To cut 10 percent Id be greatly concerned about the feasibility of the Victorian state health department programs continuing in their current versions You pull some of those jobs away and some sections of the communityoften marginalised groupsget put on the backburner.

All the unions covering nurses and healthcare workers have allowed the crisis in the public healthcare system to worsen by continually stifling workers opposition, preventing unified industrial action and channelling anger back behind the election of cost-cutting, pro-business Labor governments.

Health workers need to take matters into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, have to be established throughout the healthcare system to defeat the union betrayals, circulate information, organise democratic discussions and prepare a genuine industrial and political counter-offensive.

The situation in the hospitals will only deteriorate so long as healthcare is subordinated to the profit demands of big business and the austerity agenda of the Labor and Coalition governments that represent it.

The Health Workers Rank-and-File Committee (HWRFC) is fighting for the development of such committees of action. It advances the struggle for workers governments that would implement socialist policies, including placing the banks and the major corporations under public ownership and democratic workers control, to provide the necessary billions to ensure high-quality public healthcare for all, and decent pay and conditions for those who work in this crucial sector.
The redacted and declassified version of the Australian Labor governments Defence Strategic Review (DSR), released on April 24, raised an alarm over the Australian militarys significant workforce challenges with recruitment and retention. Without elaborating or providing any details, it stated: This is an acute issue for Defence and is reflective of broader national challenges.

National Defence Review: Defence Strategic Review

Though vague and muted, this language points to growing concerns in Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government and ruling circles as a whole about the difficulties they face in executing their plans to mobilise the entire population for war, and to recruit thousands of youth into the armed forces to fight and die in the interests of US and Australian capitalism.

The DSR signalled the biggest military buildup and shift in Australian military policy since World War II. From a post-Vietnam War official focus on defending the continent, it called for impactful projection across the Indo-Pacific region, placing the country at the forefront of US war preparations against China, which Washington regards as an existential threat to US global dominance.

The DSR openly targeted China and declared there was the prospect of major conflict in the region that directly threatens our national interest. It promoted US allegations of Chinese aggression when in reality, it is the US and its closest allies, such as Australia, that are increasingly taking punitive economic measures against China, militarily encircling it and provoking a conflict over Taiwan, which has been internationally recognised for the past 50 years as part of China.

Clearly produced with the closest collaboration of the US Biden administration, the DSR is part of an escalation of militarisation by all the imperialist powers. Last year, Japan and Germany doubled their military budgets amid the escalating US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the preparations for war against China.

The report demanded a whole-of-nation approach, which means subordinating every aspect of society to the war effort. But the military confronts what Defence Minister Richard Marles declared last November to be a personnel crisis.

A Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recently heard that, in the 12 months to May 2022, the Australian army lost 13 percent of its workforce (up from 10.9 percent the previous year), while the navy lost 9.3 percent (up from 6.8 percent), and the Royal Australian Air Force lost 8.7 percent (up from 6.9 percent).

The DSR detailed no answers to this crisis, but stated: Policy, process, risk appetite and approaches to recruitment must change to increase the speed of recruitment from application to enlistment and recruitment. Recruitment time must be achieved in days, not months.

This means dramatically speeding up recruitment time frames and lowering the standards for recruits, particularly in terms of mental health and tolerance for battlefield violence and trauma (risk appetite).

Already in January, Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the recruitment process would be cut from about 300 days on average to no more than 100 days, and possibly shorter. He stated: [W]e do not want to be losing people who find other opportunities while we are taking them through that recruitment process.

The former Liberal-National Coalition government under Scott Morrison declared in March 2022 that the permanent Australian Defence Force (ADF) workforce would be increased by 30 percent to almost 80,000 personnel by 2040.

As opposition leader at the time, Albanese supported the expansion, and declared that a Labor government would be better placed to implement it. Such an increase in the ADFs permanent workforce would require more than doubling the previous rate of recruitment, which saw ADF numbers increase by a little over 3,000 (about 5 percent) in the 10 years to 202122.

One aspect of the armys inability to recruit and retain is the psychological distress to which military service leads. The royal commission into military-related suicides was established in July 2021 in response to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report which found that 1,273 suicides had occurred between 2001 and 2019 among military personnel who had served at least one day since 1985. Of those, 211 were serving and 1,062 were veterans.

This is no doubt linked to the dehumanising and brutal conditions in which army personnel are made to serve. That includes participating in war crimes. According to the 2020 Brereton Report, the military is alleged to have engaged in war crimes in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016, including murder, torture and abuse.

Australian soldiers in training. [Photo: Defence Australia Facebook]

ADF Chief General Angus Campbell told the royal commission that the ADF had begun considering candidates with higher psychological risk profiles. Given current economic circumstances and the low employment rate the ADFs risk appetite in recruiting has increased, he testified.

Psychologist Dr Mary Frost told the Guardian in February that the results have been catastrophic. Recruits referred by the ADF came to her, sometimes after no more than 20 weeks of training, sometimes suicidal, and desperately wanting out.

Many young people are looking to alternative means of getting an education and carving out a life for themselves. Rural and regional centres have historically been a source of much of the ADFs recruitment. But youth in these areas are often moving into urban centres looking for employment or education opportunities.

The DSR also called for the reintroduction of the Ready Reserve Scheme. The scheme was first introduced in October 1991 by Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Its purpose was to have a reserve of fully-trained military recruits enter the civilian workforce or higher education, ready on short notice to deploy on military operations. The scheme was abolished in 1996 by the Coalition government of Prime Minister John Howard.

As well as possible employment and education prospects, the fall in recruits and retention reflects broad anti-war sentiment, particularly among youth, who do not want to be sacrificed in imperialist wars abroad.

This is an international phenomenon. In the year to October 2022, the UK Armed Forces dropped 3.3 percent, with a 29.8 percent reduction in applications to join the British military. New Zealand fell 12 percent short of its 2021 defence recruitment target. Canadian Brigadier-General Krista Brodie said last September that one in ten of the countrys 100,000 defence force positions were unfilled.

The German, Canadian and US defence forces are engaged in desperate efforts to recruit young people. The National Guard in the US state of Georgia is using mobile phone location data to target high school students with recruitment advertisements and military propaganda.

Last November, Universities Australia, representing the university managements, urged the Albanese government to establish internships to funnel studentsincluding international students from strategic alliesinto the Australian military.

Sections of the ruling elite are openly discussing reinstating conscription. Last November, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott called for the introduction of mandatory national service for youth finishing high school.

A Red Alert series published in the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald in March declared that, in order to prepare for an imminent war against China, Australian society must break the taboos of conscription and nuclear weapons.

While pledging $368 billion in March for the purchase of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the aggressive AUKUS military alliance with the US and the UK, Albaneses government is deepening the decades-long assault on workers wages, and health, education and social services, amid the greatest cost-of-living crisis in generations.

The recruitment crisis underscores the fact that there is no mass support in the population for imperialist war. The key task is the transformation of this anti-war sentiment into an active fight against the entire capitalist nation-state system, which is the fundamental driver of imperialist conflict.

That is the perspective explained by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in its international meeting series, The War in Ukraine and How to Stop it. These meetings mark an important political development in the fight by the IYSSE to build a global anti-war movement that is rooted in the international working class and based upon a socialist perspective. This program was further elaborated at the International May Day Online Rally, which the IYSSE co-hosted. We urge all young people to fill out the form below to join the IYSSE.
Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader, wrapped up its successful participation at World Utilities Congress 2023(WUC 2023) showcasing its solutions for sustainability and digitisation to advance a sustainable energy future for all.

The event, hosted by Taqa (The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) has been considered as a global meeting platform for all stakeholders in the power and water utilities value chain.

The WUC 2023 is strategically placed in the energy schedule, scheduled in the midst of COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE, which is set to take place later in the year. Participants from the energy sector, including leaders, policymakers, innovators, and industry professionals, came together at the gathering to deliberate the major trends and challenges that impact the power and water utilities industry, as they strive to provide secure, sustainable, and affordable energy.

Energy 4.0

The summit emphasised the importance of enabling organisations to implement digital transformation and embrace Energy 4.0. Hitachi Energy eagerly performed a demonstration of how quickly and efficiently utilities can introduce solutions, products, and services that fulfil the requirements and demands of their customers.

Dr Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy for UAE and oversight countries, said: Hitachi Energys key focus this year at the WUC is on sustainability and digitalisation, which are becoming increasingly crucial for utility companies to remain relevant and meet the changing energy and water needs of consumers. Electricity is an essential resource and will continue to be the backbone of the entire energy system, much like the air we breathe. Hitachi Energy is committed to collaborating with its customers and partners to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.

We are proud to participate at the WUC and we are pleased to report that the conference was highly successful, providing us with the opportunity to share our knowledge and exchange ideas with prominent industry leaders and experts from all over the globe. We have gained a deeper understanding of the obstacles confronting the power and water utilities sector, as well as the most recent developments and advancements that will shape the industry in the future, he added.

Energy transition

At the WUC 2023, Hitachi Energy demonstrated its commitment to achieving a sustainable energy future for all. The team shared a common objective of accelerating the energy transition to achieve a carbon-neutral future.

To reach this goal, the company is leveraging advanced technology and services to enhance the energy system's resilience and security. Hitachi Energy also recognises the impact of its actions on society and the significance of enhancing people's lives and inspiring others beyond technological advancements.

Hitachi Energy is dedicated to implementing sustainable, flexible, and secure technologies and solutions throughout the energy system across various sectors and locations. The company aims to provide solutions and services that promote inclusivity and equity, benefiting all regardless of their location or circumstances.

Moving forward, the Hitachi Energy team is enthusiastic about hosting additional events like the WUC 2023 and continuing to work towards achieving a sustainable and efficient energy future.-- TradeArabia News Service
DMi Partners

Best Workplaces 2023

Best Workplaces for 2023

Full-service marketing agency among highest-rated in the special category

of Medium: Employee Size 50-99



PHILADELPHIA, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DMi Partners has been named to Inc. magazines annual Best Workplaces list . The list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

DMi Partners is the leading full-service performance marketing agency specializing in affiliate, email, paid search, and SEO. DMi has always strived to make employee engagement a crucial cornerstone of its management strategy and work culture. As a result of DMis constant pursuit to better its workplace environment, the company has averaged a tenure of at least five years for employees who have been with the company for at least a year, with more than 10% of the workforce having been at DMi for over 10 years.

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organizations benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.



We are extremely humbled to be honored by Inc. as one of the Best Workplaces. All of our companys success is due to the team we have and the team we are. This recognition, validated by that team, is a testament to the environment we have built together, for each other, said Patrick McKenna, CEO of DMi Partners. We have built, and continuously improve upon, a company culture that is rooted in trust, respect, authenticity, and intentionality where every employee is given the opportunity to thrive.



Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim, said Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. Proving to the world that youre a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement.



Story continues

About DMi Partners

DMi Partners is a full-service performance marketing agency working with todays leading consumer, B2B, and e-commerce brands like Henkel, Sargento, Smithfield Foods, Vineyard Vines, Anthropologie, and SKIMS. The agency's innovative email and affiliate management accompanies a best-in-class suite of digital services, including SEO, paid search, e-commerce, branding and interactive, social media marketing, and advanced marketing analytics designed to engage target audiences to drive revenue.

Founded in 2003, DMi Partners today has more than 100 clients and 85 team members across the country, including Philadelphia, California, Georgia, and Florida. Staffed by big agency talent and offering the personal attention and agility of a boutique, DMi Partners has been recognized for managing award-winning campaigns and a proven track record of delivering the highest quality marketing strategy, execution and results. Learn more by visiting www.dmipartners.com and LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram , or contact us at info@dmipartners.com .

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. For more information, visit www.inc.com .



Media Contacts

Sebastian Moradi & Elena Lopez

Jmac PR for DMi Partners

dmi@jmacpr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f6739c0c-7d4f-4af3-a23b-5ddd87a4d1e1




The World Socialist Web Site recently reported on the repressive new assembly law introduced in the state of Hesse, which is governed by a coalition of the conservative Christian Democratic Union and the Green Party. In fact, the state of Hesse is no exception, with Berlin in particular leading the way in banning demonstrations. This trend will undoubtedly intensify following the latest decision of the Social Democratic Party to form a coalition in the capital city with the CDU.

In recent weeks, several demonstrations by Palestinians have been banned in Berlin. The citys police banned a rally planned for April 15, as well as a demonstration through the suburb of Neukolln set for one day later to mark the Day of Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli jails.

Poster for the demonstration for Palestinian prisoners that was banned [Photo by Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Police justified the bans on the grounds that there was a risk of incitement, antisemitic shouting, the glorification of violence or actual violence at the planned gatherings. According to press reports, the police banned a total of five pro-Palestine demonstrations in Kreuzberg, Neukolln and Berlin-Mitte for April 14-16.

In the city of Cologne, the police also prematurely ended a Palestinian demonstration on April 15 despite its being peaceful. In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is also governed by a CDU-Green coalition, one of the most repressive assembly laws in Germany is in force.

In Berlin, the administrative court and, after an appeal, the higher administrative court justified the bans. Both courts failed to publish any reasons for their decisions. Only the higher administrative court issued a terse press release, stating in two sentences that incitement of the public and violence could be expected. According to the argument of the court the course of previous, similar demonstrations justified such a prognosis by the police.

The group Palestine Speaks criticised the ban on their demonstrations as an attack on our basic rights to freedom of assembly and expression. It was an alarming opening for unlimited state repression against any opposition in Germany, be it for Palestinian human rights, anti-racism or refugee rights.

A demonstration by Palestinians a week earlier had been peaceful, according to police statements. On April 8, several hundred people had marched through Berlin-Neukolln under the slogan, Freedom for all political prisoners in Palestine.

There then followed a massive campaign by media and politicians. A video circulated on Twitter stirred up sentiment against the demonstration, claiming that the slogan Death to the Jews had been shouted. In fact, the video features a single man, who cannot be seen, shouting something in Arabic that is subtitled with the aforementioned antisemitic slogan. Whether the translation is correct is unclear, as is who the man was.

What seems clear, however, is that the shout was not picked up by the crowd and did not come from the front of the demonstration or over any loudspeaker. Other chants, placards and banners seen in the video (Death to Israel, Intifada until victory, Free, free Palestine) were directed against Israel, not against Jews.

The Palestinian organisation Samidoun condemned the campaign, saying, It is the Palestinian liberation movement that rejects equating Jews with Zionists, and the Zionist movement that tries to institutionalise such equating. Samidoun, whose supporters allegedly called the protests, is regarded to be a network for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, with links to the PFLP organisation.

The media campaign then served as the starting point for the subsequent demonstration bans. The leading Green politician and chairman of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck, complained that the demonstration had not been broken up by police after demonstrators began shouting slogans.

Berlins Interior Senator Iris Spranger (Social Democrats, SPD) defended the reintroduction of the term public order into the Freedom of Assembly Act, which the CDU (Christian Democrats) and SPD had agreed in their coalition agreement. With regard to the controversial demonstration, the term creates a larger framework for action, Spranger told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. Its reintroduction supports the maintenance of security in Berlin.

The term public order had been removed from the reformed Freedom of Assembly Act in 2021 against the will of the SPD. The concept opens the door to arbitrary measures by allowing authorities to restrict or ban protests if theyaccording to the Federal Constitutional Courtdo not comply with the unwritten rules of prevailing social and ethical views.

The police responded by banning all demonstrations by Palestinians for political prisoners the following weekend. According to the police the demonstrations could result in incitement to violence, antisemitic slogans and the glorification of violence, leading to intimidation and actual violence.

The administrative court confirmed this. According to the Tagesspiegel, its decision stated that the police had convincingly justified their ban by pointing out that the applicant had already registered and organised several demonstrations whose motto had attracted people with an anti-Israeli, if not antisemitic attitude.

It was from this group of people that the described threat to public safety emanated. The applicant did not distinguish himself from these people. His application made it clear that he himself took a strictly anti-Israeli stance, and referred to Israeli apartheid against the Palestinians as a crime against humanity.

Three points in particular are noteworthy about the ban on Palestinian demonstrations:

1. The media coverage completely ignores the purpose and content of the demonstrations. The reports focus exclusively on denouncing the participants because they are against Israel and slandering them as antisemitic. Yet the oppression of Palestinians is well documented.

Amnesty Internationals annual report had already certified in 2021 that Israel had subjected Palestinian prisoners to unfair trials in military courts, prolonged solitary confinement and inadequate medical treatment, and had illegally transferred them from the occupied Palestinian territories to Israeli prisons. At the end of 2021, 500 people had been held in administrative detention without charge or trial; 170 minors had also been detained. More than 80 percent of the detained minors had been beaten and 47 percent had no access to legal counsel. According to Amnesty, [T]he Israeli system of oppression and domination of Palestinians constitutes apartheid, which is a crime under international law.

Since then, Benjamin Netanyahus ultra-right coalition has taken over the government and further intensified the discrimination and violent oppression of Palestinians.

2. The decision to classify a demonstration as inciting, glorifying violence and intimidating is made by the police and courts not according to objectively verifiable criteria, but according to political criteria based on the interests of German imperialism.

Less than two months before the banned Palestinian demonstrations, a demonstration by Ukrainian nationalists took place in Berlin on the anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24, attended by the Ukrainian ambassador, Berlins Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey and US Ambassador Amy Gutmann. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed a video message to the demonstration, and the Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the Ukrainian national colours.

This demonstration could have been more justifiably classified as inciting, glorifying violence and intimidating. It denounced Russia as a terrorist state, rejected peace negotiations, demanded further arms deliveries and chanted the traditional fascist greeting Slava Ukrayini, Glory to Ukraine, Heroiam Slava, Glory to Heroes.

According to a report in the Berliner Zeitung, those associated with Russia by the demonstrators had to expect insults (You are murderers) and threats (Piss off you fascists).

3. The bans on demonstrations and the planned tightening of the law on assemblies by adding the term public order represent a major assault on the basic democratic right to freedom of assembly.

On this basis demonstrations can be arbitrarily broken up and banned. Assaults or statements by individual participants are sufficient and it is known that secret service and/or police undercover agents often act as provocateurs on demonstrations.

While arguing it is opposed to antisemitism, the same German state is quite prepared to support demonstrations by far-right Ukrainian nationalists, who are rooted in a long tradition of fascism and antisemitism.

Jewish and Israeli Berliners protested against this arbitrariness in an open letter on April 21. A blanket ban based on the mere fear that a demonstration could lead to criminal offences, it says, we see as discriminatory against the Palestinian minority in Germany and a worrying precedent that will inevitably affect other marginalised communities. Such anti-democratic measures amount to collective punishment and offer no effective protection to us as Jewish Berliners.

In Berlin, already on May 8 last year, the day of liberation from fascism, the display of the Soviet flagunder which Auschwitz was liberatedwas banned by the police on Soviet memorials. This was followed shortly afterwards by a ban on all Palestinian demonstrations on Nakba Day.

A few months later, the Bundestag tightened up the incitement of the people paragraph; now anyone who questions alleged war crimes of a country that has been demonised by the press and official politics faces punishment. In January, peace activist Heinrich Bucker was sentenced by a court for speaking out in public against Germanys war policy in Ukraine.

As broader and broader layers of the population around the world mobilise to oppose exploitation, inequality, oppression and war, the ruling class is developing its repressive apparatus to criminalise and suppress protests.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a provincial state of emergency Saturday after an early season outbreak of wildfires across the western Canadian province. As of Monday more than 30,000 people had evacuated their homes under the threat of flames and choking smoke from more than 100 active fires.

An early May heat wave primed the province for a fiery explosion. Record high temperatures were smashed in both Edmonton, the provinces capital, and Calgary, its largest city. In the former the mercury hit 28.9 Celsius (84 F) on May 1, while Calgary broke a 130-year record with a temperature of 25.8 C (78 F) recorded at the citys airport. Heat records were also broken in Red Deer, Vegreville, Fort Chipewyan and Rocky Mountain House. Warnings were made days ahead of time by meteorologists that the fire danger was exceptionally high and burn bans were put in place for much of the province.

Wildfire near Edson, Alberta. [Photo: Alberta Wildfire/Government of Alberta]

Much of Alberta has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires, Premier Smith said at a press conference Saturday. These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province is facing today.

Smith expressed shock at the number of people forced to flee their homes, stating, I dont know that I ever recall seeing multiple communities evacuated all at once in fire season.

Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Christine Tucker told reporters Saturday that firefighters were confronting extremely difficult conditions, including high winds, which are fueling the flames. Tucker described the outbreak of wildfires across the province as unusual and unprecedented.

The 7,300 residents of Drayton Valley, approximately 140 km southwest of Edmonton, were warned to continue to stay away Sunday as flames burned uncontrolled. Four homes have been destroyed by a fire which forced residents to flee Thursday night. Approximately three dozen residents took shelter at Edmontons Expo Centre over the weekend, while others are in hotels or with relatives.

This fire remains out of control and so it is imperative that people stay out of this area. I cant stress that enough, Brazeau County and Drayton Valley Fire Chief Tom Thompson warned. The risk to the public is still extremely high and it is not safe to enter the community at this time.

Other areas under evacuation orders due to fires include: the town of Edson (population 8,000), northwest of Drayton Valley; Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation 154 (population 1,505) and Fox Lake Indian reserve (population 3,600), in remote northern Alberta; and Rainbow Lake (population 500), in the provinces northwest corner.

More than 20 homes, a store, an RCMP detachment and the communitys water treatment plant have been destroyed in Fox Lake. Photos and video posted on social media show the small community surrounded by billowing smoke. A GoFundMe set up to aid residents with purchasing essentials has raised nearly $12,000.

The fires have also triggered the widespread idling of oil extraction operations, resulting in 145,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day being shut in. Alberta is the center of petroleum extraction in Canada, and one of the largest oil-producing regions in the world, with approximately 120,000 workers employed in the process of oil drilling and surface mining of bitumen oil-tar sands. The oil and gas industry accounts for a quarter of the provinces annual economic output.

The burning of oil and other fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, is the major factor in man-made climate change. Scientists have warned that climate change is the driving force behind the increasing intensity of wildfires and the expansion of the fire season beyond its historic range.

Were almost moving to fire years instead of fire seasons, Mike Flannigan, the research chair for Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science at Thompson Rivers University told Edmonton AM last week. Thats the result because were getting warmer.

Climate change has also facilitated the spread of the mountain pine beetle, which has killed over 20 million hectares of forest since the 1990s, leaving standing forests like candles waiting to be lit by a lightning strike. Declining spring rains and rapidly warming temperatures from the winter make grass and undergrowth perfect tinder.

Making matters worse, cuts to public funding for firefighting and prevention have hampered efforts to respond to the increasingly destructive impacts of climate change.

Former Premier Jason Kenney and his United Conservative Party (UCP) government cut the number of wildfire lookouts, firefighters, and forest service personnel while contracting out some services to private firms. The UCP also axed the provinces Wildland Firefighter Rappel Program, which trained firefighters on rappelling from helicopters to reach remote fires before they spread.

In 2016 then-premier Rachel Notley and her New Democratic Party (NDP) government defended slashing $15 million from the base firefighting budget, reducing tanker operations from 123 to 93 days and reducing fire prevention operations.

The latest eruption of fires recalls the 2016 inferno that consumed much of the city of Fort McMurray, forcing the disorganized evacuation of its 88,000 residents and destroying 3,244 buildings. Two people were killed in a traffic accident during the evacuation. And in 2021 the village of Lytton, British Columbia, was mostly destroyed by fire amid an extreme heat wave, killing two people. The British Columbia Coroners Service estimates that 619 people died from extreme heat between June 25 and July 1, 2021.

The latest fire outbreak and state of emergency come amid campaigning for the May 29 Alberta provincial election. The principal party leaders, UCP Premier Smith, a climate-change denier who boasts of her close ties to the Freedom Convoy, the anti-vaxx movement and other far-right and outright fascist forces, and NDP leader Notley have cynically postured as sympathetic to the wildfire refugees and concerned about helping Albertans confront the dangers posed by wildfires.

I want Albertans to be assured that there is a stable, functioning government that is here to support them throughout this unprecedented crisis, Smith said Sunday.

For her part, Notley, a seasoned hand in controlling popular anger over government mismanagement, offered her assistance to Smith. We are quite sincere in our offer to participate in the emergency planning committee, said Notley. I think that we have experience and advice that we can offer and I think it helps depoliticize what should be a laser focus on public safety.

However, it is clear from the records of the UCP and NDP in government that both parties are entirely subordinate to the profit interests of big oil. Neither will take the measures necessary to protect communities from destruction and combat global climate change. The expansion of wildfire season and extreme heat is not limited to Canada. The same effects of climate change are being seen throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Extreme weather can only be confronted by a movement of the working class united internationally on the basis of a socialist program to transform society to meet human needs rather than private profit.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) demands that its meeting, The war in Ukraine and how to stop it, be allowed to go ahead at Goethe University in Frankfurt. The Evangelische Studierendengemeinde (ESG, protestant university parish) is attempting to illegally cancel the room it rented to the IYSSE on the Westend campus, justifying this by citing the youth organizations anti-war positions.

The IYSSE meeting in Frankfurt is part of an international series that have been held at universities around the world, including 13 universities in the US, four in Australia and New Zealand, two in Sri Lanka, two in Canada and one in Brazil. Speakers from Russia and Ukraine have participated in several of these gatherings, standing together against Russias war and its provocation and escalation by NATO, and to discuss the perspective of international socialism. In Germany, the IYSSE has already held successful meetings at Humboldt University in Berlin and in Munich.

Westend campus of Frankfurts Goethe University [Photo: WSWS]

Last Thursday, a few days before the meeting planned for May 12, the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde announced it would not allow the event to take place in its rooms, despite a valid contract and the hire charge being paid. The IYSSE is planning to take legal action against this act of censorship of war opponents and hold the event as planned, but it is crucial to take political action against it now. Students who oppose war must not let themselves be censored while the university is increasingly placing itself at the service of militarism.

The reasons given by the ESG to declare a valid contract null and void demonstrate that it is a crude form of censorship. The church institution wants to prevent the acute danger of a nuclear world war and the deeper causes of the Ukraine war from being discussed critically at the university. This is not only directed against the IYSSE, but against all critical students and opponents of war.

In its justification, the ESG quotes from an IYSSE statement: Universities must not be turned into militaristic think tanks, but must remain places of scholarly work and political debate. This sentence, according to the ESG, speaks of little confidence in the universitys ability to engage in discourse, and was contrary to the ESGs commitment to freedom of teaching and research.

Especially in Germany, it takes an inconceivable historical amnesia to twist the defence of scholarly discourse against the militarization of universities into an attack on the freedom of research and teaching. German universities were the willing allies of the Nazis and had already played a central role in preparing ideologically for the armament campaign before the First World War. Critical voices were muzzled. If the ESG wants to forbid students from warning against such a development, it places itself in this dark tradition.

As a second reason for terminating the use of its premises, the ESG states that the IYSSE represents a materialist conception of history... at the centre of which is a scientific understanding of politics and history and the working class as the only revolutionary force in society. This contradicted the views of the ESG of plurality and the divine image of every human being.

In what way a scientific understanding of politics should contradict with plurality, the church does not elaborate. The Marxist orientation of the IYSSE and its policy statement were known to the ESG before the contract was agreed, and the IYSSE has held events in its rooms before. The current concerns about a materialist view of history clearly stem from the desire to banish anti-war positions from campus.

Dr. Anke Spory, who signed the letter to the IYSSE, is executive pastor of the ESG Frankfurt and provost of Oberhessen. She told the IYSSE that the cancellation followed discussions in the regional church. But the connection with the militarization of the university is obvious.

Frankfurts Goethe University has systematically put itself at the service of militarism for years. The influential Normative Orders research centre headlines its homepage with a call to #StandWithUkraine, completely detaching Russias reactionary invasion of Ukraine from its historical and political roots.

David North addressing a near universally-masked audience at San Diego State University on April 25, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

Goethe University was already represented in the project New PowerNew Responsibility in 2013, through politics professor Gunther Hellmann, which had initiated the German governments about turn in foreign and security policy and Germanys return to great power politics. Hellmann is the editor of the 2015 Security Conference documentation, Earlier, More Decisive, More Substantive. The New Debate on Germanys Foreign Policy, as well as a volume of the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) 2016 White Paper.

At the end of April, Frankfurt professor Susanne Schroter made national headlines when she invited racist Boris Palmer to what was supposed to be a scholarly conference at her Global Islam Research Center (FZGI), providing him a platform for his racist tirades.

While these militaristic and racist positions are financed with vast sums of money, students are to be forbidden from criticizing them. And this is then sold as freedom of teaching and research.

This attack on democratic rights is linked to the militarization of the whole of society. The German government is using Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine to set in motion the biggest rearmament since Hitler. It is deliberately escalating the war to inflict defeat on the nuclear power Russia on the backs of the Ukrainian population and to appropriate Russias raw materials. In doing so, it also accepts the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.

While this return of German militarism is propagated through all channels, the majority of the population rejects it. The horrors of two world wars, fascism and the Holocaust are too deep-seated. That is why democratic rights are under fire and critical voices against war and rearmament are suppressed.

In France, the Macron government is using extreme brutality against mass protests. In Berlin, several Palestinian demonstrations were recently banned. In Frankfurt itself, a concert by the anti-war activist and musician Roger Waters was to be banned under the false pretext of anti-Semitism, and the latter was only able to prevent this though legal action.

Defending the right of students to criticize the prevailing policies of militarism and war at public meetings is of utmost importance under these conditions. If the ESG prevails, students would no longer be able to openly criticize the right-wing and militaristic positions of their professors and would no longer be able to speak out against the madness of a third world war.

We therefore call on all readers to protest against this act of political censorship. Write protest emails to the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde (mail@esg-frankfurt.de) and send a copy to iysse@gleichheit.de so we can publish it on our website. Come to the event on May 12 at 6:30 p.m., which we expect to hold as planned in the ESG hall on the Westend campus, Siolistr. 7 (Haus 3), 60323 Frankfurt.
We want to hear from you. If you have information about a school outbreak, or are ready to get involved in our fight for safe schools, contact the WSWS now! Fill out the form at the end of this article, or write to educators@wsws.org. We will protect your anonymity.



For the closure of Marcus Garvey Academy until a safe return can be ensured! For full transparency to educators and parents!

The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has reopened the doors to Marcus Garvey Academy today amid a cluster of what is being referred to as mysterious flu-like illnesses. The still largely unidentified cluster of illnesses has killed one kindergartner, Jimari Williams, a boy who celebrated his 6th birthday just two days before passing on April 26.

Jimari Aiden Williams April 24, 2017  April 26, 2023 [Photo: James H. Cole funeral home]

The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has responded to the crisis with utter callousness towards the lives of its students and educators.

Sarah Johnson, a parent whose daughter attends Marcus Garvey Academy, told the World Socialist Web Site that parents were left in the dark as the mysterious flu-like illness swept through the school.

I found out about the flu-like symptoms last Tuesday, from the Detroit News. It was very late in the evening when the school called and cancelled classes. They never gave the details about Jimari or the severity of whats been happening. There was nothing about the children hospitalized.

Johnson continued: Not until Friday did I learn about Jimari. Four days earlier the school had posted a memorial flyer saying a student had passed. It was just a picture, no explanation or anything.

In fact, they never mentioned him or his passing in any of their communication with parents. They also didnt specify which age groups had been exposed; all of that came out in the media.

Marcus Garvey Academy [Photo: WSWS]

At a virtual DPSCD meeting, held for parents last Friday, the district admitted that they did not know what illness killed Jimari. They also admitted that they had not been able in the vast majority of cases to identify the precise illness that was responsible for sickening the children.

According to the latest reports, only two of the cases had been confirmed as Haemophilus influenzae, a broad name for any illness caused by bacteria called H. influenzae, which can be extremely serious.

Alycia Merriweather, the Deputy Superintendent External Partnerships, Enrollment & Specialty Programming for DPSCD, used the meeting to tell parents that the building has been cleaned against an illness or illnesses they have not identified; that masks would not be required; that no virtual learning option was available; and that no systematic testing was in place.

Many parents left the meeting feeling more concerned and angry than they were before.

I watched part of the meeting on Friday, Johnson explained, but it was immediately clear that they had no intention of giving responses outside of their official PR (Public Relations) strategy.

She continued, It's very disappointing that they refuse to acknowledge Jimari. When a former student was murdered in the shooting at Michigan State University earlier this year, they made sure to inform parents. However, over a week after Jimari's death they still haven't offered public condolences. Their whole handling of the situation has been completely heartless and it seems like theyre more concerned with managing negative publicity than with keeping students safe.

Another parent, Stacey Grimes, has a daughter who went to school with Jimari. Grimes explained that Jimaris death is the first time she has had to explain death to her daughter. She commented: Its too soon for the kids to be going back to school. I dont like it. We are hoping it isnt like covid was.

Many parents expressed deep concern that the school would not mandate masks under these circumstances.

The school communicated that they have masks available free of charge and that parents should encourage children to wash their hands frequently as if were the ones in control of what happens in the school, Johnson explained. In the past, I was told that they put masks on kids when their noses begin dripping snot, so its unclear why they wont put them in masks as a serious illness passes through the school.

Commenting on the broader context of the crisis Johnson said, I think this is indicative of the whole pandemic. Society has gone back to normal to where any illness takes place, they act like its not COVID, act like its all normal, and that we shouldnt take precautions. Its callous and its gaslighting. Ive lost friends and family friends to COVID.

I dont think they would have shut down the school if a student hadnt passed away. It seems they were doing all they could stay open, waiting so late at night. They tell us at 9:30 p.m. at night and we have to make plans for the next day. They wanted to cover this up, and they are still trying to. Its bad PR.

They want the kids in school, so parents are on the job to keep the so-called economy running. They will sacrifice as many people as needed. How can a child die, and we get no communications?

Mia Bynum, a parent of two children at the school, told the WSWS: I think it is too soon to be back in the school. My condolences go out to the boy and his family because he didnt get a chance to live his life.

Mia Bynum, a parent of two children at Marcus Garvey Academy in Detroit [Photo: WSWS]

She went on to express uncertainty about the effectiveness of the school cleaning, saying, That [the cleaning] is not enough because there could still be more sick kids because some parents send their kids to school with runny noses and coughs. I just feel that it is too soon to open things. This happened in two locations where they had this outbreak. Its not fair.

She continued,Im still scared to send my kids to the school even though they said they sanitized and cleaned it. I have a child that is autistic, and one that has asthma. Its a scary situation. It could happen to anybody. And I feel like by this occurring maybe the kids should be back online since it is near the end of the school year to avoid something like this happening again.

A father dropping off his child at school expressed a sentiment that no doubt many others feel: Its all about the money. You and I both know that.

The callous indifference of DPSCD to the health and well being of the students and educators of Marcus Garvey, as well their families and the surrounding communities, sadly, should come as no surprise. DPSCD is playing out of the same playbook used to force the reopening of schools at the height of the pandemic, with the backing of both political parties and the trade union bureaucracywhich it should be noted, has remained completely silent on the crisis.

The WSWS Educators Newsletter urges parents and educators to join the fight for safe schools.

There must be full transparency of all information related to this crisis shared immediately with parents and educators. Systematic testing must be put in place for all students, educators and those with whom they have been in contact, in order to determine the cause of the illnesses. No return to school should take place until the illness has been eradicated and the proper measures put in place to make the school safe for all.

We want to hear from you. If you have information about a school outbreak, or are ready to get involved in our fight for safe schools, contact the WSWS now!
Englands local elections held last week were a significant rejection of the ruling Conservative Party, which is presiding over the worst cost-of-living crisis in generations. They also confirmed the evaporation of any committed support for the Labour Party in the working class.

From left, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown ahead of the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace, London, London, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, where King Charles III is formally proclaimed monarch [AP Photo/Kirsty O'Connor]

The Tories lost control of 48 councils, with more than 1,000 party councillors losing their positions. The Labour Party gained 22 councils through 536 local councillors, the Liberal Democrats 12 councils and 407 councillors, and the Green Party one council and 241 councillors.

Not all councils were contested. If they had been, the BBC projects that Labour would have taken 35 percent of the vote nationally, the Tories 26 percent and the Liberal Democrats 20 percent.

While this is the largest Labour lead registered in a local election since the party lost power in 2010, it comes entirely as the result of the Tories collapsing support. Labours projected vote share was unchanged versus last years local elections, while the Tories were down nine points, which were picked up by the Liberal Democrats (up four points) and other parties (up five between them).

Labours projected vote share would also not be enough to secure a parliamentary majority. The BBCs polling expert John Curtice suggests the party would fall 14 seats short.

Specific Labour gains highlight the ephemeral character of its vote.The major successes were recorded in the North, in the so-called Red Wall of Labour voters in Englands former industrial heartlands which was substantially swung to the Tories by Boris Johnsons Brexit pitch. The Tory vote was more heavily down in areas that voted to leave the European Union than those which voted to remain, with big swings to Labour in majority-leave regions.

Robert Ford, professor of politics at Manchester University, told the Guardian, Voting leave was a very strong predictor of voting Tory. Now it is fading.

Labours fortunes are in other words highly dependent on the movements of generally older layers whose connection with the party is so weak that swathes voted Tory in December 2019.

Naturally, these shifts are motivated by the reality of Brexit versus Johnsons rhetoric, and by the fact that issues such as the cost-of-living and the crisis of the National Health Service now play a much greater role in determining voting patterns.

But Labour cannot sweep up votes on this basis because it is making the most right-wing pitch in its history, based on support for NATOs war agenda, an economic policy determined by the banks and big business, and attacks on democratic rights. It has no popular base. Its election strategy is to disenfranchise as many people as possible, then beat the Tories among a narrow middle-class constituency on right-wing policy issues carefully curated by both parties.

Labour celebrated its local election results in appropriate style with another large step to the right, junking its previously claimed opposition to the Tories police-state anti-protest powers. The Public Order Act was rushed into law four days ahead of the coronation and illegalises protests which cause serious disruption to two or more individuals, or to an organisation.

Scores of people planning to protest at the coronation of King Charles III were arrested, including five members and the leader of Republic, a registered pressure group.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police explained, a total of 64 arrests were made on Saturday, 6 May.

52 of these related to concerns people were going to disrupt the event, and arrests included to prevent a breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

The members of Republic were snatched at 6:40am Saturday morning with police claiming material in their possession to be used for securing placards could be used to lock onwhich carries a six-month sentence under the Public Order Act, or 12 months if a road, airport or railway is blocked.

Republic was apparently warned by police ahead of time that anyone disrupting the procession could be shot because the military around the streets might be a bit touchy, according to the groups director Harry Stratton.

The coronation was also the focus of the largest ever use of live facial recognition technology in Britain, scanning hundreds of thousands of people.

Interviewed about the arrests,Shadow Foreign secretary David Lammy was asked if Labour would scrap the anti-protest legislation. He answered that Labour cant come into office, picking through all the conservative legislation and repealing it.

Shadow Communities Secretary Lisa Nandy commented, Its not clear in this case whether the problem is with the legislation, or whether the problem is more operational and a matter for the police.

Shadow Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said, We need to see how its working. And if its not working in the way the government say its intended to work then thats something that needs addressing.

A party spokesperson confirmed these remarks, using language taken virtually word for word from the Tories to say Labour would ensure that the historic right to peaceful protest is protected alongside action to prevent dangerous protests or serious disruption. They then used the occasion as a platform for Labours anti-migrant policies, adding that Home Office legislation will be needed in a series of different areas including the chaos in the asylum system.

These comments were made even as the Met was expressing regret at its own actions and right-wing commentators were worrying at the optics of the coronation arrests. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who wears his anti-democratic record as Director of Public Prosecutions as a badge of honour, has no such compunctions.

Meanwhile, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting was enthusing to the right-wing GB News about the goosebumps he was given by the coronation and The huge military procession down the Mall. The monarchy, he went on, is able to bridge divides, actually, and we saw that yesterday with people coming together on a cross party basis.

This follows Labours banning local party organisations from affiliating to Republic, along with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Labour Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition, Jewish Voice for Labour, the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group and the Peace and Justice Project set up by Jeremy Corbyn.

A letter seen by the Guardian, sent by Labours acting head of regional governance and local government in the south, read, Any such affiliations require approval from the NEC in advance. The following affiliations are therefore no longer valid, and the CLP [Constituency Labour Party] may not renew its affiliation without approval from the NEC.

With the Blairites handed back total control of their party by the Corbynites, Labour is not only a pro-capitalist party like the Tories but indistinguishable from them. To the extent it makes an independent pitch for government, it is as a more competent version of the crisis-ridden party on the opposite benches.

Even Labours push for a majority government is framed less in terms of soundly defeating the Tories than keeping out the Scottish National Partyformally to the left of Labour and posing a threat to the unity of the British state.

However the votes fall in future elections, these fundamental facts of political life will not change. Widespread voter abstention, alienation from official politics and the sense felt by millions that their votes will change nothing are a product of the disenfranchisement of the working class, whose interests find no expression in any of the parliamentary parties.

This is the common experience of workers all over the world and requires a unified effort to build an international socialist party dedicated to ending war, social inequality and ecological catastrophe.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul on Sunday. The two leaders continue to develop cooperation as part of the US-led build-up to war with China. Kishidas two-day visit comes less than two months after meeting with Yoon in Tokyo and is the first bilateral trip to South Korea by a Japanese prime minister in 12 years.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) shakes hands with South Korean President Yoon Suk in Seoul Sunday, May 7, 2023. [AP Photo/Jung Yeon-je]

While not releasing a joint statement, the two leaders used the opportunity to justify closer military collaboration by denouncing North Korea as a serious threat to the peace and security not only of South Korea and Japan, but the entire world. In a reference to China and Russia, Kishida claimed, The international situation surrounding us is making cooperation between Japan and South Korea increasingly essential.

While the ostensible target is North Korea, Tokyo and Seoul are working in unison with the US in preparation for war with China. Yoon stated on Sunday, In a situation where liberal democracy, which has served as a foundation for the international community's peace and prosperity, is under threat, South Korea and Japan, which share universal values, will have to cooperate through sturdier solidarity.

The claim that South Korea and Japan share universal values is meant to contrast the developing war alliances in the Asia-Pacific region to China and Russia, which are routinely accused of upsetting the international order. In reality, the US, backed by its allies, have sharply raised tensions in the region with Beijing, most notably over Taiwan, challenging the One China policy and risking war over the island.

Kishidas working visit to Seoul comes shortly before Japan will host the G7 summit in Hiroshima from May 19 to 21, which is placing heavy emphasis on the US/NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and plans for stoking conflict with China. With Japan inviting South Korea, the goal of the Kishida-Yoon summit, in part, was undoubtedly to ensure the two were on the same page ahead of the three-day meeting.

In addition to the G7 members and South Korea, other invited participants include India, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Australia, in particular, as a member of both the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the US, Japan, Australia, and India) and the AUKUS pact (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US), has been one of the most aggressive in whipping up tensions with China.

Furthermore, Tokyo and Seoul are improving relations as part of these war efforts. The US considers collaboration between Tokyo and Seoul as crucial, in particular in the construction of its anti-ballistic missile system in the region, which includes a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea and radar systems in Japan.

However, in recent years, Japanese and South Korean ties have been strained due to trade disputes and a court case involving Korean victims of forced labor under the Japanese colonial government that controlled Korea from 1910 to 1945. In 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel to compensate victims.

Yoon paved the way for the thaw in bilateral relations in March when his government announced it would compensate the forced labor victims from a domestic fund without any involvement from Tokyo or the companies. Meeting Kishida in Tokyo that month, Yoon then agreed to normalize an intelligence sharing pact known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Alongside Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have also agreed to regularly hold trilateral missile and anti-submarine drills.

Yoon and Kishida also discussed the formers recent trip to Washington and his summit with US President Joe Biden. On April 26, the two presidents announced the so-called Washington Declaration, which increases cooperation and planning between the US and South Korea over the US nuclear arsenal, establishing the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). The NCG is modeled after NATOs Nuclear Planning Group, the leading body for issues involving nuclear weapons within the alliance.

Yoon had previously stated he did not foresee any problems with Japan joining the group in the future. He reiterated this statement on Sunday, saying he did not rule out Tokyos participation. Yoon stated that the Washington Declaration has not been finalized and we must continue discussion to fill in the details of joint planning and execution. Once the discussion gets on track and Japan is ready to cooperate with the US on this matter, we can cooperate (with Japan) at any time.

In addition, as part of the Washington Declaration, the US intends to shortly dispatch an Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine to South Korea. In line with established practice, Washington has not confirmed or denied whether the submarine will be carrying nuclear weapons when it arrives. Nor has the US announced a date for the submarines arrival. Yoon and Biden agreed that this type of deployments will be conducted on an even more frequent basis in the future, sharply raising tensions and the danger of nuclear war.

Japans involvement, either through increased submarine and missile drills or through Tokyos joining of the NCG, means that the only country to have two atomic bombs used against it would further develop its role in the deployment of US nuclear weapons in the region. It is noteworthy that Japans former prime minister and anti-China hawk Shinzo Abe initiated debate in Japan in February 2022 over the possible hosting of US nuclear weapons.

By hosting the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Tokyo is turning this reality on its head. According to the summits website, the government chose Hiroshima as its location in order to show G7s strong determination to categorically deny military aggressions, any threats of nuclear weapons, as well as attempts to overthrow the international order. It claims that the leaders of the G7 will get acquainted with the realities of the nuclear weapon use and share their desire for peace. Japan hopes that it will solidify steps toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons.

Tokyo is hypocritically exploiting US imperialisms monstrous crime of dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945 to cover up new crimes being prepared by US and Japanese imperialism and their allies like South Korea. The Kishida-Yoon summit as well as the upcoming G7 summit will only result in the closer collaboration for stepping up the war against Russia and the planned conflict with China, both of which could lead to a nuclear conflagration.
Mourners construct a memorial at the shopping mall where several people were killed, in Allen, Texas. [AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez]

The bloody events in Texas over the weekendeight victims gunned down in a mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, and eight more run over by an SUV as they waited at a bus stop in Brownsville on the US-Mexico borderhave horrified the American public and the world.

These massacres are not only disturbing tragedies, the products of a deeply dysfunctional society, they reveal the direct connection between fascist politics and mass violence.

The gunman at the Allen Outlet Mall, Mauricio Garcia, was a fascist. He wore an emblem on his chest with the letters RWDS, a fascist acronym for Right-Wing Death Squad. His online activity revealed he was a fan of the white supremacist and antisemite Nick Fuentes, who was recently Trumps dinner guest at Mar-a-Lago. Nearly all those he gunned down, including three children, were Asian or Hispanic.

In Brownsville, George Alvarez taunted a group of Venezuelan migrants outside a migrant shelter and then drove into them at high speed in his Land Rover. The Brownsville attack has largely disappeared from the news and Alvarez has been charged with only manslaughter.

The killing of eight migrants took place amid a political frenzy against illegal immigration whipped up by the corporate media and Republican politicians, aided and abetted by the Biden administration, which has mobilized 1,500 regular troops for duty at the border. This measure, taken in violation of longstanding posse comitatus restrictions on the use of soldiers for law enforcement, comes only days before the May 11 expiration of Title 42, the bogus restriction on asylum seekers on the grounds they may be carrying COVID-19 into the United States. Title 42 is just one of a raft of anti-immigrant measures first invoked by Trump and then continued under Biden.

A huge surge of migrants is expected from Thursday on, and tens of thousands of desperate migrants, fleeing political repression, gang violence and excruciating poverty have assembled at the border hoping to enter the United States and make claims to asylum. Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbott denounced Bidens dispatch of 1,500 troops, saying the number should be 150,000, and he ordered National Guard troops to the Rio Grande as reinforcements.

While the connection between the racist witch-hunt against migrants and the homicidal attack in Brownsville may be indirect, there is no such qualification in relation to the mass murder in Allen. Garcia was directly inspired by the fascistic ravings of representatives of the ultra right, many of whom participated in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and most of them linked to ex-President Trump and the Republican Party.

The fascist gunman killed eight people, three of them children, and wounded seven more when he opened fire with an assault rifle at the Allen Outlet Mall Saturday afternoon. Garcia evidently selected the location because of the large non-white population in the surrounding area40 percent Asian, Hispanic and African-American. He chose the busiest time of the week, after watching traffic over nearly a month and posting photographs of the mall on his social media account.

He may also have chosen Allen because it was the hometown of another fascist gunman, Patrick Crusius, who slaughtered 23 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas in August 2019. As the WSWS wrote at the time:

Crusius wrote in a manifesto before carrying out his slaughter: I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion. With this, he was taking his marching orders from Trump.

Texas has become a testing ground for an array of fascist measures aimed at creating a constituency for a violent assault directed at the working class.

This is being orchestrated at the highest levels of the Republican Party. Governor Abbott is less well known than Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, but the two states are running on parallel tracks, as though each governor and Republican-controlled state legislature were seeking to outdo the other in the destruction of democratic rights. Abbott has pushed through significant restrictions on voting rights, effectively banned abortion and sent state police and National Guard troops to the border.

Legislation passed by the state Senate, but not yet finalized, would allow the state to override election results in cities, which are mostly islands of Democratic Party control, and order new elections. Another bill being discussed in the legislature would allow citizens to join a border protection unit with the power to arrest, detain, and deter individuals crossing the border illegally including with the use of non-deadly force. There are also bills to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, and to ban citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and other enemy countries from buying and owning land in the state.

Florida is matching these billsthe state House recently passed legislation to ban Chinese citizens from owning land in the state, as well as citizens of Russia, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. The state has banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and DeSantis has declared his support for new legislation that would ban abortions after six weeks. On immigration, the state requires employers to use the federal e-Verify system to check immigration status, and another bill would require medical facilities to do the same for patients. Both would have to report illegal immigrants to the state.

The response of the Democratic Party has been to adapt to this right-wing movement, as evidenced by Bidens deployment of troops to the border. This is aimed against the democratic rights of the whole population, as indicated by Bidens decision to sign a reactionary bill repealing minor reforms in bail laws in the District of Columbia.

The administration is preparing to make further concessions to the ultra-right agenda as part of its effort to obtain an increase in the federal debt ceiling to avoid any disturbance to the financial markets. Bidens main focus is to ensure Republican support for endless spending on the war against Russia in Ukraine. All measures to curb state restrictions on voting rights or enact limited restrictions on police violence in the wake of the murder of George Floyd have been abandoned.

There will likewise be no serious investigation into the connections between mass violence and the fascistic views promoted by Republican-led state governments and ex-President Trump. The social media accounts of Mauricio Garcia provide ample evidence, ranging from shirtless photos of Garcia posing with tattoos of a large swastika and SS lightning bolts, to approving reposts of the comments of antisemite and white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes was one of the instigators of the stop the steal campaign that prepared the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, as well as the fascist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, where an anti-fascist demonstrator, Heather Heyer, was murdered. In November 2022, Fuentes and rap billionaire Kanye West were Trumps guests at Mar-a-Lago, shortly after West began to publicly declare himself an antisemite.

Neither of the two capitalist parties will confront the ultra-right, fascistic character of attacks such as the massacre in Allen. The Democrats repeat their incessant calls for restrictions on gun ownership as the solution to all problems relating to violence, despite the fact that nothing they have proposed would have stopped Garcia and other mass killers. Republican officials like Texas Governor Greg Abbott declare that mental health is the real issue. Of course, the Republican Party has played a leading role for decades in gutting mental health services at both the state and federal level.

For the working class, the events in Texas last weekend must be taken as a warning. The deepening social crisis in America continues to produce one violent atrocity after another. The Allen, Texas mass shooting was the 200th such event in the US so far this year, for an average of 11 such events per week. The majority of these events are brutal expressions of underlying social tensions, without an explicit political content. But increasingly, the gunmen are embracing a fascistic outlook.

This is a symptom of a greater danger: the deliberate promotion of fascism by the American ruling class, which looks upon the working class and socialism as the main enemy. It is impossible to fight this threat within the confines of the capitalist two-party system and the pro-capitalist trade union organizations. The working class must develop its own independent political movement, based on a socialist and anti-war program, and fight for power and an end to the capitalist system, the root cause of the fascist threat.
On Monday 42-year-old Hitler-lover Hatchet Speed, a high-level US Navy reservist for more than 20 years and former military intelligence contractor, was sentenced to four years in prison for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with members of the Proud Boys militia group.

Speed was not arrested on charges related to his violent actions in furtherance of Trumps conspiracy until June 2022, well after a separate investigation into his purchase of thousand of dollars in illegal weaponry was underway. In that case, he was sentenced to three years in prison for stockpiling illegal silencers, which he planned on using in a kidnapping and assassination plot targeting Trumps political enemies and Jewish people.

Hatchet Speed marching with Proud Boys at a December 12, 2020 "Stop the Steal" event in Washington. [Photo: U.S. Department of Justice]

Speed was arrested last summer on charges related to storming and occupying the Capitol with the Proud Boys based on evidence obtained during taped conversations between him and an undercover FBI agent, who testified at Speeds trial and sentencing.

In those recorded conversations, the Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran revealed himself to be a fanatical anti-Semite and admirer of Adolf Hitlerwhom he called one of the best people thats ever been on this earth. In 75 pages detailing some of the conversations between Speed and the undercover agent, the former US Navy soldier is described venting his hatred of Jews, immigrants and communists.

In the sentencing hearing on Monday, US District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, agreed with the prosecutors sentencing recommendation of four years in prison. McFadden had previously found Speed guilty of five charges related to his actions on January 6, including felony obstruction of Congress. The judge also sentenced Speed to three years of parole and ordered that Speed begin his prison sentence after the separate three-year prison term imposed on him earlier this year is completed.

In eight separate meetings beginning in February 2022 with an undercover FBI agent who posed as a like-minded individual, Speed revealed he joined the Proud Boys in the summer of 2020, after reading Mein Kampf, and subsequently participated in multiple Stop the Steal rallies. He also admitted to the agent that he stormed the Capitol, which he said was always the plan.

Speed also admitted that after the election he had purchased illegal silencers, which he called solvent traps, which he planned on using to execute Jewish people. I think kidnappings are harder, Speed mused to the agent during one of their conversations, but theyre more effective. What I would love to see is you take somebody out, and they simply disappear. Nobody knows what happened to them.

Maybe Ill do like a mock trial, Speed added, at which point the FBI agent said, your solvent traps would come in handy at that point?

Yeah, Speed replied, Yeah, thats the idea.

Photographs presented at the sentencing hearing show Speed at Trump rallies and outside the Capitol on January 6 wearing the traditional black and yellow colors of the Proud Boys, along with a red Make America Great Again hat. Speed was later photographed toppling fencing and breaking into the Capitol, where he stayed for nearly 40 minutes according to prosecutors.

In text messages to military friends and conversations with the FBI, Speed admitted that he stormed the Capitol after Vice President Mike Pence betrayed Trump by refusing to seat his bogus electors, and that he only left the building because he was under the impression House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had agreed to delay certifying the election for 10 days in order for an investigation into nonexistent voter fraud to be conducted.

After participating in the coup, Speed, who maintained a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance, granting him access to some of the most sensitive government programs and documents, continued to work for Novetta, a high-level military intelligence contractor.

In addition to working in northern Virginia for Novetta, which has classified contracts with the Department of Defense and US intelligence agencies such as the CIA, Speed continued to serve in the US Navy. Between his military career and lucrative contracting job, Speed had plenty of money, which prosecutors said he spent, some $40,000, on guns and illegal silencers.

That Speed was able to freely operate and ascend within the sprawling US military-intelligence complex, despite being a violent Hitler-lover and an insurrectionist, underscores the degree to which fascist attitudes and perspectives are not only tolerated but increasingly embraced by larger sections of the US military-intelligence complex and the ruling class as a whole, who are terrified of a mass socialist movement against the capitalist system.

While the charges against Speed were comparable to many others handed down by federal prosecutors, the four-year sentence, added to the previous three-year sentence, stands in contrast to the generally lenient sentences that have been handed to down to a majority of Trumps low-level foot-soldiers.

In another significant sentence, last Friday, US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced 49-year-old Peter Schwartz to more than 14 years in prison, the longest sentence imposed by any judge so far in the January 6 cases. However, even this lengthy sentence is roughly 10 years less than what prosecutors recommended.

In addition to being found of guilty of 10 charges last December related to his actions on January 6, including assaulting police, Schwartz has an extensive criminal history which played a major factor in his sentencing.

On January 6, prosecutors say Schwartz came to the Capitol armed with a wooden club. In text messages presented at the trial, Schwartz seemingly admitted to throwing a chair at police and starting a riot. Police body camera footage showed Schwartz spraying police officers with pepper spray.

It is entirely likely that by the end of the month, several more violent Trump supporters will be receiving lengthy sentences in prison. Last Friday, federal prosecutors submitted their sentencing requests following the conviction of multiple members of the Oath Keepers militia group on seditious conspiracy charges, including founder Stewart Rhodes.

As of this writing 22 people have been convicted as part of the Oath Keeper conspiracy case. In court papers filed Friday, the Department of Justice requested a 25-year prison sentence for Rhodes, 21 years for top Oath Keeper lieutenant Kelly Meggs, 18 years for former US Army soldier Jessica Watkins, 17 years for Roger Stones Oath Keeper bodyguard Roberto Minuta, 17 years for Arizona Oath Keeper leader Edward Vallejo, 15 years for Kenneth Harrelson, 14 years for former FBI employee and US Navy veteran Thomas Caldwell, 12 years for Joseph Hackett and 10 years for David Moerschel.

Convicted Oath Keeper Roberto Minuta with Trump political crony Roger Stone outside the Willard Hotel on January 6, 2021. [Photo: The Black Conservative Preacher]

In arguing for the long sentences, prosecutors included several quotes from US lawmakers trapped in the Capitol on January 6. One representative said, I really thought, were not going to be evacuated. Were going to die here.

They added that the rioters could at any point take any three members either hostage or kill any three members, and that would have prevented us from certifying the election.

Another representative said, It was terrifying, because we didnt know if the doors could be locked. And so I was focused on planning my escape if I had to get out. Thats what I was concerned about, were we going to get out? Were we going to survive? Were they going to come after us?

One lawmaker told prosecutors that he hadnt felt that way in over 15 years, since I was a Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan. I had this realization that we were trapped

Senator Chuck Schumer recalled a police officer, with a submachine gun, grabbed him by the collar and said, Senator, youre in danger. We have to get out of here. Schumer said, I didnt know what the danger was.  I was within 20 feet of these insurrectionists, and had one of them had a gun, had two of them blocked off the door, who knows what would have happened.
Are you a Teamsters Local 830 member, or do you work for another beverage distributor? Tell us what you think about this contract by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

In this July 9, 2015 photo, a delivery man wheels soda from a Coca-Cola truck. [AP Photo/Elise Amendola]

On Monday, officials from Teamsters Local 830 in Philadelphia announced that a third tentative offer from the company, announced the day before, had been ratified by nearly 400 striking workers at Liberty Coca-Cola. The workers had been on strike for just over three weeks.

In a statement, Local 830 secretary-treasurer Daniel Grace told WPVI, Final details of the contract are still being hammered out at this time and will be released in coming days. Any and all boycotts of Coca-Cola productsreal or perceivedhave also ended.

The way in which the vote was conducted made a mockery of workers democratic rights. The contract was announced less than a day before it was brought up for a vote. On Sunday, workers received a brief memo outlining several self-serving highlights as well as informing them of the voting time and location. It informed workers a contract ratification meeting was being held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vote counting scheduled to take place immediately after.

In addition, the memo said that a Voting Bus would be sent to Liberty Coca-Colas facility on Erie Avenue and G Street in Juniata Park for your convenience of Voting. It added, The ballot box will be secure in the bus with International Representatives watching it. It is unclear how voting conducted on a bus, with union reps standing over workers as they cast ballots, was either secure or anonymous.

The contract offer included a ratification bonus of only $1,000, a $2 hourly pay increase in year one of the contract followed by a $0.55 hourly raise in years two through four, and finally, a $0.60 hourly raise in year five. This amounts to a total raise of $4.25 over the five-year proposed contract.

Additionally, the company is proposing no increases to employee health care contributions in years one through three of the contract, affecting health and wellness coverage from the 2024 through 2026 calendar years.

The memo only provided a highlight of the latest tentative agreement, specifically changes from MOU [memorandum of understanding] dated April 27, 2023, if not noted otherwise, terms are consistent with the previously agreed upon MOU.

Workers were enraged by the small wage increases. Turn this crap down. Everyone is running out of soda, now theyre going to start getting pressure from customers, one worker said on social media, adding, 20 cents more is a slap in the face. Stay strong. Another commenter wrote, Should be at least a dollar across the board at leastmeaning each of the five years of the contractvote that st down.

Following the vote, workers declared that they had been on strike for three weeks and got nothing! Others called the contract bullish-t.

Others called attention to the unions suspicious conduct of the vote: It should be a vote in a hall with everyone together. Not in a bus on the strike line. Another commenter agreed, They count the ballots at 4 p.m. just in time to get the 6 p.m. in there and work. This is shady.

Frank Keel, Local 830s public relations director, took to social media to offer his congratulations on the suspicious offers ratification. Keel was formerly a public spokesperson for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98, which was led by John Johnny Doc Dougherty. Dougherty recently stepped down from the leadership after being charged for embezzling nearly $600,000 of the locals dues money.

In addition, local media appear to have been tipped off to the vote result before workers, with WPVI and WCAU posting articles with full statements from Liberty Coca-Cola and Local 830 about two hours after voting ended. This was before updates had been posted to the unions official website or social media.

The entire process and circumstances surrounding the TA are illegitimate. Workers should demand both the full details of the TA and a re-vote, with rank-and-file control over the balloting. Workers should assert that any contract passed under these conditions cannot be considered binding on them.

The struggle must be taken from the hands of the Teamsters Local 830 officials. Workers at Liberty Coke should take matters into their own collective hands, forming rank-and-file committees, independent of the official local leaders, with intent to spread the strike to the workers of the industry and region.

Critically, workers at Pepsi Beverages in Wilmington, Delaware, have posted their solidarity with the striking Coke workers on social media.

Prior to the vote, Liberty Coca-Cola workers had been isolated by their local and the Teamsters leadership, which had shut down a potential parallel strike of fellow Coca-Cola workers in West Virginia as the Philadelphia struggle was occurring. The conditions of the Liberty Coca-Cola strikes ending mirror Local 830s sudden ending of a strike by several hundred beer distributors last year just in time for the July Fourth holiday.

The Teamsters conduct is a warning to United Parcel Service workers who are also having their contract bargained by the union. A massive sellout is being organized by the union leadership behind closed doors, with the Biden administration closely involved in the negotiations.
Prostock-Studio / iStock.com

An increasing number of Americans are heading to dollar stores for their grocery shopping needs. According to a 2023 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers in the United States. In recent years, dollar stores have expanded their food offerings and now offer a wide variety of affordable groceries.

Learn More: 5 Brand-New Items at Dollar Tree That Cost Way More at Target

Related: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

To keep from driving all over the place to find the best bargains, many shoppers want to know where the best grocery deals are at specific dollar stores.

Which dollar store has the cheapest groceries?

monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cake Mixes

Best Deal: Dollar Tree

Baking a cake or cupcakes and need a cake mix? A small selection of Pillsbury cake mixes is available to purchase from Dollar Tree for just $1.25 each.

Compared to shopping elsewhere, Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com, said these are a solid bargain if you can find them in your local Dollar Tree. Available flavors include yellow, chocolate, vanilla and even Funfetti.

See: 10 Items You Should Always Buy at Dollar Tree

Discover: 10 Aldi Products Worth Buying

Shutterstock.com

Canned Vegetables

Best Deal: Dollar Tree

David Bakke, shopping expert at DollarSanity, recently did a price comparison in terms of groceries and dollar stores. Bakke said he found canned vegetables were cheaper at Dollar Tree and beat the competition by 10 cents overall.

Read More: 11 Grocery Items To Buy at Dollar Tree

Shutterstock.com

Pasta Noodles

Best Deal: Family Dollar

Shoppers looking for the most affordable pasta noodles are recommended by Bakke to shop at Family Dollar. Penne pasta in particular is 50 cents cheaper at Family Dollar than it is at other dollar stores.

Pasta Packs

Best Deal: Dollar General

While dollar store shoppers can find single pasta packs at Dollar General, Ramhold said the better value is purchasing their twin packs. Ramhold uses the example of Dollar General's Suddenly Salad Twin Packs which are priced at $4 compared to $2.75 for a single box.

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"These are great to keep on hand because they make easy side items for meals, especially during the summer when it's hotter and cold dishes may be preferred. Plus, they're a good base if you want to add other veggies or meats to bulk them up," Ramhold said.

Shutterstock.com

Cereal

Best Deal: Dollar General

Whether you're feeding the family or yourself, you don't have to break the bank for breakfast. Ramhold recommends shoppers head to Dollar General for their wide variety of cereal pouches. Each pouch is just $1. This adds up to big savings compared to family-size boxes of cereal, which Ramhold said could be priced around $5 at big-box stores.

Shutterstock.com

Mashed Potato Mixes

Best Deal: Family Dollar

At just $1.50 each, these mixes are a bargain for families cooking a comfort dinner or preparing for the holidays. Ramdhold said the variety of flavors available at Family Dollar include four cheese, buttery homestyle, loaded baked and roasted garlic mashed potatoes.

Check It Out: 8 Best Spring Items To Buy at Dollar Tree Now

Westbury / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Marshmallow Creme

Best Deal: Dollar Tree

Another baking staple, marshmallow creme is available for $1.25 for Dollar Tree shoppers. Ramhold said it's a good shelf-stable ingredient to keep on hand for making sweet treats, including frosting, or to top a fresh baked cake.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Which Dollar Store Has the Cheapest Groceries?
DORE COPPER MINING CORP

Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States



TORONTO, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dore Copper Mining Corp. (the "Corporation" or "Dore Copper") (TSX-V:DCMC; OTCQB:DRCMF; FRA:DCM) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of: (i) up to 8,050,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.20 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,610,000; (ii) up to 833,336 common shares in the capital of the Corporation that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) (the "Traditional Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.24 per Traditional Flow-Through Share for gross proceeds of up to $200,000.64; and (iii) up to 2,875,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) (the "Charitable Flow-Through Shares" and together with the Traditional Flow-Through Shares, the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.415 per Charitable Flow-Through Share for gross proceeds of up to $1,193,125, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Corporation of up to $3,003,125.64 (collectively, the "Offering").

The net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for exploration and development activities and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Corporation will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur, directly or indirectly, expenses ("Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Corporation's projects in Quebec, on or before December 31, 2024, that are eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), which, in the case of the Traditional Flow-Through Shares, will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), and, in the case of the Charitable Flow-Through Shares, will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), and renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the applicable subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2023. In addition, with respect to Quebec resident subscribers who are eligible individuals under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Canadian exploration expenses will also qualify for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) and for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

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In connection with the Offering, certain arm's-length parties may receive a cash finder's fee payment and/or warrants to purchase common shares in the capital of the Corporation in consideration of securities that are sold to subscribers introduced by such parties. Any cash finder's fee payment and/or warrants will be subject to the approval of, and will be issued in accordance with the rules of, the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Offering is expected to close on or about June 1, 2023, or such other date as the Corporation may determine and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange

The Offering will be made by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements and, in the case of the Common Shares, such other jurisdictions, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws, provided that no prospectus, registration statement or other similar document is required to be filed in such jurisdiction. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Dore Copper Mining Corp.

Dore Copper Mining Corp. aims to be the next copper producer in Quebec with an initial production target of +50 million pounds of copper equivalent annually by implementing a hub-and-spoke operation model with multiple high-grade copper-gold assets feeding its centralized Copper Rand mill1. The Corporation has delivered its PEA in May 2022 and is proceeding with a feasibility study.

The Corporation has consolidated a large land package in the prolific Lac Dore/Chibougamau and Joe Mann mining camps that has historically produced 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 4.4 million ounces of gold2. The land package includes 13 former producing mines, deposits and resource target areas within a 60-kilometer radius of the Corporation's Copper Rand Mill.

For further information, please visit the Corporation's website at www.dorecopper.com or refer to Dore Copper's SEDAR filings at www.sedar.com or contact:

Ernest Mast Laurie Gaborit President and Chief Executive Officer Vice President, Investor Relations Phone: (416) 792-2229 Phone: (416) 219-2049 Email: ernest.mast@dorecopper.com Email: laurie.gaborit@dorecopper.com



Technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Chibougamau Hub-and-Spoke Complex, Quebec, Canada" dated June 15, 2022, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). The Technical Report was prepared by BBA Inc. with several consulting firms contributing to sections of the study, including SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and WSP Inc.



Sources for historic production figures: Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963989 - Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp, Northeastern Abitibi, Canada by Francois Leclerc et al. (Lac Dore/Chibougamau mining camp) and NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Joe Mann Property dated January 11, 2016 by Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc. for Jessie Ressources Inc. (Joe Mann mine).



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the Offering, the use of proceeds of the Offering, the timing and ability of the Corporation to close the Offering, the timing and ability of the Corporation to receive necessary regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange, the renunciation to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Shares and timing thereof, the tax treatment of the Flow-Through Shares, and the plans, operations and prospects of the Corporation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.




Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

According to a market research study on driver monitoring systems, market growth is driven by factors such as rising drowsiness-related accidents, greater cross-state passenger transportation, and a higher density of autonomous vehicles. Additionally, the capabilities of driver monitoring systems (DMS) are being made possible by the integration of artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and internet-based systems.

NEWARK, Del, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Driver Monitoring System Market is anticipated to expand its roots at a steady CAGR of 7.5% between 2023 and 2033. The market is expected to have a market share of US$ 9.3 billion by 2033 while it is likely to be valued at US$ 4.5 billion in 2023



The higher demand for self-driving automotive including passenger and loading vehicles are pushing the vendors to adopt the driver monitoring system technologies. These technologies are deployed through high-end cameras, infrared, lasers, and advanced sensors.

The advanced road structure and revised road safety policies according to the new electric and self-driving vehicles are expected to impact the market positively. Furthermore, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and ADAS is also increasing the sales of driver monitoring systems.

New startups with alarm systems and smartphone integration alert the drivers and their people back home with custom settings. Alongside this, the restoration of logistics and tourism activities post covid-19 contribute to the market growth.

The higher number of accidents due to the lack of focus and drowsiness is making authorities take action. These actions involve the compulsion of DMS and other safety gears in the vehicle.

The authority actions take us to the countries prioritizing road safety. For example, Europe NCAP has settled the roadmap in pursuit of vision zero that is expected to endure zero road accidents.





Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-14561



Story continues

Key Points

The United States market leads the driver monitoring system market in terms of market share in North America. The United States region holds a market share of 16.9% in 2023. The growth in this region is attributed to the presence of major autonomous vehicle vendors along with government policies pushing end users to adopt the technologies. In 2022, the United States market held a market share of 87.5% in North America, putting it as a leading region in terms of market share. The United Kingdoms driver monitoring system market is another significant market in the European region. The market thrives at a CAGR of 5.2% between 2023 and 2033. The growth is attributed to the advanced European NCAP policies. The Chinese driver monitoring system market thrives at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to higher autonomous vehicle production and stringent safety rules. The ultrasonic sensors lead the technology type segment as it holds a market share of 20.5% in 2023. The growth is attributed to the higher affordability and its enhanced accuracy in the dark. Based on the vehicle type, the light commercial vehicle segment leads as it holds a market share of 26.0% in 2023.

Didn't find the data you are looking for? Our experts provide you with customized reports:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-14561

Competitive Landscape

The key vendors work on adding the latest safety technologies including infrared and laser sensory technology. Key competitors and also merge, acquire, and partner with other companies to increase their supply chain, and distribution channel.

Key Players are:

Continental AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Mobileye, Aptiv Plc, Veoneer Inc., Valeo SA, Magna International, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd, Texas Instruments Incorporated, NXP Semiconductors N.V, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Intel Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd.

Recent Market Developments

In 2023, Smart Eye has been chosen to deliver its Eight Breakthrough Driver Monitoring Systems to a major global commercial vehicle customer.

Valeo SA has introduced its camera-based technology that does driver identification, tracks eye direction, and follows eyelid opening.

Key Segments Covered

By Technology:

Ultrasonic Sensor

Lidar Sensor

Radar Sensor

Camera Sensor

Infrared Sensor

Pressure Sensor

By Sales Channel:

OEM

Aftermarket

By Vehicle Type:

Passenger Vehicle

Light Commercial Vehicle

Heavy Commercial Vehicle





Key Regions Covered:

North America UNITED STATES Canada

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Europe Germany United Kingdom France Spain Russia Rest of Europe

Japan

APEJ China India Malaysia Singapore Australia Rest of Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)

MEA GCC Countries Israel South Africa Rest of Middle East Asia (MEA)







Speak to our Research Expert:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-14561

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary | Driver Monitoring System Market

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.1.1. Drivers

3.1.2. Restraints

3.1.3. Opportunity

3.1.4. Trends

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenario

3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario

3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis

3.5. Supply Chain Analysis

3.5.1. Supply Side Participants and their Roles

3.5.1.1. Producers

3.5.1.2. Mid-Level Participants (Traders/ Agents/ Brokers)

3.5.1.3. Wholesalers and Distributors

3.5.2. Value Added and Value Created at Node in the Supply Chain

3.5.3. List of Raw Material Suppliers

3.5.4. List of Existing and Potential Buyers

3.6. Investment Feasibility Matrix

3.7. Value Chain Analysis

3.7.1. Profit Margin Analysis

3.7.2. Wholesalers and Distributors

3.7.3. Retailers

3.8. PESTLE and Porters Analysis

3.9. Regulatory Landscape

3.9.1. By Key Regions

3.9.2. By Key Countries

3.10. Regional Parent Market Outlook

3.11. Production and Consumption Statistics

3.12. Import and Export Statistics

4. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033

4.1. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) & Volume (Units) Analysis, 2018 to 2022

4.2. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) & Volume (Units) Projections, 2023 to 2033

4.2.1. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis

4.2.2. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis

For more information:

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/driver-monitoring-system-market

Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMIs Automotive Landscape

Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) Market Size : is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period and is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 131 billion by 2032.

Park Assist System Market Share : growing at a stellar CAGR of 14.3% and will reach US$ 2.2 Billion by 2032.

Traffic Sign Recognition System Market Demand : is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5%, from US$ 37.81 Million in 2022 to US$ 53.34 Million in 2032.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System Market Growth : is expected to reach US$ 7.7 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.3%.

Real-Time Parking System Market Trends : is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 8.9% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around US$ 96,406.7 Million by the end of 2032.

EV Powertrain Market Size : is likely to rise at a rate of over 24%. The net worth of the market is projected to reach US$ 112,036 million in 2033 from US$ 13,035.9 million in 2023.

Electric Vehicle Battery Market Growth : is set to strengthen its market hold in the global market at a promising CAGR of 8.5%, while it is forecasted to hold a revenue of USD 18.09 Billion in 2032.

Electric Vehicle Insulation Market Demand : is likely to be worth US$ 43,795.7 Million by 2033, up from US$ 6,145.1 Million in 2023.

EV Battery Heating System Market Outlook : is projected to register at a moderate-paced CAGR of 18.7% over the forecast period. The EV battery heating system market is currently valued at US$ 3113.6 Million in 2023.

Autonomous Vehicles Market Share : is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around 99,451 million by 2032.



About Future Market Insights, Inc.

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization, and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End Use over the next 10 years.

Contact Us:

Future Market Insights Inc.

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com




Scale AI is looking for writers to train AI models to become better writers. Greenhouse

Data-labeling company Scale AI is looking for writers to train AI models to become better writers.

Scale AI has job listings for training AI in languages including Spanish, Mandarin, and German.

The jobs are remote, require a minimum of 20 hours, and writers can make up to $25 an hour.

If you're a writer with an interest in AI and other languages, there's a job available for you.

Scale AI, a data-labeling company, has job listings for writers to train generative AI models to become better writers in different languages. The company is looking for writers who can translate between languages including Spanish, Mandarin, German, Vietnamese, Persian, and Swedish, for example.

On the job, writers will work on different open projects for the language they're hired for, including ranking AI model responses, writing short stories about a topic, and checking the factual accuracy of text produced by an AI model, according to the listing.

Preferred candidates have a background as a professional translator, or experience writing professionally as a copywriter, journalist, or technical writer, the listing says. Candidates can also apply if they are enrolled in or completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in the humanities or writing fields.

Writers can work remotely and have flexible hours, but Scale requires a minimum of 20 hours a week, according to the job listing.

Earnings vary on each of the job listings, but writers can earn up to $25 an hour. For example, on the listing for a Spanish writer, the job description says Spanish-experts in Spain can make $18.50 an hour, but US-based candidates can make $25 an hour based on experience. Earnings are sent out weekly, according to the listings.

The position involves contracting with a Scale AI affiliate, the listing says. AI companies have been known to rely on armies of data-labeling contractors to train and improve their large-language models.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI, for example, reportedly hired around 1,000 contractors around the world in late 2022 to help improve its GPT AI model. Contractors at Invisible Technologies, one firm that works with OpenAI, work to improve GPT's ability to code, communicate better, and also to not say certain things, Insider's Aaron Mok previously reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Easterseals, one of the nation's leading providers of services and advocacy for 61 million Americans with disabilities, and CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in managed care with a legacy of providing quality health care coverage for Medicaid consumers, have announced ten Easterseals Affiliates to benefit from initial funding from the national $2.55 million donation to Easterseals announced by CareSource in late 2022.

Easterseals logo

Annual CareSource grants of $725,000 will support the work of select Easterseals Affiliates nationwide, the work of Easterseals' National Office, and the organization's Project on Education and Community Health Equity, an initiative focused on addressing the educational and healthcare needs of children with disabilities, including children with disabilities of color, so they are kindergarten ready and can reach their full potential.

The ten Easterseals Affiliates to benefit from the first round of CareSource funding in 2023 include:

Easterseals Arkansas will receive a grant of $45,000 to support early intervention therapies as well as early education and care services through home- and community-based services throughout the state.





Easterseals North Georgia will receive $45,000 to support early intervention therapies and early education and care programs throughout metropolitan Atlanta and four counties in northeast Georgia.





Easterseals Iowa will receive $45,000 to support services at Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines.





Easterseals MORC will receive $45,000 for integrated behavioral health services and Autism Spectrum Disorder therapies at its Autism Comprehensive Care Center.





Easterseals Greater Houston will receive $45,000 to support its High School High Tech Program which educates, mentors, and helps students gain the skills they need to graduate from high school before transitioning to employment or higher education.





Easterseals Goodwill Miami Valley in CareSource's headquarters city of Dayton (OH) will receive a grant of $35,000 for their early childhood screening services and mental health program.





Easterseals Florida will receive $30,000 to support its STRIVE (Skills Training Results in Vocational Employment) Program to train people with disabilities, including veterans and older adults, for jobs in the hospitality industry and plans to enhance the program to include jobs in the health care sector.





Easterseals Northeast Central Florida will receive a grant of $30,000 to support its Family Intensive Training (FIT) Program to provide low-income families with 10-12 hours of autism services.





Easterseals Southwest Florida will receive $30,000 to support educational services at its Easterseals Academy for children with intellectual and physical disabilities.





Easterseals Central and Southeast Ohio will receive $10,000 to support its Dolly Parton Imagination Library which promotes literacy among children from birth to age five in seven counties in their service area.

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Another round of funding for Easterseals Affiliates' programs and services will be announced in late 2023.

"We are so grateful to CareSource for its support of Easterseals and specifically for its funding of our Affiliates' services which help break down barriers that often prevent people with disabilities from realizing full equity, inclusion, and access to healthcare, education, employment, and community," said Easterseals President and CEO Kendra Davenport. "CareSource's commitment to providing health and life services for more than 30 years to individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to lead healthy lives makes them a perfect partner to Easterseals."

"CareSource is proud to support the unique and innovative work of Easterseals affiliates across the country to improve the lives of the people they serve and strengthen the communities around them," said Erhardt Preitauer, CareSource president and chief executive officer and a member of the Easterseals national board of directors. "As mission-driven nonprofits, Easterseals and CareSource share a goal of empowering these local affiliates to provide exceptional services to meet the needs of millions living with disabilities as well as veterans, and seniors, all while improving health equity."

CareSource operates a network of health plans that currently serves members in seven states. The company recently expanded its national footprint and ability to serve more members with complex needs by acquiring The Columbus Organization, which partners with health care agencies and provider organizations in 12 states to support individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges through its staffing, quality improvement and care coordination services.

About Easterseals

Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. And we won't rest until every one of us is valued, respected, and accepted. Through our national network of Affiliates, Easterseals provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 1.5 million people each year  from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, medical rehabilitation and employment programs, veterans' services, and more. Our public education, policy, and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans living with disabilities today. Together, we're empowering people with disabilities, families, and communities to be full and equal participants in society. To learn more, visit www.easterseals.com .

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over 2.3 million members. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, since its founding in 1989, CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention, and access to care. For more information, visit www.caresource.com , follow @caresource on Twitter, or like CareSource on Facebook.

CareSource Logo

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/easterseals-and-caresource-announce-ten-easterseals-affiliate-beneficiaries-to-receive-first-wave-of-grants-from-caresources-2-55m-multi-year-national-gift-to-easterseals----funding-focused-on-supporting-critical-home--and-commu-301818918.html

SOURCE Easterseals
In Europe, airline passengers are guaranteed cash compensation of up to 600 euros if their arrival is delayed by more than three hours. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration is proposing a new rule to address airline passengers' rights in the US.

It would require airlines to provide cash compensation for flight delays and cancellations.

JetBlue and Alaska Airlines are the only carriers that offer flight credit during lengthy delays, the DOT says.

The Biden administration announced plans Monday to propose a new rule that would require airlines to provide passengers cash compensation and cover the cost of meals, hotels, and flight rebooking in the case of controllable cancellations and delays.

Currently, there are no US laws or regulations requiring airlines to compensate passengers when their flights are delayed  unlike in Europe, where passengers are guaranteed cash compensation of up to 600 euros if their arrival is delayed by more than three hours.

The proposed regulations are a continuation of the department's recent efforts to name and shame airlines over their lack of customer protections after a period of rampant flight cancellations and delays in 2022.

"The FAA and Department of Transportation are doing our part but airlines need to accept their fundamental responsibility to better serve passengers when they don't," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during the Monday afternoon announcement. "We are here to enforce passenger rights and hold airlines accountable."

The DOT airline customer service dashboard is now available on the newly launched website FlightRights.Gov US Department of Transportation

Along with the announcement came an update to the DOT's "airline customer service dashboard" highlighting which airlines offer cash compensation, travel credit, or frequent flyer miles when a airline-caused flight disruption forces passengers to wait three or more hours from their scheduled departure time.

No major US airline currently guarantees cash compensation for controllable delays or cancellations, the dashboard shows. Only Alaska Airlines and JetBlue offer flight credit or travel vouchers. Alaska Airlines also offers frequent flyer miles, according to the DOT.

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In addition to requiring airlines to provide compensation and cover incurring expenses, the proposed rule would to address timely customer service during widespread flight irregularities like Southwest's December meltdown and create an industry-wide definition of a "controllable cancellation or delay," the DOT said.

As of now, each airline has its own definition of "force majeure" events. Typically, if a delay or cancellation is caused by circumstances outside the airline's control, such as weather, passengers are not entitled to any kind of compensation. However, some airlines' definitions are incredibly broad and cover any event that cannot be "reasonably foreseen," including issues such as shortages and strikes.

Implementing the proposed rule could take years and see legal pushback from the airline industry. For comparison, the department's 2021 proposal that would require airlines to refund passengers for delayed luggage and broken WiFi still has not taken effect.

Are you a flight attendant, air traffic controller, or pilot? We want to hear your thoughts about the upcoming summer travel season. Email this reporter from a non-work address at htowey@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Miami Vice actor joked with PEOPLE about his father-daughter relationship while out at his Book Club: The Next Chapter premiere in New York City

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Don Johnson is a proud family man.

On Monday, the Miami Vice alum, 73, spoke to PEOPLE about his love for his kids and the nature of his relationship with his daughter Dakota Johnson, 33.

"We don't get involved in each other's worlds, we're father and daughter," says Johnson about the respect they have for each other's career space while at the Book Club: The Next Chapter premiere in New York City.

"She's a professional I'm a professional," he adds.

This also extends to the idea of handing out advice to each other  and Dakota's mom, Melanie Griffith, 65.

"I don't know what she'd give me advice about at this point, but probably, 'Go away, Dad'!" Johnson jokes about their personal dynamic.

On a more serious note, the Golden Globe winner says his favorite escape at the end of a busy day is being with his kids.

Related:Don Johnson Reveals How Daughter Dakota Johnson Reacted When She Was Financially Cut Off

Steve Eichner/Variety via Getty Images

"I love being with my kids and I have a lot of them, so I kind of just make the rounds," says Johnson, adding, "I'm a very simple guy, I like to walk, I like nature and all of that stuff, and I love hanging out with my beautiful wife."

The Django Unchained star is married to Kelley Phleger, 54, with whom he shares kids Grace, 23, Jasper, 20, and Deacon, 17. Along with Dakota, he also has a son Jesse, 40, with Griffith.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

The Book Club sequel sees him engaged to screen icon Jane Fonda, 85, whose character Vivian is vacationing in Italy with her best pals for her Bachelorette Party. The comedy also stars Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen and Andy Garcia.

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Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

"When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure," an official synopsis states.

Related:Book Club 2: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen Jet Off in First Trailer

The famous ladies were also in attendance at the event at the AMC Lincoln Square 13, which was followed by an afterparty at Tavern On the Green in Central Park, which was specially converted to resemble an Italian cafe for the evening.

Book Club 2: The Next Chapter premieres in theaters on May 12.

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NEW YORK, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global education nonprofit that ignites the entrepreneurial mindset of the next generation of diverse leaders, is hosting its annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala on Thursday, May 11, in New York City.

Global education nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) hosts a May 11 Annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Gala to honor alumnus Cody Chang of Product Gym, Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Santander Bank, and NFTE advisory board member Adrienne Palmer. For tickets, visit nfte.com/gala.

Emmy award-winning journalist Myles Miller of WNBC-TV will host the evening. NFTE will honor alumnus and Product Gym co-founder Cody Chang for his leadership and support of the next generation of entrepreneurs; Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and NFTE board member Maxine Clark for her philanthropic efforts and volunteerism; and Santander Bank for its longtime dedication to youth entrepreneurship education. Texas advisory board member Adrienne Palmer will be honored with the Exemplary Board Service Award for her ongoing commitment to NFTE's mission.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to recognize the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of our award recipients this year," says Dr. J.D. LaRock, NFTE's president and CEO. "They are incredible champions of the power of entrepreneurship education to help young people find their passions and turn them into real goals. We are so grateful for their ongoing support of NFTE."

Over the past 36 years, NFTE has helped more than one million young people start their own businesses or pursue careers in entrepreneurship. These young people have gone on to create thousands of jobs, generate millions of dollars in revenue and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Funding raised through this year's gala will support young entrepreneurs, teachers and programs in the U.S. and around the world. The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST followed by dinner and an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. EST. Tickets are available at nfte.com/gala .

NFTE extends a special thank you to Citi Bank, Santander Bank, Mary Beth and Gus Harris, ServiceNow, Susan and Tucker York, and others for their support of this year's benefit.

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For media inquiries, please contact Vanessa Hsia at 929-551-3813, ovanessa@thetascgroup.com; or Denise Berkhalter at 917-281-4362, marketing@nfte.com.

About NFTE

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) ignites the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that empower students to own their futures. A global nonprofit founded in 1987, NFTE provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school and postsecondary students. Visit nfte.com to learn more.

Cision

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SOURCE NFTE
Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch addressed the companys $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems during the media giants fiscal third quarter earnings call on Tuesday.

We made the business decision to resolve this dispute and avoid the acrimony of a divisive trial and a multi-year appeal process, a decision clearly in the best interest of the company and its shareholders, Murdoch told analysts and investors. The settlement in no way alters Foxs commitment to the highest journalistic standards or our passion for unabashedly reporting the news of the day.

The Denver-based voting technology firm had accused top Fox News hosts and some network guests of defaming the company after they suggested its machines had been hacked or compromised during the 2020 presidential election. Fox, which had stridently denied any wrongdoing, informed investors of the settlement but offered few details on its broader financial implications for the company. The company may be able to write off a significant portion of the expense from its taxes.

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Murdoch said that the network always acted as a news organization reporting on the newsworthy events of the day, which certainly included allegations being made by the sitting president of the United States and his lawyers in the aftermath of a hotly contested presidential election but noted that the Delaware Court severely limited our defense as a trial through pretrial rulings.

We determined that the best course of action for the company and its shareholders was to settle instead of proceeding with a six week trial and potentially two or even three years of appeals, he added.

Murdochs comments on Dominion come as the voting technology company Smartmatic has filed a separate defamation lawsuit seeking $2.7 billion. He noted that Smartmatic is a fundamentally different case than Dominion in that all of our full compliment of First Amendment defenses remain.

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Well be ready to defend this case surrounding extremely newsworthy events when it goes to trial likely not until the calendar year in 2025, he added.

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Fox Corporation reported a net loss of $50 million on Tuesday, or a loss of 10 cents per share, for its fiscal third quarter of 2023. Adjusted for one-time items, the company earned 94 cents per share. A Fox spokesperson told TheWrap that the company booked an $850 million charge in its Other segment net in relation to the Fox News Media defamation cases, reflecting all incurred and estimable costs at this time.

Fox shares climbed 2.7% as the markets opened Tuesday following the earnings announcement.

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Liz Atkinson said her late son Gabryel's stuffed animal, named Bruce, went missing last month during her family's vacation to Disney World

Liz Atkinson/Facebook

A family is "desperate" to find a toy elephant containing the ashes of an 8-year-old boy, which went missing during a recent trip to Florida.

Liz Atkinson, of Iowa, said her late son Gabryel's toy elephant, named Bruce, went missing last month during her family's vacation to Disney World.

Gabryel had received the elephant as a baby while staying in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), according to a Facebook post shared by his mom on Saturday.

Gabryel died before the trip, so the family brought Bruce as a memorial. Inside a pouch on the toy elephant's back was a bag of Gabryel's ashes, Atkinson said.

Related:Girl, 4, Gets New Bear That Plays Late Mom's Heartbeat After Hers Was Accidentally Donated

Somewhere along the way, however, Bruce disappeared, according to the family. Atkinson said she has contacted each place where they stayed during the trip, but to no avail.

"I feel sick," Atkinson wrote in Saturday's Facebook post, adding that she has been "struggling to sleep" during the ordeal.

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The family visited three different cities and stayed at three different hotels during the trip to Florida, Atkinson said. The first stop was Cocoa Beach, where they stayed from April 22 to April 24.

Atkinson recalled bringing Bruce along for a 9 a.m. parasailing excursion on April 24, noting that a family member named Sebastyan had "held him on the boat." She said Sebastyan brought the toy back to their car after the adventure.

The next stop on their trip was Disney Springs, where they "stayed for a couple of hours" before traveling to The Palazzo in Kissimmee, where they remained until April 25.

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"I don't recall ever carrying him from the vehicle to our hotel room," Atkinson said, noting that it was stormy at the time.

Related:8-Year-Old Missing for 48 Hours in Michigan State Park Found Safe After Sheltering Under Log

Atkinson believes Bruce could be in a number of places, including the orange parking ramp at Disney Springs and at The Palazzo.

The Iowa mom told NBC affiliate WFLA-TV that anyone with information about the missing toy is asked to contact her on Facebook. "I need him back," she said in Saturday's post.

Bruce has a very special place in Atkinson's heart. The toy remained by Gabryel's side every time he was hospitalized, and through more than 50 surgeries and procedures, the mom said on Facebook.

"I am completely desperate," Atkinson wrote.

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The Live with Kelly and Mark hosts have been married for 27 years and share three children together

Arturo Holmes/Getty, Kelly Ripa/Instagram

Kelly Ripa is showing off more of the impressive New York City home that she shares with husband Mark Consuelos.

On Monday, the Live Wire author, 52, shared a sweet clip to her Instagram Story of the couple's dog Lena running to greet Consuelos at their front door. The Riverdale alum, 52, was returning home from his trip to the Campobasso 1919 stadium in Italy over the weekend.

As Ripa captured the cute reunion, she also showed off a bit of her home's luxe entryway, outfitted with marble floors and glittering decor. The space included a lavish marble fireplace with a mirror above it flanked by a pair of closets with decorative silver doors.

Related:Kelly Ripa Shares Photo in Bed with Mark Consuelos Before 'Live with Kelly and Mark' Debut

White flowers serve as the centerpiece on a green-topped table in the center of the room, and matching gray benches are placed on either side.

Once Consuelos opens the door to greet Lena, Chinoiserie-style floral wallpaper can be seen adorning the walls in the smaller entryway leading outside.

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

"The @instasuelos welcoming committee," Ripa wrote in white text over the clip as Shep & The Limelites' "Daddy's Home" plays in the background.

Related:Kelly Ripa Offers a Peek into Her Massive Bedroom  with Husband Mark Consuelos in the Bed!

The couple, who share three children together  Michael, 25, Lola, 21, and Joaquin, 20  often share little pieces of their home on social media. Just before Consuelos made his co-hosting debut for Live with Kelly and Mark on April 17, Ripa showed her 3.4 million Instagram followers how they prepared for the big moment at their New York City pad.

"Severe prep work in progress," she wrote beside a shot of the two sound asleep in bed.

"That was a clip from our Only Fans feed," her husband joked in the comments.

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Some of her followers were especially taken by the two rainbow pillows adorning a bench at the front of their bed, which are embroidered with the words, "I want to be where the people aren't."

"I also want to be where the people aren't," Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Rinna commented. Actress Jenny Mollen added, "need this pillow."

Related:Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on Marriage, Kids and Co-Hosting 'Live' : 'It's Going to Be Off the Rails!'

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

In an exclusive cover story with PEOPLE in April, the married couple of 27 years opened up about the next chapter of their careers, and marriage, as co-hosts.

"To have Mark join me at that desk every day, it's a dream come true," Ripa told PEOPLE. "We've been so uniquely blessed."

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Consuelos added: "I had filled in so many times and had a blast every single time," referring to the 92 times he temporarily took on former host Ryan Seacrest's role. "Some people would die to have this opportunity. No one does it like she does I can't think of anybody that I feel more safe with, and protected by, than Kelly."

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Dannielynn Birkhead is growing up and she's starting to think about her future, proud dad Larry Birkhead tells PEOPLE

Larry Birkhead/Instagram

Larry Birkhead's little girl is growing up.

Over the weekend, the 50-year-old's daughter with the late Anna Nicole Smith  16-year-old Dannielynn Birkhead attended the 2023 Kentucky Derby with her dad.

Birkhead also accompanied her to the 34th annual Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala on Friday evening, which benefits the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center at the University of Kentucky. Dannielynn wore a black tulle skirt and blouse featuring her mom's photographs from her famous Guess campaign, accessorized with rhinestone shoes.

Birkhead tells PEOPLE that Dannielynn, currently a high school junior, is coming into her own and exploring her mom's legacy as she prepares for the next chapter of her life. The proud dad shares some new details about the teen, who has led a quiet life in small towns growing up.

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Larry Birkhead/Instagram

Related:Dannielynn Birkhead Honors Late Mom Anna Nicole Smith at Barnstable Brown Gala

Dannielynn is starting to look at colleges.

Birkhead admits he's hesitant as his little girl starts to consider heading off to colleges around the country.

"It's one of those things where she's just now dipping her toe into getting stuff, and people are mailing her things. And every time I get something in the mail for college, I don't know if I really want to give her this because she might take them up on this offer and go somewhere to college," he tells to PEOPLE.

"It's one of those things that all parents go through. They don't want their kids to go off, but they know they have to."

She's interested in studying forensics.

While the 16-year-old doesn't have a dream school in mind just yet, "she's starting to show an interest in forensics."

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"She takes a forensic class in high school, and she enjoys it, so she's starting to talk about that, which is great because I like to watch Dateline," the proud dad jokes. "So we're on the same page with that."

Birkhead said the course is teaching her about "crime scenes and blood splatter, and the real gory stuff and the real high-tech stuff."

"They tell them how to solve murders, give them clues, and they say, 'This happened, this happened.' It's an interesting thing. I actually took it when I was in college, so I was able to talk with her on it with a little bit of knowledge, but it's something that she's shown interest in, too."

Birkhead isn't getting too set on the idea, however, noting "you know how kids do. They can say this today, but tomorrow, she's into something else."

Dannielynn has Anna Nicole's wardrobe cataloged in storage, though she says many of the designs are "not my style."

While the teen has worn "some T-shirts and some things like that, different things that she fits in," that belong to her late model mom, Birkhead says, "there are also some things she says, "Dad, thanks, but no thanks. That's not my style.'"

"Everything that she has of her mom's is all cataloged in storage with pictures of every event that she wore it to. So if she appreciates it one day, she can. If she wants to give it to her kids, she can," he says. "If she doesn't like it, she can sell it, whatever she wants to do. But it's there, and it's for her whenever she wants."

He admits there are a lot of designs the 16-year-old "would have to wait until later" to even consider.

"They're a little bit more revealing and lower cut and things like that. So she's dug through some things, but to be honest, we haven't even started to dig through all of Anna's storage. So she's seen a few things that her mom's had in storage, but she doesn't really know all the stuff," he explains.

"And unfortunately, her mom was a hoarder of sorts, so she has stuff, and she was a variety of sizes, so she's got every size covered that you can imagine. So I said, 'What you're going to weigh, how tall you're going to be, whatever, but you pretty much got it covered.'"

Dannielynn shares her mom's big heart and picky palate.

Birkhead notices similarities between his daughter and Smith all the time, noting that the teen is "generous like her mom."

"And at the same time, she's a picky eater like her mom. Oh, my gosh!" he laughs. "She eats no meat at all. One time in her life, she's eaten meat. She does not eat meat at all, but she's not a gigantic vegetable fan, either."

"It's been a struggle ever since she was little. She's a big pasta eater, loves pizza, and things, and we add vitamins and different things to get her well-rounded. She gets a lot of sauce on her pizza. Her mom was a sauce, a condiment freak. She would just extra, extra, extra, extra everything and load it down. And that's how Dannielynn is."

Michael Loccisano/Getty

She's on social media... sort of.

Birkhead says he has strict social media rules for the teen to keep her safe, noting, "You have to watch out because you don't know what's going on in that, so you have to keep an eye on it."

"She doesn't have her own account because I don't let her have her own thing. She looks at TikTok under a fake account," he shares with PEOPLE. "She doesn't have her name out there and her picture. She's not allowed to do that."

"But, she's on there looking at stuff, and she's a big YouTube video person, and she's into all that stuff. She likes virtual reality games where they go in and they can go into a world. She creates different characters. I walked in the other day, and she's like some walking cat."

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Former Republican Representative Liz Cheney is going after Donald Trump in a new ad, which is scheduled to air in New Hampshire ahead of CNNs town hall with Trump on Wednesday. The pointed minute-long commercial calls out Trumps involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and claims that there has never been a greater dereliction of duty by any president.

Donald Trump has proven he is unfit for office. Donald Trump is a risk America can never take again, Cheney says in the final seconds of the commercial.

The ad switches between clips of Trump and the Jan. 6 riots as Cheney provides a voiceover. Donald Trump is the only president in American history who has refused to guarantee the peaceful transfer of power. He betrayed millions of Americans by telling them the election was stolen. He ignored the rulings of dozens of courts, Cheney says.

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Cheney then summarizes Trumps role in the insurrection in painstaking detail. Rather than accept his defeat, he mobilized a mob to come to Washington and march on the Capitol. Then he watched on television while the mob attacked law enforcement, invaded the Capitol and hunted the vice president. He refused for three hours to tell the mob to leave, Cheney says.

It also states that Trump was warned repeatedly that his Jan. 6 plans were illegal but Trump didnt care. Cheney, who never appears in the ad, also says Trump celebrates those who attacked the Capitol.

Titled Risk, the ad was paid for by Great Task, Cheneys leadership PAC. According to NBC News, its expected to run in New Hampshire  the first GOP primary state  during Trumps CNN town hall. The broadcast event will be CNNs first town hall of the 2024 election cycle and will be moderated by former chief White House correspondent and current host of CNN This Morning Kaitlan Collins. The event will take place at St. Anselm College and will air at 8 p.m. ET.

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Cheney has yet to officially announce whether or not she plans on running for president during the 2024 election. But regardless, if this is an election play, the Jan. 6 attacks are a subject the former Wyoming representative knows well.

In July of 2021, Nancy Pelosi appointed Cheney to the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, and she eventually became vice chair of the committee. Due to serving on the committee, Cheneys membership in the Wyoming Republican Party was revoked. She also supported the second impeachment of Trump for his role in the 2021 storming of the Capitol. Cheney later lost her reelection campaign to the Trump-backed Harriet Hageman and left office in January of this year.

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Mango is throwing its support behind the Pakistan Accord, the first expansion of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry outside Bangladesh.

The Spanish retailer was one of the first signatories of the original Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a binding agreement designed to protect garment workers in the aftermath of the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, which killed more than 1,100 people a decade ago. Mango, whose labels were found among the rubble, had contracted one of the factories in the complex to produce samples of polo shirts and other goods. It would later contribute to the $40 million Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund to compensate victims and their families.

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The Accord, in all of its iterations, Mango said, has defined a route map for improving the health and safety conditions of factory workers. It requires signatories to actively participate in the inspection and remediation of fire, structural and boiler hazards or face potential enforcement in a court of law if arbitration fails. Despite conducting 56,000 fire, electrical, and building safety inspections at more than 2,400 factories since 2013, however, the Accord has never come to that.

The high-street staples support of the agreement, Mango noted, is part of its Sustainable Vision 2030 sustainability strategy, which seeks to take one step further in its journey to reduce the environmental and social impact of its products and operations by promoting product, people and planet.

The Zara rival, which publicly lists its suppliers down to Tier 3, works with more than 50 facilities in Pakistan, including denim mills such as Artistic Milliners, Crescent Bahuman and Soorty.

At Mango, we firmly believe in the transformative power of collaboration, which is why we consider it necessary to join forces with other companies in the Pakistan Accord, said CEO Toni Ruiz. We are delighted that these types of agreement are being extended to new countries, since it represents a major step forward in our journey towards greater protection in textile and garment factories. As a company committed to its surroundings, we will continue working to generate a positive impact on our communities.

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More than 50 brands and retailers have added their names to the Pakistan Accord since January, according to the International Accord secretariat, which expects more to follow in the following weeks. Together, the International Accords 187 brand signatories source more than $2.6 billion worth of garments and textiles from Pakistan. The secretariat said it expects all 110 signatories with operations in the country to eventually participate, covering 500 to 700 facilities and tens of thousands of workers.

Last week, members of the Accord Steering Committee, including Bestseller, C&A, H&M Group, Zara owner Inditex, Otto Group and Calvin Klein parent PVH Corp., urged more brands to sign the Pakistan Accord and join us in our collective commitment to raise safety standards at supplier factories in Pakistan.

Other companies backing the Pakistan Accord include Adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, Asos, Boohoo Group, Marks & Spencer, Puma, Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing and, more recently, Hugo Boss.

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As a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, a nurse practitioner, a gun owner, a conservative, and a father to a young child, I am concerned about the persistent gun violence that has plagued our nation. To the parents, families, and friends of the victims of that deplorable crime that occurred in Nashville, I cannot express the deep sadness I feel for your loss. I have tried putting myself in the shoes of those parents who lost a child that day, but I could not. My heart would not allow me to imagine any further than getting the initial phone call saying there had been an incident at my child's school.

I challenge our legislators to picture having their child, the person they would absolutely suffer and die for without a single thought, being violently ripped from their life. What would their life be like from that point on? Bleak? Pointless? Worth living? Now I would like to ask if they would feel any consolation being told that their child was a martyr  an unfortunate, but acceptable byproduct of gun policies pushed by well-funded extremists. Would you?

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We can protect our children

I have been shot at, and believe me, it's terrifying. I daresay that you do not want to imagine the terror, fear, and pain those precious children experienced. I believe every one of them wished their mother and father were there to protect them, because that is what mothers and fathers do. We will sacrifice everything to protect our children. Our children, our flesh and blood, the product of love itself, are dying. What is more important?

I am asking our legislators to stand up against the big lobbying groups like the NRA and stop them from dictating our laws, and instead listen to the people they are supposed to be representing. I will not pretend to know what the exact solution is, but I do know that it starts with talking to each other.

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This is not a conservative vs. liberal, or Republican vs. Democrat argument. This is an argument for our lawmakers to come together and find reasonable, meaningful common ground on gun issues, because we cannot, and will not, go on with the status quo. Are high-capacity weapons really meant for everyone? If a person is a known threat to themselves or others, shouldnt we be able to do something to prevent a horrible tragedy before it happens?

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Putting aside our difference for the children

To our legislators, how many innocent children need to needlessly die before deciding a change is needed? Are the victims' lives not important enough to warrant a discussion? This should not be a decision based on party lines or gun club memberships. This is in the interest of every Tennessean.

I have served overseas and put my life on the line for our country, and now I treat ill and injured people of all ages. The title I am most proud of, however, is that of "Dad." These roles of U.S. Marine, Nurse Practitioner, and father all require a sense of selfless duty. Our legislators have a duty to ensure the safety, well-being, and best interests of Tennesseans. Where would this country be if the military shared our legislators' sense of duty and refused to fight? Or what if I, as a medical provider, refused to treat a child because it might involve a little work? My employment would not only be terminated, but my license would likely be on the line as well because I did not keep that child safe from harm. By not even acknowledging that we have a problem with guns in the wrong hands, legislators are doing the exact same thing, the only difference being the fact they are refusing to keep Tennessee children safe on a massive scale. To me, that is an unforgivable dereliction of duty. This casual neglect should anger every Tennessean. Our children are dying and suffering. I do not believe having a bipartisan discussion is too much to ask of our elected leaders.

In closing, I implore our legislators to come together and address gun violence with the seriousness it deserves. To refuse is an insult to mourning families in our state and would be a choice to fail every Tennessean that you represent, including your own children.

Zachary Craig, NP is a former Corporal in the United States Marine Corps.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee lawmakers have the ability to protect our children. Will they?
Andrew-Bailey-RS-1800 - Credit: AP Photo/David A. Lieb, File

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is obstructing an effort to enshrine reproductive rights in the states constitution, claiming legalizing abortion could cost the state as much as $51 billion dollars  a figure that is roughly equivalent to the states entire budget this year. The Republican made the outrageous claim in a letter to Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, the man responsible for estimating the fiscal impact of ballot initiatives.

In Missouri, any citizen can submit a ballot proposal to the secretary of states office. The office is tasked with creating a short summary that will appear on the ballot itself, alongside an estimate of the proposals cost, prepared by the auditor. Once organizers receive that language, they can embark on the process of collecting signatures, more than 171,592 of which are now required in Missouri before a constitutional amendment can be put in front of voters.

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Abortion advocates in Missouri began an effort to amend the states constitution last year, after the Supreme Court ended federal protections for the procedure. But their efforts are now being stalled by Bailey, whose dispute with Fitzpatrick, the states Republican auditor, is preventing them from beginning signature collection.

In late March, Fitzpatricks office submitted its fiscal note, the cost estimate that will appear on the ballot alongside the proposal. State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact, the auditors office wrote. Local governmental entities estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues.

The local government entity in question is Greene County, in southwest Missouri, whose officials told the auditors office that legalized abortion would cost the county $51,000 annually. The logic is tortured: they estimate that 135 of Greene Countys future citizens would be lost every year if abortion were legalized in Missouri, costing the county future tax revenue. (Put another way: officials believe roughly 135 women will be forced to give birth against their will every year, in their county alone, if Missouris current law remains in place.)

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But the attorney general took issue with both Greene Countys estimate and the auditors assessment more broadly, arguing that both should be much, much higher. As Greene County recognized, aborting unborn Missourians will have a deleterious impact on the future tax base, Bailey wrote approvingly. He thought the country could take its thought experiment a step further. The $51,000 figure will necessarily increase cumulatively in successive years, he wrote. Moreover, he wanted to know why the auditors office didnt extrapolate the same logic across Missouris 114 counties.

Bailey went on to cite a 2021 report produced by Senate Republicans, which estimated the economic cost of abortion in 2019 alone was equivalent to one third of the U.S. GDP. Based on this study and 4,660 abortion in Missouri in 2019, the total economic loss to Missouri from these measures could be as high as $51 billion, Bailey concluded. (The same Republican report suggests young women should be forced to breed in order to subsidize Boomers retirement. Abortion, Republicans wrote, weakens the solvency of social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare that rely on workers to support a growing elderly population.)

Actual economists, unsurprisingly, have offered a much different view of the economic impact of abortion. More than 150 of the countrys most prominent economists joined together to describe the devastating economic effects of denying women access to abortion, actions that increased their odds of living in poverty or need for public assistance. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made a similar argument last year, testifying that eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades.

As a result of the back and forth between Bailey and Fitzpatrick, state officials missed a May 1 deadline to finalize the ballot language. On Thursday, the ACLU of Missouri filed a petition asking a court to compel the officials to fulfill their duties so organizers on the ground can begin their work. (Correspondence between the two officials was included with the petition.)

Anthony Rothert, Director of Integrated Advocacy at the ACLU of Missouri, says Missouri officials have never missed the deadline before. Its probably not a coincidence that this is the first time its happened, Rothert tells Rolling Stone. Its on a measure that they elected officials dont want to share a ballot with  the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, especially.

At the same time Bailey is delaying the ballot process, Missouris state legislature is contemplating a change to increase the threshold for a proposed constitutional amendment from a simple majority to 60 percent.

Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, a group working on ballot measures around the country sees Missouri as a microcosm of a larger anti-democratic dynamic manifesting across the country. Politicians are going well beyond their legal obligations in their roles, their legal responsibilities to faithfully execute their offices, and doing everything they can to throw their bodies in front of voters exercising their own free will on the issues that matter to them most, she says. Peoples ideological views are trumping their official responsibility to be stewards of our democracy and our fundamental democratic institutions.

This fight, she expects, is just the first of more to come, in Missouri and around the country. I dont think that this is the end of the challenges and roadblocks we will see thrown up in front of any Missouri reproductive rights ballot measure, she adds. And we should expect to see this in other states as politicians have these last-gasp moments of trying to prevent voters from doing what they actually think is right.

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Gov. Spencer Cox delivers his 2023 State of the State address to the legislature at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

When it comes to who wields the most political influence in the state, voters say its the legislature, not the governor or the courts. In fact, Utahns say the legislature has more influence than the latter two, combined.

Thats what respondents in the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll said, 51% of whom pointed to the legislature as the states most influential body.

By comparison, 36% said the governor, 7% said the state judiciary, 4% said other and 2% said they dont know.

The poll was conducted by Dan Jones & Associates and surveyed 800 registered Utah voters from April 25-28. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.

The results come in the wake of the 2023 Legislative Session, where lawmakers passed 575 bills without a single veto. In several press conferences following the end of the session, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox did say there were roughly 30 bills that initially made his veto list but they all either didnt pass or were substantially altered.

In a closing letter to the legislature, Cox said that there were several bills that he signed that, if he were still a lawmaker, he wouldnt have voted for  However, that is not generally the standard for a veto. None of them have risen to the level of me feeling the need to override the will of a majority of legislators, Cox wrote.

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Matthew Burbank, a University of Utah political science professor, says that sentiment could explain why poll respondents view the legislature as more politically influential.

There are things that the legislature does that it can do, and sometimes the governor can have some influence on it, but sometimes they just do what they want, Burbank said Friday.

The legislature has long been viewed by advocates and academics as the most powerful governing body in the state  but Burbank said it was interesting that average voters also share that perspective.

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I think its good that people dont automatically say, oh its just the governor, he does everything and nobody else is important  or, alternatively, that the state legislature does whatever they want and nobody else has any influence, he said.

The results show little difference in how registered Democrats or Republicans view the issue  however, when sorted by political ideology, more liberals and moderates say the legislature is most influential, whereas conservatives are relatively split on the issue. Consider this:

Very liberal: 52% said the legislature is most influential, compared to 30% who said the governor. About 12% said other, the most of any political ideology.

Somewhat liberal: 68% said the legislature is most influential, compared to 25% who said the governor, the most agreement found in any group.

Moderate: 60% said the legislature is most influential, compared to 30% who said the governor.

Somewhat conservative: 44% said the legislature is most influential, compared to 41% who said the governor, the most division of any group.

Very conservative: 47% said the legislature is most influential, compared to 42% who said the governor.

In a statement, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said the poll points to Utahs history of coming together to tackle challenging issues facing our state and identifying the best policies without regard to who has more influence or power.

Our approach continues to pay dividends for all Utahns who recognize the positive impact those elected to represent them are having in their lives, he said. Utah was also recently ranked the number one best state overall by U.S. News and World Report and the state with the best economic outlook for the 16th year in a row. Working together combined with prudent, conservative economic tax policies has placed our state in an advantageous position.

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This sentiment was echoed in a statement provided by Utah House Majority leadership, where they touted the collaboration between the executive and legislative branches.

Communication between all branches of our States government is key. Our lawmakers are committed to representing the voice of the people and upholding the Utah Way through smart legislation, as this historic past session has shown, the statement reads.
morgan-wallen-RS-04-1800 - Credit: John Shearer/Getty Images for Big Loud

Morgan Wallen will be taking some time off from singing. The country star posted a video to his social accounts on Tuesday explaining that he had been placed on vocal rest for six weeks and would need to postpone upcoming tour dates, citing vocal fold trauma.

I got some bad news from my doctors at the Vanderbilt Voice Center yesterday, Wallen says in the video. After taking 10 days of vocal rest, I performed three shows last weekend in Florida. By the third one, I felt terrible.

More from Rolling Stone

Wallen goes on to say that he had his throat examined again. Doctors told him he had re-injured his vocal cords and advised six weeks of rest. Wallen also says hes been nursing a torn lat muscle since he was on tour in Australia and felt the time off could help him heal correctly.

The move comes on the heels of a last-minute show cancellation in Oxford, Mississippi, on April 23, which Wallens team had said was due to vocal issues. That was followed by the postponement of three shows the following weekend. Wallen returned to performing shows on his One Night at a Time Tour in Florida on May 5, but will now miss a significant chunk of his spring and summer dates. He notes that he and his team are working to reschedule all the dates in this interval, and hell make up for festival dates next year. Additionally, he will have to miss out on his ACM Awards performance this Thursday and appearance at ACMs Lifting Lives charity event. Wallen is nominated for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year at this weeks awards.

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Wallen wraps up by saying that his doctors presented him with a choice: he could continue to sing and risk permanently damaging his voice or commit to vocal rest. For the longevity of my career, this is just a choice I had to make, he says. I hate it, but I love you guys and I appreciate all the support you always give me. Ill see you soon, and Ill be back better than ever.

Wallen is tentatively slated to resume his tour with two nights at Chicagos Wrigley Field on June 22 and 23. He also announced the rescheduled concert dates, some of which have been bumped a full year to 2024.

The following dates of Wallens One Night at a Time World Tour have been postponed:

May 18  Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium

May 19  East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium

May 20  East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium

May 24  Austin, TX @ Moody Center

May 26  Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park

June 1  Atlanta, GA @ Truist Park

June 2  Atlanta, GA @ Truist Park

June 3  Panama City Beach, FL @ Gulf Coast Jam

June 8  Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

June 9  Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

June 10  Myrtle Beach, SC @ Carolina Country Music Fest

June 14  Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park

June 15  Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park

June 17  Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park

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Click here to read the full article.
Data Bridge Market Research

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the elderly monitors market which was USD 2.92 billion in 2022, is expected to reach USD 6.04 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030

CHICAGO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The newest report from Data Bridge Market Research, " Elderly Monitors Market " examines growth strategies, drivers, opportunities, key segments, Porter's Five Forces analysis, and the competitive environment in detail. Market research covered in the reliable Elderly Monitors market report helps the management of a firm in planning by providing accurate and up-to-date information about the consumers demands, their changing tastes, attitudes, preferences, and buying intentions etc. This report aids to establish a correlative relationship between the product brand and consumers needs and preferences. Further, manufacturers can adjust production according to the conditions of demand which are analyzed here. It also supports to secure economies in the distribution of products and finding out the best way of approaching the potential. With the data included in the large-scale Elderly Monitors report, marketing of goods can be made efficient which leads to the elimination of all types of wastage.

The elderly Monitors market study provides details of drivers and restraints for the market with the help of SWOT analysis, along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. It provides guidelines about the planning of advertising and sales promotion efforts. The report makes focus on the more important aspects of the market like the market's recent trends are. Additionally, the persuasive Elderly Monitors report helps the manufacturer in finding out the effectiveness of the existing channels of distribution, advertising programs or media, selling methods and the best way of distributing the goods to the eventual consumers.

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the elderly monitors market which was USD 2.92 billion in 2022, is expected to reach USD 6.04 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030. In addition to the insights on market scenarios such as market value, growth rate, segmentation, geographical coverage, and major players, the market reports curated by the Data Bridge Market Research also include depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework.

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Get a Sample PDF of the Elderly Monitors Market @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-elderly-monitors-market

Elder care , also known as senior care, is specialized care designed to meet senior citizens' needs and requirements at various stages of their lives. As a result, elderly care is a broad term that includes everything from assisted living and nursing care to adult day care, home care, and hospice care.

Major factors expected to drive the growth of the elderly monitors market during the forecast period include increased focus on the advancement of smart medical devices and improved technologies. The demand for cost-effective healthcare services to meet the decreasing number of healthcare staffs, availability of remote monitoring services for patients suffering from long-term chronic disorders is expected to drive the growth of the elderly monitors market.

The Latest Study Conducts a Comprehensive Analysis of the Global Market, considering the current competitive landscape and its future evolution in the next few years.

The global Elderly Monitors market is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by rising demands, industrialization, consumer awareness, and technological advancements. Sales and revenue in this sector have surged at an exponential pace, and the market's expansion is expected to continue over the projected period.

In order to expand their market share and reach a wider client base, leading businesses in the worldwide Elderly Monitors market are heavily investing in research and development. The study provides detailed insights into the strategies, financial health, revenue, gross margin, and growth rates of these companies.

Recent Developments

In 2019, Best Buy announced that they had acquired Critical Signal Technologies and their subscribers/customers who used their services. This acquisition includes the valuable relationships that have already been established with a variety of healthcare providers, payers, and even housing establishments. This acquisition will enable Best Buy to enter the "Medicare Advantage" market.

The most prominent players in the Elderly Monitors market include.

Koninklije Philips N.V. (Netherlands)

Wansview (China)

Fall Prevention and Anti-Wandering (U.S.)

Resideo Technologies Inc. (U.S.)

Care Innovations, LLC. (U.S.)

Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.)

BIOTRONIK SE & Co KG (Germany)

Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)

Canary Systems (U.S.)

Reolink (U.S.)

Arlo (U.S.)

Abbott (U.S.)

ALERTONE SERVICES LLC (U.S.)

Alive Technologies (Australia)

Digital Care Systems (U.K.)

SHL Telemedicine (U.S.)

Click Here to Download the Complete Research Study in PDF Format @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-elderly-monitors-market

Our market intelligence platform provides a range of benefits that will help you gain valuable insights and stay ahead in the market. By utilizing our platform, you can:

Identify emerging market trends and dynamics

Access high-quality and accurate market intelligence

Benchmark your performance against competitors and industry standards

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Choose from multiple deliverable formats, including PDF, PPT, Excel, and an online dashboard

With our comprehensive market intelligence platform, you can easily access the information you need to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

At Data Bridge Market Research, we employ a comprehensive and iterative research methodology aimed at minimizing deviations to provide the most accurate estimates and forecasts possible. Our approach involves utilizing both bottom-up and top-down methods to segment and estimate the quantitative aspects of the market. Furthermore, a recurring theme across all our research reports is data triangulation, which examines the market from three distinct perspectives.

To derive our market estimates and forecasts, we employ simulation models that are tailored for each study. We gather information on market dynamics, technology landscape, application development, and pricing trends, which are then fed into the model and analyzed simultaneously. We compare these factors and quantify their impact on the forecast period using correlation, regression, and time series analysis. Our market forecasting is performed using a combination of economic tools, technological analysis, and our team's industry experience and domain expertise.

Opportunities for Key Players:

Technological advancements

An increase in technological advancement, including the development of robots capable of assisting elderly people with day-to-day operations, is expected to boost market growth. Furthermore, various government organizations are assisting this industry, which is fuelling market growth. In Australia, for example, the government funds an Aged Care Approval Round (ACAR) and similar other programs to assist service providers with grants or to build their facilities. Furthermore, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, the government plans to provide a $52.9 million package to residential aged care (RAC), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (NATSI), and Home Care providers over the next two years.

Key Market Segments Covered in Elderly Monitors Industry Research

Technology

Home Telehealth

Safety Monitoring

End User

Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Home Care Organizations

Patients and Families

Key Industry Drivers:

Growing awareness regarding elderly care

People's awareness of home care, adult care, and other services will increase demand for the market. With the rapid increase in the elderly population, the demand for elderly care services and products will drive market growth.

Increasing market trend towards elderly care services

The growing elderly population is expected to drive demand for elderly care services. The demand for care services has increased as the economy and social environment have changed. A growing elderly population places additional strain on the young generation to care for elderly family members while also working. As a result, there is an increased demand for elderly care services. Short-term services assist with daily basic activities, whereas long-term services focus on residential facilities. Long-term service necessitates medical attention and day-care. These are the certain reasons which help the market to grow.

Explore Further Details about This Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-elderly-monitors-market

Elderly Monitors Market Regional Analysis/Insights:

The countries covered in the elderly monitors market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America dominates the elderly monitors market because of the increased incidence and prevalence of patients with lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, well-established reimbursement policies and an increase in customer purchasing power will drive the growth of the elderly monitors market in the region during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest growth rate in the forecast period of 2023 to 2030 because of the growing sub-segmentation around the world Furthermore; the presence of major key players is expected to drive the growth of the elderly monitors market in the region in the coming years.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market based on segmentation involving both economic as well as non-economic factors

Provision of market value (USD Billion) data for each segment and sub-segment

Indicates the region and segment that is expected to witness the fastest growth as well as to dominate the market

Analysis by geography highlighting the consumption of the product/service in the region as well as indicating the factors that are affecting the market within each region

Competitive landscape which incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiled

Extensive company profiles comprising of company overview, company insights, product benchmarking and SWOT analysis for the major market players

The current as well as the future market outlook of the industry with respect to recent developments (which involve growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and restraints of both emerging as well as developed regions

Includes an in-depth analysis of the market of various perspectives through Porters five forces analysis

Provides insight into the market through Value Chain

Market dynamics scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to come

Table of Contents:

Introduction Market Segmentation Executive Summary Premium Insights Global Elderly Monitors Market : Regulations Market Overview Global Elderly Monitors Market, By Technology Global Elderly Monitors Market, By End User Global Elderly Monitors Market, By Region Global Elderly Monitors Market: Company Landscape SWOT Analyses Company Profile Questionnaires Related Reports

Download the Complete Table of Contents @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-elderly-monitors-market

Explore More Reports:

North America Elderly Monitors Market , By Product (Safety Monitoring Devices, Pads, Communication Aids, Activity Monitors, Location Monitors, Caregiver Call Systems, and Others), Modality (Portable and Fixed), Monitoring Type (Weight Monitoring, Telemedicine, Temperature Monitoring, Patient Engagement, Digital Diabetes Management, and Others), Acuity Scale (High Acuity Scale, Medium Acuity Scale, and Low Acuity Scale), End User (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Home Care Organizations, Homecare Setting, Elderly Care Facilities, and Others), Distribution Channel (Direct Tender, Retail Sales, and Others), Country (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/north-america-elderly-monitors-market

Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing & Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-elderly-care-market

Brazil Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing, Assistive Devices), Service (Homecare, Institutional Care, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Respiratory, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Cancer, Neurological, Kidney Diseases, Arthritis, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/brazil-elderly-care-market

North America Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals and Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Neurological, Osteoporosis, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/north-america-elderly-care-market

Europe Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, and Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, and Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, and Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/europe-elderly-care-market

Asia-Pacific Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/asia-pacific-elderly-care-market

Elderly Monitors Market , By Technology (Home Tele-Health and Safety Monitoring), End User (Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Home Care Organizations, Patients and Families) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-elderly-monitors-market

Middle East and Africa Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/middle-east-and-africa-elderly-care-market

Malaysia Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/malaysia-elderly-care-market

Ne pal Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals and Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Neurological, Osteoporosis, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/nepal-elderly-care-market

Sri Lanka Elderly Care Market , By Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing and Assistive Devices), Service (Institutional Care, Homecare, Adult Day Care), Application (Heart Diseases, Cancer, Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Neurological, Respiratory, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/srilanka-elderly-care-market

Disabled and Elderly Assistive Technology Market , By Device Type (Medical Mobility Aids and Ambulatory Devices, Medical Furniture and Bathroom Safety Products, Hearing Aids and Vision and Reading Aids), End-User (Hospital, Home Care Settings, Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East & Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-disabled-and-elderly-assistive-technology-market

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Every morning for more than 20 years, there were hundreds, if not a thousand, students gathered in the school media center at Wiley Post Elementary for an unforgettable piece of their childhood.

The source was music teacher Kathlyn Reynolds and, more specifically, her Early Beat.

Former teachers and students returned Saturday for the 50th anniversary of Wiley Post Elementary, known for its uniqueness since it opened in 1973 in the Putnam City school district.

The biggest roadside attraction on this stretch of memory lane was another Early Beat with Reynolds, now 93.

This is one of the most important and iconic experiences of our childhood, to be part of Early Beat, said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who attended the school from kindergarten through sixth grade in the 1980s.

Retired music teacher Kathlyn Reynolds points to a 1980s picture of the student body at Wiley Post Elementary, where she taught for 21 years, on Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Reynolds and other former teachers gathered at the school to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

For decades, the heart and soul of Wiley Post Elementary was Reynolds concept of gathering the entire student body to start each school day with 15-20 minutes of song, a program she named Early Beat, said Putnam City Superintendent Fred Rhodes, who started his teaching career at the school in the 1970s.

Reynolds taught at Wiley Post for 21 years, starting on the day the school opened. She is the Putnam City school districts only Oklahoma Teacher of the Year winner, taking home the crown in 1982.

Her morning music program is part of what distinguished Reynolds and the school, Rhodes said. Others sought to replicate it at other schools across the country.

Reynolds said Early Beat was about more than singing Fifty Nifty States, her most requested tune, or the school song, Wiley Post is Flying High, which she co-wrote. It was the unifying force for the 1,000 students at the school.

That need for unity, she said, is just as relevant 50 years later.

It was just a beautiful way to start the day and give them all a sense of love and belonging, Reynolds said. It brought us all together. We need that a lot now.

Open concept

One element of the Wiley Post building was new to the group of former teachers and students  interior walls.

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Until the late 1990s, Wiley Post was an open-concept school with multiple classes contained in the same large spaces. Reynolds was among the only teachers with a walled classroom.

Perhaps a testament to the schools cohesion, teachers conducted separate classes in the same general areas, sometimes without so much as a bookcase as a partition.

It took a certain type of teacher to operate in that environment, said Sharon McKay, who taught kindergarten through first-grade special education at Wiley Post in the 1970s.

You have to be personable, McKay said. You have to enjoy being challenged once in a while.

Wiley Post could have a flexible layout once again, but not to the extent of its original blueprint. Rhodes said Putnam City plans to renovate the building, like all its facilities over age 50, with 2020 bond funds to incorporate a floor plan with open, hybrid spaces.

Impact of Early Beat

To the students of decades past, the schools uniqueness didnt sink in until they left. How else could they know other places didnt have a music program quite like theirs?

I grew up thinking that every elementary school choir had a vinyl album, Holt said. I thought that was normal.

Dena Tunstall Chitwood started at Wiley Post in first grade. Early Beat became a special part of her routine.

She adored music and loved starting each day with it. She took pride in being one of Reynolds sixth-grade helpers who rolled the piano into the media center and carefully placed the needle on the school record player.

Wiley Post had advanced to cassette tapes by the time Reynolds retired and Chitwood stepped into her position as the schools music teacher in 1992.

Chitwood carried on her former teachers traditions, and though she too has moved on from Wiley Post, Early Beat lives on as a weekly program.

I learned from the best, Chitwood said. Something like Early Beat was good for the soul.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Wiley Post Elementary finds its heart in music for 50 years
A major sand dune placement project is coming soon to help strengthen Volusia County's coast, but property owners need to sign easements allowing the county access if they want to take advantage of it, officials said Monday.

The dune placement project is one of several coastal recovery efforts happening in the wake of hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

'An unfortunate situation': Lack of a tree-cutting permit could cost Astor condo association more than $20,000

'Stupid motorist law': Version of Arizona statute could be used in Volusia

One of those projects is happening right now, and property owners who want to participate need to sign easements for that, too. The county is placing TrapBag systems along the coast as a short-term protective measure for vulnerable areas, Volusia County's Coastal Division Director Jessica Fentress said at the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials. The meeting brings together leaders from the county and its cities.

What's a TrapBag?

The TrapBag system consists of a series of pentagon-shaped sandbags that are connected side by side like an accordion, according to the manufacturer.

As of Friday the county had removed 5,211 cubic yards of debris and installed 6,400 linear feet of TrapBags, Fentress said. The county has over 200 easements from property owners.

"So we have a backlog. We will be doing sandbags throughout the season until we run out of sand," she said.

Volusia County leaders watch John Booker, who handles government affairs for the county, give a legislative update on Monday at the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials.

The temporary sandbag placement is coming from $5 million in Florida Department of Environmental Protection funds for emergency sand placement.

Dune placement, long-term plan ahead

The dune placement will bring over 1 million cubic yards of sand along the coast over the next two years, Fentress said.

People who choose not to provide an easement won't get help from the sand projects, Fentress said.

A TrapBag system lines part of Volusia County's coast.

Fentress said she expects to have an agreement with an engineering firm for the Volusia County Council's consideration in June for the design, construction, and permitting of the dune placement.

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Funds for that project are also coming from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The TrapBag systems and dune placement are both shorter-term solutions for strengthening the coast. But officials are also working on a countywide feasibility study that will look at long-range solutions, she said.

"We need to go as a group along the coast and figure out what we want our beaches to look like. ... Each area of our coastline is going to have a unique solution," Fentress said.

The process will involve the county analyzing shoreline surveys and other data and having public meetings to get people's feedback about what projects they want.

Turtle nesting season flexibility a 'monumental' turn of events

Turtle nesting season has begun, which would normally mean construction would stop. But federal officials are allowing hurricane recovery projects to continue with conditions.

Officials described it as a huge effort and outcome that involved county and city officials and staff, including Fentress, and assistance from U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz.

"It's monumental that we're being allowed to do this," Fentress said. "This has not been done in the state of Florida ever."

The county is stepping up enforcement of permitting and access requirements along the beach to make sure the agreement with the state and federal officials isn't compromised.

Volusia County Growth and Resource Management Director Clay Ervin said officials found someone working without a permit or contract and multiple workers using vacant land to access the beach instead of beach ramps.

Coastal Division Director Jessica Fentress speaks at the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials on Monday.

The flexibility from state and federal officials who oversee turtle protection means people can get permits and start construction on seawalls, revetments, dune placements, and walkovers during nesting season, Fentress said.

People still have to get FDEP permits and any other necessary permits to start work. And crews still have to wait for routine turtle surveys to be done before accessing the beach, just as other beach drivers have to wait to access the beach until turtle surveys are finished in the morning.

"You still must comply with the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) turtle surveys. We need you to get beaches and dune permits from Volusia County because the only way you will be allowed to do construction is if you have (an) orange placard on your project site," Fentress said.

Before materials arrive for construction projects, people must contact the FWC so they can conduct a search for turtle nests.

If a turtle nest is found on the site, it will be up to the FWC to decide whether the project can continue. But each turtle nest must have a buffer around the nest with a radius of 10 feet, Fentress said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County beaches receive 'monumental' help for turtle season
[Source]

Philadelphia Chinatown and Seattle Chinatown-International District (CID) were listed among Americas 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2023.

On Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released this year's annual list, highlighting two Chinatowns in the U.S. that are actively fighting "large-scale development projects that demand they and other communities of color accept disproportionate harm in the name of progress for all."

The annual list, which first started in 1988, relies on nominations from the general public. The National Trust spotlights the connections between people and history and hopes to draw attention to historic places in danger of disappearance.

This year we highlight two such communitiesSeattle Chinatown-International District and Philadelphia Chinatownwhere residents, businesses, and other supporters are demanding that decision-makers center their voices, illuminating more equitable paths forward for these irreplaceable neighborhoods. More from NextShark: Trailblazing Chinese American WWII hero and Philly police commander dies at 93

Philadelphia Chinatown annually welcomes thousands of visitors to its businesses, institutions and cultural events.

Describing the area as one of the oldest remaining active Chinatowns in the U.S., the organization noted that Philadelphia Chinatown has been a gateway and sanctuary for working class Asian immigrants since 1871.

While the community is home to more than 40 locally designated landmarks and a vibrant community of Asian American businesses and residents, the area is currently threatened by the proposed 76ers arena at 10th and Market Streets in Fashion District Philadelphia.

More from NextShark: Seattle reporter of 20 years says he was fired for covering Proud Boys march

The $1.3 billion-arena is being met by strong opposition from the Chinatown community, who cite concerns from limited parking and traffic congestion to gentrification, displacement and the loss of Chinese culture in the area.

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CID, which is one of the oldest Asian American neighborhoods on the West Coast, also made it to the list due to several plans for transit expansion that may impact the communitys cultural preservation.

It is reportedly the only area in the continental U.S. where Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese and African Americans settled together to build one neighborhood, according to the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.

More from NextShark: Philly Restaurant Sparks Outrage With COVID Mac Chinese Chili Dish

The National Trust notes that advocates are fighting for a more transparent, equitable process that reflects careful decision-making and centers the voices of the CID when it comes to constructions in the neighborhood.

The full list of Americas 11 Most Endangered Places for 2023 can be read here.

More from NextShark: Chinese American WWII veterans receive long-overdue medals of honor for their service
A family that fled Ukraine last year came to the United States in desperate need of answers  and a miracle. They feared their young daughter, 2-year-old Zlata Kuzmina, was completely deaf.

But all hope wasn't lost. When they settled in South Carolina, they met a hearing specialist who was able to help, and received an unexpected and precious gift: the gift of sound.

Diana Kuzmina and her husband Olech Kuzmin had dreamed of coming to the United States since their children  Zlata and her 6-year-old brother Filip  were born. But they said their visa application was denied repeatedly.

The despair of Ukraine's war with Russia eventually brought them here last year. In February 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine began and they were granted refugee status.

The trip from their home in Odessa, Ukraine, to the United States took nearly two months, with stays in Moldova, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. They left everything behind except what they could carry.

They came looking not just for a better life, but also for medical care for their daughter. The couple was concerned over their inability to communicate with her.

Zlata Kuzmina, Diana Kuzmina, Olech Kuzmin and Filip Kuzmin. / Credit: Sarah Pack/MUSC

The family settled in Boiling Springs, South Carolina. Olech Kuzmin landed a job at a nearby BMW plant, and the family says they were welcomed by the community, who wanted to help.

"A lot of people prayed for us and God sent us a very good team and a very nice doctor," said Diana Kuzmina, "and we are very thankful for this."

The "very nice" doctor was Dr. Teddy McRackan, a surgeon and cochlear implant specialist. It turns out his great grandparents fled persecution in Odessa a century before, although he said that's not what connected them.

"I think my personal connection was really more as a parent trying to do the best thing for their child, because I could only imagine if it were my child and, you know, they were in an extremely unfortunate situation," he said. "In the United States, every child should get screened for hearing loss as part of the routine workup before the child leaves the hospital. That doesn't exist in the Ukraine."

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He said it wasn't until Zlata was 6 or 7 months old that her mother realized there were issues related to her hearing.

"The workup started at that point and then  the war broke out," he said.

McRackan and his team at the Medical University of South Carolina confirmed the girl was deaf in her left ear, but they saw a glimmer of hope.

"We saw that she was responding at very, very loud levels to noise in that right ear," McRacken said.

For nearly two hours in mid-March, McRackan and his team surgically placed a cochlear implant in her ear in a procedure performed at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. An internal processor and receiver was inserted under the skin and muscle behind her right ear, and he created a path for an electrode that stimulates the auditory nerve.

Once activated, the stimulation of the auditory nerve sends signals to the brain, which then interpret them as sound for that ear.

Zlata Kuzmina / Credit: Sarah Pack/MUSC

But the surgery was no guarantee she would hear sound in her right ear. Still, McRackan said it would "give her the best chance possible when it comes to having a kind of auditory hearing."

The family waited a month for the incision to heal before the device could be turned on to determine if the procedure was a success.

It was.

When the device was turned on in April, Zlata could hear  an emotional moment for her parents.

While this doesn't cure Zlata of being deaf, she is able to hear with the device attached to her head and the implant.

Her mother hopes she will now be able to understand what her family says, and sings  "and I hope she will sing with us."

South Carolina doctors give young Ukraine war refugee gift of sound

Texas mall shooting survivor describes horrific scene and helping victims

Tulips named after slain University of Idaho student raise funds for college scholarships
TAIPEI  Taiwan is watching the high-stakes debate over the United States debt limit very closely given the two economies are very closely connected, the island countrys foreign minister told reporters Tuesday.

President Biden and Republicans are facing a June 1 deadline to come to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling or risk a default that could have enormous consequences on the global economy  potentially tanking Americas credit rating, triggering a recession and sending the stock markets plummeting.

Normally, we dont expect this kind of situation would happen, and well follow very closely, Taiwans Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said in response to a question from The Hill about the possible risk for Taiwan if the U.S. defaults on its debt, during a press briefing at Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Taiwan, as a tiny island country in the Pacific, sees the U.S. as a crucial partner as it seeks to reduce its economic dependence on China, bolster its trade with the U.S. and other partners, and receive billions of dollars in backlogged military purchases.

Taiwans economy and U.S. economy have been very closely connected, so anything going wrong with the United States or any other major trading partner of Taiwan is going to affect Taiwan, so well watch it very closely, Wu added.

Biden is meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other leaders in Congress Tuesday in a critical discussion with just a few weeks until the debt ceiling deadline.

The president has maintained a firm stance on raising the debt ceiling without preconditions, while McCarthy is pushing to secure spending cuts as part of any debt limit bill.

The writer was on a press trip to Taiwan paid for by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
He cant help himself  he simply must post.

Former President Donald Trump cast aside a federal judges stern warning by claiming falsely on Tuesday that he was not allowed to speak or defend himself in court against E. Jean Carrolls battery and defamation allegations, when he actually declined the chance to testify days earlier.

Judge Lewis Kaplan had warned Trumps attorneys that posting to social media about the case could end up hurting him. Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina said last month that he would ask the 2024 presidential candidate to refrain from posting about the case, according to the legal news site Law & Crime.

He was apparently unsuccessful. As Kaplan prepared to instruct jurors and send them off to deliberate, Trump took to Truth Social to complain, saying he was waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation.

Carroll maintains that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s, and is suing in civil court for an unspecified monetary sum. Trump denies the allegation.

Trump continued: I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!

Trump has been speaking throughout the trial, at one point telling journalists in Ireland that he would fly back to New York to confront Carroll. Tacopina was then forced to assure Judge Kaplan that would not happen, according to Law & Crime, which obtained a transcript of the sidebar discussion.

Trump had the option to attend the trial and take the stand in his defense. Last week, after Tacopina told the court Trump would not testify, Kaplan gave him a Sunday evening deadline to change his mind. Trumps attorneys filed nothing saying they wanted to change course.

Attorneys for each side made closing arguments on Monday, and jurors began deliberating on Tuesday.

Related...
Donald Trump flamed CNN as rightfully desperate for a ratings boost ahead of his Wednesday town hall on the cable news channel.

Ill be doing CNN tomorrow night, LIVE from the Great State of New Hampshire, because they are rightfully desperate to get those fantastic (TRUMP!) ratings once again, Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. They made me a deal I couldnt refuse!!!

The former president also noted that the town hall could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me, encouraging viewers to tune into the primetime interview. Lets see what happens? he added.

A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment on Trumps Truth Social comments, which came shortly before he lost his defamation and sexual battery lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll.

Also Read:

Donald Trump Loses Defamation, Sexual Battery Lawsuit Brought by E. Jean Carroll, Jury Awards $5 Million

The town hall, which will air live at 9 p.m. ET on May 10 from St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, will be moderated by CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins, who currently co-anchors CNN This Morning alongside Poppy Harlow after Don Lemon parted ways with the network just over two weeks ago.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate will answer questions prompted by Collins as well as a live audience composed of New Hampshire Republican and undeclared voters who told the network they intend to vote in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, per CNN.

CNN has a longstanding tradition of hosting leading presidential candidates for Town Halls and political events as a critical component of the networks robust campaign coverage, the cable news network wrote in a statement announcing the town hall. This event with former President Trump will be the first of many for CNN in the coming months as CNN correspondents travel across the country to hear directly from voters in the runup to the 2024 presidential election.

The network has faced criticism after announcing the event last week, with several media figures expressing concern that the network is providing the former president with a primetime platform given his false claims regarding the 2020 election.

Also Read:

Morning Joe Says the Bill Will Come Due for Evangelicals Who Support Donald Trump (Video)
Eight Dead After Shooting At Outlet Mall In Texas - Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Eight people were fatally shot after a gunman, who was later killed by police, opened fire at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, near Dallas, on Saturday.

While authorities have not publicly released the identities of the victims at this time, relatives, friends, and organizations have shared some information. Among the victims are a Korean American family, two young sisters, a security guard, and an engineer from India. The heartbreaking tragedy has left three children dead and another orphaned, NBC reported.

More from Rolling Stone

The mass shooting was the second deadliest in the U.S. this year and the second in Texas in just over a week.

Two parents and their three-year old son

Cho Kyu Song, 37, Kang Shin Young, 35, and James, their three-year-old son, were killed in the attack, the Korean consulate told the Dallas Morning News. The only surviving member of the Korean American family is the couples oldest child, William, who had just turned six and was injured in the shooting, states the GoFundMe page set up for the family.

William just celebrated his 6th birthday 4 days prior and James is 3, reads the page. An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre that left 8 victims dead.

The Korean consulate joins the people of Dallas-Forth Worth area to express our deepest condolences for the victims and their families, Myoung-Joon Kim, head of the Korean consulate in Dallas, told the Dallas Morning News. We pray for the victims and their family members for their healing and recovery.

Sisters Daniela and Sofia Mendoza

Two elementary school students, fourth-grader Daniela Mendoza and second-grader Sofia Mendoza, were killed in the shooting, according to CBS News. Their mother, Ilda Mendoza, is in critical condition, an email from the Wylie school district superintendent, David Vinson, informed the Dallas Morning News.

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We love your babies, we love them so much, Vinson wrote. Our love for our kiddos and each other will get us through this. Daniela and Sofia will not be forgotten. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.

Christian LaCour, 20

Christian LaCour was a security guard for the outlets and one of the eight people killed, a family member confirmed to the Dallas Morning News Sunday. His grandmother, Sandra Montgomery, remembered her grandson in a public Facebook post following the tragedy.

He was such a beautiful soul, 20-year-old with goals for his future, she wrote. I was so proud of him and so glad I got to see him two weeks ago.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26

Aishwarya Thatikonda left Hyderabad, India, five years ago to study engineering in the U.S. She earned her masters degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2020, her LinkedIn profile stated.

The 26-year-old was a project engineer at Perfect General Contractors, a Dallas contracting firm. Her boss Srinivas Chaluvadi told NBC News that when he learned she didnt show up at a work meeting scheduled at one of the firms projects, he became fearful and panicked.

Chaluvadi, who was from the same town in India as Thatikonda, said he considered her to be a second daughter. When he found out hours later that she had been killed, it was a grief Ive never experienced, adding, I pray that this situation doesnt happen to anybody.

He said he was planning to celebrate Thatikondas 27th birthday with a family dinner later this month.

This is a developing story.

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A look at Highway 175 from West Washington Boulevard Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Milwaukee.

It hasn't been officially decided yet if Highway 175 in Milwaukee will be converted to an at-grade boulevard, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is currently conducting a study with the goal of rethinking how the section of highway will look in a few years.

Part of the study requires the DOT to engage the public, and in doing so, it launched an interactive website that the public can comment on and engage in conversation. The department also will host a meeting later this week.

The DOT, Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee recently partnered to move the study forward on the stretch of Highway 175 from West Lisbon Avenue to West Wisconsin Avenue.

Last year, Mayor Cavalier Johnson publicly supported the idea of converting the highway, which runs north and south along American Family Field. Johnson even provided a name for the future stretch of roadway  Hank Aaron Boulevard.

At a Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee hearing in March, Ald. Michael Murphy, who represents part of the area, said he heard from constituents who both support and oppose the conversion. He added that it might be difficult to convince Republican legislators, since traffic seems to be working fine.

Proponents say a conversion would lead to development in the area, promote walking and biking, and reconnect neighborhoods that were cut off from each other when the freeway was built.

The DOT is using a website called Social Pinpoint to continue the public conversation as it relates to Highway 175. To access the site, visit Wisconsindot.gov/reimagine175.

Screenshot of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's interactive website on Highway 175.

Some on the site have advocated for more green spaces, crossways that are safe, and bike lanes to be added. Others want to see an emphasis on affordable housing.

If you want to provide your thoughts in-person, the department will host a public meeting on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St.

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.

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Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin DOT seeks public input on Highway 175 in Milwaukee
As Black children growing up in Buffalo, Garnell and Raymond Whitfield recalled "the talk" their mother repeatedly had with them. It wasn't just about how to act around police officers, it was also about how to conduct themselves in stores.

"Before we ever went into a store, we got instructions: Don't touch anything, stay with me," Garnell Whitfield Jr., the retired Buffalo fire commissioner, told ABC News. "We'd go into stores and be followed, treated as if we were there to steal."

Even at checkout counters, their mother, Ruth Whitfield, who was born and raised in Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, was confronted with racism in Buffalo, they said.

MORE: 'My life was destroyed': Survivors, loved ones struggle a year after Buffalo shooting

"Lots of times, the people behind the counter, they wouldn't want to make contact with you. So, they would put your change on the counter, would try not to give you a bag," Garnell Whitfield said. "All those little things that maybe people didn't pay attention to, my mother paid attention to."

PHOTO: Ruth Whitfield (Courtesy of Whitfield Family)

MORE: Buffalo: Healing from Hate

Ironically, they said, despite being mindful of everyday bigotry inherent in American society, their mother was murdered by a white supremacist while shopping in a grocery store.

In the aftermath of the racially motivated rampage a year ago this week at a Tops market on Buffalo's predominantly Black east side that claimed the lives of their mother and nine other Black people, the brothers founded the nonprofit organization, Pursuit of tRuth. Their mission, they said, is to fight a current rise in white supremacy across the nation and the whitewashing of African American history by bringing together groups that are tackling the issues.

"It's in honor of our mother and her innate ability to forgive and go on giving. That's what we're trying to do," Raymond Whitfield told ABC News.

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PHOTO: Garnell Whitfield (left) and his brother, Raymond Whitfield, whose mother, Ruth Whitfield was killed in the May 14, 2022, mass shooting at a Tops store in Buffalo, discuss plans a seminar they held in April on combating white supremacy. (Alysha Webb/ABC News)

They launched their organization with a three-day conference in late April at SUNY Buffalo State University that drew experts and activists from around the globe, including Alice Wairimu, the U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide.

MORE: A year after racist shooting rampage, Buffalo struggles to correct decades of segregation and systemic racism

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, who was elected the first Black mayor of the city in 2006, called the Whitfield family "courageous" for hosting a "very important conversation" for a community still reeling from the racist store attack that occurred 10 blocks from his home.

PHOTO: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown delivers remarks at the Fights For You rally at the National Urban League conference on July 20, 2022, in Washington D.C. (Brian Stukes/Getty Images)

"I think it was even more meaningful that the conference was held by the family members of someone whose life was taken in the 5/14 act of domestic terrorism, the mass shooting perpetrated by a white supremacist," Brown told ABC News.

'Cancer of white supremacy'

Following the May 14, 2022, shooting, the Whitfield family decided to do whatever they could to ensure their mother and the nine others who were murdered did not die in vain.

Less than a month after burying his mother, Garnell Whitfield appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, giving emotional testimony and putting the elected leaders on the spot.

"Is there nothing that you personally are willing to do to stop the cancer of white supremacy and the domestic terrorism that it inspires?" he asked the committee members. "Because if there is nothing, then respectfully senators, you should yield your positions of authority and influence to others that are willing to lead on this issue. The urgency of the moment demands no less."

MORE: Survivors say Buffalo's history of segregation and racial tensions linked to Tops shooting

In the days after the shooting, the Senate blocked debate on the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. The legislation passed the House days earlier.

The number of reported hate crimes in the United States has been on a steady rise since at least 2015, when white supremacist Dylann Roof fatally shot nine Black parishioners at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

MORE: Buffalo shooting: Remembering the 10 lives taken a year ago in Tops massacre

In 2017, the FBI reported 7,175 hate crimes, a 17% jump from the previous year. That same year, avowed neo-Nazi James Fields Jr. deliberately rammed his car into a crowd of people counter-protesting a "Unite the Right" white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing Heather Heyer and injuring numerous others. Fields received life sentences on both state and federal charges.

PHOTO: Several hundred white nationalists and white supremacists carrying torches march in a parade through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Va., Aug. 11, 2017. (Evelyn Hockstein/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

In 2021, the number of hate crimes nationwide rose 12% from the previous year to 10,840 and 64.5% of the 12,411 victims were targeted because of their race, the FBI reported. In 2022, white supremacist propaganda in the United States, including the mass distribution of flyers, soared to a record high with 6,751 incidents reported, an increase of 38% from the previous year, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Payton Gendron, the teenage gunman in the Buffalo massacre, pleaded guilty to committing the murders and was sentenced in February to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also became the first person in New York state to face a charge of domestic terrorism motivated by hate, for which he also pleaded guilty.

MORE: Buffalo supermarket shooter pleads guilty to terrorism and murder charges

During his sentencing hearing, the 19-year-old Gendron, from predominantly white Conklin, New York, a three-hour drive from Buffalo, claimed he was brainwashed by online racist propaganda, saying, "I believed what I read online and acted out of hate."

Preserving the history of Buffalo attack

Besides tackling the issue of white supremacy, Garnell Whitfield said he and his brother started their organization to prevent the history of the supermarket mass shooting from being whitewashed.

PHOTO: Garnell Whitfield Jr. has dedicated his life to fighting white supremacy in honor of his 86-year-old mother, Ruth Whitfield, who was killed in the Tops massacre on May 14, 2022. (Malik Rainey for ABC News)

"One of the things we want to make sure happens is that history is recorded accurately and preserved, not just for this moment in time, but for future generations," he told ABC News, noting that in some parts of the nation, books on African American history are being removed from library shelves and African American studies are being banned from schools.

MORE: 'Hurts': Loved ones of Buffalo massacre victims brace for Mother's Day a year after shooting

He said one of the reasons he and his brother partnered with SUNY Buffalo State University is because it is the largest producer of teachers in New York state.

Nearly 30% of the 5,464 undergraduate students at Buffalo State are Black, the highest of any school in the State University of New York system, according to the school's website.

"But in talking to them, they talked about their frustration of not being able to reach outside the world of academia, how they share papers and ideas within their world," Garnell Whitfield said. "They haven't had a whole lot of impact and not a lot of participation in the Africana studies program. If teachers aren't being taught that, how can we teach the students?"

Moving forward, he said he plans to use the inaugural event of his organization as a springboard to unite people in his cause.

PHOTO: Kimberly Johnson, of Buffalo, places her hand on a photo of the late Hayward Patterson, at makeshift memorial across the street from the scene of a mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market, May 19, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

"I'm interested in how we take advantage of the relationships we forged at the conference and coalesce around some actionable steps that we might be able to pursue," Garnell Whitfield said.

MORE: 6 months after Buffalo massacre, some survivors say time has done little to heal

He said he was inspired by the keynote speaker at his conference, Jelani Cobb, the dean of the department of journalism at Columbia University.

During his speech, Cobb said the Buffalo attack was "predictable," tied to a "terrible logic that has replayed itself throughout our history."

"I believe that the battle over our future begins in the past," Cobb said. "But first we have to diligently and with great determination and resolve, refuse the attempts to redecorate history, such as to make it more appealing to individuals who never believed in our humanity in the first place."

Brothers fighting white supremacy after mom killed in racist Buffalo attack originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Global Market Insights Inc.

Major electric power tools market participants include Stanely Black & Decker, Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi, SKIL, TTI Group, and Atlas Copco.

Selbyville, Delaware, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Electric Power Tools Market size is anticipated to cross a valuation of USD 62 billion by 2032, according to the recent research report by Global Market Insights Inc.

Growing automobile production will fuel the demand for electric power tools in the forthcoming period. The advent of EVs is set to spur automobile production worldwide, amplifying the need for electric tools. As per the annual Global Electric Vehicle Outlook by IEA, more than 10 million electric cars were sold globally in 2022 with an estimated 35% rise in 2023 reaching sales of 14 million units. Electric tools including power drills, torque wrenches, polishing machines, impact drivers, air compressors, air wrenches, and spray guns are used in automobile production, which will drive industry growth.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5579



Technological advancements will amplify demand for wireless vacuum cleaners

Electric power tools market size from vacuum cleaner products will register a 3.5% CAGR from 2023 to 2032. The growing need to maintain clean indoor air quality is increasing the adoption rate of vacuum cleaners. Cable electric vacuum cleaners offer advantages such as affordability and a consistent power supply, enabling the motor to run at full power. Additionally, advancements in wireless technology are introducing cordless vacuums featuring rechargeable batteries that offer greater flexibility, and portability, fueling product demand.





Cordless power tools gain demand across outdoor applications

Cordless electric power tools industry size will reach USD 28 billion by 2032. These tools provide the benefits of not being tethered to a power source allowing users to operate from different locations, catering to an array of indoor and outdoor applications. In February 2023, Metabo HPT, formerly known as Hitachi Power Tools announced the launch of its new 18V MultiVolt Cordless Brushless Impact Driver with the power to drive bolts & screws into tight spaces. Portability, powerful battery technology, and storage are some of the benefits of cordless power tools, which will increase product use and strengthen the industry outlook.

Story continues

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/5579



Robust aviation sector & aerospace manufacturing drive product consumption in Europe

Europe electric power tools market is estimated to amass USD 16.5 billion by 2032. The demand for electric power tools is set to rise in region driven by the growing aerospace sector and applications in defense, space, and civil aviation. Aerospace manufacturing requires advanced technology integration, hefty investments, and skilled labor, necessitating the use of electric power tools.

Electric power tools manufacturers to launch innovative products

Stanely Black & Decker, Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi, SKIL, TTI Group, and Atlas Copco are some of the leading companies in the global electric power tools industry. These companies are introducing novel products with advanced features to achieve a competitive advantage. For instance, in March 2023, Stanley Black & Decker-owned brand DEWALT, unveiled a new 20V MAX* Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver & Hammer Drill, designed to offer optimal speed, precision, and control across an array of job site applications.

Partial Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Electric Power Tools industry 3600 synopsis, 2018  2032

2.1.1 Business trends

2.1.2 Product trends

2.1.3 Type trends

2.1.4 Application trends

2.1.5 Regional trends

Chapter 3 Global Electric Power Tools Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry Ecosystem

3.3 Product landscape

3.4 Regulatory landscape

3.5 Pricing analysis, by region,2018-2032

3.6 Industry impact forces

3.6.1 Growth drivers

3.6.1.1 Surging industrial sector

3.6.1.2 Increasing automobile production

3.6.2 Pitfall and Challenges

3.6.2.1 High initial costs

3.7 Innovation and sustainability

3.8 Growth potential analysis, 2022

3.9 Porters analysis

3.10 PESTEL analysis

3.11 Impact of the COVID-19 on Electric Power Tools market

3.12 Impact of Russia-Ukraine war on Electric Power Tools market

Browse Our Reports Store  GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse



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Drilling Machines Market Size By Product (Sensitive Drilling Machine, Upright Drilling Machine, Radial Drilling Machine, Gang Drilling Machine, Deep Hole Drilling Machine, Multiple Spindle Drilling Machine), By Application & Global Forecast, 2023  2032

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Curtain Wall Market Size By Fabrication (Stick System, Unitized System), By Construction Type (Refurbishment, New Construction), By Application (Commercial, Residential), & Global Forecast, 2023 - 2032

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Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

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A widow who wrote a grief book for children after her husband died last year is now charged with his murder.

Kouri Darden Richins was arrested in Park City, Utah, Monday on charges including felony first-degree aggravated murder stemming from the death of her husband, Eric Richins, in early 2022, according to charging documents in the case.

Local officials said the 33-year-old author poisoned her spouse with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town in Summit County.

Court documents obtained Tuesday by USA TODAY show an investigation into his death began March 4, 2022, when Summitt County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to her home just after 3 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive man.

According to Kouri Richins' arrest warrant, deputies found her husband dead on the floor at the foot of his bed.

Kouri Richins at the KPCW studio in Park City, Utah, April 12, 2023. Richins was arrested on Monday, May 8, in Utah and is accused in charging documents of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town near Park City.

Prosecutors: Cheating suspicions, life insurance led husband to kill, dismember Ana Walshe

Richins couple was celebrating home purchase: Officials

Richins told deputies the couple were celebrating closing on a home purchase for her business the night before.

"Defendant stated that she made Eric a Moscow Mule in the kitchen and brought it to their bedroom where Eric consumed it while sitting in bed," the warrant reads.

The only people in the house, deputies wrote, were the couple and their children. The warrant goes on to say Kouri Richins said she slept with one of her children in the childs bedroom because the child was scared.

She told authorities she awoke about 3 a.m., returned to the couple's bedroom, felt that Eric was cold and dialed 911.

"Defendant told law enforcement that when she left her room to go to her childs room, she left her phone plugged in next to her bed and did not take it to her childs room," the warrant says.

"However, between when the defendant said she went to childs room and when she called 911, the status on her phone shows that it was locked and unlocked multiple times and there was also movement recorded on the phone."

Story continues

Lori Vallow Daybell: Idaho accused child killer created immediate suspicions, dead victim's sister testifies

Five times the lethal dosage

According to the warrant, autopsy and toxicology findings show Eric Richins died from fentanyl overdose. A medical examiner found the level of fentanyl in his system was nearly five times the lethal dosage.

The coroner also said the fentanyl was illicit and ingested orally.

In addition to murder, Kouri Richins faces three charges including possession of GHB, a narcolepsy drug sometimes used in recreational settings, including dance clubs.

Richins released children's book: 'Are you with me?'

The charges, based on officers' interactions with Kouri Richins that night and the account of an unnamed acquaintance who claims to have sold her the fentanyl, come two months after Richins appeared on local television to promote Are you with me? a picture book she wrote to help children cope after the death of a loved one.

A link to the book's listing on Amazon appeared to have been taken down by Tuesday.

Richins' Salt Lake City-based attorney, Skye Lazaro, could not immediately be reached for comment by USA TODAY.

Her client is due in court for a detention hearing on the case next week, court records show.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kouri Richins charged with murder after authoring book about grief
Victor Protasio

Whether you watch her on Top Chef or have followed her career at Food & Wine, you know that Gail Simmons has excellent taste. Simmons, a former cook, also has solid cooking chops, along with a knack for turning her favorite dishes from vacations and other travels into recipes that work in a home kitchen. Here are a few of our favorite recipes, from grain bowls to Canadian desserts like Nanaimo Bars, that she's contributed to Food & Wine over the years.

Za'atar Baked Eggs

John Kernick

Simmons' mother was a cooking and food writer whose lessons at home prepared Simmons for the summer she spent on a kibbutz in Israel as a teenager working in her first professional kitchen. There, Simmons fell in love with egg cookery. These Za'atar Baked Eggs are one of her brunch go-to dishes, with eggs baked in a savory mix of tomatoes and peppers. "It never fails to conjure happy memories of that magical time," she recalls.

:Get the Recipe

Grilled Scallops with Miso-Corn Salad

Victor Protasio

In summer, Simmons cooks scallops on the grill until they are just kissed by the flames. She piles them on top of warmed veggies with a bright dressing. This version, a favorite for quick and easy backyard dinners, incorporates miso, ginger, and toasted sesame, adding a savory dimension to the salad and a rich contrast to the corn and scallops inherent sweetness. To achieve the best sear on your scallops, set them uncovered on a paper towel in the refrigerator for a few hours before grilling.

:Get the Recipe

Chocolate and Hazelnut Nanaimo Bars

Victor Protasio

Simmons is an unabashed fan of Nanaimo bars, a treat that is beloved in her native Canada. "For whatever reason, the bars never gained a following south of the border, and I have yet to come across anything like them here," she says. "I have always found this to be not just an unfortunate oversight, but a distinct and glaring hole in the American dessert lexiconone Im filling here with one of my own design, that layers a chocolate and coconut crust with buttercream frosting, hazelnuts, and chocolate ganache with swirls of tahini.You can thank me later."

Story continues

:Get the Recipe

Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini

While in Los Angeles filming the second season of Top Chef Just Desserts last year, I discovered Cafe Gratitude, a vegan cafe with a cult following, Simmons says. For me, its fresh, simple food was the perfect antidote to all that sugar. I loved aptly named dishes like I Am Fortified  a bowl of whole grains with lots of cooked vegetables. When I got back to New York, I developed my own version.

:Get the Recipe

Potato Rosti with Pastrami

Victor Protasio

Simmons recreated a dish from famed chef Daniel Humm in this recipe, using a spiralizer to cut russet potatoes into long shoestrings, then frying them into a potato cake. She tops it with pastrami and whole grain mustard, but also suggests smoked salmon and creme fraiche, or a gently fried egg for a luxurious breakfast or brunch.

:Get the Recipe

Butterscotch Pudding Pie

Abby Hocking

Butterscotch pudding was Gail Simmonss number one dessert choice when she was a kid. Its recently made a comeback, and the Top Chef judge has seen it embellished with creative and sophisticated flourishes, but she still likes to keep it homey, focusing on the buttery flavor and lingering finish of real Scotch. Once in a while, if she wants to impress, she thickens the pudding more than usual and pours it into a fully cooled piecrust flecked with golden pecans. The contrasting textures of rich pudding and nutty, flaky dough make this a grown-up ode to the comforting childhood classic.

:Get the Recipe

Jerk-Grilled Lobster

Christopher Testani

A trip to Jamaica prompted Simmons to make this jerk lobster. "After trying every item that can be basted or drizzled in the flavors of jerk, from shrimp to chicken to whole fish and even cocktails, hands down my favorite incarnation is lobster, where the jerk paste is stirred into butter and used to baste the crustacean while it cooks over the flames," she says. "My streamlined version is one that you can make all year round, but grilling the lobsters outside, beer in hand, is always encouraged."



:Get the Recipe

Chicken and Barley Stew with Dill and Lemon

This one-pot dinner from Gail Simmons is an enriched take on classic chicken soup with rice; at once flavorful, hearty and comforting with brightness from the dill and lemon.

:Chicken and Barley Stew with Dill and Lemon

Blackberry and Mascarpone Crepe Cake

Victor Protasio

This cake harkens back to Simmons' days working as an apprentice in the kitchen at Le Cirque 2000. She started her days making 50 French crepes for the restaurant's appetizer station. Here, she layers crepes with plain and blackberry mascarpone whipped cream for a memorable cake.

:Get the Recipe

Black-Eyed Pea Stew with Sausage

 Lucy Schaeffer

This recipe was inspired by Top Chef Season 4's finale in Puerto Rico, when Antonia Lofaso was eliminated after serving a stew with undercooked pigeon peas. To simplify the process and save time, Simmons skips the pigeon peas and uses black-eyed peas instead, which do not require overnight soaking and cook right in the pot in about an hour. The result is a thick, luscious stew loaded with tender peas and spicy Italian sausage.

:Get the Recipe

Chewy Black Licorice Chocolate Brownies

John Kernick

Simmons grew up in Canada, but her father, Ivor, comes from a small town in South Africa. Although his background is English and Eastern European, he was raised in a region with strong Dutch influences. One Dutch passion he passed down to his daughter is a love of black licorice, specifically a salty, chewy variety. Whenever their family visited his homeland, Ivor stocked up on dubbel zout (double salt)coins of salted black licorice about the size of a quarter. Simmons devoured them, relishing the savory, saline exterior that gave way to the barely sweet, chewy center. Her fathers other sweet vice, which she also inherited, is chocolate. Not white, not milk, but the pure bittersweet kind. This deeply dark-chocolaty brownie is her homage to him. It has a sophisticated touch of salt, plus notes of molasses and anise from black licorice, and the combo makes a brilliant treat that is irresistibly chewy and not too sweet.

:Get the Recipe

Gail's Anchoiade

Caitlin Bensel

Simmons discovered anchoiade, a rustic Provencal spread made with tinned anchovies, vinegar or lemon, and garlic, while on vacation with her husband in the town of Arcachon in southwestern France. She created her own version, with chile flakes and a big pinch of lemon zest. "Making and using it  on seafood, on buttered bread, even as a condiment for steak  scratches that daydreamy itch for the flavors of the French seaside," she says.

Basque Grilled Fish

Justin Walker

This recipe was inspired by a meal Simmons ate on the Bay of Biscay in Spain. this version. The simple preparation lets the flavor of fish shine  if its really fresh, it wont need so much as a slice of lemon to enhance it. Use a grilling basket to prevent flaky fish from falling apart during cooking. Serve it with Txakoli, a lightly effervescent wine with bright minerality.

:Get the Recipe

Bumbleberry Buttermilk Upside-Down Cake

Victor Protasio

In Canada, where Simmons grew up, bumbleberry refers to a mix of berries  usually blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Here, she layers the fruit in a wide skillet over a thin layer of sugar that caramelizes while the cake bakes. The tender, lemony buttermilk cake is the perfect canvas for the berries.

:Get the Recipe

Horseradish Brisket

A Lucy Schaeffer

Rubbing prepared horseradish on the brisket and whisking it into the meaty sauce punches up the rich flavors here. Like most braised dishes, this brisket tastes better on the second or even third day.

:Get the Recipe

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
I opened the link, and saw it, and I thought that I just have to help them. I cannot see them separated.

Montgomery Humane Society

Three Alabama sisters will live out the remainder of their golden years together thanks to a couple with a soft spot for senior chihuahuas.

Yoda, Missy, and Ginger were surrendered to Montgomery Humane Society due to the health of their previous owner. The 15-year-old pups, nicknamed The Golden Girls by staff, have spent their entire lives together.

The three senior girls need adopters that will be willing to take them as they are! They may not have a long time left, but they deserve love until their very last moments! the shelter wrote on Facebook last week, acknowledging that adopting them out together would be next to impossible.

Fortunately, the post made its way to Janet Ealum.

I opened the link, and saw it, and I thought that I just have to help them, she told WALA. I cannot see them separated.

Ealum and her husband previously had three chihuahuas, who all died in quick succession. She told the local news station that Montgomery Humane Societys Golden Girls seemed like a sign.

When I saw these three, I just thought to myself that that would have been my three in the shelter, Ealum explained to WALA. I would have thanked God in heaven for somebody to have kept my three together.

Yoda, Missy, and Ginger are currently settling into their new home. According to Ealum, the girls are thriving in their second act.

Appetites are excellent, they have wonderful appetites, she told WALA. I just wish people would give the seniors a chance too.

Thank you for being a friend, Janet!



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Read the original article on Southern Living.
With an instantly recognizable hook and effervescent melody, Vanessa Carltons debut single A Thousand Miles hit the 2002 Billboard Charts like a neutron bomb, earning nominations for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Billboard Music Award for Top 40 Track of the Year. Featured prominently in 2004s White Chicks, Terry Crews credits the undeniable smash with helping launch his acting career.

The accompanying music video saw Carlton and her piano rolling through Newbury Park, California, and portions of downtown Los Angeles. Twenty-one years later, a team of hobbyist roboticists have brought Carltons music back to the public ear  this time, to the streets of San Francisco with an animatronic performer and remotely deployable disco ball.

The robot, which currently doesnt have much of a moniker from the team beyond The Robot, is the brainchild of San Francisco-based aerospace engineer Ben Howard, electrical engineer Noah Klugman, lawyer Lane Powell (with additional assistance from local puppeteer, Adam Kreutinger). This is just a thing that we've done together, the three of us, to try to create some joy, Klugman told Engadget during a recent video call.

The trio first collaborated during the pandemic. Kids couldn't really trick or treat properly, Howard explained. So we put together a kind of spooky Halloween candy dispensing robot that could drive around the streets and any kids who were brave enough could walk up, have a conversation with it and get some candy. That project inspired them to look into developing a robot with year-round appeal. A piano playing Muppet seemed like a good thing to do, he continued, and from that the Thousand-Mile Machine was born.

The team started with an outdated food delivery drone model, obtained from a friend of a friend, as the mobile platform on which to build out the rest of the construct. When companies get rid of these things, if they're cool pieces of hardware, there are plenty of engineers around the city who like to modify them and turn them into fun projects, Howard explained. There's a big community of people who are sharing cool hardware around.

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I came to acquire [the wheeled base] and we wanted to do this music playing robot. he added. Then, when you think about piano player that roams around the city, immediately that [Vanessa Carlton] video comes to mind. It's so iconic.

The nearly 400-pound robot measures roughly five feet long on a side and about four feet tall, narrow enough to fit on a sidewalk and into the TEU container workshop in which it was built at San Franciscos Box Shop. The wheeled base is controlled remotely and manually, while the puppets performance  from the hand and head movements to the big disco ball reveal  are all part of a prerecorded act, akin to Chuck E Cheeses animatronic Pizza Players band. A single button press is all thats needed to start the performance.

Vanessa Carlton herself reportedly met the robot during a recent event in Petaluma. It seemed like she enjoyed it, Klugman noted. Everyone we've met in San Francisco has seemed to really love it. I think the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

That was very much [the case with] everyone we encountered when we were out filming, Lane added. Just really happy to watch it and excited to talk to us about it and just 100 percent positive from all ages and all walks of life all over the city. It was a really cool experience.
Alta Resources will unveil on Tuesday its new $27.6-million building located at Skyplex on Paul J. Doherty Parkway in Fort Myers. (Photo: Alta Resources)

Alta Resources is set to unveil its new $27 million Skyplex building on Tuesday, ushering in an expansion to bring over 350 jobs to the Fort Myers area.

Making the move from its prior office in Gateway, the new three-story, 98,000-square-foot building has recently been completed after officials first announced the project back in 2019. While factors, such as the pandemic, supply chain, and construction shortages, delayed the original targeted completion, Alta Resources was able to finish the building and move their workforce from their previous Gateway location.

Alta Resources annouces new offices Alta Resources unveils plans for new offices at Skyplex in Fort Myers

More news around Southwest Florida What we know about the current status of Cape Coral's Yacht Club.

Since establishing its Fort Myers presence in 2013, the Wisconsin-based customer-management business-process outsourcing company has thrived due to its labor force of over 7,000 full- and part-time employees and its support for its globally recognized clients, such as Stellantis and Kellogg Company.

Alta Resources CEO and chairman Jim Bere spoke to the News-Press Friday, sharing insight into the last four years as their long-awaited project was developing and what this expansion means for their company.

Alta Resources will unveil its new $27.6-million building located at Skyplex on Paul J. Doherty Parkway in Fort Myers, CEO Jim Bere shares what this means for the SWFL community.

Here's what residents can expect from Atla Resources's upcoming expansion and move into their new Skyplex location:

What are some highlights of this expansion and new location in Fort Myers?

Located on Paul J. Doherty Parkway, the new facility boasts a lot of upgrades and new technology, providing multiple spaces for employees to let off steam in. Features of the new office building include a new cafeteria, new kitchenettes, game rooms, outside patios, walking trails, and a sidewalk system.

Eager to debut it, Bere said the biggest highlight of the new facility is that they were able to design it to fit their organization and their workforce.

"The most important people in our organization really are the frontline individuals who are, either through chat or texting or voice, talking to the consumers of our clients and we just want to make sure we're providing them a great place to work, that they know that we really, really care about them," Bere said.

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All the building stages were exciting, but Bere said it definitely felt different seeing it completed. As of recently, all employees have moved in and have expressed their excitement to finally be in the space, many trying out the fun features.

"It really made you feel like all this effort and work that we took to put it together was really worth it and seeing the people in there  that's when it was like wow, this is real," Bere said.

What have the past four years looked like for you and your team?

"Other than being the most tumultuous years in Florida, it was no big deal," Bere joked.

Running out of space, the original plan was to do an expansion five years ago. Alta Resources then revealed their well-kept plans for a multimillion-dollar building at Skyplex around the busy Southwest Florida International Airport in April 2019.

"It was built to be an expansion but even in that context, we wanted this to be the best building that we had, so it was going to be an improvement from any of the facilities that we had anywhere in the United States or other countries that we have a workforce."

They started breaking ground and planning for their dream facility, then came March 2020.

"The pandemic was absolutely  I mean, it was really amazing and that was also a great testament to our workforce. Basically in a matter of weeks, we had to send every single person home. We were so fortunate, we had a technology system that really enabled us to use a centralized system that we could take that work out, but we needed computers for everybody. We needed laptops, we needed the technology and to watch how they adapted and then our clients  some clients' world slowed down but other clients picked up in the context of it."

Throughout the pandemic, they were open for business and available. Bere applauds the work of his employees, as well as the entirety of Southwest Florida, during this time.

He also recalls how the pandemic slowed down the timetable, taking longer to get permits and materials.

"The whole world was just kind of upside down, so all the things that everybody experienced, we experienced that too so it did take significantly longer than we thought it would take to build (the new building)," Bere said "Then we had supply chain issues that were starting to show up. Then as we're getting close to the finish line, Ian comes along. I can't imagine more things that kind of were thrown in our way, but at the end of the day, we persisted and we're opening this building and we are really, really excited about it."

While the path from design to building to completion was rocky, Bere says it also speaks for all of Southwest Florida and what the last four years have taught everyone. While highlighting his own employees efforts, he also mentioned how residents have rallied to help each other and show resilience in the face of adversity.

How will this new expansion bring new jobs?

Alta Resources is seeking roughly 350-400 new employees during its expansion.

They currently have 8,000 employees worldwide, with about 700 in the Fort Myers location. Approximately half of those employees work remotely and the other half choose to come into the office.

Bere said it reflects the growth as an organization. For example, suddenly one of the company's clients may double the size of their business. So what may have started as a need for 100 people will shoot up all of sudden to 200 or 300 people, Bere said, adding that how that need goes up is really dependent upon the results that Alta produces for them.

"We're doing a great job caring for their customers and helping them build their businesses and these are some of the largest companies in the world that we're working for," Bere said.

Some of the roles they are looking to hire are:

Frontline workers

IT jobs

Leadership roles

"That's probably the biggest need is what we would call our frontline, those individuals who are really answering those calls or we work with social media a lot. We monitor social media for some of our clients and it's up to people working on that," Bere said. "Then what also comes up is that when we grow, there are leadership positions, there are team leader positions."

Does the current worker shortage worry the company?

The current worker shortage has been on Bere's mind as the expansion occurs. However, he shares that compared to some of their other sites, it hasn't been a problem to attract enough people to their Fort Myers site.

Moving forward, they aim to be more flexible and, unlike other jobs that are solely work from home, they provide hands-on training.

"Our model really is we will use our facility and we have great training rooms, we invest a lot of money on that. So we want to train people as a team, so they get to know each other, they get to know their leaders, they get to understand the products," Bere said. "Some may choose to say I want to continue working in the facility, other people may say I'd like to work from home."

He said they realize they need to be competitive in the marketplace, needing it to be a great place to work and a place where people feel like they belong.

"It needs to be a place where they feel they want to move up in their career, that there are opportunities," Bere said. "If we can create that and do that right, our belief is we will get enough people and we're optimistic about it."

In total, how much was the new building?

The new Skyplex building cost $27.6 million.

What are your upcoming goals with this expansion and new building?

Following their official grand opening to the public, Bere laid out his upcoming goals with this new era:

Continue addressing the needs of clients.

Finding the right people to do this work.

Grow and create more jobs within the marketplace

In addressing clients' needs and asks, he shared that accomplishing those tasks as a team is fundamental to the company.

"If we can take care of customers, let them know that they're important, and help them answer their needs in the context of the way these large corporations want them done, it becomes very personal," Bere said. "That's the first objective that we need to do."

Their second objective is to find the right people who want to do this kind of work, Bere stresses that they want employees to enjoy what they do and are eager to form connections. Sticking to their hybrid environment post-pandemic, officials encourage those to connect and find common interests with others in the office.

Building off of a positive workforce, their third goal strives to grow and create more jobs in the marketplace. Bere said they want to continue to be a company where people are attracted to work there and employees recommend them to loved ones.

"We take care of our the people in the organization, make sure that they're healthy, and we're helping them develop and train and learn new things and they feel part of something," Bere said. "And then third, our hope is that we would continue to grow the business in the Fort Myers area."

How will this bring Lee County to a whole other level of business and development?

"I'm a big believer in economic development. I think if we can truly create jobs in the area and allow people to work their way up and get into different roles but have jobs they like to do, that's always healthy for every organization."

Bere discussed his hope for creating more jobs for the Southwest Florida region and setting a pattern for the way companies work, which he admits is still hard to truly figure out post-pandemic. While Alta Resources has slowly started to solve the puzzle, they are adding another piece every day and getting new answers to see what fits.

A big game-changer for them has been open communication.

"We've got a guiding principle around communication and a lot of people think communication is going to be telling you or communicating to you. The most important part about that communication is that we as leaders are listening," Bere said. "We need to listen to the people that are part of our organization and what are their needs and what they want. I think we can be a model that in Southwest Florida, in Fort Myers."

They also have plans to continue to grow their site in Southwest Florida, however, they don't know what that looks like time-wise or if that means more facilities in the future.

Lastly, they are striving to give back more to the community they have been a part of for the past decade, already partnering with United Way so far. Bere said if they are growing, they have more opportunities to become engaged in nonprofits and organizations.

"We'd like to see our people involved in the organization, involved in different nonprofits, and what they do is unbelievable, just the stories of what people have done and they really want to make a difference," he said. "When you're growing and you have a group of people say that we want to give back, we want to make this a better place to live and for us to be part of that would be a real privilege."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 350 jobs to come with new Alta Resources location: Here's what we know
This article originally appeared on Vogue Business. To receive the Vogue Business newsletter, sign up here.

Switzerland-based investment platform Bidayat has acquired the intellectual property and a substantial part of the archives of Italian fashion designer Walter Albini, who gained fame between the mid 1960s to early 1980s, and plans to relaunch the brand.

The company declined to comment on media speculation that Alessandro Michele will join as creative director. The industry is watching for Micheles next move following his departure from Gucci in November 2022 after a seven-year run.

Bidayat is a vehicle of Alsara Investment Group, the family office of Rachid Mohamed Rachid, who is also the CEO of Qatari investment fund Mayhoola. With this acquisition, Bidayat aims to create awareness and recognition about the legacy of Walter Albini and his transformative impact on the fashion industry with plans to revive the iconic brand, the investment platform said in a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Photo: Alfa Castaldi

Albini embodied Italian fashion in the 1970s, alongside Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani, and contributed to the creation of Milan Fashion Week. However, his name and brand were largely forgotten after his death at the age of 42 in 1983. Bidayat stressed that Albinis creations continue to inspire some of the worlds most sought-after designers and artistic talents today.

We are honored to have unearthed this hidden jewel of Italian high fashion and are currently studying Walter Albinis vast heritage to set the foundations for the future of the eponymous brand. Walter Albini deserves to claim its rightful place amongst the top luxury brands on the global stage, Rachid stated. Our challenge will be finding the right calibre of leadership team to bring alive our vision and ambition.

Michele, known for his signature gender-fluid maximalism, could be a good fit: Albini embraced the concept of unisex fashion, notably in his Autumn/Winter 1975 collection featuring both male and female models, and like Michele, had an experimental approach. Michele was inspired by Albinis 1970s aesthetic for his AW16 collection for Gucci menswear.

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Established in Spring 2021, Bidayat invests in early-stage brands in fashion, accessories, jewellery, beauty and lifestyle from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. All the funding comes from Rachid and his family estate. Bidayats portfolio includes Egyptian accessories brand Okhtein, jewelry house Azza Fahmy, and furniture design platform Fromm.

Photo: Alfa Castaldi

Several heritage brands have been relaunched under new owners, although it can be a bumpy road. Vionnet, the French haute couture label that was created by Madeleine Vionnet in 1912, changed hands many times and went through voluntary liquidation in 2018. It has now been acquired by a new investment vehicle, ChimHaeres, with the goal to revive it. South Korea retail giant Shinsegae acquired the trademarks of French womenswear brand Poiret in 2015 and appointed Yiqing Yin as artistic director  who left in 2018 after only two shows. Under the ownership of Hong Kong investment group First Heritage Brands, Sonia Rykiel liquidated operations; the brand is now owned by American company G-III. Schiaparellis relaunch by Diego Della Valle in 2012, with Daniel Roseberry now at the creative helm, generated fresh interest in the brand.

The Walter Albini archive contents had been previously owned and collected by Barbara Curti, whose mother, Marisa Curti, had been a long-term collector. Barbara Curti will continue to act as an archive curator and advisor to Bidayat. I am delighted to join forces with Bidayat to continue to look after and build on Walter Albinis powerful archive. I am looking forward to having many more generations be inspired by this incredibly talented designer, whose drive for perfection changed the entire Italian fashion ecosystem, she said.

Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@voguebusiness.com.

Originally Appeared on Vogue
Senate Bill 2253 has yet to advance out of the Senate, but, if passed, would apply to any volunteer emergency worker who has served at least nine months during the taxable year and whose compensation does not exceed $10,000 a year through these services.

A legislative push to ease the impact of a voluntary firefighter shortage has resurfaced in the Capitol following last week's Interstate 55 crash just south of Springfield.

Last Monday's dust storm-related pileup in Montgomery County led to the deaths of seven and required fast response from nearby emergency workers. Now, a week later, local and bipartisan legislators announced their support for a bill which would provide $500 tax credits to voluntary emergency workers.

I-55 crash: ISP releases more names of victims from dust storm crashes on Interstate 55

"We need to ensure that we have enough first responders and volunteer firefighters and personnel to show up at these scenes and show up in any scene," said Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, during a Monday press conference.

Senate Bill 2253 has yet to advance out of the Senate, but, if passed, would apply to any volunteer emergency worker who has served at least nine months during the taxable year and whose compensation does not exceed $10,000 a year through these services. An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people would fit that criteria, an annual cost of $12 million according to Illinois Firefighters Association government affairs director Margaret Vaughn.

Other local support comes from Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, R-Morrisonville.

"This is something very small that we can do to show our appreciation to these individuals that put their lives on the line for us each and every day in a volunteer basis," said Turner.

Vaughn added that the bill is modeled after New York state law and would like the bill's language added to the state budget. Lawmakers will be continuing budget discussions over the remaining weeks of the spring session with a scheduled adjournment of May 19.

Last year, lawmakers attempted similar legislation to provide a $500 tax credit. The measure passed the Senate unanimously, but never made it to a House vote before the end of the session.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Bipartisan, local lawmakers back voluntary firefighter tax credit
We want it all.

Lulu and Georgia

Looking for some unique pieces to take your home to the next level? Then dont miss Lulu and Georgias most recent collaboration with interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. This collection isn't a small collaboration covering just a category or twothere's furniture and decor for nearly every room in the house. Choose from extra-stylish furniture essentials for the bedroom and living room, one-of-a-kind decor items, plush pillows, and vintage-inspired curtains. Theres even fabric by the yard.

"The thing I love about collaborating with Lulu and Georgia is that they give me complete freedom. Theres the mutual trust and history we have together that makes designing for them such a dream," the designer says.

Samuel follows a distinct process for the creation of each piece big and smallbeginning with a hand-drawn sketch. I always keep a sketchbook. I have about five or so going at any one time, the designer explains. For example, with the fabrics, I did some sketching and painting, then I brought the patterns into digital form.

Heres everything you need to know about this incredible home decor launch, as well as Samuels tips on how to style everything together.

Related:10 Clever IKEA Storage Hacks That Will Totally Makeover Your Home

Lulu and Georgia

While there are many standout pieces in the collection, Samuels personal favorite piece is the Rise Bench ($1,298, luluandgeorgia.com). Ideal for the foot of the bed or an entryway, the scalloped edge and mixed materials have an equally on-trend yet timeless look. Its a true statement piece that works in both minimalist to maximalist spaces.

Lulu and Georgia

Samuel also loves the Clover Stool ($598, luluandgeorgia.com). Available in Loden Velvet and Rust colors, this unique shape is a true showstopper and makes a perfect addition to most modern living rooms. This stool is exceptionally smart for smaller homes and condos, where there might not be a lot of room for extra seating.

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Lulu and Georgia

Even if you arent in the market for new furniture right now, this line has plenty of things that can give a tired space an easy refresh. These items also make thoughtful gifts. Samuel is a big fan of the candle holder ($44, luluandgeorgia.com). She tells me, Im on a candleholder kick lately., so thats one of my favorite decor pieces. I like that you can use them on their own, but then also put multiples of them together to really create a larger candelabra moment.

Lulu and Georgia

Another one of the designer's picks is the Scallop Vase ($294, luluandgeorgia.com). Its a substantial size and I could see it styled on an entryway table with large branches, or on the kitchen island as a big statement piece. Love the vase, but dont have extra room for it? Theres a short version of this earthenware beauty also available.

Lulu and Georgia

Samuel intentionally designed every piece in this collection to mix and match, so every space feels like it has a true designer's touch. With the fabrics, drapery, wallpaper, and pillowswe made it somewhat foolproof to be able to mix patterns without it looking too over the top. Id love to see the Ivory Tiger Wallpaper with the ivory and black linen printed drapery, and then with maybe the Hi-Lo Checkerboard Pillows.

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Read the original article on Real Simple.
Superstitions are pretty common. Whether its stepping on a crack, putting your purse on the floor or throwing salt over your shoulder, all cultures and people have superstitious beliefs. And the evil eye is one symbol and belief that exists across cultures and continents to impact all of us in some way (even if its just by knowing its name) because of how widespread it is.

Whether its on clothing at major retail stores or jewelry popping up online, the evil eye has left a pretty big mark on modern culture. However, the evil eye obviously has origins and a history that goes way, way back.

Today, the evil eye is seen most often in Greece, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries. But, again, its something that isnt hard to find in the States either. Celebrities like Meghan Markle, Gigi Hadid and even Naomi Campbell (during the famous blood diamond case she testified in) have sported evil eye jewelry. The belief in the power of the symbol against bad luck and bad intentions is not uncommon.

But what is the evil eyes meaning and how can someone honor it? How does it connect to el mal de ojo and is there a difference between a red evil eyes meaning and a blue evil eyes? Well explain the meaning of the evil eye, mal de ojo, how to use it and much more.

Related: What Is 'Lucky Girl Syndrome'? I've Tried Out the TikTok TrendHere's How My Luck Changed

What is the 'evil eye' meaning?

"Evil eye" means two separate things that are connected to each other. For one, theres the evil eye that is a negative energy that is sent toward someone. And then theres the evil eye symbol that people wear to protect them from that. As the BBC reported, if someone is very successful, beautiful or happy, odds are that others might be jealous of that and send bad vibes their way. This can be a curse to thwart their happiness or it could just be bad thoughts that can throw them off.

While the evil eye might be seen as an outside, pagan practice or something antithetical to Christianity or major religions, a lot of cultures have the evil eye incorporated into their practices or beliefs. Plus, the evil eye shows up in the Bible and the Quran.

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Again, even though it has the word evil in it, it doesnt have to be evil intent or something aimed at you on purpose. It could be jealousy or wishing that youll mess up something. It can be a mean or envious thought someone sends to you in a very errant way.

Tom Podmore/Unsplash

What is 'mal de ojo'?

El mal de ojo is the name of the belief or superstition that bad thoughts, vibes or intentions can be sent your way and seriously (or even slightly) impact your physical and mental health. Its the Spanish/Latin American equivalent of the evil eye. El ojo is the name of those bad vibes that are sent; a mal de ojo bracelet or pendant is worn to protect the wearer from it.

Ojo means eye in Spanish and mal means evil, making el mal de ojo translate directly to the evil eye.

Even though words like mal or evil can give off a sinister vibe, someone doesnt always have to send you evil, just like with the evil eye. El ojo (what el mal do ojo is protecting you from) is believed to be sent because of envy, bad thoughts and just general negative energy. In Mexican culture, el ojo can cause sickness, bad luck and just overall bad vibes within your life if youre hit with the evil eye and dont have protection.

As stated before when talking about the evil eye, el ojo doesnt always have to come via deliberate bad thoughts. A lot of times, babies are given el ojo bracelets or medallions because something as small as jealous or bad thoughts about how pretty a baby is or the life theyre growing up in can be enough to send the evil eye their way.

Related: Calm Down and Center Yourself with 10 Meditation Techniques

What is the history of the evil eye?

While the evil eye and mal de ojo belief has existed for centuries and in several different countries (in various forms), some of the first examples of the evil eye exist in ancient Greek artifacts. As the New York Times reported, Mesopotamians in Syria had evil eyes on idols and other objects, and Egyptians had their Eye of Osiris. It was all in the same belief that there was something to protect yourself from and that this eye would do that.

Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and more were among the first big groups of people to create evil eye beads, jewelry and the like. They typically made them blue and historians believe its most likely because people in these areas tend to have darker eyes, making blue eyes more uncommon. They then thought that people born with blue eyes could ward off the evil eye even better.

But the evil eye didnt just stay in the east, obviously because of the Latin American tradition of mal de ojo, but also because Celtic and Polish lore contained messaging surrounding the evil eye as well.

Nowadays, you can buy a ton of evil eye merchandise in Greece, as well as mal de ojo bracelets and more at many traditional Mexican stores or botanicas.

Related: 50 Positive Affirmations

How to protect yourself from el mal de ojo, or the evil eye

As mentioned above, you can protect yourself from el ojo or the evil eye by wearing a mal de ojo or evil eye symbol. Just like how some people wear crosses or specific saints on medallions to keep their faith with them at all times or protect them from specific things, the evil eye can come in the form of most kinds of jewelry. And yes, of course, there are bracelets and rings made for men as well; this isnt just a practice or belief taken up by women.

You can also buy a ton of other items with the evil eye on themthere are keychains, bowls, magnets and much more.

Wearing the evil eye symbol is enough to protect you against any bad thoughts or intentions sent your way. And once it breaks, you know that the item has done its job.

Yes, your evil eye jewelry, pendant or symbol is supposed to break once it's protected you from the evil eye (which is why you shouldn't use evil eyes in things like phone cases, nails or tattoos)

But no matter how your evil eye breaks, make sure to get rid of it as soon as you can. This can either be done by burying it off of your property or, more sensibly, you can throw it away off of your property or in a way that you know itll be taken away eventually. Dont keep wearing or using a broken evil eye or mal de ojo item; it wont work anymore and some people believe it's bad luck to keep those broken items.

What hand does the mal de ojo, or evil eye bracelet go on?

In terms of Mexican belief or tradition in general, when it comes to el mal de ojo, it doesnt particularly matter which hand you wear your mal de ojo bracelet.

There are some spiritual beliefs regarding the left and ride sides of the body and what they control, which would then impact which side you wore it on. However, you can wear the mal de ojo or evil eye bracelet on whatever wrist you prefer. And the same goes for rings or anything else.

Related: 444 Angel Number Meaning

What does each evil eye color mean?

Traditionally, evil eyes were made in the color blue and that remains the most common color to date.

While any evil eye will protect you from what you want (el ojo, the evil eye or bad intentions and thoughts), some do believe that different colors are helpful for more specific things. On top of that, they believe that the different colors act almost like talismans or crystals with the ability to give you a general energy boost depending on what you want. For instance, orange evil eyes are all about happiness and motivation. Red evil eyes are meant to bring you bravery and protect you from fears and anxieties. And white evil eyes are all about purity, focus and calmness.

But again, this isnt always the belief. The colors can hold a specific meaning for you, or they can just be your choice for evil eye protection because liked it the most.

How to get rid of mal de ojo or the evil eye

If you forget to wear your evil eye or if a particularly bad hex, el ojo or evil eye was purposely put on you, there are ways to get rid of the mal de ojo or evil eye.

When it comes to mal de ojo, many that believe in it consider a lot of physical symptoms signs of mal de ojo or a hex. This can include nausea, fatigue, insomnia or more. Emotional symptoms include bad luck (we know, kind of arbitrary), loss of appetite and crying in children.

If youre hit with the evil eye, the symptoms are also very similar. You can experience a ton of yawning, hot and cold flashes, lots of sneezing, random bruising and more.

Now, these are ancient beliefs that, of course, hold a more traditional meaning than an actual explanation for illness. There are very superstitious people that might see these things and think its the cause of el mal de ojo or the evil eye, but really, its just a cold or the flu. Modern medicine is important to consult first.

But if youre feeling off, emotionally, or youre still sick after going to the doctor and taking medicine, there are ways to get rid of the evil eye. Mostly, you just want to cleanse yourself of the bad intentions and spiritual burden. To get rid of the evil eye, you can take a bath, pray or set intentions through meditation. You can use a smoke cleansing ritual with incense or dry herbs as well.

When it comes to el mal de ojo, the same remedies can help: smoke cleanse, meditation with clear and good thoughts and intentions Theres also an egg cleanse or limpia that is only to be practiced within the culture.

Now that you know about what an evil eye is and why people wear it, make sure to always have respect for other cultures' traditions and beliefs when you want to dive into it, especially if it's not your own.

Next up, see how numerology can predict things in your life and what 777 might mean if you've seen it everywhere lately.
Market Research Future

Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Market Research Report Information by Type (Portable and installed), By Platform (Commercial and Military), By (Hardware and Software) And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030.

New York, US, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According To Latest Research Report On Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Market Research Report: Information by Type, By Platform, Component, and Region - Forecast till 2030 By MRFR



Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Market Overview:

The global electronic flight bag market is likely to demonstrate notable revenue growth during the current decade. Growing investments in technology development would drive the market. According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global electronic flight bag market value is poised to escalate from USD 1.5 billion in 2022 to USD 2.2 billion by 2030, registering a 6.10% CAGR during the assessment period (2023-2030).

An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is a digital app device used on an iPad or tablet on a flight deck, where all the flight briefing information, including flight charts and documentation, is stored to help improve the performance & efficiency of the pilot and flight crews' workflow. An EFB app contains and integrates huge amounts of flight information, including the operational flight plan & schedule, crew rosters, load sheets, weather/ NOTAM data, and much more.

Thus, the device saves a significant amount of paper loads and reduces flight weight, helping to improve flight performance and efficiency. Also, EFBs can calculate certain aviation data such as fuel usage, flight performance, and weight & balance. An electronic flight bag also works as a communication channel for flight dispatchers, enabling messaging services for pilots and aviation staff to exchange flight briefing updates using flight dispatch software.

Using an electronic flight bag offers many benefits to the flight crew and airlines, such as cost savings due to reduced aircraft weight, increased fuel efficiency, and more payload, as well as improved staff efficiency, reduced paper consumption & process, increased safety removing manual processes & less human error, and improved communication between ground team & flight crew.

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Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2562

Airline companies are increasingly utilizing electronic flight bags to optimize aircraft speed based on fuel consumption. Aviation Administration agencies worldwide are rapidly developing frameworks and policies for adopting ever-evolving EFB technology to meet the industry's demands. Utilizing the Cost Index and flight management systems available in FEB helps optimize aircraft speed and fuel consumption.

Therefore, EFB software will continue to provide efficient improvements for airlines and operators. In addition to connecting the airlines' workflow, an electronic flight bag allows streamlined communications with flight dispatchers and pilots to help ensure the efficiency of the flight crew's workloads.

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details 2030 Market Size USD 2.2 billion CAGR 6.10% (20232030) Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2021 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, By Platform, By Hardware and Software And By Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Vendors focused on removing paper-based information

Key players :

Honeywell

Esterline CMC Electronics

Ramco Systems

Teledyne Controls LLC

UTC Aerospace Systems

DAC International Inc

Navarro AB

The Boeing Company

Lufthansa Systems

International Flight Support

and Astronautics

Competitive Analysis:

Several giant players are operating in the global electronic flight bag market, forming a competitive landscape. With their strong global presence, these players make the market appear highly competitive and fragmented. Well-established players incorporate acquisitions, collaborations, partnerships, expansions, and product & technology launches to stay ahead in market competition.

For instance, on Oct.20, 2022, Sky4Sim, a tablet developer and manufacturer, announced the successful EFB add-on on its Sky4Sim Pad for Microsoft Flight Simulator. In addition, to the flight information management, the upgraded Sky4Sim pad allows users to view weather reports, build/upload a flight plan, take notes & keep a pilot logbook.

The system also provides options to overlay navaids and airports while allowing them to filter by ILS and the availability of night lighting. The new free version of its tablet will be available from Oct.25, 2022. Existing Sky4Sim Pad users would immediately and automatically gain access to this electronic information management system.

Buy Now @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=2562

Electronic Flight Bag Market Segmentation:

The electronic flight bag market report is segmented into types, components, platforms, and regions. The type of segment is sub-segmented into portable and installed. The portable segment dominates the market due to its functionality and convenience. The platform segment is sub-segmented into commercial and military. The commercial segment holds the largest market share with the rise in air travel and improving economies worldwide, which create significant demand for commercial aircraft fleets.

The component segment is sub-segmented into hardware and software. Of these, the hardware segment dominates the market due to F.B. devices that can store and display a wide range of aviation data/perform simple calculations on fuel loading or aircraft performance, as well as provide additional information for take off & landing. By regions, the electronic flight bag market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and rest-of-the-world (RoW).

Regional Analysis

North America dominates the global electronic flight bag market, headed by large technological advances and the need to increase safety features in aircraft. Besides, the presence of major commercial aircraft manufacturers, large airlines such as American Airlines & United Airlines, and key industry players, such as Boeing, Teledyne Controls, and Honeywell, impact the market growth positively. With surging commercial aircraft fleets, the US accounts for the largest share of the North American electronic flight bag market.

Europe accounts for the second-biggest share of the global electronic flight bag market. Germany is the largest market in the region due to the large availability of advanced cockpit solutions. Also, the UK holds a considerable market share in the European electronic flight bag market due to the increasing demand for accurate in-flight operation technologies. Moreover, increasing military aircraft in France and Italy contribute to regional market growth.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (132 Pages) on Electronic Flight Bag Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/electronic-flight-bag-market-2562

The Asia Pacific region is a rapidly growing market for electronic flight bags globally. High investments in developing futuristic electronic flight bags & cockpit advancement and the massive demand for more accurate in-flight operation manuals drive the regional market. Moreover, the spurring rise in the aircraft industry and growing focus on fuel-efficient solutions. The APAC electronic flight bag market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period.

Discover more research Reports on Aerospace & Defense Industry , by Market Research Future:

Aircraft Component MRO Market Research Report Information By Aircraft Type (Wide-body Aircraft, Narrow-body Aircraft And Regional Transport Aircraft), By Component (Fuselage, Empennage, Landing Gear, Wings, Engine And Others) By Application (Commercial Air Transport, Business and General Aviation And Military Aviation) And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030

Airport IT Systems Market Research Report Information By Airport Size (AOCC and DCS), By Software (Passenger System and Non-Passenger System), By Function (DC and AOCC), By Application (Airside and Terminal side), By Cost (Procurement, Integration, and Operation), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World)  Market Forecast Till 2030.

Civil Helicopter Market Research Report Information by Engine Type (Single Engine and Twin Engine), Weight (Light Helicopters, Intermediate Helicopters, Medium Helicopters, and Large & Heavy Helicopters), Light Helicopters (Ultralight Helicopters and Others), Ownership (Owned and Rental), End User (Law Enforcement, Onshore & Offshore Transportation, Forestry & Wildlife Conversation, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, Search & Rescue, Training Services, and Others), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa)  Market Forecast Till 2030.

About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that prides itself on its services, offering comprehensive and accurate analysis with respect to various markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished goal of providing customers with optimal quality research and granular research. Our market research by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and national market segments, allows our customers to see more, learn more, and do more, helping to answer your most important questions.

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Press Release: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/press-release/global-electronic-flight-bag-market




Elon Musk is CEO of Twitter. Carina Johansen/Getty Images

Attendees of an event in New York were left disappointed after a fake Elon Musk showed up.

People were seen flocking to the fake Musk and taking photos with him.

It wasn't until after the event that people realized they hadn't actually met Musk.

A group of Chinese Elon Musk fans thought they would meet him at an event in New York. They were massively disappointed when a Musk impersonator showed up instead.

The event's organizer, Gary Kong, had promised that the Twitter and Tesla CEO would be at the launch event for Kong's new publication, the Wall St Magazine, per a report by the South China Morning Post. Kong is the president of the Sino-American Commerce Association, a non-profit organization in Flushing, New York.

Over 120 Chinese fans of the tech mogul headed down to The James Hotel in Manhattan on April 27 at 7 p.m. to catch a glimpse of Musk, per Chinese media outlet The Paper. They waited for more than an hour and a half before a man who only slightly resembled Musk showed up.

South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) May 8, 2023

The Paper reported that the man was surrounded by several bodyguards when he arrived. He then posed for a few photos and participated in an awards ceremony before leaving quickly.

According to The Paper, people only realized after the event that the man's voice and appearance did not match Musk's.

Gao Weiwei, who attended the event in New York and took a photo with the fake Musk, posted a video about the event on the Chinese social media site Weibo.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we think it was a fake Musk," Gao said.

"When I saw him in person, I thought: 'Hey, that doesn't look like Musk,'" Gao added. "I just thought that maybe he looks a little different in real life."

Gao also posted a video of herself and other event attendees posing with the fake Musk  who was being shepherded into the event hall, through a dense crowd of people snapping photos and taking videos. The video has been viewed more than 33,000 times as of press time.

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Speaking to the SCMP, Kong said he had never promised that Musk would attend the event. Kong also told the SCMP that the wording on the event's press release suggested that Musk would just be on the cover of the magazine and not at the party itself.

However, The Paper published what appeared to be a copy of the invitation to the event. The invitation read: "The main committee has invited many entrepreneurs, & Elon Musk. Mr. Elon Musk is the CEO and CTO of Space Exploration Technology (SpaceX), CEO of Tesla (TESLA), and the chairman of the board of directors of SolarCity."

Insider was also unable to immediately verify the identity of the Musk impersonator.

Kong's representatives at the Sino-American Commerce Association did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Musk and Gao also did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Selena Gomez hasn't attended the Met Gala since 2018.

But this year, a fake photo of the 30-year-old actress and entrepreneur in an Atelier Versace dresssupposedly attending this year's galamade the rounds on social media.

Apparently, a fan photoshopped her into Lily James' Met Gala 2022 look, and it ended up going viral on Twitterreceiving more likes than anyone's real Met Gala look on the platform.

Selena Gomez chose to skip this year's Met Gala, returning to California after wrapping Only Murders in the Building, which shoots in New York City, a week before the big day. (She was photographed in Hollywood, getting dinner with her sister on Monday, April 24.) But that didn't stop one fan from creating a Photoshopped image of Gomez in Lily James' Met Gala 2022 dress that ended up going viral on Twitterand receiving more likes than anyone's real Met Gala look on the platform, as celebrity news fan account PopFaction pointed out.



Twitter added fact-checking context to the post, pointing out that Gomez did not attend this year. Still, over 22 million people viewed the image, and 392,900+ people liked it, a testament to Gomez's popularity and how badly fans want to see her Met Gala return.

Anne Hathaway's Versace look was the real most-liked dress from the 2023 Met Gala, with a photo of Hathaway in it getting 233,500+ likes and over 12.2 million views on Twitter. Still, Gomez's fake look received over 100,000 more likes and 10 million more views. Her power:

SELENA GOMEZ DID A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT THE #MetGala WTF pic.twitter.com/qnGxuUKsRK   (@kevormez) May 2, 2023

Here's James, who really wore the Atelier Versace dress, posing at the 2022 Met Gala in it:

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Gotham - Getty Images

Sean Zanni - Getty Images

Gomez last attended the Met Gala in 2018. She later called the night one of her biggest beauty disasters because of her fake tan. While I was getting ready for the Met Gala a few years ago, we put on a bit of tanning lotion and it looked beautiful, but as the night went on it kept getting darker and darker, she told Glamour UK in February 2022. When I sat down [inside the event], I saw a photo of myself, and it looked completely orange. And here I am at this prestigious event. My first thought was, I have to get out of here!

Taylor Hill - Getty Images

Gomez, in good humor, shared security footage of herself leaving that Met Gala night on her Instagram. Me when I saw my pictures from MET , she captioned it.

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Since they began throwing people around the world into fits of laughter with several Netflix comedy specials and global stand-up tours, fans have become curious about Hannah Gadsbys net worth.

Hannah Gadsby is an Australian comedian, writer, actor and television personality. Born on January 12, 1978, in Tasmania, Australia, they got their start in comedy in 2006 after winning the Raw Comedy competition for new comedians. Gadsby became a household name after their 2018 Netflix special, Nanette, was released on the streaming platform. Nanette, a comedy show about quitting comedy, was such a gut-busting sensation that it won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, as well as a Peabody Award. Netflix also gave Gadsby the greenlight for two more specials: 2020s Douglas and 2023s Something Special.

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In addition to their Netflix specials, Gadsby has performed several international tours, worked as an actor and screenwriter for an assortment of television series and released a memoir. So what is Hannah Gadsbys net worth and how much do they make per show? Read on for what we know about how much they earn now.

What is Hannah Gadsbys net worth?

What is Hannah Gadsbys net worth? According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Australian comedian is worth $1 million. In addition to their ongoing partnership with Netflix, several acting and writing projects have contributed to their fortune.

Click here to read the full article.

Hannah Gadsby in Nanette. Image: Netflix

Gadsby starred in the television series Please Like Me, and they had reoccurring roles in the TV series The Librarians and Underbelly. In addition to acting in Please Like Me, the comedian also wrote for the show. Their writing credits extend to the TV series Adam Hills Tonight and Hannah Gadsbys Oz.

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After Nanettes success, the comedian set out on their first international tour in 2019 with Douglas, which was filmed and released on Netflix as Gadsbys second special on the streaming platform in 2020. In July 2021, Gadsby began traveling around the globe to perform their show Body of Work, which will also launch on Netflix as Something Special in May 2023.

Hannah Gadsbys net worth also includes the Australian natives book, Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation. Released in March 2022, the New York Times bestseller details the moments in Gadsbys life that led to the conception of their first hit special, from growing up as a queer person in Tasmaniawhere homosexuality was illegal until 1997to their ADHD and autism diagnoses later in life.

Of the memoir, Gadsby told the New York Times in April 2022 that they wanted to set up the book in a way that let readers know they were new to the world of fame. The comedian explained, If you have success on a reasonably large scale, people assume thats your world and thats your milieu, and its just absolutely not. They added, I didnt want it to be a rags-to-riches story. I wanted it to be a confusion-to-more-confusion story.

How much does Hannah Gadsby make per show?

While exact monetary figures associated with Gadsbys multi-special deal with Netflix arent public knowledge, a September 2022 report by the Wall Street Journal claims the platform has taken to licensing new specials from comedians for a specific time period rather than outright buying them. The report alleges Netflix is paying around $200,000 per two-year deal, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Hannah Gadsby in Nanette. Image: Netflix

Theres speculation that Hannah Gadsbys net worth may include a heftier sum paid by Netflix due to the public friction between the comedian and the platforms co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, in 2021. Sarandos penned an internal memo to employees defending Dave Chapelles controversial special, The Closer, which included transphobic language. The Netflix executive namedropped Gadsby in the memo, which was leaked to the public, and the comedian didnt take kindly to the ordeal.

Hey Ted Sarandos! Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didnt drag my name into your mess, Gadsby wrote on Instagram. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelles fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial worldview.

They continued, You didnt pay me nearly enough to deal with the real-world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted. Fk you and your amoral algorithm cult I do sts with more backbone than you. They scathingly added, Thats just a joke! I definitely didnt cross a line because you just told the world there isnt one.

A year later, after signing a deal with Netflix for their third hour-long special and an upcoming multi-comic special, Gadsby gave insight about the projects and partnership to Deadline in September 2022. In an effort to further open a door that I had to fight to get through myself, I will curate and host a line-up show on Netflix featuring six new gender-diverse comedians, the comedian explained.

In a notoriously transphobic industry, I am looking to broaden the scope of opportunities for genderqueer performers from around the globe, as well as expand the diversity of offerings to audiences on one of comedys biggest platforms, Gadsby said. Coupled with a mentorship initiative for these up-and-coming comics, the program aims to foster the professional development of a demographic that is still struggling to have their voices heard.

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Harris County Sheriff's Office

As we approach the one year mark of the brutal murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah Mo Wilson, the timeline for justice stretches on. Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 35, is being accused of killing Wilson on May 11, 2022, with a charge of first degree murder, but her day in court is being pushed back yet again.

Wilson traveled to Austin, Texas last May ahead of competing in the Gravel Locos bike race. She was staying with a friend, who found Wilson shot to death in the apartment on the evening of May 11. Armstrongs vehicle was seen in surveillance footage arriving at the apartment just moments after Colin Strickland, Armstrongs boyfriend, had dropped Wilson off following an evening of swimming at Deep Eddy pool. VeloNews reports that bullets at the scene matched those of Armstrongs 9mm handgun.

A warrant for Armstrongs arrest was issued on May 19, 2022, but she had already boarded a plane for New York. Armstrong then eluded police and disappeared for more than a month, using a passport that was not her own, and fleeing to Costa Rica. She was finally apprehended on June 29, 2022 in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica and brought back to Texas by U.S. Marshals on July 4.

Armstrong pled not guilty to the murder charge on July 20, 2022. The trial was originally set to begin in October, but was pushed to June 26, 2023. And in a recent hearing in April, Armstrongs attorney requested another delay. According to the Austin American-Statesman, defense attorney Rick Cofer told District Judge Brandy Mueller that he and his team requested the trial be delayed again so that they could secure witnesses and other evidence for Armstrong's defense.

The new court date has been scheduled for October 30, 2023. Armstrong is currently being held at the Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas with a bond set at $3.5 million. A complete timeline of events can be found here.

More than anything, friends, family, and those who cared deeply for Wilson want closure and justice. Delays only prolong the chaos that this unthinkable act created.

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This weekend, cyclists will ride to honor Wilson with a Ride for Mo, in Lydon, Vermont. The event is being organized by Wilsons parents and brother through the Moriah Wilson Foundation, and will feature gravel and mountain bike options.



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If you're clicking on this page hoping for an update as to when Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and Countess Luann will be returning to your television, then I apologize in advance. The Real Housewives of New York City is returning for its 14th season this summer, but no familiar faces will be returning with it. Rather, like some of the housewives' faces themselves, the cast of RHONY has received a complete overhaul.

After Season 13 met with less-than-stellar reviews, Bravo announced a whole new cast would be taking over the franchise. We've got six new housewives entering the franchise, and fingers crossed that the new apple-wielders will give us just as much chaos as the RHONY girls did back in the hey day.

Here's everything we know about The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14:

When does The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14 premiere?

RHONY is back after a nearly two-year hiatus. Season 14 will premiere on Sunday, July 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. It will be available on the next day on Peacock.

Related: Everything You Need to Know about RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 8

Who is in the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14?

Bravo

Unless you're an online sleuth, we don't know too much about the six new women entering the franchise or their relationships. Below are some IG photos I've dug up along with their cast bios from Bravo.

Sai De Silva

Sai de Silva is seen wearing a dark green jacket and pleated mini skirt, earrings and a blue bag outside the Ferrari show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2023/2024 on February 25, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Valentina Frugiuele/Getty Images

Sai De Silva is an Afro-Latina, born and raised in New York. She is the creative director of Scout the City, which originated as a passion project blog and quickly evolved into an online lifestyle destination. Scout the City chronicles Sais adventures of chic parenting from her home in Brooklyn where she resides with husband, David Craig, and their two children, London and Rio.

Ubah Hassan

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Ubah Hassan is a Somalian model and philanthropist who moved to New York and made it her home. At a young age, Ubah fled to Kenya with her dad and brother, but later moved to Canada where she was spotted by a photographer and was subsequently signed by a modeling agency. Ubah is also an entrepreneur and the founder of UBAHHOT, a hot sauce company she built from scratch.

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Erin Dana Lichy

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Erin Dana Lichy is a funny, confident and candid New Yorker, raised in Manhattan as one of five children in a close-knit Israeli family. A born go-getter, Erin became a real estate agent at 19 and owns her own home renovation and design firm, Homegirl. Erin's husband is an attorney and owner of Lichy Law. The couple share three children together and live in Tribeca. Erin is super sociable, loves being around others and is always up for a good time.

Jenna Lyons

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Jenna Lyons is former president and executive creative director of J.Crew Group, where she was widely recognized as the creative force behind the American retail chains phenomenal rise from floundering catalogue chain to one of the most coveted fashion brands in the U.S. Jenna is now co-founder and CEO of direct-to-consumer beauty brand, LoveSeen, and resides in New York City with her son, Beckett.

Jessel Taank

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Jessel Taank is an outgoing and unreserved fashion publicist and brand consultant, known for thinking outside the box. Jessel, who is of British-Indian descent, met her husband, financier Pavit Randhawa, after they were introduced by a friend at a bar. Romance didnt spark immediately and they remained close friends for years before they began to date. The two married in Mexico in 2014 and have twin boys.

Brynn Whitfield

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Brynn Whitfield is a brand marketing and communications professional. A cheeky trophy wife in training, Brynn has a penchant for interior design, fashion and hosting dinner parties from her (small but mighty) West Village apartment. Originally from a small town in the Midwest, Brynn was raised by her grandmother who taught her invaluable lessons about navigating life, owning her narrative as a bi-racial woman and the true meaning of hard work.

Will any of the old RHONY housewives be returning?

Not for Season 14 at least. The cast for the newest season will be completely overhauled so unless an old favorite pops up for a cameo, we won't be seeing any of the OGs.

Related: Bring the Drama! Everything about The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 15

What is happening with the RHONY: Legacy version with the OG housewives?

Post Season 13, Bravo announced that the RHONY franchise would be split in two. One version would be a completely new cast while the other would be made up of legacy RHONY housewives. However, RHONY: Legacy hasn't been mentioned other than rumblings that contract negotiations might end with Bravo shelving the whole thing.

However in April 2023, PageSix reported that RHONY: Legacy was perhaps back on the table as a Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip-style spin off rather a full fledged season. We've heard nothing for sure from Bravo, but we'll let you know as the story develops.

Is there a RHONY Season 14 trailer?

There isn't a full trailer yet, but Bravo did release this brief teaser on Instagram. A full-length trailer is imminent.

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Where can I watch The Real Housewives of New York City?

You can watch all the old seasons of the show on Peacock. New episodes will air on Bravo and then be available to stream on Peacock the next day.

How many seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City are there?

There are 13 finished seasons in the can and a 14th on its way.

Is The Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo?

Yes, you will be able to watch new episodes of the show on Bravo when they air.

Is The Real Housewives of New York City on Hulu?

No. While the Real Housewives franchise was available on Hulu for quite some time, Bravo content has recently been removed and added to the Peacock library instead.

Is The Real Housewives of New York City on Peacock?

Yes. You can watch all old episodes of The Real Housewives on Peacock and stream new episodes the day after they air on Bravo.

Next, Everything You Need To Know About the Upcoming New Season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
An ominous policy change is a sign Russia is preparing for a long, bloody war in Ukraine

Reservists drafted during Russia's partial mobilization at a departure ceremony in Sevastopol in September. STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images

Recent changes to Russian conscription law indicate Moscow is preparing for a long war in Ukraine.

The changes make it easier to call up new troops and harder for Russians to avoid those call-ups.

Beyond a need for manpower, the changes may reflect the Kremlin's embrace of more heavy-handed rule.

The Kremlin expected a short war and a quick victory when it ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine in February 2022. But Russian leaders appear to preparing for a long and bloody fight, judging by a series of new measures related to military conscription.

"Russia is taking, step by step, the necessary legal mechanisms that they need to do to transition the economy and transition the country to something that approaches, potentially, a wartime footing," Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military at the RAND Corporation think tank, said during an event hosted by Georgetown University in April.

The Russian government is "methodically stepping through a process to go over to a higher readiness and protracted war," Massicot added.

For example, lawmakers amended Russia's conscription law in April to allow the government to send digital draft notices that will be valid upon being posted rather than paper summonses that had to be signed by the recipient to be valid. Those who receive summonses and fail to appear at recruitment offices will face a variety of penalties, such as not being allowed to register a car or to leave the country.

A Russian army recruitment station in Moscow in April. Vlad Karkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Since late 2022, Russia has made several "of these esoteric legislative changes, where it's tightening penalties on draft evasion, essentially putting a stop-loss in place for everybody," Massicot said. "No one can actually leave the military right now unless they're medically discharged."

Massicot believes that the Kremlin is trying to avoid a repeat of the "partial mobilization" fiasco in 2022, when Russia attempted to conscript 300,000 men. That prompted hundreds of thousands of educated or affluent young Russians flee abroad, decimating the country's intellectual capital. It also called up thousands of Russian unsuited for or exempt from military service, leading to a rare admission from Putin that "mistakes" were made.

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For those who stayed in Russia, the process was chaotic. "They couldn't find people," Massicot said. "They were mobilizing the wrong people because they had a quota-incentive system. They just passed mistakes up the chain until the chain fixed it and kicked things back down."

The government has now shifted the burden of complying with conscription laws on to the individual citizen. "If you don't comply, all these penalties come on you," Massicot said. "If you don't report, you lose your driver's license. There are all sorts of issues that go on with your electronic pay."

Russians depart from Moscow in October after being called up in Moscow's partial mobilization. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties  including 20,000 dead  in just 15 months, according to US intelligence estimates.

The dismal performance of Russia's military has forced Moscow to rely masses of poorly trained and armed troops, including mercenaries and paroled inmates, to simply overwhelm outnumbered Ukrainian forces, an approach that has had mixed success and is adding to already heavy losses.

If the war drags on, this will create an unsustainable need for manpower. Russia has tried voluntary incentives, such as enlistment bonuses, and pay for draftees that in some cases is higher than for their officers. But these inducements threaten to consume a defense budget that must already replace thousands of destroyed armored vehicles and scores of aircraft.

With Russia now sending troops into battle in tanks from the 1940s, even high pay may not generate much enthusiasm among conscripts and potential enlistees.

Beyond the need for cannon fodder, the new laws may reflect the Kremlin's embrace of more heavy-handed rule  returning to a kind of governance that some Russians would rather forget.

Dmitry Medvedev tours Russia's biggest tank factory. Getty Images

That can be seen in gestures by some Russian leaders  like Dmitry Medvedev touring a tank factory in a black leather trench coat and reading a World War II-era telegram from Stalin to exhort the leaders of defense firms.

"That's political theater," Massicot said of Medvedev's antics, "but the legislative changes are actually really troubling."

"It shows that they're marching along this process to click over more authorities to the federal government," Massicot added. "In Russia, mobilization and martial law actually go hand-in-hand. You can't necessarily have one without the other, at least in terms of how they conceptualize it doctrinally."

Nonetheless, the clampdown on draft evasion won't necessarily eliminate it.

"Do I think that people could still get out of Russia if they know the right border guard, if they're willing to bribe, or if they're willing to go through a porous part of the border?" Massicot said. "If they're motivated to do so and they have the resources, yes."

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Conversations With Ray Liotta - Credit: Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images

Ray Liotta died of natural causes, with a medical report from officials in the Dominican Republic citing heart and respiratory issues, according to TMZ.

Doctors characterized Liottas death as natural and nonviolent, saying he suffered respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema (fluid in his lung), and acute heart failure. They also noted that Liotta had atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up in the inner lining of an artery, causing it to harden or thicken.

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A rep for Liotta did not immediately return a request for comment.

Liotta, 67, died in his sleep last May while on location in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters. The actor was best known for his roles in films like Field of Dreams, Something Wild, Cop Land, Marriage Story, and Goodfellas.

Liotta had completed a handful of projects before his death as well, including the recently-released movie Cocaine Bear and the mini-series Black Bird, which premiered last July. Liotta will also posthumously appear in Charlie Days upcoming directorial debut, Fools Paradise, out May 12.

In a recent interview with Today, Day praised Liottas performance in Fools Paradise and said his biggest regret was that Liotta wouldnt get to see audiences react to his performance (though he did confirm Liotta had seen the movie). [H]e delivers a performance that is, in my mind, I wont say its Goodfellas good, but its Ray Liotta good, Day said. Its up to his standards of what he can do well.

Another posthumous project is April 29, 1992, director Ariel Vromens film set during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. The film stars Tyrese Gibson as a custodian who winds up involved in a heist orchestrated by a father-son duo played by Liotta and Scott Eastwood. The film is expected to be released this year, though an official date hasnt been announced yet.

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In an interview with ET Canada last year, Vromen recalled, In the last five years, Ray was playing softer characters in television and film, so when I called, he said, Is it dirty? Because I want to go down and dirty on this film. Its been a while! I was like, Perfect.

As for Dangerous Waters, the film Liotta was making when he died, the status of that project is unclear. The movie was announced just a few weeks before his death, and its not known how much of it he was able to film, or if his role will need to be recast to finish the project.

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The pesto was mistakenly put in hummus tubs.

N NNN/Getty Images

Before you pull out a plethora of dips for your next party, you may want to take a closer look at the containers. Bakkavor USA, the North Carolina brand that makes Trader Joes Genova Pesto, has issued a voluntary recall on the item because it may contain undeclared milk and walnuts.



The recalled product has the UPC 0015 7353 on the side label, and a Use By date of 05/27/2023 with a timestamp between 06:28  07:07 printed on the bottom of the tub. It was distributed to Trader Joes stores in more than a dozen states between 4/28/2023 and 4/30/2023. The states with Trader Joes locations that have the recalled pesto are Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Related:The 10 Foods Most Linked to Recalls and Disease Outbreaks

While no illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported as a result of this recall to date, individuals with allergies or severe sensitivities to milk or walnuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product, and should return it to TJs for a full refund, or dispose of it immediately.



According to an announcement from the FDA, this recall was initiated after someone at a Trader Joes retail store discovered that the Genova Pesto was mistakenly packaged in tubs marked "Hummus Dip. These containers dont contain an allergen declaration of milk or walnuts, which are both found in the Genova Pesto. An investigation into the root cause of this mistake is ongoing.

Related:What to Do If You Have Recalled Food In Your Kitchen

Additionally, per the Trader Joes website, all potentially affected product has been removed from sale.



Consumers with questions may contact Bakkavor USA at (855) 321-7504.

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Read the original article on Real Simple.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending over 11,000 checks and 66 PayPal payments totaling more than $176,000 to people who bought clothing and accessories from Lions Not Sheep, the company it discovered making false Made in America claims.

Each payment is $15.30. FTC said the Utah-based company used deceptive Made in USA labels and advertising on products that came from other countries.

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The FTC initially took action against Lions Not Sheep and founding CEO Sean Whalen last May for falsely claiming that its apparel is made in the States. According to the FTCs complaint, the company added phony Made in USA labels to clothing and accessories originating from China and elsewhere.

Companies that slap phony Made in USA labels on imported goods are cheating their customers and undercutting honest businesses, and we will hold those companies and their executives accountable for their misconduct, Sam Levine, director of the FTCs bureau of consumer protection, said at the time. American consumers have the right to know the truth about where their clothes and accessories are made.

The complaint alleged that in October 2020, Whalen published a video of himself on his social media accountswhere Lions Not Sheep heavily marketed its products as USA-madewith the title MADE IN AMERICA! alongside a Chinese flag. In the video, Whalen said he could conceal the fact that his shirts are made in China by ripping out the origin tags and replacing them with tags stating that the merchandise was produced domestically.

Eight months ago, Whalen made a YouTube video titled Message for our tribe in response to the FTC case and the absolutely ridiculous barrage of media attacks against me and against Lions Not Sheep.

In the video, Whalen claims he purchased blanks from Next Level Apparel, which counters by claiming Lions Not Sheep takes out the tag in a process known as white labeling.

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A Lions Not Sheep T-shirt.

Its a tag or stamp from whatever the company is, whatever patriotic, 2A [Second Amendment], God-fearing, gun totin, freaking patriot company that youre following, they probably have their own information in here, Whalen said in the video, referring to what consumers see on an apparel tag. So literally what they will do is theyll tear out the tag. Theyll take the tag out, which again is completely legit, completely legal, regulated by the FTC, and they will replace it with their own, either screen print or heat transfer.

Whalen alleged that Lions Not Sheep didnt do this when the company started in 2016; it was expensive and he was trying to work on the company, and not necessarily the manufacturing the garments, he said. The first few hundred thousand garments that Lions Not Sheep made included Next Level tags. [C]hances are shirts purchased over the past two years contain a Next Level or District tag, which has made in Nicaragua written on the label, Whalen said.

So to kind of squash some of the bulls*** thats been floating around here, No. 1 I did a video in 2020 telling people that I buy blanks, that I buy blanks from wholesalers and different companies all over the country, Whalen said in the video. All of our Lions Not Sheep apparel comes from blanks, and we get them from multiple different companies.

In 2021, Whalen connected with an American company owned and operated by a retired Navy seal with the intention of putting its own labels inside of his companys shirts. But for a shirt to say Made in the USA, prior to August of last year, of 2021, what you had to do was have all or virtually all of the manufacturing and the production of the garment happen here in American soil, Whalen said. He went on to say, if youre wearing a shirt that says made in America, theres a high probability, as in like a 99 percent chance that your garment was made somewhere else. The actual shirt, the sewing of it, the cotton, the spinning of it, was actually made someplace else.

He seems to be referring to President Joe Bidens Made in America executive order signed in January 2021, which aimed to increase the amount of federal spending on products made by American companies. The order includes two types of Made in America claims: qualified and unqualified. Unqualified refers to something produced or assembled in the U.S. with all or nearly all domestic materials, while qualified allows for more foreign materials. Products whose country of origin is not the U.S. cant be classified as Made in America.

Whalen claims he wasnt hitting refresh to make sure Lions Not Sheep remained in FTC compliance. I dont know very many CEOs or business owners that are on government websites hitting refresh all day long reading lengthy, very ambiguous documents wondering if theyre still in compliance, he said in the video.

The founder pointed to a six-week period where he claims he didnt realize Lions Not Sheep was out of compliance. In October 2021, the FTC alerted Lions Not Sheep about the breach seeking further evidence to confirm or dispute its product origins. Whalen accused the FTC of coming after Lions Not Sheep because of the companys opposing political stance, and claims his company had a target on our back because it sold shirts that said #FJB, the hashtag right-wing conservatives use on social media as shorthand for F*** Joe Biden. The FTC subsequently fined Lions Not Sheep $212,000.

Now, understanding that what we did come out of compliance for those six weeks period of time, what the FTC has chosen to do, which is fairly egregious and quite frankly, its absolutely just completely ridiculous, is state that our company is basically defrauding everybody that weve been tearing off Chinese tags, Whalen said in the video. Again, weve never had a Chinese tag on any of our shirts, and basically duping the marketplace from day one, which is complete and utter bulls***, because at the end of the day, the small window of time that we were out of compliance, I owned up to and said I will pay the fine.

Lions Not Sheep did not respond to Sourcing Journals requests for comment.

Click here to read the full article.
Jazeera Airways has achieved a net profit of KD2.3 million ($7.48 million) for the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, compared to KD3.8 million in Q1 of 2022, when the strong demand post-pandemic was reflected in higher fares.



Total revenue for the quarter reached KD48.3 million, up 35.2%, while operating profit was at KD3.62 million.



Passenger traffic rose by 56.6% to 1.1 million in this quarter and load factor reached 82.1% with an increase of 6.9% compared to the Q1 2022.



Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways said: 2023 has started off on a positive note for Jazeera Airways. Despite fuel prices putting pressure on margins for the first quarter, a continued focus on operating costs enabled us to deliver profits in line with our aggressive growth targets and on the track to be a fantastic year. Load factor in this quarter reached 82.1%, the highest ever for Jazeera in any quarter, especially for Q1 which is typically not the strongest. This demonstrates the strength of our business model and sound validation from our customers.



Financial and Operational Highlights



Q1 2023 Highlights:

 Operating revenue: KD48.3 million, up 35.2% from Q1 2022

 Operating profit: KD3.62 million, down 31.3% from Q1 2022*

 Net profit: KD2.3 million, down 39.7% from Q1 2022*

 Passengers: 1.1 million, up 56.6% from Q1 2022

 Load factor: 82.1%, up 6.9%

 Yield: KD41.1, down 13.6%

*Post Covid-19 effect



Jazeera Airways launched direct flights in February from Kuwait to Moscow, the first airline to fly the route. In March, the airline also started flying to Samarkand, its third destination in Uzbekistan following Tashkent and Namangan.



New destinations have been announced for Q2 including Larnaca, Cyprus, Belgrade, Serbia and Tirana, Albania. In addition, the airline also announced the resumption of its flights to Prague, Czech Republic and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer months.



The Jazeera T5 terminal, was under refurbishment with three new restaurants opening for travellers  two on landside and one airside, operational since February.



2023 Outlook

Over the next few months of this financial year, Jazeera will welcome four additional aircraft into its fleet.



Following an Approved Training Organization certification from the Kuwaits Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last year, Jazeera Airways placed an order for an Airbus simulator. Expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, this simulator will enable in-house pilot training and monitoring to ensure the highest levels of safety for both crew and passengers.



The airline also intends to collaborate with a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved training organization to launch our own Multi-Pilot License (MPL) program.  TradeArabia News Service
NEW YORK, May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Empowers Africa, a leading global public charity supporting human empowerment, wildlife protection, and land conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Malcolm Randles co-founder of Off Piste Africa, Africas leading frontier biodiversity tourism company, have partnered with WaterBear, a free streaming platform and publisher that brings inspiration and action together, to release the feature film documentary "Emergence". The documentary, produced by Malcolm Randles, Off Piste Africa and Empowers Africa, sheds light on the urgent need to protect Tsavo's super tuskers, rare elephants with unique genetic dispositions that are under severe threat. "Emergence" will be available to watch for free on WaterBear at 10 am on Friday, April 28th, 2023, and will also be featured on WaterBear's FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus / LG Channels & Rakuten from Monday, May 1st, 2023.

Tsavo Trust's Big Tusker Project is dedicated to preserving these majestic beasts and their habitat in Tsavo, Kenya. "We hope this film will shed light on the importance of protecting these incredibly rare elephants," said Krista Krieger, Executive Director & Chair of the Board of Trustees at Empowers Africa. "Thank you to WaterBear for launching this film on their platform and showing the world why we need to protect Tsavo's super tuskers."

"Emergence" focuses on the work being done by Tsavo Trust and its dedicated team of conservationists, who are working tirelessly to protect Tsavo's super tuskers from various threats, including poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. The film also highlights the unique genetic disposition of these elephants and their critical role in the ecosystem. "This rare genetic disposition is severely under threat, and the Tsavo Trust Big Tusker Project strives to preserve these majestic beasts," said Malcolm Randles, Director/Producer of "Emergence". "The underlying intention of this film is to draw awareness to Tsavo, its big tuskers, and the humans working tirelessly to save them."

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WaterBear is dedicated to using the power of storytelling to inspire action on critical environmental and humanitarian issues. As a free streaming platform and publisher, WaterBear offers over 1000 award-winning and sustainably certified films that cover many topics related to the environment, wildlife, and social issues. By partnering with NGOs and brands, WaterBear produces original content that aims to entertain, educate, and inspire viewers into action.

Poppy Mason-Watts, Chief Growth & Impact Officer at WaterBear says, "We are thrilled to partner with Empowers Africa to release 'Emergence' on WaterBear. This powerful documentary aligns with our storytelling mission to raise awareness and drive positive change, and we are honored to showcase it to our global audience."

After watching the film, viewers will also be able to take action on WaterBear by donating to Tsavo Trust to support their conservation efforts via the following URL: https://tsavotrust.org/support-2/. This fundraising initiative aims to further support Tsavo Trust's important work in protecting Tsavo's super tuskers and their habitat.

"Emergence" will be prominently featured on WaterBear's streaming platform, providing viewers around the world with easy access to this important documentary. WaterBear's FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus / LG Channels & Rakuten will also provide additional visibility for the film, reaching a wider audience and creating greater awareness about the urgent need to protect Tsavo's super tuskers.

For more information about "Emergence" and to watch the film on WaterBear's platform, please visit https://www.waterbear.com/watch/emergence

About Empowers Africa:

Empowers Africa is an American public charity formed under IRC Section 501(c)(3) supporting human empowerment, wildlife protection, and land conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Off Piste Africa is Africas leading frontier biodiversity tourism company making a meaningful difference in the African conservation arena with on-the-ground conservation organizations who are making a difference.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230502005395/en/

Contacts

Stoqd Marketing

Office: 804 601 4979

Email: hello@stoqd.co
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity during a free flight in Earth's atmosphere on April 26, 2023.

Virgin Galactic will fly to space for the first time in nearly two years later this month, if all goes according to plan.

The company announced today (May 8) that it's targeting late May for Unity 25, its fifth-ever spaceflight and first since July 2021, when Virgin Group founder Richard Branson went aloft with three other passengers.

Like Virgin Galactic's four previous spaceflights, the coming mission will be a test  but it's expected to be the last such trial.

"Unity 25 is the final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commercial service opens in late June," Virgin Galactic wrote in an update on Monday.

Related: Virgin Galactic's carrier plane flies back to New Mexico spaceport

Virgin Galactic flies people on brief trips to suborbital space using two vehicles, a piloted space plane named VSS Unity and a carrier plane known as VMS Eve.

Eve hauls Unity to an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), then drops the space plane, which makes its own way to suborbital space. Passengers aboard Unity experience a few minutes of weightlessness and get to see Earth against the blackness of space before the vehicle comes back to Earth for a runway landing.

Unity 25 is so named because it will be the 25th flight of any type (including "glide flights" in Earth's atmosphere) for the space plane. The mission will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, Virgin Galactic's commercial-operations hub.

The flight will send four Virgin Galactic employees up in the space plane's cabin: Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, Luke Mays and Beth Moses. Mike Masucci and C.J. Sturckow will pilot Unity.

Moses is Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor. She has already flown on two previous spaceflights with the company. The other three passengers are all spaceflight rookies. You can learn more about them via Virgin Galactic here.

RELATED STORIES:

 Virgin Galactic carrier plane flies for 1st time since 2021

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 Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with Richard Branson

 How Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo passenger space plane works (infographic)

After Branson's 2021 flight, Virgin Galactic grounded VSS Unity and VMS Eve to maintain and upgrade both vehicles at the company's facilities in Mojave, California. That work included replacing Eve's pylon, the spot between the plane's twin fuselages where Unity attaches.

Virgin Galactic has since been getting both revamped vehicles up to speed. The company performed a "glide flight" in Earth's atmosphere with Unity late last month, for example.

Virgin Galactic's main competitor in the suborbital tourism industry, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, has experienced delays of its own lately. Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle hasn't flown since September 2022, when it experienced an anomaly on an uncrewed research-oriented flight.

Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
VIZ Media has launched a new service that will make English versions of the latest chapters of select manga titles available to subscribers as soon as they're released in Japan. The service, called VIZ Manga, features manga published by Shogakugan and Shueisha and costs $2 a month. Its current "simulpub" or simultaneous publication catalogue has 15 titles that include Inuyasha sequel Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon and Mao by Rumiko Takahashi. Fans can even read their three most recent chapters for free. The subscription service also gives fans access to a library with over 10,000 chapters, including Junji Ito's GYO and Uzumaki, Yuu Watase's Fushigi Yuugi, Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 and Ai Yazawa's Nana.

"Due to the explosive success of the Shonen Jump digital service, this new development will exponentially expand VIZ Medias digital offering," the company said in its announcement. The Shonen Jump subscription service came out in 2018 and offered fans the chance to read its latest releases as soon as they come out in Japan. VIZ Media said this is the first time English-speaking fans can get titles from the publishers  legally, that is  at the same time Japan does. The hope is likely to steer fans away from unauthorized translations, which could come out as soon as a few hours after a chapter is published in Japan, and to ultimately address the industry's piracy problem.

According to the Tokyo-based Content Overseas Distribution Association, the Japanese manga industry lost 395.2 billion (US$2.9 billion) to 831.1 billion Yen (US$6.2 billion) in 2021 due to online piracy. Korean webtoons have also been steadily rising in popularity over the past few years while the Japanese manga industry has been shrinking. Webtoons are digital comics optimized for smartphones, and their publishing format makes them much easier to consume in this day and age. Manga has always been a print-first industry, but publishers have been looking for ways to expand their digital presence.

At the moment, VIZ Manga is only available in the US and Canada, accessible through the company's Android or iOS app and its website. (Subscriptions, however, can only be purchased through the app.) VIZ Media plans to expand the service's availability to other regions, though, so fans outside those two countries may want to keep an eye out for future announcements.
WPA Pool

While watching the coronation, I was reminded of one of the most surprisingand unforgettablenights of my life.



Before I became House Beautiful's Senior Style Director and resident Man About Town, I worked as the Interior Design Editor at Architectural Digest. In 2011, I was on assignment in Scotland to shoot Dumfries House, an 18th-century Palladian manor on 2,000 acres in East Ayrshire. It had been uninhabited for 150 years and the owner, who lived in another very expensive-to-keep-up property, decided it to sell it and auction off all its contents through Christie's.



The fact that this landmark example of British architecture and craftsmanship was being sold in bits and pieces came to the attention of then-Prince Charles, who is passionate about preserving the United Kingdom's history and architecture. He quickly gathered 14 donors or so, swooped in with one of his foundations, and saved the daytwo weeks before the auction was set to take place.

I came to shoot the restored manor, with legendary photographer Derry Moore at my side.

Dumfries House was a dream shoot. As an editor, you never know how much of a historic home the owners will allow the magazine to photograph, and if they'll follow you around. But the staff said, "We see you relate to the house. Just let us know what you need." On the first day of the shoot, I met with Prince Charles's personal secretary. She said to me, casually, "By the way, tomorrow night Price Charles is coming here to have a very intimate 14-person dinner with his donorsand hell be wearing his kilt. Would you like to meet with him beforehand, and include him in the shoot?"

I immediately rang up my editor-in-chief, Margaret Russell, to tell her, "The Prince is coming tomorrow and they want to know if I want to photograph him!" She said, "Yeah, right."



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Now, the funny thing is, I happen to have a kilt made by the same tailor who makes kilts for the royal family. I'm not Scottish, but one of my best friends is, and on his 50th birthday we were in London and he wanted to get a kilt. The concierge at our hotel recommended a tailor and gave us directions to his shop in a dusty back alley ("You have to take a car because it's not in a great neighborhood," he warned). The tailor turned out to be the same man who outfits the King! My friend and I each had a kilt custom-made, and I wear mine every Christmas Eve.

When Prince Charles appeared that evening, wearing his kilt, his secretary said "He can only give you 10 minutes." I was told to just shake his hand, to be normal, and that I did not have to bow. I assumed the Prince would be uptight, but he was absolutely charming: warm, inviting, and so knowledgeable about design. He had a great sense of humor and was extremely talkative.

Ten minutes turned into an hour. We talked about all the ways he had restored Dumfries House. The property was absolutely gorgeous, and he was the man behind it all. He just has a passion for beauty. As our conversation drew to a close, he said, "Oh, Mr. Rufino, I hear there's a possibility of being on the cover of Architectural Digest." Keeping my cool, I replied, "Oh, you never know."

Of course, he did make the cover. I couldn't tell anyone where I'd been, or say anything about it until the issue of the magazine was officially released on newsstands. I signed all these papers!



The entire weekend was completely magical, and the icing on the cake was delving into the intricacies of interior design with Prince Charles, now King Charles, himself. That evening was an experience of a lifetime that came as a complete surprise. It's a memory that will stay with me, forever a part of my journey.

I still feel a little bit like, Did that really happen?

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Those that fail to learn from history, Winston Churchill so famously said, are doomed to repeat it. Kathleen Turner hasnt failed to learn her history, but she seems thrilled to repeat itor at least portray one of its most memorable characters.

In the new HBO series White House Plumbers, which tells a stylized, darkly humorous version of how the Watergate break-in came to occur, the Oscar-nominated actress plays Dita Beard, the infamous lobbyist who wrote a memo that, upon being leaked, linked the Republican National Convention with a donation by the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation that was said to be quid pro quo for President Nixons Justice Department settling an antitrust suit. Its a complicated moment in American history, but one that Turner seems to delight in revisiting.

Nina Westervelt - Getty Images

Here, the actress explains why Watergate never gets old, how her own history helped inform her performance, and the worst parts of revisiting the 1970s.

What about playing Dita Beard appealed to you?

What a character! There were times when we were working when I said, stop me if I go too far, and the director was like, no, its fine! Part of the fun is that shes the only one who made it out of this thing; she ended up on a horse farm instead of in jail. Theres this insane arrogance of these people, who thought they could do whatever without any consequences. I dont know about you, but I certainly see some parallels today. Thats why you laugh, of courseuntil you remember its all true.

The series covers a serious topic, but it has a sense of humor. How do you balance the two?

The stupidity at times, the Three Stooges aspect makes you laugh. But they thought this would work!

Phil Caruso/HBO

And they were almost right. Were about 50 years out from Watergate

I just hope we have the perspective in another 50 years to keep laughing.

All The Presidents Men just had an anniversary, there have been other series looking at this time. What about this story keeps us fascinated?

The unbelievable arrogance!

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Theres also something about an era when crooks werent caught digitally, but by other people.

At the same time, these people had unbelievable layers of protection that we thankfully dont have now. I was in high school in London in 1972, and us American students marched down Oxford Street when Nixon went into Cambodia. We cheered when all of this was happening. I was back in the states when Nixon resigned, in Springfield, Missouri, and I was one of the very few rejoicing.

Bettmann - Getty Images

When you get a part like this, do you research or do you rely on those memories?

I did of course check out what we know about Dita Beard, but to me it was more important that she was the trigger who opened up the bribery scandal to John Mitchell. I dont know that she was the kind of patriot that Woody [Harrelson, who plays E. Howard Hunt] and Justin [Theroux, who plays G. Gordon Liddy] are portraying, but somehow it seems to me that her interest was more to benefit herself at the time.

Does delving back into this period give you a new perspective on the era?

The clothes are hideous! And theyre uncomfortable.

WATCH WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS NOW

Youre making the series in the modern day, with a whole new slew of politicians making public mistakes. Is there a sense of deja vu?

It would appear that they have fantasies that theyre above or outside the system that theyre sworn to protect. For more than 40 years, Ive served on the board of People for the American Way, and I dont accept this shitno way.

Are there other historical characters youd like to play?

Oh, hell. I dont know. I dont think like that.

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A Lower East Side bar known for its unique, sensorial cocktails that taste like food took the top prize.

Emmanuel Rosario/Courtesy of Double Chicken Please

The biggest event in bars descended on San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, late last week, marking the second edition of North America's 50 Best Bars. During the live ceremony put on by 50 Best  the company behind The World's 50 Best Bars and The World's 50 Best Restaurants  New York City's Double Chicken Please took the top spot, earning the coveted moniker "The Best Bar in North America."

Emmanuel Rosario/Courtesy of Double Chicken Please

Known for its quirkiness and welcoming ambiance, Double Chicken Please is most famous for serving cocktails with the sensorial taste and playful textures of some of your favorite foods, ranging from french toast to mango sticky rice and even cold pizza.

The Lower East Side haunt also boasts elevated bar food and sophisticated, trendy design with two concepts in one. "The physical characteristics of the space were a big consideration regarding the concept. Being narrow and deep, we decided a dual concept would work well," GN Chan, the bar's founder, told Travel + Leisure after winning the award.

The bar's front room is a tribute to "the soda shops of yesteryear," per the World's 50 Best Bars website, with a unique cocktails-on-tap system that infuses culinary-focused ingredients like seaweed, makrut lime, and sea buckthorn directly into the drinks.

The bar's back room combines handsome wood and leather banquettes, creating a sophisticated, intimate space. Alongside the back room's menu of drinks that taste like food, Double Chicken Please serves another menu of "classic" cocktails with a twist, like the dirty margarita  infused with Cocchi Americano and Italicus liqueur  and a Moscow mule punched-up by miso and ginger. There are even cocktails and mocktails made to taste like Japanese cold noodles and a New York beet salad.

For bar grub, their tender, juicy chicken sandwiches are full of flavor. The elevated bar menu rounds out with Kiki cucumbers, plant-based sandwiches, and a savory-sweet dessert called Le Big Mac. This truly fancified version of the McDonald's staple is an almond macaron that acts as the bun, chocolate ice cream with mochi as the patty, a sesame sponge cake as the cheese, and strawberry jelly in lieu of tomato.

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Emmanuel Rosario/Courtesy of Double Chicken Please

Double Chicken Please already has regular lines out its door, but it didn't always look like Chan and partner Faye Chen's vision would come to fruition. The duo, both independent alums of 50 Best Bar winners, encountered a lot of obstacles over the nearly nine years it took them to get Double Chicken Please running, including opening during the pandemic.

"Building out our brick-and-mortar bar took nearly five years alone," said Chan, who credits their success to being flexible and adaptable. During a press conference after the event, Chan and Chen acknowledged it was poetic that even on the night of their big win, the bar was closed for repairs to its HVAC system (with plans to reopen very soon).

Still, the unwavering spirit of its founders weathers on. "Faye and I are still processing and reflecting on how we move forward and how the recognition can motivate our team and us to keep pushing, polishing, and grinding," Chan said after the win.

Other big winners at 50 Best North America included Mexico Citys Handshake Speakeasy and another Big Apple bar, Katana Kitten, which took the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Torontos Civil Liberties, at No. 12, won the title of The Best Bar in Canada, while Puerto Ricos La Factoria came in at No. 24, earning The Best Bar in the Caribbean accolade.

New York City was the big winner in terms of cities, with 12 bars on the list. The U.S. dominated more than half the list with 28 winning bars  and there were 14 Mexican winners, seven Canadian bars, and one Caribbean honoree.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Families and officials are releasing the names of the eight people killed in a mass shooting at a Texas mall on Saturday. They include two young sisters, Daniela and Sofia Mendoza, and three members of the Cho family  parents and their 3-year-old son. Here is what we're learning about the lives lost.

Daniela Mendoza and Sofia Mendoza

Two young sisters, Daniela Mendoza, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, died in the rampage at the Allen Premium Outlets mall, according to a message to families from Superintendent David Vinson of the Wylie Independent School District. Daniela Mendoza was in fourth grade and Sofia Mendoza was in second grade at Cox Elementary in Sachse, Vinson said.

Principal Krista Wilson described the girls as "rays of sunshine," according to Vinson.

Their mother, Ida, was one of the seven other people wounded in the shooting and was in critical condition, the superintendent said.

Cindy Cho, Kyu Cho and James Cho

A 3-year-old boy, James Cho, and his parents, Cindy and Kyu, were also killed, John Jun, a co-founder of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Korean American Coalition, confirmed to CBS News.

The couple's older son, a 6-year-old, was wounded in the shooting but survived, CBS Texas reports.

Cindy and Kyu Cho, alongside their three-year-old son James / Credit: GoFundMe

Christian LaCour

Christian LaCour, 20, was also among the deceased victims, his father confirmed to CBS News. LaCour was working as a security guard at the mall on Saturday.

Christian LaCour was identified as one of the eight people killed in a mass shooting at a mall in Allen, Texas.

Aishwarya Thatikonda

Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, was also among the deceased, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a Monday afternoon news release. She was from India and was a civil engineer working at a general contracting business based in Frisco. She would have turned 27 later this month, according to the station.

Aishwarya Thatikonda

She was known as Aish and was famous for her trademark smile, said her boss, Srinivas Chaluvadi, CBS Texas reported.

"She's loved and adored, not because she was killed under tragic circumstances, but because who she is personally," he said. "I do not, my heart does not let me give credit for all of this love and affection for the tragic way that she was killed. This love and affection and respect is not out of sympathy. They truly love her. And I truly love her."

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Elio Cumana-Rivas

Elio Cumana-Rivas, a 32-year-old from Dallas, was also among those killed, the Department of Public Safety said.

Elio Cumana-Rivas

"Our community has just been hit, and it hurts," Allen Mayor-elect Baine Brooks said during a vigil Sunday.

The suspect's history

The gunman, identified by authorities as 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, was shot and killed by a police officer who was at the mall in Allen for an unrelated call. Investigators are looking into his history, including possible extremist views. The Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism says social media posts indicate he was "obsessed with violence" and embraced misogynistic, antisemitic and white supremacist ideologies, sporting large SS and Nazi tattoos.

Posts he made on a Russian social media network also suggest he had been researching the mall and planning the attack for weeks, The Associated Press reported.

Saturday's rampage came just over a week after another mass shooting in Texas, when five people, including a 9-year-old boy, were shot and killed in the town of Cleveland. According to authorities in that case, Francisco Oropeza went into a neighbor's home and opened fire after he was asked to stop shooting his gun late at night while a baby was trying to sleep.

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Addressing the national teacher shortage

Biden, McCarthy speak out after debt ceiling summit
A statement from the White House says the events surrounding the death of Jordan Neely demand a thorough investigation, as Manhattan prosecutors and police continue to investigate the case more than a week after the 30-year-old homeless street performer was choked to death on a subway traincar.

Jordan Neelys killing was tragic and deeply disturbing, according to the statement from President Joe Bidens administration.

The incident has prompted city, state and federal officials, advocacy groups and protesters to demand an arrest and call attention to urgently needed support for mental health services and people experiencing homelessness.

A veteran New York photojournalist was arrested on Monday night during a vigil and protest, one of several in New York City in the week after Neelys death.

At least 10 people were arrested by NYPD officers, including photojournalist Stephanie Keith, who was filmed being carried away by police while displaying her press pass and announcing that she is a member of the press.

Widely shared footage from 1 May shows a men identified as Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old former US Marine, wrapping his arm around Neelys neck on the floor of the traincar. He has not been charged with a crime.

Key Points

White House calls for thorough investigation into Jordan Neelys death

Photojournalist among people arrested during protests marking one week after Neelys death

Jordan Neelys family attorneys condemn admission of guilt'

Jordan Neely struggled after his mothers murder, family attorney says

Neelys death is a wake-up call for urgent response to mental health crisis, governor says

White House responds to Jordan Neelys death for the first time

18:30 , Alex Woodward

President Joe Bidens administration is calling for a thorough investigation into the death of Jordan Neely, the 30-year-old homeless New Yorker who was placed in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway train last week.

Jordan Neelys killing was tragic and deeply disturbing, according to a statement from a White House spokesperson obtained by The Independent on 9 May.

Story continues

Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. We firmly believe that the events surrounding his death demand a thorough investigation, the statement added.

The White House statement is the first to address Neelys death on 1 May.

Witnesses recount subway chokehold

17:34 , Alex Woodward

Several people who witnessed Daniel Penny placing Jordan Neely in a chokehold on the F train platform on 1 May recounted their experience to Hell Gate, including attempts to intervene, confusion and shock at what was taking place, and the complicated feelings of shame and regret that they were unable to stop what was happening after later digesting what they witnessed.

One man attempted to splash water on Neelys face but was waved away. Another witness was not certain what was happening, as others tried to explain why Neely was being restrained or seek to justify what was happening in front of them, according to the witness.

It seemed like he knew what he was doing, they said. And if you know what youre doing, and youre doing it with dozens of witnesses, why would you have an intent to take someones life? Like, theres safety in a crowd.

The witness added that there just was not a lot of compassion for the person lying on the floor, not breathing.

Full story: NYPD arrests 11 people including photojournalist at protest demanding arrest for Jordan Neelys death

17:00 , Alex Woodward

Police arrested at least 11 people and discovered what officials called a Molotov cocktail during a vigil and protest marking one week after the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless street performer who was placed in a fatal chokehold inside a Manhattan F train.

Photojournalist Stephanie Keith, who has contributed to The New York Times, Bloomberg and Reuters, among other outlets, was filmed being arrested and placed into a New York City Police Department van near protests at Houston Street and Broadway on 8 May. A press pass and camera equipment are clearly visible in widely shared footage of her arrest.

I was flabbergasted, she wrote in an Instagram post after her release later that night. She said she was standing with other photographers, apart from police making arrests. For some reason they chose me from that situation, she added.

I said, Im press and they said, Youre not, youre arrested, she told The New York Daily News.

NYPD arrests photojournalist at protest demanding arrest for Jordan Neelys death

Former Manhattan DA: Charges in Neelys death may not come for some time

16:32 , Alex Woodward

A week may seem like a long time for prosecutors to make a decision whether to charge Daniel Penny for the fatal chokehold against Jordan Neely, but its not as important as getting to the right decision on charging using the right process, according to former Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance, speaking to Gothamist.

And that requires more time, often, than some people feel is justified. But generally speaking, its a longer process than people appreciate, he said.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg could file a felony complaint against Mr Penny or any other person believed to be involved with Neelys death, at which an arrest could be made and an arraignment help.

Prosecutors also could go to a grand jury, presenting evidence in the case to determine whether charges are warranted. Legal experts have suggested that may a more likely scenario.

Attorneys for Mr Penny said that he has not yet been notified about a grand jury, which would be legally required if one is convened in the case.

Photojournalist flabbergasted after arrest

15:16 , Alex Woodward

In a post on Instagram after her release, photojournalist Stephenie Keith expressed her shock when she was arrested while covering a protest and vigil demanding justice for the death of Jordan Neely near the Broadway-Lafayette subway stop on Monday night.

Some people chose to chant and commune on the subway platform and some to speak out on street level. The journalists on the subway platform heard arrests were going down so we all ran upstairs to witness several ongoing arrests, she wrote.

Later, I was arrested! I couldnt believe it, I was flabbergasted, she said.

She said she was standing with another group of photographers, far from arrests. Police later said she was interfering with arrests.

For some reason they chose me from that situation, she added.

I feel loved by my community and although there was a bad event that brought it about, I feel loved and supported by you! she said.

Eric Adams says he has tried to contact Neelys family

14:37 , Alex Woodward

Mayor Eric Adams, during an unrelated event on Monday night, said that he has tried to reach the family of Jordan Neely several times.

Reached out to them several times to give them my condolences, he said at Russos on the Bay in Howard Beach, according to footage from The City.

A statement from Neelys attorneys on Monday asked the mayor to give us a call.

The family wants you to know that Jordan matters, attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards wrote in a joint statement on Monday morning.

NEW: in his only public appearance today (a party at Russos on the Bay), @NYCMayor says he tried multiple times to speak w/ Jordan Neelys family earlier today but couldnt reach them. He also spoke about tonights protests although I havent been able confirm his info pic.twitter.com/RGqOoyz2AU  katie honan (@katie_honan) May 9, 2023

Photojournalist among people arrested during protests marking one week after Neelys death

14:22 , Alex Woodward

New York City Police Department officers arrested photojournalist Stephanie Keith during protests demanding an arrest in the killing of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless street performer who died in a fatal chokehold on 1 May on a Manhattan F train.

Ms Keith, who has contributed to The New York Times, Bloomberg and Reuters, was arrested for interfering in the arrests of protesters, according to police.

At least 10 people were arrested near Houston Street and Broadway following a vigil and protests marking one week since Daniel Penny pinned down Neely in a chokehold. The citys medical examiner determined the cause of death was homicide. No charges have been filed in Neelys death, and police and the Manhattan district attorneys office are investigating.

They just arrested a photographer Stephanie Keith and are taking her into police van. pic.twitter.com/a80qNGEVJw  Gwynne Hogan (@GwynneFitz) May 9, 2023

Eric Adams has not talked to Neelys family, attorneys say

14:00 , Alex Woodward

A statement from attorneys for the family of Jordan Neely suggests that Mayor Eric Adams has not talked with the family in the wake of his death.

Mayor Eric Adams please give us a call. The family wants you to know that Jordan matters, attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards wrote in a joint statement on Monday morning.

The Independent has requested comment from the mayors office.

The mayor is no stranger to public comment about subway violence, but he has declined to condemn lethal violence when it comes to the passenger who put Neely in a fatal chokehold.

Each situation is different and how a passenger. We have so many cases where passengers assist other riders, he said on CNN last week. We cannot just blatantly say what a passenger should or should not do in a situation like that, and we should allow the investigation to take its course.

13:00 , Alex Woodward

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the death of Jordan Neely should serve as a wake-up call for government officials to urgently respond to a growing mental health crisis.

Her remarks on Monday came as she announced a $1bn pldge to update the states mental health programmes.

People fall through the cracks. Sometimes theyre visible, sometimes you see them, she said in remarks from Buffalo.

And we think about the young man, Jordan Neely, who was in New York City in the throes of a crisis who was tragically killed on the subway this week. His death is clear evidence that we need support, she added. We need alternatives for these individuals so theyre not regulated to that kind of life. So those of us in government, it is a wake up call.

Im in Buffalo announcing how our budget transforms New York's continuum of mental health care and creates a system that works for all New Yorkers. Watch live: https://t.co/1o3yyMqr0L  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 8, 2023

The man who filmed the fatal chokehold explains what he saw

12:00 , Alex Woodward

Journalist Juan Alberto Vasquez was traveling on the F train on his way from Brooklyn to Yonkers and intended to switch trains at the Broadway-Lafayette stop in Manhattan when he filmed Daniel Penny wrapping his arm around Jordan Neelys neck in a chokehold for several minutes. Neelys death was ruled a homicide by the citys medical examiner due to the compression against Neelys neck.

He told Curbed that Neely arrived on the train when it stopped at Second Avenue, stood in the middle of the train car, and then started yelling that he didnt have food, that he didnt have water and that he was tired, that he didnt care about going to jail.

I tried to start filming from that moment, but I didnt because I couldnt see anything  it was too crowded. And then I heard him take off his jacket. He bundled it up and just threw it on the floor, very violently. You could hear the sound of the zipper hitting the floor, he added. At that moment, when he threw the jacket, the people who were sitting around him stood up and moved away. He kept standing there and he kept yelling.

At that moment, Mr Penny came up behind him and grabbed him by the neck, he said.

They both fell. And then in like 30 seconds, I dont know, we got to Broadway-Lafayette, and they were just there on the floor, he said. You ask how many people out of 100 would have dared to do something like that, and I think that 98 will say: No, I would wait to see one more sign that indicates aggression.

Hundreds of New Yorkers died while unhoused in recent years

11:00 , Alex Woodward

In February, 74,762 people were sleeping in the citys shelter system. That figure does not include the thousands of New Yorkers on the citys streets and subways.

Last year, three people in New York were stabbed, one fatally, while sleeping on the street. A shooting spree across New York and Washington DC resulted in the killings of two men, and three others were injured.

That year, at least 15 homeless New Yorkers were murdered. A year earlier, 22 homeless New Yorkers were murdered. Of the 640 deaths among homeless New Yorkers in 2021, 151 were unsheltered.

In the deadliest year on record for New Yorks homeless population, 815 people died while homeless in 2022.

What he know about Daniel Penny

10:00 , Alex Woodward

While much is known about Jordan Neelys legal issues and mental health history, less is known about the man who placed him in a fatal chokehold.

According to US Marine Corps records and a LinkedIn profile, Daniel Penny joined the Marines in 2017 after graduating from West Islip High School, a hamlet roughly 36 miles outside of Manhattan in Suffolk County.

Public records confirm Mr Pennys former address at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He served as an infantryman and a sergeant.

He left the Marines in 2021. He wrote in a service industry job site that his military experience helped him discover that he is passionate about helping, communicating, and connecting to different people from all over the world.

Everything we know about Daniel Penny, filmed fatally choking Jordan Neely

Who is Jordan Neely?

09:00 , Alex Woodward

Following his mothers murder when he was 14 years old, Jordan Neely came to be known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, honing his act at Washington Irving High School in Manhattan before performing on the subway and in Times Square, his skills evident in a number of videos widely shared on social media in the wake of his death.

But his mental health appeared to deteroriate in recent years, as he experienced homelessness and repeatedly evaded homeless outreach services and healthcare as he came in contact with law enforcement.

Jordan Neely, the man killed in a NYC subway chokehold

Jordan Neely family attorneys call statement from Daniel Pennys legal team character assassination

08:00 , Alex Woodward

Attorneys for the family of Jordan Neely have criticised a statement from the legal team representing Daniel Perry, the 24-year-old former US Marine who placed the 30-year-old homeless street performer in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway car one week ago.

Daniel Pennys press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret. It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordans life, reads the statement on 8 May from attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards.

In a statement shared with The Independent on 5 May, attorneys for Mr Penny said Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness and began aggressively threatening Mr Penny and others on the train.

Mr Pennys attorneys said Mr Penny and other passengers acted to protect themselves, until help arrived and never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death on 1 May.

Jordan Neely family attorneys condemn statement from Daniel Pennys legal team

New York prosecutors investigate Jordan Neelys death as ex-Marine hires Alvin Braggs former rival

07:00 , Alex Woodward

A potential criminal charge against Daniel Penny could include second-degree manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, according to legal experts.

Under New Yorks justification law, a person can use physical force when their safety is at risk, including during incidents of self defense or the defense of a third party.

Prosecutors or a grand jury likely will determine, after reviewing evidence from witness testimony and surveillance cameras, whether there was any such justification.

Mr Penny is being represented by the firm Raiser and Kenniff; Thomas Kenniff unsuccessfully ran for Manhattan district attorney as a Republican in 2021, ultimately losing to Alvin Bragg, who received more than 82 per cent of the vote.

Prosecutors investigate Jordan Neelys death as ex-Marine hires Braggs former rival

Law enforcement agencies largely ban chokeholds

06:00 , Alex Woodward

Lethal chokeholds like the the one that led to Jordan Neelys death are increasingly banned in police departments across the country.

More than half the nations law enforcement ment agencies explicitly ban the use of neck restraints, also known as carotid restraints and more commonly referred to as chokeholds or strangleholds.

The US Department of Justice instituted a federal-wide policy that explicitly forbids them in 2021.

The subway passenger who tackled and choked Neely last Monday appeared to use a similar lethal restraint. The New York City medical examiner determined that the compression against his neck caused Neelys death, which was ruled a homicide.

Those restraints can compress the trachea, which blocks air to the lungs, and the carotid arteries on the side of the neck, major vessels that provide blood to the brain.

Cutting off that blood flow can make someone lose consciousness within seconds and kill them within minutes. Losing consciousness also can be an indication of brain injury.

New York was not a safe city for Jordan Neely

04:00 , Alex Woodward

Noah Berlatsky writes:

Mentally ill people, homeless people, and marginalized people arent innately a threat merely by existing. But because their existence is seen as a threat, they are themselves often in serious danger. That danger may come from the police. It may come from civilians eager to call the police. And it may come from vigilantes who want to do some violent policing themselves.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

Everything we know about the ex-Marine filmed choking Jordan Neely in fatal subway incident

03:00 , Alex Woodward

In a statement shared with The Independent at 7.30pm on 5 May, attorneys for Daniel Penny said that when Jordan Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

Daniel never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death, the statement added. For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

Here is what we know about the 24-year-old former US Marine, who has not been charged with any crime connected to the incident:

Everything we know about Daniel Penny, filmed fatally choking Jordan Neely

Jordan Neely struggled after his mothers murder, family attorney says

02:00 , Alex Woodward

Jordan Neely suffered from demons after his mother was murdered in 2007, according to a lawyer for the family.

Neely was 14 years old when his mother Christine Neely was strangled, stuffed in a suitcase and left on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York by her former partner.

Family members say he fell into a deep depression and never fully recovered from the tragedy, and was homeless at the time of his death.

Jordan Neely struggled after his mothers murder, family attorney says

Protesters return to subway platform where Neely died, one week later

01:00 , Alex Woodward

One week after Jordan Neelys death, protesters have returned tothe Broadway-Lafayette subway station where the train carrying Neely had arrived.

Protesters gathering for Jordan Neely on the Broadway Lafayette platform a week after his killing here. pic.twitter.com/3mpKInPCu4  Gwynne Hogan (@GwynneFitz) May 8, 2023

The scene at Broadway-Lafayette, where about a dozen people have gathered in protest of Jordan Neelys death. Increased police presence on platforms and around the station. pic.twitter.com/F7i2LKln8j  Joyce Koh (@JoyceKohTV) May 8, 2023

A large police presence has arrived at the station, where demonstrators have also set up a candles and gave remarks.

At least 13 people were arrested during a demonstration demanding justice for Neelys death on Saturday.

Will a grand jury be involved?

Tuesday 9 May 2023 00:30 , Alex Woodward

Prosecutors could bring manslaughter charges against a subway passenger who choked a homeless man to death, according to legal experts, as New Yorkers plead for justice in the wake of the killing of Jordan Neely on a Manhattan F train.

A grand jury could determine whether criminal charges are brought against the man who was filmed with his arm wrapped around Neelys neck, according to officials speaking with several New York outlets.

A law enforcement official close to the investigation told ABC News that the case is likely to go to a grand jury, which would convene to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Prosecutors investigate Jordan Neelys death as ex-Marine hires Braggs former rival

MTA chief urges passengers to deescalate'

Monday 8 May 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward

Janno Lieber, head of the MTA, said on Friday that he is waiting a decision from prosecutors in the death of Jordan Neely, but urged passengrs to find a way to deescalate if challenges emerge on the subways.

Were gonna renew our efforts to make sure that people understand that when youre in the subway together, theyre going to be challenges, when youre in the public space together there are going to be challenges, but we have to find a way to deescalate, he said.

He called the video showing Neelys final moments while he is placed in a chokehold really troubling and upsetting.

Emergency calls from MTA outline response to chokehold incident

Monday 8 May 2023 22:28 , Alex Woodward

An F train operator called the MTAs Rail Control Center at 2.25pm on 1 May to report an unruly passenger was being subdued by other passengers, according to an outline of the response to Jordan Neelys death from the citys public transit agency.

Two minutes later, the centre notified police and other MTA personnel.

At 2.36pm, the train operator reports that NYPD arrived on the scene, waiting for EMS.

NYPD declared the train a crime scene at 2.47pm. Neely was pronounced dead at Lenox Health Greenwich Village.

Full story: Jordan Neely family attorneys call statement from Daniel Pennys legal team character assassination

Monday 8 May 2023 21:30 , Alex Woodward

Attorneys for the family of Jordan Neely have criticised a statement from the legal team representing Daniel Perry, the 24-year-old former US Marine who placed the 30-year-old homeless street performer in a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway car one week ago.

Daniel Pennys press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret. It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordans life, reads the statement on 8 May from attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards.

Jordan Neely family attorneys condemn statement from Daniel Pennys legal team

Eric Adams has not talked to Neelys family, attorneys say

Monday 8 May 2023 20:51 , Alex Woodward

A statement from attorneys for the family of Jordan Neely suggests that Mayor Eric Adams has not talked with the family in the wake of his death.

Mayor Eric Adams please give us a call. The family wants you to know that Jordan matters, attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards wrote in a joint statement on Monday morning.

The Independent has requested comment from the mayors office.

The mayor is no stranger to public comment about subway violence, but he has declined to condemn lethal violence when it comes to the passenger who put Neely in a fatal chokehold.

Each situation is different and how a passenger. We have so many cases where passengers assist other riders, he said on CNN last week. We cannot just blatantly say what a passenger should or should not do in a situation like that, and we should allow the investigation to take its course.

Neelys death is a wake-up call for urgent response to mental health crisis, governor says

Monday 8 May 2023 19:45 , Alex Woodward

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the death of Jordan Neely should serve as a wake-up call for government officials to urgently respond to a growing mental health crisis.

Her remarks on Monday came as she announced a $1bn pldge to update the states mental health programmes.

People fall through the cracks. Sometimes theyre visible, sometimes you see them, she said in remarks from Buffalo.

And we think about the young man, Jordan Neely, who was in New York City in the throes of a crisis who was tragically killed on the subway this week. His death is clear evidence that we need support, she added. We need alternatives for these individuals so theyre not regulated to that kind of life. So those of us in government, it is a wake up call.

Im in Buffalo announcing how our budget transforms New York's continuum of mental health care and creates a system that works for all New Yorkers. Watch live: https://t.co/1o3yyMqr0L  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 8, 2023

Prosecutors meeting with detectives, medical examiner

Monday 8 May 2023 18:45 , Alex Woodward

Prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office met to discuss the case over the weekend, according to CNN, and meetings are planned with detectives and the office of the medical examiner to determine next steps in an investigation into Neelys death.

The district attorneys office told The Independent last week that senior, experienced prosecutors are investigating Neelys death.

This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neelys life, press secretary Douglas Cohen said. As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the [medical examiners] report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.

The investigation is reportedly being led by veteran homicide prosecutor Joshua Steinglass.

A criminal charge in Jordan Neelys death could hinge on outcome of 1980s case

Monday 8 May 2023 18:25 , Alex Woodward

Prosecutors could weigh criminal charges against the man who put Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold, though that likely will not include the charges of murder.

Charges could depend on whether a reasonable person would have acted similarly, according to legal experts.

A person who uses deadly force must not only prove that they feared for their own life or someone elses but that any reasonable person would have felt the same way, under New Yorks penal code.

Suppose the Marine says, I honest to God thought I had no choice but to save someone, the question would be whether an objectively reasonable person in his circumstances would have felt the same, according to Mark Bederow, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, speaking to NBC New York.

The states highest court clarified that statute in 1986 in a case involving the Bernhard Goetzs 1984 shooting of four teenagers on a subway.

The white pasenger shot four young Black men after one of them asked him for $5. He claimed that he thought he was being robbed. A jury ultimately acquitted Goetz of attempted murder but convicted him of carrying an unlicensed handgun.

Who is Daniel Penny?

Monday 8 May 2023 17:55 , Alex Woodward

A former US Marine who choked Jordan Neely to death on a New York City subway car has been identified as 24-year-old Daniel James Penny.

In a statement shared with The Independent at 7.30pm on 5 May, attorneys for Mr Penny said that when Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.

Daniel never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death, the statement added. For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

What we know:

Everything we know about Daniel Penny, filmed fatally choking Jordan Neely

The man who filmed the fatal chokehold explains what he saw

Monday 8 May 2023 17:27 , Alex Woodward

Journalist Juan Alberto Vasquez was traveling on the F train on his way from Brooklyn to Yonkers and intended to switch trains at the Broadway-Lafayette stop in Manhattan when he filmed Daniel Penny wrapping his arm around Jordan Neelys neck in a chokehold for several minutes. Neelys death was ruled a homicide by the citys medical examiner due to the compression against Neelys neck.

He told Curbed that Neely arrived on the train when it stopped at Second Avenue, stood in the middle of the train car, and then started yelling that he didnt have food, that he didnt have water and that he was tired, that he didnt care about going to jail.

I tried to start filming from that moment, but I didnt because I couldnt see anything  it was too crowded. And then I heard him take off his jacket. He bundled it up and just threw it on the floor, very violently. You could hear the sound of the zipper hitting the floor, he added. At that moment, when he threw the jacket, the people who were sitting around him stood up and moved away. He kept standing there and he kept yelling.

At that moment, Mr Penny came up behind him and grabbed him by the neck, he said.

They both fell. And then in like 30 seconds, I dont know, we got to Broadway-Lafayette, and they were just there on the floor, he said. You ask how many people out of 100 would have dared to do something like that, and I think that 98 will say: No, I would wait to see one more sign that indicates aggression.

Neely had testified at the trial of his mothers killer

Monday 8 May 2023 16:58 , Alex Woodward

Jordan Neely was 14 years old when his mother was murdered by her boyfriend.

That man, Shawn Southerland, refused to let Neely into a bedroom at the home to say goodbye before going to school, Neely testified to the court in New Jersey when he was 18 years old.

Southerland was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the crime.

He had to live with the fact that he left his mother dead in their home. So, thats a lot to live with and he had troubles with that. But throughout his life, he was determined to make other people happy and thats what he did, Neely family attorney Donte Mills told MSNBC on 7 May.

Following his mothers death, he didnt care anymore after that, his father Andre Zachery told The New York Daily News. They were very close. He loved her so much that he just lost it. After we buried her, he just wasnt the same anymore.

He dropped out of high school some time after that, according to the family.

Jordan Neely was known among outreach workers on a top 50 list

Monday 8 May 2023 16:39 , Alex Woodward

Jordan Neely appeared on a list maintained by the New York City Department of Homeless Services known internally as the top 50, noting unhoused individuals with acute needs, according to CNN and The New York Times.

The list is maintained because those individuals tend to disappear, and outreach workers can know to notify the agency if they come into contact with them, the outlets reported.

The Independent has requested comment from Homeless Services.

Who was Jordan Neely?

Monday 8 May 2023 16:19 , Alex Woodward

After his mother was murdered in 2007, Jordan Neely appeared to slip through the cracks of New York social services and healthcare facilities. He came to be known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, honing his act on the subway and in Times Square, his skills evident in a number of videos widely shared on social media in the wake of his death.

He also was known among social work teams involved in outreach to New Yorks homeless community, and faced arrest numerous times, mostly for minor infractions like jumping turnstyles.

Neely was reportedly suffering a mental health crisis at the time of his death, with outreach workers noting his spiraling behaviour in the days leading up to the moment another passenger placed him in a fatal chokehold. He was killed on 1 May.

Jordan Neely, the man killed in a NYC subway chokehold

Neelys family attorneys slam statement from Pennys attorneys as admission of guilt'

Monday 8 May 2023 14:39 , Alex Woodward

Attorneys for the family of Jordan Neely has criticised a statement from the firm representing Daniel Penny, accused of killing Neely using a fatal chokehold on a Manhattan subway one week ago.

Daniel Pennys press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret. It is a character assassination and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordans life, according to the statement from attorneys Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards, who called the statement from Mr Pennys attorneys an admission of guilty.

The statement from Mr Pennys attorneys said Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness and began aggressively threatening Mr Penny and others. The statement says Mr Penny and other passengers acted to protect themselves, until help arrived and never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death.

The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordans neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing, Neelys family attorneys stated.

In the last paragraph, Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown indifference for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference, both at the time he killed Jordan and now in his first public message, the statement added.

He never attempted to help him at all. In short, his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison, the attorneys said.

13 arrested in subway protest

Monday 8 May 2023 13:00 , Bevan Hurley

Protesters flooded the NYC subway system to demonstrate against the killing of Jordan Neely, with at least seven people arrested after clashes with police.

Dozens of demonstrators leapt on to subway tracks at Lexington Avenue and East 63rd St at around 6.30pm, forcing a Q train driver to slam on the brakes as he entered the station, according to a video posted to Twitter.

Thirteen protesters were arrested on charges including resisting arrest, assault, trespass and unlawful interference of a railroad train, the NYPD said.

Breaking: Protesters are now disrupting the subway in NYC for Jordan Neely pic.twitter.com/NSO5UjAs7x  Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) May 6, 2023

New York was not a safe city for Jordan Neely

Monday 8 May 2023 12:00 , Bevan Hurley

Noah Berlatsky writes for The Independent:

On Monday, a Black houseless man with a history of mental illness, Jordan Neely, was shouting at passengers on the New York subway. Witnesses said he did not physically assault or harm anyone. But a so-far unnamed white 24-year-old ex-Marine decided Neely needed to be subdued. He put him in a neckhold and, as bystanders watched, he choked Neely to death.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely. Democratic State Senator Julia Salazar compared his horrific killing to a lynching  the public extermination of a Black, marginalized person in the name of restoring public order.

Though Neely was not killed by the police, his death painfully shows how mainstream rhetoric of policing, order, and safety all frame marginalized people as innately unsafe. From this viewpoint, safety means hiding, quelling, or even outright eliminating certain marginalized populations  Black people, homeless people, mentally ill people, poor people.

Conservatives and centrists often attack progressives for not being sufficiently concerned with public safety. Defund the police is caricatured as a reckless abandonment of public order. Its attacked as an unserious, utopian endeavor by people who dont care about the safety of (supposedly) normal people.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

Jordan Neely struggled after his mothers murder, family attorney says

Monday 8 May 2023 11:00 , Bevan Hurley

Jordan Neely suffered from demons after his mother was murdered in 2007, a lawyer for his family says.

Attorney Donte Mills told Al Sharpton on MSNBCs PoliticsNation that Neely had been living with his mother and her boyfriend Shawn Southerland at the time of her killing.

He learned his mother had died and tried to say goodbye to her before leaving for school, but was blocked from entering her bedroom by Southerland.

He had to live with the fact that he left his mother dead in their home, Mr Mills told MSNBC.

So, thats a lot to live with and he had troubles with that.

Jordan Neely struggled after his mothers murder, family attorney says

New York prosecutors investigate Jordan Neelys death as ex-Marine hires Alvin Braggs former rival

Monday 8 May 2023 09:00 , Bevan Hurley

Prosecutors could bring manslaughter charges against a subway passenger who choked a homeless man to death, according to legal experts, as New Yorkers plead for justice in the wake of the killing ofJordan Neely on a Manhattan F train.

A grand jury could determine whether criminal charges are brought against the man who was filmed with his arm wrapped around Neelys neck, according to officials speaking with several New York outlets.

A law enforcement official close to the investigation told ABC News that the case is likely to go to a grand jury, which would convene to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Detectives have reportedly interviewed several witnesses and are looking to talk to four or five more who were close to the scene, according to the network.

Daniel Penny, who was filmed with his arm around Neelys neck, has retained legal representation from attorneys with the firm Raiser and Kenniff. Mr Penny has not been charged with any crime.

Alex Woodward has more details.

Prosecutors investigate Jordan Neelys death as ex-Marine hires Braggs former rival

Jordan Neely testified at trial after his mother was murdered in 2007

Monday 8 May 2023 08:00 , Bevan Hurley

Relatives of Jordan Neely have spoken out following the killing of the 30-year-old homeless man in an incident on the New York subway.

His father, Andrew Zachary, told The New York Daily News that Neelys mother had been murdered by her boyfriend when he was 18 years old, back in 2007.

Christie Neelys boyfriend was reportedly convicted in 2012 of strangling her and was sentenced to three decades behind bars.

Gustaf Kilander has more details.

Relatives speak out after Jordan Neely subway chokehold killing

Jordan Neely identified as NYCs list of homeless individuals with dire needs

Monday 8 May 2023 07:30 , Namita Singh

Jordan Neely was on a list of homeless people identified as having dire needs, reported CNN citing sources.

The list, maintained by the New York City Department of Homeless Service, though not made public, is compiled in the hope that outreach organisations will lookout for the individuals and inform the department in case there is a need for intervention.

Kayleigh McEnany mocks protesters marching against killing of Jordan Neely

Monday 8 May 2023 07:00 , Bevan Hurley

Fox News anchor and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to use racist tropes to mock demonstrators who took to the street in New York City in recent days to protest the killing of Jordan Neely, a Black homeless man who was choked to death by a white former Marine.

On Friday, after showing a clip of activists chanting, What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now and other slogans to the beat of a drum, Ms McEnany cracked a smile and said, Well, at least they have rhythm, eliciting laughs from her cohosts.

The Fox anchor also condemned people who have already made up their minds about the killing, in which 24-year-old Daniel J Penny was filmed choking Neely for an estimated 15 minutes.

Kat Abughazaleh, an analyst at watchdog group Media Matters for America, said Ms McEnanys rhetoric mocks Black people protesting the killing of Jordan Neely.

Ms McEnany didnt know what race the protesters were and didnt actually see the video being played on air when she made her comment, the anchor said in a statement to The Independent through a network spokesperson.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Kayleigh McEnany mocks Jordan Neely protests on Fox: At least they have rhythm

Police ask for photographs and videos of Jordan Neely death

Monday 8 May 2023 05:00 , Bevan Hurley

The NYPD are appealing for information, photographs, or video of Jordan Neelys death at the Broadway-Lafayette Street subway station last Monday.

Mr Neelys death has been ruled a homicide, and the man who placed him in a chokehold as been identified as former US Marine Daniel Penny.

Manhattan prosecutors are investigating his death.

We need your help in regard to an incident that occurred on Monday, May 1, 2023, at the Broadway-Lafayette Street subway station. Anyone with information, photographs, or video is asked to please contact @NYPDTips or call 1(800)577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/GySG3npbnk  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 4, 2023

Who was Jordan Neely?

Monday 8 May 2023 04:00 , Bevan Hurley

After his mother was murdered when he was 14, Jordan Neely became an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, performing on the subway and in Times Square, his skills evident in a number of videos widely shared on social media in the wake of his death.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

Jordan Neely, the man killed in a NYC subway chokehold

Watch: Sean Hannity audience member cheers NYC subway rider who killed homeless passenger

Monday 8 May 2023 03:00 , Bevan Hurley

A Fox News audience member cheered as Sean Hannity referred to a US marine who placed a homeless passenger in a chokehold on the New York City subway.

Jordan Neely was pinned to the ground on Monday, 1 May, after apparently suffering a mental health episode and later died.

As the host played footage of the incident, he said: After making violent threats... a mentally ill homeless guy with a long history of violent crime was, well, subdued by a bystander, a 24-year-old Marine vet.

Sean Hannity audience member cheers NYC subway rider who killed homeless passenger
A New York City judge has issued a protective order that limits what evidence Donald Trump can share publicly in relation to his ongoing criminal case after prosecutors argued he risked misusing it.

Judge Juan Merchan issued the order Monday in Manhattan prosecutors hush money case against the former president.

Any evidence presented to Trumps legal team shall be used solely for the purposes of preparing a defense in this matter, the order states. Evidence cannot be shared in any form or by any means online or on social media.

The order further bars Trump from reviewing sensitive evidence presented by prosecutors if hes not in the presence of his lawyers. He also cannot publicly disclose names and any other identifying information of personnel in the New York County District Attorneys Office  other than sworn members of law enforcement, assistant district attorneys, and expert or fact witnesses.

Former President Donald Trump is seen outside the New York criminal court on April 4 to face an indictment brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Former President Donald Trump is seen outside the New York criminal court on April 4 to face an indictment brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The case stems from payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Trump pleaded not guilty last month to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Prosecutors had argued that the risk that Trump would use the evidence inappropriately is substantial. Merchan agreed that good cause exists for an order.

Trumps legal team had argued that a protective order would infringe on his First Amendment right to freely discuss his own character and qualifications for federal office and the First Amendment rights of the American people to hear President Trumps side of the story, according to NBC News.

In requesting the order last month, Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw cited Trumps previous public attacks on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and individuals who have testified against him, including his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, former national security official Alexander Vindman, and former FBI Director James Comey.

Story continues

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was among those cited as having been publicly attacked by Trump.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was among those cited as having been publicly attacked by Trump.

Donald J. Trump has a longstanding and perhaps singular history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, trial jurors, grand jurors, judges, and others involved in legal proceedings against him, putting those individuals and their families at considerable safety risk, McCaw said in her motion.

She also cited Trumps past handling of classified documents and the potential that he could misuse grand jury and other sensitive materials here. Trump is facing a separate federal investigation over boxes of classified material that were recovered from his Florida home after he left the White House.

Trumps legal team did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment Tuesday.

Related...
FILE (AP)

The defence in the murder trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow rested their case on Tuesday after calling without presenting any witnesses.

Shortly after Idaho prosecutors rested the states case at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Ms Vallows attorney Jim Archibald told the court that after consulting with his client, he was ready to proceed with closing arguments.

After consulting with my client, we dont believe the state has proven its case so the defence rests, Mr Archibald said.

Ms Vallow is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and her new husband Chad Daybells first wife Tammy, 49.

The state has called roughly 60 witnesses throughout the five weeks of the trial, while the defence called none, according to CourtTV, t

This is a developing story ... check again for updates.
Endeavour Silver Corporation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (Endeavour or the Company) (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK published its 2022 Sustainability Report, describing the Companys progress in executing the first year of its 2022-2024 Sustainability Strategy .



A highlights video accompanies the report, featuring CEO, Dan Dickson, and CFO, Christine West, discussing the past years efforts and milestones.

Dan Dickson, CEO of Endeavour Silver, stated: In 2022, we rolled up our sleeves to execute Year One of our new Sustainability Strategy. Im pleased with how our team transformed Endeavour Silvers commitments into real-life action, walking the talk by continuing to embed ESG practices into our operations and driving positive impacts across the three pillars of our Sustainability Strategy - people, planet and business.

2022 Performance Highlights

(All dollar amounts presented below are in U.S. dollars.)



People

Achieved 0.87 reportable injury rate, a 28% decline from the prior year and continuing a four-year downward trend

Improved our onboarding process to set up new hires for success, providing an average of 30 training hours for every employee and contractor

Increased our community investments to $433,167, supporting local needs such as education, economic development, public health and infrastructure

Marked the sixth anniversary of our Scholarship Program, with 155 scholarships awarded last year to enhance access to education for local students

Awarded the Socially Responsible Company distinction by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy



Planet

Performed climate scenario analysis to assess potential climate-related risks and impacts, and prepared our first climate report aligned to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, entitled  Our Climate Journey 

Recycled over 90% of water used in our operations, minimizing our use of fresh water

Diverted 78% of our overall waste from landfills

Planted 61,905 trees through our reforestation program to restore land disturbed by mining activity



Story continues

Business

100% of our employees completed training on our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Set a target of achieving at least 30% representation of women on the Board by the Companys 2023 annual meeting of shareholders

Strengthened our commitment to human rights by launching a Human Rights Policy along with specialized training for our workforce

Spent $220 million on goods and services, 90% of which was from within Mexico

Updated all corporate governance policies and expanded our Sustainability Policy to include new Board responsibilities related to climate change and more coverage of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) topics



Entitled Enriched By Our Past, Engaged In Our Future, the Companys 10th Sustainability Report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework, as well as with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A Spanish version of the 2022 Sustainability Report will be available online during Q3, 2023.

The 2022 Sustainability Report and related performance tables are available on Endeavours website. Earlier this year, Endeavour released its inaugural climate report, entitled Our Climate Journey, highlighting the Companys approach to climate change and aligning with the recommendations of the TCFD.

About Endeavour Silver  Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that operates two high-grade underground silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing construction of the Terronera project and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

Contact Information

Galina Meleger,

Vice President of Investor Relations

Tel: (877) 685 - 9775

Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn




Who doesnt like talking about their pets?

The top three topics of conversation in the U.S., as per Preply, a language tutoring app, are the weather, weekend plans and work. But pets fit in there, too. Especially as icebreakers when broaching difficult topics like end-of-life legislation, protecting children from sexual assault or how to direct more state funding to local projects.

Wyatt, the feline adopted by Rep. David LeBoeuf. D-Worcester, loves to interrupt Zoom meetings

In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a special website designed just that way: Statehouse Pets. On it are collected pictures and bios of many of the pets that share living quarters with state legislators, staff members and other state employees.

Its a nice icebreaker for people, said Kara Holmquist, the director of advocacy at the MSPCA and the curator of the website.

The organization participates in a Lobby Day every year at the Statehouse on Beacon Hill where they review animal-friendly legislation, visit with lawmakers and, yes, talk about pets.

Its so much fun to hear about their pets, Holmquist said.

Legislators, staff, state employees love their pets

There are cats and dogs, ducks and chickens, and more recently Ted, a Russian tortoise belonging to Lizzie Donovan Noonan, counsel for the Joint Committee on Public Service, was added to the page, along with the two cats Dupont (Dewey) and Declan, who also live with Donovan Noonan.

The website serves as a way for those residents who care about animals to find common ground with legislators.

They have something to talk about, Holmquist said, adding that while many Massachusetts residents want to help animals, they may be unsure of how to approach legislators. This make legislators more approachable, makes it easy to start discussions. Its not controversial.

In Worcester, several legislators have animals; some have multiple animals: Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Webster, has two dogs, Millie and a new puppy, Maggie. The family cat, Boots, is now living his best life with friends after the birth of their youngest child.

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LeBoeuf, who grew up with dogs but cant have one in his apartment, adopted a rescue cat, Wyatt, on a visit to a shelter.

I went on a rescue day event, and I thought I cant leave this little one here, LeBoeuf said of his new companion. He has spent the last three years learning the differences between cats and dogs personality-wise and enjoying Wyatts company. The feline enjoys preening on Zoom calls, knocking over cups and chasing lasers.

When hes hungry in the morning and I dont feed him exactly at 7:30 a.m., hell come sit on my chest until I feed him, LeBoeuf said.

The legislator endorsed the Beagle Bill, a measure that allows for the adoption of laboratory animals, many of them beagles, when their service time at the states many laboratories ends, and is a staunch advocate for prohibiting feline declawing.

Advocating for animals: Ollie's Law

Next on the MSPCA advocacy agenda is Ollies Law, presented by Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, and Rep. Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow. The bill was prompted by the death in 2020 of Ollie, a Labradoodle puppy at a doggy day care facility in Longmeadow. The dog was injured in a dogfight.

Ollies Law would address the lack of oversight at commercial kennels, pet boarding facilities and pet day care centers in Massachusetts.

Currently licensed on a municipal basis, the basic requirement is that a kennel must be maintained in a sanitary and humane manner, according to a recap of the proposed legislation on the MSPCA website.

If passed, Ollies Law would standardize licensing requirements, set fines and fees for violations and ensure injuries, both human and animal, are reported and investigated in a timely manner. Violations and findings of fault would be posted in a way to enable consumers to make informed decisions about where to board their pets.

The state Department of Agricultural Resources would be tasked with oversight of the facilities. This would ensure that all animal control officers are fully informed of their duties and recognize their authority to revoke licenses. The oversight would guarantee clear language for guidance on the maximum number of animals allowed at a facility determined by the licensing municipality. It would also ensure that animals are attended to, and their health and safety is secured.

"Pets are family who provide boundless love and affection that we are lucky to receive," said Montigny. "For this reason, it is critical that we ensure all businesses entrusted with the care of our family adhere to proper health and safety protocols no matter what town they operate in across the commonwealth. Too often, we have heard devastating stories of pets like Ollie who have been injured or killed due to negligent care. These people have no place caring for such precious creatures, and it's time that we implement consistent standards across Massachusetts."

The MSPCA has scheduled an advocacy day May 17 to rally for Ollies Law. And an adoption day is not out of the question.

It cant be too hot or too cold, Holmquist said, explaining that only service animals are allowed in the Statehouse. But if we have an adoption day, we usually hold it outside in Ashburton Park.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Webpage showcases pets living with Massachusetts lawmakers, staff
AP

A hedge fund manager was awarded $203 million in damages after being defamed by former neighbor Peter Nygard.

Disgraced fashion mogul Nygard accused Louis Bacon of arson, insider trading and links to the KKK.

The decade-long dispute began following a quarrel over a driveway Nygard and Bacon shared.

A hedge fund billionaire has been awarded $203 million after a New York court ruled he was defamed by his former Bahamas neighbor Peter Nygard following a decade-long feud ignited by a shared driveway.

Nygard, a disgraced fashion mogul facing several sex trafficking charges, was ordered by a New York court-appointed judge to pay the biggest defamation settlement in the state's history to Moore Capital Management founder Louis Bacon after peddling several wild allegations.

Arguments between Bacon and Nygard began when the two were neighbours in the gated Lyford Cay community on Clifton Bay in the Bahamas.

Bacon complained that Nygard, who used a driveway owned by Bacon, held several disruptive parties at his residence, while Nygard accused Bacon of scuppering his redevelopment plans after a fire, per the Financial Times.

This gradually escalated into increasingly vicious attacks by Canadian fashion mogul Nygard, with Bacon's lawyers saying he personally spent $15 million on a smear campaign against Bacon.

In the initial complaint filed in 2015, Bacon said Nygard had hired journalists to peddle conspiracies about the hedge fund manager, including that Bacon had participated in insider trading, that he was linked to the death of his house manager, that he was responsible for a fire at Nygard's property, and that he was involved in the Ku Klux Klan.

"Nygard and his sidekicks have alleged on a number of occasions that ancestors of mine living in the 19th and 18th centuries, whom I of course, never knew, were associated with racist groups or slaveholding," Bacon wrote at the time.

According to the FT, Judge former U.S. District Judge Layn Phillips said the "overwhelming" and "truly stunning" nature of the evidence brought forward warranted the record sum.

Story continues

"Any one of these would have been a significant assault on his character; the combination of all four depicted him as an evildoer of the highest order," the referee said in his ruling, per the Wall Street Journal.

Lawyers told the court Bacon had spent more than $50 million in legal fees bringing several defamation cases against Nygard.

The settlement is a massive figure for an individual defamation case. By comparison, Fox News recently settled its mammoth defamation case brought by Dominion for a comparable $787.5 million.

Nygard was accused by the Department of Justice in 2020 of using his Bahamas property to carry out "pamper parties" targeting dozens of victims. The allegations have wiped out his business empire.

Nygard's lawyers didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A woman digs ground as damaged buildings are being demolished by heavy duty machine as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Mariupol's Russian controlled territory, Ukraine on March 16, 2023. Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russian authorities made Ukrainians living in occupied towns evacuate or sign liability waivers.

If anyone refused to evacuate, they had to sign papers saying Russia wasn't responsible for them.

Citizens told The New York Times that Russia forced evacuations ahead of a Ukrainian counterattack.

Authorities are telling Ukrainians living in Russian-occupied territories to evacuate ahead of Kyiv's expected counteroffensive. But the majority of citizens are refusing to leave their homes, so the Russian occupation authorities are forcing them to sign papers relieving Moscow of any liability or responsibility for them.

This past week, civilians in occupied regions told The New York Times that Russian leaders abruptly ordered them to evacuate. The numbers of potential evacuees varies depending on the size of towns. About 70,000 people in the southern Zaporizhzhia region were told to leave last Friday, Russian news agency TASS said.

But only a small number of people are actually following the orders, Ukrainian citizens told the Times. Most of the evacuated citizens already have a Russian passport and citizenship, a Ukrainian official said. Insider previously reported that Russian authorities were forcing Ukrainians in occupied areas to either get a Russian passport or be "deported" and have their property seized.

One resident of the occupied town of Polohy said that after the evacuation buses had left, Russian authorities forced remaining citizens to sign papers acknowledging that they are staying of their own volition and were informed of the risks and dangerous of remaining in town.

The papers apparently put the responsibility of remaining in the occupied towns ahead of heavy shelling and Ukrainian counterattacks on the citizens themselves, the Times reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Clarence Thomas

After the recent news regarding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his friendship with a GOP megadonor, the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to act.

Yesterday (May 7), Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin spoke with CNN about the panels scrutinization of ethics concerns surrounding Thomas. On the outlets State of the Union, the Illinois Democrat said, The bottom line is this: Everything is on the table. Day after day, week after week, more and more disclosures about Justice Thomas  we cannot ignore them. The thing were going to do first, obviously, is to gather the evidence, the information that we need to draw our conclusions. Im not ruling out anything.

During the latest update, ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom, uncovered Thomas and Harlan Crows friendship extended beyond luxury trips. The platform discovered documents that alleged Crow paid for the judges grand-nephews education. Thomas became the legal guardian of Mark Martin, his nephew, when he was six.

In 2008, as a teenager, Martin was enrolled in a private academy whose tuition was over $6,000 a month. The newsroom retrieved a bank statement that disclosed in July 2009, Crows company paid for Martins tuition. The outlet chatted with Christopher Grimwood, a former administrator at the academy, who shared information from supposed conversations with Crow. He said the Dallas, Texas businessman paid Martins entire education at that private school and Randolph-Macon Academy.

Last month, Thomas opened up about his friendship with Crow after the public questioned his conduct. The 74-year-old judge claimed trips together with their wives were vacations among friends. He revealed others advised him the luxury experiences didnt require disclosing.

However, Durbin told CNN the recent allegations just embarrasses me. He called on Chief Justice John Roberts to impose a code of conduct on the court. This is the Roberts court, and history is going to judge him by the decision he makes on this. He has the power to make the difference, Durbin said.

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SONORA, NOGALES  Early Wednesday morning, a line of people filled the outdoor patio in a secured, gated migrant shelter just a few steps from a port of entry in Nogales, Arizona. Although each person came from different places and their stories varied, one thing many of them had in common was living in fear, and hoping for a chance at a safer life in the United States.

I was scared

Brayan Martinez, 24, said he arrived at the Kino Border Initiative after being forced to join an armed group in Colombia. He waits until he can cross into the U.S. and seek asylum.

Brayan Martinez, 24, from Colombia escaped after being forcibly recruited by armed groups in Bogota.

I was scared, so I came here. They threatened me. They killed two of my uncles, he said. They violated him, he said he was terrified they would kill him. One day he found an opportunity and escaped.

Martinez is not alone. According to a report by the Kino Border Initiative, in 2022, 75% of people who came to Kino, a nonprofit in Nogales Mexico reported migrating due to violence.

Escaping from a violent partner involved in the drug trade

Elias Monsivais, 67, a pastor in Nogales, Mexico who has turned a room in his church as a safe haven for migrants in need of housing as they figure out their next steps. With the shelters at capacity, Monsivais and other pastors have stepped in to try to help the migrants arriving daily at the border.

Evangelical pastor Elias Monsivais, 67, who has been housing and feeding Venezuelans coming to Nogales for a couple weeks brought one of them to the Kino Border Initiative to see if they could help her.

At 26 years old, the woman escaped an abusive ex-boyfriend connected with the drug trade, who stalked her, locked her in a room for five days, and eventually ran her out of town, and Colombia.

She was warned he was coming to Mexico to find her.

Im so scared, she said, adding that he has the resources to find her.

In their report, Kino reported that violence against women and girls is a "key driver" for the migration of people north from Mexico and Central America.

The shelters helping people who are expelled under Title 42

The shelters in Mexico serving people like Martinez and the young woman from Venezuela often depend on donations.

While the nonprofit migrant shelters in Arizona can access federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mexican shelters must rely on the kindness of individual donors.

Story continues

On Friday, FEMA announced its awarding of $332 million to U.S. organizations providing food, shelter and services to migrants entering through the Southwest border and are waiting their immigration court proceedings. Pima County received $26 million to distribute to local organizations.

However, funds like these have not been available to shelters in Mexico taking in many of the migrants expelled under Title 42, a public health emergency law that allows immigration officials to expel migrants. The law is expected to be lifted on Thursday.

This law has barred many people legally seeking asylum. Under this law, between April 2020 and March 2022, 1.8 million people were expelled.

Many people who cross the border into the U.S. are fleeing because of poverty, gang and political violence and climate change, and are being expelled to border communities in Mexico like Nogales, Sasabe, San Luis Rio Colorado and others.

During Title 42, the communities in Mexico really suffered a lot at the expense of U.S. policy. People who are applying for asylum or a visa are now either staying in Mexico or worse, being expulsed to Mexico from the U.S., said Gail Emrick, the executive director of the Southeast Arizona Health Education Center.

She reiterated that in Mexico, their resources are much more limited.

In Mexico the "poverty is much greater, and they are already a resource-strapped country, so the burden is very unfair," she said.

Emrick highlighted the need for a long-term strategy and federal funding at the border.

Shelters dependent on individual donors rather than federal grants from the U.S. or Mexico

Volunteers at the Kino Border Initiative shelter preparing food for the incoming migrants.

Shelters in Sonora, a region in Mexico along the border with Arizona, are helping provide shelter, food, medical attention and services to migrants at the border. They're primarily dependent on individual donors.

While the Kino Border Initiative can meet the need, according to the organization, the organization lacks access to federal funds.

As Congress has seen rising numbers of newly arriving asylum seekers in U.S. shelters, Arizona senators and representatives have rightly ensured increased federal funding for the U.S shelters to do the work of reception," Joanna Williams, the executive director of the Kino Border Initiative, said. If we (Kino Border Initiative) are serving more people, we just have to hope that donors will notice  and give more funds to expand services.

The Kino Border Initiative can house up to 85 people who are allowed to stay up to 10 days, and provides services to hundreds of people a day. They serve food, and connect people with services, from social work, to medical assistance, legal assistance and therapy services. Many come to use the shelter's Wi-Fi to apply on the CBP One application for appointments to enter the U.S. and plead their asylum cases.

With the end of Title 42 expected to occur on May 11, the Kino Border Initiative and other organizations are expecting more people to arrive at the border.

Salvavision, led by Dora Rodriguez, is another Tucson-based nonprofit organization with a center in Mexico that provides services and aid to migrants. The organization was founded in 2018, but created its resource center in Sasabe, Sonora in 2020 to provide aid to people deported under Title 42, who had no access to services.

Our organizations are small, she said of the shelters throughout Sonora providing services to migrants and people who have been expelled from the U.S. to Mexico.

My organization has never been offered a grant to help sustain these services, she added.

Rodriguez reiterated how the U.S. is sending thousands of people to the border communities that dont have many resources.

This leaves people like Martinez who cannot return home, with little options. He said he had been trying to get an appointment on the CBP One application, the only portal for people seeking asylum, but it kept glitching and just showed him error message after error message.

He said he hopes someone can help him.

I dont want to return. Im scared of going back, Martinez said.

Some local churches have also turned into shelters

From l-r., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and his wife Cheryl Flake, arrive with other dignitaries and invited guests to attend a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

And with the need increasing as people continue to be expelled under Title 42, even churches are helping house and feed people as shelters fill up.

Monsivais who runs an evangelical church in Nogales said he was asked to take in a group of Venezuelan migrants. He provided them with food and beds, requesting funds from his congregation.

"The churches are crowded," he said.

More recently, Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 expelled migrants a month from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.

What are you offering to improve the conditions of those people who you are sending to Mexico? Rodriguez said about the new policy.

Rodriguez said with the numerous expulsions to the border, communities have seen a lot of human rights abuses, and the vulnerable migrants at risk of being kidnapped by criminal organizations in Mexico who are profiting from Title 42.

Martinez has been threatened by people at gunpoint in Nogales as he makes his daily walk from the shelter where he is staying to the Kino Border Initiative.

Expedited removal concerns humanitarian aid providers

Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls speaks to the press about the upcoming end of Title 42 during a news conference at the state Capitol on May 8, 2023, in Phoenix.

And while supporters applaud the end of Title 42, some worry about the U.S. governments announcement that they plan to increase expedited removals, a process that quickly deports migrants at the border.

Williams said that under expedited removal Border Patrol could either ignore their asylum claim or refer them to a fear interview and deny their case, leading to less options of legal relief in the U.S.

This is especially troubling because under new administrative regulations the Biden Administration will make it much easier to deny their asylum claims at the fear interview stage, she said.

'They have hopes and dreams, and lives just like us'

As a mother of a young child, Williams deeply identifies with the mothers the Kino Border Initiative helps every day. She sees families and individuals fleeing violence arriving at her shelter with significant trauma after witnessing violence, murders, and having been kidnapped.

Often, migrants cannot return home for fear of death.

I would invite people throughout Arizona not to feel overwhelmed by the realities at the border, but to understand that the moms, dads and kids at the border are full human beings. They have hopes and dreams, and lives just like us," she said.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Title 42 fades away, making it hard for migrants to enter US
They just want to be regular parents who worry about school supplies, their childrens daily schedule and what to make for dinner.

But lately, with the growing anti-transgender fervor around the country, parents of transgender youth in South Carolina said they were rallying their communities to do whatever it takes to protect their children.

There are an estimated 3,700 transgender youth between the age of 13 and 17 in South Carolina, according to new estimates from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

Yet, looming Statehouse bills that might potentially strip them of critical healthcare have parents making contingency plans. Some parents have scouted out-of-state medical providers for gender-affirming care. Some have made an inventory of their finances. And if it came to it, they may have to consider packing up and leaving.

"We don't want to leave," one mother, 42, from Greenville County said. "But if my children are taken away from me" she said trailing off.

"There might come a point when none of us have a choice," Will, a 51-year-old father from Spartanburg County joined in.

Where does South Carolina stand with anti-transgender legislation?

This year, state lawmakers filed 18 bills targeting drag shows, healthcare, birth certificates, adoption rights and inclusive educational tools.

One bill that mirrors provisions from Floridas Dont Say Gay'' law, banning any instruction or expression of gender diversity in the classroom, is on track to become law in South Carolina.

Two Senate bills that would ban gender-affirming healthcare for anyone younger than 18 and prohibit transgender residents from being able to change the gender on their birth certificates are currently in committee.

The legislature will adjourn for the year on May 11, 2023, which indicates that the chances of prohibiting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth in South Carolina are low this year.

But parents of transgender teens see a tidal wave on the horizon. They fear lawmakers will use the next session to pass anti-transgender laws, so they are preparing for what may come next.

Story continues

The Greenville News spoke to 10 parents of children who are part of the LGBTQ community in the Upstate.

They live in ruby-red Republican districts and are represented by lawmakers leading the charge to ban gender-affirming care for teens and prohibit transgender residents from being able to change their gender on birth certificates.

While sharing their perspective, some said they wanted to remain anonymous and some elected to use just their first names. All of them want the public to have a better understanding of how actions in Columbia directly impact their families and daily lives.

Becoming Amberlyn: How one transgender woman's fight collided with SC's anti-trans fervor

Susan Ward sits in the bedroom of her son, Matt, at her home on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Ward placed a pride flag in the window to support her son, Matt.

SC legislation adds to growing culture of fear, instability

Susan Ward, president of Greenville's PFLAG chapter, a support group for LGBTQ residents and their families, sits in a room filled with Super Mario memorabilia. Rubik's cubes, art and a quilt with a patchwork of T-shirts adorn the room and serve as a tribute to her youngest son, Rader.

In Greenville County, Ward has testified several times to counter anti-transgender rhetoric during the county library board's meetings about banning books with LGBTQ-friendly content.

"That kind of speech puts my son at risk along with every member of the LGBTQ+ community," she told the Greenville News.

Ward stood at a unique intersection of mental health and LGBTQ issues. She is the mother of a 23-year-old transgender youth, Matthew, who lives in Beaufort. She communicates the importance of an affirming household to protect LGBTQ children, who are at a higher risk of considering suicide.

Susan Ward holds a poem written by her son, Matt, in honor of her late son, Rader, at her home on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

More than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., according to data collected by The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization geared toward supporting LGBTQ youth and adults. The data also showed at least one LGBTQ youth attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

The grief of losing a child is a parent's greatest nightmare and Ward has lived it. Her youngest son Rader died by suicide at 16 after suffering mental health issues, and the Mauldin-based mother has made it her life's mission to protect other families from the pain of losing a loved one.

"As a mother, you're willing to do almost anything," Ward said.

So on the first Wednesday of every month, Ward leads a PFLAG meeting, where families share words of encouragement and comfort in the face of anxieties borne from estranged relationships with relatives, anti-transgender legislation on the county and state level, and their journey of unlearning values they long held.

"It's like a Venn diagram and we're all meeting in the center," Jessicka, an Anderson County mother of a 15-year-old transgender teen said. A mental health practitioner, Jessicka is in the midst of collaborating with other parents to establish an Anderson-based PFLAG chapter.

Lately, discussions surrounding the passage of similar anti-transgender bills in states such as Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky take a better part of their time. One provision in Florida could allow social services to scoop children out of homes if parents helped their children access gender-affirming care. Would South Carolina be next? They wondered. On the local level, cities in the state have been consistently charting dismal scores on Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index which showcases whether local authorities are doing enough to support LGBTQ residents. The index covers six cities in South Carolina.

In 2022, Greenville (52), Clemson (33), North Charleston (40), Rock Hill (13), Mount Pleasant (46) and Myrtle Beach (59) scored less than the national average of 68 out of 100. Only two cities Columbia and Charleston, scored over the average.

"I am here breaking curses of generational love and acceptance for my kids. I don't really care what (lawmakers) think about it. I did not have a child with South Carolina politicians," Jessicka said. "I refuse to be held accountable to anyone that fans the flames of hatred."

Still, she battled fears every day.

Jessicka's daughter has always worn some kind of shoe or clothing that had pride flags on it. "It has never really bothered (her daughter)," Jessicka said. "But I found myself wanting to put her in a bubble and protect her from the world because I know there are people out there that say not so nice things."

People leave a hearing of testimony on two bills that would ban a transgender child's access to gender-affirming healthcare and restrict transgender residents from being able to change their gender markers on their birth certificate in Gressette Building at the S.C. State House on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

SC parents say 'We'll do whatever it takes'

One Greenville parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had started looking up LGTBQ-friendly states in the U.S., as well as parts of Canada. As a lifelong Upstate resident, the thought of moving bothered him.

"I earn a good salary and do my best to contribute to my community but I feel like I'm being forced to move," he said. The 40-year-old parent and his wife are involved in the community as foster parents and often contribute to activities at their church.

Another family from Anderson County had started considering Michigan as a probable option. Nothing was set in stone but the family had started planning how they would get there. Would they buy tickets to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and make a long road trip?

Their teen daughter was privy to the plans but she wished they never came to fruition. Everyone she loved lived in South Carolina, and "it's good that the doctor is only 45 minutes away now," the teen continued.

"A lot of people don't have that, though," she said.

Joseph laterza, director of the queer wellness center, testifies in opposition to two bills that would ban a transgender child's access to gender-affirming healthcare and restrict transgender residents from being able to change their gender markers on their birth certificate in Gressette Building at the S.C. State House on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Gender-affirming healthcare is a combination of therapy, counseling, access to puberty blockers, hormones and surgical procedures. Doctors and medical professionals told lawmakers on March 23, 2023, and March 29, 2023, that surgical procedures were only performed on residents over the age of 18.

Without proper health insurance, accessing medicine such as puberty blockers can often wrack up bills upward of thousands of dollars.

The bills advanced out of subcommittee on March 29, 2023, amid loud protests.

If SC lawmakers advance anti-transgender bills next year, families of transgender teens were prepared to do whatever it took to keep their child's gender-affirming care.

"I've been self-employed most of my life. But the work I do I can do pretty much anywhere and we are certainly not wealthy but we're not struggling," the Anderson-based parent said. "The first thing we do is hope we have enough medicine to get through several months, where we could see what plays out from the courts before we have to make any rash decisions."

House Rep. Rosalyn Henderson Myers, D-Spartanburg said it concerned her that parents were being driven to consider leaving the state.

"South Carolina has always been a welcoming state, and so if the current legislature has any intentions to attack transgender people, I am totally against those attacks," Henderson Myers said. "I feel like God created everyone equally, we should all love and be tolerant of each other, and so I would hope that those persons would not leave the state and just give us an opportunity to let cooler minds prevail."

A 'crisis': 1 in 4 Black transgender, nonbinary youths attempted suicide in previous year, study finds

SC Rep. Rosalyn Henderson Myers said she was against attacks against the transgender community and hoped the current legislature would rethink their stance on banning gender-affirming care.

The decision to access gender-affirming healthcare

Lawmakers in the Statehouse have maintained that the proposal to ban gender-affirming healthcare was rooted in the intention to protect children who did not know any better. That if one had to wait till they were 18 to vote and get a driver's license and wait till they were 21 to drink alcohol, why couldn't they wait before making life-changing decisions about their gender identity?

But parents interviewed by the News resisted that notion.

Every parent's journey of establishing an affirming household is unique, they said. Almost every child knew who they were from the beginning. It's the parents that need to catch up.

From left, Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, Sen. Richard Cash, R-Anderson, research assistant Gene Hogan, and Sen. Shane Martin, R-Spartanburg, listen to testimony on two bills that would ban a transgender child's access to gender-affirming healthcare and restrict transgender residents from being able to change their gender markers on their birth certificate in Gressette Building at the S.C. Statehouse on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

"I think there's a narrative in the right-wing media that parents are making their kids to be transgender," one 42-year-old Greenville mother said. "Parents don't just sign their kids up for hormones or something. We brought (her daughter) to counseling, we were very thoughtful, we didn't jump into anything, and we were very worried," she said.

The 42-year-old mother and her husband learned their daughter had started identifying as transgender in school from another parent. The father was shocked. "How could school kids know something about my child that I don't know?" he recalled thinking.

He grew up Christian, he said. Both his wife and him went to Liberty University, a private evangelical school based in Virginia. They donated to pro-life, anti-abortion charities and the news that their child had come out as transgender gave them a mental whiplash. Because according to my religion, my child was an abomination, and lived in sin," the Greenville father said.

Though there weren't many signs at first, they noticed that their daughter's grades dropped and appeared to be more withdrawn. One text exchange between their child and her friend said, if your parents dont accept you, you can come stay with me. This broke the couple.

The father, a security engineer by trade, said he needed time to process the news in front of them. "Thinking back during the pandemic, I told my wife I need to quit my job. I needed that space," he said. "And a lot of that was probably because of a religious background and it made it hard because I wasn't so sure that I could follow both God and support my child simultaneously."

The couple started researching and consulting a doctor they met at an LGBTQ-friendly event in Greenville called "pridefest" in the parking lot of a church. To establish an affirming household, they left their church to look for LGBTQ-affirming churches. It was something they did when they adopted a Black child and sensed that they needed to find a church to support an interracial family.

When they finally sat down with their daughter, they just wanted their child to know that she could rely on them. We know you are trans but we just want you to know we love you," they said.Their daughter didnt want to talk much then and insisted on going to bed. But the couple could see a change.

"Her hugs grew tighter and her smiles grew wider, and where there were no goodnight hugs, it became a nightly ritual ever since," the father said.

SC parents: Their transgender teens not 'indoctrinated'

One couple from Anderson County said their efforts began in 2020 when they were filing forms to foster children and their daughter asked what the term "non-binary" meant.

When the couple explained that the term was often used by people who felt that they did not neatly fit into boxes labeled "man" or "woman", their daughter said, "oh, that's what I am."

Later in 2020, while homeschooling their daughter, the family learned about Rebekah Bruesehoff, a transgender teen who shot to prominence in 2017 after she spoke against guidelines put forth by the Trump administration that disallowed transgender students from using bathrooms labeled for genders they identified with.

Rebekah Bruesehoff, 13, is a transgender girl from Camden County, N.J.

"You know we have a very conservative homeschool group curriculum with classical conversations," the Anderson parent said. "Very conservative with a fairly narrow Christian biblical worldview."

When her daughter pointed out how she struggled to identify with the gender she was born in, she said she was finally forced to listen.

"Beyond the shadow of a doubt, (our daughter) is completely natural. It is how she is made. There was nobody who indoctrinated her," the teenager's father said. "It is frustrating. She is a happy, helpful, kind person, and she's being prejudiced against."

The parents have their own share of uncertainties. Some families grew increasingly estranged from relatives. Grandparents of transgender teens struggled to accept changes in pronouns, and the loss of understanding with their own parents made them question if they were on the right path.

They too had heard stories of transgender adults who had chosen to detransition. But the majority of their research showed that detransitioning was a rarity.

Experts associated with medical associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics support the findings of a 2021 review of 27 studies, which found that only 1% of nearly 8,000 transgender patients regretted their transition.

Meanwhile, a Jan. 2023 study, touted to be the largest of its kind, found that transgender and non-binary youth using hormones and puberty blockers showed lowered signs of depression and anxiety.

Sen. Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville, listens to testimony on two bills that would ban a transgender child's access to gender-affirming healthcare and restrict transgender residents from being able to change their gender markers on their birth certificate in Gressette Building at the S.C. State House on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

During the discussion of the bill that would ban gender-affirming care in the state, lawmakers such as Sen. Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville, appeared to favor testimony by out-of-state speakers who had chosen to detransition.

"These stories are often used as a weapon against us," a mother from Anderson said.

But she pondered enough about it to know that the only path forward was compassion.

"Maybe someone got top surgery and they regretted it," she said. "But that's got to be okay and there's got to be space in our society for that to be okay."

Devyani Chhetri covers South Carolina politics for the Greenville News. Reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC parents of transgender youth anxious about what lies ahead
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.
DUCK LAKE, SK, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - On May 9, 2023 during a formal count, staff members at Willow Cree Healing Lodge, a minimum-security federal institution, discovered that Dane Woodward was not accounted for.

Dane Woodward (CNW Group/Correctional Services of Canada Prairie Region)

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) immediately contacted the Rosthern Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a warrant for the inmate's arrest has been issued.

Dane Woodward is 30 years old, measures 178 cm (5'10") in height and weighs 86 kg (190 lbs). The inmate has a medium complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

The inmate is currently serving a sentence of 2 years, 5 months for robbery  all others, operation while prohibited, flight from peace officer (x2), identity fraud with intention to gain advantage, and fail to comply with probation order.

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Dane Woodward is asked to contact the police.

CSC will investigate the circumstances of this incident and is working with the police to locate the offender as quickly as possible.

CSC has given the police all of the information available to help arrest the inmate.

Follow the Correctional Service of Canada on Twitter ( @CSC_SCC_en ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/CorrectionalServices ).

For more information, please visit the website www.csc-scc.gc.ca .

SOURCE Correctional Services of Canada Prairie Region

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/09/c1095.html
Education Reporter

Vanessa Ontiveros is the education reporter at the Yakima Herald-Republic. She grew up near Los Angeles but has happily made Yakima her new home. She is passionate about reporting stories that serve the community and highlight various aspects of the educational system.She also hosts a podcast that discusses local arts education, Yakima Arts Talk, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The daughter of two longtime public school teachers, she is always looking to include community voices in her work.
Authorities in Alaska are searching for two overdue climbers in Denali National Park and Preserve, whose last known tracks disappeared at the site of an avalanche
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.

Other Views: Lawmakers dont want us to know where DeSantis goes, or even  can you believe?  where hes been
Ken Research

The report covers Global Cold Chain Market, Cold Chain Market Globally, Refrigerated Transport Industry, Refrigerated Warehousing Market, Global Cold Chain Industry Demand, Number of Cold Storages Globally, Number of Cold Storage players, Types of Cold Warehouses, Challenges Global Cold Chain Market, Opportunities Cold Storage Market, Leading Cold Chain Companies, Emerging Companies Cold Chain Market, Agro Merchants Cold Chain Revenue, Lineage Cold Storage Revenue, Nichirei Cold Chain Revenue, Kloosterboer Cold Chain Revenue, VersaCold Cold Chain Revenue, Tippmann Cold Chain Revenue, Mon Logistics Cold Chain Revenue, Piti Cold Storage Revenue, Chomthana Cold Chain Revenue.

Gurugram, India, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Cold Chain Market are highly competitive with ~500 players which include globally diversified players, regional players as well as a large number of country-niche players each with their niche in Cold Chain. Large global players constitute ~20% of competitors, while regional players represent the second largest number of competitors. Some of the major players in the market include Agro Merchants Group LLC, Americold Logistics, Lineage Logistics LLC, Nichirei Corporation, and others.

1. Growing opportunities for Cold storage Providers in the Foreseeable Future

In the projected period, this market will be driven by the rising usage of RFID technology. This technology is being used more often in many developing countries, which has created significant improvements. Due to the usage of this technology, which has aided in tracking the whereabouts of various parcels, the supply chain for many categories of perishable goods and has helped in improving the operational efficiency but also ensure the quality and safety of the temperature sensitive products.

2. Currently USA holds the largest share in the global Cold Chain Market , 2022

In the North American market, variables including seasonality, time-temperature variance, and year-round road accessibility are increasing the need for food cold chains. A cold supply chain with improved technology is also gaining traction as customers switch from highly processed, unhealthy meals with extended shelf life to temperature-sensitive, perishable food goods. In addition, the US imports more fruit and vegetables than it exports. According to the USDA, the US imported 15.06 billion USD worth of fresh and frozen fruit in 2018, an increase of 8%.

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3. It is anticipated for the foreseeable future, the Asia-Pacific region would dominate the cold chain market

North America was the largest region in the cold chain market, accounting for 30% of the total in 2021. It was followed by Asia Pacific, and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the cold chain market will be Asia Pacific, and, Middle East where growth projected will be at CAGRs of ~15% and ~14% respectively. These will be followed by South Africa, and, South America where the markets are expected to grow at a positive CAGR rates. Furthermore, the outlook for the Global Cold Chain market remains positive, with expectations for continued growth in line with the Global expanding economy and development of various industries.

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Market Taxonomy

By Type

Cold Chain Transport

Cold Chain Storage

Visit this Link :- Request for custom report

By Application

Fruits and Vegetables

Meat and Seafood

Dairy and Frozen Dessert

Bakery and Confectionery

Ready-to-Eat Meal

Other Applications

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

LAMEA

Total

For more insights on the market intelligence, refer to below link:-

Global Cold Chain Market

Related Reports By Ken Research:-



Singapore Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2026F- Driven By Rising Meat and Seafood Consumption Coupled With Demand for Temperature Sensitive Health Care Products

According to Ken Research estimates, the Singapore Cold Chain Market  which grew from approximately SGD ~10.0 Bn in 2016 to approximately SGD ~14.0 Bn in 2021  is forecasted to grow further into SGD ~19.0 Bn opportunity by 2026F, owing to the rising household expenditure on food products and investments in the health care sector.

Singapores Cold Chain Market has grown at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2016-2021 driven primarily by demands from the advanced and significant food service and healthcare industry. Singapore Cold Storage Market has grown at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2016-2021 driven primarily by the high investment made in the form of new infrastructure, and increasing pallet capacities. Singapores Cold Transport Market has grown at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2016-2021 driven by the increasing requirement for vaccine transportation and rising demand for processed foods in Singapore



Thailand Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2026F- Driven by Rising Import-Export Trade Volume and Domestic Consumption of Meat, Seafood and Popularity of Ready to Eat Frozen Processed Food

According to Ken Research estimates, the Thailand Cold Chain Market is forecasted to grow more than THB 20 Bn by 2026F, owing to the growing demand of processed ready-to-eat food, rising export volumes, expanding storage capacity and new and advanced technologies. The Thailand Cold Chain Industry comprises of Cold Storage and Cold Transport with presence of major companies such as JWD logistics, Thaimax, Yokorei and Interexpress Logistics operating in the market.

Brazil Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2027- Driven by increasing exports and imports and consolidation of the market by large players

The evolution of Cold Chain is being driven by the appearance of new companies with a vision of opportunity in the business and aim to capture market share. The Cold Chain market in Brazil is emerging with key projects due to high exports of fruits and vegetables. Brazil Cold Chain Market is currently at the growth stage and the market is currently increasing at a double digit CAGR owing to rising growth in export of meat products and import of pharmaceuticals.

Portugal Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2026F: Driven by Rising Packaged Foods Consumption Owing to Growing Millennial Population

Due to the countrys big coastline, and high seafood consumption and meat consumption, it is expected that the cold chain market will grow in the forecast period in Portugal, and therefore the meat and seafood segment is expected to have a significant share in warehousing markets revenue. Intelligent transport systems will make it possible to improve the safety and quality of the network, optimize traffic and relieve congestion in cities, and because of C-Roads, growth is expected in the cold chain market of Portugal. Also with the growing demand for temperature-controlled products and the entry of several new players are anticipated to propel the cold chain market.

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Ce se intampla cu creierul cand copilul se loveste la cap

Cand un copil se loveste la cap, evident cei din jur se ingrijoreaza. Si chiar au motive. Important este ca parintii sa nu intre in panica si daca apar unele semne sa sune la 112. Atentie! Faptul ca cel mic nu plange este semn ca ceva nu este in regula. Un video al Tiny Hearts [citeste mai departe]
By Ross Kerber

(Reuters) - Vanguard Group, the largest provider of mutual funds, has secured regulatory approval to continue to own big stakes in U.S. power utilities, overcoming Republican concerns over its environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies.

Various Republican politicians and officials had questioned the company's application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including a group of 13 state attorneys general who sought a hearing on whether granting Vanguard's request to renew its right to own more than 10% of voting securities of publicly listed power utilities would be in the public interest.

Regulators had previously allowed Vanguard to exceed that antitrust limit on the basis that this would not interfere with the utilities' operations.

In a notice posted on its website on Monday, FERC said Vanguard's request for a three-year extension of "a blanket authorization" to acquire securities of U.S. utilities had been granted. The notice did not refer to the Republican concerns.

While the extension simply preserves the status quo, it was an important test for the ability of the investment giant, which oversees some $7.6 trillion in assets, to limit the fallout of a growing backlash against ESG. The backlash has been fueled by Republican politicians arguing against the private sector taking a strong stance on issues such climate change and diversity.

An adverse decision could have forced Vanguard to sell down stakes in companies such DTE Energy Co and Eversource Energy, of which it owns 11.9% and 12.95%, respectively.

In a filing with FERC in November, the Republican attorney generals had cited Vanguard's "environmental activism" and suggested it could lead to the shutdown of fossil-fueled power plants in their states.

Vanguard countered that its funds do not exert control over the decisions of the utilities. It also quit in December one of the climate change alliances in the crosshairs of Republicans, the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative.

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Vanguard reiterated in a statement on Monday that it leaves "management decisions to companies and policy decisions to policymakers."

A representative for Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, one of the leaders of the group challenging the FERC extension, said he would comment in coming days. Representatives for FERC did not provide further comment.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber in Iowa City; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Marguerita Choy)
New European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to be inaugurated in Bucharest New European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to be inaugurated in Bucharest. The new European Cybersecurity Competence Centre will be inaugurated in Bucharest, on Tuesday, in the campus of the Polytechnic University, with the participation of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and some senior European officials, according to a press release of the European Commission Representation in Romania, told Agerpres. CITESTE SI MAY 9 IN HISTORY 08:30 0 PM Ciuca meets Italian minister of enterprises; decarbonization, digitalization of European economy - on agenda of discussions 08/05/2023 12 New prosecutor Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro

Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro CITESTE SI MAY 9 IN HISTORY 08:30 0 PM Ciuca meetsminister of enterprises; decarbonization, digitalization of European economy - on agenda of discussions 08/05/2023 12 New prosecutor

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- UDMR's Turos Lorand: Today coalition leaders agreed to move forward, according to the protocol.The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) is not considering leaving the government and there is no pressure to do so, the leader of the Union's senators, Turos Lorand, told AGERPRES on Tuesday.

- Minister Burduja - inauguration of European Cybersecurity Competence Centre: A historic day for Romania.Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitisation Sebastian Burduja underscored on Tuesday the importance of launching the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Bucharest, in the campus

- The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as follows:CURRENCY SYMBOL RON CITESTE SI Polytechnic University of Bucharest to host SpaceFEST 14:28 0 PM Ciuca: Hosting the European

- European Commissioner for Transport Valean to visit Moldova, Romania, May 9-11.European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean will be on an official visit to Moldova and Romania, May 9-11, the Representation of the European Commission in Romania reports, told Agerpres. CITESTE SI New European

- Prime Minister Ciuca: Moldavia, on threshold of new historic stage of development.National Liberal Party (PNL) Chairman, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, met on Tuesday with Liberals from Iasi County, with whom he discussed development projects in the region and the role of PNL in local and central

- Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday, in Bucharest, after the meeting with president Klaus Iohannis that Romania and Poland are the pillars of the North Atlantic Treaty in this part of Europe, and showed that its strengthening by reinforcing military cooperation is desired."Poland

- The Parliament decided, on Tuesday, in a plenary sitting the appointment of Toni Grebla as the president of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) for a 8-year mandate.Toni Grebla, who is currently the Bucharest prefect, was proposed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) for this position, told Agerpres.

- Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca sent a message of support to the Greek people and the authorities in Athens, following Tuesday night's tragic train accident in Greece in which at least 26 people died, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook
kupicoo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Fresh air, abundant sunshine and leisurely days  its easy to get caught up in all the wonderful things owning a vacation home can offer. But before you rush to sign on the dotted line, dont forget about the investment side of things.

See: 5 Affordable Up-and-Coming US Locations To Buy Vacation Property in 2023

Find Out: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Investing isnt only about money, its also about your time and the possible sweat equity you might have to put into the property. To help you understand what youre getting yourself into, here are five things to know before investing in a vacation home straight from the experts.

Costs Involved

You should consider how you are going to purchase the home among other things, said Maureen McDermut, a realtor with Sothebys International in Montecito, California. Do you need to take out a mortgage? she said. What about the property taxes? Is the home in an area where you could sell easily and still make money if things change? Youll also need to purchase homeowners insurance for the property.

If youre taking out a mortgage, also consider the amount of the down payment youll need. The minimum down payment for a conventional loan is 3%. Another expense to consider is whether there are any HOA fees. HOA fees can run from around $100 to over $600 per month.

Find Out: These Are the 10 Most Overpriced Housing Markets in the US  5 Are in Florida

Use of the Property

You should decide what the prime objective is for the property you want to buy, such as for rental income or personal use, said Paul Brazell Acosta, director of realtors at Cloud Nine Spain.

Problems can arise if buyers are looking to purchase a holiday home which they intend to use for part of the year themselves, but with which they also want to earn a decent rental income, he said. In this highly common scenario, there is often a conflict between head and heart as the criteria for investment and personal enjoyment both need to be met.

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Acosta said a degree of compromise needs to be factored in if youre buying a property for both rental income and personal use.

For instance, buyers may like the idea of owning a holiday home in the hills, surrounded by nature but is this the sort of place that would appeal to holidaymakers looking for a family holiday in the sun? Acosta queried. A balance that satisfies both financial and emotional needs is often hard to find, but an experienced agent with plenty of local knowledge should be able to guide and assist in cases like this.

Opportunity Cost

Many who purchase a vacation home end up having that be their main vacation every year, McDermut said. Whether you go for a couple of weeks in the summer or even spend an entire season there, many people still want to travel elsewhere. Will you be able to do all the things you want to do if you purchase a second house?

Upkeep Responsibilities

Rinal Patel, realtor and owner of We Buy Philly Home, said that you should consider whether you will handle the maintenance of the vacation home or if you will hire someone. And most of all, she said, be certain that you are ready and financially able to bear the cost because the maintenance of an additional property (second home) with appliances, amenities and furnishings will be expensive, and might not be worth all the trouble if you wont even be needing the property so often.

According to State Farm, the rule of thumb is to set aside 1%-4% of the homes value for annual maintenance costs.

Importance of Location

Location is key, Acosta said. The closer to the beach and amenities [] the better, as it will tick more boxes for more people. Easy access to the airport, and to public transport, will also give you an advantage over more isolated properties.

Even if youre not planning to rent your vacation home, youll still want to think about location. There may come a time when youll want to sell, and the things Acosta mentioned will make the home more attractive to potential buyers.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Experts: 5 Things To Know Before Investing in a Vacation Home
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- Romania's industrial production, down three months into 2023.Romania's industrial production decreased in the first three months of 2023 by 3.8% when unadjusted and by 4.6 % when adjusted for working days and seasonality, y-o-y, according to the data published on Friday by the National Institute

- EXECUTIVE:- The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Han Duck-Soo, is paying a visit to Romania; he will be welcomed by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca at the Victoria Palace; the Korean high-ranked official will also participate in the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between

- Aquila reports a 122pct increase in profit for the first quarter of 2023.Aquila, a company specialized in integrated distribution and logistics services for the consumer goods market of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, recorded a 122pct increase in profits in the first quarter of 2023 compared

- Environment Minister launches new session of 'Photovoltaic Green House' programme.Minister of the Environment, Water and Forests Barna Tanczos will hold a press conference on Tuesday on the occasion of the launch of the "Photovoltaic Green House" programme, the ministry announced, told Agerpres.

- On Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis sent the Law for the approval of the Government's Emergency Ordinance no. 186/2022, which introduced the solidarity contribution.The head of state considers that the Law for the approval of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 186/2022 regarding some measures

- President Klaus Iohannis promulgated on Friday the law approving the signing of the Support Agreement between the Romanian state and the National Company "Nuclearelectrica" - SA for the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Units 3 and 4 Project.According to the explanatory memorandum of the normative

- Today, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis will pay an official visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev to sign a joint statement on a strategic partnership between the two countries, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that the allied unity and solidarity are absolutely essential for Ukraine and they represented "the secret weapon" of the allied countries. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro 
VILLANOVA, Pa. (May 9, 2023)Rahul Thapa 21 CLAS is among 85 students from around the world to be selected as a prestigious Knight-Hennessy Scholar to further his education at Stanford University. Beginning in fall 2023, Thapa will receive full funding to pursue his PhD in Biomedical Informatics at Stanford School of Medicine, and he will join a community cohort of multidisciplinary and multicultural scholars who, in addition to their studies, will receive purposeful leadership development training and experiential learning aimed at empowering them to effect large-scale positive impact on the world.

The selection of Rahul Thapa as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar highlights the remarkable achievements of our alumni and their dedication to igniting positive change in the world, said Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, Villanova University Provost. There is no doubt that Rahulwho is devoted to making healthcare more effective and equitablewill use this life-changing opportunity to advance the greater good.

Thapa, originally from Nepal, graduated summa cum laude from Villanova in 2021 with a bachelors degree in computer science. He currently works as a clinical data scientist at Stanfords School of Medicine, where he develops experiments and applications with the goal of deploying Machine Learning (ML) models into clinical practice. He previously worked at both Forta Health and Dascena, creating ML algorithms for screening neurodevelopmental disorders and predicting sepsis.

As an undergraduate student at Villanova, Thapa began his research career in the Match Research Program for First Year Students. He served as a peer reviewer for Veritas: Villanova Research Journal, and in 2019, he was selected as a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) grantee at the University of California-Irvine. He conducted research with Villanovas Dependable, Efficient, and Intelligent Computing Lab (DETAIL), and he was also an interfaith leader with Campus Ministry, a CASA peer tutor, and a resident assistant. He was founder of Villanovas Google Developer Student Club and co-founder of Feastimate, a Villanova student startup focused on minimizing food waste on campus. He also received the Villanova ICE Incubator Award, and he has since generated several publications and presentations, two patents and FDA submissions. As a Stanford doctoral student and aspiring professor, Thapa hopes to develop ML methods for the advancement of equitable healthcare.

Thapa is Villanovas third Knight-Hennessy Scholar, joining Bridget Gile 19 COE and Andrew Lee 19 COE who both won the scholarship in 2019. Established in 2016, the program develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation. Every year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford. In addition to pursuing graduate studies, Knight-Hennessy Scholars participate in experiential learning through the King Global Leadership Program, which provides a collection of community experiences, workshops, meetings with leaders, global study trips and personal development opportunities.

The programs academic founder is John Hennessy 73 COE, a Villanova alumnus who is chairman of Alphabet Inc. and was president of Stanford from 2000 to 2016. His co-founder is Phil Knight, philanthropist and chairman emeritus of Nike Inc. For more information, visit the Knight-Hennessy Scholars website.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
Opposition Mi Hazank is drafting a bill on introducing the chemical castration of paedophiles, the deputy leader of the party said.

Recent cases that have come to light show that the punishment of such crimes is not harsh enough for deterrence, David Docs told a press conference.



Mi Hazank is drafting an amendment to the penal code on allowing the chemical castration of paedophiles as well as doubling the currently applicable 2-8 years prison term in the case of such crimes, he said.



The party would even support the option of handing a life term for the perpetrators of such crimes, Docs said.



The partys proposal is modelled on legislation in place in the United States and Poland, he said.
The Adom student organisation, teachers union PDSZ and other NGOs held a demonstration in Budapest near the prime ministers office on Sunday.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the event specifically organised for women protesting what they called the powers that be using tear gas and detention to punish children taking a stand against the dismantling of the public education system.



Katalin Torley of the Tanitanek Movement said demonstrators should remain visible at a time when violence is present in the operation of the state, and the behaviour and actions of the abusive power.



Referring to arrests and restraining measures applied at a demonstration on Wednesday, Torley said the government is forcing its outdated values on families  and besides ignoring our children and keeping them in poverty, they now also use tear gas and batons on them.



Demonstrators had no party symbols, except for a banner of the satirical Two-tailed Dog party in the background.
The government is maintaining retail utility price caps for the whole year, the energy minister has said.

Csaba Lantos said on Facebook that the country would certainly have sufficient gas for the next heating season.



He added that gas reserves were still high after a mild winter and secure supplies are supported by effective contracts.



On another subject, the minister said Hungary needed nuclear energy, an energy source with zero carbon dioxide emission, which could help Hungary meet its climate policy goals.



He said the primary factor behind Hungarys growth was solar energy, with a total solar plant capacity of over 4,500MW, which equals two-thirds of the countrys average consumption.



He also added that there will be, again, wind-powered generation, if not too much of it, because we need that alternative, too.



The minister added, however, that the domestic extraction of fossil fuels could be somewhat increased to contribute to Hungarys energy independence.
While the media mainly focused on the Pope's remarks in Hungary about ending the war in Ukraine and welcoming immigrants, there were other important aspects of his message.

In his three-day visit, he addressed various groups, including academics, scientists, children, refugees, and politicians. He warned about the dangers of pursuing technology without truth and shifting from communism to consumerism without proper consideration.



He urged young people to disconnect from smartphones and social media and embrace the reality of life. #ThePope also expressed his vision of a Europe that avoids polarization and populism while valuing the lives of its people.



Additionally, PopeFrancis strongly criticized what he called "ideological colonization," highlighting gender theory and the promotion of abortion as tragic defeats.



He reserved his most passionate appeals for young people, encouraging them to aim high, use their talents, and accomplish great things for the benefit of others. He emphasized the importance of family, honesty, generosity, and prayer in pursuing meaningful goals.



Throughout his visit, the Pope wanted to remind young people that they are not alone, and Jesus is always by their side. He encouraged prayer as a means of dialogue with Jesus, emphasized the significance of Mass as an encounter with Him, and highlighted the embrace received through the sacrament of Confession.



The Pope's messages in Hungary covered a wide range of topics, including those delivered in Hungarian, which he humorously remarked was a language spoken only in Heaven due to its difficulty.



More: RomeReports.com



MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak
WILMINGTON, Delaware, May 9 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter dispute, starting when the company criticized a Florida law last year, which has led to dueling lawsuits.

THE DISNEY LAWSUIT AGAINST DESANTIS

The entertainment giant sued the Republican governor on April 26 in federal court, claiming he was "weaponizing" state government in retaliation for the company's criticism of a law that banned classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Opponents labeled the measure the "don't say gay" law.

The company alleged DeSantis rallied the Republican-controlled legislature to strike back at "woke Disney" and seize control of an administrative district, created in 1967, that helped Disney develop theme parks and resorts. The district, originally known as Reedy Creek Improvement District, was also named as a defendant.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledges supporters as he arrives at a news conference at the Reedy Creek Administration Building, Monday, April 17, 2023, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

FLORIDA'S LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY

Rather than responding in federal court, the administrative district, which lawmakers put under DeSantis' control and renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, fired back on May 2, countersuing Disney in state court.

The new district leadership accused the company of striking last-minute "backroom" deals with the prior board, just before the legislature changed the board structure.

The new board asked the state court to void those Disney-friendly deals, which gave the company control over development in the district for decades and which limited the new board's authority.

In this handout image provided by Disney, Actor and model Millie Bobby Brown brought some fun to the Dark Side at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on September 27, 2022. (Photo by Courtney Kiefer/Disney via Getty Images)

HOW THE LAWSUITS DIFFER

Disney's lawsuit was filed in federal court and alleges that DeSantis violated the company's protections under the U.S. Constitution, including its First Amendment right to free speech.

It also alleges the new district board violated of the Due Process, Contracts and the Takings Clauses of the U.S. Constitution by declaring void the company's development agreements that were struck with the old board. Disney is asking the court to strike down laws that created the new board and that voided the agreements with Disney.

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In contrast, the state court lawsuit against Disney focuses on the procedures the old board followed in approving the agreements with Disney. It alleges those deals were approved at meetings that failed to follow state rules for things like giving the public advance notice. The Florida district is asking the state court to void the Disney agreements.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN LAWSUITS?

Disney's case is proceeding before U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, who previously has struck down some laws that define the governor's conservative agenda. The Florida district's case is in state court before Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber in Orlando.

The district could file a motion in federal court to ask Walker to dismiss or pause Disney's federal case while the state court proceeds. Legal doctrines hold that federal judges should refrain from hearing a case where there is a related state court proceeding, particularly when a state court decision could resolve the federal lawsuit.

But Walker might still allow Disney's federal lawsuit to proceed because the company is claiming a major Constitutional violation, which is the kind of claim a federal judge is inclined to hear.

COULD THERE BE CONFLICTING RULINGS?

Both cases could proceed simultaneously. While the legal theories are different, both courts were asked to decide if the agreements between Disney and the prior board were valid, so it's conceivable that the judges could reach conflicting answers. In that scenario, it is likely that the side that prevails first would ask the other judge to respect that ruling. The prevailing party would likely cite the doctrine of res judicata, which says that a claim that reaches judgment in one court should not be relitigated in a second.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Amy Stevens and Lisa Shumaker)
Graduation day is a one that most people will never forget. At the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women it is much more than receiving a cap, gown and diploma, but a checkpoint of positive change in this journey called life. Its a moment where women can prove they are not defined by their mistakes and can turn their life around for the better.

In partnership with York University, the center offers the Second Chance Educational Program for incarcerated women to receive an associates degree, giving them tools to be prepared for the workforce once released in an effort to reduce the rate of recidivism. Even for those not released soon after, the program is just as meaningful.

The first cohort graduated in 2019 with 12 students. It is the only program of its kind in the state.

After successful completion, the programs second class of 11 women paraded through the prison courtyard on May 1 with grins and twinkles of hope in their eyes. Their fellow inmates surrounded them, lauding them with chanting, whistling, and waving posters in the air, congratulating the graduates for their accomplishments.

The grads entered the chapel where their supportive friends, family, professors and faculty of York University waited for them.

Nebraska Correctional Center for Women Warden Angela Folts-Oberle said the day was well worth the wait. Oberle said, Im pretty lucky to be a part of this glorious day where we can honor and celebrate the hard work, commitment and determination of these 10 graduates.

Oberle touched on the importance of education for those behind bars. Oberle said, Education extends well beyond what we learn in books and it makes dreams come true. I can say that we, everyone in this room, are leading the way and we are blessed to have the opportunity to provide secondary education to these talented, smart and dedicated individuals. Congratulations to all of you and enjoy this moment. You will remember this day for the rest of your lives.

Professor of Bible Terry Seufferlein talked to women about the choices one makes in their life, which determines how their story turns out and they must take responsibility for their actions. The point of the story is not the ending, said Seufferlein. Its about the journey. Seufferlein highlighted that its about the hard work and effort that makes them better individuals.

The women got to share their individual stories following Oberle and Seufferlein. Several of them spoke about what this moment means to them.

We have not let our past define us, not even being formerly known as our worst mistake, said graduate Chelsey Cook. Today, we will be known as York University graduates.

Graduate Jo Hellen Robertson-Williams shared her story of being in the court system at a young age and standing in front of a judge, who impacted the way she saw herself and her outlook of life. Williams shared how she bought in to the words he used to describe her and allowed it to control how she lived her life until she came to center, where she had the chance to find herself again.

Williams said, They saw purpose where I saw pity. They saw value where I saw trash. We see who we are right now and this is who we were meant to be.

Graduate Kimberly Faust said, The most incredible thing about learning through York University is that it is not only an educational experience but it is a spiritual one too. We will always be honored to be graduates of a Christ-centered university.

Also speaking were graduates Jocelyn M. Nordin, Sarah Cullen and Brittan Two-Two White Eyes, who thanked professors for taking their time in educating them.

Following the moving speeches, Seufferlein called the graduates up one by one to receive their diplomas they had been eagerly waiting for.

The chapel roared with excitement, applause and a couple of shouts from a mother rooting, Thats my baby! Tears of joy rolled down cheeks of both graduates and patrons. They were seen as mothers, as daughters, as friends, as York University graduates and in Fausts words, a child of God.

After the ceremony there was a luncheon with professors, friends and family to celebrate a second chance to rewrite their story with education.

As Williams spoke in her closing statement, Almost four years ago, I didnt see today. No matter the labels that society uses to define us, after today, theyre going to have to add 'college graduate' to that.
Thirty-four of the degree candidates achieved an accumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or higher during their college career and graduated with honors. Their names are preceded by an asterisk (*).

Candidates receiving degrees and diplomas from the York area were: Emma N. Hansen of Hampton, Associate of Applied Science Degree in business administration; Trevor C. Boruch of Osceola, Associate of Applied Science Degree in agricultural sciences; Tori G. Wacker of Polk, Associate of Applied Science Degree in business administration; Emily A. Eller of Shelby, Associate of Applied Science Degree in business administration; Kenneth L. Pearson of Shelby, Associate of Applied Science Degree in environmental health and safety; *Garrett L. Miller of Stromsburg, Associate of Applied Science Degree welding technology; Alessandra C. Neujahr of Shelby, Associate of Arts Degree; Andrew J. Sahling of York, Associate of Arts Degree; *Gavin S. Dutton-Mofford of Gresham, Associate of Science Degree; Brock Steuben of Milligan, Diploma criminal justice; Taylor M. Umstead of Shelby, Diploma practical nursing.
Indian roads were infamous for their terrible conditions. No matter how cushy or capable a cars suspensions are, roads took a toll on the ride quality. Well, thats now a thing of the past. Indian road infrastructure is improving with every passing day. So much so, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is setting up new records for laying down tarmac on an everyday basis. Highly impressed with the work, industrialist and Chairman of Mahindra Group - Anand Mahindra, praised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Twitter for the impressive work that is performed to develop highways.

Amazing. To say that this provokes wanderlust would be an understatement. @nitin_gadkari ji, why dont you get some VR simulator programmes made for the #DelhiMumbaiExpressway & the other scenic highways that youre constructing? Im sure many would love to savour the simulated https://t.co/47rnT3XCja  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 7, 2023

Anand Mahindra tweeted, Amazing. To say that this provokes wanderlust would be an understatement. @nitin_gadkari ji, why dont you get some VR simulator programmes made for the #DelhiMumbaiExpressway & the other scenic highways that youre constructing? Im sure many would love to savour the simulated experience of cruising down these roads even before they get a chance to actually drive on them. (Of course, I would prefer if the simulation was through the windshield of a Mahindra SUV ).

The tweet came in response to Nitin Gadkaris tweet, where the minister shared pictures of the newly opened 240+ km long section of the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway that passes via Madhya Pradesh. He tweeted, Magnificent pictures from the 240+ Km long Madhya Pradesh section of #DelhiMumbaiExpressway!

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

Talking of the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway, it is one of the magnificent pieces of road network in India. At 1,386 km in length, it is undoubtedly, the longest expressway in the country. In all likelihood, it will become fully operational by this year itself. Moreover, the expressway cuts down the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur to just three hours. Developed with a total cost of Rs 98,000 crores, it passes through six states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The project will bring down the travel trim between Delhi and Mumbai to mere 12 hours.
New Delhi: The much-awaited trailer of Adipurush has finally been released and Kriti Sanon as Janaki is one vision to behold. With her ever-charming aura, the leading lady is winning her presence on the screen. Exuding sheer elegance, grace and purity, the actress embodies the character of Janaki, like it's tailor made for the actress.

Ever since the trailer was released, she has been garnering a lot of love from all across as the netizens are constantly flooding social media with their praises. As the trailer was released with a grand launch, Kriti was seen speaking about her feeling of being a part of such a role that is a dream for many actors to play in their lifetime. She said, I am very emotional today, I had goose-bumps while watching the trailer because this is not just a movie but much more than that. What we experienced while making this film was special."

Thanking director OM Raut, Kriti said, "I want to thank Om for believing in me as Janaki. You had faith in me that I could play that role because there are very few actors who get such a role in their lifetime. I feel very, very blessed.

Watch the trailer of 'Adipurush' here

Speaking about her character, Kriti added, I have poured my heart and soul into Janaki. I had complete faith in the role but while shooting for the movie I started learning more and more about this character. She is very pure, has a kind soul, a loving heart and a strong mind. In my poster as well you will see, there is pain, but there is no fear in it. It was a huge emotion for me. We are mere humans, forgive us if we have faltered.

Meanwhile, on the work front, apart from Adipurush, the actress will be next seen in Ganapath, The Crew, and an untitled next with Shahid Kapoor.
Mumbai: A day after the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal banned the film 'The Kerala Story', filmmaker Sudipto Sen said the decision was "politically motivated" and urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to watch the film and then take any decision.

Sudipto Sen told ANI that it is "very unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee without watching the film has banned it". "Not a single untoward incident has happened in the state because of the film. The decision to ban the film is politically motivated. I request her to watch the film and then take any decision," Sudipto Sen said.

He said the film was doing very well in West Bengal for the last four days and "it was houseful there".

"After the ban decision by Mamata Didi the screening in the movie hall was stopped by some guys mid-way. I am not a politician, I am a filmmaker. I can only make a film, you want to see it or not that you guys will decide. There was no problem when the film was released in Kolkata for four days, suddenly Didi felt that there could be law and order issues," he said.

"Mahua Moitra, Mamata Banerjee, they are the champion of free speech, human rights, when the Padmaavat movie was banned, Mamata Banerjee was the first political leader who came in support of the movie. But don't know what is the problem with my film that she thought that there is a law and order problem," he added.

Mamata Banerjee had said that 'The Kerala Story' is being banned in the state to "avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and maintain peace in the state".

"I requested her to watch the film first and not to decide on people's opinions. You will like the film, you will be proud that the Bengali director made this responsible film," Sen said.

He also said that till the film was not released, "there was a lot of controversy, debate was going on".

"After watching the film, everyone started liking the film so much that all the debate ended automatically. There was one problem that too was not a major problem in Tamil Nadu. There was a guy who use to threaten the movie hall owners. Every time, if there is any issue in Tamil Nadu that particular gentleman use to stand by and created problems. After all this, the Tamil Nadu high court allowed us and said there is no logic to ban the film if the censor board has already given the clearance," Sen said.

West Bengal became the first state to ban the film which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage.

The movie has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and now Uttar Pradesh has decided to make it tax-free.

Mamata Banerjee gave directions to officials to remove the movie from all theatres where it is being screened.

Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the producer of the film, said they will pursue legal options against the decision. "If state government won't listen to us, we will explore legal avenues. However, whatever course we take will be based on legal advice," Shah told ANI on Monday.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had termed the movie as "RSS propaganda". 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in lead roles.

A massive controversy erupted around the film after its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. However, in the face of protests, the contentious figure in the trailer was later withdrawn.
New Delhi: President Joe Biden met with CEOs of top artificial intelligence companies including Microsoft and Alphabet's Google on Thursday and made clear they must ensure their products are safe before they are deployed. Generative artificial intelligence has become a buzzword this year, with apps such as ChatGPT capturing the public's fancy, sparking a rush among companies to launch similar products they believe will change the nature of work.

Millions of users have begun testing such tools, which supporters say can make medical diagnoses, write screenplays, create legal briefs and debug software, leading to growing concern about how the technology could lead to privacy violations, skew employment decisions, and power scams and misinformation campaigns.

Biden, who has used ChatGPT and experimented with it, told the officials they must mitigate current and potential risks AI poses to individuals, society and national security, the White House said. The meeting included a "frank and constructive discussion" on the need for companies to be more transparent with policymakers about their AI systems; the importance of evaluating the safety of such products; and the need to protect them from malicious attacks, the White House added.

Thursday's two-hour meeting which began at 11:45 a.m. ET (1545 GMT), included Google's Sundar Pichai, Microsoft Corp's Satya Nadella, OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and administration officials including Biden's Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

Harris said in a statement the technology has the potential to improve lives but could pose safety, privacy and civil rights concerns. She told the chief executives they have a "legal responsibility" to ensure the safety of their artificial intelligence products and that the administration is open to advancing new regulations and supporting new legislation on artificial intelligence.

In response to a question about whether companies are on the same page on regulations, Altman told reporters after the meeting "we're surprisingly on the same page on what needs to happen."

The administration also announced a $140 million investment from the National Science Foundation to launch seven new AI research institutes and said the White House's Office of Management and Budget would release policy guidance on the use of AI by the federal government.

Leading AI developers, including Anthropic, Google, Hugging Face, NVIDIA Corp (NVDA.O), OpenAI, and Stability AI, will participate in a public evaluation of their AI systems. Shortly after Biden announced his reelection bid, the Republican National Committee produced a video featuring a dystopian future during a second Biden term, which was built entirely with AI imagery.

Such political ads are expected to become more common as AI technology proliferates. United States regulators have fallen short of the tough approach European governments have taken on tech regulation and in crafting strong rules on deepfakes and misinformation.

"We don't see this as a race," a senior administration official said, adding that the administration is working closely with the U.S.-EU Trade & Technology Council on the issue.

In February, Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate bias in their AI use. The Biden administration has also released an AI Bill of Rights and a risk management framework. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division also said they would use their legal authorities to fight AI-related harm.

Tech giants have vowed many times to combat propaganda around elections, fake news about the COVID-19 vaccines, pornography and child exploitation, and hateful messaging targeting ethnic groups. But they have been unsuccessful, research and news events show.
New Delhi: Congress MLA Sachin Pilot on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and said that it seems like his leader is not Sonia Gandhi but Bharatiya Janata Party's Vasundhara Raje. His reaction came after Gehlot on Sunday claimed that he survived the revolt by some Congress MLAs in 2020 because Raje refused to support a conspiracy to topple an elected government.

"After listening to Ashok Gehlot's speech in Dholpur, it seems like his leader is not Sonia Gandhi but Vasundhara Raje Scindia," Sachin Pilot told reporters in Jaipur.

He added that he has now 'understood' why the Rajasthan CM has not acted against corruption.

The Congress leader also categorically denied Gehlot's charges that the MLAs who rebelled against him in 2020 had taken money from the BJP and that they should return the money to Amit Shah.

"Praising leaders from BJP and dishonouring Congress leaders is beyond my understanding... This is absolutely wrong," the former Rajasthan deputy CM added.

He also said he will hold a five-day-long 'Jan Sangarsh Yatra' from Ajmer to Jaipur starting May 11 to raise issues like corruption and other issues concerning the youth.

Earlier on Sunday, Ashok Gehlot had claimed that he survived the revolt by some Congress MLAs in 2020 because BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support a conspiracy to topple an elected government through money power. He had also taken potshots at the rebel Congress MLAs, saying they should return the money they had taken from the BJP so that they can carry out their duty without any pressure.

It is notable that Gehlot's then deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs had revolted against his leadership in July 2020. The month-long crisis had ended after the intervention of the party's high command and Pilot was subsequently removed as the deputy chief minister and state Congress president.

Addressing a programme in Dholpur, Gehlot said as the state party chief, he did not support the toppling of the BJP government led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as it was unfair.

In the same manner, BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal said that there is no tradition in Rajasthan to topple an elected government, he claimed.

"If I wanted, Bhairon Singh ji's government could have been toppled. I said this was unethical work. The man who is ill, he is getting treatment in America, his condition was very critical and leaders of his party were conspiring to topple his government behind him," Gehlot said.

He continued that Meghwal and Raje also said the same thing.

"They said that we have never had a tradition to bring down elected governments on money power...," Gehlot said.

Terming Gehlot's 'praises' for her a 'big conspiracy', Vasundhara Raje, however, said that he 'has made such outrageous and untrue allegations because of the rebellion in his own party and the diminishing mass base'.

To avoid a historic defeat in the 2023 assembly elections, he is creating such fabricated stories, which is unfortunate and not going to be successful, the former Rajasthan chief minister added.
New Delhi: Five armed robbers broke into a businessmans house in northwest Delhi and allegedly decamped with Rs 1.3 crore and over two kilograms of gold, police said on Monday. The victim, who lives in Ashok Vihar, has a paper trading business and his father was a contractor, they said. The masked robbers broke into the house early on Saturday after cutting window grilles, the police said.

They woke up family members, including children, and held them hostage in a room at gunpoint, a senior police officer said. Armed with guns and knives, the robbers forced some of them to show where the gold and the cash were kept in the house, he said While two-three accused guarded the hostages, the others robbed the house, the officer said.

Before the robbers left, they threatened family members with dire consequences if they reported the matter to the police, he said. The family members managed to free themselves and lodged a complaint, the officer said.

Footage from CCTV cameras installed on the premises showed the suspects leaving the house around 2.45 am, the police said, adding that the robbers had performed recces of the area days before the incident. The robbers also tampered with the CCTV cameras in and around the house, leading the police to suspect the involvement of an insider, the officer added.
Pakistan is facing a civil war-like situation with former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's supporters carrying out riots and arsons in the country following his arrest in a corruption case. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has suspended mobile internet services across the nation and restricted access to Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. Earlier, the police have imposed Section 144 in several areas following Khan's arrest.

Amid this crisis, Pakistani actor Sehar Shinwari took to Twitter seeking to file a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and intelligence agency RAW. In a tweet, Shinwari wrote, "Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police? I have to file a complaint against Indian PM & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claims) then I am sure Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice."

Unexpectedly, Delhi Police responded to the tweet that soon went viral. "We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!" asked Delhi Police.

Netizens lauded Delhi Police for their witty reply. "Haha, roasted really very badly @SeharShinwari, you are having a bad day, keep entertaining us," wrote one user. Another user wrote, "The dream of jurisdiction in Pakistan will definitely come true!"

We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan.



But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country! https://t.co/lnUCf8tY59  Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) May 9, 2023

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan barged into the army installations in many parts of the country as the law and order situation continued to deteriorate during the night. Videos emerged on social media showing PTI activists raising slogans against the government as well as the Pakistan Army, the report said.

The baton-wielding demonstrators reached inside the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi, Samaa TV reported. In other videos, they could be seen vandalising army properties in different cities, including Lahore and Karachi.

The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators but to no avail as the law enforcers retreated. There are reports of PTI supporters breaking into the residence of a military officer in the cantonment area in Lahore, Dawn reported.
With fresh incidents of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs and security agencies are on their toes as the Union Territory is all set to host a prestigious G20 meeting. While Srinagar will be hosting the historic G-20 events for the first time between May 22 and 24, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has again spread its fangs in the valley. In the wake of the recent terror incidents in Poonch, Rajouri and Baramulla, a high-level security review meeting took place in Srinagar today. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla while Intelligence Bureau Director and top security officials from the Union Territory participated in the meeting.

Apart from issues of daily security and terrorism, the meeting focussed on upcoming G-20 events, Amarnath Yatra and recent attacks in Poonch. A senior police official said that security arrangement-related issues were discussed in the meeting. "Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Director Intelligence Bureau landed in Srinagar from New Delhi. Apart from Bhalla, top officials from the police including Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh, ADGPs of Jammu and Kashmir Mukesh Singh and Vijay Kumar, Goc's of 15 and 16 Corps, IGPs of CRPF and BSF, besides officers from the various intelligence agencies participated in the meeting," he said.

The agenda of the meeting was to give the final touches to the security arrangements ahead of the G-20 events and the Amarnath Yatra. It's the first time since independence that an event of this magnitude will be held in Srinagar under India's presidency. J&K administration has already stated that the event was a great opportunity to showcase the tourism potential of J&K and to give a global push to the Jammu Kashmir tourism, which accounts for 8% of the region's GDP. Amarnath Yatra starts on July 1. Security agencies have already prepared a plan and the same was presented in the meeting where necessary changes were discussed.

Sources said while water bodies like Dal Lake will be guarded by MARCOS commandos, NSG and the special operation group (SoG) of the police will remain on the ground for tight security cover for the G-20 events. During the meeting, final touches were given to the security arrangements on highways and counterstrategies to foil any possible attacks by terrorists to disrupt the G-20 event.

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar had already made it clear that all attempts made by terrorists, or any anti-social element will be dealt with strongly. The security forces are ready to tackle any threat, be it drone attacks, vehicle-borne IEDs or fedayeen strikes.

The meeting also discussed the recent attacks in Poonch and Rajouri that claimed the lives of ten soldiers including five paratroopers. The army also briefed the Union home secretary about the LoC and LAC situation. Jammu and Kashmir is on a high alert ahead of the G-20 events in Srinagar especially keeping in view the three back-to-back encounters in north Kashmir and Poonch attack.
SARASOTA, Fla., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Super-regional commercial insurance carrier FCCI Insurance Group has expanded its contract and commercial surety bond business in several new states, including Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. FCCI is rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best with a U.S. Treasury listing exceeding $75 million. Expansion to additional Northwest states is coming soon.

John Browning, Surety Territory Manager, Western States

Industry veteran, John Browning, will initiate FCCI's westward expansion as Surety Territory Manager for the Western United States. "John has 35 years of experience in contract and commercial surety on both the carrier and broker sides of the business. He has worked in various offices, including Kansas City, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Denver. His broad knowledge and experience will be invaluable to us as we expand westward," said Senior Vice President of Surety, Scott Paice. "John is a high-energy worker passionate about delivering world-class service, collaborating with agents and colleagues and independently delivering creative surety solutions."

John is based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and may be contacted at 303-641-6566 or jbrowning@fcci-group.com.

In addition to the new western states, FCCI introduced surety this year in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa and the six New England states - Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. "Our surety footprint began the year in 20 states and now covers 44 states. With the addition of Minnesota and Washington coming soon, surety will be offered in 46 states by the end of 2023. It's an exciting time to be part of our growing surety operation as we expand our presence and build upon our success over the past twelve years," said Paice.

About FCCI Insurance Group

Founded in 1959 in Sarasota, Florida, FCCI Insurance Group provides commercial property and casualty insurance, risk control services and surety bonds. FCCI writes business exclusively through 575 contracted agencies and 4,054 independent agents in 20 states, plus Washington, D.C. Coverages include auto, crime, cyber liability, equipment, property, general liability, inland marine, umbrella and workers' compensation. Contract and commercial surety bonds are written in 44 states. FCCI insures policyholders across many industries, including agribusiness, construction, manufacturing, medical and professional, restaurants and hospitality, retail, service and repair, and wholesalers and distributors. FCCI has $2.8 billion in assets, $1 billion in direct written premium and is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. FCCI has regional and branch offices in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia. To learn more, visit www.fcci-group.com.

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SOURCE FCCI Insurance Group
NEW DELHI: Right-wing outfits like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have decided to hold a 'Hanuman Chalisa' recitation across the country on Tuesday - just a day ahead of crucial single-phase voting in Karnataka where campaigning concluded on Monday. The move by right-wing groups is in response to the 'Bajrang Dal' ban promised by the Congress party in its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly Elections.

It may be noted that the Congress move to ban the Bajrang Dal backfired triggering protests by right-wing outfits across the state and in other parts of the country and Lord Hanuman took centre stage in the southern state during the election season. Congress faced a massive backlash from the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused it of planning to lock up Lord Hanuman and having problems with Lord Rama.

While the BJP accused Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman and hurting the religious sentiments of the majority Hindus, the grand old party responded by questioning how can one compare Bajrang Bali with Bajrang Dal.

Single-Phase Voting On May 10

The Karnataka assembly will go to polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats. The BJP, which is facing an air of anti-incumbency factor, is eyeing a second term in the state and has exuded confidence in retaining power with a full majority.

The Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. Lingayats comprise 17 per cent of the population and Vokkaligas 11 per cent. Significantly, Karnataka is the only state in the South where BJP is in power. With top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigning for the party, BJP has put all its might to strengthen its support base.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows. Amit Shah held 16 public rallies and 14 roadshows. BJP chief JP Nadda held 10 public meetings and 16 roadshows.

Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states to campaign with their full force in Karnataka while the Congress campaigning saw Rahul Gandhi camping in the state for 20 days and top leaders from the party as well Priyanka Gandhi Vadra trying to improve party's prospects in Karnataka.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and repealing of job reservations for Muslims are some of the promises assured by the BJP in its manifesto. Congress in its manifesto promises to bring back the Muslim quota, higher reservations for various classes, cash handouts and freebies.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said that total seizures of Rs 375 crore were made during the run-up to the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached assets worth Rs 288 crore after the imposition of Model Code of Conduct in the southern state. The poll panel made the revelations a day after the campaigning ended on May 8. Polling in Karnataka is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.





According to the poll panel, its thrust on "inducement-free" elections from the past few elections, has continued and led to sustained efforts for election expenditure monitoring in the poll-going state of Karnataka. "The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to Assembly Election in 2018," it said.It pointed out that strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighboring states, and inter-agency coordination have led to checking the flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time.The poll panel said that it seized cash to the tune of Rs 147.46 crore, and liquor worth Rs 83.66 crore. It further said that drugs valued at Rs 23.6 crore, precious metals worth Rs 96.6 crore and freebies worth Rs 24.21 crore.The EC said, "In 2023, it made seizures totaling more than Rs 375 crore, which is 4.5 times more as compared to Rs 83.93 crore in 2018 Assembly elections." It said that additionally, from the date of the visit of the Commission in the second week of March 2023 till the date of the announcement of elections, seizures of Rs 83.78 crore were also made by various enforcement agencies in the poll-bound state.The EC said, "The ED has also attached assets amounting to Rs 288 crore after the imposition of MCC." It also said that notable hauls include the seizure of Rs 4.04 crore of cash in Bangarapet AC in Kolar District, raid of a lab illegally manufacturing Alprazolam in Hyderabad by intelligence gathered and trail mapping done by NCB, 100 kg ganja seized in Bidar district, significant liquor seizures have been made by all the districts."Another striking feature of expenditure monitoring has been huge seizures of freebies. Sarees and food kits have been seized from Kalburgi, Chimanglur, and other districts. A huge number of pressure cookers and kitchen appliances were also seized from Bailhongal and Kunigal and other ACs," it said.The EC highlighted how an extensive monitoring process started in Karnataka months back before the announcement of elections that included host of activities like thorough review of preparation of different stakeholders including enforcement agencies, DEOS/SPs, the appointment of experienced officers as Expenditure Observers, sensitizing and inter-agency coordination and monitoring and adequate availability of field level teams.The panel had deployed 146 Expenditure Observers and 81 Assembly Constituencies were marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies for stricter vigil.The Commission had also reviewed the law and order situation and inter-state vigil through border check posts of poll-going Karnataka and neighboring states of Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu on May 1."Review was attended by Chief Secretaries, DGPs, Excise Commissioners, and regional Heads of prominent enforcement agencies of all these bordering States. On the occasion, CEC Rajiv Kumar had stressed proper manning and monitoring of specifically the 185 check posts in the border districts.At the review meeting, EC Anup Chandra Pandey also emphasized the scope of improvement in illicit liquor seizures, action against kingpins, and preventing stockpiling of liquor. EC Arun Goel had, however, asked the officials to tighten the vigilance without causing inconvenience to the public and ensure a thorough follow-up post-seizure operations," it said.Seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and freebies from such border check-posts have subsequently been reported to be more than Rs 70 crore, the Commission said.
Bengaluru: The high-voltage campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka ended on Monday with top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding 19 public meetings and six roadshows while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi camped in the state for 12 days. All three major political parties in the state - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) - have put all their efforts to woo the voters, making promises and launching accusations at each other to secure a majority in the state's 224-seat Assembly.

The Karnataka assembly will go to polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats. The BJP which is facing an air of anti-incumbency factor, is eyeing a second term in the state and has exuded confidence in retaining power with a full majority.

The Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters will play a major factor in the elections. Lingayats comprise 17 per cent of the population and Vokkaligas 11 per cent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the party will return to power with a full majority. Shah held a mega roadshow in Doddaballapura on Sunday. "We will win the elections by full majority or at least half a mark plus 15 seats. In these four years, Yediyurappa and the Bommai government has done a lot of work," the Union Home Minister said.

Significantly, Karnataka is the only state in the South where BJP is in power. With top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigning for the party, BJP put all its might to strengthen its support base.

Rallies, Roadshows By Top Leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows. Amit Shah held 16 public rallies and 14 roadshows. BJP chief JP Nadda held 10 public meetings and 16 roadshows. Hectic electioneering by leaders of various political parties saw BJP allowing Union Ministers and Chief Ministers to campaign with their full force while Congress putting its chief ministers including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as star campaigners.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held four election rallies and held a roadshow. Further, several union ministers including Nirmala Sithraman, Nitin Gadkari, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnav, Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya Scindia. BJP also pitted several chief ministers including UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Maharashtra counterpart Eknath Shinde in the campaign fray of Karnataka.

Attacks And Counter-Attacks

The Congress on the other hand worked hard to wrest power from the BJP that is striving to break the 38-year-old pattern of alternating governments and retain its power in the state. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, held various roadshows, rallies and elections campaigns.

With the war of words between top guns of all the major political parties, the campaigns of the election of the southern citadel saw allegations and accusations flying thick and fast. Several issues of the state were promised to be solved.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday expressed confidence that BJP will win 135 seats in Karnataka polls and termed Congress as "a drowning ship". Addressing a press conference on the last day of the campaign in Karnataka, the senior BJP leader said a "double-engine government" is essential for the development of the southern state.

"Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah did roadshows and rallies. I am confident that we (BJP) will win 135 seats in the Karnataka Assembly election. Congress is a drowning ship, its leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won only 2-3 seats in Uttar Pradesh even after campaigning for 4-5 months," Yediyurappa said.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was in Bengaluru as part of the Karnataka Assembly elections campaigns, on Monday said that the grand old party would be elected to power as the people of the state want an "end to corruption".

"We are very confident and hopeful. I am not a predictor of numbers; I can only see the response that we have gotten from the public. The people of Karnataka want an end to corruption," Priyanka said while talking to the media after her mega roadshow in the city. Priyanka held a roadshow in Bengaluru's Vijayanagar on the last day of campaigning.

Row Over Bajrang Dal Ban

However, the issue of Bajrang Dal, which was mentioned in the Congress manifesto, took centre stage in the political campaigning. The Congress party last week in its manifesto for the May 10 elections said it will take "decisive action" as per law including banning organisations like Bajrang Dal, the Popular Front of India and others.

The Congress manifesto said the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion. PM Modi wrapped up his two-day mega roadshow on Sunday with a stretch of 10 km roadshow in Bengaluru.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition over the issue, saying, "The Congress has become a slave of appeasement and vote-bank politics." Addressing an election rally in Tumakuru, Prime Minister Modi said, "Congress has now started objecting to saying Jai Bajrangbali. Congress has become a slave to appeasement and vote-bank politics. Congress can never work for the welfare of Karnataka. It can never develop Karnataka."

As part of Congress campaigning for the elections, Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Karnataka to campaign for his party, held an interaction with gig workers and delivery partners of app-based delivery services in Bengaluru on Sunday. The former Lok Sabha MP interacted with delivery workers at a hotel in Bengaluru.
BENGALURU: The BJP looks to script history to retain its southern citadel while a combative Congress eyes a comeback as Karnataka goes to polls on Wednesday at the end of a high octane campaign that was marked by a plummeting level of public discourse and grew increasingly shrill over the Bajrang Dal issue. As state leaders and candidates from different political parties thronged temples on Tuesday to seek blessings of god and good fortune on the eve of voting for the 224 Assembly constituencies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a video message to the people of Karnataka on Twitter seeking their blessings in the mission to make the state the number one in the country.

The Congress petitioned the Election Commission seeking immediate action against the prime minister for his appeals to Karnataka voters "in violation" of the model code, and said it was "a litmus test" for the poll body's capacity and willingness to enforce laws. In his message, Modi said the affection he has received in the state over the last few days has been unparalleled, and it has strengthened the resolve to make it number one across all sectors.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us." In an appeal to "brothers and sisters" of the State, Modi sought their blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one state in the country.

"My appeal is for the bright future of Karnataka. It is for the bright future of your family, especially the younger generations," said the prime minister, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows as part of BJP's aggressive campaign in the state. In a lengthy complaint to the chief election commissioner, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala asked the commission whether it will remain a "mute and helpless spectator" or fulfil its constitutional duty and act against the prime minster.

With the stakes being high in the mega battle of ballots, the major political parties in contention--the BJP, Congress and JD(S)--have made a strong pitch to boost their electoral prospects. The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP), which is in power in Punjab and Delhi, has also fielded candidates. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm amid tight security arrangements and the ballots will be counted on Saturday. A total of 2,615 candidates are in the fray.

While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break a 38-year-old jinx -- Karnataka has never voted the incumbent party to power since 1985, the Congress is hoping for a morale booster victory to give it a much-needed elbow room and momentum to position itself as the main opposition player in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The battle-ready BJP with its well-oiled election machine ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Modi. It was clear the ?double-engine Sarkar' sought to heavily bank on Modi's appeal to bolster its campaign, shore up its prospects and fight "anti-incumbency". Also what needs to be watched out for is whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) will emerge as a "kingmaker" or a "king" by holding the key to government formation, in the event of a hung verdict, as it has done in the past.

The Congress manifesto proposing to ban the Bajrang Dal heated up the later half of the campaign as the BJP and Prime Minister Modi aggressively latched on to the issue to portray the grand old party as being against Lord Hanuman and the sentiments of Hindus. Modi also likened the proposed ban to locking up Hanuman itself. He also made it a point to chant 'Jai Bajrang Bali' in all his speeches after the Congress released its manifesto. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Varuna), JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy (Channapatna) and state Congress President D K Shivakumar (Kanakapura) are the among the top candidates in the fray.

Other than Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy, Jagdish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central) is the other former CM, who is in the fray. Shettar had recently joined Congress, quitting BJP. Bommai and Shivakumar also visited Anjaneya (Hanuman) temples on Tuesday. While Bommai visited the shrine at Vijayanagara in Hubballi and chanted "Hanuman Chalisa" with devotees there, Shivakumar paid a visit to the temple at KR Market in Bengaluru and offered prayers. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar along with a large number of Congress leaders and supporters also paid their obeisance to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the deity of Mysuru city.

Along with flowers, fruits, "Thamboolam", incense sticks and purified butter, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar presented a brief copy of the Congress' election manifesto, which highlighted the party's five "guarantees" in the event of it coming to power. Barbs like 'venomous snake', 'Vishakanya' and 'Nalayak beta' vitiated the poll campaign as some leaders used intemperate and abusive language.

While Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from Karnataka, likened Modi to a 'venomous snake' and his son and Congress candidate Priyank Kharge called the prime minister a "nalayak beta", BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal described former Congress president and MP Sonia Gandhi as a 'Vishakanya' (venomous woman).

The Election Commission claimed that enforcement agencies in Karnataka seized over Rs 375 crore worth of liquor, drugs and "inducements' which was 4.5 times more than what was recovered during the last assembly election in the state in 2018. "A government with full majority" seemed to be the favourite slogan for the leaders of all the political parties during the campaigning that ended on Monday, as they stressed on getting a clear mandate to form a strong and stable government unlike what happened after the 2018 Assembly polls.

In the 2018 elections, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 seats, followed by Congress 80, JD(S) 37, and an independent, BSP and Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party(one each). With no party having a clear majority and Congress and JD(S) making a bid to forge an alliance, BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa staked claim and formed the government. However, it had to resign within three days ahead of the trust vote, unable to muster numbers.

Subsequently, the Congress-JD(S) alliance formed the government with Kumaraswamy as chief minister, but the wobbly government collapsed in 14 months, as 17 legislators including independents resigned and came out of the ruling coalition, and defected to BJP. This was followed by BJP coming back to power and, in the bypolls held subsequently in 2019, the ruling party dominated by winning 12 out of 15 seats.

In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 116 MLAs, followed by the Congress 69, JD(S) 29, BSP one, Independents two, Speaker one and vacant six. The BJP's campaign seemed largely "centralised" with the focus mainly on Prime Minister Modi, 'double-engine' government, national issues and programmes or achievements of the union government coupled with those from the state, including those on reservation.

The Congress by and large focused on local issues and its campaign also was run by its state leaders initially. However, its central leaders like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently. The Congress was also aggressive on the plank of corruption accusing the BJP of being a '40 per cent commission government'. But the party's promise to restore the 4 per cent quota for Muslims was seized by the BJP to ramp up its Hindutva plank in the hope of consolidating votes.

The Congress claimed that it drove a positive and development-centric campaign with a vision for the Kannadigas while the BJP's aim was to "distract, divide and deceive" the people. The JD(S) ran a highly localised campaign, anchored solely by its leader H D Kumaraswamy, with party patriarch Deve Gowda too joining in later despite his advanced age and related ailments.
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday termed as "shocking" and "haunting" the boat accident at Tanur area of Malappuram district two days ago that claimed 22 lives, including 15 children. The High Court also initiated a PIL on its own to find out why the authorities allowed the vessel to operate by allegedly flouting rules.

Kerala High Court expresses shock over the boat tragedy in Tanur that claimed 22 lives and directs the Registry to file a suo moto writ petition in the public interest. A Division Bench headed by Justice Devan Ramachandran has sought the details from the port officer in charge of  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Shoba Annamma Eapen said their "hearts were bleeding" and they "underwent sleepless nights" after seeing the lifeless bodies of the children. The court said the accident happened as a result of "the deadly cocktail of callousness, greed and official apathy."

Frequent Boat Tragedies In Kerala

The Kerala High Court also directed the Malappuram District Collector to file a report by May 12. The High Court also criticised the state government for not taking action against officers responsible for the tragic boat incidents.

Tanur boat tragedy | Kerala High Court directs the Malappuram District Collector to file a report by May 12. Court also criticised the State government for not taking action against officers responsible for the tragic boat incidents  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

The high court said it was initiating the petition on its own to ensure that such an incident does not happen ever again. The bench noted that such boating tragedies were happening in the state with "frightening regularity" since 1924 when Kerala lost Mahakavi Kumaranasan - one of the triumvirate poets of Kerala - when a boat from Kollam to Kottayam sank at Palana.

The boat capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur area around 7.30 pm on Sunday. According to district officials, 15 of the deceased were minors aged eight months to 17 years and there were 37 persons onboard the ill-fated boat.

NDRF Continues Rescue Work In Tanur

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which was deployed for search and rescue operations in connection with the boating tragedy here that claimed 22 lives, continued to look for victims on the river bed on Tuesday in view of doubts over the exact number of people on the vessel.

The boat capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur area around 7.30 pm on Sunday. Several bystanders and some of the survivors have claimed that the actual number of passengers may have been more than that as it was the last trip of the boat and as a result, a lot of people had boarded the vessel.

The owner of the boat was caught from Kozhikode and brought to Malappuram. However, he was not taken to the Tanur police station where a case has been registered against him for operating the vessel without a licence.
New Delhi: Hours after the West Bengal government announced to ban the film 'The Kerala Story' in the state, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Locket Chatterjee on Monday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and called her 'anti-Hindu, anti-India and anti-women'. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Chatterjee also said that the ban has been imposed for 'Muslim votes'.

"She made a huge mistake. She doesn't know Bengalis... If she is banning 'The Kerala Story', it seems Mamata Banerjee is anti-Hindu, anti-India, and anti-women. The film is based on ISIS and nothing else. It means she is trying to ban this film to hide something," Locket Chatterjee said.

The BJP MP added that Mamata is banning a film by director Sudipto Sen, a Bengali filmmaker.

"She seeks votes in the names of Bengalis but bans a film on Muslims. This has been done for Muslim votes," she said.

Earlier on Monday, a senior West Bengal government official said that Mamata Banerjee has ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' to avoid 'any incident of hatred and violence'.

"To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the CM has directed an immediate ban on screening of 'The Kerala Story'. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban," the West Bengal government official told news agency PTI.

His remarks came hours after Banerjee alleged at a news conference that 'The Kashmir Files' was made to humiliate one section of the society whereas 'The Kerala Story' was a distorted movie aimed at defaming the southern state.

West Bengal became the first state to ban the movie, an action which Union Minister Anurag Thakur said was beyond his understanding why the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief's sympathies were with terror organisations and not with the innocent girls from Kerala.

"Mamata Banerjee has done injustice to the sisters and daughters of West Bengal by banning the film. She should tell whether she is standing with those who promote a terrorist ideology or is standing against it," Thakur, who is the Information and Broadcasting Minister, told reporters.

The West Bengal BJP unit said the ban was a blatant attempt to scuttle 'free speech' and appease a section of the minority community to serve its political interests. The TMC dubbed the allegations against the party as 'baseless' and accused the BJP of trying to create a 'communal narrative' across the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Directed by Sudipto Sen, the film depicts how women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, has kicked up a political storm.
Kolkata: Expressing concern over the current situation in violence-hit Manipur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the BJP government is not providing a clear picture of the death toll in the northeastern state where shoot-at-sight orders are in force. She also lashed out at the BJP government at the Centre for not sending a single representative to Manipur to review the situation.

Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke anything about what has happened to that BJP-ruled state, the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

"I am quite tense with the situation in Manipur. We are not getting a clear picture of the number of deaths in shoot-at-sight (order) as the state government is not giving any information. I am really shocked," Ms Banerjee said. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, however, said later that 60 people have lost their lives in the ethnic riots. Manipur violence is a man-made problem, Mamata Banerjee claimed.

Attacking the BJP-led central government, she alleged that Amit Shah is so busy with the Karnataka assembly elections that could not get one day to visit Manipur, though they have helicopters and planes of the defense forces.

"Manipur is burning. But no one is talking about it. Elections may come and go, but people's lives come first. BJP is not as busy with Manipur as it is with polls. He (Amit Shah) could have spared a day and gone to Manipur. He could have come to Bengal later," she stated. Amit Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal on Tuesday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Mamata Banerjee also said that 25 people including 18 students from the state, who were stranded in Manipur, were brought back on Monday morning. These students were pursuing BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. courses at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, she said, adding that the cost of the travel was borne by the state government.

Mamata Banerjee said that 68 students from West Bengal are still stuck in Manipur and several people from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan are being provided with transit accommodation by her government.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leading to the deaths of at least 54 people.

Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 percent of the population and live in the hill districts.
Bhubaneswar: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met his Odisha counterpart and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik here at the latter`s residence on Tuesday. Both the Chief Ministers had lunch together. However, no discussion was held about forming an alliance, said Patnaik after the meeting. "I am delighted that Nitish Ji is here in Bhubaneswar. We are old friends and colleagues. We have served together under the Vajpayee government. We were discussing allocation of land in Puri for tourists from Bihar," he said.





The Odisha Chief Minister said 1.5 acres of land will be given to the Bihar government at Puri free of cost for the Bihar tourists and pilgrims, who come to visit the temple of Lord Jagannath. "No discussion was held about any alliance today," he clarified when media persons asked about BJD`s joining in the possible alliance of anti-BJP parties.Nitish Kumar said he has an old relationship with Naveen Patnaik and his father Biju Patnaik. "I was frequently meeting Naveenji. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was not able to meet him. So, I wanted to meet him," the Bihar CM said.When asked about whether there was any political discussion between the two top leaders, the JDU leader, with a smiling face, replied, "Don`t worry about political things. We have such a strong relationship, there is no need to think about political issues and, also, don`t compare it with any others."Replying to a media query on the release of don-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh, Nitish Kumar said, "If someone is convicted and then he gets rigorous imprisonment. After that, he was released from jail. Following the central rule of 2016, this is happening across the country."Notably, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had met Naveen Patnaik in March this year. During that time also, both the leaders have denied any discussion on the formation of a third front or any alliance. However, they had advocated for strengthening of federal structure in India.Following the break-up of the BJD-BJP coalition government in 2009, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has been maintaining equal distance from both BJP and Congress. Besides, it is not shown much interest to be involved in national politics. The regional party always says its focus is on the interest of Odisha and its people.
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the state government wants to ban polygamy in the state and has decided to form an expert committee to check for legal provisions for the same. CM Himanta Sarma said that the state government wants to ban polygamy in the state and added that an expert committee will be formed to check if the state has the authority to prohibit polygamy in the region.

"We are not going through Uniform Civil Code (UCC), but we want to ban polygamy under a State Act. Assam Government has decided to form an expert committee to investigate whether the State Government has the authority to prohibit polygamy in the region. Assam Government wants to ban polygamy in the state", CM Sarma said. He further said that the committee will engage broadly in discussions with all stakeholders including legal experts and will scrutinize the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937.

"The committee will scrutinize the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, along with Article 25 of the Constitution of India, in relation to the directive principle of state policy for a uniform civil code. The committee will engage in extensive discussions with all stakeholders, including legal experts, to arrive at a well-informed decision", he said.

Earlier on Saturday, CM Sarma, while addressing a rally in poll-bound Karnataka, said that implementing a Uniform Civil Code is important in the state for ending the system of men making "four marriages" and women being made "child producing machines".

The Assam CM was holding a roadshow in Shanivarasanthe Madikeri in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, as part of the campaign for the BJP.

Addressing the people, the Assam CM said, "We also have to make Uniform Civil Code. Muslim women and daughters are made to marry over four times. Is it a system? Such a rule should not exist in the world. We have to bring Uniform Civil Code and end this system".

"Muslim daughters should be made doctors, and engineers, not child-producing machines. BJP has promised to work on Uniform Civil Code if voted to power. I would like to thank the BJP for that," he added.

Notably, BJP in its manifesto, has promised the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state of Karnataka, on the basis of the recommendations of a high-level committee which is to be constituted for the purpose, if voted to power. This announcement is similar to the one, BJP made in the run-up to the Gujarat and Uttarakhand Assembly polls last year.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his birthday on Tuesday, saying he made an indelible influence in many fields. He said, "On the occasion of his Jayanti, my tributes to Gurudev Tagore. From art to music and from education to literature, he has left an indelible mark across several areas. We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision for a prosperous, progressive, and enlightened India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to India's first Nobel Laureate and said, "Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's soulful literature remains an ethereal voice that will continue to inspire generations with his benevolence."

Rabindranath Tagore was the first Asian Nobel laureate, as well as a poet, playwright, composer, philosopher, painter, and reformer.
FLEX LNG

FLEX LNG LTD. (the Company) advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company was held on May 8, 2023 at 14:30 hrs, at Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, 76 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton HMCX, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022 were presented to the Meeting.



In addition, the following resolutions were passed:

1. To set the maximum number of Directors to be not more than eight.

2. To resolve that vacancies in the number of Directors be designated as casual vacancies and that the Board of Directors be authorised to fill such vacancies as and when it deems fit.

3. To re-elect David McManus as a Director of the Company.

4. To re-elect Ola Lorentzon as a Director of the Company.

5. To re-elect Nikolai Grigoriev as a Director of the Company.

6. To re-elect Steen Jakobsen as a Director of the Company.

7. To re-elect Susan Sakmar as a Director of the Company.

8. To re-appoint Ernst & Young AS of Oslo, Norway, as auditor and to authorize the Directors to determine their remuneration.

9. To approve remuneration of the Companys Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$500,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

May 8, 2023

The Board of Directors

FLEX LNG LTD.

Hamilton, Bermuda




KOLKATA: Noted Bengali litterateur and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Samaresh Majumdar passed away on Monday at the age of 79 at a hospital in Kolkata. Majumdar was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and was undergoing treatment at the hospital for over a month, PTI reported.

"Majumdar has been suffering from COPD for more than 12 years. He has been under our treatment for over a month. His health has deteriorated recently and was on ventilator. He died at around 5.45 PM," a Sahitya Akademi official told PTI.

While Majumdar is best known for portraying the Naxalaite period of the 1970s in his novels, however, his works also left an impression on youngsters through the character of detective 'Arjun'. He has also written several short stories and travelogues.

PM Modi Condoles Demise of Samaresh Majumdar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed anguish over the death of renowned Bengali author Samaresh Majumdar, saying that he will be remembered for his contribution to "Bengali literature".

PM Modi said the departed author's work captured different aspects of the society and culture of West Bengal. "Shri Samaresh Majumdar will be remembered for his contribution to Bengali literature. His works capture different aspects of the society and culture of West Bengal. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

Shri Samaresh Majumdar will be remembered for his contribution to Bengali literature. His works capture different aspects of the society and culture of West Bengal. My condolences to his family. Om Shanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 8, 2023

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed grief on the death of the Bengali author, calling it an "irreparable loss to the literary world". Majumdar is also known for 'Uttoradhikar', 'Kaalpurush', 'Satkahan', and 'Adventures of Detective Arjun'. The writer-poet has innumerable accolades under his belt, including Sahitya Akademi Award which he won for 'Kalbela' in 1984.

Apart from this, he has been conferred the Anand Award and Bankim Award. In 2018, the West Bengal government honoured him with the 'Banga Bibhushan' award.
PUNE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday snubbed Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) over an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana and said leaders groomed by him had already proved their mettle in state politics and that everybody in NCP knows how to take the party forward. Pawar's comments came a day after an editorial in the Marathi publication said Pawar has failed to create a successor who could take his party forward.

The editorial was based on Pawar's recent decision to step down as NCP president, which he withdrew after three days after it caused consternation among party leaders and workers. Notably, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is one of the three constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with the NCP and Congress.

"We do not attach any importance if someone is writing about whether we create new leadership or not. It is their prerogative (to write), but we ignore it. We know what we are doing, and we are satisfied with it," Pawar told reporters in Satara. "They ( Shiv Sena-UBT) do not know what we have done. It is our speciality that in NCP, we all work as colleagues and dwell upon various issues. At times, different opinions emerge (among us) but we do not go out and make them public. It is our family issue. Everybody in NCP knows how to take the party forward, and they know how the new leadership has been groomed in the party," he said.

Pawar referred to the Congress and the NCP coming to power in Maharashtra in 1999 and how first-time inductee ministers from NCP proved their mettle. "In that cabinet, Jayant Patil, Ajit Pawar, Dilip Walse Patil, R R Patil, and others became ministers from NCP. It was their first term in power. As far as I am concerned, I worked as a minister of state when I started, and after working as a junior minister, I was promoted. "But the names suggested by me were inducted as cabinet ministers at that time. And Maharashtra witnessed how NCP ministers proved themselves through their work," he said.

Responding to a query on whether the criticism by MVA constituents will affect the prospects of the tripartite coalition, Pawar replied in the negative. "This will not affect MVA as differences occur among allies. It is not the case in national politics that two allies will have a 100 per cent agreement on any issue. Sometimes, there is a difference of opinion, but we do not have any misunderstanding and it will not have any impact on MVA," he said.

Meanwhile, Pawar also hit out at Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan over his reported statement calling NCP a "B team of BJP" in Karnataka, by questioning his stature in Indian National Congress. "He (Chavan) should check his stature in his own party...Whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private," the NCP chief said.

On the rationale behind fielding candidates in Karnataka polls, he said the NCP wanted to expand the party base beginning from Karnataka. "We did not hold any discussions with Congress or other allies in Karnataka because we wanted to start from scratch," he said. "The reason why we did not hold any discussions with the Congress was that the NCP wanted to start from scratch in the southern state. When there is an alliance with another party, it is imperative to provide strength to that party. But, as we were starting new, it was not possible to give the assurance that we would be able to provide strength if we go with them," he said.

Pawar said his party is contesting limited seats in Karnataka and ensuring that it will not adversely affect the Congress's prospects. Queried about slogans like "Bajrang Bali ki Jai" raised by PM Modi and other leaders during the campaigning for Karnataka polls, Pawar claimed seeking votes in the name of caste and religion is the breach of the oath an elected representative takes, as secularism and democracy are key words in the pledge.

"I am surprised that the country's prime minister projects such stand before the people. You (the government) should tell me what you have done in the last five years as you held power. Everywhere people talk about 40 per cent commission," he said targeting BJP. Notably, the Congress recently said the people of Karnataka will guarantee the end of the "BJP's 40 per cent commission sarkar on May 10, the polling day.
New Delhi: Incarcerated alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has penned a letter accusing AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of threatening him and his family. According to Chandrashekhar, who is presently lodged in the Mandoli jail, these threats have been sent through jail officials and Kejriwal`s associates over the past two days.





"You (Arvind Kejriwal) have totally no respect for the law of the land and brazenly continue to send threats to me through jail officials and also call my family members threatening them through your associates and their cronies from last two days," said Chandrashekhar in his letter released on Tuesday."You really think I will get intimidated with these threats and back out from exposing you? Not at all, come what may, I will make sure all your truth is exposed before the world and you will face them legally... There is no second option at all, so don`t dream," Chandrashekhar wrote. In the strongly-worded letter, Chandrashekhar also accused Kejriwal of resorting to oppressive tactics against a woman journalist."Have some shame Kejriwalji, now you stoop down to such levels that you made your Punjab Police arrest a woman journalist, just because she was exposing your true colours? You are now trying to suppress the other leg of democracy (media)," the letter read.Chandrashekhar also predicted that Kejriwal himself would eventually face legal consequences, seemingly suggesting potential future imprisonment at Tihar Jail. "You try to suppress me, but I won`t back out. I will make sure you are made answerable. Anyways, you will be joining me here at the Tihar Club someday soon now, and that`s for sure reality," he said. Chandrashekhar also cautioned Kejriwal against underestimating his resolve and implied a readiness to respond in kind if necessary."Kejriwalji, don`t try all these tricks with me... You know me very well, I am not someone you really want to get dirty with. I will then start answering in my style. Have some shame, have the guts to prove me wrong and if you can`t, then resign. I dare you to prove one allegation of mine wrong against you and your gang of fraudsters," Chandrashekhar wrote in the letter."I am backing all my allegations against you with proofs before the concerned agencies. I challenge you to prove them wrong. Knowing you to be shameless, you won`t do both as stated above," the letter read. "I will make sure you are brought to justice very soon," it added.
New Delhi: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that the film 'The Kerala Story' will be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath's announcement came a day after Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government banned the film, which revolves around a group of women in Kerala who are forced to convert and join the terror group Islamic State.

"'The Kerala Story' to be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh," Yogi Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi.

'The Kerala Story'         Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) May 9, 2023

According to officials, Yogi Adityanath will also attend a special screening of the film with his cabinet in Lucknow on Friday.

Uttar Pradesh has now become the second Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state after Madhya Pradesh to give tax-free status to 'The Kerala Story'. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Saturday that the film will be tax-free in the state, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies during a rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

"We have already made a law against religious conversion in Madhya Pradesh. Since this film creates awareness, everyone should watch this film. Parents, children and daughters should watch it. That's why the Madhya Pradesh government is giving tax-free status to the movie 'The Kerala Story'," Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

'The Kerala Story', which stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani in the lead roles, is directed by Sudipto Sen and was released across the country on May 5.

Earlier on Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' in the state to avoid 'any incident of hatred and violence'.

"To avoid any incident of hatred and violence and to maintain peace in the state, the CM has directed an immediate ban on screening of 'The Kerala Story' anywhere in West Bengal. There are scenes in this movie that could be dangerous to the peace and law and order of the state. Action will be taken against any cinema hall that violates the ban," a senior West Bengal government official told the news agency PTI.

Mamata Banerjee on Monday had also alleged that 'The Kashmir Files' was made to humiliate one section of the society whereas 'The Kerala Story' was a distorted movie, aimed at defaming the southern state.

Banerjee alleged that the CPI(M) is working with the BJP and hence even being in power in Kerala, it did not protest the screening of the movie.

"I am talking about people and not in favour of the CPI(M) as the party is working with the BJP. It is the BJP which is patronising the film," she said.
Mumbai: Those who want to ban 'The Kerala Story' are as 'wrong' as those who didn't want Aamir Khan-starrer 'Laal Singh Chaddha' to be released, said veteran actor Shabana Azmi on Monday (May 8) amid the row around the Sudipto Sen-directorial that hit the screens last week.

Her comments come a day after multiplexes across Tamil Nadu cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response. In a tweet, Azmi said no one but the Central Board of Film Certification has the right to decide whether or not a film should release. "Those who speak of banning #The Kerala Story are as wrong as those who wanted to ban Aamir Khan's #Laal Singh Chaadha (sic). Once a film has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification nobody has the right to become an extra constitutional authority," the 72-year-old actor wrote on the microblogging site.

Azmi was referring to the #BoycottBollywood trend on social media ahead of the release of Aamir's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' on August 11, 2022. 'The Kerala Story', starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on Friday and was initially portrayed as 'unearthing' the events behind 'approximately 32,000 women' allegedly missing from Kerala.

According to the CPI(M) and the Congress in Kerala, the film falsely claims that 32,000 women got converted and radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. The filmmakers later changed the figure in the film's trailer.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on May 5 credited the movie, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Sunshine Pictures, for bringing out terror conspiracies and used it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

Last week, the Kerala High Court also refused to stay the release of the film and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government announced that 'The Kerala Story' will be tax free in the state, while Uttar Pradesh minister Brajesh Pathak said it will not oppose any proposal to grant similar status in the state.
New Delhi: Meta (formerly Facebook) has announced the release of ImageBind, an open-source AI model capable of simultaneously learning from six different modalities. This technology enables machines to understand and connect different forms of information, such as text, image, audio, depth, thermal, and motion sensors. With ImageBind, machines can learn a single shared representation space without needing to be trained on every possible combination of modalities.

The significance of ImageBind lies in its ability to enable machines to learn holistically, just like humans do. By combining different modalities, researchers can explore new possibilities such as creating immersive virtual worlds and generating multimodal search functions. ImageBind could also improve content recognition and moderation, and boost creative design by creating richer media more seamlessly.

The development of ImageBind reflects Meta's broader goal of creating multimodal AI systems that can learn from all types of data. As the number of modalities increases, ImageBind opens up new possibilities for researchers to develop new and more holistic AI systems.

Top of Form

ImageBind has significant potential to enhance the capabilities of AI models that rely on multiple modalities. By using image-paired data, ImageBind can learn a single joint embedding space for multiple modalities, allowing them to "talk" to each other and find links without being observed together. This enables other models to understand new modalities without resource-intensive training. The model's strong scaling behavior means that its abilities improve with the strength and size of the vision model, suggesting that larger vision models could benefit non-vision tasks, such as audio classification. ImageBind also outperforms previous work in zero-shot retrieval and audio and depth classification tasks.

The future of multimodal learning

Multimodal learning is the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) models to use multiple types of input, such as images, audio, and text, to generate and retrieve information. ImageBind is an example of multimodal learning that allows creators to enhance their content by adding relevant audio, creating animations from static images, and segmenting objects based on audio prompts.

In the future, researchers aim to introduce new modalities like touch, speech, smell, and brain signals to create more human-centric AI models. However, there is still much to learn about scaling larger models and their applications. ImageBind is a step toward evaluating these behaviors and showcasing new applications for image generation and retrieval.

The hope is that the research community will use ImageBind and the accompanying published paper to explore new ways to evaluate vision models and lead to novel applications in multimodal learning.
New Delhi: Richard Branson`s Virgin Galactic is all set to launch its next crewed flight to the edge of space by the end of May, and then its first commercial flight in June, the company has announced. Unity 25 marks the company`s fifth spaceflight and the company`s first flight in nearly two years. "#VirginGalactic is returning to space in late May," the company said on Twitter.

The Unity 25 will be the company`s "final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience," before its first commercial flight `Galactic 01` scheduled in "late June". However, the space tourism company did not provide a specific date. The company has reportedly sold about 800 tickets total, including 600 at prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 and 200 more at $450,000, which is the current ticket price.



The Unity 25 will carry two pilots and four Virgin Galactic employees -- Beth Moses, Luke Mays, Jamila Gilbert, and Christopher Huie -- to the edge of space. The new launch will involve the use of two of the company`s vehicles: the VSS Unity -- for the crew and the VMS Eve -- the mothership which carries Unity into space.



After reaching around 50,000 feet of altitude, Eve drops Unity before the spaceplane blasts its way to suborbital space, allowing passengers to experience a few moments of weightlessness.



The last Virgin Galactic spaceflight took place in July 2021 and had Virgin CEO Richard Branson, along with three other employees, on board. In the last two years, the space tourism company lost money and its sister satellite launching company Virgin Orbit went bankrupt in April.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested outside the Islamabad High Court, said a report by the Dawn. Khan's arrest was confirmed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawyer Faisal Chaudhry as well. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet that the IHC has been occupied by the Rangers and lawyers are being subjected to torture. He denounced the arrest as an abduction. PTI chairman Khan was taken into custody by Pakistani Rangers after he appeared in the Alqadir Trust case. The allegations are that Bahria Town, a private real estate company, allotted land worth 530 million Pakistani rupees to Al-Qadir Trust which is owned by the PTI chairman and his wife. Khan was arrested on the orders of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). According to NAB officials, they issued an arrest warrants against Khan on May 1.

Releasing a statement, Islamabad Police confirmed Khan's arrest. "Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case. Situation is normal. Section 144 is in force and action will be taken in case of violation," said police quoting IG Islamabad. The police earlier said that it surrounded Khan's car and no force was used against anybody. Barrister Gohar Khan, who claimed to have seen Pak Rangers arresting Khan, alleged that the PTI leader was tortured and hit in leg. It may be recalled that Khan was shot in the leg months ago. Gohar also claimed that the Rangers threw Khan's wheelchair during the arrest.

According to reports, the court earlier also took cognisance of Khan's arrest and IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq has reportedly directed the Islamabad police chief and the secretary of the interior ministry to appear before the court within 15 minutes to explain why and which case has the arrest been made. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that he has shown restraint and warned to summon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if the Islamabad police chief did not appear before the court.

Imran Khan has been facing corruption allegations in the Toshakhana case and has been at the odds with Pakistani Army. Imran Khan has in the past levelled many allegations against Pakistani army officials including that of corruption. The former Pakistani PM also accused an army officer of being involved in the assassination attempt against him. Yesterday, Pakistan Army lashed out at Imran Khan accusing him of levelling highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior military officer without any evidence.

Imran Khan's arrest comes days after the former PM evaded several unsuccessful attempts by the police to arrest him in the past. It also includes a police raid at his residence in Lahores Zaman Park.
Floship Limited

The annual research list recognizes Floships technologys innovative approach to driving the future of brand-to-consumer

HONG KONG and NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Floship, a leading global circular supply chain solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it has been appointed to The Leading 100 List  a highly anticipated annual research list by The Lead that recognizes innovative tech start-ups that are driving the future of brand-to-consumer businesses.

Companies from across the value chainincluding marketing, e-commerce, last-mile, and third-party logistics, checkouts, and payments were nominated and considered.

All companies were evaluated and selected using a rigorous methodology including company interviews, nomination forms, and company data. The selection process included a detailed look at each companys business with a decision-making criterion based on Innovation, Business Impact, Commercialization & Customers, Teams and experience, Competition, Media Buzz, and Investor Value Creation.

Speaking on the selection, Floship CEO Joshua Tsui said, Floships appointment to The Leading 100 List is a tremendous honor. The selection comes at an exciting time in our journey and this acknowledgment underscores Floships intelligent technologys innovative capabilities and the exceptional value that it creates for our clients and their customers. As we look ahead to the next phase of our growth, our technology will remain integral to the rollout of our modular service offering including white-labeling solutions for enterprise organizations and this award confers another level of assurability to our solutions.

Companies on The Leading 100 List will be honored in an awards ceremony at The Lead Innovation Summit between 12 & 13 July in New York City. The annual summit brings together executives from across the entire fashion, beauty, CPG, and retail innovation community to engage the future of the direct-to-consumer business model.

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Id like to thank the selection committee and express my congratulations to the other companies selected for The List and look forward to connecting with industry peers in New York, shared Tsui.

About Floship

Floships global circular supply chain ecosystem solutions cover all aspects of the global supply chain, ensuring minimal operation effort for e-commerce businesses, and allowing business owners to concentrate on driving growth with investment flexibility while gaining peace of mind.

Learn more at www.floship.com or follow us on, LinkedIn ,

For more information about Floship, please contact:

James Linacre, PR & Communications Lead

Phone: (+852) 5333 9420

Email: pr@floship.com




LONDON: After the grand coronation of King Charles III, he posed for official coronation portraits at Buckingham Palace and the picture are now out. Photographer Hugo Burnand got behind the camera for the historic snaps. On Monday, the Buckingham Palace released the first official portrait of King Charles. For the solo shot, King Charles was wearing the Imperial State Crown and Robe of Estate which is made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold and was worn by King George VI in 1937, as per the official The Royal Familys website. For the portrait, he sat on a throne chair.

The coronation of King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla took place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey, London. During a special Kings procession, the royal monarchs travelled in vintage carriages.

King Charles IIIs enthronement outfit has broken the typical royal tradition as he arrived in modernised attire for the ceremony. According to Page 6 magazine, the king decided to ditch the usual coronation outfit which consists of silk stockings and breeches. Also, the king was earlier suspected of wearing his military uniform which didnt happen.

Charles wore a modernised outfit vintage Robe of State, a crimson coronation tunic and a cream silk over shirt with royal naval trousers as he got crowned as the 40th royal monarch.

Meanwhile, the newly crowned Queen Camilla wore an ivory gown by Bruce Oldfield, featuring silver and gold embroidery, depicting the national flowers of the United Kingdom. She accessorised her outfit with the iconic Coronation Necklace, which boasts of a jaw-dropping 22.48-carat pendant known as the Lahore Diamond.

The Queen was crowned with the same headpiece Queen Mary used in 1911, although she added jewels from Queen Elizabeths collection to honour her late mother-in-law. She also paid tribute to her husbands mother by wearing the same robe Elizabeth wore for her own coronation 70 years ago, as per Page Six.

The pair of Jack Russell terriers, named Beth and Bluebell, was adopted by King Charles III and Camilla from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in February 2017. After the King was crowned, Queen Camilla received her own coronation, albeit in a slightly different form.

After the service, the King and select members of the royal family made the customary appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. A flypast of military aircraft was scaled back due to bad weather in London. (ANI)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who was arrested by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday, is facing 121 cases across the country, including for committing treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism. Khan, who travelled from Lahore to the federal capital Islamabad, was undergoing a biometric process at the court when the Rangers broke open the glass window and arrested him after beating lawyers and Khan's security staff, according to senior party leader Shireen Mazari.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by 70-year-old Khan recently submitted a list of cases to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The list states that 31 cases have been registered against Khan in the federal capital and 30 cases and call-up notices have been issued in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province. These cases are related to various charges like treason, blasphemy, committing and inciting violence and terrorism. According to the list, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against Imran in Lahore and 14 cases have been registered in Faisalabad. Some 22 terrorism cases have been registered against Imran Khan across the country.

An Islamabad court is set to indict him on May 10 in a case in which he allegedly hid the proceeds from the sale of state gifts. On November 19 last year, the National Accountability Bureau had taken notice of the alleged non-disclosure of the actual value of gifts received by the former prime minister, his wife, and other cabinet members. Sources privy to the matter said that there was a discrepancy between the actual value of the gifts received by the former prime minister and the sale.

The inquiry proceedings have revealed that during Khan's tenure as premier, he retained some state gifts presented to him by various foreign dignitaries. The corruption case for whose hearing he was present at the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday is not included in the list. Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan as saying that Imran had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that Khan and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising Rs 50 billion.

The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, are facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals (23.16 hectares) of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.

Imran Khan had previously said more than 140 cases have been filed against him around the country since his ouster as premier last year. PTI chief Khan was ousted from power in April after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, which he alleged was part of a US-led conspiracy targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

Khan, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament.
Go First Airline has stopped bookings of all flights indefinitely, said airline in a recently issued press release. The airline also said the bookings were stopped before DGCA issued notice to the airline to stop taking bookings of future flights till a resolution is reached. The aviation regulator also issued a show cause notice to the airline under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for its failure to continue the operation of the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. The DGCA has asked the airline to submit its reply within 15 days of the receipt of the show cause notice.

Replying to which, Go First said, "As regards the DGCA Notice, the same will be responded to, in due course." The airline further said that "GO FIRST is taking all possible measures to reduce passenger inconvenience." The airline filed an application with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had, on May 8, 2023 directed the carrier to immediately stop bookings and sale of tickets till further orders. However, Go First said, "To reduce the inconvenience to the passengers, we had already stopped taking bookings, before the DGCA issued the Notice."

The low cost airline, has been extending its flight cancellations, with flights now cancelled till May 12, 2023. However, the bookings were closed only till May 15, 2023. However, now, the bookings have been closed indefinitely.

Go First, on May 2, 2023, announced to cancel all the flights from May 3 to May 5 following an application they filed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). However, they extended the cancellations till May 8, and then May 12.
Maharashtra Board Result 2023: Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is expected to announce the result release date of Maharashtra SSC, and HSC results soon on the official website. The result date will be published here as soon as it is verified. From 2018 through 2022, Maharashtra SSC results were issued in the first week of June, the second last week, or the last week of June, with the exception of 2021, when the results were released in July and no exams were held due to COVID.

According to past trends, the Maharashtra Board will release the HSC results before the SSC results in 2023. According to the latest reports, the Class 12 results will be revealed in the second week of May, and the Class 10 results will be released in the third week of May.

The link to the Maharashtra SSC, HSC Result 2023 will be posted on the official website- maharesults.nic.in. To access the results online, students must input their roll number and mother's name (if registered). Candidates are urged to keep checking the official websites for latest updates as the result date has not yet been declared.

Maharashtra Board Result 2023: Know how to check scorecard

Visit the official website of the board at mahahsscboard.in

On the homepage, click on the results (Class 10, 12) link

After being redirected to another page, enter the required details

Post submitting the same, the result will open up on the screen

Go through the same and download it

Take its printout for future reference

Around 15,77,256 candidates across the state registered for the Maharashtra 10th exams 2023 and are awaiting their Maharashtra SSC Result 2023. There were 8,44,116 boys and 7,33,067 girls among the total candidates who took the tests, which were held in a total of 5,033 exam centers. Students will be able to view their results by providing their roll number and the first name of their mother.
BENGALURU: Wresting power from the BJP will be a morale booster for the Congress, key for reviving its electoral fortunes and strengthen its credentials as the main opposition player against the saffron party, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. By ensuring a win in Karnataka, the party also wants to bounce back after the recent losses in the North-Eastern states and give it a momentum of sorts to take on the battle-ready election machinery of the BJP, later this year in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

The Congress by-and-large focused on local issues and its campaign also was run by its state leaders initially. However, its central leaders such as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pitched in subsequently. This poll is also a prestige battle in a way for the grand old party with a Kannadiga Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from Kalaburagi district, at its helm, as the national president.

The Congress that entered the campaign with the challenge of keeping at bay factionalism, especially between the camps of its two Chief Ministerial aspirants -- Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar -- who were often seen to be engaging in political one-upmanship, it somehow managed to put an united front and ensured that no rift came out in open and derail its prospects.

Though the campaign initially centered around its state leaders like Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Kharge gave it momentum and thereby prepared the pitch for the party's top leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi to join in. The brother-sister duo extensively travelled across the state, challenging the BJP's campaign machinery led by Modi, countering and challenging him on various issues, most importantly on the issue of corruption, while promising to provide a better alternative for Karnataka. Their mother and former AICC president Sonia Gandhi addressed a party rally in Hubballi on Saturday.

The party held 99 public meetings and 33 roadshows by its top state and central leaders. The Congress has set a target of winning 150 seats, and has been urging voters to ensure that it gets an absolute majority, so that BJP doesn't "steal" the mandate by managing defections of other party legislators and "manufacture" a majority in its favour. The Congress's main issues to attack the BJP government in this election was over corruption/ scams and the charge of 40 per cent commission, coupled with the Adani issue.

While extensively highlighting its five key poll 'guarantees', the party tried to inform the people about its charge against the BJP government of having "failed in fulfilling 90 per cent of its promises" made in its 2018 manifesto. The Congress' has promised to implement 'guarantees' - 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti), on the very first day, on coming to power in the state.

At a time when it seemed like all was going well, the Congress itself waded into controversies with Siddaramaiah's statement that "there's already a Lingayat CM who is the most corrupt," which the BJP turned into an "insult" to the entire Lingayat community. Mallikarjun Kharge's "venomous snake" barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then his son and Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge 'nalayak beta' (incompetent son) remark against him, created a flutter in political circles, eliciting sharp reactions from the BJP.

Amid these back-to-back controversies, the Congress manifesto proposing to banning the Bajrang Dal caused some anxiety as it threatened to hurt the optics, as BJP and PM Modi aggressively picked up the issue to portray the grand old party as being against Lord Hanuman and the sentiments of Hindus.
BHOPAL: A major mishap took place after a bus carrying passengers fell from a bridge in Madhya Pradeshs Khargone district on Tuesday. According to reports, 15 people have died and many injured in the tragic incident and the death toll is likely to go up. The police and rescue teams have reached the accident spot and carrying out the rescue operation.

It is being said that the bus was en route from Khargone to Indore when it fell from a height of approximately 50 feet, leading to a significant loss of life.

Rescue Operation Underway

News agency ANI cited Dharam Veer Singh, SP Khargone, confirming that 15 people have died and 25 have been injured after a bus fell from a bridge in Khargone. A rescue operation is currently underway, the SP added.

Madhya Pradesh | 15 people dead and 25 injured after a bus falls from a bridge in Khargone. Rescue operation underway: Dharam Veer Singh, SP Khargone pic.twitter.com/X66l8Vt7iT  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

Several bodies have been fished out of the river after the tragic bus accident.

'Bus Was Overloaded'

It is being said that the accident took place after the driver lost control of the bus and it fell off the 50-foot-high bridge on the Borad River. The private bus operated by Maa Sharda Travels was overloaded which might have led to the mishap, according to the locals.

However, the exact reasons behind the mishap are yet to be ascertained. It is being reported that there were about 50 passengers onboard. The injured have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Visuals shared by several users on Twitter showed a private bus lying on the river bed and locals and policemen carrying out the relief and rescue work.

Compensation Announced

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each to those who received minor injuries in the Khargone bus accident.
With its starkly beautiful landscapes, high-altitude mountain ranges, and ancient Buddhist monasteries, Ladakh, the Land of High Passes, has become a mecca for hiking enthusiasts looking to explore the region's unparalleled natural beauty.

Whether you're an experienced trekker or a beginner looking for an unforgettable adventure, these hiking experiences of Ladakh tour packages are perfect to explore the most remote and awe-inspiring terrains in the world. So, choose amongst these hikes and book your Ladakh tour package today!

Chadar Trek for the surreal experience of hiking on a frozen river

The Chadar Trek is one of the most unique hiking experiences that you can explore on your Ladakh tour packages. This trek takes you through the frozen Zanskar River, which turns into a sheet of ice during the winter months. It is thus, also known as the Frozen River Lake.

The trek is not for the faint of heart, as the temperatures can drop to -30C, and the ice can be slippery and unstable in some areas. However, the otherworldly landscapes, the opportunity to experience the unique culture of the Zanskar Valley, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing such a challenging trek make it a truly unforgettable experience.

The best time to embark on the Chadar Trek is from January to February when the river is frozen and the temperatures are at their coldest.

The Markha Valley Trek to get up and close to the rich biodiversity

The Markha Valley trek takes you through remote villages, high mountain passes, and serene landscapes, providing a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the region. Hikers will encounter a variety of terrains, from the rocky slopes of Hemis National Park to the lush meadows of Hankar. All of this is amid the stunning views of the Zanskar range!

Even though the trek is moderately challenging, it is completely worth it as it takes you through the town of Chilling, which brims with ancient monasteries and Buddhist stupas, providing insight into the rich culture and history of the region.

This trek is suitable for hikers of all levels of experience and can be completed in 7-9 days. The best time to embark on the Markha Valley Trek is from June to September.

Lamayuru To Alchi Trek to witness the oldest Buddhist monasteries and murals

The Lamayuru to Alchi Trek is a scenic and culturally rich hiking experience in Ladakh that takes you through some of the oldest and most famous monasteries in the region. The trek starts in Lamayuru and takes you through the Alchi and Mangyu villages, as well as the famous Alchi Monastery, known for its ancient murals and sculptures. Along the way, you'll enjoy stunning views of the Ladakh range and the Indus Valley.

The trek is moderately challenging and suitable for most hikers with a good level of fitness. The best time to embark on the Lamayuru to Alchi Trek is from June to September when the weather is mild and the trails are clear.

The Stok Kangri Trek for enigmatic landscapes of K2 and Indus Valley

The Stok Kangri trek is a challenging and rewarding hiking experience that takes you to the summit of Stok Kangri, which is the highest peak in the Stok range. The trek offers stunning views of the Himalayas and the surrounding landscapes, as you make your way through traditional Ladakhi villages and high mountain passes.

Hikers must also acclimatize to the high altitude and harsh climate of the region. The best time to embark on the Stok Kangri trek is from June to September when the weather is mild and the trails are clear.

Ripchar Valley Trek to break away from the chaos of life

Ripchar Valley Trek is a relatively unexplored trekking destination but is now included in the top Ladakh tour packages, offering the experience soak in the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan range, the Ladakhi culture, and the peaceful and pristine surroundings of the valley.

The hike also invites you to enjoy the stunning views of the Karakoram and the Zanskar ranges and the sparkling blue waters of the Tso Kar Lake. The trek usually takes around 7-8 days to complete, and the route passes through several quaint villages, lush green meadows, and high-altitude passes.

Conclusion

From the challenging Stok Kangri Trek to the serene Ripchar Valley Trek, Ladakh tourism offers a range of trekking options for adventure enthusiasts. Thomas Cook hikes in Ladakh tour packages are thus carefully curated to provide an itinerary that combines trekking, cultural immersion, and breathtaking natural beauty.

(Above mentioned article is a consumer connect initiative, This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of IDPL, and IDPL claims no responsibility whatsoever.)
Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Tuesday that it arrested two Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist associates from Shopian of South Kashmir. In a handout, police said that during the investigation, Police along with Army (44 RR), and CRPF (14 Batallion) today arrested two more terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT. Police identified them as Shahid Ahmad Lone, a resident of Chotipora Shopian and Waseem Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Borihalan Shopian.

The spokesman further stated that incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including pistol, pistol magazine, pistol rounds, silencer, IED, remote control, batteries, and empty magazine of AK-47 rifle were recovered on their disclosure.

Pertinently, on May 02, Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist associate of the proscribed terror outfit LeT, identified as Tanveer Ahmad Wani son of Bashir Ahmad Wani resident of Daramdora Shopian. Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 AK series rifle, 01 magazine and 10 rounds were recovered from his possession and a case was registered in PS Shopian. Further investigation is going on, reads the statement.

Security has been beefed up in Jammu Kashmir following three back-to-back encounters in north Kashmir and attacks in Poonch and Rajouri in which six terrorists were killed and ten army soldiers lost their lives. LoC (line of control) and international borders are being patrolled day and night to ensure that no terrorists can infiltrate or terrorists across the border cant push any kind of arms and ammunition into Indian territory. Jammu Kashmir is on high alert in view of the G20 meeting in Kashmir starting on the 22nd of May.

Additional security personnel have been deployed on the ground, and drones are being used for aerial surveillance, Police said. Sniffer dogs are assisting security personnel in checking the vehicles at various checkpoints established to prevent the movement of terrorists or explosives from one place to another.
International tourism is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic levels, even as the Middle East saw the strongest performance in Q1, being the only region exceeding 2019 arrivals (+15%) and the first to recover pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.

Globally, twice as many people travelled during the first quarter of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, a UNWTO study said.

The second UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year shows that the sector's swift recovery has continued into 2023. It shows that:

* Overall, international arrivals reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023;

* An estimated 235 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months, more than double the same period of 2022;

* Tourism has continued to show its resilience. Revised data for 2022 shows over 960 million tourists travelling internationally last year, meaning two-thirds (66%) of pre-pandemic numbers were recovered.

Europe reaches 90% level

Europe reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong intra-regional demand, while Africa reached 88% and the Americas about 85% of 2019 levels.

Asia and the Pacific accelerated its recovery with 54% of pre-pandemic levels and this upward trend is set to accelerate now that most destinations, particularly China, have re-opened. Many places are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals.

The UNWTO data also analyses recovery by sub-region and by destination: Southern Mediterranean Europe and North Africa have also recovered pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023, while Western Europe, Northern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean all came close to reaching those levels.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "The start of the year has shown again tourism's unique ability to bounce back. In many places, we are close to or even above pre-pandemic levels of arrivals. However, we must remain alert to challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tourism, and we must ensure tourism's return delivers on its responsibilities as a solution to the climate emergency and as a driver of inclusive development."

International tourism receipts grew back to hit the $1 trillion mark in 2022, growing 50% in real terms compared to 2021, driven by the important rebound in international travel. International visitor spending reached 64% of pre-pandemic levels (-36% compared to 2019, measured in real terms). By regions, Europe enjoyed the best results in 2022 with nearly $550 billion in tourism receipts, or 87% of pre-pandemic levels. Africa recovered 75% of its pre-pandemic receipts, the Middle East 70% and the Americas 68%. Due to prolonged border shutdowns, Asian destinations earned about 28%.

Looking ahead: What's in store?

The Q1 2023 results are in line with UNWTO's forward-looking scenarios for the year which project international arrivals to recover 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels. UNWTO's Panel of Experts expressed their confidence in a strong peak season (May-August) in the Northern Hemisphere, reflected in the latest UNWTO Confidence Index which indicates performance for the period is on track to be even better than 2022.

However, tourism's recovery also faces some challenges. According to the UNWTO Panel of Experts, the economic situation remains the main factor weighing on the effective recovery of international tourism in 2023, with high inflation and rising oil prices translating into higher transport and accommodations costs. As a result, tourists are expected to increasingly seek value for money and travel closer to home. Uncertainty derived from the Russian aggression against Ukraine and other mounting geopolitical tensions, also continue to represent downside risks, it said. -TradeArabia News Service
Kempe takes on the role of Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development, Ingredients

MARSHFIELD, WI / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Nelson-Jameson, Inc., a leading distributor in the food processing industry, welcomes Peter Kempe to a new leadership position as Senior Vice President Strategy & Business Development - Ingredients, as part of a strategic firmwide expansion. The 75+-year-old family-owned company is the go-to source for food processing supplies and a trusted end-to-end ingredient solutions supplier to the food industry.





Nelson-Jameson Welcomes Peter Kempe





Kempe brings three decades of experience and in-depth industry knowledge to Nelson-Jameson, including 28 years at DSM, where he rose up through the ranks earning progressively senior positions. In his new role, Kempe's focus will be on further expanding Nelson-Jameson's leadership position through relationship building with business partners and principals across the dairy industry and additional food industry segments. Kempe will lead the development and execution of business growth strategies for the Ingredients division, including strategic sourcing, partnership management, and go-to-market programming. Additionally, he will collaborate with product management and procurement teams in strategic sourcing to ensure supplier integrity, maintain the highest standards of ingredient access and quality, and streamline supply/demand/delivery operations.

"Peter is a 'triple threat' in our industry. He possesses the rare combination of deep expertise in the global food ingredient and flavor industry, scientific acumen, and a track record of leading high-performance, multifunctional teams," says Mike Rindy, President. "It was clear right away that he embodies the Nelson-Jameson values of collaboration and integrity and fits perfectly into our company culture."

As part of its strategic expansion, Nelson-Jameson recognized the need for a new executive-level position to cover high-level business development design and optimize go-to-market strategies based on an understanding of the technological details of its customers' businesses. In addition to nearly 30 years of experience, Kempe's education and professional network presented as the ideal match for this role. Kempe earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bio-Process Technology and obtained post-graduate certifications in Industrial Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He is also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists and The International Dairy Foods Association.

Story continues

Nelson Jameson prioritizes a best-in-class customer experience and solutions as part of its comprehensive distribution services. A culture of innovation and service guides the organization as a golden-rule company, and its leadership is committed to maintaining a culture of honesty, integrity, and kindness and operating ethically with respect for people, the community, and the environment.

About Nelson-Jameson

Nelson-Jameson is a fourth-generation, family-owned distributor to the food and beverage processing industry. From the company's roots in dairy production supplies, it grew to offer a broad range of food processing equipment and services that provide customers with everything they need to keep food organizations running smoothly, safely, and remain in compliance. Representing more than 850 vendors and distributing over 60,000 curated products, Nelson-Jameson offers everything from standard equipment to custom production solutions and equipment repair to safely manufacture high-quality products. The company employs more than 260 people in five distribution centers across the United States and at its headquarters in the heart of dairy country in Marshfield, Wisconsin. The dairy industry leader also operates NEXT Logistics, offering delivery services from Wisconsin, California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Texas distribution centers.

For more than 75 years, Nelson-Jameson has supported food and dairy processors with innovative products and solutions that keep pace with changing consumer tastes, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels. The company continues to be the supplier of choice for customers in all 50 states and international markets. For more information, please visit: https://nelsonjameson.com.

Contact Information

Karolyn Raphael

PR for Nelson-Jameson

karolyn@wingermarketing.com

312-494-0422

SOURCE: Nelson-Jameson

.





View source version on accesswire.com:

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal against the interim order of the Kerala High Court refusing to stay the release of the controversial film The Kerala Story. The top court listed the matter for hearing on May 15. Directed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story depicts how Hindu women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film, which was released on May 5, kicked up a political storm ever since its first official trailer was released.

Supreme Court agrees to list on May 15 an appeal against the interim order of the Kerala High Court refusing to stay the release of the film The Kerala Story. pic.twitter.com/StUYIdlvPn  ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

Last week, the Kerala High Court refused to stay the release of the film and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole.

Kerala Story Declared Tax-Free In UP, MP

The Uttar Pradesh government has declared "The Kerala Story" to be tax-free in the state. The announcement was made by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "'The Kerala Story' to be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh," Adityanath said on his official Twitter handle.

According to Director Information Shishir, the UP chief minister will attend a special screening of the film in Lucknow on Friday. "'The Kerala Story' will be made tax-free in UP. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will watch the special screening of the movie with his cabinet on May 12 in Lucknow," he said.

The announcement came days after the Madhya Pradesh government said it will give tax-free status to the film in the state.

UP BJP secretary Abhijat Mishra on Saturday organised the screening of the controversial film for about 100 college girls in the city. The BJP leader booked a theatre and said the movie should be shown to young women to prevent them from 'love jihad'.

'Love jihad' is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage. Mishra said the movie is based on true events and shows how gullible girls are manipulated and then converted.

On the day of the film's release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the movie for bringing out terror conspiracies and using it to attack the Congress during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film "The Kerala Story" in the state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence.Multiplexes across Tamil Nadu have cancelled screenings of the controversial film from Sunday, citing law and order issues and poor public response.

Religious Conversion, Radicalisation In Kerala

"The Kerala Story", starring Adah Sharma, was released in cinemas on Friday and was initially portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly missing from Kerala. It is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Sunshine Pictures.

According to the CPI(M) and the Congress in Kerala, the film falsely claims that 32,000 women got converted and radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. The filmmakers later changed the figure in the film's trailer.
New Delhi: Famous TV actor Chandrika Saha's husband has been booked for allegedly injuring their 15-month-old son by banging him against their bedroom floor. The actor approached the police and filed a complaint against her 21-year-old husband Aman Mishra. As per HT, the child has been admitted to a private hospital in Malad and has been undergoing treatment.

Saha, a Malad resident reportedly told the police that her husband Aman was not happy with the birth of their child. The actor who has worked on popular series like 'CID', 'Adaalat' and 'Savdhaan India' said she was a divorcee when she first met Aman, a share trader in 2020. The two had an affair during which she found out that she was pregnant with his child. As per Saha, Aman insisted on her getting an abortion.

The couple often fought over the issue of her pregnancy, Saha informed police. She delivered her child and the duo finally got married when he turned 14 months old.

Saha, in her complaint, mentioned that on Friday, she asked Aman to take care of their child while she was in the kitchen. The accused was asked to calm down the infant who was crying. As per Saha, She rushed to their bedroom after she heard her son screaming and noticed that the toddler was laying injured on the floor. Saha further mentioned that she had heard a loud thug while she was in the kitchen.

On Saturday, when she checked the CCTV installed in their bedroom, she noticed that Aman had banged her son against the floor three times. She then approached the police along with the footage and lodged a complaint against her husband for injuring their child.
New Delhi: Google will reveal a bunch of software and hardware products on May 10, 2023 in Googles annual developer conference  Google I/O 2023. Google is expected to give a sneak peek a series of software and hardware including Android 14, Google Pixel 7a, Pixel fold, Pixel tablet, and many more. Heres everything you need to know about from event date, time, live streaming details, etc.

Google I/O 2023: Event Date & Time

Google will start on May at 10:30 PM IST (10am PT) at Mountain View, CA.

Googe I/O 2023: How To Watch Online Live Stream

Google annual developer event will be broadcast live on the official YouTube channel of Google and on Googles social media channels such as Twitter. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for the latest updates at io.google.com.

ALSO READ | Twitter To Remove Inactive Accounts, Says Elon Musk

Google I/O 2023: What To Expect

Google Pixel 7a: Google will also unveil its latest Pixel smartphone  Google Pixel 7 a. It has a 6.1-inch OLED 90hz display and might be powered with the new Google Tensor G2 chipset.

Android 14: Google may announce the new version of Android mobile operating system. Its name is upside down cake, as per reports.

Google Pixel Fold: It is expected that Google will reveal its first foldable smartphone in the Google I/O 2023 event. It may have a 7.69-inch inner display and Tensor G2 chipset.

Google Pixel Tablet: Google is also expected to launch its Pixel tablet during the event.
New Delhi: WhatsApp scam is getting traction across India with users complaining about the ongoign spam calls from the International numbers. Several users have shared the screenshot of their call records numbers they got from International call ID on Twitter. As per reports, these calls, both audio and video, are coming from countries like Malaysia, Kenya, Vietnam , Ethiopia, etc.

WhatsApp Responds Regarding Issue

'At WhatsApp, the safety of our users is at the core of everything we do and we have devoted efforts to empower users with resources and tools that equip them to safeguard themselves from scams. WhatsApp is an industry leader in preventing abuse, among end-to-end encrypted messaging services and over the years we have made significant product investments and launched user awareness campaigns that empower users to stay safe. Blocking and Reporting suspicious messages/ calls is an important step to effectively combat scams and when users receive calls from unknown international or domestic phone numbers.'' WhatsApp said in a statement to media.

Users are advised to stay vigilante regarding these spam calls from international scammers.

'Additionally, we have consistently invested in Artificial Intelligence and other state-of-the-art technology, data scientists and experts, and in processes, in order to keep our users safe on our platform. Our monthly user safety report that we publish in accordance with the IT Rules 2021, contains details of the user complaints received and the corresponding action taken by WhatsApp, as well as WhatsApp's own preventive actions to combat abuse on our platform. As captured in the latest Monthly Report, WhatsApp banned over 4.7 million accounts in the month of March alone,'' the statement added.

How To Block Numbers:

If you want to block a number on WhatsApp, the process is simple.

Start by opening a chat with the contact you wish to block.

Next, click on the three dots located next to the call option. Tap on "More" and select "Block" to stop receiving messages and calls from that number.

Once you've blocked a contact, they will no longer be able to call you or send you messages. Additionally, your "last seen," "online," and "status updates" will not be visible to contacts you've blocked, and any changes made to your profile photo will also be hidden from them.

By following these steps, you can easily block unwanted contacts on WhatsApp and enjoy a more peaceful messaging experience.
FILE PHOTO: Former FTX Chief Executive Bankman-Fried at the Manhattan federal court in New York City

By Andrew Goudsward

(Reuters) - Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has renewed his attacks on the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchanges law firm as he mounts his defense against a raft of fraud, money laundering and campaign finance charges.

Bankman-Fried late Monday asked a judge to designate FTXs current leadership and the exchanges attorneys at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell as part of the prosecution team in the criminal case against him.

FTX and Sullivan & Cromwell provided such extensive cooperation to the government that prosecutors had effectively deputized the company to aid the prosecution, Bankman-Fried argued. The 31-year-old ex-CEO is fighting charges that he stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses at his Alameda Research hedge fund.

Sullivan & Cromwell, a prominent Wall Street law firm with about 900 lawyers, represented FTX on transactions and regulatory matters before its collapse last year. The firm secured court approval in January to advise FTX in its bankruptcy, overcoming objections from some FTX creditors and U.S. lawmakers that its past work created a conflict of interest.

Bankman-Fried publicly assailed Sullivan & Cromwell following the exchanges collapse, claiming the firm rushed FTX into bankruptcy and downplayed its prior work for the exchange. The firm has denied the claims.

Mondays filing in Manhattan federal court indicated that the one-time crypto billionaire would target Sullivan & Cromwell and current FTX CEO John Ray in his criminal defense as well.

Spokespeople for Sullivan & Cromwell and FTX did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment.

FTX and its Sullivan & Cromwell team have accused Bankman-Fried of presiding over a shocking lack of internal corporate controls and said their cooperation with the government was crucial to securing a quick indictment against Bankman-Fried and guilty pleas from other FTX executives.

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If the judge grants Bankman-Fried's request to designate them as part of the prosecution, they would be required to turn over any documents relevant to the case, including evidence that potentially bolsters Bankman-Frieds defense. Normally only prosecutors face that obligation.

In Mondays filing, Bankman-Frieds defense team said Ray and FTXs bankruptcy lawyers have acted as public mouthpieces for the prosecution and have turned over cherry-picked information incriminating Bankman-Fried.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward)
Delvens

Delvens launched a report on Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market" size is expected to reach USD 20.4 billion and is projected to reach a CAGR of 10.8% from 2023-2030.

Chicago, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to study titled Gasoline Direct Injection Market by Component (Fuel Injectors, Fuel Pumps, Electronic Control Units, Others), Engine Type, Vehicle Type, Sales Channel, and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and South America) by Delvens, the Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market size is expected to reach USD 20.4 billion and is projected to reach a CAGR of 10.8% from 2023-2030. The Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market is dominated by major players such as Denso Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Motonic Corporation among others.

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market report clearly explains what market definition, classifications, applications, engagements and market trends are for the Automotive industry. This market study estimates the market status, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, and distributors. This global market research report is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Analysis and estimation of important industry trends, market size, and market share are mentioned in the Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market report.

Request Sample Pages of Report: https://www.delvens.com/get-free-sample/gasoline-direct-injection-gdi-market-trends-forecast-till-2030

The COVID-19 issue led to market uncertainty, a significant slowdown in the supply chain, a decline in corporate confidence, and an increase in consumer fear. The complete production and sales of gasoline direct injection systems were negatively impacted when governments in several locations declared total lockdown and temporarily stopped industry. Sales of new automobiles were impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly in 2020. It led to supply-chain hiccups, which delayed the production of automobiles. Lack of parts and supplies caused delays in the production of automobiles for a number of automakers. In addition, the government's lockdown caused a temporary stoppage of car production during the epidemic and a drop in demand for cars. However, after the pandemic, there will be a spike in vehicle demand, which will spur the market for gasoline direct injection systems to develop.

Story continues

The desire for fuel efficiency, improved thermal efficiency and engine performance, the adoption of stricter emissions rules, and a growing propensity towards engine downsizing and lighter cars are all contributing to the growth of the global market for gasoline direct injection systems. The development of the gasoline direct injection system industry is hampered by the high cost of GDI systems and vehicle electrification. Additionally, it is anticipated that the use of GDI systems in hybrid vehicles, technical developments (such as the turbo GDI system), and an increase in demand for passenger cars in emerging nations would create profitable growth prospects during the projection period.

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Competitive Landscape:

Denso Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Motonic Corporation

Park-Ohio Holdings Corporation

Robert Bosch GmbH

Stanadyne LLC

Continental AG

BorgWarner Inc.

In October 2022, Magneti Marelli at the international suppliers fair (IZB) in Germany, displayed some of its most cutting-edge new innovations. The Company showed emission reduction solutions, integrating competencies from after-treatment and powertrain systems.

In September 2022, Stanadyne to improve the powertrains of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, created a novel alternative fuel injector. In order to distribute hydrogen, compressed natural gas, and dimethyl ether (DME) fuels, the business created a multifunctional port injector.

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Report Scope

Report Feature Descriptions Growth Rate CAGR of 10.8% during the forecasting period, 2023-2030 Historical Data 2019-2021 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Units Considered Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 Report Segmentation Component, engine type, vehicle type, sales channel, and region. Report Attribute Market Revenue Sizing (Global, Regional and Country Level) Company Share Analysis, Market Dynamics, Company Profiling Regional Level Scope North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East, and Africa Country Level Scope U.S., Japan, Germany, U.K., China, India, Brazil, UAE, and South Africa (50+ Countries Across the Globe) Companies Profiled Denso Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Motonic Corporation, Park-Ohio, Holdings Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stanadyne LLC, Continental AG, BorgWarner Inc. Available Customization In addition to the market data for the Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market, Delvens offers client-centric reports customized according to the companys specific demand and requirements.

Inquire Before Buying: https://www.delvens.com/Inquire-before-buying/gasoline-direct-injection-gdi-market-trends-forecast-till-2030

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Regional Analysis:

Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market

The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest region in the Global Gasoline Direct Injection market during the forecast period.

Furthermore, with numerous technical breakthroughs, government rules in Europe aimed at reducing vehicle-generated carbon emissions are projected to drive up demand for GDI.

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Key Findings:

The component segment is further segmented into Fuel Injectors, Fuel Pumps, and Electronic Control Units. Over the course of the forecast period, the fuel injectors segment is anticipated to dominate the worldwide market in terms of revenue share. An internal combustion engine's fuel is atomized and injected via a fuel injector. At precisely the proper point in the combustion cycle, the injector atomizes the fuel and drives it into the combustion chamber. Modern injectors may also meter fuel in accordance with the Electronic Control Module's instructions (ECM). Currently, gasoline fuel injectors are utilized instead of carburetors, which employ the vacuum formed by the piston's downward stroke to draw in an air-fuel combination.

The vehicle type segment is further fragmented into passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. Passenger vehicles are more likely to be used. Due to its high production rate with gasoline engines, the passenger vehicle segment now controls the largest market share. Since most passenger cars run on gasoline or gasoline-based fuel, they heavily employ gasoline direct fuel injection technology. Private transportation, particularly in emerging nations like China, India, and others, is the main factor driving the demand for passenger automobiles. Due to its leading market position, gasoline-powered direct injection in passenger vehicles is expected to see an increase in demand as the global middle class grows.

The market is also divided into various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest region in the Global Gasoline Direct Injection market during the forecast period. Leading automakers including TATA Motors, Suzuki, Hyundai, and Toyota which are based in Asia-Pacific, have a big influence on the demand for gasoline direct injection technology.

Direct Purchase of Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Research Report: https://www.delvens.com/checkout/gasoline-direct-injection-gdi-market-trends-forecast-till-2030

Table of Contents

The Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market is segmented into various segments such as component, engine type, vehicle type, sales channel, and region:

On the basis of component

Fuel Injectors

Fuel Pumps

Electronic Control Units

Others

On the basis of vehicle type

Passenger Cars

Commercial Cars

On the basis of sales channel

Original Equipment Manufacturer

Aftermarket

On the basis of region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

South America

The prominent players in the Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market are

Denso Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Marelli Holdings Co., Ltd.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Motonic Corporation

Park-Ohio Holdings Corporation

Robert Bosch GmbH

Stanadyne LLC

Continental AG

BorgWarner Inc.

Delvens Industry Expert's Standpoint

There are a few reputable manufacturers of GDI systems in the fragmented worldwide market for GDI systems. For vehicle OEMs and Tier-1 producers, these vendors are always trying to build high-quality and robust GDI systems. When compared to PFI engines, gasoline direct engines have a number of benefits in terms of efficiency and specific power. To make the most of this capability, special focus must be placed on how the air/fuel combination is formed inside the cylinder. Since injectors must deliver fine fuel atomization in a very short amount of time, creating a spray pattern capable of interacting with in-cylinder air motion and piston top surface, the combustion system must function at a higher level. This is made feasible by the Common Rail technology, which enables an injection pressure that is an order of magnitude larger than that of traditional PFI engines. In terms of revenue share, the fuel injectors segment is predicted to dominate the global market throughout the forecast period.

Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market: Reasons to Acquire

Increase your understanding of the market for identifying the best and most suitable strategies and decisions on the basis of sales or revenue fluctuations in terms of volume and value, distribution chain analysis, market trends, and factors

Gain authentic and granular data access for the Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market so as to understand the trends and the factors involved in changing market situations

Qualitative and quantitative data utilization to discover arrays of future growth from the market trends of leaders to market visionaries and then recognize the significant areas to compete in the future

In-depth analysis of the changing trends of the market by visualizing the historic and forecast year growth patterns

Read More About the Global Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Market Research Report: https://www.delvens.com/report/gasoline-direct-injection-gdi-market-trends-forecast-till-2030

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DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Dental Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Dental Implants, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics), By End-use (Hospitals, Dental Clinics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The global dental services market size is expected to reach USD 610.4 billion by 2030. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030.

Companies Mentioned

Aspen Dental Management Inc.

Integrated Dental Holdings

InterDent, Inc.

National Health Service England

The British United Provident Association Limited

Abano Healthcare Group Limited

Apollo White Dental

Coast Dental

Dental Service Group

Axis Dental

Pacific Dental Service

Gentle Dental of New England

The marketing efforts to commercialize dental practices including education camps and online campaigns are contributing to the adoption of dental services.

Rapid urbanization around the world, constant economic growth, and the rising disposable income of people have contributed to the relatively steady growth of the market. In addition, per capita, consumption expenditure on healthcare services is likely to significantly increase in the coming years.



The market for dental services was severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the clinics were closed due to the imposed social distancing. In March 2020, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued guidelines to postpone elective dental procedures. Only emergency procedures were allowed to carry out during the early phase of the pandemic.



In April 2021, Mills Administration, in partnership with Northeast Delta Dental launched the Maine Veterans' Dental Network. It was launched officially in May 2021 and provides services to Maines's veterans who were not able to afford it.

In July 2021, Geyer Dental Group updated their Dental Crown Repair/Cap Fitting Restorative Dentistry service for the people in Greater St. Louis. The practice offers periodontal, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry.



Dental Services Market Report Highlights

Story continues

Based on type, the dental implants segment held the dominant revenue share in 2022. as these implants provide patients with functional options for teeth replacement procedures. With the R&D in this field, dental implants are available with better biomaterials, improved designs, and surface modifications

The cosmetic dentistry type segment is likely to witness the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030 owing to the rising adoption of teeth appearance improvement procedures, such as teeth whitening, crowns, inlays and onlays, and veneers

Based on end-use, the dental clinic segment held the largest share in terms of revenue in 2022 and is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. The majority of patients visit private practice dental clinics due to the availability of specialists, cost efficiency, and advanced technology

In 2022, North America dominated the market in terms of revenue owing to factors including the presence of independent dental clinics, growing R&D activities in dentistry, and rising disposable income. The increasing government funding for dental programs is likely to contribute to the growth

The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030 due to the growing number of dental clinics and rising awareness about oral care. The healthcare infrastructure in the Asia Pacific is expanding with advanced technology and equipment

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Report Scope and Objectives

Chapter 2 Methodology

Chapter 3 Executive Summary



Chapter 4 Market Variables, Trends & Scope

4.1 Market Lineage Outlook

4.1.1 Ancillary Market Outlook

4.2 Dental Services Market Dynamics

4.2.1 Market Driver Analysis

4.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis

4.3 Dental services Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools

4.4 Impact of COVID-19 on the Dental Services Market



Chapter 5 Dental Services Market: Type Analysis

5.1 Dental Services Type Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.2 Dental Services Type Market: Segment Dashboard

5.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030 for the Type Segment

5.3.1 Dental Implants

5.3.1.1 Dental implants market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.2 Orthodontics

5.3.2.1 Orthodontics market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.3 Periodontics

5.3.3.1 Periodontics market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.4 Endodontics

5.3.4.1 Endodontics market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.5 Cosmetic Dentistry

5.3.5.1 Cosmetic dentistry market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.6 Laser Dentistry

5.3.6.1 Laser dentistry market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.7 Dentures

5.3.7.1 Dentures market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.8 Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

5.3.8.1 Oral & maxillofacial surgery market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3.9 Others

5.3.9.1 Others market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 6 Dental Services Market: End-use Analysis

6.1 Dental Services End-use Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

6.2 Dental Services End-use Market: Segment Dashboard

6.3 Market Size & Forecasts and Trend Analyses, 2018 to 2030 for the End-use Segment

6.3.1 Hospitals

6.3.1.1 Hospitals market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

6.3.2 Dental Clinics

6.3.2.1 Dental clinics market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 7 Dental Services Market: Regional Analysis

Chapter 8 Competitive Analysis

8.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

8.2 Company/Competition Categorization (Key Innovators, Market Leaders, Emerging Players)

8.2.1 PARTICIPANT CATEGORIZATION

8.2.1.1 INNOVATORS

8.3 Vendor Landscape

8.4 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/db8lcx

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SOURCE Research and Markets
The deepening rivalry between the United States and China has seen both superpowers eager to draw nations into its orbit, but one country has in recent months increasingly found itself in the centre of the tug of war: the Philippines.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden welcomed Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to the White House for talks, where he reaffirmed Washington's security commitments to Manila and spoke fondly of their "deep friendship".

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.

"We are facing new challenges and I couldn't think of a better partner to have than you," Biden told Marcos.

The Philippine president described ties with the US as essential amid "possibly the most complicated geopolitical situation in the world right now".

Following the meeting, the White House said it would transfer three C-130 aircraft and two coastal patrol vessels to the Philippines.

And on Wednesday, the two countries established ground rules to jointly counter China's activities in the region, including plans for enhanced intelligence sharing on common threats.

Analysts said Manila's recent pivot towards Washington was "inevitable" as there was growing recognition that the Southeast Asian country would be "collateral damage" in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. It should also be viewed against the backdrop of China's increased aggression in the South China Sea.

Days before Marcos' meeting with Biden, a Chinese coastguard ship nearly collided with a Philippine patrol vessel in the disputed waterways.

The Philippines has urged Beijing to stop its "aggressive action", but China's foreign ministry claimed it was a "premeditated provocation" by Manila.

Story continues

Ironically, the incident took place just days after Chinese foreign minister, Qin Gang, visited the Philippines, where he agreed with Marcos to establish more lines of communications in the South China Sea.

Such enhanced communication will ensure that any event in the disputed waters "that involves China and the Philippines can immediately be resolved", both sides earlier said.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the resource-rich waters through which about US$3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually. Along with Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia contest China's vast claim.

A Chinese foreign ministry read-out said the two countries would "properly handle maritime issues" to prevent a dent in ties as Qin stressed the need to "keep bilateral relations to the right direction".

On Taiwan, Qin said Manila would abide by the one-China policy and "stick to strategic independence rather than picking sides".

Qin's comments reflected Beijing's fears that Washington's allies in the region - from the Philippines to Japan to South Korea - would get drawn into a dispute involving Taiwan as the US sought to expand its influence in China's backyard.

His trip also came amid what analysts called "some big ups and downs" in relations between China and the Philippines, particularly as ties were tested when Manila accused a Chinese coastguard ship of directing lasers at one of its ships in February.

After all, Qin visited Manila as the US and the Philippines were holding the largest edition of their annual military exercise - called Balikatan - involving some 17,600 military personnel.

Also weighing on China was the naming of four bases in the Philippines that American troops would now have access to - as part of an expanded defence pact - including one located near the South China Sea and another which sits not far from Taiwan.

Washington and Manila had also announced last month that they would boost defence cooperation as leaders "redoubled" their commitment to modernising a mutual defence treaty signed in 1951.

Observers said the developments showed that the Philippines was a "critical pillar" in the Biden administration's Asia strategy.

"What the Marcos administration sees is that while China may not necessarily be a bad superpower, its behaviour and what it can actually do in the coming months, if not years, can cause more instability and unpredictability in the region, that could jeopardise Philippine interests," said Philippine diplomatic observer Aries Arugay.

Expectedly, these recent moves have drawn some fierce response from China.

Its ambassador to Manila said the decision to grant the US greater base access had "caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people", saying the Philippines should oppose Taiwan independence "rather than stoking the fire".

Marcos later said that the four new bases would not be used for "offensive action".

US, Philippines establish ground rules to counter China in South China Sea and Taiwan Strait

Beijing says Philippine coastguard staged South China Sea near-collision for the benefit of journalists

Opinion: Philippines is a study in how to balance between the US and China

China and Philippines look to boost communications over South China Sea dispute

Opinion: China and the Philippines must ensure the US and South China Sea issues don't come between them

Photo: Reuters alt=Photo: Reuters>

As Philippines moves closer to US, will region change tack on China?

Manila would 'inevitably be collateral damage' in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, which explains pivot to Washington, observer says

But it is not expected to result in a significant change in approach on Beijing by other Southeast Asian nations

Manila's "inevitable" pivot towards Washington is likely to have a limited impact on how other nations in the region handle Taiwan and the South China Sea, observers say.

There was growing recognition that the Philippines would "inevitably be collateral damage" in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, which explained the efforts to deepen ties with Washington, according to diplomatic observer Charmaine Willoughby.

Read more

Photo: AFP alt=Photo: AFP>

Philippine-US war games to boost external defence, cybersecurity capabilities

The drills will feature precise combat scenarios and cyber defence exercise, among others, in a show of 'joint and equal partnership' between the military allies

Aim of 'littoral live-fire' drills is to ward off attacks by a fictitious country, but one analyst says that can only be China

The armed forces of the Philippines and United States are doing things a little differently during their ongoing 38th Balikatan, or shoulder to shoulder, training exercises that will last until June.

While the bulk of the 17,600 combined forces - 12,200 American and 5,400 Filipino soldiers - will train for 17 days, a "few" US military officers will stay for two months to attend to logistics of sending home troops and equipment and to plan the next cycle of exercises with local counterparts, building on the lessons learned from the current one.

Read more

Photo: AP alt=Photo: AP>

Taiwan welcomes renewed US, Philippines commitment to regional security

Taipei says joint statement underscores the 'consensus from countries in the region to uphold cross-strait peace and stability'

Closer defence cooperation will allow the US to better respond in the event of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, observers say

Taiwan has applauded a joint statement by the leaders of the United States and the Philippines on maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait following the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) intensified military operations around the self-ruled island.

Observers said closer US-Philippine cooperation, especially in defence, would give US forces yet another base of operations from which to aid Taiwan should a cross-strait conflict break out.

Read more

Photo: Reuters alt=Photo: Reuters>

US and Philippines to boost ties amid an increasingly assertive China

A US-Philippine meeting of defence chiefs in Washington this week indicates that bilateral ties between the allies now at 'critical juncture'

While US 'needs the Philippines', the Southeast Asian nation has to position itself carefully in case US-China tensions escalate, say analysts

The messaging that emerged from a meeting this week between top US and Philippine defence and diplomatic officials offers the strongest signs yet that ties between the treaty partners are set for a comprehensive upgrade, with China's regional assertiveness a key concern, analysts have said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on Tuesday hosted Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defence Secretary Carlito Galvez in Washington.

Read more

Photo: Facebook alt=Photo: Facebook>

Beijing says envoy to Manila 'misquoted' on Filipino workers' safety in Taiwan

During a forum, Huang Xilian's comments caused an uproar for implying overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan could be at risk due to Philippines military drills with the US

The Chinese embassy provided a transcript 'to set the record straight', but there did not appear to be a difference in Huang's comments and the embassy transcript

China's ambassador in the Philippines has said his recent remarks, suggesting that Manila was fuelling tensions in the Taiwan Strait through its ties with the United States, had been misconstrued, following the uproar over the matter in the Southeast Asian country.

In the speech on Friday about China-Philippine relations, Beijing's top envoy to Manila Huang Xilian said the Philippine government's decision to grant the US military wider access to some of its military bases had "caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people".

Read more

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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.

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DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Massive Open Online Courses Market, Trends & Growth Opportunity, by Course Subject, by Provider, by End-User, by Education Level, by Region and Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The Global Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Market was valued at USD 11.17 Bn in 2022 and is expected to expand to USD 39.71 Bn by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.18% during the forecast period of 2023-2030.



Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are online courses that are accessible to a large number of students simultaneously, without any restrictions on geographic location or academic background. MOOCs offer a range of courses, from beginner-level classes to advanced courses that are designed to offer in-depth knowledge on specific subjects.

MOOCs can be accessed via the internet, and they are usually free of charge, although some courses may require a fee to access additional features or receive a certificate of completion.

MOOCs offer students the opportunity to learn from renowned professors and industry experts from around the world, interact with other students through discussion forums and online activities, and complete assignments and assessments to test their knowledge.



Market Drivers



The market for MOOCs is driven by the increasing demand for affordable and flexible education options, as well as the popularity of distance or online education.

MOOCs offer students the ability to learn at their own pace and on their schedule, without the constraints of a traditional classroom. This makes education more accessible to individuals who may not have the resources or time to attend traditional courses.



Additionally, the growing popularity of distance education and e-learning has led to increased demand for MOOCs as a viable alternative to traditional education. Another driver of the MOOCs market is the increasing adoption of technology in the education sector. With the widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices, MOOCs have become more accessible to a wider audience.



Market Restraints



A major restraint to the growth of the MOOCs market is the high rate of attrition, as many students start the courses but do not complete them due to various reasons such as lack of motivation, inadequate academic support, and technical issues.

Story continues

Another challenge is the lack of accreditation, as many MOOCs do not offer recognized credentials or degrees, which can limit their value for students seeking professional development or career advancement.



Additionally, there are concerns about the quality of instruction and the ability of MOOCs to provide personalized learning experiences. Finally, there is a digital divide where access to the internet and technology is not universal. This lack of accessibility can prevent some learners from participating in MOOCs, especially those in developing countries with limited resources.



Impact of Covid-19



With many educational institutions worldwide forced to suspend face-to-face classes, the demand for online education has skyrocketed. As a result, MOOCs have experienced a surge in demand, as students and professionals look for ways to continue learning and upskilling remotely. This has led to an increase in the number of enrollments in MOOCs, as well as the development of new courses and programs tailored to remote learning.



However, the pandemic has also brought about some challenges, such as the need to ensure adequate infrastructure and connectivity for online learning, as well as issues with accessibility and equity.

Additionally, the pandemic has impacted the financial stability of some MOOC providers, as well as the funding available for MOOC-based initiatives. Overall, while the pandemic has presented both opportunities and challenges for the MOOCs market, it has accelerated the adoption of online learning and highlighted the importance of digital education.



Regional Analysis



The Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) market has been dominated by North America and Europe due to the high adoption rate of e-learning and technological advancements in these regions.



However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth in the MOOCs market due to the increasing demand for quality education, the rise in internet penetration, and the increasing adoption of e-learning platforms by universities and institutions. Additionally, the growing population in the Asia Pacific region and the increasing demand for skill-based education are also driving the growth of the MOOCs market in this region.

Company Profiles

Coursera

edX

Udacity

LinkedIn Learning

Udemy

Simplilearn

Skillshare

Codecademy

DataCamp

Domestika

WizIQ

OpenLearning

FutureLearn

Alison

MasterClass

XuetangX

Cognixia

OpenClassrooms

Market Taxonomy

By Course Subject

Business & Management

Computer Science

Humanities

Health & Medicine

Engineering

Science

Others

By Provider

Private Companies

Not-For-Profit Organizations

By End-user

Students

Professionals

Organizations

By Education Level

Primary Education

Higher Education

Vocational Training

By Region

North America (USA, Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, UK, Rest of Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Rest of Asia Pacific)

Latin America (Brazil, Rest of Latin America)

Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, South Africa)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dt983b

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Commercial Cleaning, Household Cleaning, Industrial Cleaning), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The global narrow range ethoxylates market size is expected to reach USD 8, 827.8 thousand by 2030.

Companies Mentioned

Nouryon

Sasol

Evonik

Venus Ethoxylates

Univar Solutions

Pilot Chemical Co.

Dow Chemicals

ESTI CHEM

Stepan Company

Oxiteno

The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing demand from narrow range ethoxylates is used in various end-use industries.



Narrow range ethoxylates are sold commercially via B2B channels to various end-use industries, including leather and textile, agrochemicals, and paints and coatings.

The end-use manufacturers include narrow range ethoxylates in their product formulations to develop cleaning products, such as surface disinfectants and sanitizers, for various applications. Companies sell their products directly to end-use companies or through various other intermediaries, such as wholesalers or retailers.



Surface-active substances are used in cleaning products as they exhibit excellent degreasing, emulsifying, wetting, de-gumming, binding, and scouring properties. Such properties enable them to be used in various product formulations, such as laundry detergents, hard surface cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners. In addition, they are used for several end-use applications such as engine cleaning, all-purpose cleaning, vehicle cleaning, and detergents for textiles, machine dishwashing, and microemulsions.



The price is determined majorly by the fluctuating cost of raw materials. The demand for raw materials, such as ethylene oxide, fatty alcohols, and other products, and their availability account for a substantial share of the production cost, thereby influencing the product price. The use of raw materials for alternate applications resulted in a stringent demand for the use in the production of ethoxylates leading to an increase in the price.



Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Report Highlights

Story continues

Commercial cleaning dominated the market with a volume share of 65.7% in 2022, as they can emulsify soil, aid in suspending particle material, and are widely applicable in multi-purpose cleaners

The demand for goods and services worldwide in 2022 was primarily sourced from North America. Multinational firms and a strong supply chain system serving end-use industries are two features that define the region

Multinational corporations, which have diversified distribution channels through numerous partners, greatly dominate the market. Long-term supply agreements are typically used by businesses to lower the risk of price volatility and maintain acceptable gross margins

Asia Pacific dominated the market with a volume share of 32.22% in 2022, demand in the region is being driven by an increase in public awareness of health and hygiene, as well as the implementation of strict requirements for cleaning and disinfection in both residential and commercial cleaning applications

In 2021, BASF SE and Syngenta Crop Protection AG reached an agreement to create a new class of herbicides. In order to create more efficient herbicides that can assist farmers in increasing crop yields and cutting costs, the agreement aimed to take advantage of BASF's expertise in the development of surfactants and emulsifiers, including NREs

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Market Snapshot

2.2 Segment Snapshot

2.3 Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.1.1 Global Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market Outlook

3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.2.1 Manufacturing/Technology Trends

3.2.2 Sales Channel Analysis

3.2.3 List of Potential End - Users

3.3 Price Trend Analysis, 2018 - 2030

3.3.1 Factors Affecting Prices

3.4 Regulatory Framework, By Regions

3.5 Market Dynamics

3.5.1 Market driver analysis

3.5.2 Market restraint analysis

3.5.3 Market Challenges Analysis

3.5.4 Market Opportunity Analysis

3.6 Business Environment Analysis

3.6.1 Porter's Analysis

3.6.2 PESTEL Analysis



Chapter 4 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Supplier Portfolio Analysis

4.1 List of Key Raw Material Suppliers

4.2 Raw Material Trends

4.3 Portfolio Analysis/Kraljic Matrix

4.4 Engagement Model

4.5 Negotiation Strategies

4.6 Sourcing Best Practices



Chapter 5 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Application movement analysis & market share, 2022 & 2030

5.1.1 Household Cleaning

5.1.1.1 Household Cleaning (UF) Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)

5.1.2 Commercial Cleaning

5.1.2.1 Commercial Cleaning Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)

5.1.3 Industrial

5.1.3.1 Industrial Market Estimates and Forecast, 2018 - 2030 (Tons) (USD Thousand)



Chapter 6 Narrow Range Ethoxylates Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape

7.1 Recent Development & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

7.2 Company Categorization

7.3 Company Market Share Analysis, 2022

7.4 Company Heat Map Analysis

7.5 Strategy Mapping

7.6 Company Listing (Business Overview, Financial Performance, Application Benchmarking)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eflfxv

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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SOURCE Research and Markets
(Reuters) - General Motors Co on Tuesday named former Apple Inc executive Mike Abbott to lead a division that will bring together three software functions within the company.

Abbott, whose appointment is effective from May 22, will spearhead development of vehicle and enterprise software technologies.

Automakers, including GM and Ford Motor Co, have been increasingly ramping up their investment on technology and software services amid an electric-vehicle push, as they look to cash in on subscription-based services.

"We have entered the next phase of our technology driven transformation focused on rapidly scaling new EV models," GM's CEO Mary Barra said.

At Apple, Abbott led a team responsible for the development of core infrastructure for all of the company's cloud-based services including iCloud, iMessage, Private Relay, Mail and account security.

Bloomberg News had in March reported Abbott would step down from his role at the iPhone maker. He previously held top roles at Twitter and Palm, and was a partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins.

GM's announcement comes nearly two years after Detroit-based peer Ford appointed the head of Apple's car project, Doug Field, to lead its advanced technology and embedded systems efforts.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Joseph White in Detroit; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
(Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has agreed to pay $215 million to put an end to a long-running class-action lawsuit that accused the Wall Street giant of systemically underpaying women.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The New York-based bank struck the deal with lawyers representing about 2,800 female associates and vice-presidents, according to a joint statement from the bank and the plaintiffs lawyers. About a third is expected to be set aside for attorney fees.

The upcoming trial, scheduled for next month in New York, would have provided a rare public forum for testimony about inequality inside the financial industry, where all but one of the six biggest US banks have only ever been run by men.

The two sides had been finalizing a deal, racing to settle before trial, Bloomberg News reported last week.

The case was closely watched in an industry where women have long said that complaining of unfair treatment can derail careers. Though the trial was to focus on the statistics of pay and promotion, and a judge had said the question of a boys club atmosphere didnt qualify for class treatment, it was poised to be more than a mere grab bag of numbers. It would likely have examined some of the fabric of Goldmans workplace, thanks in part to testimony from executives.

The settlement is bigger than the sum that Smith Barney paid decades ago, more than $100 million, to end what was known as the Boom-Boom Room suit, which had accused the firm of harassment and discrimination.

Trials promise attention but also uncertainty. Lawyers for the women wrote in court records that some legal and procedural obstacles in their way were significant, even as they said they believed their claims have merit.

Story continues

Goldman Sachs will engage an independent expert to conduct additional analysis on how it evaluates performance and its process for promotion, according to the statement.

The Goldman suit was first brought by Cristina Chen-Oster, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who joined in 1997 and sold convertible bonds. She filed a discrimination complaint in July 2005 with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, then sued in 2010. Goldman fought  successfully, in some cases  to send some women in the case to arbitration, a more secretive system.

But mandatory arbitration agreements arent the only tools in the corporate arsenal. Nondisclosure agreements and settlements have long been used on Wall Street and beyond to keep claims of bad behavior and unfair treatment out of the spotlight.

Goldman is proud of its long record of promoting and advancing women and remains committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace, Jacqueline Arthur, its head of human resources, said in a statement.

For years, Goldman and its peers have pledged to diversify their ranks, acknowledging that they need to do better. Even though Goldmans partner class last year was 29% women, it counted as Goldmans most inclusive group of promotions yet.

Jamie Fiore Higgins, a former Goldman managing director who wrote a memoir about her career last year called Bully Market, talked to her twin daughters Tuesday morning about the settlement as they drove to middle school. This is progress, right? one daughter asked, Higgins recalled afterwards. Yeah, theres progress, Higgins answered. But the progress is too slow.

(Updates with details of the settlement throughout.)

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Everything we expect from Google's I/O developer conference

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) will host its annual I/O developers conference at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, on Wednesday. And you can bet CEO Sundar Pichai will have plenty to say about Big Techs latest obsession: generative AI.

Google is an AI juggernaut for sure. But the companys recent stumbles, namely its botched unveiling of its Bard chatbot and slow rollout of generative AI capabilities across its various products, have the tech giant playing catchup to arch rival Microsoft (MSFT) and its own Bing chatbot.

And the push to change that should kick off in earnest at I/O.

What I would anticipate from Google I/O is a very strong generative AI-forward message where Google re-seizes the mantle for AI leadershipand you will likely see announcements specifically focused on that, Gartner Analyst Chirag Dekate told Yahoo Finance.

Going all out on generative AI

Google has already made its own generative AI product announcements to combat Microsofts Bing. Bard, Googles chatbot, is available to select trusted users, and the company is rolling out waitlist invites to people who want to get access to generative AI features in its Google Workspace productivity suite.

You should expect to hear plenty of other announcements tied to both of those products.

I would not be surprised if Google announced that it's expanding those features to Google Sheets or to Google Slides, or to make them more generally available to the masses not trusted trusted testers, Forrester Analyst Nikhil Lai told Yahoo Finance.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, May 8, 2018. REUTERS/ Stephen Lam

Google, I think, bungled its launch of Bard. The stock tumbled when they fumbled that launch and the inaccuracy of Bard has been problematic, Lai said. When when users sign into Bard it talks about the limitations...so I think we'll see some enhancements there.

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Its not just about Bard and Workspace, though. Google will likely announce new generative AI features across its product lines including its all-important search engine.

According to The New York Times, Google is developing a new feature for its search engine that will allow users to interact with an AI bot. The initiative, codenamed Magi, would also include more visual responses and posts from social media sites.

Googles search business powers the companys massive advertising division, which generates the bulk of its $283 billion in revenue in 2022. Any changes to its search product are a risky endeavor, but with Microsofts Bing already bringing AI chatbots to search, Google has to respond.

The good news is I think the market is headed where Google has been traditionally quite strong, Dekate explained. Google has always been, ever since its inceptionan AI-centric company. The only problem is that Google has not spoken a lot about what they've been doing in generative AI for the longest time.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses a news conference in Berlin, Germany February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

That should change at I/O, though, as the company looks to put its generative AI chops on full display.

Hardware galore

But Google isnt just expected to roll out AI apps and services. The company will also show off its Pixel Fold smartphone. We already got a look at the foldable handset thanks to a teaser Google posted of the phone last week.

Like Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Pixel Fold features a cover display and a foldable internal display that opens up into a larger tablet-style screen. There appears to be a three camera setup on the back of the phone, suggesting itll sport telephoto, ultra-wide angle, and wide angle lenses. According to CNBC, the Pixel Fold will cost upwards of $1,700.

Google is also expected to debut a new entry-level smartphone called the Pixel 7A. According to CNET, the phone, which is a low-cost version of last years Pixel 7, will get many of its stablemates features and cost $499.

Theres also reportedly a Pixel Tablet in the works. And you can likely expect to get a glimpse at Googles upcoming Android 14 and maybe even its next-generation smartphone, the Pixel 8.

Be sure to check back in at Yahoo Finance for all of the news out of Google I/O when it kicks off Wednesday, May 10.

By Daniel Howley, tech editor at Yahoo Finance. Follow him @DanielHowley

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Egis, the international player active in consulting, construction engineering and mobility services, has been appointed by Taiba Investments Company to provide design review and supervision consultancy services for the 405-key Double Tree Hotel in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

The four-star Double Tree Hotel, which will boast 35 floors, will come up on a 8,800 sq m area near King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz square overlooking the Red Sea.

Egis said Taiba Investments Company and Hilton Hotels have joined forces to develop this iconic hotel project, that has a built-up area of 87,500 sq m.

As per the deal, Egis will provide design review and supervision consultancy services to ensure that the Double Tree Hotel is built to the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and safety.

With a wealth of experience in delivering engineering and consulting services for prestigious hospitality projects, Egis will bring its technical expertise and know-how to this project, it added.

On the contract win, Kamal Natour, the Operations Director of Egis in Saudi Arabia, said: "With our extensive experience in delivering engineering and consulting services for hospitality projects, we are confident in our ability to ensure that this iconic hotel is built to the highest standards of quality and sustainability."

"We look forward to working closely with Taiba Investments Company and Hilton Hotels to bring their vision for this project to life and create a memorable experience for guests," he added.

"We are confident that we can jointly achieve our vision in creating a high sustainable and future-fit hotel in one of Jeddah's prime locations," stated Natour.

Majdi Ghraizi, the Projects Manager from Taiba Investments Company, said: "With Egis' experience in a wide range of activities in the field of hospitality, we look forward to seeing our vision unfold into a top hotel choice for those visiting Jeddah."
A Go First airline, formerly known as GoAir, passenger aircraft is parked at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai,

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -An Indian tribunal will decide on Wednesday on Go Airlines (India) Ltd's bankruptcy request, a notice on the tribunal's website showed, as leasing companies step up pressure to repossess planes following missed rental payments.

The low-cost carrier filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming "faulty" Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines for the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. P&W, part of Raytheon Technologies, has called the airline's claims "astounding" and without evidence.

Widely known as Go First, the Indian carrier has been flying for nearly two decades. If it collapses it would follow Jet Airways which went under in 2019.

Go First has argued bankruptcy proceedings are critical to reviving the airline, which it says has suffered as it did not get spare engines from P&W in recent months.

The airline leases its fleet of planes and leasing companies have stepped up pressure on Go First by filing requests with Indian aviation authorities to allow them to repossess 36 of Go First's 54 Airbus A320neo planes because the airline has not met rental payments.

A bankruptcy protection for Go First could hurt lessors efforts as it would supersede and stall the repossession requests, according to aviation lawyers in India.

The Indian government has said it is not inclined to save the airline, which is owned by India's Wadia Group.

India's Deputy Aviation Minister V.K. Singh told news agency ANI the government has previously held talks with P&W to resolve the issue at Go First, which until recently was India's fourth-largest by passengers flown.

"The problem with Go Air is that their flights are run on engines of Pratt & Whitney which is facing management issues since after COVID-19... So (engine) manufacturing is not happening at the pace that it should," Singh said on Monday.

"What can be done about a bailout? Where will Pratt & Whitney get (engines)? (A) bailout can only happen when something can be done about this," Singh said in response to a question about the possibility of a government rescue.

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P&W did not respond to a request for comment on the minister's remarks.

The government is moving to protect passengers first, with the aviation regulator issuing a notice to Go First late on Monday to stop selling new tickets.

Go First, whose market share has fallen to 7.8% as of the end of March, from 8.8% in 2022, has also been asked to make cash refunds to passengers for cancelled flights, a government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The government is not thinking about a bailout as of now," the source added.

Go First's fate underscores fierce competition in India's aviation sector, dominated by IndiGo and the announced merger of Air India and Vistara, even though the sector has bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic and passenger numbers have hit record highs.

(Additional reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Alexander Smith and Susan Fenton)
CALGARY, AB, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - (TSXV: GRD) (OTCQB: GRDAF) - Grounded Lithium Corp. ("GLC" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on our direct lithium extraction ("DLE") selection process. As previously communicated in news releases dated March 13, 2023 and March 21, 2023, we selected our top two technology firms, which were deemed the most applicable for our specific brine chemistry, to test Kindersley Lithium Project brine ("KLP Brine"). Large volumes of KLP Brine were shipped earlier in the month to both labs and extraction testing commenced in parallel. As part of the initial gating process both labs independently tested the KLP Brine for qualities and impurities to provide a baseline assessment and characterization. In both cases, concentrations met or exceeded the concentrations previously communicated by the Company of 74-81 mg/l of lithium, providing support to conduct fulsome extraction technology testing which is now nearing completion. Measured lithium concentrations for characterization purposes averaged 80 mg/l. Samples provided to both DLE labs were sourced from the Company's first initial lithium test well at 4-15-32-23W3 (the "4-15 Well"), specifically brine was collected throughout the open hole section from 966m to 1145m. Grounded produced sufficient quantities of brine from the 4-15 Well during production testing in November 2022 and securely stored those samples at a facility in the Kindersley area. Our handling process maintained strict custody of control during transportation to the respective labs. Once received, these independent labs used industry accepted practices and equipment to determine brine chemistry, specifically testing for concentrations of lithium.

Grounded Lithium Corp Logo (CNW Group/Grounded Lithium Corp)

The Company also delivered KLP Brine samples to a third independent Alberta lab, Isobrine Solutions ("Isobrine"), which offers specialized and rigorous brine evaluation. Isobrine evolved as a start-up company from the University of Alberta approximately 20 years ago. Isobrine received KLP Brine and performed controlled testing on our brine with an observed lithium concentration of 78 mg/l. This represents a 5% increase over the concentrations previously used in our National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for lithium carbonate equivalent inferred resources. This increase is expected to aid in overall project economics and additional resource assessments.

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These results continue to support a potentially economic project particularly when paired with proven well deliverability. The Company is expecting to be in a position to communicate our preferred DLE vendor in the coming weeks. The chosen DLE technology will be included in the Company's maiden preliminary economic assessment on the Kindersley Lithium Project, expected to be filed on or before the end of Q2 2023.

About Grounded Lithium Corp.

GLC is a publicly traded lithium brine exploration and development company that controls approximately 4.2 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent of inferred resource over our focused land holdings in Southwest Saskatchewan. GLC's multi-faceted business model involves the consolidation, delineation, exploitation and ultimately development of our opportunity base to fulfill our vision to build a best-in-class, environmentally responsible, Canadian lithium producer supporting the global energy transition shift. U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on https://www.otcmarkets.com/.

Qualified Person

Scientific and technical information contained in this press release pertaining specifically to recent lab concentrations of the two selected DLE technology companies and Isobrine has been prepared under the supervision of Dale Shipman, P.Eng, VP Operations, of the Company. All other scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of Doug Ashton, P.Eng, Suryanarayana Karri, P. Geoph., Alexey Romanov, P. Geo. and Meghan Klein, P. Eng., each of whom is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The opinions, forecasts, projections and statements about future events of results, are forward looking information, forward-looking statements or financial outlooks (collectively, "forward-looking statements") under the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by GLC that the Company believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Although GLC believes that the assumptions underlying, and expectations reflected in, these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Industry Expert's lithium from brine extraction technology, the impact on project economics and resource assessments, the selection of a lithium from brine technology by the Company and timing thereof, and GLC's vision of becoming a best-in-class, environmentally responsible, Canadian lithium producer supporting the global energy transition.

Among the important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: GLC's expectation that our operations will be in Western Canada, unexpected problems can arise due to technical difficulties and operational difficulties which impact the production, transport or sale of our products; geographic and weather conditions can impact the production; the risk that current global economic and credit conditions may impact commodity prices and consumption more than GLC currently predicts; the failure to obtain financing on reasonable terms; the risk that unexpected delays and difficulties in developing currently owned properties may occur; the failure of drilling to result in commercial projects; unexpected delays due to the limited availability of drilling equipment and personnel; and the other risk factors detailed from time to time in GLC's periodic reports. GLC's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein except as required by securities laws.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

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SOURCE Grounded Lithium Corp
Gen. John Abizaid, The Honorable Kari Bingen, Rep. Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan bring diverse experiences to HawkEye 360

HERNDON, Va., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkEye 360 Inc., the world's leading defense technology company for space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced today their Advisory Board Class of 2023: General John P. Abizaid, The Honorable Kari A. Bingen, The Honorable Jim Cooper, and Dr. M. Sanjayan.

HawkEye 360 Announces Advisory Board Class of 2023

"HawkEye 360 is proud to welcome an extraordinary class of advisory board leaders for 2023," said HawkEye 360 Chief Executive Officer John Serafini. "Their broad expertise across government and nonprofit sectors will be essential as we continue to expand our RF-sensing satellite constellation to equip the U.S. Government and our partners abroad with crucial, near real-time insights into illegal and illicit activities."

General John P. Abizaid is a retired U.S. Army four-star general, who most recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Previously, he served on the CIA's External Advisory Board and as the Distinguished Chair (Emeritus) of the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was also the first Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In his thirty-four years of active service, he commanded units at every level, serving in Grenada, Lebanon, Kurdistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he has also studied at the University of Jordan in Amman, holds a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University, and has received Honorary Degrees from Dartmouth College and Norwich University. Currently, he is the Principal Partner of JPA Partners, LLC, a firm advising private business, government, and academic clients on leadership, national and international strategy, business, security, and military affairs. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as a board member for the Middle East Institute.

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"HawkEye 360's work is critical to fostering a safer and more secure world, including in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions," General John Abizaid said. "I look forward to joining this dynamic team who are demonstrating the critical role commercial defense technologies play in our national defense."

The Honorable Kari A. Bingen is the director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She previously served as Chief Strategy Officer for HawkEye 360. Kari has also served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security for the U.S. Department of Defense, the policy director on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and staff lead for its Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Kari is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University, a member of the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group, and serves on a number of corporate and nonprofit advisory boards. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics.

"I'm thrilled to be back with the HawkEye 360 team in this capacity and to be joining such a distinguished cohort of advisors," Kari Bingen said. "HawkEye 360 exemplifies the contribution that commercial space can make to national defense and global security."

The Honorable Jim Cooper is a recently retired congressman (D-TN) who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years, working on eight different committees including the Intelligence Committee. Jim helped found the U.S. Space Force as the former chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. In 2017, Jim worked with Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL) on a proposal to establish a space corps under the U.S. Department of the Air Force. The proposal passed the House and two years later a bill with very similar language was signed into law, creating the U.S. Space Force. Cooper received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, his M.A. as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and his B.A. as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is writing a book about the beginnings of the Space Force.

"I was impressed by HawkEye 360 and its excellent management team from the start and have been even more impressed by their work overseas this past year," Rep. Jim Cooper said. "They are a company with a great future and I look forward to being a part of it."

Dr. M. Sanjayan is a conservation scientist and CEO of Conservation International, an organization working primarily in the Global South to protect nature for humanity. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in West Africa, Sanjayan holds a master's degree from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in conservation biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has previously served as a visiting researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, a distinguished professor of practice at Arizona State University, and a fellow at the Aspen Institute. Sanjayan also serves as a trustee for The Earthshot Prize and a climate advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative.

"As a conservation scientist concerned with global climate change, including forest restoration and protecting ocean waters, I have built my career around humanitarian and environmental preservation initiatives," Sanjayan said. "I truly believe Hawkeye 360's technologies will benefit our society and our world."

"As HawkEye 360 continues to grow its signals collection and analysis capabilities, these distinguished advisors bring valuable knowledge and experience in how our data can support the national security, defense, space and environmental sectors," said HawkEye 360 Chief Strategy Officer Patrick Zeitouni. "HawkEye 360 is strengthened by their leadership."

These four individuals, forming HawkEye 360 Advisory Board's Class of 2023, will join the board's 18 current members:

Letitia Long (Advisory Board Chair)

Honorable Arthur L. Money

David Deptula Lt. Gen., U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Stephanie O'Sullivan

B. Lynn Wright

Scott Swift, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Joan DempseySenator Norm Coleman

Deborah Lee James

John Mulholland, Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (Ret.)

Essye Miller

Representative Mac Thornberry

Kevin Chilton, General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Marty Faga

Terry McAuliffe

Paul Zukunft, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)

Mike Rogers, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

For more information on the HawkEye 360 satellite constellation, please visit https://www.he360.com/ .

About HawkEye 360

HawkEye 360 is a defense technology leader providing ubiquitous knowledge of human activity, behavior, and situational trends derived from revolutionary radio frequency (RF) geospatial intelligence. The company's innovative space-based technology was developed to detect, characterize, and geolocate a broad range of RF signals. These RF data and analytics provide an information advantage allowing analysts to detect the first glimpse of suspicious behavior, trace the first sign of enemy activity, and reveal the first sighting of ships attempting to vanish. HawkEye 360's RF intelligence presents a quicker grasp of critical events and patterns of life, providing early warnings to drive tip-and-cue efforts, and providing global leaders the insights needed to make decisions with confidence. HawkEye 360 is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

HawkEye 360 (PRNewsfoto/HawkEye 360)

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SOURCE HawkEye 360
- Approval is based on results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 pivotal clinical trial in which RINVOQ delivered rapid and meaningful disease control, meeting the primary endpoint of ASAS40 response at week 14 versus placebo 1

- RINVOQ is the first and only Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved to treat patients across the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis) in Canada 1, 2, 3

MONTREAL, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), today announced that Health Canada has approved RINVOQ (upadacitinib, 15 mg), the first oral, once-daily selective and reversible JAK inhibitor for the treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation who have had an inadequate response to a biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) or when use of those therapies is inadvisable.

Logo de AbbVie (CNW Group/AbbVie Canada)

This indication follows the July 2022 Health Canada approval of RINVOQ for adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have had an inadequate response to a biologic DMARD or when use of those therapies is inadvisable, making RINVOQ the first and only JAK inhibitor approved for the full spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis.2

Nr-axSpA is a chronic, progressive inflammatory rheumatic disease that causes joint inflammation leading to back pain and stiffness.4 It cannot be detected by x-ray, which makes it extremely difficult to diagnose.5 Nr-axSpA and AS are considered as two sub-types of a broader condition called axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). A recent multi-country study reported that approximately 16 percent of patients with nr-axSpA will progress to AS after five years.6

"Non-radiographic axial SpA is a very complex disease that is difficult to diagnose. And yet early detection and treatment are critical to improving health outcomes," explained Dr. Denis Choquette, Rheumatologist at the Institut de Rhumatologie de Montreal and Scientific Director, Rhumadata. "This new indication for RINVOQ is a significant milestone for rheumatologists and patients. AxSpA is typically diagnosed in young people under 45 years old, so it is very encouraging to now have a new, oral therapeutic choice for patients."

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"Today, as a patient, but also as Chair of the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Association, I can say that we are thrilled to learn that RINVOQ is now approved for the treatment of adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. When I first started experiencing symptoms of nr-axSpA, I thought I had a back sprain from playing sports. That first flare went on for three months. Over time, I also experienced inflammatory flares in my ankles, neck, and shoulders. By age 33, I felt like an old man. Getting my diagnosis was difficult as I didn't have the typical AS inflammatory markers; my x-rays came back negative. Two years after the onset of pain, I was prescribed an MRI centered on the sacroiliac joints, which confirmed that I had nr-axSpA. My story is truly ironic because I was a doctor specializing in the musculoskeletal field, working with other experts, and we all missed my diagnosis for years. And yet comparatively, I was lucky; it takes, on average, seven to ten years for people to be diagnosed with this disease. As AS warriors, we can become resistant to medications with time and so access to new innovative medicines is crucial. My hope is that RINVOQ's approval is followed by timely and equitable access for all patients. This access is essential for people living with this painful and debilitating condition," said Dr. Elie Karam, Chair, Canadian Spondylitis Association.

This approval is supported by data from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 clinical trial (Study 2), which evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of upadacitinib in patients with nr-axSpA.ii Study results show RINVOQ delivered rapid and meaningful disease control with nearly half of patients achieving the primary endpoint of ASAS40* versus placebo, as well as significant improvement in signs and symptoms of nr-axSpA at week 14.1

*ASAS40 is a composite index that measures disease activity.1 To achieve an ASAS40 response, a patient's disease activity must have improved by at least 40%, as well as improved by two units (on a 0 to 10 scale) in at least three of four disease areas assessed, and the remaining area must not have gotten worse, including back pain, patient global assessment of disease activity, physical function, and morning stiffness.1

"For nearly a quarter century, AbbVie has been dedicated to discovering and delivering innovative therapies for people living with rheumatic diseases," added Tracey Ramsay, Vice President and General Manager, AbbVie Canada. "The needs and experiences of patients drive our relentless pursuit to improve the standards of care, which is why we are proud to now offer Canadians the first once-daily oral advanced therapy that works across the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis."

About the SELECT-AXIS 2 trial program 7

SELECT-AXIS 2 was conducted as a master study protocol that contains two standalone studies with randomization, data collection, analysis and reporting conducted independently. The Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are evaluating the efficacy and safety of RINVOQ compared with placebo on reduction of signs and symptoms in adult participants with active axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including bDMARD-IR AS (Study 1) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) (Study 2). More information on this trial can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04169373).

About RINVOQ (upadacitinib) 2

Discovered and developed by AbbVie scientists, RINVOQ is a once-daily oral medication in an extended-release tablet. It is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that interferes with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, which is thought to play a role in inflammatory response.

RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate, for adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate or other DMARDs, for adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with refractory moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who are not adequately controlled with a systemic treatment or when use of those therapies is inadvisable, for adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have had an inadequate response to a biologic DMARD or when use of those therapies is inadvisable, and for adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation who have had an inadequate response to a biologic DMARD or when use of those therapies is inadvisable.

For important safety information, please consult the RINVOQ Product Monograph at www.abbvie.ca.

About AbbVie in Rheumatology

For more than 20 years, AbbVie has been dedicated to improving care for people living with rheumatic diseases. Anchored by a longstanding commitment to discovering and delivering transformative therapies, we pursue cutting-edge science that improves our understanding of promising new pathways and targets, ultimately helping more people living with rheumatic diseases reach their treatment goals.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, gynecology and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca. Follow @abbviecanada on Twitter and Instagram, or find us on LinkedIn.

___________________________ 1 Deodhar A, Van den Bosch F, Poddubnyy D, et al. U Upadacitinib for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SELECT-AXIS 2): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2022;400:36979. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01212-0.



2 RINVOQ (upadacitinib) product monograph. AbbVie Corporation. Available at: https://www.abbvie.ca/content/dam/abbvie-dotcom/ca/en/documents/products/RINVOQ_PM_EN.pdf Accessed May 8, 2023.



3 van der Heijde D, Baraliakos X, Sieper J, et al. Efficacy and safety of upadacitinib for active ankylosing spondylitis refractory to biological therapy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022;0:19. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-222608.



4 Sieper J, Poddubnyy D. Axial spondyloarthritis. Lancet 2017; 390: 7384.



5 Deodhar AA, Understanding Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Primer for Managed Care. Am J Manag Care. 2019;25:S319-S330.



6 Poddubnyy D, et al. Radiographic Progression From Non-radiographic to Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From a 5-year Multicountry Prospective Observational Study. Ann Rheum Dis 2022;81:96-97



7 A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Adult Participants With Axial Spondyloarthritis (SELECT AXIS 2). ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169373 Accessed March 30, 2023

SOURCE AbbVie Canada

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DUBLIN, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hong Kong Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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Hong Kong data center market will reach a value of $4.18 billion by 2028 from $3.72 billion in 2022, with investments growing at a CAGR of 1.97%



This report analyses the Hong Kong data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.

Hong Kong has around 55 operational colocation data centers. Most colocation facilities are being developed according to Tier III standards. The country has global operators such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Global Switch, Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions), NTT Global Data Centers, and China Mobile International.

Hong Kong data center market is driven by the consistent demand aided by digitalization initiatives, the presence of all major cloud operators, strong connectivity, strong ecosystems, nationwide deployment of 5G technology, and the presence of data protection law, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO).

The rising adoption of cloud-based services is helping the growth of retail and wholesale colocation services in the market. The industry is witnessing increased demand for colocation spaces across existing and upcoming data centers.

The deployment of 5G networks will boost the digital economy of the region and will lead to higher demand for high-bandwidth networking infrastructure. The adoption of Software Defined Networking (SDN) is likely to increase owing to smart city initiatives carried out by government agencies.

Investments from data center operators in the industry are growing in several locations. The major locations for data center developments in the market include Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Fo Tan, Chai Wan, Tai Po, and others.

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WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Hong Kong colocation market revenue.

An assessment of the data center investment in Hong Kong by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators.

Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across locations in the country.

A detailed study of the existing Hong Kong data center industry landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about industry size during the forecast period.

Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Hong Kong

Data center colocation market in Hong Kong

Hong Kong market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast.

A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Some of the key investors in the Hong Kong data center market in 2022 include BDx (Big Data Exchange), GDS Services, Goodman, SUNeVision Holdings (iAdvantage), China Mobile International, Angelo Gordon, Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions), ESR and others.

The Australia-based edge data center operator Edge Centers has announced its entry into the Hong Kong data center industry and has begun the construction of an edge facility, EC91, in Fanling. The facility is expected to be online by Q1 2023.

The global cloud operators Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Huawei Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and Tencent Cloud have their cloud regions in Hong Kong.

Telecom operators such as China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK), SmarTone, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (HTHKH)'s brand 3, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT)'s subsidiary CSL have deployed 5G technology across the country.

Major Vendors

IT Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Atos

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Inspur

Lenovo

NetApp

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

Arup

Aurecon

BYME Engineering

Chung Hing Engineers Group

Cundall

DSCO Group

Faithful+Gould

Gammon Construction

ISG

Shun Cheong Engineering Group

Studio One Design

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Airedale

Caterpillar

Cummins

Delta Electronics

Eaton

Fuji Electric

KOHLER

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Piller Power Systems

Rittal

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Submer

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

AirTrunk

BDx (Big Data Exchange)

CITIC Telcom International

China Mobile International (CMI)

China Unicom

Digital Realty

Equinix

ESR

Global Switch

iTech Towers

NTT Global Data Centers

SUNeVision Holdings (iAdvantage)

Telehouse

Towngas Telecom (TGT)

Vantage Data Centers (PCCW Solutions)

New Entrants

Angelo Gordon

Edge Centres

GDS Services

Goodman

Mapletree Investment

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

Kwai Chung

Tseung Kwan O

Tsuen Wan

Fo Tan

Tai Po

Chai Wan

Other Locations

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

REPORT COVERAGE:

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Rack Cabinets

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression Systems

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mox4rn

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SOURCE Research and Markets
(Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co. is conspiring with the Chinese government to wrongfully dominate the market for telecom equipment by setting onerous terms for the use of its intellectual property, a US-based company claims in a lawsuit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

ADVA Optical Networking SEs North American unit said in a lawsuit filed Monday in Texas that the sanctioned-Chinese company refuses to license its patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, as required by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union.

Huawei, holder of the worlds largest portfolio of 5G patents, announced two years ago that it would begin charging reasonable fees for access to them. This was seen as a way for the company to generate revenue in the face of sanctions, in the US and elsewhere, over its ties to the Chinese government.

ADVA, which makes network equipment, said in the lawsuit that it wants to license Huawei patents to comply with international standards for optical transport networks and Datacom, but that Huawei is asking it to pay grossly excessive or supra-competities royalties and also wants it to pay for the use of patents that are not essential to international standards. It also claims Huawei has infringed on ADVA patents.

Huaweis has made knowing misrepresentations to ADVA, refused to provide information in a timely manner and failed to meet its obligation to offer its patents at reasonable rate  all of which are part of a conspiracy by Huawei and its worldwide affiliates, in conjunction with the Chinese government, to wrongfully dominate and control the market for telecommunications equipment, ADVA claimed in the lawsuit.

Story continues

Huawei declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The case is ADVA Optical Networking North America, Inc. v. Huawei Technologies Co., 2:23-cv-00201, US District Court, Eastern District of Texas (Marshall).

--With assistance from Gao Yuan.

(Updates with Huawei declined to comment)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Miguel Fluxa Rossello, founder and chairman of Spanish hotel and resort group, Iberostar, has been named as Forbes' Best CEO of 2023 in Spain. The prestigious recognition spotlights Mr. Fluxa's exceptional leadership and legacy in growing Iberostar Group into a global hospitality brand with an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of the environment.

Miguel Fluxa Rossello, founder and chairman of Spanish hotel and resort group, Iberostar (PRNewsfoto/Iberostar Group)

"It is an honor to receive this recognition from Forbes Spain. We are a family company with strong values that have helped us shape Iberostar's corporate culture based on quality and long-term sustainability," said Fluxa Rossello. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of so many collaborators and professionals who have accompanied us throughout all these years and to the more than 30,000 people who today share our vision and passion for this industry."

Under Mr. Fluxa's leadership, Iberostar has become a pioneer in responsible tourism. Through a framework that focuses on people as the lifeblood of the business, and on the oceans through its Wave of Change movement, Iberostar has become an international leader with an extraordinary track record of sustainable practices. In 2020, Iberostar presented its 2030 Agenda, focused on eliminating waste, sourcing responsible seafood, neutralizing carbon emissions, and improving the health of the ecosystems surrounding its hotels. One of Iberostar's main commitments is reaching carbon neutrality by 2030, 20 years ahead of the industry's global target.

Fluxa's vision has also led to significant growth for Iberostar. Starting in 1973, creating the first Spanish tour operator, Iberojet, along with creating Sunworld, in 1991, the first tour operator with Spanish capital in England. This year, the company celebrates 40 years since the brand was launched in 1983 with seven hotels in Majorca  today, Iberostar has over 100 properties in 16 countries, with expansion plans in new markets all over the world. Furthermore, in November 2022, Iberostar signed a longterm commercial alliance with InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG), where Iberostar retains 100% ownership of its company, but is also part of IHG's system under the Iberostar Beachfront Resorts brand, becoming the 18th brand for IHG.

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Forbes' Best CEO award is one of the most prestigious recognitions in the business world, with previous winners including Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, and Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella. The recognition, which is awarded by Forbes' publications, is based on a range of factors, including financial performance, leadership style, and impact on industry and society.

Notes to editor: Please find imagery here

About Iberostar Group

The Iberostar Group is a 100% family-owned multinational Spanish company with over 65 years of experience in the tourism industry, as well as entrepreneurial roots dating back to 1877. Its main line of business is Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, whose portfolio includes over 100 four- and five-star hotels in 16 countries. The Group has become an international leader, as it promotes a responsible tourism business model that revolves around caring for both people and the environment. Its pioneering Wave of Change movement reflects the company's specific commitment to the environment and the oceans, as well as its efforts to share it with society as a whole.

With sustainability acting as a driving force for business, the Iberostar Group places the circular economy at the heart of its strategy and is working towards its own 2030 Agenda. This involves becoming waste-free by 2025, carbon neutral by 2030, and 100% responsible in its seafood supply chain by 2025, as well as improving the health of the ecosystems that surround its hotels, among other goals.

The Group is made up of a global team consisting of more than 30,000 people and 95 nationalities. Thanks to this talent, the company is a leader in quality and is at the forefront of providing an outstanding experience for guests through constant innovation in terms of products and its commitment to digitisation.

Find out more about us at grupoiberostar.com/en/ .

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Global Venture Capital Firm Hires Boatsetter Founder to Play Leading Role in Its Ambitious Growth Plans

MIAMI, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IDC Ventures (IDCV) announced the appointment of Jaclyn Baumgarten as a Miami-based Managing Partner and the head of its US operations. Baumgarten, a seasoned tech entrepreneur, will spearhead the Copenhagen-based venture capital firm's expansion into the US market.

Jaclyn Baumgarten

Previously, Baumgarten founded IDCV-backed Boatsetter, a technology- and data-driven global marketplace that aims to make on-demand boating accessible and affordable to anyone, anywhere.

Baumgarten will bring her experience and expertise in scaling this global business to IDC Ventures and its portfolio companies. With her proven entrepreneurial track record, Baumgarten is poised to play a pivotal role in IDCV's growth strategy as the platform expands its operations in the United States.

"I am honored and excited to join the team at IDC Ventures," said Baumgarten. "I have had the pleasure of working with IDCV for years through their investment in Boatsetter, and have seen firsthand how they are focused on adding value for their portfolio companies. I very much appreciate IDCV's win-win approach to long-term partnerships, its founder-first culture, and its global network of top entrepreneurs and investors. I am passionate about supporting innovative startups, and I am eager to contribute my experience and insights to help IDC Ventures and its portfolio companies."

At Boatsetter, Baumgarten led the startup's rapid growth  including M&A activity, multiple rounds of funding, and partnerships with major brands such as Geico. Her vision and strategic direction helped Boatsetter become a leader in the sharing economy, revolutionizing the boat rental industry.

"We are delighted to welcome Jaclyn to our team as a Managing Partner," commented Bobby Aitkenhead, Managing Director of IDC Ventures. "Her entrepreneurial spirit, deep industry knowledge, and strong leadership skills make her the perfect fit for our organization as we continue to drive innovation across the marketplace and fintech sectors. I look forward to working closely with Jaclyn as we grow our funds in the US."

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In her role as Managing Partner, Baumgarten will be instrumental in identifying and nurturing innovative startups, developing strategic partnerships, fundraising, and driving value creation for portfolio companies. Her deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and her ability to identify promising investment opportunities will be invaluable as IDC Ventures expands its presence in the United States.

For more information, please visit www.idcventures.com .

About IDC Ventures

By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, IDC Ventures (IDCV) seeks to identify, invest in, support, and propel disruptive companies at the forefront of digital innovation. IDCV backs industry-defining founders from Series A to growth stages in Europe, the US, and Latin America  and primarily in the verticals of fintech and marketplaces. IDC Ventures is the venture capital arm of the IDC Network, a multi-fund platform.

Learn more here .

Media Contact:

Benito Besada

Benito.besada@idcventures.com

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SOURCE IDC Ventures
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sam Bankman-Fried, who has long denied stealing from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday said prosecutors charged him with "troubling" haste and asked a U.S. judge to throw out 10 of the 13 criminal counts against him.

In a filing in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried's lawyers said now-bankrupt FTX was far from the only cryptocurrency company to collapse during a broad market crash in 2022, and that prosecutors hastily charged their client in a "rush to judgment."

"Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the Government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former billionaire, rode a boom in bitcoin and other digital assets to accumulate an estimated net worth of $26 billion, and became an influential political and philanthropic donor before FTX declared bankruptcy in November.

He has pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

The exchange imploded after a flurry of customer withdrawals in the wake of reports it had commingled assets with Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Bankman-Fried misled FTX investors and lenders, and stole billions of dollars in customer funds to plug losses at Alameda, buy real estate, and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme. They have also charged him with bribing Chinese officials.

Ahead of a scheduled Oct. 2 trial, his lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan to order prosecutors to turn over any documents in FTX's possession that could helpful the defense, arguing prosecutors were only asking the company for information that helps its case.

"The FTX Debtors have worked so extensively with the Government, and are so enmeshed in the investigation, analysis, and strategy of the Government's case, that they must be considered part of the 'prosecution team'," his lawyers wrote.

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Representatives of FTX's current leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment.

Prosecutors have until May 29 to respond to Bankman-Fried's dismissal request, and Kaplan will hear arguments on June 15.

EXTRADITION

Bankman-Fried has acknowledged that FTX had inadequate risk management but denies stealing funds, and has sought to distance himself from FTX's day-to-day operations.

Three onetime close associates - former Alameda co-chief executive Caroline Ellison, former FTX technology chief Gary Wang, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh - have all pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

In pleading guilty, Singh admitted to making political donations in his own name that were funded in part by transfers from Alameda.

But Bankman-Fried's lawyers said on Monday that the donations made by Singh, referred to as CC-1 in prosecutors' charging documents against their client, did not actually violate election laws.

"The campaign finance allegations reveal, yet again, the consequences of the Government's rush to indict Mr. Bankman-Fried," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried has largely been confined to his parents' home since his December arrest in the Bahamas, where he had lived and where FTX was based. He was extradited to the United States just over a week after his arrest.

His parents, who live in Palo Alto, California, are Stanford University law professors and co-signed his $250 million bond.

In their court papers on Monday, his lawyers said the campaign finance charge should be dismissed because it was not included on the surrender warrant signed by the Bahamas' foreign affairs minister ahead of Bankman-Fried's extradition, and that other charges including the bribery accusation were improperly brought after he was extradited.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet opportunities for the Indonesian premium chocolate industry abound under a new partnership between Jakarta-based fine chocolate manufacturer Pipiltin Cocoa and Katalis, a business development program backed by the Australian and Indonesian governments.

Indonesian cocoa farmer in Kampung Merasa, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, posing with a premium chocolate product made with local cocoa beans. Courtesy: Pipiltin Cocoa.

Pipiltin Cocoa will serve as a point of contact with other interested premium cocoa businesses in Indonesia as the industry targets the Australian market, responding to Australia's growing demand for a more diverse range of premium products. The new partnership will provide important market insights for Indonesian exporters seeking to penetrate the Australian specialty chocolate market and beyond.

When announcing the exciting new partnership, Paul Bartlett, Director, Katalis, said, "Katalis works to foster new economic partnerships, business sector engagement, and cooperation that leads to more integrated markets between Australia and Indonesia. With the premium chocolate industry driving the work to identify and investing in opportunities across their value chain, we are confident that the partnership will lead to closer trade and investment, improved market access, and more inclusive economic growth."

Rapid growth in the Indonesian premium chocolate industry over the last five years means it is highly suitable for investment. Australia's premium chocolate segment is also ripe for new opportunities, with similarly fast growth due to increased health consciousness and growing demand for a more diverse range of premium products.

"Research has shown that single-origin cocoa beans from Indonesia exhibit the highest profile diversity in the world, reflecting the diverse agroclimatic conditions of the archipelago and advanced processing techniques applied by the premium cocoa industry in Indonesia. This is part of the strength of our offering and we're excited to work with Katalis to share the story of Indonesian people, culture, and flavours," said Tissa Auliani, CEO, Pipiltin Cocoa.

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With a significant proportion of the small and medium enterprises in Indonesia's premium cocoa supply chain owned and led by women, new market opportunities will empower women entrepreneurs, smallholder cocoa producers, workers, farmers, and young people.

Pipiltin Cocoa and Katalis will work together to identify and promote market opportunities for Indonesian premium cocoa businesses, including through workshops and a trade fair in Australia.

About Katalis

IA-CEPA ECP Katalis (Katalis) is a unique, five-year (2020-25) government-backed business development program unlocking the vast potential of economic partnership between Australia and Indonesia. Katalis was established under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Economic Cooperation Program (IA-CEPA ECP). The program complements other Australian development programs with a commercially oriented, bilateral approach and places gender equality, disability and social inclusion at the centre of everything we do.

About Pipiltin Cocoa

Pipiltin Cocoa was founded in 2013 as a couverture bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer that sources very high quality raw beans directly from farmer's cooperatives in Aceh, East Java, Bali, Flores, East Kalimantan and West Papua. Its products are available in more than 100 retail stores in Indonesia and have been exported to several countries.

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SOURCE Katalis
Regulatory "international interoperability" is vital if cryptocurrency and digital assets are to achieve mass adoption, according to the Chair of the UKs crypto parliamentary group.

"I think for the future of the sector, it's really really important that there is international interoperability," Lisa Cameron, Chair of the UK's Crypto and Digital Assets All Party Parliamentary Group, said at the Financial Times Crypto and Digital Assets Summit. "That's when cryptocurrency and digital assets will really become mainstream."

Cameron pointed to progress on international regulatory standards by the G7 and G20 as a positive sign, noting that they are really looking at what would be an overall standard that we should be aiming for. She added that, There has to be, within all of that, the flexibility for individual jurisdictions to look at their own bespoke regulatory regimes.

Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith agreed that there is "absolutely coordination" across the crypto industry when it comes to regulation. "This is a conversation that happens at every international crypto conference around the world," she said.

Cameron assured the panel that there has been "a lot of engagement over the past 18 months in Parliament". Prior to this point, she said, there were "no debates whatsoever" in the House of Commons but, more recently, there have been two debates on cryptocurrency, NFTs, and other "associated issues" like AI and the metaverse.

British Bipartisan Group Launches Inquiry Into Regulating Crypto

As a result, Cameron sees progress "at pace", with the UK government focusing on education within the House of Commons and House of Lords to enable "evidence-based debates" within parliament rather than "sensationalist type debates".

The CCO of Binance, Noah Perlman, suggested that some regulators are making decisions based on reputational risk.

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"This concept of reputational risk, this sort of amorphous concept, that regulators can use to disallow or allow anything is certainly something that I see in crypto, not just with regulators but with our partners," Perlman told the panel. "[They don't] point to any specific regulation, but just, 'This penumbra of the activity is too risky for us, from a reputational side.'"

G7 and G20 Crypto Regulations

The international G7 and G20 groupswhich consist of some of the most advanced economies in the worldare working to create regulatory standards around cryptocurrencies, digital assets, and CBDCs.

In February 2023, the G20 tasked the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) to create crypto regulatory framework recommendations that could be applied globally. According to the document which summarizes the G20 meeting, these recommendations are set to be released by July.

The 49th G7 Summit is set to take place in Hiroshima, Japan from May 19th until May 21st.

Masato Kanda, Japan's top currency diplomat, said that the group will consider how to help developing countries introduce CBDCs that are in line with international standards.

G20 to Review Crypto Regulation Framework This Week

He also pointed to the collapse of FTX as a "serious wake-up call" for policymakers and suggests that stronger regulation for crypto is a consensus among countries.

While neither the G7 nor the G20 has published definitive regulatory guidelines or frameworks, both groups are working to create an international standard that will help achieve the international interoperability that Cameron desires.
In a world first, the launch of the cloud-based financial management software is free to accounting professionals around the globe

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intuit QuickBooks today announces global free access to QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA), enabling accounting professionals in 170 countries to move to the cloud faster, scale their practices and bring more value to their clients and the wider economy.

Accounting professionals make a huge contribution to the economy at a local, regional and global level, working as trusted business partners to the SMB community, which represents 90% of businesses and accounts for 70% of employment globally1.

But their impact could be even bigger, as QuickBooks research suggests accountants are now busier than ever. Four out of 10 (43%) report they have more than 40 clients  and 86% are looking to technology to help them be more efficient and better meet client needs.

QBOA addresses this by enabling accountants to manage their practice workflow, client interactions and billing all in one place. Developed with a select group of accountants globally over the past 12 months, QBOA is a refined suite of benefits to help professional accountants move to the cloud faster and drive greater efficiency and scalability of their firms.

Access to real time insights from anywhere in the world puts professional accountants at the heart of driving informed business decisions that could positively increase small business survival rates  currently, only 51.6% of U.S. small businesses survive beyond the first five years2.

Intuit serves more than 100 million customers worldwide and is one of the biggest software companies in the world, with Intuit QuickBooks now the first provider in the market to deliver at this scale for the accounting profession.

Lars Leber, Vice President of Intuit QuickBooks Australia, said: "As a cost-competitive market ranking in the top 20 of the worlds most business-friendly countries,3 Malaysia is an attractive market for business owners  creating a wealth of opportunities for the regions accounting professionals. The scale of the roll out of QBOA, and the accessibility of the platform for free, will help to unlock huge economic potential in Malaysia, as well as around the globe."

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Global trends and technological advancements are transforming the world of work and reshaping the future of the accountancy profession, increasingly shifting demand towards more strategic and analytical roles4. Malaysia is in need of 60,000 qualified professional accountants by 2030, with just over 37,000 members registered with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) today.5 Accountants will be key to helping fuel local business and economic prosperity.

Chun How Cheah, HighPines, Malaysia, added: "Using QuickBooks Online Accountant in Singapore has opened us up to the future of accounting and global commerce. It has seen us increase efficiency and profitability of our firm by helping us manage our work and clients in one, easy-to-use platform. Its the must-have accounting software for those looking to grow and scale up faster. We are excited that the release of Global QBOA will unlock efficiencies in new countries and regions for our firm."

QuickBooks Online Accountant benefits professional accountants anywhere in the world  through the following set of features:

Singular login and dashboard view of real-time and historic client data, current projects and deadlines;

Automated transactions and specific rules classifying data, minimizing manual data entries and reducing risk of errors;

Options to use workflows to send reminders to the right people at the right time and automate common tasks  invaluable for bookkeepers in busiest periods of the year;

Integrated apps providing functionality that spans reporting, inventory management, expense management, payroll, eCommerce;

Predictive AI-based ability to estimate income tax/VAT contributions, support self-assessment filings with automated breakdown of earnings and tax-deductible expense.

Assisted QuickBooks Online Accountant onboarding for accountant professionals and bookkeepers is free, via a Zoom session, and is focused on new clients who are new to QuickBooks, as well as any existing clients that arent actively using QuickBooks. Its a hands-on, "Do-It-With-Me" session.

To celebrate the launch of the QBOA global edition, limited time only pricing bundles have also been announced. To help accountants get their small business clients started on QuickBooks online, for just the next three months, the one-dollar subscription deal will be active. One dollar (or country currency equivalent), per month, per file. The deal is available in all countries, to further support digital expansion for all accountants.

Local developers can now publish apps as part of the QuickBooks Global App Store  to include payroll, payments, inventory and purpose-built applications for specific regions  to integrate with QuickBooks.

For more information and information on how to access the free QuickBooks Online Accountant platform please visit here.

- ENDS -

About Intuit

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With more than 100 million customers worldwide using TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us for the latest information about Intuit, our products and services, and find us on social.

1 World Economic Forum White Paper "Future Readiness of SMEs: Mobilizing the SME Sector to Drive Widespread Sustainability and Prosperity" published 30 November 2021: https://www.weforum.org/whitepapers/future-readiness-of-smes-mobilizing-the-sme-sector-to-drive-widespread-sustainability-and-prosperity

2The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1994-2022: https://www.bls.gov/bdm/us_age_naics_00_table7.txt

3 The World Bank, "Ease of Doing Business" Report, 2020.

4ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) "Future ready: accountancy careers in the 2020s" report. Link: https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/professional-insights/FutureReady2020s/JamieLyon.FutureCareersAccoutancy2020s.summary.pdf

5 Malaysian Institute of Accountants, November 2021: https://mia.org.my/welcome-remarks-by-dr-nurmazilah-dato-mahzan-chief-executive-officer-malaysian-institute-of-accountants-at-leveraging-opportunities-for-accounting-graduates

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230508005034/en/

Contacts

Anastasia Ivanova

anastasia.ivanova@ogilvy.com
Long term investing is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you should hold every stock forever. We really hate to see fellow investors lose their hard-earned money. For example, we sympathize with anyone who was caught holding 1&1 AG (ETR:1U1) during the five years that saw its share price drop a whopping 83%. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 47% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 19% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

Check out our latest analysis for 1&1

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the five years over which the share price declined, 1&1's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 0.7% each year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 30% per year, over the period. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 4.99.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

A Different Perspective

1&1 shareholders are down 46% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 3.5%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 13% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for 1&1 you should be aware of, and 1 of them doesn't sit too well with us.

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Generally speaking, investors are inspired to be stock pickers by the potential to find the big winners. Mistakes are inevitable, but a single top stock pick can cover any losses, and so much more. For example, the Invicta Holdings Limited (JSE:IVT) share price is up a whopping 495% in the last three years, a handsome return for long term holders. The last week saw the share price soften some 1.7%.

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

View our latest analysis for Invicta Holdings

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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.

Invicta Holdings was able to grow its EPS at 30% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. In comparison, the 81% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. This indicates that the market is feeling more optimistic on the stock, after the last few years of progress. It's not unusual to see the market 're-rate' a stock, after a few years of growth.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

It is of course excellent to see how Invicta Holdings has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Invicta Holdings, it has a TSR of 530% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

Investors in Invicta Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 12% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 8.6%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 6% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. Most investors take the time to check the data on insider transactions. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

Of course Invicta Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on South African 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
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's Leonardo has appointed former energy and environment minister Roberto Cingolani as chief executive officer and general manager, the defence group said in a statement.

Shareholders earlier on Tuesday approved a new board, backing a slate of eight candidates submitted by Italy's Treasury, the leading investor in Leonardo with a 30.2% stake, including Cingolani and former NATO ambassador to Afghanistan Stefano Pontecorvo, who was appointed chairman.

In an unusual move, the remaining four board members were elected from a list submitted by U.S. investment firm GreenWood Investors and hedge fund Sachem Head, while a rival list from Italian institutional investors' club Assogestioni was defeated.

"Sachem Head supports the company's current strategy and believes that the newly elected board has the right mix of skills and experience to surface significant shareholder value at Leonardo," Scott Ferguson, the founder and portfolio manager of the hedge fund, told Reuters.

"We believe that the company will emerge as a true European aerospace and defense champion in the coming years," he added.

Leonardo has benefited from rising government spending on defence in the wake of the Ukraine war, but has been less profitable than competitors such as Germany's Rheinmetall and Britain's BAE Systems.

Cingolani, who has a background as a physicist and was previously Leonardo's chief technology and innovation officer, has informally advised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on energy policy in recent months.

The 61-year-old former minister, who has no experience at the top of a listed company, succeeds former banker Alessandro Profumo, who had been Leonardo's chief executive for six years.

Lorenzo Mariani, head of the Italian unit of European missile maker MBDA, has been appointed Leonardo's co-general manager, according to the company's statement.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini and Elisa Anzolin; Additional reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Alexander Smith)
FILE PHOTO: A headframe of salt producer K+S Group is pictured at a K+S potash mine near Unterbreizbach

(Reuters) - German potash and salt miner K+S on Tuesday cut its annual profit outlook on a slower than expected recovery in demand and lower potash prices, sending its shares down more than 4%.

The group, which makes potash fertilisers and salts for cooking, animal feed and de-icing roads, forecast full-year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 1.15 billion to 1.35 billion euros ($1.27 billion to $1.49 billion).

It had previously guided for 2023 EBITDA of 1.3 billion to 1.5 billion euros, while analysts polled by Vara Research had expected 1.37 billion euros.

Potash prices have declined from the near record highs they touched in 2022, following a drop in demand after farmers cut back on fertiliser application to rein in costs and decrease their existing stocks.

However, K+S said customers had held back on orders longer than it expected, as supply deals with India were struck by two competitors only at the beginning of April.

Potash supply contracts to India are considered benchmarks for the fertilisers market.

The company now expects potash prices overseas to recover moderately only in the second half of the year, compared with the first half previously.

"We saw a pick-up in North America," CEO Burkhard Lohr said during an investor call. He added a similar acceleration in deliveries was expected in Brazil by the end of May and in June.

The second half of the year could be good in Europe as well, Lohr said, as farmers should resume using potash after three seasons of low or no applications.

Europe also gets only low levels of deliveries from Belarus and Russia due to ongoing Western sanctions, he said.

"So it is not all weak and it is not a flooding of the market," Lohr added.

First-quarter EBITDA fell 13% to 454 million euros, but beat analysts' forecast of 425 million euros.

($1 = 0.9080 euros)

(Reporting by Linda Pasquini in Gdansk and Patricia Weiss in Frankfurt; Editing by Milla Nissi and Mark Potter)
Global consulting firm adds four seasoned professionals to enhance its service for aviation clients in the Americas.

CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kearney , a leading global management consulting firm, announced an expansion of capabilities focused on aviation, including the appointment of four senior aviation professionals. These aviation experts will strengthen Kearney's ability to serve airlines and other aviation businesses, coupled with the firm's industry-leading expertise in supply chain, sustainability, maintenance, and operations management.

Kearney Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Kearney)

The aviation team will be situated within Kearney's transportation practice and will complement the firm's global capabilities in guiding aviation businesses through challenges and opportunities during a vital period of transformation. This addition of talent is a demonstration of Kearney's commitment to growing its aviation capability on a global scale and builds on the firm's record of success and high-quality client service to European airlines.

Kearney has announced the appointment of four senior professionals with substantial aviation experience in both consulting and industry: Scott Davidson, Claudia Galea, Umang Gupta, and Chandresh Malkani.

"The aviation sector is in need of a transformation. The sector is experiencing strong tailwinds but is facing even stronger headwinds," said Phillip Bensel, partner and global lead for Kearney's aviation team. "We are supporting our clients to help tackle these challenges by improving the customer experience, developing green products, optimizing network and operations, managing supply chain risk, and reducing cost," he said. "Our investment is meant to bring our global aviation expertise to clients in the Americas, and Scott, Claudia, Umang, and Chandresh represent the core of what we do best: offering world-class experts who can execute client-specific projects and transformations with thoughtfulness and responsiveness."

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By combining the strong capabilities that the firm already offers with this enhanced aviation-sector knowledge, the new team will:

Leverage Kearney's multifunctional operations, maintenance, and supply chain expertise across multiple disciplines within the aviation sector

Create a positive global impact by incorporating ESG and sustainability into all decisions and actions

Accelerate the adoption of new digital technologies, business models, and analytics

"Our entire team is thrilled to join such a talented and experienced firm to expand the focus on serving the needs of the aviation sector," said Mr. Davidson "Airlines and other related businesses face significant headwinds due to cost pressures, shifting customer demands, labor constraints, new sustainability expectations, and legacy technology. Our focus is on helping them accelerate change by partnering from strategy design through to implementation at scale."

When considering the sector's sustainability implications, Ms. Galea observed: "Customers, regulators, shareholders, manufacturers, and airlines all agree that as the aviation sector continues to evolve, sustainability and responses to climate change must be front and center. The sector's stakeholders are giving major considerations to operational, logistical, technical, engineering, capital expenditures, R&D, and management decisions. Kearney's global commitment to sustainability reflects how it can assist all aviation businesses in meeting those demands, and I'm excited to contribute to those efforts."

Mr. Gupta added: "Airlines and their partners, such as airports and service providers, are actively seeking to enter a new era of customer service and better management of their assets, routes, and overall operations. Thanks to the firm's deep expertise in providing consulting services in supply chain management and operational excellence, Kearney is a natural fit to help clients navigate these opportunities, and we're excited to begin working with those clients to meet their evolving needs."

Mr. Malkani noted: "Aviation businesses have differing and specialized needs. From low-cost carriers and private jet services to major multinational airlines, shifting operational needs and heightened demands for world-class customer service require partnering with experienced consultants who understand every detail of a client's business. Kearney clearly offers that level of client support, and we're excited to add to that capability in the months and years ahead."

Through its broader transportation practice, Kearney has long demonstrated sophisticated expertise and creativity in helping clients manage their physical assets, customer demands, and new considerations such as sustainability and digital transformation. To learn more about the firm's global efforts, please visit: https://www.kearney.com/transportation-travel

Aviation team expansion: bios

Scott Davidson : Mr. Davidson has more than 15 years of experience as a senior strategic advisor to clients in aviation, aerospace, and next-generation mobility. He specializes in helping clients in the aviation sector pursue transformations related to enterprise-wide profit transformations, restructuring, customer experience enhancements, operations excellence, procurement support, and technology-led innovation. Prior to joining Kearney, he served as a managing director at a large consulting firm and, for more than 10 years, as a partner at a prominent aviation consulting practice. He holds a master's degree in engineering management from Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering as well as a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Fairfield University.

Claudia Galea : Ms. Galea is an industry and functional leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting aviation, aerospace, and industrial clients globally. Over the course of her career, she has supported clients on issues involving sustainability, aftermarket and procurement, flight operations and optimization, manufacturing process improvement and footprint optimization, and air traffic management. Ms. Galea comes to Kearney after serving as the global sustainability lead for aerospace, defense, and industrials at a global consulting firm as well as a senior manager at Global Boeing Services. Earlier in her career, she served in strategy and consulting roles and was a pilot and senior first officer at Air Malta. Ms. Galea is a doctor of business administration candidate at the Warwick Business School, focusing on sustainability and global aerospace supply chain innovation. She holds master of business administration degrees from both Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Warwick Business School as well as a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of Malta.

Umang Gupta : Mr. Gupta is a senior aviation executive and advisor with a successful track record in developing and executing strategies, improving revenues, reducing costs, driving operational efficiencies, achieving transformations and turnarounds, and delivering strong results across various functions, business models, and geographies. Before joining the Kearney transportation practice, he served as managing director and global leader for the airline practice at a boutique aviation consulting agency. He also has served as managing director for pricing and revenue management at United Airlines, president of JetBlue Vacations, vice president for travel products at JetBlue Airways, director of market planning and revenue analysis at JetBlue, and manager of operations research at US Airways. He holds a master of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in transportation and airline management, a master of business administration degree from INSEAD, and a bachelor of science degree from Punjab Engineering College.

Chandresh Malkani: Mr. Malkani's expertise is in transportation, specifically in long-term transformation projects. He has led international projects, with experience in engineering, finance, negotiations, technology, and operations. His unique perspective as an engineer allows him to bring to his client projects true technical knowledge, such as aircraft purchases, engine specifications, and maintenance considerations. Mr. Malkani comes to Kearney from another prominent practice, where he spent the past five years as a principal working with many of the top North American transportation companies. He is also the founder of a specialized consulting firm. Prior to entering the consulting world, he worked at United Airlines, where he moved from finance to become the head of fleet strategy. Earlier in his career, he also served in analysis and engineering roles at Delta Air Lines. He has studied in the executive management programs at both Wharton Business School and INSEAD and holds a master of business administration degree from Georgia State University in finance and international business. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

About Kearney

Kearney is a leading global management consulting firm with deep-rooted expertise in strategic transformation. We work with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500 as well as with government bodies and nonprofit organizations. As a global consulting partnership in more than 40 countries, our people make us who we are. We're individuals who take as much joy from those we work with as the work itself. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we help our clients break through.

To learn more about Kearney, please visit www.kearney.com .

Media Contacts:

Ellie Johnson and Ryan Dicovitsky

Dukas Linden Public Relations

kearney@DLPR.com

Cision

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SOURCE Kearney
Kinross Gold Corporation

Details strong ESG performance, including a US$2.9 billion benefit footprint in host countries

TORONTO, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE:KGC) (Kinross or the Company) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2022 Sustainability and ESG Report (the Report), providing a comprehensive summary of the Companys progress over the past year in furthering its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy.



Sustainability is a critical component of our business and every facet of our operations at Kinross, said J. Paul Rollinson, President and CEO. Building on the solid sustainability foundation weve established over three decades, we have updated our ESG strategy, focusing on three pillars: Workforce and Community, Natural Capital, and Climate and Energy. We see each pillar as a key focus area for us, with short and long term performance targets embedded into our business. Our updated ESG strategy and sharpened focus will enhance the management of our social and environmental performance in a transparent, collaborative, and responsible manner, generating long term value for our stakeholders.

Kinross Sustainability and ESG Report, now in its 15th year, provides a comprehensive update to the Companys stakeholders on the progress made in 2022, and what the Company aims to achieve in 2023 and beyond. Kinross 2022 Sustainability and ESG Report, available at https://www.kinross.com/2022-Sustainability-and-ESG-Report/, details the Companys approach to responsible mining that underpins its operational success. The foundation of Kinross ESG governance structure is its core values, commitment to key international frameworks and standards, and Safety and Sustainability Policy, which grounds the Companys First Priorities and its commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility and governance.

In 2022, Kinross strengthened its oversight of the ESG function with the establishment of an ESG Executive Committee, which has taken a leadership role in ESG risk management, enhanced transparency and reporting, as well as identifying ESG opportunities within the business. Additionally, Kinross enhanced its ESG metric in the executive short-term incentive compensation plan by increasing its weighting from 20% to 25% with the addition of a new ESG initiative metric. This metric focused on updating the Companys ESG strategy and diversity action plan and, in 2023, will focus on the Tasiast solar plant, climate studies, Kinross diversity strategy, and supply chain governance. The Company believes this is a logical progression as it identifies performance goals for its key ESG initiatives.

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Kinross further enhanced its ESG governance by obtaining external assurance on our conformance with the Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMP) established by the World Gold Council. The Company also obtained external assurance on selected ESG metrics. We continued to strengthen our ESG Governance with the establishment of a human rights taskforce, which is developing an action plan for 2023 and beyond.

The Companys 2022 ESG highlights and achievements contained in the Report include the following:

Workforce and Community

Maintained low injury frequency rates that were in line with three-year averages and continued to make improvements across all leading indicators of safety performance.

Continued to roll-out Safety Excellence Program, currently being implemented at Paracatu and La Coipa following the successful execution of the program at Tasiast in 2022. The Safety Excellence program focuses on empowering our people and advancing our performance across all leading indicators of safety.

Generated US$2.9 billion in economic benefits to host countries through taxes, wages, procurement, and community support. Since 2010, US$44 billion has been contributed to the economies of Kinross host countries.

Sustained high levels of local employment with 99% of our workforce and 87% of management from within host countries.

Advanced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion targets, achieving 13.3% female participation in Kinross workforce, the highest level in five years.

Continued to build open and honest relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the areas we operate to understand common interests and how we can work together for mutual benefit.

Natural Capital

Maintained record of zero reportable incidents at our tailings sites for the 30 th consecutive year, with independent reviews conducted at 100% of our sites in the past three years.

Enhanced our tailings governance through increasing our tailings review program from one independent reviewer to a panel, with three independent reviewers for Paracatu and two each for the other sites.

Water intensity declined by 8% from 2021 to 2022, driven by more tonnes processed vs. 2021 and a large decline in net water storage at Paracatu.

Completed our 8th year of partnership with Trout Unlimited, with whom we have implemented river conservation projects in Alaska, Nevada and Washington State.

Continued our efforts to protect land for conservation, with 13,620 hectares protected at end of year, most of which at Paracatu.



Climate and Energy

Introduced first Climate Change Strategy, which outlines a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan on our path to net-zero by 2050, setting an interim target to achieve a 30% reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity (on a per gold equivalent ounce basis) over the 2021 baseline by 2030.

Lowered GHG intensity rates in 2022 and the Company is on track towards 2030 target.

Implemented 11 energy efficiency projects across global operations, offsetting approximately 1% of Kinross GHG emissions, resulting in US$7.5 million of savings to the Company.

Increased percentage of renewable energy to 22% of our total energy consumed in 2022 compared with 18% in 2021, with 63% of electricity consumed from renewable sources. At Paracatu and La Coipa, electricity from renewable sources is 98% and 100% respectively.

Recognition

Achieved highest S&P ESG Global rating in 2022, ranking in the 97 th percentile, the highest ever placement for Kinross, improved Sustainalytics risk rating score with a significant 10-point improvement, and maintained A position with MSCI for the third-consecutive year.

In the Globe and Mails annual ranking for corporate governance among Canadian companies, scored 93 out of 100, making Kinross the top ranked mining company.

Received the Alaska Miners Associations Environmental Stewardship Award for best management practices in environmental protection or restoration initiatives for the Companys partnership with Trout Unlimited to create the Alaska Abandoned Mine Initiative.

Received the Leadership in Concurrent Mine Reclamation Award at Bald Mountain for Excellence in Mine Reclamation from the Nevada Division of Minerals, Department of Wildlife, Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Services.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile and Canada. Our focus on delivering value is based on our core principles of responsible mining, operational excellence, disciplined growth and balance sheet strength. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).

Media Contact

Victoria Barrington

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

victoria.barrington@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact

Chris Lichtenheldt

Vice-President, Investor Relations

phone: 416-365-2761

chris.lichtenheldt@kinross.com

ESG Contact

Dominic Channer

Vice-President, Community Relations & ESG

phone: 416-892-8771

dominic.channer@kinross.com

Source: Kinross Gold Corporation




UP.Labs

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UP.Labs is proud to announce the addition of four world class entrepreneurs to lead its first cohort of startups being launched this year.



UP.Labs, the venture lab of mobility investment firm UP.Partners, delivers a first-of-its-kind economic model that attracts the best and most proven entrepreneurs, giving them opportunity to focus on the product, the customer, and their employees, versus distracting their energy toward raising capital.

Jorge Borbolla, Martin Gilliard, David Fisch, and Rakesh Hegde, who come from proven startup Founder/CEOs roles, as well as leadership roles with Apple, Meta, Ladders, and EdCast, respectively, will join as CEOs of UP.Labs first four startups  two built in conjunction with Porsche AG and two built in conjunction with the companys second retail corporate partner. These professionals bring extensive experience in their fields, having successfully founded and exited numerous ventures. Their additions further validate UP.Labs unique business model of attracting the worlds most talented entrepreneurs to lead companies focused on solving core strategic challenges faced by its corporate partners.

Jorge Borbolla is a Stanford educated seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of two software technology companies  the most recent of which was acquired by Apple. As CIO and CEO, Borbolla has deep experience starting businesses from scratch, assembling initial teams, crafting product visions, executing them, and guiding the business to a successful exit. He joins from Apple, who acquired his last venture, and where he served for seven years. Jorge is the CEO of recently launched Pull Systems  an AI data sciences company born out of UP.Labs collaboration with Porsche  helping EV makers manage their fleets with AI-powered data science insights delivered as a service.

Martin Gilliard, who joins from Meta, will serve as CEO of one of UP.Labs retail tech startups. Martin previously led Metas consumer retail business globally, which launched the companys first retail store. With expertise in data analytics, digital transformation, and retail, prior to Meta, Gilliard worked as the CIO of Barneys New York and was the founder and CEO of a data analytics company.

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MIT educated, and known for his ability to deliver on strong exits, Rakesh Hegde joins from Edcast and will serve as CEO of the second startup in UP.Labs partnership with Porsche AG. With experience scaling rapidly growing businesses for future expansion, monetizing products, and uncovering new markets and revenue opportunities, he brought to market the first SaaS travel reservation platform, Rezopia, where he was Founder and CEO. In addition, he was Founder and CEO of XYKA, an early-stage AI/machine learning travel company. Both Rezopia and XYKA were successfully acquired in profitable exits and UP.Labs looks to leverage Rakeshs proven track record in this area.

David Fisch is an accomplished CEO with over 15 years of experience in SaaS and internet-enabled businesses. He most recently served as CEO of Ladders, an AI-enabled executive job search platform. Fisch has successfully founded and led technology companies, revitalized struggling businesses, and identified niche markets to launch innovative digital solutions that generate revenue growth, profitability, and strong exits. More details regarding the startups that Martin, Rakesh and David will be leading will be announced later this year.

We are thrilled to have hired our first cohort of four proven commercial CEOs to scale businesses with product-market fit, each of whom saw the value of the UP.Labs & the UP.Partners ecosystem model as the next step in their careers, said John Kuolt, Founder and CEO of UP.Labs.

UP.Labs is innovating the way startups are built, says Kuolt. We are able to attract CEOs of this caliber because we give them everything a proven CEO wants: the idea, product-market fit, a large revenue generating first customer, a secured seed round investment, and a likely exit in 3 years.

UP.Labs follows a rigorous methodology that creates the startups in its lab, vetting hundreds of problems and opportunities by working closely with its large corporate partners  whose complex challenges and problems become the asset to create the idea. In return for solving the strategic problem, the corporate partner is committed as a first large scale paying customer. With an ensured seed round of funding from UP.Ventures and a likely exit in three years, the UP.Labs structure takes the talent, resources, and product-market fit with large corporations and pairs them with a system that allows entrepreneurs to innovate effectively and create maximum impact.

We are thrilled to welcome Jorge, Martin, Rakesh and David to the UP community. The ability to attract such strong entrepreneurial talent to lead the first group of companies launched by UP.Labs is another positive validation of the significant growth opportunities that these companies present, said Ben Marcus, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of UP.Partners. We are excited to partner with these leaders as they create transformative impact for their customers.

About UP.Labs:

UP.Labs is a first of its kind Venture Lab using a new venture model to solve core problems for the worlds most important corporations in the mobility world. By bringing together world-class business leaders, investors and corporate partners, UP.Labs unlocks innovation for corporations who have the scale and resources but cannot do it on their own. Recognizing that transportation is the underlying fabric of society, UP.Labs utilizes these strategic partnerships to rapidly ideate, build and scale disruptive startups transforming the way we move people and goods to be cleaner, faster, safer, and at lower cost. To learn more visit https://up.partners/labs/

About UP.Partners:

UP.Partners is Transforming the Moving World by building and investing in companies that move people and goods cleaner, faster, safer, and at lower cost  on the ground, in the air, on the sea, and in space. The multi-strategy firm achieves this goal through its unique and virtuous ecosystem encompassing UP.Ventures, UP.Labs, and UP.Summit. UP.Ventures invests in companies and technologies to enable the future of mobility, working with some of the world's most innovative investors and entrepreneurs. With flagship launch partner Porsche, UP.Labs is a first-of-its-kind venture lab, partnering with the worlds largest corporations to identify the most pressing challenges that they, and broader society, face. The UP.Summit is an invitation-only experience co-hosted with Tom and Steuart Walton and Ross Perot Jr., in Bentonville, AR and Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX respectively, bringing together the worlds most innovative minds to rethink the future of transportation. For more information, visit www.UP.partners or follow on Twitter @UpPartnersVC or LinkedIn.

Contact:

Katie Duckhorn

katie@bulleitgroup.com




New Leadership Team Announced; Richard J. Lenz Assumes Consulting Role

ATLANTA, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lenz, Inc., has named Mike Killeen its new president and CEO. Mike joined Lenz in 2002 and previously served as Vice President of Marketing.

Lenz, Inc., has named Mike Killeen its new president and CEO. As part of the transition, Killeen has become the sole owner of the company.

The new leadership team includes Christine Mahin as Vice President, Ricky Pattillo as Engineering Director, Rachel Cushing as Media Director, and Scott Sanders as Associate Creative Director.

Richard J. Lenz, the founder and president/CEO for the last 30 years, is stepping away from daily operations and will become a consultant. John Lenz, who joined the company in 1992 and has served as a Vice President for more than 20 years, is departing the company to work with Viral Solutions, a Lenz client.

"It is a privilege and an honor to assume this new role and help lead Lenz towards a very bright future," Killeen said. "Everything I know about business, and much of what I know about life, I learned from Richard and John. They will always be two of my very best friends, and I know they will continue to be there for me and the company when we need them. I am grateful that they took a chance on me 20 years ago, that they invested so much in my development, and for all they have done to set the company and myself up for continued success. They embody not only talent, vision, and hard work, but also generosity."

Richard Lenz said, "The company is in great hands. Nobody is better suited to lead Lenz during its next phase than Mike, and I'm excited to see what comes next for the company, the staff, and our clients. Mike also has a very talented and veteran team to support his vision, and I'm sure under his leadership, he will lead the company to higher heights."

John Lenz said, "Lenz has never been in a stronger position than it is now, and Mike helped make that happen."

As part of the transition, Killeen has become the sole owner of the company.

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Killeen has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a Master's In Business Administration from Georgia College. He has taught healthcare marketing at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health since 2016.

Founded in 1992, Lenz is a strategic marketing agency specializing in healthcare marketing.

Contact:

jwaterhouse@lenzmarketing.com

404-721-3983

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lenz-inc-names-mike-killeen-president-and-ceo-301820058.html

SOURCE Lenz Marketing
By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - LinkedIn, the social media network owned by Microsoft Corp that focuses on business professionals, said on Monday it would cut 716 jobs as demand wavers, while also shutting down its China-focused job application.

LinkedIn, which has 20,000 employees, has grown revenue each quarter during the last year, but it joins other major technology companies including its parent in laying off workers amid a weakening global economic outlook.

In the past six months, more than 270,000 tech jobs globally have been cut, according to Layoffs.fyi, which has been tracking the fallout.

LinkedIn makes money through ad sales and also by charging for subscriptions to recruiting and sales professionals who use the network to find prospects.

In a letter to employees, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky said the move to cut roles in its sales, operations and support teams was aimed at streamlining the company's operations and would remove layers to help make quicker decisions.

"With the market and customer demand fluctuating more, and to serve emerging and growth markets more effectively, we are expanding the use of vendors," Roslansky wrote.

A LinkedIn spokesperson said the vendors were "external partners" who would take on new and existing work.

Roslansky also said in the letter that the changes would result in creating 250 new jobs. The spokesperson said that employees affected by the cuts would be eligible to apply for those roles.

LinkedIn also said it was eliminating the slimmed down jobs app that it offers in China after it decided in 2021 to mostly withdraw from the country, citing a "challenging" environment. The remaining China app, called InCareers, will be phased out by Aug. 9, LinkedIn said.

"Despite our initial progress, InCareer faced fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate, which ultimately led us to the decision of discontinuing the service," the company told users of the website.

Story continues

LinkedIn will retain a presence in China to help companies operating there to hire and train employees outside the country, the company spokesperson said.

In the tech sector, large companies have accounted for the bulk of recent layoffs, including 27,000 at Amazon.com Inc, the most in its history.

Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc shed 21,000, and Google parent Alphabet Inc has laid off 12,000. Before LinkedIn's announcement, 5,000 technology jobs had been in eliminated in May alone, according to Layoffs.fyi. Microsoft, which bought LinkedIn for around $26 billion in 2016, has announced some 10,000 job cuts in recent months and took a $1.2 billion charge related to the layoffs.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Jamie Freed)
MCPHY ENERGY SA

Supply of one McLyzer 800-30, which will be operated on the manufacturing site of Plansee Group based in Reutte, Austria

A highly innovative low-carbon metal production project, another key milestone in metallurgy

Within the framework of this contract, McPhy will also provide long-term maintenance services

Grenoble, France, May 09, 2023  7.30 am CEST - McPhy Energy, specialized in low-carbon hydrogen production and distribution equipment (electrolyzers and refueling stations), today announced the signing of a contract for the supply, assembly and commissioning of one McLyzer 800-30 with a capacity of 4 MW with Plansee Group in Austria. The electrolyzer will operate on the Plansee Group manufacturing site, based in Reutte, Austria, where green hydrogen shall be used to produce carbon neutral high-performance metals for various high-tech applications such as semiconductor, electronics or medical.

Today, hydrogen on the Plansee Group production site in Reutte is provided through steam reforming as an integral part of the metal production and is used by the companies Plansee High Performance Materials and tools manufacturer Ceratizit. The equipment provided shall enable the site to gradually replace the production by green hydrogen produced with renewable energy. To ensure operational reliability and availability, McPhy has also signed a long-term maintenance agreement in the framework of this contract.

With this contract, the Group registers another leading reference in the industrial field by participating in a highly innovative low-carbon metal production project. The 1st delivery of green hydrogen is expected to occur by the end of 2024.

Jean-Baptiste Lucas, Chief Executive Officer of McPhy, comments:

"As energy efficiency has become a key trigger for green hydrogen investments, especially in the hard-to-abate markets, we are thrilled to announce our support to Plansee Group in the completion of this project that will allow to halve its CO 2 emissions at the Reutte site by 2025. Moreover, as the operations will take place in Austria, this collaboration will allow us to expand our footprint in the DACH1 region, where we are already well established thanks to our site in Wildau.

Story continues

"Currently, hydrogen production from natural gas causes 50 percent of our CO 2 emissions at the Reutte production site. We can halve these emissions by 2025 with the new hydrogen electrolyzer," says Ulrich Lausecker, Managing Director of Plansee High Performance Materials. Plansee's goal is to supply the site with hydrogen produced CO 2 -free by 2030.

About Plansee Group

With the Plansee High Performance Materials and Ceratizit business areas and the investment in Molymet, the Plansee Group is one of the world's leading powder metallurgy industrial companies. The Plansee Group specializes in products made from the materials molybdenum and tungsten, covering the entire value chain  from ore concentrate to customized tools and components. The product portfolio includes more than 100,000 different products and tools. The Plansee Group thus enables high-tech devices for everyday use such as smartphones as well as sustainable and efficient solutions for mobility, energy supply and industrial manufacturing. In the fiscal year 2021/22, the Plansee Group achieved consolidated sales of 2.02 billion euros with 11,174 employees.

About McPhy

Specialized in hydrogen production and distribution equipment, McPhy is contributing to the global deployment of low-carbon hydrogen as a solution for energy transition. With its complete range of products dedicated to the industrial, mobility and energy sectors, McPhy offers its customers turnkey solutions adapted to their applications in industrial raw material supply, recharging of fuel cell electric vehicles or storage and recovery of electricity surplus based on renewable sources. As designer, manufacturer and integrator of hydrogen equipment since 2008, McPhy has three development, engineering and production centers in Europe (France, Italy, Germany). Its international subsidiaries provide broad commercial coverage for its innovative hydrogen solutions. McPhy is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment B, ISIN code: FR0011742329, MCPHY).

CONTACTS

NewCap Investor Relations

Emmanuel Huynh

T. +33 (0)1 44 71 94 99

mcphy@newcap.eu Press Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

T. +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98

Gaelle Fromaigeat

T.+33 (0)1 44 71 98 52

mcphy@newcap.eu



Follow us on

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1 Germany, Austria and Switzerland







Attachment




Infill program changing in-pit waste zones to strong copper-gold mineralization

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Meridian Mining UK. S (TSX:MNO)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQB:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the continuing successes of the ongoing drill program at Cabacal ("Figure 1"). Drill results have confirmed that the near-surface VMS mineralization within Cabacal's open pit, largely un-assayed by the historical drill program, hosts extensive copper-gold mineralization, and that the higher-grade copper-gold trends within the Cabacal resource[1] remain open. Additionally, drilling of the up-dip extensions of the Cabacal Northwest Extension ("CNWE"), external to the resource model but within the open-pit, where it is currently classified as waste, have returned the highest grade copper VMS mineralization within the CNWE. The ongoing drill program will shortly be expanded to three rigs. Assay results are pending.

Highlights Reported Today

First angled drill program across Cabacal mine results in an increase in local metal content; Angled drill test line averages 31% superior metal content to BP's vertical drilling; Highest grade gold zone defined 4.0m @ 9.6g/t AuEq (CD-228) from 56.0m; Gold over-print intersected within old workings, with scope for more upside; Future infill angled drill program across Cabacal mine to be greatly expanded;

Meridian unlocks the near surface copper-gold mineralization at Cabacal ; 61.3m @ 1.2g/t AuEq[2] (CD-228) from 10.8m; including 15.6m @ 3.0g/t AuEq from 51.5m; 56.7m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (CD-230) from 15.1m; including 18.5m @ 2.0g/t AuEq from 44.7m Shallow zones cutting historically unsampled areas confirmed as mineralized;

CNWE infill program changes open-pit's waste zones into strong copper-gold upside ; 15.1m @ 1.5% Cu, 0.4g/t Au and 1.8g/t Ag (CD-248) from 44.7m; Latest up-dip copper-gold extensions are external to Cabacal's resource model; Results point to likely reduction in the mining strip ratio;

Geophysics on Southern Copper Zone firming up next phase of drilling around CD-240[3]; and

Resource upgrade on track for late 2023.

Story continues

Dr. Adrian McArthur, CEO, comments : "The strong near surface results reported today highlight the additional value being created by the continuing program. Cabacal's PEA[4] generated outstanding economics driven by the financial model's "front end" mining of the shallow starter pit in the CNWE . As we are now demonstrating, there are more and more areas of shallow mineralization not included in the current mine plan and/or resource model. These have the possibility of extending that critical front end high-grade mill feed. Equally important are the first results of the infill program through the old mine area. Results from this first fence of angled drill holes have averaged 31% higher metal content than those of the historical drilling, due again to the under-representation of the gold overprint. When we combine this with the impressive result of CD-240's 34.5m @ 4.0% Cu, 1.7g/t Au & 22.4g/t Ag, it gives a very positive upside potential to the Cabacal PEA's already strong economic returns. Having a strong balance sheet and three rigs turning shortly, we look forward to more drill results, exploration results from the mine corridor and the resource upgrade later in the year."

Meridian Mining UK S, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Press release picture

Figure 1: Location of results reported in this news release.

In-Pit Angled Drilling Program Adding Metal Content

As the Cabacal host geology is dipping at ~15o to the southwest, both angled and vertical drill holes have comparable widths of mineralization (~96% of stratigraphic true width). The Company objective was to evaluate on average how the two different drill orientations perform as it does not expect that individual angled holes will always be universally better than vertical holes.

CD-228 overlapped historical holes JUSPD-358, JUSPD-383, JUSPD-368, JUSPD-386, JUSPD-388 and JUSPD-354. Taking the intersection-times-grade in AuEq as a measure of metal content, CD-228 returned a cumulative 81.0 gram-meters AuEq, compared to an average of 57.2 gram-meters AuEq in the historical holes overlapped (ranging from 28.8 to 84.0 gram-meters AuEq); a 41% superior metal content. CD-228 also returned the highest-grade gold interval of this fence of 62.5g/t Au (sample CBDS31263, 58.4- 58.7m), compared to the next highest in JUSPD-358 (48.0g/t Au, sample CAIF04773, 37.4- 37.9m).

CD-230 overlapped the historical holes: JUSPD-388, JUSPD-354, JUSPD-351 and JUSPD-279. CD-230 returned a superior 53.4 gram-meters AuEq, compared to the JUSPD's series lower average of 31.6 gram-meters AuEq (ranging from 25.2 to 41.9 gram-meters AuEq). Despite CD-230 intersecting a mining void that was assigned zero grade, it hosted superior metal contents.

Together, the average gram-meter content of 67.2 in CD-228 and CD-230, compared to an average of 51.3 in the vertical holes cutting the same area, being 31% higher in cumulative metal content.

Up-dip holes CD-232 (35.5 gram-meters AuEq) and CD-234 (39.8 gram-meters AuEq) continue to extend the mineralized trend positively up-dip through the decline area, compared to the next closest vertical hole up-dip on this section (JUSPD-110 - 16.6 gram-meters AuEq).

The Company is of the view that significant potential remains for additional gold mineralization hosted by the high-grade gold overprint within the Cabacal resource area. The quantum of this upside will be directly tested by the increased density of angle drilling from the infill program.

Meridian Mining UK S, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Press release picture

Figure 2: Examples of Meridian angled drilling compared to BP vertical drilling, labelled and coloured by AuEq compared to the block model. Middle diagram shows the high-grade structural gold in CD-228 (4.0m @ 9.6g/t AuEq).

The Importance of Advancing The Angled Drilling Within Mine Areas

Cabacal is two deposits in one, the bulk tonnage gently dipping copper-gold-silver VMS deposit that has been "overprinted" by a later event of sub-vertical high-grade gold structures. The 1980's "vertical" resource drilling by BP Minerals (~70% of the current Cabacal resource database) targeted what they thought was a shallow dipping system, and under-represents the gold related to the steeper high-grade overprint event. Since 2021, Meridian's CNWE drill program has confirmed via its angled drilling that it has a significantly higher probability of hitting the high-grade gold overprint while still intercepting the VMS system.

The Company recently completed a four hole test line through the mine area where the highest density of historical vertical drilling is located ("the Test"; "Figure 1", "Figure 2"). Two key findings have arisen. Firstly, preliminary results indicate that despite the higher density of vertical drilling the Test program still generated on average a higher metal content per metre of drilling. Secondly, the Test's results within the near surface zone, the area largely not assayed in the 1980's, is mineralized and is considered open and prospective along the length of the resource model.

These positive findings support the Company's belief that further drilling both within and beyond the resource envelop has potential to increase the Cabacal deposit's metal budget. Continued results such as these have the potential to add value to both the early and later stages of the mine schedule outlined in the recent PEA.

The Test line was collared over the Central Copper Zone. Four angled holes were drilled, from southwest to the northeast: CD-228, CD-230, CD-232 and CD-234. CD-232 and CD-234 terminated outside the area of the underground galleries in a more sparsely drilled position, in the area of the decline. Results included:

CD-228: 61.3m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.9g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.9g/t Ag) from 10.8m;

Including:

11.2m @ 0.8g/t AuEq (0.5% Cu & 1.3g/t Ag) from 10.8m (shallow zone);

15.6m @ 3.0 AuEq (2.5g/t Au, 0.3% Cu & 1.4g/t Ag) from 51.5m;

6.1m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.2g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 2.1g/t Ag) from 78.0m;

CD-230: 56.7m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.3g/t Ag) from 15.1m;

Including:

18.5m @ 2.0g/t AuEq (0.7g/t Au, 0.9% Cu & 5.1g/t Ag) from 44.7m;

CD-232: 10.2m @ 1.4g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.7% Cu & 4.2g/t Ag) from 53.0m;

14.0m @ 1.3g/t AuEq (0.6g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.7g/t Ag) from 69.0m;

CD-234: 25.3m @ 1.1g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 2.8g/t Ag) from 37.0m; and

7.9m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.3g/t Au, 0.5% Cu & 3.3g/t Ag) from 67.0m.

Cabacal Northwest Extension's Waste Zones Converted To Mineralization

The infill program has been targeting the areas in the CNWE, largely where the resource remains inferred or unclassified (waste). The drilling efforts have been primarily concentrated on exploring the up-dip extension of the mine sequence, covering a distance of 1000 meters along the strike. The results are important as Cabacal moves towards the next phase of resource upgrade, ensuring areas that are currently classified as waste, negatively influencing Cabacal's PEA, have their true mineral content confirmed. CD-248's and CD-225's results highlight how the up-dip extensions within the CNWE, largely classified as waste through lack of drill coverage, are returning robust grades and widths of copper-gold mineralization ("Figure 3"). In particular, CD-248 returned the highest Cu VMS sample to date with 10.6% Cu. This confirms that copper rich zones extend out beyond the old workings.. The Company believes these results will contribute positively to future advanced mining and economic studies. Results included:

CD-248: 15.1m @ 2.5g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 1.5% Cu, 1.8g/t Ag) from 44.7m; and

CD-225: 12.7m@ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.4g/t Au, 0.6% Cu & 1.1g/t Ag) from 27.0m.

Results continue to build from the earlier intersection of CD-193 (15.6m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (0.8% Cu, 0.4g/t Au, 1.3g/t Ag) from 42m.

Meridian Mining UK S, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Press release picture

Figure 3: Cross section showing newly drilled mineralization in unclassified areas, treated as waste in the PEA.

Southern Copper Zone Follow up

Following the strong results reported in CD-240, the Company has been undertaking geophysical follow-up programs to define potential extensions to the zone, with a Mise-a-la-Masse survey ("the Survey") defining a conductor modelled over at least a 100m strike length and strengthening to the south-east of the CD-240 position. The Survey technique applied an electric current directly to the mineral body via a cable inserted down the hole, and the resultant anomaly is defined by an array of sensors on the surface. The signal of the response diminishes naturally with distance from the drill hole, and the Company has established survey platforms to the southeast and northwest of the CD-240 position to guide further drilling.

Table 1: Results reported today

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-248 -49 59 80.9 CNWE 7.8 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.0 31.2 15.1 2.5 1.7 0.4 1.5 1.8 0.0 44.7 CD-246 -49 060 65.0 CNWE 35.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0 12.0 CD-245 -49 061 33.7 CNWE 8.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 3.5 0.1 10.4 CD-243 -49 059 49.1 CNWE 11.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.1 8.0 CD-241 -59 310 170.3 SCZ 13.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.0 98.4 2.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.0 114.4 CD-238 -49 061 70.3 CNWE 15.5 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.0 19.0 CD-236 -49 060 24.0 CNWE 7.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.0 4.0 CD-235 -60 060 36.7 CNWE 6.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.0 3.0 10.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.1 16.3 CD-234 -60 045 90.2 ECZ Extension 9.4 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 20.6 25.3 1.1 0.8 0.4 0.5 2.8 0.0 37.0 Including 10.1 2.2 1.5 0.7 1.0 6.2 0.1 52.2 7.9 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.5 3.3 0.0 67.0 CD-233 -50 060 37.0 CNWE 5.1 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.0 3.6 10.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.0 0.1 13.3

Table 1 continued:

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-232 -60 045 102.2 CCZ 4.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.0 34.4 2.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 45.0 10.2 1.4 0.9 0.4 0.7 4.2 0.0 53.0 14.0 1.3 0.9 0.6 0.5 2.7 0.0 69.0 CD-231 -50 060 40.1 CNWE 6.5 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.1 20.2 CD-230 -60 045 91.4 CCZ 56.7 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.5 2.3 0.0 15.1 Including 18.5 2.0 1.3 0.7 0.9 5.1 0.1 44.7 Including 7.3 3.7 2.4 0.9 1.9 11.9 0.1 60.4 CD-229 -45 060 40.1 CNWE 13.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.0 5.0 CD-228 -59 045 101.6 CCZ 61.3 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.2 0.9 0.1 10.8 Including 15.6 3.0 2.0 2.5 0.3 1.4 0.1 51.5 Including 4.0 9.6 6.4 8.4 0.9 3.5 0.2 56.0 6.1 1.1 0.7 0.2 0.6 2.1 0.0 78.0 CD-227 -48 062 51.6 CNWE 6.9 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.1 17.1 CD-226 -49 061 36.5 CNWE 14.4 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.0 17.7 CD-225 -49 059 54.8 CNWE 6.5 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.0 6.0 12.7 1.2 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.1 0.0 27.0 CD-224 -49 064 70.9 CNWE 14.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.0 19.0 8.7 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.0 34.6 Including 1.9 2.3 1.5 2.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 34.6 6.9 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.5 0.0 48.2 CD-223 -49 060 76.1 CNWE 12.2 1.5 1.0 1.1 0.4 0.8 0.0 39.4 Including 1.7 5.2 3.5 5.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 39.4 And 2.2 3.7 2.5 1.4 1.7 3.6 0.0 49.0 CD-222 -49 059 77.2 CNWE 15.8 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.0 34.0 Including 3.1 1.7 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 0.0 45.2 CD-221 -45 060 79.0 CNWE 13.1 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.1 34.6 Including 2.0 2.9 1.9 2.5 0.4 0.7 0.0 36.0 CD-220 -53 060 53.2 CNWE 13.0 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.0 19.4

Table 1 continued:

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) CD-219 -47 059 113.8 CNWE 13.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.0 23.0 14.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.0 45.0 14.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.3 80.5 CD-217 -49 062 100.1 CNWE 6.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 29.0 22.4 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.1 0.0 56.6 Including 4.3 1.7 1.1 0.8 0.7 4.0 0.1 71.2 CD-215 -45 064 111.2 CNWE 8.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0 40.0 8.6 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.0 53.0 18.0 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.0 66.3 Including 1.8 6.9 4.6 3.4 2.4 5.9 0.0 81.0 CD-214 -50 063 93.0 CNWE 18.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 12.3 6.4 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 44.7 18.4 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.0 0.2 54.9

Table 2: Historical Intersections referenced in this release

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) JUSPD-110 -90 000 76.8 ECZ 16.6 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.3 2.6 0.0 8.0 11.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 33.1 2.0 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.5 0.0 53.0 JUSPD-279 -90 000 80.0 CCZ 35.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.5 2.6 0.0 40.4 JUSPD-351 -90 000 80.6 CCZ 28.0 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.3 1.0 0.0 36.9 5.0 0.7 0.4 0.2 0.4 1.1 0.0 72.0 JUSPD-354 -90 000 90.4 CCZ 6.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.0 38.4 13.9 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 3.2 0.0 54.6 2.3 2.4 1.6 0.4 1.4 5.9 0.0 74.8 JUSPD-358 -90 000 87.4 CCZ 12.5 3.3 2.2 2.9 0.3 0.8 0.0 28.2 17.2 1.9 1.3 0.8 0.8 4.9 0.0 46.3 4.6 1.6 1.1 0.3 0.9 5.4 0.0 71.3 JUSPD-368 -90 000 90.4 CCZ 30.0 1.2 0.8 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.0 10.0 38.7 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 1.0 0.0 47.0 JUSPD-383 -90 000 84.7 CCZ 55.4 1.5 1.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 0.0 25.8

Hole ID Dip Azi EOH

(m) Prospect Intercept

(m) AuEq

g/t CuEq

% Au

g/t Cu

% Ag

g/t Zn

% From

(m) JUSPD-386 -90 000 85.0 CCZ 59.0 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.8 0.0 22.0 JUSPD-388 -90 000 85.0 CCZ 54.8 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.0 22.0

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on:

The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabacal VMS goldcopper project;

Regional scale exploration of the Cabacal VMS belt;

Exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil); and

Exploring the Espigao polymetallic project in the State of Rondonia, Brazil.

Cabacal is a gold-copper-silver rich VMS deposit with the potential to be a standalone mine within the 50km VMS belt. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks. A later-stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization cross-cutting the dipping VMS layers.

The Cabacal Mineral Resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9 million tonnes at 0.6g/t gold, 0.3% copper and 1.4g/t silver and Inferred resources of 10.3 million tonnes at 0.7g/t gold, 0.2% copper & 1.1g/t silver (at a 0.3 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade), including a higher-grade near-surface zone supporting a starter pit.

The Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report (the "PEA Technical Report") dated March 30, 2023, entitled: "Cabacal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Mato Grosso, Brazil" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 573 million and 58.4% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 180 million, leading to capital repayment in 10.6 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 1,650 per ounces of gold, USD 3.59 per pound of copper, and USD 21.35 per ounce of silver). Cabacal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 671 per ounce gold equivalent for the first five years, driven by high metallurgical recovery, a low life-of-mine strip ratio of 2.1:1, and the low operating cost environment of Brazil (see press release dated March 6, 2023).

Readers are encouraged to read the PEA Technical Report in its entirety. The PEA Technical Report may be found on the Company's website at www.meridianminig.co and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The qualified persons for the PEA Technical Report are: Robert Raponi (P. Eng), Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering), Scott Elfen (P. E.), Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering), Simon Tear (PGeo, EurGeol), Principal Geological Consultant of H&SC, Marcelo Batelochi, (MAusIMM, CP Geo), Geological Consultant of MB Geologia Ltda, Joseph Keane (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.E), of SGS, and Guilherme Gomides Ferreira (Mine Engineer MAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Dr. Adrian McArthur

CEO and Director

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.net.br

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Technical Notes

Gold equivalents are calculated as AuEq(g/t) = (Au(g/t) * %Recovery) + (1.492*(Cu% * %Recovery)) + (0.013*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)).

Copper equivalents are calculated as CuEq(%) = (Cu% * %Recovery) = (0.6703*(Au(g/t) * %Recovery)) + (0.0087*(Ag(g/t) * %Recovery)), where

Au_recovery_ppm = 5.4368ln(Au_Grade_ppm)+88.856;

Cu_recovery_pct = 2.0006ln(Cu_Grade_pct)+94.686

Ag_recovery_ppm = 13.342ln(Ag_Grade_ppm)+71.037

Recoveries based on 2022 metallurgical testwork on core submitted to SGS Lakefield. Gold price US$1,650/oz; Silver US$21.35/oz; Copper US$3.59/lb.

Samples have been analysed at the accredited ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are dried, crushed with 70% passing <2mm, split off to give a mass of approximately 250g, and pulverized to >85% passing 200#. Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Samples with visible gold identified during logging are analysed by screen fire assay method Au-SCR21. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs, ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. In BP sampling, gold was analysed historically be fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro. Silver was analysed by samples were analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish. True width is considered to be 90-97% of intersection width.

The Mise-a-la-Masse survey is being conducted using the Company's in-house team, utilizing its GDD GRx816c receiver and 5000W240015A transmitter. Data is processed by the Company's independent consultancy Core Geophysics. Geophysical and geochemical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit.

Qualified Person

Dr. Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, Ph.D. FAusIMM., CEO of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise.

[1] See Meridian News Release of September 26, 2022

[2] See Technical notes for AuEq inputs

[3] See Meridian News Release of March 27, 2023

True width is considered to be 90-97% of intersection width

[4] See Meridian News Release of March 6, 2023

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S





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Meriwest Credit Union

Meriwest Credit Union is recognized as a 2023 Best Place to Work by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal

SILICON VALLEY, Calif., May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal have named Meriwest Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions serving Silicon Valley, a Bay Area Best Place to Work for 2023. This is the fourth year in a row that employees of Meriwest have voted the credit union as a best place to work.



On May 4th, 2023, the results of the survey were unveiled for thousands of companies in the Bay Area, ranking the top companies to work for. Among the select employers who won the award, Meriwest was recognized for creating a unique workplace and culture that is highly valued by its employees.

Unlike other awards, the Best Places to Work award is distinguished because it is determined solely by each companys employee rankings. Over thousands of respondents answered questions that were collected for the annual survey, which focused on factors that make a great workplace, such as management practices, a collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits packages, and other amenities.

What an honor to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work among so many outstanding companies, said Meriwest CEO, Lisa Pesta. Meriwest employees show a passion for what they do, a passion for our members and for our community. This passion shows up in so many areas  and its what defines our People Helping People philosophy and makes us who we are today.

About Meriwest Credit Union

Founded in San Jose, California on May 5, 1961, Meriwest Credit Union, one of Silicon Valleys largest and most established financial institutions, provides proactive, personal, convenient, and innovative financial services to over 80,000 families and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Pima County, Arizona. Meriwest is one of the top-200 largest credit unions in the United States with assets in excess of $2.2 billion, and offers a wide array of personal banking, business banking, and wealth advisory products and services to members. The credit union was voted Best Credit Union in Silicon Valley in this years Mercury News 21st Annual Readers Choice Awards and a Best Place to Work by the Silicon Valley Business Journal 2020 through 2023. More information can be found at www.meriwest.com.

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About 2023 Bay Area Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantums scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best.

Contact:

Helen Grays-Jones

Meriwest Credit Union

Community Relations Manager

Direct Line: 408-365-6328

hgrays@meriwest.com




BlueWeave Consulting and Research Pvt Ltd

North America held the highest share in the global minimal residual disease testing market due to the increasing incidence of cancer, the adoption of next-generation and polymerase chain reaction techniques, the adoption of innovative technology, and the availability of research infrastructure for proteomics, genomics, and oncology. The increasing prevalence of hematological cancers in the United States has resulted in a higher risk of residual cancerous cells, which is expected to drive demand for minimal residual disease market. The American Cancer Society has reported that 34,470 new cases of multiple myeloma and 6,660 new cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia are expected in the United States in 2022.

New Delhi, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global minimal residual disease testing market is flourishing because of high adoption of precision medicine approaches, growing trend towards early cancer diagnosis and detection, and increasing prevalence of cancer worldwide, leading to surging demand for accurate and reliable diagnostic tests.



BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated global minimal residual disease testing market size at USD 1.54 billion in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, BlueWeave expects global minimal residual disease testing market size to grow at a significant CAGR of 14.6% reaching a value of USD 3.96 billion by 2029. Major growth drivers for global minimal residual disease testing market include growing cancer patient population, awareness among consumers of the importance of therapy, as well as increased investments in research, and high disposable income in developing nations. A primary growth driver of the market growth is the escalating prevalence of cancer. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is currently the second most common cause of death worldwide. In 2020, there were 19.3 million reported cases of cancer and 9.96 million deaths related to the disease. The International Agency for Research on Cancer predicts that the number of cancer cases will rise to 21.9 million by 2025 and 24.6 million by 2030. As a result, governments are expected to establish new cancer screening programs to address this surge in cases. Also, the market is expected to experience growth due to increased investments in MRD (minimal residual disease) testing programs. MRD diagnostic and monitoring research is expanding, which is creating demand for these services. However, limited availability of skilled healthcare professionals to perform and interpret MRD tests and concerns over the accuracy and reliability of MRD tests are anticipated to restrain the overall market growth.

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Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market  Overview

Global minimal residual disease (MRD) testing market refers to the market for diagnostic tests used to detect the presence of cancer cells in patients who have undergone treatment. MRD testing is a highly sensitive and specific technique that is capable of detecting small amounts of cancer cells that may remain in a patient's body after treatment. The MRD testing market includes products and services such as assays, flow cytometers, and other testing equipment, as well as related services like sample preparation and analysis. The market caters to healthcare providers, research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies who use MRD testing for disease monitoring, treatment selection, and clinical trial endpoints.

Sample Request @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/minimal-residual-disease-testing-market/report-sample

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market

COVID-19 had a detrimental impact on the global minimal residual disease (MRD) testing market. With the focus on the virus and the strain on healthcare systems, the demand for MRD testing was affected. The restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, such as social distancing and lockdown measures, have also resulted in delays or cancellations of elective procedures, including MRD testing. Also, the disruption in the supply chain and manufacturing processes has led to a shortage of necessary components and instruments required for testing. The uncertain economic conditions and reduced funding for research and development may further impede the growth of the MRD testing market in the near future.

Please Visit the Press Release: https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/press-release/global-minimal-residual-disease-testing-market-size-more-than-doubles-to-reach-usd-4-billion-by-2029

Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market  By Test Type

Based on test type, the global minimal residual disease testing market is divided into DNA-Based Test, RNA-Based Test, and Immunological Test segments. The DNA-based tests segment held the highest share of the MRD testing market due to their high sensitivity and specificity in detecting cancer cells. However, the RNA-based tests segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to advancements in technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital PCR.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the global minimal residual disease testing market include Abbott Laboratories, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Agilent Technologies, ARUP Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Illumina, Inc., Invivoscribe, Inc., Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Luminex Corporation, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Natera, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Sysmex Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Dont miss the business opportunity in the Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market . Consult our analysts to gain crucial insights and facilitate your business growth.

The in-depth analysis of the report provides information about growth potential, upcoming trends, and statistics of Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market. It also highlights the factors driving forecasts of total market size. The report promises to provide recent technology trends in Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market and industry insights to help decision-makers make sound strategic decisions. Furthermore, the report also analyzes the growth drivers, challenges, and competitive dynamics of the market.







Recent Developments

In June 2021 - Sysmex Corporation launched a new MRD testing solution, Sysmex Inostics OncoBEAM Plus Digital PCR Kit. The solution is designed to detect and monitor low levels of MRD in patients with solid tumors.

Scope of the Report

Attributes Details Years Considered Historical Data  20192022 Base Year  2022 Estimated Year  2023 Forecast Period  20232029 Facts Covered Revenue in USD Billion Market Coverage North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA) Product/ Service Segmentation Test Type, Technology, Application, End Use, Region Key Players Abbott Laboratories, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Agilent Technologies, ARUP Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Illumina, Inc., Invivoscribe, Inc., Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Luminex Corporation, Myriad Genetics, Inc., Natera, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Sysmex Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

By Test Type

DNA-based Test

RNA-based Test

Immunological Test

By Technology

NGS

PCR

Flow Cytometry

Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization

By Application

Hematological Malignancies

Solid Tumors

By End Use

Hospitals

Specialty Clinics

Diagnostic Laboratories

Research & Academic Institutes

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific (APAC)

Latin America

Middle East and Africa (MEA)







Please Find Below Some Related Topics:

About Us

BlueWeave Consulting provides comprehensive Market Intelligence (MI) Solutions to businesses regarding various products and services online and offline. We offer all-inclusive market research reports by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to boost the performance of your business solutions. BlueWeave has built its reputation by delivering quality inputs and nourishing long-lasting relationships with its clients. We are one of the promising digital MI solutions companies providing agile assistance to make your business endeavors successful.

Contact Us:

BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd

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The new global platform, #NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour focuses on new design & digital innovation, reflecting the boldness and vibrancy of a generation of young creatives.

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 9, 2023 /CNW/ -- Mirinda has today revealed its powerful new global brand platform, 'There's no flavour like your flavour', alongside a playful new visual identity system, which honours creativity and uniqueness in all generations. Placing boldness at the forefront of Mirinda's 'M'pactful new look, the fruit flavoured carbonated soft drink brand aims to provide the much-needed spark of inspiration that Gen Z is craving.

MIRINDA UNVEILS VIBRANT NEW VISUAL IDENTITY & MPACTFUL GLOBAL BRAND PLATFORM TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY

Mirinda's new direction and global brand tagline cements the brand as a representation of the next generation, celebrating and embracing these vibrant creators, who have the courage to express their creativity and bring their authenticity both in real life and online.

Coinciding with the #NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour launch, Mirinda has been given a striking new visual identity called "Making an M-pact", which was developed by PepsiCo Design and Innovation to ignite creativity. The Mirinda logo has been refreshed with a brighter green, along with sharper corners and cleaner lines to amplify its distinction. The iconic Mirinda 'M' serves as a canvas of creativity from which the brand is brought to life. The new visual identity features playful colour palettes which provide a burst of refreshment, while twirling spheres, fizzing bubbles and zesty fruit illustrations convey a sense of playfulness and energy throughout.

Each of the brand's 50+ irresistible fruit flavours, including fan favourites Green Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry, and Watermelon, will be given a corresponding colour palette, each with their own vivid, contrasting colourways. Mirinda's innovative flavour offerings are tailored to the unique palate of communities around the world, including Green Cream Soda and Orange Tamarind in Vietnam, and Acai Berry in Poland. The new visual identity will be visible on all Mirinda cans, merchandise, advertisements, retail displays, digital media and anywhere else you find Mirinda across its 200 markets.

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Eric Melis, Vice President Global Brand Marketing at PepsiCo, commented, "We are pleased to unveil Mirinda's new global brand platform that inspires vibrant creativity, encouraging Gen Z to harness their uniqueness as a superpower. Through #NoFlavourLikeYourFlavour we have developed a refreshing new visual identity and platform, which Mirinda fans can identify with - one that empowers this generation to resist conformity and instead, embrace self-expression. This marks the first step for the brand as we continue to evolve and grow in line with the youth of today. We look forward to rolling out the exciting plans we have in the pipeline."

Mauro Porcini, SVP & Chief Design Officer of PepsiCo, said, "Mirinda's 50+ flavours are a treat for the senses, and we wanted the brand's visual identity to look and feel the same. PepsiCo Design and Innovation brought Mirinda to life with vibrant, contrasting colours and bespoke illustrations that create a sense of dynamic energy and playfulness. We know Mirinda fans engage with the brand digitally as much as they do physically, so we created a visual identity that retains its excitement and distinction across all platforms."

Mirinda's new visual identity will be rolled out across the leading 20 international markets from May 2023, with many featuring their native languages on the cans. Kicking off with Vietnam and Thailand, the new visual identity will then appear in Poland, Romania, Czechia, Ukraine, Hungary, Croatia, Gaza/Palestine, Mexico, Argentina, Egypt, Iraq, Uganda, Ethiopia, China, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates and much more to come.

Alongside the new brand platform and visual identity system, Mirinda is committed to inspiring better choices for its consumers by offering reduced sugar alternatives. As part of this commitment, and to support PepsiCo's pep+ initiative to accelerate the reduction of added sugar across its wider portfolio, the brand successfully launched its Zero Sugar Orange flavour in both Poland and Nigeria and will continue to expand its low and no sugar portfolio internationally.

Notes to Editors

For information, please contact: pepsicomediarelations@pepsico.com

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com , and follow on Twitter, Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

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SOURCE PepsiCo

Cision

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Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's (KLSE:RHONEMA) stock up by 3.5% over the past week. Given that the stock prices usually follow long-term business performance, we wonder if the company's mixed financials could have any adverse effect on its current price price movement Particularly, we will be paying attention to Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's ROE today.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders.

See our latest analysis for Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

ROE can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad is:

9.0% = RM15m  RM163m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every MYR1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn MYR0.09 in profit.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features.

Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's Earnings Growth And 9.0% ROE

When you first look at it, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's ROE doesn't look that attractive. However, given that the company's ROE is similar to the average industry ROE of 10.0%, we may spare it some thought. However, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad has seen a flattish net income growth over the past five years, which is not saying much. Bear in mind, the company's ROE is not very high. So that could also be one of the reasons behind the company's flat growth in earnings.

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We then compared Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's net income growth with the industry and found that the average industry growth rate was 7.3% in the same period.

The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.

Is Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

Despite having a moderate three-year median payout ratio of 28% (meaning the company retains72% of profits) in the last three-year period, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's earnings growth was more or les flat. Therefore, there might be some other reasons to explain the lack in that respect. For example, the business could be in decline.

Moreover, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad has been paying dividends for six years, which is a considerable amount of time, suggesting that management must have perceived that the shareholders prefer dividends over earnings growth. Upon studying the latest analysts' consensus data, we found that the company is expected to keep paying out approximately 27% of its profits over the next three years. Regardless, Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's ROE is speculated to decline to 4.9% despite there being no anticipated change in its payout ratio.

Summary

In total, we're a bit ambivalent about Rhone Ma Holdings Berhad's performance. While the company does have a high rate of profit retention, its low rate of return is probably hampering its earnings growth. That being so, the latest industry analyst forecasts show that the analysts are expecting to see a huge improvement in the company's earnings growth rate. To know more about the latest analysts predictions for the company, check out this visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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High ranking reflects the company's continuing commitment to service and opportunities for franchise owners

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mosquito Shield , the trusted leader in mosquito and tick control services, ranks ninth on Entrepreneur's 2023 list of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States and Canada.

Mosquito Shield, the trusted leader in mosquito and tick control services, ranks ninth on Entrepreneur's 2023 list of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States and Canada.

Mosquito Shield helps customers in over 350 territories enjoy their outdoor spaces. Established in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 2001, Mosquito Shield has offered franchises since 2013. Mosquito Shield is part of the growing Five Star Franchising platform of brands.

"The explosive growth Mosquito Shield has witnessed over the last 30 months is the result of our commitment to service and continuing dedication to helping our franchise owners grow their business," said Michael Moorhouse, president of Mosquito Shield. "With more than two decades of experience, we've developed the most advanced solutions and systems in our industry, and our proven success in effective mosquito control is the foundation for the continuing growth opportunities available to our franchise owners."

Fastest Growing Franchises, one of Entrepreneur's most popular annual rankings, introduces potential franchise owners to the companies that are leveraging their ability to scale fast across the U.S. and Canada. The 2023 rankings are based on the net total new franchise units added between July 2021 and July 2022, as verified by Entrepreneur. More than 1,300 franchisors submitted information for the 2023 Fastest Growing Franchises ranking.

Mosquito Shield's high ranking among the fast-growing franchises matches the company's outstanding performance in other recent Entrepreneur rankings. Mosquito Shield ranks #1 among pest control franchises , #14 among Top Franchises for Less Than $100K , and #144 overall on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list of top franchises.

"Recognition from respected independent organizations such as Entrepreneur confirms that our vision and strategy provide powerful return for our franchisors and their franchise owners," said J. Andrew Mengason, chief growth officer for Five Star Franchising. "We're proud to offer value and opportunity for hard-working, ambitious franchise owners through our successful franchising system."

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Mosquito Shield combines an innovative proprietary blend of natural oils and select control products with a responsive spraying schedule designed around real-time pest population analysis and weather conditions to deliver the best results in the industry. For more information about Mosquito Shield, visit moshield.com . To learn about franchising opportunities, visit moshieldfranchise.com .

For more information about the growing Five Star Franchising portfolio of brands, visit fivestarfranchising.com .

About Mosquito Shield

Mosquito Shield is America's trusted provider of effective residential mosquito and tick control service. Combining an innovative proprietary blend of natural oils and select control products with a responsive spraying schedule designed around real-time pest population analysis and weather conditions, Mosquito Shield delivers the best results in the industry to help customers in over 350 territories enjoy their outdoor spaces. Mosquito Shield, part of the Five Star Franchising platform of home service brands, was ranked the top pest control franchise in the U.S. by Entrepreneur in 2023. For more information about Mosquito Shield, visit moshield.com . To learn about franchising opportunities, visit moshieldfranchise.com .

About Five Star Franchising

Five Star Franchising is an innovative, growing platform of seven home service brands with more than 800 franchises collectively across North America. The company empowers franchise partners' success with industry-leading tools and support while maximizing profitable growth for their franchise owners. Five Star Franchising's brands include Five Star Bath Solutions, Gotcha Covered, Bio-One, 1-800-Packouts, 1-800-Textiles, and Mosquito Shield as well as ProNexis, a leader in growth and customer experience solutions for home services franchises. Five Star's commitment to its core values  Driven, Real, Innovative, Vital, and Enthusiastic (DRIVE)  ensures its brands are top performers in technology, marketing, operations, local market success, and people. For more information, visit fivestarfranchising.com .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

hripley@ripleypr.com

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SOURCE Mosquito Shield
National Bank Holdings Corporation

DENVER, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend to shareholders. The quarterly cash dividend will increase 4.0% from twenty-five cents ($0.25) to twenty-six cents ($0.26) per share of common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 15, 2023 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 26, 2023.



We are very pleased to be delivering a 4.0% increase in our dividend over the last quarter. Our strong capital position and ample liquidity, coupled with our first quarter 2023 record earnings continue to drive attractive shareholder returns, said Chairman and CEO, Tim Laney.

Additionally, NBHC announced today that its Board of Directors authorized an increase to its repurchase authority of up to $50.0 million of the Companys common stock from time to time either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new program of $50.0 million replaces the previously authorized program in its entirety.

As of the close of business on May 5, 2023 the Company had outstanding 37,710,702 shares of Class A Common Stock, excluding 195,287 shares of restricted Class A common stock issued but not yet vested.

About National Bank Holdings Corporation

National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality client service and committed to stakeholder results. Through its bank subsidiaries, NBH Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole Trust, National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of over 95 banking centers, serving individual consumers, small, medium and large businesses, and government and non-profit entities. Its banking centers are located in its core footprint of Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho. Its comprehensive residential mortgage banking group primarily serves the banks core footprint. Its trust business is operated in its core footprint under the Bank of Jackson Hole Trust charter. NBH Bank operates under a single state charter through the following brand names as divisions of NBH Bank: in Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado and Community Banks Mortgage; in Kansas and Missouri, Bank Midwest and Bank Midwest Mortgage; in Texas, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho, Hillcrest Bank and Hillcrest Bank Mortgage; and in Wyoming, Bank of Jackson Hole and Bank of Jackson Hole Mortgage. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

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For more information visit: cobnks.com, bankmw.com, hillcrestbank.com, bankofjacksonhole.com, or nbhbank.com. Or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain words such as anticipate, believe, can, would, should, could, may, predict, seek, potential, will, estimate, target, plan, project, continuing, ongoing, expect, intend or similar expressions that relate to the Companys strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the Risk Factors referenced in our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

Contact:

Analysts/Institutional Investors:

Aldis Birkans, 720-554-6640

Chief Financial Officer

ir@nationalbankholdings.com

or

Media:

Jody Soper, 303-784-5925

Chief Marketing Officer

Jody.Soper@nbhbank.com

Source: National Bank Holdings Corporation




SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfront has been named to Inc. magazine's annual Best Workplaces list . Featured in the May/June 2023 issue, which hits newsstands on May 16, 2023, and prominently featured on Inc.com, the list is the result of a comprehensive measurement of American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual facility.

Newfront Logo (PRNewsfoto/Newfront Insurance)

Newfront is building the modern insurance platform for clients, colleagues, and trading partners by combining world-class insurance and technology talent in a collaborative culture. A top-40 brokerage based on revenue, Newfront expanded nationally in 2022 and hired more than 250 employees.

"At Newfront, we believe in building a culture that embraces diverse disciplines  from insurance to technology to operations," said Newfront Head of People Paige Maisonet. "Newfront is the destination for both insurance experts and leading technologists to grow their career and advance an age-old industry. It's rewarding to know that our most important audience, our employees, recognize our efforts to continually improve our culture."

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

After collecting data from thousands of submissions, Inc. selected 591 honorees this year. Each company that was nominated took part in an employee survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, which included topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. The organization's benefits were also audited to determine overall score and ranking.

About Newfront

Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you. Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout the country and is home to more than 850 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally.

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About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Traci Johnson

Newfront

press@newfront.com

Natasha Koleas

PAN Communications

949-397-7582

nkoleas@pancomm.com

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SOURCE Newfront
INVL Technology

In 2022, NRD Companies concentrated its efforts on offering consulting services and implementing digital solutions in the Caribbean, Central American and African regions while seeing an uptick in its global brand recognition.

NRD Companies, a global IT and consulting group of companies, specializing in governance and economic digital infrastructure development, and the provisioning of subject matter consultancy services, has recently released its 2022 annual report. The company's consolidated revenue in 2022 of 8.079 million was up 27% from the previous year. EBITDA decreased to 211 thousand compared to 297 thousand in 2021.

Revenue increased in 2022 as a result of the companys vastly improved performance in several strategic directions: E-registers, E-services and finance, implementation of digital solutions, and the provision of consulting services. It is noteworthy that market conditions gradually improved in 2022 following a challenging pandemic-related 2021.

Mindaugas Glodas, CEO of NRD Companies comments that 2022 was a busy year of digital transformation projects in the E-Registers and Public E-Services domains as well as in capacity building consultancy projects in our strategic geographic regions: Caribbean, Central America and Africa. In Anguilla we carried out a fully remote implementation of a national business e-registry system. This project proved that not only our staff is capable of remote project management but that our clients are receptive to this development as well. In Belize, we implemented the Online Business Registration System (OBRS). I am extremely proud of our client, the Belize Financial Services Commission, and the NRD Companies team as the project gained global recognition and was selected as a WSIS Prize 2023 Champion; In Trinidad and Tobago, we developed a national E-payment strategy which will act as a foundation for additional national reforms aiming to improve tax collection within the country; in , Sint Maarten, we have been working intensively on a 4 year long project of developing a nationwide E-government infrastructure; and in an ongoing project in Ghana, we are providing consulting services to the Ministry of Finances External Resource Mobilization and Economic Relations Division for the development of a corporate strategic plan and organizational policy manuals.

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Commenting on the EBITDA decrease, Mindaugas Glodas referred to the 14% increase in payroll cost. In addition, an increase in subcontracting costs also played a relatively significant role.

The company was also included in Forrester's "The Digital Banking Engagement Platforms Landscape," further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry, while gaining global attention from major media outlets such as Bloomberg, The Wall street Journal, The Paypers, and others. 

Despite the challenges faced in 2022, NRD Companies demonstrated solid growth in revenue and maintained the trust of its customers. The products developed by our group of companies, in addition to our consulting services provided throughout 2022, assisted many growing economies to reduce the digital divide and implement digital innovations. This will result in major improvements to the provision of government services in 2023 and beyond, and will have a significant impact on areas such as ease of doing business, financial security, financial inclusion, and overall quality of life. Our successful projects in Caribbean, Central American and African countries are testimony to our expertise, our experience working in those regions, and the trust we have built with our clients. These accomplishments are also inline with the UN's sustainable development goals. In 2023, NRD Companies will continue to adhere to its objective to remain a leading solutions and consultancy provider in support of transforming developing countries. concludes Glodas.

About NRD Companies



NRD Companies is a global IT and consulting group of companies, specializing in governance and economic digital infrastructure development. Headquartered in Norway, the group unites companies operating in Fintech, GovTech, and practice-based consulting areas in aiding countries to reach UN sustainable development goals. NRD companies have a successful track record of implementing projects, such as e-service delivery platforms, national post digitalization, tax administration platforms, and other digital solutions, in all 5 continents. The Group is a recognized leader in the industry and is controlled by the INVL Technology UTIB. NRD Companies is a parent company for the following subsidiary corporations: Norway Registers Development AS, NRD Systems, ETRONIKA, Infobank Uganda. More information: http://www.nrdcompanies.com/

The person authorized to provide additional information:

INVL Technology Managing Partner

Kazimieras Tonkunas

E-mail k.tonkunas@invltechnology.lt





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(Bloomberg) -- Nintendo Co. expects to sell 15 million units of its Switch console this fiscal year, showing the extent of the slowdown for its six-year-old flagship product.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Kyoto-based games makers guidance falls shy of an average analyst estimate of 15.7 million units, which has taken into account a deceleration in hardware sales in recent months. The company also forecast operating income of 450 billion ($3.3 billion) this fiscal year, close to the 455.3 billion average estimate.

We try to not only put one system in every home, but several in every home, or even one for every person, Nintendo said in a statement accompanying its earnings report Tuesday. The company sold 18 million Switch units in the year to March and reported operating profit of 93.8 billion for the quarter, down 22% on the previous year. Its quarterly net sales were down 18%, to 306.5 billion.

The hybrid Switch console, released in 2017, is slowing down more quickly than the company had once anticipated. And there are no imminent plans for a successor, either.

Sustaining the Switchs sales momentum will be difficult in its seventh year, President Shuntaro Furukawa said on a call after the results. Our goal of selling 15 million unit this fiscal year is a bit of stretch. But we will do our best to bolster demand going into the holiday season so that we can achieve the goal.

Furukawa added that no new or upgraded hardware is factored into Nintendos annual forecast. He previously described the 2022 holiday season as disappointing, telling analysts that sales were affected by the sluggish global post-Covid reopening and the economic malaise brought about by inflationary pressure.

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The poor holiday performance came even with a pair of record-setting debuts  Splatoon 3 in September and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in November  suggesting the market for Nintendos hardware is close to saturated. The Switch product family has surpassed 125 million units sold, the company said on its website.

The company lacked a blockbuster release in the first quarter, though it plans to release a much-anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild this Friday and also got a tailwind from the April opening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a well received collaboration with animation studio Illumination.

Still, hardware sales are unlikely to rebound now that Nintendo faces rising competitive pressure from Sony Group Corp., which is finally able to ramp up production and deliveries of its PlayStation 5 and aims to sell more than 25 million units this year.

Read more about Sonys most recent earnings report and outlook for the current year

Analysts dont foresee Nintendo being able to bolster sales of the Switch with hit games the way it has done in the past and, moreover, the company isnt expected to release a successor console for at least another year.

We expect Nintendo will not release the next-generation hardware over the next 12 months, UBS Securities analyst Kenji Fukuyama said in a letter to clients ahead of the earnings report. Nintendos valuation is very likely to shrink until the launch of the new hardware.

Nintendo shares were given a boost this year by Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund, which built up its position in the company to 8.3%, making it the largest external shareholder.

Read more: Saudi Wealth Fund Now Nintendos Largest Outside Shareholder

(Updates with chart)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 24th, Victoire Liwanga started her new role as Workforce Development Coordinator for New Mainers at Northern Maine Community College. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Victoire will continue efforts began by the Northern Maine Growth Initiative  a task force comprised of local business and community leaders  to build connections to the refugee community in Maine and provide resources and support to families seeking to build a life in Northern Maine.

On April 24th Victoire Liwanga started her position at NMCC as the Workforce Development Coordinator for New Mainers. She will work to build bridges between Aroostook County and the immigrant and refugee populations looking for places to get an education, work, and raise family.

The new position is partially grant-funded through a Community Development Block Grant submitted by the City of Presque Isle and a Maine Community College System Workforce Development Innovation grant. Although originally designed as a two-year position, the College aims to establish a permanent role to support this critical effort.

According to the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, "New Mainers" are immigrants or refugees currently living in Maine. "Our community needs to attract residents and families looking to get an education, join the workforce, and build a life and a future. Aroostook is a special place, and there are New Mainers looking for a community like ours, with great schools, jobs, safe neighborhoods, and beautiful nature," said NMCC President Tim Crowley.

"Many of these families currently live in central and southern Maine, and Aroostook County's geography makes it challenging for them to learn about our community," President Crowley said. "That's why we've hired Victoire. She's helping build a bridge, and her experience, connections, and skills make her uniquely qualified."

Victoire brings an extensive background in community-building and working with diverse populations in Maine and internationally. She left a professional career when her family chose to leave the DRC; she needed to learn English when she arrived in Maine in order to pick up where she left off professionally. She is now bilingual and has prior education background in financial management. In Portland, Victoire worked with nonprofits, Catholic Charities, Maine Public, and the Portland Adult Education Program. Prior to emigrating, she worked with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank.

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"This is my opportunity to give back to the community that helped me," Liwanga said. Since moving to Maine her family relied on guidance and connections from the New Mainer Resource Center, Catholic Charities, and the City of Portland. "Without our community we would not be where we are. These people are my second family, and this is an opportunity to work as a bridge to the great things Aroostook has to offer."

Victoire will be based in Portland and will travel to Presque Isle as needed. During her visit to campus on May 5th, Victoire toured the residential options available on campus, including family housing, the nursing & EMS simulation labs, and met with the admissions team to learn about how students find programs that match their skills and interests.

Victoire plans to begin by creating an assessment tool to clearly identify the needs of the community, and the needs of New Mainers. "Portland is so busy right now and needs more housing available. People face problems getting housing, especially New Mainers, and this situation could be removed in a smaller community that can also provide access to education and jobs. Come and see what we have to offer. We can make those connections and open doors."

Galen Weibley, Director of Community & Economic Development for the City of Presque Isle stated, "The City of Presque Isle appreciates the state funds from Maine DECD to support this program and is pleased to welcome these skilled individuals who are new to the United States that will be matched up to jobs available in our community."

According to the American Immigration Council, 4% of Maine residents are immigrants and 7% of residents have at least one immigrant parent. Each year refugees and asylum-seekers move to Maine from multiple countries, including Somalia, Iraq, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Angola, Rwanda, and Sudan. While these communities often find access to resources in urban centers like Portland, many seek smaller towns or rural communities for the long-term.

"Part of Victoire's work is raising awareness in the New Mainer community, but the other part is helping our community prepare for residents and families from diverse backgrounds. She'll be working with housing, transportation, ACAP, business owners, and residents to understand how to welcome New Mainers into the community, and what to expect," President Tim Crowley added.

To learn more about programs at NMCC or the Northern Maine Growth Initiative, please contact Victoire directly at nvliwang@nmcc.edu

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SOURCE Northern Maine Community College
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") announces it has entered into a binding purchase and sale agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire a 100% interest in the Nevasca Project (legally referred to as the "Chascha Norte" claim), located on the Arizaro salar in Salta Province, Argentina, adjacent to the Company's existing claims block (the "Arizaro Project"). The Nevasca Project covers 2,842 hectares (28 square-kilometers ("km")) and is already permitted for advanced exploration drilling. The new claim will form part of the Company's Arizaro Project. Closing of this acquisition is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") and the securities issued hereunder will be subject to the Exchange hold periods and applicable securities laws.

Taj Singh, President and CEO comments, "We are very pleased to be acquiring this project, a single continuous mining claim spanning 28 square-km, directly on the surface of the high potential Arizaro salar. This acquisition strategically increases our land position at the Arizaro salar / basin, where we are already one of the largest claimholders, and because it is drill-ready and near explored areas on the surface salar it provides near-term resource potential."

Historically underexplored, exploration efforts by both private and public companies have increased substantially over the past few years at the Arizaro salar, one of the largest salars in the "Lithium Triangle" of South America. Specifically, in the southeastern parts of the salar multiple brine horizons have been discovered from drilling and brine potential has been confirmed to extend deeper than at most other salars in the region (+600 meters). A recent NI 43-101 resource filed in February 2022 by Lithium Chile Inc. returned lithium values as high as 555 milligrams per liter ("mg/l") at depth, at a drillhole approximately 20 km from the Nevasca Project.

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Terms of the Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company will acquire 100% title over the Nevasca Project from an arms-length vendor group (the "Vendor") made up of a local, privately-owned company as well as CDN Maverick Capital Corp (CSE: CDN).

Total consideration (all figures in this release in USD$) of $950,000 cash and $1,050,000 in shares shall be paid to the Vendor, as follows:

1. $50,000 cash on signing of the Agreement.

2. $150,000 in shares 40 days after signing ("Execution Date").

3. $150,000 in shares and $150,000 in cash six months after the Execution Date.

4. $250,000 in shares and $250,000 in cash 12 months after the Execution Date.

5. $500,000 in shares and $500,000 in cash 18 months after the Execution Date.

The Vendor retains a 3% net-smelter-return royalty on any production from the claim which can be repurchased by the Company for $1,000,000 in cash or its equivalent in shares, at the Vendor's choice at any time within 24 months from the Execution Date. In addition, the Company assumes the commitment to invest a minimum of $500,000 in exploration and other works within 18 months from the Execution Date.

As agreed to by the parties, on the required payment dates, the Company will issue shares to the Vendor equal to the required payment amount divided by the greater of the following prices of the Company's shares: (i) the previous days' closing market price of the Company shares as listed and posted on the TSX Venture Exchange; or (ii) C$0.30 per share (the "Minimum Price"). If the Minimum Price is required to be used, the Vendor can request, at its sole and absolute discretion, to be paid the required payment amount in cash instead of Company shares. The Company paid no finders' fees or commissions in connection with the said transaction.

A claims map of the Nevasca Project can be found at:

https://www.noalithium.com//_resources/news/NOA-References-May2023.pdf

About the Arizaro Project

NOA controls a 100% interest in approximately 47,000 hectares of claims (owned, optioned, or in process) located at the Arizaro salar in Salta Province, Argentina. It is approximately 70 km from the Company's Rio Grande Project and 185 km from its Salinas Grandes Project. The salar is known to host lithium-bearing brines with production potential. A multitude of private and public companies are actively exploring the salar / basin, including: Pluspetrol Resources Corporation, Lilac Solutions, Eramet Group, Tibet Summit Resources, the Hanaq Group and Lithium Chile Inc. ("Lithium Chile").

Location & Infrastructure:

Located at approximately 3,500 metres above sea level, the geological environment at the Arizaro salar is similar to other salars in the Puna region where lithium and potash are found. The Arizaro Project is situated close to international railway, and just 25 km away from the Provincial Route 27, which connects this project with the Rio Grande Project. It is also 110 km south of Provincial Route 51, the international road that connects to Chile's coastal ports. It is approximately 150 km from the town of San Antonio de los Cobres. The Interandes power corridor runs within a few km of the salar.

Exploration:

Within the surface salar, surface sampling and drilling has been carried out by various operators. Recently, Lithium Chile, at a claim adjacent to NOA's claims, drilled down to below 500 m within a brine aquifer, intercepting grades up to 555 mg/l lithium in brines. Geophysical studies indicate the indicate the basement of the salar basin is below 600 m. Lithium Chile's geophysical results also indicate brines to depths exceeding 500 m in the salar and brine horizons extending to the alluvial fans of the salar, under cover.

NOA plans to carry out geophysical testing in Q3 2023 to identify high-priority drill targets at the Arizaro Project followed by drilling in late 2023 / early 2024.

About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by industry leaders. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars (Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and a total portfolio of over 100,000 hectares.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA

President & CEO, Director

For Further Information

Website: www.noalithium.com

Email: info@noalithium.com

Telephone: 416-568-1027

Qualified Person

Taj Singh, P.Eng, President and CEO, NOA Lithium Brines Inc., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Singh has reviewed and validated that the information contained in this news release is accurate.

References

[1] Claims map of the CN Project can be found at:

https://www.noalithium.com//_resources/news/NOA-References-May2023.pdf

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/753572/NOA-Lithium-to-Acquire-Strategic-Lithium-Brine-Project-on-Arizaro-Salar




Paul Krugman. Ricardo Rubio/Europa Press/Getty Images

The risk of the US defaulting on its debt is very real, top economist Paul Krugman warned.

He said the debt ceiling should be abolished, as it gives Republicans a "choke point" on fiscal policy.

The US now has less than a month to raise the debt ceiling before a potential default, the Treasury estimated.

The US could be inching closer to default, and the debt ceiling should be abolished, according to Nobel laureate Paul Krugman.

"The possibility that the federal government will soon be unable to finance its normal operations has become very real," he warned in an op-ed for the New York Times on Sunday.

But the state of America's finances isn't as bad as other countries who have defaulted on their debt, like Greece in 2009, Krugman said.

"If it happens, it will be because Republicans in the House are trying to use the debt ceiling to extort policy concessions they would have no chance of enacting through the normal legislative process," he added.

Building on previous columns, he further detailed the merits of backdoor measures the Biden administration could take to avoid default.

One is minting a $1 trillion coin to deposit at the Federal Reserve, and another is issuing premium bonds, which are debt securities that are sold for higher than face value. In effect, both measures would allow the government to borrow more, even if lawmakers fail to lift the debt ceiling.

That comes as the deadline for the US defaulting on its debt ticks closer, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen estimating that the government ran out of cash as soon as June 1. Failing to do so in time could spark a financial crisis, experts have warned, upping the stakes as policymakers continue to spar under which conditions to raise the debt limit.

Krugman noted that even if the US sold premium bonds for more than face value, it wouldn't be the first country that manipulated its debt. Until 2015, part of the UK's debt consisted of bonds that paid a coupon but never matured, meaning they had no par value, he said.

"You might ask how we're supposed to enforce a debt ceiling if the government can play games with the definition of debt. But the answer, of course, is that we shouldn't have a debt ceiling. The government should make decisions bout taxing and spending, and consider the fiscal consequences, without creating an additional choke point that extremists can weaponize," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Novavax logo in this illustration

By Bhanvi Satija and Michael Erman

(Reuters) -COVID-19 vaccine maker Novavax Inc on Tuesday forecast much higher 2023 revenue than Wall Street expected and announced plans to cut a quarter of its workforce, spurring hopes of a recovery for the cash-strapped biotech, and its shares jumped 40%.

In February, the company raised doubts about its ability to remain in business, due to uncertainty about 2023 revenue, funding from the U.S. government, and pending arbitration with global vaccine alliance Gavi.

Novavax, whose COVID vaccine is its lone marketed product after 35 years in business, is relying on launching an updated COVID shot this fall to match circulating strains and cost cuts to improve its prospects.

The Maryland-based drugmaker on Tuesday also unveiled promising early data for its COVID and flu combination vaccine.

It said it now expects 2023 revenue between $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion, compared with analysts' estimates of $831.6 million, according to Refinitiv data.

Novavax said $800 million of that was from "locked-in" overseas purchase contracts for the COVID shot that it has committed to ship this year.

Jefferies analyst Roger Song said the amount of overseas revenue flagged by the company was a surprise to the market, and the roughly $260 million to $440 million they expect in the U.S. was also encouraging.

"They seemed to be very confident about the U.S. fall campaign," Song said.

Novavax is working to produce an update version of its protein-based vaccine in time for the fall COVID-19 booster season. Protein-based vaccines like Novavax's take longer to produce than the messenger RNA-based versions made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech.

Chief Executive John Jacobs declined to disclose the company's U.S. pricing strategy as the country moves to a commercial marketplace for COVID products from government purchases when the pandemic was designated a public health emergency.

"Obviously, it's a really competitive marketplace. We're coming in as a late follower with two competitors that were entrenched in the U.S. market already," Jacobs said in an interview. "We're assessing what the competitors are doing and we'd rather unveil our cards a little bit later."

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The company said it plans to layoff around 20% of its nearly 2,000 full-time employees, close to 400 jobs. The remaining job cuts will be contractors, it said.

Novavax expects the cost cuts to reduce its annual research and commercial expenses by 20% to 25% from last year.

Its cash and equivalents fell to $637 million at quarter-end from $1.3 billion as of Dec. 31.

Novavax posted a first-quarter net loss of $3.41 a share, compared with estimates for a loss of $3.46 a share.

All the COVID vaccine makers are working on COVID-flu combination shots with the aim of expanding and picking up market share in what they hope will be an annual booster market.

Data from a mid-stage trial in adults aged 50 to 80 years showed that the combination shot produced an immune response comparable to its protein-based COVID vaccine and already approved influenza shots, Novavax said.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York, Additional reporting by and Raghav Mahobe in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Bill Berkrot)
Netcast scheme reduces energy for deep learning used at the client by orders of magnitude

SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Research, Inc., a division of NTT (TYO:9432), today announced that a team of scientists associated with its Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and several optical computing companies have demonstrated an approach to optically driven deep neural networks (DNN), dubbed Netcast, which resolves the memory-access bottleneck in resource-constrained edge devices, enabling orders of magnitude energy and latency reduction. Conceived by PHI Lab Senior Scientist Ryan Hamerly, Netcast was demonstrated in work performed by MIT Ph.D. candidate Alexander Sludds, under the joint supervision of Dr. Hamerly and MIT Professor Dirk Englund, and with the help of a wide group of collaborators. Their research was summarized in an paper titled "Delocalized photonic deep learning on the internets edge," and published in the October 20 issue of Science, one of the worlds top academic journals.

Deep neural networks, now pervasive in science and engineering, feature several layers of interconnected neurons or nodes hidden between input and output layers. Once trained and calibrated with appropriate weights, DNN models can enable rapid classification of data and execution of other computationally intensive tasks, such as image or speech recognition. A critical bottleneck in such tasks on present-day computing devices relates to matrix algebra. Despite the offloading of DNN inference to cloud servers and the development of non-digital technologies, including optical computing, memory access and multiply-accumulate (MAC) functions have remained points of congestion. Offloading also adds security risks because data from the edge must be shared with the cloud. As the lead author in a 2019 paper on optical neural networks and photoelectric multiplication, Dr. Hamerly proposed addressing those challenges by encoding the DNN model in an optical signal and streaming it into an edge processor. Expanding on that proposal, the Science article introduces Netcast and its components: a smart transceiver that could be integrated into cloud computing infrastructure and a time-integrating optical receiver that resides in the client. The article explains how the scheme achieved up to 98.8% accuracy in image recognition, cut server-side latency by performing actual computation at the client and vastly outperformed the status quo in energy consumption.

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"The difference is that a GPU high-bandwidth memory link consumes around 100 watts and only connects to a single GPU, whereas a Netcast link can consume milliwatts, and by using trivial optical fan-out, one server can deploy a DNN model to many edge clients simultaneously," Dr. Hamerly said. "This broadcasting of DNNs is one reason why we chose the term Netcast."

Once the idea of a single physicist, Netcast now has a wide range of contributors who have helped bring it to reality. The Science articles sixteen co-authors are affiliated with NTT Research; with MITs Research Laboratory of Electronics, MITs Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and MITs Lincoln Laboratory; and with the optical computing companies Elenion (purchased by Nokia), Luminous and Lightmatter. The project has enjoyed support from NTT Research, which announced a five-year joint research agreement with MIT in November 2019 that included the goal of developing photonic accelerators for deep learning. Corresponding author Alexander Sludds discussed Netcast at Coherent Network Computing (CNC) 2022, an NTT Research-organized conference that took place October 2426 at Stanford University.

"We are delighted to see Dr. Hamerlys first Netcast paper and congratulate him, Professor Englund and the entire team that supported the experimental demonstration of this innovative application of optical computing to deep learning," PHI Lab Director Yoshihisa Yamamoto said. "As non-digital computing architectures continue to emerge, we anticipate more explorations of how best to amplify their benefits."

To demonstrate Netcast experimentally, researchers at MIT connected the smart transceiver to the client receiver over 86 km of deployed optical fiber in the Boston area. The test itself involved a digital classification task. Using a three-layer model with 100 neurons per hidden layer and 1,000 handwritten images drawn randomly from the MNIST dataset (digits 110), the test yielded results comparable with the models baseline accuracy of 98.7% when used locally, and 98.8% when using 3 THz of bandwidth over fiber. At the Netcast client, optical energy consumption has been demonstrated as scalable to less than 1 photon per MAC, a fundamental quantum limit highly relevant in photon-starved scenarios. Overall client-side energy consumption can plummet three orders of magnitude below what is possible in existing digital semiconductors. It is possible, but not proven and an open question left for future work, that the laws of quantum mechanics could secure from eavesdropping a DNN models weights, which can be costly to derive. Because the hardware used in this demonstration of Netcast is readily available, the authors indicate that it could potentially deliver a near-term impact, although which applications to target also remains an open question.

The PHI Lab has broadly advocated for new approaches to computing, such as the Coherent Ising Machine (CIM), an information processing platform based on photonic oscillator networks. The scope of CNC 2022, which drew 40 speakers and more than 30 poster presenters, encompassed principles and technologies related to "novel computing machines that utilize analog physical dynamics." In addition to the joint research with MIT, the PHI Lab has similar arrangements with ten other universities. These include the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Cornell, Harvard, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Swinburne University of Technology, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan and the University of Tokyo. The NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and 1QBit, a private quantum computing software company, have also entered joint research agreements with the PHI Lab. In March 2022, NTT Research joined the MIT AI Hardware program as an inaugural industrial member.

About NTT Research

NTT Research opened its offices in July 2019 as a new Silicon Valley startup to conduct basic research and advance technologies that promote positive change for humankind. Currently, three labs are housed at NTT Research facilities in Sunnyvale: the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, the Cryptography and Information Security (CIS) Lab and the Medical and Health Informatics (MEI) Lab. The organization aims to upgrade reality in three areas: 1) quantum information, neuroscience and photonics; 2) cryptographic and information security; and 3) medical and health informatics. NTT Research is part of NTT, a global technology and business solutions provider with an annual R&D budget of $3.6 billion.

NTT and the NTT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.  2023 NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

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Contacts

NTT Research Contact:

Chris Shaw

Chief Marketing Officer

NTT Research

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Media Contact:

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PORTLAND, Ore., May 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NW Natural Water Company, LLC (NW Natural Water), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE:NWN), recently signed agreements that launch its water and wastewater services business through the acquisition of Hiland Water Corporation and King Water Company, which currently serve approximately 15,000 connections.

Through the services business, NW Natural Water plans to provide operations and management support to water and wastewater system owners, working to create value by leveraging shared personnel, technology and expertise to help deliver clean, reliable water at a reasonable cost to customers.

The formation of this new services business is a natural extension of the companys water and wastewater utility ownership business. It provides an opportunity to create long-term value by continuing to broaden NW Natural Waters scope, expand its footprint, and serve additional customers and systems.

"Im excited about this opportunity to continue the expansion of our water and wastewater business and bring additional talent from Hiland Water and King Water into our organization," said Justin Palfreyman, NW Natural Waters president. "These two acquisitions provide a strong platform that we believe can be scaled in the coming years. They allow us to continue doing what were passionate about: serving water and wastewater utility customers with a keen focus on safety, reliability and superior service."

Silas Olson, General Manager of Hiland Water said, "Joining the NW Natural Water family is an exciting step for our business. We believe our partnership with NW Natural Water will provide additional financial strength, resources and expertise to support more water and wastewater utilities as they meet the needs of their communities."

Established in 1991, King Water Company is a top-rated local business based in Coupeville, Washington and has consistently served nearly 200 systems in Northwest Washington including Whidbey Island, Skagit and Snohomish counties. Operating since 1997, Hiland Water Corporation is based in Newberg, Oregon and has regularly served over 30 systems throughout Oregon. The NW Natural Water family has welcomed the companies collective 40 employees to their new water services business.

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The King Water acquisition closed on April 30. Hiland Water, which also owns roughly 2,300 water utility connections, is expected to close later this year following receipt of regulatory approvals. Upon closing of all pending acquisitions, NW Natural Water will serve over 168,000 people through nearly 68,000 meters and support about 15,000 connections through its services business.

About NW Natural Holdings

Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 160 years. It owns NW Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), NW Natural Renewables and other business interests.

We have a longstanding commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and the energy transition, and taking care of our employees and communities. NW Natural Holdings was recognized by Ethisphere in 2022 and 2023 as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. Learn more in our latest ESG Report at nwnatural.com/about-us/the-company/sustainability.

NW Natural Water currently provides water distribution and wastewater services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, Texas and Arizona. Learn more about our water business at nwnaturalwater.com.

Additional information is available at nwnaturalholdings.com.

"Worlds Most Ethical Companies" and "Ethisphere" names and marks are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC

Forward Looking Statements

This press release, and other releases and presentations made by NW Natural Holdings from time to time, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "assumes," "continues," "could," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "will," and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions, estimates, expectations, expenses, future events, investments, growth and development, financial strength, resources, expertise, the water and wastewater utility strategy and related pending acquisitions, the likelihood, timing, and success associated with any transaction or conditions related thereto, the ability to scale businesses, financial results, value creation, strategic fit, revenues and earnings, performance, water and wastewater services and delivery, operations and maintenance support, safety, environmental stewardship, the energy transition, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding NW Natural Holdings business, the economy, geopolitical factors, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. You are therefore cautioned against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future operational, economic, or financial performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed by reference to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors," and Part II, Item 7 and Item 7A "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk" in NW Natural Holdings most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by subsequent filed reports, and in Part I, Items 2 and 3 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk," and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in NW Natural Holdings quarterly reports filed thereafter.

All forward-looking statements made in this report and all subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of NW Natural Holdings, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and NW Natural Holdings undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict all such factors, nor it is it possible to assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509005454/en/

Contacts

Business Development Contact: Nicholas Whitley, 832-714-1732, nicholas.whitley@nwnatural.com

Investor Contact: Nikki Sparley, 503-721-2530, nikki.sparley@nwnatural.com

Media Contact: David Roy, 503-610-7157, david.roy@nwnatural.com
(Bloomberg) -- Oil extended its rally for a fourth day, reversing course midday to climb after the Biden administration announced plans to replenish strategic reserves after completing maintenance work later this year.

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West Texas Intermediate eked out a gain to settle above $73 a barrel, recovering from a decline of as much as 2.5% earlier in the session. Tuesday trading opened lower on news that Chinas overall export growth slowed in April while imports plummeted, shaking the markets confidence in demand. The US decision to cancel the previously mandated sale of some 140 million barrels and begin purchasing crude later this year to refill the strategic cache halted the slide.

The price is right for the US to begin refilling their strategic oil reserve, providing a much needed bid for oil bulls as recessionary headwinds grow, said Daniel Ghali, a commodity strategist at TD Securities.

Traders have been watching closely for news on when the US would refill the reserves, which stand at a four-decade low. The administration had previously said it planned to restock the cache when oil prices fell to about $70.

Oil has retreated about 10% this year as worries over the Federal Reserves monetary tightening and the potential for a recession in the US outweigh a resilient physical market. Bank of America Corp. on Tuesday cut its forecast for Brent crude on a weaker outlook for global demand. Still, the United Arab Emirates, a key OPEC member, downplayed the need for deeper production cuts following curbs that started this month.

Expectations for the SPR refill have been keeping buyers active on dips and it probably keeps a price floor in the low sixties, said Carley Garner, a commodity broker at DeCarley Trading. But ultimately, it is OPEC that has the majority of the power. OPEC has its mojo back and we suspect the combination of SPR refilling and OPEC efforts will eventually lead us toward $90 oil.

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Energy Daily, Bloombergs energy and commodities newsletter, is now available. Sign up here.

--With assistance from Natalia Kniazhevich.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
old speckled hen beer

The brewer of Old Speckled Hen is moving its focus away from cask ales as Britain loses its taste for the traditional beers.

Greene King plans to double down on fizzier keg beers after the success of its first craft beers launched last year.

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of the pub and brewing company, said: Certainly there's been some challenges around people drinking cask ale that's why we've then rolled out two new brands of more premium modern beers to try and counteract that.

The Suffolk-based brewer launched its first foray into craft beer last year with the debut of Flint Eye, a dry-hopped lager, and Level Head, a session IPA.

Mr Mackenzie said the brewer was currently developing new [kegged] brands, which are going to definitely appeal to a different consumer.

The focus on kegged beers at the 224-year-old beer maker comes amid declining sales of cask ale.

Sales of cask ale across Britain were down almost a third compared to pre-pandemic levels in the 12 months to March, according to consultancy CGA, which tracks the bar and restaurant sector.

Demand for the centuries-old beer style, which is served at room temperature, has almost halved since 2015.

Paul Bolton at CGA said craft beers had won over younger drinkers with more appealing branding. They are also increasingly preferred by pub landlords because the product is easier to store and serve and has higher profit margins compared to cask.

Cask ale is a live product and keeps fermenting in the barrel until it is served, a process that gives the drink a distinct taste.

However, because of this the beer needs to be stored at a specific temperature and sold within a few days of opening a cask to ensure it tastes good.

Mr Bolton said: With [cask beer] unable to command a similar price point to craft keg due to its lowered appeal, many landlords have come to the conclusion that the category is too much effort for not enough profit.

Despite its new focus on kegged beers, Mr Mackenzie said Greene King would continue to brew its traditional ales, which include Old Speckled Hen and Abbots Ale.

Story continues

He said: We're continuing to invest in our existing brands, which are very strong and market leading.

News that one of Britains leading brewers is turning its attention away from cask is likely to alarm the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the drinkers group founded in 1971 to fend off what it saw as the threat to cask beer.

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Contrive Datum Insights Pvt Ltd

According to a market research study published by Contrive Datum Insights, The primary factors driving the growth of the optical encryption market are the rise in cyberattacks, the rise in concerns about data safety and security, and the rise in government investments in smart city projects.

Farmington, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Optical Encryption Market size was valued at USD 3.64 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 7.01 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.54% from 2023 to 2030. Effective network security requires multiple layers of defense along the network's path as well as at the network's core and periphery. However, the majority of organizations concentrate their security efforts on the user and application endpoints, which are the most vital components of protection. Information that is transiting the network.

In addition, the widespread adoption of cloud computing applications for hosting, processing, and storing data has increased the likelihood that sensitive data will be transmitted over networks, thereby increasing the costs associated with data loss. The market is expanding as the number of data breaches increases. In 2019, it was reported that 218 million data records from Zynga, Facebook, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Capital One Financial Corporation were exposed due to a data breach.

In addition, the rise of the market for optical encryption is fuelled by the numerous advantages of optical encryption, such as an increase in Internet users, data traffic, costs, latency, bandwidth efficiency, performance, and availability. In addition, the fact that more data is being sent over extended distances via radio waves, such as 10G, 40G, and 100G, has led to the use of optical encryption to safeguard large amounts of data traveling between countries. For example, in January 2020, BGN Technology, formerly a company operated by Ben-Gurion University of Negev, released an all-optical covert encryption technology that, according to the company, makes network communication in data centers and cloud computing significantly more secure and private.

Story continues

Request Sample Copy of Report  The Global Optical Encryption Market Size, Share & Trends Estimation Report By Layer Outlook (OTN or Layer1, MACsec or Layer 2 & IPsec or Layer 3) By Application Type Outlook (Bank, financial and insurance service, Government, Healthcare, Data centre & cloud, Energy & Utilities) By Type Outlook (Less than 10G, Greater than 10G and less than 40G, Greater than 40G and less than 100G & Greater than 100G) Region, And Forecasts, 2022 - 2030 , published by Contrive Datum Insights.

Segmentation Overview:

By layer:

OTN versus Layer1

Layer-One, which stands for Optical Transport Network, is a data transmission medium that employs light. It is utilized in long-distance communication networks, such as those between cities and countries. Its primary advantage is that it can transport a large amount of data at a rapid rate due to its high bandwidth. Layer-One optical encryption utilizes this property of light to encode information in a way that makes it difficult for unauthorized parties to decipher it. As a result, it is a crucial instrument for keeping confidential information secure in communication networks.

MACsec security or Layer 2

MACsec or Layer is a form of optical encryption that employs the OSI model's media access control layer to secure data communications. At the MAC layer, MACsec encrypts and authenticates all communications, ensuring that only authorized devices can access the network. MACsec is frequently combined with other security measures, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to provide an all-encompassing defense against threats.

IP Security or Layer 3

IPsec, also known as Layer, is an industry-standard protocol that enables secure communication over IP networks. It encrypts and verifies data pieces to ensure that only authorized individuals can access the data. IPsec also enables businesses to securely connect remote locations and mobile employees to the company network.

By Type:

Data Rate-based market segments include Less than 10G, Greater than 10G and Less than 40G, Greater than 40G and Less than 100G, and Greater than 100G. In 2017, the data rate segment between 10G and 40G held the largest market share in optical encryption. This is due to the pervasive adoption of optical encryption in industries with an average data transit rate between 10G and 40G, such as BFSI, government, healthcare, and energy and utilities.

During the forecast period, the market for optical encryption greater than 100G is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR. This expansion can be attributed to the requirement for encryption rates to align at speeds greater than 100G for all packet sizes in order to meet the increased bandwidth demand caused by cloud services, mobile devices, and enormous increases in video traffic.

By Application:

Banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) held the largest market share in 2017. The BFSI sector is increasingly deploying optical encryption to protect their consumers, meet government and industry data security compliance standards, facilitate security auditing, and prevent reputational damage from data breaches. During the forecast period, the market for optical encryption in data centers and clouds is anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR. A growing number of networked devices, consumers, and business processes rely on data centers for storage, networking, and communications. The increasing value and size of data centers have been influenced by the significance of data analytics.

Regional Analysis:

In 2020, Asia-Pacific held the largest market share at 33.1%. This region's market expansion is primarily driven by key economies like China, India, Japan, and others. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India is the second largest telecommunications market in the world, with 1.16 billion subscribers, and has experienced rapid expansion over the past decade. In response to user requirements such as the rapid adoption of wireless communication and the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for stringent Internet data security measures is growing. This increases the demand for end-to-end encryption systems that safeguard sensitive data by preventing data exfiltration. Increasing government regulations regarding data security in these economies fuel demand for optical encryption systems, thereby driving the expansion of the optical encryption market. Network coverage, such as 5G, telecommunications, consumer electronics, data centers, and smart city initiatives in China, India, Japan, and other developing nations in the region substantially boost the growth of the optical encryption market.

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https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/buy/12652

Scope of Report:

Report Attributes Details Growth Rate CAGR of 8.54% from 2023 to 2030. Revenue Forecast by 2030 $ 6.60 billion By layer OTN versus Layer1

MACsec security or Layer 2

IP Security or Layer 3 By Type Less than 10G

Greater than 10G and less than 40G

Greater than 40G and less than 100G

Greater than 100G By Application Bank, financial and insurance service

Government

Healthcare

Data centre & cloud

Energy & Utilities By Companies Cisco

ADVA

Micro semi

Time Warner Cable

China Mobile

Ericson

ATandT

Nokia

Telefonica

Century link

Vodafone

Juniper nertworks

Huawei

Packelight network

Orange

Broadcom

Facebook

Infinera

Google

Ciena

Masergy

Arista network

Acacia Communications

Deutsche Telekom

Microsoft

ECI Telecom Regions and Countries Covered North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe(Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America(Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World Base Year 2022 Historical Year 2017 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

With the advancements in optical networking technology that make it possible to send large amounts of data rapidly and with a high bandwidth, the risk of data breaches and leaks has also become a major concern. To increase the security of their networks, optical networking companies have implemented end-to-end encryption. The increasing demand for security is likely to fuel the global optical encryption market. Optical encryption employs innovative technology to encrypt user data as it travels from one endpoint to another. This meets the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) requirements. The system encrypts all in-flight data for all users at the optical level, which provides the greatest security and throughput and can be readily implemented to reduce latency. These technological advancements contribute to the expansion of the market.

As the government works to create smart cities in key regions of the country, the market for light encryption in IoT and mobile devices is expected to expand. The goal of transferring a large amount of data rapidly, with a high bandwidth, was of equal importance to the possibility of data leaks and breaches. WaveLogic Encryption, a programmable 100G/200G optical encryption solution, is now available from Ciena Corporation, a leading provider of communications networking equipment and software in the United States. This is in addition to the development of smart cities utilizing cutting-edge technology. It combines years of expertise in coherent optics and transport layer cryptography to create a solution that is simple to implement. Customers can now configure 10G, 100G, and 200G encryption services across their entire network with unprecedented ease. This means that they are no longer required to purchase costly encryption devices for each application. Your program via the network. As a result of these alterations, the optical encryption market is likely to expand.

Challenges:

On the global market for optical encryption, network unreliability is one of the largest issues. Even though solutions for encrypting data in flight have improved, network infrastructures are still not very dependable, and network-based access is still restricted. As the number of networking regulations increases, it becomes more difficult for users to manage their networks. This has made it difficult for individuals to utilize optical encryption solutions, which will likely delay the growth of the optical encryption market in the coming years. Moreover, variations in how governments protect data in various regions of the world tend to restrict their use and hinder the expansion of the optical encryption market.

Key Segments Covered:

Top Market Players:

Cisco

ADVA

Micro semi

Time Warner Cable

China Mobile

Ericson

ATandT

Nokia

Telefonica

Century link

Vodafone

Juniper nertworks

Huawei

Packelight network

Orange

Broadcom

Facebook

Infinera

Google

Ciena

Masergy

Arista network

Acacia Communications

Deutsche Telekom

Microsoft

ECI Telecom

By layer:

OTN or Layer1

MACsec or Layer 2

IPsec or Layer 3

By Type:

Less than 10G

Greater than 10G and less than 40G

Greater than 40G and less than 100G

Greater than 100G

By Application:

Bank, financial and insurance service

Government

Healthcare

Data centre & cloud

Energy & Utilities

Regions and Countries Covered

North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe: (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific: (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa: (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America: (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World

Check out more related studies published by Contrive Datum Insights:

Fiber Optical Power Meter Market Size, Share & Trends Estimation Report By Type (850 nm, 1310 nm, 1550 nm, Others) By Application (Test equipment, Fiber optic communication system, Others), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023  2030

Portable Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Opportunities, Future Trends, Covid-19 Impact, SWOT Analysis, Competition and Forecasts 2022 to 2030

Optical Profilers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Opportunities, Future Trends, Covid-19 Impact, SWOT Analysis, Competition and Forecasts 2022 to 2030

Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client needs or requirements.For any queries, you can contact us on anna@contrivedatuminsights.com or +1 215-297-4078. Our sales executives will be happy to understand your needs and provide you with the most suitable reports.

About Us:

Contrive Datum Insights (CDI) is a global delivery partner of market intelligence and consulting services to officials at various sectors such as investment, information technology, telecommunication, consumer technology, and manufacturing markets. CDI assists investment communities, business executives, and IT professionals to undertake statistics-based accurate decisions on technology purchases and advance strong growth tactics to sustain market competitiveness. Comprising of a team size of more than 100 analysts and cumulative market experience of more than 200 years, Contrive Datum Insights guarantees the delivery of industry knowledge combined with global and country-level expertise.

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(Bloomberg) -- PacWest Bancorp shifted from being the worst performer on Tuesday in the KBW Regional Banking Index to being the best, as the beaten-down bank stock swung with volatility continuing to grip the shares and the sector.

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PacWest rose 2.4% on Tuesday, erasing earlier declines of as much as 10%. The bounce pushed the stock to gain for a third day, extending an advance that included a record rally of 82% on Friday. The KBW Regional Banking Index pared an earlier drop to close lower by 0.7%.

Regional bank stocks have broadly been under pressure since the collapse of peers including Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Investors have been unnerved by a rash of deposit outflows from banks and increasing concerns about general stability. Concerns around longer-term pressures such as surging funding costs and potential regulatory tightening have also weighed on the banking sector.

First Republic Banks failure early last week further stoked the volatility in bank shares with the KBW Regional Banking Index falling 11% since then. Californias financial regulator said it will boost scrutiny of banks with assets over $50 billion.

We believe this recent stock reaction is overdone as there is currently no evidence of accelerating deposit outflows, Morgan Stanley analyst Manan Gosalia wrote. We see accelerating deposit costs, not accelerating deposit outflows, as the most significant headwind for the Midcap Banks over the next several quarters.

Some analysts say the tumbling stock prices have become disconnected from the companies fundamentals.

We recognize the potential challenges for the banks as the year progresses, but we also believe they are generally managing these headwinds quite well, RBC Capital Markets analyst Jon Arfstrom wrote in a Tuesday note.

Story continues

We believe that valuations are attractive given the sharp pull-back in stock prices in recent weeks, particularly when contrasted against the reasonable fundamental outlooks.

--With assistance from Max Reyes.

(Updates trading and chart to market close.)

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The PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors market is anticipated to be driven in the coming years due to the rise in novel drugs and therapies and the increase in healthcare spending across the world. In addition, the high incidence of diseases and participation of key players will emerge in favor of the change in the PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors market dynamics.

LAS VEGAS, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Competitive Landscape report delivers an in-depth understanding of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors and the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market trends in the 7MM [the United States, the EU-4 (Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

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Key Takeaways from the PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

DelveInsight analysis shows that the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market is expected to grow positively due to several underline factors during the study period (20192032).

Leading PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors companies such as Incyte Corporation, TG Therapeutics, Novartis, Beigene, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, OncoC4, Inc., Phanes Therapeutics, Compass Therapeutics, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, 4D Pharma plc, Chugai Pharma, Bayer, AbbVie, Kartos Therapeutics, Inc., NeoImmuneTech, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA, BioNTech SE, Istari Oncology, Inc., Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., NovoCure Ltd., and others are developing novel PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors that can be available in the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market in the coming years.

Some key PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors include Retifanlimab, TG-1501 (cosibelimab), PDR001 (spartalizumab), BGB-A317 (tislelizumab), Isunakinra, Nivolumab, ONC-392, PT199, CTX-471, Pembrolizumab, MRx0518, RO5126766, BAY3375968, ABBV-CLS-484, KRT-232, NT-I7, E7777, BNT116, Lerapolturev, JTX-8064, NovoTTF-200T, FAZ053 , and others.

Several PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are awaiting approval, while some PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are in the advanced stages of development.

In July 2022, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that Part A of the Phase III CheckMate -914 trial, evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have undergone full or partial removal of the kidney and who are at moderate or high risk of relapse, did not meet the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR).

In June 2022, the US FDA accepted for review a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval for KEYTRUDA for the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage IB (4 centimeters), II or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following complete surgical resection. The sBLA is based on data from the pivotal Phase III KEYNOTE-091 trial data, also known as EORTC-1416-LCG/ETOP-8-15  PEARLS.

In June 2022 , adjuvant treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) demonstrated statistically significant & clinically meaningful improvement in distant metastasis-free survival in patients with resected Stage IIB or IIC Melanoma in Phase III KEYNOTE-716 trial.

In March 2022, the US FDA approved KEYTRUDA as a single agent for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation

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Discover which PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors are expected to grab the major PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market share @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Overview

PD-1 is a checkpoint protein found in T cells, which are immune cells. It generally functions as an "off switch" that prevents T cells from attacking other cells in the body. This occurs when it binds to PD-L1, a protein found on some normal (and malignant) cells. When PD-1 attaches to PD-L1, it effectively signals the T cell to ignore the other cell. Some cancer cells have a high level of PD-L1, which allows them to hide from an immune response. Monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 can inhibit this binding and increase the immune response against cancer cells. These medications have shown tremendous promise in the treatment of some malignancies. OPDIVO (nivolumab), KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab), BAVENCIO (avelumab), IMFINZI (durvalumab), LIBTAYO (cemiplimab), and JEMPERLI (dostarlimab) are some examples of authorized drugs that target PD-1/PD-L1. These drugs have been proven to be successful in treating multiple types of cancer, and new cancer types are being added as more research demonstrates their efficacy.

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Insights

PD-1/PD-L1 blockage is a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy that has been tested in preclinical and clinical trials for a wide range of cancers, including melanoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and hepatocellular carcinoma. Anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint drugs are actively redefining the therapy approach for many of the related disorders. The anti-PD-1 drugs Nivolumab (OPDIVO, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA, Merck Sharp and Dohme Corporation) have recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC who have progressed on or after first-line therapy.

Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab have already demonstrated highly promising performance in clinical trials, with ORRs of around 20% in unselected and severely pre-treated NSCLC patients. Cemiplimab-rwlc (LIBTAYO, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.) has also been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab have also been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the same indication. Furthermore, both the US and European regulators recommended pembrolizumab as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLCs.

Moreover, cancer immunotherapy has improved significantly in recent years, with some receiving FDA approval for cancer treatment. With this advancement, PD-1 blocking treatments can now be utilized in combination with other anti-tumor therapies in addition to acting as monotherapy. Pembrolizumab was also paired with chemotherapy in clinical research for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Furthermore, combination therapy that combines PD-1/PD-L1 blocking medicines has demonstrated high potency and efficacy. Combination therapies may become standard cancer treatment in the future.

To know more about PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors, visit @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Analysis

Key PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Drugs and Companies

Retifanlimab: Incyte Corporation

TG-1501 (cosibelimab): TG Therapeutics

PDR001 (spartalizumab): Novartis

BGB-A317 (tislelizumab): Beigene

Isunakinra: Buzzard Pharmaceuticals

Nivolumab: Bristol-Myers Squibb

ONC-392: OncoC4, Inc.

PT199: Phanes Therapeutics

CTX-471: Compass Therapeutics

Pembrolizumab: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

MRx0518: 4D Pharma plc

RO5126766: Chugai Pharma

BAY3375968: Bayer

ABBV-CLS-484: AbbVie

KRT-232: Kartos Therapeutics, Inc.

NT-I7: NeoImmuneTech

E7777: Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA

BNT116: BioNTech SE

Lerapolturev: Istari Oncology, Inc.

JTX-8064: Jounce Therapeutics, Inc.

NovoTTF-200T: NovoCure Ltd.

FAZ053: Novartis

Learn more about the FDA-approved PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors @ Approved PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Dynamics

The dynamics of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market are predicted to change in the coming years. Premium-priced targeted therapies with improved clinical profiles and the extension of therapy in the first-line setting are projected to fuel the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market. According to current research, the development of innovative therapies targeting specific mutations is predicted to dominate the forthcoming PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market, implying that the PD-1 market will also expand. Furthermore, the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors pipeline is very robust; many potential therapies are being investigated for the treatment of various cancer, and it is safe to predict that the treatment space will significantly impact the oncology market during the forecast period. Moreover, the anticipated introduction of emerging therapies with improved efficacy and a further improvement in the diagnosis rate is expected to drive the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market in the 7MM.

However, several factors are impeding the growth of the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market. The development of therapies for specific mutations limits the patient group eligible for drugs that target the entire population. In addition, the high costs connected with research activities, pricing, and reimbursement issues faced by high-priced medications. Furthermore, the anticipated entry of generic or biosimilar versions of blockbuster medications such as Keytuda, Opdivo, and others will reduce market sales and thus cause a dip in the PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors market growth.

Report Metrics Details Study Period 20192032 Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU-4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Base Year 2019 Key PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Companies Incyte Corporation, TG Therapeutics, Novartis, Beigene, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, OncoC4, Inc., Phanes Therapeutics, Compass Therapeutics, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, 4D Pharma plc, Chugai Pharma, Bayer, AbbVie, Kartos Therapeutics, Inc., NeoImmuneTech, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, SA, BioNTech SE, Istari Oncology, Inc., Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., NovoCure Ltd., and others Key PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Therapies Retifanlimab, TG-1501 (cosibelimab), PDR001 (spartalizumab), BGB-A317 (tislelizumab), Isunakinra, Nivolumab, ONC-392, PT199, CTX-471, Pembrolizumab, MRx0518, RO5126766, BAY3375968, ABBV-CLS-484, KRT-232, NT-I7, E7777, BNT116, Lerapolturev, JTX-8064, NovoTTF-200T, FAZ053, and others

Scope of the PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Current Marketed and Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Dynamics: Attribute Analysis of Emerging PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors

Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about PD1 and PDL1 inhibitors in clinical development @ PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors in Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Key Insights 2. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Report Introduction 3. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Overview at a Glance 4. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Executive Summary 5. Disease Background and Overview 6. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Marketed Drugs 7. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Emerging Drugs 8. Seven Major PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Analysis 9. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Outlook 10. Potential of Current and Emerging Therapies 11. KOL Views 12. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Drivers 13. PD1 and PDL1 Inhibitors Market Barriers 14. Unmet Needs 15. SWOT Analysis 16. Appendix 17. DelveInsight Capabilities 18. Disclaimer 19. About DelveInsight

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About DelveInsight

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Dutch health technology company Philips presents the company's financial results for the fourth quarter in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch health technology company Philips will continue to deliver hospital equipment to Russia, despite its war on Ukraine, Chief Executive Officer Roy Jakobs said on Tuesday.

"The right to healthcare is universal, and we are part of the system delivering healthcare," Jakobs said at the company's annual shareholders meeting in Amsterdam.

"We do this in Russia, as we do in Ukraine."

Jakobs said Philips' activities in Russia centred on the maintenance and delivery of hospital equipment such as large medical scanners, while it has stopped the sale of its personal healthcare products there - except for maternal care products.

The Russian activities are not profitable, he added.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba last year included Philips in a group of 50 large international companies he accused of making "blood profits" by remaining active in Russia.

"International companies which remain working in Russia are directly funding Russia's war crimes", Kuleba said in a post on Twitter in November 2022.

Dutch shareholders association VEB at the shareholders meeting urged Philips to end its activities in Russia.

"It is impossible to remain neutral in this conflict," its director Gerben Everts said.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Mark Potter)
Big Tech

To really gauge how slowly the ship of state turns, consider how the social media landscape has been transformed in the time it has taken this Government to conceive a new law designed to crack down on the power of Big Tech.

TikTok has burst onto the scene and crashed Facebooks social media party. Google and Facebook have lost ground to Amazon, and others, in the digital advertising market. Many tech firms are having to make painful cuts to their staffing after making big bets on future growth during the pandemic.

But as people learn more about the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, they may wonder if it has been hurriedly pushed through by a government eager to be seen to do something. It hands massive control to the regulator. The proposed new law will give what one Linklaters author described as enormous, almost quasi-legislative power to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which the Digital Markets Unit will sit within.

Regulation of digital markets takes on a greater significance when you consider that this is the first big test of how the UK sees its future outside the EU. Unlike other areas of policy, where the question is whether we want to diverge from existing EU law, this is about creating altogether new laws of our own. And as we attempt to navigate this regulation, the EU is doing similar, seeking to achieve its objectives through a Digital Markets Act (DMA) which was broadly finalised last year.

The UK Bill, was announced last month, is in many ways similar to the DMA. Both will apply new constraints on how larger digital platforms use data, change their products, connect their services and expand into new markets. In both the UK and EU, they must satisfy the regulator that their commercial terms are fair and reasonable.

And in both cases, the question should be put to legislators whether this is necessary or desirable. Digital markets change fast. Consumers enjoy exciting new services that this sort of regulation can stifle. In theory, regulation will curb the power of existing players; in practice, it could make it harder for tech firms to enter each others markets, limiting competition. The incentive to develop new networks could be diminished.

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But there are stark differences in the EU and UKs approach. Brussels is creating expansive powers for the European Commission, yes, but it is much more specific about who is going to be regulated and what constraints they will operate under. If two businesses are the same size and operate in the same segment of the market, they will be subject to the same rules in the EU.

In the UK, however, the regulator will designate companies based on an assessment of whether they have strategic market status. If so, they will be subject to a separate code of conduct, enforced by potentially massive fines, with limited rights of appeal.

In some cases, the regulator will get involved even more directly. One of the most common elements in those codes of conduct is likely to be that the platforms negotiate fair and reasonable terms with their commercial partners. If that process fails to deliver an outcome, the CMA is expected to directly decide the right answer (prices and other commercial terms) between two final offers.

This regulatory discretion has its advantages, including making the UK regime more flexible than its European counterpart. But discretion has its downsides. As we have witnessed time and again, it means an administrative state where laws are set by regulators and bureaucrats rather than by elected representatives.

In this instance, regulators will be given an immensely broad remit to intervene in new markets. And this is being created by a Conservative government at a time when many conservative thinkers have expressed profound concern over what an administrative state means for democratic governance.

Further, this economic power might clash with other policy objectives. Consider Warren Buffetts criticisms of the CMA for blocking Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard based on its speculation about the future of the cloud gaming sector. Businesses want predictable, stable rules from the government.

Despite the insistence from politicians that Britain is open for business, firms and investors may doubt whether the same CMA will be judicious and restrained in its interventions in the wider market.

It feels like an awkward fit for a Prime Minister who has tried to showcase the UK as a destination for tech investment. Add it to the ledger alongside rising taxes and the threat to end-to-end encryption under the governments Online Safety Bill, and post-Brexit Britain looks like an increasingly unfavourable environment in which to build a digital business. Already, there are concerns that major messaging apps like WhatsApp may quit the country.

The risks dont stop there. In the longer term, this regulation could have diplomatic consequences. If the CMA decides to effectively tax American tech firms and use that money to subsidise UK businesses, this could be seen as a hostile move by future US administrations.

Not every US President will view this law through the lens of their own conflicts with the tech sector (particularly given growing tech competition with China). Weighing these costs and benefits is the job of politicians, not regulators alone.

Changes in government since the last general election have put phenomenal pressure on ministers. They are expected to deliver rapidly against long standing objectives, often building on foundations they did not choose. They are expected to deliver outputs at a pace which means longer term outcomes are not properly thought through.

One of the merits of Brexit should be that the UK can more easily think again. Even if you agree with some of the principles behind this regulation, it would not be too hard to inject additional layers of scrutiny and make the new power for the regulator less of a blank cheque.

This Bill is arguably our biggest post-Brexit regulatory challenge to date. Leaving the European Union was always an opportunity, never a guarantee. If we press ahead with this regulation, many will be left fearing if it is an opportunity Britain will never seize.

Matthew Sinclair is an economist and media and technology consultant

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CHICAGO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Precision Swine Farming Market is projected to reach USD 711 million by 2028 from USD 418 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The market for precision swine farming by software offering is experiencing growth due to the need for efficient data management and analysis in managing large numbers of pigs as there has been a surge in demand for pork products.

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Demand for needle-free injection systems by hardware offering drive the market due to the reduced risk of infection

The precision swine farming market is experiencing an increasing demand for needle-free injection systems. This can be attributed to the numerous advantages they offer, such as the reduction of infection risk and improved animal welfare. The use of needle-free injection systems can significantly reduce the risk of infection for both animals and workers by eliminating the possibility of needlestick injuries. This, in turn, can ensure the safety and health of livestock, while also safeguarding the health of workers. Moreover, needle-free injection systems also offer an array of benefits in terms of animal welfare. Traditional injection methods can be painful and stressful for animals, leading to a decrease in productivity. Needle-free injection systems alleviate the pain and stress associated with traditional injection methods, thereby ensuring the well-being of livestock.

By application, swine identification and tracking category hold a significant market share during the forecast period

Swine identification and tracking systems are increasingly in demand in the precision swine farming market. The technology provides crucial data for farmers to monitor individual pigs, optimize growth, and track their health status. With information on each pig's feed intake, weight gain, and behavior, farmers can adjust their management practices to ensure that every pig receives the appropriate level of care, improving efficiency and yield. This technology also helps prevent disease outbreaks by quickly identifying and isolating sick pigs, reducing the risk of spreading disease to healthy ones and minimizing the need for antibiotics. Swine identification and tracking systems also aid farmers in complying with regulatory requirements related to food safety and animal welfare. By keeping accurate records of pig movement, feed intake, and medication history, farmers can demonstrate their adherence to regulatory authorities, increasing credibility and avoiding penalties.

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Europe is projected to be the dominant region in the precision swine farming market

Europe holds the largest share in the precision swine farming market due to several factors, including a shortage of labor and an aging population, as well as a growing focus on sustainable pork production and an increasing demand for efficiency and productivity in swine farming. In response to the labor shortage and aging population, European farmers have been investing in precision farming technologies, which help to increase efficiency and productivity while reducing the need for manual labor. Additionally, the focus on sustainable pork production has driven the adoption of precision swine farming practices, as these technologies enable better resource management, waste reduction, and animal welfare. Furthermore, the increasing demand for efficiency and production has further contributed to Europe's dominance in the precision swine farming market. Precision farming technologies allow for real-time monitoring and timely interventions, leading to improved growth rates and profitability.

The key players in this market include Nedap N.V. (Netherlands), CTB, Inc. (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. (US), Guangzhou Yingzi Technology Co, Ltd. (China), Hotraco (Netherlands), VDL Agrotech BV (Netherlands), AcuShot Needle Free (Canada), Pulse NeedleFree Systems (US), Henke Sass Wolf GmbH (Germany), Big Dutchman (Germany), EN-CO Software Zrt (Hungary), Luda Farm AB (Sweden), AGCO Corporation (US) and Microfan (Netherlands). The study includes an in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the precision swine farming market with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

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Browse Adjacent Markets @ Feed and Animal Nutrition Market Research Reports & Consulting

Browse Other Reports:

Digital Agriculture Market by Technology (Peripheral and Core), Type (Hardware and Software), Operation (Farming & Feeding, Monitoring & Scouting, and Marketing & Demand Generation), Operation and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Indoor Farming Technology Market by Growing System (Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Soil-based, Hybrid), Facility Type, Component, Crop Type (Fruits & Vegetables, Herbs & Microgreens, Flowers & Ornamentals), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

Top Trends in the Agricultural Biologicals Market by Agricultural Biologicals, Biocontrols, Bio fungicides, Bioinsecticides, Bio nematicides, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers, Inoculants, Pheromones, Biological Seed Treatment - Global Forecast to 2026

Regenerative Agriculture Market by Practice (Aquaculture, Agroecology, Agroforestry, Biochar & Terra Preta, Holistically Managed Grazing, No-Till & Pasture Cropping, Silvopasture), Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Smart Harvest Market by Site of Operation (On-field, Greenhouse, Indoor), Component (Harvesting Robots, Automation & Control Systems, Imaging Systems, Sensors, Software), Crop Type (Fruits and Vegetables), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023

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The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

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Key Insights

ClearView Wealth's significant private equity firms ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

60% of the business is held by the top 2 shareholders

Institutional ownership in ClearView Wealth is 17%

A look at the shareholders of ClearView Wealth Limited (ASX:CVW) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that private equity firms own the lion's share in the company with 45% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Meanwhile, individual investors make up 28% of the companys shareholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about ClearView Wealth.

View our latest analysis for ClearView Wealth

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About ClearView Wealth?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

ClearView Wealth already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of ClearView Wealth, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in ClearView Wealth. The company's largest shareholder is Crescent Capital Partners Management Pty Ltd., with ownership of 45%. With 15% and 3.7% of the shares outstanding respectively, Sony Financial Holdings Inc., Asset Management Arm and Ariadne Australia Limited are the second and third largest shareholders. Additionally, the company's CEO Simon Swanson directly holds 2.4% of the total shares outstanding.

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To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 2 shareholders have a majority ownership in the company, meaning that they are powerful enough to influence the decisions of the company.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held.

Insider Ownership Of ClearView Wealth

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. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in ClearView Wealth Limited. It has a market capitalization of just AU$324m, and insiders have AU$14m worth of shares, in their own names. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 28% 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 Equity Ownership

With an ownership of 45%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 3.7% of ClearView Wealth stock. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand ClearView Wealth better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - ClearView Wealth has 2 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) 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 interesting companies.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Quility was recognized for Customer Support Department of the Year

ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quility, an award-winning digital platform offering affordable life insurance and customized financial planning solutions, was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie Award in the Customer Support Department of the Year category.

Quility Insurance Logo (PRNewsfoto/Quility)

"We are honored and proud of our recent recognition by the Stevie Awards," said Colin Seiler, Director of Support. "Our Support team works every day to provide excellent results for our agents and clients. We are in good company with the other support departments that participated this year, so we are grateful to be a part of these awards."

Quility empowers its nationwide network of agents with digital platforms, training and tools to reach their highest level of success. Its subsidiary, Symmetry Financial Group, is comprised of more than 5,000 agents who have direct access to Quility's Support team.

This dedicated team provides licensed agents with best-in-class support for all their business needs. Quility's Support team also works directly with clients for general troubleshooting and policy updates, payment updates and more.

More than 3,700 nominations were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. In 2022, Quility was recognized as a Gold Stevie Award winner in the insurance category in the 20th Annual American Business Awards. 

"It is very gratifying for us to be able to recognize the achievements of such a wide variety of organizations, teams, and individuals in the 21st ABAs, and we look forward to bringing them together in New York on June 13 to celebrate with them," said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards.

About Quility

Quility uses innovative and proprietary technology to modernize the process of qualifying for and purchasing life insurance. The Quility digital platform offers clients the option to apply for life insurance online through a 10-minute application or with the support of a licensed insurance agent. To learn more, visit quility.com.

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About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performance in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards here.

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Based on SNS Insider analysis, one of the main drivers of the remote patient monitoring (RPM) market is the increasing demand for more patient-centric healthcare.

Pune, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market had a worth of USD 51.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to attain USD 354.49 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.3% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030, as per SNS Insider.

Market Overview:

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) refers to a technology-enabled approach that allows healthcare providers to monitor patients' health remotely, without the need for them to be physically present in a medical facility. RPM systems typically include a set of medical devices, such as sensors and wearables, that collect patient health data and transmit it to healthcare providers in real-time. This enables healthcare providers to keep track of patients' health status, detect any warning signs of deteriorating health, and provide timely interventions, all from a remote location.

Market Analysis

In recent years, the remote patient monitoring (RPM) market has been growing rapidly due to the increasing demand for better patient care and the rising cost of traditional healthcare. RPM is a type of telemedicine that utilizes various technological tools to monitor patients remotely. This technology enables healthcare professionals to monitor their patients' health in real-time, without the need for in-person visits, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. RPM is a crucial technology that enables healthcare providers to monitor and manage the health of patients with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, among others.

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Key Company Profiles Listed in this Report Are:

Some of the major key players are as follows: Abbott, Boston Scientific Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Nihon Kohden Corporation, Omron Corporation, Smiths Medical, OSI Systems, Inc., Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Welch Allyn, and other players.

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Impact of Recession on Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market Growth

While the recession has created some challenges for the remote patient monitoring (RPM) market, the increasing demand for remote healthcare services and the growing importance of telemedicine are expected to continue to drive the growth of the RPM market in the coming years.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market Report Scope:

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 US$ 51.4 Billion Market Size by 2030 US$ 354.49 Billion CAGR CAGR of 27.3% From 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2020-2021 Key Market Segmentation By Component (Services & Software, Devices (Cardiac Monitoring Devices, Neurological Monitoring Devices, Respiratory Monitoring Devices, Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices, Weight Monitoring Devices, Multiparameter Monitoring Devices, Fetal &Neonatal Monitoring Devices, Others)

By End-Use (Providers (Hospitals & Clinics, Passive Exoskeletons, Ambulatory Care Centers, Home Care Settings & Long-term Care Centers, Others), Payers, Patients, Other End-User) Key Regional Coverage North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), The Middle East & Africa (Israel, UAE, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Key Regional Developments

The global remote patient monitoring (RPM) market has seen significant growth, with North America emerging as the dominant region. This can be attributed to several factors, including a rise in chronic diseases, the need for wireless and portable systems, and the presence of advanced reimbursement structures that aim to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients. As a result, the North American market is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Meanwhile, Europe, particularly Western European countries, is predicted to maintain its position as the second-largest revenue-generating region in the RPM market. This is due to factors such as a growing aging population, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing awareness of the benefits of remote patient monitoring.

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Key Takeaway from Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market Study

The market is set to experience a surge in growth, with the ambulatory patient segment leading the charge. This segment is expected to play a vital role in the adoption of RPM technology as patients seek to take greater control over their healthcare and manage their conditions from the comfort of their own homes.

The market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, with the Vital Sign Monitors segment set to dominate the market. Vital sign monitors are a crucial component of remote patient monitoring, allowing healthcare providers to track patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate, in real-time.

Recent Developments Related to Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market

New Jersey Cancer Care , a leading healthcare provider, has recently announced the launch of its remote patient monitoring (RPM) program. The program aims to enhance the quality of care for cancer patients by providing remote monitoring services that allow healthcare providers to track patients' health status in real-time.

Cadence and Ardent Health Services, two leading healthcare organizations, have collaborated to launch a remote care management program aimed at improving patient care and outcomes. The program utilizes remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology to enable healthcare providers to track patients' health status in real-time and provide timely interventions.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Dynamics

4. Impact Analysis

5. Value Chain Analysis

6. Porters 5 forces model

7. PEST Analysis

8. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market Segment, By Component

9. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Market Segment, By End-Use

10. Regional Analysis

11. Company Profiles

12. Competitive Landscape

13. Conclusion

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About Us:

SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominate the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world.

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Rhode Island Association of REALTORS's Statewide MLS, Heartland MLS, Intermountain MLS and REsides Inc. partner with RentSpree

LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RentSpree , the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, today announced its latest partnerships with four multiple listing services in Rhode Island, Kansas, Idaho and South Carolina.

RentSpree (PRNewsfoto/RentSpree)

RentSpree signed agreements with Rhode Island Association of REALTORS's Statewide MLS, one of the earliest regional multiple listing services in the U.S. and now serving over 6,000 customers and Heartland MLS with more than 12,000 active members working in both Kansas and Missouri. RentSpree also partnered with Idaho-based Intermountain MLS, the largest MLS in the state, and REsides Inc., an equity-ownership MLS without boundaries.

RentSpree will be fully integrated on all four MLS platforms, facilitating the instant creation of an ApplyLink for rental listings, which supports members in generating more leads, cutting down transaction time, and increasing returns. The new integration makes it easy by allowing members to command the entire rental process easily and efficiently.

"We partnered with RentSpree because we hold similar values of empowering all consumers, no matter where they are on their housing journey," said REsides CEO Colette Stevenson. "Rentals are an important part of the overall marketplace, and now our members will be able to leverage the tools to better serve the unique needs of their clients."

Due to current mortgage rates hovering around 6 percent, the number of active home buyers has dropped by an estimated 32 percent year over year, according to recent data from Money.com. This pool of people chooses to rent in the meantime while saving up to purchase a future home.

"Rentals are an extremely important segment for our members," said Intermountain CEO Glenn Christoph. "Over the past few years, everyone's focus was almost exclusively on the for-sale market, but that is, simply put, a major opportunity missed. We need to make sure we provide an integrated system that effectively enables and supports our members across the entire real estate universe."

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As the rental market continues to expand and evolve, data shows that digital tools are ever important with more than 50 percent of renters preferring signing leases online, and nearly 70 percent prefer to pay their rent electronically.

"The focus of all MLSs needs to be the implementation of best-of-class technology to support our members across the entire marketplace, including the sales and the rental markets alike," said Statewide CEO Phil Tedesco.

Agreed Heartland MLS CEO Kipp Cooper, "Rentals play an important role in healthy real estate markets like Kansas City. It is extremely important that we are able to assist our agents and brokers with the tools necessary to seize the immediate and longer-term opportunities in our rapidly growing rental segment."

More than 60 percent of renters are considering moving in the next three years, nearly half within one year, and 45 percent are considering buying a home during their next move, according to recent first-quarter data.

"We are experiencing vibrant rental markets across much of the United States" said RentSpree Co-Founder & CEO Michael Lucarelli. "And this vibrancy is supporting the development of new tools, many of them digital. Anything from paying rent to touring spaces virtually. By collaborating with the organizations that support those who can service the rental segment, we can ensure that their members have easy access to the best tools in the market."

About RentSpree

Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps seamlessly connect real estate agents, owners, and renters to simplify and automate the entire rental process, from listing to lease. The all-in-one platform is known across all 50 states for its easy and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree is ranked 625th on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022. Visit RentSpree.com for more information.

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SOURCE RentSpree
Capital Link

NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the occasion of the recently announced financial and operational results of Q1 2023, Mr. Robert Bugbee, President and Director of Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG), participated in Capital Links Trending News Podcast Series, hosted by Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President of Capital Link. In this Podcast Series company management discusses and comments on recent news and announcements.



During a 30-minute interview, he discussed Scorpio Tankers business, chartering and capital allocation strategies as well as the current market conditions and outlook of the product tanker sector.

Interview Highlights

Fleet development  rationale for the repurchasing of 42 vessels.

STNGs focus on refinancing, deleveraging and liquidity.

Chartering strategy.

Capital allocation  fleet development; share buy backs and dividend policy.

Current conditions and outlook of the product tanker sector.



The full interview can be accessed on the Capital Link TV page linked below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx-TVpVgmnY

About Scorpio Tankers, Inc.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns, lease finances or bareboat charters-in 113 product tankers (39 LR2 tankers, 60 MR tankers and 14 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 7.3 years. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Capital Links webinars, podcasts and presentations may contain "forward-looking statements." Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the beliefs of each participating Company regarding future results, many of which, by their nature are inherently uncertain and outside of the control of the Companies. Actual results may differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the participating companies, please refer to the regulatory filings of each participating company with the SEC.



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CAPITAL LINK  DISCLAIMER

Founded in 1995, Capital Link provides Investor & Public Relations and Media services to several listed and private companies, including companies featured in these webinars, podcasts and presentations. All these, including the one mentioned above, are for informational and educational purposes and should not be relied upon. They do not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities or investment advice or advice of any kind. The views expressed are not those of Capital Link which bears no responsibility for them. In addition, Capital Link organizes a series of industry and investment conferences annually in key industry centers in the United States, Europe and Asia, all of which are known for combining rich educational and informational content with unique marketing and networking opportunities. Capital Link is a member of the Baltic Exchange. Based in New York City, Capital Link has presence in London, Athens & Oslo. For additional information please visit: www.capitallink.com

CONTACT

For more information on the please email forum@capitallink.com or call +1 212 661-7566.




By Mathieu Rosemain

PARIS (Reuters) - Rothschild & Co, the Paris-listed investment bank being taken private by its owners, posted a 10% drop in first-quarter sales on Tuesday, as global mergers and acquisition activity fell to the lowest level in more than a decade.

The bank, controlled by the eponymous financial dynasty and led by Alexandre de Rothschild, said total group revenue over the first three months of 2023 fell to 606.2 million euros ($667.30 million) from 675.3 million euros in 2022.

Sales from M&A advisory, Rothschild's biggest activity, tumbled by 29% to 219 million euros, the firm said, while revenue from structuring and advising on corporate finance rose 4% to 108 million euros.

Rothschild's wealth and asset management unit fared better, with sales up 20%, while its private equity division saw revenue fall by 24% to 72 million euros, due to lower unrealised valuations in dedicated funds.

The Rothschild family's holding company Concordia is planning to take the bank private, arguing that it no longer has as much need to access capital from equity markets and that the businesses are better assessed on the basis of their long-term prospects rather than their short-term performance.

On Tuesday, the group said that Concordia was "on track" to file its buyout offer by the end of June of this year.

The offer of 48 euros per share, including dividends, values the bank at 3.7 billion euros, and will result in three of France's wealthiest families, including the owners of fashion brand Chanel and the Peugeot family, take a 5% stake each in the private entity.

Rothschild said it expects "significant uncertainty" over deal activity for the rest of the year and it remains "cautious" in assessing the outlook for 2023 in that field.

($1 = 0.9084 euros)

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Russia's taxes on its oil and gas industry will hamper long-term growth, a G7 analysis found.

The tax mechanism was changed in April to help the government regain lost revenue.

"It is definitely destructive to their industry," an official told the Financial Times.

Russia's energy producers, already battered by Western sanctions, may become further impeded from long-term growth as the Kremlin tries to squeeze more tax revenue from the sector.

That's according to an analysis by a member of the G7-led coalition that was seen by the Financial Times.

"It is definitely destructive to their industry," an official told the FT, adding that the tax changes will "undercut the future production capacity of the Russian oil and gas industry by taking away revenues that could otherwise be used to invest in equipment, exploration and existing fields."

The price of Russian crude has suffered since the G7 and European Union imposed a cap of $60 per barrel in December. That coincided with the EU's ban on seaborne Russian oil imports.

The Kremlin's tax receipts took a hit. So in order to cover government funding shortfalls, President Vladimir Putin changed the way oil and gas firms are taxed in April.

Instead of basing the tax rate on the price of Urals, which is a grade of Russian crude that commands lower prices, levies are now based on the Brent crude international benchmark, minus a fixed discount.

This would allow Russia to gain around $8 billion in revenue, making up for losses caused by Western sanctions that have helped keep Russian crude prices low. Nearly half of Russia's budget depends on oil and gas revenue, which fell by 45% in the first quarter.

The G7 views the tax change as an acknowledgement from the Kremlin that it will have to continue selling its oil at a discount for some time.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to export oil at higher-than-expected levels, as China and India snap up barrels at discounts. Their purchases are helping Russian crude exports return to pre-war volumes.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Valerie Insinna, Padraic Halpin and Tim Hepher

WASHINGTON/DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland's Ryanair sealed a multibillion-dollar deal for as many as 300 Boeing jets on Tuesday, burying the hatchet after an 18-month public feud where prices threatened one of aviation's closest partnerships.

Europe's biggest low-cost carrier said it was placing a firm order for 150 of the largest version of Boeing's narrow-body jet family, known as the 737 MAX 10, with options for another 150.

The larger-than-expected deal delivers a boost to the 737 MAX, Boeing's best-selling jet whose deliveries have been depressed by a two-year safety crisis and post-COVID disruption.

Along with a massive Air India order inked in February for almost 500 jets, it highlights what Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary termed "a dramatic rebound in orders" for Boeing and European rival Airbus as travel recovers from the pandemic.

It also marks a long-awaited truce after O'Leary broke off talks with Boeing last year and unleashed a barrage of criticism over pricing and delays in delivery of previously ordered jets.

O'Leary, whose sharp wit and hard-nosed demands have made the former accountant one of Europe's best-known business leaders, flew to Washington to celebrate the deal but offered an unusually timid summary following months of tough negotiations.

"I was expecting we would get the same pricing as we had the last time. I've had to eat some humble pie on that," O'Leary told Reuters, adding he was still pleased with the final price, which neither side disclosed.

Industry sources said Ryanair may have paid more than it initially bargained for after holding out for a better deal, but one noted O'Leary took pains to avoid bashing Boeing, which had been anxious for the deal not to be painted as over-generous.

Boeing shares rose more than 1% in midday trade. Ryanair closed up at 3.6%.

"I have been told to say there was a competitive discount ... although I didn't think (it) was particularly competitive," O'Leary joked to reporters, adding the order had risen by about 100 planes to help bring the two sides together.

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Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun countered that no premium was high enough for the jet as the two companies patched up their differences in a relaxed press conference.

Despite concessions on price, O'Leary said the new jets would allow Ryanair to almost double its annual traffic to 300 million passengers by March 2034 from the 168 million flown to end-March this year.

Some of that will come at the expense of rival carriers.

O'LEARY ACCEPTS MODERATELY HIGHER PRICES

Ryanair exclusively uses Boeing 737s for its mainline fleet and is one of Boeing's largest customers with more than 600 planes in its fleet or on order, according to its website.

On Monday, Reuters first reported that Ryanair was close to a major Boeing deal. Earlier on Tuesday, sources said the final deal could involve up to 200-300 jets including options.

Ryanair has long expressed interest in the 230-seat MAX 10, which faces runaway sales of the competing Airbus A321neo used by Ryanair rivals such as Wizz Air and has yet to be certified. But O'Leary had pledged not to overpay for the 30 extra seats.

Ryanair said the deal was worth $40 billion at list prices, though experts noted that this included options, which are not booked as orders, and typical discounts for firm orders run at more than 50%.

"We've had to accept a modestly higher price," O'Leary said. However, if Ryanair maintains its 94% or near-full load on flights aboard the larger MAX 10 jets, the extra 30 seats will "pay for the aircraft in their entirety," he said on Tuesday.

Industry sources said any price bump could at least partially be offset by compensation for delays, making it hard to measure who conceded most.

O'Leary has also often blasted Boeing over industrial problems. On Tuesday, however, he praised the catch-up effort and said he expects almost all 51 previously ordered jets earmarked for April to arrive by the end of July.

Newly ordered MAX 10s will be delivered from 2027 to 2033.

While Boeing's relief at winning the order was tangible, analysts said Ryanair had lost some advantage in negotiations and early slots as carriers including United Airlines placed significant orders for the MAX 10.

O'Leary dismissed this but acknowledged Ryanair would have had to wait until 2028-29 if negotiations had drawn out longer.

One person familiar with the deal said Ryanair could not afford to wait much longer as Indian airlines scoop up hundreds of narrow-body jets, threatening to squeeze Ryanair out of the market for in-demand large models for the rest of the decade.

"Ryanair operates a 737 fleet and is pretty locked in," with Airbus sold out for years and China years away from being able to supply the West, Agency Partners analyst Nick Cunningham said.

(Additional reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram, Conor Humphries and David ShepardsonWriting by Tim Hepher, Valerie InsinnaEditing by Louise Heavens, Mark Potter and Lisa Shumaker)
Company recognized for strong corporate culture, robust benefits, and employee growth opportunities

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt Security, the leading API security company, announced today that it has been named to Inc. Magazine's 2023 Best Workplaces list. This list honors American companies that have excelled in creating exceptional workplaces and company culture, whether operating in a physical or a virtual capacity.

Salt Security prioritizes a company culture built on collaboration, rapid innovation and flexibility, mutual respect, and distributed decision making. With a rapidly growing team of more than 200 employees, the company enhances its corporate culture and benefits with work-from-home flexibility, an unlimited vacation policy, competitive benefits, regular team gatherings, and programs that support employee well being.

"It is a tremendous honor to have Salt recognized as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces this year," said Roey Eliyahu, co-founder and CEO, Salt Security. "At Salt, we place enormous value on our dedicated and talented employees,who continually deliver exceptional results in technical innovation and building value for our customers. Being included on this list reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a culture based on equity, inclusion, diversity, and winning together."

Thousands of companies applied to be recognized as one of the best workplaces in America, but only a fraction earned this recognition. To achieve this accolade, Salt employees participated in a survey, conducted by Quantum Workplace, where they evaluated the company on various topics such as management effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth, and overall company culture. In addition, the company's benefits were audited to determine overall score and ranking.

"Being named to Best Workplaces is an honor that only a small fraction of companies have been able to claim," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "Proving to the world that you're a magnet for talent and have a culture that keeps teams engaged, productive, and proud to come to work is a truly remarkable achievement."

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To learn more about Salt Security and view current open positions, please visit: https://salt.security/careers.

About Inc. Media

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Salt Security

Salt Security protects the APIs that form the core of every modern application. Its patented API Protection Platform is the only API security solution that combines the power of cloud-scale big data and time-tested ML/AI to detect and prevent API attacks. By correlating activities across millions of APIs and users over time, Salt delivers deep context with real-time analysis and continuous insights for API discovery, attack prevention, and hardening APIs. Deployed quickly and seamlessly integrated within existing systems, the Salt platform gives customers immediate value and protection, so they can innovate with confidence and accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. For more information, visit: https://salt.security/.

Contact:

Dex Polizzi

Lumina Communications for Salt Security

salt@luminapr.com

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SOURCE Salt Security
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is trying to dismiss 10 out of 13 criminal charges against him.

His lawyers said lawmakers had brought the indictment against him in a "classic rush to judgment."

In January, he pleaded not guilty in the US government's criminal case against him.

The fallen FTX cofounder Sam Bankman-Fried has asked a US judge to dismiss 10 out of 13 criminal charges against him over the crypto exchange's collapse.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers wrote in a Monday filing to the Manhattan federal court that the US government had brought the original indictment against him on December 9 in a "classic rush to judgment" less than a month after FTX's bankruptcy.

"Rather than wait for traditional civil and regulatory processes following their ordinary course to address the situation, the government jumped in with both feet, improperly seeking to turn these civil and regulatory issues into federal crimes," his lawyers wrote.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers said that a campaign-finance charge must be discharged because it wasn't included in the surrender warrant signed by the Bahamian government for his extradition.

The US government also added new charges against Bankman-Fried that "alleged criminal conduct far beyond the Original Indictment and which are improperly brought," his lawyers added. "Even if they are considered, the charges should be dismissed as legally flawed," they said.

Other charges they are applying to discharge include those related to bank fraud, unlicensed money transmitting, and bribery.

Bankman-Fried's lawyers added that the broad market rout in 2022 had also hit many other cryptocurrency exchanges.

"The market crash took down many of the major players in this sector, not just FTX," they said in their filing.

In January, Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty in the US government's criminal case against him over FTX's collapse. The former FTX CEO was set for an October 2 trial.

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A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined to comment.

May 9, 2023, 12.20 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include details from Bankman-Fried's court filing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2023) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQX: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce that since it has started optimization and SEO marketing for its Sekur website, in order to reduce its per user Customer Acquisition Cost "CAC", its CAC was lowered to US$74 per Customer, while Life Time Value metrics "LTV" per customer went up several percentages.

In January 2023, The Company has embarked on a reduction of its Customer Acquisition Cost ("CAC") and has reduced its marketing expenses in order to focus on the more targeted digital marketing, such as adword campaigns and optimization of its Sekur website. Currently the Company is targeting a CAC of US$75 or lower by the end of 2023, and a CAC of US$60 or lower for 2024 from direct marketing, not counting B2B partnerships, which would lower the CAC overall. The Company is targeting consumers and SMBs at this time and is improving its website content in order to inform SMBs and visitors on the benefits of using the Sekur privacy and security communications platform.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data, said: "We are very happy to report that we have reduced our CAC to such an extent in such a short time. Some of the measures went as low as CAC US$13 per customer. This means that we are making money from each of our customers moving forward, if we keep CAC at or below US$100. As we add new products such as SekurVPN and SekurVoice, the average revenue per user "ARPU" should be moving higher as well, as we are planning customized 'a-la-carte' bundles for consumers and businesses. Once we achieve US$75 CAC or lower for a couple of months, we plan to accelerate spending to increase our subscriber base at a higher rate than we are doing today. We have managed to acquire a higher caliber customer, and we are carefully watching each dollar we are spending for our acquisition costs, as we are on track to meet the budget, we set for 2023. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech platform, we offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers."

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On April 7th 2023, the Company launched its privacy VPN solution called SekurVPN available through https://www.sekurvpn.com, or through https://www.sekur.com , and started commercial sales of its highly anticipated SekurVPN privacy and security VPN solution. SekurVPN is priced at US$ 7/month/user and US$ 70/year/user for the service. The solution is also offered in USD, CAD, NZD, AUD, SGD, CHF, EUR and GPB. The Company plans to launch SekurVPN in the coming weeks to existing shareholders and Sekur users with a special offer, and move to a larger audience of 1,000,000 people in the USA, through several digital and email marketing campaigns.

SekurVPN is especially meant for privacy enthousiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address from hackers. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, using messaging applications and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hyjacking their location and signal. The service guarantees not to use Big Tech or Hyperscalers for its functioning or hosting, it guarantees that there are no third party bundles sold with it, so no data is leaked or sold to third parties, it guarantees no traffic pulling or monitoring, and no phone number required to register to the service.

According to a study and publication on forbes.com, 66% use a VPN to help protect personal data, 80% use a VPN for increased security and 33% use a VPN to mask their internet activity. More statistics can be found on this VPN Statistics And Trends In 2023 article.

Private:

SekurVPN uses its own proprietary infrastructure and does not use any Hyperscaler or Big Tech hosting providers, unlike most other VPNs. It offers Swiss IPs only, and this guarantees that it is using only SekurVPN's own servers and routing. Other VPNs offer 100s of locations and are using Big Tech providers, compromising users' privacy. SekurVPN never monitors users' activity and never shares any data with third party service providers. By being a pure VPN, without bundled outside services, such as anti-virus, and ad-blockers, SekurVPN keeps users' information private without sharing their data with third party service providers. With SekurVPN, users do not register their phone number on the App or the web, rendering users invisible from hackers or snoopers. No phone number to register, anonymous Swiss IPs only, no data mining or traffic sharing with anyone.

Secure:

SekurVPN's secure VPN routes all your Internet traffic through SekurVPN's privately owned servers, in multiple locations in Switzerland only, and using the highest encryption industry standards, combined with its proprietary HeliX technology for added security. Encryption keys are not stored on devices and are unique at every connection. Users' passwords, confidential data and Internet surfing stay encrypted even over public untrusted internet connections.

Easy to use:

SekurVPN is extremely easy to setup and deploy. There is no country list and our interface is simplified, just tap or click the connection button. SekurVPN's no-frills but highly secure and private service gives users peace of mind without thinking about geo-locations.

Currently SekurVPN is available to use with iOS and Android devices. A MacOS version and a Windows version are planned to be launched in the coming weeks.

In addition to SekurVPN, the company offers a bundled Sekur plan, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, as a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, and includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invite". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite via email or SMS, a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors.

SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com, and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@sekurprivatedata.com

For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at corporate@sekurprivatedata.com or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com.



For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurvpn.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/165301
Servus Credit Union

EDMONTON, Alberta, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Servus Credit Union has received the prestigious 2023 Canada's Best Managed Companies award. The credit union has retained its Best Managed designation for 20 consecutive years.



Canada's Best Managed Companies program awards excellence in private Canadian-owned companies. To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in the areas of strategy, culture, commitment, capabilities, innovation, governance, and financial performance.

As Alberta's largest credit union, Servus has continued its track record with strong asset growth amidst unpredictable economic conditions in recent years. The financial institution surpassed $18 billion in assets in fall 2022, representing $1 billion in asset growth since mid-2020. Servus ended 2022 with record-setting profit share, returning more than $60 million from its profit to members. Servus is the only credit union that shares profit in this way, at this scale.

"We're honoured to be a 20-year milestone winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program. This is a testament of Servus's industry leading performance and what we can achieve when we combine a solid business strategy with a committed and engaged workforce," says Ian Burns, Servus's President & CEO.

Canada's Best Managed Companies is one of the country's leading business awards programs recognizing innovative and world-class businesses. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent evaluation process.

Servus has deep community roots and is committed to helping members achieve financial fitness. Decisions are made locally by Albertans, for Albertans. Every member is an owner and has a say in stewardship of the organization. When banking with Servus, members enjoy perks that are unique to credit unions such as profit share and 100 per cent deposit guarantee.

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ABOUT CANADA'S BEST MANAGED COMPANIES

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for private Canadian-owned and managed companies. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Saleforce, and TMX Group. For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

ABOUT SERVUS CREDIT UNION

Servus Credit Union provides a full line of secure financial services with more than 100 branches in 59 communities throughout Alberta. The financial institution offers online, mobile and telephone banking. Founded more than 80 years ago, Servus' noble purpose is to help members reimagine their financial fitness so that they feel good about their money. For more information about Servus, call 1.877.378.8728 or visit servus.ca.

For more information contact:

Helen Nguyen Tran

Communications Specialist

media@servus.ca

(825) 402-0740




LONDON (Reuters) - Siemens Gamesa's finance chief will leave the struggling wind turbine maker next week, according to an internal message to staff sent just a few months after parent Siemens Energy took over the Spanish firm.

Beatriz Puente, who joined Siemens Gamesa as CFO in December 2020, will leave effective May 15, the day Siemens Energy is scheduled to release second-quarter results, the memo said, without disclosing the reason for her departure.

"In these times of transition, it's important that we don't lose sight of the ambitious goals we've set for ourselves," Siemens Gamesa Chief Executive Jochen Eickholt said in the memo that was seen by Reuters.

A spokesperson for Siemens Energy confirmed the authenticity of the internal message.

Siemens Energy took over most of Siemens Gamesa earlier this year in an effort to get a better handle on operational problems that have caused major continued losses at the Spanish wind turbine maker and became a drag on its parent.

(Reporting by Andres Gonzalez; Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
(Bloomberg) -- Singapores government is taking the first steps toward codifying a new internet safety law that would grant it wide-ranging powers over content, access and communication online.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Online Criminal Harms Bill, introduced for a first reading in parliament on Monday, is aimed at cracking down on illicit activities like scams, misinformation, cybercrime drug trafficking and the spread of exploitative images. It is part of a wider suite of legislation to protect Singaporeans online, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

The bill is likely to pass into law without strong opposition, as most proposed legislation does in the city-states parliament. It would grant the government broad powers to restrict content online: from blocking the communication of certain material or web addresses to removing apps from mobile stores or restricting accounts on social networks.

It further advocates a proactive approach to preventing malicious cyber activity, allowing those powers to be used on the suspicion that a given website or account may be used in such acts. The bill also includes a provision for service providers to appeal the governments directives.

Read more: Singapore Pushes Latest Laws to Regulate Online Content

Singapore is part of a global push to erect stronger guardrails around online content to stymie the rise of scams and crime via web services. Its approach would require social networks and web service providers to implement systems and processes thatll help prevent criminal activity and support enforcement actions as well as enabling partnerships and sensemaking with the government.

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--With assistance from Philip J. Heijmans.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Singapores sovereign wealth fund said it still sees more growth in the financial technology sector, even after a downturn thats sent startup valuations plummeting as investors turn away from riskier bets.

Chris Emanuel, head of GIC Ptes technology investment group, said the fund is excited about innovation in financial product distribution that brings opportunities to scale across the world. It also sees opportunities in enterprise software as digital transformation efforts increase across sectors in both momentum and urgency, he said.

Tech companies are continuing to change the way businesses operate, Emanuel said in an interview before GICs Bridge Forum in San Francisco. There will be further innovations, such as with cloud migration, which we are still in the early days of, especially internationally.

The global technology industry has seen a rout thats prompted layoffs in the tens of thousands, depressed fundraising activity and shaved billions off the valuations of once high-flying startups. Even GIC and its sister firm Temasek Holdings Pte werent spared despite their long-term investment approach. GIC is an investor in Digital Currency Group, the parent of troubled cryptocurrency broker Genesis. Temasek wrote down $275 million in November following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and Singapores Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the FTX loss was disappointing for the country.

GIC participated in Stripe Inc.s $6.5 billion series I round in March that valued the fintech firm at about $50 billion, which is a far cry from the $95 billion valuation it received in 2021. The Singaporean investor led a $60 million funding round for startup Parafin in August.

GIC, which doesnt publish its assets under management, is estimated to manage about $690 billion as of April 2023, according to a report from consulting and research company Global SWF. The firms technology investment group sits within the market groups private equity asset class, which made up 17% of the GICs portfolio as of March 31, 2022.

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The fund started investing in technology since it was founded in 1981 and set up an office in San Francisco five years later. The technology investment group has 20 members, of whom 13 are in Silicon Valley, according to Emanuel. GIC is hosting the Bridge Forum in San Francisco this week where its partners and tech firms across Asia, the Americas and Europe will participate.

GIC invests in all stages of financing tech firms from startups to listed companies, Emanuel said. The firm is closely following the development of emerging technologies like AI and working with entrepreneurs tackling big problems with technology, he added.

Our teams approach is to understand the fundamentals, rather than placing bets on the next big thing, he said. Even with the secular trend of technological disruption, we believe there are cycles and to us, it is most important to stay disciplined and be selective.

--With assistance from Ben Scent.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Phoenix, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phoenix, Arizona -

Small Biz Marketing AZ .com, a company based in Phoenix, AZ, has announced that they can provide SEO experts who are Google Ads certified near me to help local businesses use location-specific marketing to boost their customer base in their area. Google Ads offers a very effective method of generating leads for a business, particularly if it is service-based like a coffee shop or restaurant, that wants to reach out to customers within their local area. Their team members are experts in generating high-quality leads with the use of Google AdWords or Google Ads.

A spokesperson for Small Biz Marketing AZ .com says, Google Ads is the process of identifying and attracting potential customers for your businesss products or services. It is one of the best and most cost-effective methods of online advertising. The process involves creating and promoting ads that appear on the search engines results pages when people are searching for a product or service similar to yours. These ads can be used to target specific keywords, age groups, or locations. Unlike traditional methods, Google Ads allows you to pay only when a user clicks on your ad and converts into a lead. It also provides an excellent way to build brand awareness. This is a great strategy for small businesses or new companies that are just starting out. It is important to test different keywords and phrases to see what works best for your business and the target audience.

google ads certified near me

Those who are looking for Google Ads management near me can request for a consultation with Small Biz Marketing AZ .com. Google Ads offers one of the most effective ways for lead generation for the purpose of attracting new customers to increase sales. With people now using the mobile devices like, smartphones and tablets, to search for establishments offering the product or service they are looking for, Google Ads is very effective because the pay per click (PPC) advertising it offers presents the ads on the first page of the search engine results whenever someone searches using a particular keyword or phrase. The results can be immediate, particularly when the potential customer that sees the PPC ad is near the coffee shop or restaurant. This potential customer may decide right there and then to visit the establishment and try the food or coffee.

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Obviously, the online marketer will need to target those keywords or phrases that potential customers use on Google when they are looking for the product or service that is offered by the business. That is why the SEO experts from Small Biz Marketing AZ .com can really help with the Google Ads campaign of the client. And because the marketer only has to pay when the ad is clicked, Google Ads can be used to test the different possible keywords and phrases to find out which can provide the best results in targeting the potential customers of the business and which keywords and phrases are they likely to use when searching for the product or service.

Google Ads also offers the benefit of being affordable because the marketer only has to pay Google when a user clicks on the ad, unlike with conventional advertising where a fixed price has to be paid for the ad whether or not it generates leads for the business. Thus, it is also suitable for businesses that are just starting. In addition, it offers a way to increase brand awareness.

Small Biz Marketing AZ .com was founded with the goal of providing help to businesses in connecting with potential customers within their local area by offering an efficient and dependable platform for producing leads that can later become customers. They offer a comprehensive lead generation service that is both reasonably priced and easy to use. They want to emphasize that they stand out among other lead generation service companies due to a number of reasons, such as: their expertise, the high quality leads they can provide, their focus on helping achieve the clients business objectives, and their affordable price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_zhobJjYvg

Small businesses who are searching for local ads management near me can check out the Small Biz Marketing AZ .com website or contact them on the telephone or through email.

###

For more information about Small Biz Marketing AZ .com, contact the company here:



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Paul

6028490662

LeadGenerationPPCads@gmail.com

Small Biz Marketing AZ

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CONTACT: Paul




RICHMOND HILL, ON, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ - Staples Canada, The Working and Learning Company and the largest organization providing business solutions in Canada is partnering with Allstate Protection Plans to offer customers Staples Protection Plans by Allstate. Customers will benefit from product protection with seamless, award-winning service and support when they need it most. Allstate Protection Plans will provide and manage the protection plans for Staples customers across Canada.

Staples Canada and Allstate Protection Plans Offer Businesses and Consumers Innovative Product Protection and Peace of Mind. (CNW Group/Staples Canada ULC)

Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are available for a variety of electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, and headphones, and office furniture including desks, chairs, and filing cabinets. All plans cover mechanical and electrical failures and plans for portable electronics and furniture also cover accidental damage. This collaboration allows Staples in-store associates, Staples.ca and Staples Preferred consumers the ability to pair great products with great protection, to deliver a convenient consumer experience.

"Staples Canada offers world-class product assortment and customer service that provides solutions for customers and businesses, so they can thrive in the modern world," said David Boone, C.E.O., Staples Canada, "By partnering with Allstate, we can offer customers peace of mind backed by repair-first service solutions that extend the life of the products they buy while saving them time, money, and preventing unnecessary waste in our landfills."

"Allstate is proud to partner with Staples Canada to provide its customers with innovative product protection that mirrors the level of service they've come to expect at Staples," said Karl Wiley, Allstate Protection Plans President and CEO. "Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are yet another reason businesses and consumers look to Staples Canada for the electronics and furniture they need to succeed."

Staples Protection Plans by Allstate are offered at all Staples Canada locations and at www.staples.ca.

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About Staples Canada

Staples Canada is The Working and Learning Company. The privately-owned company is committed to being a dynamic, inspiring partner to customers who visit its 300+ locations and staples.ca. The company has two brands which support business customers: Staples Preferred for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Staples Professional for medium to large-sized enterprises, as well as seven Staples Studio co-working facilities across Canada. Through Solutionshop, Canadians can access a variety of pack and ship options, as well as a broad suite of business services. Staples is a proud partner of MAP through its Even the Odds campaign, which aims to tackle inequities in communities across Canada and helps make a future that's fair for everyone. Visit staples.ca for more information.

About Allstate Protection Plans

For over a decade, Allstate Protection Plans has transformed the extended warranty industry with service innovation and an obsessive focus on customer experience. Today, Allstate Protection Plans is trusted by over 140 million customers in addition to major retailers and mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Allstate Protection Plans is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation.

SOURCE Staples Canada ULC

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/09/c0641.html
john allan - Jeff Overs/BBC

The chairman of Tesco has denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women as the company braces for a barrage of questions from shareholders over its culture.

City grandee John Allan was this week facing accusations from four separate women over what they claimed were unprofessional and inappropriate actions.

According to the Guardian, which reported the allegations, Mr Allan touched the bottom of two women and made inappropriate remarks to two other women on separate occasions between 2019 and 2022.

This included touching the bottom of a senior Tesco employee at the supermarket's annual general meeting last year, it is alleged.

The allegations have emerged weeks before Tesco is expected to hold its 2023 annual general meeting, which is typically hosted by the chairman.

Executives will be preparing for questions from shareholders over the claims, sources said.

The other claims related to staff from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) where Mr Allan was president between 2018 and 2020.

He then served as vice president of the CBI until 2021.

Mr Allan did not respond to requests for comment, but denied all of the claims to the Guardian except one, which related to comments he made about a CBI worker's appearance in 2019.

A spokesman told the newspaper: "Mr Allan was mortified after making the comment in 2019 and he immediately apologised. The person concerned agreed the matter was closed and no further action was taken. Regarding the other claims, they are simply untrue."

Tesco has not launched an investigation into the allegations made in the Guardian.

It said: "In relation to John Allans conduct at Tescos 2022 AGM, Tesco has received no complaints or concerns formally or informally, including through our confidential Protector Line service.

"John Allans conduct has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco."

It has said all concerns or complaints raised about conduct are "always taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly".

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A spokesman said: "This is a serious allegation, and if anyone has any concerns or information, we would ask them to share those with us through any of our reporting channels including through our confidential Protector Line, so we can investigate."

It comes weeks after Tesco joined other businesses in pausing its membership of the CBI, in the wake of allegations of rape and harassment at its events.

The lobby group is currently undergoing a 60-day review as it battles to restore its reputation as "the voice of business".

Dozens of organisations have cancelled their membership of the CBI, while Jeremy Hunt has said there is "no point" engaging with the organisation.

An independent report into the culture at the CBI found that it had harboured "toxic" sexual predators.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) -CK Hutchison will likely finalise a deal on merging its Three UK mobile network with Vodafone's in Britain, its chief financial officer Frank John Sixt said, but getting the deal over the line was "extremely difficult".

The companies have been in talks since October to combine Britain's third and fourth-largest networks in a deal that would be worth around 15 billion pounds ($18.9 billion) and an agreement had been expected imminently.

Sixt, however, signalled some issues still had to be agreed.

"It is probable as has been speculated that we will reach an understanding with our friends at Vodafone," he told investors after a trading update on Tuesday.

"Although I would say they (Vodafone) are extremely difficult to draw a conclusion with on the one hand, but on the other hand they are, in the end, very good partners."

"So the first part makes me a little bit more skeptical but the second part makes me a little bit more optimistic," he added.

Vodafone, which will own 51% of the combined UK group, declined to comment.

Sixt was more positive about Italy, where the company's Wind Tre is nearing a deal to sell a majority stake in its infrastructure business to Swedish private equity firm EQT.

"I think it's becoming pretty likely that you'll see an announcement in a relatively short period of time in terms of a material development in Italy," he said.

The British company, which appointed its interim chief executive, Margherita Della Valle, to the role permanently last month, has struggled to drive the consolidation it has said is needed in some of its major markets.

Hutchison's senior leadership met British government officials in March to seek support for the deal, which will be subject to intense regulatory scrutiny, sources have told Reuters.

Hutchison's Co-Managing Director Canning Fok, who said in March the talks were in the final stages, also met Della Valle, sources have said.

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Three UK reported 5% growth in first-quarter revenue to 610 million pounds and a 7% increase in its total margin to 389 million pounds.

Three UK Chief Executive Robert Finnegan, however, said the company's returns remained below the cost of capital.

"Connectivity is crucial to how we live and work; for the industry to continue investing in the UKs digital infrastructure, market structural change is needed," he said.

($1 = 0.7923 pounds)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle, Editing by Sarah Young and Sharon Singleton)
IndexBox, Inc.

NEW YORK, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IndexBox, a leading market research firm, has released a new report on the global tin ores and concentrates market. The report, titled "World - Tin Ores And Concentrates - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends, and Insights", provides a comprehensive analysis of the global market and its growth prospects from 2023 to 2030.



Trial access to market data is available on the IndexBox platform, giving businesses and investors an opportunity to assess the market trends, drivers, and challenges. The report forecasts that the global tin ores and concentrates market will continue to grow at a steady pace, driven by rising demand from various end-use industries.

The key growth drivers include the increasing use of tin in the electronics and automotive industries, as well as the growth of the construction industry. However, the market is also facing challenges such as fluctuating prices and supply chain disruptions.

Factors affecting demand for tin ores and concentrates include the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources and the growing popularity of electric vehicles. The report provides an overview of the major consuming industries and how they affect the industry.

The global tin ores and concentrates market can be segmented by product type, end-use industry, and region.

By product type, the tin ores and concentrates market can be classified into cassiterite, stannite, teallite, and other ores. Cassiterite is the most commonly found and extracted tin ore, accounting for the largest share of the market. Stannite and teallite are also important sources of tin, but they are less abundant compared to cassiterite.

In terms of end-use industry, the tin ores and concentrates market can be divided into electronics, construction, automotive, and others. The electronics industry is the largest consumer of refined tin, accounting for more than half of the global demand. Tin is widely used in the production of electronic components such as soldering materials , capacitors , and transistors . The construction industry is also a significant consumer of tin, primarily in the form of tinplate and tin-coated steel for roofing, cladding, and other applications.

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Geographically, the tin ores and concentrates market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia-Pacific is the largest market for tin ores and concentrates, with China being the largest producer and consumer. The region's dominance can be attributed to the rapid growth of the electronics and automotive industries in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Europe and North America are also significant markets, driven by the demand from the construction and automotive industries.

Key statistics in the report include production and consumption volumes, trade dynamics, and prices. The report also lists the top 10 manufacturers in the industry, including Yunnan Tin Group, Malaysia Smelting Corporation, and PT Timah.

For further information, please visit https://www.indexbox.io/

Keywords: Tin ores and concentrates, Market Analysis, Forecast, Growth, End-use industries



CONTACT: contact Mekhrona Dzhuraeva, Editor at media@indexbox.io.




Market Research Future

Growing Online Payments and Commerce to Boost Transaction Monitoring Market Growth

New York, US, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Transaction Monitoring Market by Component, Deployment, Organization Size, by Application, Function, VerticalForecast till 2030.

Growing Online Payments and Commerce to Boost Market Growth

The market's expanding e-commerce trend and awareness of secure transaction or payment is boosting market growth. E-commerce businesses are required to utilize secure payment gateways which adhere to the toughest rules and legislation for carrying out business and taking payments online. The market share for transaction monitoring is significantly impacted by this.

Transaction Monitoring Market Key Players -

Eminent industry players profiled in the global transaction monitoring market report include:

Fiserv, Inc. (US)

SAS Institute, Inc. (US)

IBM Corporation (US)

FIS (US)

Oracle Corporation (US)

Fair Isaac Corporation (US)

NICE Systems Ltd (Israel)

ACI Worldwide (US)

ACTICO GmbH (Germany)

Bottomline Technologies (US)

Beam Solutions, Inc. (US)

Infrasoft Technologies (India)

Software AG (Germany)

Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (Ireland)

BAE Systems (UK).

Get Free Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7719

Market Opportunities:

Increasing Deployment by SMEs to offer Robust Opportunities

Because they are frequently used as a cover industry for various forms of financial crime and money laundering, SMEs are primarily regarded by banking & other financial institutions as the sector with the highest risk. As a result, more SMEs are using cutting-edge technology to improve their efficiency and lower fraud in their transaction monitoring systems. Examples of these technologies include big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Moreover, AI-based transaction monitoring aids SMBs in proactive data monitoring and compliance with a variety of stringent government laws. The market for transaction monitoring worldwide is growing as a result of all these causes.

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Market Restraints and Challenges

Network Transmission Concerns to act as Market Challenge

Network transmission issues and concerns, shortage of technical expertise, and dearth of transaction monitoring may act as market challenges over the forecast period.

Transaction Monitoring Market Report Scope:

Report Metrics Details Market Size by 2030 USD 39.32 Billion CAGR during 2022-2030 12.30% Base Year 2021 Forecast 2022-2030 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Key Market Drivers The growing need of enterprises to comply with the know your customer (KYC) regulations and mitigate money laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) activities; and use of advanced analytics to provide proactive risk alerts are the factors which are expected to drive the market in North America.

Buy Now -

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=7719

Market Segmentation

The global transaction monitoring market is bifurcated based on vertical, function, application, organization size, deployment mode, and component.

By component, service will lead the market over the forecast period.

By deployment mode, cloud will domineer the market over the forecast period.

By organization size, SMEs will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

By application, anti-money laundering will have the lions share in the market over the forecast period.

By function, dashboard and reporting will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period.

By vertical, BFSI will steer the market over the forecast period.

Market Analysis

The global transaction monitoring market will touch USD 39.32 billion at a 12.30% CAGR by 2030, as per the present Market Research Future report.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Transaction Monitoring Market:

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/transaction-monitoring-market-7719

COVID-19 Analysis of Transaction Monitoring Market

People did not wish to be exposed to such possibly fatal infection, the COVID-19 therefore the world was thrust into the digital era. Individuals started doing their shopping and working remotely. Business transactions significantly increased as a result of this. Hence, it provided a significant boost to the global market for transaction monitoring. Also, as more consumers used credit cards & other online payment methods to make purchases online, fraudsters had more opportunity to commit crimes. As a result, the COVID-19 quarantines actually contributed to a rise in cybercrime.

Regional Analysis

North America to Command Transaction Monitoring Market

Due to factors such as the government's increased attention on maintaining & repairing civil infrastructure, ageing infrastructure, and the growing requirement to manage KYC compliance, North America is flourishing its dominance in the worldwide transaction monitoring industry. Also, there is a large-scale implementation of advanced analytics to protect the safety & security of important documents against preemptive hazards.

The transaction monitoring industry presently brings in the greatest money in the North American region. This is due to the fact that the majority of international e-commerce transactions currently take place in the United States & the rest of North America. Mexico and Canada, the two remaining nations in North America, come in second and third place, respectively, with regards to market revenue production.

As e-commerce becomes more prevalent in this region, the governments of Canada, Mexico, & the United States are establishing Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and regulations. The goal of these laws is to reduce credit card fraud & money laundering. Additionally, they have procedures in place to prevent these behaviors from occurring as frequently as is physically possible. Moreover, KYC rules and guidelines are designed to stop as much money as possible for the terrorist organizations. As a result, these rules and regulations commonly mention sophisticated analytics. These innovative analytics are designed to alert credit card companies to potential instances of terrorist funding or credit card fraud either at the moment they happen (ideally before they occur) or, at the very least, shortly after. All of these things are expected to contribute to the expansion of the North American market.

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APAC to Have Admirable Growth in Transaction Monitoring Market

Asia-Pacific is predicted to have the highest CAGR during the projection period. The region's development is attributable to people becoming more aware of transaction monitoring processes & its advantages. Many countries, including China, India, & others, are boosting their infrastructure investments in order to promote economic growth.

In the APAC area, both SMEs and major enterprises were increasingly aware of the transaction monitoring process and its advantages and started implementing it to protect against shady transactions & money laundering activities. Throughout the projected period, this market is expected to grow most quickly in Asia-Pacific. Retail and e-commerce sectors are expected to boost the APAC as more businesses use these solutions throughout the BFSI.

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a news conference at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings at IMF headquarters, October 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Janet Yellen is warning CEOs on the "catastrophic" economic impact to come if the US defaults on its debt, Reuters reported.

The Treasury Secretary recently said the government could run out of money as soon as June 1.

She told ABC News on Sunday that Congress failing to raise the $31 trillion debt ceiling could cause "an economic and financial catastrophe."

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is personally calling up CEOs and other business executives to warn them of the "catastrophic" impact to come should the US government default on its debt obligations, according Reuters.

Yellen is reaching out to leaders in the financial sector to alert them of the "dangerous consequences of the current brinkmanship," according to a Monday report by Reuters, who cited two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The Treasury Secretary has continued to urge Congress to raise the debt ceiling and recently warned that the government could run out of money and trigger an economic crisis that will cost millions of jobs and roil the global economy as soon as June 1.

And although the sources didn't reveal to Reuters her purpose for the calls, officials from US President Joe Biden's administration have reportedly been in talks with business executives about pushing Republicans to raise the US debt ceiling without conditions.

She delayed her trip to Japan for this week's G7 meeting in order to give an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Reuters reported, where she warned that Congress failing to raise the $31 trillion debt ceiling could cause "an economic and financial catastrophe."

"There is no way to protect our financial system and our economy other than Congress doing its job and raising the debt ceiling and enabling us to pay our bills. And we should not get to the point where we need to consider whether the president can go on issuing debt. This would be a constitutional crisis," Yellen told ABC News on Sunday.

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The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on April 26 passed a bill from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The bill offered to lift the debt ceiling in exchange for government spending cuts of roughly 8% in 2024, among other terms. But democrats are calling for a "clean" bill that raises the debt ceiling without conditions.

Biden has invited congressional leaders McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to a meeting on Tuesday to work on an agreement, Reuters said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Presentation to take place on June 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT at the Yale School of Management

NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trevi Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRVI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing the investigational therapy Haduvio (oral nalbuphine ER) for difficult to treat patients with chronic cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), other chronic cough indications, and prurigo nodularis, today announced its participation at the upcoming Yale Innovation Summit taking place from May 31  June 1 at the Yale School of Management. The Company will present on its differentiated central and peripheral mechanism in cough and the potential broad translatability across cough indications.

Trevi Therapeutics, Inc. www.trevitherapeutics.com (PRNewsfoto/Trevi Therapeutics, Inc.)

Trevi's executives will be joined by one of the thought leaders in cough, Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD. Dr. Dicpinigaitis is a Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Director, Montefiore Cough Center and Editor-in-Chief, LUNG. Dr. Dicpinigaitis will discuss the various central and peripheral pathways in cough and why a centrally active mechanism is generating such interest. Trevi will also share insights on the patient and commercial potential of Haduvio with additional details from its physician and payer market research across chronic cough indications. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.

For more information about the conference and to attend the presentation, please use the following link: https://ventures.yale.edu/community/yale-innovation-summit

Conference Details

Yale Innovation Summit (May 31-June 1)

Presenters: Jennifer Good, President and CEO of Trevi Therapeutics, Farrell Simon, Chief Commercial Officer of Trevi Therapeutics, and Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Director, Montefiore Cough Center and Editor-in-Chief, LUNG

Presentation: Thursday, June 1, 10:30 AM-12 PM ET

Registration: Investors and analysts can register to attend the in-person event by using the following link: https://ventures.yale.edu/yale-innovation-summit

Story continues

A recording of the webcast will be available in the 'Investors & News' section on the Company's website at www.TreviTherapeutics.com .

The Company also plans to participate in the following upcoming conferences and events:

May 19-20: American Thoracic Society's (ATS) 2023 Respiratory Innovation Summit

May 19-24: ATS 2023 International Conference

June 5-8: 2023 BIO International Convention

June 9-10: 2023 American Cough Conference

About Trevi Therapeutics, Inc.

Trevi Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing the investigational therapy Haduvio (oral nalbuphine ER) for difficult to treat patients with chronic cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), other chronic cough indications, and prurigo nodularis. Haduvio is a dual -opioid receptor agonist and -opioid receptor antagonist that works both centrally as well as peripherally in the lungs and has the potential for a synergistic anti-tussive effect to treat chronic cough.

The impact of chronic cough is significant and often leads to a decline in patients' social, physical, and psychological quality of life. There are no approved therapies for the treatment of chronic cough in IPF and current treatment options provide minimal relief to patients. In IPF, chronic cough may lead to worsening fibrosis and may be associated with a higher risk of progression, death, or need for lung transplant.

Parenteral nalbuphine is not scheduled by the US DEA. Trevi intends to propose Haduvio as the trade name for nalbuphine ER. Its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

For more information, visit www.TreviTherapeutics.com and follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Trevi's business plans and objectives, including future plans or expectations for Haduvio and plans and timing with respect to future clinical trials, expectations regarding Trevi's uses and sufficiency of capital, and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: uncertainties regarding the success, cost and timing of Trevi's product candidate development activities and ongoing and planned clinical trials; the risk that positive data from a clinical trial may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future clinical trials in the same or a different indication; uncertainties regarding Trevi's ability to execute on its strategy; uncertainties with respect to regulatory authorities' views as to the data from Trevi's clinical trials and next steps in the development path for Trevi's Haduvio in the United States and foreign countries, including the Company's ability to submit and get clearance on an IND on a timely basis; uncertainties inherent in estimating Trevi's cash runway, future expenses and other financial results, including Trevi's ability to fund future operations, including clinical trials; uncertainties regarding the scope, timing and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Trevi's clinical operations and actions taken in response to the pandemic; as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Trevi undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Contact

Katie McManus

Trevi Therapeutics, Inc.

203-304-2499

k.mcmanus@trevitherapeutics.com

Media Contact

Rosalia Scampoli

914-815-1465

rscampoli@marketcompr.com

Cision

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SOURCE Trevi Therapeutics, Inc.
suteishi / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The U.S. government could run out of money to pay its debt by June 1, and lawmakers warn of disastrous consequences. President Biden and congressional leaders plan to discuss increasing the nations borrowing limit or risking an unprecedented debt default, but economists suggest that a trillion-dollar platinum coin could be the answer.

$2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin

See: How To Guard Your Wealth From a Potential Banking Crisis With Gold

According to Business Insider, the U.S. Treasury Department can mint platinum coins of any denomination. This led to the idea that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen could mint a trillion-dollar platinum coin and deposit it to pay off debts until a permanent solution is found.

At this point, if any of the other solutions, the so-called more serious solutions would work, then they wouldve been used by now. But they keep not actually being strong enough. The coins the only one thats strong enough, Rohan Grey, an assistant professor at Willamette University College of Law, explained to Insider.

But Biden and Yellen arent fans of the idea, and Yellen even dismissed the coin as a gimmick back in January, Insider reported. Brian Riedl, a senior fellow and economist at the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute, told Insider that not only does this idea have to get past the Treasury Secretary, but the Federal Reserve doesnt have to accept the coin.

The public doesnt seem too keen on the coin idea either.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

More: Check Your $2 Bills  They Could Be Worth Upwards of $4,500

Drew Linzer of Civiqs asked 1,212 registered voters, Do you support or oppose the U.S. Treasury minting a $1 trillion platinum coin to pay off the countrys debt obligations? The poll revealed that 14% of voters support the coin, 37% oppose it and 49% have no opinion or dont know enough to say, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.

Story continues

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How This Trillion Dollar Coin Might Be a Quick Solution to Americas Debt Ceiling Problem
In this piece, we will take a look at U.K. dividend champions ranked by dividend yield. For more stocks, head on over to Top 5 U.K. Dividend Champions Ranked by Yield.

The world economy is still recovering from two massive shocks in just five years. According to estimates from the United Nations, between mid 2020 and mid 2022, the global economy was expected to lose an eye popping $8.5 trillion due to the direct impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with 34 million people pushed into poverty in 2020 alone. Adding to this, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Bank had estimated that global GDP growth would slow down to 4.1% in 2022 after it grew by 5.5% in 2021.

Then, sentiment further soured as the Russian invasion started. Estimates by the World Bank released in October - when the invasion-fueled inflation was at a record high in Europe - showed that economic activity would have a "minimal growth" of 0.3% in 2023 for economies in Europe and Central Asia. At the same time, economic output was expected to slow down by 0.2% in 2022. These changes are due to the high energy prices which create inflationary pressures. These end up depressing the consumer's purchasing power and lead to lower purchases and by extension lower revenue for firms. At the same time, soaring inflation also increases the cost of doing business - further exacerbated by high interest rates - forcing firms to either cut output to maintain margins or reduce profits paid to investors. To complete the devastating cycle, lower investor profits end up sapping their confidence and inducing the flow of money away from the stock market into other money vehicles.

According to data from the Organization of Economic Corporation and Development (OECD), global economic output as a whole would see growth decline to 2.2% this year. Calling the impact of the Ukraine invasion as the "largest energy crisis since the 1970s," the OECD adds that the estimated global GDP spent on energy would roar to 17.7% due to the energy crisis.

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Speaking of Europe, the U.K. was one of the hardest hit regions particularly due to the energy crisis. Inflation soared in Britain to a multi-decade high in October 2022 when it stood at 11.1%. At the same time, it started to take a downward trend since then until January 2023 when it dropped by a percentage point by 1%. However, data for February surprised economists as it jumped to 10.4% in the month. This inflation was contributed to a large extent by the restaurant and hotels industry which jumped to 9.2% in February. However, on the positive side, inflation for motor fuels sat at 4.6% in February 2023 as it continued a downward trend from the July 2023 peak of a whopping 43.7%. Broadly speaking, food, non-alcoholic beverages, clothing, and hotels were the biggest contributors to inflation in January and February 2023.

Looking at the future, the Bank of England is quite optimistic about the British economy. A fresh report from the BOE in March 2023 shared that it does not see a recession in the U.K. later this year, toning down its doom and gloom calls from last year when it had warned that the country could see its worst economic contraction in 100 years. However, BOE Governor Andrew Bailey shared in an interview with BBC in March 2023:

We've seen signs of inflation really peaking now, but of course it's far too high. Now we think it's gonna come down sharply, really from the early summer onwards, but we haven't seen that happen yet. We have these this week, which was unfortunately going a bit the other way, we think there's probably some one off elements of that. But we need to see it starting to come down progressively and get back to target - so that's what we need to see. . . . There are signs of coming down, and of course that's encouraging. We've seen this week, noted today, some signs of wage increases in the private sector are beginning to even off and come down. So that's, I would say a good sign in terms of inflationary pressures on the economy. We've seen quite a sharp further reduction in energy prices since we last made our last decision, that's also encouraging. But we need to see this trend slighted now, it's the big fall in inflation. And of course we know that's what we need to see for all the people in this country whom inflation is hurting.

With these details in mind, let's take a look at some top U.K. dividend champion stocks right now, with the top picks being TR Property Investment Trust plc (LON:TRY.L), Chesnara plc (LON:CSN.L), and Castings P.L.C. (LON:CGS.L).

U.K. Dividend Champions List: 2023 Rankings by Yield

Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hands-holding-us-dollar-bills-4968630/

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the top U.K. dividend champion stocks, we used the S&P500's definition of a dividend aristocrat which lists down firms with at least seven years of dividend growth. Then, we listed down all such stocks and eliminated those that are the S&P's dividend aristocrats to avoid any overlaps with our recently published list on UK dividend aristocrats. The firms were then ranked according to dividend yield, and the top dividend champions in the U.K. are listed below.

U.K. Dividend Champions List: 2023 Rankings by Yield

25. Spectris plc (LON:SXS.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 1.97%

Spectris plc (LON:SXS.L) is a technology company headquartered in London. It makes and sells precision instruments such as those used in chip fabrication, industrial production, electronics, and mining.

24. The Brunner Investment Trust PLC (LON:BUT.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 1.99%

The Brunner Investment Trust PLC (LON:BUT.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in London. It is managed by Alliance Global Investors, and invests primarily in growth stocks.

23. The Bankers Investment Trust PLC (LON:BNKR.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.34%

The Bankers Investment Trust PLC (LON:BNKR.L) is one of the oldest mutual funds out there since it was first set up in 1888. It invests in large and mid cap companies all over the world.

22. Alliance Trust PLC (LON:ATST.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.41%

Alliance Trust PLC (LON:ATST.L) is an investment management firm that operates out of London. It was set up in 1888 and invests in public markets.

21. Witan Investment Trust plc (LON:WTAN.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.57%

Witan Investment Trust plc (LON:WTAN.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in London. It is managed by a variety of different firms and invests in dividend paying and value companies.

20. The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. (LON:SAIN.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.58%

The Scottish American Investment Company P.L.C. (LON:SAIN.L) is a mutual fund set up in 1873 and domiciled in London.

19. CRH plc (LON:CRH.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.66%

CRH plc (LON:CRH.L) is a building materials firm that is based in Dublin, Ireland. It sells a variety of products such as drain pipes, concrete masonry, and utility enclosures.

18. NWF Group plc (LON:NWF.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.86%

NWF Group plc (LON:NWF.L) is a rare British oil company that is headquartered in Nantwich. It sells domestic, heating, and other fuels. The firm also has a presence in the grocery market.

17. The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc (LON:HSL.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.95%

The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc (LON:HSL.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in London and set up in 1887.

16. Clarkson PLC (LON:CKN.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 2.98%

Clarkson PLC (LON:CKN.L) is a marine shipping company based in London. It is a diversified firm with services ranging from shipping to providing customer financial support.

15. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Plc (LON:ASL.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 3.16%

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Plc (LON:ASL.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in Edinburgh. It invests in small cap companies.

14. CT UK Capital And Income Investment Trust Plc (LON:CTUK.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 3.93%

CT UK Capital And Income Investment Trust Plc (LON:CTUK.L) is a mutual fund that invests in value stocks with strong balance sheets.

13. RWS Holdings plc (LON:RWS.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.01%

RWS Holdings plc (LON:RWS.L) is a business services provider headquartered in Chalfont St Peter. It helps firms file and manage their patents.

12. Murray International Trust PLC (LON:MYI.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.1%

Murray International Trust PLC (LON:MYI.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in Aberdeen.

11. Murray Income Trust PLC (LON:MUT.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.1%

Murray Income Trust PLC (LON:MUT.L) is an Aberdeen-based mutual fund that invests in dividend paying growth stocks.

10. Rathbones Group Plc (LON:RAT.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.22%

Rathbones Group Plc (LON:RAT.L) is one of the oldest companies on our list since it was set up in 1742. It is a financial services firm headquartered in London.

9. Schroder Income Growth Fund plc (LON:SCF.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.29%

Schroder Income Growth Fund plc (LON:SCF.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in London. It invests in public equity markets.

8. The City of London Investment Trust plc (LON:CTY.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.72%

The City of London Investment Trust plc (LON:CTY.L) is a main market fund with 2 billion in market capitalization.

7. JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust plc (LON:JCH.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.73%

JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust plc (LON:JCH.L) is a mutual fund domiciled in London. It invests in large cap British firms.

6. The Merchants Trust Plc (LON:MRCH.L)

Latest Dividend Yield: 4.75%

The Merchants Trust Plc (LON:MRCH.L) is a mutual fund based in London. It is managed by Alliance Global Investors.

TR Property Investment Trust plc (LON:TRY.L), The Merchants Trust Plc (LON:MRCH.L), Chesnara plc (LON:CSN.L), and Castings P.L.C. (LON:CGS.L) are some top U.K. dividend champions.

Click to continue reading and see Top 5 U.K. Dividend Champions Ranked by Yield.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. U.K. Dividend Champions List: 2023 Rankings by Yield is originally published on Insider Monkey.
World's Best Places to Visit and Best Places to Visit in the USA both have a new No. 1.



WASHINGTON, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hotels , Best Cruise Lines and Best Travel Rewards Programs , today released its annual rankings of the Best Vacations. The 2023-2024 rankings highlight 16 categories of destinations to help travelers find the best place for their vacation.

U.S. News & World Report Logo. (PRNewsfoto/U.S. News & World Report)

For the first time, Glacier National Park in Montana, takes the No. 1 spot in the Best Places to Visit in the USA ranking. The park stands out for offering some of the most majestic landscapes in the U.S., and has several challenging hikes and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. Maui, Hawaii, which moved up two spots to No. 2, offers something for everyone, from relaxing on the beach to zip lining and taking in the many sights. Rounding out the top three is Grand Canyon National Park, known for its inspiring views and scenic whitewater rafting routes.

New to the top spot this year in the World's Best Places to Visit ranking is Paris, France. The iconic city is well known for its architecture, museums and cuisine. Bora Bora comes in at No. 2, thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush jungles and luxurious resorts, while Glacier National Park ranks No. 3.

The Turks and Caicos Islands hold on to the No. 1 spot for Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, offering one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world and providing maximum comfort in a tropical setting. St. Lucia remains at No. 2, known for its towering volcanic peaks and upscale resorts, while the British Virgin Islands round out the top three thanks to stunning shorelines and ample boating opportunities.

"After the recent years of uncertainty, we're seeing a trend among travelers being ready to take those bucket list vacations to Europe and remote islands, as well as big adventure trips to African safari destinations, Patagonia and the Swiss Alps," said Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News. "The 2023-2024 Best Vacations rankings offer a variety of destinations for every type of traveler, from those who want to relax on the beach to those who prefer trekking through mountains or exploring culture-filled cities."

Story continues

U.S. News ranks a variety of vacations, including Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA , Best Places to Visit in Mexico , Europe , Canada , Asia , Africa , Australia and The Pacific and Central and South America . And for those looking to not spend as much on a vacation, U.S. News ranks the Best Cheap Vacations in the U.S. and Europe . The rankings follow a comprehensive, transparent methodology that factors in travelers' opinions, as provided by user votes, with expert and editor analysis. Each vacation destination is scored in 10 categories, from sights, culture and food to nightlife, adventure and romance, offering a complete evaluation of each destination.

2023-2024 Best Vacations Rankings

See the full rankings here .

World's Best Places to Visit

Paris Bora Bora Glacier National Park Rome Swiss Alps

Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean

Turks and Caicos Islands St. Lucia British Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Best Places to Visit in Mexico

Zihuatanejo Tulum Cozumel Ixtapa Isla Mujeres

Best Places to Visit in the USA

Glacier National Park, Montana Maui, Hawaii Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA

Bar Harbor, Maine Telluride, Colorado Monterey, California Nantucket, Massachusetts Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Best Places to Visit in Europe

Paris Rome Swiss Alps London Amsterdam

Travelers considering options for covering their summer vacation expenses  and how to work travel rewards points to their advantage  can check out U.S. News' latest column on the best travel credit cards.

For more information, visit Best Vacations , use #BestVacations on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Cision

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SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
Offices of Deloitte are seen in London

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's accounting watchdog said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into Deloitte's audit of clothing retailer Joules Group plc.

The Financial Reporting Council said its investigation is in relation to Deloitte's audit of Joules for the year ended 30 May, 2021.

Deloitte UK said it will co-operate fully with the FRC investigation and that it remains committed to the highest standards of audit quality.

Joules, whose shares had been listed in London, went into administration last year and was later acquired by Next Plc.

The retailer had been struggling with its finances,profitability and cash generation as consumers turned cautiousabout discretionary spending amid a cost of living crisis.

(Reporting by Huw Jones, editing by Sinead Cruise and Louise Heavens)
(Bloomberg) -- US government employees asked a federal judge to order Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to continue borrowing to keep the government open if political talks to raise the national debt ceiling fail.

The National Association of Government Employees Inc.  a union representing 75,000 federal agency and military employees  sued President Joe Biden and Yellen Monday in an attempt to avoid the kind of government shutdown experienced in 2019, when Democratic Congressional leaders refused to fund President Donald Trumps Mexican border wall.

Biden and congressional Republicans are locked in a staredown over raising the $31.4 trillion borrowing limit, with GOP leaders demanding promises of future spending cuts before they approve a higher ceiling. Biden has insisted on a clean increase, with budget talks kept separate. Biden is scheduled to meet House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders Tuesday to discuss the debt ceiling

In its lawsuit, NAGE asked that the Debt Ceiling Statute be declared unconstitutional as a violation of the separation of powers and obligation to pay Americas debts. The union claims neither Biden nor Yellen is empowered to pick and choose which bills to pay if the US faces default by failing to borrow. Thats Congresss job, it says.

While not challenging here in principle the controversial proposition that Congress can limit the indebtedness of the United States, plaintiff asserts that Congress may not do so without at least setting the order and priority of payments once that limit is reached, instead of leaving it to the president to do so, NAGEs lawyers said in a complaint in Boston federal court.

NAGE is seeking a court order preventing any layoffs, furloughs or reduction in benefits for federal workers if Congress refuses to raise the limit on how much the US can borrow to pay its bills.

The association asked that Yellen and Biden be barred from involving or relying upon the Debt Limit Statute to defund any part of the operations of the federal government approved by Congress unless and until Congress specifically directs.

Story continues

Yellen has warned the US may run out of cash as early as June 1.

The case is National Association of Government Employees Inc. v Janet Yellen, 1:34-11991, US District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

The considerable ownership by sovereign wealth funds in Velesto Energy Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

Permodalan Nasional Berhad owns 53% of the company

16% of Velesto Energy Berhad is held by Institutions

If you want to know who really controls Velesto Energy Berhad (KLSE:VELESTO), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that sovereign wealth funds own the lion's share in the company with 53% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Individual investors, on the other hand, account for 30% of the company's stockholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Velesto Energy Berhad.

View our latest analysis for Velesto Energy Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Velesto Energy Berhad?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Velesto Energy Berhad. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. 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 Velesto Energy Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Velesto Energy Berhad. The company's largest shareholder is Permodalan Nasional Berhad, with ownership of 53%. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd is the second largest shareholder owning 4.9% of common stock, and Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad, Insurance Investments holds about 3.5% of the company stock.

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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 Velesto Energy Berhad

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. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Velesto Energy Berhad insiders own under 1% of the company. It has a market capitalization of just RM1.9b, and the board has only RM12m worth of shares in their own names. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 30% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Velesto Energy Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Velesto Energy Berhad (at least 1 which is a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Study Shows Value of IRIS Registry Real-world Data in Identifying Mechanisms of Missingness for Severity of Disease

SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Verana Health a digital health company elevating quality in real-world datatoday announced its recent ophthalmic research has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA). The study demonstrates how de-identified real-world data (RWD) from electronic health records (EHRs) in medical registries can allow for a deeper understanding of data trends, patterns, or gaps by helping to fill in the missing pieces and providing deeper context.

Verana Health is a digital health company elevating quality in real-world data. Through strategic data partnerships with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Neurology, and American Urological Association, Verana Health operates an exclusive real-world data network of more than 20,000 healthcare providers and about 90 million de-identified patients. Verana Health's mission is to power quality data, technology, and insights that promote quality of care and life for patients. (PRNewsfoto/Verana Health)

Conducted by a team of Verana Health researchers, the study shows a non-random association between missing EHR data regarding the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in de-identified patients and specific demographic, clinical, and practice-level characteristics. The study, titled: "Identifying the Mechanism of Missingness for Unspecified Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity in the Electronic Health Record: An IRIS Registry Analysis," leveraged de-identified, curated RWD from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight).

DR is an ophthalmic complication of diabetes that can result in progressive loss of vision. It is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population. Roughly one in three Americans over 40 with diabetes  or about 4.2 million adults  have DR, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Verana Health elevates data quality, which requires understanding how data is recorded by clinicians in the real world, how diagnosis codes are used to capture disease severity, and completeness of the information. The goal of this study was to understand the instances in which disease severity is not specified using diagnosis codes alone and whether patterns existed for the missing data. Investigating how codes capture disease severity provides further insight into creating cohorts for future studies.

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The research team identified more than 10 million clinical encounters with ICD-9 codes for DR and 24 million clinical encounters with ICD-10 codes for DR in the IRIS Registry occurring from 2014 to 2021 resulting in 3.6 million unique de-identified patients.

Among the major findings of the study:

Although disease severity for DR is routinely captured in EHR notes, nearly 20% of ICD-9 cases had unspecified DR severity. This significantly improved with the transition to ICD-10 codes with only 5% of clinical encounters with unspecified DR severity.

Encounters with unspecified disease severity were associated with significantly older patient age, better visual acuity (VA), and lower utilization of ophthalmic procedures.

Higher-volume practices and retina specialist practices had lower proportions of clinical encounters with unspecified disease severity.

A higher proportion of clinical encounters with specified disease severity is associated with anti-VEGF injections and panretinal photocoagulation compared to encounters with unspecified disease severity.

Visual acuity (VA) for encounters with specified disease severity was significantly lower than the mean VA for encounters with unspecified disease severity. This finding supports the assessment that clinical encounters with unspecified disease severity are associated with less severe DR severity.

Toward earlier intervention

The volume and quality of RWD from the IRIS Registry allowed the Verana Health team to make meaningful comparisons of unspecified DR severity across multiple structured data elements including demographic, procedure, ocular comorbidity data, and practice-level characteristics. These study results are generalizable to studies using various EHR registries in ophthalmology because more than 70% of practicing ophthalmologists in the U.S. contribute data to the IRIS Registry.

"Diabetic retinopathy treatment is headed toward earlier intervention, so quality real-world data is invaluable," said Durga S. Borkar, M.D., MMCi, a Verana Health medical advisor, a vitreoretinal surgeon at Duke University Eye Center, and senior author of the study. "Recognizing the associations between DR severity and other clinical and demographic characteristics through RWD will help enable investigators to build more accurate predictive models."

Established in 2014, the IRIS Registry is the first comprehensive eye disease clinical registry in the U.S. It includes more than nine years of longitudinal patient RWD amassed from more than 490 million billable patient encounters, 79 million unique patients, and more than 15,000 ophthalmologists and other eye care providers across the country. Verana Health is the Academy's exclusive end-to-end data curation and analytics partner for the IRIS Registry.

"This study demonstrates the deep value of robust and representative medical registries such as the IRIS Registry," said Verana Health CEO Sujay Jadhav. "The curated real-world data from clinicians provides a longitudinal and detailed view of the patient journey that can't be found elsewhere, and which can unlock new insights for research and development of therapies to help improve patient outcomes and quality of life."

To request a copy of the recently published study, conducted by Verana Health researchers, including lead authors Meghan Hatfield, MPH, and Thai Hien Nguyen, MPH, from the Quantitative Sciences team, click here .

About Verana Health

Verana Health is a digital health company elevating quality in real-world data. Verana Health operates an exclusive real-world data network of more than 20,000 healthcare providers (HCPs) and about 90 million de-identified patients, stemming from its strategic data partnerships with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Neurology, and American Urological Association. Using its clinician-informed and artificial intelligence-enhanced VeraQ population health data engine, Verana Health transforms structured and unstructured healthcare data into curated, disease-specific data modules, Qdata. Verana Health's Qdata helps power analytics solutions and software-as-a-service products for real-world evidence generation, clinical trials enablement, HCP quality reporting, and medical registry data management. Verana Health's quality data and insights help drive progress in medicine to enhance the quality of care and quality of life for patients. For more information, visit www.veranahealth.com .

Media contact:

Megan Moriarty

Amendola Communications

913.515.7530

mmoriarty@acmarketingpr.com

Cision

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SOURCE Verana Health
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, meets journalists as he formally retires after the company's Annual General Meeting in Hong Kong, China May 10, 2018 - Bobby Yip/REUTERS

Vodafones talks to merge its UK business with that of Chinese-owned rival Three face an extremely difficult conclusion amid calls for any deal to be investigated on national security grounds.

Threes owner CK Hutchison, controlled by 94-year-old Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, and FTSE-listed Vodafone hope to push through a merger of their UK mobile units in a deal valuing the combined business at about 15bn.

While City sources have speculated that the tie-up is imminent, Frank John Sixt, finance chief at CK Hutchison, warned the talks faced late hurdles.

Mr Sixt said: It is probable as has been speculated that we will reach an understanding with our friends at Vodafone.

Although I would say they [Vodafone] are extremely difficult to draw a conclusion with on the one hand, but on the other hand they are, in the end, very good partners.

So the first part makes me a little bit more sceptical, but the second part makes me a little bit more optimistic.

A spokesman for Three UK would not comment on what the difficulties holding up the talks might be. Sources close to the parties insisted they believed discussions had been very positive and were progressing to their conclusion.

Vodafones potential merger of its UK mobile arm with Three UK has been fiercely opposed by China-sceptic MPs and by unions amid concerns around national security and jobs.

The merger between Britains third and fourth-largest mobile operators would create a business with a combined 27 million customers.

The deal is likely to prove a key litmus test of Britains tightened up takeover regime. The tie-up is expected to create a joint venture between Vodafone and Three, where the Hong Kong-owned company will hold a 49pc stake that could reduce over time.

Margherita Della Valle, deputy chief financial officer Vodafone Group Plc, poses in this undated handout photo released to the media on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Della Valle will succeed Nick Read as CFO July 27. - Ed Robinson/Vodafone

The talks between the companies began last May and have continued for nearly a year.

However, union bosses at Unite have written to Margherita Della Valle, Vodafones chief executive, warning of profound national security questions over the potential merger and have been lobbying MPs and officials over the deal.

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A tie-up between Vodafone and Three would give the CK group a far more prominent and powerful place at the very heart of the UKs telecoms infrastructure, the letter, first revealed by The Telegraph last month, said.

We therefore believe that such links prompt significant national security questions regarding any proposed merger.

Sir Ian Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, has urged officials to block any transaction.

Further complications could arise from any competition concerns over the mega merger, although industry executives believe it stands a good chance of being approved to reduce the number of players in the UKs mobile market.

Defenders of the proposed tie-up argue CK Hutchison has had a presence in the UK for 20 years and any agreement would be subject to the usual scrutiny from security officials.

Vodafone and Three believe the combination would give them the firepower to invest sustainably.

Mr Sixts remarks came as a British government minister visited Hong Kong for the first time in five years in a bid to boost business ties.

Lord Dominic Johnson, the Investment Minister, held talks with Hong Kong leaders and met with Victor Li, chairman of CK Hutchison, and senior executive Canning Fok to discuss their investment plans in the UK.

A Business Department spokesman did not comment on whether the merger talks with Vodafone were discussed.

Sam Goodwin, policy director at human rights group Hong Kong Watch, said: I don't see how this planned merger which would allow a Hong Kong-based company joint ownership of the largest UK mobile provider doesnt trigger the National Security and Investment Act.

Publishing its results for the first three months of 2023 on Tuesday, Three said it had grown its UK revenues by 5pc to 610m, while it now had more than 10.3 million customers.

Robert Finnegan, Threes chief executive, warned however that the companys returns remained below the cost of capital. He added: Market structural change is needed.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's VOICES FOR HUMANITYthe weekly series presenting heroic changemakers from a variety of faiths, cultures and nations working to uplift their communitiesannounces a new episode featuring human rights activist Clement Manfouo, premiering May 10, 2023.

Clement Manfouo brings the message of human rights to some of the poorest areas of South Africa.

VOICES FOR HUMANITY airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network.

In South Africa, a crime is committed every 16 seconds. Growing up in this unstable environment is devastating to youth who find themselves navigating the path to adulthood without a clear-cut concept of right and wrong. To counter this pervasive moral decline, Clement Manfouo is spearheading a movement to restore dignity and respect by bringing the message of Youth for Human Rights to young people living in some of the nation's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.

ABOUT CLEMENT MANFOUO

Clement Manfouo was born in Cameroon and from an early age was inspired by the story of Nelson Mandela's transformative impact on South Africa. It was his dream to be a part of that history. But at just 10 years old, Clement was taken by his older brother and forced into a life of servitude. It wasn't until he was a young adult that he would finally break free, starting a new life in South Africa. But there he grew concerned about the rampant crime and lack of respect for human dignity in the poorer neighborhoods of his province of Mpumalanga. Seeking a way to counter the societal decline, he discovered Youth for Human Rights and realized the importance of spreading its message. Working with schools and community leaders, Clement is having a transformative impact on society. Through educating others on their human rights, Clement is not only strengthening community bonds and empowering the people of Mpumalanga, he is achieving his goal of becoming a part of South Africa's history.

Clement Manfouo is the provincial coordinator for Youth for Human Rights International in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

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The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization, and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities.

Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.



CONTACT:

Media Relations

info@scnmedia.net

Cision

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SOURCE Church of Scientology International
Bitcoin is rat poison, in the view of Berkshire Hathaway's chairman and CEO, Warren Buffett, and its vice chair Charlie Munger. But for them, there's something even worse: AI.

The two legends of the business world held their annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, joined by Vice Chairs Greg Abel and Ajit Jain, and they spoke freelynot only about their business but also about their perspectives on geopolitics, finance, and the future of investments.

For Warren Buffett, the constant evolution of AI tools could become a Damocles' sword capable of causing more harm to humanity than benefit, especially if society begins to rely excessively on it.

"It can do all kinds of things and when something can do all kinds of things I get a little bit worried," said Buffett about artificial intelligence. "I know we won't be able to uninvent it and, you know, we did inventfor very, very good reasonthe atom bomb," he noted, in what could be the most fatalistic comparison he has made since the time when he said Bitcoin was rat poison.

Elon Musk Weighs in After Warren Buffett Says He Wouldn't Pay $25 for Every Bitcoin

Charlie Munger, his right-hand man, was also on his side and shared similar opinions. "I am personally skeptical of some of the hype that is going into artificial intelligence," he said. Analyzing the impact of ChatGPT and other AI tools in the present day, "I think old-fashioned intelligence works pretty well," he asserted.

Their voices join a chorus of tech and business experts that are warning against the dangers of accelerated and unsupervised training of powerful AI models. Apples cofounder, OpenAIs former head of the AI alignment team, and even the godfather of AI have all recently called for caution as AI begins to gain heat among investors, and the word starts to appear in more headlines everyday.

Investors and Politics Make Dumb and Stupid Decisions

The duo also discussed Berkshire Hathaway's operations, noting that their investment portfolio was up 13% over a year. They also reaffirmed their confidence in the American economy.

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Charlie Munger curiously called for strengthening friendship ties with China.

"I think we're equally guilty of being stupid. There's one thing we should do: let's get along with China, and we should have a lot of free trade with China in our mutual interest," he said, referring to the tensions between the two countries and the consequences for the development of various industries globally. "Everything that increases the tension between the two is stupid. Stupid."

Warren Buffett Blasts Bitcoin as 'Gambling Token' as BTC Surges 35% in 30 Days

During the event, neither of them shared any love for Bitcoin or the cryptocurrency industry. However, they explained that it's currently easy for entrepreneurs to enter the business world, as there seems to be a greater appetite among investors for trying new things in the markets.

"I would say there's been a great increase in the number of people doing dumb things,and the reason they do it to some extent is that they can get money from other people much easier than when we started."

Nobody asked them about their views on Pepecoin.
Prime Minister leaves Hanoi for 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi on May 9 for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, at the invitation of Indonesian President and Chairman of the Summit Joko Widodo.









Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leaves Hanoi on May 9 for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)



He is accompanied by high-ranking officials of the NA and ministries.

The 42nd ASEAN Summit is taking place in Labuan Bajo from May 9-11 with the participation of ASEAN member nations leaders. Prime Minister Timor Leste was invited to attend the summit for the first time as an observer.



Sessions within the summit will focus on the process of building ASEAN Community with the themed ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.



Dialogue sessions between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Communitys Post-2025 Vision will be also arranged.



The summit is expected to consider and approve many important documents on cooperation in all three pillars: ASEAN political-security community, economy and socio-culture./.
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. Although, when we looked at Boustead Singapore (SGX:F9D), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Boustead Singapore:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.034 = S$26m  (S$1.1b - S$361m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022).

Thus, Boustead Singapore has an ROCE of 3.4%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 3.9% average generated by the Construction industry.

View our latest analysis for Boustead Singapore

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Boustead Singapore compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Boustead Singapore.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

In terms of Boustead Singapore's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 3.4% from 9.5% five years ago. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. If this were to continue, you might be looking at a company that is trying to reinvest for growth but is actually losing market share since sales haven't increased.

What We Can Learn From Boustead Singapore's ROCE

We're a bit apprehensive about Boustead Singapore because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. In spite of that, the stock has delivered a 27% return to shareholders who held over the last five years. Regardless, we don't like the trends as they are and if they persist, we think you might find better investments elsewhere.

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Like most companies, Boustead Singapore does come with some risks, and we've found 2 warning signs that 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.

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Downer EDI Limited (ASX:DOW) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 14% in the last month. But over the last half decade, the stock has not performed well. After all, the share price is down 50% in that time, significantly under-performing the market.

Although the past week has been more reassuring for shareholders, they're still in the red over the last five years, so let's see if the underlying business has been responsible for the decline.

See our latest analysis for Downer EDI

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

While the share price declined over five years, Downer EDI actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 4.5% per year. So it doesn't seem like EPS is a great guide to understanding how the market is valuing the stock. Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past.

By glancing at these numbers, we'd posit that the the market had expectations of much higher growth, five years ago. Looking to other metrics might better explain the share price change.

The revenue decline of 1.1% isn't too bad. But if the market expected durable top line growth, then that could explain the share price weakness.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Downer EDI

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Downer EDI, it has a TSR of -39% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

Downer EDI shareholders are down 30% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 4.2%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Downer EDI better, we need to consider many other factors. Even so, be aware that Downer EDI is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is significant...

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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By Anna Koper, Gergely Szakacs and Luiza Ilie

WARSAW (Reuters) - When global grain prices started falling last year after a spike in the first months of the war in Ukraine, Poland's then agriculture minister urged farmers to hang onto their harvests in the hope of a rebound and better returns.

The bet backfired badly for some.

Nearly a year later, Polish farmer Artur Konarski still has about 150 tonnes of grain stuck in storage and he says some of his competitors in the European Union's third-biggest wheat producer have even bigger stocks of crops languishing in silos.

Farmers in Poland and other eastern European countries who held out for higher prices have been hit by a perfect storm.

A jump in exports from Brazil and Russia helped to drive global grain prices lower while the EU opened its borders to tariff-free Ukrainian grain imports in a show of solidarity after Russia blocked the country's Black Sea ports.

While the EU's aim was to give Ukrainian farmers an outlet to ship grain and oilseeds to their traditional markets in Africa, the Middle East and Asia - and help ease a global food crisis - much has remained in Eastern Europe.

With a dearth of local produce in Poland, millers and livestock producers desperate for grain turned instead to a flood of imports from Ukraine ferried into the EU by trucks and trains, grain traders and farmers said.

Eastern Europe's governments have pointed the finger of blame for its farmers' woes at Ukraine, but Adrian Wawrzyniak, spokesman for the Polish Trade Union of Individual Farmers, said some of the region's troubles were self-inflicted because farmers, encouraged by politicians, had hoarded crops.

"This led to lower sales during the harvest and storage of cereals by farmers, the consequence of which they are paying for today with a reduction in income from the sale of cereals," he said.

Local buyers had plenty of alternative supplies.

After opening its borders to Ukrainian grain, Poland imported 2.08 million tonnes of maize and 579,315 tonnes of wheat last year, up from just 6,269 tonnes of maize and 3,033 tonnes of wheat in 2021.

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"Since the farmers did not sell, (feed and flour mills) just bought Ukrainian grain to have raw materials for current production," said a Polish grain trader who declined to be named because he is not authorised to talk to the media.

UNILATERAL IMPORT BANS

Despite being a staunch ally of Ukraine, Poland banned Ukrainian grain imports in April in response to furious complaints from farmers in its rural heartlands where support for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) Party is strong.

Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria quickly followed Poland's lead, sparking a row with Brussels over trade policy and demands for compensation for their angry farmers from EU funds.

The unilateral import bans were lifted last week but only after the European Commission agreed to block sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed within those four member states and Romania from May 2 until June 5.

But the issue is unlikely to go away.

Negotiations with Russia to extend a deal allowing some grain exports through three of Ukraine's Black Sea ports to alleviate a global food crisis are hanging in the balance.

If the grain corridor due to expire this month were to collapse, Ukrainian farmers would have little option but to send all their grain exports through eastern Europe.

Grain traders said the price paid for Ukraine's grain was in line with European market levels, but they have fallen well below the prices sought by many farmers in eastern Europe.

European wheat prices hit post-harvest highs in October 2022 of more than 350 euros a tonne but since then prices have dropped to pre-invasion levels of about 235 euros.

That's also a far cry from the peak of 450 euros a tonne for European wheat in the immediate aftermath of Russia's attack.

"The farmers blame the government for low prices due to Ukrainian imports, which is not really true," the Polish grain trader said.

Ukraine's farmers, meanwhile, said they receive far less than the market price, as about 100 euros a tonne is deducted to cover transport to eastern Europe, far higher than the costs of shipping their grain out of Black Sea ports.

The EU restrictions on grain imports have also worsened an already bleak outlook for agriculture in Ukraine, which was the world's third-largest grain exporter before the war with Russia.

Ukrainian farmers say they have had to sharply reduce the amount of crops such as maize and wheat they plant due to the difficulty and high cost of getting supplies out of the country.

RUSH FOR UKRAINIAN IMPORTS

The influx of Ukrainian grain into eastern Europe has also hurt the ability of its EU neighbours to export their own crops as there is a shortage of available trucks and railwagons.

In Romania, farmers complain that local mills and processors were not interested in their wheat and maize, saying trucks of Ukrainian grain were lining up at their gates. Farmers said they had struggled to find lorries to move their own goods, with the cost of logistics up 70% from before the war.

"Across the EU and the supply chain, small sellers, traders, food processors have benefited," said Cezar Gheorghe at consultancy AGRIColumn. "Romanian farmers have systematically missed windows to sell their grain, beginning in May 2022."

Since the conflict, began about 17 million tonnes of major agricultural products have left Ukraine by road, railways as well as barges on the Danube river, data issued by Ukraine's farm ministry shows.

All the grain, representing about 38% of Ukraine's exports, went into the eastern European Union as Ukraine's borders with Russia and Belarus have been closed.

"The desire of local producers to hold on to their crop in anticipation of higher prices created a shortage on the local market, so consumers rushed to buy the Ukrainian grain available at the time," the Ukraine grain traders union UGA said.

Another 28 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products have been exported from its Black Sea ports through the safe corridor, U.N. data shows.

POOR HARVESTS AND MOULD

In Hungary, the influx of grain from Ukraine has not caused the same problems with oversupply as in Poland and Bulgaria, due to a disastrous maize harvest last summer.

"Poland has been the most exposed because it had decent harvests itself. Hungary had such a bad maize harvest that it would have had to import maize, whether there was war in Ukraine or not," said Benoit Fayaud, an analyst with Strategie Grains.

The consultancy forecasts maize stocks in Hungary will actually fall this season despite a rise in imports.

Pannonia Bio, a biorefinery in Hungary, said it had to buy maize from Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland and Romania to keep its business running, but even then it was forced to curb output because of the fall in the local harvest.

Hungarian farmer Andras Pasztor said his company raked in just 15% of its average maize crop from fields near Hungary's eastern border with Ukraine and about half of that, some 2,000 tonnes, is still waiting to be sold.

The contamination of some stocks with the toxic by-product of a mould that flourishes in dry conditions has also hampered Hungarian crop sales, with some local buyers turning to alternatives because of quality concerns, farmers said.

However, even the untainted maize has been difficult to sell. Ukraine exported 1.7 million tonnes of maize to Hungary in the year following Russia's invasion, up from just 30,000 tonnes before the war, customs data shows.

"Traders were not looking for (Hungarian maize) because they were uncertain about the quality, and the Hungarian produce is more expensive," said Pasztor. "Given a cheaper alternative, they went for the more cost-effective option."

($1 = 0.9099 euros)

(Anna Koper reported from Warsaw, Gergely Szakacs from TIMAR, Hungary, Luiza Ilie from Bucharest and Nigel Hunt from London; Additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Marek Stzelecki in Warsaw; Editing by David Clarke)
Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that William DeLay, who is a company insider, recently bought US$67k worth of stock, for US$13.37 per share. Nevertheless, it only increased their shareholding by a minuscule percentage, and it wasn't a massive purchase by absolute value, either.

See our latest analysis for CapStar Financial Holdings

CapStar Financial Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Director Thomas Flynn for US$140k worth of shares, at about US$14.98 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of US$12.27. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$261k for 18.21k shares. On the other hand they divested 382.00 shares, for US$8.0k. Overall, CapStar Financial Holdings insiders were net buyers during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

CapStar Financial Holdings 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 Of CapStar Financial Holdings

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 17% of CapStar Financial Holdings shares, worth about US$43m. 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

So What Does This Data Suggest About CapStar Financial Holdings Insiders?

It is good to see recent purchasing. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest CapStar Financial Holdings insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that CapStar Financial Holdings has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore this.

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.

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A man who sought sexual contact with someone he thought was a 10-year-old girl was ordered Monday to serve at least 15 years in prison.

Matthew Tobias Erickson, 42, of Spotsylvania County, was sentenced to a total of 255 years with most of it suspended. He was previously convicted of 26 counts of soliciting a minor and 10 counts of possessing child pornography.

Judge William Glovers sentence included a number of concurrent sentences, which greatly reduced the actual number of years Erickson has to serve. But the sentence was also somewhat confusing to the lawyers involved in the case.

Defense attorney Price Koch believes the judges active sentence calls for Erickson to serve 15 years. But prosecutors Ryan Mehaffey and Jeremy Theisen were under the impression that Erickson will be serving 25 years.

Erickson was caught in a sting set up by an online group that specializes in catching child predators. A woman from Indiana was online pretending to be a child when she corresponded with Erickson.

Erickson reached out to the girl during the latter part of 2021, telling her she was beautiful and sending her 26 sexually explicit videos.

Eventually the child told Erickson she would be coming to Virginia to visit an aunt. Erickson arranged a meeting with the girl, but instead received a visit from members of the predator group. He admitted to his actions, and the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office was contacted. Child pornography images were later recovered from his phone.

The charges Erickson were convicted of carry a mandatory minimum of 255 years in prison, but Koch successfully argued that Glover could run the sentences concurrently, meaning each sentence could be served at the same time. Koch suggested that five years was enough.

Prosecutor Jeremy Theisen argued against any concurrent sentences. He said Erickson had gotten a deferred disposition on similar charges years ago, yet here we are again.

This man is dangerous and a predator, Theisen said. The fact that his prey wasnt who he thought doesnt make it any better.

Erickson, who was described by his mother as a child in a mans body, apologized for his actions prior to being sentenced. He told Glover he is not a pedophile and would never hurt any child.

This has been a nightmare for me, Erickson said.

Glover called Ericksons actions vile and unacceptable by any standard. He said the videos Erickson sent online were the worst things hed ever seen.

Glover wasnt much happier with the internet group that led to Ericksons arrest. He said they could have contacted the Sheriffs Office after the first video instead of letting him put out 25 more.
The Spotsylvania School Board on Monday approved  by a 43 vote  adding the definition of sexually explicit content to regulations that govern the selection and review of instructional material.

The definitions are drawn from Virginia Code sections 2.2-2827 and 18.2-390. The latter code section describes material that is prohibited from sale or loan to juveniles.

Chief of Staff Jon Russell, who authored the proposed revisions to regulation IIA-R, told the board that state law is driving the revisions, referring to Virginia Code section 22.1-16.8, which requires parental notification of instructional material with sexually explicit content.

Division Superintendent Mark Taylor in late March referenced this code section in support of his decision to ban 14 books from school libraries.

But the enacting legislation, Senate Bill 656, contains a sentence stating that the provisions of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.

In a letter sent to the School Board last month and again in a statement issued Monday night, the ACLU of Virginia said this decision is based on a misinterpretation of Virginia Code.

No school board  and especially not a single superintendent  should be able to ban books on the basis of whether they personally find them to be sexually explicit, the ACLU of Virginias policy director, Ashna Khanna, said in the statement. Unfortunately, the way Virginia code is written is so open-ended as to allow this kind of dangerous mission creep. Until this poorly written code is repealed, other overzealous school boards may try to ban books that simply make them uncomfortable.

Board members Dawn Shelley, Lorita Daniels and Nicole Cole voted against approval of the proposed revisions, describing them as incomplete and misleading.

Russell agreed that the regulations will need further refinement.

The revisions draw from code section 18.2-390 for the definitions of sexually explicit content but fail to include language from the same code section stating that it is not unlawful for books with sexually explicit content to be an accredited library.

There should be a disclaimer or asterisk in here to make it clear that school systems and libraries are exempt from what you are trying to force-feed into this policy, Cole said.

She also asked Russell whose input he sought while crafting the proposed revisions.

Russell said input was invited and received from many individuals, including the superintendent, deputy superintendent, some board members, the School Boards attorney and a few parents.

But during public comments, division library liaison Kim Allen said she wanted to know why Russell didnt seek input from library professionals, administrators, instructional leadership or from our diverse community members.

Allen said policy IIA and the associated regulations are in need of modernization and that simply adding the definition of sexually explicit content does not come close to addressing all the issues.

She pointed out that the policy refers to instructional materials and not library materials and questioned why there were no revisions proposed to the challenge process itself, which permits the superintendent to overturn the decisions of multiple ad hoc review committees.

Why are there no (proposed) revisions (to the process)? Allen asked. Is it so one mom can continue to exhaust school personnel and potential committee members and lead her assault on our libraries and librarians?

None of the board members who voted to approve Russells revisions explained their support, except for Rabih Abuismail, who said he agrees that the policy is outdated and asked that the policy and regulations be brought back again after librarians and stakeholders are consulted.

He also asked that the word heterosexuality be added to the definition of sexual conduct, along with the word homosexuality.

Its not about whether the books are homosexual or heterosexual, its that theyre sexually explicit, Abuismail said.

The majority agreed to approve the revisions with the addition.

A large number of people attended Mondays meeting to speak in support of Taylors decision to remove books with sexually explicit content from school libraries.

Many of them read passages from the 14 books that Taylor removed in March and from other books that they said should not be in school libraries  though it is not clear whether the books quoted are currently in Spotsylvania libraries.

Many of the speakers described the books as pornographic and Bobby Eberth, the president and co-founder of Virginians for Children First, said he hopes to see Virginia establish a new criminal process that would stop these sexually explicit materials from landing on the shelf.

Other members of the public held a read-in protest prior to the School Board meeting to protest the removal of the books.

Late in the meeting, Cole made a motion to overturn Taylors decision to remove the 14 books and return them to school library shelves.

School Board Chair Lisa Phelps summarized Coles motion by saying, It is my belief, my opinion, that (if you vote for this), you are supporting sexually explicit materials in our schools, and if you dont, it means we are moving forward and were gonna watch out for student safety and protect the students.

The motion failed 24, with Lorita Daniels not voting.

Daniels was out of the room prior to the vote and asked for discussion when she returned, but Phelps told her she had already called for the vote.
Up to 250 mail carriers in the Fredericksburg area will be picking up something besides bills on Saturday.

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers in the city, Falmouth and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George will be part of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Thats the largest food collection of the year for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, said Dan Mayer, president and CEO.

For the past 16 years, the annual event has collected enough food to supply more than 630,000 meals in the region. Mail carriers pick up bags of non-perishable food items that local residents leave at their mailboxes.

The food items are delivered to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank to benefit more than 30,000 community members who get food from the facility or its partnering agencies.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a creative concept that takes advantage of an already existing pickup system in place across the country, said Maher, who said how grateful he is to mail carriers for partnering with them in the effort.

Needed nonperishable items include canned meat such as tuna, salmon and chicken; dry or canned beans; canned fruit in natural juice; pasta and sauce; mac and cheese; canned vegetables; instant potatoes; shelf-stable milk; and rice.

Feeding America estimates that one of every six people in the United States is living in hunger. The Fredericksburg food bank serves the city and counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Orange, where an estimated 26,800 people are considered food insecure. That means they lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Those with food insecurity in the Fredericksburg area are among an estimated 790,000 Virginians who live in poverty, according to the food banks website.

The food bank works with churches and clinics, social services offices and community groups, schools and libraries to distribute food at more than 70 pantries throughout the Fredericksburg area. More information is available on the food banks pantry locator map, which includes distribution times, at fredfood.org/Pantry-Locator-Map.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin brought what he called the entirety of state government to the Fredericksburg area Tuesday morning to enlist local help  and to demonstrate action the Commonwealth is taking  in fighting a drug thats become a scourge across America.

Its National Fentanyl Awareness Day, but were starting right here at Stafford (High School), the governor told an enthusiastic crowd of students and staff, community leaders, local health officials and state politicians. Were starting right here as the epicenter of the place to spread the word.

Youngkin signed an executive order that covers eight bills related to expanding treatment to those addicted to fentanyl and harsher punishment for those who manufacture or deal it. That includes designating fentanyl a weapon of terrorism, the governor said, making it a Class 4 felony for those convicted of making or dealing it.

This is serious stuff, the governor said.

Used to treat patients in extreme pain, including those with end-stage cancer, fentanyl in its legal form is one of the most powerful opioids in the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But when manufactured illegally and disguised in anything from pills to marijuana, it becomes deadly, the CDC reports.

Last year, fentanyl was responsible for 75% of the fatal drug overdoses in the state, or 1,951 deaths.

Ladies and gentlemen, thats five citizens of Virginia each day passing due to fentanyl poisoning, said Del. Scott Wyatt, RHanover.

Attorney General Jason Miyares told the Stafford students they are on the frontline of an invisible war against fentanyl, and that its happening in every community across the nation.

He held up a small baggie that contained a handful of white granules and assured the audience it was sugar. But had it been fentanyl, this would be enough to kill every man, woman and child in this auditorium, twice over, Miyares said.

During the hourlong event, Anthony Salgado, a coordinator with the Rappahannock Area Health District went through the steps of Revive training with the audience. He gave pointers on how to recognize an overdose  unresponsiveness is the biggest symptom  and showed students and adults how to administer the drug naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.

Youngkin thanked those gathered for getting trained and being part of the army equipped to save someones life.

Then, he got down to the business that brought members of Staffords Board of Supervisors and School Board, as well as other representatives from across the state, to Stafford High School.

After giving his remarks, Youngkin moved to the on-stage table to sign the executive order, and several members of his cabinet, as well as Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome EarleSears, gathered around.

Anybody else want to come up here and do this? he asked, and within seconds, dozens of students made their way to the stage.

Some stood to the left or right of the table where he sat; others formed a line at the base of the stage. After he put pen to paper, Youngkin said 1-2-3, and the group joined in yelling, No More Fentanyl.

In addition to more serious punishments for distributing fentanyl, the bills also provide more treatment of opioid addiction, including some programs and grants funded through fines paid by pharmaceutical companies that initially encouraged the over-writing of prescriptions.

Theres also mechanisms for more education and distribution of naloxone, the drug that will reverse an opioid overdose. Its also known by the brand name, Narcan.

Anthony Flores, a junior at Stafford, was among those who crowded around Youngkin and later showed his friends a paper the governor had signed.

Im shaking right now, it was really an honor, he said.

Gabriel Cortes offered him $10 for the autograph, then $20, then $35. Then, on a more serious note, he said he was worried about the prevalence of drug addiction and said he was glad the governor is bringing it to light because its a big problem.

For the whole country, not just for Virginia, Flores added.

Several speakers made that point in the most direct way possible.

Fentanyl will kill you. Make no joke, said Sen. Bryce Reeves, RSpotsylvania, who then described a young man his daughter dated after both graduated from Riverbend High School in Spotsylvania and the University of Virginia. He took an Adderall tablet from his roommate, it was laced with fentanyl and in a matter of seconds he was dead. Gone, like that. Dont mess around with this stuff.

EarleSears stressed that since 2020, drugs have killed more Virginians that guns and auto accidents combined. Deaths are twice as prevalent in males versus females, and Black males are 1.5 times more likely to die, she said.

Fellas, its coming for you, she said. More must be done. We dont want to look at you in a casket.

Makayla Collins, one of several students in the audience who are studying to be first-responders or health care workers, went to a health department table after the event to obtain a free box of naloxone. Students under 18 had to have parental permission to get it.

Collins said the event provided a lot of information and benefits, as well as emotional stories of those whove died.

They really proved their point, what they were trying to say, she said.
The fate of the controversial LGBTQ-themed book This Book is Gay will be decided in some manner during the Tuesday, May 9, meeting of the Fremont City Council.

What does happen to the book depends partly on whether or not the eight-member city council is even allowed to discuss an agenda item seeking the total removal of the book by Juno Dawson.

The more than 200-page how-to guide for children ages 12- to 18-years-old is one of the top 10 most contested books in the nation according to the American Library Association. Two local residents  Sandra Murray and her daughter, Kelley Garay  filed complaints seeking the removal of the book from Keene Memorial Library.

Both of their complaints were rejected by city library Director Laura England-Biggs. The mother-daughter duo appealed the decision to the five-member Keene Memorial Library Advisory Board, which in mid-April voted unanimously to relocate the book to the adults-only section of the library.

Because Fremonts Municipal Code gives the city council the final authority and decision-making power over both the library director and library advisory board, Murray appealed the relocation of the book to her council representative  Glen Ellis  seeking the over-riding of the library board decision.

Ellis and fellow council Member Paul Von Behren then jointly placed a proposed resolution on the agenda of Tuesdays meeting seeking the removal of the book in both physical and online formats, citing their beliefs it is inappropriate sexual content that violates the Childrens Internet Protection Act, also known as CIPA.

Despite Ellis and Von Behren placing the proposal on the agenda, the issue may not make it to a discussion and possible action level.

Thats because City Council President Mark Jensen has vowed to do everything he can to stop the issue from ever being discussed by the entire council. Jensen has stated in at least three interviews with the Tribune as well as in comments during council meetings that if any agenda item about books in the library arises, he will seek its removal from any meeting agenda.

Under the council policies and protocols, the eight members of the council always take a vote to approve the nights agenda before moving into the meat of meetings. That approval can include any council member making a motion to have an item removed. If the motion gets a second, and then is approved by a majority vote, the agenda item is removed and never discussed.

The process has already played out once in 2023, following a January incident in which Jensen was caught on videotape of a meeting using foul language directed at Murray in regard to the library book controversy.

At the subsequent meeting on Feb. 14, Ellis placed an item on the agenda seeking to censure Jensen for what Ellis viewed as disrespectful actions toward a city resident. However, the item did not make it to the full meeting agenda nor discussion.

Council Member James Vaughan made a motion to remove the item from the agenda, stating he did not feel it was needed. After his motion was seconded, the council voted 6-2 to remove the item.

Jensen stated in an interview in late April that he would try to block any attempts to discuss book issues at the library if it arose on an agenda.

The raging community debate about what sexual education and LGBTQ+ books are available to minors and others in the library has attracted the attention of the Nebraska office of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Sam Petto, director of communications for the Nebraska ACLU, said that the organization is not sending any legal representatives to Tuesdays meeting, but is aware of the controversy in Fremont around books.

I know we are aware of this issue, Petto said in a short telephone interview. We have been in touch with members of the community  folks have contacted us about this. We are not planning to testify (Tuesday), but we will continue to monitor the situation.

In similar situations in both Florida and Texas, the ACLU offices in those states have issued legal opinions that state in their belief, city or county governmental bodies cannot dictate or decide what books are present in community libraries.

Sanders on tap for treasurer appointment

Fremont City Administrator Jody Sanders could be taking on more job duties if she is approved as the citys treasurer during Tuesdays meeting.

The citys former director of finance, Dan Goebel, resigned effective May 1, 2023. At the moment, the city has no finance director  a position which is mandated under city municipal code.

To fill the vacancy until a full-time, permanent replacement for Goebel is hired, Mayor Joey Spellerberg has recommended the appointment of Sanders to the position.

With the resignation of the Director of Finance, the City Treasurer position is vacant, as that statutory office is typically held by the Director of Finance, city officials wrote in the staff report. Until the City is able to hire a new Director of Finance, City Administrator Jody Sanders will serve as City Treasurer, as she has the knowledge and experience necessary to provide the appropriate management oversight for this function.

According to a staff report on the agenda, if Sanders is approved to be the temporary city treasurer, she will not be paid any additional compensation for her work.

Dangerous Animal Appeal Commission appointments

Spellerberg has requested the appointment of four members to Fremonts Dangerous Animal Appeal Commission.

The appointments include:

Martha Bang, president of FurEver Home, Inc., to an appointment that expires in April 2024; former Ward 4 city council member Brad Yerger to an appointment that expires in April 2025; Steve Hespen to an appointment that expires in April 2026; and Dr. Mark Pettit to an appointment that expires April 2027.

Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliot is also a member of the commission due to his role as chief of police in Fremont.

Kobach contract could end

The more than 12-year-old contract for legal services between the City of Fremont and now-Kansas Attorney General Kris W. Kobach could be ended on Tuesday.

Ward 4 council member Sally Ganem has placed an item on the agenda seeking the cancelling of the contract with Kobach that was originally started to help the city defend a controversial ordinance than bars landlords from renting to undocumented or illegal immigrants in the country without the proper authorization.

The contract calls for Kobach to be on retainer at the cost of $10,000 per year. According to city records, Kobach has not been paid the $10,000 fee since December 2020. The terms of the contract allow it to be ended at any time, for no reason, by either party.
Not every nurse can do the job that Collette Heiman does.

Heiman is a registered nurse and case manager for Methodist Fremont Health Hospice. Shes been involved in hospice care for 15 years.

The person who nominated Heiman as one of Fremonts Nurses for 2023 said this:

Collette came to us in a time of sadness and dread. She brought a light to our dark moments. The early morning hours after my daughter passed, she came and comforted us. Removed/covered items that would be triggering. She cried with us. She walked with the coroner out to make sure my baby wasnt alone. She still checks in on us. One amazing nurse in a field that many couldnt do. Will forever hold this woman in my heart.

Originally from Gretna  when it was a small town  Heiman went to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and has lived in Elkhorn for the last 40 years.

Heiman easily tells what she loves about nursing.

It is being with people, Heiman said. Youre dealing with the worst thing thats going to happen to somebody, a loved one is going to pass. Thats the hardest part. But they should be able to do it with comfort and dignity and wherever they feel comfortable  either at home, at a friends home, in a facility. Its their choice.

As for her own background, Heiman comes from a family of 10.

Im from a big family and chaos is normal, she said, smiling.

Perhaps that and other factors are why Heiman  described by her boss as unflappable and unshaken  is able to stay calm in different situations.

Ive been doing hospice for over 15 years and I think if anything was going to happen  it probably already has, she said.

Heiman and her spouse have four children and seven grandchildren.

Recently, Heiman was part of a Q and A with the Fremont Tribune. Her responses are below:

Q. How many years have you been in nursing?

A. 32 years.

Q. Tell us about your immediate family.

A. Proud to say I have been married to my husband, Dale, for 39 years. We raised our four children in Elkhorn, however since working in Fremont since 2009  our youngest daughter attended and graduated from Archbishop Bergan Catholic High School. We have been blessed with five grandchildren and our middle daughter and son-in-law are expecting twin girls in May. (Their daughter recently gave birth to twin girls, so now they have seven grandchildren.)

Q. When, why did you decide to become a nurse?

A. My older sister is an RN (registered nurse). She encouraged me.

Q. What do you like best about nursing and find most rewarding about it?

A. Being a nurse is like a having a passport to explore so many different areas or specialties. There is a niche for everyone, limitless opportunities, and I cannot name another profession that is more conducive to raising a family.

Q. Funniest, saddest, most unusual experience in nursing?

A. Being a hospice RN, people immediately think of cancer and geriatric patients. I have had the privilege and honor to care for a few angels on earth. Pediatric cases are rare, however, there is a need for comfort and dignity at end of life even if that patient is an infant and their life is too short.

Q. If you hadnt become a nurse, what profession might you have entered? And why?

A. Originally started out to be CPA (Certified Public Accountant), quickly realized I cannot sit at a desk all day.

Q. Why are you glad you chose nursing?

A. Nursing has allowed me to work a schedule that is best for my needs, while still making a decent wage. I also really enjoy meeting so many amazing people and getting to hear their life story.

Q. Future plans?

A. Plan to (eventually) retire from Methodist Fremont Health Hospice. Jokingly gave my boss a 5-year notice.
Tuesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Ready for Kindergarten, 10-11 a.m., Metropolitan Community College, Room 207, 835 N. Broad St., Fremont. The program is designed for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Stories, art, manipulatives and sensory stations will help build the skills needed for kindergarten.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Opera House Tours, noon and 5:30 p.m., Fremont Opera House, 541 N. Broad St., Fremont. Guided tours will give visitors an up-close look at the historical building. The tours are being given in conjunction with the Fremont Area Big Give.

Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Utility and Infrastructure Board meeting, 4 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Special Fremont City Council meeting, 6 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The regular council meeting will follow. The meetings are open to the public.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Wednesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Aerie and Auxiliary meetings, including election of officers, will begin at 7 p.m. Aerie members can vote for the position of Inside Guard. Ballots will be available from 3-7 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Community Breastfeeding Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Three Rivers Health Department conference room, 2400 N. Lincoln Ave., Fremont. This support group is for mothers and their babies. Siblings are welcome.

Eagles Aerie 200 meeting, 7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club.

Eagles Auxiliary 200 meeting, 7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Thursday

Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Everyone is welcome.

Keep Fremont Beautifuls Great American Cleanup, 4-5 p.m., Johnson Lake, Fremont Family YMCA, John C. Fremont Park, Miller Park and Christensen Field, Fremont. Volunteers are asked to help pick up litter at these locations. Contact the KFB office at 402-941-6122 for more information.

Keene Memorial Library Lego Club, 4 p.m., Gallery 92 West, 92 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Lego bricks will be supplied.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport.

Marine Corps League, 7 p.m., Disabled American Veterans Club, 137 N. D St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave.

Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479.

Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.
The Dodge County Republican Party met the evening of April 24 at the LA Fireproof Door Company, in downtown Fremont.

Dodge County Chair Scott Eveland called the meeting to order. The main focus of the gathering was to hear an extensive report on the campaign to re-elect incumbent U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. State Campaign Chair Derek Oden gave an update on the campaign activities and on Fischers position in the Senate on many issues.

To those gathered, concern includes the open borders; President Bidens recent veto of legislation to override rejection of the EPA ruling under the Waters of the U.S. regulations that would be very harmful to Nebraska counties, cities, contractors, and farmers. Also addressed was the national security risk taken when foreign interests purchase real estate near our military installations. Oden also described Fischers strong support of the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment.

A general discussion followed including seeking candidates for future elections.

The Dodge Countians will meet again July 24. For more information, contact Dodge County GOP Chair Scott Eveland, scottheveland@hotmail.com; 2072 County Road 14 Blvd., Ames, NE 68621; or 402-720-1007.
Something interesting happened, says Sen. Terrell McKinney, after the public and state lawmakers learned that members of Nebraskas parole board rarely showed up together for parole hearings.

The board members started showing up for more hearings.

This year, the boards five members have appeared together at hearings twice as often as they did in 2021, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis.

Attendance spiked in spring 2022. That came after a Flatwater Free Press story showing that, in the three previous years, the board had recorded votes from all five members at only 37% of hearings.

Attendance spiked again this year after McKinney introduced a bill to curtail how often a parole board member can miss a vote.

In the two months after that bills introduction, 63% of parole candidates had their cases heard by the full board. The parole board decides whether to allow eligible incarcerated Nebraskans to serve the remainder of their sentences outside prison, and sets parole terms.

Parole officials said theres no connection between increased attendance, the bill and the previous story. They cited COVID-19 and board chair Rosalyn Cottons sick leave as reasons for past spotty attendance.

I actually think that the data set you're looking at is more the anomaly instead of the pattern, said Nicole Miller, the boards legal counsel. Honestly, 2023 is probably more representative.

McKinney, an Omaha Democrat, had a one-word response when shown the improved attendance: Interesting.

Board member attendance does matter, an analysis of the past five years shows.

When all five members were present and voting in those five years, the board granted parole 62% of the time. When three or four members were present, the board granted parole in 55% of cases.

This persistent gap could have kept nearly 200 parole-eligible prisoners behind bars longer between 2018 and 2021, costing the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, the analysis showed.

And that gap persisted into 2023, as the state continues to grapple with prison overcrowding and plans to build a new $350 million prison.

We have to figure out a system to make it work, McKinney said. And it's not helpful that the parole board hasn't been doing the best of their abilities as far as ... their jobs in a sense.

Board members said they try hard to attend hearings and always make the three-member quorum needed for a hearing to proceed.

Cotton said she was on medical leave at various points in 2021 and 2022. She missed the most hearings of any board member during the five-year period.

There is no problem with our hearings.  I don't need to tell the world that I'm out on medical as long as we have a quorum, she said.

Board members also said that their absence from a hearing shouldnt be interpreted as them not doing work.

An example: Last month, Cotton and board member Mark Langan were conducting parole reviews in York, while the rest of the board started hearings in Lincoln, Langan said. Then they rushed to Lincoln to attend the rest of the days hearings.

Langan, a former Omaha police detective, said he was confident in his own attendance, which has long been the best on the board. He missed 12.7% of the hearing days between 2019, when he was appointed, and when the Flatwater Free Press story published March 2022. He has missed only 5.5% of hearing days since March 2022.

He cited the waning of COVID-19 as the reason for the improvement.

In a perfect world, Id like to have five (board members at hearings) just because of those stats that you showed there, said Langan, referring to the fact that the full board paroles at a higher rate. But it's not always possible.

Cotton said when scheduling hearings, she and board vice chair Layne Gissler strive to make sure five members are there. But the hearings are scheduled a year in advance.

Before the article and after the article  that's every day  I plan on going to every hearing I can  said Gissler.

Gissler missed 14.3% of hearing days between 2018 and March 2022. He has missed 9.9% of days since.

Board member Habib Olomi, appointed in 2021, missed 18.2% of hearing days before March 2022. He has missed 14.3% since.

Cotton has missed 22.7% of parole board hearing days since 2018. She said some of these absences were due to her other duties as board chair. Shes the only member whose absence rate has gone up since March 2022, with most of the missed hearings later in the year tied to medical leave and family emergencies, she said. Since she returned from leave, she has missed fewer hearings.

As drafted, McKinneys bill would allow only three absences at hearings in a calendar year. He told the Flatwater Free Press that, after speaking with Judiciary Committee members, he will up the number of allowable absences  maybe to one hearing day per month.

The bill also would raise the parole board quorum to four. It would mandate more training on bias and establish requirements for who can serve on the board.

Cotton said the board will take no formal position on the bill.

At a March hearing, board member Bob Twiss told the Judiciary Committee that McKinneys bill goes way too far.

Twiss attendance improved the most of any parole board member after March 2022. He missed 17.4% hearing days between May 2018 and March 2022, but only 5.5% since.

Sen. Carol Blood, a Democrat from Bellevue, pushed back.

All I'm seeing is an accountability bill. Do you think we go too far when we're asking for better accountability? she asked.

It's going too far when it's only three absences. ... I am all for accountability, Twiss replied.

Blood noted that parole board members are appointed by the governor to full-time jobs. Board members made $86,407 last year. Cotton made $94,642 as chair.

We are showing up, Twiss said. But I also  strongly believe that we are entitled to some vacation along the way, and also the normal type of leave.

McKinney is worried that parole board attendance may slip again in the future if the Legislature doesnt pass his bill.

Are they going to go back to what they were doing prior when they feel like the heat is off of them? he wondered.

Asked if the public can expect to see the boards higher attendance rates continue, Cotton responded: Its our job.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
DENVER (AP)  A lawyer for a Colorado woman who repeatedly stabbed and then shot her 11-year-old stepson before driving his body across the country said Friday that the brutality of the attack was the strongest evidence that the killing was the result of a psychotic break."

During closing arguments in Letecia Stauch's murder trial in Colorado Springs, Josh Tolini urged jurors to find her not guilty by reason of insanity. He emphasized that she would be kept confined at the state mental hospital if they reached that verdict in the 2020 killing of Gannon Stauch. Tolini said prosecutors had not shown why the special needs teacher would want to kill the slight 80-pound boy she cared for and lived with in such a violent way.

This wasnt a pre-planned calculated killing for some gain. This was a psychotic break fueled by rage attacking a demon from the past, he said in court before jurors began deliberations.

Prosecutors say Gannon was stabbed 18 times before being hit in the head and then shot by Stauch, suggesting that she first tried to kill him by burning him and drugging him with an opioid. His father, Stauch's husband Al, was on a National Guard deployment at the time. They say Stauch then put Gannon's body in a suitcase, drove it across the country in a rented van and threw the suitcase over the side of a bridge in the Florida Panhandle.

Prosecutors are not required to prove a motive but District Attorney Michael Allen said they had shown that Stauch killed Gannon because she hated him and because it was a way to hurt her husband, whom she planned to leave. He pointed to how Stauch had done a Google search for I don't like my stepson and had also researched getting a moving truck and places to live in Florida before killing him.

"The brutality of it speaks to the abject hatred she had for Gannon and the pure determination she had to kill Gannon, Allen said.

Stauch is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder of a child by a person in a position of trust, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence.

Experts at the state mental hospital concluded that Stauch had a personality disorder with borderline and narcissistic features but was sane at the time Gannon was killed. Under Colorado law, that means understanding the difference between right and wrong and being able to form the intent to commit a crime.

The defense claims Stauch suffered a psychotic break because of trauma from being physically, emotionally and sexually abused by her mother's string of partners during her childhood. Its main witness, Dr. Dorothy Lewis, author of the book Crazy, Not Insane" and featured in an HBO documentary with the same title, concluded Stauch suffered from dissociative identity disorder  when someone has two or more personalities as the result of trauma  and was not sane at the time. Allen pointed out that Lewis did not know how sanity is defined under Colorado law.

Prosecutors have argued that Stauch took steps to cover up her actions  proof that she knew what she did was wrong  and was therefore sane. They said she cleaned up blood in Gannons bedroom, where he was killed, and moved his body to various locations to hide it before disposing of it off a bridge that crosses a river flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. It was discovered shortly after by a bridge inspector doing a biennial safety check.
Resiliency isnt Eve Marambas middle name, but it could be based on how shes emerged from one challenge after another throughout most of her life.

Theres her role as a military kid where the only consistency was relocating from one place to another, or being diagnosed with Alopecia, which causes hair loss, just before her freshman year in Florida, and the myriad of associated consequences: starting anew, stares, peer pressure, questions and self-doubt. The latter just for a while, though.

Alopecia has affected me, but in a positive way, she said. Before, I was insecure in a lot of areas; I wondered why people were looking at me. After the diagnosis I knew for sure people were looking at me. Its unusual to see a bald freshman. It has been difficult at times but I try not to let it get to me. It has changed me for the better, though.

In her Best & Brightest essay, Maramba wrote, Today, I am not defined by the challenges and doubts that held me back. Instead, she is propelled by accepting those uncertainties.

She attended three different elementary, middle and high schools. As for moving, she said, It made me a much better person, so I could become the best version of myself. I lost some things, especially when I was younger when I could only think about losing friends. Now I can see how much Ive gained from it (moving).

She started at Pine Creek High School her junior year; a time when friendships and involvement in extracurricular activities are well established. Although being the new kid in school was nothing new, this time she decided to embrace the situation.

Instead of shying away from groups, she joined them thus making friends in the process. She joined clubs and  I spoke out when I wanted to get something done, she noted. She further honed her math skills, became involved in Speech, beat poetry and Model UN.

Maramba was involved in Model UN in Florida and shared her experience. She has recruited new members, provided training and support to help strengthen the team. According to Stephanie Cornelio, PCHS college career counselor, It is no exaggeration to say that without Eves leadership, Pine Creek would not have a Model UN Program.

Her grades freshman and sophomore years placed Maramba at the top of her class. However, when she relocated, the grading system at Pine Creek bumped her out of the top 10. It was hard to see that hard work go to waste, she said, but Im glad I continued to work hard. One thing about higher level classes is that you get to be part of a great community. Everyone in the classes is excited to learn, just like me. She is now ranked fifth.

Maramba has not yet decided on which college to attend, but said she is torn between staying in Colorado and returning to Florida.

Thinking about where she is now, she said, I love Pine Creek. Im glad we moved here. Its great to be part of this community.
Gov. Jared Polis and the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate took something of a victory lap on Tuesday after the Legislature wrapped up its 120-day session late Monday night.

But it was a victory lap tempered by the late-session failure of the governor's top priority for 2023: affordable housing.

Polis' housing proposal, Senate Bill 213, died Monday after all-day negotiations failed to find a compromise between the Senate and House versions. As introduced, the bill sought to impose state mandates and effectively strip local governments of their authority over land use and zoning.

Polis told reporters in a Tuesday news conference that housing is a topic that he will continue to work on during the rest of the year.

"We have a lot of work ahead to better protect the rights of homeowners to make Colorado more affordable, to purchase or rent a home," Polis said. "We need to make sure that we are able to rise to the occasion to change the status quo, which simply isn't working for too many Coloradans, whether it's a senior looking to downsize, whether it's a young family looking to have a home close to where their job is."

The governor appeared to double-down on the House version of SB 213, stating he appreciated the work of House Democrats, and opening the door to restoring concepts that failed to make it out of the Senate, such as middle housing. That's duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, housing that increases density but that raised objections about changing the character of neighborhoods.

Polis noted that his efforts on universal pre-kindergarten took several years to bring to fruition, and hinted he's in it for the long haul on housing. People know he's deeply committed to addressing the issue, the governor said.

Democratic leaders of the House and Senate also celebrated the agenda items that made it all the way, such as on increasing funding for K-12 education, providing opportunities for workforce credentials, gun violence prevention, renewable energy and climate change, abortion rights and the topic that dominated the final weekend of the session: property taxes and TABOR refunds.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, focused on education funding, pointing out that the Legislature cut the debt to K-12 education by an even bigger margin than was sought by the governor, with a pledge to pay it all off next year.

"No offense, governor, but we beat your budget" on reducing the debt, McCluskie joked.

"This session delivered real results on the issues that matter," she said, from protecting access to abortion and supporting the workforce, including making free credentials obtained through community colleges for industries with workforce shortages.

But closest to her heart was K-12 education funding. McCluskie said 2023 legislation increased per pupil funding by over $1,000 per student, putting resources directly into the classrooms, making sure that schools can maintain small class sizes, increase teacher pay, and ensure that students have what they need to thrive.

That was a total increase of $650 million, she added, calling it "remarkable progress and unimaginable just a few years ago."

Senate President Steve Fenberg pointed to his long-standing priorities on climate and energy, such as fighting back against high utility bills through a mid-session task force that looked at how the state regulates investor-owned utilities, such as Xcel. That resulted in legislation that Fenberg said will reduce consumer electric bills.

Greenhouse gas emissions will come down through reduction targets, climate-aware investments and incentives on electrification, he added, and cements the state's role as a leader on climate policy.

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Fenberg also addressed one of the most significant issues of the session: gun violence prevention. In the face of tragedies like the Club Q shooting last November and two gun violence incidents at Denver's East High, Fenberg said "we did not throw up our hands and fail to act," pointing to the five bills, four now signed into law, to strengthen the state's "red flag" law, raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21, a three-day waiting period for delivery of firearms, a law on gun liability and a ban on "ghost guns," which has not yet been signed into law.

"These are common sense, life-saving measures that make sense for the moment we find ourselves in," Fenberg said.

The measure on raising the age for buying firearms was a key priority for House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. She also applauded the diversity of the House Democratic caucus.

"I was proud to see how we fought for inclusion of all voices throughout this session," Duran said. "Our diversity is our strength, and as a result, we'll pass legislation that represents all Coloradans whose voices have too often been left behind."

Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, said he was proud of how the Senate operated in a bipartisan fashion, making sure priorities got across the finish line but in a way that did not diminish anyone. As to the failure of SB 213, Moreno said it was a session where a lot of conversations got started but that some didn't get finished.

"It was a really important role that this session played in lining up the opportunity to come back and pass strong legislation to make sure that we address our housing affordability crisis," he said.

There were successes on the housing issues, Democrats noted, such as House Bill 1255, which would strike local government growth caps, as well as bills to save renters money on rental applications and a measure to protect lower income people who rely on safety net programs from being evicted.

Polis and McCluskie addressed the walkout by House Republicans before the final vote on Senate Bill 303, the property tax measure that heads to the ballot in November. Polis said it "wasn't polite," and that he always thought it was better to be there and be heard rather than to be at a bar somewhere (Republicans took offense to that characterization later in the day, pointing out they never left the Capitol grounds after the walkout).

McCluskie said lawmakers are hired to do one thing, and that is to cast a vote. She acknowledged the concerns over the process, but added she was disappointed by the walkout, and that she would commit to working with the minority party for next session.

McCluskie added that mid-session they began to recognize that what was happening was no longer respectful and productive.

"The filibustering and delay tactics, by having bills read at length, is not why we were voted into office," she said, adding that when they started imposing limits on debate, right around Easter, the House was able to work through debate in a "more meaningful way."

That ended in the last days, when Democrats needed to deliver on the expectations Coloradans had, particularly on property taxes, and led to the walkout on Monday, she explained.

Democrats also reiterated their support for the late-session tax measures.

Polis called the two measures  SB 303, which asks voters to skip a part of their TABOR refund in exchange for property tax relief, and House Bill 1311, which would equalize TABOR refunds if SB 303's ballot measure passes  a way to provide voters with relief without worrying about the impact on school funding or cuts to other areas that rely on property taxes.

Polis said his goal was to replace the Gallagher Amendment that voters repealed in 2020 as well as address the inequities that Gallagher created. He said the legislation provides a sound mechanism for doing that as well as keeping property taxes low over time.
For the second year in a row, Colorado legislators killed a proposal to stop charging children under 13 with most crimes.

The minimum age for criminal prosecution in Colorado is 10. As drafted, House Bill 1249 sought to raise the age to 13, except when a child is suspected of committing homicide. The bill cleared the House, but hit a wall in the Senate.

Senators on Sunday gutted the bill after days of debate, removing the change in minimum prosecution age. The chamber replaced that provision with funding for the collaborative management programs (CMPs) the bill would have referred child offenders to in lieu of the juvenile justice system.

The rewritten version of the bill passed the legislature on Monday, now only needing the governor's approval to become law.

"Throughout session, we've had children inside and outside of these halls crying out for assistance, for action, and for their voices to be heard. And today, I feel like I failed them," said bill sponsor Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver. "The juvenile justice system is a pipeline to prison. ... We must do better, and I know that we can. In the meantime, the strike below is our attempt to do the most immediate good for young people with the funding that's available."

Proponents of the original bill said arresting children does not address the cause of crime and sets them up for failure in the future, while opponents argued that serious crimes require serious criminal consequences, regardless of the perpetrator's age.

Under the original bill, children aged 10 to 12 who commit crimes would be referred to their local CMPs to get resources, such as therapy or family counseling. It would have also increased the minimum age when a child can be tried as an adult from 12 to 14 years old, and limited charging minors as adults to cases of class 1 or 2 felonies or crimes of violence.

After passing the House in a 40-25 vote, the bill went to the Senate where lawmakers debated on the floor for around 10 hours over three days.

During the debates, bill sponsors made 15 amendments to the bill before eventually rewriting it completely, including adding exemptions for felony sex crimes, violent crimes causing serious bodily injury and attempted murder with a gun. Critics said those changes were not enough, saying the use of CMPs to provide services to child offenders is impractical.

"In my district, I have three counties that don't have CMPs," said Sen. Bryon Pelton, R-Sterling, who opposed the bill. "The CMPs that we do have, we're overloaded with child welfare as it is. ... We had 68 kids taken from their families due to drugs. It was hard in our county to be able to find those services for those kids. Adding to it with the CMPs, it's just going to overload us."

Three days before the bill was gutted, several law enforcement leaders and the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police rallied at the Capitol to advocate against the bill.

Those opponents argued that the bill will incentivize criminal organizations and gangs to seek out children, particularly 12-year-olds, to commit crimes.

In 2021-22, 63 children under 13 were admitted into detention, accounting for 2.4% of new inmates, according to the Colorado Division of Youth Services. Of the 63 children, 58 were admitted for felony charges.

"This bill will have the exact opposite effect of what we're trying to accomplish," said Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo. "Young people are being used, are being manipulated, they are being used as tools to commit violent crimes, property crimes and to victimize the people of Colorado by older youth and by adults."

The rewritten bill would increase funding for CMPs by more than $2.3 million for training and services for children who have had contact with law enforcement, are at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system, or would otherwise benefit from services. It also provides $2 million to help counties without CMPs set them up, though counties are not required to do so.

The bill would have also allowed several agencies, including law enforcement and schools, to refer children to CMPs.

In major defeat for Jared Polis, housing bill dies

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The programs must report annually the number of juvenile offenders they serve, as well as their age, demographics, referrals, services and outcomes. And it requires district attorneys to annually report the number of 10- through 12-year-olds who were charged with criminal offenses or participated in diversion programs.

Senators approved the rewritten bill in a 31-4 vote on Monday. The House re-passed it, 52-13.

Proponents of the bill said they hope the new policy will lay the groundwork for another try at increasing the minimum age for criminal prosecution, by expanding the capacity of CMPs and getting more information about how young children are best served to improve community safety.

"It's giving us the ability to take that data in future legislative sessions and craft more specific policy about how to improve outcomes for 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds, and ultimately for society," said bill sponsor Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa. "There's still an abundance of work to be done. I'm committed to continue in that space."

The bill's journey represents is a very similar outcome to the first legislative effort to increase the minimum age of criminal prosecution from 10 to 13. House Bill 22-1131, passed last year, was downgraded to a study to develop recommendations for how to better serve 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds who commit crimes without putting them in the criminal justice system.

HB 1249 aligned with many of the recommendations made from the study, earning the bill bipartisan sponsorship. Last year, HB 22-1131 had exclusively Democratic sponsorship and received only two yes votes from Republican lawmakers, even after it was rewritten to be a study.

Both this year's HB 1249 and last year's HB 22-1131 were sponsored by Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver.

Gonzales-Gutierrez said HB 1249 initially had the votes to pass the Senate but, as the second reading debate on the bill was laid over four times, opposition used the extra time to flip some of the bill's supporters.

"Politics won out over kids today, and that is shameful. I feel shameful. This is politics at its worst," Gonzales-Gutierrez said. "This bill was a chance for us to show and teach our kids that they are worth it, that they are valued, that they can be something, and that their circumstances do not have to define their future."

In Colorado, just under 60% of youth who are committed reoffend within three years of release, according to a 2022 report from the Colorado Division of Youth Services.

Arrested children are more likely to be arrested as adults, less likely to graduate high school, more likely to be unemployed and face a higher risk of violence and sexual abuse while in detention, bill sponsors said. One study found that up to 90% of people in the juvenile justice system have experienced trauma, including high rates of physical or sexual abuse.

Children of color are arrested at disproportionately high rates. In 2021, Black children made up just over 5% of Colorados 10- to 17-year-old population, but constituted 23.8% of those detained in 2021-22, according to the Colorado Division of Youth Services.

Gonzales-Gutierrez is leaving the state legislature, having been elected to the Denver City Council. But she said she hopes her colleagues will continue to fight to stop criminally charging children under 13.

"I need other people to carry on this work because this work is really important," Gonzales-Gutierrez said in tears. "When I came to this building, one of the biggest things I wanted to do is help break down systems of oppression. Systems that were built to oppress people of color. Doing this bill for the last two years has been something that is incredibly important to our community."

The bill's other sponsors  Coleman, Simpson and Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud  all said they are committed to readdressing the issue in the future, though advocates for the bill said they are unsure whether another version will be introduced next session.

Colorado moves to make all auto theft a felony, regardless of vehicle value
U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs will oversee 1,500 troops headed to the southern U.S. border this week amid an expected surge of immigrants.

The surge is expected as the White House ends a COVID-19 public health order known as Title 42 that allowed the border agents to turn back immigrants without hearing asylum claims.

Soldiers, Marines and a small number of airmen are expected to help with data entry, warehousing and monitoring efforts, according to a news release.

The service members will not support migrant processing, escort duties or other tasks that require direct contact with migrants.

The additional troops will free up Customs and Border Patrol staff to conduct law enforcement, the news release said.

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Troops will start to arrive at the border on Thursday from posts in North Carolina and Texas.

At a press event last week, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the Department of Homeland Security requested additional military support. The surge will last 90 days and it will be focused on detection and monitoring and aviation support, he said.

There are already 2,500 National Guard troops at the border, he said.

In addition, the Department of Homeland Security has 24,000 Border Patrol officers along the southwest border, and more than 2,000 additional non-uniformed personnel to assist in processing and facility operations, the agency announced last week.
Nearly all members of the Colorado Supreme Court and half of the judges on the Court of Appeals convened with attorneys on Friday to give a behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of the judiciary, and to voice concern about the escalating number of issues they are being asked to decide in appeals.

The topics at the 2023 Appellate Practice Update ranged from judicial performance reviews and management training for judges, to the question of whether oral arguments affect the outcome of cases. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright also disclosed that his term leading the state's highest court will come to an end in June 2024.

When Boatright ascended to the judiciary's top post in 2021, the Supreme Court adopted a rotational system for choosing the chief justice, with Justice Monica M. Marquez next in line for the seat but with no definite end date on Boatright's term. Boatright indicated Marquez and future chief justices will have a much longer ramp-up period than he did to become head of the judicial branch.

"My onboarding process was, I sat across the table from Chief Justice (Nathan) Coats and he said, 'What would you like to know?' And a month later I was chief," said Boatright.

Several themes emerged from the Appellate Practice Update, held at the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center in downtown Denver. Attendees learned the Supreme Court is operating more efficiently than in the past, while the Court of Appeals is laboring under a backlog of cases and a large contingent of new judges. Members of both courts agreed oral arguments are worthwhile and play an important role in deciding cases, but warned that lawyers are bogging down appeals with arguments that have little chance of success.

Appellate judges also cautioned attorneys that a small, but surprising number of people appear before the court unable to answer basic, expected questions about their case.

"You should know what you're asking us to do," said Justice Richard L. Gabriel.

The chiefs speak

Boatright explained the Supreme Court is more efficient in issuing decisions due to a change in the justices' voting process. Historically, after oral arguments, there was not much discussion about cases. Instead, the justices would vote and the chief would assign the majority opinion to someone.

Recently, however, "weve gone back and said, 'Do you want to talk about this first?' And weve had a free-ranging conversation," Boatright said, adding that the ultimate author of the majority opinion has a better sense of the justices' positions and how to keep the majority together.

"The conversations up front, I think, have improved our efficiency, improved our communication. I see that as our tradition going forward," he continued.

At the same time, Boatright cautioned that the Supreme Court is issuing a relatively low number of overall decisions, due to a decrease in cases heard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chief justice previewed an effort to reclassify certain positions in the Judicial Department, and to approach the legislature next year with a proposal for increasing salaries. Currently, Boatright said the judiciary is losing clerks to municipalities and district attorney offices, and some trial judges have gone so far as to set up food pantries for low-paid employees.

He briefly spoke of recent investigations into judicial and administrative misconduct, and was most concerned about the finding that 20% of Judicial Department employees disclosed they would not feel comfortable reporting unethical behavior. Boatright indicated that Marquez will be in charge of improving workplace culture before she is scheduled to begin as chief justice.

"Im not here to say mission accomplished by any means, but I am saying we're moving in the right direction," Boatright said.

Chief Judge Gilbert M. Roman of the Court of Appeals also spoke about the challenges facing his court  specifically a seven-month backlog in cases and the fact that half of the 22-member court has been in office for five years or fewer. Roman said the appellate judges are undergoing training in management skills and recently completed a four-week study to track the use of their time, the results of which are still being processed.

Roman also described the problem of Court of Appeals judges, who appear on the statewide ballot every eight years for retention, not receiving robust enough responses from attorneys evaluating their performance.

"What we learned from attorneys," said Roman, is "there is a fear or an apprehension about filling out the surveys and the comments that go with the surveys because there is a fear they will be discovered, particularly with their comments. So those are related: We cant get the stats up if people are concerned about filling them out."

How cases are heard

Gabriel and Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. described their own workflows when considering cases, which begin when the Supreme Court's members decide to hear an appeal by granting a petition for a writ of certiorari  or a "cert petition." The justices have a week to vote on each of the more than 1,000 cert petitions that arrive at the court throughout the year, and they deny review more than 90% of the time.

Both men said they prepare for oral arguments more than a week ahead of time. While the entire court does not meet beforehand to discuss the cases, there may be informal conversations between members.

"I might go into Justice Gabriel's chambers and ask, 'Hey, what are you thinking about this issue?' Or he might come into my chambers and ask about a criminal question," said Samour. "Sometimes its through email and sometimes its two or three of us."

"No one tries to lobby on our court," added Gabriel.

Following oral arguments, the chief justice always assigns the majority opinion to a member based on the justices' caseloads, comments made during oral arguments and the court's own discussions, and the ability of an individual justice to hold at least four votes together in a majority.

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A common complaint among the justices and appellate judges was the increasing number of legal issues being presented in appeals  many of which lack merit. The issue is more acute with the Court of Appeals, which has substantially less discretion over its caseload.

"Our workload is heavier because we have more issues to address," said Judge Jerry N. Jones. He added that attorneys raise legal arguments that have "zero  I repeat, zero  chance of persuading anybody. There is far too much of that these days, in my opinion."

"If youre raising a bunch of stuff thats really not that great of an issue, you lose your credibility on what might be your best ones," added Judge Christina F. Gomez.

The upsides and downsides of oral argument

The justices and appellate judges agreed that oral arguments are generally beneficial, not because they necessarily change votes but because they provide greater nuance to complex legal issues that, in the end, may make the courts' opinions better.

Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter, the newest member of the Supreme Court who votes first during the justices' deliberations, recalled one case in which "not one, not two, but three of my colleagues, when it was their turn to speak, said, 'I came into oral argument thinking A and I now think B.' Ask for oral argument and when you have oral argument, take advantage of it."

She added the Supreme Court is not looking at individual cases solely with an eye towards who should win and who should lose.

"Quite frankly, were thinking through a much broader lens about what the consequence of this rule is," said Berkenkotter.

In contrast with the Supreme Court, members of the Court of Appeals acknowledged that prior to oral arguments in front of three-judge panels, one panel member will prepare a "predisposition memorandum" with a tentative case outcome.

Judge Timothy J. Schutz acknowledged the "significant investment" of one judge's time in researching and drafting the memorandum may make it harder to persuade an appellate panel than the Supreme Court.

"We keep an open mind," he said, "but I think it's important to realize there is this opinion thats out there that centers things."

Extraordinary intervention

Both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have mechanisms to hear interlocutory appeals, which are filed in the middle of a case rather than the typical practice of appealing after the proceedings in the trial court have concluded.

Boatright said the Supreme Court receives, on average, one interlocutory appeal each business day in a Rule 21 petition, as they are known. Each justice, except the chief, is in rotation to receive and investigate those requests for sometimes-urgent intervention.

"You get one and you turn to it because you dont know what the issue is or the time-sensitive nature of what it is," he said. "It could be a deposition starting in two hours."

Boatright said in the last year, the Supreme Court granted 8% of Rule 21 petitions, higher than the 4% historical average.

The key factor, Boatright elaborated, is not only showing that a trial judge made an error, but that the appealing party will suffer a harm that cannot be fixed during the traditional appeals process. Last week, for example, the Supreme Court heard an interlocutory appeal challenging the constitutionality of a search warrant used to identify the suspects who allegedly set a deadly house fire in Denver.

Judge Terry Fox added the Court of Appeals addresses interlocutory appeals with similar urgency.

"We drop everything to pay attention to it," she said.

Beware of bad behavior

Finally, the justices and judges warned lawyers about frequent missteps they see attorneys make. Not being prepared at oral arguments, refusing to acknowledge obvious facts, and repeatedly asking for last-minute extensions made the list of discouraged behavior.

"Emotional facts, to my knowledge, have never created legal error. So dont try to sway me that your client is the sympathetic one," said Judge Ted C. Tow III. "I know that sounds heartless, but it cant matter if Im doing my job."

Lawyers who make misrepresentations to the court are also problematic, and judges have occasionally alerted regulators to potential attorney misconduct.

"Weve seen lawyers who quote parts of a statute and they leave out the word that changes the meaning entirely," said Judge David H. Yun. "Theyre acting like these are the terms of what the statute says. But its not accurate. Youll lose a lot of credibility."

The Colorado Bar Association's Litigation Section, and its appellate practice subsection, sponsored the event.
An El Paso County judge on Monday sentenced Letecia Stauch to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murdering her 11-year-old stepson Gannon, capping a five-week trial that featured emotional testimony from Gannon's family members.

After the verdict, Gannon's mother Landen Bullard, who had previously been referred to as Landen Hiott, hugged Gannon's father Al Stauch.

Bullard said Gannon was born three months premature, weighing 1 pound, 6 ounces. He was a fighter from the time he was born, she said.

Unfortunately, you left this world fighting. He fought against someone he loved and trusted. Someone myself and Albert trusted, and loved, Bullard said. For three years I tried to forgive her but I cant; I dont want to.

Jeff Davenport, Al Stauchs uncle, said Stauch didn't just murder Gannon. She murdered all the love and enjoyment ... that he would have given to those he encountered throughout his life.

Judge Gregory Werner proceeded directly to sentencing following the verdict, which the jury returned after deliberating for about eight hours. In addition to a life sentence for first-degree murder, Stauch was sentenced to 12 years in prison for tampering with a deceased human body, and 18 months for tampering with physical evidence.

You have shown no remorse through this process, Werner told Stauch. I would say without hesitation that the facts in this case are the most horrific I have ever seen.

Stauch, who declined to speak during her sentencing hearing, was accused of stabbing Gannon 18 times, beating him with an unknown blunt object and shooting him once in the head.

We showed up for Gannon, Veronica Birkenstock, Bullards aunt, said during the sentencing hearing. I want to remember who Gannon was, and not what she (Stauch) did to him.

I can confidently say this is the worst tragedy that anybody can go through, said Janey Cadenas, a family friend. Justice has finally been served for Gannon.

Al Stauch and Bullard spoke at length about how Gannon's murder impacted their lives, and how much they miss their son.

I miss you Gannon, and I love you to the moon.  I know every day youre with me and your sisters, Bullard said.

Love was a word Bullard used often, saying Letecia Stauch searched so hard for love, when all along she had it, and how killing Gannon threw all of that love away.

You had so much love from Laina and Gannon, from Harley (Hunt, Letecia Stauchs daughter), Bullard said. But she (Stauch) had an inability to love anyone but herself.

Through tears, Al Stauch said he refused to let what his ex-wife did poison his soul and how he was determined to not seek vengeance or retribution. Al Stauch said he would not seek restitution from Letecia Stauch because "it would just tie me to her for the rest of my life, and I don't want that."

Al Stauch also read a note from his daughter Laina, which was written in yellow marker: You do not do that to people, especially your step kids. It is never all right to do these things.

Al Stauch apologized to Bullard for allowing Letecia Stauch to manipulate them and hurt their relationship. Bullard also apologized to Al Stauch, both saying they were sorry through tears.

Al Stauch finished his statement by displaying a picture of Gannon in a frame alongside a photo of Gannons grave.

Following the statements from the family, District Attorney Michael Allen requested that the judge give Letecia Stauch the maximum sentence.

Ive been a prosecutor a long time. ... Ive never seen the horror that this defendant brought down on this family, Allen said. No matter what the sentence is itll never bring Gannon back  but it will go a long way towards healing.

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Before sentencing Stauch, Werner chastised her for murdering Gannon and trying to cover it up, for her conduct in court over the past three years, and for betraying those she claimed to love.

You betrayed your daughter Harley Hunt, Werner remarked. This is a young woman who trusted you to put her interest above yours  and she still loves you.

Hunt was not in the courtroom on Monday.

Stauch reported her stepson missing from their Lorson Ranch home in January 2020. She killed Gannon in his bedroom and hid his body in a suitcase, according to prosecutors. In the weeks that followed, Stauch covered her tracks by telling a series of fictitious stories and hiding evidence leading up to her arrest on March 2, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Evidence in the trial revealed Stauch moved the suitcase containing Gannon's body from a basement storage room to a parking lot at the Colorado Springs Airport, then to a wooded area near Palmer Lake, eventually throwing it off a bridge in Florida, where it was found on March 18, 2020.

On Feb. 11, 2022, Stauch pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to four counts in connection with Gannon's murder.

Stauch's defense didn't deny that she killed her stepson, but argued the killing happened during a psychotic breakdown. Prosecutors argued her actions before, during and after the murder were calculated.

Stauch's trial, which began with jury selection on March 20, took five weeks to complete.

The last week of trial focused on Stauch's sanity, and the conflicting sanity reports from the state forensic psychologist Loandra Torres, and the defense's expert Dorothy Lewis.

During closing arguments on Friday morning, both sets of attorneys attempted to damage the credibility of the opposition counsel's expert while at the same time boosting the credibility of its own witnesses.

The prosecution alleged Lewis did not conduct a thorough examination and only found Stauch insane for a paycheck, while the defense claimed it had one of the most highly respected psychiatrists in the country as its expert and that it was "insulting" to insinuate Lewis only found the defendant insane for a paycheck.

After sentencing, Stauchs attorney, Josh Tolini, said he was disappointed with the outcome of the case, but thanked the jurors for the time they spent in deliberation and the time they spent considering his clients alleged mental illness.

This was clearly not a rushed decision that they (the jury) made, Tolini said. Mental illness was a significant contributing factor in this, the jury understood this and thats why they took so long (to reach a verdict.)

Tolini also took time to defend Lewis, whose testimony was heavily criticized by the prosecution last week.

I would absolutely not. I would go with Dr. Lewis again, Tolini said when asked if he would have picked a different expert to conduct his clients sanity evaluation. She is a pioneer in her field. She has been published over a hundred times.  Is she older? She is. Did she have some memory issues on specific issues? She did, but I dont think you can wash away her decades and decades of experience.

Tolini added that his client would definitely appeal her conviction, which is standard in most first-degree murder convictions in Colorado. He also said that in the future he would like for legislators to consider adding mental health as a mitigator to sentencing because the bar to prove not guilty by reason of insanity in the state of Colorado is so high.

Stauch will serve her life sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections. As she was escorted out of the courtroom cheers could be heard in the hallway.

Burn in hell, one woman could be heard yelling as Stauch exited the courtroom for the final time.
Over three years after 11-year-old Gannon Stauch was murdered in his Lorson Ranch home, Al Stauch and Landen Bullard say their son has justice.

About three years ago, we were set up in a similar room giving you, giving us, the worst news that was imaginable: The news that our son was no longer alive. Now, I stand here today with some of the happiest news that we have waited three years for, is that he has finally received justice, Bullard said.

Gannons stepmother, Letecia Stauch, will spend the rest of her life in prison for killing her stepson per a penalty handed down Monday by Judge Gregory Werner. A 12-member jury found Letecia Stauch guilty of two first-degree murder charges, tampering with a body and tampering with evidence.

Gannon's parents said waiting for the verdict over the weekend was difficult. It was a wave of emotions up and down as we waited, Al Stauch said.

I could breathe for the first time," Bullard said about the moment Werner read the jurys verdict Monday. Youve waited so long and the day is finally here. It was the best feeling.

The case was given to the jury Friday after a five-week trial detailed how Letecia Stauch killed Gannon in his bedroom, hid his body in a suitcase and dropped it off a bridge over 1,000 miles away in Florida. An autopsy report revealed Gannon was stabbed 18 times, beaten with an unknown blunt object and shot once in the head.

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That defendant, that horrible stepmother, a stepmother of nightmares, will never breathe a free breath again, said 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen. I think it was pretty clear what we were dealing with as far as an evidentiary perspective, and it never crossed my mind that she wouldnt be found guilty and spend the rest of her days in prison.

El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal expressed gratitude to agencies that helped with the investigation, including the FBI, 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office, Colorado Springs Metro Crime Lab, Colorado Springs Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement agencies in other states.

"This case was arguably one of the largest in our sheriffs office history in both notoriety and depth of information collected," Roybal said.

In the weeks that followed Gannon's disappearance, Stauch covered her tracks by telling a series of fictitious stories and hiding evidence leading up to her arrest on March 2, 2020, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

She (Stauch) was doing her best to send the investigation off on chasing wild rabbits all over the county and in some respect she was pretty successful with that," Allen said.

On Feb. 11, 2022, Stauch pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

What we saw in the courtroom today is a true win, is a true win for everybody involved, for the justice system, for us as the family, but for me it only solidifies the loss, Al Stauch said. He said he is a father to six boys, who have kept him busy, but Gannon is still with their family.

Its been really hard to access Gannon throughout these past three years and hopefully I can start doing that a little bit more now that this part is behind us, Al Stauch said. Were never going to move on, but as we learn to move forward (in) our lives, were never going to let him go.
The Boettcher Foundation selected two Pikes Peak region students for its prestigious scholarship program.

Widefield High School senior Abby Vsetecka and Air Academy High School senior Joseph Brock will each receive an $80,000 scholarship across four years as part of the foundations 50-person class of 2023. More than 2,000 students applied for the program devoted to keeping Colorados young difference makers in state.

Boettcher scholars demonstrate excellence well beyond the confines of the classroom. Successful candidates display intellectual curiosity and scholastic prowess, strong leadership potential, outstanding character and a commitment to the school and community through service, according to the foundation.

Those qualities combine to set Brock apart from other high schoolers, according to honors pre-calculus teacher Tateum Bowers, who wrote a letter of recommendation to the foundation in his support. The two have grown a family-like connection since Brock first took her class last year, she said.

To see someone whos so well-rounded and is so intrinsically motivated be acknowledged is such a win. He deserves it, and just probably, I mean, not that we have favorites, but hes like the son I never had, Bowers said. You get blessed with lots of kids as teachers, but to have someone this special come into your life and for you to really feel like, Oh my gosh, what I did is making such a difference in one human, is really rewarding.

A typical Sunday finds Brock settled down in a Starbucks to work through organic chemistry for fun with a former-teacher-turned-Lockheed-Martin-engineer. A typical Christmas present is a textbook.

These things are relaxing for me, Brock said.

See, this is what I mean when I say Josephs intrinsically motivated to learn, Bowers added.

Vseteckas counselor notices many of the same qualities in her student, whom she has worked with for four years.

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She lives her passion. She doesnt just talk her passion, counselor Emily Christensen said.

Vsetecka has dreams of working in primary care and preventive medicine. She helped develop her schools Health Occupations Students of America chapter, a club for future health professionals that lit her passion for family medicine. On weekends she volunteers at UCHealth Memorial Hospital on the neuroscience and renal floor, where she works with patients who have suffered traumatic experiences such as strokes.

Its special to hear their stories, comfort them and help them grow stronger during a difficult period in their lives, she said.

You get to know families really well and their situations beyond just health issues, Vsetecka said.

Brocks shared interest in one day becoming a doctor was inspired in part by his own medical chaos."

Last March Brock was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, in which inflammation in his digestive tract required a foot of his small intestine to be removed. Though painful and time consuming, he found joy in watching the medical team "work their magic. He also had perfect tutors in his doctors, he said, who assisted him with his final exam project before going into surgery.

Meet Joseph. Pure optimism, Bowers said. He always says, I will not let that define me. I will be the fabulous person that I am, and I love that, like, go get em.

Brock will attend the Colorado School of Mines, where he will study biochemistry and possibly pick up a second major in petroleum engineering  I know, weird combination  before pursuing medical school.

Vsetecka will study biology with an emphasis on public health at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She ultimately plans to work in family medicine to support patients of all ages.

I kind of feel a little bit of impostor syndrome, like, man, how did I get here? But its also kind of like a culmination of everything that Ive put into high school and myself, Vsetecka said. Im really glad that Boettcher saw that in me.  Its humbling and heart-warming and pretty special.
A developer's plans to build nearly 500 additional homes and more business space in an existing undeveloped subdivision near Peterson Space Force Base on Colorado Springs' east side earned unanimous approval on Tuesday from the City Council.

The council approved five proposals from property owner Pikes Peak Investments to add a 21.86-acre parcel to the existing 240 acres of the undeveloped Reagan Ranch subdivision within Banning Lewis Ranch. The proposed amendments also included new land designations that authorize developers to build more single-family, multifamily and commercial space in the subdivision.

"I think this is a very good project," said Councilman Brian Risley, an architect who previously chaired the El Paso County Planning Commission. "... When I look at the need in this community for affordable housing, attainable housing, workforce housing close to major centers of employment, I see all of those things here. I see not only residential development but commercial development, which is also sorely needed in that part of our community."

The subdivision is located south of Colorado 94 at Marksheffel Road, with Schriever and Peterson Space Force bases and the Colorado Springs Airport close by, city planners said during a staff presentation Tuesday. The subdivision is split down its center, with commercial and office space planned for the western side and residential space planned on the eastern side, planning documents show.

The council's approval on Tuesday means the subdivision could potentially have more than 2,100 homes and more than 90 acres of commercial space when it is built out, according to planning documents. That includes 1,328 single-family homes and 784 multifamily homes. The council in March 2021 originally approved plans to build more than 1,600 single-family and multifamily homes in the development.

Developers now have authority to add nearly 22 acres of land to the southern portion of the site and rezone an existing approximately 38-acre parcel at the northeast corner to allow for single-family and now multifamily homes.

No residents spoke for or against the project Tuesday.

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In the newly added 21.86-acre parcel at the southern end of the subdivision, the council approved the request to zone about 4.5 acres as commercial and office space and the remaining approximately 17.3 acres as single-family residential space that will allow a housing density of between 3.5 to 11.99 units per acre. Building heights would be capped at 45 feet.

The existing approximately 38-acre northeastern parcel that currently allows for only single-family residential buildings would also be split, planning documents show. Single-family homes would be permitted on 21.97 acres at a density of between 3.5 to 11.99 units per acre. Multifamily homes with a density of between 12 to 24.99 units per acre would now be allowed on the remaining 16.09 acres. Building heights in this area would also be capped at 45 feet, according to planning documents.

City Planning Commissioners Jack Briggs and Scott Hente voted against approving the request when it was brought before the planning commission last month, saying they were concerned about adding more density to the subdivision because of the potential for an aircraft accident.

Because of its proximity to the Colorado Springs Airport, the subdivision is located in an airport overlay as well as an aircraft accident potential zone and runway protection zone, which show where an aircraft accident, if it were to occur, is likely.

But the layout keeps residential homes out of the accident potential zones defined by the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration, city planners and a consultant for the applicant told the council Tuesday.

"There's greater restrictions that are already going to account for future development on this site and create reasonable protection from the airport's activities," city planner Chris Sullivan said.

The planned residential portion of the development is also outside a noise contour line, which should insulate future residents from airport noise, said Jason Alwine of Matrix Design Group, a consultant for the applicant. Noise contour lines show existing or potential areas that could have significant exposure to airport noise.

"We feel confident we can meet all of those noise abatement requirements and still be in line with FAA and city concerns," Alwine said.
In a landmark moment in Colorado Springs' move toward cleaner electricity generation, six new natural gas generating units now stand where coal once piled up near the closed Martin Drake Power Plant downtown.

"The utilities industry is changing by the day  from market costs and technology to regulatory mandates and deadlines," Colorado Springs Utilities Board Chairman Dave Donelson said, in part, in a news release Tuesday. "... I'm excited to commemorate the completion of these natural gas generating units because they represent the balance that we strive for  managing cost impacts and maintaining reliability, while also delivering clean energy."

Colorado Springs Utilities began installing the modular units in September 2021 that officials say will ensure better energy reliability and resiliency for customers. The new turbines will run between 5% and 30% of the time to help fill peak demand on the community's hottest and coldest days and can be started up in minutes, as opposed to the several hours' startup time required by a coal plant, Utilities spokesman Steve Berry said Tuesday.

"Thats really important in managing our electric grid moving forward. ... We want reliable natural gas services in our portfolio so that as technology improves, as battery storage improves, as we get more access to solar and wind (power), then we can carefully make that jump and we're not instituting more onerous financial impacts on our customers," he said.

The new units cost just over $200 million  including the price of the units and the labor to install them  Berry said. They produce low emissions and up to 167 megawatts of power while covering only about 5 acres compared to Drake's 50 acres, he said.

Low emissions outputs are a big advantage because the city must meet evolving state emissions mandates, he said. The new turbines also bring Colorado Springs closer to its goal of reducing carbon emissions at least 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2050.

The new units can also run on natural gas and diesel, allowing Utilities to provide an alternate fuel source on-site if there are any issues with natural gas supply. This helps insulate customers a bit from huge spikes in natural gas costs resulting from supply shortages or interruptions, Berry said.

Eventually, officials will relocate the six modular units out of downtown to other parts of the utility's electric grid "to maintain system resiliency and reliability," the news release states.

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The city is also forging ahead with a year-plus plan to demolish the aging, nearly 100-year-old plant, one of the last remaining urban power plants in the country. Independence Demolition, an Ohio-based company with a Denver office, will oversee the plant's physical breakdown and removal of its old internal equipment, stacks and buildings.

Officials expect demolition to happen in eight phases, with work set to begin in June and wrapping up by the end of 2024.

Closing the coal-fired plant and installing the new modular gas units are steps the city-owned utility is taking not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to add renewable resources like solar and wind power to its portfolio and incorporate new technologies like battery storage into the electric grid.

For example, Utilities plans to bring the 175-megawatt Pike Solar project online by 2024. When it is built, it will be the largest solar facility on Utilities' electric grid, the release said.

Officials estimate renewable energy will account for 27% of Utilities' entire energy portfolio after the Pike Solar project is completed.

By 2025 Utilities also plans to add between 100 to 200 megawatts of battery storage, the first of its kind on the system, officials said in the release. Battery storage can help increase the energy grid's flexibility as new power resources are added to Utilities' portfolio, they said.

The new natural gas generating units can also produce power for a profit on the open market, Berry said.

In August, Utilities joined the Southwest Power Pool to allow for those sales, as well as the ability to tap into that market as needed to purchase lower-cost energy as opposed to the higher-priced and volatile open market, he said.

Joining that pool saved the utility $2.1 million in five months between August and December, Berry said.
The Colorado Springs City Council unanimously approved plans this week to build new businesses and more than 1,600 new homes east of Peterson Air Force Base.

Council members lauded the plan for the new subdivision called Reagan Ranch near Marksheffel Road and Colorado 94 that will stretch across about 235 acres, in part because it includes a mix of housing types. Developers are planning for 1,120 single-family homes and 500 multifamily units. Some of the single-family homes are expected to have built-in apartments, known as accessory dwelling units, to further increase housing choice, developers said.

Councilwoman Jill Gaebler said she expected the new subdivision within Banning Lewis Ranch to draw a diverse population because of the varied housing options.

"I will be watching and cheering for you," said Gaebler, who is set to leave her seat in April.

The council vote was 7-0 to rezone the vacant property from mostly industrial use to allow for office buildings, retail shops, homes, parks and other uses. Council President Richard Skorman and Councilwoman Yolanda Avila were not present for the vote.

Commercial development in the new subdivision is mostly planned directly east of Marksheffel Road, providing a buffer between residences and Peterson Air Force Base. The layout also keeps homes out of the accident-potential zones set by military standards, said Tasha Brackin, a city planner.

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In an earlier meeting, two city planning commissioners opposed the project because it is less than a mile from the Colorado Springs Airport and new residents might have trouble with the noise from aircraft.

Colorado Springs Airport Director Greg Phillips told council members the developers have agreed to ensure noise is below 40 decibels inside homes and residents are informed of the noise from planes and lights from the airport. The Airport Advisory Commission had no objections to the development as long as those conditions are met, he said.

Equity Group owner Danny Mientka said the new subdivision was supported by the Peterson and Schriever Air Force Base commanders and will bring important housing to the area. He said he expected to have home lots ready to sell to builders by January.

"I have every single lot spoken for," he said.

The new subdivision is expected to include about 20 acres of parkland across several sites and 2 miles of trails, Mientka said. The new parks will be built and managed by the new metro districts set up to help fund development of the area.

The city approved three new metro districts for the area last year that have the authority to issue more than $100 million in debt to build utilities connections, roads and other improvements, city documents said. The debt will be paid back through property taxes paid by new home and commercial property owners in the district.
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - A group of abortion providers on Monday filed a lawsuit aiming to preserve access to the abortion pill mifepristone as anti-abortion opponents aim to ban it in a separate case.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Charlottesville, Virginia, is similar to one filed in Spokane, Washington by the Democratic attorneys general of 17 states and the District of Columbia in February.

Both lawsuits name the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a defendant and ask for court orders lifting current federal restrictions on mifepristone, which include a requirement that pharmacies be specially licensed to dispense it.

GenBioPro Inc, which sells a generic version of mifepristone, is also suing to block the FDA from restricting the drug.

Mifepristone is the first of a two-drug regimen used to terminate a pregnancy within the first 10 weeks. It is used in more than half of U.S. abortions.

All three lawsuits come in response to a lawsuit last year by anti-abortion groups in Amarillo, Texas federal court challenging the FDA's approval of the drug in 2000. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk on April 10 suspended approval of the drug.

The same day, the attorneys general won an injunction from U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane barring the FDA from enforcing any additional restrictions on mifepristone in their states.

Kacsmaryk's order was put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court while the Biden administration appeals. The appeal is set to be heard by a panel of three conservative, anti-abortion judges of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals next week.

The providers in Monday's lawsuit - Whole Woman's Health, Blue Mountain Clinic, All Families Healthcare and Trust Women - provide abortions in Virginia, Montana and Kansas, which are not covered by the injunction.

"They and their patients require clarity around their continued provision of mifepristone," the lawsuit said. They said the dueling district court orders had created "day-to-day, week-to-week uncertainty" about using the drug.

The FDA declined to comment. Lawyers for the anti-abortion plaintiffs in the Texas lawsuit did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Bill Berkrot)
EL PASO, Texas  Federal law enforcement from Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on a migrant encampment downtown Tuesday afternoon as part of an enforcement operation targeting immigrants who have been living on the street after evading arrest at the border crossing.

Dozens of federal agents and officers arrived outside Sacred Heart Church midday and walked in groups of six to eight people through alleys and streets where hundreds of makeshift tents line the walls and house immigrants unable to be sheltered by nonprofit groups that received federal funding.

TITLE 42 ENDING: POLICE TO SWEEP OUT 2,500 MIGRANT GOTAWAYS OVERTAKING EL PASO STREETS

Police approached people one on one with other law enforcement stood behind them. The groups of police made their way from a block north of the church five blocks southbound to the port of entry.

The Washington Examiner was on-site at the start of the operation at 2 p.m. local time and followed federal police as they made their way through the streets. Local police remained on scene but stayed at the church and did not participate.

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One senior agent called out instructions to the groups over the radio system. Other ICE and Border Patrol personnel formed a perimeter around the space, remaining further outside the area to respond to anyone who tried to run.

The high number of immigrants that Border Patrol officials had told the Washington Examiner on Monday that it anticipated encountering the following day was far from reality as a result of actions taken overnight to encourage immigrants to surrender.

Original Location: Border Patrol and ICE sweep through migrant camp in El Paso as Title 42 clock ticks down

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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed legislation into law that seeks to push back against the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the state of Florida.

"Florida is taking action to stand against the United States's greatest geopolitical threat  the Chinese Communist Party," DeSantis said in a statement. "I'm proud to sign this legislation to stop the purchase of our farmland and land near our military bases and critical infrastructure by Chinese agents, to stop sensitive digital data from being stored in China, and to stop CCP influence in our education system from grade school to grad school. We are following through on our commitment to crack down on Communist China."

HAWLEY BLASTS BIDEN INVESTIGATION: DEMOCRATS AND THE MEDIA HAVE COVERED FOR THIS PRESIDENT'

On Monday, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 264 that will limit land ownership in the state by Chinese citizens. The law, however, provides means for Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas to purchase single parcels of land that are under two acres and situated at least five miles from military sites.

The governor also signed Senate Bill 258 that bans social media platforms, such as TikTok and WeChat, from use on government devices.

During the bill signing ceremony, DeSantis said the legislation "makes it very clear we don't want the CCP in the Sunshine State."

"They have established a position of economic might, of industrial hegemony, and their military is far stronger today than it was 20 or 25 years ago," DeSantis said. "They have a leader who's very ideological and is intent on expanding CCP influence, not just in their region but even around the globe."

Additionally, DeSantis signed a third bill, Senate Bill 846, that is set to restrict Chinese influence in Florida's educational system through the limiting of gifts, grants, or partnerships with any college or university based in a "foreign country of concern," such as China.

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Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of Florida's university system, praised SB 846, saying it prevents certain countries from being able to "exploit the academic freedom that we have here" in Florida.

The new legislation will take effect on July 1.

Original Location: DeSantis signs bills limiting Chinese influence and purchases of land in Florida

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By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel killed three Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza and at least 10 civilians including several children in surprise pre-dawn air strikes on Tuesday, drawing threats of reprisals and warnings of a further escalation in fighting.

The strikes, targeting senior militant commanders Israel said had planned attacks from Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, were the latest in an extended period of Israeli-Palestinian violence stretching back more than a year.

Islamic Jihad confirmed the death of the commanders, Jihad Ghannam and Tareq Izzeldeen - who an Israeli military spokesman said orchestrated operations in the West Bank and sought to bring rockets to the city of Jenin - as well as Khalil Al-Bahtini who coordinated rockets fired at Israel a week earlier.

As explosions rocked parts of Gaza, a coastal enclave where 2.3 million people live squeezed into an area of just 365 square kilometres, Israeli jets also hit rocket production workshops and military compounds, sending columns of smoke into the sky.

Dawoud Shehab, a spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, said Israel "must expect a response at any moment and anywhere".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the security forces to prepare for any scenario, including an escalation on more than one front.

"In the coming days we will all be required to show patience and resolve," Netanyahu told a press conference in Tel Aviv.

In all, at least 15 Palestinians were killed in the strikes, including a well-known dentist, his wife and 21-year-old son who lived in the same Gaza City apartment block as militant leader Izzeldeen, as well as seven other civilians including women and children elsewhere in the enclave, Palestinian officials said.

Two men died later, Palestinian paramedics said, after Israeli jets hit what the military called an anti-tank team near the southern border of Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

Israeli military spokesmen said the "pinpoint" operation involved 40 aircraft but they confirmed that women and children had been killed.

While the West Bank and Jerusalem have seen a spread of Israeli-Palestinian violence over the past year, exchanges of fire across the fortified Gaza border have also intensified - most recently following the death last week of an Islamic Jihad leader on hunger strike in Israeli custody.

Israel on Tuesday closed roads in towns near the Gaza border, told residents there to keep close to bomb shelters and said it was calling up some military reservists.

Images on social media showed Iron Dome rocket interceptor batteries being taken by truck to the area.

'MORE RESISTANCE'

Islamic Jihad, based in Gaza alongside the larger and more powerful Hamas movement which runs the territory, is one of an array of militant groups that have been increasingly clashing with Israel over the past year.

Israeli officials said that much would depend on how closely Hamas chose to identify itself with any response to the air strikes.

"Assassination of leaders will not bring the Occupation (Israel) security but more resistance," Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who has divided his time recently between Qatar and Turkey, said in a statement.

The Palestinian foreign ministry, based in Ramallah in the West Bank, condemned Israel's air strikes and said a negotiated solution was the only way to achieve security.

Egypt, which has brokered past ceasefires in Gaza, said the Israeli strikes "contradicted the foundations of international law and international resolutions". Qatar condemned the strikes while special U.N. Middle East peace coordinator Tor Wennesland condemned the killing of civilians and called for restraint.

The developments offered a political reprieve for Netanyahu.

Jewish Power, a far-right party in his coalition government, said it was ending a boycott of parliamentary voting called in protest at what it deemed lax policy on Gaza, attributing its decision to "the transition from containment to attack".

More than 100 Palestinians and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have been killed in violence since January.

Israel captured Gaza and the West Bank, areas Palestinians want for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in a 1967 war. Israeli forces and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Peace talks have been frozen since 2014.

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie and Nidal al-Mughrabi; editing by Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie and Mark Heinrich)
Massachusetts's attorney general has joined a team of states calling on the federal government to address the "public health and safety dangers of gas stoves."

In a letter sent to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the attorneys general of 11 states called on the federal government to conduct an investigation into the dangers of gas stoves, which emit nitrogen dioxide. Health experts have warned the fumes can lead to respiratory illnesses.

ENERGY DEPARTMENT PROPOSES STRICTER RULES FOR DISHWASHERS AND VENDING MACHINES

The letter requests that officials develop ventilation standards, increase awareness of the health hazards of gas stoves, and look into transitioning away from gas appliances. It also airs their concern about dangerous chemicals being released into homes while the gas is turned on.

"[The danger] is significant. Usually the folks that bear the brunt are elders, those with preexisting conditions, or children," Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell told WCVB-5 on Monday.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking information on "chronic hazards associated with gas ranges and proposed solutions to those hazards."

The letter comes on the heels of a new law in New York that bans gas stoves in all new residential construction projects. The law will affect projects that include buildings under seven stories in 2026, and taller buildings will have until 2029 to comply.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

California and Washington have already banned fossil fuel-burning appliances through building codes, but New York goes further by preventing new buildings from installing gas stoves

The Department of Energy also proposed new energy efficiency standards in March, which the vast majority of today's gas stoves would not meet.

Original Location: Massachusetts joins group of states asking federal government to address the 'danger' of gas stoves

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By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russians were united in a "sacred" fight with the West over Ukraine but the strains of war were evident at one of the most pared back anniversaries of the victory over Nazi Germany in decades.

Putin has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine - which he casts as a defensive move against a West which wants to carve up Russia - to the challenge Moscow faced when Adolf Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

"The decisive battles for the fate of our Motherland have always become patriotic, all-national and sacred," the 70-year-old president told veterans and soldiers assembled on Red Square for the annual Victory Day parade.

"A real war has again been unleashed against our homeland," he said.

Putin hailed Russian forces in Ukraine as heroes who were fighting for the country's future against a West which, he said, had forgotten the decisive role played by the Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany.

"The whole country rallied to support our heroes. Everyone is ready to help, praying for you," he said of those taking part in what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation".

Putin cheered for "Russia, for our valiant Armed Forces, for victory!"

Cheers rang out across Red Square, with a gun salute and the Russian national anthem, though with a much curtailed show of military hardware - and no aviation. A single tank took part - a T-34, a type used in World War Two.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945.

Kyiv and its allies accuse Putin of waging an unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine to seize land. They deny Putin's claim that the expansion of the NATO alliance to Russia's borders poses a threat to its security or justifies Moscow's invasion.

As many as 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the Ukraine war, which is now in its 15th month and could well grind on well beyond 2023, according to a trove of purported U.S. intelligence documents posted online.

VICTORY DAY

Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 p.m. on May 8, 1945, marked as "Victory in Europe Day" by France, Britain and the United States. In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union's "Victory Day" in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.

The way the Soviet Union and then Russia mark victory over Nazi Germany has changed over the years: the first was ordered by Soviet leader Josef Stalin in June 1945 but May 9 was a normal working day between 1947 and 1965, when Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev ordered a 20th anniversary parade.

Russia's first elected president, Boris Yeltsin, made Victory Day parades an annual event from 1995 onwards. Under Putin, they became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russia's latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

This anniversary falls less than a week after Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin citadel with two drones in an attempt to kill Putin. Kyiv has denied any involvement.

In his speech, Putin said "Western globalist elites" were sowing Russophobia, while the Ukrainian people had become "hostages to a state coup" and to the ambitions of the West.

However Putin also paid tribute to the armies of the United States, Britain and others which had fought the Nazis, and also to China's fight against the Japanese.

Along with the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the crushing of Nazi Germany is Russia's most revered military triumph, though both catastrophic invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its Western borders.

"We want to see a peaceful, free and stable future," Putin said, adding that memorials to Soviet soldiers were being destroyed in a number of countries.

"We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas (in eastern Ukraine), we will ensure our security," said Putin, who was joined in Red Square by leaders of several ex-Soviet republics.

He did not address the challenges facing Russia as its forces prepare for an expected major counter-offensive by Ukraine, or outline any path to victory.

(Additional reporting by Reuters Television;Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan; editing by Gareth Jones and Philippa Fletcher)
The latest guaranteed income program in California is anticipated to start in less than a month, and recipients of the program will get monthly payments of $500.

The yearlong program is intended to help mothers in the city of El Monte, which is home to more than 100,000 people. A total of 125 recipients were selected through a randomized lottery in April, and payments are anticipated to be sent out on June 1, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

CALIFORNIA REPARATIONS: $800 BILLION PLAN COULD COME UNSTUCK BY MASSIVE BUDGET SHORTFALL

"Individuals selected to participate in the program will be issued a debit card," a city manager's office representative told the Washington Examiner.

"Every month, the city will load $500 on the debit card. Individuals can use it to pay for goods and services at any location that accepts debit cards. The city will provide training on how to use the debit card for participants."

Applications for this program opened on March 27 and remained open until April 15.

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To have been eligible, an applicant must have been living in El Monte, be a single female head of household with no spouse or partner in the house, and have children younger than 17. Applicants also had to verify their income was at or below the federal poverty line, be able to show a need for financial assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic, and be able to submit documents verifying school enrollment, proof of residency, and proof of income and a government-issued identification card.

This guaranteed income program is one of several issuing payments to residents in California. In Sonoma County, recipients of the Pathway to Income Equity pilot program, who receive $500 every month, will receive their next payment on May 17, and another guaranteed income program, which pays recipients $800 every month, will send its next payment on May 15.

Original Location: Stimulus check update: Direct payment of $500 expected to be paid to El Monte residents in 23 days

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By Mahamat Ramadane, Joe Bavier and Emma Farge

GOUNGOUR, Chad (Reuters) - When a power struggle between Sudan's rival military leaders shattered a tenuous peace in her village in Sudan's western region of Darfur, Halime Yacoub Issac's first instinct was to take her five children and run.

But four days after seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad - a country with its own dire humanitarian crisis - she had yet to receive any assistance and was just hoping they wouldn't starve.

"We're entirely dependent on food Chadian families give us," Issac told Reuters, sitting in a rare patch of shade near the border village of Goungour with other newly arrived women and children, some of them orphans.

Nearby, hundreds of families were camped out under trees or had built flimsy shelters out of sticks and bedsheets that swayed in the wind.

The battles between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that erupted in the capital Khartoum in mid-April have now engulfed large parts of Sudan, killing hundreds, wounding thousands and unleashing a humanitarian disaster that could not have come at a worse time.

Africa was already facing a deepening set of crises  from drought to floods and a growing list of armed conflicts  that has seen demand surge for life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Now, according to an internal U.N. estimate obtained by Reuters, 5 million additional people in Sudan will require emergency assistance, half of them children.

By October, some 860,000 people are expected to flee to neighbouring countries including Chad, placing additional strain on nations already facing some of the world's most under-funded humanitarian crises. (For a FACTBOX please click [L8N3740DW])

Yet a Reuters analysis of United Nations funding data for Africa shows financial support from key donor governments is dropping off.

Securing additional money is a long shot, 12 aid workers, diplomats and donor government officials told Reuters. More likely, they said, funding gaps will grow as Europe focuses on Ukraine, post-Brexit Britain turns inward, and some lawmakers in the United States, the world's largest donor, target budget cuts.

"There is going to be less funding this year," the World Food Programme's (WFP) new executive director, Cindy McCain, told Reuters during a visit to Somalia this month. "I pray that there won't be. But the reality of it is that there is going to be less."

Every day, hundreds of Sudanese trek across the desert scrubland and dry riverbeds that make up large sections of the country's 1,400-km (870-mile) border with Chad. Some 30,000 have arrived so far, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, which expects it will need to establish five new camps to accommodate them.

Aid agencies are rushing to distribute emergency food and register new arrivals, but resources are tight. Even before the latest crisis, U.N. humanitarian appeals for Africa faced a $17-billion funding gap this year, risking leaving millions without lifesaving assistance.

Desperation is growing among the refugees. Chadian soldiers used whips on Sunday to beat back dozens of women who had started grabbing bags of provisions in Koufroune, another border village, when they saw that supplies brought by a Turkish aid group were running out.

"You've got this huge arc of misery across this part of Africa, and Sudan is just the latest crisis to be added to that in humanitarian terms," Andrew Mitchell, Britain's minister of state for development and Africa, said during a trip to Kenya this month.

DONORS PULL BACK

Between 2020 and this year, Africa's needs reflected in U.N. appeals grew nearly 27%. But as wealthy countries began looking inward to shield their citizens from the COVID-19 pandemic, many cut back on humanitarian activities abroad.

Britain, for example, announced in 2021 it would temporarily reduce its aid budget to 0.5% of gross national income from 0.7% to pay for the pandemic response. Last year, it spent a third of its overseas aid budget housing refugees inside the UK, a British aid watchdog said in March.

"There's no question that very large amounts of money have been lost," Mitchell said, asked about Britain's aid budget.

Between 2020, when the UK was the third-biggest contributor to U.N. humanitarian appeals in Africa, and 2022, its contribution dropped by 55%. Mitchell declined to say how much the UK would contribute for 2023.

Funding for U.N. appeals does not reflect all donor money for Africa, but relief agencies and government officials say it is indicative of broader contribution trends.

Britain isn't an outlier - and Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year has accelerated the exodus, humanitarian officials say.

Between 2021 and 2022, the continent's humanitarian needs rose by nearly 13%. But leading donors, including Canada, Sweden, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands, all scaled back funding for Africa, the U.N. data showed.

The United States has in recent years stepped in to fill gaps. Washington nearly doubled its contribution for the U.N.'s Africa appeals between 2020 and 2022. Last year, it provided nearly $6.4 billion, or over 56% of all funding.

That looks set to change, however.

Most of Washington's added support has come via supplemental budget appropriations from Congress, initially for pandemic relief and last year to mitigate fallout from the Ukraine war.

But U.S. lawmakers are now embroiled in a fight over the debt ceiling, with many Republicans focused on cutting budgets, not expanding them.

"With this Congress, it's unlikely there will be more supplemental funding," said one U.S. official involved in humanitarian response, who was not authorised to speak to the media.

Without it, overall U.S. humanitarian spending will fall by nearly 20% to $10.5 billion in 2023, with a further decline to $8.5 billion next year.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For aid agencies, that's meant belt-tightening.

WFP has cut rations in Nigeria, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Without additional financing, the agency told Reuters, it will halt all assistance for over 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people in Chad this month.

Sudan was hosting over 1 million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria, before the outbreak of fighting last month. A third of Sudan's own 46 million citizens also relied on aid, according to the U.N.

But the lack of funding has forced WFP to cut back on nutrition interventions for mothers and young children since last year. Now, the violence has brought some humanitarian operations to a standstill. Aid workers have been killed, food aid looted, and WFP says it's running out of stocks.

UNHCR is appealing for an additional half billion dollars for Sudan. But the U.N.'s joint appeal for the country - a request for $1.75 billion that predates the latest violence - is only 15% funded.

"I've been briefing our donors constantly since day one," said one international aid official, who asked not to be named for fear of antagonising benefactors. "They all say it's great that you're committed to helping the Sudanese people, but it stops there."

'CATASTROPHICALLY UNDERFUNDED'

Humanitarian agencies are rushing to reallocate resources to Sudan fallout. With record numbers of Africans already going hungry, it's a zero-sum game.

Aid workers off-loaded jugs of cooking oil and sacks of grain onto the dusty ground in eastern Chad last week, as crowds of Sudanese refugees waited patiently nearby.

But that food had been earmarked to help needy Chadians make it to the next harvest and will need to be replenished. Just 4.6% of Chad's own U.N. appeal has been financed this year.

WFP says it has scraped together enough provisions to support 20,000 new refugees for one month, but it's expecting five times that number.

Food prices in local markets are sky-rocketing due to demand from refugees, and malnutrition admissions at health centres have spiked.

"It's an extra strain on the entire Chadian population," said Pierre Honnorat, the WFP director in Chad. "It's becoming very, very hard."

A similar scenario is playing out in South Sudan, where some 35,000 people have arrived from Sudan. Most are South Sudanese who fled north to escape their own country's violence.

"We left our homes in South Sudan. We left our homes in Sudan. We've left our homes everywhere to come sit in a desert like this," said Suzan William, who had been working as a nurse in Khartoum when the fighting broke out and was waiting for food near the border.

Elsewhere in Africa, other disasters, including a looming famine in Somalia, are also vying for money.

Concerned about support from traditional donors, aid agencies are courting new sources - notably Gulf States - but they are struggling.

"I'm really worried for 2023, honestly," Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Reuters.

"The only fully funded operation in the world now is in Ukraine. All other operations are catastrophically underfunded."

(Joe Bavier reported from Washington and Emma Farge from Geneva; Additional reporting by Zohra Bensemra in Koufroune, Chad, Denis Elamu in Renk, South Sudan, Aidan Lewis in Cairo, David Lewis in Nairobi, Edward McAllister in Dakar, and Ayenat Mersie in Mogadishu; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Daniel Flynn)
Montana residents are set to receive a tax rebate worth up to $2,500 in July.

The state expects to start issuing the payments on July 1. The amount taxpayers will receive from this rebate will either be the amount a resident reported on line 20 of their 2021 Montana Form 2, or $1,250 for single filers and $2,500 for married couples filing jointly, whichever is less, according to the Montana Department of Revenue.

STIMULUS CHECK UPDATE: DIRECT PAYMENT WORTH $800 TO BE PAID OUT TO RECIPIENTS IN EIGHT DAYS

To qualify for the money, a Montana resident must have been a resident of the state for the whole 2021 tax year, which started on Jan. 1, 2021, and they must have also filed several documents. Among these documents are a 2020 Montana resident or part-year resident return and a 2021 Montana resident tax return. They must have been filed before the 2021 tax filing deadline.

Additionally, eligible recipients must not have been claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer in 2021, and the amount of money they entered in line 20 of their 2021 Montana Form 2 must have been greater than zero.

This rebate will be sent via direct deposit or mail, depending on how a state taxpayer requested their refund or paid taxes on their most recent state income tax return. People who requested their refund through direct deposit will likewise have this rebate sent to them electronically, while those who requested their refund as a paper check will get this rebate in the mail.

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If a Montana resident is eligible for the payment, they will not have to take further steps to ensure it is sent to them. The state's revenue department will automatically send all rebates to their respective recipients.

Another tax rebate Montana residents can anticipate is the Property Tax Rebate, which will give eligible recipients up to $500. Residents can begin claiming this rebate on Aug. 15, and all requests to claim it are due on Oct. 1.

Original Location: Tax rebate 2023: Montana residents to receive rebates worth up to $2,500 starting in July

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) condemned President Joe Biden's border security policies amid escalated criticism against the administration ahead of the end of Title 42.

"Joe Biden used to care about the war on drugs & border security, but the Joe Biden in this video isn't around anymore," Greene tweeted Monday. "Title 42 ends Thursday and CBP estimates 700,000 are going to rush the border."

TITLE 42 ENDING: BIDEN SLAMMED BY FELLOW DEMOCRATS BEFORE BORDER POLICY DEADLINE

Greene's remarks are a response to a video of then-Delaware Sen. Biden appearing to speak on the floor about securing the border to end the war on drugs. "We must stem the flow of drugs into our border and across our borders," Biden said.

Biden goes on to say the bill he is commenting on will "assign Coast Guard law enforcement teams to Navy ships to bring the Department of Defense more actively into the fight against drug trafficking."

Greene has questioned Biden's handling of border security in the past, and she recently visited the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, with a delegation of Republican members of Congress led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

"The human suffering that has happened and is happening and will happen if Title 42 is repealed and lifted, and the amount of people that are expected to come across this border start coming, this will bring human suffering, death and crime like we have never seen," Greene said on April 24, according to ABC News.

Greene's comment comes weeks after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas silenced her before the committee. The move came after she blasted a member of her own party, calling Mayorkas a "liar" while discussing Biden administration's border policies.

Pressure is ramping up from the GOP as Title 42 is set to end May 11, and border towns are experiencing an influx of immigrants. Republicans are gathering support for their Secure the Border Act, the party's solution to the immigration crisis, which will be put to a vote Thursday.

The White House said in a statement Monday that the president would veto the House GOP bill aiming to restrict asylum.

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"While we welcome Congress' engagement on meaningful steps to address immigration and the challenges at the border, this bill would make things worse, not better," the statement reads. "Because this bill does very little to actually increase border security while doing a great deal to trample on the Nation's core values and international obligations, it should be rejected."

"We are passing H.R. 2 our strong border security bill," Greene wrote. "Joe needs to sign it."

Original Location: Title 42 ending: Marjorie Taylor Greene slams Biden over border security

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A leading anti-abortion group appears to have buried the hatchet with former President Donald Trump weeks after publicly souring on him.

Leaders of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America met with Trump on Monday and came out praising his commitment to the anti-abortion cause.

TOP ANTI-ABORTION ORGANIZATION CALLS OUT TRUMP FOR 'MORALLY INDEFENSIBLE POSITION'

"This afternoon I joined Senator Lindsey Graham and Tony Perkins for a terrific meeting with President Trump. His presidency was the most consequential in American history for the pro-life cause," President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement.

Last month, Trump rankled the group when his campaign suggested the Supreme Court "got it right when they ruled this is an issue that should be decided at the state level."

SBA said the campaign's apparent position of rejecting major federal restrictions on abortion was a "morally indefensible position."

The fight came in the context of Republicans grappling with the hot-button matter nationally. Strict anti-abortion positions, such as six-week bans and not considering exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the mother, are unpopular positions that have left Republicans scrambling.

Dannenfelser lauded Trump for affirming his commitment to opposing "extreme" liberal views on the matter.

"During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his opposition to the extreme Democratic position of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth, paid for by taxpayers," Dannenfelser added. "Trump reiterated that any federal legislation protecting these children would need to include the exceptions for life of the mother and in cases of rape and incest."

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Trump was the first sitting president to attend the March for Life and had a strong relationship with SBA throughout his presidency. His dust-up with the anti-abortion group came amid efforts to lock down support from evangelical voters in the crowded 2024 GOP primary.

Other contenders in the 2024 arena moved to outflank him on the matter. For instance, shortly after Trump's remarks caused a stir, contender former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) delivered an anti-abortion message at SBA headquarters.

Original Location: Trump wins back favor of top anti-abortion group after questioning GOP strategy

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Airports are interesting places, something that I liken to a kind of voluntary prison.

Few things have been more affected in American life since 2020 than air travel. What began with a virtual standstill at our airports, followed by a year long period of fits and starts has now become a full fledged stampede. Peoples desire to hit the road is unquenchable.

This unquenching for me began recently on a trip to New York City. It started out easily enough, flying out of Colorado Springs. An airport I would later learn by comparison to be a great airport. But we soon had to transfer through Cell Block C (I mean terminal C) of Denver International.

And if I left half of my parents behind for this trip, I learned quickly they had only been replaced by 90 new ones. TSA agents, unlike my parents, expect their orders to be followed the first time. Shoes off? Yes Maam! You need to go through my personal stuff? Here, let me help you out.

And if TSA agents are like the prison wardens, air traffic control is upper management. Invisible, inaccessible to the average person, and yet playing an important role affecting all of us. Flight attendants, at their best, provide comedic relief, on a day that many would rather forget.

And of course there are the snacks. No matter how much the fares increase, our beloved airlines constantly find ways to make our snack bags smaller until I think even a small child would be left wanting. Thank you Southwest for the 10 small pretzels on my 3 hour flight. They were delicious!

We dutifully lined up in predetermined orders, read signs well, and tried to follow directions. Together, the assembled cast stood as a reminder that what existed of my teenage freedoms were being left far behind in Colorado Springs. For all its inconveniences though, the age of jet travel far surpasses anything our ancestors could have possibly imagined as they, going in the opposite direction, settled our fair hills and valleys.

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After a long flight, we landed at the new LaGuardia Airport, which looks something like a beached starship, glistening white and bustling with people from all over the world.

Ironically, it is constructed uncomfortably close to an actual prison, the infamous Rikers Island.

And at the end of my journey, perhaps not unlike a prisoner freed after a long sentence, we left with our bags in hand and a happier spirit.

Walking past fellow travelers embracing their beloved family members after homecomings long delayed, we boarded the SRS-60 bus for Manhattan Island, excited for our own new adventures which included staying in a hostel, but that is an article for another day.

Was air travel in 2023 all I hoped it could be? Certainly not.

But like in life, sometimes difficult journeys are worth the destination.

Ruth Wiseman is a Colorado native and a dual-enrolled high school student attending Pikes Peak State College.
Op/Ed made readers day

As we turned off tragedy TV on Sunday morning, with updates on the subway death of a homeless man, the Allen, Texas mall shooting and the breaking news of migrants being mowed down at a bus stop in Brownsville, Texas, we opened todays (Sunday) Gazette. I stumbled on the Sunday Perspective Section and just paused over the Guest Opinion article, Making the Best of a Crazy Situation by Maria Mason. From the first few lines I knew that it would be a treat.

I started reading it out loud (something I rarely do) to my bride of 46 years. Ms. Mason found herself the only girl in a nine-person class at Chesterton Academy of our Lady of Walsingham, a small classical Catholic high school in Colorado Springs.

She describes her experience in beautiful prose. She found her eight other (boy) classmates often acted  well  like boys (Who would have thunk it?). Despite their often childlike and boorish behavior she grew to understand them and they her. She felt seen and protected. She did so without the normal vitriolic screed one sees on social media, television and newsprint. She grew to think of them as brothers and closed saying that ....this is where good men come from. I do not know Maria Mason or her eight Brothers, but I do trust that their parents are very proud of them, and I thank them for making my day.

I wish them all the very best in their future.

John R. Combs

Colorado Springs

Such an uplifting article

What a marvelous guest opinion by Maria Mason, Making the best of a crazy situation. Thanks for finding and including it in your Perspective Section on the Op/Ed page.

Just when I thought America has lost its way, she writes of eight young men who give us hope.

Most importantly, she wrote such an uplifting article that shows she knows what is important in life.

All nine of those young people must have good parents who are willing to sacrifice something to send their children to a school that rewards good behavior. Unquestionably, we will be hearing from Ms. Mason again.

Dennis L. Cripps

Colorado Springs

Teachers not compensated

I would like to commend School District 11 for providing their teachers the days and times that they are able to pick up food from the Food Bank so they are able to feed their families instead of getting a Cost of Living raise. Parents of D-11 students, quite a few of the outstanding teachers will go to districts that care about their students having quality compensated teachers!

Mike Olmstead

Colorado Springs

Stalled project mars neighborhood

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A new housing development broke ground across the street from our Newport Heights neighborhood two summers ago. The ground cover was removed, and the dirt and rock were ground, sifted, and shaped into a partially finished plan of a neighborhood. Large piles of dirt remain. The dust blows into our homes and yards whenever it gets windy, which is often.

Progress is at a near standstill on this nine acre plot of land, with two of the 31 lots under development. The rest is a moonscape of uncovered, blowing dirt. Mud will be coming soon with the summer rains. This is a problem from an environmental, health, and aesthetic standpoint.

I believe the city has a responsibility to ensure that developers in general, and this developer, in particular  show care for the environment and courtesy to the surrounding neighbors.

Whats happening across the street from us is unacceptable.

Benjamin Fromuth Sr.

Colorado Springs

Dont be fooled

Everything is falling into place perfectly for the legislators who currently have the majority at the Denver capital. This is a perfect example of never letting a good crises go to waste. They claim they are coming to the rescue of Colorado homeowners with the passage of Senate Bill 303 which upon passage would put a proposition on the November ballot asking voters  as stated in the May 5 Gazette to raise whats called the Ref C cap by 1% and keep that additional revenue for a 10 year period.

They claim they are doing this to help Colorado homeowners who are experiencing outrageous property tax increases. They want us taxpayers to forfeit our TABOR refunds which they have been trying to do for years. In reality, allowing taxpayers to keep our TABOR refunds as the current law demands will put more money in our pockets than the tax relief they are promising and will only give them what they have wanted for years  our TABOR money. And keep in mind  this proposition will do nothing to help the people who rent  the very people our legislators claim they want to help.

Colorado voters: dont be fooled into letting legislators get their hands on your TABOR refunds. In November vote to keep your TABOR refunds.

Sharon Ferguson

Woodland Park

Opinion disguised as facts

First let me say that as a county, not city, resident I cannot vote in the mayoral election. However, I do have an interest in the outcome and have watched the race. If anyone has any doubt where the Gazette stands consider the several opinion pieces pleading for residents to vote for Wayne Williams. But wait, theres more on the front page of the Sunday Gazette the top news articles feature opinions about Williams and Yemi Mobolade.

The Williams piece offers only positive information with nary a hint of his relationship with homebuilders. On the other hand, the Yemi Mobolade piece spends almost every paragraph pointing out troubling facts about his career.

Opinion can easily be disguised as facts by simply deciding which facts to present and what words to use in that presentation. This seems to violate the very essence of the Gazettes Commitment to distinctly separate news and opinion.

I dont know who I would vote for if I could vote in this election, but I would urge the Gazette to be more even-handed in its reporting on this important subject.

Randy Dipner

Colorado Springs
The House approved on Monday a measure that will ask voters to forego part of their TABOR refunds in exchange for providing tax relief to property owners.

Republicans  angered by what they described as the bills attempt to bribe Coloradans to vote for the ballot measure  walked out of the House chambers in protest and refused to vote on Senate Bill 303.

The bill passed on a vote of 46-0, with 19 excused. The bill at this hour is back in the state Senate, awaiting a decision on House amendments.

Senate Bill 303 would ask voters this November for permission to raise whats called the Referendum C cap by 1% and keep that additional revenue for a 10-year period. That would generate about $167 million per year, which, in turn, would be funneled to local governments to hold them harmless from reductions in property tax revenue.

The action is Democrats response to skyrocketing property taxes, due in part to the voter-backed repeal of the Gallagher Amendment in 2020 and rising home values, with some counties reporting increases of 50%, raising worries that many, particularly older Coloradans on fixed income, would get priced out of their homes.

As introduced, SB 303 offered no provisions for holding harmless renters, who make about 40% of Coloradans, leading to sharp criticism the Democrat-backed property tax plan effectively takes money away from renters  on average by about $46 per taxpayer  and give that money to homeowners and commercial property owners.

However, during Sundays session, Democrats sweetened the pot  and not for the last time  for renters by adding an amendment that would divert $20 million from the TABOR surplus that will also go to local governments to a housing development grant fund.

The fund would then be used to reduce the amount of property taxes paid as a portion of a tenants rent.

The bill also diverts some of that TABOR surplus to the state education fund, which covers the state share of K-12 education.

The House began its final debate on the bill, which gave Republicans the opportunity to ask for the 63-page measure to be read at length. House Democrats than put off the final vote for hours while sponsors worked out additional amendments.

SB 303 had been amended on Monday prior to the final vote. Normally, third reading amendments are intended to make technical corrections, but the bills Democratic sponsors went beyond that  with a change intended to sweeten the pot further in an effort to persuade voters to approve Proposition HH.

That amendment hiked the valuation reduction from $40,000 to $50,000.

Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, said the General Assembly can lower the state assessment rates at any time.

We chose not to, she said.

Local governments rely, sometimes also exclusively, on property taxes, and yet, she added, Do you know who wasnt at the table for this conversation? Local governments.

The carve-out, she argued, is meant to buy votes.

Republicans also pushed for a third-reading amendment, but Democrats denied them permission to offer it.

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But it was the second amendment from co-sponsor Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, that resulted in Republicans refusing to vote both on the permission to allow for the more substantive changes and on the amendment itself. All 19 Republicans were marked as excused with protest.

The amendment, as well as the previous one, would ensure fire districts got their share of the property tax backfill.

And with the final vote on tap, Republicans walked out. All 19 were marked as absent rather than excused.

The Republican caucus then gathered on the west side of the Capitol and waited for the final vote to take place.

A frustrated House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, told reporters they left because theyve been silenced.

(SB 303) is a big scheme that the governor waited until the last minutes of session to pull this sort of big legislation, he said.

He added the final straw was that House Democrats were allowed to introduce their amendments but Republicans were denied.

Were just done with how they have jammed this agenda through. They have two thirds of majority and theyve used more rules than theyve ever used before in the history of this state, he said. We dont know what we can do to get the voices of our people heard. Were sad for the people of Colorado that are about to get the biggest tax increase in their life.

Our votes dont matter, he said.

SB 303 then headed back to the Senate for review of House amendments.

The last time a walkout occurred was likely in 2003, when Senate Democrats refused to vote on a congressional redistricting bill. The Senate at that time was 18-17 in favor of Republicans; 13 Democrats were marked as excused, with another four marked as present.

Earlier in the day Monday, the Senate gave its final approval to House Bill 1311, the accompanying measure that was rushed through the General Assembly in its final three days, and which intends to equalize TABOR refunds.

Under the measure, single taxpayers would receive $661 refunds; joint filers, $1,322.

It would replace the states current six-tiered sales tax refund, but would only go into effect if voters approve Proposition HH, the provisions of SB 303.

Republicans pointed out that the state can enact those changes without making it contingent on voter approval.

The bill was approved on a 23-12 party-line vote, and now heads to the governor.
The Colorado Supreme Court has signaled it may intervene in three ongoing criminal cases, including one where the district attorney's office chronically fails to turn over evidence to defendants  a practice that violates procedural rules and has angered trial judges in central Colorado.

In the past few weeks, the Supreme Court has ordered parties to provide more information in multiple proceedings appealed directly from the trial courts. Mid-case appeals to the Supreme Court are permitted when there is an imminent harm that the normal appeals process cannot rectify.

The state's highest court will examine whether a Fremont County judge correctly reduced the severity of a murder charge in response to prosecutors' repeated disregard of evidentiary rules, whether an Arapahoe County judge properly denied a man's request to withdraw his guilty plea, and if jurors in Boulder County should be allowed to hear certain details favorable to the defendant in a sex assault case.

'You have to do your job'

The 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office, which covers Chaffee, Custer, Fremont and Park counties, has persistently withheld evidence from criminal defendants. Multiple judges have found the office violated Rule 16, which requires prosecutors to turn over certain statements, reports and media to the defense. A judge in one case wrote that the pattern was "negligent, bordering on, reckless."

Police arrested Joseph James Tippet in January for shooting and killing his sleeping father. He quickly confessed to law enforcement that he committed the offense. Prosecutors charged Tippet with first-degree murder on Jan. 17.

The next day in court, Tippet's attorney indicated the defense had not yet received evidence. Magistrate Michael W. Meyrick ordered prosecutors to turn over their materials within 10 days.

In early March, the defense moved to sanction the district attorney's office, alleging prosecutors had disclosed evidence days or weeks beyond the deadline, even though they had it in their possession much earlier, and that there were still materials missing.

At the next hearing, the prosecutor arrived late and unprepared to talk about the case. The hearing after that, Deputy District Attorney David Little insisted he did not need to disclose all evidence at this stage of Tippet's case.

"The law requires that you produce it, that you produce it within 21 days of his first appearance. We are far beyond that," Meyrick scolded him. "You have to do your job. You simply have to do it. And there is a pattern of this office not doing it."

On March 31, District Court Judge Kaitlin B. Turner held a hearing on Tippet's request to sanction the prosecution by reducing the first-degree murder charge to a second-degree offense. Turner, who formerly led the district attorney's office prior to losing to current District Attorney Linda Stanley in 2020, was unamused at Little's claim that he had no idea what the pattern of evidentiary violations could be.

"I hear often from individual deputy district attorneys, 'I don't know everything. I'm only responsible for my own cases.' And I'm struggling to understand who is responsible for your office then?" Turner said.

She added that even if Tippet had confessed, he was entitled to effective assistance from counsel, which could not occur if the district attorney withheld evidence.

"You're wrong about the fact that there's no prejudice by the continued discovery violations by your office. You're wrong. OK?" she told Little.

Shortly afterward, Turner issued a written order directing prosecutors to reduce Tippet's murder charge as a sanction. She cited 20 other cases, including sex and homicide offenses, in which the office under Stanley's leadership failed to disclose evidence and often dismissed the charges.

"None of these problems is new," Turner wrote.

Stanley's office appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing Turner could not tell it what charges to file. The office claimed Turner never gave it a chance to show the pattern of evidentiary violations was, instead, "isolated events over time with no logical connection."

The Supreme Court has directed Turner and Tippet's counsel to respond to the prosecution's petition. Currently, legal regulators in Colorado are investigating Stanley's potential misconduct and she is also being sued for her handling of a high-profile murder case that a judge ultimately dismissed.

The case is People v. Tippet.

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Consequences of domestic violence

In August 2022, Richard Qu pleaded guilty in Arapahoe County to a misdemeanor domestic violence offense. He received an 18-month deferred sentence, meaning that if he fulfilled the required conditions  including domestic violence treatment  the case against him would ultimately be dismissed.

"Do you understand, sir, that this case will be a domestic violence case until and unless you complete the deferred judgment?" County Court Judge Kelly LaFave asked Qu at the time of his plea.

"Yes, OK," Qu replied, as his lawyer added that the deferred sentence was "appropriate."

Several months later, Qu requested to withdraw his guilty plea. A new attorney alleged Qu had not known that committing a domestic violence offense would affect his divorce case, and specifically Qu's ability to share custody of his daughter.

"Had he known that his plea would hurt his ability to see his own children, he would not have accepted the agreement or pled guilty," wrote lawyer Josh Amos.

LaFave denied Qu's motion to withdraw his plea, noting the procedural rules require defendants to make such a request before a sentence is imposed or suspended, as it was for Qu.

Qu appealed directly to the Supreme Court, arguing a deferred sentence is not the same as a suspended sentence. If Qu were to continue with his domestic violence treatment and make statements about his criminal conduct, those could be used against him in his divorce.

"Therefore, even if Mr. Qu successfully completes the domestic violence treatment as part of his deferred sentencing, thus dismissing the plea of guilty, the plea agreement in and of itself harms custody of his daughter," Amos wrote.

The Supreme Court ordered the government to explain why Qu should not be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.

The case is People v. Qu.

Evidence of sexual history

Colorado's "rape shield" law serves to exclude evidence of a victim's sexual history from a criminal case, in order to prevent irrelevant "fishing expeditions" into the victim's conduct.

Bryan Andrew Burkhalter stands accused of sexual assault through force in Boulder County. A forensic examination of the alleged victim, one day after she and Burkhalter had intercourse, revealed bruises and tears to her body and genitals.

Burkhalter sought to introduce evidence that the victim had sex with a different man the day prior to her encounter with Burkhalter. In the defense's view, the victim's wounds could be the product of multiple sexual encounters, rather than any force by Burkhalter.

Earlier this year, District Court Judge Nancy W. Salomone refused to admit the evidence under the rape shield law. She also barred the the defense's expert witness from speaking about the different possible sources of the victim's injuries.

Days before his scheduled trial, Burkhalter appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the prosecution would present a skewed narrative to jurors if Salomone's ruling were upheld.

The Supreme Court ordered Salomone to respond to Burkhalter's claims.

The case is People v. Burkhalter.
Gov. Jared Polis housing proposal  which, as originally introduced sought to impose state mandates and effectively strip local governments of their authority over land use and zoning  is dead after all-day negotiations failed to find a compromise between the Senate and House versions.

The bills failure marks the biggest defeat for Polis, who has been able to persuade the General Assemblys Democrats to support his major policy proposals every year since he took office in January 2019.

At just after 7 p.m., Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, confirmed the bill is dead for the 2023 session.

You win some, you lose some, said Rep. Steven Woodrow, the House sponsor of Senate Bill 213, which will be allowed to die on the calendar without the Senate ever discussing the amendments made by the House.

The Senate had effectively gutted the bill, turning it into a requirement for a statewide housing needs assessment, but House Democrats restored substantial portions of what had been gutted, setting up a showdown with the Senate.

A contingent of Senate Democrats, including Joint Budget Committee chair Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, is believed to be opposed to the House changes, particularly efforts to hand over to the state control of zoning. Zenzinger referred to it as her bright line over which she would not cross, and sources said there were at least six more Democrats backing that position, which would be more than enough to get the Senate to adhere to its version and rebuff the House changes.

Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, had hoped his caucus would agree to a conference committee, but the announcement of the bills defeat came before the Senate returned to conclude its business for the 2023 session.

Polis identified housing as his top priority in his 2023 State of the State address, mentioning it 37 times.

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In a statement, Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said, Changing the status quo isnt easy.

The governor, Cahill said, is deeply disappointed that politics and special interests continue to delay delivering real results for aging Colorado seniors who want to downsize, young families who want to live close to their work and the communities where they grew up, and businesses struggling with workplace shortages because of artificially high housing costs.

He said the governor and his allies are deeply committed to tackling the higher and higher costs facing Coloradans. Polis, he said, is confident that reducing costly barriers to housing will prevail.

The Colorado Municipal League, which represents 270 cities and towns and led the opposition to SB 213, raised concerns about its unconstitutional preemption of home rule authority and inappropriate intrusion into local control.

However, CML had also offered a vision of meaningful legislation that it and its members could support, emphasizing partnership over preemption, the group said, adding it is optimistic about future discussions and stakeholder engagement.

Kevin Bommer, CMLs executive director, repeatedly said that stakeholder engagement did not happen with SB 213.

Early in the legislative session and in testimony, CML committed to a vision of affordable housing legislation Colorado municipalities could support and that would both preserve constitutional home rule and local control, as well as address the urgent need for affordable housing across the state, Bommer said. We still are committed to that vision.
Colorado officials on Monday pleaded for help from the federal government, saying they anticipate an ocean of needs with the expected spike of immigrants arriving in Denver beginning this month.

A Trump-era policy that effectively kept border crossings low is expiring this week. Already, Denver officials began to see more immigrants arriving last week.

In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mayor Michael Hancock and Gov. Jared Polis urged to the federal government to take action and provide additional resources as Title 42 expires on Thursday.

We implore the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and relevant federal partner agencies to bolster direct support for non-border jurisdictions that are struggling to meet the immense human need resulting from continued migrant arrivals, they said in their letter to Alejandro Mayorkas Secretary, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Despite the clear federal responsibility for immigration policy and border security in the United States, the responsibility for recent arrivals has fallen on cities and states across the nation including Denver, the State of Colorado and local non-governmental agencies (NGOs). As a result, we experienced a significant and unreimbursed drain of local financial resources that unfairly and disproportionately impacts our residents.

For the past four days, Denver said more than 200 new immigrants arrived every day from America's southern border, a significant increase from the 20-30 people who came to to Denver for much of March and April.

Currently, more than 800 people are housed in four migrant shelters operating in Denver. The shelters are at near-capacity, and officials called on other partners, specifically faith-based communities, to provide overnight shelters for immigrants who are scheduled to leave Denver the next day.

Below are the most up-to-date numbers as of May 7:

Immigrants who arrived overnight: 241

Immigrants in city emergency shelters: 123

Immigrants in partner emergency shelters: 630

Total number of immigrants served by the city since Dec. 9: 8,123

Hancock and Polis noted the Colorado state government already spent $8.35 million, while Denver has expended more than $14 million since December 2022 to provide shelter, food and support to more than 7,000 immigrants.

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While Federal partners point to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program - Humanitarian (EFSP-H) to help us with expenses, the program is not equipped to keep up with the veritable ocean of human needs as arrivals continue, they said. We were encouraged by the increase in funding in the federal fiscal year 2023. But, we are extremely disappointed that the EFSP-H funded neither the City of Denver nor the State of Colorado adequately despite several requests and applications for funding. EFSP-H funded less than four percent of these massive cost.

They added: For perspective, EFSP-H reimbursed the City of Denver for one weeks worth of services. We remain deeply concerned that our jurisdictions will not be fairly reimbursed for shouldering this unprecedented federal responsibility.

The two officials said non-border states, such as Colorado, are very much impacted by this crisis and that additional funding from the feds is essential to caring for the needs of immigrants while maintaining solvency of our local finances.

Since December, Denver has accommodated more than 7,700 immigrants, costing the city more than $14 million through May 5, officials said.

Beginning on May 8, Denver will follow updated federal guidance to provide emergency shelter only to newly-arriving migrants who have been encountered by U.S. immigration officials and only "if there is capacity" to accommodate them. The city said it would continue to connect each immigrant who arrives in Denver to support services and resources. All arriving immigrants  or existing emergency shelters  will get backpacks with hygiene products, the city added.

Last week, the city said two of its four immigrant shelters are already filled, while the remaining two very soon won't be able to accommodate more people.

The inpouring of immigrants fleeing Central and South America  particularly Venezuela  is emblematic of the U.S. border crisis with Mexico, a humanitarian crisis that has spilled over into other cities, including Denver, which is more than 600 miles from the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas.

Indeed, cities feel the inescapable brunt of the crisis.

At one point, Hancock said that Denver's finances "are at the brink."

"And as mayor and as members of City Council, as agency leaders, weve got to be honest and say we cant do any more. We have come to that point, he said, blaming the unfolding crisis in his city on the nations broken immigration system, saying cities are taking the brunt of the federal government's failures.
Danville Community College recently announced that McKenzie Snow, deputy secretary of education for the commonwealth of Virginia, will serve as the keynote speaker at this years commencement ceremony.

The event will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Grant Center at Averett Universitys North Campus.

Snow has dedicated her career to improving educational opportunities for all students. She was appointed as deputy secretary of education of the commonwealth of Virginia by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in April 2022 and previously served as the New Hampshire Department of Educations division director of academics and assessment, special Education, career development, adult education and wellness and nutrition following the appointment of Gov. Chris Sununu and confirmation of the New Hampshire Executive Council.

Snow also served in the federal government as a special assistant to the president at the White House Domestic Policy Council, senior adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and K-12 policy director at the U.S. Department of Education.

Before government service, Snow was a policy director at the Foundation for Excellence in Education and taught remedial courses at the University of the Free State in South Africa. Snow has been named a Fulbright grantee, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and Presidential Leadership Scholar.

Jerry Wallace, president of Danville Community College, expressed his enthusiasm for Snows participation in the graduation ceremony.

We are delighted to welcome Deputy Secretary Snow as our keynote speaker for this years commencement ceremony, Wallace said. Her commitment to education and her passion for helping students achieve their full potential make her an excellent choice to address our graduating class.

Wallace also spoke to the value of Snows experience and expertise in the education sector, noting that her insights and advice will be helpful to the graduates as they embark on the next phase of their lives.

Deputy Secretary Snow has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our students as they enter the workforce or continue pursuing their educational goals, Wallace siad. Her remarks will inspire and motivate our graduates as they move forward in their lives and careers.

Snow expressed her excitement and congratulated the graduating class on their achievements.

I am honored to be invited to help celebrate these incredible graduates, Snow said. All Virginians should be ready to succeed beyond the classroom; community colleges across the Commonwealth provide students with multiple pathways to realize their full potential. We look forward to the exceptional, diverse contributions these graduates will make to Virginia.

This is a ticketed event and attendees will only be admitted with a valid commencement ceremony ticket.
Danville City Council member Larry Campbell Jr. is facing a charge of first-offense driving while intoxicated, according to arrest records from the Danville Police Department.

The incident happened at about 2 p.m. Saturday. Campbell was processed into the Danville City Jail after his arrest, according to Danville Police Department spokesperson Matt Bell.

Court records show an arraignment is set for 8:30 a.m. Monday in Danville General District Court for the misdemeanor charge.

The charge occurred following a report from a concerned citizen in the 1900 block of South Boston Road, Bell said.

The mayor and the City Council members are aware of the situation, but we do not have any comment beyond that, city spokesperson Arnold Hendrix told the Register & Bee.

Campbell, 71, was first elected to City Council in 2008, and his current term runs through the end of 2024.

Also, hes served as co-assistant pastor at Bible Way Cathedral Church since 1994, according to information from the city.

Danville City Council members paid tribute to his father, local civil rights leader Apostle Lawrence Campbell Sr., last month remembering him as an inspiring spiritual figure who left an indelible mark upon the city.

Mayor Alonzo Jones issued a proclamation declaring April 4  the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968  as Apostle Lawrence G. Campbell Sr. Day each year in Danville.

Campbell, 93, who co-founded Bibleway Cathedral with his wife, Gloria, and marched in Danville with King in 1963, died March 27.

Larry Campbell Jr. received the framed proclamation from Jones and delivered a brief but emotional speech to council during the meeting.

I love you guys, Campbell said to council members, flanked by his daughter, Rebecca Campbell, and his grandson at the podium. I lost my mentor.

Campbell Jr. received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Averett University and his Masters degree in Guidance from North Carolina A & T University, city records state.

He serves as a board member for Goodwill, Daden, Rotary Club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club, the Ministers Alliance, Head Start and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

He also served as vice president of the NAACP and serves on Staunton River RIFA and the Community Health Coalition.
After heavy losses last year: Banks return to profitability

Charles Benoni Okine Business News May - 09 - 2023 , 09:16

First quarter (Q1) results of banks have shown signs of recovery after a large majority of them suffered heavy losses on account of the crippling effect of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), indicating financial sector resilience in an otherwise troubled economy.

Partially on the account of the DDEP and the difficult economic conditions which slowed business activities, Ghanas banking sector went into deep distress after posting heavy losses at the close of the 2022 financial year that threatened the financial sector stability.

About 16 out of the 23 commercial banks in the country recorded heavy losses at the close of 2022 year with only five banks posting profits.

The five profit-making banks are United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), FBNBank, Societe General Bank, and Bank of Africa (BOA).

Swift recovery in Q1

In spite of the heavy losses which totalled over GH6 billion, the recovery has been swift, with most banks bouncing back from their losses and declaring profits as first quarter analysis of the banking sector has revealed.

This situation has brought some respite to investors and shareholders while restoring hope to a sector which many feared was going to face another turbulent time after the financial sector clean-up some years ago.

Analysis of the first quarter financial statements posted by the banks showed a reversal of losses suffered last year to increased profits.

For instance some of the countrys prominent banks such as GCB Bank posted a profit after tax of GH190 million in quarter one of this year from a loss of GH555.8 million at the end of the 2022 financial year.

Absa Bank also managed to recover from a loss of GH429.2 million in the year under review to post a profit of GH257 million in quarter one of this year, while Zenith Bank also made an impressive come back from a loss position of GH419.8 million to post a profit of GH217 million in the quarter under review.

Standard Chartered Bank also came back from a loss position of GH299.6 million to declare final profit of GH296 million, with Cal Bank also making a dramatic return from a whopping GH815.2 loss at the end of last year to a remarkable profit of GH60 million in quarter one.

Fidelity Bank also managed its way from a loss of GH518 million at the end of the year 2022 to post a profit of GH125 million. Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) which suffered the industrys heaviest loss at the end of the 2022 financial year also managed to crawl back to post a marginal profit of GH10.5 million in quarter one of the year.

Impairment

The unprecedented losses were mainly due to the impairment of government bonds, which arose from the implementation of the DDEP, according to analysts.

They claimed that by changing the structure of the bonds floated by the government, that is, altering the terms of the old bonds with new terms in the new bonds, they became new instruments which the banks needed to treat differently in their books.

IFRS 9

Analysts point to the application of International Financial Reporting Standards 9 (IFRS 9) which specifies how an entity should classify and measure financial assets, financial liabilities, and some contracts to buy or sell non-financial items.

The objective of IFRS 9 is to establish principles for the financial reporting of financial assets and financial liabilities that will present relevant and useful information to users of financial statements for their assessment of the amounts, timing and uncertainty of the entity's future cash flows.

To the analysts together with some unnamed treasury managers in the banking sector, the losses could have been less if the impairments on their books were treated differently.

In this case, they maintained that, some of the banks which recorded losses took advantage of the DDEP and laxity offered by the central bank, to totally or almost clear their books of any impairments to enable them to start on a clean sheet this year.

They feared that, despite the development, the banks are not out of the woods yet because the full impact of the DDEP will rear its ugly head in the second quarter into the end of the year.

This is where we will see the real issues because the development will seperate the men from the boys, one Treasury Head told the Graphic Business.

Return to profits

A financial analyst, Watson Kosi Kzokoto attributed a number of factors to the development, saying the dramatic reverse of losses into profits could be a result of changes in accounting practices.

Banks may have adopted new accounting policies or practices that led to a reduction in impairments, which in turn boosted profits. For example, the banks may have revised their assumptions around credit risk, which resulted in a lower estimate of impairments, he said.

Mr Dzokoto said it was important to note that those scenarios were not mutually exclusive, and it's possible that multiple factors contributed to the banks' bounce-back in profits.

He noted, however, that without more information on the specific banks and their financial performance, it's difficult to say for certain what the main drivers were, adding that Whether or not profit making would continue will depend on the net effect of the combination of factors listed above.

Forbearance

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) in anticipation of the potential risk of the DDEP, set up the Ghana Financial Sector Stability Fund (GFSF) to assist banks that participated fully in the debt exchange programme and may require liquidity and capital support (Solvency).

The GFSF was established with a target size of GH15 billion to be provided by the Government of Ghana and its development partners but it is not clear yet whether any of the banks will opt for the support.

Background

Government last year embarked on a DDEP programme in a bid to secure budgetary support of US$ 3 billion as the debt to gross domestic ratio hit well over 100 per cent.

Under the DDEP programme, government swapped its old existing bond for 12 new bonds with coupon interest of less 10 per cent and maturing period from this year budgetary support of US$ 3 billion as the debt to gross domestic ratio hit well over 100 per cent.

Under the DDEP programme, government swapped its old existing bond for 12 new bonds with coupon interest of less 10 per cent and maturing period from this year up until 2032.

The banking sector is the most dominant investor in the Government of Ghana debt instruments, a phenomenon occasioned by both regulatory and market economics. Only GH10 billion of GoG issued debts were owned by banks.

As of 2021, banks held over GH55 billion in GoG debts securities representing almost 30 per cent of the banking industry total assets. Data available indicate that of this amount about 80 per cent were in bonds.

Interest income payment on GoG securities is the primary source of income by the banks.

In 2021, 65 per cent of the interest revenues of banks were generated from the investments in securities.

By September 2022, of the GH160 billion total domestic debt issued by the GOG, banks were the largest holders of about 32 per cent, firms and institutions accounted for 25 per cent, others including retail, 14 per cent, Bank of Ghana-10 per cent, Pensions 5.6 per cent, rural banks, 1.4 per cent and insurance companies 0.9 per cent.
A liturgical union irrevocably broken ends in divorce last week when almost 200 United Methodist churches across western North Carolina are expected to leave the denomination.

The disaffiliations by the churches in question are part of a larger rupture throughout the Christian world over the ordination, marriage and spiritual standing of LGBTQ+ believers.

Delegates from 956 churches of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, meeting virtually, are expected to approve the departures of 192 congregations.

More conference churches are expected to disaffiliate before the year-end deadline. Those departures will be considered during a special meeting in November. Aimee Yeager, director of communications for the Western Conference, told The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday that denominational leaders expect a smaller number of defections in the fall.

Once disaffiliated, a congregation can no longer be part of the United Methodist Church. Some have become independent churches. Others have joined more conservative alliances, including the Global Methodist Church founded in 2022.

The departing congregations on Saturdays agenda make up about 15% of the Western Conferences total membership of almost 240,000. They join 41 other Western Conference churches who broke away in 2020-22. The conference, headquartered in Huntersville, serves Methodists in 44 counties, including throughout the Charlotte area.

The United Methodist Church has almost 8 million members worldwide, making it the second largest Protestant denomination behind the Southern Baptists.

According to Religion News Service, almost a third of North Carolinas Methodists had disaffiliated as of January, one of the highest exodus rates in the country. In Texas, the rift is larger, claiming half of that states congregations.

Most of the departing western N.C. churches come from smaller towns, suburban areas or rural communities, all generally believed to be more politically, socially and spiritually conservative. Iredell County is home to more than a dozen of the break-away congregations, including seven from Statesville.

We grieve to see any church leave, especially as we believe that we all share the core mission of bringing people into the life of Christ, his love for us and his teaching that we love one another, Western Conference Bishop Ken Carter said in a prepared statement preceding Saturdays vote.

Nevertheless, the issue of human sexuality has become an irreconcilable difference among us.

One of those departing churches is Oak Grove United Methodist, on Old Statesville Road in Charlotte. Lay leader Karen Reynolds said the estimated 75 active members there voted by an almost 9-to-1 margin in January to break away. Reynolds said the issue is the continued ordination of practicing gays and lesbians to ministerial positions, including bishop, despite denominational rules to the contrary.

The Methodists Book of Discipline decrees that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.

While the denominations rule book allows the ordination of celibate gays, practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve the United Methodist Church.

The book also bans Methodist ministers from performing same-sex marriages, though it adds: We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.

Nonetheless, the denomination continues to be whipsawed by the issue of sexuality.

At its 2016 general conference, the churchs highest legislative body, more than 100 clergy came out as gay, and later that year, the denomination ordained its first open lesbian as a bishop.

Yet three years later, delegates to a special international conference of church members voted to keep the Book of Disciplines restrictive policies and language on sexuality intact.

While other Methodist congregations have advocated for a broader role for the LGBTQ+ community, Reynolds described Oak Grove as an old-school church that takes the Book of Discipline at its word.

Thats what we thought it was there for, she said.

Moores Chapel United Methodist, off Sam Wilson Road near the airport, is also on the disaffiliation list. Acting pastor Jeffery Wiggins did not respond to a Tuesday email and phone call from The Charlotte Observer seeking comment.

Years of Methodist infighting

The split among the Methodists over sexuality has been building for years, as it earlier had fractured the Episcopal, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations.

Under an agreement reached in 2019, Methodist churches have until Dec. 31 to disaffiliate and keep their property in return for paying two years of apportionments and pension liabilities.

Three dozen N.C. churches sued the Western Conference in November to force an immediate departure without making the payments. The case was thrown out of court in March, with the judge ruling that the complaint violated the separation of church and state. An appeal is expected.

A major plaintiff in that case was Good Shepherd United Methodist in Steele Creek, one of Charlottes largest Methodist congregations. While Good Shepherd joined the suit calling for immediate separation, it does not appear on the list of disaffiliating churches to be voted upon on Saturday.

Yeager said under United Methodist rules, Good Shepherd will not be able to disaffiliate as long as it remains part of the lawsuit. Good Shepherds pastor, the Rev. Talbot Davis, did not respond to an Observer phone call Tuesday seeking comment.

In 2024, the United Methodist Church will hold its next worldwide general conference in uptown Charlotte.

The Book of Disciplines language on sexuality is likely to be on the agenda.
GREENSBORO  Three people were hospitalized after a shooting Monday afternoon on Lees Chapel Road, Greensboro police said in a news release.

Officers responded at 4:23 p.m. to the 1300 block of Lees Chapel Road and found two gunshot victims, who were then taken by ambulance to a local hospital. A third victim arrived at the hospital by private vehicle, police said.

Police have not released any information on the victims, any possible suspects, or what may have led to the shooting.
GREENSBORO  Money to pay two new top Guilford County Schools leaders will come from cutting multiple other vacant administration positions, according to Superintendent Whitney Oakley.

We are not taking money from schools, she said in an interview with the News & Record.

She said the new organizational structure with two new deputy superintendents, will be a lot like what many other big districts have. The district does not have deputy superintendents at present.

Last month, the school board unanimously approved hiring two former Guilford County Schools leaders for the two new deputy superintendent positions. Those roles will sit just under the superintendent.

Julius Monk and Anitra Wells are returning to become the deputy superintendent of business and operations and the deputy superintendent of instructional leadership, wellness and safety, respectively.

Monk, who is set to start on June 1, is coming back to the district after serving as deputy superintendent of operations in Durham Public Schools. Wells, the superintendent of Lexington City Schools, is set to start on July 1.

Monk previously served Guilford County Schools from 2007 to 2019, most recently as executive director of facilities. Wells had been a regional executive director for the districts central and northern regions from 2010 to 2015 and was principal at Northeast High from 2006 to 2010.

Oakley said one source for the pay comes from eliminating the vacant position previously held Chief Operating Officer Michelle Reed, who recently resigned. Another example, she said is eliminating the vacant deputy Chief Financial Officer position. When former Chief Financial Officer Angie Henry retired and her deputy, Tara Trexler, moved into the CFO position, that deputy position was not filled.

Oakley said her recommended 2022-23 budget does not include any additional changes to the school administration structure.

Its possible there will be some additional tweaks this summer, Oakley said, as she looks at ways the district can be more efficient, and for ways to help principals and principal supervisors focus on instruction. But thats not likely to be any major upending reorganization, she said.
The former chief of staff of Montana VA has been ordered by a federal judge to cooperate in an investigation into patient care he provided while at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center in Helena.

Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto, U.S. magistrate judge for U.S. District Court of Montana, on April 26 upheld the subpoena issued by the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General to Dr. James Paul Maganito.

The United States of America is the petitioner and Maganito is named as the respondent.

The subpoena was issued as part of an oversight investigation into allegations of abuse, waste and mismanagement at the Montana Veterans Healthcare System and the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, according to court documents.

The United States claims the VA OIG opened the investigation after receiving complaints that Dr. Maganito provided substandard medical and surgical care to two patients, one of whom was his subordinate employee, and that the VA Medical Center failed to appropriately respond, court documents state in the 27-page order.

The subpoena was issued because Maganito did not participate in an interview mandated by VA regulations when he was still employed by the VA and declined to do a voluntary interview after he left the VA, court documents state.

He has argued the subpoena is unenforceable because it deprives him of his right to due process by not giving sufficient notice of the allegations while exposing him to severe consequences, according to the documents filed with the court, the judge noted.

Maganito has also said the subpoena exceeds the office of inspector generals investigative authority because it seeks to investigate claims of medical malpractice and not public rights of general application, court documents state.

The office of inspector general disagrees.

"The United States maintains the VA OIG is proceeding squarely within its statutory authority, that Dr. Maganitos testimony is relevant and material to its investigation because it is an integral part of the inspection into the facilitys operations, and that Dr. Maganito has not satisfied his burden to show the subpoena is overbroad or unduly burdensome, the judge noted.

Attorneys for Maganito did not immediately respond to an email Monday. Montana VA Healthcare declined comment, citing it was pending litigation.

Maganito resigned as chief of staff from Montana VA Healthcare System effective Aug. 26. He had served as chief of staff since 2019. He cited personal reasons for leaving, a Montana VA spokesman said at the time.

The judge noted the office of inspector general determined it was necessary to do an investigation of the alleged issues that led to at least two complaints of failure of care at VA Medical Center.

Because Dr. Maganitos conduct is at the genesis of these allegations, as the United States explains, only Dr. Maganito knows the information pertaining to his own conduct and decision making that led to the provision of substandard care, DeSoto wrote.

She later noted the subpoenas stated purpose  to fully investigate conduct by its then chief of staff that may have violated VA policies and resulted in substandard care to veterans  falls comfortably within the OIGs broad statutory 

And she said the subpoena seeks information over which Dr. Maganito has direct knowledge.

Maganito joined the Montana VA Healthcare System in 2012, serving as the staff gynecologist and occupational health medical officer, and he became the womens health medical director until 2015, according to a biography posted on the VAs website.

He left the VA in 2015 in pursuit of subspecialty training as a female pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow with plans to return to the VA to help female veterans.

Maganito had also served at one time as chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.

He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. While earning his doctorate, he finished his masters in public health and masters in health care administration at Des Moines University College of Health Sciences.

This story was first reported by Bloomberg Law.
URBANA  A Piatt County farmer accused of concealing grain sales in a scheme to defraud his lenders has pleaded guilty to bank fraud, officials said.

According to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office Central District of Illinois, James R. R. Williams, 63, of rural Cisco, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud on May 2.

The release states Williams admitted that he received a loan of around $4.6 million from First Security Bank and Gifford State Bank for his farming operation, RJW Williams Farms, Inc. in 2016.

All of Williams' assets, including grain, were listed as collateral to secure the loan.

The release said William acknowledged under oath that he began concealing his grain sales from his bank lenders in Oct. 2016. He did so by instructing employees of Archer Daniels Midland Co. grain elevators in Niantic and Weldon to issue four checks to a different individual. Those checks were deposited into a join account held by Williams and that individual.

Williams then used the money for his own benefit, the government argued.

The government also alleged that Williams had ADM issue around 22 checks totaling $540,505.35 in his son's name for grain that was actually sold by Williams and was collateral for his outstanding loan from the dates of Oct. 20, 2014, to Feb. 1, 2017.

Williams faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release for each of the four counts of bank fraud.

Williams was released on bond pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 7 at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield.

The case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Office of Inspector General. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government in the prosecution.
DECATUR  A woman who traveled all the way from Georgia to visit her ex-boyfriend in Decatur  only to find him in bed with another woman  is now accused of stabbing him in the head with a pair of scissors.

A sworn Decatur police affidavit said the 41-year-old boyfriend needed six staples to close the wound after the attack just before 12 a.m. April 22 at a house in the 800 block of East Main Street. He also had a bite wound on his left index finger which he said the ex-girlfriend, aged 47, inflicted while he was trying to push her away from him.

The boyfriend is quoted as telling police he had been in an intimate encounter when the ex-girlfriend burst into his bedroom. The 35-year-old woman he was with was described as fleeing from the room after being screamed at and she then ran out of the house.

The affidavit, signed by Officer Clayton Zilz, said the ex-girlfriend had been let into the house by the mans uncle who had seen her immediately enter the bedroom before the trouble started.

The ex-girlfriend said she had traveled up from Georgia by pre-arrangement to visit her former boyfriend. She is quoted as saying they had dated for three years, but had recently broke things off," according to Zilz.

(She) advised she found him in bed with another woman and she pushed him with two hands to push him off of the woman. She advised he punched her and the two began physically fighting. Officers observed she had a fat upper lip and a laceration to her right hand that appeared to be actively bleeding.

The woman denied stabbing him with scissors and said she had no idea how he got the wound to the back of his head. Zilz said a pair of scissors with orange handles were later found on a table in the bedroom and matched the former boyfriends description of the weapon used to stab him.

The woman was booked on preliminary charges of aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery. She was freed from the Macon County Jail the day after her arrest after posting a bond of $1,000 on bail set at $10,000. Prosecutors had asked for bail to be set at $20,000.

The womans bail conditions forbid her to have contact with the victim and order her to stay away from his home. All preliminary charges are subject to review by the office of the states attorney.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson
SPRINGFIELD  Ride-share companies such as Uber and Lyft would be subject to the same level of liability as other forms of public transportation under a measure moving through the General Assembly.

House Bill 2231 would classify ride-shares as common carriers, meaning the companies can be held liable, rather than just the drivers, for accidents or injuries to passengers. Currently in Illinois, common carriers include taxicabs, railways and elevators, among others.

But the states 2014 Transportation Network Providers Act specifically exempted ride-share companies from being deemed common carriers. The law stated ride-shares, defined as Transportation Network Companies, and their drivers are not common carriers, contract carriers or motor carriers, as defined by applicable State law, nor do they provide taxicab or for-hire vehicle service.

An amendment to HB 2231 would deem that common carrier exemption inoperative as of Jan. 1, 2024. The amended version passed the Senate on partisan lines last week, sending it back to the House for a concurrence vote. A previous version passed the House on partisan lines in March.

Under the amended HB 2231, the entire Transportation Network Provider Act would be repealed on Sept. 1, 2028, extending its review period from one year to nearly five years.

Bill sponsor Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said the amendment changed some opponents positions on the legislation to neutral. Lyft, in particular, has shifted its stance as a result of the amendment, Martwick said.

They had asked for a delayed effective date instead of being effective immediately  and that moved them to neutral, Martwick said in an interview.

Uber, on the other hand, still opposes the bill. The company this week sent a letter to Jaime Harrison, Democratic National Committee Chair, in light of the DNCs decision to hold the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next year.

Ubers letter claimed the measure could increase costs for riders and increase eligibility requirements for drivers, despite no mention of this in the legislation.

The company also claimed the common carrier classification could increase ridership costs and create unspecified barriers for drivers joining the company.

We know that planning for the Convention is already well underway, and we dont want you caught off guard if the availability of on-demand transportation is less than anticipated as a result of the new law, Josh Gold, senior director of policy and communications at Uber, wrote in the letter. Our hope is that drivers and riders will continue their use of our app as normal. However...we have significant concerns about how it could affect the reliability of our app.

According to POLITICO, the company also launched a six-figure radio advertising campaign specifically opposing the legislation, saying it would enable frivolous lawsuits, which would increase costs for consumers.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, once a strong opponent of the bill, said the amendment alleviated some of their concerns.

Clark Kaericher, senior vice president of government affairs at the Illinois Chamber, said the amended measure ensures ride-share companies dont have to fight for the right to keep conducting business in Illinois each year.

For the last several years, theyve just been granted a one-year extension, Kaericher said. And so every May, theyve had to spend a lot of time and resources convincing the (General Assembly) to give them another extension.

Despite the amendment lowering the measure on the Chambers priority list, Kaericher said his organization still has concerns about the downstream effects of possible increased costs on safety.

This bill is going to drive up the cost of Uber and I think thats undisputed, Kaericher said. And what were worried (about) at the Chamber is that people are going to leave their local watering hole or restaurant, theyre going to pull up the app and theyre going to get sticker shock, and theyre going to think to themselves, maybe Im not that bad and theyre going to drive and were going to see tragedies as a result.

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, a supporter of the bill, pushed back against the concern over costs.

Taxicab companies and their drivers have been considered common carriers basically forever in Illinois, and they were able to make a living and make a profit and transport passengers around, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President Pat Salvi Jr. said in an interview. Ride-share companies can do the same. Theres no reason why ride-share companies should not be considered common carriers just like taxicabs, buses, trains, planes, and other modes of transportation.

According to Crain's Chicago Business, the average fare for Ubers in Chicago increased by 80 percent and by 73 percent for Lyft since 2019. According to the same report, the average fare for taxis increased by 50 percent.

The measure was prompted out of a concern for rider safety, particularly after an Illinois Supreme Court case that was settled out of court in January 2022. The cases prior appellate court opinion affirmed ride-share companies exemption from the common carrier status after a Lyft driver allegedly raped a passenger in 2017.

The incident occurred in Chicago, when a woman identified only as Jane Doe hailed a Lyft after a night out with her friends. The Lyft driver picked her up and, at some point during the ride, Doe fell asleep. The driver then drove to a secluded alley where he brandished a knife, zip-tied her hands and repeatedly sexually assaulted her, according to a court filing in the case that was settled in 2022.

Despite the woman's argument that ride-share companies such as Lyft should be held to the same liability standard as established common carriers, the appellate court upheld the exemption because of the specificity of the statute. The case was settled out of court before the Supreme Court could rule on it.

Supporters of the bill say this measure would allow riders to have an added level of safety when riding with companies such as Uber and Lyft.

If something does happen, where a passenger is harmed and its the fault of one of the ride-share companys drivers  that injured individual will have a better chance at getting redress for whats happened to him or her, Salvi said. And thats both in the context of a crash, as well as the context of those very tragic stories weve heard where a ride-share driver has assaulted or sexually assaulted a passenger.

Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 83F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 69F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Neal Linnartz speaks with supporters at his election watch party Saturday, May 6, 2023 in New Braunfels. Linnartz collected nearly 56% of the votes cast to win the mayoral race.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book "A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living." She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan's pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin ceremonially signed legislation Monday which supports firefighters with assistance and training.

The legislation, HB 1775 and HB 2451 sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Israel OQuinn, R-Bristol, support the firefighters with workers compensation benefits for anxiety and depressive disorders and better training for electric vehicle fires, according to a written statement.

We rightfully focus a lot of time and resources on the physical safety of public safety personnel, and HB 1775 ensures that we are also looking out for their mental health. The public safety profession is mentally taxing, often beyond a degree that many citizens can even imagine, so it is only right that we provide the necessary resources to protect the mental health of public safety professionals who choose a life of service to others, OQuinn said in the statement.

As electric vehicles have become more prevalent, there has been significant concern by fire departments across Virginia regarding fires that are associated with these vehicles. HB 2451 will provide specialized training from the state, so that every Virginia firefighter understands the proper approach and suppression methods when faced with an EV fire, OQuinn said.
Wells Fargo & Co. has declared plans to close another 17 branches  though none in North Carolina  according to its latest disclosure Friday to federal regulator U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

There have been at least 58 Wells Fargo branch closings in North Carolina, including three in Winston-Salem and nine in the Triad, since July 2020.

Overall, Wells Fargo has dropped from more than 6,600 branches in 2009, when it acquired a collapsing Wachovia Corp. and gained an East Coast presence.

The branch count was at 4,525 as of March 31, down from 4,598 on Dec. 31 and from 4,705 on March 31, 2022.

There have been at least 58 Wells Fargo branch closings in North Carolina, including three in Winston-Salem and nine in the Triad, since July 2020.
NEWTON  The Rotary Club of Catawba Valley recently recognized three veterans  Bill Shillito, Kelly Stewart and Rodney Woody. Cindy Stamey, Director of Community & Veterans Relations, made the presentations on May 4.

Bill Shillito served 22 years in the U.S. Army retiring as a major. He was rated a master aviator, flying helicopters, with one tour of duty in Vietnam, and taught at the U.S. Military Academy. Shillito served in the telecom industry as general manager of an antenna manufacturing company before forming a wireless internet company that he managed for 16 years before his company was bought by a regional telecom provider. Shillito was recently elected to and is serving on the Catawba County Soil & Water Conservation Board.

Kelly Stewart served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police officer. After his military service, he served 25 years in the N.C. Highway Patrol, retiring as a line sergeant. Stewart is currently an agency manager for NC Farm Bureau Insurance in Taylorsville.

Rodney Woody retired from the U.S. Army as a major after 24 years of service, including six overseas tours, two of which were combat tours in Iraq and Kuwait. Woody is the veterans employment consultant for NC Works Career Center and has served as the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program specialist. Woody was presented with a My Bootprints print showing locations where he served during his career. My Bootprints is a district-wide Rotary effort.
A Charlotte man is set to spend between 10 and 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing iPhones from a business in Conover, according to a release from District Attorney Scott Reillys Office.

Nafife Morris Jainlett, 37, entered a guilty plea on Monday to charges of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering as part of a plea agreement, according to the release. Catawba County Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Poovey oversaw the plea hearing and sentenced Jainlett.

The charges stemmed from the theft of three iPhones from a business in Conover in February 2020, according to the release. In addition to the three stolen phones, one phone was damaged.

Officers in the Conover Police Department identified Jainlett after obtaining and testing blood samples Jainlett left behind when he cut himself breaking into the business, according to the release.

Jainlett is a habitual felon whose convictions in the past decade have included attempted larceny in Mecklenburg County, breaking and entering in Burke County and possession of burglary tools in Rowan County, according to the release.
A Burke County man accused of leaving two pipe bombs at a Hickory church appeared in Catawba County District Court on Tuesday.

Joshua Wayne Hawley, 37, of Connelly Springs, is charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction and communicating a threat of mass violence at a place of religious worship, Assistant District Attorney Taylor Rockett said.

The charges stem from two pipe bombs left at the Marketplace Church on Sunday afternoon, according to the Hickory Police Department. The church is located at 2936 N.C. Highway 127 South.

Hawley was arrested at his home on Kaylas Ridge Road on Monday afternoon. Several agencies, both local and federal, surrounded his home around noon on Monday. He was arrested in less than an hour, according to an article by the Morganton News Herald.

During the court hearing, Hawley mumbled to himself and cried. Assistant District Attorney Taylor Rockett presented some information gathered by the prosecution.

Rockett said Hawley showed up at Marketplace Church on Sunday. Hawley previously attended the church but had been banned from the property, she added.

Rockett said the pastor of the church allowed Hawley to stay for the church service.

Once that service was over, he (Hawley) gave one of the members of that church a device and told him that it was for another member of that church, Rockett said. That member became concerned and put the device in his trunk. The defendant (Hawley) then handed another security personnel of the church a pair of pants. Inside the pants was another device. They alerted law enforcement at that time.

Rockett said the devices, identified as pipe bombs, were deemed active. She said the devices were dismantled and diffused by the Gaston County Police Department.

Hawleys home was searched by law enforcement, Rockett said.

They found a significant amount of bomb-making devices, bomb-making equipment and some other bombs at that home, Rockett said. Children were also present.

Rockett asked for bond to be set for one of the two charges. She also asked the judge to require Hawley to wear an electronic monitor if he was able to post bail. District Court Judge Sherri W. Elliott did not make a ruling about electronic monitoring.

I think it goes without saying that he is in fact a danger to the community, Rockett said. He handed active pipe bombs to two individuals.

The Catawba County Whos in Jail website listed Hawleys bond as $150,000.

A magistrate did not set a bond for the charge of communicating a threat of mass violence at a place of religious worship, Rockett said. Judge Elliott ordered a $50,000 secured bond for that charge.

If convicted, Hawley faces a maximum prison sentence of around eight years, Elliott said.

Hawley requested a court-appointed attorney to represent him. Elliott appointed defense attorney Adam Everett to the case.

A probable cause hearing will be held on May 30.

Hawley is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Statement from the church

The Marketplace Church released a statement on its website about suspicious devices being left at the church.

Marketplace Church is praying for all those affected by the recent incident regarding two suspicious devices on church property, the statement said. Upon becoming aware of the devices, a member of our security team, which is provided by Sheepdog Protective Services, immediately notified their law enforcement division.

The statement said a bomb squad was called to investigate and the surrounding area of the church was evacuated. The statement said the devices were safely removed from the property.

Our church community is grateful for the quick and professional response of the agencies involved, the statement said. And we are praying for their continued safety as they work to ensure the safety of our community.

The statement said the church is praying, not only for its congregation, but for the wider community that was affected by the situation. The church said it will continue to take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its members and visitors.

We know that prayer can provide comfort during difficult times, the statement said. And we encourage everyone to join us in praying for peace.

Background of the case

A search warrant in the case revealed Hawley had been attending Marketplace Church on N.C. Highway 127 in Hickory for a while and had known the pastor of the church for 15 years. The pastor told law enforcement he believed Hawley had mental health issues. The pastor said he believed Hawley was dangerous, the search warrant said.

An official diagnosis of any health issues was not listed in the warrant.

About four months ago, the pastor asked Hawley to stop attending services because he was scaring churchgoers, the search warrant said. The pastor told law enforcement Hawley had been showing up dressed as a military police officer with a body camera and open-carrying guns and knives, the search warrant said.

Sunday morning, the pastor said he was told Hawley made a Facebook post indicating he planned to return to church that day, the search warrant said.

Around 10 a.m., the pastor saw Hawley in the parking lot of the church and believed he was in a manic state, according to the search warrant. The pastor told law enforcement he was bouncing inside his minivan, the search warrant said. No one else was with Hawley, the search warrant said.

The treasurer of the church went outside to speak with him, the search warrant said. The treasurer described Hawleys behavior as animated, fidgety, hyper and manic, the search warrant said.

The treasurer told law enforcement that Hawley told him he brought something for the pastor and the treasurer, the search warrant said. The treasurer escorted Hawley back to his vehicle. Hawley took out a pipe bomb device from the vehicle and handed it to him, the search warrant said.

The treasurer put the device in the trunk of the car instead of taking it inside the church. The pair went back inside the building as the treasurer tried to distract Hawley, the search warrant said.

Hawley eventually made his way outside again. Hawley retrieved another pipe bomb device from his vehicle, the search warrant said. The second device was wrapped in a pair of pants, according to the search warrant.

Hawley asked some security guards at the church about where the pastors vehicle was, according to the search warrant. Hawley gave the security guards the device and told them to make sure the pastor knew to be careful so it wouldnt blow up in his face, the search warrant said.

Hawley left the church after that, the search warrant said.

Hawleys family: He built smoke bombs

One of Hawleys family members told the Morganton News Herald that Hawley had been building smoke bombs.

The relative said the devices contained sugar, baking soda, stump remover and sodium nitrate, but she didnt believe they were intended to be explosives. The relative said they only produced a lot of smoke.

The relative said Hawley gave the devices to church officials because he thought they would like them.
GREENSBORO  With 96 percent approval on Monday and just 50 votes remaining to be counted, the motion approving the breakaway of almost 200 United Methodist churches in western North Carolina appeared headed for passage.

The 192 churches looking to leave will move forward under Paragraph 2553 of The United Methodist Book of Discipline to disaffiliate, according to Aimee Yeager, director of communications for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The final vote count will be posted to the website no later than Friday.

Once gone  or, in church parlance, "disaffiliated"  a congregation is no longer considered part of the United Methodist Church. Some churches that have already broken away have decided to be independent. Others have aligned with spiritual groups who hold similar beliefs.

Presiding Bishop Ken Carter released a statement about the vote, calling it a day " filled with a range of emotions and whose meaning we may grasp only over time."

He said that he had invested a "great deal of time, energy, prayer, and negotiation ... in hopes of finding some path of reconciliation" for all involved.

"Nevertheless, a segment of our Conference seeks disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church due to their beliefs surrounding the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons within the UMC.

To those who have requested to depart, I wish you the grace, peace and mercy of the Lord. By the action of this Annual Conference, you will be free to be an independent church or a part of some other denomination. We trust you will find your way and continue to be a church of Jesus Christ.

In 2019, during a special called session at the General Conference meeting of all congregations, the organizations Book of Discipline was refined to allow some churches a pathway to leave. The Book of Discipline outlines doctrines and United Methodist Church law, which cannot be changed without a vote of the global body.

In particular, paragraph 2553 specifies churches wanting to leave based on how their congregations feel about human sexuality can keep their property under certain guidelines.

The denominations judicial council, the groups highest court, has ruled that paragraph 2553 is the only path for churches seeking disaffiliation that would still allow them to keep their property.

Area churches that want to leave, including Rehobeth and Sandy Ridge in Greensboro and Trinity in Winston-Salem, represent about 15 percent of the membership of the conference, and the number is comparable, according to church leaders, to splits in other United Methodist conferences across the country.

Additional churches may move to leave by November, when the provisions of Paragraph 2553 expire.
" " Abraham Lincoln is known for many accomplishments, including ending the Civil War and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Library of Congress/HowStuffWorks

The most well-researched, intimately studied and widely written-about president in America's history is, without a doubt, Abraham Lincoln. He's probably the most well-known person in America's history. Everybody knows Honest Abe.

The Great Emancipator freed the slaves and guided the country through a devastating Civil War. The ol' rail-splitter gave a famous speech ("Four score and seven years ago") at Gettysburg. He wore a stovepipe hat. He had a beard. And then there was that tragic ending at Ford's Theatre.

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Among historians and political scientists, No. 16 (Lincoln, as most everyone knows, was the 16th U.S. president) is consistently No. 1.

"The Civil War is such a powerful turning point in our history; it's really, in a sense, the second founding of the country. His successful leadership in that enterprise ... entitles him to a lot of respect," says Michael Burlingame, the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield and the author of several books on Lincoln. "But more than that, it's his character. People admire him not just for what he achieved, which was monumental  literally and figuratively in this case  but for who he was, and how he conducted himself, and what he stood for and how he articulated the ideals of the country."

As well-worn as the subject of Lincoln is, though, much still eludes us about this complicated, tortured man.

Here are nine lesser-known nuggets about America's most-beloved president.
" " The Newton Boys organization included Doc, the two younger brothers Joe and Jess, and Brentwood Glasscock, an expert with high explosives. The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal

Willis Newton and his brothers may not be, for most of us, as easily identifiable as Charley Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd. Or "Baby Face" Nelson. Or John Dillinger. Or Al Capone. They certainly weren't as renowned as either Bonnie Parker or Clyde Barrow.

That, though, may go a long way toward explaining why Newton and his gang were infinitely more successful at their particular brand of bad guy-ness than any of them. For much of their career, nobody  even the cops  knew who the Newtons were.

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As robbers and thieves, nobody was better than the comparatively low-profile Newton and his brothers, who later were popularized in a middling 1998 movie as "The Newton Boys." In a blink of about five years in the 1920s, the Newtons (and an occasional accomplice) pulled off about 70 bank heists (give or take a dozen), ripped off six trains and, in their piece de resistance, cleared somewhere around $3 million on one job. It remains the largest train robbery ever.

Calculate this: That single $3 million take in 1924 would be a $45 million getaway today.

As old men, after their thieving mostly was over, they surfaced in a 1975 documentary, coming off as both proud and practical. "Jes' like a doctor and lawyers and everybody else," Willis said straight-faced to the camera, "it was our business to do that."

The youngest of the Newton brothers, Joe, even made his way onto "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1980 and was practically, well, charming. "Well, if you got a good car and a potful of money and [you're] a young man," Joe said when Carson asked him about his appeal to women as a bank robber, "yeah ...".

In 1979, a few months before his death at the age of 90, Willis Newton sat down in his home in Uvalde, Texas, for a wide-ranging and sometimes contentious interview about his life and crimes. Historian and author G. R. Williamson walked away from that talk with an entirely different impression of Willis, the driving force behind the gang.

"I truly believe," says Williamson, who wrote "Willis Newton: The Last Texas Outlaw" and several other books, "he was a flat-out evil person."

" " While other train robbers at the time were still using horses, the Newton Gang was using stolen cars, like this one used in the infamous Rondout, Illinois, train robbery. Cook Memorial Public Library
So, what's a worried person to do when honeybees show up? First of all, don't panic. "When honeybees are swarming, they're at their most gentle," says Julia Mahood, Georgia master craftsman beekeeper and board member with the Pollinator Stewardship Council. This is because honeybees swarm only when they're searching for a new home, so they're not defending an existing nest. It also helps that they gorge on honey before making this trek, so they don't feel like fighting, she says. People who are nervous or allergic should still take precautions before getting too close, but most of us will be just fine walking around among them.

When you see honeybees swarming it's actually just a fraction of the original hive's population. These bees are known as scout bees. These little buggers are sent out specifically to find a new home. "There's a healthy colony somewhere and they have a biological need to reproduce," Mahood says. "The bees leave the nest with the old queen and look for a new place."

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What honeybees are looking for is, ideally, a hollow tree, but in the absence of that, they often turn to structures, like houses. Too often, they set up shop in a cavity that's about 40 liters (1.4 cubic feet or 0.4 cubic meters) in size, so the space between a home's outer wall and the drywall is just perfect (in the eaves or inside of a column are other common spots).

If the scout bees find a suitable location they'll head back outside and "do a little dance" to communicate their findings to the others, Mahood says. Or, in the case of our swarm, they get stuck inside and die. Then, the rest of the honeybees will figure out that there's no hospitable environment to be found and they'll head elsewhere.

Fortunately, that's what happened for us, although it was a nail-biter of a situation for a few days and I did lament the loss of bee life. Once the bees left, my husband sealed up all of the cracks he could find to hopefully prevent future invasions.
Tuesdays federal budget needs to include efforts to address the worker shortages that are plaguing the Australian tech sector, funding to uplift cybersecurity across the economy, and the creation of a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, according to Australias peak membership association for IT professionals, the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down the federal budget tonight, his second following the Labor governments first budget in October last year.

In a budget submission to Treasury, ACS pointed to Australias need for more than 60,000 new tech workers each year to reach the needed goal of 1.2 million workers by 2027.

To get there, significant funding and support is needed to bridge the existing workforce gap, the submission said.

We cannot import enough workers to completely fix the shortfall, especially in light of the heated global competition for such talent, the ACS submission said.

Instead, we need to drastically improve the domestic pipeline. That is a long-term program.

ACS called for the introduction of a $500 million trainee program to subsidise wages for women and under-represented groups in the tech sector. This scheme would provide a subsidy of $20,000 for 5,000 places per year over five years.

Improving gender diversity in the tech sector has been found to have the potential to create 5,000 new jobs each year over the next two decades, while better gender diversity could grow the economy by $1.8 billion yearly over the same time period.

Government policy also needs to be focused on the start of the pipeline, with better support for teachers looking to educate on tech skills, the ACS submission said.

This could come in the form of $100 million for resources and support for school teachers looking to implement the Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies framework.

Australias chronic technology workforce shortages are hampering the nations ability to become a global digital leader by 2030, the submission said.

ACS calls on the Commonwealth government to boost the resources available to teachers delivering technology-related content.

Three-quarters of primary school teachers currently have no experience in training or teaching this tech curriculum, studies have found.

For our children to meet the needs of a technology driven society, ACS urges all parties to boost IT education resources and support to students and teachers with this program as a starting point, ACS said.

On the skills issues, the submission also urged the government to introduce a tax credit program providing up to $10,000 per employee for businesses that are providing technical training and apprenticeships, with a focus on high demand areas like artificial intelligence and cyber security.

Australias economy is rapidly evolving and technology touches all industries. For Australian businesses and workers to compete in the global digital economy, it is essential the workforce have skills appropriate to the modern workplace, the submission stated.

The federal budget should also mandate compliance with the Essential Eight Maturity Level 3 cyber security mitigation tools for all public agencies and their partners, and $20 million should be allocated to a voluntary certification scheme to help organisations show how they are protecting data.

There should also be funding allocated for the creation of a Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to provide independent advice to Parliamentarians, modelled on an office of the same name in the UK Parliament, ACS said.

Other submissions

In its own submission to Treasury, the Australian Investment Council called for the launch of new, simpler direct tax credits to help Australian businesses invest in software and other digital capabilities in order to transform their businesses and digitise core activities.

This scheme would be capped to investments of up to $100,000 per year for small businesses, and limited to investment in new technology and skills, the Council said.

In its submission, Stone and Chalk urged the federal government to create a national innovation strategy to bring together the various initiatives and stakeholders across government agencies and jurisdictions, and to collaborate with innovation ecosystem builders.
CONCORD  On Monday, May 8, staff from Cabarrus County Schools (CCS) gathered at the district office in Concord to witness the formation of a new partnership.

Superintendent John Kopicki, Ed.D., and WGU North Carolina Chancellor Ben Coulter, Ed.D., formally signed a partnership agreement for the accredited online university to provide flexible, personalized learning pathways for CCS staff who wish to pursue bachelors or masters degrees through the university. WGU North Carolina is the state affiliate of nonprofit Western Governors University.

CCS staff can also apply for WGUs K-12 Partner Scholarships, valued at up to $2,500. WGU will provide webinar training, print and digital materials to CCS employees to ensure an understanding of the educational opportunities at WGU.

Were excited to partner with Western Governors University and open a pathway for our current employees to extend their education, said Kopicki. Our school system values lifelong learning, and we commend Dr. Coulter and his staff at WGU North Carolina for allowing our employees to further their education at their own pace and in an affordable manner. We look forward to a long partnership and are excited about the opportunities for advancing the education of our teachers and staff through WGU North Carolina.

One of our high privileges is partnering with innovative school districts like Cabarrus County Schools and enabling opportunities for employees to pursue their educational journeys, said Coulter. Our online, asynchronous platform is an excellent fit for teachers and staff who want to continue their education affordably and at a time that is convenient for them. Our competency-based model also lets them accelerate through coursework once theyve demonstrated mastery of the materials.

Founded in 1997, WGU is a fully accredited, nonprofit online university offering more than 80 bachelors and masters degree programs in education, IT, health care and business. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). WGUs Teachers College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most degree programs. WGU offers students the option to take as many courses as they want per term with the consent of their assigned program mentor. The university has more than 156,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 4,600 in North Carolina. Nearly 7,500 WGU graduates reside across all 100 counties in the state.

To learn more about Cabarrus County Schools, visit www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/ccs. For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit nc.wgu.edu.
HUNTERSVILLE  Atom Power, the pioneer in networked energy, will expand its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Mecklenburg County, creating 205 jobs, Gov. Roy Cooper has announced. The company will invest nearly $4.2 million in Huntersville.

"North Carolina leads the nation in the transition to the clean energy economy, said Governor Cooper. Electric vehicles are key to this transition and Im pleased Atom Power is expanding in Huntersville to make critical parts for EV charging stations which will be located throughout North Carolina.

Atom Power pioneered whats known as networked energy, a new standard for an electrified world. The company has developed the worlds first UL listed and commercially available solid state digital circuit breaker, which they are now leveraging to deliver electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to multiple market segments, such as fleet operators, multi-family residential properties, and destination charging stations. The companys project in Huntersville expands its headquarters operations as well as its research and development capabilities and the physical spaces dedicated to manufacturing.

Since Atom Powers founding in 2014, weve been committed to growing our footprint within North Carolina, said Ryan Kennedy, co-founder and CEO of Atom Power. Our continued expansion in Huntersville will enable us to further tap into the rich and diverse local talent pool, while also supporting the growing demand for our unique approach to EV charging infrastructure.

Business success depends on workforce development success, and North Carolinas focus on talent development continues to pay off, said Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. Our states commitment to education and specialized workforce development programs helps deliver the skilled workers companies like Atom Power need in todays global economy.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the states support for the company during its site evaluation and decision-making process.

Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for the new positions will be $91,804. The current average wage in Mecklenburg County is $80,349.

Atom Powers project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the states Economic Investment Committee. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the states economy by $817.9 million. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,198,500, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grants reimbursement payments to a given company.

Because Atom Power chose a site in Mecklenburg County, classified by the states economic tier system as Tier 3, the companys JDIG agreement also calls for moving $399,500 into the states Industrial Development Fund  Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business. Even when new jobs are created in a Tier 3 county such as Mecklenburg, the new tax revenue generated through JDIG grants helps more economically challenged communities elsewhere in the state.

Its great news when a company thats already doing business in our community decides to grow and expand here, especially when the company is part of our state's initiative to meet our climate change goals said N.C. Sen. Natasha Marcus. Atom Power is an innovative company helping pioneer a growing industry and I speak for everyone in Huntersville and Mecklenburg County when I say congratulations on your expansion in our area.

Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, the Town of Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, Lake Norman Economic Development, the Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development, and the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

About Atom Power

Atom Power created networked energy, the new standard for an electrified world. The companys unified platform connects everything and everyone to amplify value for all. Through Atom EV, the company is reinventing how electric vehicles charge. The companys purpose is to inspire possibilities, build trust, and deliver amazing. Atom Power is headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina.

For more information, visit atompower.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.
Almost two thirds of Australian IT and security leaders said they are likely to pay a ransom to recover their data following a cyberattack, according to a new study commissioned by security vendor Rubrik.

While more than 60 percent of Australian respondents said they were likely to pay a ransom in the future, almost three quarters (72 percent) reported having previously paid to recover data or to stop a ransomware attack.

Organisations are struggling to keep their heads above water against the rising tide of cyberattacks, said Rubrik ANZ managing director Scott Magill.

Almost every Australian respondent (98 percent) had seen malicious actors attempt to impact their data backups during a cyberattack. Alarmingly, 87 percent said the attackers were at least partially successful in these attempts.

That compares poorly with the global average of 90 percent reporting attempts to impact backup data and 73 percent reporting some level of success.

When backup data is corrupted or encrypted, victims often see no alternative other than to pay the ransom, said Magill.

Unfortunately, there is no honour amongst thieves and decryption keys rarely provide what it says on the tin.

Only 14 percent of Australian organisations that paid attackers for decryption tools were able to recover all their data.

Rubrik ANZ managing director Scott Magill

Other Australian findings include an average of 46 attempted cyberattacks in the past year, and 82 percent of local security leaders expressing concern that their company will be unable to maintain business continuity as a result of cyberattacks.

In a bid to turn the tables Australian businesses are looking to bolster their troops, whether through artificial intelligence or hiring security personnel, Magill said.

While 52 percent reported increased interest in supporting security teams with AI and 49 percent sought to hire additional staff, 38 percent said a lack of specialised IT talent impacted these efforts.

Perhaps as a consequence of these problems, only 53 percent of Australian organisations developed or reviewed an incident response plan in 2022 and only 58 percent had tested their backup and recovery options.

The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research in February 2023 and covered 1,625 IT and security leaders  half of which were CIOs and CISOs  across the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and India.

The State of Data Security report can be downloaded here.
GUEST OPINION: Cloud computing is undeniably the wave of the future for businesses and Internet infrastructure alike. Although cloud computing is no longer novel, that doesn't mean it isn't radically altering the IT landscape. The cloud revolution shifted our focus from static collections of services to dynamic, scalable ecosystems that adapt over time to suit the changing demands of companies and consumers.

Increases in agility, business continuity, scalability, and profitability are all desirable in today's fast-paced, highly competitive corporate sector. There's little doubt that cloud computing will be important in achieving these goals.

However, perspectives on cloud computing are changing. Industry leaders are on the hunt for new methods of scaling their environments now that big data, IoT, and Docker have opened up so many exciting opportunities. The shift from shared infrastructure to dedicated computers has been a major theme in this area of research. In other words, embrace bare metal.

What Exactly Is Bare Metal?

A bare metal server is a single-tenant server, in contrast to the multi-tenant architecture used by standard cloud providers. Bare metal servers also give direct access to the architecture and don't need hypervisors. As businesses experiencing digital transformation seek to fulfil their ever-changing IT requirements, bare metal cloud solutions are becoming increasingly popular. Bare metal servers provide several benefits:

Customizability. Because the owner has root access, bare metal servers can be fine-tuned.

Performance. Bare metal servers use resources more efficiently. They enable memory, high I/O, and maximal compute workload optimizations. Single occupancy removes the 'noisy neighbour' effect.

Security. By physically separating data, programs, and other resources, bare metal servers provide more privacy and security.

Bare metal is ideal for data- or processor-intensive tasks. Some common applications include:

Multiplayer gaming servers. Bare metal's reduced latency makes it ideal for multiplayer game servers.

AdTech and FinTech applications. These businesses need fast speeds, efficiency, and strict security.

Render farms. 3D animation studios utilize resource-intensive tools that require real-time cooperation and communication.

Enterprise applications are unsuitable for virtualization. SAP, Grid Compute, and Oracle are examples of corporate programs that are difficult to virtualize or handle compute-intensive workloads.

High-performance computing (HPC). HPC workloads include deep learning, predictive analytics, and risk modelling.

Top Reasons for Choosing Bare Metal Servers

Increase in the Bare Metal Cloud

These days, businesses produce oceans of information. And they are becoming more and more serious about using this data for AI programs and statistical analysis. It follows that the bare metal cloud market will expand rapidly in the years ahead. A study and prediction of the market indicate that the bare metal cloud market will increase from $7.14 billion in 2022 to $22.13 billion in 2027.

Simpler Coding and Management

Here's the bottom line: bare metal is advantageous because it facilitates simpler programming for software engineers. Developers don't have to worry about the 'noisy neighbour' effect or any of the other many uncertainties and complications that arise in multi-tenancy systems. Bare metal also simplifies management since there are fewer hosts, network connections, and disks.

Robust Security is Needed Now More Than Ever

In 2022, the overall cost of cybercrime damage reached a staggering $10.3 trillion. The need for strong security has never been greater than it is now, with cyberattacks occurring every 39 seconds and IT infrastructures growing ever more complicated.

With the growing sophistication and quantity of cyber threats, more and more businesses are considering moving their most important workloads to bare metal servers. This is especially likely to be the case for businesses operating in highly regulated sectors, such as the government, healthcare, and finance.

Shortening the Scaling Process

In the face of exponential expansion, many businesses struggle to successfully scale their applications in the public cloud. If the tension is high enough, the business can decide to go back to co-location hosting. It might be difficult to scale a cloud service that serves several customers.

Engineers can encounter issues with computing, storage, and network dependability and performance, for instance. But when this occurs, its up to the developers to make it work, which often results in over-provisioning and higher program complexity.

Developers are relieved of the responsibility of devoting time to the 'noisy neighbour' problem and controlling the various challenges that arise throughout the scaling process when bare metal servers are used. Because of this, theyre able to grow applications far more quickly.

Final Thoughts

The discussion between bare metal servers and virtualized hosting environments has been going on for some time, but it has recently heated up. The number of scenarios where bare metal cloud computing makes sense has been growing rapidly ever since the introduction of big data and other resource-intensive applications. And if youre still considering whether bare metal servers are the right choice for you, refer to this article and make a smart decision.
Optical networking specialist Infinera has achieved 61.3Tbps of unregenerated data transmission capacity on a fibre pair in a trial simulating Telstra InfraCo's planned 1,240km route between Melbourne and Sydney.

The trial used Infinera's 800G-capable ICE6 coherent solution and Corning's SMF-28 ultra low loss fibre with advanced bend.

It included an in-service, non-traffic-impacting upgrade from C-band to combined C-band plus L-band as part of the capacity expansion process, giving 61.3Tbps total capacity with 6.2 milliseconds latency across the combined C-band and L-band, with wavelengths up to 700 Gbps.

Telstra InfraCo's express network is intended for customers such as hyperscalers, global cloud providers, content companies and governments, offering reliable, ultra-high bandwidth between capital cities and international submarine cable landing stations.

The plan is to build the express network at the same time as renewing the existing intercity network with improved fibre, cable and architecture.

"Based on these results, Telstra InfraCo's express network and overall intercity fibre build will lead the world in scale, low latency, and high data transmission performance rate," said Telstra InfraCo fibre executive Kathryn Jones.

"The simulation exceeds our expectations, offering almost seven times today's typical capacity of 8.8Tbps per fibre pair and validates our selection of Corning's SMF-28 ULL fibre in the cable design. This will enable Telstra to develop market-leading solutions for our customers today and for years to come  a key element of Telstra's ambitious T25 strategy and transformation goals."

Infinera senior vice president of worldwide sales Nick Walden said "Infinera's 800G-capable ICE6 solution demonstrated industry-leading performance, maximising fibre capacity and reach on Telstra InfraCo's express network configuration..

"This achievement underscores the enhanced performance Infinera's technology can bring to meet Telstra InfraCo's express network requirements for bandwidth today and into the future."

Corning optical fiber and cable division vice president, product line and marketing Sharon Bois said "To meet the rigorous demands of a vast network over Australia's unique terrain, Telstra InfraCo needed fibre infrastructure with advanced bend capability and minimal signal loss to deliver ultra-high cable capacity.

"That's why they turned to Corning: our SMF-28 ULL fibre with advanced bend is designed to meet exactly those needs."
Victoria will run a pilot of digital driving licences in Ballarat before rolling it out to the entire state.

In a statement on Monday, the State Government said drivers in Ballarat would have the option to store the digital licence either in the Services Victoria app or else the VicRoads app; the latter is to be launched soon.

Ballarat residents will be able to sign up for the trial through either the Service Victoria or VicRoads websites in June before the trial begins in July. Those who register will be invited to add a digital version of the licence to their smartphones.

The government claims the new licence will have "superior security features" and will be updated in real time. The digital version will indicate whether a licence has been suspended or revoked but will still allow the user to prove identity or age.

The trial is open to all full-licence holders in Ballarat; those with learner or P plates will need to carry their physical licence.

Victoria Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne said: "We know Victorians want digital driver licences and thats why this trial is such a big step before further rollout occurs.

A digital driver licence will make it easier and more convenient for Victorian motorists and it will help businesses and authorities to verify identity with minimum time and fuss.

Government Services Minister Danny Pearson added: This is world-class technology  the digital driver licence has a constantly refreshed unique QR code and the customer has control over the level of personal information shared.

We know Victorians are calling out for more cards to be added to the Service Victoria wallet and that is why we are thrilled that the digital driver licence will soon be added.

Victoria is the third state to move towards digital driving licences with NSW having launched its licence in 2019. Queensland announced a trial in Townsville in the state's north in April.
include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> The White House's position on the debt limit may be shifting from "President Joe Biden doesn't want to compromise" to "President Joe Biden doesn't have to compromise under the US Constitution."

The heretofore fringe idea that Section 4 of the 14th Amendment empowers the president to keep borrowing and spending as usual even if the debt limit isn't extended is getting a respectful hearing.

Back in January, the United States reached the current debt limit of $31.4 trillion, which  surprise, surprise  wasn't nearly enough.

The Treasury Department has been using "extraordinary measures" to this point to avoid hitting the wall but will exhaust its running room around the beginning of June.

The looming deadline has concentrated the minds of the White House and its allies  not on how to cut a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, but how to find a fig leaf of legitimacy for Biden engaging in his most flagrant abuse of his authority to date.

He'd simply ignore the debt limit as a supposedly unconstitutional infringement on his obligation to honor our debts.

"Is the Debt Limit Constitutional?" read a New York Times headline last week. "Biden Aides Are Debating It."

A sign of the shifting ground is that left-wing legal scholar Laurence Tribe wrote an op-ed in the Times during the last big debt-limit showdown, in 2011, saying that the 14th Amendment couldn't be used to ignore the debt limit ("A Ceiling We Can't Wish Away") and now has written another op-ed in the Times saying he's changed his mind.

Desperate times call for desperately motivated reasoning.

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In an interview on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen repeatedly refused to say the 14th Amendment is off the table  at the same time she said invoking it would cause a "constitutional crisis."

She's right about that, at least.

It's a dead giveaway that the 14th Amendment option is a ridiculous contrivance that pretty much everyone in authority dismissed the idea until now.

Although the 14th Amendment as escape hatch was bandied about as an option during the debt-limit confrontation in 2011, the Obama administration ultimately dismissed it.

"Like every previous secretary of the Treasury who has confronted the question," Treasury's general counsel wrote of his boss, Timothy Geithner, at the time, "Secretary Geithner has always viewed the debt limit as a binding legal constraint that can only be raised by Congress."

Indeed, the debt limit is not some innovation dreamed up by the House Freedom Caucus.

It was first passed in 1917 as part of the Second Liberty Bond Act. This was hardly a congressional power grab.

Before the advent of the debt limit, as Georgetown law professor Anita S. Krishnakumar points out, Congress authorized each bond issue, generally to fight war and bolster the economy during recessions.

The debt limit is the logical extension of Congress' power to tax and spend.

The 14th Amendment does say, "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."

It's absurd to pretend this provision somehow authorizes the president to arrogate to himself the fiscal powers of Congress if the debt limit isn't raised or  more to the point  isn't raised in a manner to his liking.

The House isn't saying the debt ceiling shouldn't be extended, only that it should happen with accompanying spending reductions that make it more likely that our debts will be honored in the future.

Even if the debt limit is breached, it doesn't mean our debts will be written off. Under a 2011 Treasury contingency plan, other payments would have been delayed.

This makes the 14th Amendment argument even more attenuated.

The Biden administration could save itself the trouble of trying to twist the Constitution to suit its narrow political purposes if it simply sat down with Congress and negotiated in good faith.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the federal government could run short of money to pay all its bills "potentially as early as June 1." To prevent that from happening, the House, the Senate, and President Biden must agree to lift the statutory debt ceiling, which is currently $34.1 trillion. One of those three  the Republican-controlled House  has passed legislation to do just that. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and the president have so far refused to do anything. By a narrow margin on April 26, the House approved a $1.5 trillion increase in the borrowing limit, pairing it with some relatively modest restraints on future spending growth. The Republican package would keep discretionary outlays (which account for about one-quarter of the federal budget) from rising by more than 1 percent per year. It would also reverse the White House plan to unilaterally cancel up to $20,000 of borrowers' college debt and claw back funds appropriated for COVID-19 relief but never spent. According to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the GOP measures would reduce deficits over the next decade by $4.8 trillion. Total spending between now and 2033 is projected at $80 trillion, so the House legislation is scarcely draconian. Yet the reaction to the House bill from (many) Democrats has been a show of outrage. Schumer condemns it as "reckless" and "dangerous." Biden, who is insisting on a debt-limit increase with no strings attached, lambastes the GOP spending trims as "hostage-taking." The president has invited congressional leaders to a meeting on Tuesday but insists he will not negotiate over the debt ceiling.

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Brinkmanship is nothing new in Washington. But if Democrats don't want to be blamed for driving the government over a default cliff, they'll have to do more than just say no. The House has put a plan on the table. Schumer, like Biden, may prefer a so-called "clean" bill that raises the debt limit and leaves spending reform for another day. But without the votes in the Senate to pass such a bill, Democrats are duty-bound to negotiate a compromise with the House.

If Biden had a longstanding policy of supporting "clean" debt-limit increases, his unwillingness to do so now could perhaps be understood as simple consistency. But again and again during his Senate career, Biden voted against such increases. In 2006, for example, Biden blamed the looming crisis on overspending by President George W. Bush. "Because this massive accumulation of debt was predicted," he said on the Senate floor, "because ... it was the result of willful and reckless disregard for the warnings that were given and for the fundamentals of economic management, I am voting against the debt limit increase."

Similarly, Biden's obstinate refusal to link a hike in the borrowing ceiling with negotiations over tax and spending changes is at odds with his stand in the past. During the debt-limit battle in May 2011, then-vice president Biden not only endorsed negotiations, he presided over them.

"From the outset of the meeting," Politico reported at the time, "Biden cited 'two looming concerns'  the debt limit, and the 'much larger looming issue of the long-term debt.' Biden said the two sides agree that they have to deal with both issues simultaneously."

That was exactly the right attitude then. It remains the right one now. Washington is trapped in a manifestly unhealthy cycle  (1) deficit spending (2) drives the government ever-deeper into debt, (3) necessitating a higher borrowing ceiling, (4) which facilitates more deficit spending, (5) rinse and repeat. The only hope of escaping this vicious circle is to address spending and the debt limit at the same time.

The federal government is like a family that keeps using a credit card to pay for purchases it can't really afford. When the card is maxed out, they may be able to get a credit-limit increase, which will temporarily give them breathing room to pay for their obligations. But a temporary reprieve is not a solution. Without fundamentally changing its spending habits, the family will constantly find itself facing financial crises until its credit is eventually cut off.

Washington is drowning in red ink. In the short term the debt ceiling must be raised so the government can pay its bills. But to do so without a plan to stop incurring so many bills would be irresponsible in the extreme. As long as the feds keep racking up debt at the rate of a trillion or more dollars a year, these crises will never end. The bill passed by the House is a good start. The Senate and the president need to drop their theatrics, sit down at the negotiating table, and make it even better.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission."
Visitor spending in North Carolina has more than recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic downturn, the governor's office said Tuesday.

A record $33.3 billion was spent by visitors on trips to and within the state during 2022, according to a report from Visit NC.

That surpassed by 14% the previous annual record of $29.22 billion in 2019.

Domestic travelers spent a record $32.4 billion in 2022, up 13.4% from 2021. International travelers spent $910 million in 2022, up 170%.

Tourism is a vital economic force in our state supporting thousands of small businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs, Cooper said in a statement.

Cooper cautioned that Republican-sponsored bills that would significantly restrict abortion options and others aimed at people who are transgender might hurt the state's reputation, saying "we can take pride that visitors see North Carolina as a diverse, inclusive and welcoming place.

"We all need to work to keep it that way.

The annual report was released to coincide with National Travel and Tourism Week (May 7-13) to promote "the value of travel to the economy, businesses, communities and personal well-being."

The county-level visitor spending totals are typically disclosed in August.

In 2021, Forsyth was listed with $830.8 million in visitor spending, which was up 57.6% from $527.31 million in 2020.

However, visitor spending remained significantly off from the pre-pandemic total $996.06 million in 2019.

"We anticipate Forsyth County will also see a robust uptick in our visitor spending for 2022 as evidenced in the consistently strong monthly hotel occupancy and revenue reports we receive from Smith Travel Research," said Richard Geiger, who has said he will retire June 30 as president of Visit Winston-Salem.

Local beneficiaries

Cooper and state Commerce officials expect another record year in 2023, thanks in part from federal American Rescue Plan funding being invested in Business Recovery Grants, the Moonshine to Motorsports Trail or tourism marketing.

In the Triad and Northwest N.C., the foremost example of the use of those funds is the $18 million provided to North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The track closed in the mid-1990s as NASCAR moved its Cup series to bigger venues.

Track promoter and operator Speedway Motorsports has used some of those funds to repave the 0.625-mile track.

Those renovations led NASCAR to run its All-Star Race week at the speedway from May 16-21.

Jobs impact

Visit NC said the states tourism-supported workforce increased by 9.8% to 216,900 jobs in 2022.

That figure reverses the more than 26% loss in employment suffered in 2020.

Tourism payroll increased 13.5% to $8.7 billion.

State tax receipts from visitor spending rose 6.5% to nearly $1.3 billion in 2022, while local tax receipts grew 3.5% to nearly $1.2 billion.

In measuring the economic value of the travel sector, the research incorporates a broad range of data sources to ensure that the entire visitor economy is quantified in detail. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OmniTrak visitor profiles, the U.S. Census, STR, AirDNA and KeyData lodging reports and the N.C. Revenue Department.

The new report gives North Carolinians plenty of reasons to celebrate, Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders said.

Visitor spending sustains more than 45,000 small businesses that meet travelers needs for lodging and dining, transportation, retail, and recreation."
A local businessman has opened a small eatery across the street from his tattoo shop in East Bend.

Holiday Thompson owns Ink Rites Tattoo as well as a welding business in East Bend.

Ba Loos Eatery, 436 West N.C. 67 Bypass, had its soft opening April 29.

This is my first rodeo, Thompson said, saying that he has never run a restaurant before. In fact, his only experience is a couple fast-food jobs he had as a teenager.

But he said that East Bend has so few food options that he wanted to give Ba Loos a try. The towns only other places to eat are Mount Olympus Family Restaurant, Alexs Grill & Ice Cream and Kitchen Roselli  and the latter is open only two nights a week.

Its almost 30 minutes to drive anywhere, and everyones always saying we need more places to eat, so I just figured Id help everybody out.

Thompson and his father, Woody Thompson, co-own the business, and his mother, Victoria Culler, has been doing the cooking and running things so Thompson can attend to his other businesses.

Thompson is renting a small but new building for the restaurant. The kitchen setup is basic, with a two-burner hot plate and a small oven. The restaurant offers a variety of deli sandwiches, soups, wings and hot dogs.

Ba Loos Eatery Address: 436 West N.C. 67 Bypass, East Bend, NC 27018 Email: balooseatery@gmail.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday Facebook: Ba Loos Eatery

Sandwiches ($3 to $6.25) include bologna, grilled cheese, barbecue, club or BLT. Customers also can build their own. Potato salad or chips are available as sides.

Hot dogs ($3.25 to $4) include a cheese dog, bacon dog, chili dog and Chicago dog.

Soups include tomato basil and broccoli and cheddar.

There also are bagels ($2.10 to $5.15), plain or with cream cheese, or with jalapeno and cheddar; bacon, egg and cheese; or ham, egg and cheese.

Wings are available as plain, mild, hot, teriyaki and BBQ; they run five for $5.65, 10 for $9.99 or 15 for $15.

Beverages include canned or bottled drinks.

Right now, Culler is doing all the cooking and hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but Thompson he would eventually like to open at 6:30 a.m. and be able to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

He also plans to add seating and get an ABC permit to sell beer. Right now, its more of a to-go spot, he said. But well have a few barstools. Were also building a patio with a bar and a grill  and that will be a little bit enclosed.

PHOTOS: Ba Loo's Eatery in East Bend
The foresight of a billionaire responsible for creating the wildly popular Fortnight video game has led to permanent protection for a 1,125-acre swath of the Brushy Mountains spanning portions of Wilkes, Alexander and Iredell counties.

The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Blue Ridge Conservancy purchased the property in late April from Tim Sweeny, founder and CEO of Cary-based Epic Games who originally acquired the land with preservation in mind, the environmental groups said in announcing the deal Tuesday.

This project is noteworthy because of the large amount of protected natural land in a single transaction and special because of the partnership Foothills Conservancy and Blue Ridge Conservancy forged to complete the project, said Andrew Kota, executive director of Foothills Conservancy.

The purchased property, in the eastern Brushy Mountains about 50 miles west of Winston-Salem and 40 miles northeast of Hickory, is one of the larger undeveloped tracts in that part of the state.

The opportunity to permanently conserve over 1,000 acres in western North Carolina does not happen often, said Charlie Brady, executive director of the Blue Ridge Conservancy.

Sweeny, who has an estimated net worth of $4.7 billion, according to Forbes, has reportedly purchased about 60,000 acres of forest to keep it from being developed.

As always, were grateful for Mr. Sweeneys effort to secure the land initially and offer it for permanent conservation at a bargain sale price, said Kota, of the Foothills Conservancy.

Funding from another North Carolina billionaire, Fred Stanback, the controversial heir to his familys Stanbacks Headache Powders fortune, truly allowed our land trusts to take advantage of the opportunity, Kota added.

Stanback has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental causes but also has been a financial contributor to several anti-immigration organizations. He has been a proponent of so-called anti-humanist environmentalism, which hinges on the belief that population control is crucial to protecting the environment.

The Foothills Conservancy and Blue Ridge Conservancy, nonprofit land trusts focused on protecting western North Carolinas land and water resources, are nationally accredited through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

The effort was a unique collaboration of land trusts working together with a common goal of conservation, in partnership with the landowner, said the Blue Ridge Conservancys Brady. Providing public access on a large scale in the Brushy Mountains will be an increasing focus of Blue Ridge Conservancys work.

The Brushy Mountains, a spur of the larger Blue Ridge range, is home to dozens of apple orchards, in part because the soil and elevation offer ideal growing conditions.
Reynolds High School has a diverse enrollment with kids of varying backgrounds and interests. But when word spreads that theres a gun on campus, an overwhelming emotion ties them together.

No matter who we are, were united in this fact. Its terrifying, said senior Rae Rackley. Your teachers are there, but theres not much they can do if someone decides to bring a gun on campus. We know these things are happening, and especially after what happened at (Mount) Tabor, it feels like something could be a possibility.

Rackley is among a group of students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools who are asking the Board of Education to pass a resolution in support of secure firearm storage at its meeting on Tuesday.

The resolution acknowledges research showing that in incidents of shootings on school grounds, up to 80% of shooters under 18 years old got their guns from their own home, relatives or friends.

If passed, the school board will resolve to support the school district in updating its website to explain the importance and logistics of securing firearms. In addition, the board will support the district and the superintendent in the creation of a twice-yearly communication with families that emphasizes why secure firearm storage is a strategy that will keep students from getting their hands on guns that are irresponsibly stored.

Under North Carolina law, adults may be charged with a misdemeanor if an unsupervised minor gains access to a firearm in their homes without the parent or guardians permission.

Rackley and the students involved in pushing for the resolution are members of Students Demand Action, a national organization with local chapters that advocates for ending gun violence. Reynolds and Reagan high schools have Students Demand groups with about 40 students in each group.

Eva Jarvis started the club at Reagan earlier this year, disturbed by the number of school shootings.

I cant vote, so I wanted to do something, said Jarvis, a junior.

Rackley said she and other students have been working with the school district since the start of the school year to pass the resolution. Theyve emailed school board members, met with Superintendent Tricia McManus and attended school board meetings.

Students have pushed for similar school board resolutions in school districts in California, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado and Vermont among other areas.

Several students sat through a 3-hour school board meeting on April 11 to urge the board to consider the resolution. The meeting came less than two weeks after three children and three staff members were killed at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn.

Since that meeting, there have been 55 mass shootings in the United States, including one in Winston-Salem on April 22 that killed 21-year-old Beatrice Knights and injured four others.

Rackley was a junior when 15-year-old Will Miller was fatally shot at Mount Tabor High School by another student on Sept. 7, 2021. In the weeks following that shooting, law enforcement confiscated two guns at Reynolds. Six guns have been confiscated this year throughout the district.

In an effort to keep weapons off campus, the school district recently increased the use of random metal detector screenings at its high schools.

Being at Reynolds, a lot of kids are just really tired of feeling helpless from all these tragedies plaguing us, especially being at school where kids are bringing guns and bad things happening, said Rackley, who will go to Duke University next year. We just want to do something to start safe-gun policies. If our lawmakers cant protect us, we have to protect ourselves, I guess.

Olivia Stubbs, a sophomore at Reynolds, said she felt compelled to get involved with stemming gun violence because of the frequency of school shootings.

I think about it a lot, Stubbs said about gun violence reaching her school. If Im in class or at a club or a sporting event, I think about, What is the best escape route? That shouldnt be what students have to be concerned about.

While the resolution that will be presented to the school board on Tuesday is slightly different than those passed in other school districts  parents wont be asked to sign a letter acknowledging the dangers of unsecured firearms, for instance  Rackley said the proposed resolution will be effective if passed.

I just think that so many parents own guns but are uneducated about how important it is to lock them up, she said.

Students at Philo-Hill Middle School are adding their voices to the gun safety movement. On Thursday, the school will have a Pre-Teens Against Gun Violence Concert featuring student musicians and remarks from Mayor Allen Joines, Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn and Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough.

A student at Philo-Hill, 12-year-old Enedy Penaloza Morales, was fatally shot at a large gathering at Weston Park in January.

Three other students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools were killed by gun violence this school year.

Corey Simons, 17, a student at Reagan was killed in October; Terrance Mason, 17, a student at Main Street Academy, was fatally shot in September; and Jhamari Jaquel Hall, 16, a student at Parkland was killed in February.
The crowning of Charles III as king of England and the shrinking realm of the United Kingdom was not the only coronation taking place in the world.

Increasingly, evangelical Christians in the U.S. are treating Donald Trump as their king. While the scenarios are different, it reminds me of when the religious leaders in Jerusalem were asked by Pontius Pilate if he should crucify their king, Jesus. They shouted back, We have no king but Caesar.

No matter what is revealed about Donald Trumps character and attitude toward women, large numbers in the evangelical community seem to have no king but him.

In New York, in a civil court trial, writer E. Jean Carroll is claiming Trump raped her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman (he denies it, as he has denied every other charge of boorish, even criminal behavior toward women). Some startling video has been shown during the trial. In addition, there was a replay of the Access Hollywood tape in which Trump bragged that when youre a star you can go as far as grabbing women by their (private parts). A video of Trumps deposition in this case was also shown to the jury.

Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, asked Trump about that damning tape during a video deposition. His response was revealing: Historically, thats true with stars.

Its true with stars that they can grab women by the (private parts)? Kaplan asked.

If you look over the last million years, I guess thats been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately, he replied.

And you consider yourself to be a star? Kaplan asked.

I think you can say that, yeah, replied Trump.

Some verses evangelical Christians accept as words coming directly from God might be useful reminders of how the power and credibility of their faith is being diluted by fealty to Donald Trump. There is 1 Corinthians 15:33 (or One Corinthians as Trump might put it): Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.

Another: Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Dont touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Then theres the ultimate church-state admonition by King David when he ruled over Israel: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing (Psalm 146:3).

Employing such verses is not to judge Trump. It is to judge Christians who are putting too much faith and allegiance in a man who appears perpetually angry and arrogant. One might think a similar experience with Richard Nixon would have taught them a lesson. Even the Rev. Billy Graham acknowledged after hearing the Nixon tapes that he had been deceived by the president who apparently thought having Graham around gave him cover for a corrosive personality similar in some ways to Trumps.

Ive heard all the arguments about double standards when it came to how evangelicals viewed Bill Clinton and his affairs and that Trump is a fighter (even that God uses bad people to accomplish His will). Character counted with Clinton, they said. Not so with Trump. As noted by others there are Republicans who dont display the characteristics Trump does and hold similar positions on life, the border, taxes, spending and big government who are running  or expected to run for president. Every poll Ive seen shows that if Trump wins the GOP nomination, as now seems likely, he cant win the general election because independents, who are key to winning, will not vote for him.

If evangelical Christians vote in large numbers for Trump next year, as they did in the last two elections, Trump will still likely lose again and doom Republican goals for years to come. Worse, the image of the One they claim to follow will be tainted for perhaps generations. Paying that price is not worth the cost.
Lincoln Electric System CEO Kevin Wailes has announced plans to retire.

Wailes, who has led the municipal electric company since 2010, will step down at the end of the year.

This decision is never an easy one to make, and Im so proud of all weve accomplished and the many talented people who serve our community, Wailes said in a news release. In 13 years as CEO, I have had the opportunity to work with an organization committed to the highest levels of system reliability, financial stability and sustainability, while embracing technology advancement and workforce development.

Wailes, who is just the third CEO in the history of LES, came to the utility from Your Own Utilities, the municipal electric utility serving Tallahassee, Florida  where he spent 23 years, including 15 years as general manager. He also served as the superintendent of the Lamar Utilities Board in Lamar, Colorado.

During his tenure, Wailes led LES in adopting a goal to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide production from its generation portfolio by 2040. As part of that goal, the utility bought out its stake in the coal-fired Sheldon Station power plant near Hallam in 2017. It also greatly increased its investment in solar and wind power.

The LES Administrative Board will soon start a nationwide search for a new CEO. LES Board Chair Andrew Hunzeker said Wailes impact on LES and public power is beyond measure.

Kevins leadership skills and ability to work with key stakeholders collaboratively delivered significant long-term benefits to our community and the energy industry, said Hunzeker, who is the chief financial officer of Lincoln Industries.

Lincoln and the surrounding communities are fortunate to have a leader with his talent and expertise guiding our electric utility. Kevins educational process helped the board immensely when setting the net-zero carbon dioxide production goal.

Photos: Berkshire Hathaway 2023 annual shareholders meeting weekend in Omaha
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department said Tuesday that it had disrupted a long-running Russian cyberespionage campaign that infected computer networks in dozens of countries, including in the United States, and resulted in the theft of sensitive information from governments.

Prosecutors linked the spying operation to a unit of Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, and accused the hackers of stealing documents from hundreds of computer systems belonging to governments of NATO members, an unidentified journalist for a U.S. news organization who reported on Russia, and other select targets of interest to the Kremlin.

For 20 years, the FSB has relied on the Snake malware to conduct cyberespionage against the United States and our allies  that ends today, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Departments National Security Division, said in a statement.

The specific targets were not named in court papers, but the Justice Department said the affected networks were in more than 50 countries. U.S. officials described the espionage campaign as very consequential, saying the hackers had successfully exfiltrated sensitive documents from NATO countries.

Prosecutors say the hackers, employing malicious software known as Snake, routed data stolen from foreign governments through compromised computers in the U.S. as a way to cover their tracks. They operated from what the Justice Department said was a known FSB facility in Ryazan, Russia.

In a separate statement, CrowdStrike Intelligence, a private cybersecurity firm that has studied the threat, said the sectors targeted by the hacking included government organizations, defense-related organizations and companies developing cryptographic hardware. It said countries all over the world had been affected, including in Europe, Australia, part of Asia and North and South America.

U.S. officials said they'd been investigating Snake for about a decade and came to regard it as the most sophisticated malware implant relied on by the Russian government for espionage campaigns. They said Turla, the FSB unit believed responsible for the malware, had refined and revised it multiple times as a way to avoid being shut down.

The Justice Department, using a warrant this week from a federal judge in Brooklyn, launched what it said was a high-tech operation using a specialized tool called Perseus that caused the malware to effectively self-destruct.

Federal officials said they were confident that, based on the impact of its operation this week, the FSB would not be able to reconstitute the malware implant.

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
A Lancaster County man was arrested Monday night for his alleged role in a hit-and-run crash after he left a license plate behind at the crash scene, south of Lincoln, according to the sheriff's office.

Richard Caruso, 57, was southbound on Southwest 12th Street in his Toyota pickup at around 7:30 p.m. Monday when he failed to yield at the street's intersection with West Denton Road, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.

Caruso crashed into a westbound Ford Focus, forcing the sedan to flip and roll into a ditch, Houchin said.

Then, Houchin said, the 57-year-old drove to his house, less than a mile south of the crash scene.

"He did not call," the chief deputy said. "He did not check on injuries."

Deputies who responded to the crash found the Ford's occupants  a 28-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man  had suffered minor injuries.

And, Houchin said, deputies found a license plate that had fallen from Caruso's pickup.

Deputies drove south to the 57-year-old's house and found his damaged Toyota in his garage.

Caruso was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an injury crash and taken to the Lancaster County jail.

The Ford's occupants were treated and released from a local hospital.

Photos: Majestic sandhill cranes in Nebraska Aurora cranes Fort Kearny cranes Sandhill cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska Sandhill cranes gather near farm machinery Cranes fly in waves on a cloudy evening A pair of sandhill cranes glide in a clear blue sky Sandhill cranes forage for food in a field Sandhill cranes fly over a field Sandhill cranes silhouetted against the evening sky Sandhill cranes flock near an irrigation pivot Sandhill cranes glide in for a landing to roost for the night Sandhill cranes begin to roost at sundown Sandhill cranes at sunset Viewing sandhill cranes from Richard Plautz viewing site A sandhill crane flies above a field south of Gibbon Cranes in the water Cranes at sunset Cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Pair of sandhill cranes at sunset near Gibbon, Nebraska Sandhill cranes flying high Sandhill cranes on and above a field near Gibbon Sandhill cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes The Nebraska Project cranes The Nebraska Project The Nebraska Project Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill crane Sandhill Cranes Sandhill cranes Rowe Bird Sancutary Cranes in January Cranes in January Cranes in January Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes
A 24-year-old employee at a Lincoln smoke shop was shot in the neck with a pellet gun during a robbery of the shop Friday evening, according to police.

The employee was shot after he tried to intervene in the theft of $136 worth of merchandise from Midwest Smoke Shop, near 48th and O streets, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said.

The 24-year-old man reported that an unknown man walked into the store and requested vape products and rolling papers from behind the counter before grabbing the items and leaving the store without paying, Vollmer said.

The employee followed the man out of the store and reached into his vehicle in an effort to retrieve the merchandise when the robbery suspect shot him with a pellet gun before leaving, Vollmer said.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews took the employee to a local hospital for treatment. An investigation into the robbery is ongoing.

Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers
The emergency declaration enacted during the pandemic will end Thursday, but the health department will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines, testing and medication.

The City Council voted unanimously to end the emergency, as did the Lancaster County board last week, and it will take effect Thursday, coinciding with the end of the federal public health emergencies.

Its really been an honor to work with our community, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Director Pat Lopez told the council. If anything it just shows how our community responds together even when it's difficult and even when we may not always agree on a course of action ... we know were a resilient community that can respond to anything.

The emergency declaration opened up certain powers to the mayor and helped make the city eligible for relief resources.

The mayor, for instance, used her emergency powers to hasten purchase of personal protective equipment early in the pandemic and line up hotels as quarantine sites for infected first responders.

Controversial mask mandates and other health directives stemmed from the powers of the local health department, not the emergency declaration, local officials said at the time, but the public often conflated the two issues.

Council member Tom Beckius and other council members thanked Lopez, her staff and other city staff for working through a pandemic they hoped theyd never see in their lifetimes.

The response has been nothing short of amazing, he said. Theres not enough gratitude we can express to you at this time.

Although there have been no health directives in effect for some time, the end of the emergency declaration  something some Republicans have been arguing should have happened sooner  is another indication of a return to pre-pandemic life.

A number of Nebraskas largest health systems recently dropped their mask requirements at local hospitals, and when the emergency declaration ends, the health departments risk dial will disappear.

The health department developed the risk dial in 2020 to let the community know the levels of COVID-19 in the city and county, and the webpage that included the dial averaged a million views a month, health department officials said.

The health departments dashboard will continue to be updated on weekdays and will include the latest data on cases, testing, wastewater surveillance, deaths and vaccination status, Lopez said. Hospital admissions data will be available through the CDC, and the health department webpage will include links on its site, Lopez aid.

I know we still have COVID-19 occurring here and around the world, Lopez said. If theres an increase (in cases) wed come back and let you know.

Lincoln and Lancaster County have set aside $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to address any unmet COVID-19 needs, Lopez said. But they have gotten updated guidance from the CDC on the implications of the end of the emergency declarations.

There is still a national stockpile of vaccines, which the federal government will continue to provide for free until summer or early fall, when the COVID-19 vaccination program will become more like traditional health coverage, according to the health department.

The health department is awaiting final guidance from the CDC on an additional dose of the updated bivalent booster approved for adults 65 years and older and people who have weakened immune systems.

The health department will continue to offer vaccinations on site at 3131 O St., and people can make appointments online at covid19.lincoln.ne.gov or by calling 402-441-4200. Walk-ins are also welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lincoln residents can also get at-home test kits in the main lobby of the health department and at all Lincoln City Library locations.

Medicare Part B will continue to cover laboratory-conducted COVID-19 tests when ordered by a healthcare provider, and state Medicaid programs must also cover for COVID-19 testing until Sept. 30, 2024.

The CDC will also continue to fund some pharmacy-based testing for COVID-19 program for people who are uninsured. For more information go to https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/.

However, private insurance providers will no longer be required to provide free COVID-19 tests.

Access to certain treatments, such as Paxlovid, to prevent severe illness from COVID-19 will continue to be distributed for free as long as federal stockpiles remain. After that, the price will be determined by the medication manufacturer and your health insurance coverage, according to the health department.

The health departments COVID-19 hotline (402-441-8006), also will remain active and public health nurses will be available to answer questions.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023